Chapter Text
The Krabby Patty secret formula. Gone from Plankton’s reach once again. He’d tried to steal a patty. Again. He’d tripped while running. Again. Theoretically, he could’ve just picked it up, stood up, and kept running.
But, of course, he was thwarted by his own hubris. He yelled a taunt to the fry cook as he was leaving the building. The fry cook who chased him all the way to the field where he fell.
Spongebob ran up to him and picked the Krabby Patty up off the ground. Plankton raised his head to glare at Spongebob. The fry cook was giving him a look of…anger?
No…
Disappointment.
Plankton quickly lowered his head, staring at the ground. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Do NOT cry.
After a long minute, Spongebob finally spoke. “...Plankton?”
“What do you w-” Plankton glanced up and saw Spongebob’s extended arm. “...What are you doing??”
“...I’m…helping you up?” The fry cook flashed his innocent smile, a stark contrast from the disappointed glare he had just moments before.
“...Why would you help me up?”
“Well, it’s rude to let you just lay there!”
Plankton stared at him for a minute, before snarling. “I can get up by myself, thank you very much!” He slowly, painfully, struggled to his feet while Spongebob looked on timidly.
“...So…are you okay?”
Instead of answering, Plankton turned and ran.
“Plankton! Wait!” Spongebob ran after him.
“Leave me alone!” Plankton yelled. Spongebob did not.
He ruins my plan and now he’s being NICE to me?? What is WRONG with him? Why can’t he just hate me like everyone else?
“Plankton! Come back!”
Plankton didn’t respond. Again. He kept running. He didn’t really have a destination in mind. Just anywhere without Spongebob. But Spongebob followed.
Eventually he stopped at the top of a hill. He leaned over, panting. Spongebob ran over to him, still holding the really gross Ground Krabby Patty.
“Why were you running?”
“ PLEASE. Just leave me alone.” Plankton growled under his breath. He tried very hard to ignore the tears in his eyes.
“But-”
“ GO AWAY!!! ” Plankton screamed at the poor boy. Spongebob flinched back.
“Are…” The fry cook finally spoke. “...are you…okay?”
“No, I fell and I lost my KRABBY PATTY !!” Spongebob flinched again at Plankton’s raised voice. “Next time you see your GODDAMN boss, tell him I’m turning him into CRAB CAKES !!”
They stared at each other for a while, before Spongebob finally spoke up.
“...Plankton..?” Spongebob glanced down at the gross patty in his hand, before glancing back at the one-eyed man. “...why are you so…mean?”
Plankton gave him a disgusted glare.
“Oh, come on, Plankton.” The sponge spoke quietly, kindly, like he was coaxing a stray kitten. “Why can’t you just…be nicer to people?!”
Plankton hung his head. “Because…that’s not how I was raised.”
“...What do you mean..?”
Plankton slowly sat down on the ground. “I was not raised to be nice to people.”
Spongebob sat down next to him. “So…what were you raised to be?”
Plankton sat silently for a while. “...I…don’t know. I was just…never taught…kindness…”
“I can teach you!” Spongebob beamed.
“Uh, thanks, Spongebob, but it doesn’t work like…” Plankton paused for a minute. Well…maybe…
“All right, fine.” Plankton muttered. “You win. Teach me about the ‘power of friendship’ or whatever.”
“YAY!” Spongebob pumped his fists in the air.
“NOT right now.” Plankton stood up and brushed himself off, still trying his best not to cry. “Right now I’m going home to sleep. You should probably get back to your job or Krabman’ll get upset.”
The fry cook widened his eyes. “Oh! Right! Thanks, Plankton!” And he took off running back to Mr. Krabs’ stupid restaurant. Plankton stood and pondered for a while. Sure, he lost yet another krabby patty and ruined yet another evil scheme, but it felt kind of…nice…to finally tell someone about his pain. Nobody else knew about his parents (except Karen, but he didn’t like to talk to her about his issues. He can’t handle her being worried.) But he also…made…a friend ?
After a while, he began walking back home, smiling to himself. Ha ha. A new friend. And one who works for my biggest competitor! Krabs would be sooooo mad! I mean, sure, the sponge would NEVER give me the formula, but the crab would be TERRIFIED it’d happen! And-
He was so consumed by his thoughts he didn’t realize he’d entered his house and walked right past his wife.
“...Sheldon?” Karen waved her hand in front of his face. “You look happy. Did you finally get the formula?”
“Oh, Karen…” Sheldon leaned sleepily against his wife. “I found something so much better.”