Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

“Ugrhhhhh,” Test Tube groaned. Her hair looked uncleanly, itching at a scab on her head. Her bed was disorganized, the two blankets her and Lightbulb shared half-way on the floor. The light in her room was turned off, only a slight glow coming from the stormy skies outside. Test Tube rubbed her currently teary eyes, though tears not from sadness, they just.. came out. The exact terminology for this phenomenon was Epiphora, but it wasn’t anything too serious, so Test Tube didn’t dwell on it.

There was something else digging at her mind, after all. It was something she’d been wanting to avoid, but it was always the things you ignored that rolled into something bigger, she knew that by experience. And she was now in the phase where she couldn’t ignore it any longer.

It wasn’t exactly something she’d care about at first, she’d gone through much worse issues, both mentally and physically, so this was seemingly just another to add to the list of her “issues” in her life that she glanced over. It was something that popped out every once in a while, a small nagging that she shouldn’t work and she should, (and she shuddered here,) take a break.

But Test Tube was meticulous, someone who worked day and night for the betterment of science! If it wasn’t for OJ, you’d be assured that she was the number one workaholic on Inanimate Island. But alas, this nagging continued to pester in her mind, day by day as it morphed into a command.

Now she sat on her bed, not even doing the bare minimum of getting up and heading over to breakfast. She felt bad about it, especially because she couldn’t talk to Lightbulb in the meantime, but Lightbulb would return soon enough. Well, she could go on a random escapade, but with the rain, it made that a tad bit harder.

Though, all Test Tube wanted was for her to come back so she could have her all for herself. Was that greedy? Sure, but was wanting to have your girlfriend with you really a crime? Whatever the case was, Test Tube didn’t care. Love was the strongest motivator, and it was sorely something she needed right now.

As if on cue, (Lightbulb did have a way of showing up whenever Test Tube needed it) Lightbulb opened the door to their shared room, a tray of some sort in her hands.

“What’s up tube people! Oh, no, wait, there’s only one of you. You should really make clones of yourself.” Lightbulb jittered out, tray in one hand as she closed the door with the other, all balancing on one leg.

“Absolutely not. For one, do you know the ethical implications of cloning? Also, hey Lightbulb.” Test Tube said out tiredly, head still staring at the white popcorn ceiling. She really meant to get on OJ’s ass about that soon. Didn’t he know they could contain asbestos??

Lightbulb went over to Test Tube, a coy smile on her face as she placed down the tray onto their bed, Lightbulb gently running her fingers through Test Tube’s green colored hair. Her hair was definitely in Lightbulb’s top 5 list of silkiest hair, though no woman (or man!) could beat Clover’s.

“I, uh, made you some food, since you didn’t go out to breakfast.” Test Tube stood her torso up, placing the tray on her legs as she examined its contents. 

Bacon in the shape of a heart sat at the middle, 2 fried eggs in its center as it smelt of way too much oil to be good for you. On the left lay two buttered pieces of toast, pan cooked as Test Tube liked them. (she was weird, bite her.) On the right was a cup of kiwi and pineapple, Test Tube’s two most favorite fruits.

It wasn’t the healthiest thing Lightbulb could’ve brought over, (counting out the fruit) but good golly did it smell good.

“Lightbulb, this-! This smells-”

“Super poopery doopery good? I know, even I’m jealous of my cooking skills!”

“The word I was going to use was delectable, but I suppose that’s close enough.” Test Tube chuckled, grabbing at the toast on the tray as she gave it a munch.

Lightbulb stared at Test Tube eating, laying her head down onto her. “I’ve been worried about ya, pal. I haven’t ever seen you not get out of bed before me, like, ever.”

Test Tube winced, eyes creasing by the smallest amount. “It’s just another doohickey, you know what they say!” Lightbulb actually did not know what they say, and the fake enthusiasm was not helping Test Tube’s case. “But I’ll be fine, really.” Test Tube finished the last piece of the first slice of toast, moving on to the next.

“Are you sure? I don’t want my ol’ Testy gal to kill herself over work. You already know how Paper is with OJ, hoo boy.”

“Well, unlike OJ, I actually enjoy my work.”

Lightbulb flopped herself over, her body bouncing on the bed as she rolled her head off of Test tube’s shoulder. “It’s still work, Tubes, you know that.”

“But science is my everything! How everything in the world converges to follow the same principles of physics, how humans were born, how the earth was born- heck, how the universe was born! It’s all there, in science, and if I don’t dedicate my life to solving its mysteries, just who am I?” Test Tube finished her second piece of toast, placing the tray on the cabinet adjacent to her bed.

Test Tube joined Lightbulb in her laying down, Lightbulb moving her fingers through her hair once again. “You’re you, Test Tube. You don’t need to derive all your self-worth from science, or anything, because there’s so much more to you than that. Trust me, I’d know. About both of those things.” 

“Are you saying I should just.. accept this break? And ” Test Tube rolled her body over to look directly at Lightbulb and her always shining face. 

“What’s the last time we hung out that wasn’t in your lab?”

Test Tube though back, and lo and behold, she couldn’t remember. “..I guess when you put it like that…”

“Yeah, Tube-o, you see the problem now?” Lightbulb giggled, grabbing Test Tube’s hand softly.

“I promise I’ll spend more time with you outside of the lab, okay?”

“Don’t do this for me! Do it for you, because it’s you who’s hurting from this the most.”

“Alright, alright, for me.” Test Tube chuckled. “But I still want to spend time with you, though.” 

“Never said ya couldn’t, just have some respect for yourself.”

“I will, I will.”

“Well, seems like my work here is done!” Lightbulb gave a kiss on Test Tube’s cheek, standing up afterwards. “Finish the rest of your breakfast, it’s getting cold.”

“Where are you going? Can’t you stay with me just a little more?” Test Tube whimpered, arms out towards Lightbulb.

Lightbulb let out a playful sigh, turning her head back to Test Tube. “I promised Mic and Soap I’d help them cook something for Taco, y’know, with my great cooking expertise and all. I’d invite you, but, uh-”

“Yeah, no, I don’t want to associate with that jeebweezer. Go ahead.”

“You wanna watch a movie after I’m done?”

“Sure, I’d like that.”

“K, see ya later, tubes. I love you.”

“I love you too, lightbulb.” Test Tube smiled.

Chapter Text

“..Lightbulb, are you, without a shadow of a doubt, ready?” Test Tube shakily asked, beads of sweat dripping down on her glassy surface.

“Ready when you are, girl!” Lightbulb spun on Test Tube’s chair, not caring even slightly about the severity of the situation.

“I would like to reiterate this was your idea, and all blame will thus go onto you if this goes wrong in ANY way.”

“Yeah, yeah, just connect me already.” 

“..Alright then.” With a spark, Test Tube clipped some sort of clip onto Lightbulb, a machine that looked way too complex for one mortal to create powering on, beeps and boops screaming out.

“Thhhissss ticklesss…” Lightbulb slurred out, her face drooping.

“It’s just a temporary feeling, you can’t actually run out of energy in there. MePhone built you with an infinite energy supply.. somehow.”

“Arjrekweethehreeeryehtehd?” Lightbulb spat out, falling on the floor.

“Uh.. yes..?” Test Tube said, not understanding whatever the hell Lightbulb said. Lightbulb spent the next few seconds bobbling on the floor before Test Tube unplugged her from the device.

The device began to shake at a rapid rate, screws falling onto the floor as smoke came out of its top. Luckily, Test Tube had planned for that by removing the smoke detector from her lab’s roof. The amount of times it’d would’ve gone off if she did have one was mostly likely in the thousands now.

Lightbulb picked herself up from the head, eyes spinning as she slowly got her “light” back. “Itssss workginghg?” Lightbulb asked, walking her way back to Test Tube’s side.

“I sure hope s-” With a blast, the machine exploded, flinging both Lightbulb and Test Tube into the lab’s walls, some sort of ash smeared on to them.

Test Tube wiped the ash off her eyes, looking back at the very broken machine and the black that coated her lab all over now.

..and the creature standing there?

“Heheheh.. Hahahahha.. YOU’VE FREED ME!” A squeaky voice spoke, the creature it was coming from being no more than 1 foot tall. It looked like a red ball, two horns coming out from its head.

Test Tube stared in bewilderment. She knew the possibility of demons existing was.. at least somewhat plausible, considering everything else in this world, but to actually see one in her own eyes? That was fascinating.

“W-who are you?” Test Tube cautiously asked, hands patting off the ash on her legs.

The demon looked at Test Tube with the most frightening demeanor a one foot object could have, before eventually responding. “YOUR MOM! HAHAHAHAH!”

The demon promptly ignored Test Tube’s sighs of disapproval, jumping up 5 feet as it bounced around the lab, seemingly looking for something. Equipment flew around as the sounds of glass breaking could be heard.

“...LIGHTBULB!!!!”

“Wha- what did I.. do?” Lightbulb cleaned the ash off her face, looking at the currently bouncing monster. “No, I see the issue now.” 

“WE NEED TO CATCH THAT THING, NOW!!!”

“I would like to thank you all very much for freeing me from my chains, but I’ll take it from here.” With another bounce, the creature broke through Test Tube’s floor and the dirt above, landing on the island surface as dirt flooded Test Tube’s lab.

Lightbulb looked back at the opening in amazement, before Test Tube grabbed her arm and dragged her towards the exit.

“Do you NOT realize the situation we’re in right now? WE’VE QUITE LITERALLY BROUGHT A DEMON INTO OUR WORLD!!” 

“I mean, what if it's a nice demon? You can’t be demonphobic!”

“IT’S A DEMON.” Test Tube sighed, both of them reaching the surface as they watched the tiny creature run to the hotel.

Test Tube ran towards the demon, Lightbulb trailing closely behind as she wiped soot off of herself. Test Tube was in awe that the one foot creature had better stamina than her, was her physical endurance really that bad?

The demon bounced itself through the hotel doors, the wood splintering as Test Tube was roughly 10 feet behind it.

“W-WE NEED TO GO FASTER!” Test Tube shouted out, panting as Lightbulb seemingly enjoyed seeing her girlfriend this stressed out, chuckling to herself.

With a slam, Test Tube pushed herself through the hotel doors, falling face first. She quickly picked herself up just seconds later, looking around as she could see no sight of the creature. She looked around her surroundings again, this time a little more frantically.

“Where uh- where is it?” Lightbulb asked as she bobbled through the door, also seeing no sight of the creature.

“Euanajsjnweusnu!” Test Tube sputtered out, not even looking Lightbulb’s way.

“Testy..?”

“It.. seems.. I’ve.. lost.. track.. of.. It.” Test Tube slowly got out, her face slowly contorting as she began to grapple with what’d she done.

“Hey, hey, hey, it’ll be fine Tubester! We just need to, uh, search the hotel! Yeah!” Lightbulb said, trying to calm down the very visibly anxious Test Tube.

“Search the hotel??? For that TINY thing?? What if it left already?? There are so many places it could be hiding!!” Test Tube placed her arms onto her glass, clutching on as she walking in very tiny circles.

“One step at a time, okay? Let’s uh- search for clues! Y’know, like any good mystery!” Lightbulb continued to reassure Test Tube, her looking up as her panicking subsided down a level.

Test Tube looked around the hotel, this time without her heart rate being at 150 beats per minute. In her calmness, she finally noticed something.

“IT WENT UP THERE!” Test Tube pointed at the stairs, a slight covering of soot on each step. Without a second of hesitation, Lightbulb picked up Test Tube, bridal style, carrying her up the stairs.

“W-what a-are you doing?” A slight blush grew on Test Tube’s face, a wobbly grin covering her face.

“Carrying you up, duh.” Lightbulb smiled back at her, fully intending for this to be the effect on Test Tube.

They got up the stairs, the demon laying a hallway’s length away as it stood patiently at the last door in the corridor. Test Tube jumped out of Lightbulb’s arms, running towards it, but just as she did, someone opened the door.

“Who’s ringing at my- GAHHH!” Fan screamed, tumbling on his legs as he began to fall.

“FAN-!” Test Tube shouted, time going at 1/10th the speed for her as she watched Lightbulb’s face turning back from Fan, Fan himself falling into the creature, and the creature itself planning a jump-

Splat!

“TEST TUBE AND LIGHTBULB, WHAT IS THIS???” Fan shouted angrily, picking himself up from the fall.

Both Test Tube and Lightbulb couldn’t hold in their laughter, small chuckles from both of them.

“You’ve, uh, got something on your face.” Test Tube grinned, staring at Fan.

“ON MY FACE? ITS ALL OVER MY FACE!” Fan said, wiping off the creature’s remains that covered his face.

“To be fair, you did fall into it.”

“I- Uh- HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THE PERSON KNOCKING ON MY DOOR WAS- WHATEVER THE HELL THAT WAS.”

“It’s a demon!” Lightbulb chimed in, smiling.

Fan listened to Lightbulb’s statement in bafflement, not believing a word she spoke. “You know what, talk to me tomorrow, I’m going to wash off.”  With that, Fan slammed the door shut, a small puddle of red on his doormat.

“That went as well as it could’ve, all things considered.”

“Yeah! See, didn’t I save the day!”

Test Tube’s grin grew wicked. “No, because see, Lightbulb, remember what you promised me?”

“Uh, no?”

“YOU’RE GOING TO REPAIR MY LAB NOW, IT’S RUINED.”

“Wha- HEY!” Lightbulb shouted out.

“I’m kidding, I have a lab repairer, you wouldn’t believe how many times my lab’s been destroyed.” Test Tube laughed.

“Wait- So does that mean we can summon a demon again? If you just get the-”

“Despite how much I love you, absolutely not.” 

Lightbulb got closer to Test Tube, staring at her straight in the eyes. “Pleaseeee?”

“Lightbulb-”

“I’m your girlfriend!”

“I know that-”

“You wouldn’t even do it for me?” Lightbulb whimpered.

Test Tube sighed, looking back at Lightbulb. “..Give me a week to rebuild it, with proper safety equipment this time.” 

Test Tube really couldn’t say no to Lightbulb.

Chapter Text

“Ok, Ok, I’ll do it.” Test Tube sighed nervously. Why did this have to be the way she gained social standing with her peers? 

The bottle shook in Test Tube’s hands, the gazes of the people around all focusing on her. Some were giggling, some were eye-rolling, and some looked bored out of their mind.

With a deep breath, Test Tube spun the bottle on the wood floor as she prayed it landed on Fan. He was the only person she actually knew at this party out of the around 20 who came, other than Paintbrush who’d invited her, but they weren’t actively playing as of current. And so, it just had to be Fan.

The bottle rattled as it slowed down, every microscopic bump producing a small sound that made the murmuring of the others louder. Test Tube covered her eyes with her hands as the bottle rattled its last, eventually stopping as the uproar from the others reached its peak.

“..Test Tube.” Fan nudged her, opening a slit in her hands as she looked at the bottle with one eye. Considering Fan was right next to her, and the bottle neck was pointing practically opposite of him, she realized it definitely wasn’t Fan she’d be spending 7 minutes in the closet with.

And thus, she was doomed.

“Omga! It landed on me? No way!” An enthusiastic voice sounded out, one that Test Tube recognized instantly. Test Tube felt the need to crawl out of her skin come up at this very moment. Out of anyone, ANYONE at this party, why did it need to be Lightbulb?

She was one of the most popular, most athletic, and frankly most erratic girls at school. Test Tube didn’t get it, she was sporadic, quirky, practically the antithesis to everything which was Test Tube, and now she had to go in the closet with her??

“You’re a shy one, eh?” The same voice rang out, now directly above her. Test Tube opened her eyes, seeing the girl. Her arms were covered in a rainbow array of bracelets, her face being flush in dimples as her smile exuberated the room with its shine.

Test Tube’s felt her face blush a little for reasons unknown, staring at Lightbulb’s face a little too long as she then composed herself.

“Ah- uh, pleasure to meet you, I’m Test Tube!” Test Tube felt herself cringe internally at that introduction. Why the hell was she acting as if this was some sort of formal event, it was a high school party, for gods sake.

Laughter emerged from most of the partygoers, Fan looking at Test Tube with a face of pity. All she wanted to do was disappear, but running out of the party right now would ensure her status of a “geek” stay cemented for the rest of her high school days, which were a while, so she just had to endure.

Test Tube picked herself up, Knife and Suitcase leading her and Lightbulb to the closet, a worried sigh coming out of Test Tube’s mouth. Knife shoved her and Lightbulb in the closet, a clink coming from the outside as he locked the closet. The seven minutes started now.

Test Tube felt as Lightbulb’s body pressed on to hers, their faces almost conjoined if not for the fact Test Tube was slightly taller than Lightbulb. It’d only been, like, 5 seconds, if at that, but Test Tube already wanted out. Test Tube reasoned this closet was most definitely not built for anything more than one person.

Lightbulb’s breath went onto Test Tube’s neck as she spoke. “Oh- I forgot to tell you, but name's Lightbulb! Pleasure to meet you too, or whatever.”

Test Tube didn’t have any words to respond with, firstly because she was already pretty socially awkward, and secondly because she was quite literally playing 7 minutes in heaven with the most popular girl in her grade. This situation couldn’t get any worse.

“You, uh, alright there? I know it’s pretty cramped in here, but you just gotta make due.” Actually, no, it could get worse. Why was she asking her if she was alright, she was obviously not!

Test Tube chuckled awkwardly, looking downwards at Lightbulb in the almost pitch black space they occupied. “Y-yeah, totally fine here, as you can obviously see.” Test Tube nervously got out, a bit of sarcasm sprinkled in there that she didn’t quite believe Lightbulb would get.

Lightbulb sighed, moving her body just slightly in the minute space they occupied. “Y’know, I can tell a faker when I see one.” Lightbulb’s energetic tone was put down a notch, Test Tube feeling her nervousness rise to levels she hadn’t thought possible. 

“F-f-fake? There’s n-nothing fake here! I’m as real as can be.” Test Tube got out, each word making herself crawl deeper in the pit that’s called cringe. Was there really a lower low she could reach than this? She was about to find out.

“God, it’s not like we have to kiss, we can just be chill buddies here! Honest! ..unlessyouwannaimeantiaintcomplaininghahahWHAT” Lightbulb muttered the last part under her breath, all the way until the what she shouted out that seemed to wake Test Tube from her ever-sprialling mind, a breath coming out from her.

“..Thank god. I thought it was something required!” The anxiousness that plagued Test Tube’s voice seemed to dissipate with the news she’d just have to spend a paltry 7 minutes in the closet with someone, and not also go through the kiss-fest she thought she’d have to.

“Is it your first time playing? No one actually kisses in here, it’s just what big closet wants you to do!” 

“..Well, this is the first time I’d ever been invited to a party, so yes.”

A gasp came out of Lightbulb’s mouth, one Test Tube wasn’t entirely sure if ironic or genuine. “Really, but you’re so-” Lightbulb stopped her speech, a small creak sounding from the wardrobe the two were inside as Lightbulb tried to subconsciously back away.

“I’m what?” Test Tube asked, confusedly.

It was now Lightbulb letting out an awkward chuckle, her breathing feeling harder to Test Tube as the amount going on her body increased. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think you’re really pretty.” A squeak came out of Lightbulb’s mouth, Test Tube’s mind hazing.

“Y-y-you think I’m pretty?” Test Tube gasped out. There was no way in her mind that the most popular girl at her school thought the glasses wearing geek was pretty. This had to be some sort of joke, one at her expense.

“Yeah! I’ve always thought you were pretty!”

“Always thought? You met me a few hours ago at this party, if I remember.” This definitely had to be a joke at her. Why did she ever think a popular girl would be nice to her? It was just stupid.

“N-no! When I see you studying at the library, or walking home with books, I always look at you, but you never look back at me!” Lightbulb defended, Test Tube not exactly believing the words coming out of her mouth.

“You can stop making fun of me, alright? I get that I’m a nerd and all, but it wasn’t my fault the bottle chose you.” Test Tube scoffed, but the pleading in the small part of Lightbulb’s face she could see seemed to grow larger.

“But I’m not, serious!”

“..why would you even think I’m pretty?” Test Tube genuinely asked. She’d never thought any part of herself as appealing to anyone, considering her sloppy behavior when it came to how she dressed herself, so why would Lightbulb’s mind differ?

Lightbulb looked at Test Tube with some sort of awkwardness in her face, speaking. “I think your glasses are really pretty, and- you’re really tall for a girl, and in class when you present things your speech is so, like, proper, and even when- there’s just a lot of things I like about you, okay!” Lightbulb said loudly, covering her mouth as she unraveled reason after reason as to why she liked Test Tube.

Test Tube looked at Lightbulb with a bit of shock, beginning to feel that Lightbulb was actually speaking the truth, but she still had doubt that lingered in the depths of her throat.

“Do you- do you actually think that..?” Test Tube’s breaths seemed to deepen as well as the both of them stared at each other with something in their eyes, a sort of yearning that neither of them knew they had.

Lightbulb moved even closer to Test Tube, something the Test Tube didn’t think possible knowing the dimensions of the closet. “How else am I supposed to prove it to you-” A thought ran through Lightbulb’s mind as she felt a grin grow on her face.

Lightbulb cupped Test Tube’s face as Test Tube felt an instant blush grow on herself, Lightbulb’s other hand pulling Test Tube’s face inwards near hers. A clink sounded from the outside, as with one last gasp, Lightbulb kissed Test Tube, the both of them closing their eyes as they seemed to get lost in the moment.

“TEST TUBE??” Fan shouted out, the both of them immediately opening their eyes as they saw the closet doors were right open. The rest of the partygoers looked on in surprise, too shocked to speak. 

The both of themselves immediately pushed each other off, walking out of the closet as they stared at everyone else in embarrassment. 

“Uhm- I-I can explain..!” Test Tube said, knowing full well she couldn’t.

Before another word could come out of her mouth, Lightbulb grabbed her, sprinting towards the door. With a slam, she closed it, still running with Test Tube.

“W-WHERE ARE WE GOING??”

“I.. don’t know!” With that, Lightbulb stopped, on the sidewalk near Paintbrush’s house. The street lights illuminated the both of their bodies, the blush on both of their faces now clearly apparent to each other.

“IMSORRYIMSORRYIMSORRY-” Lightbulb got out in a panic, clutching at her chest.

Test Tube per her hand on her shoulder, getting Lightbulb to look at Test Tube’s eyes. “Lightbulb, it’s okay, you didn’t do anything wrong.”

“BUT EVERYONE SAW US KISS, AND YOU AND FAN-”

Test Tube chuckled, pulling Lightbulb closer to her. “I.. don’t like Fan. And besides.. I think you’re a little pretty too.” Test Tube pulled a bit of her hair back behind her ear, fully believing every word that came out of Lightbulb’s mouth.

“Are- are you sure?” Test Tube found it a bit funny that the situation seemed to have now become reversed, with Lightbulb having to question Test Tube’s words.

“I’m positive, Lightbulb.” Lightbulb seemed to wipe off the tears that were coming off her face, hugging Test Tube. Test Tube let Lightbulb stay in that position a little longer, before speaking to her again.

“Do you want to go back inside?” Test Tube asked, patting Lightbulb’s back. She really had no idea how 7 minutes in heaven had turned into comforting the popular girl she despised just half an hour ago.

“Yeah! And, T-test Tube, would ya wanna be friends?” Lightbulb asked, her enthusiastic voice coming back to her in a jiffy.

Test Tube rolled her eyes. “I think we’re a little past that point, but sure, friends.” Lightbulb extended a pinky to Test Tube, which she followed by extending hers, them making a pinky promise to each other.

Test Tube supposed seven minutes in heaven wasn’t the worst thing ever.

Chapter Text

The oven dinged, the light from inside powering off as Lightbulb opened it up, heat radiating out. With her mittens, Lightbulb grabbed out her greatest creation yet: Cookie cake! 

Placing the pan on the table near her, she waited for the cookie cake to cool down to a modest temperature, all the while procuring some containers.

Lightbulb found her containers, and with a few slices of her knife, roughly 10 cubes of Lightbulb’s “Cookies & creme & reeses & strawberry ice cream & cake batter & sprite & leaves & flour & flower cake” were made. It was truly a beaut’ if Lightbulb had to say anything herself.

Lightbulb fit the cubes into her container, quickly heading off to Test Tube’s lab to treat her to some. The sun illuminated Lightbulb’s already shining head, most likely blinding anyone who’d see her. Lightbulb was really in a great mood today.

Lightbulb inputted the “secret” code to Test Tube’s lab, the tube leading her downwards to Test Tube.

“G-gah, Lightbulb!” Test Tube said, a little surprised considered she’d been completely attuned into her work just before. 

“Hiya, Test Tuber-ino!” Lightbulb motioned with her fingers for Test Tube to push away the vials in her arms, Test Tube succinctly doing so.

Lightbulb slammed down the container in her hands, opening it up to Test Tube. “I, uh, made ya some cake, for your birthday!”

Test Tube raised an eyebrow. “We don’t have birthdays, Lightbulb.”

“Psshh, I just wanted to make you some cake, way to be judgemental.” Lightbulb rolled her eyes, giggling.

“Well, Lightbulb, I appreciate the gesture, but what exactly is this cake?” Test Tube asked, looking at the approximately 10 layers it had through the see-through plastic.

Lightbulb shushed Test Tube by putting her finger on her lips, looking at her seriously. “Don’t talk, just try.”

Test Tube gulped, grabbing one of the cubes. The top and bottom were both made out of cookies, giving the insides a stability. Test Tube thought it sorta looked more like a cookie sandwich rather than a cake at this angle.

Test Tube digressed, and with a bite, bit into the cake. It was sweet, overly so. The different layers turned into a sugary mush in Test Tube’s mouth as she digested it. Test Tube placed down the cake after the first bite, staring at Lightbulb.

“It’s good, right?” Lightbulb said happily, though a bit unsure of what Test Tube’s staring meant.

“Lightbulb, this-” Test Tube put the cake in front of Lightbulb’s eyes. “-has to be illegal. If anyone tries it, just a bite, they’re going to want more.” Test Tube shook Lightbulb as she spoke.

“Hjdhuhd, what?”

Test Tube couldn’t restrain herself as she grabbed the cake, taking another bite into it. “This is the most addictive thing I’ve ever tried! It’s as if you’ve created the perfect chemical creation for pleasure.” Test Tube placed down the cake, holding her arm in restraint.

“I know it’s good, but is it really-”

“YES, LIGHTBULB, IT IS.”

“Woah, woah, all you had to say was that you liked it, okay?”

“I.. I need to study this, Lightbulb. You can’t share this with anyone else, okay?”

“Okayyy, but can I have a piece?”

Test Tube sighed. “Of course you can, you made it, after all, it’s only fair.”

“Omga, okay!” Lightbulb revealed a smaller container in her arms, placing two of the cubes into it.

“Well, I’ll be leaving ya now, I know you’ve got your super important sciency stuff going on!” Lightbulb waved her arms around the general area that had Test Tube’s scientific equipment, Test Tube chuckling a heartfelt laugh.

“Okay Lightbulb, I love you. See you for game night?”

“Yeah, love you too!” Lightbulb waved as she left, going through the tube she once entered through.

Test Tube tapped her workstation for a second, and then another, until the laughter started. It started as a smirk creeping on one side of her face, then both, then a little giggle, then full on chuckling until she couldn’t contain.

She’d done it, she’d actually gone through with it. Lightbulb believed every word she spoke. The cake wasn’t the god-send Test Tube said it was, though it was unreasonably good, Test Tube was greedy. And now, there it laid, 7 and a half pieces left of the best cake she’d ever had in her life.

Lying felt so good.

Chapter Text

“..You won’t learn if there aren’t any stakes.” Fan confidently declared, looking Jack straight in the eyes.

“And neither will YOU!” Jack hissed, throwing the device in his hand at Bot’s stretched legs. 

Test Tube watches the event in slow motion, powerless to do anything.

A second later, she feels herself slipping from Bot’s arms, gasps and screams erupting from the crowd. Test Tube looks at Fan, who grabs the blu-ray gun and starts pointing at her.

An ounce of sweat drips down his face as he shoots, Test Tube praying that he’s able to land the shot.

The laser zooms near Test Tube, just barely missing as it deflects off the wooden board. Test Tube feels a sinking feeling in that instant, one so potent she couldn’t describe it as anything but pure fear.

Test Tube continues her fall, every memory, every person she ever talked to, every thought she ever had, all racing through her mind in a desperate act to cling on to her life for as long as possible in the few seconds she had before she’d crash.

Test Tube crashes onto the floor, her clenching every part of her body. She feels as she gets split into hundreds of tiny pieces, flying all around the contestantants. The last thing she remembers is Fan’s face, one of grief, one of hatred towards himself.

————

Then, with a gasp, Test Tube woke up. It’s pitch black in the room, most likely because she’d woken up in the middle of the night again. The only thing she can see is the dim light coming from Lightbulb’s bulb, her arms stretched around Test Tube.

Test Tube would love to fall back asleep in Lightbulb’s arms again, but once she wakes up, she has a horrid time trying to go back.

Test Tube carefully gets out of the Lightbulb’s hold, giving her a kiss on the head as she enters the bathroom. With a flicker, the lights turn on, Test Tube’s dreary appearance in full view.

She’d been having nightmares over what Jack had done to her for about.. two weeks now. It was illogical, she knew that nothing like that would happen again, but yet it terrorized her mind whenever she went into slumber.

Test Tube turns on the faucet, splashing water on her sleepless looking face. Test Tube really thought she looked horrible, even worse than usual. Her eyes looked both bloodshot and tired, something she didn’t even know was possible until now. Her eyebags also started looking much darker than before, which was fun!

She’d tried to get these thoughts to go away, hell she’d even visited Candle, but it still persisted in her mind. Test Tube turned off the faucet, now noticing tears were running down her face. God, she was really just a wreck.

Test Tube wiped the tears which continued to stream down her face, flickering off the lights in the bathroom as she sat on the edge of her and Lightbulb’s shared bed. 

The atmosphere in their room gave Test Tube a little piece of peace, which she desperately needed. Test Tube stuck her hand through Lightbulb’s blanket until she found one of her hands, intertwining her fingers with it. 

Test Tube felt the slight rise and fall of her hand as she breathed in and out. She also listened to the snoring she did, which, while a tad bit annoying, was also adorable to Test Tube. She stared at Lightbulb's face, one of the few times she’d seen it completely tranquil. Test Tube wondered what such dreams Lightbulb was having that night that made her look so peaceful.

Test Tube shifted her body, moving her hand onto Lightbulb’s head as she felt the warmth radiate onto her, petting her gently. The tears in Test Tube’s eyes finally subsided as she stared at Lightbulb a little more.

“I love you so much, Lightbulb,” Test Tube started. 

“I love it when you make me food, or when you cuddle me to sleep, or when you drag me out of my lab at 3 in the morning. There’s so many things I adore you for, things you probably do just because you’re.. you,” Test Tube continued, her heart fluttering just a little.

“You’re the best thing that’s ever happened in my life. My inventions, the gameshow, all of this, I’d throw it all away if it meant I could be with you for just a day longer. You give me so much light in my life, literally and figuratively,” Test Tube chuckled a little before continuing “so please continue being who you are.” Test Tube sighed.

“You make me see that, sometimes, there isn’t truly logic in life, and that’s alright. If there was, I’m sure you would’ve picked anyone else to receive your love. I’m not deserving of.. any of this, and yet I have everything I’ve ever wanted anyways.” The smile that had crept onto Test Tube’s face had turned back into one of sadness.

“..When you leave me, I won’t blame you. I cherish each and every moment we have, and there will never be anyone else I’ll love more than you. I promise you.” Test Tube stood up, placing the blanket Lightbulb had on a little longer.

“Sleep well.” Test Tube took one last look at Lightbulb before leaving the room, heading towards her lab to start her work a little early.

Test Tube would Love Lightbulb until the day she died.

Chapter Text

DAY ONE.

Lightbulb picked up her tray of food from the lunch line, heading towards the table she and her friends usually sat at. She was first to the table, as was usual with her class being the closest to the lunch line, so she decided to scroll on MeTok for the time being while eating.

Most short form videos were forgettable, “slop” as Fan called it and “an utter waste of your time” as Test Tube called it. But on this very day, she found a video which transcended those definitions, a video that spoke to her.

It was a clip of a basketball game, something Lightbulb would’ve skipped immediately, but she just got this gut feeling that she just had to watch the video. She persisted on with her 4 second attention span, the video shifting to the crowd of the game, one boy standing out to her.

With an incredulous expression, something perhaps not even Lightbulb could muster, the boy shouted out “SIXXX SEVENNNNN.” (This is SO stupid im sorry)

Lightbulb wanted to watch the video again, but just then, her friends finally joined her at the lunch table.

“Hey, guys, and gals, and uh- neithers!!” Lightbulb called out, waving to her friends as she put away her phone.

“Hey Lightbulb, what’d you get on the chem test?” Test Tube asked, sitting down next to Lightbulb.

“Like it matters! You or anyone tutored by you always gets, like, a 100%!” Fan interrupted, him and Paintbrush sitting down on the other side of the table.

“Yeah, that’s why I’m checking, Fan.” Test Tube rolled her eyes, going back to looking at Lightbulb.

“Um, don’t be mad, Test Tube,” Lightbulb gulped before continuing, “but I only got like, six or seven percent.” Lightbulb stifled a laugh, Test Tube looking at her confusedly.

“You’re telling me, after all the HOURS I spent tutoring you, you got LESS THAN 10 PERCENT??” Test Tube questioned just a tad bit angrily.

Lightbulb giggled before speaking. “Yeah, well, you only tutored me for, like, six to seven hours.” Lightbulb did the hand motion the boy had done in the video, though she wasn’t exactly sure why she felt so compelled to do any of this.

“SIX HOURS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME!!” Test Tube said dumbfounded, staring at Lightbulb’s grinning face.

“I’m kidding, I got a 92%, geez, it’s just a joke.” Lightbulb finally admitted, cackling at the look on Test Tube’s face.

Test Tube rubbed her eyes in utter confusion, before looking back at Lightbulb. “Where exactly is the comedy in saying six and seven?”

Lightbulb laughed at Test Tube saying “six seven” before responding. “Dunno! But it’s funny!”

Little did Lightbulb know 67 would mark the end of all human civilization.

DAY FOUR.

It was a Saturday, Test Tube lounging on her couch as she chewed on a pencil. There’d been something bothering her these past few days, something that scratched at her mind. Why the hell was “six seven” so funny to everyone? Sure, she wasn’t the best person when it came to internet humor, but it was literally just two numbers! Two numbers without meaning, without anything surrounding its new relevance.

Test Tube maybe thought it was something due to it being a prime, or a super prime, or even a lucky prime, or perhaps even being a sexy prime, or perchance being a chen prime, but no, it was just because of some kid saying it “funnily”! 

Test Tube opened her phone, being bombarded with notifications from the group chat she had with Lightbulb, Fan, and Paintbrush. As she read through the messages, she sighed.

Test Tube: Why are you all so brainrotted?

Fanuel “flat face” Fan: I dont get what you mean

Test Tube: The last 60 messages you guys have sent have all been about this “six seven” stuff.

676767: Imagine if we sent 7 more messages though

Fanuel “flat face” Fan: Imagine? I know something else I can imagine

676767: blud we moved on to new jokes now

Test Tube: SHUT UP WHO THE HELL NAMED THEMSELVES 676767

Paintbrush: Who else

676767: SIX SEVENNNNN

Test Tube: YOU’RE NOT EVEN SAYING 67 TO ANYTHING 

676767: Count the words in that sentence

Test Tube: What is this obsession with six seven, genuinely?

676767: blud doesnt get it

Test Tube: I’m your girlfriend, please tell me, Lightbulb.

Paintbrush: You’re not getting an answer.

676767: SIXXXXX SEVENNNNN 

Test Tube: .

Test Tube: This isn’t funny, Lightbulb.

Fanuel “flat face” Fan: oooh drama

Test Tube: Shut up, Fan.

676767: Okay wait Im sorry :( 

676767: I just think its funny to say SIXXX SEVENNNNN 

Test Tube: huh

Test Tube: Alright then, I guess it’s harmless.

Test Tube: But can you tone it down a bit?

676767: give me 6 or 7 minutes

676767: HAHAHAHAHAHAAGAHSGAHA

Test Tube: Oh my god.

676767: oh = 2, my = 2, god = 3, 2+2+3 is SEVEN LIKE SIX SEVENNNN

Test Tube: LIGHTBULB

[Test Tube has left the group chat]

Test Tube shut off her phone, slamming it onto the couch. This was so damned STUPID! She hated not getting jokes others got easily, or how Lightbulb basically mocked her after she said she asked to tone it down.

She might’ve been overreacting just a tiny bit, but still, all she wanted was to have an actual conversation with Lightbulb. Was that too much to ask for?

Test Tube breathed in, clicking on the tv to check if anything nice was on. The tv opened up a news channel, Test Tube stopping in her tracks as she read the headline on the bottom of the screen.

“Six seven” was an infohazard?

DAY ELEVEN

“I- I DON’T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE, BUT WE NEED TO GO, FAN.” Test Tube screamed, staring at Fan.

“NO. WE’RE WAITING HERE UNTIL PAINTBRUSH SHOWS UP.” Fan declared, holding on the keys to his van.

“Fan.. 5 minutes, that’s it, we don’t have much time.” Test Tube said, listening to the blaring sirens which told them to evacuate.

“NO! MY CAR, MY RULES!” Fan said, his face getting visibility red.

“And what if they’ve turned into one of THEM?”

“DON’T YOU DARE SAY THAT.” Fan stepped closer to Test Tube, on the verge of punching her as Lightbulb stepped in.

“Guys! Just give Paintbrush, like, SIXX-” Test Tube put her hand over Lightbulb’s mouth, staring at her seriously.

“Lightbulb.. you can’t say it anymore, you’re already showing symptoms.” Lightbulb’s arms twitched as she did the hand motion, giggling to herself.

“Oh- and yeah! If we’re bringing ‘little mrs. BRAINROT’ over here with us, we can wait for Paintbrush!” Fan said, jabbing at Test Tube softly.

“Just promise me one thing, Fan.”

“What?” 

“If they got bitten, we’ll leave without them.”

Fan stayed silent for a second, looking down as he thought. “Fine.”

Lightbulb and Fan entered the van, Test Tube staying outside as she stayed on the lookout for Paintbrush. Seconds turned into minutes as the world continued to stay surprisingly still, all except for the blaring sirens that continued to sing. 

Eventually, in the distance, she noticed someone coming. Their eyes seemed to have been turned completely black, their legs drooping as they walked sloppily. Their arms also seemed to be twitching, fingers out of place and arms constantly doing the “67” movement.

Test Tube immediately banged on Fan’s window, worry on her face.

“There’s someone coming in the distance, Fan.”

“Are they infected?”

“From the looks of it, yes.”

“Goddamnit.” Fan got out of the car, grabbing the binoculars he had on him as he took a closer look at the person.

“Fan?” Test Tube questioned, noticing he’d been staring at the creature a bit too long.

Fan continued to stare, not even responding to Test Tube’s shaking, “FAN.” 

It was only now that Fan stared back at her, a grin growing on his face. “Sixx.. sevenn…” Fan began to cackle maniacally, Test Tube taking a step back.

“SIXXX SEVENNNN,” Fan screamed out, lunging at Test Tube’s foot. With a kick, Test Tube threw him back, Fan just narrowly not biting her leg.

Test Tube immediately rushed into the van, turning the van on as she closed the door, Fan banging on it.

“SIX.. SEVEN! SIXXX…S SEVENENENN… SISIXXUSJSNESENEN!” Fan screamed as his words started to turn incoherent, his banging on the van door getting stronger and stronger.

The van engine finally started, Test Tube turning the steering wheel 90 degrees as she skirted Fan off the van, banging her head in the process.

She continued to step on the gas pedal as fast as humanly possible, speeding away.

“Y-you’re leaving them behind?” Lightbulb asked in the back, her head still tumbling from the sudden turn.

“I had to, him and Paintbrush..” Test Tube couldn’t allow herself to speak more, tears dripping from her eyes as she continued to drive.

Lightbulb got the meaning of what she meant instantly, covering her mouth.

The next few hours for them were silent, considering anything the either of them said could trigger Lightbulb to say “six seven” again, but Test Tube was confused.

If the only way for the info hazard to infect you was by speech, how did Fan turn just by looking at the infected? And why didn’t she show symptoms when she’d also said the words several times, even if just confusedly? 

Test Tube pondered these questions as the day turned into night, her still driving to avoid the hordes of people who would turn in the days to come.

DAY 15

“Test Tube.” Lightbulb said, grabbing food out of the gas station they were currently robbing.

Test Tube raised an eyebrow. “Yes?” 

“I’m scared. I keep saying it, like six or- a lot, I keep saying it a lot.” 

Test Tube grimaced, looking at the girl. “I’ll find you a cure, I promise, we just need to keep surviving.” Test Tube hugged Lightbulb, Lightbulb smiling at the gesture.

“I trust you.” 

“If my research is correct, the will to say it comes from vocal or physical cues, as in asking a question where the number can be inputted, or seeing an object with the number. Therefore, as long as you don’t say it, it shouldn’t continue to grow on you.”

Lightbulb’s arms twitched. “..I’ll keep trying not to say it, then.” 

“Good.” Test Tube released herself from the hug, heading over to the van as she continued to place food in.

DAY 36

“L-lightbulb..” Test Tube cooed, the van in total disarray as trash scattered its ground. It was currently the middle of the night, the van parked on a random patch of farm land.

Test Tube’s fingers slided through Lightbulb’s hair as she slept peacefully, Test Tube looking at her pitifully. 

Test Tube’s hypothesis was incorrect. It didn’t much matter if you said six seven or not, the moment you showed symptoms, they’d continue to worsen. Test Tube went through with every experiment she thought feasible to try and get Lightbulb to better health, but it wasn’t working. 

Half the words Lightbulb said to her were variations of the joke, her hands moved to do the gesture when Test Tube wasn’t looking, and her facial features continued to contort to that of the boy in the original video, a gigantic, almost horrifying smile on her face at all times.

Test Tube knew sooner or later, she’d have to leave Lightbulb behind, but that thought made Test Tube sick. Lightbulb was the only sane person she’d seen in.. weeks. Other than the cars she rarely saw on the road, there was no one.

It didn’t make sense to Test Tube, though. This was a “brainrot” term, something only teenagers should’ve seen, and yet the amount of cars she’d seen was somewhere in the low double digits. Well, she supposed none of it mattered, not if she couldn’t keep Lightbulb safe.

DAY 67

The sun glared down onto Lightbulb and Test Tube, the fresh air enveloping their lungs as they continued to walk.

“H-how much longer? L-like six to seven minutes?” Lightbulb chuckled to herself, emptiness apparent Test Tube’s face.

Test Tube stayed silent for a moment, not looking back at her. “We’ll be there shortly.”

“Ugh, the sun is so hot! It must be, like, 67 degrees out here!” Lightbulb chuckled to herself once again, Test Tube not responding.

The dirt path they treaded on led them to a wooden bench overlooking the nature below them, trees and water underneath.

“Sit down.” Test Tube guided, Lightbulb doing as told. Test Tube truly believed this was the most beautiful sight she’d seen in her life.

“Sixx.. sevenn…” Lightbulb said, laughing as she looked at the landscape.

“Tell me about the rabbits, Lightbulb.” Test Tube got something out of her back pocket, aiming it at Lightbulb.

“Rabbit has six letters.. So.. rabbits are like SIX SEVENNNN!!!” Lightbulb laughed, before continuing. “And SIX SEVENNNN has eight letters.. Eight has five letters.. And what comes after five..? SIX SEVENNNN!!!” Lightbulb continued to laugh at herself.

Test Tube’s face was emotionless, but she still managed out a chuckle, just for Lightbulb’s sake. “Tell me, Lightbulb, what are your favorite numbers?” Test Tube’s voice was deadpan, her arms trembling.

“Um, I would need to go with SIX SEVENN-” A bang fired from Test Tube’s gun, squarely hitting Lightbulb in the head as her head drooped down. 

This was the one piece of grace Test Tube could give, to allow her to die peacefully, covered by the sereneness of nature.

Test Tube dropped the gun on the ground, walking away.

Chapter Text

“Look, Lightbulb, I’d frankly be quite surprised if that happens.” Test Tube sighed out, fingers fiddling with her lock as she tried to open her locker.

“I’m sure there’s someone out there, keep your head up!” Lightbulb motivated, leaning on an

adjacent locker as she spoke to Test Tube.

Test Tube rolled her eyes, taking her sight off the lock and onto Lightbulb. “As if,” she scoffed. The thought was unimaginable to her, even if in her heart, she wanted it to be true.

A grin appeared on Lightbulb’s face, taking a second to enunciate her thoughts. “If you really think so, let’s bet!”

Test Tube sneered at the suggestion, letting out a slight laugh. “I don’t do bets, you know that.” 

An exaggerated groan escaped out of Lightbulb’s mouth, moving a step closer to Test Tube. “C’mon, it’s basically free money!”

An inquisitive look appeared on Test Tube’s face, trying to discern any sort of foul play from Lightbulb’s face, but she couldn’t find any. “Just tell me this, if it’s ‘free money’ for me, why would you bet on the opposite?” Test Tube raised an eyebrow as she spoke.

Lightbulb scratched at her hair, her grin turning sheepish. “Dunno, maybe I like rooting for the underdog?”

Test Tube let out a breath, grabbing her wallet and opening it, checking its contents. “20 dollars. I can bet 20 dollars.”

Lightbulb immediately extended her hand towards the girl, “deal!” She spoke, Test Tube having an odd feeling in her chest that shaking Lightbulb’s hand was akin to making a deal with the devil, but against her better judgement, she shook the hand.

“Remember Lightbulb, when I open this locker and there’s no letter, I expect 20 dollars in payment today.” Test Tube grinned as she unlocked her locker.

In response, Lightbulb let out a cackle. “Yeah, yeah, totally.”

Test Tube opened her locker, staring at the sight that beholden her in utter shock. In Test Tube’s 17 years of life, not once had she ever been asked out, confessed to or been given even a glance from cupid, up until now that is.

Lightbulb continued to laugh as she stared at the blankness which was Test Tube’s face, her shaky hands grabbing the heart-shaped letter that stood on top of the books in her locker.

“..Lightbulb, just how did you know?” Test Tube hissed, her voice devoid of the usual friendliness she afforded for Lightbulb.

Lightbulb tried to strife the laugh coming out of her, it half-working. “I-I- I don’t k-know anything, swear!” Lightbulb barely got the sentence out before the cackles came rolling back at her.

Test Tube shook her head at herself, eyes closed as she took in the situation. “..And this is exactly why I don’t do bets.”

Lightbulb’s laughing fit finally stopped, her catching her breath as she looked at the letter with Test Tube. “Are ya gonna, like, read it?” Lightbulb asked, smiling.

“If I read it to you, does that mean we can cancel the bet?”

Lightbulb giggled, “Nope!” She said resolutely.

“Worth a shot,” Test Tube resignedly said, opening up the letter. The letter was written on an orange piece of paper, Test Tube’s favorite color. The girl pulled it out, extending it towards Lightbulb so they could both read it.

“Dear Test Tube, I think I’m in love with you. Love is a scary thing, it makes you do things you’d never do normally. I’ve never written a letter in my life, but I’m doing this for you, because I think you’d like it. I’ve thought about asking you out for months, and since today’s Valentine’s day, I thought it’d be the perfect time. If you know who I am just by this letter, that’ll be really embarrassing, but if not, meet me behind the school at the end of the day. I’m a much better speaker than writer, trust me. - Your secret admirer <3”

Test Tube felt her heart race as she finished reading the letter. It looked real enough, with smidgens of the text seemingly erased and rewritten multiple times, the handwriting slightly shaky. But still, that led her to another thought, who wrote her this?

Test Tube went to turn her head over and ask Lightbulb, but Lightbulb seemingly had vanished from her already. Test Tube quickly stuffed the letter into her backpack, noting the bell that just rang, meaning she was already late for class.

Test Tube walked over (She can’t run for her life) to Chemistry, the teacher giving her a disapproving look before continuing with the already started lecture.

“..What’d I miss?” Test Tube whispered over to Fan, the both of them sitting at the back of class.

“Nothing,” Fan responded, not really paying attention to Test Tube as he played a game on his computer.

Test Tube tapped away at her desk through the lecture, thinking about the letter. There wasn’t a single good guess she could think of. Maybe she would’ve thought of Fan if this was a year earlier, but he’d already came out as gay to her and was currently dating Paintbrush, so, uh, that was a no go.

It could be Cabby, maybe? She had been trying to gain Test Tube’s approval, but the writer said they’d never written a letter in their life, and that just couldn’t be true with Cabby. 

Perhaps it really could be someone who wanted to prank her, but that also seemed far-fetched. There weren't actually many people who made fun of nerds unlike how movies described high school, everyone just stayed in their in-groups and avoided each other.

“Test Tube.” Fan said, staring directly at her now.

“H-huh- w-what?” Test Tube said in surprise, returning back to reality from her thinking.

“You look like you’re, uh, pondering about something.” 

“D-do I? Yep, just thinking about chemistry!” Test Tube deflected, grinning awkwardly.

“We both know that’s not true. You don’t need to think about chemistry.” 

“But I do!”

Fan sighed. “Test Tube, come up with a better lie than that. Is it Lightbulb?”

Test Tube felt her face slightly heat up in embarrassment. “N-no, it’s uh, something worse.” She said, Fan’s curiosity rising.

“Go on.” Fan said, scooting himself a bit closer to Test Tube.

“..Just promise me you won’t tell anyone.”

“Hey, I haven’t told anyone your bumbling crush on Lightbulb, have I? Of course I won’t.”

“Hey!” Test Tube said, shushing Fan as he giggled. “..I got a Valentine’s letter,” Test Tube finally ‘fessed to Fan.

“WH-” Test Tube immediately placed her hand over Fan’s mouth, expecting a scream from him when she told him. Test Tube removed the hand a few seconds after, Fan calming himself down. Fan breathed in, now saying what he wanted to say. 

“What do you MEAN you got a Valentine’s letter!!?? And from who, is it her??” Fan said shocked, shaking Test Tube.

“..That’s the thing, I don’t know who it is. They’re my ‘secret admirer.’” Test Tube did quotation marks in the air as she spoke.

“Then it’s obviously Lightbulb!” Fan declared. “Who else could it be?”

Test Tube immediately (softly) jabbed at him, having a blush rise on her face. “..It’s not her.”

“Why not?”

Test Tube stayed silent, trying to think of reasons why it wouldn’t be Lightbulb, but outside of her own doubts, there didn’t seem to be a lot. Test Tube was supposedly the person Lightbulb spent the vast majority of her time with, and they had done some couple-esque things, but it couldn’t be Lightbulb. Never ever. Test Tube just couldn’t fathom a reason as to why Lightbulb would reciprocate her feelings.

“See, told ya.” Fan slyly said, taking her silence as her admitting Lightbulb liked her back.

“No Fan. She just doesn’t, I can tell.”

“Test Tube, I’ll admit you’re smart, but when it comes to love, you’re probably dumber than Apple.”

“You can’t just say that!”

“Apple’s in a relationship, you’re not.”

Test Tube wanted to rebuttal that, but there really wasn’t anything she could say. “..You’re right.”

“Look, I’d bet you 20 dollars the secret admirer is Lightbulb.” Fan said, now lying his head on the desk.

“Do NOT talk with me about betting.” Test Tube angrily got out.

“I was just trying-”

“Don’t Fan, just don’t.”

“Alright, alright, but when are you meeting this admirer?” 

“End of school, today.”

“That’s in like-” The bell rang again, Test Tube and Fan looking at the clock, “-now.” Fan sighed out.

“..Yep, time to meet my lover, I suppose.” Test Tube grabbed her bag, walking with Fan to the front of the school, him wishing her goodbye.

“If it’s Lightbulb, all I’m saying is I told you so.”

“I’d wish, huh.” Test Tube sighed, waving bye to Fan as he cycled away.

Test Tube started making her way towards the back of the school, thoughts jumbling in her head. Was there a chance that it really could be Lightbulb? Why did Fan seem so adamant that it was her? Just why couldn’t she get Lightbulb out of her head? 

Test Tube breathed in, calming herself down slightly. There’s no chance she’d ever get with Lightbulb, she knew that. Lightbulb wasn’t perfect, but she was as close to perfect as Test Tube thought a human could be. She was athletic, caring, someone who never shied away from being who they wanted to be. 

“Hey.” A familiar voice spoke, knocking Test Tube out of her trance.

It was Lightbulb.

“W-what are you doing here? I’m supposed to meet my secret admirer here.” Test Tube said out confusedly.

Lightbulb giggled as her, Test Tube now noticing she had her hands behind her back. “You really won’t believe what I’m about to tell you.”

“What? Tell me what?”

Lightbulb removed her hands from behind her back to reveal flowers. “I’m your secret admirer.”

Test Tube felt her mind go blank. Every thought she was ever so worried about dispersed as she heard those words.

“And I love you, Test Tube.”

The words Test Tube had yearned to hear for what felt like millenia. The words she heard in her dreams, the words she daydreamed about. It shouldn’t have been real, it couldn’t have been, but it was. Lightbulb actually.. liked her back.

“W–w-wh-WHAT?”

“..happy Valentine’s day.” Lightbulb squeakily got out, handing over the flowers to Test Tube as she absentmindedly accepted them.

Test Tube stared at the flowers in her hands, each petal that swayed in the wind, how the sun shined down on them, and the orange bouquet that kept it all together. Test Tube didn’t deserve any of this, not in her mind. And yet, everything in the moment felt picturesque. As if the world had granted her this one chance.

“..I think I love you too, Lightbulb.”

Lightbulb moved her face closer to Test Tube, a sweet kiss enveloping the both of them. The kiss only lasted a second, it was small, a fleeting touch, and yet it felt like everything to Test Tube.

Test Tube stared at Lightbulb in awe, her smile being even more potent than usual. Lightbulb giggled again at Test Tube, her eyes dazzling from the sun above.

“You still owe me twenty dollars.”

Chapter Text

“WHAT!? You think I'm a bad kisser!??” Test Tube shouted, fiddling with her hands awkwardly.

Lightbulb scratched her back, looking away from Test Tube sheepishly. “..I thought you knew!” She spat out.

“How was I supposed to know?? This is my first relationship!” Test Tube questioned, a bit of hurt in her voice

“I dunno, I thought it was obvious!” Lightbulb paused, but as the seconds ticked by and Test Tube just stared at her, she came up with something else to say. “..buttttt, it’s okay! I can teach you how to kiss!”

Test Tube raised her eyebrow, finally speaking. “Teach me how to kiss?”

Lightbulb giggled, “mhmm! Like this!” Lightbulb suddenly took a step closer to Test Tube, cupping her cheeks as their faces stood mere inches away from each other. 

Test Tube’s eyes widened as Lightbulb enveloped her in a kiss. It made Test Tube feel tranquil, as all love from Lightbulb made her. Lightbulb was really the only thing Test Tube loved more than science, math, weird trivia facts, all of that pizzazz. Lightbulb was her happy place.

Lightbulb pulled herself off the kiss, still giggling as if this was the first time she’d ever kissed Test Tube. “See, that’s how you kiss!” She happily said.

Test Tube also giggled as if she was on a high, not anymore caring about the experiment she was working on a few minutes prior. “I- I think you should kiss me again. So I can learn better, of course.”

Lightbulb rolled her eyes, taking Test Tube’s words as flirting, which was quarter-true to Test Tube’s intentions. “Whatever you say, Tubester.”

Lightbulb went on her tippy-toes, kissing Test Tube on her forehead, before once again kissing her on the lips, this time putting her hands over Test Tube’s neck. 

Lightbulb kept her eyes open, admiring everything that was Test Tube. Her slight freckles that complimented Lightbulb’s own, how her face flushed every time she did this to her, the brown irises which colored her eyes. Lightbulb didn’t date her because of her prettiness, but by god was having a cute girlfriend such a plus.

Test Tube was the one to end the kiss this time, spinning from just how euphoric she felt. Lightbulb giggled at her silliness, one of the few times Test Tube seemed to be the more of the two.

“Ready now, Tube?” Lightbulb asked cheekily.

“Um-”

“Gah, I’m just going to kiss you again!” Lightbulb grabbed Test Tube’s face for the third time, unexpectedly pulling her in yet another kiss. This one was much softer, as if Lightbulb felt embarrassed about the whole thing. If it had a taste, Test Tube would say it tasted like a caramelized strawberry.

The kiss stopped with the both of them looking at each other dazedly. Lightbulb parted with Test Tube with yet another kiss, this time on the cheek. Test Tube questioned her as to where she was going so suddenly, but all Lightbulb responded with was “My work here is done!”

Test Tube stood still, processing the kisses she’d just received with her dopamine levels still spiked. She thought that for being a “bad kisser,” Lightbulb was always the one to kiss her first. That’s when Test Tube theorized that maybe she wasn’t bad at all.

Lightbulb just wanted to kiss her.

Chapter Text

Test Tube put her hands through Lightbulb’s practically glimmering hair, admiring just how soft and silky it was.

“Lightbulb, how do you keep your hair like this?” Test Tube asked, continuing to play with the girl's hair.

“It’s a brand secret, Tube-o.” Lightbulb giggled, pulling the blanket they were both under closer to her.

Test Tube tube sighed with a hint of disappointment, rolling her eyes. “C’mon, I’ve been your girlfriend for 3 months now. Don’t I deserve to know?”

“I dunno… it’ll take a lot more than being my girlfriend to sway me.”

“..I’ll make you a cookie-inator if you tell me..”

“DEAL! No takesie-backsies.” Lightbulb said happily.

“So tell me, how is your hair.. so perfect?”

Lightbulb moved herself closer to Test Tube, noses touching. “Promise you won’t tell anyone?”

“That’s a given, Lightbulb.” Test Tube said in anticipation.

“The secret is..” Lightbulb put her mouth next to Test Tube’s ear, whispering softly, “I’m perfect.”

“You- NO HUMAN BEING CAN HAVE HAIR LIKE THAT DOING NOTHING!” Test Tube said exasperatedly, pulling herself away from Lightbulb.

“I can!” Lightbulb said slyly.

“That’s SCIENTIFICALLY IMPOSSIBLE!!”

“Okay, okay, fine, I use shampoo and conditioner too! But that’s all, really!” Lightbulb meekly confessed.

“Do you really expect me to believe all you do is rinse a bit of stuff in your hair?? Do you, lightbulb? Because I, for one, do NOT.” 

“I- But Test Tube, it’s all I do! Pinky promise!” Lightbulb extended a pinky finger in front of Test Tube’s currently red face.

“..Fine. Fine, Lightbulb.” Test Tube grumpily extended her pinky finger out as well, still mostly unbelieving of Lightbulb.

Lightbulb smiled, now touching Test Tube’s hair. “Your hair is beautiful too, Test Tube. You should know that.”

“It’s nothing compared to yours.”

“Maybe not,” Lightbulb chuckled, “but I’m not going to stop dating just because your hair isn’t the bestest ever.”

“I just want you to be happy with me, Lightbulb.” Test Tube’s eyes slightly averted Lightbulb’s gaze.

“And I am, so stop worrying.” Lightbulb continued to reassure Test Tube as they cuddled the rest of their day away.

Chapter Text

Test Tube sighed, staring at her closet. To the casual glance, you wouldn’t be able to tell that anything was awry. The many band t-shirts she had, kindly donated by Fan, the 6 or so shirts she had with the periodic table on them, the tie-dye shirt she had made with Lightbulb, it was all there. But there was one piece of clothing more important to Test Tube than all those, by a few orders of magnitudes, in fact. It was her lab coat.

And it was missing!

Her lab coat with thousands of hours of usage, the black stains on its white fabric from countless failed experiments. The blood, sweat, and no tears, for Test Tube would never cry when it comes to science! Test Tube practically considered the lab coat a friend of hers, talking to it whenever she had to work through a problem. Hell, it probably knew her better than most of the contestants on the island due to just how much she’d told it.

Test Tube closed the closet, thinking back to the last place she put it. The place being this very closet, roughly 7 hours ago at a decent three in the morning. And considering she only shared her room with one other person, and no one else would realistically want her coat for any reason, it was pretty obvious who took it.

————

“Test Tube!” Lightbulb waved from the couch downstairs, Test Tube approaching her.

Test Tube looked at Lightbulb, and as she suspected, Lightbulb currently had her lab coat on her. “Hi, Lightbulb! How are you? Did you sleep well? Why do you have my lab coat?” Test Tube muttered under her gritted teeth.

“Good, yes, and I want to be a scientist!”

Test Tube paused for just a second, taking in what Lightbulb just said. “You.. want to be a scientist?” She spoke, happier at Lightbulb’s sudden change in personality.

Lightbulb put her finger on her chin, thinking. “..Well, not forever! But y’know, just for today!”

“Lightbulb, as much as I love this sudden career change, you can’t just become a scientist! It requires years of training, studying, and inventing!”

“Tubester, it’s fine. I’ve learned a thing or two from you.”

Test Tube raised her eyebrow, curious. “..Have you actually been paying attention to my lectures?”

“Nope!” She voiced, clicking her tongue at the end. “..But I can do just fine without them!”

“You can’t just become a scientist from nothing, Lightbulb.” 

“Ahem, I beg to differ!” Lightbulb said, copying Test Tube’s tone of voice. With a scoop, she grabbed something from out of the lab coat’s pocket.

“..What is this?” Test Tube inquisitively asked, analyzing the creature in Lightbulb’s hand.

“It’s me, but tiny!” Lightbulb said, grabbing the creature by its head as it stuck out its tongue.

“You- you made a miniaturized clone of yourself?” 

“Yeah, something like that. Though I did remove her brain!”

“As if you had a brain in the first place,” Test Tube snickered, “But for what it’s worth, this is pretty fascinating stuff. How does she function without a brain?” Test Tube extended out a finger to mini-Lightbulb, the creature hugging the finger.

“I’m not that good of a scientist! That’s for you to figure it out.” Lightbulb let the mini-Lightbulb cling on to Test Tube now, Lightbulb giggling at the absurdity of all this.

“I guess I.. will figure that out.” Test Tube pet mini-Lightbulb’s hair with one of her fingers, the creature cooing in response.

Test Tube took a few steps before remembering she had one last thing to say to Lightbulb. “Oh, and you can keep the lab coat for a little longer, it looks.. nice on you.”  Test Tube blushed, walking away a little faster to her lab.

Chapter Text

The temperature was blazing hot, sweat dripping down both Test Tube’s and Lightbulb’s foreheads as they laid outside on the walls of their local massive grocery store, Goikymart. The shade from the walls helped slightly, but considering the sun was directly in their faces, it really could only help so much.

Test Tube squinted her eyes at Lightbulb, half because of the sun and half because of the absurdity Lightbulb was spitting out to her.

“No, no, no. Lightbulb, that is ILLEGAL!’” Test Tube tried to explain to Lightbulb, wiping her forehead with her shirt as heat continued to pour onto her body.

“Testy! I’ve done it so many times, trust me, they won’t catch us!” Lightbulb refuted, a slight grin on her face.

“And if they do? My future, your future, OUR future! It’ll crumble before my very eyes!” Test Tube said, thinking of every possible way this could go wrong.

“Look, if they catch us, which they won’t, I’ll say it was my idea! You’ll get off scott-free, and I know my way around the clink!” Lightbulb reassured, placing her hand on Test Tube’s shoulder

“I- I DON’T WANT YOU TO GO TO PRISON EITHER!” Test Tube shouted, attracting a look from a shopper leaving the store.

“Which I won’t, because we won’t get caught! Can you really not trust me?” Lightbulb said, giving puppy eyes towards the glasses-wearing girl.

‘Yes Lightbulb, I CAN’T! Do you know how many times I’ve had to get you out of things??” Test Tube said frustratingly, not falling at all for Lightbulb’s charm.

“No..?” Lightbulb sheepishly replied.

“How about the time you cheated on the math test, and it was only because of me that you didn’t get caught!? Oh, and how about that other time I had to cover for your mom as to why you weren’t home, saying you were having a sleepover with me when you were partying! And how about the time-”

“Okay, okay, I get it!” Lightbulb interrupted, “but this time will be different, I swear! I’m the best shoplifter in Goiky!”

“Don’t say that word outside of the place you want to.. do that! And this is not worth it for two dollar popsicles!” 

Lightbulb blinked. “So you’re saying there is a point where it’s worth it?”

“Well, yes- NO Lightbulb, stealing is never worth it! Ever! Unless you’re talking about stealing from the rich that is, and although this supermarket is owned by billionaires, two high schoolers will not change the way society is set up for the rich, and would require a much larger show of power and numbers before anything can actually be done, because this is a very nuanced issue!” Test Tube stammered out.

Lightbulb blinked again, this time a little slower. “What?”

Test Tube shook her head. “Nevermind- Look Lightbulb, I have popsicles at my house, let’s just go there.” 

“But your house is 25 minutes away! That’s sooo long, and it’s, like, one million degrees outside!” 

“97, actually.” Test Tube corrected, “But this isn’t worth it, we can’t do this!”

Lightbulb sighed, taking a step away from Lightbulb. “Fine, we don’t have to do this.” Lightbulb rolled her eyes, “but I will, just wait outside.” 

“LIghtbulb!” Test Tube said shakily, grabbing her arm. “Can you please reconsider?” Test Tube pleaded.

“No.” Lightbulb said resolutely.

Test Tube looked at Lightbulb in silence as she also stared back, both unwavering in their eye contest that now began. The sun seemed to have fried Test Tube’s brain as she actually started to entertain Lightbulb’s idea, if only so she could once again protect Lightbulb from getting in trouble.

‘Fine..” Test Tube let out, the words coming out seemingly poisoning her pure tongue. “..I’ll come with you. But only so you don’t get caught!” Test Tube spoke, a smile growing on Lightbulb’s mouth.

“I knew you’d break! Just follow my lead, what’s the worst that could happen?” Lightbulb said as she led Test Tube into the store.

“..A lot.” Test Tube said dryly.

As they entered the store, the cool breeze of the air conditioning inside fell onto their skin, relief instantly hitting them all over. It felt so good not to be out in the blistering sun. They enjoyed the moment for a little longer, before Lightbulb started hashing out her plan.

The girls walked over to a random aisle, making sure nobody was nearby, before they both huddled up as if they were getting lectured by a football coach.

“The plan is simple. I’ll stuff the box of popsicles in my shirt, and you’ll just block me from the front! Easy peasy!”

Test Tube imagined the mental image of that for a moment, blushing ever-so-slightly and then flushing that thought away for what she was seeing. With a slight adjustment of her glasses, she got back to the actual planning. “And, uh, if someone sees you and the very obvious box in your shirt from anywhere but the front?”

“We’re only getting a six pack of popsicles, it’s not that noticeable! And just, like, shift positions? C’mon Tubester, put your brain into this!” 

Test Tube giggled. “If I put my brain into this I wouldn’t be doing this. But the plan seems.. passable. But this is not becoming a habit.”

“I know, I know! It’s only because it's so hot, really!”

“Alright, let’s go.” Test Tube pandered, Lightbulb leading Test Tube to the freezers as they were met with an assortment of popsicle options.

“Strawberry, Chocolate, mint, pistachio, coconut, mango, kiwi.. what to pick, what to pick..” Lightbulb pondered to herself, deep in thought.

“Pick whatever, I just want to be able to cool down when we go back outside.” Test Tube said, being on the lookout for anyone coming near them.

Eventually, Lightbulb was stuck with two opinions in her mind: strawberry cheesecake or mango.

“Test Tube, one or two?” Lightbulb asked, leaving the choice up to Test Tube’s random number picking.

“One.” Test Tube replied blandly, still on the look out.

Lightbulb went to grab the strawberry cheesecake popsicles, before a whistle sounded from the end of the aisle. The girls both turned their gaze, a man in a lifering shouting.

“HEY YOU, I REMEMBER YOU! YOU WERE BANNED FROM HERE FOR SHOPLIFTING, AND NOW YOU BROUGHT A FRIEND? YOU’RE BOTH IN BIG TROUBLE!” Without a second to spare, the man started to spring towards them, Lightbulb quickly grabbing the popsicles.

“You- YOU WERE BANNED FROM THE STORE!??” Test Tube shouted at Lightbulb.

“UH- GET ANGRY AT ME LATER!” Lightbulb screamed back, grabbing Test Tube by the arm as they both started to desperately run. 

The man continued to shout at them and for his fellow co-workers to grab the miscreants, Test Tube and Lightbulb turning the corner into a random aisle.

Test Tube turned a glance to Lightbulb as she met her back with an awkward grin, the man still chasing from behind as Lightbulb gripped on to the popsicles for their life.

Lightbulb let go of holding Test Tube’s hand, grabbing a bag of tortillas as she threw it towards the man, landing flatly on his face.

“BULLSEYE!” Lightbulb shouted, blowing a raspberry at the man.

“HEY! GET BACK HERE!” The man shouted back, face flushed in anger as he ripped the tortilla package off his face.

“LIGHTBULB-!” Test Tube shouted as Lightbulb squarely hit herself into the chest of another worker, one they instantly recognized as Trophy from their high school.

“Well, well, well, look what we have here!” Trophy said as if he was a bully from a 90s movie, not caring how cringe it sounded.

“..Hey Trophy- uh, mind letting us go..?” Lightbulb sheepishly asked, due to them being classmates.

“No can do, hombrae.” He said, chuckling.

Test Tube looked back at the man who was chasing the two, gritting her teeth as she realized what she had to do.

“I’m sorry,” she said, smacking a can of beans directly at his nose she grabbed from nearby, him immediately clutching at his face. Lightbulb took that opportunity to kick his shins while she was at it for his bullying of Test Tube last year. Trophy fell on the floor, looking like an absolute mess, Lightbulb laughing at his predicament.

Test Tube and Lightbulb took that opportunity to run further to the exit, Lightbulb shouting out one last thing at him 

“IF YOU TELL ANYONE ABOUT THIS, I’LL TELL EVERYONE YOU’RE GAY!” 

“He’s- he’s gay?” Test Tube asked in bewilderment.

“Yeah, he’s dating Knife, saw them kissing a few times. They’re pretty cute!” She said gleaming, the exit being oh-so-near. 

Test Tube and Lightbulb reaching their arms out to the outside, not caring about the glances from every customer and cashier alike in the store.

Lightbulb successfully got to the outside, but as she looked back, she realized Test Tube wasn’t with her.

“NOT.. SO.. FAST!” The man who had been chasing them shouted, grabbing Test Tube by the collar of her shirt, choking her a little. 

“TEST TUBE!” Lightbulb shouted.

“Test Tube’s her name..? Well, “Test Tube’s” gonna be in BIG trouble, unless you give back the stolen merchandise, Lightbulb.” The man harshly said, staring daggers at Lightbulb and the popsicles in her hands.

“Lightbulb..” Test Tube said weakly, unsure if she said it as to say that Lightbulb should just go or as to say she should turn herself in.

“If I give the popsicles back.. does Test Tube go free?” Lightbulb asked sadly.

“Well, you’ve stolen roughly 1,083 dollars from this store, while she’s stolen nothing until this point so.. sure.” Test Tube covered her mouth at the amount, not believing just how much Lightbulb had shoplifted.

Lightbulb’s face fell, looking at Test Tube remorsefully. “Okay.. I’ll give it back.”

“Good, the cops should be coming any moment now.” The man said confidently.

Lightbulb went up to the man, extending out the box of popsicles to him.

“Thank y-UAUGBGUMXIJDI” The man screamed, Lightbulb fiercely biting the hand which held Test Tube’s shirt.

“LET’S GO!!!” Lightbulb shouted, grabbing Test Tube again by the collar as they escaped to the outside. Test Tube’s face had dropped even more as Lightbulb furiously ran with her, them quickly hitting a pedestrian crossing.

“Lightbulb, ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS???” Test Tube screamed.

“I- In my defense, I didn’t know it was THAT much!” 

“You’re so going to juvenile prison, or worse! LIGHTBULB!!!” She continued to shout.

“Just- C’MON!” Lightbulb and Test Tube ran as the light turned green, the crossing leading them into a park.

“INTO THE TREES!” Lightbulb shouted, the earth crunching beneath them as they quickly tried to get themselves deep into the grove.

They both ran and ran, not caring to look back. Each step was met with more huffing and puffing from Test Tube, clearly not being able to keep up with Lightbulb. 

Eventually, all that surrounded them was the thick forest and the critters around them, the late summer sun just peaking through the cover of the branches above.

“L-lightbulb..!” Test Tube got out, breathing heavily as she put her arms on her knees.

“HE’S STILL BE BEHIND US-!” Lightbulb screeched out, trying to motivate Test Tube.

“H-he’s n-not.” Test Tube said, promptly collapsing on the leaf-covered dirt below.

“Oh- oh, you’re right.” Lightbulb giggled, sitting down on the ground with Test Tube, the now very battered popsicle box in her hands.

Test Tube got up from the ground, staring at the box. And she laughed. And she then let out another laugh, and then yet another, all until she was full on cackling, Lightbulb confused as to what she could possibly be laughing about.”

“T-test Tube..?”

Test Tube paid no response to Lightbulb, still laughing even harder until tears started to run down her face. Test Tube wiped her face with a leaf off the ground, the mental image of Soap telling her not to coming to mind. Test Tube clutched at her chest as her laughing came to a much needed stop.

“I think I just had the most fun I've ever had in my life.” She said, eyes wide.

“That was f-fun?” Lightbulb asked.

“It was like a thriller film- I punched Trophy with a fucking can of beans, and you bit that guy’s arm, and we ran so fast I swear my soul left my body. Golly, we should do this more often!” Test Tube chuckled out, sounding as if a nut went loose in her perfectly oiled brain.

“NO. NEVER AGAIN,” Lightbulb immediately rejected.

“Heh, fine. But we should hang out more often, Lightbulb.” Test Tube let out a woozy smile towards Lightbulb, Lightbulb chuckling at Test Tube’s apparent dizziness.

“We should.” Lightbulb smiled back, before opening the box to reveal six packaged popsicles, handing one to Test Tube and taking one for herself.

The both of them opened up the wrappers, staring at their melting popsicles.

“This was so worth it!” Test Tube let out, completely out of it.

“This was not worth it, Tubey.” Lightbulb disagreed playfully, still digging in regardless.

As Lightbulb took in the delicacy which was a strawberry cheesecake popsicle, a thought came to her mind.

“Y’know, Tubester, we’re like, partners in crime now!” 

“I.. guess we are. Cheers to the partners in crime!” Test Tube declared, them both holding up their popsicles.

They both continued to eat their popsicles, letting the worries of what they’d do once they left the forest disperse with the sugary goodness of which they were eating. 

And, besides, they knew they’d be able to handle it. They were partners in crime. (Or at least until Test Tube regained her cognitive thinking skills.)

Chapter Text

“So, Testy..” Lightbulb said, mixing the mashed potatoes on her tray with a fork. “Would you rather never read a book again or never have friends again?” 

Test Tube adjusted her glasses, thinking. “Hmm..”

“No pressure, ‘Tube.” Lightbulb reassured.

“..When you say book, does that apply to only traditionally published novels, or does that extend further to such things like webcomics and fanfiction? And how about textbooks? I need my textbooks!”

“Uhmm.. webcomics and textbooks no, but I will let you read fanfiction, as long as it’s a oneshot.”

Test Tube got deeper into thought, scrunching her eyebrows. “I’ve gone through periods in my life where I didn’t have friends, and although I much prefer having friends, it wasn’t the worst thing in the world..”

“You’d pick books over your friends? Pssh, and I thought I was special to ‘ya.” Lightbulb jokingly spoke, smirking.

“If you’d let me finish speaking, you would’ve known I had one last question for you.”

“Hm?” Lightbulb hummed.

“Technically, you are considered my girlfriend, so would that mean in this hypothetical I lose you too?”

“Since you asked, yes.” Lightbulb giggled.

“Then I guess I’ll have no friends for the rest of my days.” Test Tube shrugged.

“WHAT!??” Lightbulb shirked.

It was now Test Tube who giggled. “No, I’m kidding. Any sensible person would choose to never read a book again.”

“Aww, so I AM important to you!” Lightbulb smiled.

Test Tube giggled a second time. “No, I’d just listen to books instead of reading them.”

“Ughh, you ALWAYS find a way to cheat my would you rather’s!”

“Make better ones, then.”

————

Lightbulb and Test Tube sat at the back of the class, whispering to each other as their teacher yapped on about polyunsaturated fats.

“Test Tube! It’ll only take one minute, c’mon!” Lightbulb hushed almost directly into Test Tube’s ear.

“..Fine, but it better not be a stupid one.”

“It won’t, it won’t! Okay, so, would you rather turn into a worm and have me take care of you, or have me turn into a worm and you take care of me?” 

“This is one of the stupid ones.” Test Tube let out dryly.

“It’s not! This one can tell a lot about a person!” 

“Like what, Lightbulb? What possibly could one attain from a question like this?” Test Tube questioned.

Truthfully, Lightbulb was stumped, but that wouldn’t stop her from spewing out nonsense! “Well, it’s about love, Test Tube. Do you love me so much you’d protect me even at my most vulnerable, or do you trust in my love and believe I’d help you at your most vulnerable?” Lightbulb spat out, hoping Test Tube would fall for her philosophical bait. 

Test Tube looked at Lightbulb as if she was searching for her soul, responding. “That.. is something you could attain from this question. Wow.” 

“See, I told you!”

“Fine, well..” Test Tube said, rubbing her chin. “I’d become a worm and let you take care of me.”

“I’d be the best worm take-carer-er ever, promise.” Lightbulb lent out a pinky to Test Tube.

“Of course you would, and that’s why I picked it.” Test Tube finished the pinky promise, the two girls treating each other with a small smile before focusing back onto class.

————

“Hey, Test Tube! Tuberino, Tube gal, scientist girl, green bean!” Lightbulb said, pestering Test Tube and the twenty or so vials she was tinkering with.

“What, Lightbulb?” Test Tube said, deep in focus as she stared at one of the tubes filled with green liquid.

“I have a would you rather for you!”

“Again? Really?” Test Tube spoke, releasing her focus off the tube and to Lightbulb, raising up an eyebrow.

“I promise it’s a good one! Really!” 

Test Tube rolled her eyes playfully, “Go ahead,” she allowed.

“Would you rather eat cheese filled maggots or maggot filled cheese?”

Test Tube frowned. “Lightbulb.” 

“Yeah, that’s my name.”

“Lightbulb, I love you so very much, but leave my lab this instant.”

“What? What did I even do???”

“You put a special type of mental image in my mind, an image that will never leave my mind. Now, I request you to leave my lab and think of what you’ve done.

“I-it was only a would you rather!”

“That was a CRIME, or it should be!” Test Tube screamed, pushing Lightbulb out of her lab.

Lightbulb never did find out the answer.

Chapter Text

“Lightbulb, I- I’m-” Test Tube spoke, two sneezes back to back interrupting her as she then wiped her nose with a tissue. “..fine.” 

“No, Test Tube, you’re not.” Lightbulb said firmly, placing her hand on Test Tube’s forehead. 

Now, Lightbulb wasn’t the best at diagnosing sickness, but considering her girlfriend had been letting out sneezes every couple of minutes and her cheeks were flushed red, she could confidently say Test Tube was sick.

“I’m not even that sick..” Test Tube protested, her voice droopy.

Lightbulb chuckled. “It doesn’t matter how sick you are, sick is sick.”

“Please Lightbulb..?” Test Tube pleaded.

“You took care of me the last three times I got sick, so this is just repayment, okay?” Lightbulb put her hand on Test Tube’s cheek, rubbing it gently.

“Fine..” Test Tube finally relented, Lightbulb placing a small kiss onto her forehead.

“I’ll go make you some soup, I’ll be fast.” 

“Okay, I love you ‘bulb.” Test Tube said weakly, giving Lightbulb a faint smile.

“Love you too ‘tube.” Lightbulb said with a smile, leaving the room.

Test Tube fell back fully into her sheets again, thinking about Lightbulb. For as much as she didn’t like admitting it, having someone care for her was one of the things she loved best. Ever since Mephone left the hotel, it’d been her who had to make things to make sure the contestants didn’t die, and it weighed on her.

Actually, it was probably exactly why she was sick. 14 hour workdays were most likely not a healthy thing for her to be having, no matter how much joy she gained from science. She was just happy that getting sick meant she could inadvertently spend more time with Lightbulb, even if she was in a state of slight delirium while doing so.

Test Tube continued to wander in the thoughts her mind produced while sick, trying not to think about how raspy her throat was or the heat that enveloped her entire body. Soon after, Lightbulb returned, a sickingly sour smell coming from the soup in her hands.

“What type of soup is this..?” Test Tube asked, receiving the bowl.

“Oh! It’s called hot and sour soup. Fan said it’s much better to use for colds than chicken soup for colds and all that.” Lightbulb informed, sitting next to Test Tube. (A/N: hot and sour soup is THE BEST THING EVER genuinely the best soup I’ve ever had by a mile if you ever go to a Chinese restaurant please see if they have some it does NOT disappoint)

“Whatever you say, Lighty.” Test Tube took a sip of the soup, her eyes immediately widening.

“Oh, yeah, it’s also really spicy.” Lightbulb giggled slightly, looking at the coughing fit Test Tube was now having.

“Y-you should’ve warned me!” Test tube said sternfully.

‘Sorry, sorry, I just wanted to see your reaction!” Lightbulb handed Test Tube a cup of water as well, her taking a generous sip.

Test Tube continued to drink the soup, sips of water being taken intermittently to reduce the spiciness. Lightbulb continued to keep her company, making sure she felt as well taken care for as Lightbulb could manage.

“Do ya wanna watch something?” 

“No.. just keep talking to me.” Test Tube responded.

“Well, what’d ya wanna talk about?”

“I dunno.” 

“How about those subatomic particle thingamajigs you were talking about a few days ago?” Lightbulb said, trying to evoke the scientific side of Test Tube.

“Too much thinking for me..” Test Tube said doozily.

“I’ve never seen you say something takes too much thinking for you.” 

Test Tube chuckled. “Give me a break, I’m sick.”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever you say princess.” 

“Princess? That’s a new one.” Test tube smiled.

“All I’ve done today is treat you like royalty, after all.”

“You were the one who put this burden on yourself, y’know.”

“Well, I guess it’s fine if I do something for you every once in a while.” Lightbulb rolled her eyes sarcastically, smiling a bit harder.

“You didn’t have to do any of this, but thank you.” Test Tube reassured Lightbulb.

“What? No, I was kidding, of course I had to do this for you Tube-o. You always do so much for me every day, I just wish I could do more for you.”

“It’s fine, Lightbulb, I do it because I love you.”

“Don’t act like I don’t love you too! You just never let me do anything for you.”

“You’re doing something for me now, right?”

“Well, yeah, but that’s not the point! You’re only letting me because you’re sick, and I still had to ask.”

“Okay, but-”

“What I’m saying is that I love you, Test Tube, and there is nothing that’ll make me stop. So please, let me show you that love and let yourself be the princess from time to time.” Lightbulb let out, looking at Test Tube.

Test Tube looked back at Lightbulb, her face having a slight mix of sadness in between the love she was showing to Test Tube. Test Tube grabbed her hand, squeezing it a little. “I.. didn’t know this was how you felt. Then, okay, I’ll let you pamper me from time to time. Because I love you too.” 

Lightbulb touched Test Tube’s hair, putting back a few of the loose strands which were on her face. “I’ll be here for you always, okay?”

“I trust you.” Test Tube smiled, taking another sip of her soup, her throat already feeling better. She was glad she had Lightbulb in her life.

Chapter Text

For as long as Test Tube could remember, it had always been winter which was her favorite season. The snow, the festivities, the cold, it was all perfect. There was nothing quite like scribbling notes down on a quiet December night, sipping hot cocoa as the only thing you heard from the outside was the dim hum of snow sprinkling down.

Today was the first of December, marking the start of what many considered “winter.” Of course, winter only happened after the winter solstice, being on December 21st of this year, but Test Tube digressed. She was as nerdy as it got for almost everything, but the rules for when winter started for her was simple: the first snow fall marked winter.

Luckily for her, as she opened her window, she was met with exactly what she wanted to see, a fresh bout of snow on her lawn.. and a woman making snow angels in it.

Test Tube almost immediately dropped the physics textbook in her arms onto the kitchen table and rushed outside, opening her door as a snowflake fell on the bridge of her glasses.

“Oh- heya Tubester, dandy seeing you here!” Lightbulb exclaimed, making a snow angel.

“I- Lightbulb, this is my house, of course I’m here.” Test Tube replied, taking a few steps as she now stood directly above Lightbulb.

“This is your house??” Lightbulb asked, one of her eyebrows raising.

“Obviously- were you just making snow angels in random people’s lawns?” Test Tube said, now looking at her neighbor’s lawn with a similarly shaped snow angel.

“What else is there to do? It’s not like I’ve got someone to hang out with, everyone is on vacation!” Lightbulb spoke, talking about how all of their classmates were currently traveling somewhere for the winter.

“I’m still here!” Test Tube responded happily.

“Oh, right!” A mischievous grin grew on Lightbulb’s face, her stopping her snow angel-making. “Say, Test Tube, can I test something on ya?”

“Test? Test what?” Test Tube asked.

“Test THIS!” Lightbulb cupped a batch of snow in her face, standing up as she threw the snow directly onto Test Tube’s face, her running away only picoseconds after. 

“HEY!” Test Tube shouted, running for Lightbulb.

“You’ll never catch me alive!” Lightbulb screamed back, scooping another ball of snow off the ground and throwing it towards Test Tube.

With a crouch, Test Tube narrowly avoided the projectile, now picking up a ball of snow of her own. “According to my calculations..” Test Tube dialogued to herself, analyzing how exactly to best hit Lightbulb back.

With the hardest throw she could muster, (trust me, it wasn’t much) she threw at Lightbulb’s head, hitting her straight on.

“If that’s how you wanna play..” Lightbulb immediately stopped running, changing directions as she now stared straight at Test Tube.

“Lightbulb..?” Test Tube asked nervously, Lightbulb practically staring a hole into her side.

Lightbulb didn’t speak a word, grabbing her third snowball of the day, Test Tube slowly backing away as the size of the snowball in Lightbulb’s hands grew larger and larger.

“You’re dead, Test Tube.” Lightbulb said calmly, the snowball now being held by both of her hands, the size of a globe model.

“L-lightbulb!” Test Tube got into a sprint, desperately not wanting to be hit by the gargantuan snowball in clothes that were certainly not made for snow, a shirt and sweatpants being all she had on.

“I’m.. not sorry!” Lightbulb laughed, and with the combined might of both of her hands, chucked the snowball at Test Tube’s body.

The moment the snowball hit her, everything stopped. Her flimsy legs didn’t listen to her commands, her arms flailed around, trying to cling on to something to stop her fall, but there was only air in her midst.

Laughter continued to roar out from Lightbulb as Test tube’s face got planted firmly into the soft snow below, a small wince of pain coming out of her mouth, although it wasn’t nearly as bad as she expected. 

Test Tube shifted her body to see Lightbulb still running up to her, a second later her sitting herself down on Test Tube.

Test Tube’s face flushed lightly with Lightbulb getting on her, her face reddening not just from the cold now.

“I win!” Lightbulb proclaimed, smiling.

“I- Uh, I didn’t know this was a competition.” Test Tube said awkwardly, still trying to process Lightbulb being on her.

“I never mess with my snowball fights!” Lightbulb said, oblivious to what Test Tube was feeling.

“Uhm, c-congratulations, then!” 

“Thanks!” Lightbulb stood up, offering a hand to Test Tube.

“I suppose it truly is the smartest who wins in the end.” Test Tube said, accepting Lightbulb’s help.

“Huh? You think I’m sma-” Lightbulb was immediately pummeled by a snowball in Test Tube’s other hand, Lightbulb now being the one who fell.

Test Tube grabbed herself another snowball, chucking it again at Lightbulb, not stopping even for Lightbulb’s pleas.

“I may not have pure strength Lightbulb, but I have SMARTS!” Test Tube exclaimed, continuing to throw snowballs at Lightbulb.

“Make it stop, make it stop!” Lightbulb pleaded, covering her face with her hands.

It was Test Tube who (ultimately) won the snowball fight.