Chapter Text
The snow was really picking up.
Pim was watching through the slightly-cracked front door, scared to open it any further. Normally, he loved snow, and of course he still loved snow, but it was piling up fast, much faster than anyone had predicted.
Pim jumped when he heard a critter behind him, “Shut the door. You're letting the heat out.” It was Allan, all decked out in earmuffs, mittens, and a scarf, despite wearing nothing on his torso.
“Sorry, Allan-” Pim giggled a bit as he closed the door. “It's really coming down out there though, isn't it?”
“Largest storm in the last ten years.” He confirmed.
“Yeah, it's kinda nice though, isn't it-”
“Climate change is scar-eye.”
“I mean… yeah, I guess, yeah, but- but we can still enjoy the snow! Can't we?”
“Mr. Boss wants to talk to everyone.”
“...okay-”
“In the break room.”
“Okay, thanks for letting me know!”
“You're welcome.”
The two stared at each other for a second.
“...are you coming?”
“Oh- right, I thought maybe you were gonna say something else, like-”
“No, that was it. He just said to go find you.”
“Okay-” Pim started after Allan. “Did he say anything else? Like if-”
“No, he just said to go find you.”
“Right, yeah, that- Okay. Well, let's go!”
They entered the break room to find everybody fixated on the weather channel.
“Millions across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and southern New York are experiencing an unprecedented and aggressive snowstorm. Sources say many are likely to experience up to three feet of snow in the coming hours, along with heavy winds, and even hail. The National Weather Service has issued a severe storm warning for the area, and is ordering everyone to shelter in place for the time being.”
“Shit, dude.” Charlie scratched his stomach and looked down at his phone. “My uncle's in Maryland right now, dude, look at this shit-” he turned to show Pim an image of his uncle holding a yardstick measuring nearly a foot and a half into the snow. “It's crazy out there, man.”
“Wow… Yeah, that's a lot of snow- What's he doing in Maryland, though? I thought he was still in prison.”
“Oh- Yeah, he got out like, two… weeks ago? Yeah, two- We had lunch together actually, it was nice- He's really, really turning his life around now. He's staying with a buddy in Maryland and he’s- he's going to the community college down there, doing some art and stuff and- It's really, it's great, I'm real proud of him.”
“Oh, that's wonderful, Charlie!!!”
“Yeah, dude, that reminds me, I was thinking we could commission a piece from him to like, put in the office or something, he's- lemme see if I can find it, but he did this like, it's- It's pastels, but it's- It's kind of- Oh, dude, I can't even describe it, it's just- yeah, I'll find the picture later, but it's super cool, it's really- yeah.”
“I bet we could do that, it’d be nice to have some art up in here! Like, on the- We could put it on the wall up-”
“BOYS.” Mr. Boss cut through the chatter with a slightly stern tone. “As much as I love hearing about your uncle, Charlie, this is really important.”
“Oh, yeah- What's, um, what's up?” Pim turned to face The Boss.
“More like what's DOWN, young Pim!!” His voice returned to its chipper high octave. “And the answer, of course- the snow!! Now, the big guys up at the weather stations have announced that we're sheltering in place, soooo I figure it's as good a time as ever forrrrr…” and with that, he ripped off his suit as if it were paper, revealing his bright blue onesie. “SLEEPOVER!!!”
“Eff YES!!!” Pim cheered, waving his arms and kicking his legs. “SLEEPOVER SLEEPOVER SLEEPOVER!!”
“I had an appointment with Doctor Monster.”
“I don't think you're getting to your appointment, Allan, it's pretty bad out there.”
“AJ ABADEDASH ABAPADE.”
“Oh, you're so right, Glep. I suppose I will have to stay here.”
“YAAAAAAY! I've always wanted a sleepover with my boys!”
“We're gonna have the best night EVER!!!” Pim jumped off his chair and waved his arms.
“That's the spirit, Pim! Now, why don't you get the kettle started for cocoa, and we can all play truth or dare!”
“Yes yes YES I LOVE truth or dare!” Pim excitedly ran to the kettle.
Charlie was less excited about the idea. As an alpha male, it was important to keep his inner thoughts… inner, and he wasn't too keen on being humiliated for the entertainment of others.
“Y'know, I don't know if I wanna play that, actually, cause that's- Isn't that for like, middle school girls or something? And I'm not- it’s- like, this is still a work environment, so-”
“Oh, Charlie, don't be like that…” Pim hopped down from the chair he was using to reach the counter. “It may be work, but we're all still best friends! …right?”
He looked up at Charlie with those big, scribbly eyes and Charlie immediately broke.
“Right, yeah, of course we're… best friends.”
“Oh, goody!!!!” Pim wrapped his arms around Charlie and squished his face against his side, looking up at him. “So you'll play with us?”
No. No, he would not play with them. The game was stupid. The situation was stupid. He could probably walk home right now if he tried.
“...of course. Yeah.”
Why did he say that.
He really didn't want to play this game, he really didn't even want to be here, but something about Pim made it impossible for him to say no.
He'd need to work on that. Alpha males bow to no one.
After Mr. Boss and Glep had dragged a box of blankets down from the attic, three of which Pim immediately stole to make a fort, and everyone was comfy with a mug of cocoa, they sat in a circle to start the game.
“Alright, boys, who wants to go first?”
“I do, I do!!!” Pim volunteered. “Mmm… Allan, truth or dare?”
“Truth.”
“Okaaaayyy… Ooh, do you wear the same blue tie every day, or do you have multiple of the same tie?”
“I have multiple.”
“Cool! Now you go!”
“Glep. Truth or Dare.”
Glep looked up from his tablet.
“Wha?”
“We're playing truth or dare. I asked you to pick one.”
“Daj.”
“Alright, I dare you to put down your tablet for the rest of the night.” There was a bit of a smirk on Allan’s face.
Glep huffed and took off his headphones, tossing them and his tablet behind his beanbag and crossing his arms. “Ashwajadaba.” Glep muttered.
“What did you just call me?”
Glep waved his arm dismissively. “Naja.”
“Whatever.”
Glep scanned the circle. “Cha.”
“Me?”
“Ya, Cha. Trujada?”
“Uhhh… I'll go with truth.”
“Dajahab tobakabu fo?”
Charlie went pink. Roughly translated, Glep had asked, “Do you have a crush on anyone?” And normally, he could just lie, but Glep and Allan had become his emotional consultants as of late. A decision Charlie was deeply regretting.
“Dude, that's like- That's super uncalled for, actually, dude, cause I JUST broke up with Zoey so that's actually-”
“Seven months ago.”
“Huh?” Charlie looked up at Allan.
“You broke up with Zoey seven months ago. And five days and thirteen hours and twenty one minutes.”
“Allan, you're a freak, you know that?”
“It seemed relevant.”
“Guys, guys- Charlie is allowed to feel however he feels for however long. He was with Zoey a long time.” Pim hugged Charlie's side again, only worsening the pink tint on his cheeks. “Glep, why don't you pick a different question?”
Glep rolled his eyes and shared a glance with Allan, before a mischievous look took over his face.
“Wha cavabaja jabadajoo?”
“HEY-” Glep had now asked why Charlie's cheeks were so pink. “It- I'm COLD, okay? It's fuckin' COLD. IS THAT A CRIME?”
“Charlie-” Pim was wincing at his yelling. He was sensitive to it, and normally Charlie did a good job regulating his volume. This was no such instance.
“Shit- Sorry- Sorry, that- yeesh, I'm sorry-”
“No, it- it's okay, I just… I'm gonna- How bout I go find the space heater? Then you won't be so cold!”
“Oh, you don't have to do that, Pim, I just-”
“No, it's okay! It's getting a bit nippy in here anyway, I should probably have gotten it earlier.”
“Alright, just- yeah, okay- You need any help?”
“Nope, I've got it!”
“Okay, just- I'm- hey, I'm sorry I yelled.”
“It's really okay, Charlie.”
“Alright, just, um…” Charlie felt like he needed to do something, so he pressed a little kiss to Pim’s forehead. “...yeah.”
“Aw, Charlie… you're completely forgiven!” Pim confirmed, squeezing Charlie in a big hug before running down the hall.
Charlie let out a deep breath he didn't know he was holding.
“Do I smell office romance?” Mr. Boss offered coyly.
“NO, no you do not.”
“You just kissed him on the fore-head.”
“Oooooh, Charlie has a cruuuuush-”
“NO I fuckin DON'T, he kisses EVERYONE.”
“But YOU kissed HIM.”
“As a BRO, alright? This isn't some-”
He was cut off by a scream from down the hall.
“Pim??”
The group rushed down the hallway to find a HUGE pile of snow in the lobby, and a very large hole in the roof.
Charlie barely had time to react before he heard a PIERCING scream from behind him.
“There is snow on the car-pet.” Allan followed up.
“Holy SHIT Pim-” Charlie started digging through the snow. “Holy fuck dude-” he pulled out what could only be described as a Pim-sicle. Pim had been in his button up and shorts, and was now shivering beyond belief. “Allan, he's fuckin frozen- Okay, I remember a little bit from the Mr. Frog Hypothermia Special, we gotta get these clothes off him and then get him warm.”
“Gashagwa dajahopaba?”
“I KNEW this roof wasn't sturdy… gosh, I should probably get someone to fix this-”
“I don't CARE about the roof-” Charlie ran to the other room, clutching Pim to his chest.
He pulled off Pim’s soaking wet clothes, but he was still shivering and gasping. What else had he seen on that special?
Skin to skin contact.
Awesome.
In any other situation, Charlie would have to push past many of his alpha male reservations, but this was Pim.
So he manned up and took his shirt off.
He sat in a chair and wrapped his arms around Pim, rubbing his back as he trembled against his chest. “C'mon, Pim, you're okay… you're just… cold…”
He tried so hard to stay level headed, but he was terrified.
He held Pim to his chest and tried to breathe.