#nikogrem

Pitter-patter-pitter-patter-pitter-patter.

The rain outside hit the window with their pleasant little rhythm.

Nikolai Akdow-Mewton lounged on the couch and listened, sighing contentedly.

It was a Tuesday night in March, about 9:50 pm. His child, M0u5e had decided to go to bed early. Grementine, his beloved husband and life partner, was busy getting something from their bedroom.

It was Impromptu Movie Night.

Grem's 37th birthday had been only a little over a week prior, and their friend Mothgo had given them a $50 gift card to their favourite VHS shop-- Valley Tapes. As such, Grem had spent the entire card in three trips.

Tonight, they’d be watching something that Grem had told Nikolai he would “like a whole damn lot, I promise!”

He didn’t doubt them.

They were going to put on some popcorn, too. Grementine never watches the popcorn, though— they preferred to spend the two minutes with their face snuggled against his shoulder as they purred lovingly. Secretly, he wished that Gremmy would actually watch the popcorn… but he liked cuddles more than pointing that out.

Nikolai then heard the familiar sound of small feet thumping against the floorboards, as Grem ran out of the bedroom and leaped onto the couch.

Something was hidden behind his back.

“Hi Nik!!” They chirped at him with glee.

“Hello, strawberry.” Nikolai replied, using his pet name for Grem.

The cat sat closer to him, still hiding something.

“Soooo ya know that VHS store I’m single handed keeping open?” They started.

The human rolled his eyes lovingly. “Yes, I’m aware of Valley Tapes.”

“Wellllll… I got something new for us to watch now. It’s the thing I said you’d like.”

“Oh, really? This is a big surprise to me.” He joked.

It was now Grems turn to roll his eyes as he produced the item behind his back.

It was a VHS case. On the cover was a young woman— a Jack Russell terrier, Nik thought— with a look of anguish and tragedy on her face. The dress she wore was ruffled, red, and fancy. To her right was a badger man, equally as anguished. His clothes were just as fancy (if a little plainer) and he carried a musket. In the background was a large, fancy grey brick house, surrounded by luscious green grass and trees. The flowery writing on the cover read ‘Love on Briggenbury Manor’.

Nikolai couldn’t help chuckling as he took it in.

“Grementine, what is this?” He asked, amusement coating his every word.

The cat made a huffy noise. “It’s a cult classic, Nikolai. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted and more.”

“Do tell.”

“It’s about tragedy and love in Victorian era England! It’s about the lovely upper class Anabellizabeth Williambury and her upper middle class boytoy Roginald Depperdander, and their relationship. But there’s hardships, Nik— HARDSHIPS! There’s a gigantic class divide between them—“ Grems hands started flapping a bit as they spoke more— “What with Anabells family being able to afford imported tea, and Roginalds family having to grow their own. Plus, the Crimean War has being going on, and Roggie has been sent to go. So while Anabel laments during the summer in the manor, she at least has three bosom chums to play with— her aunt Lady Jessica Victoria Waltenbaltenchester III who owns the manor. She has a mysteriously dead husband and a lifetime of wisdom to share. There’s also Nancy Stratforduponavon, one of the manors maids and Anabels personal servant. Her real name is Helena and her family used to be rich but everyone keeps forgetting her name. There’s also the BAD GUY… Gilbert Pettyburrow! His father, Wilbert Pettyburrow IV, owns land in ~America~, and Gilbert’s wants to kiss up on her and take her there! While that’s going on we learn that rich people have problems too. It’s great.”

Grem took several deep breaths after he finished infodumping.

Nikolai couldn't help but narrow his eyes a bit.

"... and why is this a cult classic?"

"Uh, because it's great? And also historically inaccurate?"

"It is?"

"Yeah. The Crimean War ended in March of 1856, but the movie takes place in the summer of that year."

"Grem, I love you, but I still can't see how this got a following."

"Maybe if ya watched the freaking movie, ya'd know!"

Nikolai scritched Grem's head, getting a purr from the feline.

"Alright, Grem, I believe you. Let's watch the movie."

The cat jumped up excitedly, tail swishing around.

"Great! I'll close the curtains and make the popcorn, you sit there and look handsome."

Nikolai giggled behind his hand as Grem scurried over to the window.

As they grabbed the curtains, however... they saw something outside.

Grem squinted a bit to get a look.

A figure was slowly walking down the sidewalk, slightly obscured by the heavy rain. They looked like they had something on their back.

Grem muttered confusions under his breath. Who the hell would be walking outside right now?

"Um, sweetie pie?" Grem called behind him, "There's someone outside in the rain."

From the couch, Nikolai looked towards the window with a raised eyebrow.

"Really? It's a strange time to go on a walk, let alone the rain."

"Yeah..."

Grem looked back at the window as the person got a bit closer.

The person had... spikes? Or quills, and a backpack. Probably a hedgehog or porcupine or something. The backpack had a pattern on it. It looked like... Spongebob? The soaked t-shirt they wore had a Nickelodeon logo, too. The sweatpants weren't special, though.

Plus, they seemed a bit short-- about Grem's height.

The cat hummed in concern before looking back at Nikolai.

"Nikolai, I... I think we should let em in."

Nik sat up, visibly a bit concerned.

"Grementine, are you sure that's a good idea?" he asked, "We don't know who this is at all. This may not end very well."

"But... I think that's a kid out there."

Nikolai, still looking concerned, came up to the window and took a look.

The person outside had stopped walking. They were standing and shivering, arms hugged tightly around their torso.

Nikolai made his own hum.

"... you may be right, strawberry." he admitted.

Grem and Nikolai were silent for a moment, still watching the outsider.

Finally, Grem spoke up again.

"So... should we?"

"I think that... would be best."

Grem nodded and hurried to the door, opening it and letting in the cold, wet night air.

"Hey!" he called out to the outsider.

The person looked at Grem just as they took another step.

They were a hedgehog (... and purple, for some reason). The face on them was one of fear and sogginess.

"... Hello." they called back.

The voice was a little high pitched, but it sounded like it was on the verge of deepening. In a puberty-ish way.

Ok, that IS a kid. Shit, Grem thought to themself. He shouted again.

"What are you doing out in the rain?!"

The kid looked off to the side. The fear deepened on their face.

They didn't reply for several seconds... barring a loud cough.

Grem gave the kid a look of sympathy as they shouted once more.

"Are you a runaway?"

The kids face creased with worry fast enough for Grem to know.

They looked down as they spoke again. Not a shout, but just loud enough for Grem to hear--

"... Please don't call the police."

The poor kid.

Grem looked back into his nice warm house, Nik looking at him expectantly.

He looked back at the teenager in the rain.

"Look... I'm not gonna call the police. Just-- come out of the rain for a bit. Come inside. We have blankets and no rain."

The kid looked unsure. Several thoughts seemed to race in their mind as they said nothing for a bit.

Eventually, they responded.

"... Are you sure it's okay?" they asked, uneasy, "I don't wanna be a bother."

"Don't worry 'bout it. If ya stay out here, you'll catch your death-- or worse, pneumonia!"

The kid looked down to their shoes.

Finally, they shrugged.

"... Okay."

...........................

The kid was now on their couch.

He (he had informed Grem of pronouns when asked) had a blanket draped over and wrapped around his shivering form, and a mug of hot cocoa in his hands.

Grem could see other things about the kid. His eyes had a sort of... sadness to them. His quills were pretty messy, like he hadn't brushed 'em in a while. His arms were pretty skinny, too. In fact, his clothes seemed to just hang off him.

Nikolai sat next to him with a look of concern, cup of decaf coffee in hand.

"Thanks for letting me sit for a while." the boy spoke, taking a sip of his cocoa.

"Nothin' to it," Grem replied, "EVERYONE should have shelter in this weather."

"I coulda found a bus shelter. Slept on the bench."

"No offense kid, but ya'd probably die if ya did that."

"... You have a point."

"Even if you did find a comfortable bus shelter, what would you eat?" Nikolai added.

The kid pulled up his backpack.

"Don't worry about me. I come prepared!"

He started pulling things from the bag.

Soon, on the living room table, there were several things-- half a box of crackers, a jar of peanut butter, a bag of crumbled bills and coins, a bottle of water about a quarter full, and a pocket knife.

Nothing else.

Nikolai's face turned to one of alarm.

"Did... is that all you packed?" he inquired.

The boys face turned red with embarassment. "... I could have bought food at the Dollar Tree."

Nikolai, though flabbergasted, tried to keep a steady voice as he spoke again.

"Kid... this is not a meal. This-- this isn't even a snack. As our guest, I insist on making you something warm. Even if it's just instant mac n cheese, or a frozen pizza."

The boy gave him a surprised look... surprised yet grateful.

"Mac and cheese, if that's okay."

He nodded. "But of course."

Nikolai got up, went to the kitchen, and began the preparation.

While he made the food, he periodically looked into the living room. Though all he really saw was Grem and the boy talking, he kind of noticed something... the kid seemed more comfortable talking to Grem than him.

Nikolai wasn't entirely sure why. Maybe it was because he was human? Maybe it was the visible scars?

He tried not to think about it.

In roughly 15 minutes, Nikolai returned to the living room with a bowl of Kraft Dinner for the kid, along with a fork.

He placed it on the coffee table with a flourish and a "bon appetit."

The boy thanked him, and took a bite of the macaroni... before tearing into it like a starving lion.

Nikolai couldn't help but watch the teen devour the shit out of the mac and cheese. He'd never seen someone eat mac and cheese so ferociously before. Him and Grem's friend/next door neighbour, Mothgo, made absolutely delicious mac and cheese, and not even Grem ate it that fast.

He really was starving.

Once the boy came up for air (and subsequently ate the last bite), Nikolai could only say, "... do you want seconds?"

He gave Nik a smile.

"Yes please, mister."

"I'll get it!" Grem piped up.

As the cat scurried into the kitchen, Nikolai sat next to the boy again.

"Hey," he began, "You seem quite desperate, yes? How much money did you have left in that baggie?"

The boy opened his mouth... but closed it as he reached for the sandwich baggie. He silently counted the money before answering.

"$12.55."

"That's not enough to get by, young man." he said, a grimness in his tone.

"I mean... they have a dollar menu at McDonalds, right?" the boy suggested sheepishly.

"But then what? What happens when you run out?"

"I'm almost 15, I can get a job! Probably. I can hang out in a homeless shelter and-- and get a job doing something."

Nikolai shook his head. "You'd still need a resume. You'd need contacts for the resume, too."

The boy said nothing as Grem came back with more macaroni.

Nik looked at Grementine for a second, before going over to him.

"Grem, can we talk privately?" he whispered to his husband.

"Oh, yeah sure." The cat replied, equally quiet.

While the boy in their house tore into the second bowl, Grem and Nikolai went to the kitchen where they continued whispering.

"Grem, I think this kid really did run away from something. I don't know what, but... just look at him. He seems pretty desperate. I think it would be in his best interest if-- if we could maybe let him stay for the night. Maybe tomorrow, too. We still have the air mattress, yeah? He could sleep on that. I just... I think something's wrong."

Grem gained a thoughtful look. Nikolai was pretty sure what it was about-- they both (unfortunately) knew a lot about scary situations and wanting to leave them. They shared some stories of desperation, too.

Finally, Grem took a deep breath.

"You're right, that's a good idea. Let's go tell the kid."

Both of them went back to the living room. Grem cleared his throat, making the kid turn around as macaroni fell out of his stuffed mouth.

"Kid, me and my hubby here just had a talk. We were wondering... did ya maybe want to stay the night? It's no problem for us, if you're wondering. We got an air mattress and some pillows and blankets. It's gonna be raining all night, and we'd rather see ya somewhere warm and safe."

The kid swallowed his food as a look of relief and... and safety appeared on him. Like he wasn't used to it.

"That... that would be amazing. Yeah." he breathed out.

"Good!" chirped Nikolai. He went back to sitting on the couch and picked up his coffee again, taking small sips.

Grem hopped up onto the couch on the kid's other side.

"Hey, what's your name, by the way?" they inquired. "Still not gonna call the police, by the way-- just curious."

A deep frown appeared on the kid's face as he sighed and responded.

"Quillin.