Team (discontinued for now)

Chapter 39: Buzzkill

Trigger warning: This chapter contains descriptions of panic attacks and includes a rather disturbing theme (people burning alive)

Eak didn't open his eyes right off the bat. The first thing that came to him, was the noise. Voices, to be more specific. He couldn't make out who'd they belong to, it was all just blurred out sounds to him. He thought he could hear Town's voice, Puppet's maybe? No, not Pup's. His voice was way smoother compared to Towntrap's naturally nervous-sounding tone.

Then came the sight. Eak Mendez could see he was in a car, white lights flashing by him through the window. They painted the backseat of the car with just some more color. The only other light the car offered was a small red light glowing somewhere in the front, Eak assumed it was the radio.

The Neighborhood's Sweater Weather was softly playing in the background. Eak suddenly realized there was something on top of him, or well, covering his entire side. It wasn't very heavy, just big. Eak turned his head a bit to make out it was a huge teddy bear. It's lifeless black eyes stared into nothing, the Mexican found it to be oddly comforting.

He quickly put the pieces together of who's car he was in. Fede was sitting by the other window on the backseat, not realizing Eak was awake. Maggie was sitting in the passenger's seat, Eak recognized her hair. And of course Towntrap was driving the car, his very own Camaro. Eak still couldn't believe his friend actually knew how to drive a fucking car.

"Hey, you awake?" Fede noticed him, his sky blue eyes meeting Eak's predatory yellow ones.

He doesn't say anything, deciding to settle for a short nod instead. It caught Maggie's attention, Town seemed distracted by the road.

"How you feelin'?" She asked, a very vague glimpse of concern written on her face.

"..........s-shitty." Eak dryly replied, causing Town's head to perk up.

"Oh my God, you're awake! Dude, you totally passed out earlier........" Town worriedly commented, briefly glancing at his rear view mirror to watch his friend.

"You puked, too." Maggie nonchalantly added.

Eak Mendez felt the need to cry. Like, right then and there. He didn't, although the idea was desirable.

"T-tell Toddy 'm s-sorry about her floor.........." Eak slurred a bit, exhaustion messing up his clear speech.

"Will do, buddy." Maggie gave him a thumbs-up, and he felt at ease with her calm and somewhat uncaring attitude.

"What's with the stuttering?" Fede asked with a tilt of his head.

Eak wanted to punch himself in the face. He hadn't stuttered like that since he and Luna broke up..........

"I d-don't know......it'll probably go over s-soon." Eak replied with an irritated sigh.

Eak glanced down at the bear once more, raising a single eyebrow but making no further attempts to move it.

"Oh, that's Mai's! She said you could lend it for the night, gotta give it back to her, though." Fede informed him, trying on a smile to potentially make Eak feel better.

He didn't smile back.

"Cool." He simply said, glancing out the window.

"What got you to pass out, anyways? You were fine before........." Town muttered, occasionally peering out the window to make sure he didn't miss any signs on the road.

Eak's breath stuttered in his throat, Maggie appeared to be the only one noticing it, giving him a kind of strange look which he couldn't figure out the intention behind. He didn't plan on telling any of his other friends or allies about him and Luna.