Desmond shot awake, cold sweat clinging to one side of his face. He hated how nightmares would often plague him after something so inconsequential. He should have learned to expect it. Just like he should have expected 'Squid Nuts' to message him.

'Hey Snake!'

'Hey'

'Hey!'

'Hey!!!!!!!!!'

'Don't ignore me, I have a story to tell you!'

The messages kept going just like that and Des couldn't help but chuckle to himself. He really did keep stupid company between Squid and Virgil.

Virgil was family, but Squid was the closest thing Des had to a friend. He still kept his online companion at an arm's length, but he enjoyed having him around. They had met on a 'Dangerous Animals' forum and Squid had cemented himself as the weird one of the group, something that was rather hard to do when everyone in the group had been weird in their own way. Squid always said whatever was on his mind and would answer any question people would ask. Desmond and the others quickly learned not to ask questions they didn't want to know the answer to, even sarcastically. After Desmond had left the group, completely ghosting the others, something kept him from deleting Squid's contact and they maintained their strange relationship. Des refused to call if a friendship. Even if he had tried to ghost Squid, he seemed like the type that would find a way to annoy him.

Rolling over and grabbing him phone Desmond finally responded to the 28 messages Squid had sent.

'What?!'

'You're up! About time! Okay, so you know how I think my manager is hotter than sex with the sun? A living adonis? A brilliant Oedipus?'

'Oedipus?'

'Yes, so hot his mom would fuck him, now don't interrupt. Anyway, he continued to prove how amazing he is. He told off a Karen with the most deadpan look on his face! Completely broke her down. I don't think I've ever seen anything that hot.'

Squid went into excruciating detail about the encounter, claiming that it was the most wonderful thing to have happened to him all week. He claimed that a lot and Des didn't understand how he could be so completely in love with the mundane things this guy seemed to do.

'You realize you are weird, right?'

'That is the only reason you put up with me. So, you want to talk about why you are testier than an angry bull's testicles?' Squid could always tell. Des' poker face in real life was flawless but online he was apparently an open book, at least for Squid.

'Same old, same old.'

'Yeah, you never really explained what that meant, but oh well, not my job to push.'

'Well now that you have woken me up from my nap, I'm going to go get some food.'

'Nooooo don't leave me!'

'Don't you have enough fantasy fuel to keep you occupied.'

'Yeah, but dreaming about Mr. Sex on a Stick can only take me so far. Tell me about snakes! Give me facts I can make into nightmare fuel! Come on don't leave me!'

'You really are a pain,' Des smirked as he continued to message Squid. No matter how much he pretended that he didn't like him, Squid was fun to have around, and he never pushed a topic that Des didn't want to talk about, though he figured that had more to do with Squid's lack of an attention span as opposed to any benevolent intent. He messaged the demented man for a few more minutes before the hunger overcame him and he left his room.

Patton was sitting in the living room watching TV. That was a surprise because normally Patton would have the volume up so that he could hear it better, but the living room was completely silent. Why did he change a habit that Des was finally getting used to?

"Oh! Desmond, you're awake, are you feeling better?" He asked immediately pausing the show and turning his full attention towards the man in the hallway.

'Yes,' Des had his walls up; his defenses on high alert. He had to remember that people only pretended to care, and Patton was probably feeling guilty.

"I'm glad to hear that. I made chicken for dinner instead of the chili I was making, there are some leftovers if you want some." He bounced up, making his way towards Desmond, the kitchen right behind him. There it was, he could see the guilt in Patton's eyes, but there was something else too.

'It's fine, I'll just get ramen.'

"Well, okay, if you are sure."

He was, he didn't want to take any favors from Patton.

"Once you have made it do you want to sit and watch TV with me? I turned off the sound so that you would be able to rest." There it was again, that fake kindness. It made Des' skin crawl and tighten in a way that he had never been able to explain. He wanted that kindness but he refused to believe it was real. He wasn't a fool who believed in mirages in the desert.

He nodded as he slipped past Patton and into the kitchen. It was better than eating in his room, and if the TV was going he wouldn't have to have a conversation. He wouldn't believe in a fake oasis, but for a few moments, he could pretend.

Once the noodles were cooked and Des had them in a bowl, he went to the living room at sat down with Patton, watching as he mouthed the words to the show. It was a cute habit that had Des wondering how many times the curly-haired man had watched this program. A light smile formed on his lips but he quickly pushed it down, curling onto the couch. Cute or not, that didn't change that people were cruel. Beautiful flowers could still be poisonous.

The show took a back burner to his thoughts, eyes scrutinizing Patton. It had been over a week and Patton still hadn't shown a slip in his kindness. There had to be malice in his eyes, something that would give him away. Patton laughed. It was a sweet gentle laugh; it was the first light of spring; it was the first breath of fresh air after a fire; it was beautiful. Des flinched, quickly getting up and taking his bowl with him. This wasn't happening. He wasn't going to let this happen.

Despite Patton's protests, he went to his room, quickly slamming the door, earing a look of concern from Virgil. It was fine, Patton was just physically appealing, that was fine. Des could overcome that too.

"Want to talk about it?"

'No,' he quickly signed, because Virgil knew, Virgil would understand and be supportive and that wasn't what he wanted right now. He needed someone who would snap him out of whatever daydream his brain was trying to construct. Des looked down at his phone, wondering if he should message Squid about this. No, he had dealt with everything on his own. Squid knew hardly anything about his life, and he wasn't going to start telling him now.

His hand shook and Des pounded on the door in anger. He was not some blushing school girl who would fall apart. Love was for people who wanted to be betrayed. Friends were for people who wanted to be let down. He took in a deep breath, straightening his shirt and pulling at the gloves over his hand.

If he wanted to get over whatever maddening lies his mind was telling him, he was going to have to get rid of Patton sooner rather than later. He would find a way to push Patton out. He grabbed the binder labeled Patton and began to work on a plan.

AN: I know I posted this a little bit later than I normally post things on Wednesday, hopefully, it was worth it. I struggled a bit with this but once I got it going I think it turned out pretty good.