Letterman's Oneshot Shenanigans

-Thank you, really, for all you've done-

(More Mephone angst :D THIS ONE IS FLUFFY THO-)
(Ballpoint Pen would be a better dad to Mephone than Cobs so I wrote a short oneshot about it.)
(Ballpoint Dad hell ya)

AO3 Summary: ["Thank you for helping me all this time." Mephone said to the older man beside him.
Aka, Cobs fucking sucks so I gave Mephone a new dad you're welcome.
(I've just been calling this "Ballpoint Dad" in my notes so that's what I'm calling this relationship dynamic now.)
(I need more fics of Ballpoint Pen just being Mephone's new dad after episode 8, I can only write so much mom test tube.)
(Not Blue Eyes Related) ]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  "Thank you for helping me all this time." Mephone said to the older man beside him. The soft sounds of the ocean drifting over the sand created a serene atmosphere that was rare to find on the tropic island. The distant laughter of the contestants celebrating the wrap up of season 3 filled the air, Mephone couldn't stop himself from smiling as he listened to it.

    "Whatever do you mean?" Ballpoint Pen looked up from his note pad, a curious expression on his face. "I mean, after your review you didn't have to stick around y'know." Mephone replied, picking at the small tufts of grass between the sand

~~~~~

    After Ballpoint Pen left his review, Mephone fully expected him to leave immediately. But instead he decided to stay around and help with the show, advising and looking over Mephone as often as he could. At first, Mephone absolutely hated it. Saying he was "nervous" about Ballpoint's presence would be an understatement. He was terrified of Ballpoint's criticism, afraid the critic would only have negative things to say about one of his most prized creations.

    For a while, it definitely felt like that. Every small complaint was a stab to Mephone's heart. Each frown of disappointment made Mephone just want to give up entirely. Only after a few embarrassing, but overall better in the long run encounters with Ballpoint Pen did he realize what he was doing wrong. He was falling into old habits again.

    Ballpoint Pen's original heart dropping review had left Mephone reeling for something to please Ballpoint, and only Ballpoint specially. He was so shaken up from that first conversation he had completely forgotten what Ballpoint actually wanted from him in the first place. Challenges and episodes that Mephone himself loved.

    Of course this realization didn't fix the core problem, but that's where Ballpoint came in. Over the course of the show he had helped him slowly forget and unlearn all of his, admittedly, very unhealthy people pleaser tendencies. Then through some slight nudges in the right direction, eventually got Mephone on the right track. Mephone had never felt so happy and free before in his life.

    Mephone will never forget the moment they finished filming the ending of that episode that was truly of Mephone's own volition. He remembers Ballpoint patting him on the shoulder, smile wider than he'd ever seen it.

    "I'm so proud of you."

    Mephone was absolutely floored when he heard that. Proud? He had never been told that before... He could've started crying right there an then. Ballpoint Pen had no idea how much those words meant to him. In the moment Ballpoint Pen must have noticed how shaken he was because his smile shifted into one more sympathetic. "Is hugging you okay right now?" The pen asked, his arms open.

    Mephone didn't think twice, leaning into Ballpoint Pen's arms. Ballpoint chuckled slightly, hugging him tight and tracing circles over the Meeple engraving on his back with his thumb.
"You've come so far since episode 8, and I could not be more proud of you even if I tried."

~~~~~

    "Of course I didn't have to stay." Ballpoint Pen closed his note pad, sliding his pen in between the metal rings keeping the pages together. "But I wanted too." Mephone laughed a bit. "Why? I mean I was a nervous wreck, what was the point of you staying?"

    Ballpoint Pen went quiet for a moment, thinking. "When I gave you that review, I meant it. I could see exactly what you were trying to do, and I've seen many other people do the same...but." he paused. "You just seemed.... so scared. I don't know how to explain it. I've seen people scared of my reviews before but when it was you it was just different somehow. Like you weren't actually scared of the review itself, the fear was coming from someplace else."

    Mephone slumped, pulling his knees to his chest and leaning against the tree behind him. "And then y'know, you told me about your dad." Mephone practically wilted at the mention of the man. "I think that's when I figured out why and where it was coming from, and y'know what?" Ballpoint Pen turned to him, smiling genuinely. "I'm glad I stayed, because you deserve better than him, and I hope I was able to help with that, even just a little bit."

    Suddenly Mephone felt like crying again. He really was a sap wasn't he. Mephone shifted his weight to lean into Ballpoint's side, relishing the positive contact. "You did, you helped a lot." Ballpoint Pen wrapped his arm around him, pulling him close. "So that's why I'm saying thank you, really, for all you've done for me." Ballpoint Pen chuckled. "And I'd do it all over again if it meant being able to see you this happy."