Work Text:
Battat had enough.
He was tired of trying to find Mike, wasting so much time on someone who might not even exist or died a long time ago.
He had become obsessed with finding the guy because Tenna had become insufferable and even more agitable than before. Taking the role of Mike had improved the situation but certainly not fixed it.
But now that things had calmed down and Tenna had been adopted alongside the remainder of TV World’s inhabitants, it seemed that things were fine as they were.
All but one fact: Tenna only really needed two Mikes. He was only really asking for Pluey or Jongler, mainly Pluey.
After their conversation in Castle Town, where Battat had half a mind to just quit on the spot and tell Tenna it was all a lie, he had began to feel even worse.
And even though he complained about Tenna and acted as if he didn’t care, it hurt to know that Tenna didn’t care for him as much as he cared for his boss.
Every time he went to bring Tenna tea in hopes to get closer to him or make himself useful, he’d just ask whether Small Mike was feeling Pluey.
If he said yes, he’d leave to get him, only to get told off by Tenna out of costume at a later time. If he said no, the CRT would shrink and seem down until he relented.
It was as if he didn’t even want him around.
It didn’t help that he had to develop feelings for someone who clearly didn’t like him, Tenna would never look at him the way he did at Pluey. And he knew that he shouldn’t feel jealous but it made him miserable.
His crush on Tenna got so bad that he bought a plushie of his boss that he kept secretly in his bed and hugged every night.
Sometimes he’d just hold it and imagine that Tenna was holding him back and other times — when things were really bad — he cried into it.
Pluey and Jongler already had each other, they’ve been dating for a while now and cuddled on the couch in the Mike Room together while Battat made excuses to avoid being in the same room as them.
He felt so alone and decided that he would quit being Mike. Tenna could see how he ran the show without him. Pluey and Jongler could deal with it if they were so much better than him.
Battat sighed and threw his letter of resignation into the mailbox because he didn’t want to work at the studio as Battat anymore either. He wondered what job he could get in the city while he grabbed his costume one last time to say goodbye.
He walked up to Tenna’s office with the usual large cup of coffee and knocked.
There was a moment of silence before he could hear Tenna’s voice. “Come in.”
The costumed die entered and offered the beverage to Tenna who acknowledged him with a smile. “Morning, Mike! Punctual as always.” The TV smirked. “What would I do without you?”
Battat had to smile a bit and for a moment he wondered whether he should leave after all. He’d miss Tenna’s smile and praises.
“Say, you don’t happen to feel Pluey, right?” He asked. “I could really use some quiet company while I work.”
‘Here we go again…’ Battat’s smile cracked under the mask. “Oh… sure.” He nodded. “I feel… Pluey…”
“Great!” The tall Darkner cheered. “I’ll wait for you to get changed. Don’t take too long!”
“Hah…ha… I won’t.” He smiled crooked. “I’ll just… I get changed. Farewell, Tenna.”
Tenna seemed happy watching him leave, a bit confused at the odd phrasing when he would only be gone for a few minutes.
Battat stood for a moment behind the closed door and sighed. His decision was final, he’d quit being Mike and would focus on being just a Pippins.
He told Pluey who happily got into costume before going to Tenna. It felt as if all three were in a relationship that he wasn’t part of.
Jongler noticed his sour demeanour when their leader took off the mask. “Boss?” They asked. “Is everything alright?”
Battat sighed and stared at the mask. “I’m quitting.” He told them. “I’m done with being Mike.”
Now it was the Zapper’s turn to frown. “What? Boss, are yous sure? Did somethin’ bad ‘appen? Can wes help youse?”
Battat’s mind was racing. “Ha!” He laughed. “Bad? Tenna is just… so annoying, so demanding! I can’t take it anymore. I don’t even like him.”
Jongler seemed surprised and a bit suspicious. “Really? Dat’s…”
“Yeah… I am done working for his ungrateful ass. I’m done! You can still work for him but me? No!” He threw everything on the ground and stomped off.
Jongler was dumbfounded but figured Battat just had a bad day. He wouldn’t really quit, right?
Battat might benefit from a vacation; them and Pluey had told him to take one for a while and they decided it might be best to give their partner some time to calm down and rest after overworking himself.
Despite that, they couldn’t help feeling terrible while watching the other Darkner storm off, wishing there was something they could do to help more directly.
-
Tenna walked through the studio’s halls and looked for his friend. “Mike?” He called out worriedly. He needed his Small Mike to help with planning the next show, the shorter Darkner only appeared in two of his costumes lately and was less talkative; while he liked it when he wore those costumes, Mike wasn’t the same without his third.
Even if it didn’t always make him feel great, he sometimes needed the pushback. Not only that, he also needed Mike’s planning and liked listening to his ideas.
But lately he wasn’t the same and the show suffered for it. When he asked for Mike to get changed, he never got into his main costume.
It made him anxious for some reason.
He knew that Mike only changed costumes but it felt as if he lost someone nonetheless because an entire aspect of his personality was missing. A crucial and important aspect.
He could just be ill or overworked, considering he seemed even more stressed, only wanting to cuddle or being a yes-man. The massages weren’t the same either, neither was the cooking, the tea or even the coffee. Something was up with Mike and he had to find out what it was.
The CRT excused himself for the day and made sure the Mike Room was empty, it seemed as if he was already off his shift.
After looking through it for a while, he finally found a note with an address. ‘That must be Mike’s home.’ He wondered and grinned when he got an idea. ‘I could surprise him! I wasn’t at his place before, bet he’d be happy to hang out!”
-
He went to the address and teleported inside after shrinking to a manageable size. The flat was small; very small but tidy. Everything was clean and well-organised just as he would expect but why didn’t he use the money that he paid him for a nicer apartment?
He didn’t expect him to be this frugal.
It didn’t look lived in, only possessing the most important furniture, no decorations or pictures or anything. Considering Mike was the only employee as much of a workaholic as the TV himself, it actually shouldn’t be too surprising though.
It felt odd, it didn’t look new enough for him to have recently moved in but more so as if the person who lived here didn’t spend much time at home.
Tenna looked around, only to find the bedroom; there was a familiar limited plush that looked just like the TV-headed show host.
He had only made one. It was the first prize for one of his quizzes; if his memory was correct, some Pippins had won it originally. Despite his assumption that the die had thrown it away like the ungrateful Darkners they were, it seemed to be in pristine condition. It had some signs of use if he looked more closely, so it was well-loved but in near-mint condition nonetheless.
The TV smiled at that thought, knowing that Mike even loved his plush double and probably saved it from abuse by some uncaring employee.
He sighed and looked around some more while he waited, only to notice some pictures of a green Pippins with a Zapper and Shadowguy. This was confusing. Why did Mike have pictures of some random Darkners in his flat and wasn’t even on them himself?
He heard the door unlock and panicked, dropping the plush and having it fall under the bed. There was no time to pick it up, so he did the next stupid thing and turned into one himself to replace it, so whoever came home wouldn’t notice that someone broke in.
He only heard the new arrival before they entered the room and it got revealed that it was a Pippins, a green one as well. He had seen it manage some of the more important tasks but lately he hadn’t seen him around at all and began to wonder why.
The pippins seemed tired as usual but also sad. As every good boss, something Tenna definitely saw himself as, he had to find out what made his employees’ productivity decline. He couldn’t have that along the issue of Mike acting off.
The die walked up to the plush and smiled sadly at it. “I’m home, Tenna.” He said and kissed his head between the antennas.
It took all of Tenna’s self-control to avoid freaking out, luckily he locked his movements and voice in this form, so he couldn’t mess up. Internally his thoughts were a scrambled mess nonetheless.
“What the... !? HOW THE WHAT THE MAMA WHAT THE HECK THE WOH MAMMA WOAH MAMMA MA WHAT'S WOAH MAMA MIA WHAT'S WHAT'S WHAT THE MAMA MIA WHAT'S WOH MAMA MIA MAMA MIA WOAH HECK WHAT THE MAMA HEY HECK HECK WHOA WOH WOAH MAMMA MIA MAMA MIA HECK HECK MAMA MIA MAMA WHAT'S MAMA MAMMA HEY MAMMA MAMMA MAMA MIA MAMA MIA HECK MA MA WOH MAMA MIA WHAT'S WHAT THE MAMMA HECK MAMMA MAMMA MA WOH WHAT'S MAMMA WHAT'S MAMMA MA HEY WOAH MA HECK MA HEY WHAT THE WHAT THE WOAH HEY WOAH MAMMA HOW THE WHAT THE MAMA WHAT THE HECK THE WOAH WHAT THE MA WHOA WHAT'S WHOA WOH HEY WOH MAMA MIA WOAH MA HECK WHAT'S HEY MAMMA WHAT'S HEY WOAH WOH WHAT'S MAMMA MAMA MIA MAMMA MAMMA WOAH MA MAMMA MA HEY WOAH WHAT THE WOH HEY MAMMA why the HECK did HE DO THAT!?”
Battat glanced at the clock, unaware of Tenna’s struggle. “Man… I’m home so much sooner now...” He laughed. “…even when I close shop.” He sighed and pulled the plush closer to hug it. “I don’t even know what to do with my freetime…”
‘Shop?’ Tenna wondered, immediately recovering from his crashout. ‘Did he quit?’
“I miss the studio, Tenna… and I miss you too…” He mumbled. “Even though this job is much less stressful, I miss my old job, I wonder what the other two are doing… I miss them too… does Tenna even cares that one Mike is missing?” He laughed. “Is it bad that I hope he does?” He held the plush away from his body to look at it with tears in his eyes. “Does it matters that I’m gone…? Do I even want to know? Maybe the truth is too painful…”
Tenna was shocked, utterly in disbelief at what he just heard. There was no way that this was Mike. It couldn’t be.
Battat hugged him tighter. “But if I was there, you’d just ask for Pluey, right?” He laughed to himself and dried his tears on the fabric. “I was always your least favourite.”
Tenna felt a pit form in his cotton stomach.
“Sorry for telling you this sob story.” He wiped his tears. “You hear me cry a lot lately, I’m sure you’re sick of it. I am… no point in whining. I’ll just try to start a new life without you.” He squeezed the plush. “It might be time to throw you away…” He frowned. “…tomorrow.” He cuddled the plush and rolled on his side. “I don’t want to feel alone tonight.”
He wanted to say something but he couldn’t. If this Pippins was really Mike and there were two more, that would mean the different costumes weren’t the same person. That would explain a lot, especially why they acted so differently.
The pit on his stomach grew when he realised that every time this Mike did something for him, he send him off to ask for a different Mike. That meant he hadn’t shown the same affection he did to the other ones to this one. He had always left him out because he had assumed that Mike was one person and Mike was feeling less touchy in the smallest costume because he only talked about work and never asked to hug or cuddle like the other ones.
Should he have shown more initiative? He did everything wrong, either being too clingy or too distant but the result was the same: he would end up alone. ‘Why is this so hard?’
Was that why his Mike — or the Mikes — felt incomplete now? Because one of them left to get a different job? Was that why the green Pippins disappeared as well and organisation got so much worse?
Tenna knew better than anyone else that there wasn’t a single feeling in the world worse than when someone made you feel unloved and unwanted.
And he had done both to his closest — or one of his closest — friends. Someone he saw as a partner and confidant, someone who had always supported him and kept the show running even in his darkest hours.
And this is how he thanked him? By sending him away, why scolding him, by working him to the bone day in and day out.
Tenna realised he hadn’t changed after all, he was still the same selfish person. He was still unable to listen and realise when he hurt people.
Susie had shown him what hope meant, maybe he could give that same feeling to this Pippins. He frowned to himself and felt even worse when he realised that he didn’t even know his name; his real name.
The die just held him to his chest while crying quietly. He was shivering and letting out stifled sobs. “I should probably just return to the Card Kingdom.
‘No!’ Tenna wanted to tell him but this form didn’t allow for it, he didn’t want to scare his missing Mike off either though.
He wasn’t even angry, he should be but how could he when they did so much for him? It hurt that the real Mike was truly gone. But it was also nice to know that he got loved by three people instead.
Well, he used to be because one of them planned to leave and it scared him. He didn’t want to lose one of his Mikes for good, especially because this one was the first who helped him back on his feet after Spamton and Mike had abandoned him.
The other man didn’t say anything else and just cuddled the plush tightly, this took Tenna’s chance to escape but he didn’t really mind. It’s been so long since he got cuddled like this. Cat Mike was more close to a pet just laying in his lap and Cowboy Hat Mike offered hugs but this was more intense and made him feel protected.
Tenna fell asleep eventually, remaining in his plush form all night.
He woke up when his Pippins got out of bed in the morning, seemingly preparing himself for his shift at the new job he took. This was unacceptable and he had to intervene to get his missing Mike back.
Once the small Darkner left his house, Tenna returned to normal and placed the original plush back; he then shrunk to follow the other man without him noticing. It seemed that his Pippins worked at a coffee shop and served customers.
Tenna was glad, there was no way he’d be happy at that job. It would be easy to win him back.
The CRT waited for the shop to open and sat down at one of the tables, he received some surprised glances because he usually just let Mike fetch him something but he didn’t care and basked in the attention.
When his Pippins came out from the back to take orders, he didn’t seem to notice the TV immediately. Another Darkner, likely his employer, stopped him and showered him with praise. He was apparently already rising to a management position because of his exceptional work.
That was also when he learned Mike’s real name: Battat.
Tenna would roll his eyes if he could because he praised Mike too! But now that he thought about it, he never praised the green die out of costume. But that didn’t really make a difference, did it?
The tall man felt the pit in his stomach turn into an abyss. What if that was why he left? Would he even be happy to see him then?
He remembered his mistreatment of the small Darkner in the form of yelling and threatening demeanours.
His fear got confirmed when he made eye contact with his target, looking into the horrified eyes of someone who should think fondly of him. The Pippins looked terrified instead of happy and seemed to look around for anyone else to serve his former boss but the other waiters were busy.
He watched the Pippins brace himself and walk up to him. “Oh, Mister Tenna! It’s good to see you here, how may I help you?”
Tenna blushed and stared at his precious Pippins. “You know my name…?” He felt as if he got recognised by his crush, what a strange sensation.
Battat just blinked at him confused. “Uhh… sure do.” He raised a brow. “You are the Boss of this world after all.”
Tenna’s antennas wilted like flowers at the realisation that he made a fool of himself. “Oh, right…”
Battat forced a smile. “Picked anything out yet, sir?”
‘Time to test him…’ He cleared his throat. “What would you recommend?”
Battat paused for a moment. “We have some freshly baked cherry chocolate cake and different types of tea.”
Tenna smirked. “May you bring me a large slice of cake and a regular one, both on separate plates. For the tea, bring me what you think would be best…”
Battat hesitated again and nodded before he put on a cute Pippins smile. “Of course, sir!”
Tenna waited impatiently, tail wagging at the memory of that cute face, it didn’t even take long but he wanted his beloved Battat back. When the die returned, he offered him the cake slices and a cup of green tea with some mint leaves, a few drops of lemon, honey and the smallest amount of cinnamon.
The TV’s face lightened up after he took a sip. It was just like Mike always made it, there really was no doubt in his mind now.
He just smiled, happy to taste it again after a week of missing his special Mike tea. His lip quivered and he used one of the serviettes to dry his forming tears.
“Ah… apologies, sir! Did you burn your tongue?” He seemed scared, shrinking under the screen’s light and looking as if he expected to get punished.
“No… it’s perfect.” He tried to smile as reassuring as he managed. “I’ve just been feeling a bit lonely.” He admitted. “Could you sit with me for a while?” He pushed the cake towards the seat opposite from him. “The cake is on me and I’ll pay extra for your time.”
“I’m not sure…” Battat admitted.
“Please…” Tenna begged.
The Pippins gave in, despite his visual discomfort. “Alright.” He sat down and awkwardly stared at the cake he’s been offered. “Are you sure?”
Tenna nodded eagerly and relaxed when the Pippins took a hesitant bite. The larger man just sat awkwardly and watched him.
Battat sighed. “Alright, what’s your motive?” The green die asked more seriously.
“What? Nothing!” He shrunk a bit. “Okay, you got me… I just noticed you stopped showing up to work and then I saw you working here instead.”
“…you noticed?” Battat seemed surprised.
“I did! You were always my favourite Pippins employee!” He told him.
The green die raised a brow. “Really?” His doubt was audible.
“Mhm… I just… wonder whether I could do something to make you come back…” He smiled awkwardly.
“No interest…” He told him. “I like my work here, it is much more relaxing than the studio and you have plenty of employees to take my place.”
‘But they aren’t the same…’ Tenna whined. “I understand…” He looked at his cake, already losing his appetite. “Can I tell you about something else? Ask for your advice, maybe?”
Battat seemed to analyse him closely. “…sure? Don’t you have friends for that?”
The large Darkner’s right antenna twitched in agitation but he ignored the passive-aggressive remark. “So… you know Mike, right?” The CRT asked.
“Of course… what about him?” Battat tensed up visibly.
Tenna fought a frown, watching his little Pippins seem so uncomfortable around him was painful. “He just doesn’t seem the same…” He sighed and decided to just keep talking. “I’m sorry but… I feel as if I didn’t treat him right. He was feeling Pluey sometimes and got very affectionate with me in his cat costume and eventually started to be a little more affectionate when he had his cowboy hat on. I started to believe that this was his sign to want a hug or cuddles and while he wore his regular costume, that he was in work mode because he acted more distant…” He frowned. “… but lately he doesn’t wear that costume anymore and it feels as if I lost part of my friend…” He told him. “Does that sound stupid?”
“No…” Battat stared at him before he let out a sigh and looked away. “Not at all…”
“Do you think that Mike will ever come back? I would treat him better too. I just don’t know how to tell him.” The CRT smiled warmly.
Battat blushed and looked away. “I’m not sure… he probably needs some time to think about it…”
“Of course.” His antennas dropped. “I understand.”
“If you excuse me, I need to get back to work.” He told him and got up to quickly disappear behind the staff-only door.
Tenna was sadly nibbling at his cake and didn’t notice Battat running past him behind the window shortly afterwards.
-
When he returned to work the next day, it was rather depressing to get up with the knowledge that he was the reason that he lost another friend.
Spamton and Mike only left because he was the worst. He didn’t want everyone to leave but he didn’t know how to make them stay. Tenna thought that he did everything right for once but he was wrong.
He wondered whether he should have told Battat that he knew but part of him was scared that all three Mikes left him in that case.
He was so happy to know that not only one person cared for him but three! Having three friends was a new record to him but part of him wondered whether he lost that for good because his sweet Pippins looked at him in fear and discomfort. It hurt to know that this was how his Small Mike felt about him, making him wonder whether he never even liked him in the first place.
Were they even friends?
They might only see him as a Boss and that thought did wonders for his spiralling mind, he just held his head and shrunk to half his size while sobs shook his body.
He didn’t understand why things always turned out this way, he was tired of ending up alone, tired of never understanding why either.
“Boss? Are you alright?” A familiar voice asked.
Tenna turned towards the source and looked directly at his small right-hand man. “Mike…” He sniffed and wiped his face. “You’re back.”
The Small Mike stopped in his tracks and laughed before holding up a cup of tea. “I was never gone, this costume got dirty and needed a thorough cleaning.” Battat shrugged. “I also felt more Pluey lately… speaking of, would you like me to change— woah!” He blushed when Tenna returned to his regular size and picked him up with one hand.
“No… I don’t want you to change at all.” He smiled. “May I…?” He pulled him closer to his chest and hugged the smaller Darkner while his fingers rubbed gently over his back.
Battat squirmed under the touch, cursing his costume for being in the way but feeling a strange tingling in his chest as well as warmth spread on his face. “Mr. Tenna…?” He looked up to see the bright, adoring face look down at him.
“I love you.” He told him, hoping that it came through that he meant him specifically and not Mike.
Battat stared back, wishing to say something, wanting to return the words so desperately that it hurt to hold them back but he couldn’t do it. He simply couldn’t tell him as Mike; it felt wrong and awful, more terrible than anything else he had done so far under a false identity.
Tenna’s smile vanished like sand between his fingers, slipping away in a manner that was similar to the grains inside an hour glass; his features went slack. “I understand if you don’t feel ready… or not the same at all.” He stroked over his head with his thumb. “You don’t have to. All that matters is that you’re here with me… I want you to mean it when you say it… if you do—“
“I don’t know…” The smaller Darkner admitted. “It’s complicated. If you knew me better, you wouldn’t feel that way.”
“What makes you say that?” Tenna asked sadly.
“Because…” Battat grit his teeth. “I’m…” He bit his lip. “…I’m just really ugly under the costume.” He blushed embarrassed.
Tenna stared at him and laughed. “Do you think I’d care about that? I’m not that superficial! Besides… if I’m more attractive than you, it’s less likely that you’ll leave me for someone else.” He teased.
Battat blushed and pushed him away. “You don’t understand!” He grit his teeth. “I’m not… I’m just…” The man cried under the mask. “You hate me without mask… and even if you wouldn’t anymore after you learn the truth, you wouldn’t love me for myself…” He laughed bitterly. “You’d love me for Mike.”
Tenna stared at him, his smile turning into surprise and shock. “Maybe…” He admitted.
Battat got away from him but Tenna held him back before he could reach the door. “But… I can learn to love you fully.” He cried. “I just want to keep my best friend. It doesn’t matter whether you wore a mask, that I thought you’re Mike.” He grit his teeth to suppress a sob. “I can change. I want to… no, I will change for you. I was wrong about you, Battat…” He shrunk to be a head shorter than his opposite. “I’m sorry. Please, don’t leave me.”
The Pippins stared at him. He had a hunch but this confirmed his fear. “You know.”
“I found out yesterday…” Tenna shrunk to half a Pippin’s size. “Will you leave me now?”
Battat sighed and took his mask off. “Of course not.” He dropped Mike’s head and looked down at the sniffing TV. “Are you sure?” He asked.
“What do you mean?” Tenna asked and wiped over his screen to dry his tears.
“Do you want me? I’m just a dice boy after all…” He smiled crookedly and let out an awkward laugh.
Tenna frowned. “Of course… and you’re not any dice boy, you’re my dice boy.” He grew and pulled his Pippins into a hug.
Battat sighed. “If I wake up besides my Tenna plushie again, that will be the start of my villain arc.” He said more seriously.
Tenna laughed. “Don’t worry. This is real… and I can be your plushie now.” He nuzzled his friend with his nose. “My lil Battat…”