So I made some BIG changes to this story. Also posted it on AO3. Let me know what you guys think. This entire story is a trigger warning now. Be warned.

"You never wanna come with us but you always end up doing it anyway, so stop your whining"

"Leave me alone, asshole"

"Oh, I'M the asshole?" Jackie snorted, his hands on his hips, "Come on, it's only for the day. We'll be back by tonight and you'll be free to do whatever the hell is it you do at night"

"No need to make it sound weird" Anti scoffed, "Not like I do any weird demon rituals or go on any secret murder escapades"

Jackie crossed his arms, glancing away from him, " . . . anymore"

Anti just shrugged, "What? I only ever went after you idiots until Sean and I made that deal. That was YEARS ago! Plus with Schneep's prescription, I-"

Jackie rolled his eyes and grabbed him by his armpit, forcing him up off his bed and lightly snarled, "Look, I don't care anymore what you USED to be. You can pretend all you want but I'll always remember the truth of what you really are. You and Dark are one and the same."

Anti flinched but didn't say anything. What COULD he say? Of course he used to be the bad guy to them but it hurt that Jackie STILL thought that. The Septics didn't even know what the agreement between him and Sean completely entailed. . .

"But like I said . . . ." Jackie continued, "I don't care anymore. As long as you've stopped hurting people and are moderately tolerable. Now get your ass up and on your own two feet. You're coming with us whether you like it or not"

"What's it matter to you if I do or not?" Anti shoved Jackie off of him, "Wouldn't it just be easier to let me loaf around here and not bother anyone?"

"I wish" Jackie crossed his arms again and took in a long, heavy sighed, " . . . . . Look, I'm sorry about my temper . . . it's just . . . I really don't wanna go either but if I have to then so do you"

"What? Why?!" Jackie shrugged with indifference, "I don't know . . . .Dark asked for you. I guess you two haven't hung out in a while or something and he wants to catch u- hey what's wrong?"

Anti's neck started to bleed. For some reason, it tended to do that when the glitch got . . . anxious. But he swallowed it down and covered his throat with his hand, making the blood seep through his fingers, "N-nothing" he gave up and refused to meet Jackie's eyes, ". . . . . . fine. I'll come" " . . . ."

Jackie stared at him strangely as if he knew something was weird but he shook it off pretty quickly, "Good. Patch yourself up and meet us downstairs. We'll be heading out as soon as Sean gets here"

"Yeah, whatever, now fuck off out of my room"

"Didn't want to be in here anyway" with that, Jackie left, closing the door behind him.

Anti wanted so bad to chuck one of his knives at the door but he decided against it. Getting angry wouldn't solve anything.

'Why'd he ask for me? I don't wanna go . . . . . this is so stupid'

It wasn't a big deal to go to the Iplier mansion. Or . . Raspy Hill as some of them called it. It was easy for Marvin to just teleport them all there but then he couldn't do anymore magic for a long while. So that meant Anti would be stuck there all day at least until Marvin was able to teleport them again. Whatever Dark wanted from him, he knew he wouldn't have the energy to teleport back home himself afterwards.

"Come on, Anti, you ready to go, slow-poke?" Chase teased him out of his musing.

Everyone still seemed . . distrustful of Anti except for Henrik and Chase. Both seemed cool with him for different reasons.

Not that Anti gave a shit!

Henrik seemed to think Anti had a mental disorder and that the medication he was giving him was working. Whatever helped the doctor sleep at night, he guessed.

And Chase was cool with him just because Chase was cool with everyone . . . especially when he was drunk or high.

Anti exhaled heavily but walked up to them.

Marvin snickered, "I see somebody's using the GENIUS neck wrap a special magician created"

Anti glared, "I feel like there's a big-ass period pad around my neck, man. It looks like I broke my collar bone or something and I'm wearing a padded fucking brace"

Marvin bust out laughing and some of the others were snickering, too, "Aw, don't be such a sour puss! It works, right!?"

It was true. It did work very well but it was the embarrassment of having it on that bothered him. It was too thick and wide and far too noticeable but he'd rather wear it than bleed everywhere and hear them all get aggravated at him.

That was even more embarrassing and hurtful since he couldn't control it.

Anti moped a little, "Whatever. . . . let's just get this over with"

"Come on guys, stop arguing for once, will ya?" Sean sighed, "It's too early in the morning fer this"

"At least you got to drink your precious coffee" Anti grumbled, "I didn't get any because you pricks drank it all! I still don't see why I can't just stay here. Fuck them all"

Jameson rolled his eyes playfully, 'Oh don't be like that! You and Dark are at least friends, right? It won't be so bad! You'll get to hang out with your buddy!'

Anti cringed.

'If only you knew, mute' Anti kept his thoughts to himself, though.

Henrik kept an eye on Anti. Lately he had been acting rather strange after every visit with the Ipliers. It had been a few weeks and Anti had been in a better mood but here again getting ready to go . . . . . something felt off.

"Is there anything wrong, Anti?" Henrik asked before Marvin could teleport them.

They all halted and Anti even looked frozen.

But he had to say something. He couldn't make it seem like he was AFRAID to go, "The fuck you talking about? Let's just go already. Fed up with you stupid lot and your stupid questions"

"Let's go, Marv. He's perfectly fine" Jackie snorted, not taking Henrik's question seriously.

'Really? Why would he ask something like that? Of course the bastard's fine. The only thing wrong is that he's a dick'

Once they teleported, they were greeted immediately by a hoard of Ipliers.

Bing, Eric, Dr. Iplier and Yandere, namely, but also the Jims were very accommodating. Google, Bim and Host mostly stayed out of the way and everyone assumed Wilford was with Dark probably in his office.

Anti stuffed his hands in his pockets, keeping to himself. Maybe if he just stayed out of everyone's way, he could avoid Dark completely.

"ANTIIIII!" an over-enthusiastic yet snide voice called to him with fake laughter.

Anti physically cringed as he recognized his voice.

'Well, there go all my hopes and dreams'

The Septics watched closely as Dark came closer but the more they realized his eyes were on Anti, the more they relaxed.

Except for Anti.

Sean grinned at Mark's counterpart, though, unafraid, "Dark! Hey, it's good to see ya! You know where I can find Mark?"

Dark smiled at the creator so charmingly, "Sean, my friend! He's outside with Amy. Where's your dear Evelien this time around?"

Sean waved it off, "Ah she's hanging out with some of her friends, today. A girls day!"

"Oh, Good for her" Dark chuckled so sickeningly sweet, "Now, Anti . . . I wanted to talk with you. Will you come up to my office with me and have a chat?"

He smiled so politely but to Anti, it was just unnerving and terrifying.

Anti didn't want to go with him.

God, he didn't want to be left alone with him.

Not again.

But just as before, he couldn't say anything.

He glanced at the others for a moment, silently hoping that one of them would see what was happening but they were all too wrapped up in their own conversations to pay him any mind.

Like always.

Anti just sagged his shoulders and followed Dark up the stairs, leaving the others behind.

The others. . . . they all were so unsuspecting. They all thought Dark was so charming. Even if they knew he was evil, he played nice so well unlike Anti.

Anti was always the untrustworthy one even if he didn't do anything to warrant it.

He could glitch away from him if he wanted. But he knew if he did, there'd be hell to pay.

Dark could find him anywhere if he ran.

Dark still smiled so pleasantly. There wasn't a speck of wickedness intent given away on that handsome face.

But Anti knew better.

They finally reached his office and Dark led him to his desk, "Have a seat"

His sweet voice was gone and replaced with disgust.

Anti didn't fight it and sat in the chair in front of the desk. Dark had a thing about power and hanging that power over others. One way he did this was by taking them to his desk where a giant window was behind him. Dark stood up. He never had a chair of his own. This was better for exerting his power anyway. The taller he was, the more intimidating.

"So . . . . mind telling me just what the fuck that was about down there?"

Anti screwed his eyes at Dark, confused, "Wh-what do you mean?"

Dark hovered over the desk, his hands flat on the hard wood with his nails nearly scraping it, "Well you practically all but shouted your fear at everyone. It was like a damn drama show down there! The fuck were you thinking!? Be a fucking man for once in your fucking life, you stupid fucking glitch-bitch!"

Anti flinched as Dark slammed his fists on the desk.

"There you go again! Flinching like a fucking whipped dog! You know, I could really give you something to flinch about!" Dark rolled his eyes aggressively, "Tsk . . . . Now pull yourself together, idiot! Or you know what'll happen"

There was that classic smirk of his. Anti hated it.

He held this over him so much. What he had made Anti do, threatening to do it again. . .

"Okay"

"Okay" Dark mocked him and huffed, rolling his eyes, "And what's with the accessory around your neck? A little too much don't you think?"

"Marvin made it for me. It . . it keeps my neck from bleeding everywhere."

"That's disgusting." Dark stated bluntly, "Anyway, I called for you to come for a reason. You know why. The only reason you're worth a shit . . . . . Wil's in the void again doing God knows what. Trying to find Celine again is my guess"

Anti froze and looked pleadingly to Dark, "No, come on! You know I can't stand being there! I can't do it, Dark! Please don't-"

But Dark's eyes turned red and suddenly Anti forgot how to speak, his voice dying out.

Anti sunk deeper into the chair.

"You WILL go retrieve him again. . . . . it wasn't a question. I'd go myself but well . . . you know. Wilford tends to get panicked when he sees me there. Calling me Damien or Mark and what not"

Anti swallowed and he started to shake. He remembered what happened last time.

Dark chuckled at his noticeable twitching and roughly gripped Anti's chin in his hand, "Oh what's wrong? Afraid? Hmph . . . If you don't go, you know what'll happen. Don't worry . . . you'll be back in time for lunch. Remember that time works differently there"

He didn't have a choice.

Why was HE always the one Dark forced to go there? Just to torture him?

Anti knew Dark enjoyed it but also, Anti must be one of the only ones able to go into the void besides Dark himself.

Anti knew Dark could full well get Wilford back on his own. He was just doing this to play with him.

To hurt him.

But what else could Anti do? It wasn't like he could reject it.

Chase was hanging out in Bing's room mindlessly fooling around with his drum set, "Dude . . . . I guess I've never asked this before. But what's Dark really like?"

He was curious from how Anti was acting earlier. He was a bit more perceptive than he let on.

"Dark?" Bing was trying to go past his high score on the small arcade machine he had built for himself, "I don't know, dude. He's creepy sometimes but not too bad, I guess"

"Huh . . . ."

"Why?"

Chase shrugged, "Well. . . . Anti seemed a bit unwilling to come today is all. I just would have thought he'd be happy to come hang out with Dark"

"Why you say that?"

"Well they're friends." Chase thought the answer was obvious at first, "Or at least. . . they have things in common, I think" he cleared his throat, "Although Dark seems easier to get along with"

"Dude, you don't got a clue what you're on about" Bing chuckled at him, "Dark's a full on diva. And a scary one at that. Has to have everything in a certain order HIS way. But I guess I've also never seen the two actually hang out before now that you mention it"

"What? Really?" Chase couldn't believe that, "Do they just hang out all the time in Dark's office or whatever?"

Bing shrugged, "Dude, I don't know. I've actually never noticed"

Chase was curious now. What DID the two do together alone? He inwardly hoped it wasn't anything . . . .. suggestive.

He shook his head away from the crude thoughts, 'What are you thinking, Chase? Anti hates Danti with a fiery passion. He nearly mauled me the last time I teased about it'

Chase bit his lip. Was there something else going on they didn't know about?

"Hey how's your kids doing, by the way? They like the skateboards I got 'em for their birthdays?" Bing asked, bringing him out of his other thoughts.

Meanwhile, Henrik KNEW something was going on. He wasn't ignorant. He was very observant, really. And Anti's behavior has been rather shaky lately. Every time they came to visit the Ipliers, Anti started to get riled up.

'I wonder if it has anything to do with Dark's fake smile?'

Yes, he knew Dark's charm was all for pretend. But he figured Anti knew of it too and they were going to perhaps do something nefarious together.

But the more he thought about it . . .. the more it seemed that perhaps Dark was the nefarious one. . . . .

"Iplier" he addressed his colleague.

"Uh, yeah?" Edward was looking at a porn magazine over his charts with his pen in his mouth, trying to pretend he was doing work but Henrik looked past that for now.

"I have a question for you"

"Shoot"

"Has Darkiplier showed any signs of being abusive? To anyone?"

Dr. Iplier spat out the pen and looked away from the paper at Henrik with concern, clearing his throat, "Uh . . . . why do you ask?"

Henrik was even more suspicious now, "Just answer, please"

The doctor hummed, actually thinking about it. He shouldn't HAVE to think about it, though, right?

"Well . . . . I'm not sure. Define abusive?"

Henrik crossed his arms seriously, "You know what I mean, dammit. Just answer zhe fucking question! Tis not zhat hard! Vhat are you hiding?!" the angrier he got, the more his German accent poured through conversation.

"Alright, alright!" Iplier cracked a nervous smile, "Well now that you mention it, he CAN be pretty manipulative sometimes. Has a way of getting you to do things he wants. Sometimes he'll make a threat if you really don't wanna do it. Nothing too serious though, I mean. It's not like I've ever seen him physically hurt anyone. And he tends to keep everyone relatively happy."

"Oi" Henrik shook his head, "Zhat still sounds . . . problematic"

Edward sighed, "Sometimes, it can be. There was this one time I overheard Dark threatening Yancy that if he didn't stop singing, he'd break his legs so he couldn't dance."

"Scheisse, Iplier", Schneep commented, "Zhat is serious!"

Dr. Iplier nodded, "Yeah, Yancy's not the only one he's done this to. He's done that to almost all of the Ipleirs, I've heard. Told Yandere that if they tried to make anyone into their senpai, he'd kill them. Told the Jims and Bim he'd break their cameras if they didn't help Wil with his TV show . . . . He even threatened me one time that if I didn't treat Anti in silence then he'd . . . . .uh"

Henrik blinked, a little shocked, "Uh . .. yes?" now he knew this was getting somewhere, "Continue, Iplier. NOW."

It was coming near lunch time and Dark kept his eyes on the clock.

'Should be about time . . . . what's taking that idiot so long? I thought he'd be able to handle it. Then again, I do constantly overestimate his abilities. Worthless cockroach'

The clock struck noon and suddenly just in that moment, Anti glitched into the room.

"Hey, hey! Now see here! What's going on!?" Wilford shouted erratically, his gun waving around in his hand carelessly and his pink wig flinging off his head.

Anti fell to the floor on his back, his hand on his stomach to try and stop the bleeding.

"Fuck! He fucking shot me!" he spat out a little blood.

Dark's heart sunk, 'Damn . . . Looks I might have to politely ask Dr. Iplier for some assistance again.'

Of course he meant he'd have to blackmail him again.

Then again, last time Wilford had just stabbed him. This might be a little trickier.

"Stop your whining" Dark scoffed, "You won't fucking die from it."

Dark's voice turned a lot nicer, trying to lead Wilford away, "Come along, William. Just take a seat, hm?"

"To hell with ya!" Wilford pointed his gun at him, "I'll shoot ya in the bullocks, too, lad! Where's Celine!?"

Dark sighed calmly, though, "She's sleeping, Wil. Remember?"

Wilford growled but was taken out of his anger when Anti cried out in pain again.

"Say . . . glitchy doesn't look so good! You okay, little guy?" his mood did a complete 180.

"You . . you sh-shot me!" Anti whined.

"Oh, is that all? You'll be fine!" Wil just laughed and walked off to one of Dark's couches in his office, "Say, what's on the telly this afternoon!?"

While Wilford temporarily fixated himself with the TV, Dark grabbed Anti roughly by his arm, pulling him up on his feet.

Anti held his side tight, blood seeping out through his shirt.

Dark was pissed, "Just great . . . looks like I'll have to think up something different this time. Dr. Iplier won't be able to just fix you before you leave . . . . If you would have just done the job right, this wouldn't have happened!"

Anti didn't say anything. What would be the point?

He was starting to get dizzy though.

He gripped onto Dark's desk, accidentally getting blood on it.

Bad move.

Dark quickly lost it and smacked him across the face before digging a digit into his bullet-wound.

Anti cried out, tears streaming down his face, "AHH!"

"Touch my stuff again with your filthy hands and I'll kill you myself, are we clear?!"

Anti still couldn't stop crying and started to shake but stood weakly on his own, away from the desk.

"Tsk" Dark snarled, "Look . . . the story is that you and Wil were target practicing together and Wilford accidently missed. The bullet ricocheted to you. Got it?"

It was a shit story but if he said it was true then the others would believe it. Why would they question Anti being hurt anyway?

But Anti couldn't help but argue just a little, "Th-they won't believe it"

Dark chuckled, sensing Anti's little bit of defiance, "Oh really? Well you know what else they wouldn't believe? That you're a fucking pathetic crybaby, innocent of everything. You see, I got you numbered, moron. They'd never believe you. Just like they'd never believe that it was ME pulling your strings the entire time you were . . .murderous"

Anti couldn't deny Dark was right. They'd never believe him over the nice and charming Darkiplier.

They'd never believe that Anti never wanted to hurt anyone.

That it was Dark playing with him the entire time.

Not even Sean had believed him but made the deal with Anti for him to live with the Septics regardless.

Dark stroked Anti's cheek sweetly, making him flinch hard and glitch away.

Dark wasn't perturbed, though, and grabbed his face more forcefully, making him look him in the eye, "Poor little puppet. Just admit it. You're worthless without your strings. With me, you're at least something"

Anti had nothing to counter against that but Dark was waiting for him to respond, still holding his face.

"Well? Tell me I'm right, little puppet"

Anti's voice was shaky from crying but he managed to mumble out, "Y-. . .You're right"

Dark was still waiting and Anti knew what he wanted.

"I'm . . .n-nothing w-without. . . you. . ..  You're r-right. . . . .sir"

He hated himself but there was nothing he could do about it.

Anti was just grateful Dark finally let him go and he just let him drag him along.

Off to create a scene.

'Not that they'd really care. . . . '

Doctor Iplier and Henrik had him patched up before they started to eat. It wouldn't take long for him to heal so they decided against using one of Marvin's potions.

Why bother wasting one on him?

Luckily enough the bullet didn't pierce into his intestines or stomach. He'd just be sore for a few days. So he could eat but he just . .. didn't have an appetite. He wouldn't put it past Dark to try and poison him for shits and giggles.

Anti just wanted to go home.

The story Dark came up with was ridiculous but it seemed to fool most of them.

Anti and Wilford were target practicing in the backyard when Wilford lost his aim and the bullet bounced off the wall, hitting Anti.

Chase didn't believe a word of it but didn't say anything. Anti seemed to go with the story, after all.

But Chase knew a bullet wouldn't just bounce off a normal house wall. A bullet can only ricochet off of certain metals.

Even Jackie caught the plot-hole and watched Dark and Anti carefully. He knew something was wrong. Just where did that red mark on Anti's face come from?

But for some reason, Anti just wasn't saying anything.

He just . . . sat there hunched over the table as quiet as a mouse. Every time Dark went to touch him in any 'friendly' manner, Anti flinched away.

'It's like Anti's afraid of him or something', Jackie narrowed his eyes, 'What'd Dark do to him?'

Contrary to popular belief, the Septic egos weren't stupid.

Dark was talking about the little story explaining to Mark, Amy and Sean and leaned his hand in to graze Anti's wound. Anti flinched back again though and cried out and Dark just had a look on his face that pissed Jackie off.

Jackie saw that little smirk on Dark's face.

"Stop touching him!" Jackie finally snapped, "It's obvious he doesn't like it and it hurts him so KNOCK IT OFF!"

Everyone quieted down and watched the scene.

Dark regressed it though and just smiled, "Oh, my bad! Sorry about that"

Everything went back to normal but Jackie and the other Septics weren't fooled. Something was going on.

Jackie didn't know for sure where that sudden anger came from out of him but now something else was bothering him. Anti looked worried. . .. and not for himself.

When they went back home later that evening, Anti tried 'running' back upstairs to his room but Henrik stopped him.

"Vould you mind staying down here and talking for a moment?"

Anti's red flags were going off. What was THIS about?

Apparently Sean was wondering the same thing, "What's going on?"

Anti sat in the chair by the couch and they all either stood or sat on the couch. Anti didn't like how this looked. Was this an intervention of sorts!?

Henrik was the first to start, "Is Dark hurting you, Anti?"

He didn't expect that so bluntly. Right out of the gate.

"Uh . . . I . . wh-what do you mean? Why would you just ask something like that?"

"Yeah, what the hell, Hen?" Sean chuckled, "What happened today was just an accident, right?"

"I'm not so sure" Chase popped up seriously, "A bullet wouldn't just bounce off a wooden wall. It'd go through it. It wouldn't even bounce off of a brick wall."

"Yeah" Jackie agreed, "Something isn't adding up. Plus you two forgot to think up something as to why your cheek is bruised now"

Anti paled. He hadn't even noticed!

Jameson looked shocked, 'But why would Dark lie? Anti, what really happened then? Are you really okay?'

Marvin looked back and forth around everyone equally as confused but it actually made a lot of sense what Chase said, "Yeah, I mean . . I thought you and Dark were friends? But now that you guys mention it, something really did seem off between you two"

Anti didn't like this.

On one end he wanted to tell them everything but on the other, would they really believe him? Where they just acting as if they gave a shit for looks? And what would Dark do if he found out he told them?

No, he knew. He'd probably make Anti kill them or hurt them all himself or threaten them.

Anti might be an asshole but he didn't want any of them hurt.

Not again.

"Look, I'm fine." his voice cracked a little but he cleared his throat and continued, "It was just an accident, nothing more. Dark and I are c-cool. Just mind your own fucking business, assholes"

Without accepting another word in, Anti glitched up to his room. He hoped what he said would be enough to stop them from prying.

It wasn't.

Henrik hummed, "I think he's lying"

"He said they're cool" Jackie shrugged, "If he said it's fine then-"

"Dude, do you really got your head stuck up your ass that far?" Chase huffed at him, "He's lying as a defense mechanism. I've seen my kids do it before for their bullies. A kid is afraid if they tell someone they're being bullied then the bully will hurt them even worse or someone else they care about"

"But Anti's not a kid" Jackie cut in, "He's an adult. He can take care of himself-"

"Jackie, knock it off" Sean stopped him, "Hen, why do you think Anti's lying?"

"Dr. Iplier told me today Dark has a tendency to threaten others, especially the other Ipliers with violent acts if they didn't do what he wanted. He also spilled that he's had to treat Anti before and Dark ordered him not to tell anyone about it"

"Wait, what?!" Marvin stood up in a flash, his cape flapping behind him, "That's insane! Why would Anti protect Dark like that, then!? If what Dr. Iplier says is true then we've been forcing Anti to hang out with someone who's been hurting him all this time!? What the fuck! How have we not noticed anything before?!"

"Because Anti didn't want us to notice" Chase answered him, "Because apparently then, Dark has something on Anti so he won't talk. He's blackmailing him"

Sean had his arms crossed. It was rare to see him so pissed off. He thought things were going so well with everyone. Where had he gone wrong? He was so fucking blind!

They all waited in silence, each of them thinking, 'What should we do?'

What COULD they do? If they stopped getting Anti to come with them when Dark asked then what would happen to Anti? Honestly, he'd been pretty alright since he'd been living with them. It's not that they didn't give a shit. They had just been sure before that Anti didn't give a shit.

It seemed that perhaps everything they knew about the glitch was being turned upside down.

But the person who was taking it the hardest was Jackie. His mind was racing and there was a pain in his chest he couldn't stop, 'I can't believe it. If he's really being bullied like that. . . has been . .. fuck, what kind of a hero, am I? I don't deserve that title if I can't protect someone that lives in the same house. The warnings were all there . . . . .'

He'd carry that guilt with him for a long while.

Anti stayed hovelled in his room. He just needed to be alone for a while. Not that he hadn't been alone in the void but this was a different kind of alone. At least in his room, he could still hear the others talking downstairs or in their own rooms.

Every time he closed his eyes, he saw darkness. Heard that high pitched ringing. He couldn't stop shaking sometimes just thinking about it. It felt like one hour in the real world was like days in the void. Days of that constant silence. Nobody around but his poisonous thoughts.

It's not like it was Dark's fault though. Anti knew that was toxic to think but it was true.

Dark wasn't always like this. Mean and cruel.

In fact, sometimes he really CAN be nice. Anti's seen Dark take care of Wilford. He's seen him calm Eric down from a panic attack. He's seen him protect Yandere from creepy onlookers. He's memorized the whole of Google's manual so he can always take care of him when he glitches or breaks. He's forced himself to drink a bottle of Stan's water just to make him happy. Hell, he's even helped King crochet a little shirt for one of his squirrels.

The first time they met, Dark was genuinely nice to Anti.

Anti felt like it was all his fault he started to treat him this way but he wasn't sure what he did.

Dark just started to take control over his body and soul and made his life a living hell. He made Anti hurt innocent people, making him into the monster just so he couldn't ever be happy.

That was when Dark had puppeted Anti into hurting the Septic egos. They hadn't known Anti for too long and really the glitch was just starting to get a hang of being alive. But they never trusted him again after Dark's wrath. Not really, until Henrik started putting him on medication, certain that a mental illness was the cause.

'What did I say to him to make him hate me so much?' he wished he knew.

There could have been a lot of things that might have triggered him.

Just then, Anti heard the pitter patter of rain on his window and started to relax. The extra sound was calming to him. Gentle like a hug. He needed that right now.

That and the pain killers Henrik gave him were finally kicking in. . .

The Septics hadn't asked Anti any further questions about Dark.

Hadn't pried or bugged him.

But they WERE treating him differently and Anti wasn't sure if he was okay with it or not.

It wasn't a bad kind of different. It was . . sort of nice but Anti was distrustful.

Jackie was even talking to him more and not arguing or yelling but with genuine, nice conversation.

It was almost too much for Anti to handle but it seemed harmless.

A week later, Anti was in bed.

It was late but the sound of his phone beeping woke him up. Blinking off the sleep, Anti reached for his phone and looked at the text messages.

His chest tightened.

It was Dark.

'Come over. Now'

Anti swallowed. This had never happened before.

He looked at the time.

It was a little past midnight.

'He's never texted me to come over to the house. I'm always with the others. . . If I glitch over there, it'll be hard for me to glitch back after whatever he'll have me do for him. That's why I always let Marvin teleport us there. . .'

He wanted to make that excuse.

Anti texted him back.

'I can't. Marvin is asleep. He can't teleport me'

Dark was moderately quick to text back.

'I know you can glitch here yourself. I'm not going to make you do anything strenuous again. Just come over'

Anti was worried. He didn't like this. But Dark would be mad if he said no.

His heart was already pounding, scared of what Dark wanted from him and this late at night.

But apparently he was taking too long.

'Hurry the hell up. You know how impatient I am'

Anti hated it but he knew he didn't have a choice.

'Okay. I'm coming'

Anti hurriedly got his clothes on and put his phone in his pocket. He looked over at his knife sitting on his bedside table. It only took a couple of moments to decide to grab it, fitting it in his back pocket sheath attached to his belt loop.

'It's just in case'

Not that he could ever best Dark in a fight and he knew that but if it came down to it, he could make a good distraction with it.

Finally ready, he cursed in his head before glitching.

He didn't bother telling anyone else where he was going.

They wouldn't care anyway.

Anti glitched and teleported to the Raspy Hill home, popping out through the nearest electronic he could.

It just so happened to be Dark's laptop.

He was in Dark's office.

Looking around, though, it was dimly lit and too dark for him to really see anything.

Anti was starting to get goosebumps, "Uh. . . . Dark? I'm here"

He heard a small noise on the other side of the room and his anxiety made the electricity in the room charge up, causing the lights in Dark's office to turn on by force.

Dark was sitting in a chair. He looked disheveled. His hair was a mess and his tie was gone, his undershirt slightly unbuttoned.

He had a bottle of wine in his hand and Anti spotted a couple more empty bottles around the room.

But what worried Anti the most was the smile Dark had on his face.

"Hey there Anti" he sounded so nice even though it was just them in the room.

Anti gulped, "Um . . . hi .. . Dark. Wh-what did you need me for? Sir?"

Dark cleared his throat and wiggled a little in the chair before rolling his neck, cracking the joints, "Oh yeah . . . ." he snickered softly, "How you feeling? Healed from the gunshot?"

Anti didn't understand but he knew for certain that Dark was drunk.

He didn't want to piss him off.

"Uh . .y-yeah. . . it's better" Anti rubbed his arm nervously but only then realized he forgot to put on the neck padding.

His neck was bleeding.

Anti grew afraid and covered his throat so Dark wouldn't see but it was too late.

Dark shot up, dropping the now empty bottle and staggered over to him, "You're bleeding"

Anti cringed, making himself smaller, "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to! I-"

Dark was already in front of him and slapped away Anti's hand to look at his throat himself. He lifted his chin up, watching as blood flowed from the wound.

"Well that's not good" he slurred and rubbed Anti's cheek with his thumb, "Poor thing. . ..  does it hurt?"

Anti was getting the creepiest vibes imaginable from him but once again, he didn't want to piss him off.

"N-no"

Dark looked him deep in the eyes. Anti couldn't figure out what he was thinking. He couldn't gauge what he was going to do next.

He definitely didn't expect Dark to reach down and lick his throat! He felt his tongue lick at the blood on his open wound.

Anti's immediate reaction was to shout out and he pushed him away, "THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"

Dark licked his lips, breathing heavily and grinned, "You taste sweet. . . ." suddenly, though, his mood changed and he looked apologetic, "I'm sorry. . . . I don't mean to hurt you . . . I don't want to hurt you . . .let me make you feel good"

He reached for Anti again and he tried to get away but even drunk, Dark was stronger than him.

Dark grabbed Anti's wrists and pushed them to the floor with him on top, hovering over Anti.

Anti was panicking now and trying to shove him off, "GET OFF OF ME! DARK, STOP IT! PLEASE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?"

Dark kissed him suddenly and deeply and Anti started crying, feeling his tongue in his mouth. He couldn't pull away and he was too afraid to bite his tongue.

Dark parted from his lips and rubbed his cheek softly against Anti's, whispering in his ear, "I'm so alone. . . .  They don't really like me. . ..  I only have you. . . Only you. . . .my little puppet"

Dark reached down to try and touch him but Anti finally was able to tear one of his hands away and he grabbed at the knife in his back pocket.

Dark moaned in his ear and thrusted his hips forward against his body and Anti knew what his plans were but he wasn't about to let that happen.

Anti managed to knock Dark back slightly and swung the knife across his chest!

Dark shouted out in surprise but it was enough for Anti to get out from under him and away.

He glitched out as fast as he could and before he knew it, he was back home in his room.

Anti realized then that he was shaking furiously.

He sat on his bed and hugged himself, staring at his phone screen.

Anti rocked back and forth, holding himself tightly. He wanted to shower and get the feel of his hands off of him.

He was scared if Dark would follow him or text him again. What if he threatened him to come back? What if he tried to kill one of the others?

Dark was drunk and irrational. There wasn't a limit to the things he could do right now.

But as time fluttered by, Anti started to relax, realizing that perhaps Dark had already passed out.

He was safe.

For now.

Anti laid in his bed the rest of the night and most of the next morning crying off and on.

A few weeks later, the Iplier egos wanted to hang out again and Dark requested Anti's presence once more.

Anti outwardly looked terrified.

"You don't have to go this time, Anti" Sean told him, "We can just say you were sick or something. With what happened last time. . . "

'You lot don't know what happened the last time I saw him. . . . But if I don't go, Dark will think I'm rebelling against him and hurt you idiots. But what if he tries to touch me again?' the thoughts raced in his head.

"I'll go . . .It's fine"

He couldn't risk them getting hurt and with them all being there, he felt a little safer, at least.

"Are . . are you sure? Oh, and Evelien's coming over with us this time, too. I don't want you around Dark as much this time. I don't like that he had you practicing shooting with Wilford and-"

"Dark . . he didn't order me to shoot with Wil. I . .I wanted to" he lied. He had to.

There was something in Sean's eyes that he didn't believe Anti but he wasn't going to argue with him, "Okay . . it's just . . I don't want you spending as much time with Dark this time around. Instead, I want you to maybe hang out with the others. And maybe keep an eye on Evelien for me? It'll be her first time meeting all of the Ipliers at the same time"

Anti couldn't argue with that. That lot could be overbearing.

'Good excuse, I guess. I'm fine with that'

"Alright. I'll look after her. Not that she needs it and we both know that" Anti tried to remark snarkily. It worked.

Sean just grinned, "I know. But I'll feel better if you're there making sure she's safe from Wilford or one of the other homicidal Ipliers"

Anti just nodded.

When they arrived, things were different this time.

There was still the parade of excited egos but this time Wilford was a part of it which relaxed Anti. At least he wouldn't have to retrieve him again from the void.

But here Dark was also in the room. Something was different. Off. He had a somber look in his eyes Anti didn't recognize. It was genuine.

'Did something happen? Or is he sorry for what happened before?'

Anti never did get any more texts from Dark since that night.

But when Dark got closer, the more Anti saw that sinister glint.

Nope, it was fake and the fear was returning in Anti.

"Anti. I'm glad you came again with them. Can I speak to you in private?"

Charming just like the last time.

But Anti was scared to go with him now. He didn't want to be alone with him again, 'I didn't bring my knife. Jackie made sure I didn't have it. What do I do? If he threatens them this time. . .'

Suddenly, Jackie wrapped his arm around Anti's shoulder. He sensed Anti's overwhelming dread and his hero instincts kicked in, "Hey there! Where you guys suddenly running off to? We just got here!"

Dark's eye twitched, "I just needed to talk to Anti about something"

"About what?"

Dark refused to look Jackie or Anti in the eyes, "It's private"

"Heh" Jackie snorted, "Well sorry but your private chat is gonna have to wait a bit. Sean wants Anti to hang out with the other Ipliers today, too. He knew you'd try and steal him off all for yourself but that's why I'm here to keep you two lovebirds apart"

Anti wanted to puke and he shuddered, terrified of the horrifying implications.

Jackie had no idea.

"Your sense of humor really is appalling, hero" Dark rolled his eyes.

He spoke as if he hadn't tried to force himself on Anti a few weeks ago.

"Eh, whatever." Jackie snorted, "But what the boss says, goes. You two can talk later . . . or you could say what you wanna say now. I'm sure whatever it is can be said here"

"N-no. . that won't be necessary" Dark shook his head, "Carry on. I'll just . .. " his head snapped over to the pirate, "Magnum! Put the aquarium down this instant! It's not a fucking glass of water!" he ran off to take care of business.

Jackie pat Anti's back, "Don't say I don't ever help you out" and he walked away.

'The hell was that all about? What's he mean? Does he know something?' Anti really hoped not.

But luckily it seemed to shake Dark off of him for now.

He kept an eye on Evelien and made sure the other Ipliers kept their distance. They had a problem with over-flirting that Mark couldn't control.

Luckily most of the Ipliers, though, were uninterested.

"Yo Anti!" Yancy laughed, running up to him, "It's been a while, youse. How've ya been?" his fake accent was thick but understandable.

"I'm fine." he lied. Anti seemed to have lost his touch for conversation but tried his best.

"Good! Good, yeah. So, youse wanna go play some pool with a few of us? It's with me, Bim, Bing and Eric and then you, Chase, Jackie and James. I thinks that pretty boy thinks he's too good for da game"

Anti snorted, "More like he couldn't control himself cheating. And I take it Hen's gonna hang around your doc? And Marvin's hanging around Host again?"

"Guess so. We're teaching Eric-boy how to hustle. Got any tips?"

They carried on the conversation and soon, Anti didn't even notice Dark's eyes on him as they played. For once, Anti was actually having a good time at Raspy Hill and he even won a game.

An hour or so later, Yancy was talking with Jackie about working out and the others went off to do their own things, leaving Anti . . . .alone.

Not that he minded all that much.

Next to the pool table was the grand piano and he was curious. He had never seen anybody play it so why was it there? He went over and sat on the bench, running his fingers over the black and white keys. He was afraid of playing or messing around with it just in case he was too loud. But he gently tapped a key and it made a very soft noise, not loud at all.

He tapped it again and pushed the pedal to make the note last longer when he took his finger off of it. It was . . .nice.

"Didn't know you played"

Anti flinched at the sound of the voice and glitched out of the seat instantly to stand in front of Dark.

The man seemed unperturbed, used to the man's erratic movements, "Do you?"

"Wh-what?"

"Do you play?" he motioned to the piano.

"N . . . .no"

"Hm . . . ." Dark moved to sit on the right side of the bench and played a few notes. Anti now knew who played the piano in the house and his face went red. He was just messing around with one of Dark's personal belongings.

He was so fucked.

"I . . . I'm sorry" he shouldn't be the one apologizing, though and he knew that.

"For what?" Dark stopped playing and looked up at him calmly.

Anti was taken aback at how gentle he seemed. How genuinely nice. It put him off in a bad way but also the man was only like this once every so often. Anti had only seen him like this two other times since he had known him. So calm and peaceful.

'Should I ask him now? Would now be a good time?'

He doubted it.

But then again, fuck it. What did he have to lose?

Before he could talk, though, Dark spoke first, "A few weeks ago . . .  forget it ever happened."

"Wh-what?" Anti knew what he meant, though.

Dark still wouldn't look at him, "It didn't happen"

Anti couldn't help himself, anger rising up in his chest, "You mean you getting drunk and threatening me to come over here and you nearly forcing yourself on me? You want me to just forget that ever fucking happened?"

"Pretty much." he stated bluntly, "I was drunk. It didn't mean anything. End of story. Nothing to get all riled up about"

Anti wanted yell at him but Dark interrupted him again.

"I see your wound has healed. That's good"

Immediately, Anti felt the spite kick in again, "Why? Am I well enough for you to hurt again?"

Dark squinted, "I didn't shoot you. Wil did"

"We both know you could have gotten him out of there on your own with far less trouble. You just wanted to hurt me . . you always do" he felt braver right now for some reason.

Perhaps it was because he was in a bigger room where anyone else could walk in at any moment.

Dark was silent to that but pecked a few keys softly here and there.

Anti felt courage inside of him in that instant.

"What did I do to you?"

Dark stopped all movement and glanced at him, "Hm?"

Anti's fists closed and he took a step back just in case, "I asked . . . wh . .what did I do to you?! Why do you hate me so much?! Wh-WHY DO YOU LOVE HURTING ME SO MUCH!? WHY DID YOU MAKE ME HURT THEM!?"

The questions just poured out with no control and for a moment, he hoped no one else heard them talking.

Dark turned more to look him in the eye but Anti just saw confusion.

"Hm . . . . . . " he seemed to think hard about it but his next words drove into Anti's heart.

"Now that you mention it . . . . I don't remember"

'WHAT?! What kind of fucked-up game is he playing at here!?'

Anti took a step back again, "You don't . . . remember?"

For some reason that hurt more than any other answer. He was at least hoping for something he could apologize for. Maybe that could help. But this was far worse.

"Everyone is gathering in the backyard. You should join them" was all Dark said and he started to play again.

All Anti could do was walk away. He had to get away from him. None of this made sense. He forgot . . . . so he really was just doing it all to inflict pain on him . . for the fun of it!?

But before Anti could leave the room completely, he stopped.

Anger rose higher and higher.

He couldn't take this. It wasn't right.

He couldn't couldn't take it anymore.

Suddenly Dark found himself thrown off of the piano bench and onto the floor with Anti on top of him with his hands around his throat.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU MADE MY LIFE A LIVING HELL AND FOR WHAT!? FOR WHAT?!"

He tightened his grip and Anti's eyes lit up green. The lights in the house started flickering and glowing brighter and brighter with Anti's rage.

From outside, Google and Bing could feel the disturbance in the house and turned on the live feed from the cameras.

Dark wasn't going to just lie down and take Anti's shit, "Get off of me, you fucking cockroach!"

Dark's own eyes glowed red and for a moment Anti was scared but he could worry about his repercussions later.

"NO! YOU FUCKING LISTEN TO ME, YOU MONSTER! I DIDN'T DESERVE WHAT YOU DID! WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ME FOR YEARS! I DIDN'T DESERVE TO BE TREATED LIKE SHIT BY YOU! TO BE USED AS YOUR LITTLE BITCH! I DIDN'T DESERVE WHAT HAPPENED TO ME A FEW WEEKS AGO AND YOU KNOW THAT, YOU DRUNK BASTARD! FUCKING RAPIST!"

Dark managed to punch Anti across the face to get him off and threw him across the room, "Oh fuck off with your fucking victim bullshit! I didn't even get that far before you swung your knife around at me! And you know full-well you loved hurting them just as much as I loved making you do it!"

Sparks snapped off of Anti and Dark suddenly realized just how mad he was.

"YOU THREATENED MY FAMILY! I MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO SHOW IT BUT I LEAST I CARE FOR THEM! HOW WOULD YOU FEEL IF I STARTED TO THREATEN ERIC OR YAN!?"

Dark hissed, "DON'T YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT TOUCHING THEM!"

Anti snarled, deep growl resonating in the back of his throat. He was done with being afraid of him, "Then don't touch ME! I'm fucking DONE with your bullshit! I'm not taking it anymore! I don't care what you do to me. You threaten them ever again and I'll tell Mark just how much of a fucked up psycho you really are!"

Dark snorted, "They won't believe you." he spat with a humorless laugh, "Unlike you, I have a good reputation. And now since you've pissed me off this much . . . . damn, I WAS gonna let you off this time without punishment." he took a step forward menacingly, "Guess I'll just have to beat some sense into you. I already got a good story in mind-"

"Yeah, no"

The two suddenly looked over to see Jackie and the other Septics at the entrance of the room along with a few Ipliers and Mark.

Dark and Anti hadn't even noticed them all come inside. After seeing what was happening on the cameras, Google and Bing showed everyone the live feed.

They had heard EVERYTHING.

Jackie moved to stand in front of Anti, "Mind giving an explanation, Dark?"

"J-Jackie? What are you-" Anti stopped himself.

Did they . . hear all of that?

Dark chuckled though, clearly not worried, "It's not what you think, hero! Your precious little glitch-bitch here attacked me out of nowhere! I was just playing my piano when-"

"Stop lying, Dark" Dr. Iplier was the one to speak up, silencing him. The doctor had a knowing look in his eyes and Dark's glare hardened.

"What do you mean? What are you talking about, doctor?" he lied.

"On the cameras, we saw everything." Google told him.

Mark still looked horrified, "Did you really. . . . try and force yourself on Anti?"

Dark was starting to panic, "What?! No! I'd never touch him! I'd never hurt him! I-"

Wilford suddenly popped in with his pink wig and glittering disco outfit, "Hi there, Damien! I was just telling these guys here after the big show on the cameras the big gossip on how Darky's been on a rage, lately. Man, that fella needs to take a chill pill, I say! Going around threatening people every which way and beating Anti-boy. Poor kid! heheh! Hey, is this a party!? Looks like the gang's all here! Who wants to dance!? I'll go get my disco ball!"

Wil disappeared again.

Dark paled.

Now Wilford was the last person anyone expected to fess up.

There wasn't anything Dark could say or do. But instead of facing Mark or any of them, he decided on the easier alternative and disappeared in the shadows into the void where no one could get to him.

Anti still didn't understand what was happening but he felt a rush of peace as Chase and Sean ran up to hug him, apologizing for making him hang out with Dark all this time. After learning what Dark tried to do. . .

Jackie was even near tears, disappointed in himself. He failed as a hero and couldn't protect Anti when it really mattered.

Marvin got them out of there, taking their leave from the Raspy Hill house early.

It was time for the Septic family to finally have a talk all together.

A couple of months later, no one had heard from Dark or seen him.

It was coming up on Christmas and usually the Septics and Ipliers would get together for the holiday but this time was different. This time, they kept to themselves like a family and then they'd do a small get-together with Mark and his egos.

Without Dark.

Anti was in a better place mentally and emotionally after the ordeal. His brothers were far more accepting of him after hearing about what Dark had made him do and what else he had to go through.

Now he was drinking hot coco in a fluffy black turtleneck with Jameson playing a small game of checkers by the fireplace. Henrik was drinking some caramel coffee and playing a cross word game and Chase was busy on the floor building a dollhouse for his daughter. He had already built his son a toy ranch. Marvin was playing solitaire against Jackie to see which one of them could finish their game first and Sean was watching a movie with Evelien on the couch. It was nice and cozy. The snow outside silently falling. The warm fire making him sleepy.

"I'm gonna go take a nap" he said after Jameson beat him in checkers. The mute just smiled and picked up their pieces as he walked away.

Jackie pat his back gently as he walked away and Anti hummed in retaliation. Their brotherhood had become a lot stronger since the incident.

When Anti opened his door to his room, the last thing he expected was Dark standing there seemingly waiting for him.

Anti stood frozen, his hot coco still in his hand, "Uh . ." he started to shake.

Dark had an unreadable expression on his face but he didn't want to get caught by the others, "Just hear me out"

Anti suddenly snarled at him, "The FUCK did you just say!? Get the fuck out of my room and out of my life, you fucking sociopath!"

Dark exhaled deeply, ". . . . . I'm sorry"

Anti wrinkled his nose, "Hmph . . yeah right. Why should I believe you? You just wanna hurt me again because I got you in trouble"

"No . . . no, that's not-"

"Get out. I'm only warning you once and then I'm calling for everyone downstairs. Fucking pervert, sneaking into my bedroom!"

Dark decided to quickly push the conversation, "You asked before what it was you did. I said that I didn't remember. That was a lie"

Anti moved to stand straighter, putting his mug on the table next to him before crossing his arms.

Dark stayed where he was and took Anti's movements as a sign to keep talking. He didn't want to move just in case Anti found it threatening, "I didn't want to say it before because. . . I sort of wanted to forget it. But when you asked, it would have sounded stupid. I decided to feign ignorance. I was wrong to do so. You deserve a clear answer."

Anti waited for him to continue and he did, albeit pretty uncomfortably but the glitch was enjoying it.

"The very first day we met . . . . You were nice enough. Fine. I kind of liked you . . .  I knew you had just been created so you probably didn't know about much. I don't know why I got so angry about it"

"About what? The fuck did I do to you to make you hate me so much?"

"You told me that Wilford was insane and needed to be put in a mental asylum. And then you laughed like it was some sick joke."

Anti fell silent but he understood Dark's rage, where it stemmed from, at least.

He wanted to finally clear the air, "I'm sorry. It was ignorant of me to say something so insensitive"

Dark paused. Obviously, he hadn't been expecting him to apologize and it looked like it took some tension off of him, "I . . . . " he sighed, "No, you were right in a way. I . . I knew Wil was not well mentally. He still isn't. Even though he's gotten a little better, he's anything but sane. You were right. I was just . ."

"Being protective." Anti interjected, "Overly protective, might I add. . . I don't know if I could ever forgive you."

"You don't have to. I wouldn't. Especially not after what I did to you . .. before. Off and on, I got the feeling that the other Ipliers were pretending to like me. That they hated me. The only person my mind went to at the time was you and all I thought about was that I needed you. Needed someone to take the pain away. I know I'm a monster. You of all people know that . . . You know me the best"

"Yeah, and I know you really need a therapist, you fucking psycho"

Dark just smirked and nodded and a neutral silence filled the room. It was a little awkward but Anti just waited patiently for him to leave.

Except it appeared Dark didn't know how to end a conversation, himself.

"Nice turtleneck"

It broke a little of the ice between them but Anti just snorted at the ridiculous comment, "It hides my neck pad so I don't bleed everywhere. Remember?"

"That's good. Yeah, you said something about it before-"

"We're not friends, Dark. We'll never be friends after everything you've done to me"

The Iplier lowered his head and nodded quietly, "Yes . . . . we're not . . but if you'd like . . . ." he couldn't look him in the eye, "Perhaps we could stop being enemies?"

Anti didn't know what to feel. This bastard comes into his room and says all this stuff. Revealing everything like it's supposed to excuse what he had done to him all these years. Anti couldn't forgive him. Not just yet. Especially after that night. . . .

"I'll think about it but no promises. I'm not your friend, though. So don't count on that. Ever."

Dark cracked a small smile.

That was good enough for him, "I'll see you around, then. I have to talk to Mark next and offer my apologies to the rest of my own family"

Anti didn't reply. He wasn't going to offer him luck. In fact, he hoped Dark would get what was coming to him.

With one last nod, Dark muttered to him, "Happy Holidays" and he awkwardly disappeared from the room and Anti finally relaxed completely.

He thought about Dark's words before he left.

He had never sounded so human before.

Did they actually find peace between each other finally?

Anti flopped on his bed and held one of his pillows, still thinking about it all. He wouldn't be able to sleep quite yet now but he felt a little better.

Dark and him weren't friends.

Anti knew they'd never remotely be close in any way.

But now just as the Iplier had said, perhaps they didn't need to be enemies anymore.

Anti wasn't sure about that, either.

The only good thing that seemed come from his suffering was that now his family loved him.

And that was just enough for him.

The End

What'd you guys think of the changes?