Random thought of the day: I don't even really like ships that much to be honest. Now, I like them, just not that much. I much more like a really, really strong friendship, where the people, or rather skeletons are just really close to each other and really affectionate. I think it's called queerplatonic? I'm not sure though. Than again I think it's close enough to a ship, so I'm not complaining.
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"Error?" Cross gently knocked on the door, patiently waiting for an answer. He didn't get one, but still, lack of it was better than recent "go away"s and "leave me alone"s.
Around a week ago Error fell victim to one of his depressive episodes. It's not like it was the first time, but this specific one seemed to be both stronger and longer than any previous ones. Cross and the rest of the gang tried to take care of him: bringing him meals, talking to him and trying to make him take care of himself. Key word trying.
Now though the rest of the castle residents left to gather more supplies and Cross decided to try again. He had nothing to lose after all, but a lot to gain.
Once he opened the door and stepped into the room, he was surprised to see that Error was sitting on his bed. An upgrade from earlier, since every time Cross visited him in his room this week he was laying down. He wasn't even sure if Error left his room during that time.
"Hey." Cross greeted, making said skeleton look up at him for a brief moment. Despite not sleeping he was still huddled in blankets. "How are you feeling?"
Error didn't verbally answer, just shrugging.
"Well, you must be at least a bit better since you're communicating with me." A moment of silence, in which Cross kneeled down in front of the other, so he could take a better look at him. Before he could resume speaking, Error did so.
"I guess, I'm feeling better. A bit" He said in a raspy voice. No surprise since he hasn't really been talking much recently.
Cross sighed in relief hearing that, it was a small start, but a start nonetheless.
"That's great... I uh, know from experience that once you get out from such a state you can feel very messy. Do you want me to help you with that?"
Error eyed him for a second, only to look at the floor moments later. He did feel messy, dirty, hungry, basically like he hasn't done any self-care lately, which was honestly true. He wanted to fend to those needs, but at the same time he was just so, so tired still. Merely thinking about them felt overwhelming.
Seeing that his friend hesitated with the decision, Cross decided to take matter into his own skeletal hands.
"I know that it might seem hard, but you will feel so much better once you take a shower and eat a nutritious meal. I'll help." Error was silent, before letting out a long, quiet sigh.
"Ok."
Hearing that Cross got to work, before the other could change his mind. He decided that first and foremost, Error should take a shower. Even if he would rather bathe in sadness, he definitely must have felt the results of not cleaning himself for such a long time. Plus, it would give him time to prepare a few things.
"Here." He handed Error a new pajamas, making him take it hesitantly. Cross toyed with an idea of giving him his normal, daily clothes, but quickly dismissed it. The more comfortable he could get him, the better.
Error seemed to understand what the monochrome skeleton wanted from him, but couldn't bring himself to get up.
"Can I touch you?" Cross asked, sensing his struggle. Everyone knows how hard it is to get up from bed, especially if Cross' hunch was correct and Error actually didn't leave it in days. And that definitely didn't happen when he was looking.
After a short nod he grabbed multicolored hands and guided him to stand up. Error wobbled on his legs for a second and in his attempt not to fall, wrapped his arms around his friend. Cross thought that it almost looked like a hug, but quickly shook his head. Maybe later.
"Are you okay?" Error nodded and let go. "Will you be able to take a shower?" Cross asked, now more hesitant about this situation.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm not a child." The destroyer complained, but no hostility was hidden in his voice, just tiredness.
After walking Error off to the bathroom and making sure that he was alright on his own, Cross directed his steps towards the kitchen. It was really a hit or miss whether the other would eat a lot or little, but given how not much he did in the previous days, he must have been starving. Heck, he didn't even think Error ate any chocolate.
Humming quietly, Cross got to work. He didn't know how much Error would take in the shower after all. The meal was easy enough, since they still had some leftover chicken from the previous day. Heat it up and it will be ready, plus add some vegetables. The other wasn't really a fan of them though, so not too much. Next was something to drink. It was no secret that Error's favourite was hot chocolate, but that wasn't really right for dinner. Instead he grabbed a bag of tea, a fruity one, since he didn't enjoy any other flavors.
Just to be safe he went to his room and grabbed a few bars of chocolate. Whether Error ate them lately or not, they were practically guaranteed to boost his mood at least a little. Cross could definitely understand that.
After returning downstairs he couldn't resist taking one of the bars and munching on it slowly, while waiting for the remaining castle resident. Truthfully he was taking quite a long time, but Cross didn't dare complain. Given his situation it could mean two things: either Error was taking his sweet time cleaning himself after realizing just how filthy he felt, or had so little energy that he just stood idly under the rushing water for too long. Cross hoped that it was the former, but was leaning towards the latter. He would ask Error, but he understandably wasn't very chatty. Either way he will definitely feel somewhat better after that. He was doing more than the last few days combined, so that was a beginning.
Eventually Error appeared downstairs in his new, purposefully oversized attire. Cross smiled seeing and smelling that he was cleaner. There was still lots to do, but as they say: baby steps.
"Feeling better?" Cross asked, standing up.
"I guess." Error shrugged, but sounded just a tad less monotone than before.
"Great. Uhh, wait here for a second. Oh, and sit down at the table, or a couch. Wherever really." With that former royal guard disappeared in the kitchen.
Once he returned Error was sitting on the couch as ordered. He shot a glance at the scattered chocolates, but didn't say a word. Cross mentally slapped himself, but then calmed down, it's not like it was supposed to be a surprise anyway. He put the meal, the mug and cutlery on the table nearby and sat next to him. Error already knew what these were for, so he didn't question that. Instead he eyed the meal.
"Do I really have to?"
Cross turned to look at him from a better angle."I know that you might not feel like it, but just try to eat a bit, okay? If you really don't want it, I won't pressure you." A moment of silence, which gave Cross an idea for another argument. "It's ought to make you feel better. I mean, didn't you feel better after the shower?"
At that Error raised his head to look at him in thought.
"Actually, it did." He agreed, seemingly surprised at his own response. "Alright then."
Though hesistant at first, Error's hunger quickly caught up with him, and he greatfully devoured his meal and emptied the mug. He did it almost along with his plate, but thankfully Cross was there to remind him that dishes were not in fact food. Right.
"Mm." A small, satisfied smile found its way onto Error's face. He felt full for the first time in a long while. Then he remembered the stash of chocolates that was now laying next to Cross. "Are these chocholates for...?"
"Oh yeah." Cross perked up hearing the question. "I brought some for you, you can eat them now or whenever you want to." His face lit up seeing that Error was looking eager. That was definitely a green flag. He took one and handed it to Error, who then proceeded to eat it. Slower and less enthusiastically than usual, but ate nonetheless.
While he bit on his snack, Cross consideres what to do next. However surprisingly enough, Error was the one to vocalize a suggestion.
"Um, I was thinking. Since you did so much for me, could you... maybe... help me with my room?"
"Your room?" Cross questioned, unsure of what he meant.
"Yeah." Error confirmed. "It's a bit messy in there, you know?"
Ah, so that's what it was about. Plus he knew that Error didn't exactly enjoy mess, unless it was the mess after destroying, but that's a different story.
"Ohh sure, I didn't even think about that." Cross went to stand up, but was interrupted.
"Wait, I will help."
"Are you sure?" Cross flopped back down. "I can do it myself, it's not that much work anyway. And I know that your energy is still low... Wait, did you even sleep?"
"Yes. And also no. Depends on the day." Error shrugged, although the bags under his eyes were clearly visible.
"What about today? Or night I guess."
Error waited a while with his response, but finally shook his head. Cross sighed good-naturedly, half expecting such an answer.
"Then maybe freshening up your room will help with that." He hummed as he stood up once again. Error trailed behind him slowly, but this time Cross let him.
Once at their destination they got to work, its owner doing visibly less convinced by his friend and his own still tired state. Firstly Cross opened a window in order to let some fresh air in. Next, they proceeded to change the sheets, clean all around the bed and get rid of any remaining food that gang's members brought Error in hopes of him eating it. It might have not worked then, but it was a small price to pay since he felt better now. As a finishing touch Cross grabbed and used an air freshener inside the room. Maybe it was a stupid thought, but seeing his room getting progressively cleaner and cleaner calmed Error in a way. It almost felt like the mess inside his head was diminishing at the same time. When Cross returned from putting away the air freshener, the first thing he spotted was Error, who wrapped himself back comfortably in new, clean blankets.
"Do you want to go back to the living room and wait for others?" He suggested, making the glitch tilt his head. "They'll be glad to see you out of your room." He provided an explanation.
Error thought for a while, before nodding shortly. Seeing a permission, but lack of movement from him, Cross decided to deal with it on his own. He picked him up in all of his blankety glory and teleported them both downstairs. Once there, he carefully put the black-boned skeleton down onto the couch and then sat next to him. They stayed in comfortable silence for a while, Error munching on a chocolate which had been handed to him a moment before. Having finished he leaned to the side. Cross thought that he was just trying to reach for another bar, however was surprised to feel himself being hugged, quite tightly at that.
"Error-?"
"Thank you, I'm just, I..." He struggled to find the right words. "Just... thank you."
Cross couldn't help, but feel warm inside and return the tight embrace, stroking his back comfortingly.
"Your welcome. Though there's one thing I expect back."
"Hm?" Error loosened the embrace not sure if it was a welcomed one, but Cross pulled him back. Well, he wasn't complaining.
"Next time you feel that way, please try to take care of yourself. Better even, tell us and let us help." Cross pet his skull.
"Alright, alright." Error didn't want to show a smile on his face, so he shoved it into Cross' jacket's fluff.
They stayed in each other's embrace for another hour, neither willing to interrupt it. Once the rest of the gang came back Error was contented to see that they all were relieved to see him on his feet again and swarming him with lots of questions and concern.