Grim had made up his mind about Sebek Zigvolt exactly forty-three seconds after meeting him.
"I don't like him."
Yuu looked up from sweeping Ramshackle's porch.
"You've said that every day this week."
"Because it's still true!"
As if summoned by the conversation—
"GOOD MORNING, HUMAN!"
The birds exploded out of the nearby trees.
Yuu winced.
"Morning, Sebek."
Grim flattened his ears.
"See?! WHY'S HE ALWAYS YELLING?!"
"I AM MERELY GREETING MY COMPANION."
"I'M TEN FEET AWAY AND I CAN HEAR YOU!"
---
Grim had many reasons for disliking Sebek.
Reason number one:
"He keeps calling me 'the feline creature!'"
"I HAVE YET TO DETERMINE YOUR SPECIES."
"I'M GRIM!"
"I am aware!"
"THEN USE MY NAME!"
"I shall consider it!"
"JUST CONSIDER IT NOW!"
---
Reason number two:
Sebek had opinions.
Very strong opinions.
"That canned tuna is unsuitable nutrition."
"It's delicious!"
"It contains excessive sodium."
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THAT IS!"
"You should."
"I'M A MONSTER!"
"Then you should know better."
Grim gasped dramatically.
"Yuu! He insulted my entire bloodline!"
"I did no such thing!" Sebek looked up at Yuu, offended.
The sight they were seeing was two siblings arguing for equal orange juice in their eyes.
---
Reason number three:
Sebek kept accidentally stealing Yuu's attention.
Grim would be in the middle of telling a dramatic story.
"...And then I was gonna blast that ghost with my amazing magic—"
"Yuu."
"Hm?"
"You had forgot your umbrella." Sebek had held it out to Yuu for the other to take. A blush on his cheeks that he hoped Yuu couldn't notice.
"Oh! Thanks, Sebek."
"..."
Grim pouted.
"...You interrupted my story."
"It will be raining."
"I WAS BUILDING SUSPENSE!"
---
Reason number four.
The head pats.
Sebek did not understand boundaries.
He had watched Yuu scratch Grim behind the ears exactly once.
The next day—
"The feline creature appears...agitated."
"I am not."
"...Perhaps this gesture is calming."
A large hand descended.
Pat.
Grim froze.
"..."
"...Did you just pet me?"
"I did."
"..."
"YUU HE TOUCHED ME!"
Yuu burst into laughter.
Sebek frowned.
"...Was that incorrect?"
"I'M NOT A CAT!"
"You behave similarly."
"I HAVE DIGNITY!"
"You attempted to fit inside a teapot yesterday."
"...THAT'S NOT THE POINT."
---
The rivalry escalated.
Whenever Sebek visited Ramshackle
Grim would sit directly on Yuu's side
"This seat's occupied."
"..."
Sebek stared.
"...Very well."
He simply stood beside them.
For an hour.
Motionless.
Watching.
Grim slowly looked up.
"...You're creepy."
"I am waiting." Sebek stared ahead.
"For what?"
"For you to become uncomfortable." He looked down at the monster with an unamused look.
"I'M ALREADY UNCOMFORTABLE!" Grim yelled.
---
One afternoon, Grim decided enough was enough.
He marched right up to Sebek.
"You."
"Yes?"
"You like Yuu."
Sebek froze.
"..."
"..."
"...Ridiculous."
Sebek was red in the face instantly. He looked away trying to spare himself some dignity.
"You DO!"
"I merely ensure their continued well-being."
"You carry their groceries."
"They overexert themselves."
"You bring them snacks."
"They forget meals."
"You fixed their broken chair."
"It was unstable."
"You walked across campus because they said they liked flowers."
"...The flowers happened to be nearby."
"They were on the OTHER SIDE OF THE SCHOOL!"
"..."
"..."
Grim crossed his arms triumphantly.
"HA! GOTCHA!"
Sebek's face turned impossibly bright red.
"I DO NOT REQUIRE THE OPINION OF A TALKING FELINE."
"I KNEW IT!"
---
Later that evening
Grim found a small bag sitting outside Ramshackle's door.
Inside...
Premium tuna.
The expensive kind.
"..."
There was no note.
Just the food.
Yuu smiled knowingly.
"I wonder who left this."
Grim looked toward Diasomnia.
"..."
"...That loud weirdo."
---
The next morning—
Grim reluctantly approached Sebek.
"...Hey."
"...Hm?"
"..."
"...Thanks...for the tuna."
Sebek nodded once.
"You are welcome."
"..."
"..."
"...I still don't like you."
"I did not expect otherwise."
"But..."
Grim looked away.
"...You take good care of Yuu."
"..."
Sebek's expression softened, just a little.
"I intend to."
"..."
"...If you ever make 'em cry..."
Sebek didn't even let Grim finish.
"I would sooner challenge fate itself than willingly bring Yuu sorrow."
Grim blinked.
"..."
"...That was...actually kinda cool."
Sebek cleared his throat.
"...Do not repeat that."
"Heh."
Grim smirked.
"Still a loud weirdo."
"..."
"...A tolerable gremlin."
"I HEARD THAT!"
"I intended for you to."
From that day on, they never really became friends.
They bickered constantly, argued over whose turn it was to help Yuu carry groceries, and competed for Yuu's attention whenever the three of them were together.
But if anyone else dared to insult Yuu?
Grim and Sebek would be standing shoulder to shoulder before the insult had even finished.
Neither of them would admit they made a pretty good team.
