Author's Note: Hey guys! I'm back with another entry! As you could tell with the first chapter, this will be a much darker, more emotional story. I'm still keeping you all in suspense, though. Don't worry, everything will be explained in later chapters, these first few are more of a set-up. I hope you enjoy this! :D
Rigby stepped into the shop, it's bell giving off an audible "ding". He trudged down the steps, but stopped at the bottom. He peered over at their usual table, a spot they used to have so many conversations: girls, music, Benson getting on them about work.
Eileen had heard the bell, and came out from behind the counter. She perked up a bit when she saw him.
"Hi, Rigby." she uttered, softly.
Rigby didn't even give her a passing glance. He essentially ignored her, drifting over to one of the stools by the table.
The mole felt awful. Her heart ached for him, having to lose his only true friend. She decided to try to comfort him, sitting down nearby.
"Rigby, I-"
He interrupted her by pushing himself away from the table then hopping off the stool. The raccoon was visibly irritated and went over to a booth instead. He laid down on the comfy leather seat, letting his mind wonder.
Eileen was taken aback by him trying to distance himself from her. She suddenly became upset, stomping over to him.
"Rigby, tell me what's wrong." she said. Her tone was one of annoyance now.
Rigby just turned to his side, "Go away, Eileen."
"What? You came here for a reason, right?" She reached out to place a hand on his back, "Please, I'm-"
He instantly turned back around, shooting up to face her. He appeared shaken, flustered. Tears were welling up in his eyes.
"Eileen, I-I don't know why I came here. I-I think I needed a break, from everything. I need-" He took a deep breath, "I need...you."
A few seconds of silence passed. They stared at each other, not saying a word. On a spur of the moment, Rigby stood up off the seat, moving to Eileen and pulling her into his arms.
"Eileen...what do I do? Mordecai-" He tried to hold it back. "He's gone..."
He tightened his grip around her body. Not out of anger, but because he had someone there for him...for once. A literal shoulder to cry on.
"I feel so useless!" he bawled, scaring Eileen for a second. Now, tears were staining his cheeks. They streamed down his face, like a floodgate had been opened.
Eileen hugged him back, just as tight as he did. They stayed like that, locked in each other's embrace, for a good thirty seconds. The whole time he cried. After letting him get it all out, Eileen pulled out of the hug, putting her hands on his shoulders.
"Rigby, look at me." She removed one hand, pulling his chin up to hers. "How can you say that you mean nothing?"
"Because I do! It's obvious I can't do anything right! I don't even get why you like me!" he yelled. He wanted to leave, to run out of the shop. But she held onto him, showing she needed him just as much.
"Well, you're cute, funny, and you make me happy to be around. You're a great guy, Rigby." she replied, giving him a small peck on his cheek.
He sniffled, wiping his nose. "Thanks, Eileen. That-that means a lot."
She took some napkins out of the dispenser on the table, handing him a few. He blew into them.
"Do you feel better now?" she asked, patting his back.
He chuckled, "A little. But, I'd feel even greater if you could do something for me."
She gave him a confused look. "What do you mean? Do you want some food? Or coffee? Or-"
He put a finger to her lips, signaling her to stop.
He took a moment to compose himself. Gently, he grasped her hands. Rigby pulled Eileen closer, preparing for what he wanted to ask of her, his expression turning serious.
"Eileen, I like you...a lot. So please, give me an answer to this."
"What?"
"Will you let me move in with you?"
Meanwhile, Mordecai woke up from his long, much-needed sleep. He rubbed his eyes open, looking down to his body. He was surprised to feel his feathers there, instead of the cold, hard-as-steel black armor which would cover him from neck-to-toe. It had somehow been removed, along with his trusty axe nowhere to be found. Even more peculiar, he had awoken in an entirely different place...
He was in someone's home, in their bedroom.
He rubbed his head in pain, 'Huh? How did I end up-?' He tried to get out of the bed, but couldn't move his legs.
'Ah, there you are. Did you sleep well?'
"Where am I? Why can't I move my feet?" he asked.
'I can't say. You are just...here.'
"I-I don't understand? I-" he stopped. The avian turned his the right, his jaw nearly falling to the sheets.
He was next to a woman. Someone he'd been longing to hold.
"Mar- Margaret?" he almost lost his voice, he was so elated to actually see her, the one bright spot in his life!
He attempted to pull her over to him, but his hands went right through the robin, as if he was only there in spirit.
"What? What?! Why the hell can't I hold her?!" he shouted.
He tried grabbing her again and again, but to no avail. The bird then noticed, to his horror, that she was crying. Not just little spouts of tears and sobs, but something that sounded like an animal with it's leg caught in a trap. Something that made you want to put an end to it's misery. It was literally heartbreaking.
"Margaret, don't cry. I'm here now. You're safe." he said, trying to console her.
She continued to cry, at the same strength as when he awoke. Margaret never turned to face him, instead she just laid there, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Why are you crying? Did I do something to hurt you? I would never-"
'She can't hear you...'
The bird tried to ignore the knight and focus on the robin.
"I would never hurt you. I-I love you." he uttered, barely above a whisper.
'It is futile to keep trying...'
He grabbed his head with both hands, thrashing it back and forth.
'DAMN IT, SHUT UP!' he screamed in his mind.
He waited a few seconds for a reply. Thankfully, Mordecai didn't receive one. He glanced back over to his girlfriend.
Mordecai halfheartedly tried to grasp her again, but no matter how many times he reached out, each one failed.
He suddenly shouted out loud, "PLEASE, LOOK AT ME! TURN OVER, SAY MY NAME, ANYTHING TO LET ME KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!" Now, he'd joined in: He was the one who was sobbing.
"Look at me...I'm begging you..." he cried.
The knight laughed, 'You really are pathetic!'
In between sobs, Mordecai choked out, "Why? Just tell me, why are you doing this?!"
'Is it not obvious to you? I need you to suffer. If one does not suffer, how would they ever hope to grow stronger, to overcome difficulties? This is just a taste of things to come, my friend.'
"But I- You're a monster! You don't have a heart!" he argued.
'You are correct, I do not. At least, not anymore. The only heart beating is yours.
If I'm not mistaken, you are stricken with amnesia, yes? Do not worry, I will fill your mind with new memories.
But first, we need to get you up onto your feet.
To do that, you must wake up.'
Mordecai was confused, "Wh-What?"
The knight put his voice to a whisper, 'Arise, little bird. Arise.'
Mordecai's eyes shot open. His vision was hazy, his head disoriented. The avian stood from where he was resting, but stumbled a bit. He put his hands on a table to catch himself from falling onto his face.
Still out of it, he spoke, "Where is she? What? I'm-I'm still in the deli?"
'Yes, we are.'
"But...that dream...it was so real, it felt like she..."
'...was actually there, next to you? Yes, I take pride in the fact I am able to make your visions feel so...authentic.'
Mordecai was appalled, "How- How can you be that hateful? Don't you care about someone's love?"
'Oh trust me Mordecai, I do. Or at least I did, as I was once blindly in love, like you. But sadly, she was stolen from me, along with other riches...'
Our hero was even more puzzled now, "What do you mean? What happened?"
'That is a tale for another time. Come now, pick up your weapon. We must leave.'
The bird picked his axe up off the dusty floor. He did as he was told, exiting the broken down shop.
"Now what?" he asked.
'We must pay a visit to an old colleague of mine.'
Mordecai started to walk, but abruptly stopped in his tracks. "No! I refuse to keep helping you! I'm not killing anyone else!"
'What about the Grim Reaper?! Did he not deserve it? He trapped her, tried to hurt her. Even worse, he lusted after her! But, you stopped her from being harmed, yes?'
"Yeah, I guess. But, Death- He-" He tried to defend his thinking, raising his arms in the air for effect. "He was different! He was evil and-and completely crazy!"
The knight sighed, 'Hmm. I see that you will not comply. So be it...'
He assumed control of Mordecai's body again, the bird's eyes turning a bright shade of blood-red once more. He twirled the axe in his right hand, like a child's toy.
'Your weakened psyche still fails to comprehend our actions.
Death was only the beginning,
And it shall also be the end...'