A/N - For the sake of clarity, pretend this song is from 1998, and the lights in the song are an illusion in Kevin's head.
---
In the Mining Pit, some of the toys were destroying large debris while others were sitting in a clear part. Doey punched a large stone, which made it crumble into smaller pieces.
Doey stared at the small debris. Is this helping you, Kevin? Jack asked in his head. Doey looked down. Not really... Kevin said in his head as he continued destroying more rocks.
Soon after, Doey stood before a giant rock. You know you can always join the smaller toys if you'd like, Matthew said in his head. Or... you could visit the room Misha is in.
Doey clenched his fists. That ain't happening, Kevin said in his head. Aw, c'mon, Kevin; please... Jack said in Doey's head. Doey growled a bit. "I said I don't want to!" he shouted before punching the giant rock hard, breaking it into larger pieces and shooting in different directions.
As KickinChicken picked up a large rock, a large piece landed near him, which made him flinch. KickinChicken angrily looked at Doey. "Hey, watch where you're punching?!" he shouted. Doey flinched a bit and looked at KickinChicken. "Sorry, dude..." he said, lowly.
KickinChicken flinched a bit and dropped the stone. "Oh, Kevin," he said before looking away and rubbing the back of his neck. "Nah, it's fine, man; I get it, this whole thing has been hard."
KickinChicken looked at Doey. "Uh... maybe you should get some rest; I don't remember the last time you went to sleep," he continued.
Doey slightly smiled at KickinChicken. "Thanks for the thought, but I'm fine," he said. KickinChicken stared at Doey before nodding. "If you say so..." he said, lowly, before walking away.
When KickinChicken was out of sight, Doey's smile faded. He has a point, Kevin; while Jack and I are sleeping, you're always the one observing the outside, Matthew said in his head.
Doey crossed his arms. Someone's gotta watch over us in case we're ambushed, Kevin said in his head. But to do this for about a month... that isn't healthy; Misha wouldn't want to see you like this, Jack said in Doey's head, which made him flinch. I mean... I'm sorry...
Doey remained silent before looking at the door. You know what... I'd like to visit Misha... Kevin said in his head. Really? Jack and Matthew asked in Doey's head; he nodded. "Yeah..." he said, lowly, before walking toward it.
Katelynn sat with the smaller toys, examining a longer, untied version of Michelle's beaded bracelet. "It looks good; I'm glad Bobby let me measure Big Sister's new arm just to adjust her bracelet," she said. "She would definitely want this back when she wakes up."
A mini Bubba Bubbaphant looked at Katelynn with worried eyes. "Will she be OK?" he asked. Katelynn remained silent and looked down; soon after, she petted the mini Bubba Bubbaphant's head. "Of course she will; it may not look like it, but Big Sister is a lot tougher than she looks," she said.
When Katelynn looked forward, she saw Doey before retracting Michelle's unfinished beaded bracelet into her body and looking at the smaller toys. "I'll be right back," she continued before standing up. Katelynn caught up to Doey. "Big Brother!" she shouted.
Doey stopped and turned his head to Katelynn when she was close. "How did you know it was me?" he asked. Katelynn looked away a bit. "Lucky guess..." she said before looking at Doey. "Are you going to visit Big Sister?"
Doey looked down and nodded. "Yeah..." he said, lowly; Katelynn looked at him, concerned, before hugging Doey, which surprised him. Doey looked at Katelynn as she looked at him. "She'll come back to us, right?" she asked.
Doey stared at Katelynn before petting her head. "Yes, she will... we've gotta have faith in her," he said. Katelynn remained silent and nodded before pulling away. "Thanks for the hug, Katie," Doey continued. Katelynn nodded. "You looked like you needed one..." she said, lowly.
Doey stared at Katelynn as she walked away. Come on... Bobby and Medic are probably done with her medical check-up, Matthew said in his head; he nodded before walking away.
(Time Skip)
Doey walked in the hallway and looked around. This is so weird... I've never seen an area this quiet... Jack said in his head. Doey looked down. I know what you mean... no Nightmare Critters, no feral Mini Huggies; it's very bizarre... Matthew said in his head.
Doey suddenly stopped and looked at one of the doors. Kevin, are you alright? Matthew asked in his head. Doey remained silent and stared at one of the doors.
(Flashback Begins)
As Kevin stepped out of the room with Medic in his hand, he looked at her. "Before we reenter Misha's room, we need to find the medical supply room," he said. Kevin nodded. "Got any idea where one would be?" he asked.
Medic turned his head to the right before spotting a door with a plus symbol on it. "Possibly that room," he said. Kevin looked at the door before approaching it.
When the door opened, Kevin saw various medical supplies. "Since this was the Doctor's place, he would have a lot of medical supplies," he said before entering.
Kevin spotted a bottle containing a liquid before carefully grabbing it. When Kevin looked at the bottle, he saw the word 'saline' on it. "Saline bottles, bandages... I'm surprised he had this stuff..." he continued before placing it back on the shelf.
Medic looked at a different shelf and spotted a white pen-like tool. "Kevin," he said, which made Kevin look at him. "That tool over there; it'll be vital to us."
Kevin looked at the pen-like tool and stretched his arm toward it before grabbing it. After Kevin retracted his arm, he looked at the pen-like tool. "What is it?" he asked.
Medic looked at Kevin. "That is a cautery pen tool, we'll use it to cauterize her wounds," he said. Kevin looked at Medic. "Cauterize?" he asked; he nodded. "It's a surgical procedure that involves burning the body," he said.
Kevin froze. "This tool will stop the bleeding in Misha's arms and seal her wounds up," Medic continued. Kevin looked at Medic. "Isn't there a better method to this?" he asked. Medic looked down and shook his head. "I'm afraid not..." he said.
Kevin looked at the cautery pen and trembled a bit. "Luckily, the Red Smoke acts like an anesthetic; she won't feel the pain while we're operating on her," Medic continued.
Medic looked around the room. "We'll need to find different cauterizing tips for different tasks and some trauma shears to cut her jacket off her," he said. Kevin clenched the cautery pen a bit before nodding. "Right..." he said, lowly, before looking around.
(Flashback Ends)
Doey stared at the door. Kevin... Kevin! Jack shouted in his head, which made him flinch. Doey shook his head. You don't have to shout at me; what's up with you? Kevin asked in his head.
You weren't responding to either of us, so we were worried, Matthew said in Doey's head. Doey rubbed the back of his head. Oh... sorry... Kevin said, lowly, in his head.
When Doey looked forward, he saw Bobby BearHug with Medic on her shoulder, leaving a room, which made him approach them.
Medic spotted Doey. "Ah, Doey; it's good to see you," he said. "And I see all three of you are together. I assume either Jack or Matthew wants to visit her?"
Kevin split from Doey with the red beaded bracelet around his left wrist, which surprised the duo. "Actually... it's me this time..." he said, lowly. Doey looked at the duo. "How is her condition, anyway?" he asked.
Bobby BearHug looked at the door. "Well, her vitals seem normal," she said before looking at the duo. "Both Medic and I haven't seen any infections coming from her arms, nor have we noticed any internal bleeding."
Medic looked at the duo. "We've been keeping her hydrated with the saline bottles Kevin found once a day and changed the bandages wrapped around her head," he said.
Doey tilted his head. "How have you been keeping her hydrated if there aren't any medical bags?" he asked. Bobby BearHug looked away with a sweatdrop. "Believe me, you don't want to know..." she said, lowly.
Doey looked at the duo. "So she hasn't woken up yet?" he asked. Medic shook his head. "I'm afraid not..." he said. "We believe whatever she was hit with might've given her a concussion; it's the only logical explanation why she's been asleep for this long."
Doey was worried. "Is it possible for someone to..." he said, lowly, before looking at Kevin. Medic looked down. "Unfortunately, a person can pass away due to complications of concussions," he said.
Medic pointed to his head. "Usually, though, it's because there's swelling inside the brain. If she hasn't had a concussion before she was hit, she should recover really soon... only time will tell..." he continued.
Kevin remained silent and looked down; Doey looked at him. "Kevin?" he asked. Kevin looked away. "I'm fine, just—" Jack split from Matthew, which surprised the others. "Nothing about this is fine! We're worried about you?!"
Kevin looked at Jack, surprised. "Everyone else has visited Misha except you!" he shouted. "Hell, even Katie wanted you to visit her when it was her birthday, but you flat out refused."
The others were shocked as dough tears pricked Jack's eyes. "And we get it... you're scared..." he continued. "You're scared that any moment will be her last... you're scared to lose one of the people you love the most..."
Kevin stared at Jack as he looked down, which made his dough tears fall. "But if you keep running away, it's just gonna make things worse..." he said. "If you don't see her for one time... you'll regret it for the rest of your life..."
Kevin remained silent and looked down; soon after, he kneeled before Jack and hugged him, which surprised the others. Jack looked at Kevin. "Kevin...?" he asked; he pulled away and looked at him. "Thanks for that... I needed to hear it..." he said.
Jack looked down and nodded as Kevin stood up. "I think I'm gonna go see her now..." he continued. Matthew looked at Kevin. "Before you do," he said, which made him look at him.
Michelle's backpack strap came out of Matthew's stomach before he pulled it out of him. "I was keeping it safe after Bobby asked for it, but..." he said before holding it out to Kevin. "You should bring it into the room in case she wakes up; it has a few water bottles inside if she's thirsty."
Matthew turned the bag to the right side, revealing a purple hair tie and a small black brush. "The hair tie came from her, but the scavenging crew found the hair brush," he continued. Kevin nodded before grabbing the bag from Matthew's hands. "Thanks..." he said, lowly.
Bobby BearHug firmly placed her hand against Kevin's shoulder, which made him flinch. "Also, there's something I should mention to you... there's a blanket covering her body," she said.
Bobby BearHug sternly looked at Kevin. "The reason for that is that there was blood on her clothes," she continued. "If you touch that blanket, you'll have hell to pay; understand?"
Kevin was nervous and quickly nodded; Bobby BearHug patted his shoulder. "Good man," she said before walking away. "We'll see you soon."
When the duo was out of sight, Matthew looked at Kevin. "You're not the first one who was given that kind of warning; she told that to all the male toys," he said before looking at Jack. "Well then, we should get going."
Jack nodded before he and Matthew fused into Doey; he looked at Kevin. "We'll see you soon..." he said.
Kevin nodded as Doey walked away; when he was out of sight, he stared at the door. Kevin took a deep breath and exhaled. "Alright... let's do this..." he said, lowly, before approaching the door.
When Kevin was close to the door, it opened, which made him enter; he looked forward and saw an unconscious Michelle with her hair down and headbandages wrapped around her head, and a large black blanket covering her body. "Hey, Misha..." he said, lowly.
As silence filled the room, Kevin sighed. "This is so awkward..." he said, lowly, before looking at the counter on the left. Kevin approached the counter and placed Michelle's bag on it before pulling the hairbrush and the hair tie out of it.
After Kevin placed the hairbrush and the hair tie on the counter, he looked at the unconscious Michelle and sighed. "I'm not even sure if you can hear me when you're in this unconscious state, but I'm trying the best I can..." he said.
Kevin approached the metal table and looked at the unconscious Michelle. "You're probably wondering why I haven't been seeing you like the others, right?" he asked rhetorically. "I've been... trying to keep it together... and I feared that if I saw your state... I would lose it..."
Kevin stepped back and leaned against the wall. "Wanna know the crazy thing? The whole incident was a month ago..." he continued.
Kevin looked at his hands. "Half of that month, Bubba finished your prosthetics and gave me these... air jet shoe braces for you to wear and taught me how to make adjustments whenever you wake up, but that hasn't happened yet," he said.
Kevin hysterically laughed a bit and crossed his arms. "And if our math is right in this stupid hellhole, during one of those two weeks, it was Katie's birthday; she's fourteen now..." he continued.
Kevin's hysterical laughter got louder. "She wanted to take me to see you, but I refused because I didn't want my mental breakdown to ruin her birthday," he said. Kevin tried catching his breath before looking at the unconscious Michelle.
Kevin remembered holding an injured Michelle in his arms as she weakly smiled at him. "I want to live my life with no regrets..." she said. "And if this is how I die... I can die happy knowing that I saved another person's life..."
Kevin growled. "All of this... just to save a stupid porcelain doll that didn't deserve your kindness," he said. Kevin sternly looked at the unconscious Michelle. "If it were me, I would've left her to die," he continued.
Kevin's body bubbled a bit. "If not for your quick thinking, she would've had her way; she would've let so many lives die for her stupid revenge, and she could've gotten the rest of us killed," he said.
Kevin's claws sharpened a bit. "If she weren't a fucking klutz, you wouldn't have risked your life saving her pathetic one," he continued before pointing at the unconscious Michelle. "And you... you risk your life way too many times than I could count."
Kevin walked away. "I should've been more adamant about you leaving this place, maybe then the Prototype—" he stopped himself and realized something, which made his eyes widen. "The Prototype..."
Kevin trembled and covered his mouth. "You would've been an easier target for him, and he could've killed you if I made you leave..." he said.
Kevin turned his head to the unconscious Michelle in horror. "And you knew that fact already... that's why you were adamant about staying..." he continued.
Kevin clenched his fists, and his body started boiling. "Damn it... Prototype!?!" he shouted. Kevin sprinted out of Michelle's room before entering a room that had counters with multiple beakers, test tubes, and flasks on them, and a metal bed at the center.
Kevin roared before he started shredding the walls and shattering the glass with his claws. After Kevin retracted his arms, he dug his claws into the bottom of the metal bed. Kevin started pulling while angrily growling before tearing the metal bed out of the floor.
Kevin yelled as he swung the metal bed around the room, shattering the remaining glass and destroying shelves. After Kevin stopped swinging the metal bed, he tried catching his breath and stared at the destroyed room.
Kevin growled before throwing the bed against the counter, and it hit the ground. Kevin leaned against the wall near the door before sliding down until he sat down; he looked down as he tried catching his breath.
When Kevin remembered Jack's words, he gritted his teeth and dough tears fell from his eyes. "I'm sorry, Misha..." he said, lowly. "I wasn't strong enough..."
Kevin wrapped his arms around his legs and looked down. "I should've made sure you were by my side... I should've kept you safe... but I failed both times..." he continued. "And now you might be dying because I couldn't protect you..."
Kevin lay his head against his legs. "Please... forgive me..." he said, lowly, before he started crying.
...
...
...
Outside of Home Sweet Home, a young Michelle sat on the ground, smiling, while holding her Doey toy. "Hiya there, pal! I'm Doey; I can be anything you 'knead'," she said in a goofy voice before giggling.
As Michelle made her Doey toy move forward a bit, she looked at a young Katelynn holding a Mommy Long Legs toy. "Why hello, Mrs. Mommy," Michelle continued in a goofy voice. "How are you doing on this fine day?"
Katelynn smiled before moving the Mommy Long Legs toy a bit. "I'm having a lovely time," she said. "I'm on my morning stroll while my husband is taking care of my baby; he's been teaching him how to dance."
Michelle smiled before moving her Doey toy. "How lovely, though I'd be careful; he might become a jitterbug," she said in a goofy voice, which made Katelynn laugh.
Unbeknownst to the duo, the red-haired boy, the black-haired boy, and the blonde-haired boy eyed them before grinning at one another and approaching them.
The trio looked at the duo when they were close. "Well, well, look what we have here, two girls playing with baby toys," the red-haired kid said, which made the other two laugh.
Katelynn looked at the trio, worried, while Michelle deadpanned them. "Well, well, it's the three stooges, Curly, Moe, and Larry," she said. The trio angrily looked at Michelle. "Those aren't our names, idiot!" the black-haired boy shouted.
The blonde-haired boy looked at the black-haired boy. "Calm down, Drake; she's just trying to rile you up," he said. Michelle pointed at the blonde-haired boy. "If I wanted to rile you up, I would've insulted your intelligence, but your pea-sized brain is nonexistent," she said.
A tick mark formed on the blonde-haired boy's head, and he glared at Michelle. "Why you..." he said, lowly.
The red-haired boy looked at the blonde-haired boy. "Cool it, Axel," he said, which made him calm down a bit, before looking at the duo. "Where's your knight in shining armor? Did he get bored with you two?"
Michelle looked away. "Actually, he went to the bathroom; if you think he would leave his sister behind, then you're a bigger dumbass than I thought," she said.
The red-haired boy growled a bit until Drake placed his hand against his shoulder, which made him look at him. "Though the little girl has a bully for a brother and a pathetic girl to be her only 'friends', her life must suck," he said.
Katelynn frowned and looked down with tears pricking her eyes as the boys laughed; Michelle handed her Doey toy to her, which surprised her, before she stood up.
As the boys continued laughing, Michelle punched Drake's face hard, which knocked him to the ground, shocking the other two. As Drake sat up, his nose was bleeding, which shocked him and made him cover it.
When the boys looked at Michelle, she menacingly glared at them as blood dripped from her fist. "You can talk shit about me if you want, and Kevin doesn't care about your petty insults, but nobody insults Katie in my presence?!" she shouted.
The duo glared at Michelle while Katelynn looked at her in a panic. "Big Sister!" she shouted. Michelle turned her head to Katelynn. "Go find your brother, now!" she shouted.
Katelynn was scared, with tears pricking her eyes, before nodding and quickly running away. Axel glared at Michelle and looked at the red-haired boy. "It's two against one, we've got this, Jasper," he said.
Jasper nodded before the duo sprinted toward Michelle as she shook the blood off her hand. Axel threw his right fist toward Michelle, which made her dodge before hitting his back with her elbow, which made him yelp.
Jasper tried hitting Michelle, but she dodged and poked him with her fingers, which made him yell and back away while rubbing his eyes.
Jasper glared at Michelle. "You bitch..." he said, lowly. Michelle faced the duo. I won't be able to last for long, she thought. All I need to do is stall them, and then it can be a fair fight.
At Home Sweet Home, Kevin walked out of the building, stretching his arms. "That took a lot longer than it needed to be; hopefully they aren't bored without me..." he said, lowly.
"Big Brother?!" Kevin was shocked and looked at the source; he saw Katelynn sprinting in her direction. Kevin reached the bottom of the stairs when Katelynn was close. "Katie, why were you—" she looked at him. "Big Sister is fighting those bullies that took her Doey toy away?!"
Kevin's eyes widened before he sprinted forward. "You stay by Home Sweet Home!" he shouted; Katelynn looked at him, concerned. "Big Brother..." she said, lowly.
A group surrounded the trio watching, concerned; the boys tried catching their breath while Michelle was stoic. "She's making a fool out of us," Axel said, lowly. Jasper looked at Michelle. "I've got an idea," he said, which made Axel look at him.
Jasper sprinted toward Michelle with his right fist raised. As Michelle dodged Jasper, he grabbed her right wrist, which shocked her. Soon after, Jasper grabbed Michelle's left wrist; she struggled. "You bastard..." she said, lowly.
Jasper looked at Axel. "Now's your chance!" he shouted. As Axel charged toward Michelle, she growled a bit. "I'm not done yet!" she shouted. Michelle stepped on Jasper's foot and hit his head with the back of her head, which made him let go.
Axel tried hitting Michelle, but she quickly moved out of the way and punched him in the face, which knocked him to the ground. Michelle made a hissing sound and rubbed the back of her head. "I shouldn't have hit him with my head, that really hurt..." she said, lowly.
When Michelle looked forward, Jasper shot toward her, which made her eyes widen, before he tackled her to the ground. "You bitch; how dare you hit me?!" he shouted.
After Kevin pushed a few people out of the way, his eyes widened when he saw the duo. "Well, next time, don't insult my friends?!" Michelle shouted. Jasper grinned. "There's no way you actually care for her; she's the younger sister of the biggest bully in this place," he said.
Jasper pointed at Michelle. "You're only using him for protection, and you'll get tired of him later," he continued. "The cowards flock with the strong."
Kevin froze and looked away. I really didn't think of it like that... could he be— he heard screaming, which shocked him. When Kevin looked at the source, his eyes widened when he saw Michelle biting Jasper's finger while he screamed in pain.
Michelle let go of Jasper's finger, which made him quickly move his hand around. "You're wrong about him; he's not a bully, he's been the kindest person inside this stupid dome," she said.
Michelle clenched her fists. "He could've done nothing when you three stole my Doey toy, but he punched Axel in his face because he thought it was right," she continued. Michelle menacingly glared at Jasper. "If you consider Kevin a bully, you three are worse than him?!" she shouted.
Kevin stared at Michelle with awe. Is that... what she really thinks about me... he thought before looking down and placing his hand against his chest. No one has ever said that about me before... I don't deserve someone like her...
Jasper glared at Michelle and made a fist with his other hand. "You're gonna regret biting me, you bitch?!" he shouted. Before Jasper threw his fist, Kevin tackled him to the ground, which shocked the others. Michelle sat up and looked at the duo. "Kevin!" she shouted.
Kevin menacingly glared at Jasper, which terrified him. "You planned on hitting her; that's low of you..." he said. "If you want to talk shit about me, say it to my face?!" Kevin started punching Jasper repeatedly, which terrified the others and made them run away.
Michelle quickly got up and sprinted toward Kevin. "Kevin, stop!" she shouted. As Kevin raised his fist, Michelle wrapped her arms around him, which shocked him. "That's enough! Please..." she said.
Kevin turned his head to Michelle. "Misha..." he said, lowly. "What's going on here?!" the duo turned their heads to the source and saw a male Playtime employee quickly approach them.
The Playtime employee spotted the duo. "Should've known... you two are coming with me to the Counselor's office," he continued. The duo stared at the male Playtime employee before looking at one another.
Inside the Counselor's office, Kevin sat by the door with his legs close to his chest, and his arms wrapped around them, while he heard shouting inside the room. She did all of this... for me... he thought.
(Flashback Begin)
The Playtime employee looked at Kevin. "I'm guessing you started another fight again, Kevin?" he asked. Kevin remained silent and looked down; Michelle let go and quickly stood up. "No, he didn't!" she shouted.
The Playtime employee was surprised while Kevin looked at Michelle, shocked. "It was all me," she continued. "I fought those three because he insulted Katie; Kevin came by right on time before Jasper could hit me."
The Playtime employee scratched his head. "I see..." he said. "But even so, I still have to take you two to the Counselor's office..." Michelle growled a bit. "That's complete bullshit!" she shouted.
The Playtime employee waved his finger. "Hey now, no foul language in this place," he said. Michelle growled a bit as Kevin stared at her.
(Flashback Ends)
Kevin looked down. She didn't have to do what she did either, and yet she did it anyway... he thought. She's too kind for this world... Kevin heard the door open, which made him look at the source. Kevin saw Michelle step out of the room. "How did it go?" he asked.
Michelle sighed and sat next to Kevin. "I got no TV for two weeks," she said; he looked down. "That sucks..." he said, lowly. Michelle waved her hand a bit. "Eh, that's something I used to; besides missing the Smiling Critters show, I prefer reading over watching TV," she said.
Kevin placed his chin against his legs. "Misha..." he said, lowly. Michelle turned her head to Kevin. "Will you... always be my friend?" he asked. Michelle tilted her head, confused. "That's a weird question; I thought we were already friends," she said.
Kevin lay his head against his legs. "Most of the people who said that sentence immediately ran away after the things I did..." he said.
Michelle looked at the ground and noticed a teardrop land on the ground, which shocked her. "I don't know why I'm like this... I hate it..." Kevin continued. "I don't want to be this bully they paint me as..." Kevin sniffled and closed his eyes. "All I want... is a real friend..." he said, lowly.
Michelle remained silent and looked down; she scooted close to Kevin and lay her head against his shoulder, which made him lift his head and look at her. "I'll always be your friend if you'll always be mine..." she whispered.
Kevin remained silent before looking forward with a slight smile. "Yeah... I'd like that..." he whispered. Michelle smiled as she placed her pinky over Kevin's; he was hesitant before he wrapped it around hers. The duo smiled at one another as the hallway fell silent.
...
...
...
Inside the destroyed room, Kevin was sleeping against the wall with his arms wrapped around his knees. Soon after, Kevin slid down and hit his side, which made him flinch, and he quickly sat up.
Kevin looked around the destroyed room. "Was I... asleep?" he asked himself before rubbing his eyes. "I don't remember the last time I went to sleep..." Kevin looked at his hands. "It looks like I wasn't out for long; my hands aren't runny," he continued.
Kevin looked at the red beaded bracelet on his left wrist before carefully placing his claw over the 'M' charm. "Misha..." he said, lowly, before bringing his left hand close to his chest. Kevin stood up and left the destroyed room; soon after, he entered the room Michelle was in.
Kevin stared at the unconscious Michelle before looking down. "I'm sorry... I wasn't strong enough to protect you..." he said. "And if you passing on is my punishment for my weakness... then that is a burden I'll accept."
Kevin looked at the beaded bracelet before looking at Michelle. "If it is your time to go... I have a song that'll help with this grief inside my chest... and bring both of us peace..." he continued.
Link to the song: https://youtu.be/fz5gmZV9_so
Kevin took a deep breath and exhaled. "Hear the clock ticking on the wall; losing sleep, losing track of the tears I cry," he sang. "Every drop is a waterfall; every breath is a break in the riptide."
Kevin looked at the unconscious Michelle. "Oh, how long has it been? I don't know," he sang. "But it feels like an eternity since I had you here with me. Since I had to learn to be someone you don't know."
Around the room, balls of light formed before they started singing in the background. "To be with you in paradise; what I wouldn't sacrifice," Kevin sang. "Why'd you have to chase the light somewhere I can't go?"
Dough tears pricked Kevin's eyes. "As I walk this world alone... as I walk this world alone..." he sang.
Kevin wiped his dough tears away before looking at the unconscious Michelle. "Another glimpse of what could've been; another dream, another way that it never was," he sang.
The balls of light sang in the background. "Falling back in the wilderness; waking up, rubbing salt in the cut," Kevin sang.
More balls of light appeared, and the room darkened. "Oh, how long has it been? I don't know," Kevin sang. "But it feels like an eternity since I had you here with me. Since I had to learn to be someone you don't know."
The balls of light sang louder. "To be with you in paradise; what I wouldn't sacrifice," Kevin sang. "Why'd you have to chase the light somewhere I can't go?"
Kevin looked at the beaded bracelet before placing his right hand over it. "As I walk this world alone... as I walk this world alone..." he sang.
Soon after, the gaps between the lights showed memories of Kevin and Michelle together, past and present. "It's an endless sky, it's a starless sky; it's a hell that I call home," he sang; the balls of light shone a bit. "Hell that I call home," they sang.
The balls of light started gathering behind Kevin. "It's a long goodbye on the other side of the only life I know..." he sang; light shone behind him, which made him turn to it.
Kevin saw Michelle smiling at him, which made his dough tears fall, before the other balls of light started humming. "And it feels like an eternity since I had you here with me..." he said before approaching her. "Since I had to learn to be someone you don't know..."
Michelle looked at Kevin and held her arms out, which made him sprint toward her and the balls of light to sing louder. "To be with you in paradise; what I wouldn't sacrifice," he sang. "Why'd you have to chase the light somewhere I can't go?"
When Kevin was close, he hugged Michelle. "As I walk this world alone..." he sang. Michelle smiled before she became balls of light; as the balls of light disappeared and the room brightened, Kevin looked at his hands. "As I walk this world alone..." he sang.
Kevin turned to the unconscious Michelle before looking down; he wiped his dough tears before approaching the metal table. When Kevin was close, he looked at the unconscious Michelle. "I hope that song brought you some form of peace..." he said.
Kevin clenched his fists. "But knowing you... you're one hell of a fighter," he continued. "You don't go down that easily..." Kevin moved some of the hair away from Michelle's unconscious face. "And you don't have just me waiting for you," he said.
Kevin remembered the group. "You've got Katie, Matthew, Jack, Huggy and Kissy, Bunzo, Mommy, PJ, CatNap, DogDay, Bobby, Kickin', Bubba, Hoppy, Crafty, Picky, Miss Delight, Pianosaurus, Yarnaby, Poppy, and all the smaller toys... they're waiting for you to get up as well..." he continued.
Kevin lay his head against the unconscious Michelle's forehead. "So please... wake up for all of us..." he said. "We miss you..."
As Kevin lifted his head a bit, he pressed his mouth against the unconscious Michelle's lips before pulling away. "And if this is our final moment together... I'll be the one standing by your side when you take your last breath..." he continued.
Kevin knelt beside the metal bed and laid his arms on an open part. Kevin stared at the unconscious Michelle before looking at his beaded bracelet. I don't really believe in God, but if there is one... please help her... he thought before laying his right hand over his left wrist.
Kevin lay his head against his arms and looked at the unconscious Michelle before lying his forehead against them. Under the blanket, the blue hand and the Omni-Hand twitched a bit; Michelle winced a bit before slowly opening her eyes.
Michelle slowly turned her head to Kevin. "Ke... vin..." she said, lowly. Kevin flinched a bit before raising his head and looking at Michelle. "Misha," he said before standing up. "You're awake..." Michelle winced a bit, which concerned Kevin. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Michelle looked at Kevin. "Wa... ter..." she said, lowly. Kevin turned his head to her bag. "Matthew did mention you had a few water bottles in your bag," he said before approaching it. "I'm glad he thought ahead of this."
When Kevin was close to Michelle's bag, he unzipped it and grabbed the water bottle before zipping it back up and approaching her. When Kevin was close, he untwisted the cap before placing it on the metal table.
Kevin placed his hand under Michelle's head and gently lifted her a bit. "Here..." he said as he carefully brought the bottle's mouth to hers.
When Kevin tilted the water bottle a bit, Michelle started drinking from it until she flinched and started coughing, which made him quickly stop. "Easy, easy..." he said. "You have to go slow..."
After Michelle stopped coughing, Kevin helped her drink the water before he stopped pouring and pulled the bottle away; he gently lay her head back on the table. "How are you feeling?" he asked. Michelle sighed a bit. "Better..." she said, lowly.
Kevin nodded as he grabbed the bottle cap and twisted it back on the water bottle before stretching his arms toward Michelle's bag and unzipping it. As Kevin placed the water in Michelle's bag and zipped it, she looked at the roof. "How long was I out?" she asked.
Kevin remained silent as he retracted his arms before looking down. "For almost a month..." he said; Michelle was shocked. "A month?!" she shouted. Kevin turned to Michelle as she quickly sat up before flinching and closing her eyes with gritted teeth. "Ah! My head..." she said.
Kevin saw Michelle place the Omni-Hand on her right prosthetic arm against her head, which made her freeze up. Michelle opened her eyes and held her right arm out; she looked at her left arm before pulling it out of the cover, revealing the blue hand on her left prosthetic arm.
Michelle moved the GrabPack's fingers. "This is..." she said, lowly. Kevin nodded. "We had to take parts from the GrabPack you wore to make your prosthetic arms..." he said; Michelle nodded. "I see..." she said, lowly.
Kevin noticed Michelle looking at the blanket and lifting it a bit. Kevin glanced at Michelle's shoulder and noticed a strap, which made him freeze in place. Bobby did mention that blood got on her clothes, does that mean she's... he thought.
Michelle covered her chest with the blanket before deadpanning at Kevin. "Is there a reason why I'm only wearing undergarments under this blanket?" she asked.
Kevin flinched with a blush before quickly turning away. "Uh, yes, a very good reason," he said. "Your clothes were covered in blood, so Bobby undressed you and put that blanket over you. She told the male toys to never lift it, or we'll have hell to pay."
Michelle looked at Kevin. "And my jacket?" she asked. Kevin remembered Bobby BearHug handing the open bag of cookies and bandages to Matthew before looking down. "They had to cut it off you so they could get to your arms," he said.
Michelle sighed. "Aw man... and I liked that jacket too..." she said; Kevin frowned a bit. "Sorry..." he said, lowly.
"It's fine... they needed to get to my arms, so they had no other choice," Michelle said before smiling at Kevin. "And besides, I can always get a new one once we're out of this place." Kevin froze and turned his head to Michelle. "Are you saying...?" he asked.
Michelle looked at Kevin, determined. "Once we deal with the Prototype, I'm going to get all of you and the orphans out of here and show you the real sky," she said.
Kevin remembered Michelle's words back in Playcare before smiling at her. "That sounds nice..." he said. Michelle smiled. "Now, uh..." she said before pointing at the door. "Could you step out of the room for a moment? I'd like to put some clothes on."
Kevin blushed and quickly nodded. "Yep, I can do that," he said before sprinting toward the door. "I'll be outside." When the door opened, Kevin stepped out of the room and leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath as the door closed.
Kevin looked at his beaded bracelet before placing it against his chest. Thank you for answering me, God... he thought. Kevin crossed his arms and looked forward, determined. And I'll keep her safe this time... I swear on my life... he thought.
---
And that's the end of this short story; I had this in the back of my mind for a little while. The stuff that's said in this short story is canon to the main story(and you'll notice a change in the age recap once I post the chapter that starts chapter 5). I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and I can't wait to continue Under the (Plushy) Surface; until then, see you later and have an awesome day/night!