Chapter Text
Cup ran his hands through his messy hair. He’d comb it later. Sleeping in his pants wasn’t the most comfortable setup, but he’d had worse. He looked around for his sweater only to find it on the lightly breathing lady sleeping beside him. Her hair splayed beautifully over her back and the pillow.
He sighed silently to himself. So much for leaving quietly. He couldn’t exactly go out in the spring chill without a shirt. Add on his scars, and it was just asking for unwanted attention. He fiddled with the end of one of her locks. And she had called him trouble.
“You’re not thinking of leaving without saying goodbye, are you, pretty boy?” Lily’s eyes opened with a little glint of mischief.
“Didn’t think you’d care for the sentimentality of it.” Cup leaned back against the headboard casually. He twisted the lock around his finger. “Plus, you looked comfortable.”
Lily snuggled deeper into the blanket, ducking her face into the neck of his sweater. “Oh yeah, it’s really cozy under here,” she said, smiling wolfishly.
“I’m gonna need that back,” Cup chuckled.
The woman laughed in response. “Oh, do you? I’m keeping it warm for you.” Lily leaned up to wrap her arms around his neck and delicately kiss his mouth. “So . . .” she paused ever so slightly, “who was it that broke your heart, angel-face?”
“That’s hardly a topic to wrap up the time we’ve had.” Cup looked away. That almost sounded like feelings. “Wouldn’t you rather have breakfast?” His hand trailed up and down her back soothingly. “We can change and beat the rush if we go now.”
Lily chuckled. She reached up to tap his nose. “You’re cute.” She smirked. “Don’t worry, pretty boy. I’m not interested in anything permanent. I just know what a good story looks like walking around, and boy am I a sucker for fairytales.”
“What? You plannin’ a book?” Cup muttered, a touch of annoyance dripping into his tone.
She laughed in response. “Come on,” she pushed. “Won’t you humor me? It’s not like I’ll tell your mother.” Lily winked. “One and done, beautiful. We’re just ships passing in the night.” She paused. “Or maybe you want another round before story time?” She flashed him a seductive smile, laying back.
Cup tilted his head, considering. “Why bother askin’?”
Lily shrugged. “Because I’m nosy.”
Cup snorted. “Maybe one if you give me the sweater.” He smiled and tugged the sleeve.
“One?” Lily’s mouth rounded. “So it’s who were they ?”
“The sweater.” Cup beckoned with his fingers.
Lily fluttered her lashes at him. “But how else would I keep you here?” She ran her hand down his chest, her palm flat against his skin.
Cup hummed and smirked. “Your charmin’ personality?”
The girl snorted. “Oh, please. You’re a runner. You wouldn’t be here with me if you weren’t.”
Cup’s smirk fell. Her eyes glinted in triumph. “Why my datin’ history? Why not my scars or being a dish or literally anything else?” Cup pointed at his arm or his head.
“Because those are the obvious stories. I want to hear the ones no one else will.” She smirked.
Cup narrowed his eyes. “You’re a tricky one.”
“Thank you.” Lily winked. She leaned back and snuggled deep under the covers, getting comfortable. “So? The stories?” she said smugly.
Cup tsked. “Are you sure there ain’t nothin’ else I can offer?”
“Nope. Not unless you want to walk out that door without a shirt,” she said decidedly.
Cup looked at the door and seriously considered it. It’d be annoying, but he could make it to the house.
“And your shoes,” she added.
Damn it. Barefoot wasn’t the worst thing he’d faced, either.
“And your coat,” she finished with a cat-like grin.
Cup felt the nail hit the coffin and dropped his head in defeat.
Lily laughed, her voice a bell.
“So, is this what you do to your dates? Hold their clothes hostage for tales and secrets to entertain?” Cuphead asked, taking her hand and playing with her slim fingers.
“Only the interesting ones. It helps pass the time.” She pulled her hand from him. “And you’re not going to distract me, handsome.” She took his fingers in return and kissed them back. “I know how the tricks go. Who were they?”
“Stars, you’re persistent,” Cup muttered. He sank a little lower against the headboard. It wasn’t like she could blackmail him or them. Stars above, how long had it been since he talked about any of them to any real degree? Holly drifted into his mind, and he firmly pushed the thought away. She wasn’t involved. “One item of clothes for one story. Shoes, coat, sweater. Three for three.”
She considered. “Deal.” She grinned. “They must be good if you’re this reluctant to talk about them.”
“Not really.” Cup ran his hand through his hair. “Okay, her name was Jessica. She was an upstart singer and had a lotta promise. We were both stupid youths enjoyin’ a summer fling. She’d warned me.” Cup rolled his eyes. “Didn’t stop me catchin’ feelin’s like a moron. When it was time ta go, she went like she said she would. She didn’t write, just like she said she wouldn’t. She didn’t come back. Kid like me took it hard, but it was a grave of my own makin’.” He smirked and shrugged. “She had ambitions and wasn’t about to hang it all up for a young mook that didn’t have cuss to offer but pretty words and a heart.”
“Don’t forget the pretty face,” Lily murmured, reaching up to run her fingers along his jaw.
Cup snorted a laugh. “I was ugly compared to her. Nah, I don’t blame her for not lookin’ back. I think she’s been pretty successful.”
“So, a young puppy love story,” Lily said, raising her brows. “And a broken-hearted boy left behind, poor sweet thing.”
Cup rolled his eyes. He was far from sweet, just naive.
“But as cute as that is, that isn’t the end of it,” Lily said knowingly.
Cup hummed in acknowledgment. “No, it’s not,” he agreed reluctantly. “Couple years after was Natasha. Fiery, deceitful, playful, cunnin’. Again, I was an idiot and underestimated her.” Woman cussing framed him for the attempted assassination of a political leader. Not only did she steal from him and put his cussing job in jeopardy, but she also got him and Mugs arrested. They were still wanted in Italy for that stardust. He had gotten the damn amulet or whatever back, but he didn’t take how she’d endangered Mugs lightly. “She was trouble and knew how to cuss with people, includin’ me. She tricked me once and never again.”
“That’s not a story,” Lily whined. “I want details.”
Cuphead smirked. “Oh? Something full of spies and espionage? Fancy dinners on tall balconies and whispered plots of treasure and death?” Cup teased, tracing her arm. “Too bad.”
Lily pouted. “You’re no fun,” she accused.
“You didn’t demand high-quality stories.” Cup smiled.
“Next time, I’ll have to steal your pants, too,” she threatened with a smirk.
Cuphead laughed. “Fine, fine. The last was Meg, at least the last I took seriously. I really thought she’d be the one.” His eyes drifted to the window. He wondered where she was now. Better not to think about that, actually. It couldn’t be good. “She was a girl that found herself in scrapes a lot but wasn’t one to whine or panic. She had a dry humor that I liked. She understood people because she kept them at a distance, watching. It felt like we were both standin’ outside’a the crowd together. Like we had an understandin’ no one else did.” His fingers stilled. “We clicked and stayed that way for a while.”
“So, she was trouble like you?” Lily smirked. “What changed?”
Cup leaned his head back. “I ruined her life.” The fan turned in slow circles, hardly making a difference. “Even with her bein’ trouble, it shouldn’t have happened the way it did.” She was a debtor because of him now. “I thought I could trust her, so I shared somethin’ dangerous. Turns out it was what she wanted the whole time. She already had someone and, thanks to me, she helped him using that information. Got herself cussed over for it. Last time I heard from her, she begged me for help, but there wasn’t a thing I could do. So, I left.” Cup’s hands balled into fists. “If I’d never shared what I did, she wouldn’t have done that.”
“Is that why you’re a runner? You’re afraid you’re gonna ruin the life of the next poor girl you get serious about?” Lily asked with a snort.
Cup blinked and glared at her in annoyance.
She met his gaze cooly. “That’s the most melodramatic thing I’ve ever heard. She stabs you in the back, and you blame yourself for giving her the knife.” Lily laughed. “Wow. That really is a new one. You really are a poor, sweet thing.”
Cup scowled. “Look, she was stabbed cussin’ worse than I was. Sure, it hurt. But she was stabbed, ditched, and locked in.”
“Don’t be a moron. She walked into a knife she saw coming.”
“How the hell would you know?” Cup demanded.
“Because if I wanted something that bad, there wouldn’t have been anything or anyone who could have stopped me, consequences be damned,” Lily said with a flash of her eyes. “You think you could have stopped her from hurting herself if she was willing to stab you in the back? Don’t be such an arrogant son-of-a-cusser. You were as helpless to stop her as I am to stop you if you decide that you don’t care about walking down the street in only pants. Everyone has agency. You have no right to take responsibility for another grown adult’s choices.”
Cup sat up. “But I could ha—”
“ No, no you couldn’t. You got a hearing problem? That’s what I just said. People damn themselves to hell all the time in this world! You gonna take responsibility for them, too? For the idiot who picked your pocket of bad money and then got nailed for fraud using the forged bill at the bank? Should girl number one be taking responsibility for your choice to catch feelings? What are you? A sponge? Sucking up everyone’s problems? An angel in shining armor come to save us poor helpless damsels in distress?”
“Girl n-number one?” Cup stammered. He was completely thrown off by her words.
“Yeah! Number one. Because she’s not your girlfriend, she’s just some damn broad you had a tumble with who doesn’t care. She’s not worth remembering. And number two was just a con artist! I can’t believe you consider her as ‘one of the people who broke your heart.’ You should have broken her fingers! Stars, I’m tired of simple-minded idiots thinking it’s their job to solve everyone else’s problems and breaking yourselves in two in the process! People are meant to struggle so they can grow! Number three cussed up real bad, so it’s her job to save herself!”
Cup stared at her. “I feel like I hit a nerve here somewhere.” He blinked. “And how did we get to me gettin’ yelled at? For my problems? Shouldn’t I be the one that’s upset right now?”
“ That’s what I’m saying! That’s the problem! You should be mad! Yell. Scream. Curse their names! Don’t wallow in misery and blame yourself for their decisions! Go out and prove them wrong.” Lily threw a hand up in the air and pinched the bridge of her nose in frustration. “Damn it, I’ll bet there are at least two or three girls just waiting for the chance to get close to you. I feel sorry for any girl who gets a crush on you. They have to deal with you draggin’ around emotional baggage that isn’t even yours. Stars, you’re the damsel in distress!”
Cup blanched. “Wh—no! What the cuss!”
“Finally, a little emotion! Come on. Get mad at me. Or do I need to continue?” Cup choked on his confusion. “I’ll bet number one doesn’t even remember your name.” Cup sat up, away from the headboard. “I’ll bet number two is sorry you didn’t get life in jail.” Cup shook his head. Lily leaned in, grabbing him by the neck and pulling him in close so they were nose to nose. “I’ll bet number three was thinking about the other guy every time she was with you,” she hissed.
Cup’s eyes widened. “I think that’s enough.” His voice went cold. “I don’t need some dame I met a few hours ago tellin’ me I’m stardust at pickin’ partners.”
“That’s not what I said,” Lily groaned. “Anyone can be stardust at pickin’ partners. I’m saying you need to stop blaming yourself. Your guilt doesn’t help them. It doesn’t help you. It doesn’t help anyone you care about. All it does is make you some kind of martyr to people who probably don’t even remember your name. It’s your life. It’s too short. Figure out how to make it happy. You’re wasting time. And you know what? Those girls would have found trouble whether you were with them or not.”
Cup stared at her, stunned speechless.
“Stars, what do you do with men that are so smart they’re stupid!” Lily threw her hands up in the air. “You’re as bad as my sister.”
Cup rubbed his forehead. This wasn’t anything like how he thought it would go. Maybe a bit of pity, but not this outrage. “She has a string of former lovers that you yell at her over?”
Lily gave him a pitying look then. “No, she’s so smart, she’s stupid.”
“Sounds fatal,” Cup said sarcastically.
“At this point, it could be,” Lily muttered in annoyance, looking away. She whipped back to him. “And don’t go changing the subject!”
Cup clicked his tongue. Damn, she was sharp. He would be impressed if he wasn’t so annoyed. “You’re the one that brought up yer sister. Worried ‘bout her?”
Lily pointedly ignored his question. “I mean, it’s obvious that you’ve got another girl on your mind now, and you’re trying to run away from it. It’s sort of painful to watch,” Lily sighed.
Cup raised his brows. “Wait, what?” Obvious? Was she talking about Holly or Fanny? Well, he knew which he’d rather hash out. He rolled his eyes. “No, that’s some stardust she did. I thought she and I were friends until she cussin’ kissed me. The woman’s married. I don’t play like that.”
“Do you have feelings for her?” Lily asked pointedly.
“I did, but it doesn’t matter.” He dismissed with a flick of his fingers.
“Do you have feelings for her now?”
“As a friend.” Cup pushed with a glare. “Things changed.”
“Then I’m not talking about her, pretty boy,” Lily said smugly.
“There’s no one else,” Cup lied with a shrug.
Lily leaned forward and whispered next to his jaw. “I hate to break it to you, but you’re a terrible liar.” She lifted up Holly’s bracelet in front of his nose with a smug look. “I really doubt this belongs to number three.”
Cup growled and reached to snatch it back.
Lily jumped back, jerking it out of his reach. “Uh-uh-uh.” She winked.
“You went through my cussin’ pockets?” Cup growled.
“I was looking for a smoke and followed my nose.” Lily shrugged. “Nice case, by the way.”
“You really are nosy,” Cup said. “And a brat.”
“I’ll accept that.” She tilted her head. “But also, sticks and stones, handsome.” She pursed her lips, looking at the bracelet. “Should I call her number four?” she asked consideringly.
“Don’t you cussin’ dare!” Cup snapped. He stood up. “She ain’t involved.” He turned around to wave a dismissive hand while pacing to the desk. Oh right, no coat here. No smokes. He turned back around to stand beside the bed, annoyed.
“Because you won’t let her be.” Lily raised a finger. Cup didn’t answer. Lily’s smug expression softened. “You really care about her, huh?”
Cup narrowed his eyes.
Lily leaned against the headboard. “You’re not willing to even talk about her. No consequences in talking to me about it, even on the far horizon, and you’re a stone wall. I wonder how she must feel staring at that wall. Does she even know? Were you too afraid to even give her this gift?” She paused and gave him questioning eyes. “Or did she throw it back in your face?” She hummed. “But you don’t think about her when you think of heartbreak.” She paused. “Oh, pretty boy, you didn’t break her heart this time, did you?” She raised her brows and looked at him.
Cup’s eyes drifted down to the thread of silver in her fingers. Was he really this cussing easy to read? He was tired of hurting, so he hurt instead? And to Holly of all people. No, he really thought that her getting involved with him would only lead to tragedy. But now—after seeing Fanny, Vicious, Mugs, and Cala—he wasn’t so sure. He’d just wanted to protect her, but maybe he really was just running away. Maybe he had been selfish and told himself it was a selfless act. Maybe he was a complete idiot. “Oh, cuss me.”
“And there you go, blaming yourself again. Stars, do you only have one setting?” Lily sighed in exasperation, folding her arms.
“A—n—” Cup sunk back onto the bed beside Lily. “Cuss.”
“It’s like you're one of those people that you tell to stop saying sorry, and then they tell you sorry.” Lily flopped onto the bed next to him. “Want my advice?” She raised her hand.
“I think you’re gonna give it despite anythin’ I have ta say,” Cup said warily. His head dropped onto his hand.
“You’re right. That was rhetorical. You’re going to get it whether you want it or not.” Lily smiled. “Instead of focusing on your mistakes, focus on what you can do now, in the present. You could be kissing her instead of messing around with a nosy brat like me.” Lily bobbed her eyebrows suggestively.
Cup’s mouth dropped. “Oh, hell no! I burned that bridge. I’m pretty sure she hates my guts. Or she should. It’s best if she does!”
Lily snorted. “That’s stardust.” She paused. “Did she say she hates you?” Lily asked sweetly. “Word for word? Did you even try to,” Lily gasped, putting her hands over her mouth, “apologize to her?”
“N-no,” Cup gritted out between his teeth. “She apologized to me.”
“Oooooo, wow. That’s terrible.” Lily laughed. “How bad did you burn her, handsome?”
He lifted his hands. “ It was ‘Mr. Dish’ bad.” He made quotations with his fingers. “She wants nothin’ ta do with me outside of our work. I mean, I wanted her to get over me. Nothin’ good woulda come of it for her. It’s just too dangerous.” Lily blinked and stared at him for a long second. It turned into a minute. Then she wrapped her arms around her waist and started to giggle uncontrollably. Cup gave her a deadpan glare. “Are ya done?”
Lily shook her head, chortling and snorting. She wrapped her arms around her stomach. After another minute, she wiped her eyes, whimpering with mirth. “Stars, you really are dense. And dramatic to boot. I’ll bet even if you were dropped on your head, you wouldn’t crack.” She took a deep, steadying breath. “If she didn’t care, she wouldn’t be trying to put distance between you, pretty boy. ‘Mr. Dish’ is a way of her trying to protect her own emotions, not a way to punish you.”
“Can’t it be both?” Cup asked dryly.
“Again with that arrogance.” Lily looked up at the sky. “The world doesn’t revolve around you, angel-face. You’re not the center of the universe. If a girl wanted to hurt you by calling names, there are worse things she could call you. A cussing, starfallen mook for a start.” She paused. “And is she the vindictive type? Does she take joy in hurting those who hurt her? I mean, so far you’ve had a type. Bratty women seem to be your thing, so she must be as bratty as me, right?”
Cup stared at her. There was straightforward, and then there was whatever this woman was. “No,” he admitted slowly. “I don’t think she could hurt a spider if asked.”
Lily’s brows rose. “Well, that’s a surprise. Good job, pretty boy. I guess your skills in choosing women aren’t all stardust.”
Where did that put Lily—No, he didn’t want to finish that thought. He had a feeling she might read his mind again. “I didn’t choose her. Other way around. Which is the problem. Or was.” Lily’s eyes widened in surprise. Cup shook his head. “Look, can we get back to the advice? If she’s protectin’ herself with distance, then shouldn’t I just leave it be? I mean, I plan to apologize—But after—It’d be better for her . . . “ He trailed off uncertainly.
Lily crossed her legs. She dangled the bracelet in front, running her long fingers over it. “Do you plan to hurt her again?”
“Hell no.” Cup straightened, then slowly sunk into a slump. “Not intentionally. But there are things outta my hands.” Someday his debt would either have to come to light or they’d disappear, and he wasn’t planning on leaving. A fight with the Devil was risking their lives.
Lily snorted again. “Drama queen.” She clicked her tongue at him.
“Realist,” Cup argued with a raised finger.
Lily leaned over and dragged him across the bed, a hand on each side of his face. Cuphead’s brow flew up at her strength and sheer audacity to just grab him like that. It was kinda hot. Focus! As he was sprawled across the bed, she gave him an irritated look. “Reality is that next to nothing is in our hands. You’re not the only one who has to live with that burden, sweetheart. We all do.” She let go of one side of his face and tapped him on the nose. “You’re afraid she’ll get hurt? Well, who knows, she might fall down the stairs and break her neck tomorrow. You think it makes sense to be afraid that will happen? You’re living like the bad stuff you fear for the future has already happened, like it’s a foregone conclusion. And because of that, you act like your life is already over. It’s cussing pathetic,” Lily said like she was questioning his intelligence. Again.
“That’s not—” Cup choked on his protest. That had been how he’d been living. For years, all he had cared about was getting Mugs home. That was it. He’d given up on himself a long time ago. Then this quest happened, and now he had all these promises. They were going to stand up to the Devil, live, and protect their friends. Cup had meant all of that, but some habits died hard, and he was so damn scared. It was suffocating. He was desperate for distractions so he wouldn’t go mad with worry. So much had changed, and nothing at all. He still didn’t have a clue how to save himself or Mugman, but he now had so much more to lose.
“So let me ask you one more time, sweet cakes. Are you planning on hurting her again?” Lily asked smugly as if she could read the realization in his eyes.
“No,” he answered honestly. A quiet confession that felt so fragile.
“Then there’s no reason to ‘let it be’. If you’re not going to hurt her, why does she need to protect herself from you? All that’s getting in the way is you proving to her you’re not going to hurt her,” she said slowly, meaningfully.
“Just like that?” Cup muttered. “Stars, you make it sound so simple.”
“Most women are pretty forgiving if you actually mean it, ” Lily said, shrugging. “Most are too forgiving. That’s why women like me are necessary.”
“Is there a bill I have ta pay for this advice? Actually, you want stories, don’t ya?” Cup weakly chuckled.
“Aw, you’re starting to understand me already.” Lily framed her face with her hands in a cutesy gesture. “Stories are my cloud—my bread and peanut butter.”
Cup narrowed his eyes. Cloud? “Are you some kinda fairy?”
“You could say I have wings to fly!” Lily laughed, shrugging. “Anyways, I’ve enjoyed this a lot, so don’t worry about owing me anything,” Lily said, leaning down on the pillow. “But if you’re really grateful, you’ll come find me again and tell me how it goes with pretty girl.”
“You’re a menace,” Cup said. He shifted and leaned into her shoulder. His head landed on top of hers. Did she really have wings? What was this strange girl?
“Awwww, thank you,” Lily gushed. She reached up and tugged his handle playfully.
“So, about that hostage situation,” Cup said. “It’s gettin’ a bit chilly,” Cup admitted with a smile.
Lily laughed. She wriggled back underneath the blankets. A few moments later, she emerged wearing her dazzling—if not rumpled—stage dress and holding his sweater and coat. She handed them over and put his shoes on top.
Cup frowned. “Okay, you are something. Not zany, but something because those shoes were not under there.”
“A girl’s got to keep her secrets.” Lily smirked.
“Oh, but you get to pry into my stardust?” Cup shrugged into his sweater and pulled on a boot.
“She who steals the clothes first gets what she wants.” Lily smirked.
Cup laughed as he pulled on his other boot. “Pretty sure if I stole your clothes, it would be considered harassment.”
“Well, it’s not my fault you wouldn’t fit in my dress.” Lily shrugged unapologetically.
Cup laughed. “Not my shade.”
“And I looked sooo good in that sweater and coat,” Lily purred.
“Get your own.” Cup smirked. Lily pouted.
A knock banged on the door. Lily jumped. It was the first time Cup had really seen her startle. She frowned. Cup raised a brow. For cuss sake, was it those mooks again? After a moment, Lily leaned over and raised her brows at Cup. “Oh no!” She put her hands on her cheeks. “What if it’s pretty girl come to find you?” she said dramatically. “I’m going to hide in the closet.”
Cup frowned. “I really cussin’ doubt it. Maybe those idiots found us again.”
But Lily wasn’t listening. She’d already skipped across the room and slipped into the closet. “Don’t tell anyone I’m here, or I’ll scream bloody murder,” she said in a cutesy voice with a wink and shut the door behind her.
Cup gave the closet door a confused look. “I can take care of a couple of idiots. Really. It ain’t an ego thing.” She didn’t come back out. “Okay.” Cup shook his head and went to the door. The banging started up again. Hard enough to threaten breaking it. “A-ight, a-ight! I heard ya! Cuss, do ya have any clue what time it is?” Cup opened the door carefully despite his casual tone. He was ready to slam it if he saw a glint of metal. He didn’t see anything.
A throat cleared. Cup lowered his gaze to a pair of angry red eyes.
“Oh, hey Bendy.”
“You cusser! You disappeared again! You cussing ditched me!” Bendy roared. “This ain’t even the same damn hotel!”
“Shhh!” Cup hissed. “You know what time it is? It’s early ‘nough for people to be ticked if ya wake them up.”
“All night! I was looking for your sad, cussing straw! All! Night!” Bendy ranted. Cup sighed and held the door open. Bendy came in, still swearing at him. “Do you have any idea how long it rained? Do you? Cusser! I swear, Mugs is my new best friend! And what the hell was going on? The damn emotional rollercoaster I rode on the way here practically gave me a cussing headache!” He shut the door and turned to his demon companion.
“Oh yeah. We really should figure out what the hell that is. It’s annoyin’ that you can find me.” Cup raised a hand to his chin.
“Cuss you! See if I ever worry about you again!” Bendy shook a fist at him. It wasn’t all that scary in his rumpled dance clothes, even with the red eyes.
“Wait, what happened to the girl I left you with? Or the dance club?” Cup asked.
“Whaddaya think? We called it a night, and I walked her to a cab.” Bendy gave him a look like he was a moron. “And I wasn’t gonna spend my whole night alone at that place!”
Cup frowned. “Why didn’t you try to get someone else?”
Bendy scowled. “No way! Alison and I have another get-together planned. And I was worried about your stupid straw.”
“Get-together?” Cup pinched the bridge of his nose. “Bendy. It was supposed to be a fling!”
“But she’s great, Cup!” Bendy argued. “What’s wrong with meeting again? Maybe it doesn’t have to be a fling. I mean, you wanted me to get over Alice. Maybe this is how.”
“Stars, Bendy! That’s called a rebound. How do you know you aren’t just dumpin’ your misplaced feelin’s on this poor girl?” Cup demanded.
“It’s not like that! We had a lot of fun. You’ll see if you meet her.” Bendy crossed his arms. “Which you might have done tonight if you, ya know, hadn’t run off. What the hell were you doing? Where’s the woman?” Bendy looked around accusingly.
“Long gone,” Cup said.
Bendy snorted and crossed his arms.
“Okay, I do feel bad you were wanderin’ around in the rain. So, why don’t I get ya breakfast as an apology?” Cup offered. “As much bacon as you want.”
“Three breakfasts, and I’ll think about it,” Bendy said. His eyes finally dimmed. Cup noticed that no shadows had started acting weird despite his grumpy mood. Maybe he was finally getting a handle on that.
“Okay. Three breakfasts, and I want to meet this Alison. If I think you’re cussin’ things up, I’m callin’ you out,” Cup warned.
“Deal. I think you are the last cusser to give advice, though. Who ditches their friend? Huh?” Bendy demanded. He glanced around the room with a confused look.
“I said I was sorry! Stars!” Cup laughed. “Your hair’s a mess.”
“Look in a cussing mirror,” Bendy grumbled, glaring back at him for a second. “Oh, and we aren’t done talking either.”
“Whadda mean?” Cup checked his pockets distractedly. Smoke case, Lil’ Monster treats, lock pick kit, handkerchief, bracelet, book, contracts. Other odds and ends. Nothing missing. Good.
“The other night. Don’t think I didn’t notice you avoided talking about Holly. We aren’t done here, ditcher!” Bendy narrowed his eyes with a smug smirk. He glanced back at the room again, puzzled.
Cup grimaced. Again? What the cuss? “That wasn’t part of the deal.”
Bendy stared at him for a long moment. Cup felt his stomach sink. “Would you rather I ask Holly?”
Cuss him. “Fine, but over food. I’m starvin’,” Cup said. Damnit. Lily had Holly’s name now. She really better not be a cussing fairy. “What’s with the look? You look lost.”
“Fine, and don’t try to weasel out of it this time,” Bendy ordered. He gave the room one last weird look before marching toward the door. Cup noticed his eyes had lingered on the closet. “Nothing, just a weird feeling. I’d swear it was magic, but I’m too tired. I’m sure it’s just in my head.”
Cup narrowed his eyes. Damnit! If he asked, Bendy would get suspicious. Cuss that! Magic! She was so a cussing fairy.