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Shrimpo was always a destructive toon. Constantly causing danger to himself and others. His destructiveness was only getting worse everyday. He no longer had motivation for anything.
He didn't go on runs anymore, only rotted in his room. He stayed in bed, barely ate, didn't take care of his hygiene, and constantly cut himself.
He felt disgusted by himself but couldn't get out of this loop of self-destruction.
He constantly thought about becoming twisted. Letting his own ichor and anger consume him or going on a run and just giving up—never going back up and letting the twisted get him.
There was only one toon who made him not listen to these urges—Finn.
The smaller toon felt like Finn hated him just like everyone else. He was just waiting for him to no longer show up to care for him. He was slowly pushing Finn away while Finn desperately tried pulling him closer.
In fact, Shrimpo hadn't heard from Finn in a while. Maybe he finally gave up and realized how useless Shrimpo truly was.
This thought only made Shrimpo drown himself more. He felt disgusting all over again; hating himself again for pushing away the only toon left who cared.
The crustacean found himself reaching for one of his blades again.
He remembered how Finn constantly took his blades away. Trying to stop him but Shrimpo always had more somehow. He was just stealing them from the craft siblings but Finn didn't know that. Shrimpo never left his room during the day so he had no clue.
Shrimpo kept being reminded of Finn only making him angrier—he cut more and more and deeper and deeper.
He missed Finn.
He misses how gentle and caring he was. Missed how warm he was. Missed how he was always there for him. Missed his stupid smile and his stupid tooth gap. Missed his stupid fish facts. Missed his stupid jokes and puns. He missed everything about Finn only making him sob harder.
Shrimpo was dizzy from how much ichor he was losing and how hard he was sobbing. The fact he also hadn't drank or eaten anything made the dizziness worse.
He couldn't breathe properly from his sobs— it felt like he was drowning. He wanted to go home; he wanted to be with Finn but he had pushed him away.
He became too weak to even hold the blade anymore and passed out from the ichor loss and exhaustion.
Shrimpo thought Finn didn't care about him. Thought Finn hated him just like everyone else. No one liked a bully so why would Finn still like him?
—
“Shrimpo?”
—
When he woke up he thought he was dead and in heaven.
It felt bright— too bright. When his eyes finally adjusted he knew for a fact he was in heaven.
“Oh thank cod you're awake”
Finn hugged Shrimpo closer before apologizing and laying him down on his lap after remembering he hated hugs not initiated by himself.
Shrimpo felt tears well up in his eyes again as he stared at Finn. Finn who was actually real— who was here and taking care of him again.
“Please don't cry! I'm sorry- I didn't mean to hug you I was just so worried and when I saw you awake I just-”
“Shut up.. I'm not- I- Are you real?”
“Yeah? Are you- whale nevermind- clearly you aren't okay.”
Shrimpo only started crying more as he wrapped his shaky arms around Finn’s neck. Finn accepted the hug and lightly wrapped his arms around Shrimpo's waist. Not holding him tightly in case Shrimpo didn't want him to hold him.
“I was so worried about you. C'mon let's get you cleaned up.”
Finn scooped up Shrimpo— the smaller toon didn't complain for once. The fishbowl took the smaller toon to the bathroom and with gentle hands took off Shrimpo's clothes.
After he got him undressed he guided him to the bath; helping him walk on shaky legs and sit down comfortably. Finn sat on the edge of the bath as it filled with warm water.
He was gentle as he started to gently wash Shrimpo's fur. Massaging his head and scratching where Shrimpo liked.
Finn loved washing the crustacean, they were both typically quiet like this. Most times Finn gave him a bath was after he relapsed or went through another episode and couldn't by himself.
They were quiet for a while before Shrimpo spoke up.
“ ‘m sorry”
“Don't be. It's normal for stuff like this to happen while healing”
“Well it sure as hell doesn't feel like I'm healing”
“That's typical for this stuff but believe me- you've changed a lot. You've been getting better I promise. Even if it doesn't eel like it”
“Goddamnit Finn. Why are you still making fish puns”
“I can't kelp it! Plus they make you smile”
Shrimpo chuffed and rolled his eyes but couldn't deny how he did in fact smile.
“Why do you even care so much about me anyway? No one likes me but yet you always look after me. Why?”
“Whale- I love you as- as a friend.. You actually listen to me and even remember my fish stuff. Most toons don't do that”
“That's really pathetic. You'd be friends with anyone if they listened to your fish shit?”
“Yeahh.. toons don't like us so why not be hated together”
Shrimpo went quiet again after that, getting lost in his thoughts as he let Finn wash him. Finn on the other hand was humming to himself as he messed with Shrimpo's fur.
Finn had put bubbles on top of Shrimpo's head and was messing with the fur on his cheeks. This earned himself a glare from Shrimpo making Finn laugh before going back to properly washing him.
After the bath Finn wrapped Shrimpo up in a towel like a burrito before picking him up and setting him on the counter. Finn grabbed some gauze and started to bandage the fresh cuts on Shrimpo's small body. His wrists, thighs, and stomach were covered in cuts and scars.
When he finished bandaging the fresh ones he gently kissed each bandage before kissing the top of Shrimpo's forehead. Shrimpo scrunched up his face at the kiss and stuck his tongue out at Finn.
Finn brought Shrimpo to the bed and laid him down before going to grab water and a small snack for the shrimp. When he came back with the items he handed them to Shrimpo and sat with him as he slowly ate.
After he finished eating and drinking he laid down; pulling Finn on top of him making him lay down as well. The two curled up together and clung to each other— Finn being extra careful about the bandages.
Shrimpo was exhausted again but with Finn he felt lighter. He would be able to get through all this bullshit with Finn by his side. He knew it.