I know you don't. || HATEHUGS FIC!! ,<3

Part 13 : Rooted

Goob fidgeted with the elastic of one of his older bracelets. He didn't realize often just how much he actually hated himself and his.. stupid qualities. He didn't care if it made him unique.

He was a flipping monster. Sharp teeth? Check. Claws? Check.

He cuddled his teddy bear with one extended arm, knocking on the wall with his other claw. It was a code to tell Shrimpo;

'Hey, scraps is gone, please come over and visit.'

Since both of them had decent memory, this system worked well with the two.

Oh yeah, Scraps was keeping an eye on Toodles while Rodger and Teagan were out on a run. Also just getting her dressed and ready for tonight.

Right.. halloween. He had forgotten.

Shrimpo lazily opened the door.

" What is it, ya goofball? "

Clearly there was no one around for him to be comfortable enough to say it aloud.

" Just want some cuddles... yanno, comfort cuddles. "

Shrimpo closed the door, stepping a bit closer. He was surprisingly affectionate right now, and that showed when he hugged Goob without hesitation.

Goob pulled him onto the bed, hugging him back tightly, discarding of his teddy bear next to him.

It felt much better to hug his boyfriend, after all.

" thanks hehe... luv ya :) "

" ..Alright, so what's wrong. You usually don't need cuddles from me unless you're sad. "

Ah, so he caught on.

Goob thought a bit, debating on how he would tell Shrimpo about all his insecurities. He wasn't even sure whether or not he WANTED to, but...

He had to.

He couldn't hide things from Shrimpo.

" I guess I just.. don't like how I am. I don't want to hurt people. "

" You don't, though. What are you talking about? "

Goob pulled away from the hug to hold up his claws and show his sharp teeth.

" Just look... I'm the monster. "

Shrimpo shook his head.

" Even if you hurt a couple kids back then, it doesn't make you a monster. If you didn't mean it, then... thats a good thing. "

...

" You can't control your looks, so don't beat yourself up for it. "

Shrimpo gently held Goob's hands—er, claws, his cartoony fingers seeming to match oddly with Goob's large claws. Goob smiled.

" Thanks.. that means a lot. I usually just get yelled at when I accidentally hurt someone. Sometimes... they even hurt me. "

...

" I know. I was there. "

" wh-what? Huh..? "

Goob was taken aback. What.. what was he referring to? Oh god. Oh god. No one is supposed to know.

" I heard it happen. I'm sorry they did that to you. You didn't deserve it. "

...

" Eheheh- what are you talking about..? Nothing happened, Shrimpo. That's silly. "

He decided to pretend it never took place. When they uh.. yeah.

He didn't really want to think about it.

He didn't want to feel it.

He didn't-

Ugh.

" You and I both know that's a lie. And I hate when you lie to me... "

Goob felt guilty now. He didn't want Shrimpo to he upset with him... but he couldn't admit it either.

" Y-you mean when.. they uh- locked me in the storage closet and...- "

" Yes. I was there. "

He cut Goob off. Thank God.

" Sometimes... I feel like they made me this way to abuse me. To torment me. To make me feel all of this hatred. I just.. I just wanna be kind. Why is it so hard sometimes? To just.. not hurt the kids. To not hug them too hard... I don't get it. "

He looked dully at his claws, clumsily laid out on the blanket. He flexed them a bit as Shrimpo hesitated.

" I guess we'll never know, so... best not to dwell on it. "

Goob hugged Shrimpo again, hugging him tightly, himself threatening to let out a huge sob.

" T-Thank you .. for coming, and... thanks for listening. I- I love you... so much. "

" I love you too, Goob. "

He broke, silently crying with a smile. He loved Shrimpo. To the point he'd jump off a bridge for him even if the revival system was broken.

" S-sometimes I feel like..  I can't be angry or sad. But I hate the old handlers... they sucked. I just need to be happy-go-lucky for the sake of everyone else, y'know? I just.. can't actually express myself. It's just.. bottled and- "

He paused. He was just rambling at this point...

" ...sorry "

" Shh, no.. don't apologize. It isn't your fault. Nothings your fault here. "

Goob tried to believe that.

It was hard.

" Back then, I.. I was the one who hurt the kid. I started it. I made them do that.. why me? "

" You didn't mean to. They did it. Not you. They're at fault. Not. You. It's never your fault... remember that. You're a great toon, Goob. So please don't say it was ever your fault. Because we all know damn well it really wasn't. Everyone would agree. "

He felt another tear coming, hugging Shrimpo a bit tighter.

" I love you so much... "

" I love you too. "

They just sat there for a bit, Shrimpo gently soothing Goob. Occasionally he'd flinch, but... Shrimpo knew how to calm him down by heart. He knew it like the back of his hand.

Yay.

" So.. what are you being tonight? "

Shrimpo asked, gently releasing the hug a bit.

" A candy corn! Scraps is dressing up with Toodles and Brightney this year... you? "

" Oh.. I usually just dress up in that old dark spikes costume I have. I got out of that phase, but I have to wear it for the Halloween spirit. So whatever. "

Goob giggled a bit, imagining him in that outfit AGAIN, just like last year. And the year before. And the year before. All the spikes, the skull hoodie...

" Oh shush, I hear you there. "

" Cant help it, haha! Sorry Shrimpo! "

" Oh, shush. You know I can't get mad at you anymore... "

Shrimpo got up with a grin.

" Better start getting ready now. "

Goob nodded as he left, waving.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN SUCKERS! I actually had this finished on the 26th... I come prepared, ya know!

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Sorry if trigger warnings were needed, not sure.