"Wait, hold on, we could hear Alan?" Red interjected, looking between Dark and Victim, seeking clarification. Victim simply shrugged, glancing at Dark, who appeared agitated, nervously running a hand through his head. "That's not the main issue here!" Dark snapped suddenly, prompting everyone in the room to sit up straight and focus on him.

"Dark, calm down and explain everything," Chosen interjected firmly, crossing his arms and demanding clarity.

Dark took a deep breath, trying to compose himself. "Um, where do I begin... Oh, damn it, I think Alan might actually be a kid," Dark finally revealed, a statement that plunged the room into stunned silence.

"What?!" The room erupted in a chorus of shocked exclamations, everyone speaking at once. "Will you all just quiet down!" Dark bellowed, his voice cutting through the noise and restoring order. Beside him, Victim chuckled softly.

"I think it's best if Dark explains first, don't you agree?" Victim suggested calmly, prompting Second to speak up, "How are you so calm about this?" Second scratched his head, struggling to comprehend the possibility that Alan could be much younger than anticipated.

Victim tilted his head, responding, "I'm not calm; I'm just as surprised as all of you," which elicited a collective sigh from the group

"What makes you think Alan is a kid, Dark?" Chosen inquired, lowering his hands and leaning forward with curiosity.

"I heard him speak, and trust me, there's no way he isn't a kid. He's still outside, so we can go talk to him if you want," Dark replied, his tone tinged with irritation.

"Are you upset because he didn't tell you? We never really asked, did we?" Second chimed in, provoking a glare from Dark.

Raising both hands in a gesture of surrender, Second continued, "Second has a point. There's no use getting worked up about this. Everything was going smoothly. Let's just have a conversation with Alan," Red suggested optimistically.

"If Alan is truly a child... does that mean we've been unloading our emotional baggage on a kid?" Blue suddenly asked, prompting groans from everyone.

Victim, feeling a pang of guilt, nervously rubbed his head.

"He's got a point," Victim said, while Chosen let out a sigh and rested his head in his hands. "This is not good," Chosen muttered.

"You can say that again. Now that I think about it, it does seem quite obvious, doesn't it?" Green remarked, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

"Oh, Green, do enlighten us," Yellow replied sarcastically, causing Green to shoot him a sharp glance.

"Well, one thing's for sure, he loves playing games! And he easily gets distracted sometimes, plus he doesn't get mad at us for our crazy stunts," Green explained, gesturing animatedly with his hands.

"Anyone can have those behaviors, Green. You don't have to be a kid to do all that stuff," Yellow remarked, groaning as he buried his face in his hands. Green scoffed in response.

Second shook his head. "I'm starting to worry that we might have unintentionally made things tougher for Alan," Second expressed, casting a shadow of concern over the group.

"If Alan wasn't voicing any concerns, perhaps he didn't mind?" Blue suggested optimistically. "Or maybe he's simply avoiding confrontation," Dark interjected with a growl.

"Hey! Like you made things any better, you got us killed!" Yellow retorted.

"Alright, everyone, let's calm down," Victim interjected, raising his hands in a calming gesture. However, Dark abruptly stood up and lunged towards Yellow with a growl.

"Whoa, hey!" Blue cried out as he attempted to separate Dark from Yellow, while Chosen could only shake his head in disapproval. "Stop!" Second shouted, joining the fray to help diffuse the situation.

Alan nervously tapped his desk, feeling a mix of confusion and apprehension. Victim and Dark had abruptly left while he was deeply engrossed in his work (he was just honestly squealing and fanboying), leaving Alan to wonder about their sudden departure.

"Where did they go?" Alan muttered to himself, slipping his earphones back on. He resumed his work again, absentmindedly sketching before halting once more as he noticed the four hollowheads emerging from the folder, with Dark appearing slightly disheveled as if he'd been in a scuffle.

"Hey, Alan!" Victim called out, waving his hand. Alan furrowed his brows as he observed the other three figures trailing behind Victim, their expressions a mix of nervousness and anger.

Second, however, exuded a blend of anxiousness and excitement. "Hey," Alan responded, causing the three hollowheads behind Victim to visibly flinch.

"Alan! So this is your voice?" Second exclaimed enthusiastically. Alan's eyes widened in surprise; so this was how Second sounded. Beside Second, Chosen shook his head in disbelief.

"This is so weird. I... I didn't expect your voice to be like this," Chosen remarked, his tone tinged with an unusual level of stress. Alan glanced at the screen for a moment, feeling a twinge of offense at Chosen's comment.

"What? What's wrong with my voice? That's kind of offensive, Cho," Alan mumbled, feeling his cheeks flush with embarrassment. He had never been told that his voice sounded strange. It sounded normal to him!

He noticed Second nudge Chosen, who suddenly appeared sheepish. "Look, Alan, we're here to have a chat with you," Dark interjected abruptly, his voice gruff, which caught Alan off guard. So this is how they all sound? Alan thought, feeling a surge of excitement.

"Wow, your voice really matches your name, Dark," Alan gushed, causing the red figure to growl in response.

"Hey, cut it out! I swear-" Dark grumbled, crossing his arms, his face turning red. It was one thing for Alan to compliment him over text, but hearing it in person was a whole different experience. He could sense Alan's excitement through his voice, which was incredibly embarrassing.

Beside him, Victim chuckled. "So, what did you want to talk to me about? I'm starting to feel pretty nervous here," Alan said with a chuckle. Second tapped his chin thoughtfully for a moment. "Well, we're just... um, curious about your age," Second said, prompting the three hollowheads to exchange glances and shake their heads slightly.

"You don't just ask someone's age like that, you idiot!" Dark whispered sharply, eliciting laughter from Victim. Chosen could only groan in response as the banter continued, while in the background, Alan hummed to himself.

"Well, I don't mind sharing, honestly. I'm 15," Alan disclosed. "15?!" Dark exclaimed in disbelief, causing Victim to freeze, while Second and Chosen exchanged surprised glances. "Well, yeah. What did you expect?" Alan responded matter-of-factly, revealing his age as if it were inconsequential, despite the fact that the adults who had unknowingly complicated his life assumed he was older.

"This is a problem," Chosen remarked, with Victim nodding in agreement. "Wait, why is this bad?" Alan inquired, his confusion evident. Chosen's heart ached at the realization that they had inadvertently treated Alan as an adult when he was just a child. He shook his head in dismay.

"I'm not sure how to say this, but... all this time, we thought... well, we thought you were older," Second explained, tilting his head slightly.

"You thought... oh," Alan responded, prompting a moment of unease among the group. Had they unintentionally upset Alan? However, they were surprised to hear Alan chuckle.

"Well, I guess it doesn't really change anything, does it?" Alan remarked with a giggle, his tone and demeanor now more reminiscent of a child than the image of a grown man they had initially perceived him to be.

"It does! All this time, we've been making you take responsibility for things that were honestly just a big misunderstanding, and you were still trying to please us even then," Chosen argued, prompting an awkward chuckle and a choked response from Alan.

"What? No, no, I wasn't..." Alan stammered, trying to explain, while Victim couldn't help but chuckle.

"It's not just that, Alan. You're 15, which means we've exposed you to a lot of things that a 15-year-old shouldn't have to deal with," Dark added solemnly.

There was a sharp intake of breath from Alan's end. "Oh... um," Alan responded, his tone turning somber. "I mean, it's fine... Do you regret talking to me? I mean..." Alan's voice wavered, filled with uncertainty. "No, we don't regret talking to you," Victim interjected quickly, shooting Dark a meaningful glance.

Dark flinched, rubbing the back of his head. He realized he had expressed his thoughts poorly and now felt a pang of guilt upon hearing Alan's reaction; it was akin to kicking a defenseless puppy.

"Ah... well, thank you. I also don't regret opening up to you guys about your issues. I believe we are all equals here," Alan said softly, leading to a silence that enveloped the room.

"Alan, you need to understand that your age is significant here. We've been involved in... questionable activities, all under the assumption that you were older than us," Chosen explained.

A breath escaped Alan. "Oh, um... it's okay, really. I don't mind," Alan replied, eliciting groans from the group. Second let out a small whine, "Alan, that's not necessarily better. We would understand if you were angry with us," Second stated, arms crossed in concern.

No way in hell they have been calling someone 'Dad' who was actually 3 years younger than Second!

"No, you can't make me do that. I'm not angry at anyone here," Alan grumbled, his tone betraying a hint of petulance reminiscent of a child.

"Alan, I-" Dark began, his voice faltering as he looked down, an expression of guilt clouding his features. First, he had unintentionally hurt those teenagers, and now he realized he had unknowingly caused distress to another kid?

The weight of his actions bore heavily on him.

"Stop trying to provoke me into getting angry at each of you. I've moved past that," Alan snapped, his words firm and assertive, causing everyone to sit upright, surprised by his sudden shift in demeanor.

A moment of silence lingered until Second's chuckles broke the quiet, drawing everyone's attention towards him. "What's so funny, Second?" Alan inquired, prompting Second to wipe a tear from his eye.

"It's just... I know you're trying to sound intimidating, but I can't take you seriously. I'm sorry," Second explained with a chuckle, setting off a wave of laughter among the group, with Alan letting out a groan in response.

"Really, guys?" Alan muttered, playfully thudding his head onto the desk in mock exasperation. In the background, the sound of their laughter filled the room, dissipating the tension that had previously hung in the air.

Alan sat there, his expression a mix of pout and defiance as he watched the others moving about, trying to coax him into talking once more. No way was he going to talk when they had made fun of his voice.

And his age? He wasn't some damn baby, for heaven's sake! He had faced the harsh realities of the world, having endured menial jobs just to make ends meet. Although still a child, his mind had matured beyond his years.

"Come on, Alan, I really want to talk to you," Second implored as he navigated around the program. Alan only huffed in response, "Second... why should I? You made fun of my voice," he whined. Second's chuckle resonated in the background, prompting the rest of the group, the Skittle Gang, to take notice. "I didn't mean it!" Second defended with a light chuckle. Alan let out a groan and rested his head on his arm in slight exasperation.

Observing Second settle down in front of him, tilting his head in a gesture of sincerity, Alan couldn't help but lift his head and rest his cheek on his palm. A faint smile crept across his face. "Oh, really now?" Alan teased, his tone light. Second huffed before chuckling, "Yeah, it's... it's embarrassing to admit, but sometimes I even doubted if you were real," Second confessed, his voice tinged with a hint of timidity.

"Well, I assure you I'm real. If I manage to get a web cam for my PC, maybe you could see me live," Alan suggested, his smile growing wider. Second let out a delighted whoop. "Yes! That would be amazing!" Second exclaimed with a giggle. Alan simply hummed in response, "You know, I just realized, I can't exactly call you 'Dad' now," Second mentioned with a hint of regret, causing Alan's brow to furrow. "Why not? It doesn't have to change. I still created you guys," Alan responded, his expression slightly pouting.

Second shook his head, "It's not that! It's just that being called 'Dad' could potentially burden you, right? I still see you as the one who brought me into existence and cared for me, but I don't want to place that kind of weight on your shoulders," Second explained, prompting Alan to release a breathless laugh. "Second, you're incredibly considerate," Alan remarked with a chuckle.

Watching Second freeze and cover his face with his hands, Alan couldn't help but laugh. "It's a bit more embarrassing when I actually hear you say it," Second mumbled, eliciting further laughter from Alan.

"It's true, you're always thoughtful about my feelings. You're truly amazing, Sec," Alan praised. Second blushed at the nickname, nodding in acknowledgment albeit a bit shakily.

"Well, I am pretty awesome," Second declared with a grin. "Besides, I think calling you my brother is even better. You can be my little brother," he teased Alan.

Alan let out a surprised laugh, "Little brother? That's... I've never had a brother or any siblings. That does sound nice," Alan admitted, his voice carrying a hint of warmth.

Second tilted his head, "Well, you do have us now, including the Skittle Gang! You have all of us! Isn't that just great?" Second exclaimed with a whoop. Alan chuckled softly, "Yeah, I'd really like that," he replied in a softer tone.

-O-

"You look happy," DJ remarked, catching Alan's eye. Alan turned to him with a wide grin, his expression akin to someone who had just won the lottery. "I guess I am," Alan replied with a giggle, eliciting a smile from DJ.

"That's great. What happened, anyways?" DJ inquired. Alan simply shrugged, "Oh, not that again. You're not telling me anything!" DJ whined, leaning his head on Alan's shoulder. Alan chuckled and playfully pushed him away.

"Oh, come on, now I'm totally angry," DJ teased with a pout. "Stop it, it won't kill you if I don't spill the beans," Alan retorted with a grin. DJ rolled his eyes dramatically and let out a mock exasperated sigh.

DJ's spirits lifted once more upon hearing a bell ring in the distance. "Ice cream!" DJ squealed excitedly, springing to his feet. Alan chuckled softly and followed suit, observing DJ dash towards the vendor.

"Christ," Alan muttered to himself with a fond smile as he trailed after DJ. However, just as he approached, a sudden scream pierced the air. "Look out!" And in an instant, Alan's world went dark.

"Alan! Alan! What were you doing, you idiot! This is a walking area, not for riding bikes!" DJ's voice rang out in a mix of panic and frustration. Alan attempted to speak, but only a painful cry escaped his lips as searing agony shot through his shoulder down to his wrist. "Oh God, someone call an ambulance! Alan, Alan, it's me. Open your eyes," DJ's voice sounded distant as Alan felt a gentle touch on his hair.

"DJ," Alan managed to gasp as he slowly blinked his eyes open, finding DJ hovering over him, surrounded by concerned onlookers. "Alan! Thank goodness you're conscious. You're going to be okay," DJ reassured him, but Alan could only groan in response as he attempted to sit up, biting his tongue to stifle a scream as the pain intensified.

The sight of his right arm sent shivers down his spine-dark bruises marred his skin, the worst centered around his wrist, looking as though a heavy vehicle had crushed it. "Don't look at it," DJ urged, redirecting Alan's gaze towards him.

"What... what happened? I feel awful," Alan mumbled, shifting onto his side and retching, his body convulsing as he emptied his stomach, eliciting shocked gasps from the bystanders.

His head was throbbing now, the pain pulsating through his skull. "Damn it! Has anyone called an ambulance?" DJ's voice cut through the chaos, his eyes scanning the worried faces around him. "There's one on the way," a frantic woman replied.

"Hey, hey," DJ's tone softened as he guided Alan back against his chest, gently wiping the corner of Alan's mouth with the sleeve of his sweater. "I think I just threw up," Alan murmured weakly, his dilated eyes darting around and his body trembling.

"I believe you might have a concussion," DJ assessed as he carefully examined Alan's pupils. Alan blinked in response, attempting to reach for his injured arm before a sharp cry of pain escaped him.

"Stay awake, Alan. You can't sleep until the ambulance arrives," DJ urged, watching as Alan wearily blinked back at him. "Mm, okay," Alan mumbled before succumbing to exhaustion and slipping into unconsciousness.

Victim stared anxiously at the empty desktop, the worry lines on his face deepening as Alan failed to return from his walk as expected. Earlier, Alan had mentioned that he and his friend were going for their usual hangout, a routine meant to break the monotony of Alan's prolonged stays indoors. "What's on your mind?" Chosen inquired, giving Victim's shoulder a comforting tap.

"Oh, it's nothing, really. It's just that Alan has been gone longer than usual. I can't help but feel concerned, especially considering his... well, his age," Victim confessed, his gaze dropping to the floor.

"That's true... it's hard to deny that I... well, I'm, uh, feeling somewhat protective of him," Chosen admitted, a faint blush coloring his cheeks. Victim shot him a knowing look, "Just somewhat?" he teased, prompting Chosen to let out a sigh of surrender. "Okay, scrap the 'somewhat,' I'm fully protective," Chosen confessed, earning a chuckle from Victim.

"He's still not back," Victim remarked, crossing his arms tightly against his chest in an effort to quell his racing heart. Alan was fine, right? Just out with a friend. Nothing could possibly go wrong, could it?

"Alan, Jesus Christ, I was so worried!" Jennifer exclaimed, kneeling in front of her son. Alan responded with a slow blink and a giggle, his right arm snug in a sling, and a bandage wrapped around his head from where he had hit it on the stone. "Mmm," Alan hummed softly as Jennifer enveloped him in a hug.

"Aunty, he's... a bit out of it at the moment, but he's doing really well," DJ explained with a strained smile, watching as Alan dozed off on Jennifer's chest, looking quite pitiful in his current state.

With his dominant arm immobilized and his head bandaged, Alan's unruly hair added to his disheveled appearance. Jennifer's eyes welled up with tears. "Thank you, DJ. And please, extend my gratitude to your mother for accompanying him to the hospital. Goodness," Jennifer sniffled, gently running her fingers through Alan's hair, wincing when she encountered dried blood near his temple.

"I believe it's best to take him home now. He's heavily medicated and shouldn't be doing much. Here are the pain medications Mom picked up for him," DJ suggested, handing a small bag to Jennifer. "Oh, thank you so much, DJ. I owe you a lot for this," Jennifer expressed gratefully, her eyes moist with emotion. Alan blinked drowsily and hummed a tune, eliciting laughter from DJ and Jennifer.

"Alan, come on, Aunty's here. Let's get you up," DJ urged as he carefully took hold of Alan's arm. "Okaaay," Alan drawled, attempting to rise only to falter, but Jennifer steadied him, supporting his torso. "He's a bit unsteady right now, but he'll improve by tomorrow. He's really feeling the effects of some strong medication," DJ chuckled as Alan leaned on him, muttering incomprehensibly.

"Come on, Alan, try to move your legs," Jennifer encouraged, watching as her son blinked wearily at them. "C-can't," Alan mumbled, making another unsuccessful attempt to stand before sinking back down. "Oh dear, he's too out of it. Should we even try to move him home?" Jennifer fretted. DJ grimaced, "They had to reset his shoulder and wrist, so that might explain why he's so heavily medicated. The doctor did mention he needs plenty of rest."

"I could call a taxi. Can I leave him here for now?" Jennifer inquired as they carefully lowered Alan onto the couch. "It's fine, Aunty. I can look after him for a while," DJ assured with a gentle smile as he settled beside Alan. Jennifer gave him a grateful yet worried look before hurrying out of the house.

"DJ...," Alan slurred, his words trailing off. "What's up?" DJ responded, turning to face Alan, who was unsteadily gazing at the wall clock. "I'm lateee... I-I wanna go home," Alan mumbled, pointing his shaky hand at the clock. DJ raised an eyebrow, gently lowering Alan's arm. "Late for what?" he inquired, chuckling softly when Alan rested his head on his shoulder. "They'll think... I abandoned them again, mmmm," Alan hummed wearily, his eyes drooping.

"Who?" DJ inquired, offering Alan a comforting pat on the back. Alan sniffled, "Second, Dark, Victim, Chosen-will think I left them. Home, I want to go home," Alan sobbed, attempting to use his right arm to wipe his face, only to emit a confused noise upon realizing he couldn't move it. DJ sighed, reaching for some tissues to gently wipe Alan's face.

"Thank you," Alan murmured softly. "You're really out of it right now," DJ remarked, observing as Alan snuggled closer, resembling a cat seeking warmth. Alan let out a sigh before bursting into giggles. DJ groaned, "What's so funny now?" he asked.

"Nothing, it's just that the walls are moving," Alan giggled, pointing at the cream-colored walls. DJ glanced at them and then back at Alan, who was fixated on the wall, laughing. "Jesus, Alan," DJ muttered. Alan simply hummed before groaning, "What's the matter?" DJ inquired, assisting Alan to sit up properly. "N-nothing, I feel kinda sick," Alan admitted, giving DJ a drowsy look.

"No, you're not sick. You're just making yourself feel queasy by staring at the wall for too long," DJ reassured, gently running his hand through Alan's hair. "O-okay," Alan acquiesced, closing his eyes and leaning back awkwardly. DJ winced before placing his arm under Alan's head, letting him rest on it.

"So, how does it feel to be high on pain medication?" DJ asked.

Alan groaned and hummed, "Dunnooo, I feel really great," he said with a giggle. "But my legs feel so weak, and my head feels so heavy," Alan added with a pout, prompting DJ to burst into laughter. "And-And my fingers feel so hard to move," Alan continued, raising his head unsteadily to glance down at his left hand and attempting to move his fingers, resulting in a slight twitch.

"That's normal; it's just the medication. So no need to worry," DJ reassured as he looked at Alan, who furrowed his brow, blinking owlishly at him. "Mmkay," Alan mumbled, his eyes blinking drowsily. "Mom is taking so long," Alan remarked. "Just be patient, man," DJ replied with a chuckle. Alan nodded weakly, his head slowly drooping forward.

"Ah, Alan!" DJ exclaimed, placing a hand on Alan's chest to prevent him from tipping over. "Ugh, head so heavy," Alan complained as DJ guided him back against the backrest of the couch. The sound of the front door opening signaled Jennifer's return. "I've got a taxi. DJ, would you mind helping us to the taxi?" Jennifer asked as she bent down to assist Alan. Alan simply hummed as he was lifted by both DJ and Jennifer.

His legs attempted to keep pace before eventually trailing behind as he surrendered to being carried.

-O-

As Alan shifted in the tub, a small groan escaping his lips, his mother carefully attempted to wash the blood from his hair with a wet rag. "Cold, mom," Alan murmured, looking up at Jennifer with bleary eyes. "Oh, Alan, just for a moment. We need to get the blood off your hair, okay?" Jennifer spoke softly, her voice trembling slightly, to which Alan nodded in understanding.

Nestling closer to her side, he drifted back into a light doze. Jennifer paid no mind to the water seeping onto her shirt as she observed her son lightly snoring, her expression turning somber as her hands encountered the bandage encircling his head. With a sigh, she tossed the bloodied rag into the sink and gently roused Alan from his slumber.

"Alan, it's time for bed. I'll dry your hair in your room," Jennifer announced as she helped Alan step out of the tub, his leg trembling. "Sorry," Alan mumbled as they slowly made their way out of the bathroom and up the stairs.

"Do you think you can manage?" Jennifer inquired, running a hand through his slightly damp hair. Alan nodded unsteadily, using his left hand to grip the railings for support.

Upon reaching Alan's room, they noticed his PC was still on. "You forgot to close your computer," Jennifer remarked as she carefully lowered Alan onto his bed. "Mm, leave it," Alan responded with a soft hum as Jennifer retrieved a fresh towel from his cabinet and began drying his hair. "Okay, but I don't want you using it right now, all right? You're still heavily medicated," Jennifer cautioned.

Alan simply hummed and nodded in response. Jennifer then placed the towel in Alan's laundry basket. "Lay down," Jennifer instructed as she helped him settle onto the bed. "Okay," Alan replied with a dazed smile. "Alright, I'll be cooking some lunch. Rest, okay?" Jennifer stated firmly. Alan gave her a dopey grin, "Okay," he responded as he watched his mother exit the room, gently closing the door behind her.

For a moment, Alan's eyes wandered around his room before closing. Suddenly, he groaned as his arm throbbed, though no subsequent pain followed. Alan moaned uncomfortably, attempting to shift his body, but his legs remained shaky and unsteady.

He rose unsteadily, pushing himself off the bed and stumbling towards his PC. "Viccccc," Alan cheered drunkenly upon spotting the grey stick on his desktop.

Alan collapsed into his seat, letting out a groan as his arm was jostled. Spotting Victim, he grabbed his earphones and placed them on, his hand trembling slightly. "Alan, are you back?" Victim inquired, searching for the cursor, as he heard Alan hum.

"Yeahhh," Alan replied, leaving Victim a bit puzzled. He sounds... drunk? Victim thought, hearing Alan giggle in the background before groaning once more.

"What took you so long to come back?" Victim inquired, hearing Alan's uncertain response, a mixture of 'Uhh' and a hum. "I don't knowww, I think-I don't remember much," Alan explained, his voice slightly breathless, causing concern to grow in Victim. "Alan, are you alright? Tell me what's wrong," Victim pressed, his tone becoming more serious.

Amidst Alan's giggle, he continued, "I think-a bike hit me earlier, and I, uh, was sent to the hospital," prompting an alarmed reaction from Victim. "What?!" Victim exclaimed, wondering what transpired while Alan was outside. "Are you alright now?" Victim asked, nervously gripping his head.

"Hmm, yeah, my-my arm is in a sling, and uhm... my head is wrapped, I think," Alan mumbled, easing Victim's worries slightly. Victim let out a sigh of relief before his heart raced again at the thought of Alan being in an accident. "Alan, I think you should rest now," Victim suggested.

He heard Alan hum wearily, followed by a small thump as if something fell on a desk. "I think-I'll sleep here," Alan muttered sleepily, before letting out a sigh. Victim shook his head. "Alan, you need to lay down on your bed," Victim insisted. "Nooooo, I don't wanna, I wanna stay here with you guyss," Alan protested.

Victim sighed. "Alright, alright," he relented, slowly sitting on the ground. Secretly hoping that Dark and Chosen would appear, so they could persuade Alan to return to his bed. "Vic?" Alan called out again, his voice sounding hoarse and fatigued. "What is it, Alan?" Victim responded. "Mm, I'm so glad you guys are all here," Alan mumbled sleepily.

Victim felt a pang of guilt as he watched Alan ramble on, clearly under the influence of medication. "I hope you guys don't leave, I really want you guys to stay here," Alan mumbled once more. Victim's grip around his knees tightened, a mix of emotions swirling within him. Startled by approaching footsteps, he turned to see Dark and Chosen entering, appearing puzzled.

"What's going on?" Dark inquired, but Victim gestured for silence by placing a hand on his own face. Chosen and Dark exchanged glances before settling down at Victim's sides. They all tensed as Alan let out another groan. "Is that Dark and Cho?" Alan slurred. "Yes," Victim confirmed. Chosen gave Victim a puzzled look, whispering, "What's happening here?" Dark questioned quietly.

"Shh, listen," Victim hushed them, but was interrupted by Alan's giggling. "Hmm, where was I? I think I fell asleep... oh yeah, I said-I said I don't want you guys to leave," Alan rambled.

Dark shot Victim a questioning look, and Victim responded with a shrug, signaling for silence. "But I know one day you guys are gonna leave... but it's okay," Alan continued before sniffling. "Is Alan drunk?" Dark asked, his tone laced with anger.

"No, he's actually high on pain medication right now. Let him get this out of his system for now," Victim explained. "What happened?" Chosen inquired, concern evident in his voice. "Apparently, he said he got hit by a bike, broke his arm, and I assume his head was also hurt because he mentioned it was wrapped," Victim recounted.

"He was what?!" Dark growled, a surge of protectiveness washing over him. "Creators above, what the hell happened?" Chosen exclaimed, horror creeping into his tone. "I'm really, really, really unlucky," Alan said with a giggle. "Alan..." Victim's voice turned somber.

Alan's voice hummed softly, "Yeah, mm-mom is always so busy with work," causing a solemn hush to fall over the room. "We aren't really rich, you know... uhm, I also started doing commissions at the age of 10 because they really liked my art," Alan continued, his words slightly slurred.

"And I would do it every day, even if my wrist started to hurt, and then I created you, Vic. My pride and joy, you were my first creation," Alan expressed with a contented sigh.

Victim's heart clenched as Alan laid bare his emotions, realizing they were inadvertently taking advantage of his vulnerable state. "Alan-maybe you should rest," Victim interjected, surprising Dark and Chosen, who had been listening intently.

"Nooo, let me talk, I want you guys to hear this because I know I won't talk about this when the medication wears off," Alan insisted with a hint of desperation.

"Where was I... oh! Yeah, I made Vic, but at that time, uhm, our power was cut off because my mom hadn't been paying the bills, and I was really angry at myself at that moment," Alan revealed, his voice catching. "Because I stopped taking commissions, so I wasn't able to sneak money inside mom's wallet," Alan mumbled, his words heavy with regret.

"Alan, that wasn't your fault," Chosen reassured, his voice tinged with concern.

On the side, they noticed Second approaching, casting a curious gaze before settling beside Chosen. "What's happening? Why is Alan crying?" Second inquired, leaning towards Victim. "It's complicated. He's really high on pain meds right now, basically rambling," Victim explained with a defeated sigh, grappling with the guilt of exploiting Alan's vulnerability at this moment.

The boy was injured and clearly in need of rest.

"Hey, Second! Oh, I'm so glad to see you. Always so thoughtful, you always think about me, so cool," Alan slurred affectionately. Second blushed in embarrassment. "Where was it, uhhh, when I made Chosen and Dark, they broke my PC," Alan shared before bursting into another round of giggles, louder this time. Both Chosen and Dark winced.

"And it was really hard to get a new monitor, and I had no way to continue my commissions... so I started taking jobs without my mom knowing," Alan continued, his laughter punctuated by moments of reflection. "Oh, shit," Dark muttered, while Chosen flinched.

"It's so funny that in my lifetime, I actually scrubbed someone else's toilet for money," Alan laughed heartily, reminiscing as he slammed his fist on the desk.

"Creators above..." Chosen muttered, listening to Alan find humor in the word 'toilet.' "Alan," Dark called out, hearing Alan gradually calm down in the background. "Mm?" Alan responded. "I just want to say sorry for breaking your PC," Dark mumbled. "Huh? Nah, it's-it's alright, Darky," Alan replied before bursting into laughter once more.

Second shook his head and snorted, "I think you guys should know, by now Alan had moved on from what happened, right?" Second remarked, earning a glare from Chosen.

"It doesn't change the fact that what Alan is doing is child labor," Victim interjected with a sigh. Another thump was heard, followed by Alan's sleepy murmur, "Good nightttt," before the room fell into a gentle symphony of light snoring.

A heavy silence enveloped them all. Second let out a breath, Chosen felt the twisting guilt in his stomach, and even Dark appeared visibly troubled. Victim, after a moment of contemplation, tightened his grip on his legs before rising to his feet. "Well, what happened back then doesn't matter. What matters is what we do now," Victim asserted, clenching his fist.

It wasn't productive to dwell on the past; moving forward was imperative. "So, stop dwelling on what you did back then and focus on being better," Victim mumbled, feeling a sudden wave of embarrassment wash over him at the unexpected speech.

Second let out a cheerful laugh and clapped his hands in support of Victim's words, while Dark and Chosen exchanged puzzled glances.

"That's the last thing I expected you to say..." Dark teased, prompting Victim to sigh wearily.

-O-

"Jesus, did I say something bad?" Alan asked, his voice tinged with embarrassment. Victim shook his head with a chuckle. "Nothing serious, you just found toilets funny," Victim replied, hearing Alan let out an embarrassed laugh. "I'm so sorry, Vic. It's just that the pain meds were really strong," Alan explained.

"It's alright. How about we watch one of those gameplay videos you enjoy?" Victim suggested with a slight tilt of his head. "Wait, you want to watch it? I-I thought you didn't like it," Alan responded shyly.

"No, I like it," Victim reassured, his voice gentle. Alan let out a small whoop, "That's great! Sure, we can watch it!" he said excitedly, clumsily trying to move his mouse with his left hand.

"I can call the others if you want them to join," Victim offered, hearing Alan chuckle. "Yeah, that would be nice," Alan mumbled. "Alright, I'll call them," Victim said, gesturing with a wave of his hand.