Work Text:
It’s currently past midnight in Inkopolis. Everyone is either asleep or doing something else.
Rider and Goggles are both currently in their shared apartment fast asleep. Except Goggles isn’t technically asleep. He just has his eyes closed trying desperately to go asleep yet he can’t stop thinking about everything that’s happened. He’s trying so hard not to cry and wake up Rider yet the cracks start showing. He starts letting out quiet squeaks and whimpers as tears began to slowly fall from his eyes.
Eventually, Rider wakes up and sees what’s wrong.
Rider (still a little groggy): “Goggles?….. you ok?….”
As soon as he sees that Rider is now awake, he can’t stop trying to hide it and breaks down in tears as he hugs Rider tightly. Afraid to let go.
Rider (caught of guard but still wants to comfort him): “Hey hey hey! It’s ok. I’m here. I’m here…..”
Rider then wraps his arms around Goggles and strokes his back as he gently shushes him.
Rider (whispering): “Shhhhh…… Shh shh shh….. it’s ok…… I’m here…….shhhhhh…..”
After a bit, Goggles finally calms down and is able to form a sentence without it sounding gargled or complete nonsense.
Rider: “You ok?”
Goggles: “…… Yeah……”
Rider: “Do you want to talk about it?”
Goggles: “…..Yeah…… I’ve just…… I’ve just been having a lot of stuff on my mind lately…..”
Rider: “Like what?”
Goggles (starting to tear up again): “I’ve been….. rethinking a lot of things a did in the past……. I embarrassed my team….. I embarrassed myself……. And I even embarrassed you…… I would never take battles seriously….. and all I would do is just either almost cause my team to lose or just have them lose entirely…… I’m such a fucking failure….. and I feel like I’m nothing but a burden on everyone…..”
Rider: “Goggles…. You’re not a burden. Sure you do kinda goof off a bit every now and then but it’s fine. We all aren’t perfect. Just look at me. I’m not perfect either. Sometimes I forget things or end up getting caught off guard by stuff. And besides, we all can’t just be completely serious all the time. If I never met you, I would just be the cold hearted prick I used to be and you helped me become a better person. You always find ways to bring out the good in people. That’s what I love about you. And who cares if you mess up or lose every once in a while. We all have our ups and downs. And between you and me, when I was talking with other members of team blue, they would always say how you’re practicing the heart of the team. You’re basically the only person who always helps make people feel better when they’re at their lowest. Your team need you Goggles. We all do. And there’s no denying that.”
Goggle’s eyes light up as Rider says that. And instead of shedding tears filled with sadness, he sheds tears filled with happiness and hole also tightly hugging Rider.
Goggles (nuzzling into Rider’s chest): “Thanks Rider……(sniffle)…. I really needed that.”
Rider (gently stroking the back of Goggle’s head to help him sleep): “Anything for you love.”
And just a few minutes later, they both fall asleep in each other’s arms. Even more closer than before.