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Three days, 5 hours, and 45 minutes. That’s how long Battat’s been up for. The non-stop shifts and need to figure out the mystery of Mike had made his internal clock practically disappear as he worked and worked and worked. Pluey and Jongler were already voicing their concern the first day, they almost got him to sleep the second day but any time they got him on the couch he’d just get out as soon as Jongler or Pluey turned their back on him. The third day was the worst, Jongler had carried him to their room in an attempt to get him to sleep, only to wake up several times that night to find Battat mumbling to himself and writing notes about any scraps of information he could think of on a small notepad. Both Pluey and Jongler had it with Battat mistreating himself, so they came up with a plan.
“You ready, Pluey?” Jongler asked. Pluey turned to them and nodded. Jongler opens the door and walks in, Pluey coming in behind them. Battat is standing at the conspiracy board once more, pinning red string to notes and photos he’s taken. “Hey boss, we gots ya some grub!” They pull out a TV dinner, one with some cornbread and pulled pork, Battat’s favorite. Jongler hated the idea of tricking Battat like this but they had no choice but the last resort. Battat takes it from their hands, “Thanks, saves me the time of walking to the cafeteria.”
As he sits down on the couch to eat Pluey follows him over, sitting next to him. Slowly he inches closer, Jongler goes to sit down on Battat’s other side. “What? What are you guys doing? Do you need to say something?” Battat shifts his head from side to side, trying to look at both. Jongler and Pluey look up to each other and Pluey gives Jongler a small wave of the hand to signal the initiation of the final stage of their plan. Jongler looks back at Battat and swipes the TV dinner out of his hands, putting it behind them. “Hey what’s the big idea!? You give me food just to take it away, what’s wrong with you!?” Battat practically jumps on Jongler, trying to get his food back. At that time Pluey yanks Battat away and towards himself. Battat thrashes, practically growling, “GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!” Pluey immediately chomps down, getting his head into his mouth. Battat continues to struggle even so, trying to pull himself out of Pluey’s maw. Pluey starts swallowing down Battat despite his protests, very quickly gulping him down.
As Battat arrived in Pluey’s stomach he struggled even more, trying to get out in any way he could manage. “Boss! Boss, calm down, you’s fine in here! We just need you to take a rest, it’s been three days since ya slept”, Jongler pleaded to Battat. Slowly Battat started to stop struggling, whether that was because he tired himself out or because he actually listened to Jongler’s plea was uncertain to the other two as of now. “… Why do you two care so much?” Battat asks. Pluey hugs his stomach, trying to comfort Battat. Jongler gets a little closer, “‘Cause we love ya. You know we love ya, and you do so much around here too. Although we appreciate you doin’ all dis for us, you need to rest too.”
Inside Pluey’s stomach, Battat presses himself into the walls, not sure whether he wanted to disappear or get closer. “God damnit… I… I know how you two feel about me, I just- I don’t think I deserve this. I don’t deserve either of you. I’m not worth your affection, I’ve never been. So then why… why did you two choose me..?” Jongler hugs Pluey, trying to cuddle Battat as well. Pluey quietly sings a few notes, rocking himself gently. “Yer one of the few people that’ve looked at us like people, Boss. Buncha’ others have looked at us like freaks or outcasts but ya saw through that. You’ve been a fantastic friend and a fantastic partner too, but for that to continue we need ya to actually be able to function”, Jongler responded, “So just rest now, Boss. Me an’ Pluey will take care of any work yer called for.”
Battat just stared where he could hear their voice coming from, slowly though he sinks into the soft walls of Pluey’s stomach and lets sleep take him. “Thank you… I love you…”, just like that, Battat was out like a light.
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The day after all three of them had a talk, the previous incident and a couple others forced Jongler and Pluey to enforce a strict bedtime for him. Battat fought them a little on this before eventually giving in, he didn’t want to stress out his partners more than he already had. 12 am sharp was when he had to wrap up any work or theorizing and head straight to bed. There was one thing that was really bothering Battat though, an incessant thought at the back of his mind. He really liked being eaten by Pluey. His stomach was so comfortable and warm and the sound of his breath and heartbeat made it really easy to sleep for him. But he couldn’t just tell them that! They’d think he’s a creep, they only did it so they could force him asleep anyways. He knows Jongler was just telling him about how they were both outcasts but if he told either of them he enjoyed it he’d be an outcast amongst outcasts! If he wanted back in he’d need to find sneakier ways…
“So what was that whole eating me thing about”, Battat steps towards Pluey, fully knowing why he did that. Pluey tilts his head, a little confused, it was fairly obvious why he did so. He put his hands together and pressed them to his cheek, mimicking a sleeping “motion” before pointing at Battat. “I mean… Yeah getting me to sleep but- well I guess you two did try to get me asleep before you know what just- just forget I asked”, Battat turns away trying to walk away, slightly embarrassed. Pluey puts a hand on his shoulder though, stopping him from leaving. He turned Battat around before pointing at him and then at his own stomach. Battat flustered a little, knowing what he was trying to say but not wanting to admit to enjoying it, “Well I mean- yeah I was in there. Don’t get yourself thinking I enjoyed it!.. I didn’t not enjoy it either though…”
Pluey softly smiled at him, knowing he enjoyed it more than he’s letting on. He pulled out a notepad and a pen, writing, “If you really wanna come back in I won’t judge, come to my room tonight if you wanna be inside again. I’m only working the afternoon Mike shift so if you knock at night I’ll be there for you. :3” Battat stared down at it, reading it thoroughly and making sure he wasn’t being tricked in some way. He knew Pluey would never do that to him but at the same time this whole thing was so weird he couldn’t not be suspicious at this immediate acceptance. Pluey and Jongler were the ones to initiate it though… “You’re not… you’re not trying to trick me to make fun of me are you?” Battat asked cautiously. Pluey flinched at that and rapidly shook his head no, surprised he’d even think that of him. Battat looked down, “… Thank you. Sorry about acting like this. I guess I’m just used to others making fun of me behind my back.” Pluey gives Battat a gentle hug, Battat quickly reciprocates and lets himself sink into it. The alarm sounds as it hits 1 PM, signaling it was now Pluey’s turn to act as Mike. He lets Battat go, waving at him before putting on the costume and leaving.
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It was 12 AM sharp as a new alarm blared in Battat’s ears. God this was annoying. They installed sensors in the room so as soon as Battat opened the door to leave the Mike room the alarms stopped. He could just go back in and keep working on his theory but he didn’t want to disappoint his partners. That and he wanted to be back inside Pluey. So he walked down the corridors of the TV Studio until he arrived at Pluey’s apartment. He knocked three times on the door and waited until Pluey opened the door. He beamed down at Battat, happy to see him, immediately scooping him up and carrying him over to Pluey’s bedroom. He was unceremoniously plopped down on the bed and before Battat could process what was going on, he was gulped down by Pluey again. “… Didn’t know you were that excited for this”, Battat said, shocked at how quickly everything just happened. Pluey simply laid down and covered himself in blankets, patting his tummy once he got comfortable.
His insides were once more warm and inviting. The quiet gurgles and groans as his stomach worked around him provided nice background noise along with the breathing and heartbeat. Battat quickly got comfortable in a few of the folds of the stomach lining… it didn’t feel quite complete though. He patted the inside of Pluey’s stomach to get his attention, “Hey, Pluey, could you… could you swallow down a blanket and pillow?” Pluey got up and opened a cabinet with extra pillows and blankets, swallowing down one of each to give Battat, they were much less tasty than him but if it helped him, he’d get it for him. As soon as they were swallowed down, Battat rested his head on the pillow and cocooned himself in the blanket. “Goodnight, Pluey”, Battat said, slowly falling into a deep sleep. Pluey played a few notes of a calming melody before climbing into his own bed and falling asleep as well.