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Three hung onto Two tightly, shaking with overwhelming emotion. They hadn't felt this much in awhile, and they definitely weren't welcome right now after just getting used to living on the surface again. Two rubbed their back soothingly, but Three was still fighting back tears with everything they could.
“I was just in the other room,” the green integer murmured softly, their lips hovering above his forehead. “You're okay.”
Three’s grip on them tightened. “You told me you'd be there when I woke up. You weren't.”
“I know, love. I'm sorry.”
His eyes stung with tears. Their voice was so soft and caring for him, even after how much of a nuisance he'd seem to have been. Two still cared about him, and that on top of the feeling of being left alone was overwhelming him with many feelings.
“What if he came and took me away again?”
“He wouldn't.” Two took a pause, thinking about that whole situation once more. “Not on my watch.”
Three’s breath hitched. They felt Two's lips pressing against the top of their head in such a gentle and caring way, and their heart was melting. That was also something that they had never felt in years, not even prior to getting locked up. They cried softly, holding onto Two as if they were a lifeline. The green integer didn't seem to mind.
His cries were slowly getting harder to hold back, the soft noises turning into desperate cries as he feared that they would disappear right in his grasp. He feared that, even after being up here for days, that this was all some stupid dream. Because why else would Two accept him besides if it were his imagination? But he hadn't woke up yet, not even after sleeping for the night, and everything felt so real to the point it just couldn't be his imagination.
“You're real, aren't you?” Three asked through his tears before he could stop. Two laughed a bit before quickly stopping, remembering his state and seeing the desperation in his eyes.
“Sorry, sorry, that's a silly question to me.” They faltered. “It's probably not one for you, huh?” They felt his grip get painfully tighter.
“Answer me,” Three demanded, trying to sound fierce but having a strong sense of fear. “You're real, aren't you? I'm really here, right?”
Two nodded. “Of course, Three… I'm sorry for laughing at you.” They rubbed his head before that hand went down to his back once more. “And I couldn't be happier that you're here.”
Three teared up again, looking up at Two. They frowned and held him close.
“Oh, Three…”
“Sorry– I'm sorry,” they apologized softly, their voice nothing more than a whisper. Two held them tighter and pressed a kiss between their eyes.
“Don't apologize. Seriously, you have nothing to apologize for.”
“But I–”
“Nope.”
Three whined and pressed against Two. They smiled and let out a small chuckle, pulling him away to look him in the eyes. He was embarrassed, his eyes red and puffy, and his eyes trailed around the room to anything but their face, eventually just landing a little down from their lips and more toward what would be their chest. The green integer put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed it softly.
“Look at me,” they said reassuringly. Three’s eyes snapped up, going back down before realizing the lack of judgement from them and locking onto theirs. Two smiled. “Take a deep breath, yeah? You’re okay.”
Three reluctantly obeyed and started breathing at a much more comfortable rate, their heart rate slowing down and beating slowly. They relaxed against Two's body, slumping against it and nuzzling into it. Two snickered, rubbing the top of Three's head.
“There, that wasn't so hard, was it?”
Three grumbled and pressed against them. Two sighed and wrapped their arms around Three in a comforting embrace. He reciprocated, wrapping his legs around their waist. It took them by surprise, Three was never this clingy from what they remembered, but it certainly didn't go unwelcomed. The small bliss, however, was immediately interrupted by Two's worry for the other.
“We need to talk about this,” they murmured. “And I mean you having a panic attack every time I'm not by your side.”
Three growled and snapped, “I do not!” Two was unimpressed.
“You woke up this morning, didn't see me next to you, and your first instinct was to scream.”
“Well, I–”
“I went to the hotel to get some food, I come back to you crying.”
“I–”
“I could be in the other room for Two long and I'll hear you start to whimper.”
“Would you let me speak?!” Three barked, making Two flinch back and look at him. He took some deep breath and sighed. “Do you have any idea how terrifying it is to still be around that damned integer? After he locked me up for almost a decade and a half?!”
Two sighed. “I can only imagine…”
“Last time he locked me up, it was because I was alone and vulnerable with nobody to help me! How am I supposed to know if he can just come in here and pop , I'm gone!” Three growled as his eyes stung with tears. “How am I supposed to predict him?”
The green integer looked away. “I told Four to stay away.”
“But what if he doesn't listen?”
“Then he'll deal with me!” Two felt Three’s hands grip them tighter and they sighed. “You're stressed… You wanna talk about this later?”
Three nodded. Two pulled him close and nuzzled against him, just cuddling with Three for now. There was a content silence over the room, only movement being subtle shiftment from Three or Two.
“Three?” Two asked, looking at him. He picked his head up.
“Hm?”
“I just, uh, want you to know that as long as you're here with me, nothing will go wrong.” They smiled nervously. “I love you too much to put you in danger.”
Three blushed a bit and frowned, glancing away from Two. They chuckled and leaned in, pressing a tender kiss on his lips. He was caught off guard but quickly kissed back, letting them take the lead as they so desired. They didn't desire much, though, and pulled away, smiling and hugging him tightly.
“I love you so much, Three. Never forget that, will you?”
The red integer smiled a bit and snuggled against Two. “I won't… I love you too.”