Chapter Text
"Well, looks like it's just you and me, Boxy."
Glisten's confident yet slightly exhausted voice echoed in the nearly empty elevator. The previous floor had been particularly rough, the combination of multiple rare-tier and main twisteds causing all but two of the team of toons to die.
"That's strange.. I thought our team would have surely made it farther than us."
Boxten quietly replied, trying to ignore the heavy feeling in his chest. He was lucky to survive, the medkit he had been saving in his inventory had saved him after an attack from twisted Scraps. It left him with a nasty injury on his arm, a few wooden splinters still sticking out from the wrapped bandages.
"Speak for yourself. I could go on for as long as I please, I just hate being without my audience!"
Glisten was boastful as always, but this time Boxten could definitely tell that he was nervous too.
The next floor would be 19, which was the gift shop. The floor was infamous among the toons. The purple wallpaper, black floors, and dark curtains certainly didn't help with visibility, and the tables and scattered chairs and racks made the area difficult to navigate.
Both toons felt a sense of instant dread when the elevator opened with a cheerful "ding!"
Boxten gulped, waiting for Glisten to step out first.
The two walked out onto the matted carpet, being careful to stay quiet. Unfortunately, only a few seconds later, a flickering noise was heard, and the lights shut off completely. It's not like most of them worked anyway on this floor, but still.
"I'll look for machines in the center. You go to the side rooms." Glisten ordered, giving the music box a sharp but trusting look. Boxten quickly nodded, scurrying off to the little side room.
Glisten continued his straight path, crossing his arms. He wasn't the biggest fan of blackouts, if he was honest. Nobody could see his immaculate beauty! And also a twisted could run up out of nowhere and mercilessly attack him. But he didn't like to think of the latter as much.
The mirror found a machine, right next to one of the oak bookshelves. It was a circle machine, which weren't as fun in his opinion, but it needed to be done. He put his golden hands on the wheel, and began hastily extracting.
Meanwhile, Boxten had found a few of his own machines. He was extracting as well, although not as fast as Glisten. He actually wasn't so bad at it, it was just that he was alone. Even though he hated being in the spotlight, being in a group gave him a huge sense of comfort. He always strived to do his best, but it was easier when there wasn't so much pressure on him to be perfect and carry all the weight.
He especially liked the feeling of having a distractor, which was a privilege the team lost on floor 17. The machine's rusty red wheel felt so much heavier when there was the looming dread of a monster inching closer to him every second.
From the distance, Boxten heard the satisfying pop of a machine being finished. A small weight seemed to lift off his shoulders, the sound reminding him that he wasn't completely alone down here.
However, as he completed his own machine, he was reminded again; he wasn't completely alone down here.
Boxten almost jumped out of his own skin as he glanced behind himself, seeing twisted Poppy running towards him. He froze in place out of pure terror for a split second, before swiftly dashing away, heading behind a pile of crates. The two looped around it a few times, before the twisted got confused and lost interest. The silver key on the back of Boxten's head spun rapidly, making him dizzy. He briefly leaned against a shelf, taking in his surroundings as he regained his stamina. In the next room, he saw Glisten, turning the wheel of another machine. At this point, 6 out of -- machines were completed.
Glisten worked away at yet another machine, letting out a quiet sigh of annoyance. It was just so boring! What more was there to do but turn those stupid red wheels and pray you wouldn't die?
In the distance, he saw Boxten. The mirror couldn't help but smile, happy to see another non-corrupted being. He made a gesture, telling the music box to come over.
"Come on, there's another machine over here."
He said, soft-spoken. Being quiet wasn't Glisten's strong suit, but if it was to save his life he guessed he could manage.
Boxten carefully went over, finding said machine. It was close enough to Glisten's machine that the two could actually have a conversation.
"Well? How'd it go in there?"
Glisten asked, glancing over to the side room Boxten had emerged from. He didn't truly care, but he needed the company.
"It was alright.."
Boxten said, meekly, without elaboration. Glisten furrowed his brow, returning his vision to the machine for a skill check, which he received "great" on. Annoying.
"How come you're so timid?"
Glisten suddenly asked. Boxten's dark eyes widened for a moment, but they didn't dare meet the mirror's piercing blue ones.
"H-Huh? What do you mean..?"
"You know! You're always so quiet all the damn time!"
Glisten whisper yelled, although not with any hostility.
"Oh, I'm sorry.. I'm just trying not to get caught by the twisteds."
"I don't mean that. I've noticed it outside of the runs, too! How come you barely talk to me? You're always so skittish, it's making me concerned."
The statement was a bit of shock to both of them. Glisten never really admitted to showing worry.
"..I-"
Boxten had no time to answer. From the shadows, two twisteds emerged, Flutter and Shrimpo. They were more focused on Glisten, the flashy nature of the gold and the sparkle of his mirror face catching their attention. He bolted away, heading towards the clutter in the center of the floor, hoping to lose them there. Boxten's mind raced, trying to take this all in. He scampered away as well, looking for any way to help.
While moving, he accidentally kicked an item on the floor. Boxten quickly picked it up, recognizing it as an air horn. He had seen the distractors and support toons using it all the time, but he had never imagined the day would come where he would have to use it himself. He dreaded it, but he gathered what little courage he had, and pressed down on the red lid.
The twisteds immediately drew to the loud noise. Even the mirror turned his head instinctively.
And then, Glisten tripped.
Boxten lead the twisteds into the side room, looping once more around the pile of crates. After a while, he lost them, but he didn't wait to catch his breath this time. He hurried over to the two machines that were being worked on, which were both almost fully completed. His hands flew around the wheel, extracting faster than he even knew he could. The two machines were completed in no time, and he went back to the center of the room, where he believed he saw Glisten last. However, instead of a toon, all he found was a small pile of reflective glass shards. His heart sank. But surely Glisten isn't dead? Boxten never heard the "crunch" noise that meant a toon had died. It gave him a small bit of hope, and he kept looking.
The violet music box headed back to the elevator, where he thought Glisten must be.
Beside the elevator, there was a desk with a half-completed machine behind it. At first glance, that seemed to be all. However, just as Boxten began to turn away, a small glint of gold caught his eye from behind the desk. Glisten was perfect at a lot of things, but hiding was not one of them.
"Glisten..?"
Boxten softly called, hoping not to startle the other.
"Go away. Now."
"..What? Oh- I'm not a twisted, it's just me, I swe-"
"PLEASE go away, Boxten! Now isn't the time."
Glisten said hurriedly, his voice raising, not caring about the twisteds anymore. Boxten's key spun a little faster, confused.
There was no way that Glisten was twisted, since he hadn't died.. so it would be safe to go over, right?
No way, I don't even fully understand this whole ichor thing.. it's way too dangerous to risk it!
Good greif, Boxten, you really need to stop being so terrified of everything. It'll surely be fine. It's your friend, after all, and you should help him no matter what.
The music box realized he had been zoning out in thought.
"I'm serious, please, leave me alo-"
"I'm coming over there, okay..?"
"STOP!!"
Boxten's heart raced rapidly in his chest as he stepped over, praying not to lose his life.
Instead, he found the poor mirror toon hiding in the corner of the desk area;
With huge cracks across his face.
"O-oh my God.. a-are you okay..?"
Glisten covered his face with his arms, his heart sinking.