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Once again they were in the dark woods near the city setting up camp. Only this time they weren’t fighting each other and a new addition to the team. Bendy was setting up the tents while Mugman was chopping up wood for the fire. Boris was cooking dinner for them. While Shelly was helping him peel the potatoes and carrots.
Cuphead was walking around the tree line, checking for searchers or other hitmen. When his soul began to feel off? No, it's fine! He’s fine! He’s got his body back! Sure he made a deal with the devil AGAIN! His soul felt pain. And dragged his brother down with him again. Why was everything going blurry? It’s fine! He can fix this! This is FINE! HE’S FINE! HE’S BEING OVERDRAWMATIC!
“Hey pup, I'm going to check deeper in the woods for searchers.” Boris just nodded as he continued to prepare the food. When Cuphead turns to walk into the woods. Something felt off in the tone of the red cup's voice. It felt forced in a way.
The sun was setting and the food was almost done and Cuphead wasn’t back. Something felt off in Boris' chest. Maybe he should have gone after him? Boris turned to the blue mug. “Hey Mugman? Can you get your brother? He’s been gone for a while.”
Mugman just looked annoyed but also kinda worried. He’s been gone for too long. What if something happened again? What if he’s dead? Then he remembered the deal. They needed to protect these two. The wolf can go. He looks tough enough. But what if he hurts him again? Or use the chain against him?
Mugman was about to respond when Bendy spoke up. “Cuphead would be fine! He’s tough! But if you're that worried bro, why don’t you go get him?” Boris just nodded as he went off into the woods.
He couldn’t have gone that far. Could he? The wolf tried to pick up the cup’s sent to find him quicker. Cuphead always smelt like burnt cinnamon. Probably because of those weird cigarettes. It was a nice smell and it made the wolf feel relaxed when he’s near him.
Boris caught the smell of cinnamon but there was something else? Almost metallic? When the wolf’s heart dropped into his stomach. Blood… as the image of Cuphead's corpse flashed into his mind.
Before he knew it he was running through the branches ignoring the little cuts. Where? Where was he? Please! Not again!
When he saw a familiar dark red coat. Cuphead was kneeling, surrounded in broken trees, some were burnt and others had deep dents into the trunks. He looked “fine” for the most part? But where was the blood coming from?
Boris walked slowly, careful not to step on any broken branches. Something was telling him to not make any loud noise. Cuphead was too quiet. It was uncanny…As he slowly walked up to the red cup. Boris noticed that Cuphead was holding one of his arms.
It was faint but he heard the faint sound of scratch? Like scratching glass. Boris held back a gasp when he saw bloody knuckles scratching his arm. Picking at old wounds that scattered across his arms. Cuphead didn’t even notice what he was doing. Without thinking Boris quickly took his hands away from each other. That snapped the cup from his trance. “W-what? Pup? What are you doing?”
Boris looks at Cuphead bloody hands when Cuphead tries to pull back. But Boris wouldn’t let him, his hold only held firm. “Does your brother know?” Cuphead just took a breath as he exhaled. “No… and he never will… and you sure as hell aren't going to blab. Got it?” The cup just stared at the wolf with a targeted look.
Boris just nodded as he let go to get bandages from his pocket. Thankfully he brought some. “Do you just carry bandages everywhere you go?” Boris just nodded. “Yeah… I’ve been hurt while doing construction sometimes…. It comes in handy”
The two just sat in silence. Cuphead was just glad that it was the wolf who found him and not Mugman. How could he look in his brother's eyes after this? He would probably be disappointed in him. Maybe even hated him. He probably already does. After all, Cuphead did take away his future. Mugman could have been in school. Making friends. Finding a gal or guy they love. Getting a proper job. Not this…
His soul hurts again… it's all his fault. Why… Why was he like this?! All he does is destroy everything!! Hurting the people he cares about!!!
Boris could tell that something was wrong. As the cup shoulders shook slightly. He didn’t want to grab the guy's arms or hands. Maybe his handle?
Cuphead felt a warm hand grab his handle. Ripping him out of his thoughts. As he turned to look at the wolf. His eyes match the forest around them. Pretty…
Boris just rubbed circles gently on his handle. He laughed softly at the thought of Mugs angry face. He would probably hate the wolf even more if he saw them like this. It was nice…. His soul felt calm just for a little bit. The cup almost felt sleepy as he leaned against the wolf.
Boris looked at the cup, why would he do something like this? Why not tell his brother? Surely they were close enough to tell each other something like this? Right? Mugman was holding on to his brother's corpse for celestial sake! That's got to count for something?
Then the cup remembered that they were gone for too long! Cuphead suddenly shot up off the ground. “WELP! That’s enough of that pup!” Boris was surprised as he cleared his throat. “Y-yeah… dinner should be done by now..”
The two walk back to camp in almost comfortable silence. But that was broken when Mugman yelled at the sight of them. “WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO YOU?!” Cuphead flinched slightly as he lied so easily. “There was a searcher! Pup here, helped me out and bandaged me right up!”
The mug just sighed in relief. “Why do you always get yourself in trouble? Can you go one day without injuring yourself?” As he went to get soup for his brother. The group ate in almost silence as Shelly was talking about fun facts about geology. As one by one went to sleep. Mugs took more convincing but reluctantly went to bed.
Before Boris himself went to bed Cuphead stopped him. “Hey…Boris?”
“Yeah?” What did he want? Did his bandages need changing? “Thanks… for earlier… and for not ratting me out to my bro…” Boris was surprised at the thanks. Even with the fire slowly dying it reflected the cups ruby eyes nicely. Pretty…. “Ummm your welcome… I’m… I’m sorry for what you're going through…” Boris paused as he thought what to say next. “For what it’s worth…you should talk to your brother…”
Cuphead flinched slightly as he looked away, arms crossing. “Well I don’t want to pile more problems. I’m already too much. Besides, it's fine.” Boris just grabbed him by the handle to make him look in his eyes. “I don’t know what’s going on but what I do know is that your brother cares about you. He nearly killed me when you were “dead” so that’s got to count for something.”
Boris let him go as he turned into his tent. “Good night.” Alone again but this time Cuphead gave the wolfs words some thought. His brother really cared for him? Then he remembered how Boris held his handle. It wasn’t rough or painful. It was warm… comforting…it grounded him. Maybe he can ask Boris to do that again?