Reviews :

faolan1230 : Yes, they make nice eventually, Berri was going to mosey into potentially clearing the air with Turbo after tour but then got distracted with Tatum lol

BanannaSammich : Thank you! Yes they're super fun to write for, there will be more TatumxTeddy sprinkled in the rest of this story. They're adorbs.

TheMisterX : LOL Ahh Teddy. Well he actually doesn't open his mouth ENOUGH to gain a foot, so I guess he has the opposite problem. He's a shy one xD And yeah they're really unsure of how to handle Gunner from here, cause they just want the damned thing to be over with. Thanks for your support, friend! I hope you're well.


Song Listened To :

Jealous by Oliver Nelson, Tobtok Sorana


*Chapter 173*

"Ohh User, I missed Sugar Rush," Throttle mumbled with a sweet smile as him, Wren, Theo and Berri slowly strolled from the main hub of the palace, out the west wing corridor and on the lovely, pristine white path that lead to the recreational hall, alongside Berri's glorious tower. Throttle smiled up to Sugar Rush's bright, minty colored sky, void of clouds, he shrugged his hands into his jean pockets with a lazy smile. Although his eyes glossed across the lot and straight for his own, tidy, lonely abode, he stuck tight to Wren, Theo and Berri, knowing full well he wasn't going to miss out on meeting Tatum, "How y'doin', there, Teddy?"

"I don't know, I'm numb," Theo mumbled nervously; dressed in a casual, lovely dark green t-shirt, one that tightened about his chest due to his bulky, strong size, Theo was daintily and cleanly put together, though his eyes looked sunken, "I'm really nervous."

"You're going to be fine," Berri chimed quietly, they slowly approached their lovely tower, what once was an empty space now harbored a fragile, reserved little flicker of a soul. Having just met with Tessa and Zed, in the palace's main hub and kitchen, they were assured Tatum was doing just fine and had remained quietly tucked away in her new little home, "Who even knows if she'll be around. I just need to let you guys know... She doesn't like being called Sama, so stick to Tatum. Sama's a dead name, she doesn't want to repurpose it, so just be diligent."

"Noted," Theo mumbled with a cute smile and a nod, as did everyone else, though it was very clear just where all eyes would be, in this fragile, cute encounter.

"You think she'd want to have jam sessions with us?" Wren wondered quietly, to which Throttle's and Theo's eyes lit up.

"Oh, THAT'D be awesome," Throttle staggered with a wide smile, though just as he was about to suggest throwing Turbo into the mix, he sneakily caught himself and cleared his throat as everyone pressed up the tower's glorious stoop all shroud in beautiful, Sugar Rush, springtime flowers and foliage, "I-I'm sure she'd probably like a few days to recoup... I don't think being homeless is an easy task."

"Yeah, she... She was in real bad shape, last night," Berri now whispered as she began to unlock their large tower's round door, "If you notice anything maybe unkept or out of place, don't draw attention. I'm sure she's showered and had a good night's sleep, but let's just give her some grace in this weird time. I hardly recognized her."

"Poor thing," Wren mumbled sadly, Theo bobbed a nod and inhaled a shaky breath.

"I'm sure she looks great," He eased warmly as Berri opened the door with a slow, tender approach; although everyone now eagerly peered into their dim foyer and down the untouched entrance corridor it eventually bottle-necked into, the house was silent.

As all four individuals slowly pressed inside, and clacked the front door open, they did what they could to shed shoes and light coats in the foyer. With continued, tender silence, they slowly traversed down the corridor with apprehensive, calm softness. Theo swallowed hard and felt as if his pulse was about to come flying out of his body, certain that everyone near him could hear the thudding of his heartbeat, his pupils tightened as they drew into the tower's pristine, sunny common room, clad with the kisses of lovely white furniture, flawless marble tiles, the gentle splashes of greenery in big, cozy, potted house plants, the angled ceiling of glass above them kept the common room warm with the sunbeams that glinted in, though as everyone softly scanned their surroundings, they took note that their massive swoop of a couch and ottoman had a throw blanket cozily tucked into the corner, as well as an overturned book and a glass of half-finished water on a cork coaster nearby. Clearly a nestled spot Tatum was once sitting, she was nowhere to be found now.

"C'mon, guys, let's just disperse," Berri eased in softness, she bobbed a nod and gestured towards the dimmer studio corridor, to the left of everyone, where Tatum's room lay as well, "She's probably asleep. Let's just carry on like normal and she'll present herself eventually."

"Easy for you to say, 'carry on like normal'," Theo mumbled quietly, though as his eyes sharply scanned the room, he jolted in unmitigated, frozen delight and stabbed his eyes to their lovely little sitting area outside, near their larger glass back door. He huffed a shaky breath and immediately noticed that lovely splash of pale pink hair glisten against Sugar Rush's beam of sunshine. Theo staggered a breath, clutched his chest and desperately tried to get words out, "H-Holy shit... Y-You REALLY weren't kidding."

"What," Wren hissed in suspended, curious delight, and as everyone drew their eager attention to where Theo's strict line of sight was, they all sagged and eased Theo cheeky, knowing smiles.

"Alright, dude, y'ready?" Throttle mumbled cutely, though Theo inhaled a shaky breath, clutched his chest and shook his head.

"N-no, I'm not, I-I... User I can't believe you weren't lying," Theo staggered nervously, though Berri lovingly took his arm and smiled into his eyes.

"Teddy, I wouldn't lead you on like this, with something THIS important to you? C'mon, she's really sweet, I'll go out first and... You all can introduce yourselves," Berri eased as softly as she could, "She'll be glad to have company, I'm sure of it."

"Let's go," Wren hissed in excitement as he pushed off first, and although Berri said she'd be first to present herself, Wren kindly took up the task and pressed to the back door; he was tailed by Berri, Throttle, and then Theo in a hang at the back, a sag of molasses-like terror, Wren so carefully opened the glass door, tapped a kind few knocks with his fist and peeked his happy soul out the door in a show of slow easiness, "Knock knock."

"... O-oh, hi!" Tatum pressed in a perk of gentle surprise; she looked as if she wanted to move from their lovely outdoor swoop of a couch, all shroud in the shade of a nearby tree and the thin, lattice overhang of their little patio, though Wren was surprised to see Marble's large body curled at the base of the couch, her heavy skull comfortably in Tatum's lap. She eased a cute, nervous giggle, tucked her hair behind her ears and peered down to the top of Marble's head, "I-I... I would get up, but I think this one fell asleep."

"It's all good," Wren eased lovingly as him, Berri and Throttle slowly piled out in soft caution, so not to fully and abruptly disrupt Tatum's peace, "I hope we're not intruding."

"No, no, for User's sakes, I think it'd be me whose intruding," Tatum huffed a sweet laugh, eased her soft eyes into Wren and sagged her shoulders, though she peered to the group slowly moseying out of the back door and closer to her, she cupped her mouth a little and began to look a little star struck, "H-Holy moley, I-I can't believe I'm actually meeting all of you."

"I think we can say the same about you," Wren chuckled, he was first to slowly approach her, once and for all, and once he was within arms reach, he outstretched his hand and offered a handshake, "Wren."

"Tatum," She chimed cutely, to which they shook hands and got settled. Wren kindly took a seat on a nearby cozy seat across from Tatum, to which Berri followed suit. Berri quietly assessed Tatum, as quickly as she could, and was floored to see her lovely pale hair all clean and straight, she wore a pair of Berri's lazy sweats and a t-shirt, offered by Berri herself, she looked as if she had gotten a solid amount of rest. Her peaceful eyes drew up to Berri as she cutely plopped down next to Tatum with a huff, both girls fast friends. Berri eased a giggle and held out her hand to Tatum for a handshake, both girls eased into cute laughter as they playfully shook hands, "Oh, nice to meet you."

"Berri," She piped, though Tatum shook her head and shrugged in teasing cuteness.

"I had no idea," She quipped with a smile that showed her prominent fangs, though she raised her eyebrows in sharp surprise the second Throttle cooly sat down next to Wren and remained readily available for a casual handshake. Tatum sagged her shoulders in a roll of surprise and gently gestured to Throttle, "Oh, my stars, you're... You're Turbo's brother, right?"

"Eldest, my name's Throttle," He stated with the depth of his sweet, glossy voice, the two shook hands, though Tatum looked further shell shocked.

"Holy User, you think I can meet Turbo? THE Turbo?" Tatum asked in warm innocence, though Berri heaved a long sigh and almost regrettably shook her head. Before Berri's nervously giggling figure could answer, Tatum sagged into herself and hooked her eyes tight to Berri's, "Oh, whoops... Sore spot?"

"You can meet him, we're just... Sort of feuding at the moment, so I probably won't be involved," Berri sighed in hot annoyance, though she smiled in Theo's direction, who finally pressed into the circle, his demeanor was stiff and nervous, "OH, and... This is Theo, my cousin."

"Nice to meet you," Tatum eased sweetly up into Theo's shivering, emerald green eyes, though as Theo held out his much larger hand and took her little one in his, he daintily shook and gave her a near-speechless smile. Tatum tucked her hair behind her ears and continued to keep his hand gripped, "I-I'm... I'm a HUGE fan."

"... I-I'm sorry, of... Me?" Theo humbly gestured to his chest and froze in unadulterated surprise as the two pulled apart, Tatum beamed a wide, toothy smile and lovingly smiled into his eyes.

"Uh, YEAH? That drum solo you had in the song Forgotten?" Tatum gushed, she heaved a shaky giggle and cutely glanced to Berri, "I mean, you all are amazing, don't get me wrong."

Theo stood still and peered down to Tatum in a roll of not even knowing where to begin, which feeling to feel first, though as Berri firmly smiled up to him, she finally rolled her eyes, gripped Theo's arm and pulled him down on the larger couch next to her.

"Teddy is a very very big fan of yours, too," Berri cooed lovingly as Theo grunted and sat down, he shyly gave Tatum a smile and finally looked off in blushing, stumped nervousness, "We're glad you're here... Did you get a good night's sleep?"

"DID I," Tatum sighed shakily, she gave Berri a floored look of sweet gratitude, "I haven't slept that well in years. Thank you... All of you, seriously. I hope I'm not... Too much of an intrusive presence, being here."

"No, never," Theo quietly pressed, his gentle eyes hooked to Tatum's in warmth, though he bashfully cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his head, to which Berri lovingly pat Theo's thigh, as if to quietly assure him to ease up and that he was doing great.

"Gunner knows nothing, just to assure you," Wren's deep, friendly voice pressed in Tatum's direction, though she beamed an annoyed grin and rolled her eyes.

"Damn straight he knows nothing, he's Arcade's hugest airhead," Tatum muttered through a smile, though everyone was rocketed into laughter.

"He plays nice, he's been behaving," Berri bobbed a nod, she desperately tried to keep the air light and not so negative.

"Hardly," Throttle's grumbly, raspy voice pressed in a depth so low it almost went unheard, Wren cocked an eyebrow and shot him a curious smile.

"Either way, I appreciate it," Tatum sighed, she looked down to the top of Marble's head and lovingly began to stroke her lovely, swirled grey fur all clad with streaks of prominent blacks and whites, "I'm REALLY glad you warned me about these guys, Berri. Your dad let me have access to the patio, here, and I was out here for the sunrise, and... Gosh, I nearly crapped myself as they came sniffling their way to the patio, here."

"All of them?" Berri perked up with a wide, curious smile, Tatum bobbed a nervous nod and grinned in cute, shy surprise.

"Yeah, all six of 'em, wow... They're SO pretty," Tatum wistfully sighed, she peered to Berri but caught shy eyes with Theo; he held tight eyes to her in inquisitive, sweet, starstruck delight.

"They're so nosey, I'm sure they sensed that there was something amiss, here, and came here to inspect," Berri chuckled, Wren smiled and bobbed a nod in agreeing.

"I'm surprised they didn't come flying at you loudly wondering who the hell you were," Wren staggered as he gestured out to the lovely, jungly wood out before them; Tatum furrowed her pale pink brows in a prickle of surprise.

"Wait... What? They can talk?" Tatum pressed in a spike of whole confusion, though she firmly looked down at the slumbering lykata firmly planted in her lap, Marble's glorious ears were sagged in sleepy unawares.

"Ho, can they, some of them don't shut up," Wren muttered, though Berri wrinkled her nose and shot him a look of smiling annoyance.

"Don't talk about Lickity like that," Berri sneered, Theo choked a shy laugh and looked down to his lap, as if he so badly wanted to open up and allow his boisterous, adorable, boyish demeanor soak the place, though like a flower too shy to bloom, he largely reserved himself; a sweet show the group about him rather enjoyed.

"I was talking about Chester, actually," Wren snipped in cute delight, the group continued to warmly laugh.

"Yes, they can talk, I'm sure they just quietly inspected what was going on," Berri smiled, though she allowed her hand to warmly begin to pet Marble's much larger, wolf-like snout, "This one, on the other hand, is a little bit more intuitive. This is Marble. She can't physically talk, but she can speak to you telepathically. Has she tried?"

"Oh, no, she just... Came with the group, but after a few minutes, all the rest of them left except for her," Tatum chimed warmly, her lovely little hands eased through Marble's thick, gorgeous mane that lined the back of her neck and spine. With the plumes of her feathers tucked tight to her body, and the girth of it all sagged out into the grass, she remained cozily asleep with her skull firmly planted in Tatum's lap, "I quite enjoyed the company. I forgot what it was like to have a pet... Not that... Marble's a pet, but she does resemble a dog."

"This is my father's lykata, I'm sure he probably instructed Marble to keep an eye on you and make sure you're okay," Berri soothed lovingly, both girls continued to aimlessly stroke and pet the top of Marble's head, something she surely was living up.

As the group carried on, Wren cocked an eyebrow and felt his phone buzz. Sat nestled into the drape of Throttle's left arm, Throttle cocked an eyebrow and curiously peered to Wren's phone as Wren unlocked everything and scrolled to the little group message he was suddenly a part of. Wren sharply furrowed his eyebrows, remained still and was quick to notice he was lumped into a group chat that included Lash, Nox, and Throttle. Wren held his breath and nervously read the message that Lash had almost hesitantly sent off.

Lashedout : Hey guys, we got a code blue, over here. I know that Wren and Throttle are back in Sugar Rush, right?

Noxtastic : They should be, Tee texted me last night, something about them coming in later today

Lashedout : Look, I know I'm not really the best person to rally others and give towards the greater good, but Turbo's spiraled. He hasn't bubbled me in almost a week. He hasn't really... Stopped drinking or smoking, and I think he's just taking interval naps on the couch as opposed to actually sleeping at night. I'm just here, existing, and... Guys, it's not pretty.

Noxtastic : Wait, what? What happened?

Lashedout : I guess him and Berri broke up, it's getting bad and I'm concerned. I can't do anything because I might as well be FUCKING INANIMATE. I don't have ANY privileges. Guys, pissing has become a REAL chore. I can only open the fridge and touch the faucet and stuff like that, but he forgot to give me access to the toilet. Please come over and help me shake some sense into him, he won't listen to me anymore.

Lashedout : There's not enough beer in the world, I'm serious.

Lashedout : I added Wren to the group because, I don't know man... Turbo previously wouldn't shut up about how awesome and loyal you are, I figured you're super important to my brothers, so... I'd be stupid not to add you.

Noxtastic : Name a time, I'll be there.

Wren held his breath and felt his pupils tight in a draw of terror, and as him and Throttle nervously caught eyes, they slowly drew their gaze across the way to the cute sight before them. Berri and Tatum warmly carried on with each other, whilst Theo cheesily looked on in starstruck, drooling, grinning delight, though Wren inhaled a shaky breath and began typing back into the group chat.

Songbird : Thanks man, yeah I got your guys' backs. We just got home, we have a house guest. Let me make sure Berri's got this under control before we head out, but we should be over in the next ten minutes. Throttle's sitting here with me, so he's read everything.

Lashedout : Hope you have a way of getting inside Turbo's stupid, dark dungeon of blue eyes and beer bottles.

Noxtastic : Yeah, I think Tee and I have keys.

Wren exhaled a shaky breath, eyed his phone and finally locked it to a close. He sagged back into Throttle's gentle, side embrace and peered out to Berri, Tatum, Marble and Theo; they happily chatted away, without a current care, though Wren felt his heart begin to race. He was floored Berri had a distraction from her's and Turbo's troubles, touring and now inviting Tatum into their lives, though his heart sank in whole guilt over the raw fact that poor Turbo was cooped up inside his home, lonely and without. Wren softly caught eyes with Throttle and noticed that he, too, looked a bit apprehensive, and although they had the impending task of hopefully picking Turbo up and encouraging him to get back on his feet, Wren lulled his eyes closed and knew he had to pick himself up, as well, to muster up a silly excuse for him and Throttle to break away from the four before him. He wondered just when this drama would end, and although he swore to stand next to Turbo in everything, he felt his blood begin to boil, he feared that said pick-me-up Turbo definitely needed didn't induce any amount of strong arming, an act of kicking Turbo's butt into gear. Hesitant to go toe-to-toe to Arcade's scariest bad guy, he gulped and was now well aware that this is what he signed up for.