dude.

@coralinej

That was just it, he had no idea. Fred was the opposite of someone who had a clue about whatever the fuck he wanted. It was different when it was about another slice of pizza or doing the side quest in a video game. This was real life, which just so happened to be the thing he was the least sure about. He had no real goals for himself or even a job besides amateur crime fighting. Fred without money would be nothing less than a loser. She deserved better than that, better than him, better than whatever he would offer. Would it ever be enough? Fred barely knew what he wanted for breakfast if Heathcliff didn't prep it for him. He felt like a child and Coraline was so much more than that. “You don’t want that. I’m a deadbeat, Cora. I... I know you’re better than that.” Then him. 

@rosiegardein

Fred could keep his heart rate kicked up a notch as she spoke. He tried not to show the immediate concern and confusion on his face. This was getting beyond him, he didn't know what to say in a situation like this. Those words, the words, the ones he'd never even said himself. It was no secret that his friendship with Rosie hadn't been the same since the gossip dropped word of her feelings for him. Not that Fred minded but the last thing he wanted was to hurt her which seemed more likely than he wanted. He barely knew what he wanted for breakfast, that being a big enough decision every day. She deserved better than that. Fred knew he didn't have anything like that to offer her. "No, of course not," he said trying to be delicate with something so close to the heart. "I wish I could say it too... I just..." The boy ran a hand through his hair, trying to handle it with care. "I'm sorry, Rosie."

@chmiclreaction

He wished he had an answer for her, a good one, one that might actually offer some advice. Instead, Fred had been searching for one himself. Life continued on after the death of Tadashi but a part of Fred stayed behind. "I-" He opened his mouth as if to say something before all that came out was a sigh. Honey was one of the people who saw the side of Fred that only so often ever made an appearance. His whole spiel was being carefree and yet this haunted him more often than not. After looking at her he found a small smile,. reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder. "Maybe because it's how he gets to live on, you know? Through all of us."

“I’m not a hero, Fred”. Kit had too much to drink, having used every ounce of energy in him just to get out of bed. His make-believe reality with Atta, though surprisingly pleasant, never truly stopped the bleeding inside. He was a shell of a man, pushed to the limits of trying to be whole for the people who had to look up to him. Admittedly, he was beyond exhausted. “I don’t see the purpose of this at all. Fred. I used to be so sure of life, now I just want all of this to stop. I’m tired of carrying the weight of these responsibilities. I see no light at the end of this tunnel.” Kit bit his lip, closing his eyes as he tried to breathe in, but it didn’t help. Every time Kit closes his eyes, a vision of Ella’s face appears before him. He was so close, and yet he found himself deeper in darkness than before. Kit extended his hand, palm facing up, letting Fred know what he exactly needed. “Give me anything—the strongest. Please.” The tone of desperation in his voice was apparent. He was drunk from all the alcohol he consumed, but Kit was more intoxicated by other things.

Kit sat on the porch while he smoked the weed his friend gave him. Today he had a break from the playhouse with Atta, and this was the only time Kit felt in touch with the wounds he so desperately hid from the world. “I want her to come back, Fred. I’m still in love with her, I love her, I want no one else…” He threw a bottle on the floor, his face burrowing into his hand when the tears finally came. Kit finally allowed the agony to come through, even just for tonight. “I should find her. I’ll go to the Tremaines right now.” Kit was obviously drunk and out of his mind as he wobbled around the table looking for his car keys.  It was the middle of the night and he thought driving and knocking at the Tremaine’s door was a good idea. “Will you come with me?” He asked in desperation. 

✗

“Of course you are, you’re my favorite Floppy Haired Foe,” he said with a small smile, hoping to lighten the mood slightly. Sure he’d come over knowing that his friend was probably having a tough time but this was another level. Fred always tried his best when it came to being there for the people he cared about, doing whatever he could to offer them solace. As much as he wanted to make it better, he knew this was something that a new joints wouldn’t be able to mend. He’d never seen him like this before and after watching him be the face everyone loved. This was raw, Fred feeling severely unequipped for emotions of this caliber. That didn’t mean he wouldn’t do his best to give advice, as if he knew anything about love in the first place. “I wish I knew man... Sometimes I look at all the stuff and it’s like super awesome but what do you do with it, ya know? It’s cool but none of it really means anything without sharing it.” That’s how Fred felt about his friends anyway. Being rich was fun but he didn’t much care for it if he didn’t get to enjoy it with the people he loved most. He figured Kit understood that. Seeing his out stretched hand meant it was bad and Fred could only provide so many substances to numb it. He knew that in the morning it always comes back: the feelings. 

After taking another drag of his own Fred turned to look at his friend with heavy eyes. “Maybe it isn’t about finding her, you know? Like what if there was a way you could tell her and you know she’d heard it? If reading comic books has taught me anything it’s that you never know if they’re looking for you too.” It was a long shot but he figured his friend needed to hear it in the off chance all his reading proved to show some truth of reality. Fred was quick to his feet once Kit was on the move, trying to center him again. “Whoa, don’t get ahead of yourself, Prince Charming,” he said with his joint bopping as he spoke with it between his lips. “If this is really what you want, if it’s her or whatever it is, then what’re you doing marrying someone else? No one has control of your life but you.” Fred knew it could be hard to put on the act that the world wanted them to and he worked to do the opposite, and maybe Kit needed the same. 

Coraline couldn’t believe she agreed to this. Parties like this were not her scene and after Retroland she was content with staying home forever. But Fred had expressed wanting to go, so there she was, at this party. With him. Totally not a big deal. Except she was more anxious than ever and when they got there she went straight to the bar for some liquid courage. She drank fast so that she was drunk fairly quickly and when it all sunk in she was having a pretty good time. She wasn’t dressed up or anything and while that would normally bother her, right now she was totally fine. When he asked if she wanted a refill she clumsily raised her cup. “Yes. That would be the best thing in the world. You’re such a sweetie, Fred. And we don’t have to go. I’m having a great time. Are you having a great time?”

✗

He wanted to make sure she was comfortable first, that’s what mattered the most. Over the years it had become clear that Fred could have a good time anywhere. As long as he had at least some THC in his system and the music was decent he would be able to have as good a time as anyone. When he came to Coraline he wasn’t sure, never wanting to be the person that put her in a situation where she felt the way she did at Retroland. Fred still hadn’t totally figured that one out but knew better than to ask, she’d tell him if she wanted him to know. He wasn’t one to push. “Yeah, yeah, sure, of course. It’s nothin,” he said with a smile. She looked like she was having fun, maybe a little more than he’d thought but he would keep an eye on her just in case. Fred didn’t want to be overbearing, sometimes he just cared too much. “I’m having fun, for sure. All’s good, just wanted to make sure you where. Have you... How much have you drank?” He didn’t want it to come off wrong, trying to be as delicate with his wording as he could. 

Rapunzel hadn’t seen one of her favorite people beyond the ones who lived in her house in a while, but she was pleasantly surprised to see Fred at the party. She knew the voice behind her was a familiar one, and her face brightened as she turned around and spotted him. “Fred!” she squealed, wrapping her arms around him tightly with a wide grin. “What the heck are you doing here? Where the heck have you been?” She hadn’t even felt bad about her rapid-fire questions since he had been so missing-in-action. The last time Rapunzel had seen him, she’d still been hung up on Kit, which wasn’t untrue, but she was doing a lot better now. “It’s so lovely to see you, and you look so handsome, good sir,” she joked with a bit of a curtsy.

✗

It had been too long since he last saw his favorite ray of sunshine. From the beginning Fred knew Rapunzel was someone he’d care about for a very long time. Everyone knew she was special. He felt a sense of guilt that he hadn’t stopped by recently, knowing he’d been slacking in the friend department. Fred was trying to right those wrongs and make up for all the lost time now. He was quick to hold her as she came to him with a hug, his smile widening while he pulled her deeper into a hug. Hiro was an outward hugger but Fred kept his love for a good hug a little more lowkey, Rapunzel always giving some of the best. “I’m good, great, doin’ fiiiine,” he said shrugging as if she hadn’t missed much at all. Sometimes no news was good news. “After a long retreat with pizza and video games I thought it was time to get out of hibernation.” Fred knew he had been dealing with his own self, not wanting to bring her into his personal struggles. “How are you though? What’s new? What’s crackin’?” He wanted to get caught up on all the latest on her, knowing he probably missed a lot in the real world. “Awe shucks, don’t make me blush,” he said with the wave of his hand. “Look at you, Blondie!” 

Fred hadn’t been coming around as often as he used to, dealing with his own sulking in his room. He wasn’t all that great at talking to his friends when stuff went south but just smoking himself out while his thoughts untwisted themselves. That didn’t stop him from missing everyone when he would vanish for a little bit. He’d been working on being better again, knowing the gossip blog had taken its own toll on him. That was nothing compared to all that Kit was being thrown into though. It had been hard to find any sort of time to see him when he was so busy being, well, Kit. Not like that would stop Fred, showing up at his house that night with a few of the best joints money can buy. While they sat outside staring at the world that basically belonged to his friend, Fred took a long breath and savored the feeling of it numbing his head. “You know, the superhero always finds his perfect match in the end.” He knew to some it sounded dumb but it’s just how he figured out the world. Comic books helped reality make sense. “Like Superman and Lois Lane, Jane Foster and Thor, it just... all works itself out for stuff like that for the super guys.”

@frdzilla​

Hiro needed to talk to someone. It was one of those days. One of those days where the house was quiet and he hadn’t spoken a word out loud to anyone but Mochi. He missed his brother. That was it. Fred would get it. Or Honey, but somehow he ended up here. Not that he’ll ever admit it to Fred, but he’s the only one that can pull him out of the Tadashi hole. Hiro decided that this time, he would actually ring the doorbell. As much as he loved freaking Fred out, he needs the company more than anything right now. Hiro took a deep breath and rang the doorbell. Don’t cry. Don’t. 

✗

Fred had a riveting day of moving from his bed to his game room. This was his normal agenda but today was different since it was a weekend. Instead of it being considered work, now it was vacation time. Some days he thought about doing something else with his life besides being a part-time knockoff crime fighter but then he’d smoke a bowl and forget all about it. Even if he didn’t want to become something he hadn’t the slightest clue where to start. Fred wasn’t smart like the rest of his friends, his greatest superpower was being able to perfectly cook a grilled cheese every time. It was an art. As he was sprawled out on the couch of the game room he heard a ring and got to his feet, knowing it was Heathcliff’s day off. Maybe he ordered a pizza delivery he forgot about or something since it wasn’t often that they got visitors. Fred was more surprised to see Hiro actually knock and not just come in which told him enough that he needed to switch off his high and put on his favorite dad hat. “You’re just in time, I’ve got lasagna in the oven.” Heathcliff had pre-made it for Fred, knowing very well he wouldn’t eat a real meal without it. He pushed the door open and nodded for his friend to come inside. 

He couldn’t believed she’d agreed to come with him. This seemed like the very last thing she’d want to do and yet here he was with her. Fred was in high alert though after Retroland, not wanting to send her into that sort of panic ever again. Maybe it was dumb to worry about her but he couldn’t help it. She was important to him and he never wanted to be the cause for her feeling like that. He’d do whatever he could to keep her safe, that was a promise. “How you feeling? We don’t have the stay all night either if you don’t want,” he said just wanting to check in with her since they’d been there a few hours already. “Do you want a refill?” He asked nodding to the cup in her hand then looking down at his empty one. 

He was surprised as everyone else that he’d actually shown up. To know if Fred was going to come to something was always up in the air until last minute. He was notorious for making decisions on the fly, especially when it came to parties. Most of the time he ended up going but when it involved being like a little fancy, that was a different story. That was until Coraline agreed to go then he was actually excited but more nervous than he wanted to admit. Fred cared about her more than he should and for that same reason he worried about her. All he could do was make sure she knew he was there for her. Seeing a face he recognized a few lengths down from him at the bar brought a smile to his face. “Whatever she gets is on me,” he said closing the space between them and motioning to his drink he already had on a tab. “You can’t pay for your own drink when you look that stunning, m’lady,” he said with a tip of his invisible cowboy hat. 

“Excuse me!” Standing directly behind Fred, a slight buzz already hitting thanks to the champagne, Honey cleared her throat to get the man’s attention. She knew he hadn’t heard her greet him, or seen her standing there when he walked right past, but that didn’t stop her from placing her hands on her hips in mock offense. “Are you really going to ignore me like that? And here I thought I was your BFF, the peanut butter to your jelly. I was considering giving you the other half of my best friend necklace and everything.”

@frdzilla​ 

.

✗

He hadn’t been much looking forward to being out and around a big group of people. In fact, he was kind of dreading it but he also kind of though it could be fun. Somehow he’d convinced Coraline to go, so Fred was happy enough with that alone. After what happened at Retroland he didn’t want to push her to go out to anything that made her uncomfortable. His word on keeping her safe could only mean so much and he knew that. Honey as usual brought a smile to his face, it coming over his lips the second he saw her. “Ignore you? Ignore the ketchup to my mustard? The mac to my cheese? Never.” Fred placed a hand over his heart as if hurt by these allocations before another smile took over his feigned pain. “I’d be so honored to have the other half, if you can forgive me that is.”

♡

Honey nodded against his shoulder, a small smile on her lips. It was a comfort to think of Tadashi somewhere, shaking his head at them, annoyed they weren’t spending their holiday laughing and instead feeling sorry for themselves he wasn’t around. It was just a comfort to think of him at all. “Sometimes I can’t help but wonder what I could’ve done,” she admitted softly after a moment, “what I could’ve said.” She knew, logically, what had happened wasn’t her fault. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. She couldn’t have done anything to stop it. She couldn’t have known. But the nagging guilt didn’t listen to logic, and there was a survivors guilt she couldn’t shake. “I’d give anything I had just to bring him back for a day. But he’d be mad at that, too, wouldn’t he?” 

✗

Fred thought about Tadashi a lot more than he let on. So much of what all of them did was because of him. He was the one who really brought them all together after all, something always feeling empty now that he was gone. Hiro helped him move on by starting to see the kid as a little brother and knowing Tadashi would be happy they were all looking out for him. That didn’t change the nights that were incomplete without him there. “Yeah... I think I have that own talk to myself at least once a month,” he said with a breathy laugh. It was stupid when they all knew it wasn’t their fault and yet Fred felt guilt all the same. Her comment made his laugh a little louder, nodding his head in agreement. “He’d spend the whole time telling us we can’t keep doing this and that we’ve got to learn to move on.” If only it was that easy. “I just keep thinking this year it’s gonna be different and it won’t feel like that. I guess just waiting for that year to come still.”

-

Normally, when someone tried to touch her when she was like this, the first thing Coraline would do is swing. She almost got Wybie a few times without meaning to and luckily he was the only one who ever even attempted to get close to her while she was panicking because she was sure she would be sent to prison for her actions. When Fred touched her she just….froze. She kept breathing, panting really, as her mind battled with her fight or flight instinct. She was shaking so hard she was surprised she didn’t just collapse completely. The world was spinning and she couldn’t form any kind of coherent thought and she felt like she was going to fall into this deep void where no one could save her because she did this all to herself. “I…I’m not safe….” she looked at him with wild eyes, searching for anything behind his shoulder or in a reflection. “I’m…I’m never safe….she’s…she’s still out there…and she is…she’s gonna want revenge…of course she is going to want that….and I….I am just….here….just out in the open…perfect for the picking!”

✗

Fred was trying his best to keep up with what was going on but he had to admit he was completely lost. None of the details really mattered right now, not until Coraline was calmed down. He didn’t know how to assure her that nothing bad was going to happen but Fred was going to try his hardest. Emotional stuff wasn’t his strong suit, as he ran from his most of the time. That all changed when it came to someone he cared about though. “Coraline, hey, you’re okay. I’m here and I promise I am not going to let anything happen to you,” he said in a soft yet certain tone. If there was one thing he was sure of it was that he’d do anything and everything he could to make sure she was safe. “Why don’t we get out of here, yeah? We can go anywhere you want.” He held out his hand for her to take, his eyes locking in on hers. “Are you with me?”

closed starter @frdzilla​ location: retroland 

Coraline was seeking Fred out this time. She was tired of the back and forth; the talking to her constantly before disappearing after saying something that could potentially change their dynamic if he would let it. She had started scouting at all of the places they have hung out and when that didn’t work, she set foot for Retroland. She never was a big fan of the amusement park, but she just had a strong feeling Fred was. She had started walking the area for a while, being shoved at by screaming children and blinded by the lights. She must have come during a rush because before she knew it there were so many people and so much shoving because she wasn’t picking her feet up fast enough and one of the strangers looked a lot like her mother and….well then she started running. She ran fast and she didn’t have any source of direction, but her panic was what brought her to Fred. She crashed right into him and looked at him with wild eyes. “I….” she couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t speak; she just felt like she was being hunted and that she was running out of time.

✗

Fred had been laying low for awhile now. Life felt heavier than normal which meant it was about time for Fred to hibernate during the winter holidays. Everything else that had been going on with his personal affairs were something he’d tucked away. The last thing he had a clue about right now were dealings of his heart. The only thing that had been on his mind as of late was Tadashi, more specifically how empty this time of year felt without him. Fred knew he needed to reach out to Coraline, Rosie too, and make sure everything was well. That didn’t change the fact that he hadn’t been able to even start a message to either of them, not having a clue what to say. Words weren’t exactly Fred’s strong suit and that was no secret. Today was another day he was searching for escape, as if smoking weren’t enough to numb the memories of a lost friend. That was about the time when he quite literally bumped into Coraline. At first Fred was frozen, unsure what to say but her expression sent him past that and to concern. “Hey, hey, it’s okay,” he said gently, placing a hand against her arm to steady her. “You’re alright, you’re safe here, I promise.”