After a while of holding each other and speaking comforting words, most everyone was getting ready for the day while a few others needed rest after the confrontation last night. Chase, Jackie, Henrik and Jameson were in the kitchen while Marvin, Anti and Dark were resting still in the living room with Sean watching over them deep in thought.

Sean may not understand completely what was happening around his egos but he knew something had to be done. Before he arrived, they were amidst a battle and upon finding out that Marvin had lied and endangered them all . . . . . he was more than reluctant to leave now.

He didn't understand everyone's comfort around Anti now, either, but he was more than willing to accept it. He had watched as Henrik forced him down to rest on the couch, rubbing his forehead to soothe him into it. It was a whip-lashing change but not unwelcome.

Dark refused to get up from his spot though, letting Anti's legs rest on his lap as he sat up on the other end. Marvin was cuddled into Anti on the other side of the couch.

This was where Sean was the second most confused, first being anything involving the puppeteer. Why was Dark there?

Sean was sipping on some coffee Chase brewed when he finally blurted out, "So what are you doing here? Puppeteer after you, too?"

Dark slowly turned his gaze to Sean, not moving his head, "No. Although. . .  Perhaps after last night"

"So you were here before last night? How come?"

Dark had a look on his face like he wanted to roll his eyes, "He glitched into my office the same day he glitched into your home. I was . . . . . curious so I came here for an explanation."

Sean narrowed his eyes, still confused, "Okay. . . . why are you still here?"

"To help. Why else?"

"Hm" Sean hummed, not really believing him, "Mark created you as the complete opposite of him. Evil and Manipulative. How can I trust you to-"

Dark growled deeply, "You can fucking stop right there, McLoughlin. You don't know a damn thing about me. My reasons are none of your concern. But I know you all need my help and I am willing to provide my assistance. Besides. . . .  who's to say this puppeteer won't go after the Ipliers after he gets what he wants?"

"So you're looking out for your own"

"If you choose to see it that way" he commented, glancing only slightly towards Anti beside him.

Sean was on edge with Dark but trusted him enough. He came through last night, after all.

Chase came back in the living room from the kitchen with a few plate-fulls of breakfast, "Got some French Toast! You hungry, dudes?"

Dark declined but Sean wasn't about to reject any sort of meal.

Accepting the food, Sean grinned, "Thanks, man! I haven't had any of your meals for years!" He took a plate and stuffed a forkful in his mouth, "Haven't seen you so happy since then, either"

Jackie snorted as he entered in as well, "Well . . . . there's a reason for that"

"Shut up, Jackie!"

The hero snickered and gave him away, "Him and Stacey's been loving on each other lately~"

"Damn you, Red" Chase mumbled before running off back to the kitchen.

Sean nearly choked on his fork but nervously grunted, "Uh . . . . Good for him. Hope it works out"

Jackie rolled his eyes, "They're just reliving old passions. It won't last. . . .  But . . . I hope I'm wrong."

Sean finished his breakfast but soon began to realize the tense air in the house. Getting up to take his plate back into the kitchen, he put it in the sink to soak, turning to Chase, Henrik and Jameson sitting at the table.

"You guys look like hell"

"Thanks man" Chase grunted.

"I mean it looks like you guys need to relax. All of you. When's the last time you've all been out?"

Henrik shook his head, "Going out is out of zhe question, Sean. Not with Puppeteer watching our every move."

"We don't know what he'll do next. Where he'll show up"

Sean bit his lip, thinking about that, "He wouldn't dare show up near me. If he's really a Septic, he knows that I can erase him."

'He's watching us through Henrik's eyes. Put a spell on him a while ago and we didn't know it.' Jameson signed, 'He could see when your back is turned and attack then'

"Ah yes" Henrik sighed, "And now we have zhat problem"

"Hm" Sean hummed in agreement, "That might be a problem, I guess"

They went quiet, deep in thought about their predicament.

Jackie watched as both Anti and Marvin were cuddled against each other. And then he looked over to Dark who had his eyes closed and arms crossed. He looked like a grumpy old man with children piled around him. It was sort of hilarious but Jackie kept his laughter in.

Dark seemed to sense Jackie's silent snicker, though and growled at him, "What?"

"Nothing, man" Jackie shook his head, "It's just . . . you look so much less intimidating than you've ever been. It's funny. You've gotten soft"

"Fuck off"

"Mmmm" Anti whined in his sleep and kicked Dark's stomach, making him grunt at the impact but he didn't shove him off.

Jackie just smirked at him, making the Iplier ego snarl, "Not a fucking word, hero"

But Jackie's attention was taken by Marvin who sleepily buried his face in Anti's hair. They had gotten so close over the last few days, it was nearly aggravating. Why did Anti trust being around him so much? Especially after he KNEW so much about his secret. It pissed Jackie off but Sean was right. They couldn't stay furious with one another at a time like this. They had to stick together.

Besides, it seemed like Marvin did regret what he did, after all. Whatever it was.

"Hey guys" Sean came back in and silent ushered Jackie and Dark to come into the kitchen with the rest of them.

Dark didn't look pleased but slowly removed himself from Anti and the couch, gracefully strutting past Jackie, running into him with a shove of his shoulder.

Jackie would normally be livid if it wasn't for the fact that he was just teasing him. He followed and entered back into the kitchen with the others.

"What's up?"

"You guys didn't tell me that the Puppeteer was watching everything through Henrik's eyes. A spell?"

"Right" Henrik confirmed, "That is vhat he said."

Jameson shrugged his shoulders, 'There's nothing we can do about that unless Marvin can counter it. But it looks like both him and Anti need rest'

"Right" Sean nodded, "I think we should-"

"Hold on a fucking second" Chase stopped him, "We?"

Sean stared him down, "Yes, we. Like it or not, I'm a part of this now and I'm not leaving until it's over. I am your creator and I just want you guys to stay safe. And as your creator, I-"

Jackie snapped, "Oh fuck you! As our creator. Ha!" he chuckled at that, "Just because you made us doesn't mean you have control over us and can tell us what to do."

"I'm not telling you what to do, Red. I just want to-"

"Don't call me that. Still stands you could have found us at any point and could have cleared everything up a long time ago!"

"Yeah, well I didn't!" Sean yelled back at him, losing his temper.

Everyone went quiet, the tension peaking in the room. Dark obviously didn't want to be there in that situation but kept his mouth shut.

"Look, I'm sorry, guys, I really am. But I can't change what's happened in the past. I CAN, however, be there for you all now. If you'll let me. I want to help now. Please just let me"

Sean's words were met by silence but it wasn't negative. The air was still dense but their expressions started to soften.

Chase sighed, "Fine. I'll forgive ya, I guess."

Jackie crossed his arms and hummed but didn't outright agree like everyone else was willing to.

Dark went over to the coffee pot and poured himself a mug, "For fucks sake, this isn't about your guys' little family feud. You're straying from the main problem"

Henrik grunted, "I agree with Dark. We cannot be against each other at a time like this. It is too important now more than ever to stand together"

"Which brings us back to Henrik's problem" Sean made a segway, "The puppeteer can see and hear us through Henrik, right? Well I have a plan for that"

"You really think it's wise to talk about said plan in front of Hen?" Jackie argued again with him.

"That's just it. The plan . . .is to do nothing" Sean crossed his arms with a grin.

"What?" Chase wasn't too impressed.

Jameson really wasn't either but chose to hear him out.

"Think about it! He wants us against each other, right? He wants to create a rift between all of us. Including Anti because HE is who he's after, right? We can't let that happen. I'll ask this again. When's the last time you all were out?"

They looked confused, "Out?" Jackie snorted, "Well we don't lock ourselves in the house, Sean. Henrik and I have work, we go outside, get groceries and shit-"

"And what about Anti?"

They went silent again in realization. 

Henrik bit his lip and sighed, "I may have been over protective of my patient. At zhe time, he needed rest because of his injury to the head."

Chase nodded, "And then after puppeteer tried imprisoning him . .  . we didn't want to take chances in letting him outside OR out of our sight"

Sean grinned, "So what you're saying is that since he's lost his memory, he has no idea what the outside world is like?"

"Well fuck man, don't seem so thrilled about it" Jackie huffed and Sean rolled his eyes.

"What I'm saying is that everyone needs a bit of a break. And with me around, Puppeteer won't dare to try anything. I can promise that."

They all looked unsure and Dark looked ready to drown himself in the sink at the proposition.

"Good idea, I say!"

They turned to see Marvin at the entrance of the kitchen. He still looked sad and tired but that didn't seem to bother him, "Anti's never been out. Even before he lost his memory. The puppeteer kept him in that apartment like a dog, only ever letting him out to attack us. I say he needs some fresh air. Some fun"

Chase still looked worried but agreed slowly with a nod, "I guess you guys are right. Anti deserves that, at least."

'We all need a break, maybe' Jameson signed, 'Perhaps the mall?'

Jackie hummed, "Actually. That's not a bad idea. Not that I approve completely. With so many other people around, it'd be harder for puppeteer to do anything around us."

"Count me out" Dark grumbled, "I can slink around in the shadows but don't expect me to join in your little fun"

"Fair enough" Sean smiled wide, "As soon as Anti wakes up, we'll head out to the mall! It's still early morning after all. Let him rest a little more"

"But what about Henrik?"

Henrik crossed his arms, "Not that I do not vant to join you all. But I do have to stop by the hospital at some point today. The doctor covering for me when I'm gone vould like rest as well, I presume"

"That's fine, Hen. But you're coming with us still. No getting out of it, dude" Chase snickered at him, knowing that being in crowds wasn't exactly his thing.

"Puppeteer vill also know where all of us are. Do we really want that?"

Sean huffed, "Let him watch. Let him burn himself in his own hatred and anger. Seeing us happy will only piss him off more and that's exactly what we want"

"We do?" Marvin hummed, "I don't know. It seems making him more angry might be a bad idea"

"Let him snap and try to attack us out in the open." Sean looked at Henrik right in the eyes but they all knew who he was truly staring down, "He'll only fail"

Anti stretched on the couch and tried to cuddle the warmth that was there before but only barely realized it wasn't there anymore.

He felt the need to whine about it but found a pillow instead, falling back asleep quickly.

Before, it was a pretty nice nap  with friendly auras around him and happy voices. 

But now that was gone.

A nightmare started to brew.

Voices in the dark whispering. Cold air striking him and sending goosebumps up his limbs and at the back of his neck.

His heart felt heavy and his throat hurt, burning his chest and belly. Anti felt the need to cry but he didn't know why. He imagined everyone yelling at him, calling him names. 

Jackie and Chase calling him a monster. Marvin looking down at him with disdain. Jameson shaking his head in disappointment, refusing to look at him. Henrik calling him a killer. A beast with no remorse.

He tried pleading. Begging them to listen. 

But they all just watched.

They let it all happen.

All their fault.

An anger rose inside of him and he just didn't know why. Why was this all happening? Why did he feel this way!?

But a thought crossed his mind and it frightened him.

'Fine. They see me as a monster. . . . . I'll be their devil. I'm coming back home, master.'

Anti shot up on the couch and quickly went to wipe his tears. He shivered and only then realized he was alone in the living room. 

He could hear voices in the kitchen and his heart hurt for some reason. 

Were they talking about him? What was with that dream? Did puppeteer send that to him or . . . was it maybe a memory?

He didn't want to think about it. Taking a few breathes, he tried calming himself. Tried to think clearly.

It was only a nightmare.

He was fine. 

He was okay.

They weren't actually talking about him.

He wasn't actually a monster. Puppeteer can't control him or his feelings. Not anymore. . . . . . 

Right?