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The cold place really lives up to its name.
Battat trudged through that inches thick snow with heaving breaths. Every exhale forming blotches of fog. Steps forming shallow pits behind him. He was still in his Mike costume, the thick padded thing making good enough insulation for the cold. He didn't know why he hadn't taken off the stupid thing yet. Heavy and constricting little thing. He should've taken it off earlier. Earlier when he had convinced himself and the rest of the Mikes to strike out.
Earlier, Tenna was bad. Tenna was acting bad. Especially so since one of the Lightners he loved so much has finally visited the studio. Silently watching the host as he tried all his best in all ways necessary. He tried to fix it. Set him straight with a brief talk behind the scenes.
It didn't help.
It didn't convince him to calm down and realize he was getting worse. It didn't convince him that he was acting worse to the people around him. Tenna only stared with an empty screen, a strained smile and ushered him away.
Stubborn Tenna. Stubborn fucking Tenna.
He needed to face the consequences. Face the fact that he was shitty and losing his Mike seemed to be the correct choice at the time. Perhaps it was influenced by Pluey informing him that all of the Shadowguys quit. Perhaps it was the Lightners fighting against Tenna to stop playing. Perhaps it was a thought that was already brewing deep beneath his plastic skin for a long time. It just felt right.
It made Tenna worse, worse than before. Worse to himself more. He never handled people leaving well. All of TV World seemed to know that at a point. Battat, Jongler and Pluey knew that and the reasons why in the most intimate of instances.
Seeing Tenna break down because of it made deep pits form in their stomachs. Uneasy glances shared between the three as they watched from afar.
It was a bad idea.
And Battat— all of them couldn't retract that choice now.
Tenna was alone now. Alone in the cold and they just watched, watched what happened. Tenna's arms being ripped in one slash by The Knight just after a soul heavy fight with the Prophecy's heroes. After emotions were rampant and tears shed. The Mike room had the best view of any area in the studio. The three of them saw it play out with wretched detail.
Pluey ran out first, still sporting his Mike costume (He didn't care, there were more important matters). A strangled tune ringing out of the Shadowguy's mouth. Slipping out of the room with swiftness. So fast that the doors were still swinging when he came to the view of the cold place's cameras. Battat himself felt like he was already in the cold place already, frozen in place. Unmoving until the usually stoic Zapper shook him. Voice eerily quiet yet frantic. Urging the Pippin to go. To go to Tenna.
Battat slowed down when he sees the large body of their boss —boss? Tenna felt more— Pluey was already at him, kneeling by his face. Tapping, pawing at the glitching screen. It flickered on and off. Tenna probably has lost his vision by the looks of it. Jongler on the side, silently inspecting the exposed wires from his shoulders. They had a deeply worried look, scrunched up and all. Their gloved hands hesitatingly brushing off snow. Battat looked around at the vastness of white. The static snow fortunately made finding Tenna's arms easier. The bright red sleeves a contrast.
“Jongler— his arms.”
He rasps out, running to the appendage a few meters away from them. Battat scrambled to it. The zapper perks up at his voice, nodding. Quickly hopping behind the Pippins. They both were terrified, scared if Tenna will even— if Tenna recovers from this. They, as gently as someone can, tug and pull on the arm. Dragging it through snow, keeping an eye on the open wires. Snow, eventually water will deeply damage those intricate wiring. He doubts that there are wire replacements even available anymore.
They were nearing Tenna. From here, they could see some darkners had finally shown up. Surrounding Tenna's body. All worried as they are. All helping or trying to, as they are. The left arm was already being dragged in by a group of zappers, ushered and led by Pluey or well, Mike.
“Keep an eye on the wires! The wires! We ain't got— we ain't got any replacements ya rubberheads!!”
Battat croons in that voice, Mike's raspy old voice. Barely even thinking that this is going to be an issue. The multiplicity of Miike. Though Battat didn't care. There were more important matters.There were more important matters.
They brought the arm as close to Tenna's shoulders. Several darkners sprouting confused noises at them. At the fact that there were two Mikes. Thank Angel Jongler took off theirs.
“Mike? But you're also—”
Elnina vocalizes the question first. Head turning to Pluey and to himself. He responds with an annoyed groan. Letting their voices drown out whilst he kneeled to try and see the damage. He could twist those copper back together? It'd be temporary but at least it'd fix Tenna, it'll ease the pain. Battat pulled off the thick gloves of the costume. The green plastic skin shivering at the cold.
Pluey croons a long note at him and Angel, he was correct, had a point. The three of them certainly couldn't fix him back up alone. Even though as Mikes they knew the ins and outs of Tenna. Heck they even did maintenance on the guy. This kind of damage would take more than 3 pairs of hands to fix. Begrudgingly he snaps his fingers, slipping into the role of Tenna's personal assistant and right hand easily.
“Alrighty. If we want to fix the big boss we need to work together so listen closely, folks.”
There wasn't any playfulness in his tone. There wasn't even the regular charm that he imbued in each line that Mike spoke. Only pure seriousness. The mask of Mike magically mimicking his scrunched up, stressed face under it. Even including the beads of sweat dropping from his forehead to his chin.
“Pippins, go to Tenna's office—I don't care how– and gather up any wires scattered in the drawers there. I don't care just scavenge.”
He points at the group of Pippins. Those who had felt like they belonged and didn't petrify. Which were a good handful. It was a wonder how he didn't already turned into stone. He certainly didn't feel like he belonged with the group of his own kind. A little part of him, deep inside, silently waiting for for that feeling. The coldness deep within him spreading until he couldn't move. Most of the Pippins spared him an odd look, specifically at his ungloved fingers. None said a word though. Just a quick silence and hopped through the snow, back to the studio.
“Zappers— the soldering irons. Any and all soldering irons… We need a ton.”
Battat spares a look at the open wires. Sure some could be twisted to eachother but the places the blade had cut far too close. The action damaging it that the only thing one can do was solder them together. He hears the small group of Zappers leave, their steps crunching loudly against the silent, cold winds.
Pluey nudges his head against his shoulder, a messy comfort in this whole debacle. Battat feels like he was blank, that this was one of those weird nightmare scenarios that his anxious mind came up with in his sleep. It wasn't. He could fully feel everything. Especially the heavy pull right in his chest, worry, regret, pity or fear. He couldn't name it but it was bad.
“We's gotta bringem closer to the studio Boss…”
Battat blinks, back to staring, back to being here. Back to the reality wherein Tenna —oh Angel Tenna— was laid out unconscious, armless and cold. He didn't like he cold, once perhaps but not anymore after the holiday cheer disappeared from the cold place. Not anymore after the lightners left. Battat shrugged Pluey's hold. Putting on the persona that could help, that could save one of the only people he cared about.
Whilst most of the heavy lifters, the Zappers, weren't there to make this dragging job easier. Shadowguys of multitudes were enough. The groups of Shadowguys held onto arms while some helped them and The Weathers with Tenna. Jongler led the dragging, holding onto Tenna's shoulders. Their voice, even though lowly whispering, is one of the sounds apparent in the midst of the rescue. It was a bedtime story. One of Tenna's favorites. One of the Mike's own favorites.
A sickeningly sweet story. A Love story. A love so deep that they promised each other to never leave. A love so strong that in the story, even through thick and thin, they still loved one another, they loved fiercer.
It was sweet. Disgustingly so. It comforted Tenna of course, he yearned for that kind of love. He yearned for someone who would stay. He already had them, he just had to look at them.
“Alright! Essentials are here—” Battat glanced at the bundle of wires and soldering irons as they slumped Tenna near the studio. “—I.. WE don't need you bozos! Leave! Let me focus on fixing the big boss! Hear me!”
Battat yells from the depth of his lungs. The lower darkners scrambled away, hopping off to who knows where. Though, unlike the rest, The Weathers were still here. The Smallest Mike tosses them an odd look. Jongler places a hand on his shoulder.
“They care about Tens too, boss.”
Lanina and Elnino had that look to them. Determined and willed. It would be a losing battle to fight for them to leave. Pluey nods at him. Battat groans deep, tired. He whispers a ‘fine’ and opts to start with the soldering process. Pluey following suit, his shadowed hand has lost its mic gloves for better grip. Jongler was their muscle and assistant for this. Bringing the arms closer and closer for Battat and Pluey to solder it on.
Battat grumbles at the melting snow on the wires. Stealing Tenna's handkerchief from the breast pocket to wipe it away but a warmth hits the area, it was now dry. He looks, He sees Elnino behind them, stick on hand with his magic on full. Pluey responds with a delighted tune.
“I should'ved figured out that Mike was more than one person.”
Elnina starts.
“Thats just means we's done a great job.”
Battat pauses his soldering. Pluey chuckles.
He slowly turns to face Jongler stiffly. He could see the Zapper sweat as the Weathers seemingly, piece it together in their own heads.
“You Rubberhead!!! You just outed us??? Oh my Angel I have hauled my ass off to keep us being Mike under wraps and make a simple explanation of weird Mike magic—!!”
Battat explodes, really wanting to throw his body onto Jongler and pull them by their collar. Jongler was lucky that he was busy. They straighten up at his yelling, then slumping to rub their neck. Pluey reaches out to pat them on their back. Lanina hums in response, Elnino blinks, gazing upon the three.
“Boss, technically yous outed us too.”
Battat could hear that sly smile on Jongler's face, theidiotic kind of smile now that they knew they weren't the only one who screwed up. Battat flushes in embarrassment. He opts to work on Tenna. Pluey laughs loudly in a beautiful tune. Music to his ears literally too.
The Weathers laugh along with him.
“You're not Mike, then?”
Lanino asks.
Battat's eye twitches under the mask.
“We're the Mike you all know and remember. I doubt that you knew the real Mike before us.”
That makes Lanino think, nothing coming from him for a good moment. Battat finally solders most of the upper bunch of wires in Tenna's left arm. Pluey informs them that he also finished most of his parts too. If you'd tell him hours ago that he'd be helping piece together their boss together, Battat would laugh and call you absurd. Though, here he is now, with his partners and some soldering irons.
There was a heaviness in his chest that doubts their work. That doubts that their solders would do anything. That doubts that the bright screen that shone on each of them as Mikes will be back.
Battat forces his shaky hands to steady.
“Why did you do it?” Elnina asks in a whisper.
Battat pauses, he can see Pluey did too.
From what he can decipher, Pluey's tail swished and coiled around himself. Biting his lips in deep thinking. Maybe rethinking why he ever said yes to Battat's proposition of being Mike. Jongler, the best of them, look between their partners and breathes in.
“We's care for him. Too much”
Jongler spews with an honest tone. A bit proud yet hesitant. Neither of them really talked about the reason why they did all of these. All he knows that this stemmed from wanting to help Tenna control himself and give the TV world workers a better day to day. This has gone and become something different now. Battat felt it was less for them, the darkners, but more for him, Tenna.
Pluey agrees with a cue. Letting that buried thoughts be dug up and thrown out. Pluey tells the weathers of wanting Tenna to be better, wanting the best for Tenna, wanting Tenna to be happy in the end. No matter what.
All while Battat was silently listening—it wasn't even listening because halfway he zoned out, only pulled away when he accidentally soldered part of his finger.
Lanina stares at him with a strange look. Soft and something else.
Battat finishes the arm.
Tenna's screen still is dead.
“I always knew there was something between you two.”
Lanina tells with a smile, placing a hand on Tenna's shoulder where he was working on. A bright green glow emanates from her fingers as it meets the host's coat. Healing the TV. From the ripped sleeves, the metallic skin of Tenna slowly stitch together. Battat glares underneath his mask.
“What's that supposed to mean??”
He spits out.
“Its just means wes love da boss like we loves eachother.”
Oh.
Yeah.
He does, they do. They all do.
“Plue's done with his part. Youse can do healing magic right?”
Battat nods.
They love Tenna.
Oh god they love Tenna.
——————————————————
Castle town was weird and new.
They, The ones who were playing Mike, automatically had a room in the town. Apparently bringing darkners in sometimes does that. Which, was good because it would'ved a pain in the rear finding a new room for all of them since staff apartments are no more. Battat saw glimpses of darkners he'd seen before. Pippins that he used to know, Ruddins that he worked with before. Many familiar faces.
Speaking of, he'd not seen Tenna since the incident. The Weathers did visit them nowadays, including times the three of them were just around town or spending time with each other. Jongler had seen him briefly, around the lightners. Especially Susie, she'd helped with healing and putting the last parts of Tenna together. She was even the person who brought him into Castle Town. A kinda big deal since Tenna's light world form is heavy. Kris’ home is also a good walking distance from the school.
Battat expected it to be a normal day.
Pluey runs into the room where he was lying on the cold floor. A message from the shadowguy. A ‘Tenna is coming’ kind of message. He spits it out in frantic notes. Battat jumps from his position and runs through halls of the place. The new place was still large enough for a hall of hats and cat statues. Hidden in the corner was the closet with their costumes. He ushered Pluey to the closet, to hide and to keep him from whatever Tenna was unleashing on Mike for leaving. Pluey protested, making quite valuable points but he took off with the mike suit, the head being held firmly.
Battat arrives at the exact moment. He arrives just as the door opens, he puts the costume fully on as Tenna walks in. Mike stood before the TV with a smile so strained that he can no longer chalk it off with an excuse.
Tenna walked in with a tired expression, tired from entertaining the lightners, tired from healing. There wasn't a specific glow to him, to when he sees Mike. Just silence.
He stands, fiddling with the sweater that replaced his coat. Screen showing him biting his lower lip. Battat wanted to say something, he was supposed to say something but the silence, seeing Tenna, felt like he has already said enough.
Tenna kneels. Tenna kneels before Mike.
“You're not Mike, aren't you?”
It fizzes out from his speakers.
A sad, solemn tone that held a million possible words.
Battat freezes below the layers of facade, below the skin of the suit, below his own lies to Tenna,to himself and to Pluey and Jongler.
He can't say anything.
He can't say anything.
“Please.”
Tenna begs, broken voice, broken expression, he looked desperate for something, for something thats actually real.
“No.”
Battat responds.
Tenna raises his brows at his voice.
The door slams open.
They all startle.
Pluey stands in the doorway, with her suit albeit lacking the hands. Making the shadowed hands be shown off. They had this look of determination and bravery, as if ready to fight off something, ready to fight off a monster. Jongler was right behind. Hands clasped because apparently they were the one who punched open the door. Oddly wearing the Mike jacket they loathe.
“Youse not hurtin da boss, boss!”
Jongler proclaims, loudly, pointing at Tenna.
Tenna, if he had eyes, they would've already bulged right out of his screen. The Pippin bit his lips, a warmth spreading to his cheeks. He buried his face on his palms. Groaning.
Jongler and Pluey take a moment to stare at each other then to the both of them. Like some sort of television bit. Jongler clears their throat, standing tall, kicking the door closed behind them.
Pluey thrills out a mixture of brass and feedback.
“Yeahs we kinda were scared you'd get mad and hurt da boss.”
Jongler visibly sags. Tenna, in his shocked and confused glory, laughs. He laughs, to which then turns into a cackle that leaves the trio to look at each other. Battat still glaring daggers briefly at his others.
Tenna calms down eventually. Wiping an imaginary tear off his screen. Still giggling slightly. The host crouches to their height. A smile instead of the heavy expression that filled his face earlier. Still, it made all of them nervous.
“You're all still him despite everything. My Mike…”
Their collective minds turned into a halt. The previous fear and anxiety being dragged away by Tenna's genuine smile. A smile that made his screen seem to glow warmer. The Mikes released their hold on the others. They unknowingly held each other close by almost an instinct. The glow of Tenna's screen shone onto them, bright and warm. They could see his lips pursing, heaving a deep breath.
“You're… Not mad? Mad that we were impersonating Mike??”
Battat starts talking, as he does, as motormouth Mike does.
“I… I always knew that…you weren't the real Mike.”
Tenna shrunk, unnoticeable to any darkner but they were Mike. Being Mike meant knowing Tenna in every sense, knowing every detail. They noticed it.
“But you… You three cared. Cared so much about an old thing like me. You cared for me when the real Mike didn't. You three were here when he was not.”
Tenna shrinks more. Becoming more closer in height to the trio. He slumps lower in front of them. Screen dark with static buzzing in every now and then. A shaky hand clawing into his thigh. The cord tail tightly coiled around his waist. The three look upon themselves. Uncertain on what they should do next. A nervous face was plastered on Battat's whilst Jongler tried to be calm and collected.
Pluey was the first one to pull away from the huddle. A low thrum of static— a noise he makes to replicate a purr— emanating from him, walking closer to the host. Hands brushing against Tenna's. A form of support or relief. Tenna's screen blinks back to colour. His nose returned with a pop. Gloved fingers comb through the faux fur of the costume.
“Please… Just stay… I can act like nothing happened. I…”
He pauses.
“I need you. All of you.”
Pluey nudged himself closer.
Battat stares, he stares as if trying to bore a hole through Tenna's screen. His feelings, Their feelings, bubbling deep into their chests.
“We're not leaving you. We won't.”
Tenna's namesakes spring up, twitching at his general direction. Pluey lets out a long note of saxophones and mic feedback that makes the Tv's screen turn a light dusty pink. Tenna pulls Pluey closer as a result.
“Pluey's right on da money boss. We wants youse and we hopes you'd want us too…”
Jongler stands, inching closer to the host as he grows bigger and bigger. Perhaps his chest was filled with warmth, his head filled with the knowledge that he was wanted by many more than he had imagined. Battat decides, what the hell sure, and moves to Tenna. The host smiles, mouth quivering from joy.
“Of course I'd want you all! You're the ones who make me feel so… Loved.”
Tenna picks them all up as he finally grows to his full true height. The Mikes, now just sitting on his palms. Tenna smiles stupidly. The smile that haunts Battat's thoughts in the best way possible. The smile that feels like a permanent burn in, forever ingrained in his consciousness. The smile that made him, and his partners, love Tenna.
“Because we do. We all do love you. Why did you think we willingly took upon Mike? It's because we love you, nothing less.”
Tenna leans his head closer to them, his smile becoming wider and wider by the second. The warm pink light from the glow of his screen showering them with affection, with attention. His nose twitches for a moment. Again and again until a flower fully blossoms out of it. Several petals fell at the sudden exit of the flower, which then rained on the Mikes. Tenna seemed to realize what had just happened and laughed ever so softly.
“I… want to learn how to love each one of you…”
The host's screen pushes against them, the bright screen of his almost blinding to all of them. Pluey hugs his screen first, followed only then by Jongler and, finally accepting this, accepting that Tenna still wants them despite not being Mike, Battat. Hugging a Tv screen wasn't out of the norm for them. They used to comfort Tenna when he was degrading, when he was broken. Though this hug, this felt something different.