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Buddy was the first to regain conciseness... The first thing that came across his mind was from what? His memory was blurry, he wasn't paying much attention at the time. Boris had most of the reigns before it went dark, but it was still day and they were outside. It didn't seem like they would have just decided to fall asleep on the spot, nor did Buddy assume they just passed out. They never had issues with low sugar or anything that could lead to that. It wasn't even a hot day, not that they would have been able to tell...
Buddy sighed as he slowly began to get up from where they were lying, pausing as he glanced around. For a moment he got scared, it didn't look like the dark room they had picked as their bedroom. But then he spotted the TV and the pictures on the wall and quickly pieced together where they were. Henry's house. But why? He rested his head against his head as he tried to think, hissing at a faint ache that seemed to come with it... He then paused as the blur shapes came back to him.
Borkis had taken control of the body and fought with one of those larger searchers. He groans at the realization. Of course. They must have gotten knocked out.
Thinking of the being must have awoken him because Buddy felt his hand forming into a fist. 'She deserved it. She was going to attack us first.' Buddy rolled his eyes as he held his arm close in case anyone walked by. He shouldn't have been surprised. Borkis always seemed to struggle with adapting to the normal lifestyle of the Ink Town. He never really got along with anyone, and just tended to shy away. It was like he was a ticking time bomb. One that did seem to try and cool itself, but still a bomb...
A loud crash started Buddy out of his train of thought as Borkis took the 'reigns', getting up and scanning around with claws outreach. But ere was nothing... Soon there was a flash by the window followed by another crash. Storm. Borkis kept a glare to the window like the storm would burst in if he didn't watch. Buddy was able to regain some control and had the body reflect, and retract the claws. He didn't know what would happen if someone passed by during a thunderstrike... where was anyone anyway?
"Oh, you're up." Bendy's voice called as Borkis turned them to look at the ink demon, Buddy making sure to keep Borkis from doing anything more. He didn't feel that push for complete control in situations like back in the studio... It honestly surprised him. Bendy walked over but made sure to keep his distance. The two still hadn't interacted much, even in the year of them all getting out of the studio. "Everyone was worried. Henry would have gotten you a proper bed but all ours in the place are taken."
'No, it's fine." Buddy sign as Borkis glare shifted to the side. It was faint, but Buddy noticed. 'Are you ok, this isn't like you." He asked, but the glowing-eyed wolf didn't respond. Buddy lowered his hands for a moment as he turned his attention to the kitchen window, the rain pouring down so heavily you couldn't see anything behind it. 'We were the ones that got in a fight.'
"Sammy told us what happened. Don't worry, fights happen, as you know." Bendy sighed as he said that last line, shaking his head a bit. It was true. It was hard for anyone to move on completely from the studio. Sometimes you just tended to fall back into the mindset of the studio. So fights broke out now and again. The worst part was that you could never tell if it was a true mess of stress or if a certain someone played a part in it happening... "The searcher should have known better before messing with you three."
'Thank you." Borkis signed even as he gave a glare. He wanted to exist peacefully with the ink demon, but deep down he did. But his entire existence was built up the rage of what happened to Buddy. Rage that the ink demon played a large part in. He just couldn't help but be angry, couldn't help but always be on the defense... He shook his head and began to walk into the kitchen. 'Where's the raincoats?' He signed as lightning flashed outside the window. 'We're heading back to our place, now.'
"That's not a good idea right now, pal," Bendy said, reaching over and grabbing onto the wolf's shoulder before letting go. Borkis gave a quick glare and turned to the ink demon, his claws coming out. He didn't make a mention to attack. "It's a bad one, weather channel says its best to stay indoors. You're just going to have to wait." The wolf shook his head as Bendy signed. "Look, I'm not happy about it either, but you can't just go out. It should be over within a few hours."
'He's got a point, Borkis. You can trust him.' Boris signed. That surprised Buddy and Borkis a little, the cartoon wolf must have awoken while they were talking. They didn't even sense him. The Ink Demon walked up to the door that led to the backyard, pulling some curtains over them. Like that would do anything. Boris walked up to him and glanced out. He looked at Bendy. 'These are so strange compared to where we came from. Stronger.'
Bendy didn't respond right away, just giving a small smile and shrug as he looked through the curtains. Lighting came down again, the thunder falling almost immediately after. It was so close it even made the demon's heart skip a beat, with Boris letting out a shout and backing onto the couch laid against the wall. "... Yeah, they are." He said as he glanced in the direction of the toon wolf. "More of a mess afterward too. In our world, the ground dried up quickly." He tilted his head with a hum. "At least, I believe."
'It was like that, yes.' Boris stated although he could feel himself slipping into control. Borkis didn't seem to be doing it actively, but the other two could tell he wanted to get away. It was just Boris and Bendy barely talked due to Bendy and Borkis keeping a distance from each other... Buddy wondered how they felt about it. They both knew each other before the ink machine even existed. 'I wonder how your Dad or, Cartoon dad would have felt about these. He would have used them in some..' Boris didn't finish as Borkis crossed their arms.
"Are you annoyed because he made you look like a startled wolf, Borkis?" Bendy asked, giving a small smirk. Borkis didn't respond. Didn't move, didn't sign, didn't even mumble in his head. It was like he was stuck in time, frozen... His movement felt sudden as he turned around and headed back to the living room. He went up to the laundry room and went in. "Hey, what are you doing?" Bendy asked as he walked up to the door once it was closed. He tried to open it, but it was locked.
'Borkis, you can't do that, this isn't our place.' Buddy stated, but Borkis didn't unlock it even as the ink demon knocked. He just sat down on the ground and looked at it, touching the tips of his claws together as if in some self-induced trance. 'Borkis, are you even listening to me?' Buddy asked but got no response. He would have 'said' it louder but he knew Borkis wouldn't like that, or purposely ignore him. If he wasn't doing that already. 'Why are you like this... Just leave if the Stein's need the room.'
'I know that.' Borkis responded as he briefly seemed to snap out of the trace... Buddy got worried. He didn't realize it before but something felt... off about Borkis. He always assumed it was because he had no good reason or way to fight anymore, which was the main thing he did. He enjoyed it back in the studio... Was he feeling this way because he lost? 'Don't try reading me like a book, I know you are and it's annoying' Borkis stated, slamming a hand against the ground.
They could hear Bendy give a sign from the other side of the door. "I'll let you know when the storm clears, then," Bendy claimed before they heard his footsteps, them slowly fading after a moment. Borkis rolled his eyes as he got up, looking at the laundry room and then at the bathroom attached to see if there was a window for him to check himself, but there wasn't... He felt a bit dumb, he didn't see why there would be in either case. Any view would have been blocked by a fence anyway. He went back to sit down.
He didn't want to focus on that demon. He might hurt him for a comment. At least the searcher posed a threat... why didn't it feel good anymore?
He didn't like admitting it, it's why he stayed quiet all this time but he felt like something was... wrong. They had this peaceful life, why did he have to urge to fight? He told himself for the longest time it was because it felt good. Even when he was knocked down, it had felt good in the past. 'So why...' He started to say but quickly quieted himself before Buddy and Boris heard. The last thing he needed was them doing that typical "Are you ok" stuff people did. Pretending to care.
Boris and Buddy couldn't physically look at each other. It was impossible with them all sharing a body. But it felt like they had as they watched Borkis start tracing his claws against the floor, not hard enough to crack it or leave a mark... Had they checked in on him in a while? They tended to forget he could be more than just a murder-hungry machine at the end of the day...
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It was hard to keep track of time in the laundry room. There wasn't a clock, nor a window to give the impression of something happening outside the room. It was quiet outside the room as well, outside of the sounds of the storms. The wolf's best explanation was it was probably late. It was early afternoon when they were knocked out. They didn't exactly get a good look at the time before Borkis locked them all in there... He didn't let them leave either, even when it had been a long time since they heard of anyone.
It reminded all of them of level 414. It brought back bad memories for Buddy and Boris. For Borkis, there was some comfort in that. That place was their home for the longest time...
'Borkis, you know if you're not feeling well, you can talk to us about it.' Boris spoke up. 'Of course, I'm not saying anything is wrong right now, I-I just wanted to remind you for future purposes.' He quickly added as the wolf glared. The glowing eye wolf seemed to loosen his chains on the body but still kept a good about of grip. Not enough to let them leave the room. 'You're a part of us and, well, it be nice if we could get along at least a little, you know! And feelings can-'
'Boris, please, you're only going to make it where he won't be open.' Buddy signed as he rested his hand against his head, looking down at the body he shared with them. It was so strange how used to it he was, after all this time. He didn't think that was possible when he first got it... His past self should hear about what more was going to happen. Buddy glanced to the side. 'It's just hard to get a read on how you feel. Half the time you talk about your odds in any given fight, we don't like that.'
'Would you rather me start them?' Borkis questioned, before pausing as the group heard something. Footsteps. Borkis looked at his hands, seeing the claws were still out. He was a little surprised Buddy hadn't retracted them. Was he just that used to them... A knock came on the door and Borkis sighed as he stood up, letting Buddy trach and open the door, just a little. Borkis peaked through the doorway and sighed. 'Mister Stein' he signed at the sight of the man. 'You look awful.'
Henry gave a small chuckle at that. "Woke up from a nightmare and couldn't go back to sleep... Are you all doing better now?" He asked, Borkis staring at him and just blinking. None of the souls inside tried to respond. They honestly didn't know the answer themselves yet. Henry just seemed to give a small nod as he glanced down at the plate he had, a sandwich placed on it. "I knew you missed any dinner you plan and I figured you should at least have something to hold you over for the night-" Boris quickly snatched it, earning a chuckle from the man.
Boris gave a quick 'Thank you' sign with his free hand before digging into the sandwich. Borkis let out a groan inside their head, blushing internally. Boris clones tended to be so hungry they didn't care if they made a mess while they ate and it was clear where they all got it from. Did his hunger translate into a hunger for blood? Because he didn't have the same carvings the other wolf tended to give. Or maybe he got that from Buddy. 'Can we have more?' Boris asked as he finished.
"Oh, I don't think letting you in the cabinet right now is a good idea. We're planning a cookout soon and Linda will kill me if I allowed you into the stuff she set aside for it." Henry rolled his eyes as he spoke. Borkis watched the man silently... How was it so easy for him to have hope and joy so easily? He killed more people than Borkis ever did, even if it was because of a time loop. Did he not have a single carve for the violence... Was that not normal? "Hey, are you ok?"
'Oh, are you referring to Borkis?' Boris asked. He must have taken enough control for his eyes to show up. 'I don't know. He's just-'
'How are you able to be so calm around us, Henry?' Borkis signed as he took over, looking over at one of the living room windows as lighting and thunder clashed outside. The rain sounded like it was slowing, ever faintly. Henry tilted his head at the question as Borkis looked down, trying to get his thoughts in order. He was never good at trying to communicate these things. 'I'm as sudden and violent as the storm outside. How can you easily be so close? Especially with no one to protect you.'
"Borkis, if you were going to hurt someone on purpose, you would have done it a long time ago," Henry stated as Borkis gave a quiet glare. "I'm not trying to justify you and that searcher fighting, I'm just saying what I know. And what I know is you're not as bad as I think you try to give yourself credit for." Borkis rose a brow as he crossed his arms, looking to the side faintly. "I'm pretty sure most of it comes from the hate and anger you were born from. It was for Joey after all."
'How could you forgive him so easily?' Borkis asked when he got his hands back up. 'You give him a place to stay here.'
"It's not like I forgave him." Henry sighed. "He will always be guilty of what he did to me and, more importantly, all of you." The wolf paused slightly when Henry said that. "But with the state, he's in... you just can't help but feel some form of pity.." His eyes trailed off, following the patterns of the floor as he thought. "And besides, knowing our luck if we didn't find him, someone else would have and they could have become an issue. Use the machine or try to go after us... I do think there is a little good in Joey, however."
'Are you sure? What if he's lying?" Borkis asked, and Buddy and Boris could feel the genuine concern in those words. Joey Drew had been bound to his current prison since the day he was found and seemed incapable of ever leaving. It would have been so easy to have him thrown into the inky river and Henry didn't. Did he always try to see the light in people or something? 'People can be just bad Henry, like me.' Borkis gestured to himself.
"I know sometimes people can just be awful, it's just hard, I knew Joey before he became the twisted man he did, and I can still see a small spark of that but... Maybe it is just wishful thinking..." He glanced back at Borkis. "But you aren't just bad. You'll never be anywhere as awful as Joey was..." He started to rub his eyes starched a bit, starting to head away from the door. "I'm going to go get some work done, maybe that will help me sleep... You all be careful when you head back to the town, alright?"
Borkis didn't respond, the yellow glow from the body's eyes faded. After a moment of waiting, Buddy leaned forward a bit and signed 'We will. Good night, Mister Stein.' Henry gave a smile and nod as he headed out of sight. Buddy stood at the doorway for a moment. He thought about heading to the couch but, just closed the door. The room had no windows, it would be safer if lighting stuck near the house. 'Borkis, are you alright?"
'What makes you think I'm not? Just, tried.' Borkis mumbled inside their head. Buddy could almost visualize the wolf standing off to a distance, his arms crossed and he stuck looking to the side, avoiding eye contact. Something was wrong and Buddy started to get an idea of what. But he didn't know for sure... That was the thing about Borkis. You never truly knew what was going on in his head. 'You all can sleep if you want. I don't care. I can't do anything in here anyway.
'Borkis..." Boris stopped himself from continuing, letting out a sigh. Buddy looked around the room, finding some towels that had been left in a basket. It wasn't the best, and he knew they were likely dirty, but it was better than sleeping on the floor with nothing else. He laid two out just to make sure they had a good amount of space that should guarantee their body were fully protected on the floor. 'I do still think Henry should have let us get something else.'
Buddy rolled his eyes at the statement and Borkis' voice groaned as they lay on the towel. They could still hear the rain fall outside... It was somewhat nice to listen to.
It was the loud crashes of thunder that made it 'somewhat' nice.
Borkis paused and reached for the door, cracking it a bit open. 'The storm is haunting... I like the sound of it.' Borkis claimed.
Buddy thought about pointing out how he was on the defensive side earlier when they first heard it but honestly. He was too tired for a fight right now. He just turned them to face away from the door and tried to drift off to sleep, the best they could. Who knows, maybe that could get some answers out of the fellow wolf when they awoke. Maybe. Who knows for sure?
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The sounds of rain were slower by the time the trio would wake up. There didn't seem to be any lighting or thunder as well as they picked themselves off the floor. Their bodies felt stiff, and their back ached. The towels didn't help as much as Buddy wanted them to. They headed out of the room, Buddy heading to the living room mirror with some caution. It was still cloudy outside but everything seemed a little brighter.
'It's probably still a mess outside.' Buddy sighed as he headed over to the couch and sat down, resting his back on the soft fabric. They needed to get something before they could go out safely. He glanced near the doorway to see some boats but he didn't know if any of them would fit, and he didn't want to forget about them after using them. Even if Borkis would find some workaround justification for it... 'Hey, Boris, Borkis? Are you two awake?' He asked, waiting for a response.
'I think we both are.' Boris replied to them but 'heard' a mumble from Borkis as the body's hand moved to rub at its eyes. Buddy gave a small nod and lay down on the couch, before sighing as he looked up at the ceiling. It was still a bit dark since none of the lights were on the yellow glow that came from Borkis' eyes being the main source of light. Borkis went to look at their hands, and Boris took a breath. 'Borkis, just tell us what's wrong. We're worried."
'You're only worried because you shared a body with me.' Borkis rolled his eyes as he glanced to the side. He paused slightly when he heard the two of them sign and he gave a shrug. 'It's the truth, you can't get mad at me for that.' He went to get up but hissed at the pain that came from his back and laid back down, rubbing it slightly as he glanced to the side. 'Wonder if the tub would have been better, at least that would've been a smooth surface.' Buddy was the one to roll his eyes then.
The group paused as they heard faint footsteps before a light came on nearby, them all turning to the kitchen as Bendy
opened the fridge. "No. Wait, why would it be in there?" Bendy sighed as he shook his head, closing the door before looking over at them all, giving an awkward wave. They could faintly see hints of bugs under his ink. "Morning..."
'Morning.' Buddy stated, Borkis pausing internally when he noticed how faint the movements were. He lost any real grip he had over control of the body but it didn't seem to fix it. Borkis tried resting their hands on the edge of the couch to see if that would work but they still felt limp. They watched as the ink demon went to the cabinet and got out some sugar and a box. Borkis adjusted themselves so they were a bit higher. Buddy signed 'What are you doing?' when Bendy looked over.
"It's going to be another hour or two before the family wakes up, figured I make something to help keep us up," Bendy explained. "Now where's the pitcher." He said as he looked along. Borkis gave a small nod. It seemed everyone got more tired after it rained, something about the air. "I see you left the room without much push."
'Why make it sound like the biggest deal in the world?' Borkis signed as he rolled his eyes. Bendy gave a small shrug as he found the pitcher and went to find the gloves before messing with the water. Borkis paused. The ink demon has softened up over the year since they got free, huh? He still looked like a monster but, not in a bad way... It was so easy for him too. 'Everything just comes along perfect for you, doesn't it ink demon' Borkis stated with a roll of his eyes and the lowering of his ears.
Bendy paused for a moment. "I wouldn't say that. You do remember what happened to me, right?" He asked, just the smallest bit of anger in his voice. At Borkis himself or the memory, the wolf couldn't tell. Borkis gave a small nod as Bendy found the gloves and brought the pitcher to the skin, turning on the water and watching as it slowly filed, giving a hum as he thought. "Everything working out for me just appears to be a side effect of everything working out for them."
'I think Borkis is referring to something else, Bendy." Boris came in to sign. The amount of control that was used compared to a moment ago surprised Borkis. It wasn't even that much yet it cut off what he was going to sign. It was like Buddy and Boris were trying to get him and the demon to speak... but for what reason? If they wanted to know something, they could just ask him. 'You haven't been violent or anything, yet have moved on from that habit easily. That's it, you don't know why you struggle with that Borkis.'
The wolf didn't respond for a moment. At least using his hands. 'Why do that?' he asked in their mind and got no response. Bendy turned off the sink to continue his work but still kept his sight turned to the wolf. '...Maybe that's something' The wolf admitted with his hands with a sigh. Bendy tilted his head and gave a small nod for him to continue. 'It's just, everyone broke free from what they did in the studio. Everyone but me. I have the urge to tear, to fight, but I know that's not what I should be doing.'
"Well, from my understanding, you were born from anger. It makes sense those things are things your mind wants to do even if you don't... I think." Bendy sighed. 'I'm not a psychologist or whatever looks into that stuff.' Borkis glanced to the side. He supposed that was what it was, yes. But not doing anything made him feel empty. But he knew he couldn't get away with it. "Hey, you're not the only one around who likes to try and pick fights if it makes you feel better. I know a few lost ones that are just aching to punch someone every second."
'But I can't just get away with it. It would be one thing if I was alone but I can't drag Buddy and Boris into messes!' Borkis signed in fusration, before dragging a hand along his head as Bendy paused and walked over. 'I want to keep Buddy safe, more than anything... Even after the studio, I get worried for him.'
It got quiet for a moment. Borkis looked down with a small shiver as he realized what he had done.
'Or maybe that's just an excuse. I don't know, I just can't... hold back.'
'You have.' Buddy spoke up. 'Sure you have these violent urges or, however, they described isn't exactly the best but, if you weren't holding back we would be in far worse condition... It's my fault your like this anyway.'
'Mine too.' Boris sighed. 'Sure, you were born from Buddy's repressed anger over everything but, we wouldn't have been on that operating table in the first place if it wasn't for me. Your first memory was us about to be divested...'
'I understand what you're trying to do, but you do realize I technically wouldn't exist in the first place if that didn't happen, right?' Borkis asked, raising a brow. He could almost see the cartoon wolf facepalming himself. It brought him a tiny chuckle.
Buddy sighed for a moment as he thought, having them lean back down on the couch to rest more. 'I'll be honest, Borkis. I didn't realize you were struggling. I thought you were just being a man-'
'I am.'
Buddy rolled his eyes as he rested his head over his hands. 'But now I think I understand more... I'll try to treat you better like you deserve...'
Borkis didn't respond, just tilted their body so they were rested on their side. Borkis always preferred that. It didn't feel the most comfortable for Buddy or Boris, but neither spoke up. Maybe Borkis liked it because it made him feel like he had a better understanding of his surroundings... Maybe he just liked being on guard. Made him feel safe... for them... Buddy could admire that.
Bendy had paused as he watched the conversion. He couldn't hear it as no words were spoken aloud, but he got a rough idea based on the wolves shifting eyes and the studdle movements of the body as each soul spoke. Maybe they could come to a proper understanding one of these days, and then Borkis could let himself rest like the Ink Demon slowly learned to do.
He paused as he glanced back at the pitcher.
"...I was supposed to boil the water first, wasn't I?"