can you hear me

-

The microwave beeped, numbers flashing on the small screen of the machine. With a click, it flung open with Suitcase holding a bowl within her palms, setting it down in front of Balloon whilst he sat down in a chair at the table. Balloon gave Suitcase a small, gentle smile as she returned the smile.

" Well? Go on, you gotta put something in your stomach. It's not good to skip lunch. " Suitcase hummed, moving to a bowl filled with bright colored fruits. Holding an apple.

Balloon gave her a curious look, furrowing their eyebrows. " Lunch? It's not morning? What time is it? "

" Uhm, " Suitcase glanced over to the stove, staring at the green numbers. " It's 1 pm, why? "

Balloon felt a tinge of embarrassment rise up their spine, rubbing their face and groaned. " Oh.. god I over slept again- "

" Again? " Suitcase asked.

" Yeah.. I've been oversleeping a lot recently, I keep forgetting to make an alarm.. " Balloon uttered a sigh before holding a spoon and began to eat the warm tangy soup. Cringing at the bitterness.

" Well.. When do you usually sleep? Hm? " Suitcase bit into the Apple, crunching, hee teeth sunk into the bright crimson red sweetness. Balloon paused in thought, thinking about last night. How They pushed themselves into bed right after the incident with Trophy. Though they couldn't recall what time they slept, they knew that it was near there afternoon.

" Probably like — er- 8? I go to sleep really early usually. "

Suitcase flashed them a surprise look, " I'm sorry - 8? "

" .. yeah. " Balloon looked away, their cheeks warming up from embarrassment.

" .. Well, why not let me wake you up? " Suitcase said with a cherry tone, " I wake up pretty early, so I wouldn't mind checking in on you ! " Balloon turned to suitcase with pity.

" Oh— no no you don't have to.. " Balloon frowned.

" Oh but I want to! That's what friends are for, right? " She playfully nudged them with her hip, grinning. Balloon felt their heart warm at the sound of 'friend', of course, She's called them friend plenty of times. But, they had to admit, they needed to hear it again after a long time of isolation. Their eyes softened and giggled at her.

" Thanks, Suitcase. I love you. " Balloon hummed.

" I love you too, now, I gotta go run and speak with Lightbulb, she's been wanting to do scrap journaling with me! If you want — I can show you after! "

" You what I would like that! " Balloon beamed, Suitcase gave them a small side hug before moving out of the kitchen, heels of her black shiny Mary Jane's clicking the tiles of the polished kitchen floor. Balloon now sat alone in the kitchen, sitting in the chair, at the table. Alone. Balloon stared at the soup as their reflection stared back. They continued to eat their food, not enjoying the silence. It was too quiet. Everyone was either in their rooms, at their jobs, etc. No one was uttering a single word for they were no where to be seen.

at the same time, they enjoyed how quiet it was. it was a change, a difference from what they usually experienced. Before they were welcomed back into the hotel, they were at a homeless shelter. It was noisy, it was claustrophobic, it was overwhelming. And of course, the hotel wasn't any different, noisy, claustrophobic, and overwhelming. But how it would be quiet it can suddenly be in an instant. They loved it. No screaming, no bickering. Just them, themselves. No one to bother them. Or hurt them. They were in their own bubble. Like a cage of comfort. But that was only until a sudden burst of laughter from the corner made them jolt in surprise.

Nickel and Baseball playfully shoved each other and chuckled, Baseball suddenly stopping at the sight of Balloon and recoiled. Slightly hesitant to continue forward as he avoided eye contact. Tilting his cap down to cover his eyes. Nickel noticed Baseballs denial to continue walking before staring at Balloon in annoyance.

" Oh. " He murmured, " I forgot that you were still here. " Nickel folded his arms. Balloon raised a brow.

" What's that suppose to mean? "

" Oh! Nothing. Nothing at all. It's just — you know, why now we thought you'd be too home sick to want to stay here willingly. Oh wait , didn't you mention you didn't HAVE a home? My bad. Must've — flew over my head. " Nickel smirked, walking over to Balloon. Baseball still stood at the entrance of the kitchen.

" Nickel. " Baseball spoke, finally. Trying to get Nickel away from the Balloon, " Don't. "

" What! I'm just saying! A little bold of you to actually stay here. You'd think you would turn down OJ's offer, right? Considering the fact you're practically mold to this hotel? "

Balloon stared at Nickel, what the hell was his problem? Why was he so rude? Sure he would be sarcastic. But this? This was practically insulting.

" Excuse me? I— " Balloon started before getting cut off by Nickel's hand slamming into the table, leaning into Balloon's face and glared at them.

" Don't you get it? No one wants you here. Not even Suitcase. "

" .. But- "

" But what? Yeah, she's nice to you because she takes pity for how hopeless you are! Honestly, you're an embarrassment to the show. You're an embarrassment to this hotel. You should be ashamed for showing your face here. " Nickel snarled. Baseball stared at Nickel in slight shock before pulling him away from the teary eyed Balloon.

" Nickel? A word?? " Baseball stared at Nickel in anger. Balloon just sat there, staring at the wall, not a breath leaving their lungs as they sat there, helplessly.

Nickel and Baseball left the kitchen, just like that. As if nothing happened. Balloon's heart started to ache, eyes burning and lip quivered. Their hands trembled as they held their face, fingers running through their hair. Feeling their heart pound and their breathing becoming rapid. Hopeless? Embarrassing? No— taken pity for- for how long? Why? Given pity? They felt their stomach turn, holding their mouth before getting up from the table and ran to the Entrance of the hotel, eyes running with tears. They slammed the door and ran in the snow, pulling at their hair and sobbed. Falling to their knees in terror from the panic and anxiety that ate away at them. Heaving, they felt their pants dampen from the snow melting, fists digging into the snow. Their skin was freezing, but they didn't care. They didn't even realize how much in pain they felt for the cold numbed their body. All they could do was sob and sob and sob. Covering their face. He was right, they were an embarrassment. An embarrassment to everyone— a pathetic- shameful embarrassment. And they let those words be thrown at them. Just like that. They bit their knuckle, trying to stop the small whimpers and cries. But they couldn't, they couldn't stop. Not one bit. It was before they realize they bit into their skin, blood trickling out of their knuckle. They stared down at their hand. Only watching the stream of the tiny wound leak out and drop onto the snow. They moved their hand to the side and saw the blood leak into the snow.

Nickel.

Balloon heard, Balloon heard a small voice in the back of their head echo with the name "Nickel". And that angered them. It made them upset, it made them sad it made them feel so many things more than once and it made them mad. It made them mad at the fact Nickel would even speak to them like that. What gave him the right to even speak in the first place. That damned scrawny bastard. Their mind was filled with scribbles of hate. Hate and anger. But that dyed down immediately as they stood up and shrieked, running back to the house by how cold it suddenly became.

" Crap— shit ow— " They ran back inside, shutting the door behind them. Pants soaked, shirt soaked. Face soaked. They shivered. Rubbing their arms. " .. agh- my pants.. damn it.. " They frowned, rubbing their eyes in frustration before walking up the stairs.

' I need new pants. ' Balloon thought to themselves. As they walked to their room, they noticed a familiar blonde haired boy right down hallway with a shake in hand. The two made eye contact.

" .. god. You look terrible. " Trophy mumbled.

" .. " Balloon didn't respond.

" Uh.. " Trophy awkwardly stood. " What's with the pants. Why are you.. you know — drenched. "

" .. Please - don't talk to me.. " Balloon sighed, moving to the door of his room, hand on door knob, yet Trophy caught the bloody knuckle.

" I have a pair of pants. If you need some. "

Balloon paused and stared at the door, glancing behind them. " .. what? "

" I said, I have a pair of pants. I just washed a pair. " Trophy repeated, giving Balloon a deadpan stare. Balloon glanced to the side, slightly hesitant.

" Oh.. Uhm. I — yeah. I kinda need a pair. " Balloon muttered. Trophy nodded and walked down the hall, motioning them to follow.

Balloon now sat in the room of Trophy's. Sitting on the bed while awkwardly tapping their knees together. Trophy grabbing a pair of sweat pants and tossed them at Balloon's face. " There. You can give me your pants and I'll wash them for you. " Trophy hummed. Balloon stared at the pants and nodded, standing up. Trophy stared.

" .. can you. Turn around?? "

" Right- sorry. " Trophy turned around, arms still folded.

After the silence, Balloon finally spoke.

" Why are you being like that? " Balloon said, taking off their pants before stepping into the new pair of pants.

" Uh? Rude much?? " Trophy grumbled.

Speak for yourself.

" I mean— like why are you being nice to me? " Balloon turned around, staring at the back of Trophy's head. Trophy glanced at Balloon.

" I mean. I'm just helping. I wouldn't want to stay in soaked pants all night. " Trophy hummed. " .. I'll get you something for your knuckle. " He turned, looking through a dresser drawer. Balloon sat back down, tossing the wet pants on the floor.

" But- don't you hate me? .. " Balloon frowned. Trophy paused, not responding for a long moment. Before grabbing a pack of bandaids and sat on the side of the bed with Balloon, grabbing their wrist roughly and placed a bandaid on the knuckle.

" Hate? No. I dislike you. But that doesn't mean I hate you. I don't have a reason to hate you. " Trophy patted his hand before standing back up. " There. Now why were you outside throwing a fit? "

" Wh— how did you? "

Trophy pointed at the window. " I saw everything. Are you insane? You'd think you'd have common knowledge to you know. Not — Sit outside without a coat like an idiot? " Trophy raised an eyebrow.

" .. I just— kinda — had an incident. I'm fine. "

" What like a fight? "

" What? No! Of course not! " Balloon glared at Trophy.

" Ok - maybe not a fight. But what do you mean incident. "

Balloon frowned, looking down at the ground. " I— " They hesitated. " I have- this issue- with someone- "

" don't you have an issue with everyone " " ok are you going to let me continue or not. " " Continue. "

Balloon shook their head and sighed, " I have this issue with someone where they constantly attack me— but this time they were more?? I don't know. Hateful? It.. really brought me down. " Trophy nodded slowly, sighing.

" Uhh. I'm not Great with this stuff.. " Trophy rubbed the back of his neck before seeing the miserable face on Balloon. " .. But- I know something that helps me whenever I'm upset. "

" .. Like? "

" Working out. "

" Of course. "

" Ok first of all asshole — I haven't seen you once try to work out. And besides, it could help. It gets you motivated. "

Balloon thought for a moment.

" You could always try working out with me. And hey, I can always help you if Stuck. "

" I'm.. not great at.. working out.. I'm kinda self conscious about my body - "

" So? One rule in the gym is that you never shame someone for why their at the gym, wether it's for their weight or for motivation. It's no one's business. " Balloon slightly smiled.

" Never.. thought about it like that.. "

" So? Wanna give it a try tonight? "

" .. yeah.. ok.. "

Trophy folded is arms and gave Balloon a smile, " Ok, Meet me at my room when your ready, I'll just be here sleeping. If I don't wake up slap me. Or worst case scenario pour water on me. "



(Art design by @missingparrots on Twitter) " I don't think I'll be doing that. "

" I'm a heavy sleeper. Not even an atomic bomb can wake me up. " Trophy chuckled. Balloon shook their head and stood up, walking to the exit of the door. " See you later dweeb. "

" Bye Trophy. " Balloon waved, before walking out. And closing the door behind them.

-

ok lmao sorry if this is rushed and people are out of character but this is a darkfic ofc there's gonna be a lot of characters out of place anyways I hope you guys enjoyed if not that's ok