(Readers p.o.v.)
Ever since feferi washed up on the shore that day, eridan has been acting really strangely. He is constantly worried about her and checks on her constantly, he's not fully aware of his surroundings so he's been rather clumsy lately, and he looks exhausted from lack of sleep. You worry about him and will often tell him to just sit down and rest for a while, but he never really gets much sleep when doing so. His nerves are a wreck and you feel like there's something he's not telling you about. You walk up to him after dinner and sat him down to talk.
"What's got you so out of it? You've been exhausted and worried and it's taking its toll on you and your health... I'm starting to get really worried Eridan... please talk to me." You say to him gently. He looks at you, then at the floor, then he places a hand over yours.
"Ivve just been...reely reely wworried about fef... I alwways do. She wwas my first real and only friend for the longest time and I wwant to be there for her for wwhatevver she needs, but-" He starts choking up and tears threaten to fall from his eyes. "But I'm just so scared of losing her again- and I just- I can't lose her again- I-"
He cuts off. Whether it was from you suddenly embracing him or just him finally cracking and letting the tears and sobs come, you didn't know, but you didn't care. You just held him close and he did the same to you until you both fell asleep on the couch.
(Eridan's perspective)
You wake up the next morning on the couch with (y/n) in your arms. You wipe at your face and eyes, recalling that you had been crying last night and the events that went down. Maybe you shouldn't worry so much about fef, but it's almost second nature to do so at this point. You've been so protective of her for sweeps and to have this happen to her while you let your guard down and actually find someone to move onto was unacceptable... you don't think that you can ever really forgive yourself. And that isn't the only thing you can't forgive yourself for. Slowly, a flashback starts to form of that awful night on the meteor....
You shake the memory from your head, standing up and walking to the bathroom. You wash your face with cold running water, then peek in on fef to make sure that everything was in order but mentally kicking yourself for doing so.
As soon as you Crack the door open to peer in, you find fef still asleep, as she had been for about two days now. She used to always look so at peace with everything when she slept, but now she looked slightly troubled, as though she was having a nightmare. You study her sleeping face for a lite while, then close the door back and return downstairs to be with (y/n).
Of everyone you've ever met, you've never been so open with anyone other than fef or (y/n). It tore you apart actually. Fef was and always will be your first love and will hold a place in your heart til the day you die, but you've done wrong by her and she broke your heart. You were a burden to her and she was interested in someone else. On the other hand, (y/n) had something about her that just clicked with you. She was beautiful and kind and just being around her made you feel happy. She saved your life even though you were so different from her. Any one else probably would have just killed you or left you to bleed out.
And she loved you back. She got worried about you, could laugh with you, and allowed you to be yourself around her. But what if you hurt her like you did fef? What if you did something stupid and broke her heart? You wouldn't be able to get over it, especially since you've already done several unforgivable things. You sit on the floor in the hallway, resting your head and back on the wall, contemplating it all.
There was also the matter if getting home. Was there a way back home? And would you really want to leave (y/n)? You couldnt take her with you, and she would be put into danger. And what do you even have to go back to? All of your chances of having or regaining your friends are slim and you have no idea of how to start repairing your relationships. Will you have to choose between them? Between staying here with (y/n) or going back home with fef?
(Y/n) or Fef?
