Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Baseball stared at the night sky out the hotel room window. 

While he was with Nickel again, he still felt rather down, mostly because he was still overcome with shock that Suitcase would just break the alliance apart like that. Yeah, Nickel was a jerk, but maybe Suitcase could just confront Nickel about it? No, wait, she did something like that! He didn't really listen... Still... 

Baseball and Nickel were friends, lovers even, no matter how mean Nickel was. And while he hated to admit it, Baseball was also a bit clingy for Nickel internally, and he knew that was kinda taking over when Suitcase voted him off, much to his own dismay. Baseball sighed, he really didn't know what to do...

"Baseball, it's getting late."

Nickel came into the room. Baseball turned and smiled a little, letting out another sigh.

"I know."

The large object hopped onto the bed, with the coin following suit. Nickel closed his eyes, drifting off into slumber. Baseball's eyes, meanwhile, stayed open. He'd been having trouble sleeping lately due to his current state. Not only that, but he also... wanted to go back to simpler times. Much simpler times. Baseball looked at his foot. 

He looked at Nickel, making sure he was sleeping, then looked back at his foot again. He really needed some form of comfort at the moment, and didn't want to disrupt Nickel's sleep. Baseball sighed once more and put the foot in his mouth, sucking on it. Dumb as it looked, he liked the motion. It was pretty soothing. As he suckled, he slowly closed his eyes and fell asleep, foot still in his mouth.

As Nickel woke, he looked to his right and noticed something. Baseball was still sleeping, which was strange, since Baseball usually woke up first. And as he was doing so, he was sucking his foot. Nickel raised an eyebrow in wonder. 'I thought he didn't do that anymore?', he thought. He then shrugged it off and left the room to get breakfast. 

He wasn't a big jerk as he was before, and was starting to get better. Hell, he even was slowly making amends with Balloon! Though that was initially because some objects, like Salt, Pepper, Bomb, Pickle, and especially OJ had now gotten Balloon's back. As he ate his bacon, Nickel thought again, this time pretty hard, about what he saw that morning. He sympathetically wondered and worried about Baseball. He saw Baseball's behavior in previous episodes of the show after his elimination. Nickel admitted that was kind of his fault, and he did apologize. But now he wanted to make up for it more.

He decided to get some pancakes for his friend. Taking the plate up to their room, he knocked on the door. It took about 10 seconds for Baseball to open.

"Hey." Baseball smiled slightly.

Nickel decided not to point out the drool on Baseball's foot, fearing what would happen. He put the plate of pancakes down and started cutting them up. Baseball just looked on, his eyes widening when Nickel poked some pieces with the fork and held it to Baseball's face. Nervous, Baseball smiled.

"Uh.. you do realize... I can feed myself?"

"I know, I know... I just wanted to be nice..." He smiled, still holding the fork.

Baseball shrugged and decided to take a bite out of the pancakes anyway, smiling. They were really good! This continued until the plate was empty. Baseball's face was slightly covered in syrup, making Nickel smile at the sight. He then picked the plate and fork up to bring it back down to be washed. 

Meanwhile, Baseball sat and frowned. He liked that, yes, but was Nickel genuinely being nice? Or did he see him sucking his foot in his sleep and was making fun of him for it? The large object proceeded to walk toward a bag he had, getting out a plush albino bat decorated with red wings. 

Baseball had the bat, or "Strike" as he called it, ever since he was born. He would often use the thing for comfort during his childhood and he found comfort in it to this day. Holding the toy close, he walked to his bed. He decided to forget about the thought that made him upset, turning the small tv on to his likes. 

As Nickel was putting the fork and plate away, he wondered if he went too far with that. 'Baseball sucks his foot again, so what?' He thought to himself. He decided that once he saw Baseball again, he would apologize. Nickel got to their door again, he swore he heard "The Backyardigans" playing on the room's TV before he heard it shut off.

Once again, Baseball opened the door.

This time, however, he looked pretty miserable...

Nickel sighed, "Baseball, I just want to apologize if you thought I was making fun of you for... sucking your own foot, and I just wanted to... I thought it would make you happy and I wanted it as a way to make up for you-know-what again... and.. And-"

"Nickel... you don't need to apologize. I'm weird, I know..."

"What do you mean?"

"The thing is... I've just felt pretty down recently. Like, I know Suitcase had a perfectly good reason to vote you out, but I'm still shocked that she would.. Do that.. And... I kinda wish I could go back to days where I was happier... with little to no cares in the world... where things were much simpler... so I just rather behave... younger… at times I can... I know... it's unsettling and pathetic... I think it's best you should just go..."

Tears were pouring out of Baseball's eyes, and he started sobbing. It was only a matter of seconds 'til Baseball fell to his rear and the sobs became full blown wailing. Nickel thought for a moment. Baseball was his best friend, he wouldn't leave him now! 

The coin knew all about what was going on with Baseball right now, and understood completely he was doing it due to bad events. He didn't find it unsettling and he definitely didn't find it pathetic. In fact, he wanted to stay with him much longer! He proceeded to walk to Baseball and hugged him as tight as he could.

"Wh... what are you.."

"There's no way I'm going just because of some coping mechanism. Everyone has their own ways of relaxing and relieving stress. Hell, I've heard there are more people who have similar ways like you! I'll repeat, everyone has their own ways of coping with stuff like anxiety, stress, and depression! And you are still the Baseball I know!"

Baseball looked at Nickel. He could feel his heart melting upon hearing those words, and it would become a complete puddle upon hearing the next words Nickel said.

"In fact... how would you feel if I said... I want to give you some care while you're..."

"Regressed?"

"Yeah... or would you think I'm making fun of-"

"I would actually love that."

The two exchanged smiles as they hugged each other once more.

Nickel awoke to sobs at around 5 in the morning. He turned to Baseball, who was, indeed, the source of the cries.

"Something wrong?" Nickel held onto Baseball, calming the larger object down a little.

"Nightmare..." Baseball said between sobs, not even bothering to make a full sentence.

"I see..." Nickel nodded his head, going into the drawer of the nightstand next to the bed and pulling out a red and white pacifier, placing it in Baseball's mouth.

Baseball suckled on the given soother, calming near completely as Nickel rubbed his back. The item was bought by Nickel along with many other childish supplies like dolls and children's books throughout the days ever since Baseball revealed his secret to Nickel. The coin also got out Strike from Baseball's side of the bed, giving it to his pal who accepted it completely. The larger of the two looked down at his roommate and asked,

"Can I watch Dinosaur Train?"

"If you promise to sleep again soon, then yes."

Nickel got out of the bed and got out a Dinosaur Train DVD, placing it in the DVD player connected to the small TV, playing episodes of the show. Nickel smiled and got back on the bed. Baseball held onto him, still sucking on the pacifier and cuddling the plush as he watched, falling asleep during the fourth episode that played. Smiling, the shorter object tucked him in the bed, softly petting his head.

"Sleep well, Little Slugger..."

The End

Chapter Text

“I’m sorry, Fan..”

Those were the last words Test Tube said to Fan before he had to leave the show.

The entire day was very emotionally distressing for Test Tube. Not only was she wondering how taking care of whatever comes out of the egg would go, but she was also worried about what will happen if she was eliminated and saw Fan again. Would they get back on good terms? Or would they go separate ways for good?

The mutant sighed, putting the alien egg aside on a safe place as she walked through her lab. There was a nearby door next to one of her cupboards, which she approached and opened.

Behind the door was a nursery-like room. The walls were painted pastel green, with a couple cute science and math related pictures plastered on. The carpeting was a darker shade of green and very soft. There were coloring books and sketchbooks sprawled out complete with crayons. At one of the walls there was a white wardrobe that was also plastered with cute stickers and the like, next to it a bookshelf full of picture books about stuff like animals and space. On the other side there was a large white crib with green bedding and a mobile with stars, between a small dresser and a decorated toy chest. In the corner there was a mini fridge with food and drinks for Test Tube’s “small” state

Sometimes, Test Tube would be overwhelmed with stress. This would cause her to regress to an earlier state and within her lab she had a secret room within her lab that helped her feel comfortable in this state. Somehow, the glass creature could sense that was happening to her right now due to today’s events.

Letting out a sigh, Test Tube walked into the room and went to the dresser. She took off her lab coat and pants, pulling the middle drawer and pulling out a dark green footed sleeper instead. Putting the sleeper on, Test Tube laid her usual clothes aside and closed the drawer. The mutant proceeded to open the top drawer, getting out a green pacifier. She proceeded to lower the left bars of her crib and stepped in, taking off her glasses and setting them on the dresser, lifting the bars back up. Putting the pacifier in her mouth, she lightly suckled and picked up a plush rat lying in her crib, cuddling it and regressing completely.

“Testy, are you in your small state?”

The still glum Test Tube let out only a whine as a response. Lightbulb knew that Test Tube sometimes regressed, and would take care of her some of these times. Test Tube ultimately didn’t mind when Lightbulb entered the room.

“How’s my widdle scientist doing?” The machine tried to lighten the green blooded humanoid’s mood.

Test Tube let out another whine, this one a bit louder than the last. Lightbulb quickly caught on to what was bugging her and went up to the glass humanoid’s crib. Test Tube turned to face Lightbulb and lifted her arms up. She did indeed want the comfort at the moment.

Lightbulb picked Test Tube up, cradling her. The regressed mutant nuzzled herself against the robot, a couple tears streaming down her face.

“It’s gonna be okay, sweetie… it wasn’t your fault…”

Test Tube just sniffled a bit, hanging onto Lightbulb and sucking on the pacifier a bit more. The robot proceeded to open the top drawer of the dresser and get out an empty bottle. She then went to the mini fridge and set Test tube down, opening it. Getting out a carton of juice, Lightbulb went back to the dresser and set the bottle on the top so she wouldn’t spill juice on the carpet. Lightbulb opened the bottle, then the juice carton and poured the drink into the bottle, sealing it when it was full.  The robot then closed the juice carton and picked both that and the bottle, going back to the fridge and placing the carton back there. Finally, she picked Test Tube back up. 

A bit reluctant, Test Tube allowed Lightbulb to remove the paci from her mouth and accepted the bottle from Lightbulb.

“Thank you…”

Lightbulb nodded her head as Test Tube suckled from the bottle, continuing to cradle her. This carried on until the bottle was empty. Lightbulb removed the bottle and put it aside to clean it for later. Test Tube let out a small burp before Lightbulb placed the paci back into Test Tube’s mouth.

Test Tube happily accepted the pacifier, now getting a bit tired. Lightbulb took notice of this and went to Test Tube’s crib, placing the glass humanoid right in and tucking her in as Test Tube cuddled her plush rat once more. The machine then turned the mobile on, letting it spin as Test Tube slowly drifted off to slumber, paci still in mouth. Lightbulb smiled, going to the door and turning the light off, turning to the crib one more time before going to do her own thing.

“Good night, my widdle scientist…”

The next morning, Test Tube thought of something in her crib. During her times with Baseball the other day, she knew that he has been in emotional distress a bit longer than her. She wondered if this would be perfect for him as well. She might have to talk to Lightbulb about it, but for now, she felt like having a conversation with her toy rat about stuff that interested her at the moment.

Chapter Text

The sun shone bright and hot this morning at Hotel OJ. Mutant objects were eating breakfast, watching TV, or just simply sleeping in. One of the ones sleeping in was Bomb, who lied in his bed, smiling as he rested. However, his rest would be lightly interrupted when he felt some light bouncing.

“Morning!”

Bomb opened his eyes and saw the master of the hotel, OJ himself, sitting on top of him with a simple smile on his face, wearing a cute bright orange footed sleeper. Some days, OJ didn’t feel like being in charge of a whole building. It just stressed him out often, so when he could, he would go, in his own words, “back to basics”. Bomb was forgiven by OJ after a couple conflicts with him a couple years ago, so OJ had Bomb give him care and help him out during these times.

“Uh, guh-gh-g’morning, OJ.”

Bomb smiled, getting up and picking up OJ. The glass mutant giggled a bit as he was held in Bomb’s arms. Bomb then noticed two shyer mutants on the floor, looking up at him and smiling.

“Oh, uh, you in yuh-your suh-small states as well?”

Paper and Balloon both nodded their heads. Paper was one to regress to cope with and get away from traumatic experiences, while Balloon had suffered anxiety and wanted to forget about that by regressing as well, and though he was forgiven by a lot including Bomb, OJ, and Paper, he still felt down at times. The two were also wearing clothes to feel more comfortable, Paper wearing a white hoodie covered in his own scribbles and Balloon a sky blue onesie with clouds on it.

“Duh-do-do you wuh-want to be held as well?”

Balloon and Paper nodded their heads. Bomb chuckled to himself and picked the other two up. He was surprisingly strong for his height.

Bomb carried them down the stairs and to the main floor. He then proceeded to open a door to a room that was recently added. After OJ found out he definitely wasn't the only one who regressed, he decided to add a nursery for the regressing objects and their caregivers, if any, to feel at ease.

The room had quite a lot of cribs, each for different regressed mutants that also had mobiles and within a couple plush toys and animals that matched the regressors' likings. There was also a colorful mat that had several cute animals like cats, dogs, and bunnies. Another thing was the minifridge full of food and drinks in case a regressed mutant got hungry. Finally there was a television and a set of children’s movies and cartoons, a bookshelf full of picture books, and a toy chest, although there were some toys scrambled on the ground.

Bomb set OJ and Paper down on the colorful mat, OJ playing with a toy truck and Paper deciding to read a picture book, while Balloon felt like being held and cradled for a while longer until he finally wanted to be set down as well. Bomb couldn't help but smile.

However, it wasn't until long that Paper threw the book he was reading and started crying. OJ crawled to the bawling looseleaf mutant and tried to pat his back and comfort him, with only a bit of success. Bomb of course heard Paper's cries and picked him up.

"Puh-Paper, wuh-what is it?"

Right after asking that Bomb remembered that Paper wasn't in the mental capacity to properly answer that and was met with more wails and sobs. OJ slightly tugged at Bomb's pants to get the explosive humanoid's attention, which had full success. OJ showed Bomb the book Paper was reading and let out the words he could say during his small state.

"Paper scared…"

The book Paper was reading was about ocean life. The exact page that scared him? A picture of a dolphin.

"Poor baby… duh-don't worry, I'm right here. Thuh-tere are no dolphins around to hurt you…"

Paper calmed a bit but still let out a couple sniffles and sobs. Finally, looking through a large set of drawers, Bomb was able to find Paper's white and baby blue pacifier, giving it to his baby.

Paper frantically suckled on the paci but eventually slowed down as Bomb rubbed his back. OJ, crawled over to a nearby wastebasket and threw in the book that scared Paper. Bomb was gonna say something but instead just smiled to himself. Meanwhile, Balloon, who was initially playing with some plush birds until Paper started crying, crawled to Bomb very worried about Paper.

"Hey… duh-don't worry… Puh-Paper's okay now…"

Balloon still looked with a teary-eyed look on his face as Bomb set Paper down. Bomb then got an idea and sat down, covering his eyes.

"Where is puh-papa?" Bomb asked, smiling.

The result Bomb got was not exactly the one he was expecting, as he only succeeded in making Balloon whimper and even sob a bit. Ultimately Bomb uncovered his eyes.

"Ih-it's okay, baby!! I'm here!! Duh-don't worry…"

Balloon calmed down, but still was a bit upset…

Luckily, Bomb had a Plan B.

He picked up one of the plushies that Balloon was playing with, giving it to the red object who accepted it wholly. Then, he got out an empty red bottle, going toward the minifridge and getting out a carton of milk, filling the red bottle with said milk and finally warming up the bottle a bit. Finally, he gave the milk to Balloon, who drank it to his heart’s content.

One Balloon finished, Bomb decided to get out a bright red pacifier and give that to the now calm mutant as well. Sure enough Balloon accepted that. Bomb could also tell that the shy mutant was now getting tired as well. Bomb smiled and picked him up, taking Balloon to his crib where he was met with his cloud mobile, which Bomb began to spin. Looking at the mobile, Balloon softly fell into a nap as Bomb smiled and went back to watching OJ and Paper, who were now playing pattycake.

Bomb was glad to give the three the stuff they needed.

Chapter Text

“C’mon, Suity!!!”

Balloon smiled as he held the luggage-based mutant’s hand. Suitcase regressed to an age early enough that she mostly preferred crawling and Balloon wasn’t really strong enough to carry her but holding her prosthetic hand would do just as well. Balloon, meanwhile, had only regressed to a slightly older headspace, so he decided to be like Suitcase’s ‘big brother’ for the time being.

Suitcase had been through way too much before. She witnessed horrible stuff, saw horrible things… She was glad she could finally get away from it all now. Her only focus now was on her other hand, currently in her mouth for comfort. To go with Balloon’s sky-themed onesie with overalls she was wearing a brown and yellow-striped sweater with a yellow overall skirt.

It wasn’t long until they reached the hotel’s nursery. Balloon happily led Suitcase in.

The two were the only ones visiting right now, but they did not mind.

If you couldn’t tell already, this was Suitcase’s first time going into the nursery. She immediately let go of Balloon’s hand and got on all fours, crawling towards the colorfully decorated walls to look at the cute characters and stickers plastered on along with the pastel-colored shelves. The mutant also explored through the cute mat along with the cribs for different regressors, along with her recently added one. She absolutely loved it. The bars were a chocolate brown and the bedding itself had different shades of yellow. Hanging over it was a mobile with different cute wild animals.

“Oh! Also.. OJ wanted me to give this to you!!”

Upon hearing Balloon’s voice, Suitcase turned her head to see Balloon holding a yellow pacifier, no doubt meant for her. Attached to it was a matching pacifier clip. The red mutant clipped said paci clip onto Suitcase’s sweater and removed Suitcase’s hand from her mouth to properly place the paci in, which Suitcase accepted.

“Fank yoo big brudder!!” Suitcase chirped as she smiled behind the paci, sucking on it.

Balloon smiled back, glad that Suitcase loved the gift.

Suitcase proceeded to grab a plush jaguar and crawled to a toy house. She had to spit out her pacifier to speak, but it was okay due to the paci clip.

“Brudder play wif me?”

“Sure thing lil’ sis!!!”

Balloon took a stuffed cardinal and followed her along. What they played was rather simple. The jaguar Suitcase played as was roommates with the bird Balloon played as, and they were best friends. They had the plushies throw tea parties, go shopping, and see a movie.

Soon after that game, the two decided to move on and find a cute activity book, also getting some nearby crayons.

“Alright, Suity, how about we read any instructions and follow-”

“Stickers!!! Scribbles!!!”

Seeing how happy Suitcase was putting the stickers that came with the book anywhere and drawing and coloring on the pages, Balloon smiled.

“On second thought…”

So they got some coloring books as well and did that. It was admittedly very fun.

Soon Suitcase crawled up to a strange colorful box she found. It had nothing on it except a handle on one of the sides and a closed opening on the top. Curiously she turned the handle, causing the box to play a music box tune…

Balloon was playing with a block sorting toy when he was startled by the loud wailing of his lil’ sis. Immediately he saw her and he could see what had happened. Suitcase had unknowingly played with a jack-in-the-box and of course was way too shocked by the outcome.

“Why do we even still have that thing?”

The mutant went to Suitcase and hugged her tightly, reassuring her that she was going to be okay. Balloon also placed the paci attached to Suitcase’s sweater back into her mouth, of course calming her completely. After Suitcase was okay with letting go now, Balloon decided to do what OJ did and throw the jack-in-the-box in the wastebasket along with that sea life book that scared Paper a while back.

Suitcase and Balloon decided to play a little game of pattycake after all that trouble before deciding to watch a couple cartoons on the DVD.

“How ‘bout Spongebob?”

Suitcase shook her head.

“Oh yeah… you don’t really like the ocean… Super Why?”

“Eh…”

“Hmmm… oh!! You like Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood?”

Suitcase nodded her head in delight.

“Okay! We’ll watch that!!”

It wasn’t until the 15th episode in that OJ decided to check in on the two regressed humanoids to see them fast asleep. He smiled that his nursery was being put to good use. It was also very convenient that Suitcase’s crib was built right next to Balloon’s as he decided to have them rest in a comfier place. Before he left, he decided to turn off the main light and turn on a couple night lights just in case.

“Sleep well, you two…”

Chapter Text

The Cherries and YinYang heard a knock on their room’s door.

What they didn’t expect to hear was crying. Not simple sniffling, not just sobs. Outright wails.

“Who do you suppose it is…?” Yin asked.

“Whoever it is, it must have been really bad to have them crying like that.” L-Cherry responded.

It was quickly known who would answer, as the Cherries got up to the room’s entrance. As they got close to the door, the cries sounded familiar, with a nasally-like voice. Both YinYang and the Cherries realized they knew that voice all too well. 

R-Cherry was the one to place his hand on the doorknob and open it. What they saw confirmed their guess.

Tissues was the source of the cries.

“Tissues…?”

The tissue box’s cries only died down just a little as he reached his arms out for the Cherries.

The two agreed this wasn’t some sort of prank, and were beginning to suspect what was actually going on.

The both of them picked Tissues up. As he held onto R tightly, his cries reduced to just sobs. 

“Yin?” L-Cherry called out.

“Yang?” R-Cherry added as they walked to the two-sided symbol.

“Yes?” “What now?”

“We think something’s up with Tissues.”

The pair set the object in question down. Tissues only let out a whine before going up to YinYang. What got their attention was the fact that Tissues was crawling.

As soon as Tissues was close, Yin used his arm to pick up and hold him. Tissues embraced YinYang like he did with the Cherries. Yang was usually a violent one, but he was surprisingly rather calm when it came to Tissues.

“I know exactly what’s going on with him.” He told them, as he gently rocked Tissues to sleep.

“What is it?” The Cherries asked in unison.

Yin was the one to answer that.

“Some objects, if they’re dealing with issues like anxiety or trauma, will often regress to an earlier mental state. Tissues, in general, seems like a stressed and anxious one, so I’m not surprised to see him doing it. How early, it varies, but it seems Tissues is now around a year, I want to say. It’s actually a very valid way to cope! 

Yang added on,

“Also a fun fact, we heard in old mythology that regressing when troubled was because of clock-like creatures that wanted to help others in the best way they knew. They were called the Timepires.”

The Cherries listened with great attention.

“That’s very interesting to know!” R-Cherry reacted in awe.

“Now all I want to know is that if Tissues couldn’t go all the way here and knock on our door, who did?” L-Cherry asked.

They then all noticed the post-it note plastered on one of Tissues’ sides.

“How could we miss that?” Yin wondered.

R-Cherry gently took it to read,

“for yinyang. he’s your problem. lol. -trophy.”

“I AM GOING TO PUMMEL THAT MOTHERF-”

“YANG! Not in front of the baby!” Yin interrupted.

“How could someone be so insensitive to leave behind what is mentally an infant, see it as a ‘problem’ that someone else needs to deal with? And LAUGH at us about it?!” Yang revealed his standards.

“The joke’s on him, he left Tissues in the care of you.” L-Cherry responded.

“That is true…” Yin looked at the regressed object, who was about to wake up no thanks to Yang’s yelling.

“...but I know nothing about babies, mental or physical!” Yang continued, his anger turning into worry. “What if we mess up?! What if we accidentally take our anger out on him?! What if…”

They looked around. The only thing that came with Tissues was the note.

“WE DON’T HAVE THE STUFF FOR HIM.” Now Yin was the one to yell.

Tissues woke up. Wailing.

“Oops…”

“And we thought Mic was the loud one.” R-Cherry joked.

“What do we do?! Tissues is crying again, Trophy left him, and Trophy left us unprepared!” Yang panicked.

“Maybe Tissues had some stuff for himself in his and Trophy’s room?” L-Cherry suggested, in a volume that YinYang could hear over the wails.

Of course! Yin and Yang were relieved, but…

“Who should get them?” Yin asked.

“What?”

“WHO SHOULD GET THEM?” Yang repeated.

“Oh! You guys can! After all, you did want to pummel Trophy, right, Yang? We can have Tissues in the meantime!” R-Cherry recommended.

“I think we can do that! Let’s go Yang!” Yin gently handed Tissues to the Cherries as he and Yang (of course, as they shared a body) took a laundry basket conveniently sitting there and left the room, off to hopefully get the stuff needed and maybe even some sweet revenge.

Trophy heard his door get kicked open.

He turned his head to see YinYang standing before him. Both sides were furious.

“Oh hey, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Shouldn’t you be dealing with the crybaby I gave you?”

“He’s in the Cherries’ care for now. And first of all, we read the note. He won’t be a problem to us.” Yang coldly answered.

“Pfff, whatev-”

“Second of all,” Yin continued, “Are there any supplies needed for him?”

“Uh, yeah. I didn’t give it to you because I already looked stupid holding a manbaby. I didn’t want to look stupider holding a buncha baby stuff.”

Yang’s eye rapidly shook, his fist clenched.

“Okay.” Yin told Yang.

Just like that, Trophy was met with a punch.

“SOMEONE IS COPING WITH TOUGH TIMES AND ALL YOU COULD THINK OF WAS YOUR EGO?! TISSUES IS A FRAGILE SOUL, ESPECIALLY IN THE STATE HE IS IN NOW!”

Before Trophy could speak again, he was kicked in his face.

“YOU MADE A BIG MISTAKE GIVING HIM TO US AND EXPECTING EITHER US TO BELIEVE WE’RE CARRYING A BURDEN OR HIM TO PERISH, BECAUSE YOU ARE DEAD WRONG. WE WILL LOVE, CHERISH, AND HELP HIM WHEN HE NEEDS IT. TISSUES IS GOING TO BE OKAY.”

By now, Trophy was barely conscious. But Yang was still punching him until…

“Yang? The supplies.”

That was one of the few times Yang had ever complied to Yin’s words.

The symbol went to the dresser by Tissues’ bed and opened each and every one of the drawers. The bottom drawer indeed had the stuff they needed. There was a soft teal blanket, some bottles, pacifiers, and even plush toys and coloring books.

Both sides were relieved. They placed them all into the basket and left the room, content.

Trophy lied there in agony for hours.

As YinYang headed back to their room, they heard whimpers and sobs.

“Is he any better?” Yin asked as he and Yang walked in to find the teary Tissues hugging L-Cherry as the pair tried to cradle him.

“Only a little…”

“I got some things…” Yang said as he and Yin put the laundry basket down.

Tissues’ crying died down more as he saw YinYang get out his blankie, the Cherries letting them wrap it around him. YinYang then proceeded to pick Tissues up, hugging and holding him softly yet with a good embrace. 

The next thing Tissues knew was that his paci was in his mouth. Calming down even more, he sucked a couple times on the soother, feeling safe as he was cradled and rocked.

“How are you feeling, Tiss?” Yin asked, smiling.

Underneath his paci, Tissues smiled and could barely mutter more than a “Dada....” as he nuzzled up to YinYang, sleeping once more.

It was a calm moment for usually chaotic objects.

They knew they were going to be okay.