Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

After the whole… biting incident, Pugsley found himself wondering how else he could potentially show his affection for Eugene. In a far less… violent way.

And so he pondered, wandering the forest with no specific destination in mind after school was out and everyone was off doing their own thing. Eugene was probably doing beekeeper things with his other friends, which didn’t bother him at all. He wasn’t much of a jealous person, and honestly good on Eugene for finding other people to talk to.

Still didn’t solve his current predicament though.

Pugsley was then pulled out of his thoughts by something black jumping down from a nearby tree, long tail whipping in the air proudly. It was a black cat, scampering off with a small bird in its mouth.

He stopped in his tracks as a new thought came to him.

What if he was thinking about this all wrong?

The more Pugsley thought about it, the more it seemed so simple. Cats show affection by hunting things for each other, right? And Pugsley had a great idea for how he could use this to show his feelings for Eugene.

He grinned, taking a moment to pet the black cat before he left.

He had some work to do.

Pugsley stood nervously outside their dormitory door, the wrapped box in his hands heavy as he took a shaky breath. His heart was racing, and it took him a few tries just to build up the courage to walk in.

What if this isn't a good idea? The thought raced through his mind for what must've been the millionth time since he'd first come up with his brilliant plan.

What if Eugene doesn't react to this the way I hope he does? What if-

He found himself reaching for the doorknob and turning it, forcing his legs to work as he entered the room with one mission in mind.

Eugene glanced up from where he was sitting on his bed as the door opened, and he watched with a puzzled expression as Pugsley stepped inside, holding something carefully in his hands.

"What's that?" He asked curiously, raising an eyebrow and setting aside the book he had been reading.

"I uh…" Pugsley swallowed thickly, taking a couple tentative steps forward with the box. "I-I got something. For you. It's… for you." He said, mentally kicking himself for how awkward he sounded.

He came to a stop at the foot of Eugene's bed, anxiously fiddling with the packaging on the box before extending his arms out to hand him it.

Eugene frowned, curiosity and intrigue quickly overcoming his confusion. "You... got me something?" He sat up completely, now fully attentive, and carefully took the box from the other boy's hands.

"What is it?" He asked softly, looking down at the box.

Pugsley watched anxiously as Eugene fiddled with the small black ribbon that held down the lid, fighting the urge to cover his face and let out some kind of squeak. Why was he so anxious? This was for Eugene, no one else.

"Um, w-well… open it. You'll see." He urged, nodding stiffly at the box. His fingers twitched at his sides.

Eugene raised an eyebrow at the other boy in slight bemusement at his nervousness. Nevertheless, he let out a soft hum and slowly untied the ribbon, lifting off the lid and peering inside.

A sharp, sudden inhale through his nose was the first thing to come out of him, his eyes widening when he took in the contents within. Oh. Oh.

That’s just… a very dead rat. Dear god, it was a big one too.

"Uh…." Eugene's brow furrowed as he stared down at the dead rat, his mind struggling to wrap it around the fact that Pugsley had decided to gift him a literal dead rat.

"You… got me a rat." He said slowly, lifting the dead rodent out of the box to get a better look.

Pugsley quickly nodded, feeling a slight twinge of disappointment at the way Eugene had just… stared at the rat. No big overjoyed smile or anything. "A-A sewer rat. Yes." He cleared his throat awkwardly, shifting his weight from side to side.

"…Do you like it..?" He asked, fidgeting with his fingers. “I-I could probably gut it for you, if you’d maybe wanna hang it up on our wall or something! It’s… uhm… to show how much I care about you, y’know?”

Eugene stared at the rat, his expression unreadable as his mind attempted to process everything that just left Pugsley's mouth.

"You... got me a sewer rat. To show how much you care." He repeated, still slightly incredulous. "...Because you thought I'd like to hang it up on our wall." He slowly lowered the dead rat, looking at Pugsley and raising an eyebrow. "You do know the difference between a gift and a hunting trophy, right?"

Pugsley's cheeks tinged from embarrassment. "Of course I do." He said, trying to play it cool. He had seen his father give his mother hunting trophies more times than he could count, so he was aware of the difference between that gift, and his gift.

He just… didn't realize the implication it would have. "I-I just thought you'd appreciate it…" He added lamely, shifting awkwardly on his feet. "I mean, I found it specifically for you, dude.”

Eugene's expression softened a bit, and he let out another soft huff. He knew Pugsley was just trying to be sweet, albeit in a really insane way. And despite the fact he was still confused and bewildered by the fact that he had been given a goddamn rat, he gave Pugsley a small shake of his head and a small smile.

"Well, I haven’t been gifted a dead animal before." He said, a hint of affection in his voice. "But thank you, you big doofus."

Pugsley brightened, relief flooding through him. Eugene didn't seem mad , per se. Maybe still weirded out, but the smile on his friend's face was a good sign.

He chuckled quietly, stuffing his hands into his pockets as his own small smile formed on his face. "A-Anytime." He murmured, shifting his weight from foot to foot and trying hard to hide his excitement from the other boy. "I just figured that… since cats show off their hunts to each other and humans, I figured I could do the same! Y’know, to show my… affection.”

"So, you decided to channel your inner cat and give me a... dead rat." Eugene said, a hint of fondness in his tone. "Because that's exactly what I wanted... what every guy wants. A dead sewer rat." He let out a small, soft huff.

"Were you serious about hanging it up on the wall?”

Pugsley shrugged, still fighting the need to grin like an idiot. Eugene was trying not to, but Pugsley could see the corners of his mouth twitching. "I-It's got nice fur on it." He defended, looking back down at the rat. "I found the biggest one I could. It’d be a good decoration."

He looked back up, offering Eugene a sheepish smile. "Is it weird if I say yes?"

Eugene let out another huff of laughter, shaking his head. "Of course you think it's a good decoration." He teased a bit. "You're the only person I know who'd hang up a dead rat on their wall and be excited about it." He rolled his eyes, but his grin widened.

"Just so we’re clear, it’s going up on YOUR side of the room. And make sure you at least wash it, I don’t want the stench lingering.”

Pugsley nodded, still fighting himself from grinning like a fool in the process. "Don't worry, I'll clean it first." He assured him, his expression turning thoughtful. "Maybe I could... skin it as well."

“Please don’t.”

Chapter Text

Pugsley was well aware of Eugene’s trauma. Wednesday informed him of everything he needed to know before even meeting Eugene in person.

So when he woke up to Eugene screaming and thrashing around in his sleep like a madman, he knew the cause of it.

He wasted no time shifting closer to his friend, gently shaking him by the shoulder to try and wake him from his nightmare.

"Eugene," he whispered quietly, his voice still a little sleep-hoarse. "Eugene, wake up." He kept shaking him lightly, his free hand rising up to cup his friend's tan face, his fingers brushing away some of the sweat on his forehead.

Eugene's eyes snapped open, his body instinctively jolting as the remnants of his nightmare still clung to his mind. He was breathing heavily, beads of sweat coating his forehead and upper neck.

It took a moment for him to process what was happening, his panicked gaze zeroing in on Pugsley's face. He inhaled shakily, his fingers gripping the sheets tightly. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words came out.

The sight of Eugene's terrified expression made Pugsley's gut twist with guilt, his features quickly twisting into a worried frown. "Hey, breathe. You're alright." he whispered quietly, running his thumb over Eugene's cheek. "It was just a nightmare. You're alright..."

He paused for a moment, watching the other boy slowly start to calm down. "You're alright," he repeated, his other hand now rising up to brush through Eugene's sweat-slicked hair.

Eugene's breathing began to slow ever so slightly, his mind slowly grasping onto consciousness. He gripped Pugsley's wrist tightly, as if to ground himself, his hand shaking slightly. "I... y-yeah, just..." He stammered, his voice trembling as he tried to steady his breathing. "Just a nightmare. I'm fine."

"You're not fine.” Pugsley replied softly, his fingers continuing to comb through the other boy's sweaty hair. "You're shaking. You're a horrible liar, you know." he added, his tone almost light even in the midst of the current situation. And as much as he would be ecstatic about a nightmare, now wasn’t the time. “It was about the.. Hyde, right?” He questioned, watching as his roommate tensed further.

"Yes...” he replied, his voice barely above a hoarse whisper. "It was him ." He swallowed around the lump in his throat, his mind still haunted by the vivid scenes from his nightmare.

Pugsley exhaled slowly, his fingers still drifting through soft curls in a soothing manner. "It was just a nightmare," he reminded him again, keeping his voice low. "Eugene, look at me."

He pulled his hand away from Eugene's hair, cupping the boy's face lightly to force him to look at him. "He's not here. He can't hurt you." He assured him. "I won't let him come anywhere near you..” He promised quietly, his gaze remaining fixed on Eugene's face. “He can’t hurt anyone where he’s at.”

"I know. I know he can't." Eugene murmured, his voice still slightly shaky. "Logically, I know that. But..." He swallowed, his eyes drifting away. "My nightmares don't always care about logic. They make it seem... so real.."

Pugsley understood how it felt to be haunted by nightmares of the past, he knew how real they could seem.

"I know they do," he replied quietly, his hands never leaving his friend's face. "But you have to remind yourself that what you're seeing in your head isn't real. It's just an illusion. A fabrication of your traumatized mind that's trying to torment you." He gently rubbed his thumb over Eugene's cheek.

"I know... I know it's all in my head." Eugene closed his eyes, leaning into the touch of the other boy's hand against his cheek. "But it feels so real. Every time... it feels so real." He whispered, his voice barely audible. “And it always ends in the same way. Tyler.. staring me down with this.. inhuman smirk stretching his lips right before he plunges his long, sharp claws into my gut…”

Pugsley's frown deepened, his heart twisting with guilt and sorrow. The thought of his friend having to go through that time after time...

"Hey, hey. Focus on me. Open your eyes." He softly commanded. "You're okay. You're right here with me. You're safe and sound.” His thumb traced the outline of the boy's cheekbones, memorizing every detail. “Are you gonna be able to fall back asleep on your own?”

Eugene exhaled deeply, trying to focus on the other boy's touch and the feel of the sheets beneath him. "I... not right away, no," he admitted, his voice still a bit shaky. "I don't think I can."

He clenched the sheets tightly, the nightmare still etched into his mind. "Can I... ask you a favor? It’s… dumb and childish probably, and I wouldn’t blame you for saying no but, could you… stay in the same bed as me for the night? Just for tonight.”

Pugsley's breath hitched slightly, but he pushed down the weird fluttering feeling in his stomach and tried to focus on the other boy.

"Of course." He replied quietly, his fingers still tracing gently over his friend's sharp features. "I don't mind. Not at all." A small part of him rejoiced at the proposition, and he had to force down a grin.

Get a grip, Pugsley. Now isn't the time for that…

"You don't have to worry about me saying no. I'll stay in the same bed with you, I don't care if it makes us seem like kids." He assured his friend, patting his cheek lightly. "Lift up your blanket." He instructed gently.

Eugene reached for the blanket, pulling it up and shifting to make space on the bed. "Thanks." He murmured, his voice still slightly shaky.

He watched as Pugsley climbed into the bed beside him, the mattress dipping and creaking slightly under their combined weight. The feeling of another person's presence on the bed brought a small measure of comfort, and he found himself scooting closer to Pugsley almost subconsciously.

He didn't know if Eugene could hear how loud his blood was pumping, or feel the way his fingers trembled slightly as he carefully wrapped an arm around his friend's waist under the blankets. He pushed down the strange feelings and instead focused on keeping his voice steady and soft.

"Get comfortable." He whispered. “I’m not sure if i’m much of a cuddler or not…”

A small, soft hum escaped Eugene’s lips as he pressed himself against Pugsley's chest, one hand subconsciously finding its way under the other boy's T-shirt and tracing idle circles against the smooth skin.

"This is nice…" He murmured, his words a bit muffled as he buried his face against the other boy's neck.

Pugsley fought to keep his breathing steady, though he was pretty sure the other boy could feel the way his pulse was quickening. He’s officially learned that he likes it when Eugene touches other places that aren’t just his hands. “Y-Yeah, it is…" He managed to choke out, his arm instinctively tightening around Eugene's waist. "Comfortable." He mumbled, shifting slightly to pull the boy even closer.

"Comfy.. and warm." Eugene mumbled against his friend's neck, his eyelids growing heavier with each passing second. "Don't let go. Please..."

"I won't," Pugsley replied, his voice barely above a whisper. He pulled Eugene as close as he possibly could, as if he was trying to meld their bodies into one. "I won't." He repeated quietly, his chin resting on top of the boy's head.

He could feel the tension slowly leaving Eugene's body as he relaxed in his arms, his chest rising and falling steadily against his own. It gave him a strange sense of pride, knowing that he was able to calm his friend down and bring him comfort after the nightmare.

Gradually, Pugsley's eyes began to grow heavy, the comfort and warmth of their embrace lulling him into a state of drowsiness. He found himself unconsciously nuzzling his face into the top of Eugene's head, breathing in the faint scent of the boy's shampoo.

Honey.

Chapter Text

Pugsley wasn’t a jealous person, he was simply weary of newcomers. Especially when it came to newcomers befriending Eugene.

He wasn’t planning on doing anything irrational, he simply wanted to know their exact measurements in case they needed a last minute coffin!

He sat quietly at a table in the library, pretending to study while he watched a new kid make conversation with Eugene. They were talking about insects and which bug would win against the other, and Pugsley couldn't help the way his heart twisted in his chest as he watched them laugh. He clenched his fists tightly on the surface of the table, his eyes narrowing into a glare.

He didn't like how friendly the boy looked, how he was smiling in Eugene's direction. He especially didn’t like the way Eugene was smiling back.

He let out a frustrated sigh, dropping his pen on the table with a quiet clatter. He couldn't concentrate like this, not with the sight of Eugene spending time with someone else right in front of him.

He knew he was acting like a child, but he couldn't help the way his heart clenched whenever he saw the new kid smile at Eugene. Why was he so bothered by it? They were just talking, there was no harm in it.

But he wanted to be the one making Eugene laugh like that. Not the new kid.

His father’s words began to echo within the forefront of his mind.

”Remember, boys, the friends you make here will be your brothers for life. You’ll kill for each other, and provide alibis.”

The new kid's hand came down on Eugene's shoulder in a friendly gesture, and Pugsley's fist clenched even tighter. He felt a wave of inexplicable anger rise within him, like an instinct was slowly starting to surface.

He wanted to be the one Eugene turned to when he wanted to talk. He wanted to be the one Eugene laughed with.

He abruptly stood to his feet, scooting back his chair as he exited the library with a couple plans cooking up in his mind.

Pugsley wasn’t familiar with woodcutting or construction work, but he was trying his best to sculpt the perfect coffin shape out of dark wood. He was right outside Eugene’s bee shed, wanting to be far enough away from everyone so he wouldn’t be interrupted.

He worked with meticulous care, carving and shaping the wood with steady hands. He made sure each corner was precise and every detail was exactly how he wanted it to be.

As he worked away, a small voice in the back of his mind questioned his actions. What was he doing?

He was carving a coffin. He was carving a coffin to put an innocent student into, simply because he felt a little jealous. But the thought of losing Eugene to someone else was a thousand times worse to him, so he continued to work.

The sun slowly started to set by the time he had finished carving, and now he was meticulously polishing the dark wood to give it a nice shine.

He paused, pulling back to admire his work. It looked wonderful, even after he drilled on the metal door with no breathing holes.

Pugsley carefully set the wood down, running his hands over the smooth surface. He felt an odd sense of pride as he looked at his work. It was almost calming. He smiled slightly. That was, until he heard a voice call out from the side of the shed.

"Pugsley?"

Eugene approached him curiously, arms folded across his chest. He raised a brow at the sight of the coffin Pugsley had crafted.

"…What are you doing?" He asked warily, tilting his head to the side. “What’s with the uh… coffin..?”

Pugsley quickly turned away from the coffin, trying to shield it from Eugene's view. "N-Nothing," he replied with a nervous laugh, trying his best to appear casual as he ran a hand through his hair. "I was just- um... just messing around, y'know, just crafting things..."

Eugene took a few steps forward, attempting to peer past him to get a better look at the coffin. “Crafting things, huh?" He repeated, his tone laced with suspicion. "Since when do you craft coffins as a hobby, Pugsley?"

Pugsley quickly stepped in front of the coffin, trying to block Eugene's view from it. "Since... today," he replied awkwardly, a few beads of sweat beginning to form on the back his neck. "I decided I wanted to try something new. What's it to you?" He added defensively, though there was an edge of nervousness in his tone.

"Pugsley..." His roommate started slowly, his voice filled with a mix of concern and disbelief. "We both know you're lying. Cut the crap and just tell me the real reason you've got a coffin here. And what’s… what’s with the metal door??”

Pugsley clenched his fists tightly, his heart beating furiously in his chest. He was torn between telling Eugene the truth or trying to make something up.

But he knew that Eugene was too smart for him, and he would probably figure out the truth no matter how much he tried to deflect.

He let out a frustrated sigh, hanging his head and dropping the facade.

"A-Alright fine. You got me," he muttered, his voice laced with guilt and shame. "But I swear, I can explain.. but you might freak out..”

"Freak out?" Eugene repeated, his voice low and careful. "You've got a coffin with no breathing holes, Pugsley. I'm already kinda freaking out here, so you might as well just tell me what the hell is going on."

Pugsley took a deep breath. "I... I was making this coffin for... well, to put someone in." He admitted, his voice growing quieter with each word. He kept his head hanging, unable to bring himself to look Eugene in the eye.

"What..?" Eugene managed to croak out, his voice tinged with a mix of worry and dread. "You.. you mean...a real person?" He asked slowly, his eyes darting down to the coffin. "Y-YOU KILLED SOMEBODY!?”

Pugsley quickly shook his head, waving his hands frantically in denial. "No, no, no! I didn't kill anyone, I swear!" He protested, his voice rising in pitch. "N-Not yet at least!”

Eugene's expression morphed from fear to confusion. He stared at the other boy incredulously. "Not... yet..?" He repeated, his voice faltering slightly. "Pugsley, what the hell does that mean?"

Pugsley was really starting to dig a hole for himself now, and it wasn’t the one he had already dugout beforehand.

He fidgeted with his hands nervously, his eyes darting around as if trying to avoid Eugene's piercing gaze. "I... um... alright, I might have had... plans." He swallowed hard, struggling to find the right words. "Plans to... get rid of someone... and the coffin... is for them." He admitted, his voice low and almost sheepish.

"Are you insane?!" Eugene exclaimed, his voice rising in volume. "You're seriously plotting to hurt someone- to KILL someone??" He took a step backwards, putting some distance between himself and Pugsley. "Why the hell would you do that?!"

Pugsley flinched, his shoulders hunching forward defensively. "I had to." He muttered weakly, his eyes glued to the ground. "I felt threatened. I wanted to get rid of them before they got to you..." He admitted quietly, wincing with every word he spoke.

Eugene's disbelief quickly turning into anger. "So you thought committing a freaking murder would be the solution?!" He yelled, his voice cracking. "Do you even hear how crazy that sounds?!"

He let out a frustrated huff, running a hand through his hair. "Jesus, Pugsley... I mean, I appreciate the concern and all, but this... this is too much! This is madness!" His brows knitted together for a moment, putting two and two together. “Wait a minute, is this… about Jason? The boy i’ve been hanging around with??”

Pugsley blinked slowly, squinting. “His name is Jason? Huh…”

Eugene’s jaw dropped. “YOU DIDN’T EVEN KNOW HIS NAME AND YOU WERE STILL GOING TO KILL HIM!?”

Pugsley let out a strangled groan of frustration. "Okay, fine! I didn't know his name! What do you want me to say!? I was jealous, alright?!" He yelled, finally lifting his head to glare at Eugene. "I saw you two talking and laughing together, having a nice little time and it bothered me because the both of you looked so close! I didn't want to lose you!"

Eugene's irritation faltered as surprise and realization washed over him, replacing the initial anger. “Jealous... You were... jealous." He muttered, his voice laced with a mixture of bewilderment and understanding. “You were jealous... because of me and Jason?"

Pugsley nodded, his expression turning sullen as he met Eugene's gaze. "Y-Yeah... I was." He muttered, his voice filled with both shame and vulnerability. "I hated it. I hated it so much when I saw the two of you getting close. And the way you were laughing together... it made my heart clench in a way i’ve never felt before. It… scared me.”

Eugene slowly closed the distance between them until he was standing right in front of the other boy. "Pugsley.." he murmured, his voice gentle, "why didn't you just say anything? You know you could've talked to me about how you were feeling." He placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.

Pugsley let out a sigh, shaking his head dejectedly. "I know, I know I could have." He groaned, looking up to meet Eugene's gaze. "But I didn't wanna seem possessive or clingy, y’know? I didn't want to come off as some kind of creepy weirdo with weird attachment issues…"

"I get it, Pugsley. I do." Eugene reassured him softly, his hand giving the other boy's shoulder a light squeeze. "But you don't have to feel like that with me. You can be honest about your feelings. It doesn't make you clingy or weird. It makes you human. And honestly, I would've appreciated your honesty over this."

Pugsley nodded in agreement, letting out a deep sigh. "You're right. You're right." He murmured, his voice soft. "I should've told you how I was feeling, instead of letting my jealousy take over. I... I'm sorry." He muttered, looking up at Eugene with a sheepish expression.

"I appreciate the apology." He said warmly, his hand still on Pugsley's shoulder. "But no more going to extreme lengths like this, okay? If something is bothering you, you talk to me. No more plotting to kill innocent people just because you're feeling jealous. Got it?"

Pugsley nodded, feeling small under Eugene's caring gaze. "I got it," he replied softly, his eyes dropping to the ground again. "No more plotting... no more extreme measures. From here on out, i'm gonna talk to you about everything. I'm going to try to communicate better, I swear." He looked up at Eugene sheepishly, a hint of a pleading look in his eyes before closing the distance and hugging him.

"Good." Eugene whispered softly, gently rubbing Pugsley's back. "You don't have to feel like you have to bottle up your feelings or resort to drastic measures to keep me around. I'm here for you, Pugsley. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."

Pugsley buried his face into Eugene's shoulder, relishing in the warmth and tenderness of his friend's embrace. He exhaled deeply, feeling the weight in his chest start to lighten as he parted his lips to plant an apologetic bite to Eugene’s skin.

"You know, you could just hug people like a normal person." Eugene said teasingly, his hand resting on the back of Pugsley's head.

The faintest hint of a smile crossed Pugsley's face as he kept his face buried against Eugene's shoulder. "Where's the fun in that?" He mumbled his voice muffled by the fabric of Eugene's shirt.

"Of course you'd say that." Eugene replied fondly, his hand moving up to gently run his fingers through the other boy's hair. "So stubborn." He muttered affectionately, the corner of his lip tugging upward into a small smile.

"And you're way too patient with me." Pugsley resorted quietly, tilting his head to nuzzle the crook of Eugene's neck.

Chapter Text

“Eugene… would you still like me if I was a worm?” Pugsley dropped the question out of nowhere, right as they were both getting ready for bed.

Eugene, in the midst of folding up his clothes, paused. He blinked a few times, a bewildered look crossing his face. "I... what?" He asked incredulously, turning to look at Pugsley. "You're asking me if I'd still like you as a... as a worm? What kind of question is that?"

Pugsley shrugged, his expression completely serious, as if he was asking a perfectly reasonable question. "It's a valid question." He said simply, crossing his arms. "If I was a worm, would you still like me?" He repeated the question, his gaze fixated on Eugene. "Or would you go looking for a better worm?"

Eugene shook his head in disbelief, a mixture of exasperation and fondness in his expression. "Pugsley," he said with a sigh, trying (and failing) to suppress a small smile. "I would give you the most biggest, decorative enclosure any worm has ever been in.”

Pugsley's eyes widened, his expression morphing into one of complete surprise.

"Seriously..?" He asked, his voice tinted with faint disbelief. "You'd get me a fancy enclosure? Just like that?" He tilted his head to the side, studying Eugene's face. The expression on his face was a mix of curiosity and hope, as if he was testing the boundaries of Eugene's loyalty.

Eugene nodded firmly, the small smile widening as he met Pugsley's gaze. "Absolutely." He replied with conviction, folding his arms across his chest. "I'd give you the most luxurious worm mansion this world has ever seen. The finest soil, the most lavish decorations. You'd live like a king, Pugsley. A king-worm."

Pugsley could almost picture it in his mind, a luxurious enclosure with all the finest worm amenities.

"And..." He began, taking a cautious step forward. "You wouldn't get bored or fed up with me? I mean, I'd be pretty boring as a worm. No hands, no arms, no legs... just a wiggly body." He added quietly.

"Pugsley, you're ridiculous." Eugene said with affection, a small laugh escaping his lips. "You think I'd get bored of you just because you're a worm? I like you for who you are, not just because you have arms and legs and all that."

He leaned over, reaching out to playfully boop Pugsley on the nose. "And let's be honest, you're already pretty wiggly anyway."

Pugsley's face flushed, his nose scrunched up as he playfully batted Eugene's hand away. "Hey-" He huffed, a pout forming on his face. "I'm not that wiggly." He grumbled, folding his arms grumpily across his chest.

"Oh, really?" Eugene teased, poking Pugsley lightly in the side. "You’re like the definition of ADHD, dude. Can’t sit still for a second.”

Pugsley swatted at Eugene's hand again, letting out a huff of protest. “I can sit still!" He protested, his pout deepening. "I am perfectly capable of sitting quietly for long periods of time." He tried to defend himself. “I’ll even ask around tomorrow for a third opinion!”

Eugene raised an eyebrow in disbelief, the corner of his mouth tugging upward into a slight smirk. "Really now?" He said, crossing his arms across his chest. "Who exactly are you planning on asking to corroborate this very debatable claim of yours?"

Pugsley paused for a moment, thinking of the perfect person. A moment passed before it suddenly hit him, and a mischievous grin appeared on his face.

"I'm gonna ask Enid." He declared confidently, lifting his chin up in a cocky manner. "She'll agree with me." He added, looking at Eugene expectantly.

Eugene pushed himself underneath his blankets, turning onto his side. “Sure, pick the one person who’ll probably agree with anything.”

Pugsley followed suit, climbing into his own bed and pulling the blankets up around his shoulders. He let out a huff of mild annoyance.

"She does not agree with just anything." He protested stubbornly. "She has opinions, and she's honest. And she's gonna tell me that I am in fact capable of sitting still if I really want to."

“What do you MEAN I fidget a lot!?” Pugsley exclaimed incredulously, hands slamming down onto the lunch table like he’s a defendant in a court trial.

Enid set aside her sandwich with an awkward smile. “Sorry, Pugsley! I don’t wanna lie to you or anything…” Nervous eyes dart to look at Wednesday, who’s sat beside her. “Brother, not even a trained sniper could get a headshot on your fidgeting form. Probably why you still live today… hmph.”

Pugsley groaned, slumping against the table. He knew Enid was going to side with Eugene, but hearing it out loud just confirmed it.

"Great…" He muttered under his breath, a pout forming on his face. He glanced back at Eugene, who was giving him a look that said "I told you so" with a small, smug smile.

"Shut it," Pugsley mumbled, pointing a finger at him with a playful glare. "I’ll just have to find someone else…”

“Uhhhh… I wouldn’t.. know?” Was Ajax’s response, readjusting his beanie with one hand as he twirled his pencil with the other. “Why’re you asking me?”

Pugsley rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest. “Because I need an unbiased opinion." He replied simply, shifting his weight. "Enid is too nice, she said she's afraid to hurt my feelings, and Eugene is too... biased." He let out a huff, his chin lifting. "You don't care about either of those things, so spill. Am I a hyperactive mess or aren't I."

Ajax shrugged, looking the other boy up and down with a contemplative expression.

"To be honest Pugsley, you're a fidgety ball of energy most of the time. Like a puppy." He said bluntly, spinning his pencil around. "I'm not even sure if you have to capability to sit still for five minutes straight."

Pugsley's face flushed, a mixture of annoyance and embarrassment coloring his cheeks. "I… I can totally sit still for five minutes." He protested weakly, a stubborn pout forming on his face. "I'm not a puppy, Ajax. I have control over my own limbs."

Ajax tilted his head, arching a brow. “To be fair, I also fidget like crazy. Check it.” He held out one hand to show off his fingers, exposing the reddish skin around his fingernails from picking at them often.

"Yeah, alright fine, you're pretty fidgety too…” Pugsley admitted grudgingly. "But that doesn't change the fact that I'm not some hyperactive puppy."

Ajax let his hand droop back down, rolling his eyes. “Look, if you want an answer that’ll agree with you, then how about you go look for someone who’ll give that? Someone who has to agree with you.”

"Like who?" Pugsley asked with a hint of skepticism, leaning against the table. "Everyone I've asked so far has given me the same stupid answer…” he grumbled, crossing his arms with a huff.

Although, that did get him thinking. Maybe he could rig his own argument… ask someone who knows little to nothing about him. That way, he’ll HAVE to have someone on his side!

“You’re so right, Ajax.” He murmured, a wide smile tugging on his lips as he shot up from his seat.

“…I am?” The taller teen blinked.

It took some lying and a whole lot of negotiation, but getting into the psychiatric hospital was an accomplishment of itself and a huge success. He was led down a white corridor by a nice lady who showed him the way to the exact person who he wanted to speak to.

Eventually, the lady stopped outside a room, her hand hovering over the door handle. “I’ll be monitoring from a hidden camera, just to make sure nothing bad happens. You’ll be safe, he’s chained down and unable to move far.”

Pugsley nodded slowly, trying to keep his expression neutral despite the growing sense of unease building in his chest. He swallowed, his throat feeling dry all of a sudden.

"Right. Yeah. Safe." He managed to get out, trying to ignore the fact that the patient inside was chained down.

The lady smiled at him reassuringly before slowly pushing open the heavy door of the dark room.

It looked like a dungeon, or someone’s unkempt basement with a sturdy glass barrier cutting the room in half. In the middle, a man who nearly killed his sister and a whole lot of others, including Eugene.

Tyler Galpin.

Tyler was staring listlessly at the wall when Pugsley stepped inside, his face expressionless and devoid of any recognizable emotion.

Despite the situation, Pugsley couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation. This was his opportunity to get a different answer, one that would support his argument with Eugene and Enid. He took a deep breath, forcing a confident smile on his face.

"Well… hey there..." He began awkwardly, taking a few hesitant steps closer to the glass.

Tyler raised an eyebrow curiously, his gaze narrowing as he studied Pugsley's movements as his head turned.

“….Wha- I… you… b- why-…” His mouth opened and closed rapidly like a fish out of water, bewildered as he stared the younger boy down. “H-Hello??”

Pugsley took a few more steps closer, stopping in front of the glass pane that separated them. "Yeah, hey." He repeated casually, shoving his hands into his pockets. "You… remember me, right? I’m Wednesday’s brother, Pugsley.” He’d reach out to shake his hand, but y’know, that seemed kind of impossible right now.

Tyler lightly chuckled and nodded, regaining his composure. "Yeah, yeah, I remember. Hard to forget Wednesday's little brother." He paused for a moment, his eyes narrowing in skepticism. "…Why are you here..? She didn’t put you up to this, did she?”

Pugsley shook his head, waving off the notion. "No, no, she has no idea I'm even here. She'd probably freak out if she knew I was here talking to you." He chuckled a little, shifting slightly.

"I, um… I have a question for you, if that's alright." He began, his voice a little more hesitant.

Tyler’s curiosity increased by the second, his brow now fully raised as he leaned forward, giving Pugsley his full attention. He nodded for him to continue. "Shoot."

Pugsley took a deep breath, steeling himself. "Alright uhh…” He began, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I'm having an argument with Eugene and Enid about something. And uh… I need your honest opinion." He added, the hesitance coming back into his voice slightly. "Do you see me being a hyperactive person? Like… okay, imagine you’re a Nevermore student, and you see me in a crowd of people. What do you think I would be doing in that exact moment?”

Tyler leaned back, the faint smirk returning as he studied Pugsley like a puzzle he was just starting to solve. The collar around his neck clinked softly as he tilted his head.

"Oh, man, you're asking the expert here…” he teased, his eyes narrowing in playful consideration. "Let's see… if I were a Nevermore student, and I caught a glimpse of you, well, I would definitely be thinking of you as the embodiment of hyperactivity. I'd probably see you running around like a human tornado, causing chaos and mayhem.. like your sister, except more… lively. You have life to you.”

Pugsley's eye twitched.

“God… DAMN IT!” He kicked the nearest wall with a grunt, surprisingly startling Tyler in the process as he threw his arms up. “I GIVE UP! Every person i’ve asked has said the same thing, I can’t win!”

"Whoa there, buddy..” Tyler said with a smirk, raising his hands defensively. "So let me guess, you're claiming you're not hyperactive, and the rest of the world disagrees?"

"Yes! Exactly!" Pugsley huffed, crossing his arms in frustration. "I am not hyperactive, I'm perfectly calm and cool! I can be still for extended periods of time." He stubbornly protested, giving a little defiant-looking stomp with his foot as if to prove his point. “I just… wanted Eugene to agree with me. But he didn’t, and I made our small argument into a massive one!”

Tyler’s dark eyes squinted. “You’re… friends with the guy I gutted? He lived??”

Pugsley shifted his weight from one foot to the other, feeling the slightest sting of awkwardness.

"Um… yeah… he… survived." He muttered, shifting his gaze away. "He's… recovered, now. He's walking, moving again. He's… completely fine. A bit traumatized, but fine.”

Tyler leaned forward, his expression darkening as he stared at Pugsley with a twisted mix of disbelief and amusement.

"...You're telling me that little nerd Eugene Otinger… survived me? " He let out a low, rumbling chuckle that bordered on unnerving. "Huh. Never thought he had it in him."

He tilted his head, eyes glinting with wicked curiosity. "...Does he still scream at night? I hope he does.”

Pugsley's eyes narrowed, his blood simmering beneath skin. "Shut up. Don't talk about him like that." He growled out, a hint of defensiveness in his voice as he pointed a finger at Tyler. "He… He's doing great. Better than you, at least. He’s got people who have his back, unlike you.”

Tyler raised an eyebrow, taken aback by Pugsley's sudden show of defiance. "Hah, wow, someone's upset ," he retorted, a smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. "Seems like I hit a nerve there, didn't I? Guess little Eugene's got himself a little guardian puppy. How cute.”

Pugsley's jaw ticked, and his knuckles went white from how tightly his hands clenched into fists.

"I’m NOT a puppy! Puppies don’t have the strength to tear out flesh from a person’s throat, I DO!” He slammed his fists down against the glass, rattling the barrier. “And i’ll make sure it hurts like nothing you’ve ever felt before! And after you’ve bled out, i’ll feed your body to my pet zombie! You’ll look unrecognizable by the time ANYONE finds you!” He snarled, warm breath fogging up the glass quickly. “You’ll NEVER hurt him again, Tyler! NEVER!”

Tyler leaned back slowly, the smirk never leaving his face… only widening now, impressed.

"...Damn," he murmured, voice low and rough. "And here I thought you were just the weird little brother who ate bugs for fun."

He tilted his head, eyes glinting like broken glass. "You've got bite under all that baby fat. Didn't think you had it in ya." He chuckled darkly. "But let me make one thing clear, if I ever get out? " He let the chain on his cuff rattle once, sharply. “ I'm coming for Eugene first. Just to watch you lose it. "

Pugsley’s face twisted with a mixture of anger and protective rage, his entire frame tense with barely-contained fury.

"You'll never escape. You're locked up like the monster you are. And if you even so much as look in Eugene's direction, I'll kill you myself." He took a step closer to the glass, leaning forward with a low growl. "I'm not some weak kid you can mess with. You have no idea the lengths I'm willing to go to protect him. I tried burying a guy in a coffin just last week, don’t think I won’t do the same to you.”

Tyler's smirk faded into an emotionless mask for a split second, a flicker of surprise briefly breaking through.

He slowly leaned forward as well, eyes boring into Pugsley's.

"...You've got some spine, I'll give you that." He said, his voice eerily calm. "But the others were definitely right about you. You really are goddamn hyperactive.”

Pugsley took in a deep breath, exhaling slowly through his mouth as he turned around. “Then I guess i’ll have to wear it like a badge of honor.” He didn’t look back, not bothering to give Tyler one last glimpse at his face as he headed for the metal door.

Chapter Text

"Hey!” Eugene greeted as he entered their dorm room for the night, raising an eyebrow the second he caught wind of Pugsley’s defeated expression. "You look like you've been through the wringer. Don't tell me you've been asking all around about sitting still all day, have you?" He carefully closed the door behind him and set aside his things, taking a seat at the edge of his bed.

Pugsley groaned, dropping the act and letting his shoulders sag forwards.

"Don't… start. Please." He said with an exhausted tone, glancing over at Eugene tiredly. "Every single person said the same thing. Every. Single. Person." He sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "I just wanted someone to take my side for once…"

"You're really that upset that no one's agreeing with you on this whole sitting still thing?" Eugene asked, his tone laced with a mixture of amusement and fondness. "Come on, dude, you've got to admit, you're not exactly the pinnacle of stillness."

Pugsley groaned louder, slumping onto the edge of his bed and flopping backwards to stare up at the ceiling.

"Ugh, I KNOW that!" He said, crossing his arms over his forehead. "I know I can't sit still to save my life. But I just wanted at least ONE person to agree! Is that too much to ask for?!?" He grumbled, frustrated. “I’ve asked everyone! Enid, my sister, you, Ajax, Tyler—“

His mouth clamped shut like a bear trap going off.

Eugene’s once tan face paled like a ghost. It was kind of impressive, actually.

“T-T-Tyler…? Tyler… Galpin..? Th-The one locked away…?” He stood to his feet slowly, visibly shaking like he had been personally attacked by an earthquake. “The Hyde that gutted me!?”

Pugsley winced, knowing he had just royally screwed up.

"Uhhh… yeah… that Tyler Galpin…" He said slowly, sitting back upright as his eyes darted away from Eugene's gaze. He suddenly became intensely interested in a loose thread on the hem of his shirt.

The taller boy slowly, shakily made his way towards Pugsley until he was towering over the other boy. He was still shaking like a leaf on a windy day, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. “Why the hell would you go and ask him.. of all people for an opinion…?”

Pugsley had never seen him so shaken. It was a little unnerving. "…Well… I just… I just wanted one person to agree. Just one. And I thought he'd give a different opinion… he's, y'know, crazy, maybe he'd have said something in my defense…" He tried weakly, shifting a little as he spoke, realizing he was now backed into a corner both physically and verbally.

Eugene's eyes narrowed as he towered over the boy, anger flaring within him. He was still shaking fiercely, his breathing coming out in shallow, shaky gasps. "You wanted a differing opinion and you thought the best person to ask was the psychotic, murderous Hyde locked away in some nut house?!"

"Well… I, um…" Pugsley fidgeted nervously, unsure of what to say next to keep from having Eugene's wrath directed directly at him. He knew he just screwed up big time, but he was a bit too prideful to admit it just yet. "I just- I mean, uh—"

"Just what?! You just thought it was a good idea to stroll up to a literal lunatic and ask him for his opinion?!" Eugene grabbed him roughly by the shoulders, his grip tight and shaking. "Are you out of your goddamn mind?!"

Pugsley tensed up, his heart hammering violently in his chest. He had never, ever seen Eugene so mad before. He was honestly starting to get a bit scared.

"Ow, hey—" he protested weakly, reaching up to try and pry Eugene's hands from his shoulders. "I didn't- ow, hey, ease off— I… alright! Alright, I get it! I messed up!" He sputtered, eyes widening slightly. "You're… you're really hurting my shoulders, dude—"

Eugene's grip tightened instead of easing up, his nails digging into Pugsley's skin. "Do you have any idea how batshit CRAZY that was?!" He shook the boy in desperation, completely blinded by anger. "The absolute LAST person you should ever talk to is that goddamn monster!!"

Pugsley winced out in pain, the nails digging into his skin starting to sting.

"You're… you're right! You're right, it… it was stupid! I'm sorry, alright?!" He said, a hint of fear now entering his voice. "Can you just… please stop trying to dig your fingers into my shoulders…? I-I already learned my lesson!" He winced again, trying to wriggle out of Eugene's grasp.

Eugene’s hands clenched the fabric of Pugsley's shirt tighter, his eyes wide and unblinking. "You could've been KILLED! Do you understand that? That monster would've ripped you to pieces if he'd wanted to! Do you not understand the danger you just put yourself in!?"

Pugsley nodded quickly, his heart racing to try and keep pace with Eugene's anger. "I get it! I get it, just— stop trying to break my shoulders! Please! You're going to leave bruises!" He pleaded, his voice cracking slighting with fear. He felt like he was a bunny, cornered by a lion. "I was stupid, I screwed up, I learned my lesson, can you please let go now?"

Eugene was snapped out of his blinding rage, and realized how tightly he was gripping the boy. He quickly let go, taking a step backwards.

He stood in stunned silence, breathing heavily and staring at Pugsley. “I’m- i’m sorry, Pugsley- I just- I can’t believe you would… do that.”

Pugsley let out a shaky sigh of relief, rubbing at his shoulders to try and relieve some of the pain. He'd definitely have two massive, sore bruises in the morning. He averted his gaze to the floor. "I… I know. I know, it was stupid. I don't know what I was thinking." He said dejectedly, running a hand through his hair.

Eugene remained standing, still visibly trembling. "It was more than stupid, Pugsley. It was reckless, it was dangerous, it was borderline deadly-“ He paused, his breath hitching. "Please... just don't ever do anything like that again. I can't lose you."

Pugsley nodded, his eyes still glued to the floor. "Okay. Okay, I promise I won't do it again. I swear." He said softly, his shoulders slumping slightly. He didn't dare to even attempt to look him in the eyes, now ashamed of his impulsive actions.

"Look at me, Pugsley." Eugene said firmly, taking a step closer. "I need you to look me in the eyes and promise me you won't do that again. I'm serious." His voice was softer, but just as firm.

Pugsley obeyed, lifting his gaze to meet Eugene's eyes. He swallowed hard, his heart heavy with guilt and shame.

"I promise. I promise, I won't do it again. Not ever." He said quietly, sincerity clear in his voice as he looked into Eugene's eyes. "I swear. I'm sorry, Eugene. I was stupid and reckless, and I'm… God, i'm so damn sorry. Really."

Eugene's eyes searched his for a moment, trying to detect any hint of deception. He sighed deeply, readjusting his glasses. "You scared the hell out of me, dude…" he said, his voice still shaking but laced with relief. "You're a reckless idiot sometimes, Pugsley."

Pugsley winced again, looking away from Eugene like a scolded child. He hated the disappointment in Eugene's voice… it made his heart clench.

"I know… I'm sorry." He murmured for what felt like the millionth time, fiddling nervously with one of the loose threads on his shirt. "I was acting like an idiot, I… I wasn't thinking right…" He swallowed hard again, trying to fight down the lump in his throat.

Eugene lifted a hand up to Pugsley’s face, cupping the side of it. "You really weren't thinking. It's like all of your common sense just decides to go on a trip sometimes." He gave a weak smile, drawing small circles on Pugsley’s skin with his thumb.

Pugsley leaned his face against the teen’s hand, relishing in the gentle touch. It always soothed him.

He huffed quietly, a hint of a smile tugging on his lips. "Shut up, you know what I'm like." He murmured, the guilt still gnawing at his gut. "I… I just wanted to win that stupid argument. But I never should've gone to him. I should've asked literally anyone else to agree with me. I…" He let out a sigh, closing his eyes.

Eugene's gaze turned fond. "That stubborn, bullheaded side of yours gets you into a bunch of trouble…" He teased, his thumb resuming his circular motions across Pugsley's cheek. “I need to start checking in on your plans more often…”

A small laugh escaped Pugsley's lips, the corner of his mouth turning up into a lopsided grin. His eyes fluttered open, meeting Eugene's gaze again.

"Ah, come on. I don't need someone watching my every move." He grumbled, trying to sound indignant but failing miserably. “…But I guess if you have to…”

"Oh, I absolutely have to." Eugene said with faux seriousness. "You're a walking disaster waiting to happen, you know. I can't trust you out on your own for even one second without getting into trouble."

Pugsley rolled his eyes jokingly, pouting slightly. He didn't appreciate how right Eugene was.

"Please. I am not that chaotic." He protested weakly, shifting a little under Eugene's touch. "And I can survive without supervision, you know. I'm not that bad."

He was. He absolutely was that bad.

Chapter Text

Ever since his last failed attempt at doing something right, Pugsley had officially decided that he was a walking disaster and possibly a hazard to society as a whole. Therefore, he’ll be clinging to Eugene from now on.

Yes, sleeping counts.

No, he will not think too hard about it.

Eugene had noticed almost immediately how glued to his side Pugsley had become, but he didn't protest. He was pretty used to Pugsley's hyperactivity and clinginess, and he kind of liked the fact that the shorter boy was seeking him out for comfort.

But still, he couldn't help but find it odd.

"You're like a little shadow," he commented with a slight grin as they walked down the corridor toward lunch. "You've been following me around like a puppy all day."

Pugsley huffed quietly, sticking close to Eugene's side. He couldn't put it into words, but something about being close to the taller boy made him feel more… grounded. Protected. Wanted.

"Sh-shut up, dude. I'm just… I'm just bored, that's all." He grumbled, refusing to look Eugene in the eye. "Besides… it's not like you're complaining, so shut it."

Eugene scrunched his nose slightly, eyes narrowing into suspicious slits like he was trying to see through Pugsley’s soul. “You usually go off and do dangerous things when you’re bored, dude. It’s in your nature, right?” He asked curiously.

"…Yeah, well, maybe I just want to cling to you because you give the best hugs or something." Pugsley muttered, glancing up at Eugene with a grumble. "It's not… it's not like I'm suddenly completely dependent on you now or anything." The way he was clinging onto Eugene's arm said otherwise, though.

Eugene cocked his head like a dog, raising a brow as his eyes traveled down the arm in question. “Y’know, just because I said to stay out of trouble doesn’t mean you have to completely abandon your old ways.” He stated softly, stopping in his tracks. “I just want you to be… safer, not give up on what makes you who you are.”

Pugsley stopped as well, his body tensing up at the thought of maybe, possibly disappointing Eugene again. The very idea made his heart twist in his chest.

He took a slow, deep breath, trying to calm the anxiety bubbling beneath his skin. "I… I know that." He said quietly, his grip on Eugene's arm tightening ever so slightly, like he was holding on for dear life. "It's just…" he paused, shifting awkwardly.

He looked away, avoiding any possible eye contact.

"It's just… what if I screw up again? Like… what if I get you hurt again or… I dunno, like…" He bit his lip, his heart thudding in his chest. "What if I do something worse this time?" He murmured the words nervously, still staring down at the ground like it was the most interesting thing in the world.

Eugene’s lips tugged into a frown as he reached out to gently grab the other boy by his shoulders. “Well… then how about you tell me what you wanna do beforehand? Run your ideas by me first.. and i’ll tell you if they seem dangerous or not.” He suggested with a small shrug.

Pugsley hesitated for a moment, his eyes darting up to meet Eugene's before darting back down again. He fidgeted with his own fingers, biting the inside of his cheek as he thought about the offer.

After a few quiet seconds, he slowly nodded, although reluctantly.

"…Alright, alright, fine…" he agreed begrudgingly. "Maybe… maybe that'll actually help. Just…" He swallowed his pride for a moment, looking back up at Eugene. "Promise me you'll give your honest opinion. Don't just say something is a good idea just to please me."

Eugene held up one hand and placed his other on his heart. “I, Eugene Otinger, swear to only tell the truth and nothing but the truth.” He firmly stated, his lips breaking out into a smirk only a second later.

He'd deny it, but the silly oath made him feel a bit better. "Alright, fine. I'll… I'll try and share my ideas with you from now on."

“Hey, Eugene! I was thinking…” Pugsley set his books down with a loud thud on their shared library table, eyes glistening with mischief. “How about we go out later tonight and start a forest fire?”

Eugene had already been wincing from the loud noise he made, but his expression only further soured as he shot him a look of distress. “You mean… a regular bonfire, right…?” He asked slowly.

Pugsley had the audacity to look confused, like he was completely baffled by the response. “What? A… a regular? Why would- no, dude, of course I mean a forest fire. Like a big one!" He paused, noticing the look on Eugene's face. "What? It'll look cool…" He grinned, nudging the taller boy with an elbow. "You can sit and watch the chaos while I start it-"

“Pugsley, no! That’s illegal!” Eugene exclaimed in a hushed whisper, setting aside his book since lord knows he wouldn’t be getting anymore work done. “You’ll get arrested for arson!”

"But I never get caught for anything!" Pugsley protested, his grin faltering slightly at Eugene's scolding. He crossed his arms over his chest and pouted like a scolded child. "And besides, they won't even be able to prove anything if there's nothing left but ash and rubble after," he said with a dramatic scoff, waving a hand dismissively. "And think of how cool it's going to be! Seeing the forest go up in flames, the chaos of the firefighters trying to put all the fires out-"

“Pugsley.” Eugene whispered through gritted teeth, like an owner trying to get their dog to drop something.

Pugsley grumbled under his breath. "Yeesh, you don't have to give me the parent voice." He huffed, annoyed at how easily Eugene could get him to stop his mischief. He slumped in his seat, arms still folded stubbornly over his chest. "You're such a buzzkill…" He grumbled, kicking at the table in a childish manner.

“Okay then, how about I give you a hypothetical situation? What if one of the trees that catch on fire loses a huge branch, and it falls directly on top of me?” Eugene questioned, putting his hands together calmly as they rested on the table.

Pugsley's expression shifted from stubborn anger to worry within a second, his eyes widening slightly as he looked up at Eugene. He could picture the scenario perfectly, and the thought caused a cold feeling to drop down into his chest.

"Don't- don't say that…" he protested weakly, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. "There- there's no way that would happen, alright?" He said nervously, avoiding eye contact. "I'd make sure no branches fell on you.."

“No, you couldn’t.” Eugene countered, leaning against the wood slightly. “It’ll be impossible for you to know which trees will be safe and which won’t. All of them could be dangerous since it’s such an old forest, right? Any one of them could come barreling down right on top of me… all because of one dangerous fire.”

Pugsley swallowed hard, his anxiety only growing worse with each word. The worst case scenarios began to spin wildly through his mind as he imagined Eugene crushed by a burning tree, lifeless.

"No… no, no no no.." He mumbled under his breath, his fingers digging into his arms as he tried to keep his breathing steady. "That wouldn't happen… you'd get away… You- You'd run before it could happen, right? You'd be fine, you'd-" he trailed off, his voice cracking slightly.

A guilty look crossed Eugene’s face as he reached a hand out to grab onto one of Pugsley’s. “Hey, hey… don’t worry about it. As long as you don’t go through with it, none of that will happen.” He reassured softly, offering the boy a gentle smile. “And… and even though we can’t have a huge fire or anything doesn’t mean we can’t settle for a regular size fire, right?”

Pugsley let out a shaky sigh, his racing heart beginning to slow. He looked down at their intertwined hands, using Eugene's touch to ground himself. “….Yeah.. yeah, just- just a small fire, that's all." He mumbled quietly, reluctantly agreeing with Eugene. He lifted his gaze up a little, looking at the taller boy intently. "…And- and you'll stay far, far away from the fire, alright??"

Eugene rolled his eyes. “Pugsley, I know well enough about fire safety to know how close a person can get to one without being injured.”

Pugsley pouted again, his fingers unconsciously tightening their grip on Eugene's hand. He knew very well that Eugene was smarter, and more responsible. That made him feel like an even bigger idiot in comparison.

Pugsley hurried through the crowded halls, almost knocking over a group of students in his haste. Once he spotted Eugene's head of curly black hair, he practically launched himself at the other boy with a huff.

"Eugene!" He exclaimed, skidding to a stop in front of him. "Listen, I've got an idea, but I swear it's not another dangerous idea." He added the last part, making a face.

Eugene’s entire body visibly tensed at first, frantically looking him up and down like he’s checking him for any broken limbs before letting out a small sigh. “Y-Yeah? And what would that be?” He asked calmly despite him reaching up to nervously adjust his glasses.

"There's this… cave entrance, way out in the woods by Nevermore. I saw it the other day, when I was going out for a run. I wanna go in it-" Pugsley began, pausing to gauge Eugene's reaction for a moment.

And wow, did he look concerned!

“A… a cave? Like, a bear cave or just.. a random cave with nothing living inside it?” He murmured incredulously.

Pugsley gave a casual shrug, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. “I dunno. Probably a random cave, nothing lives in it as far as I can tell. That's why I wanna explore it." He answered, rocking back and forth slightly.

He paused for a moment, noticing the concern on Eugene's face. He sighed.

"It's not dangerous, dude. And I'll be extra-duper careful, alright?" He reassured, although his words sounded more like halfhearted comfort to ease his friend's worry.

“So what, you’re just gonna… explore a random cave without any equipment? You’re going to raw dog a CAVE!?” Eugene exclaimed, tightening his hold on the books he had with him like a lifeline.

"I don't need equipment." Pugsley argued, rolling his eyes again and sticking out his tongue teasingly. "Stop being a worry wart. It's just a cave, what's it gonna do? Collapse on me?" He asked jokingly, giving a shrug.

Eugene’s mouth opened and closed rapidly. “I- I- YES???! THEY CAN DO THAT, YES.”

"You're overreacting." Pugsley said with a wave of his hand, pushing himself off the wall and taking a step back. "It's perfectly safe. And the cave looked stable enough, didn't look like it was gonna be collapsing anytime soon. There's no risk, I promise." He said, although he had already made up his mind. Nothing Eugene said would stop him.

“Wait!” Eugene held up a hand, the limb darting down to grab his phone from his back pocket. “Before you go through with this, can I at the very least show you the risks of cave climbing??” He stammered anxiously, opening up YouTube as he frantically typed something into the search bar. “Trust me, you’ll need to see this.”

Did Eugene really think some little YouTube video could change his mind?? He seemed reluctant, but curiosity got the best of him nonetheless. “Fine, fine. Show me the great and terrible risk of cave climbing then." He muttered sarcastically.

It only took forty minutes.

Oh.

Oh dear god.

Low oxygen… hyperthermia… cardiac arrest… fatal blows to the head via small pebbles…

Pugsley was staring blankly at Eugene's phone screen, frozen in horror.

The thought of being trapped and crushed in an enclosed space suddenly wasn't looking so… ideal. He felt nauseous just thinking about it. He'd really been about to go in blind, to crawl and climb around a cave without any gear whatsoever. No wonder Eugene was so damn worried. He was acting like a complete idiot.

"…Oh." He mumbled, his eyes widening as he looked away from the screen. "…Oh, you've got to be kidding me.."

“The worst thing a man can do to his family is go cave climbing, TRUST ME.” Eugene stated firmly, one hand on Pugsley’s shoulder. He had set aside his books a while ago. “The second worst thing is cave diving.”

Pugsley let out a half laugh, half whine as he finally pulled his eyes away from the phone. Being reminded of the fact that he was being a complete moron was… embarrassing. He had to admit, Eugene had a point. This was a stupid ass idea.

But Pugsley wasn't a quitter. He was a stubborn brat.

"And- and what about the third worst thing a man can do?" He grumbled.

Eugene contemplated the question for a second, hand on chin as he used his other to slip the phone back into his pocket.

“Hmm… i’d say… leaving their best friend to worry about his wellbeing while they go off and do deadly activities?”

Pugsley groaned, bringing a hand up to rub at his forehead. “You're- You're just guilt tripping me." He protested weakly, although he knew deep down that it was working.

“Because it keeps you from doing dumb things!” Eugene argued right back with a light smile. “And I want to keep you alive for as long as possible, thank you.”

Pugsley's heart clenched in his chest. He could never win any kind of argument with Eugene if he pulled the "I care about you" card. The bastard knew that. He had him trapped. He groaned again, burying his face in his hands. "Ugh… damn it. I hate when you do that.." He muttered.

“Do what? Care about your wellbeing?? Because newsflash buddy, that isn’t going to stop!” Eugene declared, one hand reaching up to ruffle Pugsley’s dark hair fondly. “So don’t go dying in a cave just because you “feel like it”, alright? You need to outlive me.”

Pugsley couldn't help the snort that escaped him despite still feeling guilty. He swatted at Eugene's hand lightly.

"Why in the hell do I have to outlive you?" He muttered, lifting his head from his hands with a pouty look. He was trying- and failing -to look annoyed, yet there was a hint of affection in his voice.

“Because I don’t think I have it in me to attend your funeral.” Eugene murmured softly, moving his hand down to cup the side of Pugsley’s face.

He leaned into Eugene's touch, letting out an exasperated sigh. "…You have to stop saying stuff like that, dude. You're gonna make me actually feel bad for scaring you…"

He wasn't usually one for emotions, so why did he feel so….

A weak noise left his throat as he leaned in quickly to bury his face in Eugene’s hair, the other boy letting out a small “eep!” in return.

“H-Hey! Pugsley, it’s… it’s okay. I’m just saying how I feel…” Eugene stammered awkwardly, stiffening in place as his roommate burrowed into curly hair.

Pugsley let out a mumbled, incoherent grumble. He wasn't gonna let go anytime soon. If he had to cling to Eugene like a clingy, whiney baby, he would. "Well… well, just… shut up, man. I get it… I'm a dumbass and you don't want me to die…" he muttered into Eugene's curls.

“I never called you a d— A-AHH! Dude! Did you just try to bite my skull!?” Eugene squeaked, squirming back instinctively.

Pugsley let out a muffled snicker from somewhere amongst the curls.

"Mmaaayyybbeeee…" He confirmed, smirking as he pulled back slightly- although he didn't go far. "You deserved it."

He tilted his head forwards again, burying his face back into Eugene's hair with a huff, holding on tightly.

Eugene rolled his eyes with a defeated sigh, knowing damn well that it was either this, or more whining. “Just don’t nick me with your canines like last time…”

“No promises~" Pugsley hummed, snickering again.

Chapter Text

Their sleeping arrangements had spontaneously changed within a matter of days. At first, Eugene didn’t think the whole “sharing a bed” thing would last for so long. But it’s been about three weeks now.

And Pugsley was still sleeping in his bed.

“Uhh… Pugs?” Eugene eventually spoke up after his roommate had just made himself comfortable underneath the blankets.

Pugsley peered over at him through half lidded eyes, shifting around until he was curled on his side. He yawned. "Yeah...?" He murmured, not bothering to lift his head from the pillow.

“I don’t mean to be a downer or anything but… is sleeping in the same bed as me really necessary?” Eugene asked in a careful tone, slipping one arm underneath his pillow as he turned to his side.

"Yes. It is." Pugsley answered firmly, shifting closer to Eugene's side and wrapping an arm around his chest. "You're warm, leave me alone."

“My bed isn’t big enough for two people, Pugsley! I’ve been waking up with back pains because of this!” Eugene argued with a weak whine, shifting uncomfortably.

"Mmm, that's not my fault." Pugsley mumbled, shuffling even closer until he was practically pressed flush against the other boy. He buried his face in the crook of Eugene's neck, not wanting the other boy to see the faint redness tinting his face.

"Stop complaining." He grumbled, gripping a fistful of Eugene's shirt before leaving a light bite on the back of his neck.

“A-Ay! Sensitive!” Eugene squeaked, swatting the back of his neck instinctively. “Bite the pillow or something, jerk! I’m trying to sleep.”

Pugsley snickered from where he was nuzzled against Eugene's neck. He loved it when he got a reaction out of the other boy. "Oh, come on, it wasn't even that hard-" he protested, nuzzling his face in between Eugene's neck and shoulder before taking another, gentler bite. "...You're such a wuss."

“Oh yeah?” Eugene challenged, turning his body around so he could shuffle in closer to bite down on Pugsley’s forearm in retaliation.

"Ow, ow, ow-! That's not- hey! Let go, dude! It hurts!" Pugsley whined, trying to ignore the weird, giddy feeling coursing through his body.

“Yeah?! Feel my pain!” Eugene growled, giving him a light swat to the head before sinking back down underneath his blankets.

Pugsley huffed, rubbing his head with a pout. "You're a jerk..." He grumbled, shifting even closer until there was barely any space between them. It was warm. "…Stop taking up so much of the blanket then. I'm cold." He complained, despite the fact he was radiating his own body heat. He wrapped his limbs around Eugene like a koala, letting out a low whine.

“Agh… you’re gonna crush my ribs…” Eugene continued to complain as he attempted to wiggle free from his grasp.

"Too bad, I'm cold." Pugsley muttered, tightening his hold on Eugene. The smaller boy was stronger than he seemed. "You're basically a space heater anyway." He grumbled, wrapping one of his legs around one of Eugene's, tangling them together.

Suddenly, Eugene abruptly inhaled and flinched in pain. A shuttered breath left his lips as he forced himself to sit up. “Ow! Ow- god— mmh…” the boy cursed under his breath as he rubbed at his ribcage tenderly.

Pugsley's eyes widened as he instantly loosened his hold, his previous grumpy facade quickly melting away. He sat up, sitting cross legged as concern took over his expression.

"Wait, dude, are you okay??" He questioned, noticing the expression of pain on Eugene's face. He reached out instinctively, lightly pressing his hands to the other boy's torso in an attempt to check for any sign of injury. "Did I hurt you or something...? I'm sorry-"

Eugene quickly shook his head, holding up a hand. “N-No, no… you didn’t hurt me. It’s not entirely your fault.” He reassured, rubbing gentle circles against his chest before slowly taking a deep breath in, and then out through his mouth. “It’s just… phantom pains again.” He eventually explained in a hushed murmur.

"…Oh." Pugsley's shoulders slumped slightly at the explanation, a pang of guilt tugging at his heart. Right. Phantom pains. Of course. From the whole gutting incident with Tyler… why wouldn’t he have those?

He was used to seeing Eugene suffer from them from time to time, but it never got easier to see.

"…How bad is it this time?" He mumbled, letting his hands drop back down to his lap. "Scale of 1-10…?"

Eugene hissed as he slowly leaned back, attempting to get comfortable again without breathing in too deeply. “I’d say about… a six?”

Pugsley cringed, wincing sympathetically as he watched Eugene adjust. A six was pretty bad… he felt terrible. He wracked his brain for a way to ease his roommate's pain, and eventually, an idea popped into his head. "Lay down." He instructed, gently pushing Eugene so that he was lying on his back.

Eugene let out a small “oof” in the process, a pained expression gracing his face for a few seconds before relaxing. “Please don’t do anything too extreme…” he whispered.

"I'm not. Just… shut up for a minute and let me try something.." Pugsley grumbled, shifting until he was straddling Eugene's hips. He gently lifted the other boy's shirt up, exposing his torso. Pugsley's heart twisted as he saw the surgical scar zigzagging underneath Eugene's ribs.

He lightly placed a hand where he assumed the pain was the worst, gently pressing down as he began to rub.

Eugene instinctively tried to move away at first, flinching at the sudden pressure being added to his stubborn ache. “P-Pugsley…!” He whined, one hand shooting up to grab ahold of the boy’s wrist. “What are you doing??”

"Shush. Lay. Still." Pugsley commanded, a sharp edge of protectiveness lacing his voice as he pushed back down on Eugene's hip with his free hand. "You're in pain. I'm trying to help, dude. Just let me focus for a minute." He continued the motions with the hand on Eugene's torso, hoping to massage out the knots in the muscles that the pains were coming from.

The weak complaint resting on the tip of Eugene’s tongue died out quickly, clenching his jaw instead as he squeezed his eyes shut. Short, faint breaths continued to leave past his lips in a way that showed he was afraid to breathe in too deeply.

Pugsley hated, hated, seeing him like this. It killed him to know that the other boy was suffering this way, and that he couldn't do much more to fix it.

"I know, I know.." He muttered, his free hand instinctively moving up to Eugene's messy curls in an attempt to soothe him. "It's gonna be fine dude. Just breathe…"

Eugene nodded, sucking in air through his teeth slowly. His body flinched again, clearly disagreeing with him on the whole breathing regularly thing. “It feels like… needles in my chest…” his voice shuddered.

A lump suddenly formed in Pugsley's throat, guilt and sympathy swirling inside of his chest. The other boy didn't deserve to suffer like this. He was a good person, and the kindest guy that Pugsley had ever met.

He needed to make this better.

Pugsley continued to knead into the muscles around the incision scar, being just a little more firm with the pressure. “You’re the bravest person I know, Eugene. You’re a survivor…” he murmured, sinking his body down just enough so he could gently bite on a small patch of skin underneath one of Eugene’s scars.

The taller boy tensed, startled at first before a shaky breath of weak laughter broke through his chest. “You still have the audacity to bite at a time like this..?”

Pugsley couldn't help the smirk that tugged at the corner of his mouth, his heart fluttering at the sound.

God, he loved that laugh.

"Yep. Still got it." He confirmed with a small grin. "And I'll keep biting you if you keep complaining." He teased, leaning down to brush his lips over a scar on Eugene's lower chest area.

Eugene visibly shivered, one hand reaching up to rest on his head as he dug slightly trembling fingers into Pugsley’s hair. “I’m starting to think this is just your love language…” he mumbled tiredly, a hint of fondness slipping through the cracks.

"…Maybe." Pugsley admitted quietly, his eyes flickering up to look at Eugene with something akin to affection. He leaned into the hand on his head, gently nipping at the skin beneath the scar he'd been kissing moments prior.

The words to express the weird feeling growing in his chest were right there, sitting on the tip of his tongue… but the fear of ruining whatever relationship he currently had with Eugene quickly shut him up.

He pushed them down and focused on massaging away the pain instead.

Eugene’s breathing eventually regulated after a handful of moments or so, fingers gently curling around small strands of black hair as he stared up at the ceiling. “It’s going away..” he mumbled after a long period of silence.

Pugsley visibly relaxed. He slowed the motions of his hands, a sigh escaping his lips. He helped him. He made it better. The thought was a nice one, something that he wanted to hold onto for as long as he could.

"Good… that's good." He said softly, shifting until he was laying down next to Eugene instead. "Feel better?" He asked, draping an arm over Eugene's bare chest.

Eugene let out a soft hum, nodding tiredly as he allowed his eyes to finally close completely. “There’s still a dull ache, but… that’ll go away soon enough.” He murmured.

Pugsley nodded, gently tucking his face into the crook of Eugene's neck. He inhaled the other boy’s scent, closing his eyes as he felt some of the tension leave him. “Did… did you want me to move back to my bed?” He asked meekly.

A small huff of defeat left his roommate’s nose as he rolled onto his side carefully. “….No. No, it’s… fine, Pugsley. You can stay.” He reassured sleepily, obviously too tired to argue anymore.

Pugsley could’ve squealed. He was ecstatic that Eugene didn't want him to leave anymore.

He happily clung onto the other boy, wrapping his limbs around him again from behind. It was like a habit for him now, holding onto Eugene like that- and he loved it.

It kept him safe, kept him protected.

He buried his face back into Eugene's neck, closing his eyes as he gently bit the skin there. He earned himself a small groan from his friend.

"…Goodnight, bug boy." He murmured, letting out a soft yawn as he cuddled closer.

Chapter Text

“Eugene, I think we should go camping!” Pugsley declared, bursting through their dormitory with a bag of stuff already slugged over his shoulder. Who knew where he got it because Eugene could’ve sworn he hadn’t seen him enter their room previously. But he stopped questioning his antics a long time ago.

“Camping…” Eugene repeated slowly, as if letting the word settle at the tip of his tongue. “The last time we participated in any kind of camping trip, Slurp murdered an innocent man. Please don’t tell me we’re bringing your zombie along again…” he whined nervously.

Pugsley rolled his eyes with a huff. “Oh, relax, dude. We're not bringing Slurp. That was a one time thing. There's no way in hell I'm going camping with a zombie again." He assured, setting the bag down on his bed.

He opened it, digging through stuff with a grin. "But seriously, this is gonna be awesome! We can start a fire, roast marshmallows, tell campfire stories… we might even find some creepy abandoned thing in the woods!"

Eugene readjusted his glasses, giving him a skeptical look at first before letting out a weak sigh. “Do you even have a tent?”

"A-ah… well-" Pugsley stopped mid-search, giving Eugene a sheepish smile. "I… may have forgotten to pick up a tent." He admitted. "But don't worry! I got us sleeping bags! And blankets. They're warm." He assured with a grin.

“Dude, i’m not sleeping on the cold forest floor!” Eugene exclaimed. “Coyotes could find our bodies and tear into us while we’re sleeping!”

"First off, the chances of us even seeing a coyote is like… one in a million." Pugsley assured with a scoff, waving a hand dismissively as he looked at Eugene with an almost amused look in his eyes. "And secondly… don't get your panties in a twist. I have a solution."

Eugene scowled as he sat up straighter on his bed. “Oh yeah? And what could your oh so amazing solution entail exactly?”

Pugsley chuckled at his attitude. God, that was kinda cute.

Shaking the thought away, he grinned. "Simple! We share one sleeping bag." He said it like it was obvious. Like it was the most logical answer ever.

He could’ve sworn he saw Eugene’s right eye twitch ever so slightly.

“….What.”

"You heard me." Pugsley repeated with a shrug, his smile widening as he leaned forward. "One sleeping bag. We share it, it gives us double the amount of body heat and warmth, so we don't freeze to death." He explained casually. "It's a genius idea, honestly. A perfect, flawless plan."

“Pugsley, i’m going to strangle you.” Eugene deadpanned.

Pugsley just smirked. "You won't. You don't got the guts~" He sang out, sticking his tongue out in a playful tease.

A hand lunged forward to wrap around his neck, shaking him around like a rag doll.

“AGH-! WAIT WAIT WAIT WAIT—“

Pugsley couldn't wipe the dopey smile off his face as he walked through the woods, humming a random tune to himself. The sky was dark, and the only sounds around them were the occasional rustling of leaves or crickets.

He glanced over at Eugene, seeing the other boy walk beside him and he felt his cheeks heat up a little.

They were going to be sharing a sleeping bag tonight… that thought alone made the butterflies in his stomach go crazy. It wouldn’t be weird, they already slept in the same bed together so why would this be any different?

“It’s quite peaceful out here, all things considered…” Eugene eventually spoke up, the small fireflies surrounding them grabbing most of his attention as he walked carefully behind. “So many bugs…”

Pugsley nodded, glancing around at the trees and fireflies that flitted about. They kinda reminded him of little stars, their light illuminating the area.

"Yeah, you're right. It's… nice out here." He agreed, slowing his pace a little so he could walk beside Eugene instead of ahead of him. "You can actually see the moon, too. It's really pretty." He grinned slyly, giving his friend’s shoulder a small shove. "And here you were, worried about the wildlife." He teased with a grin, shoving him lightly. "There's no coyotes around, so I guess you can relax, huh?" He teased, stopping in a small clearing. He placed his bag down to rummage through it.

Eugene gave a small scoff, crouching down beside him. “Hey, you can never be too cautious in these woods! A lot of terrible things have probably happened here…”

Pugsley rolled his eyes with a smirk, looking up at Eugene with a hint of playfulness in his gaze. "Oh, c'mon dude, you read too much into things. They're just woods, there's nothing in here but trees." He said, rummaging through the bag. "Now shush, will you? I'm looking for something." He grumbled.

Eugene grumbled something under his breath before setting aside his own bag that he brought along with him, containing an extra jacket and his inhaler in case of an emergency.

After a few minutes of searching, Pugsley finally let out a victorious "Aha!"

He pulled a folded up, black-ish material out from the bottom of the bag, holding it in the air like an award while beaming. "Found it!~" He exclaimed excitedly, unfolding the material that turned out to be a large sleeping bag. "Ta da!”

Eugene shot him an unimpressed look before rolling his eyes. “Oh, joy. Can’t wait to share sweat with you when the heat comes rolling in tomorrow…”

Pugsley let out an offended gasp, holding his hands over his heart like he was about to have a heart attack. "You make it sound so gross!" He protested, though a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

He rolled the sleeping bag out on the ground, patting it. "Oh yeah, it's gonna be great when you inevitably get cold at three in the morning and you have to cling to me for warmth. Bet you'll love that." He teased.

“Shut up!” Eugene squawked, tossing a stick in his direction. “You probably aren’t even gonna give me the chance to get cold!”

Pugsley let out a quiet "oof" when the stick hit him, looking at Eugene with an offended yet amused look. "What's that supposed to mean? I'm just a warm-hearted, caring guy who's gonna keep your skinny self nice and toasty."

“You sound like a wounded boyfriend.” Eugene mumbled as he yoinked his pillow free from his backpack as well.

Pugsley scoffed. "Boyfriend, please. If anything, I'd be the best boyfriend ever. I-" He stopped abruptly, silencing himself as his cheeks suddenly turned red. Why the hell was his brain going there? He cleared his throat awkwardly, shaking the thought away.

"…Anyway, come get cozy." He insisted, crawling into the sleeping bag, and patting the space next to him.

Eugene obliged, joining him with not much fuss as he removed his shoes beforehand. “I swear, you need to find yourself a girlfriend or something…” he murmured under his breath as he wiggled himself under the cover.

"Nah." Pugsley replied almost immediately, shaking his head slightly as he shifted a little closer to Eugene.

The thought of him finding a girl to date made him cringe internally, but he wasn't about to tell Eugene why.

"I don't need a girlfriend." He mumbled as he got himself comfortable. He wrapped an arm around Eugene's waist, trying to mask his strange feelings with his usual weirdness. “Why would I want a woman in my life?”

Eugene gave him an odd look at first, scrunching his nose like a rabbit before rolling onto his side to face the opposite direction. “To each their own, I guess…”

Pugsley hummed in response, pulling Eugene ever-so-slightly closer from behind.

This was nice.

He buried his face into the back of Eugene's neck, feeling the corners of his mouth turn up into a small smile. This was probably one of the most comfortable he'd been in a long time.

But something was still bothering him.

"…Eugene." Pugsley eventually murmured, his breath hot on the other boy's neck.

Eugene let out a small hum in return, not bothering to turn his head. “Mmh?”

Pugsley paused for a moment, feeling a wave of hesitation wash over him before he eventually built up the courage to speak.

"…Are… Are you ever going to find yourself someone? Like… a girl at our school or something?" He asked, his voice uncharacteristically soft and gentle as he continued to cling to Eugene's back.

Eugene bit at his bottom lip in quiet thought, giving it some thought to his surprise. “Hmm.. well… the need for a girlfriend hasn’t exactly been on my ‘to do list’ as of late, y’know?” He answered with a small shrug. “I’ve mostly been focusing on school and tending to my bees…”

Pugsley nodded slowly, his hand subconsciously rubbing small circles over Eugene's side as he took in his answer.

For some reason, the thought of him not looking for a girlfriend made Pugsley… strangely happy.

He took in a shuddering breath, pulling Eugene closer.

What the heck was wrong with him…

He was not jealous over the idea of Eugene dating someone. He wasn't.

Yet here he was, holding Eugene closer in an attempt to hide his strange mixture of happiness and guilt. God, he was being ridiculous. What, did he want to keep Eugene all to himself as a best friend or something?

…

Yeah, that was it. That had to be it. That's why he didn't want Eugene dating anyone… right?

“Uhh… dude? You’re kinda.. chewing on my neck…” Eugene spoke up meekly, voice cutting through his thick fog of thoughts.

Pugsley let out a small gasp, abruptly pulling his face away from Eugene's neck.

"S-Sorry, I didn't even-" he paused, swallowing harshly.

“I-It’s fine, you weren’t even biting that hard.” Eugene waved off his weird antics like it was a regular occurrence, which… it technically was at this point.

Pugsley nodded in response, feeling oddly relieved that Eugene didn't make a big deal out of it. He still felt a pang of guilt in his chest for behaving like such a weirdo, though.

This had only started happening recently- the biting, the clinginess… the need to be closer.

He silently cursed himself for getting so attached to his best friend, but… he couldn't help it. Being around Eugene made him feel safe. And not a lot of things did that.

The sound of nearby rustling caught Eugene’s attention first, causing his head to perk up slightly as a look of weariness crossed his face. “Did… did you hear that?” He whispered.

Pugsley's head immediately shot up to attention as well, his grip accidentally tightening on Eugene's waist.

Well, there went the peaceful silence.

He strained his ears to hear the sound of more rustling, his heart beginning to pound harder. There definitely seemed to be something out there. He wasn’t one for being afraid of most things that could potentially harm him.

However, he was afraid of something hurting Eugene.

“Do you think it’s probably just a raccoon…?” Eugene murmured through a voice crack, wincing as the stomping began to grow more prominent in sound. It definitely wasn’t anything small.

Pugsley’s grip on Eugene's waist unconsciously got just a little bit firmer.

"…I don't think that's a raccoon, dude." He said uneasily, slowly shifting closer to Eugene.

“T-Then what is it!?” Eugene squeaked, curling around himself in a fetal position as a head covered in brown fur came poking out from the bushes with a low grunt.

“O-Oh. OH….” The curly haired boy gasped, trembling in place as his eyes locked on the bear with frozen fear.

Pugsley immediately jerked backwards, letting out a yelp of shock as his heart leapt into his throat. His heart was pounding as the bear came closer, a strangled noise escaping his lips.

"Holyshitohmygoditsabearitsabearitsabear—" he rambled out in quick succession, the sound of his voice muffled in Eugene’s shirt. He would be perfectly fine if it was just him and the bear! But… but Eugene is here with him. It could seriously hurt him!

“Okay, okay, just… just stay perfectly still… no sudden movements…” Eugene whispered between clenched chattering teeth, forcing his body to keep still as the bear sniffed at the air curiously.

Pugsley nodded silently, taking deep breaths to calm himself down a bit. He tried to control the trembling of his limbs, willing his body to stay calm.

Don't freak out. Don't freak out. He mentally told himself, gripping onto Eugene's shirt.

He was fine. He'd dealt with worse. But what if the bear tried to hurt Eugene?

….He could probably kill a bear.

A low huff came from the bear as it took a few steps forward, its snout twitching in an almost curious manor as it sniffed at the two of them. He felt Eugene tense up at his side, the bear taking notice as it gave a low growl before stomping a paw down against their sleeping bag.

“Ow-!” Eugene yelped, jolting back as he reached down to grab at his thigh from where the bear’s claws dug into him.

That was it. This stupid bear was hurting Eugene, and he was no longer in the mood to listen to the whole "no sudden movements" rule.

Pugsley let out a snarl, quickly scrambling out to the sleeping bag and grabbing a nearby branch.

"HEY! YOU STUPID BEAR-SHAPED PILLOW OF FLUFF! PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!!!" He snapped, swinging the branch threateningly. The bear, in return, yanked the stick out of his grasp using its strong teeth. The weak wood crunched apart easily before scattering to the ground.

“P-Pugsley…!” Eugene whimpered, frozen in place as the bear dragged its paw into the dirt warningly, preparing to charge at them both.

Pugsley suddenly regretted his decision to piss off the bear. Like, he really regretted it. He quickly dashed back over to Eugene, wrapping an arm around his waist protectively.

He was an idiot- he definitely should've listened to Eugene but…. dammit, he panicked. He'd do anything to keep Eugene safe, even if it meant potentially getting himself hurt.

That's when he got an idea. A stupid, dangerous idea.

The bear let out a vicious roar as it charged, the ground rumbling beneath its heavy steps. Pugsley stepped in front of Eugene like a shield, holding out one hand threateningly. “Don’t. You. DARE!” He yelled out, electricity bolting out from his fingertips as he zapped the bear into staggering backward.

Eugene let out a faint gasp, flinching at the pained noise the animal made in response as it snarled and growled. “O-Oh my god!”

Pugsley kept his hand up, preparing to zap the bear again if it came any closer. His shoulders rose and fell with each shaky inhale, adrenaline coursing through him as his eyes remained locked on the creature in front of him.

He could feel Eugene clinging to his back, trembling like a leaf. He needed to protect him. Sure, the beast was probably just being curious and protective of its territory, but it hurt Eugene, and that made Pugsley want to murder it. “I’ll turn you into a rug if you EVER lay your disgusting claws on him again!” He hissed, zapping the animal right in the head as it cried out and rolled onto its back in pain.

“P-Pugsley, it’s down. It’s fine, it’s—“ but Eugene’s words were canceled out by the sheer rage he was experiencing. His voice couldn’t even reach Pugsley’s ears anymore.

Pugsley let out an enraged scream, his hands crackling with static as he blasted the bear over and over again with electricity, the loud cries of pain quickly becoming a blur as Pugsley's vision went hazy, his breathing growing more and more labored. He wasn't going to stop until he made this bear suffer.

“PUGSLEY, STOP!” Eugene cried out, grabbing his wrist and tugging him back down to his level forcefully. The bear was whimpering on the ground, limbs twitching weakly as it struggled to stand and retreat. “Get AHOLD of yourself! It’s down, it’s over!” He continued through shaky breaths, sounding on the brink of an asthma attack.

Pugsley jerked away from Eugene, whirling around to face the other boy with an enraged look in his eyes.

What the hell? He was protecting him, why was Eugene trying to stop him?! He took a few heaving breaths, trying to calm down but it wasn’t working too well.

He growled lowly, giving Eugene a hard shove. "Why the hell are you stopping me?! I'm keeping you safe!"

Eugene yelped, nearly falling onto his back as he kept steady by clinging onto Pugsley’s shoulders, which then moved to holding his face. “Pugsley, you are scaring me.” The boy stated firmly, fingers trembling against pale skin.

Pugsley's heart seemed to drop.

…He was scaring Eugene.

The adrenaline was wearing off, and Pugsley suddenly became aware of what he had just done. Sure, he was protecting Eugene but… he was also acting like a rabid dog. He had let his anger and fear consume him.

His eyes darted over Eugene's features, searching his face for any ounce of fear or disgust. He couldn't bear the thought of Eugene looking at him like some sort of…. Of some sort of monster.

The animal eventually got back up to its feet and staggered deeper into the woods from where it emerged from, limping. Eugene let out a shaky sigh of relief before turning his attention back to the other. “Pugsley… were you going to kill it?” He asked softly, in a tone that didn’t sound mad… but also didn’t entirely sound okay, either.

Pugsley was quiet for a few moments, staring off into the distance where the bear had just vanished into the woods.

Did he… want to kill it? Hell, a few minutes ago, he probably would've killed it in a heartbeat, and maybe even have taken pleasure from it.

But that feeling, that primal rage, had faded, and the reality of the situation finally sank in. Eugene had just seen him… lose control. The idea was enough to make his stomach twist in knots.

“I’m… okay, Pugsley.” Eugene said instead of questioning further, moving one hand back down to gently squeeze his right shoulder. “It was just a s-scratch.”

Pugsley glanced back at Eugene, his features softening slightly. He was trying to play this off. Pugsley could see right through him, and that only made him feel even worse. He let out a quiet scoff, shaking his head.

"Don't lie. It was more than a scratch. That thing nearly took a chunk out of you." He grumbled under his breath, shifting his gaze back down to the ground.

“It accidentally stepped on my thigh.” Eugene corrected bluntly, refusing to break eye contact.

"But that's even worse-" Pugsley huffed, his hands clenching into fists out of frustration.

The sheer fact that the bear had hurt Eugene, be it intentionally or accidentally, made him furious. What if the thing hadn't just stepped on his leg? What if it had mauled him? The very thought twisted something into sickening knots in the pit of his abdomen.

He let a sharp breath out through his nose, trying to keep his temper in check. "Accidents can be just as dangerous as intentional acts, Eugene."

Eugene let out a weak laugh, shaking his head at the ground as his trembling weakened. “You’re starting to sound just like me…”

Pugsley fell silent at this, his expression falling flat.

He did sound like the other boy, didn't he…? His heart sank even more as that realization sunk in.

He let out a huff, shoulders sagging. "Damnit." He swore under his breath, raking a hand through his messy hair in frustration.

“Hey, don’t sound so insulted! Now I feel insulted…” Eugene pouted, sinking back down into the sleeping bag comfortably.

Pugsley rolled his eyes softly at Eugene's fake-offended expression, shaking his head exasperatedly. He paused, staring blankly at him, who suddenly seemed way too comfortable considering what had happened.

"…You're taking this way too lightly." He grumbled, his brow furrowing. "You literally just almost got mauled by a bear, dude! How're you so damn chill?"

“Adrenaline, mostly.” Eugene shrugged in return. “Also, this wouldn’t be my first near death experience, sooo…” he clicked his tongue awkwardly.

God damn it, these two were accident-prone.

Pugsley let out a defeated sigh, slumping down onto his elbows.

"…This was a terrible idea.”

Eugene frowned, scooting over a bit to make room. “Hey, no. You were actually trying to do something fun and relatively safe for us, and I don’t regret reluctantly tagging along.” He softly stated, reaching down to intertwine their fingers together gently. “Bear trouble or not, what you did tonight was sweet.”

Pugsley glanced up at him, biting the inside of his cheek as he studied the other boy's face.

He was making it hard to maintain his bad mood.

"…You're too forgiving for your own good." He mumbled, giving Eugene's hand a gentle squeeze.

“You say that a lot, but i’ll never change my ways. Not with you, anyway.” Eugene murmured back, exhausted body sinking underneath the sleeping bag comfortably once more as he carefully brought Pugsley down with him. “C’mon, no more being angry at yourself. You can even do your little nibbling thing if it’ll help you feel better.”

"I hate that you call it that…" Pugsley muttered, feeling a bit embarrassed.

But the idea of distracting himself, combined with the exhaustion finally hitting him, did sound tempting. He let out soft grumble, burying the lower half of his face against Eugene's neck as he gently bit down on tan skin.

Eugene let out a soft sigh of approval as he tilted his head, offering up more to the other as he closed his eyes. “Jus’… don’t wake me up because of it…”

Pugsley had no intention of doing such a thing, and didn't plan to stop until the other boy fell asleep. Besides, this was strangely calming in its own way. It helped to quiet the guilt-fuelled thoughts swirling in his head.

"…I won’t…" he mumbled against the other's neck, continuing his little ministrations almost mindlessly.

Chapter Text

Well, Pugsley accidentally… may have… eaten all of Eugene’s pet insects in the dorm while he was sleeping. It started out as snatching one bug up for a quick snack! And then one became two… and two became three… and three became sixteen.

So now he’s staring at an empty enclosure, contemplating his previous life choices.

The guilt was slowly starting to set in as the realization of what he'd just done sank in. He glanced over his shoulder, glancing over at Eugene who was currently still sleeping soundly.

…How the hell was he going to explain this one?

And then, he narrowed his eyes slightly in contemplation.

Maybe… just maybe… he wouldn’t have to explain anything at all… if it seemed like nothing had changed.

Pugsley let out a quiet exhale through his nose, an idea slowly formulating in his mind.

He quietly exited the dorm, making sure to be as quiet as possible. He knew that Eugene was likely to be a light sleeper, and he did not want to risk waking him up.

The plan would be fool-proof! All he had to do was get a couple more bugs to put in the enclosure, and pretend nothing ever happened! Easy.

Pugsley silently slunk through the halls, making sure to stay in the shadows so he wouldn't be immediately noticed. He knew he was probably supposed be asleep at this hour… but the whole bug-snacc incident had him feeling just a bit too guilty to go to sleep.

Maybe that was why he was so focused on his current mission. He was dead set on getting more bugs.

Bugs for his bug boy.

After what felt like far too long, Pugsley finally arrived at his destination; the school's insect exhibit.

He knew the place was supposed to be off limits after dark, but surely no one would mind if he took… a couple. Right?

Pugsley let out a quiet breath as he snuck into the room, looking around at the various cages housing a wide array of creepy-crawlies.

Okay, now came the difficult part; picking which bugs to steal.

God, he really had not thought this one through, hadn't he? Pugsley rubbed his chin in contemplation, his eyes darting around at each insect cage. He really needed to be careful here… he was playing a dangerous game.

He paused, tilting his head slightly as he looked down at one cage in particular.

It seemed to be holding just one creature; a fat millipede just sitting there.

Perfect.

Slowly, Pugsley reached into the cage, trying to be careful as he gently grabbed the millipede and pulled it out of the cage. He quickly shoved it into his pocket. Perfect. Now he just needed to find about… fifteen more?

He continued to rummage through the various cages silently, stuffing any insect he could catch into his pocket.

It was a bit harder than it sounded, seeing as some of the little buggers were fast. He had to duck and dodge to grab at a few that tried to get away, cursing under his breath every time that happened.

Eugene would love these! Surely he wouldn’t be picky if he caught a few of the slower ones, right?

After a few more close encounters with a few faster moving bugs, Pugsley looked down at the pockets of his jacket, which were now filled with various insects that he had managed to grab. He had probably got enough to pull this little trick off.

He sure as hell hoped so, because the last thing he wanted was to get caught here and possibly get in trouble because he was a moron.

Pugsley slowly let out the breath he’d been holding, nodding slightly to himself. Alright. Mission nearly accomplished. He turned on his heel, quickly hurrying out of the insect exhibit and back towards their dorm.

He was feeling a bit more confident about this whole scheme now. He was on a roll; he'd managed to make it this far without any trouble, so how much harder would sneaking back into the dorm be?

He just had to be quiet… and careful. That was all. He could do this.

Okay, some bugs are loud. Very loud.

And some can be hostile. Very hostile when being abducted from their home.

Pugsley was running as quickly, but as quietly as he could manage through the halls, desperately trying to make it back to the dorm. The bugs in his pocket were buzzing loudly, trying to escape their fabric prison.

He let out a quiet curse under his breath, his heart hammering against his chest as he quickened his pace. The minute he could see his dorm room door, a wave of relief washed over him as he sprinted over to grab the knob, swinging the door open like a bat outta hell as he hurried inside.

Once he was safely inside, Pugsley quickly locked the door behind him and slumped against it, panting heavily and slightly winded from the little chase.

He'd made it…! That was the hard part over with. Now all he had to do was get those stupid bugs into their cage before Eugene woke up-

“Dude.” Eugene deadpanned, arms crossed over his chest like a disappointed parent as he stood in the center of the room.

Pugsley's eyes slowly traveled up to lock onto Eugene, who was looking at him with a stern expression.

Oh, god- he looked pissed.

“Pugsley…” Eugene tiredly groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose before lifting up his glasses to rub at his eyes. “Whhhyyyyy?”

The boy in question slowly pushed himself off the door, running a trembling hand through his messy hair as he avoided eye contact.

"…What?" He asked lamely, wincing at his own pathetic attempt at playing innocent.

“Why anything anymore?” Eugene sighed, tired shoulders slumped as he walked closer to yoink a caterpillar off Pugsley’s shoulder before placing it inside his personal enclosure. Once he was sure it was comfortable enough, he turned on his heels and glared daggers at the other boy before approaching again to grab him by the shoulders.

Pugsley was completely taken by surprise when he was then shaken, eyes widening as he felt the little bugs he had caught falling from his clothes. His heart sunk even lower into the pit his stomach as realisation set in.

He was so screwed. Absolutely no chance of talking his way out of this. He was done for. Caught red-handed.

No excuses would work, and he couldn't even play innocent.

Pugsley swallowed hard.

"..I can explain-"

“Your heart was in the right place, Pugsley.” Eugene murmured as he bent down to start collecting all the critters that fell from his roommate carefully. “But the exhibit’s bugs are owned by other students. You kinda just… stole a lot of pets.” He explained as he fought back another yawn.

Pugsley watched helplessly as Eugene collected each bug and placed them on his hand, feeling guilty and ashamed of his actions.

God, he was such a moron. He never considered the fact that the insects he had taken were owned. He had basically stolen these creatures from their owners without even thinking.

He was such an idiot.

The corners of his mouth turned down in a frown. "…I'm an idiot, aren't I?" He mumbled quietly.

Eugene furrowed his brows slightly before standing up, shaking his head. “You’re the furthest thing from an idiot, Pugs.” He reassured, carefully walking back over to the enclosure as he placed each bug inside. “I’ll have to take these little guys back tomorrow morning. They must be so confused…”

The guilt from what he had just done was really starting to hit him now.

Not only had he stolen those bugs, but he'd probably confused and scared the hell out of them in the process as well.

He didn't know why the hell he had thought this plan would work. He was so stupid.

After a moment of hesitation, he shifted his weight to his other leg. "…Why aren't you mad?" He asked quietly.

Eugene turned back around once he placed the last bug inside, wiping his hands on his pajama pants. “Because I know you didn’t mean any harm by it, dude. It’s not like you went out and started crushing them all underneath your bare hands.” He let out a small scoff. “It was a simple mistake.”

Pugsley had fully expected him to be furious, to yell and tell him how irresponsible and stupid he was.

But instead, he was just brushing it off as if it was nothing.

He felt a bit of relief. That was the last thing he wanted; to have Eugene pissed at him.

He let out a huff, shoving his hands in his pockets. "… I still ate your bugs though." He grumbled.

Eugene rolled his eyes as he made his way back over to his bed, plopping down before lazily lying back comfortably. “Which is why you’re gonna be helping me find new ones in the forest tomorrow.” He stated, a slight firm edge to his tone.

That wasn't a request. He was being told he was going to find replacements.

And to be honest… he deserved it, the guilt from his earlier behavior was still eating him up inside.

He let out a soft sigh, nodding reluctantly. "…Fine. I'll help you." He grumbled out, staring at the floor.

“Good, as you should.” Eugene nodded as well, removing his glasses to put them on the bedside table. He turned his head to squint back over at Pugsley, arching a brow. “….Did you want to share my bed again?”

Pugsley couldn't help the slight hint of pink that dusted his cheeks.

He was also half expecting Eugene to tell him to sleep on the floor, or to demand he sleep in his own bed for being such an idiot. But he still wanted him to share the bed?

That was… unexpected.

He paused for a moment, debating over the request, before quietly nodding.

"Yes please…" he mumbled out, shuffling over to the bed.

Eugene scooted over and rolled onto his side, sharing half his pillow as well. “Don’t roll off the bed accidentally this time.”

Despite everything that had happened, a small smile appeared on Pugsley's face.

He carefully climbed under the covers, lying on his side as he faced Eugene. "No promises…" he replied lightly, reaching over to wrap his arms around the other’s waist before comfortably resting his chin on the teen’s shoulder.

"…Night, Eugene." He murmured quietly, nestling his face in the crook of the other's neck.

“Night, Pugs.” Murmured back Eugene.

Chapter Text

Total despair has fallen over Nevermore. Specifically, their dorm room.

Because Eugene had gotten sick.

Dear GOD.

The teen couldn’t even sit up right without wheezing or sniffing, which definitely concerned Pugsley. Usually when he’s sick, his father would fix him up some nice beetle broth soup. But he really didn’t think Eugene would… appreciate that, considering he’s not a bug eater.

And so he would have to find the next best thing: regular soup!

A quick stop at the nearest convenience store afterschool made things so much easier since he wasn’t entirely sure how to make soup from scratch. They had a surprisingly vast selection to choose from, but he ended up going with the one he thought Eugene would enjoy the most.

When he returned to the dorm, Eugene was in the process of trying to reach for his glasses on his bedside table. He promptly stopped the second he realized the other boy had returned, squinting over at him curiously. “What… do you have?” He asked, his voice sounding dry and weak as he pointed to the two bags in Pugsley’s grasp.

Pugsley quickly shut the door behind him, hurrying over to the bedside to place the plastic bags down. "Soup." He answered bluntly, rummaging through one of the bags to pull out a can of soup.

He really hoped Eugene would like it. Soup was supposed to help with feeling better, right..?

Pugsley looked down at Eugene, noting how terrible he looked. He looked miserable. His face was red, and his eyes were watery. He also looked a little pale…

Eugene eyed the label on the can closely, taking a second to process the words before scrunching his nose up in confusion. “You got me… alphabet soup?” He questioned slowly.

Pugsley paused, blinking twice.

Okay, now he felt kind of stupid. Of course it would look strange for him to pick out alphabet soup. He probably just seemed like he was treating Eugene like a little kid now… augh.

He shook his head, pushing the thoughts from his mind. "…Yes? Is that a bad thing?" He replied hesitantly, his eyes darting between the soup can and Eugene. “I-I just thought you would like it more since y’know, you’re uh, smart? It’s what smart people eat when they’re under the weather.”

Eugene leaned back slowly, his confusion melting into a small look of understanding and fondness. “Ahhh, yeah.. okay. I get why you chose it now.” He nodded, but then raised a brow at the other bag. “Jeez, how many did you get..?”

Pugsley felt a little relieved at Eugene's reaction, shifting his weight to his other leg. "Uh, well…" he trailed off, reaching into the second bag to pull out another can of soup. "I got… uh…" he trailed off again, staring at the second can sheepishly.

It was also alphabet soup.

"Okay, so I kinda just… grabbed a bunch of the same thing." He admitted with a weak shrug. "I wasn't sure what else to get."

The corners of Eugene’s mouth twitched, threatening to smile. “That’s uh, that’s okay, dude. I appreciate the effort. Could you please heat one up for me? I haven’t eaten anything all day…” He requested, one hand drifting down to hold his stomach.

Okay. This was something he could do. He could do this, and help Eugene feel better…

Pugsley nodded. "Yeah, yeah. of course. It's uh, it's no problem." He stammered, quickly setting the cans down on the bedside table. He then stood back up, heading over to the small counter to heat up a can of the soup for Eugene. The least he could do for him.

He quickly grabbed a spoon from the drawer before setting it on the counter and opening up one of the cans. He poured it into a bowl, then placed it in the microwave to heat up. He stood there, arms crossed over his chest as he waited for it to finish heating up, eyes focused on nothing else but that stupid soup.

Come on... hurry up already. Eugene needs this...

“With all these cans, I could probably eat for weeks…” Eugene commented thoughtfully, peering into the bag full of small cans of soup.

Pugsley snorted, rolling his eyes as the microwave beeped. "Yeah, well, I figured you'd need a lot of smart soup to kick this dumb sickness." He grabbed the bowl carefully and headed back over to Eugene. "Here. Don’t burn yourself.” He mumbled, gently handing it over before plopping down beside him like an anxious guard dog ready to hover.

Curiously, he peered into the soup as his friend lazily batted around a few letters with the spoon.

“Huh… there’s only one E in this…” Eugene mumbled, stopping his attempt in rearranging the letters into spelling ‘weeks’ with a small sigh.

Pugsley cocked his head to the side. “I guess you could eat for weks.” He mumbled under his breath.

“What?” Eugene glanced up from his soup momentarily.

"I- uh, nothing. I said nothing." Pugsley hastily backpedaled, waving a dismissive hand.

Eugene thankfully shrugged off his stupidity in favor of taking the first bite of his soup, consuming the only E available with a small gulp. “Mmh… this isn’t actually half bad.”

Pugsley let out a quiet breath, a small smile tugging at his lips. He was glad that Eugene liked it- or at least didn’t hate it. That was something.

"…Y'know," he began quietly, breaking the silence. "I've been thinking about something."

Eugene perked up somewhat, removing the spoon from his mouth. “Yeah? What’s on your mind Pugs?”

Pugsley took a moment to organize his words, fiddling with the fabric of his black cargo shorts as he averted his gaze to stare at the carpet. He let out a soft exhale through his nose.

"Uh, so..." He trailed off, feeling his heart starting to pick up. This was it. This was the perfect time to ask. "You know the school dance coming up real soon? The one we were talking about?" He finally finished, lifting his head to glance at Eugene.

Eugene nodded slowly, setting the bowl on his lap. “Ugh… yeah. I still don’t have anyone interested in going with me. But I get it, no one wants to go with the infamous bug boy…” He grumbled, sounding only a little nasally.

Honestly, Pugsley didn't understand it either- Eugene was smart, he was handsome, he was a total sweetheart... there was no way in hell that someone would not want to take him to the dance.

"I don't get it." He finally muttered, shaking his head. "You're... everything. How come... how come you don't have a date yet?" He questioned, brows furrowing in frustration.

Eugene gave him a look that he had never quite see him wear before. It was one that a girl would have after being complimented by some kind of handsome jock guy or whatever. “But I— i’m not everything, Pugsley. At least, that’s not how everyone else sees me.” He murmured softly.

Pugsley immediately hated that look.

That was a look of insecurity, and that was the last thing he wanted to see on Eugene's face.

"Oh God, that's the most bull statement I've ever heard." He scoffed, staring incredulously at the other. "You are everything, Eugene. You're like... top quality. You're handsome. You're incredibly smart... seriously, you're like a walking calculator. Not to mention that you're just... sweet and kind and i’ll kill anyone who says otherwise and your loyal and funny and—“

“Wait, wait, what was that last part??” Eugene interrupted, bewildered. “Before the loyal thing?”

“…You’re kind?” Pugsley repeated slowly.

“No, after that.” Eugene narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him.

Pugsley shifted uncomfortably on the bed, his face immediately starting to feel warm.

"Ah… uh." He muttered weakly, running a hand through his messy hair. "…Nothing. I didn't say anything. It’s unimportant.”

“You think the threat of murdering people is unimportant??” Eugene deadpanned incredulously.

"It was more of a... figure of speech." Pugsley grumbled, crossing his arms defiantly.

“Yeah? Well, knowing your family’s track record, I highly doubt that.” Eugene mumbled, rolling his eyes before he resumed his soup eating.

Pugsley huffed, leaning back with a smirk tugging at his lips. "Hey. We don't all carry around poison and taxidermy tools, you know." He shot back teasingly, nudging Eugene’s shoulder with his own. "Some of us just… express love in more intense ways."

Eugene shot him another odd look before turning his attention back to the bag full of soup cans. “Yeaaahhh, that one definitely checks out.”

Pugsley groaned dramatically, leaning his head against Eugene's shoulder. "Shut uuuup. Just finish your smart soup so you can get better already." He grumbled.