Chapter Text
“This is why Mapicc and Jumper betrayed you. You’re a lost cause dude.”
-And just like that, blinded by rage of what Spoke had called him just a moment ago, the words came out of Wemmbus mouth faster than he could even process what he had said. His eyes widened gradually as he became self aware of what had happened. Spoke stood perfectly still Infront of him, he looked like a statue- as if time had paused. Spoke opened his mouth and tried to speak, but hesitated. What could he say to that? A long silence stretched between the four main protagonists before Parrot cleared his throat and suddenly spoke up.
“That’s enough. Wemmbu, you’re coming with me for a moment. Flame, you stay here with Spoke.”
He grabbed Wemmbus arm and rushed him towards the nearest room nearby. He practically shoved Wemmbu inside.
Wemmbu fought back for a moment. He was physically stronger and built with more muscle than Parrot, but due to the shock he gave himself, it was harder for him to fight against Parrot. He tried protesting,
“Hey- you can’t just-“
and was briefly cut off. Wemmbu stumbled before standing in front of Parrot. Parrot pointed directly at Wemmbu. His eyebrows furrowed in the middle.
“You, wait here for a moment.”
Parrot slammed the door shut in front of Wemmbus face and slowly made his way towards Flame. Flame was standing awkward between Parrot and Spoke. He was NOT made for situations like this despite how many fights and arguments he gets into or in the middle of. Parrot muttered in Flames ear.
“Try to talk to him, don’t just stay silent.”
Then slipped away towards where Wemmbu was. This wasn’t the first time that Spoke and Wemmbu have fought, and this one probably won’t be the last- but this time was definitely more extreme than their usual teasing and arguments. There was nothing but empty awkward silence between Spoke and Flame until Flame decided it was time to say something atleast.
“Hey- I know I’m not really the best person at comforting or whatever-“
he paused.
“but, try to ignore what Wemmbu said. He’s probably not in the right mindset right now and-“
“I know.”
Spoke said quietly.
“I know.”
He just stared at Flame.
“Alright so- what the hell am I supposed to do now? Flame thought. Why couldn’t Parrot talk to Wemmbu and Spoke both? He shook his head at that thought though. Spoke is an ally- no. A friend. I should at least try to help him somehow-“
His train of thought was cut off. Spoke continued.
“And yet- a part of me thinks that, maybe I deserve it. Deserve THIS.”
Flame paused. He wished the universe gave him better emotional intelligence because he had no idea what to say. He thought for a brief moment until he finally thought of what to say- even though it might’ve seemed weird in an awkward way to him.
“That’s… not true.”
Spoke blankly stared at flame as he continued.
“..You’ve made mistakes, sure. But- you’re more than you think you are. We’ve all done bad things, you know.”
Spoke just stares. And for a while, the two say nothing.
“Bro how did this even happen.”
Flame pouted inside his head. He didn’t exactly mind helping a friend out though. Spoke subtly nods in response and lets out a heavy sigh of relief that he’s been holding for a while.
“I’m okay.”
Spoke has been repeating that in his head until it finally stuck. He says as he plasters a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes, onto his face.
“Nobody’s gonna believe that- but okay bro.”
Flame muttered under his breath. He was damn lucky that he had a blindfold because he’d bet a hundred dollars that he looked VERY unconvinced.
Suddenly, there was loud yelling echoing from the room next to them. Flame assumed it was Wemmbu and Parrot- which was quite obvious. Spoke and Flame exchanged a glance as they just stood there maintaining a distance from the other room. Flame looked back at the door. He could see both Parrot and Wemmbus silhouettes behind the blurred and textured glass. Spoke squinted and tried focusing on the two silhouettes.
He assumed that Parrot was the calmer and steady yet unsteady voice and was the bright orange and green blob of color. Parrot was using his hands for a ton of actions and gestures Spoke and Flame couldn’t quite make out. A bit farther in the back, a neon purple shape was most definitely slumped in a chair. Yup. That was obviously Wemmbu, no doubt about it. They couldn’t exactly hear what Parrot and Wemmbu were saying, but Flame was curious.
“are we gonna go eavesdrop or what?”
He raised a brow and gestures towards Spoke. Spoke slowly smirked.
“I mean, it’d be kinda funny to see Parrot lecturing Wemmbu- so let’s giddidy go go go!”
He sounds jolly, but Flame knows damn well that it’s probably a cover up. So he proceeds to give Spoke a blank look. Flame guessed Spoke noticed his lack of enthusiasm compared to his, so Spokes smile dropped immediately. Spoke quietly muttered something Flame could barely hear, but he was still able to.
“damn bro okay.”
Flame brushes it off as they step closer to the door and press their ears onto it to hear better. The voices became clearer.
__________________
“Why did you have to call him a lost cause out of everything you could’ve said?”
Parrot says. Wemmbu argued back.
“ I don’t-“
“that’s the thing! You’re so affected by the same words that you called him. -So why would you say that? You know how much it hurts. You know how much it affected you. And yet- those words came out from your mouth.”
There was silence. Parrot continued.
“You’ve been through a lot. I know that. But you have no right to take it out on Spoke. Especially over a small thing.”
Wemmbu stood up suddenly and raised his voice.
“It wasn’t small! He called me cruel- evil even! I know and I’ll admit that I’ve done vile things- but I’ve done it all for a reason! I’m doing what I think is best, Parrot. I didn’t want to lash out at him!- I just.. did.”
Parrot paused- He knew Wemmbu hated getting vulnerable or emotional. So this felt weird. The atmosphere was really uncomfortable and it was so- so unfamiliar. Parrot sighs and takes one step closer, gesturing towards Wemmbu.
“He called you cruel. You snap at him and call him something debatably worse. Isn’t that proving his point?”
Wemmbu froze and his eyes widened as Parrot said that. He was right. Of course he was. Parrot was always right somehow. Ever since they were in kindergarten until high school.
“Why do you always have to prove me wrong? Why do you always have to be against me?”
Parrot had a look of concern mixed with frustration on his face.
“I’m not against you. I don’t have any grudge with you either. I don’t hate you or anything, I just want to correct you- so you don’t make the same mistakes again. Someone has to do that for you.”
Wemmbu yelled again.
“I’m not a child! I can handle things myself and make my OWN choices.”
“I know- but I’m just looking out for you!”
Wemmbu thought about that. He felt like laughing. Looking out for him? More like lecturing him every time he messes even something tiny up. He rolled his eyes and gave a humourless laugh.
“Sure, Parrot. Sure.”
In return, he received a hurt look. Wemmbu immediately looked somewhere that WASN’T Parrots face. Wemmbu could feel Parrots eyes staring at him, waiting for Wemmbu to return it and Wemmbu eventually forces himself to make eye contact.
“I mean it.”
Parrot pushes.
“I really do. It’s just that you hurt Spoke- and I know that sometimes it might feel like he deserves that, but still. that’s not acceptable. -And you know that.”
Wemmbu immediately breaks eye contact the second he finished his sentence. He scoffed.
“Okay so, ‘sometimes he deserves it’ ? So why isn’t this time one of those times? -and you’re saying it’s acceptable but just not now?”
Parrot sighed of frustration.
“There’s a difference between, ‘it might feel like he deserves that’ and if he actually does deserve it.”
Wemmbu realized that and couldn’t argue back.
Parrot politely continued.
“You started the fight first, you know.”
“Ah- shoot.”
Wemmbu internally cursed. Wemmbu DID start the fight first. Wemmbu states an important fact with a smirk that he tried to hide but failed to.
“But- Spoke was the one who escalated it. Wasn’t he?”
Parrot hesitates for a moment and sighs once more.
“Yeah. I guess he did.”
__________________________
Spokes jaw was far open.
“Damn bro. The argument me and Wemmbu had turned into another argument with Parrot and Wemmbu.”
Flame rolled his eyes subtly.
“Thats because Wemmbu is dramatic.”
Spoke raises a brow.
“-and are you saying me and Parrot are too?”
Flames eyes widen for a moment.
“Hey do NOT make me the bad guy here.”
Spoke bursts into laughter.
“I was just joking dude!”
And jokingly wipes his tears from laughter.
“Dude- shut up before they hear us!”
Flame yell whispered as his eyebrows furrowed. It was too late though. Parrot briefly opened the door and Spoke had fallen face first in front of him because he was leaning on the door the entire time they were secretly eavesdropping. Spokes position looked like he was mid belly flop which made it very difficult to take seriously. Parrot looked down on them with a partially concerned and confused expression.
“Uh…What are you guys doing?-”
Flame tried his best not to laugh at spoke but eventually failed.
“Imagine! Hah!”
Spoke got up slowly and groaned. He had a red mark on his nose which was in fact very vibrant and encouraged Flame to laugh even more while Parrot looked at them blankly. Spoke growled.
“I am GOING to slap you.”
Flame chuckles.
“Bet. I’ll beat you in a fight anyways. I’m not called the Immortal demon for nothing.”
Parrot rolls his eyes and pushes flame foward as well and Flame also falls face first. He got up and rubbed the back of his neck with a very pink forehead.
“Dude- what was that for?!”
Parrot sighs and nonchalantly attempts to step over their bodies. Wemmbu, who was in the back the whole time, was trying so hard not to laugh that he couldn’t breathe. Wemmbu stammered.
“You- PFFT!”
Laughter consumed him as Spoke and Flame watched his face slowly redden.
“Aha- you-“
he starts laughing again and both Flame and Spoke simultaneously groan this time.