Work Text:
was 10pm, late into the night. Paintbrush was throwing whatever they wanted on TV. Mostly everything was boring, but they did find some artsy rom com to fit their interest.
As they sat around and ate potato chips, they got a call. "Lightbulb? At this time?" It's not like Lightbulb hasn't called this late before, but it hasn't happened in a couple weeks, to be honest. Paintbrush picked up the phone.
.
.
PB: Hello?
LB: oh-hey! I didn't think you'd actually pick up..
PB: Yea yea, don't be that surprised. What do you want?
LB: Oh-yea, I guess I gotta say that now.
PB: If this is about Baxter, you have five seconds or-
LB: NO-no!! It's not about Baxter.
PB: Okay, well what is it about then?
LB: I-uhm..could I stay with you for the night?
PB: Why would I let you-
LB: Please, Paintbrush.
She sounded desperate.
PB:..Sure. just find your way here.
LB: Thank you!!
PB: I'll see you-
The line dropped.
Thirty mintunes later and Lightbulb was sitting in the house, drinking a water. She looked wrecked. They've seen her in some states, but never have they ever seen her look so..sad, for lack of a better word.
"So.." Paintbrush asked
Sorry for calling so late, Im just having a bad night, ya know? She gave a weak chuckle, looking up to Paintbrush.
"..what kind of bad night?"
"A wacky, bad night."
"Well..okay then"
And so, there the two were, sitting as the t.v blared silly rom-coms. Lightbulb was in her head, even leaning next to Paintbrush. Paintbrush could barely enjoy the show, seeing how Lightbulb zoned in and out of her thoughts to whatever else her mind put on.
At last, Paintbrush couldn't keep their eyes on the screen anymore. Lightbulb was so out of it, in her head. Paintbrush couldn't keep the night on like this. "Egh-Lightblub?" They started in a more convincing tone. "Maybe we could, I don't know, do other things?" Their heart fluttered just a bit with Lightbulbs eyes back on them, big and blue, yet sad as ever. "Would you wanna do-something else?"
"Ehh.. maybe. Like what?"
"We could sleep, or something." Paintbrush added the "something" as to try and make it seem open ended, they were up for anything to make her feel a little more like her self, really.
-------------------------------------------------------
Here lightblub was , laying in bed with Paintbrush. It wasn't going too well, lightblub still didn't look too good.
"So.. what's been up with you?"
"Chicken who."
Paintbrush gave a chuckle at the response. As it much as it killed them to see her like this, it seemed to be getting better.
"Mm..heyyy.." Lightbulb ran out of ideas to talk to Paintbrush about. Guess they could just take the lead then.
"Have you seen Mephone this past week?" Paintbursh moved lightbulb closer as they spoke. "Eh..what about them?"
"O.J said they went missing, not exactly sure where he ended up."
"Maybe he died." Lightbulb said, not missing a beat. "Lightbulb, Jeez! These are real objects, don't you think that's a bit dark minded?" "well, maybe they did die." Lightbulb repeated with a shrug.
"Even if they something did happen, Im sure it wasn't anything that bad! For you especially, that's pretty horrific. How would you like it if you died and someone spoke so bluntly?"
Lightbulb paused for a sec, turning over to them. "I would like it very much." Paintbrush looked back at her, giving her a little kick. "Lightbulb, don't say that! You wouldn't want someone to speak of you like that if you're dying!"
"Maybe I want to die!" She said it in a joking manner, but it still gave paintbrush chills down their spine.
"You know you shouldn't say that."
"Does it matter that much? You know I drink when I'm depressed, I'll be okay!"
"Lightbulb, this isn't sounding very funny anymore.."
"Erm- sorry. I was hoping you would think it is."
"Lightbulb, how would you dying be funny?"
"Well, I never said I wanted to die."
"Well, you're sure making it sound like it!!
"Well you're wrong.
"Well why does it feel like I'm right!?
"I don't know!!"
"Do you WANT to die or something?!"
".."
Lightbulb felt cold, even in their arms.