Work Text:
One would think that having all the jobs touching on the inner workings of the studio will grant you all the praise possible - you and only you, doing such an amazing work making your boss' show run smoothly, flexibly and engaging. One would certainly think that going through immeasurable pain and exhaustion would certainly be worth it, despite the costume making you feel like you've been trapped in an oven for eternity.
Pippins allowed himself putting away that mask only after the merciful "See you next week folks!", when the lights go out, and the day is over. His little body ached and strained, feeling dizzy and he wished it was that lightheadedness when he finally hit jackpot.
In the green room, empty and dreadfully silent (save for maybe Ramb was still here - but he didn't care about that), he sat himself at the couch, letting out a heavy sigh.
He got into an argument with other two earlier - a nasty back and worth he did not expect to get into with that Zapper of all people. Who did they think they were? MIKE? He was the one that knew what Mike was supposed to do! What he looked like, probably! What jobs they were supposed to do!
And that Shadowguy? Oh he can't stand that phoney. A cat? A CAT? Did he think he knew anything?! It's so stupid! He keeps telling them it's stupid!
But there he was, all alone, in that silent green room, tired and worn out, feeling a pit in his stomach getting deeper yet deeper. These guys... Why did they have to just up and leave like that?
"Oh MIIIIKE!"
Pippins is immediately taken out of his thoughts, scrambling to put his mask back on while almost rolling down from where he was sitting, the voice calling out for him hitting through his little die head like a bullet.
"Mike, there you are, my favorite champion!" Tenna slid closer in a single stroll, hands up and beaming that smile of his. He was about to bloom.
"Aha ha- He-he-hey Boss! Terrific show tonight amirite?"
"You bet your little tail it is! They loved it, Mike! They loved Me!" Tenna picked Mike up like a kitten, holding him under his arms, "All thanks to you, pal!"
Mike forced his smile, sweat rolling down his neck.
"Haha, that's what I do, Boss. Yup. Always there to help ya."
No no no no no NO! He didn't sound right!
Tenna tilted his head, his antenna twitching the way it does when he's obviously curious.
"You doing alright, Mike? It's not... you."
What did he mean by THAT?
"Oh! No, no, it's all me, ALL Mike," he shook his head, then leaned it on his hand that leaned on Tenna's arm, "Just, uh. A little..." Could he even say that to his boss?
What does he SAY? What would MIKE say??
Tenna put him down on the couch, sitting next to him, expression suddenly serious. He lowered his head, locking his hands together.
"They saw it, didn't they?"
Saw WHAT?
"Huh?"
"My burn in."
"What? No!" Mike sputtered, "No, Mr Tenna, no one saw nothin'!"
"Well," Tenna turned to him, "You acting awfully glooby, Mike, what's wrong?"
Is he here to drive him crazy?
"I-"
Screw it, might as well have someone to talk to about it. Even if it's. Tenna.
Pippins sighed. "I thinks I've said somethin' to a friend or two that upset 'em."
Tenna perked up momentarily - relieved it wasn't about him, obviously.
"Oh! Mike, ol' buddy ol' pal, why didn't you just say so?"
Tenna shrunk where he was almost Pippins' height, but stayed just enough ridiculous amount of tall, and hooked an arm around Mike's shoulder.
"I know all about them. Friends. And I have many of them too, y'know, Mike, I have lots of buddies!"
"I... know you do, Boss."
This was far too familiar for Pippins comfort - even behind the veil of Mike, he was about to vent his troubles. He has to be careful. Still Mike. You're still Mike.
"'Course you do! So." An awkward pause. "What did you say?"
Was he fishing for gossip? What is he doing??
"I- I uh," he moved his head away as Tenna got closer, his antenna sticking forward, "I wasn't nice about their fashion choices."
If you could put it like that.
"Because we gots this thing - this fun friend thing, that has nothing to do with anythin' in particular - this thing we do, we match outfits and stuff, ya know?"
Tenna nodded enthusiastically.
"And theirs were STUPID!!!" Mike suddenly exclaimed, grasping at his head, "They didn't work! And didn't listen to ME! When I told them it wasn't going to work, they got all- all-"
"Glooby."
"Glooby about it!" Huh? "And all I want is for us to look appropriate when we-" When we WHAT? "When we's out! For derby!" FOR DERBY?
Tenna put a finger to his lip, thinking.
"And can you describe their outfits?"
NO!
"You don't even wanna know, Boss."
He was going to die in here. It was hot, Pippins wanted to peel this goddamn suit off and who cares anymore if Tenna finds out who he is - not when he keeps getting closer and closer for some goddamn reason .
"Maybe I was just a tadbit too mean 'bout the way I said it."
Pippins missed them, most of all, is what he hated to admit.
Tenna hummed, the insides of his systems buzzed, his screen was dark in thought. Mike held his face in his hands.
"You know what, Mike? You should bring them to one of our shows sometime!" Tenna lit up.
"What?"
WHAT?
"If they see what an incredible job you do for me, Mike, they'll just realize how BIG of a SHOT you are and will never leave you ever again!" He threw his hands up again, and Mike looked at him in silent bafflement. "Besides, Mike, I'm still your friend too, right? Remember when we went to derby together, just the two of us?"
DID THEY?
"Uuuh hah ha ha yeah, Boss," Mike chuckled, "How could Mike- I mean I forget that?"
Tenna turned around and put his hands on Mike's shoulders, smiling in full screen. Pippins froze, hot flush not helping the already hot and bothered he's been the entire time they were sitting here.
"So will you bring them?"
Pippins gulped. "I... will think about it!" He smiled back.
"Groovy!"
Tenna jumped up on his feet, and seemed to have grew twice his size in the process of doing that.
"See you tomorrow Mike!" He turned around before exiting the door, "Oh, and I'll hook you up with Lanino, he knows his stuff when we're speaking outifts!"
And he was gone.
And Mike- Pippins- is left with his own thoughts, once more.
What. What just happened? Was he just trying to- was he comforting him? Was it supposed to be comforting?
Pippins almost ripped his suit off of himself, before coming to his senses and skittering to his Mike room. Fuming and huffing and puffing. He's been busting his ass all day, and he was expected to do it every day , and for what? For what? Why would Mike endure this? Is this why he left?! Praise? Was it praise? He'd rather be conscious to even hear it!
Shutting the door behind himself, Pippins finally freed himself from the cloth prison. To his almost muttered "Hey guys!" a reply was an empty room and silence.
Alone in a room.
I need to find them and get them back , he thought. With their stupid outfits.
Maybe Mike can be a cowboy sometimes. Or a cat . Sometimes.
He can't have Tenna try to cheer Mike up again.