how did this happen. . ?

10 - the magicians

You woke up alone.

Which wasn't unusual. You'd never had anyone share your bed, other than your mom back when you were small, terrified of the dark.

Still, part of you expected to see Tim slumped awkwardly on the edge of the mattress or curled up on the floor. When your bleary eyes scanned the room and found nothing, you exhaled a shaky sigh. Maybe it was for the best. The memories of last night came crashing down, heat flooding your face.

Oh my God.

You groaned into your palms, muffling the sound of your own embarrassment, until a hiss of static bled through the silence.

Your hands dropped. The sound grew louder. It wasn't from the hallway or another dorm room; it was inside yours.

Your television flickered, light spasming across the room.

"...Please don't tell me you're broken." You dragged yourself off the bed, padding the short distance to the set. A sharp smack on the top did nothing. Neither did frantic button pressing. "Okay, universal fix time—off, then on again, right?"

But before your finger could touch the switch, a small shock tickled your fingers, causing you to drop the remote. You yelped at the shock and went to pick up the remote. 

Something exploded out of the screen, crashing into you..

You screamed as both of you tumbled to the floor.

"What the fuck—!" the intruder yelled at the same time.

Scrambling back, your eyes locked on a familiar, green-clad figure. Small. Pointy-eared. Smug as hell.

"...BEN?"

His head snapped toward you. "Yo, Y/N!"

You blinked. "What the fuck was that?" Your arms motioned to the television.

"What do you mean?" He smiled, innocent as a kid caught with chocolate smeared across his face.

You gestured wildly from him to the TV, which was no longer full of static. "No. HOW the fuck?!"

BEN floated up off the ground with a lazy shrug. "I'm a ghost, dude. I can travel in and out of electronics. TVs, computers, game consoles, phones. Jump in one, pop out another. Easy."

Your jaw hung open. "...No."

"Yes." He smirked, crossing his arms as if that settled it.

BEN flopped onto the couch like he owned the place.

You sighed, grabbed your Switch, and tossed him a controller. "Fine. Sit. Explain why you decided to grace me with your presence over Mario Kart."

"Thanks." He picked his character, grin widening. "Reason one: checking on you after Jeff's little bloodbath. Reason two: I needed a break from the house."

You frowned and glanced in his direction. "The house?"

"If I tell you, I have to kill you." His face was dead serious for half a second, then he cackled. "Kidding." He waved his hand around.

You narrowed your eyes but pressed start anyway. "What house?"

"I live with Jeff and the others. It gets crazy."

"...Scary crazy?"

"Depends." He shrugged. "Scary if you're normal. Lucky for you, you're not."

That earned him a side-eye. But before you could answer, the game began, and his focus snapped to the track.

~ ~ ~

By the time BEN left—muttering something about "errands," which you didn't want clarified—you had just begun to enjoy the quiet again.

Until a knock rattled your door.

When you opened it, Tim stood there.

"Hey." His voice was calm, careful. "Just checking how you're doing."

Your chest warmed. "I'm okay. Thanks to you." You moved aside, inviting him in.

He gave a faint smile before stepping inside, claiming his usual spot on the couch. He put on a ghost-hunting show, volume low enough that it blurred into static while you tried to read at your desk. You barely noticed when he drifted closer—until warm breath brushed your ear.

"What are you reading?"

You jumped. His face was too close.

"Oh—uh, for my fantasy lit class." You scooted over, offering him a better look at the page. "I can lend it to you after, if you're interested."

Tim hummed, unreadable. His eyes lingered on the book... but you felt them on you.

You turned sharply, locking your gaze on his. If he wanted to stare, fine—two could play that game.

The tension snapped at the sound of another knock. Tim's head whipped to the door like it had sworn vengeance. 'Is today just a visit Y/N day?' You thought as you stood up and padded across the room.

You peeked through the peephole. And immediately regretted it.

"Oh." You opened the door. "...It's just Jeff."

Jeff's carved grin widened. "Hey, sweet cheeks. Man-whore." He flipped Tim off as he strolled in.

"Bleached freak," Tim muttered.

You pinched the bridge of your nose. "Can we not?" You shut the door quickly, glancing down the hall to make sure no one saw Jeff's uncovered face. "Why are you here?"

Jeff's smirk wavered for a moment. His eyes flicked to Tim, then back to you. He huffed. "I was sent to apologize. For... scaring you last night."

The words sounded foreign in his mouth, like a kid forced to spit them out under threat of punishment.

You blinked. "Oh. Well... thanks. But it's fine. You were just doing your job. I was the idiot standing in the splash zone."

Tim shot you a look. Jeff barked out a laugh.

"You're fucking weird." He sprawled across your couch, stealing the remote. "And for the record, I'm not actually sorry. Reputation, you know? But hey—if it came down to it, I'd do it again."

Tim's jaw tightened.

You sighed. With that kind of apology, you honestly couldn't tell if you should laugh or cry.

oh gosh I am sorry this took so long ;;

I lost motivation slightly but I am back :>

drink some water and eat a snack (this is a threat)