Archive of Our Own ^beta

The sun was setting low in the sky, casting long shadows over the sprawling city of Las Nevadas. The neon lights were beginning to flicker on, painting the streets in a blend of reds, blues, and yellows. For most, it was a place of ambition, a testament to Quackity's tireless work to build something grand from the ground up. But for Sapnap, the glimmering lights couldn’t erase the sense of unease settling in his chest.

He had come to Las Nevadas not for the city, but for the person behind it. After the fight between Quackity and Karl, a rift had grown. Karl had come back to Kinoko Kingdom looking heartbroken, and Sapnap had tried his best to comfort him. But deep down, he knew that something wasn’t resolved. He knew he had to talk to Quackity—get answers, find a way to mend the fractures between the three of them. They had once been the inseparable trio, and the thought of that falling apart was too painful to accept.

But as Sapnap made his way through the quiet back alleys, his heart heavy with anticipation, he was caught off guard by something else—someone else.

He had expected to find Quackity in his office, perhaps pacing with frustration or wearing his usual mask of charisma. Instead, Sapnap found a figure slumped against the cold, hard ground near one of the buildings, barely conscious, the purple hoodie giving them away instantly.

“Purpled?” Sapnap’s voice broke through the silence, his heart skipping a beat as he rushed forward, dropping to his knees beside the figure.

Purpled was lying there, barely moving, his breathing shallow and his wings—the small, underdeveloped wings of his avian hybrid form—trembling faintly. His normally sharp, calculating eyes were half-lidded, unfocused. He looked lost, broken in a way that sent a cold wave of panic through Sapnap.

“Purpled, hey—” Sapnap gently shook his shoulder, trying to stir him awake. “What the hell happened?”

There was no response at first. Purpled’s eyelids fluttered but remained closed. Sapnap’s mind raced, wondering how long the younger boy had been lying here, how long he’d been left like this. His protective instincts kicked in full force. Despite their teasing, brotherly bickering, Purpled was family. And family looked out for each other.

Sapnap slid his arms under Purpled, lifting him up with ease. The kid was lighter than he should have been, too light, and Sapnap frowned at the thought of how much Purpled must’ve been pushing himself lately. He could feel the exhaustion radiating off him, both physical and emotional.

“I’m getting you out of here,” Sapnap muttered under his breath, holding Purpled close as he stood up. His grip was secure but gentle, careful not to hurt the fragile avian boy.

Las Nevadas wasn’t where Purpled belonged right now. He needed to be somewhere safe—somewhere he could rest and recover. And that meant only one place.

Kinoko Kingdom.

The journey back was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of the wind through the trees as Sapnap flew. His blaze hybrid wings, made of fire and heat, propelled him swiftly through the night sky, cutting across the distance between Las Nevadas and Kinoko Kingdom with ease.

As they approached Kinoko, the peaceful village below began to come into view, its soft glow welcoming them home. Sapnap descended carefully, holding Purpled securely against his chest. The younger boy had remained unconscious for the entire trip, his breaths shallow but steady. He hadn’t stirred once, which only deepened Sapnap’s worry.

Once they touched down, Sapnap made his way straight to the house he shared with Karl and Quackity. It had been meant to be their sanctuary, their home. Now, though, it was just him and Karl, with Quackity off in Las Nevadas more often than not.

Gently, Sapnap pushed open the door to the room next to his own—one that had been set aside for Purpled whenever he visited Kinoko. It wasn’t fancy, but it was comfortable, with soft blankets and pillows, a quiet place where Purpled could relax and be himself.

Carefully, Sapnap laid Purpled down on the bed, tucking him in under the covers. The younger boy stirred slightly, but he still didn’t fully wake. His small wings twitched under the blanket, as if reacting to some distant dream.

Sapnap sat down on the edge of the bed, his eyes never leaving Purpled’s face. His brow furrowed with concern. He’d never seen Purpled like this before—so vulnerable, so out of it. It wasn’t like him at all.

“Purpled…” Sapnap whispered softly, brushing a stray strand of purple hair away from his face. “What happened to you, man?”

Hours passed in silence, with only the soft sound of Purpled’s breathing filling the room. Sapnap stayed by his side, unwilling to leave. He didn’t know what had happened in Las Nevadas—whether it was exhaustion, Quackity’s cruelty, or something else entirely—but he wasn’t going to let Purpled go through this alone.

As the first rays of dawn began to creep through the window, Purpled finally stirred.

His eyelids fluttered open, his eyes unfocused and glazed with exhaustion. For a moment, he didn’t seem to recognize where he was. His small hands fidgeted nervously, and a soft, high-pitched sound escaped his throat—a sound that made Sapnap freeze in place.

It was a chirp.

A small, frightened chirp, like the ones that baby birds made when they were lost or in danger. Sapnap’s heart skipped a beat as he stared down at Purpled, who was now curled up under the blankets, his pupils dilated, eyes wide and filled with fear.

“Purpled?” Sapnap asked, his voice gentle as he leaned closer. “Hey, it’s me. It’s Sapnap. You’re safe now.”

But Purpled didn’t respond with words. Instead, he let out another soft chirp, his small wings twitching under the blanket as he curled in on himself even more.

Sapnap’s heart clenched painfully at the sight. He’d seen Purpled upset before, but this… this was something different. Purpled wasn’t just upset—he was scared. And he wasn’t speaking like he normally did. The chirps, the way he was curling up… Sapnap wasn’t sure what to do.

But he knew one thing for certain: Purpled needed comfort. He needed someone to be there for him.

Without thinking, Sapnap gently slid onto the bed beside Purpled, pulling the smaller boy into his arms. Purpled stiffened at first, his tiny body tense with fear, but Sapnap didn’t let go. He held him close, wrapping his arms around him in a protective embrace.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Sapnap whispered, his voice soft and soothing. “You’re safe, Purpled. I’ve got you.”

Purpled let out another chirp, this one quieter, almost hesitant. His small hands clutched at Sapnap’s shirt, his fingers trembling.

Sapnap’s heart ached as he held him tighter, gently rubbing his back. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. I promise.”

Purpled’s breathing was shaky, and he let out another series of soft, frightened chirps, his wings trembling as if he were still scared of something—something Sapnap couldn’t see. But Sapnap was determined to be there for him, to protect him from whatever was haunting him.

He began to speak in a low, comforting tone, using the same baby talk his dad once used with Sapnap when he was younger—when Sapnap had been scared or upset. It wasn’t something he did often, but it felt right in this moment.

“There we go,” Sapnap murmured softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s just me and you, little guy. Everything’s okay. You’re safe with me. Nothing’s gonna hurt you.”

Purpled’s grip on Sapnap’s shirt tightened, and he let out another soft chirp, but this time, it was less panicked. It was almost as if he was responding to Sapnap’s words, slowly realizing that he wasn’t alone.

“There we go,” Sapnap continued, his voice steady and gentle. “You’re doing great, Purpled. Just keep breathing, okay? Nice and easy. You’re safe now.”

For a while, Purpled didn’t say anything—just more quiet chirps, the kind that Sapnap realized must have been instinctive for avian hybrids like him. But slowly, ever so slowly, Purpled began to relax in Sapnap’s arms. His trembling started to ease, and his breathing became steadier.

“There we go,” Sapnap repeated, his heart swelling with relief as he felt Purpled’s body start to relax against him. “I’ve got you, buddy. You’re okay now.”

It felt like hours passed before Purpled finally spoke—really spoke.

“S-Sapnap?” His voice was small, hesitant, like he wasn’t sure if he was really there.

“Yeah, bud,” Sapnap said softly, his hand still rubbing gentle circles on Purpled’s back. “I’m right here.”

Purpled sniffled, his voice trembling. “W-What happened?”

Sapnap sighed, pressing his chin gently against the top of Purpled’s head. “I don’t know, man. I found you collapsed in Las Nevadas. You were out of it.”

Purpled tensed again, but Sapnap quickly shushed him, continuing his soothing motions. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re here now. You’re safe.”

Purpled’s small wings fluttered slightly against his back, and he let out a shaky breath. “I… I don’t remember…”

“That’s okay,” Sapnap reassured him. “You don’t have to remember right now. Just focus on resting. You’ve been through a lot.”

Purpled nodded weakly, his body still curled up against Sapnap’s. He didn’t say anything else, but the soft, hesitant chirps had stopped, replaced by quiet breaths as he slowly drifted back to sleep.

Sapnap stayed by his side, his arms still wrapped protectively around Purpled as the younger boy slept. He didn’t know what had happened in Las Nevadas, or why Purpled had been in such a bad state, but he didn’t need to know right now. All that mattered was that Purpled was safe, and he wasn’t alone.

As Sapnap held him close, he found himself whispering softly, “You’re not alone, Purpled. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

Hours later, when the sun had fully risen, the door to the room creaked open quietly. Sapnap looked up to see Karl standing in the doorway, his eyes filled with concern as he looked at the two of them.

“Hey,” Karl said softly, his voice barely above a whisper. “How’s he doing?”

Sapnap glanced down at Purpled, who was still sleeping soundly in his arms, before looking back at Karl. “He’s okay now. Just needs some rest.”

Karl nodded, stepping into the room and sitting down on the edge of the bed beside them. He reached out, gently brushing a hand through Purpled’s hair. “Poor kid…”

“Yeah,” Sapnap murmured, his voice filled with quiet determination. “But he’s gonna be okay. I’ll make sure of it.”

And as the three of them sat there together, surrounded by the warmth of Kinoko Kingdom, Sapnap knew that they would face whatever challenges came their way—together.