By: AR

(Time Skip)

Maurice crawled behind stuff, trying to stay as hidden as an adult could possibly be. "Why am I scared..? It's just Mugman. The cup is what's dangerous. Relax, Maurice. I'm sure you can reason with---"

He gasped, hearing the sound of someone running. Maurice covered his mouth, gasping as soon as he saw someone jump behind the bush. His eyes widened, realizing it was just Rylie. He laid there, seeming panicked. He held his side, stopping for a second. He glanced over, meeting Maurice's eyes. "Y-You." he growled, making Maurice sit up and put his hands up.

"I-It's okay! Same side!" he whisper shouted.

"Oh chill. I'm injured- you think I would try and kill you in this state?"

".... yes?"

"Fucking idiot." Rylie sighed, leaning back on the bush.

Maurice crawled closer to him, trying to get a good look at how bad his injury was. "Hey... lemme see.." he whispered.

Rylie moved his hand out of the way, his cheeks a bright red. "Whatever..."

Maurice gasped, seeing the tear in his side- making him wince. "M-Mugman did that??"

"Yeah. So much for little angel. But judging by the way he's acting... he's corrupt. Somehow... he must have collected a poison in his head while in hell. But you can't get that poison unless your mortal and happen to live in hell."

"... hm..." Maurice kept his eyes locked on Rylie's in thought.

A low growl sounded from far away, Rylie jumping- yanking Maurice down onto the ground. "Get down you moron!" he growled. They both stayed quiet, hearing the sound of someone walking past.

"...Rylie~? Where are you~? I can hear your heart racing... are you scared~?" the familiar voice asked, but a hint of distortion.

Maurice was about to peak out, Rylie grabbing him by his shirt collar- shaking his head as if to say, "Don't."

They kept their eyes locked on each others, Maurice's iris trembling in fear. His heart was racing. There was something that made him wanna just... Rylie's eyes widened as he laid his head on his leg. He can feel Maurice shaking. "Hey..." he whispered, touching Maurice's neck- feeling for a pulse. His heartbeat was weak, Rylie panicking. He took a deep breath, slowly peaking out. Mugman was gone. Rylie sighed, going back into position. "Mr Kettle..." he whispered. He carefully stood up, grabbing him by his arms and dragging him. "C-Come on.. we have to get you to safety..." he whispered, ignoring the fact that his shorts and shirt are soaked with his own blood.

He managed to drag Maurice to the beach, putting him somewhere where he won't be spotted. He exhaustedly collapsed next to Maurice. He laid ahead of him, reaching for his neck again. Nothing. "M-Mr... Kettle?" Rylie's vision darkened, the last thing he saw was Maurice. As he laid in a pool in his own blood, he heard his heart slowing down. 

Badum badum..... badum badum.......... badum.......  badum....... ba-dum......

Rylie shut his eyes, his vision blurring as his hand collapsed, landing on Maurice's hold hand. "I knew mugs had weak hearts... but don't worry... Mugman can't hurt you if you're already dead...."

(Meanwhile)

Cuphead paced, nervously holding his arms. His breaths were quick and frantic. "A-Am I actually worried for Maurice???" he asked suddenly, the others glancing up from the couch. "H-He should've been back by now!!!"

Karla held Marcilene close as she began to cry. "H-Hey.. sweetie... are you okay??"

"I feel like... h-he's...." Marcilene stopped herself, crying into her mom's shoulder.

"H-Hey! Don't say that! I-I'm sure he... he's talking to Mugman right---"

"No... I feel the same..." Elder Kettle mumbled, feeling his chest. "Something deep down... is telling me he's not coming back...." he whispered.

"N-No..." Karla muttered, her eyes filling with tears.

"Trust me, Mrs Kettle... if my gut feeling is telling me something... it's likely true..." Elder Kettle explained, nervously looking over at her. Rover glanced over at her husband, both nervous.

"Me and Ramond can go out... it's just a mug--"

"No! That isn't a mug!" Cuphead shouted suddenly. "A-At least... not anymore..." he muttered, looking down. "I don't wanna lose you two... don't go..." he whispered, visibly shaking.

"Cuppy... I'm sorry... but I can't just let the heart of Inkwell just burn to the ground... it's the only pure island... it would be a crime if we just let your friend destroy your home..." she muttered, looking into Cuphead's eyes.

"B-But... mom..." Cuphead muttered, tears running down his face.

"Baby... we weren't in your life until today... you did just fine with Mr Fitzgerald... you'll live..." Rover whispered, taking Cuphead in her arms.

He cried into her shoulder, Ramond walking over. "Come on, kid... don't make it more harder than it already is..." he whispered as Cuphead turned to him teary-eyed.

"I just... met you.... and now it feels like... I'm gonna lose you again..." Cuphead muttered, trying to talk through his sobs.

Elder Kettle stood up, holding out his arms. Cuphead ran over, throwing his arms around him. "Hey... remember what I told Mugman... eventually children turn into adults... and they have no choice but to move on... you would be able to move out, have a family, get a job.... it has to happen at some point. It's sad to think about but... your parents won't around a long time-- well... unless you're immortal.." he chuckled, meeting Rover's eyes.

"Sadly? Not all cups are immortal.." she chuckled nervously.

"Well there you have it... some are immortal, yes- but not everyone will live forever..." Elder Kettle told Cuphead, pulling him into a soft hug. "How about...  we just... all go together. If you feel like we'll be safer all together," Elder Kettle suggested. "If we all stick together- we just might be able to survive this..."

Cuphead sighed as Karla sat on the couch, crossing her arms. "I'm not going." she huffed.

"I'll stay with my mom. I wanna go- but I don't want mom to be alone. You go- and we'll wait here for you to come back.... hopefully you do..." Marcilene mumbled, sitting next to her mom, hugging her softly.

"We'll be back, I promise." Cuphead declared.

Before they left, Marcilene grabbed Cuphead by the hand pulling him into a hug. He gasped a bit when she kissed his forehead, letting go. "B-Bring my brother back... you-you dummy." she huffed, looking away a bright red.

"S-Sure!" Cuphead replied, smiling. He turned around to see Rover and Ramond smirking.

"( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)"

"W-What?! Let's just get this over with!!!" he shouted, his face turning bright red, pushing past Elder Kettle and his parents. Rover watched as Marcilene giggled.

"My baby is growing up so fast~!"