// TW \\

IMPLIED SA

IMPLIED TRUAMA

DEPRESSION

INTENSE SUICIDAL THOUGHTS

SELF DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOUR

VERBAL ABUSE

———

The wagon rattled as it was pulled along the forested road. Silence rang through the ears of the objects that sat within. The one who was caged less than happy. His adrenaline through the roof and his shaking more than evident to the one who was sitting just outside. Fries silently glared at the boy who seemed less than happy to be here. That much was plain as day for as from night. He knew he was in the wrong... Man... He should've warned them or... something...

The wagon inevitability ceased it's movement, and the horse's trotting came to a stop. He watched Bottle and Yellow face grab the cage with the others and drag it off. Fries felt terrible watching fear fill the kid's face as he dragged off by the other bandits. He hugged himself and climbed out of the wagon, looking around at the forest which surrounded their camp.

Tree waved to fries from across the clearing, "Hey! Fries, come help me with this one mate!" He beckoned for Fries to follow him. Fries sighed and jogged over.

Tree dragged the cage from the back of the wagon, and Fries grabbed the other end. Tree pulled it towards one of the tents— but tripped as Paper slammed his shoulder into the side of the cage, causing it to tip. Fries yelped and collapsed, and Tree grumbled to himself.

"Your one big pain in my ass, aren't you..." He seethed yanking Paper against the bars through them. He let out a muffled cry. "Fries, get up and help..." he muttered.

Fries sighed and gave a slight nod, getting up and slumping over to the two and dragging the cage along, and putting him in the tent. Fries slumped down afterwards, stretching his injured arm out, and watched Tree get up and step towards the entrance of the tent. "Watch him while I check on the girl, alright?"

Fries nodded silently, and glared at Paper, grimacing at the blood and narrowing his gaze as he heard tree leave. Fries crawled over, "are... uh... Are ya' hurt?" He asked, reaching forwards towards Paper.

Paper— didn't like that of course, and kicked back, letting out a muffled growl in an attempt to sound threatening, and to be threatening.

Fries sighed in response, "I need to check if your injuries are severe, please... let me look..." He muttered, reaching again, but laying Paper come to him instead. Paper was wary, but it was for the best. Fries grabbed the bloody blindfold and lifted the rag. Beneath it, was only stains. No actual visible injury. Paper had a hostile glare... He could've sworn his eyes were glowing. "You're... not hurt at all?" He narrowed his eyes.

Paper just threateningly stared at Fries.

Fries sighed, and looked around, "I'll just leave this in the ground, okay?" He placed the bloody rag on the floor of the cage. "You don't have to put that thing back on... You'll get an eye infection."

Paper scoffed and narrowed his killer gaze.

Fries found it obviously that Paper was having a hard time believing he actually cared for his well being. But he didn't bother trying to prove he did in that moment. It would only make him seem desperate and suspicious. Fries was quickly snapped out of his train of thought by a loud yelp coming from the tent over.

Paper recognized this immediately. And every instinct in his brain SCREAMED at him to get out. He thrashed and struggled against the rope which kept him tied to the bars.

Fries flinched and tried to ease Paper. "Calm down! Okay?! I'll go— I'll go check alright?" He stood, but Paper REALLY didn't trust that. Muffled words escaped his gag as he threatened Fries violently. His gaze hostile and enough to send a chill down Fries's spine. He quickly left.

He ran across the dusty path, and entered the tent next to the one Paper was kept in, and his eyes fell on Pillow, Eraser, and Yellow face poking at Balloon. And his wings. Fries's eyes widened and he watched as they blocked feathers, pulled on the limbs, and ask questions and reckoned how much money they could make from him.

"GUYS! What the HELL?!" He seethed, which made eraser jump and turn to him. Fries's gaze angry as he grabbed his shoulder and yanked him away. "The kid is TERRIFIED! Leave him be!" He seethed. "This isn't like catching dragons— or—Yoyle beasts! He feels like WE do..." he jabbed a finger in Eraser's face, which made the other shift to guilt.

"I—Sorry... I guess that's true..." Eraser looked away, knowing it was kind of out of line.

Fries glared back at the others, "GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!" He seethed, watching them grumble as they slumped off. Fries crossed his arms and snapped his gaze to Eraser. "Go watch the other. Clearly you don't know how to handle kids..."

Eraser huffed and slung his bag over his shoulder as he turned his heal. Trying to hide his clear guilt as he made his way out of the tent. Fries then glared back at the cage, noticing they'd removed some of his bindings to get a better look. Fries could—for once—fully see the fear on his face. Guilt hitting him in the stomach as he dropped to his knees and stared at Balloon.

"Sorry... They can be a bit—aggressive...Y'know?" He tried to joke, giving a friendly smile, but Balloon was unchanging. His back firmly pressed against the bars behind him. Every movement cries made Balloon's eyes would shoot towards, and his lip would tremble. Fries was beginning to feel as if something had invoked this excelled fear... He soon noticed the blood dripping out of the wings where the feathers had been plucked. Fries sighed and grabbed a rag. "Come here... I promise I won't hurt you. Just clean up the blood... Okay?" He waved Balloon over.

Balloon was incredibly untrusting in a situation like this. He remained entirely still.

Fries just sat there, not bothering to move and letting Balloon approach himself, "Come on, your dad is worried about you." He beckoned, "he'll panic if you see each other and your bleeding..."

The boy upon hearing that finally moved, one tiny little crawl caused his whole body to shake as he approached Fries, he tried to position his wings in a offensive position to seem threatening.

Fries smiled upon his approach and cleaned off the blood from his wings with the rag. "See? Not so bad. I hope anyway..." he dabbed at the wounds.

Balloon stared down at his bound wrists silently. "I'm going t-to be sold..." He muttered, blinking out a tear.

Fries remained still for a moment, remembering how he'd told the kid that, he bit his lip. "Well yes... For your magical property." He explained, looking to the side.

"Are t-they going to hurt us?" He asked in a scared whimper, looking back at Fries in fear. His body trembling in memory of past experiences.

Fries didn't know how to respond to this without lying. "No... No of course not... They'll probably just—Make you do somethin' for em like—uh... Clean stuff out of reach with those wings of yours." He explained, shrugging. Knowing that may not be the case.

Balloon remained silent.

"You and your dad will likely be sold together so—... You don't need to worry about that." He muttered, looking off avoiding eye contact.

"He's not really my dad..." Balloon explained, hugging his knees with bound wrists. He sadly stared down at the metal cage below.

"Didn't he find you at birth?" Fries asked, "Gadgets can reproduce naturally so that makes sense that h—"

"No." Balloon shook his head. "He didn't." Balloon tried to think of any topic to distract the other in case of worse case scenario. "Me and Paper... We met on this game show. And... I made some bad decisions... He convinced his husband after the fact to let me stay after I got eliminated in the second season—And he's always been so nice to me..." he muttered.

Fries blinked, "Gameshow?" He raised a brow, "what's a gameshow?" He asked.

"You don't know what... A game show is?" Balloon seemed rather shocked, he glared back at Fries before speaking up again, "it's like... A competition... You win a lot of money if you make it through to the end."

Fries nodded, "huh... I think I've heard of something like that before." He muttered, then leaning back against a box. "About... Paper."

Balloon looked back again.

"Just because he's not... biologically related to you, doesn't make him any less your family." Fries explained, which made Balloon wince in shame and look away. Fries noticed this, "He cares about you, y'know." He explained.

Balloon kept silent.

"You're probably cared for much more than you know. I'm assuming you have friends?" Fries asked, smiling at him.

"I don't know..." He responded, whispered quietly, hugging his k eyes closer as he tried not to cry.

"Surely you must have someone?" Fries perked worriedly, scotching closer to get a better look at Balloon's face as he kept his head down.

Balloon thought back to Nickel leaving without him... Suitcase alienating him— people yelling at him for little things... The words OJ told him when he was angry. He hugged his knees so close and felt sadness and anger. "You're doing this for money right?" He changed the subject.

Fries flinched at the statement, and kept silence, but his silence spoke more than words ever could.

"Currency functions by... collective agreement on worth. As do other things. People... Decide what to price things, based on agreement." He explained, which Fries was confused by.

"Yes that... that's how money and trading works..." Fries narrowed his gaze wondering where Balloon was going with this.

"So... If People—..." He froze, blinking out a few tears, "If people collectively agree I'm worth nothing then... That's—th-that's what I'm worth..., right?" He chucked while crying.

Fries was shocked at his words and shook his head, "No! No no— that's not—... I- Mean uh— W-well— you're worth something! Right now especially s-so—...!" He tried to reason, but was cut off by a yell.

"PEOPLE ONLY THINK IM WORTH SOMETHING— WH-WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING FROM ME!" He screened through gritted teeth, his gaze shooting back to Fries with anger and sadness. He'd started to cry.

Fries shook his head, "your dad—Paper? He loves you!" Fires reasoned, only to be screamed back at.

"TELL ME RIGHT NOW! IF I DIDN'T HAVE THESE GOD AWFUL ABILITIES- WOULD I STILL BE WORTH ANYTHING TO ALL OF YOU?!" He seethed, through tears.

Fries flinched and his mouth hung agape. He didn't have an answer to something like that.

"I WANT TO KNOW ITS REAL... I WANT T—TO JUST FEEL LOVED BY SOMEONE AND KNOW— THEY WONT LEAVE ME LIKE EVERYONE ELSE..." tears poured out of his eyes and anger built up within him, his marking began to glow.

Fries scrambled back in response.

"I WANT... T-TO BE HELD... AND FOR SOMEONE TO TELL ME—M-ME THAT THEY LOVE ME!" He screamed, "IM TIRED OF EVERYONE PRETENDING TO FEEL SORRY FOR ME WHEN IM WORTH NOTHING TO THEM!!!" His breath grew rapid. "ITS SO E-EASY FOR THE-THEM TO SAY! THEY DONT KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE A TOOL LIKE ME... THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT ITS LIKE TO BE M-MENTALLY PHYSICALLY AND SEXUALLY USED WHEN ITS CONVENIENT FOR EVERYONE ELSE!"

Fries couldn't form anything to combat his words.

"IM NOTHING! IM LIKE THIS— IN HERE... AND NOW ILL ALWAYS BE NOTHING!!! NO MATTER WHAT I DO I CANT ESCAPE THIS GOD AWFUL PRISON I CALL MY BODY..." He grabbed at the bars with bound hands, his markings shimmering bright and releasing a sickening amount of raw energy. "I CANT EVEN DIE... BECAUSE IM TOK SCARED... I TRY... IVE TRIED I-ITS TO HARD...! IM SO FUCKING PATHETIC!" He cried, breaking down, his words slurred and broken up by his and sniffles. "Even my boyfriend left me..." He whimpered.

Fries looked at him with terrified eyes, and Balloon thought back to when he'd first got his wings.

"You don't care about me... do you...?" He whined, tears falling out of devastated eyes, Fries couldn't find words, "It's just c-convenient for you too keep me at bay? I-isn't it...?!" He cried and slowly chuckled, his laugh devastating and felt so hurt...

Fries wanted so badly to... Help him... But he just couldn't.

"I'll never be loved, will I...? Im just a useless... less than dirt... N-nobody... huh?" He chuckled his grief growing along with the energy on his face. It hurt, but at this point it was a distraction to him. "Im going to die alone... In pain... I know it...h-hahah... I might aswell just give up..."

"..." Fries stared.

"But it's too late for that now isn't it...? Hic —I-I... I can't die anymore... my stupid body will just— Regenerate!" He grinned with a crazed smile of depression and grief. "Haha—h-Hhh..." he wheezed tears and snot dripping "I'm a lost cause...! I'm broken...! I'm nothing! IM NOTHING! I CANT DO IT! I CANT TAKE THIS ANYMORE!" He screamed, an ugly cry now very evident, his shrieks of grief painful to listen to. And the raw energy surrounding him was massive. "I CANT DO IT! I CANT I-I CANT I CANT I C-CANT I CANT I CANT!!! WHY CANT SOMEONE LOVE ME?! WHAT DID I DO WRONG?! WHAT DID I DO...?! I CANT....!" The energy pouring into the air froze,

Tree rushed over and entered the tent, "Fries—?! What's—..." His eyes went wide on the blinding light surrounding the kid.

Balloon's breathing picked up, and his cries turned into a shriek, his emotions fully taking hold and the energy shooting back into his body...

Fries and tree stared at him.

The raw power that was once emanating from the boy slingshotted out of his body in mass amounts, everyone in the clearing flung back against trees and an explosion caused the cage and tents to bend and snap. Tree landed back against a rock he  grunted upon impact. Fries tumbled back and dragged against the ground. A wave of light swept across the forest and a beam of light came up from the ground and created a beacon, clouds swirled around it. Balloon shrieking in sorrow and utter agony as his emotions turned into literal sickening amounts of raw energy. Paper heard this, and watched as Eraser shot up from next to him. "What the—?!" He tried to exit the tent, but soon felt powerful winds blow harshly against him. "WHA—?!" Paper struggled, and tried to escape once more, muffled grunts and cries as he attempted to free his restraints. Eraser looked back at him, and then tried to stop him— "HEY!"

Fries groaned and rubbed the side of his head. He looked up at the scene before him... The boy limp in the air, his eyes, wings, markings, and mouth glowing a shimmering rainbow colour. One that closely resembled familiar power he'd known about... one sacred beyond comprehension. Tear rapidly fell from the boy's eyes as he cried. His emotions made the air feel uneasy as his pain reflected on everyone around him. The light grew overwhelming as he grieved in a mess of his own feelings.

Fries carefully stood up from the ground. What could he do?! The wind shoved him back and he glanced over at the tent. Maybe Paper could help?! He ran over and collapsed down crawling into the tent, and watched Eraser Struggle with Paper.

"ERASER STOP!" He screamed, shoving him back. "We NEED him!" He spat, and glared back at Paper. "Your uh— kid... Friend? Uh... Kid. Yeah— He's—He... Magic! A lot of sad— Magic stuff! Okay?! He's— Not okay! You have to stop him!" Fries explained, opening the cage. Eraser grabbed his shoulder.

"Are you INSANE?!" Eraser spat, pulling him back. Fries shoved him back down and Eraser grunted as he hit the floor.

"The fuck other kind of choice do we have?!" Fries growled, and then grabbed Paper, and untying him.

Paper didn't waste any damn second, he elbowed Fries in the nose and Pinned him down, then kicking Eraser in the side of the head. His eyes shot towards the blowing tent opening and he scrambled out of it and stumbled towards the beacon of light beyond. His mouth was agape as his eyes spotted the boy glowing brighter than the sun before him. Power and sadness radiated from his being. Unlike the others... an echoing painful cry filled his ears. He approached the boy. Floating stationary. Trees around were ripped from their roots, and objects had to grab onto something to not be blown away. The display of power was breath taking but overwhelming.

"Balloon...?" He called in a whisper, reaching out to touch him. He could hear the horrible things Balloon thought about himself ring through his skull. Balloon's perspective on his own life hit him like a truck. The light against his skin burned... But he couldn't just leave him... he braved the light and approached, walking into the beam of energy.

He reached up, grabbing Balloon, letting a cry of Pain escape his lips as he pulled him down towards himself. The light pouring from his body seering his skin as he embraced him... Balloon's desire for care and love hitting his skull like a bat. His arms protectively wrapped around the boy, and he cried holding onto him
For dear life. The now unconscious teen's glowing appendages and eyes filled with glowing tears continued to grieve from within his own mind, now allowing Paper to enter— and in an instant the world disappeared.

Paper recognized this place as the mind scape. A black void of nothing. Similar to the one he and Looseleaf shared. He could hear the echoing cries all the more clearly. Anger... Despair... Grief... Paper stumbled towards it, and saw him lying in the ground, curled up crying...

Paper sat down next to him. He could feel memories and the feelings Balloon had about them as they occurred. Grief... and Pain. He frowned, especially at the once's OJ had caused. Despite if OJ was trying to help Balloon or not— He... still hurt Balloon. As for the others? Paper let them fly completely over his head. "I-I'm sorry..." Paper whispered. He loved OJ... And Balloon, but clearly resentment kept them apart.

"I-I-.. j-hic-h-hic—just-t... Wan-t to be LOVED...! W-why d-does everyone always leave... or hate me...?" He cried.

Paper thought for a moment. "I'm right here..." He smiled softly. "I don't hate you..." Paper comforted.

Balloon grasped onto Paper, which caught the older boy by surprise. As Balloon wailed into his chest. "ITS NOT FAIR! WHAT DID I DO?! HOW CAN I FIX IT...?! WHY WONT HE LOVE ME LIKE YOU DO?! WHY...?" He wailed.

Paper frowned, and felt his own tears formed. Knowing OJ was who he was referring to. "You cant know he doesn't..."

"HE SAID HE HATES ME PAPER!" Balloon shrieked, grabbing tightly onto Paper as he cried, he choked out another cry, and seethed with sorrow and anger, "YOU DONT KNOW WHAT HE SAYS TO ME!"

Paper sat there, and watched as fragments of memories began to pop up all around them. He recognized the two.

OJ was washing dishes, he scrubbed the dirt from the plates and glasses and hummed a small tune as he did so. Soon after, a young boy walked in, and walked up to the counter to place his dish next to OJ. When turning OJ elbowed Balloon in the face— and he tripped. Falling and the plate shattering.

"Damn it Balloon! What the hell is wrong with you?!" He seethed, throwing his hands out.

Balloon shakily stood up. "I-I didn't mean to! I'm sorry I—..." He backed away. "I'm sorry..." he grabbed the broom for OJ.

"You say sorry. All you say is SORRY. You never fix you damn behaviour!" He seethed, snatching the broom from him, making Balloon flinch.

"But— It was an accident!" He whined.

"That's not a damn excuse... You caused this because you were too damn lazy to wait for me to move out of the way!" OJ growled.

"You shoved me— I didn't—!" Balloon tried to reason.

"Get the fuck out..." OJ hissed, shoving him towards the door. "Don't fucking touch any of your shit until you do something productive, yeah?" He hissed, then swept up the glass.

Balloon left in tears.

"Lazy asshole... He muttered under his breath. Then turning and throwing the porcelain shards away. Paper came in soon after.

"Hey OJ!" He smiled, walking over and placing his plate on the counter.

"Hey Paper!" OJ chimed, smiling. His demeanour changing instantly. His eyes never left his husband.

Paper's brows furrowed as he watched that scene play out. He was quite disturbed by many factors. First of all, the problem wasn't caused by Balloon at all. Second, He called Balloon names, many names. Third, his mood changed unexplainably fast. Was OJ trying to hide the way Balloon is treated? Or did Paper cheer him up that much? Another scene came into view soon after as Balloon cried.

Balloon sat against the outside of the building. He'd just been harassed by Knife, and needed a place to cool off. He watched the birds fly about as night soon passed over. OJ walked out of the hotel for a moment, and had a sip of alcohol, probably to drink it out of Paper's sight. Paper got worried when he drank in front of him after all. Balloon gave a little wave trying to be nice, but he was already upset.

OJ looked back at him. And blinked back forward fixing his gaze on the trees ahead. Finishing his glass and walking inside.

Balloon sighed, the lack of response upset him. But it was better than being told to get off of his lazy ass. He glared back up and watched stars form. For a minute or two, before getting up and heading to the door. It was cold anyway. He grabbed the door handle and pulled on it.

Nothing happened.

"What...?!" He yanked on the door. "Nono-nonono!" He hit the door. But nobody answered it. What the hell?! OJ SAW HIM OUTSIDE!!! he frowned, stumbling back, and tearing up, sitting near a bush and hugging himself. He braced for the cold night to come.

Paper recognized this... That was the day before this whole thing started... He covered his mouth— OJ... He intentionally locked himself outside—?!

Another started.

OJ, Paintbrush, Trophy, and Knife we're arguing. Balloon nervously frowned and stepped towards the living room to get away. He sat down on the vacant couch and sat watched TV. He didn't bother changing what was on. Anything to mindlessly watch was good. Even if it was hockey— and he didn't understand any of it.

He flinched as he heard OJ stomp into the room, and he glared at him. "Ugh... You..." He spat, rolling his eyes. "Don't you have anything productive to fucking do?" He growled.

"No—I...—!"

"I don't want excuses! You're so untrustworthy I have a damn hard time believing you didn't half ass any of it..." He spat. "Wouldn't be the fucking first time you're that useless..." he grumbled. OJ tapped his foot against the ground. As something hit him. "Just grow the fuck up...."

Balloon frowned, and teared up. "I'm sorry— Just t-tell me what I'm supposed to do and I'll—!"

"You're fucking sixteen! You're telling me your too big of an idiot to figure it out yourself?!" He spat, stomping over.

Balloon flinched, "I- I'm sorry I'll— Ill figure it out O-okay I—..." He started to cry, and OJ huffed angrily.

"Grow up! God you're 16... Stop crying like a Damn child!" OJ growled at him, making Balloon cower backwards.

"I-I'm—I'm-s-sorry— I—... I didn't—..." He whined backing up more, tripping and knocking over a vase. He yelped, and turned to it.

"LOOK WHAT YOU DID! UGH!" He stormed over, shoving him out of the way and cleaning up. Grumbling as he picked up the pieces. "Go be a lazy waste of space somewhere else..." He growled.

Balloon choked out a cry from the initial yell and ran off.

"I hate you..."

He the Hid in his room and bawled into his pillow.

Paper covered his mouth. That was just plain verbal abuse! What the hell?! He held Balloon protectively as he cried. He watched in horror. That wasn't ten OJ he knew... OJ never acted that way around anyone else. Sure— he scolded people. But he didn't do THAT.

"He hates me...!" Balloon cried Paper couldn't find the words to describe his feelings.

"I-I'm so sorry... I didn't even notice that..." Paper muttered. "I swear— I swear I'll talk to him about that— that's just... I'm..." he shook his head.

Balloon cried, "a-and... Wh—wh-why... D-did h-he leave...?" He cried, looking up at Paper subtly. His tear pouring out of his eyes. Referring to Nickel.

"I—... I...I'm not sure... B-But I'm sure he still loves you... With all of his heart." Paper.. Was still in complete shock... "And I'm here too... Why don't we... Talk about it? This time without fighting... okay...?"

Balloon choked on his own breath and words and nodded, crying harder.

Paper sighed and lifted him into a protective embrace. He cried himself, shocked at the husband he thought he knee's behaviour. "I love you. You know..." He whispered. Trying to comfort himself. "You need not look further for care, because I'm already here...

Okay...?"

"I'll always listen to you..."

———