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Visiting Inkwell Isles was always fun for Cuphead and Bendy.
Cuphead got to relieve his home sickness, and Bendy got to actually go out and explore places he's never seen! The only other time he had done something like that... Wasn't exactly under the best terms.
But now he could try again- with Cuphead no less!
This would be around the 5th time he's visited. And like always, once it began to get late, Cuphead and Bendy decided it was the best time to go out and have fun.
It started with a glance up at the sky.
"S'lookin' pretty cloudy, Cups.." Bendy murmured, nudging against Cuphead's arm. Cuphead's eyes narrowed up at the dark clouds.
".. Dat's weird, it's almost never cloudy... Must be Grim or somethin'..." He pondered, looking a little nervous before he shrugged.
"Eh, dat don't mean nothin' though, right?" Cuphead brushed off as he shoved his hands in his pockets, "C'mon, I know dere's this special movie playing in the cinemas tonight! S'been the talk of the streets!"
"We've been out for 5 minutes and you're already makin' me spend my money?"
"Hah!"
Then the inevitable happened.
KABOOM!!
The thunder roared above them as the two through the forest ran like clumsy deer.
“Move it, ya slowpoke!” Cuphead exclaimed between laughs, nearly slipping in the mud and taking Bendy down with him.
Bendy grabbed onto Cuphead's coat, tugging it roughly on purpose as he cackled at Cuphead's struggles.
"It was YOUR bright idea run through the forest while it's raining! Ya better be planning to get my shoes cleaned."
"My cottage was closer than that hotel you booked- and did'ja SEE the buses?? Some of those people were gonna need ta cling to the bus's roof!"
"Ah, sure, now look at me- clinging to your coat is MUCH better." Bendy scoffed.
"Why do you even bother getting hotels anyway?! My cottage not fancy enough for ya?" Cuphead called out over his shoulder.
Bendy was hesitant to respond, though the loud thundering was a good excuse not to.
By the time they stumbled through the door of the old cottage, they were already soaked through with what could've been buckets of water.
“Hell’s bells,” Bendy muttered, wiping the water off of his face. He huffed with slight annoyance when he noticed his ink had started getting runny.
“How do I look?” he asked, the corner of his mouth twitching with amusement as he presented himself to Cuphead.
Cuphead, breathless and grinning despite the cold, snickered.
“Like a groom who just ran from his own weddin’.” He teased.
That earned him a laugh and then a flick of ink right across his forehead.
“Hey! C’mon!” Cuphead yelped, laughing and swatting Bendy’s hand away, though the smear stayed, dark against his ceramic.
“Serves ya right for almost gettin’ me a face full'a mud,” Bendy snickered, kicking off his shoes carelessly. “I ain’t gonna sit around in soaked clothes.”
Before Cuphead could process what had been said- Bendy started undoing the buttons of his shirt and peeled it off.
Cuphead froze.
It was a very new thing for the two of them- to undress so casually in front of each other. They were still getting used to it, and Cuphead knew how hard it had been for Bendy to begin the habit.
Cuphead’s eyes stared right at Bendy’s back, the curve of it, the spines that lined it… the scars that slit across both sides of his torso. Cuphead hadn’t ever asked about them. Though he always wondered how Bendy got them.
He almost wanted to run his hands over them.
…
Okay, he’s been looking for too long.
Cuphead swallowed and diverted his eyes, leaving his thoughts unfinished. He began fidgeting with the buttons of his own shirt.
Cuphead wasn't nearly as soaked as Bendy was, due to the coat he had been wearing while they were running. He didn't NEED to undress. But...
Cuphead began to slip off his own shirt, hearing the quiet, curious trill that came from Bendy.
"What?" Cuphead gave a small smile, "You don't mind the view, do you?"
Bendy’s eyes briefly flicked over Cuphead’s bandaged chest before immediately wandering elsewhere.
"As long as we're even..." Bendy huffed with amusement and rolled his eyes, though his cheeks grew just a tad darker. Cuphead’s action, admittedly, made his tail sway just a bit faster. "Now, do ya got anywhere for me to put this or-"
"Alright, good, because the pants are comin' off next in three, two-"
"Alright, alright!" Bendy snapped around, laughing as he swatted his wet shirt at Cuphead, earning another yelp and a "Dude, that thing is freezing!"
"Just put it in that bathroom or sumthin'.." Cuphead grumbled as he used his own shirt to dry himself off. Bendy knew this cottage pretty well at this point, so he didn’t bother waiting another second before he began walking to said bathroom.
Bendy stepped inside, flicked the light on and wrung the water out of his shirt over the tub.
“Hey, Cups, mind if I use your towels to dry off a bit more?” He called out.
After a second with no response he looked over his shoulder-
And nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw Cuphead standing right there in the doorway.
“You-!”
“Did'ja not hear me walking over? Must be your age, Ben.” Cuphead laughed as he stepped in, giving Bendy’s back a firm pat.
Bendy froze. The spines on his back raised by instinct.
For an embarrassingly long second- Bendy had completely forgotten about everything around him. Except Cuphead's hand.
Bendy should've retorted by saying something about them being about the same age, but...
Oh for crying out loud, it barely even lasted a second!
It was such a casual gesture, and yet it left tingles on his skin where it had been placed. He could still feel ghost of the touch pressing against him.
The quiet whispers in his head were what ultimately snapped him out of his panic.
He needed to get himself together before Cuphead started thinking he was acting off.
Bendy took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down, his spines relaxing along with his shoulders.
Fortunately for him, his little stutter hadn't been noticed by the cup. Cuphead simply settled on the sink counter. “But sure, use whatever ya need, but you’re cleaning them after, y’hear?” He warned.
“Yeah, yeah..." Bendy reached for a towel, ignoring the lingering tingles on his back.
Soon enough, they both settled into Cuphead's room.
"You could try putting on one of my shirts if you want," Cuphead offered. Bendy merely raised his brow at Cuphead.
"Cups. You know your shirts are too small for me." He folded his arms over his stomach and plopped himself onto Cuphead's bed. "At this point you're just makin' fun of me," He accused with feigned hurt.
Cuphead laughed and sat down next to Bendy. "No- dat's not what I meant, promise! Just wanted to ask in case you wanted to, y'know." Cuphead vaguely gestured at Bendy's bare torso, "Ah-! Not because I mind! I just- I know that it's still a little hard for-"
Cuphead shut up when Bendy's hand settled on his shoulder.
"Cups. It's fine, I get it…” Bendy’s voice got quieter, “I, uh… thanks." He finished before narrowing his eyes a bit.
Cuphead felt his heart beat just a little faster when Bendy's thumb rubbed in small, absent-minded circles, "This one new?" He asked, carefully running his thumb along a new crack in the ceramic.
"Uh..." Cuphead swallowed before nodding, the touch calming him even as Bendy's gaze lingered, "Yeah- yeah, dats new. Don't even know where it came from…”
Bendy didn't respond, his mind wandering off. And so did his eyes, down to Cuphead’s torso.
Cuphead's chest was wrapped in bandages. They were what kept him together, kept the cracks in his porcelain from spreading.
And perhaps more importantly, to keep that light from showing.
It almost felt... invasive to know what was hidden there.
His soul.
Something so impossibly personal, something Cuphead had fought with everything to keep.
Sometimes, Bendy would wonder what it looked like.
"What a beautiful sight it must be..." A voice whispered in the back of his head, a voice that wasn't his, uninvited, though he agreed.
To see a physical soul, must be a blessing...
To see Cuphead's soul..
"Ben...?"
Cuphead’s voice caught Bendy's attention and snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Mm?" Bendy's eyes widened and he cringed.
"Oh, sorry-! Sorry..." Bendy hissed as he began pulling his hand away, though paused when Cuphead's hand grabbed it, keeping it right where it was.
"No, it's okay... I... Uh.." Cuphead bit his lip, clasping their hands together.
It was quiet. They searched each other's eye as if they were both waiting for something to happen.
Oh.. this was.. very familiar.
Memories of years ago reared themselves back into Bendy's head, where they both had been young and no had no plan to return to their homes.
Cheap hotels had been the only reliable place they could settle. Sometimes, when the day had exhausted them, and all they had was each other, they would finally open up.
Moments like those had always left Bendy feeling conflicted, he always felt like he had been put under a microscope. It was hard knowing every interaction he had with Cuphead only gave Cuphead another piece of his weird, confusing puzzle.
Bendy had began trying to avoid them. Sometimes he still did.
The reminder of the hotel Bendy had booked for himself for this visit made him realize that that had been his attempt of avoiding this.
But as Cuphead held his hand, he also realized... He had missed this dearly. Because despite all of his insecurity, those moments had made him feel seen, both in a way that made him feel exposed and acknowledged.
Bendy's hand dragged up, resting on Cuphead's cheek. Bendy's eyes flicked between the two of them, comparing how different the bodies they were given were. Cuphead followed Bendy's eyes.
With them face to face, Cuphead could see Bendy's scars much better. They fascinated him, the way they settled on Bendy's body.
Cuphead's scars were jagged, his ceramic splitting in paths Cuphead had gotten tired of looking at, had exhausted himself over worrying about the times he could've been shattered.
Bendy's scars were different, though. Bendy's scars came from the tearing of flesh... Or, well, ink.
…Cuphead would never know what that felt like.
His hands itched to explore them, map them out to memory. If Bendy would allow him...
He let out a long breath.
Then, slowly, Cuphead turned his head and gently pressed his lips against Bendy's gloved palm.
Bendy froze. His eyes widened as he felt his cheeks grow warmer.
Cuphead looked back at him. Bendy swore it got harder to breathe. Wasn't this what he was trying to avoid? How did he end up here?
As much as Bendy’s thoughts swarmed in his head… he didn’t want to pull away this time. He couldn’t find it in himself to hide anymore. So instead, he lifted his other hand, settling it on the other side of Cuphead's face.
Cuphead gave a soft, nervous laugh. Then, he leaned in and pressed the same gentle kiss to Bendy's other palm.
A long, soft trill escaped Bendy before he could stop it. That small, sweet gesture did so much to make his brain feel like it was just fuzz.
And maybe that's why he wanted more. Wanted to allow this to happen.
After a few more seconds of quiet and Bendy fighting with himself in his head... he slowly lowered himself onto the bed, lying down with his eyes never leaving Cuphead’s.
Cuphead knew that look, he’s seen it a million times. Bendy’s expression softened, and yet there was a very clear look in his eyes that beckoned him. Cuphead could only stare in awe.
He was embarrassed at how much the view made his heart race.
“You gonna keep me waiting..?” Bendy muttered, raising a brow to which Cuphead snapped himself out of his daze.
“Sorry-! You just.. uh..” Cuphead carefully shifted more onto the bed, settling himself between Bendy’s thighs. Bendy felt his pulse jump at the closeness. Even though he invited it, there was still that lingering nervousness, something he couldn’t help.
Cuphead paused, searching Bendy’s eyes again for a sign of discomfort.
Cuphead let himself relax when Bendy let out another quiet trill and gave him a small nod, shifting to rest his head on one of the many pillows on the bed.
“I’m fine, hard head,” Bendy spoke with a soft voice, the ink tip on his tail dragging over Cuphead’s arm.
Even with Bendy’s encouragement, Cuphead didn't move just yet. Instead he paused to drink in the rare sight before him. He felt a hitch in his throat, he wasn't gonna cry, was he?
Although he tried his best not to, all he could think about was how vulnerable Bendy looked right now. He never looked like that. Bendy would rather die than let anyone see him like that.
And here he was, underneath Cuphead, offering himself over to him. He looked beautiful. Cuphead couldn't bear it.
Bendy caught how Cuphead's eyes watered.
"Cups, we don't gotta do anything if you..." Bendy began, though Cuphead recollected himself and shook his head frantically.
"No-!" Cuphead paused, before giving a shy grin, "I- I mean, I'm okay..." He reassured, letting out a soft laugh as he used the back of his hand to wipe away his tears. After taking a deep breath his hands rested on Bendy's knees, sliding down to his thighs.
Bendy’s tail swayed just a little faster seeing Cuphead being so careful with him. Years ago, he would have never ever thought he'd let himself be this open with another person. Let alone with someone like Cuphead.
Bendy was trusting him with everything in this moment. It was as scary as it was reassuring, like he could finally let go of his worries.
Cuphead lowered himself just a bit more, their faces inches apart. When their eyes locked Bendy could feel the overwhelming urge to look away, but he refused to.
And he was rewarded with a chaste kiss. Though, that wasn't all he wanted to settle for. So he chased Cuphead's lips, his hands settling on Cuphead's face once again to pull him closer.
Cuphead gladly pressed further, letting out a content sigh as Bendy's hands slid to the back of his head.
Cuphead's hands moved to grasp Bendy's hips, an action that made the imp jolt beneath him, though he easily relaxed into the touch.
His heart was pounding, he knew Bendy could sense it with the way the imp let out a pleased trill.
When they parted, Bendy gave a small laugh.
"Y'know, I'm glad I'm not the only one freaking out," He joked. His voice was airy as if he was out of breath.
A few kisses really did that to him, huh?
Cuphead huffed with amusement before he dipped his head back down, this time to Bendy's neck.
Bendy let out a soft sigh, head falling back as he allowed Cuphead's lips trail down his neck. His own hands dragged down Cuphead's back. He could hear his own breathing picking up at every kiss planted on his skin.
"Oh god," He thought, lips quivering as he fought back an embarrassing sound. It was now fully setting in, how intimate this was. It was different. So, so different.
"S'not tickilish, is it? You're squirming." Cuphead chuckled softly, pulling away by a few inches to properly face Bendy.
"Yeah well, how 'bout you try stayin’ still while gettin' touched up…" Bendy scoffed, not daring to open his eyes.
“I could, you offering?" Cuphead snickered, only earning another huff from Bendy. Cuphead once again reached for Bendy’s hand.
Through their gloves, Cuphead could feel two dips in Bendy's hand, right where the black circles were painted on the imp's glove. Cuphead's thumb pressed down onto one of them. That seemed to get Bendy to look at him again.
"Careful," Bendy warned, though it didn't have much bite to it, only voicing his nervousness. He didn’t pull his hand away, and that told Cuphead a lot.
Bendy quirked an eyebrow as Cuphead's teeth caught the cuff of his glove.
"What are...?" He trailed off as he watched Cuphead's slowly peel off his glove.
Once his hand was exposed, Bendy stilled completely. His hand stayed suspended in the air even after Cuphead let go of it. Cuphead sat back and began tugging off his own gloves, tossing them elsewhere. His hands were bandaged the same as his arms, wrapping around his wrists and palms. Bendy heart jumped when Cuphead leaned in close again.
Cuphead’s hands wrapped around Bendy’s wrists, thumbs pressing against Bendy’s bare palms- a touch that sent shocks through Bendy. Bendy was being pinned, and yet he didn’t feel trapped, not like he’d been used to feeling his entire life. Being held had always meant being controlled.
But not under Cuphead..
Still, he almost wanted to pull his hands back, to scramble away and put his gloves back on. His claws dug into his own palms. He was painfully aware of his claws, almost afraid that somehow, he’d accidentally hurt Cuphead. He knew he was capable of it. He remembered all the times he’d used his hands to tear flesh and bone, had soaked them in blood.
But Cuphead didn’t look scared.
How could he look that calm?
“Ben, I’m okay,” Cuphead spoke softly, a small smile tugging at his lips. Cuphead gently coaxed Bendy’s hands open, then interlaced their fingers. Bendy’s claws gently scraped against his knuckles, but didn’t harm him the way Bendy’s mind was screaming at him would happen.
Bendy’s eyes welled with tears, wide as he stared at their hands. Laying here like this, he felt embraced, and that threw his mind into a storm- asking how and if he could ever be allowed to feel such closeness.
Cuphead noticed the conflict in his eyes, and grounded him with a chaste kiss. Fortunately, that did enough to get Bendy to let out another pleased trill.
“Ben, for tonight.. don’t worry about anything else okay? We- we can go slow, if you want… just let me take care of you.” Cuphead muttered, the words stumbling out awkwardly due to his own heart racing, yet it didn’t take away any of the meaning behind them.
Bendy paused, gazing up at the man he’s silently doted on for years, and smiled back.
“… yeah.”