A Tiny Error

Chapter 15

"OH GRILLBY! ONE ORDER OF FRIES, PLEASE!"

Red stared at him incredulously. Blueberry hated greasy food. Why the sudden change?
"Uh, Berry? Ya know fries are greasy, right?"

Blueberry lowered his eyelights to his hands.
"WELL, THEY AREN'T FOR ME. I THOUGHT I'D GET SCI A SNACK WHILE HE WORKS. HE HAS BEEN QUITE BUSY THESE LAST COUPLE OF DAYS, AFTER ALL."

A nearly unnoticeable blush settled over Red's cheeks as he shifted in his seat.
"Wh-what's he busy with?"

Blueberry rested his chin in his hand to hide his smile.
"SOMETHING VERY IMPORTANT. ALAS, I AM NOT ALLOWED TO SAY ANYTHING, ELSE HE'D HAVE MY HEAD. AFTER ALL, ONLY HIS DEAR, BEST FRIEND WOULD BE IN ON THE SECRET-"

"What secret?!"

Blueberry's eyesockets widened in fake surprise, and he put a hand to his mouth in shame.
"OH DEAR, IT SEEMS I HAVE LET HIS PLANS SLIP OUT. BUT, I HAVE BEEN SWORN TO SECRECY, SO EVEN IF I WANTED TO TELL YOU, I COULDN'T. NOT WITHOUT BETRAYING MY DEAR, BEST FRIEND, SCI!"
He spoke with such convincing innocence, it would have taken a detective with years of interrogation experience to tell that he was intentionally inciting hostility with Red. And, of course, Red was no detective.

"Alright, ya little blue devil. I'm going to Sci's to see just what exactly he's doin'. And ya better not stop me!"
He got up to leave, but not before Grillby came in with Blueberry's order.

"WE SHALL TAKE THIS TO GO, GRILLBY!" He beamed, noting the irritated grimace on Grillby's normally placid features.

"The fuck do ya take this for, a fast food joint?!" he growled. "You'll have ta pay extra, squirt!"

"Aw, lay off him, Grillbz," Red rolled his eyelights. "He's a customer, and it's bad fer business ta run 'em off, ain't it?" He snickered, and Blueberry shrugged while taking out his gold. He paid for what he ordered, winking at the fiery bartender.

"WHY YES, YES IT IS. YOU'D THINK THAT, SINCE IT IS NOT A 'FAST FOOD JOINT,' YOU'D GET BETTER SERVICE. I WONDER WHY YOU INSIST ON COMING HERE, RED."
With that, he walked out the door with Red, leaving Grillby fuming in anger.

They portaled to Nightmare's castle, and Blueberry shoved the basket of fries into Red's hands and forced him into the room Sci was in. Then he left, leaving his ship to sail on its own.

Red grumbled lowly, feeling a bit cheated by Blueberry's smooth talk. It was so easy to forget how sly and manipulative he could be when he looks as if he was made of sugar, spice, and everything nice. But, he didn't have time to dwell on it. Bravely, he puffed out his chest in an effort to look intimidating, and marched up to the nerdy skeleton.

"H-heya, Sci."

Said skeleton jumped at the sudden remark, nearly knocking one of his beakers over. He sighed, turned around, and blushed deeply at the sight before him. Red stood less than a foot away, a basket of freshly made fries in his hands. They both stood awkwardly for a minute before Red cleared his throat.

"U-uh, I-I brought you a-a snack, cuz I thoughtcha might be hungry..." he glanced away as he handed Sci the basket, then shoved his hands in his pockets.

Sci adjusted his glasses and grinned, his soul skipping a beat at the kind gesture. He put the basket on the counter, then turned back to him.
"Th-thank you, Red. W-would you... like to stay awhile? I-I mean, if you want to, that is."

Red grinned and met his eyelights, causing his blush to darken.
"S-sure."

Red sat back leisurely in a chair, his hands behind his head, surveying Sci as he continued to poke around in his little chemistry station. It occurred to Red that they were in Nightmare's castle, and he decided to ask about it.