Archive of Our Own ^beta

Evan felt immense relief as he left the bakery that he had been working at. Quitting had been a good decision in the end, since while the extra pay is nice and all; it is better for him to focus a little more now that his MMA classes have been gaining a bit more of an audience than they had before. This wasn't new, he's been over this thing for maybe like a million times now (?) Either way he's been doing this for quite a while now. The fact that his head keeps balancing out each time despite the fact that he remembers each and every little detail from Habit gives him all the more reason to question how he's not insane by now.

He will admit that he isn't 100% sure how far gone he is. Either way he drives back home with fucking Frank Sinatra playing all the way there. He fucking hates it but each time that he tries to change it, Habit then changes it back but to a different song as a suggestion. Evan doesn't have much of an appreciation for some of the old music but he can admit that some of the songs actually have a nice tune. ~So, I've finally managed to convince ya?~ Evan sighs at the projection before projecting back 'Some have a nice MELODY but that doesn't mean that I like all of it'

Evan ignores the laughing in the background as he begins to pull into the driveway of his "Family's" home. Long ago, he would be bombarded by his sister, Adrianna. Adrianna had been named after their shitty "Dad" Adrien, but Adrianna was spared from the time loop so only her shadow exists in every iteration and future time loops. She is faceless and resembles much more like the thing that stalks him in the corner of his vision. His dad is reduced to a small little puppet or mannequin type thing just sitting on the couch, there is no dignity to the husk that is represented as him. He almost wants to laugh in glee at the revelation. His mom or wait what mom? Yeah, there's no fucking mention or sight of her here.

But he walks in nonetheless and is greeted by the spindly form that replaces his sister and she gives him a hug and he lets it. The mimic begins to lead him into the living room and gives him the phone. He sighs but picks it up and then dials for the last number, then when it rings the second time he hears Vinnie on the other side.

"Hey, um, sorry for being so late, um I just quit my second job today so that took a bit of a while." Evan begins as he hears car sounds going on the other side.

"Yeah, no, no pressure man, um actually I was wondering if I could ask for a favor?" Vinnie on the other side had asked and Evan was confused, in past iterations even if they relocated they normally relocated to Denver or Fort Myers. But Vinnie wasn't talking the same way that he normally would when asking if he could move over with them to those places.

"Uh, yeah what's up" Evan says as he begins to head over to his room and grabs out his banged up suitcase.

"Well, um, Jeff. You know Jeff's recently been going to college at Alabama right? Well, we met up and he says that he made friends with this small friend group and one of them is making a movie and me and Jeff wanted the rest of the trio down here to help out. Um, so are ya willing or can you not come here?" Vinnie explains. So, no Evan didn't know that Jeff was going to college in Alabama for this round but he wasn't about to complain. However, Steph's in Alabama and he doesn't know if he can face her just yet considering that despite having eaten his daughter so many times; but that didn't mean that it didn't get to him each time that he did end up doing it.  And considering that he had just previously ended a particularly gruesome iteration he isn't entirely ready to see an unmarred face of his girlfriend just yet.

But if he remembered correctly Jessa is also from there because she mentioned growing up in a relatively small town there.

"So, where am I traveling to?" Evan asks over the line. He begins to rummage through the drawers that he has, gathering all the shit that he has and stuffing it into his suitcase getting ready to stay for a very long while.

"Tuskaloosa." Vinnie says and Evan is starting to think that Vinnie is starting to pull on his leg or Evan is really fucking dumb or something.

"Um, okay well, I'll see what flight is available don't expect me to be there tomorrow but um I'll call you when I get a ticket and then could you pick me up at the airport?" Evan asked as he got the suit case done and then starting working on the bag. Vinnie gives an affirmative and they both say their good byes. Evan is just feeling lucky enough that Vinnie called him this early in.

Habit then begins to rattle his ear off beginning to list off that he's probably going to be bombarded in something else's territory and just blah blah blah.

Evan sees Vinnie over the crowds of people that exit from the terminal and he waves despite how short he fucking is and speed walks over to the big guy as he hugs him. He really doesn't want to, but to Evan it was to keep a normal face. Evan was driven by Vinnie to the dorm that Vinnie and Jeff were supposed to be staying at. The moment that they get there Jeff comes and greets them. Evan gives an actual hug to Jeff, Jeff may become an asshole and neglectful brother but in the end he did the best that he thought was considered as such.

The dorm is sparse in decor but it had plenty of space, where he could see stacks of books and different notebooks if he looked. The couch had a thin ass blanket and one pillow, Evan was going to be just sooooo comfortable wasn't he? He just had to remember that he needed to get a hotel.

"Well, um, you can settle your stuff down and then you can come with us since we've got a sleepover to attend so you can meet the other guys." Vinnie says with a finality and Evan has only been in Alabama for about an hour and he's already invited to a party? This has to be a dream of some kind because what the fuck.

But he does as he's told ~As you always do, my little rabbit~ Habit cooes into Evan's ear; Evan can clearly see a near carbon copy of him. But just as well, Habit just looks like him, he still has other features, more hair, and darker hues. Evan just scowls at him and then turns to face away from him and waits with a bouncing leg for his friends to get ready and to get to this so called party that he's supposed to attend for some weird reason. 

When they got to the other dorm which took some time, but when they got there, Evan could already hear laughter coming from the other side of the door. When they step inside the dorm there is a tall but lanky man there to greet them. Vinnie gives him a hug and turns around to Evan and says "This is Jay he's the script advisor, I don't know what that's for but he's here." Jay shifts a bit uncomfortably and honestly the weird introduction would probably have Evan feeling the same way.

"I'm, Evan by the way, I'm sorry you got introduced to Vinnie without a translator in tow." Evan brings out his hand to shake as he puts on a harmless smile and jokes to the other guy. Jay snorts pretty loudly and gladly shakes Evan's hand. Evan considers this as a win and moves onwards as he is literally dragged by Vinnie and so he makes his way into the living room and sees three figures, one is the tallest of the room lets be honest and then there is a jock and a short guy. Up close the tallest has glasses and olive eyes with a mole above his upper lip which is a weird thing for Evan to be focusing on right now. But the glasses guy also has a bit of an emo cut with all his bangs swept to the right and a little bit of leftovers in the back of his head. He wears a plaid blue shirt and some tight jeans ~you're really hyperfixating right now?~ The guy had dirt blonde hair emphasis on the dirt and was lanky but was broader than Jay.

The jock had sandy brown hair that was done in a simple and short haircut and a gap between his two front teeth which gave him a bit of a charm, he was broader out of everyone in here besides Evan himself and wore a mustard hoodie with jeans. He had brown eyes and smiled upon seeing Vinnie and Jeff enter into the room. The shortest one had jet black hair, his eyes were brown; most of his hair was swept to the right with a small bit to the left. He wore a red flannel underneath a beige jacket with jeans. All of them had their shoes off and one by one greeted Vinnie and Jeff.

Vinnie then turned around and introduced the trio, "The tallest here is Alex, he's the director for the film that I mentioned to you about." Alex waved at Evan and smiled warmly. "Then this one here I think you might like the most is Brian he's the star." Brian also waves before shaking Evan's hand and giving a slight squeeze as a test Evan thinks, and in turn Evan returns the squeeze if not a bit harder. Brain laughs at the handshake and gives Evan a smack to the shoulder, which Evan smiles at. "And then last but not least this is one of the other actors and Brian's plus one, Tim." The ravenette blushes a bit if the small color that goes to his face is anything to go by, and smacks Vinnie a bit while Brian just coughs and looks to the side. "Hey, that is not what's going on, anyways hi, have you come to take them back?" Tim says while giving Evan a handshake. His expression while on the outside looks to be the face for someone that is joking; but Evan can see the pain and the almost pleading in his eyes. 

"Hi to you too, anyways I'm Evan considering that I know these dick butts here haven't mentioned me before considering the crowd in here. Although, I am sorry that you had to suffer with them without a translator lying around; there are very few that can understand their lingo without going insane." Evan jokes as he introduces himself to the trio and gets a few chuckles while there is a few indignant sputters from his two "Best friends". He feels sad for that fact, in a life he didn't have to pretend that he didn't remember the previous events he would've thought them truly immaculate. But now it was so fucking clear that they didn't entirely give much of a damn about him. But the best twist to this despite what these guys' history they should've attracted the tall guy by now especially with Jeff and Vinnie but instead he hears no static not even a tingle in the air; which is rare but not unwelcome for Evan.

After the introductions, pizza arrived and everyone just about teared into the greasy morsels as if they were all wolves biting into their prey after a dry spell. ~If you can even say that, seriously little Rabbit you act as if I don't feed us enough!~ 'Human meat isn't exactly something that fills up all of me especially once whatever of it is left in my stomach is ejected out in the mornings' Evan replies as he continues to rabidly bite off pieces of his pizza and grab for another slice. Once the dust settles they all just go to party games.

The first one was to be a version of spin the bottle except instead of kissing whoever the bottle pointed towards you instead get classic questions that were probably ripped straight out of the 20 questions rule book. 

"So, where are you from?" Brian asks. As he sets down a beer bottle, crashing and smashing against walls with pieces of glass flying everywhere and cutting up Evan's face as he's held down to the floor and

"Baldpate mountain, New Jersey. Unless, if you want to be more specific my mother." Evan smoothly answers as the group then groans and laughs at the last bit. Although he eyes the beer bottles that lay around the small coffee table. As he doesn't have the best history with them. Vinnie smacks his forearm and he yelps indignantly.

"What was your job?" Jay asks as he leans down onto his arm to rest on his elbows.

"I used to be a waiter, which I just quit yesterday. And then also I'm a mixed martial arts instructor, I normally teach kids. But if y'all need a lesson or two I'm here." Evan adds as the rest 'ooh' at the second job that he listed. He however, internally cringed as he remembers how much of a "help" that has been for him but mainly for Habit. But so far he doesn't think that there is anything that is putting off in the group so far; so maybe this'll be a dormant loop. But he can't be entirely sure considering that these were the guys from fucking Marble Hornets. In past iterations, they were always fiction this time round; they might not be and that might be a bit of a problem if Alex finds any reason to try and eliminate him for any reason whatsoever. If he remembers correctly right about now would be the time that Alex is starting to see the "Operator".

After that they just simply were drinking and then somebody had the bright idea to try and play Mario party. It went as, well, as anyone thought it would. Many people lost their lives and their friendships due to deception and betrayal. ~It was literally just a star~ 'It was my hard earned star, much like you eating my fucking car keys so I didn't leave, and the fucking happened multiple times!' Evan debated with Habit as everyone was recovering from the round that they had just played.

After they had all mourned what they had lost, they began to settle down for bed and Evan thinks that this might be one of best unexpected surprises that he's gotten this far.

After the sleepover he began to hang out more with the guys and help with the film production much like his other friends were. He stood by and waited for anything that needed to be added and Alex had said that he might just replace Tim with Evan or just add Evan. But given the amount of yelling and assholery that was going on set it was more likely that Evan would stay behind for now. If it really came down to it then maybe but otherwise he was planning on staying out of it. If at all possible he might not even have to do all that much either way. But still some of the actions that come out on set are kind of questionable but they remind Evan of how Jeff and Vinnie and admittedly Evan did as well when shit started to go to the fan. Everything got tense the moment Alex entered in with a frown or a glare. Evan could see through that though, he having to work two jobs and fight real fucking hard to graduate knows what stress and anxiety can turn into versus actual hatred and malice. Something that he has seen in his mother's eyes before she left or at least the snap shot that he has of her. Not entirely remembering her features or anything like that but he remembers that she used to be at least a little kind before his father got fired from his job and she had to be the breadwinner. Dad of course was the one to waste away on the couch and throw bottles when shit wasn't done manually for him to his liking. Evan can never really remember a day in which his dad hadn't been the picture of malice that he knows today.

But he can remember from those little snippets of time long lost that Malice and hatred came from deep within and reared its ugly face once you were in its web. Alex wasn't the picture of that, sure he came off pretty damn pretentious but the amount of stress and anxiety that just radiated off him; had Evan hearing Habit fantasize about what possessing him to feed off of the rancid vibes would be like. Which is not something that he would like to hear but if the demon or whatever the fuck is in his head can smell the vibes then Evan can say for sure that Alex isn't doing this all on purpose. But Evan can't exactly explain that to the rest of the group as he joined the local Dojo that was as close as he could get it towards the college that they're grouping up at. And then is also in a small hotel room that is a single. Because to him it is a lot simpler than getting an apartment with the income he currently has, is literally bullshit but it is 2007. And knowing vaguely in the future it just gets worse including when Trump gets elected but he wasn't working and the only thing Habit was working on was getting the bodies piling up to the ceiling and then also trying to figure out how to kill the thing.

That and Dr. Corenthal was somehow paying the bills for threat of the time. Evan is starting to think that Habit was just putting it up to him with a threat against Vinnie's life and no longer being Evan but the latter is really a possibility considering the amount of times he's been out in handcuffs for suspicions of being Habit. He doesn't entirely blame them for doing it as he remembers vaguely from Eden that he was still put in handcuffs despite the fact that Habit wouldn't exist in there as long as the loop hadn't been rerun; but that didn't matter to them Evan guesses. And still he considers that maybe this'll be a vacation before he has to get back to the nightmare that is to be his life.

But back to the scene that is at hand, they are located at the gazebo that had a lot of complications. Alex, had said that the scene was to be when Brian and Sarah meet up but then the skeptical friend is also there with them to kind of mediate between the two. Tim is supposed to talk with Sarah about how although Brian's a dick he's still got that charm to him. But today just wasn't the day as he watches Alex and Tim have another argument once again; this time he thinks its starting to get a bit more heated than it used to. He steps closer and gets between the two as Alex is starting to lose it and Tim looks like he's about to throw some punches. He puts a hand for each man's chest and pushes the two away from each other. "Hey, hey, maybe we stop the shouting and maybe stop shooting for the day? I think today just ain't the right day and maybe tomorrow'll be the one, alright?" Evan says in hopes to get the two to calm down and so they can all start packing up. 

Alex reverts to his more calm but pissed off demeanor and just pinches the bridge of his nose as he waves his free hand to signal for the clean up to begin. Tim had backed off but was still pissed he tsked before pulling out a cigarette and walking away. Evan just sighed as he put his hands down and started to collect the stuff that was around since most of the others had fucked off to god knows where. He then felt a strong hand clasp his shoulder. He jolts a bit but then recognizes Brian so he relaxes and narrow his eyes at him. Brian laughs before pulling his hand away and raise them up in surrender. 

"Hey, um thanks for what you did back there. Normally, we just let them get it out before they hafta apologize to each other but what you did was pretty brave considering Alex is quite literally the definition of don't fuck with me. I would know that considering the amount of guys he has been able to beat the shit out of. Especially in Highschool." Brian says as he carries off with a box and walks with Evan to Jay's car so they can drop off the stuff. "Okay, what do you mean man?" Evan asked. After all, this wasn't information that was on the wiki.

"Well, back when we were in Highschool, um Alex had it a bit rough back at home before he could move out; so when there were people making fun of Jay for transitioning and all that, Alex would get their names and then he'd jump 'em. A bunch of kids were pretty scared of him, although a bunch of the girls and some of the guys really respected him afterwards. Now, he's kind of mellowed out but he still works out despite what he tells everybody else, don't know why exactly with the schedule that he has but he does and Tim really could've gotten his ass handed to him if you hadn't helped out back there." Brian said to Evan almost conspiratorially. Evan's eyes widened and his eyebrows raised as he listened to Brian's explanation. He looked over to the benches and spotted Alex sitting on one of them and immediately thought to the story that was just told to him and thought about his analysis. He exchanges goodbyes with Brian before heading over to Alex's spot.

As he walks over there he feels the sensation of static picking up and immediately begins to look for the skinny ass fuck. But it was nowhere to be found. But when looking at Alex immediately the static began to pick up. Evan furrowed his eyebrows as he walked forward and began to continue to walk forward towards Alex with a renewed purpose. Coming over he sat beside Alex, Alex jolted as he noticed Evan sitting down next to him. 

Alex had fucked up today he really had, he had been yelling at Tim and was just about to throw a punch and Tim looked like he was about to throw a punch and maybe Alex should've let him.. Anyways, Evan had to step in which is kind of embarrassing but at the same time Alex knows its a good thing that he did. But, nonetheless Alex had let his emotions get the better of him. Which isn't all that good even without the Operator lurking in the corner of his vision or his house. He had been pretty careful about his temper especially considering this time round he has a history beating the shit out of people. But Evan, a new curiosity alongside his two friends had stopped things from escalating which he really ought to thank him for. But there's this thing that really fucking puts off Alex, all that surrounds Evan is just a shit ton of just radio silence; generally when looking at someone if Alex is pissed he "Broadcasts" and basically anyone who is haunted by the Operator will begin to look for it before realizing its coming from him. Normally, it's for different servants underneath the thing to digest that Alex isn't there food and is also an ally despite his ill will to anyone involved with him in the past. Evan however, despite Alex seeing the normal signs of someone having been involved with the Operator he is just Radio Silent. He can't hear any static that could come off of him and whenever he does signal towards him there seems to be a rise in energy in a sort of way.

The rise of energy can only be described as him just looking around but then seeing a shadow. It's warped slightly but Alex can recognize that it looks pretty similar to him, but in a sort of way that only Alex can see and if you really wanted anyone else to see he would have to put them at the right angle. Despite that, Alex thought it was refreshing nonetheless, he didn't have to hear constant static that got on his nerves so many times. But it has started to get to the point where he is used to the sound, familiar with how to register the different roles and how to differentiate between enemy and ally. Still, he didn't like having to do it to his friends and having to watch them like paranoid little bugs. 

Alex felt bad he really did, he has been around these guys for so long, longer than even they realize, his own therapists and whatever decent family members that he gets; tell him that his mind is older than his body. And technically that is true given he amount of times he's done this rodeo. It's almost clockwork the way that he's managed to get all this down. Still, at the end of the day there are times in which Alex might commit suicide but then have to be in the ARK earlier than usual and by that time they still blame him partially for abandoning them. That is before they begin to understand the reason behind it, but even then he is generally the voice of reason behind the mask when he fronts.

But as Alex is deep within his thoughts he then hears a sudden thump. He jolts as he looks at Evan, he's slightly hard to look at but its not all that bad. He takes the chance to give him a bit of a once-over, and looking at him, there are some changes that he didn't notice before, he does look kind of older than he should for someone who's 20. Then there's also the fact that his blue eyes seem to have a thin, barely visible sheen of purple covering them. He seems to be slightly on guard and that must be for some kind of reason that involves Alex. He thinks that maybe Brian told him about what Alex has done for this loop's Highschool experience and it would seem so; as Evan seemed to be a bit more calculating than open, not that Alex can blame him. Alex had just been yelling at Tim and for what? It's not like Alex is the most approachable when he's at this stage. 

"So, um, this is a very weird question but um, do you know a tall guy by any chance?" Evan asked as he tried to look into Alex's eyes he thinks but Evan looks away as he grunts a little. Alex begins to immediately look around for the Operator but no one is here. Just them, but considering Alex's history its not too far off to guess that maybe he's emitting some static at the moment. So, within himself he just closes his eyes and begins to pull at the string that he knows connects to his core; there he feels a tug back from whatever is in his core. He sighs and breathes as he imagines himself sitting and alone in darkness and seeing radio waves coming out from him. He imagines that they shorten and start to recede into him, kind of like shortening the play time of a broadcast. And when he no longer sees any Radio waves he then opens his eyes and looks to Evan who looks straight at him with slightly widened eyes and immediately Alex feels panic beginning to rise within him. Alex knew that when he started to be able to Broadcast that it wouldn't be easy to show that he was the source nor to reveal that he was able to recede it; it gave off the impression that he was doing it on purpose which isn't entirely true. Sure, there are times in which he needs to be alone so he puts up a Broadcast in order to get them away but that wasn't entirely the case this time. 

"How did you do that! Are you like one of the skinny ass's followers or?" Evan says in rapid English while lazily opening and closing his mouth which in turn slurred some of his words together. Alex watches as Evan's eyes have a sheen of piqued interest, something that Alex didn't think would be the case after what he had just pulled. But considering that there isn't anyone else here he considers his options and thinks 'why the fuck not?'

"I'm not the Operator's follower by choice and I will never choose to do so. But considering my options I just imagine radio waves and make them recede. But for a bit I have been trying to signal towards you, given that you generally just look around I know that you know the Operator. However, those under it's influence or considered his prey; give off a degree of static based off whichever of the two they are considered. You however, are silent, you know the thing I'm sure, but there is something else." Alex answers and also points a finger towards Evan as he makes the last statement. 

Evan's eyes widen as he looks down at the finger and looks back up at Alex and smiles. "Well, its not me I know that for sure. I mean that thing hates the thing that's inside me." Alex raises his eyebrow at the last statement and Evan receives the look and holds up his pointer finger for Alex to wait; and so he does as he watches Evan lean back in his seat and then suddenly he slumps when Alex goes to catch him Evan immediately sits upright.

When Alex pulls his hands back Evan looks at him and immediately Alex gets a heightened version of that feeling from earlier. Not-Evan's eyes are a deep brown but when Alex looks closer with his glasses on at eye level; they're a deep purple mimicking brown. There is a natural shadow that is cast over Not-Evan's face that naturally frames the eyes to look the way they are and also helps to lure in those who are curious enough, Alex thinks. That and then the way that Not-Evan looked and acted was a little more heavier he thinks, like their is a heavier presence within Evan's body that just outweighs the ground and the bones that he shifts with a familiarity that puts off Alex slightly; but also makes Alex want to marvel at the function of it all. It gives off the vibe that Evan is bigger than even Alex and that's kind of ridiculous considering that Alex towers over Evan if he wasn't slouching. 

"Well, well, you must be Alex, right? What an interesting little pawn you are! Although if you will forgive my little tidbit, you're one of the little puppets that it likes to drag around; you're the favorite though. Must admit I didn't expect you to be like this! If anything I would've expected it to be that shorter guy, hell maybe even the little birdy, but no, it chose you. Hmmm, its not that bad of a decision though I gotta admit, if Evan hadn't been the perfect host for me maybe I would try you on like a little skin suit. Show you around, break your joints and your ligaments testing all those little limitations that the human body provides. But even then you're built for that now, you've adapted to it, it's engrained into your very being." The thing says to Alex and it gets closer to Alex as it sneers and takes jabs at Alex's predicament and provides what Alex can imagine isn't even the barest tip of the iceberg of its fantasies. 

"Well, what's your name and what the fuck are you even doing in Alabama considering that if I remember correctly; Evan's from New Jersey and has been nowhere near Talladega or Tuscaloosa until this loop." Alex states as he lets a sliver of the static pour in but only slightly so it didn't color his speech too much, nor did he want to compel; apparently that pissed off most entities than it did help Alex get answers which is a pretty fair response. Not-Evan grins a grin that makes his face look bigger and the grin itself is wider than any human should be able to do so and Alex can only imagine the amount of muscle damage is caused by the action. Alex can also assume that given the fact that there is no blood gushing from split ends that this thing has made sure that Evan's body can at least last it. Not only that but the grin itself must've been a scare tactic given that Alex only flicked his eyes up and down. It didn't deter it either way and seemingly was unbothered but Alex isn't the one possessed at the moment to know for sure. 

"Why, my names HABIT thanks for asking! Honestly, very few even decide to respond to me which is saddening, but it happens. I must admit many do not like hearing my name all that much, but you, you're confused and that upsets me a bit; but considering that you were fiction in our little world and I to your's. I think I might need to explain what I am won't I? Though I must say, why the fuck gives you the right to try and intimidate me of all fucking things? Or was it on behalf of pwour wittle Evwan?" Habit asked; it's then taking to a mocking turn as it clasped its hands together for emphasis on the drama. However, it also similarly snarled at him for the supposed slight that Alex had given which Alex should know better but he did need to test the boundaries a bit. Alex considered that maybe he could ask about what Habit is or was if there is anything to ask about it if it isn't to pissed off. But feeling the air turning cold and looking around there is a significant change in time. They were at literal noon when they had started to pack up and it was almost sunset? Alex did consider that time could change and slow down in conversations with things that aren't entirely bound by it's rules and pull something else with it. Alex has seen it and experienced many times with the Operator acting as the Puppeteer. This however, would be a good enough excuse for a way to get this conversation from turning too sour. This is the perfect opportunity to have a dormant and very long time loop and he wasn't going to dash that away because of this thing. 

"Y'know considering I don't even know what the fuck you are is it too unfair to assume that maybe I'm assuming that you're one of those prisoner types or something? Not only that but you haven't exactly explained why you seem to be such a bad thing to meet when I haven't been harmed yet. But whatever sob story you have I think is going to have to wait considering that its getting late and I am not getting pulled over again by some other thing again because of you." Alex says as he leans on his elbow and looks directly into the entity's eyes. It narrows slightly but that grin is back and it cackles. Habit then looks to nowhere in particular. "Well, it was not as much a pleasure of meeting you as I thought it would be; I mean considering you won't even try to make conversation! But I suppose I haven't made all that much of an impression however, I promise maybe I'll invite you to my little home and you'll see why~" It cooes out the last bit as it then slumps and soon he hears ragged breathing coming from Evan's body. Slowly, Evan sits up but in his signature slouch and looks to Alex wild eyed. "Di-did he d--o anythang ta ya?" Evan slurs out as he kind of wobbles in his seat. 

Alex can tell he's kind of drunk, not that kind of drunk that you expect but the kind where you just slur your words and can't help but feel absolutely light while all of your emotions are negative and rampant. And Alex can only imagine the amount of pain that Evan must be in considering how wide Habit could make Evan's mouth grin; well that wouldn't be the worst of it considering that most of the time when being possessed you have misfiring neurons and nerves that are all tingly from what was simply nothing to feeling like they were exposed to fire. Not only that but there is also the fact that with having your body moved without your permission it also makes you feel so fucking exhausted; it's hard to take care of yourself during those times as well, because all you can feel are the things that your body just seems to remember but your brain can't because you weren't the one conscious for it. Alex shakes his head as he reaches out with his hands to steady Evan in place as he swayed slightly. Getting up he throws an arm around Evan to steady him as he guides him to the parking lot. "Did you bring your car or did your friends leave you behind?" Alex asks as he looks through the barren parking lot save for his car and a couple others. He doesn't recognize any of them.

"Vinnie drove me here, I think he left?" Evan says. His speech is getting better but the situation isn't all that much better. Alex began to silently stew in further anger, he knew damn well that Evan's friends could care a little less for him that they think they do. Jeff maybe but Alex was sure that Vinnie could care less unless Evan was controllable or wanting in some way shape or form. Alex can also tell by the slight discomfort that crosses Evan's features whenever the latter visits, makes Alex all the more angrier. However, Alex schools his face into a neutral expression as to not freak out Evan; he remembers that wearing an expression of fear or something to that effect can cause panic in the person. He himself has experience in this area and understands. 

"Okay, I'll drive you then, where are you living at the moment?" Alex asks as they walk/hobble over to Alex's car. "You, know that Inn that's off brown and Jackson? Yeah, thats the hotel that I've been staying at for the moment." Evan says as Alex gets him to the passenger side. Thinking of the place, he knows the one, its not all that great but it's the best you can get on short notice. However, its also pretty far from Alex's dorm and his dorm mates aren't there at the moment since they were supposed to be going to another state for some kind of project that they were assigned to?? Alex doesn't know he just knows that they were pretty fucking excited about the whole thing. So, Alex thinks that it would probably be better if Evan stays over at his place for a bit, that and he has stuff in case the Operator does show up or Habit also makes Evan bleed whenever using him. Which is starting to become apparent as Evan begins to sneeze and groan. 

"Okay, my place is closer, so you can stay at my place for tonight and I've got stuff for whatever happens while you recuperate. Is that alright with you?" Alex asks as he begins to pull out of the parking lot, he looks to Evan as he waits for a car to pass by and Evan nods a quick yes and gives a thumbs up as Alex starts to head down towards the street towards his dorm.

When they arrive at Alex's place, Evan stumbles all the way to the door in a daze and panic, that, Alex can recognize as something that he's done in the past loops. He unlocks the door and goes inside as he breathes in the familiar smell of his college dorm. His roommates aren't here to really tease Alex about bringing a guy back this time round either which he thinks is a bonus. Otherwise, he flicks on the light switches and puts down his plaid overshirt and stretches his arms and hears his back pop in a couple places. That is before it is disturbed with the sounds of wretching and vomiting. Alex rushes over to the nearby bathroom and sees Evan curled up with his head over the toilet bowl. He was shaking profusely and Alex came over to rub his back as Evan didn't have that long of hair to begin with, although Alex moved from rubbing his back to scratching at the scalp in a soothing pattern to console the shaking man in front of him. The smell was not that great and looking down he saw the puddle of liquid that had been torn from his friend's stomach was black and very much moving he thinks. He doesn't want to assume anything but if he looks at it too hard he thinks he sees it starting to try and crawl back up the bowl and; thats when Alex begins to flush it down because no he is not gonna get sick as well and he is also not going to watch whatever that might turn into. 

Eventually, Evan stopped trembling alltogether and was able to lean into Alex as he breathed a little more clearly. Alex settled him against the wall before grabbing one of the small paper cups on the counter and fill it up with water. He then handed it to Evan who gargled it and swished it around before spitting it into the sink. Alex grabbed the cup again and then grabbed for the bottle of mouthwash that he kept around and refilled the cup again with the mouthwash this time. When he gave it to Evan, Evan downed it and did the same thing before spitting it more aggressively into the toilet bowl. 

Evan hands the cup to Alex and Alex sets it to the side as he sits next to Evan, "You feeling better now?" Alex asks as he stares at the wall, "Yeah, I think so, thanks." Evan says. Evan although looks to him as though he might benefit a little more from some food and maybe a shower if Evan had the time or the patience. 

"Yeah no problem, um if you want you can have one of roommates beds, they aren't gonna be here for a while anyways I don't think they'll notice. They'll be too tired anyways and they've done the same to mine before so this is payback." Alex added the last bit with a glare fixed at the wall with a smug smirk as he remembered coming home to his mattress that was propped on the floor completely stained with whatever the hell it was. He didn't want to know then and that wasn't going to change now. He had to get rid of the mattress and get a new one. They all pitched in to help pay for the thing and then bring it in since he lived upstairs. 

Evan looks up at him with furrowed eyebrows and disbelief written all over his face, "Trust me, you can take their beds, or more so their mattresses. The couch isn't all that comfortable nor is it sick bed material. Plus, they had to buy me a new mattress the last time I had to go up to the mountains to meet with my grandma, I trust that you won't really be staining the bed and even if you do don't worry about it. They know damn well that they still owe me even if they paid for the new one." Alex says to placate the worries that he knows is stirring within Evan. Evan looks at him a bit weirdly and he can take that considering that his explanation is probably a bit concerning. But whatever questions Evan had, he doesn't voice them; instead Alex guides him to a random room for Evan to sleep in; Alex shows him his room to just kind of say that if there was trouble then Alex is here.

That night, Evan had some of the best sleep that he's had in for-fucking-ever and he's grateful for it. It also started to stir something within him. He doesn't know what but that morning he had a new appreciation for Alex as he made breakfast for the two of them and they shared a few experiences with each other including but not limited to the stupid shit that they've tried to swerve the thing away from them. Alex's was a little more drastic than Evan's but they laughed and snarked at each other and they were comfortable. Alex had a dream that didn't include killing his friends nor did it include any of the misery that he's been through, instead he just had a pleasant dream about a nice picnic with his friends. And some of the details were a little confusing he must admit. But thats not something that he's willing to tell. Evan could tell that Habit wouldn't be awake for awhile considering the amount of times he played heavy metal music and Habit just told him to shut up very weakly. So, Evan considered that as a win.

Over the course of those few months they got to celebrate Jeff's birthday and also had to witness as Alex had been thrown into new classes. They all were sorely missing their beds again and Evan was jam packed with different after school sessions with kids ranging from nearly all grades. It was busy but they managed to get a couple shots in between here and there as Alex and most of the group got ready to graduate with their bachelor's. Seth had already held a graduation party only meant for the group as he now had a bachelors in Photography and was now looking into job openings. There weren't that many but he'd been interviewed by a producer recently and was waiting for a response back. They were all pretty much ready for Thanksgiving break to begin. As they worked through having to do their final assignments and getting ready for their finals after the break before everyone got off at winter break; they had all managed to plan out a thanksgiving dinner together at Alex's place since the roommates were going to be at their family's places for the weekend. That and it was only a four day break which everybody called bullshit on but it was good enough to have a half day of just relaxing that they let their complaints rest on their tongues and just get the day over with. 

Evan had managed to book the days of the weekend off much to the kids and his shared appreciation for an actual break. That entire day, while everybody else were at university, him and Seth were trying to pull off the thanksgiving dinner in the meager kitchen setup in Alex's place. But it wasn't like they were about to use the colleges kitchens, so they made do with what was given to them. Evan was on the heavier dishes while Seth was on the non traditional dishes. And that was only like macaroni and a couple of other things. Evan handled the Turkey and then also made the stuffing. He has made this type of dinner plenty of times that he could do it with his eyes closed...maybe not in this kitchen but you get the picture. 

Evan and Seth both were shouting and cooking up a storm as they ran around each other in the small kitchen and alarms were going off everywhere. Evan however, over the many time loops that he's been stuck with Habit; has learned that Habit itself did actually have cooking experience and can actually make fucking when it was really bored. Evan has seen it only a couple of times and even those times had been fucking jarring. ' What the fuck are you doing?" Vinnie had asked. "What the fuck does it look like I'm doing? I'm making dinner now hand over the fucking bowl or yer friends bones an' meat ain't gonna be the only person in this dish tonight!'  Yeah it had been really fucking weird. But despite the fact that Evan can cook and is arguably the best chef they've got on deck whenever; Habit takes it upon itself to give him orders about what timers are about to go off and what different flavors are to go together. The only thing that Evan will admit to is that with Habit he has learned some new dishes that are relatively good he's not gonna lie but at the same time he can also lend a hand from time to time whenever his lazy cannabalistic ass in Evan's head decides to actually do something about it. ~Ok, I know for a fact that you did not just say that about me, because lets be honest I am the most productive entity that you will ever be possessed by!~ 'You know that would be true if there wasn't my hyper fixations to put a hand into this considering even you can't control when my body or mind has one'

When the rest of the group had managed to come over to the house they watched as Evan and Seth rushed around to check their dishes and make sure that they hadn't fucked up an entire day's preparation. There were multiple times where peoples lives were threatened by both cooks with very sharp knives when anyone offered to help carry something or help keep track of a timer. Alex, had managed to be the only one allowed into the kitchen given that it was his. Evan nearly threatened him before Alex hoisted him up to reach a cabinet for him and grab one of the glasses; Evan was shouting and yelling but after he was put down Alex began to help set up decoratory dishes or "sides" with a bunch of cutting. So, both chefs found it within themselves to spare the tallest as he towered over them and it was his kitchen.

After the cooking had been done, everyone set the table and over dinner they said what they were grateful for and what they were hoping for school and which professors they hoped either died within the next week or got too sick to oversee the final's testing week.

"Alex what's yours?" Brian asked as he downed another glass of Apple cider. Everyone turned to the host of the dinner, he looked like he was about to turn redder than the cranberry sauce. He looked down and then back up at the rest of the table, "Well, I'm just grateful that everything is going okay so far." He says with a genuine warm smile. Evan then notices the small twitch of his eye towards Evan and understands the deeper meaning behind the statement; Alex is grateful that he is in a dormant loop, grateful that shit hasn't gone out the roof quite yet. Evan would've said the same if not for the fact that it would be pretty ominous to just say that out the gate. That and considering the friends that he has he would get so many questions from Jeff considering the "bright" guy he is. He's already beginning to get a bunch of weird looks from the others thanks to how much he prefers to talk to Alex. Normally, they're exchanging small stories that they feel the need to unravel with the other. Evan doesn't entirely get it, but he hasn't gotten most stuff down either way. But being able to talk to the other has been freeing. 

After the dinner they began to play a couple of boardgames while playing a couple of movies in the background from Alex's CD collection. But the best part of that was having to see where the CD's came from, Alex had gotten out a small little binder and in there were little shelves like those kinds of binders that you pack in Pokemon cards. Except they were CD's and Vinnie ended up asking where the hell he had gotten the binder. 

"I got it at a dollar store and its very convenient so fuck off." Alex said although he was beginning to turn red as he had before. He put in a random ass movie that Evan couldn't remember the name of. Alex couldn't care less either as both Evan and Alex were talking while the others just hung around. "...Ok, so thats when I was crawling upwards and me and Jeff along with Alex were trailing down the hole and when we get out on the other side we aren't in Jeff's house anymore and instead we're in the middle of the local park and we had to call for Vinnie to come pick us up and we were just standing out there with our weapons and we looked pretty fucking crazy." Evan recounted and Alex snorted at the details and just imaging the scene and what it would look like. Alex then tried to counter with his own stories being Tim.

Although, while the both of them weren't looking the others looked in their direction and most then looked towards each other with questions in their eyes. They didn't know what had gotten them so close but it would remain that way. And they didn't have much to judge them for it.

Now that the winter break was here they all were bustling with energy to get last minute Christmas presents and also to get their secret Santa gifts. Amazingly and something they both decided was a bit suspicious was the fact that Alex and Evan had gotten each other for Secret Santa. Evan had next to no idea but he kept asking to come over to Alex's place to watch a movie or something so then he could scope what movie Alex didn't have that he might want. Evan was thinking of getting Nightmare on Elm Street for him since that seemed to be the one that was constantly rented for most of the time. 

Alex on the other hand had next to no idea what kind of knives he should get for Evan considering that was his favorite kind of thing. But with all things considered he felt that maybe one with more serrated edges might be the thing but on the other hand Evan liked the more eccentric or overtly used kind of blades so he was starting to think of getting a Katana or something. But then having to remember that Evan already has one or at least something similar to one he can't tell or know whether he should get another one; and from what kind of store would be better for that kind of purchase?

Evan did end up having to call for another movie night once again for the last time before he decided on whether he should gift Alex Nightmare on Elm Street to Die Hard 2 for Secret Santa. Alex received the news well enough considering that the amount of times that he's been asked for a movie night have begun to get some of the other roommates to start bullying him into trying to ask out Evan, not that there was anything wrong with Evan or anything like that; it was just that....well Alex didn't know what was the reason that would stop him from doing that. Especially since he didn't even know if he could deny having a crush on the shortest of the group. Alex had to keep reasoning that the only thing that kept his heart racing was the anxiety for the project to be done before his graduation. So, he decided to just keep it quiet and bully his dorm mates into going out or something. They had been whining about it saying that Alex actually picked the best movies to watch but after all the commotion he wasn't about to give in. He wasn't one to do so after all. 

Evan didn't know what to do considering that he was getting closer and closer to being caught snooping through the CD binder multiple times. His excuses were getting lamer and lamer as they starting hanging out more and more and that was just putting more pressure on Evan to try and get this right. But he didn't have all that much of a choice. So, with both movies laid out in front of him he sighed and just ran a hand over his face. If Alex didn't have either of the movies Evan decided it might be best to just throw both of them at him and then if he had one fo them that wasn't on rent then it would be decided. But what if he had both of them and they weren't rented? Then would he be screwed? What would he get then? Evan just shook his head and focused on getting a list of snacks together and what he needed to do before he went over to the dorm/apartment. ~you are such a loser.~ 'shut up before I put on Lana Del Ray!' ~you wouldn't  DARE!~

Alex decided on playing Die Hard considering that it was nearly Christmas. He had finished a call from an old friend from middle school who he knew was a welder/blacksmith, he requested for the Katana and it was to be ready for pickup all the way in Talladega. He had an extra bounce in his step thinking about the gift he was going to give. Not only that but with a little extra money that he pitched in he was going to have Evan's name etched into the blade itself and there would be a sheath for it that would be custom made from another store that his friend knew and used from time to time. He heard the microwave finish with the popcorn and went over to grab it out as he dunked it in with the rest of the popcorn that he had already made. He was relying on Evan to grab the rest of the snacks as he normally wasn't out of stock for popcorn given how may times he's put on a movie with the rest of the dorm just so he could put down notes and different ideas to steal for his own. The film that he was making was a piece of shit he was going to admit but it sucked up to the teachers favorite type anyways so he was just putting stereotype after stereotype as he painfully could despite feeling the need to tear the pen away from his hands and to throw the entire script into the fire. Jay had also been growing concerned with the writing of the script but when told about the reason behind it he just told Alex that he needed to take a break and not get too lost into the project. Which he guessed he respected. 

Evan drove down the highway with all the shit in the back of his car and Frank Sinatra playing not entirely at full volume but it was getting there. He didn't recognize this one but he had to listen to Habit humming along to the lyrics with his mouth. Evan didn't entirely like it but he didn't have much of a choice given that it wasn't his place to complain about the music choice with the thing that could easily get you into a car crash. So, he sucked it up and continued to drive to the dorm. He is kind of excited for this whole thing he must admit. Never really did he have this much to anticipate for other than the birth o this daughter and the misery that would come with it as he had little time to spend with her. But she was still beautiful nonetheless. 

Alex propped up some of the pillows and was beginning to obsess over the decorations as he tried to get it in a way that would fit it the best. That is before he feels his old fashioned phone buzz a bit. He picks it up and finds a message from Evan. 

Knife gremlin >:D 

Ok so you got the snacks?

yeah yeah I did 

:p

what you got?

Knife gremlin >:D sent an image: Evan is holding the convenience store bag with his tongue sticking out. He's wearing a Death Proof hat, has a flannel jacket on and in the background there are a couple people staring at him.

still doesn't answer my question

>:(

I got chips and sdoa 

*soda

sdoa???

lol

mean >:O

im eating all the snacks

NO DONT

Read  at 5:37

at the front

let me iiiinnnnnn

imma leave and hoard all the snacks if you dont answer!

Read at 5:53

Alex  goes to the door and unlocks it. When he opens the door he sees Evan in an oversized sweatshirt still with that ridiculous haircut that makes it so fucking short and is also in one of his favorite pairs of cargo shorts. And also trying to manhandle the bags into not falling which is currently going horribly wrong. Alex snickers as he grabs for one of the bags and checks inside to see 2 liter bottles of soda and knows that he's going to have to limit Evan just so the streets are safe from him. Alex has had to learn this the hard way after being driven home from a small party that had a shit ton of soda and beer; given that Evan was supposed to be the driver he was stuck with soda and Alex thinks he broke several traffic laws just to get Alex to his place. Alex doesn't know how many more he broke to get to his hotel room. Alex takes the bag into the living room that he had set up and sets it beside the couch as Evan crashes through to put down the rest of the food beside the drinks. Alex grabs for the popcorn bowls that he had set up earlier and begins to start eating as Evan harshly grabs for one of them and starts to scarf down a shit ton of it. Alex makes a face sticking his tongue out for Evan to see and Evan just laughs before promptly coughing and choking. 

Alex laughs at him and then begins to pull out the CD and begins to play the movie as Evan rips into the bags. "Hey, do ya have Die Hard 2?" Evan asks as the intro plays out. "Nah, I've been too busy to actually look into buying it anyways." Alex replies not thinking much into the statement and just zoning out into the movie.

As the movie progressed the both of them were beginning to slide closer and closer to the other. Much so, to the point that Evan and Alex were now laying onto each other. Evan's legs were crossed over onto Alex's and Alex laid his head on Evan's shoulder as they continued to snack and watch Bruce Willis try to navigate through one of the floors. Evan blinks a bit as his eyes start to dry up and he blinks back tears at the sudden burn. He then notices the position that he was in with Alex, he didn't entirely notice given that Die Hard is really a great movie to watch for the holidays but he didn't know what he wanted to do now either though; he thinks it might make it a whole lot more awkward if he moved away or anything like that. That or if he just slung his arm around Alex. He continued to think about his next course of action before he started to hear a soft but gentle snore. He looked at Alex's face and noticed that it was enitrely void of emotion other than pure relaxation. Evan looked down and then around; Alex had mentioned that the others would be gone for quite a while. He looked more into Alex's face and noticed just how peaceful he looked, he remembered doing this with Jeff, Stephanie, Alex and Jessie. All  of them were different in their special ways. Alex was peaceful and needed the sleep dearly. Jeff showed his facial expression throughout whatever dreams he had which sometimes was adorable and sometimes it was very hard to breathe when Evan's trying to not laugh so hard. Stephanie had a gentle but very tired look to her and normally Evan would sleep before or immediately after she did because she was a comfort and made Evan feel safe and trapped in warmth. That he wished would be forever. Jessie and him normally fell asleep at the same time but he woke up earlier and he would watch her before she woke up and she had her mouth open which lead to drool; some of the time she would snore super loud and Evan had a couple of trucks and planes in his bedroom from when he was younger that he never really remembered to get rid of; so he would pretend that her snores were their engines. ~Wow, and I though Vinnie was obsessive.~ 'Shut up, you have nothing to say in this, do not make me bring up all of the things that you observed about Vinnie!' ~That is such a low blow but so in character for you, you're really growing into my role, arench'a?~ 'No.'

Alex's face was different though, sure he snored lightly but he also had very different expressions and Evan could hear mumbling in between the pauses of his snoring if he was paying attention enough to notice. ~Gay.~ 'Right back at ya.'

But otherwise he shifted slightly also, more so to get comfort is what Evan decided on. His face was kind of dopey as well, his glasses were crooked as they hung onto his nose and were crushed on the right side by Evan's shoulder which Alex was using as a sort of pillow. Evan didn't know why the thought made him instantly smile hard, made his heart skip and stop in-between beats. ~That's even Gayer, you really should have been named Gaylord.~ 'Do you ever shut up?' ~You know the answer to that one.~

Evan's breathing would fluctuate with his heart beat and he couldn't help but lean in closer to get a closer inspection. 

Alex's face nuzzled even closer as much as he could with his glasses on as Evan shifted to get a closer look, Evan snorted silently as he reached his free hand completely ignoring the gunfire that was coming from the TV; as he moved Alex's glasses off his face and tucked a couple of stray strands away from his face. He continued to rove over Alex's face trying to see if he had missed any previous details almost in a haze or something like that. ~Oh my Tempest will you stop?!~ 'Now that you mention it, No <3'. ~What the fuck is the heart for dumbass, this isn't a fucking group chat!~ '>:D' ~STOP OR I WILL TAKE OVER AND PUSH HIM OFF!~ 'You wouldn't dare because you can't admit that you like him too? Don't you?' ~...Shut the fuck up.~

But it came to a head when Evan felt Alex's arms drape themselves around Evan's chest and neck as some kind of throw pillow he thinks. But another person he thinks as well, as Alex shifted his body to be able to awkwardly cuddle with Evan. And Evan let him. The heat within him rose to his face as felt the rise and fall from Alex's chest and felt the comforting entrapment of limbs and a warm body with soothing breathing in his ear that was beginning to make him feel a little dizzy. 

He looked at the screen and blinked a couple times as he sobered up and watched as the credits played. He craned his neck to look for the remote. Once he spotted it he reached with his foot and grabbing it with his toes he pulls it towards his hand and turns the TV off. Feeling Alex continue to now almost try and strangle him further in his hold makes Evan snort, he knew now that he wasn't getting out of this and considering that he wasn't the one living here he wouldn't be the one in the hot seat; but at the same time it would be pretty cruel of him to leave Alex behind in all this; it would be a lot more awkward if Alex woke up alone and suddenly being questioned by roommates. It's happened to Evan and he knows that its better to wake up with someone else than having to wake up alone and having to defend yourself alone. 

So, Evan shifts himself and Alex in a more comfortable position as he grabs for a couple of the pillows to put behind him and grabs for the blanket hanging on the couch and covers the both of them. Alex hums as he snuggles impossibly further into Evan's hold and Evan wraps his arms around Alex as he shifts to his side with Alex so he can fall asleep a little faster.  There wasn't even a response or comment from Habit feeling that corner of his mind darken alongside his own mind he smirked. And with a couple yawns and blinks, he falls to black hearing Alex's soft snoring and mumbles in his ear.

Alex blinks a few times, he must've fallen asleep during the movie which means he's probably gonna get teased by Evan for it but nonetheless he he blinks even more as he feels warmth radiating all over his body and feeling sluggish. He doesn't want to get up considering that he's actually pretty comfortable the way he is but he shifts up slightly and then hears a grunt. And thats when Alex feels the two arms that encircle his waist and the body that he's tangled with. He blinks even harder now as he takes a deep breath in fully waking up and facing Evan. He feels his face heat up impossibly so, he doesn't know what the fuck to do. But he still lays there in great warmth and then in a quick breath he jolts as Evan wakes up as well. Watching as Evan opens his eyes and he closes his eyes and immediately feels a hand move. A finger pokes his eyes and he scrunches his face as he opens his eyes to stare into Evan's. This is pretty fucking awkward. But he snorts and yawns and smiles. Evan smiles too and they just stare before Alex remembers that his roommates were supposed to have returned by the evening more the morning. They probably have seen him and he wasn't entirely ready to face them. He groans as he lifts them both up and Evan looks at him with confusion and concern in his eyes.

"Ya, didn't do anythang wrong, roommates are probably already here is all. Be ready for a line of questioning though." Alex states as he pulls the heels of his hands to his eyes to rub at them before looking at Evan again who is shaking as he's smiling before he hears a couple of snorts and looks to the other side of the couch with three of his roommates standing right there and Alex groans as he knows he's fucked.

Both of them left the dorm that day feeling weird and confused. Alex didn't know how much more sure he could have been at the moment of his feelings. Evan on the other hand was just willing to deal with it later as he still had to do MMA, although thinking back on it later made him realize that he would still have to face Alex later. He shook his head out of it and just focused on trying to get through the rest of the week before Christmas arrived.

When it was Christmas Day Alex already had the Katana wrapped and ready to go. He wasn't hosting as the rest were out at their family's for their holidays and he didn't have that much of a connection with his family; Brian however had offered his dorm given that it was a little larger and better suited for clean up and a bigger party. Speaking of Family though, there is a wedding that he has to attend to in January. That he forgot about and he needs a date to it. He'll probably ask Brian. But maybe he could ask Evan? Nah, that would make things much more awkward than they already are. He was just about ready to disappear from the face of the earth and was willing to accept that he wasn't going to have a nice time for the rest of his college experience but thankfully after the winter break it will be his last semester before he graduates as long as his teachers don't fail him of course. The only reason Evan is here is because of this film anyways, once that's out of the picture he and Habit can be gone from Alex's life and he can enjoy this dormant loop for all that may come with it. It however, won't be spent with Amy which isn't entirely a nice outcome given that he loved her very much; but at the same time she's with Jessica this time round and his best friend besides Brian and Jay. Tim was slow progress but at the same time, he felt like he was making slow progress. Letting little depressing tidbits here and there for Tim to follow; Alex was sure that it is a little cruel to do to lead him on for something that he knew wasn't entirely going to matter but; he was going to worry about that for the future. 

But never mind that, the issue at hand besides having to face Evan, is how the fuck is he gonna sneak this shit into the pile without being the one recognized for bringing it? But then he looks over to the box that had a pole for the bathroom curtains since Ryan had somehow broke it; there's a bet going around that he did something really fucking stupid but he has his mouth completely tight about it. Alex can shove (carefully) the Katana into the box and then wrap it up. Then he can drop it off at the door of the house before arriving. He and Brian have done it before and it was pretty funny both times since this time he wasn't the one that would be hosting and instead it would be Brian and he had a pretty nice dorm. He sighed a breath for good luck before reaching for the wrapping paper and then grabbing all the other necessary items for this to be pulled off.

Evan had both CD's safely packed in their covers and he also bought a new CD binder for Alex to use since Evan noticed that the older one was full and there were several CD's that had been laying on a shelf because of it. Getting to the dorm had been easy but the laying down the gifts without anyone noticing was the harder part. Not only that but he had stolen those CD's since they had been left out of the original CD binder. But with the experience of having to act out several things that Habit' done in the past, he manages to put down both wrapped items underneath the Christmas tree and then makes a beeline for the food. He just hopes that everything will work out and then he can pretend that he doesn't hear Habit threatening Alex's life and doing several things to him that Evan knows might happen but wishes it won't. ~Oh come'on we can just strong him and then see whats on the inside; after all they do say that beauty is more on the inside right? I personally agree with whoever made that quote. Probably a serial killer or something.~ 'Please for the love of god shut up and maybe I can give you a random pedestrian if you're good for the rest of today, deal?' Evan projects as he fills his plate with food, normally he can try and bribe Habit with some poor random innocent if needbe to get him by for the day; he really is a terrible person isn't he? ~hmmmm, sure, fine I'll play nice but I'm holding you to it.~ 'Wonderful.' Evan silently grumbled. 

When they began to start unwrapping there are already bets going around on who got who which also included cash and Evan was raking in the winnings. He will admit he already knew half of everybody's partners thanks to Habit. Evan is currently a bit tight on cash but with this he can at least get a few more snacks that Habit is doing this for, so he thinks it a bit of a win-win kind of situation that he doesn't think this'll really harm anyone's bank account given that all the gifts were supposed to be maxed out to at least $20.

"Okay, I'm gonna say Seth got me." Brian says as he unravels a pair of dumb bells as his gift. Everyone but Evan groans as Seth nods his head in mock disappointment and Evan gets another round of fivers. He starts to grin to himself as he begins to collect some more cash and starts getting people on his back for it. 

"Okay, seriously dude did you peek or something? I swear I won't tell anybody!" Jay says even though everybody is already also trying to listen in on the answer and he shakes his head while maniacally cackling, "A magician never tells his secrets." Evan says as he continues to put more cash into his wallet. 

"Dude, you're a wizard!" Jeff says in a mock British accent and everybody starts to laugh, "I'm a wot?" Evan, Vinnie and Alex (funnily enough, I think not) say in ranging British accents. Thats when some of the other guys start to turn red in the face from laughing too hard. Sarah had to slap Seth's back as he choked on his own spit from cackling. Evan can relate to the feeling. Soon a girl that Evan didn't know but found to be familiar for some reason picks out a gift from the pile and pulls out a book. "Okay, I think Sarah got me this!" Sarah nods and Evan then recognizes her to be Jessica which is another bet that he won, well at this point he knows everybody; he lied about it being half because it would be everybody. But at the same time he didn't entirely know how Alex got him and he got him and he also is wondering what the fuck was in the tall ass present?

After a few more rounds of guessing and getting more money and having to hear Habit chanting about getting Reeses which was fucking annoying but he also could sympathize with the fact that he's about to get candy as well. It's finally his turn and as he checks all the presents he finds the long present to be his. He was going to get a giant fuck you from Alex wasn't he?

He laughs nervously and out of the corner of his eye he sees Alex nervously shifting and twiddling is fingers together. He unwraps it and finds it to be a pole. A fucking shower curtain pole and he knows damn well that this is the biggest fuck you that you can give someone. Everyone in the group was confused and Evan would laugh at how fucking funny it is to watch as Alex does the same thing as everybody else despite the fact that he's the one that got it. But, he opens the thing so he can pull out the pole and make a couple joke at his expense before revealing how much of a dick Alex is. What he wasn't expecting was something resembling a knife in a sheath that was neatly wrapped. His eyes widen as he tears into it and reveals a nicely made Katana with a very gorgeous wooden scabbard. Taking the beautiful thing as carefully as he can out of its holster he looks at the blade and it is very gorgeous indeed. The polish on the sword made it gleam and he thinks he can see a sliver of his reflection on it as well. Practicing a few techniques with it he finds the sword is new and freshly sharpened. When he inspects the steel above the handle he finds his first and last name engraved into it. And if he looks even closer, just a little smaller is Habit's name engraved as well. He wants to cry especially when he looks at the handle itself with interweaving colors that are purple and black. ~Purple...?~ And fuck has Evan never heard Habit speak that softly. Evan wordlessly puts the sword back in its holster and looks towards Alex and starts to tear up in an excited grin. 

"This was you, right?" Evan asks because he really does hope he did get this right and in comparison to the gifts that he got for Alex this was gold compared to the copper. But he can't focus on those thoughts when he timidly bows his head down and wordlessly nods and Evan carefully sets the Katana to the side and gives him the strongest hug that he's ever given before because holy shit this is the best gift that he's gotten in since forever and holy shit Evan might actually kiss Alex right in front of everyone here. ~Okay, gay boy tone it down!~ 'Shut up you also were soft!' Evan projects and doesn't have time to hear the reply when he lets go of Alex and everyone is starting to ask Alex a whole bunch of questions where he had gotten the time to get it and where he had gotten it. Which is fair since the price range for the Secret Santa is way below what the Katana probably costed.

"I have a friend from Middle school that I remembered going to University for metal working and welding so he could be a metal worker or whatever. But he's recently been getting this really big following as of recently and I had to pay extra to get the name engraved and for the holster to be like that along with the specific colors but he also said that with the complicated order it would really let his page take off so he was able to get it done within a few days and he's also thinking of sending the video to his professor for a grade." Alex explained as he looked at the ground and Evan's heart was in his ears and holy shit this was amazing was the room always this fucking bright. Was he always this fucking giddy too?

"Anyways I think its my turn anyways and I do want to see which one of you assholes got me for Secret Santa." Alex said with a huff of laughter and Evan is suddenly so fucking nervous because holy shit this was like the best gift that he could get despite the fact that it was well above the regular price range that you normally go for Secret Santa and he suddenly can't breathe. 

Alex was so fucking relieved that Evan had loved the gift so much he didn't think he would get that emotional over the gift but he guess that given the amount that he had spent on it and the fact that he had managed to get it all before today was amazing enough too. So, grabbing a medium sized gift he sits down in spot and looks at everyone to see if he could catch the culprit and the look that Evan has on his face makes Alex suspect that it might be him. He shakes his head and opens the gift, or gifts he should say as two CD's fall out and land on his lap and he sees a fucking binder and holy shit its another CD binder and suddenly he's looking inside to see all the other CD's that he thought he had lost but no they were packed carefully and neatly into the folds and he was tearing up because this was so fucking thoughtful. Then he takes a look at the CD's and its Nightmare on Elm Street in 3D and Die Hard 2 and suddenly he's looking straight at Evan and he's looking away from him and he wraps him in his arms for the third time this month and saying thank you over and over again. Alex feels two arms slowly snake around to wrap around him and the others are slowly clapping and some are making jokes and others are looking through his shit. But that is the least of Alex's worries. He was too deep in his feelings about how he can actually rent more movies without having to worry about his roommates taking it. It has happened in the past and thats the reason for the binder in the first place and now he has a second one. 

That and he has perfectly functioning 3D glasses for himself and several others making Nightmare on Elm Street all the more better to watch and also now he has fucking Die Hard 2 which is even more amazing so now he can do a mini marathon for Christmas movies. 

Evan didn't think that his gifts were all that much worth in comparison to what Alex had gotten but to each their own and he now is the proud owner of two swords and this one definitely beaten the other in a landslide in awesomeness. Vinnie and Jeff came up to him afterwards and were very much dogging on him for giving him in comparison to what he got but he just told them off for the shit that they had gotten for the other and just simply telling them that he only did it because he knew it mattered a lot more to Alex than it would to anyone else. 

After the party, Alex went up to Evan before everyone went down for the night and he was actually kind of nervous because what if Evan took him trying to convince him going to a wedding like a sort of favor thing because of the Katana? He had to shake his head out of the fog as he approached Evan, "Hey, um can I ask you something?" Alex asked and Evan turned around to face him. "Okay, yes I stole the CD's after that night." Evan said. Alex snorted and shook his head, "No, that not what I was going to ask you but really good to know nonetheless." Evan, Alex thinks, turns a bit redder then he was the moment before. 

"Alright, um shoot." Evan said before wincing a bit at the reference and Alex also sort of winced at the amount of memories that began to flood in before he shook his head again a little more furiously; "um, so I've go this cousin thats getting remarried again, and don't look at me like that I'm trying to be serious for once. Um, I was wondering if you could be my plus one since I don't think any of the other guys like me enough for that and Amy is gonna be busy doing anniversary stuff with Jessica." Alex finishes sloppily because holy shit he just said it and he doesn't know why the fuck he's getting super fucking sweaty and shit he's fucking over thinking. 

"um Yeah, sure I'll do it as long as I don't have to pay for my plate of food." Evan says and Alex looks down at him and is surprised at the casual tone of Evan's voice. "And you're not doing this because I got you the Katana right? because I am going to warn you my family are real fucking pieces of work and I don't want to force that on anyone unwilling or anything like th-" Alex is cut off by Evan's hands grabbing for his shirt and fisting it pretty fucking tightly; and then with the most ungraceful coordination he's ever been apart of Evan's lips collided with Alex's. 

Alex gave a slight grunt of surprise with his pupils blown and his eyes widened pretty far out but noticing that Evan's eyes were screwed shut and he was barely moving he could feel Evan starting to pull away and so Alex grasped Evan's biceps and kissed back as gently but with some of the same enthusiastic energy. Closing his eyes he let himself fall into the sensation that is and was Evan, he let himself drown in the warmth and all that was Evan and all that wasn't. He hummed into the kiss as he felt it deepen further and letting himself just sigh and relax even further into it. 

Evan must be in Eden or he must be dead because the amount of peace and bliss that was going into this was amazing for him. He himself was passing further into Alex and feeling the hot breaths that mixed between the both of them as they delved deeper into each other made Evan's mind sink deeper into unreality. His mind just turned into soup because he wasn't as aware of his surroundings as he would like to be but he didn't care as he unfisted his hands from Alex's shirt and moved his arms around Alex's neck. When they did eventually have to part which was about a minute or so into the kiss they both took a couple of breaths before they were leveled out. But Evan didn't care much for all of that, he cared more for the being that was in front of him that he could tell was overwhelmed hopefully in a good way with the light static that was felt from him. His arms were still around Alex's neck but they were a bit looser now. 

"So, what does this make us, amor?" Evan's voice came out a bit deeper as he was deeply too focused on Alex. Alex although only blushed and just smiled really big like a fucking dope. But he was now Evan's dope he thought. And it sounded just a bit more right than it should've. He guessed he also had a pretty goofy grin as Alex leaned in for another kiss as well. And Evan got to turn off is brain and just let muscle memory do the work for him as he shifted a little more comfortably against Alex.

Later that night, Evan came to his hotel complex and found it ablaze. He watched as firefighters pushed him back and he watched as his clothes and his bags burned and thankfully he had his katana and all of his registered weapons in the backseat since y'know for emergencies. The firefighters apologized to him and told him that someone had left a candle lit and it fell over onto the floor and had been unchecked for the better part of the evening to the point that the flame couldn't be contained. Several people that night had been injured in the process but most of the others were out with family and so the fire department were too busy making calls to interview him since he was technically at another location for the entire day and he had enough stuff that would last him for a couple days but he would have to look for a new place to go to. And Evan believed he knew which place he would be very welcome. ~So, no murder tonight?~ 'What do you think.'

Alex did of course welcome Evan to his place with very open arms and Evan will admit they took a bit too long outside just hugging and maybe exchanging a few kisses but no one was there to see that. When they got inside Evan and Alex sat down on the couch and pulled out Die Hard 2 to watch for the night. Habit however, had better plans and decided to pop out. When Evan had went to grab some kind of drink from the fridge, Habit had immediately shoved his way to front and suddenly Evan found himself in the walls at the hospital. And fuck Alex didn't know what Habit can do and he's scrambling and scratching at the walls and begging and screaming for him to be okay; but it fell on unfeeling and sterile walls and fuck he was spiraling he turns around and watches as the nurse just crawls to him and now he's crying and begging and-

Habit walked through the hallway all the way over to the couch again and sat right beside Alex. And immediately apparently he was too noticeable. Alex paused the movie and looked hard at Habit, "did you want a kiss too or something?" Alex asked as he snorted at the sudden change in identities. Habit shook his head, "well, not entirely really, actually I was going to congratulate the fact that you fell for one of the stupidest people on this rock, but well, I guess charm or whatever surpasses that; amirite?" Habit teased as he shifted to fully face Alex. 

"Well, if thats true then I don't think he would've gotten me that CD binder nor would he have somehow snuck it all in without getting caught. Or he wouldn't have been able to repair the car on the side of the road that one time, seriously if he was that stupid I don't think we would even be here considering he would be dead; if we at least consider the kind of rock that we live on for starters of course." Alex replied sharply as he didn't take too kindly to the blasphemy that Habit was spreading but at the same time he knew about how Evan struggled academically. Evan had told him that during one of their earlier late night talks as a kind of heads up for anything that would come off as "unintelligent" but Alex had never really found that to be a problem but then again he has been wearing rose colored sunglasses for a bit of a while now. Habit however only cackled in response. 

"Well, I guess you are right about that, well, I've gotta give ya credit. You are a lot smarter than you let on to be, and thats only about part of what I like aboutchya. Ya see, there's not that many people that are aware like us. Certainly no one else in this little group of ours but there are a few people that I know and now you're apart of that. However, you're also kind of new to Evan and I so I just wanted to give you a little short story of what happens to those who get involved." It said before reaching up and taking Alex's hand in his and suddenly Alex can see Evan running wildly around chasing what he thinks is the Operator and a doppelgänger version him that he's seen way too many times. Alex, thats not him, he's Evan! 

Alex is Jeff's brother, Evan is suddenly pushed under his own body in some kind of way he doesn't even know what to describe but he's in a hospital that he doesn't recognize but he can hear faint echoes of screams and he thinks its his own voice. But that couldn't be possible he was Evan, right? Then suddenly he's in he car being questioned by Vinnie and Jeff and that fucking camera pointed at his face and he scrambles to get it out of the way like it was gonna burn him. But he wasn't the one that got burned; no that was Jeff.

Evan begged and pleaded as this time he was forced to watch Jeff being tortured and soon the surroundings all feel like their burning away at his skin. All of his surroundings are different and he can sense it in a way, they're void of the humanly textures that they should've had. Jeff's cries of pain and desperation as he still calls out to Evan despite not being there anymore or not being there to reach out. Evan watches as the world reels again and then suddenly they're in a field and he watches as a weird dog thing with a camera comes walking over to Habit and he burns Jeff before the Operator, wait was that its actual name. How did he know that name where had he known that name? 

He goes back to when he had cut himself before that dog thing got to him. Cutting him up but he barely reacts to it given that he's experienced bigger amounts of pain. Feeling shards of glass pierce his skin and feeling cigarettes getting put out on his skin. Then his world reels all the way to a woman who is laid out on a bed and holding a scrawny little thing in his arms that he recognizes as his child; his daughter. And soon there's a hunger that needs to be fed and soon he's taking bites out of the little squirming body that doesn't like the feel of teeth against her skin and soon that little thing is crying and screaming in immense pain and soon it is silenced by the second bite. And he concludes that her poor little heart couldn't take so much pain so soon out of the womb. 

He hears the woman in the corner crying and begging for Evan to stop but this isn't Evan, no this is Habit; he doesn't know why she's so sentimental to the little squishy thing when she was the one that had suggested doing an abortion before promptly forgetting. But then again it was your existence that made the woman consider abortion as an option as the father was constantly underneath your thumb and going off to where you knew and no one else did. 

Then suddenly he's running through woods looking for something, looking for someone. Seeing Vinnie looking and searching desperately for the North Star. Making it and then serving underneath Habit so willingly and so cowardly. He utters the words in which he isn't the bad person but he doesn't even know it anymore now does he? Watching as Vinnie continues to try and use Evan as a tool to tell him that he's not the problem; that he wasn't the start of all this and oh how amusing it is to watch him try and deny the fact that he had been the one to put up the cameras in the household and for him to orchestrate almost everything in motion for the sake of "KnOwlEDGe" how fucking dumb of him. 

Then cutting to the inbetween moments of meeting random people that would help set in motion the destruction of the Stick and making it void in its control so Habit would have ultimate control over all that was the Spiral but also maybe to replace a lot that has gone wrong with its reign. And what a useless one. 

Watching Vinnie as he claims that he wasn't the one to do everything even though Habit told you that he was the one to set things in motion and did it all knowingly. Having to be weighed down by the actions of another and to be the cause of what you thought was the blood of your family and friends owed all to you when really it was owed all to HIM. And so you charged and you tried to kill him, but he got to you first, but you managed to bring him down with you. 

You died and suddenly you were helping Vinnie up again, you may hate him but at the end of the day you were still too stupid to hold too much of a grudge. But still you were in Eden? That was at least what the Doc called it. But who the fuck was the Doc? And who was he?

Who am I?Who am I? Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who am I?Who a-

Alex is brought out of whatever the fuck that was and begins to breathe in greedily as he tries to recover from what comes from having to experince all of that at once. Thankfully, he didn't have all his senses put on the fritz otherwise he would probably be sensory deprived at the moment. Although he blinks back tears at what had unfolded in front of him still feeling traces of all the raw anger and confusion and grief that had been coursing through him as he played out as Evan and the immense amount of confusing feelings that came with Habit. Looking at Habit he notices that the thing is staring at him intently as if to gauge an answer or some kind of response from him. But Alex didn't really have all that much of a response for what he had just been put through although he felt like he was tired and much older than he was before and he could get the feeling that that was why Evan looked and expressed himself the way he does. 

"Y'know eventually you're gonna have to talk to me." It said and Alex looked up to look it in its eyes and it reels back just a little but Alex noticed and he guessed that he was "Broadcasting" again. So, he sighs and closes his eyes and turns it off. Opening his eyes Habit is looking him up and down almost as if he was undressing Alex. Alex felt naked and vulnerable but he guessed it was normal for something to look into the reason why they can produce the same kind of static that the Operator can make. 

"Why do you call it the Spiral?" Alex finally asked as he started to feel kind of bored if he was gonna be honest which he knew wasn't supposed to be a normal thing that you felt when presented with all of that. Habit shakes his head out of whatever trance he was in and looks Alex in the eyes again before crawling closer in a bit of spasming way to get closer to Alex's face. 

"We call him that, because think of it this way; he is the cause of insanity the things that you do, that you're 'forced' to do is his effect. He lures you in with his interesting patterns and then he makes you spiral out of control as you go in circles and circles looking for answers that it has and basically you're a horse chasing a carrot on a string held out in front of you. It's what fueled Vinnie to put everything behind his thirst for knowledge and thats what put you up to the task to spare your friends your horrid REALITY." 

Alex recoiled a bit at the last statement but at the same time he understood that he himself didn't have much to say to that. He sighed and tried to abate the memories that began to flood in at the mention of his own desperate but purposeful actions. Actions that have to be repeated and he can only assume that this is the smallest break thats he really gonna get before he has to resume. But it wasn't even that, Alex himself has tracked and made notes on the "sickness" that the Operator makes and causes in others. He now guesses that he can make a name for it now.

"Any other questions, Doll~?" Habit said as he leaned even further and Alex is starting to feel the overwhelming urge to slap him and strangle him and put him in a ca-

"No, can I get my boyfriend back or are you going to possess me now or something?" Alex asked as he tried to silence his thoughts and make them as small as possible given that he knew Habit could see through all this.

"Well, aren't you a clever little Hare~ I didn't think you would catch on this fast but jeez you are a loud thinker I must say. But while the possessing thing might be tempting I find that I enjoy much more watching this whole thing. Besides I don't think I can't quite possess you just yet so early into this relationship, ya get what I mean?" It asked. 

"But I have a feeling that you've done it before." Alex retorted back without a good reason given that Habit is literally shown him the door out of this. 

"Well, yes but you, you my little HARE are much more special than those others. So, I'll wait and then when I do get inside that mind of yours, when I do it'll be a real fucking party." Habit said as it got even closer to Alex's face and grinned. Then it leaned forward and initiated a deep kiss. Alex was taken off guard with this one but given that he didn't entirely give a damn since he was getting his Evan back real soon; he just leaned into it and let it continue onto its path. Then Habit nipped and bit deep into Alex's lip spilling a few drops of blood, it giggles before Alex returned the favor and Habit began to take it a step further as he mixed the spilt blood between their gaping maws. 

Habit pawed at Alex's sides as he pushed his tongue forward to meet with Alex's. Once Habit was semi satisfied it broke the kiss. And leaned back to admire some of its work. It cackled and winked down at Alex before he fell on top of Alex. Alex let out a small 'oof!' as Evan's body collapsed on top of him and began to startle awake. 

"What did he do!" Evan said as he wildly swung around his eyes blown and his face filled with fear. Alex grabbed for his face and made Evan look at him. Seeing the blood on Alex's lip he pulled it down to inspect the damage and see what the cause might've been for. 

"It was a rough kiss." Alex answered and Evan reared back a bit at the statement. 

"I'm fine, although he did show me some things and did promise me that he would get a chance with my mind." Alex added, and Evan looked away and winced. Alex's right hand however, turned Evan's attention back on him and "I don't judge you, you did the best that you could and if I could I would show you some of my struggles but I'm not that cruel." Alex said softly as his thumb rubbed small comforting circles on Evan's cheek.

Evan took Alex's hand and sighed as he rested his forehead against Alex's and started to chuckle a bit at the absurdity of the situation. Feeling that Habit was gone and dormant in his head meaning he was absent for the time being. This gave Evan a bit of a vulgar idea as he leaned in for a much deserved kiss. The kiss turning heated the moment teeth started to clack against each other.

That night they retired to Alex's room walking up the stairs, or more so stumbling backwards as their hands roved the others bodies in a fervent and touch starved frenzy. Both craving warmth and love in return and wanting to explore the others body; mouths connected and only taking seconds long breaths in between minute pauses of tongue, teeth and lips. All of it came to a head when they crashed onto Alex's mattress on the floor. Now having made a stop they could fully explore and chart their newest territory and they greedily accepted that assignment.

It was finally a week before college would be back in session that the wedding was held. It took forever considering that Alex's cousin decided it would be best to host it in fucking rural California. But he did have to admit that it was beautiful. The ceremony itself was amazing, there were marigolds that were taped and scattered over the walkway and the awnings. There were also different pictures of Alex's uncle, he had died in a shooting at the store that he owned. Alex however, according to his cousin was the only family member that wasn't immediate that had been the most comforting during his cousin's depression. His uncle was a good one and would be missed for as long as he would be dead for the time being. But his cousin had not brothers, so he would be the one to walk her down the aisle to her bride. She cried as he joked and poked at her fall themed bouquet and boho themed dress. After he let her go, she kissed him on the cheek and thanked him. He sat down beside one of his other cousins as Evan was to be in the back. He cried a little as his baby cousin kissed her bride and squeaked with joy when she was lifted into a bridal carry and screamed with joy as she was ran down the aisle to where the Reception dinner and party would be held. 

After the ceremony and having to obviously welcome his newest cousin in a very well thought out speech that he had Evan help with; came the hardest part. Alex is wearing his uncle's old suit and so he did the dance with his cousin as a way to replace the man that had actually treated him a bit more decently than his other family members. Both him and his cousin were crying and laughing during the dance and both talked to the other about their partners and their plans. When he was finished he handed her to her new wife and winked at her before sitting down beside his partner and watching as they broke out into song and dancing. An idea that his Aunt Margaret had brought up. 

Then when, everyone else was free to mingle he got plenty of looks from his family and so did Evan; his new cousin and the bride congratulated them both and poked fun at Alex for about 10 minutes. Then when his mother came over she asked, "Why did you choose, him, in particular?" She asked. She was in an off white dress, which he had been slowly adding red wine to the bottom of and also had managed to get half of the other groomsmen and bridesmaids to help with. She really could be a bitch, but she the bitch that raised him and she did have her moments.

"He makes me happy and honestly he was the best choice out of the rest of them. Plus everyone else is in a relationship with each other and he was single. Well, beside his two friends but they were duller compared to him." Alex said easily, his mother while a kind woman spent entirely blameless in letting his father walk all over her and abuse him; she also was a source and a problem to his trauma. But that wasn't something he was going to bring up considering that he wouldn't be talking to her or his dad after this anyways. So, why bother? 

She however, nodded and then left him to it. Evan had been bombarded by some family, and some of the bridesmaids. And Alex considered pulling out the pocket knife that he had stored in his jacket pocket for emergencies, Evan had managed to convince him into the practice. He stood there and fumed a bit in silence as he nursed his drink and glared at their heads as his thoughts darkened to really well thought out and crafty plans to get them out of the running. Just because he didn't follow willingly to the Operator doesn't mean he also didn't have his own dark urges without the outside influence.  

But then he was swept to the dance floor laughing and teasing Evan all the while.

Evan had never really been asked so many questions about how the fuck he was dating Alex and if he was single by oblivious and pining bridesmaids. However much he would like to entertain and confuse them he could feel Alex itching his sleeve as a clear sign of his jealousy and Evan thought that was adorable. ~Maybe, we could kill a couple people? ooooohhhhh, maybe we can get Alex to join?~ 'No, if we do that tonight then we draw attention to ourselves also Alex isn't entirely subtle we can just stick to inviting him for an outing with an innocent.' ~BOOOOOOOOOO~

"Why and how are you dating my nephew?" 

"Hey, you're Alex's plus one, right? Could I get your number?"

"Why're you even here, I've never seen you before; or are you one of Ernie's affair kids?"

"I don't know ma'am I'm gonna be honest. He just looked down at me one day, picked me off the ground and threw me onto his shoulder and I have no desire to get off any time soon."

"Yes, I am but theres a good reason I am that lucky plus one, now if the numbers just for a hookup then you can go ask that fella over there."

"First off, I don't know an Ernie other than a guy that likes to stalk the alleyway behind the Dojo that I work at selling crystal meth; he's been chased out of there several times already. And secondly, I'm Alex's date, you should know him but it wouldn't be a surprise if you didn't given I hear he doesn't like hanging out with you all that much."

After answering all of the annoying questions he was approached by a slender woman who looks do to be in her 50's and looked strikingly similar to Alex and he had to assume that she is his mother. 

"Hello, you must be Evan, yes?" She says in a smooth southern accent that warms Evan's bones at how near similar it was to Alex's when he was too tired to care about how his voice came off. 

"Yes that would be me, don't tell me; your his mom and please don't tell me any of the horror stories he's told you, I promise you they're all lies I swear." Evan jokes. While her face remained neutral and he kind of winced into his cup as he took a sip. She just smiled warmly and hugs him, he widens his eyes as he doesn't exactly know what the fuck to do but he hugs her back and she lets go of him. 

"Take care of my little shit or I will find a reason to plead out of murder charges in the state court of Alabama." She says sharply before patting him on the chest and walking off. Evan must have a really weird expression because Alex just mouthes sorry to him. 

He instead walks over and drags him onto the dance floor once a familiar heavy metal song comes on. He dances and dances with Alex, his legs feel like they're about to fall off but he feels alright and ready for another dance when he looks into Alex's eager eyes. 

That night they both are kind of drunk and Evan's warm and he feels pretty fucking good and this was a bit better than the horror stories Alex had been feeding him the entire time after they had gotten together.

Kissing him and taking off the jacket and setting aside the little pocket knife off to the side for later use before exploring Alex's chest all over again; he feels a chuckle rise from Alex starting to laugh. He looks back up and he says, "I thought this was saved for the two brides?"

Evan snorts, "Well, they can't be the only ones having fun~" Evan says before diving back towards Alex's lips and after a quick peck they both let out belly deep laughs. Evan then sweeps his arms on either side to hold him up as he swallows his nerves and looks into Alex's eyes. Alex must've felt his anxiety because he puts a placating hand on Evan's cheek. 

"I was, or more so we were both wondering, if you would like to do a bit more of a- unorth-unorthodox? whatever. kind of outing sometime?" Evan and Habit ask. Habit more so in the first, Evan in the last bit. Alex looks up at them and they feel kind of nervous but then Alex's lips kind of quirk up in that way that makes Evan's blood rush in places where they shouldn't go at such a small gesture but it does. 

"Are you asking me out to a murder date, Evvy, Habs?" Alex asks, as he cocks his head and wraps his arms around their neck to bring them down to his level and he grins real fucking wide and did the room always feel this hot? They mimic the grin and nod a little sheepishly. Alex snorts and rolls his eyes as he brings him down and kisses them real filthy. They sigh out in relief at what they hope is a confirmation; it gets heated quickly as Alex, licks up at their teeth, and pull them flat on Alex's chest. And soon they're all over him and grabbing for the knife before they are stopped shortly with a hand on their chest.

"Ya, ruin the suit and I cut yer dick off and yer sleeping on the couch for month; ya fucking understand me darling?" Alex threatens with his teeth bared before smiling so sweetly at the end. Habit and Evan shiver before nodding and set the knife to the side once again and focus back on the task at hand. Alex brings their lips back after murmuring a thank you. That night had provided a few surprises to the bed room but they weren't entirely unwanted. The day after Alex was dogged by his cousin about having spent the night with Evan despite the love bites covering her neck. He teased her about it and suggested Brian as a consultant on what type of animal had snuck into their bedroom. His cousin slugged him on the arm, but he continued that morning with Evan and Habit in snatches; and he felt high which he probably should get a test for drugs but he wasn't all that concerned with the amount of "fun" that followed after breakfast before they had to leave. 

This next week is going to be a fun one isn't it, was one of Alex's last coherent thoughts.