[ Cruel Winter - A Inanimate Insanity Invitational AU ]

Chapter 17 - Dumb Shipping

Balloon was asleep in his cabin. He really needed rest anyways. Clover was sitting down beside him nervously. She was getting really worried.

Would Balloon wake up? What if he didn't?

She tried taking deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. That was when the door swung open.

"WHEEEZE- I GOT THEMM-" Lightbulb dragged Paintbrush and OJ inside. Clover perked up. "Oh! Great!" She exclaimed.

"Thanks, Lightbulbbb!" She ran up and hugged Lightbulb. "Haha, no problem! Now, we should let the healers do their job," She winked at Paintbrush before she and Clover headed outside.

Paintbrush chuckled slightly. OJ however was in a full on panic. "Oh god oh god OH FUCKING GOD I POISONED HIM AHHH-" OJ yelped. "SHHSHSH-" Paintbrush covered his mouth.

"WELL- Don't scream like that! It was just an accident-" They sighed. "B-but Paintyyy- It's my fault–" OJ stammered. "...No. If anything, it's my fault... I'm the one who screwed up the recipe..." Paintbrush sighed.

OJ stared at them for a moment. "Now come on," Paintbrush rolled their eyes and tried waking Balloon up. "Balloon? Buddy, wake up-..." Paintbrush whispered. "Balloooon? Helloooo? Earth to Balloo-" Paintbrush was cut off.

"...I'm awake-" Balloon's voice was barely more than a raspy whisper. "...I'VE BEEN AWAKE-" He added. "Oh-" Paintbrush muttered.

OJ instantly ran to Balloon's side. "Oh my god, Balloon, I'm so sorry! I-I didn't know the cookies were contaminated! Please forgive m-" OJ was cut off. "...It's fine-..." Balloon sighed, sitting up. "...None of us knew they were contaminated-" He added.

OJ looked at the ground quietly for a moment. "...S-Sorry..." He mumbled. "...Seriously, it's fine..." Balloon worked a smile onto his face.

"...Are you sure...?" OJ sat beside Balloon. "Of course," Balloon sighed, putting an arm around OJ.

Paintbrush was just watching in the background, eating popcorn with a smug expression on his face. OJ, who was flustered by now, shot a frustrated glance at Paintbrush, as if telling them to do something about this.

Paintbrush smiled nervously. "Well, uh- Balloon, all you're really gonna need is water. Food poisoning is probably one of the easier things to cure... It'll go away in a day or two, don't worry," Paintbrush assured, handing Balloon a cup of water. "Ok-..." Balloon whispered, gently snatching the cup.

Balloon took a sip of it and set it on the drawer beside the bed. Paintbrush had a devious look on their face, as if they had a plan.

"...Oh boy." OJ whispered, eyeing Paintbrush.

"Well, /I/ guess I'll go," Paintbrush has a chaotic tone to his voice. OJ stared at him.

"Paintbrush, what are you-" He was cut off as he felt something shove him onto Balloon.

Balloon barely caught him. "Paintbrush, what the hell was that for...?" Balloon asked, clearly blushing in embarrassment. "Heheh, the expression on his face is priceless." Paintbrush pointed at OJ, who was a complete flustered mess.

"...Ayo OJ- You ok-?" Balloon was still holding him. "Aahhah what? I'm f-f-ine! Peeeerrfectly fine yeahhh-" OJ wasn't the slightest bit convincing. "BUDDY ARE YOU GOOD-" Balloon started shaking OJ. "YES I'M FINE SOBB-" OJ whimpered.

"Gud-" Balloon set OJ–who was still blushing–down on the bed. Paintbrush was just quietly snickering in the background, eating their popcorn.

"Dude, OJ is a total simp for you Balloon," They couldn't control their laughter anymore. "...Paintbrush, you little liar-" Balloon mumbled, looking to the side as a reddish glow formed on his face.

Paintbrush stared at OJ, expecting him to say something, but... OJ kept silent. Like he didn't want to push it any further, yet he didn't want to deny anything either. Either that, or he was just zoned out.

Paintbrush nudged OJ. "Well, we should get going," They started taking OJ outside. Paintbrush then stopped. "Unless... You wanna stay?" They eyed OJ.

OJ instantly started blushing. "UHm- Uh- S-Sure-" He stammered. Paintbrush snickered. "Welp, adios you two~!" They giggled, heading outside. "...Well, uh... Paintbrush was being weird, wasn't he." Balloon muttered.

"I mean, come on. You? Having a crush on ME of all people? It doesn't make any sense!" He sighed.

OJ still seemed to be blushing, but a look of disappointment formed on his face. "...Yeah... I-it makes no sense..." He looked to the side with a bit of a heartbroken expression.

"...So," He tried to change the topic. "Did you... like the cookies?" He asked. "Mhm..." Balloon replied. OJ seemed as if he wanted to say something, but... no words came out.

"...OJ?" Balloon stared at him, noticing that he wanted to say something. "Are you- Ok?" He asked. "...Uh..." OJ paused for a moment. "...No," He admitted, leaning against Balloon.

He kept taking deep breaths, as if trying to make a speech, but no words came out. "You can tell me anything, yknow..." Balloon whispered. "I– Well, in this case, I–I don't think I can... I don't even know if I shoul-" OJ was cut off. "OJ-... Come on... You can tell me, ok?" Balloon sighed.

OJ stammered, trying to say words, but he just kept breaking up. "OJ...?" Balloon blinked at him. "...What are you so nervous about...?" He asked. OJ took an extremely deep breath.

"Ok, ok... Well, you see- I kinda- Sorta-" OJ stammered, turning completely red. Come on OJ, you're better than this! He thought to himself. He took a deep breath.

"Balloon, will you go on a date with me?!" He blurted out quickly.

Balloon instantly became flushed. "I- uh-" Balloon stammered before trying to gather his thoughts back together. "...Yes," He looked to the side bashfully. OJ was rather shocked, although a relieved look formed in his eyes.

"Oh my god, I didn't think-" OJ chuckled nervously. "I'm just glad you told me sooner, or else we'd have a bunch of filler plot-" Balloon admitted. "'Filler plot'...?" OJ tilted his head.

Balloon kept quiet for a little while, silently staring infront of him. "Oh well, nevermind!" Balloon shook his head and laughed.

OJ gently rested his hand ontop of Balloon's. "...Balloon. Why is this still so scary..." OJ asked. "No idea dude-" Balloon shrugged.