[Gift] Impromptu Sleepover

Despite the recent news, the nightclub Love in a Bottle was still doing business. Sure, maybe continuing to encourage people to spend the night out was reckless, but the club owner refused to give the staff paid time off or temporarily switch over to a diurnal schedule. 

To compensate as much as possible, the general manager, Oliver, posted the advisory from the police department across every wall of the club. They also implemented a buddy system so that every staff member had someone to walk home with. It was extremely fortunate that the staff largely lived in the same general area and apartment buildings. So far, the system had been very effective.

It had been a week since the first confirmed deaths, and Oliver assumed that everyone had gotten used to the changes by then. They still checked in with each employee, though, being the cautious bun that they were. When the time came to check the last pair on the list, they were surprised by what they saw.

“I can't do this anymore!”

Lucine was folded over, gripping his hair as he cried out. Shoot was sitting next to him and listening with an uncharacteristically contemplative expression. When Lucine noticed Oliver approaching, he continued, deeming the manager safe enough to air out his thoughts to.

“I know it's not anyone here’s fault, I’m not mad about the buddy system or anything, but…” The envy bun sighed, trying to find the right words. “I hate… having to be scared of every single noise when I’m outside. Even when I'm walking with Shoot, I feel my blood turn to ice when we so much as bump tails!” His hands slid down to hold himself as his gaze similarly drifted down to the floor. “I just want everything to go back to normal soon…”

Shoot crossed his arms and nodded. “I get the feeling. I never really thought about what could happen to me while I'm out at night before. Like, I was aware of muggers and shit, but I wasn't really worried about it too much.” He leaned back in his seat and huffed as if the building anxiety could just be pushed out of his lungs. “This stuff on the news has got me real shaken up. But I guess we gotta endure it until it's over. Tell me when you're ready to go, Luce.”

Oliver looked on at the two of them, holding the closing tasks clipboard to their chest. They could imagine how the other buns felt, but hadn't yet felt the exact same way. Even before the recent news, Oliver would sleep at the club when they needed to take care of some things or they were too tired to walk home. Once the stalker reports went out, Oliver decided to just stay over at the club until the issue was resolved.

“If you’d like,” Oliver finally piped up, “you can stay in the club, at least until daybreak. The private rooms are comfortable enough to sleep in.”

Lucine looked up with a puzzled expression. “How do you know that?”

“Oh yeah,” Shoot's usual smug tone crept back into his voice, “Oliver here is such a workaholic that he sleeps in the first private room most nights.”

“Not most! Half! It's closer to half!”

Shoot responded with the most infuriating ‘mhmm’ in the history of Burrowgatory. “Wayyyy better.”

“Anyway-!” Lucine interjected, entirely not in the mood to spectate this argument. “I’m fine with staying here until it's light out if you are, Shoot.”

The addressed bun shrugged. “Eh, why not? Could be fun, honestly.”

With that, the three decided to all stay at the closed nightclub together while everyone else in the staff left in their assigned pairs. Lucine made sure to contact the people whose couch he crashed on to let them know about the situation. Shoot pretended to contact a ‘hot chick back home’ about it, too.

After an hour or so of just hanging out, Lucine’s stomach growled.

“Ah… Right. What are we gonna do about food? I haven't had dinner. Have y’all?”

Oliver instantly got set into the frantic worrying they were usually in while on the clock. “Oh shit, uh, I only grabbed enough extra food for myself while I was out during the day…! We can't split a single instant ramen between the three of us!”

“Dude, relax.” Shoot stood up and sauntered over to the club’s bar. “Let’s just dip into the snacks inventory. You drink a hole in the liquor stock all the time.”

“I guess that could work…” Oliver murmured as they tried to calm back down.

“Yeah, a fruit and cheese plate is definitely better than nothing,” Lucine chimed in.

Shoot opened the minifridge built into the bar, stared blankly, then checked the cabinet next to it. “Uh… how about five tortilla chips?”

Lucine blinked. “You're kidding.”

“Nope. Wait! Six! Six tortilla chips. Two for each of us?”

The envy bun threw himself back and sprawled across the love seat he was sitting on. “Forget it. I’d rather eat nothing until morning than try to subsist off of two chips.”

“No.”

With a sudden burst of resolve, Oliver stepped towards the club exit.

“There’s a convenience store just around the corner. I’ll go and grab some stuff.”

“That's a stupid idea,” Lucine said, not moving from his position, “It’s fine. Food will be there in the morning. There's zero need to risk your life over it.”

“I’m going with you,” Shoot declared as he hopped over both the bar and Lucine's words.

Dramatically, Oliver looked over their shoulder at Shoot and gave a nod. The two then set off into the dark.

Lucine sat upright and watched them leave. “If you guys die over this, I’m not mourning you!” he shouted, looking on as his last attempt to rein them back to safety fell flat like a poorly-aimed lasso.

It took maybe a solid minute into their excursion outside until Oliver's trembling hand sought comfort in Shoot's.

“Oh? Is this when you're finally gonna admit your desperate attraction to me?” Shoot poked playfully.

Oliver was too terrified to be bothered by Shoot's teasing. “I just need to make sure that we don't get-”

“I know.” A noticeable shake in his voice near the end caused him to pause. “I’m right here. Just stick close.”

The two pressed on, and eventually they arrived at the convenience store. Strangely, they didn’t let go of each other’s hands once they were inside. The clerk at the checkout counter looked at them with tired incredulity; seriously, having a dance with death for 3 cold sandwiches, 4 taquitos, and a pint of ice cream?

The way back to the nightclub was no easier. Oliver wished they had just laughed off or gotten frustrated with Shoot when he poked fun at them earlier. It was normalcy, Shoot’s way of desperately trying to assert the status quo and reassure that everything will be alright, but now only tension and fear remained.

“Oh thank fuck you’re back!”

The moment Oliver and Shoot entered the building, Lucine rushed over. Behind his eyes, you could see the million different ways he had imagined the other two dying. Being left behind while their friends risk their lives could surely do a number on someone, but… well, without being one yourself, it can be difficult to fathom what torment an envy bun’s mind subjects itself to.

Shoot was the first to respond, reaching out to hold Lucine’s arms. “Hey, hey, it’s okay, man. We’re fine. Look, no scratches, nothin’. It’s chill, okay?”

All Lucine could respond with was a series of breathy ‘okay’s as Shoot kept holding his arms. Slowly, Oliver unpacked the food from the plastic bag and set it on one of the dining tables.

“Um, dinner is ready whenever you guys are. No rush, though…”

Lucine gave a light smile. “It’s okay, I’m ready. Curious to see what food you idiots put your lives on the line for.”

The three ate their food, chatting about several topics, but not one of them having to do with the news or what could possibly be lurking outside. At some point, they brought out some liquor from the club’s inventory, and the conversation got a hell of a lot more fun. 

Just for a while, they let themselves breathe.