#4:44

There was truly nothing to do down in the black void but sit and wait. The dark void around Kam had remained constant, too dark to see without a light or someone to guide through it.

A part of the void had been swirling oddly for the past hour, thinning slowly until a rough rectangular shape could be made out from it.

Kam glanced up from the tight ball they'd curled themself in, rocking back and forth and letting the hours slip past them. What else was there to do?

The void was weird there. It was different. Things here weren't meant to be different. Slowly, Kam managed to untangle themself. The blanket was wrapped tightly around them like a cloak (...), trying and failing to conserve their body heat. They still shivered painfully hard.

One hand clasping the blanket, and the other tight around the stem of a familiar rose, Kam shakily stood and moved towards the rectangle. With the rose hand, they reached inside. Please don't be a trap.

The surface was solid, wooden in texture with the grain running vertically. There were small indents across it, and to the right side, a handle jutted out of the fog. 

It was a door. And a familiar one-- the same door that had been summoned by Maestro the last time that they had escaped the depths. Except there was no Maestro this time to have brought it here.

“...what?”

Kam was surprised at how shitty their voice sounded- cracking and weak. Even still, they trailed a hand down to the handle.

...Kam couldn't remember if it was a push door or a pull door. They turned the handle and pushed, hoping they didn't just make an embarrassing fuck-up.

The door swung open almost too easily. The white blinding light of the center Clockwork greeted Kam ungratefully, the only reprieve from the fog being a small patch of blue to the right.

A head lifted from the pair of siblings that were huddled together. Muse stared at the door, and then at Kam, her eyes slightly red, squinting to make out who was there.

Kam flinched away from the bright light, feeling a stabbing pain that quickly faded. They stepped all the way inside and quickly shut the door to that cold prison behind them.

They... were back? Just like that? Blinking away the spots in their vision from the sudden brightness, Kam made out two figures together.

“Midnight? Muse?”

Even sounding and feeling like shit, with a bruised throat and ego, they couldn't help but grin.

Muse blinked, its eyes widening slightly.

Tock, tick, tock.  Tick, tock.  Tock, tock.      ...?

It quickly scrambled to its feet, tripping over its long skirt but ignoring it. She ran over to Kam, ignoring any sense of boundaries and nearly jumping at them, wrapping her arms around them in a tight hug.

What- Despite their shock, Kam reacted quickly, wrapping their arms around the girl and holding her tight. It was muscle memory at first to press a hand flat to her back and another cradling her head, but that soon gave way to intention. They knew Muse didn't hate them anymore, but...

“Hey, Muse. I'm okay.”

Muse buried its head into Kam's chest, her lips twisting into a frown. She gave a sniffle, an attempt to hold itself together. But it wasn't working very well.

Tick, tick.      ...      Tock, tock.  Tick, tick.  Tick, tick, tick.  Tick, tick, tick.  Tick.   Tock, tick, tick.      Tock, tick, tock, tock.  Tock, tock, tock.  Tick, tick, tock.      ...

Her frown curled into a half-hearted smile, turning to face Midnight, who was still lying against the wall, eyes closed with a slight furrow to his brow.

Tock, tock.  Tick, tick.  Tock, tick, tick.      ,      Tock, tick, tock.  Tick, tock.  Tock, tock.      Tick, tick.  Tick, tick, tick.      Tock, tick, tick, tick.  Tick, tock.  Tock, tick, tock, tick.  Tock, tick, tock.      !

Midnight's eyes cracked open at Muse's words, squinting through the bright fog and looking around. He blinked when he spotted Muse and Kam, offering a tired smile.

“Friend Kam... looks like you're back again.

Why don't you come and sit with us, then?”

They brushed their fingernails gently up and down Muse's back as she spoke. Kam had to admit- they did not expect her to say they were missed. Nor did they expect her to seem to be tearing up on them.

“That sounds good to me. Come on, Muse.”

Kam untangled their arms from Muse, but shifted to be grabbing her hands instead. The blanket had gotten shoved over one shoulder absentmindedly, and the rose was tucked over Kam's ear. They must've done so after stepping out the door.

They walked over to Midnight and sat down directly next to him, close enough their arms brushed. Kam left their other arm open for Muse to take if she wanted.

Muse followed with Kam, staying close to their side, as if afraid to let go, until they reached Midnight. She sat down on the other side of Midnight, immediately hugging him from the side tightly. 

Tick, tock.  Tick, tock, tick.  Tick.      Tock, tick, tock, tock.  Tock, tock, tock.  Tick, tick, tock.      Tock, tock, tock.  Tock, tick, tock.  Tick, tock.  Tock, tick, tock, tock.      Tock, tick.  Tock, tock, tock.  Tick, tock, tock.      ?

Midnight brushed a hand through Muse's hair, an action of comfort that was familiar to him.

“I am always okay with you here, Muse.

The exhaustion is nothing but old news.”

Despite his words, however, it was clear he was still too tired to move much past his hands and head. 

“Where have you been, friend Kam?

We were both rather worried, and... I still am.”

Ah. They didn't know. Kam could lie...

No. Midnight and Muse deserved better.

“...I accidentally got frustrated and smarted off, and it started another fight with me and *her*. But something was off this time. She was crueler than usual.”

The arm not brushing against Midnight's raised so Kam could trace the small bruises on their neck with a gentle finger.

“She ended up throwing me back down there. Into the void. She made it sound like I was going to stay down there for good, but then I noticed that there was a door. I don't really care why. I'm just glad I'm back.”

Midnight was much, much warmer than Kam. They leaned against him, trying to leech off his body heat. Heh.

Midnight's jaw tightened visibly. His eyes held a mix of concern and anger, and who that anger was directed at was unclear. But before he let himself speak, he seemed to give up with a slow sigh.

“Kam... I shouldn't blame you... I know you were probably scared.”

Midnight glanced at the rose sitting gently over Kam's ear, a nice contrast to their hair.

“But... we worry for you. You should at least be somewhat prepared.”

Despite this, Midnight managed to lift his hand, draping his cloak over Kam's shoulders again to keep them close.

Falling into the invitation of the cloak, Kam wrapped Midnight in a hug, head falling onto his shoulder. Their fingers were ice around his waist, but quickly warming.

“I was scared. Really scared. I didn't think she'd actually choke me.”

The last sentence was spoken much more softly, hesitant. Kam was glad that they had a cloak around them to keep them feeling grounded and protected. What was it they told themself during paranoid spirals? Nothing can hurt you under the covers.

Surely a similar concept applied here.

“I'm glad I found you two so quickly. It makes this feel a lot better.”

Midnight had closed his eyes for a moment, but opened them as Kam started to speak again. He didn't catch most of their sentences, merely nodding in an attempt to look like he was listening.

“I am also very glad you found us fast.

I was hoping that your vanishing wouldn't last.”

Muse, however, had heard it all. She moved her head just enough to stare at Kam, eyes slightly glaring with either a worried or judgmental look.

She didn't speak, though, as if trying to offer Kam the mercy of Midnight not hearing the worst of it.

Kam mouthed 'sorry' at Muse, focused on her expression briefly. It was likely mad that Kam had mentioned that in front of Mid, but... well, Kam didn't think she was too mad.

They had no energy for fights, and it seemed like Muse and Midnight didn't as well. Midnight especially.

“It didn't last long at all. Are you okay, Midnight?”

Their tone softened considerably as Kam expressed their concern.

“You sound tired. You should get some sleep.”

Muse frowned, giving a subtle nod as she returned to hugging Midnight tighter. Its usual sarcasm returned for a moment. 

Tick, tick, tick, tick.  Tick.      Tick, tock, tock.  Tick, tock.  Tick, tick, tick.      Tock, tick, tock, tick.  Tock, tock, tock.  Tock, tock.  Tick, tock.  Tock.  Tock, tock, tock.  Tick, tick, tick.  Tick.

Midnight hummed at Muse's jab.

“I was just tired, Muse, nothing to worry about.

I was sleeping already, but... I suppose sleep's never good without.”

“Comat-”

God. Kam squeezed Midnight a touch tighter for a moment, clearly concerned. He was the type of person to downplay his own issues, for certain. 

“I... hope it's safe for you to sleep, then. You just sound so tired. It's weird.”

He was okay, right? He had to be. Kam wasn't willing to let him get sick or something stupid like that.

“Oh, uh. Was that your full sentence, Midnight? I can't tell, my brain's still... woozy. That's a good word for it. Woozy.”

Poor Midnight. He was caught in an angsty teen sandwich.

Midnight nodded, humming in confirmation, but not fully aware of what he was confirming. 

“It feels as if I've lived three days without rest...

But I'm still alright for now, just not my best.”

He pulled Kam slightly closer to him, hugging them back this time.

Muse offered her own hug to become tighter, moving to fit perfectly in his arms in a gesture that had been practiced into perfection. It closed its eyes reluctantly, attempting to relax.

Tock, tock, tick.  Tock, tock, tock.  Tock, tock, tock.  Tock, tick, tick.  Tock, tick.  Tick, tick.  Tock, tock, tick.  Tick, tick, tick, tick.  Tock.      Tock, tick, tick.  Tick.  Tick, tock.  Tick, tock, tick.      Tock, tick, tick, tick.  Tick, tock, tick.  Tock, tock, tock.  Tock.  Tick, tick, tick, tick.  Tick.  Tick, tock, tick.

The sound of a bicycle bell is heard in the distance.

Kam nodded. They trusted him, and if Muse was willing to say goodnight-

What were those bells? Kam frowned, but tried to ignore them. Maybe they were hearing things again.

“...it's warm right here.”

The words were slurred with tiredness that washed over them suddenly. Maybe it was their adrenaline finally running out, or that they finally weren't shivering, but Kam felt like their entire body had decided it was time for them to stop and rest.

“Thank you. Muse and Mid.”

Both people deserved thanks, as sleepy as they sounded.

“l'v y…”

Kam's words were nearly unintelligible, as they barely bothered moving their mouth to speak.

Midnight was already asleep again. His embrace was still firm around both Kam and Muse, even in his sleep, offering a constant source of comfort.

Muse perked up to the bell. She was not as tired as the other two, only saying goodnight to put Midnight's mind at ease. She waited until Midnight looked fully asleep before raising her head again, looking for the noise curiously.

Vae biked through the void, it was a distraction. An easy way to stop thinking about Kam's torment or why True was so upset at them or that damn enigmatic sea bunny anon...  

Eventually she'd have to go back to the drawing board. Eventually, she'd have to figure something else out to get Kam out of the basement. Either get Maestro or do what Red made her realize and put Kam's memories of Dublin on the chopping block. It wasn't optimal if Vae wanted Dublin to get stronger, but maybe if they both forgot WHATEVER happened between them they could reconcile without -

Vae looked up.

“holy cra -”

“KAM!!!!!!~”

Kam startled slightly at the shout of their name, flinching into Midnight. They glanced over to make sure it was nothing to be concerned about before putting a name to the face to the voice.

Oh. Vae. Kam would've waved, but their arms were both occupied, so they opted for a wide smile.

“Hi, Vae. I'm back.”

Muse flinched a little at the shout, her gaze snapping to Midnight, worried. But Midnight didn't wake, thankfully. She shot a glare at Vae, half-heartedly.

Parking the bike with it's kickstand, a useless action as the bike itself vanishes once Vae is no longer looking at it, all of her focus now lied on the friend she thought was in danger but moments prior. But she didn't notice as Vae instead rushed over to the trio, stopping only at the sight of Muse's pointed look. Then, it hits her.

They were sleeping.

Her face falls slightly as she realizes where she messed up. Vae's voice then lowers significantly. 

“Ah. It's sleepy time... I.... Forgot.

Sorry, Muse!~ Uh... It's just…”

Vae's smile widens as she tries to contain herself.

“Kam!!! How did you get out? Uh... Hopefully you didn't.... Trade anything, right?”

Shaking their head 'no', Kam replied.

“I didn't trade anything, no. There was a door. I opened it. And then I found Muse and Midnight.”

The story was incredibly underwhelming compared to all the drama that had gotten them into the situation, but underwhelming currently felt like a dream come true.

“'nd yeah... he's sleeping.”

“Oh! Good. Good....”

Vae exhales. A big sigh of relief after stressing for over twenty-four hours over this entire ordeal. And once all of the carbon dioxide is out of her lungs, she sinks to sit next to the others.

“I'm... Not gonna join incase y'all don't want me to. But... God.... I was so worried.... That sea bunny freak REALLY made me think I was going to have to sell someone to be eaten by her to help you escape, Kam!~”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

Kam was too tired for whatever the fuck that meant.

“Long story. There's an anon, one that's a sea bunny... Wait. You had Kalei respond to her before. She's the one who befriended Sheep Anon!

Anyway... I think. That's who Blue Bi... Uh. Blue Lady. Was trying to meet with the other day. Ya know, the... Entire reason she was in such a mood to shoot you down into the hell hole…”

“…”

Shrug. Half hearted and distracted.

“It’s over now, anyway.”

She blinked. Moved her tongue inside her mouth, uncertain of what to say or do or... Anything. Right now.

“.... Sorry. Think... I could rest here too? I can... Summon some pillows if you'd like?”

“Using Mid as a pillow. But you make yourself comfy.”

Kam glanced at Muse to see if she was bothered by this.

Muse merely turned her head into Midnight's shoulder with a small huff. It was trying to be stubborn, to put up the front of indifference and general irritation, but it was clearly a facade.

“You can sit near me, Vae. I don’t mind.”

Muse was adorable. Very expressive with her body language… though Kam supposed she had to be. Muse reminded them of their kids from their time teaching- sometimes difficult to understand, stubborn, or mad, but always so good at heart.

“... Aight. Gimme a sec to just....”

The white fog condenses, forming the shape of a fluffy pillow. It drops easily into Vae's hands with a small fluff.

“Boom~ Pillow time~”

Without another word, Vae flopped over onto the pillow and lied down next to her friends.

Turning back into Midnight’s shoulder, Kam falls asleep as well.