I'm getting really good at not getting chapters in on time, clearly. I hope you guys enjoy the chapter and don't mind all the texting segments to come this chapter, fft.

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Eddie tucked his phone back into his pocket as he peered up at the grey sky overhead, "Well, damn," The clouds were a fine indicator that he should have brought an umbrella with him today. Eddie could find some good in the fact he lived nearby, so jogging home in the rain wouldn't be terrible at least. He'd end up soggy, but not soaked if he moved fast. His apartment was maybe-3 or 4 blocks down at most.

Okay, maybe he would be soaked, but Eddie was allowed to dream.

The rain also guaranteed Kage wouldn't be coming in to work today, even without taking account of last night's fiasco, Kage hated the rain and bunkered down at home whenever there was even a hint of it in the air.

The roadie was only pulled by his thoughts when he felt his phone vibrate against his chest, he letting his gaze drop back to the technological piece of plastic as he fished it back out. Surprised when he saw who had texted him. Lars of all people.

'how is everything going edward :3?'

Oh Lars and his love of emoticons. One day, Eddie would tell Lars emotions weren't very dignified, right now was not that time though. Now was the time to see which ones he would use during the conversation.

'Good, its rainy over here though,'

'0_0! rly? edward i hope you have umbrella!' Eddie had to chuckle at the shocked face as he moved to duck under an awning, able to hear a crack of thunder in the distance. Half wondering if he should ask about the tour Ironheade was on or not. He usually got updates from Lita anyway, the blonde woman gave him a bi-monthly email about what happened behind the scenes.

'nope forgot it at home today'

'edward! _ youll end up all wet!'

'yea yea i know! don't need to tell me, mom.'

'0'_'0 i am merely showing concern for you dear friend i am hardly your dear mother!'

"The hell did he learn that one from?" Eddie chuckled to himself as he easily answered the other man, sparring a glance at the time on the phone before quickly adding he had to get back to work. Unsurprisingly a quick reply came, including an equally as ridiculous emoticon from the blonde man.

'have a good day at work my friend! ;^D!'

Sometimes, Eddie wondered if Lars was secretly a pre-teen girl.

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The sound of a downpour washed away the sound of his neighbor's television's blaring old action movies. The rain is loud enough that Eddie lets his mind focus purely on that as he stretched out across his couch. His legs half hanging off of the arm of his couch as he let himself sink into the worn fabric. The comfort was enough to let the dark haired man's mind wander as his eyes closed. He briefly having to wonder what Sasha was up to. The German man hadn't responded to any of his text's. Sasha certainly wasn't obligated to by any stretch of the imagination, but Eddie had grown so used to just chatting with him every couple days. Now the German man had been gone nearly two weeks. Sasha's absence spanning the awkward feud he and Kage had been going through the motions off since it started.

It was just weird to have a newer solid presence in his life go radio silent like this. Though it certainly wasn't strange. Sasha was somewhat of a private man, some things he wouldn't talk about. Eddie certainly wasn't a man for prying into other's people's business, so he generally let topics lie where they may. He'd prefer Sasha to tell him about something instead of prodding at the German to tell him everything up front. If it was important, Sasha would tell him in due time. It didn't quell Eddie's mind any though.

Some part of Eddie could guess that aspect of Sasha was one reason things between the pair hadn't worked out. Milla was very open to talking and friendly to everyone she met, Sasha remained closed off about most things. If he wasn't comfortable he was generally awkward. Eddie could understand where both of them were coming from on this. He would want his partner to be more open about things just as much as he would have wanted to hold onto a falling apart relationship like Sasha had.

"Shit," He breathed quietly to himself, feeling immediately guilty for his thoughts straying that way. He didn't know all the details of what happened, he shouldn't be asserting too much into that line of thought. Sasha certainly hadn't given him every single detail and Milla wasn't about to talk to him about it. They were still friends, but she wasn't going to bring it up to Eddie. The roadie already knew that much.

The roadie rolled onto his side in irritation, trying to brush aside the awkward thoughts to simply listen to the rain.

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"Duuuuude, duuuuuudeeee," Drunken slurring singing echoing in the hallway outside of Eddie's apartment was not quite what the roadie had expected to wake up to. Nor that Kage would be the one singing at him through his front door. "your, youuuur right! So, soooo right!" Eddie was just further baffled by the strumming of a guitar following the drunken singing. Kage had to be seriously drunk to think this was a good idea.

Eddie could only awkwardly squint at his door as the slurring continued. "You're like, soooo right!" The roadie simply reached out to pick up a pillow, covering his face with an irritated grunt as Kage continued regardless of the lack of response. "I shouldn't have said that, man! I was like, so way wrong!"

The fact Kage seemed actually apologetic amongst his drunken sing-songing was enough to make Eddie peer at the door again. Hesitating before he reluctantly sat up where he lay.

"I know those words like- piss you off, I shouldn't have said them!" There was an audible thump from the other side, if anything Eddie could guess Kage was leaning into the door. His guess proven right by how muffled his friend's words came out next. "Msosorrybro,"

"You're what?" He called back, crossing his arms over his chest as he heard Kage scramble up from where he was leaning. Eddie grimaced a little when he heard what sounded like a guitar being dropped on the ground. Kage was going to regret bringing that guitar at all if he kept mishandling it like that. The sound was enough to draw Eddie from where he lay on the couch. Indecisively hesitating between the door and the couch he had been laying on. Kage's words were what made him decide.

"I-I'm sorry! I mean it! Like- for reals. You're my best bro and I shat all over what you asked me not to."

Eddie could only sigh, resting his hand on the doorknob for the moment. He able to hear Kage sniffling through the wood of the door. The sound was enough to make the roadie turn the doorknob, opening his door to come face to face with his friend. The dark haired man's brows knitting together as he spoke.

"You do mean it, don't you?"

Eddie suddenly opening the door was enough to make the fat man spring back, surprise clear on his features. "Y-Yeah! With all my heart, dude! I should respect your feelings a shit, and I didn't."

The roadie paused, running his fingers through his hair. A tired sort of smile curling across his features. "You're forgiven, man. Even if it sounds like- fuckin' douchey to say out loud,"

"Well, you're my favorite douche?" Kage weakly joked back, a strained smile on his features.

The roadie laughed in turn, shaking his head. "Good to know," He stepped out of his apartment, "C'mon, man. Lemme walk you back to your apartment, you are fuckin' plastered,"

"Only a little bit!"

"Dude, you smell like a whiskey factory, c'mon." He reached out to lightly grab Kage by the arm to lead the balding man back to his own apartment. The small walk over spent quietly talking as Kage cradled his guitar against his chest and Eddie lightly teased him in turn.

They certainly weren't perfect friends, but they were friends. When Kage wasn't blasted beyond all reason, Eddie would probably have a serious talk with him. For now, Kage was probably going to need a bucket put next his bed.

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Eddie smiled sleepily at the text message shining back at him from his phone's scratched up screen. Apparently Sasha had found some time between stamping paperwork to send him a message.

'Hello, Eddie. How are you?'

Eddie stifled a yawn as he reclined back into the pile of pillows to send a text back. He certainly wasn't an agile texter, but he could at least type out something quickly.

'pretty good how bout you?'

He set the phone aside, moving to get comfortable again. He didn't expect much of a response at the moment, considering it took Sasha half a week to reply to him. Apparently Sasha was making up for his slowness by immediately responding, the sudden buzzing jarring Eddie from the light doze he had already fallen into a he picked up his phone again.

'Stressed, I wish I was home, but I cannot leave until this office situation is straightened out.' Eddie could practically hear the text in Sasha's irritated tone, the tone easily conjuring up a mental image of Sasha pinching the bridge of his nose and rolling his eyes behind his sunglasses.

The mental image made Eddie's lip quirk slightly upwards as he typed up the next message, easily sending it as he got comfortable again. 'The hell did they do? make the copy machine sentient and mad with power?'

'That would have been easier to handle.'

'i suggest heavy drinking, but somehow i think that would be frowned on.'

'It would be, but I'll take your suggestion in consideration, Mr. Riggs.'

Eddie simply chuckled at Sasha's response, a smile fully blossoming across his features as he typed a response. He hoping he could make the German man laugh wherever he was at the moment.

'Good, drink a manly drink for me!'

'I think I will. I'll text you again soon. I have to go now.' Eddie's smile waned when he read over Sasha's message, reluctantly offering a simple response of goodbye. Disappointed their discussion was already coming to a close. The roadie could already guess it would take Sasha another week or so before he could talk again.

'see you later sasha.'

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And there we go, dear readers- one new chapter. Hopefully 19 will be stitched together a bit sooner than 18 was.