Can Nobody Hear Me? Jacksepticeye AU

Chapter 2

"I'm just going to see Marvin and the other guys. Is that alright?" Chase asked as he pulled a plain black hoodie out of his wardrobe. He hated that he felt he had to ask. He knew if he didn't, Stacy would be on his case, asking silly questions like who did you see or where did you go. At first her reasoning behind the interrogative questions was that she was worried Chase would cheat on her but now he knew she just loved to be in control. If she had the chance to purchase a remote that let her control Chase's every move, she'd buy ten. Not that she didn't already have a larger say in his life than the man himself.

"Sammy's at a birthday party and she'll need picking up at four. As long as you get her, you can see your friends." Stacy mumbled, barely looking up from her phone. Chase pulled the hoodie over his head and shoved his arms into the sleeves before nodding and kissing his wife's cheek lightly. He then exited the house. Before getting into his car, he pat the pocket of his hoodie to ensure he had his phone. He knew not to forget it. If he did, he'd be in for more than just a lecture.

-

"Dude! It's been so long!" Marvin greeted, hugging Chase tightly. Chase could feel his cheeks heat up so he retreated from the hug as soon as he had the chance. "Where have you been?"

"Nowhere. Just busy with the kids, you know? Sammy's a handful." He mumbled in response. The truth was that Stacy hated Chase's friends, Marvin especially. Most of the times he would ask to have them over or go out with them, Stacy would go on a full rant about how they were bad influences and just got Chase into trouble. Just because there was one time that Chase and his friends got really drunk and Chase accidentally punched someone. He had to get escorted home by the police and Stacy would not let him forget it. She wasn't happy that she had to deal with a drunk husband, as well as two young children.

"How are they?"

"They're good. Alex is your typical angst-y teen and Sammy won't leave her mum's side but yeah, good."

"And Stacy?" Chase stiffened at the mention of his wife's name. Luckily Marvin didn't notice and just slapped Chase's back when he muttered out a weak answer. Marvin grabbed Chase's hand and dragged the man into the living room, deciding they had had enough of the awkward small talk. Inside the living room sat five other men: Anti, Jackieboy Man, Henrik, JJ and Jack. The group were certainly an interesting mixture of people but that was why Chase loved them so much.

Anti was an... interesting individual. His hair was dyed an eccentric green that matched his crazy personality. Bordering psychotic, the man was fascinated by knives. He always carried a pocket knife with him and everyone made sure not to get on his bad side. Let's just say he'd put up a fight. Jackieboy Man was an ambitious and slightly delusional super hero. He always wore a blue mask over his eyes to hide his secret identity, not that anyone really cared when all he really did was help elderly people cross the street. Henrik was German and also a doctor. For some bizarre and unknown reason, he refused to wear anything but his doctor's uniform. He was divorced but didn't care for the woman he had once been married to. He was quite erratic with everything he did and couldn't last five minutes without a morning coffee and then five more coffees throughout the day. JJ was mute and a stereotypical gentleman. He wore a bowler hat and had a moustache he was very proud of and refused to get rid of. He was happy most of the time and had a thin scar running across his neck that no one really knew about. No one wanted to ask either because JJ was always so hyper and joyful that they didn't want to dampen his mood. Then there was Jack. Sometimes referred to as 'the creator' since he had been the one to bring the group together. He had met them all separately and decided they would get along perfectly, considering they all had similar energy levels. Jack was a well-known YouTuber under the name 'Jacksepticeye'. He was a simple man who loved to entertain and was often found telling stupid jokes to the group to make them laugh. He always wore a silly smile and would always try to make everyone happy when they were feeling down.

Marvin picked up a can of beer from the table and chucked it at Chase who caught it. "No, thank you." Chase mumbled, as much as he wanted to open it up and down at least ten.

"What's wrong with you? The Chase I know would down it in seconds." Marvin replied with a frown, picking up another beer for himself.

"No, Stacy said-"

"What, is she your mother now? Controlling what you drink?" Anti spoke up, eyes thin and judgemental. That was another thing about Anti- he was judgemental and rude on the outside but surprisingly had a rather soft heart.

"No but you don't understand. It's- It's complicated. And I need to pick up Sammy later."

"When did you get so boring? Oh wait- I know- when you married that bitch." Chase knew he should have argued and defended his wife but he couldn't. He found his lips were glued shut and he couldn't say a word. He knew Stacy had changed him for the worst but he had to stay for the children's sakes. Chase sat down on the sofa beside Marvin, biting his lip and refusing to meet everyone's gazes.

-

"What time is it?" Chase asked, leaning forward on the sofa to pick up his glass of coke. Everyone around him had had more than a few beers by then so they were buzzing and he was the lame one who was completely sober.

"4:30, why does it matter?" Jackieboy Man replied, raising an eyebrow beneath his mask.

"Shit!" Chase got up onto his feet, making the liquid in his glass swish from side to side, at risk of tipping over the edge. Trembling hands reaching for his phone, he noticed he had three missed calls and four texts. He was in trouble. "I was meant to get Sammy at four."

"Hey, calm down," Marvin mumbled, making Chase realise just how much he had been panicking. His breathing was irregular and his heart was beating rapidly inside his chest. "Where is she?"

"At a birthday party... like twenty minutes from here. Stacy's going to fucking kill me." His mind was erratic and he felt like he was going to pass out. His hand flew to the wall to keep himself steady and he scrunched his eyes shut but that didn't stop the room from spinning around him. He felt like a little kid, trapped on a roundabout as they screamed for their parent but no one was coming to his rescue. (This simile is close to my heart. This happened to me as a kid. I was on a roundabout thing, screaming really loudly for my mum but she took ages to come and I should be traumatised. Ngl I still don't like roundabouts but I think it's unrelated) He was just going to continue spinning for eternity until he threw up the contents of his lunch and breakfast in one and passed out.

Someone was yelling his name but he couldn't tell who. A hand grabbed his and pushed him down onto the sofa but he couldn't tell who the hand belonged to. Someone was whispering calming words into his ear but he couldn't tell who it was or what they were saying. He didn't even notice he had been crying until someone's soft hands brushed the tears away. "Breathe with me." Someone whispered, emphasising their breathing for Chase to recreate. Chase followed it, inhaling and exhaling deeply until it was a bit more steady. "What's wrong? It isn't that big a deal that you forgot." Chase blinked a couple of times before realising Marvin was the one who was speaking. Marvin's hand was also the one on top of his own and, as soon as the magician realised, he retracted it rather bashfully. Chase refused to admit he missed the warmth.

"But it is," Chase turned on his phone and his heart must have skipped a beat as he read the messages. The threats weren't obvious but Chase knew Stacy and he knew what she was implying with the words. Kindness and nicknames were usually a sign that he was either skating on thin ice or Stacy was pissed. "I really need to go. Stacy got Sammy and she isn't-" Chase jumped up onto his feet and stumbled over to the door. "She isn't happy."

"Chase, wait!" Marvin yelled out but he was too late. Chase had already slammed the door and started to run towards his car.