Chapter Text
...
He doesn't know how long it's been since he "woke up" here.
But ever since, it's been nothing but a conga line of everyone Boyfriend knows, getting corrupted left and right.
It was Pico first, then the Spooky Kids, he'd heard whispers about Mearest falling... and the video game...
...Either way...
He should know.
He's had to watch every single second of it since then.
At least having BF's memories keeps him from being too confused... even if having them caused him a bit of confusion as well.
If he's going to remain here, the least he can do at this point is just keep a watch over the rapper.
...Right...?
...Right.
Wasn't like there was much else he could do at this rate anyways.
...He still has that lingering headache from whatever the FUCK happened in Hating Sim.
Soul let out a sigh, glancing back at BF again.
He's still asleep.
As he had been since he gained any sort of consciousness.
It all felt so... weird, still.
Probably something he shouldn't still be mulling over.
He looks back up at the monitor screen (how come this was the layout of BF's mind right now anyway...?) in time to see Girlfriend, still corrupted, telling him to get some rest as he tried and failed to protest.
Made sense. They're supposed to be going for Dearest next, after all.
At least, that's what he'd learned from listening in on enough conversations to know that for sure.
...God, he's so tired.
He's not sure whether that might be BF influencing him or something, because he knows if he was awake right now, he'd be just as sick of all this.
...On that note, Boyfriend's something... strange to him.
As far as he's aware, he's why he exists right now.
But the way he knows him like he'd been here for years, the way he's willing to keep going for him when he can't...
It's something he can hardly pinpoint.
To be honest, that holds true for a lot of things at the moment.
Regardless, he can't ignore the fact that it feels like he's blindly grasping through a fog for something he's not even certain is there.
...He really shouldn't be thinking so much about this.
Suddenly, the screen went to static - Soul didn't really pay much mind to it, since that was what usually happened when the corruption puppeteering the blue-haired boy's body actually decided to rest for once.
At least he can get something close to a break now that he doesn't have to keep watching the hell that's going on outside-
That was when a voice spoke through the room, instantly grabbing his attention back from the lull of disinterest.
"Hm, look at that. I finally got this to work~"
In shock, Soul's eyes went back up to the screen, where he saw BF's corrupted self on it, staring directly at him.
"...Who the hell-?"
"Oh, isn't it obvious? I'm his corruption. And YOU have been quite the thorn in my side-! Err, thorn in my mind, I suppose. Which, given what I believe HE seems to think of you... I find laughably ironic."
Ignoring that last comment, Soul glanced over at Boyfriend (asleep as usual), still confused at how the hell this was happening.
Probably more out of denial than anything...
"In case you're still somehow wondering, no, none of this is him. I'm not him at all, in fact. You can just call me... Corrupt."
...He should've figured.
Of COURSE the Corruption would want to start trying to speak with him directly now that it'd been made aware that he was even here.
Rather than giving him a response, though, Soul remained quiet, just glaring up at the figure on the monitor.
"...You're intriguing, I'll admit. You were already present here once I learned of your existence... it makes me wonder just how long you've been around..."
At that, Soul let out a scoff.
"Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy?~"
He smirked at the obvious irritation that his snarky comeback had instilled, before Corrupt just grumbled and began speaking once more.
"Nonetheless... you weren't here when we first took over. So, was this him, or... did I perhaps-?"
"Shut up."
"Hm. Interesting response."
"To a stupid question?"
"I don't think it's that stupid. You're the one refusing to tell me anything."
"And what makes you think you get to know?"
"Need I remind you that you're in HIS mind? As long as I am here, any business either of you have is now mine. ...Besides..."
He trailed off as he visibly leaned closer on the screen, a slight glint in his eyes that Soul didn't like in the slightest-
"You DO also resemble a certain someone... I can't help but think that isn't a coincidence?~"
Soul didn't directly acknowledge him, just rolling his eyes.
"...Mm. You're not very fun."
He could tell that Corrupt was trying to get under his skin, and damn it all, he isn't just going to let that happen.
"Just what do you think you're even doing?"
...The other debated for a little while on how exactly to answer that question.
Because while he'd already taken on the option of helping BF once he was able, the Corruption was making that SIGNIFICANTLY more difficult.
And he wasn't exactly too keen on telling that to the other, either...
...Oh, to hell with it.
Given how he's already choosing to antagonize him, he was probably going to figure it out anyway...
With a tiny glance in Boyfriend's direction, he spoke.
"Just... waiting for the right moment."
Corrupt just stared, confused yet seemingly unimpressed.
"And do you really think it's going to get either of you anywhere? Do you even know what you're doing?"
"I know enough."
"Then why are you here?"
His question was met with a small shrug.
"Someone's gotta watch over him while he's in this mess."
Corrupt just hummed - a dull but curious sound, as he backed away from the screen slightly.
...He didn't like how he'd caught the ghost of a smirk on his face right before what he said next.
"I'm sure it'd be a LOT easier watching over him for OUR sake... don't you think?"
"Hell no."
"For all I understand, something brought you into existence here, and somehow you feel the need to protect him when he's well beyond the point of thinking you're anything that's going to HELP him."
Once again, he briefly looked back at the rapper, his expression contemplative.
So that "intuition" of his had been right.
Truth be told, he'd been suspecting since Hating Sim, but...
For whatever reason, being told such a thing directly hurt just a little more.
Yet, it wasn't like he didn't see it coming.
...He knows that he won't have any reason to trust him regardless.
In fact, if that's really the case, he might as well be better off keeping him down than do his best to attempt to lift him back up.
...But no.
All these faint feelings... they had to be there for a reason.
He could feel it.
Even though it felt less complicated, helping the thing that was haunting both of their minds felt so WRONG.
He didn't even have to turn back to the monitor to know Corrupt was smirking at him now.
"...He should mean nothing to you."
Maybe.
...Doesn't mean he was going to let that be the case.
"...And?"
"Huh?"
Soul just fixed him with a cold look, simply floating up into the air, summoning a guitar to gently strum as he looked up at the other again.
"And does it look like I care?"
"...You care too much. And it'll be the reason you go right down with him."
"Guess that's just too bad then, huh?"
Corrupt just scowled again.
God, he was insufferable.
Dodging his questions was one thing. Outright REFUSING his offer was another by now.
"I don't see why you continue to wait. It's not like you can do anything while I'm in control. And besides... you can't except HIM to believe YOU."
"I know."
He narrowed his eyes in intrigue. Just what was he trying to accomplish...?
"Hm. You're like him. You don't give up either..."
"What did you fucking expect?"
"...Ah, well, it doesn't matter now. Whatever your plan is, it WILL fail. Actually... maybe I could speed things up if I just..."
Corrupt's eyes trailed over to Boyfriend's sleeping form, making Soul also look in that direction.
The mindscape suddenly turned red, orange cracks forming in certain places, and BF began to whimper and shake despite being unconscious.
A black tendril began to form right above him from the surrounding darkness, the spiked tip pointing down at his chest - and Soul immediately panicked.
"NO!"
He quickly zipped over to pull the rapper into his arms, just barely evading the spike as it came down, shattering on impact with the floor, and it disappeared into black smoke and faded away.
The mindscape reverted back to its regular dull purple hue, and Boyfriend relaxed.
Hearing a chuckle from Corrupt, Soul turned his head to glare at him.
"Interesting. Well, I suppose I'll be seeing you soon... Glitch~"
"That's not-!"
He was greeted with a screen full of static, and figured Corrupt was likely gone.
Coward.
Well... at least he wasn't being asked for an alternative moniker instead.
But... still...
Looking back down at Boyfriend, Soul gently set him on the ground, letting out a small sigh as he began to pull away to stand again.
Only for BF to grab his hand, inadvertently pulling him back down, muttering weakly in his sleep.
"行かないで..." [Please don't leave...]
It didn't really come as a shock to Soul that he understood what he was saying.
Nor that he knew what to say back.
With a gentle, slight squeeze to his hand, he spoke.
"君を置いて行かないよ." [I'm not leaving you.]
BF seemed to relax, much to his relief. He didn't bother fighting the small smile that grew on his face as a result.
Despite the internal conflict that toiled within him.
It just... felt natural.
"...I could never."
...
It'd been so long since he'd properly heard that voice.
Since the last time he'd faced him in a similar way to this.
While Soul had wished and pleaded that this wouldn't happen ever since the first corrupted came bursting in through the window, this somehow felt so... inevitable.
But god, this explained so much.
Their damaged connection, his headaches, the physical feelings he'd been having, why he'd felt THAT pull to him so badly...
...Like he'd been aching to save him again.
Guess he finally knows now just what he needed saving FROM.
The rest of the group is easily feeling the same horror that he currently is, even if it's not the exact same.
"...B-Boyfriend?"
"Tsk, tsk, Pico... I'm not Boyfriend anymore. You can just call me-"
"Corrupt."
At that, he paused, looking at Soul.
"...Ah. So you DO remember me. I'll admit, it's nice to finally see you again- ...oh, wait. It's 'Soul' now, isn't it?"
"You know him??"
Hearing BB's confused and distressed inquiry, Soul let out a sigh.
"We've... talked. Back when BF was corrupted the first time. But 'knowing' him... that's a bit of a stretch."
"Oh, come on, I'd say we got to know each other pretty well in that time before you essentially killed me, hm?"
"Shut up. Most of it was you trying to taunt me."
"Which I'd argue worked well enough on you~"
"Hah, is THAT what you think? Because I don't remember them affecting me in the slightest."
"I dunno... it's been quite a long while since the last time I got to call you 'Glitch'. Too bad that name won't stick now... I think it suits you."
"But- w-wait-" Girlfriend's worried voice was what he heard next- "When we thought Monster was possessing BF, that... that wasn't- that was-??"
"Wow... this really is sad. If you all had paid more attention, this would've been much more obvious..."
His gaze turned back to Soul.
"...Though I'm more surprised you didn't tell them."
"You say that like I knew for sure, you asshole. If I DID know, I'd have already said something. For all I know, I could've been imagining things when I heard YOUR voice when I was corrupted... and maybe if you hadn't been holding a knife to my face, I would've figured it out sooner."
Soul glanced up at Monster after he stopped speaking - he could see him watching the entire thing with a smug smile.
The fucker.
"Where's the fun in NOT holding a knife to your face?"
"Only YOU could call that fun."
"Figured it'd get you to spill your thoughts."
"I can't spill something I don't know."
"Still, you suspected. Isn't that enough?"
"And how the hell was he supposed to believe he was corrupted, huh? It's the last thing he'd want, that WE'D want, so none of us would wanna believe that unless we saw it ourselves."
Thank you, BB, for coming to the damn rescue...
"Besides, we all know the Corruption likes to get in people's heads. We came here together, and we're going to take this shit down together, not with a shit ton of in-fighting."
The group's determination seemed to rise a bit at the big sibling's small speech, while Corrupt just rolled his eyes.
"Whatever. It's too late now for you all as it is~"
"I don't think so."
"So you believe."
"Because you aren't fully corrupted yet."
"Exactly, and you aren't going to like what happens once he is."
"The hell is THAT supposed to mean?"
"You'll have to find out."
"Maybe if I feel lucky enough, I might gently coax it out of you instead."
(He was NOT intending to gently coax him.)
"As if you'd be able to without risking yourself. Not to mention the rest of you aren't out of trouble yet..."
"Oh, we'll find our way out of it."
Behind him, he could start to hear some slight murmurs from Pico and Senpai - and from the sounds of it, they had an idea.
He got the memo.
Just keep him distracted.
"Oh, really? Your goal might still be to protect him, but... I think you're going to find that a little difficult right now."
"Heh, oh, believe me, worse things have happened, even if they didn't involve YOU."
Corrupt just sighed.
"I was right. I don't miss you and your stupid snark in the slightest."
"Good, because I hoped I wouldn't have to deal with you again, either."
"Too bad. You'll have to now."
"...Do I?~"
"LILA, NOW!"
Immediately following Pico's shout off to the side, Soul backed away as a large wall of cyan fire engulfed the corrupted rapper - as Lila continued to blast him, he stood beside GF, welcoming the feeling of her moving to hold his hand tightly.
Both of them mutually worried about if this was going to work or not.
The fire cleared...
...And he was still corrupted.
"Heh. Nice try."
"Wh-What? B-But... that should've-"
Monster then began laughing, prompting everyone else to look up at him.
"Oh, you all don't understand, do you? That Corruption of his has been there for a while, and I've made it rather... special."
He then turned to Soul, with a manic, malicious smile that sent a chill down his spine.
"Even before you came flying in with your majestic little wings to save him, it was already festering in his head. You were just a little too late."
"So... he's not partially corrupted at all..."
Carol's eyes widened at the realization.
Of course, it was obvious by how Corrupt seemed to have complete control, but...
"If it's in his mind, then... maybe we can dispel it by fighting him, but if Boyfriend's not fighting it on his side, then we can forget trying to save him. The Corruption's got a completely different kind of hold..."
"What if Soul goes in to help? He can do that, right??"
At Sunday's desperate question. Carol just lowered her head.
"...That's if he doesn't mind the possibility of getting recorrupted..."
"How would-?"
"Because it grew out from somewhere in his mind. It... doesn't JUST have a presence on his body..."
"Which... means...?"
Apparently, Armaros had caught on as quick as Soul had, given he was the one to spell it out for BB.
"Michael, this version of the Corruption is as internal as it is external. If originally, it just adds itself as an extra layer on the outside... what do you think that means for Soul if it's now just as present coating an extra layer on the inside?"
"...Ohhh, fuck..."
"Now are you realizing why I told you it wouldn't be so easy to get him out?~"
"Shut up! From what I'm hearing, we can still help get rid of you..."
"...'We'?"
Before the group could react, the corrupted from earlier came shambling out of the alleyways, instantly going for everyone in the group excluding Soul.
They immediately retreated back to their mini groups as best they could, though it was clear the element of surprise being used against them was already taking a pretty hefty toll.
He guessed the son of a bitch wanted to face him on his own.
And as if he was confirming that, Corrupt had a pleased smirk on his face.
...Flattering. But so be it.
"In that case, then I'll just help him by myself."
"And, HOW, exactly, do you intend to help? You're stuck out here, and you know full well you'll risk getting corrupted again yourself trying to go through it to get to him in his mind... so you can't help him stay awake this time.~"
"Hey, this isn't the first time you've put Bee through similar shit. He can fight well enough on his own... getting out shouldn't be that much different."
"Hmm, interesting. ...So why is it that I don't really feel him fighting back?"
"Then you're sure as hell ABOUT to."
Corrupt just smiled.
And then he rushed forward, a hand going under his chin to keep eye contact, one of his tendrils starting to wrap around the other as the remaining three helped to keep him supported off of the ground.
"Oh, we'll see about that~"
With a rainbow flame bursting to life in his hand and his white marks flaring into view, Soul flew out of his grip and stared down at him.
"Guess we will."
...Everything feels like it's going in a torturous slow motion.
He wants to just lay down a little longer, his mind's a blur, just give him a few more minutes.
But something in him was unrelenting in telling him to get up, that he can't stay like this unless he wanted to be stuck here forever-
So, slowly, Boyfriend opened his eyes...
Only to be met with the scenery of his mindscape.
The static on the screen nearby was flickering, unable to stay in a tranquil state.
What exactly... happened to him...?
He searched his mind for answers. The last he could remember, he was reunited with everyone else, eager and ready to finally face and take down Monster with them until-
"Well, well, well, look who's finally AWAKE."
Immediately, he whirled around at the voice and quickly stood, a familiar surge of dread and panic starting to flood him when he realized he recognized who it was.
And when he turned, there was his mirror image, save for the purely midnight purple of the Corruption, plus the pink eyes and facial features that met his own.
The same infection that he so very despised and feared, in the form of his corrupted self.
"...Surprised to see me?"
BF didn't respond, trying not to let his fright get the better of him.
He... he can't believe he's facing this again.
The one fear that's had a death grip on him since the first time that he'd had to put a stop to it.
Something that'd had too much power over him for god knows how long by now.
Attempting to regain control of himself, he balled his hand into a fist.
"...You."
"That's right. Me."
"Why- I never got corrupted! W-Why the hell are you-?!"
"Don't you understand, XML? When you faced Monster the first time, he messed with your head... and put me here~"
"Th-That's bullshit. I-I would've noticed- Soul would've noticed!"
"Where do you think I've been this whole time? Clearly, it doesn't seem like your friend thought to check the very depths of your mind, now, did he? And besides, your connection to him has been muddled either way... thanks to me."
...Shit.
He hated that it explained a terrifyingly large amount of everything that'd he felt was off with himself.
In all honesty, he didn't want to believe that he was really here.
And Monster was messing with him again.
"...C-Come on, you can drop the act now, you lemon p-prick. Y-You got me, okay? You're scaring the shit out of me, is THAT what you w-want to hear??"
"Oh, you poor thing... so desperate to escape this that you can't even accept it's real~"
"Just shut up! G-Go away- let me out!"
"You really think you can just tell me what to do? If you want to get out of here so badly, then you know how to do it, don't you?"
The words spilled out harshly, though he could tell Corrupt's pride laid underneath it.
He knows he doesn't have more will than panic to try and get out again, to kill him.
And as badly as he wanted to prove him wrong...
...In a way, he was still right.
"Go on... you know you want to."
His hands shaking, he pulled out his mic, attempting to gain at least a little courage in spite of who he was facing - and then he froze again.
Like clockwork, his voice choked up, his heart is pounding, and his breathing is growing more and more unsteady.
He can't move.
"...That's what I thought."
Corrupt snapped, and BF fell to the ground on his knees, the mic falling out of his hands as he frantically tried to get his breath back.
"It's a real shame I have this much control over you. Otherwise, I'm sure you would be doing more to stop me."
"Y-You don't... you don't control me."
"Hm, maybe I don't. But right now, I can. And I very much will. Because you're letting me."
"Shut up..."
Finally, he stood up again, arms wrapped around himself as he retreated further.
"At this rate, you're never going to get out. Which I WOULD be happy with, but it's boring without you trying to fight back at least a little and then I can crush your spirit when you do. So why don't you?"
"I don't- I can't-"
"Weak."
"Stop-"
"You can't do ANYTHING on your own. I might as well just make this easier on both of us."
"N-No- I'll- i-it'll be fine- Soul can help me fix this-!"
"You mean the one you created thinking that he was the very thing that plagued you?"
BF looked up at him, before shutting his eyes tightly and sharply turning his head away.
Of course he would bring up these things now that the Corruption was lodged in his head, too, but-
He'd buried those thoughts for a reason.
It wasn't fair, this wasn't fair, why did he have to-??
"Admit it. You had no problems with doing such a thing or refusing to trust him at first. Deep down... I know you know that."
BF remained silent, and with a smirk, Corrupt began walking towards him.
"Even now, he can't help you. Yet you still think you can trust him to try? You still want to put all your damn faith in him again?? Well- UGH!"
He was promptly punched in the face, causing him to stumble back away from the rapper.
"Shut. UP."
Corrupt looked up at him again, glaring.
"That doesn't matter anymore. You KNOW it doesn't. And plus, you also know you had a fucking hand in that too. Even while I'd been asleep, you were always torturing me. It's no wonder you happened to slip into what I wanted- you were in every part of my mind, and I hated it!"
His shout got the other to flinch slightly - it seemed like something was finally starting to give.
"So don't you dare try to turn me against my friend. I'm not letting you take anything else from... me..."
He trailed off as he suddenly got weaker, collapsing to the ground again.
"Ah. Finally. I hope you realize that the longer I stay here... the less time you have left~"
"H-Huh??"
Oh, god, he'd been stalling, hadn't he?
In the corner of his eye, he could see himself flickering, becoming transparent for a fraction of a second - and his panic spiked.
BF was now starting to shake, and that momentary strong burst of rage was gone.
There was nothing left to mask the fear now.
If he looked close enough, he could see the Corruption starting to eek its way out of the darkness that surrounded the two of them, where the room wasn't being lit by the screen.
...It hadn't been this dark in here since the first time he had to break out...
"Besides, you can scream every single grievance you have at me, but that will NEVER change the fact that you're not that confident, cocky little rapper anymore. No matter what you do, you can't escape the fact that you are still AFRAID OF ME."
Corrupt reared closer, and just as he'd expected, Boyfriend flinched back, the fear clear in his eyes at this point.
With a satisfied chuckle, he walked forward, BF trying to back away - but he was moving too slowly.
He gripped the rapper's arms tightly, pinning them to his sides and pressing him to the floor, and he could hear his breath start to quicken as he struggled to escape his grasp.
"Hm, what's the matter? Are you SCARED?"
"L-Let go of me...!"
"I'll take that as a yes~"
The Corruption around them moved in, ever so slowly, almost taunting him.
His form flickered again, and he winced as a result.
"Just give up."
...No.
No, he didn't want to.
He shouldn't- he can't-!
Finding the sudden strength to move, he roughly shoved Corrupt off of him, quickly getting back up and running for the screen as he lunged at him.
"Where do you think you're going?!"
He simply ignored him, continuing to run.
The second he reached the monitor, he practically slammed a hand against the screen, looking behind him to see Corrupt getting up and walking towards him, the encircling Corruption getting closer and closer-
And then he was pulled into the static.
Where it was quiet.
Safe.
He could hear Corrupt's voice speaking to him, just before it was fully swallowed up by the sound of the surrounding white noise.
"You can't run and hide forever..."
...He knows he can't.
But at least, for the time being...
He can stay here for a bit.
...Right...?
As if specifically to try to prove him wrong, his body flickered again.
When he looked down at himself, he was just a little more see-through.
...His eyes are starting to feel heavy.
Even though Monster had called in the rest of the corrupted to try and hold off the rest of the group, they'd found themselves to be holding their own fairly well.
Mostly because, when they weren't watching their own backs, some of them were watching the others' backs too.
"On your left!"
With that warning, Whitty was able to dodge an incoming corrupted before it could attack him.
"Thanks, Hex!"
"You are welcome!"
'You may want to think about watching your OWN left...'
Cue a shot fired from Pixel saving Hex from an attack as a result.
Meanwhile, Sunday had been standing alongside BB, driving the corrupted away with their guitar, before an idea came to them.
They struck a chord on it, willing the energy imbued in it to focus...
And, as she envisioned, a white outline of an axe head appeared on the side of the body of their guitar.
Donning a smirk, they swiftly placed the pick in their pocket, swinging the modified instrument at one of the corrupted that had been sneaking up on BB.
"What- the fuck??"
"Hah, now I'm starting to see why Razorback likes doing this. It's pretty fun~"
She smacked away another corrupted that tried to approach the two as she ended off her sentence.
Michael himself couldn't help but chuckle a bit out of both awe and amusement.
"Man, now you're making me wish I'd grabbed my own guitar before we headed out."
"Why? You jealous?"
BB hit another corrupted back with his bat, keeping it from attacking Sunday on a cheap shot.
"A bit."
Sunday just smiled, axeing another corrupted in the face.
(The person inside was gonna be fine, right?)
Off to the side, Armaros just stood there, bewildered at their method of attack.
"...You guys confuse the shit out of me."
And then he shot one of the people trying to get him from behind, making them fall out of the air.
"Yeah! Go, mom!"
"You're doing great, Ms. Lila!"
Lila smiled a bit at her kids' encouragement as she continued blasting the surrounding corrupted with fire.
"So- so are those actual fire powers, or does it just look like fire?"
Nene questioned her from off to the side as she held off the opposition near her with dual knives.
"Uh... I'm not sure? They don't burn like actual fire... at least not to me or the kids."
"Who knows? Maybe they burn who you actually wanna hurt."
"Damn, the demon that gave you this shit should've given you an instruction manual."
"Aw, but that just makes it less fun to discover on your own..."
"That's fair, son, but I think in this situation, it might be better to have a better grip on these things..."
"Yo, hold on, wait. I got an idea."
Darnell then pulled out another spray can, throwing it at the small cluster of corrupted in front of the five of them.
"Hope you got good aim!"
Lila understood, and shot a fireball at the spray can - it proceeded to explode in a massive fireball that created a circle of flames around them, before it dissipated just as quickly.
"...That... was SO COOL!"
Stars appeared in the kids' eyes as they cheered, and Lila gave both Darnell and Nene a smile as the former whistled at the scale of their attack.
"Niiiiiiice."
Girlfriend and Pico stood back-to-back not too far away, fighting off the rest of the swarm.
"How ya holdin' up back there, Gigi?"
"I'm alright! Honestly... I'm just hoping they don't drag my parents back into this..."
"Fuck, don't jinx it. As much as I enjoyed seein' ya kick their asses, they'd still be a huge pain in our asses."
"Yeah... what about you?"
"I'm okay. Looks like everyone else is doin' fine, too."
"...Everyone else?"
Her anxious, wary tone that came in the brief break they got from fighting made him look back over at where Soul was fighting Corrupt.
"Piki..."
"Nah... he's got this."
They both tried to ignore how it sounded like he was trying more to convince himself of that idea.
Once again, the corrupted started closing in, forcing them to return to holding them off.
And the mercenary gave one last little glance at that battle before focusing his attention on the enemies in front of him.
"...He's got this..."
Yeah, he's not having a very fun time actually fighting Corrupt.
It was significantly easier to do from the inside.
Doing it from the outside?
Most of it was trying not to get pierced by one of his stupid tendril limbs every 5 or so seconds.
But if Corrupt's rising frustration was any good indicator, he was still holding his own pretty damn well.
"Just- stay still, dammit!"
"Why? To make myself an easier target?"
He smirked as he teleported to be right in the other's face as he taunted.
"Someone's getting desperate~"
Corrupt swiped at him, only for him to teleport away again.
He sighed - if not for the tiny bits of Corruption on Soul, he would've deemed this pointless and started going for any of the others.
But... the possibility of being the one to corrupt him would be a little satisfying.
They continued, stuck in that back-and-forth because neither of them were truly "winning," until Corrupt spoke again.
"Just face it. Everything you're doing is POINTLESS. You can TRY to save him, but you already know that you're never going to see him again."
"Wow, so pessimistic. You've really gotta work on that~"
"Can you be SERIOUS for a minute?"
"Nah."
The other growled, trying to attack him again - and failing once more.
He landed on the ground, that stupid smug smirk still on his face, and Corrupt followed suit before the two began circling, watching and waiting for either one of them to make a move.
"What even makes you all keep going? Everyone else you know is gone, or will be. Stop fighting your fate and just give up."
"You KNOW why I won't do that."
"Still clinging onto hope, huh? As you always do. But you're already doomed. You've already fallen to us once- no, I lie, twice. In the end, it's not even gonna matter how much you fight. ...You'll go down just as they will."
"Tch- what, you need Monster to tell you everything? You weren't around for the two times that happened. Bold of you to even assume that you of all people are gonna do it again."
"Promises, promises. And, well, everything he knows, we know. But I, on the other hand, just happen to know just a little more..."
"Yeah, we get it, you still have a conscience. But I don't think I'm exactly willing to believe the two people that have fucked with me every chance they got, tried to plant lies into my head, and tried to take me down just because I existed, thanks."
At that, Corrupt then went silent... and grinned a bit as he spoke.
"You didn't think it was entirely US that caused you to end up with those memories in your mind, did you?~"
"H-Huh...?"
They both stopped in their tracks, and Corrupt continued.
"...Wow. You REALLY have no idea, do you? What, you think I call you by that name just to mess with you? ...No. You can blame your host for that, actually. He was the one that thought of you both as one in the same at that time."
"Please. I knew THAT part, you don't have to tell me aga-"
"But you don't truly know anything, do you? You only knew he tied you and US together... not you and him. I mean, why else would you have been so deeply affected by our presence in that stupid game... and why else would we have finally been made aware of your presence at that point... Glitch?"
His smirk grew wider at the sight of Soul breaking eye contact with him and looking away, clearly still trying to comprehend the information.
"Why do you think he tried SO hard to keep you from spiraling when Monster used the form of your so-called 'copy' to break you? Or why he got so attached to you despite you being imaginary once he realized who you were TRYING to be? Even if he never knew entirely why- or so he can claim all he wants, but I know he does... in the back of your mind, you already knew too. Or at least had an inkling, am I correct?"
"Shut up..."
"Don't you get it? If it weren't for HIM, you would've been on our side. In fact, based on how you felt for so long, things should've been that way. And don't even try to act like I don't know what I'm talking about. I knew how directionless and lost you felt the ENTIRE time you were in there. You can't deny it. Because of his own confusion, you had no idea who you were, why you were even there, you didn't know a THING. And when you wanted- needed answers from HIM, he didn't have or remember them until you saved him. ...If only he hadn't wanted someone to help him so badly, and you weren't so resolute, you would've TRIED to be a person that you never even were."
"I'm warning you-"
"Your existence would've been a lie. And you only felt so conflicted because we were there. I infected you in almost the same way he was infected by US. And because you were so unsure, I TRIED to give you purpose... yet you make one for yourself? By still helping him, even when I WARNED you not to? ...Tch. We weren't just talking to HIM when we said you'd regret that betrayal..."
He began to move closer, itching to strike-
"Like it or not, no matter what HE wanted, you still have a connection to us. You ALWAYS will. You can't run from it, you can't escape it... And you have the one you trusted the most to blame for that..."
"SHUT UP."
Corrupt found himself both amused and surprised at the tranquil fury that was made apparent in the tone of Soul's voice.
"I know EXACTLY what the fuck you're trying to do. You can try to convince me I was supposed to be a product of yours or whatever and try to turn me against him all you want... it doesn't matter. Whatever tie I had to you DIED the moment I helped him, and I made good on that promise- and even though I had no idea who I was supposed to be then..."
He paused, raising a hand to let a rainbow flame burst to life in it as his white marks returned, shining brightly.
"I do now. And I have Bee to THANK for that. So nice try~"
The other's expression briefly faltered, but it was quickly covered up with a scowl as Soul slowly approached him, and he backed away in sync with his steps.
"Besides, even though I DO have to admit that there's some truth in what you said... you can't lie to me anymore. After all... things are obviously a lot different now, aren't they?~"
"...Fine. He might've been the one to create you, but even HE was just in the dark about you as YOU were at first. You HAVE to admit it. Us, on the other hand... we could've given you a sense of who you are, an identity. We could've given you whatever the hell you wanted."
"Hah- well, what I WANTED..."
In an instant, the flame grew and became more vibrant, the Corruption on him immediately breaking away in large amounts-
"Was to see him FREE."
Before Corrupt could retaliate, he was flung back by Soul's powers, only stopping once he hit the wall of a building on the other side of the street.
...His eyes widened slightly at the tiny, tiny flakes of Corruption that fell from his chest.
Looking up, he found Soul floating in the air, glaring down at him.
"And you can't change that."
If not for the pain and the slight scare, though... he could've laughed.
Even though it was clear he'd only pissed him off further, Soul was still holding back...
All in a vain attempt to keep his friend on the inside from getting too hurt.
How pitiful.
Getting back up, he stared right back, before jumping up and grabbing his arm as he matched his glare.
"That fancy little light show isn't going to save you."
"Heh, do you wanna test me?~"
"Unfortunately, I don't."
And then he was pulled down out of the sky by a pink string, before harshly landing on the ground, disorienting him for a moment.
Corrupt slowly lowered himself to the ground in front of him.
"Finally, someone else who's tired of playing this stupid game. I always preferred getting straight to the point."
"Must I remind you that YOU are the one who began playing that 'stupid game'? Get your pettiness in check. Removing him from the equation is more important than whatever else you want to do just for a little payback."
"Oh, believe me... this is payback enough."
"Wasting time by monologuing is not an efficient form of payback."
"Hah, it was still the truth. But no, I mean that AND finally getting to watch him fall to me like he did."
Monster then finally smiled.
Seems they could agree on something.
"Poetic... is it not?"
"Just a matter of time until I can finally have full control... and forever, at that. Might as well make sure it stays that way."
He began walking towards Soul, who was currently fighting the Corruption spreading on him from Monster's attack.
Only for him to hear what the other had said, and he stopped.
"W-Wait- what?"
"Ah, right. Forgot to mention. It really is such a shame that you only have so long before he's permanently taken over? Perhaps even earlier if he succumbs too quickly. Then, after that, well... let's just say there won't be anything left of him for you to save."
...Oh, that's also why his Corruption had been "special," hadn't it?
Either way, he was not going to let that happen.
However, the infection on him seemed to protest against that thought, as it spread a bit more, making him nearly collapse to the ground again with a wince.
It burns so fucking badly.
Goddammit, this is the second time tonight that he's going to be corrupted if he's not careful.
Taking a moment to glance around at everyone else, he found that they'd already been barred off from helping by the barrier- rather, the cage that Monster had placed ahead of them. They still could see him like he could see them, and their concerned expressions from afar.
And the back of the cage opened, allowing the horde to step in and forcing them to fight back to protect themselves.
He heard Corrupt let out a disappointed sigh, and he looked up at him, seeing his indifferent yet displeased look paired with crossed arms.
"You know, I still remember the times from when I was still in control that first time, and back when you were still imaginary. You couldn't even be corrupted. And I HATED that I couldn't do anything to you. Hell, fighting you now, I expected a lot more. But this? Seeing you grovel on the ground, feeling that burning pain from the infection starting to crawl across your body? ...This is more than pathetic."
"You say that- l-like I can't still fight..."
To prove his point, he stood up despite the clear pain he was in - the white marks slowly faded back in, even though they were flickering a little. His Corruption began to flake off, bit by bit, but there was still a decent amount.
"Actually- speaking of, you wanna know something interesting I've had to learn about this? Apparently when it comes to corrupting you, it's all or nothing. Even if you're only just half corrupted or something, you'd still be conscious enough to fight it. Every time you have been corrupted, either whoever did it had to invest all their energy into doing so, or they somehow managed to get you by surprise."
Evidently, Soul was currently proving his point. The longer he was able to focus, the more he fought back, and the more the Corruption on him retreated.
He paused, thinking.
"...But, as much as I despise how difficult it is, you're still only resistant, not immune. I can't exactly catch you off guard with it now, but if I could break your will down or weaken you enough - then 'all' it is~"
"G-Good fucking luck."
"Ugh, I seriously don't understand why this is the corrupted you's way of doing things... still, as long as it helps me get a win over YOU, then I guess-"
"You're NOT bringing him back."
He snapped, a microphone appearing in his hand before he held it up to point it at Corrupt.
In a mimic of what BF had done back when he'd gotten corrupted for the first time.
"Not if I have anything to say about it. You're not going to take me down, at least not without a PROPER fight."
Corrupt stared for a moment, before letting out a hum.
"...You're still only a bit corrupted... so I guess I'll give you a chance. One. Last. Song. Just me and you, no one else. If you win, I'll leave. You'll have your friend back. But, if I win, well... I don't think you really want to know what'll happen~"
"...Fine.
Deal."
...He needs to stay awake.
That's the only thing on his mind is that he can't fall asleep.
No matter how many times it tries to coerce him.
How many times it wants to tell him it'd be for the better.
Or how much he wants to close his eyes.
He has to stay awake.
Slowly, he took a deep breath in, a deep breath out.
It's impossible to tell how much time has passed for him in here.
The only indicator he has is the fact that he's faded just a slight bit more now.
While it doesn't hurt (not yet, probably)... it still feels strange.
He doesn't even fully understand what's happening or why, and that's what scares him the most.
All he can do for now is just... sit here.
It's not like he has the energy to even face Corrupt again right now.
He hates how powerless he is against him... but he can't fight it.
Despite how hard it was for him to admit it...
He needed a safe space.
He needed someone.
But he was able to fight this last time, and came out okay...
Why couldn't he now?
...Maybe Corrupt's right.
Maybe he really is that weak-
'Ah, there you are~'
...No, no no no-
'Took a while to find wherever you ran off to. But you have nowhere to go now.'
'L-Leave me alone.'
'Why should I? It's not like you haven't won against this before...'
There was a pause.
'...Unless you're just that scared.'
The environment surrounding him reacts accordingly to the accusation - suddenly, the ground gives way under him, and now it feels like he's floating.
Somewhere underneath it is the feeling that he's instead being held up by something.
He manages to pull himself together, regain his bearings enough to spit out a response.
'Sh-shut up...'
'What? Waiting on your little savior?'
'Go away!'
His voice, paired with the hivemind's behind it, was already overwhelming enough. He fought just to resist it.
'In fact... what even makes you think he can save you?'
'N-No. Don't give me that b-bullshit. Soul can handle Corrupt, I k-know he can-'
'Can he? Need I remind you, he is VERY vulnerable to the Corruption now. And he knew it... but he still came after YOU. Even fell to it again for YOUR sake. If you hadn't tried to confront me before all of this, then none of this would've happened.'
'Y-You would've done this anyway-!'
'Perhaps. But still, if you hadn't done that, if you hadn't let your arrogance get the better of you, then I wouldn't have had the chance to plant that Corruption in your head and let it fester. Let it become HIM. YOU put them all in danger, XML. This is all YOUR FAULT.'
'I-I...'
'Just like the first time, that day at the mall... you couldn't even save your precious girlfriend, and you let the world fall into my hands...~'
'S-Stop...'
'You only have yourself to blame.'
'P-Please...'
He was still attempting to fight against him, trying to just stay awake a little longer-
'That... d-doesn't even count, you didn't play f-fair, you-'
'Oh, what do you know? After all, you are the one who is still AFRAID.'
But fighting the drowsiness his voice induced was like trying to keep his head above water in the middle of a raging ocean, and he easily felt himself starting to lose.
'N-No... I d-don't... I-I don't w-want to-'
'Of course you do.'
He could feel the strings wrapping around him, around his body, his mind, coaxing him into simply letting go-
'Besides... it's a rather fitting punishment for the one to blame for letting the world fall twice... is it not?'
He stayed silent in contemplation.
'Now sleep.'
The command, its influence, grips his mind painfully, practically crushing him. He grimaces, wincing as a result.
And, slowly, he stops resisting. He stops fighting.
...He can't take this anymore.
...
'...Will it h-hurt...?'
His voice paused again for a moment, before responding in an uncannily calm, comforting, satisfied tone.
'Not if you give in willingly.'
...The static faded into black, and he finally fell under.
Outside, the two were just about to start the song when Soul noticed the corruption on the other was beginning to spread.
When Corrupt noticed the same thing, he smiled.
"Heh, look at that... he's finally stopped fighting. It's rather pitiful that you couldn't do anything to help him this time."
"Then SHUT UP and play the damn song. That was the deal."
"You don't think it's too late yet... Typical. Well, if you really WANT to save him like you did before, I'd very much like to see you try..."
"START. The song."
"...Alright. Let's see if you can wake him back up from so far away~"
With a huff, Soul brought the mic to his face as he floated off the ground slightly.
The music began.
A piano tune was first to open the track. sounding calm - and yet it felt anything but.
Once the intro passed, Soul was the first to start singing.
Corrupt was standing a few feet ahead of him, head down - if it weren't for the patch of corruption on BF's chest, he wouldn't have been able to tell that was him.
Not like he wasn't able to see through his illusions anyways...
He found himself singing for quite a bit before the other decided to finally jump in.
And when he did, it was aggressive.
His first side of the verse ended off with a scream as Soul went back to singing against him. Corrupt continued on for a bit longer before both of them sang at once, fighting to be heard over the other.
Corrupt then came in with what Soul could only guess was the main motif of the song, and he followed.
He had to stay at his best if he had any chance of winning.
Of getting Boyfriend out of there.
But, at the same time, he could only hope that BF would start fighting just as much as he was...
He took on the verse that Corrupt had left him with, the white marks reappearing with a vengeance as he did.
To be honest, some part of this had felt inevitable. With how much he and BF had been singing to get the latter out that first time.
As he carries them into the next verse, his memories take him back to the period of time he'd spent looking for the rapper when he disappeared after Neuroses.
How much Corrupt had tried to stop him.
Well, he wasn't going to stop him now.
He'd make sure of that.
Even if it meant he had to put his all into this one damn song... just for a chance.
He just hopes that somewhere in there, Boyfriend can hear him.
Corrupt's next turn snaps him out of the reminiscence, like a very harsh reminder to stay focused on the present.
And he tries to interrupt in the middle of it, just to gain a bit more ground and get a kick out of pissing him off a bit, only for-
YOU'RE FAILING.
YOU KNOW YOU ARE.
The song glitched out a bit as he was cut off before he could even get so much as a single note out.
His voice was loud, and it'd made him falter along with the words themselves.
No. He doesn't want to believe it's just wishful thinking.
He's getting him free again.
Yet, he can't help but wonder why he can hear his voice mentally again in the first place. It's not like he's corrupted anymore. (Not now, maybe.)
He was the reason that his and BF's connection was so fucked up - so maybe he was abusing the fact that it was still present?
...Okay, he didn't want to think about the implications of that any more than he already was.
Finding his perseverance and his voice, he repeated the notes Corrupt had sang, decidedly not allowing for that tiny break so that Corrupt wouldn't try to butt in.
The next verse had them singing over each other once again, trying to maintain the ground they currently had.
When Corrupt finally dropped out (and he'd noticed his head was down again, but there lacked a smile on his face this time), Soul took full advantage, milking the turn for all it was worth.
However... when the other began to sing again...
Someone else was starting to peek through the tiniest of cracks in the Corruption's hold.
He was grabbing at his head, singing out in agony... but he was there.
And it gave him hope.
They had a fighting chance.
Because of it, Soul sang with renewed vigor, not even letting the infection try to finish the other's turn as he cut in to harmonize with him.
Now all they had to do was just keep going.
If they did, then he had a good shot at getting out. He knows he wants to.
Keep singing, keep on fighting, you've got thi-
Until, once he'd been left on his own, the other started to laugh.
And he'd realized way too late that he'd fallen for the trick.
Just like that, the illusion was ripped away, and when Soul got a chance to look down at himself, he noticed he was now even more corrupted than he had been earlier.
Well, okay, now he clearly just has to be cheating, right??
Still, he tried not to let himself get tripped up too easily, coming back in to sing against Corrupt in a duet, matching note for note.
His voice was screaming in his head, about how much he wasn't exactly living up to his purpose, how he couldn't save him in the end after all-
As much as he willed it to shut up, it'd only keep coming back.
Corrupt started beatboxing instead of singing further - he's a bit rusty, but he can still keep up with it.
Yet, the sound of his voice only ever got louder.
It's already over.
No, it wasn't, he can still-
Just SUCCUMB.
The song intensified further and further along with their beatboxing, more and more desperate until-
He switched to singing again as his strength finally gave out.
And he was able to catch a glimpse of Corrupt's triumphant smirk as he collapsed to the ground.
The song had died down, now much more somber in light of the circumstances.
In spite of everything - the feeling of the Corruption spreading further on him, the sound of Corrupt's pleased voice against the mic hitting the cement - he still sang.
Out of some last shred of defiance.
...Guess he knows how Boyfriend felt trying to sing Strength of Will now.
Slowly, Corrupt walked up to him as they both sang out the last few notes, ending off the last one at the same time with a harmony.
When he finally reached him, Soul had his head bowed, in an attempt not to directly look at him - though he assumed that was also because of whatever pain he was in thanks to the infection.
Regardless, as the instrumental came to a close and the song began to fizzle out, he placed a hand under the soul's chin, forcing him to look up at him again.
His smug smirk was met with an agonized, yet still angrily tenacious expression on the other's face.
"I win.~"
The last note of the instrumental sounded in an empty last cry as the song died out completely.