Haha I have an angst planned~ May be awhile though till another update. Life threw me a lemon and now I have to plant an orchard of throwing lemons. (Please feel free to correct my grammar this was a one-sitting thing-) Anyways here's the makeup thing!

Word Count: 1,885
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Okay, let's get one thing straight- Tango wasn't ever supposed to be part of the puzzle. Like, never ever. He was supposed to be dead, or at least feared then abandoned, and left to lurk, rot, and then die alone, in the dark.

And so, why is he hiding under a blanket with his two friends, Zed and Impulse, telling scary stories instead of actually scaring them? Well, it's complicated...

Zed lay there, in bed and wrapped up into his blankets, shaking. Pale-faced and shaking. Over the month it had gotten more common, changing to a daily basis thing over the past week. His breaths echoed off the walls. It was pitch black as even the stars seemed to fear this creature lurking under his bed.

Yes, a creature under the bed. Over the month it making an appearance had gotten more common, changing to a daily basis thing over the past week. It would wait until Zed was almost asleep, or asleep and vulnerable before striking. Then Zed would scream and panic as it laughed eerily and scratchily.

And tonight was like no other. The clock that was being watched ever-so-carefully began to blurry as the gracious blessing of being tired washed over.

And so it waited. Waited for the right moment, taking it when it presented. The creature slowly slid out from the bed, leaning over the figure.

"Zed.." It said, receiving nothing in return.

"Zedaph.." It said, in a lower but louder tone. It smiled toothily as Zed turned away.

"Zeeeddd...." It said, gently dragging one clawed finger from the corner of Zeds' eye to his cheek to his chin and down his throat, stopping at his collar bone. It gently placed the rest of its clawed fingers on the bone, tapping out a slow and spaced rhythm. It leant close, leaning next to his ear. "Zedaph!"

Zed jolted awake screaming at the red glowing eyes and current pain in his neck. The demons laughter echoed off the walls as it's inky silhouette bled back into the room. Zed hid under his covers, panting and definitely not crying. The noise quickly cut to his ragged breaths.

He quickly jutted his hand to the nightstand, yelling as the cool air hit his wrist, and pulled his arm and phone back under the current net of blanket-safety. He called Impulse.

"Impulse?!"

"Hmmmmmm...?" A yawn came from the other end.

"Impulse it happened again...!"

It took a moment for response. "Well, it's late.. your calling so your alive.. and that means it won't come again until tomorrow night, correct?"

"Mhm..." Zed squirmed, making a few shuffling noises as he wrapped himself up tighter.

"Well," Impulse stated tiredly, "Then I deem your safe, so goodnight Zed." The phone beeped as he hung up. Zed looked around the small space he'd created, leaving his phone on for light as he fell back asleep.

The darkness was soon replaced by sharp rays of light, bursting through the window. And Zed, still freaked, wasted no time in booking it out of his room, hitting a wall, falling and groaning, and then slamming the door on his way to somewhere else, confining the creature- Scratch that, 'creature made it sound too human-, confining it, to the space under Zeds' bed.

If only he'd have shoved more socks and other assortments of clothes and ragtag items he didn't want to clean under there...

In which, it was grateful Zed hadn't. Almost. It had been begging burning during the day. At least that was the little demons opinion. It was lonely and boring under a bed, and his older brother (The one who hid in the closet, not the one that chased you down the hall when the lights were out) Certainly didn't help the loneliness.

He creature-demon sighed, drumming his nails on the floor. Had he gone to far? Maybe? It was all fun and games.. Especially when the human got scared! If was quite funny! But then he'd always leave..

One of the scares peeked our from the closet. "Your pathetic. Can't even keep him around to scare again."

The younger snarled. "Oh shut up. At least he can't trap me behind a piece of wood."

The closet door slammed shut, drawing a yelp from the other room. Ahh.. humans. Pathetic.

I'm not pathetic. I'm not pathetic. I'm. Not. Pathetic!

That's what Zed told himself. He was being haunted if whatever! Tortured! Maybe it was friendly?

Zed sighed, giving up on the idea. No. No way was he going to talk to it. He might as well throw on a fancy suit and start using big words!

Besides, his focus was more on getting out of this little issue.

So, he spent the day slaving away and clearing land for s new house.

New house.

New rooms.

New bed.

Back to 3 hours of sleep per week.

Viola! Problem solved!

So, one spent the day slaving away in the heat while the other spent the day in the dark, and wondering what it would feel like to have his soul slowly die.

The sun, which Zed has deemed to have to be carnivorous based off how much focused on his poor skin, finally gave up to the cool moon.

Moon=Night.

Night=Sleep.

Sleep=Bed.

Bed=Being scared.

Being a wimp of being scared=More work.

So, as the gracious omnivorous-seeming moon stole the skylight, Zed kept working. Even when the sun came back. And after the moon came again. Call it adrenaline or sheer stupidity- Or even a mix of both, Zed definitely had it. And he had a lot.

But coffee only goes so far.

After the third day, he gave in. It was around midnight when he stumbled back into his house, skipping through pajamas and right to the blanket-burrito.

Well, that's what the little bed monster had hoped for. Ok, really it hoped for a dangled foot to play 'This Little Piggy' with, it an arm to spontaneously grab.

But no. Nonono. See being tired meant a malfunctioning brain.

And that meant extra stupidity.

Zed flopped onto his bed, shivering a moment before remembering- Hey! Someone else lives here too!

He let the upper half of his body drape odd the bed, his head touching the ground.

The demon looked up, making a confused noise as to why it's sandwich time was being interrupted.

Zed grinned at the red eyes, shiny teeth, and black silhouette. "Heya there mister...!" He giggled. "It's cooooooooollllllldd!"

The creature frowned, using its scary voice. "Yes, yes. Cold like your frozen blood once I've spilt it onto the floor."

Zed giggled and laughed. "You haven't hurt me though..!" He pointed towards it. "Aren't cha cold down there?"

The demon engaged in a quizzical look. "Why do you care..?"

"Because I'm cold.. So you must be cold."

"Well.." The demon thought a moment. "It does get cold down here.."

Zed nodded, falling off the bed and pulling down a blanket or few in the process. "Well here...!"

He shoved towards the beast, who snatched it greedily. Zed gasped. "Your hand...!"

"My hand."

"It's warm...! C'mere!" Zed held out his arms.

The demon shook his head. What. Was. The. Flesh bag. Doing?!

Zed moves his arms a little for emphasis. "I'm cold!"

The demon nodded and pushed the blanket back. Zed smiled, grabbed his arm and pulled him into a hug. "You're so warm...!"

The demon froze up. Humans made no sense. "I uh-.. o-ok..?"

"Mmmm!" Zed nodded and hugged him tighter. "So warm.."

He let out  muffled yawn, quickly falling asleep.  The demon stayed there a moment poked him.

"Zed."

Nothing.

"Zed!"

Nothing.

"Zed!"

Still, nothing. He huffed, dragging the other up and prying his way to freedom. Zed jerked up, pulled him back and quickly fell asleep, mumbling nonsense.

The demon tried prying his way to oxygen again, only to be trapped a third time. Zed shook his head. "Tanned go....!"

"Huh.....?"

"Tund go...!"

The demon blinked "What??"

Zed Hughes him tighter. "Warm.. Tannun go..!"

"Uhm...Tango...?"

Zed nodded. "Tanned go.."

"Who's th-" His inquires went unanswered as the fleshy-bag went out. The demon sighed. This was gonna be a long night..

———

Zed yawned and woke up slowly, not exactly wanting to move due to the fact he wasn't cold, for one.

That was, until the voice of death decided to make an entrance. "Thank the devil himself you're awake!"

Zed screamed as the demon threw his hands up, then put them on his ears. "Shut up!! It's not funny when I haven't scared you!" He whined.

Zed shook his head. "What're- What're you doing?!"

The demon huffed. "Well, you didn't sleep. Then you decided to ask me if I was cold. Then you fell asleep on me. Then I moved you. Then you grabbed me. Than I had to endure you sleeping while sitting upright. You're welcome."

Zed shook his head in opposition, before reminding in fact he did do what was stated. "Oh.."

"Yeah. You are pathetic Zed."

"Well you're a bully," He thought a moment. "Uhm.. whatever you name is?"

"I don't have one"

Zed nodded. "Oh.."

The demon nodded and gave him a look. "Who's Tango?"

"I don't know a Tango?"

"You kept saying something like 'Tango.'"

Zed slowly nodded again. "I meant don't go.. I think."

"Oh.."

"Yea- Wait! You could be Tango!" Zed motioned around the demon, who snorted and shook his head. "No! That's a dumb name!"

"Too late you're now Tango. Accept it."

The newly-named demon huffed, trying to hide the fact he liked the name. "I refuse." He said.

But did he want to? This human had been nicer to him in a few hours than anything ever had in his life..

Zed shrugged. "Fight me. You. Are. A. Tango."

Tango sighed. "Goodbye."

Zed grabbed his elbow. "Wait wait wait! Where are you going??"

"Under the bed?"

"I'm not scared of you anymore though."

Tango huffed again. "I hate you then."

"You'll get over it." Zed said, smiling and standing up. "So I'm feeling pancakes. You cool with that?"

Tango squinted. "What're... pancakes..?"

Zeds jaw dropped as Tango said there dumbfounded. This 'pancake' thing was a new subject to him. Zed shook his head, dragging him into the kitchen. Tango hissed at the lights, wondering how Zed did this every day...

———

And so, yes. Tango was supposed to be dead, or at least feared then abandoned, and left to lurk, rot, and then die alone, in the dark, yes.

But now, he's laughing and telling scary stories under a blanket with his friends, Zed and Impulse (who has been introduced by Zed.) And why is this happening, you may ask?

Well, it isn't complicated. It all really began when one unlucky soul got the curse of something under his bed.

But, now that we look at it, was it really a curse? Or more of a blessing...?

Or was it just the pancakes?