Oswald sighed a little, sipping his coffee with an occasional glance towards the clock. It didn't come as a surprise to him when a small yawn escaped his adoptive son. Oswald glanced over, seeing the wolf's jaws get caught in another big yawn.

Boris rubbed one eye before smiling a little, relaxed from his nap. He probably could have slept longer, but the feeling of being back home and away from the doctor made him smile wildly at his dad.

The rabbit set his mug down before smiling back, slightly nervous to the thought of meeting with that coy fox. Boris suddenly had a thought. "Hey dad...?"

The rabbit gave a small "Hm?" to show he was listening.

"Do you think writing in the journal will help?"

Oswald smiled a bit. "...maybe. I don't really think that's going to solve the full problem though, Boris. It depends." His thought train trailed back to the upcoming meeting.

"It depends on what?" Boris asked, moving closer before stopping himself at the counter.

The rabbit knew he shouldn't hide this 'conference' from him. After all, he would be attending.

Boris' tall ears twitched. "Dad...?"

Oswald internally sighed. "Boris, in a little bit, me and you have to go to a meeting. Is that alright?"

Boris blinked. "Yeah! What for?" his head tilted just a bit.

Oswald started. "It's about my job," he paused, thinking of what else to say and how to put it. That was already most of the truth. "You'll be asked about some things, in regards for Bendy." He winced a little, as he had been expecting the wolf to make a pupper face.

A saddened look flew across the wolf, his tail ears bending down.

Yep, that face.

"O...Oh." the wolf looked away for a moment. "...will I get to see him?"

Oswald shook his head. "No... He's still in the Council building. I don't think Shelly would let him leave for th-"

"Why not?"

The rabbit grew progressively nervous, a small cartoon like sweat drop appearing.

"They didn't say."

Boris' ears flattened a bit more, falling silent.

Oswald felt beyond terrible for not saying the real reason, the fact that other... things were going on.

The wolf nodded. "That makes sense..."

The rabbit went from nervous to confused. "What makes sense?"

Boris' ears perked. "Shelly didn't say, you said before that the Council doesn't make sense."

"I've never said that, I only said they were secretive. They keep to themselves, avert from the public..."

The wolf nodded once more. "...I guess I was thinking of something else. Sorry dad..." the wolf felt off.

Oswald waved that aside. "It's alright, Boris. Now how about some late breakfast...?"

The wolf brightened. "Sandwich?"

Oswald smiled. "Sure. I'll make you a sandwich." He reached for his mug, about to take a sip as the wolf flinched, right before the mug slipped from his hand and fell with a thud onto the mat beneath the counter.

The rabbit didn't think much about it, grabbing a towel and sighed before waving the wolf to step back.

"Dad?"

The rabbit glanced up, wiping away some of the coffee that had spilled on the counter and floor.

"Do you need any help?" the wolf felt another odd feeling arise, unable to pin it.

Oswald said, "Nah, I'm alright... Why don't you go watch television while I clean this up?"

Boris nodded. "Okay dad..." Stepping away towards the living room with a small sigh, the wolf sat, reaching for the remote to turn on something to watch before subconsciously reaching for his brother's reel. The wolf looked at the reel he held with droopy ears, tucking it into the player before moving back to watch his brother's cartoon once more.

Oswald heard the reels playing, deciding to intervene with a plate of egg sandwiches. He held the plate, moving near Boris. "Hey, Boris, you ready to eat? We'll have to head to the meeting soon..."

The wolf looked up. "Sure... I'll eat." He sat up straighter, his drooped ears moving up when he took the plate, ripping himself away from the television to get to the table. He set his plate down while Oswald began eating a piece of toast.

Boris slowly started to eat, listening to the catchy tune of the reels. The wolf looked deep in thought before he set his half eaten sandwich back on the plate.

Oswald was crumpling a napkin before he looked at the wolf. "Boris, aren't you hungry?"

In reply, the wolf shook his head. "No, I'm fine." He pushed his plate a little. "I... Think."

The rabbit glanced back at the clock. "Well... We have about twenty minutes until we have to go... Are you gonna be alright?" Oswald knew what recently happened with Bendy had triggered something, and the rabbit didn't blame anyone, not one person at all. He also knew Boris was young... his character was the same, and it wasn't like the wolf's mindset was one of a child's...

Okay. Maybe a little. Boris was just an innocent character. Oswald had watched some of the Bendy cartoons himself, and seeing how Boris was supposed to act was... interesting to see. Boris wasn't exactly a bully, now was he? Anything but bad.

These kinds of realizations had brought along other thoughts. Was Bendy's personality changed as well? He didn't seem to be outgoing or mischievous. Though, Oswald hadn't been with the ink demon long enough to be able to tell. Bendy's main fascination was the outside world, sure, but Boris seemed to be a main priority. It seemed so sweet that the wolf looked up to Bendy as a big brother, while Bendy seemed to look down darn near the same way.

And speaking of Bendy... Frank hadn't said or texted much about Bendy. Something was happening, but Oswald didn't know what. The rabbit wished the demon would be able to see his brother, or possibly even call, yet the chance of that happening seemed slim. Very, very slim.

Another glance at the clock... Time was still passing.

While Oswald pondered, Boris had twisted to look at the screen, and the rabbit realized Boris still hadn't answered his question.

"Boris... Are you going to be alright with this?"

The wolf didn't look at him. "Yeah, what else could go worse than it already has...?" Boris glanced at Oswald with a small smile. "...We need to get going, don't we..."

"Of course we do..."

"Then... Then let's go."

"...Okay."

Shelly stood in the doctor's office, glancing at Frank. "Are you sure you gave them the right time?" She was trying oh-so hard not to sound her usual snippy self.

"Oswald said he'll be here, he might be late, but he'll come."

The fox nodded, subconsciously glancing around before taking a seat on the cream colored couch.

There was a buzz that came through the doors outside the office, Shelly's ears flicked just a bit.

Then, the door opened, two characters she had glimpsed once before stepping in. One looked nervous, some kind of wolf, as she had expected. And then there was Oswald.

Oh, she had quite the few questions for the rabbit and wolf. She sat up straight while Boris stilled, moving to sit down, looking hesitant.

"Hello..." Boris said quietly.

Shelly forcefully smiled, a small sharp fang showing.

Boris seemed to radiate nervousness, glancing at Doctor Frank for a mere second before looking at Shelly once again.

Oswald sat beside Boris, praying the wolf wouldn't let his defection show.

"So, I've got a few questions..."

Boris braced himself. "Alright."

Oswald couldn't move to console Boris, but nodded as well.

Shelly sat up impossibly straighter. "Alright, first question."

Boris's pie cut eyes widened a little. 'So soon?' he thought worriedly.

"How would you describe your 'brother'?"

Boris tried not to tense. "H-he's caring and sweet... I don't really know that much about him, but that's his whole being. He's like... Like a cinnamon roll!" Boris had only just learned what a cinnamon roll was when Oswald had given the wolf different sweets to try.

Shelly nodded. "Alright, so he's sweet. I find it strange that you don't know much about him..." She murmured the last bit to herself, but the wolf heard. His face scrunched up a little.

"...That's because we weren't together long."

Shelly raised her head.

"I didn't even know he could talk... He was one of the first sights I had seen when I was made. And that wasn't too long ago, so how would I know what to say besides the truth?"

Oswald could easily pin the evident waver in Boris' voice. "Boris, now isn't the time..."

The wolf bowed his head, only to look embarrassed. "Sorry miss..." he murmured.

Shelly was, to say the least, intrigued. "No... No no no, it's fine. I didn't doubt you of the truth."

Boris grudgingly looked at her.

Shelly added, "I was just intrigued... Just how normal you look compared to i- ...to him." She caught herself at the last second.

Boris fell quiet, and Shelly peered at Oswald.

"Why hadn't you reported Bendy to the Council when you had found him? I can tell you knew what he was, it doesn't take a scientist or a doctor to figure that out."

Oswald knew who he was talking to. "I guess I'm not that smart, then."

Shelly raised a brow. "...So Boris... That is your name, correct?"

The wolf nodded.

"So, Boris, have you ever heard of a character named Alice?"

Now the wolf shook his head. "I... Wait, Alice Angel? The angel in my brother's cartoon?"

"Yes. Had you ever known her? And Oswald, I know you weren't the one to find her, but I've wondered if you knew anything about her as well. She and Bendy seemed close."

"Wait, she's with Bendy?" He realized he didn't just have a brother now, but a possible sister as well.

Shelly responded with yet another nod. "Yes. Yes she was."

Boris paid no attention to the use of past tense and genuinely looked surprised. "...Is she... Is she also a Defect?" his voice was quieter.

"Yes."

Boris immediately saddened the slightest bit, a small jab of sadness piercing his heart. He doubted that if he couldn't see Bendy, he might never meet Alice either. "Oh..."

Oswald looked at Boris. "Hey Boris... I just realized I left something in the car. Can you go get it for me?" he had left his car unlocked, which was always once in a blue moon. He hadn't told this to Boris, but he had thought of a clever way for the wolf to escape, just a safe exit from endangering the fact of his Defection.

"...Alright dad." The wolf recalled the car was unlocked and stood up. "I'll be back."

Shelly said nothing, simply watching as Boris stepped out, pushing past the doors before making his way into the parking lot, the weather just about as dim as his mood. He made his way to the car and opened the door, finally realizing he didn't know what to look for. He had a sudden curious flash, wondering if his Dad had given him an opportunity to relax without that coy fox around. He subconsciously moved a hand and locked the car's doors, feeling a little better as he did so. He felt a little bit... Safer.

Meanwhile, the fox looked at Oswald. "You did that on purpose, didn't you." When she said this, it was not a question.

Oswald took it safe and nodded. "Yep. I forgot something, what else?"

The fox's expression hinted annoyance, but she wiped it off, still trying to be nice.

"Mister Rabbit, I don't think you realize the importance of my questions right now. Boris needs to answer them."

"Oh, really? I was under the impression you need me to answer some things too."

Shelly scoffed. "And I do."

"Well, then get it over with."

The fox refrained from glaring. "That's what I was thinking, too." She sat straight. "What was the demon's home life?"

"...How should I know?"

"You were there, were you not?"

The rabbit nodded. "Yes, yes I was, but I was only there for a moment. Sure it was a longer one, but only a moment."

Shelly repeated, "What was the place like?"

Oswald sighed. "It seemed to be a neat looking place..."

"And?"

"There was one place that didn't seem so nice. It was where we found Bendy. He was left in a cage, Boris said it was for a punishment when I'd asked him. The only thing inside the cage that I could see was a blanket, and nothing else." The rabbit looked at her. "What else do you need to know?"

Shelly had gone silent. She had known and guessed the demon had been caged before. This not only added to her inflating guilt, but her thought train seemed to be going off the rails.

"I've heard enough for now."

She looked away, moving to hold a bag. "I'm sorry I made the wolf upset, that wasn't my intentions at all. I just needed to know a few things."

"Well now you know now."

The fox flicked a strand of hair away from her face, ears moving randomly. "Thank you for the cooperation." She took a glance towards the doctor, giving a small nod of acknowledgement before turning tail and leaving the room.

Oswald sighed and looked at Frank as well. "What was this for, Frank?"

Frank stood up, and gestured for him to come closer to his desk. The rabbit did so, and the doctor murmured, "She was recording all of this."

The rabbit shrugged. "I guessed she would record something, even if it wouldn't be on paper..."

The doctor moved to sit back down. "Well... I'm guessing you should get back to Boris."

Oswald nodded. "Thanks, doctor."

"No problem."

The rabbit quickly made his way out of the office, noticing the fox heading to another vehicle, carrying something in one hand. The rabbit didn't speak, as she was a little further away. 'Damn, for wearing heels she walks fast.' He shook the thoughts aside and headed to his son.

Boris rest his head, feeling a small drop of ink escape his eye. The wolf felt terrible, grateful for this break, but still terrible. He had braced himself, and yet still felt torn. Possibly more than before.

He jumped when Oswald tapped the window, looking up before wiping his eyes.

"...Why did you lock the door?"

Boris blinked. "...I did?"

Oswald nodded. "It's fine, just flip the switch and it'll unlock my side." His voice was muffled through the outside of the car. Boris heard well enough, reaching over to unlock Oswald's side. There was a click before it unlocked, allowing the rabbit to climb inside and start the engine. He swung the door shut.

"...You good now, Boris?"

The wolf made a small noise. "Y-yeah." he pulled his seat belt over his fluffy chest. "I'm all good now," he lied. He was feeling worse.

Oswald sighed and moved a hand to pat the wolf's shoulder before pulling the car out of the parking lot, heading back home. He wasn't going to speak about this now, not when it could hurt the wolf more. But he did say one thing. And that was one thing only.

"Boris, I'm here if you need me."

The wolf didn't respond, instead resting his snout against the window.

"...I know."

He couldn't shake the sad thoughts away. He had a brother and sister...

And a sister...

Yet neither was here. It hurt, but he had to bare it.

...He had to bare a lot of things nowadays.

The rest of the car trip was silent before they arrived at Oswald's house. Boris' stomach lightly rumbled, and the rabbit smiled lightly.

"I'll make you another sandwich."

The wolf nodded, turning his attention to the now static filled screen. "...Thanks dad."

Oswald smiled a little more, patting the wolf on the shoulder once more before heading to make his son another sandwich.

----

2558 words

To Be Continued.

Happy Friday the 13th, everyone! ^^

SillyVision-Studios  *hands you a bread sword*

MouseXD *throws you a Bendy plush* He'll protect you! x3

Zelink-Nalu ... *hands you a pen spear*( :'D)

^^,

(Edit: 5.5k- uh... OwO,,)

((Another edit: 6.2k HHHHHH- Sorry, I had to edit something that I'd forgotten to add when I originally wrote the chapter. I'd forgotten to put that Boris had locked the car door... Whoops.))