(Palette)

Nothing could get me out of my room for two days. I stayed locked away, refusing to eat or talk. I just stared at the picture, the first picture, I drew of Goth. It was him lying on the ground in the park, staring at the clouds. His scarf was splayed out on the ground, winding like a little river. He had one of his rare, soft smiles on his face. His arm rested beneath his skull, the other on his chest. He looked so peaceful...How can such a tormented soul find peace? I thought bitterly.

I clutched the scarf to my chest, wishing he were here with me. Wishing the emptiness in my soul would go away. Wishing he would fill it.

Someone knocked on my door.

"Go away!" I shouted.

"Someone is here, he wants to talk to you," Ink called through the door.

"I said go away!" I snapped.

"I'm coming in," Ink said, opening the door. I flipped over angrily, throwing a pillow at the door.

"I told you to go away!" I screamed, grabbing another pillow and throwing it at the person who entered. They caught it, holding it in front of their face.

Lowering it, I saw Geno standing in the doorway.

"What do you want?" I snapped, sitting up. Geno tossed the pillow aside, sticking his hands in his pockets and looking at me.

"I wanted to talk to you, about Goth," he said.

"What about him?" I said sharply, "About how you beat him, tortured him for no reason? About how it was your fault he went over the edge? About how you're the reason he's gone? About that? Is that what you want to talk about?!" I shouted the end.

Geno said nothing, looking grim. "Or maybe about how I tormented him for so long? About how he and I could possibly be together after what I did? About how he had a crush on his tormentor for six years?! About how I took advantage of that crush and made him suffer for it? About me seeing him every day, hating himself for loving me, and feeling bad about it?! About me making him test out our feelings?! About me loving him?!"

"Did you really love him?" Geno asked after my rant.

"Yes, I did," I said, "and you made him push me away."

"I know," Geno looked down, bouncing his fist on his leg, "I was... afraid."

"Afraid? Afraid of what?"

"Afraid of... afraid for him," Geno admitted, looking over at me, "I was afraid that you would toy with his heart, make him look like a fool, and break him."

"I might've done that, once upon a time," I nodded to myself, "But after feeling calm with him, relief when near him, and pain when he... I could never bring myself to hurt him anymore. I promised I would never hurt him again, keep him safe, and I failed."

We were silent for a long time. I sat on my bed, looking down, while he just leaned on the door, tapping his leg. He shifted and I looked up. He sat on the bed, not looking at me.

"I came here with news," he sighed, "Reaper found Goth. He isn't dead."

I could hardly believe what I was hearing. He-he's alive?!

"He's in the Glenn. I can't leave the Felle, and Reaper refuses to go there. Something about territory issues. I came to ask: would you go look for him?"

"Are you sure you want me to go near him?" I asked coldly. Geno sighed.

"Before our conversation, no," he looked up at me, his one eye glowing brightly, "But after hearing your accusations and your confession...You're the only one I want Goth to see after what he did."

"Where do I find him?"

(Goth)

He feels like Palette, but slightly weaker... He's too kind, too nice... Too innocent... These thoughts ran through my head as the other Palette hugged me.

"Please, let go of me," I said softly. Glenn Palette let go immediately, looking down at me.

"I just want to cheer you up," he said.

I sighed. So innocent... "I would like to be alone. I just want to think, okay?"

"If that makes you happy..." he said reluctantly, "but I'll come and check on you every hour, okay? Until you feel better."

"That would be... nice of you," I said softly. This Palette nodded, then left the room. Gradient had left a while ago, as had the other Goth.

Sighing in frustration, I fell back onto the bed. Oh, I want Palette so bad... Why did I ever do that? Why did I push him away? Regret and the odd feeling from before filled my chest, tiring me out. I fell asleep, wanting Palette desperately.

---

I woke up from my nap to see the other Palette sitting on the edge of the bed, concerned as he shook my shoulder.

"Wake up, please," he muttered. I blinked my eyes open, looking at him with confusion.

"What's wrong, Palette?" I asked him, sitting up on my elbow. He took his hand away, concern still written on his face.

"You were tossing around and muttering," he said softly, "You kept saying my name..."

I blinked a bit, "I'm sorry if I scared you, Palette," I said softly, grabbing his hand and sitting up, "I was having a nightmare, and I tend to talk in my sleep."

"Wh-why were you saying my name?" he asked me. He looked like a curious, worried child. Nothing at all like my Palette...

"I was actually calling for my Palette," I said with a little chuckle, "He used to... he helps with the nightmares..."

"Oh, okay..." he nodded to himself, "There's another me?" he asked confusedly.

"Yes, just like how your friend Goth is like me, just... not as dark..."

"So, there's a dark me...?"

"Yes, there is," I chuckled a bit, "Don't worry, it's a bit confusing for me too."

"Okay..." he looked at my chest, blushing a bit, "Um, can I ask you something else?"

"Go ahead," I said, feeling like I owed him something.

"Who did that?" he asked, poking a finger at my carvings. I placed a hand on them, tracing the first letter.

"I did," I said quietly.

"Why? Why do that to yourself?" Palette asked in a hushed tone.

My mind flashed back to the sharp pain of the knife, the feeling of the cold metal marking my body. The reasons behind it all came back to me and a small tear fell down my cheek. I wiped it away with a small laugh, "You wouldn't believe me if I told you..."

Palette gripped my hand tightly, "Maybe it'll help if you do..."

I looked up into his concerned, innocent face. Him and my Palette were both so observant, it could be annoying sometimes. I sighed, clutching his hand, "I did it because my father, Geno, took away everything of Palette I had. So," I shrugged, "I made Palette a part of me in a way Geno can never take away from me..."

"I thought you said your Palette was mean to you..." Palette said softly, and I nodded.

"He was. I've had a crush on him for ages, and he used it against me for a long time..." I drifted away, "But he figured out his own feelings not too long ago. Since then, we've been a thing. He loved me, and he promised not to hurt me again... then I hurt him..."

"How did you hurt him?"

"Geno didn't like us dating," I clenched my fist, "He found out and made me give up Palette. I had to break up with him, push him away..." I felt more tears run down my face, "I-I broke his heart and pushed him away from me, and I didn't even tell him why..."

I started to sob, barely holding it in. I felt Palette hug me, and I cried into his shirt.

"Is that why you jumped? Because you broke his heart?" he asked me softly. I nodded into his shirt, weeping softly.

"Y-yes," I breathed, "I couldn't stand seeing the pain in his eyes... the pain of not having him... not being able to have him..."

"So you were okay with leaving him to grieve your death and be alone forever?"

"I-I-I wa-wasn't think-king s-straight..." I sobbed, "I-I j-just want-ted th-the pain t-to end!"

I felt him stroke my skull softly as I sobbed, clutching his shirt.

"I'm just... so tired of it all..." I breathed shakily.

"Rest, Goth," Palette whispered, "Rest now, and I'll help you when you wake up..."

Panting slightly as I recovered, I fell asleep in his arms, shaking.

(Palette)

I pulled up to the address that Reaper had given me. Glaring up at the nondescript structure, I got out of my truck and walked up to the door. Knocking firmly, I waited for someone to answer. Impatient, I knocked again and again until the door opened.

"Can I help you?" asked a black-boned skeleton in printer ink colors with bright eyes and a flowing skull.

"You have something of mine, and I want him back," I said gruffly.

The skeleton narrowed his eyes, shutting the door slightly, "I don't know what you're talking about..." he tried to shut the door but I put my hand on it, pushing it open.

"I know he's here, give him back," I growled.

"You've got the wrong house, now leave!" The skeleton forced the door closed but I was stronger. With a shove, I slammed the door open and grabbed the front of the skeleton's shirt.

"GRAY, HELP!" he shouted as I lifted him up.

"Where is he?" I demanded.

"HELP!" the skeleton called out. Two sets of footsteps came running and stopped when I glared at them.

(Goth)

I woke to a crash. Looking up, I saw that Palette from Glenn had fallen asleep while holding me. I woke him up as I sat up, looking at the door.

"Something's wrong," I said, getting off the bed. We heard a cry for help and running. Glancing at each other, we both darted out of the room.

(Palette)

Glaring at the would-be rescuers, I noticed one looked almost exactly like Goth, except he wore white instead of black. The other was...

"Gradient, do something!" the not-Goth shouted, shoving the other skeleton next to him.

"Palette, put him down!" Gradient commanded, stepping forward.

"Give him back and I will!" I growled, grabbing the inky skeleton's throat and holding him up.

"Put him down, now! This isn't the Felle! This isn't how we do things!" Gradient shouted angrily.

"P-Palette?" asked a soft voice from the top of the stairs. We all turned to look, and my breath caught. He's alive...

(Goth)

"P-Palette, is th-that you?" I asked hesitantly, stepping down the stairs carefully. Palette, my Palette, dropped PaperJam and stood limply, staring at me.

"You're alive..." he said weakly.

I choked out a sob, running down the stairs, "Palette!" I cried. He ran up to meet me and I crashed into him, holding him tightly.

"Palette, I'm so sorry!" I wept, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

He held me back, resting his chin on my skull, "Goth, you're alive! Thank the stars!"

"Palette, I'm so, so sorry," I wept, burying my face in his chest, "I should never have pushed you away, I should never have left, I-"

"Shh, Gothy, it's okay," he whispered, his voice rumbling his chest, "It's okay. You're okay, and that's it."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." I muttered.

"I forgive you, Goth, it's okay," he took my chin in his hand, forcing my eyes to meet his, "Just promise that it will never happen again."

"It won't, it won't, I promise!" I hugged him tighter, "I promise..."

He pulled my chin up, giving me his loving smirk, "Good boy," he said and kissed me deeply. I kissed him back, wrapping my arms tightly around his neck. Our tongues intertwined as we became lost in each other's embrace.

"Um..." Gradient's voice broke through our union, breaking us apart as we both looked at him. I wiped the saliva from my mouth with my sleeve.

"Are you done now?" he asked, annoyed.

Palette gripped my waist, grinning evilly at Gradient, "No, I'm not..."

I pushed him off, "Not now, Pal," I said. He pouted, but let go. I glanced over at Glenn Palette, to see him blushing furiously. Glenn Goth also blushed furiously.

I chuckled a bit to myself, looking at Gradient, who still looked annoyed, and PaperJam, who looked uncomfortable. "Sorry about that, Gray," I said softly, "and thank you, PaperJam."

"What for?" he asked, perking up.

I smiled up at Palette, then looked back to PaperJam, "For saving my life. Because for once, it was worth saving..."