Henry learned pretty fast that it was hard to keep track of the demon. Mostly because Bendy never was exactly where you'd expect him to be. He didn't stay hidden in dark places or under beds and he never ventured up to the attic through the door in the ceiling. There was one place, however, Henry found he could count on the demon being for the majority of the day.
Linda's crib.
It sat right in the corner of the 'living room' part of the little three room apartment. A window was next to it, the sun pouring down over the shoddy little thing. Inside, Henry could see a little black mass curled up with his daughter between the bars. A long purr reverberated throughout the room.
"Bendy? What are you doing in there? That's the second time since you got here!"
Linda's teddy bear laid forgotten at the end of the crib, abandoned in favor of this newer, warmer thing to hug close before bed. The demon grinned at Henry, his tail having draped itself over the sleeping baby's head. Linda's sweet little face pressed into his furry arm, cooing.
Heya, Henry, Bendy thought.
His own voice in his head startled him a little, thoughts having been a weird mix of instinct and silence up until now.
"What's wrong, buddy?"Henry asked,his head tilting. "Did I spook ya? You look surprised."
Nope, just some thoughts in my head, Bendy shook his head, Linda nuzzling under his chin. But can ya get her offa me? I'm hungry.
Another coo.
Actually, I take that back, Bendy shooed Henry away with a gloved hand before hunkering down with Linda once more. Come back in five. I need my beauty rest, ya know.
"Okay, okay," Henry laughed. "I get when I'm not , I have to call Joey anyway. I'll be in the hall if you need me."
Right, yeah, Bendy gave a thumbs up. Got it, Pops.
When he laid down again he heard the front door open and close, signalling Henry's departure. Linda yawned, her face pressed into the little demon's bowtie. It made him think of the old days, for some reason, days of black and white with the only color he could remember being people. Humans were everywhere in his memories with their booming voices, the constant cigar smoke always billowing out from their mouths and the music.
Swing was king back in those days, he could practically hear the musical instruments moving with their musician's heads. He closed his eyes, the music becoming a living thing that swooped around him. Smiling, he remembered always following its lead. What was that called?
He opened his eyes, feeling that the baby had moved enough to allow him to escape. Bendy jumped from his prison cell, balancing on the crib's gate. He wobbled backwards, then forwards before straightening out.
Aw, that wasn't so-
The cocky devil darling took one step, slipping. He fell on his tail in a heap, his bowtie floating down to land between his horns. To add insult to injury, the cuckoo clock went off, its little woodpecker cackling up a storm as he slid in and out of the safety of his door.
Aw, quiet, ya big palooka!
Bendy threw one of his shoes at the clock, the chime stopping before he could really get at the woodpecker.
Stupid color cartoons…
Bendy caught his shoe when it bounced back to him, looking to his left at the kitchen. Inside there was a fridge, a microwave and something called Tostitos he's gotten quite fond of this past days living in Henry's apartment. He licked his lips, toddling into the little area. The fridge was significantly larger than he'd anticipated, its reflective silver surface shivering with its humming. Bendy looked up at the door on the top, wondering how he could possibly…
He jumped when his eyes drifted back down.
Standing there was a Bendy-sized black creature, eye level with him but seemingly a tiny bit...taller? Both their heads tilted with confusion, Bendy's eyes widening when the creature's pointed tail became a question mark. The creature had a soft-looking, rounded body with a large white bowtie overlapping most of his chest. He had a white little face with wide eyes, large pie-eyes that glittered in a way that he didn't expect them to. Bendy held his hands up to the newcomer, surprised to find they had the same large, white gloves on.
Wait, is he… is dat me?
Experimentally, he poked the other. He shivered at the fridge's cold surface, his tail curling around his leg. The other reciprocated the movement. Bendy was pretty sure that he wasn't this…cute before but he couldn't say that he disliked it. With a cheeky, toothy grin, he fixed his tie as he admired himself. Then he proceeded to open the fridge to rummage through it, pulling out a quadruple sandwich with everything on it as soon as he was done.
Licking his lips, he shoved it down his throat in one go.
Linda, having woken up to her new favorite cuddle buddy, started getting fussy in the next room. Bendy grinned, skipping right over to her crib with a cheerful little whistle. The baby reached out to him, Bendy giggling when he got close enough to her prison bars. Playfully, he started using his fingers to taunt her. He was always just out of her reach but made sure that their fingers brushed.
Hey ya, Princess. Have a good nap?
Linda gurgled in response, finally catching his fingers.
I'll take that as a yes.
Smiling, Henry finally came back inside shutting the door behind him with a content sigh. Joey hadn't been too angry at him. Especially when he said the key words 'new cartoon'.
"Bendy, darling? Come here."
The demon stopped his play, whimpering slightly. Henry whistled soothingly, apparently Bendy's noise of choice, before beckoning to the demon. Bendy huffed, kissing Linda on the head before toddling to his 'Creator'. He squeaked, purring when Henry rubbed his horns.
"Bendy, I have some terrific news," Henry smiled, his laugh lines becoming apparent. "Come tomorrow, you're gonna be a star!"