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Medkit woke up with a start, his hand instinctively clutching his precious suitcase—his lifeline, the one thing that had been with him since the very beginning. His other hand rubbed his weary eye, trying to shake the sleep from his mind. Something wasn’t right. This wasn’t his bedroom. There were mirrors everywhere, reflecting his disoriented figure back at him from every angle, creating an unnerving sense of being watched.
Mirrors. They were everywhere, reflecting his confusion back at him in endless, disorienting angles. His heart raced as unease crept in, his single eye darting from one reflection to the next. It felt like a trap, like he was being watched.
A faint pink glow shimmered in one of the mirrors. Then came the voice.
“Oh, Meddy~!” Subspace’s taunting tone echoed through the cave, playful and dripping with mischief. Medkit’s head snapped toward the glowing reflection, narrowing his eye as he scanned the mirrored surface, but Subspace wasn’t there. Not physically.
“Meeeeeddyyy~!” Subspace’s voice sang again, light and teasing, bouncing off the mirrors and warping the space around him.
Medkit stumbled to his feet, his suitcase gripped like a lifeline. His eye darted toward the sound, desperately trying to pinpoint its source. Then Subspace appeared—grinning, his tousled black hair hanging messily over his face, and that familiar gleam of playful menace in his eye. But as soon as Medkit locked onto him, he vanished from the mirror’s surface, leaving only a faint giggle behind.
“Oops! Over here, traitor~!” Subspace cooed, his voice moving to another mirror behind Medkit. Medkit spun, his heart pounding, but there was only another reflection of his own anxious face. Then Subspace appeared again in another mirror, grinning wider this time, before disappearing once more.
"Come on, Meddy~! Don’t be shy!” Subspace’s voice echoed all around, his words dripping with malice disguised as playfulness. Each time Medkit tried to focus, Subspace flitted to another mirror, like a specter playing a cruel game. “It’s just you and me in this little maze~!”
Medkit’s frustration built, his fingers digging into the suitcase’s handle. "Show yourself... Tripmine!" he growled, trying to suppress the growing dread. But there was a flicker of doubt in his voice, and Subspace caught it, pouncing on it like a predator sensing weakness.
"Ah, but I am showing myself, Meddy~! Look! I’m everywhere!” Subspace’s image multiplied, appearing in a dozen mirrors at once, each one laughing in unison, his single eye gleaming with mockery. He raised his hands, wiggling his fingers as if he were tugging invisible strings, moving Medkit like a puppet on a stage. "And you—you’re my favorite little puppet, Meddy! Or should I call you traitor, hmm?"
Medkit’s breath quickened as the reflections of Subspace flickered, vanishing and reappearing with every taunt. “Left? No, right! Oops, too slow~!” Subspace giggled, hopping from mirror to mirror with lightning speed. Medkit whirled around, desperately trying to follow, but every time he thought he had him, Subspace was gone again, leaving only that maddening laugh behind.
"You’ll never escape this, Meddy~! You know that, right?" Subspace’s voice dropped to a low, almost sultry whisper, his tone now unsettlingly close, as if he were standing just behind Medkit’s shoulder. "These caves… they're long forgotten. No one knows they exist, except me. It makes such a perfect jail, doesn’t it? Just you, me, and forever…”
Medkit’s eye darted to the mirrors around him, his breath ragged. The cave suddenly felt suffocating, the walls closing in. Subspace had disappeared again, but his presence lingered like a shadow, always just out of reach. The mocking, the taunting—it was relentless.
"You’ll never escape, Meddy," Subspace’s voice echoed faintly, fading into the mirrors. "But don’t worry… I’ll take care of you, just like I always do…"
"Stop it!! Subspace!" Medkit’s voice trembled as he shouted, spinning wildly in the disorienting maze of mirrors.
Subspace’s giggle echoed ominously before he materialized right behind Medkit, as if summoned by his plea. His grin was wide and wicked, a gleam of delight in his eye as he held a glowing teal crystal, twisting it casually between his fingers.
“Oh, Meddy…” Subspace purred, his tone soft yet laced with mockery. Before Medkit could react, Subspace’s arm snaked around his neck, locking him into a tight hold. He pressed the crystal close to Medkit’s face, the sinister glow illuminating his skin with an eerie light.
Medkit’s heart raced as the sharp edges of the crystal dug into his skin. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized it—poisonous, of course. He should have known. Subspace always loved a little danger, especially when it involved him
“You’ve always been so naive, Meddy!!” Subspace sneered, his voice dripping with amusement. His gaze stayed locked on Medkit’s, as if daring him to resist.
But Medkit didn’t hesitate. “I think that’s you,” he muttered, his voice steady and low, before swiftly flipping Subspace over. In one fluid motion, he pinned Subspace’s wrists to the ground, pressing his heel into his back with enough force to keep him grounded. The mirrors around them flickered with the sudden movement, reflecting the unexpected shift in power.
Subspace’s one eye widened, surprise flickering across his face for just a moment before it twisted into an even wider grin. His reflection stared back at him from the mirror in front of them, distorted and warped from the position Medkit had forced him into.
"Awh," Subspace cooed, though there was a darker edge to his voice now. "You think pinning me down changes anything? You think it’ll stop me?" He giggled, his voice breathy with excitement. “Look at me,” he purred, staring at his own reflection, his tone playful but sharp. “I’ve already won, don’t you see? I’m everywhere, Meddy. You’re just playing along.”
Medkit gritted his teeth, holding Subspace down, but the relentless taunting and that damnable grin wouldn’t stop. Subspace twisted slightly beneath Medkit’s heel, chuckling like this was nothing more than another one of his twisted games.
"Go on," Subspace taunted again, his voice rising in a sing-song melody. "Make me watch myself. I love it when you try to take control." His giggles echoed again, louder now, filling the mirrored chamber like a symphony of madness.
“You—damn masochist!!” Medkit grunted, his frustration spilling over as he struggled to keep Subspace pinned beneath him. The chaotic laughter of Subspace echoed off the walls, amplifying the unsettling atmosphere around them.
“Right ya are, Meddy Weddy!!” Subspace chirped, his tone mocking and gleeful. He squirmed slightly beneath Medkit’s heel, the thrill of the chase evident in his playful demeanor. “Isn’t it just delightful to see you all worked up? It’s like a little game we’re playing!”
Medkit’s grip tightened, his pulse racing as he fought against the madness creeping into his own thoughts. “This isn’t a game, Subspace!” he snapped, a mix of anger and determination fueling his voice. He leaned closer, forcing Subspace to look into the mirror that reflected both of their chaotic forms—one pinned down, and the other relishing the thrill of it all.
Subspace’s eye sparkled with mischief as he caught his own reflection, that maddening grin still plastered across his face. “Oh, but it is a game, Meddy!” he taunted, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper, as if sharing a secret with his reflection. “And you’re the star of the show! Look at you, trying to take charge. It’s adorable!”
“You think this is adorable?” Medkit shot back, heart pounding. He pushed down harder, trying to exert control over the spiraling situation. “You’re insane!”
“Insane? Oh, darling, that’s just my charm!” Subspace giggled, the sound reverberating around them like a dark melody. “And look at that—now we’re both trapped in this little dance. Tell me, Meddy, how does it feel to be the one holding the strings?”
The mirrors multiplied the sight of Medkit, each reflection a distorted echo of his struggle. The weight of the moment pressed down on him as he stared into one of the surfaces, catching a glimpse of his own determination mixed with the swirling chaos that surrounded him.
With a sudden movement, Medkit yanked the crystal from Subspace’s fingers, the cold surface shocking him as he held it aloft. The faint pink glow shimmered, casting eerie shadows across the mirrored walls. “This is what you wanted, isn’t it? To trap me in your game?” Medkit glared down at Subspace, who was now struggling beneath him with a mixture of frustration and desperation.
Medkit’s grip tightened around the crystal, a rush of adrenaline propelling him forward. With a sudden and forceful motion, he crushed the crystal in his hands. The sharp, resounding crunch echoed in the silence of the room, and a bright flash of light erupted from the shattered pieces, momentarily blinding him.
“No… no!! Nonono!!” Subspace gasped, his voice laced with disbelief. He staggered to his feet, panic surging through him as he rushed to the remnants scattered across the cold floor. The air felt heavy, almost suffocating, as he knelt down, desperately sifting through the fragments, his fingers trembling as they searched for anything intact.
As he gathered the broken pieces, a strange glow still flickered from them, casting distorted shadows across the mirrored walls. He pressed one of the larger shards to his chest, feeling the cool surface against his skin. In the dim light, he caught a glimpse of his reflection, the distorted image staring back at him filled with anguish and desperation. Tears prickled at the corners of his eyes, threatening to spill over, blurring the jagged reflection that represented everything he had lost and all that he feared.
“No…” he whispered, anguish clawing at his throat. The weight of failure settled heavily on his shoulders. The crystal, once a symbol of hope and control, now lay in ruins, mirroring the chaos inside him. “You—stupid traitor!! You don’t understand any of this—and you never will!!!!” His voice rose, echoing with a mixture of anger and pain, his words sharp like glass as they cut through the thick tension in the air.
Subspace rose to his feet, the shards slipping from his grasp and clattering to the ground, forgotten in the wake of his overwhelming emotions. Tears pooled in his eyes, spilling over and cascading down his cheeks, each drop a manifestation of the frustration and despair building inside him. He felt exposed, vulnerable, as if the very act of revealing his pain made him weak, yet he couldn’t stop the flow.
“Why can’t you see what you’ve done?” he shouted, voice thick with emotion, each word dripping with hurt. He felt as if the ground beneath him had given way, leaving him teetering on the edge of an abyss he feared to fall into.
As the tears fell, they hit the ground with a soft splatter, each drop a silent testament to the turmoil raging within him—a mixture of loss, anger, and the heartache of shattered dreams.
"Sub—" Medkit began, his voice hesitant as he stepped closer, hoping to reach through the veil of Subspace's pain.
“No! Stop it!!” Subspace shouted, the sharpness of his words slicing through the tension in the air. He turned his head away, as if trying to escape from the very presence of Medkit, the betrayal weighing heavily on him.
Medkit paused, sensing the storm brewing in Subspace’s eye, but he couldn’t stand idly by. He approached him slowly, attempting to bridge the distance that had grown between them. “Subspace...-"
“Get away!! You traitorous—p-p-rick!!” Subspace sobbed, his voice cracking under the strain of his emotions. He waved his hand in a futile gesture, trying to push Medkit away as fresh tears streamed down his cheeks, mixing with the remnants of shattered hope at his feet.
“You will pay for this!!” Subspace roared, his voice filled with a mix of rage and desperation. He stood up, his fists trembling with emotion as he slammed what remained of the crystal to the ground. A violent explosion erupted, sending shards of crystal flying through the air like deadly shrapnel. Mist and poison filled the room, swirling around them and obscuring their vision.
As the dust settled, the room began to tremble, the once-stable cave collapsing around them, the mirrors cracking and reflecting fractured images of their chaotic struggle. “It’s time we end this game, Medkit.” Subspace muttered, looking back, his tone shifting from anguish to defiance.
“Catch me if you can!!” With that, he darted forward, weaving through the chaos with a newfound determination, the mist enveloping him like a shroud as he vanished into the swirling darkness.
Medkit's heart raced, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He turned quickly, glancing back at the cascade of crystals breaking behind him. The air was thick with the acrid scent of poison, and he felt a wave of panic wash over him as the entire domain seemed to quake beneath their feet.
“Subspace!” he called out, voice strained. Without a second thought, he sprinted after him, navigating the treacherous landscape of broken shards and swirling mist. The sound of crumbling rock echoed around him, urging him onward.
Every step felt urgent as he chased the fading silhouette of Subspace, who was moving like a phantom through the chaos. The ground shuddered beneath his feet, and he pushed himself harder, dodging the jagged remains of the cave that threatened to close in around him.
“Where are you?” Medkit shouted, his breath coming in ragged gasps as he focused on the dim glow of Subspace’s figure slipping further away. The mist curled around him like a serpent, whispering secrets of despair as he fought against it, determined not to lose his only friend to this madness.
The mirrors shattered behind him, the sound resonating like a haunting melody of their fractured past, reminding him of the delicate balance they had both teetered upon. “You can’t run forever!” Medkit called, his voice echoing through the mist, filled with a mix of frustration and desperation.
As Medkit sprinted through the swirling mist, he passed by a cracked mirror that momentarily caught his eye. It reflected a scene from the past—a vision of him, Subspace and Grav working side by side, laughter filling the air as they concocted wild experiments and shared secret smiles.
The sight of his former camaraderie struck him like a bolt of lightning, and he felt a pang of regret deep within. “I’m... sorry...” he mumbled, his heart aching at the bittersweet reminder of what they once had. The sincerity of his words lingered in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions and unresolved conflict. He shook his head, running again, breath hitching.
As they neared the exit of the cave, a sliver of light broke through the darkness, illuminating the swirling mist around them. Subspace came to a sudden halt, and Medkit’s heart dropped at the sight of his rival's back turned to him.
“Subspace?” Medkit called, a tremor of worry threading through his voice.
Subspace turned slightly, his expression shadowed by anger and hurt. “I hate you,” he spat, the words sharp and bitter, cutting through the chill of the air.
The finality of those words struck Medkit like a physical blow. He blinked, momentarily stunned, but the urgency of their situation propelled him forward. “I hate you too…” he replied, the admission hanging heavily between them, laced with frustration and regret.
“Hurry!!” Medkit shouted, urgency lacing his voice as he glanced back at the collapsing cave. The ground trembled beneath them, shards of crystal still breaking and sending up clouds of poisonous mist.
Subspace's eye narrowed, filled with a mix of defiance and disbelief. “Why do you care if I die? You hate me. Remember?” he retorted, the bitterness evident in his tone, a shield against the vulnerability he felt inside.
“I don’t hate you that much! Idiot!!” Medkit retorted, frustration boiling over as he reached for Subspace. Without a moment’s hesitation, he pulled him closer, wrapping an arm around Subspace’s waist. The anger that had hung between them began to fade, overtaken by the urgency of their situation.
“Let’s go!” Medkit shouted, summoning every ounce of strength he had as he lifted Subspace off the ground. He felt the weight of their past struggles, the tension of their argument, but in that moment, all that mattered was escaping the impending doom of the cave.
Subspace flailed for a moment, surprise flashing across his face. “What are you doing? You can’t just—”
“Shut up!” Medkit interrupted, determination fueling his every step as he sprinted toward the exit. Snow crunched beneath his boots, and the frigid air filled his lungs, invigorating him with each desperate breath. The cave roared behind them, a cacophony of crumbling rock and swirling mist.
Subspace’s protests faded as they neared the light, the world outside becoming more vivid with every step. The brightness washed over them, illuminating the pure white of the snow, and Medkit felt a flicker of hope ignite within him.
As they burst through the mouth of the cave, Medkit stumbled, their momentum causing him to nearly lose his grip. He steadied himself, quickly shifting his hold to keep Subspace secure. They fell into the snow, breathless and wide-eyed, the cold biting at their skin but a stark contrast to the warmth of their shared moment.
“Now do you understand?” Medkit huffed, panting from the exertion, his grip still firm around Subspace. “I don’t hate you! I care too damn much to let you just throw your life away!”
“Is this why you even kidnapped me in the first place!? Because you thought I hated you that much!?” Medkit panted, his voice softening as he noticed the tears streaming down Subspace's face.
“Why are you crying again...idiot,” Medkit murmured, a mix of concern and frustration coloring his words. He instinctively pulled Subspace into a tight embrace, feeling the tremors of his sobs against his chest. The weight of the moment pressed in around them as the cave began to shatter, rocks crumbling and echoing the chaos around them.
Subspace’s tears soaked into Medkit’s trenchcoat, Medkit grimaced, each drop a silent testament to the turmoil inside him. “Stop h-hugging me, you!! You-b-bastardd!!” he choked out, his voice muffled against Medkit’s shoulder. “I didn’t ask for any of this!” His words were a mixture of anger and despair, the frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
“I don’t care,” Medkit replied, unwavering, his voice steady despite the chaos swirling around them. “I’m not letting go.” The cave continued to shatter, echoes of rock crashing against one another resonating through the air. Shards of crystal splintered away, glittering like stars scattered across a night sky, reflecting the turmoil of their emotions.
Medkit held Subspace tighter, grounding him in the midst of the turmoil. “You might hate me, but I’ll always be here, even if you push me away.” His voice softened, filled with a fierce determination. “You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
Subspace squirmed slightly, still protesting, but the fight in him was waning. “Y-you’re such an idiot,” he muttered, his anger losing its edge. “I don’t need you!”
“Then why are you still crying?” Medkit shot back gently, wiping away a stray tear with his thumb.
“B-because!!!” Subspace stammered, his voice breaking under the weight of his emotions. Before he could say anything more, Medkit made a bold move, dipping him slightly, their eyes locking in an electric moment.
The world around them seemed to fade as Medkit leaned in, capturing Subspace’s lips with his own. The kiss was soft at first, filled with unspoken feelings and a desire to bridge the gap that had grown between them. Subspace’s initial shock melted away, and his leg hesitantly bent, instinctively wrapping around Medkit’s waist as if anchoring himself to this moment.
His hands found their way to Medkit's head, fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer. The warmth of Medkit’s body against his ignited something within him, a rush of emotions he had tried to suppress. As the kiss deepened, the tension of their earlier conflict began to dissolve, replaced by a sense of connection that felt both terrifying and exhilarating. He bit at Subspaces intact lip.
"Stupid." Medkit spoke, pulling away
"F-fuck off..."
Medkit woke up suddenly, jolting forward as if pulled from a deep, intoxicating slumber. The remnants of the dream lingered in his mind, vivid and overwhelming, but as his eyes adjusted to the dim light of the room, reality set in. Subspace was nestled against his chest, his messy hair falling over his face, a serene expression painting his features.
A wave of relief washed over Medkit, coupled with an ache in his chest. It had all been just a dream—a tangled mess of emotions and confessions that had never truly been spoken. He let out a shaky breath, trying to calm the rapid beat of his heart.
Subspace stirred slightly, shifting against him, and Medkit couldn’t help but feel a warmth spreading through him. The closeness felt both comforting and torturous, reminding him of the feelings he had buried deep within.
“Stupid,” he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair as he tried to shake off the remnants of the dream. But the truth was, he had wished for that moment—wished that it had been real, only the kissing though, he hated that brats audacity to kidnap him.
Subspace let out a soft sigh, blinking awake slowly. His gaze drifted up to meet Medkit’s, confusion and sleep lingering in his eye. “Wwwwha's wrong...?” he mumbled, still half-asleep.
Medkit hesitated, the words from his dream echoing in his mind. He had been so ready to confront those feelings, yet now, faced with the reality of Subspace beside him, he felt the familiar walls closing in. “Nothing,” he replied, forcing a casual tone. “Just… bad dream.”
Medkit felt his heart race as Subspace nuzzled deeper into his chest, his warm breath ghosting over the fabric of Medkit's shirt. The moment felt surreal, and a flicker of uncertainty washed over him. He glanced down, taking in the sight of Subspace, the way his messy hair framed his face and the peace that enveloped him.
“Seriously,” Medkit said, trying to sound annoyed but failing to mask the tenderness in his voice. “You’re going to suffocate me if you keep that up.”
“Mmm, sounds like a you problem,” Subspace mumbled, his voice thick with sleep and laced with a hint of mischief. He shifted slightly, making himself more comfortable, as if oblivious to the fact that his teasing was only making Medkit’s heart race faster.
Medkit let out a soft huff, trying to push away the warmth spreading through him. It was infuriating how easily Subspace could break down his defenses, turning his frustration into something much more complicated. “I’m serious, Subspace. You can’t just—”
“Just wha?” Subspace interrupted, finally cracking one eye open to meet Medkit’s gaze. There was a innocent spark in his eye that made Medkit’s breath hitch. “You like it, admit it Meddy..."
“Like it? You think I enjoy being ambushed in my sleep?” Medkit shot back, crossing his arms in mock annoyance. But even as he spoke, he felt the corners of his mouth twitch upward.
“Ambushed? Moree like I’m just keepin' you warm...” Subspace retorted with a smirk, the confidence in his tone making Medkit roll his eye.
As much as he wanted to argue, Medkit couldn’t deny the truth behind Subspace’s words. The warmth radiating from Subspace felt comforting, and the chaos of his earlier emotions began to settle. “Fineee...” he relented, softening his voice. “But just for a little while. I can’t have you thinking you can take over my space like this.”
"Already have..."