Chapter Text
It had been a long, restless night. Chase yawned for the first time in hours while sitting at his desk, staring at the computer screen in front of him. It felt like he’d been sitting there for six months.
Six months since Henrik had disappeared.
The police had given up their search; Hell, even the other egos had given up! Even Jack.
But Chase wouldn’t give up. He knew Henrik was alive out there, somewhere! How could they have given up so easily! It was--
knock knock. “Chase?” A light voice came from the creaking opening doorway. Chase turned in his chair to see the face of his creator, Jack, looking directly at him. He offered the best smile he could before turning completely to face him.
“Hey, Jack,” Chase greeted quietly.
“You’re still at it, huh?” Jack asked him quietly. ”Doing research of what this time?”
“Oh you know...” Chase said with a nonchalant, but nervous shrug.
“It’s that cave, isn’t it...” Jack murmured as he crossed his arms over his chest. Far be it from Jack to actually stop Chase from this...fruitless endeavor. But, he had no choice. Chase would just get hurt. “I’m forbidding you to go.”
"What?" Chase was a little shocked.
"I said you're not going. And that's final."
"You can't--why???"
"You're gonna end up getting yourself hurt, Chase!" Jack argued back. "That was the last place Henrik was seen at, so what do you think will happen when you go there? Whatever caused Henrik to disappear may end up taking you too!"
"The fuck do you think you are? My parent?" Chase glared. "I'm going to that fucking cave, whether you like it or not!"
“Like hell you are! And, in a weird way, I am your guardian! And what I say goes!” Jack shouted back.
“I’m not a damn child, Jack!” Chase almost yelled back.
“No, but you can act like one sometimes!”
Chase stood from the chair and stomped past Jack, making his way out of the Irishman’s grip.
"Where are you going?" Jack interrogated.
"Wherever you're not!" Chase shouted back. He slapped his cap back onto his head. He wasn't going to let Jack stop him. He needed to do this. He had to…
Chase stormed out of the house with determination in his heart. He didn’t listen to Jack’s voice screaming at him from the doorway, over the sound of his engine as he started the car, put it in reverse, and drove away from the septic house. All he could hear was Henrik's voice in his head from the last time he saw him...
”I’m going out to the beach for awhile. I’ll be back soon.”
---
It wasn't too long of a drive to the beach. Chase knew the way. Back then, he and Henrik had visited this place together. They had always enjoyed their time alone with one another, and there were supposed to be good memories tailored to this place. But after the doctor had gone missing, now the place was only a painful reminder to Chase of Henrik's absence. He was now determined to look for clues to anything that would help him figure out where Henrik had gone. Surely the police overlooked something. Surely Chase would find something that they hadn't.
Chase pulled up to the parking lot, taking a deep breath before he exited. His hands gripped the steering wheel so hard his knuckles turned white. He licked his lips knowing he was doing it out of nervousness. The wind was cool against his face, the thick air in his nostrils as he wandered out to the beach. The sound of the waves hitting the sand filling both of his ear canals made him shiver in anticipation. He looked over the rough ocean, the sun resting behind some clouds making his mind wish Henrik would just appear from the waves and run into his arms.
Just like he used to do.
Chase shook his head. He knew that now wasn't the time to reminisce. He was on a mission. And his first place to scout was the local cave not far from the beach. It had a tendency to attract a lot of tourists, what with how beautiful it was rumored to be inside. Chase gave a small gulp. He wondered if he should've brought his glock with him. But it was too late to turn back now. He was going to find Henrik...even if it killed him.
He approached carefully listening to the water echo in the cave as he entered. He had to duck low to avoid hitting his head on the smooth rocks above him. Echoing footsteps from his shoes filled the small entrance as he stepped through. The sun offered a little bit of light through the opening where the ocean water crashed against the rocks. Soon, he was fully inside the large cavern room, free from the outside world.
The cave was indeed....beautiful.
How could Henrik have gone missing in such a beautiful place? Chase didn't know, but he wanted to find out. He walked a bit deeper into the cave, noticing the stalagtites hanging from the ceilings and dripping down little drops of water. The drops echoed through the cave even louder, almost making Chase's ears ring. He wasn't sure just how deep this cave was, but he couldn't afford to get lost in here.
Chase pulled out his lighter, flicking the little switch to produce a flame. It didn’t offer much, but it was better than nothing. Slowly, he made his way towards the back of the sea cave, making sure to watch his footing on the stalagmites so they wouldn’t break, or crumble under his weight. The trickling water that echoed around him was unnerving. Something about going deep into an unknown cave just made his body shudder in fright. He may be a daredevil on camera, but when it came to finding his friend in the pits of hell, not telling anyone where he was going...yeah. It was more real than his videos.
He proceeded, anyway. He had a mission in his heart and he wasn’t going to let a little bit of fright stop him. He missed Henrik everyday. More than his words could ever say. He missed the laughs they used to share, the nights of comfort during that dark period in his life. Hell, Chase even missed the cologne Henrik likes to wear on occasion. And the investigation turned up nothing. They just deemed him as an enigma of disappearances which pissed Chase off to no end. How fucking dare they just give up! How could--
His slew of thoughts were stopped when he heard a strange sound in the darkness surrounding him. He got lost in his own head for so long...he didn’t realize how far he went. It was a chittering sound, something large scurrying on the walls around him. Chase stopped, his heart fluttered, his nerves unraveling. And his hand...it was touching something...sticky. He made a face before looking at his palm as best he could in the little light he had from the flame. His heart dropped to his stomach as he looked down at a thick cobweb sticking to his palm.
What the hell? This wasn't your average small spider cobweb. This was...massive. Like it had been produced by something...much bigger. Chase's heart galloped hard in his chest, as his hand that held the lighter shook tremendously. Light. He needed more light! Perhaps that would help stem his fears a bit. With what he could see, he looked around for anything that would provide him a bigger light source. The tip of his shoe bumped into a large piece of beachwood, to which he quickly nabbed. The enormous piece of cobweb he had touched he ended up grabbing and wrapping it around the stick of wood. It was a long shot, but maybe this stuff was flammable? Only one way to find out. Chase held his lighter to the hand-made torch, and sure enough, the fire caught onto the webbing, and the torch became fully lit, illuminating the cave much more.
Chase stopped to look around the open space. His ears were on alert for the skittering sounds he heard minutes earlier. He tried to calm his trampling heart, his hand shaking with the torch in his hand.
“I-Is someone there?” Chase called out softly, his voice loud reverberating through the room. Of course he didn’t get an answer and he did feel kind of stupid for doing it.
But he couldn’t stop the cold feeling spreading down his back…
He pressed on, continuing to watch his step, holding his torch steady so that the water dripping from above wouldn't put it out. The skittering sound returned, and he stopped in his tracks, holding up his torch high and almost desperately looking around him. "Who's there?! Sh-Show yourself! If you're responsible for taking away my friend, then show me your face, you coward!" he shouted, anger now boiling within him.
There was no response. Instead the skittering became louder...and was much closer. Chase panicked and turned to run, only to have his foot catch on a stalagmite forcing him to hit the ground hard. He landed hard on the rough floor. The torch fell a little bit in front of him and Chase tried to reach for it.
He didn't get very far until he felt something wrap around his ankle, yanking him backwards, away from his light source.
"N-No! Let me go!!!" Chase shouted as he clawed at the rocks below him.
Whatever had grabbed onto his leg was sticky, just like the cobweb he had touched earlier. "Fuck, FUCK!!!" Chase screamed, fully panicked as he desperately tried to escape. With enough adrenaline fueled by his fear, he managed to grab onto a rock, briefly stopping his attacker from dragging him back further, and managing just the amount of strength, he pulled himself forward as hard as he could, arm outstretched for the torch. He grabbed it just in time. As he did, he immediately turned around in the attacker's grip, and swung the torch at it. "GET OFF OF ME!!! GO AWAY!!!"
There was a small screech above him as he swung the fire at the thing above him. Whatever this was, it was huge! But he refused to give up. He was on a mission and this thing wouldn't stop him.
"WHERE IS HE?! WHERE IS HENRIK!" He sobbed and waved it harder, screaming his lungs out, hoping that his babbling would scare his attacker.
"...Chase?"
It was like time had suddenly stood still. Chase, frightened and irate, still held his torch out protectively in front of him, but stopped moving. His name had been spoken. What the hell?
"...Chase, is that you?"
The vlogger suddenly felt a million needles pierce his heart as the voice that belonged to that question registered within his brain. It couldn't be...He knew that accent.
"...Henrik?"
Chase held the torch out above him, hoping to get a look at the creature. Was he hearing things...? "Henrik? I-Is that you?"
A gasp escaped him when he saw a hand wrap around his wrist holding the fire. Slowly, it lifted the fire higher and Chase followed it with his eyes.
"Chase..."
His jaw dropped, his eyes welled up with tears. Above him, illuminated by the light in his hand, was the face of his friend.... Henrik was staring right at him, scouring his own blue eyes over Chase's shocked face.
"H...Henrik," Chase's voice broke, emotions quickly overriding everything. He tossed the torch to the ground and immediately got up onto his knees, arms outstretched, and wasted no time in bringing his friend close in a bone-crushing hug. "Oh my god, fuck, it's you, it's really you!" he sobbed, tears streaking down his face as he wept against the doctor.
"I-I knew it! I just fucking knew it! They'd given up, Henrik, but not me. I knew you were alive! God I just--I fucking--"
"Shh, schatz. It's alright. I'm here, now," Henrik's soft voice whispered in his ear.
"W-Why are you here? Why haven't you come home? I've missed you so much and I was so worried, and--"
"Chase, please. Calm yourself," Henrik softly said.
"I'm sorry...I missed you so much."
The doctor held his dear friend close; hand comfortingly cupping the back of Chase's head. "I've missed you too...more than words can describe." Chase continued to weep into Henrik's chest, unable to control his emotions. God, it was a miracle! He was here! Henrik was here! And yet the tears did not stop. Whether they were from pure happiness or deep hidden despair, Chase could've cared less. He had found Henrik, and now everything was going to be okay. Until he heard that scuttling sound again. It sounded like...it had come from Henrik.
"Henrik?" Chase asked, pulling back from the man's chest.
"Hmm?" Henrik's chest vibrated against Chase's cheek.
"...What's that sound?"
The doctor did not respond, which worried Chase. Was something wrong? Had Henrik been hurt? Chase picked up his torch and made to stand up, but was immediately stopped by Henrik. "P-Please don't," the doctor asked. "I...I don't wish for you to see me."
"Why not?" Chase asked. Judging by the fear in Henrik's voice, the vlogger could only assume that whatever had physically changed him was serious. When Henrik simply remained quiet, Chase stood up, torch in hand. He held it up higher, and was given a clear view of Henrik's face and torso....and what appeared to be a giant mass attached to it. But it wasn't a mass.
The moment Chase glimpsed the large, numerous spider legs, he felt his breath catch in his throat. What the fuck?!?!?!?!
"H-Hen...? What....what happened to you?" Chase stuttered as he counted indeed eight fucking spider legs attached to a big, bulbous body. "Y-You're a spider?"
"This is why I didn't want you to see me!" Henrik shouted with a sob as he stood tall and tried to shrink away from the vlogger. "Just go home, Chase. I'm a lost cause and I can never go home. This is where I live now. Please...just go live your life. I don't want you to have to see me like this..."
Chase swallowed hard. He had to admit, he certainly wasn't expecting this. How did Henrik even end up like this? He was shocked when the doctor pleaded for him to leave. "What? Henrik, I'm not just gonna leave you! I've been searching for you for months! I'm never letting you go again!" He hugged the doctor again, or rather his waist, what with how tall Henrik was when he was standing at full height.
"Chase, I--"
"No! Never again! I love you, Henrik!" Chase shouted with tears in his eyes. The room fell silent after that, the words sinking in both of their minds. After a minute, Chase calmed his sobbing and realized what he'd said. It was a good thing the cave was dark. His face was redder than a tomato. "I'm--I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me..."
Henrik was too quiet. Chase internally panicked, thinking he had fucked up everything. "Henrik, I'm sorry, I--" He was, however, instantly cut off when he felt a pair of lips descending onto his. "?!?!?!?!?!?" The action was very unexpected, but not unwelcome. Why was Henrik...kissing him? Did he feel the same way? What was even happening right now?!
Their lips were locked for what felt like forever. Chase remained frozen, still unsure of what to do. But the hand on the back of his neck rubbed soothing circles in his hair, putting him more and more at ease. He just...Chase just couldn't believe this. The man he’d come to love...loved him back. It felt amazing and warm. Comforting.
Slowly, Chase eased into the kiss, moving their lips together in exploration, letting Henrik’s body heat warm his core. God it felt so good to have his friend back in his arms.
When they finally broke the kiss, they were breathless. "I don't care what you've been turned into, Henrik," Chase admitted. "....I'm just so happy that you're alive." It was here that he saw tears gathering in Henrik's eyes. The doctor was trying so hard to hold his emotions at bay. But that wasn't all he was trying to hold back. Chase only barely glimpsed it, but he saw what looked like...movement, under the skin right underneath Henrik's eyes. He watched, and gave a very horrible shiver as suddenly two more sets of eyes revealed themselves.
Chase steeled himself looking on in awe at the marvel of Henrik’s new set of eyes. They were blue just like the ones Henrik was created with, only more somber. All of them blinked in unison which was different for Chase’s brain to comprehend.
But, he could get used to it.
“Wow...” Chase murmured in admiration as he raised his hand to cup the stubbled cheek of his friend. “They’re...beautiful.”
“I didn’t want to frighten you, Chase. I never wanted anyone to see me like this. What would they say if they saw me as this...this...thing; this monster!” Henrik sobbed as he broke down again.
Chase gently hushed him. "Ssshhhh, Henrik, it's alright." He reached up, smoothing his hand across the doctor's bare back. "You're not a monster. You've just...become something different. I don't know how, but you're still you. Despite these changes. You're not a monster, Henrik. You're not." In fact, to prove it, Chase pulled away from his love and examined his body further. "You look...so much stronger," he stated, seeing the large spider limbs, how thick and sturdy they were. The rest of Henrik's body was colored a beautiful dark sapphire, accompanied by golden ring markings of various shapes.
Chase studied the colored patterns with the light of his torch, being careful not to get it too close to hurt Henrik. The coloring was gorgeous, like a big beautiful jewelry trove. He really wished he was more prepared than this. That’s when an idea hit him. Chase stepped in front of the doctor again, cupping his cheek.
“I’m going to get a few things and I swear on my life, I will be back soon,” Chase told Henrik, who was slightly confused.
“You’re not...” Henrik inquired.
“I am. I’m not leaving you alone again. But I might freeze in the middle of the night if I don’t get a few things.” He leaned up, placing a gentle kiss on Henrik’s forehead. “I promise I’ll return soon, my love.”
Henrik nodded, showing he understood. The two of them exchanged one more hug, and one more sorrowful, longing look, before Chase began to walk backwards, torch held so he could see as much as he could of Henrik as he slowly left. Eventually Chase walked back further and further out of the cave, until his light source no longer reached Henrik, and the doctor was plunged into darkness again. Chase swallowed, and watching his step, immediately darted out of the cave and made his way back to his car.