#mod fic

You two were lounging under a tree, all 12 Pokemon doing their own things. Leavanny and Golisopod were being cutesy off near a little pond, with her making him a leaf shawl and him pretending to be too tough to need it. Mudsdale was passed the fuck out in the sun with Vikavolt and Volcarona. Masquerain and Primarina were in the pond racing and enjoying the water. Gardevoir was at your side, watching Scolipede, Pinsir and Scizor take turns sparring.

Your eyes wandered to your anti-social Ultra Beast. Guzma’s Pokemon were all used to your Pheromosa, so she wasn’t getting the attention she was used to anymore. It was very clearly bothering her, but she was the type to pout by herself rather than try to go make proper friends.

“She still pissy all the time?” Guzma asked, following your gaze to your uppity Beast. You sighed, leaning back against the bark. Gardevoir placed a hand on your arm in sympathy. You pushed your hair out of your face.

“Yeah, she still doesn’t really get the “teamwork” thing. REALLY mad I don’t use her on the league team.” Aside from the fact you felt using an Ultra Beast in the league was unfair, she was WAY too mean to her enemies. Pheromosa was the type to taunt both Pokemon and trainer, and to keep attacking even when her opponent clearly lost. You didn’t know what her pocket of Ultra Space used to be like, but she clearly was on top even there.

“She needs to learn that this isn’t like Ultra Space, and that I’m the trainer here. ‘Til then, it’s gonna be a fight,” you grumbled as you ate a slice of oran berry. Guzma sneered ever so slightly, but didn’t say anything. Ultra Beasts in general still left a sour taste in his mouth, but you two had already had your arguments over keeping Pheromosa around. If you wanted to deal with a giant murder bug that acted like a princess, that was your deal.

You handed Gardevoir the rest of your oran berry and stood. Guzma threw his hands up, rolling his eyes when he saw where you were headed. He pulled his phone out with a grumble to scroll while he waited on you to come back.

She was sitting on a rock she had meticulously cleaned off- still demanding you cover it with a blanket when you two arrived- with her arms crossed. Her long, black legs crossed in front of her as she cut you a nasty side eye. You weren’t amused, raising a brow and cocking a hip out. You mimicked her favorite sassy pose and earned an angry clicking in response. She turned from you like a petulant teenager. Were you like this to your mother? You’d have to apologize if you were.

“You could go over to the rest of them and, you know, go have fun,” you huffed. She gave an annoyed warble and an eye roll, whipping her chitin at you as she stuck her nose up. You sighed, a hand reaching up to rub at your eyes. You started to say something when Pheromosa suddenly straightened. She stood, as did the hair on the back of your neck.

A sickeningly-familiar pressure had you recalling most of your Pokemon. Guzma did the same, leaving Golisopod out. You spotted the Wormhole opening above you and Pheromosa. Then another. And another. At least a dozen opened, various Ultra Beasts spilling out. You immediately reached for your Ultra Recon Pager, pressing the emergency button to alert the Ultra Recon Squad.

Pheromosa moved faster than your eye could catch. A black leg swung in front of you, slamming an aggressive Kartana to the ground. A few good, quick stomps left the Ultra Beast unconscious. Your Leavanny took it upon herself to rejoin the fray as Guzma ran to your side.

“Never boring with you, huh?” He joked. You huffed, following him away from the middle of the sudden battlefield. Pheromosa didn’t wait for your orders, immediately taking off towards a Celesteela that began to descend from a large Wormhole.

“It hasn’t been this bad in a while- Leavanny, use Sticky Web on the ground around us!” Leavanny spat her webbing along the ground to slow any incoming Ultra Beasts. A roar, and a screech, signalled the arrival of a Solgaleo, Lunala, and the Ultra Recon Squad. You flagged them down as they all brought out their Poipoles.

“Champion, there’s been incredible activity all over Ultra Space,” Phyco informed as he approached. The rest of the squad readied beast balls, hoping to either drive them back or capture the Beasts before they caused too much damage. Phyco handed you a tablet with readings.

“This is like when Necrozma was getting close to peak power,” you muttered, looking at Phyco worriedly. He nodded as Lunala swooped overhead, knocking into a Stakataka in an attempt to knock it off balance. Necrozma seemingly vanished after its defeat in Ultra Megalopolis, and barely any Wormholes opened in the time since.

“Spread out and try to drive them back!” Phyco and the squad fanned out with their Poipoles. You and Guzma nodded, knocking your z-ring and his mega ring together in a silent gesture of good luck. You two took off toward your respective partners.

Pheromosa had taken down the Celesteela, and joined Leavanny's side. Leavanny used Double Team around a Circus of Blacephelon, confusing the explosive Beasts. Pheromosa used Throat Chop- her only effective move against ghost types- on the unsuspecting clowns. 

A few of the Blacephelon managed to get too close to the real Leavanny. All it took was one Blacephelon exploding for your poor partner to go down. You recalled her to her ball, trying to get Pheromosa to back up. She sneered at you, kicking one of the Blacephelon’s heads off into the Wormhole. You called out to her, moving closer, when one of the deranged clowns wormed its way between you two. 

Pheromosa’s eyes widened. As the beast’s head began to glow, she darted forward to place herself between you and Blacephelon. Her thin arms encircled you, lithe body trying to shield you from the explosion. She let out a pained screech, both of you launched off of your feet. You heard several screams of your name as you passed through a Wormhole with your injured Ultra Beast. The portal closed right as you saw Lunala swoop toward it to save you.

You held onto your half-conscious Pheromosa tightly, eyes darting to the various Wormholes passing you by. You knew Alola was getting farther away, and had no idea which one held Ultra Megalopolis without the direction of Solgaleo or Lunala. You had to take a risk to be able to use your communicator. You felt Pheromosa’s arms squeeze around you weakly and looked up at her.

Barely awake, but determined. She used her thin chitin almost like wings, turning you two toward an upcoming, unfamiliar Wormhole. You barreled through, landing on stone floor painfully. You recalled Pheromosa finally, wheezing as you tried to catch your breath again. You forced yourself to stand. Your heart dropped as a voice rang out.

“Someone, help me!”

21:07

Amarys was precisely on schedule. She always was, but it was particularly important that she stay on schedule this time. She had a very brief window of time to do what she needed to do, and if she fumbled or missed even a second it would ruin everything. But that was why she had to be the one to do it. Drayton would be annoyed that she had taken this task on by herself. It was a task made necessary by her love for her friend, and she knew he would be upset that she had taken sole responsibility for executing that directive without him even though he shared her fondness for Crispin (perhaps even moreso). But Drayton would not have been able to get the necessary information, and even if he had he would have carried out this task without concern for discretion. Which most certainly would have resulted in discipline.

No. That outcome was unacceptable.

Lacey also had the Director’s trust, of course. There was no doubt in Amarys’ mind that she could have gotten the target’s identifying information as well. But Lacey was not suited for this task. She was skilled in diplomacy and negotiation. She was charismatic and likable. She was not the type to confront a bully with force. And, according to Amarys’ analysis, force would be the only thing that would affect actual change.

Amarys had a great deal of respect for Drayton and Lacey. Neither of them were suited to properly handle this task. Amarys could handle confrontation. Amarys had the Director’s trust to get the necessary information. And, most importantly, Amarys had knife-like precision in her timing.

21:10

3 minutes, 16 seconds to navigate the halls towards her destination. She turned a corner and locked eyes on her target. He had left the last meeting of the Architectural Club and taken the average amount of time to walk to his locker. Given the late hour the halls were empty except Amarys and her target, and it was unlikely that anyone else would walk down this exact hall at this exact time. Amarys knew that for a fact - she had checked the schedules of all other members of the Architect club, the teachers of the surrounding classrooms, and the other students whose locker was in this hall. She had calculated this.

21:11

Amarys walked down.the hall, her steps sharp and quick. She walked slightly faster than the average student at Blueberry Academy. It wasn’t long before she was standing directly behind her target. Her heels clicked together as she came to a stop. She pivoted to face him. He hadn’t turned around to look at her yet, he was still preoccupied with his locker.

21:12

The hallway went dark. Every single light shut off at the exact same time, leaving Amarys and her target shielded from the view of the security camera currently facing Amarys’ back. There would be no footage evidence of Amarys’ confrontation. She watched as her target flinched at the sudden darkness, and then spun around to meet her eyes as she stood still as a statue behind him.

“Fucking hell,” he said, jumping backwards at the sight. “Uh, Amarys, right? Do you know what’s going on with the li-”

“812 Bouldevare Avenue, Anville Town.” Amarys did not leave time in her schedule for exchanging pleasantries. She went directly to work.

“Huh? What are you-” he tried to speak again, and was once again cut off.

“2442 Sinclair Drive, Anville Town. 34 Mavis Crescent, Nimbasa City.” Amarys took a step forwards, trapping him between herself and the wall of lockers.

“What the fuck?” He flinched backwards, his back now flush against the steel doors of his own locker. Amarys saw him tense and, predicting an attempt to flee, shot her arm out to block him. Her hand slammed into steel, quick and sharp and strong. She had been correct about his attempt to flee, and he all but crashed into her arm the moment it shot out. “What is your problem?!” Amarys’ eyes had adjusted to the dark, and she could see the fear in her target’s face as he spoke. Good.

“Dorm 3587, Tower C, Blueberry Academy.” She concluded her list. “I assume you know what all four of these places have in common?” Her voice was steady, and did not betray even a hint of the anger she felt while talking to her target. Her eyes, however, with their cold, hard, focus very much did.

“I don’t- I don’t understand. What do you want?” He flinched back further, but did not break his terrified eye contact.

“Hm.” Amarys had hoped he would have made the connection between these addresses for her, but had anticipated his lack of cooperation. Her RotomPhone drifted up out of her pocket to float at eye level, screen facing the target. “Linux.”

There was a slight thud above them. Amarys and her target both turned their gaze upwards to see Linux, Amarys’ Metagross, clinging to the wall above them. They looked somewhat like a large, murderous spider up there, and clearly had no issue holding onto the wall. They had been waiting near the ceiling, keeping out of the view of the camera until their trainer showed up and the lights went out. Now, with the attention of both their trainer and their target on them, they started to crawl down the wall towards the pair. Their legs moved quickly, one at a time, hitting the wall with a low thud as they descended.

Amarys’ target whimpered as Linux approached, but he seemed too frightened to do much else. Linux stopped a couple of feet above the pair, and their eyes gained a faint, red glow as they accessed something on Amarys' RotomPhone. Electronic copies of school records and census files flashed across the screen.

“These are the addresses for your previous residences.” Amarys continued, snapping her target’s attention away from Linux and back to her. “Linux is quite skilled in accessing these kinds of files. I want to ensure that you know that. It does not matter where you go, Linux will be able to track you down.”

She leaned in now, smooth and steady. Her target tried to lean away, but was stopped by the metal locker behind him. Amarys held his gaze, her eyes boring into him. When she spoke her voice was low and dangerous. “It has come to my attention that you enjoy sending vitriol to my friends. Did you think we would not see what you sent to Crispin?”

“No-no. I didn’t- Amarys I-” He stuttered. The hand that Amarys did not currently have planted against the locker shot out, grabbing her target’s chin. She tilted his face up to look at her, pleased that she was taller than him. Her grip was strong, and even though she was not blocking his mouth it was enough to shock him into silence.

“There is no point in lying.”

“I-I-I-I’m sorry, I didn’t think-” His sentence sputtered out on its own this time.

“I see why you prefer to do your bullying from behind a screen. You are unskilled at communication. But let me make one thing perfectly clear.” She paused, blue eyes practically drilling into his.

“If it comes to my attention that you have sent any of my friends this kind of abuse ever again, I will find you wherever you are and I will crack your jaw into pieces simply so that I can wire it shut myself.” Her grip on his jaw tightened to make her point. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Uh-huh.” He grunted, attempting to nod despite her grip on his chin.

“I cannot hear you.”

“Yes! Y-yes, I understand. I’m sorry-”

“Good.” With that Amarys quickly straightened up, releasing her target’s chin and taking a step backwards.

21:16

The lights in the hall suddenly clicked back on, and the camera behind them was blinded by the unexpected brightness. The lens only took a split second to adjust, but it was enough for Amarys to quickly return Linux to their ball, the flash of the return fading just before the moment Amarys knew the camera would have readjusted. She adjusted her glasses, and pulled an envelope out of her bag. She brusquely held it out to her target, who was still leaning against the lockers, shaking and sweating.

“This is a work order.” She announced, returning to her regular demeanor now that the lights had righted themselves and the camera was recording them. “There are several repairs and upgrades we would like to request the Architectural club make to the League Clubroom. You will find an itemized list herein.” She continued to hold the envelope out to her target. He stared at it blankly. “Take it.” She ordered.

He took it. She returned her hands to her sides. “Please send me an email once you have figured out a timeline for these repairs. Goodbye.” She gave him a curt nod, and then pivoted 90 degrees to continue down the hallway, leaving just as suddenly as she had appeared.

It was almost painfully obvious what Ren was about to attempt. Masato kept shooting him looks, every time he even made a noise, but this only seemed to embolden him further. He had already had his mind made. He made his declaration in the elevator as STARISH moved to the dance studio together.

--

“I’m not gonna lie, they kind of scare me a bit…” Otoya grinned sheepishly, watching as the numbers on the elevator’s display rose. “They’re so ...so…”

“Intense?” Tokiya offered, sighing slightly. “They’re the most coveted for a reason, it goes to reason they’d be strict to get the results they want.”

“If it gets results, I’m going to give it all I have.” Syo nodded with determination. “The toughest teachers get the best results, right?”

There were a few hums of agreement throughout them, and they fell back into silence. 

“It has to be an act.” Ren’s voice hid an edge of mischievousness. Masato’s piercing glare immediately flew to him, a silent warning to stop before he got himself into trouble. Ren gave a sidelong glance to Masato, a cruel smirk curled his lips. “You’ll see.”

The elevator beeped it’s arrival and the doors slid open. As they all exited, Masato whispered harshly to Ren.

“Jinguji, if you think you’re--”

“Oh I am.” 

Masato opened his mouth to retort, but the door to the dance studio swung open and their new creative team welcomed them in. Well, one of them.

“Good morning, everybody!” Sara, the peach-haired American stepped forward with a bounce in her step, giving each of the boys an appraising glance, a glint in her eyes growing more noticeable when she addressed the group as a whole again. “You’re all looking well! I hope you’re ready for hell!” She beamed, hardly able to contain her excitement. 

“Hell?” Otoya’s eyes widened. 

“Correct.” Ofra, the emerald-haired English slinked by her partner and crossed her arms. “Reaching new heights isn’t going to be like anything you’ve done before. The cost of greatness necessitates anguish, suffering, and of course, blood.” The atmosphere seemed to get heavy and dark, but dissipated the instant a stifled snort cut the tension. Ofra closed her eyes, gathering herself before looking to her partner, who was pressing her lips together tightly and looking away. “What?”

“Are we vampires now?” Sara’s face broke into a wry smile. “...anguish, suffering, and-- of course-” She dropped her voice low and threw her head back with a hand to her forehead. “Blood!” She drops backwards with a dramatic flare into her partner. Ofra shoves her off with a grunt of disgust. 

“If you are done.” Ofra glared, but there was just a hint of fondness in her eyes for a fraction of a second. 

“I am.” Sara answered just as Ofra tried to continue. Another annoyed pause as they looked to one another, Sara smiling broadly.

“We’re getting started. Spread out.”

--

When they stopped for a breather, it was time. With one final wink to Masato, Ren made his move. Having considered his options carefully, he set his sights first on Sara, since she had seemed to have a more agreeable attitude than her counterpart. 

“My, my.” Ren sighed, leaning back against the wall where Sara rummaged through her duffle bag, producing a water bottle. After a pause, she looked up to him, brow cocked. “I have to say I’m impressed. I watched some of your choreography earlier.”

Sara stood up and leaned a shoulder on the wall, crossing her arms and legs. “You expected less?”

Ren turned toward her, taking the same leaning position, putting a hand on his hip. “Not at all. I just hadn’t expected you to be so...captivating, my lady.”

Sara’s brows raised and an odd noise caught in her throat softly. “My lady?” She looked down, her cheeks blushing slightly. When she looked back up, she held his gaze with expectancy. “That’s rather bold of you, Mr. Jinguji.” A gentle chuckle. 

Ren allowed himself a satisfied smirk, moving his arm to prop himself from the wall with his forearm, now closer to the American. “I just can’t help myself when a beautiful woman sweeps me off my feet like you do.” 

Sara shuffled, shoulders raising. “Yo-you think I’m….” She paused, tucking her hair behind an ear. “...beautiful?”

Another inch closer, Ren brought his free hand to her chin. Gently lifting her face to look up at his. “That’s right.” A deliberately slow blink and a slight head cock, searching her face carefully and getting closer, still. He sighed. “What I would give for you to show me that grace in private.”

Sara, now was actively closing in as well. “What would you give?” Her lips parted slightly. She reached up and touched his hand on her chin. 

Closer, still, now they could feel the heat from slow breaths. “Anything.” “Anything?”

“Yes….” Only centimeters apart. “Anything to make you mine.”

Sara’s hand slid to caress his cheek ever so softly. “Give me your heart, then.”

“It’s already yours.”

A giggle. “I’ll have so much fun removing it.” Sara pushed forward, their lips nearly touching when Ren hesitated. 

“Wh-what was that?”

“It’ll be messy...But that’s the best part, isn’t it?” Her hand snaked through his hair as she whispered. “Oh, you’ll be the envy of the rest of my boys!” A breathy giggle. “The crowning jewel of my collection.” Her voice made a slow crescendo, and her lips pulling wider her smile. “To have these eyes watch me forever…Oh, it would be a dream come true!”

Ren’s hand dropped and took a step back immediately, color completely drained from his face. 

“What’s wrong?” Sara stood straight, eyes still locked on his. The entire room had halted completely. “What’s…” She started to say again before she burst into laughter, doubling over.

“What??” Ren’s composure had fallen, trying to find some answer in her, then in anyone else, anyone to clear up what the fuck just happened.

Sara, now on the floor, tried her damnedest to collect her breath. “You should have...Oh, fuck, ok...Ok….Whoo!” Sitting up, chuckles still emerging from the aftershocks. “You got pretty far, I’ll give you that, but I hate to lose.” 

“That was…” Ren’s voice dropped.

Yoga was a habit Kuroko had picked up in favor of running with him in the mornings, because he’d rather curl into a blanket-cocooned creature instead of facing the dawn like a normal person. Eventually, Kagami gave up on waking him at a decent hour because it wasn’t worth the fight. It wasn’t worth all the blanket pulling and barely shuffled jogging and the three dozen pouts directed at him, even if they were absolutely freaking adorable.

Kuroko always left the curtains open, so he was visible through the glass panes while Kagami moved about the kitchen. If this was a calculated move on Kuroko’s part or just a happy preference, Kagami didn’t care much. He was thankful for it either way.

In Kagami’s stolen tank top and a pair of cuffed yoga pants that were tight in all the right ways, framed in soft yellow sunlight and a dawning skyline, Kuroko made a pretty sight.

He couldn’t help but stare as Kuroko unrolled his mat. Rolling his shoulders and inhaling deep, Kuroko slowly warmed up, all without opening his eyes. Kagami knew it would take another few minutes of breathing exercises and lazy stretching before he’d actually start.

Normally, Kagami was controlled enough to go about his business while Kuroko went through his morning routine. He’d set about making breakfast and feeding Nigou little scraps, watching his dot of blue in his periphery. When Kuroko would finish, he’d come back inside and they would eat while discussing the day’s plans.

But this morning, it was different.

Maybe it was the way the early light spun Kuroko’s hair into baby blues and his skin into warm golds. Maybe it was how it felt like the world hadn’t quite woken up with them yet, like it was still holding its breath. Or maybe Kagami was just being a sap, because Kuroko always made him a sap.

Either way, it had him turning off the stove and stepping towards the balcony.

It was when Kuroko bent over, palms flat on the ground and shirt ghosting up his stomach, that Kagami finally crept through the open door to stand behind him. His fingers slipped under Kuroko’s shirt, thumb brushing over the knobs of his spine. Kuroko didn’t even flinch, because as Kagami had learned over the years, he was practically impossible to surprise.

Kuroko peeked over his shoulder with a smile. “Would you like to join me?”

Kagami nearly snorted. He’d tried yoga with Kuroko once, both on a whim and with some kissing incentive. After falling flat on his ass and pulling a muscle in his back, he gave up on it quick.

After all, it was much nicer to watch Kuroko from a vantage point.

He lightly raked his nails down Kuroko’s back. “I think I’m good like this.”

With a low hum, Kuroko went back to his pose. After several deep breaths that Kagami felt through his back, Kuroko went to his next pose like it was the same as usual. Then the next, and the next, and the next.

Kagami couldn’t help but press against him with each one, a bit too close just for staring. His hands traced around the the insides of Kuroko’s thighs. His palms fit onto the solid plane of Kuroko’s waist. His fingers mapped the subtle but rigid dips of Kuroko’s stomach. Insistent and fascinated, he touched gentle but firm, watching every shift of muscle carefully.

He knew Kuroko was pretending to ignore him. They never spoke, as Kuroko simply moved around him for his positions and Kagami moved in tandem to feel him again. Except their eyes met more than once, and Kuroko’s breath would catch whenever Kagami caressed him a certain way.

They went like this for nearly half an hour, until Kuroko went through his last pose and stood back up straight.

He turned to Kagami with an arched brow, almost challenging and definitely interested. Kuroko’s hands found his biceps, tracing upwards teasingly with airy fingertips, before he grabbed his shoulders hard. With a sharp press down, Kuroko jumped to wrap his legs around Kagami’s waistline.

Kagami couldn’t help but grin as his arms hooked underneath Kuroko on instinct.

“Bendy.”

Kuroko giggled. “I’ve gotten better. Would you like to see?”

Expecting him to hop back down, Kagami shifted his hold to Kuroko’s midriff. Only for Kuroko to bend straight backwards, legs still wrapped around his waist firmly. He went until his palms touched the floor, shirt sliding over his chest and obscuring his face.

His jaw went slack at the same time his breath hitched. He dragged his hands rough over Kuroko’s hips and up the exposed skin of his stomach, nails leaving pink trails in their wake. Kuroko had the audacity and strength to roll his body with the movement.

Kagami nearly growled. “God, you fuck me up.”

Somehow, he just knew Kuroko was smirking. “I know.”

It was when he slipped under the band of Kuroko’s pants, fingers splaying across the span of his pelvis, that he felt Kuroko jump.

The legs around his waist squeezed so tight it nearly stole the air from his lungs, then Kuroko was pulling himself up to look Kagami in the eye. Blue eyes were narrowed in a frustrated pout, but Kagami saw the mirth lighting them. There was a giggle on the back of his voice as he poked Kagami’s cheek in retribution.

“Don’t do that, please.”

Kagami arched a brow at him, mouth curling in a grin. “...Damn. When’d you get so strong, huh?”

“Since always, Taiga-kun,” Kuroko said. Then with utmost confidence, “I could’ve beaten you up that first night we met.”

With an appreciative grip of Kuroko’s waist, he muttered, “The next person who says yoga isn’t exercise is gonna get beat up too.”

“I didn’t realize you liked me like this so much,” Kuroko said absently, eyes hooded and awed, soft in the growing sunlight.

Kagami blinked. He ran his hands over the planes of Kuroko’s stomach, feeling all the twinges and lines of muscle underneath. He focused on the thighs tight on his hips, clutching onto him like a lifeline. He trailed his gaze down the line of biceps defined, holding onto his shoulders with ease.

“I mean, I’d like you anyways...” His voice fades with a teasing shrug, palms latching onto sharp hips with a grin. “But yeah, this is pretty nice.”

“Good,” Kuroko agreed, smiling in turn. “But my legs are falling asleep.”

“Then let’s take them to bed.”

He turned on his heels and carried Kuroko back into the living room, leaving the door open behind him. He’d worry about getting Kuroko’s mat and actually starting breakfast later, when he had less important things to do. Nigou perked up from his spot in the living room as they walked by, Kuroko giggling into Kagami’s ear with a squeeze around his whole body.

“I just got out of bed!”

And while it was a point Kagami couldn’t argue, he couldn’t really care about it either. Not as they collapsed onto the bed in a pile of laughs and tender smiles. Not as he got to admire Kuroko close up in the creeping light from the window. Not as Kuroko finally pressed their lips together, one of many properly awake kisses.

You could sleep in your car- you have a few times since you started your trip- but it was a gorgeous night. The moon was full, the stars were so bright and clear this far out from a major city… It’d be a waste. You pulled your car off the road and trekked a bit out into the woods nearby. Hopefully your car would still be there in the morning. Please, God, let it be there in the morning.

You entered into a small break in the trees. The late spring breeze made the leaves sway and branches rattle softly. The starlight caught on the toadstools odd triangular spots. Eye-shaped spots on the trees seemed to follow you as you stepped into the small field. Like looking at creepy paintings in a haunted house, you felt like you were being watched. It was a little creepy, but you chalked it up to the full moon. Everyone was on edge during a full moon just because of stories and superstitions they all heard growing up.

The brightest thing in the clearing was a small statue, half buried in the ground. A triangle with a large eye, tophat, and bowtie. A single arm stuck out, as if ready for a handshake. The stone itself seemed to glow, but you chalked that up to the brightness of the moonlight that filtered through the canopy. You stepped a bit closer, noting how… quiet the area was. No birds, no crickets… Nothing. It was a little unsettling, you wouldn’t lie. Quiet woods never led to anything good. You really should go back to your car.

You pulled out your phone, first, though. You had to get a picture of this funky little guy. You were probably overthinking things. The statue was probably just someone’s abandoned art project, or store mascot, you thought as you snapped a few pictures of the lichen-covered statue. You smiled slightly. The little thing was kinda charming.

You decided to put your tent up anyway, despite the eerie silence. It was late, you were tired, and your car was still close enough to this clearing that you’d probably be in “danger” anyway. If you even were actually in trouble. The silence and the eye-spots on the trees were unsettling, sure. Weirdly enough, though, you felt a sense of calm here.

You decided against setting up a fire, opting to eat a can of cold pork’n’beans for dinner as you looked up at the stars. The sky was alight with blues and pinks and purples, seemingly swirling nebulas catching the attention of any being capable of comprehending beauty. You felt yourself smiling to yourself.

“Beautiful night, huh li’l guy?” You joked to the statue. You missed the way the eye-spots on the trees had stopped following you, instead focusing on the night sky. You threw the empty can of beans into a bag to throw away tomorrow, before rolling out your sleeping bag and laying out under the stars. You crossed your arms behind your head, and one foot over the other. Obviously, you were met with the same silence that had been here. Humans would be humans, though. Bonding with anything that even remotely had a face.

“Bet it gets lonely, stuck out here. Sure you got the view, but it sounds like nothing really drops by.” Nothing. The stars above almost seemed to move. You could almost make a shape out, but as soon as you tried it seemed to dissipate. You hummed to yourself, trying to find the shape again.

“I know how it feels to be stuck, buddy,” you offered, sympathetically. You sighed as a heavy feeling settled on your chest. You shook away the bad memories, the stars seeming to move again to keep your attention. It was getting a little weird, now. But you had heard that Gravity Falls was a pocket of weirdness in the middle of nowhere.

“I could use a traveling buddy,” you laughed. “I haven’t had… a friend in a long time…” You trailed off as the stars continued to twinkle and dance. You sat up with a heavy sigh, face to face with the statue again. Unsurprisingly, he stared at you stoically with his hand still poised for a handshake. You put your chin in your hand.

“And it’s driven me so crazy I’m talking to an old ARG piece left in the woods…” You rubbed your face. You stood with a stretch, the light around you seemingly getting a little brighter. You stepped in front of the statue.

“They use us and leave us to rot, don’t they? Hardly fair,” you mumble. You reach a hand out as if to grab its hand, but stop short of actually touching it. The hair on the back of your neck stood as you felt a million eyes on you at once. You look behind you, only to be met with the trees. You look up, and find the stars once again in the vague shape you couldn’t make out before. It felt like the very universe was watching this moment. Your throat felt tight. Strangely, though, you didn’t feel scared. You looked back at the waiting statue. Something prodded at the back of your mind.

“Maybe I will take you with me. Once I get settled somewhere, you can become a piece in my next living room,” you smiled. “I’ll get you cleaned up and see if I can patch some of those chips and cracks.”

You hesitated a moment, before you grasped the statue’s hand. Obviously, the stone limb didn’t actually move.

“I’ll get you out of here, you be my travel partner, and we both get to be free for a while. How’s that sound?” No response. Not that you expected one. You let the little hand go with a yawn. You kicked your shoes off near your sleeping bag and lay back down on it. The stars finally stopped shifting and swirling. They twinkled down at you as you covered yourself up for the night. You didn’t think it’d rain, so sleeping outside should be fine. You’ll deal with whatever happens, if anything.

You dreamt of the stars that night. They swirled above you, forming into a large creature that swam its way to you. You floated among the stars, eyes wide with wonder at the smiling creature. Its tail swept along the empty space beside you, leaving a small… child? It was a triangle with a huge eye, like the statue in the woods, but had giant shoes. It didn’t look at you at first, instead staring at the creature made of starlight and space dust in front of you. You also turned your gaze back to it.

The Axolotl stared down at you two, a peaceful smile on its face. You felt small under its gaze- like a child looking up at their parent. You reached out to pat it on the nose, finding your hand smaller than usual. You heard a squeaking noise and turned to look at the triangular baby.

“You see the stars too?” You didn’t know how he asked without a mouth, but you nodded anyway. Your 5 year old face was reflected in his large eye. He held a hand out for you to hold.

“You wanna watch them together?” You were quiet. You turned back to the Axolotl, only to find it swimming away from you. Back to depths of the universe you could only imagine. With no other option, you looked back at the kid next to you. His eye was turned up to show that he’d be smiling, if he had a mouth. His eye crinkled more as you grabbed his hand.

The stars began to burn.

You woke with a start, finding the sun creeping over the tree canopy and shining down on you. You groaned and covered your eyes with your forearm. You forced yourself to sit up, rubbing your eyes with your hand. Your head was pounding, the strange dream leaving you in a cold sweat. Maybe you shouldn’t have slept here.

A groan from in front of you made you freeze. Your head snapped up, making it throb. A triangular creature was sitting where the statue used to be, stone splintered and sprinkled around him. He massaged his singular eye, muttering under his breath. He looked up, tensing when he saw you. You both sat there in stunned silence for what felt like forever.