The Upstairs

push, pull and fall

Decay was floating. It had been here for so long, not that it knew exactly, time wasn't the same here, but it was dreading when it was time to wake up.

It loved and hated the void.

On one hand, it was free from peering eyes (mostly of that one magpie) and able to just revert back to the shell of itself. However, it was forced to confront the loneliness that it had surrounded itself with.

Panycc was probably only with it because they currently felt obligated. Who knows how long it would take before they left Dec behind.

As selfish as it was, Dec wanted the Voidling's company.

It should feel remorseful, with how Panycc became the monster it is now. That was all Decay's doing. But it didn't regret that, Phean needed to ascend somehow, they deserved their revenge as much as Dec deserved it too.

And if it involved ruining them? So be it.

It also burnt the last bridge it could've had a relationship with. Oracle- Oracion.

Ora.

Decay had been betrayed by its other half. And so it had chosen to betray it in return.

It no longer felt as good it did at the time.

The black void was cold, but it kept Dec warmer than it had been in a long time.

How long had it said it'd be gone to Panycc?

Maybe the magpie has finally left.

Decay was afraid to find out.

Strange.

It was afraid.

Dec growled in frustration, turning around and curling into a ball, shielded by its wings. It didn't know why it was hiding. No one could get into its domain, not even Panycc. This was its safe haven.

It didn't deserve the safety.

Dec opened its eyes and was back in the forest it had been residing in. It couldn't immediately see Panycc, fear began to flood through its veins before it heard a quiet chirp.

Panycc had fallen asleep on its shoulder whilst waiting for it to wake up from its return.

Oh.

Dec shook its head, standing up. It had to leave this forest, go explore properly.

It started walking, occasionally hearing the magpie caw and chirp in an attempt to start a conversation. Decay knew Panycc could talk as a magpie, but they just chose not to.

Dramatic little bird, Dec thought.

It kicked a few rocks on the path. Clearly, Panycc was not entertained in the slightest by Dec's moody behaviour. Whenever it left to do whatever it was that they weren't allowed to know, it would come back quiet and somber.

They pecked Dec before jumping off and transitioning back into its regular eldritch form.

"Why is Feathers upset?" They asked, all their eyes training onto the tiny god.

Decay huffed, trying not to shiver under the watchful eye of Panycc, and continued to walk on. It rarely ignored Panycc in such an astoundingly stupid way.

They gave the god another moment to realise its error. Dec did not, so Panycc moved quickly in front of it and picked it up by the top of its flowy outfit and pushed it against the nearest tree.

"Answer." They glared. Their wings flared open, likely the bird instinct to intimidate. Which it most certainly was doing.

Dec looked at Panycc in shock, "What are you doing?!" It struggled in Panycc's hold.

The power imbalance between the two was large. Despite Decay being the god between them, Panycc was far larger and very sharp, all Dec had to it was being good at losing people.

Panycc almost looked bored, the hint of glee was very noticeable to Dec though, "You are moping, Decay." They said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.

They were going to leave.

It could tell.

Dec froze up, suddenly remembering the fateful day Mikael decided Diell meant nothing. Mikael could toss it around like nothing, so could Panycc.

"Feathers?"

"Let me go." It demanded, voice cold.

Panycc grumbled, "Avoiding problems." They did put Dec down though, it immediately began running off. Keeping up was no problem to Panycc, Feathers was small and couldn't fly well.

It frowned though, Dec was not biting back the way it usually did.

Dec couldn't breathe.

It didn't know it needed to breathe, it's breaths became more shallow by the moment before it tripped over a rock. Falling flat to the ground.

It stayed there, curling up and pulling its hair.

Who do you think you are?

It couldn't feel the ground underneath it, nor could it feel the green around it die. The decay spread all around it.

Panycc walked towards it, unphased by the feeling of disintegration as they stepped on the decay. They touched Dec's shoulder, only to be screamed at.

"Go away!"

It was... crying. It made Panycc feel wrong.

They didn't like it.

They became their safe magpie form again, flying away from Dec and settling on a tree nearby. From where it was curled on the floor, it wouldnt be able to see the bird. They could see it though. With all those eyes, they would hope they could see very well.

Dec stayed like that for awhile, until it might've fallen into a sleep. Definitely a restless one at least.

The eldritch magpie decided it was safe enough to deal with the emotional god.

Panycc transformed back into its regular form, standing next to Dec for a moment before decided to pick it up and sit it next to a tree.

"Dumb, Feathers..." They muttered, wrapping a wing around Dec.

Panycc just wanted to tease the little god. It was how they worked together.

Push and pull.

It doesn't usually result in someone falling.

The pair will continue their game, pushing and pulling whilst ignoring the stumbles.

Panycc noticed something off in the distance, it looked like a tent.

They should go investigate.