Chapter Text
He came back. Again, again, and again. It seemed endless. King didn't know there was someone as persistent as Lancer. He would've been impressed if the other Darkner didn't get on his nerves often. He let the other enter his cell with ease at first, there wasn't anything for him to do besides run on his wheel for entertainment anyways. Lancer would come to tell him about his adventures, but King knows he has been holding some information from him. Ever since the first time he mentioned the wretched trio, he’s had a bad reaction. Fortunately though, Lancer seemed to be spending more time with other Darkners than those Lightners.
He yawned, rolling his shoulders back as he felt his body grow tired from sitting and watching the CRT. "Enough." He scowled, bored of the jokes Tenna has been telling for an hour now. One thing he liked about him is that he listened. He could tell him to spin and he'll do it. Having someone be so obedient was excellent, but it got annoying quickly. Does he have no shame or self dignity?
"Y-Yes! Of- Of course! A break from all of the excitement! There will be more tomorrow!" He fumbled with his words, an embarrassed blush on his face as he bowed down quickly before making his exit. Too eager to please.
It was routine now. Tenna would come down, try something new to entertain him, he would get tired, and then he'd leave. At first he tried to show him shows and movies off his screen, but King wasn't much into tech. He knows a thing or two because of Queen, but Tenna was a simple pencil while she was a pen. Sharpen it too many times and it'll eventually become useless, while you can equip more ink in a pen. Queen had lots of ways to keep him interested, while Tenna seemed like a joke in comparison.
Still, it was better than nothing.
"Is he making you happy, dad?" Lancer asked him one day, sticking out his tongue as usual, something he did when asking questions he didn't quite know the answers to.
King had to think about it for a minute, ignoring Lancer climbing all over his back as if he was monkey bars at a playground.
From the few days they've known each other, King wasn't sure what to make of him. It wasn't hard to figure Tenna out. He saw right through him each time he spoke, but something was missing. And it bugged him. Greatly.
He fixed his gaze on the CRT in front of them. Close, but not close enough to hear his conversation with Lancer. He was doing one of his ridiculous acts that involved moving around too much. Doing too much for him to keep watching him. For a simple compliment and approval. He felt a smile tug on the corner of his mouth, an idea forming in his head. His second mouth began to blab more than usual and laugh, slightly giving away his true intentions.
"Enough to cure this boredom." He responded. Lancer jumped off his back, making a ‘splat’ sound as he landed on the ground and then he grinned.
"Did you hear that, jester static guy??" Lancer ran up to Tenna, bouncing on the balls of his feet with joy. Tenna seemed a little surprised at the sudden interruption, stopping him at his tracks as he opened his mouth to reply, but Lancer was too energetic for him to get a word in. "You're good at your job! You might even get a promotion!"
King did not have the slightest idea of what Lancer was going on about.
However, Tenna seemed to like the sound of that as he perked up. "I-Is that so?" He smiled as he looked over at King, looking for confirmation. Oh how it was so easy. This fool would be enough for him to reach his goal. "If you keep at it." King answered with a smile.
---
Over the course of the next few days, King would throw Tenna a bone. A compliment here, a laugh there. Tenna was none the wiser and ate up all the approval. Soaked in the attention given to him. King almost felt pity for Tenna. Almost. If he wasn’t so eager to please. There was nothing more King hated than Darkners who threw themselves at others feet to feel an ounce of praise.
Although, observing Tenna carefully over these last few days, he has noticed he began to be a little bit more cheerful. He was unsure if it was due to his constant response of praise but King kept a close eye on his behavior.
He didn't have a lot of resources available to him to learn more about Tenna. Lancer was unreliable. He was too gullible and butchered almost any information given to him. King would rather stay in jail forever than ask those Lightners. His fellow jailmates, the other kings, pretty much knew what he did. The only other darkner that comes down to visit him is Queen, but ever since Tenna has arrived, she has not visited him once. He suspected it could be due to her seeking new people to chat with after suffering the loss of the darkners from her world. Something he only knew because of Lancer. By some miracle, the boy was able to give him proper information for once and it was later accidentally confirmed by the Lightners themselves.
He was unsure of the Lightners intentions. Sparing him, the Darkners from his kingdom, and the Darkners from Tenna's world, but leaving behind Queens. If they claim to care about Darkners so much, what valued his life over Queens subjects? What caused them to abandon them without any care?
He watched Tenna walk into his cell with a pep in his step. King may not know a thing about him, but Tenna was the key to all of his questions.
---
Sometimes Tenna was really full of energy. Sometimes it looked like he had to drag himself out of bed. It was somewhat of a gamble on what his mood would be for the day, but King could always tell he felt uneasy around him. As time went on, that seemed to shift.
Unfortunately, today was one of those days when Tenna threw himself a pity party.
King has grown familiar with the sound of Tenna's footsteps. Judging by the dragging of his feet, it didn't sound like good news. Part of his plan was to gain Tenna's trust but, unlucky him, that meant having to listen to whatever his problems were about. Most of the time it would be over little things. There would be rare moments that King could see Tenna's true feelings. All of his feelings were genuine, he wasn't exactly the greatest at hiding what he was feeling but, for a very short moment, King was able to see him be vulnerable.
For some reason, today felt different.
King didn't bother to get up or turn around when Tenna finally reached his cell. He learned it was better to let him speak first so he could get a feel of whatever mood the CRT was in.
For a long while, there was silence. Enough that King turned his head ever so slightly to see what Tenna was up to. His hands were resting on his cell bars, his screen black as he was smaller than usual.
Each passing second, Tenna got even smaller. Then, finally, he spoke.
"Nobody really gives me any attention up there… Susie and Kris are too busy to visit me." He said softly, his screen resting on the bars as his shoulders slumped forward.
"I… I don't think..." He hesitated, his hands gripping onto the bars tightly, his antennas droopy. "T-This won't last long… I'll find a new home soon so I won't..." He paused for a minute, thinking. "What am I saying? Like if you care." Tenna sighed as he let go and took a step back. King watched his movements carefully.
He ignored the fact that Tenna knew King didn't care much about him. He may have underestimated how clever he is. Instead, he focused on the others' movements and words. He was awfully familiar with the feeling Tenna displayed. That feeling of defeat, of acceptance, of hope fleeing when it was right in your grasp.
He gritted his teeth as Tenna turned to leave.
"Don't." He started to speak, his voice low and deep. "Don't let them define you." He heard the others footsteps stop, and a slight shift in movement implying Tenna was turning around.
King turned his head slightly more so he was able to get a clear look, making direct eye contact.
"Especially those Lightners. Only we, as Darkners, should determine our worth." Part of him regretted saying those words. As soon as he saw Tenna light up, he knew he wouldn't be able to get rid of him easily. Part of him… didn't mind it. As much as he hated to admit it, he saw part of himself within this pathetic man. The desperate clinging to hope, wishing that the Lightners would return. Waiting, to fulfill his purpose once more, only to be discarded like trash. He turned cruel, bitter. Everyone was so cheerful when new Lightners appeared, but he had enough, attempting to eliminate them before they gave the other Darkners too much hope. He failed, obviously. Out of all people, another Darkner betrays him and follows them around like some loyal dog.
It was only a matter of time that the cycle would repeat.
He watched Tenna hold onto those bars with a grin like an excited dog as he opened his mouth to speak. However, he seemed to understand this was the first time ever he has actually talked to him properly without insulting him or it being about entertaining him so he stayed silent. Instead, he turned around and left.
And King could only watch.