Chapter Text
[ What does it mean to love? ]
To love something, or someone, means that you care. Even if sometimes it’s difficult, or disheartening, or even painful, you would bear that burden if it meant the best for them.
No matter what.
So in a way, love is…
…
[ What does it mean to love? ]
…
……
“Sacrifices!”
Floory exclaimed, much more cheerily than one would expect when contrasted with what he actually said. He struggled to hold in his laughter and keep a smiling face when he saw Mephone stare at him, bewildered. It was obviously a joke, but after everyone wanted him off the island so badly, including actually trying to kill him, The Floor thinks the joke was warranted. “We make them fight to the death, last one standing gets immunity!”
“Absolutely not.” Mephone eventually said in his usual deadpanned tone, which prompted a small giggle from him. “As much as it would be funny, I can’t afford what happened with Ballpoint Pen again.”
“So the death part wasn’t the deal breaker?”
“You know me well enough to know that.”
The Floor laughed. He and Mephone were once again pitching challenge ideas, even though Mephone would probably get the final say anyway, he’d reckon. Still, he still wanted to suggest some things…That, and they decided to have their meetings at the pic-nix table so Floory could eat as much as his little heart desires! Win-win.
“What haven’t I tried…oh! Strawberry mochi!” And in a flash, said dessert appeared on the table. The Floor teleported up on it and munched down, gone within seconds. Yum! “Mm…does anything ever taste bad? I don’t think anything I’ve tried here is worse than par.”
“The pic-nix table is just a good cook, any food can be bad if done wrong.” Mephone commented, picking up a cookie from the plate he summoned earlier. “Also don’t get too distracted, we’re here for a meeting.”
“Says you.” Floory mumbled and ignored Mephone’s glare entirely. “Well, you’re going to decide on the challenge anyway, right? I’m just here to make sure it can happen.” He said off-handedly, getting closer to the plate of cookies. He tried to take a bite without literally consuming the entire plate, thankfully Mephone pitied him and fed him one.
Mephone rolled his eyes. “I guess, but I still want your input, even if they’re terrible most of the time. We are a team now, after all…Begrudgingly.”
He was taken off-guard. In fact, Floory almost choked on the cookie, but instead of getting flustered, he kept himself together.
“Awww, you do care!” The Floor mused after he was done eating and regained most of his composure, trying not to show that such a simple comment could get him so elated. “Dare I say we’re the perfect pair!”
“I wouldn’t go that far.” Despite the harsh words, The Floor could see Mephone smiling. It made him smile too, and it made him almost zone out when Mephone started talking again. “No matter, do you have any better ideas that don't involve violence? I would never hear the end of it, I have to make this perfect…What about—”
Mephone went on a tangent, and Floory listened intently, making comments here and there because of course he would. He could listen to Mephone talk all day, in fact.
He smiled at the thought. Yeah. Yeah, he could listen to him all day, couldn’t he? Mephone could be going on about something he knows nothing about, and he’d be there, listening intently like the days would never end. He felt his face reddened, but pushed down the thought rushing through his head.
But he knew, despite everything, it could never be.
How else would it go? Mephone was a successful game show host with the eyes of the public around him, and The Floor was just…y’know, him. Mephone was out of his league, anyone would know that. He was fine with it.
Mephone was still talking.
And listen he did.
——————
After the long meeting that practically went nowhere, Mephone had left to try and develop his challenge ideas by himself. That meant Floory had some time to himself too.
He didn’t particularly enjoy being alone though, and he certainly didn’t want to now. So he did the first thing he thought of; popping around and trying to find someone to talk to.
It didn’t take long to find that someone at all.
“Hey Cabby!”
Floory greeted his former alliance member with his usual optimistic tone. He couldn’t help but be a little concerned when she let out a short scream out of surprise, which he usually wouldn’t be since it happened so often, but Cabby was…not in a great emotional state, to say the least.
“Oh…” Cabby looked down at him and sighed. “Greetings, The Floor.”
“Sorry for scaring you.” He replied sheepishly, to which Cabby shook her head with a small, but seemingly genuine smile. “It’s quite alright, I should be used to it by now anyway.”
The short silence was awkward, which was not his plan in the slightest. So, he scrambled to start the conversation back up. “So…How have you been holding up? You were pretty, uh, rattled last time we properly spoke.”
He didn’t want to directly bring up the deep, personal issues she shared with him, and it seems like Cabby didn’t either. “I think…I think I’m doing as good as I possibly can right now. Still trying to figure out what to do next after everything.”
Cabby looked to the side, rolling slightly away from him. Floory moved next to her.
“I’m always free to talk whenever you’re ready, if you want.”
Cabby was quiet for a while, and The Floor didn’t mind much. He knew she needed time. Eventually, Cabby answered. “You know what? I think I’ll take you up on that offer, in due time.”
The Floor nodded, happy that he was of use and reliable, enough to comfort Cabby in her time of need. He and Cabby may not have agreed on everything, but he recognized her drive to change. She was trying, and that’s all that mattered to him. He smiled at Cabby reassuringly. “I’ll be there for you when you need it, I promise.”
“And I, you.” Cabby promised him back.
The two shared a smile. The Floor was about to say something, but got cut off when someone else walked up to them.
“My my, what’s this? Trying to give advantage to your former teammate? Hm?”
“Hey Silver Spoon.” Floory deadpanned back. After finding out the man was literally putting the idea of literally trying to kill him in people’s heads during the challenge, he didn’t particularly feel like he wanted to talk to him. Still, The Floor was an assistant now, it was his job to put up with it. He took a glance at Cabby’s small frown before turning to Silver. “Did you need any help?”
Turns out, Silver wasn’t the only one there. Walking with him was Candle, who simply waved at both him and Cabby. Cabby rolled back slightly, averting her eyes. The Floor himself only smiled at her, right before Silver started talking again.
“I don’t need your help, dear. You’re the literal floor, there’s nothing you could do for me.” He huffed, crossing his arms. “We simply saw you and her conversing, and we suspect some foul play.”
Candle sighed beside him, shaking her head. “Don’t drag me into this.”
Floory knew this was an attempt to get into their head of some kind, or maybe he really was scared he’d give Cabby an unfair advantage. Nevertheless, The Floor kept his tone still. “Why would I do that? I think I’m still allowed to talk to people, Cabby and you two included.”
“Puh! Surely you see the issue.” Silver scoffed. “You have some say over the show now, you can rig things to your former alliance’s favor. You should not be allowed to talk to any of us outside of the competition.”
“Silver Spoon, I do not think—”
Before Candle could finish her sentence, The Floor couldn’t help but defend himself. “Sorry mate, but just because I’m an assistant now doesn’t mean I can’t talk to contestants.” He stated firmly, raising a brow. “You don’t get a say in what I do or don’t do, it’s literally in my job title to help.”
“Puh! You say that like any of us need any help from you of all people.” Silver argued, everyone around him stared as he spoke, all of them rendered speechless. “All of us were willing to get rid of you the moment you started messing things up. The only reason you’re here is because you forced yourself into being an ‘assistant’ when Mephone just wanted you out of the way—”
“Silver Spoon.”
Even with Candle grabbing his arm, Silver didn’t stop speaking.
“We don’t want you around!”
There was a long pause afterwards, with basically everyone else being stunned into silence, looking at him in utter disbelief. Floory moved back slightly, not knowing what to say, and in response, Cabby rolled her wheelchair in front of him.
“ You may not want him around, but I do.” Cabby practically scowled at Silver, hand pointing at him. Her usual intimidating aura returned in an instant. “He’s been more of an ally in our short time together than you ever were.”
Silver Spoon rolled his eyes, a smug grin on his face. “And that’s exactly why him being here is a problem. Not to mention he’s dangerous, he almost killed us all! Surely you remember that, Cabby.”
“Silver Spoon!”
Silver finally shut up when Candle raised her voice.
“That’s enough, you cannot speak on my behalf.” She glared at him, then she stepped in front of him to talk to Cabby and Floory herself. “My apologies to the both of you. My betrayal of our former alliance was just strategy and meant nothing personal, I hope you know that. Please, do not take what he said to heart.”
With that, Candle extended her hand to Cabby, to which she reluctantly took. Cabby gave her a small smile, and it seemed like they’re taking steps in the right direction.
The Floor didn’t have the mind to care at that moment though.
In fact, his mind fazed out Cabby’s reply entirely. He was still stuck on what Silver had said. He knows he shouldn’t even entertain the idea, but everything just kept coming back to the fact that Silver was right .
Even after all the time they spent together during the competition, not a single one of them stood up for him, at least not initially. The only one who even tried to argue for him was Paintbrush, and they were gone. All of them, all of them , were perfectly fine with going above and beyond just to get rid of him. The majority of them didn’t stop until he basically threatened their lives after they threatened his. The only reason they stopped was because he was dangerous.
He thought he’d been nothing but friendly, yeah sometimes he’d scare people just by popping up next to them but he never meant to. Then he thought back to the time everyone stepped on him, or how they’d make comments about how he was terrifying before anything ever happened.
So was that it?
Did anyone ever like him?
“…Floory?”
The Floor blinked, and suddenly he was back. He looked up at Cabby and Candle, both with concerned looks on their faces. Even Silver behind them looked a little worried. Had he zoned out that badly?
Cabby moved first.
“Are you okay?”
“I—” He was about to reply, but the words died in his throat, and his eyes started to burn. Realization hit him that if he doesn’t leave now, he might actually make the situation worse for all of them.
So instead, he moved back.
“I gotta go!”
With just a second, he transported himself to the place he felt completely safe in; the red spot. Any tears that might’ve escaped him evaporated the moment he turned into the lava he was on, quietly sizzling away. The sound only served to send him further into distress.
He was so childish sometimes.
Floory slowly breathed, calming his nerves slowly but surely. He just needed time to think things through.
Maybe he was selfish. Maybe he should’ve just listened.
He should’ve just left, then no one would have to deal with him anymore.
The Floor squeezed his eyes shut. Nevermind that, he has to do his best to fulfill his part of the agreement. Just…do whatever Mephone wants him to do, don’t bother anyone, don’t mess things up. He only wanted to help, right? So act like it, stay out of the way.
Should be easy enough.
Even if it would kill him to go back to feeling lonely again.
If it meant making everyone live just a little easier, if it brought them comfort, he’d sacrifice his own. For his friends, for Mephone, he’d sacrifice his own wants.
It’s fine.
He’ll get used to it eventually.
——————
Hours passed.
The Floor watched the sun move from directly above him to barely visible through the edges of the volcano, eventually, the sky started to turn dark, which told him it was probably time to leave. Still, he couldn’t help but stay a little longer, looking up at the stars scattered across the sky.
He’d always wondered what it would be like to fly to the stars.
He probably could, but it’d take far too much effort, like running non-stop for several miles, he’d guess.
Tethered to the ground, he teleported away.
The Floor popped away from the volcano to the pic-nix table. To his surprise, Mephone was already there waiting for him, some food already on the table. A small box of pizza, the usual cookies.
“Where have you been all day?” Mephone asked, and Floory teleported onto the table as usual, body changing into the blue colored wood. Floory didn’t know what to say really, he had just been in the red spot for god knows how long, so he didn’t exactly give him an answer, settling on just replying with a short and vague “Around.”
Mephone looked clearly confused about his answer, but Floory didn’t comment on it further. He didn’t want to think about it, he didn’t want to think about anything, actually. He just wasn’t feeling up to it. He wanted to just teleport away and lock any feelings away, he wanted to so badly.
However, he can’t just leave. He had no other reason to, and if he left, he’d probably worry or at least confuse Mephone even more, and that’s the last thing he wants to happen right now.
So for once, he kept his mouth shut.
Mephone shrugged his weird answer off, he grabbed a slice of pizza and instead decided to ask another question. “Not chatty today huh? Anything interesting happened?”
“Not really.” The Floor lied, keeping his expression still just enough to be convincing. “I’m just a little sleepy, that’s all.”
Mephone turned to him a little more, a pizza still in his hand. Mephone gave him a small smirk, eying at him up and down. “Wow, really not chatty today, that’s new.” and with that, placed the slice on the table for him. “In any case, you haven’t had dinner yet, have you? Not that I— Anyway, just eat up.”
Floory hummed in response, not knowing what to say. He just quietly ate.
It was quiet but peaceful, which was everything he needed.
Eventually, They were done. He and Mephone only exchanged a few words after that, with Mephone telling him about his day, or his plans for the competition, and Floory couldn’t help but crack a small smile here and there.
Still listening.
The two of them eventually finished their meal. They split up afterwards, with them both going back to their rooms respectively.
Floory teleported into his room and up to his bed. He usually switches between sleeping on the bed, on the carpet, even the grass outside. He IS the floor, after all. All he needed was just a comfortable surface. For now though, the soft, comforting feeling of the blanket was all he needed today.
Now he was alone in the dimly lit room, sunken into his bed, staring at the ceiling.
The small high that came from just spending a little bit of time with Mephone dissipates slowly, now that he was by himself again.
In spite of that, he breathed out a sigh of relief.
He was still stressed out of his mind, he was still a nervous wreck, but the most important thing was he kept it together.
He wasn’t a problem.
Perfect.