Chapter Text
Slingshot felt himself spiraling-
He couldn’t spiral…
Not now…
Not in front of the-
He shook his head, shook himself out of it, let out a held breath. He had to look fine… He knew he’d be it, at the end of the day, he just… Had to do better… Be better… Perform… Function for just… Just five more hours…
The time… It moved slow…
His breathing, it paced quick,
No matter how much he tried to settle his nerves,
To swallow down his anxiety-
His body wanted rest…
He wanted home…
Slingshot’s hands trembled with every action, no matter how much he scolded it in his mind. Every single button press on the register was done with shaky hands. Usually, the customers ignored it- thank god…
Usually the customers were people who knew better than to question or interrogate some random person just trying to do their job… Slingshot still couldn’t help but beat himself up about it though… Gee. Clearly this manager with a horrible sleep schedule and crippling anxiety BECAUSE of it was very capable for the job…
That being said, Slingshot DID pride himself on separating from the manager stereotype. He swore he’d never let himself slack off. Never put overtime on his workers, never leave all the work for one person, that he’d actually take responsibility and be- well, a GOOD manager.
Even if Slingshot didn’t have the best track record of managing himself, he managed the business well. His respect for his workers was what often kept them there, rather than some desire to survive.
A desire to survive… It was what most people hung onto for dear life, because it was the only thing that everyone, no matter their race, gender, or anything really- could relate to…
They all wanted to live…
Slingshot did too- or… He liked to think he did… Though lately he’d have to admit he was struggling to find the balance. Sometimes it felt like he gave up. No matter how much he tried to get a good sleep and doze off at a decent time, he’d still wake up and 2 in the morning.
No matter how much he tried to set times to take a break, it still felt like nothing really changed…
No matter how much he tried to bring a bottle of water everywhere he went, his mind just couldn’t focus on it, too pre-occupied with work performance-
His job was his life…
It… Felt controllable…
Much more than- this…
Slingshot glanced down at his hands, which still still trembled against the counter. He held one up, and the tremble seemed to worsen. He tried to stop it with the other hand, but… Of course that wouldn’t work…
That wasn’t how it worked…
When was the last customer…?
Slingshot could have sworn he had just been serving someone, but suddenly, the production stopped.
He had no more customers-...
Was everyone served? Was he overthinking this?
WHY was he overthinking this??
“Uh… Hey, man… You okay?”
Slingshot looked up suddenly- across the counter… It was…
“Skateboard-?” He asked in confusion. Stupid question, all things considered. Of COURSE it was Skateboard. He was standing RIGHT there-
“Yeah…” He mumbled, leaning on the counter with his elbows now as he looked at Slingshot… Strangely… Slingshot felt himself faltering, nervous, confused. He didn’t know what the look was for and-
“Dude, seriously. Have you been getting sleep?” Skateboard checked, furrowing a brow and gently poking Slingshot in the arm, though quite gently… “Uh-... T-Trying to… S-sorry- Skate, what are you doing here?” Slingshot tried to answer and ask, though his voice stuttered and he had to hold his head as another wave of headache came along. Skateboard’s worry worsened-
Great…
Great act…
This is going ‘swimmingly’...
“I just… Wanted the check up on ya… Shuriken said the insomnia’s been coming back…” Slingshot couldn’t help but tense slightly. Shuriken’s been talking about it… He didn’t KNOW Shuriken’s been talking about it… “W-Worse than insomnia…” Slingshot couldn’t help but stammer, mostly to himself. “Oh geez…” Skateboard whispered, sending Slingshot that oh so familiar look of sympathy…
It made him uncomfortable…
It was… Wrong…
Slingshot was fine…
He didn’t NEED sympathy…
Or… Maybe he just didn’t want it…
There were people with worse out there-
Slingshot was- all things considered, fine…
“Sling-... Hey- seriously, are you listening?-”
Slingshot shook his head as he tried to get his mind back to the present, and when he looked back-... Skateboard looked… Well… It was far more concerned than before. Which meant Slingshot was butchering this. Badly.
“S-Sorry-”
“N-No no, it’s… It’s okay, man…” Skateboard tried to reassure, holding up hands in some kind of peace gesture? “But, like… You SERIOUSLY need a day off, Buddy… You’re looking worse for wear…”
Slingshot and Skateboard both faltered, and Skateboard looked off with a wince as he muttered; “Aaaactually, that might be kind of an understatement…”
“I’m perfectly fine-” Slingshot cut in almost immediately, almost… Indignantly. He couldn’t help but let out a huff at Skateboard’s comment, despite knowing how absolutely right he was. Didn’t change the fact- the facade- The look was everything. It didn’t matter if it was true, he had to be-
“Slingshot, are you serious? Look at yourself…” Skateboard muttered, furrowing a brow in what seemed like a mix of disbelief and frustration. An emotion Slingshot couldn’t help but feel bad for causing, but regardless, he only tensed further, and looked off.
Anywhere but at the eyes. He couldn’t do the eyes right now… “Look, I’m not great, but… I’m fine… I’m functioning-”
“By a damn thread…” Skateboard snarked, rolling his eyes. “Are you really debating this-” Slingshot cut in, but just as fast. “I didn’t think I needed to. I mean, you’ve got SERIOUS eyebags, and don’t think I didn’t notice the trembling…” Skateboard shot back with annoyance.
“Yeah well that’s basically normal by this point,” Slingshot muttered, already beginning to give up on this argument. “That SHOULDN’T be normal, man!” Skateboard pointed out with-... It sounded like… Desperation… A quick glance over, Skateboard looked to genuinely care-...
Geez… Was Slingshot losing brain cells too? Of course Skateboard cared… Friends tend to care about each other… That’s kind of how this went-
“Slingshot… Come on… Be honest with me. When’s the last time you’ve genuinely taken the weekend off to relax a bit?” Skateboard just HAD to ask, looking at Slingshot right in the eyes. Slingshot couldn’t meet his gaze.
“I-... Guess a while…”
Skateboard must have moved his hand to touch Slingshot’s… He must have done that as an attempt to comfort… Regardless of that, it felt like a small spark… Like some kind of quick sting… A shock… Slingshot felt the urge to pull back immediately-
And then… He felt himself untensing…
It was Skateboard… He didn’t mind Skateboard… He never did… Everything made him feel tense today, though… It took a mental effort just to stay somewhat calm… “S-Sorry… Was that too much?” Skateboard asked suddenly, starting to pull his hand back.
Slingshot felt his heart beat a little bit quicker, and before he could really stop himself, he took Skateboard’s hand in his own- “N-No, it’s… It’s okay- S-Sorry… Everything’s making me feel jumpy today…” Slingshot stammered quick and nervous, looking off.
Despite that, he could feel Skateboard’s eyes on him. He could see him soften in the corner of his vision… Slingshot felt a comforting squeeze from the hand he held, and he squeezed it back as his heart finally began to slow down again…
The contact had startled him initially, but now he found himself depending on it… Funny how that worked…
“Hey… You’ve got nothing to apologize for, kay?” When Slingshot looked over, SKateboard looked almost a little… Sheepish. Slingshot was hesitant, but looked back to the counter, giving a short shaky nod. “K-Kay…”
Slingshot heard a sigh nearby, no doubt Skateboard’s slight relief. “H-Hey… Uh… Unrelated, but Boombox and I were thinking of checking out a new arcade that just opened up in Playground-”
“Playground…?” Slingshot suddenly asked, raising a brow at the faction. A slight nervousness… He always felt a bit… Nervous… About that faction… It was one of the rowdier ones, admittedly… “Uh… Y-Yeah, but we can stick together and we’ll be fine- I mean- if you’re even interested,” Skateboard chirped with a sheepish chuckle.
“When were you guys planning on doing this?” Slingshot asked, absent-mindedly rubbing his thumb into Skateboard’s palm. He felt the other inphernal start to relax a bit, thankfully… “Uh… Some time this weekend? We’re pretty flexible…” Skateboard answered squeezing Slingshot’s hand again. Slingshot couldn’t help but smile slightly.
He… Wasn’t used to Skateboard acting so sheepish. It felt unfamiliar, but… It was kind of nice not being the only one who was nervous-
He’s nervous because of you…
He’s nervous FOR you…
Slingshot felt a wave of nervous nausea roll past him again, and he couldn’t help but shiver at the thought… The guilt, it was… Almost immediate. “H-Hey… You don’t have to do it if it makes you uncomfortable, man. It’s just an offer…” Skateboard mumbled, his voice worrisome again…
“S-Sorry… It wasn’t about that, I just-...” Slingshot cut himself off early, sighing. No… It was another held breath… “Maybe you’re right… I FEEL worse for wear…” Slingshot chirped with a weak nervous chuckle, leaning over the counter slightly. He felt Skateboard’s sympathetic gaze again… And once again, he felt his stomach twist in knots…
“It’s… It’s okay, Sling… You don’t have to… Perform for me... Okay?” Slingshot let out a quiet sigh. “Th-thanks…” He stammered. Skateboard nodded. “Of course, man…”