Sledger: The Sledgening

Chapter 10: (Un)Lucky Break

“There was this one time he decided to…”

“Uh huh.”

Conversation with Toxic-gunner was easy for the most part. Well, if you could call it conversation. It was mostly Sledger doing the bare minimum and Toxic-gunner ranting at him(not to him, at him).

Sledger's mind is on something else… is it like that everyday? Is this going to be his life from now on? Creepy roommates and arguments? Getting his life threatened? Getting yelled at?

Maybe he's starting to regret his decision. Sure, he didn't have much going for him in the world, but he has even less going for him here. Fuck… he messed up,

While he's burrowed deep into his existential crisis and thoughts, he bumps into his ‘conversation’ partner's broad back,

“Hey, dude, mind if I say something personal?”

To be honest, Sledger did mind, but it was probably just going to be as easy to listen to as his other words, so he decided,

“I don't mind.”

Toxic-gunner turns his back to the wall before letting himself fall against it. With a sigh and a hand weaving through the roots of his hair he speaks, as if Sledger's words had opened the floodgates,

“That asshole really doesn't deserve friends. He's a grade A jerk, I don't even know what I did wrong to get on his bad side.”

With another sigh, he continues his tirade,

“-but I've gotta admit, I'm jealous. Even if his personality sucks, people still like being around him.

I'm not like him, people just automatically get.. weird with me. I don't even know why, I don't think I've done anything wrong.”

He bows his head before he pinches the bridge of his nose, a bitter chuckle escaping his lips,

“Forget I said anything, I'm getting in my feels, y’know how it is.”

Sledger stares at him, and he almost remains quiet. He was never the best with comforting people, hell, he wasn't great with people in general. 

Despite all this, he decides to take a leap of faith, to attempt to comfort this man. He puts a hand on the gunners shoulder before speaking,

“Uh, hey, if it makes you feel better, you've only made me uncomfortable like.. twice since I've met you.”

Idiot.

He should've stayed quiet.

Sledger sucks in a sharp breath, looking up at Toxic-gunner, hoping against all odds he hadn't made him feel worse. To his shock, his meager hopes beat the odds.

Toxic-gunner had a soft smile on his face, his brows furrowed upward slightly,

“Aw.. thanks, dude.”

As though Sledger's words had sapped away the doubts coursing through his mind, he allows himself some genuine relief since he saw Sledger sitting with his roommate,

“Hey, how's about we go now? We were going to Medic's right?”

He lifts himself off the wall, his usual grin on his face, now directed at specifically Sledger.

Sledger was slightly taken off guard by how his horrible attempt at consolidation worked so well to lift his co-workers spirit. He cleared his throat, getting ready to follow Toxic-gunner,

“Oh, yeah, sure.”

–lol–

Their conversation had ended a little bit ago, but Toxic-gunner's words still played in his mind like a record on loop.