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Regect scoffs. “Duuudddee. You’re no fun. You don’t wanna go on a roadtrip?” It crosses its arms, tail limping behind. Its one eye directly looks at Ze.
The man sighs, before leaning his head back on the couch. “Nah, that’s like– that’s like asking if I wanna go on a roadtrip with the devil himself.” He smiles.
“What are- Are you comparing ME to the devil?”
“What if I am!-”
“-you think you’re so heaven sent huh!”
“Yeah, yeah! Maybe I do think that! You’re sooo sooo privileged to even be talkin’ to-”
“-remember that time when you tripped me down a flight of stairs you-”
“-fuck yeah I do! But do you remember when you sent me to super mega hell?”
“Of course I do! You were- You said I wasn't scary-”
“Dude- Fuck you!” Ze huffs, voice straining from all the yelling and attempts to not laugh.
“Fuck you more!” Replies the entity, also trying not to burst into a laughing fit.
Regect calms itself down a little, before walking towards the other end of the couch adjacent to Ze. It rests its legs horizontal on the couch, towards the man.
“Wow, taking up the whole couch now are we?” Ze teases.
“Shut up.”
He looks away, resting his face on his knuckles which were planted on the armrest. He looks up onto the ceiling.
He hums. “So.. So where’s Moe?”
“I dunno. Think she went with her little clown gang to some rehersal.”
“Oh.”
For no particular reason, Regect can almost feel a little stab of sharpness to its chest when it hears Ze’s response. Okay, maybe it’s for a reason that Regect itself doesn’t want to admit much. It sighs, before shutting its eye(s).
Ze looks over to the now quiet side of the couch, not having any movement or noise. Only the rise and fall of a chest, and the vague sound of tranquility. He lowers his eyes, somewhat surprised and glad to see the entity so calm and relaxed. It’s not everyday you see your world’s supposed antagonistic entity just sitting down beside you, resting its eyes.
He looks away after a split second more of observation, before leaning further deeper into the cushion of the couch. The man lets out a sigh, his thought process suddenly interrupted by a voice.
“Dude, have fun staring?”
“Fuck off.”
The entity opens its eye(s), leaning forward. “Chill, man. Jus’ asking.” It pauses, before sitting up and walking towards the kitchen. Ze’s vision trails it, following the way it inspects the fridge, cabinets, and everywhere else around the kitchen. It leans against the kitchen counter, facing him. “Man- We have no food or anythin’ huh?”
He tilts his head lazily to the side, giving a half shurg with his shoulders. “Dunno. Bet your greedy ass ate it all.”
“Well- No fuck you! Anyway- You know what this calls for..”
“....What?”
“ RESTURANT TIME!”
Ze scoffs extra loudly, making sure Regect hears him. “I just refused to go on a roadtrip with you. What makes you think I'd willingly go to a restaurant with you!”
“Why wouldn’t you wanna?”
“Are you asking me out onna fuckin’ date?”
Regect rests its elbows on the counter behind it. It faces up upon hearing that question, no words coming from its mouth.
“Are you seriously asking me out-” He repeats.
“Dude FUCK NO! In your fuckin’ dreams dude.”
“Oh- yeah. I bet.”
Silence consumes the room. The two face away from one another, now the atmosphere being too awkward to ignore yet too embarrassing to get rid off. The man quickly bats an eye at the entity, cursing himself for replying so gently. If he could, he would go back in time and say something else that would put the entity in further conflict.
Ze looks at the floor, before facing the entity once again. He shrugs. “Okay man- whatever. I’m fuckin’ hungry. Jus’- Just whatever”
“Is that a yes?”
“I mean well- Yeah. Whatever, yeah.”
“Llleettts goo!!!!!” The entity yells, before flying off through the window. Ze is going to need to fix that later.
The two arrive at a busy market, bustling with stalls and a selection of different stores. The man shoves his hands into his hoodie pocket, quietly trying to get around all the people. There are a lot of queues, some extending all the way down to the end of the street. He wonders if the food is really worth queuing ages for, sighing as he struggles further into the crowd.
“You dick.” He hisses quietly.
The entity pauses its steps for a second, before resuming, steps hastier now to catch up. “What was that for?” It shouts, making sure its response is loud enough for the other to hear it.
Ze frowns. “For bringing me here- Why would- Why would you even choose such a crowded and busy street?” He mumbles, louder than usual. After a brief moment, he feels claws gripping onto his sleeve, pulling him backwards.
“HEY! You asshole! Stop fuckin’ pulling me back.” He yells, arm jerking back slightly as his sleeve brushes against someone else's.
“Dude I swear- You’re literally sprinting!”
“Well it sucks to be you. Too bad I'm not super duper slow like a certain someone here-”
Before he could continue his sentence, he feels a heavy weight lunge towards his back, knocking him over head first to the floor. He winces slightly, his breath hitching too quick as he is met with the foreign hard ground. He lifts his forearm up slightly, urging it against the ground to lift himself up.
Unsurprisingly , he feels a warm claw pressing away from his back as the pressure lifts. He feels his face heating up, just even vaguely imagining how embarrassing it is falling onto the floor in such a busy area. This guy is so getting beat up.
Shakily exhaling, Ze waits for an extra second before struggling to stand up. He grunts, before forcing his weakened arms to push his body up. His wings flutter behind him, shaking off the damage.
He sighs, turning to his back to face the entity behind him. The crowd beside them seems to have already dispersed, only leaving enough space between the pathway they walked on and the area they fell on.
He crosses his arms.
“Okay so-”
“Dude- that wasn’t even MY fault.” Regect mutters, left hand rubbing its right wrist. “Some guy pushed me over!”
“Oh yeah? And you decide to pull me down with you huh?-”
“How the- How on earth is that my fault? It’s not my fault that you’re like a fuckin’ domino-”
Ze scoffs. “What, you callin’ me weak?”
The entity’s tail remains still, twitching to the side slightly. A teasing smirk tugs the corner of its mouth. “Yeah actually, what if-”
The man raises an eyebrow, now staring seriously..
“No. Why would I even. Like- Like pffft!!--....”
Ze sighs, before shrugging lazily. “Okay- Okay dude. Whatever.” His voice slightly lower than before. “So, where's this restaurant you’re goin’ on about?” He questions, batting an eye at the entity before continuing to walk forwards.
It hums, trailing behind the man. “Right there.”
“Right where?”
“RIGHT there!”
“Where??”
“Like- Like RIGHT there. To your right- you dumbass.”
“Dude, are you like- fuckin’ incapable of talking like a normal person?”
“Do I look like a ‘normal person’ to you?”
“If I squint a lot till I close my eyes, yeah.”
“Just shut up and walk into the restaurant."
After a few more seconds of struggling and awkward encounters of bumping into someone, the two make it out of the swarm of people unscathed (sort of). They stand opposite the entrance of the restaurant, their reflections clear on the glass door.
The doors into the shop stood tall, the glass foundationing it shining from cleanliness. The decor on the rims and edges of the walls stood out, the patterns and details carved intricately meshing together perfectly. Outside, two tall potted plants stand adjacent to the door on either side.
Ze gulps, his fingers fidgeting slightly with his sleeve. “Regect, are you sure…” He looks over to the entity. “You sure we're at the right place, dude?..” The man vaguely thinks about his wallet and current financial status. There is absolutely no way Ze is going to pay for whatever they buy in here.
“Yeah. Are you doubting me?” It asks, half sarcastically.
“Okay- Yeah, whatever. You’re paying.”
“Broke ass loser.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.”
The two step inside. A strange robot entity lady at the reception greets them, arms resting on the polished marble surface. The cold air inside bites their skin. Regect shifts ever so slightly closer to Ze, shoulders bumping for a brief moment. They pay no mind.
“G—ood evening! Seat for two?” The robot announces, a warm welcoming smile planted on her face.
“Uhm, yeah. Two please.” The entity confirmed.
The robot clicks, before stepping around the counter and walking off to a table. The two follow close behind.
“Why did you choose here?”
Regects eyes lights up. “Are you serious?” Ze shrugs slightly. “Yeah?-” “Dude. Are you living under a rock? This restaurant– they have like, the BEST seafood in the whole world.”
“Just jokin’ of course I've heard of this place before.”
“Have you actually?”
“No.”
Ze sits down on the wooden chair of the table directed by the robot lady, with Regect sitting opposite him. He widens his eyes slightly, before squinting before him. Regect notices, and responds by raising an eyebrow(?).
It opens up the menu, eyes shimmering with excitement. “Ohh boy… look at the king crab…”
“Mhm.”
“What are you gonna get?”
“Uhhh… I don’t know, never had seafood before.”
“So you do live under a rock.”
“Dude, not my fault that I don’t see fuckin’ crabs in the beach and start salivating at the mouth-”
“-just say you have no taste!”
“Okay, yeah, yeah. Whatever.” Ze grunts, resting his chin on his palm, other hand flipping through the menu. The entity hesitates before opening its mouth again. “Seriously, man. What is your problem?”
“Nothing. I’m good.”
“You’re genuinely impossible.” It argues, before dismissing it. “Since you’re being so hesitant, you’re also gonna have crab. How's that?”
Ze wavers, looking down at the menu once again. He squints slightly, dipping his head closer towards the menu. His mouth opens slightly, just barely agape. “Uhhh…”
Regect chuckles slightly. “What, you need glasses now?”
“No! I just…” Ze’s eyes focus onto the menu. “So- ..Ahem, So what does this say? The words are y’know.. a bit small…”
“Seems like someone's booking an eye appointment after this. Okay wait, off track. Anyway- what’re you getting?-”
“-I’ll have-”
“-taking forever? Means you’re also getting crab.”
“Man, whatever. What even was the point of asking me anyway?” Ze complains, tilting his head slightly as Regect snatches the menu away before him. It doesn’t respond, but instead calls the waitress over.
After a while of bickering and impatient waiting, the faces of the two are now newly replaced with keenness rather than familiar annoyance; the waitress approaches with a tray of two crabs. Regect’s face shoots up from eagerness as soon as the plates touch the table, the man however was more unphased.
“Enjoy your meal!” Smiles the waitress before leaving, hurrying to another table.
Regect quickly snatches the gloves provided beside the plates. It snickers. “Hah! Finally. Just look at this gorgeous, gorgeous crab… No wonder why it’s so popular.”
Ze too, snickers, but for a different reason. "Dude. Can you even wear those gloves? How are you gonna put them on your left ar-” He laughs, but ultimately stops when he sees that it is indeed possible for the glove to stay on the invisible hand. The entity grins. “Yeah. Continue?”
“How is that— ohhhhh…..”
“Yeah, I do have an arm. It’s just invisible.” It announces, like it was common sense. Except it should’ve been for Ze.
“Ohhh yeah… I forgot. Sorry.” Ze mutters, not sure why he is even apologising. The last words he spoke now simply lingers around the two, none of them continuing on the conversation nor moving. He awkwardly clears his throat and reaches over his plate, fidgeting slightly with the gloves before taking a pair.
“Let’s dig in!” Regect shouts, not nearly as loud as it normally sounds, the voices of the chattering around accompanying it. “Yeah!” The man follows, not entirely sure what he’s even doing.
Ze slides on his gloves on both hands, not knowing where to start with this giant of a crab. He must admit, it does smell good. He hesitantly holds one of its legs, and another. He attempts to open it.
A moment passes.
Then another.
“D-dude, how the fuck do you open this thing?” He utters frustratedly, looking up to Regect who is tearing this crab down and slurping it like the crab’s still alive. Regect pauses upon hearing his voice, looking up from the food. Then it grins. “You STILL haven’t opened it?”
“Yeah. I STILL haven't opened it. And I won't for the next 5 minutes if you don’t tell me how to.” Ze reinstates, eyebrows frowning slightly as he squints at the entity.
He expects it to maybe tease him more, call him stupid again, something of that sort. But no, it instead raises its hands and reaches it over the table, until it hovers over Ze’s. It gently hugs both of his hands with its own — it could feel him tensing up. Ze loosens his control over his own hands, letting the sharper and slightly bigger pair guide them.
It isn't anything soft or intimate, instead he will consider it more of a general physical contact. Yet, he can’t seem to shake his head off the feeling of its hands around his.
Ze snaps back to reality as the warmth around his fingers leaves, the colder reality biting his skin. His eyes stay at the same spot as before, only now just realising the crab leg is opened and ready to eat.
“Soooo…. Are you not even gonna thank me?” It scoffs sarcastically. “You’re so mean.”
“Huh. Hm? Oh— oh yeah.” Ze stumbles over his own words, the short yet longed for feeling not completely weared off of his skin. He blinks, looking at the crab leg before looking at the entity facing him. “Thanks. I guess.”
“I guess? Only I guess? Dude fuck you!”
“Thanks, dipshit.”
“That isn’t any better.”
Ze shakes off the weird feeling inside his chest. He resumes with the food, and the aching silence before them once again takes over the atmosphere. Seems like even Regect senses it; it doesn’t make eye contact, no more snarky remarks, just head down on the food.
He ignores the awkward silence, and focuses on the plate in front of him. He’s surprised (not too much) that Regect would know about such a fancy restaurant, let alone bring him here. But he’d be lying if he said that the food doesn't taste good.
Ze chews on the food, head still down. Then he realises. He hadn't properly paid attention to Regect’s little demo just now, and now he is left with still no idea on what to do. Okay, maybe he does have a little idea, but something inside his chest urges him to ask it again to see what it would do this time.
Totally not hoping for that warmth to return.
Ze clears his throat. The entity’s head jerks up, expression unreadable with only floating eyes and a mouth (occasionally). It suddenly feels embarrassed with how quickly it responded.
“Ahhhheem–”
“Just say it man.”
“Soooo..” Ze drags, not quite sure if he’d get beat for not listening and watching, or actually get another demonstration. He chuckles nervously. “So–”
“Say “so” one more time and–”
“Okay- Okay! Erm, so- Fuck– I mean- Okay. What I’m trying to say is I had absolutely no idea how you opened that crab.” He mumbles.
Regect raises an eyebrow. “And..”
“I—- uhh, I want you to tell me again?.. What do you want me to fuckin’ say?” He is totally getting red, he can feel it burning on his skin. This is so stupid to ask, to blindly follow some random thought.
It chuckles, slightly. “Dude, you’re so stupid.”
I know, He wants to say. His face instead remains stationary.
“Alright, fine. You better watch closely this time.” It states. Uncertainly, it reaches out its arms over to the plate opposite itself. It is unsure whether it should do it, or help the man do it. Ze answers its thought, lifting his free hands just a little higher and closer to the others. The entity accepts it.
This time, it isn’t as quick and uncalculated as before. Its palm hugs the outside of Ze’s smaller hand, the gloves rustling in between. It observes the way Ze just completely loosens his hands. It lets him melt into itself.
Ze never found contact the most desirable. Yeah, a side hug or so feels nice, but he never really wanted more than that. Until the incident regarding the hole happened. When he came back, he had never let himself submerge this deeply into another's arms, other than Regect and Moe’s. He had also never let himself bury his head into another's shoulder, and never particularly knew how it felt for someone to let him do so. Until then.
So now, all he can do is find himself wanting more. Just something to prove that they’re still real, and he’s still him.
He doesn’t realise he spaced out until Regect has completely stopped helping him at all. Ze’s vision focuses back on what’s infront of him, and only sees his own hands and fingers intertwining with the other’s. No crab or guidance in sight, just for the sake of it.
The entity nervously grins a little. “D– Dude, I think this is kinda...”
“Shut up.” Ze spits, just wanting the feeling to last.
“Y’know, could've just asked me if you wanted to hold my hand this badly.” It teases. Despite saying this, Regect doesn't let go of him. It doesn't want to break the moment all together.
Ze sighs, with no negativity behind it. In fact, he finds himself smiling a little before reluctantly letting go.
“Thank you for coming. Have a nice day!” Exclaims the waitress, before waving them goodbye.
The two walk out the restaurant, the sky an enchanted colour of golden and a slight leakage of orange mixing through. They stop outside, in front of the door.
“Man, I’m like, so fuckin’ full.” Regect mumbles, arms awkwardly sitting on either side of its (half invisible) torso.
“Yeah same.” Ze laughs, more of one to break the silence. “Y’know, that was pretty good.”
“I told you-”
“And I’m surprised you managed to pay that.”
With that, the entity falls silent. It doesn’t walk forward, doesn’t say anything. Just still like it has been screwed down.
“What.. You didn't– You didn't like walk out without paying again did you?..” Ze nervously scoffs, starting to regret saying that before.
Regect suddenly shrugs, before continuing to walk forwards down the street. It strolls in a somewhat upbeat manner, pretty odd to say the least. “Of course I paid for it! What, you think I'm like– broke?”
“Yeah yeah, whatever. Thanks you chud.” He trails close behind the entity.
It lets out a low, satisfied sigh under its breath. It isn't all the time it found itself so slow at responding, acting so weird (yes even it itself caught onto that). It looks up once again, letting its vision blur at the sky; wait for the colours to mix. Maybe it does enjoy Ze’s company. Actually, it would be quite an amusing lie if it said it didn’t. Regect ignores the question inside its head.
Poke.
Another poke.
The entity winces, before over dramatically turning its head. “Dude. What was that for?”
“It’s ‘cause you were looking up at the sky like a fuckin’ idiot. We’re crossing the road, you dumbass.”
“Oh, yeah. My bad.”
Silence fills the table once again. This has been happening quite a lot today, huh? Not like either of them are completely oblivious to why this has been the case so far into the day.
Ze awkwardly shifts. “Dude, uhm. Y’know.” He brings his hands together. “Was that like– Was that like a date?..”
He was maybe expecting a tease, a joke, or a denial. Definitely not an answer with the most serious voice he’d ever heard this guy speak in.
“It could be.”
Ze stops, his heart skipping a beat too fast. He somewhat had a feeling that something like this was going to happen, but is still nonetheless surprised. He gulps down, and the hot feeling on his cheeks once again rises
It takes a brief second for him to continue to walk forward again. This time with both of their fingers intertwined in the space between them. “That’s.. okay. Yeah. Yeah– ahem, yeah, that’s alright.”