#rileymorph

untitled 4SWDZ ficlet

“Ugh, do we have to do this?” Blue grumbled, reluctantly forking over a red rupee to the man behind the counter. “Seems unnecessary to me.” 

The man handed them each a pair of bowling shoes. “Yes, Blue. We have to check the competition.” Green said as he took his pair and handed another to Red. 

“Wait, I thought we were just here for fun.” Red intervened, following Green and Blue as they walked to their lane. “We have competition?” 

Blue ignored him and sat down on a bench, yanking off his beat-up sneakers and pulling on the bowling shoes. “But it’s not a big deal. Who cares about some washed-up losers whose only gigs are at a bowling alley?” 

Green blinked. “Blue, we are also washed-up losers whose only gigs are at bars. Which is worse.” He walked over to the automatic scorer and typed their names in. “Except for they’re more important than that.” 

“Hey, where’s Vio?” Red asked, tapping Blue’s shoulder. “We can’t bowl without him.” 

Blue jerked away from Red’s hand and frowned. “Didn’t want to come.” He said tersely, side-eyeing Red for a moment before looking back down at the laces on his shoes. “Fucking damn it.” He muttered under his breath, his clumsy fingers failing to tie the strings. 

“I can help you!” Red said cheerfully, bending over and grabbing Blue’s shoelaces. 

He opened his mouth to protest, but decided it wasn’t worth it and let him tie them. “There, are they tight enough? You don’t want them to fly off while we’re playing!” 

“Red, we’re not really playing.” Green said. “We’re spying.” 

“Helloooooo Castle City!” An almost raspy voice called from across the room, making the three colors turn their heads. 

“That’s them. That’s the Shades.” Green said, crossing his arms. “Shadow’s band.” 

“Ooooooooh!” Red said, his eyes lighting up. “THAT’S why we’re spying!” 

“Yeah, you fucking idiot. Keep up.” Blue growled, mirroring Green’s crossed arms.

Red noticed their crossed arms and copied them. 

“Lookit. See his necklace?” Green whispered, pointing subtly at the shiny object strewn around Shadow’s neck. “It’s a fragment of the Dark Mirror. It’s how he’s able to conjure up his bandmates.”

“Um… I don’t think he conjured ALL of them,” Red replied quietly. “Look.” 

Green followed Red’s gaze and his eyes widened. 

“VIO?” 

Blue’s jaw tightened and his fists clenched. He pushed past his brothers and stomped up to the stage, setting his hands on his hips and scowling up at Shadow and his traitor brother. 

“What the FUCK do you think you’re doing?!” He demanded, and Vio merely smirked at him. 

“Obviously, playing with a much cooler band.” He responded with an aloof shrug. “You three suck.” 

An irritated sound ripped itself from Blue’s throat. “Is-is this about the night in the stupid fucking hotel?!” 

Green and Red came trotting up behind Blue. “Vio, what’re you doing up there?” Red asked, heartbroken. “You’re OUR brother.” 

“Yeah!” Green and Blue said in unison. 

Vio’s eye twitched. Imperceptibly. “Oh really? I thought ‘brothers’ took each other’s advice.” He turned away from them and pretended to tune his guitar. 

“Now back off, you pathetic worms.” Shadow said, waving them away. “We’re about to play and you three and scaring the patrons.” He smiled at Blue mockingly. “And you might want to tone down the swearing, bluebottle. There’s children around.” 

Blue ground his teeth together and glanced around. Shadow was right for once- there was a lot of kids nearby. 

“I don’t give a FUCK, you mother-“

Green covered Blue’s mouth before he could finish his expletive. “C’mon, you guys. Vio doesn’t want us around anymore.” He turned Blue and Red around and glanced back at Vio as they walked back to their lane. 

Vio didn’t reciprocate the glance. 

~ze end~