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Spongebob was laying on the grass.
Spongebob was laying there…
Because he wanted to.
Yeah, exactly! Spongebob Squarepants, Employee of the month, Saviour of all Seven Seas was laying in the grass because he felt like it.
Not because there was any other reason, no! That would be ridiculous!
The grass was nice and soft today, making it perfect to lay on and the blue ocean water was up in the sky with those beautiful flowers!
There were even some jellyfish! In. In jellyfish fields! Buzzing around and doing jellyfish things.
Like.
Okay, maybe there was a reason.
But in all honesty, it wasn't a good reason, not as good as Spongebob would have wanted it to be.
Not a good enough excuse for the fact that he ran away from the Krusty Krab in secret, leaving all those customers hungry, probably starving by now!
Just due to some meager, small words.
Just the thought of them made his stomach turn uncomfortably, doing flips and getting ready to vomit everything out.
Oh, if he just hadn't been so dramatic!
Oh…if only-
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“ORDER UP!!!”
“Argh- Spongebob, don't scream in my ear!”
“But you don't have any ears.”
“That's not- Just be quiet for a moment!”
It was a wonderful day at the Krusty Krab!
Spongebob had been making Krabby patties all morning, feeding the hungry mouths of Bikini Bottom with the secret formula right in his head!
Sorry, can't even share that info to you.
It was a beautiful Saturday and the Restaurant was filled with different fishes, most of the known Bikini Bottomites you have seen like Sandy, Larry, Mrs Puff-
He even got to wave to Sandy multiple times, getting that happy smile from everyone involved, no matter how different it may be.
It was Spongebob's job after all to make people happy, as a Frycook and a Friend!
Standing in-front of his fantastic patties, he flipped them one last time with his favorite Spatula to make sure their crispy yet beautifully soft-
Before finally jumping up onto the Stove, making sure his feet didn't stay on it just in case they would melt away once again.
Wouldn't want to buy another pair. Like last time.
And the other last times.
Stretching properly with a huff, he finally sat himself down on the hatch, the blue metal quite cold against his legs but nothing he minded.
Properly seating himself, he put one shoe down on the hatch itself and the other on the outside wall, looking towards the restaurant as a whole.
With a fond look, he nodded to himself, quietly melting into an ever more adoring smile.
“Gosh, I wish this shift would never end! Can't you see all these happy people that love eating their patties and talking to one other with love and affection?”
“All I see is the timer for my lunch break.”
Spongebob snickered, enjoying the sweet, sweet banter he had with his father figure of a wonderful Squid, poking his bald head.
“We shall get there, my dearest Comrade! I'll even give you my break time with your time if needed!!!”
That made Squidward perk up to the Sponge, giving a raised brow to the possibilities of a longer break time.
The Sponge knew that the Octopus held his time dear, so this must be a pleasant surprise! A Miracle! A sweet relief!
“Uh- Oh. Thank you? Gives me more time to actually take a nap-”
Faintly hearing the muttering, Spongebob let out a sweet laugh and stretched out his arm, making sure to keep the patties from burning and checking the order wheel.
Painfully empty as he would mention, but at least everyone was satisfied.
Looking out just one more time for his own pleasure, he noted that one very, VERRRYYY important person was missing!
Patrick.
Patrick star, his bestest friend in the whole Ocean!
The hungriest star! The ice cream champion! His weirdly, very well informed Therapist.
Don't mention that part, it somehow happened and It works surprisingly well.
Usually, he would never take up an opportunity to have a Krabby Patty, especially since he orders a whole bunch of them.
Spongebob would always know the exact order, preparing it in record speed just so his bestest bud could eat it in record time.
It was the delight of a routine, the sweetest time of his day!
So where was the star? Was he late? Perhaps he got lost on his way to the Krusty Krab, that happens way too often-
Well….Hm.
The Krusty Krab is already full now, the chow being chowed down as people were still happily chattering amongst themselves.
Might give him some time to prepare Patrick's order once he arrives, making it even more of a pleasant surprise.
The Fry cook could already imagine the delight and happiness in the sweet Star's eyes, devouring the burgers in minutes and giving him a bone crushing hug!
What a happy fantasy!!!
So, that shall be what he uses to spend the time in his shift, even without a break. Not like he truly ever took one in the sweet land that is Bikini bottom.
Letting himself naturally fall backwards, he plopped headfirst onto the Stove and finally with a few stumble-jumps onto his feet.
Spongebob happily pulled out his Spatula again, flipping those patties like they were a piece of art to behold, waiting for his sweetest, dearest Friend.
Oh, how he loved all this! And there was one part he loved even more after the Lunch Rush had finally been dealt with….
LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE!!!
The Oceans were a widespread place full of tales, but Bikini bottom was so chaotic and full of mysteries that you'll hear a story everyday!
If it were fish-eating monsters, the horrors of taxes, a God-ish being getting pissy or a grumpy middleschooler, these stories are what thrived these lands.
It's what gets customers in, it's what gets people to leave and re-enter the world that is their town for their amusement-
Every so often, Spongebob himself was part of those sweet tales, being called a fantastic hero, a helper, a nuisance, the fry cook of the Krusty Krab!
No matter what, it always made him happy to be mentioned.
However, he kept quiet- Not only because he didn't want to seem like a secret spy trying to black-mail people, but more-so because he didn't want those stories to end.
That's why the sweet Sponge kept in his little cooking area, flipping krabby patties and listening in intently-
“Have you heard about the recent Tales of the town?”
“Ohhh, about the big robot thing? I also heard some things about the Dutchman!”
Oooooo, God-ish Gossip!
Surprisingly, something that Spongebob was part of for the regular!
Trying his best to be quiet, he listened in on the conversation, flipping burgers as casually as ever while keeping one pore open.
“Yeah, I heard that that weird robot from Plankton went rogue once and nearly completely destroyed Bikini bottom and the surface!”
“Oh, I saw. Weren't you there for it? Mr Krabs was handling our groups surprisingly well.”
OHHH, YEAHH!
Karen went a bit rouge there to get Plankton out of her way, didn't she?
Luckily, the way of true love between the two Villains is what brought them to be reunited! To love one another!
Spongebob remembered being the honorary therapist for that one, even if Plankton screwed him over in the end.
Which he didn't blame him for! That's just how Plankton is.
The Girls knew what to do anyway! Sandy crushed those robots with no effort whatsoever and Pearl and Mrs Puff were a great team!
Speaking of Mrs Puff, he really needed to make sure when the next boating lesson is-
So, while he listened in on those tales, he brought out a pen and wrote a small note.
“Nah, I was out of town if I'm gonna be honest. Had to handle some errands. But I was there for that giant fight between King Neptune and the Dutchman!”
Oh yeah, that incident.
He remembered that like yesterday even if it was like two weeks ago.
Dutchman and King Neptune fighting wasn't on his list for such a big day, but it sure disrupted everything else for the next few hours.
Turning into a ghost wasn't expected either, but Pateick was a great help during it!
Sometimes he wondered how it would have gone had they not gotten the Spatula.
Pretty badly, he might admit.
“Dear Neptune, don't remind me-! Both were such incredible brats….Gods are so weird.”
The Sponge couldn't restrain the chuckle at that sentence, flipping a burger, finishing it up and smacking it on a hungry Customers plate.
These stories were so familiar most times, counting down on the many times he had saved the town from the evil that was the Ocean.
So many Celebrations, so many other ones that simply didn't happen, yet he kept going nonetheless.
Spongebob was the hero of the town! Of course he wouldn't stop, he loves his life!!!!
A part of him always grew warm whenever anyone talked positively of his efforts, even if he wasn't mentioned at all.
If they talked, they survived.
And that's the best he could hope for!
While his heart swelled with love and affection for the people he adored, the conversation kept going.
“Hah! Have you heard that Dutchman has been forced to take a break from being a captain from one of his comrades? Served him right-”
Oh. Yeah.
That. That day was something.
Whatever heart-throbbing happiness was swelling before was now replaced with the aching guilt.
….Spongebob admittedly knew that he wasn't the smartest that day, perhaps was too trusting of the flying Dutchman.
The town didn't know the story, no, but that didn't stop people from getting hurt due to his actions.
Sure, Mr Krabs started it, but he persisted! Persisted with someone who was known to be the worst Pirate in the ocean!
But…Mr Krabs forgave him. And even gave him a reward!
Perhaps it wasn't that bad.
Perhaps, he was just overth
“Like, how can anyone be this selfish?”
He blinked.
Very quietly.
Spongebob didn't flip the krabby patty despite it smoking, which meant it was probably burning up.
Something about that word…sounded…
Wrong.
It sounded-
“Oh, I don't know. Everyone can turn selfish easily. Even Spongebob can be selfish.”
“Spongebob? Really? The happy kid?”
“Yeah. Imagine-”
Spongebob stopped listening.
Staring into space seemed really easy now that the conversation stopped registering in his brain.
The pain stinging his hands was average.
A burn can. Can be replaced.
Not the word.
The word can't be replaced that easily. You can't change the words that come out of someone's mouth.
Since when is he so poetic?
Blinking again, he tried getting back, hoping to figure out whatever was wrong with his body to act like this-
Just to notice.
That he was shaking.
His hands were shaking, his body was feeling uncomfortable, everything felt wrong.
That word. It was that word.
Just thinking about it made him want to puke.
Especially with his name spoken along with it.
He wasn't. He wasn't that word.
He couldn't be that word.
He's Spongebob Squarepants! Kindest Helper in Bikini bottom! Sweetest Sponge that has ever lived!!!
Yet
Taking a sharp breath, he turned to the Stove, barely missing the krabby patties with his Spatula and transporting them onto a plate.
Tenderly and with a breath he forgot he held in, he turned the knobs on the stove to turn it off for now.
Why was he turning it off? Didn't he have a job to do?
The Krusty krab was full.
Everyone was waiting outside.
Did that mean that he's sel
His heart was dropping into his stomach the more he thought of it. Of that disgusting word.
He hated calling things disgusting, it truly wasn't his thing!
There was an excuse now though.
Why were his palms sweaty? Why couldn't he focus on his job anymore?
Why did every little part of his body shudder and flinch at the thought of that concept belonging to him?
He
He needed fresh air
Before Spongebob could fully realize that Squidward turned his head to tell another order, he was slamming the door open and running for the hills.
He didn't know why.
It was a word.
But he needed fresh air.
Because that's healthy, isn't it? When you're panicking, you get fresh air
It's stupid
His reason is horrid
Stupid stupid stupid STUPID STUPID STUPID-
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Ah, the memory he searched for.
That's why he was laying there.
And as Spongebob mentioned before, it truly wasn't a good reason for the fact he was still laying here, contemplating his actions.
Honestly, those words weren't even that bad!
He could think of them effortlessly, just watch! He's calm now! He had enough fresh air and
And
The moment he thought of those words again, his entire body was churning and doing flips.
Okay. Okay, maybe it's not fine.
That- That just meant he had to repress it then! A bit of emotional support so that he could deal with it later at home!
Well. Uhm. That's usually what Patrick told him not to do-
But Patrick's not here right now!!!! He can't judge him for emotional decisions. He knows what he's doing!!!
….
Okay.
Okay, I can do this.
Deeeep breath.
For a moment, the small sponge took all the time he needed to inhale, letting the air of the ocean fill him up for three seconds.
And ouuut.
Till it was released back into the blue, releasing the stress bit by bit as the churning and pain started to smoothen out.
He didn't notice how hard his heart was pounding for that little world.
Repeat. Repeat and focus.
That's what Patrick said. Right? Well, Squidward did too- so did Sandy-
ArGH- FOCUS!!!
Take a deep breath in.
Iiinnnn….
Spongebob very quietly closed his eyes, focusing on his breath and holding his fingers close together, fiddling with each individual finger.
Brushing over, checking around, scratching lightly-
And one out.
Phewww…
It was easier to focus as he properly positioned his legs, feeling the soft tingles of the wet grass against his socks.
A smaller sensation, yet it helped nonetheless.
Innnn….
Ouuut….
In….
Out…
In.
Out.
Spongebob repeated it, feeling how his chest lowered and grew with each repeat of the exercise, that morbid feeling fading away.
His mind was still on that little scenario, even if it soon faded away.
Taking a look at the sky, his mind decided to try and avert the situation with something better.
A passing flock of jellyfish!
If he was any more excited, he would jump up, hug them, get electrocuted and then pat them properly!!!
Due to the fact that he felt like he swallowed bricks, there was instead just a peaceful watching session of watching them swim around.
Soft blubbering was what his pores catched, the small jellyfish getting really curious and nudging at his sponge.
He was quite popular among jellyfish, you know. He treated them very kindly!
So, even when he didn't feel like standing up due to the mental exhaustion and the fact he ran here, all he could muster up was some soft patting.
Tracing his fingers along the soft surface, patting along the head and making sure no danger was there or wounds.
Almost letting them purr, letting them scurry around this lonely sponge who ran from his job.
…Something that made guilt bubble up like a fresh portion of soup.
Were the others okay? Were they worried for him? They really shouldn't be. He can handle himself most of the time.
What if they're hungry? What if Mister Krabs got mad at Squidward instead of him?! What if all the customers were destroying the Krusty Krab?!!
WHAT IF HE WAS SEL
Spongebob decided laying in the grass and sweating some more while not fully being there was a great option.
Just. Just repeat the breathing exercise.
Be aware of everything.
Be aware.
He hated being aware right now.
Why was it so hard to breathe when the word left another person's lips? When it hit his brain?
It hurt.
Why did a word hurt so much? Why? Why-
“--------?”
Someone
Spongebob forced his eyes open at the new figure that sat down beside him with such relaxation that…
It could only be one person.
“You alright, buddy?”
Patrick.
If it were any other day, Spongebob would have greeted him, hugged him so tight that it would crack, laugh and sing and catch jellyfish-
Today.
Spongebob stared at Patrick, barely blinking and breathing heavily, not knowing what to say.
And almost naturally, his best friend did nothing more than lay beside him, sliding his squishy hand into his and squeezing softly.
A finger somehow rubbing over his palm.
“Breathe. Just like we practiced in my rock! The day I spilled ice cream in the sand.”
Oh
Yeah he
He did that.
Pff.
Spongebob followed along silently.
Breathing once again, absently starting to curl closer to the Star, getting a sweet reception once the pink, big arm wrapped around his shoulder.
No words needed to be shared, not when it was getting comfortable.
The soft side hug helped, breathing getting easier now that his mind was somewhere else and not on his streaming thought flow.
And for a while, it stayed exactly like that.
Peaceful. Quiet.
If this would have gone on for any longer, Patrick might have just lured him into taking a quick nap again, especially with the exhaustion and sleepiness nagging at his mind.
But his dearest, bestest friend decided to use it for questioning.
Using that little piece of intelligence to help.
“Everything okay now? Or do you still feel like melted ice cream? mm..ice cream-”
It took a second for him to respond, curling closer to the point one arm was over Patrick's belly, which was quickly copied by Patrick spooning him.
Though, he replied in a murmur anyway.
“...’m fine now.”
Not satisfied by one question being answered, Patrick gently nudged with a rub by his side.
“Heard you ran from the Krusty Krab. Any reason why that happened?”
That got Spongebob to blink for a second, only getting a light whine and grumble from that awful memory, curling his hands up.
Awful. Awful stupid memory.
Stupid Sponge.
“...Howwww you know?”
There was a huff that he could hear from the star, but it was quickly overshadowed by the soft rubbing to his side, comfortably as ever.
Patrick was really warm, did anyone ever tell you that.
“Oh, I was about to get my super Krabby Patty order from you! But everyone said that they didn't know where you were and that you ran somewhere!”
Ah.
Mmm.
Not good actually.
He had half the mind to actually care about that and said half was starting to make his stomach hurt once again.
For a moment, he considered not even responding, maybe pretending to be asleep so he could get out of the conversation, but-
“Did something happen? I can smack the person that hurt you.”
Something told him that that would just conclude onto their next Rock Therapy session.
Wouldn't it anyway?
With some effort, he leaned over and let himself be comforted, the grass as soft as ever.
“No. Just…words. Dumb word. Didn't like it.”
Spongebob could sense the confused blink that tried to understand him.
“Like, a swear word?”
“No.”
“Did you get insulted?”
“Not really, no.”
“What about lots of screaming?”
“Nuh-uh.”
“A specific word?”
A quiet blink before he sighed.
“...Kinda.”
Patrick settled himself more properly from what he felt, still rubbing his side.
Silence reigned over them both for a moment, the soft buzzing of jellyfish close by as whatever winds the ocean had passed by.
Peaceful as ever in jellyfish fields, probably one of the least affected places by the everyday chaos of Bikini Bottom.
“It's okay if you can't hear a specific word, you know.”
The voice spoke beside him and it made him perk up, staring back at those relaxed eyes for the first time since Patrick laid down.
That sounded almost too easy.
Too easy to not feel guilty about.
Said voice continued anyway, as it cared not for what the little sponge thought.
“It's like- It's like when Squidward says ‘Time-out’ and neither of us want that! We dislike that word! HOW COULD HE BE SO EVIL?!”
Spongebob couldn't help the snort that escaped him, relaxing into the hold that the pink starfish kept him in, despite his little exaggeration.
Even with the comfort, there was a certain frown that still brought its way onto his lips.
Certainly felt stupid still.
Felt useless.
Somehow, those two words were close together to being disliked.
So, why could he hear that word that easily?
“...I guess.”
“You guess? Why you guessing?”
“No- I mean, it's…I get what you mean. Just it- it still feels stupid.”
A few words that he also wanted to say didn't leave him, perhaps for his own safety.
His shoe scraped against the grass, pushing it away and showing the gross dirt between, letting his shoe sink into it.
Something to distract him at least.
“It feels like the word is like- it's like I didn't hear it before. Like it's foreign. A curse.”
What else could he explain it as?
The fact that his body had the urge to run away and hide the moment he heard that word seemed to explain enough.
Who does that? Who runs at words like that?
Well, beside that one time where Plankton build a weapon that shot word blocks, but NOT THE POINT-
“Hm. Well, I'm not gonna force you to say it if you don't want to hear it. That would be stupid.”
Patrick was a really kind person, did he mention that before?
Spongebob silently huffed, curling properly into a hug as Patrick adjusted himself to fully wrap his arms around the Sponge, getting a soft squeeze.
Any kind of pressure was like heaven currently and he happily leaned into it.
“Thank you.”
He muttered softly, squeezing the skin with his fingers and letting one leg go over his friend's hips.
Nearby buzzing indicated that some jellyfish passed by, probably as happy as can be as one would today.
Whatever tension was left in his brain slowly started to fill up with something warmer, more sweet and soft compared to anything else.
Just how it always would be with his friend.
“We can return to the Krusty Krab in a bit. I don't think anybody will blame you for something like that!”
That sounded nice.
A quiet yawn left his throat, letting his eyes flutter from all the thoughts that he didn't want to have today, getting a gentle rub to the head.
Caressing him, making sure he was okay and letting him get as cuddly as he wanted it to be.
Spooning was nice, honestly.
The Warmth honestly made him sleepy again, which he preferred over the guilt brewing in his gut.
Patrick seemed to have noticed his little drifting off session, as he readjusted just one more time, a grip that made him not really able to slip out by accident.
Not like he wanted to, he was happy to be engulfed in warmth and comforted, barely able to think from happiness.
He did hear faintly what his best friend said, just before he closed his eyes for now with a smile on his face
“I love you! Also, most definitely not your fault, it was okay that it happened.”
And just today, Spongebob decided that he was too tired to protest that statement.
“Love you too.”
He murmured, finally deciding to succumb to the warmth that Patrick gave him, closing his eyes and snuggling in.
The most comforting kind of safety.
The loving kind.
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Patrick honestly didn't mind carrying a sleeping Spongebob back to the Krusty krab.
If anything, he had been more worried that something happened to his best friend!!! He could have been hurt for all he knows!!
But now that the Sponge was safely in his arms, comfortably held and happily asleep, all was good in their world again.
One arm was on the bottom of his sponge to keep him up and another one he safely wrapped around the back, keeping his Best Friend snugly against his chest.
He couldn't help the soft smile that spread to his lips from the sleepy murmurs, Spongebob helping just enough by keeping his arms wrapped around him.
If that made Spongebob feel safe, then who is he to stop him?
“No worries, buddy. You just take your nap and I'll get us to the Krusty Krab!”
Patrick announced silently, giving a moderate amount of pats to the Fry cooks head, each pat giving a happy little squeeze.
It shouldn't be too far from here now, they went to the Krusty Krab from every angle by now-
Using his stubby little legs, he finally saw it though! The best food maker place ever! Aaaaa…A…
Rastorant.
Reessstooraunt.
Oh! Restaurant!
Patrick quietly celebrated himself with a snicker, taking all the time he wanted to get to the krusty krab, peeking through one of the windows and-
Ah.
Maybe not right now.
You know, maybe don't enter the place that looked like hell broke loose on everyone, especially the way Mr Krabs was trying to control all the screaming.
Actually, holding Spongebob's pores shut for a moment and quietly sneaking away seemed like the better option.
Maybe- Maybe he could take a longer nap, surely that-
Oh!
Surprise followed by another surprise, just behind the Krusty Krab, Squidward was there of all people!
Weird.
Usually he would drown in the Customers demands and sadly not get him his Krabby Patty, despite how long he sat there.
But this was worth a celebration!
Quiet Celebration. Spongebob was just snuggling closer anyway.
“Squidward!”
“Ah- OH, There you two are! Everyone is searching for you two Barnacles!”
The face of anger yet hidden relief was spotted too easily for the star that started to read Books. Yes! You heard that correctly!
Patrick read way too many therapeutic books for his friend.
His head hurts sometimes.
“Awe, how sweet! Can we postpone entering the Krusty Krab though?”
Finally something that got Squidward to stare properly at them, exchanging glances between the two with a flabbergasted expression.
“What- No. Well, I can postpone myself, I am on my extended break!”
That proud smile immediately seemed to brighten Squidward's mood, pride seeping into his expression as his tentacle got to his chest and the other on his hip.
He would probably get 1’s in a fashion show! The highest number in class!
Though, the Squid turned once more to them. [Who constantly called himself an Octopus]
“But why would-...Wait, what's up with him?”
The most important thing in his life had finally been addressed, even with a concerned expression.
Squidwaardsss worrrrriieeed-
“Oh Spongebob? He's asleep!”
Squidward blinked.
“He's.”
Patrick was sure that was a clear fact.
Why did Squidward seem so confused about the concept of someone being asleep?
“...Oh. Well, Uhm.”
This went on for a few moments longer, the expression relaxing and turning into something like realisation.
Blinking, yet giving the tiniest sigh and pat to Spongebob’s head, slowly returning to leaning against the metal wall.
“...Okay, fine, we both wait here. Just be quiet.”
“You got it, Squidward!”
With that, Patrick sat himself down on the sand with his snoring friend, holding him as close and comfortably as possible.
Today was a good day!
And he hoped Spongebob could think so too.