"And don't look at me with those eyes, I, tried to destroy the ties."
Andy x Claus (implied, but can be seen as platonic if you want), tw;; death mention. Also an AU where they all are adults! And they all have works and stuff but just like to chill.
Andy sighed at the moment he sat down after cutting some weak sticks from the trees in his farm, tired from the activity, he hears Claus laughing by his side softly with a hand on his hands, the apple couldn't help but smile too. These days have been the most tiring ones and honestly the optimistic farmer relied on the clock when it came to spend time with his "friends".
Both of them were completely opposites that didn't understand how they managed to hang out so well, mostly because Andy's more of a cheerful and "not-care-at-all" type of guy who enjoyed small things in life, meanwhile Claus was always the most sofisticated one in the group, coming from a family of high class.
He always outstanded from everyone else with his high intelligence and perfectionissim, being the one who mostly makes order on the squad, but besides being someone with such an high ego, he had a soft spot for the apple. But for some reason, this time Margret, Felix neither. Claus would understand because everyone was busy with their jobs, after all, Melody is a musician, Margret runs a bakery all by herself, Felix helps as a guide to many people who are new with the area, and Claus? Well, he owned a really known an loved jewerly shop, and lastly Andy, that we all know his function there. But the main problem that this was a free day. Meaning they didn't have any work to do.
This wouldn't be any strange if only this pattern of their friends not coming anymore to spend time of quality, especially with Andy around. If it was only with Claus it could be a normal pinic but they there were, just the two of them looking at the sunset. The clock had this conversation with the mut, the fish and the brilliant moon, all of them seemed disgusted by the single idea of spending time with the farmer, the bone tied one couldn't help but be mad at their friends, because the forementioned was getting sadder and sadder day by day. But... he remembers something else in their voices when they spoke about it.
". . . Quite tiring, is it not?" Claus said, with his usual cocky accent. Andy looks upon him, with a confused look on his eyes but smiles warmly, the elegant man blushed slightly at the sigh.
"Doing all this work? Nah, it's a piece of cake! I'm just sad that they couldn't came to our picnic, I wonder if they are ok."
Claus gives the other one a saddening smile, and nods then. It was then quite a delightful silence, but also uncomfortable due the fact that, Andy was always the talkative one when it came in terms of the group, same with the mutt in the red clothing.
It's been a long time since the entire group had, you know! Time of quality! The last time they had one was literal weeks ago and after that, Claus had to attend to his work place a lot and talk to his family quite constantly, so he was off the squad for a while, we know that. But when he went back, the little sunshine of the apple was feeling blue and their friends made distance. What the, and excuse his language, hell happened when he wasn't around the time? A fight? A conflict? Because he remembers very well how his friends reactioned when mentionating the apple in their activities. Not especially the biggest enthusiasts about it. Felix seemed to know something but he couldn't talk, like something is not letting him to do so. Same goes with Melody but she looks sadder than anything else. Margret, on the other hand... she seemed disgusted by Andy.
Aggressive towards him even.
Which of course, the clock found weird and annoying, they couldn't even explain to him why that behaviour began in the first place. Andy was such a sweetheart, did he do something dumb? The same question repeated over and over on his head, only to be awoken by the other one cleaning his axe with a little piece of old clothing, the "black" stains from it were unsettling to say the least.
"Honestly it's tiring to be alone. I mean! I enjoy your company a lot Claus, after all, you are my best friend!" Those words were laced with a hint of melancholy and also warmth from his heart, which made Claus smile whole-heartdely, with a little pink on his cheeks that he doesn't dare to explain. It's not the time to think about closure but to help his friend.
"But it's just that... it feels empty without them being here."
"Dare to elaborate that further, my dear?" Claus says as he finally closes the book he had on hands and tosses it aside from his legs, leaning closer to the farmer, to comfort him.
Andy wasn't a really expressive one when it came to "bad" emotions. He always repressed them. Not matter what. Not even if he was crying his eyeballs out, not even if he was in a meltdown, he felt he needed to deal with it all alone. But when it came to Claus, he felt safe to be genuine about his feelings. He wanders in thought, lost in the idea of their friends.
"When you were busy, everything was okay! We were even planning to do something at the time! But then one uhm... one... guy, came by and, I don't know what happened."
Claus couldn't understand that at all. Precisely because Andy was talking in a low and nervous tone. What guy? What could he do to possibly make everyone feel bad about Andy?
"Can you describe the man, Andy?" His tone modulated to an calm one reassuring the other it was fine to take his time.
Andy shruddered, at least he could take that off of his mind. Honestly it wasn't the first time he had somewhat a type of "bully", but he always managed to kick their asses, because the apple was a strong man, built like an hard wall but with a heart of gold. This man has to be way too bad, because Claus was sure his friend would already kick their ass.
Andy laughed meanwhile he did a little trick with his axe, which the clock shaked for a moment thanks to that, he always felt indifferent about axes but... these lasts minutes he felt weird. In danger, even. His chest hurted.
"Well, he was... a Pumpkin. Taller than you and strong physhic. He wanted to play a game with them, and I don't remember what exactly it was but after that, they became more and more, distant." He exclaims as he cleans the dirt off his clothes, the food was almost untouched. Maybe he's going to make a campfire for himself, because Claus was also busy during night.
"Do you remember his nam-?" Claus tried to finish his question but was shocked because meanwhile the sun was starting to hide, and the stars came up to the blue dark sky, there was a certain someone behind the dry apple trees.
Fear conquered his body. Why did he felt scared? He's never scared. But this pumpkin guy looked so... menacing.
"Oh yeah, his name was Peter. But it was like he disappeared after all. Maybe it was my imagination or something, like, why would it be there a pumpkin even near here?"
Claus swallowed up, nodding. He looked again and the guy wasn't there anymore, maybe it was his imagination playing tricks on him.
"I see, well, if it makes you feel any secure, I will be here. I'll talk to them."
"Wha- Claus, you don't need to-" Andy reassured quickly, not wanting to bother.
"Don't say that. Even if this Peter cames by, I'll be here, one idiotic person won't destroy our friendship. I'll take care of this one."
"... Really? You sure?" The apple asks unsure, it sounded good since Claus always knew how to work up everything after a fight or conflict, but he didn't desire to cause so much trouble to the clock, after all, he was a busy man, always needed for everything.
"Of course I'm sure, as always. Do not worry yourself over me for such a simple task." A chuckle escapes from his lips, which causes Andy to smile too.
The taller one opened his arms and embraced his friend, who quickly corresponded the act. It was comfty. Even for Claus, who wasn't a fan of physical affection (he was most likely someone who showed he cared about you with gifts), the touch was graceful.
He opened his eyes and the pumpkin was in front of th- no, not them. Andy wasn't there. Only him with the pumpkin- is this the Peter he talked about? This guy looked... ĎƏÇËƧƏD
"Wha- Andy, where did he go?" He asks confused, maybe he's dreaming this somehow? Did he slept before coming here? Was this a dream only?
"Hello. I'm Peter the pumpkin, nice to meet you." This man said with a friendly voice, but something in there causes discomfort on the elegant clothed one.
"W- What did you do with him?" A mix of fear and anger came to him, a weird feeling.
"You ask too many questions. I did to him what he deserves, I thought you already knew that."
Claus stand up quickly and slowly started walking far from the one who seemed so familiar but felt like was a threat. He expected something like just rumours, not this.
But suddenly, he felt something taking him from both hands and legs, and putting him to the ground.
"I was going to give you a chance for a game but, maybe you don't deserve it at all. So let me get to the point because oh uh, your friend made another bad decision!" Peter laughs in a deep voice, with an axe on his hands. He had something else near him, no, no, no.
Claus tried to scream or say something but he couldn't speak.
"Maybe you could have helped me in this, you are such an smart guy. But... sometimes, smart guys lie. And he hates liars."
And he raised the axe, Claus felt familiar with this. Tears forming up in his eyes as he tried to shake from the brots in the floor but it's like he was meant to be like that.
"It won't hurt, Arthur. You already experienced this. And you will pain him the same way, again... and ăğąın, and ĂĞĀÎŅ."
The blooming pain and red color from his chest was horrible to experience, his clothes destroyed, his breath fading away, and tears running upon his face.
This was only the beggining. He won't remember this after all.
And the best part is that Andy won't remember any of this or the relationships he had on the past. He couldn't fault Claus. He tried.
But sometimes, trying isn't enough.
And that's all. You should have known better, Claus.
Maybe you could have been saved.
