Work Text:
It was another late night. Mike didn't even know why he was doing this anymore, why he would stay up so late—for so fruitless a task at that—but he didn't know what else to do. Even if he tried to relax, his thoughts would just drift back. He'd rather be alone with his thoughts in front of the board—where he could at least do something productive with them—than... alone.
He could barely even make sense of anything anymore.
The door creaked open behind him. He didn't look over.
Neither of them said anything, so he broke the silence.
"... What is it."
He heard a sharp inhale from behind, then quiet speaking.
"We... We's worried, Boss. It's real late. We wanted you's to go to the bar with us."
"You can do that without me."
They paused, the silence somber.
"We don't wants to, Boss. We wants you dere." The two of them began walking over, hovering awkwardly behind his shoulder as he strung some more red across the board. It looked like a murder scene. "We's headin's back to my apartment. We wants you to come along. Get some rest."
The Shadowguy trilled quietly: musical notes that, while sympathetic, he couldn't understand.
The Pippins only sighed under his breath. The Zapper put a large hand on his shoulder, finally making him turn around. His expression was not amused.
"We cares 'bout ya, Boss. Please."
He faltered for just a second, before plastering on a smirk. "Pfft. You two are so sentimental. So sappy. I'll be fine!" He delivered it like it was a joke. "I'll be perfectly fine. I'm used to this. Sleep is for the weak!"
They didn't seem amused. The Shadowguy's face fell further, looking at the Zapper with a concerned expression. The Pippins stopped smiling.
"Just... leave me here to my devices. I'm fine," he repeated. "Just fucking go home."
"Without y—"
"Without me. Yes. How much clearer can I make it?" He brushed their arm off his shoulder.
They looked defeated. A twinge of guilt began biting at him, but he ignored it.
"... Okay. If you wanna joins us, you'll... you'll be welcome. We wants you dere."
"Mm-hmm," he responded absentmindedly. The Zapper began making their way back toward the door. The Shadowguy lingered, an uncharacteristically worried expression on his face.
"Please, we want you to be okay," he signed. "This isn't healthy. This is a big problem. Please. You can get..."
The Pippins turned back around without waiting for him to finish his sentence. He heard distressed saxophoning from behind him.
"DON'T tell me that. You don't know what I'm going through."
God, now he had to find his train of thought again.
"Buddy, let's just... go."
The Shadowguy's footsteps were quiet as he padded back to the door.
The door closed with a heavy thunk.
God, he felt miserable.