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"Are you sure we should keep going...?" Squirm asked with a sniffle.
The rest of the team had already gone back down to their rooms 20 floors back, leaving Squirm and Sprout alone.
"Yes. We need to get more research for Rodger's...whatever he calls it." Sprout adjusted the bag on his shoulder, checking inside. Candies, tapes, and some trinkets. "I'm one good hit away from Twisting, so be on the lookout for heals."
Squirm nodded.
The elevator opened, revealing a new floor.
"Goodluck, Squirm..." Sprout gave a smile before walking off.
Squirm's front hands gripped the wheel of the machine, turning it. He glanced at the marks on his wrist, some dented, some dark, some puffy, some light...all so different, yet, he felt the same feeling everytime.
The disappointment in himself, the adrenaline of the ichor running, the coolness of the blade against his skin...yet...Sprout always looked so worried while bandaging him up.
"You've gotta stop this..." Sprout sighed, cleaning the ichor off Squirm's arm.
"I...I know..." he sniffled "It just...its like I need it. I've tried to stop, but..." he glanced up at Sprout. "The feeling of the blade...gliding...I can't get rid of that..."
Sprout gave a caring smile. "I know...but please...try stopping. You could use a marker if that helps?" He started gently drying Squirm's arm.
"I will...thank you..." Squirm smiled, sniffling still.
"Of course... anything for you."
Ding!
The machine was completed. Squirm quietly walked off to find another, when he spotted a blue box on the ground. A dand-aid! He grabbed it before walking again, looking for Sprout.
"Sprout...?" He sniffled. "I found a bandaid..." Squirm heard what sounded like growling and bones breaking. He looked around a corner...
There Sprout was, limbs bending and breaking, ichor bubbling out of his mouth, dripping onto the floor, tentacles rising from the ground...
"Sprout!" Squirm cried without a second thought before running over. He hugged Sprout...he wouldn't make it alone for the rest of the floor...he couldn't. Not without his Sprout. "Please!" He sobbed "Stay with me!"
Sprout's eyes softened, he knew what he was doing, but couldn't stop himself. His tentacles ripped Squirm off his feet, throwing him into a wall.
Squirm coughed up ichor, looking up at Sprout. "Please...just...take me too...I can't do this without you, I can't go on..."
Sprout's hands shook.
"I want to be with you...even in our deaths..." Squirm sobbed quietly, echoing throughout the floor.
Sprout raised his large twisted claw up, striking Squirm down the face. It was all he could do...put him out of his misery.