Chapter Text
It wasn’t often that Victim and Mango ran into each other but as of recently, they were accompanying each other to see Dark and Chosen. They mainly showed up to make sure Dark was taking care of himself.
Mango opened the door and walked inside, holding it open for Victim, who had some groceries in his arms. “Dark?” Victim called out, setting the bags on the table. Mango looked around the house and grimaced; it looked terrible with dust coating surfaces in a thick layer, the couch was partially destroyed, and there were claw marks all over the walls.
Though Mango had to admit that his house didn’t look great after Gold had died.
Victim called out once more, stepping over an empty box to get to the bedroom and opened the door. He worriedly sighed when he saw Dark laying his head on the bed, seemingly sleeping. “I found him.” He said over his shoulder. Mango walked over and leaned against the doorframe, sighing.
He walked over to Dark and shook him awake. “C’mon, Dark, time to get up..” he said. The hollowhead woke up with a groan, slowly sitting up and popping his back. He looked around the room and deeply sighed, clearly annoyed. “Oh fuck me..”
Victim rolled his eyes, crossing his arms “Hello to you too.” He sniffed the air and nearly threw up. “Dude, you stink. When’s the last time you showered?” Mango gave him a warning look. “Don’t be an ass.” He said. Dark glared at Victim. “I already told you I’m not leaving Chosen’s side.” He stated.
The grey hollowhead scoffed. “Do you honestly think he’d want this for you? None of this is healthy, Dark. Not only are you not doing basic hygiene, you aren’t eating, sleeping, or just taking care of yourself in general! I’m not going to let you kill yourself like this.” He walked over and grabbed Dark’s arm. “You’re going to go shower, eat something, and go the hell to sleep! Chosen will be fine for a few minutes.”
Dark tried to get his arm out of the other’s hold; But after weeks of not taking care of himself, he’d grown weak. “I’m not leaving him! Let go!” He yelled. Mango walked over and grabbed Dark’s other arm. He hated to admit it, but Victim was right. “Vic’s right, bud. You need to take a break for yourself.”
Dark started thrashing around as he was lifted off of the chair. He didn’t want to leave Chosen alone, what if something bad happened to him while he was gone? What if he stopped breathing? Dark started hyperventilating as he was dragged out of the room, tears starting to stream down his face; His thrashing only got worse.
“No! Let me go, I can’t leave him! Let me go!!” He screamed out. Victim and Mango stopped walking, both looking at each other in shock. They didn’t let go though, keeping a firm grip on Dark’s arms. Mango took the other arm in his hand and crouched down on the floor with the other in his arms. “Dark. Hey, hey. Breathe bud, you gotta breathe.” He instructed.
Dark continued to sob, gripping Mango’s shoulders tightly until they bled. He choked on saliva, gasping in short breaths. “P-Please, I c-can’t..I-I can’t l-leave him..” He sobbed out, letting his head hang forward; Damn, he really was tired. Victim kneeled next to him, placing a hand on his back. “Dark, you need to take some time for yourself..Mango and I can watch Chosen, just take care of yourself..please..”
Dark took in a trembling breath, loosening his grip on Mango’s shoulders. He sniffled. “O-Okay..” He shakily agreed, standing up with help. He took a minute to breathe but eventually walked into the bathroom to go shower. Victim stood up, going into the bedroom to grab some clean clothes for the other.
Mango stood up as well, walking into the bedroom as Victim left to go hand the clothes to Dark, sitting in the chair next to the bed. He deeply sighed, stroking Chosen’s hair. “C’mon kid, come back to us..” He muttered. Victim came back and examined all the medical equipment that kept Chosen alive. “His IV bag needs to be changed, do you remember where I put them?” He asked.
Mango pointed over to a box in the closet. “There should be a lot left in there.” He replied. Victim nodded and grabbed one out of the box, quickly switching it over and changing the needle while he was there. The hollowhead looked down at Chosen and shakily sighed. He blamed himself partially for what happened, seeing as he’s the one who took away the other’s powers.
“Don’t beat yourself up.” Mango said, looking over. Victim sat on the edge of the bed, putting his head in his hands. “I can't help it..if I hadn't been so hellbent on tracking him down, Chosen still would've had his powers. He wouldn't be comatose in a bed like this..”
Mango wrapped his arm around Victim, rubbing his shoulder. “What happened, happened. The more you beat yourself up for what happened, the more you’ll spiral..” Victim sniffled, leaning against the older as tears filled his eyes.
Dark soon came out of the shower, drying his hair with a towel and walking in the bedroom. He leaned against the doorframe, letting the towel drape around his neck. “You guys okay..?” He quietly asked. Victim quickly wiped his eyes, nodding. Mango stood up and walked over to Dark, putting part of the towel over his head.
“We’re doing okay, little spider..now, how bout we get some food in your system?” He suggested. Dark slowly nodded, leaning into the touch. Victim stayed with Chosen while the other two went into the kitchen. Dark sat at the table while Mango looked through the cabinets for something to make.
“How about some pasta, bud?” He asked. Dark shrugged resting his chin on his hands. “Sure..” He replied. The older nodded and got all the stuff out. While Mango was cooking, Dark started thinking, getting in his own head. He flinched when Victim touched his shoulder.
The grey hollowhead sat next to him. “It’s okay, it’s just me..and before you ask, Chosen’s doing just fine.” He comforted. Dark silently nodded, looking back down. Victim gently ruffled his hair. “What’re you thinking about?” He asked. The other shrugged, leaning into Victim, who quietly chuckled and wrapped an arm around him, hugging him close.
Mango finished making the pasta and set three plates on the table, sitting down as well. “Eat up, kiddo.” He said. Dark started slowly eating, ending up nearly inhaling the food; He forgot how hungry he’s been for the past few weeks, only surviving off cereal.
He finished his food and yawned afterwards, pushing the plate away and rubbing his eyes. Victim smiled and guided Dark to the couch, laying him down and pulling a blanket over him. Mango picked up all the plates and took them to the kitchen to wash later, walking back to the hollowheads.
He sat next to Dark, placing his head on his lap. Victim stood up and turned to walk towards the bedroom. “I’ll watch over Chosen while you sleep, okay?” Dark tiredly nodded, snuggling further into Mango. The older started combing his hand through Dark’s hair, quietly humming. Dark eventually fell asleep, soft snores emitting from him.
Mango sighed in relief, leaning back. Dark was finally sort of okay for the night; He was relaxing. And if Mango had to come here every single day to make sure the younger took care of himself, he’d go so far as to stay over for days while Purple took residence at the PC for a while.
He wasn’t going to lose both of his boys.