The Secret Formula (Is You)
strawberry_fieldz
Summary:
After all these years of searching for the secret formula, SpongeBob miraculously (and very unceremoniously) reveals it to Plankton when they are dating.
Stats:Published:2024-07-03Words:759
Days spent with Spongebob were usually full of excitement and adventure, which is why it was so surprising that today had been so relaxed. A walk, a picnic, and now lying together while cloud-watching. They were against the plush green grass of the field where Spongebob had chosen their date to take place. It might’ve even been the same field where they’d first bonded over ‘fun’. Spongebob was sentimental like that.
“Look! That one looks like a dinosaur!” Spongebob said and pointed up at the sky.
Plankton squinted up at the cloud in question. He wasn't wrong, it did share an uncanny resemblance to an ancient sea monster.
“Hey, how about that one?” He pointed to a different one and Spongebob followed his finger with a smile. “It looks like a doomsday device!”
Spongebob frowned. “Plankton, you’re not very good at this. That’s the third time you’ve said that!”
“Whaaat? I can’t help if they all look like deadly weapons of mass destruction.” Plankton shrugged.
Spongebob breathed in a sigh and decided not to press the issue. They both returned to content silence as Plankton folded his hands over his stomach, grinning softly.
It wasn’t in Plankton’s nature to smile so often and a strange sense of calm washed over him. The sky was so blue and the day quiet (save for the occasional chirping clam) while his back stretched across SpongeBob’s shirt. One of SpongeBob’s fingers came up to rub his head affectionately and Plankton’s eye closed in bliss.
“This is nice,” Spongebob mumbled.
Really nice, Plankton couldn’t help but agree.
“It is,” was what he said instead.
So rarely before did he stop to enjoy life’s moments like this, the way Spongebob had grown accustomed to. It was unusual but Plankton wished this moment would last an eternity. And yet… once Plankton got too comfortable, he would inevitably ruin things.
“So… what’s the secret formula?” he asked. He said it so casually he’d hoped Spongebob would answer without thinking, as if on instinct.
Though, realistically, he expected the porous sponge to gasp and maybe snap at him, reminding him that even their relationship didn’t change the fact they were business rivals. He’d probably get a good scolding too, while he was at it.
Instead, Spongebob matched his nonchalant tone and simply blurted, “There isn’t one.”
It was comedic how fast Plankton sprang up, head swiveling to face Spongebob as his eyebrow wrinkled.
“What?” He was certain it was a joke, it had to be a joke.
Spongebob just stared at him with a smile. “There’s not a secret ingredient,” he assured him, letting out a bemused giggle. “Well- at least, not a food one.”
“What are you saying?”
“Sheldon…” Spongebob only called him by his name when he was being serious. He sat up a bit and caught Plankton in his hand, holding him close to his face. “The secret is love.”
“You’re kidding me,” Plankton deadpanned.
"DYAHAHAHAHA!" Spongebob burst into boisterous laughter while Plankton sighed, mindless helplessly trying to catch up with the turn of events. “Nope! I just make them with lots of love!”
Plankton put a hand on his head, which was starting to hurt.
“So…” he spoke slowly. “This whole time… the secret ingredient was your love?”
“When you put it that way…” SpongeBob’s tongue poked out as he thought about it and then nodded. “Yeah, I guess so.”
Plankton shook his head and couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of the situation. All that time and the answer to the formula has been right in front of him. There was no answer, but Spongebob was the answer.
He kept laughing and lay on SpongeBob's hand, staring at the colorful sky and feeling the breeze against his antennas. Life felt good. Why did he never realize life could feel this way? Up until now, he’d existed in a constant state of anger and hate. It was nice to let go, to bask in someone else’s love, and finally feel good.
“I love you, SpongeBob,” he eventually said with a small, happy sigh.
The sponge, who’d been a little worried with his bout of sudden laughter, smiled. He gently kissed the little critter's head. “I love you too, Plankton.”
A moment of silence passed as the two relaxed again. Then Plankton opened his mouth, taking a breath-
“No, I’m not going to cook Krabby Patties for you to help you take over the world,” SpongeBob interrupted him, rolling his eyes good-naturedly.
“Oh, tartar sauce,” Plankton grumbled and crossed his arms. “You’re no fun.”
Notes:
Oh hey, it's my first plankbob fic! This is dedicated to/inspired by my friend Lee aka @criticalcurve on Twitter. Also, this was inspired by this art by @CaeDios!
There's also a The Good Place reference in this, sorry.