LEGGY ii
"Krabby Patty...chum...Krabby Patty...chum..."
Plankton blushed. "I said, stop it!" he yelled, his voice cracking.
Sponge Bob's smile faded as he saw the hurt in his friend's eye. "Patrick, enough," he said firmly.
"Oh, come on," he said, trying to sound casual.
But Plankton was not amused. "I said STOP!"
Tears welled up in his eye, threatening to spill over. "Why are you laughing at me?" he choked out, his voice cracking. "All you can do is mock me?"
"Plankton, we weren't—"
But Plankton cut him off, voice trembling. "I know you think I'm just a joke, but I'm not!" He couldn't hold it in, and a tear rolled down his cheek.
Sponge Bob's eyes widened in shock. "Plankton," he said softly, reaching for his friend's hand. "We're just happy you're ok."
But Plankton's jerking away. "No, you're not!" he sobbed. "You think I'm amusement!" His voice grew louder. "You think because I'm small and have one eye that I don't have feelings?"
They had never seen Plankton like this before, and it was clear that their teasing had gone too far.
"Plankton, sorry," Sponge Bob said sincerely, voice full of emotion. "We didn't mean to make you feel that way. We really do care about you."
Patrick looked down. "Yeah, man, just happy you're ok."
Plankton's sniffles grew, hiding his face in the pillow. "I'm not a joke, not just some...some...someone to laugh at."
Sponge Bob's heart clenched at the pain in Plankton's voice. "We know, Plankton," he said gently. "I’m really sorry."
"We didn't mean to upset you," Patrick added, his voice much softer than before. "We wanted to keep things light."
Sponge Bob reached over and patted Plankton's shoulder. "We know you're not a joke," he said. "You're our friend, and we care. But you're right, Plankton. We shouldn't have laughed."
Plankton's sniffling slowed, shoulders relaxing slightly. "It's ok," he murmured. "I know you meant well Sponge Bob."
Patrick shifted uncomfortably. "Look, Plankton," he said, his voice sincere. "I just thought it was funny, you know?"
"It's not funny, Patrick," he said, his voice trembling. "I'm not some sort of circus act for you to laugh at!"
Patrick's smile disappeared, and he looked at Plankton with a mix of surprise and guilt. "Hey, buddy, I didn't mean it like that. I just thought it was weird, you know, the stuff you say when you're out of it."
"Weird?!" he spat, his voice rising.
Sponge Bob's face fell. "Pat you should
apologize," he suggested quietly.
Patrick nodded. "Plankton, man. I didn't mean to make you feel like that."
But Plankton was not in a forgiving mood. "Don't you call me 'buddy' or 'man'!" he yelled, his tiny fist pounding the bed. "You think you can just come and laugh at me?!"
Patrick took a step back, his eyes wide with shock. "I—"
But Plankton wasn't finished. "I've had enough! I'm not your entertainment! I'm not some pathetic excuse for a laugh! You think my pain is a joke?" he yelled, his voice echoing off the metal walls of the Chum Bucket. "You think because I'm small and I've only got one eye, I don't feel anything?"
Patrick's reaching to him, hand touching on his. "Plankton, I didn't mean—"
But Plankton jerked, pushing him away, his eye flashing with anger. "Don't touch me!" he spat. "You don't get to act like you care now!"
"But, Plankton," he said, his voice small. "I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
Plankton turned away, antennae drooping. "Just go," he said, his voice muffled by the tears. "Patrick, just let me alone."
"Plankton," he began, his voice thick with regret. "I'm sorry, ok? I just want to show you that I'm sorry."
Patrick, his expression earnest, took another step closer. His arms remained outstretched, his fingers curling slightly as he reached for Plankton. "Come on! It'll make you feel better. I know you're in pain. Let me help."
He leaned in, his massive arms closing around Plankton's frail form. "It's ok," he murmured, his voice gentle. "You're not weird, and you're not a joke. You're our friend, we're here."
Plankton's eye grew even wider, his tiny fists balling up the bedsheets. "Get off me!" he yelled, his voice cracking. "I don't need you!"
But Patrick's grip remained firm, his arms enveloping Plankton in a bear hug. "You don't have to be tough all the time," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.
Plankton struggled against him, his tiny fists pummeling Patrick's chest. "Let me go!" he yelled, his voice raw with pain and humiliation. "I said I don't want your pity!"
Sponge Bob watched. "Pat," he said, his voice a warning. "Maybe we should—"
Plankton's struggling grew weaker, his sobs becoming more pronounced. "I don't want your help," he choked out.
But Patrick held on. "You do," he said, his voice firm yet gentle. "Everyone needs help sometimes."
Plankton's sobs grew louder, his fists slowly unclenching.
"Just go!" he yelled, his voice muffled by the fabric. "I don't want you!"
Patrick took a step away from the bed, his hands dropping to his sides. "Ok, ok," he said, his voice soothing. "I'll go. But let…”
But Plankton was having none of it. "Get out!" he screamed. "I don’t need your pity or your friendship!"
Patrick took a step back, his expression a mix of confusion and hurt. "But Plankton," he began, his voice tentative.
"Out!" Plankton shrieked, his tiny body writhing with rage. His antennae shot up straight, eye wet with tears with frustration.
"But, Plankton," he protested, his voice gentle despite the yelling. "I just want to make sure you're ok."
"I said leave me alone!" Plankton screamed, his one eye flashing with anger. "You think you can just waltz in here and laugh?"
Patrick's expression fell, his arms dropping to his sides as he took a step back. "I’m just trying to lighten the mood," he said, his voice laced with confusion.
But Plankton was beyond consolation. "Get out!" he shrieked again, his voice cracking with emotion. "I don't need your kind of 'help'!"
Sponge Bob looked at Patrick. He knew that Plankton's outburst was a result of pain and embarrassment.
Patrick's face fell. "Plankton," he said, his voice low and gentle.
But Plankton was too far gone. "I said leave me alone!" he yelled, his voice echoing through the metal walls of the Chum Bucket.
Patrick's smile disappeared, replaced by a look of genuine worry. "But Plankton," he said, his voice tentative. "I’m just trying to help."
"Help?" Plankton's voice was filled with disdain. "You think mocking me is helping? It’s not, not ok!" He swiped at his tears with his arm, his anger palpable. "Get out!"
Patrick looked at Sponge Bob, his expression a mix of confusion and sadness. "I just trying to—"
"I said, leave. me. alone!" Plankton's voice pierced the air.
"But I just wanted to—"
Sponge Bob put a hand on his shoulder, his gaze firm. "I know, Pat," he said. "But I think Plankton needs some space right now."
Patrick looked at Plankton, and then back at Sponge Bob. With a heavy sigh, he nodded. "Okay," he said, his voice subdued. "I'll go. But, Sponge
Bob, tell him I'm sorry."
Sponge Bob nodded solemnly. "I will," he said, his gaze never leaving Plankton's trembling form.
Patrick gave a sad nod and turned to leave, his footsteps heavy on the metal floor. As the door clicked shut behind him, Plankton's sobs grew quieter, and the room was once again filled with an awkward silence.
Sponge Bob approached the bed, his heart aching for his friend. He knew Plankton's outburst was not directed at him, but rather at the pain and embarrassment he was feeling. He sat down gently beside the trembling form, his eyes filled with empathy.
"Plankton," he said softly, placing a comforting hand on Plankton's bed. "I know you're upset, but we care."
Plankton's sobs grew quieter, his body still shaking with the aftermath of his outburst. He didn't look up from the pillow, but his grip on the bedsheets loosened slightly.
"It's tough," he said, voice gentle.
Plankton's sobs grew quieter, body still shaking with the aftermath of his outburst. But Sponge Bob's words resonated with him, cutting through the haze. He took a deep breath, chest heaving with the effort of containing his emotions. "I don't want anyone else," he murmured, his voice muffled by the pillow. "Just you, and Karen."
Sponge Bob's grip on his shoulder tightened slightly, his heart swelling with affection for his troubled friend. "Okay, Plankton," he said softly. "It's just us."
Plankton's gradually relaxing under the warmth of Sponge Bob's touch. He knew he could trust Sponge Bob, that his friend's intentions were always pure. Despite their many differences and the occasional misunderstanding, Sponge Bob had always been there.
Sponge Bob gently rubbed Plankton's back, his movements slow and soothing. "It's ok, Plankton," he murmured. "I'm here, for you."
Plankton's sobs grew quieter as he clutched the pillow to his chest. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I didn't mean to snap, at you."
Sponge Bob leaned in closer, his voice filled with warmth. "Don't worry about it," he said. "We all have moments."
Plankton took another shaky breath, his body slowly calming down. "Thanks, Sponge
Bob," he murmured, voice still thick with emotion.
Sponge Bob nodded, his hand still rubbing circles on Plankton's back. "It's ok," he said. "We all get overwhelmed sometimes."
Plankton's antennae twitched, and he looked up at Sponge Bob with his watery eye. Sponge Bob nodded solemnly. "Patrick can be a little clueless sometimes, but he's got a good heart."
Plankton's antennae drooped slightly. "I know," he said, voice still shaky.
Sponge Bob gave him a smile. "I can talk to him, but only if you want me to," he said. "Make sure he knows not to laugh about it."
Plankton nodded, still trembling with emotion. "Thank you, Sponge Bob," he whispered.
"Of course, Plankton," he said. "That's what friends are for."