Life is good right now! I got my phone back and it's spirit week at school. Right now it's Murica Monday. I'm disappointed with my outfit because I couldn't get my hands on a full sized American flag. I planned on wearing an American flag to school. A flag. NOTHING ELSE. Yeah, maybe it's good I couldn't get my hands on that flag. Listening to Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood Opening on loop right now. Hope y'all are having a lovely day.

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Blue sighed. Tim and Cory had come to visit him. Make sure he was okay. Only to find a small Blue figure huddled in the corner. Hiccupping and sobbing quietly. 

"Um..." Tim hummed, unsure of what to say. "Your name is... Blue. Right?"

Blue squeaked, but didn't take his face out of his knees. He didn't seem to want to meet their eyes. Maybe he was shy? Cory and Tim didn't know. But they intended to find out.

"Are you okay?" Cory asked. His tone was unusually gentle and kind. It was so unlike his normally mean and unapologetic nature that Tim was surprised. But Blue still wouldn't look at them. He wouldn't answer. Or maybe he couldn't. Still, Cory thought maybe that was because he was shy. But badgering him about his mood wouldn't get him to open up. So Cory tried a different approach.

"Did you like the music I put on that disk for you?" Cory asked. 

Blue was silent for a moment. He didn't raise his head up, but this time, he did answer. 

"Yes." Said a quiet voice. "How did you know to put Smile on it?"

"I asked Barney about what kind of music you liked. That was the only song he knew." Cory explained.

Blue didn't say anything.

"Are you having a flashback?" Cory asked.

Shuddering and drawing in an uneven breath, Blue finally peaked out of his arms up at Cory. "What's a flashback?"

Cory smiled, happy to see Blue at least looking at them. He was coming out of his shell. "It's a memory. Like, thinking back on something that happened in the past. It could have been a good memory or a bad one."

He was avoiding their gaze shyly, but he didn't put his head back into his knees. Blue had stopped hiding from them. "Well..." He mumbled. "There are a lot of flashbacks Blue has. Most of them aren't happy memories."

"I think something bad happened to us." Blue admitted. "But Blue can't remember everything. It's like there are hazy pieces. Or just sounds. Beeping and thumping and screaming. Someone keeps crying... Like... Like Pudding when she's in pain! That's what it sounds like..."

Tim and Cory exchanged worried looks. Barney had told them about Red's past of abuse. He told them that they might hear graphic descriptions... Or vague ones. Depending on who was describing it. Blue tended to use simple words and trail off before he finishes sentences. Blue also talked in third person. But Purple liked to describe every detail of his pain and fear. Or he might just cry and scream and hit them when they tried to help. Tim was worried, as was Cory. They were curious, but at the same time they were unsure if they wanted to know what had happened. According to Barney, there were some very disturbing details.

"Blue, can I touch you?" Cory asked. Blue seemed hesitant, especially now. But Cory could tell by the look in his eyes that Blue trusted him. When Cory reached out, Blue flinched, but did not stop him. Cory rested a hand on Blue's shoulder. 

"I don't know what happened to you." Cory said. "But I do know that your parents did something terrible to you as a child. You don't have to tell me what that is. But we still want to support you. We're your friends. I don't know you all that well, but I like you, Blue. I like all of your colors. You seem like a decent guy. I'm looking forward to hearing your wicked sense of humor. So don't shy away from us. Okay?"

Blue looked shocked, grateful, scared, all around overwhelmed. But he was definitely happy. "Thank you." Blue whispered. 

Tim looked dazed. Ogling at Cory in amazement. "Yeah." Tim chimed in. "Whatever he said."

                –•❤️💛💚💙💜•–

When Barney came home he found Cory, Tim, and Blue playing chutes and ladders.

"FUCK!" Tim shouted as he hit a chute. He was put back at the start. Meanwhile Blue was close to winning. 

"Ha! Serves you right, bitch." Cory sneered at Tim. Tim flipped him off in turn.

"Is that a greeting?" Blue asked curiously. 

"GUYS! Stop teaching Blue swear words!" Barney shouted. "Green's gonna kill me!"

Cory and Tim jumped. Apparently they hadn't been aware that Barney had returned home. "Jesus, John!" Tim exclaimed. "Don't scare us like that!"

"What do you mean Green will kill you?" Cory asked. 

Barney sighed, rubbing his temples. "Green has this thing. He wants to 'preserve the precious innocence the colors have.'"

Tim scrunched up his face, looking disgusted. "Ew. What, is that a kinky thing?"

Barney flushed. Partially out of irritation and because of embarrassment. "Ugh! No! He sees the colors as his little brothers. He's very protective of them."

"No he's not." Cory said, moving his character on the chutes and ladders board. "He couldn't possibly be as overprotective as you are. It's just not possible."

Barney made a sound partially between a growl and a groan. "I think it's time you... Gentlemen leave."

That's how Tim Tim and Cory ended up being quite literally being kicked out of Barney's apartment with Blue whining about how they hadn't finished their game. 

"Ow, asshole!" Tim shouted as Barney slammed the door on him.

"Rude."

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I love writing author's notes. Sorry if they disrupt the flow of the story. But this is one of my favorite parts of writing so I really want to get back into doing them. So yeah. Just another idea I had. Next chapter is the beginning of another long string of plot!

-💕 Bubblegum 💕