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Pika awoke on a bed next to Quakitus moments after Q woke up.
Thing 3 was gone.
Their connection was gone.
And it felt so, so empty.
It took only a moment for the emptiness to appear and it felt so suffocating.
Too suffocating.
Pika's airways started to close, not letting him have enough air to breathe properly.
Q noticed. Of course he did. Even if they weren't connected, the first thing to do was still to look if the other was okay.
Quakitus hurried over his face full of concern.
"Pika! Pika, it's gonna be okay. Everything is going to be okay, but you need to breathe." Q said, a tremble could be heard in his voice. He was terrified of what will happen if he doesn't calm Pika down. He hugged Pika hoping it would work.
Pika wheezed, trembling.
"Q- Quakitus.. it- it hurts. The- the emptiness hurts so- so bad." Pika mumbled his voice shaky.
"I know Pika, I know. But you're not there, you're here, with me, safe in our room, where no one can hurt you." Q said, trying to reassure Pika and help him calm down. Quakitus held Pika tighter, Pika's body relaxing a little.
Eventually with the help of Q Pika calmed down.
Mugm burst into the room Stormz quick to follow.
"Are you guys okay?" Mugm asked, voice full of concern and worry.
"We are.. now at least" Q mumbled combing Pika's hair.
"What does that mean?"
"Well we kinda got separated after a long time and we both got used to it. Like a lot. It feels weird, empty to not be connected." Q responded in a flat tone. Pika stayed silent, still recovering from the panic attack from earlier.
"Did something happen?" Stormz finally spoke up.
"I- Yeah something happened." Pika mumbled, clearly not okay.
"Mind telling us what?" Mugm asked, his voice soft.
"Pika had a panic attack because of us not being connected anymore." Q answered and it was obvious from his voice that this also affected him, but he was trying to stay strong for Pika.
"I- I could get Poot if you want. He could make you a new Thing 3." Hopefully Mugm added but didn't say. He will confess, he was a little scared of Poot. Not like he was threatening but the fact he was so powerful and took this whole thing as a game made him terrifying. Okay maybe Mugm lied, he was terrified of him.
"I," Q paused looking at Pika who nodded, "We would love that."
Mugm nodded, stepping out of the room, motioning to Stormz to follow him.
Once the door closed behind Stormz, Mugm spoke.
"You need to watch them to make sure something like that doesn't happen again."
"But what about you? Will you really go to Poot alone? I know damn well you're scared of him which I am too. You can't just go alone."
"I can and I will."
"You also very well know that he doesn't just make you a command block item because you ask." Stormz frustration was clear even though it was just his worry about his friend.
"I know, but this isn't just any item for any person. It's for Pika and Q. Even tho he doesn't show it he cares." Mugm defended himself. He knew it was a risk but he couldn't disappoint them.
"If you say so. You do know him the best out of all of us." Stormz said, trying to sound like he didn't care. It didn't work.
"I'll be okay, don't worry." Mugm said this more to himself than Stormz but he didn't have to know that.
------
Mugm made his way to Pootoot's place. Most people would easily miss it, it was just a rock after all. But Mugm knew better. It was a secret entrance. To open it you need to put one of the vanguard command block items on a piece of gravel then wait a few seconds for it to open.
Mugm did just that. The door opened revealing one of the most extravagant rooms he's ever seen. The walls were a beautiful shade of green with white quartz and gold. The colors weren't natural ones, they were made by the command block. The place gave off a welcoming and friendly vibe but Mugm knew better. Poot wasn't as harmless as he'd seem.
Mugm found Poot exactly where he expected him to be. In the living room watching something on the TV.
Mugm knocked on the doorframe making sure Poot heard him.
"Mugm? The hell you're doing here?" Poot asked, sounding annoyed.
"I- Pika and Q got killed and lost Thing 3. They both are very shaken by it and asked me if I could ask you to make them a new one." Mugm explained trying to sound calm.
"How did they die? It shouldn't be possible." Poot asked not really angry about the demand to make a new item, which surprised Mugm.
"Nufuli used some kind of spell with his book and it made an explosion killing Q and getting his item. Pika got killed not long after." Mugm explained, sounding angry.
Worry flicked in Poot's eyes for a moment before disappearing again. He didn't show emotions much so seeing that is enough for Mugm to know he cares.
"Are they okay?" Poot's voice, try as he might, was laced with concern.
"As okay as they can be for not being connected."
"Okay. That's good. I can make Thing 3 again. Just give me a moment." Mugm nodded, preparing himself for the wait.
What he didn't expect was for Poot to do it in front of him.
Poot said something incoherent and his hands started sparkling. His eyes turned purple and orange. Poot's hands sparkled for a while before an object started to form in Poot's hands. Eventually it got its color. But it was still just one Thing. That was until some of the sparkles landed on the middle making it split in half. One Thing formed into an amethyst shard and the other into a blaze rod. Poot's eyes got their color back not long after.
"Done. We can go now. Don't want to keep them waiting." Poot's voice was somehow calm like it didn't take anything out of him which surprised Mugm.
Mugm nodded absentmindedly thinking about what he'd just seen. He followed Poot out of the dase.
------
When they got to Pika and Q's place they found Pika sleeping soundly curled up against Quakitus. Q wasn't sleeping but he definitely looked tired. Stormz sat on a couch not too far just watching them. Q's eyes immediately snapped to Mugm and Poot. Stormz also looked at them but not immediately.
Poot handed Thing 3 to Quakitus without saying a word. He went back to his place near the doorframe. Mugm on the other hand moved to a chair just a few feet away from the bed.
Quakitus lightly nudged Pika waking him up. Pika blinked a few times before his eyes landed on Thing 3. He immediately took Thing 2 absorbing it. Quakitus did the same. They both felt better, the emptiness gone in an instant.
"Feel better?" Mugm asked, a soft smile on his face.
"Yeah." Q answered while Pika just nodded.
Mugm saw out of the corner of his eyes Poot leaving. He got up making his way over to him.
"You know you can stay here, right? You did help them after all." Mugm said. He knew it wouldn't work but he still tried.
"I know but I have to go. There are still some things needed to be taken care of." Poot answered, but it was clear he was partially lying.
Mugm didn't push it. He knew better. He still gave Poot a look telling him he doesn't fully believe him.
Poot disappeared down the hall. Mugm sighed watching him go. He walked into the room again and shut the door behind him. He saw both Q and Pika sleeping in the bed, Stormz watching them with tired eyes. Mugm sat next to Stormz on the couch, both of them quiet.
"They will be okay." Mugm said, watching Pika and Q.
"Probably. We should teach them how to be separated, well Pika at least. Quakitus was okay enough but Pika on the other hand..." Stormz didn't need to finish his sentence, both of them knew what he was talking about.
"You should get some sleep, the tiredness is heard in your voice." Mugm said, looking at Stormz.
"You should too. Unfortunately you are right and I do feel tired."
"Maybe you could dream about that boy again, Stormz."
"I- Fuck off won't you." Stormz muttered flustered.
Mugm chuckled. "Goodnight Stormz."
"Night."
Mugm stayed awake for a while just watching them. He felt peaceful. It was a rare thing but after all they have been through it felt deserved. Mugm closed his eyes knowing nothing would happen to them. At least not today.