Authors Note: Sorry this chapter is a little late... :D
Sollux had now left the apartment building and was walking with his hands in his pockets as Eridan trailed behind him slightly as he peered around at the neighbourhood. During the day the neighbourhood seemed okay but it had an odd feeling to it, a feeling that screamed that of a nightmare this neighbourhood was not the place for midnight walks or leaving the house. Eridan couldn't help but grip his scarf as he stared at the back of Sollux's head. Sollux must know these streets because he seemed pretty cool and collected, it was quiet sad to think that families grew up here.
"Hey Sollux?" Eridan questioned as the boy in front of him stopped and awaited for Eridan to step beside him before continuing.
"What?"
"Do you live around here?" Sollux continued to stare forward as he sighed under his breath.
"Yeah I live a couple blockth from here, every thecond weekend" The boys fell silent as Eridan felt his stomach sink, that must mean that Sollux's parents are split up.
"Sorry" Eridan choked out as Sollux gave the boy a confused glance as he shook his head slightly and whipped out his phone to check the message he had received.
"What the hell Eridan no need to cry about it" Sollux smirked out as Eridan peered over at the boy and fiddled with the end of his scarf.
"I just thought that it was a sensitive topic" Eridan frowned out as Sollux rolled his eyes and pocketed his phone as a small shopping centre came into view as Eridan scanned it.
"It'th not like my parent'th are dead" Sollux chuckled out as Eridan fell silent, Sollux couldn't help but peer at the boy who snuggled into his scarf as his eyes glazed over slightly. Sollux simply shrugged it off though, seemed like parents were a sensitive topic for Eridan, though Sollux can only image what happened to the boy by him to force him to live with Cronus.
The boys continued silently as Sollux began to feel really awkward now, Eridan had gone completely quiet and seemed to be off in his own world though he had to break the boys trance.
"Hey Eridan, we are here" He reminded the boy, watching as he grasped his scarf tight and peered up at Sollux with watery eyes as he nodded. Sollux sighed as he peered up at the blue store logo that had a small fish jumping beside it, but it was faded now and lacked the happy colours that would have shone brightly many years ago. Sollux's eyes drifted to the boy again as he watched his features that were currently stern as his lips curved into a frown that ruined his perfect features.
"Come on fish fathe" Sollux groaned as he grabbed the other boys arm and dragged him through the door as Eridan struggled to regain his balance but did as the smell of fish and chips filled the atmosphere and the grills gurgled as they fried the once uncooked fish.
"Fish face where did that come from?" Eridan asked as he stuck his head out of the scarf a little as Sollux shrugged and peered over at the menu as a slight grin appeared over his features.
"I don't know" Sollux shrugged out as Eridan joined the man at looking at the menu as the owner turned from the grills to face the two males with a blunt unreadable expression. Though Sollux was quick to approach the man with a frown,
"Two dim thim's and a medium chipth's" the man wrote down the order then turned to Eridan.
"And a piece of fish and a crab stick" Eridan mumbled out as the man wrote it down as Sollux reached into his pocket and whipped out a fifty dollar bill and handed it to the cashier. After the change was given Sollux smirked as he went and took a seat on the available bench as Eridan followed suit. Eridan whipped out his phone as he checked the time, 12:30, with a sigh he pocketed the phone as he peered over at Sollux who was watching the phone though looked away when Eridan moved.
"You thouldn't really whip that out when you're in the threet'th" Sollux informed as Eridan slowly registered what the man was saying under his lisp as he pocketed the phone. He didn't speak as he shuffled slightly as he sunk into his scarf as his eyes slid closed.
It took a good ten minutes before the man called Sollux to the counter and handed the man the wrapped food as Sollux gave him a nod.
"Alright fish fathe, foodth here" Sollux grinned out as he left the store before Eridan could realise as he opened his eyes to follow the taller man as he lead the other towards one of the silver tables outside the store. Sollux opened up the grey wrapper and stared at the loads of chips with a grin as he stared over at the hipster.
"You can take a theet geeze" Sollux said with a roll of his eyes as he took a seat and watched the hipster come and seat by Sollux.
"Thanks" Eridan said as he took his seat by the taller male and watched him dig into the fish and chips slowly, as Eridan followed him and began to eat the hot salty chips.
"Hey Eridan, you don't mind if thomeone elthe joins uth yeah?" Sollux basically told Eridan as he whipped out his phone and began to write another text as Eridan ate a little slower but remained quiet. He was rather enjoying the company of Sollux and was nervous to meet another person today.
"Hey don't worry KK ithn't that much of an athhole." Sollux said with a smirk as Eridan gave a slight nod as he broke off a piece of fish and gave it a glance before eating it. He sunk into his scarf as he chewed the fish and a frown found its way onto his face. He didn't notice Sollux staring until he sat up to grab another piece of his fish as he locked eyes with the mismatched glasses.
"w-what, do I havve somfin on my face?"
"What'th up with that thcarf." Sollux asked with a smirk as Eridan peered down at the scarf and gave it a little stroke.
"W-what's w-with the glasses?" Eridan asked as a small grin found its way onto his lips as he took a bite of the battered fish as Sollux raised an eyebrow at the other man.
"Wow you actually have an attitude, that'th new" Sollux replied as he began to peel the skin off one of his dim sim's as Eridan chuckled a little. He was beginning to feel comfortable around Sollux, because he didn't seem to be as much as an asshole as when he first met him. The two sat in a comfortable silence that consisted of them eating though after Sollux had finished his dim sims he stood from his seat.
"Hey want a thoda?" He asked as Eridan gave a small nod as Sollux re-entered the store to purchase the drinks. As Sollux disappeared another man approached the store. He was rather short with black messy hair and pale skin. His eyes where an intense brown and he had snake bite piercings under his lips, and wore a simple black hoodie with grey jeans, not the greatest sense in fashion but he looked alright. His eyes scanned the shop and locked with Eridan's blue ones as a snarky smirk over took the males features.
"WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?" The boy practically growled out at Eridan who peered around but noticed he was referring to himself as he sunk into his scarf slightly as he didn't answer and hoped that the man didn't question him again, although the boy approached Eridan.
"I said what are you looking at!" He questioned again as Eridan flinched at the boys sharp words as he approached and placed his hands on the table by his fish and chips as he smirked.
"Are yoy DEAF I Said—"
"Karkat" Sollux's voice butted in as the strange boy turned to his friend and smirked as he approached Sollux and gave him a high five before following the boy back to the table where Eridan sat in silence. A can of Soda was placed in front of him as Sollux sat down with his own as karkat racked up another chair from the table beside them as he flipped it around and slouched onto it.
"Who this hipster?" Karkat snarled out again as Sollux gave his friend a small grin,
"Cronuth'th kid"
"Shit really poor kid haha" Karkat chuckled as he leant over and grabbed a chip as he popped it into his mouth and pointed to the stick of batter still in the chips.
"The fuck is that?" the loud man questioned before grabbing another chip as he stared at Eridan for answer's though received none.
"Crab stick" Sollux answered between sips of his soda as Karkat's face gave the stick a glare as he ate another chip.
"Are you trying to fucking kill me? You know I'm allergic to that shit!" he growled out as Sollux smirked.
"No one athked you to eat it, It's Eridan'th" Karkat gave Eridan a disrupted glare as he grabbed Sollux's soda and gave it a sip before the boy could protest as he glared at Eridan as he sipped and ate away.
"That's fucking gross." He grumbled out as he handed the drink back to Sollux and continued to pinch the chips. Sollux and Karkat continued to talk to each other about the upcoming school term, various girls they karkat wanted to "do" and what had happened to the two of them in the past three days they hadn't seen each other while Eridan sat in silence and ate his crab stick and opened his Soda and was currently sipping it as he listened into the boys talking. Soon enough Sollux stood from his place by Eridan with a stretch as he yawned.
"Let's go I need to move" Sollux grumbled out as he stretched his arms as Eridan stood as well though as Eridan reached down to pack up the paper, Karkat chuckled.
"Fucking hell, this douche are you serious?" he snarled out as Eridan stopped and Sollux gave him a grin before shaking his head.
"Just leave it fish fathe, thath what we pay them for" Eridan gave a small nod before approaching Sollux's side and walked beside the man. Though Sollux seemed to change in front of Karkat as he brushed Eridan to the side, Although Eridan couldn't blame him, they didn't just meet. Eridan slowly began to slow his pace as he walked behind the two other boys as he huddled into his scarf with a sigh as he watched the other two talk. He noticed Karkat reached into his pocket and grabbed a small packet and whipped it open, cigarettes?! How old is Karkat? Karkat must of seen him staring as he smirked towards Eridan.
"Got a problem with smoking?" Karkat questioned as he grabbed his lighter and lit up a smoke and took it in as if he had done this many times before as he stared down Eridan. Eridan replied with a shake of his head as Karkat smirked and continued talking to Sollux as the smoke hung from his lips, though Eridan stopped walking.
Today he may have been introduced too Sollux and Karkat, he was going to be living in this terrible neighbourhood, having only bad feelings about this whole ideal. Eridan sighed as these factors washed over him as he turned on the spot without looking back at the two boys that were too busy talking to each other to notice as he turned away. He recalled the way back easily enough as the two voice's began to drift into a mumble as he sunk into his father scarf giving it a slight tug and sniff, though this wasn't a sniff to smell it was a sniffle as a tear welled up in his right eye.
He didn't belong here.