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Knock knock knock knock!
Who could that be?
...
Gee, I wonder, with only two people in the house, and someone so obviously struggling to even get around here all day long.
The id’s upper half croaked with whirrs as it bent upwards, a neutral pose as his palms lay at his sides.
“[You can come in, Heart.]”
The knob of the door churned, then obeying with a creak as it peeled open.
“(H. How did you know it was me…?)” Heart whined, his voice tortured by hoarse strain.
“[Listen kid, it's not a mystery to anyone. You've been wobbling like a baby deer all day long, and you look like your head’s been spinning like a dreidel.]” Mind said, a gentle smile waking across his lips. “[Come, sit here.]”
His hooves cut across the ground, faint scratches biting with each step.
Heart dropped his body onto Mind’s cot, then producing a slight whimper as Mind’s arms enveloped him, then dragging him into his lap.
“[There, there…]” Mind cooed. “[What’s on your mind?]”
“(Do you always have to say that specifically…?)”
“[You always complain how I’m ‘so humourless’, and then complain even more once I actually make a joke…]”
“(I… touché.)” Heart said, defeated.
“[That’s right,]” Mind smirked, stroking Heart’s side. “[Don’t try to best me in an argument when you're sick, alright kiddo?]”
“( Mrrmrmrmm …)” Heart complained. “(Shut up…)”
“[Okay…]” Mind chuckled, as the back of his hand touched and idled on Heart’s forehead. “[Goodness, you're hot.]”
“( Yeah… )” Heart hummed. “(I also feel really nauseous…)”
“[If you vomit on my cot, I will make you clean it up, regardless on if you are sick or not.]”
“(Mmmmm… I'm sorry.)” Heart pushed his head into Mind’s stomach.
“[That’s okay, I wasn't serious.]” Mind smiled, dancing his nails under Heart’s chin. “[You should really rest, though… You are in no condition to perform any activity until you have reached adequate homeostasis.]”
“(All these big words…)” Heart cooed. “(They're making my head hurt more.)”
“[Mm. Well, would you like telling me what's on your mind, finally? You never come to me when you're sick unless there's another problem.]”
“(Mind… If I tell you what's wrong, how do I know it will not be weaponised? How do I know Soul isn't listening? How…)”
“[Stress is not good for your fever, Heart.]” Mind said, pulling the id even closer. “[I have not once weaponised information you've fed me before, not even during actual arguments. And Soul is very asleep, can you not hear his snoring?]”
Mind paused so his point could be proven. And just like that, the gentle but heavy breathing of Soul’s was, albeit in a muffled form, audible.
“(Mrrrm… Okay.)” Heart decided.
“[Alright, now go on.]”
“(I’m… I’m afraid … Of Soul.)”
“[Aren’t we both?]”
“(Yes, but… I can't help but endlessly care for him. I don't know if it's because I see him as a Host, or I see him as a friend or a brother… Or that it's just my id-stincts telling me I want to merge with him, because that's my purpose.)”
“[I see.]”
“(I can't help but feel so fond of him, while my heart tells me I should fear him instead. My heart gives me such potent mixed signals… Do I want to be Whole with him? Do I want to lie in his arms for eternity, basking in his warmth? Do I want him to cherish me, and read me stories as I fall asleep? Or do I want to cower at his knees, his voice like lightning? Living a life without fear, where I never have to see him again?)”
“[Your thoughts sound very complex. It's not an easy thing to do to care for someone who can't help but harm you.]”
“(Yes… But is it wrong ? Am I wrong? Is it my fault that I only see the greatness in him, when he's poison to the touch? Or is it my fault that I reject his rays of warmth, but he does all he can for me?)”
“[We… don't choose who we do and don't like, Heart. We didn't even choose to be born, as a matter of fact.]” Mind stated. “[It is not our faults we were put in this situation, and it is not your fault that your heart is just trying to make due with flimsy, rotted cardboard materials.]”
“(…That… that makes sense.)”
“[I mean, think about it.]” Mind placed his finger on Heart’s nose. “[Is it not better to lie to yourself that you love someone, rather than to live with knowing that you hate them? It makes sense to the most bare, primitive part of your mind. A real-life id, if you will.]”
“(I… I never thought of it like that, actually…)”
“[Mmhm. Sometimes, we strip the truth so far down that we, to some semblance, can view it as a vague reality, but barricade it with lies so it doesn't hurt to look at.]”
“(…You’re very wise, Mind.)”
“[Thank you. I have to be, when I’m surrounded by two idiots all of the time.]” Mind chuckled, ruffling Heart’s hair. “[Is that all, Heart?]”
“(…Basically, yeah.)” Heart shrugged.
“[Alright, let’s get you comfortable, so you can fall asleep and stay asleep.]”
“(Thank you…)” Heart cooed, again, snuggling up to Mind’s body.
Mind’s thick, well-muscled arms obtained Heart’s scrawny body, the id tucked into his form. The two limbs wrapped under his arms like a present bow, and his legs locked the other's into a comfortable place.
Black eyes escaped underneath lids, and Heart’s consciousness started to slowly be drowned in the kind, peaceful embrace of sleep.
Mind himself had begun to descend into dreams, and eased his thoughts into a snail-paced, relaxed tunnel.
The night proceeded without dismay.