Collection • TwoSetViolin

XXI. Basement

Summary: Brett finds out about Eddy's secrets - specifically, what or who is hidden in his basement.

Warnings: Mention of kidnapping, expletives.

Notes: Written some time ago. Happy April, everyone c: (at least... it's still the 1st here so I'm going to still publish this >:cc)

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"You locked the editor in your basement?"

Brett's face was red as he glared at Eddy, who was calmly twirling a pencil in his hands. Eddy shrugged, leaning on the hotel chair, and smiled gently as he reached for his phone.

"Relax," he assured, "they're in good hands. I've left them with enough food and water for the duration of the vacation, and they're living quite comfortably, if you want to see a picture-"

"No, I do not want to see a picture. Edward fucking Chen, what are you thinking?"

Sometimes, scolding Eddy was like scolding a child. Brett felt his heart sink (resist, resist the feeling) when Eddy pouted and crossed his arms.

"What did I do wrong?"

"You kidnapped our editor and locked them in your basement!"

"Okay, first," Eddy bit his cheek, "they're very happy there. I pay them, feed them whatever they want to eat, and give them two hours - from 3pm to 5pm - of monitored free internet time every single day. They also get free TwoSet merch-"

Brett had never wanted to cry from frustration more than this. "Eddy."

"Wait, wait! Second, I did not kidnap them."

"You didn't forcefully abduct them and lock them in your basement?"

Eddy nodded his head. "I did."

"And that's not kidnapping?"

"No, because the editor is an adult, not a kid." He grinned. "Therefore, it's adultnapping, not kidnapping, and adultnapping is not illegal according to the Australian law system. Elderlynapping isn't, too, so we could always take a grandma or something and that wouldn't be illegal either-"

"Eddy."

"What?"

"Please tell me you know what kidnapping is."

"Yeah, I do. It's the act of taking a kid against their will and holding them-"

"It's not just for a kid: kidnapping refers to people in general!" Brett had never wanted to slam his head into a wall more than this; sometimes he couldn't believe how clueless Eddy was. "This is very illegal, Eddy! Holy fuck, we're going to be arrested-"

Eddy furrowed his brows. "Oh."

"Oh? Oh? That's all you have to say? Eddy, are you fucking serious?"

"I-I mean," he managed a meek smile, "is it illegal if I have it stated in the contract?"

Brett was going to have a field day.

"You what?"

"Wait, here. Let me pull it up."

Brett began to fume as Eddy scrolled through his phone, his eyes still somehow glittering despite that fact that Brett had very clearly told him that it was illegal. He couldn't imagine what was going through Eddy's head when he was kidnapping the editor, nor could he imagine what made Eddy want to do this in the first place.

(He also realized why Eddy took "vacations" each and every single time they hired a new editor.)

Eddy clicked on something and handed his phone to Brett. "Here. Line 14."

14. By signing this contract, I hereby agree to relocate to Brisbane, Australia, and agree to reside in the basement of Edward Chen. If I refuse, Chen is allowed to use force to bring me to-

Brett slammed his phone down on the table. "Get out."

"Wait," Eddy's eyes widened with panic as he took his phone back into his hands, caressing it and checking it for damage, "what the hell did I do wrong?"

"I told you to get the fuck out. Don't come back until the editor is back at their house."

"But Brett!" He pouted even more. "I didn't do anything wrong! See, it's in the contract! And the editor signed it! And they're happy in my basement! Look, if you want to talk to them sometime, just let me know, and I'll bring you there. It's not that big of a deal, and they're really awesome to speak with in the first place, and it's easier to just hand them a flash drive of our files instead of rendering it and sending it and receiving it and all of that. Can't we just keep the editor there? Please? Pleeeeease?"

Brett, do not fall for this again. He kidnapped a full-grown person and-

But god, his resolve was crumbling as he stared at the younger Eddy, eyes wide and mouth curled into a pout, hands folded in front of him as if he was begging for something. And - Brett nearly snorted - were those tears in Eddy's eyes?

He eventually sighed. "Fine. Do your thing. No hurting the editor though."

"Of course!" Eddy grinned. "Don't worry."