"Bro, it's okay." Bing tried to console him, "No one's actually gonna kill ya. you should come down for breakfast, dude"

It was the next day but there was no way in hell Chase wanted to be seen by anyone. Thank god that Bing didn't hate him and understood. Bing SAW how much it was killing him.

"I can't"

"Well sure you can!" Bing grinned, "Dark's still gonna be in doc's office with Anti so your main threat is gone, my dude"

"Yeah but everyone else still wants to-"

"Chase, please. Everyone saw the tape. They know it was Actor. Not you"

Chase wanted to believe him but he just wanted to be alone.

"You gotta face them sooner or later" Bing went on, "Still gotta finish that scene with Anti and do more parts for the video"

"Fuck" he knew his friend was right but he didn't want to hear it! He didn't even want to be around his own brothers right now! He didn't want to see the looks on their faces.

"Come on" Bing took his arm and dragged Chase's limp body off the bed, "Dude, please. You're heavy. I'll look up how to make homemade pop-tarts just for you, man, if you come down with me"

Chase thought about it. 

'Pop-tarts do really sound good. And homemade? I know he's bribing me but damn'

The single father sighed, "Fine." he picked himself up and sluggishly followed Bing out the door.

"Cool beans, bro. I'll look up the recipe now"

As they walked down the stairs, Chase made sure to stay behind Bing, not that that would help him in any way. He's seen what Yandere and Wilford could do.

But as they entered the dining room, everyone seemed. . . . .  pretty calm about his presence. No one greeted him but yet. . . no one tried to kill him on site either.

Although a few sent some glares his way. Namely Yandere, Yancy and Google.

"As Chase entered the room, an eerie calm settled throughout the area. Chase was sure he might die today and his heartbeat raced, his palms starting to sweat"

"Host, shut it, broski!" Bing defended him, "Why you gotta make everything even more uncomfortable, dude?"

"The Host apologizes but he knew it would make for good content. Sometimes the story needed stirring up a bit"

"Well stir your own pot"

"Guys, it's already been established that it was Actor possessing Chase" Jackie tried to help deescalate things, "Let's try and cool down a bit, yeah?"

"I doubt he had to do or says much" Yancy huffed, "Ain't no secret Dude-pro over here hated Anti anyways."

"Even though I was charging, I sensed the hostility" Google snarled, "I believe he had full intent on doing it anyway"

"Mm. Most likely false" Host broke in, "Although Host agrees that Mr. Brody had been quite unnecessarily hateful towards our friend, it is very plausible he had no control over his actions. Honestly, Host has not been able to track Chase's thoughts since a little while after he arrived to the manor. Very most likely Actor's doing."

Everyone paused.

"And you chose to keep that to yourself?" Illinois asked.

"Yeah" Marvin agreed with the adventurer, "What the hell, Host?"

"Host admits it wasn't the best course of action"

Bing sighed, "Come on, let's go to the kitchen" he dragged his friend with him.

Getting Chase out of the dining room from prying eyes, they walked into the kitchen only to discover a particular Septic pouring himself some cereal.

Chase wanted to jump out the window.

"Yo hey Anti! What's up? I didn't think the docs or Dark would let you walk around so soon!" Bing pat his back.

Anti turned to greet Bing but upon seeing Chase, his eyes showed obvious discomfort, "Oh .. ..  hey. Dark's asleep and  . . .I sort of snuck up here. Don't tell the doctors"

"Cross my heart, dude. We were just about to make some homemade pop-tarts! You in, bro?"

Anti opened a drawer to take out a spoon, "No thanks. I got. . . cereal"

Chase wanted to die. Anti wouldn't even LOOK at him.

"Dude! You sure? You fucking LOVE pop-tarts! Pop-tarts to you is like Dark's cookies to well . . . Dark!"

"Yeah but . .  I just" Anti tried to scratch the back of his head but cringed, suddenly holding the spot where Chase had shot him, "Sorry. . . . it's still . . . sore"

"You sure you're alright, dude?" Bing pushed.

Chase bit his lip, trying his best not to burst into tears, he felt so horrible.

"'M fine. I'm gonna take this with me. See ya later Bing"

Anti turned to grab his bowl of cereal, flinching slightly as he did so and Bing sighed.

"Alright dude. See y-"

"Anti wait!" Chase couldn't NOT say something.

Anti twitched a little at the shout but put the bowl back down on the counter. He was afraid Chase would attack him again. Of course he was afraid of that. Who wouldn't be after being deliberately shot by that same person?

Anti finally looked him in the eye, though, "W-what?"

Bing didn't intervene but was ready for anything in case one of them got too worked up.

Chase couldn't stop himself from crying again, "I'm sorry.  . . . I'm so fooking sorry, Anti. I didn't. . . . I didn't WANT that to happen. I swear. I'm sorry" 

He was ready for Anti to shut him down but the glitch just crossed his arms, " . . . I know. Don't worry about it"

"I'm worrying about it!" he argued, "Because now everyone hates me and I don't blame them! I just. . . I didn't mean to hurt you, Anti! I didn't! Just hearing that fucking whispering in my head ALL the time, though! It. . .. It shouldn't have gotten to me like it did. I should have told someone"

"Chase. . . It's fine" Anti stated again, "I know Actor. He's a manipulating asshole that does anything and everything he can to get in your head. It's not your fault you didn't want to tell anyone. I understand you thought people would think you've gone mental"

"Not like I hadn't before this mess, right?" he tried to joke.

Anti smiled just a little, "With a little help from me, probably"

"I'm sorry, Anti. I wanna make it up to you. Just tell me what to do! I'll do anything!"

". . . .. anything?"

"Yeah!" Chase came a little closer up to him and thankfully Anti didn't shy away.

 Anti looked like he was thinking about it but shook his head, "Nah, you wouldn't be okay with it"

"No, no! I said anything and I mean it! What is it?"

Anti looked nervous but finally mumbled out something.

Chase couldn't hear, though, "What? What did you say?"

"I. . . I" Anti just blurted it out, finally, "Ijustwannahangoutwithyou!"

Even Bing was surprised but didn't say anything, not wanting to ruin the bro moment.

"You . . . . you want to spend  . ..  time with me? Anti . . . I SHOT you. Don't you think . .that's a little too forgiving? Even if I beg?"

"Probably but . . .I don't want things to be weird and, I mean . ..  maybe after I'm better if that's alright? I mean we still have to do our scene, I think, and I don't want things to be awkward with that and I'm better with the other Septic egos and I've never actually really got to talk to you and I just think that maybe we could hang out like family sometime? I mean if you want. You don't have to. I-"

"Shut up, Anti" Chase stopped him but Anti eased when he saw the smile on his face, "Of course I'll hang out with you. We can start now if you want! Help us with the pop-tarts!"

Anti smiled a little and even Bing was enjoying the fluffy moment, "R-really?" but then he motioned to his cereal, "But I already-"

"Fuck the cereal. Let's make something good, bro" Chase pat his shoulder, coming closer to him gingerly like an awkward dad, "If you want, that is"

Anti nodded with a grin, "Okay!"

Suddenly Chase couldn't help himself anymore and dove into a hug, wrapping his arms around the glitch tightly but keeping in mind his soreness. Anti was surprised as was Bing but didn't say anything, carefully hugging him back.

Chase sighed in the hug, "I really am sorry, Anti. I shouldn't have been so stubborn with you. I know you've changed. It's obvious. I was just too blind and stubborn to see it."

Anti relaxed in the hug, glitching a tad in his happiness, "I forgive ya"

"You forgive too easily"

Anti made a particular noise like he really didn't care.

They hugged for a few more seconds until Bing finally got bored, "Hey we making these things or not, dudes!?"

Anti bounced a little in excitement as they parted and they set to work immediately on the pastries. Since Dark and Anti were out of commission for a few days, Sean and Mark agreed they'd take a break on filming so everyone was staying home. At least Chase didn't have everyone wanting to kill him now.

Most everyone heard the conversation from the dining room. At first, Yan wanted to go protect their adopted older brother but Eric managed to stop them. They were at least glad Anti wasn't hurt. They'd forgive Chase for now.

As the three made the pastries, Bing set out the ingredients and Anti and Chase managed to get into a flour fight somehow. Chase knew he'd be the one to have to clean the mess up but he didn't care. He let Anti throw an egg at him. It put into light just how similar they were. Both so mischievous and ornery.

Chase then started the glaze while Bing filled them up. It was obvious Anti was getting tired and more sore the more he moved around.

When they finished, Bing groaned, "I'm never cooking with you pricks again. Look at this mess! Dark's gonna be so pissed, dudes!"

"Calm down, Bing" Chase chuckled, "I'll take care of it. Don't worry." he passed Anti a pop-tart and they both munched on a couple.

"It good?"

Anti grinned, shuffling a little as he bit into it, "Mmmm. Fook yeah. I love lemon with blueberries!"

Chase smiled, taking another bite out of his, "Good. I mean of course you do, it's lemon. Now grab a couple. Maybe butter up Dark and the docs with some. You need to go back down there and rest, kid"

Anti groaned but nodded, ". . . . Thanks Chase. I'm . . .. I'm glad you don't hate me anymore. And. . .glad that Actor's not in your head, either"

"Yeah, me too" Chase snorted, "See ya later. Maybe when you're feeling better, I'll show ya how to shoot like a pro" he stopped himself, "Wait, that's probably insensitive right now. Or we could do something else. Your choice. Sorry"

Anti just finally hugged him on his own, enjoying the warm feeling of the father's embrace. Everyone knew that Chase had the best hugs besides Sean. Anti was happy he finally got to experience them for once. Chase smiled, hugging him back, glad that the glitch was so trusting of him.

"Things will be better from now on, Anti" Chase rubbed his back reassuringly, "I promise"

Actor practically hissed, watching everything from the mirrors in the house. This wasn't supposed to happen.

Chase and Anti weren't supposed to make up.

The rest, he figured would happen but not this.

Being in Chase's head, he saw how much hatred he held for the glitch.

'Doesn't make sense. Perhaps I underestimated his personality. But it doesn't matter anymore, I suppose'

He walked through the empty space down to the doctors' office. He looked through that mirror just in time to see Anti come back down and get yelled at for sneaking off.

Then he saw Dark still laying in bed.

Weak and defenseless. 

He had used too much of Celine's power in healing Anti. 

And now Anti was also weak.

Even if Anti and Chase's relationship was improving suddenly, it didn't matter.

Suddenly a whispering sounded within Actor and he twitched just a little.

'Yes, yes. I know, I know. I understand. Nearly time for Act 2'

After Chase and Bing finished eating the rest of the poptarts, Bing suggested they go swimming. Chase was reluctant at first thinking one of them might drown him but gave him. A swim felt great.

And so they both completely forgot about the huge mess in the kitchen.

Jameson had walked in for some coffee but upon seeing the atrocious disaster, he promptly walked back out, running off to Marvin.

The magician just snorted, "Not my house. Not my job."

Jackie smirked, "Oh come on, Marv! Don't be like that! Hey Yan, you wouldn't mind helping him out, would you? Give you guys some bonding time, huh? Haven't see you two ever hang out before"

Marvin shot him a glare but Yan looked all too excited, "I'll get the mop!" they took off like a bat out of hell.

The magician sighed, "Jackie . . . . . you'll regret that"

"Eh, will I? Have fun, you kids"

"Fook off"

"MARVIN-SENPAI! I FOUND THE MOP! ARE YOU COMING!?"

Jackie chuckled at Marvin's uncomfortable stature, walking into the kitchen with an over-exaggerated sigh, "Yes, Yan"

Everyone could hear Yan's squeal from the dining room.