Partners In Crime (Ticciwork fanfic) [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 4: Hoody

When Clockwork stepped into the house she was met by a very tall figure in a perfect black suit.

"Crap."

"Oh, hello." Slenderman said calmly, tentacles curling and uncurling behind him, like he couldn't decide whether to strangle her or crush her to death. Clockwork stared, completely stunned. The door opened and Pepper entered from behind her.

"Oh hey Slendy!" She said cheerfully. "Glad you could join us!" She seemed a bit nervous but didn't show it.

"Why is she here?" His voice was still calm but Clockwork knew he hated her. She hadn't meant to stab him, but she supposed he wasn't going to forgive her very quickly.

"Smeagol got a hold of her." Pepper explained. "She's staying here until she's well enough to leave."

"Shame he didn't kill her." Toby muttered as he left the room. Pepper glared after him but didn't call him out. Clockwork bit back a few mean comments, trying not to look like too much of a jerk in front of Slender.

Slender was still moving his tentacles indecisively. It was really distracting.

Finally he relaxed, and turned away.

"Very well, then." He said. "She can stay as long as she'd like." And with that he walked away, quickly and smoothly and surely, exactly like Clockwork remembered.

She relaxed, relieved he hadn't decided to kill her. Yet.

"Don't be mean to Toby if he's around." Pepper advised. Then she snorted. "You shouldn't be mean to him at all, but I guess you're incapable of that." She walked away before Clockwork could respond, making her feel even more guilty.

Clockwork turned around and went back outside, sort of half heartedly slamming the door behind her. It was nice outside, the birds singing merrily in the trees. It was like nature was trying to mock her. Clockwork glared up at it, annoyed.

"I see how it is." She grumbled. She wanted to carve something into the wood but doubted vandalising the porch any more would be smart, or make her feel any better.

The door opened and closed and Clockwork narrowed her eyes.

"Go away, Pepper." She said angrily. "I don't want to hear it."

"I'm not Pepper." Hoody's voice said. Clockwork turned around, surprised.

He was standing outside the door, his gloved hand still on the handle. He stood very still, the red frown on his face giving nothing away about him, like always. He stood very similarly to Slender, Clockwork noticed. She wondered how long he'd worked for him.

"What's your deal?" He asked. He sounded indifferent, but Hoody had a way of talking to people that made it always sound like he wanted it to. Now it sounded like a threat.

"What do you mean?" Clockwork's defenses started going up. Hoody was as much as a mystery to her as Toby, maybe even more.

"I mean about Toby." Still the threat behind his voice. Clockwork started to feel a bit afraid of him. "What's your goal? Are you trying to make enemies or are you just naturally a jerk?"

Clockwork narrowed her eyes. "Since when do you care?"

"Since you crushed my friend's feelings, that's when." He gestured to the door behind him. "Who do you think you are?"

"I don't care about him." She growled.

"Well I do." Clockwork hesitated, stunned, but Hoody didn't stop. He was on a role now. "Toby is usually the most easy going, nicest person ever, I have never seen him hate someone as much as you." The indifference in his voice left for a split second and she could hear the anger in his voice. "You need to stop, leave him alone."

"He yelled at me first."

"He's defending himself!" Hoody sighed, calmed himself down. "Look-Clockwork is it?-he yells at you because he's afraid. He figures if he hits the right nerve you'll back off and leave him alone. Toby is scared of you, and he's not used to being afraid of people. He doesn't know how to deal with it." He hesitated, then he turned the door handle he still gripped in his hand behind him. "Think about that, okay?" And then he was gone, the threat still hanging in the air behind him.

That night, Clockwork stayed on the couch again. She lay there for a very long time, not the least bit tired, before she sat up and looked around. She had nothing to do; the clock read past midnight.

After a moment's consideration she picked up the guitar again, though she had no idea what to play.

Clockwork sighed and plucked half heartedly at the strings. What to do what to do...

She closed her eyes and found that chord again, then let her muscle memory take her away. It was easier the second time, and she didn't falter as often. She played for a long time, repeating herself fairly often, all the while with her eyes closed.

Finally she stopped, the house suddenly very quiet, and she opened her eyes. The clock was past two now, but she still wasn't tired.

She looked around, wondering if Toby had showed up again to listen, but she didn't see him. Part of her was a little sad, but mainly she was relieved. She really didn't want to talk to anyone right now, much less talk to Toby.

Clockwork put the guitar away and attempted at sleep again.

She must have drifted off eventually because suddenly she was opening her eyes and it was morning.

Clockwork stretched, no one was around except Hoody (did he sleep at all?) and Masky who both were where they normally were every day. Clockwork got off the couch and flexed her shoulder. It was stiff more than painful, now, though if she moved it a certain way it ached.

"Hi guys." She said. Hoody didn't look up but nodded to show he'd heard. Masky waved. Neither were the small-talk type, she realized.

She heard footsteps and she looked up curiously, but it was only Toby. He didn't look at her at all this time, and without a word he went outside like usual.

She sighed and Hoody noticed but didn't say anything.

Without thinking, Clockwork ran out the door after him.

She caught him just as he was going down the steps, grabbing his wrist to stop him. He flinched and recoiled, pulling himself free and taking a few steps back from her.

"What do you want?" He growled. She could tell if she didn't say anything quick he was going to leave.

"I -" She stopped. He made a move like he was going to walk away.

"I'm sorry!" She blurted. He paused. "I'm sorry for being a jerk and - and snapping at you all the time and - everything." She took a breath and shifted nervously. "I'm sorry for - for everything."

He stared at her like she was an alien or something and didn't move for a long time. When he spoke, his whole demeanor had changed, like he was a totally new person.

"Thanks." He said softly. "I'm sorry, too." A moment's hesitation, then he turned and walked away. He looked back once, but only briefly, before he darted back into the shadows of the trees.