Chapter Text
Robyn huffed. Usually, grocery shopping would have been done on Saturdays. But, they procrastinated until they physically couldn't. And, they pounced quickly on what little motivation they had today. In the midst of this, they forgot their phone.
They had two white bags in their grasp, a ghost cat hovering beside them, and finicky keys. Of course, Taro didn't help and quietly waited for her human.
Robyn was stubborn. They could have put the bags down and then unlocked the door. But, somehow within the confines of their mind, this was easier.
After an unnecessary hassle with the keys, they managed to unlock the door. They twisted the keys out and put it in their mouth as they turned the door knob.
"Ah-hah!" They spoke triumphantly through occupied teeth. They looked to Taro who was unamused. Robyn grunted and put the keys back in their hoodie. Then they pushed the door open with a small nudge of their foot.
The apartment was a mess.
Their posters on the wall were torn down and laid on the ground. They were nothing but little scapes now. Their huge decorative vase was shattered across the ground, the fillers strewn about.
One of their pillows was ripped up completely. Stuffing dotted the bed as scrapes of cardboard and random items were dragged out from their unpacked prisons.
Robyn stood there in the doorway. They processed the destruction with a blank face. They took a step into the apartment. Their bags fell onto the floor with a small thump.
"Wow, this is a meow-ess," Taro commented. She didn't seem smug in her response. She bobbed in front of Robyn, taking her place on the bed. The nyangel took her most powerful form — a loaf.
Robyn then noticed a faint fuzz of noise coming from the kitchen. They quietly closed the door, glancing at the nightstand. Their phone was gone. Mike.
Robyn grabbed their grocery bags, setting them beside the bed for now. They cautiously followed the noise into the kitchen.
Until they were met with shattered plates on the ground and pans in the mess. Their gaze followed each pan and plate until it landed on a trembling green ghost.
Mike was on the floor, pressed up against a corner. His knees were against his chest and his face was pressed into them. His claws burrowed into his hat and his entire body looked tense. Once in a while, a soft sniffle or hiccup would escape his trembling form.
Beside him was Robyn's phone. It seemed to be playing some type of noise. Maybe rain? Robyn couldn't tell and they didn't care. That wasn't their focus.
"Mike?" They spoke softly with a concerned tone. They didn't know what to do. Mike wasn't responsive. It was like Robyn wasn't even there. "...Mike?"
Mike sniffled.
Robyn walked over the broken glass so they could sit in a small spot adjacent to Mike. Robyn sat down, brushing away some glass that was in the way. They made sure there was still space between them.
"Mike, I'm home," Robyn muttered. They didn't want to touch Mike. Not because they didn't love him. But because it may have been unsafe for both of them. So, they kept their distance. "It's okay. I'm home."
Mike didn't react. He kept trembling and let out a strained whimper.
Robyn blinked before leaning against the cupboards and closing their eyes for a moment. They needed to be here for him. That's all they could do. They opened their eyes and stared at the ceiling.
The silence drifted between them like a rough sea. The waves claw at the boat. The boat was Mike's mind. Thunder roared and lightning glared in the sky. And Robyn was simply a bystander watching it happen from the outside.
To Mike, it seems endless. The world around him isn't real. It's just a flat blur to him. And, so is he. He's nothing. He's not real, nothing is real. Everything is wrong. These thoughts were wrong. Everything was.
After some time, the heavy feeling in his head began to wane. The ice began to thaw and the world began to feel less fuzzy and weighted. And more clear and light.
He lifted his head from his knees.
"Mike...?"
The voice made him flinch as he snapped his head towards it. It was from Robyn. Mike blinked as a new wave of fear crashed over him. Where was he? How long has he been here?
When did Robyn come home? How long had they been here beside him?
Mike watched Robyn stay still. They calmly looked at him with some concern. Mike felt a jolt of nervousness. This caused a small spark of electricity to crawl along his body for a second.
"Robyn...?" Mike croaked. He was surprised by how hoarse his voice was. "When did you come home?"
"A few minutes ago," Robyn spoke with a small nod. "I went grocery shopping."
"Oh," Mike bluntly said. The memories began to flood back to him. And why he ended up here in the first place. He felt embarrassed. He huffed.
"Are you okay?" Robyn asked. They shifted their body a bit.
Mike glanced around. The kitchen was a mess and he guessed the rest of the apartment was too. He couldn't lie his way out of this one.
"No," Mike grumbled.
"Can I ask what happened?" Robyn inquired.
Mike considered it before shaking his head. He didn't want to dive into it. He didn't want to explain anything. He slumped his shoulders and hugged his knees.
"Do you need a hug?" Robyn asked. For some reason this shocked Mike. What did he do to deserve a hug? He stared at Robyn for a few moments before quietly nodding his head.
Robyn waited for a few seconds. And, when Mike didn't move over, they approached him. They tried to avoid the glass as they sat down beside him.
Robyn opened their arms. And Mike flopped his body against Robyn's chest. He sniffled.
He then unraveled his arms from his knees to around Robyn's waist. Robyn hugged him back. Mike closed his eyes. He focused on them. He wanted to feel their warmth. Even for a moment.
Usually, he couldn't feel anything. But, he still tried.
Robyn quietly rubbed his back, gently stroking his fluffy hair. They kept their gaze soft as Mike buried his face into their shoulder, refusing to look at them.
A few minutes passed before Mike let out a soft groan.
"I'm sorry about your... apartment," He grumbled. His voice was further muffled by Robyn's body.
"It's okay Mike," Robyn reassured. "You don't need to apologize, you did nothing wrong. You weren't feeling well."
Mike said nothing. He let out a sigh before peeling himself from Robyn. He looked at them with an exhausted gaze.
"How about we watch some TV, hm?" Robyn suggested. "I can get the bed all comfy and we can watch whatever show you want."
"Sure," Mike grumbled. He then moved himself away from Robyn, allowing them to get up.
Mike looked at the apartment with a pained frown. He did all of this? Fuck, he didn't even remember doing half of it.
Robyn quickly scooped up their phone as they stood up.
He followed Robyn out of the kitchen and plopped down beside Taro. She didn't say anything. But, the second Mike hit the bed his body turned into his round squishy self.
"Gyehck! Damnit," He hissed. He let out a growl of annoyance and squeezed his eyes shut for a moment.
Great, he was feeling shitty and small. Now he was. He huffed, opening his eyes as Robyn quickly took the groceries and shoved them in the fridge.
He watched them go by the TV and grab it by the stand. They dragged it near the bed. He was surprised at their strength but at the same time didn't doubt it. They did take a crowbar to some shadowy man in a graveyard (apparently). Robyn could do a lot more Mike guessed.
Soon Robyn joined him on the bed. They sat beside him. Robyn guessed Mike didn't want to be held and they were right.
"What about the apartment?" Mike asked with a guilt-filled curiosity.
"I'll clean it after we watch some TV," Robyn explained. They then began to flick through the channels, glancing at Mike to see if any interest him.
Mike wearily pointed at the TV with his little paw when one caught his eye. And, Robyn clicked on it.
Silence fell upon the three as they watched some low-quality show.
Which is why Mike liked it. It was so shitty it was good. He felt somewhat relaxed now and began to nod off. He quietly closed his eyes. Robyn began to sit up from the bed. They wanted to tidy up the apartment when Mike was sleeping. But, a sleepy voice arose from its holder.
"Hey, meatball?"
"Yeah?" Robyn glanced at the small green ball on their bed.
"What were those sticks in the vase called?" Mike yawned tiredly. He was half-asleep.
"I don't know. I think they're just a fancy stick of some sort," Robyn explained earnestly. "A decorative stick."
"Heh...stick," Mike mumbled before falling asleep.