Google locked eyes with Anti but no one realized how things were really going to go down.

Anti ignored Google's innocent expression, knowing he was well practiced with manipulation himself.

Dark shouted at him to leave but Anti could only hear ringing in his ears. He only saw red and his eyes went pitch black. Angry green sparks crackled from his skin.

"You're fooking dead"

Before he could attack Google, Dark lunged at him from behind, holding him back.

"Anti, stop it! It's not what you think!"

"Let me go, you bastard!" Anti struggled violently, "You're harboring a fucking genocidal monster! I'll kill him!"

"Precisely why I'm not letting you go!" Dark had him in a full nelson but that didn't mean Anti was defenseless, sparking and pulling away.

Meanwhile, Google actually looked worried.

He never looked worried or scared before but Anti didn't care.

"LET ME GO!! What gives him the right to live when he tried to KILL US ALL!?"

Suddenly Jackie was there clad in his hoodie looking like a bum.

"Jackie briskly strut in the room but at first, everyone just thought he was a random homeless person, said the Host, and he looked worried as if something would happen but not necessarily to Google"

"Anti, calm down! Just let Dark explain!" Jackie ignored Host, "It's not what you think!"

"FUCK OFF, ASSHOLE!" Anti still fought, "I'm not going through all of that shite again! People thinking I'm always the culprit! People always blaming me! Telling me how horrible I am! I know I am! Doesn't mean it's ALWAYS my fault!"

Jackie slapped him across the face, effectively shutting him up, " . . . .ow"

"Listen to Dark, Anti."

Finally after a few more moment, Anti stilled but wouldn't stop glaring at Jackie, not that he minded. He knew Anti's emotions were all over the place right now.

Dark eased up on his hold but didn't let him go fully, "After Google's . . . . unfortunate mistake . . . . we realized that the problem wasn't that Google had just turned homicidal randomly. It was his programming. He had been glitched. . . thus his updates didn't go through. No one has to worry, though, now. With Bing and I's help . . . and the magician's. . . we were able to force his programming through his update after rebuilding him."

Anti still seethed, "And what the fuck does that supposed to mean!?"

Google stood slowly but didn't dare come closer. Really, he looked sort of timid, "I. . . I apologize for my earlier behavior before my update. I understand you are angry with me. I hope eventually we could be friends, though"

Anti gaped at him, "The fuck?"

Dark whispered in his ear, "Google's update was a better understanding of human emotions. He's. . . he's better now, Anti. Nothing like what happened before will happen again. We . . we didn't know how he was feeling before . . thus I guess we didn't know how to help him through. I suppose that's why he schemed to eradicate everyone in the city. As revenge. But we're better now. We all are. I promise you, Anti"

Anti stared into Google's eyes and really, he only saw the truth. Google never had that look before. Like he was genuinely sorry. Anti wanted to hate him.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused. . . . I told them to shut me down . . . . I don't know why they didn't. . . . but . . I'm glad. I can work to being a better friend. Learn with them about myself and what it means to be . . . human"

Anti wanted to be sick. He hated sentimental crap like that.

Jackie smirked at the look on his face but they all knew the danger was over now.

So did Dark evidently, letting him go fully.

Anti nodded to Google and then turned his gaze to Jackie, "Fine. . . . we're done here"

He tried to teleport out but Jackie quickly grabbed his arm, teleporting with him to Anti's apartment.

Anti bat at his hand, shoving him off, "The FUCK!? Get off, you asshole!"

"Anti, we need to talk"

"No, we don't! We're done! Now get the hell out!"

"We are NOT done, Anti, just listen to me!"

"There's nothing to say"

"Yes, there is! And you're gonna hear me out, god dammit!" Jackie was tempted on hitting the wall but he knew that would only create more stress.

But Anti seemed to quiet down and just glare at him. He was practically snarling, really, but at least he wasn't beating him.

"Sorry for yelling" Jackie tried to ease up the conversation, "It's just that . . . . Hanging out with you wasn't really . . . my mission. I knew you didn't have the glove a long time before I even put the tracker on you."

Anti still stared him down, practically burning a hole through his head.

Jackie swallowed, "I just . . . I couldn't stop. Couldn't stop being around you. Getting to know you. You . . . contradicted all of my previous thoughts on what was right and wrong. I completely changed that night I witness you kill that gang, that was the truth. Remember what I told you on city hall roof?"

Anti just nodded slowly, still unsure of all of this.

"And I read your journal. . .I'm sorry for that. . . .but that's when I truly realized. . . . that we really aren't so different after all. You've always been viewed as the bad guy. Always told what you were and that was it. You had to say in it. While I was also forced to have specific thoughts in my head. I was just . . .so fucking tired of it all. I needed to know who I truly and you helped me break away from all the stereotypes slapped onto me"

"Is that so?" Anti tried to act like he wasn't swayed by his words.

"Yes" Jackie smiled at him, "I'm still Blood-streak, Anti. I'll always be that man you knew. You're partner. You can trust me. I swear it"

Anti crossed his arms and sighed, walking over to his journal still laying on the floor. He lightly tapped it with his foot, "Hm. . . . I guess I can . . . forgive you eventually.. . . you ARE a pretty bad liar, after all."

Jackie scoffed at him, "Fooled you for how long?"

"Shut up, fuck-face"

"Wow, never thought I'd miss a nickname like that"

"I almost kissed you"

Jackie snorted, "Yeah! Good thing I wasn't drunk enough like YOU to let that happen!"

Anti rolled his eyes, "You're still a lightweight! I drank MORE than you!"

"You still almost kissed your brother, though"

"Never living that down"

"Nope"

A light silence brushed through the air until the glitch chuckled to himself.

"Fine, fine, fine" Anti finally gave in, "I'll consider your apology . . . . you did save my life multiple times, after all I suppose. I guess I can trust you"

"Good . . good" Jackie smiled, "But there's one more person who needs to apologize to you, too, if you're okay with that? He should be done with his gig by now and he was going to go visit Chase and the kids" he checked his phone to see the time.

Anti didn't look happy about that, "No thanks. I really don't want to-"

"Too bad" Jackie grabbed his arm and suddenly they were just outside Chase's house.

Anti ripped his arm away but he couldn't tell if he was pissed off or impressed, "The hell are you doing!? Getting comfortable with that power, I see, huh!?"

Jackie just chuckled, "It's pretty nice not having to use a grappling hook everywhere I go. Guess I'm a lot more comfortable with that side of myself now"

Anti couldn't deny that he was . . . .happy to hear that. It made him feel something. Like he wasn't so much of a freak. That Jackie was so accepting of the same power they both shared.

It meant more than both of them really realized.

Jackie nodded to the house, "Come on. . . I promise I'll protect you in there. You trust me, right? Do I need to get the mask out to make you feel more comfortable?"

Anti rolled his eyes, "Whatever . . . let's get this over with, I guess"

'Easier than I thought' Jackie thought to himself as he led Anti up to the house.

It was nearing dark now and the lights were on but that's not what grabbed Jackie's attention as they got closer. It seemed more people were inside than he thought there would be.

He didn't tell Anti, though, in case he decided to run.

Jackie knocked on the door. It took a few moments but finally, Chase opened the door.

But he didn't look happy.

And when his eyes set on Anti, he looked fearful. But not of him, "Shit . . . what are you guys doing here?" he whispered.

Jackie narrowed his eyes, suspicious, "What's going on, Chase? Who all's here?"

Anti took a step back behind Jackie, not liking Chase's tone. Something was definitely wrong.

"Everyone" Chase answered, "But Anti can't be here. He has to go now or else-"

"Else what?" Jackie asked him and Anti was about to bolt without question until he heard someone else's voice in the house.

"Chase, who's at the door? Is it Jackie? Let him in"

Chase swallowed thick and turned pale, "Anti, run" he whispered again.

But Anti recognized that voice. He knew all the other's inflections but this one was different. Stronger and more . . . in power?

Anti ignored Chase's words and walked inside, well aware of Jackie at his tail.

Everyone stood in a circle all around someone that wasn't an ego. Someone very clearly the dominant power in the room.

Anti gaped at the man before him who in turn stared back at him without much fear at all.

"Anti . .. I wasn't expecting to see you, actually. I'm glad you're here, though. Makes things a lot easier"

Jackie stepped from behind him to at Anti's side, looking just as shocked.

Chase, Marvin, Jameson and Henrik were also there, still looking like they didn't understand what was happening. It appeared none of them expected this, either and Anti believed it.

The glitch flickered slightly and the lights in the house flickered with him.

His face turned to a grimace and glared at his creator.

"Sean McLoughlin. . . . . . You're certainly brave to show your face to me"

The air in the room was dark and thick. The other egos didn't look like they knew what to do.

But Sean just nodded, "Am I? But I must confess, I am surprised you came here. . and with Jackie nonetheless"

"How do you know-" Jackie started but Sean cut him off.

"I knew all of you existed a long time ago." he dropped the bomb, ". . . . I'm not ignorant. Marvin's spell may have worked for a short while but when crazy shit starts happening in LA that's not supposed to. . . well let's just say I pieced it together. Mark knows about his egos, too, if you must know. You guys don't hide yourselves well. Especially not after last week"

Sean's face turned stern and they all appeared to look like scared children. Good thing Chase put Sammy and Kallie to bed already.

"That's why I'm here to get rid of you, Anti. Once and for all"

Immediately, Jackie stepped in front of Anti in defense, "The hell you are!"

Everyone was surprised but for different reasons. One for Sean even being here at all, for him to just make such decisions without knowing them. But also, why after all this time was Sean intent on getting rid of Anti NOW?

Sean blinked at Jackie, surprised himself for protecting his . . . . enemy?

"What are you doing? Jackie . . . You're supposed to-"

"I'm sick and tired of people always telling me what I'm supposed to be, say or do." Jackie stopped him, "What gives you the right to just walk in here and say such things? I will not let you touch Anti because obviously, you don't know a damn thing"

Sean looked a bit taken aback, "Don't know anything? I created you guys" he laughed at the ridiculousness of it all, "I KNOW you even better than you guys know yourselves! I-"

Marvin walked over to stand beside Jackie, "No. . .. you don't. If you want to get rid of Anti, you'll have to rid of me, too"

"And me" Jackie agreed.

This was certainly unprecedented. Here Sean really thought he was coming to help them all. To put an end to Anti's troublemaking.

But he just watched as Henrik, Chase and Jameson joined them.

Chase swallowed. He was scared of what Sean would really do to them all but he was going to stand for what was right. And standing up for Anti . . . . right now that was what mattered more.

"I think you should leave my house. And leave us all alone"

"But . . ." Sean really didn't know quite what to say.

And Anti . . . ..

He was perhaps even more shocked then Sean!

'What? They all . . no way. I've hurt them all so much over time. I did so much wrong. How can they just defend me like this? My whole plan was to USE them all and kill Sean! Why are they doing this!? I don't understand!'

Anti stared into Sean's eyes from across the room. The sheer hate he felt for the man burned through him. How dare he stand there and declare such things?

'Get rid of me? Yeah right. . . .' he clenched his fists, 'You've always tried to get rid of me. Shove me into the back of your head . . . you've ignored me for too long!'

He didn't see the others in front of him anymore. He only saw his target, 'This is my chance! They don't get to do this! They don't get to protect me like I'm some little fucking lamb! This is MY decision! MY CHOICE!'

Quicker than anyone could even see, Anti shoved Jackie and the others out of his way.

Everything seemed to fall into slow motion as they all shouted for him to stop but he couldn't hear them.

This was his choice. His chance. This was ALL he had been waiting for. EVERYTHING he had wanted.

Anti materialized his knife in his hand.

Sean stood there but he couldn't get out of the way. He just watched as Anti ran towards him like a rabid dog, lights flashing in the house around them.

But Anti realized something.

Sean didn't even look really afraid . . . . like he expected it.

In the last split second, Anti stopped before him, his knife at Sean's throat, only creating a small bead of blood.

Anti and Sean were quiet but they stared at each other intensely.

Anti shook a little and grit his teeth, "Wh-why did you ignore me?"

Once again, no one was expecting this outcome.

Sean bit his lip, almost worried about how he should word things for Anti. But there wasn't anything good he could say.

"I. . . . I don't know. I just . . . I was afraid of you. So I . . . I guess I. . . . tried to pretend you didn't exist in my head"

"Do you know why I've wanted to kill you for so long? Why I tried killing you years ago?" Anti still gripped the knife at his throat just in case Sean tried anything sneaky.

Sean swallowed, "Because. . . I abandoned you. Anti, I . . . there's nothing I can say. . . that will make you feel better. But after . . . seeing everyone defend you like this . . . . . there's a reason for it. And I'm sorry, Anti. I'm sorry"

Anti dropped the knife on the floor and the sharp 'clang' it made was the only noise heard for a few moments.

The other egos watched in fascination as Anti backed away, glaring at Sean, still, "You made. . . you made me the villain . . . but I . . . I am my own person. I am. . . I. . . ." he sighed to himself, "You don't get to decide everything about me . . . . . . ."

Without another word, Anti turned and left, nodding to each of the egos to signify everything was okay. He wouldn't . . . . . he wasn't that same man anymore.

Jackie tried to reach out for him as he let but Anti shook him off, "I need to be alone right now" he whispered and shut the door behind him.

No one had been expecting this turn of events.

Certainly not Sean.

But the man gave a small sad smile.

The next day, Sean had left, himself. He knew he wasn't welcome there and he promised not to intervene in their lives again. He agreed that they were their own people and he didn't have the right to march into their lives like he owned them or something.

So he left peacefully, knowing everything had turned for the best.

But there was just one last thing that had to be done.

Marvin cringed as he stood at the apartment door in front of him. He didn't want to do this but he knew it had to be done.

It had been a few days later and still Anti was presumably sulking all by himself.

Jackie stood beside him, smirking, "You know what would make this easier, probably?"

"I'm not transforming into a cat"

"But he loved Queeny"

"I hate that name"

"Anti said you purred when he called you that"

"How do YOU know that!?"

"He may ignore us all in person lately but we still text here and there. I think he's warming up to us"

"Doubtful." Marvin groaned and sighed, "Do I really have to-nevermind, I know your answer. I'm doing it, I'm doing it" he waved his hands around dramatically.

He knocked on the door, finally and waited for a few moments, "Well! I don't think he's home! Maybe we should come by another-"

The door opened, revealing a pissy-looking Antisepticeye.

"The fuck do you assholes want? Bad enough Brody keeps texting me to look after his brats. Why'd you give him my number, Fuck-face?!"

"You love the kids and you know it" was all Jackie had to say, "Besides . . . I think it'd really do you some good to hang around us more"

"Just because I didn't kill Sean doesn't mean I want to be around any of you"

"You texted me last night if I wanted to go drinking with you"

"I was already drunk" Anti waved it off, "What does the witch want?" he finally acknowledged Marvin's presence, "Here to accuse me of something else I didn't do? Does he want to blackmail me? Torture me? Curse me into another dimensio-"

"I'm here to apologize"

That shut Anti up pretty quick. He raised his brow at him, waiting to hear more and he crossed his arms.

"That's it"

"Wow. Very mature of you" Anti scoffed sarcastically.

"I'm joking" Marvin sighed, "I know what I did was wrong. All of it. I had no right to accuse you in the first place although the option of you taking the glove was VERY probable. Even after Jackie professed he didn't think it was you, I never once thought of any other person it could be." the magician took a breathe, waiting to see if Anti had anything to say to stop him but he didn't.

"I uh . . . There's no excuse for my behavior in torturing you before. I was. . . I was jealous that Jackie was defending you so much. You were changing him somehow and . . . I didn't like it, not seeing that it was for the better. I truly am sorry for everything I've done to harm you, Anti"

Really, both Anti and Jackie seemed impressed.

Anti smirked, "Not bad, Queeny. . . . want some tuna for being such a good kitty?"

Jackie snorted but Marvin didn't look enthused, "Want a wand in your face?"

"Nah, I had one last night. I'm good." Anti winked, letting what he said soak in and Marvin grimaced in disgust.

"Alright, you win that one. Am I forgiven or not?"

Jackie elbowed him but Anti just smirked still, "I suppose . . . . if you show me some card tricks, Mr. Magnificent. Does that trick work with credit cards?"

"I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that" Jackie snorted, "Anyway . . . . I just wanted to apologize again, too, Anti. I know I hurt you and you don't want to say it but I know you're still having trouble talking about your feelings."

"I'm hungry" Anti suddenly stopped him and both Jackie and Marvin glanced at each other a bit perplexed.

So Anti continued further, "Let's finish this bullshit at the fast food joint nearby. You're paying, Mr. Magnificent" he winked at him, "let's go, bros"

Anti glitched past them and nodded for them to follow.

Jackie and Marvin smiled, following him out.

Maybe things could work out eventually for all of them one day.

Maybe they could really be an actual family with Anti in the picture.

Jackie walked in the precinct with the new suit Jameson had made for him.

He was heading for a specific office.

He hadn't been there for quite a while and he hoped it was okay he was there.

When he opened the door to where he wanted to be, immediately, he was struck by water, soaking him completely.

"UH!" he spat out the water and shook it off out of his hair. He blinked open his eyes to see Abe sitting at his desk with a sad smile on his face.

With a super-soaker in his hands.

"You're back" Abe grinned, "Are you really back?"

Jackie dried off his face with a smile, "I'm back"

"Good. . . . the city missed it's hero"

"No" Jackie shook his head, "I'm not back as a hero, Abe . . . . . I've come to realize that's not who I am."

Abe stared at him strangely but let him continue.

"I'm not a hero. I'm just a man wanting to lend a helping hand here and there . . . . there's more to my life than being the good guy all the time and this isn't going to be a full-time thing again, Abe. . . . . I need to make more of my life than what I've been told. Does that make sense?"

Abe just smiled. He knew exactly what he meant by that, "Yeah . . . still . . it's good to see you again, partner"

Jackie shook his hand with a laugh. It was good to see him, too.

Epilogue is already up. Check it out in the next chapter now :)