tw: catcalling, mild assault, drinking

y/n hadn't exactly planned this through- she went back to her place. only to realize she had the left the keys to her place back at schlatts place- so now she walked, mindlessly down the streets of l'manburg wearing sweatpants and a tank top. it wasn't until now that she realized how helpless she was without him by her side... and that felt worse than anything.

"hey princess!" some man slurred from the shadows of an alleyway, he was big like schlatt, tall and bulky. she quickly wiped the tears off her face and hugged herself, attempting to walk faster past him. "aw- why so sad!?" he chuckled- reaching out and grabbing her arm. she whimpered, his tight grip would leave bruises. y/n had been catcalled before, it was common- being that she was a woman... although usually she had schlatt there to stare the guy down- so it never got past words. she hated how dependent she was on him... like a baby- a stupid fucking princess.

"stop!" she cried, pulling away. his grip only got tighter, trying to pull her into the alley. "please! stop!" she sobbed

"hey!" a voice called from behind her, the man had let go, his eyes widened and he put his hands up.

"hey- i was just messin' around-" he chuckled innocently. y/n turned around, niki! her hair danced with the wind, and her hands held up a diamond sword, pointing it at the man.

"uh huh... why don't you run off now before i cut your head off..." she snarled, the man nodded and ran off. she narrowed her eyes at him, putting her sword away. "men...they're such pigs" she spat.

"thank you..." y/n sniffled, adjusting her balance.

"y/n...? are you okay...?" niki mumbled, reaching out and placing a comforting hand on y/n's shoulder. the question just caused more tears to fall and more sobs to spill out. niki frowned- "hey-" she was cut off by y/n's sudden grasp around her, crying into niki's shoulder. "do you want me to take you to my place...?" she whispered, y/n nodded, allowing niki to tug her forward.

-----

the cottage was warm, welcoming- much like schlatts old home. she missed the wooden floors and cobblestone walls. quartz was much more boring despite it being so much more expensive. y/n rested her head on niki's sofa, the feather blanket wrapped around her shoulders, and a warm mug of tea sat gently in her hands.

"y/n...? how are you doing...?" niki mumbled, sitting next to her. she sniffled, the lump in her throat growing back- "y/n-" she gently took the cup of tea from y/n's hands and placed on the table next to them. "talking helps..." she frowned.

"we fought..." y/n mumbled, wiping more tears from her cheeks.

"im sorry..." niki whispered, allowing y/n to lay her head down on her lap, and gently brushing through her hair with her fingers. niki was never fond of schlatt, even from the beginning. "y/n... you know how i feel about him..." she mumbled.

"he's not really as sour as he makes himself out to be..." she replied.

"i know..." niki frowned, leaning over and placing a kiss on y/n's forehead. "but his actions... they're deeper than his words" niki mumbled, brushing more hair out of y/n's face. "wilbur and tommy... theyre still-" she frowned, tears pooling. y/n pushed herself up, cupping niki's face with her hands.

"i know-" she mumbled, tears falling. "he doesn't know what he's doing..." she whispered, wiping niki's tears away.

"why do you stay with him, y/n?" niki mumbled, holding her hand.

"i love him," y/n looked down. "its always been me and him...together" she smiled, reminding herself what made her fall in love with schlatt. "i should go..." y/n whispered, hugging niki. "he needs me. i need him"

----

"schlatt, buddy, you gotta chill out..." quackity said, attempting to keep schlatt sane.

"how the fuck can i chill out!? shes out there all alone- and she doesn't have the key to her house- and- fuck- she's not strong, alex! and there's people out there who want to hurt us!" schlatt shouted, stressed, and tearful. he sighed, running his hands through his own hair, "i fucked up, alex" he sobbed.

"schlatt-" quackity eyed the hole looming in the wall- the remnants of something dangerous, something he feared.

"i love her so much" schlatt sobbed, "i cant do this without her-" he sighed. quackity furrowed his brow,

"don't you think...that seems like a lot of pressure..." he mumbled. schlatt looked up at him,

"what?"

"imagine how she's feeling...i mean- she's stuck here and- you put a lot on her..." quackity rubbed his neck. schlatt huffed,

"you should leave-" he mumbled, holding something more back-

"schlatt-" quackity started.

"get...out..." he stifled.

"c'mon-"

"get- the fuck- out!" he shouted, not taking this feedback well. "you don't know a fucking thing!" he yelled, "now get out!"

"okay..." quackity gulped, fear rising, he stepped back- opening the door- and leaving. schlatt was alone now, huffing, catching his breath.

"fuck-" he stuttered, walking over to the kitchen- unable to control his own movements. he closed his eyes, tugging at his hair. "don't do it- stop- stop it" he mumbled to himself, opening up the cabinet and pulling out a bottle of liquor.