Mr Puzzles stepped onto his balcony, overseeing the wonder below him that was Puzzle Park. At least, in his opinion it was a wonder. The place formerly known as Didney Worl had been open for a week now and Mr Puzzles had seen barely any customers willing to ride his death traps. It was disheartening more than anything. To have yet another dream crushed before his very eyes. How unfair the world was...

He sighed, leaning against the balcony and reaching into his chest pocket for a cigarette and lighter. He always had one on him. Although not a regular smoker, he found it quite relaxing during stressful times such as this. He didn't have lungs to damage nor a brain to process chemical addiction. The only 'harm' it could bring about was an unpleasant smell; not that anyone would be around to complain about it. Mr Puzzles was, of course, notoriously alone.

He held the cigarette in his vent as he flicked his lighter, bringing about a small flame that he cupped his hands over, holding it up to the cig and lighting it.

He pocketed the lighter and drew a long breath of smoke, allowing the nicotine to set into his systems and giving him a relaxing hit of dopamine. He held the cigarette between two fingers and moved it away from his vent, releasing his breath and watching the smoke exit his vent.

Man... he needed this...

Puzzles closed his eyes and leaned against the balcony, drawing another breath of smoke from his cigarette as he did so. This past year had just been so stressful.

Puzzlevision, Five stars, the Comedy Zone, losing Leggy, ...Puzzlebox and now, finally living up to his childhood dreams of running a theme park.

He had been so overwhelmed that he completely forgot to make time to stop and smell the roses. The sweet... red roses...

"Hello? TV man? Are you home?" Mr Puzzles' antenna twitched slightly as he heard that all-too familiar voice calling him.

Mario.

Although not exactly friends, Mr Puzzles had recently found himself growing somewhat of a soft spot for the Italian. That being, he didn't want to murder him every time he saw him anymore.

He wasn't entirely sure when exactly he let his guard down enough to be comfortable with the Italian. Maybe it was when Mario considered joining him when he tried to re-recruit Meggy? Or perhaps it was when he stole Mario's moustache and truly got a taste of what he was like as a "regular person"? Or maybe, just maybe, it went further back than that. Back to before Mr Puzzles had even revealed himself to the crew. When it was just him and Mario, alone, for hours on end. When Mario would, not only watch, but actually enjoy the shows he put so much time and effort into. No matter what he made, as long as it was created with genuine passion, Mario was enthralled by it.

Mr Puzzles admittedly found it almost flattering that Mario liked his creations so much. He would be the first...

The TV grumbled to himself, drawing another breath from his cigarette as he thought all of this through. Meanwhile, Mario had since wandered onto the balcony, looking up at Mr Puzzles with wide eyes

"There you are! Mario was-a trying to find you!" He smiled.

Puzzles hummed a response as he kept his eyes fixed on the theme park below him. Mario sauntered over to the balcony edge and stood on the part that was slightly elevated. A design feature that Micky Mouse had added back when he owned the place.

Now closer to the TV man's height, he turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow as he stared at the cigarette curiously.

"You smoke?" He asked.

"On occasion..." Mr Puzzles sighed, a cloud a grey fog leaving his vent as he spoke. "Calms the nerves."

"Huh. Mario did not know that." The Italian admitted, also turning to look at the theme park.

The two stood in silence for a moment; Puzzles took another puff of smoke before extending his hand and offering his cigarette to Mario.

"Care to try?" He asked.

The Italian looked pointedly at the object before he politely shook his head.

"No thanks. Mario doesn't know how to smoke."

"Well that's not an issue. It's pretty simple. I'll teach you."

Before Mario could protest, Mr Puzzles had already placed his lit cigarette in between Mario's index and middle fingers.

"Now then, there really isn't much to it. First, bring the cigarette up to your mouth and inhale."

Mario paused for a moment before doing what he was told, bringing the thin object to his lips and breathing through it, inhaling sharply as a large amount of smoke filled his lungs.

Mr Puzzles' relaxed demeanour instantly became more alarmed as he watched Mario do this.

"No! Not that much! Just a little bit!" Puzzles tried to warn him but it was too late.

The Italian started violently coughing as his body rejected the dirty smoke filling his lungs. He hunched over, cigarette still in hand as he hacked up the rest of the unwelcome smoke.

Mr Puzzles gently patted his back, chuckling slightly as Mario coughed, hoping to soothe him a little. Once he had ceased his choking, he looked at Puzzles with a displeased expression.

"Mario didn't like that very much." He grimaced.

"That's because you didn't do it right." Mr Puzzles stated. "Don't take in too much. Start small.  This is your first time after all~"

He lightly brushed Mario's arm as he spoke, leaning over his shoulder as he encouraged the Italian to take another puff.

Mario did just that, nervously bringing the cigarette to his lips and breathing in a small amount of smoke.

"Good. Now hold that breath. Just for a few moments as the smoke cools down."

Mario followed the TV's instructions, keeping the smoke in his mouth until he was told otherwise. He could feel the chemicals tickling the back of his throat as he waited.

"Perfect. Now pull the cigarette away from your lips whilst taking a deep breath. Then simple breathe out like normal."

Mario brought the cigarette away from his mouth as he inhaled, feeling the smoke fill his lungs and sending a warm rush of dopamine throughout his body. He exhaled, watching the smoke disperse into the air before finally disappearing.

Mr Puzzles projected a pleased smile onto his screen, moving away from Mario.

"There you go. See? It's easy." He said.

Mario decided to take another breath of smoke, bringing the cigarette to his lips once again and inhaling. Unfortunately, he accidentally breathed in too much smoke once again and began violently coughing.

As he was trying to catch his breath, Mario accidentally dropped the cigarette over the balcony. Mr Puzzles watched sorrowfully as the cigarette extinguished before hitting the ground. He sighed, reaching into his pocket to pull out another one as well as an extra for Mario.

Once Mario had finally stopped coughing, he looked at the TV and was surprised to see him offering him a second, unlit cigarette. The Italian accepted it without question and put it in his mouth.

Mr Puzzles once again took his lighter, cupping the flame as he ignited his cigarette. He pocketed his lighter and Mario looked at him curiously.

"You forgot Mario's." He said.

The TV glanced down at him, raising an eyebrow. He then huffed out a smoke-filled sigh and crouched down slightly to be at Mario's level.

The red cladded man looked at Mr Puzzles expectantly. The TV returned his look, staring at the Italian with a bored expression on his screen. He then moved his hands away from his cigarette, holding it solely in his vent before leaning closer to Mario.

Without saying a word, Mr Puzzles moved so that the butt of his cigarette lightly brushed Mario's. The Italian froze, not daring to move an inch as Puzzles waited for the cigarette to light, the static of his screen making the hairs of his moustache prick up. He made sure to keep his gaze fixed on the shorter man, holding intense eye contact with Mario as their cigarettes lightly kissed. Their faces were no more than a few centimetres apart; the sheer amount of tension between them was maddening yet neither man commented on it.

Eventually, Mario's cig caught fire and Puzzles pulled away. Not before removing the cigarette from his vent and blowing a cloud of smoke onto Mario's face; causing the other man to close his eyes as the smoke washed over him. The TV gave a low chuckle at the sight, sending a shiver throughout Mario's body. His face reddened and he turned his head, taking a puff of smoke to distract himself from the growing feeling of arousal the was bubbling inside of him.

Why was that kind of hot?

Mario shook his head, ignoring this thought for now and instead just focusing on the view of the theme park and the company of the TV. No more words were exchanged between the two men as they stood in silence, watching their smoke disperse into the evening sky. Occasionally, they would share a side glance or two but as soon as they caught the other looking at them, they would face forward and act like they hadn't even been staring at each other in the first place.

They stayed there for hours, burning through their cigs and relaxing in each other's company. They didn't need to talk. They didn't even need to do anything. Just simply existing around someone else was enough for them. It was sweet. Calming. Peaceful.

It gave them both something they had been lacking for a long time.

It gave them a break.