First Published: April 22nd 2017

Pairing: implied prinxiety

Genre: angst

Word Count: 546

Warnings: can be read as implied death, panic attack

Summary: In which Prince disappears.

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"Anxiety?" Morality knocked on said side's door hesitantly. The loud sobs coming from inside made his heart squeeze and his brain conjure up memories, the reason why everyone was tip-toeing around each other, why everyone was silent and sad and mourning for a presence that was no longer there.

"Go away!" Anxiety screamed. Morality heard something crash and shatter inside. Without a second thought, he rushed into the room, barely missing the broken glass strewn across the floor.

There Anxiety was, hunched in on himself in the corner, looking the complete definition of a mess. He was rocking back and forth, his hair clenched in his hands, a photo frame of him and a smiling Prince shattered against a wall.

"Oh, Anx, what happened?" Morality cooed, going to him. He gently pried the other's hands away from his hair.

"Nothing, nothing happened!" Anxiety yelled frantically.

Morality clucked his tongue, and ignored the ache in his chest at how this was almost exactly like before, when he would go to help Anxiety. But he knew this wouldn't end in a group hug on the floor. Not with all four of them, anyway. "C'mon, Anx, this isn't healthy. Talk to me."

"No!" Anxiety cried out. "You don't understand, Morality! Prince is gone and I-"

Morality leant forwards and hugged him tight. "Anxiety, it isn't your fault. He'll come back, he always does." Even to his own ears, it sounded like a lie. But he had to believe it, for all of their sakes. "But Anxiety, you can't keep going like this. It's been a week since we last saw you. We can't lose you too."

Anxiety shrugged half-heartedly. "I think you could." He pulled away from Morality roughly and stood up shakily, ignoring the others calls as he walked out.

"Wait, Anxiety, where are you going?" Morality scrambled after him.

"Away! I don't want to drag you down like I probably did with Princey." Anxiety didn't look back, shoulders shaking and fists clenched.

"You wouldn't drag me down, how could you say that?" Morality cried, grabbing the boy and spinning him around. "And it wasn't your fault, for the last time, Anx."

"You don't- you don't get it," Anxiety muttered, refusing to meet the parent's eyes.

"What don't I get?"

"I drove him away, like I do with everyone."

"You haven't driven me away."

"I haven't had the chance to."

"Anxiety, it was not your fault. How many times do I have to say it?" When Anxiety didn't reply, Morality sighed. "You know, Logic and I – Thomas, too – are there for you."

"I don't need you."

"Alright, fine. You can push me away all you want, but none of us are ever going to stop looking out for you."

"You should."

"Anxiety, damn it, I," Morality rubbed the back of his neck, "I think you're just afraid to be happy."

Anx finally looked at him. Morality recoiled at the anger burning in his eyes. "Fuck off." Morality tried to protest, to apologise, but Anxiety continued. "Don't you think I know that? Prince even said it to me once. Now go away." Anxiety pushed Morality, who didn't budge. "Go away! LEAVE! I know you hate me, so just GO!"

Morality, too stunned to argue and too fearful to stay, turned and left.