Anti hated this. Looking back at Jackie, he wanted to rip his throat out and he was pretty sure he looked like he wanted to, too.

Jackie had the decency to look a bit worried but tried to hide it behind that stupid smile on his face.

'He hasn't said anything yet' Anti thought, 'Why isn't he mocking me? Or taunting that he found me?' he swallowed, thinking about all the ways this could go down.

And yet he also knew that Jackie could be dumber than a box of rocks so he'd give his copy's idea a shot with him first.

"Well . . . hello there . . . Jackie" it pained him to use the hero's real name but it was effective on confusing him.

Jackie blinked but then suddenly flashed a big smile that made Anti cringe.

"HI ANTI! How ya doing?"

'What the fuck is wrong with him?' Anti always hated this happy asshole but this was even weirder than usual. Yeah, if Anti was causing trouble in public, Jackie would have no choice but to stop him by force and usually in instances like these where they were by themselves, Jackie always SEEMED to be nice but Anti could see through him.

That twinge of fear. Anger. Reluctance.

Anti felt himself growl, not wanting anything to do with this Labrador retriever of a man. But he bucked up. He could at least try.

" . . . . I'm fine"

"Oh that's good! That's great!" Jackie clapped his hands, "So uh . .  just saw ya walking by and thought I'd say Hi"

"Why?"

Jackie's smile persisted and he shrugged, "Why not? You in a bad mood again?"

" . . .maybe"

"That's okay. You wanna hang out with me? I'll buy ya lunch"

Now this was just insane.

'I thought I was the crazy one. . . ' Anti blinked, obviously floored by Jackie's proposition.

"Wh-what? Why would you want to be around . . me?"

"Why not? . . ." Jackie tilted his head to the side as if inspecting him, "You know, we all think you're just misunderstood. We always wanna just give you another chance. Just haven't the best of opportunities with you glitching away and trying to kill us and all"

"Wouldn't that be  . . . an obvious answer then?" Anti didn't understand this conversation. Was Jackie on drugs? He didn't look like it but he really sounded like he was either high or just very stupid.

"HA! You're funny! Come on, I'll buy ya a sub sandwich! Looks like you need it, too, skinny!" Jackie slapped his back, making Anti glitch.

In that moment, Anti really wanted to reach for his knife but also . . he should really see how this would play out. It could be interesting. Was Jackie just making this way too easy for him now? Did he have a death wish all of a sudden?

"Sorry, didn't mean to freak ya out" Jackie gave another toothy grin, "Let's go, yeah?"

" . . . . Fine . . . . but don't even think for a second this means we're anything but enemies, still. This means absolutely nothing" not that his words meant anything to the hero. They seemed to go straight through his ears.

'I know this works well for my own benefit but it's also moving way too fast for even me. Maybe I should have had the copy do this side of things. he might have been more convincing. Then again, he seems more aggressive than me for some reason. Perhaps this is better after all . . .'

The people of the city were not ignorant. They saw the two walk side by side and many took photos or video of the strange interaction. 

Anti heard all the mutterings. 

Did Jackie turn Antisepticeye into the good guy? Was Antisepticeye controlling him or puppeting Jackie?

Once they got to the sandwich place, ordered and sat down, though, things seemed different. He was now in a closed in space with the hero sitting across from him in a booth with people watching them.

Not that Anti gave much of a shit. What he hated more than anything was Jackie's grin, still glowing on him like a fucking flashlight.

There was somewhat of an awkward silence for a few moments until Jackie finally spoke, seeing as Anti wasn't saying anything.

"So . . . . we know you stole Marvin's book-"

Anti glitched and crossed his arms, glaring at him indignantly, "And how the fuck do you know it was ME?!"

"Dude . . . " Jackie snickered, "Chase set up cameras. We saw you sneaking in the house from the backyard and leaving with the book."

"That doesn't mean anything-" 

"No need to get defensive, now" Jackie laughed. He didn't SEEM very upset but Anti kept his guard up. 

"I was just wondering if we could have it back? Marvin wants it back to do some weird ritual or something"

Anti raised a brow at him, 'Are they . . . is he serious? He's gotta be high. That's gotta be it, right?' he leaned in closer to Jackie to look him more in the eyes.

"Yeah? What? Is there something on my face?"

'His eyes don't look bloodshot . . . . why's he acting like we're best friends or some shit? Might they already be onto my plan?!'

"Hm . . Aren't you assholes mad?"

Jackie shrugged, "Marvin's kinda pissed but we figured maybe you're just doing something for yourself in it and not summoning a demon or plague or something. . . you haven't, right?"

Was that what his copy was? Nah, he just seemed like one with Anti's piss-off attitude.

". . . no"

"That didn't seem very convincing, to be honest" Jackie snorted, "But you have the book still? Can I maybe drop by your place after lunch and grab it?"

"I . . ." Anti narrowed his eyes at him. This was his ploy. To find out where he lived? It had to be. He COULD lure him to his apartment and together he and his copy could maybe take him down but then again, was it perhaps too soon? His copy probably wouldn't be aware he was bringing him and they'd both have their guards dropped.

"No"

"No?"

"Fuck no"

Jackie blinked but shrugged again, "Okay. Maybe you could just bring it with you next time we hang out"

Anti could be more confused, "Wait, what?! Next time?"

But before anything else could be said, their numbers were called and Jackie stood up to get their lunches, leaving the glitch very put off.

He hadn't expected this. None of it. What was Jackie doing, messing with him like this?! What was his end game here!?

Still distraught with confusion, Anti didn't say anything more, even when Jackie came back and ate with him and talked. It didn't matter that Anti didn't speak back, he was just fine being in his presence, it seemed.

But why?

What weird alternate reality did he come into? That HAD to be it, right? This wouldn't happen normally. Right?

"Hey, how's Sam by the way? He doing good?"

Anti glared at him, " . .how do you know about Sam?"

The hero snorted, "Well he USED to live with US, you know. He just wanted to live with you instead. I think he prefers you. Must be something special about you, huh?"

"The fuck are you on about?!" Anti snarled, "Sam just appeared to me. He didn't live with YOU assholes! He's mine!"

Jackie gave him a look, "Okay . . . but it's the truth. Ask him yourself. You understand his hissing, right? Honestly, I think it's why you've been more docile lately"

"DOCILE!?"

"Hey cool it, cool it, chill" Jackie chuckled, "I just meant it's good to have a friend. Someone who understands you, ya know?"

Anti felt his eye twitch but Jackie just grinned with that ridiculous laugh again, continuing to eat until the sub was gone.

"Anyway, hey it was nice seeing ya but I guess I better head on back out and look for more bad guys" Jackie laughed, "You're welcome to stop by the house anytime you want, man." 

He stood up as did Anti and the hero pat his shoulder, "Just try the front door next time." he winked and turned around.

It'd be so easy to stab him in the back now.

But Anti was just so . . . floored.

This was all so weird. What fucked up plane of existence was this!? But he knew that wasn't it.

'This has to be some sort of new tactic he's trying. To throw me off. That has to be it'

Leaving his trash on the table, Anti left a little after Jackie had and continued walking down the street, 'Now where the fuck was I going before he stopped me? . . . oh yeah, the store. Fucking hero, fucking with my head! Fuck him!'

He found another rock to kick and ended up kicking into a nearby window in his fury.

"VHAT?!"

"NO WAY!"

"REALLY!?"

"You're a fucking dumbass"

A lot of Jackie's brothers had similar opinions on his story if anything, they all seemed surprised Anti didn't try and kill him on the spot.

"So he still has my book?" Marvin  scoffed, "That dick. It's not a library book you can just rent! He's gonna summon a-"

"Already warned him" Jackie waved it off, "I'm sure he won't do anything too extreme with it"

"You warned him he could summon a demon, giant monster or plague?" Marvin rolled his eyes, "You are AWARE of who he is, right? The guy who constantly creates chaos and tries to hurt and kill people all the time?"

Jackie scratched at the back of his neck, "I don't think he'd do it . . . anyway-"

"Dude, I'm all about giving him another chance and all but yes, he would" Chase laughed, "But whatevs, man. You do you. I'm staying the fuck away from him until Marvin gets the book back"

Henrik seemed more curious about the book than anything, "Vhat ELSE can zhis book do? Anything medical?"

Marvin shrugged, "Meh. I don't know. I've only really skimmed it"

Jameson rolled his eyes dramatically and waved his hands up in the air before walking away.

There was an awkward silence before Jackie grinned again, "Anyway, so I don't think he's too bad! Misunderstood just like I said! And Sam's still alive! He seemed pretty surprised I knew about him, actually"

"So the little dude didn't tell him, huh?" Chase mused on his own, "That's not very promising, Jackie-dude. That might just mean Sam was afraid of saying anything about us in case Anti thought he was a traitor or something, ya know?"

"Oh . . . I guess I didn't think about that." Jackie frowned for a moment, "Hm . . . . I'm still optimistic, though. I think things are looking up, guys!"

"I vish I shared your confidence" Henrik hummed.

Marvin was always motivated by Jackie's optimism but in this, it was harder than usual. All the same, though, he'd support him. If Jackie had this hunch that Anti was just misunderstood, then he'd go along with it.

They just had to trust each other. All they wanted was for Anti to come home and if Jackie believed it was possible, then they all could. He just had that kind of effect on people.

Anti didn't want to go back home.

A part of him wished his copy might have left to go out on his own, leaving him to his own devices. It could happen, right?

Because honestly, that's what Anti would do so it was possible, right? 

But then again, there was that other part of him that really wanted to be rid of the Septic egos forever and he needed help to do it.

And now he was at his door, turning the key to get inside.

He didn't know what to expect but seeing his copy still sitting in that chair in front of the TV wasn't one of the things he imagined.

"I'm back with food"

His copy glanced his way with a glare, " . ..  obviously"

Anti snorted and just started to put things away, giving a low whistle so Sam knew he could come out.

Immediately, the eyeball hissed and wiggled into view from his bedroom, racing towards him. He seemed relieved. He wasn't that afraid of his copy, was he? It was sort of concerning but that was also a good thing, right?

"Hey Sam . . . why don't you fuck off and do a chore, will ya? Help out around here. And don't give me any of that shit about you not having hands. I know better, you little asshole"

It whimpered sadly but floated off to their room to maybe pick things up, making sure to stay clear of the copy.

"So . . . ." the copy grunted, turning the TV off, "I followed you today."

Anti stopped all movement, glancing over at him, "You did what?"

His copy's eyes were like daggers with no emotion but his voice seemed anything but friendly, "You say you want to kill the Septics so bad . . . and yet you went to lunch with the HERO of all people . . .  and I dare say, you two looked quite chummy. It's odd, don't you think?"

Anti growled at him, "Oh fuck off. The bastard got in my way after I left earlier and offered me lunch. I was only going forth with your idea is all, moron."

Suddenly the copy glitched in front of him and Anti's breathe left his body. The copy stood over him, nearly making him fall over.

"Moron, hm? . . . . . . . Then tell me why . . .. hero seems to think the fucking eyeball loves them, too? Used to live with them? Hm?" a knife was suddenly being dragged down Anti's cheek. Where did it come from?

Anti found himself backed into a corner with the copy seemingly ready to kill him himself.

"I . . . I don't know . . . I was  . . I was going to ask Sam about it"

The copy snarled like a wolf, "Oh really? So he can lie to you like he has been all this time? Seriously, I thought the original would be smarter than this . . . . he's using you, Anti"

"What? No, he's not-"

"Yes he is . . . ." he nicked Anti's cheek, making him wince but the copy didn't seem to give a shit, of course, "And you know it, deep inside. . . and it's just as Jackie said. He's making you  . . docile. Changing you"

"No, he's not! I'm just as pissed and rotten as you! I-" he tried to argue but his copy was bearing down on him like a predator. It felt horrible. Like HE was the copy and this other person was his creator, so disappointed in him like he was such a fuck-up. A failure.

"Prove it, then,  Antisepticeye" his copy forced him to look him in the eyes, "Prove that you're just as evil as I am . . .surely that can't be too hard, right, Mr. Original?" he slapped Anti's cheek playfully before backing off a bit.

His copy then grinned and laughed hysterically, reminding Anti of his maniac days back in 2016.

"̷E̵͍̅̀̍̓H̶̞̞͇̔̂̉a̴̭̜̞̖͐̚̕h̸̨̦͉͋͜a̷̲̮̟̒̈̾H̷͎̽̿̈̏ͅA̷̖̟̹͎͛̐́H̷̗̮̆̎͐͆͜A̸̱͓͊Ḩ̶̣̈̀̊͝À̵̜̮̳͍͒͛̈Ĥ̵̲̗̯̽h̶͍͘̚h̷̙͕̺̮̿͋̿a̷̗̠͕͑̄̾h̸̢͓̐̚a̶̛͕ẖ̷̀̀̚A̸̱̙̅̇̕H̴̪̥̃̐A̵͎͐̊̋H̸͙̆̓A̶̲̮̫̺̿̃̇!̷̰̮͖̻͛!̵̣̽̊!̸̟̯̹̠͆͂  L̷E̶T̵'̶S̸  ̸K̵I̵L̵L̴  ̸S̴O̵M̶E̸T̵H̶I̸N̵G̶!̶"̴