Shoulder Buddies: Introduction pt. 2
TW relationship drama and discussion of sex.
Disclaimer (doubles as the master post)
“Really this is how we're starting our morning, again?” grumbled someone right in my ear.
“Good morning to you too, Lute.” I muttered.
“Jill’s door is closed, at least.” Charlie said from my other shoulder.
“At least if Crowley got ‘im, we wouldn’t keep having to chase the furry attention whore around all the time.” Lute grumbled
How is this my angel? I wondered, although I too was tired of chasing Peep around, but feeding him to my ex’s ball python seemed more than a little extreme.
“Seriously? Fuck you, Lute!” Charlie shouted at her, her horns showing up for half a second. Apparently she was a little on edge this morning. I made a mental note to check on her when I had a moment.
“Enough you two.” I scolded, kneeling down and looking under the couch.
I could see Tracey’s lavender hair almost directly across from me on the other side of the couch.
Man, is it dirty under here. Who’s turn is it to vacuu- or right, mine. It took me a minute to find him. It didn’t help that he kinda blended in, with his white back half almost looking like the dust bunnies, I needed to vacuum up, and his black front half blending in with the shadow. But I finally found the rascal. I thought that might just be able to reach his long pink tail. I made a grab for it.
He ran out from under the couch, and into my room.
Charlie and Lute both made similar, although more colorful, exclamations.
“Gosh fucking dang it. You stupid rat.” Tracey practically growled, as they stood up.
We had just made it to the door when my pure cat, Azi, came out carrying a squirming Peep in her mouth like he was a naughty kitten, which I think is what she thinks he is. She padded over to Tracey, gave them a very unimpressed look, and dropped Peep at their feet.
Trace scooped up their rat up before he had a chance to run again. “Bad rat. Very, very naughty. You’re gonna give Mommy a heart attack. You know that? Gorrammit, you dumb ass rat.” Tracey chastised him, all the way back to their room.
Azi rubbed up against my legs, meowing.
I squatted down and pet her. “You're a good girl, aren't you? Such a good girl.”
“A very good girl.” Charlie agreed, jumping on Azi’s head and scratching her behind the ears. Charlie’s red suit made Azi’s already bright white fur, somehow, seem even whiter.
She purred as we pet her.
A moment later I stood up, “Time for breakfast, Azi Razzi.” She padded behind me as I walked to the kitchen. Charlie, rode on Azi’s head. I pulled the cat food out of the cupboard under the sink, poured some in Azi’s bowl, and then finally set it on the pet food mat, next to the refrigerator. I checked to make sure the water bowl was still sufficiently full. It was. Then I washed my hands and got back to making breakfast for us humans.
“Charlie, are you doing okay?” I asked my demon, who was standing on Azi’s back, knee deep in white fur.
Charlie laughed in a very not okay way. “Not really.”
“Lute,” I said, “Shut up.”
“Charlie, what going on?”
“It’s nothing. Don’t worry about it. It’ll be fine.”
“It’s no big deal. Just a little blip. It’ll be fine.”
“Sure it will.” Lute taunted. “Her girlfriend lied to her.” Lute whispered.
Charlie is dating Robin’s shoulder angel Vaggie.
“Fuck you, Lute!” Charlie’s horns came out again.
“Okay, okay.” I interrupted, “Lute, she’s right, this doesn’t concern you.” I turned to Charlie, “Do you wanna talk?”
“Fair enough.” I poured the first pancake on the skillet.
Tracey, now dressed in their work uniform, a red and blue striped shirt and jeans, came back out of their room right about then. Emily had gotten her feathers in order too.
I heard Jill’s alarm go off.
I finished pouring the first batch. “Trace can you get the syrup and such on the table?” I have four skillets I use. The two big ones can fit two, or sometimes three pancakes, the others can fit one (I usually make about 3 batches).
Emily suddenly appeared on my shoulder and gave Charlie a hug.
About midway through the second batch, I heard Jill’s door open.
“Morning, Jill.” I said, glancing up.
Stu, Jill’s mobility dog, was opening zier door.
Jill followed him, using zier crutches. “Morning, Nat.”
Jill’s face went red as a strawberry, as did the face of zier angel, Sir Pentious. “You heard us?”
I saw Sir Pentious pull his hat down over his face.
“We both did. ” Tracey said.
Jill’s face went an even deeper red.
“I think the whole apartment complex did.” Lute muttered
I could sugge-” I heard Fizz start to say, right before Emily suddenly appeared behind him and clamped her hands over his mouth.
Jill didn't hear them. Jill can only see and hear zier own shoulder buddies, which is more than most people can do. It’s kinda sad really.
But Sir Pentious heard Fizz and Lute. He flared his hood for a second, then coiled up so tight he was almost a perfect sphere.
Jill’s shoulder devil, Cherri Bomb, rolled her eyes, “Whatever, loser,” she said giving me an exasperated look. “Though I don't see how you think you can judge, as I recall you're not exactly quiet yourself.
My face suddenly felt very hot.
Jill’s face went even redder.
Tracey turned and walked quickly back to their room. Smart choice.
I turned my focus back on breakfast, “You could’ve invited her to stay for breakfast.” I said, “After all you’re dating not hooking up.”
“Nat!” Charlie exclaimed.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Lute smirking.
“You just said you were mad I had her over.”
“First off, I did not say that.”
“You kinda did.” Lute snorted.
I ignored her, “I just said I could hear you. Secondly, I’m still friends with both your dumb asses and, we‘ve been over this before, I don’t care that you’re dating, Steph. However, I don’t know many people who want to hear other people’s… activities, and I’ve dated, and slept, with you both, so it’s doubly awkward.” I flipped the pancakes.
“How am I being a prude?” I practically shouted back.
Jill jumped and zier blue eye’s got big. Ze knows I can see zier buddies, but I’m not usually this open about it with zier, because ze finds it a bit off putting.
“I am not into voyeurism, Cherri.” I continued, “And I don’t think not wanting to hear my exes bang each other is unreasonable.”
“We’ll try to be quieter going forward.”
“Thank you. That's all I'm asking.”
Cherri rolled her eyes and flipped me off.
Lute returned the gesture.
Charlie looked like she wanted to die, which was kinda how I felt too.
Their was an awkward silence, as Jill came into the kitchen and fed Stu.
“I’ll tell Tracey it's safe to come out now.” Using zier crutches Jill went over and knocked on Tracey’s door. “Coast is clear.” Ze joked, laughing awkwardly.
