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When Riley was very young, Fear and Joy would fuse often. So much was new to their happy girl, so Surprise came naturally.
And it wasn’t like Fear disliked being Surprise. In some ways, every time he fused with Joy, he felt as if a weight had been lifted. Being Surprise was easier than being himself. Being near Joy was always a small comfort; being one with her was pure relief.
But forming Hatred was so, so different. Forming Hatred involved going into this dark part of himself he hadn’t known existed, and setting something wild and beastly free. The first time, he’d chalked it up to being one with Anger, but… No, that wasn’t it at all, because the feelings would linger. That didn’t happen when he fused with the others.
He loved being Hatred. It felt so good. Oh, he was still afraid, but he was powerful, too. It felt as though the fear in Hatred just fed him; further enraged him.
It sickened Fear, how much pleasure he got out of that. It really did; he knew Riley didn’t enjoy the fusion and so he had no business wanting to form it. The other emotions felt uncomfortable, at best, around Hatred. Even Anger seemed weary after they would fuse. For Fear, though, it was an experience he relished.
Hatred made Fear strong.