Crowned

Arc 3, Chapter 92: Theres Nobody Else I'd Rather be With.

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Lightbulb finally rose to her feet, and stepped over towards the group through the dried leaves. She cleared her throat and stopped in front of the charred ashes of the fire. "Alright everyone, Its time to get a move on!" Lightbulb turned her attention to Zero who groggily lifted their head, and looked for Taco. She reached down and nudged them up, then turning to Six who clambered over tiredly. It was quite early. Microphone stood in silence, still holding Taco. She seemed troubled, but fine with being carried like this. Pickle watched Taco over his shoulder, and past Knife from afar. Fanny and Cake arose from sleep and slumped over. And finally Clover sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Leaves had been caught in her cloak. Lightbulb lowly sighed, "I know things are tense! But if we want to get to the capital from here, it's a two days walk, and another on horse back! So let's go! C'mon." She clapped her hands and started off in the direction they'd been walking before. Everyone followed close behind as the forest got denser.

Taco felt this forest was rather similar to the one she'd lived in before all hell broke loose. A sense of familiarity and solace had made it's way to her mind. She then looked down to Zero, who was watching from afar, but had been sticking close to Six. A chattering sound to respond to the Demon's words. She wanted to be there for Zero, but, knew she wouldn't get far on foot. Her feet were already bleeding... And hurt like hell.

Microphone felt so horrid. Breathing felt like a chore. The more she attempted to take her mind off of the situation... And her own body, the more her mind would drown her in anxieties. Her skin crawling despite herself. She thought maybe if she focused on the gentle breeze of the trees... Or strange birds—it would help. But it hadn't. She whined and buried her face into Taco's lettuce. Trying to distract herself from other sensations, ones that weren't the feeling of wanting to pick at her skin and wooden chest.

Taco flinched as the girl's face was pressed against the top of her head. She betrayed a reddish tint that spread through her face infectiously. Of course Taco had known that Microphone had no interest in her, so all of these sorts of actions were friendly and innocent. But Taco couldn't help but feel rather squeamish and embarrassed. So instead, she took matters into her own hands, and spoke up on Microphone's uncomfortable body language. "Ar—..Are y-you alright...?" She murmured lowly. Afraid if she spoke too loud Microphone would hear the embarrassment in her tone.

Microphone nodded silently, despite her wanting to tell Taco about what had happened. Albeit, it didn't matter since Taco knew something was wrong despite reassurance it had been fine.

"M-Mic..." She looked over her shoulder, her head soon turned away as she noticed her face was still burning up. She feigned a sigh and spoke up nervously. "Y-you can t....t-tell me.... I... J—just... W-want to help...?" She shrugged, a slight smile. Remembering a simpler time. "All I want, is to help!" She remembered saying such things. And of course she did, she always remembered. Her mind was rather cluttered as of now anyway. It felt strange.

Microphone blinked and held onto Taco a tad bit tighter, slowly beginning a response, "I-I just... I feel disgusting... L-Like I said last night? My body—I—...it feels so wrong? And horrible?! I... I miss how I used to look... And feel...! I—I-j-just Hate...This..." She huffed sadly into the back of Taco's head. "I-it's not that I even—Feel ugly? I just feel so—...Not right..."

Taco blinked, shocked, and unsure how to respond. She bit her lip and looked to the side with a sense of unsureness. "I... I'm sorry yo...u f-feel that way." Taco began, "If it... M-makes y—you feel any be-better... I—Uhm... I-I'm here for y-you." Taco reassured, and pat the hand—Mic was using to hold her with—gently with her own. "I-I think th-that... No matter h....how y-you... You look... You're y-you. And... And being you is... I-Is better than you could ever ima....imagine." Taco nodded slowly.