As I sat there, I felt something hard build up in my throat. I tried to swallow but it didn't feel like it was moving at all. I remember that feeling well but why am I angry? Hoodie can have other friends besides me and I can't keep acting like a jealous boyfri- a jealous brat anymore. I sighed audibly and pulled off my shirt. I decided I'm going to get some more sleep before Master comes and drags me out of bed. As I threw my shirt onto the beside table, I saw Hoodie standing at the doorway.

"What do you want? Aren't you gonna watch a movie with him?" I said snidely. Wow... Why am I acting this way towards my best friend? I knew that hurt him because he started shaking. I was starting to feel bad...

~Hoodie's P.O.V.~

I couldn't stand to see Masky upset so I told Jack to wait in his room while I went back to mine. I peeked inside and saw Masky staring at his feet. I can't even begin to explain how horrible I feel about all of this. I wish I could rewind today, go back in time even, and tell Jack I'd hang out with him for a bit later while Masky and I caught up. I wish I could read Masky's thoughts...

I guess he saw me at the doorway because he asked a rude comment about my activities with Jack. I was instantly hit with guilt. I knew I was shaking and I couldn't stop, I was absolutely horrified by my own actions. It had been exactly four months since Masky and I fought. I'm not ready. I'm not ready. Good God, I'm not ready!

""M-M-Masky, all I-I wanted to-to-to do was han-hang with Jack..." I tried to explain but there was a lump in my throat the size of a softball. I felt my stomach churn with the feelings of guilt and self-hatred, burning me from the inside out.

"I don't care, Hoodie. I just wanted to hang out with you but, of course, I can't." He remarked smartly. I slowly walked towards my bed and sat on it, facing him. I took off my mask so I could look my fellow proxy in the eyes. His beautifully dark and mysterious brown eyes.

"Masky... I-I'm so sor-sorry. I wanna hang ou-out. I d-"

"I don't care! I don't care what you wanna do! Go and hang out with Jack! See if I fuckin' care! Just go! It should be easy since you love him so much!" Masky bellowed loudly, standing up so he was looking down upon me. I felt so small. I felt weak and frail and like I could break at any moment. I didn't want to do it. I couldn't break. Masky must think I'm as pathetic and I do. I was shaking like a leaf as his stare penetrated me to the core of my worthless existence... I couldn't do this much longer. I felt the tears start to come and knew they were pouring down my face in little clear streams. Wow... I really am pathetic.

"I-I'm sorry, Masky. Don-Don't be angry. I'm so sorry...Pl-please. Forgive me..." I begged him, casting my gaze upward.

"Please..."

-Masky's P.O.V.-

I sighed audibly, watching him sniffle and beg me for forgiveness. I sat down next to him and embraced him fiercely. I would never admit it but he always knew just how to get under my skin. I don't even think he realizes that his tears break me. I can't stand to see him hurt and right now, his face was streaked with little tears. That did it. That's it

I quickly hugged him with a passion, as if I hadn't seen him in years and I was meeting him again. He hugged me back, naturally, and brushed his knuckles down my back. I cooed softly, holding onto him tighter. I loved this. I love being the center of Hoodie's attention. He seemed to possess the exact knowledge of just where to touch and just how softly to make me melt in his arms, to make anyone melt. I could never come to grip with the fact that he made me feel normal. As normal as he and I could get, anyways. I haven't felt normal at any point in my life. Whether I was Tim or whether I was Masky, I have never been considered 'normal'. I was dubbed "schizophrenic" by a team of crack head doctors tat have no idea what they're talking about... That reminds me: I have to get more pills. I'm on my last bottle.

"It's alright, Hoodie. I'm sorry for getting angry," I whispered into his ear, trying not to think about our situation. "I guess I just got carried away with wanting to hang out with you... Can you forgive me?" I asked, bringing him even further into my arms. I could feel him tighten his grip on me and as his hands slid to the small of my back, he started rubbing his knuckles upward causing me to give into my dirty pleasure of holding him like this. I love this. I loved every minute I could have him close to me... but I won't come clean. I will not admit.

"I-I can... Will you forgi-forgive me?" He whispered back to me. I hugged him as hard as I possibly could and felt his breath hitch. His little whimpers are so very cute.

"I already have."

-Bird's Eye P.O.V.-

That moment that the proxies shared was magical. Never had Hoodie even dreamed that embracing Masky like that was going to be that amazing. Masky held onto his partner as Hoodie rubbed his back gently, but the masked proxy's grip was anything but gentle. His arms were wrapped around the teen's waist like a vice and Hoodie could barely breathe at the ferocity that Masky held him at. As much as Hoodie loved this, he knew he needed air and to stop his bones from cracking. Guess all that running and climbing made them stronger.

"Ma-Masky? I-I can't breathe." Hoodie choked out as Masky nuzzled his nose into the crook of Hoods's neck. Masky looked up at the boy, concerned, and let go.

"I'm sorry... I guess I need physical contact." Masky let out, his hand on Hoodie's forearm. Masky let his hand slide down his partner's arm before letting it set still on his hand but quickly pulled away.

You see, proxies have a bond that goes unequaled by any other type of relationship. Partnered proxies have a type of mental connection that allows them to feel as the other feels, love as the other loves, and hurt as the other hurts. In a sense, they are joined both by situation, by mind, by body, by soul, and by heart. They complete each other in all aspects of life and without each other, they are empty. A soulless, empty void that is in constant pain. And this is how Hoodie feels, 24/7. Without Masky by his side, Hoodie cannot think. Nor can he breathe or eat or sleep. Again... He's a soulless, empty void that is in constant pain without Masky.

-Hoodie's P.O.V.-

"I'm ha-happy to oblige." I said quietly, staring into Masky's eyes.

"You're the best... You know that right?"

"I-I'm well aware," I said with a giggle.

"No... You are. You really are and I'm sorry I snapped. Go and hang out with Jack, alright? I don't mind. I think everyon-"

"WHY THE FUCK WERE YOU SCREAMING?!"

Masky and I looked towards the door and saw Jeff, looking like a complete mess, screaming at us. Rage clearly laced his words as his nostrils flared and his forever unblinking eyes seemed to be the epitome of anger.

"Just a misunderstanding." Masky said sheepishly.

"WELL FUCKIN' UNDERSTAND, DAMNIT! IT'S SIX A.M.!" The psychotic killer bellowed, storming away from the doorway and slamming the door.

As soon as he was out of ear shot, Masky and I started giggling furiously. Jeff was always acting like a drama queen. After a minute of snickering and playful banter, Masky hugged me quickly told me to get ready. We have to make another video. This time, I get to choose the name... I think I'll go with 'Fragments'. I assume this is directed towards Alex, seeing as though Masky's carrying around a ripped up picture of him. I must go now. Breakfast is ready!

[Time Skip - 18 hours: 12:14 a.m.]

I was walking with Masky down the empty corridor of a hospital that The Operator burned a few years back. He and I were trying to find a place where the lighting was a bit better so we could talk and actually see each other.

"Can you believe what The Operator's doing with Alex? Even I don't understand." Masky said, sitting down in a room where the full moon shone in brightly. Despite it being just a small silver beam, the room was slightly glowing from the light. I walked in, just a bit mesmerized at how such a horribly massacred place could look beautiful.

"Neith-neither do I." I told him, sitting by his side. I watched as my partner took out a pack of cigarettes and lit one, placing it delicately into his mouth.

"I-I really wish you wouldn't smoke, M-Masky. It's bad for your he-health." I explained, sighing afterwards.

"It mellows me out, Hoods. If it's any consolation, I only do it once a day now. It's just a habit." He told me, looking off towards the window.

"It looks really beautiful tonight. I wish we could have more nights like this. Just you and I, talking. You want one?" He asked me, gesturing towards the pack of Newports. I politely declined and by politely, I mean I said "Hell n-no".

"Suit yourself," Masky began, shrugging and taking a long, slow hit from the little stick of tobacco. I wished he wouldn't smoke. It'll hurt his lungs and God knows he wouldn't be able to fight lung disease with an immune system as weak as his. I wish he'd let me hold him again. Earlier today was the closest I've felt and actually been to Masky since we met... I miss it already. I crave his affection like a child craves entertainment: constantly.

"Y'know... I really can't stand being here. I don't know why though." Masky stated, leaning his head on my shoulder. I started to run my fingers through his fluffy hair but he pulled away. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding in.

"M-Masky? Do you think we-we'll have to stay the night here?"

"I hope not. I want to go back to the mansion but I can't remember the way back... We might have to stay here, if that's ok with you."

I honestly didn't mind where we were as long as I was with Masky. Just his presence calms me and relieves me of stress and anger. I was suddenly overcome with somnolence and yawned.

"You should rest, Hoodie. Don't worry. I'm watching. I won't be able to sleep anyways."

"W-why is that...?" I asked, yawning yet again.

"We aren't home."

"H-home is where the heart is..." I said, silently thinking 'and my heart belongs to you'...

"Yeah." He said softly, putting out his cigarette and sighing. "I hope The Operator doesn't chew us out because we didn't come home."

"He... He w-won't..." I said, nuzzling into the corner of the room as sleep started to call out my name. I felt my eyelids grow heavy and that signaled for me to take off my mask. I smiled in relief.

Finally. I can breathe.

I thought to myself. I peeked over at Masky and he was sitting in a window sill, one leg dangling while the other was propped up. His hand rested on his knee and his chin rested on his hand, his gaze towards the starry sky.

"Do you ever think that... that one day we'll find them?"

"F-Find who...?" I whispered, sitting up so I could lean my back against the wall. I smiled when I saw what I wrote the previous week on the wall.

HE IS A LIAR

"I don't believe in soul mates. Hell, I barely believe in love but do you think we'll find them? The people we're supposed to be with and fall in love with?" He asked, looking in my direction.

I pondered over his question. He had no idea that he is the one I fell in love with. He is so oblivious to the fact that I want no one but him. He really is my everything. He's the only thing that keeps me grounded and clinging to reality. It's all so much like a game of cat and mouse. I'll spend forever chasing Masky before he even realizes I'm trying to catch him at all. I guess I'm just... I sigh. I'm just tangled up in this catastrophe of emotions, of pain, sadness, hurt, of tears and yet... of a type of sorrowful happiness. A longing, really.

"I don't re-really know. I hope y-you do. You deserve someone wh-who's amazing and tal-talented and sweet and cr-crazy. Someone who lov-loves you. I hope you find th-them." I told him, trying not to spit out my feelings.

"Thank you, Hoods," He said with a smile. "Thank you, a lot."

I grinned at my partner but then my smile faded.

"C-Can I tell you something...?" I asked him, pulling my knees to my chest.

"Anything, Hoods."He flashed me that toothy grin and his eyes shined at me.

I couldn't. I couldn't tell him that I liked him or that I was gay. I couldn't. It'd ruin everything just when things were beginning to be okay. I knew he wouldn't take "nevermind" as an answer but maybe... maybe I could tell him some other time... Yeah. Some other time.

"Nevermind, o-okay? I'll tell you tomorrow. Pro-promise." I said, holding out my pinky.

"Alright." He said lethargicly. I could tell he was tired. I think anyone could tell that.

He slowly made his way over to me and sat down beside me, putting his head back on my shoulder.

"Are you co-cold?" I asked him,looking at him sleepily.

"Nah... We need sleep. I can tell you do; Your eyes are a darker shade of green." He smiled at me and I started blushing.

"I didn't think you knew abou-about my eyes." I said, hanging my head as I blushed.

"I know everything about you, Hoods. Like you know everything about me." He said, yawning loudly as he hugged me quickly.

"Night."

"Goodnight Mas-Masky." I said softly, watching him as he slunk in the corner and drifted off into sleep. I looked at him and watched as his chest rose and fell with every ragged breath, his eyes twitching slightly. Absolutely stunning...

I whispered what I whispered every night and sighed thoughtfully.

"I love you." I said, smiling at the sleeping proxy.

"I love you too."