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You were walking down the hallway after lunch, Heart’s hand held in yours as they trailed behind you. Despite usually using his tail to help guide themself around, Heart still needed some help with walking around. Obviously, you offered to help.
Mind walked past. But you noticed something.
His power cord tail…it wasn’t moving at all. Usually it swayed and writhed like a snake. Instead, it drooped and dragged behind him.
And the way he walked…he wasn’t carrying himself with his usual dignity. His shoulders were slumped, and his head was dipped to hide his face.
And then he sniffled.
“(Did he just…)” Heart said quietly. It was obvious that he was just as confused as you were.
“[Did not.]” Mind said quickly. His voice was still as monotone as ever, but there was something weird about it this time: it wavered ever so slightly.
Something was definitely wrong. “Mind?” you asked, concerned.
“[Nothing.]”
He kept walking. Not knowing what else to do, you both followed him. You soon ended up in the living room, where he sat down on the couch, burying his face in his hands.
You and Heart sat down on either side of him.
“Mind?” you asked again. “What’s wrong?”
“[I said nothing. Nothing is wrong.]”
“(Are you sure?)” Heart said skeptically, their tail swishing. “(You seem really upset.)”
“[I am not.]” Mind said again, his voice wavering more.
“(You’re a really bad liar, you know that?)” Heart said.
Mind went completely silent. You noticed a tear trickle down his cheek.
Oh. You realized. He’s crying.
You did NOT know how to feel about that, and you were pretty sure Mind didn’t either. He was known for being cold, cynical, and emotionless…but Mind? Mind, the cold, cynical, unfeeling machine, shedding tears? Being sad? And crying?
You reached to wipe his eyes, but he quickly wiped them himself.
“[W-what is this…]” he asked, his voice shaking like a leaf. “[What is this feeling…why am I crying?]”
“Because you’re sad.” you explained.
“[I am not supposed to feel sad. I am not supposed to feel anything.]”
“(But you can.)” Heart said gently.’”(You’re allowed to feel things.)”
“[This is not dignified.]” another tear trickled down his cheek.
“(It doesn’t have to be. It’ll make you feel better if you just cry.)”
Mind sighed shakily, wiping his eyes and sniffling again.
A long silence followed, broken up by Mind’s occasional sniffling.
“[I-I’m not s-supposed to feel…I-I’m not-I can’t…]” he trailed off.
“(Shhh.)” Heart shushed him, putting a wing around him.
And that was when Mind did something you’d never expect out of him. Not in a million years.
He suddenly latched onto you, throwing his arms around you and burying his face into your shoulder…and he started to sob.
Heart rubbed his back comfortingly. “(That’s it, let it out, let it all out, Mind…)”
Mind let out an even louder sob at his voice, the sound making your own eyes start to tear up. He shook with every sob that racked his lungs.
After what felt like an eternity, Mind finally stopped crying, and he raised his head from your shoulder.
“Feel any better?” you asked
He slowly nodded. “[I do…that was…strangely relieving.]”
Heart smiled warmly, patting their brother on the back. “(Told you you’d feel better.)”
Another peaceful silence followed.
“Do you still want to tell us what’s wrong?” you asked him.
He sat back, wiping his eyes. “[I…are you aware of the artist Will Wood?]”
“(Yeah, why?)”
“[There’s a song of his…”Tomcat Disposables”...I listened to it and it just became too much…it’s beautiful, so beautiful…]” He started to tear up again, and he wiped his eyes, sniffling.
That made sense. So that was why he was so sad.
“I get it,” you said, patting his back. “It’s a really pretty song. I get why you’d get so emotional over it.”
Heart nodded. “(There’s no shame in crying over a song. People do it all the time.)”
“[But it’s about a mouse. A mouse! I am crying over a mouse!]” He let out a messy sniffle.
“Here.” you said, handing him a box of tissues. He took one and blew his nose, letting out a small sigh of relief. “[Ah…better…]”
You all sat there for a moment, before you leaned on Mind’s shoulder, and he put an arm around you, as if to say thank you.
And that was when he leaned down and placed a grateful kiss on your forehead, leaving a small blue mark.
“[Thank you.]” he said softly.
You leaned into him more, knowing he understood that emotions were normal, and you wouldn’t have it any other way.