Blooregard

It was Friday the thirteenth, so things were already unlucky. Thus far today, Bloo had narrowly avoided getting his head bitten off by an Extreme-o-Saur, not to mention almost becoming an amputee when said Extreme-o-Saur had attempted to bite off his arm instead. Bloo's strength was flagging and he knew he didn't have much more left in him. The Extreme-o-Saur, by contrast, had enough energy for days. It was the Energizer Imaginary and Bloo was just the poor schmuck forced to challenge it.

It resembled a giant shark, except its lower body was like a rock snake, coiling and uncoiling and ready to snap at the slightest provocation. Bloo had already received a few blows from its tail and he was pretty sure his right shoulder was broken. He'd lost all feeling in his right arm.

So, to sum up, he was running out of energy, his right arm (which was his dominant arm) wasn't responding, and, oh, yeah, Extreme-o-Saur coming to end his life. Things couldn't possibly get any worse. Except, of course, you should never say that, because you tempt the fates. The Extreme-o-Saur rounded on him and cornered him, a mean feat in a circular arena. Bloo slid along the sides and stared into Goo's face or, rather, its facsimile. Damn it, he was sick and tired of fighting this battle over and over. Maybe for once, he could give up and let himself die.

Then someone jerked him to the side and he turned his head. There shouldn't be anyone else in the arena. He was supposed to be alone, fighting to the death, and the spectators, jeering and cheering, as well as the snake, vanished. Instead, he felt someone shake him gently and then, seeing as it produced no response, more vigorously.

"Bloo, wake up!"

Mac's voice. Mac, his beloved creator. Mac had finally come to rescue him. Bloo smiled; Mac would imagine up something that could defeat the beast and then swoop in and save him. All he needed to do was lie back and wait.

"Bloo!" Mac's voice grew sharper and Bloo wrinkled his nose. What had he done to irritate him now? Bloo blinked and slowly, too slowly, the dream's environs disappeared. Instead, he discovered himself in an unfamiliar bed with Mac on his left and Goo on his right. Goo's appearance startled him enough to push away the dream's remnants.

"You were having a nightmare," Mac soothed. "You were back in the arena, I think."

Goo was awake too and staring at her lap. They were all dressed in nightclothes. Despite their first consummation, both Bloo and Goo were reluctant to engage in further sexual activities. Mac was reluctant too, thanks to Richie. If he hadn't been dead, he would have wanted him dead again. And again.

But group cuddling was okay. Bloo shivered and Mac hugged him. Goo touched his hand.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm sorry about the arena."

"You weren't doing it because you wanted to," Bloo said. His eyes burned. "I thought, maybe, I'd finally lose and be able to let it all go."

Mac stiffened, alarm writ large upon his face. "No."

Bloo offered him a weak smile. "You weren't in the arena, Mackenzie. You don't know what it was like. The Friday night fights were brutal."

"I know and I hate myself for leaving you there," Mac said gently. "But I'm glad you're alive."

"If I ever get stuck on Earth again, kill me," Bloo said. "Especially if I become DIE's property again."

"Same goes for me," Goo said softly. "I'd rather die than be DIE's puppet again."

None of them mentioned Terrence. They didn't have to. Even though he was dead, his specter haunted them. Some people would just not take the hint.

"You'll never end up on Earth again," Mac swore.

"Mac, Mac, Mac," Bloo replied with a sad smile. "Don't make promises you can't keep."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" Mac asked sharply.

"It means what I say it means," Bloo said and patted Mac's cheek. His gaze hooked onto his chest and the line that nearly bisected his creator. He abruptly remembered that while he'd been fighting for his life, so had Mac. His throat tightened and he had a sudden temptation to do something to prove how much he loved him, but he wasn't sure how well Mac would receive it.

"What?" Mac asked, frowning at him.

Bloo was uncharacteristically shy. This felt like uncharted territory for them. Instead, he dropped his gaze to Mac's lap and then back up to his face enough times for his creator to get the hint. Mac reddened and then, just when Bloo was positive he was going to say 'no', he nodded. Bloo grinned and set to, hoping that maybe, somehow, he'd be able to erase Richie's influence on him.