Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The elevator creaked a little at the combined weight of now 3 people on it. Infected stepping on from her floor and gasping upon seeing party noob, one of her best friends! And her other friend(?) well, she was more friendly with the lamp in the corner even if she seemed to hate both of the other two in here. She was actively not looking in their direction and already disinfecting EVERYTHING! They just got on! “INFECTED!!!” Poob yelled from the corner, waving their hand all the way up.

Infected ran over to her friend and hugged them. Squeezing them and sniffling. “P0OB!! I-” he was cut off with a sneeze. Pink on the floor as Lampert backed away to the farther corner. Actively putting hand sanitizer on. Infected lifted up the front of his shirt and wiped her nose. Sniffling insanely loud. “S0rry…” Lampert backed away further. “Do you EVER wash that?” “UH… N0T S1NCE I G0T IT….” she physically cringed further if that was even possible. “Please wash that…” Infected sniffled again. That seemed to be an average for her due to the illness.. “C’M0N M4N! IT’S F1NE..” “Yeah right.” The interaction ended there. Poob and Infected split apart but kept talking all throughout the ride. Sometimes Lampert would talk to them while trying to bite back remarks and pure sadness.

The elevator ticked to a number ending in 75. “hello FREAKS.” Scags voice rang throughout the shop floor, floppy shoppy. “You will buy my floppies.” Poob skipped out, Infected stood at the entrance of the elevator before freezing, doubling back “4HH… 4HH!!!!!!!!” she sneezed on the floor, “CH0O!!!!!!!! the pink running from his nose seemed to get worse day by day as it dripped onto the floor from the sneeze. Infected wiped her nose on his shirt then skittered out of the elevator. Leaving a very disturbed lamp.

Lampert stepped to the entrance and physically cringed at the pink. She grabbed around the knee of her maxi skirt and lifted it up enough so it wouldn't touch, then she stepped over it, feeling disgusted by the pure presence of it. The same familiar feeling was washing over her of crawling on her metal skin. She stepped farther away from it like it burnt her. She spun around and sped-walked away to look at lightbulbs and other things.

Infected was browsing the shelf, picking up things then putting them back, paying zero mind to the occasional “blip” from the elevator and the sudden missing texture. She continued browsing and eventually she picked out a crown. She heard her friend hollering. “INFECTED!!!” She saw them doing the same wave. He skipped over and looked at what they were holding in their hand. A small bottle of the same missing texture filling it. The tag said “Infection Reversal” with a price. “I triple dawg dare u to drink dis all in 10 seconds for…!” Poob paused, looking through their pockets. Sticking out their tongue as they felt around. Pulling out a few items. “Uhh.. Two money 9 cents.. A crumpled monopoly bill and a safety pin! Poob spoke with a smile plastered across their face, shaking the bottle. Infected stared for a second before speaking and pointing to their palm “IS TH3 L1NT 1NCLUD3D?” “ya!” Infected smirked back. “Y0U’RE S0 0N!” Infected probably would've accepted anyways but lint was a good bonus. Yum.

Scag looked over and saw these two losers and saw them using property without paying, she started riding over “HEY! WHAT ARE- holay molay shes actually doing it.” Scag started cheering too, poob and her shouting “CHUG!” repeatedly. Lampert turned from the commotion and stared. Textureless liquid which appeared to be absorbing pink blood based on what dribbled from his mouth dropped to the floor. He finished it in 8 and a half seconds. Wiping his mouth. Taking the items from Poob. Poob and Scag cheered. Obama showed up. No he didnt sorry. Infected raised their arms over their head as they smiled widely. Like a winner.

She turned back around, grabbing a random clean floppy, colored lightbulbs(mainly in red. Just in case..) and some wet wipes (since when were there wet wipes at the floppy shoppy?!) She looked away for at MOST 20 seconds to survey her items before the cheering stopped, and she heard the sickening noise of someone vomiting.

Just 20 seconds earlier, Infected was soaking up the attention before 7 seconds later something felt off. Their insides felt off, severely off. Like something truely bad had happened. Was there caffeine in that? They DID chug it… Their smile fell as they tried to check the label, seeing only a name and a price. The bleeding from her nose got worse, it also started dribbling from the corner of his mouth. The others hadn’t noticed yet. They felt dizzy. Suddenly their throat burned as they doubled over. The cheering stopped as Poob rushed to Infecteds side. “Infected? Are-” they grabbed their stomach, dropping the bottle which broke immediately before vomiting. the blood from her nose started running redder as she looked around for just a second. Her eyes landing on a very disturbed Lampert before they closed.

Lampert spun around just in time to see Infected falling into poobs arms, eyes on her before they shut, blood ran from their nose and mouth. Poob looked near a heart attack as Scags mouth dropped open like that one emoji as they unexpectedly fell unconscious. She covered her mouth and let out a choked sob, not really knowing how to react.

She didn’t have to grieve in a very long time afterall.

Chapter Text

Kasper woke up with a searing headache. Her body felt like he woke up from the worst possible hangover of his life. It hurt to even breathe. Everything felt like too little and too much at the same exact time. He was hooked up to machines. As he surveyed the room as best as he could, he was very obviously in a hospital. An oxygen mask on him as various machines did their work. He looked to his side and saw a bunch of gifts, roses, cards, everything. He glanced out the window next and saw a black sky. Nighttime? What the hell did they do while drunk to warrant going to a hospital in the first place... Now thinking about it, Kasper didn't even remember drinking.

He eventually mustered enough strength to press the call button before immediately collapsing back down. People rushed in but everything seemed blurry to them. She could barely hear. And eventually he fell asleep again.

He had ended up waking up and falling back asleep within a few days, 3 to be exact. Eventually on the fourth day he had enough strength to sit up. And to actually speak to a nurse. The doctor came in. He remembered speaking to her before in the elevator. Dr.Retro. She had explained what they were doing. Apparently he had a virus in his system. But it behaved more similarly to a parasite, attaching itself and feeding until she was just skin and bones, and eventually that would end too.

She theorized it came from a free model. And urged Kasper to let her know if he remembered anything, as the last thing he currently remembered was playing games with Lampert on his couch. Poptart was resting nearby. OH RIGHT! LAMPERT AND POPTART! She wondered why Lampert hadn't come to visit yet.. They were usually hand in hand. Best friends. So, they asked if she ever came to visit or tried.

Kasper felt just a little bit of pain in his chest as the doctor confirmed no, Lampert hadn't ever entered the hospital. But some friends always brought cards from her. And once even roses from the lamp. And the hurt shifted into worry when he was told he'd have to get surgery soon. Probably more than one procedure. His organs were failing or something he kinda tuned out.

After some tests were performed that he wasn't really there for(instead opting to think about his friends, ESPECIALLY Lampert) (mostly Lampert.) Kasper looked at the pile of gifts. He picked up a random one. A.. Crown? Addressed to someone named Infected. A little card with "sorey!! :[" written on it from Party noob. What reason would they have to apologize?

Next a popup card that released confetti upon being opened. Not alot of it and big pieces of it so it was easier to clean up, but still.

Eventually Kasper got through everything. Except for one giftbox and a bouquet of roses. Red, White, and yellow scattered evenly in the tissue paper with a pretty red ribbon bow. Clearly alot of effort. A card was in it that just said "Get well soon, Kas." huh. First card so far to actually address him as his name and not Infected.

He looked at the giftbox. A square box with white wrapping paper and a red bow. From Lampert. He opened the lid and saw his favorite red jacket. Worn out. It smelt like it had been washed recently, and some torn spots had patches on them. Some were there before and some weren't. It smelt like a bland furniture store. As well as something floral. It felt soft to the touch too. And his old gameboy was in there. With a few cartridges. He remembered he let Lampert borrow it. Making her do some "sacred pledge" to not get anything sticky on it, or break it. Either one.

He put the jacket on his lap, putting it on would be impossible the the tubes on his arms. He powered on the hand-held and found it fully charged. He opened a game and found his data still on there. Perfect.

He ended up playing for a few hours before getting food from a nurse who seemed hesitant to touch him. The food tasted like pure slop. But he swallowed it down. And eventually he went to bed. Holding the jacket.

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Lampert paced around the Ikea as she held onto her tail tight. She had planned a gift for Kasper. But.. She was scared. She had reported from dr.retro and Kaspers friends that she was doing better and was... well. Alive! But she was still scared. She had put the gift together herself and even snuck a candy bar in there! But she still felt scared. What if Kasper hated her? What if she got sick? What if it was infected? They had been in there for 2 weeks and beyond gifts she made other people deliver she didn't speak to them at all.

She took a deep breath before closing the lid and walking into the elevator. Using one of her floor tickets to get there. The elevator ride was mostly smooth. She didn't touch the bars. Didn't talk to anyone. And got there safe and sound, acting like the elevator music didn't grate on her mics. Like she wasn't close to ribbing her tail off from anxiety. Acting like she didn't think Kasper would hate her. Just then Party noob stepped on. Right before the stop. They were putting in a ticket for the hospital when they saw the quene. Then looked at Lampert.

"URE VISITING!? :D" "..I don't know. Yeah. Sure." Poob immediately noticed she was off. "Do you.. Not wanna?" They stood a decent distance away. They learnt Lampert didn't like people near her. Except for a select few like the doctor. And Melanie.

Lampert looked at the ground. "I don't- i mean. I do.. I'm just..." She sighed. Looking back at Poob. "We have history-" "is that why u cried really really hard when Infected passed out? :[" She nodded. Poob thought for a moment before having a eureka moment. A brainblast, even. "U don't have too!!!! :D" Lampert raised an eyebrow. "What do you-" "I can deliver ur present!! :3 u don't have 2 go in there and infected will still get ur present!!!"

Lampert seemed to think for a second. Acting like the gift was diseased. She sighed "yeah. Yeah. Sure. Thanks. Just make sure she knows its from me." Poob took thr gift from Lampert, careful not to touch her hands. The stop appeared and Poob went to the step out before Lampert yelled out.

"WAIT- wait." Poob turned. And saw Lampert drawing on a napkin. "Here is.. My number. Can you give it to Kas? Please?" Poobs smile brightened even more as they nodded rapidly "yes!!!" "Okay.. Bye Poob." "Bai!!!"

They left. Lampert went back to her floor and went to her base. She needed rest.

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When Kasper woke up Party Noob was in the room. Holding a box and a napkin. "HAI INFECTED!!" They looked very happy but couldn't get too close. "Hey, Poob!" Kasper was smiley. Of course she was! "These r from... Guess whooo..." He looked at the gift box. It looked perfect. "Hm.. Lampert?" "DING DING DING!!" they skipped as close as they could while following hospital ruled and gave him the box and the napkin.

He opened the box first and found his old phone. And a blahåj. It smelt like Lampert and felt very loved. He saw a card. "I thought you'd appreciate these." He turned his attention to the napkin. A phone number. Lamperts number. He couldn't help the soft blush that arose from getting her number. What the hell was wrong with him? Must just be the.. virus. Yeah. That.

"Thanks Poob!" "Ure welcome!! :D" they spent the next 2 hours talking. And Kasper cleared up the fact their name was, well. Kasper. And Poob seemed to accept that really easily! And they also explained that they're partly the reason he was slightly cured. Due to a dare. And soon enough it was time for Kaspers first procedure. Poob left with a 'goodluck' and a promise they'd party together when Kasper was let out of the hospital. If the doctors said it was okay of course.

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Being put into surgery was one of the scariest things for Kasper. An injury while skating is nothing compared to surgical procedures. Major ones. Apparently the virus had caused problems with vital organs. And Kasper had to get those fixed soon or else that was it for her. She pulled out her phone and started typing to a number.

He had gotten Lamperts number from Poob. And it was a good visit.. Not just because he got their best friends number but also they learnt alot of things. Apparently the virus made them a completely different person. And Lampert didn't visit because she was scared, to which Kasper understood. Considering it was bad enough to be in a hospital for over 2 weeks now. And probably for way longer.

hey u up?

He sent the message, wanting at least a little comfort before getting a heart transplant. and something with his lungs and kidney. And other organs. Shockingly, she got a response IMMEDIATELY.

L♥︎:
hi kasper.
is everything okay?

They tried to hide his giddy smile at Lampert asking if she was okay. But failed. She typed back immediately.

ye
getting surgery

He immediately got notifications over and over. How lovely.

L♥︎:
what???
are you okay?
is everything okay kasper?

yeah dw
its just a transplant

L♥︎:
JUST a transplant kasper!?
THATS YOUR HEART!

ehehe
if i live can u come visit mee

okay who cared if Kasper was being really forward right now? He had his priorities straight! okay maybe not straight exactly. But still! He saw the typing bubble appear and disappear a few times before he got a reply. Then another immediately afterward.

L♥︎:
Okay.
stay safe? please?

ill try my hardest while unconscious mlady ew why the fuck did he say mlady. He was cringing at himself when another message came through.

L♥︎: okay.
goodbye, kasper. <3

Kasper was giggling and kicking his feet as he saw the heart. Sending exactly one back then putting down his phone. He was a blushing mess sure. But now. It was time for surgery! Yay!