Three Months Later

Chase sat in front of his TV . . . . staring at the endless void of static. He's been waiting and watching it since Anti's sacrifice. Really he still couldn't believe it. What Anti had done for him.

A lot of guilt had set in once he finally came to terms with it. He hated it so much. Here Anti had gone through so much to survive and have his own body. . . . only to give it all up for him.

But Chase knew that Anti would come back eventually. It took years this last time but he couldn't help but remain hopeful. Anti was pretty stubborn, after all.

His brothers tried consoling him but it was almost like he had lost his kids all over again.

He told Stacey about Anti. Although she didn't know about him as a person, she understood his grieving and promised not to hold it against him on seeing the kids. Being able to see the kids, after all, was what kept him together.

Sean stayed around the house with him for the first few weeks but eventually had to go back home again. Unlike before, though, he tried his best to keep in touch.

"Come on, Anti" he pleaded, talking to the TV, "I know you're there somewhere. You have to be."

Just like the last few months, though, there was silence. Chase's eyes were a tad puffy from staring at the TV waiting for ANY sign Anti was back. Only to be disappointed every day.

He lost his job but that didn't matter to him anymore. He didn't have to worry about money at the moment anyways. Sean was taking care of it and promised that once Chase got on his feet again, he'd have a job waiting for him.

Chase was happy, don't get it wrong, but. . . . . he had other things on his mind.

It wasn't just Chase that had been hit hard by Anti's death though. Marvin was also worn by it along with the others. Jackie was taking it surprisingly hard. Here he had been so harsh with the glitch only for him to turn out being the true hero.

Suddenly Chase's phone rang, startling him out of his staring and making him flinch.

"Fuck" he reached for it and saw the caller ID. Rolling his eyes, he answered it, "Hey Hen. Yeah, I'm doing fine. You know you don't have to keep calling me every day."

The voice on the other end scoffed at him, "And YOU do not need to be vaiting on him every day! Yes, I know what you've been doing, Chase!"

Chase rolled his eyes but sighed, "I know, Hen. I can't help it though. I miss the bastard"

"He'll be back eventually Chase. Give it time"

"You know I can't"

"Yes, yes" he spoke dismissively, "Has Sean spoken to you today? Said he was coming down again tonight. The others discussed visiting as well if zhat was alright with you"

"Of course it is, Hen" Chase scratched at his beard, "I'd love to see everyone together again. . . . " he stopped himself, "I mean. . .you know"

Henrik sighed on the other end, "I know. I'll see you tonight, yeah?"

"Yep. See ya"

"And take a break from the TV! Rest your eyes!" he promptly hung up before Chase could argue with him.

After putting his phone away, Chase groaned and looked at the TV again, "Fooking brat. You better not keep me waiting too long" he stretched and started cleaning up the place to save being nagged at.

A few hours later, the others arrived to his home and Sean ordered out dinner for them all. Evelien chose to stay back home to give them time to themselves.

Once together, they started getting the table all set and ready. They ignored the TV on static, keeping it on for Chase's well-being.

Things were silent between them all save for a comment here and there but they all felt the same. It didn't matter how little time the others spent around Anti . . . what he did impacted all of them, giving them all a completely different perspective on the glitch. What Sean had said all those years ago was true about him. He really did have a good heart after all.

There was a knock on the door and Chase went to open it, thinking it was the food delivery. Opening the door, he couldn't be more wrong.

His face pulled a snarl and he clenched his teeth, glaring at the man before, "The FUCK are you doing here?"

Anti laid in the void, floating like a small particle in the vast empty space. Of course he had felt Chase watching the TV for a while now. He felt everything around him, remembering how small he was compared to the void. Keeping his newfound humanity, he found a new perspective, himself, on everything around him. He realized how everything had a purpose, even the smallest atom and he respected that. Everything had a purpose there. . . . .

Except for him.

And he accepted that.

He couldn't go back. He wouldn't return to the way things were before. He just couldn't. He brought more pain than anything the last few times. Why add on to that anymore?

Of course he wanted to see Chase again. Of course he felt his pain and heard his voice calling out for him. He didn't care. It was better this way.

He even felt Sean call out for him sometimes and Marvin. But he refused to answer. They'd forget about him eventually anyways.

It was better this way.

He floated along in the void like a mere particle barely existing. It was better if he had never been alive at all.

Everyone was better off.

He closed his eyes, ignoring the world and soft voices around him. He remembered all the bad he had ever done and kept hat close to his heart. As long as he remembered all that he did to get in this mess, it wouldn't repeat.

He'd make damn sure of that.

Dark sat on the couch in the living room, trying to ignore the uncomfortable stares he was getting from all the Septics in front of him. He was in a suit this time with his cane in hand but something was VERY different about him.

Something major had changed.

"I . . . I know you all don't like me being here-"

"You're damn right about that" Jackie growled out.

Chase agreed, "You fucked up bad with us. You have NO right to be here"

"You're right. I don't. I-"

"Then why are you here!?" Chase stomped his foot down, barely containing himself. There wasn't anything he could technically do to Dark but he could express his anger very well.

Dark had the sense to look away.

"I asked him to come" Marvin piped up.

Everyone stared at him, "Come on, guys don't look at me like that."

"Why, Marv?" Sean was even surprised, "Why would you invited over the man that KILLED Chase and is responsible for Anti's death!?"

"Because he can help bring him back"

Everyone went silent.

Dark sat up a little taller, "Like I said. . .. I know you all hate me. You have every right to. But I just want to help"

"Why?" Jackie came forward closer to him, crossing his arms, "Why would you want to help? Why should we trust you? How the hell can YOU bring him back?"

Dark stood up to match Jackie's stature, gripping his cane out of habit, "Just like Anti, I can cross between dimensions."

"Host told me" Marvin half-ass defended him, "Look, it's not like I love the idea either. . . but you guys want him back, right? Dark can do that"

Sean was still pissed but understood, "Dark. . . do you regret what you did?"

The man looked to the ground, "Of course. It was stupid, what I did. I acted out of rage. Something I always ridiculed Anti for doing. I didn't listen to the apologies and acted out of my own desires. It was wrong of me. And I can't express enough how sorry I am"

Chase strode forwards in front of him, "I don't forgive you."

"I don't expect you to. I killed you. I am sorry. But I don't expect you'll ever forgive me. I don't expect anyone to, really. I just want to help fix what I caused"

Chase glared into his soul, practically and Jameson sighed, 'I say give him a chance. We'd get Anti back, right? Isn't that enough?'

"You are right, Jameson" Henrik nodded, "Although I hate this bastard just as much as everyone here. I agree. Chase? Sean?"

Jackie and Marvin were already on board but Sean seemed distrustful.

"I don't know. What if it's a trap to destroy all Anti's progress he made already?"

"He hasn't" Chase spoke out, "If there was any progress, Anti would be talking to me already. I know it. He's either doing it on purpose or he can't."

"How do you know that?" Sean asked.

"The stubborn fuck was in my head and constantly fucked with me for weeks on end. I know him better than everyone."

Silence echoed in the room for a few moments. The answer was unclear in that moment.

Dark just sighed and looked back at Chase.

Chase finally closed his eyes and nodded, "Get my brother back. Fix your fooking mess, Dark. I already lost my kids once. My wife and my unborn child.. . . . . I can't lose Anti now, too. Not again."

Anti was letting himself disassociate from the world. It would take a while but he found it could be worth it. He didn't care. He wanted the pain to end. Because so far, he still kept his humanity and emotions and it ran turmoil on him just as much as before when he had his body.

But it just wouldn't end.

Would he always feel this pain?

Didn't he deserve that?

He knew that answer already. Of course he deserved it.

A tear ran down his cheek. He'd always be in pain. Remember everything he did. Their voices. Their pain. All his fault. Everything was HIS FAULT.

Anti's breathe hitched as a strange and familiar feeling came over him. He opened his eyes to see a figure in the distance.

It was a black figure, coming closer and closer and the less distance that was between them, the better he saw him.

Anti swallowed and snarled just a little as the man finally reached close enough to stand before him, seeing the whites of his eyes.

"You made a bad choice coming here, Dark"

Dark just held his cane in front of him, "I know. But it was a worse choice in not coming."

Static fizzed around them and Dark chuckled, "You look exactly like your brothers when they saw me moments ago."

Anti stopped floating and stood on his feet in his voice just as Dark was, "The fook did you do to them!?"

"Nothing. . . . The magician asked for me to come. Then they all did"

"I don't believe you."Anti scoffed, "This is just another trick of yours. Manipulation"

"Why would I manipulate you?"

"Why wouldn't you!? Why would you be here!? You got what you wanted, right!? I'm dead! Just. . .leave me alone! Fook off. . . ."

"Why have you not come back, Anti? We both know you can by now. The more you travel in between, the faster you become. Even Chase knows that"

Anti looked away with a scoff, "He doesn't really care. None of them really do. They don't know the real me. What I'm capable of. They all truly knew me for only one day"

"Chase knew you for more. He misses you"

"I don't care"

"You do. You haven't forgotten what it feels like, yet, Anti. You still know how it is to feel. Now that you know, you'll NEVER forget. Take it from someone who knows"

"Why you? Why are YOU here? You hate me"

Dark bit his lip, "I had to come. Only one who can, really. Not even Marvin thought he'd be able to. Otherwise it'd be him that was here. But more than that. . . ."

He came forward a little closer to Anti and suddenly kneeled to his knees, setting his cane at his side, "I wanted to apologize. I needed to give you . . . a clear and concise. . . good apology."

Anti stared down at him. He was in shock, really. He never thought he'd see Dark on his knees like this before much less for HIM.

"I'm sorry, Anti. I'm so fucking sorry for everything I did to you and your family three months ago. It was horrible of me to assume you couldn't have changed. It was stupid of me to assume you couldn't suffer. I should have shaken myself out of that mindset when I realized it was YOUR blood in my bath tub that night. I don't know why you chose to do that in MY bathroom. . . . but it shouldn't have mattered. You were hurting. . . . and I made it worse"

Anti stayed silent, still staring down at him as Dark continued with a bowed head.

"I was frivilous about the suits. It was stupid of me to put that over a life. Even yours. Even if you COULD return. It was ignorant of me to assume the other Septic egos were like us and I'm SO sorry. . . . ." his voice cracked a bit, "I'm so fucking sorry, Anti. I .. . killed Chase without any regard for the circumstances or another's emotions. . . much less yours. I didn't even put in account you could really FEEL like they said you could. Stupid of me. You have full right to kill me when we return even if you know I'll just come back, too-"

"I'm not going back, Dark"

"Wh-. . .. . what?"

Anti turned to face away from him and crossed his arms, "I said I'm not going back."

Dark, still on his knees, flinched slightly and his face scrunched in the confusion, "Wh . .. I don't understand. Why not?"

"I don't owe you any answers, Dark. Just leave already"

"Don't owe me any. . . . . I came here on the request of YOUR BROTHERS, Anti. . . don't you want to see them again? Don't you want to . . .live again? Try again?"

"I had my fun the last time I was out and look what happened. No. I'm not going back"

"Are you afraid you'll fuck something up again? Afraid you'll put them in danger again?"

He didn't say anything but Dark knew he was right, "Anti. . . you can't think like that. Hell, if I thought like that, I would have been gone into the cabin YEARS ago. Shut myself out forever just like you're trying to. But I know that I have people that care about me"

Anti chuckled humorlessly, "Good for you"

"You don't get it, Anti" Dark stood back up, "You have people that care about you now, too"

"Don't be absurd"

"YOUR being absurd!" Dark snapped, his aura starting to flare a bit, "Dammit, Anti just fucking stop being so damn stubborn and come back with me, already! I'm trying to help you! I don't want to see you like this! I can't!"

"Why is it any of your concern?!" Anti held his hands over his ears, trying not to listen and clenched his eyes tight, "Why do you care so much all of a sudden!? It's none of your business! They're not your family! Besides, we're different, Dark!"

"How so!?"

"We just are! You hate me! I hate you! The damned Septics hate me and I hate them and that's ALL it is and all it should ever be! I should just stay locked up here forever where I can never hurt anyone ever again! Because I deserve it! I'm a monster! A virus! A parasite! I killed people, I hurt my brothers and tried to kill them, I hurt YOUR fooking brothers, for fooks sake!"

"And I forgive you. Just as EVERYONE forgives you . . . . for everything you've done. And you know that"

"You know what I did to them, Dark? Before I was human? I did a lot of fucked up shit."

Dark listened as Anti continued, curious to what he had to say, "I hurt and tried to kill all of them. Chase was my favorite to mess with though. I did the worst to him. I haunted him and his house. I tried to scare his kids, I kidnapped them at one point but him and his wife had been arguing too much to notice. Then I possessed Chase and threw his PREGNANT wife down the stairs, killing their unborn child."

Dark's eyes visibly widened. He didn't know that.

"I didn't know though" If Anti could cry right now, he would. Without a body, he wasn't able to, "I just thought she gained weight. And then I possessed Chase again later and taunted him into killing those bystanders. He shouldn't forgive me. There's no fucking way. No reason. I don't deserve it, I don't care what any of them say."

"You did a lot of stupid shit, Anti." Dark nodded in agreement but smirked, "So did I. We're not so different. And yet Mark and everyone close to me chose to forgive me. They had no reason to just as the Septics don't have one for you. But it doesn't matter. They're family. And family is ALL that matters."

Anti turned to finally look him in the eye, ". . . . . . . . . . . . How'd Chase look?"

"Why don't you come see for yourself?" Dark held his hand out for Anti to take.

Anti shuddered, " . . . . . . . Are you sure? They still . . . want me there?"

He shook his head, "I'm sure. You can tell, can't you? They miss you"

"They shouldn't"

"You can't dictate their feelings, Anti. They miss you and want you back. What you did earned your place in their good graces and you should be proud of that. Be proud of yourself. . . . and come back home"

Anti stared back at Dark's hand. He swallowed apprehensively but finally relented.

He reached his hand out towards Dark's.

"You think he'll really come back?" Chase crossed his arms, asking Marvin, "He has the power to on his own . I know that. I can feel it. Does he not want to? And why? Is Dark able to convince him? Why should he be able to?"

"Chase, calm down." Sean consoled him, "We're all on edge. I'm sure everything will be okay."

"Fook off"

Sean tense and grumbled to himself, "You can definitely tell you've spent too much time around Anti."

"Maybe you should sit and relax for a moment" Henrik tried, "Anti . . . . who knows vith him, hm?"

"Why did Dark really come, Marv?" Jackie asked him, "You think Mark made him?"

He shook his head, "Nah. I think he really did it on his own free will. I could see it in his eyes that day how terrible he felt. He really did regret what he had done."

"Good." Chase snuffed, "He should"

'I always thought Anti and Dark would make for great friends' Jameson signed almost to himself, 'We ALL know what the community thinks of the two'

"I don't need to know that" Chase groaned.

"Neither do I" Sean agreed, "It's bad enough Mark and I still get shit sometimes"

"Doubt Anti really cares anyways" Marvin chuckled, "Right, Chase? I saw in his head and we both know. Those clubs he went to. The way he was. . . .no way he's ONLY into women"

Jackie shrugged, "Oh well. As long as he's happy"

"Guys, we don't even know if he's a sexual sort of guy at all anyways!" Chase argued," He's like a kid! He's probably asexual anyways"

"You wish" Marvin snorted, "I saw in his memories the rutting he was doing-"

"Why did I come back only to hear a conversation of you all contemplating my sexuality?"

Everyone turned blankly to see Dark standing at Anti's side. The glitch looked just as he did when he got his new body three months ago. This time with clothes.

"You . . ." Chase burst into a sudden wide smile and bolted to them, lunging at Anti, "YOU'RE BACK!"

Neither were prepared for Chase's force and the two landed on the floor with a heavy grunt. Neither cared, though. Chase sobbed immediately in his arms and Anti, although uncomfortable, held him, sitting them up together.

He was somewhat prepared for Chase's emotions . . . but not for the others.

Almost just as quick, Sean was on the floor with them, hugging Anti along with Marvin and soon Jackie, Henrik and Jameson joined in.

Dark watched the family reunion with a small smile on his face, glad he could be of some help.

Anti felt the rush of emotions over flow onto him and he finally gave in, sobbing with Chase, holding him to him, shaking.

Chase cried in his shoulder, "I didn't think you'd come back. I thought you. . . ."

"I thought you'd all be better off without me"

Jackie swiped him across the head, "Don't you EVER fooking think that, dumbass!"

"Stupid glitch" Chase muttered affectionately, "You may have done a lot of crazy and shitty things . . . . but you're still our brother. . . . . don't you ever forget that."

Anti looked up to see Dark had already left but he resumed the cuddle pile until he got to be too much.

Soon, the food was delivered and they all bustled in the kitchen, visiting, shoving playfully and laughing. Anti never felt as at home as he was now. He had never felt this full feeling in his heart before.

Now all his ego brethren truly accepted him and had a place for him in their hearts, forgiving him for his sins.

As they ate, Chase mentioned that he didn't have anywhere to stay so he offered his guest bedroom for him.

"However, when the kids come, you'll have to sleep on the couch but I'm sure it'd be more comfortable than the street, you know?"

Anti was sure Chase was bullshitting him but the look on his face told him otherwise.

Chase continued, seeing Anti's stunned features, "Besides, I'm sure Kallie and Sammy would love to spend some time around their uncle Mr. Static Man! Ever since they saw you at the power plant, they haven't shut up about you!"

The glitch was nervous about seeing the kids but his heart was bursting all the same.

"But no partying or drugs. No smoking in the house and you can only drink with one of us. Not having another problem like you did before, remember? Not gonna give Dark ANOTHER reason to come after you!"

They all joked around and laughed, Anti agreeing to the terms.

When the others left, hugging and playfully teasing, it was just Chase and Anti left in the house.

They sat on the couch together sharing a bottle of whiskey and some ice cream, Chase's arm over Anti's shoulder as they blankly watched the TV.

Chase leaned his head against Anti's. The glitch wasn't used to being back again and grew quite tired from all the commotion. He let Chase hold him like a child.

"I'm glad you're back, Anti."

"Hm"

"I really am. I missed you"

Anti flicked his finger, turning down the TV's volume, "I told the others before. . . . . I used to hate all of you. Was jealous that you all had a purpose and were made for a reason. I know at first, I wasn't mean to exist. . . . . I was just a virus in Sean's head. . . . . trapped in the static. But now. . . . . I still don't know my purpose. . . but I do know I'm also not who or what I was before."

Chase curled his fingers in Anti's hair, knowing he loved that just as his kids did. Anti curled in closer to the father.

"I'm not trapped anymore. And I have you to thank, Chase. . . ." Anti dipped back some whiskey, "This might just be the whiskey talking. . . .but I love you. Thank you. . .for just. . .. giving me a chance. . . . for saving me"

Chase shook and pecked Anti's head, "The whiskey's just making emotions flow out easier for you. But I love you, too, Anti. I love you, too, brother. And don't worry. I'll help you find that purpose. We'll find it all together. As a family."

"Family" Anti smiled.

Yeah. This was what a family was.

But there was still one thing that didn't make sense.

Who was the one who gave that information to that lawyer!? They still never figured that out!

Host smirked at his desk, picking at one of Google's parts that he was helping repair, "The Host sighed as he finished yet another story for now. He was done meddling for a while and even though they didn't know Host had intervened, no one would ever HAVE to know. For only Host knew that if he hadn't given that information to Mr. Smith. . . . . then Anti would never have felt the need to help that very first time."

The man stretched and yawned, "No one ever appreciates the Host. They really should thank him sometimes" he grumbled to himself.

Google glared at him from the corner of the room, "If you hadn't intervened, probability is high that I wouldn't have been broken by that virus TWICE!"

"Okay Google, the Host said to the android. Shut down" he grinned, "See you all in the next chapter, the Host chuckled to himself"

The story isn't over yet :) I still have a couple BONUS chapters left for a sort of epilogue.

However, I would still love to thank all of you for reading and I appreciate all of your awesome comments and love for my writing. Thank you all SO MUCH for your support! 💚

However, the story is ALMOST over so I would like to put out a sort of poll for the next story I will be writing.

Here are the choices:

1) Anti loses his memory

2) Anti is imprisoned

3) Both ideas put together