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Shrimpo was currently curled up on his bed, the room around him was destroyed more than it typically was. New holes had been added to the walls, and nothing bolted down had been flung across the room. Pillows were mauled, with the stuffing scattered all over the place. Pictures were ripped, even the few he loved dearly. His punching bag hadn’t even survived the fiasco, it had been broken from its chain hooked to the ceiling and was laying on the ground. New scratches in its fabric.
Today really hadn't been a good day for Shrimpo.
Shrimpo's eyes stung with tears, he just curled up tighter, antenna flat against his head. He was curled around the only thing soft he had in his room. A small stuffed bear, a gift from the only toons that tolerated him. And in his fit of rage he ruined it, ripped one of his arms right off with no remorse.
Couldn't even remember what he was so angry about now, well he could a little.. Something about Sprout not letting him in the kitchen. Everything felt like an angry blur in the moment, but now it just felt so stupid. Tisha and Finn had tolerated a lot from him. His violent outbursts and tantrums, His unwillingness to be open about anything in public, his rude remarks about every toon including them sometimes.
This though? Tearing up the one thing they gave him like it meant nothing? No, this was going to be the line. Shrimpo was going to be yelled at like he deserved, then he was going to yell back and say things he didn't mean, and he'll be the most hated toon with no one again. As it should be.
Shrimpo didn't deserve friends, or happiness, or soft teddy bears. No matter how much he wanted them.
It was becoming hard to keep quiet. The walls in this place were thin and Shrimpo didn't need anyone hearing him have a mental breakdown. Well, other toons probably already did, the tantrum part at least.
Didn't need them hearing the crying part too and come rushing to see what's wrong. Not like anyone else really liked him enough to do that, a very vocal part of his mind helpfully informed him.
Another wave of tears fell onto Shrimpo’s ruined stuffed bar when he blinked. Not only was the bear ripped, now he was also snotty and soaked in tears. Great. Shrimpo just had to make it even worse. Like everything he did in life.
Of course shrimpo didn’t realize he had really started failing at being quiet, antenna pressed so hard against his head that he could really only hear his own sobs. Plus all the thoughts swimming in his head yelling at him.
Was so stuck in his head that he also didn’t hear the knocking or concerned voices on the other side of his door. Nor when they said they were coming in. Didn’t even hear when they both ran over to his side, surprisingly he didn’t jump at both of them touching him. Shrimpo didn’t uncurl though, couldn’t let whoever see the stuffed bear, he wasn’t too upset when he was pulled into one of their laps though.
A webbed hand brushed though his fur, brushing up his antenna, “Shhh.. we’re right here Shrimpo”
Shit. Now he really couldn’t let them see.
Finn's other hand tried whipping what tears he could reach, which wasn't much. “ Can we see your face Shrimpy?” Shimpo just curled up even more, the hand in his hair didn’t stop comforting though. “It’s jus’ me and Tisha, no one else bud.”
Another joined, this time slowly rubbing his back, it made him ache. “ Come on sweetheart, it can't feel good to have a messy face,” a gentle hand went to lift his chin up, and Shrimpo let it. Too tired to really care. Even though blurry vision he could see their faces staring down at him with concern.
So he squeezed his eyes shut, then scrunched his face up when a tissue began wiping away snot and tears. Shrimpos whine were met with gentle coos, “ I know sweetheart, you'll feel better all nice and clean though. Can you blow for me?” and he did, brain too fuzzy to really want to fight the want to be good and listen. Kinda glad that he did, didn't realize how much crying was making it difficult to breathe.
Another tissue went over his face before Tisha was satisfied. Normally Shrimpo would try to bite her or something for the assault on his face, but he was far far smaller then he was used too. Plus They were already gonna be mad enough when…
Shrimpo whined and hid his face against Finn's chest, trying to hide away from the thoughts threatening to make him cry again. Today Finn was wearing his sweater, the fabric felt nice against Shrimpo's face, liked it a lot better than his life jacket. He could practically feel Fin frown down at him.
“ What's wrong, Shrimpy? A fish got your tongue?” Fin had the audacity to giggle after Shrimpo hit him for the small fish joke.
A hand that found its way to his back again calmed him. “Wheres your bear sweetheart? Is it dirty too?” Tisha asked so earnestly.
If only that were it, if only it was just messy and needed to be washed. It would be so easy and they wouldn’t hate him. Tears started again, and Shrimpo hated it. He should probably get it over with. It was inevitable, this is why Shrimpo couldn't have nice things. He just broke them and yelled at them.
Shrimpo just squeezed his eyes shut and uncurled a bit. Shamefully and shakily held out the bear and ripped off arm, holding it like the rest would break if he wasn't careful enough. It was the most delicate he'd ever been with something. It was weird.
“S—Sow-re-” he cringed at his own voice. He hated it. More tears filled his eyes, so he squeezed them shut again. He couldn't handle seeing them both right now, couldn’t handle the disappointment that must be on their faces.
“Oh Shrimpo…” He really couldn’t handle Tisha's gentle voice. She should sound angry! She deserved to be angry! Finn too, but all the stupid fish bowl did was hug him tighter. “ There’s no need to be upset darling, here i can fix it right now”
Shrimpo wanted to scream. He wanted to kick and punch and give them a reason to be angry at him. When Tisha took the bear he wanted to bite her and scream at her, but Finn's stupid comforting arms made him melt. Stupid comforting arms that made Shrimpo want to bite and scream and make him angry and hate him. Shrimpo was so small and so tired though, and all his anger came out into even more tears.
Finn's stupid comforting hands were back in his fur making him melt even more. “ Sshhh.. Deep breaths Shrimpy.. It’s ok accidents happen.”
Stupid comforting words. Shrimpo hit him again, albeit weak, and Finn chuckled again like the stupid giggly fish man he was. So he punched him again, and again, and again. Each just as weak, with no real strength behind them. “Sh- Shup up! Bee- Be angy an- an mad! Suspose ta be mad!”
That made both of them pause. Shrimpo's eyes were shut again. He couldn't stand it. He couldn't stand seeing the stupid looks on their faces, no matter what emotions they held. A hand was on his back again, and he sobbed.
“Shrimpo.. darling, why should we be mad right now?” Tisha and her stupid soft voice was so stupidly comforting.
Why didnt they understand?? He was a problem, a bad person, a bully! There was a mile long list of all the reasons they should be always mad at him. So why did he have to tell them??
“CUS- Cus I boke it ev-even if it wash a gif..” He spoke so matter of factly that it left the other two silent. Shrimpo curled up and simply sobbed more, waiting. This was it! This is what was going to make them realize he was awful and didn't deserve all their kindness. Not their hugs, or kisses, or all the nice things they've done for him for the past several months.
A hand, Tisha's hand he thinks, then touched his shoulder. It was all gentle and soft, not a hit or anything like he expected. It made Shrimpo tense up, just waiting for the pin to drop,but it didn't and that was somehow so much worse.
“Darling, we'd never get upset at you breaking gifts from us.” Tisha's soft voice and the added gentle circles she rubbed into his shoulder made feel weird, a good word maybe. Shrimpo uncurled a little when the hand left, getting a peak at her absentmindedly stitching up the stuffed bear.
Shrimpo had stopped sobbing, but it was really hard to catch his breath. Finn's arms around him got tighter, and the fishbowl's breathing got a lot more slow and purposeful. It was hard resisting to not try and mimic it, it was better than coughing every other breath.
Finn waited for Shrimpo to remember how to breathe before continuing Tisha's thought. “ Yeah bud, things can be replaced an’ fixed. An i’d be concerned if you were locking up all those big emotions and not letting them out.”
“ exactly, while there're healthier ways to let those feelings out, we both prefer you letting them out in the ways you can.” Tishha had added, “ no matter how many times you need me to repair your teddy” not a second later the now repaired bear was held out in front of Shrimpo. Its eyes staring right back at Shrimpo, couldn’t even tell its arm had been torn if he didn't look closely.
He wanted so badly to not believe them, but the tight hug finn had him in and tishas song words made his mine even fuzzier and he didn’t have the energy anymore. Shrimpo willged just enough out of Finns arms to grab the bear and hold it close.
“ Thank you… i-’m sorry” He mumbled weakly. If he had the energy he'd sure he would be tearing up again.
Tisha cooed at him and the next thing he knew hen was laying down, sandwiched between both of them. Shrimpo was pretty sure he heard something about changing into more comfortable clothes, and cleaning his room in the morning. He didn’t really care though, so tired and exhausted, he needed a nap.