Chapter 4

                                    

                                          
TW: Angst and emotional
Later at home, the trio and the four turtles talked to each other.
Leo: So....you've been to worse places than....here?
Mugman: Yeah.....
Cuphead: It's okay, Mugs. I'll explain everything to them.
Cuphead got on a bottom of a skate ramp and faces both groups.
Cuphead: You see....it all started back at home....Mugman totalled our bikes....which I didn't like at first....he showed me how it works. He was pedaling the bike while I laid back, until.....we saw something that we have never seen before.....
Mikey: What was it, though?
Cuphead: The Devil's pitchfork.
Raph: You shouldn't be messing with stuff like that, though.....
Cuphead: Well....my dumb self touched it anyway....
Mugman: Both of us did.....
Cuphead: Well, mostly me....anyway, we blowed some stuff up, messed around with it for a little bit and we went up on a hill to chill for bit, I was making something with the pitchfork....until....
Cuphead holds his arm and looks down.
Cuphead: The accident happened.....
Leo: What happened?
Cuphead: The Devil happened.....I was gonna give back the pitchfork until I accidentally zapped him.
Leo: (laughs) Oh, man! He must've been so pissed!
Raph nugged Leo in the arm and gave him a stern look.
Leo: Sorry.
Cuphead:......I zapped him a few more times to mess with him and he had enough....he told me my soul debt had expired.....
Mikey: What else happened? Did you give him back the pitchfork?
Cuphead: No.....I didn't.....I zapped him one more time and he got really mad....
Cuphead's eyes started to tear up and Raph notices.
Raph: Hey, you don't have to explain everything if you don't want to....
Cuphead: No, it's okay....anyway, he got really mad and he said he's gonna take something of great value to me....and I thought I didn't have something to care about.....but....I do....and it's not something.....it's someone I care about.....
Leo: Who?
Mugman: Me.
The turtles looked shocked.
Raph: The Devil took you?!
Mugman: Yeah....
Mikey: That must've been really terrible.
All of them except for Raph didn't notice that Cuphead ran off. 
Mugman: Yeah. But it's a good thing Cuphead rescued me and the Devil has his pitchfork back now.
Leo: That's good to hear.
The group chats while Raph walks in the direction Cuphead ran in.
~
With Raph, he found Cuphead outside, sitting on top of a building.
Raph: Cuphead?
Cuphead quickly wipes his eyes and turns to the big turtle with a fake smile.
Cuphead: Hey, Raph! How you doing? I was just getting some fresh air. It's not like was crying or anything. Heh....
Raph walks up to the small cup and sits down next to him.
Raph: Are you sure you're okay? Is something bothering you?
Cuphead leans against Raph with tears in his eyes.
Cuphead: Yeah....
Raph lays a large hand on the small cup's back and looks at him, concerned.
Raph: Is it about your brother?
Cuphead: Yeah....even though I rescued him and he's back with me now....I'm afraid it'll happen again....I'm just afraid of losing the ones I love....it's scary....
Raph: I know the feeling.....
Cuphead: ?
Raph: I get what you're saying....I'm afraid of losing my younger siblings as well....
Cuphead hugs his knees while still leaning against the big turtle.
Cuphead: Heh....
Raph: Y'know....Leo's alot like you....
Cuphead: ?
Rpah: Goofing around, making jokes and not thinking about the consequences of his actions.
Cuphead: Yeah....that does sound like me.....
Raph looks at the small cup, who has tears in his eyes and trying to hold them back.
Raph: It's okay to cry, you know.
Cuphead: I don't want to....it's embarrassing....
Raph: Hey.....
Raph gently lifted the small cup's chin up to face him.
Raph: It's okay to feel this way.... it means that you care about your brother very much....
Cuphead: (sniffle)
Cuphead looks down.
Cuphead:......
Then, Raph gently pulls the small cup into a big hug.
Cuphead:......
Raph: It looked like you needed a hug....
Cuphead:......
Raph: Just let it all out....
Then, Cuphead started to sob into the large turtle and Raph hugs him a bit tighter.
Raph: It's gonna be okay....your brother's gonna be okay....we all are....
~
Meanwhile, with the rest of the group.....
Mikey: Hey, where did Cuphead and Raph go?
April: I think he went to check on Cuphead.
Mugman: I think Cuphead ran off earlier after he told his story....
Leo: Did he get upset or something when you got kidnapped?
Mugman: I guess so.....
April: Is he gonna be alright?
Mugman: Raph's with him. I'm sure he'll be okay.
~
With Raph and Cuphead, they walked back home.
Raph: Just talk to your brother soon about what happened before you rescued him.....
Cuphead: I'm just not ready yet....
Raph: I'm sure he'll understand....but talk to him when you're ready, okay?
Cuphead: Okay....
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! IT'S FINALLY 2023! See ya in the next chapter! BAI! 2023!!! WHOO!!! 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
(01/01/2023)