Work Text:
Work was exhausting.
Being Mike was exhausting.
Being Battat was exhausting.
He just wanted to crash and fall asleep for hours on end.
Jongler and Pluey had been slacking off as Mike lately, forcing HIM to pick up where they left off. So, by day he (typically) worked as himself, and by night he worked as Mike.
Some days, though, Mike was heavily requested, so he’d have to skip the day as Battat and would be horribly behind in work.
He was running on three Red Bulls and five espressos, and he’s never felt more jittery in his life.
It was a Monday, though that changed little. Unlike most businesses, nobody had weekends off. So it was just another day for him to work until he inevitably died from caffeine overdose or from staying awake too long.
“You!” A voice rang out.
He whipped around, finding his boss standing there. She was glaring at him, hands behind her back professionally. She was one of the Zappers, and not a nice one.
Here we go...
Battat walked up to her. “Yes, boss?”
“We need to talk.” She turned around, gesturing him to follow.
They entered her office. She sat down at her desk, and he sat across from it, leg bouncing from the energy he had.
“Your performance has been... lacking, recently.” She put on her glasses, which he found weird because she didn’t have any eyes. The paper she slid over to Battat showed the amount of missed work days.
He winced. It was way worse than he’d thought it would be.
“Is there something you want to tell me?”
I’m trying my best here to live a double life and am singlehandedly the only reason Tenna’s not an asshole and throwing tantrums every two seconds and a little more grace and kindness would be fricking appreciated.
Instead, he slowly shook his head.
She sighed, resting her chin on her hands. She was looking at him the way a disappointed parent does to their child.
“I’m afraid... it may be best to let you go.”
His brain temporarily shut off. His leg stopped bouncing, he stopped jittering all together. It was the fastest he’d ever sobered.
“What...?”
“Tenna only needs the best. And, well, we have enough Pippins causing trouble. I hope it isn’t a big deal.”
That’s such B.S! And “I hOpE iT dOeSn’T cAuSe TrOuBlE”. What the hell? Of COURSE getting fired causes trouble!
He bit back a scowl. “I’m sorry for my actions, but I promise I can do better.”
She scoffed quietly. ”I know your type. Pippins. Don’t. Change.”
“Please, just,” he was begging now, “let me talk to Tenna. I promise, I’m not slacking- I just-”
“Save it. Tenna has more important things to do. You’ll be escorted off Showtime Studios tomorrow. Please be cooperative.” She forced a smile. “And have a great day.”
He sat for a second, flabbergasted. Then, slowly, he stood, turning and walking out the room. The second the door was closed behind him, he slammed his fist into a nearby wall, tears of anger and annoyance welling in his eyes.
He’d put in so much goddamn work for that company and now he was... Forced out of it. What would Tenna do? What would he do without Mike? Would Jongler and Pluey take his place?
God, Tenna...
None of this was Tenna’s fault. All his idiot boss’ fault. He wanted to destroy her. So, SO much.
Heart throbbing in his chest, he staggered back to the Mike room. The other two were out, working on God knows what.
This wasn’t something he could solve.
...
But this was something Mike could solve...
~~~
Walking in a hot and sweaty costume while running on no sleep, food or water was not ideal, but he’d make it work. He’s made it work for a while, anyway.
It took a little bit of wandering before he found Tenna.
His boss (beautiful and tall and upset) brightened immediately upon seeing Mike. He turned from the lights and cameras, scooping Mike up in an instant.
He flinched for a second before beaming up at Tenna. He needed to play his cards right.
“Hey, boss.” He greeted, draping an arm over Tenna’s shoulder. “How ya doin’?”
The TV hummed. “Film isn’t going right. These people are impossible to work with.” He turned and exclaimed to the crew, “take five!”
They scampered off in response, seeming desperate for the break.
Tenna turned to Battat, smile soft and caring. “How are you, Mike?”
“Ehh, y’know, survivin’.” He played it off as a joke, but it was way more true than he’d like to admit. “I wanted’a talk t’ya.”
Tenna cocked his head to the side ever so slightly. He put Battat down, sitting butterfly-posed in front of him to be more on his level.
“Go for it.”
He hesitated for a split second before speaking. “I... there’s someone, a friend of mine, and he’s... being fired.” Tenna nodded along, listening. “He’s been going through some shit lately and I can’t bear to lose him. He’s done so much for this company and, well, it’s just... hard to think of him leaving just because of some issues, y’know?”
“A friend, hm?” Tenna smiled a little. “I haven’t heard much of your friends. Who is he?”
“His, uh, his name’s Battat.” He doubted Tenna really knew him. They’d only spoken, what, twice in person? And he wasn’t really too memorable.
“Oh! The Pippins!” Tenna exclaimed. “He always seemed like a bit of a moody fellow. I’m surprised you’re friends with him.”
He shrugged, embarrassed at being called out like that. “He’s just... struggling.”
Tenna frowned sympathetically. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll make sure he stays here, but, if I may ask, why didn’t you just keep him here yourself? I mean, I give you full freedom to do whatever you want.” He blushed a tad. “I trust you, Mike.”
Battat flushed, grateful for the costume concealing his face so well. “Oh, r-right.” Dammit, he didn’t mean to stammer. The way Tenna was looking at him made him melt. “I just... wanted your consent. I mean, I know how you feel about Pippins.”
Tenna stood up, slow and graceful. It was a stark contrast to Battat’s clumsy jittering.
The TV hummed softly. “He is your friend, Mike. I trust you to have good taste in friends.” He brushed himself off, likely because he’d seen people in movies do it. The floors were spotless. “Besides, I’ve yet to see him steal anything like the others.”
The two shared a laugh, though Battat’s came out a little more forced than he’d like it to.
“Alright. I’ll go talk to his boss about it.” Battat was ready to leave when Tenna piped up.
“Actually, would you like to stay and help with the film?”
He grimaced, withholding a sigh. He had so much to do as Battat, he really didn’t have time for this.
He turned around to face his boss. “I thought it would be best to tell his boss immediately.”
Tenna waved his hand dismissively. “Just send Battat a text. If his boss has any problems, tell him to send them to me.”
“But I-”
The TV frowned. “If you have other places to be, you can go.”
The look of poorly concealed dejection on Tenna’s face made him give in immediately. He took his boss’ hand, grinning widely.
“I’ll stick around. Can’t leave ya without ya favorite-” he briefly tried coming up with a word to fit their relationship. Unable to find one, he just blurted out: “-Mike!”
Tenna chuckled. “You are my favorite Mike.” He joked.
To Battat, it wasn’t a joke. He took it to heart, liking the belief that he was the one Tenna liked most. Maybe it was best the other Mikes had backed off. They weren’t good enough for Tenna. Not like he was.
The two walked over to the set.
“Break’s over!” Shouted Tenna.
Everyone scampered to recuperate.
And filming commenced.
For hours.
And hours.
And...
Hours.
Only two hours in, he felt like passing out.
His head was rested on his palm, feeling thirty pounds heavier than it usually was with the mask.
The caffeine had worn off fast, leaving overwhelming exhaustion.
But he couldn’t sleep.
He needed to help Tenna.
Needed to finish his job.
Needed to do Battat work.
Needed to tell his boss he was staying.
Needed to...
“Mike!”
He jumped, hand hitting the foam head roughly. He flinched, readjusting it quickly.
Tenna was approaching him, papers in hand.
He deflated.
“I have some things I need handled. I don’t trust anyone else here. If it isn’t a bother...”
“No... not at all...”
He couldn’t even keep up the happy-go-luckiness, feeling like breaking down sobbing.
If he had any energy to sob.
Or water.
When was the last time he’d drank water? Last time he’d slept, ate, anything?
Tenna noticed. “If it’s too much, I can give it to someone else. Not like I trust them, but...”
“I can do it...” He forced a grin, though his head felt fuzzy. It was like he was fading in and out of reality, like moments were skipping and blending together in unnatural ways.
“Really? Thanks a ton, Mike!” He grinned. “Well, I think we’re done here for today.”
“Mmm...” he mumbled out, throat dry as ever. “I’ll head out.”
“Alrighty! Sleep well, Mike!”
Sleep...? Oh, right. Mike had time to do that.
Battat didn’t.
“Right... You, too, Tenna.”
He turned and left, feeling shaky on his feet and dizzy beyond belief.
Staggering back to the Mike room, he dropped the paperwork on his desk. For a second, he just stood there, staring at it as he leaned against the desk.
And then his memory just stopped. He hadn’t a clue what happened next.
Just the feeling of cold nothingness taking him out.
~~~
Tenna was worried about Mike. It wasn’t like him to be this... drained, fatigued, weary.
Exhausted.
He was unable to sleep, thoughts consumed with concern for his dear friend.
So, after half an hour of debate, he got up with a purpose:
Help Mike.
The room wasn’t far, a two minute walk down from his own room.
When he got there, he knocked on the door, awaiting a reply. Mike was typically up late, answering the door at all hours. He disliked that, but couldn’t force a grown adult to have a bedtime schedule. But he could guilt trip him into going to sleep.
Tenna didn’t like weaponizing Mike’s love affection for himself against him, but if it finally got him to take care of himself... maybe it wasn’t a bad thing?
No response.
Why was there no response?
He panicked, wondering if Mike was unwell, hurt, not there.
Hesitating for no longer than a millisecond, he burst in.
There, at the desk, was no Mike, but Battat.
He was slumped over Mike’s paperwork, in way too deep of a sleep to be normal.
Jealousy struck him for a split second. Why was Mike so close to him? Why didn’t he know that? Mike never let anyone else into his room, so why was Battat the exception?
He pushed down the envious thoughts, shaking Battat’s shoulder softly.
The Pippin shifted, raising his head. He was disoriented and groggy.
“Tenna?” He croaked out, voice hoarse. “What’re ya do’n here...?”
“Where’s Mike?” He inquired softly, not intending to startle the green Pippin.
Battat shot up, eyes wide. He scanned the room briskly, panic on his face.
“He- he must have left. For a walk or something.”
“And left you with his work?”
“He was feeling stressed.”
“Aren’t you stressed, as well? Mike told me you’ve been going through some stuff.”
The panic on his face worsened. “We’re both- it's- just- we're...” he took a breath. “Both of us feel like there’s so much work looming over us. It’s just... it’s a lot. We’re trying to help each other out, but there’s too much to fix. Too much to do. I just... he needs a break.”
“It sounds like you do, too.”
He shrugged. “Yeah... but I can handle it.”
“What do you have to do?”
He sighed, holding his head with his hand. He slumped over the desk again, seeming pained at the need to think about it.
“I’m gonna have to finish this paperwork. I have to schedule meetings for my boss. I’m overseeing two commercials we’re creating, the ones for the van and the new Pipdashian series. I have to direct the Pipdashian series, and oh my stars are they a pain. I have my own paperwork to do for an investor. My friends are taking a break next week, so I have to take over their work, too. I don’t even want to talk about that.”
Tenna winced. “And they put all this on you?”
He scoffed. “Mike and I, but even then, we’re just two people.”
“I’m sorry.”
Battat scowled for a second before it dropped into a look of defeat. “’s fine. Thanks for waking me. I need to get back to work.”
“When’s the last time you slept?”
“Five minutes ago.”
“Properly slept.”
He shrugged, picking up the pen with shaky hands.
Tenna didn’t know what to do. He didn’t know Battat well, nor how to deal with any of his problems. But he did know how to help Mike. They were practically, work-wise, the same person. They had the same jobs, projects, etc. If he could help Mike, he could, by extension, help Battat.
“Why don’t you sleep? I can handle the paperwork. I thought I’d have more work tonight, but we wrapped up early. You did most of it. I’ll just finish it off.”
Battat hesitated obviously.
Tenna gave him a soft smile.
He gave in.
“Alright.” He sighed. “Just... If you need me to handle anything, wake me up immediately.”
Tenna didn’t respond, merely watching as Battat turned and went to Mike’s bedroom. His stomach twisted in slight envy. Was he going to sleep in Mike’s bed? Was he allowed to? Tenna wasn’t allowed to, so why was a Pippins allowed to? Did Mike not like him? Did he like Battat more?
Were they dating?
The thought disgusted him. Mike with someone else just hit wrong. Horribly wrong. He knew it was wrong to be so possessive over a friend, but he couldn’t help it. Mike meant the world to him. He couldn’t just run off with someone else.
And what if they were dating?
Would Mike leave him behind for Battat?
Slowly drift apart?
Slowly fall in love with him further?
The resentment he felt for the Pippins grew by the second.
He couldn’t stand the thought, the idea, the feeling.
And that’s when it hit him. Whether he’d like to admit the truth that came to him or not.
He loved Mike.
He was in love with Mike.
“Dammit...” he whispered under his breath.
His hands were shaking and his heart was racing.
But he couldn’t just do nothing.
If he stayed quiet any longer, the chance for him and Mike to become a thing would get less and less and eventually dissipate into nothing. He couldn’t lose Mike. Not after all this time.
He stared down at the paperwork. It stared back, words jumbling together into messes of ink and shapes. His lips trembled, jaw tight.
Now wasn’t the time for it. He stood up briskly, hands clutching the paper tightly.
That’s when the door opened.
“Yeah, Boss’s been really stressed lately. I’m worried out break’s gonna be too much for him.”
“(´。＿。｀)”
In stepped a Zapper and a Shadow Guy, the two’s eyes widening upon seeing Tenna.
“T-Tenna!” Exclaimed the Zapper, panicking. What was it with people recently and panicking at seeing him.
“What... are you two doing here in Mike’s room?”
“o((⊙﹏⊙))o. (＠_＠;)"
“We’s is just—we's—visiting! Visiting Mike! He’s is a friend of ours!” The Zapper’s words stumbled out messily and difficult to grasp at first due to his heavy accent. It was oddly similar to Mike’s.
“He isn’t here at the moment. But Battat is.”
The two froze.
Tenna continued. “Say, do you know if Battat and Mike are dating?”
The two looked at each other, and unspoken conversation being communicated by uncomfortable looks and confused notes.
“Maybe? Probably? If Mike were... they would likely be. Battat’s kinda obsessed wit’ him.” Jongler shrugged.
If Mike were... “If Mike were what?”
“（⊙ｏ⊙）”
“Yeah, what he’s said. Gay.”
He paused. “Mike’s not... gay? At all?”
Jongler shrugged again. That irked Tenna a little.
“So he’s straight?”
The thought sounded weird. In his business, he spent so much time promoting LGBTQ+ media and ideas, that the idea that his second in command not being a part of it felt foreign. Had Mike been straight all this time...?
Was he just oblivious?
Or had he purposefully overlooked it...?
He stepped back, biting his tongue.
“¯\_( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)_/¯”
What was it with these two and shrugging at everything? It was getting on his nerves.
“Why don’chu ask Mike? Youse is close to him.”
Embarrassment flooded over him at the idea. “No... I’m... it’d sound weird, wouldn’t it?”
“No. It’s widely accepted here. He’s is not gonna mind.”
Maybe the Zapper was right. Even then, he didn’t know if he was ready to hear Mike say to his face “I’m straight”, if that was the case.
He took a deep breath, stepping back. “Okay.” He exhaled. “Okay.” Tenna forced a grin. “Thanks, you two.”
“No probs, Tenna!”
“Before I leave, promise me you’ll take care of Battat.” He hated the guy, but he didn’t want any valuable employees to be as stressed as he was... he didn’t want any of Mike’s friends to be stressed. “He’s sleeping in... Mike’s bed... right now. Seemed a little out of it. Just make sure he’s alright. And tell Mike about it whenever he comes back.”
“Yes, Tenna, sir.” Jongler nodded quickly.
Tenna gave the two one last smile before exiting.
The cold air of the hallway was a stark contrast to the warmth of Mike’s room. He quite liked it. Believe it or not, Tenna was a cold-lover. It made it harder for him to overheat.
“Night, Mike.” He mumbled, directed towards wherever Mike was at the moment.
“Love you...”
~~~
Battat woke up the next morning incredibly late. He found his alarm to be disabled, the bedside clock flashing the numbers “12:36”. He shot up, eyes wide at the way too high number.
He’d never slept in this late before in his LIFE.
Dread and worry consumed him in an instant. His brain wracked itself for everything he had to do, but he came up empty. Whenever something passed by, it fizzled out like the bubbles in beer.
Battat got up, a little shaky. His throat hurt like hell, eyes dry and painful. His stomach hurt like he’d been punched.
Stumbling out of the Mike room, he got to a water cooler, taking a cup and filling it. He finished it instantly. He got another. And another. And by the end of it, he was nauseous from drinking five cups of water.
It’s been a while since he’d had any. The pain in his throat ceased, making it less painful to swallow.
He sighed, leaning back against the wall.
“Hey, boss.”
Battat turned, looking to his friend. Jongler was standing there, face unreadable.
“Morning.”
“It’s after noon.”
He scrunched his nose in annoyance. “Don’t remind me.”
There was a moment of silence.
Jongler broke it first. “Tenna was worried ‘bout you.”
He looked down, feeling a familiar heat spread to his face. “I know...”
“I gots a question.”
“Shoot.”
“Is Mike... gay?”
He froze. Confused, Battat looked up, seeing the hesitant sincerity in his friend’s posture. His jaw opened. Then closed. Then opened. “What?”
“Tenna’s was asking if Mike’s is gay. What do we’s say?”
A few seconds of silence passed. In that time, his mind raced from ”is this serious?” to ”does he like Mike?” to ”would Mike be gay? SHOULD Mike be gay?”. He eventually shrugged, stepping away from the wall to face Jongler properly.
“Yeah, why not? We’re all gay here, right? Sans Pluey.” Pluey was Aroace, but had no hatred or discomfort towards relationships.
Battat was gay, very much so. And Jongler was somewhat bisexual, though preferred women more. Mike was a projection of them, all of their personalities combined. So it made sense to make him have that aspect as well.
“If Tenna asks, say Mike’s bi.”
Jongler nodded slowly, faltering before asking another question. “And what if he’s says he... likes Mike.”
“Well, we can let him down easy. Just say something vague about not being ready for a relationship but still loving Tenna in a platonic sense. Maybe turn it familial.”
“Alrighty, boss! I’ll see ya around!”
“You, too, J.”
With that, Jongler bounded off.
He took a deep breath before going back into the Mike room. The costume was hidden under their new couch, which he pulled out. It felt heavy in his hands, but he put it on anyway. His head worked fine when he didn’t try to think about work.
So he didn’t.
Quietly, he went back out into the hallway, deciding to take a stroll around the studio and hopefully stumble upon something to do. He felt useless and weak after sleeping for half a day.
It was busy as ever: Shadow Guys playing music in the halls, Shuttah chasing after a poor subject of her overbearing fashion, a Zapper chasing a gang of Pippins.
He just stood and watched, the familiarity of it all bringing him comfort.
Battat was so caught up in it, that he didn’t realize someone approaching behind him.
A large hand was wrapped around his waist, lifting him up in an instant.
A scream left his mouth, one very unlike Mike. One that was just like Battat.
He elbowed whoever picked him up, fighting and thrashing and kicking and terrified.
After a couple of seconds, he saw who it was.
The costume immediately felt too hot, too stuffy. He flushed horribly, the sight probably visible through the thick padding of the outfit.
“T-Tenna-” his voice cracked. He cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. You startled me.” He forced a laugh.
“That was the point.” Tenna grinned, scratching the side of his head in embarrassment. He was flushed as well. “Sorry, Mike. Are you alright?”
He settled atop Tenna’s arm, a little out of breath. “Yeah, I’m fine. Wasn’t expectin’ that.”
“Ah, sorry.”
“You’re alright, Ten’.”
The TV nodded, seeming a little flustered and unsure how to respond next. He instead changed the subject. “Where were you last night? I wanted to visit you in your room, but didn’t see you there. There were just your friends.”
“Sorry, boss. Took a smoke break.”
“You’re alright, right?”
“Of course I am! Why wouldn’t I be?”
“That Battat fellow stayed up last night doing your paperwork.”
Shit... “Yeah, just... he volunteered, so...”
Tenna gave him a smile. “I’m glad you have such good friends.” He emphasized the word “friends”.
Battat didn’t know how to respond to that. “Same.”
A beat of silence passed.
“Are you and him dating?”
He briefly choked on air. “What!?”
Tenna’s blush returned full force. “I just- you seem so close- he's sleeping in your bed- he spends time in your room- I just assumed-”
The realization of how weird it looked struck him. He placed a finger over Tenna’s mouth, making him cease his jumbled explanation. The two just stared at each other (well, the best they could because Tenna and the Mike suit didn’t have eyes) for what felt like way too long.
“I don’t love him. He’s just a friend. Like-” he faltered “-like a brother to me.” He knew he’d have to use that excuse on Tenna, too, but didn’t know how else to defend himself from the accusation that he was dating... himself.
A grin spread to his lips as he continued. “Why? Jealous?”
Tenna scoffed, playfully swatting Battat’s hand away. “No...”
The Pippin raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe...”
Battat chuckled, cocking his head to the side. “Why?”
God, he was really pushing it. But the way Tenna got flustered, the way he blushed, the way he was getting possessive over Mike-...
Over...
Mike...
His fantasies dimmed in an instant.
And realization struck.
This wasn’t about him at all.
It never was.
This was all about Mike. Tenna loved... Mike.
“I mean,” Battat leaned back, distancing himself from Tenna a little, “you shouldn’t need to feel jealous. You’re my best friend, Tenna.” He used the word “friend” intentionally. They were just friends. Battat needed to remind himself of that.
Tenna’s smile dimmed ever so slightly. “Right. Best friends. I’m grateful for that.”
Battat was an asshole.
He was such an asshole.
Getting a little shaky, he jumped down from Tenna’s arms, not missing how Tenna instinctively reached to keep him close. He just stared up at this gorgeous, amazing, perfect man.
That he couldn’t have.
The one man that he couldn’t have.
He bit his tongue, wondering why he had to be such an idiotic gay moron.
“Is there anything you have for me to do?” He eventually was able to say.
Tenna shook his head slowly. “No. I think you and your friend deserve a break. Take the week off, yeah? Both of you.”
Battat nodded. “Thanks, Tenna. This means a lot.”
“Of course, of course,” he giggled bashfully. “Now go rest up. I’ll come see you when I can, alright?”
“Alright.” He stepped back before turning and leaving.
“Bye, Mike! Love you!” Tenna called out after him.
He paused, breath hitching in his throat. Without turning around, he responded.
“Love you, too, Ten’.”
~~~
Tenna did come see Mike. Only five hours after he gave his friend his much-needed break, he headed to the Mike room.
Upon entering, Mike was standing by the couch, a (unbeknownst to Tenna, forced) grin on his face. Tenna smiled back, walking in fully and shutting the door behind himself.
“Tenna! How are you?”
“I’m doing good. How are you feeling?”
“Never better!”
He nodded, sitting down on the couch. Mike cautiously sat down next to him. The TV did a quick scan of the room.
Nobody in here but Mike and I. Good.
“I... wanted to talk to you about something.”
Mike stiffened. “Nothing bad, I hope?”
“Oh, no, nothing bad! Just... complicated.” He clasped his hands together, thumb tracing atop his fingers while he bit his lip anxiously.
This could make or break their relationship as they knew it.
But he had to take that risk.
For Mike.
Otherwise, Mike might get with...
He didn’t want to think about that alternative.
“Shoot.”
Tenna inhaled sharply. “I... there’s... something that’s been... weighing on me for a while... about us...”
He glanced over at Mike. The microphone was just staring up at him, patiently waiting for him to finish what he had to say.
“We’ve been... close for a while now. Best friends, co-workers, all this for... years. And even through your changes and the whole big shot ordeal-” he winced at the reminder of Spamton. Mike did, too “-we’ve still been so close. And... I guess all this to say...” he shifted closer, smiling softly at the way Mike’s cheeks lit. “I love you. Genuinely. I think... we could work together. Better than that big shot and I ever could. I want us to work. If... if you’re willing to have that with me?”
Mike stared at him for an eternity.
He just stilled, his face directed up at Tenna, unreadable.
And he stared.
And stared.
And stared.
It got to the point where Tenna began to second guess himself. Maybe he’d made the wrong decision? Maybe he’d misread things? What if Mike didn’t have a chance of liking him that way, and he’d just projected his own feelings onto the situation?
Then, Mike moved closer.
And reached out.
And took Tenna’s hand.
Gently, softly, carefully.
Their gloves were white on white, making them seem to morph into one at angles.
And the two intertwined their fingers best they could with the incredible size difference.
“I think we could work...” Mike mumbled, looking down at their hands. “I... I love you, too, boss.”
“Tenna.” He corrected. “Call me Tenna.”
Mike’s head tilted upwards, unseen gaze meeting Tenna’s. The world seemed to slow around them, leaving just them and nobody else.
The TV leaned in closer, nose close to brushing against Mike’s spherical head.
They got closer.
And closer.
And closer.
Until-
Mike shot back as if he was zapped.
Tenna blinked, a little surprised.
“Are you-”
“I have to go.” Mike told him at the same time, bouncing up.
And just like that, he left.
Didn’t say any last words.
Didn’t look back.
Just ran out that door like the room was crawling with danger.
And that... hurt more than any rejection could.
Tenna was left sitting there, confused and concerned. He didn’t want to be a cause for stress on Mike. He was already going through so much. But he felt abandoned, alone, isolated.
We can talk later... he can’t stay away forever...
Right?
~~~
Turns out he could.
Or at least, he’d do his best.
The following five days, Battat just steered clear of Tenna. Every time he saw him, heard his voice, was told he was in the other room over, he ran. Didn’t act like he had something to do, didn’t make excuses, just straight up bolted.
Jongler and Pluey were out of town that week, so he was all alone. He’d stopped going out as Mike, just himself. His time was usually spent getting a beer, talking to Ramb, or rotting in bed. If he even so much as looked at the Mike costume, he’d get a headache and be dizzy. The costume just smiled at him. Gaping, empty, not real. A reminder of his conversation with Tenna.
Well, we can let him down easy. Just say something vague about not being ready for a relationship but still loving Tenna in a platonic sense. Maybe turn it familial.
So much for that. He’d gotten so caught up in his fantasies- again- that he’d forgotten everything he’d been trying to do.
Sometimes, Tenna would enter Mike’s room. Battat would just hide under the bed, clutching the bow of the Mike costume and waiting for him to pass. Typically, the TV would just pace a little, look all over the room for any trace of Mike, perhaps sit somewhere for a little, then leave. The longest he’d ever been there was an hour, in which he spent crying on the couch, his heartbroken sobs audible from the bedroom. Battat’s heart had broken in that moment, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Or so he told himself.
So the five days passed quietly, drably, dully
The first wasn’t too bad. Tenna was terrified, more erratic that day. He ran all around the studio, in frantic search of Mike. Battat could hear the worry from his room, mostly from the gossip at the outside watercooler.
”Apparently Mike told him he was worthless and didn’t deserve him. What an ass.”
”Pfft, no he didn’t. It was Mike who said he liked him, and Tenna rejected him.”
”You’re both wrong. Tenna’s just being overdramatic. Mike just let him down easy.”
Battat had eventually stepped out, setting the story straight. Those outside had given him weird looks before uncomfortably walking off with some vague excuse of needing to do paperwork.
The second day was a little worse. Tenna had gone in and out of Mike’s room, each time checking the entire place. It was every couple of hours, and beginning to get on Battat’s nerves. He’d be in the middle of watching something or trying to sleep, only to hear the sound of Tenna approaching. That would force him to hide under the bed and wait it out for an uncomfortable amount of time.
The third day was the worst of them all. Tenna came in every hour, each time seeming more anxious. That was the day when he’d spent an hour there. Battat had gotten up once and peeked at him from the bedroom. He was sat on the couch, smaller than ever and hugging a TV TIME™ blanket he’d given Mike to keep when it was cold one night. Battat had been so close to approaching him and comforting him, but held back. He didn’t want Battat.
He wanted Mike.
The forth and fifth day were similar. Tenna was more dejected, visits spacing out slowly. When he entered, he hadn’t the normal anxious and quick sporadic visits. He was slow, checking half-heartedly and unattentively, as if he knew to expect Mike not to be there. Battat would sit under the bed, watching when he checked in the room and staying under the bed longer than necessary when he left. It felt comfortable, safe, controlled... isolated.
It was the sixth day that Tenna finally caught him.
He was sleeping, having stayed up a bit too late the night prior and sleeping in to nine. That was when he felt a hand on his back.
Battat shot up, eyes wide. He wasn’t dresses formally, wearing an oversized TV TIME™ shirt clearly not made for a Pippins and large shorts Jongler had left behind. The Zapper liked to wear it with his leg only in one hole, as it greatly irritated Battat.
He sat up properly, legs criss cross. He slouched over, hand pulling his blanket up near his lap to give him something to fidget with. Tenna didn’t seem to pleased to see him in particular, as to be expected, but he seemed grateful to see someone associated with Mike.
“Where’s Mike?”
“Straight to the chase, huh?”
“I know you know where he is.” Tenna’s voice was cold, cutting through the room like a knife.
Battat hummed, shrugging. “Maybe. Or I don’t.”
“Why are you here? Sleeping in his bed without him.”
“I needed a bed. Pippins don’t get beds.”
“For good reason.”
Battat growled. “You want Mike or not?”
Tenna backed off, head tilting down towards the floor. “I do. I know you’ve heard of the... falling out.”
“That’s a generous term for it.”
Tenna glared at him the best he could without eyes. Battat knew the look all too well.
“Not here. Left the studio a little back.”
Tenna froze, mouth twitching down into a frown. “Permanently?”
“Who knows? Maybe.”
The dejection on his static face cut deep, but Battat refused to show it. He just stared, watching, observing how Tenna slowly moved to sit at the foot of the bed. The mattress sank inward to where he was sitting, forcing Battat to readjust his position.
“I ruined everything...” Tenna choked out. “I knew... I knew it was stupid. I knew... God, I don’t even know what I knew.”
Battat’s face softened. He didn’t say anything, not yet. Instead, he gave Tenna space. Not a distant space, but an “I’m here if you want to talk” space.
“The same thing happened with that Addison. The second I get too close, they all... leave. I don’t know why I let myself have hope. I should’ve just stayed back.” He sniffled. “I don’t get it.” His voice cracked. “Am I that unlovable? Did he just hate me all along? I got the feeling he’s been extra off-put around me lately, but not like this... I didn’t realize it was enough to leave the second I... tell him... I love him...”
Battat felt like an ass for how he’d been. It hadn’t occurred to him that yeah, obviously it would come off that way. He hated that he’d been stupid enough to hurt Tenna this way.
So, in an attempt to comfort him the only way Battat knew how, he reached out. And intertwined his fingers in Tenna’s. It fit just as well as they did when he was in the Mike suit. But this time it wasn’t white on white.
It was green on white.
A difference.
Because Battat wasn’t built for Tenna.
Wasn’t shaped and molded in ways that resembled Tenna.
He wasn’t perfect for him.
But... maybe that was okay.
Tenna’s eyes widened. He looked down at the hand atop his, the tears falling from where his eyes would be stopping. His gaze moved to Battat, who was trying to give as comforting a smile as possible. It all felt different when he was himself.
“You feel just like Mike...”
His throat bobbed as he swallowed, uncertain of how his next answer would go over. “I know...”
“You’re him, aren’t you...?” Tenna whispered out, as if the words were too loud despite being said so quietly.
“I... am...”
Silence overfell the two. It wasn’t awkward or uncomfortable, just thoughtful. Tenna didn’t seem mad, didn’t seem dejected. He just pondered.
Stared at Battat and pondered.
And god, at that moment, Battat wished so much he could see what was going on in Tenna’s head. He just had to hope it wasn’t bad.
Eventually, Tenna reached out with his other hand, index finger tracing over the sharp edges of Battat’s head gently. It was different from Mike’s head. It was different from Mike.
He was different from Mike.
“I kind of knew...” Tenna sighed. “Or at least, I had a suspicion. I mean, who ever guesses one of the most important people in their life was just... someone in a costume? It’s straight out of a movie.”
Battat looked down, biting his tongue.
Tenna continued. “I knew he’d left with Spamton. He always preferred him over me. So when he’d come back... I just wanted it to be true. I really, really did. So I pushed away any suspicions, any uncertainty. And just... let it happen. And I suppressed it so well that I actually believed he’d come back. I forgot all about my theories and all, and just let it happen. I suppose that didn’t end well for either of us, huh...?” He let out a small laugh.
Humorless, but not forced. He swallowed thickly, and Battat looked up at him.
“I’m sorry...” The Pippin finally whispered.
“I know. I am, too. It’s a lot on one man to be two people.”
“It wasn’t all on me...”
Tenna cocked his head to the side ever so slightly.
“My friends... Jongler and Pluey were there, too. They helped sometimes, I guess...”
After a few seconds, a smile spread onto Tenna’s tear-stained screen. “So his name is Pluey.”
Battat scoffed, feeling a little more playful. “The minigames stuck...”
“Good. It’s fitting for all of you. I’d hate to have to call you all basic species names. Shadow Guy just doesn’t have the same ring to it.”
“I never really liked Battat...”
“Well, I do.” Tenna stated. The hand tracing along Battat’s face settled on his cheek. “But if you want to change it, I’ll support you.”
He paused. “So you won’t fire me...?”
“You’ve been devoted for a decade, Mi-” he cleared his throat. “Battat. I’d be a fool to fire such a dedicated employee.”
“Just an employee, huh...?” His voice sounded more bitter than he’d hoped. He couldn’t ask for so much after Tenna had just given him a way out of a life of loneliness, pain and misery.
“You could be more. Does that sound like something you’d be interested in?”
Battat’s lips parted in surprise. He stared up at Tenna, the urge to reach out with his other hand to grab the man and kiss him never being stronger.
“Yeah... it does...”
Tenna leaned in for him. “Good...”
And kissed him. It was short, but felt realer than any love confession or date that happened between Mike and Tenna. He had little time to react, but just enough to save the moment in his memory forever.
It was beautiful.
He’d always heard in movies that when you kissed the person you loved, it was like fireworks going off inside.
But fireworks were loud and messy.
And they didn’t feel loud and messy.
They felt uncoordinated, sure. But they knew what they were doing. They knew what they were getting into.
And this love was real. Not just a one-off crush on a man who’d left a decade ago.
And that meant everything to Battat.
Tenna was first to pull away, smiling with a soft flush on his cheeks.
“I like when you have the costume off.” Tenna whispered, face still close to Battat’s. “Your blush is so visible.” He teased cheekily.
Battat sputtered momentarily. “Screw you.”
Tenna hummed. “You don’t mean that.”
“I don’t...” He admitted quietly.
The two spent a few more moments in silence, just enjoying being together for the first time. Really being together. No costume, no anger, no species-ism. Just them. Battat and Tenna.
It felt perfect.
Eventually, he had to get one question out.
“Which Mike was your favorite?”
“Pluey.”
Battat scoffed. “Seriously?”
“He’s like a cat. A little Mike cat. Mike was never a cat. I wish he were. I wonder if cats exist in any other Dark Worlds.”
“Cyber City has some.” Battat remembered his time there once.
“Can we go there sometime? Just us?”
He smiled softly. “Yeah... we can.”
~~~
Pluey and Jongler came back two days later. Battat had been expecting them, sitting on the couch with the Mike costumes in a pile on the floor.
They looked confused.
“What’s this?” Jongler questioned, reaching for his.
“Mike’s done.” He told him simply.
“What- oh- oh no. Did Tenna find out? Did he figure out about this?”
“I told him.”
“w(ﾟДﾟ)w”
“It went over easy, don’t worry. He’s doing better now. I can... explain later. But we need to get this handled.” He stood up, standing behind the costumes. “What do you want to do with these?”
“What?”
“Like, get rid of them. We don’t need them anymore, and frankly, mine feels like a bad reminder now.”
“Hold on, slow down, Boss. This’s a lot to spring on a guy after a vacation. Gimme a second to think.”
“(っ °Д °;)っ”
Battat picked up Pluey’s Mike costume. He'd been expecting that response.
“Of course you can keep it. But you don’t need it anymore for Tenna.”
Pluey nodded, taking the costume from Battat and putting it on.
Jongler was still staring at his and Battat’s, head facing the pile. He eventually stepped closer, picking up his bowtie and hat.
“I wants to keep this. But I don't need the rest.”
“Alright. I’m tossing mine, too.”
So he scooped up the remaining outfits in the pile, heading out of the room without another word to the Mikes Zapper and Shadow Guy.
Approaching the dumpster, a familiar shadow loomed behind him.
“Two. Pluey’s keeping his?”
“He’s grown attached to it.” Battat stated.
“I’m glad we get to keep the cat.”
The Pippin chuckled. “Yeah.”
Tenna paused. “Not keeping any of yours, huh?”
He shook his head slowly. “I don’t want to have to feel like I should be someone I’m not.”
A gloved hand was placed on his shoulder. “Good. Because frankly,” Tenna dropped his voice, “I love you most this way.”
Battat smiled, finally putting the suits in the dumpster.
“Come see me when you’re free, yeah?”<
He nodded. “Yeah.”
Tenna walked off. Battat watched him leave before closing the dumpster with a sigh and stepping back.
“Goodbye.”
He whispered to nobody in particular before turning and leaving.
And he felt lighter than ever.