Kitten:Happy Late Easter my peeps! Heh Heh. Yeah, still on hiatus, but happy to let ya know I'll be updating when I can. There's been an unexpected extension on break 'til 'bout the 28th of April. Nothing bad going on, just very beautiful things happening right now that I'm getting caught up in! Nvm
Plus I hate school projects… -.-'
Anyways, felt bad for making ya wait for a while without any updates, so the least I can do is give you guys two fresh chapters! Hope you enjoy 'em!
~Chapter 7-Stay~
Cuphead grunted in pain as he was thrown out of the casino by the devil. He groaned, slowly getting to his feet.
The red clad boy's eyes widened as he heard Mugman yelp, and he caught his brother before he hit the ground.
"You okay?" Cups asked, steadying his little brother.
Mugs shook his head. "No, not really."
Cup sighed, and scowled once he saw Dice at the doors, a smug smirk plastered on his face.
Dice sighed. "Greedy, Greedy Cuphead. You just had to have that money, didn't you? Thought you would get all the fame and fortune, but look where you are now , I suppose we'll see you at midnight. If you survive, that is."
With a laugh, Dice turned and walked back inside, the doors slamming behind him.
Cup growled, and he looked like he was about to run in after him and kick his ass, but Mugs quickly grabbed his brother's arm and shook his head, some milk spilling out.
"No, Cup! Don't! That's enough. Please. Let's just go."
Cup huffed, dropping his fists once he saw the desperate look in his brother's eyes. Mugman left ahead of him, and Cups slowly trailed behind him.
The walk was painfully silent for both boys.
Mugs, on one hand, wanted to talk and comfort his brother, and encourage him, claiming how certain he was that they would be able to do this.
However, on another, he didn't know if he was angry at Cuphead, or just upset with him.
His brother had dragged him to the devil's casino, and before his very eyes, he had gambled their very souls for money, and now they had to, just had to wander the isles for the debtor's souls.
Cup had done many, many impish, childish, stupid, and reckless things the 10 years Mug had been his brother, but this… this just terrified the younger boy. He wasn't concerned about his own safety. It was Cuphead he was worried about.
Meanwhile, Cup was lost in his own thoughts filled with guilt, anger, and sorrow.
How could he let this happen? It wouldn't have been as bad had it been just him, but what killed him was that he dragged his brother, his flesh and blood, his best friend into this stupid mess.
He had made a reckless decision, and now his brother had to pay the price for it by going along with him on this stupid, worthless journey.
He avoided Mug's blue eyes, as he couldn't stand seeing the sadness in them.
They weren't even close to halfway home when Mug claimed that his ankle hurt, and that he felt terrible all over.
Cup grunted as he picked his brother up in his arms. "You holdin' on?"
The younger boy wrapped his arms around Cuphead's neck tightly before nodding and the red clad began walking off.
"We ain't gonna be able to go home tonight. We're too far." Cups stated. "We're gonna have to camp out tonight, alright, Mugs?"
Mug said nothing, only nodded and buried his face in Cup's chest, listening to Cup's heartbeat before slowly closing his eyes.
Mug was fast asleep, turned over on his own side, with his back turned to Cuphead. Cups had his back to the younger boy as well, and he himself was in a very deep sleep.
Abruptly, the younger boy shot up with a sharp gasp, shaking, and his eyes watering. Swallowing hard, he slowly looked towards his brother.
The blue clad boy gradually got to his feet and went over to Cup.
Lying down, he snuggled close next to Cups, wrapping his arms around him from behind.
He knew Cup was awake.
"You okay?" Came Cup's sleepy, exhausted, and energy drained voice. The older boy squeezed his brother's gloved hand that was wrapped firmly around his chest.
"Can I sleep here, Cups?"
"Sure."
Cup tiredly rolled on his side, facing Mug, and the younger wrapped his arms around him tightly, snuggling up as close as possible to him, burying his face in his warm chest.
Cup yawned sleepily, stroking Mug's head. He opened his mouth.
"Don't say it" Came his brother's muffled voice.
Cup blinked, confused. "Eh? Say what…?"
"You know what. 'It's my fault', 'I never should of brought you along', 'I'm sorry', 'It's okay if you're mad, I deserve it'. I've heard it all before, Cup. I've known you for 10 years. Don't try and play dumb. It doesn't work on me."
"Are ya?"
"Am I what?"
"Angry" Cup said. His voice sounded a little ashamed, like he was worried that Mug truly was mad at him.
Mug shook his head, burying his face deeper in his brother's shirt. "No…you idiot, I'm not mad. It's just… you acted like such a dummy today. You didn't even think about your safety before you rolled that stupid dice. I don't… I don't…"
"Ya don't what?" Cup questioned with a frown.
Mug mumbled something inaudible, causing his frown to deepen.
"What was that?"
".….I don't wanna lose you…." Mug whimpered, gripping at his brother's shirt as he banished tears from his blue eyes, before closing them and leaning his full weight into Cuphead.
Cup bit his lip, looking down. He opened his mouth once again, but no words came out. He didn't know what to say.
Nothing else was said for the rest of the night.
"Cup, where are we going?" Mugman asked the next day with a frown. They were walking down a trail, a familiar trail that Mug recognized. Too well.
"Cuphead." He repeated more sternly when he got no answer, and Cups merely glanced at him.
"Hmm?"
"Where. Are. We going?"
Cup sighed. "Home, Mugs."
Mug's eyes widened in shock. "W-What?! But, Cups! We gotta collect those contracts! We gotta-"
"No, I have ta collect those contracts. You're staying home, out of harm's way."
Mugs scowled, running up ahead and in front of his brother. "But why!? I don't wanna go home, Cup! I wanna stay with you!"
Cups narrowed his eyes. "Here's the thing; that ain't an option. I ain't gonna let my little brother fight monsters with me! Not happening!"
"Will you knock it off?! I'm not a baby, Cup! I'm 10! And I don't need you protecting me! I got dragged into this, so I'm gonna finish the task with you!"
"No. You're going home and staying there with gramps, and that's final." Cup stated firmly, beginning to feel angry.
"I'm staying with you, and that's final." Mug stated in the same tone.
"I'm serious, Mugs."
"So am I. I'm not leaving you, Cup."
"Fine. You asked for it." Cup said and pointed his fingers at Mug, locking into shooting position, and they began to glow blue.
"Y-You wouldn't.." Mug stammered.
"I know I wouldn't. I would never hurt you, Mug, ya know that. But unless you turn around and go home now, then I'm gonna have to force ya."
Mugs scowled, and locked his fingers in position as well, glowing red. "I said no. I'm not going anywhere."
"You're really starting ta piss me off, ya know that? Go home, Mug!"
"What's gotten into you!?" Mug blurted, glaring at Cup, his eyes burning. "You seriously think I'm gonna leave my own brother out here alone?! You can't do this by yourself! You'll die!" He exclaimed, beginning to quiver like a leaf.
Cups shook his head. "I don't care. It's better than you dying by my side, due to some stupid mistake I made!"
"How can you say that?! Listen to yourself! You don't even care about dying! What's wrong with you?!" Mug yelled, unbidden tears coming to his eyes.
"Mugman, I swear, if you don't go home now-"
"STOP IT!"
Cup jumped at his brother's scream. Mugman's trembling hands were balled into fists, he was quivering badly, tears running down his face.
"Stop saying such stupid things! Just shut up! Listen, I know that you don't care about dying, but I do!"
Cup's hand slowly fell down by his side, and he gazed at his brother with a grave expression.
"I mean, what if something happened to you?! What if you died?! I can't lose you, Cup, I need you! I need you…"
Mugs began to choke, then hiccup as tears streamed down his face, and he finally broke into sobs.
"If something happened to you, Cuphead, I'd never be able to forgive myself! It'd be all my fault…!"
Cup sighed softly, slowly beginning to feel his guard go down. "C'mon, Mug, no it wouldn't…"
"Yes it would!" Mug exclaimed tearfully, causing Cup's red eyes to widen in surprise.
"It'd be my fault because I didn't go with you! It'd be my fault that since I didn't go with you, then I didn't stop you from making those reckless and stupid choices with the debtors! And by the way, it'd be your fault that I would be depressed for the rest of my life because you didn't let me go! I don't wanna live without a brother! Please don't make me, Cuphead!" He bawled.
Cups looked down with a guilty frown, biting his lip.
Mug shakily walked over and jabbed his finger weakly in his brother's chest.
"I…t-thought y-you wanted me t-to be h-happy…." He choked out, his sobs making it hard for the younger boy to talk.
"Don't give me that, Mugs. Of course I want ya ta be happy, ya know that!" Cup stated sternly, yet softly.
"Th-Then l-let m-me go w-with you… please…Don't push me away, Cup. L-Let me st-stay, please!"
Cups sighed heavily, his chest rising and falling slowly. "Okay. Alright, Alright, you can come with me."
Mug held his breath.
"But only if you're careful, okay? I don't want you getting hurt too much in battle or nothin' like that."
"I-I'll be careful, I promise!" Mug swore, sniffling.
"...Okay."
Mugman wrapped his arms around his brother's neck and buried his face in his black shirt, trembling.
"Th-Thanks, C-Cup…I love you…" He sobbed quietly, and Cup could feel Mug's warm tears on his chest.
"I love ya too, Mugsy. It's alright, everything's gonna be okay, I promise." Cup said, rubbing his brother's back. "I-I know you don't want me ta say it, but… I'm sorry for being a idiot. I don't mean with just that bet."
"Cup." Mug cut in quietly. "I told you, I could never be happy if you went without me. You're a real reckless idiot, but you're my brother, and not only that, you're well.. you're my best friend. I can't handle the thought of you dying. Remember the one time when we were kids? You scared the crud outta me…"
"C-C-Cuphead!" Mugman exclaimed tearfully, shaking the semi-conscious boy. "C-C'mon… stay awake… just a little bit further… hold on, please!"
Cup's world blurred in and out before him. He could barely make out his brother's face.
He only managed to groan as his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he passed out once more.
"CUPHEAD!"
Mugman could feel Cuphead flinch and tremble at the vivid memory.
"Y-Yeah, I remember." Cup mumbled, shivering with a frown as he remembered Mug's panicked scream for him to wake back up.
A sob caused his heart to jump slightly, and he looked back down to see Mug's head buried against his chest with his hand clenching at his shirt.
"H-Hey, c'mon, Mugs. It's okay. I'm sorry. I'm an idiot. Ya forgive me?" Cup cooed as he lifted his brother's face up and kissed his forehead.
"You promise you'll never talk like that again?"
"I promise, Mugsy."
"Okay. I love ya, you idiot, I just wanna protect you like you've always protected me. You know I love you a whole lot, don't cha, Cups?"
With his face dry, he leaned up and did something that he hadn't done for a while; he kissed his brother affectionately on the cheek, causing Cups to blush sheepishly, a smile appearing on his lips.
"Yeah…I know, Mug." He murmured, giving his brother a tight squeeze.
Mugs grinned and pulled away, running up ahead. "C'mon, Cup! I'll race ya to the next debtor!" He exclaimed before speeding off into the distance.
Cuphead chuckled,"Hey, bro, no fair!" He called before running after his brother with a big grin on his face.