Marvin swirled around his new potion.

'This should do it.'

It was a bright green in color. Unappetizing but should be sweet in taste.

'This delightful little liquid will allow me to cross out of Sean's mind and imagination undetected. The effects won't last long but it should be enough for today.'

He was going to meet with Anti today and he was excited. Giddy, even.

Of course, Anti believed he was meeting Jackie. Marvin would have to talk to him later about that. If he got the chance, that is. Maybe he'd just so happen to forget?

Marvin smirked to himself, 'I'll see then what's so special about the glitch that grants him the ability of freedom. Perhaps he'll cooperate. I don't know what Jackie and his relationship is at the moment or how long they have been conversing but it doesn't matter. I'll just have to slide into his good graces, as well'

Marvin didn't realize just how easy that would be.

'Plus I'm curious about this girl he likes. Is it a code for something? Or is he really interested in a woman? Either way, I'm a sucker for gossip! How funny it would be to see him soft and timid but we all know how ridiculous that sounds'

Marvin swirled the potion one more time before dunking it down, licking his lips, "Hm . .. Tastes like . . ." he coughed a little and made a face, "Ugh. . . thought it'd be sweeter. Tastes like fooking spinach. Disappointing. Oh well, I'll fix it later"

He gave it a moment, assessing himself. He didn't feel any different, though.

"Hm. . . I guess I could. . . try and teleport?" Marvin bit his lip and just went for it.

In an instant, he opened his eyes and slowly, his lips curled in a snide smile. He was at the furniture store as he promised.

He didn't feel any pull or alert from Sean. He was invisible to his creator. Finally.

"Fucking finally"

It felt so good to him. Like he was finally released from all his responsibilities and duties.

He was, really and he couldn't care less at this point if all of his wards back with Sean came down simultaneously.

He was on a mission.

Anti had been at the store already for quite some time. He couldn't wait, he was too excited.

He sat in the chair section of the store waiting.

Of course, that meant hours of waiting. He never did discuss an actual time on meeting with Jackie.

And with every minute going by, he felt increasingly more anxious.

'Maybe I should go to the front of the store? Would he know where I am? What if he doesn't come after all? Is this a test of some kind? No, of course it can't be. We were literally talking about the chair HE broke'

Anti's shoulders hung and he pulled his hoodie up, feeling more and more embarrassed with himself.

'Of course he doesn't want to be seen with you. What were you thinking? You came off too strong and now he thinks you're plotting something against him!'

It made his heart hurt to think he came so close.

Of course he wasn't ignorant. He knew of what Sean put in their heads. What Sean made him do. To them, he was the devil. A manipulative monster. He hated Sean so much for doing this to him.

But with more time passing by, the less anger he felt and the more sorrow and grief took over. Depression and anxiety overcoming him like a fog, telling him he'd always be alone and he'd fail in every social relationship he came across. That's why he was always so timid in trying to go for a date with that girl.

'I didn't even get her name . . . . I'm a fooking failure in that, too, I guess. . . . '

Marvin didn't bother disguising himself. He strut around the store looking for his promised little demon he tricked so well.

'What if I didn't trick him, though? Maybe he saw through it and isn't even here now'

But the more he went through the store, he could feel something in the air. Something dark and . . . familiar.

'Is Chase here, too? Something just feels so depressing and-'

And then he saw him.

Over sitting on one of the chairs was Anti in a baggy black hoodie and he looked absolutely emotionally awful and on the verge of a breakdown.

'That's. . . . strange. . . .' Marvin blinked, trying to force away his surprise but it was hard to do so. Marvin was very empathetic and could feel people's emotions stronger than most. And Anti's was STRONG.

And sad.

'I guess . . . . do I approach him?' he saw him wipe his eyes and Marvin's heart tugged, 'Damn, if he's playing a game, here, he's good'

But something in Marvin's mind told him Anti wasn't playing a game. This was real.

Finally Marvin built up his courage and approached him.

Anti stared at the floor, letting his dark thoughts consume him, not even noticing someone come up to him, their shadow covering him and his line of sight.

"Thought I'd find you here."

Anti snapped out of his thoughts and perked at the voice, a smile forming on his face.

Until he looked up to see who it was.

And his face changed to complete and utter fear.

And honestly this surprised Marvin but he smirked regardless, "Expecting someone else?"

Anti gulped and leaned away from him. He was unprepared for this. Not ready. Not today and certainly not alone.

"M-m-marvin?" Anti felt as if he'd faint or cry or just immediately go to begging for his life to be spared.

"That's me! I know you were expecting Jackie but I'm afraid you called the wrong person last night, dear glitch" Marvin leaned closer to him but frowned as Anti flinched, nearly falling out of the chair.

Anti didn't know what to do. What to think or say. He was certain he'd die today now.

Marvin found himself in an awkward position, "Uh . . hello? You gonna say anything or-?"

"P-please don't hurt me!"

Marvin raised a brow, "Hm? And why would I do that? Unless it's warranted. . . I just wanna talk. . . and perhaps gossip a little" he smirked.

Anti didn't trust this at all and managed to slide out of the chair and hop away from the magician, not that it felt any better, "Wh-why? D-did Jackie say anything to you?" he could be hopeful at least.

"No"

'Well there goes that' Anti swallowed again, "Why do you . . want to talk, then?"

Marvin smiled edging a little closer until he flopped himself in the chair Anti had been sitting in, "Hm . . . not bad. . . could be comfier, though."

"A-answer me!"

"Easy there. . ." Marvin eyed around the area, spotting a couple sales people that were watching them, "There are eyes on us, glitch"

Anti glanced around and saw what he meant, "They're looking at you. Y-you don't exactly look like anyone else here"

Marvin hummed, crossing his legs on the chair, "You mean the cape?"

Anti glanced at his mask, jewelry, colorful make-up, gloves and high heeled boots, everything covered in some amount of glitter, "Among other things"

"Hm. I thought I looked good"

Anti shrugged, "I wouldn't know. . . Why do you want to talk to me?"

Marvin leaned back on the chair, getting comfortable, "Well . . . .Jackie came to my room asking for a new walkie talkie. I was curious. He had never asked for another one before. He's very careful, you see. So then I did some digging and found that the other walkie talkie he said was destroyed was actually safe and sound. Then low and behold you started talking on it"

'Shit' Anti cursed himself but Marvin wasn't finished.

"At first, I thought you were puppetting Jackie. But then the way you spoke gave off a completely different vibe. You actually sounded genuinely happy for some reason. I was curious. That and I've always wanted to talk to you anyway."

Anti stayed a fair distance away but was starting to get a bit more comfortable around him, "W-when Jackie came after me yesterday . . .I got him to listen to me. That's all I wanted. I really was happy when you heard me talk"

Marvin hummed again, "What did you say to him? Because honestly it looked like he was questioning all of his life choices" he snickered.

"I-"

"Hey, you there!"

They turned to one of the salesmen coming up to them, looking serious.

"Yes, sir?" Marvin addressed the man, "Can we help you?"

The man ignored Marvin and spoke to Anti, "Hey, is he bothering you? Are you okay?"

"Y-yeah. . . I'm okay"

The man spoke to Marvin then next, "Sorry sir but you need to leave. This is a family owned store and we don't accept your kind here"

Marvin looked affronted, "My kind?"

"Whatever you are. Gay, trans or whatever. I don't give a shit frankly but my boss'll kill me if I let you stay in here"

Anti didn't like where this was going and obviously Marvin didn't quite know what to say, "He's not doing anything wrong. He's with me. He-"

"I don't care. He's not welcome here and if you're with him, you can go, too. We don't need you people here scaring away our customers"

Marvin still didn't know what to do or say. He was never usually let out and now he assumed he knew why.

But Anti was full of surprises, his timid nature gone and he glared at the salesman, "You know, I'm sure Sherry will LOVE to hear about this. You know . . your boss?"

The man blinked, not expecting that, "Uh . . how do you know-"

"I know her." Anti growled out, "I happen to come in here often and I'm a friend of hers. If you don't accept me or my brother here, then I'm afraid I'll have to take this up with her and see what SHE thinks about all of this"

"Uh . . I mean . . there's no need for that! Uh . .. Y-you can stay. S-sorry for the confusion"

"Only confusion is on your end. Now kindly FUCK OFF!"

The man practically ran off, leaving Marvin . . . impressed.

And confused.

Anti turned back to him, concerned, "You alright? He had no right to bully you like that. I can talk to Sherry if you want?"

"Y-you actually DO know the owner of this store?"

Anti shrugged and nodded, "I come in and grab some of the free cookies and lemonade every Sunday. She always gives me an extra cookie"

"Huh" Marvin was truly stunned. Was this really Anti? "Well . . thank you . . . that's never . . happened before."

"It's no one's business what someone looks like or how they dress. No one's business who someone else's preferences are. I don't really know you but . . I wasn't gonna let him belittle you like that. Y-you're still my brother. . . even if you all hate me"

"Speaking of which" Marvin hopped out of the chair, coming closer to Anti who seemed to be okay with it now, ". . . . . we need to talk. Let's go get some cookies and lemonade, hm?"

"But that's only on Sundays"

Marvin rolled his eyes and snapped his fingers. Suddenly there was a cookie and a cup of lemonade in each of their hands, "You were saying?"

Anti already had the cookie in his mouth.

"So you're saying that Sean is you and you are Sean figuratively?"

"What? No. I mean that Sean-"

"Sean's actually evil and you're actually good? It's a crude suggestion but is that it basically?"

Anti sipped on the lemonade, "Basically. I told Jackie he could free himself. You all can and I could show you but he doesn't believe me just yet I don't think"

"I do"

Anti blinked at him, "Y-you do?"

Marvin shrugged, "Why not? Easy enough for me to believe. I haven't been able to leave Sean's head or house for well over a year. Maybe two. I just made a potion this morning I've been working on that allowed me to be. . invisible to his senses. He still doesn't know I'm gone!"

"Cool. How long does it last, though?"

The magician waved his hand vaguely, "I don't know. Probably only the rest of the day. But you said you had a way to free us like you freed yourself? Care to share?"

"I mean. . it'd be easier if you all could do it at once. That way Sean won't be able to stop the next person from escaping him."

Marvin nodded, "You're trying to get everyone on your side first before telling us? Decent plan but I don't think it has to be done that way."

Anti stayed silent and Marvin knew why, "It's okay . . . You think once you tell me, I'll tell Sean. You don't trust me yet and that's understandable. I shouldn't trust you as readily as I do. I should be apprehensive and weary but truth be told I'm not exactly a patient man. . . . . Tell you what . . do you like my company at least?"

Anti thought about it but besides Marvin strange way of talking, he felt like he was at least being truthful to him, "Yeah. I like you." he shrugged and chuckled humorlessly, "Fuck, it's been my mission since you all had been created to help you all. All I could think was you were my brothers and to imagine you guys being used by him like you were. . . story characters to do with as he pleased . . . . I'd do anything to help you all"

"Good!" Marvin chirped, "So we'll meet here again next week? Maybe then you could give me a hint so I won't have to drink my nasty potion again?" he laughed.

Anti laughed with him, "We'll see . . . You have no idea how much I want to tell you . . what you all don't know" he turned somber again but before he could delve back into depression, Marvin turned the tides again.

"So tell me about this girl you like!" Anti suddenly blushed and Marvin dug deeper, "She pretty? You in love? What's she look like? You talk to her often? Have you been on a date with her yet? PLEASE tell me she makes up for your lack of conversation!" he joked.

Anti bust out in a laugh and Marvin felt a warmth over him as he answered just as Marvin had asked, "Yes, I don't know, she's brunette with blue eyes and works at the general store nearby where I talk to her at least four times a week, no I haven't dated her yet but she gave me her phone number!"

"Progress! Can she talk!?"

"Y-yeah"

"Then DATE her! What are you waiting for!? Permission from daddy!?"

"Well . . . I don't know if I . .. want to date right now. I'm kind of busy at the moment, you know"

"Freeing your brothers from our creator's shackles! Yes! But for the love of FUCK, go out a little! Have some FUN! Geez . . . How long has it been since she gave you her number?"

"Um . .. I don't know . . A week or so?"

Marvin swat him upside the head, "IDIOT! She's gonna think you're gay! Unless you ARE then I can hook you up with someone, I bet. You can't wait that long! Get on it!"

Anti pouted but felt warm inside. Was this sibling love? Was Marvin actually treating him like any of the others?

It felt nice.

Marvin felt the same way, really. He liked not feeling Anti's sadness or anxiety and he couldn't bare it otherwise.

The whole day was a surprise but in the end when Marvin could feel the potion finally wearing off, he had Anti tell him where he lived and they teleported to his home.

"Oh . . yeah you're in need of some more décor, hun" Marcin teased and flicked his wrist, a nice chair sitting in the place where the other one had been.

"Marvin!" Anti grinned and sputtered, "Y-you didn't have to do that!"

The magician just shrugged, "Eh, I wanted to. Call it getting even for you sticking up for me earlier" he winked, "See ya later, brat"

"You will?" Marvin couldn't get over how happy Anti seemed.

"Yeah. I'll visit again in a few days when I can make another new potion. Sound good?"

"Yeah . . sounds good"

"You are BARELY containing yourself, aren't you?"

Anti fell into his new chair and hid his face so he wouldn't have to answer.

Marvin laughed at him, "See ya!"

"See -" but Marvin was already gone, "-ya"

Things with Jackie had gone rough at first and he still didn't fully trust Anti but didn't kill him.

But now with spending the day with Marvin, he finally felt more hopeful than ever. The magician wanted out just as bad as he had and he couldn't wait to tell him.

But first, he wanted to get the others to his side before that happened. If they all did it at once, Sean couldn't prevent it later.

This was Anti's chance and he felt more confident than ever.

He nearly felt whole again, really and that was saying something.

He hadn't felt this happy since . . .. well .. since the very beginning, really.

Anti's memories brought back more sadness. Remembering the past like it was. Nothing would ever be the same.

'I wish it could go back to the way things were before. . . Sean. . . .'

Anti swallowed and went to go get his whiskey again, 'Why did you have to do it?'

Little did Anti know, Marvin had other plans for Anti's plan to free them.

He didn't care for everyone else's freedom. He was tired. He was exhausted and just wanted out already. He didn't care that if it came down to it, he'd do just about anything to go and do as he pleased.

'I'm sorry, Anti' Marvin thought to himself, 'You seem genuine in your intentions but I don't have the patience for you to wait until you convince everyone. The gods know Chase will never turn to you.'

He pulled out a lock of hair he had snagged from Anti's head inconspicuously, 'I barely believe you myself. But now we'll see for sure what your plans really are'