Work Text:
While Orange was exploding Lime and got caught in reactor, they accidentally cut off about three inches of their tendril on Limes shattered bones. Of course, it hurt like hell considering how fleshy and sensitive the tendrils were, they bled everywhere! not like anyone would be able to tell considering the front of Limes body was exploded and blood was already smeered around the reactor. After Orange was ejected and exploded onto the window of the cafeteria, they took consciousness of the little flesh. They survived thanks to Green not accidentally killing them (again) by crushing them in the bag while carrying it to storange.
The little flesh slowly made it to the cafeteria, avoiding being seen and stepped on. It didn't take very long to get to cafeteria thanks to Green noticing them still alive and taking them to the cafeteria when the lights were out, despite their hatred for each other, they still had to get along at least a little.
Green points angrily at the little Orange with their tendril "don't you DARE try and make ANY moves." They whisper yell at Orange. If Orange could speak at this moment, they probably wouldn't say anything. But they would THINK of snapping back at Green by saying "you told me to go kill Lime!! YOU brought everyone and their damn dead hamstermate from fifth grade to reactor while I was killing Lime!!" They didn't have the balls to do that for real though. They watch as Green crawls back into the vent they came from, heading to electrical.
The little flesh thing sits in the dark for about a six minutes or more, trying to gather enough energy to regenerate their whole body. Eventually, the lights turn back on, along with O2. There is faint yelling coming from O2, though Orange chooses to ignore it.
Orange finally gathers the strength to regenerate. Their limbs slowly forming from the flesh, leaving a slime like goo on the ground. Orange learns that regenerating is NOT a good feeling at all. It feels like getting kicked extremely hard everywhere on your body. The aftermath feels ok though, just REALLY cold. Like when you get in a hot tub for a while than run into a freezing cold pool.
Orange shivers slightly as they adjust their blazer. They feel something, or rather someone, staring at them. They turn and see the equally as shocked, but slightly delayed, security guard just staring at them.
Orange immediately panics and grabs Purple with one of their newly grown tendrils and pulls them over to them. Their grip subconsciously tightens to the point its hard to breathe.
____
Purple sits quietly on the ground in O2 while the others run off to Cyans body in electrical. They would have went with the rest but they don't think they'd be able to handle the sight. They stare blankly at the floor. They glance at the tank in O2. The orange fishmate still floating there, lifeless. Purples stomach knots and they feel like their about to vomit and bawl their visor out all at the same time.
They slowly and shakely push themselves off the ground, almost falling over face first thanks to everything that happened in the past nine or so minutes. They stumble into the cafeteria.
They somehow don't notice the just killed alien slowly forming once more.
When they finally fully notice, they're already wrapped by a slimely fleshy tendril and pulled almost face to face with the alien.
Purple feels warm for some reason, they have no idea why they feel like this or what is causing this feeling considering their usually cold. They stare up at their technically-shorter-but-taller-because-of-Purples-shitty-posture coworker in the visor, slightly accepting their fate to be torn apart and eaten by them.
___
Orange nervously stares down at their technically-taller-but-shorter-because-of-Purples-shitty-posture security guard. Orange doesn't want to kill them! Or anyone for that matter. They only killed Lime because Green told them to and they didn't wanna kill the crew alone.
Orange clears their throat. "I uh... Won't kill you.." they finally mutter, being the first one to break the awkward silence. Purple, surprisingly, looks slightly disappointed at the statement.
Orange notices their tight grip on Purple and loosens it, not fully letting go, but lossening enough to breathe fine. Purple just continues to stare at Orange before finally mumbling "I thought we killed you...??" In a tone that can't be fully placed under disappointment or glee. Orange hesitates for a second, trying to decide weather they should reveal the regenerating thing or not.
"Regeneration." Orange finally says. Purple just nods slightly, still staring into Oranges visor with an unreadable expression. Orange looks away, the visorcontact feels too intimate for their liking at this moment, including the fact that the normally grumpy security guard is staring at them with an not fully readable expression and being wrapped in their tendril and they haven't made one complaint.
They slowly release their grip from Purple. Purple stays in the same spot as they were dragged to, only swaying slightly.
Purple glances down at where Oranges tentdril grabbed them, a slick residue is slowly soaking into their clothes, its very cold and makes them feel warm, along with something else they can't name. Purple pauses and looks back at Orange before moving closer to them and leaning on them, only so they don't fall over of course!!! Orange nervously glances at the crewmate, who has stated their hatred for them and the company they praise so much. They shiver, their skin is still sensitive to touch from it just being regrown.
Purple seems oddly relaxed despite the literally known alien they're leaning against. Orange won't lie and say that Purples body heat isn't nice though. Orange hesitantly wraps their tendril around Purple once more, pulling them closer while they sit at the table to their left. Purple purs slightly at the touch, they both pause for a moment, before continuing.
Purple leans into Oranges touch, clearly just craving any sort of comfort at the moment of so much death. Orange clears their throat once more, trying to get the courage to speak in such a moment, "so uh... you're just, not remotely concerned about this...?" Orange questions, Purple pauses for a moment, still purring loudly. "I dunno.." They finally mumble before going back to snuggling into the tendrils.
Purple, still enjoying the moment, begans to question themselves internally. "Why aren't I concerned about this? Is something wrong with me? Theses... whatevers aren't even very comfortable. Why do I want this???" Their internal monolog is soon interrupted by more affection, only this time is them being slightly rubbed under the chin. Clearly, Orange isn't very good at comforting people. They don't mind. They lean into Orange's body, before it was just where ever the attention was being applied. Though, Orange does stop rubbing their chin, much to Purples disappointment.
Orange feels warm inside. Orange stares ahead of them, which is just a wall. Purple shifts slightly, staring down at the small gap between the tendril that's wrapped around their body and well, their body. They stare at the slime like substance rubbing onto them and their clothes, it kinda has the consistency of glue (Jarona!) Purple stares at it as it as they feel warmer and a the sensation from earlier grows thicker.
As Purple tries to work up the courage to speak, as they simply are for some reason out of breathe, the cafeteria doors burst open, scaring both Orange and Purple and making Purple lose their already mainly lost train of thought. The tendrils retract, much to Purples disappointment.
Green stands there with an honestly shocked expression. Orange feels themselves go hot as they remember that they're supposed to be killing the crewmates, not loving them up or comforting them!!! Green nearly breaks character from the innocence-intern act, of course, that intern is still in there but its just mainly an act now.
Green generally doesn't even know what to say, they keep tripping over their words. Eventually, they give up and slam the cafeteria doors shut via button.
The cafeteria is dead silent.