Taking the Pain Away

Chapter 2

Words: 2,000+

Rated: M

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Following the trip to America, Pewdie hadn't felt...right. Like his subconcious was aware of a troubling scenario unfolding with his friends in America, but the most troubling part was that he couldn't get in touch with Cry to find out what it was, nor did he have a way to contact Russ, Jund, or the rest of Cry's friends beyond Skype, and no one was online. After trying for a third time to get Cry to answer the Skype call, well aware of the green 'online' button beside the American's name, he took off his headset and rubbed his forehead, sighing heavily in frustration. He knew he was likely overreacting, he had been given no real reason to assume anyhing was wrong, but he could tell. Horribly irritated, Pewdie walked to the kitchen and helped himself to a warm cup of black coffee with a shot of alcohol, savoring the mild taste of almond and vanilla, as well as the drinking the beverage created on the cold, winter day.

Pewdie leaned against the bar seperating the kitchen from the living room, sad to see the apartment so lonely. Even his pug was gone. Marzia was visiting a friend for the rest of the day and although the apartment was lonely without her, he appreciated the opportunity for time by himself. He hated his temper and when he was upset, he was short with everone, even including the beautiful Italian. Sometimes more-so with her than anyone else. He started to walk across the room to play his WII when he heard his Skype ringtone and he quickly darted into his room and sat down in front of the PC. Sure enough, the name "Cry" was spread across his computer screen, attached to call he was so happy to have. He picked up his headset and accepted the call, surpised that the other man had his webcam turned off. Although the brunette didn't show his face to many, Felix was one of the people lucky enough to have his trust.

"Cry! Is everyhing alright, bro?" Pewdie asked immediately, fumbling to get his headphones on. On the other line, he heard a soft, soothing chuckle. It was warm and affectionate, and Pewdie smiled to himself. He knew he had been overreacting. "I'm amazing. What's up, Pewds?"

The blond took a sip from his coffee cup and moved around in the chair until he was comfortable, pulling up a blanket from the floor beside the chair. "I'm just glad you're okay, Cry. I was worried something was wrong." There was silence. "Your camera isn't on today." He commented sadly, gazing intensely into the webcam at the other man. He wished he could see Cry' face.

Cry's room was dark and cold, having recently had the ir conditioner fixed. He was freezing himself out to help keep himself awake. He'd been lethargic all day and the alcohol he was pounding into himself hadn't been helping the cause. Despitethe desire to stay awake, he was wrapped up in an oversized hoodie and a comforter, his mask pulled off to the side of his face since no one was there to notice he wasn't hidden. "Yeahhh...sorry. Not right now, man. I'm sorry." The apology was sincere, the brunette had felt bad just hearing the sadness in Pewdie's voice. Pewds had explained to him once that the reason he enjoyed webcamming with Cry so much was because Cry didn't how his face to many of his friends and it made him feel important...but he couldn't show Pewdie, because it was obvious he was drunk and had been crying and just...no. Not today, not ever. He did love that Pewdie cherished seeing his face so much...

No. That was also before Pewdie made it clear he was intested in being with Marzia forever, and not Cry. His chest ached and he cringed, chugging some more vodka. "I am sorry, Pewds. Maybe later, okay?"

"You sound strange. Are you sure everyhing is okay?" The blond was glancing offhandedly in the direction of the webcam, as if he was trying to make eye contact with the American. Those brigt blue eyes looking so worried. It made Cry smile. If only Pewds knew. "I'm okay. Are you?"

Pewdie had a bad habit of lying about how he felt. "Just kinda lonely since I came home...Marzia went to stay with a friend who's been out of town for a lomg time and you were busy..."He laughed sadly. "I guess I don't really like to be alone. But I can use the time I have alone to talk to my family and get the ring..." Cry felt guilty immediately, leaning his forhead on his hand and murmured softly to himself. He'd been so consumed with his own personal issues and emotions between his family, finding a new house, and the obvious emotional retraction from Pewds that he'd been ignoring his Skype and even cut his last two livestreams shorter. However, the most recent cause of neglect was that he was so absolutely drunk and exhausted that he passed out on the desk. It had taken three calls from Pewds and several IMs from Jund to wake him up. On top of that, hearing Pewdie talking about the proposl felt like a brick against the back of his head, like someone was jamming a steel pipe into his chest and slappin him across the face with rings on...within moments of those words spoken in Pewdie's familiar accent, usually comforting and reassuring to Cry, he was gripping his own wrist tightly, scratching his thigh painfully to hold back the pain. His throat burned and the back of his eyes felt like they were on fire from resisting the overflow of tears,his head spinning, stuffy with an emotional anarchy within his skull.

"You're never alone, Pewdie." The shift of tone in Cry's voice alarmed Pewds. So much so, that it sent a chill down his spine. "You have millions of fans, a girlfriend, a loving family...you have so many people." Cry winced and closed his eyes, feeling the inside of his skull burn as he held back jealous rage. How could Pewdie ever understand..? How could he ever feel lonely? All he had to do was send a tweet or get online...Cry tipped the vodka bottle again. He wanted to be too tired to blink.

"Cry, you know you're not alone either, right?"

The brunette didn't respond. "Goodnight, Pewds. Jund is calling."

Pewdie was too upset to play any games after Cry hung up the call on him. He was thankful that he had posted a Fridays With PewDiePie and a new episode of a Let's Play so that he could spend the night in.

Minutes later, however, while he was checking his Twitter, Jund called his Skype.

A confused PewDiePie answered.

"Pewds, something is wrong with Cry."