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Another day, another adventure as the group gathers around to listen to Caine's rambles. After the typical back, and forth with Zooble. Caine gets reminded of the suggestion box, and has decided that today's adventure will be minimum wage work— An adventure set in 'a fast food place'. You stand next to Kinger, near the back of the group, listening to Zooble trying to worm their way out of the adventure.
"Oh! I know!" Kinger's sudden gasp interrupts the two as he lights up with an idea. "I'll could sit this one out, and Zooble can take my place!"
"Wha!— That's not how this works." Zooble grumbles.
"Great idea, Kinger." Caine praises.
You tune out the rest of Caine's and Zooble's discussion as you turn your attention towards Kinger, who is already looking towards you. You watch as the proud expression he had for suggesting the idea shifts, and his clasped hands start to twitch. "Sorry, I won't be with you in today's adventure, honey." Kinger apologised softly. His blue eyes appear downturned, you pick up that he's mildly upset, and disappointed about leaving you alone.
"It's alright," you reassure, bringing your hands to cover his hands. His hands still their fretting as he relaxes to your words. "You be okay on your own?"
" Oh, don't worry about me. I'll be fine. Maybe I can finally catch that elusive rhino beetle!" Kinger free one hand to wave away your concern while the other hand turns to grab your hand, and softly squeezes. His voice picks up in excitement as his mind drifts towards a particular beetle, not putting any significance or thought into his well-being. You reach out to grab his hand mid-wave, bringing his focus back onto the topic before he can spiral further about bugs, holding both of his hands as you rub smooth circles on the back.
"I'll always worry about you." You calmly remind him, voice steady as if speaking a vow. You watch as Kinger's eyes soften. Melting at your words as he leans closer.
"Good luck on today's adventure, love bug." Kinger moves forward, and despite having no mouth. You can feel a gentle pressure on your forehead, and if you focus hard enough, you can faintly feel the sensation of dry, cracked lips. You're not sure how Caine designed the character models, how he hid the lips that you can feel but cannot see. You can only label it as 'cartoon' logic, or your brain desperately clinging to what it knows.
"Then what are we waiting for?! Get your non-slip shoes ready, cause we're going to Spudy's! That means you two sticky magents gotta split!" Caine interrupts. You and Kinger look up towards Caine, expecting him to be floating about. Only for him to suddenly appear between you, forcing you to let go of each other as his hands push you apart, making sure you head towards the portal with the others.
"Bye, love bug! I'm off to the rodeo!" Kinger happily waves as he watches you leave through the yellow and orange portal.
"Bye, sweethea- wait, what rodeo?" You ask as you stumble through the portal that Caine pushes you in and closes behind you.
You and the group have returned from an adventure, and are rewarded with a digital feast. The long table is replaced with a round white tablecloth covered table, allowing the group to face each other, and creating a more welcoming atmosphere. Kinger sits beside you, followed on his other side by Gangle, Zooble, Jax, Ragatha and Pomni on your other side to complete the circle.
Today's adventure wasn't too remarkable, the usual running around, and completing tasks for NPCs. You find yourself lost in thought as the others comment about the adventure, mindlessly eating your serving of the digital food. Today's arrangement is a rather strange display of deserts, and hot dogs. You're not sure what theme Caine was going for, and can only presume the A.I was trying his best.
As you take another bite of your food, you feel a sudden peck on your cheek that wakes you from your thoughts.
"Good luck with today's adventure, love bug!" Kinger loudly, and cheerily wishes as you turn to face him. His eyes shine with affection, and they seem to brighten up as you meet his gaze. A silence falls over the group due to Kinger cutting in on their own conversations, and grabbing their attention.
"Umm, Kinger, we just got back from today's adventure. Remember?" Pomni softly explain. Her words coming across awkwardly, sparing a glance with Ragatha, who looked just as uncomfortable as the jester felt. But you remain relaxed, and chuckle at Kinger's confused head tilt.
"We did? Oh! That's right! We did!" Kinger turns from Pomni back to you, "I guess you didn't need my good luck kiss after all!" Kinger keeps his upbeat attitude despite the correction.
"I don't know about that," you dismiss as you return the act, and place a peck on his cheek. Or where you guess it would be on the wooden chess piece. "I always need your good luck kisses." You encourage as Kinger moves with you, appearing to chase after another kiss, but quickly catches himself. Settling in his seat with a sheepish chuckle.
Jax lets out an over dramatic gag noise. Only to dodge at the last second, and avoids being hit by a hot dog– thrown by Zooble.
Today's adventure has to be the wildest one you have experienced yet! Caine seemly uncharactistly given up his original adventure idea in forefit of giving you, and the gang guns. A small attempt at calling it 'team exercise' by pairing everyone in groups of two, where the last one standing becomes the winner. Unfortantly due to the odd number, you got the short straw of being on a team of one!
To make up for the unfairness, Caine has given you an extra life. Only after you rightfully complain about your situation. Even with four hearts, this somehow put the biggest target on your back as Jax and Pomni hunt you down in the Circus. You run into the main floor, weaving behind all the random props to keep cover as you periodically look over your shoulder. Growing paranoia at the colour purple.
"Hold it!" Ragatha shouts. She points her pocket pistol as you emerge from around the corner. Having been in such a hurry, you skid to a stop at the sight of her and Kinger's guns pointed at you, only for your legs to slip out from under you. Your own weapon slides out of your hand, and flies across the ground. With no hope of reaching it to defend yourself in time, you lie defeated on the ground, weakly sticking your hands up.
"I surrender," you groan.
"Oh, love bug!" Kinger greets in surprise as he swiftly reaches your side. Without a care, he steps in front of Ragatha's line of fire as she quickly lowers her pistol to prevent accidentally shooting Kinger. Kinger leans down and successful helps you up. As there have been many times in the past when his glove hands would stick to you instead of bringing you up.
You tiredly stand as Kinger starts to brush the dust off your shoulders, the dust cartoonishly turns into a heart-shaped cloud before fading away as you fall into Kinger's embrace. Ragatha snickers at the sight of the cloud, and Kinger supports you easily as he pats your back.
"How are you down to one life already?" Ragatha ask as she spots the hearts above your head.
"Jax." You flatly answer. Your eyes twitching as you rein in your anger at the ambush you faced earlier.
"You're kind of bad at this game, honey," Kinger teases. You childishly whine at the remark as you bury your face into his soft purple coat. Kinger couldn't help the fond chuckle he let out as he leans down to press a kiss on the top of your head. He lingers for a moment longer, enjoying the embrace, as he didn't get time to wish you good luck earlier. It’s been bothering him ever since the game started, and you had parted ways.
Once satisfied, Kinger straightens up, and gently prys you off his chest. "Now, don't fret, love bug!" Kinger cheers, bringing his hands together, clasped as if he’s holding something. "I got just the good luck charm for you-" BANG!
A loud gunshot rings out as your body lands on the ground, only to poof away a few seconds later. Ragatha and Kinger share a wide-eyed exchange. Ragatha then yelps as a second gunshot rings out, and Kinger lands on the ground with a thub.
"I think I hit the lovebirds." Zooble comments to Gangle from their spot above. The game moves on as you wait in the so called, 'LOSER CORNER'. You stare boredly at the fish tank in the middle of the dark room, grumbling curses towards Jax under your breath.
EP 8 Spoilers!
Caine has snapped. There are no more funny, silly adventures. Only high-stakes, pain-filled adventures designed for you, and the group to lose. Hope seemed lost, and the future bleak until Pomni had an idea of placing a bucket on top of Kinger's head. A few patient minutes later, Kinger provided the group with hope in the form of a plan to temporarily shut Caine down.
With the pieces set, the group split up. Pomni ran off to where she could get Kinger the tools he needs, while the rest went to distract Caine. You were set on following the others but were stopped by Kinger's gentle touch. His hand grabbed yours, his voice low as he asked for a few moments of your time. His fear for your well-being went unsaid, and you agreed to wait with him till Pomni arrives.
Sitting in his pillow fort, huddle together in silence with your arms around him, and hands tangled together. There are no sweet nothings being spoken, no soft reassurances, since you both don't have any words. As saying anything about the plan makes the tender hold feel like a goodbye. Yet saying nothing makes it feel like you're approaching the end.
"I think… I see Pomni coming." You comment as you look out of the fort, and see a familiar red and blue outfit in the distance approaching. "I should go and help the others distract Caine. Let you guys set up." You tell Kinger, but make no moves to leave.
"Right." He agrees, a tense nod felt on your shoulder as the bucket bumps you. His hands tighten; he doesn't make a move to let you go.
It's not the end, you try to reassure yourself, as you feel Kinger sink deeper into your embrace. You're trying to treat it as another normal evening. As another normal adventure, and if you're going to leave, then you need your good luck kiss, like any other day. With the idea set, you free your hand from Kinger’s to grasp the bucket's rim, lifting it enough to properly see Kinger.
"Wish me luck." You smile, catching Kinger off guard as you press your lips onto him. You feel more than hear Kinger quietly laughing from the way his frame lightly shakes. He softly pushes you back, and you pull away enough to meet his soft gaze.
"You missed." Kinger airily explains.
"Huh?"
Kinger chuckles again in amusement at you confuse noise. "I think you kissed my chin. It tickled." Kinger clarify. His voice drops lower as he closes the space between you. He raised his glove hand, index finger, and thumb gripping your chin to gently guide you.
"Good luck, love bug," Kinger whisper against your lips. You sigh into the kiss as you feel the ghost sensation of lips pressing against yours. It's not a rough kiss but rather firm, giving your all to each other. Holding tightly as you convey unspoken feelings, your trust in him, your fear and hope of the plan, and most important, your love for him. Kinger's hand on your chin moves to hold the back of your neck as he fights against the need to breathe to convey, and return the same feelings to you.
You both pull apart, your breaths fanning on each other as forehead touches bucket-covered forehead. The air shifts as you both recognise the moment has come for you to leave. You don't exchange further words as you refuse to call it goodbye and instead let the silence hold your promises.
I'll make sure to stop Caine. Kinger's hands tighten as you pull away.
I know. You take in a deep breath, preparing to stand.
Come back to me. Kinger watches you stand.
I will. You smile reassuringly, your fingers dragging across his palm to his fingertips. Keeping contact until the very end as you exit the fort, and out of his reach. Kinger watches anxiously as you leave to help the others, walking past Pomni, who arrives with the tools he needs to keep his promise.