Work Text:
And there was Pim Pimling.
Although he was hurt, there was nothing left for him to do but resign himself and suffer in silence.
After the monotonous and indifferent answer about cryptostuff, he discreetly turned his gaze to his colleague.
Seated on the other side of the table, his hands stained with gravy, drinking the wine as if it were crystal-clear water, and in the company of…well, her.
The only reason he had brought someone from his awful family was because Charlie showed up with Zoey.
In his eagerness to prevent his stupid coworker from seeing him alone, or defeated. In his insistence that he not realize how painful it was to see him in the company of anyone other than himself.
And as Marge entered the room, holding that “traditional dish” from her country (which, besides being strange, was quite disgusting, but Glep seemed to like it a lot), Pim continued imagining what it would be like if they were together. They had arrived at dinner hand in hand, chatting amiably with everyone as they shared the meal. His imagination was so vivid he could almost feel Charlie's hand affectionately resting on his leg under the table as he gave him a knowing smile; tears were threatening to spill.
- "HEY, DON'T TOUCH ME!"- Charlie's voice echoed in the room.
- "Don’t ever touch me."
An overwhelming silence filled the dining room. The only emotion on everyone's faces was bewilderment.
Before Pim could react, an argument with an "unexpected guest" erupted after he launched into a monologue alluding to racism. To everyone's surprise, Charlie, who also seemed quite sober, was the first to confront him.
It all ended with Mr. Boss's security guards ejecting the man from the premises, and after the awkward moment, everyone seemed to have forgotten Charlie's treatment of his companion.
Everyone except Pim.
A while later, Christmas dinner came to an end. Everyone said their goodbyes, ready to enjoy their days off for the holidays. Meanwhile, the little pink critter took "his cryptostuff boy" to a place of dubious origin; he was going to a party with his friends, that was the price he charged for accompanying him to his "boring work Christmas dinner".
The drive back to his own house was truly disconcerting.
The snow fell as heavily on the car windshield as the thoughts in Pim's head. Thoughts that always revolved around the same person.
The horrible way Charlie treated his supposed partner in front of everyone was unbelievable to anyone.
But he certainly believed it.
And it didn't matter if it was the wine; that was precisely the problem.
It was no secret that the yellow critter had a serious drinking problem. Something he wasn't willing to change despite the thousands of times he said he would.
That suddenly opened the floodgates to another avalanche of memories from the last few months.
Excuses, lies, the usual contempt, no real change in Charlie even though he literally went to hell for having been that way.
A chat and Steam group, and who knows how many other things he deliberately excluded himself from. Personal things that his supposed "best friend in the whole world" wasn't the least bit interested in sharing with him.
And suddenly he thought of Squim.
While it meant he could never set foot in his favorite ice cream shop again, it also served to make him realize (once again) that he had, in fact, a terrible coworker.
A drunk, irresponsible, and lying man who, besides breaking his heart, also hindered his work and still had the nerve to take credit for their success in making people smile.
Pim parked his car in the garage.
Trying to distract himself from everything, he went for a walk through the city; seeing the decorated houses and breathing in the scent of chestnuts and ginger always lifted his spirits, perhaps tonight would be no exception.
But it was.
The dinner incident had made him realize that it really was the same for everyone. And if Charlie Dompler treated his own girlfriend like that, what could he expect? Someone who was insignificant in his life? The boring, annoying guy who was positive all the time.
And as he spent his last three dollars on a hot chocolate and sat down on the curb, Pim understood that while he had already resigned himself to the fact that Charlie could never fall in love with him, he had to accept that the yellow critter didn't want him in his life either, that for him he was just an annoying colleague he liked occasionally. And that was even more painful than the whole falling-in-love thing.
Pim loved Charlie.
But it’s time to love himself more.
He let out a final sigh as he disposed of the empty chocolate cup in a nearby trash can.
But as if God wanted to mock him a little longer, a car ran him over.
Just like that.
Two days later, Pim woke up in a hospital room with a prominent cast on his leg.
His weak gaze turned to his side. It was covered in flowers and "Get Well Soon" cards, some from Allan and Glep (who had also signed his cast), a large box of chocolates with a note full of kind wishes signed by Jennifer and Shrimp, and so many other lovely things from the many people Pim had helped smile again.
The little pink Critter smiled with all the strength his body would allow, even though it wasn't much.
The doctor came in shortly after, realizing that he had finally woken up.
After informing him that although the accident had only broken his leg, the impact had caused a concussion that left him unconscious.
But that since the news broke, people haven't stopped sending him gifts.
Even his boss had instructed them to call him as soon as Pim could leave the hospital so he could take him home.
And so it was.
When Pim was out of the hospital, Allan, Glep, and Mr. Boss went to pick him up
And while they helped him arrange the gifts he had received, he realized how much he had accomplished in his life and that, despite often feeling ignored or alone, he had actually helped many people and, for that reason, was greatly appreciated and loved.
His colleagues left, but not before reminding him that if he needed anything, he only had to call any of the three of them, and shortly after, the little pink critter fell into a deep sleep.
In the early morning, his phone rang.
- "Hey Man, I heard about the accident. I hope everything is okay."
He never replied to the message, nor to anything Charlie could say to him afterward.
It was obvious that he might never stop loving him, but certainly, in those days, the last ones of December, Pim Pimling decided that he deserved better.