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A cool breeze passed through the air, trying to pull them into reality, but this grassland was much more comfortable. On a little pink couch where they could look at plains stretching on and on, sparsely decorated by trees and bushes alike, constantly bathed in just the right amount of sunlight.
The voices of their contestants grew louder, calling out their name from beyond the clouds, but Two had no intention of moving as they stared up into the bright blue sky.
Admittedly they weren’t sure how the whole ‘merging with the ground’ thing worked, or the possible ecological damage eating at them.. Maybe using Four’s coping mechanisms wasn’t the best idea, but at least they weren’t planning 47 more bonus seasons of TPOT, they thought. This was just a break, some time to process everything.
But Two knew deep down that wasn’t the issue, they knew what awaited them back in reality, or rather who they’d never meet again, and a break wasn’t going to bring her back.
…
They replayed memories of hanging out over and over, rambling endlessly, able to tune out the outside world and look adoringly down at her.
Gosh it was embarrassing how much brain space one contestant alone took up-
If they looked into the sky they could see poor imitations of Gaty staring down with that warm smile that Two adored, only worsening the heavy feeling in their chest, like an anchor had been tied to their heart.
The soft footsteps making their way through the grass hadn’t even properly registered till..
“Hey Two!”
Two jumped in shock, the voice drowning out all the other contestant’s in an instant- Two jolted up from their dozed off state as they whipped themselves around, their eyes landing on her.
Without a second thought they hurried off the couch and rocketed towards Gaty, heart racing as they neared the still object.
And just as suddenly they came to a screeching halt, just a few inches away from colliding with her, the object not even flinching as she flashed a friendly smile.
“You aren’t..”
Their voice trailed off, becoming fixated on ‘Gaty’s’ blank eyes. There wasn’t a chip in her paint or a puncture in her wood, she was in pristine condition like she’d just died and been recovered.
It felt like the notion should’ve been comforting, but the sight sent a shiver down Two’s back.
‘Gaty’s’ grin faded, coming to the same revelation, not much of a surprise if she really was just an extension of Two’s mind.
Their heart shattered as they stared at the visage of their friend, lost to time, possibly permanently for all they knew, though she didn’t seem nearly as bothered as they were.
“Yeah, but we can pretend for a minute, can’t we?”
She suggested cheerfully, and though her smile didn’t look forced or unnatural it still felt fake, like something was inherently wrong with it.
Still, Two scooped Gaty up from the ground, walking up to the couch, placing her on her usual spot, touching it up for optimal seating as they sat her down.
“Can you just.. Chat with me for a minute? It can be anything! Like um…”
Just like old times.
“I’ve talked about my feelings plenty! Gaty, how’ve you been holding up?”
Gaty seemed to contemplate what to say, eyes lighting up as her smile wavered.
“Hmm.. Kitchen duty’s been kinda rough.”
“Oh gosh, Four and X haven’t been too much have they?”
“Four and X are.. Weird, but they aren’t that bad once they stop trying to get you to eat cyanide.”
The pair snickered, Gaty a little less enthusiastic, though a glance at Two seemed to brighten her mood, scooting a little closer.
Two smiled, thinking for a moment of what to ask, their thought process ending abruptly as she spoke once again.
“Don’t worry about it Two, I can handle this!”
…
Their train of thought trailed off as memories of the day replayed once more.
They stared at her in disbelief, mouth slightly agape as it clicked.
She said all this last time they spoke.
Some excuse- ‘at least my coping mechanism is better than Four’s! Have you seen the end of B.F.B?’, how was clinging onto every little word Gaty spoke better than whatever Four did!?
They could feel their eyes beginning to sting, vision blurring as thoughts raced through their mind, the contestant’s voices becoming clearer and louder and louder and-
“I’m not gonna be gone forever, Two.”
Hearing that glee in her voice hurt.
“Please, don’t get my hopes up.”
Two muttered, lips quivering as tears ran down their face.
“I’m right here.”
Gaty scooted closer to Two and placed a foot onto where Two’s heart was located, keeping the other foot firm on the cushions to make sure she didn’t fall over, their brief confusion over how Gaty knew where algebralien organs were located wavering.
Two managed a giggle through their sniffling.
“That line sounded so cheesy in my head-”
“This is your head, silly!”
Gaty interjected.
Two snickered, it once again growing silent, not even a peep from the contestants up above.
“I love you.”
Two whipped around to face Gaty with slight terror- it was a simple phrase, plus it was being said by their own weird mind-Gaty but hearing those words in her voice out of her mouth flushed Two’s face several shades darker.
Soon, that excitement faded as they reminded themselves once again of what was truly in front of them.
“..I hope she says that, eventually- romantically I mean.”
“Well we just gotta hope for the best.”
Two nodded in agreement, but with everything that's happened it felt like cold comfort.
They didn’t know what happened to Gaty, she could’ve been on a different planet- or erased from existence for all they knew!
Two glanced uncomfortably back at Gaty, noticing her feet now translucent and fading into the couch.
They hesitantly reached a hand out, catching the mimic’s attention with a gentle bap on the fence.
“H-hey, is it okay if you don’t poof out of existence for a little longer?”
“Of course.”
They took in a deep breath, scooting closer to Gaty.
Two gently and firmly placed their hands at either side of Gaty, lifting her off the couch with relative ease. They embraced the figment, the hard planks uncomfortable against their skin, yet they desperately craved more.
They tightened their grip, prompting a slight squeak from Gaty. Two eased onto her, in their little headspace her sharp bits not stabbing into them.
..And she was gone, in the blink of an eye Two was grasping onto empty space like their life depended on it.
Still, as their arms fell to their side, her words stuck, even if it was just a weird fragment of what Two was thinking.
Not gone forever?
…
They rose from the couch, feet reuniting with the grass below, eyes shut tight as they awaited that cool breeze, trying to focus on the voices in the sky best they could.
Maybe it was about time to get to the contestants.