A/N: Not much happened the last chapter but this one will introduce another character, and toon Bendy being cute again. Because why yes, Bendy will attempt to make friends with anyone who doesn't attack him on sight.

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Henry was honestly surprised they made it to their destination without being harassed by enemies.

No one appeared at all.

Not even a stray Searcher.

Even Alice had been oddly silent, though she was no doubt fuming over Henry still walking around after being ambushed by the Butcher Gang clones. She probably hadn't noticed that being overwhelmed by attackers had worked, even if Henry had come right back.

Bendy seemed to be oblivious to the danger that could have been. But Bendy also could have been trying to remain upbeat despite the potential of enemies springing up out of nowhere. Bendy walked alongside his friends with a skip in his steps, humming softly. Bendy's head swiveled to and fro as he looked around. Bendy obviously wanted to explore but was sticking close to Henry and Boris, worried about the latter. At least, it seemed that way, with Bendy's pie-cut eyes staying often to the toon wolf and his hopping gait.

Boris' ears perked up again, alert as he glanced around level 11.

Henry turned his head to meet the toon wolf's pie-cut eyes, because Boris had suddenly turned his own head to look at him. Henry wondered if Boris had just remembered something. Those pie-cut eyes were certainly narrowed at Henry specifically but not in an unfriendly way.

Boris just looked confused.

Did he remember something?

A past loop?

Or did Boris maybe...recall who he used to be before he became a toon?

Henry wasn't going to get his hopes up, but the fact that Boris was vocalizing instead of being mute seemed encouraging, even if there had been no actual words.

Boris looked away, appearing to think hard about something.

"I need to check to see that the path ahead is clear." Henry said, further down along the hall. Henry helped Boris into a seated position against the wall, and took the Gent pipe from the toon wolf when it was offered.

Bendy hovered next to Boris, worried again, but indicated with a wave of a hand that he'd stay with Boris.

Henry ventured ahead through the area and made his way toward the start of the inky flooded floor. There were only a few Searchers and Butcher Gang clones to dispatch, which Henry dealt with as quickly as he could. Henry returned to his friends soon after, panting with effort from the swiftness with which he had dealt with the inky beings.

Another side effect of passing through the well.

Henry offered the Gent pipe to Boris.

The toon wolf waved it away with a shake of his head.

Henry looped the weapon on his belt before he helped Boris back to his feet. They resumed their slow walk-hop.

"Almost there." Henry muttered to Boris, before checking on Bendy.

The little devil had wandered into the area with the ink-flooded floor.

The sound of a projector could suddenly be heard in the distance.

Shit.

Henry had completely forgotten that the Projectionist showed up in this area for a brief time. Henry had also temporarily forgotten about how curious Bendy was about the studio.

The sound of a projector likely meant a reel playing a cartoon to Bendy.

"Wait!" Henry called out, but it was too late.

Bendy had already raced on ahead excitedly.

Henry and Boris reached the long window, both witnessing the way the Projectionist slowly made his way along. Henry assisted Boris over to the little miracle station, just to be safe. When Boris opened the door and hopped in, Henry turned away and ran past the table and chairs after Bendy. Henry's mind was awash with worry for Bendy's safety.

The projector could still be heard, which meant that the Projectionist hadn't yet vanished through a door.

Why?

Henry stumbled to a halt, panic leaping in his throat at the sight of the Projectionist kneeling in front of Bendy, an inky hand held out for a smiling Bendy to grasp.

The Projectionist's head was tilted to one side, reflecting confusion somehow, despite his head being a projector. The light flickered quickly before evening out. The speaker on the Projectionist's chest let out some static.

Bendy was blissfully unaware of the precarious situation he was in as the toon hopped in place excitedly. Bendy's grin was wide as he continued to hang onto the inky being's hand.

The Projectionist's light flickered on Bendy, projector head still tilted as he watched Bendy turn his inky hand over, still bouncing in delight. The Projectionist seemed at a loss of what to do with this unexpected development, yet remained crouched so that Bendy could be withing easy reach of his hand.

Henry had never looked too closely before but he was surprised to see four fingers and a thumb. Had the Projectionist's hands always been like that? Henry supposed that he was usually too busy running away from the Projectionist to notice. Unfortunately, Henry shouldn't have just stood in place where he was like an idiot, because the Projectionist saw him.

...however that was possible with a projector for a head.

The projector light brightened and flickered a little faster as the speaker on the Projectionist's chest crackled to life with a terrible screech as he lurched up out of the crouch.

Henry almost missed the way Bendy was swept behind the Projectionist before he charged Henry with another crackling, static-filled screech. Henry turned tail and fled, joining Boris in the little miracle station. Henry turned in time to see the Projectionist halt in front of the now-closed station, projector head tilting in a calculating way.

Without warning, the Projectionist punched the door, a static almost-growl emitting from the speaker.

"Norman?" Henry asked aloud, curious.

The Projectionist stood there for a moment longer, the light flickering slowing as a crackle of static sounded. This went on for a short time, before the Projectionist turned and slowly walked away.

Henry let out an exasperated noise.

Did everyone in this damn studio just know he was hiding? That he didn't actually just cease to exist to them for a short time? They all knew he was there, and yet none of them could be bothered to open the damn door to drag him out?

Henry watched with trepidation as the Projectionist reached out and down toward Bendy.

The Projectionist merely pat Bendy between the horns, a garbled static emitting from the speaker, before the Projectionist resumed his awkward gait down the hall and around the corner, out of view.

Bendy seemed perplexed by the whole exchange, but was happy nonetheless over making a friend. Bendy cheerfully skipped over to the little miracle station and sat down on a chair at the table. As soon as Henry and Boris cautiously exited the little miracle station, Bendy beamed happily at his friends, toothy grin wide.

At least someone was happy.

Henry was more pensive. He was not sure what to make of the Projectionist's actions, nor the brief pause and crackle of static when Henry had said 'Norman'.

Was he...could it be that the Projectionist was more aware this loop?

Or was it a fluke?

Henry did have to wonder, as he did during some of the loops, if the Projectionist really was Norman. Henry had only asked out of curiosity, to see if there was any recognition. But Henry didn't want to get his hopes up in this place. Not if he was unable to change the outcome yet again.

Boris let Bendy inspect his bare foot-paws, the little devil seemingly fascinated that the boots came off.

Henry smiled.

As before, Henry knew that he would do his damndest to take out as many inky creatures in this place as he could, before they kept him down for the count.

Especially if they threatened his friends.

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A/N: The meetings with the Projectionist in this fic have changed a bit since first working on this story.

*stares at toon Bendy*