concerningmadness

[concerningmadness]

Familiar

Characters: Hank, Reader

Words: 1090

Possible triggers: Reader being homeless, possible hypothermia

Synopsis: You reunite with an old friend.

•·················•·················•

Cold. So cold. 

That was all you could think of in your situation. After your landlord decided to kick you out 3 weeks before, you had been living in the streets, in the harsh and cold winter. You didn't have anywhere to go, so you would usually just sit at the door of an abandoned building. You couldn't really enter, but hey, the entrance had a little roof.

One cold night you were just sitting there, hugging yourself. It was snowing very heavily, which wasn't a good thing considering the fact that your clothes weren't really made to keep you warm enough. Your whole body was trembling while you coughed from time to time. Your fingertips were turning slightly blue, but that wasn't the thing you were worried about the most.

"Fucking hypothermia." You thought.

You were aware that, even if you managed to survive that night, you wouldn't survive a week with those temperatures. You couldn't take anything from your apartment before that asshole kicked you out, so your clothes were all you had. You even started to beg for money so you could buy some food, which was mostly cheap stuff that you would have to eat as soon as possible before it went to waste. Life was hard, but at least they didn't kidnap you so you would work for the Auditor I guess.

You closed your eyes, trying to relax a bit. Sometimes you would hear footsteps, but that wasn't enough to get you distracted. After a couple of hours you heard someone sitting next to you. You kept your eyes closed, who knew who was now sitting next to you. Your worries only escalated once you felt something covering you. 

A coat.

You opened your eyes, looking at whoever was sitting next to you. Hank J. Wimbleton himself. You've heard lots of horrible things about him, so running away was a pretty good option, but your body just didn't allow it. He was just sitting next to you. Does the cold even affect him? You doubted it. He didn't really seem to have any bad intentions. He even gave you his coat! Maybe he wasn't that bad.

"... Thank you, I really needed some warmth." You said, snuggling inside his coat.

The tall man just nodded, looking at you. He pointed at one of his coat's pockets, so you opened it.

A chocolate bar.

At that moment you didn't care about everything people said about him. He was there, staying with you. He lent you his coat. He gave you food. You couldn't really do anything but smile and start eating. That chocolate bar tasted like heaven to you, a piece of something sweet after practically not eating for days. Your facial expressions made Hank chuckle, something you weren't expecting. While you were looking at him, you noticed something.

A friendship bracelet hanging from his belt like an accessory. Almost the same as the one you were wearing.

Then, you remembered.

Ages ago, when you were only 6. You were leaving school when you noticed how hard it was snowing. Your house was not so far away and you were wearing a nice and warm winter coat, so it wasn't a problem at all.

But then, you saw him.

A little boy, sitting next to the school entrance. He was just wearing a long sleeved t-shirt, jeans and boots. No coat. He was trembling so hard. Did his mom forget about him? Was someone even coming for him?

You walked towards him. Once you were in front of the boy he looked at you with a scared expression, like if he was expecting for you to laugh at him or something like that. But you didn't. You removed your coat and covered him with it, smiling. That poor boy was confused as hell. Were you really just helping him? You sat next to him, holding your little backpack.

"My name is (Y/N)! Wanna be my friend?" You asked.

The boy nodded while smiling. Someone finally wanted to be his friend! He couldn't be happier. You noticed how he had the picture of a cat on his t-shirt, so you had one of your brightest ideas (let's remember that you were 6 years old).

"You like cats too? I also love cats! I'll call you Kitty!" You said happily.

The boy just nodded. He didn't really care about telling you his real name, if you thought that Kitty was cute, then that would be his nickname, to you, at least.

You stayed with him for 20 minutes until his grandma showed up. The old lady thanked you for taking care of her grandson, and then you left. Sure, your mother was angry at you for coming home late, but you didn't care at all. You made a new friend.

And you two were friends for years, until high school started. He had to leave the town. Both of you cried that day, the last day you saw each other, promising that you two would reunite in the future.

"... Kitty?" You looked at Hank with tears in your eyes.

He nodded. And then you just hugged each other for, at least, a couple of minutes. Kitty was back, and it was now his turn to protect you.

You told Hank everything that had happened, and he listened to everything. It was good to be able to vent a little.

But not everything was perfect. Even with the coat, the cold was too much. You slowly lost consciousness, your head falling on top of Hank's shoulder. Once he noticed it he picked you up gently, covering you with his coat as if it were a blanket. He started walking towards the base, trying to be as gentle as possible and, once you both reached the place (and his room) he placed you gently on top of his bed and covered you with the bedsheets.

Hank went to 2BDamned's room, kicking the door (which almost gave our poor doctor a heart attack).

"Hank, what the fuck is wrong with you" He said, looking at your friend.

"Medical support."

He walked towards his room, being followed by 2B. Once both of them were there, Doc looked at you, laying on the bed, sleeping peacefully, and then looked at Hank.

"Why." 2B just sighed.

"Friend."

"God dammit, ok, I'll see if they're ok, but you owe me a big one."

Hank just nodded. If he had his lower jaw, he would be smiling. But he doesn't, so let's just imagine it.

[concerningmadness]

Omg pls something nice for phobos? In canon he's a lil bit dead but in my heart, he's my fucked up lil meow meow. Maybe, when first meeting him, instead of disliking his existence, Player heard his insane rambling and was like "damn he's a mess lmao I'm gonna give him lil kissies and make him even worse". A lil I can fix him vs I can make him worse dilemma.

I know y'all have been waiting for some Phobos content for a bit, so I figured now was a good time. Plus you've yet to see the Player with him, so I think he deserves to have some nice treatment with his ultimate favorite person Deity of all time. Hope you guys like these! :)

They Meet the Player in Person ft. Phobos (+ the Auditor)

(TW: Yandere, Obsessive Behavior, Violence, Phobos being a zealot as usual)

When you were first pulled into Nevada, you had fully expected the place to be in its typical chaotic state. The AAHW had already been created, based on what you’ve seen in the Auditor’s paperwork, so it made the most sense. But you were shocked when, upon stepping out into Nevada for the first time, you were met with a dull gray sky instead of its usual crimson. You were going to ask the Auditor about it but decided against it, lest you “spoil” any future events by accident. Though unbeknownst to you, you'd soon find out just how early into Nevada’s timeline you were- when you met the leader of another of Nevada’s factions.

You had been in the Auditor’s office at the time, this time in one of the AAHW buildings. He had been very careful to hide you from the other personnel, making sure the hallways were clear of his agents before you followed behind him. (Why he put so much effort into that you didn’t know, but it stopped anyone from gawking at you so it was helpful enough.) However, while the AAHW workers knew that his office was completely off-limits, something he made very clear, certain others considered themselves exempt from such things. One of those individuals being the current Director of the Nexus Core: Phobos.

Said grunt had planned on attending a meeting with the Employer as per usual, but oddly enough, he had been informed that it was canceled. He was immediately suspicious. The Auditor had never deemed it necessary to outright stop their contact from occurring. Even on the worst days, like when his organization was having more trouble than usual with their main enemies, he had always met him with the expectation of exchanging information at a later date. At most he would postpone it, but never outright stop the meeting from occurring. But then the thought struck him. What if this had to do with you?

The Auditor was “well acquainted” with the Player, more so than anyone else Phobos knew of. He also knew that you had some interest in Nevada; you must’ve otherwise you wouldn’t have blessed him with his continued success. If you wanted to control things further, you might have contacted the Employers. But why would they be so secretive about it to him? Obviously you regarded him as important well, and he would think that you’d make it quite clear to your subjects that you wanted him to be there too. He was the God Emperor of Nevada and your most loyal follower; as far as he was concerned there was no one else you’d see as more deserving as being by your side. Because who else had spent every waking moment of their life thinking about you, considered how each choice (no matter how minuscule) had to be weighed for what you would approve of, and molded their very being in your image?

No, if you were involved, the Auditor must’ve been keeping him from you intentionally, most likely manipulating the situation to his advantage. ‘What lies had he told you?’ Phobos seethed to himself. That he didn’t want to see you? Maybe that he was unworthy of being in your presence? The very notion of it was unacceptable to him. He needed answers. If the Auditor wasn’t willing to see him, then he’d go to him out of his own volition instead, consequences be damned.

You jumped in surprise when the door to the office slammed open, dropping the pen you were using. Auditor was quick to press himself closer to you, his shadowy form morphing slightly to hide you from view. He glared once he noticed who stood in the doorway.

“I do believe this meeting’s been canceled, Director,” The Auditor said sternly (though you would’ve likened it more to a hiss), red eyes piercing him with a cold leer. It was unlike anything Phobos had seen before from him. He knew he’d gotten annoyed before, but never outright angry; he typically had more self-control than that. How curious.

But before the Director could open his mouth to retort, the Auditor jolted slightly, eyes widening as light threads erupted from somewhere under him. They quickly wrapped themselves around his limbs and forced him to sit up from his abnormally hunched position. Phobos froze once he saw them, immediately recognizing what they were. How could he not, when he’d spent hours pondering everything he’d seen in the Auditor’s notes and memorizing how those same strings would attach themselves to Subject 1v02P_6 before each of their combat trials. And then you spoke.

“You know you don’t have to do this every time, right?” you asked tiredly, yanking the Employer back even further as you leaned up from the desk (which had been digging into your stomach rather uncomfortably. Ouch). You turned to the “intruder” mid-stretch, only to blink at who it actually was. “...Uh..Hey! Phobos-you’re taller than I was expecting.”

The grunt was stunned into silence for once. He recognized you the moment he laid eyes on your form; the warmer tones of your skin making you stand out against the dreary grey of the office and the unique features of your face (most notably your complete lack of a visual cross) showing just how otherworldly you were in nature. You grinned nervously, showing your noticeably blunt teeth, and a quick glance at your hands revealed short nails instead of claws. Other grunts may’ve been unnerved by the stark differences you had, but Phobos was only enraptured.

It was you. The Player, the divine being to which he had spent months praying to and longing to meet. The Auditor’s description couldn’t even begin to do you justice.

Your nervous expression switched to bewilderment when you witnessed him take a few steps towards you before falling to his knees, raising his hands upwards with his palms facing you. Huh?

“Your worship, forgive me for not meeting you sooner. I welcome your presence in Nevada and make the humble request to remain at your side for the time being, as your most loyal follower,” he declared reverently whilst hanging his head in a bow, holding his breath for your answer afterward.. (He knew it was rather sudden but he couldn’t help himself. He’d already missed out on time with you because of that damned Employer, why shouldn’t he take a chance to get where he’s always supposed to have been: with his God?)

Your brows scrunched in further confusion. ‘What the actual fuck?’ you questioned internally, puzzled by the egotistical Director’s uncharacteristic actions. You never thought he’d be so “humble” in the face of anyone, ever. But if the Employer’s reactions to you were anything to consider, you were special to them in some way.

You tilted your head in silent thought as you pondered his request. Would it really be so bad to humor him? Getting in the good graces of the Nexus Core could allow you to change a lot of things, depending on when you were. Plus, it could be your ticket for finally being free of the Employers for a while if you insist on visiting Nexus City. Besides this, it was rare to see Phobos debase himself like this, and a small part of you kind of wanted to see how indulging in this aspect of his would go.

After a long and uncomfortable moment of silence, you hummed and gave a small shrug before standing up from your seat, giving the Auditor a look of warning when he tried to pull you back. Phobos kept his gaze to the floor, but he straightened once he saw your shoes enter his vision, your footsteps echoing through the room as you got closer to him. You looked at him with an amused expression, leaning down a slight bit (since he was almost twice your height) and gently grasping his chin with your hands, softly pulling him to look straight at you. 

His breath caught in his throat as his gaze met yours. You were so close!! He could see the way the lights of the office reflected off of your eyes, shining in what must’ve been affection. It felt like his heart was beating out of his chest, and he was glad he was wearing his bandages to stop you from seeing how red he became at your contact. He leaned a bit further into your grasp.

You stifled a laugh when you felt his face heat up drastically through his bandages, and you grinned widely, saying the two words that made his heart skip a beat.

“I accept.”

And so began your relationship with your “most loyal acolyte”. Naturally, the Auditor was not exactly pleased with your decision, but went along with them after some pressing by you. (Namely you subtly threatening to ignore him in favor of Stygian and the other Employers.) But his distaste grew when you said that you’d actually visit the Director, since he was fully expecting hoping what you’d said to be a lie to placate him.

But Phobos, he was absolutely ecstatic that you wanted to spend time with him. It was a sure sign of just how worthy he was in your eyes, and he was buzzing with excitement when he returned to the Science Tower, already making plans of everything you’d do when you returned to him. 

As soon as he got back, he had worked all of the Nexus personnel into a frenzy, ordering them to get everything ready for your arrival. Everything would have to be cleaned and shined (especially his statue), new banners put up, the floors waxed, and everyone’s workspace had to be reorganized and dusted. A lot to do in one day, but Phobos was almost obsessive with how he wanted it completed, standing over them and overseeing micromanaging their work.

(Really, he even had them redo the floors after he wasn’t able to see his own reflection in them. It was tiring, especially when the workers were forced to ignore their exhaustion and the way their fingers were beginning to crack and blister from the effort and the cleaning solutions they used. But any complaint would be punished so they kept their mouths shut.)

Phobos didn’t care how much work it took. He needed everything to be absolutely perfect for you. His god deserves nothing less.

You were actually pretty surprised by the look of the lobby when you entered it. It seemed a lot more extravagant than in-game, with more Nexus banners and propaganda strewn up and everything looking all prim and proper. It was almost like some sort of stock photo, almost like it was too perfect. But all of this paled compared to Phobos himself, who deigned it necessary to hoard all of your attention. (Not gonna lie, the workers were kind of miffed. What was the point of cleaning every surface within the Science Tower if he didn’t want you looking at them? They weren’t even paid overtime for it, ugh.)

(Though despite their initial reservations, the Nexus personnel would grow to be quite grateful for your existence. While they were initially very annoyed at having to do so much to prepare for your arrival, they’ve found that their boss was a lot more bearable whenever you were around. He was less boisterous in his grandstanding, and a lot less violent. They’d never forget how grateful they were when you stopped him from impaling an Agent when they accidentally walked into you.

(“Phobos, put the sword down,” you sighed, leaning down to help the Agent. The Director did as you asked of course, but he sneered from under his bandages when he saw the Agent clasp your hand as you helped them up. They worked for him, but they were still too filthy to touch you. Cutting off that hand was a worthy punishment.)

However, when you were away, his actions only worsened. If anyone spoke to you or interacted with you in a way Phobos found disgraceful, they were executed for heresy (which was a rule added to their code of conduct after your first meeting). But it could be worse, he could be doing that all of the time instead of only around half. Gotta be optimistic, right?)

Luckily for you, speaking with Phobos is actually quite enjoyable insofar as you're concerned. He’s still very egotistical and always willing to boast about his own achievements, but you can tell that he tones it down a bit for you. Not because he’s against that, but because he doesn’t want to “overshadow” you. It was endearing.

(He didn't want to make you angry by trying to take attention from you, as that's what he'd want in your position. He just wants you to be happy with him.)

But you also liked speaking with him because of how open he was. Unlike the Employers, who were always far too secretive for your tastes, he’d speak to you at length about anything you wanted to know, sometimes rambling just so he could see the way your eyes glint with interest at his words. And he also found a practical purpose for it as well, considering the fact that you were a brilliant tactician. (Something the engineers knew very well after your visits; he’d never wasted a chance to fawn over you to them, glorifying your every action and word of advice as a stroke of pure genius.)

He also has an interest in speaking to you, of course. He wants to know everything about you, as surely if he was able to ingrain every single detail about you into his mind, it would make him closer to you than anyone else. He asks everything from in-depth personal questions to simple things like your favorite colors or types of music, filing away everything you tell him into a special place in his mind where he’ll try to remember them for the rest of time. And if there ever comes a time where he feels like he can’t remember them immediately (as shameful as it is for him), he’ll write them down in another of his journals. It would be unforgivable for him to forget anything you told him, a waste of the sacred time that you spent with him. And really, what kind of an acolyte would he be if he didn’t spend his time mulling over the intricacies of your words and the way your voice sounded at all hours of the day?

(He’s even worn a small microphone on some occasions just to record what you say, playing the audio to himself as he falls asleep to dream of you night after night. The sound of your voice is so soothing to him. He doesn’t think anyone else deserves the privilege of hearing it.)

You were slightly taken aback when he mentioned something about “spreading the word of your divine will” though. “I’ve instructed the engineers to begin plans for a statue; a place of worship, so the grunts acknowledge the true nature of your power. It is only befitting of them to place their faith in you, as all Nevadans should,” he said, turning to you and searching your face for approval. You gave him an odd look, but your eyes softened at the way he was quite obviously eager for your praise. Yet it was obvious that you had to take care of this issue now before it got worse.

Despite your apparent power and influence, you didn’t want to be worshiped widely. Being a deity and caring for hundreds of people seemed like it would royally fuck up the timeline, and you just weren’t interested in that level of work. But at the same time, you wouldn’t want to disappoint Phobos, at least not when he’s looking at you like you hung the moon (and for all you knew, he probably thought you did). You decided to use a softer approach instead.

“Phobos, has it ever occurred to you that maybe I don’t want other followers?” You asked, looking up at him with an incredulous, if not slightly fond expression. “I have you, that is enough for me.” (Really more than enough, but that seemed too rude to say.) “Besides,” you started, giving him a slightly teasing look, “I have the literal God Emperor of Nevada worshiping me, why would I settle for anyone else?”

“I-yes, of course, your grace,” he stammered, shifting slightly as his face heated once again. “That makes perfect sense.” If you looked closely, you’d be able to see the way his hands trembled as he clenched his fists, trying desperately to keep his composure when he felt like outright swooning at what you said. Hearing those words from you was a true blessing to him, and he felt completely invigorated, even when his mind was all fuzzy with the amount of adoration he felt for you. 

His God truly preferred him to everyone? He couldn’t help but feel giddy. All he longs for is success in your name and approval from you, and to receive it so simply, as though you were stating something he should already know, brought him immense joy. He was already brimming with complete and eternal love for you, but this just increased it (which he didn't even think was possible, but if anyone could shatter his expectations, it was you.)

Besides this, you’ve also found that giving the Director physical affection produced the best reactions, in your opinion. You can still remember when you first gave him a small peck on the cheek for no reason, and just how flustered he got in response.

(“Hey, Phobos, got something for you. Lean closer,” You ordered, hiding the mischievous smirk that pulled at your lips as he immediately did as you asked, even kneeling to come down to your height. How considerate of him. You tugged at a few of the bandages on his face, moving them just enough to where you could plant your lips on his bare cheek for a moment and he stiffened at once, choking on his breath. 

“Y-your grace, you-!”

You gave an airy laugh in response, “I just wanted to reward you for your hard work is all.”)

Just the fact that you, someone who was wholly superior to anyone in Nevada, would touch a lower being like him made him feel light. (It must've been because of how much he's done in your name, which made him beam with pride whenever you awarded him with such gentle contact.)

It was also that warmth that was specific to you, a blazing heat that overtook his senses whenever you touched, no matter if it was a hug or the brief brush of your fingers when he handed you something. Then there was the size difference between you two as well, which admittedly only made him fall further for you; you were just so cute! Dainty and fragile-looking compared to grunts, especially him, but someone who held so much power nonetheless. You were utterly remarkable.

(He often thinks about how easy it would be to just hold you in his arms all the time instead of having you walk everywhere with him. He respected your autonomy, of course, but surely it would be easier for you to be cradled in his hold than waste your energy. He can already imagine the feeling of you against him, the comforting weight against his form and the way your arms would loop around his neck. Maybe you’d even nuzzle into his shoulder all cutely. It’s something to ask you about, he’s sure you’d accept.)

This all culminates when you finally use him as a vessel, the moment he’s been waiting an achingly long time for. He made a noise of excitement when your strings appeared, and along with it, your control. It was soothing beyond belief, the cozy warmth of your influence encasing him like a blanket and making the ever-present tension roll off his shoulders with ease. He felt energized, but also completely at ease, his mind settling into a foggy state but feeling safer than he’d ever been before. Being under your influence felt like being truly home for the first time in his life, and he quickly grew to crave the sensation of your control.

It felt so good to just let go of everything and let you take over, fully trusting of your judgement as you used him to do as you pleased. No matter how many combat moves you had him do or how many training bots you used him to destroy, he didn’t feel tired. And on the rare occasion where some were able to get a stray hit on him, your influence soothed the wound like a painkiller. It was magical, truly the sign of you being a divine being.

It was immensely fulfilling for him; it felt like he was made to be under your control, and he believed that he was. Being with you just felt so right, like the universe had converged in just the right way to make him yours. Because that's what he was at his core. Your acolyte, your follower, your vessel. Everything he did was for you before, and you being here physically now wouldn't change that

And really, who else was as deserving of your attention as your eternally loyal servant?

[concerningmadness]

Science Trio x Reader

“Befuddled” — PART 3

2BDamned has an ingenious plan that will grant you access into the Nexus Tower to gather inside information on what Phobos could be up to. What he doesn’t plan for are the top three scientists—Dr. Crackpot, Dr. Hofnarr, and Dr. Christoff—to fall madly in love with you.

It had taken a full day for you to reach the outskirts of Nexus city, your tongue lolling at the energy you had to exert thus far. Little legs meant shorter distance, you supposed.

The sun was setting over the mountains of Nevada, giving way to the night. Where you would have had to use a flashlight to see in the dark once before, you noticed your vision was enhanced through your new set of eyes. It felt surreal—like a super power you were having to get acquainted with. Your sense of smell was also enhanced, though you could do well without it… dust, decay, and death were not all that pleasant.

Tiptoeing down the lukewarm asphalt, you weaved between rubble and trash; standing your ears straight to pick up even the faintest sound.

As dumb as they were, the zombies that roamed these empty streets were also ferocious.

You size up a hole on the side of a building a few hundred feet above you, deciding that would be a reasonable place to settle for the night. Crouching low, you wiggle your hips a few times before leaping; amazed at the power in your hind legs. You score the jump with ease, peering over your shoulder at the ground below. Maybe this new form wasn’t all bad…

You turn your head to face forward, sniffing at the air. Only old, dusty furniture, and stale wood. Excellent—no one was here.

You step inside, finding shelter underneath a desk that was still standing upright. With a great sigh, you plop yourself down; your bones grateful for the rest. Through the hole you entered from, you gaze up at the pink moon plastered against the ever-crimson sky, wondering what tomorrow would bring. You vaguely wonder what Doc is up to; what Sanford and Deimos are doing, and if they made it back to base. Most likely they were fine—they could handle themselves.

With a final sigh, you rest your chin on the ground, closing your eyes to allow rest to take over.

————————————————————————

The sound of an engine is your wake up call. You peek one eye open, pupil adjusting to the light, before blinking awake, inhaling sharply. As your brain jumpstarts, you remember all of what happened yesterday and look down at your paws. Yes, this was reality…

With a great big stretch to first your front legs, then your back, you give a shake and pad your way over to the hole in the wall, sticking your head out just enough to peer down the alley. Though you see no sign of a vehicle, your ears still pick up the sound of an engine, so you venture out of your resting place, landing a bit clumsily on your feet. You would have to practice landing later.

At the end of the alley, you poke your head around the corner; looking left, then right for the truck. Still nothing. You race down the street, following the sound; coming to a halt behind the corner of a collapsed building.

Found you, you think to yourself, eyes taking in the sight of an AAHW truck. You crouch down low to the ground, shifting your shoulders before making a break for it. Just before you make it to your checkpoint, you feel massive hands wrap around your midsection, causing you to let out a startled yowl. Your world spins quite fast as you are turned to face a crooning agent, his eyebrows raised over vermillion shades.

“Awww,” He coos, dangling you up in the air.

“Tim, what the hell are you doing?” A second voice cuts in, your head swiveling to see another agent deadpanning at your captor.

“I found a cat!” ‘Tim’ exclaims, once again spinning you to face the other.

“Hmm,” His partner grunts at you, unaffected by your catlike charms. “Cute—but you can’t keep it.”

“What?!” Tim gawks. He pulls you into his chest, you letting out a wheeze as he does. “Why not?”

“No pets,” Tim’s partner states, waving a hand. “You know the rules.”

Tim gives a long sigh, relenting his hold on you and setting you down. “Sorry, kitty,” Tim whispers, giving you a pat on the head.

“Come on,” The unknown agent says. Tim reluctantly follows his teammate to the truck, casting you one last solemn look. Your heart leaps in your chest—this was your only chance. Scrambling for the truck, you manage to jump onto Tim’s lap just before he closes the passenger door. He gasps, glancing at his partner whose back was turned to you. Quickly, Tim sets you on his right flank, covering you under the confines of his coat. The breaks are then released, your one-way ticket into the AAHW lurching forward with you inside.

Some thirty minutes had passed before you began to grow restless. You shift underneath Tim’s coat, trying to reach your head up to peek outside of the window. Your pupils blow wide in shock at the city walls coming into view, multiple vehicles towing their loads inside. You watch as guards shoot down zeds that stagger for them, claws itching to join the fight. Your truck comes to a stop at a checkpoint when a hand is suddenly on your head, shoving you back down. “Kitty!” Tim hisses under his breath at you.

“Did you say something?” Tim’s partner grumbles.

“Uh, no,” Tim quickly faces forward, keeping a firm hold on you. You struggle a bit under his hand, Tim not letting go even after you’ve made it past the checkpoint. When you feel the truck come to a stop, you allow your body to relax, waiting for the right moment to escape. Your ear twitches at the sound of the door closest to you opening, and you count to three before darting away. “Hey!” Tim calls after you, his coat falling to the floor.

You grin as you duck under shocked agent’s feet, causing a few to trip here and there. Your eyes catch a door closing, and just before it hits the ground, you skillfully slip inside.

[concerningmadness]

Hello, Fairy Anon here! Just in case that requests are open (I'm on my phone so I sometimes don't see stuff lmao) could we get a flirty Reader trying to flirt with Jeb? Bc we love Jebus in here, so let's let him know

We do indeed love Jebus here!

[concerningmadness]

Quick announcement: I ain't dead I promise lmao

Currently working on an alt story request plus an additional fic i felt like making because i said so. :)

I've definitely want to make sure the fics i post later on are much better as im not very satisfied with all my previous ones. (Topping off with slight procrastination but it'll get done i swear lol)

So here's some snippets of the upcoming story:

[concerningmadness]

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZTduTQ7RJ/ player sending tricky or jebus after someone

This made me laugh omg. Just the silent point and the thing levitating over; I can totally see this happen with Jeb. Not even an order is needed for either of them to start attacking someone at your request. It would be super terrifying for the grunt on the receiving end though. Just seeing this uncanny, eldritch horror silently point a finger at you before one of the most powerful people in Nevada beats your ass lmao.

[concerningmadness]

Hey guys! The short follow-up to Deimos Kidnapped is up! @fuchsiaroll wrote the dialogue, and I did the art :3

Read it here: https://imgur.com/gallery/2ibPo2l

[concerningmadness]

Anyway, here are the wips that I think earned me that Krinkels follow lmao, Madness Adventure 2 Battle

[concerningmadness]

I remember saying I would show naga hank and I forgot lol so here

And a height comparison for some of my hanks too even tho I keep changing nagas height. I have no consistency

[concerningmadness]

Tag urself imma fuff

unusual fellas

[concerningmadness]

Alright, finally got some headcanons here again. Thank you all for your patience, as always. :) ❤️

They Meet the Player in Person ft. Jebus & Tricky (+ The Main 3)

(TW: Yandere, Obsessive Behavior, Violence, this is quite long)

While you and the boys were immersed in your little "war" with the AAHW, you failed to recognize how the event itself would lead your other previous vessels to catch wind of you. And to be honest, you didn’t think you had a reason to be worried about that either way. Not many people knew the true nature of your existence, so you doubted the Nevadan public (or at least what remained of it) would get involved. And those that could weren’t exactly malicious by Madness standards. (Well, except for Tricky.)

One such vessel was the grunt who’d been a “partner” of yours for the longest. Dr. Jebediah Christoff, or simply “Jebus” as he was known now, was doing a patrol of the outskirts the first time he saw the flyers. Usually he wouldn’t bother going so far outside the central parts of the city, but he’d heard whispers of the AAHW encroaching on Nexus territory. This immediately piqued his curiosity.

For all the rivalry that AAHW had with the Nexus, they had never actually dared to enter the City or even come that close to its borders before. He could understand why; there was nothing the AAHW could want from the Nexus. Sure, the Divergence Engine, Keystone Fragment, and many Sleepwalker beds the Nexus Core had kept in the city all had some value, but the AAHW could already clone grunts. And they didn’t seem uneducated, which led him to believe there must’ve been some form of a Sleepwalker program there. (The Nexus didn’t exactly keep an eye on where the beds disappeared to. Especially since they’d been far more busy trying to keep order after Phobos’ death.)

So he knew that there had to be a reason why the AAHW was suddenly interested in Nexus City. And as he delved closer to the outskirts, he started seeing the odd posters dotting the street corners, which soon turned into entire murals that covered walls. It was actually kind of concerning to him; the organization has never been so extravagant in really “advertising” any of their goals. Not even the wanted posters for Hank were as frequent. Nonetheless, he approached one with some small amount of skepticism.

But he was shocked when, instead of finding new posters related to the AAHW’s orders or rules - or even their main objective of finding Hank - it was instead for a missing person. A large reward was offered, along with a long description of you. His The Player.

At first he didn’t want to believe it. It just didn’t make sense. There was no logical reason why you’d be in Nevada, not when you could control your vessels so well. More importantly, you were safe where you were, at least far safer than you would be in their world. Unaffected by the chaos and general hostility that polluted every corner of his realm. Why would you ever choose to come here?

But that turned to another line of reasoning. What if you hadn’t chosen to come here, but ended up in Nevada anyway? It wouldn’t exactly be out of line with the way the Employers and other higher powers of this place worked to force someone to do something against their will. And it would explain your absence, something he’d grown restless from yet again.

He had already loathed any mere second that he had to feel that awful chill and deep emptiness that came when you left. But at least then he could rationalize a reason why you were gone. As painful as it was, you didn’t need his help as a vessel during those years, and he was fine with that. (He really wasn’t but he couldn’t admit it to himself. He had to be stronger than this, for you, at least. What would you think if you knew how dependent he had become on you? How weak he grew without your constant care and affection?)

But this time, you had an actual mission to complete. You had been at his side the entire time when you two had to defeat Phobos. And while he certainly wasn’t happy when you used others as vessels (a far cry from how it had been thirty years ago), he wouldn’t ever go against your ways when it came to how you completed your objective. Your presence was still in Nevada, even if it wasn’t with him.

For you to leave in the middle of an important task like this, and from the entirety of your vessels was just confusing beyond belief. And he knew this because, as much as the others didn’t really like him, they had asked him if he’d been with you. Which was in itself was concerning. It made him frantic with worry, and he found himself slipping into the same sorry state he’d been in for the last thirty years. Utterly sleep-deprived, emaciated from the lack of a will to eat, and plagued by the delusions of your presence (which only fed his obsession, even if they contradicted the reality of his life).

But the flyers that he saw on the wall explained this.

He knew from his own search of Phobos’ office thirty years ago that the Auditor, no, the Employers, knew about you. That they revered you; believing in your power as being beyond that of theirs (and they were right, of course. You succeeded them in sheer benevolence if nothing else). It made sense that they’d want to be with you in a way that was more tangible. He’d also be a hypocrite if he didn’t say that he’d also want such a thing, to see you and be in your presence directly. But the difference is that Jebus would only do so if he knew that you’d be willing; he was actually considerate in regards to your needs. The Employers seemed to have very little care for anyone’s wishes but their own.

Of course they'd do something like this. But this just made him more worried. You may've been in Nevada, but you obviously weren't with the Auditor and the AAHW. So where could you be anyway?

With this in mind, he searched out more of these posters; scouring the fringes of the city for anything that could tell him about you and your location. It wasn’t difficult at all, for once. Not only did the AAHW post flyers, but they used recordings as well. (He couldn’t help but laugh sardonically once he heard the Auditor’s pleadings for you to come back. He didn’t know how they’d managed to drive you away, but it was funny to hear such a powerful being groveling at your metaphorical feet. He only laughed harder once he heard your voice finish off the recording with a stern no. At least that confirmed your feelings on it.)

Soon the general number of flyers changed, becoming far more frequent. And the many that were stapled to the few stable structures on the outskirts, Jebus found one that you’d made with your vessels. His hands shook slightly as they gently removed the staples and brought the image of you closer to his eyes.

He held his breath as he took in your appearance. Odd, in comparison to grunts. Your skin was more colorful than he was expecting, the pigments making you seem so warm compared to the grey that grunts had. Then there was that wedge-shape that protruded from the middle of your face. But most stunning were your eyes, bright and expressive as you gave the camera a grin. You were beautiful.

He stared at the picture for more than a few minutes before folding it delicately and putting it in his inner-coat pocket. Besides showing you off, the flyers were immensely helpful in telling them who you were with. And it’s not like anyone else would be posting them anyway, so he knew you had to be in the area. With a renewed vigor, he picked up the pace, intent on searching the place for you.

And after many hours of searching, he finally did.

He was in the middle of scrutinizing another of the flyers when he froze, having heard the light cadence of your voice. He instinctively took it as another auditory hallucination, perhaps due to the sleep deprivation he’d experience whenever your absence occurred for too long. However, those only lasted for a few interspersed minutes at a time. You continued to speak, your excitable words carrying over the stiff air of Nevada to him in a way that was unmistakable. It had to be you.

The way he was quick to sprint to where the sound was coming from would’ve embarrassed him in any other circumstance (he’d rather appear composed; he found that he was far more threatening that way). But he couldn’t find himself caring as the sound of you got clearer, and with a final turn of a corner, he found you.

Well, he found the wall of grunts who’d heard a force coming and decided to block you from view. He recognized Hank immediately, the red tint of his goggles sticking out against the dreary landscape of the city. That and the barrel of the gun he had pointed at the Savior. Sanford and Deimos, who’d lingered a bit behind him, had their hands placed on their weapons as well but seemed to ease as they took in his appearance. (Somewhat, at least. They were ready to fight him if you needed them to, even if he’d been instrumental in their larger plan to end Project Nexus. It would be a setback, but they’re sure Doc wouldn’t be too mad once they explained the situation.)

Jebus took a step towards the group, only to be met with another by Hank, who’d only seemed to get more threatening when he took in who stood before him. (It’s not like he forgot how he had to constantly fight with the man for your attention before you arrived. If he had his way, the Savior wouldn’t even see you.) But when Hank made another step towards Jeb, he was suddenly stopped in his place. By you.

Jebus’ eyes widened once he saw the light strings pulling at the mercenary’s form, too shocked to even be annoyed at the way Hank’s form seemed to relax immediately at their instruction. However, unlike before, the strings didn’t reach upward towards the heavens, from where you always looked down on them before. Instead, they weaved around Sanford and Deimos, leading directly behind them. His breath caught in his throat when he saw a hand reaching out from behind them, the radiant threads leading back to the fingertips. And then, you stepped out (though not before placing a reassuring hand on Sanford’s arm and giving a comforting look to Deimos, who looked rather panicked at your actions).

“What’s the hold up? -Oh, wait, Jeb? It’s so good to see you! It’s been a while, hasn’t it?” You said, fully relieved to not have to deal with another enemy that day (well, maybe not an enemy to you). And then you smiled at him.

You had rendered him frozen yet again. He had experienced so much with you, and was the victim of so much pain when he couldn’t feel that warmth enveloping him. But now he could feel that all-encompassing heat emanating from you, and hear your voice more clearly. He could see the way your eyes shined in silent affection for him. It was almost too much for him to take.

Never in all of his musings or reflections on his own feelings and memories about you, did he ever think that you would ever be standing right in front of him. His Player. Kind and caring, a paragon of good. The same person who’d helped him face the tyrannical Director of the Nexus Core thirty years ago, and the very same who’d been helping him regain control of Project Nexus. You were someone he tried to emulate - And longed to have.

Your expression switched from relief to worry when you saw him falter, and a few tears slipping out from behind his glasses. Ignoring the protests of Hank and your other vessels, you hurriedly approached him, intent on comforting the man who you’d known has been put through so much strife - and partly because of you. You can’t imagine how difficult it must’ve been for him to deal with Nevada for thirty years, even with your help. His story had always made you sad, but at least now you had the ability to give him the care he deserved.

You wordlessly brushed away the hand that he raised to wipe his face before encircling your arms around him in a soft embrace, shushing him. He straightened up, body going stiff as you did so. He didn’t know what to expect, but your touch wasn’t something he thought he would ever experience.

“Yeah, I know. I’m sorry,” You whispered, a small, sad smile grew on your face when you felt him pull you slightly closer, if not with some hesitancy. You were pure, and he didn’t want to do anything to taint that part of you. Your grip tightened around him once you felt the soft taps of his tears falling onto your shirt. But you also noted the soft rumblings that you felt through the armored plate you were resting your head on. He was purring.

Jebus felt like he was experiencing some sort of forgiveness. Like his sins were being cleansed by the intense heat he felt from you. But even this paled in comparison to the feeling of peace that overtook him. In this moment, embraced by his one idol, all was right. You cared about him enough to comfort him in his time of need. And he knew at this moment that he’d pay you back for all of that help you’d given him before. He was yours, and he would spend the rest of his life proving that he deserved to be by your side, if you needed him to.

(In this moment, your other vessels were not as happy. Hank was shaking in anger as he watched the two of you, and Deimos and Sanford had immersed themselves in a hushed conversation about what they would tell 2BDamned. It was time for them to move. If not to get away from the AAHW, then to leave the other vessels who might show up. They didn’t need anyone else trying to steal you from them!)

To be completely honest, Tricky didn’t really care about the posters he’d noticed being put up in Nexus City. (At least not at first.) He was usually too busy trying to scrounge up materials for his newest “game” or simply indiscriminately murdering grunts to notice them most of the time. But when he saw the name plastered on them from the corner of his eye, he immediately ran up to them, haphazardly tearing one from its post (and leaving plenty of it behind, leaving it almost illegible).

His shaking got even worse when he read your title plastered on it. You were here?! His precious Player?!?! In Nevada!!?!

Unlike Jebus, he didn’t think too much about how dubious these claims might be. Tricky’d been pretty good at searching the city for your presence before, and had immediately noticed when you were too far away for him to catch wind of. That just made him widen his efforts, of course (it’s not like he was willing to just give up on finding you, no that was unthinkable to him). Instead of questioning why you were in Nevada, he simply took the flyers as information about your location. And, luckily for him, the fact that your other vessels were in some of them just made it easier!

He flew through the streets, even ignoring most of the unassuming grunts as he shouted your title out to try and get your attention. (The AAHW members there who heard him just looked at each other and decided to call it a day. They weren’t getting paid enough to deal with the clown.)

Meanwhile, you had been out with your group yet again, this time a final supply run before you’d be switching locations. Doc was very insistent on it, for some reason. Hank had stopped in his tracks the moment he heard Tricky’s shouting and gestured for the others to get their weapons out.

Deimos let out a tired groan when he heard the screeching. “God, again?!? I thought we’d put an end to this ages ago.” Sanford hung his head for a moment, sighing before nodding in agreement. The two were victims of many of the clown’s interruptions in their missions, mainly to fight them and/or steal your presence away. Not only was he dangerous, but very annoying.

You were silent but apprehensive. You knew that Tricky definitely didn’t hate you, but you really didn’t want to have to deal with anyone in your group getting injured. You saw his stop sign before the clown himself, jolting along the ground haphazardly as it seemed to search for something. And then the Zed erupted from the ground. Right in front of Hank.

Of course, the grunt was quick to pull his gun out, but the clown just ignored him, shoving past him to get closer to where he felt an intense warmth emanating from. But he was yanked back, Hank’s claws nearly tearing through his labcoat as he aggressively pulled the Tricky in front of him. “HEY!! >:(”

Then you spoke up to try and quell the already volatile situation. “U-um, Hank? I’d really appreciate it if you wouldn’t do this right now. Like really appreciate it.” You followed up the statement with a small bout of nervous laughter. The clown’s gaze snapped to you and you paled.

"PLAYER!!! :D CLOWN FINALLY FOUND YOU!!!! :DDD"

He then teleported directly to you, completely bypassing Sanford and Deimos (who'd tried in vain to block you from view). You yelped when he appeared a few inches from your face, taking a step back and craning your neck to look up at his mask. He giggled at your bewildered expression. You looked so cute!

"Ah, yes, you've found me!..." You trailed off a little bit. "Do you..want anything, Tricky?"

He almost squealed when he heard you say his name. It sounded so much better from you in person! He nodded quickly, leaning down to get closer to you.

"YOU'LL USE CLOWN NOW!! :D" He yelled, and the others bristled from behind him. What? No. This cannot be happening.

You grinned shakily. "I-well. I'm not sure I can do that..permanently? But I guess I can bring you along for now," came your response, and your smile widened when he cheered enthusiastically. It was kind of cute to see him so excited, even if his presence was wholly unexpected.

Naturally, the others in your party were less than enthused. But they didn't have much of a choice, having to put up with the clown as he paraded around with you for the rest of the day. They were put on the sidelines for once, feeling bitter as they watched you give him all of your attention. (It was to keep him from running off or doing something stupid, but it wasn't fair to them.)

Deimos pouted when he turned to you after a perfect shot, expecting to find you ready to give a compliment or a praising look, only to see your eyes fixed to the clown instead. Sanford experienced the same thing, looking rather crestfallen when he didn't hear a peep from you after he pulled off a rather impressive move with his hook.

On the other hand, Hank was embroiled in a competition with Tricky, both tearing apart enemies at a break-neck speed to try and impress you. It was generally very chaotic; Tricky shouting jeers and taunts as he cleaved through bandits with his sign, only to screech when Hank actually threw one of the bandits at him (not before flipping him off, of course.)

(You sweat-dropped. They were acting exactly like they did when you were outside of Nevada. You hadn't imagined that it was really this bad though.)

However, even if Hank managed to kill more bandits or agents than the Clown, which he did, you still didn't switch to him. It was utterly infuriating. What the hell did Tricky do to earn your attention and your praise? He wasn't supposed to be here, and he didn't have any business interrupting their mission. You had a job to do, and he was slowing you down. If anything, you should've been insulted. But no - you instead complimented him whenever you saw him do a trick with his sign, or teleport around the battlefield in a flash.

The last straw for your vessels occurred at the end of another massacre. Tricky bounded up to you, looking at you like an excited dog would its owner. He held his arms out.

"CLOWN WANTS A HUG FROM YOU!! PLEASE!! <3333 :D"

And to the astonishment of your other vessels, you gave one to him. Just like that. Nodding with a smile before embracing the Zed, and laughing once he picked you up and spun you around. (Deimos was especially pissed off at that. You did that with him a lot, too.)

Of course, Tricky knew about the jealous glares the others were shooting at him and the way they tensed up in anger at his actions. But he didn't care. Why would he, when he had you in his arms? No, he was entirely too focused on the adorable way you laughed, and the warmth that permeated through his very being at being in your presence (and under your control).

He purred loudly as he placed you back down, though still keeping you in a tight hug. He was still shaking, of course, but oddly enough it seemed to lessen when he was enveloped by your touch. He absolutely adored you before, but this little event had only furthered his love for you. And, judging by the way you chuckled and held him even tighter as he nuzzled into you, you seemed to hold some affection for him as well. Just like he wanted.

("We're moving. Now." Was all that Hank said, no growled, watching you fraternize with the insane clown. It was actually difficult for him to not do anything, the urge to destroy the happy Zed for even looking at you was running at an all-time high.

"Calling Doc right now," Deimos replied, looking uncharacteristically tired as he turned his head from the scene in front of him and pulled out his comm. He was still angry about the hug. That was your thing! And besides, Tricky shouldn't be touching you anyway. He was almost always covered in blood, you didn't need that filth on you.

Sanford was also glaring daggers at Tricky. Seeing you enjoy someone else's affection just picked at his heart in the worst of ways. It was even worse that it was someone like Tricky, who he knew was likely too unstable to take care of you (certainly not like he could). His hook was feeling a bit too shiny as of late. Maybe he could stand to dirty it up a little?)

[concerningmadness]

Behold!

[concerningmadness]

Morning Routine

[concerningmadness]

hi. . . potentially could you do. . . yandere jeb. . . or hank. . .

(Henlo! Hmm. Got a hard pick to choose from here. 👀

Also there's inspiration i got from this amazing headcanon by @yansoftie. PLZ check it out and their other works too they're hella good!)

Sent From Above:

Content Warnings:

Cw: yandere

Cw: stalking

Cw: obsessiveness

Cw: violence

Cw: kidnapping

Cw: captivity

Cw: manipulation

.

.

You worked alongside the head science trio which of course means working with Jebediah himself. The very man, a close friend, that encouraged you to start working within the Nexus science programs. It took him a lot of convincing, especially since you weren't sure you're qualified to even apply to work at the Nexus Tower itself. 

Despite you not having as much experience with anything advanced chemistry or biological wise, he promised you that he'd personally teach you everything you'd need to know. 

Jeb was always discreet on his obsession over you no matter the circumstances. Not even Hoffnar himself could notice any odd change in him. He keeps excessively detailed notes on everything about you like you were some rare specimen. It all goes from what you've worn to every action you did that day and is filled away in a cabinet to where nobody would care to look.

Just about every day you'll find flowers neatly placed on your computer desk maybe along with some of your favorite sweets. But you never knew whom they're from.

Maker help anyone who dares to think that harassing or hurting you in any way will end well for them. Jeb will make sure they go through hell be it blackmail, framing, phishing, or simply even "dealing with them" himself alone. The higher rankings however, unfortunately for him, cannot be messed with. Yet. But any upper ranks that dared to harm you will not be granted a painless death when Jeb goes through with his plans against Phobos. Speaking of which, the director was someone that suffered greatly in the end. Jeb made sure of it. He should've never spoken to you, an angel, like that.

Once the true madness began and complete armageddon took hold of Nevada, no less thanks to him, there's never been a moment where you didn't feel watched. You swore that there were a pair of eyes in that distant alley, but it only vanished when you looked. You'd come home to find gifts inside the house on your coffee table. No address or signature except for a well written letter all about you, followed up with a heart at the end of the message. As sweet as it was it only left you more disturbed knowing something or someone can get in your house. Didn't you used to have three locks on your doors? Huh. Maybe you need to get a couple.

Jeb, with his sniper rifle in hand at all times, often picks off any threats before they could even approach you from a distance. This leaves you to come see a fresh corpse pile every corner more often than usual. 

If by chance you're hurt in whatever way possible you'll always wake the next day to see the wound cleaned and wrapped in gauze. You were sure you just washed the cut and called it a day, but maybe you forgot? If it's an injury by another person, they're as good as dead. Jeb isn't the one who likes to torment but sometimes there are those who need "judgment" passed onto them.

He'll never approach you in person until he feels that the time is right for you both to be together. The only other exception would be if he found you in grave danger that he can't handle from afar and you can't escape from. Once he does make his move, you'll never have seen it coming. He'll have you in his arms that just won't pry away in seconds, loving and enjoying the closeness with you he so longingly wanted but hates to see you so distressed. He'll do everything he can to assure you that everything is alright. From embracing hugs, to soothing strokes against your back, to cooing 'reassuring' things that you're "now safe" and you "no longer need to worry about anything anymore".

He'll refrain from excessively long holds if you ask. He's usually decent enough to back off if you need space. Well, not too far off. After all, how can he protect his beloved angel if he's not around?

Oftentimes he'll come back home with gifts in hand. Mostly consisting of sweets, jewelry, clothes and anything fancy that he can find. He hopes you'll like it, he got it so special for you!

If you happen to escape he's likely not far behind. He won't hurt you nor would he even dream of doing such a thing but he'll resort to using his halo to hold you in place if necessary to "keep you safe". But only as a last resort of course. He's never a punisher, seeing you in pain is never what he wants. The worst of the worst outcome is he'll keep you in one room till he can trust you to roam the safehouse again. Even then, expect him to be practicality breathing down your neck every minute.

When it comes down to family and friends, he's the least hostile of the yanderes. He won't hurt them but he's definitely had unfriendly thoughts towards them. This doesn't stop him and his bitter jealousy from making passive aggressive remarks to near borderline threats anytime you hang around them. His iron grip only gets tighter around you each time someone gets too close. Maybe it's just best that you just stay with him, you still don't want to risk those chances now, would you?

[concerningmadness]

Grunt tower

[concerningmadness]

Can you tell I'm an Auditor simp?

Once again, the self-aware madcom Project Nexus AU belongs to -> @saltymongoose (I'll stop bothering you now sry...)

[concerningmadness]

Deimos: do you care if i take the skin off the furby?

Deimos: i want to make him a god. once he is free of his sinful flesh he can begin the path towards enlightenment. he will take care of us.

Deimos: also i want to softhack his circuits.

Sanford: I literally could not care less but never say anything as frightening as that again