Chapter Text
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He kept running, he didn't know where to go now. He continously tripped over his feet as he tried to get out. He wanted to leave, to get out of there.
"TEST TUBE! TEST TUBE?!"
Fan panted as he ran, he didn't know what direction he was going in, he wasn't looking. He wasn't able to, tears flowed out of his eyes as he ran and ran.
But soon enough, he finally comes to a stop. He made it to the lab.
He tries his best to punch the code in but fails more than he'd like to admit. But eventually he gets it after frantically guessing.
"TEST TUBE!"
Fan yells as he stumbles into the lab after falling in, he looked around for a few seconds before spotting Test Tube, she seemed to be in shock. She must've head the news.
"It.. it already happened?"
Test Tube muttered as she stood there, her phone almost falling out of her hand.
There was another death.
"Oh my st...my god."
Test Tube stutters as she tries to get her words out, she can't even substitute the words she despises using.
"What do we do?"
Fan choked out finally, but the tears were still coming. And they weren't going to stop.
-------
"You're going to have to tell me what you saw, Fan.."
Lifering said quietly, his voice soft and comforting as he placed his hand on Fan's shoulder.
A few weeks have passed since the first few deaths. It all started out with Pickle, then OJ, then nickel. All in one day. Every week, on wensday, three people seem to get killed off.. and no one knows why.
Mephone has gone silent, Suitcase and Knife have gone missing, and no one has bothered to try to fully investigate just yet.
But, some people have started a pact to stop whatever has been going on. Lifering isn't in charge, but he's trying to help. it was Lightbulb who made the operation. As well as Paper.
"I..- she.. it happened so fast! I- I can't..-"
Fan stutters, tears flow out of his eyes as he tries to speak, Paintbrush right next to him. Staring at the ground with wide eyes as they wait for their turn to speak.
Lifering sighs, this was the third time they've tried to interview Fan, he saw most of the murder, or well. Death.
Lifering goes over to Paintbrush after he lets go of Fan, letting him cry out his emotions.
"What did you see, Paintbrush?"
Paintbrush stands there, unable to get words out. They felt like they were going to start bawling, but they didn't want to be an emotional mess like Fan is currently.
"She... all I saw was her staring off into nothing before I left to go get some water. But.. when I came back, all I saw was Fan holding her decapitated body. Her face... all I saw was fear and shock on it. Like she was frozen in place."
Paintbrush pauses, they take a deep breath and looks off to the side, staring at a photo of them and Lightbulb.
"She had an X marked across her face, just like the others..."
Paintbrush freezes, tears start to fall out if their eyes as they continue to stare at the photo
"Her body was limp, almost like all her bones have been broken. She looked soulless. Not just because she lost her damn head. No, something took her. Her.. her being."
They stutter as they try to continue, but they can't.
Lifering frowns as he listens, he felt bad. Of course he did. The poor paintbrush lost their lover and best friend in one go. He couldn't imagine the pain both Fan and Paintbrush felt.
Lifering takes a deep breath and backs off
"Thank you, Paintbrush. I'll have Candle come on in, unless if you want someone else."
The room goes silent as everyone stares at one another, the only thing to be heard are the voices outside and Fan's sobbing.
"No.. no don't get Candle. Can you... can you get Test Tube?"
Lifering goes silent for a few seconds, making both Paintbrush and Fan worry. The silence is loud.
Fan looks up quickly, his face red and tear stained.
"Is she okay!? Why aren't you responding! Please respond! Is she alive? Let me see her!"
Fan shouts, he stands up quickly. He's shaking almost violently as he tries to push past Lifering.
"Whoa bud calm down... she's fine. She's fine."
Lifering says urgently, he swore he heard something, that's what made him pause.
"She's just doing an autopsy on Lightbulb's body... or well, body parts."
The two pause, Fan stands there shocked while Paintbrush seemed angry.
"Don't stop talking like that next time dammit! Just tell us straight fowardly! Don't act like she died as well!"
Paintbrush shouts, tears start to fall down their face once again. They run off, leaving Fan alone with Lifering.
"I'm sorry Fan. I just thought I heard something... I couldn't concentrate."
Fan pauses as he stares at Lifering. His thoughts go blank as he completely forgets about what just happened.
"What... what did you hear? Where did it come from?"
Fan says carefully, slightly backing away from Lifering, panic starts to set in once more. He felt like he needed to get out of here.
"Where did it come from..? It was like it was all around me.. almost like a clock ticking very slowly in a way.."
Fan stands there, trembling.
"Lifering... that's... that's what lightbulb heard. That's what she heard before she died."
He stutters out. Fan steps back once more, shaking eith fear. He didn't want to see another gruesome death.
Lifering pauses, his eyes widening as he hears the sound again, it's getting louder just as Fan speaks.
"W-What?"
Lifering stutters before suddenly being met with a red light, it looked like an X, it was blinding. All he could do was stand there.
Fan blinked, and before he knew it, he could hear blood hit the ground and walls. Including his clothes and skin. He felt the warmth of the blood against him, but it wasnt comforting. Not one bit.
He didn't want to open his eyes. He didn't want to see it..He didn't want to see lifeless body of Lifering. The chopped up pieces of someone who so desperately tried their best to keep everyone alive.
Fan ran, he ran out as fast as he could. He didn't know what to do. He kept running, tears falling out of his eyes as he ran. He didn't know where, he just let his body carry him somewhere.
That's how he ended up in Test Tube's lab, bawling his eyes out in Test Tube's arms.
---------
"Shhh... it's okay Fan. We'll get through this. I promise."
Test Tube says in a soft tone, her voice low as she gently rubs Fan's back. She was shaking herself, it wasn't just Fan who's mind was all over the place.
"It'll be fine... I'll find something out."
Test Tube's voice trembles as she says this, it was almost like she was trying to reassure herself.
"Test Tube... what if.. what if I'm next? What Paintbrush? You? Were all going to die!"
Fan mumbles, his voice even quieter from his face being stuffed into Test Tube's shoulder, his tears and snot being soaked up by the lab coat Test Tube was wearing. Fan felt bad for getting the girls coat soaked, and probably getting it smothered with the bacteria coming from his nose.
"Fan... worrying won't help. We have to try, even if our days are limited... we might as well try to get through it..."
Test Tube says, her voice still soft and comforting.
Fan sniffles and looks up at Test Tube, he wipes his eyes and practically his whole face as he tries to calm down.
"I'm sorry."
Fan mutters to Test Tube, his voice barley above a whisper.
"Don't say sorry, Fan.. it's not your fault."
Test Tube says as she moves her hand to cup Fan's face, gently wiping away his tears as she tries to smile at him.
"...sorry"
Fan mumbles, finally calming down a little. But he's still in shock from all these events that have happened.
Test Tube sighs as she hears Fan say sorry again, she knows it's a habit of his. That he can't help himself.
She then leans down and kisses Fan on the cheek gently, she stays like this for a few seconds before finally pulling away, a worried smile plastered on her face.
"I love you, Fan."
Test Tube says gently, her hand moving to run her fingers through his hair slightly, knowing it helps calm Fan down.
"I... I love you too."
Fan mutters, now obviously a little flustered from the sudden kiss, but he tries to push the feeling aside. He leans in and sighs, resting his head on TestTube shoulder as he tries to calm down. His arms wrapping around Test Tube, hugging her tightly.
---------
Back at the hotel, chaos was seen all around. There was another death, no one knows what to do. How were they supposed to know?
Paper stands at the front of the living place, everyone else surrounding him as they wait for him to speak. The nervousness and worriedness is obvious on everyone.
"...Alright everybody! We all need to calm down!.. please?"
Paper says, his voice shaking as he tries to take control of this situation, this isn't exactly his strong suit. Speaking to crowds and taking control, that was OJs job. But now, it was just him.
"HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO CALM DOWN!EVERYONE IS LIKE.. DYING! OJ IS DEAD!"
Salt yells, it makes everyone turn and stare at her. Some judging, some feeling bad.
Paper goes silent, he felt anxious. How was he supposed to take control of this without OJ? He wasn't the one that always did the public announcing or taking care of social problems. He wishes OJ was here with him.
"I- well- Calming down is an essential here! We can't run around and act crazy...!"
Paper stumbles on his words, he doesn't know what to do, how to handle this. Everything is to much. It's all so overwhelming. He swore last time he did a public speech it didn't turn out like this. Maybe it was because someone was there with him. Maybe because OJ was there.
Everyone goes silent, for a few seconds, waiting for Paper to say something. But he can't. His breath speeds up as he tries to speak his world almost seems like it's spinning. He's going to vomit any second now.
Suddenly, Balloon walks up to the front where Paper was standing, he pats Paper on the shoulder and whispers to him, directing him back to his room with a smile.
Paper stands there for a few seconds before quickly heading off, some of the others watching him leave.
Once paper is out of view, Pepper then speaks up. Her voice much calmer than Salts.
"Lifering is dead.. like.. who's going to take care of the deaths and injuries that have been happening?"
Ballon pauses, not expecting to immediately be questioned right after Paper left. He looks off to the side as he thinks then looks back at everyone else, a nervous smile on his face. He might not have nickel, but that doesn't mean he's not going to try and help because of his own personal issues.
"Well.. uhm... We have Test Tube still..?"
Ballon says in a soft voice. Everyone stares at him, not saying anything. It's almost like no one wanted to deal with Test Tube, not after their experiences with her in the season. She wasn't terrible.. just annoying.
At least that's what they remembered, no one at the hotel that wasn't in season 3 knew how much she improved.
Salt and Pepper look over at eachother wifh an odd look plastered on their faces. The silence is loud.
"There's nothing wrong with that, if anything she'd be better at the job than Lifering was."
Cabby suddenly says as she appears from the kitchen with a glass of water in hand, everyone turns towards her and stare. Most of them still don't know where Cabby came from and why she's here, as well as with the others.
Cabby looks off to the side, hoping she didn't say anything wrong.
"Uh...well, it's nothing against Lifering! He was good at his job..."
She quickly says, hoping to get someone to say something.
"I agree with Cabby!"
Yang yells out, quickly going over to Cabby and standing next to her, a smile on his face. Cabby sighs and smiles at Yang.
There's some silence before Balloon finally speaks up once more, that awkwardness was palpable.
"See? Test Tube will help us out! But uh.. she's.."
Balloon cuts himself off as he looks into the crowd, trying to find TestTube. Or Fan. Fan would know where she is, he always does.
"Shes.. somewhere."
He mutters, the silence loud once more before he sighs and pushes the subject aside.
"Okay.. uh.. Soap, why don't you help me clean up the room... please."
Balloon quickly says, he knows no one else would be willing to help him out. Not that it's anything wrong with him.. just the fact it's a dead body.
Soap nods quickly, obviously nervous, but she wants to help. She won't let some probably bacteria infected body get in her way..
------------
Taco sits on the bed next to Mepad, her tear still aren't dry, they're still running as Mepad tries his best to comfort Taco. She still hasn't gotten over Pickle's death.
Suddenly, the door slowly opens and someone peeks through.
Taco quickly looks up, trying to wipe her tears away quickly. She doesn't want to be seen bawling her eyes out.
It's Mic, that's who's looking on into the room. Taco quickly stands up as she sees Mic standing in the doorway, she finally seemed to have decided to try and talk to the woman.
"Microphone?"
Taco said under her breath as she stared at the woman that stood nearby.
Mic looks off to the side, her eyebrows furrowed and her expression almost grim.
"..uh. yeah, hi..."
Mic says, she walks in and closes the door behind her she stands infront of Taco, looking down at her. A sense of sadness can be felt between the two.
Mepad looks at Taco and gives her a nod, and a smile, well the best smile they could give her. Mepad then leaves the room, teleporting out of the room and leaving Taco and Microphone alone.
"Look.. Taco. I.. I understand how you feel. And.. I'm sorry."
Mic says before sitting down on the bed that Taco was sitting on. She looks off to the side, not exactly wanting Taco to see the look on her face.
"Microphone! No, no don't say sorry. This wasn't YOUR fault. It was mine, I did this, I'm a monster.. I've hurt people. Including you. I don't deserve a sorry from you-"
Taco says quickly, reaching out to Mic and hesitates to place a hand on her shoulder, instead pulling away and crossing her arms and looks down at the floor.
"I.. I'm sorry, Mic. I was a fool for playing these tricks on you, messing with you. You don't deserve my treatment. But.. I can't.."
Taco mutters, pausing for a moment. Her vision unfocusing as she feels stinging in her eyes, the feeling profound.
"I can't.. I can't let go, I can't let go of you, Microphone. I don't want to lose you, i.. I care for you. Even if it seems like I don't."
Taco's voice is low and almost to the verge of being indistinct. She can feel her cheeks burn up, she doesn't know why, she must be embarrassed. Who wouldn't be?
Mic pauses, staying still and not responding for almost a solid minute. She then slowly turns to Taco, tears seen falling out of her eyes.
"I.. I don't know if I can forgive you just yet Taco. But.. I'm glad you.. you care. That you said sorry. I guess i.. care for you too, in my own way. I kept the letters, I read them.. i.. couldn't stop reading them."
Mic says, she takes a deep breath and wipes away her tears quickly before slightly scooting in a bit closer to Taco, catching the short woman by surprise. A small blush seen on Mic's face, but Taco only takes it as embarrassment. It could only be that.
"You're really good with words. I'll definitely admit that... maybe you got it from that.. britishness."
Mic says, her voice more soft and cheerful. A sense of humor in her voice. She chuckles a little and smiles. She moves her hand to Taco's shoulder and pats it gently before pulling away almost as quick as she placed her hand on the other woman's shoulder.
Taco looks over at Mic, a smile forming on her face. She wipes away the tears that fell and fixes her appearance, a small sniffle heard from her as she does so.
"Britishness? I don't think that's a word, Mic. But, I guess I'll let it pass."
Taco says, her voice a little more prominent this time, but soft.
"And well... I used to do poetry. So.."
Taco then gets cut off by Microphones sudden snicker.
"..poetry? Really? I'm not even surprised. Thou shall not make fun of one I guess!"
Mic snickers even more, it quickly turns into a joyful laugh. She covers her mouth as she giggles and giggles over and over almost nonstop.
"What's so funny? Also that is not poetry. Get it right.."
Taco mutters, her eyes narrowing as she stares at Mic. Despite Taco's words, a smile is on her face.
"Yeah yeah.. whatever. You're British."
Mic says, looking back at Taco. A big smile on her face and her cheek a dark shade of pink.
"What does me being British have to do with this...? Goodness, you're so.. uncultivated."
Taco says with a smile, a small chuckle can be heard from her even though she tries to hide it.
The two go silent, just staring at one another with a smile.
Taco suddenly moves in and hugs Mic tightly, her head resting on the taller girls chest. She takes a deep breath, trying to calm her nerves.
"I.. I missed you, Microphone. I.. uh..I"
Taco fumbles with her words, trying to at least get something out. But she can't.
Mic takes a deep breath, her smile softening. She slowly but surely wraps her arms around Taco, hugging her back.
"I missed you too.."
Mic says in a soft voice, she stares down at Taco with a smile. She doesn't want this moment to end, it feels to good to be true.
----------
Fan sits on the couch, hus leg bouncing up and down quickly as he waits for Test Tube to come back, she was visited by Balloon and Paper. And Fan was asked to stay behind.
"I don't know if I can take on so much work..-"
Fan hears Test Tube say in the other room, she sounds worried, her voice slightly shaking.
"I'm already doing multiple autopsies.. one on Lightbulb! That's already stressful enough.. I'd love to help.. but I can't do everything."
Test Tube mutters. Fan can't tell who she's talking to, but they seem persistent.
"Please? Test Tube, you're the only person who has knowledge on healing people! We're trying our best..."
There's a pause, the silence is loud. And it only makes Fan more anxious, is something wrong?
"And I'm trying my best. Don't you understand that? I'm not capable of being the one everyone relies on. That was liferings and OJ'S job! Please, do not come back until I can figure something out. Go ask someone else."
Test Tube says, her tone annoyed and frustrated, a door can be heard slamming shut and her foot steps approaching where Fan is.
Fan frowns, he feels so useless in this situation. What can he do? Blog about unknown deaths and rant about what's happening? Not much is for sure. He can't believe someone like Test Tube loves him.
Fan jumps as he feels a hand on his shoulder, his eyes widening and he frowns for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh.
"Are you okay, Fan? Do you need an ice pack? You look like your burning up. I thought I lowered the temperature... I guess not.. hold on."
Test Tube says, her voice soft and soothing. Fan can tell she's pushing away all her own personal problems for him, which only makes him feel even more like shit. He doesn't deserve such treatment, he's done nothing to help. Nothing that is important...
Before Fan could fully react or say anything Test Tube heads off to a freezer and digs through it, looking for an ice pack Fan could use. Once she finds one she smiles and wraps it in a towel and hands it to Fan and ruffles his hair.
"Hopefully that'll help. I'll lower the labs temperature, okay? Sit tight for a bit."
Test Tube says, she pulls her hand away from Fan and quickly heads off to the control room. Leaving Fan behind.
Fan takes a deep breath, staring down at the ice pack Test Tube gave him before lying down on the couch and placing the ice pack on his forehead.
He sighs and closes his eyes for a few seconds, his breathing finally slowing down. He does feel a little better.
Test Tube can be seen walking back into the room. She has a sweet smile on her face, the one she always has around Fan. She's so sweet, it almost seems like ita fake sometimes. But that's just being anxious.
Fan opens his eyes slightly and looks at Test Tube, she sits down next to him and takes his hand and holds it gently.
"It'll be fine Fan. I know everything has been... odd. To say the least.. but. I'll figure this out, I promise...I love you, alright?"
Test Tube says quietly, hee tone gentle and loving. Fan stares up at TestTube, blushing a little at her words. He looks off to the side for a few seconds before looking back at TestTube and smiling slightly.
"I uh.. I love you too.. just.. don't overwork yourself. You don't need to be doing everything.. i.. I can help."
Fan says, his own voice softening. Test Tube chuckles and smiles more.
"Thank you. But.. I need to do this. You can help.. just.. don't do to much. I don't want you getting hurt."
She mutters this, almost uncertain with her words. Test Tube gives Fan a small peck on the cheek before standing up and letting go of his hand.
"Anyways... I have to get back to work. Cabby should be coming by, once she does... come and get me. Kay?"
Fan pauses, thinking for a seconds as he thinks, he isn't sure why he needs to. He always follows Test Tube's instructions no matter what they are.
"Okay..."
He mutters and nods before huffing and turning to his side and looking away from Test Tube.
Test Tube can be heard muttering a thank you and walking away back to the examination room. Fan still questions why she has always had that rook even before these accidents, but he doesn't want to question her. She has her ways..
--------
"Cabby, you have to help us... Test Tube won't! You're the only other person I can think of that can help take care of the others!"
Paper pleads, he's practically on his knees shaking. Cabby looks at Paper with a worried expression, a small frown on her face.
"I'm not the best at healing or leadership...but. I have enough knowledge on it to be capable of helping."
Paper almost beams with happiness as he hears Cabby's words. He gives her a tight hug, causing the woman to tense up and look off to the side, hugging him back in an awkward manner before Paper finally lefs go and takes a step back.
"Thank you! You're a life saver Cabby! I'll tell the others! And.. and Test Tube. Can you work with her? Please? I know she isn't-"
"Of course I'll work with her! I've get along wonderfully. We're quite close!"
Cabby cuts Paper off and smiles widely.
"Oh- uh.. alright. You know where her lab is.. right?"
Paper mutters. He fidgets nervously, his mood switching up quickly. He's been like this ever since OJ has died, he'll randomly switch up quickly and is either nice, rude, anxious, or completely just... odd.
"Of course I do! I'll be going then. I trust you dealing with the others for now, Paper. If you need anything, you know where to get to me!"
Cabby says cheerfully. She waves bye at Paper before leaving the room, grabbing her cane before she stands and leaves. She'd use her wheelchair, but it's harder to get to Test Tube's lab that way. Especially with the wet weather.
Cabby sighs as she leaves, everything has been so odd. And she doesn't know how to take it, but.. she's trying.
She finally makes it to few lab, and takes a few deep breaths, trying to regain her breath. Why is the lab so far? She lets out a low hum and grabs her bag and pulls out a file that has the code to the vending machine.
Cabby quickly punches it in and suddenly is let in, she almost falls as she comes in, but regains her balance. She looks around a little and walks foward as she puts her file up and puts her bag back on.
She then spots Fan on the couch, he seems to be asleep at first but he starts to twist and turn a bit before sitting up quickly and taking a few deep breaths. He wipes his face off with his sleeve and sighs.
Fan sees Cabby standing there, and smiles a little before standing up and waving at her, not saying anything just yet. He puts the ice pack back into the freezer then looks back at Cabby.
"Test Tube is in the examination room.. she uh.. I don't know.. forgot."
Fan shrugs, looking off to the side. Grabbing a water and taking a small sip from it, the awkward silence is loud. Fan and Cabby don't have much of a friendship... despite Test Tube's efforts to try and help the two to get along. But... Cabby seems to have something slightly against Fan. Probably because he's dating Test Tube. It's obvious Cabby liked the woman.
Cabby goes silent for a second before nodding a bit. A small smile on her face.
"Alright, thank you Fan."
Cabby says in a soft tone. She doesn't say anything else, she just walks past Fan and towards where Test Tube was at.
But, she then quickly stops by the sounds of someone falling in. At the same TestTube walks out, slipping off her gloves and tossing them into a bin.
Test Tube stops in her tracks as she sees Baseball on the floor, panicking. He runs up to Test Tube, who looks at him like he's crazy.. and shakes her with one hand
"Test Tube there was another death! Cheesy, he's dead! Right infront of everyone!"
Test Tube stops, she takes a deep breath and prys Baseballs metal hand off of her and steps back from him.
"Alright... alright. Same way?"
She asks, her town serious. Cabby frowns a little and walks up next to Test Tube, causing Fan to look over at her and stare, making her to step away a little and look off to the side.
"Ye.. yes! It- he- all that happened was panic and before I knew it his body it was-"
"Chopped up and face torn off with no trace of where if could've gone, also with multiple x cuts across the face and body? Then yeah, he's definitely another victim.."
Fan says suddenly, a frown plastered on his face a he almost seems to be hugging himself. Test Tube looks over at Fan, her expression softening. She sighs and wraps and arm around him, bringing the short man close to her. She rubs his back slightly, hoping to make him feel better. She knows how much Fan has gone through already.
"...yeah."
Baseball mutters, looking to the ground, he shaking like crazy. You can't blame him, it was practice watching someone explode into pieces while just hearing screams of terror.
"Well... there isn't anything we can do just yet but do research."
Cabby says carefully, she looks back at Baseball and pats him on the shoulder.
"But we'll find something out. Maybe.. maybe we can even get them back"
She says, her voice low and soft. But it does little to soothe Baseballs nerves. He's practically on the edge of passing out.
A sigh can be heard from Test Tube, she rubs the bridge of her nose and takes off her glasses before slipping them back on.
"Have someone bring the body over. Also, please make sure it isn't unnecessary pieces of the body.... I don't want to burn anymore parts than I already have."
Everyone seems to pause and turn to Test Tube, a look of horror on Baseballs face and Confusion on Cabby and Fan's face.
"You've... you've been burning their bodies?"
"You have an incinerator??"
Both Baseball and Fan say at the same time. Test Tube looks off to the side and huffs.
"Not all of their bodies. I don't want body parts that won't do any good lying around my lab... and Fan, I've always had an incinerator. It's necessary."
Test Tube says in an annoyed and tired tone, obviously done with this week. She sighs and lets go of Fan.
"Sorry.. I didn't think about it. I won't burn anymore parts if it makes you feel better, Baseball. Just.. don't tell the others. I don't want them worrying."
She sighs and looks off to the side. Everyone goes silent, the only thing heard are the machines running in the background.
"Anyways.. Cabby, could you.. please help with the body.. sorry."
Test Tube turns to Cabby, a sorry expression plastered on her face.
"Of course, I'll try my best."
Cabby says, her tone nervous. She keeps hold of Baseball and leads him out of the lab.
"Fan.. I know you've been... upset. But I'll need help."
Test Tube says quietly, she takes a deep breath and runs a hand through her hair.
"I- it's been to much recently- the bodies, the constant bugging, the deaths in general. This is all so stressful I don't think I can take on anymore by myself-"
TestTube says quickly, she starts to pulls at her hair slightly, suddenly pacing around a bit as she starts to panic.
"I'm so sorry Fan... you shouldn't have to deal with me. I'm.. capable of doing this myself..-"
Fan then cuts Test Tube off, hugging her tightly. And pulling her in close.
"Tube, it's fine! I can help! You shouldn't have to deal with this yourself.. no one should. I know you worry about me, but I promise I can.. uh.. help. Y'know?"
Test Tube looks down at Fan, surprised by his sudden affection and words. Her face flushes and she quickly looks off to the side and nods. She wraps her arms around Fan and sighs.
"Golly... alright. Don't get to squeamish, it could get things out of order."
Test Tube looks back down at Fan and smiles sweetly. She cups Fan's face and gives him a quick kiss before pulling away, she isn't one for romance, but it almost feels obligated at this point of their relationship.
Fan smiles and blushes and nods. Trying to act as if the kiss didn't affect him one bit.
"I can't promise anything..."
Fan says, he lets go of Test Tube and takes a step back. He takes a deep breath and sighs, his smile fading a bit.
"But.. we should probably be careful, Test Tube. We don't know how these deaths are happening yet, for all we could know is that it's some sort of infection."
Fan says, his voice low once more. He fidgets nervously and looks past Test Tube, for some reason, unable to look her in the eyes now.
He's afraid that any second she could be next and she'd die right infront of him just like Lightbulb and Lifering.
Test Tube sighs and nods in an almost clinical manner.
"You're right. But.. I don't think it's that, Fan."
Test Tube says, her tone more serious. She then signals Fan to follow her. She leads Fan over to the examination room and opens the door slowly.
"Don't freak out.. at least, try not to freak out to much."
Test Tube leads Fan into the room and is almost instant hit in the face with the smell of burnt flesh. He covers his mouth and nose quickly and his face scrunched into disgust.
Test Tube grabs a face mask for Fan and hands it to him. He puts it on quickly, the smell now mostly blocked out. But Test Tube doesn't put a face mask on, most likely used to the smell by now..
Test Tube sighs and uncovers Lightbulb's top half. Both Fan and Test Tube pause, their breath now trembling. Test Tube gulps and lifts Lightbulb's head up gently, covering her face for Fan's own sanity.
"Look.. it's a fried computer chip."
Test Tube mutters. Fan walks over slowly and looks at Lightbulb's head, where she fell once she died, left a gash in her skull.
There, a computer chip can be seen. Almost implanted into her brain. Fan gags, he can see the brains and the damage done to it.
Test Tube puts on gloves and nudges Fan, having him look away. The sound is almost like a squelch, a rip, and the sound of Test Tube taking a deep breath in hesitation.
Test Tube quickly covers Lightbulb's body once more and sighs.
"Geez..."
Test Tube mutters, causing Fan to look back at TestTube. But he regrets his decision almost instantly. Test Tube didn't pull out just the chip, but the entire damn brain. That was something Fan wasn't expecting. He feels like he's about to throw up, how does Test Tube have the guts for these things?
"Oh my god.. Test Tube.. what.. what the fuck!"
Fan almost yells, covering his eyes quickly. His breath quick his stomach twisting, he quickly runs towards a trash can and rips the mask off, the scent of the burnt flesh filling his nose instantly.
He throws up, the sound filling the room, Making Test Tube grimace.
"Fan- I'm sorry. But I have to! If we want to know what's going on-"
Test Tube in the cut off by Fan throwing up even more, he falls onto his knees and holds onto the trash can tightly. Sweat dripping down his forehead and meeting the hard ground, only adding to the gut wrenching sound of the vomit hitting the bottom of the trash can.
Test Tube takes a deep breath, waiting for Fan to finish before she continues. But it only ends up with Fan passing out. She sighs and places the brain down carefully before taking her gloves off and tossing them once more and washing her hands before grabbing paper towel and wiping Fan's face and mouth off.
She sighs and takes Fan's hoodie off, she'll have to clean it.. she slips off her lab coat and slips it around Fan and picks him up setting him off back into the main area. Putting him down on the couch before going back to work.
She takes a deep breath and puts another pair of gloves and picks up the brain once more. She frowns deeply, she doesn't want to do this. To be holding one of her best friends brain. But.. if she wants to figure this out.
She has to.