Chapter Text
Tenna had been asking for Mike less lately, for unknown reasons that Battat thought about quite often. The most he would ask for is just an antennae massage, or needing help to sleep. There was no annoying 'Mike, some lame excuse why you should hang out with me!' They finally felt free, even if they enjoyed being with Tenna. But being with Tenna only meant lying to him more, and they needed less guilt to be carrying.
Over the last month they got better at lying, stuttering less and thinking of better excuses. It didn't hurt as much as it used to, but the guilt was only building up, not dissapearing like they hoped. There would be rare nights that they would really think about it. They would try hard to justify themself in the scenarios of Tenna finding out, but it just felt so wrong, so cruel.
Pluey only came by once or twice every week, and didn't really do anything but be in their presence. It was creepy at first, but they eventually just started acting like he wasnt there. With how eager he was to meet them, you would think he'd try to interact with Battat way more than he really does. With less people nagging them, they had enough freetime to write their theories down and be pleased with their work.
Unfortunately, that peace didn't last long.
----------
They had just finished up their work for the day, and left the board room to find Tenna and congratulate him for yet another good episode, even though all his episodes were good. There was nothing in specific that made this episode better than the others, but Battat adored every single one. Platonically.
"Psst."
Battat flinched and whipped their head around, seeing Tenna crouched down behind them, his lips pressed together to stifle his laughter. They sighed, and turned their body to face him.
"Real funny." Tenna ignored their comment.
"You were looking for mee?" He cooed, tilting his head and leaning closer to them. "C'mon, how did I do? Groovy? Spectacular?"
"Absolutely." They wanted to say more, but was too thrown off by Tenna spooking them. And also being so close to his face. "Anything you need before I head out?"
Tenna thought for a moment. "Nope! I think im good for tonight." Mike nodded in response, and gave Tenna a gentle pat on the head before heading to the Mike room.
----------
Pluey had left the door almost an inch open again, would it kill him to just close the door? even better, stop going into their room without permission. Even if it is somewhat their fault they keep forgetting to lock the door, thats not an invitation for Pluey to just wander on in!
They pushed it open fully and went into the room, then noticed Pluey sitting on the floor where he usually did. This didn't bother them that much, but they were very bothered by the unknown zapper that sat next to him, their tail crossed over Pluey's legs.
"(^▽^)/" Pluey greeted them, as if nothing was off. Battat didn't even know how to bring up the elephant in the room, before a sticky note was quickly held up by Pluey. Battat ignored the note.
"Who is this? What, you just let strangers in here?" Battat said sternly, kind of intimidated by the zapper. Pluey probably told this zapper all about them, so they have to make a good impression. Not to mention, zappers are tall and strong. Its never good to get on the bad side of one.
"( ｀Д´)/" Pluey shook the sticky note he was holding, indicating that it would answer Battats question. He wanted to shove it in their face, but the zapper's tail over his legs kept him down. They stepped closer and took the note from Pluey, reading 'This is my friend Jongler, I've told them a little bit about you, how could I resist when you're so cool?' There was more writing on the note, but Battat paused there.
"M' not that cool, flattery isn't neccesary." Battat murmured, and continued reading. 'Yes, I've told them about your costume stuff, but they can be trusted! I've known them forever, you don't have anything to worry about.' Oh, Battat definitely had things to worry about.
"The costume thing was supposed to stay between us! I don't care if you've known them for awhile." Battat growled, crumpling Pluey's note in their fist. "How long has...er." They already forgot their name. "How long have they known about the costume thing?"
"Month or two 'fore ya' met him." The zapper answered for Pluey. Battat thought he learned about the costume the day they met.
"What?! Okay, better question. How long have you known about the costume thing?!" Battat sputtered, their body language impossibly tense.
"(^_^;)))" Pluey squeaked, and held out another note. Battat took it, and it read an exact date. This freak remembered the exact date.
"Congrats, you kept it a secret for, what, one month?" Battat sighed, gripping the side of the costume head, not even able to feel it through the foam. "I'm...well, I am mad, would've been nice if you asked before just revealing secrets that could get me dragged out of this position and banned from TV world."
"I's think gettin' banned is a bit of a stretch." Jongler murmured, still testing out how much they were allowed into this conversation.
"You don't know me and Tenna's bond! If he found out I'm lying to him, he'd be livid!" Battat exclaimed, and Pluey exchanged a snarky look with Jongler.
"What? What's so funny?" Battat asked as Pluey answered their question on a sticky note, then showed it to Jongler instead of Battat. Jongler shrugged in response to Pluey, and murmured something incomprehensible. Battat was quickly losing patience.
"Can you guys take me seriously? Please?" They pleaded monotonously, clearly irritated. Pluey and Jongler nodded in sync, and redirected their attention to Battat.
"Why is..." Battat trailed off, then picked the crumpled note up from the floor and uncreased it. They still don't recall their name.
"Why is Jongler here? If you had the audacity to just let them in, you gotta have a good reason." They said, crumpling the paper again and flicking it off nowhere in specific.
"He's wanted us to meet." Jongler said simply.
"...Really? Thats it?" Battat deadpanned, and Pluey nodded hesitantly.
"Okay. And this is the only person you've told about my costume, correct?" They gestured to Jongler, and watched Pluey nod vigorously.
"He don't got any other friends."
"( •`д・)" Pluey squawked, feigning offense. Battat stifled a laugh, struggling to remain serious.
"Jongler, do you have any other friends?" Battat asked, hoping they didn't have other friends that might've been informed of the situation.
"Er...not really." Jongler murmured, and Pluey gave them a playful nudge. Jongler poked Pluey's side with the tip of their tail, and he immediately flinched and swatted their tail off his lap. Battat chose not to get involved.
"So I presume you haven't told anyone?" Battat asked, just to be sure.
"Bout what?" Jongler redirected their attention to Battat, after basically forgetting they were there.
"Costume."
"Oh. No, I's hasn't. Why ya' still wearin' it?" Jongler asked, oblivious. Battat only really wore a tanktop and boxers in the costume to make the heat a little more bearable. Pluey started writing a note to answer for them, and Battat, without thinking, yanked the sticky notes out of Pluey's hand. He looked shocked for a moment, then snickered.
"(;´ω｀)" Pluey murmured, and reached for the sticky notes.
"Oh waits, nevermind." Jongler said quietly, a barely noticable pink hue appearing on their face. Right, Pluey tells them everything. Of course they'd already know about this. Battat tossed the sticky notes back to Pluey, and gripped the front of their mask.
Pluey held a note out to Battat, and they hesitantly took it. 'yea i already told them, they r forgetful lol'. Battat stared at the note, thinking about how Jongler knew about more than just the costume. Gee thanks Pluey, can't keep your mouth shut.
"...Okay what now." Battat sighed, not really having anything else to talk about.
"I's can leave.." Jongler murmured, clasping their hands together.
"Yeah. Do that." They huffed, and watched as Jongler stood up (or whatever counts as standing for them), and Pluey followed, even though he was never asked to leave.
Battat stopped him right before he left, Jongler already gone.
"Pluey?"
"(;・^・)?" He turned, looking down at Battat with his hand hovering near the door.
"Please. Stop coming into my room with no warning."
"(^o^)=b" Pluey chirped, knowing he would only comply for about a week or two.