Happy belated New Years! I bring you a new chapter of Capes and Tails! I hope you guys like it! 3 Enjoy!
~ToniJerboa
Chapter 13: Apologies Mean Nothing.
It was the next morning after last night's party mishap, and Eridan had woken up. He yawned, and stretched himself out. He got out of bed, and headed to the bathroom. As he looked into the mirror, he had seen himself in a beaten and battered state. He had a bruise on his eye, dried blood under his nose, a few cuts on his upper lip, and a few of his front teeth missing. He winced, at the marks on his face.
He frowned, and left the bathroom in shame. He groaned, his pride damaged, along with his face. He rubbed his sore jaw, and looked at his living room. It was a bit of a wreck after last night. Trash everywhere, stains on the floor, and wall, his TV broken to bits, as well as his stereo speakers. He groaned even louder at the mess he'd have to clean up. He grabbed a trash bag, and slowly starting to pick up the pieces of ruble.
Meanwhile with Toni, she was at her kiosk, with Lexii and Rexii, who were telling her about the whole ordeal. "And then, Feferi took her trident, and threw it through one of his speakers!" Said Lexii, whom was sitting on the counter. Toni didn't even look fazed, as she was sipping her drink. "How dreadful." Toni said, while looking at her phone. Rex stepped forward, and handed her his phone. "Here. Its all over social media by now." He told her.
Toni took his phone, and played the video.
{Video}
"Wwhy wwon't you go out wwith me Fef?! Wwhy that pissblooded shit?!" Eridan yelled.
"YOU RELLY WANT TO KNOW WHY?" Feferi yelled at him.
"Its because your a CREEP! Not only this, your egocentric, rude to others, chauvinistic, your bulge is TOO SMALL, your overly flashy, and I just don't LIKE you!" She hissed.
"Y-you don't mean that Fef… Tell me you don't…" Eridan said, crushed.
"Oh believe me when I say I DO. I didn't even want to be your Moirail! I only did it to get you off of my back!" Feferi barked.
Soon, the video quality drops, and there is a loud commotion in the video.
{Video Ends}
Toni hands it back over to Rex, and he looks at her. "Thats when Feferi went MAD. We had all left the house, when she started throwing stuff." He said, while shuddering. Lexii was looking away, and had nodded. "Y-yeah.. She's pretty scary." She said, while turning away. Toni had noticed that she was avoiding being seen too much. She looked at Rexii for a moment, and he explained.
He took a small deep breath. "...She got Lexii." He said softly. Toni turned Lexii around, so that she was facing her. "...Lex… Let me see." She said, while moving Lexii's multicolor patterned hair out of her face. Lexii closed her eyes, when it was revealed. She had a large scar on her left side of her face. Toni frowned. "Ah… My poor Lexii… When I see her, I'm giving her a piece of my mind." Toni said, anger bubbling in her blood.
Soon, Dave and Karkat had approached Toni. They too, wanted to spill the tea about the fight from last night. "Yo, Toni." Dave greeted. Toni looked up at him. "Let me guess, your here for your regular, and to tell me about last nights fight?" She asked, while fixing up Lexii's hair. Karkat crossed his arms, and had a small patch on his cheek. "How did YOU fucking guess that?" He asked with a hiss.
Toni plopped a box on the counter, starting to fill it with their favorite glazed pastries. "You have a patch on your face, and you Dave look like you want to tell me something. You got that 'Oh shit bro I gotta tell you something.' look on your face." Toni answered, while looking down. Karkat huffed, while Dave patted his back. "Well.. Yeah. Let me guess, these two told you already?" Dave asked, while looking at Lexii and Rexii.
Toni nodded. "Mhm. Rex even showed me the video." She answered. Dave pouted. "Shoot. I wanted to tell you first. But no matter. Have you spoke to the dude at all today?" Dave asked, while putting his hands in his pockets. Toni shook her head 'no.' "Nope. I haven't spoken to him since the closet. After that, I just left for home." She said, while finishing up the box.
Karkat looked pissed. "So you just went the fuck home?" He asked. Toni nodded her head, while scooting the box towards them. "Yep. He didn't have a need for me anymore, so I left." She answered, while polishing her counter. Rexii pouted. "Wait, what did he say to you?" He asked, looking concerned. Toni dismissed it. "It doesn't matter. I doubt he'll apologize, so why say anything? Its better to just move on." She said coldly.
Soon, a familiar voice chimed in. "Looks like I could use a lesson in that." The voice said. They all turned around to see a hooded figure. Toni's eyes glanced up at the figure. From just the smell alone she could tell who it was. "... I heard you got beat up." She said, her voice still cold. He approached her, and sat on a chair. "... Yeah." He said, hanging his head low. Toni looked away from him.
Toni walked from behind her counter, and walked over to him. She slowly pulled the hood off of his face, and head. He looked so broken, and broken hearted. His eyes were puffy from crying, dried blood under his nose, left eye swollen and black, cuts on his lip, and missing teeth. She gently grazed her velvet like hands on his cheeks. "... You poor thing." She said softly.
Eridan couldn't look at her, he was too ashamed. "... Have you learned your lesson, Eridan?" She asked him, her voice soft. He looked up at her, and nodded his head 'yes'. Toni turned to Rex. "Rexii, grab me some ice. Lexii, please grab me some pain killers. Gotta stop the pain, and swelling." Toni said, while gently stroking Eridan's hair. Karkat scoffed. "Why are you fucking helping this asshat? He's the reason why some of us are FUCKED up!" He barked at her.
Toni looked at Karkat. "Why? Simply because he's learned. I can tell he's learned his lesson, and won't do it again. I've helped the both of you out as well. Yell at me like that again, and you'll have more than a patch. TRUST me." Toni hissed. Her face had a MEAN look on it. Karkat backed down, and grumbled to himself. Toni kept stroking Eridan's forehead, to comfort him.
Soon, Rexii and Lexii came back with the items. "Here." They said, simultaneously. Toni took the package of ice, and gently pressed it on his eye. He winced, while letting out a sharp hiss. Lexii gave him the pain pills, and he took them both. He looked up at Toni, who was looking down at him, and taking care of him. "...Tone… I'm… S-sorry… You… You wwere right…" He said, before breaking down into tears.
She patted his back. "I forgive you Eridan." She said softly, while rubbing his back. His hand gently grips her leg, while blubbering into her apron. "I don't deservve forgivveness…" He blubbers. Toni softly shushed him. "Shh shh… Its okay. I forgive you Eridan. The reason why I forgive you is because you learned your lesson, and you won't do it again." She said sweetly.
While the sweet reunion was happening, another familiar face came by, Feferi. "Hey Toni! I was coming by to grab-... Oh… You…" Feferi said, while starting sweetly, and ending in a sour tone. She glared at Eridan, HARD. Toni let go of Eridan, and walked towards Feferi. "Feferi, we need to talk." She said sternly. Feferi turned her attention to her. "...Toni… Is this about Eridan?" She asked, still glaring at him.
Toni's face was cold. "Sort of. Feferi, the fight at the party last night has gone around. Thats not the point however. Are you AWARE that you HARMED innocent people? Eridan included?" She pressed, crossing her arms. Feferi looked confused. "I did? I had no idea! I only went after Eridan!" She said while pointing at him. Toni's brows narrowed. "Thats NOT all Feferi!" Toni said, raising her voice.
Feferi was taken aback by Toni's increase of voice. "You hurt MY friends. MY FRIENDS. Eridan included! And you hurt some of yours! My friend Lexii is possibly disfigured for LIFE because of you Feferi!" Toni screamed. Feferi backed up, looking at the scarred Lexii. She gasped, and tried to approach Lexii, but she just whimpered and ran into her brothers arms.
Rex looked at her, the rest of his left ear torn off, and a small cut on his upper lip. "... Keep away from her." He said, angry at her. Feferi looked at Toni, shocked. "Toni, I SWEAR I didn't mean to hurt them! Honest! Eridan I know I meant to go after!" She said, while begging. Toni just got more mad. "Going after Eridan too is STILL wrong. No matter what! You should've just LEFT the party. But NO. You had to go crazy, and injure people!" Toni squeaked.
Feferi looked at Karkat and Dave. Dave had a bandage on his nose, while Karkat had a patch on his cheek. She tried to approach them, but Dave held out his hand, and shook his head 'no'. Feferi started to get mad. "Why are you doing this Toni? Over HIM? He's NOT worth it! He's brainwashed you!" Feferi screamed. Toni just stood there, holding her ground.
She didn't look fazed at all. "No he hasn't Feferi. He's actually a nice guy. The entire time I've spent with him, and got to know him, he's actually pretty cool! Feferi, he's done nothing but help you, and you treat him with the COLDEST shoulder there is. All he ever did was try to love you. But, he went for the WRONG girl." Toni said.
Feferi chuckled, and laughed for a moment. "Heh heh. Your joking right? Boy does he have you fooled! I'm trying to help you, and your not wanting my help! Keep AWAY from him! He's a creep!" She said, while pointing at him. Lexii stood up. "... He's not a creep. I think he's okay. I think you can't handle the fact that we are siding with him, and not YOU. Classic Popular girl mental breakdown." Lexii said, while crossing her arms.
Feferi began to look INFURIATED. "Toni. If your expecting an apology for that creep, you are very, very mistaken. I'll apologize to everyone else, before him. He doesn't even DESERVE it." She said, nearly seething. Toni looked at Feferi, and twitched her nose. "...Neither do you. Feferi, I'm going to have to ask you to leave. Now." Toni said sternly. Feferi looked at everyone. "...This isn't over. I'll be back. And you'll regret it." She said, her fists balled.
Toni shooed her away. "Yeah yeah. I'm so scared. Beat it." Toni said. Feferi walked away in a huff. Eridan looked at Toni, who was walking back to him. He looked at her, eyes a bit wide. "...You realize wwhat you've done right?" He asks her. She looks at him, and shrugs. "Probably. Danger, fire, anger. Yeah, I'll be just fine. But right now, let's focus on you. How's your face?" She asked him while stroking his head.
Karkat had his jaw agape, from the entire argument. "Uhhh HEY! You realize she'll fucking come back, and possibly fucking kill us all right?!" Karkat said, looking nervous. Toni didn't look at him. "I'm prepared. We need to stick together, incase she tries to pick us off one by one." Toni said, while wiping the dried blood from underneath Eridan's nose. Dave shrugged. "Fine with me dude." He answered.
Soon, it was time to close up shop, and go home. "Okay guys, don't leave at the SAME time. Come in day by day. You'll need each others contact info." Toni instructed. They all nodded. Soon, all chirps from their devices went off.
{jauntyAussie has made a group with 5 people.}
They all looked at one another, and nodded. They were all connected with one another, and had a way to contact someone incase something would go arise. "Now what the FUCK do we do?" Karkat asked. Toni looked at him. "I'm going to Take Eridan home. You guys just go home. If you suspect being followed, double around the block. Duck into a different building if you must. You must not let her see you." Toni said, while grabbing her keys.
Karkat let out a small 'ulp' noise. Dave gave her a thumbs up. Rex and Lex gave her a nod. They all exit the kiosk center, and leave to their vehicles. Toni watched Dave and Karkat leave first. Then Lexii and Rexii. Now it was her's and Eridan's turn. "Alright Eri. Let's roll out. Have you eaten?" She asks him. He shakes his head 'no'. "Okay. Let's stop at the Walzomart. I'll pick up something to eat for us. And replace your TV." She said, while driving. Eridan hung his head low. "B-but… I don't deserve food. Or a neww TV…" He said, pitifully.
Toni glanced at the broken down Eridan. "Oh stop Eridan. Don't let that harpie get in your head. She just doesn't see how great you are, like I do." Toni said, while patting his leg. He let out a small sigh, and continued to look out the window in the truck. After a little while of driving, they soon arrive to the Walzomart. She parks the car, and undoes her seat belt.
She looks at Eridan, worried for him. "Come on Eridan. Let's go inside." She said softly, while gently poking his shoulder. He looked at her, slightly covering himself in his faux hoodie. She pouted softly. "Eridan?" She said softly. "...She destroyed my clothes…" He muttered softly. Toni thought for a moment, and realized… He was naked under the rags. She thought for a moment, and reached into her glove compartment. "Here." She said, while pulling out some pants.
He looked at the pants, and took them. He looked at her, with a flushed expression on his cheeks. Toni looked away, to give him privacy. Eridan slowly put on the pants that Toni had given him. They were big on him to the point where it sagged a bit. "Don't worry. I'll get you a new pair of pants, and shirt when we go in." She said, with a ginger smile. He gave her a small smile back.
Soon, they got out of the car, and walked into the Walzomart. Toni had grabbed herself a cart, and started to walk the store. Eridan followed around, looking around the store a bit. They had walked into the electronics part of the store, and to the TV section. Toni grabbed an identical version of Eridan's old TV, and set it underneath the cart. "There. We got your TV. Now Eridan, if you'd like, you can go to the clothing section, and grab your clothes, while I grab food." Toni said, while setting her hand on her hip.
He nodded his head, and went off in search of clothes, while Toni went off for food. She looked around, slowly rolling down the isles, thinking about what to eat. She looked at some of the prepackaged meals, and stuck her tongue out at it in disgust. She grabbed some frozen shrimp, rice, asparagus, and some other veggies. She headed for the bakery section to grab some fresh bread.
Meanwhile with Eridan, he was in the clothing portion of the store, and he was looking for new pants. Luckily he still had his wallet so he could buy his clothing, and Toni wouldn't have to spend so much on him already. He looked at some clothing, and saw some cool new pants. He picked out a few new outfits for the time being, and caught up with Toni.
He saw her picking out some fresh bread, and looking at the bread sales. "Hey Tone. I got some neww outfits." He said, while gently placing the clothing in the cart. She looked at him, and nodded. "Cool! I'm just getting some bread, and we'll be out of here!" Toni said, while putting two loaves of bread in her cart, and grabbing some sort of sweets. Eridan stood around, watching her grab some items.
Soon enough, the shopping was done, and they headed for the check out. The entire cost was about 450$, and Toni looked like she didn't mind. Eridan pulled out his card before Toni was able to pull out her cash, and paid for the cart. "I've got this Tone. Its the least I can do, for you helpin' me an' all." He said, with a smile. Toni smirked. "Alright, fine." She replied, while putting the checked items in her cart.
Looks like they now have an enemy to worry about, Feferi. Let's hope everyone can stay out of her sight, and way.
I hope you guys liked this chapter! I can't wait to see you in the next chapter! See you soon! 3
~ToniJerboa