Chapter Text
The green pippin was at the bar again, thinking about the signs that something painful would happen in the very near future.
All the hints that he has seen lately, they couldn’t be random, right? At least that was what he was thinking.
Seeing how his two bosses were acting recently was…concerning. All this fighting between them, the weird sounds coming from Tenna’s room, it wasn’t normal behavior for two people that just enjoyed working together to become big. To become “big shots”, or so he heard.
In the green room Battat could hear how others were talking about some incoming contract, how it will make their boss finally something more than an old, barely even used anymore CRT. That’s what everyone wanted, right?
The crowd was divided - on one hand they couldn’t wait, the thought of a better future was becoming more than just a thought. On the other hand, some darkners were afraid of change, what if they lost their jobs, or something? Or maybe even worse?
Who could possibly know.
Spamton knew, or thought he knew, that nobody has asked him about the contract because he and Tenna had never said anything about it in public, everyone knew because they couldn’t keep their mouths shut behind closed doors.
Battat was the first one who heard something, then he sheepishly told their bartender, and that’s how the rumors started.
He felt guilty for this, he didn’t know that it would spread so fast. He prayed Tenna wouldn’t lay him off if he found out who started this rumor.
Battat didn’t feel safe, he thought someone was watching him. Someone like Mike, even until now nobody has ever seen him. What if that someone was drawing near?
He kept thinking about it, getting more paranoid with each day. That’s why he wasn’t close with any of his coworkers, maybe except for Ramb - he was the only one, the friendly bartender.
It was getting late but he promised his friend he would help him with cleaning after the day, he hoped this would make his mind clearer and briefly stop his spiraling into psychosis.
He was just sitting in the bar, waiting for everyone to leave. He wanted to talk privately with Ramb about his thoughts while tidying, he knew he would go crazy if he didn’t open up to anyone about the contract and Mike.
Battat laid his head down on the counter. He was exhausted but a promise is a promise.
The green room was empty, finally, but not for long. He could hear someone’s footsteps slowly entering the room.
Someone knocked on the counter, near his head where he quickly ducked under the counter.
“You sleepin’?”
It was Ramb’s voice, time for work finally came. Battat lifted his head to face him. “I wish I was, but a promise is a promise, right? Besides, here I feel the safest, you know, being alone in a room can make a man go crazy, I feel if I help you it’ll help clear my head…”
Does this make sense? He felt he was going crazy, just a little.
“I don't mind you being here, as long as you sweep the floor.” Ramb smiled and gave Battat an old broom. Tenna didn’t care about new cleaning gear and you could definitely feel and see that.
Battat shuffled from under the counter and started sweeping the floor, starting with the part with the couches and TV.
“You know, I was thinking-“ he heard footsteps heading away from him. He turned around.
“Where are you going?”
“Oh, ‘m just goin’ to clean the kitchen, I haven’t done that in a while and Tenna said he wants to make his next game kitchen-themed, who knows what’s goin’ on inside his mind.” Ramb said calmly, though a bit nervous. He knew how much Battat liked talking to him and this was the only time he could.
“Yeah, who knows…”
“Though if you need any help, just holler. I will be right there.” he said as he pointed at the door beside the bar counter. Then he walked away saying, “I just need to go for some sponges and other stuff.”
Then the main door of the green room closed.
He was alone.
Again.
He hates being alone with his thoughts, but at the same time he loves making up theories while nobody’s there to distract him, it was a love-hate relationship.
He swept the floor, the scratching sound against the old panels mildly irritating him.
Battat decided if he can’t talk to Ramb at this moment he will either talk to himself, or to something above, he heard Spamton once praying to an “angel above” maybe if he tried he would feel better.
He didn’t want anyone to hear him, he didn’t want to sound pathetic.
The broom stopped as he looked around to make sure he is alone. He was.
He let go of broom and it fell to the floor, an empty clank spread across the room.
His knees touched the floor panels, he put his hands together, gripping each other as hard as he possibly could.
He swung his head down and closed his eyes while opening his mouth.
“Dear Angel above, please have an eye on me, I don’t know if I’m being watched or not.” He placed his hands near his heart, he felt something weird in his throat, like some words got stuck inside his throat.
“I-I’m just scared that everything will fall apart really soon, all I ask for is-“
He heard something, footsteps again. Different ones from Ramb, heavier.
He stood back up as fast as could and ran to bar. He hopped over to the other side, where Ramb serves drink to darkners, and ducked back under the counter.
He was a pippin, small and hard to see sometimes, thankfully.
The doors opened.
He couldn’t see who entered the green room but he could most definitely hear.
“Listen Tens, I’m begging you, stop making a scene! How I’m-“
It were his bosses. He thought praying would make things easier, not mess things up even more!
“Oh yes, sorry for wanting things you promised me already a long time ago!”
The pair sat down at the bar as the bar stools creaked, still arguing about something.
The only thing separating them from the little pippin was the thin wood of the bar counter. He couldn’t escape this weird situation without being noticed, they would definitely see the moving door.
What if Tenna and Spamton were looking for him? Maybe it was finally his time? Were they gonna fire him? Did Mike snitch? Oh Angel, he’s fucked.
A million thoughts ran wild inside Battat’s head.
Just like before, he gripped his chest where his heart was, and started praying inside his head.
He was begging for forgiveness, for mercy, for what he has done. He wasn’t too sure what that was, but the fear of losing everything what Tenna gave him was greater.
Something hard hit against counter. It’s probably Tenna’s hand.
“Spammy, just… a-at least tell me why!” Tenna gasped and grabbed Spamton’s hand.
“I told you, I want to but I can’t- you know why! Don’t act like you don’t!” The addison sounded upset.
Battat felt like he’s not supposed to be listening in on their conversation again, but the urge to hear answers to his questions was stronger.
So he sat there, listening.
“I don't! You just suddenly act like you don't know me like- like I’m some stranger. Am I really just a coworker to you? You never explain to me who is this…mystery friend of yours!” Tenna gently rubbed Spamton’s hand with his thumb. “Spammy, my love letter, please…”
That was… new for the pippin. Tenna calling Spamton “his love”. There were gossips about their relationship, that there was something more between them than just “business”.
These rumors started a long time ago, then they stopped, and some weeks ago they came alive again, when Battat’s coworkers noticed a ring on Tenna’s finger.
“No, Tenna.” Spamton pulled away and went for his a cigarette inside his blazer’s pocket instead. “Just let it go.”
Battat heard a lighter go off and smelled the nasty scent of cigarettes.
“Want some?” Spamton offered.
Another flick of a lighter.
Battat saw a big hand reaching for a bottle from wall where all drinks are located, it was Tennas hand.
“Shit, Ramb, where are you? Please someone come and rescue me, Angel, anyone, please.” He whispered to himself, resting his head on his own knees, hugging them with his arms.
“Listen, Ant, you know I…love you…” The last words came out quieter, he put the cigarette up to his mouth. “I can’t, they are always listening. I’m not free…at least not yet.”
One of them poured the drink Tenna grabbed before.
“But this contract can set you free right? We talked about this, I talked with Mike and-“
“Me too, and I don’t think it’s a good idea. Listen, it sounds…tricky, I don’t think- I don’t feel good about this.” Spamton interrupted.
Now Battat was definitely interested, what’s so bad about this contract? And Mike? Why doesn’t he want Spamton to sign it? Why? What’s so terrifying about it?
It was very wrong to eavesdrop on their private conversation, Battat knew guilt will haunt him later.
The sound of glass hitting the counter suddenly filled the room. “But-! I can make you safe, Spamton! I will keep you safe, just…” Tenna's voice cracked “just stay here. In TV World. With me.”
“Don’t try sweet talking me, this is serious.” Spamton sounded really sharp, like nothing he’d ever heard before, he wasn’t the funny boss who always jokes around anymore. “It won’t do anything, I love you, but-“
“BUT?!” Tenna shouted “Spammy, please…think- think about how big we would be, together as partners! Just like we’ve always wanted!”
Battat heard something knocking wall from the other side. It was Tenna’s tail thumping in irritation and uneasiness.
“Ant, this guy is- I can’t- you can’t-“ Spamton stopped to breathe “No one can help me with this, at least not right now. I need more time to think about it, so please can we stop fighting and just relax…” the mailman grabbed Tenna’s hand “…together as-“
A loud noise of broken glass hitting the wall suddenly erupted.
“WHAT THE FUCK, TENNA-?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THAT WAS-“
Chairs creaked again.
“I don’t want to hear another word from you.” the TV sobbed “You-!”
With a hiccup, Tenna started walking towards the main door.
“I’m doing all I can! It’s just…”
The salesman couldn’t find the right words.
“I’m sure you are.”
Then Battat heard something small, something light and metal bouncing off the wooden floor. It landed near his legs.
It was a ring, a silver one. With a pink gem inside, it looked very costly.
“I’m done with you. You go back to that dear phone of yours. See if I care!”
The pippin heard a slam of doors.
“NO- no, LISTEN TO ME FOR ONCE!” Spamton jumped off the chair and started looking for ring underneath him of the, not knowing it landed behind the bar, where Battat was hiding.
“My god where did it- FUCK!” the mailman ran his hand through his hair in panic, then stood up quickly and ran after his partner, still shouting with frustrated tears in his eyes.
Battat picked up the ring. It was beautiful, if someone gifted him something like this, he would never treat it like that. He hid it in his pants pocket, he would think what to do with it later.
He slowly stood up and saw two cigarettes in an ashtray and one glass of whiskey.
He looked around, on the floor was a puddle of whiskey with shards of glass scattered everywhere.
He decided he will help cleaning it in the morning, too scared that his bosses might come back.
So many questions, and no answers.
Battat left the green room in a hurry, closing the doors behind him.
He went to his room and immediately went to bed, not sleeping, just laying down.
He pulled out the ring, he knew he needed to gave it back. But how? And if so, how would he explain to them how he knew it was theirs?
He stood up from his bed, opened a drawer next to it and put the ring inside a little box. It fit almost perfectly, the box was small but so pretty, deep red with laced white ribbon on top, he once found it after a round of one of Tenna’s shows. It was made for roleplay proposals, no wonder it fit so well.
He thought maybe someday he will propose with it to someone special. Maybe one day.
So many problems for a little pippin like him.
He needed to think fast on what to do.