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The worst part? The worst part is that Mugm isnt lying when he says that.
He isnt lying when he tells Nezo that he wouldve given him everything if hed just asked.
He isnt lying but Nezo thinks he is and it might hurt more than the betrayal itself.
And look, he tries not to be emotional, tries to not be vounerable and pathetic or trust people too deepy or get too attatched to them.
He really does, but despite what everyone thinks, not caring that deeply for his teammates goes against every natural instinct he has.
Gving up his everything in a heartbeat is something he has to conciously stop himself from doing.
And hed kind of thought he was safe with the brotherhood.
For once in his god damned life hed let himself care a little more, hed let himself truly give his all to them because thats what he always wants to do.
And Nezo doesnt even believe him when he says hed have given him the dragon egg in a heartbeat if hed just asked.
"Would you really though?"
Mugm is tempted to yell at him, to scream that yes he wouldve, hes not just a cold heartless killer, hes not just there to be good at pvp, hes not just another teamate-
He cares more than whats good for him, clearly.
Just then the obsidian box around the end portal feels suffocating, it feels like its closing in on him.
The shimmer of his netherite as he takes it off the only real light other than whats coming from the enterence and Nezos own iron armour.
"What?-"
The bright red flowers curling around Nezos body partly close in on themselves as his eyes widen. They do that when hes shocked, among other things.
Mugm barely even notices as the last armour piece comes off, floating inbetween the duo, and he decides he might aswell go all the way and tosses out the axe and sword too.
He almost considers keeping the egg just because, selfishly, he cant help but think of it as the last thing Nezo gave him while they were still teamed.
It goes on the pile anyways with the mace and even the notch apples he had on him for good measure.
Nezoshoki reiterates. "What the fuck??"
The end flares ocasionally make Nezo look more purple than gray. Mugm only really notes it because hes trying to distract himself from the look of disbelief on his best friends face as he stands there, armourless and fists clenched.
He could grab it all back right now, say it was a joke, or a mistake. Nezo wouldnt buy it.
Besides whats even the point of being the strongest anymore, of having all of that crap. The point was to protect the brotherhood and now theyre-
…
Part of him wants to keep the promise he made to Nezo, he wants to stay immortal because hed be breaking Nezos trust if he…
Yeah thats just dumb as fuck, considering Nezo ruined his entire life a few days ago.
Nezo broke just a slightly bigger promise than the one Mugm had made.
So he doesnt care if he dies anymore. Hell! It wouldnt even suprise him if, once Nezo picks up all that shit, he kills Mugm!
Its not like Mugm hasnt been hunting him ever since, hes killed Nezo multiple times in such a short time, hed have every right to kill Mugm back.
The thing is…
He doesnt. He hasnt even picked it up yet, hes just staring at it, avoiding eyecontact with Mugm as much as hes avoiding eye contact with Nezo.
"Isnt this what you wanted?"
After a moment he sees in his peripheral vision that Nezo finally looks up again, eyes darting between Mugm and the items currently seperating them. Mugms own gaze stays firmly on the egg.
"I- What."
"I said, isnt this what you wanted? For me to give it all to you? I mean honestly i dont need it anymore, the only reason i had it was to protect the brotherhood and keep my promise not to die… But i dont think you care about that anymore."
Mugm finally looks up and meets Nezos gaze as he says the last part. Any other day he mightve enjoyed how his eyes emedietly snap away, breaking the eyecontact. Not today.
"I mean, hell! You could kill me right now if you wanted to, the netherites right there and im not about to go through the effort of opening my e chest to get a new set of armour."
Nezo has the nerve to actually flinch at that suggestion.
Clearly none of his plans account for Mugm being more than just a hearless weapon.
It would hurt more if Mugm wasnt already so used to that sentiment coming from others, but he supposes it is its own special kind of torture coming from Nezo specifically.
Nezo stutters out something vaguely resembling a question but Mugm honestly couldnt tell you what he said if he tried, and hes not particularly interested in trying now anyways.
Once Nezo actually reaches out and picks up the items Mugm figures thats his que to leave, so when the notification of what he assumes is Nezos acheivment for getting the netherite rings out in his comm he aproaches the little hole leading to the portal to-
"Wait! Wait, Mugm. You cant just leave-"
"I cant? I mean, will you stop me?"
Hes not sure why he says it, hed honestly like to stay with Nezo if hed let him, but that doesnt exactly erase the betrayal either. So yeah, hes playing hard to get, Nezos gonna have to work for him.
He turns back to the portal and steps up, but when hes about to jump in Nezo grabs him by his cloak and pulls him down again.
He pretends like he doesnt stumble when he lands next to Nezo again, whos now in full netherite and still far less intimidating than he reasonable should be to Mugm right now, considering a few minutes ago he had some sort of personal vendetta aginst him.
"Yeah- Yeah im going to stop you. Youre going to explain wtf is going on, why would you just give me the egg and netherite? Thats not like you, something is wro-"
"Shut up, Nezo, i told you already. I have no more use for it and i mean, you asked for it right? You told me all you wanted was the items right?"
"Yeah but!- But!- The egg! I said i wanted the egg, i- Its not like you to just give everything up like that without even arguing against it!"
Part of Mugm has always apreciated his void like appearance for making it almost impossible to read his expressions, but right now he wishes Nezo could see the look of disapointment on his face.
"It isnt? Hm. How long were we teamed again?"
"I- Uh…" Nezo hastily spits out some number of months that sounds probably incorrect, not like it matters to Mugm.
"You know, i thought we were best friends, but you dont even know me do you? You never cared."
"No i-" An emotion spreads across Nezos face and Mugm cant quite decide if its guilt or anger.
"Can you even blame me! Youre always so closed off, you act like youre better than everyone and you always overshadow us, we never get to improve because you take all the fucking fights and never let anyone else have the spotlight! This is why i wanted to leave!"
The fact that most of it isnt entirely wrong doesnt change the fact that it pisses Mugm off.
Hes tired of this shit.
Hed love to hear Nezo out but- but honestly? He pearls out of the end portal.
He doesnt even remember where this particular spawn bunker is, its certainly not one of the ones with an actually comofrtable bed.
That doesnt stop him from laying down on it face first and letting his tears soak the pillow.
Maybe things will get better, maybe they wont. He cant really be bothered to care right now.