"PLEASE! ANTHONY, DO IT!"

"I WON'T DO THAT!"

"KILL ME! Please . . . please, you HAVE to"

"You . .. " Anthony had his hands in his hair, shaking his head furiously, "You CAN'T tell me to do that! NOT NOW! YOU SON OF A BITCH!"

Anti's eye twitched and his whole demeanor changed.

He started to smirk with a deadly promise.

Anthony could FEEL the change.

Anti snickered, "You were too late"

Over a year ago after Jameson and Emily's wedding

Going back home that night to Gab, Anthony was too tired to even fool around.

He'd been tired a lot lately.

Like he was being drained or something and he didn't know why.

Maybe it was just all the new emotions weighing him down.

Maybe it was all the new things he was trying to learn.

Whatever it was, it seemed fate finally took pity on him and he passed out in bed, his back to Gab who laid next to him.

As he laid there finally in a deep sleep, something strange started to happen.

Some strange bright green liquid started to seep out of the eye Marvin had given him.

It trailed down his cheek and onto the pillow.

It started to move and ungulate. It was getting bigger and morphing.

Until it finally formed into a new eye. It was bright green and sickly looking like it just crawled out of a nuclear waste dump.

Anthony was already looking a lot better.

It seemed that perhaps this . . . creature. . . had been draining him until it was ready to form on its own.

And it had an agenda.

In a flicker of sparks, the nasty green eye disappeared, teleporting elsewhere.

It was time to continue the mission.

One year later

Anti stretched out in bed, pressing his face in the cool sheets. He could feel sleep calling for him again but he knew it was time to get up.

Even though he REALLY would rather stay in bed.

A hand curled around Anti's waist, hugging him.

Anti groaned, "Please don't tempt me . . . I need to get up"

"Already?" the deep voice rumbled against the back of his neck, making him shiver.

Anti grinned, "Anthony promised me that he cleared his schedule today to hang out. You know I don't get to see him or the others a lot anymore"

The being behind him scoffed, "YOU never visit THEM . . . . it's been what . . . three weeks since you last saw them all?. . . . And why don't you ever want me to come with you? Or have them visit HERE?"

Anti turned around in the bed and faced Dark.

"Because. . . . you know why. . . . . they don't. . ." Anti struggled to find the words, "I don't know what they'd say yet."

"So you still haven't told them about us?" Dark sighed and rolled his eyes, "You were supposed to do that last week. You know they're fine with me now. Why not tell them?"

Anti huffed, "Because I . . . I don't want to disappoint them, okay?" He face-planted in the pillow, "I know it's dumb. You know I don't like rejection, though"

Dark yet again rolled his eyes, "Darling. . . . I think they already know you're gay. . .. they pretty much guessed it over a year ago, I'm sure. Remember the wedding?" Dark grinned and cuddled closer, "The dance? I could feel the sparks back THEN, couldn't you?"

Anti blushed but smiled, "You're such a romantic dork"

"I'll highlight romantic and forget that other thing you said." Dark smirked, "Okay. . . . if you're going to Anthony's today, then you better get going now before I change my mind about letting you leave" he threatened playfully.

He wouldn't really keep him from his family but Anti just liked the way he talked, promising his affections for later.

Anti soon got up and got dressed and left, leaving Dark behind. But that was alright.

Dark had his normal business throughout the manor to attend to.

He went down into the kitchen and poured himself a mug of coffee, black just like his soul.

Until he poured a bunch of creamer and sugar in it.

"How are you NOT just Damien? I swear you both could have put Willy Wonka out of business" a voice sneered, strutting into the kitchen.

Dark whipped around, careful not to spill his morning drink, "MARK! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING OUT OF YOUR ROOM BY YOURSELF!?"

Mark snorted, "Oh please, you and I both know I can't DO anything anyway without my powers. . .. .. Eric let me out again"

Dark rolled his eyes. He swore he was doing a lot of that lately, "I'll have to have a word with him. He can't just give into you all the time like that. I swear, you're corrupting him."

Mark growled, "He's MY ego. They all are. I'll order them all around as I please"

Dark just gave him a 'look' and sipped on his coffee. He gave a little groan, "I'm gonna need at least three more of these to get me through the day. Do me a favor and don't stir any trouble up today will you? You're lucky as it is that I let you out of the room already under supervision. The Septics would have my head if they knew I was letting you wander about freely"

"Your little boyfriend doesn't seem to mind" Mark mocked him, "I saw him leave. You miss him already, you gay little bitch?"

"Oh well come on" Dark glared at him but wasn't really phased at this point by his insults, "That's just mean"

Mark rolled his eyes, "Whatever. . . .Say, Damien always had bottom bitch vibes but Celine had more dominating energy. Tell me, do you top or bottom in your relationship?"

"Please shut the fuck up. I think I preferred it when you refused to talk to me at all"

"I discovered there was more fun in annoying you. Might as well find SOME joy in this fucking prison"

"I'd prefer to call it your rehabilitation house" Dark chugged down his coffee, "Now come on. Let's play a game of chess before Wilford realizes your out of your room. I know you like me more than you can stand to be around him"

"Only if you actually play the game correctly. Otherwise, fuck off"

Dark actually smirked, "We'll see. Stop getting on my nerves and I won't mess with yours. Now come on. Let's go"

Anti teleported to Gab's house but halted before entering.

He could hear arguing.

'That's weird. Anthony and Gab NEVER fight'

He wondered if he should wait or not but then again, he didn't know how long they could yell at each other.

Anti decided to knock on the door.

There was silence before the door whipped open, revealing a disheveled and tired looking Anthony.

"Hey Anti!" Anthony tried to act like nothing was happening.

Gab was behind him in the kitchen, "Hi Anti! How are you!?" it seemed they were BOTH trying to play off an act like they weren't just screaming at each other.

"Uh . . .. hey guys. How's it going? Everything alright?"

Anthony sighed, "Oh you know . . . just stuff. . . ." he almost looked scared, "Let's hang out away from the house today, huh? I think Gab's a bit cranky today"

Gab used her gravity to slam Anthon against the door frame, "FUCK YOU!"

With that, she stomped off upstairs.

Anti watched Anthony crack his back and groan, "Jesus, that woman"

"The hell did you do to get her that pissed off?" Anti asked.

"What do you mean what did I do!? I didn't do ANYTHING! She's just been so fucking moody lately. . . anyway, let's not talk about that. . .. you're a little later than usual. What took so long? Usually you're here at the crack of fucking dawn before I'm even awake"

He shut the door and they started to walk down the street.

Anti shrugged, "I don't know. Just slept in is all, I guess. I was tired"

"Mm-hm." Anthony mumbled, "Sure"

"It's true!" he tried to defend himself.

"I wasn't arguing" Anthony's eyes said otherwise, though.

Anti sighed heavily, "So. . . . how's music going for you lately? A lot of gigs?"

"Oh yeah" Anthony nodded, "Chase and I got a good schedule going lately. Good paying gigs. He was just over last night, actually with Stacey and the kids. Man, little Bella is growing like a weed already."

"Oh . . . yeah?" Anti felt a little pang of jealousy, "I haven't gotten to see them in a few weeks now. Chase and Stacey always say they're really busy"

Anthony bit his lip a little, "Yeah .. . you know. . . with the band and the kids . . jobs. . . it's a busy life, I guess"

There was an awkward silence before Anthony continued, "Have you talked to Marvin and Evan lately? I think Marv finally settled on their wedding colors. Gold and purple. Should have guessed though huh? It's his favorite theme"

"Yeah" Anti started to think, "Maybe I'm the busy one . .. I don't know . . . It seems like I haven't seen them all in so long" he started to get depressed just thinking about it, "I think YOU spend more time around them all than I ever have anymore"

Anthony could feel Anti's emotions like a train hitting him. He didn't like seeing him like this, "Well if you weren't in Dark's bed all the time, maybe you'd get to see us all more"

Anti stopped and snapped his head at Anthony, "What?!" he got angry all of a sudden, "Why would you say something like that?!"

Anthony knew better, though, "Please, Anti. I'm not ignorant. We're basically twins. I know you better than you probably know yourself. The REAL question is. . . why haven't you told anyone about you two yet?"

Anti blushed, "It's . . . it's not that simple. . . . I just. . . I" he started to tear up and his shoulders raised, worried about what he'd say.

Anthony's soft side came out, though and he pat his shoulder, "Hey. . . you know I don't give a fuck who you sleep with, right? And the others don't care, either. They would just like to know if you're happy or not is all. Does he treat you right? . . . He's not the one keeping you away, right?"

Anti shook his head but he did feel a lot better at Anthony's words, "No . . .. no, Dark encourages me to visit more, actually. He's been WANTING me to tell everyone but. . . I. . .. "

"Yes?" Anthony was patient, which wasn't a normal thing, "Go on"

"I didn't want you guys to hate me . . . . Dark used to be the enemy . . . I just-"

"Man, you are DUMB"

Aaaaaand, Anthony was back to normal.

"Huh?"

Anthony snorted, "Do you know how many bets the whole group has going on about you two? We already all know you guys are together. Hell, Marvin was the one that whipped you two together to dance at the wedding last year, remember?"

Anti felt a big weight lift off of his shoulders, "That's a relief. . .. well . .. not about the bets but . . .. that's fine, too, I guess."

Anthony side-hugged him, holding his shoulders to him, "None of us could ever hate you. You know that. You are the one Septic that could do NO wrong, kid"

After a while of walking, Anthony finally spoke again, "Say. . .. how about we all hang out today? Just all us Septic boys? Chase isn't doing anything today, I know. Marvin and Evan are taking a chill day from all the wedding plans, Jameson was already visiting Henrik today and I KNOW Jackie isn't doing SHIT"

"I don't know. Are you sure we wouldn't be intruding on their day?" Anti's worry about bothering them all made him paranoid again.

Anthony rolled his eyes, "It's fine. That's another bet we all have, too"

"But what about Gab?" Anti tried to squirm out of it, "Shouldn't you talk to her before you go?"

Anthony shook his head, looking a little worried, himself, "Uh, no. She's in a mood right now and I don't wanna die. Let's just go, brat"

An entity watched Anthony and Anti glitch, teleporting to another universe.

It gathered information curiously, almost ready to make the first move.

Dark sat across from Mark, staring at the chessboard.

Mark already made his move and it was Dark's turn.

But he had been taking FOREVER.

It looked like he was just taking his time, thinking on a move to make but in reality, he was just trying to remember HOW to play again. Damien's memories were really fuzzy when it came to Chess. Even though Damien and Mark had grown up playing it as kids, Damien always let Mark win based on the fact that he had no idea what he was doing and just wanted it to be over so the could go do something else.

But Dark knew that Mark always loved chess so that was why he always insisted on trying to 'play' it with him to try and win him over.

But now that Mark actually WANTED him to play the game CORRECTLY, having given in on playing at all, Dark was a little stumped.

Mark, since he had lost his powers and been forced to stay there, never played WITH Dark, forcing him to play both parts but after a while, that had evidently frustrated Mark to no end.

Mark sighed, "Are you ever going to make a move?"

"Give me a second"

"It's been TEN MINUTES"

"You're so impatient. Isn't chess supposed to be the a long strategic game about thinking about your next move?"

"I literally just made ONE move to start the game. You could literally go ANYWHERE ON THE BOARD!" Mark groaned.

Dark licked his lips, still staring at the board.

Mark shook his head, exasperated, "You still have no idea how to play, do you?"

Dark met his eyes, " . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . nope"

"God dammit, are you really going to make me teach you, you fucking idiot?"

"Hey now, there's no need to get nasty!"

They both turned to see Wilford standing there.

Dark didn't look surprised, "Hi Wil"

"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE WILLIAM!" Mark snapped at him.

Wilford snorted but a little laugh, "EASY there! Bully!" he gave a mock cat hiss, "I just swung by to see if you knew that Yancy was trying to teach Eric how to shiv someone. I think he's gonna try and get him to stab one of the Jims"

Dark sighed heavily and looked to Mark, "Can we pause this?"

Mark just glared at him, "We didn't even START"

Dark just took that as an answer and left the room to go deal with the ego chaos.

Leaving Wilford and Mark alone together.

Which . . . arguably. . . wasn't the BEST idea.

Wilford just smiled wide at Mark, "So how've ya been!? Did you like the bubbles I got you?"

Mark crossed his arms, "Bubbles aren't going to fix us, William. Just fuck off somewhere else and leave me alone"

"Oh, you" Wilford just laughed, " . . . Acting like an asshole isn't gonna fix YOU and your problems, either!"

Mark blinked, not expecting that jab.

Wilford laughed and was about to turn to walk out the door.

When he suddenly stopped.

His whole mood changed from happy to serious in an instant.

Mark didn't like that.

"Did you feel that?" Wilford asked Mark.

Mark just stared at him, ". . . . Feel . . what, William?"

Wilford shuddered and turned away, "I have to talk to Dark"

Mark watched Wilford pop out of the room. To be honest, it shouldn't have surprised him. William had mood swings a lot.

But this. . . this was something different.

Something horrible was about to happen.

Mark stared at the chessboard before flicking a piece over on its side.