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As they walked through the TPOT elimination area after Snowball and Puffball broke the hologram that blocked their path. Noting how it looked like Yoylecity but upside down. Funny. Snowball walked ahead, the leader of the group, crossing his arms around his chest, gripping harshly on them, subtly scratching it.
Not like anybody noticed he was doing that. He walked just a bit slower, he didn’t want to be the leader. He didn’t feel okay enough for it. Nobody realized he was walking slower; they just walked ahead of him. That feeling in his stomach wasn’t as strong as before.
He took slow deep breaths in and out. Nobody seemed to see that he was having some kind of anxiety attack. Heck he, himself, didn’t know! But that was probably because he was used to ignoring his feelings.
He was glad nobody was paying attention to him at least. They wouldn’t know. “Hey Snowball!” Someone called behind him, he jumped slightly. He hoped no one saw that. He looked over.
It was Coiny. He smiled at him, like they never stopped talking, like they never drifted apart. Snowball waved back at him. “H-hey Coiny..” Snowball muttered. He wasn’t feeling so good again. The butterflies in his stomach are flying around quickly in his guts.
He couldn’t get a full grasp on reality. He could barely pay attention to anything. Things were getting a little overwhelming after using the power he got from Two. Snowball still wasn’t used to it, it made his head spin. And with everyone chattering and their footsteps. It was all a little too much.
“Are you okay..?” Coiny asked for what could be the fifth time, maybe more. Snowball looked at him, Coiny could see the pain in his eyes. The way his hands were gripping his arms, and how he was scratching it, what he usually did whenever he felt some way. Snowball would just say he felt wrong, but he could never truly describe it. He always hated talking about his feelings. He felt like it made him sound weak.
But the only one he ever opened up to was Coiny. And he listened. Coiny gently grabbed his arm, and walked slower with him. Snowball snapped out of it. They were now in the back of the group. Snowball just stared at Coiny as he led him.
“Are you okay?” Coiny asked again.
Snowball stared at him. “Yeah..” He replied. “I’m fine.”
Coiny didn’t trust him. His tone wasn’t his usual self. “Are you sure..? You don’t sound like yourself, your usual self.”
He can tell by his tone of voice? Did he really pay that much attention to him? Snowball nodded. “Are you.. Do you want to talk about it..?” Coiny asked. Snowball looked away, and looked ahead. Coiny understood what he meant. He didn’t want to talk with everyone else so close to them.
Coiny stopped walking, tugging on Snowball’s hand to signal him to do the same. He does. Still nobody noticed they were leaving them behind. Coiny waited as the group got farther and farther away. Coiny clasped his hands around Snowball’s. “You wanna talk about it now? They’re too far away to hear us.”
Snowball stared at Coiny before looking away. “I-I’m not used to the power of Two. It feels weird. And it kind of.. Drains me.” Snowball pauses for a bit. “Even though it’s a lot of power.. It makes me feel weak for not being able to control it.” He continued.
Coiny listened, stroking Snowball’s hand in gentle strokes to calm him. He nodded for him to go on. He could tell he had more to say.
“I-I guess I’m.. I’m.. I’m afraid..” Snowball whispered. “That I’ll lose control and hurt everyone.. Hurt you.. I’m scared that something bad has happened outside of this elimination area. I saw some black goopy substance dripping on something outside of my room’s window back at the upside down hotel. I don’t know what it was but.. It didn’t look like good news.” Snowball murmured worriedly.
“Snowy! I’m sure it’s okay. Alright? And if anything happens, always know I’m here for you!” Coiny smiled at him, he kept stroking Snowball’s hand. Snowball blushed at the nickname. He hadn’t called him that in a long time. It was nice to hear him call him that again.
“T-thanks Coiny..” Snowball stuttered quietly, Coiny’s strokes calming him down little by little. He smiled back. He never knew how but Coiny was always able to calm him down even at his worst moments.. He couldn’t do it himself either..
To Coiny it wasn’t that big of a deal. But to Snowball it meant everything. To him it was so nice of Coiny to do this and let him calm down. It’s been so long since Coiny’s hung out with him.. Calmed him down like this.
Ever since Coiny started hanging out with Pin more, Snowball’s been unable to calm himself down, breaking down, and spiraling in ways that were harder on him than ever; sometimes it got so bad he couldn’t get out of bed without breaking down. He still didn’t understand how Coiny could calm him down so easily.
“Do you want to catch up with the others now?” Coiny asked, smiling up at him, taking it slowly so Snowball doesn’t get more overwhelmed. Snowball looked ahead, they weren’t that far.
“C-can we stay..? Just a little longer.. I-I want to hang out with you.. Only you, again..” Snowball muttered, just loud enough for Coiny to hear, blushing harder. He was surprised that Coiny didn’t notice it yet.
“Of course!” Coiny said, hugging Snowball, still stroking his hand. “Anything for you!” Snowball was a little surprised at the hug before hugging him back. He thanked him awkwardly.
“So.. What’s been going on in the elimination area..? Since you got eliminated..?” Snowball asked, fumbling over his words a little.
“Eh nothing much.. We’ve just been trying to get that door open until you showed up and made it disappear.” Coiny said. Snowball looked away in seemingly embarrassment. “Hey! There’s nothing to be embarrassed about! You helped show us it wasn’t real in the first place so thanks! I don’t think anyone has thanked you for that yet.” Coiny reassured him.
Snowball looked at him and nodded slowly. “I guess..”
“Really Snowy. Thanks.” Coiny said, putting his hand on Snowball’s cheek as reassurance. Snowball blushed even harder at the touch.
Surely Coiny’s noticed by now, Snowball’s stomach started having that weird butterflies in it feeling again and it wasn’t doing well for him. His head spun again.
“Snowy..? Are you okay?” Coiny asked, he didn’t look too good. His face was really red, and it looked like tears were pricking the corners of his eyes.
Snowball whined. “I-I think y-yeah..”
“You don’t look or sound okay.” Coiny responded.
“I-I.. um..” Snowball didn’t know if he should say it. But.. Maybe it’d help? “I think i-it’s your touch..”
“My touch. Why?” Coiny was confused. How was his touch making his face red, and..
Oh.
“You like me..?” Coiny asked.
Snowball looked away. Did he seriously figure it out that quickly? He nodded. Coiny started caressing Snowball’s cheek. Making him blush even harder. Coiny got a bit closer to Snowball. They were inches away from each other. So close. Snowball started heating up, it felt like he was going to melt.
He pulled a couple inches away out of pure embarrassment. Coiny realized his mistake and pulled away, sheepishly rubbing his head. He pulled his hand away but Snowball reached out for it again. He blushed harder and pulled his own hand away.
“Sorry Snowy I should’ve asked first..” Coiny said. Snowball nodded. “Well do you.. Want too?” Snowball looked at him and looked away in worry. “You don’t have to if you don’t feel like it. Okay? I’m just happy you like me.” Coiny smiled.
Snowball smiled back. He slowly hugged Coiny, shaking a little. Coiny chuckled and hugged him back. “I’ll always be here for you. Okay?” Snowball nodded. They pressed their foreheads together.
They started laughing at how cheesy their scene was. They pulled away, hands intertwined together. Snowball looked at the group far ahead of them.
“Should we catch up to them?” Snowball asked.
“We can walk it. It’ll be fine. We can get a little time to ourselves!” Coiny said, winking at Snowball which made him blush furiously. He smiled and nodded. They started walking to the group, talking while they did. They’d catch up eventually, it wouldn’t take that long.