DISGUST
"Ugh! I can't stand him sometimes, he's such a big loser!" complained Disgust, crossing her arms and looking away from Joy, engaged in this conversation.
Fear was holding Riley back from an interesting conversation with Val and her friends, scared that the girl would say or do something awkward in front of Val.
"Well, maybe it's for the best! He might have just saved Riley from saying something out of place. A little caution is always advised, at least that's what he and Anxiety tell me." Explained Joy, attempting to justify Fear's intervention.
He was innocently pressing buttons and proudly admiring his work. Riley was weighing her words much more now. He really did not pay attention to whatever Disgust was mumbling, as he was receiving praise from Anxiety and Embarrassment. The pink emotion clapping confidently, while Fear had his arms at his sides, and proudly puffed his chest.
Disgust groans frustrated "What's going on with Anxiety anyway?! Always near him, praising him and stuff! UGH SHE'S SO ANNOYING!"
"Huh? Why do you care so much about that?" genuinely asked the star.
Disgust said nothing but elegantly made her way to Fear and Anxiety talking.
Sadness appeared next to Joy, asking what's wrong with Disgust. Joy shrugs it off, maybe she was just in a sour mood.
Regardless, she was now next to Fear. "Hello Anxiety! I think you're a little on edge, let me take over for you a bit, I'll deal with this." She faked a smile. "Go sit in your chair or something." She finished.
Anxiety just giggled. "That's very kind of you, but I'm fine! I'm not even stressed out yet. Fear and I were just-"
Disgust lightly pushed her back towards the chair. "Nonsense! Just sit in that chair for like… a few hours."
Anxiety walked on her own towards the chair, she felt a hint of annoyance in Disgust's voice. "Oh okay! If you insist…"
Why is she acting like that? Was it something I did? Did she find out I accidentally napped in her bunk?
All those concerns immediately vanished as soon as she activated the massage feature on her chair.
Envy and Ennui quietly observed. Ennui commented how Disgust's behaviour is typically indicative of her having a thing for Fear.
Envy's eyes glowed and sparkled. "DISGUST HAS A CRUSH!" she yelled out loud.
Everyone including a super blushing Disgust turned towards her. Realizing her mistake and possibly jeopardizing Disgust, she tried to save it. She really didn't want to have her fellow emotions cringe at her.
"CRUSHING GOOD LOOK TODAY! OF COURSE!" she finished and laughed nervously.
"Of course." Said everyone in unison, nodding with one another and dismissing it as nothing worthy of note.
Envy sighed in relief, but she got lazy eyed by Disgust. Envy's expression shifted to one of shame and regret, hoping her idol would forgive her.
After things had settled down a little, Disgust could finally speak to Fear. The other were still there, well in range of hearing but Disgust really felt the need to speak to Fear for some reason, to be close to him. Maybe it had something to do with what Envy shouted earlier. Could it be possibly true?
"So huh… good job I guess? I mean, you maybe saved Riley from Embarrassment over there." She pointed briefly to him, making him look away in shame.
"Why thank you! I just felt like it was the right thing to do. We want to be the best we can with Val! Anxiety planned everything earlier."
Disgust was starting to lose her patience. "Even now that she isn't here! You keep talking about her!"
Everyone lent ear to this conversation. Disgust's tone shifted from calm and collected to irritated, her face was getting slightly red too. Only the most attentive emotions picked on this, like Envy and Embarrassment.
"Uhm… is that a bad thing?" asked a confused Fear, not sure why Disgust crossed her arms and looked away annoyed. He noticed she was occasionally giving him stealth glances here and there, as if to observe his reaction.
"N-no?" she played it cool, making Fear even more confused.
A new thought invaded her own mind now. She thought that Fear being oblivious and confused was both annoying and… cute?
Joy finally caught on and decided to push Disgust a little because why not.
"Hey Fear!" called Joy. "Come here a minute!"
Fear backed away from the console and made his way towards Joy. He briefly looked back and noticed Disgust turning her head at the last second. She was glancing at him.
What's wrong with her?
Anxiety pretty much fell asleep on her chair while some of the other emotions really couldn't care less about the situation. They were either monitoring Riley or minding their own business… mostly.
"What is it, Joy? Need something?
Joy grinned wide and patted Fear on his shoulder. "Fear! I gotta ask, have you noticed anything weird? About Disgust I mean." She asks, but she likely knows the answer to that question. She was more observant than many give her credit for.
Disgust briefly turns towards them, then quickly back at the screen, trying to be as nonchalant as possible.
Fear caught eye. "Now that you mention it…" he turns his gaze back to Joy. "Yeah. I wonder what's up with that." He held his chin in confusion.
"FEAR!" called Disgust, her tone impatient, as she repeatedly tapped her foot waiting for a response.
Fear lightly grinded his teeth upon being called. Joy gives him the okay.
"Y-yeah?" he replies reluctantly, sensing the irritation.
"I need you here to help Riley, don't be a slacker!"
Interested, Envy tugs on Joy's dress. "I have seen it in many movies before! Disgust has a thing for Fear, but she won't admit it."
Joy gasped and ruffled Envy's hair. "I'm sure that's it!" and suddenly Joy's smile grows wider, wanting to test it. Envy understood her intentions and stepped aside, climbing the couch next to Ennui and covertly asking her to be ready to take pics, while some of the others, especially Sadness and Embarrassment, looked on with concern.
"I don't know what she's talking about but I better not make her wait. See you later." And just like that, he starts walking back, but not before Joy could stop him. She tugged at his sleeve.
"Wait Fear!" and then she surprises him with a hug, which he reacts by being initially startled but then adjusts to the comfort, but…
"FEAR!" Disgust turns around only to see Joy hugging him tightly.
Disgust felt her heart sink and bit her lip in frustration but she wasn't one to accept defeat. She rushes over.
"Joy! Stop it, he needs to work!" she pulls him by his other arm, breaking their hug. "Come on Fear, I need-WE need you at the console!" she explained.
"AH!" yelled a surprised Fear. "S-sorry Joy, I need to get back!" he hurriedly explained, as Disgust was dragging him.
Joy being quick on her feet, grabbed onto Fear's other arm once again. "But Fear, I need to speak to you, wait up!" she sang happily while tugging him to her side. He was now being contested by the two girls.
"NO! He's coming with ME!" Disgust opposed resistance, dragging Fear closer to her side.
The others looked on indifferent, especially Anger who rolled his eyes and pressed buttons on the console.
"It's like watching cats fight." Commented Sadness. Embarrassment nodded in agreement.
"Girls please, my arms hurt!" he attempted to escape but both of them were pulling with a force he didn't imagine they had.
"You're coming with me! You never spend time with me!" complained Disgust, but then gasped when she realized what she said. At the same time, Fear turns towards her, giving her a quizzical look. Joy gasps as well, letting go of Fear's arm, making him trip over.
He quickly recovers, but Disgust was about to fall the other way. He instinctively retracts his arm which Disgust was holding onto and with the other hand, Fear stops her from falling frontwards, arresting her momentum, having her head on his chest with his hand on her back.
Envy and Ennui's eyes immediately connected to this new image: Disgust, clinging onto Fear's chest, and him holding her.
Ennui repeatedly tapped the camera button while looking on, while the tiny emotion clapped.
"Oh my…" commented Joy.
Disgust slowly opened her eyes, afraid that she would fall, but she felt comfortable, her head resting on something warm and reassuring. She realized in horror she was so close to Fear and pulled away immediately.
"AHHH!" she pushed Fear away, her face terribly reddened.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" he reached his hand out to her shoulder.
Disgust backs away slightly, trying to hide her blushing face. "UH, YEAH! I'm fine, thanks for not letting me fall I guess."
Fear sighed reassured that nobody was hurt. "Why didn't you tell me? We can spend more time together if you want." He smiled, naïve as ever.
"N-NO?! What makes you think I want to spend time with a loser like you?!"
"But you said-" he was interrupted by her once again.
"Shut up. It's not like I like you or anything… dummy." She then simply walks back to the console as if nothing happened, but her face and heart were telling another story.
A story Fear seemingly didn't comprehend, as he just blinked at her, only for his gaze to return to Joy, Envy and Ennui.
"What's up with her anyway?" he indicated, with his thumb and a nonchalant expression.
Joy was stunned. She couldn't believe how oblivious he was… Envy and Ennui couldn't help but facepalm. And so, the raw nerve resumed his duties alongside his friends.