TW: TERMINAL ILLNESS

[Not a very long chapter]

———

Paper woke up and groggily looked over to OJ who was removing the cork from his head and placing it down. He stood up and exited the room. Paper sat up and rubbed his eyes. And then sat back in his bed. He glanced at the ground beside the bed. "You can come out now..." He muttered.

Looseleaf floated out from beneath the bed. A scowl in his face.

"What's that look for?" Paper asked with narrow groggy eyes, as he pulled his knees up to his chest.

"You made me sleep on the floor." Looseleaf gritted through his teeth.

"You said you didn't want to be seen...! I'm not sure what else you wanted from me..." Paper muttered as he hugged his knees.

"Uh, not make me sleep on the FLOOR." He seethed his eyes sparking a blood red momentarily. "You didn't even give me a pillow!"

"Well, I'm sorry... But me AND OJ like to have a lot of pillows. If I took one, he'd know something was up..." Paper frowned.

"Then kick OJ out of the room..."

"IM NOT KICKING MY HUSBAND OUT OF THE ROOM LOOSELEAF." Paper growled.

"You're no fun..." Looseleaf rolled his eyes dramatically.

"Yeah, yeah..." Paper chuckled. And pulled his blanket off of him.

...

Silence filled the room.

"I don't get how you do it..." Looseleaf muttered.

"Do what...?" Paper tilted his head to the side in confusion from Looseleaf's random statement.

"Be so... Nice... Love and care about people... I mean, What's the point if you're gonna die and lose them one day? Why TRUST me?! I just don't get it... Are you naive? Or just a straight up idiot?!" Looseleaf growled.

Paper went silent. "Is... Is that really how you think?" Paper asked in a sorrow filled tone.

"Can you just answer the damn question?!" Looseleaf shouted.

"I love people— because I do...? It's not something that's forced, nor is it something that can be explained. I just do." Paper frowned.

"Do you wish you didn't? Doesn't it make you feel— fucking... WEAK or something?" He muttered.

"No, it makes me feel cared for. And happy." Paper tried to explain.

"That's bullshit... You must have some other reason." Looseleaf flew up to Paper.

"No...?"

Looseleaf looked angry that he couldn't understand this...

Paper realized this and perked up worriedly, "You don't need to understand it... Love and empathy doesn't come easy, or at all for some people." Paper gave a comforting smile.

"Just— just shut up... you... y.. I don't know anymore..." He sat next to the bed.

Paper sighed softly and then slowly got out of, and made the bed. He glanced down at Looseleaf every now and again, thinking...

Maybe there was more to him then what meets the eye.

———

Test Tube waited for someone to show up in the entryway of the mansion, she was sitting on the stairs fiddling with her thumbs awkwardly. When OJ walked in whistling some unknown tune, she stood up and walked over.

"O-OJ. I have news—! I-uh... Found Fan..." She said bluntly.

OJ's eyes flashed a brighter blue, and water formed around his fists. "Where?! ILL—!"

"No! No— He wants to help! He said he would! He said Cobs took most of his powers and betrayed him." Test Tube informed with a voice of reassurance.

"Do you expect us to just... trust him? Just like that?!" OJ growled, his fists clenched with anger.

"Well, no...! But if we DON'T do this, Paintbrush will die. And I don't want that..." Test Tube sighed. "I say we let him help Paintbrush, and then keep him locked up in the basement. And pairs take turns watching over him." Test Tube informed.

OJ tapped his foot against the ground in thought. He crossed his arms before speaking. "Fine... Fine." OJ muttered. "I'll go let Lightbulb know to expect him."

Test Tube gave a slight nod, and then sat down on the stairs.

"Where is he by the way...?" OJ raised an eyebrow.

"The basement already. I restrained him too." Test Tube informed. Bot was sitting on the stairs next to her, but OJ couldn't see that.

OJ gave a nod, and then walked off.

OJ walked around knocking on other's doors, checking each one until he found Lightbulb's door. She told him to just come in and OJ obliged. Upon opening the door he leaned against the doorframe to take in the scene in front of him.

Lightbulb looked absolutely exhausted... Her eyes were red and puffy, and she was clinging to Paintbrush as if they'd slip through her fingers. A smile was plastered on her face, but it seemed fake, and forced.

Paintbrush looked very ill. The purple vein like markings were spreading like vines. Their eyes had massive bags beneath them and they were sweating like crazy from their burning fever. They seemed incredibly uncomfortable and sick.

OJ glanced at the two, first Lightbulb, then Paintbrush, then back to Lightbulb. He sighed and took a step closer. "Are you okay Lightbulb?" He asked with a look of concern.

She stared into his eyes before nodding faintly. "Y-yeah! I'm just fine." She said with a nervous glare paired with her unsure tone.

OJ could tell something was wrong. "Lightbulb... You can tell me what's on your mind."

"OJ! I'm fine... Really." Lightbulb tried to push him away, and just pull herself closer to Paintbrush.

He sighed and sat down on the couch next to the bed. "Lightbulb... Spill it. Now." He said sternly, as a father would.

Lightbulb turned her head briefly to look in his eyes. She felt her lip tremble before she choked out a cry, and sobbed into one of her hands, the one that wasn't wrapped around Paintbrush.

OJ flinched at the sudden water works. He could tell Lightbulb had been crying, but it was still strange to see this coming from the girl who usually had an outgoing and silly demeanour.

Lightbulb just cried hard into her hand before finally letting her words spill from her mouth. "I—ITS ALL MY FAULT!!!" She cried. "I-I MADE TEST TUBE LET FAN OUT... SHE WAS TEHRE BECAUSE OF M-M-ME... AND... Fan would NEVER of kidnapped Balloon if it wasn't for me! A-a-and! I brought fucking— BAXTER with me! ABOVE THE CITY!!! HOW STUPID COULD I HAVE BEEN?! NOW FAN WILL NEVER HELP PAINTBRUSH! THEY'RE GOING TO DI-DIE! THEY WON'T EVEN DIE PEACEFULLY IN A FAMILIAR PLACE...! They're going to die! And Balloon is hurt— and Fan is free! And working with Cobs! Because of me! It's ALL MY FAULT!" She screamed with tears streaming down her face.

"Lightbulb..." OJ tried to soothe, but not really knowing what to say, her strong negative emotional state was catching him off guard.

"I—I only wanted t-to help! I only— I wanted t-to fix things! I-I wanted to help I d-didn't... M-mean for... This..." She sobbed.

"Sometimes..." OJ began, "We mean to do the right thing... And make mistakes. And that's okay. It's normal, not everything will stay the same, and not everything will be perfect."

"B—but... If I just hadn't th-then—..."

"But you did." OJ paused. "And we're all still here right? Maybe not Taco, but it was her choice to leave..." OJ left out the part where he was glad she's gone, "We... Also may have another chance at helping Paintbrush."

"What...?!" She sat up eagerly, wiping the tears from her eyes. "How...?! Wh—?!"

"We found Fan. And he's willing to help." OJ informed, folding his hands on his lap.

Lightbulb flinched, her eyes narrowed with skepticism. "He's... Willing? Like— He's gonna help?! No tricks?!" She seemed astonished.

"Yeah...! At least, I hope so." OJ muttered to the side, hoping Lightbulb would calm down.

She sat there in thought before looking back at Paintbrush's grim condition, and then sighed. "Please... Bring him here as soon as you can." Lightbulb fiddled with her hands in her lap.

OJ gave a nod, and stood up from the couch. "I'll let Test Tube know you're ready whenever."

Lightbulb nodded.

"And... Don't beat yourself up okay Lightbulb? People make mistakes sometimes. Everything's gonna be okay." He smiled, and then left the room, shutting the door behind him, the light pouring in though from the hallway vanished after the brief click from the door.

Darkness.

———

The crying that came from the boy next to him made him frown with pity. The poor boy was shaking so much, the healing process was taking so much longer than usual, and it was worrying Nickel.

His injuries were still very clear and regenerating slowly but painfully. Nickel has stayed up two nights in a row without a lick of sleep trying to comfort Balloon.

Balloon's situation was worse though, his sleep pattern was rough, and Balloon was unable to stay asleep until pain from his body regenerating kicked in again, combined with the growth of his wings, which was growing much slower now, but still painful nonetheless.

Earring was across the room sleeping on the couch with a spare blanket. He didn't feel comfortable sleeping on his own, and wanted to be with a familiar face, despite their clear disgust by the blood and injury. He has also had trouble sleeping, but got more than the other two luckily. It was difficult, but possible. The nightmares didn't help, but...

He'd have to live with that.

Nickel glanced over at Balloon again and nuzzled closer, and was being incredibly careful as to not touch any injury, or places that brought back his memories of discomfort. Nickel didn't know what they were of course... But he wanted to keep Balloon comfortable. Or at least, as comfortable as he could be.

His glowing purple claw stroked his wings gently in areas that regenerated already as to not hurt him. Nickel then glanced at the clock and flinched. Maybe he could grab some food... he would feel bad sending Earring again. He turned to slide out of bed, but Balloon clutched onto him tighter and sobbed harshly into him, begging him not to go through desperate whispers.

Nickel sighed.

He could stay.

For him.

Nickel curled back up next to Balloon and tried to soothe him. "Shhh... shh... It's okay. I won't go anywhere." He said softly, looking into his sad eyes.

Balloon sniffled and pulled himself even closer, pressing himself into Nickel despite his pain. "P-please please don't g-g-go— don't go... I ca-can't be alone right now...!" He cried.

Nickel shushed him reassuringly. "Shhh-shhh... shhh... It's okay...! You're safe, everything's fine." Nickel reassured. The sliver of light from the open door across the room shining on his side.

Nickel gave a smile, and then shut his eyes. He was so tired he didn't even notice them close. Balloon's did too, the two boys tried their hardest to sleep in that moment. And eventually they did.

Earring sat up from the couch after he was sure they had gone to bed. He stretched out and slid off the couch and towards the door. He swung it open quietly and jumped at the sight of the object standing directly outside of it.

It was Baseball.

Earring adjusted himself before speaking. "Can I help you—?" He raised a brow in confusion.

Baseball looked down at him for a moment, before awkwardly clearing his voice. "I— Uhh... Yeah! Y-yeah— Have you seen Nickel? Anywhere?"

"Nickel? He's in there with his buddy— boyfriend? I don't know anymore... The poor guy looks real hurt though. I think you should let them both sleep. They need it." Earring sighed and rubbed his arms.

Baseball frowned and looked off to the side, his eyebrows narrowing further into a near scowl. "Oh... Okay..." he huffed.

"Why do you ask by the way? Just curious." Earring tilted his head.

"I just... Wanted to talk to him..." Baseball muttered in a bitter voice, glaring at Balloon with a scowl through the crack in the door before turning away. "Thanks for telling me..."

Earring was confused but sighed and shrugged it off. He was exhausted, but starving. And needed some food. Maybe that Marshmallow girl could help him find some.

———