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When Spoke sees Mapicc, the first thing he thinks is that he’s hallucinating. It’s– it’s happened before, when Mapicc was gone during the Mafia. And when Spoke was alone. He doesn’t– he doesn’t like being forcefully alone.
He isn’t though. Jumper makes a noise at his side, and says “Mapicc?” and Spoke’s heart soars. Because that means it’s real. And that means that–
It’s Mapicc. It’s Mapicc. His Mapicc. His. Hishishishishishis and he’s alive and–
Spoke throws himself forward, and curls around Mapicc, arms and wings and tail and body and heart and soul all twining around his Best Friend in the world in an array of red and dark rainbows and fur and scales and armor and lovelovelove.
“Mapicc Mapicc Mapicc Mapicc Mapicc Mapicc,” He sings, and it’s home, he’s home he’s with Mapicc. He sings it like bees dance, showing their sisters where the best flower fields are– the best– the– It’s Mapicc.
“Spoke,” Mapicc whispers back, left arm below Spoke’s left wing and right wrapped under Spoke’s arm, over the back of Spoke’s head, landing in his hair and combing. mapicc mapicc mapicc mapicc mapicc. “Hi. Hi. Hi, hi hi hi, hello. Hi. You’re here. Hi. Oh my god.”
“I’m here, I’m here, I’m– Mapicc. Mapicc Mapicc Mapicc, you’re alive. You’re safe, you’re safe. You’re–” Spoke croons, eyes squeezed shut to bury his face into the crook of Mapicc’s neck. Mapicc brushes through his hair, and Spoke braids their tails together. Mapicc’s okay. Mapiccs Right Here, he’s HERE and he’s alive and he’s here he’s here he’s here and he’s– “Stay. Stay, stay stay please stay.”
And then Mapicc Laughs. And it’s the most beautiful sound that Spoke has ever heard in his whole life. It’s prettier than windchimes or a deathban, prettier than– Mapicc’s here and he’s laughing and he’s safe and he’s in Spoke grip and he’s never ever ever ever ever gonna leave and he’s here. And he’s laughing. He’s alive and happy. What more could Spoke ever want?
“I’m not moving,” Mapicc laughs, partially breathless. “Oh my god Spoke. I’m not moving. I’m never moving again. Oh my god. Hi.”
“Hi,” Spoke mouths back, and tightens his grip so hard that it hurts. He’s never ever ever letting go. Mapicc isn’t either because he’s here and he loves him and– and– “Mapicc.”
“Spoke. Hey buddy. Hi.” Mapicc breathes, and Spoke has never– his senses have never been so overwhelmed with love as they are now. Mapicc smells like love and safety and warmth and blankets and blood and metal and sweat. He’s–
Spoke would rather do anything than pull away, but they need to go inside. It isn’t safe out here. He just got Mapicc back, he can’t– he can’t lose him again. He’d die. He’d go insane. God, he’s already insane.
It’s just too easy, it’s so so easy to fall back into line, to grab each other, to pull together and– and they fit like tectonic plates. Two pieces, two parts, sharp where they had separated, clicking back into place. There’s earthquakes and tsunamis and mountain ranges and ocean trenches and none of it matters because Spoke and Mapicc are spokeandmapicc again and they’re together and it feels like nothing else in the whole wide rest of the world matters.
“Guys, we– we should go back inside,” Jumper says, which only makes Spoke tighten his grip. Never never never letting go. He’s not letting go of Mapicc again because they’re together. They’re here. “We don’t know when null could show up.”
I don’t care, Spoke wants to tell her, because it’s so nice here. Instead, he pulls away and it feels like he’s tearing his heart apart all over again and he can’t– he can’t do that again he can’t he– he can’t–
“Mapicc,” Spoke begs, voice breaking as he tightens his grip all over again. He doesn’t cry, he does his best to not cry, it’s the most obvious display of emotion ever, not good for manipulation if he cries at every slightly upsetting thing, but this– God, it’s Mapicc, how could he not? “No. No no no, don’t–”
“I’m not moving, Spoke,” Mapicc assures, voice strained, holding Spoke just as tight. “I’m not. I’m not gonna– you’re here. Hi.”
“We’re both here,” Spoke tries, shaky and unsure, not at all composed. “Hello bro. Hello Mapicc.”
Mapicc laughs again, still happy and alive and still here. Still breathless, giggling seeping into his words when he says “Hiii Spoke. It’s so– oh my gosh dude, hey man. It’s so– I missed you. I’ve been–”
“I missed you more,” Spoke immediately argues, digging his hands into Mapicc’s side. Mapicc playfully growls, absolutely no bite. “I did. I did, I did, I missed you more.”
“No way dude,” Mapicc teases, lifting Spoke up and off his feet and spinning them in the hug. Spoke just keeps pressing close, grip strong. He’ll hold on forever. “It’s not possible. I missed you more than you missed me. Every second I was lamenting bro.”
Spoke wriggles because his wings are trying to flare out instead of staying wrapped around Mapicc like they should. “No no no, I missed you more. I hired Jumper to help find you.”
Mapicc laughs. Spoke leans slightly back, hands sliding up to hold Mapicc’s arms instead of clutch the back of his hoodie. He just wants to– Mapicc’s smiling, eyes crinkled, mouth turned up, and now Spoke can see the happiness and the exhaustion. And Mapicc’s right here and he’s happy he’s happy he’s happy.
“You missed me,” Mapicc parrots, and stops spinning. Spoke nods repeatedly with wide eyes, hands wrapping around Mapicc’s arms like a lifeline. “Awww, Spoke. It’s like bro cares about me.”
It’s a tease, it’s just– just a happy joke, the truth, obvious to both of them, hidden under humor.
“I do. I do, Mapicc, I care about you so much. I– I–” Spoke stares, and Mapicc stares right back, head tilted. His Mapicc. His. hishishis. “Mapicc, I–”
“Hey. Hey guess what, Spoke?” Mapicc says, smile growing.
“What?” Spoke prompts immediately, fast. Mapicc beams and Spoke could start crying because he thought it was gonna be cold forever, he thought there was never gonna be sunlight again, but here he is.
“I love you too,” Mapicc glows softly, quiet, and Spoke– There’s not a single word to describe what happens to Spoke. He’s elated, he has so much love that it’s radiating, he radiates and he’s free and he’s happy and he’s shattering, but only his chains and he’s in– he’s in love. He loves Mapicc. He loves Mapicc.
“No, Spoke, oh my gosh, Don’t cry, nooo, You’re–” Mapicc laughs, and grabs Spoke up. When did he slump? “I– oh my god. You’re fine, oh my god, dude, breathe. I’m sorry– oh my– Spoke.”
He’s giggling. He’s giggling and he’s safe and he loves Spoke and– and–
“I d– I– me too. I– Mapicc,” Spoke pleads, words all jumbled and messed up in his head. Because mapiccmapiccmapicc, his best friend in the whole wide world is back and he loves spoke and he loves spoke and– and Spoke loves him too. And it’s his best friend in the whole world.
“I know dude, that’s why I said it back,” Mapicc smiles, and grabs Spoke into a hug. “I know.”
It’s– it’s Mapicc and it’s Spoke and it’s them together. And Spoke’s never been happier in his whole life. He laughs disbelief into Mapicc’s chest.
“Four weeks,” he says, and Mapicc tightens his grip.
“I know. I’m sorry it took me so long.” He apologizes. Spoke huffs and pulls back to look at Mapicc.
“Mapicc. Mapicc.” Spoke starts, and Mapicc huffs. “Don’t apologize. You were–” he was kidnapped. he was gone for four weeks. “You were kidnapped. Mapicc you were–”
“I’m here now, I’m right here dude,” Mapicc interrupts, effectively yanking Spoke out of a potential spiral.
“Yes.” Spoke agrees, and blinks. They’re outside. Mapicc, his best friend his world his reason, is outside, in half copper. “Yeah. yeah. You’re here. We need to–”
Spoke looks behind him, and he. lowkey forgot Jumper was here.
“To go inside?” She finishes for him, raising an eyebrow. Right. Right, yeah, she’s still– she didn’t get her spies back.
“...Yes.” Spoke answers, and scans the area as he untangles their bodies. He usually has more restraint. He’s– there’s only been a few times where he’s lost control like that. It’s excusable.
He doesn’t let go of Mapicc’s hand. Never never never. Not again. Plus, it makes it easier to drag Mapicc inside. He’s never gonna lose track of Mapicc again. Not again. Never again.
Mapicc nudges him, and he’s smiling. Oh it’s so good to have his best friend again. His Mapicc. Spoke’s Mapicc and Mapicc’s Spoke.
Jumper shoves them both forward and closes the entrance, resulting in immediate complaints.
“Be quiet. You have each other now, I don’t have to entertain Spoke anymore.” She says. And she’s so right. Spoke doesn’t care if she sounds a little upset, because he has Mapicc. He has his best friend again. And they’re safe and together.
“Was he at least entertaining too?” Mapicc questions while Spoke drags him into a corner. Safer, easier to defend. Unless someone mines in behind them but no one– he’d hear it. Mapicc would hear it.
“Oh very,” Jumper teases. “He’s the worst ice boater I’ve ever seen.”
“Hey!” Spoke protests, straightening up. “You’re– Jumper you are not any better.”
“Mine was the only time it worked!” She argues, and opens an echest. For what, Spoke doesn’t know. He doesn’t care either. ‘Cause he has Mapicc.
“Because you did it first. We got a headstart because they didn’t have boats.” Spoke counters, and sits down in a carpeted corner. He doesn’t even have to tug before Mapicc sits right next to him. Spoke missed this.
“Were you guys in a snowy biome?” Mapicc asks, and then to Spoke; “Place an echest.”
“Yes,” Spoke and Jumper both say, Spoke with disdain, Jumper with neutrality. Spoke places an echest.
“And for like. So long.” Spoke laments. Mapicc opens the echest, and starts sorting things that Spoke can’t see.
“I knew you felt cold dude,” Mapicc huffs, so Spoke nudges closer. Mapicc is So Right. Spoke is actually freezing to death and needs MapiccWarmth right now. Or he’ll die. “I didn’t say you could steal from me bro.”
Mapicc says it like it’s obligatory, and doesn’t move an inch or unfocus. Mapicc. Spoke again, gets choked up. He didn’t… It's been a while. He hasn’t been pressed against Mapicc, classically warm Mapicc, for– for over a month.
Spoke gets jostled when Mapicc opens a shulker– from the floor because they’re still sitting– and unequips his copper-iron-diamond set. Wait.
“Have you not had an echest this whole time?” Spoke asks, half worried and half intrigued. Mapicc has more gear than Spoke does.
“No dude. ‘Been rawdogging it.” Mapicc responds, so Spoke presses closer. Never again. Not happening ever again ever in the history of like, any timeline. ever. “I have a helmet for you, Jumper.”
“What about me?” Spoke whines, in full diamond (beside the chestplate obviously). Mapicc gives him a look, and Jumper comes over.
“I hate you.” Mapicc, who loves Spoke, answers, tossing the helmet to Jumper and reopening the shulker. “Do you want gear?”
“What kinda question is that?” Spoke huffs, and leans over Mapicc to open the shulker. It’s not full of netherite, but there’s a lot of armor. “Is this from the Law fight?”
“Yurrp,” Mapicc drawls, leaning back. Jumper puts her new helmet on and gives Spoke and Mapicc a look. Spoke elects to ignore her, because, again, he has Mapicc. He does take a set of armor minus leggings, though.
This is good, he decides. Mapicc is here, he’s back and they’re together and Spoke’s not letting go ever– and Jumper’s there too. She’s… She’s okay. Spoke’s warmed up to her. She helped him find Mapicc, after all. Mapicc, who is right here and warm and who loves Spoke. Mapicc, who Spoke loves too. Loves a lot.
This is good.
It’s good.