Coding Error [OFF x Reader]

18. What We Have [Sugar]

"Ow ow ow,"

Zacharie complains while you examine the bruises on his arms, almost as dark as his tattoos. If you were able to see his face you know he's most likely bruised there too since his mask is littered with dents. You hope those can be fixed with the miraculous healing block.

The puzzle you pick seemed easy at first. It's a plain storage building with a checkered platform floor, there are heavy cannons inside the building walls that fire every time you make a wrong step unless you guess the right pattern. The reason your team has been struggling is that each hit takes away 1/4 of your maximum health.

You were left out from trying this dangerous puzzle. But there are only a certain amount of tries your add ons can take before they're left bruised and beaten.

It's too painful for you to see them keep going on like this.

Batter isn't looking so good either, but he's trying to play the tough guy in front of you, you bet he'd keep the pain to himself even if he had a couple of broken ribs. Meanwhile, Zacharie is the complete opposite, letting you know how hurt he is so you would attend to him.

You raise a hand to your chin. Contemplating your options, you didn't make up your mind until a pleasant memory regarding a certain pedalo came up. "I think I know who can help. But while I'm gone, you two are gonna rest up and watch the elevator door."

"Fine." Zacharie grunts.

"Normally I wouldn't allow you to leave of your own-" Batter tries to give you a stern fatherly speech, but you gave him a small poke to the ribs before he could continue. "Hng- but I'll make an exception this once." he winced at the pain.

______

It wasn't too hard to find Sugar again, thankfully. After that mess at the tunnels you were terrified at the thought of finding her passed out over the edge of the river, but she looked as fresh as lettuce when you saw her chilling near the stationed pedalos.

"Clumsy, so happy to see your tee hee~" the woman giggles happily, laying comfortably on the swan-shaped boat.

"Likewise, how are you feeling since... Ya know."

The young woman waves a hand in the air, "I'm splendid, just needed a nap. Well, that and a few consumables from that thingy~" she points to her far right. You follow her finger to notice a broken down vending machine, left completely wrecked, unfunctional and empty. It's not too hard to connect one and one.

"Heh I can tell. You look rather refreshed," you nod." Anyway, I came here cause I wanted to ask your help with something."

This sparked Sugar's interest, crawling off her pedalo in record time before you even said a word. "Tell me Pajarito, what am I good for~?" she giggles once more, almost sensually even.

During your walk through the alleyways, you try to explain the current puzzle to Sugar the best way you can while she walks at a steady pace, almost looking like ballet prance, covering a good amount of terrain due to her height. Now that you have a good look at her, Sugar is most likely taller than Batter.

"What a woman~" you found yourself sighing pleasantly.

"What was that?" Sugar turns to look at you.

You blush slightly, waving a hand in their air. "Oh, uh nothing. Just wondering how the guys are doing." you half-lie since you do worry about them, but Sugar didn't seem to tell the difference.

"Ooh, that's right. I should've noticed your cavalry isn't here tee hee~" The young woman walks a tad closer to you, unconsciously leaning you against the wall. "Someone like you shouldn't be left alone, silly." Sugar gives you another smile, but this one feels more mischievous in a way.

Is it you or did her voice lower an octave?

"Why? Is it because of the weird monsters or those glitches out elsen?" you ask her, feeling yourself getting passively pushed towards the wall.

"Not exactly," She hums. Almost immediately after Sugar starts humming, her hand slams against the wall beside you, placing her arm in front of you and forcing you to look at her. "Who knows what other weirdos are out there preying over pretty birdies... like you~"

Is she threatening me or flirting with me?

You could feel your mouth go dry, barely swallowing as you feel your face grow flush and warm. "It's a good thing I have you here with me," you reply smoothly, tucking a strand of her hair bangs behind her ear, eventually patting her shoulder.

Sugar's smile didn't move an inch, but you do hear what sounds like rumbling coming from her chest.

"True, almost like someone wanted us here~" she removes her hand from the wall like nothing happened, giving you some space as she prances in the direction you two are heading for.

"Wha-? uh, Let's keep going I guess? " you cough in your fist, trying to avoid the way your ear is ringing.

By the time you catch up to Sugar she's already inside the storage building and it's checkered like platform. The young woman eyes the platform curiously before taking a step on it, you're freaked out, afraid of seeing her get hurt.

"Be careful of the-!" you didn't get a chance to finish your warning when a cannonball shot directly at Sugar. She bent over slightly after the shot, trembling a little, but even then she didn't stop giggle.

"Tee hee, so this is what's troubling you canario," the young woman stands straight despite the attack. "It'll just make this task all the more fun~"

You're left awestruck, there was a slight suspicion that Sugar can tank hits but you never imagined how much until now. Despite the battlefield around her Sugar started dancing ballet, dodging or tanking any hit sent her way with every incorrect step. If Batter was here, he would never admit that Sugar managed to cover half of the platform in less time than both he and Zach did. You're left at the edge of your toes, unable to peel your eyes off of Sugar. Both worried and amazed at her dance.

Before you knew it a small ding! the sound pulled you from the spectacle, reverting to your current reality. It almost felt like a dream. The checkered floor cleared out, turning into one solid color as the cannons retrieve back inside the walls.

"Sugar you did it! You solved the puzzle!" you clap proudly at her.

"Easy peasy~" Sugar giggles. She looks fine, but the marks on her abdomen tell you otherwise, rushing to her side.

"Oh gosh Sugar are you hurt? Let me patch you up!" you rummage through your inventory for any spare luck tickets.

Sugar tilts her head to the side, amused with your worry for her. "Did you like it~?"

You lift your head. "Did I like what?"

"My dance, I wanted to perform a choreograph for you"

"Wait, really?" you ask flabbergasted. "I don't know what to say..."

Sugar nods happily, taking sitting on the floor with her legs crossed together. She's somewhat tired, panting lightly as she wipes the sweat off her forehead. You're more than flustered, your whole body feels warm, cozy, and mushy on the inside. But your attention switched from yourself to Sugar, she's bruised like Batter and Zach, and although she's holding up stronger than both of them she still looks in pain.

"I love it! It's the first time someone has ever giving me a gift like that, though I would've preferred you wouldn't get hurt after performing." You dig out a luck ticket from your inventory, ripping it near Sugar, letting the sparks heal her.

"I don't mind getting hurt for you pajarito," she leans forward, resting her forehead on yours. "In fact I also wouldn't mind performing for you a little more."

Before you could ask what she's referring to, you hear another ding, a noise designated to when a text box pops up.

Sugar has joined your party.