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Two Time crouched outside of their cabin, watching bugs scuttle through the dewy blades of grass. It was the only day off of the month. They had to enjoy it.. yet they didn't know what to do.
They jerked their head up when they heard footsteps thudding towards them. They pushed themselves up to their feet, putting their hand up to their eyes to keep the hot, bright sun from blinding them.
Elliot's form came swam into view and they smiled, their tail swishing excitedly. They looked him up and down as he slowed to a stop in front of them. His smooth yellow skin shimmered in the sparkling sunlight.
"W-what are you.. wearing?" Two Time asked, tilting their head bewilderingly. Elliot looked taken aback then a smile tugged at his lips.
"It's my beach outfit!" He grinned and Two Time noticed that he had a beach ball under the crook of his arm and his sand covered feet donned a pair of dirty sandals. He wore semi-transparent off-white coverup buttoned up shirt and a pair of water resistant green shorts. Two Time was taken aback by how Elliot's hair was down, not up like how it usually was, laying over his shoulders.
Two Time took a step forward to Elliot who reached out for their hand. They took it. "You should come to the lake with us!" Two Time hesitated. "Uhm, okay." They would go, just as long as they were able to just stay on the bank the whole time. "Great! You should go change!" Elliot hopped up and down excitedly. "uhm.." Two Time let their hand fall to their side as Elliot pulled his away while he expressively jumped up and down.
"..sure." They said, yelping as Elliot grabbed their hand and led them to their cabin.
When Two Time finished changing they opened their door and stepped out, jumping back as Elliot reached out suddenly. "OH! Sorry!" He yelped, catching Two Time before they fell.
Their tail flicked happily and they blushed slightly. Elliot helped them back to their feet and smiled again. They wore a short black crop top with the spawn symbol plastered on it like all of their other clothes. Strangely enough though, they wore ordinary short jorts.
Two Time brushed themself off and saw Elliot staring at them. They started feeling self conscious. Their ribs showed under their skin and collarbones were clearly defined. Scars riddles their arms and disrupted their usually smooth, pale skin from years of mistreat.
They started backing back into their room. "You know, I should just stay behind.." They muttered but Elliot grabbed their hand. "Noo, you look fine.." He just stared into their eyes. "You look... very pretty.." He and Two Time blushed. "Th-thank you, I suppose.." Two time said, turning to face him completely.
They followed him to the lake in silence then sat down in a patch of undisturbed sand, watching Elliot toss the ball into the water then dive in after it, splashing Chance and Noob. Shedletsky and Builderman laughed from where they sat while Jane Doe chatted with Veeronica. Dusekkar and Taph seemed to be fighting while Guest looked like he was plotting a way to terrify Chance. Two Time pulled their legs closer into their body, scared that the other survivors would judge them.
Elliot seemed to notice this and stood up, wading through the water. Once he made it out of the waves lapping at the shore Guest jumped Chance, shoving them into the water then laughing. Elliot sat next to Two Time, a concerned look on his face that reminded Two Time too much of Azure.
He put his hand on their shoulder. "are you... okay?" He asked. Two Time felt their breathing become progressively more anxious and unpredictable. The water stretched out in front of them like it was going to swallow them into it's depths and drown them.
Two Time's breathing became more and more erratic and their face stretched into some sort of disturbed smile. Elliot noticed this and wrapped is arms around them, pulling them into a comforting embrace. Their grip tightened around his cover shirt as their breathing evened out.
Once they pulled back and sniffed a couple times Elliot spoke. "What's wrong?" He asked. Two Time looked down at the sand as they dug a small pit in it. "I- I'm scared of water." They said hesitantly. Should they have done that? Would he scold them? Praise them? He patted them on the back. "I'm sorry, why's that?" Two Time felt a large shudder make their body shake like a tree in a wind storm.
"Oh.. I'm not sure.." Elliot shrugged and slipped his hand into theirs and squeezed it, signifying that he was there for them.
"I understand, do you feel like piggyback riding me into it or no?" Two Time thought for a minute.
"Probably not." They said, feeling guilty for not taking Elliot up on his offer. They didn't want to look at him in case he had a hurt expression.
They couldn't bear to see another person they trusted hurt.
They heard Elliot get up. "Okay, I'll be in or by the water if you change your mind." He said it so kindly, like he had somehow infused his words with honey as they dripped down Two Time's back and stuck to their heart.
"Alright." They said, now burying a pinecone they had found nearby in the hole they had dug in the sand.
The sun inched closer to the horizon as it got later and Two Time finally decided to let Elliot take them into the water. Elliot was standing by the shore shouting at Chance, Noob, 007n7, Guest and Shedletsky then laughing when they yelled things back. Two Time sheepishly tapped his shoulder and he twirled around, a look of pure glee on his face. "Ah, decided to face your fears?" He asked as the others started conversing among themselves then starting a game of marco polo.
Two Time nodded and Elliot's smile somehow widened. "Hey! Guys! Me and Two Time will be on a team!" He called, waving his hand enthusiastically. They cheered and dispersed, Chance had been chosen as "it" first and was just shouting 'marco' every four seconds.
Elliot hoisted Two Time onto his back with ease and waded into the shallow edges of the lake. Two Time wrapped their arms around his neck and giggled in fear, eyes wide. As Elliot went deeper the water touched their toes and they yelped. Hearing this, Elliot walked to some shallower spots.
Eventually Chance tagged them and they were "it". Two Time hated it but Elliot loved it. He closed his eyes and started wandering around, shouting "marco!" Two Time found no point in the game and was terrified of letting go of Elliot the whole time but they started feeling the initial terror drifting away on the noon breeze as the sun crawled closer to night.
After a few more minutes they couldn't handle the looming terror of the water anymore and just sat on the beach, laughing as Noob slipped or Elliot stumbled, sending a splash of water cascading over a now soggy Chance.