AN: Sorry for the wait :(
The Three sat on the couch as they ate silently, with only the smell of their dinner and the sound of the television filling the room. The silence between them all wasn't awkward it was nice, Eridan felt a warmness he hadn't felt in quite some time and found himself grinning like a moron.
Eventually Christina came into the room after they had finished eating and took the plates from them and replaced it with cups of lemonade, Mituna and Sollux continued to watch the show as Eridan shuffled a bit before standing and heading toward the kitchen.
"Where are you going?" Sollux questioned as Eridan peered back to see him looking over the couch, Eridan just nudged his head towards the kitchen before entering and peering about until his eyes set on Christina as he felt his heart flutter.
"Uh, w-would you like help w-with the dishes?" Eridan mumbled out as he waited for her to turn around, and she smiled down at him.
"Oh, Eridan a little charmer aren't you?!" She smiled out as Eridan could feel his cheeks heat up slightly as he shook his head.
"Just you did go to all that trouble just to make us all a lov-vley dinner and I hav-ve done nothin' to help to return the fav-vor." Eridan mumbled out from behind the scarf as Christina's face fell to a frown.
"You don't have to repay me sweetie, it was my pleasure." She said as she lent down and placed a hand on his shoulder. Eridan stared at the hand for a moment in shock before peering back up at Christina, had he done something wrong?
"Also Tuna told me about your situation, and I want you to know that you're welcome here anytime, and I mean that because I know Sollux can be a little grumpy about people coming over, but just know that you're allowed despite what he says."
Eridan fell silent for a moment, not knowing how to respond, though he felt as if a large weight had been lifted off his shoulders as his eyes locked with Christina's.
"Thank you." He managed to get out before he was pulled inward and felt himself being pulled into a warm embrace. He froze for a moment before he felt his cheeks heat up again as she hugged him tightly. Eventually she pulled away and stared into his eyes for a moment with a concerned gaze as Eridan peered away from her.
"You're a good boy Eridan, don't forget that." She smiled out as she backed away and turned to her dishes again as Eridan turned to the lounge room only to find Sollux at the doorway with an eyebrow perking up above his shades.
"Come with me." Sollux grumbled as he turned and began to pace up the stairs, Eridan followed closely but not to Sollux's room instead to the room down the hallway with no demonic bee on the door, it was just white.
"Watch the thtair'th tap the wall when you thee Mituna." Sollux warned as he entered the dark room. That room must have been Mituna's, Eridan thought as he turned around before he stopped and turned back peering into the messy room.
"w-wait w-why am I keeping w-watch? W-what are you doin'?" Eridan questioned as he peered in further until he could make out the room.
The walls had fewer posters than Sollux, though they were more video game based with a few on skating, the rooms walls where a honey yellow. The floor however was coated in various wires and computer gadgets, which all lead up and were connected to the masterpiece of a desktop computer. Other than that the room was fairly clean, despite the laundry scattered about and the messy yellow covers.
"Becauthe if he catcheth me in here hith going to be piththed" Sollux mumbled out as he peered under the bed with a sigh before scanning the room.
"If that's the case then why are you in here?"
"Jutht turn around and keep an eye out for Mituna okay?" Sollux grumbled out as he skipped over the cords and wires in the room without a single glance at Eridan as Eridan did as he was told and waited at the door. A few minutes later the sound of pounding footsteps were heard from the stairs, Eridan jumped to attention and gave the door of the room a tap as he heard Sollux struggle on the other side of the door.
Mituna paused at the top of the stairs when he spotted Eridan out the front of his room, though quickly raised an eyebrow and began to pace toward the door, slipping past Eridan with ease. Eridan watched as Mituna was quick to swoop on the boy who was rummaging through his belongings and lifted him in his grasps.
"MIT LET ME GO!" Sollux struggled out as he kicked the air around the room though couldn't break the hold.
"What were you doing in my room?"
"NOTHING GEEZE" Sollux struggled to get out as he continued to struggle before Mituna placed him down and gave him a shove toward the door with a grin.
"You aren't going to find my energy drink'th thith time thol I hid them." Mituna scoffed out while Eridan smiled slightly at the act of brotherly love as Sollux flipped Mituna off before exiting the room and walked past Eridan toward his own room.
"W-why w-were you lookin' for energy drinks?" Eridan questioned as they both continued into Sollux's room and closed over the door. Sollux didn't say anything as he froze in front of the computer with a large grin before reaching into the side of his pants and pulling out a rather long can, an energy drink.
"Tho I can drink them duh." Sollux smirked out as he cracked the caffeine loaded drink open and took a sip of the sour insides before sitting at his desk and staring about the screen.
"Do you want to keep playing the game?, maybe go look for the thuffer and gain thome withdom thkill'th?" Sollux mumbled out as he opened the game on his computer and Eridan found himself doing the same with a grin.
"Yeah okay if that's w-what you w-would like." He said as he stared at his character standing by Sollux's , it felt as himself and Sollux were connecting through this game, Or maybe it was just that Sollux needed his character.
Either way, Killing demons with Sollux was the most fun he had, had in a long time.
The blazing fires from his magical wand continued beside Sollux's red and blue thunder for hours, Eridan hadn't looked at the time for a while now, due to the game being in full screen mode. His fingers where starting to hurt and his head was drooping off every so often but Sollux seemed to be going 100 miles a minute as his fingers tapped away at the keys.
"Oh yeah thweet I'm like 400 gritht off levelling up!" Sollux cheered as the creepy un-dead sprites rose from the dead once more to attack the two boys but failed as Eridan used his Special move, clearing the field and splitting the grist evenly as the level up sound played on Sollux's computer.
"Yethth! I'm tho upgrading my thpecial move!" Sollux cheered as he filled the bar and upgraded his eye beam and turned to face Eridan. Eridan was slouching and Sollux couldn't see his face though his large glasses were slipping down his nose.
"Eridan?" Sollux questioned as he swirled his chair around as Eridan snapped to attention and faced Sollux and pushed his glasses up lazily with a sniffle.
"mmhmm yeah.. good work, you mm y level." Eridan barley managed to get out as Sollux rose an eyebrow before quickly tapping his phone on the desk and gazing at the time, 1:30am.
"Are you tired?" Sollux questioned already knowing the answer as Eridan shook his head with a scoff and blinked lazily a few times.
"No if you're up for another round I'll mmm go." Eridan sighed out as he stared down at the keyboard, wait what were his hotkeys again?
"Here have some of this" Sollux offered as Eridan peered up to see a can, the energy drink to be exact as Eridan grabbed the can curiously and examined the bottle before shaking his head.
"No thanks, I had one of these mmm then I could feel my heart beat for like ammm" Eridan managed to get out as he passed the can back to Sollux and stretched awkwardly before his eyes set on the screen once again, though Sollux's character disappeared and Eridan gazed about on the screen, had Sollux forgotten to transport him?
"Come on Fish-fathe you can barely keep your eyeth open." Sollux sighed out as he shut down his computer with a yawn and stood in the dark room, Eridans laptop light filling the room. It took Eridan about three times longer for him to turn off his laptop as Sollux turned on the light of his room and both boys let out a hiss of pain.
"Move over your in my spot, Sollux growled out as he peeled off his socks and Eridan shuffled over to his suitcase and began to dig through the contents and grabbed his silky PJ's. Though as he got up to change Sollux was pulling off his pants and revealing his bumble bee boxers and his skinny figure. Eridan immediately noticed the small patch of scaring on his right shoulder that had healed over, Sollux was pale and lanky but not too skinny.
"Uh are you jutht going to thare at me or are you going to go to bed?" Sollux questioned as he flopped onto the bed and claimed the right side. Eridan was quick to turn around and remove his clothes, doing his best to not stay exposed for more than a few seconds, he wished he could be as comfortable as Sollux was in his body, but he wasn't.
"wow thilk Pj'th? Are you theriouth?" Sollux chuckled as Eridan turned around and buttoned up his shirt while Sollux rolled over and let Eriadan have some room to slip into the bed, the bed smelt like Sollux and honey it was warm to, like the warmth of a hug Eridan was quick to snuggle up to the warmth.
"Hey" Sollux whispered now as if not to startle Eridan as Eridans heavy eyes slid open and gazed at Sollux who had his hand out to him.
"w-what?" Eridan questioned as Sollux rolled his eyes and reached up to Eridans face and slipped his glasses off, through Eridans blurred vision he then saw Sollux's figure reach up to his own face and remove his bi-coloured glasses then lean over to the side. Eridan wished that Sollux had taken his glasses off after him so he could have glanced at his eyes, what colour where they? Eridan mumbled as his eyes grew heavy and he snuggled into the pillow, for the first time in a while, he felt happy.
A gentle shove to Eridans shoulder awoke him the next morning almost instantly as he opened his eyes slightly to seen nothing but Sollux's blurry figure and a person towering over the two, trying to awake Sollux.
"Sollux sweetie, wake up" It was a women's voice, Eridan recognised it as Christina as he rolled onto his back and stared up at her. A grunt was all she got from Sollux as he rolled over to face away from Christina as she disturbed his sleep. Christina sighed and her eyes locked on Eridans even though he could not see her and she gasped a little before smiling.
"Eridan good morning I was trying not to wake you" She whispered out as she stood straight again and Eridan just stared.
"I hate to be a party pooper but I got called in for work so I was trying to wake Sollux up to tell him not to worry." Eridan nodded slightly as his tired eye drifted to Sollux for a moment before falling back to hers, he wished he had his glasses.
"Also I need Sollux to make sure that Mituna gets up in an hour for work, can you wake him up I have got to go." Christina panicked out as she quickly turned and exited the room with final thanks before Eridan sat up and rubbed his hair he probably looked like a mess. He peered about the room in a squint as he couldn't make out his glasses anywhere close to the bed as he peered at Sollux.
"Sollux, can you wake up?" Eridan questioned as he nudged the male next to him and received another groan, Eridan sighed. He got up on his knees and lent over Sollux completely and felt the set of drawers by him, not caring that he was nudging Sollux. He felt glasses and grabbed them quickly and retracted back to his spot by Sollux as he slipped them on, though his vision didn't clear instead the world became red and blue, it made his head spin.
"Shit Sollux how do you wear these?" Eridan asked as he took the glasses off and rubbed his eyes as he felt something nudge at his side. He grabbed the item that was being handed to him and noticed it was his glasses, quickly slipping them on and sighing when the world around him became clear. He peered at Sollux who was rubbing his eyes and groaning at the slight lightness of the room as Eridan stretched. Though as Sollux opened his eyes he noticed two things, one there was a slight white scar on his eye that matched the one on his lip and secondly his breath was taken away.
"Amazing" Eridan whispered out as a smile grew on his face as Sollux blinked a few times, still not being fully awake, Eridan shuffled closer to the eyes that had his attention with a grin. His left eye was a vibrant bright blue, just like Christina, the other was a darker brown and in a certain light it almost looked dark red. Eridan couldn't look away as Sollux rose an eyebrow and his eyes squinted as if he just realised something, he peered about for his glasses before spotting them in Eridans hand and grabbed them off him and sat up, quickly slipping them on.
"Sollux, your eyes are, wow… why do you cover them up?" Eridan questioned as Sollux stretched slightly before peering back at Eridan with a sigh.
"Tho people like you don't thtare." Sollux mumbled out before removing himself from the bed sheets with another yawn before clutching his shoulders.
"thit it's cold" Sollux grumbled as Eridan chuckled as he got out of the bed and stretched.
"Silky Pj's aren't that bad now. " Eridan smirked out as he glanced at Sollux, Sollux tried to grumble out a response before scampering over to his wardrobe and sliding the door across. Eridan was stunned when he caught sight of Sollux's plain wardrobe that consisted of mostly black and yellow and white. Sollux quickly grabbed a hoodie and pants and slipped them on with another groan as Eridan zipped up his suitcase, at the same time remembering what Christina had said.
"Also your mum said that she's gone to work and that Mituna has to get up in an hour." Sollux nodded as he stamped over to his computer and flicked it on. Eridan simply stared for a moment before glancing down at his suitcase.
"Bathroom?" Eridan questioned as if it was obvious .
"Down the hallway second door on the right" Sollux groaned out as his PC started up and he typed in an abnormally long password.
"Thanks be back soon" Eridan nodded as he left to go get ready for the day, which wouldn't take too long.
It only took half of an hour for Eridan to finish styling his hair and putting away his items, his hair was perfect and he smelt of his favourite body spray, and was ready for the day. As he entered Sollux's room again Sollux had not moved, his hair was still everywhere, though that's how it looked yesterday.
"Being back thoon, you mean like an hour later?" Sollux questioned as he spun his chair around to face Eridan with a smirk as Eridan put down his suitcase and huffed.
"Yeah and I can see that you take the time to look so good every morning." Eridan questioned returning the grin as Sollux nodded and fluffed his hair slightly in a mocking way before spinning around. Eridan grinned as he walked behind the chair and placed his head on the back of it and watched Sollux Multitask.
"Let me guess, you don't eat breakfast either?" Eridan questioned as Sollux continued to type,
"Not really I kinda just eat when there's food." Sollux mumbled out as Eridan gave an understanding nod, he knew what to do.
"Get that laptop under your keyboard running and come down to the kitchen w-when you get hungry." Eridan smiled out as he lifted off the back of the chair and exited Sollux's room. As Eridan walked down the stairs he could hear shuffling in Sollux's room, his smile grew as he walked into the kitchen and began to rummage through the cupboards. He eventually pulled out all the needed ingredients to make his father's famous pancakes, lucky Christina had lots more cooking supplies then Cronus did so making pancakes was actually possible.
It took a good thirty minutes before the batter was complete and he had cooked up three large plates of pancakes and proceeded to heat them up in the microwave. Footsteps coming down the stairs made Eridan perk up as he was quick to place the maple syrup near the plates on the bench and turned around quickly to pretend he was starting on the dishes with a grin. The footsteps entered the kitchen and froze for a moment then continued to take a seat at the bench.
"Pancaketh?" Sollux questioned as he stared at the pancakes before reverting to the screen of the literal piece of machinery on his lap. Eridan smiled as he span from his place by the sink and practically floated over to the opposite side of the bench examining the pancakes with a slight grin, though the more Sollux typed and ignored the pancakes the more his grin faded.
"Don't tell me you don't like pancakes…" Eridan frowned out as Sollux stopped typing and peered up at him.
"What? No I like pancakes just…" Sollux noticed the look Eridan had on and sighed, closing the "laptop" in his lap and slid the warm pancakes towards him, quickly pulling the syrup over as well and coated them. Sollux peered up only to be met with Eridans gaze waiting for Sollux to place judgment on his pancakes, Sollux cut off a piece and placed it in his mouth.
"wow okay thethe are great." Sollux smiled out, the pancakes were actually nice not under cooked and not watery, just right. Sollux peered up before taking another bit to watch Eridans eyes light up as he dragged over his plate and cut them up, Sollux could tell he was trying to hide his excitement about Sollux's comment as his hips swayed slightly in small waves, resembling dancing slightly.
The two continued to eat in silence until Sollux finished with a stretch, this was the first time in a while that he had eaten breakfast, it was refreshing. Eridan leant over and grabbed his plate and took it to the sink before returning to his own set of unfinished pancakes, Sollux instantly returned to the piece of shit laptop he had been typing on before and began to continue with his work. Although the sound of heavy footsteps from upstairs made him perk up from his computer, he had forgotten about Mituna.
"THOLLUX!" Mituna's voice rang out from upstairs as louder thumping was heard as if Mituna was rushing about before they descended down the stairs in a trip and in a matter of seconds Mituna was in the kitchen. His hair was messier than usual, his jeans were on but his red boxers could be seen due to the zip being down. His button up work shirt was unbuttoned and his glasses were on the bridge of his nose as he shuffled around to fix himself up.
"THOLLUX WHY THE HELL DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME UP?!" Mituna practically screamed as he ran to the other side of the house to retrieve his keys and wallet.
"Becauthe Eridan made you pancake'th" Sollux knew that his excuse wasn't valid but it made Mituna pause as he entered the kitchen curiously as he spotted the pancakes on the bench then gave Eridan a glance, Eridan quickly peered away.
"wow theriouthly? You didn't have to…" Mituna seemed to calm down instantly as he approached the bench and Eridan slid the syrup towards him. Mituna let a grin slip onto his lips as he took the syrup and covered one of the pancakes as he rolled it up and practically devoured it.
"Thank'th Eridan." Mituna mumbled out between chewing, buttoning and zipping as Eridan chuckled with a nod as he walked over to the fridge and retrieved the orange juice and quickly pulled out two cups from the cupboard and poured a half and full glass, sliding them over to the brothers. Mituna ate quickly before glugging down the juice in a quick gulp and looking over himself and patting his pockets making sure he had everything.
"Alright, thank'th again I'll be home later today, you kid'th have fun, but I'm going to be tho fucking late." Mituna frantically mumbled out as he practically sprinted towards the door and left the house, Sollux's chuckles filled the silent house.
"hehe I have to invite you over more!" Sollux chuckled out as he continued to type, Eridan was confused as he poured himself a cup of juice and rose an eyebrow.
"And w-whys that?" Eridan questioned as he sipped his juice and eyed off Sollux.
"Becauthe Mituna would of kicked my athth, if it weren't for your pancake'th and it altho theemth like he calmth down around you for thum reathon ." Sollux grumbled out as he sipped his juice and continued typing as Eridan grinned. Eridan finished off his plate and took his and Mituna's plates to the sink before starting on the dishes, Sollux glanced at him time to time, enjoying the slight hum of happiness that Eridan let out as he washed the dishes.
The dishes were soon done and Sollux and Eridan departed to his room once again, on their own computers and scrolling the internet for random sources of entertainment. Every now and then the two would show each other something they found funny and comment on it, though you can only scroll through pictures for so long before it gets boring. So before too long the boys had decided to watch a movie, it had taken some debating but eventually they decided on Zombieland. Sollux was much more talkative during the movie than Eridan thought he would be, but he loved it, finally he could watch and judge the movie as it played out, instead of having to keep his mouth shut.
Though soon enough the movie came to its end and Sollux and Eridan debated if it was a stupid move for the main protagonist to return to help the girls. Eventually the boys found their way onto their computers again playing their RPG and quoting all the zombie movies they could think of.
"Kill all thon'th of bitche'th" Sollux dawdled out as his character quickly destroyed the surrounding enemies in the land as Eridan gave him a glance.
"That's a v-video game Sollux." Eridan commented before returning to his game as Sollux grumbled for a moment, trying to think of another quote. Though before he could the front door opened and both boys knew that it was Mituna, meaning Eridan would have to leave soon.
"Hey Sollux… are we u—AHH!" Eridan jumped back as the corner of Sollux's bed sheet lifted without warning causing Eridan to jump and Sollux to chuckle as a small figure was revealed. It was a large nice light brown cat in which stretched and turned to face Eridan revealing his green intense eyes.
"Oh hey honey." Sollux smirked out as the cat brushed up against sollux's leg before heading for the door in which Sollux had to open for her.
"You didn't tell me you had a cat!" Eridan panicked out as Sollux simply grinned and closed over his door with a shrug.
"You never athked?" Eridan perked up at the answer before feeling his stomach twist slightly as he paused the game.
"W-well if all I hav-ve to do is ask then…" Eridan froze as he peered away from Sollux, though Sollux took no notice, instead he just kept playing the video game.
"then?" Sollux returned as Eridan sighed and peered up at Sollux,
"Then I w-want to know-w if you still hate me…" The room fell quiet as Eridans chest dropped and his eyes drifted to the paused screen of his game as Sollux didn't glance at him.
"No, your alright I guethth" Sollux mumbled out as Eridan smiled widely, he was so glad that Sollux didn't hate him anymore and wanted to ask if they could be friends but then again that might be pushing it, so he fell quiet.
It wasn't too long after that Mituna entered the room with a grumble as he told Eridan to pack his things and meet him downstairs. Eridan quickly did as he was told and gave Sollux a quick goodbye before rushing down the stairs as Mituna got off the couch.
"He wathn't an aththhole to you today wath he?" Mituna asked as Eridan shook his head quickly, Mituna sighed as he stretched with a yawn and nodded.
"Come on Ampora, Time to get you home."
And that's when Eridan realised that he was returning "home" which meant Cronus was going to be there, and Sollux wouldn't. It meant Christina wouldn't smile at him and make him feel fuzzy and that the safety that Mituna offered would vanish. It chilled him to the bone, back to the cruddy apartment with his so called guardian.
As Eridan's dad used to say, all good things must come to an end.