Apparently Xisuma believes my lie about feeling better enough to let me leave after 2 weeks. And even though I am doing a lot better, I still grab the last of the medicine Cub’s been very kindly making for me, plus some extra painkillers, on the way out. And accept that I may have to admit my lie to Xisuma later when I end up hurting myself further.

My first destination is Cub’s base. He didn’t come to visit me, and I’m imagining he’s either mad at me for getting myself hurt, or he thinks I blame him. Which, in either case, means there’s something for me to clear up with him.

‘Rubba-dub Cub? You over here?’ I fly over the incredible landscape he made (how many hours has he spent on this place?), searching for any sign of him. And catch another hermit with him, instantly familiar. Dippledop. And he’s upset.

I land, a little ways back on what must be a sugarcane farm, to see him shouting at Cub, who’s remaining as calm as always, just watching him.

‘-ATTACK Skizz out of absolutely nowhere, for merely trying to stop you and Scar MURDERING EACH OTHER! What the fuck were you THINKING?!’

‘I wasn’t. It was the Vex.’

‘Oh, it’s always the Vex with you, isn’t it? Cub does something wrong? No, it’s the Vex! Cub gets upset, no it’s just the vex! Cub tries to KILL SKIZZ? It’s the FUCKING VEX!’

Impulse punches Cub. I run over, trying to remain calm, trying not to get hurt again. Cub doesn’t fight back, just letting Impulse hit him again, and shove him to the ground and-

‘Impulse get the fuck away,’ I spit. He turns, expression mutinous. Cub doesn’t stand, cowering on the ground. ‘You don’t get to hurt Cub because I was a moron.’

‘He tried to kill you.’

‘I stepped into the middle of a fight, shoved him into a table, and was ready to knock him unconscious. I had it coming.’

‘Why are you on his side?! After what he did?’

‘I know you’re upset, but I’m fine. I learnt my lesson. I should’ve waited for Tango to come, or should’ve messaged Xisuma. Or even just waited to see if they’d be alright. I just ran in there and basically joined in.’ As I speak, I see Impulse’s anger fading. He steps away. ‘And you beating up my buddy Rubba-dub Cub because of that is only going to make me feel worse. So apologise to Cub, go back to your base, punch a wall if you want to let off some steam, and quit being a jerk.’

‘I’m sorry,’ Impulse mutters, before flying away. Cub still hasn’t moved.

‘Are you alright?’ I ask as I walk over.

‘I’m fine,’ he mumbles back. ‘You didn’t have to do that.’

‘I did. And I’m not mad at you for what you did. I promise.’ I hold out a hand, Cub accepts it, standing. He doesn’t look at me. Blood runs down his face from his nose. ‘Oh- shoot- I’ve got a tissue somewhere… here,’ I pass a handkerchief from my pocket. Cub accepts.

‘Thanks.’ Nothing else.

‘Are you upset with me at all?’ I dare to ask.

‘No, no… I was going to visit, I just-’ A sigh. ‘I just didn’t. Sorry.’

‘Hey, I don’t mind. I just wanna make sure you’re doing alright… and I’m sorry about Dippledop being a jerk.’

‘Nah, it’s fine, it’s fine…’ It isn’t, and Cub doesn’t think that either. ‘But thanks for standing up to him.’

‘He doesn’t get to treat you like a jerk. That’s not happening.’

Another silence. Cub kicks the ground with his foot and the sculk hisses, writhing away. He pockets the tissue, even though his nose is clearly still bleeding.

‘Look- dude, I’m gonna go and keep working on my base… thanks for coming over.’

‘No problem.’

He starts walking away, a little aimless, just staring down, hands deep in his pockets. I consider leaving, but can’t. He’s still upset, perhaps even more so. So I follow, my long strides quickly catching.

‘Cub, dude, sorry if I’m being a misunderstanding jerk-face again, but I can tell something’s wrong. Are you alright? Do you wanna talk about it, or I can call Scar over instead?’

‘I’m-’ He catches himself, letting out a deep breath. ‘I don’t know, man. I just keep thinking of that moment. I heard you speaking. Part of me knew you were speaking, and you were there, I saw your face as I attacked you. And I could’ve stopped myself. I know I could’ve stopped myself, but I didn’t. I wasn't thinking. And the Vex just- dude, I should stop talking. I’m sorry. For everything.’

‘Cub, it’s alright. No lasting damage was done. I wasn't-’

‘And now you come over,’ Cub continues, interrupting. ‘After I hurt you. And you stand up for me, and turn on your best friend for me, after all I did. And I never came to check you were ok, when Xisuma said I could, and I knew you wanted to talk and weren’t upset…’

‘Cub, it’s fine.’

‘It’s not fine.’

‘It is! I’m fine! I’m perfectly fine, I don’t mind that you didn’t come and see me-’

‘Well I’m not fine!’ Cub yells, and I can’t speak. There are tears in his eyes, blue spreading across his face. ‘I fucked up. I hurt you. I couldn’t control the Vex,’ He wipes his face roughly with his arm, a smear of blood from his bleeding nose across his face. ‘I could’ve killed you. For a moment I thought I had.’

‘Oh shit… Cub…’

He starts sobbing.

And hugs me.

I freeze.

He wraps his arms tight around me, sobbing into my chest. I have to hug back, but as loose as I can. I know Cub doesn’t like hugs with anyone except Scar. This doesn't happen. There’s a step not far away that I lead Cub towards, sinking slowly to the ground. Cub, still sobbing, follows. Anxiety buzzes through me at the thought of getting this wrong, hurting him more. Cub curls up in my lap, just sobbing. I manage to message Scar.

You whispered to GoodTimeWithScar: cub upset

You whispered to GoodTimeWithScar: hugging me

You whispered to GoodTimeWithScar: how do i help him?

GoodTimeWithScar whispered to you: just be there for him.

So I don’t talk, as much as I want to. I just let Cub cry into my shoulder, hugging me. After a while, he stops sobbing, but still doesn’t move or talk. I remain silent. Even longer after that, he shifts position, breaking from the hug and sitting next to me. He adjusts his glasses.

‘Sorry.’

‘Don’t be.’

He takes a deep breath.

‘Are you up for some Hungry Hermits? I need to think about something else for a bit.’ I hesitate, my mind just taking me back to the incident.

‘Does TCG work instead?’

‘Yeah, yeah, of course, TCG works… I’ll just grab my deck… you got yours?’

‘I’ll find it somewhere.’

He stands, about to head inside. Before hesitating, looking back at me.

‘Thank you.’

‘For… what?’

‘For still being my friend.’

‘I wouldn’t give this up for anything.’

He smiles.

‘Go find your deck, I’ll meet you at the area.’

‘See you there.’