Tuck could already tell which rooms to check, the ones with bigger windows, sure. They were big enough to have a table on a box on top, which was the one to check first?
The bigger one, because there would be more chances to have a table by the windows, at least that's what seemed more reasonable.
So the pill bug curled up and rolled towards the bigger room.
Hm... there was a table by the window, maybe he only had to get higher, like climbing on that massive soft block, was that a human bed??
He started to use the tapestry of the bed sheets as a ladder, up and up he went, freezing when people came in so he wouldn't be noticed. When he was finally up, he stared at the sea of cloth, maybe he had to reach the other side...
"UUUUGH!!" He cursed, why was everything so BIG in there?!
But before he could say something, he felt a loud slam not too far from where he was and he felt himself being shot up on the air by the knockback.
He took the opportunity to look at the table, but there was no box.
OH. COME ON.
He landed on something harder that found out to be one of the people's leg, the one with darker skin who probably was a lady.
She actually felt something on her leg, she expected a fly but saw a shell and immediately jolted up with a disgusted yelp.
"A cockroach!!! EW!!!"
Tuck was shot way further and landed on his back after screaming. When he realized he was called a cockroach he stood up and yelled incoherent gibberish noises because that was rude.
Only when he saw the gigantic foot above him he started rolling for dear life, hiding behind the furniture.
He could only catch his breath for a second before the woman pulled away his hideout and tried squishing him with a broom. The pill bug rolled like crazy into the other bedroom where the two boys were playing some board game and were very puzzled at their mother's behavior.
Trevor, however, had spotted a tiny rolling creature on the ground
"Roll no what are you doing??" He looked for something to catch him, not knowing the pill bug was the other twin.
William was fast enough to catch him in his hand and shove him into Trevor's pocket while the woman was looking around
"Rachel? What's wrong?"
"I saw a cockroach, it's hiding here somewhere, kids go in the other room, I'll handle it"
That was a great plan to put the little bug back in the box, so they just slipped in Trevor's room and closed the door.
"Don't wander off, Roll, mom's gonna get- wait what?"
Trevor had just pulled the pill bug from the pocket but apparently, Roll was already in the box. Dim tilted an eyebrow as to ask what was wrong.
"If Roll's here? Who is this?"
The boy put the little bug into the box and he couldn't expect such joy outburst from the other pill bug. They hugged each other jumping happily, then the newcomer affectionately jumped and held onto Dim's horn, nuzzling it while the beetle was amazed.
"You got here? How?" Dim asked, still not believing what was happening.
Tuck tried mimicking the scene, but he decided to use the strawberry juice in the corner to draw on the cardboard.
Dim and Roll stared at how the other twin drew the other crew members.
"Rosie... here?"
Tuck nodded at the answer, Dim blinked and just stared at the drawing, recalling another crucial memory.
"Ok, I'll let you out now. But please don't wander off or PT's gonna kill me"
Rosie had opened the cage, so that the beetle could finally step on the ground. She had also brought water and food to him, gently petting his horn"
You usually speak at this age... what happened to you?" She had whispered, guiding him towards a more hidden place where no one was around to pester them.
"You're not a dim witted beast as PT says... You're smart, you understand me. I wonder how do I prove you're not what he says" she thought, sighing. Well, she could try something, she got in front of him
"Can you say my name? Ro-sie. Come on, try it" Yet the beetle didn't feel like, or maybe he had forgot to. Heavens only knew what made him wild like that, she just sighed and walked back to the cage, he was smart enough to know she might get in trouble if they saw her outside.
"See you tomorrow night, ok?" She had petted his horn again and then turned to the tent, thinking about how to show he wasn't a beast and he could be taught to speak again. Her thoughts were interrupted by a whistle not too distant, Rosie turned to see a cockroach and two flies not too far from there.
"Told you she was pretty. The other lady is too old for me"
"I beg your pardon...?" Rosie was ready to spin webs at the unwanted guests.
"The circus is closed, no shows tonight"
"The show here is better than anything else!" Replied one of the flies "Oh come on, give us a smile, dollface!"
"Yeah, this dumpster is already gloomy on its own!"
"I'll offer you a drink"
The cockroach wanted to take her hand but she immediately covered it with webs before stepping back
"I said we're closed!"
The other bug stared at his hand before giving her an angry frown "
You little b-"He was immediately smacked on his head by Slim's body, held by Francis.
"Hey! Get your filthy hands off our colleague! I've got a stick here and i'm not afraid to use him!"
The flies marched in, cracking their knuckles while the others were awakened by the sudden movements.
"What's going on here?!?"
PT yelled at the scene
"We were just asking this lovely lady out, Flea. I'm sure it won't be a problem for you if she takes a night out with some decent folks" the cockroach wiped the web off.
Now, PT was a greedy idiot but at least he had some decency, sometimes, so he immediately stepped in with the others.
"Get back to the garbage, we don't want any idiots like you around here"
There was a sudden racket between the three bugs and the rest of the troupe, loud enough for the beetle to hear and see.
He saw three bugs attacking the others, wanting to raise hands on the black widow. He snarled, then rammed his horn into the cage until it busted, then he charged from there at the cockroach and his fly lackies, sending them flying against the tent.
They could only see an enraged beetle roar in front of them. Nope, they wouldn't be charged by that furious bug, so they got themselves back up and ran for their lives.That's when the beetle turned back to the others, looked at Rosie in the eye and then just rubbed the horn on her cheek.
"Rrrr... o... sie..." his voice was deep but gentle, took a moment for the spider to realize he spoke her name, it was enough for her to hold the horn back and thank him gently. That's when she decided she would not only be a tamer, more like a caretaker for him, and PT let her, since he would save money and finally he would get more audience.
Dim looked up, holding tears back, he felt stupid for leaving but also happy Rosie came all the way to find him.
He had to tell Trevor though, so he buzzed to the window and knocked it a couple times
"Huh? Dim what's wrong? You want to leave?" Trevor tilted his head, looking at how his tiny friend would go back to the alphabet sheet and compose the words "Family outside"
"Oh... then I guess this is goodbye then" the little boy was sad, but he opened the window, William patted his shoulder "Hey, he'll be all right... He has to go"
Dim let the twins hop on his back and then wave at the human kids, flying outside.
Where were they? Where? The garden was big, luckily Tuck was there to point him where to go.
And when he saw them all, his heart skipped a bit.
He said nothing and flew directly under the porch, everyone raising up the antennas at the loud buzzing approaching.
"Oh my gosh..." Rosie recognized it straight away and spun a web up the handrail, climbing as fast as she could just to jump in her son's face, crying her eyes out
"I'M SO SORRY! YOU'RE NOT A BURDEN FOR ME, YOU NEVER WERE AND NEVER WILL BE!"
Dim just landed, finally crying with her "Missed you so much... Mom"
Everyone stared in disbelief, while Rosie blinked with a tiny smile "How did you call me?"
"You are my mom. You took care, you protected... That's what moms do" He was suddenly hugged by the neck while she erupted in tears and everyone went to pat him on the back.
"AHEM...!" Roll tapped the ground impatiently to get some affection too. "Welcome back you too. I would have missed the chaos you two bring"
Roll got only the first part, that's when he went kissing the ladybug on the cheeks, angering him on purpose
"Look Trevor, look in the binoculars, that's his family hugging him. You should be happy for them"
William was feeling better now, he looked at the other child no more like an intruder, but as someone to at least try build a friendship first, and likewise, Trevor felt the same. He still looked with a happy smile, until he saw the furry spot in the grass.
"NINA NO!!!" The child screamed before the cat pounced the group of insects, everyone panicked and ran in different ways screaming.
Trevor went digging in his toy box, trying to find something to distract the cat, a ball with a rattle inside?? Perfect!
William stood there, processing the situation and waking up only when his acquired siblings climbed off the window and stood on the rooftiles, shaking the ball.
"Hey Nina!! Here kitty kitty!" The sound surely distracted the cat, which stared at the new interesting object in her owner's hands.
"Here! Go get the ball go!!" He threw it as far as he could, that would have bought them time to leave.
Dim stared up with extreme gratitude "Don't worry, he friend"
"How did you even befriended eine human kid?!?" Heimlich panted from the shock, Dim just chuckled "Dim get along with kids"
But then he heard a crack and gasped in horror as he heard the child scream. The rooftiles had cracked under the boy, making him slide down. For a child, falling off that height could have been a severe damage
"TREVOR...!"
Both Dim and William's voices called his name, but when the beetle couldn't do anything, the older child reached to grab his hand