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Chapter Text

Coiny had never thought about it much. Really, he hadn't. Life on the island was already strange enough with qll the constant challenges, strange rules that seemed to change every other day, and teammates who bickered like they had nothing better to do. So when he caught himself staring at Pin during another slow, uneventful afternoon, he chalked it up to boredom. Nothing more.

The sun was sinking behind the trees. Most of the others were scattered across the field, finding ways to entertain themselves. Firey and Leafy were tossing a ball back and forth. Needle was sharpening sticks for some odd reason. Pin was sitting by herself, drawing in the dirt with a twig, her usual sharp expression softened by the quiet.

Coiny flopped onto the grass a few feet away, arms stretched dramatically over his head. "Ughhhh. Today's soooo booorinnng."

Pin didn't look up. "Then go find something to do."

He rolled onto his side to face her. "Like what? We've already done literally everything."

Pin smirked faintly, still tracing patterns in the dirt. "You could stop annoying me, for one."

"Where's the fun in that?" Coiny grinned. He expected her to shoot back with another sarcastic remark, but instead she just shook her head, fighting a smile.

That was the problem- or, well, its not really a problem, but something Coiny couldn't ignore. He liked when she smiled. It didn't happen often, but when it did, it made his chest feel weirdly light, almost like he'd won a challenge without lifting a finger. He shoved the thought aside, pushing himself up onto his elbows. "You always doodle stuff when you're bored, huh?" he asked.

Pin shrugged. "It helps me think."

"Think about what?"

"Everything, I dunno? Stuff that doesn't matter, the challenges?" Her voice trailed off. She stabbed the twig into the dirt rhen tossed it aside. "Not that it helps much."

Coiny hesitated. Normally, he'd make a joke here and say something dumb thay gets her to roll her eyes. But something about the way she sighed made him bite back the joke. "You're really into winning, huh?" he said instead.

Pin finally looked at him, eyes catching the last of the sunlight. "That's the whole point, isn't it? To win?"

Coiny scratched the back of his head. "I mean... yeah, but it's not everything."

Pin blinked. "That's rich, coming from you. You get into slap fighrs with Firey anytime you two get close yo each other."

"Okay, fair," Coiny admitted with a sheepish laugh. "But I dunno... sometimes I think the fun part is just being here with everyone. Even if it's kinda ridiculous most of the time."

For a moment, Pin just stared at him like she was trying to figure out if he was serious. Then she gave a small, unexpected laugh. "That's surprisingly wise, coming from you."

Coiny felt his face burn. He laughed it off, flopping back down onto the grass again. "Hey, I can be wise sometimes!"

The air grew quieter as the sky darkened, the chatter of the other contestants fading into background noise. For a while, neither of them said anything. Coiny found himself sneaking glances at her again. Pin wasn't smiling anymore, but she looked calm, peacful even. And, annoyingly rnough, he thought she looked kind of beautiful. His heart skipped. He sat up quickly, brushing dirt from his side. "Uh- so, um, you hungry? I could, like, I don't know- grab us some berries or something?-"

Pin tilted her head. "Why are you acting so weird?"

"I'm not weird! You're weird!"

"Coiny." Her tone was flat, but her eyes softened. "You're blushing."

His entire being felt like it was on fire now. "No I'm not!" he yelped, voice cracking.

Pin actually laughed again, covering her mouth with one hand. "You're such an idiot."

"I'm not-" He cut himself off, groaning. "Ugh, okay, maybe I am. Fine. Whatever."

The laughter faded, and when Coiny looked again, Pin was staring at him in a way that made his stomach twist.

"You're not usually like this," she commentwd.

"Like what?"

"Flustered. Nervous."

He rubbed his arm, struggling to meet her eyes. "Yeah, well... maybe I just..." The words stuck in his throat. His brain screamed at him not to say it, that it would ruin everything. But the longer she looked at him, the more he realized he couldn't keep it in. "Maybe I just like being around you," he blurted out.

Silence. Oh no, he wanted to melt into the ground so badly. Why did he have to say that.

Pin blinked. Then she exhaled, almost like she'd been holding her breath too. "That's os not what I expected you to say."

"Forget it! Forget I said anything!" Coiny babbled, waving his arms. "I'm just tired, you know? Bored. My brain's scrambled- I-"

"Coiny." Her voice cut through his panic. Firm and steady, like always. Pin shifted closer, just a little. "You're not the only one."

His brain stalled. "Huh?"

Pin's cheeks were faintly pink now too, though she tried to keep her expression composed. "I like being around you too. Even when you're annoying. Okay, especially when you're annoying."

For once, Coiny couldn't think of a single joke. His heart hammered in his chest, so loud he swore she could hear it. He swallowed hard. "So... does that mean...?"

Pin rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless."

Before he could ask again, she leaned forward and pressed her lips against his.
"Does that answer your question?" she asked.

Coiny's mouth opened and closed uselessly. Then, finally, he managed a breathless laugh. "Y-Yeah. Pretty clear."

They sat there in silence again.
Coiny leaned back on his hands, still trying to catch his breath. "Wow. Uh. Guess this means I win, huh?"

Pin raised an eyebrow. "Win what?"

"Kissing you?"

Pin rolled her eyes so hard he thought they might fall out. "Idiot." But she was smiling at him, and that was all that mattered.

Chapter Text

The next day on the island, things were back to normal. Well, as normal as they ever got. The morning sun blazed over the plains, and everyone was scattered into their little groups, as per usual. Firey and Leafy were already arguing and Golf Ball was being her typical bossy self, scolding Tennis Ball for something no one else cared about. Coiny.. well, Coiny had been suspiciously quiet, though Pin wasn't about to complain. As much as she cared for her friend, he could be a bit much at times.

Needle stretched in the shade of a tree, letting out a yawn. She wasn't usually one to sit still, but after yesterday's relentless challenges she felt she deserved a break. Pin wandered over, looking just as tired.

"Morning," Pin muttered, dropping into the grass beside her.

"Morning," Needle replied. Then, with a teasing smirk, she added, "You look rough."

Pin shot her a look. "Gee, thanks."

"Just saying. You usually look sharp. Today you look-" Needle paused, searching for the right word, "-kinda dull?"

Pin groaned and rubbed her face. "You're insufferable."

Needle laughed. "That's what you like about me."

The words slipped out casually, but Pin froze for a fraction of a second before covering it with a scoff. "Don't flatter yourself." But the corner of her mouth betrayed her, tugging upward. Needle caught it immediately. She leaned back, arms behind her head, smug as ever. It wasn't unusual for them to banter like this. They'd been rivals once, but during their time as W.O.A.H Brunchers, that rivalry had shifted into something else. Not quite friendship. If asked, they'd probably say it was something like being frenemies.

"You ever get tired of all this?" Pin asked as she plucked at the grass.

Needle turned her head. "All of what?"

"The competition. The drama. Everyone fighting over every little thing. Doesn't it feel... exhausting sometimes?"

Needle blinked. "Wow. Deep thoughts, Pin. What happened to you?"

Pin rolled her eyes. "I'm serious."

Needle sighed, closing her eyes for a moment. "Yeah, I guess. Sometimes. But, I don't know. Without it, what would we even be doing? Just sitting around? That sounds worse."

Pin hummed thoughtfully, her gaze distant. "Maybe. But, I think I'd like sitting around. With the right people."

The words lingered between them, heavier than intended. Needle opened one eye, studying her. She seemed... vulnerable? And that was rare. Pin never seemed to let her guard down. It was probably why the push-pin was eliminated so early during season one. Needle sat up straighter, her curiosity piqued. "The 'right people,' huh? Anyone in particular?"

Pin smirked, "Wouldn't you like to know?"

Needle's heart skipped, though she'd never admit it out loud. "Tease."

For a while, they sat in silence, the sounds of the other contensants goofing around filling the air. But Needle couldn't stop sneaking glances at her. The way Pin caught the sunlight. The way she absentmindedly traced shapes in the dirt. The way she looked almost lonely when no one was watching. Needle hated that look.
"You know," Needle said slowly, "you don't have to carry everything on your own. You act like you do, but you don't."

Pin glanced up, caught off guard. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means," Needle said, her tone firm but gentle, "that you're allowed to lean on people sometimes. You're allowed to not be perfect."

Pin blinked at her.

Needle's chest tightened. She'd struck a nerve. The tension thickened. It felt almost suffocating, like the air before a storm. Needle shifted uncomfortably, suddenly unsure what to do with herself. She'd always been sharp with her words, yet in this moment she felt as if she were walking on eggshells.

"Pin," she started, but the name caught in her throat. Pin tilted her head, waiting. Needle swallowed hard. "I- I care about you, okay? More than I probably should." The confession hung there, trembling in the air. Pin's eyes widened, the faintest blush creeping up her cheeks.

"Huh?"

Needle panicked. "Forget it! I didn't mean it like- well, I did, but not- ugh, you know what I mean-"

"Needle."

The sound of her name cut her off. Pin's voice was soft despite her staccato like speaking pattern. At first, Needle had found Pin's way of speaking to be annoying, but as time went on, it slowly became one of her favorite things about the girl. "I care about you too," Pin said simply.

Needle froze. Her brain felt like it had short-circuited. "You.. what?"

Pin's lips curved into a small, genuine smile. "You heard me. You're one of my friends, of course I like you."

The world seemed to tilt. Needle's breath caught in her chest. Then, without another word, she leaned in and kissed her. Pin's heart slammed against her chest in shock, her body stiff for the briefest second before melting into the moment. Needle's lips were warm, her hand brushing lightly against Pin's arm as though grounding her. By the time Needle pulled back, Pin's face was flushed, her thoughts scattered like leaves in the wind.

"That..." Pin swallowed, her voice barely above a whisper. "That was-"

"Wow," Needle whispered.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. The island carried on around them, but it all felt distant. Needle finally leaned back, though her cheeks were still burning. "Don't tell anyone."

Pin smirked, brushing her fingers lightly against Needle's hand. "Your secret's safe with me."

Chapter Text

It had been a week since that weird evening with Pin and Needle.

Not that Firey had been watching or anything. He wasn't spying. Okay, maybe he'd glanced over more than once that night when they were sitting by the grass, whispering like the rest of the world had disappeared. And maybe, just maybe, he'd seen 5he way Needle had lean in and kissed her. And maybe that scene had been stuck in his head ever since. Firey wasn't great at sorting through his own thoughts. His brain tended to burn bright and scatter in all directions. He focused better in competitions, when there was a clear goal. Grab the flag, reach the finish, and survive elimination. But this? The complicated stuff? Feelings? It was like trying to avoid being extinguished in the rain. Which he honesly wasn't good at doing. He sat now by the edge of the clearing, flame flickering quietly as he poked at the dirt with a stick. The rest of the contestants were scattered across camp, bickering, napping, or plotting. A normal day. Except his mind wasn't on the day. It was on Pin.

Pin, who always stood tall, who thought five steps ahead in every challenge. Pin, whose sharp words sometimes cut but never without reason. Pin, who had smiled at him once, just once, in a way that felt like the sun had bent down to warm him in particular. He never quite understood why so mnay of the others called her ugly. And then there was Needle. Firey couldn't shake the image of her leaning in, confident as ever, stealing a kiss like it was nothing. It wasn't that he disliked Needle. In fact, he respected her. She had guts, said what she meant, didn't dance around things. But still, something about that moment lit a quiet fire in his chest that hadn't gone out all week.

Jealousy.

He hated admitting it. But he couldn't deny it anymore. He was jealous of Needle.

He tossed the stick aside with a frustrated growl. What was he even supposed to do? March up to Pin and blurt out how he felt? He'd combust on the spot. Pretend he didn't care? He was already failing at that.

"Okay contestants!" Announcer's voice boomed overhead. "Today's challenge is a scavenger hunt! The first team to find the list of items and bring them back here will win immunity!"

Firey guessed his dilemma would have to wait. He groaned. Challenges were exhausting enough, and this one sounded like it would take forever. Around him, contestants scrambled into action, splitting off into their teams and rushing toward the forest. He adjusted his stance, flames crackling slightly brighter. He wasn't about to lose, not again. His eyes darted across the chaos, and then he saw her. Pin, already racing ahead, barking orders at her teammates. Firey's chest tightened again.

Focus. You're supposed to be looking for items, not staring.

He darted after her, determined not to fall behind.

The scavenger list was honestly pretty brutal and weirdly vauge. A shiny rock, a branch shaped like a Y, three different colored berries, and something "unexpected but cool." Contestants bickered over what counted as cool, some shoving each other in the dirt while others wandered cluelessly.

Firey stuck with Pin, partly because she had the best sense of direction, and partly because- well, he couldn't help it. "You're not on my team," Pin snapped when she noticed him trailing.

"I'm just.. uh- scouting!" Firey lied quickly. "Keeping an eye on the competition!"

Pin gave him a flat look but didn't waste time arguing. "Fine. Just don't slow me down." They combed the forest floor, searching for the Y-shaped branch. Pin crouched to inspect one, frowning when it was too crooked. Firey crouched beside her, pretending to help but mostly just trying not to stare. She glanced at him suddenly. "Why are you so quiet?"

"I'm not quiet!" Firey said too quickly.

"You are. Usually you'd be bragging about how you're going to win."

He swallowed. "Maybe I don't feel like bragging today."

Pin studied him for a moment longer, then shrugged. "Suit yourself." She stood and marched deeper into the woods.

Firey let out a shaky breath. His heart felt like it was punching his ribs. This wasn't normal. He wasn't supposed to get nervous around Pin of all people. They'd known each other for ages. Well, not really ages. They knew each other back during BFDI, and he really did't like her then with how mean she was. He couldnt quite say if she had changed just yet, but he knew she was sharp, strategic, unshakable. And he was.. him. A walking fireball who tripped over his own words whenever she looked at him too long.

Get it together, he scolded himself. This is just a challenge. That's all.

--------

The challenge dragged on. Firey and Pin managed to grab the shiny rock after Pin pried it from Match's grasp. Then they found the branch, barely beating Leafy to it. Their bags were filling, but so was Firey's head. Every time Pin barked orders, every time she shot him a quick glance, his stomach twisted. And when her hand brushed his while they lifted a heavy log together, his flame nearly sputtered. By the time they stumbled into a clearing, sweaty and dirt-streaked, Firey thought he might combust for real. Pin plopped onto a rock to catch her breath. "We need the berries next. Red, blue, and something else."

Firey hovered nearby, pacing. "Right. Berries."

"You okay?" she asked suddenly.

"Yeah! Totally! Fine!" His voice cracked embarrassingly.

Pin raised an eyebrow. "You don't look fine."

Firey's flames flickered wildly. "I just- look, it's nothing, alright?" But it wasn't nothing. The words pressed at his throat, threatening to spill out. He wanted to say it, needed to say it. But how? In the middle of a challenge,? It was ridiculous. He felt ridiculous for even thinking about it in the first place. And yet, when Pin stood, brushing dirt from her knees, Firey's resolve snapped.

"Wait," he blurted.

She turned, confused. "What?"

Firey's flames surged brighter, his body trembling. "I can't- I can't keep pretending like it's nothing. I like you, Pin. A lot." Her eyes widened, but before she could respond, Firey's instincts overrode his panic. He stepped forward, heart hammering, and kissed her. It wasn't smooth. Not even close to being a 'good' kiss, especially when compared to the previous two Pin had experienced. His kiss was warm, almost too warm, pressed against her in a rush of nervous energy. His flames crackled, threatening to flare out of control, but he forced them down, terrified of hurting her. For a moment, everything froze and all Firey could focus on was the push-pin he was now grasping onto as he held her close. There was only Pin, her breath caught in surprise, her body rigid against his.

Then she gently pushed him back, her hands steady but firm. Firey's stomach dropped.

He stumbled, words spilling clumsily. "I- I'm sorry! I just- I couldn't hold it in anymore, and-"

Pin held up a hand. Her face was flushed, her eyes searching his.

"You're an idiot," she said softly.

Firey winced. "Yeah. I know."

"But..." Her expression softened just slightly. "You're an honest idiot."

He blinked at her, hardly daring to breathe.

"In the middle of a challenge, though? Really?"

Firey let out a nervous laugh. "What can I say? Timing's not my strength."

Despite herself, Pin cracked the faintest smile. The moment didn't last long though as Match's shrill voice rang from across the clearing, shouting about finding berries. Pin straightened immediately, runing off and leaving Firey dazed. His chest felt lighter than it had in days. Even if he'd just complicated everything. Announcer's booming voice eventually declared a winner, though Firey barely registered which team it was. All he knew was that, for the first time in a long while, he wasn't thinking about victory.

He was thinking about her.

And the way he still tingled from the kiss.

Chapter Text

Bubble liked weeks like this. The air was warm, but not too warm. The sky was clear and the shade blue that made her float a little higher. After the last few chaotic challenges, the Announcer had finally given them a break day. Yay, free time!!! So when Pin had suggested they go to the park together, Bubble practically bounced. The park wasn't fancy, just a field with some benches, a rusty jungle gym, and two swings creaking gently in the breeze.

"Come on," Pin said, settling onto one of the swings. Her sharp posture looked a little awkward against the childlike seat, but she didn't complain.

Bubble plopped onto the swing next to her, legs dangling. "This is fun!" she said brightly, kicking off the ground to sway a little.

Pin smiled faintly. "I haven't been on a swing in years."

"Then you gotta go higher, y'know? Like this!" Bubble pumped her legs back and forth, squealing as she gained momentum. Her translucent form shimmered in the sunlight, casting little rainbows on the grass below.

Pin watched her, a tiny smile tugging at her lips. "You're ridiculous."

Bubble slowed down, laughing breathlessly. "I like making you smile, though." Pin blinked at her, surprised, then looked away quickly. Bubble's heart thudded. She hadn't meant to say that. Well, not out loud, at least. But it was true. Pin smiled so rarely, and every time Bubble managed to coax one out, it felt like winning a prize. For a while, the only sounds were the creak of the swings and the distant chatter of birds. Pin pushed herself gently back and forth, her expression calmer than Bubble had ever seen it. Bubble bit her lip. The past few weeks had been... complicated. She'd noticed the way others looked at Pin. Coiny's clumsy attempts to get close. Needle's sharp but affectionate way of standing at her side. Even Firey. Bubble had caught the two of them whispering after last week's challenge, though neither said what had happened. She couldbt help but be curious.

Now, sitting beside her on the swings, Bubble finally had an oppurtonity to ask.

"Pin?"

"Yeah?"

Bubble's voice shook. "Do you ever.. um... think about... like.. liking someone?"

Pin frowned slightly, as though the question was unexpected. "I guess. Why?"

Bubble wrung her hands together, staring at her feet as they dragged lightly in the dirt. "Because I... I think about it. A lot." She swallowed, her voice softening. "About you."

Pin froze. The swing slowed under her still body. She turned her head slowly, her eyes locking onto Bubble's trembling ones.
"Bubble..."

"I know, I know!" Bubble burst out quickly, words tumbling over each other. "You probably don't feel the same. Everyone else probably already said stuff like this to you. But I just... I had to tell you. I like you. Like, really really like you." Her voice cracked at the end, and she winced, squeezing her eyes shut. She couldn't look at Pin. Couldn't handle seeing her expression. Then she felt a warmth. Openinh her eyes, she realized Pin's hand was touching hers. Pin leaned over and kissed what could have been considered the bubbles forehead. It was brief enough that Bubble almost didn't believe it had happened. Her entire body went rigid, then melted, heat flooding her from head to toe. She barely breathed, terrified she'd burst if she moved too suddenly.

When Pin pulled back, her cheeks were flushed, "Uhm, a lot has been happening lately so I can't quite give you the answer you want."

Bubble blinked rapidly, her voice squeaking. "Y- you kissed me."

"Yeah."

Bubble's chest swelled, her emotions crashing like waves. She wanted to laugh and cry all at once, to tell Pin everything bottled inside her since the day they'd first teamed up. Instead, she just whispered, "Thank you."

Pin smirked faintly. "You're welcome."

For a while, they just sat there, their swings swaying gently. Bubble held onto the warmth of Pin's hand against hers, the lingering sensation of the kiss. It was perfect...

"Bubble!"

The voice startled her so much she nearly slipped off the swing. She turned to see Book and Ice Cube hurrying across the grass. Book's brow was furrowed, her usual stern expression in full force. Ice Cube trailed beside her, looking guilty.

"There you are," Book said sharply. "We've been looking everywhere."

Bubble scrambled upright, flustered. "O-oh, hi guys! I was just, um-" She glanced helplessly at Pin, who raised an eyebrow but didn't move.

"Come on," Book said, gesturing for Bubble to follow them. "We need to go over strategy for tomorrow. You can't just run off when we're supposed to be a team."

"I..." Bubble's voice trailed off. She wanted to stay, but Book's statement and Ice Cube's apologetic look left her no choice.

"Okay," she slipped off the swing. Glancing back at Pin one last time, her eyes shined. "I'll see you later."

Pin gave her the faintest nod, her smile returning just enough to steady Bubble's heart.

Then Book tugged her away, Ice Cube murmuring a soft, "Sorry, Bubble," as they left the park behind.

Chapter Text

Nickel never really understood why people made such a big deal about feelings.
To him, life was mostly about surviving Announcer's stupid challenges, avoiding getting bossed around by everyone, and maybe sneaking in a nap when no one was yelling at him. But romance? Relationships? Kissing? Total waste of time. At least, that's what he told himself. But then he saw how the contestents had been acting lately. First Coiny, all red-faced and awkward around Pin. Then Needle acting suspiciously soft whenever Pin was nearby. Then there was Firey who seemed to literally blow up over her. And Bubble? She had practically floated into the clouds after that "hanging out at the park" thing last week. Nickel had eyes. He wasn't oblivious. Everyone seemed to be orbiting around Pin like she was some kind of prize. And sure, she was smart, strong, and strategic. But Nickel never thought much of it. Until he caught himself watching her too. Crazy, right?

Which was annoying. Because the last thing Nickel wanted was to turn into some lovesick idiot like everyone else.

It was another miserable challenge. Announcer had dumped the contestants into some ridiculous maze full of dead ends and random junk scattered around. They were jusy told to retrieve a flag hidden somewhere in the maze and bring it back to the speaker box. Nickel trudged through the passages, muttering to himself. "Yeah, real original. A maze. Great idea, Announcer. Totally not lazy at all." His teammates were scattered, everyone running in different directions. Nickel rounded a corner and nearly bumped straight into Pin.

"Oh," she said, blinking at him.

"Oh," he echoed, then rolled his eyes. "Perfect. Of all the people to get stuck with."

Pin raised an eyebrow. "You could just turn around."

"And what? Wander into another dead end? No thanks. Guess you're stuck with me."

Pin smirked but didn't argue. She adjusted her stance, scanning the maze walls. "Fine. Two heads are better than one. Let's just focus on finding the flag." Nickel grumbled but followed her anyway.

They walked in silence for a while. Every so often, Nickel risked a glance at her. Pin always looked so sharp. Which- yeah, honetly, that was a silly thiught. She was a push-pin, of course she looked sharp. Wow, he needed some help. And, annoyingly enough, Nickel felt his chest tighten with every glace he stole.

Ugh. Not me too. He tried to shake it off, forcing his sarcasm into overdrive. "So, what's your plan, genius? Stomp around until the flag magically appears? Real strategic."

Pin shot him a look. "At least I'm trying. You're just complaining."

"Complaining is my strategy," Nickel retorted. "If I'm annoying enough, maybe the flag will show itself just to get me to shut up."

Pin snorted despite herself.
Nickel smirked, a little too proud of himself for getting Pin to laugh.

Hours- okay, it was probably only a few minutes, but it felt like hours- dragged on. The maze twisted endlessly, and Nickel was starting to wonder if Announcer had just forgotten about them when Pin finally stopped. "Hold on," she said, crouching to study the ground. "Look. Footprints."

Nickel squinted. "Wow. Riveting discovery. Who knew other objects were walking in the maze?" Pin ignored him, following the trail. Nickel sighed and trudged after her, though secretly he was impressed. She did twnd to noticed things no one else did. Eventually, they stumbled into a wide chamber where the ceiling opened slightly, letting in slivers of sunlight. In the center sat a pedestal. Oh, its empty. "Great," Nickel muttered. "We're late to the party."

Pin clenched her fists. "Someone must've already taken the flag."

"Awesome. Love wasting my life for nothing." Nickel flopped onto the floor, leaning against the wall. "So, what now? We sit here until someone finds us and rubs their victory in our faces?" Pin didn't answer right away. She sat on the pedestal instead, her shoulders tense.

Nickel stared before quickly looking away. His thoughts tangled, sarcastic comments catching in his throat. This feeling was going to get annoying reaaall fast. After a long silence, Pin finally spoke. "Do you ever wonder why we even do this? The challenges, the competitions... all of it."

Nickel snorted. "Yeah. Because Announcer loves watching us suffer. Pretty obvious."

"..Yeah."

Nickel opened his mouth, then closed it. He wasn't used to Pin sounding like this. It threw him off. "I dunno," he said finally.
Nickel groaned, "Don't look at me like that."

Pin laughed softly. And that laugh.. it did something to him. Something he didn't want to admit.

"I like being stuck with you, though."

Pin blinked. "Oh."

His heart hammered. Oh no. Oh no, oh no. He tried to backtrack. "I mean- er, it's not like I like you like you, except I totally do, and I hate it, and- urrgh!" He smacked the wall with his head. "Why am I even saying this? I barely know you." Pin stared at him, her face unreadable. The silence stretched, his panic rising. And then, without warning, Nickel leaned forward and kissed her.

Wow he was bad at this-
When he pulled back, Nickel's face burned hotter than molten silver. "Okay. That just happened. And now you're gonna kill me."

Pin exhaled slowly, her expression softer than he'd ever seen it. "You're braver than I thought."

Nickel blinked. "Wait, you're not mad?"

"If anything, Im confused."

Nickel slumped against the wall, groaning. "That makes two of us."
The sound of footsteps signaled tgat other contestants were nearby, shouting about the flag. Pin stood, dusting herself off.

"We should get moving."

Nickel dragged himself up, his heart still racing. "Yeah. Sure. Whatever." But as they walked back into the maze, Nickel couldn't stop the small, crooked smile tugging at his face.

Chapter Text

Bomby wasn't much of a talker. It wasn't that he didn't have thoughts. He had plenty. A lot, even. They just never came out the way he wanted them to. Most of the time, he settled for being quiet, letting everyone else shout and argue while he sat back and watchwd. But lately, one thought had been gnawing at him, so loud it drowned out everything else. Pin. He wasn't quite sure why. Maybe ot was just one of those unexplainable phenomenons that would rabdomly happen every once in a while. He didn't know, dont ask him. Maybe it was the rare softness she showed when no one else was paying attention. Whatever it was, Bomby wanted to be closer to her. Even if he didn't know how.

The day was gray and heavy, clouds gathering above as contestants lazed around after another failed challenge. Bomby wandered the edge of the clearing, kicking at rocks, trying to work up the nerve. Pin sat under a tree, readinv what looked to be a cook book. This was his chance.
He shuffled closer, and- wow, he was kinda sweaty. He sat down beside her. She glanced at him briefly, then returned to her book.

"Hey," she said simply.

Bomby nodded, heat prickling at his face. "Hey."

Silence stretched. He could hear the others faintly in the distance. But under the tree, it was just him and her. Oh. They're alone. His heart pounded. Words stuck in his throat. Don't think. Just do it.
He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.

It was over almost as soon as it began. Bomby's eyes squeezed shut, his body rigid, terrified he'd gone too far. When he pulled back, his breath came in quick, nervous bursts.

Pin stared at him, shock flickering across her face.

"..No," she said firmly.

The single word cut sharper than anything Bomby had braced for.

"I don't feel that way about you," Pin continued, "I know everyone's been... acting different around me lately. But this? It's not what I want."

Bomby's chest sank, heat draining into something heavy and cold. He nodded quickly, words failing him. "Right. Yeah. Sorry."

Pin sighed, setting down her stick. "You're a good teammate, Bomby. Don't make things weird."

He swallowed hard, forcing a shaky smile. "Won't."

That was the end of it. She went back to her book, the discomfort in her voice still sitting in his chest. Bomby sat frozen for a while, then stood slowly, trudging away from the tree.

The others were still laughing in the clearing, unaware of what had happened.

For him, the moment had burned bright and painful, short, explosive, and gone before it could become anything more.
Just like him.

Chapter Text

Flower prided herself on being flawless. Sure, she’d had- er, let’s call them 'moments,' in the past. But lately she’d been working on herself. Her petals were perfect, her stem moisturized, her style was on point if you asjed her. And honestly? She felt she deserved some appreciation for that.

So when the otjer contestants had been quiet for a few days (no, seriously. Why was everyone so tense? Chill out yall), Flower decided someone had to bring the energy back. Someone fabulous. Someone bold.

Someone like her.

---

Flower was perched on a rock near the edge of the camp, polishing the petals around her face until they gleamed. Her reflection in the tiny hand mirror she kept hidden in the dirt stared back at her with approval.

“Perfect,” she whispered.

That’s when she spotted Pin walking by, her usual serious expression in place, probably thinking about the next challenge or something equally boring. Flower tilted her head, an idea blooming in her mind. Flower didn’t have anything against Pin, exactly. But she couldn’t help noticing how plain the push-pin was. Pin was practical, sure. Good at leading, maybe. Good at thinking under pressure, kinda. But she wasn’t exactly serving looks, if you know what Flower meant. And yet everyone seemed to be obsessed with her lately.

The questuin was: Why wasn’t Pin taking advantage of her naturally good structure? Her frame could be so much more chic with a little guidance. Fashion wasn’t just about looking good, it was about power, which was obviously something Pin desired. She already had everyone wrapped around her finger without even trying. Imagine what she could do with Flower’s styling skills.

If Pin is really going to have everyone’s attention, at least she should look good doing it. Flower hopped down from the rock and strutted toward her.

“Pin!”

Pin stopped mid-step, glancing over her shoulder. “Flower?”

“Yes, me. Obviously.” Flower struck a pose. “Question. What exactly are you wearing?”

Pin blinked. “Nothing? I’m a pin.”

“Exactly!” Flower gasped. “Completely unacceptable. No accessories, no style, no vision! Do you want to look like some random background prop?”

Pin crossed her arms. “We’re in the middle of a competition, Flower. I don’t think fashion is our top priority.”

“Oh, please,” Flower scoffed, waving a hand. “Looking amazing is always a top priority. Come on, you’re coming with me.”

Before Pin could protest, Flower had grabbed her by the arm and was dragging her toward her little “studio,” which was really just a patch of ground with a few shiny rocks, scraps of cloth, and anything else Flower thought looked beautiful.

“Sit,” Flower commanded, pointing at a smooth patch of grass.

Pin sighed but sat down. “You’re not going to let this go, are you?”

“Absolutely not,” Flower said proudly, already rummaging through her collection.

---

For the next hour, Flower worked her magic. She held up strips of fabric against Pin, muttering to herself. She tried different things. Flower covered Pin’s torso with a green stretch of fabric, then frowned. “Hmm. You’ve got a very utilitarian silhouette. We need to soften it, make it fierce but approachable.”

“You know we’re just going to get muddy again during the next challenge, right?” Pin replied dryly.

“Exactly why we need to make a statement now,” Flower replied, tying the fabric into a dramatic knot. “If we’re going to suffer, we might as well look iconic doing it.”

Pin stood there, stiff as a board, letting Flower fuss over her. “This isn’t going to help us in the next challenge.”

“It will if it distracts the other team,” Flower said smugly, finally settling on a look. “And if not, at least you’ll look good losing.”

At one point, Leafy wandered past and paused. “Oh wow! Pin, you look so cool!”

Flower beamed. “I know, right?”

Pin rolled her eyes but didn’t protest.

When she was finally done, Flower stepped back to admire her work. Pin was draped in earthy greens with a streak of bright yellow fabric across her shoulder. “…Okay,” Pin admitted reluctantly, glancing down at herself. “This isn’t terrible.”

“Not terrible?!” Flower gasped, clutching her petals. “It’s stunning. You are welcome.”

Pin cracked the faintest smile, and that was when Flower decided she deserved a reward. Not just a “thank you.” Something bigger. Something bold.

Because what was bolder than fashion? Romance, obviously.

“Pin.” Flower stepped closer, her tone suddenly serious.

Pin tilted her head. “What?”

Flower didn’t hesitate. She leaned in and kissed Pin. When she pulled back, she smirked. “There. That’s your final accessory.”

Pin’s eyes widened slightly, but her expression stayed mostly calm. “Flower.”

“Yes?” Flower batted her eyes innocently.

“I appreciate the outfit. The kiss? Not really my thing.”

Flower froze. “What?!”

Pin shrugged. “I’m just not interested. But, thanks for the styling session.”

Flower’s petals drooped, then immediately puffed back up. “Ugh, fine! Be that way! But at least admit you look fabulous.”

Pin glanced at herself again and gave the tiniest nod. “I do look better.”

That was enough to soothe Flower’s pride. “Exactly. Now go show everyone and make them jealous.”

Pin walked off, leaving Flower standing there with her petals slightly flushed. She stayed there for a moment, staring after her before tyrning back into the clearing where most of the other contestants were lounging.

“EVERYONE!” Flower announced, striking a dramatic pose. “I have just performed a miracle! Pin- yes, that Pin, finally looks like someone worthy of being stared at!”

Coiny nearly dropped the ball he was aroune. “Wait, what did you do to Pin?”

“Made her fabulous!” Flower said proudly. “Oh, and I kissed her. But that’s not the important part. The outfit is the real headline here!”

Nickel groaned. “Seriously? Is everyone just taking turns now? Is this, like, a sign-up sheet situation?”

Firey’s flames flared. “YOU WHAT?!”

“Oh, calm down,” Flower said, rolling her petals. “She didn’t like it. But she looked incredible when I did it, which is what really matters.”

Bubble floated in from the side, puffing up slightly. “I thinks Flower’s being kinda braggy right now…”

“I deserve to brag!” Flower snapped, then grinned smugly. “Pin was practically glowing.”

Leafy nodded, insisting that Pin did look pretty good now, Firey grumbled under his breath amd Coiny couldn't hwlp laughing at how flustered everyone was getting.

Nickel muttering, walking away from the mess before him.

Flower sat back on her rock, crossing her arms with satisfaction. The rejection still stung, but the attention, that was worth it. At least everyone was talking about her again. And if Pin wasn’t interested? Well, at least Flower had proven one thing,
She could turn even the plainest contestant into somethung beautiful.

Tomorrow, she decided, she’d take on someone else as a project. Maybe Needle. Needle would kill in a scarf.

Chapter Text

Snowball didn't care about mushy stuff.
Most of the time, he lived for challenges and proving he was the strongest in the room.
But lately, something had been... off. Snowball wasn't dumb. He could put two and two together. Pin was becoming the center of everyone's attention. And the more he thought about it, the more it made his blood boil.

Not because he hated Pin. Well. He didn't really like her either. He just couldnt help but find himself attracted to strong objects. And she so happened to be a strong object. But also, because he wanted to prove something. What was it he was trying to prove? That he wasn't just muscle. That he could take what he wanted, too.

And, okay, maybe he liked the way she carried herself. She was cool-headed, strong, and was strictly no-nonsense. It ticked him off in all the right ways. Damn it.

He made up his mind.

---

The next week, the contestants found themselves stuck in another bizarre challenge: scaling a series of high platforms to collect scattered objects, racing to the top before the timer ran out. Everyone scrambled upward, some climbing quickly, others stumbling. Snowball, of course, charged ahead, leaping from one ledge to another with brute force. He wasn't subtle about it. He wanted everyone to see how fast he could crush this challenge. But when he spotted Pin climbing steadily a few ledges below, his focus shifted.

"Hey!" he barked down at her. "Try to keep up, weakling!"

Pin glanced up, unbothered. "Maybe if you didn't waste energy yelling, you'd be further ahead."

Snowball's jaw tightened. "Pfft, whatever." He pushed upward harder, muscles burning. But no matter how fast he climbed, he kept glancing down at her. Watching her movements. Watching how calm she looked. And, annoyingly, how much he wanted to impress her.

---

Halfway up, the challenge turned chaotic. Objects dangled from ropes that swung dangerously, some knocking into contestants who weren't careful. Pin dodged one with sharp precision, but her footing slipped. Snowball didn't even think. He jumped down a ledge, grabbing her arm before she could fall. "Gotcha," he muttered, steadying her.

Pin blinked, surprised. "Thanks."

"Yeah, don't make a big deal out of it," he said quickly, pretending it was nothing. But inside, his chest thudded harder than the platform beneath him.

They kept climbing together after that, unspoken teamwork holding them side by side. Every time she leapt to the next ledge, Snowball followed close behind. Every time he pulled himself up, he glanced to make sure she wasn't far. And the longer they moved together, the more the thought built up inside him like pressure in a fuse, do it. Prove you're not scared. Prove you're not like the rest of them.

---

Near the top, they reached a platform where they could pause to catch their breath. Other contestants were scattered across the maze of ledges, their shouts echoing, but for a moment, it felt like it was just the two of them. Snowball paced a little, fists clenched, trying to hype himself up. "Alright, alright... you can do this."

Pin raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

He froze. Oh no. Did I say that out loud?

But instead of backing down, something in him snapped. He turned toward her, sharp and bold, the way he always was in a fight. "Look, Pin," he said, voice gruff. "I'm not like those other losers who tiptoe around you. I don't play games. I say what I want. And right now-" Before she could answer, Snowball leaned forward and kissed her. It wasn't gentle. Snowball didn't do gentle. It was firm and definitely a lot of teeth.

For a second, the world seemed to still.

Then Pin shoved him back. Not hard enough to cause him to fell, but firm enough to get the message across.

"No," she said flatly.

The word hit harder than a falling platform.

Snowball blinked, stunned. "What? Why not?"

Pin crossed her arms, her expression cool. "Because I'm not interested. In you, or in anyone else trying to do this. It's getting ridiculous."

Snowball's chest burned, part with anger, part with something he didn't want to name. "You kidding me? After all that- after everyone else- you, you just-"

"Yes," Pin cut in, her tone sharp. "And if you respected me at all, you'd drop it."

Snowball's fists trembled. He wanted to argue, to yell, to demand an explanation. But the fire in her eyes stopped him cold. It wasn't up for debate. He turned away, jaw tight, heat crawling up his face. "Fine. Whatever. Don't care." He launched himself to the next platform, climbing harder, faster, trying to drown the sting in pure adrenaline.

Behind him, Pin climbed steadily again, calm as ever.

---

By the time the challenge ended, Snowball had pushed himself to exhaustion, throwing every ounce of strength into reaching the top first. He didn't win. Leafy had somehow snatched victory in the final seconds, but he didn't care. All he could think about was that moment. That "no" ringing in his ears, echoing louder than any cheer or insult.

That night, while the others laughed, bickered, or sulked around the camp, Snowball sat alone at the edge of the field, fists buried in the dirt. He'd thought kissing her would prove something. That it would show he wasn't afraid, that he could take what everyone else wanted. But instead, it left him feeling smaller. For once, Snowball had nothing to yell. Just the quiet, heavy weight of rejection.

Chapter Text

The night air was cool, and the sky glittered with stars. It was the kind of peaceful night that usually meant everyone on the island would be asleep early. But not tonight. Tonight, someone had decided that sleeping was overrated and chaos was the only acceptable thing. Of course, not everyone wanted to participate in the activities that took place throughtout the night. Golf Ball and Tennis Ball both agreed they had more important things to do, and Snowball had disappeared off somewhere after the previous challenge. Oh well.

Leafy wasn’t sure who exactly had come up with the idea to play Seven Minutes in Heaven. She just knew it had spread like wildfire through the competition grounds after dinner. Soon almost everyone had gathered in the center clearing, forming a loose circle, lit only by a couple of glowsticks and Firey’s faint flames. She wasn’t sure if she should be there. Games like this could get... weird. Like really weire, but she couldn’t deny that she was curious. “Okay, okay, everyone sit down!” Coiny said, holding a bottle in the center of the circle like it was a microphone. “You all know how this works, right? I spin the bottle, it lands on two people, they go in the shed for seven minutes, and we all wait here and try not to die of boredom!”

“WOOO-HHOOOOOO!” That was Nickel.

Leafy giggled softly. She liked being around everyone when they were like this. The joking, teasing, was nice. It was like old times again, she liked when they were all together. No challenges, no stress, just a bit of silly fun. Pin was sitting across the circle from her, her arms folded but her face calm, like she was only half-invested in this game. Flower sat right next to her, practically glowing, clearly waiting to see if the bottle landed on Pin again so she could have another shot. Leafy felt a little flutter in her chest at the sight of Pin, but she quickly looked away.

“Okay, first spin!” Coiny said, and he gave the bottle a dramatic whirl. It spun fast, the sound of glass against dirt filling the night, until it clattered to a stop, pointing at Bomby and Gelatin.

Gelatin gasped. “Ohhhhhh nooo,” he said, but he was grinning.

Bomby’s eyes went wide, and he seemed to tense up, like he might literally explode from awkwardness. “Go on!” Firey said, waving toward the shed. “Rules are rules!” Gelatin laughed nervously and dragged Bomby by the arm toward the shed. The others all whispered and giggled as the two disappeared inside. Leafy waited, listening to the faint sounds of muffled voices from the shed, until the door opened again. Gelatin stumbled out first, laughing so hard he could barely breathe.
“Oh my gosh, that was so weird,” Gelatin said between giggles. “We just.. stared at each other for like three minutes, then tried to guess everyone’s favorite food. Bomby said Nickel’s was ‘being annoying.’”

Nickel snorted. “Not wrong.”

Bomby trailed behind, looking embarrassed but a little lighter than before. Though, based on the twos faces, something more definitely happened. Leafy smiled softly, hiding her giggle behind her hand. Maybe this game wasn’t such a bad idea after all. “Next spin!” Coiny said, already grabbing the bottle again. This time it landed on Firey and Flower.

“Oh, you wish,” Flower said, flipping her petals dramatically. “I’m still too glamorous for you.”

Firey rolled his eyes. “It’s a game, Flower. Just go.” Flower strutted into the shed like it was a runway, Firey following with a resigned sigh, catching the yoyle berry that was tossed at him. The circle outside was buzzing with quiet chatter, everyone waiting to see what would happen. When they finally came back out, Flower looked smug and Firey looked very, very done.

“What happened?” Gelatin asked immediately.

Firey grumbled. “Don't ask.”

Leafy giggled again. More spins followed. Match and Book, Ice Cube and Coiny, and Nickel and Bubble. Leafy could feel the anticipation building with each turn. Her nerves hummed a little louder every time the bottle spun, knowing it could land on her next. Arg, games like these were stressful. You could never feel truly safe with the random chance of being next looming over you. Then it happened. Coiny spun the bottle again, and Leafy held her breath as it clattered to a stop. It pointed to her. And then it pointed to- “Pin!” Coiny shouted, grinning like he’d just caused the biggest plot twist in history. “Leafy and Pin, you’re up!”

Leafy’s chest thumped. Her limbs felt suddenly heavy. Pin glanced at her, unreadable for a moment, then stood. “Fine, it is apart of the game after all,” she said simply. Leafy’s breath caught in her throat. Oh noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

“Go on, go on!” Gelatin urged. “It’s not Seven Minutes in Heaven if you don’t actually go!”

The others started chanting, causing Leafy’s face heat up. Pin walked toward the shed first, calm and composed as always. Leafy hesitated for a second, then followed, her heart pounding louder with every step. The shed door creaked open, and Pin stepped inside. Leafy took a deep breath and stepped in after her. The door closed behind them with a heavy thud.

------

The shed was dim, lit only by the thin line of moonlight creeping through the cracks in the wood. It smelled faintly of dirt and grass, and the silence was heavy enough to make Leafy’s ears buzz. Pin stood in the middle of the small space, arms crossed at first, but when she noticed Leafy still standing by the door, she softened. “You okay?”

Leafy swallowed and nodded quickly. “Y-Yeah! Just.. wow, it’s really quiet in here, huh?”

“Guess that’s the point,” Pin said. She took a step closer, and Leafy felt her heart lurch in her chest. There wasn’t much room in the shed, so they were already close, close enough that Leafy could see the little glint in Pin’s eyes. Pin tilted her head. “You seem nervous.”

Leafy’s laugh came out a little high-pitched. “Maybe a little. I mean, everyone’s outside, and they’re probably all just waiting to hear what happens- uhg, I really shouldn't think about that..” She stepped foward, hands making contact with the plastic of Pins sides. “May I..?” With the nod of red object before her, Leafy leaned in and kissed her. Leafy’s brain short-circuited for half a second. Wow, she was kissing Pin. Pin was suprisingly soft and it sent a rush of warmth through Leafy.
When they pulled back for air, Leafy was blushing hard enough to feel it. “Oh..,” she breathed.

Pin smirked before leaning in again. This kiss was deeper, slower, and Leafy found herself instinctively tightening her grip on the girl before her. Seven minutes suddenly felt like both the shortest and longest amount of time in the world. They kissed again. And again. Every time they broke apart, they were both breathing a little harder, but neither of them seemed to want to stop. The world outside of the shed had offically been forgotten. The circle of their friends all blurred away until it was just them and the feelings of their bodies connection, close and warm.

Pin’s hand brushed against Leafy’s cheek, and Leafy shivered at the gentle touch. It was just so easy for hr to lose herself in the feeling. She kissed Pin again, quick this time, then again, lingering a little longer and longer with each break.

“This is…” Leafy started, then gave a breathless laugh. “...a lot.”

Pin nodded, smiling faintly. “Yeah. But it’s not bad.”

Leafy grinned, feeling a little braver now. “Not bad at all.” She leaned in once more, kissing Pin with a little more confidence this time. Pin kissed back just as eagerly. They didn’t keep track of how many times they kissed. It was way too many to count, soft pecks turning into long sessions, leaving them both a little dazed.
At some point, they pulled away and rested their foreheads together, catching their breath.

“They’re going to be so annoying when we come out,” Leafy murmured, grinning.

“Let them,” Pin said, her voice calm but warm. “We’ll know what happened. That’s enough.”

Leafy’s chest felt light, like she was floating. She kissed Pin one last time before the sound of Coiny yelling “TIME’S UP!” from outside broke through the shed walls. Pin stepped back slightly, straightening herself before heading for the door. Leafy followed, her face still flushed and her lips tingling.

When they stepped outside, the whole circle was watching them expectantly. “So?” Gelatin said, grinning.

Leafy and Pin shared a quick glance before Leafy just smiled and sat back down.

Coiny groaned dramatically. “Boo, no spoilers?! You too are no fun!”

Pin simply shrugged, calm as ever, though Leafy noticed the tiniest curve of a smile on her face.

Chapter Text

It was a sunny day and Pin was laying in teh grass with an arm stretched over her face to block the sun from her vision. Wow. The sun truely is a deadly laser... She was enjoying the warmth of day before the Announcer's voice suddenly rang out, startling almost everyone out of their boredom.

"Attention, contestants!" the Firey Speaker Box said, his tone unusually chipper. 'Usual' because, elts be real, all the speaker boxes had really monotone voices. They were worse than Pin when it came to trying to convey emotions through tone. "Today's challenge is simple. Dig through this massive, towering pile of miscellaneous objects, garbage, and random junk I found lying around. Your goal? Retrieve the very special item hidden somewhere inside. First to bring it to me wins immunity!"

A massive pile of odds and ends was suddenly dropped in the center of the field, kicking up a lot of dust and dirt. It looked like the result of every past challenge being dumped into one spot. There were broken baskets, smashed ice cubes from FreeSmart's machine, scraps of rope, splintered sticks, and several other concerning things. And wow. Did she mention that the pile was huge yet? Yeah. How was anyone supposed to find anything in that...

"What even is this?" Gelatin muttered, squinting up at it.

"Ew," Bubble said, bouncing back a little. "That's so gross."

"I'm not touching that," Flower said immediately, flipping one of her petals and crossing her arms.

"Fine, then I'll win immunity myself," Coiny said, cracking his knuckles and charging into the pile. He immediately slipped on something round and tumbled halfway down. "Ow!"

Pin, meanwhile, stood quietly near the edge, surveying the heap. The Announcer had been vague. Like, really vague. 'A very special item' could mean literally anything. It could be something shiny and obvious, or something tiny hidden deep inside. Man, screw you Firey Speaker Box. I hope you explode.

"Come on, Pin!" Coiny shouted from inside the pile. Oh. He got up at one point. Crazy! "Don't just stand there, help me dig this thing out before Needle beats us!" ??? Why Needle, she's on their team now? She in the end decided it wasn't worth questioning and started climbing into the pile of junk. It was unstable and crunched beneath her as she pulled herself upward, keeping an eye out for anything unusual. Around her, chaos unfolded. Firey was literally melting through pieces of the trash with his flames, much to everyone's annoyance. The smell really wasn't pleasant... Everyone else had eventually caved and started digging through the mess as well.

Pin reached a slightly flatter part of the pile and crouched down, brushing aside a layer of dirt and random items: a broken fork, a scrap of cloth, a nearly-empty bottle of nail polish. Oh, thats were her book on Yoyle biology went. Huh.

And then she saw it. Half-buried under a tangle of wires was something glowing faintly. Pin frowned and reached for it, carefully untangling the wires until she could free it. It was some kind of charm? There's no way they were looking for a tiny ass charm this entire time. It didn't look like any challenge item she'd seen before. It was a small, smooth shape. It wasn't quite a gemstone but it didn't seem to be metal. Honestly, she had no clue. As Pin held it up, it glowed brighter, casting warm light across her dark frame.

"Announcer," Pin called down, holding it high. "Is this what you were talking about?"

"Yes! That is the very special item! The W.O.A.H Bunch wins immunity!"

A cheer went up from some contestants, but most just groaned and stopped digging.

"Seriously?" Nickel said. "She just picks up a glowing thing and that's it? Challenge over? Lame."

"Ugh, whatever," Coiny grumbled, sliding down the pile. "At least I don't have to keep digging through garbage."

Pin slid down carefully, landing on solid ground with the glowing charm still in her grasp. It was warm, almost comforting in her hand, and for some reason she didn't feel like putting it down just yet. The Announcer spoke again. "Pin, congratulations! You are safe from elimination at the next voting. As for the rest of you... better watch your backs." His laugh crackled through the speakers before cutting out. Whaaaaaatttttt.

Pin stared down at the charm. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something strange about it, but it didnt seem dangerous? Probably. If anything, she felt calmer holding it.

"Hey, nice find," Coiny said, coming up beside her and giving her a friendly tap on the side. "You got lucky this time, huh?" Pin just nodded, her attention still fixed on the charm. It glowed a little brighter at Coiny's words. She didn't notice Coiny staring at her for a second longer than usual before awkwardly looking away.

-----

It had been about a month since the junk pile challenge, but Pin couldn't stop thinking about it. The charm still sat on the small patch of ground she claimed as her space near the edge of the competition ground. It glowed faintly even now, like a fire that never went out. Sometimes she caught herself staring at it, turning it over in her hands, watching the way it pulsed.

At first she'd shrugged it off as just a cool prize, a weird but harmless token of immunity. She wasn't quite sure why the Firey Speakr Box let her keep it in the first place, but she really didn't stop to think about it at the time. She probably should have. Ever since she'd found it, something had been.. different.

And not just with the charm. With everyone.

She crossed her arms, sitting down beside the glow, frowning as she thought back on everything since then. Coiny had been the first to act strange. He'd been around her more than usual, hanging back after challenges, finding excuses to talk to her. I mean, they were the closest out of everyone she had been persued by so far, but it still felt odd to think about. At first she thought he was just being friendly (again, tehy were realitively close before), but the way he'd blushed and looked away when she caught him staring? That wasn't just normal banter.

Then came Needle. Pin still remembered the way Needle had approached her out of nowhere, standing stiffly, asking her something about "how she'd been feeling lately," before suddenly leaning in and kissing her like it was the most natural thing in the world. Needle had walked away right after, leaving Pin confused.

And it hadn't stopped there. Firey had kissed her too, in the middle of a challenge, no less, claiming it was "for luck." Bubble had asked to hang out one evening and then gone completely quiet, until she just... did it, right there on the swings. Nickel, who usually complained about everything, had been uncharacteristically nice for an entire afternoon before doing the same thing. Even Bomby- yeah, Bomby!- had gotten in on it. By then she thought somehow everyone had collectively decided to prank her, but a lot of the objects that had approched her weren't the type to do things like this.

And of course Flower and Snowball and-

Leafy...

Leafy, who hadn't hesitated when the shed door closed behind them. Leafy, who had ASKED. And Pin had kissed her back. And if she was being honest, it had felt.. different from the others. Maybe that was why her chest felt so tight now. Not just because it was happening so much, but because she couldn't even tell what was genuine anymore. She'd expected to shrug Leafy's kiss off just like the others, but instead, here she was, replaying it over and over in her mind. The way Leafy's face had lit up when they stepped back outside. The quiet look Pin had caught on her face later that night, when everyone thought no one was paying attention.

Pin huffed, pulling her legs up to her chest. It wasn't that she hated the others. Well, she hated some of them, could you blame her? But the intensity of it all was too much.

"Why is this happening?" she muttered, staring down at the charm as if it could answer. The glow seemed to pulse a little brighter, like it was mocking her. She didn't like admitting it, but she'd started avoiding people just to get a moment of peace. It's been a few days since the game, and honestly, this had been the most peace she's gotten since this mess started. Whenever she walked near the others, someone would call out her name, wave her over, or look at her a little too long. Conversations felt like time bombs, like everyone was waiting for her to say or do something. Now she had to worry about people trying to get it on with her without her permission.

It was exhausting. Pin curled her legs closer to her and stared up at the stars. She didn't know if it was the charm or just some weird coincidence, but something was wrong. And man, was she ready for it to end.

Chapter Text

Eraser never really thought about Pin all that much.

Well, okay, that wasn’t true. She was on his team during season one, so obviously he thought about her sometimes. But usually it was more like, “Hey, Pin’s pretty good at challenges, that’s cool,” or “Pin’s bossy, but whatever, she usually knows what she’s talking about.” He wasn’t the type to dwell on things too much. Life was easier when you just rolled with whatever was happening and didn’t think too hard.

He didn’t totally get why everyone seemed to want to be with her lately. Yeah, she had some sort of weird pull that even made him just the slightwst bit interested. And sure, she was cool and all, but so were, like, lots of objects? It was like everyone was in some kind of 'kiss Pin' competition. Weirdos. But that didn't mean he was going to get left out. Not because he liked Pin that way. Absolutely not! That would be super awkward, considering he and Blocky were usually partners-in-crime and romance wasn’t really his thing. But if everyone was going to keep making this whole situation a rhing, then hey, Eraser might as well join too.

So when he saw Pin sitting alone by her spot near the edge of the competition grounds one afternoon, flipping the charm weird ass charm she had gained during one of the previous competions over in her hands with that faraway look she’d been wearing lately, Eraser strolled over and plopped down on the ground next to her.

“Yo, Pin!” he said, grinning.

Pin glanced at him, blinking out of her thoughts. “Oh. Hey, Eraser.”

“You look like you’re overthinking,” Eraser said. “That’s dangerous, you know. Thinking too much can melt your brain.”

Pin gave him a flat look. “... Yeah, I think I’ll be fine.”

Eraser shrugged, leaning back on his hands. “Suit yourself. So, uh, everyone’s been kissing you lately, huh?”

Pin sighed, rubbing her face with one hand. “Don’t remind me.”

“Aw, c’mon, it’s kinda funny!” Eraser said, nudging her with his elbow. “Like, at this point it’s practically bound to happen. Someone’s gotta keep the streak going.”

Pin turned her head to look at him, unimpressed. “Are you saying you’re here to kiss me?”

Eraser grinned wider. “Yup.”

Pin raised an eyebrow but didn’t move away. “Fine. Go ahead.”

Eraser wasn’t expecting her to just agree like that, but hey, he wasn’t going to back out now. “Cool,” he said, and leaned in, giving her a quick, playful kiss before immediately leaning back with a laugh. “There. Streak continued. You’re welcome.”

Pin blinked at him, then snorted. “That was surprisingly casual.”

“Yeah,” Eraser said. “I’m not into all the drama everyone else is making out of this. You’re cool, Pin, but I’m not trying to make it a big thing.”

Pin relaxed slightly at that, setting the charm down next to her. “Good. I’m getting tired of people treating me like I’m some kind of prize.”

Eraser tilted his head, suddenly more serious. “Yeah, I’ve noticed. Everyone’s been acting weird, huh?”

“Very,” Pin muttered. She hesitated, then added, “I can’t tell if it’s actually me," she lifted the charm up in the air, staring at it as if it had personally stripped her of all she had. "Or if its because of this thing."

Eraser reached up and plucked the charm from her hands, turning it over in his own. “Huh. It is kinda spooky. Like, it’s glowing even when it’s not dark. That’s not normal, right?”

“I doubt it is?” Pin said, watching him closely. “But every time I think about getting rid of it, I can’t bring myself to do it.”

“That’s creepy,” Eraser said bluntly, handing it back. “But hey, if it’s making people act weird, maybeu yoshould figure out what it actually is. Like, eugh, maybe get Golf Ball to look at it or something?"

Pin actually smiled faintly at that. “That’s not a bad idea. Though she is a little bossy..”

Eraser grinned, pleased with himself. “See? I’m not just the funny guy.”

“You’re mostly the funny guy,” Pin said.

Eraser gasped. “Rude! I just helped you with your crisis!”

Pin rolled her eyes, thought she seemed less out of it than previously. “Thanks, Eraser.”

“No problem,” he said, standing up and brushing himself off. “See ya, Pin!” he called as he jogged away, leaving Pin alone with the charm once again.

Chapter Text

Book had been avoiding Pin. Or maybe Pin had been avoiding Book. Honestly, Book wasn't sure anymore. Every time they wound up in the same clearing since the junk pile challenge, Pin's glare would flash across the space between them like lightning, and Book's tense up instinctively. It was exhausting, and worse than that, it was distracting.

Book was many things. She was an atlas, a dictonaery, and an inclusion handbook. You could even stay she was sharp, organized, and precise. One thing she wasn't though was patient. ANd it was so hard to be inclusive when she had to deal with people like Pin. So one afternoon, after catching Pin shooting her that look again across the field, Book decided enough was enough. She marched straight across the field. No plan, no thought of what she'd say. She just needed to say something.

"Need something?" Pin asked without looking up from the soil she was tending. Her tone was so flat it made Book's skin itch.

"Yeah," Book said, folding her arms across her cover. "I need you to stop glaring at me every time you see me."

Pin snorted. "Maybe stop being glaring worthy."

Book's grinded her teeth slightly in frustration. "Oh, here we go again."

"Yeah, here we go again," Pin said, standing now, voice rising. "You don't get to act like I'm the unreasonable one after you literally told Ice Cube not to swing with me that one time."

"That was forever ago!" Book said, throwing her arms wide.

"Forever ago or not, it was wrong!" Pin snapped. "You can't just act like it didn't happen!"

"Oh my stars, are you seriously still hung up on that?" Book groaned. "You act like I ruined your entire life by saying Ice Cube shouldn't swing with you. I was just trying to look out for her!"

"Look out for her?!" Pin shot back. "You were controlling her! You decided for her what she could and couldn't do! You think that's protecting her?" Their voices had risen enough that a few other contestants nearby had stopped to stare, sensing drama. Book didn't care, she was too far in to stop now.

"You were bossy back then," Book said, jabbing a page at her.

"And you were controlling!" Pin fired back.

The two of them stood there, breathing hard, eyes locked. The charm and a few seeds Pin had been planning on planting were lying on the ground between them, the charm glowing faintly brighter, as though feeding on the tension. Book felt something shift in her chest. Pin was standing so close now, her usual calm expression sharpened into something fiery. For the first time in a while, Book wasn't thinking about FreeSmart, or alliances, or even Ice Cube. Just about the fact that Pin was right here, glaring at her like she'd been waiting to do it for months. Book tilted forward just a little, refusing to back down. "You know what? I think you just like fighting with me."

Pin's brows knit together. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me," Book said, taking one step closer, close enough that Pin had to tilt her head slightly down to keep glaring at her. "You've been holding this grudge for ages because it gives you something to be mad about. Admit it."

"I don't need you psychoanalyzing me, Book," Pin said, crossing her arms tight.

"Then what do you need?" Book challenged.

Pin opened her mouth, but Book didn't wait for an answer.

She surged forward and kissed her. It was harsh and clumsy, nothing close to bieng sweet or careful. It was a LOT of teeth. Pin growled, her hands gripping at Books sides, yanking at her pages and cover Eventually Pin shoved Book back with enough force to make her stumble.

"What the hell was that?!" Pin demanded, her face flushed darker than usual.

Book smirked despite her heart pounding. "Getting your attention."

Pin sputtered, pointing at her. "You don't just- you can't just-!"

"What?" Book said, raising an arm like she didn't care if Pin tried to shove her again. "You're going to say you hated it? That it didn't make you stop glaring at me for half a second?"

"That's not the point!" Pin snapped.

"Then what is the point, Pin?" Book asked, taking another step closer despite the shove. "You've been making this fight your whole personality ever since that day. Maybe you need something else to focus on." Pin's glare faltered for just a moment, like the thought had hit too close to home. Then she scoffed and turned away, crouching back down to grab her stuff.

"You got what you wanted," she said stiffly. "Now leave me alone."

Book hesitated, her smirk fading. Pin's voice was quieter now. Book rustled softly as she stepped back. "I just... I don't know. I was tired of us always being at each other's throats. That kiss was stupid, yeah, but maybe it's better than fighting with you forever." Her voice had lost its bite it had once previously held.

Pin stayed quiet, staring down at the charm in her hands. The glow pulsed softly, like it was waiting for something neither of them were ready to give. When Pin didn't throw anything at her, Book took that as her cue to leave. As she walked back across the clearing, she glanced back for a moment. Pin was still sitting there, but she wasn't glaring anymore.

Chapter Text

The night felt heavier than usual.

Pin walked alone along the edge of camp, a hand holding onto the bag she occasionally carried around, the charm shoved deep in the bag, rapped in several layers of fabric to block the glow. Every few seconds it pulsed, faint but steady, like a heartbeat. She wished it would stop. It had been Months now. Months of being kissed, touched, cornered, and dragged into feelings she didn’t want. Months of the charm pulsing brighter with every encounter, mocking her with its warmth. Every time she thought about it, her chest clenched tighter. She wasn’t sure if it was stress or something worse.

Pin rubbed her arms and looked up at the stars. They didn’t look any different than usual, but tonight they felt impossibly far away. She wanted distance like that. A sky’s worth of space between her and everyone else. Between her and this charm. Between her and the feelings that gnawed away at her chest. The feeling that all of it could be fake, that maybe none of this was real, maybe it was all just the charm making everyone lose their minds.

That thought hurt more than she wanted to admit.

The forest was quieter than Pin expected. She hadn’t planned to wander so far from where everyone had declared was ther resting spot during the nights, but her feet had carried her without asking permission. Now she was here, under a canopy of tall trees that now blocked the stars she once was staring at, where the air felt cooler and the light sifted down in shifting patterns through the leaves. The ground was soft with moss and roots, muffling her steps.

She let her arms hang loose at her sides, one of them brushing up agaisnt the bag that carried the charm. She couldn’t seem to go anywhere without it anymore. Pin sighed. What was happening to her? A few months ago, life had been the same as always. Challenges, alliances, rivalries. It was all relatively predictable. But now? Now it felt like every time she turned her head, someone was there, waiting for her, looking at her in a way that made her want to claw herself out of existence.

Coiny’s nervous laugh.
Needle’s stiff, sudden kiss.
Bomby’s awkward boldness.
Flower’s dramatic flourish.
Leafy’s warmth.
Eraser’s quiet sincerity.
Book’s- Book. Book and her- her, she-

Pin shuddered, each encounter replaying in her mind no matter how much she tried blocking it out. Not even the memory of her moment with Leafy felt enjoyable anymore with the feelings of everything else pressing down on her. Pin brushed a branch aside and kept walking, her pace slow. The forest had a rhythm of its own, the distant call of some bird, the whisper of wind through branches, the occasional crackle of leaves under ber feet. It was steady, unbothered. She envied that.

“Why me?” she muttered aloud. Her voice sounded strange here, swallowed up by trees. “Why all at once?” She had been doing her best not to cry. She couldn't nring herslef to let it out. It was pathetic of her to even be this bothered by everything, but she just kept spiraling. Maybe the charm was the reason everything had changed. Maybe it wasn’t. She leaned against a tree, feeling the rough bark against her frame. She shut her eyes for a moment. In the dark, memories pressed closer.

She didn’t want this. She hadn’t asked for it. And yet...

Her eyes opened again. Through the branches, she could see the sky, pale and scattered with stars. She let her breath out slowly. She had to calm herself. For the first time, she admitted the truth to herself. She didn’t know how to feel. Not about the others. Not about the charm. Not about herself. All her confidence felt it had drained from her. But maybe that was okay. Maybe she didn’t need all the answers right now.

Pin pushed herself off the tree and kept walking. The forest stretched ahead, endless and green, giving her space to think, to breathe, to be something other than the center of everyone else’s attention. Oh how badly she wanted to go back to being regular old Pin.

Chapter Text

Teardrop liked the forest. It was quiet here, away from the constant noise and chaos that came with being around everyone else. She didn’t need words here. The trees didn’t ask for them, and the wind didn’t wait for them. She could just exist without struggling to communicate with the objects around her.

She was wandering aimlessly when she heard it. Not the sound of branches snapping or leaves crunching, but a voice. In fact, it was a voice she recognized. Pin. Teardrop slowed her steps, careful not to be heard right away. She saw Pin sitting on a fallen log, hunched over, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees. The faint glow of that strange charm flickered in her lap, casting light across her frame. Her eyes were distant, unfocused, heavy in a way Teardrop had never seen before.

Pin muttered something under her breath, too soft to catch. Then again, louder, “Why can’t it just stop?” Her voice cracked at the end.

Teardrop’s chest tightened. She’d seen Pin angry before, but this was different. This wasn’t anger. It was loneliness. Pain, even. Teardrop didn’t move for a long time. She just stood in the shadow of a tree, watching Pin press her forehead against her knees, breathing shakily. No one else was here. No one else was supposed to see her like this. She felt kinda bad for intruding. Finally, Teardrop stepped forward. Her foot ended up accidentally brushing against a patch of leaves, and the sound causing Pin to snap up. Her eyes were wide, defensive for a split second, before softening when she saw who it was.

“Teardrop?” Pin's voice was rough. She wiped quickly at her face, as if embarrassed. “What are you doing out here?” Teardrop didn’t answer, not that she could, but she alked closer, slow enough that Pin could push her away if she wanted. She didn’t. Pin just sighed and shifted a little, making room on the log. The water droplet sat beside her. For a long time, they didn’t speak. They didn’t have to. The silence wasn’t awkward, to their suprise. It seemed like something Pin needed. Teardrop glanced at her from time to time and simply observed the way her shoulders sagged, and how she gripped that charm like it was the only thing keeping her together.

Pin finally broke the quiet. “I don’t get it. Why everyone’s like this.” Her voice shook, but she didn’t look at Teardrop. “It’s exhausting. I can’t tell what’s real anymore.” Her hand tightened around the charm. The glow brightened briefly, then faded. Pin looked down at it with something almost like fear. Teardrop wanted to take it from her, throw it into the woods, make it vanish. But she didn’t. Instead, she reached out, slow, and hesitant, and placed a hand on Pin’s arm. Pin blinked. For a second, she looked like she might pull away. But she didn’t. She let out a shaky breath and leaned, just slightly, into Teardrop’s side.

The forest around them stayed quiet. The light kept shifting through the trees. And in that silence, Teardrop gave Pin what she couldn’t get from anyone else. Company and peace. And for a little while, Pin let herself rest.

Minutes stretched on till hours passed. The wind changed direction, rustling the canopy of leaves above. Pin’s breathing slowed, though Teardrop could still feel the tension in her frame. She thought about how unfair it was, how someone like Pin, someone who seemed so confident and steady in front of everyone else, had no space to fall apart except out here, alone. Teardrop shifted slightly, adjusting so Pin could lean more comfortably against her. The movement drew a small sound from Pin. It wasn't quite a sigh, but it also wasn't a sob, simply something caught in between. Teardrop’s heart ached at the sound.

She lifted her other hand and, hesitating only a second, brushed a stray blade of grass from Pin’s face. Pin didn’t flinch. She didn’t even react, except to close her eyes again. That tiny gesture was permission enough. So Tear Drop leaned down, slow and deliberate, and pressed a soft kiss to Pin’s forehead. Pin inhaled sharply, her body trembling for a moment, but then she relaxed against Tear Drop, her shoulders sagging, her grip on the charm loosening slightly. Her voice, when it came, was almost a whisper.

“…Thank you.”

Tear Drop smiled faintly, though Pin couldn’t see it. She didn’t need to. Tear Drop’s answer was in her presence, in the steady way she held her there on that log, beneath the trees. And though the world outside the forest still spun with chaos as the sun began to rise, here, in this small clearing, Pin finally found the ability to rest. Streaks of orange and pink bleeding through the trees, and Pin finally stirred, lifting her head from Tear Drop’s shoulder. She looked at Tear Drop for a long moment, then down at the charm in her hand. It still glowed faintly, but not as bright as before. Almost like it, too, had settled.

Pin let out a shaky laugh, barely more than a breath. “Guess I needed this more than I thought.” Tear Drop tilted her head, meeting Pin’s gaze with quiet understanding. No words, just a look that said, 'I know.'

Pin smiled.

Chapter Text

Nickel always knew how to rope people into things they didn’t want to do. That’s how Fries found himself being dragged across the grass one evening, Nickel chattering on about how everyone was getting together for a “fun” game night. Fries didn’t really see the fun in being crammed into a circle with a bunch of people who would probably just argue until the sun came up, but Nickel was persistent. And loud. And annoyingly hard to say no to.

By the time they arrived, a decent crowd had already gathered. Coiny wjo had seemed to drag Pin alomg with him, Firey, Bubble, Eraser, Book, Leafy, and of course everyone else. The game was simple enough. Truth or Dare. Everyone knew the rules, everyone pretended it was harmless. But by the second round, it was obvious where this was going.

“Truth or dare, Firey?” Eraser grinned.

“Dare.”

“I dare you to jump in the lake!”

"WHAT???"

The turns went around, with small dares and silly questions. Bubble ended up admitting she once tripped over nothing several times (everyine already kmew this though?), Coiny dared Eraser to do ten pushups and then proceeded to him weak when he only managed to do three. It was the kind of mindless fun Fries normally wouldn’t care about.

Then Nickel’s turn came.

He looked around the circle, eyes scanning like he’d been planning this from the start, and landed squarely on Fries. “Fries. Truth or dare?”

Fries narrowed his eyes. “Truth.”

“Nope, dare.” Nickel smirked. “I dare you to kiss Pin.”

The circle erupted with laughter, shouts, and 'oooh's. Pin’s eyes snapped wide, and Fries swore he saw her grip tighten on whatever she had grasped in her hand, as if it could shield her.

Fries glared at Nickel. “You’re the worst.”

Nickel shrugged. “A dare’s a dare. Don’t back out now.”

For a long moment, Fries sat frozen. He didn't even pick dare, stupid coin. He could feel the heat of everyone’s stares. This was exactly why he hated game nights. But.. if he refused, Nickel would never let it go. And if he went through with it, maybe they’d just laugh and move on.

With a heavy sigh, Fries pushed himself up and shuffled across the circle. Pin was stiff, her expression unreadable, but she didn’t move away. Maybe she was used to this by now. Maybe she was just too tired to fight it.

Fries leaned down and pressed a quick, awkward kiss against her mouth. It was clumsy and hesitant, more out of obligation than anything else.

The circle exploded in laughter and whistles, Nickel nearly falling over with glee. Fries immediately sat back down, scowling at the ground.

Pin didn’t say anything. She just sat there, grimacing as she awkwardly scooted closer to Coiny. Fries noticed. He noticed the way her shoulders sank, the way her eyes looked far away.

He shifted uncomfortably, glancing at her, then muttered under his breath, “Sorry.”

Pin didn’t look at him, but after a moment, she gave a small nod.

Chapter Text

The air inside Golf Ball’s underground factory always smelled faintly of oil and metal, with the low hum of machinery echoing off the walls. Thick pipes ran across the ceilings, vents hissed softly in the distance, and conveyor belts lay still in the dim lighting. Golf Ball liked it this way. Down here, everything was neat, ordered, and structured. Well, at least ordered in a way she could easily access things. She could hear herself think without being interrupted by the other contestants.

But today wasn’t one of those days. Today, she had company. Beside her, Tennis Ball looked over a batch of notes. He wasn’t as focused as she was, he rarely ever was. But she didn’t mind his presence. In fact, Golf Ball relied on it. His questions, his misinterpretations, his small observations. She could process on her own, yes, but with Tennis Ball around, she was forced to explain her thoughts out loud. Sometimes, it even helped the answers click into place.

They were deep in discussion when they heard a set of footsteps on the metal flooring behind them. Pin had apparently entered the lab not too long ago. She carried something in her hand. A charm. The same unsettling object that she seemed to bring with her everywhere, glowing faintly.

“Golf Ball,” Pin said. Her voice made the off-white ball voice. It sounded like the push-pin had been crying for hours. “Tennis Ball. I need to talk to you.”

“You’re carrying it again.” Her voice was flat, clinical. “That object. You’re letting it out more often.”

Pin looked down at it, then back up. “That’s why I came. I.. I don’t understand what’s happening. But you two are the only objects that might know what it is...”

Tennis Ball perked up. “Well, you came to the right pair!” He hopecloser, a big smile on his face. “Between Golf Ball and I's smarts combined, we can figure out just about anything!”

Golf Ball muttered, turning to Pin. “Explain."

Pin stepped forward, her movements tense, like she wasn’t sure whether to trust them or not. “Ever since the first.. incident,” she started, the word catching awkwardly in her throat, “the charm has been different. It reacts. It glows brighter. Sometimes it feels hot. I let Coiny touch it once and he told me it burned. And the more it happens, the more I…” She trailed off, pressing her lips together. “I don’t know. It feels like I’m not myself anymore.”

Golf Ball’s mind immediately jumped to data points. Listening as Pin spoke about everything that happened. The first incident.. Probably Needle? Pin said she wasn't sure if what happened with Coiny counted. Then there was Nickel, Bomby, Flower, Leafy, Eraser, Book, Teardrop, Fries. Wow, that was a lot of objects. “You’ve been letting the others get too close,” Golf Ball said. “That’s the pattern.”

Pin’s eyes narrowed. “It’s not like I planned any of this.”

Tennis Ball interjected before the tension could thicken. “So, the charm reacts to, uh… let’s call it contact events?”

“Contact events?” Golf Ball repeated flatly.

“Yeah! Like, y’know, physical contact! The charm is maybe absorbing the energy of those moments?”

Golf Ball adjusted her stance. “That's not the worst hypothesis ever.”

Pin clutched the charm tighter. “Then what happens if it keeps going?”

That was the question, wasn’t it? Golf Ball had theories. Too many, and none comforting. She thought of resonance, of parasitic bonds, of objects leeching off others until there was nothing left but fragments. But she couldn’t state them outright. Not yet.

“We need data,” Golf Ball finally said. “We need to test this. Controlled experiments. If the charm reacts specifically to proximity and physical interaction, we can measure the intensity of those reactions.”

Pin shuddered. “You mean you want me to keep letting this happen?”

Tennis Ball frowned. “Well, not in a bad way! It doesn’t have to hurt. Maybe it’s like fuel? Maybe the charm’s not dangerous at all! What if it’s just trying to collect good energy?”

Golf Ball snapped her gaze at him. “That’s dangerously naive. Objects like this aren’t benign. They’re designed for purpose.”

Pin exhaled sharply, frustrated. “Then what’s its purpose? Why me?”

For the first time, Golf Ball hesitated. Her brilliant mind, usually so fast, paused. Why Pin? Out of everyone, why had the charm latched onto her? There had to be a reason. But nothing added up yet. “We’ll find out,” Golf Ball said firmly. “But you’ll need to cooperate.”

Pin looked away, shoulders heavy. And in that moment, Golf Ball realized just how weighed down she was. Every kiss, every interaction, it wasn’t just awkward to her, it was acting as tether, dragging her further and further under something unseen. Tennis Ball, sensing the mood, gently tapped Pin’s side. “Hey. You’re not alone in this. We’re here to help, okay?”

Pin glanced at him, then at Golf Ball. “You’d really help me? Even after everything?”

Golf Ball’s voice softened, though only slightly. “If we don’t, this could spread beyond you. That makes it our problem too.” The three stood in silence for a while, the charm glowing faintly between them. Finally, Golf Ball spoke again. “Tomorrow. Meet us again here. We’ll start testing.”

Pin nodded relunctenly, but agreed nonetheless. As Pin left the factory, Tennis Ball leaned toward Golf Ball. “You’re thinking it too, right?”

Golf Ball’s eye narrowed. “Of course. And if I’m right, Pin might not just be carrying that charm. She might be bound to it.”

----

Pin sat in the lab, clutching the charm. Tennis Ball stood beside her, noticeably closer than usual. Pin didn’t seem to notice at first, her eyes were locked on the screens around them, showing streams of data that meant nothing to her but everything to Golf Ball.“I’ve been tracking this,” Golf Ball explained. “Energy fluctuations. Emotional spikes. Behavioral anomalies. Every time someone makes contact with you, the charm resonates.”

Pin frowned. “Resonates?”

“Feeds,” Golf Ball clarified. “It’s feeding off those interactions. You think it’s coincidence people keep approaching you? It’s not. The charm is amplifying something in you, drawing others closer.”

Pin’s grip tightened. “So I’m being used? By some glowing rock?”

“It’s more than a rock,” Golf Ball said coldly. “It’s a catalyst.”

Silence fell. Tennis Ball shifted awkwardly, then leaned closer. “Hey, don’t take it too personally. It’s not like you’re just bait. You’re still you. But the charm makes you.. well,” He trailed off, fumbling.

“Desirable,” Golf Ball finished flatly.

Pin flushed, looking away. Golf Ball pivoted forward, clicking a hologram to life. Charts and grids appeared, sketches of energy signatures and resonance waves flickering in the air. “We’ll be measuring the charm’s response to direct interaction. That means testing different kinds of contact events under controlled conditions. Frequency, duration, emotional variance. We need as much data as possible.”

Golf Ball watched Pin carefully. The scientist in her cataloged the response. Increased respiration, tension in the shoulders, avoidance of eye contact. But another part of her, one she didn’t want to acknowledge, simply noticed how vulnerable Pin looked in this moment.

“We need to test it,” Golf Ball said firmly, pulling her own gaze back to the data. “We’ll start with proximity.”

---

The first test was simple. Pin stood in the center of the chamber, the charm in her palm. Tennis Ball was intructed to stand in front of Pin till he was only a few inches away. The glow brightened faintly. “See?” Tennis Ball said, almost whispering. “It knows.”
Pin shivered.

“Closer,” Golf Ball instructed.

Tennis Ball hesitated, then leaned in further. The glow brightened again. Pin’s breath hitched. Golf Ball’s fingers twitched over the console. The readings spiked in tandem with the glow. There was no doubt about it now. The charm wasn’t just reacting, it was synchronizing with the emotions in the room.
“Enough,” Golf Ball snapped, “Step back.”

Tennis Ball reluctantly stepped away from the girl before him.

---

The next test was less simple.

“Contact,” Golf Ball said.

Pin turned sharply. “Contact?”

“Yes. Skin-to-skin interaction. Touch.” Golf Ball’s voice was clinical, but inside, her thoughts churned. She knew where this would go. She knew what the charm wanted. And part of her, the part she’d been pushing down since Pin first walked into the lab the night before, wanted it too.

Tennis Ball swallowed hard. “I, uh.. I can go first?” Pin hesitated, then nodded. She lifted her hand, trembling slightly, and placed it against his fuzzy surface. The glow flared. Tennis Ball flinched at the warmth of it, but didn’t pull away. “It’s intense,” he whispered. “Like it’s crawling under my skin.”
Tennis Ball slowly pulled back. The glow dimmed. His gaze lingered on Pin, longer than it should have. Golf Ball noticed. She noticed everything. And she couldn’t stand it.

“My turn,” Golf Ball said abruptly.

Pin blinked at her. “What?”

“For accurate data, multiple subjects are required.” Golf Ball hopped down from from where she had been observing, shooing Tennis Ball off. He huffed, complying as he went to take her place from before. She stepped in front of Pin, her voice sharp, covering something softer beneath. “Hold still.”
Pin’s breath caught as Golf Ball leaned forward, pressing her body against Pin’s arm. The glow erupted, brighter than before, bathing the room in soft light. Golf Ball stiffened. She hadn’t expected it to feel THIS strong. The pull was ther before htye had made contact, but now that they were touching ea other... Golf Ball forgot the console, the data, the purpose. All she knew was the pull, the undeniable tether.
Pin’s eyes met hers, wide, uncertain. Golf Ball knew she should step back. But she didn’t.

Tennis Ball cleared his throat, voice shaking. “Golf Ball, the readings are-”

“I see them,” Golf Ball snapped. But she didn’t move from where she leaned. The glow pulsed again, harder. The air in the chamber thickened, buzzing faintly.

---

“Final phase,” Golf Ball said quietly.

“What phase?”

“Contact escalation,” Golf Ball replied. “Direct resonance.”

Tennis Ball swallowed. “You mean a kiss?”

Pin froze. “It’s for the test,” Golf Ball said quickly, but her voice betrayed her. She wanted it. Tennis Ball did too. They both did, and the charm knew it.
The glow flared brighter, almost urging them forward.

Pin’s lips parted, trembling. “I..”

Tennis Ball moved first, pressing a quick, trembling kiss against Pin’s cheek. The glow shimmered, data spiking wildly on the screen. He pulled back, breathless. “I- it’s stronger now.”

Golf Ball huffee. “Unacceptable.” She stepped close to Pin once more, wrapping one of her legs around the others girls for stability. “If this is happening, it happens properly. For the sake of accuracy.” And before Pin could answer, Golf Ball kissed her. The glow exploded, bathing the chamber in pure light. Pin gasped against her, and for a second, Golf Ball thought she felt Pin lean in, responding. Just for a second.

When she pulled back, the chamber was silent, save for the hum of machines. Pin stood frozen, trembling, the charm glowing brighter than ever in her hand.

Tennis Ball looked between them, shaken. “Golf Ball.. what’s happening to us?”

Golf Ball stared at the readings, her voice low. “It’s amplifying us. Magnifying every buried thought until it boils over. It isn’t creating feelings, it drags out the ones we try to ignore.” She trailed off, her gaze lingering on Pin. “And if it keeps doing this, Pin won’t just be the focus of the chaos. She’ll be the center of every fracture it causes.”

---

The chamber was quieter now. The glow of the charm had dimmed from its blinding flare to a low, steady pulse. Pin still held it tight, her hands trembling as if she feared what might happen if she let go. Golf Ball came back from her console. The readouts streamed across the screens, numbers and graphs that confirmed what she’d already felt in her chest. Amplification. Exaggeration. The charm had lit them all on fire. “Data is data,” Golf Ball muttered, more to herself than to anyone else. “We asked for results, and we got them.”

“Yeah, but,” Tennis Ball trailed off. He stared at Pin, concern written all over his expression. “She didn’t ask for any of this.”

Pin hugged the charm to her chest. Her voice was flat. “You were right, Golf Ball. It’s not just a rock. Whatever this thing is, it’s dangerous. Then why let me keep it?” Pin pressed. “Why hasn’t the Firey Speaekr Box just taken it back?” Tennis Ball looked at Golf Ball. Golf Ball said nothing. Pin shook her head, standing up abruptly. “You don’t have the answers either, do you?”

“I have theories,” Golf Ball shot back, sharper than intended. “I know the charm’s been buried a long time. I know it reacts strongest to conflict, to closeness, to..” She paused, refusing to let her voice betray her, “To things you’d rather keep hidden. And I know the Firey Speaker Box didn’t stumble on it by accident.”

Pin’s hand curled tighter around the charm. “So you’re saying I’m a test subject now? Just a guinea pig?”

“Not a guinea pig,” Tennis Ball said quickly, rolling closer. “You’re Pin. That’s why this is happening. It’s reacting to you. Not just anyone.” Pin’s expression faltered, but she didn’t answer. Golf Ball’s lenses flicked between the two of them. She hated how easily Tennis Ball could get through to Pin, hated how much of herself she’d let slip earlier. For a moment, she wanted to pull Pin back to the table, force her to keep going, to prove that her factory and her logic still had control of the situation. But the truth was clear. She wasn’t in control.

Pin finally exhaled. “I came here because I thought you’d help me understand. Instead, I leave with more questions and.. and this.” She lifted the charm slightly, its glow painting her outline in pale light. “It won’t stop, will it? People are just going to keep-” She cut herself off, the memories of lips against hers flickering through her head like unwanted snapshots.

“No,” Golf Ball admitted. “Not until we figure out the trigger.”

Pin nodded once, curtly, like she was trying to end the conversation before her chest gave her away. “Then I’ll figure it out myself.” She turned, heading for the staircase.

Tennis Ball almost followed, but Golf Ball spoke up. “Let her go.”

“But-”

“Let her go,” Golf Ball repeated, her tone leaving no room for argument. So Tennis Ball stayed. And Pin disappeared up the stairs, the charm’s faint glow the last thing they saw before the hatch shut behind her. The factory was cold again. Golf Ball turned back to the console, “Run the numbers again."

Tennis Ball didn’t move. “Golf Ball..." Golf Ball didn’t respond. Her eyes stayed fixed on the data, but her mind replayed the everything over and over again. “We’ll treat it like any other experiment,” she finally said, her voice tight. “We observe. We document. And we don’t let it control us.” But deep down, both of them knew the charm wasn’t just a variable in their experiment anymore. It had become the experiment itself ,nd Pin was walking out with it still in her hands.

And the worst part? Golf Ball wasn’t sure if she wanted Pin to let it go.

Chapter Text

The night air was cool when Pin finally left Golf Ball’s factory, far colder than what she remembered. Or maybe it was just her.. The heavy steel door shut behind her with a clang, muffling the hum of machines until all she could hear was the faint chirping of crickets and the crunch of dirt beneath her feet. She didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until she let it out, shaky and uneven. It was now just Pin. Pin and the charm.

The charm’s glow dimmed against her chest, tucked between her hands. Not gone, it never really faded, but it was softer now. She wondered if it was mocking her. If it found this whole situation funny. She stared down at it in her palm, and it pulsed a soft white, like a heartbeat. Her heartbeat. Her prison.

'Why won’t you leave me alone?' she thought bitterly. She wanted to hurl it into the ground, to watch it shatter like glass. But she had already tried that. And how much it burned everytime she did was not worth anymore attempts. It wouldn’t break, not from anything she had tried, and it had only proved how bound she was to it.

She tucked it close against her chest and kept walking. The forest outside the factory was dense, shadows stretching across the path. Every sound of snapping twigs and the whispering of wind always felt amplified. Like eyes were on her, following. She tightened her grip around the charm.
Pin shivered. Every kiss replayed itself in her head. Nickel. Book. Teardrop. Fries. And now Golf Ball and Tennis Ball. She hadn’t wanted those moments. Not really. Not like that. But the charm had pulled them out anyway, twisting her into the center of something she couldn’t control. She thought abou what Golf Ball had said. Amplification. Magnifying every thought, every feeling. The way Golf Ball said it seemed... clinical, detached, like Pin was nothing more than a set of numbers flashing on her console. But it hadn’t felt clinical when Golf Ball had leaned closer. It hadn’t felt detached when Tennis Ball’s gaze lingered too long.

Pin shook her head sharply, trying to shove the memory away. That was exactly what the charm wanted, wasn’t it? To make her dwell on it. To keep her trapped in loops she couldn’t escape. But she couldn’t stop asking herself the question, 'what if it wasn’t just the charm?'

She kicked at a rock as she walked through the trees. It skittered down the dirt path, echoing too loudly in the stillness of night. She thought back over every moment since she’d pulled the glowing thing from the junk pile. Coiny’s hesitation, Needle’s boldness, Firey’s firelit kiss, Bubble’s nervousness, Nickel’s awkwardness, Bomby’s wordless insistence, Flower’s strange softness, Leafy’s unshakable intensity. Even Book, of all objects, who’d practically been her enemy, had crossed that invisible line. She had been horrible to most of the objects that had approched her.. It was absurd. It was exhausting.

But what cut deepest wasn’t the repetition. It was the possibility that Golf Ball was right- that maybe each of them had buried something real, and the charm had simply dragged it into the open. Pin hugged herself tighter. If that was true, then it wasn’t just random. It wasn’t harmless. It meant they hadn’t been lying when they looked at her like that. It meant.. they really wanted her. And Golf Ball was never wrong. Never. If even she couldn’t solve this, then what chance did Pin have?
She hated it. She hated the way it made her feel seen and wanted and cornered all at once.
She stopped walking, standing in the middle of the path with her shoulders tight. The charm pulsed against her chest again, warm and steady. For a moment she thought about throwing it into the woods, burying it beneath the dirt and letting the forest swallow it whole. That was different than trying to destroy it, right? Her hand twitched. She almost did it. But when she held it out, her fingers wouldn’t unclench. She couldn’t let it go.

The glow in her hand pulsed brighter. Of course. It always seemed to know what she was thinking.

"Stop it!" she snapped out loud. Her voice cracked through the trees, full of desperation. "Stop ruining everything! I didn’t ask for this! I didn’t want-" Her voice broke, softer now, "-I didn’t want any of this." The charm didn’t answer. Of course it didn’t. But the pulse steadied again, syncing with the quick, uneven rhythm of her heartbeat. Pin collapsed onto a fallen log, her legs trembling too much to hold her up. She buried her face in her hands.

"What do you want from me?" she whispered. "Why me?" Jeez, this was so repetivite. She asked this question almost every day. The charm didn’t answer, but in the silence, she thought she heard something. A faint ringing. Not from the forest, not from the wind. From the charm itself. Like a voice too quiet to understand, a language pressing at the edges of her thoughts.

Her breath caught in her throat, tears brimming in her eyes.

Golf Ball had been wrong about one thing. The charm wasn’t silent. It wasn’t just reacting. It was speaking. Pin pressed her hand tighter over it, as though she could block out the sound. But the more she tried to ignore it, the louder it grew, crawling into her chest like vines.

Closer, it seemed to whisper. Closer.

Her eyes stung. "I can’t. I can’t keep doing this."
She thought of Tennis Ball’s worried face, of Golf Ball’s unreadable stare, of Teardrop’s silent comfort. Of every one of them who had touched her and walked away changed. Was she ruining them? Or was the charm only showing what was already buried inside them? She didn’t know which was worse.
Pin stayed on the log for what felt like hours, the glow of the charm painting her hands pale. At last, she stood, legs shaky but firm. "If you want something from me," she muttered, voice hoarse, "then you’ll tell me yourself. Not through them. Not through their feelings. Through me."
The trees didn’t answer. The stars didn’t care. And the charm only pulsed brighter. And in the silence that followed, Pin finally realized the charm wasn’t going to let her go. Not now. Maybe not ever.

She never should have found this thing.

Chapter Text

The night sky stretched wide above the competition grounds, a deep indigo scattered with stars. Match and Pencil sat on the worn swing set near the edge of camp, the rusty chains creaking whenever one of them shifted their weight. The two of them were almost always together. They had seemed to always fit each other, with Pencil’s sharp, bossy energy paired perfectly with Match’s breezy, almost careless charm. They never really needed anyone else to fill the space between them, but tonight Pencil seemed restless.

“Ugh, this whole game is, like, so unfair sometimes,” Pencil groaned, leaning back on her swing. “The Firey Speaker Box just loves messing with us.”

“Totally,” Match said, drawing the word out, “Like, remember the junk pile challenge? My nails are still ruined from that. And we didn’t even get anything out of it! Like, hello? Some random shiny trinket that Pin got? Big deal.”

At the mention of Pin, Pencil scowled. “Don’t even talk about her. She’s been acting so weird lately. Everyone’s, like, obsessed with her now. It’s ridiculous.”

Match tilted her head, watching Pencil’s frown. She wasn’t surprised. Pencil and Pin have never gotten along, thought Match didn't quite get why. Maybe their bossiness collided in a way that made them incompatible? Eh.. Either way, Pencil always gotten annoyed when the spotlight was on anyone but the FreeSmart Alliance. And Pin had been in the spotlight a lot lately. Match hummed houghtfully. “I mean, it is a little weird,” she admitted. “Like, first Coiny, then Needle, then Leafy, then literally everyone else. She’s basically being kissed like she’s the hottest thing around.”

Pencil gave a scoff, kicking her legs out. “Which she’s not.”

“Obvs,” Match chimed in quickly. “She’s, like, not even trying? No lip gloss, no outfit coordination, no effort? Bleh-” But even as she said it, Match’s tone wasn’t as sharp as Pencil’s. It carried something more thoughtful, almost hesitant. Pencil didn’t notice, still caught up in her irritation.

“I swear,” Pencil huffed, “it’s like the whole game has gone off balance because of her. Everyone’s distracted. It’s pathetic.” Match hummed, but didn’t argue. Deep down, she wasn’t sure she agreed. Pin wasn’t exactly glamorous, sure, but like, something about the way everyone was gravitating toward her made Match curious.

She pushed herself higher on the swing, letting the night air ripple over her form. “Hey, Pence Pence?”

“What?”

“Don’t you ever, like, wonder what it would be like?”

Pencil blinked. “What what would be like?”

“Y’know.” Match shrugged, pretending it was casual. “Kissing Pin.”

Pencil made a strangled sound and nearly toppled off her swing. “Are you serious?! Eww, Match! That’s disgusting. Why would I waste my time thinking about her? Especially like that!!”

Match smirked, loving the reaction. “Relax, Pencil. I’m just saying! Everyone else has done it, apparently. Maybe there’s, like, a reason.”

“Yeah, the reason is that they’ve all lost their minds,” Pencil snapped. She folded her arms tight, glaring across the yard. “If you want to gokissing that gross pinhead like Bubble or whoever, be my guest. But don’t drag me into it.”

“Gosh, someone’s cranky tonight,” Match teased. But her smirk faded a little as she turned her gaze toward the treeline in the distance. Past the forest was where Pin usually hung out these days, isolating herself, sitting with that weird glowing charm like it was her new best friend. Match chewed her lip, her thoughts buzzing. Pencil kept ranting beside her, moslty about random things like Ice Cube, FreeSmart, about how nobody respected her leadership, but Match was only half-listening. Her mind kept circling back to Pin. Pin, with her sharp edges and her even sharper words. Pin, with that look in her eyes lately, like she was holding the weight of something no one else could see. Pin, who wasn’t glamorous or attracive, who wasn’t even trying to be, but still somehow kept drawing everyone in.

“Match,” Pencil’s voice broke through her haze, sharper now. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Think about what?” Match asked innocently, though she knew exactly what Pencil meant.

“You know what. You’re not going to, like, actually kiss her, right? Because that would be so dumb. She doesn’t deserve the attention.”

Match smiled sweetly, but there was mischief hiding underneath. “Relax, Pencil. I’d never do anything without telling you first.”

That seemed to soothe Pencil's worries for the moment, but Match’s mind was already spinning. The more Pencil protested, the more Match wanted to know what the fuss was about. Was it rebellion? Curiosity? Or maybe, deep down, the same magnetic pull that had gotten to everyone else. The swings creaked again as the two of them lapsed into silence. Pencil eventually hopped down, muttering something about needing her beauty sleep, and stalked off toward the cabins. Match stayed behind, swaying gently, her gaze fixed on the treeline again.

She could see a faint glow there. Subtle, pulsing. Like a heartbeat. Pin’s charm. Match’s lips curled into a grin. So many people had already tried. Some out of affection, some out of impulse, some out of the pure fuckery of it. But Match wasn’t like them. She wasn’t clumsy like Bubble, or awkward like Bomby, or secretly yearning like Leafy. If she did it, it would be on her terms. She kicked her feet against the dirt, hopping off the swing in one smooth motion. “Guess it’s time to find out what makes you so special, Pin."

And with that, Match started walking toward the forest, her mind alight with possibilities. The forest wasn’t quiet the way Match expected it to be. The crickets were LOUD and the sound of the wind in the leaves shook the branches overhead. Still, there was a hush to it, like the air itself was waiting for something. The glow guided her. She didn’t need a map to find Pin anymore. She only had to follow that faint pulse of light that weaved through the trees like a lighthouse beam. She rolled her eyes, though part of her chest hummed with nervous anticipation.

“Drama much?” she muttered under her breath. “Like, Pin’s out here with her creepy glowing accessory, acting all tragic. It’s almost funny.” Almost.

The glow grew stronger as she pushed through the last of the undergrowth. Sure enough, there Pin was, sitting on a fallen log, the charm in her lap, its pale light painting her face in soft shadows. She didn’t look up immediately, too busy staring at the little object as though it might answer all her problems if she just stared hard enough. Match leaned against a tree, crossing her arms. “Y’know, sitting in the dark like that is, like, so not chic. You should at least get some fairy lights or something. Mood lighting matters.”

Pin’s head jerked up, startled. Her expression shifted quickly, annoyance taking over. “Match? What do you want?”

“Oh, don’t sound so thrilled,” Match teased, stepping closer. “I was just out for some air, and wow, surprise suprise, I find you brooding all by yourself. Again.” Match perched on the log beside her without waiting for permission. “Seriously,” Match went on, as if they were friends instead of whatever awkward thing they actually were. “You’ve been, like, hogging everyone’s attention. It’s like every time I blink, someone else is throwing themselves at you.”

Pin glared at the charm instead of at her. “I didn’t ask for any of it.”

“Totally,” Match agreed smoothly, though her smile said otherwise. “But it keeps happening, doesn’t it? And, like, doesn’t that make you even a little curious?”

Pin finally looked at her, eyes sharp. “Curious about what?”

Match tilted her head, letting her grin widen. “About me.”

Silence dropped between them like a curtain. Pin blinked once, twice. Then her brows knit together. “What are you-”

But Match didn’t let her finish. She leaned in and pressed her lips against Pin’s.

The kiss wasn’t clumsy, in fact, Match would say it was perfect. She tilted just enough, held it just long enough, made sure it was balanced between daring and graceful. The glow from the charm flared, bathing both of them in light. Pin gasped against her, frozen in place. But Match didn’t pull back immediately. She wanted Pin to feel it, wanted her to understand that this wasn’t like the others. This wasn’t an accident or a slip or a test. This was Match deciding she wanted something, and taking it.

When she finally drew away, Match’s eyes sparkled in the glow. “See? Not so scary. You can, like, thank me for breaking the ice.”

Pin’s lips parted, still stunned. “Why did you-”

“Why not?” Match interrupted, swinging one leg over the log so she could face her directly. “Almost everyone else has had their turn, Pin. Wasn’t it about time you got one from someone with actual style?”

“That’s not what this is,” Pin said quickly, her voice uneven.

Match arched an eyebrow. “Then what is it?” Pin looked away, toward the forest. The shadows played strangely across her face, softening the sharp angles Match had always associated with her. For a moment, she looked less like the rival Match remembered from all the FreeSmart drama and more like... someone. Someone tired.

Match tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Y’know, maybe Pencil was right. Maybe you are dangerous. Because honestly? I can’t stop thinking about it. And that’s, like, sooo not my vibe.”

Pin’s head snapped back toward her. “Then don’t.”

“But where’s the fun in that?” Match countered with a grin.

The two stared at each other, the air thick with unspoken things. Pin’s eyes wavered, full frustration and exhaustion. And Match, for all her playful bravado, felt something tighten in her chest. She’d meant it as a tease, but the spark she’d felt in that kiss lingered longer than she expected. She leaned back on her hands, forcing herself into a relaxed pose. “Don’t worry, I’m not gonna, like, stalk you or anything. You’re not that special. I just wanted to see what all the hype was about.”

Pin shook her head, muttering under her breath, “This isn’t hype. This isn’t anything.”

Match stood up, brushing any dirt off her legs. “Anyway. I’ll keep this little moment between us. Wouldn’t want Pencil throwing, like, a huuuge fit.” She flashed Pin one last grin. “But maybe you should stop hiding out here. ’Cause honestly? It just makes people chase you more.”

Chapter Text

The sun wasn't too hot that day, just warm enough to make the sky look soft, the kind of blue that made Gelatin want to run around aimlessly. But instead of bouncing around like he usually would, he found himself wandering toward the garden Pin had been working on for weeks now. He'd passed by it plenty of times, admiring the neat rows of flowers, herbs sprouting in little bunches, and vegetables pushing their way up from dark soil. But he'd never actually stopped to see what she was doing.

Today, though, curiosity tugged harder than usual. He caught sight of Pin kneeling in the dirt, her hands carefully adjusting the soil around a small plant. She didn't notice him at first, too focused on brushing dirt from a leafy sprout, almost like it was fragile enough to shatter at the wrong touch. Gelatin stood there for a second, unsure if he should just watch or say something. Pin wasn't exactly the easiest person to approach. Not because she was scary, but because she always seemed so serious. Still, Gelatin grinned and called out, "Hey, Pin! Didn't know you were into dirt."

Pin turned her head slowly, glaring at him for a beat before rolling her eyes. "It's called gardening."

Gelatin plopped himself down on the grass nearby, legs crossed,"So, uh, what exactly are you growing? Mystery plants? A magic bean? Or is it, like.. just carrots?"

Pin gave him a dry look but, after a pause, answered. "Flowers. And vegetables. Nothing magical."

"Aw, too bad. A magic bean could've been fun." Gelatin leaned forward, resting his body on his hands. "Still, that's pretty cool. I didn't know you liked this sort of thing."

Pin hesitated. Her hands stilled over the soil, and for a moment she looked less like she was working on plants and more like she was holding back a thought. "It's calming."

Gelatin blinked. Then he smiled. "Calming, huh? I get that. It's kinda like.. when I tell dumb jokes. People think I just do it to be silly, but sometimes it's just what keeps me from thinking too much."

That made Pin glance at him properly, like she was trying to decide if he was being genuine or just messing around. When she didn't say anything, Gelatin started pointing at the garden rows. "Okay, okay, let me guess what's what. Uh -that's gotta be tomatoes. Right?"

Pin sighed. "Those are peppers."

"Peppers! Right! Totally what I meant." He moved on, pointing at another sprout. "And... that's carrots."

"That's basil."

Gelatin gasped dramatically. "Wait, basil is a thing that grows out of the ground? I thought it just.. appears in spaghetti!" Pin couldn't help it- she laughed, though quickly tried to hide it by looking down at the dirt again. Gelatin caught it though. His grin widened. "See? Told you I'd be good company." The two of them stayed like that for a while, with Pin working and Gelatin guessing wrong on nearly every plant, making up ridiculous names for them when he gave up. Pin kept trying to act like she was annoyed, but the corners of her mouth gave her away.

Eventually, Gelatin leaned back on the grass, watching the clouds. "Hey, Pin.. thanks for letting me hang out here. It's nice. Like.. a different kind of nice."

Pin wiped her hands on her legs, glancing over at him. She hesitated again, like there was something she wasn't used to saying out loud. Instead, she set her tools aside, stood up, and walked over. Gelatin blinked, sitting up as she stopped in front of him. "Uh, Pin?"

Pin hesitated for a moment, then leaned down and pressed a soft, quick kiss against his cheek.

Gelatin froze, his words caught in his throat. His face warmed immediately, but he didn't move or make a sound. Pin pulled back slightly, her hands fiddling with the edge of her gloves. "That's... for helping," she muttered, her voice quieter than usual. "Even if you didn't really help with the garden."

Gelatin blinked at her, a mix of surprise and awe on his face. Slowly, he smiled, almost shy. "Thanks Pin. That actually means a lot."

Pin gave a small, almost imperceptible nod, turning back to her plants. "Don't expect me to make a habit of it," she said softly, her words carrying more warmth than she intended.

Gelatin watched her for a moment, then leaned back on the grass, letting the sun warm him. "I won't. But, uh, I'm glad I got this moment. Just us. Quiet." Pin didn't answer, her attention once more focused on the neat rows of flowers and vegetables. But Gelatin noticed the faintest twitch of a smile at the corner of her lips.

Chapter Text

Blocky had been plotting it for hours. The prank was simple, and a classic! Well, at least it was in his mind. A bucket balanced on a doorframe, the kind that tips when someone walks through. He'd filled it with glitter, streamers, and a few silly stickers. It was nothing mean-spirited this time unlike a lot of his past pranks, Its only purpose was to fill the competition grounds with laughter. And the target of this prank? Pin, of course.

It wasn't personal. Okay, maybe it was a llllittle personal. Pin had been on edge lately, carrying that weird glowing thing around, whispering with Golf Ball and Tennis Ball down in that creepy factory GB owned. Everyone noticed. But Blocky figured that what she really needed was a laugh. And who better to deliver it than the master of pranks himself? So he set the trap and waited, counting down the seconds with barely contained giggles.

But when the door creaked open and Pin stepped through... everything went wrong.

The bucket tipped and glitter spilled down on her like a shining waterfall, raining over her head and shoulders in a burst of color. Blocky jumped from his hiding place, ready to shout "Gotcha!" with his usual grin. But the words stuck in his throat. Pin didn't laugh. She didn't even glare or snap at him like she usually would. She just froze, her shoulders stiff as the glitter clung to red frame. Her hands were trembling. Fuck. Oh boy.

Then, slowly, she sank to the floor.

"Pin?" Blocky's smile faded. He peeked out, confused. "Uh... hey, it's just glitter! C'mon, it's funny, right? Classic prank stuff!"

But Pin wasn't hearing him. She dropped whatever she'd been holding, the sounds of it clattering across the floor being his only reply. She pressed her palms against her face, her whole body shaking as choked sounds slipped from her mouth, uneven and jagged. Crying. She was CRYING. It wasn't a sniffle, nor a frustrated tear. This was full-on sobbing, the kind Blocky had never seen from her before. The kind that hollowed out the room and made the air too heavy to breathe.

Blocky froze in place. Panic flickered through him. This wasn't supposed to happen. It was supposed to be funny. He wasn't prepared for for this kinda of reaction! "Pin?" he tried again, softer this time. He stepped out fully, abandoning the shadows. He rubbed at the back of his head, awkward. "Hey... I was, uh, trying to prank you, but I didn't mean to interrupt your... uh..." He trailed off, watching her crumble in front of him. "...your breakdown."

The word sounded kinda harsh now that he said them out loud, but it was true. Pin was an absolute mess. Her hands slipped from her face, revealing red, swollen eyes. Glitter streaked across her cheeks from the tears, catching in the dim light like cracked glass. "Blocky," she rasped, her voice breaking halfway through his name. "Why..."

She cut herself off, curling in on herself tighter.

Blocky's heart stung in a way he didn't like. He was used to people yelling at him. Used to being the annoyance and the reason someone groaned. But this wasn't annoyance. This wasn't someone getting mad about a joke. This was Pin collapsing. Oh jeez, he didn't think his prank would do something like this to her. "I didn't mean..." Blocky muttered, crouching down a little. He wanted to reach out, but his hands just hovered uselessly in the air. He didn't know how to comfort. Comforting wasn't his thing. He made people laugh, not cry less. "I didn't mean for this."

Pin's breathing was uneven, almost gasping as if she couldn't catch it in between her sobs. Her voice came out sharp, desperate, but shaking underneath. "It doesn't stop, Blocky. It just doesn't stop. They keep coming, they keep.. looking at... me! like I'm..." Her fingers clenched onto her sides, knuckles turning white form teh pressure. "...like I'm something to chase! O-or fix! Or even want! And it's not me. It's not me! it's that thing. And I can't..." Her words broke into another sob, shoulders collapsing further. "...I can't take it anymore."

Blocky didn't know what to say. He'd never seen her like this, never heard her sound so defeated. Pin, the sharp-tongued, stubborn, never-back-down Pin, was sitting on the floor in glitter and tears, unraveling like a ball of yarn. "I don't even know who I am anymore," Pin whispered, more to herself than to him. "Everything feels like it's slipping. Like I'm not me. Like I'm just..." She looked at her hands, shaking. "A joke.."

That last word stung more than Blocky wanted to admit. A joke. He was the one who made things into jokes. And now, sitting here, his prank had just pushed her further into the pit she was already drowning in. He swallowed hard, guilt sitting like a brick in his throat. "You're not a joke." His voice cracked, unsteady, and he hated it. He wasn't supposed to sound like this. He was supposed to be confident, the prankster who always had another punchline. But right now? Right now, all he had was the truth. "I mean, yeah, I mess around a lot, but, I never thought you'd..." He trailed off again, staring at her shaking form. "I didn't think you'd be hurting like this."

Pin didn't answer. She just pressed her knees tighter to her chest, trembling as the tears kept falling. Blocky sat down beside her, slowly, carefully, like he was afraid she'd shatter if he got too close. The glitter on the floor sparkled faintly, clinging to both of them now. The charm lay a few feet away, pulsing dimly, almost like it was watching. Blocky stared at it, then back at Pin, then back at the charm again. "Pin," he said finally, softly, "You don't gotta do this alone. I don't... I don't know how to fix it. But I'll sit here. I'll sit here until it feels less heavy."

Pin didn't react. But her sobs quieted, just a little. Her breaths were still shaky, but the storm wasn't as sharp. Blocky sat there in the dim, broken room, glitter and sadness sticking to his skin. He didn't have the right words, didn't have the right tools. But he was there. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough for now. But the room was too quiet. Not the good kind of quiet. No. This was the kind of quiet that pressed against Blocky's chest, thick and suffocating. Pin sat beside him, her shoulders trembling every now and then, face buried against her knees. Blocky didn't know how long they'd been sitting like this. Seconds? Minutes? Hours? His mind couldn't track it. All he knew was that he was still here, still rooted to the spot, because walking away felt like it would break something in her that might never be fixed.

Pin sniffled, voice cracking as she finally spoke again. "...Why?"

Blocky blinked, startled. Her words weren't aimed at him, not really. They were aimed at the world. Words felt useless. Everything he could say sounded cheap compared to the storm tearing her apart from the inside. So instead, he did the only thing he could. He leaned closer, slowly, carefully, until their shoulders touched. He expected her to flinch, to push him away, but she didn't. She was too far gone, too tired. She just sagged a little, leaning into him without even realizing.

Blocky's mind screamed at him to do something, say anything to gelp, But the words still wouldn't come. He found himself staring at her, at the broken way her face crumpled, at the way she tried so hard to keep herself small, hidden, like maybe if she took up less space the world would finally leave her alone. He hated it.

He hated that she thought she had to carry this alone.

And before he even thought it through, before he even realized what his body was doing, he leaned in. His lips pressed against hers, just for a second, just long enough to feel the tremble in her breath and the salt of tears still on her skin.