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~ ☆ ★ 𖦹 ★ ✩ ~
The rain poured down, hitting the roof of the pavilion. The drenched object was sitting with her back to the orb, a sigh escaping her- the sound was quickly swept up by the downpour, though.
Despite the heavy rainfall, to Sticky, it felt… quiet. Almost alone. Well, she was alone, but… half the time she would have somebody here… and now they're all in that stupid contest with that… stupid House.
"Great weather we're having, right Sticky?"
A magic-like "pop", and the aforementioned being appeared.
Speak of the devil.
He floated in the air, a cute stupid smile on his face.
Uninvited, House floated over, sitting down on the other side of the orb, opposite to Sticky (although he made sure to keep a fair distance, clearly not wanting to be shocked or zapped or whatever that spell did, she had long forgotten.).
She glanced back, seeing the other staring off into the rain. Although unable to see his face, she guessed he was smiling… like a prett-
LIKE AN IDIOT. LIKE NOTHING ELSE.
"Isn't the rain lovely?"
His voice was… nervous? Odd.
Sticky risked another peek behind her, seeing House turned towards her with a small smile. She immediately turned back, gazing back out into the rain.
After going without an answer for a second, the one behind Sticky decided to speak up once more.
"I-"
"Leave."
Her sharp voice cut through the rain, leaving a ringing silence in the others ears, the downpour nothing but background noise at that point.
"I mean, I barely got here Sticky, don-"
Once again, she interrupted him.
"I don't care. I know what you're here for. The orb. And I won't give it to you."
She stood, her damp pages bending as she turned to face House.
"The others may have fallen for this- this act,"
She spat, rage weaved into her voice.
"But I will never let you have this orb. I will never let you destroy this whole planet just for power."
For a moment, the only noise was the deafening pour of rain. Before he spoke.
Quiet, almost impossible for Sticky to hear.
"As you wish."
And like that, he was gone. Leaving nothing but regret and guilt in his wake.
As Sticky stared at where the fool had been mere seconds ago, she felt… alone. Again.
This time, he wasn't hanging around to bother her, this time… he was going to do something else. Probably to annoy someone else.
Nobody was there except for her and the rain.
She hadn't missed the way he sounded like he was about to cry.
How could she?
Sticky glanced out to the rain. The pavilion hardly blocked it- she would (already was) be drenched no matter if she stayed or left…
…
If she found him fast, the orb wouldn't be unguarded for that long.
With that thought, she walked out into the downpour, ready to look for one who she swore she hated.
~ ☆ ★ 𖦹 ★ ✩ ~
Stupid. She was stupid.
House was sat in the forest, breaths ragged.
He felt suffocated.
It wasn't enough. He didn't have enough air. He wasn't good enough to make Sticky happy. He wasn't enough to make anyone happy. Not Toasty, not Broccoli, not ANYONE.
Sticky. The most interesting object of them all. Why did she hate him?
Sweat built on his body, he couldn't bring himself to care, not about the sweat or about how his hands were shaking or about anything else.
Rain poured down in the distance. House swore he could hear leaves crunching despite the rain. It was too loud.
What if he hurt her? What if he hurt everyone?
Why can't he do anything about it?
It was too much. He couldn't do anything to stop it. All this power, and he falls apart from a single object? He's pathetic.
Why did he not care about the orb anymore? Ever since he had really got to know her, it was an afterthought, not the entire reason he was even on this planet.
Loud. It was still loud. Too loud.
Was he crying? Does it even matter?
Nobody would come find him unless they wanted something from him- that's all he was good for.
He couldn't breathe.
Why did nobody care about him?
The rain was only getting louder, and so was the footsteps he was probably imagining, the sounds spiralling around his scattered mind.
Why wasn't she-
"House?"
~ ☆ ★ 𖦹 ★ ✩ ~
Alright, she admits.. walking in the rain for god knows how long when it was probably a storm was… not a good idea.
But, it was worth it, right?
She hadn't been away from the orb for that long (she had), and it was for a… probably good cause.
If she doesn't find him, so what? She'll go back to the orb and nothing will happen. He'll be fine.
Despite reassuring herself, she knew that as long as she hadn't seen House, hadn't made sure he was okay, she wouldn't be able to go back to the orb.
This was so tiring. She hated him, but at the same time…
She quickly got rid of the thoughts from her mind, adjusting her slipping papers so they wouldn't fall- if any flew away in the wind, it would take so long to find and get back.
Sticky hurried through the forest, half looking for House and half looking for some sort of shelter.
Up ahead, a noise. She froze. It cut through the rain like a blade.
It sounded like a sob.
She knew she was close. If that was House, which it probably was…
It was her fault he's crying.
…
She didn't keep walking.
She ran.
~ ☆ ★ 𖦹 ★ ✩ ~
He had gone completely still after hearing her say his name. Sticky.
Why was she here? Was she going to mock him for crying?
He was supposed to be a good host, he couldn't be seen like this.
She didn't speak for a moment, shock undoubtedly on her face- although House didn't turn around to see. His hands dug into his legs.
"Are…"
Sticky hesitated, clearly trying to choose her words carefully.
"Are you oka-"
"I'M FINE! REALLY! Don't worry about me!"
House interrupted her, voice laced with false cheerfulness.
"… you're shaking."
He was, but she shouldn't know that. She shouldn't have to see this.
She shouldn't have to be here.
"I'm fine."
"… house..?"
Her voice was almost hesitant. Sticky's hand reached towards him.
"Would you look at the time? I have to- I have to go make up an excuse to leave."
House had jumped away as he spoke, floating.
"ByeByeI'msorry-"
He rushed out, cutting himself off as he disappeared suddenly, leaving an empty spot. Again.
Sticky had to walk back to the cabin alone that night.
~ ☆ ★ 𖦹 ★ ✩ ~
Sticky had noticed something.
He was avoiding her.
House.
He used to check on the orb and her practically every day, but now… she hadn't seen him in a while.
The reason was obvious.
She made him cry.
He was sobbing in the forest, and it was because of her.
She sighed. It was a clear day, and he was hosting another challenge in the plains.
Last time, he made it in the ruins, probably specifically to see her annoy her.
Sticky glanced back out to the plains. It was stupid guarding the orb if she was basically protecting it from nobody.
Was it going to become a common event that she goes to look for that fool?
Although hesitant, she still walked towards the ladder to begin her journey to the plains.
~ ☆ ★ 𖦹 ★ ✩ ~
House was finally waving off the contestants, letting them get back to the cabin to do what they wanted.
Once Toasty and Croissanty had finally disappeared into the treeline, his form sagged forwards, a sad look crossing his face as he floated for a moment.
Footsteps. Behind him.
He turned around quickly, a smile immediately plastering his face.
Sticky. She was walking up to him. She stopped once she saw that House was turned and looking at her.
"Sticky…!"
His voice was hesitant as he glanced around, looking for a way to escape this situation.
"… Hi, House."
Sticky began to walk closer, watching as House floated closer to the ground.
"Hou-"
"Sooo, Although I'd love to chat with you… I-"
She noticed him flying back a little, avoiding looking at her, almost out of reach-
House felt a hand grabbing his wrist. He froze.
"Please. Just… talk to me."
Sticky sounded… defeated.
That's not the object he knew.
And he did that. All because of his little outburst in the forest.
"…"
"okay."
~ ☆ ★ 𖦹 ★ ✩ ~
The two had gone back into the forest- it was a bland spot, but it was far enough from the orb to not make Sticky worry.
Well, worry for anything but House.
The aforementioned being was floating in the air, all of his previous confidence he had been displaying since he appeared just… gone.
Sticky sighed.
He clearly was waiting for her to talk first.
"You've been avoiding me."
"Wuh- no I haven't!"
Immediately, House had protested. She sighed.
"You used to bother me half the day, and now you don't even dare to come near when hosting a challenge."
"You can't prove that, I've only hosted one challenge since-"
House noticed what he was about to admit and immediately shut up, crossing his arms and looking away nervously.
She had long let go of his wrist, but…
Stepping forward, she reached for the other's hand.
House noticed, freezing for a second. But, he mirrored the action, allowing her to grab his hand and pull him down to the ground.
Slightly shocked, he was focusing on how they were holding hands- willingly.
"I'm sorry, House."
He blinked, eyes scanning her own.
"… you're sorry?
"Why wouldn't I be…? I was an asshole to you and made you cry, House. That's not a good thing."
The other took a moment to process her words.
"Oh! That… don't worry, it wasn't because of you, well mainly- but still! Don't worry about it, we're fine, I'm fine."
House paused.
"I'm… sorry too, for having that huge 'ol breakdown and dragging you into it. I should've been better, so don't worry about apologising!"
She stared at him incredulously, seeing him peek at her, quickly avoiding her eyes once more after seeing how she looked.
"House…"
Once more, she chose her words carefully.
"It's okay if you're overwhelmed or just need to cry. Its better to get it out than bottle it up."
"If you ever feel like this again, especially because of me, just… please don't avoid me. Let me help. I don't hate you as much as you think, and nobody should go through that alone."
He was silent for a second.
"Thanks Sticky. Really. I'll consider it."
"… and please, don't tell anyone about this, or what happened in the forest."
"I wouldn't."
The day was quickly getting colder as evening turned into night.
"How about we go back to the cabin and see the others? It'll be pretty cold soon."
Her voice still held the gentle tone from earlier- a tone much different to how she usually talked to him.
"… Alright. Let's go."
And with the agreement from him, the two walked (one floating) hand-in-hand back to the cabin, where they almost immediately got annoyed by everyone.
But, they wouldn't have it any other way.
Well, House at least- Sticky was about to strangle Toasty.
~ ☆ ★ 𖦹 ★ ✩ ~