Chapter Text
Squirm had at long last left the elevator, his feet barely moving from how tired he was. No surprises there, anyone would be after a solo run to floor 20. The caterpillar did get quite a lot of research and even managed to save couple medkits! But he didn't feel any pride in his achievements, all he felt was exhaustion and adrenaline still rushing through his body from the last twisted encounter.
Squirm was nearing its room when he saw someone in the hall. Who could be out there so late? He squinted trying to clear his vision a bit and saw a distinct silhouette of a tall fluffy toon. Squirm thought that maybe a little chat with him would cheer him up, maybe Goob would even give him a hug. Its thoughts were quickly interrupted by the sight of another figure, Scarps was already talking to her brother.
"No problem!" The caterpillar thought "I can still talk to him, its fine ...But it seems like they're in the middle of a conversation, I should just wait till they're done talking". Squirm stood there, shuffling and fidgeting, it liked Goob, admired him even, how could anyone not? He was confident and kind, he always helped his fellow toons and was never a bother to others, but most importantly: he was oh so brave, even outside of distracting twisteds in runs it seems like his courage was limitless. In some way, Squirm was jealous.
Squirm felt smaller with each passing second, his breaths got shakier and his stomach felt empty. He knew there was no reason for worries in the moment, no one was going to hurt him, especially not the craft siblings, but he just couldn't help feeling this way. The caterpillar's gaze was glued onto Goob's back, when it noticed he began turning around towards it. Letting out the tiniest little whine on this planet, he fled so fast that had he eaten a box of chocolates right now it would have no effect on him.
"-huh?"
"-what's wrong, Goob?"
"-i swear i just saw someone here..."
"-hm? ...maybe we need to trim your fur around the eyes a bit)"
Squirm ran not knowing why or where, but he was quick to stop and try to catch his breath. That much running in one day sure can't be good for him.
Maybe it was actually good he fled, maybe Goob would've thought he was eavesdroping, maybe he didn't even want to talk to him, maybe it would say something dumb and embarass itself. Wait, what if he saw him running away, oh that would make him even more suspicious!
The caterpillar let out a tired whine, leaning onto the nearest wall, but instead of expected cold concrete he felt something softer and more familiar, he turned his head seeing that he was leaning not against a wall but a bookshelf.
It brushed its fingers over one of the books, its eyes widening slightly. Oh no no, he really shouldn't, he already had eaten quite a few books today, and those weren't his nor were they for him. Brightny would be so upset if she found out by the morning, she would notice even if one book went missing, even if one page went missing.
But maybe half a page would be alright, the title page, its not like anyone needs that one. Squirm pulled one of the books out hesitantly, he spun it around in his hands feeling the tough cover, he fliped through the pages.
Oh that book smell.
Its a nice book, it really is, someone would enjoy reading it. The caterpillar's eyes began to water as it ripped out the first page.
Goob was on his way to his and Scraps' room, still chatting with her
"-and so tommorow I'll finally earn my 'best cookie taste tester' title!"
"-didn't you just earned your 'best tea partier' title?"
"-you have both the craftster master title AND the best sister one, I can't see why i can't have multiple too!"
The fluffy craft suddenly stopped and tilted his head
"-did you hear that??"
Scraps stopped too and started turning her ears in all directions trying to catch what she should've heard. It was a quiet sound coming from around the corner, most would've been confused as to what exactly made it but she was all too familiar with it, it was a ripping noise, ripping of paper to be exact.
"-i do, do you wanna check it?"
"-its late already, you can keep going and I'll catch up as soon as i can."
"-now why would i leave you alone like this? What if there's a twisted on the loose, and you're just gonna come right to it with no one to call for help!"
"-oh come on, that's not gonna happen, even if there is a twisted, wich there is for sure not, im gonna be faster than it! But if you're so worried, we can use our Dandy Spy Walkie-talkies™"
Scraps sighed "-Alright, but be careful! And listen to your Dandy Spy Walkie-talkie™ really closely"
"-Will do, you won't even notice im gone!" Goob said picking up pace moving in the direction of the sound
As the craft went further he started to also pick up on a quiet weeping sound, oh someone might need comforting out there.
Goobs steps were always weirdly silent but the sound of his hands dragging on the floor would alert others of his presence. This time wasn't an exception, Squirm could hear clearly that this dragging sound was approaching him. Oh no no, no one should see him like this, especially not him!
All noise stopped, Goob was looking at Squirm's back as it faced the bookshelf. Squirm's antennae perked up.
"-...Squirm? Are you alright?"
"-UhhHuuU" the caterpillar wanted to talk as clearly as he could but failed miserably, his breathy speech quickly turning into sobbing
"-would you...like a hug?"
"-Y-YeaAhhh"
Goob came forward to his crying friend and knelt down. Squirm turned to him and wrapped its hands around him.
The craft leaned in, petting Squirm's back
"-I did it *sniff* i did it again, i shouldn't have, what's wrong with me."
"-I know i know, its fine, you're okay, really"
"-Brightny is gonna be so mad..."
"-im sure she won't be too mad"
Squirm just kept sobbing even harder, resting his head on Goob's shoulder
A sudden buzzy noise startled both of the boys, it was coming from Goob's Dandy Spy Walkie-talkie™.
"-Goob? You're ok there? Over."
"OH NO" the caterpillar thought. Goob is gonna tell Scraps that he's out there comforting him, and then she'll know for sure that it's just a big crybaby and will make fun of him and won't talk to him ever again!
Goob picked his Dandy Spy Walkie-talkie™ from the ground with one hand, still keeping the other one on his friend.
"-yeah, nothing dangerous, but i will need some more time here. You can just go to bed. Over."
Silence lingered in the air for a while, Squirm seemed to have actually calmed down a bit in this time.
"-I didn't know you were fluffy too" Goob broke the silence
"- H-Huh?" Squirm looked up at Goob in confusion
"-you're fluffy!" The craft brushed his palms along his friend's back
The caterpillar reached over there himself. It was true, in fact his whole body was covered in a thin layer of fuzz, how come he had never noticed before?
"-Well, I didn't know that too!"
Goob giggled, Squirm did too, whipping the rest of his tears of his face.
"-thanks for hugs, im really sorry i held you down like this..." He said pulling away from his googly-eyed saviour
"-that's no big deal, im just happy to help!"
"-well, goodnight then."
"-Goodnight!"
The pair shuffled away to their rooms.