// TW \\

TORTURE

BLOOD

MANIPULATION

———

Nickel walked beside Baseball, nervously stressing about what to believe... He felt like he may be obsessing, as he thought before. He looked up at Baseball every now and again, nervously thinking over every detail of his relationship. Perhaps he was desperate for love? Balloon was there for him when his parents had shown up and... Made him feel appreciated. Then again... That could've been a ruse. He bit his lip and whined in worry.

Baseball noticed his clear distress and felt bad... Nickel clearly was stressing over conflicting thoughts. He didn't mean for this to happen. But... It did. And perhaps... Just maybe... There was a way for this to work in his favour. "You okay...?" Baseball asked softly, "you've been silent ever since... what happened back there." He said in a quiet and careful voice.

"I'm just scared... Am I obsessing?! Is he?! Are we both?! I'm scared this is all one big— waste! A lie!" Nickel cried, wiping a tear away with a magic claw and looking up at Baseball.

"I don't like how upset this is making you..." Baseball muttered narrowing his eyes. "Maybe you should take your mind off of things if Balloon is making you that upset." Baseball commented.

Nickel whined once again and kept on walking, "Maybe you're right..." He admitted silently to himself.

Baseball sighed and gave Nickel a smile, before thinking of topics to speak on. "Are we still... Friends?" He asked nervously, a hint of fear laced into his face.

Nickel flinched, and sniffled. "What? Of course...! Why wouldn't we be...?" Nickel asked softly, still upset. He was shocked this even came up.

"Y-you've just been... I dunno... Ignoring me lately." Baseball gestured that he was upset and lonely because of this.

"Sorry... A theres just been a bunch on my p-plate recently... I should've took the time to explain everything— I-I'm really sorry..." Nickel frowned.

Baseball narrowed his gaze and sharpened it slightly when asking, "What even happened? You must have quite a bit to get off your shoulders, yeah?"

Nickel winced at the question... Remembering horrid times and memories... But good ones surfaced too, only to be drowned out by anxiety and doubt in his relationship he questioned to be flawed. "Well... For starters, The whole card magic thing..." Nickel started, he then hummed thinking of the following events. "Fan... and Paintbrush's situation, followed by Balloon being stressed. Then there was... Balloon getting kidnapped... Lightbulb saved us and then, the government, Balloon was really injured so I had to help..."

"Had to?" Baseball raised a brow, "Or forced into." He said with a fake tone of skepticism.

"What?! No! He never... He never forced me..." Nickel spat, a bit hurt Baseball assumed that. But then again... what if it was? "I don't... Think he did..." Nickel muttered.

"Are you sure? Even the smallest things could be guilt tripping..." Baseball placed the thought into Nickel's head, which made him flinch and panic.

"Balloon wouldn't do that..." Nickel mumbled into his sweater, it was more of a whine though as he pondered the terrifying thought. He trusted Balloon so much... Balloon—Balloon wasn't a manipulator or obsessive, surely...

Baseball sighed and turned to look ahead down the dark cave. "Maybe your mind is just... Convincing yourself that?" He said in a worried tone, but more for the fear this would backfire in his face.

Nickel began to spiral internally once more, what if this was true?! Balloon was no better than he was in season one? Or worse... His parents? Nickel was in a conflicting state of doubt and anxiety. "But he loves me..." Nickel whispered in tears.

"Sometimes... S-Sometimes people can lie. Other times, they speak too much of the truth." Baseball informed in a hushed tone. "Either is unhealthy..."

Nickel's vulnerability began to encroach in on his being. The part of a teenager's mind to find what your peers say all the more believable, a programmed section of one's brain to believe what others say... He wanted to believe Balloon... But he also did Baseball. He...Didn't know what to think. He wanted to be loved, not used... Not again... NEVER again. He blinked out a few tears.

"I..." Baseball thought about pushing it further, but decided against it for now. It wasn't his goal to make Nickel upset after all. He just needed to... Alienate Balloon. "Never mind, let's just... Keep going." Baseball gave Nickel a kind reassuring smile.

Nickel sniffled, and wiped his tears on his sweater. He then continued forwards. "You're right..." he replied meekly, "let's just k-keep going..."

The long dark cave ahead only further tugged at Nickel's spiralling catastrophizing mindset.

What was he supposed to think?

———

Balloon sat there silently, his arms hugging his legs close and his wings wrapped around himself as his metal sheen slowly faded away and began to wear off. He felt a bit bad... for what he said to Paper. But he was still upset with OJ... He wanted to speak up again, to articulate his feelings into words. But, he could only do so effectively in writing, everything else just seemed too stressful and hard...

OJ never even tried to like him. He never put in any effort for HIM, so why should he do so for OJ? That didn't seem fair... But... It would make Paper happy, right? He sighed shakily and hugged his knees close.

Paper rested as his wounds finally began to close and heal fully. His limbs and joints no longer hurt to move and flex. He closed us eyes and let out a brief sigh of relief, before tears started coming instead. He felt hurt... and scared... Scared of the future more so. He wanted Balloon to be happy.

Balloon felt like his child after all.

But at the same time he loved OJ... He loved OJ with all of his heart, even if deep down he knew OJ hadn't made some of the best choices. He still loved him... And to be put in a conflict with a child and a spouse? It was a rock and a hard place. He also loved Balloon, and all the others from the hotel. But to side with Balloon? He... He felt like perhaps there was no right answer.

If he were to side with Balloon... Balloon would one day grow up and leave. Balloon would become his own person and— there's a chance... Even if it was a small one that Paper fights this battle and loses OJ in the process. That in Paper's final days he would be sleeping alone while Balloon lived his life happy.

In the other case, he could damage his relationship with Balloon, whom he also loved, while sticking at the side of OJ. Balloon would still leave and live his life happy, even if Paper wasn't in it. But... He may resent Paper in the moment. And it would hurt... Paper decided the best course of action was to... Avoid the topic in this moment. He stood and turned to Balloon.

Balloon glanced up at Paper sadly.

"We should get going now... Alright?" Paper gave a small kind smile, hoping Balloon would accept his offer. At least for now anyway.

Balloon blinked back his remaining tears and took a shaky breath. "O-okay..." He whispered, trying to not cry any longer. He could tell he made Paper feel bad. And that wasn't his goal...

Paper walked along the dry leaves and moved shrubs out of the way to continue forwards. They stepped past lush trees and vines decorated with beautiful flowers. There were also colourful mushrooms that lined the floors around. "This place is beautiful..." Paper muttered, breathless.

Balloon gave a subtle nod in agreement. Remaining silent, slightly spiteful but not towards Paper directly.

Paper hated the thick silence so he decided to try and talk again, "you doing okay...?" He asked, worried about Balloon. But also... Wanting to help.

"I just... I don't understand..." Balloon frowned, trying to hold on the tears he had. They were building up fast.

Paper raised a worried brow. "What do you mean?" He asked in a small voice, trying to get Balloon to talk more, so there was nothing wrong for him to say... Nothing for him to mess things up worse than they were already.

"I just... D-Don't understand why he hates me so much..." Balloon cried, and rubbed his eyes to hide the tears. "I want people to care about me...! I-I try so hard to win his favour! I do everything, every chore he asks to the best of my ability!"

Paper frowned once again.

"But it never seems like enough..." He cried, finally letting tears fall. "How do you stay on his good side...? What am I doing wrong? I just... Don't want him t-to... treat me like this anymore..." He wasn't trying to make Paper hate OJ. But he had so many negative feeling and emotion. Validation was something he so greatly lacked from EVERYONE that he didn't know what to do with himself at this point.

"OJ wants what's best for you..." Paper hushed, standing down on his knees and placing his copper arms on Balloon's shoulders. "And sometimes, he may be a bit aggressive... Or.. Uh... Questionable with how he shows it, but that doesn't mean he hates you!" Paper smiled warmly.

"B-but! But he-hic—he.. He never gives me a chance... I'm babied and yelled at! Why?! What do I do that you don't?!" Balloon sobbed.

Paper thought back... OJ was always so much more lenient with how he himself behaved and did things. He was... Actually really any good at cooking. No other things he did was of use around the hotel. Even the complaints desk was a challenge...! And... Perhaps he did garden. But he was allergic to most of it anyway... OJ never scolded him for any of the terrible work he did— in fact, he always assumed it was the other residents until Paper stepped in. Anger was never taken out on him, and OJ... Only did small amounts of work himself. If he was aggressive due to stress, would it be because of the residents themself? The little work? The planning??? No, Test Tube and Fan always did party planning... Bills? Paper hears OJ talk about them, but they always get paid on time! Why was OJ so aggressive?

It was an enigmatic thought Paper couldn't find an answer to...

"I'm not sure..." Paper whispered sorrowfully, wishing he could provide an answer. He rubbed Balloon's shoulders comfortingly, trying to collect words.

"Hello?!" A voice called from the distance through the trees.

Paper flinched and didn't recognize the voices that called out to him, he stood and turned to them, opening his mouth to respond wearily. "Hello! OVER HERE!" He shouted in a nervous tone.

"What if they call the police or something?!" Balloon panicked in a whisper-shout.

Paper shook his head, "It's better than being stranded... I'm sure we can fight if necessary." Paper whispered in reassurance.

"I don't want that!" He conveyed, stepping behind Paper glaring at the people who were approaching. "I'd rather not hurt anyone if not necessary..."

Paper groaned and thought quick, swiftly removing his cloak and putting it on Balloon. It revealed markings on his chest and cogs that turned in his abdomen's, but he didn't care much. Paper then tucked Balloon's wings beneath it. "Wrap them around yourself... alright?" He whispered.

Balloon narrowed his tearful gaze and tried to calm himself down, looking in the direction of the voice. He then nodded in acknowledgment to Paper. Paper gave a reassuring smile in response to which.

A man stepped out of the bushes, along with two others. He glared at Paper and Balloon for a moment, and then adjusted his ragged cloak and belt of various items. "What is a gadget like you doing out here? You should be in Yoyle City..." he asked with narrow eyes in Australian accent.

"We... We just got lost." Paper frowned, keeping Balloon close behind. Balloon knew he could handle himself, but didn't want to hurt anyone, or to be called a freak of nature.

"Yoyle city is pretty far off from here." The raspy voice from behind called. He stepped beside the taller one and crossed his arms. "You shouldn't be out here without any source of protection, or unfinished." He remarked, gesturing to Paper's open chest.

"Unfinished..." Paper muttered, echoing it quietly in confusion. They were acting like being like the way he was is normal. He cleared his throat, "ehm, right... Could you help us?" He asked.

The taller one flinched and chuckled slightly, nervous about the unexpected confrontation as it seems. "We're actually kind of busy—... Were heading off to a town south." He explained crossing his arms.

"Dude, he's got a kid with em." The other that had stayed quiet pointed out as he nudged the taller one, then pointing at Balloon who was sweating bullets. "We cant just leave them here."

The one in the middle let out an exasperated sigh. "I guess we could head over... But then we come straight back, yeah?" He huffed, and turned back to Paper holding a bow friendly hand out. "My name is Tree."

Paper chuckled and shook it, "I'm Paper!" He smiled, and then turned to Balloon expectantly with a smile.

"I'm Balloon." He muttered quietly, now stepping out slowly from behind Paper, trying to cover his markings on his face with his hand, acting as if he was simply rubbing his eye. Also not happy the others looked at him like he was an infant.

Tree nodded gratefully for their names and cleared his throat and gestured to the others. "This is fries,—" Tree pointed to the one on the right of himself, "—And this is Eraser." He pointed to the one to his left.

Eraser waved and smiled smugly, leaning against a tree. Fries kept to himself and simply stared at Paper.

Paper waved and gave a nice smile. "It's nice to meet you." He folded his hands and gave a grateful nod. "Thank you for helping us."

Balloon seemed a bit more confident and gave a thankful smile in suit. "W-we were uh... Pretty lost."

"Damn straight you were. You're lucky the wildlife hasn't got to you, hahah!" Eraser harshly patted Paper's shoulder, which made him yelp in surprise and laugh with Eraser nervously.

Tree chuckled and shook his head, swaying the cape of his cloak and turning towards the lush thicket ahead. "We should set off, it's a two day trip north from here, so we should head out now." Tree explained.

Fries gripped the satchel he was wearing and turned towards the direction Tree was beginning in.

Paper gasped, "Right! Coming." He walked forward, his limp nearly gone entirely as he happily strolled through the leaves.

Balloon followed after, doing a small run to catch up. And sticking next to Paper. The trees around grew less dense even through the short distance they travelled.

Eraser picked up something from the ground, and pocketed it. He then walked up to the rest of the group and tapped Tree on the shoulder.

Tree perked and turned to Eraser, "Yes?" He raised a brow with confusion.

"I think we got a code 131793?" He said with narrow eyes, and crossed his arms with concern.

"Really? How could you tell?" Tree asked in surprise that Eraser was picking up on something like that so easily.

"The dampness in the leaves, I think I should go tell the camp that there's a storm coming..." Eraser shrugged glancing back.

Tree gave a sigh, and stopped. "Alright, meet us up ahead at the bottom of the canyon, yeah? We'll set up camp there." Tree pointed ahead, "Oh, and bring food. I didn't pack enough." He smiled and glanced at Paper and Balloon briefly before heading towards Fries in the front once again.

Eraser nodded, and dusted the leave away as he jogged back in the opposite direction.

There was a long journey ahead.

———

Marker sighed angrily water rushing past gritted teeth. He eyed the man who was pitifully lying on the ground, bashed and battered beyond belief. The blood from his body seeping and flowing through the water surrounding him. OJ still had no idea to what he was saying, and was too disoriented to really figure it out either. He was beginning to regret not taking the recommended courses...

Marker scoffed and grabbed the man, dragging him to his feet and signing one last time, 'State your name and purpose. Now.' Once again baring teeth at him.

OJ wasn't even able to articulate any sort of gesture anymore, he coughed up blood and doubled over in the water.

Marker grumbled silently, and dragged him up through corridors and threw him into a cell. He then angrily slammed the door shut and locked it before swimming off. Towards the palace lobby. Decorated blue stone tiles and bioluminescent lights guided his way.

Teardrop felt disturbances in the water behind her, and turned. 'Yes?' She signed, raising a brow.

'He refuses to talk.' Marker explained, then glancing back at the corridor he came from with a spiteful glare. But... It soon softened. 'Maybe he really doesn't—'

'I cannot take such a risk.' Teardrop signed snappily, making Marker pay attention immediately, and blink his gaze into a darker one.

'Right, sorry.' He replied reluctantly. OJ's eyes were never pleading... So it was difficult for Marker to form any sort of recognition of what OJ felt. 'However, I cannot continue as of now. If I do, he may die.' Marker explained.

Teardrop sighed silently, and turned, 'I will go back, and try one final time. You, do a sweep of the cavern. Make sure everything is in order.' She commanded, then letting her hands fall to her sides.

Marker nodded, and gripped his spear. He than swam off.

Teardrop glanced back, and then turned back over. She swam swiftly through the hall's beautifully decorated and stopped before the door which lead to the cells. She sighed and pushed them open then glancing to the nearest one. He saw a light emitting from it, and flinched.

She couldn't die again. But she would be careful.

Teardrop swam silently towards the light, her eyes widening upon the scene now before her. The glowing light reaching her ghostly face.

OJ was regenerating, He seemed to be in immense pain as his wounds closed and deep cuts and bone structure reformed slowly. He seemed to be attempting to scream, but had a lack of air in his lungs to do so. He clawed at the ground beneath him and the blood swirled in the water as muscles and skin closed back into one unison form.

Teardrop was shocked. She got flashbacks to her own experiences when it came to regeneration... Back when she was alive anyway... She grimaced and covered her mouth.

This was a Crowned, wasn't it? Gods, she should've figured that out upon the sight of his wings made of water, she was a fool. Bit her scowl soon returned and she had a now spitefully turned back. He barely even knew how to control his own power. And seemed like nothing more than a sad middle aged man.

She spent her life training to protect, and THIS was who was to replace her? She bore teeth, but grumbled silently as she approached the door to the cell.

Perhaps he really couldn't understand.

OJ sharply cried out, his voice drowned by the sea and water surrounding, looking up with disdain and confusion to the girl floating above him.

Her glare spiteful yet remorseful as she opened the cell. And landed on the ground. She walked inside and glared down at him. She was entirely unable to speak, communication was definitely limited.

OJ stared back with anger, but baffled in this turn of events. He tried to speak, though no sound came. "Why?" It was silenced.

Teardrop read his lips, and had difficulty making out some things. But this was no chore to decipher. Her gaze sharpened, searching for hostility that had clearly long surfaced.

OJ scoffed, and attempted to lunge at her, though he was slow, shaky, and incapable. Teardrop easily reprimanded him and twisted his arm back behind him until he stopped struggling from the pain.

He stumbled through the water and collapsed as she dropped him. Teardrop waited for his fighting to cease. She stopped him each time he came at her. His fighting was weak beneath the water, he was slow due to lack of knowledge in how to fight properly, and he was injured.

She gave OJ a new glare that spoke louder than words ever could. One that said the for him to cease his fighting, as he would not win in this state.

OJ panted without reason, as no water would enter his lungs. He groaned silently, and softened his stance and gaze. Finally letting up, his pain more than evident.

Teardrop's gaze remained harsh and firm, no signs of fear were present. He was still a threat, but wasn't one that would destroy the cavern and it's inhabitants un-provoked. He clearly was clueless to this place. So she would have to keep an eye on him. She grabbed his wrist, and dragged him through dimly illuminated halls.

OJ followed, stumbling and having little movement due to pain.

Teardrop arrived in a well decorated guest room of the palace, she shoved OJ within it. 'Do not leave.' She signed, knowing damn well he couldn't understand. It was a habit.

OJ collapsed against the tile floors and looked around weakly at his surroundings.

'I will not hesitate to send you back to the catacombs if you attempt to harm anyone here. I will send people to help communicate later on. Do. Not. Leave.'

OJ watched as Teardrop slammed the door shut, and the lock click shut shortly after.

———

Don't worry chat, I found my motivation. <3

———