Chapter Text
Gaty has been back for 3 days and 6 hours. Everything has changed, and Two looks entirely different. They used to be chubby. Their hair was always tied back with a fringe and at least moderately clean. They always wore the same few button up shirts and the same few trousers or tutus (or both) that they liked most. They would wear a few large bracelets on each wrist and hated when their shirt cuffs were done up. They refused to wear plain shirts or jackets, claiming they were too boring. They never took off the five hairclips on their fringe unless sleeping.
They dont do that anymore. They wear the same plain black jacket and the same green plaid trousers that Gaty is certain she saw them wearing as pyjamas multiple times. She doesnt doubt a pyjama shirt is under that jacket either. They dont wear any accessories and look significantly skinnier, how their trousers are staying on she doesnt know. Their hair is always loose and has grown far beyond a point they refused to let it even go near before, their fringe looks like curtain bangs too. Their wavy hair has become tangled, which was always a problem for them, but has become much worse.
Nobody else noticed, but their eyebags have also become much darker, something she didnt know was even possible considering their sleep schedule.
Gaty needed to talk to them. In their room, which she hasnt actually seen yet. She doesnt doubt that it's just as bad.
Gaty lays in her bed on her phone. 6pm. She gets up, groaning, before making her way Twos room. She knows that they're in there when she approaches and hears a noise from inside.
"Two? Can i come in?"
A sound of something falling can be heard along with a few quiet swears. A zipper can faintly be heard before two speaks, not opening the door.
"Gaty! Hi! Ho-how about we go to y-your room instead?"
"No Two, we need to have a chat."
"Uh- okay! Just one moment!"
Bags can be heard shuffling inside and she hears a drawer open and shut and then another one opens. She doesnt wait for them to finish and instead just opens the door. Two drops something in the drawer and slams it shut as they hear the door. The smell hits her instantly, something she doesnt recognise, but cant be good at all.
"Two. What's going on."
"N-nothing!"
"I know it isnt nothing! Please, just tell me."
Two doesnt say anything, just sits on the bed and looks at Gaty. She goes and sits next to them.
"I- uh- really missed you. I think it was kind of my breaking point, I was already struggling before you left. W-when i realised you were basically erased completely, i didnt leave my bed. Four and X would get me food but i didnt eat it. There was rotting food all over my room."
"Is that what the smell is? A-and the bags i heard?"
"Yeah."
"Did you relapse?"
...
"Y-yeah. Im sorry..."
"Can i see?"
"Uh- I- uh- its kinda- uh- bad. B-but okay."
They unzip the jacket and pull it off, revealing their arm which is covered in cuts and blood. Some were fresh and still bleeding.
"Oh Two... We need to clean these up. Do you have anything to use?"
"No."
"Okay. I'll go downstairs and get some from the kitchen. Stay here."
Gaty stands up and speedwalks to the kitchen, heading straight for the first aid kit. She looks inside and just decides to take the entire thing instead of a few things. Four spots her but doesnt mention it. She goes back to Twos room and grabs their hand on the uninjured arm.
"Lets go, cmon."
They stand up and the pair walk to the bathroom that connects to their room.
"When did you last shower?"
"I dont remember..."
"Are you okay with me helping you?"
"Yeah, whatever."
She gets in to turn on the shower as they get undressed before quickly stepping out before the water begins to run. Gaty notices a few things that were previously covered. More scars covering their legs, luckily healed, and a collection of sores across their back which she could only guess were extremely bad before.
"You can quickly rinse off, and then im giving you a bath."
They get in and rinse off while Gaty runs the bath until it is full enough and shuts off the tap. Two turns off the shower and sits down. Gaty takes some shampoo into her hand and scrubs their hair the best she can, making sure to clean their scalp and being wary of any pain they might be feeling from it. She then pushes them down and gets the soap out.
She grabs a brush and some conditioner, making sure it evenly goes in their hair. While conditioner doesnt usually go on the roots, this time it needs to. Gently, she begins to brush their matted hair, rubbing their arm that isnt wounded as she does. They let out a few whimpers of pain and even begins to cry at some point, but its needed.
"It hu-rts..."
"I know. We can take a break if you like?"
"Yes please." Their voice is quiet and broken.
Two turns around and nuzzles into Gatys neck. She lifts their head up and plants a kiss on their forehead before wrapping her arms around them just below their shoulders.
"Im so sorry. I dont know why you put up with me..."
"Because i love you Two! Nothing can change that." Gaty pulls away from the hug. "Are you okay to start brushing again?"
Two nods and turns back around. She applies some more conditioner and then picks up the brush and runs it through their hair. It becomes easier and easier to brush, until eventually, it goes straight through.
"We're done!"
"Oh thank god. My head is so sore. How- uh- how thin is it?"
"Not too bad, you already have quite thick hair so it doesnt look awful. Do you wanna cut it back to how you like it?"
"Yeah, that would be nice. I have some hair scissors in that drawer."
They point to a cabinet slightly shorter than the sink, specifically at the top drawer. She opens it to see a wide range of hair products, and buried at the bottom, a pair of hair scissors.
"Alright, ready?"
"Mhm."
"Cool. Head straight."
They tilt their head up slightly and she begins to cut away at the length until it reached just below their shoulders, knowing their waves would make it a bit shorter when dry. She then trims upwards to make sure it didnt look blunt.
"Turn around please."
They turn to face her. Gaty grabs a comb and collects the hair that should be a fringe. She then trims it below their eyebrows, making sure it would be the right length when dry. She cuts some layers into the top of their hair, being wary to not remove too much due to how thin it currently is.
"There you go!"
Two gives a slight smile before standing up to turn the shower back on. Gaty unplugs the drain so the hair that didnt fall on the floor would actually go. Once all the hair was rinsed off, Gaty started the bath until it filled up again. After, she took a flannel and some body wash.
"Shouldnt we use a... uh... yknow?"
"A loofah. And no, your back is covered in sores and we dont wanna irritate anything."
"Ah. Okay."
She begins to gently scrub at their skin, making sure it wasnt too painful. She kept note of any areas that looks red or flaky, being extra careful there.