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What Mapicc doesn’t expect on a beautiful sunny day, with rays that cut through the room and light up dust particles, is for there to not be a Spoke at his side. It’s not the most unusual, but it’s their routine. Mapicc gets up first when it’s sunny, because Spoke likes to sunbathe. Weird little reptilian he is.
So it’s not unprecedented, but it’s also making him worry. Because Spoke wouldn’t change the routine without telling him. And– He– Okay. It’s not a big deal, but any time the routine has deviated before, Spoke had been having a mental break. And he’s been doing good lately, too. There’s only been a few moments where he goes too far. Maybe Mapicc missed the signs, maybe–
He swings himself out of their bed, noting the tousled sheets. Spoke wakes up messy, so at least that’s the same. The clock says it’s nine am. Yeah, definitely not normal. Where’s Spoke.
Mapicc very gently makes his way into the main room, scanning around for Spoke, senses on edge. Maybe for Spoke gasping for breath, or the draft of an open window even though there’s no chance he feels that–
Someone bangs on the door. What did he do? Who did Spoke piss off now? Obviously, Mapicc speedwalks anxiously to their entrance, activating the tripwire and minding the calibrated sculk. Even if Spoke’s not here, the traps are. Except, opening the door, it turns out Spoke is here. Haha. With Jumper. Not as funny.
“Jumper?” Mapicc asks, immediately checking Spoke over for any injuries. That’s not normal. That’s setting alarm bells off– Spoke isn’t hiding his emotions. He’s projecting confusion all over the room, and Mapicc feels like he had been straining his ears just for the loudest noise to play. His ‘spoke emotions’ radar is–
“He was wandering around spawn,” Jumper interrupts Mapicc’s train of thought. Spoke, very openly confused, looks at Mapicc and tilts his head. Is he..? Is this a signal? Spoke hasn’t ever been this obvious in the entire time Mapicc’s known him.
“Wait,” Spoke says, drawing all of Mapicc’s attention. “I know you.”
What?
“Wh– Spoke?” Mapicc prompts, trying and probably failing to mask the confusion on his own face.
“Yes. I know you. You know me?” Spoke’s eyes widen. Mapicc turns to Jumper for guidance.
“I don’t know. He’s been doing this.” Jumper shrugs. “Figured I’d bring him to you, because. Well.”
“You don’t need to finish that,” Mapicc tells her, eyes already finding their way back to Spoke. He doesn’t look hurt, he doesn’t look anything but normal Spoke. Well, besides the open display of emotion. “Get inside, bud. Thank you Jumper, I guess.”
“You’re welcome. Uh–” Jumper starts, and Spoke cautiously steps inside. Jumper gives Mapicc a Look. “Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank you.” Mapicc gives a little wave, then closes the door with such a rush that it slams. No time to worry about manners– “Spoke, what the hell are you doing boy?”
Spoke, at that, stops observing the room and pretending he’s not, looking at Mapicc. His posture’s all… wrong. Too straight, too… too… Performative. What is he actually doing?
“Uh. Sorry, how do I know you?” Spoke questions hesitantly. And everything else about that sentence aside… Why on earth is he apologizing? Scratch that, why is he using manners? It’s actually making Mapicc nauseous, like an alien took over Mapicc’s bestfriend.
“What are you doing?” Mapicc asks again, voice a little higher with worry. Is he like. Okay, well obviously Spoke isn’t fucking okay, but…
Weirdly, because all of this is so fucking weird, Spoke doesn’t snap back to himself at Mapicc’s worried tone, his eyes dart to the side in the most obvious display of nervousness Mapicc’s ever seen. There’s so many red flags. This isn’t– Spoke’s never done this. Mapicc trusts Spoke, but he doesn’t know if this is Spoke.
“Um, I’m… looking around. I was trying to– Before that Jumper person dragged me over here I was–” Spoke stops himself, and suppresses his wings flexing. At least that’s the same. “...When did Spawn get all… like that? There’s– None of the original blocks are left. My friend’s house is um.”
“What?” Mapicc asks, eyebrows furrowing. “Did you hit your head? I’m– Am I going crazy? Spoke, drop the bit bro, explain the situation–”
“I’m not– Why do both of you think I’m joking?” Spoke asks, getting visibly upset. It sends shivers down Mapicc’s spine, and his tail starts lashing back and forth. “I don’t even know either of you, I can just–”
Spoke makes a glance to the door, and Mapicc tenses. He’s obviously not okay right now, but if there’s– Mapicc hates this. Mapicc hates Spoke’s stupid schemes when he keeps them to himself. Is Spoke actually forgetting everything, or is it an elaborate play? How is Mapicc supposed to react? Is Spoke being hunted and pretending he doesn’t know anyone? Is Spoke self isolating again? None of it makes sense, and Mapicc hates not knowing how to react, not knowing how to play along with whatever delusion dreamworld Spoke needs him to act to. He doesn’t even know if this is a thing he should play along with (if Spoke is lying to enemies), or not (if Spoke is lying to him).
“I’m Mapicc,” Mapicc settles on. Spoke said they knew each other, right? Maybe that’s all they’re supposed to be– if this is a plot to trick some random enemies. If it isn’t, then Spoke’s an amnesiac, which is great.
“Mapicc,” Spoke repeats, thinking, thinking… And then he stiffens, and looks at Mapicc like they’re seeing each other for the first time again, eyes bright and understanding. “Mapicc. I know you. You’re my– You’re–”
Best friend, Mapicc mentally supplies. We’re best friends.
“...Are we friends?” Spoke asks, voice very small. Mapicc forces a noise down into his lungs. Spoke’s fine.
“You could say that,” Mapicc answers, not really much help, but there’s not really a good way to explain spokeandmapicc. How do you casually say that being away from someone for too long physically causes you pain? It’s just not a very casual thing he can drop. That’s reserved for moonlit nights, with Spoke curled up into his chest and, if he’s lucky, one wing around his back.
The answer makes Spoke frown with consideration. Mapicc’s brain already hurts at the sudden clearness of emotions. Again, it’s too much, overstimulating. He’s gonna get a headache at this rate.
“Are we enemies..?” Spoke asks, cautious and sad. Beyond the fact that it’s unsettling to see him clearly sad, it’s also very upsetting.
“No,” Mapicc says softly before he can help himself, then clears his throat. “No, we’re not enemies.”
That was super corny. But, well, he can’t take it back, so he’ll stick to his guns. Spoke deflates with relief, which, again, weird. Did he actually hit his head?? That’d be really funny. And also very unfortunate for Mapicc.
“Okay good. So what are we?” Spoke asks.
“Oh my god, do you actually need to know that bad, bro?” Mapicc complains with a huff, putting a hand on his hip. Spoke visibly hunches into himself. Oh. “Don’t do that. I was joking bro. You’re fine.”
Spoke forcibly straightens himself back up, putting on a brave face. It’s actually embarrassingly cute, like a puppy growling. What is this guy even doing?
“I wasn’t– Can you just answer?" Spoke whines, which Mapicc can’t resist for long. He wouldn’t want to, he was about to give a response anyway.
“We’re…” Mapicc starts, but finds himself at the same issue. Wikihow to explain the concept of soulmates? Does Spoke remember– if his memory is gone– demon behaviours? Does Mapicc remember enough to give an impromptu lesson ?? How does he tell Spoke, low on memory right now, that Mapicc is Spoke’s anchor, and Spoke is Mapicc’s will? How does he… Is there a more casual, an easier way to say that Mapicc worships Spoke like a devotee to their god, and Spoke in turn loves him like a god to their only follower..?
“Best friends.” is what he decides on. “We’re best friends.”
“Oh.” Spoke hums, effortless. “That sounds right. Mapicc.”
Mapicc snaps up at the sound of his name from Spoke’s mouth, and then very nonchalantly tries to hide that he just did that. “Yeah?”
“I just– You’re Mapicc.” Spoke says. It feels skincrawlingly wrong to not hear that followed by a ‘my mapicc.’ He almost responds as if Spoke said that, just on instinct. Huh.
“Yeah.” He agrees, voice very normal given the tight squeezing of his heart. “You’re Spoke.”
Spoke stares at him for a very, very long couple of seconds. It feels a little like every stone around them has stopped shifting and settling, and all the wood has stopped rotting and the lava pools have stopped bubbling. This whole interaction has felt like the world lagging a few ticks behind him, leaving afterimages of the Spoke he knows versus the one in front of him. Mapicc’s been seeing double, the multitude of possibilities that Spoke could be in, and all the ways Mapicc can and cannot help.
And then,
“My Mapicc.” Spoke says, staring like he’s only reciting the words. “My Mapicc.”
Mapicc rushes to respond in turn, meeting Spoke halfway there because he’s obviously doing his best.
“Yours. And you’re mine.” Mapicc says, fluent and flowing.
“...Mapicc.” Spoke calls to attention, taking a step closer. Mapicc prepares to open his arms up.
“Yeah?” He prompts, giving Spoke a little smile. Spoke’s face goes all disguised again, but Mapicc, expert Spoke reader, sees the understanding and realization under it.
“Mapicc,” Spoke whispers softly, falling further forward with each rushed and uneven step he plants on the wooden floor.
“Hey dude,” Mapicc laughs breathily, lurching forward to grab Spoke. Immediately, Spoke wraps him up in a hug. “What’s up? What happened to you?”
“Poisoned,” Spoke tells him. Mapicc just laughs again, and tries to pull away to inspect Spoke further or maybe grab milk. “Don’t go.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” Mapicc hums simply, and settles back down into the hug. Whatever Spoke needs. Anything. “We’re gonna stay right here until you lock the hell in.”
“I’m literally locked…” Spoke says, voice pitching lower to prove how locked he is. Then, he starts wiggling, getting a tighter hold on Mapicc. “But don’t move though lowkey.”
“Yeah,” Mapicc huffs, locking the hug into its usual place, Spoke’s clavicle bumping into Mapicc’s, tails twisting to hold each other. Mapicc does most of the tail related work, with Spoke’s repressed ass. “You got an amnesia potion splashed on you. You do some unbelievable work bro.”
“You’re unbelievable,” Spoke insults. Mapicc snorts, and then leans over to pick Spoke up. He’s heavy, but Mapicc is swole and fit and has aura, so it’s not a problem. “Why– St– What are yo– Mapicc, put me–”
“Shut the hell up dude,” Mapicc shuts down, and drops Spoke onto the couch. He did forget that Spoke is clinging to him, so they end up in a heap on the couch with Mapicc trying to pull away and not crush Spoke, and Spoke doing his absolute best to weigh Mapicc all the way down to hell.
“Lay down,” Spoke tells him, huffy.
“Do I literally not get to adjust so I don’t kill you,” Mapicc asks rhetorically, and his teeth land on Spoke’s wrist before he fully realizes. Spoke shrieks, loosens his grip to wipe his wrist off on Mapicc’s hoodie, all panicky as if he hasn’t bitten Mapicc a thousand times. Mapicc pulls away, using his beautifully crafted distraction, and drops his weight onto the couch instead of Spoke.
“Evil,” Spoke whines, accepting Mapicc’s offering of himself in Spoke’s arms. “Mean to me.”
“Sometimes you gotta be ruthless. That’s the thing most people don’t realize.” Mapicc teases. Spoke makes a rattle-y, hollow growl at him. “Shut up.”
“You shut up.” Spoke argues, squirming. Jesus christ.
“Do you want me to flip us?” Mapicc asks, indulgent. The things he does are actually insane.
“Noooo,” Spoke whines, shifting so they can slot into each other smoother.
“There we go,” Mapicc hums, and leans to the side, putting his back to the door to get Spoke safer. “Chill out. Nobody’s going anywhere dude.”
Spoke, in response, makes a pouty noise. Mapicc snorts.
“I promise. We can literally stay right here.” He doubles down, pressing his body weight, now evenly distributed and controllable, onto Spoke. “So chill the fuck out.”
“Fine. Be quiet.” Spoke decides quickly. Mapicc settles, relaxing like a dog after a hard day of work. It’s tough being an emotional support animal– that, he can relate to.
Mapicc listens, and doesn’t say anything else. It’s not even noon, but it’s definitely too early for Spoke to be up. What was he doing up that got him splashed? And what who was he looking for at spawn?
These are all questions. All questions for post-nap Mapicc.
So with that pleasant idea, Mapicc listens to Spoke’s heartrate slow over the course of minutes, and then falls asleep himself. He can’t help it. Proxy emotions.
Hey, shoutout Jumper actually. Maybe her spies aren’t actually freaky. Huh. He’ll have to think on that.