Anti didn't dream that night. The only thing he could faintly feel was Chase's hand on his foot, holding onto him as if anchoring him. The glitch couldn't explain it but he felt protected. He had no reason to feel that way around Chase but it was nice. . . while it lasted.

He really wasn't aware of the darkness around him. For him, it only lasted a split second before he was awake again. 

Anti didn't waste time opening his eyes wide but he regretted it immediately, the morning light burning his retinas. He blinked rapidly and thought about what happened last night.

He hadn't slept in days, really, so this sleep he had with Chase at his side really helped. But he'd never admit it.

"Awake, finally, huh?"

Anti quickly looked over to see Chase still there. He had bags of his own under his eyes now and they were bloodshot red from staying awake. . .  and crying here and there but Anti didn't know that. Why would Chase cry for him?

"You . . . . you stayed" he sat up and looked down to see Chase's hand still on his foot.

The father figure smiled, "Of course I did, bro. I swore to you I would. I'd never break a promise like that, dude." he pat his foot playfully, "Speaking of promises. You hungry?"

Anti's stomach growled at the question but e wouldn't answer, still a little weary of trusting him.

"I DID say I'd make you your favorite meal, did I not? You haven't eaten in a while, ya twig." he stood up, cracking his back as he did so with a groan before smiling at Anti once more, "Well? You got an appetite ready for me, brat?"

Anti gulped but slowly got out of bed, "I gotta. . .  go to the bathroom first"

"Alright" Chase's face turned serious, "Leave the door open"

Chase knew all too well what someone was capable of when on their own like that. And especially after going through what he did. Chase wasn't taking any chances. Anti gave him a look but refrained from arguing.

'Must still be tired. Not yet up to his usual fire'

A minute later, Anti was done but grunted softly, "I gotta take a shower and whatever so . . ."

"Nah don't worry about that just yet, brat!" Chase wasn't letting be alone just yet. Not yet.

"I'm gonna spoil ya today! Just be lazy! Alright?" he flipped his hat off and flopped it on Anti's own head. The glitch grimaced at the action in embarrassment but made no move to remove it.

"Come on. We'll go down to the kitchen and cook up a feast. How's that sound? I'll make your favorites"

Anti shrugged but was dragged off with Chase into the kitchen and that's when he realized what time it was. Marvin was in the living room with Jameson as usual in the afternoon hours. Jackie and Schneep weren't around so Anti assumed they were off at work. Chase's hand on his back brought him out of his thoughts.

"Let's see here. What we got?" he walked them to the fridge and cupboards and scavenged around until he smirked, "Ahhh! Here we go! How about Mac n' Cheese, fried chicken and pizza?"

Anti just stared at him in bewilderment, "Uh . . .w̶h̸-̴w̸h̸a̸t̶?̴ Chase. . . .I just woke up. I don't think. . .  especially not that much"

Chase shrugged, "How about fried chicken and waffles then? Then later we could order out some pizza and wings, huh?"

Anti shrugged, still VERY awkward with the whole interaction. Chase smiled, though, "Go ahead and take a seat at the table, kid" he took his hat back and placed it on his own head backwards, "I'll get cooking"

Eager to get away a little, Anti went to the table and sat slouched, lost in his own thoughts. He heard the crackling of oil and smelt the delicious aroma of the breakfast Chase was cooking and he couldn't help but drool a bit. He hadn't eaten in days.

Why was that again?

He suddenly remembered Henrik and that he had drugged him, 'I remember now.' Anti glared at the table, 'The bastard doc put something in the food to make me pass out!' he looked over to watch Chase but he could see his every move clearly.

'I suppose I don't have to worry about Chase drugging me. Is it really Chase, though? He seems. . . too happy right now. It's unnerving. Weird'

His thoughts were interrupted once more with Marvin and JJ walking in, smelling the food, "Oh yum! What you making, Chase?"

Chase chuckled, "Anti hasn't eaten in a while so I thought I'd make him some breakfast. You guys want some, too? Probably got enough here to feed the whole house and then some!"

"Sure!" 

Jameson looked equally as excited and they sat at the table with Anti waiting for the food to finish cooking.

Jameson signed to Anti, 'Feeling good? Get a good sleep last night?'

Anti merely nodded and JJ grinned happily.

Marvin sighed, "You had us all worried, man. Even Henrik was freaking out and he never does!"

'That doesn't sound quite right' Anti glared at Marvin, "W̵h̷a̵t̶e̵v̷e̸r̸.̶ You all aren't real, anyways. Do as you ̶f̶o̶o̵k̸i̵n̸g̶ please. Worry your hearts out"

Chase stopped all movement for a moment and shut of the burners as the food was done. He looked over at Anti with a serious look on his face, "Anti, we talked about this last night, remember? You're not in the void anymore."

Anti shrugged, "None of you worried about me before. Why now? What c̵h̸a̷n̷g̶e̴d̷?"

"The fact that you just came out of a traumatic experience, Anti. That's what changed." Marvin tried reasoning with him, "We've all been through traumatic shit. We understand what you're going through and just want to help"

Anti gave a light condescending chuckle, "Just want to help . . . t̷r̴a̶u̸m̸a̸t̷i̴c̸.̶ ̶You really don't know what all I've been through, do you? Nah, you never cared anyways"

Chase put a plate of fried chicken and waffles in front of him, "Just shut up and eat, brat." he went to the fridge and got him the syrup, too, "Believe what you want, Anti. You'll see. We all really do care. Why else would I have come back home?"

Anti was silent but picked up a fork and cut into the waffle. He watched Chase very closely when he was cooking everything and never once saw him put anything in it. He trusted the food this time. He took a bite and lightly moaned at the flavor, 'Pumpkin waffles' he thought to himself, 'My favorite kind'

He suddenly dug in, uncaring about the others around him as they ate as well. They only gave little smirks to each other as Anti wolfed the food down and ripped apart the chicken with his teeth like an animal. But no one shamed him for it or called him out for not having any manners. He could get away with it this time.

When he was finished, Chase took his plate from him, "More?"

Anti shook his head and was about to verbalize it when the front door opened. The heavier steps indicated it was the one and only hero and he was correct in his guess when Jackie entered the room. The red-clad hero stopped as soon as he saw Anti but smiled, "Anti! Good to see you out of your little dungeon! You feeling better?"

Anti looked away from him, still both mildly embarrassed but mostly stubborn. Why did Jackie always have to be so happy and worry about others more than himself? It wasn't natural!

"Ah, yeah, you're doing good" Jackie laughed, "Ignoring me as always. What's that I smell?"

Jackie and Chase talked a bit and a small banter went between them and Marvin while Jameson looked on with Anti with a smile and silent laugh. Sickening.

'It's all so gross' Anti thought, 'Why are they all so happy? If they really worried about me then they wouldn't be so happy. Right? Am I not worth that emotion?'

He shook it off. He already exposed himself too many times. He couldn't afford to do it again. Too many times. He always broke at the most inopportune times.

Maybe he really wasn't in the void anymore but it didn't matter all that much. He was still invisible to them. It proved to him that they didn't truly care when he was able to slink off out the door unnoticed. 

He wasn't entirely sure on where he was going and he didn't care. He just kept walking, not even in the mood to glitch anywhere. Normally when he used to feel this way, he'd let himself snap and go off to torture something or someone but . . . . he was different now. Maybe Dark was right. He was infected by living with them. Was it ALL bad though? They liked it when he didn't hurt anyone. Some would say that is just common courtesy but Anti would argue that that was not how he was created. Anti was created to be the bad guy. To think differently.

But now that he was actually living with the others and had been for a while now. . .  it's like it completely changed his way of thinking.

Anti felt a smile almost creep on his face but forced it down immediately.

'Maybe I should go back? Chase said the reason he came back was to check on me. . . would he be upset that I left?'

He bit his lip in thought, not realizing he was about to bump into someone until it was too late. The two grunted at the impact and nearly fell over but it wasn't that bad of a bump-in. The strange man Anti walked into snarled at him, "Hey watch where you're going, asshole!"

Anti felt his lip curl, "You're no better than me, ya dick! You walked right into me, too!"

"Fuck you, ya bastard! I'll wipe that cheek off your fucking mug!"

"Bring it, ya cunt!" Anti prepared himself for a fight. He was ready for a punch in the face until a hand came in between them and stopped the man's fist from colliding into Anti.

"Hey now, there's no need for this senseless violence. Just walk away, sir"

"J-Jackieboyman!" the stranger gaped, "I  . .  ." he glared over at Anti but Jackie snapped his fingers in the man's face.

"Don't look at him. He's none of your concern." Jackie had a serious look on his face almost as if he'd kill him. Anti knew he wouldn't even touch him but the other didn't know that.

"Walk. Away"

The man yelped, "Uh! Y-yes sir! Sorry sir!" he ran off past Anti and him without even looking back.

Anti sulked, "Why the fuck did you go and do that!? I didn't need yer f̴o̶o̵k̶i̷n̴g̶  ̸help!"

Jackie sighed and turned to face Anti with a less serious glare on his face, "Why'd you run off, Anti? We were worried about you"

"T̵c̸h̵. Yeah right" Anti tried to brush past him and keep walking but the hero gripped his shoulder to stop him.

"Where are you going? Chase came back for you, Anti. All this time . . .  you're just going to run away from it? Believe it or not, he does care about you. We all do."

"Shut up. Not running from anything. Just needed some air was all. Was getting claustrophobic will all of you sorry fucks in the same room."

Jackie snorted, "Someone sounds snarky as ever. Look, just come back with me, alright? You've been out here for hours. Almost dinner time"

Anti was shocked to hear that, "Wait. . . hours? I've only been out here walking for a few minutes"

Jackie sighed and shook his head, "Nope. Sounds like you lost track of time. Look up at the sun, man"

Anti followed his gaze upwards and saw that he was right.

"It's starting to get dark." he mentioned, "Sure you don't want to come back with me?"

Anti bit his lip again and made a small sound like a groan, giving in, "Ugh, fine. But I won't be happy about it!"

"Are you ever happy?"

"̵F̵o̵o̸k̵ ̵o̴f̴f̶"̸

Jackie chuckled as he walked Anti back home. Chase and the others were waiting for them with delivery on the way.

-888888888888888888888888888888-

Sean grumbled to himself as he sat at his desk in his office. He just wasn't that into work today. He didn't feel like recording anything or doing anything at all, really. He felt so . . lethargic.

In truth, a part of him knew that he was just worried about Anti but he couldn't bring himself to go check on him.

It was all his fault, wasn't it? He was the one that sent him to his worst nightmare. Even Dark was angry with him and that was how he knew he definitely fucked up.

Why was Dark there in the first place? He didn't know. Probably to torment Anti and from the looks of it, succeeding. So what gave him the right to lecture Sean!?

The YouTuber was just trying to make himself feel better by passing the blame but he knew it was all him.

'I should go check on him. It's been a few days. Who knows? Maybe he's better now'

He jumped a little when BB suddenly pawed on his arm, "Beeps!" he giggled lightly, "How'd you get here, ya fluff? Come on, I should probably feed ya"

A half hour later he was in an Uber driving to the Septic house. He went through tons of excuses in his head but none of them seemed enough. He'd just have to buckle down and apologize like a man.

It was starting to get dark which bothered Sean. 'Wonder if Anti's still throwing fits'

When the Uber dropped him off at the house, he realized something peculiar though. Another different car. It took him a few seconds to realize just whose car it was.

His heart raced.

.

.

.

Around the table inside, Chase plopped around slice of pizza on Anti's plate, "Eat up, skinny"

Anti tore into the slice and glared at him like an animal, "Don't tell me what to do"

Henrik rolled his eyes, "Like a child"

Anti heard the mumble, "̵W̵h̷a̴t̸'̴d̵ ̶y̵o̸u̶ ̴j̸u̴s̵t̷ ̷s̶a̸y̵!̸?̵"̶

"Chill guys, geez" Jackie chuckled, "It was only a joke, Anti"

The glitch narrowed his eyes but carried on eating, but refused to eat the crust, making Marvin roll his eyes, "Eat your damn crust. I have no problem calling you a child. You're wasting food"

"Fuck off, p̵u̸s̵s̷y̷-̸c̴a̸t̷.̵ Go hiss at someone else"

Chase snorted at the insult but looked away sheepishly at Marvin's daggered glare.

Jameson just sat happily next to Anti and simply reached over to grab his crusts and eat them himself.

"Well I guess that solves that" Jackie smirked.

"See? Now stop bitching" Anti took a gulp of water.

Suddenly the doorbell rang and Anti flinched, choking slightly on the water as he drank. Jackie went to go answer it as Chase tried to help clean Anti up with a paper towel. Stubborn whines and idle threats could be heard from clear in the living room.

"Get the ̴f̷o̵o̶k̵ ̸off of me! I'm not a damn child! Certainly not yours!"

Chase faltered a little at that but gave up and merely gave him the paper towels so he could dry off the water himself.

There was a still silence in the air, awkward as everyone could feel Chase's slight mood-switch. They could just barely hear Jackie in the other room whispering with someone until he came back to disturb the awkward tension.

"Hey guys? We got . . . company"

They turned to see Sean. Now it was really awkward. Anti glared at the man, "The fuck do you want? Come to send me away again? Blame something on me like usual?"

"Chase" Sean cracked a smile, sort of ignoring Anti for the moment, "You're back"

Chase, noticing Anti's sudden disappointment of being put off, didn't share Sean's smile, "Sean. . .it's been a while. I came back for the obvious reason we all know about. I'm disappointed in you, Sean. You could have at least heard what he had to say clearly first before sending him somewhere like that."

Anti looked surprised at Chase's words but looked back down at his food. He had no intention on eating any more but he couldn't look at them.

"I. . . " Sean's smile fell, "I know. I did a horrible thing and I regret it. I really do. I actually came back to apologize to Anti properly. Anti?"

"I don't want to fucking talk to you" he mumbled.

"Then just listen. Look, I'm sorry, alright? I've apologized already a lot but . . .  I really do mean it. I shouldn't have just blindly punished you like that. It was wrong. . . . Are you doing better?"

Anti was quiet but Chase answered for him, "He finally slept for the first time last night since he got back. No nightmares that I'm aware of" he rested his hand protectively on Anti's shoulder, "No thanks to anyone else" he finally addressed everyone this time but didn't go any further.

The others bowed their heads, shameful with themselves that they didn't know how to help Anti or what to do. It was obvious that they were still somewhat afraid of him. Afraid of how he'd react under any sort of pity or affection. And yet that was all it took to help him.

"Anyways. . ." Chase shook Anti's shoulder a little, "Look at Sean, Anti"

He refused and tried to shake off Chase's hand but the father was just as stubborn as he was. Finally he glanced over at his creator, seeing finally the tears he shed. But why? Why cry? For him? Why? None of it still made any sense. It was so confusing.

"Do you forgive him?" Chase's words surprised Anti and he looked back from Sean and back to Chase, unsure.

'Forgive him? Why should I? He abandoned me and tossed me aside into a tar-pitched void of nothingness. I guess I could forgive Marvin for sending me there and taking my power. Sean told him to and what Sean said was law apparently. And I suppose I've already forgiven Jackie for not hearing me out either'

Anti sighed, letting the infection of their affection spread into him, "Fine. Whatever."

Sean smiled again, "Really?"

"Well I guess zhat is the best you will get, yeah?" Henrik chuckled.

Chase grinned and pat Anti's shoulder lightly but what the glitch definitely wasn't expecting was a pair of arms to wrap around him in a big hug. Anti practically choked and snarled, "̶G̷e̵t̵  ̸t̴h̶e̶  ̵f̸o̴o̵k̴ ̷ o̶f̴f̶ ̶ o̵f̷ ̶ m̶e̶  ̶o̴r̷ ̴ s̸o̶  ̵h̴e̶l̷p̷  ̴m̶e̵  ̶I̶'̸l̸l̴  ̵g̷n̵a̶w̴ ̶ o̵f̸f̵ ̵ y̷e̸r̶ ̸ f̵o̸o̶k̸i̸n̴g̶  ̷a̴r̶m̶s̷!̵"̶

The arms withdrew immediately and a soft laugh erupted in the room. It sickened Anti and yet. . . . 

'Maybe they're not so bad'

Sean hung around for a while, having texted Evelien where he'd be for the night. He wanted to stay. Just for a little longer. They all chatted animatedly about many different things, trying to get Chase to tell them where he was for so long. Unfortunately, he wouldn't give and neither would JJ. Whenever he left again, his whereabouts would still have to remain secret. 

It was getting late now, though. It was time for bed.

"Come on, Anti. I'll stay by your side, again, I promise. But you HAVE to sleep"

"No. I'm fine. I've pulled all-nighters before. Mind your own damn business, B̴r̷o̸d̷y̸"

"No, I don't think I will." he smirked, "Come on" he dragged him to his room much to the glitch's aggravation.

"No!" he tried to pry away from him, "I don't want to! I'm fine!"

"You're scared, Anti." they both were silent after that, staring at each other. It was like looking in a mirror.

"That's okay. It's okay to be scared. Fuck, I'm scared most of the time. But you have to face your fears, eventually, Anti."

"I'm not afraid" he hissed at Chase.

"Then prove it. Get into bed."

"Ya fooking perv! I'm not getting into bed for you!"

"You know what I mean, you little shit!" Chase wanted to whop him upside the head for that remark but instead, he just rolled his eyes.

"I'm not tired"

"Bullshite"

"Look, why can't you just leave me alone?"Anti snarled at him, "I'm not a child. I don't need you to watch me 24/7"

"Oh really? Seems like it" Chase huffed, "Look, why cant you just accept help, Anti? Is it because you think we'd look at you differently? Like you're weak? Because believe me, we know otherwise" he chuckled and lifted his shirt slightly to show off a scar in his abdomen, "Remember this?"

Anti cringed a little at the faint line but wouldn't reply. Chase put his shirt back down and snorted, "Besides . . .  we're not so different, Anti. I probably understand you more than the others and you know that"

"You don't know a damn thing about me"

"Oh really? I don't? What about this? I know you always keep knives in certain areas, including one under your pillow. Your favorite food item is poptarts. You love to watch cooking shows for the knife-work. You adore kittens. Your favorite hide-out is the clocktower roof so you can see everything around you. You love your fans but hate the side they see of you. You hate affection and pity but the only person you ever let even TOUCH you was Dar-"

Before he could finish the sentence, Chase was punched in the face and sent skidding across the floor. Spitting out a little blood, the father looked up at the glitch who had nothing but rage in his eyes.

"̴D̵o̷n̸'̸t̶ ̸ y̶o̷u̶  ̵E̵V̶E̸R̴ ̶ s̵a̵y̶ ̴ h̸i̵s̷  n̸a̵m̵e̶  ̴i̶n̸ ̸ f̷r̷o̸n̵t̶ ̸ o̶f̵ ̴ m̵e̷  ̸a̷g̵a̶i̷n̴.̸.̷ ̷.̵ ̷.̶ ̸.̸ ̶.̸ ̸ ̴h̶e̵ ̴ m̶e̸a̸n̶s̴ ̷ ̶ N̴O̴T̴H̵I̸N̷G̴  ̸t̸o̵ ̶ m̸e̷!̸!̸"̴

Chase slowly picked himself up and cupped his cheek, wincing at the tenderness of it, "Fuck, man. Fine, I get it. Still on bad terms with him, hm? Whatever. Tuck yourself in. I'll see you tomorrow." grumbling  and shaking his head, Chase walked out of the room.

Anti hadn't realized he was shaking until he looked down at his own hands. His fist had a little smear of blood on it and suddenly his shoulders dropped. He felt this weird surge of emotions fill. He wasn't used to his feeling but he knew what it was.

Regret.

With a sigh, Anti took off his shirt and left himself in boxers for nightwear. Not knowing what else to do, really, he sat on the bed. He ended up pulling the covers over him but didn't lay down or turn off the lights. No, he wouldn't do that.

Chase's words echoed through him, 'It's okay to be scared. Fuck, I'm scared most of the time. But you have to face your fears, eventually, Anti.'

He didn't want to admit it but Chase was right. He was scared, still. He wished he hadn't attacked him like that. Maybe then he'd still be in there with him.

Time went on by and Anti figured he had pissed Chase off to the point he wasn't coming back. It sort of hurt him. It felt like hours but then again, his perception of time had been pretty warped today.

But he felt his eyes getting droopy. His mind was getting more relaxed at each passing moment. He was so out of it, he didn't even realize when he fell asleep.

Meanwhile with Chase, he was in the kitchen cleaning off the blood and rinsing out his mouth.

'Powerful punch' he thought, 'Almost as strong as Jackie's. But the anger in his eyes. . . Unbridled rage once I tried to mention Dark. I don't know exactly what happened between them but I'm sort of glad he doesn't hang around him anymore.'

He wiped off his face with a sigh. Chase thought about going to bug Henrik for some pain killer but thought against it. He had his own remedy for pain.

Quietly going out to his car and sneaking past Sean on the couch, he opened it and clicked open the glove-box. Inside was a silver flask filled with a beautiful elixir that always seemed to calm his nerves. Opening it up, he took a long swig and sighed, "Fuck"

'Damn brat. Why'd I even come here? Little shit always has to push us away. What's he done for me?'

He stopped his thoughts, remembering the reason. It was just a few years ago. The reason they all decided to let him move in with them. He had-

Suddenly a bright green light flashed throughout the house. Chase spat the drink in shock as the strange green lightening flickered powerfully through the windows. It only lasted a couple of seconds and then everything was pitch black and then he heard a scream.

"Anti!" he tossed the flask to the ground and ran inside.