Work Text:
Pencil’s found herself back in the EXIT.
Instead of being surrounded by others in the same situation, this time, however, she’s completely alone.
Except for... him. Four’s staring directly at her.
Pencil’s desk is covered in drawings. Her drawings- She remembers vaguely scratching her pencil against the wood instead of doing the work she was given. They depict the rest of Freesmart. Her friends.
Except that’s all a memory now. Book and Ice Cube want nothing to do with her anymore, and Match, Ruby, and Bubble are god-knows where. Who knows if they want anything to do with her at this point, either?
She’s alone. The drawings seem to taunt her. Pencil blinks, and there’s another one of Four’s worksheets on her desk instead. She looks back up, and Four is still staring at her, unmoving.
Pencil can’t do this again. She whips around to look at the door behind her, and then back at Four. He still doesn’t move. Pencil takes a deep breath and bolts to the door, tugging at the handle, but it’s locked. Four’s still staring.
Last time, Liy picked open the lock with one of Stapy’s staples, Pencil realizes. She doesn’t know how to do that- Hell, she doesn’t have anything to try to pick the lock with.
Pencil’s whole body feels too heavy, her heart dropping in her chest as she realizes there might be no escape, this time. Pencil tries to pull at the handle again, harder, harder, until her hands slip and she falls backwards onto the floor. She can’t breathe, but she can’t give up- She has to get out. Pencil slams her body weight against the door, once, twice, three times. It hurts, but she’s panicking far too much to care. The door still doesn’t budge.
Her strength is wearing thinner, and her legs collapse under her as a cry escapes her lips. She has to get out, this can’t be the rest of her eternity.
Pencil looks up, and Four’s looming directly behind her. She yelps as she realizes, and her whole body starts to shake. She has to get out, she has to, she-
--
Pencil shoots upright as she wakes up, gasping and heaving for air. The night is just as quiet as the EXIT was back when she was the only inhabitant. Pencil has to get out. She needs to know she can leave the hotel.
She stands, throwing the covers off of her and darting out of her room. There’s no time, she needs to leave. She can’t be trapped here. Pencil runs right past the elevator and down the stairs, shaky and panting.
Pencil doesn’t even notice a certain red-haired individual occupying the kitchen as she runs past the first floor. She flings open the door to the hotel and she feels the cool night air against her skin. It’s grounding- Pencil’s not trapped anymore. She comes down from the adrenaline and falls to her knees against the ground, sobs beginning to wrack her body.
Pin, startled by the commotion, pokes her head out of the kitchen, surprised by the sight. Sure, she and Pencil haven’t had the most favorable relationship in the past, but she can’t just sit and watch her cry like this, her conscience won't let her. She’s noticed the clear difference in Pencil after she joined the season, and it's clear she’s struggling. Pin slowly approaches, not wanting to startle the other. It’s cold outside, at night, but Pin doesn’t mind.
“Pencil…” Pin addresses her to get her attention, but Pencil just freezes. She’s too deep into her breakdown to try to compose herself, but she hates the fact that anyone is seeing her like this.
“Go away.” Pencil manages to get out, and Pin frowns. She kneels beside the other, her hand cautiously finding its way to Pencil’s back.
“It’s okay. You’re safe.” Pin whispers. She’s never been good with this, dealing with other people’s feelings. “It’s cold out. You should come back inside.”
“In a minute, I can’t-” Pencil wipes her tears, but they don’t stop. Pin scoots a little closer, wrapping her arm around the other’s trembling body.
“Okay.” Pin complies, not exactly sure why Pencil prefers it outside, but she doesn’t question it further. “Pencil, can you breathe with me?” Pin asks, and after a moment, Pencil looks up to meet her eyes.
Pin takes a deep breath in, a deep breath out, hoping Pencil will follow along. It takes her a moment to get into the rhythm, but she shakily ends up breathing alongside her. The two breathe in sync until Pencil’s sobs eventually subside, and her breath trembles far less.
“There we go.” Pin smiles softly. “That’s better. Did you want to talk… about… it?” She asks, a little awkward. Pin hasn't talked to Pencil in years, and she certainly didn't expect this is how it would happen.
“No.” Pencil responds quickly, her eyes darting away. “What are you even doing awake?” She asks, diverting the attention from herself.
“I guess I ended up baking for too long. I didn’t realize how late it was.” Pin shrugs. “If you don't feel like going back to sleep, you can stay with me? If you want.”
Pencil ponders the offer for a moment. She definitely does not want to go back to her room right now, and as embarrassing as it feels to want Pin’s company, she… really doesn't want to be alone right now, even if her eyes are swollen and heavy from crying. Not after that nightmare.
“...Okay.” Pencil responds, and Pin smiles and stands, extending her hand towards the other. Pencil reluctantly takes it, and Pin pulls her up onto her feet. “Isn't the kitchen usually like, heavily guarded by Four and X?” She asks cautiously.
“Kinda? But they’re really not around a whole lot at night. X lets me use the kitchen when it’s empty, so now’s usually when I like to use it.” Pencil blinks warily, but Pin’s hand tugs her towards the kitchen nonetheless. “I’m making muffins! You can be my taste-tester, if you want some.”
Pencil perches herself on the edge of the countertop, her eyes nervously darting around the kitchen as Pin hums to herself. She’s back to her work quickly, and it’s clear she’s already finished up a few other baked goods before Pencil came down.
Pencil’s known Pin likes to bake, but this is the first time she’s seen her in action since the baking challenge back in the first season. It’s odd how much Pin’s changed since the last time they’ve talked. She seems a lot happier, really, and Pencil can’t help but admire how she looks so passionate about what she’s doing. She watches her put the muffin pan in the oven before Pin stands up and faces her again. Pencil’s gaze darts away, ashamed to be caught staring.
“They’ll be done in a little.” Pin explains, humming as she moves to clean up her mess while the muffins are in the oven.
“Why do you like baking so much?” Pencil is honestly only half-interested, but she can’t stand silence right now.
“Well, I’ve always just found it fun. Methodical.” Pin responds. “I also think it’s been a healthy thing to channel my feelings into. And to distract myself when I need a distraction. Plus, I like to share what I make with other people, too! It’s always a good feeling when others get to enjoy my stuff.” She explains, her hands busy with the dishes.
Pencil thinks for a moment. A part of her wants to pick up a hobby like Pin has, but Pencil needs to set all of her time on the competition. The stakes are high, and she’s terrified of the consequences if she lets her guard down to spend time on anything else.
Pin’s humming a tune as she works- It’s not something she recognizes, but it fills the space between them nonetheless. Pencil’s exhausted after crying. She’s still embarrassed about not having noticed Pin sooner before she broke down, but she hasn’t cried like that in a good while. It doesn’t feel good, per say, but Pencil’s mind is so tired now that she can’t bear to think too hard about it, which isn’t a bad thing either.
Pencil tries to stay awake- Something in the back of her mind tells her that this isn’t a safe place to fall asleep, especially not when Four and X are usually the ones in the kitchen. But… it wouldn’t hurt to rest her eyes a little, her head resting against the wall behind her. Surely, Pin’ll let her know when the muffins are done.
“What do you- Oh-” Pin eventually spins around to ask Pencil something to cut the silence, but the question dies on her lips the second she sees Pencil fast asleep. Normally, she’d be a little frustrated at her for falling asleep on her, but the bags under Pencil’s eyes and the memory of Pencil’s breakdown earlier just cause her to smile softly at the sight- Pencil’s clearly needed this.
Pin lets her sleep until the muffins are finished and the kitchen’s clean, and then turns back to Pencil with a pondering hum. She obviously can’t leave her down here, but Pin can’t help but take a moment just to admire her like this. Never in a million years did she think she’d be letting herself admit that Pencil of all people was pretty, but as her eyes trace Pencil’s facial features, so devoid of the usual stress and exhaustion she’s gotten used to noticing from her from afar as of late, it’s hard to describe Pencil as anything but.
Pin’s never been good with empathy. She’s always had a hard time understanding why people act the way they do, and Pencil has always been an enigma she’s never been able to understand. Then again, she doesn’t know if she’s ever tried to take the time to. Pin’s never thought of Pencil as anything more that bratty, rude, and selfish, but even if she’s still not thrilled with Pencil after everything her and her friends put her through, seeing Pencil, the girl she always thought was so untouchable, break down like that is slowly shifting her perspective.
Pin doesn’t like thinking about it- That’s a problem for her to contemplate later, when it’s not the middle of the night and she still has to figure out how she’s going to get Pencil to bed.
She ultimately decides to carry her back up through the elevator- Pencil isn’t heavy by any means, and it seems like she’s sleeping pretty good, so Pin’s able to maneuver Pencil onto her back without waking her. She carries her to the elevator, up to her floor and over to Pencil’s room, trying not to focus too hard on the way her soft breaths feel against her shoulder. Thankfully, the door’s unlocked- She would’ve had to wake Pencil otherwise.
Pin opens the door, gently placing Pencil in the safety of her own bed. She steps back once she’s sure Pencil’s still asleep, contemplating. There’s a part of her tugging her to make sure Pencil’s cared for, at least for tonight. So she pulls the covers over the sleeping girl, looking at her one more time before she steps out of Pencil’s room and closes the door behind her.
...Not without leaving a tinfoil-wrapped muffin on Pencil’s nightstand, first, though.