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Chapter-two

Grunting lowly, the Elysian finally awoke from his drunken slumber, still feeling the after effects of his still present hangover. He knew he shouldn´t have gotten himself so many drinks last night.
After a few minutes just lying in bed and just seeing the room spin slowly, Cletus finally managed to collect enough strength to sit up. Only then noticing the lack of clothing items on his body. Quickly counting one and one together he took a brief glance beside him and seeing of course who would’ve guessed a person sleeping there.

To be honest, this wasn´t a first for him, he had a fair share of hook-ups with strangers but he never has taken them back to his place before. Cletus was the kind of person to wake up ahead of his nightly partners and leave before any awkward conversation can happen.

So, with his normal habit, he quietly got up and collected his scattered clothes.

Waking up from a night of just drinking wasn´t the problem for Rufus, the places he normally woke up was the problem. Rooftops, gardens, pools and so much more, so you could say he was rather surprised when he woke up in a comfortable bed for once.

The first time he woke up, he still was too dizzy to do anything but lye back down again and get some more rest, not fully registering the situation he was in.
However, after a few minutes of much needed silent, he pulled himself up into a sitting position on the heavenly feeling bed. The room the Deponian found himself in was rather nice looking but he didn´t remember it from anywhere and nothing was on fire like it normally used to be when he woke up after a night of drinking.

And then only then he glanced down himself, noting that he was in fact completely nude.
That was a new for him, he never woke up naked before. Maybe a lost boot or loosing his hat but never everything.
Not giving it a second thought though, Rufus spotted the other person in the room and then he remembered.

He walked into a gay bar yesterday, seeing Cletus there and talking to him and then both of them going outside.
And then it hit him.

He had a one-night stand with his claimed enemy.

Rufus put his head down in shame, he has hit a new low for himself. “Cletus?” he hesitantly asked, not sure what his counterpart was thinking in this exact moment. Cletus slowly turned around, already dreading the upcoming conversation.
“Oh you´re awake” was all he could get out avoiding direct eye contact with the Deponian. With another swift motion he sat back down onto the chair in front of his small make up table, picking up his hairbrush.
Rufus felt somehow uncomfortable all of a sudden, the tone alone that Cletus had made him feel so out of place.

“Cletus, listen about yesterday…” but before he could continue his thought process, he got interrupted by the Elysian quickly standing up and giving Rufus one of the most emotionless and disgusted looks he had ever experienced.
“Yesterday was a mistake which will never happen again. The alcohol blinded my judgement and taste apparently. So, don´t have any hopes of this happening again.”
Cletus quickly grabbed his coat before darting towards the door, only to then stopping in the doorway.

“When I come back you better be gone” he muttered over his shoulder before slamming the door shut, leaving his apartment.
And with that Rufus was left alone. Completely speechless if he was being honest, he didn´t expect that at all but also relieved that Cletus thought the same even if he could have phrased it… well more nicer.
The Deponian finally stood up slowly and got his clothes, dressing rather quickly. He put on his iconic hat looking over into the mirror.
For the first time ever, he looked… not beautiful or handsome just lonely.

He quickly shook that thought away and grabbed his trustworthy coat putting it on and taking his leave. He slowly closed the door behind him, sighing.
Well, that was an experience he didn´t need.

Rufus needed an ice cream Sunday right now. Desperately.
So, with the little confidence he had, he went to ice cream parlour around the corner, the people working there already knew him and were always nice to him but that could be because he was on Elysium and almost everyone is nice. Almost too nice.
The Deponian entered the well-known shop and sat down at the table he always sits at. In the far-left corner next to the window. He didn´t even bother looking at the menu, he always got the same thing too. At least when he wasn´t feeling well.
“A Banana Cream Toffee Sunday with extra sprinkles and chocolate sauce”
As his order finally came, he didn´t even waste an extra second to finally dig in.

-time skip-

It has been a few weeks since that night and ever since that day, they have been ignoring each other and doing everything to avoid the other, well at least Cletus did that. Rufus tried to talk to him at least once or twice on some occasions but somehow the Elysian always managed to avoid him.
Even if Rufus regretted that night, he at least wanted to talk to him and be normal clones or whatever.

“Rufus, are you ready?” came the tender and loving voice of Goal from behind the door. Rufus smiled at that, her voice alone is so beautiful.
“Yeah, just another minute Goally~” he sang out hearing her tiny giggle from behind the door.

They were invited to a small balcony party from one of Goal´s friends, well Goal was invited but she decided to take Rufus with her. Since he doesn’t have a lot of friends on Elysium she thought a nice party is the best way to meet some new people.
With a last wink at his reflection, the Deponian left his bathroom and was greeted with a warm smile from the most beautiful person he knows.

“You look amazing Rufus!” she gleamed making him smile as well. “Says you. This new dress totally suits you” returned Rufus giving her a quick but warm hug.
“Now we better get going, being late is never good” Goal made sure to pet Rufus´ hair before going to grab her bag and holding open the front door for the Deponian. Rufus gave her one final smile then quickly following her out.
Stepping outside he already felt the cold air on his skin. Fortunately, he took his coat with him. The walk to Goal´s friend was rather nice, the weather was chilly but not too cold, the sky was brightly illuminated by the moon and just Elysium itself was beautiful.

Rufus could already see the lit-up balcony a few miles away, the soft music coming from it confirming his theory.
Goal immediately sprinted the small distance to the party and hugged one of the many people there, he assumed it was the mysterious friend who she was talking about. The Deponian was hesitant at first but slowly made his way to Goal greeting her friend as well.

However, that awkward smile and forced niceness of said friend quickly signalled Rufus that he wasn´t really welcomed here, so he took the hint grabbed a drink and leaned against the fence. He would just finish his drink talk to a rando and then leave again. Rufus appreciated that Goal took him with her but he knows when he is unwanted. Well at least since a few months now he knows that.
Had to learn that the hard way.

Rufus took a small sip of whatever he had in his hand and quickly grimaced at the bitter taste of the beverage. “Fuck, don´t they know how to mix alcohol right?” he muttered to himself reaching his hand out and dumping the whole glass of liquid down the edge, watching it disappear into the depths of the night.

The Deponian liked to imagine that he dumped the drink onto a random person down on Deponia. That would´ve been funny.
Deponia. Oh, how he misses it sometimes. The humans down there aren´t as high and mighty as the ones on Elysium. They always thought they were so much better than Rufus and always treated him like that. Ok if he was honest with himself, the people on Deponia didn´t treat him any different.

Just as he was about leave and say goodbye, he noticed someone specific leaning against the same fence a few metres away from him. Talk about déjà vu. Rufus debated whether he should talk to him or not. Worst things worst he gets ignored, happens all the time so why give a damn.

So, without any other thought he walked over to him leaning back against the fence.
“Fancy seeing you here snob” Rufus said playfully, hoping for any form of reaction but was met with silence. It felt like hours when in reality was a few seconds. What did he expect. However, before he could take his leave, he heard a small “What do you want” beside him.

Rufus sighed feeling relieved to get any form of reaction out of him. He leaned back against the barrier and smiled slightly. “I just wanna talk.”
Only then Rufus noticed the small glass the Elysian was holding, taking a big sip from it before letting it depressingly hang from his hand again. “I´m listening” responded the pale man, still not making eye contact with the Deponian.

“How are you” asked Rufus getting a small scoff in return. “You didn´t interrupt me to ask me how I’ve been. Tell me why you really want to talk.” Cletus then finally made eye contact with him, that pretty green glowing with so much emotion behind them.
Rufus had to swallow the formed lump in his throat before answering. “I don´t know but at least you´re one decent person here to talk to” he chuckled, looking back and noticing that Goal was gone already. He wondered if she went home this early.
The Elysian smiled at that compliment downing the rest of his drink. “Well, I would if I could but it´s fucking freezing out here” he retorted, already walking towards the stairs ready to leave.
However, before Cletus could walk away again from him, Rufus took his trusty coat and put it over the Elysian´s shoulders.
Catching him completely off guard, Cletus stopping dead in his tracks.

“Now that´s that out of the way, you now want to talk with me?” Rufus gave one of his goofy smiles making the Elysian blush yet again.

He quickly shook off the strange feelings and continued walking towards his apartment but giving a quick glance towards Rufus signalling him to follow Cletus. The Deponian grinned at that, noting that Cletus didn´t immediately throw off his coat.
“Soo, will you now tell me how you are feeling or is that top secret?” laughed Rufus nudging the Elysian´s side. “Just for your information your small talk sucks and yes, I’ve been doing fine. And you?”

“Great as always” he beamed grinning like an idiot. And before they knew it, they stood in front of Cletus´ apartment. “Perfect you just brought me home, how nice of you.” Mumbled the Elysian sarcastically. “Well, I wouldn´t want you to get hurt m´lady” joked Rufus, even bowing down a little in front of the Elysian.

“Very funny you idiot” replied Cletus already opening his front door. However, Rufus had different plans. “Oh, could you maybe check if I left my belts at your place?” The Elysian sighed, holding the door open for the Deponian to come in with him.
Rufus gladly took that invitation, closing the door behind him. Before he could do anything, else Rufus was pinned against the door by the Elysian.