Chapter Text
It had only been a few weeks after they had come back together. After Ze had escaped the presence of that…thing. With the help of Regect they were able to rebuild the house that Ze had destroyed during a crash out and things have been getting back on track. Ze, Moe, and Regect would go out doing whatever the world threw at them alongside Ze and Regect's iconic bickering. There was the return of the pirates, the wizard Wankafonte tried to come in and curse Moe with “the ultimate power”, just the norm for the three. And Ze hoped it would be just that.
Despite what he says, Ze liked hanging out with Moe and Regect and doing all the weird shit that they do. Ze does get irritated at times and at some points genuinely wants to rip out Regect's non-existent throat, but that doesn't mean he doesn't hate it.
And Ze was content with that. No more eyes, no more torture from anybody that wasn't Regect, and no more panic.
Until today.
Ze was out fishing in peace, happy that there was no one there to bother him. Just simply enjoying the silence. He caught a cod fish when he heard that distorted deep voice gradually getting louder from behind him. All Ze could do was hear what Regect had to say.
“Ze! Zeeeeeee! I just had this really cool idea-”
Ze turned around to see Regect running up to him then trip over himself. Ze couldn't help but snort.
“What do you want, asshole?” Ze gave a response as he turned back around to try and focus on fishing.
“I didn't even say anything yet.” Regect said as he got up brushing whatever dirt that got on him. He then went to stand beside Ze facing towards him.
“Anyway, I thought we could do something different today.”
Ze reeled up his rod and turned towards Regect. “...what do you mean ‘different'?”
Regect fixed his posture and did a single wave with his hands in front of him.
“We should go camping! Just us three.”
Ze blinked slowly and turned back to the small river in front of him. Camping? Come to think of it, it didn't sound that awful, but it would be with Regect. However, Moe would be there with them and she usually helps dispute their silly arguments. Ze could tell that she was getting tired of their bullshit. Even with that in mind, it would be different from their everyday activities. Ze did think he liked how things were going back to the way things were, but he did forget to mention that he was hoping for a little bit more excitement…maybe something “different” even. And if that was what Regect proposed, then Ze wouldn't mind that much. Besides, even if he has said no Regect would've dragged him in anyways.
“Hello? Ze? It shouldn't take you that long to think about an answer.” Regect waved his hand in front of Ze and he swatted it out of the way immediately.
“St-stop that! I was thinking about going but if you keep doing shit like that then maybe I won't.”
“So…you will go?”
“Yeah I just said that-” before Ze could finish, Regect went running back the way he came screaming to Moe about going camping. Ze started to wonder if he made a bad decision agreeing. Probably should've weighed the pros and cons more thoroughly.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
Regect spawned a car and handed everyone things that they were going to need such as food, guns…that was pretty much it. Ze assumed the reason they didn't bring any tents was because Regect could just build some. Moe was the one who was going to drive since she insisted on it. It was most likely because of the road trip incident and Moe was more of a car expert then any of them so it would make sense she would be driving.
After an argument about who got shotgun, in which Moe gave that seat to Regect, they finished packing what they needed, even though it was barely anything, and they drove off.
Ze knew Moe was good at mechanics and whatnot but he was still impressed with Moe's driving skills. Compared to her Ze drove like a drug addict with no awareness of others. Ze sat behind Regect and was looking out the window wondering how the trees were spread out enough for a car to be driving through. Regect was flipping through radio stations trying to get a signal but most of them were static. He then let out a sigh and leaned back into his seat.
“Moe, did you bring anything that can play music without the need of wifi?”
“Honk honk honk”
“Damn. Ok uhhh fine then I guess we'll be silent.”
Ze was ignoring the two in the front and then heard Regect singing a song to himself. He didn't recognize it and tried to ignore it but it got to a point.
“Dude. Can you not?”
“Not what?”
“Sing? I don't want to be rude but it's annoying me.”
“Jeez, fine alright.”
Ze got what he wanted and Regect stopped singing. But not even a minute later he spoke up again.
“Ze, why do you have two guns on your person?”
Before they left, Ze thought it would be good to have some form of weaponry on him, and Ze loved his guns. He has a pistol strapped on his stomach that he has hiding beneath his hoodie and a shotgun that he plans on carrying on his back that is currently sitting beside him.
“God forbid a guy has something to protect himself with.”
“I'm surprised you didn't bring any more considering you might have a gun fetish or something.”
“Dude…why would you think that!?”
“Relax, I was making a jo-”
Ze shifted forward and began to strangle Regect from behind. He was then stopped by Moe who slammed on the brakes, sending everyone forward and back to their positions.
“HONK HONK! Honk honk honk hoooonkkkk honk.”
Both Regect and Ze sat there staring at her.
“I-Im sorry, Moe, sorry. It was funnier in my head.”
“Honk.”
Moe began to drive again. Ze didn't know what Moe said despite trying his hardest to understand. But he eventually started picking up on things here and there. He even had Regect help him out by trying to give him language lessons, but it didn't work out too well so they were discontinued.
The ride remained silent the rest of the way.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
Moe managed to find a clearing after carefully maneuvering through the trees with the car. They all got out and began to set up.
“Hey Ze, did you pack the tents?”
Ze turned around to face Regect.
“...no?”
“Fuck you mean no? I thought you were supposed to pack them?”
“Well I thought you were supposed to spawn them.”
Regect stared back in disbelief and began to stammer before saying something
“Did you expect me to use my powers for a camping trip? It was supposed to be authentic! I thought it would be nice if we all pinned our own tents, you know?”
Regect made swift motions with his hands and crossed them and turned away when he was finished. Ze just stared at him.
“Jeez my bad man. Just spawn the materials.”
Regect took a long pause before responding with a sigh followed by a “Fine.”
Immediately Ze noticed the supplies spawn right in front of his worn out shoes. He looked down at them then back up towards Regect.
“I call white.” As Regect spoke he bent down to pick up the white cloth and some sticks, pegs, and whatever else he needed. Ze looked down at the remaining colors: green and blue. Ze noticed that Regect spawned a tent with what Ze had guessed was his favorite color, and if so he should've spawned his, and he doesn't know what Moe likes so it would be hard to say if the color choices are targeted away from him. Ze looked back to the clearing and saw that Moe had already built a fire pit. Regect walked up by her.
“Nice job Moe! I spawned some tents for us so you get to choose.”
“Honk honk!”
Moe came walking bubbly towards Ze and hesitated before choosing the green cloth. She didn't pick up any other supplies, however. But knowing Moe, she would probably use whatever nature brought to her.
Ze looked down at what was at his feet now: a blue cloth with a bunch of metal rods and screws.
“Ze! Are you going to start getting set?”
“Huh? Oh yeah, right.”
Ze didn't complain or anything and began to set up adjacent to Regect. Moe went out to gather whatever she needed for her tent so it was just the two together. Regect decided to spike up a conversation.
“Hey Ze, I don't think I ever told you why I actually wanted to bring you here.”
“I really don't care.”
“Ok, well anyways the reason why it brought you here is because I thought you might like a break or something, I don't know.”
Ze still continued working on setting up his tent. He didn't respond either. Regect didn't say anything afterwards. Although it did get Ze thinking. After they had reunited, Ze learned that both Regect and Moe cared for him, which is still weird to think about. He'd think that with all of this arguing and bickering that at least one was a genuine threat or insult. And maybe one was, on Ze's end, but Regect? I mean surely it would be the same for him, right? Did he mean it when he told Ze to go in a hole and die? Did he mean it when he called him all those nicknames? Maybe. But Ze didn't want to think about it that much and his flow of thought got disrupted. Moe welding the wood and fabric together behind him. Ze didn't question it because Moe just does whatever and no one(except for Ze on some occasions) questioned why she does what she does.
Ze turned back around to focus on his tent, which still laid flat on the ground with the polls not even in the small sleeves.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
“Alright, that should-” As Ze spoke he turned around and saw a whole building adjacent to his tent.
“Regect. What the fuck is that.”
“Oh this? It's my tent dude. Took me like 5 seconds.”
“That's not even-that's a whole ass building!”
“Oh shut up, you're just jealous that my tent looks better than yours.”
“Are you even listening-”
Before Ze could finish, Regect went inside and shut the door. Ze also turned to see Moe with a circus tent. At that moment Ze realized that he may have been set up or something seeing how he was the only one with a proper camping tent. So with a heavy groan, Ze went inside his stupid tent and took a nap.
…
Or at least tried.
Not only did he forget to ask for a sleeping bag but also he could hear Moe and Regect making a ruckus throughout the forest. He guessed that they were going to go get sticks and rocks to make a campfire and Regect must've gotten a splinter because Ze could hear him complain about how much his finger hurt. But it only lasted a long short while as his groans winded down to normal chatter. Moe must've done something.
After tossing and turning on the forest ground with only a thin blue material separating him from nature, Ze got up and went out. He didn't realise how much time had passed until he saw that the sun was lowered into the unseen horizon. He then saw Moe and Regect roasting marshmallows over the fire.
“Honk!” Moe waved for Ze to come sit with them.
“Oh hey Ze.” Regect just looked up and back to his activities.
Ze just waved a hand and sat between Moe and Regect seeing that they saved a spot for him. There were no seats so they were just sitting around the fire, trying to melt the fluff at the end of their sticks.
“Don't you think it's a bit early to be making dessert?”
“Honk honk”
“Yeah, wh-what she said.”
Ze looked over to Regect. Something seemed off about him. He was awfully quiet and didn't make any insults at Ze when he came out. But the biggest indicator of all was the light on his collar, which is normally white or occasionally red whenever they get into fights, was yellow. Ze was still trying to figure out what that light could mean, but he didn't want to think about it right now.
“Dude, Regect, you good? You seem to be…uhh disassociating there.”
Regect looked up at him. “Oh-uhm…yeah sorry. I'm just kind of bored, y'know? Also a bit pissed you didn't join us in creating this awesome fire.”
“Its not even at the center. In fact it's right in front of your ‘tent’.” Ze made air quotes when he said tent. And to be fair, that wasn't even an exaggeration. They were quite literally right outside his door. Ze didn't want to question why.
“Oh hey your uhh…your marshmallow is burning.”
“Huh wha- Oh shit!”
Regect flung the stick around, Ze and Moe dodging it until Regect threw it at his tent, which was made up of wood.
It caught fire immediately.
“Fuck! Ze help!”
Regect ran towards the rapidly spreading fire and began to pat it, which would've worked if he was fast enough.
“W-what do I-”
“Oh I dont know Ze, put it out??”
“I don't want to get burned!”
“Oh my god dude just do it!”
Ze stammered before Moe came on scene to start chucking glass water bottles onto the tent.
Everyone just started to freak out, speaking over one another, hitting each other, encouraging one. Just a bunch of hog wash.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
What was once an odd camp site turned into an abundance of ash blanketing the forest.
The three looked back at the mess, then at each other, then back again.
“Ok so we can agree that this was Ze's fault, right?” Regect nudged into the taller girl next to him before getting nudged by an elbow from the other side.
“Honk!” Moe placed the blame on herself saying that she was the one who suggested the idea.
“What? No Moe, you don't have to do that. Really it's Regect's fault for not paying attention!” Ze gestured towards the broken anatomy that stood before him. Regect yelled a retort back to him and thus began the typical bickering between Ze and Regect, Moe stepping in whenever she could to stop. Once the two started to become physical with each other, Moe began to throw more water at them.
“Ah! Moe-stop!” Ze started to run in a different direction in an attempt to dodge the water projectiles being splashed onto him, which didn't help since she was throwing them wherever she felt like. Eventually she calmed down and apologized for the mess.
With their camping trip now burnt to a crisp, the gang decided to drive back home. Ze wanted to drive this time and ensured Moe that he wouldn't run over anyone again.
And off they went.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
They walked the rest of the way back. Ze did stay true to his word when he said that he wouldn't run anyone over, but he never said anything about trees. With everyone pissed at Ze and exhausted from walking, they all collapsed on the couch, inhaling and exhaling. Hard. Finally, someone spoke up
“I'm so sorry…about that guys, I really…thought that I…had it that time.” Ze spoke as he paused to take some breaths.
“Its…its whatever man…I don't care.” Regect responded.
“Hooonkk…”
“Yeah…why did we start running all of the sudden?”
“I wanted to race you.”
“Wh-you know what…im too tired to argue with you.”
“...pussy.”
“Dont.”
After about 5 or so minutes, the three finally caught their breath and decided to go their separate ways. Ze to his room, Regect just hanging around the house, and Moe doing what Moe does, funny business. That included messing around with Regect.
Ze looked up at the wooden ceiling. Usually he would be working on something whether that be exercising, messing around with his guns, or whatever he felt like doing, but he has found himself just thinking about the hole. Regect said it had been a few weeks, but how much is a few? Less than a month most likely, but Ze wanted a specific number. And the eyes. It mentioned something, someone actually. The eyes had someone else down there, and for longer it seemed. But who could that possibly be? These thoughts lead Ze to making theories about the whole mess. Maybe it had to do something about that hospital? Who knows. Ze lets out a noise of frustration before deciding to try and sleep.
But that desired tranquility didn't last long as Moe burst through the door before slamming it behind her, honking profusely. Ze had no choice but to figure out what had happened.
He got up from bed, advanced to the taller girl, and began to try and piece together what had Moe so shaken up.
“Moe, calm down. What happened?”
“Honk honk honk! Hooonnkk honk…”
Ze tried to figure out what she said. He was able to pick up on the words Regect, joke, and ballistic. None sounded like anything good happened, no shit, but as Ze was about to speak, growling was heard from the other side
of the blocked threshold
“Honk!”
“Moe, was that an animal?”
Moe looked at Ze and gave a nervous smile. Then the door began to shake with more growling. Moe surprisingly was able to hold the door shut, but was starting to struggle.
“Hold on, I have an idea.” Ze said as he went to his chest where he stored all of his weaponry. He landed on his machine gun as it was one of his favorites. He then got a magazine and set the gun up.
“honk??”
“Moe, when I say move, move. I'm going to try and shoot the thing.”
Moe gave a nod.
.
.
.
“Moe, move! Now!”
Moe did a flip and roll to the left to dodge any bullets that may pierce into her. As soon as she moved, Ze opened fire. Whatever was at the door stopped trying to break in about 3 seconds after Ze began to shoot. It wasn't long before he stopped. The door was now scattered with holes, making the door appear like Swiss cheese.
“Ah…good times.” Ze smiled to himself and opened the door to see…
“Wh-Regect?! Oh and a…something else too I guess.”
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
Regect laid on the couch, kind of pissed at Ze for blowing bullets in his weird body. Ze's body loomed over him, trying his best to remove the masses of metal that was buried deep in his body with his fingers and some tweezers.
“Dude, you know that I can take these out myself.”
“Thats not what you said when I carried you down here.”
“Touché.”
…
“I was wondering, back at the camp site, you said you got bored without me despite being with Moe, yet today you didn't come crawling at my door begging me to join you guys. Why is that?”
Regect stayed silent for a second.
“I'm not sure, maybe I was caught up in the moment or something.”
Ze let out a hum before continuing.
He managed to pluck out the last bullet and sat back at the other end of the couch, allowing Regect to sit up, leaving an uncomfortable silence between the two.
“So uhm…do you know where Moe is?”
“She went out…somewhere. Something about parrots.”
“Ah I see.”
Regect got up and told Ze he would be going out to do some building. Ze remained where he was and waved to Regect as he transverse through the door.
Back to the quiet and his thoughts.
Ze wanted someone to talk to and tell someone how he was really feeling, maybe someone like Regect. But he was scared to be open like that, but he wasn't sure why.
No wait. He knew why.
He can't. He doesn't allow himself to.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
It was a new day. Ze accidently fell asleep on the couch after getting impatient for Reject's return. He was woken up by the sight of red hair and a familiar horn sound.
“Honk honk!”
“Oh, hey Moe.” Ze yawned and did a stretch as he sat up from his position, standing up when he was finished.
Moe ran upstairs and came back down with a very unique feather and gave it to Ze. He held it up in front of him, inspecting it. The feather was white with lots around four black stripes. Ze was told that Moe was out with parrots, but this feather didn't look like it belonged to any bird Ze knew.
“Is this for me?”
“Honk!”
“Oh, uhm thanks.”
Ze put it in his inventory and decided to try to talk to Moe for a while, more specifically what she was doing out yesterday. The two just exchanged their past activities. Moe explained, from what Ze could piece together, that she was out playing with some birds she found nearby, performing a show for them. She said something about them dancing to her music. Ze couldn't help but think about his day yesterday, before his door got obliterated.
“Honk honk?”
“Oh me? Pshhh it was kind of boring not gonna lie. I just sat around.”
Moe stared at him then went back outside without saying a word.
“She's such a strange girl.” Ze muttered to himself.
Ze sat back on the couch. Normally there would be at least something weird. Could be an entity, pirate Dirt, maybe Regect coming back…something. Hell, maybe he did come back but Ze was too busy sleeping the day away. With that in his head, Ze went upstairs to where Regect says he sleeps. Honestly Ze didn't know whether that was the truth or not. He opened the door to see a basic room. No limbs in sight.
Where could he be?
Ze closed the door and went back down. Why did he care this much about Regect’s return? Sure he was isolated from him for weeks, but he had a decoy that kept him company. Yet before that at the Christmas party, there was no one. So how was this any different from the hole? The whole thing was nothing to him. He wasn't scared nor slightly traumatized, at least that's what he likes to think.
A better question would be why shouldn't he wait for Moe? He cared for her more than Regect. So why was he now standing in front of the front door waiting for Regect specifically?
Ze's head was starting to get clouded from over thinking to the point where he was spacing out. He started to play out scenarios in his head, maybe replaying that song over and over again. Nothing but a muddled mind in front of a silent door.
Click
A figure walked through the entrance and paused mid way.
“Hel-Ze?”
“...”
“Ze. Dude.” Regect waved a hand in front of Ze's face, which snapped him out of his trance.
“Huh-oh! Regect. Hey.” Ze flinched a little then tried to put on a cool demeanor, which didn't really do Ze any justice.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“Me? Pshhh no…” Ze looked at the ground, “...Maybe.”
Regect began to laugh.
“Dude what? Are you that desperate for me?” He teased me.
“What? No, I was just bored and had nothing better to do!”
“Oh please. You could've easily gone out and started shooting things with that Fabrique National you have hanging over your bed.”
“How - were you in my room!?”
Then the back and forth began. Regect denying that he was not in there and simply guessed where Ze's number one favorite gun was as Ze continuously doubted his guessing skills.
It all felt familiar to Ze. He almost felt warm. Like arguing over the most random things was the way they communicated, like some sort of language. It had gotten to a point where Ze liked to argue. He felt like he was really inserting his dominance. The only thing missing would be Moe, but she must've gone out to do something with the birds again. Maybe find Regect a feather.
Ze decided to end the bickering with a solid punch in Regects now missing-a-quarter-of-skin-and-bone-and-muscle arm, hitting the skin that would've been facing inside.
“Ha! Loser. Forgot I could do that, didn't you?”
Ze could only grumble.
“Now I make my escape.” Regect then disappeared, leaving Ze alone again for the 4th time today.
•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
“Honk!”
“Oh hey Moe, you want breakfast?"
Again, another day. The sun was bright out despite being low on the horizon. Ze was seen cooking something for the first time in a long while; Sizzling on the pan were pancakes, though not as fluffy as Moe would like them, but he thought that she didn't mind.
Moe sat down at the large table waiting for her food. When it was done, Ze grabbed a plate and placed it in front of her and let her put whatever she wanted on their after, in which looking away for 3 seconds and back the boring flat bread was turned into a dessert. Moe had decorated the pancake with blueberries, strawberries, syrup, and chocolate chips. Ze almost felt offended that his pancakes needed that much to look good.
“Honk.” Moe had taken a bite or two before looking back up at Ze who was looking at her.
“Oh sorry, I was thinking about how Regect would've probably done a better job.” Ze looked away, a little flustered because of his words.
“Honk!”
“Oh…uh yeah. Thanks for that.”
Practice. That's what Ze needs. Usually Regect was the one who made the meals (Moe would too occasionally, but not often) and that's why he was so good at cooking. Maybe if Ze tries a bit more, he can get that good!
Hell, maybe Regect can teach hi-
No.
No.
Regect wouldn't be that good of a teacher. Ze would know.
…did he?
He let out a sigh as he heard the entity stumble down the stairs and to the kitchen. He looks over at the half eaten desertified breakfast that sat before Moe and then notices Ze spacing out, staring directly at Regect.
“Yooo Ze, I didn't know you cooked!” he nudged the (would've been) shorter man in the shoulder, which snapped Ze out of his daze.
“Huh-oh yeah. Though I didn't…do too good of a job.” Ze stared at the now empty plate, rubbing his neck.
“Pshhh can’t be that bad.” Regect scanned the counter and saw a plate with a pancake neatly sitting on top. He picked it up with his clawed hand. Ze stared at him with annoyance.
“You could just grab a fork y'know?”
“Yeah, but that would be too boring. Hey! What's that behind you?” Regect pointed past Ze, which caused him to turn around. The moment he looked back, the pancake was gone.
“You really need to stop falling for that.” Regect rubbed his invisible mouth and turned back to Ze and spoke up again.
“They're kinda bland, not gonna lie.”
“Told you.” Ze paused for a moment. “I was thinking-”
“You want me to teach you?”
Ze blinked and turned away. “...yeah.”
“Uhhh alright. I mean I don't have anything better to do today.”
He looked back at the mass of limbs with thoughts of surprise crossing his mind. He didn't think Regect would be up to teaching him something as silly as cooking. Really he was surprised he didn't make any sarcastic remarks to his stupid request.
He watched him make his way beside Ze and look at the pancake mixture he was using, inspecting it closely. He stared at it for about 5 seconds before tossing the box on the floor, pancake mix masking the floor in a splatter.
“Wh-what was that for?” Ze looked back and forth between the entity and the mess.
“Do we have any flour?”
“What do you mean flour?”
“We have to make pancake batter. I can't believe you would use something as tasteless as pancake mix.” Regect found a container of flour in a pantry and started gathering other things such as sugar, salt, baking powder, milk, butter, and an egg.
“Well excuse me for wanting to have a simple breakfast." Ze crossed his arms and turned his attention to Regect.
“This takes like 5 minutes, lazy ass.”
“Oh…yknow what just show me how you do it.” Ze sputtered out. He was going to tell the entity to fuck off, but he really wanted to make Moe some better pancakes and not a bigger mess in the kitchen.
“Alright now listen closely, we take this bowl and we put exactly 1 ½ cups of flour, 3 ½ teaspoons of baking powder, one tablespoon of sugar…”
Ze listened intently and made sure to memorize all the measurements the latter was giving. As he mentally jotted down all the steps, he couldn't help but think of how immersed Regect was on the topic giving out all of these instructions seemingly from his head.
And just like that, Regect had made the batter. He then got the pan Ze used and poured small circles and waited.
“See? Then once we flip them they should be done.”
Ze let out a hum in response, listening to the sizzle of the pan. He didn't notice that Regect had flipped them and put them on a plate. He then nudged the round glass dish into his chest.
“Here, try one. You can use your hand, don't care.”
Ze looked down and hesitantly grabbed the pancake and took a bite out of it. His mouth was greeted by the sweet texture of fluffy bread and just the right amount of heat to make his taste buds melt.
“Dang that's good!” Ze said with his mouth full, using his hand to cover the digestion process so that he wouldn't gross out the entity. Not that he cared.
“See? Now you know to stop using that stupid box of powder and milk.” Regect began to make his way to Moe, who seemed happy to receive the two pancakes Moe had reserved for her. Ze watched them in admiration. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he enjoyed their presence. Even if one of them makes his life a living hell. As he was about to join them at the table, Ze felt his back itch. The sensation was only present between his shoulder blades and in two specific spots. Usually when he gets an itch back there, it feels like it could've been an itch anywhere. But the feeling was so intense, that it caused Ze to back away from the warm scene and retreat upstairs. He really hoped this wasn't what he thought it was.
He ran to his room and took his hoodie and shirt off, rubbing his hands where the sensation was. He could've sworn he was feeling two bumps on his back.
Oh god no. Not now.
Why did it have to be now?
Ze shoved his hoodie back on and ran back downstairs.
“Hey guys, I'm going to log off for a bit, try not to do anything dumb.”
Before Regect could say anything, Ze disappeared as quickly as he returned.
“What do you think that's about?”
“Honk.”