Chapter Text
He wondered not for the first time how every damn thing are passing into a blur and he’s afraid he'll just flow with it. He fidgets with the rings in his fingers and sweep his eyes on the scattered newspapers and stories he has narrated for the past years. When he decided to continue broadcasting, there was fear that settled in him back then due to how drastic his voice is but he remembered the thrill of meeting people who didn't judge him for it so he end up accepting it.
But he always ended up meeting Sykkuno on every snippet of news and stories even thought how miniscule it is, the man was there so he voiced out the question wanting to leap off his head.
“What are you?”
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Corpse widely blinked in front of the room number 333 just trying to make sense of what just happened. The scene was a blur yet he recalled some snippets of catching up to Geras when again that goddamn cat always strolled in the hallway like he owned the place, seeing the new tennant ran to the elevator like her life depended on it then eventually it lead to that guy. He thought it was unusual at first how the guy just stood silently while boxes scattered around him. Suddenly the man began walking albeit slugging and uncoordinated towards a door. Based on the cat sign hanging it wasn't any other door though but Mrs. Ross, the cat lady who owned Geras. Before he could even step forward, Geras sprinted and it was the very first time he saw Geras even have the energy to run. He saw the guy's hand inches away from the door and suddenly the guy flinched as if he was burned and stumbled backwards then now here he is just mulling over what the fuck happened.
"Mrowww~"
Corpse sweeped his gaze to the cat on his feet. Looking at him with head tilted to one side. Out of the blue, the word deadass popped into his head making the side of his mouth twitched up. He couldn't make heads or tails out of this guy, but he shouldn't dig deeper into it well for now. He gave one last glance on the door before leading Geras to his owner.
When they reached the apartment 315, he knocked on the door and at that instant he asked himself if he should tell her what just happened right in front of her door. The moment she stepped through the door, Mrs. Ross with a wine glass on her hand fixed him an intense glare unmoving before smoothening out into her usual stoic look. Corpse saw the gleam of wariness in her eyes and decided that now is not a time for small talks.
To this day, Corpse haven't had fully grasp what his bond with Mrs. Ross. When he started his job at the apartment, he totally believed he wouldn't encounter anything that would waste his energy until Mrs. Ross stepped out her door and gave him a full-on nagging session about how to do his job. He has to appease to her but only because he had found out she has a huge fucking cat haven in her room. Although, it wouldn't stop his firm belief that she was a stoic bitch and will proudly die like one. However, the first time he saw her walls broken, thats how they have a momentarily truce or if he was being honest have gotten to know each other better. So, when he saw her at this state, he knows what that means.
Corpse put his hand on her shoulder to guide her on a nearby sofa and plucked the wine glass out of her hand. Letting out a huff, Mrs. Ross looked to the side and pouted which was so weird seeing it on the face of a grown woman but he was used it. Geras followed behind before deciding to lay beside his owner as usual ignoring the ruckus the cat have made. Said cats were pawing at Corpse feet, he couldn't ignore the warmth in his heart.
"Yes yes i know, as much as I want to also pet you guys sadly I have to take care of that big pussycat over there,” Corpse quipped with an amused grin on his face.
Mrs. Ross crossed her arms and furiously mumbled "Kid, you know If I'm not drunk, I'll sock you right on the face. I don’t know where you get spouting shit like that,"
"Talk about pot calling the kettle black." Corpse rolled his eyes and smirked. Knowing what's coming, he dodged the shoe that supposedly aim at his head.
He snickered at the affronted face of Mrs. Ross before going to the bathroom to get the medicine in her cabinet. Once he managed to grab the ibuprofen, Corpse stood in front of the mirror and smoothened the crinkles in his eyes. He realized he have been smiling and laughing in a single day and it was so strange to see the joy in his eyes, but the smile covered by his mask. He hasn’t even noticed the discomfort that he felt back then when he decided to wear a mask. It was once a style that he have fiddled with and now he was used to seeing half of himself covered as if it was a protection from the reality he lived in.
IS S IT T T R R E A AA LLLY? HEEHEHE OR R MAYMAYBE YOU J U S TT W W WANT T TO TAAAKEE IN ALLL OF THE ATTTTTEENTIOONNNN??!?!
Corpse whipped his head to the side to see the figure he dreaded the most. He swallowed the retort burning in his mouth and continued to glare at the form beside him. Corpse hated that he was seeing his own face perched on to that fucking illusion of a body. It was like trying to mimic some parts of him but ended up unfinished and fragmented.
I GGG NORING ME AGAIINN? NOWW NN O WW DOON'TT YYY OUU U REME EMM BER? SILLLLY CHILLDD IM PAAARTT OOOOFF YOUU HEUHEEUHE
Before he could punch the mirror, there was a thud behind the door making him jerked his head up to the door. Turning back to the mirror, Corpse gave himself a few moments to stare at finally his own reflection before flipping off the mirror. He opened the door to see Mrs. Ross on the carpet surrounded by her cats. He put the ibuprofen on the coffee table before moving forward to dragged her up and see she was unconcious already. He heavily sighed and asked himself If his life would just be him carrying drunk people all the time. He decided to carry her to the bed and throw the sheets up to her chin. He walked through the living room once more to grabbed ibuprofen and a glass of water to put on her bedside table.
He closed the door of the bedroom cautious to not make a sound. He closed his eyes and open it to see several cats staring back at him. Technically, Mrs Ross have six cats and if asked, Corpse can name them alphabetically which is something to boast about if he say so himself. There were Algea, Aporia, Geras, Penthos, Phobos and Thanatos. He also thought the only coolest thing Mrs. Ross have done is naming the cat from myths of the underworld. The reason why there's more cats is because stray cats tend to flock in here for food which was also surprising charity from Mrs Ross.
He scooped the cat food from its container and put an immense amount on the big bowl. He gladly sat down on the floor just watching or petting the cats until beam of sunlight trickled down the windows and faded to dusk. He grabbed his phone from his pockets and saw it was time for his shift in the radio station. He lifted himself off the ground and sweeping off the cat hairs on his jeans. "Sorry, my feline friends, I have to leave for now," A soft mewl answered him so one last time he patted its head before bounding off to the door.
Corpse ran to the storage room for his locker. Grabbing his backpack, he skimmed through the contents, checking if his battered laptop, headphones and music sheets were in it then zipping it closed. He shoved his arms into his jacket he has grabbed from the locker and slung his bag over his shoulder. He grabbed the keys for the storage room and locked the door behind him. He scrambled to get to the reception to give the keys to the owner and signed off his name.
Corpse pushed the front door letting the soft wind passed through his curls. He strolled to the walkway until he reached his bus station right on time. He hopped into the bus and sat down on the empty seat near a window. Opening the side of his bag, he untangled the earphones and connected it to his phone. He engulfed himself with the beats that he have recorded and edited. Although, he let his mind wandered along the thoughts bothered him. There was a distinct memory he tried to ignore, the guy's eyes in the hallways were hazy and cloudy so similar to the eyes of the figure that he always see when he looked to himself in the mirror. Before he can get further, the bus halted signaling his station.
He stepped out of the bus, crossing the street and entered the local radio station. His body immediately unwind, he took off his mask and then the familiar smell hit his nose. Now this is his refuge, the on Air Sign blinking to life and music echoing in the building. He meandered on the hallway leading to the break room where he put his bag down. He fiddled with his rings focusing on remembering the beats. Not long after, he saw the person he was waiting for. "Hey Dave!"
"Yo Corpse! How you've been doing? Finally finished the demo?" Dave approached Corpse with a small smile on his face.
"Hell yes, Umm Do you want to hear it?" Corpse uncertainly said.
"Course dude, don't worry too much. It's still your first demo after all."
Corpse grabbed his laptop and his headphones from his bag. He prepared at hand the demo he has been producing for the past days and finally handed Dave his headphone. Dave listened intensely bopping in some moments then going still for some parts. When Dave stopped humming and started rubbing his chin, thats were Corpse feel small. But Dave gave him an encouraging look then took off the headphones. Dave smirked and laced his fingers under his chin. "Kid, there's some potential in you,"
Corpse feel like all the locked in heart lightened in the sound of that.
It was already close to midnight when he finally have gotten home. He closed the door behind him and took his shoes off exchange for slippers. He turned the switched on the living room only to be assaulted by the sight of his little sister crossing her arms. "What the fuck, Corie you scared the shit out of me"
"Bro, do you know what time it is?" Corie accusingly said, annoyance evident in her face.
Trying to placate her, he take out his phone and showed it at her. "Just eleven minutes before midnight, so you do-"
"Bullshit,” Corie argued crossly. "You know it’s dangerous outside."
"Is mom home? You really don't want her to hear you saying naughty words," Corpse asked looking over her shoulder.
She rolled her eyes and glared at him once more. "Yes, but she's already sleeping. Now can't you just-" Softly, she mumbled. "I missed you okay?" She bit her lips and blinked rapidly. "I know how our mother is and... I just missed our conversations and just ever since mom has become what she is. You've become distant.. I- is it my fa-"
Corpse gritted his teeth "Corie don't even say that. Fuck, I'm sorry.. I needed to have some alone time just to think all of this through."
"I know.. I know but you can, and I will say this a lot of times. You can tell me no matter how shitty it is. You can tell me" The tone of Corie's voice gave no reasons for argument. Corpse appreciated the small offering.
"Also, If if I haven't been home much I just needed that money to to.."
Corie inquired. "Run away?"
Corpse sputtered but Corie put a hand to stop it. "You know I will notice sooner or later so really you need to stop being subtle about it."
Corpse fondly shook his head then he remembered something important. He grabbed the remaining money from his pocket then shoved it on her hand. When she only gives him a bewildered looked, he sighed. "You also need to stop being subtle about eyeing those roller-skates at the shop,"
"Touche," Corie gave him the wildest grinned. "Muchas gracias mi amigo," She happily said before skipping to her room.
Corpse rolled his eyes and retorted. "Andate a la mierda,” He walked to his room closing the door behind him with a smile in his face.
He put his bag on his chair and throw himself on the bed not caring for the clothes he have worn. He stared up at his ceiling until there was a sudden pressure in his chest and the mirage of himself was back once more staring back at him.
HHH OWW 'S YOUUR R DAAAAA Y MMMRR CORR RPSSSIEE?