Wrote this for Cuphead Season 3, since I am HYPED and the only way I process is through writing haha. Wanted to post this a bit before it came out but what can you do. I'm just excited to finally make something for this awesome series! Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Cuphead Show! And all it's characters belong to Netflix and Dave Wasson. The Cuphead game belongs to Studio MDHR.
It had been a long winter for the Cup family, a harsh blizzard keeping them cooped up inside the cottage all winter, Elder Kettle only leaving a few times to get extra supplies from Porkrind. Luckily, they had been more than enough food and firewood thanks to the helpful assistance of young Mugman, the work going much faster now that Elder Kettle wasn't doing it all alone. But while the fear of starving or freezing to death was no longer a concern, that still meant the Cup boys were stuck inside all season. And considering the two eight-year-old were practically bottomless pits of energy and prone to boredom, Elder Kettle's greatest struggle had been keeping his sanity.
Throughout the long, long winter the kettle had broken up more fights with the boys than he could count, had listened to a mind-numbing amount of complaints from both as they yearned to escape the cottage walls, and had just dealt with their general shenanigans, most of which involved the misuse of fire and gunpowder. But somehow the cottage and Elder Kettle had survived the seemingly endless season, the snow finally melting away to reveal a world of greens and browns. The animals soon crawled out of their nests to continue life as normal, the bright sun breathing new life into the isle.
And now, on the first day of Spring, all of nature seemed to be enjoying the season, the birds were singing, the flowers dancing to the jovial tune, and the Cup family goat enjoying its first meal of grass and weeds in months.
But things in Inkwell Isles so very rarely stayed peaceful as the front door to Elder Kettle's cottage slammed open, the loud noise sending the birds scattering and frightening the family goat. A young cup dressed in red stepped outside, taking in a long, deep breath of fresh air before shouting, "Freedom!" Cuphead laughed joyfully as he made a dash for the gate, only to be pulled back by a sharp tug on his handle.
Cuphead stumbled backwards, bumping into the towering form of his Elder Kettle, the young cup staring up at him with an expression of shock and confusion. "Cuphead, what have I told you about slamming open the door!" the kettle angrily scolded.
"Uhhhh, not to?" Cuphead said, shrugging defensively. He clearly didn't know and while normally that would lead to Elder Kettle lecturing him about said topic, he was about to have the whole house to himself and he didn't want to delay that any longer than he had to. So he just sighed and released the cup's handle, expecting the boy to make another break for the gate. But surprisingly, Cuphead showed a small bit of self-control, staying where he was but eagerly hopping from foot to foot thanks to all the pent-up energy that had been building all winter.
Elder Kettle could tell his young charge had little patience to spare but he knew better than to send his little troublemaker out into the world without the proper precautions, he had learned that the hard way.
"Now then, do we need to go over the ground rules or do you actually remember them this time?"
Cuphead scoffed, waving a hand through the air as he replied, "Eh, no need, I got 'em down this time for sure."
Elder Kettle raised a suspicious eyebrow. "Oh really, then why don't you tell me… all of them."
The smile slipped from Cuphead's lips as he realized his mistake too late. He nervously began fiddling with his fingers, trying to think of some way out of this but he was more of a cup of action not plans, so nothing was coming to mind. He wished he could simply refuse, but there was no arguing with Elder Kettle, especially when he was giving him that look. Which, unfortunately, he was, a slight tapping of his foot telling Cuphead his caretaker was expecting an answer right then.
"Uhhhh," Cuphead tapped a finger to his chin, making a light clicking sound.
"Ummmmmm," Cuphead massaged his ceramic forehead, hoping this would jog some memory way deep down in his mind but it was sadly drawing a blank. Traitor.
"Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…" Soon this was all Cuphead could do as he started to zone out, Elder Kettle looking unamused by the boy's response, his annoyance growing with each passing second.
But thankfully, just before the kettle's temper could explode, Mugman stepped in to save his older brother, slipping around Elder Kettle and taking his spot next to his brother, listing each rule off on his gloved fingers. "Don't play with your lucky tire, don't talk to strangers, don't lick anything that's not yours, don't blow anything up, don't come get you unless it's an emergency and/or somebody's on fire, don't fight with each other, and always stay together no matter what."
Cuphead smiled, putting an arm around his brother's shoulder. "Yeah, what he said!"
Elder Kettle slowly nodded, thinking it over before he added, "And no going near the swamp. It's much too dangerous for you two."
"Yes, Elder Kettle," the Cup boys said as one.
A grin spread across the older cup's features, patting the boys on the head, chuckling softly. "Such good boys," he sighed. "Now you two run along and have fun." He gave them each a gentle push on the back, which was all the encouragement Cuphead and Mugman needed as they both raced for the gate, giggling excitedly. The two didn't even offer a quick goodbye for their caretaker, too preoccupied with thoughts of adventure.
"And make sure you aren't home until it's good and dark," Elder Kettle called after them, the boys replying with a practiced, "Yes, Elder Kettle."
Once the boys were but specks in the distance, the old kettle took in a deep breath of fresh air. Finally peace and quiet. No messes, no fighting, no pranks, no problems. It would be just him, a good book, and some gentle tunes from his prized radio. Oh, was he gonna make the most of today.
Elder Kettle whistled a jovial tune as he walked back up the steps to his house, swinging his cane around in time to the rhythm. Once in the doorway he caught the handle with the end of his cane, sliding it closed behind him, before collapsing onto his favorite chair.
The old kettle let out a content sigh, a little steam whistling from his spout as he settled deep in the soft cushions. He flicked on the radio, cycling through the limited stations until he landed on one playing some soft instrumentals. Elder Kettle picked up his book from the table beside him, flipping through the pages until he found where he had left off. "Now for some high-seas romance," the kettle whispered, chuckling lightly.
But before he could even finish a single sentence, he was asleep, head falling back against the cushions. The book slipped from his grip falling heavy to the floor, forgotten. Elder Kettle snored loudly, his ceramic frame rattling with each noisy exhale, unaware as his day off slowly passed him by.
…
"Thanks for the save back there, Mugsy." Cuphead walked across the length of a fallen log, pausing on each step to test his balance, he held up a foot, his body wobbling as it struggled to keep him steady but somehow his luck held out and he never fell. "I woulda been a goner if you hadn't showed up."
Mugman, as always, took the safer path, that being avoiding the log altogether, simply walking beside his brother while keeping an eye open in case he slipped. The most he could get was a twisted ankle but you could never be too careful with Cuphead. His brother had a tendency to attract trouble, for better or for worse. "It's a good thing too, the last thing we needed was for you to get grounded," the mug replied. "It's no fun explorin' without ya."
"You said it, pal!" Cuphead cheerfully responded. "If we had to spend another day stuck in that boring house I was gonna explode!"
"You almost did thanks to all that gunpowder you nearly ate."
The young cup jumped from the log, landing in a small puddle which happened to splash poor Mugman, soaking him completely. "How was I supposed to know flour and gunpowder were too different things or that one of them isn't supposed to go on a cake?" Cuphead defensively stated, unaware he had drenched his brother as he looked around for the next fun thing to do.
The younger cup sighed, trying his best to shake himself dry, suddenly wishing he had brought a towel along. Cuphead had a tendency to jump in any body of water he came across, often with this exact result. "Well if you had read the bag…"
"Eh, readin' is for people who ain't got nothin' better to do," Cuphead replied, shrugging his brother's wisdom off, as usual. "Speakin of, we gotta figure out how we're gonna make this the most awesomest day ever." The red-wearing boy scratched his chin as he thought long and hard about their plans.
"Well we could go to Porkrind's, I hear he got this new game and I bet it's really fun!"
"Nah, we ain't got enough chore nickels for that," Cuphead responded.
"Well we could go crawdad fishin' or to the movies or-" As Mugman listed off more suggestions for the day Cuphead began tuning his brother out, boredly glancing around for any kind of ideas of his own. Mugman's suggestions were all good but they were too mundane, too safe. Cuphead wanted thrills, danger, adventure, too bad there was nothing like that around Inkwell, at least not one two eight-year-olds would be allowed in.
That was until Cuphead spotted the crooked sign leaning haphazardly in the mud. It looked ancient, the wood covered in rot and mold. It was a miracle it was even still standing after what was clearly a long, long time. And yet, somehow the words written on its decaying surface were still as clear as day, promising danger, maybe even death, for any who didn't heed its warnings. So it was no wonder then Cuphead felt a shiver of excitement go up his spine. It was exactly what he had been looking for, his heart racing just thinking about.
And boy, how long had it been since he felt this excited? Too long. Which was more than enough reason for Cuphead to double down on said terrible idea, there was no way he was passing up an opportunity like this one.
But first, he had to convince Mugman.
"Orrrrrr," Cuphead interrupted, smiling widely as turned his brother around so he could see the sign too. "We could do something a bit more dangerous."
Mugman's face went pale (paler than normal at least), his knees noticeably shaking as he read the foreboding sign before them. "Warning: enter swamplands at your own risk" written in a menacing red which looked closer to blood than paint, a thought Mugman very much wished he hadn't considered. And below that, just for good measure, was a picture of a skull, one that a little too closely resembled that of a cup. The mug swallowed, nervously stuttering, "I-I ain't too sure about this, C-Cuphead."
This was exactly how Cuphead had expected his brother to react. He loved him but Mugsy tended to be a little too cautious for his own good, getting stuck in his own head and not allowing himself to experience things that fell more on the risky side of things. Which was exactly why he needed an older brother like Cuphead to push him outside his comfort zone, otherwise he'd probably die of boredom before they reached adulthood. And luckily for Mugman, Cuphead was not letting such a fate befall his dear brother. There was an adventurous spirit hidden underneath all that caution, Cuphead was sure of it.
"Awww, c'mon Mugsy, what better way to celebrate the first day out of the house than to go someplace we never been before?"
"But Elder Kettle said we weren't allowed to go there," Mugman's voice quivered as he nervously wrung his hands together.
"And he'll never know we were," Cuphead reassured, patting his brother on the back. "Just think of it, we get a fun adventure and no one will ever be the wiser."
"But what if something happens? I mean, did you see that skull?! That's gotta mean something right!"
Cuphead waved this concern away. "Eh, that's just to scare away the chumps who ain't got guts to see it through. Not like us, though, we're way too brave for anything that place's got to throw at us."
Mugman paused when his brother described them both as brave. Mugman didn't feel brave, not in the slightest. He jumped at every little noise he heard. At night he still slept with a nightlight even though Cuphead insisted they didn't need it. He couldn't even listen to any of the scary radio programs that his brother and Elder Kettle enjoyed without needing to change his pants. No, Mugman was far from a brave kid. A coward felt like a more accurate description of himself. But to hear Cuphead, the bravest guy he knew, call him that…. well a small part of him wanted to believe what he was saying.
Which made it very, very difficult for him to say no to Cuphead. Of course he wanted to. He was terrified and for good reason. Going along with such a plan felt like tempting fate, which in Mugman's experience was a very stupid thing to do. But then what if Cuphead took it back? What if his brother finally saw him for the coward Mugman suspected he was? He didn't want his brother to look down on him. He wanted Cuphead to keep believing he was brave, even if it was far from the truth or if it meant doing something obviously stupid and dangerous.
So he gathered his courage, the little that was there, and did his best to respond in a confident tone. He failed in that regard as his voice shook horribly, saying through chattering teeth, "A-Alright then, l-let's do it."
"Oh come on, Mugs, why you always gotta-" Cuphead stopped mid-sentence, his eyes growing impossibly wide. He hadn't expected that, knowing Mugsy he figured he would refuse such an unsafe plan, maybe even throw in some pesky logic as to why it was a bad idea. But instead he…agreed? Just like that. No poking or prodding or even begging needed. Well that was new. But not unwanted.
A grin slowly stretched across Cuphead's bewildered face, putting an arm around his brother so he could give him a proud pat on the back. "That'a boy, Mugsy. I knew deep down you couldn't resist the call of adventure!"
Mugman numbly nodded his head, the fear clinging heavy to his heart. He couldn't help but glance at the sign again and swallowed down the lump of fear that rose from the image of that skull. He was really going to regret this.
…
The swamp smelt awful. Much worse than Mugman had been expecting. He had smelt actual garbage less revolting than this place and every second they wandered deeper into the gross, stinky swamp was a practice in restraint. He pinched his nose, hoping that might keep the scent at bay but it just wasn't enough, the smell was too strong, coming from the very liquid bubbling beneath them. Mugman wasn't sure if swampwater should bubble like that but this one did, each pop adding more nauseous fumes into the already tainted air. Mugman was thankful he hadn't eaten a big breakfast, his stomach turning in disgust. Maybe this was what the warning had been about, Mugman certainly wouldn't be surprised if the smell was enough to kill.
But somehow, this didn't deter Cuphead from his quest, though he was obviously as grossed out as his brother, keeping one hand firmly gripped over his small, red nose. They both avoided touching the swampwater, even the elder of the two seeing how poor an idea that was considering it's nauseating green color. Instead, they hopped from stone to stone, Cuphead in the lead as he boldly forged the path ahead. It was far from an easy task, especially since the size of the rocks and their placement from each other could vary greatly. Sometimes the stones were big enough for both boys to stand on, while other times they had to balance on one foot just to stay on. A few times the rocks were conveniently close together but often they were spaced so far apart Mugman wasn't even sure they could make the jump.
Of course his brother didn't struggle at all, leaping forward, often without thinking, and landing effortlessly on the other side. Mugman was sure Cuphead didn't even consider the possibility he might miss, his confidence and ignorance both his greatest strengths and most crushing weaknesses.
Mugman, on the other hand, could barely keep up. Despite being twins, the two were built very differently. Cuphead was used to physical activity, his stamina seemingly a bottomless pit of excited energy, fueled by whatever random idea crossed his mind, no matter how reckless it was. But Mugman preferred to take things slow sometimes. Sure he enjoyed adventure from time to time (so long as it was safe) but he also enjoyed reading a good book or playing a relaxing game of checkers just as much. Which meant between the two, Cuphead had way more experience than his younger brother and boy did it show.
It also didn't help that Mugman couldn't bring himself to leap forward recklessly, he needed to carefully measure the distance between jumps, petrified at the idea of falling in the foul-smelling sludge beneath them.
Cuphead wasn't stopping for anything though, unaware his brother was even struggling, too focused on the path ahead to even spare a glance back at Mugman. The younger tried not to take offense, he was used to his brother's general lack of awareness, but it still stung a little when Cuphead didn't even check to see if he was doing okay. "Cuphead, wait up!" he yelled, finally gaining his brother's attention.
Cuphead's eyes darted from Mugman to the path ahead for a few seconds before letting out a dramatic sigh, plopping down on the rock. He gagged, covering his nose with both hands. "Fine but hurry it up will ya, this spot smells really bad."
"Everywhere smells bad," Mugman corrected, resisting the urge to gag too. He was trying his best to not think about it, otherwise it somehow got worse.
"Sure but it's extra bad here," Cuphead groaned.
"So remind me again what we're doing out here?"
Cuphead shrugged. "Uhhhh, adventure?"
Mugman finally reached the rock that held his brother, taking a seat beside him so he could catch his breath. He had been right, the smell was worse here. "No offense, Cuphead, but there ain't nothin' here. Unless you count poisonous swampgas." He kicked a small pebble into the muck, watching as it was swallowed up with a disgusting plop.
"What, no, that's not true! You just ain't lookin' hard enough!" Cuphead knew that was a lie, this whole 'adventure' a total bust of epic proportions but he had to find some way to turn this around. This was the first time Mugman had ever shown any interest in one of Cuphead's adventures, he couldn't let it be a disappointment, otherwise he might never get Mugsy to tag along again. The future of their adventuring depended on him to fix this somehow.
"Hey, how bout that over there!" Cuphead gestured over to a nearby hillside covered in thick tangles of moss and vegetation. "Bet there's somethin' interesting to see over there!"
Despite Cuphead's enthusiastic tone, Mugman only felt dread. What could be waiting for them over that hill? Nothing good that much was clear. It was a pretty steep climb too, Mugman wasn't even sure he could make it up and the sharp, spike-like branches lurking just below only added to his anxiety.
He was about to refuse, only to remember he was supposed to be acting brave. So instead, he tried to downplay it, hoping to dissuade his brother from trying something so needlessly risky. "Or there could just be more nothing." He put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "C'mon, let's just go do something else."
The mug and cup's eyes met, one a hopeful begging, the other a blank stare, but neither aware of what the other was thinking. To Cuphead it sounded like his brother was just bored and disappointed like him, while Mugman thought he could see Cuphead start to crack, a slight shifting of his eyes telling Mugman he might have actually gotten through to his brother. But of course this wasn't the case as the elder sibling instead shouted "Nope!" and made a break for the hillside.
Before Mugman could even attempt to stop him, Cuphead was climbing up the side with relative ease, ignoring the cries of his brother to do otherwise. "C'mon Cuphead! What are you even doing?!"
"I'm not giving up yet, Mugsy! We're gonna climb over this here hill and find something amazin' that'll make all of this worth it, you'll see!"
"B-But what if there's somethin dangerous on the other side?" Mugman nervously stated, forgetting all about his 'brave' act as fear seized his chest. "O-Or boring?" It was a long shot but maybe it might appeal to Cuphead's sensibilities.
It didn't.
"Then I'll just go over first and check it out," Cuphead replied with a light shrug. If he wasn't so focused on climbing he might have noticed his brother's fearful reaction to this, the young mug visibly shaking.
"And just leave me here alone!" Mugman's voice cracked, a clear sign of distress but still Cuphead was too lost in his own head to pay it any mind. He finally reached the top of the hill, staring down at his brother with a wide grin.
"I'll only be gone for a second and then I'll come right back," Cuphead assured him. "You'll be fine till then, right?"
No! That's what Mugman's mind screamed at him to say but he held his tongue. He was supposed to be acting brave but how could he do that when he couldn't even be left alone. "O-Okay b-but don't take too long."
Cuphead winked. "You got it, Mugs." And with that, the older cup disappeared from sight, leaving Mugman alone with his thoughts.
He sat down on the rock, hoping that might get his knees to stop shaking. Without Cuphead everything was really quiet in the swamp, maybe even peaceful. If Mugman wasn't already so freaked out, he might even enjoy it. But instead it only added to his unease. He began to whistle to try and fill the silence, using the old tune Elder Kettle always hummed when putting them to bed for the night. He didn't know its name but it did help to calm him a little whenever he was scared.
Time seemed to be crawling by as Mugman waited on the foul-smelling stone. He tried to keep himself distracted, to keep his thoughts away from the passing seconds or the horrible smell or the tight knot in his stomach but there was very little there to keep his mind occupied other than to think of those things. Patience didn't come easy to an eight-year-old, even one like Mugman.
How long had it been anyways? A minute? Two minutes? A year? It honestly felt like a lifetime had passed with still no sign of Cuphead. Where was he? He had promised to come right back. Had he gotten distracted… or worse.
"Cuphead?" Mugman called in a near whisper, his throat refusing to work correctly. When he heard no response, he tried again. "C-Cuphead." It was louder, his brother should have heard it, but again there was no answer.
An uneasy feeling washed over the young mug as he stood on trembling legs. "Cuphead? Hey, where are ya?"
Behind him something shifted in the water, unseen.
"I-If this is some kind of prank, it ain't funny," Mugman nervously muttered, his heart hammering heavily in his chest.
A pair of beady red eyes emerged from the murky depths, followed by a gray snot and a row of sharp, deadly fangs. It opened its hungry jaw wide, blurry vision focused solely on its unsuspecting prey. The mug didn't look especially delicious but it was an easy meal and that was more than enough.
"Cuphead, don't ya dare make me climb up there after you," Mugman weakly threatened. It was a hollow threat since the mug didn't want to go anywhere near the hillside but if Cuphead didn't come back soon…
The beast slowly stood up on hind legs, revealing a long, leathery body. An alligator, easily twice the size of Mugman, now towered over the frightened mug. It almost felt bad for eating them, it could tell the kid was quite young, but really it was their own fault. The gator never would have even known the mug was there had they not made so much noisy racket and woke them up from what had been a very pleasant nap. It only seemed fair it got to eat them in retribution.
Despite its attempts to be sneaky, it couldn't hold back the hungry growl that escaped its throat, instantly alerting the mug to trouble. Mugman turned, almost in slow motion, to face the alligator, his eyes widening in surprise and fear. For a moment, he was frozen to the spot, that was until the gator took advantage of his hesitation as it lunged forward.
Mugman screamed, trying to move back as quickly as possible but only ended up slipping and falling into the murky water. The alligator's jaw snapped shut, only grabbing air, and it hissed in frustration.
The young mug resurfaced, coughing and spitting to try to get the taste of mud out of his mouth, his body now covered in the foul-smelling substance. He scrubbed away the mud clinging to his eyes, trying to regain his vision, but soon wished he hadn't once he saw how dangerously close the gator had gotten, clambering over the rock to try and close the distance all the faster.
Mugman screamed again, swimming from the beast as fast as he could. Or at least he would have if the water wasn't so impossibly thick and heavy, relentlessly fighting him with every frantic stroke. Swimming through wet cement would have been an easier task for the poor out-of-shape mug. He was soon panting and gasping for breath but refused to let up, knowing his life was at stake. The alligator, on the other hand, slid effortlessly through the water, keeping just behind the poor mug, enjoying the chase. It was no fun to just eat them right away, made things dull and boring. It needed to play with them a little to keep things interesting. And boy was this kid proving entertaining.
"Help!" Mugman screamed, flailing wildly through the muddy mixture but making no progress. He was a sitting duck and he knew it. Tears of fear and exhaustion ran down his face as he cried for help. "Cuphead! Save me!"
The gator stood back up on hind legs, looming over the whimpering mug. It opened its jaw wide, Mguman's vision soon nothing but sharp, dripping fangs. Mugman gave up the fight, closing his eyes and curling up around himself as he waited to be devoured alive.
"Hey ugly!" a daring voice screamed, before the alligator was struck in the head with something small and sharp. The alligator growled, forgetting all about its waiting meal as it turned to the sound of the second intruder. Mugman hesitantly peeked an eye open, spotting his brother standing atop the same hillside, an angry scowl on his face as he glared at the beast threatening his dear brother. "Get away from my brother!"
The gator made a move towards the cup only to be pelted with another rock. "Run for it, Mugsy!" Cuphead screamed, picking up more stones to use as ammunition.
Mugman didn't need to be told twice, scrambling towards his brother as fast as his exhausted arms and legs would carry him. The gator continued its pursuit of the young mug, snapping at him every chance it got but was thwarted at every turn by a well-timed rock to the face from Cuphead, buying his brother enough time to reach the rocky hillside.
Forgetting all about his fearful arguments against it, Mugman frantically began to climb, hoping the last of his adrenaline was enough to power him through this final obstacle to safety. He could feel his body was close to giving out, his arms ached, his breathing ragged, and the milk in his head sloshed around so much a few stray drops ran down his face like sweat (along with the actual sweat of course). Just when he was sure he could climb no longer, a gloved hand reached out for him and he eagerly grabbed on, relief flooding his chest at last.
Cuphead grunted as he pulled his younger brother up next to him, the mug collapsing heavily onto the grass, gasping for air. Concern flooded Cuphead's chest but he resisted the urge to check on Mugman, not until the danger had passed. So while his brother rested, Cuphead kept a watchful eye on the gator and a tight grip on a rock in case it decided to strike.
The predator seethed with rage, furious that its meal had been so callously stolen from its hungry maw, pacing aggressively back and forth. It seemed particularly angry at Cuphead, glaring at him dangerously, looking like it wanted nothing more than to rip his throat out. It probably would have too if not for the rock Cuphead kept at the ready, the beast eying it wearily, keeping a safe distance away at all times.
Cuphead did his best to look intimidating to the predator but inside he was panicking. Why wouldn't it just leave? It's not like they were particularly nutritious or filling at a scrawny eight-years-old, there had to be far more satisfying prey around so why didn't it go hunt them? Had Mugsy angered it that badly? Did it have some kind of vendetta against cups?
Whatever the reason, Cuphead needed to get rid of this guy before it realized how little threat he actually posed. Right now the alligator still seemed to be debating on whether or not to attack, but if it did choose to act on its hunger then they were both as good as dead. There was no chance Cuphead could protect both himself and his exhausted brother with nothing but some rocks. He needed to scare this guy away somehow.
So Cuphead puffed up his chest and put on his most threatening scowl, hoping this was enough to make him look intimidating to the gator, even though it was more than twice his size. "What, whaddya waitin' for? Get lost already! No free meals for you today!" Cuphead made sure to growl each and every word, trying to imitate the brave lion character from his favorite radio show.
Mugman tugged lazily on his brother's pant leg. "C-Cuphead, don't m-make it angrier," he managed to choke out, still too out-of-breath to properly scold his brother.
Decision flashed across the gator's face and it took a step forward. Cuphead instinctively brought the rock up over his head, ready to throw it with all his might. "Eh, eh, not another step or else I'll cave your fat skull in!" It was an empty threat, the worst he could give the creature was a concussion but hopefully it didn't know that.
The alligator hesitated, clearly unsure how great a threat this kid posed before deciding it wasn't worth it, slowly stalking away.
Cuphead smiled in victory, feeling a rush like no other as he escaped near death yet again. The thrill got the better of him as he couldn't resist throwing one last taunt at the retreating gator's backside. "Yeah that's right! I hope somebody makes ya into a handbag!"
The gator turned back to them and Cuphead felt his heart drop, instantly regretting his decision. Why had he opened his big mouth? Why couldn't he have quit while he was ahead? He took a step back, ready to drag his brother behind him if necessary.
But instead, the gator turned up its nose at him, saying in an offended tone, "Hmph, rude." Cuphead and Mugman's mouths dropped open, watching dumbfounded as the prissy gator marched underneath the murky water, keeping its nose raised in disgust the whole way.
"Huh? Well there's somethin' you don't see everyday," Cuphead commented and Mugman nodded silently in agreement.
Now that the danger had finally passed, Cuphead quickly turned his attention to his brother, kneeling down so he could check him for injuries. "Hey, you okay, Mugsy? It's lucky I showed up when I did, otherwise that guy mighta-"
Mugman slapped his brother's hands away. "What took you so long?!" the young mug screamed, shooting him an accusatory glare.
Cuphead cringed at his brother's harsh tone, guilt stirring in his chest. He had known this was coming, his brother had almost been eaten alive after all, but he had hoped to already have an excuse at the ready for when it inevitably did. In all honesty, when he had told Mugman to run he had fully expected his brother to take off in the other direction, to escape from the swamp and all its dangers as fast as possible. But instead, Mugman had come to him. It was a telling choice, one that warmed Cuphead's heart to know his brother found safety in his presence but it also meant Cuphead had no time to think up an excuse. He was being put on the spot and he knew he needed to answer this carefully. For as kind and gentle as Mugman was, his temper was not something Cuphead dared to cross.
"Well, ya see-"
"I thought somethin' happened to you! Somethin' almost happened to me!"
"But it worked out in the end, right?" He knew it was a weak argument but he really didn't have a better one.
And of course, Mugman saw through it. "That's not the point, Cuphead, you promised!"
"I know, I know." Cuphead sighed, staring down at his feet. "You were counting on me and I letcha down. I'm sorry, Mugsy."
Mugman's face softened as he saw the guilt and remorse his brother was expressing, his apology sincere and without excuse. But what really tugged at his heartstrings were the tears in his brother's eyes, that alone enough to make Mugman forget all about his anger and focus on bringing a smile back to Cuphead's face. "Alright, alright, don't cry. You know I can't stand seeing you cry." Mugman patted his older brother's shoulder, giving him a tiny smile.
"I'm not cryin', you're cryin'," Cuphead lied, sniffling pathetically as he scrubbed away the tears with the back of his hand.
Mugman sighed, seeing his brother was more distressed than he thought. "Look I forgive ya, alright? So you can stop with the waterworks already."
"Y-Ya mean it?" Cuphead asked, a tearful look in his eyes that melted away any lingering resentment Mugman might have had.
"Course I mean it. I shouldn't a yelled, I just got scared is all."
"Yeah, I shouldn't a taken so long, specially after I told you I'd be quick."
"What did take you so long anyways? Did you find somethin' interesting?" He really hoped the answer was no and that they could leave right away but maybe this might cheer Cuphead back up.
Cuphead glumly shook his head, hugging his legs. "Nah, you were right, Mugsy. There ain't nothin interesting out here."
"Oh," Mugman replied. He should be overjoyed to hear this, it was exactly what he had wanted this whole time and yet it didn't make him feel any better. Maybe it was because of how upset Cuphead looked but a part of him wished he hadn't been right, that there really was something out here to see.
"Well guess there's no point stickin around here. Let's just head back," Cuphead sadly suggested. Mugman nodded and followed after his brother, though unable to shake the concern he felt for his distraught sibling.
Once the two were out of the swamplands, Mugman felt his body start to relax, all the tension and stress he had felt slowly leaving his body, allowing him to breath easily for the first time in minutes. Cuphead though, looked far worse for the wear. His head hung low, a few stray drops of milk dripping over the rim, his movements slow and exaggerated, like all the energy and enthusiasm had been sucked right out of him. He had become nothing more than a sad shell of his former self and Mugman couldn't help but ache to see the life and energy return to his dear brother.
Still, he struggled to find the words to cheer him up with. Cuphead must have really had his hopes set on finding some amazing adventure waiting for them in the swamp, only for that hope to be crushed by cold, hard reality. What could Mugman say to make that feel any less disappointing to his brother? Especially after they were both almost murdered by an alligator. What kind of positive spin was there to put on the whole messed-up experience.
"Sorry the adventure was a bust, Mugsy," Cuphead suddenly said, catching the mug off-guard. Why was he apologizing to him? It's not like Mugman had been all that invested from the start? "I was so excited to show ya how much fun they can be, instead I probably turned you off of adventurin' for life."
"I don't hate adventures," Mugman replied softly. It wasn't a lie but it also wasn't the whole truth.
"Then how come you never wanna go on any?" It was an innocent question but it still caused Mguman to ache with shame.
"Cause I'm a coward, okay!" he finally admitted, his resolve finally broken by the whole stressful experience. "I'm not brave like you. I can't just throw myself into danger and not be afraid!" Now it was Mugman's turn to be in tears, which he did his best to hide from his brother. He didn't want to be called a crybaby on top of a coward.
But to Mugman's surprise, Cuphead didn't call him any names, instead giving his brother a comforting pat on the back. "Aww, Mugsy, your not a coward, you just think before ya leap."
This gave Mugman pause, unable to believe what he was hearing. He had always thought of himself as a coward, too scared of his own shadow to ever live up to his fearless brother, so he had been sure Cuphead saw him the exact same way. "Wait, so you don't think I'm a coward?"
"Of course not! I mean remember that time I got my foot stuck in that lit firecracker and you got it off before it exploded!"
"Yeah," Mugman replied softly.
"Or when there was that feral cat in our window and you scared it off before it could attack us."
"Well, I mean, I just happened to be practicin dog noises-"
"Or, hey, how about just now when you came with me even knowin it was dangerous! Sure sometimes you worry too much or get stuck in your own head but when it counts you're the bravest guy around."
"Gee, I never thought of it like that," Mugman replied, feeling his chest swell with pride. "Maybe I am more brave than I thought!"
"Exactly!" Cuphead enthusiastically agreed. "Why else do you think I wanted you to come?!" That brought a smile back to his brother's face and Cuphead felt his own sense of satisfaction for making him so happy. It was a good feeling to know he had helped lift his brother's spirits, a rush almost equal to adventuring. Almost.
"But hey, at least somethin good came out of all this," he added, thinking out loud. Sure it would have been nice to introduce his brother to the true joy that was adventuring but… baby steps. He just needed to ease Mugman into the idea more.
"Yeah, only next time maybe we do somethin a little less deadly," Mugman replied.
Cuphead froze, eyes wide in shock as he gave his brother a disbelieving stare. "Wait, you mean you wanna go on another adventure together?"
Mugman nodded, though there was still some hesitation there. "I mean I'm still kinda nervous about it. But maybe if it's with you it won't be so bad."
Cuphead put his arm around his brother, overjoyed to hear he had actually gotten through to him. ""That's the spirit, Mugsy! Oh boy, this is gonna be great! I can see it all now! You and me, out in the world, doin whatever we want, livin life the way it's meant to be lived! Everyday will be somethin new! Nothin to hold us back or get in our way!"
Mugman had to admit, Cuphead sure knew how to make things sound appealing, his enthusiasm infectious and impossible to ignore. Soon Mugman felt himself getting swept up in the idea of it all, even knowing he had possibly just shortened his lifespan significantly. His heart even began beating wildly, but this time in a good way. "That does sound like fun," Mugman agreed, causing Cuphead to beam brightly.
"Then let's go tie ourselves to some rockets and head for the stars!"
"Don't push it," Mugman deadpanned.
"Alright, alright, somethin safer," Cuphead reluctantly agreed.
The two moved into a hug, smiling warmly as they held each other in an affectionate embrace. That was until Cuphead got a good whiff of his younger brother, wrinkling his nose as he fought back the urge to gag. He pulled away as if Mugman had burned him, quickly pinching his nose in disgust. "Pee-ew! Sorry Mugsy but you stink! I say first things first we get you to a shower!"
"But Elder Kettle said not to go home until after dark," Mugman reminded his brother.
"Then how about we go to the lake. You can get cleaned up and maybe we can even do some explorin or somethin."
Mugman smiled brightly. "Now that's an adventure I can get behind!"
"Great, then it's settled." Cuphead looped his arm through his brother's as they headed off for the lake. "Adventure, here we come!"
The two cheered together, pumping fists high into the air. A peaceful silence soon fell over the pair as they walked through the brightly lit woods, each lost deep in thought. Finally, it was Mugman who broke the silence, saying to his brother, "Say Cuphead. Thanks for lettin me tag along on your adventures, even though I'm kinda… y'know."
"Hey don't sweat it, like I said earlier, 'everything's more fun when we do it together.'"
"Uh, actually I think I said that," Mugman corrected but in typical Cuphead fashion, the boy shrugged it off.
"Well I was thinkin it," he responded calmly, causing Mugman to giggle. But his joyful smile soon turned to a distressed frown as a new thought crossed Mugman's mind.
"Uhh, Cuphead, since I'm gonna be goin on adventures with you more often, can… can you promise me somethin."
"Sure thing, Mugsy," Cuphead agreed before even hearing what the promise was and again Mugman gave him a small smile.
The mug stopped, prompting his brother to pause in his tracks as well, the two now standing face-to-face. Cuphead realized this was much more serious than he had realized and quickly devoted his attention to whatever Mugman wanted to say. "Can you promise me you won't leave me alone… like you did back at the swamp. I know you didn't mean to but I was really scared and-"
Cuphead put his hands on his brother's shoulders, prompting him to stop and listen. "Hey, hey, buddy, don't get all worked up again. Now listen, Mugman, I know I made a mistake leaving ya behind back there but I promise it won't happen again! From now on you and I are gonna stick together! No leaving ya out or doin things on our own. No matter how bad things get I promise I won't leave ya alone."
"Thanks, Cuphead," Mugman said gently, wiping away a few tears from his eyes.
"No problem." Cuphead said, clinking their foreheads together. "You'll see, Mugsy, the two of us are gonna stay together no matter what!"
…
No matter what.
The tears dripped down Cuphead's face, falling heavily to the ground below.
How could he have let this happen?
He had collapsed to his knees, the weight of his sadness and guilt too much for him. The pitchfork lay beside him, a constant reminder of his failure as a brother.
He had broken his promise. He had broken one too many promises today and Mugman had paid the price.
Why had he remembered that now? Why had he forgotten it at all? It was so important and yet…
It felt like a lifetime had passed since he said those words. Maybe if had remembered them he wouldn't have acted so selfishly. Maybe if had thought about Mugman for once, he would still be here beside him like he was supposed to be. Like Cuphead had promised he would be.
He was supposed to protect him. Instead he had only brought him more harm.
And all Cuphead could do was weep and beg for his brother to come back, clawing pitifully at the patch of burnt grass where his brother had last stood.
Now it was Cuphead who was all alone.
And he only had himself to blame.
Soooo yeah that was a lot haha! This was supposed to be a short and quick little one-shot but I ended up taking extra time to make it as good as I possibly could. I love these two boys soooo much and I really wanted to make a sweet, wholesome fic about their bond. I honestly just can't get enough of it! Plus, it ended up being really fun to write their back and forth, haha. And then I couldn't help but throw in a little angst at the end since I've been seeing so many people's interpretations of the aftermath of the season 2 finale and I wanted to add in my piece!
Something that always intrigues me about Cuphead is that he's always sure to include Mugman with whatever's going on, for better or for worse. Like in "Dangerous Mugman" Cuphead is clearly annoyed that his brother is scared about going to Mt. Eruptus and yet still encourages him so he'll come along. He doesn't have to do that but he wants to and for me that says a lot. So you can think my overactive brain for creating this headcanon and fic to go along with it haha.
Thanks for reading! Now if you'll excuse me, I got some new episodes to watch! Byeeee!