"Now then...I told you I appear in the most unlikely places, pet. Now that we're alone...why don't we talk like adults.", the hand moved away from Puff's mouth, moving towards his neck instead. It lightly rested on his neck, not yet squeezing or harshly griping. Puff was shaking against the wall, pressing against it.He wanted to move away, run, scream for help. However nobody would ever hear him, at least not over the loud music and giddy laughter outside. 

Raspberry smirked and examined the other," Your brother had quite the reaction the last time I talked to you. Very protective but also mouthy...and I don't like disrespectful, mouthy, rude little brats."

"Don't you dare speak to him like that! I love him with all my heart and I will never tolerate such negative talk towards him!", Puff glared, holding Raspberry's wrist in an attempt to move his hand away from his neck.

"Don't fucking fight me here, Puff. Moving on...I noticed that bruise on your face is at least starting to heal. It looks so much better than before...that pretty little face needs to look perfect if you're ever going to get someone.", he rubbed Puff's cheek with low a growl. That tone...he always used that damn tone to objectify Puff. To degrade him and tear down his worth.

"Puff...It's nice to see you again. You haven't changed all that much and lately I've been thinking about you since I saw you again."

'Get off of me...' Puff was shaking and glanced down the alley. Edge should be looking for him now right? Puff was surely gone longer than five minutes. He needed some hope to hold onto, anything to keep sane in this situation! He wanted to cry and hide, however he feared if he shed even a single tear the situation would escalate. 

" You've obviously been through some rough times. You look close to exhaustion and down on luck..."

"What's the point you're trying to make?", Puff's tone came out more hostile and snappy then what he meant to. Before he realized his mistake, he was slammed into the brick wall, the hand on his neck tightening.

"Don't you DARE  talk to me like that, pet! I don't appreciate your tone or such hostile attitude. Your lucky being slammed into that wall is all I'll do! Snap at me again and I'll make that bruise on your cheek a lot worse!", Raspberry kept his tight grip on Puff for a moment while Puff coughed and gasped for air.

"M-Mercy! Please!!", Puff felt his heart pounding as he tried to breathe. He needed air now, his vision was getting a little blurry. His head was aching and his grip on Raspberry's wrist was weak. Finally Raspberry lets go and stepped back, watching Puff fall to his knees. Puff was gasping for air, coughing and holding his aching neck. It felt so nice to finally take in a breath of air. 

Raspberry crossed his arms, watching then looking away, "I don't want to do this to you...I hate putting my hands on you like that."

"Then why...?", Puff's voice was raspy as he looked up, panting ,"Then why did you always do such cruel acts to me?"

"I had to train you somehow. In our relationship , I liked you much, much better when you were submissive, quiet, and never talked back. Obviously while you've been away you lost those traits. I suppose I'll have to retrain you."

"Retrain...? Do you think we're still together?! Even after I ran away and stayed away for years?"

Raspberry paused for a moment, biting his lip and turning away, "I like to think that we were on pause....because nobody else would ever want you. Nobody could ever deal with that bratty attitude or the little mouth of yours. You only have me...and I know what's best for my pet."

"You're wrong...someone will take me and certainly treat me much better. Instead of breaking out into fights they would talk to me!"

"That could happen perhaps but, what if you get someone worse? What will you do then? That risk is too great to take. We're straying away from the topic I came to talk about...", he turned back towards Puff. Kneeling down, his hand tilts Puff's head up. Puff got scared and looked away, closing his eyes. 

'The pills are wearing off...he's getting too close and he'll notice! I can't get in trouble with him, especially him!', Puff whimpered at the thought and held his hands close to his chest.

"Puff...look at me...", Raspberry holds the other's cheeks. His voice sounded sweet but had an undertone of venom. His hands were tense, as if one wrong move and he'll grab Puff again. Puff continued to look away.

"Fine...The thing I came to talk about before we got off topic was...I want to invite you back to my home. I miss you, I thought something bad happened to you while you were gone. We can still make this work, start over if needed. I'll take you out to a nice dinner and lovely wine. Afterwards...perhaps we can do other activities home...", Raspberry's hands slithered down to Puff's thighs.

'Don't touch me, don't even come near me, get AWAY FROM ME!', Puff panicked, instinctively slapping Raspberry, hard. He quickly stood up and pressed against the wall. Raspberry held still as a red mark formed on his cheek. It felt like time stopped for a moment. Raspberry's head was frozen to when Puff slapped him, Puff felt his body lock up, and even the sound outside the alley seemed like it paused.  Puff could only feel his heart thumping hard, it was almost as if it would burst. He could even hear it in the silence. ba-bum, ba-bum, ba-bum. Raspberry slowly looked over, clenching his fist. He slammed the other against the wall, holding the other's head.

"How dare you? How fucking dare you?", Raspberry's voice was calm however it was obvious he wanted to do more to Puff, "I will fucking drag you home and give you a long retraining session.", he growled. Puff was frozen and looking down at Raspberry. That was likely one of the biggest mistakes Puff made.

"Puff, I swear to fucking god, I tried being sweet to you but-", he paused and tilted his head. He leaned in closer to Puff, looking over the other's eyes,"Puff...your eyes...", he scowled, growling and slamming him again, "What the fuck?! You fucking dare to be off your pills? No wonder you are so bratty and acting like such a smart ass. You are off of them! You are a fucking downer and deserve everything bad that ever came to you!", Raspberry raised his hand to slap Puff before the two heard another voice.

"That's enough! You stay right there and don't you dare hurt him!"

----------

Edge was tapping away on his leg, bouncing it. He looked around for Puff, getting a little annoyed, 'Where is he?', he thought. Edge got up and started to look around. It's been much longer then five minutes....at this point it was a little worrying. As he moved through the crowd, his eyes scanned the area, trying to find a skeleton with a puppy plush. Where could he have gone? He just went to find his stuffed dog toy. A thought crossed his mind as he stopped for a moment.

'He used you and took this time to run off again.',  Edge shook his head and kept going,'No...he didn't run off! Surely not now when the sunshine pills were wearing off! He would be getting himself in trouble. I can't let anyone see him in that state.', Edge couldn't help but feel a bad feeling looming over him. Something was nagging at him and he couldn't shake off the feeling. 

"Puff! Puff where are you! We have to go now!", he called out and scanned the crowd again. Maybe he's with his brother and Fell? Or got lost in the crowd? There are a lot of people bustling here. Edge called out to Puff again but it was no use. The music was loud, the crowd was louder. Even if Puff could somehow hear him over this crowd, he would probably have a hard time finding Edge.

'I should've gone with him. So he wasn't lost. Now I can't find him, time is running thin and I'm about to fucking panic!', he looked started getting fidgety, pushing people to the side. The music ended with a cheer. A small announcement was made that a break will be taken then music will resume in a few minutes. Some of the crowd dispersed, leaving the area. 

"Puff?! Can you hear me?!", he called out. Yet nobody came or called back. He found his way out of the crowd and sighed, 'Surely he's still here! I would've seen him walk by or leave.', maybe he should walk around first or meet up with Classic and Fell to see if they saw Puff. Just as he was about to walk away he heard someone snap.

"What the fuck?!"

Edge turned and looked around. Nobody seemed upset...but he could've sworn he heard someone...

"You fucking dare to be off your pills? No wonder you are so bratty and acting like such a smart ass.", that voice again. Edge quickly followed it to a dark alley, ' No...please no...Puff can't be down this alley...', he bit his lip and slowly walked in.

"You are off of them! You are a fucking downer and deserve everything bad that ever came to you!", right as Edge turned the corner, he saw someone raise their hand to hit Puff....who looked so scared and terrified. He looked ready to cry.

"That's enough! You stay right there and don't you dare hurt him!", Edge quickly went over to the two. This was supposed to be a good day but he didn't mind fighting someone to keep Puff safe.

"Edge!", Puff pushed Raspberry off of him with the last bit of strength he had. Finally, some help! The hope Puff held onto was worth it. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he ran towards Edge, holding tightly onto his chest.

"Help me! Help me, please! Don't let him near me, please! I don't want to go back with him, help me please!", Puffs words almost ran together as he shook. He was hyperventilating, barely taking in air as he panicked.

"Hey,hey! It's okay! Puff breathe for me...", he held Puff tightly, his arm wrapped around Puff's torso and his other hand resting on Puff's head, looking up he glared,"Who are you and what have you done to Puff?"

Raspberry straightened himself up, clasping his hands behind his back,"Raspberry...and this is a conversation between me and Puff. I suggest you leave."

"Fuck No!", Edge moved Puff away as he walked towards Raspberry, getting into his face," You listen to me, fucker! I saw you about to hit him! I don't care who you are or whatever 'conversation' you were having with him! You don't ever touch him! Me and him are leaving and if I see you around him, I'll knock you down.", he growled.

"I'd love to see you try...", Raspberry dared. Edge's fists clenched, then he stepped back, going back to puff. He turned Puff around, holding his shoulders and walking him out of the alley.

Raspberry looked to the floor and picked up the dirty stuffed dog,"...I'll be seeing you later Puff...eventually I'll be seeing you again."

"Don't fucking talk to him. Trash such as yourself doesn't deserve to talk to him.", with that the two quickly left. Edge only looked over his shoulder once to see Raspberry clutching the stuffed dog, staring at Edge with an angry glare.

"Puff are you alright? Your neck...", Edge frowned as he saw bruises forming on Puff's neck.

"I wanna go. I just wanted one day where nothing could go wrong...that's  too much to ask for apparently. "

"So that's Raspberry? He's certainly an asshole. I'm going to arrest him, fucking throw him in jail, and neither of us have to deal with him again."

"It's not that easy...I've already tried."

"What do you mean? He just hurt you Puff! There is evidence all over your neck! I saw him about to hit you with my own eyes! It will be easy!"

"It won't be easy...he has too much influence in the police force."

"As a police officer surely something can be done."

"Even if you did something it would be dismissed quickly."

Edge stopped, holding Puff's cheeks softly,"Puff I really need for you to talk to me. What happened between you and Raspberry? Why are you saying such things? I can help you but, you need to help me. Why would me speaking up about this go nowhere? I need you to tell me why."

"I tried to get help my last year with Raspberry...nobody came and I'm sure Raspberry paid them all to keep quiet....any sane person would've come to aid in my situation at that moment. Years ago in December me and him just had another fight. I was hiding in a closet like a child.", Puff shuddered. He could recall hiding behind a broom and holding his knees to his chest. 

Edge nodded as he listened, leading Puff away from people and looking for a way out of the festival,"What happened then...?"

"Well....I called for help on a phone I had to sneak into the closet with me....I was so...broken and scared. Nobody came to help."

----------

Puff shook in the closet as he tightly held onto the phone,"What do you mean you can't come?! I'm in danger here!", Puff held his neck, which was covered in bruises, his chest was aching, and his poor thighs had red markings.

"We're sorry we just cant come over. There isn't enough evidence of Raspberry's doing. Besides, he's one of our best officers."

"Are you kidding me?! I have marks all over me! Bruises are forming on my neck and chest. I have a mark on my cheek when he slapped me! How is that enough evidence?!"

"We have more important matters to tend to. If we're free, we'll take a look at your case."

"What?! You have to help me now! I'm scared for my own life here! You seriously can't leave me here like this!", Puff shook as tears streamed down his cheek. Once nobody replied he looked at his phone. They hung up on him...leaving him alone.  Puff burst into tears, holding himself. He was so alone and helpless at that moment.

----------

Edge felt terrible once Puff told him everything,"So he's an officer too?"

"Yes... since he's 'one of the best' he got off free. He's rotten to the core, always will be. "

"How did you escape?"

"Well...later that night Raspberry made dinner and we sat down. He tried to apologize to me again. He was saying how he 'loved me' and how he ' wanted the best for me'. During that night, a storm knocked the power out. Raspberry left to deal with the power and I had to make a quick decision. I quickly left the dining room and grabbed the warmest jacket I could find and left through a window. During this time my brother was still in town. I ran to him across town, freezing in the cold. I think I passed out once I arrived. One minute I was on Classic's porch, the next I was in bed and he was crying next to me."

"Shit Puff...i'm sorry you went through that. At least you had your brother to fall back on. Did Raspberry try to take you back?"

"Well I cut all contact. I changed my number, I changed some other things to make it harder to find me. I stayed inside my home for the longest time. Then eventually I had to grow and I got a job as a journalist. I worked there for a few years. Then you came in and the rest is history."

"I see...Puff if what you're saying is true, I am so sorry. I wish I could help. For now, we can go to Classic's house and try to relax. Tomorrow we'll be moving into the new house...and consider it a new start. I also start my new job here in three days. "

"What will happen to me?"

"Well...I did say 'we'll' be moving into the new house. Technically you're still under my order for the whole pill thing. I can move your things here with me and...once I start working I'll change your status. From under watch to recovered."

"Really? You sure you want to do that? I mean...I'm not 'recovered' I'm still off the pills."

The two walked out of the festival and towards home,"...Well...I guess I can ask your brother where he gets those sunshine pills. They seem to work well. I just have one thing to ask...why did you always fight me and never took the joy pills?"

"....Imagine this, it's the middle of the night and you look at your phone. It's so bright it blinds you. In the morning you do the same thing, it's not as bright now and you can see clearly. Basically what i'm saying is that while I was on those pills, I only felt happiness or nothing at all...and this isn't the first time I've been off my pills for awhile."

"What do you mean? You've been a downer before?"

"Well yes but...it wasn't documented in my record. Raspberry loved to take away my joy pills to make me go through withdrawals. He loved seeing panic and cry and not be able to control my emotions. However during my time with you I was able to take control of them. I was in a more stable environment to experience emotions. Once I was comfortable and out of the withdrawal stage, I didn't want to go back to taking them. I felt so much better and didn't get headaches as often and a lot of other stuff. Point is, I feel as if I don't need those pills...If anything they just masked my problems."

"I see... do you...ever plan on going back to going on joy?"

"Likely never...I would only go back if I was forced."

The house was in view, Edge leaned against Puff,"Home is up ahead. Good nap is probably needed for the both of us. Tomorrow is a busy day so we should rest...I'll tend to those bruises and help heal you up."

"Thank you...I would appreciate it. I think I'll take a shower too...I got grime and dirt on my legs and back from the nasty wall and muddy floor..."

"Shower, nap, and I'll wait for Classic and Fell to come home.  I'll have to tell them what happened today.", Edge watched Puff go upstairs and leave towards the restroom.

A few days later, Puff and Edge were moving in with the help of their brothers.The new house was wonderful and had so much room inside. Boxes were scattered everywhere, bubble wrapping paper scattered on the floor. It was a little messy in the kitchen and bedroom. Edge was busy downstairs with Classic and fell.

"Most of everything is put away at least.", Classic said as he watched Edge open boxes.

"I still haven't found my pans or Puff's dishes... did I mislabel something?", Edge looked around and sighed,"We've been opening stuff all day, I think It's time for a break. Besides, I have to get ready for work and clear Puff's record.

Fell perked up,"So you two are a thing now? Funny, can't wait for you to tell your children ,'I met the love of my life when he broke the law and made my nose bleed'.", he chuckled.

"Don't jump so far ahead. We're still in rocky waters and I want to try to fix previous fights with Puff. I do like him...I just need to figure out how to process it. I want to be better than...his ex."

Classic looked away and shuddered,"Yeah...speaking of the asshole, are you sure Puff and you will be okay? I'm worried something will happen."

"Classic don't worry. I'll take care of Puff. Today i'll just be gone for a few hours to get to know the staff, tasks, and all that other good stuff. I'll have a talk with Puff and set up a few things while i'm gone. It's not like you guys can be with Puff all the time. I'm a little on edge ever since that Raspberry incident. ", footsteps echoed as Puff came downstairs.

"We'll talk about that later.", Classic looked over again and smiled at Puff,"Hey! Awesome house right? I'm so glad you two live so close to us now."

Puff nodded,"Yeah! It's so much better and much bigger than my own house. You and Fell really did give us the best!", arms wrapped around Classic as he continued to gush about the place. 

Edge's phone beeped, looking at the notification it was time for him to go,"Fuck...hey Puff listen. I'll be gone for a few hours. Classic and Fell will be here with you during that time. I'll be back as soon as possible. "

"Come back quick... i'm still worried..."

Fell placed a hand on Puff's shoulder," 'ey listen, nothing bad will happen while we are here with you! You got us and Edge will be home soon. We'll take a break, watch a few movies , maybe cook a little. We'll have a good time, you'll even forget what you were worried about."

Puff nodded,"Yeah... maybe you're right." Puff watched Edge go upstairs to change. A moment later Edge comes down in his uniform, adjusting how the fabric sits on his bones.

"I'm off! I'll be back soon. If anything interesting happens I'll let you know.", Edge pecked a soft kiss on Puff's cheek as he left. He left Puff a blushing mess while Fell was teasing him. Edge's workplace was down the road, at least its close by. He quickly walked down the street and sighed. A bad feeling loomed over him, much like at the fall festival. Shaking his head, the thoughts going away.

'Puff is fine. He's with Fell and Classic. Nothing bad can possibly happen.', he thought. He tried to focus ahead of him. Focus on anything but those bad thoughts. 

'It's a beautiful day outside. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming. On days like these , it's the best time to take a walk outside.', the police department was in sight and he prepared himself, 'This is your first day, first impression matters. Make it a good one. Nothing can surely go wrong with a smile and a wave.' He jogged up the steps and paused, mentally preparing himself for the day. He entered, his head up high and a smile. A short rabbit monster looked over and beamed.

"Oh! You must be the new transfer cop! Lovely to meet you sir! We are more than happy to have a new addition to the team! Today will just be short, showing you the rooms, giving you some information of what projects we're doing. All that good stuff. Since you had such good word from your other work place we gave you your own office! Isn't that nice?", she was hopping up and down as she talked and ranted. Did she even take a breath between those words?

"That is kind of you, however I can have a desk in the main room like everyone else.", Edge hand was suddenly grabbed, dragged along.

"Oh no,no,no! I insist! Insist!! It's the least I can do for you! Now first things first-", Before she could finish another cop entered the room holding a phone.

"Hey Hops, We have a call about a downer.", he said. Edge's heart stopped for a moment. He instantly thought of Puff.

"The description of the down is said to be a cat monster. About 5'5 and brown fur. Last wearing a white skirt and blouse.", he continued. Edge instantly felt relieved. He sighed and adjusted his suit, trying to cover up his worry.

"Well go send someone then!" Hops' voice suddenly turned loud and harsh," Why you tellin' me?! Send two people to look for that downer! ", she snapped an turned to Edge,"Ohh! forgive me. I'll just lead you to the guy in command here! You can chat with him and try to befriend him. Psst, between you and me, he likes sweet wines if you ever wanna give him a gift.", she winked and pointed to a door,"There! You can knock and just enter, he doesn't mind people coming in and out unless he specifically says not to enter."

"Thanks for the tip. I'll go talk to him then."

"I'll come get you once I'm done dealing with this downer situation.", she smiled and went to leave, continuing to talk to her co-worker about the situation.

Edge looked over at the door, and prepared himself. He adjusted his uniform, trying to look the best he can.

'Be friendly as you possibly can, maybe even suck up to him a little. You wanna be on a good foot with him.', he thought to himself before he knocked on the door. Hops said he could just knock and enter but it felt a little wrong.

"Come in.", the voice sounded a little annoyed and also...familiar?

Edge opened the door and stepped inside, "It's nice to meet you and be on the team, sir-", he stopped and stared into the other's eyes. Edge glared, hard. A growl escaped his mouth as he quietly closed the door behind him.

"Oh come on, I deserve some respect here. I like that nice attitude much better."

Sarcastically Edge remarked, "Like I would give any respect to you, Raspberry..."