Danny's first thought was well, they're both fucked for the night.
Spongebob's first thought, however, was exploring everywhere and seeing what he could do to have fun in the meantime. Danny had to chase him down so they could think of a way out without doing something that they shouldn't. He already tried going ghost and going through the bars, but it didn't work due to the fact there were anti-ghost security measures in place, how inconvenient. If they were in Spongebob's world, they wouldn't have a problem getting out, but they weren't. Danny grumbled how if this happened again, they should be over at Bikini Bottom for this shit. He already texted his parents to let them know that he'll be home late because of being locked in.
In the meantime, he sat down on the floor while Spongebob looked all over the entrance. He wasn't having any luck either. He stopped for a moment before he turned towards Danny with a raised eyebrow.
"Wait, couldn't you go ghost and go through this?"
"Tried that, couldn't get through." Danny answered.
Spongebob pressed his lips together while one end of his mouth stretched out across his cheek, putting his hand up to his chin. The pondering look on his face didn't last long as he went up to Danny and grabbed his hands. He wondered if Spongebob had an idea when the sponge dragged him along. That thought soon proved to be wrong; he stared at the segways as Spongebob got onto one, being as bouncy as ever. Danny didn't know whether to find it cute or outright not helpful.
He'd gotten his answer when Spongebob looked at him with his cheerful smile.
"Come on, it wouldn't hurt having a little bit of fun while we're here. Maybe we'll find an exit while we're messing around. You can never know!"
Danny sighed, giving in. It was a good way to look at it and even if it wasn't, he couldn't be mad at him for long. He got on one of the segways. Spongebob started moving at full speed, throwing one arm up into the air as he went 'whee!' across the floor. Danny tried to catch up to him while trying not to bump into anything. It didn't take too much time to lose track of Spongebob, and it didn't help that it was dimly lit in the mall. He slowed down before stopping and took out his phone. He turned the flashlight feature on and put it in his shirt pocket.
Danny returned to going at full speed, keeping an eye out for him. He didn't think it would be that easy to lose him but tonight proved otherwise. Passing by the stores, he didn't find him in any of them on that floor. He groaned as he turned around. Danny looked to both sides for Spongebob without success. By the time he looked forward, he noticed the sponge and his eyes went wide. There wasn't enough time to slow down to avoid colliding with Spongebob in front of him, so he turned around. Spongebob ended up stopping right away after a few seconds of processing what was about to happen.
On the other hand, Danny went down the escalator, bumping down each and every unmoving step on the way to the first floor. He tried to forcefully stop the segway but he couldn't stop in time. The segway hit the base and Danny flew out of the segway, hitting a planted tree right in front of him. He fell down to the bottom and fell onto his back while the segway slowly moved backwards.
"Danny!"
Spongebob rushed down there as fast as he could without getting hurt himself. He ran over to Danny's side and kneeled down, getting his hand under Danny's head. Danny moved and tried to sit up while having one hand on his forehead, feeling a bump right in the middle. Spongebob did what he could to help him up.
"Danny, are you okay?" His voice was laced with worry.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
He removed his hand from his head and looked at Spongebob for a few seconds. It took Danny a moment before he started cracking up. Despite the injury he endured, he had fun. Spongebob seemed to have fun too as he started laughing with him seconds after. It took them a minute to stop laughing as the two stood up.
"Let's put the segways back and find something else to do." Danny said.
They grabbed the ones they took and put them back right where they found them. They walked past the stores while trying to figure out what to do next. Walking by one of them, Danny's stomach growled, causing him to stop in his tracks. He laid his hand on his stomach. Spongebob pulled something out of his pants and handed it to Danny.
"Want a Krabby Patty, Danny?" He offered.
He nodded. "Thanks." Danny grabbed it and started eating it. His eyes widened and he looked at it then at Spongebob. "Wait, how did this fit in there? And how many do you have in there?"
"Two, in case we got hungry while we're here, and do you really wanna know the answer to that?"
"...On second thought, I'm not sure if I want to."
He kept eating the Krabby Patty and the two left it at that as they continued walking. Something caught Danny's eye as they went by one of the stores; it was an ocean themed snow globe. If they weren't stuck and everything wasn't closed, he would've gotten that for Spongebob. He'd just have to remember to get it the next time he came to the mall. Not to mention they already bought a lot of stuff and it was waiting for them at the entrance on a bench.
They walked back after seeing nothing that interested them both. Danny sat down next to the bags of stuff they bought. Spongebob sat on the opposite side of the bench. He was slightly shaking and Danny noticed it from the corner of his eye. He took off his coat and gave it to Spongebob. He looked at him, wondering if he was sure, and Danny nodded. Spongebob took the coat and wrapped it around himself.
For what Spongebob did for him, he wanted to return the favor even if it was small. Besides, there was no way he was letting him freeze. Danny would be fine but he wasn't too sure if Spongebob would. Spongebob grabbed one of Danny's hands from over the bags. He wasn't expecting that but he held onto his small, yellow hand.
Even if it took until morning for them to get out, he wouldn't mind it as much as he would if he was there by himself.
