Tunnels were dug up, caves were discovered, and several re-spawns later, Sollux was continuously typing away at his laptop an hour after he arrived home from his study time with Eridan. It was now 6:30 pm, Sollux's father making chicken teriyaki in the kitchen.
The noise of his fingers against the keys and faint music from his headphones as Sollux plunged his way through Minecraft servers. Leaving a detrimental trail of damage in his path, to the servers and their players was his specialty. He liked to pick at things, seeing what makes them tick was a hobby.
Sollux liked to think of himself as a type of administrator over the game, taking players out of the world for good if they got on his nerves.
Which was often.
Even he, Solluxander the Merciless, had to be called and dragged to dinner. Xander rapped his knuckles on the door one too many times before he finally had to come in and wheel Sollux out away from his computer. The teen had to readjust the height so he could sit comfortably at the table. Might as well since he was already here.
Xander quietly dumped the teriyaki and vegetables onto Sollux's plate, as well as his own.
It was silent as they ate, neither spoke until Sollux finished off his broccoli, giving it a soft death by fork. Xander looked over to the other, a tired look in his eyes.
"So, mind telling me where you disappeared to all day? My, you can imagine my surprise coming into your room and not finding you glued to your seat at the desk, or hiding from the light under your covers."
The tall man paused, stabbing a carrot before returning his attention to his child. Sollux knew Xander was expecting an answer. He couldn't lie, it was like Xander's blind eye could see the truth anyway regardless of what he heard.
"Was out with a friend, ff was supposed to break it off with them today so we were studying a bit, more talking than studying though."
"Is it a him, or a her?"
"A guy. Seemed nice I guess, I dunno, don't know 'em really."
Well, it was the truth, and Xander looked like he believed it, which he should of because there really wasn't a reason not to.
"That's nice of you, but I never thought you'd come out of your cave for studying, on a Saturday for goodness sake."
Nodding his head, Sollux didn't look up from his empty plate. Xander took that at a 'please excuse me from the table now' and said
"You may be excused, but don't get back on your laptop, give your eyes a break!"
"But Dad, I'm almost-"
"Sollux."
Pursing his lips, Sollux didn't need to see his dad to tell that he was giving him a look that told him not to argue. So he didn't.
Grabbing up his plate and silverware, he dumped the latter in the sink and rinsed off his plate.
"Yes, Dad. I'll be in my room, NOT on my computer."
Sollux ducked into the hall to his room, closing the door silently behind him.
To take the temptation out of it, Sollux shut his laptop and stuck it on the slide out keyboard holder on his desk. That was a spot in his room he hardly ever used, given he had no keyboard to put there. That was okay though, he had many strange spaces in his room needing an occupant.
Sucking in a sigh, the Gemini began to realize exactly how badly he depended on the computer for just about ever need he had to satisfy. Becoming cranky at this thought, Sollux grabbed out blank paper and pens, and furrowing his brow.
Sollux was saved from having to figure out what direction to go in next, weather it would of been crudely drawn dicks or ideas for new codes we just don't know.
It was a call. From... Feferi?
Curious, he figured Meenah just lost her phone somehow. Regardlessly, he answered with a touch of uncertainty in his voice.
"Sup?"
"Sollux, I just- oh god, I'm so sorry to call late, something happened."
Alarmed, Sollux sat up and held his cell closer to his ear.
"Hey, is everything okay? Need me to drive over or something?"
"No, no everything is fine here. Thanks, but, you're gonna think it sounds silly to be an emergency, I broke up with Eridan. He got really really upset, I think he even started crying and I'm very worried what he might do- he's home with his his grandfather, and maybe his brother, I just, I don't know what to do Sollux, I don't know what to do."
Feferi's voice cracked and his sobbing before someone took the phone.
"Yo honeybreath, need ya bass to go over to douchenozzle jr's and calm down the tidal wave. You're suppose to fake love the lil shit so act like you care at least a bit."
Meenah's usual bark was in Sollux's ears, making his eyebrows furrow in frustration.
"I can't drive all the way out there! Besides, if my dad knew where I was going he'd eat my fuckin keys and the spare and everything I hold dear if he knows. Shore to your house it would be fine but not the Ampora's residence!"
Silently cursing himself for letting a fish pun slip out, the young Gemini laid down on his bed, pondering what he should do. Meenah's voice whispered and hardened, the sound of Feferi in the background got quieter as Meenah moved away.
"Listen here tunaface, my lil sis is actually fricking emotional over here, herring her now EX boyfrond getting upset makes her upset. So you either get your scrawny bass over there to Amporas or you're gonna have some bigger fish to fry later. Besides, sliding on in there while the lil guppies open and vulnerable could be an advantage to you, so get it in gear and move on out. Textin you his address."
The click of the End Call alert made Sollux hiss in irritation as he threw his phone, watching it shatter out of its case into the wall and clang onto the floor. Shit. What could he do now? He couldn't be out driving this late. Oh well.
"Daaaaad, going to FF's, be back in maybe an hour!"
Sollux called as he snatched up his keys. Racing out to the car with keys in hand, the Gemini hauled himself into the car and pulled out onto the road, trying to be subtle as he hit the gas and glanced at his caseless phone for the address. It didn't take him long to get there, but what was he going to say?
Giving himself little time to regret anything, Sollux hopped out of the car and sped walked to the front door of- holy fuck it was like a mansion. Hesitantly, he knocked on the door, why did he care, why did he bother, how come it had to be him to do this shitty job. Couldn't some other prick with no life come and do this?
It was not Eridan that opened the door, but his older brother. Oh. Hello there. He actually looked kinda ni- never mind he opened his mouth.
Cronus peered at the younger man in his doorway, but somehow Sollux was taller.
"Well hey there babe, didn't know we were having a hot party here tonight."
"Please don't call me that. I'm just here to talk to Eridan. Where is he?"
Sollux stayed in the doorway, unsure if he should really be entering the house. Cronus raised an eyebrow, then pointed up.
"No prob, man. He's upstairs, if you're quiet a moment you can hear him. Been stressin our old man out so I had to put the guy in his room to listen to some smooth jazz while Eridan threw a tantrum."
there was a motioning for Sollux to come inside, so he hesitantly did. Sure enough, yelling and stomping could be heard upstairs.
"Sure hope you're not here to try 'n cheer him up. Been trying for the last hour to talk to him, just keeps throwing the shit in his room at me, almost broke his lava lamp!"
"He has a lava lamp."
"You completely missed the point. But yes, he does. To be fair though he stole it from my room the little shit."
Nodding, Sollux looked around the room and holy dickerdoodles it was fancy and everything looked like it costed more than his own house. He jumped when a light hand was on his shoulder, turning to look at Cronus. The older Ampora retracted said hand and shrugged.
"Man, if you wanted to stare at the house all night go ahead. But Eridan is upstairs, and you're not. So, take the staircase and see if you can't give the little man some advice on shutting the fuck up for once."
This guy was an asshole. So Sollux didn't say another word before ascending the stairs towards the noise. Damn how could one person stay this upset for this long? Guess you were going to find out now huh.
Sollux had to duck as a pillow nearly took his head off.
"Shit!"
He exclaimed, thankful he ducked in time as he opened the door to the source of all the darned ruckus. Eridan stood there shocked for a moment, before resuming hi angry ranting. "The fuck are you doing here! Who told you that you could come here! How'd you know where I lived? Was it Fef? Did she fuckin tell you to come here!"
Sollux was a bit taken aback at how, not angry but sad, Eridan seemed. For all the hubbub it sounded like he was having a rage fit. Honestly the room had pillows and blankets tossed about with what seemed to be... Stuffed animals. Stumbling over his words, Sollux managed to get out a few things.
"I-I came here on my own, Jesus fuck, FF didn't tell me to do anything, she just called me up and was crying so-"
"Fef was crying? And why are you here and not there with her?"
Eridan was brandishing another pillow as he stepped closer, making Solux more nervous even though it was a damn pillow.
"She has her sister to comfort her, and y'know, breakups are shitty sometimes."
"But I broke your glasses and have been an asshole to you the entire time we've been in each other's presence. Why would you come here?"
Sollux could see more clearly the red rings under Eridan's eyes, he'd been crying too, probably feeling just as bad as Feferi sounded over the phone.
"See that was an accident, I had figured no one would be in my way if they saw I had a bigass stack of books I was carrying. I just, it's not of my business but I figured, it'd be nice to have someone to talk to? I mean, cause, I used to date her too a long time ago and we had kinda a shitty break up cause we were being dumb kids, and it um, helped to talk about it? It sounded like you were having a rough time from downstairs, and, yeah."
Eridan stared at him for a long time, eyebrows knitted together in thought with his mouth open slightly. It looked like Eridan was deciding on either continuing his fit and drive Sollux out the same as Cronus had been, or let him stay and talk. It took an uncomfortable minute of silence and staring, but the upset young man finally gave in.
"...I guess, we could, talk. Maybe."
He replied slowly, looking around the room as he tossed the pillow onto the floor. The Aquarius slumped onto his bed sullenly, quiet. Sollux took that as an 'its ok now you can come inside' so he did, closing the door behind him. They both were dragged through another silence, each waiting for the other to speak. "If you knew Cronus was here... why didn't you just leave?"
Looking up from the bed, Eridan gently patted the space next to him, which became occupied with Sollux moments later.
"I'd never officially met him till now, but when I came inside I could hear he was doing not the best job at comforting you."
"Cronus might be a total dick, but he really did try, I just, I threw his lava lamp I had jacked from his room at him, and he got really mad and hid in there for a while. He must of just come downstairs when you got here. I yelled at him a whole bunch and said a lot of things I shouldn't have either."
Eridan frowned, looking around his trashed room. It wasn't that bad, but there are clothes all over the floor, the bed, dresser, desk, a glass of water- or what was now shattered glass and a wet stain on the rug in the corner, was the only real damage. Even the lava lamp survived. It wasn't currently present so Cronus must of put it back in his own room where it belonged.
Sollux also paused to look at the mess, giving a mental sigh.
"Well we all get upset, god knows my poor dad has to deal with my temper bullshit."
"Yeah? Sounds like hell to me. It's just me, Cro, and my grandfather here. So listen.. You came over here to talk, but I really don't know you. I mean fuck I can't remember you damn name right now even."
"Sollux. My name is Sollux."
Looking Eridan's face over, the younger Gemini didn't pick up any more signs of hostility or future tantrums that were going to arise soon. Which was graciously a good thing, given his non existent knowledge of how to deal with an emotional person. He watched as the other lay down on his back, looking up at the ceiling.
"I'm calling you Sol. You cannot argue. It's just going to happen."
"Okay. I guess I'm alright with this. No one has called me that before, and any other person I don't think would get away with that. But I can make an exception for you."
"You fuckin better, cause that's the only damn thing I'm callin' you."
Letting out a huff, Sollux lay on his back as well, if not for the sake of staying comfortable but to stay level with Eridan. There was plenty of space between them for each other's comfort bubbles, which was perfect because neither wanted to make each other uncomfortable. Especially Sollux, he'd just feel weird if he did.
They continued to talk, their voices becoming more hushed as Eridan and Sollux drawled on with conversations leading farther and farther away from the original topic of Eridan's breakup. When it became quiet, hushed tones turned to whispers, whispers to simple breathing, to deeper breaths. The space between the teens continued to stay cold, empty, as neither moved from their static place of dozing. Though in the morning, Sollux realized he'd fallen asleep before going home, sitting up and rubbing his eyes in confusion at the clean empty room he was in. Oh yeah. Eridan's. Shit his dad called five times. He was so dead, so fucking dead.
Running down the stairs, Sollux's nose was assaulted with the smell of, waffles?
"Ey yo, small fry. Looks like you're not an early bird, c'mere."
Turning, there was the kitchen with Cronus in it, the culprit to the waffle smell.
Shuffling over and smoothing out his clothes, Sollux raised his eyebrows. Cronus nodded and smirked, shoving a folded up paper towel towards him.
"You better take that and scat, the old man don't like guests he hasn't met, then again he doesn't even realize most of the time we have guests. Which we don't. Anyway. I'm assuming you didn't plan on staying last night. Good though that my baby brother ceased his tantrum though, it was a racket to hear."
Sollux just stared with bleary eyes at the paper towel, only half listening to the rambles of the older Ampora.
"Uh. Thanks."
"Uh huh, no probs. Now get, we're busy Sundays."
Nodding slightly and picking up the bundle of food, Sollux double checked his keys and phone before heading towards the door. However, it opened before he touched it, and Eridan walked in with a BB gun over his shoulder as he shouted,
"Hey Cro! Is that food ready yet so you can get yer lazy ass out here and shoot with me?"
"Yadda yadda yadda, shesh Eridan I'm trying to make a descent breakfast for you ya ungrateful lil shit!"
Just noticing there was indeed a person in his way, Eridan looked up at Sollux.
"Oh hey Sol, just leaving? Don't worry about falling asleep, it's fine I guess. Hope you don't get in trouble, see ya."
Taking that as his second dismissal, Sollux teetered out to his car. He ate on the way home, hoping against hope that Xander didn't call the cops to look for him when he didn't answer or come home. He'd most likely know he wasn't at Feferi's. If, he had heard him on the way out.. Tension was high, and the thought of explaining everything to his father was a terrifying thought. For one, he would have greatly disappointed his father, with multiple things, and second, he'd be up to his shoulders in trouble. That was a lot of trouble considering he was 5"6.