Chapter 1. Here we go.
TWs: shouting in light-hearted banter (just incase for you folk)
Pronouns for this chapter: Ren - He/Him, Xay - They/Ze/Ae, Hels - He/Sword
Enjoy...

Ren sighed, dragging his feet through the forest. His head hung low as he turned off the path. He needed time. Alone.

He needed to think about his thoughts, think about what was happening to him, with everything going on. Boatem pranked him and Doc a ton, he didn't mind it of course, at least how he acted. It hurt in a way, even though he knew it was banter. He just made him feel a bit upset and pained. Then there was Doc, his closest friend, his basemate. He was just so, unimportant, it felt like. It was all "experiments this", "experiments that", etc. He felt like he was just in the way. Doc just knew what he was doing, and Ren just felt like a tag-along. The other hermits didn't really pay much attention to him, only making deals with him, promoting stuff, selling stuff to him. He didn't feel like himself anymore. He felt hatred and hurt and he hated the feeling. He didn't want to feel this way but he did. The hatred was eating up inside and it hurt to suppress it longer. The guilt, the pain, the hurt, all linked to this anger that he was feeling.

A gentle tear rolled down his face as he gazed off into the distance. A flood of tears followed, Ren just unable to hold it in anymore. Everything just ached. He was so tired from just acting all day and all night. His nights were filled with nightmares of the anger making him snap and he couldn't stop. He didn't want to hurt anyone, but the anger wanted them to feel the pain they caused him to feel. He didn't understand why or what this form the anger was, but what he did know is he wanted it gone.

~~

"Hels, your ideas are great, but stars above, how do we execute these plans?!"
"Well, first we need to find a hermit to get on our side."
"Well no scud, Sherlock."

"What did you expect me to say?!"
"I don't know, something smart?!!"

"You do know who you're talking to, right??"

Xay wheezed as Hels comprehended what he just said.

"wAIT A MINUTE-"

Xay cackled, looking over at Hels who looked so offended. The two kept walking through the forest, Xay still dying of laughter.

"HEY STOP LAUGHING!! ITS NOT THA-"

"Hels shush. You hear that?"

The two stood silent, hearing faint sobbing in the distance.

"Xay, this is our chance!"

"Yeah it is, now don't screw it up."

The two slowly walked over to the sobbing, being silent and stealthy as to not get caught by their 'good' counterparts. Xay sat next to Ren while Hels stood in front of the two. Xay sighed, gently wrapping zir arms around Ren to attempt to give some sort of comfort. Zir gazed up towards Hels, gesturing for him to sit down. Hels did as much, sitting close to Ren as to help Xay support him. The three sat awkwardly, the silence being filled with Ren's quiet sobs.

"You alright Ren?.. We kinda just found you out here.." Xay whispered, only loud enough for the other two to hear.

"I'll be fine.. I hope." Ren responded, looking up at the two. "Wait what the hell are you two doing here?!" He then said, his voice filled with shock.

"Look, you were upset, we comforted you, now that you're doing better, we want to make a deal with you." Xay said, staring at Ren while Hels nodded in agreement.

"Why me though? Why not someone else?" Ren questioned, reaching to draw his sword. He stared Xay in the eyes as Hels spoke, "Well it looks like the Hermits have hurt you, as they have to us. So we want you to join us. It'll be fun of course! Free snacks, diamonds, netherite, anything you want, we have."

"Okay, my 'friends', you want to cut me in? Well I hate to tell you but it just won't happen. So thank you for offering, but no. I'm good to and see the hermits daily, they haven't hurt me." Ren snapped in response.

"Oh so those pranks haven't been wearing down at your mental health, Doc hasn't been ignoring you 24/7 and you don't feel out of place and like you don't belong, got it." Xay coughed sarcastically, rolling their eyes before staring at Ren.

"I- Well.." Ren sighed. "What do you have to offer that's so much better than here? I mean, it hurts staying but it hurts leaving too.."

"We have all the weapons and food you can get, accessible training areas, people you can always talk to and get help from, etc." Hels listed.

"Well it's intriguing but it would cost me greatly to go. So, what percentage of the things I lose I will regain?"

"At least 50%. Friends but not as many, supplies, base, etc. It's honestly not a bad deal in my opinion." Hels confirmed, looking over at Ren.

There was a short silence as Ren moved his hand away from his sword and towards the duo in front of him. Xay smiled, reaching aer hand out.

"So, do we have a deal?" 

Well, will Ren accept the deal?
We'll find out soon..

~Nether