"Bankruptcy" 

this MIGHT be a four part series. one base and three endings. this is the base. it's entirely platonic for now with a little implication of mutual pinings. also, this might be in the  spade (♠) section for now, but i can guarantee that the other parts will be at the clover (♣) section.

Word count: 1877
Warnings: spoilers from the game

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After successfully vacating the strange shady hotel in the middle of the forest, surprisingly enough, I wasn't left to rot inside. The doors opened back up and I was permitted to leave without any consequence or ulterior motive from my employer. How I relinquished the sweet fresh air those grueling hours took away from me. It had only been a day since I met those four monsters, but it felt like I've been trapped for an eternity.

Time goes by slow when you're not having fun.

Once I got the second half of my payment, going home was all I had in mind. However, the job contract did not specify this fact: the possibility of being followed. 

Not one, but two of the monsters I have mediated followed me home--both permitted by my employer but not consented by me. I figured they would have these monsters exterminated; that was the only logical conclusion I came across when I tried thinking about why they wanted the rooms to be vacated. However, it seems my employer's entertainment doesn't stop from my suffering inside the hotel, no, it extends beyond that. No wonder they knew where I lived. Vacating the monsters was only the beginning of my eternal turmoil.

At least the clown and the angel had some decency to refrain from such acts of extremities. Only my biggest fan and my most loyal knight had the audacity to follow me home. Now I have two absurdly tall monstrous men behind my back everywhere I went.

"M...my superstar... can we get some sweets!?" the red masked axe-loving lunatic asked excitedly, huffing and breathing a little more irregularly as he trailed behind me inside the small convenient store. Just as I was about to respond, a certain knight beat me to it.

"No. You shall not waste master M/N's resources on your own indulgences. I shall not allow it!" Sir Knight firmly stated, crossing his arms apprehensively. This notion made 404's breathing even more shallow before he began swearing: "Don't be a bitch!"

Then and there, they began to brawl once more, thrashing the poor convenience store down and destroying almost everything inside it. The bystanders ran away in a panic while the store clerk hid behind the front desk. I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose as I walked to the desk, dodging any flying debris my way.

"Sorry. I'll pay for everything..." I said begrudgingly as I fished out a card and wrote down a check for the store clerk. They were surprised to see how calm I was considering the storm behind me, but they did not relent, graciously taking the check I had written down. "Not the first time...?" they asked cautiously to which I sighed and nodded at.

This really wasn't my first rodeo. The probable reason why my former employer paid me a ridiculous sum of money was to cover for these upcoming expenses that would be on my name. It's like being forced to adopt two rowdy bratty bad idiotic children. It could cost a fortune if they went wildly rampant unsupervised. Unfortunately, I do not have the means to be a supervisor, which is why I'm forced to pay and clean up in their stead.

"Should I call the police...?" the timid store clerk asked as I turned back to the epitome of destruction behind me. "Don't bother," I shrug, watching them go all out. They clashed with their weapons and threw items they could find towards each other's head with the clear purpose of killing one another. They had absolutely no regard.

The store clerk seemed to ignore me as he fished for his phone, only to find it unresponsive with a hint of purple smoke radiating from it.

"You will not have my master arrested!" Sir Knight graciously proclaimed, swinging his sword to the direction of the store clerk. He screamed in a panic, but I was able to pull the guy away in time before he met his demise. 

Sir Knight is a spirit, meaning his true form is intangible. The same cannot be said from his side though since he has the capability of altering any physical object freely. So, he goes after the people's means of communication to the authorities. He's smart enough to know monsters like him and 404 aren't exactly normal which is why he takes extra precaution when travelling outside. 

"You... tried... putting my superstar in jail!?" The axe-loving lunatic screeched, swinging his red axe towards the store clerk now too. Being used to these antics, I pulled the screaming guy away just in time.

I looked at him with a sigh. "Come on, man. You're just making them angrier. I already paid you," I grunted the reminder, glaring at the store clerk even though I could not blame him entirely. This scenario just gets too repetitive sometimes. 

"Master, we should depart now," Sir Knight said, finally being able to apprehend 404 and dragging him out the store all while 404 kept huffing erratically. I sighed, grabbing the things I originally came here for before walking out. 

We never liked remaining in one place outside public. Sir Knight could only prevent authorities from coming momentarily but not consistently. This is because he has a range for when he wants to disable phones. If you're smart enough, you could simply distance yourself then call the police once you're safe. However, by the time they usually arrive, we're already gone. What's left to see is a messed up environment with no harmed civilians. Furthermore, since everything gets paid for all the time by me, the authorities never really took action to pursue us.

This is a reoccurring event every time I need to go out which is why I opt for online groceries instead, however, there's things you can't really buy online, and sometimes, fresh air is a necessity.

"You two are out of line. Again," I scolded, angrily glaring at them as they followed me. Sir Knight seemed to tense up while 404 began to cry almost instantly. They followed along like lost puppies back to my apartment with an enforced silence in the air. They never really had the guts to talk back when I got angry. Unfortunately, they never learn their lessons as it would only take another hour before I'd get into another predicament with them being with me.

"Don't make me confiscate your weapons for the rest of the day," I continued, threatening them thoroughly as we entered my apartment once more. They had to duck under the door frame since they were both taller than it. Once we got in, Sir Knight closed the door as I approached the kitchen to lay out the things I bought. 404 went to go sulk in the corner while hugging his axe while Sir Knight stood nearby also sulking but 'awaiting orders' as he would always like to put it. I sighed, looking at the mess I've been in for the past month. 

At this rate, the money I earned from my previous employer would deplete before next year and I'd need to find another job again.

"Sir Knight, can you help me cook?" I asked as I washed some vegetables. He seemed to perk up almost happily before going over by my side to help. "Yes, master! What should we cook this time?" He asked obediently, washing his hands (after I had to grill it to his head that cleaning is just as important in the art of making food).

"I'd like some curry," I sighed gently, already preparing everything we needed to work on. Sir Knight nodded and helped. 

It was obvious he was proficient in the kitchen, however, his skills were quite limited as he only excelled in baking. I had to teach him some other things first. Thankfully, he was a quick learner; one of the only qualities I like about him. 

But to be completely honest, I'm still not over the bullying he subjected me to when I tried to make him vacate his room. How he forced me to eat moldy food, how he kept punching me to the ground, how he made me bake with him, and how purposely tried looking for mistakes to get an excuse to kill me. After all that, he didn't even let me have some of the pastries that we made in the end. To say he was a renowned bitch is kind, I firmly thought he was much more than that before... but after seeing his dedication towards his late master, my opinion slightly changed. I can't deny that his resolve is unwavering. Who knows how long he had to wait for me?

404 on the other hand...

I took a small glance at the axe-loving lunatic as I continued to cook with Sir Knight. He was still sulking in the corner. It was hard not to be irritated at him, but I suppose he has his perks too. Although it was obvious he was a real stalker, his dedication could be endearing? It was also obvious that he was broken, but he tries his best to maintain a level of decorum with me and with Sir Knight. He was anything but normal, but he tries. I suppose sometimes, that's all that matters. 

"Hey, Nause," I began, looking back at the task I was doing. I didn't see him, but I knew he perked up. A few footsteps sounded before I felt his presence beside me.

"Yes... my superstar?" He asked, all teary-eyed. I hummed before fishing my pocket. I brought out some papers and handed it to him.

"Behave, okay?" I ordered as he looked at the papers in astonishment. They were some of the more recent fics I had written down, but I figure he'd want to read it immediately even before I finish. It's a good thing because that would leave him on the edge of his seat, and I'd be able to demand him to behave again if he wanted me to continue writing. 

"Thank you, my superstar!!" He exclaimed excitedly, picking me up into a bone-crushing hug and making me drop the utensils I was using. Thankfully, Sir Knight caught them before they fell to the floor.

"I said behave!" I yell back, making him put me down quickly. "Hehe. Sorry, M/N," he apologized childishly before rushing back to his corner to read what I have written.

Once I washed my hands again, I went back to cooking. I could see Sir Knight watching me with what I could assume to be a pleased expression. 

"You always find your ways to spoil us, master," he said, happily cooking with me again. I didn't reply, but I couldn't fight back the upward tug on the ends of my lips. 

Yes, I might be approaching bankruptcy, and yes, I might become devoid of my sanity, but for some unknown god forsaken reason, I can never stay mad at the two. After all, it was clear that they both like me and are both trying their bests to get on my good side. It's just in their nature to cause havoc.

And maybe me tolerating that doesn't make me a better person. Maybe it just counts more to the entertainment value my previous employer talked about, but I suppose I can't help it.

It's lively. They make it lively here, and I guess I like it.