*Discontinued* Tortured Love

11

This time when Anti woke up the beeping had gone silent. At first, he panicked thinking that meant he had died but then he slapped himself... figuratively of course. He wouldn't be awake if he was dead. He opened his eyes to find the monitors and the IV had been removed. He decided just to let himself sleep more only for the death-like scent to hit him. He wasn't alone. His eyes opened again to find a man curled up in a ball on the chair. The air of rot fixed to him like a bad case of bo and Anti smiled softly at the purple hair mess before him.

"Robbie?" The man's head perked up and Anti just laughed at the beaming grin the other had. You couldn't really blame either of them. No one knew but Anti and Robbie had been friends for quite some time. Robbie knew about everything before even Anti's one friend did... before Jack... before Jackie. Well, actually he knew every but his attachment to Dapper. Robbie was the first to ever accept him. And it was Anti who helped Robbie out as well... not that the zombie ever shows it.

"You're up." Unless he's with Anti alone that it. "I'm glad."

"Your voice is a bit shakey." Robbie smiled sheepishly as Anti just smiled. "You should use it more so it gets stronger."

"I know. Thank you." Anti nodded as he looked around and sucked his teeth in annoyance. They hadn't removed everything just pushed it all to the corner of the room. Making that one side look like a hospital rejects. "How do you feel?"

"I'm ok, Robbie, thank you. Although, I wasn't really expecting you to be here." Robbie sighed as his face scrunched up a bit in thought.

"I... didn't want you to..." Robbie bit his lip obviously trying to find the words but Anti didn't rush him. He knew the longer the sentence the easier it was for Robbie to lose his words. "...be alone." Robbie lit up with joy as Anti just smiled. "I... did it."

"Yes, you did, kid. Remember your smarter than people give you credit for. Just because it's hard to get the words out doesn't mean they aren't there." Robbie smiled as he moved till he was sitting more like L from Deathnote. "How are you doing?"

"What do you mean?"

"JJ." Robbie's eyes darkened as he look away and Anti sighed. "Are you ok?"

"JJ... hurt Robbie." Robbie frowned as he shook his head. "Didn't... say goodbye."

"It hurt me too." Robbie's face fell even more as Anti stared at the blankets. "I'm sorry if I scared you."

"It's ok, Anti. Rob... I understand." 

"Did Jackie say anything?" Robbie tensed and scratched at his cheek awkwardly, his purple hair spiking slightly as his nerves got to him. "Robbie?"

"Jackie... called meeting with Jack, Henrik, and Chase... put Marvin and Robbie on watch duty." 

"I see. So because he didn't know you knew he closed you out." Robbie nodded and Anti just laughed. "I'm glad."

"Why?"

"Because that means we can talk. Nothing against the others but... You and I already have a good brotherly relationship." Robbie jumped happily as he literally hopped onto the bed making Anti laugh. "Ok ok... How about we play that game?"

"Robbie's game or Anti's game?" Anti's eyes flashed as Robbie frowned a bit. "No Anti's game?"

"When do we ever play my game?" Robbie shrugged as Anti sighed and shook his head. "No, we aren't playing that one. We'll play yours."

"Ok! Can I go first?" Anti nodded with a soft chuckle at the younger ego's excitement. "Uh... Robbie will say... Purple."

"The purple-haired zombie had a smile that lit up the room." Robbie beamed as Anti sat up a bit straighter. "Ok, my turn. Lights..." Robbie's face scrunched up in thought as Anti just sat their patiently. "Take your time Robbie."

"The light can be... t-too..." Robbie frowned as he looked up only to see Anti still smiling.

"It' s ok. Try again."

"The light can be too... bright for zombie eyes." Anti smiled brightly as he nodded. "Is that good?"

"Of course it was. Now it's your turn. Give me a word." 

"Truth." Anti chuckled as he looked away in thought.

"The truth is I find this game enjoyable." Robbie jumped happily as Anti rolled his eyes playfully. "Ok, that's enough. My turn... Your word is soft."

"The blanket is soft." Robbie inched closer to Anti with a playful yet devious smirk and Anti frowned with anxiety. "Anti's word is Love." Anti's eyes went wide as Robbie inched even closer. "Say sentence, Anti."

"I love Jamie." Robbie froze up as Anti shifted awkwardly before quickly trying to backtrack with a laugh. "It's a good thing these sentences don't have to be true, right?"

"Anti loves JJ?" Anti cringed as the young Zombie frowned in confusion. "Is that why you collapsed?"

"You don't have to worry about it, Robbie. I'm fine." Robbie's eyes narrowed to a glare making the demon tense up even more. "Rob..."

"Don't tell me not to worry about it, Anti. I know what it's like for you. Or did you forget that I was there during one of your episodes." Anti's eyes flashed as Robbie shook his head. "Robbie knows... Anti don't mean to hurt people. Anti loses control like... other zombies do in shows and movies."

"Thanks for comparing me to those monsters." Robbie frowned as Anti sighed. "I'm sorry. You're not a monster, Robbie. You know I didn't mean that."

"I know." Robbie bit his lip as he deflated a bit. "I'm w... w... w-wo..."

"Take it slow, breathe, and try again." Anti smiled softly as Robbie let out a shaky breath.

"I'm w-w-worried." Anti frowned as Robbie rubbed his arm awkwardly. "I'm scared... Anti hurt... Robbie don't know how to help. Is it really JJ's fault?"

"No. No, of course not." Anti took Robbie's hand and his eyes fell. "It's my own fault, Robbie. I upset him. I... He said he hated me."

"I don't hate you, Anti." Anti smiled slightly as he squeezed the zombie's hand. "Robbie and Anti are friends."

"I know, Robbie." Anti let out a deep breath as he pulled Robbie in for a hug. "I know."