Work Text:
The clashing of keys against his door forced Kinger to open his eyes, how late had he slept? 1pm? 2pm? He wealry grunted in response to the intruder slowly sliding disembodied hands down his face.
"C'mon dad its 4 you're gonna be late!" A younger woman called out an annoyance within her words.
Kinger scrabbled for his clock, 4 on the dot. He flug the sheets off himself running for the bathroom. "Not again not again." He muttered to himself tossing a towel over his lack of shoulder. Cool water trickled against his back a quick jolt to wake himself up. A few minutes had passed by now and the chess piece was rummaging through his belongings, why even bother to look good anymore not like anyone but himself cared. Soon he pulled out a purple pull over with a black belt and pants.
He quickly pulled the pants over disembodied feet, and ran twords the door.
---
Ragatha gave him a small nudge handing over a pair of glasses and jumble of different keys "Here, and don't loose them this time i don't wanna have to come pick you up. I will, but preferably i don't want to. " She said a stern yet playful tone.
"Heard. Well I'll be heading off now remember I'm just one call away if anything happens. Love you!" The chess piece shouted behind a closing door.
---
"Ah guess who showed up." A low voice sneered from behind Kinger.
The king hunched himself over turning twords the figure. "Zooble, I don't need you on my case either. I've got enough people prying already." He replied placing a hand to the side of his head.
"Hey, I'm not trying to pry I and many others just appreciate you being around. Sucks you haven't been showing up for the end of my shifts anymore is all." Zooble shrugged.
"I'm so terribly sorry about just not being here anymore. I'm not trying to let her passing get to me but it's hard y'know."
"Hey its all good, you should allow yourself to embrace stuff like that. Don't bottle it all up." Zooble handed the man a small paper strip with several numbers written across it. "I mean it, i enjoy having you around. If you ever need anything you call me." They suggested tapping the paper before leaving.
---
The work day went by fast as usual, everything did nowadays for Kinger. Day after day, after day, after day it was all the same thing. Get to work, get chewed out by his manager, get home, wake up and repeat. He would be lying if he said it wasn't bothersome by now. All he wanted was something different, the most exciting things happening in his life lately were the visits from Jehovah Witnesses. How sad.
Around 7 months ago strange faceless beings had left earth in an almost apocalyptic state. No one knew what they were or what they wanted, it was the scariest point of some people's lives. Yet would he be crazy to say he almost missed it. The thrill, the fear of the unknown of whats next? Maybe.
---
When he had arrived home it was almost impossible to see outside, doesn't help that he lived near a more wooded area. Only small fiddling with keys later and he was inside.
'Ragathas probably sleeping' he thought to himself before walking into the kitchen. He quietly cracked open the fridge a small yellow glow filling the room. His eyes scanned through the fridge taking note that he would need go grocery shopping soon...Again. "Nevermind" he whispered to the empty room. Kinger wondered over to a small window facing out to the backyard of his house. The trees slowly swayed against each other almost comforting in a way. He finally felt at peace, there weren't many nights where he could sit down and watch trees anymore.
"...the hell.." Kinger jolted up from the window unease seeping through himself. A mans figure was watching him back from the woods, smaller than his own but still a threat. The curtains shut with trembling hands he was at crossroads, on the right hand he could do the right thing ignore it and go to bed. Or on the left he could stay up and confront the figure.
He went left.
---
Kinger grabbed the shotgun from his room and slowly walked to the door. An eerie feeling crept through the walls of the house, he knew he was making the wrong choice...but the adrenaline rush was to much to ignore.
He slowly stepped out to his porch scouting the area. Much to his surprise it seemed as if the strange man had left. Relief washed over his body as he stepped back inside not wanting to toy with fate. He strolled back to his room flopping onto his bed with a small bounce. His eye lids became heavy fast allowing himself to begin to drift off.
*𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠.........𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠*
Kingers heart started pounding all sound being drown out by his own heartbeat. "I must be hearing things." He reassured himself sitting up.
Two knocks followed.
Despite all the warnings running through Kingers mind he got out of bed once more, shotgun in hand and waiting by the door. He kept a piercing gaze on the door an attempt to intimidate no one.
"Are you gonna let me in?..... Heeelloooo??"