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Spamton was sitting in his car. The Cungadero. His... pride and joy, was it? Spamton didn't know. Spamton didn't care. He just... sat. Hands gripping the steering wheel. Blank expression staring out the windshield. Car running but not started. He'd been sitting like this for a while. How long, he didn't know. He didn't want to know.
Before it went on for even longer, a ringtone pierced through the stale air. The notes of his and Tenna's show's theme song, except with the last note removed. He thought it was funny when he first made the audio. He didn't think anything of it now. He only flinched from the sudden noise. Slowly, he just... started processing the audio. He read the number showing on the car's system – a number he knew too well. A number he had frantically entered into an outdated rotary phone hours ago.
Carefully, Spamton guided his hand to a button on his steering wheel. His hands felt detached from himself. He felt like he was floating. He felt dizzy. He pressed the button. He picked up the call. He didn't say anything. Seconds passed.
“Spamton! Gosh, the nerve you have to CALL me in the MIDDLE of my broadcast today, you little rascal! You're lucky I have incoming calls silenced, but you still made me trip over my lines!! Horrible, haha, horrible!”
Tenna sounded amused, playfully scolding him. Spamton... Didn't respond. His brain was caught processing the static fuzz in the silence.
“...Spamton? You uh- You there?” Tenna sounded puzzled.
Spamton breathed in. He rested his forehead on the steering wheel.
“...I'm here, big guy.”
He breathed in again.
“...'m sorry.”
He didn't know if he was speaking loud enough for the mic to pick up.
“S-Spammy..? What's wrong, starlight?” Tenna sounded worried. His normally booming voice was now soft and gentle.
All of this, along with the pet name... It was enough for Spamton to feel something. His face got warm as his chest tightened, to the point he couldn't breathe.
He didn't want to feel it. He didn't want to feel it because he knew he couldn't have it.
Spamton's hands started shaking as he lightly pressed his forehead harder into the top of the steering wheel, loudly taking in air as his chest only felt tighter and tighter.
Tenna waited.
Spamton took in another very audible inhale as he then lifted his head off the wheel, now pressing himself against his seat and staring at the roof of the 'Dero with furrowed brows.
“A-Are... Are you [How did you get into the studio?!]”
The quote blared out from Spamton. He didn't know how it sounded over the phone. He didn't really care.
“Yes...?”
Spamton closed his eyes for a moment, attempting to compose himself. His body relaxed a little. He tried not to go entirely limp. He hunched over, fumbling with his keys to start the car. He managed to do that. The sound of the car starting seemed to startle the other darkner on the phone, though.
“Wh- Wait, you're planning to drive?!”
Spamton grumbled, his grip on the steering getting tight again. He leaned back in his seat.
“...Yeah.”
“Are- Are you sure...? I don't want you getting hurt... Will you be fine driving..?” Tenna worried.
“Yes, Tenna, I'll be fine.”
Spamton sounded annoyed. He felt annoyed. Tenna was just worried about him. What was wrong with him?
“Alright... Mmh... Are you sure though? I could always come there to pick you up! Cyber City is quite big, but it shouldn't be too bad... It'd take me maybe--” “I SAID I'LL BE FINE!”
Tenna stumbled over his words, coming to a halt.
Spamton breathed heavily. He processed everything for a moment. He felt horrible for shouting at his partner. Tenna didn't deserve this. Tenna didn't deserve him.
“I... God, I-I'm sorry, Tens- I-I didn't mean to... Fuck.”
That got Spamton to start crying. He hid his face in his hands.
“It's okay, Spamm-” “NO! N-No it's- it's...”
Spamton took a shaky breath in. He tried to compose himself again. Quite audibly. He put his hands back on the wheel.
“...I'm. I'm gonna [coming to your area soon!] a-and. And... Y-You could put on one- one of those [classics] you wanted to show me... I'll be fine. I'll... We'll be fine. It'll be okay.” Spamton got quieter as he talked, as if he started talking to himself at some point.
“...Okay.” Tenna simply answered.
Spamton froze. The single word answer worried him, worried that he'd hurt his partner with his words. He stared at the system displaying Tenna's number. Spamton didn't say anything.
“Get home safe, alright?” Tenna continued, voice gentle once more.
Spamton slowly wiped his tears.
“...home?”
He heard Tenna chuckle.
“There's always a place for you here in TV World, Spamton. I... I'll be waitin for ya with that movie, okay? Just- please get here safe...”
God. Spamton didn't deserve him.
Trying his hardest not to cry again, Spamton mumbled an "I will".
“Okay then. See you back home, big shot.”
The call ended.
Spamton sighed. He stared ahead, out the windshield again. He was so tired. But... pushing aside all other thoughts, Spamton just thought about going back to TV World.
Going back home.... to a darkner he had so much love for.
Spamton took a breath in before releasing the hand brake.
...He'd be okay.