Part 1

Context: Your ex-best friend was with you for nearly a decade. Always a bit of a thug, he still had your back anytime you needed it... until he started dating a popular girl in school. He slowly changed, becoming a vicious bully and bastard to any who crossed him, including you. Especially you, and you eventually moved away. You always wondered what happened to him but, last night, you found out. He's ruined his life and come here to find peace. He fell asleep in your arms and, now, you have no idea what to do.

Setting: A treehouse/Home

Tags: [M4F][Enemies to ?][Thug Ex-Bestfriend Speaker][Bullied Listener][Hard Angst][Apologies][Desperate][Reverse Comfort][Confession][Cuddles][Crying][CW: Implied Suicidal Ideations/Mentions of Bullying/Drugs/Violence/Hospitalization/Abuse]

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[Scene opens in the treehouse]

[SFX: Early morning bird drama]

[As your eyes open, you remember the night before. Of coming to the old treehouse and encountering… him. He’s resting in your lap and you can see how awful he looks in the sunlight]

[Pause…?]

“Hnh…? Willow…?”

[You check his pulse. It’s weak]

[Pause?]

“Eaten…? Last time, guhh… Four days ago, I think?”

[Pause!]

“No no no, please! Please don’t take me to a doctor! I don’t want people to know I’m still in town, I don’t… They’ll know that I got drugged before I got kicked out, I’ll go to prison, and at that point, letting me starve to death is the more merciful option…”

[...]

“I don’t know, they stabbed me with a needle… Mandy’s new boyfriend is a dealer, I think. Not someone I have the strength to choke out, at present.”

[Pause?]

“Y-Yeah, I can get to your car…”

[He groans, weakly climbing down from the treehouse and barely standing, even as you hold him up]

“...Like dogs… eating me from within… Fucking hurts… I'm getting in the car, I-I'm... I'm getting in...”

[Pause!]

[SFX: A car being boarded and then driving off]

[Scene transitions to the Listener’s house]

[SFX: A front door being unlocked and then shut]

“Mmh… n-nice place. I’m just gonna… lie on this couch for a bit…”

[SFX: Him slumping on the couch]

[You get him some food and water, which he struggles to get down]

“Guhh! I never thought eating could be this painful, nngh! H-Huh? Oh, a blanket… Thanks.”

[Pause]

[For a few moments, things are silent. Awkward. A little painful]

“... Go off on me.”

[Pause?]

“I owe you for five plus years of bullying and abuse. I know you love to save up comebacks and quips for arguments that haven’t even happened yet. I know you probably have a whole fucking novel written in your head for a piece of shit like me. I’m at my lowest, I don’t know if I’m going to survive the month, so just… let me have it. Light me up.”

[...]

[You look at him as he looks at you, head bowed. His body is littered in scars, even some burns]

[Pause…?]

“The… burns? Ahm… It happened at a dumb party. Mandy said that I could light myself up in the literal sense and then dive into the pool. Got set on fire, slipped running for the pool, conked my head on the side. Someone nudged my unconscious body in the pool after a few seconds but, you know, being on fire is still being on fire.”

[...]

“...Yes, I’m an idiot. I was drunk out of my mind and my ex wanted me to prove I’d do literally anything to please her. And I would have. I think the sixth time I woke up in the hospital was when my Dad finally gave up on me… The other times, he’d yelled. Screamed. Shook me by the shoulders and cried, “Damnit, I love you, I don’t want to watch you die!”. Then I did it again… and there was just nothing in his eyes…”

[Pause]

[He gives a bitter laugh]

“I doubt he’d care if I checked in, Willow… He booted me out.”

[Pause]

“My phone…? Mmh, fine. Here.”

[SFX: Texting noises]

“What…? What are you saying to my Dad?”

[Pause]

“... “I know you’re angry at me and I understand. I’m not asking for forgiveness or to come home, I know I have a lot to work on. But I wanted to let you know I’m OK. That’s all”. Mmh… You always were good at this shit… Anytime I was about to get into it with someone, you’d step in to cool things down… Please don’t go through my photos, OK? There’s… probably a lot of messed up shit, and I need to delete any nudes she sent me.”

[Pause?]

“Look, I might be the worst, but I’m not Satan, OK?”

[SFX: Phone tippy tappies]

“Mmh? Does Mandy still work at the mall? No, no… She got a cushy job at her Dad’s law firm, I think. He’s probably the one that did me the favor of getting her to dump my ass. Maybe I should send him flowers, eh? Ehehe…”

[SFX: Phone tippy tappies]

“Oh, Jester! Hey buddy… Pspspsps, hey buddy!”

[Your Scottish Fold hops up on his lap, purring with his grumpy old man face]

[SFX: Meows and purring]

“H-Hey, buddy, haha. I missed ya. You widdle garbage bag full of tuna, who’s a widdle garbage bag full of tuna? It’s you! Yessshh, it’s you, you fluffy garbage!”

[SFX: More purring]

“Hehe… damn. Your old man here is going daft. Cats are meant to know a good human from a bad human, and he’s giving me a pass?”

[Pause]

“... You’ve really grown, you know? You’re still so… beautiful.”

[Pause?]

[He looks away, almost flinching]

“S-Sorry… That wasn’t… I’m sorry. I know I’m on borrowed time here. I’ll shut up.”

[Pause]

“You’re… not going to let me go anywhere until I feel better? Willow, c’mon, you don’t owe me anything! Of all the people I’ve hurt, of ALL the bridges I’ve lit on fucking fire, you’re the person that has the most right to be mad at me! To hate me!”

[Pause!]

[Again, he flinches as you lay into him… in a way that he wasn’t expecting]

“... It was painful for you to watch me be abused all those years, to see me turned into a person you didn’t recognize, and you’re just glad to see me alive?”

[Pause]

“But you are super, duper angry at me and my dumb, handsome face. And you are going to kick my ass when I get back on my feet. Heh… yeah, I think that’s fair… Assuming I can ever get back on my feet. I’ll try! I promise, I will. I’ll take over the house chores, I’ll do everything to prove-!”

[Pause]

“...I’ll rest, OK. I’m not going to fight with you, Willow.”

[...]

[SFX: The Speaker standing up from the couch, clutching a blanket around himself]

“Y-Yeah, the guest room. I-I’ll try not to be a burden, even though… Mmh. G-God, it hurts…”

[You get him in bed and get his phone on a charger]

[SFX: Bed creaks and the Speaker groaning]

“Uh-huh… I’m lying down. Yep, you’re leaving water on the nightstand. Yep, there’s the remote if I wanna watch TV. Mmhm, aspirin is right there. Yeah… Fresh clothes… Thank you… Thank you, Willow…”

[It’s hard seeing your ex-best friend so beaten down, barely breathing, barely able to fight for his own life much less the world]

“N-No, please don’t cry… C’mere, c’mon, secret hugs.”

[Pause?]

“Of course I remember secret hugs, they’re the hugs you do when you’re too tough for normal hugs. C’mon, we just had some in third period earlier, c’mon, bring it in.”

[You rest your hand on his arm and he smiles weakly at you]

“Right, we’re adults… and you hate me. Right…”

[Pause]

“...We’re not at secret hugs… yet? S-So there’s… a chance?”

[Pause]

[His smile turns heartbreakingly genuine as his eyes flutter shut]

“...Thank you…”

[You keep at his side for longer than is probably necessary, wondering what demons are eating him alive while he tries to sleep]

[SFX: The Speaker tossing and turning a bit]

“...Willow…”

[You’re still not sure what the Hell you’re meant to do now… except for plan]

[To be continued]

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