The Anomalous Town [A S.T.A.L.K.E.R. x Deltarune Fanfic]

Wake Up

To say that Berdly was horrified is an understatement. He looked at MK in utter shock, as if he witnessed a horrible murder at play.

"How are you?" he said. "Seriously?! That's your first question?!"

"Well, what'd you want me to say?!" MK asked as he glared at Berdly.

"Oh, I don't know," Berdly said, looking at the man in front of them. "How about asking him the more obvious question. As in, why was he sleeping on the ground like some homeless person!"

"G-guys," Noelle called out, albeit her voice was nearly quiet. "I-I don't think we should argue like this..."

Of course, the two didn't hear her pleas of goodwill as they continued their bickering. Before their argument escalated, however, they were intervened by the man from before.

"You should listen to that little friend of yours. It's rude to argue when people are around. Especially when you mention and assume them, Pridurok," the eyed the two before glaring at Berdly upon mentioning the last bit.

Berdly froze upon seeing the man's glare. Thankfully for him, the person's glare didn't last long as Snowy decided it was a great time to step in.

"Sorry 'bout him, mister," he said while sending glances to the bluebird. "He just doesn't know when ta shut his trap up."

"HEY!!!" Berdly yelled out in offense.

"...Whatever," the man responded as he began patting himself before looking through his pockets. His movement slowly became faster as he tried to find what he was looking for with little success.

"I-is something wrong?" Noelle, meek as ever, asked in concern.

"Der'mo," the man muttered angrily. "I can't find my phone."

"Y-your phone?" Noelle squeaked, trembling when the person's gaze set on her.

He then looked around the area where he first woke up. Seeing that the man busied himself, Noelle opted to give him space by backing away ever so slightly. That is until her hoof stepped on something with a crack.

Flinching from the noise, Noelle jumped away from the stepped item and looked down, only to stare in shock and horror.

On the ground was a phone with a noticeably cracked screen on it. Panic began to rise in her as thoughts raced in her mind.

'Ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod! What do I do, what do I do!' she thought as she took a quick gaze at the man. 'Should I tell him?! How would he react?! He probably would react badly!! Maybe I shouldn't!! B-but-'

"Hey, you alright?" the man said, suddenly behind the poor deer who froze in place.

Noelle wasn't alright, as her tiny bleat proved it so. The man followed Noelle's gaze and looked down to see his broken phone.

"W-w-wait..." Noelle tried to get the man's attention and failed as he approached the now ruined device and picked it up. He looked at it once more, turning it around to see any more damages and turning it on and off before tucking it into one of his pockets.

Noelle looked down in fear and shame, feeling the man's gaze onto her.

"I-I'm so sorry..." she quietly said, apologizing to the man. She heard the man sigh as he walked towards her and looked up. She saw the man wearing a tired small with a slight sympathetic gaze.

"Forget it," he said. "It's not like my phone's destroyed. It's only a screen crack, and I can have someone repair it for me."

Noelle looked surprised by this and pushed on.