Chapter Text
Tenna couldn’t handle the sound of silence. True silence only came after an explosive argument, or a lonely night, or after the man someone once loved leaves… It reminded him of all he could have said or done but didn’t.
He hated himself for it. After his near-death experience, his self-resentment had let itself in, poured itself a drink, and made itself comfortable.
Recently, more often than not Tenna sat in silence. Sure, he could have walked out of his room in the palace, interacted with people, or maybe meet someone new, but that was far too daunting because everyone knew he was a failure; he could tell. People talked—why wouldn’t they? The Ant Tenna had finally fallen from the spotlight—took a metaphorical punch in the nuts. TV Time was his everything, and without it he was nothing.
In his fit of self-pity, Tenna hadn’t heard the soft knock, nor seen the door crack open, nor three faces peek in.
“The hell’s wrong with him?” Susie questioned as they all shared a glance. “Usually he’s all, like, YIPPIE! and WAHOO! like one of those old-ass cartoon characters.”
Ralsei frowned at her rather disrespectful depiction of Mr. Tenna; however, he didn’t have the gall to comment on it. Instead, he replied, “Well, put yourself in his shoes.”
Susie picked at her teeth. “Nah, wouldn’t fit in them.”
The prince froze for a moment before shaking himself out of it and offering a tight smile.
“No, Susie, I mean empathize with him. He’s been through a lot!”
The fuchsia girl looked up at Ralsei with a cocked eyebrow. “Nah. Don’t want to. I mean he tried to kill us and stuff, yeah?” She dismissed, casting a glance towards Kris for affirmation. The person in question simply shrugged.
“Either way, I want to help him.” Ralsei replied, peeking through the door crack once again. “He’s so lonely. I mean, he’s lost everything… I know how that fee—how that must feel.”
With a heavy sigh, Susie crossed her arms behind her head. “Man… you’re gonna keep annoying us with this?”
“Well, if—“
The lightener girl cut him off “Whatever, what can we do to help you?”
Ralsei paused for a moment, a smile growing on his face.
“I don’t know, he’d never tell us directly. Maybe we should get him to tell us… indirectly.”
Kris and Susie perked up.
“… Are you suggesting we snoop?” Asked Susie with a shit-eating grin across her face.
Quickly, Ralsei backtracked. “What, no! I just mean that we—I—um…!”
Susie slapped her hand on his shoulder to shut him up. “Man, I’ve taught you well. We should check out his room when he leaves.”
The Dark Prince blushed, a pleased smile on his face. Susie rarely praised anyone. “Really…? Right, um, snooping!” He pumped his fist in the air. “As long as Kris is okay with it!”
After receiving an affirmative nod, the three moved out of the way of the door and huddled together.
“Okay, so, here’s what we’re going to do…”