Archive of Our Own

“An abandoned warehouse!?” 

That familiar tone, dramatically aghast with the slight edge of superior judgement. Even though that critical reaction was aimed directly at his own previous living situation, he couldn’t even be mad. There was nothing but relief and a comfortable sense of familiarity in this man’s presence. Even his uppity attitude was putting a smile on his face that hadn’t seemed to fade since the moment they had reunited earlier that day.

“Hey, when you get thrown into a whole new dimension with nothing but the clothes on your back, you make due with where you’re able to set up residence, Boxhead.” He responded, casting his companion a look that now held his own edge of playful scrutiny. “You know, this dump isn’t any better than where I had set up temporary shop. I hope you weren’t thinking of bragging about how great these flickering fluorescents are, or how comforting these squeaky floorboards sound underfoot. Not to mention that creep of a receptionist down there. He looked like the Crypt Keeper.”

“Okay, okay. You’ve made your point, Wpnz.” His friend replied before he could carry on, giving him a quiet scoff and a roll of his 2D eyes that only made his grin wider. “I forgot how sharp that tongue of yours could be, and how quick you are to jump to the defense. How about we both agree we’ve had an equally tough time with maintaining a decent living situation, hm?”

Wpnz wanted to disagree, he would always be an argumentative type at heart, but this time he would let it slide; for Puzzles’s sake. As run down as the warehouse he had spent many of his previous years in had been, he had lived there alone free of financial responsibility, most threats, and rules.

But this apartment building Mr. Puzzles had chosen for himself? It was in the worst part of town, barely maintained, and had all kinds of strange odors emitting from behind every other tenant’s doors. Not to mention he had made eye contact with a robotic rat while going up the stairs that was dragging what had appeared to be some pizza crust down the steps. Though, it could have also been a piece of unidentifiable flesh, but Wpnz chose not to dwell on that for his own sanity. He had kept every rude remark about the place to himself up until Puzzles’s reaction to his own makeshift home, even ignoring the wires hanging from the ceiling or the broken windows of the hallway as they made their way to Puzzles’s door. But now that they were standing before his apartment, with the number on his door hanging askew by the cheapest metal screw with barely any strength left in it, he couldn’t hold back his tongue anymore.

“You know, I actually do feel inclined to agree with you, Shakespeare. This place is a disaster.” Wpnz conceded, setting a hand on his hip and giving the battered door a scrutinous gaze. “At least tell me you were able to give the place a bit of your creative flare to make it more… homey?”

“I’m afraid you’re going to be disappointed in that regard, my good fellow.” Puzzles sighed, looking genuinely distraught that he wasn’t going to be able to meet any of Wpnz’s expectations; as low as they already were. “I’ve had very little time or… motivation to try and make this place feel like a home while we’ve been separated. I must admit, I’ve had a rough time trying to get back on my feet...”

Wpnz’s brows furrowed at the honesty in his downcasted tone, saddened to hear how much he had struggled as well since they had last seen one another. Hell, when he had first met the guy he had been struggling; he’d broken him out of jail to avoid death row, for Christ's sake! To know how much, even years later, that he was still trying to pick himself back up again made a certain mechanism in his chest ache. A gear inside him that had seemed to be grinding against all others since the moment they had been brought together once again by the call to action alongside many other “villains”.

As if he had read his own mind, Puzzles tuned his face back to a more upbeat expression and puffed out his chest as he reached for his door’s knob.

“But that’s all going to change now! We’ve been recruited, and we’re going to show the world what we can do! We’ll be unstoppable now that we’re back together!”

Wpnz’s previous smile returned in full force, unable to tear his gaze from Puzzles’s determined look and mannerisms as he made his declaration.

This was the Mr. Puzzles he had missed so fiercely. Even during his darkest moments, he had a headstrong knack for finding a bright side and setting a goal he would stop at nothing to work towards. It was a passion Wpnz had lacked all these years, even though he had done a decent job of keeping himself afloat with his hitman jobs. There had been no enjoyment or thrill in carrying them out, not the kind Mr. Puzzles was spouting now. They had only been reunited for less than a day, and yet life was already starting to feel like it had purpose again.

What a corny way to think… Wpnz could almost laugh at how ridiculously sappy he was musing about Puzzles, but he remained quiet and continued to stare at his friend as he carried on.

“But, uh, until we’re drowning in the riches of our newfound successes…” Puzzles seemed to grow sheepish once again, giving Wpnz an almost pleading look before finally pushing his apartment door open. “Do me the respect of not ostracizing my quarters in the meantime…”

The door before them swung inward, squealing on rusty metal hinges until finally coming to a stop. Wpnz did his best to honor Puzzles’s request for civility, but he knew his face was giving away how seeing the TV man’s current living space really made him feel.

It was as dark and run down as the rest of the building, possibly even worse. Had they given Puzzles the cheapest room in the entire complex? The walls weren’t boarded or painted, just straight concrete. Exposed pipes and vents traveled all along the ceiling and surrounding walls, dripping or hissing every few seconds. As for decor, he wondered if he should count the multiple buckets strewn about to catch leaks as part of the minimal furniture he possessed. A worn down couch, a faded rug, a refrigerator, some shelves with miscellaneous cans and books, a barren corkboard, a small dresser, and an old television were all that made up the shabby space.

And crumpled up paper. Lots of crumpled up paper. This seemed to be the thing Mr. Puzzles took notice of first too, because he scrambled inside and began to scoop up each piece one by one until his arms were overflowing with them. He cursed to himself quietly for a while before turning to give Wpnz a tired yet fierce gaze.

“Not a word.” Mr. Puzzles growled.

Mr. Wpnz did a lip zipping motion with his hand and shrugged, crossing his hands behind his back to emphasize how cooperative he was willing to be at Puzzles’s request.

“These are… discarded plans and thoughts. Nothing important.” Mr. Puzzles explained, piling them all in a corner that threatened to topple over the minute he pulled his hands away from the mountain. “I wasn’t expecting guests any time soon… or ever.”

Wpnz nodded, still keeping his mouth shut as he stared at him with a blank expression.

“Ugh, you can speak, Wpnz. Just be tactical about what leaves your lips.” Mr. Puzzles gruffed, standing and crossing his arms as he waited for him to talk.

Oh, how painfully he wanted to give a smart ass retort back. But, Puzzles was obviously feeling enough shame as it was. He needed to lighten the mood somehow.

“You got a bin to throw all that away in instead?” Wpnz asked, pointing at the paper pile and raising a brow.

“Would you have anything nice to say if I said I didn't own one?” Puzzles mumbled.

“Nah, I’d do this instead.”

Wpnz raised his left arm and aimed it at the pile. His hand was replaced with a flamethrower, and it only took a split second for a gush of flames to erupt and douse the flammable stack in ignited napalm. Mr. Puzzles yelped and stepped back as the inferno burst to life, clutching his chest as he watched with pupils visible and constricted in shock. Once the pile was properly singed, Wpnz retracted the flamethrower and brought back his hand again, nodding at the bonfire of ashes with satisfaction.

“There! Problem solved. And your place is lit up too. Win win!”

Puzzles stared at the burning corner with wide eyes, still seemingly startled as he followed the line of smoke from the blaze upwards. Mr. Wpnz had a brief moment of panic at realizing the smoke was going to collect inside and probably fill up the entire building with choking smog, but relaxed as he observed it was exiting through the ceiling through multiple holes in the roof that revealed the night sky.

Lucky, perhaps he shouldn’t have done something so brash and thoughtless…

His momentary regret was snuffed out by a tiny sputtering sound. Letting his gaze fall from the ceiling and back to Puzzles, he saw that his rows of colorful teeth had risen into a small smile that was letting snickering sounds escape. Then the sounds turned to chuckles, then full on laughter as the taller man clutched his stomach and threw a hand over his face. Wpnz knew Mr. Puzzles often laughed when in distress, but this laughter wasn’t deranged like the ones during his usual breakdowns. No, this laugh was charming and full of humor, and infectious.

Mr. Wpnz found himself joining along, his chuckles shaking his body much less than Puzzles, who seemed to be doing everything he could to keep himself stable. Puzzles’s eyes were closed too with a hand holding his face. But Wpnz’s eyes were focused on nothing but Puzzles and his wide smiley mouth belting out a sound he once believed he would never hear again.

I could listen to that genuine laugh of his all night…

“Oh my stars, how I missed your abrasive nature!” Mr. Puzzles finally managed to say through chortles he was trying to subdue. “You still have a knack for surprising me.”

That gear in his chest spun at his accolades. He hoped the glow of the fire hid the heat he was feeling in his face, and hoped the only reason he was feeling so hot and flustered was because he was standing beside a blazing inferno. But he knew deep down what was really causing this burning beneath him…

“Alright, alright. Thank you for that. Haven’t had a good chuckle like that in way too long.” Mr. Puzzles wheezed, reaching for one of his leak catching buckets and stepping back towards the fire. “I should probably put this out before a tenant complains about the smell or reports the building on fire.” He reasoned, tossing the full bucket towards the flames that hissed as the water inside doused it completely.

Surrounded by darkness again, Wpnz eyed the concrete room once more to see if there was any way to bring some life to the place again. A single bulb hung from the ceiling, with a long string beside it that must be its way to switch it on and off. He approached it, taking the delicate string in one of his large hands and giving it a soft tug. The lightbulb struggled to life, casting only a fourth of the room in a muted yellow glow. He frowned, turning to see if perhaps he had missed a lamp or another source of light before his eyes spotted the contents atop the small dresser drawer.

Candles! Those were better than nothing.

Approaching the dresser, he pointed one of his fingers at one of the candle wicks and summed a miniature version of his full arm flamethrower from it. One by one he began to light each candle, finally bringing some more light to the dreary space.

“Oh! Wpnz, uh- that's-” He heard Puzzles begin to stutter, but his attention was already drawn elsewhere as the candle light revealed something significant to him.

There had been a photo frame sitting between all the candles, the picture inside it only visible now thanks to the multiple flames flickering around it. It was a photograph… of himself. He stared at it, taking it in as the candle flames grew brighter.

It had to have been from a news article of some sort, the edges seemed as if they had been torn from something. He was smiling his menacing toothy grin, weapons at the ready as if daring the viewer to take him on.

But only one person had been the sole observer of this photograph for many years, he knew that much. And he knew right away what this little set up was meant to be, because he had put together the exact same thing to honor Puzzles not even twenty-four hours ago. It was a memorial, and judging by the piles of melted candle wax coating the top of the dresser, it had been around for quite some time.

Mr. Puzzles… had made this for him. He had thought about him while they were separated, missed him. Perhaps just as badly as he had?

He was still staring at the frame when Puzzles rushed over and picked it up to hide it against his chest. Wpnz stared up at him, not able to tell what sort of face he was making, but Puzzles was too busy looking away and flushing red to even see for himself.

“I… didn’t think you’d ever see this.” Puzzles spoke quietly, clearly embarrassed.

Shit, he needed to lighten the mood again.

“Why? Cause you thought I was dead?” Mr. Wpnz joked, letting out a few chuckles that silenced quickly at Puzzles’s reaction.

The TV’s face had strained, lowering to the bottom right edge of his screen as if trying to hide completely. His eyes blinked rapidly, as if trying to brush away the deep emotions he didn’t want Wpnz to notice. But it was clear as day what Puzzles was both feeling and thinking in response to his jest.

“Right. Sorry. Course you thought I was dead… We weren’t able to find each other for years, after all.” Wpnz turned away and set his hands on the dresser, letting out a long breath as he tried to grapple with the guilt of upsetting his companion.

“I didn’t ever want to believe that was the fate you had met…” Mr. Puzzles spoke, tilting his head towards the photograph against his chest that he slowly revealed to himself. “But then years passed and… Well, this was all I had left of you. I had no other way to grapple with… that loss.”

“Hey, Boxhead. I wasn’t making fun of your little memorial, honest.” Wpnz reassured him quickly, turning to stare up at him with hopefully a soft gaze. “I wasn’t judging the little set up for even a split second, I promise. I was just… well, touched you would do something like that for a guy like me.”

“Why wouldn’t I?” Mr. Puzzles blinked at him as if unable to comprehend what he had just said. “You were my… best friend.”

Best friend.

Puzzles had never referred to him as such before. As much as it made his chest expand with affection, it also pained him. He didn’t exactly feel worthy of such a title, especially when the last few hours before they had been separated inside the portal had been spent attempting to kill the guy. But they had made up, mended their relationship and forgave each other. And when Puzzles had jumped into the portal to give his life away and close it to save everyone, he had joined him without a second thought.

As grandiose as the act had been, choosing to possibly die hand and hand with the other man, did that earn him the title of best friend?

Did he even think of Puzzles as his best friend?

Yes… of course I do.

Despite the fact he was in a whole new dimension and Mr. Puzzles was the only other person from his world that he now knew, he knew deep down he would still consider the man his closest confidant in any universe, even back home. Whether the two of them both understood it or not, they seemed bonded together forever now, perhaps even by fate. After all, what had the chances been that even after being separated in the portal wormhole, they could both manage to end up back together again?

Of course Mr. Puzzles’s was his best friend. He had searched for him endlessly once he was spit out into this new world. He had spent countless hours thinking about him, researching any signs of his whereabouts, questioning people, criticizing himself for being unable to trace anything to his location, drinking his regret away on many different occasions. Mr. Puzzles’s disappearance had weighed on him for years, and even thinking the notion he may be deceased fueled him with rage big enough to burn every city down until he was found.

But if he had learned anything after losing Karen and his kids, it was that rage in the end did nothing good for anyone. Especially himself.

So, he turned his rage into productivity. He worked. He took up hitman jobs, and when he wasn’t killing for a quick buck he was putting every cent into finding Puzzles. And he never stopped looking… until last night. He had finally given up his search, but not his hope. Even after building his own memorial of candles, televisions, and inscribing the man’s name in bullet holes on the warehouse walls, he didn’t treat it as a goodbye; but as a gesture of hope that someday they could see each other again in this life…

And here the man was, standing before him holding a picture of his own self in his palms. Calling him his best friend…

If only he knew just how strongly he returned the notion. He wanted him to know…

“Don’t think I didn’t do the exact same thing, Boxhead.” He remarked, watching with satisfaction as Puzzles’s eyes widened slightly at the revelation.

“Really? You had a memorial of me too?” Puzzles inquired, tilting his head as he asked.

“Mhm.” Wpnz nodded, “If you can call an evidence board with red string all connecting to a photo of you in the middle a proper memorial. Or a pile of tvs and candles with your name carved in concrete above them all. Trust me, Shakespeare, you have nothing to feel embarrassed about compared to what I put together.”

Mr. Puzzles let out a single sound of laughter, clutching the photo of Wpnz to his chest as he took in what he had just told him.

“Gosh, well… never mind then. And here I thought I was the one most versed in theatrics.” He commented, reaching to place the photograph back between the lit candles and adjusting it to his liking. “I hope you know that I’m going to ask you now to visit that warehouse and see these feats of admiration for myself.”

“Nope, sorry. Already have plans to detonate the whole place. Bomb squad is already mobilizing as we speak.” Wpnz quipped, setting his hands on his hips and tilting his chin upwards with feigned dignity.

“Oh, come on! You owe me after seeing my own. I bet it pales in comparison.” Mr. Puzzles bantered, poking Wpnz’s chest playfully.

“You bet your ass.” Wpnz grinned, lightly smacking the hand retreating from his chest in a gentle manner. “You brag plenty about the little shows and displays you’re able to put on, but I can make one hell of a gesture when I want to.”

“I know you can.” Puzzles chuckled, the comment lined with fondness that made Wpnz want to keep up the playful back and forth forever. But instead, Puzzles reached into his pocket and pulled out something that made all of Wpnz’s pride melt away. “This one is still my favorite.” He told him, lifting the object towards him.

Outlined by the warm candle light, Wpnz stared in both awe and resounding sentiment at the bullet casing between Mr. Puzzles’s fingers. The exact same bullet he had given him after their escape from the Death Cube, the one that had marked the memory of the night they had become friends. Best friends…

“Perhaps it isn’t as big or grand as the memorials you just described, but it holds the most meaning to me…” Puzzles explained, twirling it around slightly as he continued to stare at it.

Mr. Wpnz found himself mindlessly reaching a hand out, and Mr. Puzzles responded by setting the casing in his open palm. It was his turn to gawk and muse at the bullet now, watching the reflection of the fire beside them dance along its shiny surface. It was such a generic little thing, common and small. And yet, it represented the very core of their friendship.

“I never thought I’d see this again…” Wpnz uttered, smiling as he rolled it back and forth in his hand. “You kept it all this time?”

“Of course I did.” Puzzles placed one of his hands against his chest, clutching it with his other hand as he stared down at Wpnz with a look full of tenderness. “My best friend gave it to me.”

Wpnz’s inner mechanisms whirred at his words, and he forced himself to stay cooled enough so that steam wouldn’t escape his barrels on his shoulders. Puzzles still had a way with words, that was for sure.

“Well… your best friend appreciates it.” Wpnz responded, reaching to hand it back. “More than he’s probably able to ever say out loud.”

Puzzles’s face seemed to ignite with its own fire at the reciprocation of being Wpnz’s “best friend”. He could tell he was probably doing his best to remain casual, but there was no hiding the red wave forms striping the middle of his screen.

Wpnz had always found the way he blushed pretty endearing…

“That’s alright.” Mr. Puzzles finally responded, reaching for the bullet slowly as he spoke. But instead of taking it back, he laid his palm in Wpnz’s own where the bullet now lay between their grasps. “I don’t need a lot of fancy words to know what you mean to me.”

The gears in his chest went into overdrive, and suddenly all his joints felt as if they hadn’t been oiled in decades. Damn it, this man was going to do him in with all these sappy little quips. Had Wpnz really grown this sentimentally gushy after so much time apart? What had happened to the hardened, immovable, badass killer he used to be?

Well, he still was that killer… but not around Puzzles.

Fuck, he hoped he wasn’t blue in the face with blush.

“Y-yeah, that’s your job, Shakespeare.” Mr. Wpnz finally quipped back, pulling his clammy hand away softly and turning around to both hide his face and to adjust his coat that had grown way too hot over his body for his liking. “You, uh, got a place where I can set my jacket?”

“Only safe place is across the couch, I’m afraid. No coat rack yet. I’ll look into investing in one for you.” Mr. Puzzles informed him from behind.

He was about to take the jacket off himself, but felt Puzzles’s hands on his shoulders tugging the article of clothing away before he could even process a proper way to respond to his touch.

“Here, I’ll get that for you.” Puzzles told him earnestly, his tone soft and oozing with a saccharine twang that made it suddenly hard for Wpnz to form words.

“Thanks, Puzz.” He managed to utter, letting his arms go slack as he was freed of his oversized jacket at last. Even with his body now liberated of the sweltering layer, he still felt incredibly warm.

He turned slowly to see Mr. Puzzles approach the weathered couch, watching as he tossed it up to splay the coat out fully before laying it across the back of the cushions. He flattened any creases and wrinkles with his palms attentively, only stepping away when he was satisfied with how it was draped.

“Perfect! Now-” Puzzles clapped his hands together, shoulders lifting as he turned on one shoe back towards Wpnz with a smile still lining the bottom of his screen. “This calls for a celebration, don’t you think? Our reunion and our new line of work? That deserves to be acknowledged!”

Puzzles turned to shuffle over to what made up his kitchen space, removing his hat from atop his head and setting it atop the fridge. He then bent half his height down to open the refrigerator doors, eyeballing the contents with a serious “hmmm…” humming from his lips.

“I’m surprised that thing is running properly in this shithole.” Wpnz remarked, snapping his jaw shut when Puzzles turned to raise a brow in his direction. “Right, still under the “If I can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all” oath. My bad.”

“You’d be wise to try and follow that request too. Unless you don’t want to make a proper toast.” Puzzles quipped, pulling out a corked bottle of alcohol from within the very back of the fridge. “I knew I wasn’t being overly optimistic for saving this beauty for a special occasion. And yes, I can see you fighting the urge to ask if I even own glasses to make a toast with.”

Wpnz snorted, entertained by how easily Puzzles could guess every little thought going on in his head sometimes. He just hoped the more embarrassing ones weren’t so apparent…

Mr. Puzzles extended one of his long arms over the top of the fridge, retrieving two skinny, tulip shaped glasses from the very back. Wpnz was impressed for the first time that night, as well as amused that of course before essential things like a bed or a functioning source of light, Mr. Puzzles would own a set of glasses for champagne.

It was very eccentric. Very Mr. Puzzles.

“Come sit!” Puzzles called, plopping onto the right side of the couch and patting the empty seat beside him for Wpnz to join. “We’ve had a long day. It’s time to relax.”

“Alright, alright.” Wpnz huffed with a grin, grabbing at the knife that served as a tie around his neck and letting it loosen until it was freed. “I’d hate to drink from probably the only thing in your fridge right now, but I guess we have a lot to be celebratory about, huh?”

“Indeed we do, Mr. Wpnz. Indeed we do.” Puzzles nodded, looking both delighted and smug at the prospect. He had one of his empty buckets turned upside down beside the couch, the champagne glasses set atop it as he readied the bottle in his palms.

“Then pour me a glass, Broadway.” Wpnz encouraged, laying his tie across his jacket before plopping down beside Mr. Puzzles on the couch.

“Right away, old pal.” Puzzles nodded and pointed a finger at the bottle, readying an electrifying blast as a blue bolt began to build on the tip of his finger.

“Woah, what are you doing?” Wpnz interrupted.

“Uh, dramatically opening the cork to our celebratory champagne?” Puzzles replied.

“Why not… pop it normally?” Wpnz questioned.

“Now where’s the flare and fun in doing things the normal way?” Puzzles argued, turning back to the bottle to give the cork the blast he had been building up.

The cork went flying, zipping towards the ceiling, down to the ground, against the wall in front of them, and then bounced back to hit Wpnz square in his right eye. Wpnz didn’t even shriek in pain, just sat there while his eye remained shut tightly as he processed the impact. Meanwhile, Puzzles’s eyes had turned to small black dots and his mouth was nowhere to be seen, staring at Wpnz as if waiting for an implosion to go off.

In the past, Wpnz could have reacted in anger, especially since he was vindicated in his suggestion of Puzzles opening the bottle the “correct” way. But there was no madness coursing through his wires, just a sense of bewildered hilarity at the outcome of Puzzles’s actions.

“Mazel tov…” Wpnz grumbled finally once the pain had lessened, blinking his injured eye slightly as he attempted to open it once again.

“Oh, God. That one is on me, Wpnz. I’m so sorry.” Puzzles apologies began to run like a stream as he stared at Wpnz’s injury. “Please tell me your eye is alright, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“I’m perfectly fine, Boxhead, it was just a-” Wpnz began to try and mend his fretting, but froze as he felt Puzzles’s hand on his cheek. He was using it to inspect his eye closely, and as he finally began to regain his full vision back it was Puzzles’s face that came into full view before him. “A... an accident…”

“Yes, an accident caused by me. I should have listened to you…” Puzzles lamented, tilting his jaw left and right as he inspected his eye further. “Oh, I hope it doesn’t swell up. What will the others think tomorrow if you arrive at work with a black eye? Here.”

His warm hand was removed, replaced by the gentle press of the champagne bottle now. It chilled his burning metal, abating both the pain and flush that had built under Puzzles’s gentle touch he wished hadn’t been taken from his face so soon.

“I think they’d think I’m working overtime outside of office hours with my villain work.” Wpnz joked, trying to make him feel less guilty. “I think a black eye could make me look even more bad ass than usual, yeah?”

“I had no idea such a thing was even possible…” Puzzles replied, still sounding incredibly ashamed and worried despite the response to his light hearted jest. “Is that helping?”

“Yes. It’s soothing.” Wpnz reassured him, holding the bottle to his eye and giving him a comforting grin. “Dang, look at us. Not even back together for a whole day before one of us injures the other. Glad to know things are on track to getting back to normal.”

“I don’t try to hurt you, you know!” Mr. Puzzles huffed, giving him a look that made Mr. Wpnz want to both pet the top of his head like comforting a hurt puppy and smack his shoulder for being so worked up. “I’m afraid we may just be cursed to be prone to constant injury.”

“Then stop feeling sorry for yourself, yeah? How about be mad at the universe instead? It’s what got us in this mess in the first place.” Wpnz reasoned, half joking and half meaning it.

“What do you mean?” Mr. Puzzles seemed intrigued by the comment, his shame melting away to be replaced by curiosity.

“It’s why we got separated, ya know? The dumb universe ripped us away and kept us apart for so long? It’s like it was playing a cruel joke on us.” Wpnz explained, waving his hand to-and-fro as he spoke.

“You… really think that?” Puzzles seemed hesitant to clarify what he had just said.

“Yeah. Fuck the universe.” Wpnz raised his free hand to the sky, lifting his middle finger briefly before lowering his arm to let it lay across the back of the couch. “That’s what I think.”

“I’m… surprised.” Puzzles mumbled, reaching to fiddle with his bowtie.

“Why?” It was Wpnz’s turn to be curious now.

“Because… I’d believed, and I had believed you thought this way deep down all this time too, that all of that’s happened… has been my fault.” Mr. Puzzles admitted, unable to meet his gaze as he stared at the rug under the couch instead. “It is all my fault, isn’t it?”

Mr. Wpnz felt thrown off by the somber question, realizing only then that of course this had been something Puzzles had been grappling with all these years too. Not only had he dealt with the same grief of losing his closest friend like he had, but he had the weight of his own responsibility on his shoulders to deal with too.

Because if Wpnz was to be completely, one hundred percent, blatantly realistic about the way things had all ended up… It was Puzzles’s fault. He had lured him into a plan to betray him and trick the SMG4 crew. He had decided to mess with time and tore a hole in the universe. The very hole they had both jumped into to close and save everyone at the potential cost of their lives.

But Wpnz didn’t hold any of those actions against Puzzles. In fact, he acknowledged his own part he played in the outcome of their current positions. It was his fight with Karen and his kids that had led him to accept Mr. Puzzles’s proposition of erasing his memories. He had also aided in Puzzles’s plan against SMG4, agreeing to steal and kidnap for Puzzles. He had also fought against them on the side of their nemesis, almost going through with killing Puzzles before he had a change of heart. And it was him alone who had chosen to join Mr. Puzzles in the portal, no one had made him do that.

Recalling all these memories, he felt his own guilt he had fought to overcome for years rising to the surface. A guilt he had never succeeded in stamping out. Because when they were flying around in the portal wormhole, lost in the turbulence of rushing universes, he had been the one that let Puzzles slip from his grasp. They may have ended up in this new dimension because of Mr. Puzzles, but they could have at least been together this whole time if only he had not let go…

“It’s no more your fault than it is mine, Shakespeare…” Wpnz finally responded, meeting Puzzles’s eyes as he watched the TV turn to stare at him with perplexity.

“Your fault? Wpnz, how is any of this your fault?” Puzzles asked, sounding bewildered.

“I let go…” Wpnz lowered the champagne bottle from his eye, a new pain building in his chest he was honing in on. “We should have ended up in this world together from the start, but I let you go in the portal.”

“You didn’t mean to.” Puzzles consoled, looking as if he wanted to reach out and comfort him but he kept his arms pressed to his own chest. “I know you did your best to hold onto me, that portal was just pure insanity. The fact we managed to hold onto one another for as long as we did is still a miracle. Wpnz… I don’t blame you for our separation-”

“But I do!” Wpnz cut him off, staring at him with a severity he hadn’t meant to slip through. He was mindful to lower his voice before speaking again, sighing and looking away from Puzzles this time to make the honesty in his words easier to admit.

“I blame myself for letting go, Boxhead. I believed this whole time we could have both survived if I had just held on… You’ve been alive all this time, yes, but if we had been together from the start then you wouldn’t have had to be alone, or settle for a shitty place to live, or believe all this time I would blame you for our separation. I don’t blame you, Puzz, for any of it. That’s water under the bridge. I just… wish I could have held on.”

Silence filled the space between them once he had finished speaking. He cringed inwardly, assuming he had dampened what was supposed to be a moment of celebration between them. So much for a celebratory toast, Wpnz just had to make things depressing for them both.

And yet, when he finally worked up the nerve to look his friend’s way with full intent of apologizing for spoiling their fun, his eyes met a teary eyed Puzzles who was gazing at him genuinely enough to take his breath away. And he almost did as he reached for his hand, sliding his fingers between his own until they were locked together gently.

“You… you can hold on now.” Puzzles told him, his eyes never leaving his line of sight. “I’m here now.”

The gear in his chest sprang loose, and every emotion he had ever bottled up since their separation released. In sync, the pair fell into one another's arms and hugged the other tight enough to bend metal. Wpnz hoped he wasn’t squeezing the life out of him, but even if he was he didn’t think he had the willpower to lessen his hold on the man he had sought out so desperately for years.

All those sleepless nights, all that anger, all that self blame, all the people he had brought down trying to find him, it was finally all worth it. He was here in his arms, by some miraculous miracle they were back together.

He felt Puzzles’s shoulders shake under his grasp and knew the poor man must be crying. Wpnz wasn’t much of a crier, but that didn’t stop him from feeling out every painful emotion he possibly could as he finally let himself fully embrace the friend he had once thought lost.

“I… never took you for much of a hugger.” He muttered, unsure of what to say after their hug had carried on for quite longer than expected.

“I could say the same about you.” Puzzles quipped back, voice sweet despite the emotions.

“You kidding? You seen the size of my arms? I’m a great hugger.” Wpnz joked, hugging Puzzles a little tighter to make his point.

“I’m sorry you carried that guilt with you all this time.” He heard Puzzles sniffle over his shoulder, his voice low and strained. “We ought to forgive ourselves, don’t you think? It’s such a cruel irony that I carried the same guilt with me all this time too.”

“Yeah… maybe we’re both just idiots.” Wpnz told him good humoredly.

“Maybe…” Puzzles finally pulled away from their hug, wiping digital tears from his eyes as he tried to make himself presentable again. “At least we can be idiots together now, though.”

Wpnz grinned with amusement at his comment, then had an idea. Taking the open champagne bottle, he poured an even amount of alcohol in each glass and handed one to Puzzles. Once the TV man had accepted his glass, Wpnz raised his own drink high.

“To being idiots together from now on.” Wpnz toasted.

“To being idiots…” Puzzles chuckled as he said the words, lifting his glass to Wpnz’s own to join his toast. “And to the best friend I’ve ever made. Things will be better for the both of us now that we have each other's backs. I’m certain of it.”

As Mr. Puzzles clinked their glasses together and tilted his drink up to take a dainty sip, Wpnz for the first time felt he could put faith in that notion. Things would be better, as long as Mr. Puzzles was by his side.

I’ve really grown attached to him, haven’t I? He thought to himself, taking a sip and letting the bubbly liquor warm his inner machinery. I guess that would explain all these recent weird, warm, fuzzy feelings… How embarrassing.

He couldn’t even be bothered at the prospect of probably holding a deeper affection for this strange man he now seemed forever bonded to. With how much time he had put into finding him, almost to the point of obsession, he had to simply accept a part of him cared for and adored the TV man well beyond the terms of just friendship. That fact should have perturbed him, and yet he couldn’t stop smiling.

All he wanted to do was sit on this crummy old couch and stare at him, which was easy given how close they were still sitting together. Gazing down at their thighs, they had become pressed against one another after their hug, and neither seemed to want to move away as they continued to sip on their drinks respectively. Wpnz was okay with this, more than okay with it he realized. Part of him wished he was closer, in fact.

Freak… He scolded himself, yet kept his eyes on Puzzles as he took another sip of his champagne.

“How’s your eye doing?” Puzzles asked, tilting his head to stare at his pupil again.

“Feels okay. Does it look okay?” He asked, enjoying the attention on his face Puzzles was giving him.

“Hard to tell if it's turning black with those eyebags of yours…” Puzzles hummed, reaching to take his cheek in his palm again as he leaned in to observe further. “You may be lucky, looks like you won’t be getting a shiner today.”

Wpnz’s body was starting to fire on all cylinders at the sensation of Puzzles’s touch, it took all of his restraint not to let his face turn any more shades of blue than it already had previously.

“Darn, and here I thought I’d be able to let you brag to the other villains tomorrow that you managed to land a lucky blow on me.” Wpnz joked, letting his face lean into his palm ever so slightly.

“Really? You would have told them all that I had punched you?” Puzzles raised a brow at him and cast him a teasing look. “Mr. Wpnz, think of your pride!”

“Hey, I’m just trying to help you look good in front of our new coworkers.” Wpnz bantered, shrugging and casting his eyes elsewhere.

“I don’t need your help with that, Wpnz dear.” Mr. Puzzles cooed, removing his hand to boop the space between his eyes with a single finger. “I know I look good at all times.”

So do I… Wpnz wanted to say aloud, but Puzzles kept talking before he got a chance.

“And, you don’t need a glossy swollen eye to impress anyone either. You’re mighty impressive all on your own.” The TV man commended.

Wpnz almost gaped at how witty and charming Puzzles was with his compliments. It had been years since any sort of banter, flirtatious or not, had left him speechless. And yet, here he was flustered enough to let a little bit of steam seep from his shoulder cannons. He coughed, adjusting his position to wave the visible fumes away, praying somehow Puzzles had not noticed such a visceral reaction.

“Sure hope you don’t doubt your talking skills either.” Wpnz spoke up, wanting to keep the moment chugging along before Puzzles realized the effect he was having on him. “I’d say that’s your strongest asset.”

“Really? Why thank you, Wpnz.”

Puzzles leaned back against the couch where Wpnz’s arm just so happened to be perched, which made Wpnz wonder if he had meant to make himself now even more in contact with his own body. He wouldn’t complain… He let his fingers settle on Puzzles’s shoulder ever so slightly.

“I try to keep up the consideration and deliberateness of my literacy.” Puzzles continued to brag, “I can’t leave all the charming speeches and pep talks up to you, now can I?”

“You think I’m charming?” Wpnz couldn’t resist a flirt, smirking at the TV man as he moved his arm back towards himself to attempt to lean his face on his palm in a charming manner. This only put pressure on his injured right eye, and he winced with visible pain and pulled his face away in response.

“Oh, it does still hurt, doesn’t it?” Puzzles’s enticing expression fell back into one of concern, scooting a bit closer to look at his eye once more.

“Barely.” Wpnz grumbled, turning the right side of his face away with annoyance that his injury was getting in the way of their back and forth teasing.

“Oh, Wpnz.” Puzzles sighed, reaching for his face once more to stare at his injury with light concern. “You are charming, but hiding your pain isn’t, you know?”

“What? You’re not bewitched by my tough as steel attitude?” Wpnz jested, enjoying the feeling of being in Puzzles’s hold once more.

“Only partially.” Puzzles told him, eyes wavering from his injury to his pupils slightly.

“Then what fully captures your attention, hm?” He pressed, risking setting his hand against Puzzles’s palm to hold it in place. “Surely you owe me that fun little answer after injuring my poor, poor eye.”

Red lines streaked across Puzzles’s face, at last he had managed to fluster him back.

“C’mon Boxhead, spill the beans.” He insisted further, grinning rows of sharp yellow teeth his way.

“Fine.” Puzzles squared his shoulders and took a breath in as if mustering courage to give him the truth. “If you’d really like to know, I find your conversations quite engaging and entertaining. Your demeanor is also quite enjoyable, I find myself able to mesh with your personality and humor quite consistently. You are also good at providing life advice and inspiring a sense of motivation within me. There. Good enough for you?”

“That sounded like a bunch of formative essay nonsense. I was hoping for something a bit more direct like “you’re attractive, you’re a good flirt, you have hot muscles.” Ya know?” Wpnz poked fun at him, flexing the arm that was holding his glass in to show off his build.

“Now how would that be any more tactfully complimentary than everything I just said?” Puzzles seemed offended by the very idea of using any of Wpnz’s suggested compliments, which caused Wpnz to laugh. “You expect me to be that crass?”

“I guess it wouldn’t be your style, huh Shakespeare? You’re right, your ridiculous way with words is much more enchanting.” Wpnz laughed again, enjoying the way Puzzles was trying to look pissed at him but failing thanks to the smile building across his screen.

“You’re a real pain in the ass, Mr. Wpnz.” Puzzles said aloud, his hand still holding his face beneath his own.

“I know. But a loveable pain in the ass, right?” Wpnz quipped back.

“I’m afraid so,” Puzzles agreed with a release of exasperated air. “You make it so very hard to be mad at you.”

“How could you ever be mad at this handsome mug?” Wpnz leaned his chin upwards, grinning at him again.

“I can’t. Especially with such an enormous black eye. You poor fletchling…” Puzzles cooed.

“What? Wait, am I really getting a black eye now?” Wpnz believed him for a split second, but was soon glaring at him as Puzzles burst into laughter, removing his hand from his face to point his way.

“Oh, so gullible! I’ve missed how easy it is to trick you!” Puzzles snickered, his glass spilling droplets of champagne onto the couch as his shoulders bounced.

“You asshole.” Wpnz growled, no real malice in his tone. “You’re lucky it’s hard for me to be mad at you too.”

“How progressive of you, Wpnz. Why, if this had been us a few years ago when we had first met you would be threatening to give me a real black eye for pulling such a stunt at your expense.” Puzzles mused, waving a hand as he recalled days past.

“You’re lucky I’ve worked hard on myself, Boxhead. Though, don’t push your luck.” Wpnz warned him teasingly.

“Oh, please, my dear Wpnz, you don’t frighten me. I know you wouldn’t do such a thing anymore. You love me too much.” Puzzles responded with confidence, twirling a finger around at the collar of Wpnz’s dress shirt to make a point of how little he feared him.

“I just might, Boxhead.”

The private thought that had meant to be spoken internally had somehow come out vocally. Shit.

Puzzles’s face blipped into a pink hue, and his eyes grew wide and intrigued by what he had just uttered. “Come again?”

“What?” Wpnz played dumb.

“Did you just agree that you love me?” Puzzles repeated, causing Wpnz to lean away animatedly.

“Whaaaaaaattt? Where did you hear that?” Wpnz sang.

“Your own lips, Mr. Wpnz. I’m pretty certain of it.” Mr. Puzzles’s face suddenly became enthralled with mischief, moving to his knees to crawl towards him now. “Oh, do say it again so I know I’m not misunderstanding.”

“Nuh uh, nope. You’re hearing things.” Wpnz refused his request, turning his face away purposefully to hide the blue seeping into his cheeks. He couldn’t believe he had let the flirtatious banter go to such a place of deep honesty. Hadn’t they just reunited? It was way too soon to be making declarations of love this early on.

“There’s no need to be so embarrassed, Wpnz. Aren’t you even remotely interested to know if I possibly reciprocate?” Puzzles proposed, which made Wpnz finally freeze in place.

“Maybe.” He mumbled.

“Well, then I need to know. Did you mean it? Do you love me?” Puzzles probed, his tall body hovering slightly over Wpnz’s own in a manner that made it incredibly difficult to hide anything he was feeling inside or out.

He had nowhere to go but the truth.

“Fine, you nosey little CRT. Do you want me to just say “yes”? Or perhaps “I spent the last few years searching for you and you alone tirelessly to the point of overworking, under sleeping, and overdrinking myself into stupors because the idea of losing you was too much to ever accept and bear.”? That better? Shouldn’t take a genius to work out what all that means…”

“Oh, Wpnz…” Puzzles backed off now, giving him space aside from a hand he let settle back against the uninjured side of Wpnz’s face. “I do love that snarky attitude of yours, but your brash honesty as well.”

Wpnz was about to retort something crude back at him, but halted as Puzzles leaned forward to press his screen against the barrels of his head guns. He heard the sound of a kiss being planted against them, and felt a spark of warmth that sent waves of butterflies all the way to his stomach. He blinked rapidly, taking in the fact Puzzles had just kissed him as well as his own confession at the same time.

“And you call me dramatic.” Puzzles commented, lowering his hand from his face now and seeming shy all of a sudden. “Forgive me if the kiss was ill timed, I’m unsure if that was appropriate, I haven’t exactly done that before…”

“No, it was nice...” Wpnz told him, his eyes focusing on Puzzles’s face now.

“Good. Good. Then you know how I feel about you as well now. What, uh… do you think about that?” Puzzles asked him timidly, hands fidgeting nervously as he waited for his response.

“I think I want to kiss you back.” Wpnz told him blatantly.

“Oh! Well that’s a, um, that’s a very… enticing offer. How do I accept?” Puzzles stuttered, his screen flashing all sorts of pinks and reds as he seemed to be fumbling his previous confidence.

But Wpnz still had a grasp on his own.

Setting his drink aside, he cupped the side of Puzzles’s TV head in his bigger palm and pulled him towards his face. But he didn’t go in for a forehead kiss like he had. Nope, he planted his lips straight against Puzzles’s own. He heard Puzzles’s internal fans kick into their top speed as he kissed him, and his screen grew so hot it almost burned his metal skin to be pressed so flush against it. But he remained until the kiss felt properly given, pulling away with satisfaction once he had finished delivering it.

His sense of accomplishment only heightened as he got a full look at how Puzzles was reacting to his kiss, his screen deep red and face almost blank as if he was buffering. But he blinked back into consciousness after a few moments more of processing what had just transpired, and stared at Wpnz with all sorts of looks of awe, thrill, and bashfulness.

“M-my my! That was an unexpected outcome of the night. Haha.” Puzzles sounded out of breath, his fingers rising to touch the area Mr. Wpnz had kissed. “I truly had no idea you felt so strongly, Wpnz… I must say, I’m a bit starstruck…”

“Hey, you wanted to know how I felt, didn’t you?” Wpnz reiterated.

“I did indeed. I just got a bit more than I had ever bargained for. I feel like I should count myself lucky…” Puzzles rambled, brushing his fingers over his mouth which was rising into a goofy yet loveable grin.

“Well, I feel lucky too, you know? Not just an exclusively Puzzles thing you’re feeling…” Wpnz admitted to him, trying not to feel too shy himself now. He was a grown adult who had prior relationships, he should be used to this whole confession shmuck. But for some reason with Puzzles, it was making him feel youthfully sheepish again.

Puzzles seemed to pick up on this, grinning and inching towards him again on his knees. His hands reached to cup Wpnz’s face, minding his injury as he looked down at him now with a look enchanted enough to make him freeze in place.

“I’m glad to know how mutual this connection we have truly is then, dear. It’s as plain as the deep blue on your face, and I’m not talking black eyes…” Puzzles told him, tilting his head around as if he was admiring the colors he described.

Wpnz heard the sound of his shoulder cannons wheeze, plumes of steam rising up towards Puzzles’s screen. He felt incredibly embarrassed of how visible his captivation of him was now on display, but at least Puzzles didn’t seem to mind. In fact, it only seemed to fuel his confidence.

“You’re so precious, Wpnz. I’m almost as honored to see this side of you as I am to know you feel so strongly for someone like me.” Puzzles praised him, his thumbs stroking his face as his expression suddenly grew more emotional. “I… never really believed anyone was capable of feeling such a way for me. You have no idea how grateful I am to know that it's you…”

Mr. Wpnz’s chest swelled so tightly with affection he thought it may burst. As confident as Mr. Puzzles usually tried to present himself as, especially around strangers and people he was trying to impress, it pained him to know just how little he thought of himself deep down. Did he not see how truly charming he was? How capturing, funny, and fun he was to be around? It was what had drawn Wpnz in from the beginning, but now there was so much more that had made Wpnz feel deeper for the TV man than ever before.

He was fearless even when he was afraid. He was willing to take risks for others, even at the cost of his own self, and he truly cared for Wpnz against all odds. More than cared about him, he loved him. He had given up on love ever since he broke things off with Karen and the kids, assuming with his temper and occupation he was not capable of maintaining it or gaining it ever again. But Puzzles loved him. Even when he had given him every reason to not to, he had never given up on mending the friendship he had hurt, nor had he abandoned his feelings for him after all these years apart.

It touched him, warming a part of his core that had long stayed stationary.

Mr. Wpnz wrapped his large arms around Puzzles’s torso, hugging him until he was able to lean his chin on the taller man’s chest. He stared up at him, taking him all in. The beat of his robotic heart, the warmth of his body beneath his dress clothes, the dip of his back under his finger tips, the colorful grin on his screen, his multicolored eyes brimming with love. Love for him. He hoped whatever gaze he was giving him back, that it was just as tender as the one staring down at him.

“Exquisite…” Puzzles whispered, stroking his face as he uttered the compliment of adoration. “I’m afraid I adore you, Wpnz my dear.”

“I thought I didn’t frighten you…” Wpnz teased him, blinking his lidded eyes up at him knowingly.

“I am afraid of maintaining this feeling with you, My Star… I’m not sure what I would ever do with myself if I managed to mess this up too or lose you again…” Puzzles admitted, his antennas drooping at the sad possibility.

“Then don’t.” Wpnz replied, knowing it was an easier said then done answer. But he meant it. “If you don’t, then I won’t either.”

“Promise?” Puzzles murmured.

“Cross my heart.” Wpnz replied.

“Oh, please don’t finish that notion with you hope to die.” Puzzles begged playfully.

“Okay. I’ll just finish it by saying stick a champagne bottle cork in my eye. How’s that?” Wpnz quipped back.

“Ugh, you’re never going to let me live that down, are you?” Puzzles gruffed, squinting at him with an annoyed yet loving glare.

“Afraid not. This is what you signed up for when you chose to love my smart ass.” Wpnz told him, giving him a grin before sticking out his tongue childishly.

“I suppose so.” Puzzles pretended to sound exhausted, but he smiled all the same. “What am I to do with you?”

“We could kiss again,” Wpnz suggested, cuddling up to him a bit closer. “That sound fair?”

“Oh, fine. But only because you look devilishly cute from this angle.” Puzzles told him, clutching his face as he leaned in to close the distance between them.

Wpnz met him halfway, eager to rejoin his lips in a union once more. Now that Puzzles was kissing him back, he felt double the amount of sparks skip through his wires as the pair fell into a passionate lip lock. He would have never believed Mr. Puzzles had little to no experience in this, the way he tilted his head into his own and was starting to trail a hand across his gun barrels upon his head could have convinced him he was well versed in this craft.

Wpnz’s own hands were trailing over Puzzles’s torso up and down, his waist small enough to almost meet both hands together in a conjoined hold. He loved how despite his incredible height, how small his body felt in his strong hands. It made him want to wrap him in his embrace and protect him from any potential threats. That, and lavish him in touches all over.

But that sort of treatment could wait for another night, it seemed they would have plenty of opportunities to further this relationship if that's what they both wanted.

Wpnz knew he did. He absolutely wanted what they had now to grow and prosper. He had gotten Mr. Puzzles back, and so much more had now transpired from their reunion. More than Wpnz had ever imagined to gain by reuniting with the man he felt closest to in the entire multiverse. This had to be the universe at work, only this time fate was finally on their side.

Considering all went well with their new occupation they now shared with a group full of various bad guys.

Once again, Puzzles seemed to read his mind.

“Do you think our relationship will violate any sort of code of conduct amongst our new colleagues?” Puzzles asked as they broke away from their kiss.

“Oh, who cares? Shut up.” Wpnz scolded him light heartedly, pressing himself forward to knock Puzzles over.

“Ah! Wpnz!” Puzzles yelped, his back falling to the couch as Wpnz landed lightly atop him. He began to fret even more when he began to kiss at his neck, then squeal as those kisses traveled farther down to where his bowtie now lay undone at his chest. “Wpnz, stop!” Puzzles chortled, “No seriously, stop! I’m laying on a spring!”

Mr. Wpnz moved just enough for Puzzles to sit up, both of them staring at the exposed couch spring protruding from the torn fabric of the old sofa cushion.

“Okay, first order of business.” Wpnz began, giving Puzzles a stern look. “One, we make out for a bit. Two, we toss this couch out onto the street, preferably light it on fire so no one even thinks to bring it home. Three, we go midnight sofa and mattress shopping so this place can finally start to feel like a proper home. You need a bed, man. Deal?”

“Deal.” Puzzles agreed effortlessly. “But I get to pick the color.”

“Deal.” Wpnz agreed, pulling him back into his hold away from the spring this time.

Puzzles fell into his arms laughing, a delightful sound he almost wished he didn’t have to silence by meeting his lips with his own. But he couldn’t give this feeling up, not when each kiss was sending a jolt of electric bliss through his face to his very soul. Not when Puzzles was tugging him in closer and whispering sweet nothings whenever their lips were apart. The air seemed to be filling with their shared laughter and vented steam, turning the atmosphere of the once gloomy apartment into a place filled to the brim with their shared adoration.

It was crazy how much different a place could feel so long as the person you were sharing it with was someone worth being with. And for Wpnz, Mr. Puzzles was all who he had ever wanted to find.

Truly at last, it felt like he had finally found what he had been looking for.