Photo is a work in progress
Summary: Cuphead won’t admit it, but he loves Mugman and Elder Kettle very much. His family on the other hand wants him to just ‘Say it!’ He does 'Say it’ once, but Cuphead also shows the different ways to express that, especially to his best friend and partner in crime.
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Crickets sang upon the starry night sky, and the white moon smiled down upon the isles. The brown mushroom house within the dark atmosphere had light shining from the windows and smoke coming out of its chimney. Thunder rumbled from the living room, particularly from the TV.
The happy brothers Cuphead and Mugman were in the living room sitting on a couch side by side, watching Frankenstein on TV. Elder Kettle peacefully rocked back and forth on his chair knitting a half complete mystery cloth of red wool.
On the black and white TV image, the scientist flicked the switch allowing the lab roof to open to a stormy sky. Lightning wreaked havoc on the atmosphere, and the scientist laughed maniacally at the sky. A stream of lightning struck the antenna sticking out in the middle of the opening, and electricity surged through a complex network of makeshift wires connected to the metal bed, into the cloth-covered corpse on top that sparked and jittered.
On the couch, Cuphead leaned on his knees, grinning in awe, while Mugman grasped his knees nervous, gently biting his lower lip as the blinking images fill their eyes.
After a long laugh, the scientist flicked the switch off, which closed the creaky doors of the metal roof in slow agony.
Lightning sizzled through the corpse as it was cut off from its source; leftover sparks of electricity surged through every stray wiring and every material that could conduct it. The scientist coughed from his long fit of laughter and the smoke as he hastily put his specs down on his research table. He took a step towards the cloth-covered corpse, mantis-like hands motioning forward as if he wanted to touch the corpse itself.
The corpse’s arms jolted up, accompanied by sudden loud violin music. Everyone in the living room was startled. In an agonizing low moan, the corpse sat up, the white blanket dramatically fell from its upper body, and its ugly distorted face growled onto the screen.
“Aaah!” Mugman clutched both his hands to Cuphead’s nearest arm, causing Cuphead’s chest to jolt at the sudden grasp.
Cuphead and Mugman looked at each other, then to Mugman’s clutching arms, to which Mugman then let go in an instant. Snickering and then laughing, Cuphead pointed his finger at his brother.
Mugman rubbed his arm in embarrassment and fake chuckled. “Whoops.” He said unenthusiastically.
Cuphead pushed his brother’s shoulder. “You were scared.”
“I wasn’t scared!” Mugman looked at Cuphead irritated.
“Yeah you were. You were like 'Aagh!’” He imitates Mugman’s sudden arm clutch to Mugman’s left arm, causing Mugman’s chest to jolt as well.
Cuphead slapped his knee as he laughed, while Mugman just looked away and rubbed his left arm up and down, ashamed and upset. While laughing, Cuphead’s arm rested on his own forehead trying to compose himself. As his eyes peeked at Mugman, he stopped laughing, noticing Mugman was upset.
Eyebrows creasing in concern, Cuphead reached for his brother’s shoulder. “Hey… Mugs.”
“Don’t touch me!” Mugman pulled his shoulder away, eyes strict on his brother.
“Mugs! I’m sorry!” Cuphead said louder, fingers splayed out in offering.
“You know how horrible I feel about teasing and laughing about my scaredy-cat feelings and you do it anyway!” Tears flowed out as Mugman blinked; his eyebrows scrunched in anger.
Cuphead breathed in and folded his lips to speak out… but no words came to him. He knew his brother was right. He sighed and looked the other way rubbing his forehead in frustration, while Mugman just looked down and tried to relax his shoulders.
Cuphead looked at his brother. “I’m sorry Mugs. I… I was just…”
Mugman rubbed his nose sniffling. “Trying to have fun…”
Cuphead blinked in surprise, but he felt slight comfort to be understood, although frustrated.
“I just…” Mugman sighed. “I just can’t help it bro. I'm… I’m really trying.”
“I know.” Cuphead smiled with empathy. “I know.” He rubbed Mugman’s back gently.
Mugman breathed in and sighed. “This isn’t even a horror movie and I just jumped like that…” He grunted and palmed his forehead. “I'm… I’m such a-”
“Shh!” Cuphead put his finger on Mugman’s open lips. Strict eyes looked straight into Mugman’s eyes. “You know how I hate it when you do that to yourself.”
Mugman just looked at his brother surprised and gently let his lips fold to a smile.
Cuphead grinned endearingly. “Hey. You know what’s scarier?” Cuphead raised an eyebrow, to which Mugman responded with an eyebrow raise of his own. “Beppi.”
Cuphead waddled his arms sideways, and his tongue in a circular motion while making annoying tongue sounds, causing Mugman to half-cover his mouth as he snickered and grinned.
“Beppi?! Nah bro.” Mugman flicked his hand downwards. “Cagney.” He pointed to the air.
“Oh yeah. He goes like this.” Cuphead leaned back with his best Cagney grin impression and then spearheaded forward, sticking his tongue out with a noisy “Bleaugheaugheaugh!”
Grinning and giggling, Mugman leaned back pretending to dodge it as they did back when they fought the said flower; Cuphead’s drool sprayed on his brother’s happy face. Cuphead retreated back and sat with one leg over the other, his finger tapping on his lips while he thought of other things scarier.
“The Ghost Train.” Mugman suggested, eyelids relaxed.
Cuphead shivered as he grinned. “Which part?”
Mugman giggled and then gently grasped Cuphead’s head handle. “May I?”
Cuphead shrugged his shoulders, held the sides of his head and pulled it up, detaching his head with a 'pop!’ Mugman held his own head handle and then lightly yanked his own head out of his neck with a 'pop!’ Mugman’s hands hid both of their heads behind Cuphead’s back.
“Ohh I get it.” Cuphead said from behind his own back. His body’s right index finger pointed up in realization.
“On three.” Mugman signaled. “One, two, three.”
Mugman’s arms jerked out both of their heads and Cuphead and Mugman roared. Mugman chomped his teeth like a shark while Cuphead stuck his tongue out and waddled his face with the same noisy “Bleaugheaugheaugh!” causing Mugman to laugh again.
“Why do you do that?” He asked amused.
“I dunno, it’s my mood. You like it?’
Together they waddled their faces, flayed their salivating tongues out, and made “Bleuagheaugheaugh!” sounds with their silliest faces. They both laughed as they put their heads back to their necks, patting them attached and secure.
“Who else?” Cuphead thought more.
Mugman’s smile frowned seriously. “The Devil.”
Cuphead gasped as his mind flashed back to their fight with the devil. Giant fires blazed from the bottomless pit below, rocks crashed from above, bats swarmed the air, and giant fiery casino chips dropped on them.
Screams of townsfolk erupted from the TV; the image now showing Frankenstein seemingly attacking the people. Cuphead shivered as his flashbacks ended, and he huffed to the fear he felt. Mugman rested his hand on Cuphead’s shoulder and he smiled at him, proud. Cuphead smiled back with endearment. Arms behind each other’s necks, hands on each other’s shoulder, they jerk-pulled each other’s heads together for a loud toast of their heads.
Mugman offered his hand, and Cuphead held it, interlacing fingers, swung it around, and let go with wiggling fingers and a soft “whoo!”
Deep inside Cuphead felt warm and fuzzy, and he felt silly that all it took to feel that way was to be forgiven by his brother. Mugman just gazed back at him, his eyes full of trust and his smile just… full of joy and pureness… It bugged him that he doesn’t deserve him at all and yet he has him as a brother.
“Hey…” Mugman giggled. “I know that look.” He teased.
Cuphead raised an eyebrow. “Wh-hat?” He asked with a chuckle.
Mugman shook Cuphead’s shoulder. “Say it.”
“You know.” Mugman rolled his eyes. “How ya feel right now.”
Cuphead grinned, amused, his eyebrow still raised. “I do-hon’t get it.”
Mugman giggled. “Come on! Don’t tell me those goo-goo eyes you just gave me right now didn’t mean anything.”
Cuphead leaned back away a little, lips straightened in surprise and blushed a little, but he also felt the end of his right lip smile, impressed.
Mugman laughed. “Yeah.” He tilted his head towards Cuphead. “I can read you like a book bro. I know that look you give when you become affectionate, so just spit it out. Say it!”
“Uh uh.” Cuphead shook his head, smiling playfully.
“Why not?” Mugman gently shook his brother.
“Cuz…” Cuphead scratched the back of his head. “It’s so cheesy.”
“Aw c'mon.” Mugman rolled his eyes, grinning. “You give me cheek kisses sometimes.”
Cuphead’s chest jolted up while his arms shivered and jerked away from Mugman. He thrust his hands to cover Mugman’s giggling mouth, strict eyes looking at his brother.
“You never say that out loud!” He hissed.
Mugman’s gentle hands remove Cuphead’s hands with ease. “We’re in the house genius!”
“Yeah but grandpa is there!” Cuphead hissed; he nudged his head towards Elder Kettle as he said 'grandpa’.
Immediately after Cuphead spoke, Elder Kettle chuckled. The twins looked at Elder Kettle; Cuphead was curious while Mugman was smiling. They both expected he was paying attention, but he seemed busy knitting the red cloth which now looked like an unfinished scarf.
“Was he listening?” Cuphead whispered.
“Oh yeah.” Mugman smiled, eyes calm.
Cuphead slapped his forehead groaning while Mugman giggled. Meanwhile, Elder Kettle looked at Mugman, stopped his knitting, and tapping his index finger on his lips mutely saying 'shh’. Mugman snickered and imitated Elder Kettle by placing his index finger on his own lips. As Cuphead sighed and lowered his hand to his knee, Mugman grinned in sweat and swiped his hand behind him before his brother could notice.
“I’m still not saying it.” Cuphead pressed his brother’s big blue nose. Mugman smirked and folded his arms while Cuphead kept pressing.
“Hey, grandpa!” Mugman peeked past Cuphead.
While continuing to knit, Elder Kettle chuckled. “I thought I told you boys to call me Elder Kettle.”
“Nah!” Mugman flicked his hand down. “Grandpa sounds cuter and more affectionate.”
“And it’s two short syllables.” Cuphead interjected sassily.
Elder Kettle chuckled as he put his knitting down on his lap. “You want me to say it?”
Mugman beamed. “He-yeah!” His fists pumped in excitement.
Elder Kettle smiled. He spread his arms inviting a hug. “I love you Mugman.”
Mugman’s eyes moistened and glimmered, his pupils seemingly shaking with awe and affection. He jumped off the couch and ran to Elder Kettle to catch his anticipating arms into a big warm snuggling hug.
“Want me to say it?” Mugman tilted his head up, making eye-contact with Elder Kettle using his own big cute and precious eyes.
“Hotdawg do I?!” Elder Kettle tilted his head.
Mugman cherished and kissed Elder Kettle’s nose spout. “I love you grandpa.”
Mugman and Elder Kettle shared one big hug mixed with soft moans of 'Mmmmmm…’ All of a sudden, little Mugman was scooped up into Elder Kettle’s arms and the latter began pecking giggly Mugman while cradling him.
“Grandpa-!” Mugman giggled. “Let me!” His arms trying to get hold of Elder Kettle’s cheek.
Elder Kettle continued pecking all over Mugman’s head, while Mugman just gave up, cuddled up, and giggled.
Amid the pecking, Elder Kettle stopped abruptly. Feeling a little short of the sweetness, Mugman looked to Elder Kettle to ask why he stopped but then noticed Elder Kettle was smug. He looked towards his right, the direction where Elder Kettle smugged, and then smirked as he caught Cuphead resting his head on his palm, elbow on the couch, smiling like an idiot at him and Elder Kettle.
A few seconds later, Cuphead blinked back to reality and shook himself awake.
“What?!” Cuphead looked at them strictly, a slight blush on his cheeks, his fists placed on his own hips.
Mugman and Elder Kettle laughed and then looked at each other.
“I think he’s jealous.” Elder Kettle suggested.
Mugman gasped. “Yeah!” He smirked at Cuphead.
Cuphead’s mouth squiggled as his body backed off and his arms were raised defensively. “Nnn-no!”
Mugman and Elder Kettle giggled.
“Come on Cuppy just say it!”
Cuphead’s cheeks flared red as he heard Mugman say his toddler nickname. “No!” He pumped his fists down in defiance.
“Say, it!” Mugman moved his fists up and down while chanting. “Say, it! Say, it! Say, it!”
“Say, it!” Elder Kettle joined in the chanting and moved his fists up and down as well. “Say, it! Say, it! Say, it!”
Cuphead cringed as the chanting continued, and he tried to muffle it out by covering his ears while ducking behind the cover of the couch’s armrest. 'Say, it! Say, it!’ the chanting echoed in his mind.
“No! No no no no no! Get out of my head.” Cuphead squeezed his ears, trying to shut out the noise.
“Say, it! Say, it!” “Say, it! Say it!” The voices shifted from the actual voices of Elder Kettle and Mugman to his own thoughts. He began to giggle.
“Oh no…” He giggled to himself, admitting defeat.
“Say, it! Say, it!” “Say, it! Say, it!”
Cuphead sighed. He peeked his head from the cover of the armrest. “I… love you.” He said weakly.
Mugman and Elder Kettle stopped chanting. “What?”
Cuphead laughed, rubbing his face and grunting as if he was going crazy. He popped his head up. “I love you!” He grinned.
Mugman and Elder Kettle smiled at each other, then back to Cuphead. “Who?”
Cuphead slapped his forehead and laughed. “Both of you!” He splayed his palms as if he revealed it was them.
Hearts warmed, they smiled and took an inhale as if they breathed in the words that echoed towards them.
“Really bro?” Mugman asked with a smile, flattered.
Bashful laughter came out of Cuphead as he kept hiding his face behind his own hands. It was so infectious that Mugman and Elder Kettle laughed too.
“Come here Cuphead.” Elder Kettle invited.
As Cuphead peeked from his fingers, he saw Mugman and Elder Kettle, the former lying across Elder Kettle’s legs, spreading their arms and inviting him for a hug. He sighed, feeling that his guards were broken.
Mugman giggled. “Come on bro. Give us some!”
Cuphead grinned cheekily, and ran into the arms of Elder Kettle and Mugman’s, giving each other a big hug with a loud 'Mmmmmm!’ Mugman sits properly on Elder Kettle’s knee while Elder Kettle scoops up Cuphead to sit him next to his brother.
“I love you Elder Kettle.” Cuphead Elder Kettle’s cheek while the latter hugs him back.
From his hug, Cuphead opened his eyes to look at Mugman who just looked at them smiling in affection while patiently waiting. Cuphead smiled and spread his arms to invite a hug, to which Mugman gave into in an instant. The two twin brothers cheek cuddled each other.
“I love you bro.” Cuphead said.
Mugman chuckled. “I love you too bro.”
Elder Kettle then wrapped the two boys into a hug and kissed both their straws, causing them to feel a slight tickle.
“Well, that wasn’t so bad was it?” Asked Mugman.
Cuphead just glared at his brother, slightly irritated. “Don’t ruin it.”
“Aw come on you like it.” Mugman teased.
Smiling, Cuphead exhaled two puffs of 'flaring’ air from each nostril as his brother just giggled. “I hate it when you get to enjoy teasing me. I mean, since when do you do that?!”
“Aww.” Mugman kissed Cuphead’s cheek. “Give and take bro. Give and take.”
“Heh. Whatever bro.” Cuphead just kept cuddling.
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Mugman yawned and fluttered his eyes open to a completely sky blue world, he waved his arms and could feel the resistance of water slowing his movements. Curiously looking around, there was really no way to tell which direction was up, down, left, right, or where the centre of gravity was.
“Wow.” He managed to say and as he did bubbles came out of his mouth, which made him cover his mouth in surprise. Slightly uncovering it, he sang a tone, and bubbles came out, followed by a few giggles of excitement.
A shadow towered over his head. Looking towards the source, he saw Cuphead from a distance swimming towards bubble to bubble in a network of large bubbles the size of their heads.
“Cuphead!” Mugman greeted, waving to him.
Cuphead noticed him and grinned mischievously.
Amused, Mugman folded his arms and wondered what crazy idea his brother had in store this time.
Snickering, Cuphead pulled out a large bubble from the network and then rubbed it like glass. A colorful image played out, with the sound of the echoing laughter of Mugman’s own voice… and someone else… a pretty girl? Cuphead laughed hysterically.
Curiosity bit him like a bug and Mugman eagerly swam towards Cuphead who lost his balance and began slowly spinning backward while laughing. The bubble was released from Cuphead’s grasp, and it floated idly towards Mugman. Mugman held it and rubbed the bubble. An image of Cala Maria faded in, smiling at him. Mugman blushed. Cala Maria slowly moved her finger back and forth, beckoning him to come closer; Mugman swore he felt her finger rub under his chin, but as he looked under, it was actually Cuphead grinning mischievously while his finger scratched it.
Cuphead laughed while Mugman scrunched his eyebrows and smiled in amusement. As Cuphead flicked his fingers towards himself, the large network of bubbles zoomed towards them and surround them. Small schools of bubbles swirled around Mugman’s head as his eyes try to follow their movements in wonder.
“I love tickle fights!” His own voice echoed near his head.
He turned towards the direction of the voice, but he only saw more bubbles twirling around him; some bubbles fiddled on Mugman’s sides of his body causing him to laugh at the tickles. A large bubble to his left faded in an image of Cuphead tackling him and tickling him with glee while Mugman himself just laughed, his mouth gaped wide open.
Mugman gasped as he looked at the image.
“I wish I could be as brave as you Cuphead!” His own voice echoed from another bubble.
He turned and saw him having a tender moment with Cuphead; both of them sat side by side on a bench watching the moon.
“I… just think Cala’s pretty.”
Another bubble fades in an image of that same day Cuphead tried to hide his photo of Baroness Von Bon Bon and Mugman himself tickled all the secrets out of him.
Mugman covered his mouth in shock realization, feeling a sense of being exposed. These bubbles were all memories of the secrets he had shared.
Cuphead laughed villainously and captured his brother’s head around his one-arm hug. “Tell me more.” He said intrigued, eyelids narrowed to Mugman.
Mugman blushed and gently shook his head.
A giant shadow towered over them, and as the boys look towards the source, Cuphead grinned villainously and Mugman gasped, covering his mouth behind his knuckles while his eyes bugged out. Cala Maria floated by and waved at them. Mugman’s breath slowed into heart-stopped exhales.
Cuphead laughed menacingly. “Or better yet show me.” He held his brother’s shoulders and pushed squeaky and panicky Mugman towards Cala.
“No! Bro-!” Mugman’s mouth squiggled as he smiled and squealed giddily.
“Aww come on. Look at her bro. Grrr.” Cuphead clawed the air in flirt.
Mugman sighed dreamily. “She’s perfect.” His pupils shook, beholding Cala Maria herself. Her sea-green tail, her purple lips, her charming eyes, her soothing songs…
Cala Maria swam closer. “Hi boys.” She greeted with her smooth voice.
Mugman took an inhale. “H…H-” His arm shyly reached out to wave hi.
“Heya!” Greeted Cuphead, his arm wrapped around his brother’s neck. “I think my bro wants a suh-moo-chah (smooch).”
Mugman squeaked in fright, looking at Cuphead in shock.
“Sure!” Cala swam closer and put her finger under Mugs’ chin to rub it. “Come here cutie.”
Mugman’s smile gaped open and he squealed like he was gonna cry. Cuphead giggled and swam behind his brother, back to back. Cuphead held Mugman’s hands, interlacing fingers. Mugman looked behind to Cuphead, following him curiously.
“Pucker up pal.” Cuphead winked.
With the back of his handle, he pushed Mugman’s head, sandwiching his brother into Cala Maria’s sweet squeaky kiss. Mugman’s entire body jolted like he was electrified and his hands squeeze Cuphead’s hands; Cuphead laughed as he felt every shivering sensation his brother made on his hands, his back, his butt, and even his head handle. Cuphead teasingly pushed Mugman’s entire back including his head and his butt with all three of his own and rubbed them against Mugman like he was dancing a lindy hop while he cooed a teasing tune and he sandwiched Mugman more into the kiss.
Paled pupils in shock, Mugman thought of so many things, but all of them constantly being blurred as he felt Cala Maria kiss him, and his brother’s constant pushing, rubbing and singing. He wanted to hit his brother with a punch… well, one that wouldn’t hurt him, but at the same time, he was heart-meltingly grateful for how supportive he has been. With all things considered, he couldn’t help but give in to the sweet bliss and close his eyes.
Cala Maria let go with a sweet “mwah!”
“Boop!” Cala Maria poked Mugman’s nose gently and swam away.
Heart-shaped pupils, and a squiggly mouth, Mugman sank down swaying like a falling leaf towards Cuphead’s ready arms. Mugman sighed as the feeling of a dream come true lingered. Cuphead smiled and saluted goodbye as Cala passed.
“So…” Cuphead’s eyes narrowed. “How does it feel?”
Mugman sighed. “Awesome…”
Cuphead giggled and bumped his cheek on Mugman’s. “In more detail please.”
Mugman sighed, his eyes glued to the infinite blue above which turned into the night sky full of stars.
He sighed on every other description he could say. “Floating away on a cloud… your butterflies… my choir of angels… fireworks… electric sparks… and a little bit….” His eyes closed and he grinned on the last thought… but then flashed his eyelids open realizing the last thought would prompt Cuphead to do something crazy.
And Mugman was right; Cuphead was grinning at him evilly while wiggling his fingers in the air at the ready.
Mugman’s mouth squiggled into a wide smile. “No…” He shook his head slowly.
“Aw come on… you deserve it, pal.” He winked. “And with Cala on your mind… you know-” Cuphead playfully poked the sides of Mugman’s stomach, causing him to laugh. “you…” Cuphead poked, and Mugman laughed again. “… wuv it.” And again.
Mugman inhaled and tightened his fists that squeezed against his chin. “A teeny…” He squeaked. His head winced backward, smiling in excited anticipation. “Weeny…. Itty-bitty-little bit… tiny…”
Cuphead giggled. “Come on!”
Mugman grinned. “Tiny winy….. tickl-”
Bam! Fingers poked into Mugman’s sides, causing him to laugh and snort with tears coming out of his eyes.
“I heard tickle! I heard tickle!” Cuphead teased.
Tossing and turning his body on the cradling arms of his villainous grinning brother, Mugman laughed, snorted and jolted multiple times away from the fingers that fiddled through the tingly parts of his side body, but whichever direction he jolted to a finger would poke at him. He was practically pincered. If Mugman would try to reach his fingers for Cuphead, his brother would raise his eyebrow and just slyly slide his hand to his armpits, forcing him to clip his arms just to try to stop Cuphead’s hands from moving… but Cuphead would still wiggle his fingers with his mischievous grin and Mugman would laugh with more tears.
“Ya thinking about her yet buddy?” Cuphead teased.
Mugman responded with a large laugh and a head shake of defiance.
“Nnno? Aww but Cawa wuvs you.” Cuphead put more force in his tickles as he said 'wuv’.
Louder than loud Mugman laughed and snorted as he felt his cheeks flare up and his milk boil while cushioning his jolting head on his brother’s stomach, causing Cuphead to laugh in reaction.
Tired of laughing, but just letting his brother’s fingers kept tickle him, Mugman just laid his heavy head on his brother’s stomach, letting himself get lost in all the tickles and all the laughter.
Suddenly… his forehead was covered with a hand. The tickles were gone, Cuphead went silent. In fact, he felt he wasn’t cradled on Cuphead’s knees anymore. He awkwardly stopped laughing.
The mysterious hand kept patting and pacing around his closed eyelids and forehead. Occasionally the hand would grasp. It then patted its way to Mugman’s nose, and then grasped it gently, making it hard for Mugman to breathe.
Mugman’s eyes popped open to see Cuphead in the dark bedroom, wearing his barely distinguishable blue and white striped pajamas, kneeling on the bed, eyes closed, grinning while patting Mugman’s face with his right hand and Mugman’s chest with the other, grasping Mugman’s red and white striped pajamas periodically as if he was looking for something. All this time Cuphead was dreaming… Mugman stared blankly in annoyance at the ceiling.
Cuphead let out a giggle. “Come out Mugs…” He whispered.
Mugman raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
Cuphead gasped and then tossed his body away from Mugman, back onto his own pillow, facing the wall across him. Mugman let out a sigh, and watched his brother carefully, feeling the annoying obligation of watching out for his brother in case he falls… though, on second thought, he smiled knowing it would’ve been hilarious to see. Cuphead raised his hands close to his chin and wiggled his fingers. Amused, Mugman smiled showing a partial grin, knowing that his brother does that when he wants to tickle him.
Still dreaming, Cuphead laughed weakly. “C'mere Mugs…” Cuphead began grasping the air and moved his arms up and down as if he were climbing.
Mugman grinned. “Aww.” He let out a couple of chuckles.
Cuphead stopped climbing, rested his hands on his legs as he huffed, and groaned, but was still smiling. “No fair… I found you.” Cuphead inhaled as if he were catching his breath after a long run. “Come here and… get what you deserve.” Cuphead chuckled softly.
Mugman just kept grinning, trying to figure out his brother’s dream.
Cuphead then gasped. “Oh… it’s on!”
Suddenly, Cuphead kept kicking the bed with his heels, causing the mattress to shake. It caused Mugman to giggle.
“Go get 'im bro.” Mugman whispered, and as he remembered that it was himself being chased in the dream, he cuddled his own pillow, shutting his eyes while giggling.
Cuphead suddenly made two big kicks to the mattress and started sucking the air. Mugman’s eyes widened and he grinned in excitement.
Cuphead’s arms pounced forward. “Gotcha!” He whispered. Wiggling fingers fiddled the air as if he were tickling it, and Cuphead giggled as he did so.
Mugman’s eyes relaxed, and his mouth calmed back to a smile as he saw a happy ending. “Good job bro.” He said softly as he relaxed his head into the comfort of his own pillow.
Cuphead giggled, his last giggle ended with a hiccup. “Snorts.” Cuphead kept fiddling his fingers.
Mugman snickered, a snort escaped from his nose at the end, and it prompted him to cover his grin of embarrassment as he giggled. Sighing, his eyes drooped back into drowsiness. He let his mind back into that dreamy state and hoped he wouldn’t think of dreaming the same dream and give his brother a reason to attack him with tickles the following morning.
Tickles. Bubbles. Cuphead’s naughty laughter. Cala. Clouds….. panting. Panicking. Grunting in pain. Mugman popped his alert eyes open, to see Cuphead panting in a cold sweat.
On his pillow, Cuphead began tossing his body more quickly and even waved his finger gun around, all while whining and groaning in fear.
Mugman jolted to a sit, untucking his blanket. Mugman gently shook his brother’s shoulder.
“Cuphead, I’m here!” He said, urgent.
Only the silence heard him. Cuphead’s finger gun waved and pointed in every direction, flicking it as if he were firing. In one instance Mugman ducked when it pointed to him, but in other instances, he ignored it and only focused on his brother. And then Cuphead froze petrified… he stopped breathing.
“Cuphead!” Mugman said louder, hands at both his brother’s shoulders.
Still like a statue, closed eyes glued unknowingly towards his brother, a tear poured down Cuphead’s face. He sobbed. His fists balled in anger, regret, and frustration.
Mugman shook his head, it was getting worse.
“Cuphead, snap out of it!” Mugman shook Cuphead’s shoulders with more force.
Huffing, breaths filling with rage, Cuphead started growling. His right-hand finger gun glowed yellow and hummed with power.
Mugman gasped, he knew Cuphead was going to fire. He grabbed Cuphead’s arm, turned around, mounted it over his shoulder like a rifle, and aimed for the corner of the wall above their cabinet. Cuphead’s yellow charge shot fired in a loud “zhoom!” and exploded the cement wall, blasting a hole on what probably was also their bathroom wall.
Huffing. Scared. Face flushed with adrenaline. Mugman let out one last big exhale, knowing he averted a disaster. Mounted over his shoulder, Cuphead’s arm trembled. Mugman shook his head awake, this wasn’t over yet.
Turning around, Mugman brought his arms back to Cuphead’s shoulders and gave him a hard slap on his face.
“Cuphead!” Mugman yelled.
Cuphead blinked his eyes open as he panted awake. His eyes squinted, focusing on what was in front of him.
Mugman brought his hand to rub on his brother’s face, on the spot he just hit. “Cuphead.” He said gently.
As Mugman spoke, Cuphead’s blurry vision cleared into his brother looking at him with worry, rubbing the aching part of his face. Eyes widened in disbelief, Cuphead reached his trembling hand to the same hand of his brother’s which rubbed his face.
“B…bro?” He managed to choke out.
Mugman smiled, calm. “Yeah… Yeah it’s me.”
Cuphead’s hand, on Mugman’s hand, reached towards Mugman’s face, and then he stopped midway; the latter watched his brother’s hand curiously. In doubt, he closed his hand, but then extended his index finger and poked Mugman’s nose, causing Mugman to blink in surprise.
“Hey!” Mugman smiled, amused.
Surprised. Relieved. Overjoyed. Cuphead’s mouth turned from gaping disbelief into a trembling, curling, forced smile that let out a forced laughing fit like it was some sick joke that he felt obliged to laugh at. Smile fading into a frown of concern, Mugman tenderly held his brother’s face, and Cuphead held his brother’s caressing hands in trembling desperation as tears flowed down his closed eyes, trying to take in everything. Laughter… turned into sobs… into wails. Cuphead crashed into his brother’s chest, screaming into it as his hands desperately clung to Mugman’s shoulders.
Mugman felt his eyes well up too, but he knew he couldn’t cry now, he wiped off the tears with his fist knowing he had to be strong. He wrapped his arms around Cuphead’s neck, gently bringing his brother to his left shoulder, and he leaned his head towards Cuphead, and Cuphead did the same. Their heads looked like two cups brought to a toast.
Cuphead snuggled on his brother’s shoulder and he hugged his brother’s stomach, while he let Mugman cradle and gently sway him. Mugman tightened the hug carefully as his brother wailed his heart out, a level of crying which he never thought he would hear.
From behind Mugman, the light switched on from the hallway. Slow walking footsteps approached, with the echoes of a walking cane.
As the shadow of the person approaching loomed over them, Mugman slowly looked behind him to see the dark figure of Elder Kettle in front of the light looking back with worried eyes. Elder Kettle leaned forward to inspect the wall on his right, which was damaged with a hole still dripping off tiny rubbles. Mugman just looked at him, confirming what had happened, and then turned back to resting his head into his brother’s head while closing his eyes.
Elder Kettle, with his walking stick, walked over to Cuphead’s side of the bed and sat on it, making the bed sink a little.
Noticing the sudden weight on the bed, Cuphead looked back from Mugman’s shoulder and hugged Elder Kettle as his wails turned into practical screams.
“Shhh…” Elder Kettle cooed as he patted the back of the boy’s head.
Mugman rested his hand on Cuphead’s shoulder, and as Cuphead looked back, he looped both his arms around his brother and his grandfather. Tight and desperate, Cuphead’s arms clung onto both his family. Mugman tenderly hugged his brother, cuddling his cheek on Cuphead’s cheek. With his long arms, Elder Kettle wrapped both the boys into one tender and a warm hug. Mugman and Elder Kettle closed their eyes as Cuphead wailed.
————————————————————————————————
In the living room, on the couch, eyes closed, wearing his blue and white striped pajamas, a warm blue towel draped around his shoulders, Cuphead sat trying to relax from the big crying spell he let out earlier.
Elder Kettle walked in with a Japanese cup of hot tea and handed it to Cuphead. The boy took the cup gently into his hands, inhaled the fragrant aroma, and hummed in enjoyment.
“Jasmine.” Elder Kettle said.
Cuphead inhaled the tea one more time, letting himself chuckle and grin. Taking the string of the teabag, he pulled it out of the cup and placed it into his 'cup head’. He shivered a little while the sensation of a foreign object touched his very soul, and then relaxed as the flowery flavor and aroma filled it.
Elder Kettle chuckled, and placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “If it gets bitter just pull it out.”
Cuphead grinned, calm and a little tired. “Thanks grandpa.” He took a sip from the Japanese cup and hummed in relaxation.
Sitting next to Cuphead, Elder Kettle patted his grandson’s back with his free hand, the other still holding his walking cane.
“I’m sorry grandpa…” Cuphead squeezed shut his eyes, feeling regret. “You were right about the casino.”
“Shhh…” Elder Kettle smiled gently as he rubbed Cuphead’s back. “All that matters, is that you’re safe at home m'boy.”
Cuphead smiled and tilted his head towards Elder Kettle, snuggling under the caring hug of the old kettle.
“Where’s Mugs?” Cuphead looked up to Elder Kettle.
Elder Kettle looked behind. Outside their window, Mugman is sitting on the edge of the island, looking up to the sky.
“Outside m'boy. Stargazing.”
Cuphead giggled. “I thought you’d put 'im in bed by now.”
Elder Kettle smiled. “After that fright you gave 'im, I wouldn’t be spooked if he couldn’t doze off.”
Cuphead frowned, remembering what had happened about half an hour ago. He tried to look out the window, concerned for his brother, but Elder Kettle’s body was too big. Elder Kettle turned back to Cuphead, noticing his attention towards the window.
Chuckling, he Elder Kettle shook Cuphead’s shoulder. “Tell 'im.”
Cuphead made eye-contact with Elder Kettle. “What will I say?”
Elder Kettle shrugged his shoulders. “Everything.” His smile grew to his cheeks. “I think your brother knows you better than I.”
Heart-warmed. Grateful. Cuphead closed his eyes and smiled as he recalled how close they were as brothers.
Cuphead turned to Elder Kettle, scrunching an eyebrow while raising the other and smiling, intrigued.
Elder smiled cheek to cheek. “There’s nothing wrong with saying it m'boy.”
Relaxing his eyebrows, he smiled at his grandpa. He took one last look to the outside window.
—————————————————————————————————-
Outside the house, Cuphead closed the door as his slippers stepped into the grass, stained with orange candlelight from the hanging lamp by the front door. A cold wind blew into his sky blue and white striped pajamas, causing him to take a steady grasp on them to keep them from flapping.
“Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Save it for a rainy day…”
In wonder, Cuphead watched the music notes from Mugman’s gentle song ride along the wind currents, which carried the song up to the smiling full moon that bobbed gently to the rhythm with closed eyes. He looked back at Mugman smiling. He walked towards the gentle song, bobbing his head along with the rhythm while the grass crackled beneath his slippers.
Arms and legs spread wide like a star, Mugman laid on the grass watching the star-struck sky while humming the verse of the lyrics he forgot.
“Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Save it for a rainy day…”
His eyes traced the constellations of blue stars while trying to avoid some red and orange stars mixed with some milky and some energy-filled nebulas. Clouds floated on by, blocking some of those he traced, and although annoying, he shrugged his shoulders and shifted his eyes to the next constellation… which was blocked by the towering shadowy figure of grinning Cuphead peeking in.
Mugman giggled and grinned. “Hey! You’re all better.”
“Yeah…” Cuphead scratched the back of his head. “Almost.”
Mugman’s grin closed into a relaxed smile.
“You…” Cuphead knelt down. “You wouldn’t mind if you sang me that to sleep would you?”
Mugman shook his head. “I’d love to.”
Cuphead beamed, grateful. “Though to be specific…” His voice sounding more teasing. “I like the one you just sang. No rock, pop, hip hop, or jazz.”
Mugman laughed. “Gee Cuphead, I wish I had your sense of humo-oh!” His smile widened as his mind clicked with a joke. “Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!” Mugman covered his excited laughter, which caused Cuphead to laugh as well.
“Come on!” Excited, Cuphead shook his brother’s right shoulder. “What is it, what is it?!”
“Uh!” Mugman raised his two hands, the index and middle fingers joined together, the thumb sticking apart, and the ring and pinkies were folded. “Catch a falling star! Uhuh Uhuh! Put em in your pocket! Uhuh Uhuh!” He started to bob his hands up and down like a rapper.
Cuphead unleashed a large holler of laughter, which was probably loud enough to wake the neighbors. Mugman laughed too, letting snort after snort out, which caused Cuphead to laugh even louder.
“Shhh!” Someone yelled from behind.
Laughing still, Cuphead and Mugman covered their mouths, muffling them. Looking behind, Cuphead saw Elder Kettle lowering his finger from his shush while the other hand pushed the circular living room window open.
“Sorry!” Cuphead whispered loud, hands coned on his mouth like a megaphone.
Satisfied, Elder Kettle smiled and raised his two curved hands together to form a heart.
“Aww.” Cuphead placed his right hand on his chest, flattered.
Cuphead grinned at Mugman and showed his own heart-shaped fingers to him. Heart-melted, Mugman’s smile curled. Doing the same, he curved his own fingers into a heart and raised it high above, making sure Elder Kettle saw it.
Looking back to Elder Kettle, Cuphead showed his own finger heart as well. Elder Kettle smiled and nodded. He turned his gaze back to the full moon, which winked back at him.
Smiling, Cuphead turned his attention back to his brother to show his grin. Mugman patted the grass on his left, inviting his brother to lay next to him. Cuphead got up from his knees walked over to the spot his brother patted. Carefully, he moved his feet so as not to step on his brother’s hand, which moved out of the way, and laid down with his arms spread wide like a star, however, his backhand hit Mugman’s chest by accident, to which Mugman just chuckled it off.
“Sorry.” Cuphead whispered.
Cuphead moved his right hand to the grass, next to Mugman’s open palm. Casually, as if out of habit, Mugman, whose eyes were fixated on the stars, flipped that same palm onto Cuphead’s right hand to rest on it. Cuphead then folded his fingers to hold it.
In awe and wonder, Cuphead watched the starry night sky, trying to make sense of the complex star system before him, but with how much he knew he could only draw a snake.
“Quite the dream you’ve had.” Mugman said, amused.
Cuphead huffed. “You have no idea.”
“Bro, I think you were playing hide and seek with me.”
Cuphead shot a glance at Mugman, surprised, while the latter rolled his head to Cuphead to connect eyes with him.
“Okay, creepy.” Cuphead teased.
“Like, I get it when we coincidentally say the same thing and we try to out 'jinx’ each other sometimes…” Cuphead rolled his eyes in different directions while remembering. “But this is some witchcraft mojo going on.” His eyebrows scrunched in intrigue while his eyes looked straight to his brother.
“Or…” Mugman’s pupils looked at the upper corner of his eyes, then back to Cuphead. “You move and talk when you sleep.” Mugman stated as if it were a fact.
Cuphead blinked in realization. “I was that into it?” His eyebrows scrunched in curiosity.
Mugman grinned. “Like a dork playing superhero.”
Cuphead grinned, intrigued. “Like you, after reading a comic?”
Mugman laughed and nudged his elbow to Cuphead’s elbow causing the latter to chuckle. They both turned their gazes back to the stars.
“How…” Cuphead turned his head slightly towards Mugman, eyes still fixated on the stars. “How much do you know?” Cuphead asked.
“Well…” Mugman did the same, turning slightly to his brother without looking away from the stars. “You were climbing after me, then running,” He nodded. Grinning, Mugman focused his eyes at Cuphead. “Then you caught me…” Mugman said, amused, causing Cuphead to grin and make eye-contact with him. “Tickled me!” Eyebrows scrunched, Mugman jerked his free arm to tickle Cuphead’s stomach, causing his brother to jolt and laugh. Cuphead, eyebrows scrunched too, raised his free arm ready to tickle him, until he noticed Mugman was looking downwards with a face of worry, which caused him to stop and frown in concern. “…And then you started crying…. And-” Mugman’s pupils shivered as he tried to form the words… but he just sighed.
Worried. A little heart-broken. He knew the face of his brother that usually teared up seconds later; spaced out, pupils shaking, and a much frowned Mugman. But Cuphead did not see his brother shed any. He gently tightened his grip on his brother’s hand. His index finger poked between the gap of his brother’s fingers, and Mugman opened the gaps of his fingers, allowing their fingers to interlace with each other.
Suddenly Cuphead pointed towards the bush on Mugman’s right with his free left hand. Mugman rolled his head to look at the direction his brother pointed at.
“It happened there.” Cuphead started. “I was fondling and pushing away the branches to check if you were hiding…” He scratched his chin, confused. “Funny, in my dream, there was this giant berry on the bush which looked so plump and juicy.”
Unamused, Mugman rolled his head stiffly and glared at Cuphead. Cuphead squinted his right eye, confused at his brother’s reaction… but then gasped in realization a few seconds later.
“Ha Ha Ha bro.” Mugman said sarcastic, waving his head left or right in every syllable he spoke.
Like a hyena, Cuphead laughed in high pitches. He began patting his Mugman’s nose, inspecting it, grasping it, and lightly squeezing it as he did in the dream, causing his brother to snicker at everything he did to his nose, and then he gasped. “Golly, that really was you!” He then continued laughing in the same pitch.
Mugman smirked and fake yawned, his free hand patting his open mouth. “I’m going back to bed.” Mugman pushed himself up.
“No!” Laughing, Cuphead tugged his brother’s hand, the one which was still holding his own. “Come back come back come back I’m sorry-” He squeaked into a hiccup then continued laughing.
Mugman, halfway up, looked back to his brother, smirking and scrunching an eyebrow. Cuphead, using his free hand, held steady his own forehead as he laughed.
Mugman laid back down as Cuphead’s laughter calmed. Cuphead looked at his brother, beaming.
“That better be your last.” Mugman said.
“Aw come on.” Cuphead booped Mugman’s nose, causing the latter to blink. “I know you like it when I tease you.” Cuphead giggled.
Mugman’s smirk grew an involuntary grin. “Then what?”
Trying to remember the story, Cuphead tapped his lips. His head jolted, and he grinned as he remembered. “You peeked out from that tree” He pointed towards the tree, behind the bush, which Mugman turned his attention to. “I think I said something like 'Come out, I know you love what comes next when I find you’.”
Hand covering his grin, Mugman let out a chuckle. He turned back to Cuphead.
“I turn around from the bush, and I catch you grinning like a goofball, but as soon as I did you ducked back into the leaves a little.” Cuphead giggled. He raised his left hand. “So I just grinned like a devil and wiggled my fingers at you to hint at what’s coming!” He jerked his left hand at his brother’s left armpit, causing Mugman to buckle it, laugh, and grip the hand that held his brother’s hand tighter.
“And then… you started climbing the tree, throwing some raspberries at me like 'pbffftbfft!’” Cuphead his tongue out and made raspberry noise while waddling his goofy face, causing Mugman to laugh.
“And I climbed after you, like a lion!” Cuphead formed his left hand into a claw, scratched the air and growled while leaning towards Mugman. Mugman’s shoulders jolted up while he grinned. Cuphead continued. “Clawing his way up and growling at it!”
Mugman’s grinned stretched in excitement. “Until you reached the top, right?” Mugman asked.
“Uh uh.” Cuphead shook his head. “You kept climbing… and climbing, and climbing.”
“What?!” Mugman’s head leaned closer in reaction.
Mugman’s mouth gaped. “How tall was it?”
“Taller than the clouds!”
Mugman imagined himself, laughing and giggling while climbing the foggy branches of the tree, and Cuphead growling and climbing after him.
“Wow…” Mugman said, his eyes fixated at the sky in wonder. “Then what?”
“You jumped off.” Cuphead casually shrugged his shoulders.
Mugman’s eyes bugged out and he shot a glance at his brother. “Golly what?!”
“Yeah!” Cuphead grinned. “Well, you landed on a cloud.” He said as if it was something unexciting.
“Oh for crying-” Mugman began tickling his brother on the stomach, causing the latter to laugh.
“Made ya-! Made ya freak out!” Cuphead managed to squeak, trying to point his trembling his finger at Mugman who just giggled and tickled his brother more, making his brother laugh louder.
Mugman stopped and held his brother’s shaking hand steady while waiting for him to calm down. Sighing, Cuphead looked up to the starry night sky.
“Okay, so I was on a cloud, then what?”
“Hmm” Cuphead tapped his chin. “As soon as I got to that branch you jumped from, I shouted something like… 'Come back here! I found ya so ya gotta get what ya deserve!’ Aaand, as I said that ya threw more raspberry tongues at me.”
Mugman giggled, spit his tongue out, and made raspberry sounds. “Like that?”
“Ye-heah! That annoying sound which was enough to trigger this cup.” Cuphead pointed at himself.
They both shared a laugh.
“So I said 'Oh it’s on!’ and then I jumped after ya and then you…” Cuphead hummed while tapping his chin in thought. “What do you call that you…” He gritted his teeth in cringe. “You kinda panicked?”
Mugman cringed. “I don’t think I panic when we play.”
“No no no.” Cuphead swished his hand as if he were erasing something. “It was like a panic… but you do it when I chase you… and you laugh while you’re at it.”
“Ohh, you mean when I’m having fun and I try not to get tagged?”
“Yeah, that. What do you call it?”
Mugman tapped his mouth. “I think you mean 'thrill’?”
“So…” Cuphead pointed his index finger as if trying to make a point. His pupils on the lower left corners of his eyes in thought. “You shivered in thrill, fell on your butt on the cloud, crawled and scrambled through the puffs… with thrill, and then dropped to the edge falling to another cloud below.”
“Uhh… we’ll workshop that.” Mugman waved his hand laid flat on the air.
“Okay, just pretend I didn’t suck at storytelling for a sec and we’re good.”
“So then… we went cloud hopping! You bounced off cloud after cloud away from me while I chased after you… in your case you hopped with thrill.”
“And then Grim Matchstick flew by, he was flapping his dragon wings and waving at us with his paws.” Cuphead waved hello as he did in the dream. “Followed by Hildaberg, laughing with her 'Heh heh heh heh heh'… like a villain… no thrill.”
Mugman laughed and nudged his left elbow on Cuphead’s arm, which was strong enough to push him a little.
“St-hop abusing that word!” Mugman grinned.
“What?! I learned a new word from you… it’s so thrilling!”
Back heads pushing the grass, they both laughed, almost as loud as when Elder Kettle shushed them, but they immediately covered their laughs before they could reach that level.
Cuphead sighed out his laughter. “And then… where was I?”
“Heh heh heh heh heh.” Mugman imitated Hilda while his head danced.
“Oh yeah. So while I was hopping after you, Hilda noticed that I was chasing you, came close to me and then said 'pss wss wss wss wss’.”
Mugman’s smile gaped, his eyebrows scrunched. “Wh-hat?!” Mugman laughed.
“Bro!” Cuphead giggled. “I’m not kidding. That’s exactly what she said. Aaaand for some reason I understood that as 'suck in the clouds.’”
“Maybe it’s because you understand 'psswss’-glish. You’re quite the natural bro.” Mugman laughed.
“Pss wss wss?” Grinning, Cuphead tilted his head closer to his brother.
Mugman tapped his chin twice. “Psssshh” Mugman shook his head, apologetic.
Cuphead inhaled. “Pbbfft!” He said like a sigh while sticking his tongue out and making raspberry sounds.
Mugman laughed. “We are soo doing that later.”
“Wiiith… Elder Kettle?” Cuphead raised an eyebrow.
Mugman gasped. “Yeah! But… what if he doesn’t get it?”
“What if he does?” Cuphead teased.
Mugman’s mouth gaped. Their mouths, in sync, grew into a big grin and they laughed, shaking their fists in excitement without breaking their hand-holding.
“Buut… if it doesn’t-” Cuphead pointed his index finger in the air.
“We’ll just tell 'im!” Mugman interrupted, smiling calmly.
Cuphead gasped and then grinned.
Giggling, Mugman shrugged his shoulders. “I doubt we’ll have to. Now that ya mention it, he’s been really good at catching our humor lately.”
Cuphead laughed softly. “Now… where was I?”
“Pss wss wss.” Mugman danced his head.
“No!” Eyes bugged out, grinning with thrill, Cuphead’s free hand pushed Mugman’s shoulder, causing the latter to laugh. “After I said- 'Suck in the clouds!’”
Mugman laughed. “You really do understand that.” His voice squeaked.
“Shut up!” Cuphead laughed as he pushed his brother again. He kept knocking his own head, trying to remember the story. “Suck the clouds, suck the clouds… Ah!” He snapped his fingers. “You were cloud hopping!”
“Pssswss!” Mugman nodded.
“Damn it Mugman!” Cuphead pounded the grass with his left fist.
They both shared a loud laugh, Cuphead with his high-pitch clownish laugh and Mugman with his gentle giggles that would either squeak to high-pitches or turn into snorts occasionally as he held his forehead back trying to compose himself.
“Go back to bed!” Cuphead pointed to the house door.
Shaking his brother’s shoulder apologetically, Mugman laughed. “You su-hucked in the clouds!”
Cuphead’s lower lip clamped shut trying to hold back his titter and grin that stretched end to end, trying to hold in his stupid idea…. until he shut his eyes and said “Psswsswss!”
Hollers of echoing laughter, fast and hysterical. Mouths gaped wide open. Fists banging on the ground. Heads and bodies rolling around, trying to control their funny bones. Milk splashed and spilled on the grass. Breaths heaved for air to try not to suffocate themselves. Their laughter calmed a little… And then… creeping in their minds…
With hyena-like laughter, Cuphead’s back head pushed into the grass, his gaping mouth pointing to the sky. Mugman’s gentle and innocent laughter rattled on, turning into high squeaks and snorts, causing Cuphead to laugh louder and faster with his hiccups and squeaks. Tears were being wiped off before the other could see. Their hands were still holding each other, desperate for an anchor to hold onto, and in the midst of their laughter they decided to pound them together on the grass. Their heads hit each other, making a clink sound, and they just rubbed the pain away with snuggles. Although they were still laughing, the thought of Hilda was fading, and they wanted to finish the story.
For a moment they looked at each other and sighed from the laughter… and then Cuphead sneaked in a “Psswssswss.”
Grips of their hands tightened as the joke danced back in their heads and they burst out laughing. Teeth ate back their hollers, and they gritted they tried to hold back their laughter until it was too sweet to hold shut and they burst out laughing again. To hell with the story. Cuphead started coughing, causing Mugman to laugh even more and eventually cough as well, which caused the former to laugh even more. Laughter, which was fast and hysterical, turned into sighing and quick heaving. Hands sweaty and aching from the strong grips they’ve shared. Heaving for breath turned into soft giggling, with occasional inhaling, and a very tiny bit of crying from so much laughter.
Eyes opened towards the night sky, and in a half-second, a shooting star dashed across the milky nebulas.
They both gasped, caressing each other’s grip gently. They looked at each other grinning.
Mugman nudged Cuphead’s elbow with his own. “Make a wish.” He whispered.
Eyes glistening in gratitude, pupils shaking, Cuphead rubbed his sniffling nose. He looked back at the sky, the spot where the shooting star was, and closed his eyes. He thought of the things he had wanted the most: all the money, all the ice cream, all the rides… 'psswssswss’.
Cuphead giggled. “I… I don’t what else to wish for Mugs…” He opened his eyes. “I’ve got everything I need to be happy.”
Mugman raised an eyebrow. “Not even money?” He asked in disbelief.
Cuphead grinned and then snickered. Eyes watched the stars. “Why bro?… Why do you make me feel like I don’t need it right now? We could buy all the candy with that!”
Mugman smiled and felt himself tear up a little. He looked back at the constellation and watched the stars in awe.
“I’d like to think… That shooting star was us though.” Cuphead turned his head towards his brother. “Just… you and me laughing like that… probably forever… and it wouldn’t hurt because it was never too much.”
Mugman turned to Cuphead and smiled.
Cuphead made eye-contact with his brother. “So… I sucked in the clouds…” The eye-contact, the pause, and their smiles growing in sync again made it so distracting that he was thinking about the annoying whispering sound they invented.
“Do-hon’t say it!” Cuphead pushed his brother’s shoulder.
“No you don’t say it!” Mugman pushed back, grinning.
Cuphead laughed, soft and tired from his fit earlier. “You ran in place on the cloud with thrill…” Cuphead paused, realized what he just said, and cringe-bit his lip. He couldn’t help but grin and share a few giggles with Mugman. He squeezed his eyes just to force the thought off. “I mean, you were running in place because I was sucking in the- Argh! Damn it!”
Mugman and Cuphead laughed; the former heaved one big sigh in the middle of his laugh and pointed his finger to Cuphead, while the latter cried tears of defeat.
“Okay okay!” Cuphead puts his free hand up. “The wind kept pulling you back, and all the clouds with it. You were getting giddy…” Cuphead’s pupils paced around his eyes, wondering about what he just said.
Mugman giggled. “Yeah, I think that’s the right word.”
Cuphead’s grin stretched, his lower lip clamping his mouth again.
“Cuphead no!” Mugman giggled as he pushed his brother.
Cuphead snickered. “Just… one more.”
Mugman laughed. “We-he’ll never finish.”
Cuphead sighed. “You were getting giddy over the fact you were being pulled towards me. I swallowed each and every cloud I saw, and you just kept running on air while the wind kept pulling you back. And when you were near enough… 'Gotcha!’” Cuphead’s free hand tackled Mugman’s right shoulder, causing the latter to giggle.
“Ohh…” Mugman realized. “We were falling?!” He asked, excited.
“Yeah! And… falling, and falling and falling. Nothing to fall into but the blue sky.” Cuphead grinned, mischievous. “All the more reason to tickle you…” Cuphead poked Mugman’s armpit, causing him to giggle. “and tickle you…” He poked Mugman’s side stomach, making him giggle again. “and tickle you…” This time, he wiggled his fingers on his brother’s stomach.
“Aaaand you started snorting.” Cuphead said as if it was a normal unexciting thing.
Coincidentally, Mugman let out a snort, which he covered with his hand in surprise.
Cuphead laughed. “Yeah, like that.” They both shared a gentle giggle. Eyes looked down, Cuphead smiled, cherishing that same dream. “I really wished… at that moment, we’d stay like that… even for just a dream.”
Pupils shaking in flattery, Mugman smiled calmly. He moved his left hand, the one which had been holding his brother’s this entire time. He made them stand on their wrists and began to slowly dance it left and right. Cuphead took notice too, and began to dance it as well, making their hand-dance lighter and more festive-like, though occasionally he would reverse direction or make it heavier and cause Mugman to giggle while he pushed and tried to maintain the dance momentum. Cuphead, however, with a smirk, made it unmoveable, and Mugman grunted and giggled as he tried to force it to move.
In longing, Cuphead sighed. The game started becoming easier; Mugman danced and wrestled his brother’s practically lifeless hand. Concerned, Mugman looked at his brother, who now wore a face of regret… and his eyebrows creased in fear. Fingers began to tremble in between the fingers of Mugman’s firm and supportive hand that slow-danced to a still-standing stop.
Mugman slow-blinked as his fingers tightened and 'hugged’ his brother’s hand. “When did it… get bad?”
Cuphead’s pupils were shaking, focused on their hands. “We were laughing… but someone else was laughing too. The sky turned sunset orange… no it was more… fire orange… with hints of blood red. We stopped laughing, we both got scared.”
“His voice was everywhere… just laughing… like he was happy we were going to… to die… we looked above our heads… and he was there. King Dice’s giant head, probably as big as one Inkwell Isle.”
“We both fired our finger-guns to his head, but our bullets weren’t chipping 'im… and he just kept laughing, while we kept falling into his mouth full of fire.”
Mugman shivered, and Cuphead felt his brother’s shiver with his hand. Cuphead rubbed his index finger on the back of Mugman’s hand, comforting it.
“Everything went black for a moment. The next time I opened my eyes… we were back on those floating islands that kept us from falling to that bottomless fire pit below. I’ve never been so afraid and so… careful in my life… And then, the devil’s giant head rose from the fire, laughing at us… and his body, his arms, and his… giant fork materialized…” Cuphead huffed as if he tried to chuckle but nothing came out because of the heavy fear. “I might’ve butchered that word.” He tried to smile.
“No no. Keep going.” Mugman’s eyes remained serious and concerned.
Cuphead exhaled. “He raised his fist, about to squish us. We jumped off to the next island and dodged the blow while we fired at his face… but then… he made a fist with the other… we were still midair… he was gonna hit us.”
Mugman noticed his brother’s pupils shake more.
“And then you-” He exhaled abruptly as if he sobbed instead of breathing. “You pushed me back! You… you saved me you…. You…” Tears started forming in his eyes. “You smiled as you kept going…” Cuphead sniffed. “You landed, and… just like that he…”
Mugman imagined himself being crushed by the devil’s giant fist. He wasn’t scared, but he was more concerned for his brother.
Cuphead sobbed, and forcibly wiped his tears away. “I wanted to save you… I jumped to your ghost to parry you but… The devil he… swatted me away… I just watched you float up… and…”
“…I couldn’t do anything…” Mugman thought of what Cuphead would’ve said.
Mugman reached his hand to hold Cuphead’s left side of his chin, to which the latter leaned on to rest.
“And I believed it… you were gone. Those…” Cuphead blinked off tears, and he slowly shook his head in regret. “Those same words just kept echoing in my head… 'he’s gone…’ 'he’s gone…’ 'he’s gone…’”
Sobbing. Trembling. Cuphead held for dear life onto his brother’s hand that held his own chin. His breathing became rapid heaves for a moment, and as Mugman rubbed his fingers to calm him, Cuphead took a deep breath.
“I just…” Cuphead’s grip on their hands tightened in anger, to which Mugman gritted his teeth in pain until it lessened into a tolerable level. “I had nothing left to lose… there was only one thing left to do.”
Flashback. Cuphead’s growls of rage. His finger gun humming with power. The scream of anger. Mugman aiming his finger at the wall. The explosion.
In silence, they both shared, laying on the grass. The chirps of cicadas filled the air. Ocean waves bobbed on the island.
“And then…” Cuphead’s grip on his brother’s hand softened, giving Mugman’s hand relief. “I woke up… with a slap to my face.” His eyes rolled, saying the last phrase with sass. He looked to Mugman, who was smirking. He grinned. “And you were alive.”
From a smirk, Mugman smiled relieved as he heard the happy ending. He let go of his brother’s hand and wrapped Cuphead in his hug while the latter caught Mugman and snuggled his chin on his brother’s shoulder.
“You okay?” Mugman smiled.
Cuphead sighed in relief. “I’ll be fine. It was… it was only a dream.”
With one last tight embrace, they shared a sigh and laid back onto the grass with arms and legs spread like stars.
“So… that dream was… quite the thrill.” Mugman grinned cheekily at his brother.
Frowning. Unamused. Cuphead rolled his head slowly on the rustling grass to look at his brother while Mugman just grinned wide, with a drop of sweat coming out of his forehead. Mugman felt insecure, self-doubting if he did something wrong, or he told a really bad joke, and apparently, Cuphead’s blank face was showing him he did…. At least… until a smile slow curled on the left side of his lip and struggled to stay frowned. A snort escaped from his mouth. His chest, shoulders, head jiggled as if he was laughing. Soon, the tiny smiling lip curl spread as if it fought its way to Cuphead’s entire stubborn mouth. Cuphead covered the curly smile with his hand.
Mugman giggled in mischievous 'hee hee hee’, his confidence growing. He flashed his best Cuphead-like grin of confidence while snapping his fingers and pointing them to Cuphead with an “Eyy! Winky winky!” He winked twice.
Looking at Mugman, Cuphead burst one big snicker which then continued into muffled laughs and squeaks. His eyes squinted in repeated blinks as he tried to divert eye-contact, but his stubborn annoying curiosity for more would bring his attention back and forth. His lower lip seemingly devouring his upper lip trying its best to keep his laughter in.
Mugman giggled. He moved closer to his brother. “Come on bro.” He smirked, wrapping his arm around Cuphead’s neck; Cuphead looked at his brother, happy eyes half-begging him to stop. “You know you want to.” He poked Cuphead’s stomach.
In reaction, Cuphead’s legs buckled as tears started welling in his eyes. Defiant and stubborn, he shook his head.
Mugman giggled. He tapped his chin in thought, and then snapped his fingers as he thought of an idea.
“So…” He said softly to his brother’s non-existent ear. “What did Hildaberg have to say to make a tornado?”
As he listened and as the question swirled into his head, Cuphead’s lower lip folded over his upper lip even further up to his nose. His muffled laughs became louder as the answer became clear. His tears flowed down as he closed his eyes. More intense, more defiant, his head shakes caused his milk to splatter on the grass and some to his giggling brother. Mugman just laid there, grinning and waiting until his brother stopped shaking his head. Meanwhile, Cuphead’s left fist started pounding the grass again. Tiring out and due to headache, Cuphead stopped shaking, but his stubborn silly snickers continued. Grinning mischievous, Mugman pulled his brother’s head closer, clinking their heads.
Mugman turned his head and brought his lips close to his brother’s ear…. Silence. Snickers. Cuphead’s fists closing; his right squeezed his chin while his left arm squeezed close to his side. He squeezed his eyes shut. Listening… Waiting… Waiting… Waiting… Wai- “Psss wsss wss!”
“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Cuphead jolted up into a sit, his mouth gaping wide open.
All the laughter he had tried to contain burst into one huge hysterical hyena-like holler that escaped into the night, startling the once calm, relaxed moon now irritated. Mugman, in grinning glee, covered his ears with his hands from the loudest laugh that he has ever heard, all while sharing a few giggles and laughs himself. His grin stretched as he listened to the sweet and rowdy music of victory.
Cuphead crashed his back onto the grass, laughing and pounding the ground with his two fists, trying to get the tickling joke out of his brain. Yelling, laughing, yelling, rolling around then laughing again. Wrapping his arm around Cuphead’s neck, Mugman tugged his brother closer as he shared their loud laughter.
“Noooohahahahaha!” Cuphead yelled as he pounded the grass. “I refuse! I refuse! I re-!” His laughter hijacked what he was supposed to say.
“Yeahhhahaha!” Mugman pumped his fist in the air. “Eat that bro!”
Cuphead landed one very weak punch to his brother’s stomach, to which Mugman just proudly took.
The house door creaked open. Immediately Mugman hugged his brother’s head close to his chest, muffling the sound of his laughter, leaving Mugman’s soft, innocent, high-pitches to laugh alone.
Elder Kettle stood by the open doorway, annoyed that they did not obey him.
Mugman controlled his laugh into snickers. He held two 'peace’ fingers in front, towards Elder Kettle. “I’m sorry-” He managed to speak before he snickered into laughter and collapsed on the grass.
Elder Kettle sighed, then took notice of Cuphead, who looked like he was either smothering himself or cuddling on Mugman’s chest while he laughed, body shaking while at it. He smiled, knowing that Cuphead was very okay, shrugged his shoulders, and then closed the door.
As he heard the door close, Cuphead popped his head off of Mugman’s chest, took a deep inhale, and let out a cackling fit.
“Why-h-! What did Hilda have to say to make a torna-Hahahaha!” Cuphead slapped his forehead, trying to sit upright.
They both inhale. “PSSWSSSWSSS!” Tongues and faces waddled around, splashing milk and saliva.
Laughing. Crashing. Rolling on the grass. Cuphead laughing and squeaking with hyena-like pitches. Mugman laughing and snorting with his innocent low pitches. Clinking; their heads accidentally bumping into each other while they were rolling around the grass. Gasping for air. Mugman holding his own forehead trying to keep himself from rolling out of control. Cuphead just rolling, wherever he pleased carelessly until he managed to lay on top of his brother’s stomach.
Their laughs calmed into slow heaves, with the occasional cackles, and then eventually the noise settled into exhales and sighs after having a good laugh. Cuphead, although struggling, wrapped his arm around Mugman’s shoulders and managed to pull his brother in for a clinking hug.
“Golly-!” Mugman laughed. “This is -! The happiest-!” Mugman laughed. “You’ve ever been!”
Cuphead laughed, gasping for air. “My-!” He inhaled. “My stomach hurts.” He squeaked.
They shared laughter and a head toast; the rims of their heads touching. The last of the tickles in their funny bones finally started to rattle out, although they did long for a bit more fun.
Cuphead glanced at his brother, who had his eyes closed and was letting out a few laughs while heaving steadily.
Mugman opened his eyes, smiling at Cuphead. The latter, after looking away in hesitation, cuddled up to his brother’s cheek. Mugman brought his arm around Cuphead’s shoulders, mimicking his brother’s hug.
“Say it.” Mugman said enthusiastically.
Cuphead chuckled. “Wh-hat?”
Mugman lightly shook his brother’s shoulder, laughing. “Say it!”
Cuphead blinked, smiled, understood what his brother was talking about, and looked away feeling shy.
Mugman giggled. “Say, it! Say, it! Say, it! Say-!”
“Okay! Okay!” Cuphead sighed. “I…. I….”
Cuphead kept his mouth open, trying to say something but then sighed, defeated.
Eyes searching Cuphead, Mugman’s eyebrows creased, confused. “What’s stopping you?”
“Okay… hear me out.” Cuphead held his hands up. “Honestly, I’d really love to say it…” Cuphead paused, while Mugman smiled and patiently waited. “But… I don’t think it cuts it you know?”
Mugman blinked. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” Cuphead’s grin stretched wider. “You’re my bro! My best pal! My… my hero!” He grinned. “You get it? Three words aren’t enough.”
Flattered, Heart-melted, Mugman felt his smile show a grin. “Well… how do you wanna say it?”
Cuphead tapped his lips in thought. “Like… a high five.” He raised an eyebrow and his right hand.
Eyes glinting with excitement, Mugman high fived his brother’s open hand.
“And… a low five?” Cuphead brought his open palm low.
Mugman clapped his brother’s palm with his hand.
Mugman giggled. He consciously formed a hand at the top of his straw and waved it to Cuphead. Grinning, Cuphead morphed the tip of his straw into a hand and then high-fived his brother’s straw.
Mugman giggled more. They lightly bumped their foreheads together.
“Hmm…” Mugman’s eyes brightened with an idea. “Do all four?” He grinned.
Cuphead grinned too. “Yeah!”
The boys jumped from laying in the ground to a stand.
“High five!” Cuphead shouted.
They both high fived, giggling.
They both jumped into a front flip, their straws morphed into pinkish hands and high-fived each other, and then they landed on their feet.
“Clink!” Cuphead opened his arms, inviting a hug.
They both ran to each other and toasted each other’s heads into a cuddly hug.
“Bro!” They both yelled out.
They both laughed and closed their eyes to indulge in their hug.
“I love you.” Cuphead tightened his hug, as he pressed against his brother’s cheek.
Mugman squeezed his eyes shut and grinned wider as he heard those words. “I love you too bro.” He pressed back to his brother’s cheek.
They hummed in comfort as they tried to squish each other in their hugs. Crickets and cicadas chirped. The bobbing ocean waves. Exhales of relief as they relaxed their hugs.
Cuphead yawned, his mouth opened wide.
Mugman peeked his left eye open. “Sleepy?” As he said it, Mugman yawned.
Cuphead smiled, opened his eyes, and offered his arm to Mugman. With open eyes, Mugman smiled and hooked his arm around his brother’s arm and then they buddy-walked back to the house.
“What?” Cuphead whispered.
“Catch a falling star. Uhuh-uhuh. Put it in your pocket. Uhuh-uhuh.” Mugman whispered while bouncing his head and pointing his right index finger down as if he was rapping.
Snickering, Cuphead used his buddy arm to push his brother away, as he began laughing again. Mugman just grinned and put his fists on his hips proudly… but he wished he had some shades to wear to look cool on his victory.
“Where did you get that 'uhuh-uhuh’ from?”
“Well…. You have my heart. And we’ll never be worlds apart…” Mugman sang.
Cuphead snickered, pushed his brother away and began laughing again.
