//TW// Just wanna give a quick warning before this chapter begins, there are some mentions of abusive parents and homes. I didn't want to give a mature warning for abusive because it's not descriptive at all it's just hints at it but I figured I'd put the warning here anyway. stay safe everyone and enjoy the chapter!

His room was a light green color, the walls were covered in old movie posters and in any free space there were shelves and sturdy bookshelves full of all different kinds of books and trinkets, there was a desk nuzzled into the corner of the room by his bed and nightstand. 

“Y-yeah, I guess. My dad got the old posters from a friend, I just thought they were cool and my dad didn't have anywhere else to put them.” Rigby shrugged as he sat down on his bed. 

“I haven’t even heard of some of these movies,” Alfred said as he stared at the different posters around the room. 

They were either really old posters or he was just behind on movies, more likely he was behind. He would have to remember some of the names so he could watch them later, maybe Rigby would want to join him as well. He smiled at the thought of sitting next to Rigby and staying up late into the night watching movies. 

“I see you have an extensive book collection,” Alfred said, walking over to the bookshelf and skimming over the many different book titles. It was a mess of a collection for the fact none of them were organized, the shelf was filled to the brim with mangas, comics, hardcovers, and paperbacks of all kinds. 

“Yeah, I enjoy reading in my free time and I’ve been collecting them since I was a little kid. My dad says I have an extremely vivid imagination and that's why I like reading so much because I basically see myself as one of the characters when I read.” Rigby said as he picked up what Alfred assumed to be his favorite or at least most cherished book from the way it looked. 

“So you do that no matter what you read?” Alfred asked, glancing at the shelf with a smirk as Rigby’s cheeks turned pink. 

“W-well yes, b-but it's not what you t-think! I d-don’t read s-sex novels, well unless it's in a book for the plot, b-but it’s purely for plot purposes! I-it’s not like i-i get off too it or anything, w-wait, FUCK!” Rigby stuttered as he tried to explain himself. 

“Easy Rig’s, I just asked if you did it every time you read, you're the one who thought I meant if you read smut. However, it's fun to know you do. Oh but for plot purposes of course.” Alfred teased as Rigby sank onto his bed drowning in embarrassment. It was so adorable how easily flustered Rigby got, he couldn’t resist teasing him it was so easy to get him to react. 

“Besides, no way to deny it, especially because of this.” Alfred chuckled holding up one of Rigby’s mangas in front of his face that was wide open too a very vivid sex scene. 

“Oh my God! Put that back!” Rigby said his face was basically on fire as he tried to hide under the blankets on his bed. 

Alfred chuckled and closed the book, he had teased him enough, for now, any more and Rigby might actually combust. Alfred walked back over too the shelf and put the book back where he had found it, as he put the book back he noticed a picture sticking out from in between some of the books. Alfred gently pulled the picture out and inspected it. He immediately recognized a young Korey, his hair long and up in a man bun and a goofy smile on his face as he was holding a young Rigby on his shoulders. Alfred smiled as he looked at Rigby as a kid on Korey's shoulders, a huge smile on his face as he laughed. It was probably the cutest thing Alfred had ever seen. Then he noticed the other half of the picture, standing next to Korey was a woman Alfred didn’t recognize. The woman had long straight black hair and dull copper eyes. She looked almost angry as she smiled at Korey and Rigby. She looked like she was forced to be there for the picture. 

“Cute picture you got here,” Alfred said as he turned around to face Rigby, who sat upon his bed with Alfred's comment. 

“Yeah, I was three when this picture was taken,” Rigby said as he took the picture. 

“Who’s that?” Alfred asked, pointing to the woman in the picture, his curiosity getting the better of him as he sat down on the bed next to Rigby. 

“My mom,” Rigby mumbled with a hint of bitterness in his voice.

 “Do you wanna talk about it? If you don’t want to I understand, but if you ever need to talk about anything I’ll always listen no matter what.” Alfred said as Rigby sighed at the photo, he could tell Rigby had something he wanted to say but he didn’t want to force it out of him. After all, he had no right to know in the first place. Rigby sighed and smiled up at him. 

“I’m ok with talking about it, besides it’ll be nice to talk to someone other than my dad about it,” Rigby said as he stared sadly at the picture. 

“Her name was Senri Konyo, she met my dad when they were in the 8th grade. They got married shortly after high school and then had me a year or two later. My dad always wanted kids and a family, he was so excited. My mom, however, I don’t think she ever wanted either, she just wanted someone she could own.” Rigby said sorrowfully as he stared at the picture. Alfred nodded his head as he listened, the last thing he wanted to do right now was to ask questions and interrupt. 

“She left us when I was eight. My dad fought so hard for her to stay for me, he was so selfless even then all he cared about was me. Honestly, though I’m glad she left, even at a young age I could tell how she treated my dad wasn't ok. She never physically did anything to him but I could see how emotionally abusive she was to him. My dad still tries to tell me that she loved me and that she was a wonderful person. He doesn't want me to think bad about her at all. However, after she left and divorced my dad she gave him full custody of me and moved onto a new family of her own within a few weeks. She abandoned us for a completely different family, then a few years later she got sick. I never learned what she was sick with and I never really cared to find out, the sickness ended up being terminal and she died when I was thirteen. My dad said she really wanted to see me and even the doctors were requesting I show up, however, my dad said it was my choice and I chose not to go. She died a few days after.” Rigby said, shivering at the terrible memories that filled his mind as tears clouded his eyes. 

Alfred gently placed his hand on Rigby’s shoulder and tried to give him a comforting smile as tears rolled down his cheeks. 

“Well I don’t know what her damage was but she didn’t deserve to know what an amazing person you are. She was completely blind to how wonderful you are.” Alfred said as Rigby set the picture on his nightstand and started to cry harder. 

Alfred smiled as he gently pulled Rigby into his embrace. Rigby had never deserved to be hurt at all in his life and yet it was full of pain, he deserved to be treated so much better and he was going to do everything in his power to make sure that happened. Alfred gently rubbed Rigby’s back as he sank into his embrace. 

“I’m sorry if I brought back bad memories.” Alfred apologized as Rigby settled down a little. 

“N-no, it’s ok. I-I-I’m glad I finally s-shared it with s-someone else.” Rigby said as he reluctantly pulled away from Alfred's embrace like he was trying to keep his balance on his own. 

“I-I-If you don’t mind me asking my own questions, w-what are your p-parents like?” Rigby asked, trying to give himself a distraction so he could calm down. 

“Of course, I don’t mind at all. Well my mom's name is Anora, and my dad’s name is Luis. my mom wanted to stick with the A theme with Andra and my names. Anyway, my childhood was pretty normal up until I turned ten, my parent's present to me was that Andra and I were old enough to raise ourselves and then they basically left. They both work in business so they are always out in meetings or off traveling to meetings. If they do end up at home it’s just constant lectures on what we're doing wrong and what is expected of us to be. They want me to be a lawyer and actually think I'm going to be a good one if I do become one.” Alfred said, chuckling at the thought of himself becoming a lawyer. 

“I mean just imagine me being a lawyer. I would be terrible at that! I can see me being in court and just going “your honor! My client is not guilty, what did you do again? Did you kill someone? Never mind sir he's guilty as fuck. Electrocute this fine client.” Alfred said as they laughed over the absurd idea. Besides his parents just wanted what was best for him, they loved him and cared about him. 

“Well, what do you want to do?” Rigby asked as they settled down, Alfred laid back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. 

“It’s kinda stupid but I’ve always wanted too be a race car driver, but not like just going in circles but traveling places and racing around obstacles and such.” Alfred chuckled as Rigby laid back next to him. For as long as he could remember he had always loved the fast-paced rush of driving and the risk of it. 

“It's not stupid at all besides, I always wanted to be a kindergarten teacher,” Rigby said as Alfred gave him a surprised look. He would have never thought of Rigby as a teacher, let alone a kindergarten teacher. 

“Why’s that?” Alfred asked as Rigby smiled up at the ceiling. 

“I’ve always loved working with children. I can barely socialize with people my own age let alone adults, but I’ve always gotten along with children. I’d honestly even settle working at a daycare and just watching kids for hours.” Rigby explained as Alfred smiled at him, It was cute how much he loved children. He himself had never had any experience with children, he avoided them when he could. 

“Well then let's get to work on this project so you can pass the class and be one step closer to your dream,” Alfred said as he pushed himself off Rigby’s bed and smiled at the blush that was flushed across his cheeks once again. 

“Unless you’d rather read one of these?” Alfred teased as he picked up another one of the mangas and started flipping through the pages. 

“N-n-no! Put that down!” Rigby gasped his voice full of laughter as he jumped up off his bed. 

Alfred laughed as Rigby reached for the book and he held it over his head. He hoped Rigby got everything he wanted in life, if anyone deserved it it was him.