EJ pressed the end call button harshly, glaring at his phone in agitation. He couldn't believe that after ten years of living on his own, Slender was making him leave the comfort of his cabin.
"What was that about?" BEN asked, raising a blond eyebrow at EJ as he paced the basement floor.
EJ shoved his phone in his pocket, shaking his head as he moved and thought. He couldn't leave home, not when Seedeater wasn't back from his hunt for hikers. Of course, he could just send BEN off once EJ was sure the arm was healing properly, but Slender would probably come and get him and force him to come to the mansion.
"Damn it, old man," EJ grumbled, ignoring BEN's questioning look.
"Seriously, Jack, what's going on? Why does Slender want you at the mansion?" BEN asked, grateful when EJ finally stopped pacing. Watching one of the most levelheaded people he knew be so restless and irritated was setting his own nerves on edge.
"Apparently there's something in the woods that's hunting us and had Slender scared out of his mind that we're gonna get killed," EJ explained, sighing while thoughts on what to do raced through his mind.
BEN paled, wondering what could have Slender, the most powerful thing in these woods, afraid for their lives. If Slender was afraid, then surely they should do as he asked, why would EJ even consider wanting to stay where he couldn't be protected?
"If Slender's scared, I'm out. If you're really as smart as Jeff says you are, as you claim to be, you would come with me instead of waiting here like a sitting duck during hunting season," BEN said, ignoring EJ's scoff as he grabbed his shirt.
EJ watched as BEN struggled to get his shirt on, the pain in his healing arm making excessive movement difficult.
"You should wait here with me so I can be sure your arm is healing right. If you leave now, there is no way I'll be sure that there won't be any infection and not only that but if you move your arm too much, my hard work might get messed up and a piece of bone could lodged into your flesh," EJ said, crossing his arms and making no move to stop the elf.
"Then come with me, but otherwise? I'm going to risk the infection and my wrist breaking again if it means I can avoid whatever is scaring Slender," BEN replied, wincing after he finally got his shirt on.
EJ scowled behind his mask, shaking his head at BEN's stupidity. Fine, if the asshole wanted to fuck up all of his hard work, he wasn't going to stop him; but EJ was determined to stay right where he was and face this danger head on whether Slender liked it or not.
BEN moved to climb the stairs, hesitating when he reached the bottom step and looked back at EJ in concern.
"Look, you're Jeff's friend, and while I hate him, you seem like a pretty cool guy and you have helped Jeff not make as many fuck ups since he met you. So here's some advice from me to you, don't do this. Come back to the mansion and stay safe so you can live another day and tell Jeff when he's fucking up and give me some peace of mind."
EJ said nothing, only stood where BEN had left him and pretending as if the elf hadn't spoken at all. BEN sighed, shook his head, then climbed the stairs and left the house. He could only hope Jack changed his mind about what he was doing before it got him killed.
Slender looked up when he heard Toby's panicked thoughts and Jeff's irritable mind from his doorway. He chuckled at Jeff's glare, shaking his head.
"You can go now, Jeffery, just do not leave the perimeter of the clearing. There is too much danger in the forest now for you to be wandering aimlessly out of sight."
Jeff rolled his eyes, then turned on his heel to leave. The boy remained silent, though his thoughts were less than pleasant, angry that his freedom had been limited.
Slender shook his head, then turned to Toby. He pat the boy's head, trying to reassure him that he was not in trouble.
"No need to be so panicked, Tobias, I only wish for your assistance in setting up a surprise party," Slender explained, waiting for Toby's shoulders to relax before returning to his massive closet to look for decorations.
"A party? For who?" he asked, walking into the closet himself and striding towards a shelf Slender had assumed was full of shoes with purpose.
"That is also a surprise," Slender said, thinking it wise not to tell Toby that it was for Kendra as he watched him uncover a box to expose colorful paper streamers.
Toby stopped, turning to look at Slender with a frown.
"It's for Kendra, isn't it?" he asked, knowing that Slender wouldn't try that with him if it were anybody else.
Slender hesitated, then sighed and nodded.
"Yes, it is for Kendra," he said, crossing his arms and leaning back against a wall while he watched Toby's face.
Toby scoffed, then forcefully replaced the lid. However, instead of putting away the box and storming out of the room like Slender expected, he shoved the box in Slender's arms and continued to take out the decorations.
"You could've just told me, Slender. I hate her, but you know damn well I'd rather spend time with you than sulk somewhere else and get none of what I want," Toby said, opening another box only to replace it when he found it to be a set of decorations they probably wouldn't need.
"It's for her birthday, right?" Toby asked, glancing back at Slender's blank face.
Slender nodded, impressed that Toby was capable of being mature like this rather than storming away like a child. It was what Toby normally did-act like a child.
"You don't need to treat me as if I'm stupid, Slender. I've lived here way longer than Kendra, I know you and everyone else who lives in this house like the back of my hand," Toby started, pulling out more birthday decorations as he talked, "and I may prefer to act like I'm nine, but you gotta remember I'm nineteen and I have a lot more wisdom than everyone seems to give me credit for."
Slender remained silent, listening to Toby intently as he watched him pull out more boxes.
"Besides that, I'm perfectly capable of realizing this is your attempt to not only socialize with me, but to get me to change my feelings about Kendra, which isn't likely to happen any time soon, so please try not to force the matter, would you?"
Slender sighed when Toby finally finished pulling out the decorations and turned towards him with a hurt look. He supposed the boy had a point, Slender had been trying to mend Toby's feelings towards Kendra to try and avoid further bullying from him, but that wasn't entirely fair to Toby.
"Alright, I am sorry Toby. You have the right to feel as you wish about other people, and it is wrong of me to try and take that away from you. However, I must ask that you put leash on your feelings and avoid bullying Kendra in the future."
Toby blinked, surprised that Slender had actually listened to him, then frowned as the last sentence registered.
"Wait, you think I'm bullying her?" Toby asked, hurt that Slender would believe whatever Kendra might have told him rather than trying to at least get his side first.
"Toby, Kendra didn't tell me anything. She had been sobbing and I simply looked into her mind to find out why. What I found was you laughing at her after she asked you for help," Slender said, beginning to collect the boxes full of decorations so he could bring them out and figure out what he wanted to use for the upcoming party.
Toby's frown deepened, and he tried to think of the instance Slender was talking about. A minute later, understanding dawned on him. He'd been so busy laughing at her, he hadn't realized that she had been crying.
Instantly, guilt washed over him, and Toby wilted. He didn't like Kendra, sure, but he wasn't normally such a dick and he didn't understand what had compelled him to be so mean to her.
"Sorry," he muttered, grabbing the boxes to help Slender sort the decorations.
Slender gave an invisible smile, and ruffled Toby's hair affectionately. He viewed the boy as a son the same way he viewed Kendra as a daughter.
"I am not the one you need to apologize to, Toby. Now, why don't you try and talk to me about how you've been lately? I have been neglecting talking with you and I intend to make up for it now."