Shattered

[Can take place at any point in the timeline; relationship is left purposefully ambiguous]

Paper was sitting in his room at the hotel, peacefully folding origami. Of course, it would be a quick gift for OJ... who else would it be for?

It wasn't for any particular occasion, he just thought the last few weeks had been pretty stressful, for both of them. And he thought a cute little origami flower might be able to cheer him up!

The flower was pretty much almost done by now, and he was super proud of how it turned out, especially considering the fact he wasn't really an expert in-

The door to his room was flung open, and his least favourite person on the entirety of Inanimate Planet stepped inside.

"Ugh! Paper! There you are! Do you know where my, like, boyfriend is?"

"No, Salt, I don't know where OJ is."

He was just trying to keep himself calm and collected. No matter how much he wanted to just-

"Woah... what's this?"

She asked, walking over to the desk, picking up the flower and creasing it.

Paper snatched it out of her hands.

"DON'T TOUCH THAT! It's not done!-"

"...Jeez, I just wanted to like, know. Seems lame anyway. Whatever, do you think you could like, help me out?"

"No, Salt, I'm pretty busy-"

Paper knew that his answer wouldn't matter, of course, this wouldn't be Salt if she actually listened to a word anyone else said.

"So like, it's been AGES since me and OJ last talked, and I really think we're made for each other, but he's apparently too busy with hotel stuff or whatever. So I was wondering if you could do all that boring hotel stuff so I can go out with him? Then he'll see that he likes me!"

Paper took a deep breath. Deep breaths. He couldn't snap now.

"Look, Salt, I see where you're coming from, but I'm afraid I just... can't. OJ would NEVER let me take on his responsibilities like that, I know how he is. So even if-"

"Why not? Can't you just like, try? You're so rude! Like, I'm just asking you to do me a teensy favour, and you're being so unhelpful! Isn't it your JOB to help people? OJ wouldn't keep you around if you were useless. So why can't you help me ask out MY boyfriend?!"

"HE. IS. NOT. YOUR BOYFRIEND!"

He shot up from his position on the desk, whipping around to face her.

He couldn't take it anymore. He'd listened to Salt's whining over how she couldn't have OJ time and time again... about how 'her boyfriend's been neglecting her' or how 'OJ won't go out with her' or just- anything!

It's the exact same nonsense being spewed at him every. SINGLE. DAY.

He'd FINALLY had enough of listening to her obsessive rambles. He wanted her to finally just... shut up and listen, to see what was so obvious to everyone else.

OJ was NOT interested in Salt. Years of being his best friend and running Hotel OJ alongside him showed him that.

Maybe, if he actually reciprocated her feelings, they'd already be a couple by now. Paper's heart would ache whenever he saw them, yes, and he'd be in complete shambles, but at least OJ would be happy. He just wanted what was best for OJ, after all.

But no. He'd instead been forced to listen to this incompetent fool blabber on and on about how she was chasing a man who'd never even give her a speck of attention.

"HOW HARD IS IT TO UNDERSTAND THAT OJ DOESN'T CARE FOR YOUR EXISTENCE ONE BIT? ARE YOU SERIOUSLY THAT BLIND AND ARROGANT THAT YOU CAN'T SEE WHAT'S RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU?"

His hands clenched into fists at his sides, taking a step forward.

"OJ WAS NEVER YOURS, AND HE NEVER WILL BE YOURS, BECAUSE HE. DOESN'T. LOVE. YOU! I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO LISTEN TO YOU GO ON AND ON ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM SOOO MUCH, WHEN I REALLY COULDN'T CARE ONE BIT!"

He didn't catch the guilt that had swallowed up her face whole. He couldn't really catch anything at the moment. All he saw was red.

"ARE YOU THAT SELFISH THAT YOU THINK THE WHOLE UNIVERSE REVOLVES AROUND YOU? THAT IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM, IT'S SUDDENLY THE PROBLEM OF EVERYONE ELSE ON THE GODDAMN PLANET? HAS IT EVER OCCURRED TO YOU THAT, I HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN LISTEN TO YOUR INCESSANT, CHILDISH WHINING ALL THE DAMN TIME, OT IS IT REALLY THAT IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOUR MINUSCULE BRAIN TO COMPREHEND?"

Salt was trembling now, backing away from Paper as he stepped closer... and closer... as if she was really afraid that she could end up with a gaping hole in her if she didn't keep her distance.

"DON'T YOU HAVE BETTER THINGS TO DO THAN TO CHASE A MAN THAT'LL NEVER. EVER. LOVE YOU BACK? DOES IT NOT GET TIRING TRYING THE SAME DAMN THING EVERY SINGLE MINUTE OF EVERY SINGLE DAY? DON'T YOU HAVE A FUCKING LIFE OUTSIDE OF YOUR OBSESSION?! BECAUSE I REALLY THINK YOU NEED TO FIND ONE, SINCE ALL YOU SEEM TO BE DOING RIGHT NOW IS RUINING MINE!"

Paper's voice finally had enough, breathing heavily now, his throat feeling a little sore as silence engulfed the room.

He'd been so caught up in his rant that he hadn't seemed to realise just how scared Salt looked. Just a moment ago, he'd had so much wrath and fury that it was honestly reminiscent of Evil Paper...

...Could Evil Paper have been in control there for a minute?-

None of that really mattered right now, as he was standing in front of a completely stunned, speechless Salt...

...and a certain cylindrical glass of orange juice behind her.

Oh.

Oh.

Paper's eyes widened a little, suddenly feeling... a lot more shameful about his outburst.

When... when exactly did OJ get here?-

He looked... awfully confused, almost like he was frozen in place.

"I- OJ, I didn't-"

"Salt. Could you... give us a minute?"

Salt had no problem stepping out of the room, taking slow steps as she gave them a moment.

OJ stepped forward, watching as Paper's face flushed a little from the embarrassment.

"Hey. I'm not mad, y'know..."

Paper's eyes flickered up towards OJ's, seeing the appreciative kindness within them, and tilted his head in slight confusion.

"You... aren't?-"

"Nah... someone had to tell her what she was doing was creeping everyone else out."

Paper's expression shifted from confusion to guilt at OJ's amused smirk, sighing to himself.

"But... but I completely blew up in her face!"

"And I'm surprised it took you so long. You had all the right to yell at her, honestly... she's been a complete menace for as long as I can remember."

He stared at OJ for a few more moments, seeing just how grateful he truly was. It was good to know that he wasn't being delusional when he saw just how frustrated OJ was with Salt... that his own frustration was definitely justified, and not just him being petty.

"...Yeah... thank you, OJ...-"

"It's nothing."

OJ gave him one of those classic cocky little smirks, as if he were about to say the most teasing words ever uttered, turning his gaze to his desk.

"And what's this?"

He picked up the flower with much more grace than Salt had, his gaze flickering to Paper's face, which was heating up even faster than he expected it to.

"Ah, well, it's- it's nothing, really... just a little something I was working on for you. It isn't done yet though."

OJ hummed in understanding, shifting the flower around in his fingers, noticing how every crevice was perfectly crafted with so much love and care...

"...Do you think I can keep it like this?"

Paper was somewhat surprised by the idea, glancing at the flower as he spoke again.

"I mean... I guess, but why? So close to being done?"

"Well... you've pretty much got the essence of a flower here already. I don't really need a perfect one. And this flap's sorta cute."

He explained, fiddling with said flap to emphasise his point, earning a chuckle from Paper as he rolled his eyes.

"...Well, if you say so."