Encrypted Strings (Spamton x Reader)

Chapter 6. Homesick

Authors note: Hello!!! I apologize for not posting at all. I've decided to split chapter six into two chapters... It's just too long. Chapter seven is half way done at the moment of posting this. I hope you have a great day :D

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You were seated in the purple gilded chair. The glittering fairy lights loomed over as you reflected on the past few... days? No. Hours? You weren't sure. But what you knew for sure was the provoking questions you kept wondering about.

Why would Spamton just be thrown into the acid over some money argument? You felt as if it wasn't right. Spamton had done nothing wrong. He simply just rose to fame and earned more money. What hard work were the Addisons doing? To you these questions were important, but not as important as what happened at the fountain. You had cracked open the ground and a huge beam of rainbow-toned light came out of it... now what? You even blacked out and woke up falling to what you thought was your death and then ended up in some cyber world where the Queen took you in and had you open a magical hole from the ground. What does anyone simply do with that information? It certainly wasn't an everyday occurrence. You realized that you were away from home. What would happen to the shop? Would it just shut down? How long would you be down here? Is there a way back home? Home... You missed it. Although you weren't the richest you sure enjoyed home. Even though most of the locals didn't need suits or ties they still went and bought the items you made just so they could support your small business...Maybe the small businessman you saw at the acid river could use a new suit. You chuckled to yourself.

Spamton. The thought stung. You had seen the man torn up and burned. Heck, you even saved him.

There was a knock at the door.

"Who is it?" You asked

"It's me," Swatch's voice called.

"Come in." You yelled from across the room.

Swatch entered the room. His hands were entangling each other. His composure was different...More fancy? No, that couldn't be possible. What was it?

Swatch paused. "You have training again today." He almost looked disappointed. He obviously couldn't muster up something that he was originally trying to say.

"Oh, cool." You plainly responded. You were more focused on Spamton than Swatch at the moment. You still had so many unanswered questions that remained.

"Would you like me to guide you there?" Swatch requested while holding out his hand. You never realized how amusing it was until now that Swatch had been so formal. Sure, he was required to do that but why can't he just cut some slack? It's not like you're judging him.

"Nah." You shook your head. "Instead, why don't I just walk beside you instead of you dragging me like a doll." Swatch's demeanor shifted from proper to embarrassed.

"I was unaware that I was too fast for you... My deepest apologies." Swatch let down a bow.

"You know you can cut the fancy crap, right?" You didn't mean for it to come out rude but it did regardless.

"Hm? What makes you say I should?" The statement caught you off guard and you paused. The swatch you just met now suddenly seemed a lot more intimidating. You decided to ignore his question and start a new topic.

"Hey, why aren't we walking yet?" You reminded me.

"Oh! Yes, of course. We should get going." Swatch insisted.

You and Swatch started down the hallway. The colorful green walls were still a sight to see. They went up so high... Into an endless green void never to be discovered until now. The ceilings were just barely out of sight. Even stretching your hand out would be like reaching for the heavens. So close yet so far away.

"Knight?" The voice called. You looked beside you, it was the same man you'd seen for the past few days. Yes, a few days. You knew it. His feather skin almost blended in with his suit, you realized... You never had taken a moment to look at him. You just accepted him as being a birdman.

"Huh?" You tilted your head towards his white face.

"Is everything alright? You were staring at the ceiling for quite a while."

You halted. "Oh sorry." You let out an awkward laugh. "I was just thinking." You continued down the hallways. The paths soon became more familiar as you went. There was a long awkward silence between you and Swatch.

"What were you thinking about?" The bird spoke up. His hands nervously fidget with each other.

"I was just thinking about the ceiling... It's so tall... And your feathers, how they're always so neat...And, well. Home." Tears started to well up. "I know it hasn't been long but I've just been missing home. I was born and raised in my small town. Everyone knows each other. The community is so lovely.

"I wish I could understand the feeling of being homesick. I've lived in the palace my whole life so I've never gotten a good understanding of what it feels like to be away from home... Even for a few days." Swatch locked eyes with you. His gaze was warm and tender.

"It's alright... I guess I really never understood what being homesick was either, until now." You stared into his multi-colored glasses, just barely managing to see his dark eyes. They looked as deep as the abyss but as rich as chocolate. You could tell there were many stories behind those eyes, just waiting to be told.

Swatch came to a halt. The familiar entrance towered over you. The gargantuan Roman-based pillars were lined with beautiful carvings, possibly done by the best sculptors in the whole city, but nothing compared to the beautiful dome -- much like the one where the cafe was in.

"Are you ready, Knight?" The feathery man seemed eager to start training.

You affirmed while stepping into the vast room.