Chase scrunched their nose up.
Fucking rememberance week. Who thought of that?
Which pig headed moron that of that?
Chase snorted in disgust and chucked their phone to the side and picked at their waffle.
"What's up?"
"Instead of one day it's a whole entire week now. Least it's only for this year though. Think Steven's gonna sleep for an entire week?" Marc shook his head.
"Nope. You're gonna have to tell him at some point. If he doesn't figure it out all by himself that is"
"Ugh stupid shitting…" chase stabbed their waffle and sat back, "why can't we just have one day? It was fine last year. Definitely fine last year."
"Chase you can always stay in that week"
"I have meetings of the art related kind, Marc. I can't cancel my meetings because of this stupid dust rememberance week. Tch" chase wasn't hungry now. Definitely not hungry. What a waste of a waffle…
"Can we just go back, Marc? I wanna curl up on the sofa and just hear about you and Layla and what you did whilst I was stuck at a museum for an entire month" chase stood up from their seat, grabbing their satchel bag and headed for the door.
"Hang on. Why were you in a museum for a month?" Marc asked, getting up from his seat and following after them.
"Commission the guy didn't like. Asked me to redo it." Chase grumbled out, walking through the park that had the remembrance walls. A year had passed, and the photo chase put up was still on the wall.
"How annoying" Marc agreed, walking past the walls of granite and cast a glanced to the weathered photo.
"Mn very annoying. But i got a massive pay out for it so I can't be mad, new art stuff for me" chase chuckled and rubbed their hands in excitement.
To chase, it was crazy how a year could go so fast. Last year, they were crying because they couldn't handle remembering their dusting but this year, they still hurt, but not as much. They had Marc and Steven, their dopey boys to keep them company.
"Chase haven't you got enough art supplies?" Marc couldn't think of a single time when chase hadn't had a working canvas in their flat.
"You can never have too many art supplies Marc! You'd know that if you did art."
"But I don't, so I wouldn't know. It's like Steven and his books. I don't understand him and the love for ancient Egypt but, if he loves it then I support him. Although I have no idea what he's saying half the time." Marc have a small chuckle and walked beside chase.
"Are you sure steven won't be asleep for the entire week?" Chase asked, glancing up to Marc.
"He has work in a few days chase." Chase sighed
"Can't he take a weeks holiday"
"Oh trust me, it'd have to be something drastic to make him take a break from work." This was true. Steven - although loves the cuddles and snuggles he gets from chase, also likes working and money to live on. Couldn't exactly blame him for that.
A few more minutes of walking in a comfortable silence and the pair made it back to their respective flats.
"...wanna come in?"
"You sure Marc?"
"Wouldn't be asking you if I weren't sure, stupid"
"...I'm literally next door to you moron…but yeah, I'm coming in to invade the flat again" a grin rested on chases face and immediately walked in as soon as the door was open and shuffled over to the bed and falling back first onto it
"Why don't you just move in chase"
"Don't wanna."
"You'd still have your flat though" Marc retorted with
"But I like my me-ness." Chase whined out
"You mean the mess"
"Exactly" chase nodded out and Marc sighed. He'd have to talk to the other two at some point inside the headspace.
___
The day of the snap, chase was moving in. Well. Finished moving in.
They were excited. A fresh art graduate, some art gigs booked in and most of all, parent free!
"That's all the boxes little bear" parent free as soon as their dad left.
"Thanks daddy. You really didn't have to help me with everything you know"
"Hey, you're my little bear. I'd do anything for you" a giggle left chase and hugged their dad. Then felt the atmosphere of the world change. And their leg tingle.
"Dad- dad I don't feel well.."
"Okay, okay it's probably nerves just kicking in. It's a big world for a little bear" chase let a small chuckle out and looked out their window
"...dad..there's people turning to dust." Another tingle, this time in their toroso and when he didn't respond, chase looked around in terror and panic, "dad?! Dad where are you!?"
And then they felt the pain of being ripped apart molecule by molecule.
___
Chase woke up screaming and fell out of bed. Sweat covering their face and their hair being stuck down.
Palms felt cold and clammy too..
They didn't hear Steven call for them until he was crouching next to them and looking in worry.
That…that was new. That memory was new. New and they didn't like it.
"-love- chase. Hey, hey focus on me" chase tuned in to the sound of Stevens voice and quick, heavy pants of breath left them.
That fact that Steven had woken up to chase falling out of bed and screaming had concerned him. And the fact that chase's eyes - those gentle and caring, determined blue eyes- they were wild, frenzied. Panicked.
He didn't know why exactly but, but he was worried, and gently pulled chase in for a hug, rubbing their back and placed his forehead against theirs.
They spent an hour like that. One whole hour. Of course, Steven knew what chase had done. They'd disassociated. That blank stare was enough for Steven to know.
Chase had spoken to him before, about how their brain puts what they call a mental fog over memories of theirs and that sometimes they randomly unfog or come to the front when a traumatic thing has happened to them. He guessed it was the same for him and Marc? He didn't really know but it sounded familiar.
It took another ten or so minutes before Chase stirred awake, blinking away the stranded tears that were stuck in their eyes and leaned away from Steven, making sure they were safe and that nothing could hurt them. Steven smelled sweet. Always did but it was stronger today. It was comforting.
"Chase? Love are you back with us?" Chase blinked, looking back to Steven and gave a stiff nod.
"I- I- what happened?"
"You fell out of bed, and screaming. You uh- you disassociated for a good hour there, you all good now?"
"I'm not…I'm not sure? I think so?" Chase frowned. How the hell did they lose an hour?
Chase's phone pinged and they craned their neck to see what it was. A notification from a news article.
Remembering the people who dusted and died.
A week long remembrance hearing from the victims and the effects the trauma has caused on them.
Ah. Right.
"H-hey uh-" chase let a small cough out and slowly stood up, "I have a couple of meetings today and i- should really go and get ready for them"
"Are you sure?"
"Positive. I'll catch up with you later, yeah?" Before chase could even give Steven a chance to reply, they had already left.
And chase had left their phone. Steven picked it up, the screen automatically turning on and the news article was on their front screen.
"Dusted..? What-" Steven was confused. But, he was going to find out.
"Marc, what's all this about?" Steven glanced to his reflection in the phone and no one from the headspace replied. Great. Fantastic. Looks like he'd be figuring it out on his own.
___
Steven left chase's phone by not Gus and not Gus 2's tank before he left. In case chase realised they forgot it but they looked so confused, disoriented even. He didn't think they'd notice today anyway.
And there was a lot of people crowding into the park. An event, maybe? Well, he was curious now so he had to take a look and see what it was about.
Steven walked in, saying his excuse me's or coming through until he finally stopped at a big screen, with people talking about a snap?
"Hey bud, what are you doing here?" Now Marc was awake.
"Yeah yeah, what's all this Marc? Chase was acting weird this morning, what's this about a snap?"
"Okay. Big alien guy, erased the population of half the world. Those granite walls? The names of the people who were snapped- or dusted." That was a quick explanation from Marc. But as soon as Steven went to ask more, Marc had vanished again.
Steven groaned. Of course he'd do something like that.
Steven hadn't actually been listening to the screen but he tuned back in, heard the familiar voice of chase and looked up.
That same look they had on them this morning.
"I- sorry uh-
My name is chase brooke. One of the people who had uh…who..had a longer dusting. Did you know, only 2% of the population had a dusting that lasted for one or more hours?
I.. it's funny..the people who survived the snap - dusting - blip, even, didn't need to think of the consequences or- or how to relearn to move with a fast paced society. They just moved on with their lives.." Steven's hurt was hurting. Chase looked so broken, so hurt…so sad.
"Thanos had taken my life, even before it had started. I missed, two years. And I'll never be able to get them back. Y'know. It's weird, we- we thank the avengers for sacrificing themselves to stop Thanos but…two years? Two- two years. Or- or even more I don'tknow but
I'll never forgive them, or thank them. I will never forget what they did to the world that day. That- that they just gave up." The chase on screen, they were angry. It was an emotion that Steven never really saw from them before.
"I've seen people, look at us in fear or- or disgust. And, how can we really move on? Y'know it-it-its hard. To wake up every day and to think that's it. It's gonna happen again. Or-or to-to-to wake up screaming and reliving the memories.
That fact that you guys contacted me. To share my story, why? Just so you can plaster it on the news lines? To pity us? We just want to live."
"...Steven…?" Steven looked over his shoulder, then fully turned around to see chase.
"Chase! I- is this why, you were acting weird today?"
"...yeah…I don't remember doing that though" chase laughed weakly, pointing up to the screen, then sighed, "I'm tired…I just..want to go home" they looked like the walking dead.
"Yeah. C'mon let's get back. Bloody freezing innit?" A small smile came to chases face at that
"Yeah. Yeah it is."
___
"-yes I know- I'm sorry but it really is an urgent family matter. I'll work overtime next week. Thanks, cheers" Steven hung up, handing the freshly made cup of hot chocolate to chase and sat down beside them
"Sorry i- I didn't want you to miss out on work" chase mumbled out.
"I think this, you are more important though, yeah? Now c'mon. Talk. Is this why you've been funny with me today? How you look like a pile of dead bones just walking?"
"Thanks for the compliment" chase snorted out, taking a small drink from the hot chocolate
"But seriously, is this why you've been in a weird mood?"
"Yeah…a bloody week of that racket outside. Stupid idiots. And my face is gonna be on the news too.
What possessed me to talk? To say that."
"You know, I was reading up on my whole D.I.D. thing, and there's something called dissociative amnesia too. You might have that" chase grunted.
"Wouldn't be surprised with the way my life has been up to this current point in time. The day I came back…I went to London bridge and..I tried to end my life." Chase found a sudden interest in their cup.
"Oh chase.."
"I'm still here though so-so you can see how that attempt went" a wry laugh left them and Steven pulled them into a side hug
"Well I for one, am glad you're still here. I love waking up and just seeing you focused on a painting or arguing with the dusty pigeon or yelling at Jake for something stupid he's done"
"Like the cookies"
"Like the cookies" Steven repeated.
"But the point is, and even Layla would agree if she was with us, the point is, you're a little rainbow of shine."
"No I'm not"
"You are. Even when you're grumpy you still have a quip or respond to something in the most silliest of ways. And if you never existed after that- that experience, me, Marc and the others, we'd never get to experience our ray of sun, yeah? We'd never get to see all the experiences you've had, that you've invited us to be at."
"You're gonna make me cry Steven" chase sniffed out
"All of it's true though. But me and the others, had a talk yeah?" Chase blinked
"...yeah?"
"And we all agree, you should move in with us." Chase blinked again
"Are- no. No I can't do-"
"We all agree that you should. I mean, you practically moved in the first day we met innit?"
"But my flat-"
"Can be used as your art studio." Steven argued.
"..I don't have a say in this do I?" Chase asked
"No not really"
"Next thing you know, you're asking me to be your partner in god related crimes" chase chuckled out
"Oh not to say I won't in the future" Steven hummed out and chase choked on their drink.
The week may be a hell week, but, at least steven would be here to distract them, as well as Marc and jake.
But right now, they were really thankful Steven was here. To distract them and to make small talk.
"Oh- oh I have to pack my stuff up- I need to- oh- oh what is it…I need to tell my dad! Yeah! Yeah I need to tell my dad about this oh my god he's gonna be so happy!" Chase hopped off the sofa, grabbed their phone and ran into the bathroom, a happy giggle leaving them.
"You know you'll have to meet their dad at some point now" Marc pointed out and a small groan left Steven.
"Yeah cheers for that. Trying not to think of it"