Author's Note- Another Big one... eheh anyway new character and development, thanks for sticking with me!

Eridan now sat on the arm chair beside Gamzee who was sitting on the couch and Tavros who was in front of him in his wheelchair. This kind of scene should have felt awkward but Gamzee just seemed too happy and content for it to be.

"oH, Eridan will you be uH, going to the same school as us this year?, cause you know the first term starts in two weeks and all." Eridan simply peered up at the questioning boy and simply stared at Tavros for a moment, would he even be attending school this year?

"I'm not sure it's not up to me." Eridan answered as he peered away and out the small window, Gamzee gave a small chuckle.

"Well I hope you all up in are, cause it's better to go where your friends are going, if you know what I'm saying?" Gamzee smiled out as he reclined back in the sofa slightly as Tavros gave a big grin. Eridan simply peered between the two males and gripped the end of his scarf slightly, did that mean that these two were his friends? That he had actually made some friends in this wack job of a town?

"w-well I guess you're right, I hope I can attend, what is the name of the school again?" Eridan grinned out as Tavros perked up.

"Alternia high, the only public school in town" Tavros exclaimed with a smile as Eridan fell silent, a public school, well he didn't expect much but he had never been to a public school. He had heard about the public school on the opposite side of town when he had lived with his father and from what he had heard it was an easy way through school but also an easy way to die.

"Yeah but don't worry bro I will keep you safe, like I do for Tavbro, cause I think you're alright." Gamzee said with a nod as Eridan gave him an unsure grin. He hoped that there was a private school around here and that Cronus would, who was he kidding, Cronus wouldn't give a shit, Eridan sighed.

He then heard the sound of the store bell chiming and heavy feet stomping towards the backroom, he knew what was coming. Sollux entered the room as he practically scanned the insides of the room and all its features, until his eyes set on Eridan and from behind bi-coloured shades Eridan felt his glare. As he stepped forwards further into the room towards Eridan Karkat was revealed behind him with a smug little grin as Sollux didn't waste time with hellos.

"thup thit head, get your athth off the fucking couch before I do it mythelf, you can't even begin to underthand what thit you have put me through!" Sollux growled out as Eridan sunk his neck into his scarf as he stood and didn't lock eyes with Sollux as he could almost feel his hot breath on his face.

"Take it easy on him bro, he doesn't understand much around here—"

"THUT UP GZ, I—I know GZ." Sollux calmed himself slightly as he took a deep sigh, Eridan could still feel how angry he was as his hands opened and closed frantically as he turned to karkat.

"Alright KK, GZ and Tav, Nice to see you all now but me and Dickfathe here have to get going." Sollux grumbled out as no one questioned the angered male as Karkat had lost his smirk and now frowned at Sollux.

"Are you sure you're okay, I can come with you two?" Karkat said as Sollux just gave him a simple nod before exiting the room, Eridan sunk into his scarf as he whispered goodbye to his new "friends" Sollux didn't wait for him to exit the store as Eridan quickened his pace. He quickly spotted Sollux walking off as he sped to catch him but kept his distance as he sighed.

"Look Sol, I-"

"NO, don't fucking thtart." Sollux grumbled out as he stomped along the footpath, Eridan could see he was scuffing his feet. Eridan frowned as he grasped the ends of his scarf tightly as he struggled to keep his pace, his eyes continuously drifted to Sollux. He had every right to be mad it was Eridans fault that he had been stressing, though he truly was sorry, Eridan sniffled as he let go of his scarf with one hand and wiped his eye.

"Sol, seriously I am sorry, I just don't know what I—"

"I thaid thut up Ampora! I'm not in the mood" Sollux's voice was stern as Eridan sniffled again as his words hit him like sharp needles.

"Sol, please I don't know-w w-why you're getting' so w-worked up about it, I said so—" Sollux stopped walking and his hands formed into fist's as Eridans watched him turn on the spot. Though as Eridan went to speak again Sollux had stepped towards him and grasped his scarf tightly.

"THUT UP!" Sollux practically screamed as Eridan looked away from him as the grip on his scarf did not loosen as if Sollux was awaiting a response as Eridans shoulders shook slightly and he reached up to push Sollux away.

"Oh no you don't" Sollux growled out as he used his grip on Eridans scarf to pin him to the brick wall beside them as people who passed them didn't even bother to stop as if it were a natural occurrence as Eridan whimpered and instead reached up to cover his eyes.

"thtop crying Eridan I mean it!" Sollux growled out as Eridan's shoulders shook again as another almost silent whimper was heard as Sollux groaned and forced the scarf back against the wall more sternly.

"I THAID THTOP" He yelled towards the crying boy as Sollux reached up and grabbed the small boys hands and forced them away from his face where red stained eyes were seen staring back at him. Sollux looked away as Eridan sniffled and tried to re-tract his hands from the others hold but Sollux held his hands tightly.

"Look you're going to thtop crying and you're going to have a thmile on when we get back and if Mituna athk'th you're going to thay you had a great day or I thwear if I thee you again I won't hethitate to kick your athth." Sollux peered back up at the other boy and locked eyes with him as Eridan gave a small nod and Sollux released his hands and pushed off him.

"tho hurry up and dry thothe eye'th we will back thoon." Sollux grumbled out as he started his way back again, not waiting for Eridan to keep up. Eridan sniffled a little more, it wasn't like he hadn't covered up his tears before, he had done it all the time when he had been staying with that lady but it did feel good to get a bit of it out of his system. Though as quickly as the tears came they faded and soon Eridan was pacing behind Sollux and thinkg about what he was going to say to the awaiting men back home.

The two soon found their way home to Cronus's apartment as Sollux waited at the door for the other boy before knocking and fixing his position.

"It's open" Cronus yelled from inside as Sollux opened the door and held it open for Eridan as Eridan entered.

"How wath you firtht day in the town?!" Mituna smiled out from the couch in which he had sat up from leaning on Cronus's shoulder. Sollux gave a simple shrug as he reached for his DS and opened it and Eridan gave a nod as Mituna went to get up but was stopped by a hand gripping onto his belt as Cronus gave a little groan. Mituna shook his head as he smiled at Cronus before turning to Eridan.

"Go check it out, you bed ith all done." Mituna pointed out as Eridan quickly moved to the room and opened it and peered in to see his familiar bed sitting in the corner of his room with the bed sheets made as he gave a small nod and looked back at Mituna.

"Thank you"

"Anytime" Mituna smiled at him as he turned to Cronus and mumbled something as Cronus frowned and let his waist go as Mituna popped up.

"Anyway, Thank'th for taking care of my brother Eridan, I know he can be a handful thometimeth but I have to go to work in an hour, tho we have to get moving." Eridan grinned a little but Sollux's glare was more than enough to crush his smile as he simply nodded instead as the captor brothers prepared to leave.

"Vwhat time do you get off vwork?" Cronus grumbled out as he lay back on the couch completely but kept his eyes on Mituna as the other male grinned widely.

"Patht your bedtime Cro, and bethide'th you have work tomorrow." Mituna teased as Cronus grabbed one of the red and blue pillows off the couch and covered his face and groaned into it.

Wait Cronus had a job? Eridan silently thought as Sollux hurried out of the door but Mituna hesitated as if he was remembering something important.

"Also Eridan I will tell you tho Cronuth won't forget, I'm stopping patht in two day'th with your enrolment form'th." Mituna said politely as Eridan nodded as Cronus sat up and moved the pillow.

"Vwait enrolment for vwhat?" Cronus seemed completely confused as Mituna shook his head.

"For thchool? remember high thcool, where we met?" Mintuna asked in a final hope of the other man registering what he had said as Cronus stared blankly at Mituna.

"Not really…" Mituna gave a huff as he turned on the spot and stepped out of the apartment with gritted teeth.

"Well Eridan is going to school, hopefully he will REMEMBER it." Mituna growled out as the apartment door closed over with slight force as Eridan and Cronus both flinched. Though as the footsteps faded into the elevator the apartment fell silent and Eridan and Cronus were left alone. Eridan quickly decided to exit the room and began to head to his room though as he opened the door Cronus called out to him from the couch where he now laid.

"Menu for Chinese is on the bench, write what you want on the notepad beside it." Was all Eridan got as he gave Cronus a nod, not that he would of seen it because he was back to watching the TV. Though instead of putting it off Eridan quickly scooted into the kitchen and began to read the menu that was indeed on the bench, that was before a thought struck him.

Something special must have happened in high school between Cronus and Mituna, and that must have been why he got so angry when Cronus said he had forgotten. Though Eridan snapped the thought from his brain as he read the menu again, it was none of his business, he quickly wrote down sweet and sour pork. With a small huff he wandered over to his room again, he didn't even bother looking at Cronus as he did, there was no point really, Cronus didn't seem to like him at all. It made him wonder why Cronus had even taken him in he obviously didn't want a kid, Eridan sighed out as he opened his door and closed it behind him. He peered at his nearly set up bed and grin slipped over his features as he paced towards it, the sheets that he had packed away with the bed in which where now over the bed. It reminded Eridan of home as he sat on the edge of the bed and gave the nicely made sheets a slow rub though his smile faded. He stood from the bed and began to rummage through the boxes scattered around, now that his bed was set up he had to unpack.

"fuckin athhole…. Forgetting … how could he?" Sollux listened to his brother mumbling under his breath as the two exited the apartment building as Sollux played his ds though froze when Mituna stopped walking.

"Altho what happened to Eridan?" Mituna huffed out as he looked down at his little brother as Sollux peered up from his game, playing it cool.

"Nothing" Sollux shrugged out as he returned to his game, not daring to look Mituna in the eyes. Mituna continued towards the car and slipped towards the driver's seat of his dull blue commodore and unlocked the doors. Once the two males were in the car Sollux froze, Mituna wasn't starting the car instead he was spacing out and thinking about Sollux's answer.

"Then why did he come back in new clotheth?" Mituna questioned as he gave Sollux a glance as Sollux watched his screen though stopped clicking the buttons for a second, he needed an excuse.

"Well when I took him to the park, we met up with GZ and Tav and well he tripped over and thit, so GZ took uth back to hith place and gave Eridan a change of clotheth" Sollux blurted out and continued to play his game, avoiding Mituna's glance. Though he took a long breath as Mituna leant over and started the car,

"That'th bullthit but I''m jutht not in the fucking mood." Mituna growled out as he shifted his manual car into reverse as he pulled out, Sollux gulped slightly, as he continued to tap at his game though peered away from it and towards the apartment building again. A wave of guilt struck him as the brothers pulled out of the car park, Sollux brushed it off, why should he care about that pampered hipster?

Eridan whipped his brow as he lugged the final box of his clothing into his wardrobe he had been unpacking his belongings into his new room and he was quite proud of it. He had set up his Xbox, TV and filled his cabinet and side table drawers without anyone's help. It didn't seem like much but Eridan did have a lot of knick-knack's and drawing utensils that needed a place to sit. Though he hadn't set up his desk which was cast off by his TV, he would do that later. Right now Eridan was unpacking his final box of clothing into his wardrobe, in which was a lot smaller than his one back at home. He began to sort through the next box in which he found his PJ's at the top, they were purple and silky. Eridan took them out with a sigh, he would need to have a shower he could still smell the mud on himself. Eridan quickly stood and started towards his door with his Pj's in hand as he opened the door slightly, he couldn't hear the TV.

Eridan quickly stepped out and faced the lounge room, though Cronus wasn't there with his usual blank stare, Eridan let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding in. With Cronus confirmed to be gone Eridan hurried into Cronus's room, in which he found no sense of life and the bathroom door open and welcoming him into its clean atmosphere. Eridan allowed himself to be drawn into the shower though he remembered where he was and decided that a quick shower would be best.

After his quick shower Eridan found himself slipping out of Cronus's room and pacing over to his room in his silky purple pyjama top and matching long pants. A small tap at the front door was enough to tell Eridan that Cronus was back, though he didn't rush for his room. He had to ask Cronus about his laundry. Though as the keys jingled on the other side of the door another unfamiliar voice was blabbering on as the door handle turned and the door opened revealing the two figures behind it.

"Cronus I am being serious do you have any idea about how much you ow—oh" The man standing next to Cronus stared forward as his eyes linked with Eridans. Eridan took a moment to look this man over, he wore simple candy red shoes with black slacks that clung to his legs and an oddly bright red sweater. His features looked familiar he had flicked black upright hair and a stern features, though he was oddly short like someone else he knew.

"Oh hey Chief Chinese is here." Cronus shrugged off as all eyes in the room fell on him as he held up the Chinese food with a slick grin.

"A child, that's the what you had to show me, how is you adopting a child going to help you solve your pro—"

"Hey kid, is that your laundry items?" Cronus questioned as he cut off the other man and shifted past him as he pointed to the clothes Eridan was holding as Cronus walked past him.

"There's a coin laundry on the third floor, so you can take them down there whenever, coins are on top of the fridge." Cronus informed him as Eridan watched the other man follow Cronus into the kitchen.

"Cronus do you even know what you are doing?! I mean a kid a CHILD, you know what happened to your cat? Yeah well you can go to jail if that happens to a ki—"

"Kid come get your box." Cronus called out as Eridan shifted on the spot before heading towards the kitchen as Cronus ruffled through the plastic bag and slid Eridan's box and the plastic fork to the other side of the counter as Eridan approached and took it. He could tell that he was not wanted, and that he didn't want to be involved in this discussion, so he quickly turned and paced back to his room, closing the door behind him. Muffled sounds of the new man's panicked voice mumbled through the door as Eridan sighed and approached his bed. Though as he sat and peered at his food his hunger had faded into a feeling of guilt, he was nothing but an inconvenience to everyone around him.

Eridan placed his food at the edge of his bed as he shuffled to lie down on his stomach, he wished he had someone to talk to, but the only number he had in his phone was Sollux's. Eridan rolled over onto his stomach as he reached for his phone over on his bedside table and unlocked it. It was a long shot but maybe it would work.

"Sollux, are you awwake?" Eridan paused as he hovered his finger over the send button as he re-read the message, being sure to add his awesome typing quirk. Without any hesitation he pressed the send button and tossed his phone beside him as he buried his face in his soft pillows, like Sollux would even answer his stupid message. Though to his surprise moments later his phone buzzed loudly beside him, his reflex to grab the phone was surprisingly fast as he opened the message.

"Don't text me, ii don't want to 2peak two you anymore than ii have two." It took him a moment to read the wacky writing but after he finished he frowned. He contemplated lowering the phone and giving up though not without one more try as he quickly typed a response.

"Look I'm sorry about today okay? I just movved here if you had already forgotten and I'm going through some tough times right noww and I could use someone to talk wwith." Eridan typed truthfully as he pressed the send and waited.

"2ure you are pretty boy, diid daddy buy you the wrong coloured Ferrarii?" Eridan frowned at the mention of his father though brushed it off, of course Sollux wouldn't have known about the accident.

"If he did do you think I wwould be livving in this towwn?" Eridan questioned the other boy as his stomach twisted slightly as he rolled onto his side with his eyes glue to the message screen.

"that2 true ii gue22, ii would a2k why you are here but then iit miight 2eem liike ii actually giive a shiit." Eridan frowned, of course Sollux didn't care about him though Eridan needed to talk to someone if he was going to ignore the muffles just outside his door. Eridan began to type his next message to Sollux but froze midway as he deleted it and pressed on Sollux's name on his phone, It opened a screen asking whether to call the name selected, Eridan stared for a moment. If Sollux didn't want to talk he could just reject the call, with another tap the message screen closed as the calling screen opened as Eridan placed the phone to his head as it's glow faded and a soft ring filled his ear. His eyes slipped closed as he sunk into his pillows and the tone repeated itself again, and again and again before and off click in his ear caused his eyes to snap open as the line remained silent for a moment.

"What the hell are you calling me for I thaid I didn't want to talk to you!" Sollux's voice ran into his ear as a slight grin took over his features and he rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling for a moment before clearing his throat.

"Oh w-well I uh, look I don't hav-ve anyone to, and I—"

"What you not even making thenthe now." Sollux sounded annoyed, though Eridan wasn't giving up he needed to keep Sollux on the phone as long as possible.

"Look I just w-wanted to say that I'm sorry alright and I thought it w-would mean more if I called you instead leav-ving some shitty text or somethin'" Eridan pouted out as the other line fell silent as Sollux seemed to be registering what bullshit Eridan had just spewed out of his mouth.

"Tho what? You expect me to become you betht friend or thomething becauthe you apologized for putting me though a heap of thit that you cauthed?" Eridan frowned as he peered down at his toes before glancing back up at the ceiling.

"No I just kinda… look just stay on the phone w-with me for a w-while, you don't ev-ven hav-ve too say nothin'" Eridan explained as Sollux's side of the phone fell silent again before some shuffling was heard and movement followed by a long side.

"Why the fuck thhould I?" Sollux questioned finally as Eridan tensed and sat up from his laying position before he felt his stomach turned, there was nothing stopping Sollux, he was bothering him too now. He clenched his sheets as he held back heavy breath and his eyes closed again.

"I hav-ve no reason… oh god you must fucking hate me..." Eridan felt it coming, the waves of emotions that he always did his best to hold it back as his eyes began to well up behind his thick rims and Sollux's side remained silent.

"I thaid I didn't want to talk to you not that I ha—"

"W-well, W-WHATEVER SOLLUX, I JUST, god damn—" Eridan finally registered what Sollux had said even though he had worked himself up before hand as a single tear fell behind his glasses and Sollux shuffled again over his side.

"thit Eridan what'th wrong with you?" Eridan's eyes widened for a second as he took in the simple yet intense question in which Sollux had proposed. What was wrong with him, why was he calling some kid that he had only met today to calm him down?, why was he living with some stranger? Why did he seek comfort from everyone except the lady before, that had offered it to him?

Eridan's hand pulled away from his phone as he tapped the large hang up button as he tossed his phone away from himself and watched it gently land off to his side before his hands slid under his glasses and hid his dripping eyes, he choked back his sobs as he didn't want to disturb Cronus and the red sweater fellow in the next room over. Sollux was right he was messed up and stubborn and yes there was something wrong with him, he wasn't sure if Sollux had said all those things but they were true.

Eridan remained still and let his warm tears fill his hands, for however long they would fall for, not moving an inch, biting his tongue and the cursive mumbles he had been trying to avoid seeped through the walls. He could tell that the two men were talking about him, everyone seem to be, but no one wanted to listen to the corrupt boy they were talking about. A some point sleep had taken him, not sure when or how he managed to but it was as if his body had just left his mind and forced him into sleep. At least him his dreams, he was heard.