Dark Thorns (A Deltarune fanfic)

Got the case of the heart chain blues

Content Warning:
violence, death threats
——
Loud music blasted throughout the club. While everyone else was mingling, Spamton could only stare at the drink in front of him. Red had left him alone at the table for some time now. He almost considered leaving. The strobing lights were giving him a headache. Luckily, as soon as he finished his drink, Red came back, out of breath.
"Holy shit", he laughed as he sat back down. "This place is great. I can't believe we haven't been here before." Red tried to take a swig of Spamton's drink, but pouted when he noticed it was empty.
"We couldn't afford it before."
"Yeah, but you've been making bank for how long now?" Red laughed again while Spamton just groaned. "Come on! Let's go get another round at the bar."
"I think I'll pass."
Red looked at his friend and finally got the message.
"Actually, I'm getting pretty tired. How about we just go?"

As they walked out of the building, Red started walking to a payphone. Spamton quickly stopped him.
"Let's just walk."
"Sure."
Walking further down the street, the music was getting fainter and fainter. The two said nothing for the longest time which started to make Red uncomfortable.
"So you said you have to shoot a commercial in a few days right?" Spamton only hummed in response. "Yeah. Makes sense you don't wanna get trashed before then. Gotta keep that sleek image, right?"
"Yeah."
Red furrowed his brow. Something was up. Of course there was. Spamton and Pink were going through such a bad rough patch, one would think they weren't together anymore. Not to mention the rest of their friends had completely turned their backs on him. If you didn't count Mike, Swatch, and all of his fans, Red was all Spamton had now.
The rest of their walk was quiet. Red wasn't going to press Spamton into talking anymore. Meanwhile, Spamton was deep in his thoughts. He kept asking himself if any of this was worth it.
Mike says I don't need them anymore. That I don't need Pink anymore.
But I miss them.
I miss him.
Pink.
Without Pink, what am I?
Just a sleazy salesman?
Is any of this worth it if I lose them?
Is this what I really wanted?

Red stopped as he noticed someone in the shadows. Making eye contact with them, the addison sighed.
"Hey Spam." Spamton looked up at him with tired eyes. "I need to take care of something. I'll be right back."
"Wait, what?"
"Don't worry. It'll be quick." With that, Red took off crossing the street and into the alleyway.
Spamton crossed his arms over his chest as he waited for his friend to come back. He knew what Red was doing. It was one of those dubious deals he would do from time to time. Any get rich quick jobs Red saw, he would take. No one liked it. Yellow and Blue would try to get him to stop and it always ended the same. Red would promise to stop and then almost immediately take another deal. There were times Red came to their apartment with an injury and needed Pink to take care of him because he didn't want to waste money he didn't have at the ER. Spamton hated seeing him like that. He hated seeing his friend so desperate. One of these days, something bad was going to happen.
No. He wouldn't let it.
Before he could give himself a chance to think twice, Spamton went into the alley. He was disgusted with how dirty it was. Of course he wasn't used to it. For crying out loud, he was living in a mansion. Eventually he found them. Hiding behind a wall, Spamton observed the situation. Red was talking to three other individuals. Two Icon men and a Werewire.
"What do you mean I only get four percent?"
"We need to make sure that this takes off well."
"You said I'd get eighteen."
"Think of it as like a down payment."
"No. I want what I was promised. I need the money."
"And you'll get it as soon as the business takes off."
"Forget it. I'm out."
"What? You can't be out."
"Unless you give me what I'm owed, I ain't staying."
"Come on, Red. Be reasonable." He didn't respond back. Red had begun to walk away from them. One of the Icon men was grinding his teeth. "You're not leaving so easily." Blowing a small whistle, the Werewire nodded its head and rushed at Red, knocking him into the wall. As he was trying to catch his breath, Red reached into his pocket. Unfortunately, the Werewire took the chance to grab Red by his head, lifting him high enough that he could touch the ground. There was a sound of something dropping. Spamton was surprised to see that it was a knife similar to the ones Red would use at his shop. All the while, the Werewire carried Red over to the con men as he frantically kicked and scratched to try and get out of its grasp, but it didn't react at all.
"What the fuck are you doing?!"
"Do you know how long it took us to find a willing Addison? Too long. We need this as much as you do."