Chapter Text
Grox's mouth wrapped around the spoon once more as he took the final bite of his ice cream, so graciously served to him by the same guy who had kidnapped him. It seemed as if anything could happen, as long as the two were near. A story of any kind could end up playing out.
He set the empty bowl back into his lap, the piece of silverware resting in it. It was clear as day to see that the wither skeleton was benefitting from the food. He already looked to be a bit more awake than before, his head finally sitting comfortably on his shoulders again. His posture had straightened out as well, most likely because he had finally realized how hunched he was sitting before. Froggy had no idea that he struggled with something like that. Something so mundane.
"So. Do you feel any better now?"
He was growing exponentially more confident while speaking to him, though it still wasn't easy. It was hard to ignore the flutters in his chest every time Grox did something. It was frankly, quite frustrating.
He received a small nod in response to his question, but the expression on the other's face remained neutral. He was less drowsy now. More just... Exhausted. The nonstop action of causing destruction and expanding his territory had taken a toll on him. Both mentally and physically. His hands looked much rougher than he had remembered. A few small scars had bloomed across his skin.
The green haired man turned his attention away from the other for just a moment, removing the bowl from his lap and placing it on the bedside table next to the first aid kit.
He had only been distracted for a few seconds when he already heard the rustling of sheets, snapping his head back to find a certain king of villagers already attempting to move off of the bed. He was practically crawling, and the blanket still partially covering him wasn't assisting his mobility either. Froggy was concerned he'd fall off and get a second concussion at this rate.
And so, the frog quickly took action. He moved toward Grox, wrapping his arms around his chest and hoisting him back up so he was seated again. He kept his front firmly pressed to the other man's back, ensuring he couldn't move.
"Dude, I just told you to stay here and rest. You're gonna hurt yourself, little man."
The other reacted immediately by grabbing the forearms of his worried rival and attempting to pry them off of him. It was startling how much grip strength he had, even while being overwise harmless (hopefully). As the two engaged in a small struggle, the shorter one spoke firmly.
"If you're going to let me leave anyways. Let me go."
"Goddamn you are strong-"
Froggy muttered over him while trying desperately to keep the smaller framed one in his clutches. It was a bit troubling that a recently concussed Grox could still nearly overpower him. He tried to plead with him.
"Just relax! You need to stay in bed and get some sleep! You'll make it worse if you go back to working right now!"
With that last word he gave an especially firm squeeze, forcing the wither skeleton back against him again. Only now did he notice that the other had most definitely underestimated the amount of energy it took to get in such a squabble. He had begun to pant softly, yet he still tried a few weak attempts at freeing himself.
"I know you're just trying to trick me..."
He huffed out, sluggishly maneuvering yet still failing at separating from the other. It was easy to maintain a steady hold now, but it was kind of sad to watch an injured person exert themself so much.
"You're just trying to earn my trust... So you can make me soft... Make me easier to control..."
He paused to take long breaths between sentences, but eventually managed to seize the heaving of his chest.
Froggy listened, understanding now what he was saying. He didn't believe that he was doing this out of some sort of guilt, or simply the feeling of wanting to help. He thought it was some kind of manipulation tactic, one that he had never deployed before. But how would Grox know if he truly had good intentions or not? What would prove his innocence?
"No I'm not, buddy. You're not thinking straight. I'm doing this for your own good."
The Lord's head laid back against the frog's chest. Just based on his expression, he wasn't convinced. It was easy to tell he wasn't used to being treated with kindness, at least not without ulterior motives. Everything had a price.
"Okay. How about this? We make a deal. To prove to you that you can believe me."
There was the subtlest hint of a beg in his tone, but he didn't care right now. He was focused entirely on trying to make this work. He needed the wither skeleton to have faith in him.
He watched as the other man narrowed his black eyes somewhat, still highly skeptical.
"What deal?"
A sense of relief washed over him. He was willing to hear him out. That's all he really needed to continue.
"A simple one. You have to stay here until you're fully healed, and if I betray you, you can end me on the spot."
That last part is something he said without thinking. He wasn't worried about the terms though. He knew for a fact that there was no world in which he would hurt Grox. He felt too protective of him now. For... Whatever reason.
"Just, please... Let me take care of you?"
He added, now beseeching with his eyes as well as his tone.
It seemed to be enough to finally get through to the wither skeleton, whose expression seemed to soften beneath the mask. Froggy doesn't think anyone has ever seen that before. The Lord's face softening. He feels oddly privileged to be the first.
"Fine."
A simple answer, yet one that also secured the two as disciples. At least for now.
The black haired man finally let go of the frog, but he was then pulled back even further against him instead of being freed. It was an unconscious move, possibly a product of the strange desire to keep him safe from harm.
They both remained still for a few moments, Grox looking confused as the other held onto him like he was the last loaf of bread in a collapsing civilization. Constantly avoiding contact with others naturally made him very touch starved, and unsure how to respond to affection.
"Are you gonna... Let me go now?"
Froggy finally realized that he was practically cuddling with the wither skeleton and quickly let go, slinking off of the bed and standing beside it awkwardly. His expression was a bit sheepish now.
"Sorry..."
He mumbled before explaining that he needed to leave right away, another sorry excuse to avoid confronting his feelings. He didn't want to deal with it. Yet, as he reached for the door handle once again, he wasn't allowed to get away. He was stopped by the voice of the injured man on his bed.
"Wait- Froggy, I have a question."
The sound of his own name on his lips made him stop in his tracks, letting out a resigned, almost inaudible sigh. He slowly turned back around to face the other, accepting that maybe he would have to explain himself after all.
"What's with these photos?"
Grox gestured toward the photos that had been flipped to face the wall, the one's Froggy didn't want to look at. The ones he didn't want to be reminded of.
He wasn't expecting the wither skeleton to notice those.
The two remained frozen in place for what felt like minutes, the taller man racking his brain for explanations while the shorter just waited with unexpected patience. The few yards separating them felt like they stretched on for miles, especially once Froggy finally managed to drag his feet forward in the direction of the polaroids.
His hands felt like they were trembling again, but he tried not to take too long as he gradually made contact with one of the pictures hung above his headboard. He didn't flip it over, instead just lightly brushed a thumb over the glossy white surface.
He hadn't even touched one of the hidden ones in quite some time, but every night when he laid down, he thought of them. He thought of the person in them. In those photos he meant to take down for so long yet couldn't bear to.
"They're... Of an old friend."
Is all he managed to come up with. All that he was willing to share.
It seemed that Grox could somewhat sense his change of tone, and decided not to pry. It was an unforeseen reaction, yet Froggy appreciated it more than he could ever put into words. The Lord really was not all bad. Not like this.
No more words were exchanged as the green haired man retrieved a shoebox from under his bed, handling it with care. When he opened it, he seemed to deliberately avoid looking at the contents inside. Instead he swiped the few overturned photos off the wall as quickly as he could.
He stared off into the distance as his hands did the work, placing the pictures with the rest of the elements of the box's innards. The lid was placed on just as fast as it had been removed, again sealing off whatever memories were contained inside.
Grox could've easily stolen a glance while Froggy was occupied. Yet, he didn't.