TW: Mention of Parent's death.

(NICKLOON???)

———

Nickel rushed over to Balloon first. He couldn't do anything about Test Tube since she would die if he touched her. Balloon was crying heavily, Tears poured down his face like a waterfall.

"Shhh...! Hey! I'm here it's okay!" Nickel tried to help him up by getting Balloon to lean on him.

Balloon coughed up some blood through his sobs... It hurt so bad... He had a horrible pain tolerance since most things would kill him instantly. This sort of pain was unbearable. He wished he'd just... Pop from the stress. He felt the warm blood pour down his face. He could taste the blood in his mouth... He felt like he was going to be sick. He tried to put his pain into words, but it came out as an inaudible scream.

Nickel shut his eyes tightly. And frowned even more. "I-I know... I know bud..." He choked out as a tear dripped down out of his glowing eye. Nickel walked towards the hotel.

Balloon winced and cried as he felt his damaged wings drag against the ground. He held onto Nickel for dear life. He was hurting so bad, he needed some sort relief.

Mephone looked at Test Tube who was disoriented from the lack of acid in her glass, and the cracks that been blasted into her. They began to leak blood. "U-uh..." Mephone didn't know what to do. "Life Ring—? You said you're a life guard right...?!" Mephone felt a bead of sweat fall down his face as he clutched the Jar with Floory in it.

"On it!" Life Ring exclaimed as he pulled out his on hand first aid kit. He began to try to patch up Test Tube as best he could.

"Mephone! What on EARTH have you brought us into?! I came here to compete! Not... Whatever that was..." Silver Spoon crossed his arms dramatically as if he was a child.

"J-just relax! As soon as this whole thing gets sorted out... I'll uh... Get back to the competition thing..." Mephone frowned.

"Well, it's not pretty, but it'll have to do until she can get to a hospital!" Life Ring explained as he helped Test Tube over.

Soap rushed up to Test Tube. And helped her as well. "I think not! If we take her to a hospital they'll ask us how she got hurt! And there's NO way we can call this a simple slip up! Literally!" Soap huffed.

Mephone cleared his throat nervously and spoke up again. "Yeah... Uh... Frankly I don't feel like explaining revival to anyone either... 'oh, don't ask why we're not worried about her dying! Just give her something for the pain.' I don't think that will go over well." Mephone crossed his arms.

Soap nodded. "I'd rather spare the trouble of police helicopters, the kidnapping, and torturing of our friends." Soap chuckled nervously.

Test Tube groaned in pain.

"Correction, your friends dear..." Silver sneered as he rolled his eyes.

"Silver... Please. Try to be nice." Candle said tiredly.

They all turned and started walking towards the hotel.

———

OJ was horrified by the damage his hotel had taken. He looked at the charred wallpaper and the debris that littered the floor and clutched the sides of his head completely distraught.

Paper pat OJ's back and comforted him. Trying to reassure OJ that this could all be fixed. "I-It's not th-that bad! Hahah..." Paper forced a nervous smile. "W-we can get everyone to help...!"

OJ covered his eyes and dragged them down his face which pulled his lower eyelids down as he made a frustrated groan. "I guess..." he grumbled.

The doors burst open, which makes OJ flinch and Paper yelp in surprise.

They turned around to see Nickel carrying Balloon on his back. Balloon was a bloody mess and bleeding more than they both thought was possible... Not to mention the fact Balloon had a HOLE in his head and the air somehow wasn't rushing out of his body. The wings look mangled and the skin and feathers around it looked burnt and charred and blistered.

Paper covered his mouth with both his hands and wide eyes. He was horrified.

OJ looked... Incredibly confused, and concerned. "What the hell happened...?!" OJ exclaimed in a worried tone.

"FAN HAPPENED!!!" Nickel snarled. As he dragged Balloon over.

Paper ran up immediately and helped Balloon to the medical room without touching Nickel. OJ followed close behind. Paper ran to get a towel or something to clean up the blood... But suddenly everywhere that had been injured began to glow and heal itself. Something similar to regeneration.

But holy shit.

It hurt.

Balloon shrieked, coughing up more blood in the process. Tears hadn't stop coming, and they probably weren't going to stop either. He shook violently he desperately needed this pain to stop.... it was too much. It felt like experiencing the pain he had before all over again.

Paper nearly tripped as he heard the shrieks rang out. He rushed and grabbed the towel.

Nickel didn't know what to do. He was scared to touch Balloon right now! He could accidentally hurt him worse... Or upset him. Or make him uncomfortable! What was he supposed to do?! Or SAY?! He just stared with a horrified look.

Paper started to wipe the blood off to get a better look at the injuries. He saw they were healing themselves. He saw a similar phenomenon happen with Lightbulb, she was still recovering with Paintbrush. At least Balloon was healing faster, even if it was painful...

The wounds eventually closed up. Balloon was barely conscious... And tears just kept coming... and coming... Paper ran over to the cabinet and grabbed the pain killers, and helped Balloon take them. Balloon quickly swallowed them with the water he was given. Everything was so sore... It felt like he'd been hit by a truck.

Paper sighed nervously and looked to OJ. Who went from staring to snapping out of his train of thought and looking concerned.

Nickel looked down at Balloon. He looked into the other boy's scared eyes... The desperate pleading that came with that glare was heart breaking. As if he was begging to be helped in someway. That hit Nickel in the heart, he couldn't stand looking at this scene any longer.

His stare was his begging for someone... anyone to help him, distract him, take his pain away. He was very clearly overwhelmed with fear and pain.

Paper heard the door open and Mephone yell for medical help. Paper perked up immediately and ran over, OJ followed.

Nickel watched the married couple leave in a rush. And looked back down into the desperate eyes of his friend. He couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't stand watching the tears fall from his eyes. Nickel climbed on the hospital-like bed watched as Balloon's desperate eyes turned to that of hope, he started to let his tears fall a bit more.

Nickel gently snuggled up to the other boy. Like a hug— No... more than a hug. He pulled the blanket up a bit more and nuzzled himself into Balloon.

Balloon felt all the tension in his body release at once. All of the sudden everything just felt... A little more bearable. He let his tears fall and his arms wrap around Nickel, and took a few shaky breaths. He felt safe. For once in a long LONG time... He truly felt safe.

Nickel listened to Balloon's soft breathing, and sniffles. "You were so brave... Saving us like that..." He said, trying cheer up Balloon with praise.

"S-safe...?" He choked out groggily, as the pain killers began to kick in. "I... I didn't save us..." Balloon croaked out sadly.

"Sure you did..." Nickel chuckled as he cuddled closer. "We would've died on that roof if it wasn't for your flying." He giggled sweetly.

Balloon's cheeks turned a faint shade of red. "Hahah... Y—You think s-so...?" He gave a small smile.

"Noooo! I'm just saying because that for nooo reason." Nickel rolled his eyes playfully and nudged Balloon gently with his foot straight after. "Of course I do!"

Balloon giggled softly, his movements became more sluggish, and his eyes felt heavy. "E-even after... a-all that... you're s-still a dick..." he whispered with slurred words, his eyes were now half opened.

"That's me..." Nickel laughed. "Just the biggest asshole ever." He smiled, and felt Balloon melt into the embrace and slowly lean on him. Nickel could feel the boy's heartbeat. And slowly leaned on him back as he heard Balloon begin to snore softly.

Balloon was fast asleep.

Nickel pulled the blanket up just a bit more, and felt Balloon's wings curl around him. Nickel gave the Balloon's sleeping face a sweet smile before nuzzling just a bit closer... and falling asleep too.

———

A few hours earlier.

Microphone quickly entered her room and shut the door behind her. Luckily, no one had seen her with Taco, except for the people in the lobby. Microphone walked over to her bed and set Taco down. And looked down at her. "You okay...?" She asked as she sat down on the edge of the bed.

Taco scoffed. "Other than being in immense pain and terrified for my life in a hotel that wants me dead, oh! And basically blind? Yeah. Fucking spectacular." Taco sassed with an annoyed expression, as the inky substance dripped down her face.

"Okay... Sorry..." Microphone muttered apologetically. "I'm stupid..."

"No." Taco sighed. "You aren't stupid. You just asked a stupid question." Taco replied. "And do... Stupid things..."

"That is the definition of stupid!" Microphone frowned.

"Well. You're smart most of the time. You're just an idiot sometimes..." She chuckled with a smug grin. She coughed in between giggles.

"Shut up before I give you to OJ!" Microphone retaliated with a frustrated expression laced with sarcasm.

Taco giggled for a few more minutes before she felt her stomach. She winced and her hand flew up to her mouth, to which she bit her thumb trying not to make an audible pained sound.

Microphone noticed. "Are you hungry?" She asked.

"Y-yes..." Taco groaned. "Been starving for ages..."

"I can get some snacks and tea if you'd like...?" Microphone smiled a little and stood up from the bed. And walked slightly towards the door.

"YES...!" She replied instantly in a desperate tone. "Bloody hell, please...! If I don't eat something I swear I'll die on the spot! And tea... Sounds nice..." She chuckled.

"Alright...! Try not to bleed everywhere— uh... Make yourself comfortable??? AND I SWEAR TO GOD! PLEASE Taco... Don't do anything stupid..." Microphone pleaded.

"What qualifies as stupid on my part?" She huffed in an annoyed manner and crossed her arms.

"Murder..." Microphone stated bluntly.

Taco took a look of offence immediately. "I was not going to kill anyone!" She retorted. "Unless they attack me first— But I believe those are fair and a justified reason to kill someone!"

Microphone pinched where the bridge of her nose would be if she had one. "J-just avoid it if you can..." Microphone whined.

Taco rolled her eyes, not like you could see her do it through the bandages. "Yeah... Sure... Ill just die then... Whatever."

Microphone sighed and left the room, shutting the door behind her. Which means Taco sat alone in a room alone with her thoughts. God she hated the forest for this exact reason... Memories and thoughts played through her heads in crystal clear detail. She grimaced at the dreadful memories that spiralled through her head. Intrusive thoughts crept in like weeds through cracks in the concrete. She was angered by the lack of control over her compulsive impulsive actions and thoughts. She couldn't really do much about it since it was a defence mechanism she had used to survive for years in that dreaded run down orphanage...

Saved her countless times from being stabbed... Robbed, picked on... Or worse...

She desperately tried to think of anything else... ANYTHING.

She couldn't take it... She needed something to help trigger a good memory. One of the good memories from so long ago...

Taco reached into her shell and grabbed the object she had kept there for many many years. And pulled it out in front of her. She couldn't see it, but by feeling the texture of the plush, she could recall the appearance of it perfectly.

A rabbit. A beige rabbit with rough fur from being worn out by many years of wear and tear. The bead eyes that had a blue rim to show the eye colour, a pink plastic nose, and droopy ears that were as long as it's body.

She thought really far back.

Good memories. She could see them. They were playing clearly now.

"Hahah! Thanks mummy!" Taco giggled as she held the ice cream her mom had bought for her 4 minutes earlier. She felt the cold of the melted dessert as some fell on her hand. The sun was very hot and there were only small clouds in the sky. The ice cream was very good. Cookie dough. She held her mom's hand tightly as her legs swung beneath the bench.

Her mom was smiling softly. "Of course...! I'll always make my sunshine happy." She said in a kind voice.

Taco laughed slightly. Her mom's face... She could see it... She... could almost feel the warmth of her hand. She wanted so badly to be back. To be back with her parents...

But now her parents were six feet below the earth's surface, the ground above decorated with a shitty stone that no one had put any effort into due to her parent's lack wealth. She still believed they deserved more respect then they had gotten... They sacrificed so much for her, only to be treated as if they were just dirt.

She clinched her fists around the stuffed rabbit.

She was seething with anger.

Until she heard footsteps. She gasped and stuffed the stuffed rabbit into her shell in an instant.

She reached into her shell for her gun.

"Microphone... please tell me that's you..."

———