(Rewritten in a new book)

4 | Comfort offered

cw: Use of profanity.

[Rewritten]

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The familiar jingle of keys could be heard, you were panicking. Your limbs move around wildly and your fingers try and tear at the hardened paint.

The paint was slowly chipping off your form, as your unnatural body temperature froze it.

The door swung open, and (F/N) chuckled upon spotting you struggling, you ceased all movement.

"Here, let me help." They put away all their stuff, leaving their bag near the now locked door. They came back with a sponge scrubber and a bucket of steamy water.

"This process will wet your clothes, you fine with that?"

"..Yes." (F/N) crouched down and dipped the sponge into the water, their skin reddening at the hot liquid.

The paint slowly dissipated, it took perhaps an hour to remove it. In the end your hoodie was stained with the paint that had sunk into the fabric of your clothes.

(F/N) handed you some G.

"You should get that washed, I'll take care of the floor." You nodded and headed outside for the laundromat. Exiting the apartment building, you noclipped into the void to grab an extra set of clothes that was identical to the ruined one.

You quickly changed before noclipping back into the laundromat, you beeline for the nearest unoccupied washing machine. 

Shoving in some G into the machine, you pocketed the rest and returned to the apartment. (F/N) sat on the sofa with the soft pretzel in hand.

"Did you buy this?"

"Yes."

"How did you get money? Don't tell me you actually decided to get a job.."

"I stole the money." (F/N) blinked in surprise, and then giggled.

"Of course you did." They sigh and scroll through their phone, you stepped into the kitchen to make a smoothie.

How you learned to live like a human was beyond your acknowledgment, you're like this now. Nobody else matters.

Stealing a glance at (F/N), you went on auto pilot with a singular thought in mind.

Perhaps, you could start caring once again.

It wasn't long before you finished making the smoothie, it was a blend of banana and avocado with some sugar. Pouring the smoothie into two glass cups, you left the blender on the counter. Planning to clean it after (F/N) went to sleep.

Their eyes were glossy with tears, they didn't notice you walking into the living room. Setting down the smoothies, you sat down besides them.

"What happened?" Unbeknownst to you, (F/N) was glad that you still remained.

"...I.." They paused, swallowing a lump down their throat. "I got fired. From my job." Those very words cause a spark of anger to course through your veins. You knew how their co-workers treated them, including their manager.

Everything was just so unfair for them. Their once bright smile was no longer on their face, their once emotional eyes was now empty.

"Want to talk about it?" (F/N) spilled all their feelings to you the moment you said those words, they trusted you so badly. Yet you were still nothing more than someone who lived in their house and used their money.

Guilt, anger and sorrow had filled your mind, those humans and monsters didn't deserve this kind of person. 

You didn't deserve them either.

Giving your input and some advice when needed, you gave them side hugs and pats on the shoulder.

(F/N) stopped when it came to their family life, you understood that this was an even more touchy topic. They sipped their smoothie, (F/N) glanced over to you whilst wiping their blood shot eyes.

You sighed.

"You had done so much for me, and told me everything about you." Not nearly everything, but you get the point.

"I suppose you deserve to know something about me too." (F/N) perked up at this, interested in your origins.

"...How do I explain this..So, I'm supposed to be dead." You shuddered, and lifted off your mask to reveal nothing but an inky void for a face. (F/N) eyes widened ever so slightly.

"I'm not from here, like this reality." you drank from the cup, how? even you didn't know. "I come from a place called the backrooms, I'm a part of a species called partypoopers."

You didn't say anything else after that, (F/N) felt a vague feeling of disappointment wash over them. But they knew why.

You both trusted eachother, (F/N) smiled and hugged you back. You stiffen before relaxing in the physical contact.

(F/N) went to bed not long before finishing their smoothie, you were out and about to dry your clothes.

You wished you were better with comforting someone.

Appearing back into the apartment, you cleaned up the blender and now empty cups. You sat back down on the sofa with a random blanket draped over you, the stars luring you to sleep.

The ambience of cars and chatter of the nearby stores aided you into a dreamless rest.

You had a nagging feeling that you'd be meeting these skeletons soon.