A/N: OKAY! LOL You guys liked the bomb I dropped on you? I can't tell you how hard it was to keep that all a secret for so long, considering I'm well over 40 chapters ahead of you guys, right now. It's why I update every other day. Some of you guys already had it guessed, though some of your guys' predictions had me on the floor pissing my pants. Holy USER you guys are a riot. I fucking love every single last one of you DON'T FORGET IT!
Also, if you haven't known by now, I have some yummy pictures of Tessa and Zed all over my deviantART - my username is Vyntresser.
I also update my Instagram with artwork, regularly. I often post my artwork there first, before it even gets posted to deviantART. So if you want the inside scoop before the deviantART peeps, check out my Instagram - username, Vyntastic. I also post pictures of my ugly mug and the very inspiration to Lickity! ( my Camry ) so that's fun to laugh at too! xD
*Chapter 49*
Zed exhaled a small sigh and let his cheeks expand, as if to curiously hold it in. He eyed Tessa with a gentle, growing smile and squinted a little. She had been silent for a few moments now, as if she had to re-contemplate her whole life. Zed breathed a gentle laugh and lulled his hands into his pockets lightly, though Lickity slowly strolled up to him and nuzzled her nose into his center, like always; Zed smiled and lovingly rubbed her snout a little. He gently scratched her chin in a loving manner, he knew Lickity was aware of his status this whole time, it was obvious her animal instincts were beyond their human mindsets. Zed finally peered his eyes to Tessa, again, and began to feel lightly worried.
"Tess," Zed breathed with a small, bashful smile, though his heart continued to race.
"I really did have my face right to the painting, didn't I," Tessa breathed an embarrassed, small laugh and held her eyes to Zed's in curious delight. Zed raised his blue eyebrows and gently looked down with a bashful, renewed smile.
"I just... I hope you're not mad," Zed said softly as his adorable smile began to fade.
"Mad," Tessa repeated as she furrowed her eyebrows in incredulous surprise, "Why in Arcade would I be mad?"
"I don't know," Zed said in a mildly annoyed tone as he looked out to his vast scenery, "I guess... All of the horrid things you've heard about Zed, I thought that if you knew that he was secretly me, you'd... Leave me."
"But, you're still Zane to me," Tessa shook her head gently and gave him an understanding smile, "Sure, that's not your real name, which... Is going to take some getting used to, but... The only thing that has changed is your hair color. Why would I suddenly want to leave, knowing that you're actually Zed?"
"I'm Dead Zed's bad guy," Zed rolled his eyes and looked towards Lickity, "No one likes me. I can tell you, right now, if I were to walk into town with my User forsaken blue hair, everyone would question why I was there, and likely tell me to leave."
"Why do they hate you?" Tessa wondered as she kept her arms crossed, as if Zed's secret still sent cold spells over her skin.
"Because I'm unbeatable," Zed said in a gentle tone, so not to sound cocky about himself. He furrowed his eyebrows and shook his head, "I am the dead last boss of this game, that no one can ever reach, let alone beat... Somehow, they think it makes me a pretentious jerk. I-I can't help that I was programmed this way."
"Well," Tessa hissed with a gentle smile, her renewed eyes caught his as she finally dared to take a step closer to her fully revealed partner in crime, "It'd be against my code to suddenly not like you because you're a bad guy. Do you know who my father is?"
"That thought has crossed my mind," Zed laughed gently, his aura practically begged Tessa to come closer, as if he desperately needed reassurance. He glued his electric, blue eyes to Tessa's dewy, hazel ones and almost felt a nervous sweep crawl over him. He gently shrugged and gave her a sheepish smile, "I-I'm glad you're not mad. I don't know why I thought you'd be."
"I would probably think the same thing, if I were in your shoes," Tessa said with a gentle shrug as she stopped a few feet in front of Zed.
She curiously peered at him and glanced at his hair; she felt a bashful smile sprawl her face at the bold, new hair color. She was almost positive his eye color became more blue, as well. He was extraordinarily handsome prior, though she felt a strange feeling sit at the bottom of her stomach, as if he had gained a new level of adorableness she was certain he couldn't obtain, prior. She kept her arms crossed and, as badly as she wanted to dive into his welcoming arms and chest, she remained still; she knew the two suddenly had to become reacquainted.
"Thank you," Tessa said calmly with a kind smile, though Zed furrowed his eyebrows in mild confusion.
"For what," Zed breathed just above a whisper.
"For trusting me," Tessa squinted her eyes kindly, "Surely, this was one of the hardest things you've had to do. Penny and I are the only ones who know you're Zed, huh."
"Yep," Zed nodded a little and kept his inquisitive eyes glued to hers. The romantic, tectonic tension, that had slowly dipped over the course of the week, was quickly beginning to climb all over again.
"I'm honored," Tessa smiled and looked down to the ground.
"Hurry get in the game, get in the game," Penny urged to Tammy and Emery as Selka and his three chumps had disappeared down Dead Zed's outlet a few minutes prior, "I'm sure Zane and Tessa are long gone, but I don't want Selka coming to us for information."
"You think he'd do that?" Emery wondered nervously as the three quickly walked down Sugar Rush's wires.
"I know he'd do that," Penny muttered in annoyance, though Tammy and Emery eagerly peered to their younger friend and cousin.
"How in Arcade did you get Zane to leave Dead Zed?" Emery giggled softly, "Did you make him a bet, or something?"
"No," Penny smiled a sly smile, "I had Orion bust his windows."
"You did not," Tammy gaped slightly, Penny nodded a proud nod and looked at the two girls down her nose.
"I think I'm one of the first people to give that nerd-face orders, and actually have him follow them," Penny smiled victoriously.
"I believe it," Tammy scoffed as she crossed her arms, "I'm sure the only person he'd take orders from is Vanellope, otherwise."
"That's because she knows exactly where his delete button is," Emery mumbled as she shot Tammy a sly smirk. Tammy nodded and lulled her head, as if to almost unwillingly agree.
"He's stubborn, though, Zane," Penny raised her eyebrows lightly and peered off into the distance of Sugar Rush as they finally came into the safety of it's sweet, sugar coated embrace.
"Yeah?" Tammy wondered softly, "I wonder if him and Tessa have made up."
"Or made out," Emery blurted out, which caused Penny to laugh a knowing breath in their direction.
"Hooo believe me," Penny raised her eyebrow, "After Zane settles everything, I'm sure they'll be just fine."
"Settles everything?" Tammy repeated in a curious tone as the three slowly strolled down Sugar Rush's rainbow road, "What do you mean?"
"O-Oh, well," Penny furrowed her eyebrows and contemplated her next move; she wasn't certain if telling Tammy and Emery Zane's actual identity, at this moment, was wise. She shook her head lightly and gave them a light, apologetic smile, "I-I really think Zane should be the one to tell you guys what's up. I don't think it's my place."
"Ohh, gossip," Emery wrinkled her nose and glanced at Tammy, who gave her an equally curious glance, "You know stuff that we don't?"
"C'mon, spill!" Tammy urged pleadingly, as did Emery. Penny scoffed an annoyed noise and waved her hand around.
"Oh guys, don't do this to me," Penny laughed softly, though in an annoyed tone, "I couldn't do that to Zane, or Tessa... He'll tell you guys when he feels the moment is right. It's REALLY not my place."
"Aww, not fair," Emery prod in annoyance, though she knew Penny was loyal to Tessa first and foremost, as well as Zane's fragile secret.
"I'm sure the cat will be out of the bag eventually," Penny lightly shrugged, "You'll find out soon enough."
"User," Tessa hissed as her, Zed and Lickity slowly strolled into Zed's actual home.
A massive, lower ceilinged room with large, sprawling white tiles. Carved into the mountain, as if were merely nothing, his home was crowned at the tip top of the Dead Zed world. Much like his loft, in town, the far wall of his beautiful home was solid glass, which had a perfect view of the serene valley and mountain base below, as well as the small town and Dead Zed's entrance, far in the distance. Tessa's eyes sprawled the place, it was cool and still, though the sunshine flood every last fiber of material it could get it's rays on. To the far right, in the same, massive room, was a few steps down that led to a small, mini amphitheater like sitting area. It was hugged by a comfortable, large white couch in which looked heavenly. A lazy, grey hoodie was hung off the back of the couch, as well as a drink sat on the table, though it looked like it had been sitting for awhile. A few magazines and books dotted the table and couch as well.
To the left was Zed's kitchen, which looked a lot like the one in his loft, though it was a lot larger and more open. A single, white countered island hung in the middle. It was scattered with various, household items. Tessa let everything soak in; she raised her eyebrows lightly and finally realized why Zed's little loft, in town, constantly looked tidy and rather un-lived in. It was because this gem was his actual home. The two silently approached Zed's kitchen, though she could tell Zed was watching her every move, as if to be constantly nervous that she would suddenly not accept this change. He hovered near her and kept his attentive gaze on her, as if he was certain one wrong move would make her leave. Her eyes pierced the marvelous wall of windows, across the sprawling tiles. Her pupils shrunk as the sunshine welcomed her fully into the game, once and for all. She heaved a small laugh of disbelief and turned around to get a better look around, and towards the front door they just entered.
A doorway, just beyond the kitchen, caught her eye. It was tucked away, in a secretive sort of corner, though the door was cracked open, as if to suggest maybe it led to his bedroom. She inwardly swallowed a nervous gulp and wondered just what that room looked like, though she figured she'd find out sooner or later. Her eyes scanned his warm home, for the thousandth time. She remained silent, though as she slowly came back to Litwak's, her ears pricked to Lickity's sudden, calm grumble as she made herself comfortable on the cold tiles underneath her. Tessa eagerly peered at Lickity before she slowly slid her eyes to Zed's, as if all of this was merely a dream. Zed raised his eyebrows lightly as he stood on the other side of the island. He exhaled a small breath of a chuckle and gave her an apologetic smile.
"Are... Are you going to be okay?" Zed wondered softly; he felt his heart jolt as Tessa's eyes gently scanned just how blue his hair was.
"I'm fine," Tessa smiled sheepishly as she looked about his home, yet again, "It's... It's a lot to take in... You've been Zed this whole time... This whole time?" Tessa finished incredulously as she beamed an almost annoyed smile to him.
"Guilty," Zed sighed, "It's been difficult, let me tell you."
"Why don't you want anyone to know you're Zed?" Tessa wondered with a hard frown, she finally leaned against Zed's counter and kept her eyes glued to his.
"You go your whole life being hated for merely being who you are," Zed started softly as he peered down to his strong, though tender hands, "I figured, making a false identity... I could finally make friends and live a normal life. It's not like I do anything, during game day. I've only had one quarter alert in the five years we've been plugged in."
"ONE," Tessa's eyes bulged with an annoyed smile; Zed beamed the same grin and shook his head, as if to not want to believe it was true.
"One," Zed raised his finger, "It gets lonely, and boring, just sitting up here... Wondering why everyone hates you merely for being programmed to be unbeatable. I tried to tell them, it's just in my code, but... They just think I'm a pretentious jerk that doesn't agree with losing."
"Have you ever raced your other racers?" Tessa curiously wondered.
"Yeah," Zed looked down and furrowed his eyebrows, "I used to... My memory is sort of failing me, for some reason..."
"Why don't you tell Selka who you really are?" Tessa asked after a few gentle moments of silence.
"What good would that do?" Zed wondered gently.
"He'd get off your case," Tessa scoffed a laugh of disbelief, "Wouldn't you love to just jump out and be like... 'haha, I'm Zed! I know where your delete button is!'" She gestured her hands in a dorky fashion.
"Oh believe me," Zed laughed alongside Tessa, "I've contemplated it... It just... Would be unproductive."
"I don't know," Tessa smiled lovingly towards him, "I think it'd be awesome."
Zed smiled into her eyes and let his heart dip, a little. He felt renewed, knowing his secret was safe with Penny, and more so Tessa. He knew he'd have to spill the beans, to everyone else, eventually, though he relished in the fact that he could finally curl away with someone, tell all his secrets to the person he cared most about. He gave her an inquisitive look as their eyes remained glued, he knew he had made her go through so much for the sake of keeping his identity safe. She was put in danger for him, and he knew he'd have to somehow express gratitude.
"I'm so sorry for putting you through this," Zed said after a few moments of silence between them.
"Through what?" Tessa inquired lightly and softly.
"Selka's nonsense, lying to you..." Zed trailed off and furrowed his eyebrows lightly, "That night at Tapper's... I should have known that our act probably wasn't wise."
"I know my idea wasn't smart," Tessa started deeply, though she slowly peered out Zed's wall of windows in an almost insulted kind of way, "I just... I wanted to go above and beyond to prove to you that you were worth my time."
"I-I wasn't saying I regret any of it," Zed tried his hardest to assure her, though his heart gently sank as she took a few lingering steps away from him and closer to his floor to ceiling windows. She crossed her arms tight and peered out to the world, Zed's secret still hung onto her soul in a fit of disbelief. Zed nervously moved around his island and stepped closer to her, he outreached his hand just barely and continued on, "I quite enjoyed it... After awhile, I even forgot we were doing that to spite Selka."
"Yeah, though the backlash resulted in you shelling away," Tessa furrowed her eyebrows hard, before she suddenly stabbed into his electric blue gaze with hers, "Do you want to know how upset I was, when you pushed me away?"
"I know," Zed quietly eased, he gave her an honest, urgent frown, "Believe me... I beat myself up for days. I-I was just so worried. I didn't want to let you in."
"Why?" Tessa curiously spat.
"Because, I've gone my whole life being hated, it was just nice to be someone else, to not have to worry about being ridiculed," Zed lightly argued, "You have to admit, if you met me as Zed, and was aware of how I am the game's unbeatable boss, you'd hate me too, right? You'd think I was looking at all of you down my nose, right?"
Tessa continued to hold her glare to Zed's eyes, though she gently slumped her shoulders and softly threw her gaze out to the scenery before them, as if to express defeat and honestly agree with him. She heaved a hard sigh through her nose and kept her arms crossed. Zed tenderly took a step closer to her, as if daring to budge into her restricted bubble was suicide. He inhaled a nervous breath and shook his head gently as he continued on.
"Ever since you ditched Selka at the ball," Zed started softly, "For ME... I knew you were special. I knew that if you could see through Selka's fake exterior, you could-"
"Fall for yours?" Tessa suddenly, though quietly, barked; Zed flinched in shocked dismay and took a gentle step backwards, "I get wanting to keep it all a secret, and being nervous about what people would think, I understand... But, how could you keep this? From ME? For as long as you did...?"
"I know Tess, I know!" Zed urged, though Tessa was surprised to see his eyes become glassy; she knew she needed to continue on, however hard it may be.
"When I danced with you, I was dancing with Zane," Tessa urged as she finally faced him, though she felt her face get hot, "When I kissed you, I kissed Zane. Wh-when I... When I daydreamed of you, at Academy, I daydreamed of Zane! I-I fell in love with who you were... What makes you think I'd suddenly turn heel, just because I found out you're the game's bad guy?"
Tessa curiously stopped and peered at him, though she exhaled a scoff of a breath and largely looked around, to begin to prove her point.
"If I suddenly stopped liking you, because I found out you were secretly Dead Zed's bad guy, my dad would probably have my head!" Tessa laughed as she threw her arm out, "My dad is the biggest, meanest bad guy in all of Litwak's, and yet... He's happily married and King of Sugar Rush. There's good in everyone... And I mean everyone. It's frustrating to me, that you thought I, of all people, wouldn't begin to understand that."
Zed gently peered at her with a smile that had been growing over the past few seconds. His kind eyes held onto hers in an inquisitive, renewed sort of way, as if he had caught her in the act of committing a crime.
"You... You fell in love with me?" Zed wondered as softly as he could, though his smile widened as Tessa put up her finger.
"I didn't say that," Tessa spat, though it was clear she was holding back a bashful smile.
"Alright," Zed beamed as he crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows in delightful surprise.
"Oh, shut up," Tessa urged as she waved her arm and softly turned around.
She took a curious, lingering few steps away from him and huffed a noise of minor distress. She softly muttered to herself and turned back around to face Zed, though she peered down at the ground past her crossed arms. Zed exhaled a silent laugh and gave her a tender smile, he knew this all had to be difficult, though he was hoping somehow, they'd move past this confusion and start fresh. He inhaled a confident breath and, as slowly as he could, he approached her. He bent over, just barely, and gained her eye contact. As softly as he could, he took her hand in his and squeezed it.
"You fell in love with Zane," Zed eased in an understanding, gentle tone; Tessa raised her eyebrows and glued her teary eyes to his in a sulk of mature vulnerability, "I understand... But, if you let me, I can prove to you that I am still that guy. Really, the only thing different is my hair color."
"It looks nice," Tessa kindly admitted, though she sniffled softly and continued to hold her nervous eyes to his, as if she was thankful she nearly avoided being duped by mis-communication. Tessa finally inhaled a soft breath and furrowed her eyebrows, "Just... Tell me, if something is up, next time. You have to understand, this past week, thinking you didn't want me in your life anymore, was really hard."
"I know," Zed frowned, "It was hard for me to... You're my best friend. I know the value of something special, when I see it. That's why, when I pushed you away, I was so certain trying to come back to you would be the biggest mistake... I know you're smarter than to let people walk all over you."
"Well, I'm glad Penny got to you," Tessa eased gently, she gave him a kind smile and inhaled a renewed breath, though she curiously peered at him and slumped a few of her fingers into her back pockets, "So... How do we go about this? Are you going to pretend to be Zane around Tammy and everyone else?"
"Probably for the time being," Zed nodded slightly, and hoped to gain her understanding eye contact; he felt a wave of relief crawl over him once he received it. He glanced down to the ground in a fit of quick contemplation and knew if he didn't act now, he'd continue on being too painfully shy to get anything done. He inhaled a confident breath and let his eyes grip hers in a sear of gentle dominance, "Though, you and I don't have to kid ourselves anymore."
"What do you mean?" Tessa wondered softly as she froze and felt her face get hot; she knew exactly what he was insinuating, though she felt it nice that he took the reigns for once.
"I wasn't kidding, earlier, at Academy," Zed started softly, his bashful self continued to shine through, "I told Selka, and those other idiots, to keep their hands off of my girlfriend... I think it's time we make it clear, to everyone, what our intentions are, with each other."
"Yeah?" Tessa asked curiously with a bashful side eye. She finally exhaled a gentle scoff of a laugh, as did Zed. She gently crossed her arms, again, in a fit of shyness that crawled over her.
"Yeah," Zed's kind eyes smiled into hers as she finally peered at him once and for all, "Will you be my girlfriend?"
"...I honestly thought you would never ask," Tessa suddenly beamed a gentle, contagious laugh, which caused Zed to smile a wide, bashful smile down to his white tiles.
"I'm not the most daring person, ever," Zed chuffed with an adorable smile as he finally looked back into her eyes; Tessa wrinkled her nose.
"Well, I guess that all ends here," Tessa said softly, though she lightly gave him a loving smile and nodded, "I'd be happy to be your girlfriend."
"And see, I honestly thought you'd never say yes," Zed said through a long sigh of relief; Tessa beamed an annoyed grin and wrinkled her nose.
"Let's see, after helping me become a confident person, always believing in me, teaching me how to dance," Tessa rattled off points on her fingers and gazed up to the ceiling, "Uh, you showed me a secret spot no one's ever seen, you gave me my first kiss, you stuck up to Selka for me and practically beat the snot out of him just now... You let me into the most secretive part of your life because you truly care... Yeah, I can see why you'd think I wouldn't want you to be my boyfriend. I get it."
"C'mon," Zed lazily waved his hand before he casually put both hands on his hips, "It was... It was nothing."
"I appreciate everything you've done, for me," Tessa said gently to him, though she noticed Lickity slowly come around the back side of the island and silently march towards Zed; Tessa could have sworn she had an annoyed look in her eye. Zed's back was to Tessa's snarky, sly dragon. She held her head down and her wings tucked tight to her body, though her eyes remained glued to the back of Zed's head in mild annoyance.
"Well, I just... I guess I've never really had someone to spoil, so, it's been nice," Zed beamed gently, though he suddenly exhaled a confused noise as Lickity shoved her snout into Zed's lower back and rear.
As gently as she could, she shoved Zed closer to Tessa and closed the three or four foot gap between them. Zed raised his eyebrows in nervous surprise as he suddenly was pushed into Tessa. She widened her eyes and quickly steadied Zed against her as he put his hands on her shoulders and peered down at her in shocked apology, though they both gazed at each other through furrowed expressions before they peered over at Lickity; she grumbled a noise of sly contentment and began to slowly mosey away, as if to tell the two to get it over with already.
"Lickity," Tessa complained softly as the two finally, though slowly, relaxed against each other.
The two laughed in mild disbelief before he bravely gazed back at Tessa. As softly as he could, he slid his strong hands from the fronts of her shoulders down her arms and around the middle of her body, though he held her lightly, as if to wonder if this was an alright step to break the ice; a new normal he knew the two would have to get used to. He was thrilled to feel Tessa's gentle hands hold him tenderly on the sides of his upper chest, they peered into each other's eyes with bashful, dewy strings of honey-glow.
"Can't argue with a dragon," Zed teased.