Stranded in Paradise; Welcome Home [An II Au]

Refusing to Admit

Test Tube and Silver just stared at each other for god knows how long. The room was...quiet. A bit too quiet for either's liking. "...You're back..." Was all Silver could really muster out of his quiet lips. Test Tube's brow just furrowed. Bot looked between the two before letting out a "H-Hey! How about we just go and uhh...get some grub, ok? I'm sure we're all just dying to see what Tea Kettle made, huh??" They said with a bit of sweat running down their forehead. 

"...I still want to know why." Silver said, causing the awkward smile on Bot's face to fade.

"Uh, Silver-" they said before being interrupted again.

"Why did you want me to come back? You can't just give me that excuse of a reason and then send me off to be smitten with your friends. I didn't WANT a new life back here! Yet you sacrificed your spot on that carrier just to make sure I "had a better life." You know what I did to tall one..." He said while looking Test Tube square in the face, "So just tell me...TELL ME...why am I still alive right now. Why am I not back on that god forsaken island? Why am I here?!"

"...Bot, can you...give us a minute?" Test Tube glanced at Bot. "What? But...Okay..." They said at first before beginning to leave, leaving the spoon and the beaker alone in the living room together. "Silver, just...let me explain." Test Tube said and stood up to face Silver.

"...I still can't forgive you for what you did to Paintbrush...I don't think...any of us can. But...I know you can't forgive yourself for what you did to them either. And I honestly felt like...at the time...it was best for you to talk it over with Lightbulb."

"...That's...it?" A spark went off in Silver's head, "That's the whole reason I'm back...? You want me to...TELL Lightbulb...that I killed her best friend? That's the whole reason you SAVED ME?!"

"At the time, I figured it was the best way for you to come to terms with your guilt. By just...confessing to it. But...I guess that really wouldn't be the best approach, would it? I just wasn't thinking straight at the time, with the excitement of being rescued, and-"

"You want her to kill me, don't you?"

"...Huh?"

"You brought me back just so I could tell her that I was the one to take their life...just so they could kill me? You wanted to see the satisfaction of someone getting their revenge? You want HER to kill me so YOU don't have to?"

"Silver, no. It's not like that! I didn't think I would come back, and I just-"

"So you admit to it, huh?"

"W-...What?! No! Silver-"

"Save it! I knew your little attempt to save me was a farce...You let me onto the carrier just so I could come back and die. I knew you still hated me. Someone who banned me from their camp wouldn't care for me to return and cause everyone else grief. But you know what? I won't give you the satisfaction of having everyone know about what I did. If you really want to have everyone hate my fucking guts...tell them yourself."

"Silver, that's not what I'm saying! I don't want you to explain anything to Lightbulb! I just wanted to see if you two could-"

"I'm going to eat breakfast. Leave me be for the rest of the day."

"N-NO! WAIT!"

Test Tube reached out for Silver as he left the living room. With a sigh, she sat back down on the couch, the words she said to him ringing out through her head as regret seeped into her being. "...Test Tube, you snollygoster...why did you think saying that was a good idea...?"

...

Silver entered the dining hall to see everyone seated at their own tables. The hall smelled of freshly made french toast, eggs, bacon, sausage, and other kinds of breakfast items. All of them having been made by Tea Kettle impressively. Silver just let out a low sigh and grabbed himself a plate, picking out a few items he wanted for his breakfast. Once he did, he looked around for an open seat for him to settle into. One seat he had his eye on was seated next to...Goo. The little blue blob looked over at Silver and gave him a small smile. Silver just stood there for a moment...then approached the table, sitting down next to the blue slime ball. All Goo really did in response was jiggle around happily to his presence. "Don't take this as a sign of forgiveness...this is just me not having anywhere else to sit..." Silver said, causing Goo to just slump down into his seat sadly. 

"...But I may...look at you...if I'm nice enough."

That was enough to make Goo a little happier.

As everyone settled down for a nice breakfast, the sound of a clinking glass could be heard from Microphone's table. Mic set the glass down and cleared her throat before speaking "I just want to make a quick toast. To everyone who's finally made it back, and to everyone who's in the hospital right now, for making it back safe and sound! Cheers!" Everyone raised their glasses, all except for Silver Spoon.

"CHEERS!"

Test Tube stopped outside of the doorway to the dining room, a look of confusion on her face at the mention of a hospital. "...Hospital?" She asked herself before entering the room. Bot was the first to notice her arrival, waving at her from the table they sat at with Fan. Upon noticing their excited waving, Fan turned around towards Test Tube's direction.

He nearly dropped the silverware he held at the mere sight of her.

"T-...TEST TUBE!!" Fan quickly ran up to the beaker and wrapped her into a tight hug, tears threatening to spill down his face as he buried it into her chest. Test Tube smiled and hugged Fan back, rubbing his paper head soothingly. "It's so good to see you too...It's so good to see...all of you, actually!" She replied as Fan took his face off her chest.

"How are you back?? I do-...I didn't-.."

"Pickle and Bomb ran back to pick me up last night. Remind me what Mic said about a...hospital?"

"Oh, uhh..." Paper said from the table next to them, "Pickle said they were all dropped off at a hospital on the way home. They're currently recovering right now!"

"B-...Bu-" Test Tube started before Bot held onto her hand. Test Tube quickly got the memo and smiled, "That's...that's great! I hope they...recover quickly...!"

"Pickle says it might be a little while...I just can't wait to see OJ again...working the hotel has been such a mess for me..."

"Y-Yeah...Me too..."

Test Tube sighed as she looked out at the rest of the dining hall.

Seems she'll have to wait a bit longer to break the news to everyone.