#hoenymoon

Peacock and Painwheel actually don’t get along at first bc Peacock is a competitive lil shit and as Lab 8′s magnum opus she just HAS to prove she’s better than Lab 0′s (former) secret weapon. And meanwhile Painwheel still has deep trust issues (especially towards the ASG Labs) and she doesn’t appreciate Peacock insisting she fights her

Eventually, with enough time and after plenty of bonding shenanigans, Painwheel begins to trust Lab 8 more. She and Peacock realize they’re not so different; they’ve both been through terrible things but came out stronger from it. It’s a good starting point for a friendship.

After everything she went through, Painwheel has little reason to laugh or even smile; Peacock, being the jokester she is, sees it as a challenge and an excuse to be as goofy as she wants around her. One day, she finally gets laughter out of Painwheel and it takes her by surprise because it’s such a lovely sound??? wow??? and it makes her want to keep making her laugh

As time goes on, literally everyone in Lab 8 and their mother can tell Peacock and Painwheel are fond of each other; ironically they’re the only ones who can’t see it. When she finally realizes it,Peacock spends a lot of days in denial before she finally accepts her feelings and attempts to take the first step

She tries to flirt with Painwheel (the cheesier or punnier the pick-up lines the better) but Painwheel thinks she’s just goofing around again or just doesn’t catch on because someone??? in love with her??? impossible. And the entire time Peacock is suffering internally bc “I’M TRYIN’ TO FLIRT WITH YA, YA NUMBNUTS-”

I wanna think that with time, they rub off on each other in a positive way like……Painwheel/Carol’s sweet and kind personality makes Peacock be more chill while Peacock’s confidence and energy makes Painwheel more assertive and confident with herself

Peacock using old-timey slang for pet names like “toots” or “doll” (she uses them to tease Painwheel at first but later on she starts using them not-so-jokingly).

speaking of pet names, Peacock actually calls Painwheel “Needles” in game and that’s kinda cute???

Not Peawheel but Big Band hearing that Painwheel used to play the cello and gets her a new one. And they have music lessons together :)

Also Not Peawheel but the smaller Lab 8 kids seeing Painwheel’s scars and sticking a bunch of band-aids all over them so that she “doesn’t hurt anymore” ;~;

Hive has a bee theme going on so I headcanon that she has her own flower garden, and Painwheel likes flowers so Hive shows takes her to her garden one day and they tend to the flowers while they talk about which one are their favorites

Painwheel making flower bracelets from everyone in Lab 8 and Peacock keeps hers under her glove out of sight at all times

Even after the whole Skullgirl Incident is over, Peacock still has nightmares about the Medici guy that mutilated her or worse: about Marie disintegrating in front of her as she dies; Painwheel has nightmares about the terrible things Valentine and Brain Drain did to her or about her parents’ rejection. Sometimes they see each other after staying awake all night from these nightmares and they sit and talk, or watch some very late/early cartoons (per Peacock’s insistence) or anything else to to kill time until exhaustion kicks in. The nightmares come less often with each time.

Painwheel having trauma-induced panic attacks and Big Band and/or Ileum helping her through it (Peacock’s not very good at emotional stuff but she still hangs around to make sure Needles is OK)

Peacock gushing to Painwheel about cartoons and then getting out all seasons of Annie of the Stars when she finds out Painwheel’s never watched it. Painwheel’s not that invested at first but stays anyways bc she knows it means a lot to Pea (she does get into it later on)

Peacock wanting to just head out into the city out of sheer impulse and boredom and she takes Painwheel for a ride in the Swag Wagon (sometimes the whole Lab 8 family’s involved, sometimes it’s just the Toon Gang, sometimes it’s just the two of them). Painwheel likes the beach so sometimes that’s the destination: Peacock doesn’t like the sand getting in her eyes (but Painwheel holds her hand while watching the sunset so it’s all worth it)

Peacock’s toony nature betraying her like…..she’s trying to act cool around Painwheel but suddenly there’s hearts floating above her and she angrily swats them away with her hat before someone notices, or her face getting comically red like a thermometer until she has to douse herself with a bucket of water

Hunting down Valentine and beating the shit out of her like she deserves