Anti groaned for the millionth time that night. Mia and him hadn't stopped playing Minecraft since she had asked him earlier and they were sort of addicted to it.

But that also meant that they both had a tendency to off each other very often. It wasn't exactly a friendly game of Minecraft. Mia loved to prank Anti and lure him into her traps. It was much like the things that Felix would do to Sean in their playthroughs of the game. . . . except Anti would retaliate by glitching her computer and getting back at her by killing her in the game.

"That groan is the sound of you losing" Mia taunted him.

Anti side-glanced at her but decided that he had enough. He hadn't killed her in a while and now she had a lot of experience gained up and even some diamonds on her.

Suddenly, he glitched inside of the laptop he was using, appeared in the game the same size as her character and sliced its throat.

And just like that, her character was dead and Mia just stared at her screen watching Anti dance tauntingly back at her making faces.

"Wha . . .. uh! Th- . . . THAT WAS TOTALLY UNFAIR, ANTI! COME ON!"

The next second, he was back out of the computer with a big smirk on his face, "And THAT . . was the beautiful sound of YOU losing!"

"Petty Asshole" but she was smiling a bit at him until she looked outside, "It's gotten pretty late. I should go to bed"

Anti's smile faded and he shut his computer before crossing his arms, " . . . . So you visited Sean earlier today. What was that all about?"

Mia didn't expect him to talk about their creator but she shrugged, "Nothing much. . . . we ate some cookies . . . talked about the next big video . . . played with BB"

"Next big video? I haven't heard anything"

"Yeah, well you wouldn't. Not that anyone would probably tell you. Not entirely sure I'm supposed to tell ya, either"

Anti snickered but hummed snidely, "Oh well please DO go on" his eyes lit up with excitement, "I do love a bit of gossip"

"Of course you would. You and Marvin would be the perfect pair of drama queens"

He snorted at her for that.

"But anyway . . . Sean, Jackie and I are going to LA to film some stuff with Mark and Dark"

"Ugh . .. that weird bastard? God, I feel sorry for you now"

"Hey!" she swat his arm, "Mark's not so bad!"

Anti gave her a look but she just tried desperately to stop herself from smiling, "I know you meant Dark . . . and he's alright, too! He's just . . . different"

"Different is an understatement. Have you even MET the guy?"

"Have YOU?"

"Pft . . . a couple times. When we've tried to kill each other . . "

Mia gave him a look this time, "Right . . . Dark's a nice guy. He-"

"Gives you chocolate? I've heard. Just be careful. Never know what he might slip in it"

She rolled her eyes at him saying the exact words her brothers have said, "Okay, I'm going to bed"

"I was just teasing . . . . sort of. . . . . . . . . . . So you're going to what? Appear in the video?"

"N-No-"

"Of course not" the mood changed suddenly and Anti's stare hardened on her, "You're just gonna be their power source. Hmph" he huffed, "And here you were supposed to be created for so much more"

'What?' she didn't get him. One moment she was starting to understand him, and then the next he was a complete enigma, "What do you mean by that?"

Anti looked up at her but then away again, "You were meant to be Sean's light in the dark. A force that could take even me on and protect the others FROM me. Instead, now, he has you making them stronger for stunt work and pointless spells and potions. Pranks and gags. Shits and giggles"

She shrugged, "So what? As long as they're happy-"

"Are YOU happy, though?"

"What do you care? Does it matter?"

Anti's eyes widened a little. He wasn't expecting this. For her to be this way about herself. Didn't she care they were just using her for her powers? It seemed every day either Jackie or Marvin asked her to power them up like a battery. Even Jameson had asked the other day so he could turn back time on his brownies to keep them from burning.

"Usually I'd say no . . . . . . but sometimes you gotta put yourself before others. You know . . all that mental health shit. PMA or whatever"

There was a moment of silence before Mia finally spoke again, opening the door, "See ya tomorrow. It was . . . nice hanging out with ya. Maybe we could hang out again soon. You should really work on your ending conversations, though"

Anti watched as she left the room, closing the door behind her.

Really, it wasn't the worst night he's ever had. At first he was shocked that she came to his door but he didn't want her to be afraid of him all the time. He liked her spunk and wanted it back so how could he just say no?

He shook out of his thoughts and sighed heavily, 'Fuck, you need to focus, glitch bitch. You're not here for fun. Remember that' he told himself.

But it's not like the last couple weeks there had been awful.

But as Mia had left Anti's room, another figure watched her walk away, shutting the door behind her. He glared between her and the door. He didn't like what was going on. He could hear their laughing and jokes from his own bedroom and he hated it.

'I swear . . . . if he hurts her again, I'll make sure to kill him. Not even Sean would be able to stop me'

He only had a small comfort in his heart knowing that it would be only him and Mia going to LA to film. Maybe while there, he could finally talk to Mia properly about some things. He had a lot to tell her now, after all.

A few days later, Sean visited the house all excited. Mia figured he was about to tell everyone else about the filming project more in detail and how her and Jackie would be gone.

"So anyway, I had an announcement to make. Why I stopped by. . . well actually, Anti made a very interesting suggestion!"

Jackie tensed and Mia looked back and forth between Sean and Anti in confusion.

But here Anti was looking so full of himself. It sickened Jackie.

"So I don't know if the rest of you knew that it was just gonna be me, Jackie and Mia leaving for LA to film with Mark and Dark and the others but there's bit a slight change of plans!" he clapped his hands enthusiastically.

Even Chase was there looking equally as excited even though he didn't know what was going on, "Dude, what is it?! Stop torturing us already!"

"Yeah, I need to know the deets like right now!" Marvin commanded.

Sean just laughed it off, "I've decided . . if you guys want to . . I want you ALL to come join us in LA! Even Anti, too!"

Silence.

Jackie growled, seeing how smug Anti looked, "You snide little cockroach! Why the hell would YOU wanna come to LA? You HATE Dark!"

Anti shrugged, trying to look so innocent, "Oh, well I just thought it was so unfair of just Jackie and Mia getting to go. Chase, are you friends with Bing? And Henrik? How long's it been since you've chatted with Dr. Iplier?"

Chase and Henrik did look to be contemplating it. Marvin shrugged, "Sure, I'll go! Why not?"

'Me too!' Jameson bounced on his toes, 'This is going to be so delightful! I haven't seen Host in a while! He always has such good tea!'

Anti smiled at Jackie but the hero knew his devious plans, "Hmph . . . . you're just trying to piss me off, aren't you!?"

"Jackie!" Mia scowled, "Stop it! It's not like he's benefitting himself. He'll be WITH US."

Jackie just scoffed, "Exactly" no one but Anti really knew what he meant by that.

Sean was confused and anxious looking between everyone but rolled his eyes, "Anyway, guys . . . . I think it'll be good to keep Anti with us anyway. What with those . .. weird creatures after him and what not"

"That we've still never seen" Chase brought up, "I thought you said they were on a mission to kill you or something, dude?"

Anti shrugged, "Fuck if I know, man. . . . I'm just glad they're scared enough not to come here"

"That's because of me!" Marvin smiled grandly, "You can thank me for that. A residual spell I put around the house, remember? It stays even when Mia takes away my power"

"You mean . . .. when it dissipates?" she fixed his wording, "You still have your power. It's just amplified because of me"

"Right, whatever" Marvin waved off, "Same thing. So are we ALL going to be in the videos or . . .?"

Sean could see Mia's anger peeking through, "Calm down, guys. And only if it calls for it. We'll see. But you ALL are coming. Chase, you can bring Stacey and the kids, too, if you want"

"Didn't actually need your permission but but actually, I doubt Stacey will want to come. She's not to fond of LA and being around . . well . . . you, remember?"

"Oh . . . yeah . . . okay"

"But I'll talk to her about me going. See if that's alright with her"

For some reason, everyone was a bit on edge today. It was like walking on pin needles.

Jackie just knew it was all Anti's fault. The only thing was he didn't know what his endgame was. Was he just trying to divide all of them or was it something more confined than that? Was he trying to get to Mia specifically?

He didn't think so but just in case. . . .

'I got my eyes on you, asshole'

But funnily enough, Anti was staring right back at Jackie with the same look in his eyes. As if HE was watching HIM. As if he needed to be watched or something.

'We'll see . . sooner or later here, you might get bored and then everyone will see you for what you really are. I knew you were playing with us from the start. Snapping and almost hurting Mia was the last straw for me. Sean and the others might forgive you . . . but I sure as hell don't'

Just then, he saw a look flit between Anti and Mia.

It was brief.

Maybe just a millisecond.

But it was a moment that counted.

And just like that, Jackie was on a mission of his own.

Keep Anti the fuck away from Mia.

When Sean left, Anti glitched off to his room but Mia was at his door as quick as a fox. She knocked relentlessly until he finally opened it and dragged her in, shutting the door behind them.

"Yes?"

Mia just put her hands on her hips, "You have some explaining to do"

"What?"

"You KNOW what! Why'd you go to Sean? I mean I know why but . . . why? Now I'll have to power up EVERYONE while we're in LA!"

Anti just softly shrugged, "Eh . . . I just figured it'd be best if everyone was together. Those creatures might return and if you're not here to keep Marvin's power up for the wards, it's not safe for ANYONE"

Mia snorted, "Nice try but weren't you listening back there? Marvin's wards hold a residual magic. They hold even if I'm not here."

"Ah, yes, that's right." but he didn't elaborate.

She groaned at him, "Why do you want to come with us so badly? I thought you said you hated Dark!"

"Doesn't mean I have to be around him"

It was Mia's turn to smirk at him, "Dude . . Anti . . you DO know we're gonna be staying at the Iplier mansion, right?"

Anti didn't say a word but Mia could tell he was . . at a loss for them at the moment.

She sighed and went back to the door, "Whatever. Next week we're going. You can try and change Sean's mind again about letting you go with the others but I don't think he'd budge now. Looks like you're stuck and dug yourself a hole, glitchy-boy"

Anti glared at the door. He didn't like that new nickname but he'd bare with it for now.

This wasn't exactly his plan but then again, when did his plans ever go right?

'As long as I get more of the idiots to come and watch her. I don't trust that emo bastard. He's practically courting her and he never does anything if it doesn't benefit himself'

Mia was important and even though Anti hated it, he wanted to keep this little flame going.

She was a light in the dark and even he didn't want to see it go out.

That and it was fun to see Jackie all riled up.