(taking place during last chapter, the stuff Ruddiger got up to being body swapped with Varian)
(lots of missing context as this was just a fun little filler as i brainstormed more storydriven chapters, sorry this took so long again)
Ruddiger pov(for while he's human):
"Varian relax, i can handle this"
He gave me a look like he didn't believe me.
"Don't give me that look, i've got this!" I said before leaving the room.
He facepalmed.
Does he know how long I've watched him in his lab for?
I'll be fine
I went downstairs where the others were waiting.
"Where have you been all day?" Hugo asked.
"I've been busy" I said.
"Where's your raccoon?"
"M- His name is Ruddiger" I said "and he was tired so he fell asleep in my lab, best not to go in there and wake him, he can get really cranky"
"Really?" Ellie asked "he's usually fine with me"
"He's... Had kinda an off day"
"Oh, okay"
"Nothing a little rest won't fix though"
"Alright well come on, your aunt made dinner"
"Coming"
As we were all eating, Varian's little cousins ran up to me
"Vari, is the potion ready yet?" They asked.
"Uh, not quite yet, I'll get back to it right after dinner"
"Var, as sweet as it is that you agreed to help them, you should really take a break soon" Ellie said.
"I will, I already promised Ruddiger I would spend more time with him and I intend to keep that promise"
I can only hope he feels that way...
"How full is your work schedule?"
"Well, between finding totems, completing trials, and all the time on the road in between..."
Does he even do anything besides work anymore?
"Vari, you need a day off" one of the little cousins said.
"I agree" Ellie said.
"Well yeah, maybe but-"
"No buts, after you finish that body swap compound you're taking at least one day off"
"Ellie, the totem-"
"Can wait a day, this much work can not be good for your mental health"
I opened my mouth to try to contradict what she said but honestly she's right, he needs a break considering last time he went this long without one...
"I will make you proud of me, Dad... if it's the last thing i ever do.."
Uh... Yeah...
He'll thank me later
"You're probably right actually" i said.
That night
I put out the light and got into bed
"Wow, Var, usually you spend at least a half hour reading your mom's book"
"Yeah, normally i would but i'm honestly exhausted" i said.
"Oh, alright, goodnight"
"'Night Ellie" i yawned.
About a half hour later i heard a small noise.
"Var, it sounds like Ruddiger is awake, want me to check on him?" Ellie asked.
Varian!
The antidote!
No no no!
"That's okay, i got him"
A little later
What was i thinking!?
Why did i run out of the house!?
My hair and clothes were soaked....
"Man i hate the rain..." i said under my breath, almost being caught off guard by Varian's voice, despite hearing it all day.
should i have just taken the antidote?
i'd miss talking to everyone else but honestly i miss him even more.
And it's not fair to take away his ability to talk to them...
i just wanted a little longer...
"Ruddiger!"
I jumped a little, was that...
i looked around the side of one of the trees to see Ellie, with Varian, still in my raccoon body, over her shoulder.
She knows... do they all know?
i followed them until i came to a tree with some low enough branches
Let me just say... climbing a tree is alot harder to do as a human
i noticed an apple hangng from one of them and grabbed it.
Max is nowhere around to stop me this time
where was i?
Right, the tree
I got to a point where i could see them and dropped the apple core, accidentally hitting Varian in the head.
Pretty sure he already explained the rest so brief summary, i was put back in my raccoon body.