I just want to say that in these one-shot stories, as said in the description, this is a one-shot book but the story takes place in the same universe/plot. So after this chapter, I'll probably have Dark's problems and then in the next chapter I'll probably go back to Anti in continuation to this but skip ahead in time and have Anti and Dark deal with other characters. 

I apologize if anyone is uncomfortable reading this story but I did specify that this was an angst story so it'll cover depressing topics. I give thee fair warning!

ALSO- All artwork is mine. To see more of my fanart, feel free to visit my Tumblr: https://graphic-hawk.tumblr.com

Anti laid in his twin bed curled up in his blanket. Numb tears trailed down his cheeks after another horrible day. It's been two years since the last incident but still no one trusted him. The first time it happened three years ago, he was so scared and angry at himself, he didn't know what to do. Memories flashed in his head of when he took over Sean's body and slit his throat. Schneep had healed him and the scar but Anti was shunned.

He hadn't meant to possess Sean. He barely even remembered it. He didn't know why it happened. He knew something was wrong with him but he just didn't know what and Schneep wouldn't dare go near him. The good doctor had even refused to heal the wound left on his neck, causing it to scar over and show, reminding everyone of what he did. Not even Dark, his once good friend, wanted anything to do with him and refused to offer him housing, which probably hurt the most. They had been so close.

Increasingly, more incidents started to happen where he'd attack his brothers but he'd barely remember it. He tried so hard to stop it but failed every time. He couldn't control it. Finally, they just kicked him out to live out on the streets.

It was a a few months later when Anti was at his lowest, starving and cold and he had another incident, taking him over the edge. This time he remembered a little as he possessed Schneep after trying to get him to diagnose him, behaving erratically. Thank god that Anti didn't actually hurt the doctor but he did frighten him even more than before.

The next day, Schneep recalled a feeling and a voice from when he was being possessed. He had heard Anti's call for help as if there were two different personalities and the angry one in him had taken over. That's when Schneep figured Anti was bipolar. In secret, he found Anti in an alley in the dark a few days later and gave him a bag of pills that would help him and then he spoke to the other egos about possibly letting Anti come back. 

Of course Schneep never told them of Anti's condition. Merely telling them he felt bad for the glitch, having seen him in an alley in the rain in tattered clothes, skinny and pale. He had looked like death. Not wanting to feel guilty, they let Anti come back but things just weren't the same.

It's been two years since and not once had Anti had an incident but that didn't stop the others from reminding him of them. None of them wanted anything to do with him, not that they did before, but this time it hurt even more because they were so open about it now.

Either they would all exclude him from things, ignore his presence or some of them would even stoop to bullying him. Schneep would stay clear of him, giving him refills of his medication when he went to bed. Jameson was polite enough but ignored his presence like everyone else when he entered the room. Sean barely came by anymore, afraid of the glitch (I mean, who could blame him?). Chase was always too drunk to pay any attention to him or care. Jackie was the worst of them and would bully Anti, calling him names, pushing him around. Basically, he tried anything and everything to get the glitch to snap so he would leave again. Marvin was just as bad as Jackie and would sometimes cast spells to spoil Anti's food, trip him, or simply give him nightmares.

Now Anti was lying in his bed crying from Marvin's latest spell-bound nightmare and he held his blanket to him tightly as a thunderstorm carried on overhead. Anti always hated thunderstorms. They would make him glitch more and he hated the feeling. He tried calming down but he just couldn't. Finally giving up on going back to sleep, Anti got up from the bed and glanced over at the clock which read 3am.

He sat on the edge of the bed for a few moments before deciding to actually stand up, 'Maybe a glass of water will help' he thought to himself.

Quietly so he didn't wake anyone up, he went downstairs to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of water. When he turned around, he almost dropped it, startled when he saw Chase sitting on a barstool at the kitchen island, "Ch-chase! What are you doing up?"

Chase merely raised a brow and took his glass of whiskey in his hand before downing it. Anti understood then, "Chase . . . Have you been up all night drinking?"

"Ssssso?"

Anti sighed before handing him the glass of water, "Drink this. It'll make you feel better. You need to go to bed." Now that Anti saw him more clearly, he could see his hair was wild and he looked like he hadn't trimmed his facial hair in a while. He also had alcohol stains on his shirt and he wore his cap on the side, holding a picture of his kids in his hand.

"Whass the point? Nothing matters anymore. Stacy's gone. Took da kids. Got no one who cares 'bout meh"

"Don't say that" Anti tried to be positive for his sake, "Think of your brothers. You still have us."

Chase pouted, "I still have you." He pointed at Anti, drinking the water he gave him before trying to stand up. He almost fell but Anti caught him before he went down. Chase giggled, "You're here, Anti. Bbbbbro"

Anti blushed a little as Chase drunkedly kissed his cheek, "Wow, you're really drunk. Let's get you to bed, yeah?"

The father merely made a hum as Anti helped him up the stairs and took him to his room. Another clap of thunder sounded, making Anti flinch and Chase's father instincts kicked in and hugged him, bringing him down on the bed awkwardly with him, "Is okay. Just thunder." He pat his back, "Far away from here. You safe" Weirdly enough, Anti was comforted by this and leaned into Chase's embrace. A few minutes later, enjoying the affection, Anti realized that Chase had fallen asleep whilst hugging him. With a small smile, Anti laid him the rest of the way down softly on the bed before going back down to the kitchen for his own glass of water and going to bed, himself.

The next morning, Chase acted like nothing had happened between them and went for a bloody Mary for breakfast before leaving the house to go to the bar.

Every night now, Anti would check up on Chase when everyone else went to bed and he'd stay up with him before he got way too drunk. Chase, at first was a bit weary, even whilst drunk, but talked to him anyways. One night Chase actually remembered a conversation they had about Anti being bipolar and that he took medication for it. That was why he hadn't had an episode for a long while. Chase didn't remember much else from the conversation but that stayed in his mind and he felt more okay being around Anti, feeling sorry for him. 

He also remembered a small flash of how sad Anti looked that night talking to him, "I wish you weren't drunk listening to me ramble, Chase. I could really use a friend. Everyone else hates me. I wish you didn't go drinking in the day and leave me alone with them and their hate."

Chase didn't quite know what Anti had meant by that but it stung him and stuck in his mind like a stamp in concrete. 'What did he mean by leaving him alone with their hate?' Chase wondered, 'Surely he doesn't mean the others treat him like that. They know about his condition. . .right? That he's better now?'

He didn't know but one thing was for sure. He had lost his kids but he wasn't going to lose his brother. Anti had reminded him so much of his kids, it hurt like hell and if he couldn't protect or be there for them anymore, he could at least be there for Anti.

That morning, he walked downstairs with a smile on his face and went into the kitchen where the others were and poured himself a glass of orange juice and prepared himself some cereal. Sitting at the table with everyone, save for Anti, he ate with them, not noticing their stares and weird glances.

"You guys know where Anti is? He sleeping in or something?" Chase asked them and Schneep shrugged his shoulders.

"Are you feeling alright, Chase?" Schneep asked him and Chase just grinned.

"Yeah, doc, I'm feeling great! Better than ever, actually! Was thinking about going to the mall today. Anybody want to join me and we can pick up Sean on the way?"

They all agreed but before they took off, Chase stopped them, "What about Anti? Doesn't he want to come?"

Jackie growled, "Oh please. That little glitch bitch would just cause a scene. Let's just go"

Chase gave him a little glare, "He may have had issues in the past but that doesn't mean we can't give him a chance, Jackie. That's unfair"

Marvin spoke up, "He never leaves his room, anyways, Chase. You don't know. You're always at the bar."

"Well that's gonna change" Chase gave him a hard stare, "But whatever. Let's just go. We're burning daylight"

As soon as they all left, Anti glitched out of the TV, having heard everything. With a sigh, he sat on the couch and watched TV, not really paying attention to what was going on, though. For moment, he really thought Chase was going to stand up for him but he didn't know why he was sad that he didn't push it.

It was around six at night when they all came back, Sean included, with pizza for dinner. Anti had ran to his room as soon as he heard them laughing outside. Chuckling as they all came in and set out plates for the pizza, Chase started to walk upstairs, "I'm going to get Anti for supper. Be right back"

Everyone tensed at that but didn't argue. Sean swallowed hard but tried to stay calm. He hadn't been around Anti, really since the incident three years back but it still scared him to this day.

Chase trotted up the stairs and knocked on Anti's door, "Hey bro, we're back and we brought dinner. You want some pizza, dude?"

Anti didn't answer, hoping he'd go away. He knew that Chase wanted him to go down and eat with everyone but he was terrified. What if it was a trick? He didn't want to sit in the middle of that tense atmosphere being judged for past mistakes he couldn't control.

But Chase wasn't giving up, "Dude, I know you're in there, Anti. Come on, bud. I'm here for ya. You said last night that you wished I wasn't drinking during the day. You got your wish. I did it for you, man. Now come on out for me, yeah?"

Anti, having heard that, perked up slightly and opened the door a crack, "Y-you mean it? I-it's not a trick?"

Chase smiled down at him and ruffled his hair, "Of course not, bro. Now come hurry down with me and get ya some 'Za, dude or else everybody else will eat it before we get any!" Chase was worried why Anti was so distrusting at first but he seemed to believe him.

With a small giggle, Anti followed behind him but slowed as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Chase noticed his faltering and reached to hold his hand, "Come on" he gently spoke and dragged him behind him. They went in the kitchen and everybody looked shocked to see Anti tagging behind Chase looking like a scared puppy.

No one said anything about his presence, however, and continued to eat their pizza awkwardly. Chase had Anti sit between him and Schneep but for some reason Anti didn't get him any yet, seemingly waiting for everyone else to get theirs. Half of him was afraid the others wouldn't let him or that Marvin would cast a spell on it or something.

"Why you waiting, Anti? Grab ya some!" Chase slapped a piece on his plate and Anti just stared at it a bit startled, "O-okay." Carefully, Anti nibbled on the slice, trying hard to ignore Jackie and Marvin's glares. Everyone else besides Chase was just trying to ignore his presence all together. Thankfully Chase started up a conversation to ease the tension but Anti still felt out of place as they talked about Sean's latest video.

Anti, of course was excluded from the conversation and started to feel out of place and itchy. It was painful being there with them all but Chase wanted him there so he'd stay for him. To try and ease himself, he itched at his scar on his neck, making it red. "What did you think, Anti?" Chase nudged him and Anti suddenly broke out of his own musings with a bite of pizza in his mouth. Swallowing it down, he saw all of them looking at him and he squirmed, "W-what? About what?"

Chase smiled and pat his back, "About Sean's latest video, silly. It's almost Halloween so he's been playing some scary games. Did you see the video?"

Anti shook his head, "No . . . sorry. What was it about?"

Sean, seeing Anti's scared nature, was more confident and spoke to him this time talking about the game excitedly. Anti cracked a little smile, "Sounds cool. I'll h-have to watch it later" he scratched at his neck again but Schneep noticed this time.

"Halt there, Anti. Your throat is red. Why are you irritating it? Itchy?"

Anti stopped itching immediately and gulped, "I'm fine. It's nothing"

"Symptoms?" he asked and Anti knew what he was trying to say and nodded, "It's fine"

Schneep merely nodded and said nothing more on the matter and luckily, nobody inquired about the small exchange.

"So since it's October and Halloween is coming up, why don't we start decorating first thing in the morning?" Chase spoke and everyone agreed. Chase ruffled Anti's hair, making everyone nearly gasp at his 'bravery', "How about it, Anti, want to help? Halloween was always your favorite time of year, right? You could make this place scream, little dude!"

Anti blushed but giggled, "S-sure I guess. If you want me to"

"Good! That settles it then! After breakfast first thing in the morning, we'll dec this place out!"

After the pizza was all gone, everyone went off to do their own thing before bed and once again, Anti was on his own but he didn't quite mind it as much this time. Dinner wasn't as bad as he thought it would be except for the glares every once in a while from Marvin and Jackie. Anti went to bed peacefully that night.

The next morning, Anti was up and ready for the day, excited to decorate the house for Halloween. Practically skipping, he ran downstairs to the kitchen early only to see Jackie brewing himself a cup of coffee. Happy attitude gone, Anti submissively opened the fridge for something to eat, trying to ignore the burning gaze. Jackie sipped on his coffee, "Excited for the day, are we, glitch bitch?"

Anti swallowed but breathed out to try and relax himself. He always hated that name but he didn't want to get in a fight. He took out bread and jelly to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for breakfast but Jackie shoved the bread out of his hands as he set the jelly down, "Oops. Better pick it up, glitch. Or are you going to finally stop your little submissive act?"

Anti watched him wearily and merely bent down to pick up the bread before going to the opposite end of the counter to make his sandwich. Jackie wasn't giving up though, "What's wrong? Got nothing to say? Or did I out you?" he prodded Anti with his finger and he pushed him away, "Stop it, Jackie"

"Oh he actually can talk! Well then answer me, bitch!" he shoved him, "Just admit it. You're just trying to put everyone in a false sense of security so you can hurt them just like you did to Sean and Schneep!"

"Stop it Jackie." Anti tried to continued making his sandwich, "I don't want to hurt anyone. Besides, it's been two years now. Why can't you just trust me that I've changed?"

Jackie suddenly slapped Anti across the face and pinned him to the counter, his fist in the collar of Anti's shirt, "I don't trust monsters. Once a traitor, always a traitor. You may have everyone else fooled but not me, bitch. I'll make you see that".

He raised his fist to hit him only to be stopped, "Jackie!!"

Anti had braced himself for impact but the sound of Chase's voice was a godsend. Jackie glanced behind him to see Chase in the kitchen with a glare on his face, "What do you think you're doing?! Let him go!"

Jackie growled, "Stay out of this, Chase! You have no idea what this little bastard is capable of!"

Chase ran over and gripped Jackie's hand before he could hit Anti, "I said, let him go, Jackie. You're trying to attack him unwarranted. Back off. He did nothing to you. You're supposed to be the good guy, right?"

That hit Jackie and reluctantly, he let Anti go, "Fine. Doesn't change the fact, though, that he's a no good traitor piece of shit monster. You think you have everyone fooled here? You got Chase and Schneep at your side and even Sean was actually talking to you but you know why? They don't really care. They pity you and that fucking act you're pulling. You haven't changed and you never will-"

"Jackie, stop it! How can you talk to your own brother like that!?" Chase shoved him and Jackie lost his temper completely.

"Fuck you! He's not my brother! He's a fucking monster for what he did! He should be put in a damn cage!"

Chase gripped Jackie's shirt and growled at him, "Anti has been nothing but sweet since then. Ever since Henrik gave him his medication, he's been trying desperately to make it up to everyone and you treat him like that after this long!? Shame on you!"

"M-medication?" Jackie was suddenly confused. He never heard anything about Anti being on meds, "What the fuck are you talking about?"

Chase looked up at Anti who had tears rolling down his face at this point, shivering and glitching spastically, hugging himself after what Jackie had said, "You didn't tell anyone else? Anti . . ."

Anti gasped in air to try to hold himself together and failing, "I . . I d-didn't want to b-be more of a b-burden . . .I . . . . I . . .I thought Henrik told everyone. . .. I'm sorry. . . s-sorry." he covered his face as more fat tears escaped.

Even Jackie looked a bit troubled but still defensive, not wanting to trust the glitch, "He's been taking meds? For what?"

Chase glared at Jackie, "He's bi-polar, Jackie. That's why the incidents happened. He couldn't stop or control it. But since he's been taking medication for it, he's just been himself."

Jackie gaped at him and stayed silent, thinking to himself. No wonder Anti never retaliated or fought back. He didn't want to because that's not who he really was . . . .

Anti was still trying to pull himself together until Chase came over and hugged him, "Shhh" Chase rubbed his back, "It's alright. Everything's going to be okay. Just breathe. There you go, Anti. Deep breathes." He spoke like a father would to his child. Anti clung to him tight sobbing in Chase's shoulder, finally letting out all of his emotions.

Chase even cried a little, "It's okay. I got you. I'm here for you, bro"

Finally his glitching started to cease but he wouldn't let go of Chase, whimpering and shuddering. He couldn't remember the last time he had been hugged and he wasn't going to let the feeling go so soon, "I'm s-sorry"

Chase kissed his forehead, "You have nothing to be sorry for. You've more than made it up to everyone a long time ago. They were just too blind to see it. And I was too drunk. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you sooner, kid"

Anti still refused to let him go and Chase didn't mind at all, holding the skinny ego in his arms securely, petting his hair soothingly and rocking him back and forth, "It's okay. It's okay"

Finally Anti was calm and Chase pulled away, wiping the tears from Anti's face with a smile, "There you go. Feel better? Can I get a smile?" he pet his hair and Anti smiled a little, earning him another kiss on the forehead, "There we go." He pulled away only for Anti to tense when Jackie got closer, both of them forgetting he was there.

Jackie looked out of place, "I . . . . I'm sorry. I . . .I didn't know." He still looked unsure though. Anti didn't say anything to him, still afraid he might hurt him again. Having been beaten down for so long, he was distrustful of the hero. Jackie was about to leave the room when the others started walking in and saw the scene. Chase holding a tear-stained Anti to him with Jackie looking defeated. It was odd and concerning.

"What's going on in here, yeah?" Schneep spoke up. Chase stood in front of Anti and looked at everyone with the same look as any father would give their children when he was disappointed in them. It worked. Everyone was scared and worried until he spoke, "Schneep . . .you never told anyone of Anti's condition. Why not?"

Sean, having stayed the night, furrowed his brows, "Condition?"

Schneep paled and looked away shamefully, "I uh . . . I didn't know if he'd want that. Tis personal, Chase. It's doctor, patient confidentiality, you know."

"You're still his brother. Everyone in this house had the right to know and be there for him. And yet you denied him that, making him suffer through it alone. For TWO YEARS."

Anti rubbed his eyes and hugged himself, "Chase, it's fine. I didn't tell anyone either."

Chase placed a hand on his shoulder, "Because you were afraid we wouldn't accept you. You were afraid that it wouldn't be enough for us to forgive you."

Anti looked away, knowing Chase had hit the nail on the head.

Sean looked from Chase back to Schneep, "Doc. . . What's he talking about? What condition? Why was Anti so scared to tell us?"

The doctor sighed, "Anti is severely bi-polar." He paused," However, with taking medication for the past two years for it, his symptoms and erratic behavior have ceased with the special pills I had given him. When he possessed me over two years ago I felt his two sides battling for dominance over the other. There was the monster and Anti. I should have told everyone then . . . Anti never wanted to hurt anyone, he was trying to stop it, and trying hard. But I didn't tell anyone because I thought . . . I thought that perhaps that the monster would come back. I was scared. I'm sorry, Anti. 'Tis my fault."

There was silence before Sean suddenly bolted to Anti and embraced him, tears running down his cheeks, "Oh god! Anti, I'm so sorry! I should have known! F-Fuck!"

Anti was shaken but hugged Sean just as forcefully, not wanting to let go. He couldn't remember ever being hugged by him, "S-sean. It's not your fault" The two started to cry on each other and Chase smiled warmly.

Sean rocked Anti in his arms, "I treated you like a disease since. I never even tried to understand. I pushed you away just like everyone else. I left you alone. I'm so sorry"

Anti whimpered in his arms, digging his face into his chest to hide himself, "It's okay Anti. . . It's okay"

When Sean finally let him go, Jameson and Marvin came over to hug him as well and Marvin apologized for making things worse for him. It was about a half an hour later when everyone was finally calm again and decided to just go into the living room to watch a movie all together on the couch. They'd decorate later.

Jackie never hugged Anti but he was fine with that. It would be a while before Anti could trust Jackie to even be fine with being alone with him. Anti laid across Sean and Chase's laps like a cat, snuggled into them. He felt like a child but it didn't matter to him. He felt loved for the first time in SO long, he felt like his heart would burst and he wasn't going to take this burst of affection for granted.

Perhaps he could finally start being himself again. Free of judgement from his past.

So I know Anti in this first chapter is extremely submissive but you have to remember that he's been pushed around and bullied for over three years by his own brothers with no one to help him through it. However, in the next chapters ongoing, he'll get increasingly more confident as time goes on. Hope you guys liked this first chapter! Please let me know what you thought of it so far :)