Mark stretched at his computer, yawning. He finally got everything back to normal with his computer after Anti's 'run-through'. He understood that it was actually Dark's doing the plan wouldn't have worked without Anti's help. Luckily the glitch had stopped in time and left but it was still a pain to deal with.

Once Mark found out that Anti got through because of Google, he took out ALL of his cameras that connected through Bluetooth. He wasn't going to let them spy on him anymore.

And then he did possibly the most stupid thing he could ever do. He actually WENT to Raspy Hill. Thankfully, Dark wasn't there but at first, the other egos seemed weary of him, obviously having been told something different about him.

Amy had told Mark not to go but he was glad that he did. It gave him the chance to actually connect with his egos. He wasn't like Sean where he kept tabs on all of them all the time. Dark had gotten into most of their heads by now, making them think he was the bad guy. 

But the visit actually turned out pretty well and he got along with most of them, even Wilford. Wil was a strange one but Mark believed the man trusted him. Otherwise, he would have shot him. He should have brought Katherine along with him just in case he had problems with Wil and the Jims but he didn't think that would be appreciated.

Mark imagined that Dark would be pretty pissed off when he found out but he'd worry about that later.

Stretching just a little more, he took a break on recording videos and got up to go take a break, wandering into the kitchen.

Amy was in there cooking something that smelled amazing, "Oh hey, Mark! Taking a break finally?"

He nodded, "What you making?"

"Just some pasta. You hungry?"

Mark walked around Chica and Henry who watched Amy intently, "Not really but I can eat." he sighed and looked in the fridge with no intent on taking anything.

Amy noticed the weird behavior, "You okay, Mark? You're doing that thing again."

"Oh. . . . yeah I'm fine" he self-consciously shut the fridge door and rubbed the back of his head.

Amy didn't believe him, "Mark" she coaxed.

He groaned, "Alright, alright. . . it's about Dark."

Amy tensed but nodded, "Okay. . .what about him? He stir up more trouble?"

"Not exactly. Not yet, anyways. I'm just worried, I guess. I don't know. All the others don't seem to have a problem with me since I visited them the other day. But Dark just won't ever give me the chance and I don't know why. I can't even get close to him, not that I minded the other day."

"Mark" Amy sighed, "You know why. He's confused. And you made him that way"

"First of all, I didn't really make him. Celine and Actor created him, scuffling over Damien's 'soul'. In the end, it didn't matter. He's neither what Celine OR Actor intended." he fell silent for a few moments.

"You feel responsible for it?"

"How can't I? I created Actor, fucked him up and now look what he's done? I know there's good in Dark . . . but he's too corrupted from Actor's plan to see it. Actor wanted him to be the villain. At first Dark rejected it but . . .  I don't know what happened. He fell right into his trap. And it's all my fault. I could have talked to Dark"

"Technically you still could. Why do you think Dark hates you? Shouldn't he hate Actor?"

Mark shrugged, "I don't know. He sees me, probably, as the source of it all and honestly I don't blame him. . . .  you think I should try talking to Dark?"

Amy shrugged, "I'm not gonna tell you what to do" she flung a couple strands of pasta towards Henry and Chica to gobble up and the two smiled a little, "But something has to be done. Dark caused Anti to fuck up your computer. Who's to say what he'll do next?"

"You're right, Amy"

"I know I'm right"

"Thought you weren't gonna tell me what to do?" he smirked.

"I didn't, really. Now help me get the plates down. Dinner's almost done"

Mark smiled. He always felt better after talking with Amy.

-888888888888888888888888888-

Anti stroked BB's fur contently in his bed, staring up at the ceiling lost in thoughts about nothing.

Sean let Anti keep BB around until Evelien would come home the next day and honestly, it was like his first ever Christmas present just to be around the sweet cat. Sean trusted him enough to look after BB for the day but now the cat was starting to get noisy. He started meowing at Anti and it took him a bit to realize that the cat needed food. 

But he really didn't want to go downstairs and run the risk of bumping into Chase. Or anyone, really for that matter. But he had to, for BB. 

"You hungry?"

The cat's ears perked and he leaped off the bed, trotting to the door with a particularly loud meow. Anti sighed but got up anyways, picking him up so he didn't run off. With BB in his arms, the cat felt like a fucking king.

As they made their way down stairs and into the kitchen, Anti was thankful that no one was out and about at the moment so he placed the cat on the counter and searched for something he'd like. He was planning on stealing one of Marvin's tuna cans but apparently, the magician used them all already.

"Him and his fooking tuna sandwiches" Anti grumbled.

"What you looking for, Anti?"

The glitch gasped but turned to see it was just Marvin, himself.

He sighed, "G̷e̴e̶z̵,̵ ̶M̷a̸r̷v̶!̴ Don't freak me out like that! I thought you were someone else" he grumbled the rest to himself.

He actually looked offended, "What? Am I someone that doesn't strike fear into your heart, little glitch bitch?"

Anti growled at him, "F̵o̶o̸k̵ ̸o̵f̵f̷.̵ You know I don't like that name"

"Sorry", Marvin walked over and pet BB, earning a purr, "Sean told me he brought little BB along. You looking for food for him?"

He nodded, "Yeah. Was gonna steal some of your tuna or salmon but it's gone"

"Hm. I have a stash in my room. Come with me" he picked up BB in his own arms and Anti watched a little befuddled. With a sigh, though, Anti caved in and followed him. He wasn't going to leave BB alone with him. The cat might end up liking him more!

When they got to Marvin's door, it opened for him and they went in together. Anti's hadn't been in Marvin's room for a long while since before he moved in but nothing really changed all that much. He had a cauldron in a corner by his closet that was filled with colorful clothing. He had fairy lights strewn about the ceiling and walls and bookcases filled with different 'magician things' that even Anti didn't have a clue about. 

The door shut behind him and he glitched a little at the weirdness of it. 

Marvin smirked just a hint, placing BB on the floor to get under his bed. Anti raised a brow at him, "You hide cans of fish under your bed. Why?"

He merely shrugged as he came back out with a can, making BB go nuts. The furball stared up at it in wonder, taking turns rubbing himself affectionately against their legs. Anti giggled at the sight, not noticing Marvin's softened look. With a flick of his finger, the can opened and he tore the lid off the rest of the way so BB wouldn't cut himself. As soon as he placed it on the floor, the cat dug in enthusiastically.

Anti watched BB with a small smile on his face but realized too late Marvin saw him. The magician had a smirk on his face, "You like cats, I see" he flicked his hand over his face, making his signature cat mask appear on his face, "That mean you really do have a soft spot for me, glitch?"

Anti rolled his eyes, "You're so fooking weird."

He shrugged, "Eh. Not really. I'm normal compared to everyone else in this house."

There was silence between them for a while, the only noise being BB's loud eating until Marvin finally spoke again.

"I'm sorry about the other day, Anti"

He lifted his head to look at his ego brother, "What do you mean? The other day in the basement you mean?" Anti shrugged, "Don't worry about it"

"Don't toss it off, Anti. I'm serious. I apologize. I should have known better than to say something like that. You've truly changed a lot since you've lived here. How long has it been since you moved in? Three years?"

He nodded in response and Marvin continued, "I mean sure you've had some rough patches and you've caused chaos in the city for Jackie here and there . . but you haven't killed anyone."

"Yeah" Anti chuckled sarcastically, "I got that going for me"

"Anti" Marvin crossed his arms, "Whether you believe it or not, you've improved a lot. So you had a little bit of a relapse that one time with Chase. So what? He didn't die and he forgives you for it so-"

"Were you N̸O̴T̷ there yesterday? He doesn't forgive me! He fooking h̶a̵t̵e̸s̶ ̸m̵e̵.̸"̷ Anti looked away from him, "The entire time he's been here, he's been lying. He doesn't care about me"

"That's not true, Anti. He cares. He's just a little lost at the moment is all. If he didn't care, he wouldn't have stayed by your side that whole night. You remember the first night he came here?"

He flinched. He was a bit of a blur but he remembered. Chase didn't leave his side once. He never let go of his foot, anchoring him the entire time. He never slept that night, watching over him and then that morning, he made breakfast for HIM.

"Why would he say that stuff then?" Anti broke just a little, letting himself become just a little vulnerable. He didn't know what it was about Marvin, but he felt right now he could talk to him.

"I don't know, Anti. Perhaps it's the memories that plague him of being back here? Him and Stacey didn't live too far away from here. He's probably missing his kids, too"

Anti stilled, thinking about that and his shoulders fell. He barely registered BB's paws on his knee, purring for him to pick him up.

"It's okay, Anti" he snapped out of his blank thoughts quickly at the sound of Marvin's voice and picked up BB, letting the cat rub his face on his cheek.

Marvin smiled, taking off his mask. For a moment, Anti swore his eyes changed color.

"He'll come around. He'll apologize, too, and you know it. Go easy on him, will you? He really does care about you. Remember. He's the one, after all, that vouched for you to move in to start with, right?"

Anti slowly nodded, "I'm . . . .I'm gonna go now. See you later, Marv."

The magician smiled, "See you later, Anti. If BB gets hungry again, just knock on the door. I always have more fish"

Ignoring the slightly creepy moment, Anti let the room to go back to his with BB.

'I'm sure that was more creepy in my head than it really was but. . . . I can't shake off this weird chill down my spine'

Marvin smiled in satisfaction as Anti left. Even though it really wasn't his original intention, he got the memory he needed from Anti. Now all he had to do was see it through his eyes. What really happened that day at the party?

-888888888888888888888888888888888888-

Dark tapped his fingers on his desk. The poor thing was barely stable anymore since he lost his shit and threw it across the room, but it still stood much to his surprise. Just barely.

Her voice in his head almost chanted for him to focus, calming him down every time his thoughts ran wild.

He sighed and put his head in his hands. He appreciated the voice but it was almost getting too much to bare. What was so wrong about just thinking about certain things? Surely he could control himself enough not to let his aura go crazy, right? The voice had a different opinion.

They always had a different opinion. It was for his own good.

Emotions only make you weak and deter you from what is really important. He had to do what he was created to do and THEN he would be free. Free to feel and think the things he wanted.

Or so the voice told him.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knocking on the door.

With a sigh, he grunted, "Come in"

Wilford burst right in which was no surprise to him but what was a surprise was the look on his face. He had never seen Wil look . . . .  worried before.

"Wil? What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing's wrong!" he tried to disguise, "It's just. . .well you're not going to like it but. . ."

"But what, Wil?" his voice started into a hiss.

"Well . . . Mark wants to talk to you. If you're willing, that is, chap"

Dark snarled immediately, "Excuse me?!" he stood from his desk, "That bastard. . . . that utter asshole wants to talk to me? Where is that son of a bitch? I'll tear out his throat"

Wilford snorted, "Well he's at home, obviously. He's not TOO stupid to encounter you face to face right now. He texted Google his number and wants you to call him . . .  when you're ready, I believe is what the text said"

Dark growled, "That. . . he . . ." the voice tried soothing him but his aura bounced around anyways. It didn't bother Wil but he didn't look pleased, either.

"Give me the fucking phone number."

"Right now?"

"YES, RIGHT NOW, WIL!" The red aura slashed across his walls and tore into it like nothing.

Wil scrambled but took the number out of his pocket. Dark suddenly appeared in front of him and ripped it out of his hands. Wil didn't seem bothered but on the inside, he was truly worried about his friend.

Dark seethed, trying to keep his auras down but it was hard, "Leave, now, Wil. I don't want you to get hurt if I lose it"

Taking his advice, the man started to walk out the door but stopped, taking a deep breathe. Wilford turned to face him, "I think you should listen to him, Dark"

Dark's head snapped up to glare at him, "What did you just say?"

But Wil wasn't afraid, "I know you hate him. I don't know why but I've always trusted your judgment. But this time, please. Just hear him out, yeah? He's really not that bad of a guy"

Dark lost it, covering the entire room in a a darkness like the void. His eyes turned black and a harsh high pitched ringing blasted throughout. Wilford covered his ears with his hands with a grimace on his face. Red and blue auras fought against one another, making the room vibrate sickeningly. 

Dark crunched the piece of paper in his hands. "Get out"

Wilford, for the first time, was afraid of his friend and it showed on his face. But Dark didn't care. Wilford could see that.

He ran out of the room, shutting the door behind him.

In that moment, he knew, something wasn't right. What had happened to his friend?

Flashback

The party was stupid, according to Anti but he stuck by Dark's side most of the time. Too many people were around. Including his 'brothers'. Some of them glared at him from time to time as if watching his every move but the ones like Jackie and Jameson tried their best to smile at him.

Anti hated it. It was gross. He snarled at them in response.

"If you keep that up, your face will freeze that way" Dark found amusement in Anti's anger.

He glitched and huffed at him, "This is stupid." he sat in the chair next to him at a small table in the corner of the yard, "This whole thing is dumb. Why'd WE have to come to this?"

Dark shrugged, "I don't know. Wil dragged me along, otherwise I wouldn't have. And you're here because of me. Get over it, glitch bitch"

Anti flinched at the name but didn't respond, choosing to watch everyone else mingle with each other instead.

They were at Mark's house in the backyard having a pool party and everyone was having fun except for those two.

Every one was there, even Henrik and Chase's wives and kids. 

That was the most annoying part of it all was the kids. They're high pitched screaming and laughter. Dark hated it with a passion but he swore he saw Anti's face curl up just a hint in a smile as he watched the kids play. That pissed him off.

Anti didn't 'hate' kids but he didn't really like being around them either. He had killed and tortured a lot of people but he had never harmed a child. He could never bring himself that low.

Dark, while he hadn't actually killed or tortured anyone HIMSELF, had manipulated people into doing it to others, and he wasn't above hurting a kid if it meant hurting Mark.

And Mark adored kids.

End of Flashback