Neighbors Chapter 1 (New Home)

Neighbors is a "what-if" scenario in Roommates. Starting from the end of chapter 19, Mike leaves the apartments behind in shame and meets three entirely different households, each with their own quirky characters for Mike to meet and befriend.

Roommates is a slice-of-life story by tgweaver (http://tgweaver.tumblr.com/ Warning: NSFW content!) and Pokemaniacal (https://roommatesau.tumblr.com/ )

This is made in collaboration with my good pal Sam. (http://afuckingcamel-zenge-art.tumblr.com/ Warning: NSFW content!) As well as brainstorming and pitching in with the writing, he is also doing art for this series!

Title card: imgur.com/vnDJxkN.png

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You’re Mike Schmidt.

At least you think you are, still.

Somehow, you’ve managed to lose your friends, your belongings, and your home. You have nothing left, and it’s all because you couldn’t help but poke your nose into other people’s business.

As you sit in the cold and empty darkness of the night, you briefly reflect on how this even happened in the first place.

You upset everyone in Bonworth’s household after pressuring them to speak about Jeremy’s, a place you’ve only heard mentioned briefly. You put the pieces together that Jeremy’s had been involved in the incidents that permanently changed all of them. From Haddock’s brain injuries to Bonworth’s prosthetic legs, everyone in that household had been screwed over, having to live out the rest of their life because of “accidents.” They made it clear they didn’t want to talk about it, though.

Stupid. You should have shut up.

You didn’t get kicked out, but you left regardless. From the looks on everyone’s faces, you knew you were not welcome anymore, and you felt like you did them a favor. You remember slamming the door and sitting down on the stairs. Why didn’t you listen when Bonworth told you to drop it?

What would Chiclet think? She wouldn’t want to see you again if she heard what you had said. The humiliation and guilt was too much, so you felt it was impossible to face any of them again. Leaving the apartments was the only option. Besides, nobody would miss you.

No one missed you before. Why would this be any different?

You got up and ran down the stairs. Without hesitation, you sprinted out of the apartment complex. The possibility of returning and fixing things briefly occupied your mind, but now that you’ve left, there’s no choice but to press on.

You may never return. They’re already hurting enough because of you.

After that.. you don’t remember where you went. All you can remember is that you wanted to get as far away from the apartments as possible. You wanted to go somewhere you’d never see any of them again. You wanted to be too far to hurt them again.

Running for so long really took the energy from you, and before long you were tired. Walking slowly, you began to realize what the people around you really thought of you. You had never taken the thoughts of complete strangers to heart, but on this day, it hurt you.

“Mommy, what is that thing?”

“Don’t look at him, dear. He might bite.”

“Ew, get away from me, freak!”

You wanted to hide your face. In this world, it seems you’re nothing more than a mangy freakish ape, and that really stings. Especially now, having lost everyone and everything you had, it was just insult to injury.

As the moon rose higher into the dark sky, you became aware you needed a place to sleep. At that moment, sleep was probably the best thing you had, and you desperately wanted it. You looked for a safe spot to lay down, but finding one proved to be more of a chore than you expected.

While you searched for a place to sleep building by building, your mind wandered back to the place you called home before the apartments. You were homeless, just like you were before. Sure, the circumstances are different, but that doesn’t mean much to you now, seeing as you’re on the street again anyway.

Speaking of that place, maybe being homeless isn’t gonna be so bad. After all, you could end up back in the real world, away from this place where blue and purple bunnies are the norm, and humans don’t exist. Of course, you could end up somewhere weirder, but it’s still better than this. This isn’t a place you belong, especially after what you did.

At last, you found a spot that looked good. It was devoid of other “occupants,” and the ground was barren, save for small bits of garbage here and there. You laid down and closed your eyes. You were finally drifting off when a sharp pain jolted you awake.

You scrambled to get up as a bum armed with a broken glass bottle took another swipe. “I always hated yer’ kind, mangy mutts, the lot of you!”

You ran as fast as your legs could carry you, only stopping when you decided it was safe. Luckily, the guy didn’t seriously wound you, but he put many holes in the only clothes you have… as if things weren’t going bad enough.

Eventually, you found a bowling alley and decided to sleep behind it. It was a familiar feeling to sleep in the winter cold, and it wasn't a feeling you liked. The fox guy who took out the trash found you and offered you leftover pizza.

It was better than nothing, and it's the only comfort you've had over the last two days.

Today is different though. The first indication something is wrong comes from the

fox guy. He comes outside much earlier than he typically does, and he’s not carrying any leftover pizza. He looks sad, and you can guess why.

“Look, dude. I'm sorry you're going through a rough patch and all but, like, my boss is getting pissed because I'm sneaking leftovers for you.” he said. Fantastic.

As if noticing your reaction, he handed you a ten-dollar bill. “It isn't much, but I hope you can get your life back in order. You should probably leave though. He might take measures into his own hands if you don’t.”

And with that, he walked back inside, leaving you to your thoughts.

With nothing but the clothes on your back and a ten in your hand, you decide to get some food. Groceries would be pointless in your situation, so you settle for fast food.

Looking around the immediate area, you see a Tacocat!, Humburger, and Colonel Noodle’s Noodles. Since hamburger fast food is typically the cheapest, you walk to the Humburger.

You push open the door and immediately regret your choice. The door has a bell that rings when it's opened, and almost reflexively, you look down. Hiding your face wouldn't change what people thought, but avoiding eye-contact made it hurt just a little less.

You walk to the register, ordering an ordinary cheeseburger to avoid looking up at the menu. After a minute of preparation, you hand the cashier the ten and he gives you a tray, as well as your change.

Now, it's time to search for a table. Fortunately, the restaurant isn't very populated at 10:14, so finding an empty one is no trouble. Before you can eat, however...

“OH MY GOD!” A scream rings out from someone near you.

You turn your head up and meet the gaze of a familiar white colored fur fox wearing the restaurant’s uniform, eyes widening.

Fuck.

They found you.

“M-Mangle?”

She’s taken aback by your question, eyes fluttering as she seems to snap back into the real world.

“That’s your name? Nice to meet you Mangle, I’m Fatima!” Well that’s some good news I guess.

“Oh. Uh I thought you were someone e-”

“Hey! Are you a Humie too?!

“Uh, well I-”

“Hey that’s super cool! I haven’t met one in this side of town for a while, where’d you buy your skinsuit?! It looks so good!”

She approaches you and puts her hand on your face.

“Very smooth too! It’s unlike anything I’ve ever-” she pinches and tugs at your face.

“seen. Oh my god.”

She lets out another loud squeal.

“Oh my god this is actual skin! You’re really real!” She pinches so hard it starts to hurt.

By now the few people there are in the restaurant have stopped doing their business and are now staring awkwardly at you and the screaming fox.

“Uh, hey could you maybe uh… quiet down a little bit?”

She stops tugging at you to look around her, realizing the audience you’ve gathered.

“Oh uh. Sorry about that.” She lets go.

She takes the seat in front of you and leans in to whisper.“Seriously though, what’s your secret? How is your skin so smooth?” She rubs her own fur. “I got laser surgery once and that hurt! Never again, heh.”

“He-heh..”

“So uh, nice to meet you! Tell me about you Mangle, what do you do?” Oh boy.

“Well, my name’s not actually Man- It’s Mike. I just thought you were someone else. I’m sorry. I don’t have a job.”

“Oh. Well. I work here! I’m actually the janitor. It’s a little embarrassing, but it’s a job.” Somehow, you aren’t surprised.

Fatima continues. “I’m actually on my shift right now but I just HAD to talk to you. I need to know your sec-”

You stop her.. “Wait, did you just say you’re supposed to be working?”

The fox’s ears pin back as she notices the change of tone in your voice. “Uh, I.. yeah, I’m supposed to be working.”

“Well uh, then you should probably get back.” You say, pointing to the counter behind you with your thumb.

“But.. but..! Look at you, you look so real! How could I pass up the opportunity to talk to a humie as dedicated as you?”

“Well if you don’t get back to work you’ll probably be talking to me all the time… on the street, heh.”

“Sorry that was rude”

Despite the insult, Fatima didn’t look like she planned to give up anytime soon. “Oh, come on. I can always get another job.”

You sigh, defeated. “Well, not like there’s many people here anyway.”

The fox pinches your cheek again, still quite enamored by your appearance. “So how did you do it? I know you have some kind of secret to looking so.. realistic. I’ve never seen a humie who looked as good as you!”

“It’s just a skin condition thing. I fell off a tree when I was a kid and my fur fell off, came back green.” You’re not sure where that came from but oh well. Fortunately, she doesn’t question it further.

“You know, speaking of skin, I bought a skinsuit last year. It’s probably my favorite outfit, but it took five months of paychecks to buy it. I couldn’t go to HumieCon because it was so expensive.”

The thought of Fatima wearing a skin-colored spandex suit leaves you with a nightmarish image you will carry for the rest of your life.

“Speaking of skinsuits, that reminds me. Who are you supposed to be cosplaying? I can’t tell.”

“I’m... I’m not cosplaying as anyone. This is just how I look.” you tell her. Regardless, she is unconvinced.

“Oh, c’mon. You’d go through all the trouble to look like a human and not cosplay? You can tell me!”

“I’m telling you the truth. I only look like this because I’m homeless.” Whoops.

“HOMELESS?!” the fox practically screamed. You get the feeling that somewhere, a window shattered.

“What.”

“That’s perfectly fine! You can come live with me!”

“Oh, no no no that’s fine I’m fine on m-”

“WHAT?! No you’re not! I’m not letting a friend live out in the streets!” She grabs you by the wrist and begins pulling you towards the door.

“Wait! You’re still supposed to be working!” She stops dead in her tracks.

“Shit. I guess you’re right. Well, you’re staying right-” She sits you back down.

“Here. And when I’m done with my shift we’re going home and introducing you to my family.”

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“We’re here!” Fatima pokes you awake as you’re rolling up into the driveway. You rise up, sitting as best as you can in your still groggy state.

The light of the barely rising sun doesn’t allow for much detail, but you can tell it’s a small, blue,one story story house, with a porch and one of those swinging seats on it. You’re surprised, you thought Fatima would live in an apartment with her family, just like… yeah.

As you both exit the car Fatima speaks “Oh yeah. You’ve probably figured it out already but… everyone’s asleep so-” You nod, letting her understand that you know what’s up. You walk up to the porch, and as Fatima is opening the door she speaks again: “Oh and uh… I’m sorry to say it but you’ll have to take the couch, I’d let you sleep with me but… yeah I don’t want them to think that-” You interrupt her: “Yeah yeah, I know.” You refrain from telling her that you don’t want “them” to think that either.

Fatima carefully pushes the front door open, ushering a quiet creak of protest. The room is dimly lit, but you can see that Fatima’s home is much spacier than the apartments you’ve lived in recently. The couch looks much more comfortable than the back wall of the bowling alley, although in all reality you know it doesn’t need much to be.

There’s more to the room, but as tired as you are, you just want to go back to sleep. Fatima seems to understand and attempts to help you to the couch. Unfortunately, she isn’t able to help you avoid tripping over things. You’re hardly able to restrain yourself from crying out in pain when you stub your toe on the couch itself. Fortunately for yourself as well as Fatima, she covers your mouth, stifling your cry to just a whisper.

The couch is even softer than it looks. You find your eyes growing heavy, but then Fatima speaks.

“So uh.. are you gonna be alright in here by yourself?”

You can’t muster the effort to speak, but instead give her a thumbs-up. This seems to be enough for her.

“Well, I hope you get some rest.. uh.. Mike, right?”

Another thumbs-up is all she needs to understand. The room is silent and you assume Fatima has left. You’re drifting off when something wet and fuzzy touches your cheek, if only for a moment. You're too tired to protest, and as Fatima steps out of the room, your eyes grow heavy.

Thinking upon it, you've gotten lucky to end up with another household, having a roof above your head and someone taking care of you. Even if Fatima’s a bit creepy with the way she acts around you, you can’t deny that you appreciate her help. However, you haven’t met her housemates yet, and you’re not sure that they’ll take kindly to having a stranger in their home. Is this really the best course of action? Maybe you should sneak out… ugh. You’re too tired to care anymore.