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Regret was a feeling Scraps had been familiar with.
Ever since Arthur walked into gardenview, saw Dandy again and muttered those words "It was Delilah. Not him."
It had been all she felt.
Ever since than. She had been treated like a ticking timebomb.
It was as if the scars littering Dandy's Body were only now visable.
Specifically the ones she caused.
She knew that during the ichor situation she had a reputation of being a bit violent.
Mostly because of how she took it out on Dandy.
It felt convenient. Having a scapegoat for all of her problems. One Toon had caused everything.
Or so she had thought.
Now though, the other Toons looked at her with a mix of fear and disgust.
Disgust for what she did
And fear for what she is.
She'd sit next to Toons sometimes. They'd never tell her to leave.
But she saw those looks in their eyes.
The way they'd glance towards her at every opportunity. Just to make sure she wouldn't try anything.
Even Goob seemed done with her.
It would've been subtle to any other Toon. But Scraps knew her baby brother.
He'd spend more time outside of the room, more time with anyone other than her.
She knew he wasn't a fan of how she treated Dandy. But she never expected all this.
She never expected to be the one isolated.
She knew it was punishment. Being put through what he was put through.
One thought ran through her head. Every single time.
Every time someone gave her that look
Every time someone whispered about her
Every time Goob ditched her to spent time with someone else.
"I deserve it."
Scraps couldn't really cut herself due to her paper limbs.
So instead she used a stapler.
She'd staple her body in places people and Toons wouldn't notice.
On her stomach, under her sleeves, on her thighs, anywhere.
That same thought would ring in her head all the while.
"I deserve it."
Today wasn't very different. Goob was hanging out with some other Toons. So Scraps was in her room. Alone.
She didn't have anyone to spent time with.
Poppy and her used to be BFFs. Now she hated her guts.
Tisha and her had been amazing friends. But recently Tisha had been avoiding her.
Teagan didn't seem to dislike her. But she could tell she made Rodger feel unsafe.
Shelly hated her guts too.
And she hadn't ever really had any other friends.
"...Guess I don't got much else to do..."
She pulled out a mini stapler from her dresser. It didn't look suspicious at all with all her other crafts supplies.
She lifted her dress and brought the stapler to the side of her stomach. Flinching as she clamped down. Watching droplets of ichor ooze out.
She did it again.
And again.
And again.
Once she ran out of room on her side she switched to the other to continue.
Staple
After staple
After staple
Pierced through her paper skin.
She ran out of room on her sides.
So she moved to her legs.
After a while she stopped flinching.
She was caught off-guard by a knock at her door. Making her accidentally staple herself a bit harder than she meant too.
"Ow! Coming!" She threw her dress back down and out the stapler away.
She ran to her door and opened it. Surprised to see Tisha. "Oh...! Tisha...! Goob isn't here right n-"
"Oh, no I'm not here for him, Scraps. Are you okay? I heard you yelp."
Scraps ears pinned back. Her tail wrapped around one if her own legs.
"Oh... Yeah sorry! You just startled me and I dropped something on my foot!"
"Oh! Sorry! I just wanted to ask if you'd like to spend some time together?"
Scraps ears perked up. "Hmm...?"
"Yeah! With gardenview finally starting back up I feel like I've been too busy to spend time with you. I miss us hanging out!"
Scraps smiled a bit. Almost teary eyed. "Yeah...! I'd love too! Let me grab my stuff!"
Scraps ran into her room. Grabbing her purse and tossing a few things into it. Like her phone.
She ran to Tisha, who was waiting outside the door. "Let's go!"
~~~
This couldn't be going worse.
Tisha and her had just been walking around and talking. It had been going nice.
Until they happen to run into Shelly and Poppy.
The 2 Toons who hated her most.
Unfortunately, Tisha was still friends with them both. And they chatted for a while.
Scraps just stayed silent. Hoping Tisha would get the hint and they could leave.
Instead, they invited them along.
Scraps felt like the 3rd- er 4th wheel now. The other 3 were chatting up a storm. And Scraps was just there.
Like she always was.
Her claws dug into her shoulders. Hard.
Until a sicking rip sound got the other 3's attention.
Scraps looked down at her arm. Which she was now holding.
Tisha shrieked "OH MY GOD SCRAPS YOUR ARM-"
Scraps chuckled. Her ears pinned down. "Don't worry! I'm made of Paper! It happens all the time! I just gotta staple it back on."
Scraps tail thrashed back and fourth. "You 3 have fun! I'll go fix myself up!"
Scraps walked off before waiting for a response.
Poppy nudged Tisha's shoulder "Tish... You good?"
Tisha didn't respond for a bit. Replaying what just happened in her head.
She noticed Scraps tail was wagging. It only wagged when she was upset.
Her ears were pinned back too. And it looked like she had accidentally tore off her own arm.
"Y... Yeah just... Are you guys worried about... Scraps at all...?"
Poppy shrugged "I'm gonna be completely honest, I hate Scraps. I haven't really been paying attention."
Shelly chimed in "Yeah... Same here..."
Tisha sighed. She didn't blame either of them for hating her really. After the whole Dandy situation.
"I... I think I need to go check on her. You guys have fun without me!"
~~~
Scraps slammed her bedroom door shut. Making an audible slam sound that could probably be heard a few rooms down.
She didn't care right now.
She ran to her dresser and grabbed the stapler. Stapling her arm back on and moving it to make sure it still worked.
She tore off her other hand. Stapling it back on.
Than her ear,
Than her leg
She did it over and over again.
She deserved it.
She'll always deserve it.
She didn't even hear Tisha knocking on her door. Nor the same toon calling her name.
She was too caught up in her own pain and actions.
Tearing herself apart and putting herself back together, over and over.
She had just torn off her tail when she felt herself get tackled off her bed onto the ground.
In a fit of both self-directed rage and fear, she tried to use her claws to scratch at whoever had tackled her. But she felt herself get restrained instead.
She thrashed around in their arms for what felt like hours. But was only around 10 minutes, before she had sapped herself of all her energy.
She fell limp. In what she recognized as Tisha's Handler, Tiffany's lap.
Tisha was Infront of her. Saying something. But she didn't understand what through the ringing in her ears.
She couldn't stay conscious for much longer.
~~~
When Scraps woke up, she was in her bed again. Her whole body felt incredibly sore.
She slowly sat up with a groan. Her eyes adjusted to the light. Before they did, she heard a quiet gasp.
As her eyes adjusted she was able to make out the baige, red and blue Toon Infront of her.
"...Hey Goob..." Her voice was weak.
Goobs voice was laced with concern "You... Feel okay...?"
Scraps shook her head. Reaching into her bedside drawer and pulling out a bottle of ibuprofen.
Goobs ears pinned back. "D- Do you have any other pills in there...?"
Scraps looked at him. Confused as she popped 2 ibuprofen into her mouth. "Some... Benadryl... Why...?"
Goob walked over and grabbed both the benadryl and Ibuprofen "Wha- Hey!"
He put them on his bedside drawer "I don't think you're allowed to have any pill bottles right now. Arthur said you're on Suicide Watch."
Scraps ears pinned back "What...!? I don't need to be on Suicide Watch!"
Scraps stood up. Walking towards the door. Only for Goob to grab her. "Hey! Goob put me down!"
Goob held on tight. "No! Arthur told me not to let you leave! I can't risk you getting hurt!"
Scraps tried pushing him off of her. "I'm not going to get hurt you dingus!"
"...Scraps?" Both of them stopped and looked at the much much larger figure in the room.
Arthur.
Goob put her down. "I- I was stopping her from leaving! Like you told m-"
Arthur pat Goobs head. "You did exactly what you needed too. Thank you Goob."
Arthur looked down at Scraps with a caring look. "Could you please follow me, Scraps?"
Scraps nodded nervously. Following Arthur out of the room and into his office.
She sat on a chair across from him. Fidgeting with her tail. Which she now noticed had been super glued back on.
"...Tisha's Handler told me she had seen you tear parts of yourself off. And... She noticed staples all over your body."
Scraps tail wrapped around herself. "M- Mhm..."
"Even in places without any tears..."
Scraps started tearing up. "I- I'm sorry..."
Arthur placed a hand on her shoulder. "You aren't in trouble. And it isn't your fault, Scraps."
"Yes it is."
Scraps avoided eye contact. Looking at the red cup on her tail.
Arthur's expression softened "...Why do you think that...?"
Scraps ears pinned back and Her tail flicked.
"...I'm not a good person Arthur."
Her gaze fixated on him. "You know that."
Arthur's heart broke a bit at that.
When Arthur had first returned and saw the state Dandy was in, he felt disgusted.
Not just at Scraps. But at every Toon who treated him horribly.
Though looking back, he may have been a bit extra harsh on Scraps. Due to the fact she left the most physical injuries.
"That's not true scr-" Scraps cut him off.
"Oh shut it! You wouldn't know a good person if they slapped you upside the head!"
Arthur was taken aback. "Wha- What?-"
Scraps barked back "You abandoned us! All of us! For 10 years! Me and you have 1 thing in common; we're BOTH shitty people."
Scraps pupils turned to slits "I'd argue you're worse." She hopped down from the chair. Arthur didn't react to it. Still in shock.
"...But you being worse doesn't make me a good person." Was all she said before closing the door.
~~~
Scraps wandered aimlessly through Gardenview. Mainly trying to avoid going back to her room with Goob.
She scowled under her breath. She felt bad for being mad at him. But she was.
He avoids her ever since the truth comes out, but once one little incident happens he's suddenly willing to keep her in her room?
She balled her paw into a fist. Resisting the urge to punch the wall.
She didn't want to seem more violent that she already did.
Eventually she sat down in the library. By herself, as usual.
She had picked up some random book about cats fighting in the woods. Goob mentioned he liked it.
She read in silence. Occasionally peeking up.
Toons visited the library semi frequently. So it wasn't uncommon to see friend groups hanging out.
It made her tail flick every time.
About halfway through the book she felt someone put a hand on her shoulder.
She glanced over to see Tisha. Looking at her with concern. "...Hey..."
Scraps let out a hum of acknowledgement. Tisha continued. "How are you feeling...?"
Scraps sighed. "...Sore..." "I figured you'd be..." She grabbed a mini mirror from her bag and passed it to her.
Scraps looked herself up and down. Her whole body was littered in staples. Loosely and carelessly holding parts of her in place.
"...Oh god..." Her ears pinned back.
She looked hideous.
She shoved the mirror back at Tisha and turned away from her. Hugging her knees. "God, don't look at me. I look like a freak."
Tisha rubbed her hand up and down her back comfortingly "No you aren't. You look beautiful to me."
Tisha slapped her hand over her mouth. Her face turning a deep blue from blush.
Scraps eyes widened. Her face turned red.
She looked back at Tisha. "...Did you mean that...?"
Tisha murmured out quietly, as if scared someone would hear. "Y- Yeah... I did..."
At first, Scraps took Tisha's nervousness as proof she was lying.
But Tisha wasn't the only one good at reading others body language.
She could see Tisha's lips curling into a faint smile.
The way her face was much deeper blue than usual.
The was she fidgeted with her dresses frills.
Scraps smiled. "You're beautiful too..."
Tisha gasped a little. Once she processed what just happened she smiled "You mean that...?"
Scraps sat up. A faint smile on her tired face "I do..."
Tisha giggled a bit. Not able to look Scraps in the eyes.
Scraps leaned against Tisha. Purring gently.
Tisha smiled. It was the first time she had heard her purr in months.
"I didn't realize how muched I missed hearing you purr..." Scraps purred louder at that.
Tisha and Scraps sat in silence together for a while. Before Tisha finally spoke. "We're gonna need to talk about what happened eventually."
Scraps let out a sigh "Yeah... I know... I'm... Sorry you had to see that..."
Tisha wrapped an arm around her. "Hey, don't apologize. It's fine. Really. I'm just glad you're safe..."
Scraps smiled a bit at that. "God, you're so sweet."
She couldn't see Tisha's face from her current angle. But she could feel the heat radiating off her face.
After a while of silence Tisha looked back at her. "...Aren't you supposed to be in your room...? I overheard Tiffany say you were on like... Suicide Watch?"
Scraps groaned. "Yeah. Goob tried to stop me from leaving my room this morning. Arthur took me back to his office and after we finished I just left and wandered around."
Scraps went silent. Looking at the ground. Concerning Tisha. But after a moment, Scraps continued.
"...I can't go back to my room for a while. I'm... I'm too Angry at Goob..."
Tisha put a hand on her shoulder. "He just wanted to help you..."
Scraps scoffed. "He's been avoiding me since Arthur came back... He hates me like everyone else..."
Tisha's gaze softened. "You don't really think that..."
Scraps glanced at Tisha. But she couldn't find any words. So she glanced back down at the floor silently.
Tisha wrapped her arms around her. "Scraps... I promise you not everyone here hates you..."
Scraps ears pinned back. "They do. And we both know they can't be blamed."
"There are a few Toons who don't like you, I'm sure. But not everyone hates you. Me and Goob really care about you. We want you to stay safe."
Scraps didn't reply. She didn't know how.
She knew Tisha cared about her. Even if she had thought she was avoiding her. But she didn't believe Goob still cared about her.
They sat in silence for a while. Before finally Tisha spoke. "Would you like to come back to my room? I know you don't want to go back to your room..."
Scraps loosely wrapped her tail around Tisha's arm. "That sounds perfect..."
~~~
This wasn't what she had expected.
She expected she'd be sleeping on Tisha's couch. But Tisha claimed it wasn't clean. Despite it looking fine.
A part of her wondered if it was her OCD or her sneaky way of trying to get her into her bed.
Welp, if that's what it was it sure as hell worked.
Tisha had a pretty big bed. So they weren't touching. But they were in the same bed. Which was enough to turn Scraps face red hot.
Tisha looked absolutely gorgeous in her lacey white night gown.
Scraps had a hard time keeping her eyes off her.
It made her feel like a creep.
She tried falling asleep by lying on her back and not looking at Tisha.
But it was like trying to ignore the most beautiful Sunset to her.
Eventually, as it started getting later and later (eventually, technically earlier, as it passed Midnight) she finally started feeling tired enough to fall asleep.
She rolled onto her side so she could look at Tisha.
She smiled a bit. Purring as her eyes finally closed.