Chapter Text
Spoke was a mess. His appearance, his thoughts, just everything. He stared at his best-friend, stunned. He wasn't supposed to see him like this.
He was supposed to be the jokester one, the careless one, the happy one. Not the one scared and absolutely bawling his eyes out at the edge of a pond.
He checked his inventory. There was another potion of invisibility, how had he not seen that before? Regardless, he splashed it on himself. He didn't want anyone, not even Mapicc, to see him like this.
He watched as Mapicc's face darkened, but not in disappointment. Mapicc sighed, taking a small, cautious step towards Spoke, careful not to alarm him any further.
Spoke couldn't help but stare. It was all he could do in the moment, really. Almost unconsiously, his posture tensed as Mapicc walked forwards. He didn't mean it.
Mapicc walked forwards again, his red devil tail swishing fast, a contrast to his slow, careful movements. Slowly but surely, he managed to get next to Spoke.
Approaching a hurt and scared animal was always the most challenging, but always gave the most rewarding award.
He stared up at Mapicc, his expression was soft, welcoming, kind. But all Mapicc was met with was fear, alarm, and panic.
He sat down next to Spoke, but didn't push anything. He just stayed there, not forcing anything--- he was just a presence.
Spoke's invisibility was about to run out. But he couldn't move. He hated being stuck like this. He hated being vunerable. More tears swelled in his eyes. He looked at Mapicc.
Mapicc wasn't staring back at him. Instead, he had his eyes closed, hummimg a small, warm tune. Spoke hadn't even realised. The gesture was almost enough to push Spoke over his limit.
Eventually, his invisibility ran out. He cursed under his breath, getting Mapicc to open one eye and look at Him.
"No more invis.." he muttered to himself.
Suddenly, a pair of arms were around wrapped around him. He froze, before relaxing as he remembered who was next to him. Mapiccs warm arms pulled him closer, making Spoke rest his head against his shoulder.
And just like that, a quiet sob could be heard from him. This was his breaking point he couldn't hold it in anymore. Slowly but surely, more quiet cries were let out, tinting Mapiccs bright red jumper dark.
His arms felt like home, and Spoke hadn't felt home in years.
His crying got louder, and so did Mapiccs humming. Like he was trying to quiet Spoke's sobbing. Mapicc always knew what to do, even if it was a situation he's never been in before.
Mapicc put his hand on Spokes back, and slowly made his way to his hair, before starting to play with his hair. A common soothing action.
Spoke fully melted into Mapicc, it had been so long since he's gotten a break. So long since he's been able to be vunerable--- actually vunerable.
Mapiccs tail swirled around Spoke, pulling him closer like a tighter embrace. He was supposed to be strong, he's supposed to prove Jamato wrong. So why can't he stop crying?
Spoke and Mapicc were left in silence. The occasional humming and cries breaking the quiet. Spoke put his hands over his face so Mapicc wouldn't judge him, but Mapicc couldn't care less.
".. Why didn't you come to me?" Was the first words in a while.
Spoke didn't answer, he couldn't. He tried to, but he was too tired to even do anything, even as simple as talking. Something he always did.
"There's obviously something on your mind. Would you care to tell me? You don't have to if you don't want to, of course."
Mapicc lay his head ontop of Spokes, slightly vibrating from the continuous humming. Mapicc could wait, right? Or would he leave him? He hoped it wasn't the latter.
A few more moments in silence, before he spoke. "I--- ... I don't know where to start." He couldn't tell Mapicc that Jamato was alive, he just couldn't.
"That's okay. Take your time."
"... Do you think I'm like Ash..?"
"What? Of course not dude! Is that really what you were worrying about?"
Mapicc sat up slightly, but he still carefully let Spoke's head rest. He looked down at him, but Spoke was too busy looking into the murky pond.
"I just--- lately I feel like I'm just an echo of what he's done. Like a clone, a copy and paste."
"You're not like him. You never will be. C'mon dude, can't you see? There's SO many differences from you and him. Theres so many that I can't even count!" Mapicc gently elbowed Spoke, in a banter like way.
Spoke laughed slightly, but he didn't know if it was in a happy way or if it was sarcastic. He couldn't tell if Mapicc was lying.
"... Earlier when you weren't here, I looked into the pond as saw him. I just---"
He looked up and saw Mapicc closely analysing him, especially his face. What?
"I don't see no Ashswagg in you anywhere. Unless he became a fish and decided to live in dirty water, then I don't see any Ashswagg.." Mapicc squinted, his eyes looking at the pond then back at him occasionally.
Spoke laughed. Genuinely laughed. He couldn't remember the last time he had a free moment with his best friend like this, but he loved it.
"Are you telling me you don't just think about past events that harshly? No way it's only me." Spoke responded, his voice strained, but lighter than before.
"No??? Bro I think you might have to talk to Zam about that..." Mapicc muttered that last part, but purposefully said it loud enough for Spoke to hear.
Spoke sat up straight, his eyes still lingering on the pond. He looked back at Mapicc. His pupils were still visible, but he had a smile on his face. He was still sad, but Mapicc was here to cheer him up. Surely that would never change, right?
"Listen dude, a serious note, you can always come to me, y'know? Wether you're sad or just want to yap 'bout some knew trap, I'm free." Mapicc flashed a big grin, making Spoke giggle again.
"Now c'mon, lets get back to base before the oh-so-scary Leowook gets here. He's on the hunt for us anyways."
Mapicc stood up, offering a hand down to Spoke.
"Oh. Uh, yeah. Let's go.." Spoke grabbed his hand.
Mapicc didn't know truely how deep Spoke and Leowooks hatred for eachother stemmed, and he never will know.
"Dude, cheer up! Like I said, I could pack him up with a pickaxe!" Mapicc got into a fighting stance while grabbing his pickaxe, then threw air-punches.
Spoke smiled slightly at the action, before he elbowed Mapicc in the hip.
"Ow!--- Hey, what was that for??" Mapicc frowned playfully, he couldn't hide his secret little smile.
"Revenge for elbowing me earlier, while I was literally crying!" Spoke grinned, his usual attitude coming back. Mapicc always knew how to cheer him up.
"Okay okay, I admit, I shouldn't have done that... But it cheered you up! So that was so worth it.!"
"H'ookay dude. Whatever, lets just get back to base." Spoke tried to sound mad, but he could never be mad at his best friend.
"Wait Spoke I have to tell you something..." He said dramatically.
Spoke perked up, he sounded serious. What was with the sudden change of tone and mood?
"Yeah?"
"..."
"Mapicc?---"
"Last one there's a rotten egg!!!"
He started running like his life depended on it, catching Spoke offf guard. He blinked 2 times before he actually processed what was happening.
"Hey what?--- No way!"
Spoke started bolting after Mapicc, he never knew his friend was that fast. Plus, his legs were still slightly shaky! This wasn't fair.
A few moments later, Spoke caught up to him. Mapicc was laying on grass, panting heavily.
"Bro, you okay?---"
"SPOKE. How did you run that far?! I'm.. so out of breath.." Mapicc voice came sharp, but he was still very out of breath.
Spoke giggled, letting him lay there for a bit before offering a hand.
"You were so enthusiastic about getting back to base, and now that we're here, you won't even take my hand!"
He guessed he felt bad about that, because almost immediately after he said that, Mapicc grabbed his hand and got up.
"You're right. Lets get back inside. Its almost like 2 AM anyways."
As they got taken down, Mapicc was talking happily about some random events that happened while Spoke was gone. He honestly wonders how Mapicc is a demon instead of a dog.