Chapter Text
…Was he… supposed to feel something?
“Hang… ther… …low.”
“Is he…”
“Towels… quickly…”
Surreal, really… Like a burden being ripped off his back… Does that make sense… Nothing makes sense… They all are just codes on the computer… So what if his code was updated…
Honestly… what is he even………………………………………….
<->
Ever since the Lucky Block incident, they've been wary of any external threats presented by modded Minecraft. Red seems to be the most affected (given his time with possession), Blue and Green were on the lookout for anything suspicious, and Orange has been chill with this entire ordeal, but there are times where he grew anxious as well.
Yellow… felt bad.
He had been the one who broke into the Lucky Block, stole the Orb, and was the first one possessed. He didn't know the Orb was capable of that, if he knew, he had strayed away from the orb entirely. There are times where after a long night working on his laptop, he could see Red just walking around, not making any attempts to sleep. When he does, it’s usually 1 or 2 hours at most.
Not that he's not struggling as well, there's this weird itch in his back. Possession is no joke, no wonder Red disliked that. But he pushed off those feelings of his, decided not to overthink it and configure out ways to help out Red.
So that night, around 2 days after the incident, Yellow wanted to show that he truly felt bad about the whole ordeal, so he searched for him around the house. Then, at the corner of his eye, Red was chilling by his barn, comforting the sheep.
“Well hello there, Red.” Yellow approached him, which made Red perk up and scared the sheep away.
“Ack- wait!” But the sheep was nowhere to be seen, leaving Red on the patch of grass, alone. “...hey, Yellow.”
“O-oh,” Yellow stopped in his tracks. “Are you busy?”
“I… N-not really.” he placed his legs upfront. “I'm just… having a hard time, that's all.”
“And it's all my fault, wasn't it?” Yellow scratched his back. “I-i'm so sorry, Red, I should've known.”
“No, no, no, it's not your fault!” Red tried to reassure him, despite looking desperate himself. Why wouldn't he? Losing control of your body really does wonders to your mentality. “Can you sit by me for a sec?”
Yellow sat down atop of the grass field, next to him, while Red curled up his leg in resignation. “You… okay, Red?”
“I'm really having trouble calming myself down lately. There's tons of things I want to do! Like look at these sheep! They have such thick fleece covering their body, I wanted to shear them, but my mind is always spinning…”
“Listen, I-”
“I know it’s not your fault Yellow, it’s just…” Red buried his face into his knees. “I gotta… I gotta do something…”
Yellow stared out at the flock of sheep. “Don’t you want to go to bed?”
“I can’t sleep.” Red muttered. “No matter how many times I try to doze off, I can’t…”
Yellow felt that. Must’ve been the classic case of being too tired to even sleep. Usually in that situation, Yellow would force himself to go do some work, even for a bit, to distract himself. Recalling Red’s words from earlier, Yellow lightly taps his shoulder. “Do you have the shears right now?”
“Yeah, of course.” Red showed off his inventory, which contained an abysmal amount of spawn eggs, food needed for their animals, and their care products, one of which was the shears he reluctantly took out. “But right now, I don't want to get up. But if I don't move, I'm…”
“...” Yellow was somewhat familiar with this. This sort of fog when you're doing a sort of creative process and guesses get stuck just like that. “I know all about it. It's when you already have all the tools in your disposal and just… pause. Admittedly I've been having those moments way too often recently.”
“You too?”
“Yeah, it's like… burnout, in a sense. Like it’s nonsense! Ideas flowing in and out like a waterfall yet you can’t do anything about it.” Yellow patted his back. “I’m not that good with all of this emotional stuff, but at the very least, it’s quite normal.”
“Really?”
“I'll tell you what.” Yellow got up, reaching out for 2 pieces of iron ingot that he combined to make a pair of shears. “I'll help you out. Now come on.”
Yellow helped him to get up, did a handshake, and went off together to complete the job. The rest of the night was just them removing the wool from the sheep. Yellow muttered some Minecraft redstone to him, and soon, Red joined in with animal facts of his own. Red seemingly forgets about their ordeal earlier and laughed along with him, before ending the night by continuing to relax by the barn.
An hour had passed, it was 10:23 pm. Yellow rested against the fence while Red placed down the last bits of wool inside the chest. Well, all except two.
“Uhh, Red, what are you doing with that block of wool?” Yellow, who had been intrigued by his demeanor all this time, looked at him in confusion.
“Stratching it, of course.” He walked up towards him, playing around with the wool block. “Helps me to calm down. Wanna try?” He offered the block up to him. Yellow hesitated at first, before taking in a deep breath and taking it from his hands. Yellow started pulling it around and getting his fingers snag into it, feeling the sort of calming remedy around it.
“Wow.” he muttered, as Red finally sat down near him with the wool block in hand.
“It's fun, isn't it?”
“The only thing I'm getting here is that you're not beating the cat allegations, Red.” Yellow muttered as he struggled to free his hands from the wool's grasp. Once one of his hands is free another gets stuck within. If anything, it reminded him of strangling wires, except this one is much thinner and more annoying to deal with.
But why does his hand willingly keep getting stuck within?!
“Seems like you enjoyed it!” Red cheered. “It's soft, relaxing, it can take away any thoughts you have on your mind.”
Yellow only saw this as more dread in his mind. But seeing how Red is distracted and finally showing off some signs to indulge into the slumber, he didn't speak so much after that.
“Like, do you know, birds would need wool as well for their nest?”
“What?”
“Yeah, they would find bits of it in a sheep flock like this. Except Minecraft sheep mechanics doesn't work all that similarly to what the outside world is. Sheep, according to those articles, shed some bits of wool on the ground.” Red mumbles, laying atop the grass still playing around with the wool. “And there would be birds picking up those scraps of wool to build their nest. Birds would use wool as an inside layer to keep themselves warm and cozy, yawn… especially during the winter.”
“That is so cool. Is there any possible way to maximize the space and minimize the heat escaping their nest? Seems like a plausible experiment.” Yellow spoke as he satisfied the itch behind his back. For a brief moment, a sudden shock went through his body.. “Ack- oh my!”
“You okay… Yel?”
“Y-yeah!” he huffed, ignoring the pain he had felt. “I'm probably fine, no big deal, I’m-”
His words were cut off by a subtle snore from him. Yellow looked down and noticed how Red had curled up, lulled away by hopefully a sweet dream. But as happy and peaceful this place is, he couldn’t just leave him like this.
With a subtle sigh, Yellow slowly picked him up on his back and carried him inside the webpage, where Yellow went to Red’s room and placed him onto his bed. After everything he'd been through, Yellow immediately went straight into his own room and collapsed onto his bed without any further delay.
But, there was a thought that crossed his mind mere seconds before his slumber.
Why was his body feeling heavy all the sudden?
<->
“Heya, Yellow, you good in there?”
He slowly opened up his eyes, revealing an orange figure looking at him concerned. He could feel himself tangled up in his own bedsheets, having difficulty breathing properly. “Wha… what time is it?”
“Morning, that's what.” He slapped his back, which was covered by said sheets, and the aftermath made him twitch in pain.
Ow, Second! – he would’ve screamed out. Rather, he laid there, trying to process the overwhelming pain surging through his mind. His body was like static tv, filled with never-ending noise that will slowly consume you and…
“Now come on. Blue's making breakfast for all of us.”
He snapped out of his reverie. “In a minute.” Yellow muttered. Honestly, he would've gotten up at the given chance, but after that slap, he was in 10 times the pain than what he had before. “Gosh, this is …”
“Now unlike you, I’m busy with Alan, so I can’t stay for long. Anything else?”
“There.” Yellow smuggled his hand out through the bedsheets and pointed at the door. “Close the door on your way out.”
“Okey dokey.” With that, Second skipped out of the room, leaving him alone.
Yellow slowly made his way to slip out of bed, making sure that his bedsheet didn't have gripes with him anymore. When he finally escapes that ‘cage’, Yellow celebrates his victory with a little scratch in the back.
Only to be hit with the most painful feeling he had in his life.
It peels his skin open, sending chills across his spine and into his head, overwhelming him. The pain rang through his body for a second, and the entire time, he stood there, body crouching down and staring at the floor.
[Don't call him an ebi (shrimp) please.]
He glances over to his back. Nothing was different about him. Still the same good ol’ Yellow. Probably nothing, he supposed, before raising up a hand to contain his yawn.
But oddly, something smelt off. Like… rust, in a sense? Glancing down at his hands, it was covered in blood. Ah, probably nothi-
… He screamed. “AH!”
Blood?!
Yellow checked his back again, lifting his shirt off this time around. There IS something, visible scarring from scratching for too much. And it was so open too, how did he not notice this before?
“Uhh… Yellow, you good up there?”
“Y-yeah, of course I am!” Yellow quickly answered as he got rid of the bloodstained clothing to the corner of his room. Quickly, he rampaged through his selection of clean clothing. “Be there in a jiffy!”
His wounds being exposed to the open, cold air did not help his case at all. Yellow looked around, noticed a small towel suitable enough to be a sacrifice. He winces as he wraps his body in the towel tightly, before wearing a clean shirt, carefully avoiding it to snag on his wounds.
“Hey, Yellow?” The door slowly creaked as Yellow adjusted his outfit to make sure the towel wasn't too visible. Behind the door, Second’s head poked out, looking around at the messy room. “You okay? I heard screa-”
“Yeah, why ask?” Yellow quickly replied, walking up towards him. “You said that Blue’s making breakfast?”
“Oh yeah.” Second nodded. “But are you sure you want to leave your room like this?”
“I’ll clean up later.” Yellow scoffed, trying to keep it casual. All of the needed necessities, medkit, and brand new bedsheets are downstairs. “Let’s-”
Ack- Second rubbed his back and laughed. “Alright, let’s go buddy.”
Hopefully after some cream and real bandages, it'll just cure itself.
<->
Together with Second, Yellow mindlessly went downstairs, exited the page, avoided the gaze of the others as he sat down in an empty spot outside where they usually have their meals. Second patted his back twice, smiled at him before going off doing some work.
Yellow just sat there, as he slowly started to lose himself. His hands are still stained with blood, he couldn’t think straight, and his back- His back squirmed in the most agonizing pain that even he couldn’t describe. This feeling of something, screaming to be released, as if something had made its way, nestling in his brain whispering for him to–
“Hey, Yellow.” Blue greeted, carrying a bowl of cereal and shoved it to him. “You're late this morning. I told you to sleep early multiple times already.”
Yellow snapped out of his reverie, accessing his surroundings as the blue figure looked at him in worry. “Yeah, I did sleep early yesterday.”
“Red hasn’t been out of his bed as well. Did you two do something?” Blue raises his eyebrow.
“Nothing much. I just wanted to say sorry to him yesterday.” Yellow took the plate without even staring at it. “We had a conversation, sheared some sheep and stuff…”
“Come to think about it, he still hasn't recovered from three days ago.” Blue carried some snacks, sitting in front of him. “Poor guy. Maybe it’s for the best he sleeps in for the day. Got any plans?”
He tried to respond, but his voice refused to speak up. “Urck,” he coughed, trying to swallow up something. “W-what the…”
“You okay?”
“Yeah, mhm, why wouldn't I be?” He was. But as much as he would like to indulge into another long lengthy conversation with him, Yellow's back started to flare up again. “So, what's for breakfast?"
Blue raises an eyebrow, again. “Cereal. They're in front of you.”
Yellow pauses, looked down to see it was indeed cereal plated in front of him. Came the awkward chuckle, before he grabbed the cutleries and tried to eat it as quickly as possible.
“Yellow.” Blue spoke up as he took a small bite out of his own food. “Slow down a bit, you’re gonna choke yourself.”
Blue must've been concerned that he ate his food so quickly, but he simply couldn't help it. Yellow wanted to end it as quickly as possible. He can’t delay the pain much longer.
“Uhuk!” He had a cough.
“I told you to take it slow.” Blue got up and went beside him, patted his back multiple times. Despite the intention, the touch made the itch even worse. He held back himself as Blue took away his plate and went off towards the back.
Was the pain always like this?
After a moment, he saw Blue returned with a cup of water for him.
“Here, take this.” Blue gave him the cup, in which he devoured quickly. He let out another cough, albeit a minor one, before turning to Blue staring at him concerningly.
“You… okay?”
“Y-yeah, mhm, a-okay.” Yellow quickly got up from his seat. Honestly, the more he let his mouth run, the more time it would take to escape the place. “Where did you keep the med-kit again?”
“Yeah, bud, I think it's in the kitchen? On top of the cabinet.”
“Thanks, Blu.” He smiled before leaving for the kitchen. There, he reached out for the med-kit as well as a bucket and some laundry soap. He managed to catch a glance at Blue staring back at him, but hopefully he doesn't suspect much.
<->
Getting rid of blood out of your outfit has got to be one of the most mentally exhausting tasks out there. Not to mention that his bedsheets also had multiple specks of blood that he needed to disappear…
He recalled that he started to scratch his back instinctively shortly after the Lucky Block incident. He felt a sort of gaping feeling in his back, so he scratched it.
And he scratched it.
During dinner. During a shower. During his coding session. During that movie night with the others. During his sleep. During the day. During the night-
LETS JUST SAY IT WAS ALL THE TIME!
So today was the day he realises that actions really do have consequences. (Not that he hadn't faced them before). He stretched his arms for a bit before continuing with his work. The good thing about all of this scrubbing is that it helped him distract himself from whatever pain he’s going through. After wringing out his clothing and everything, Yellow leaves it to dry near the fridge.
Back in his room, he struggled to apply the moisturising cream onto his back. After settling with the clothing, he had taken a quick (and painful) shower to try to calm himself down (it only made him worse). Now as the cream makes contact with the scarring, he lets out a sharp shriek, calms himself down, and continues on, repeating the whole ordeal again and again.
After bandaging himself much more properly this time, Yellow can finally escape his bedroom with so much more relief. Yeah, his back is still itchy, but what gives?
He wants to do something else for once.
Yellow went downstairs, this time adorning another outfit he had as he noticed someone chilling atop the sofa. The figure was quick to notice him, taking off his headphones and resting it atop his shoulders. “Heya Yellow. You good?”
“I wish.” He slowly mutters, as he takes a seat next to him. He was careful not to lean against the couch, rather he sat forward, his arms straightened up for support.
It’s… the feeling, it’s… painful…
“Hehe, shrimp.”
Yellow perked up as he noticed Green taking a picture of him. “Delete that.”
“Nuh-uh.” Green raises his phone away from him. “I’m hanging this on my wall later. For motivation purposes.”
Yellow wanted to argue more, but rather he just… didn’t. He didn’t speak anymore than that, he diverted his focus away from him and stared at the white, pristine walls…
All dull and meaningless…
“Buddy.” Green patted his back. “You okay-”
“DON’T TOUCH ME!” He shouted, jumping off the couch and taking a step away from him. For a brief moment, everything was collapsing down onto him. It was as if a bullet shot him and pierced out through his back. He needed to calm down–
Green’s face snapped him back to reality. No, no-
“Yels, you okay…”
“Y-yeah!” he briefly coughed. “I’m fine, really. In fact, I'm just gonna take a stroll outside.” Far away from everyone else–
“Hey.”
Yellow looked at him, face filled with concern.
“Are you sure you're okay? You sound like a dying bird or something.” Green scratched his head. “Y’know that the lucky block stuff is not your fault, right?”
“Huh?”
“We’re here for you.”
A pause. “You guys already told me that after the whole ordeal. Honestly I have more pressing matters to worry about than that stupid possessive block.” Yellow scoffed. “Is there a problem?”
It hurts, it hurts, It Hurts, IT HURTS–
“Aah, probably nothing.” Green lifted up his legs and rested it atop the sofa, all while he wore his headphones again. “Get well soon.”
Yellow quickly left the page, leaving Green all alone. For a moment it was fine.
But after some time, he reenters the page while carrying a whole bunch of stuff with him. Green was resting atop the couch, still with his agenda. He quickly fastened his steps upstairs, making sure his overhaul with the Minecraft block is unseen.
<->
He wanted to find ways to distract himself.
Yellow took out some wool blocks and placed it down in his bedroom. Fascinating, really. Minecraft’s properties allowed them to shrink and enlarge the block according to their liking. All this time, they always followed Minecraft’s rules since if they were to place a half block cube into the game, the PC might explode. But in places where the rules don’t apply, like his room in particular, he can place down a block much smaller than intended.
Who knows? Maybe in 2026 they’ll add a wool block slab or something.
The pain… too much…
He wanted to conduct that same experiment that he spoke of yesterday. How can he maximise both space and warmth inside of a bird nest? There has to be a sweet spot somewhere, right? Is there a scientific reason behind the odd shape of a bird nest?
Let’s lay down something large enough for him to rest on first off. Then build an outer rim around it. The shape now resembles a traditional bird nest, but he wonders how to minimise heat escaping the place now.
Hmm… he needs to make sure that the air can’t escape through the tiny gaps of the wool blocks. Does he have a clean bedsheet somewhere? After that, he might as well add pillows around the edges to support it.
He paused. Doesn’t this look like a large pillowfort? What was he doing earlier?
The pain… THE PAIN…
He decided to conclude his experiment for now, if you can even call it one. No hypothesis, no manipulative and respondent variables… Was he finding excuses to build a nest or something?
Wait, no, not a nest. How about he calls it a makeshift bed?
Yeah, a bed… and he’s getting sleepy all the sudden.
With a leap of faith, he crashes into the middle of the makeshift bed, laying down with his back facing up. He reached out towards a nearby pillow, and held it near him.
The warmth… is escaping… and the pain-