Bloodbath [Inanimate Insanity Fanfic]

Chapter Three

Day Three

{rocking} "Get up, Taco."

What? Is someone touching me?

{sigh}

"..Wake up!" Right, it's him.

I opened my eyes, not turning to face Balloon.

He half-smiled, sitting up in the cot. "Good morning, Taco. Did you sleep well?"

Kind of..

"Yes. How about you?"

{sigh of relief}

"I slept okay." Maybe this is my chance to tease him again..

"Oh? You didn't have a nightmare, Balloon?"

His face flushed.

"N-No.."

I don't believe you.

{chuckle} "I wouldn't be so sure about that." 

Balloon frowned again. "Wh-Why do you think I'm joking?" 

How do I weasel out of this..? 

I flushed a little. "Never mind.."

{beep} {blowing} 

I'm very bored right now.. 

Balloon squirmed. "Um, Taco?" What is it now, Balloon..?

"Yes? Do you need something?"

{sniffle} He slowly turned pink. "I'm getting too cold now.." 

{heavy sigh} 

Fine.. 

{beep} {slower air} 

"Thanks, Taco." 

It's nothing, really.

{rustle} {yelling} {intense screaming} 

What's even happening out there?! 

{mumbling} 

Oh, what a surprise. Balloon fell asleep again --

{booming!} {squish} Gross, the sound of guts exploding on the windows.. 

{pop} {ticking} 

What's that? It's not the clock, so it must be --

{eruption} Huh?! Was that..a grenade?! 

Another explosion echoes through the room. 

Sheesh, that startled me..

{gasping} In less than a second another grenade exploded near the basement. 

Balloon instantly woke up, terribly frightened.

"What was that..?!" he squeaked. 

Why in the world do I feel like laughing out loud right now? 

{slight chuckle} 

Balloon's eyes widened. 

"What's so funny, Taco?" 

Oh, nothing.. 

I balled up a fist and slammed it against my mouth.

"I just thought of a really funny joke." He stayed quiet for a moment. "..It's me, isn't it?" 

What?! 

I frowned. "What in the world are you talking about, Balloon?" 

A bleak shadow casted over his face.

"I'm the funny joke, is that it?"

Uh, well..

I toyed with a piece of blanket. "N-Not really.."

Balloon glared at me. "..Kind of?" He glared at me harder. 

Oh dear, I can feel my face getting warmer..

"Ahaha."

Honestly, this is embarrassing..

{heavy sigh}

"Please stop glaring at me."

Balloon's glare dropped into a deep frown. "Fine."

Thank you. Took you long enough.

{debris falls} {crash!}

I guess the first round is over now.

"Wh-What happened? Why is everything quiet now?" I stared at the gray walls.

"..I take it that you don't know very much about wars and the apocalypse.." {gasp}

Balloon blushed, clenching up again.

"I can't help it, okay?! I wasn't raised in a combat environment like you or OJ."

Tell me something I don't know.. I nodded slowly.

"I understand. And to answer your question, the first round is over. That means that round one has ended. The next round starts tomorrow, I believe."

Balloon nodded, still frowning. "Oh, okay. Um..Taco?"

"Yes?"

He hesitated a little. "Do you think OJ's alright?" I hope so.

I sighed, feeling sluggish again. "I'm sure he is. OJ isn't one to give up."

And it's true.

...

Wait, am I..crying?

Well this is a first..

Balloon smiled gratefully. "That was beautiful, Taco.. and coming from you--"

Yeah yeah! I get it. Stop flattering me.

He inched his cot closer to mine.

"Taco..are you crying?"

Yes, but nobody cares about me.

{slow sigh} I wiped my tears but they fell faster.

"Y-Yeah, and--"

Why did I just lose it? And in front of Balloon, too.. {rustle}

Balloon wrapped an extra blanket around my shoulders.

"Don't cry, Taco. It'll be okay..for now."

I really want to believe you, but..

He grabbed a tissue and wiped my tears.

"I..I had no idea that I'd be capable of crying.."

{chuckle} "That doesn't mean it's not possible."

"Yes, I suppose you're right." {beep} 

{cold air blows again}

I snuggled in the cot, turning to face Balloon. "Goodnight, Taco."

Aw, that was really sweet of him.

"Goodnight, Balloon. Thanks for...what you said."

He shrugged. "It's no big deal."

Yes it is.

I looked away, carefully sliding my hand into his.

{gasp}

I glanced back at Balloon again and saw his blushing face.

Heh.

..Now I have a fluttery feeling inside my stomach.