~Chapter 14-Bittersweet Memories~
Bendy couldn't believe what had just happened. Henry…left. He really left. Just ran out the door without even bothering to say goodbye.
The cold reality made the demon sob even harder, the intensity making his shoulders and whole body shake and tremble.
He was alone…truly all alone. He shook and gasped for air as he cried. Joey wasn't himself…at least not the kind creator that had brought him into this world and learned to…well…love.
Harmony and the other workers, they were gone as well. More inky tears streamed down his face, eyes screwed shut and gloved hands balled up into fists on the ground.
Why…? Why did Henry have to leave them? Why did he have to leave him? Didn't the man know how much…didn't he know just how much Bendy…truly…needed him?
Sure he wouldn't walk up to Joey or Henry and give them a big hug, telling them how much he…loves them on a daily basis. That was Alice's job. Boris too on rare occasions.
But not him. He wasn't the mushy type, nope not at all. In fact he may as well consider himself quite the opposite.
Still…did the two men really not know how much he loved, cared for them?
He had started to see them as f-
No. Bendy wouldn't go there. He wasn't the type to grow close to anyone. At least not right away.
But of course Henry & Joey…they were a different story. Again he wasn't the type of demon who would hug them and me all affectionate and all that other mushy stuff.
Maybe…maybe that was the problem? Why Henry left? Why Joey stopped liking him? Because he didn't show how much he loved them enough? Because he never expressed how grateful he was that he was brought into this world.
Was that why they…hated him?
The realization made him sob harder, burying his face in his gloved hands, tears leaking out and hitting the ground.
He could handle a complete stranger hating him. Sure. He barely knew the person. A fan? Well duh! He's got plenty of fans. A worker or two? …Maybe. Harmony? …A little rougher to handle.
But Henry and Joey? The two people who brought him here, the two men who loved and cared for him? Treated him like family?
Pain tore at his heart. He couldn't handle it.
Not them. Not his creators. He…he couldn't take it. He was terrified that they really did hate him. That he was just a disappointment. A mistake. A worthless piece of garbage that doesn't deserve to be part of the world they lived in. One who doesn't even deserve to be a part of the lives they lived.
Maybe that was why they hated him so much? Because he didn't show enough gratitude? Not enough affection? Was that it?
"Please…" Bendy sobbed aloud to no one.
"Please don't hate me…please…please….I'll be better…I'll be better just…p-please d-don't leave me…please…Henry, Joey…" he sobbed for his creators, his mentors.
"Please…." he said, voice cracking.
By the time Alice and Boris had found him he was curled up with his tail wrapped around him sobbing miserably, even more tears streaming down his face than before. When they both ran over to him, sick with worry, questioning him, Bendy could barely breathe as he explained in sobs.
"J-Joey's…*Hic* a-acting w-weird a-and c-c-cold…*Hic* e-everyone's…*Sob* g-g-gone…a-and H-Henry's…*Gasp* H-Henry's…*Hic* H-Henry's…l-left…!"
Though the demon didn't look up at them, he could just feel that both wore expressions of sorrow, most likely feeling just as hurt and confused, and scared as he did.
He was taken aback by Alice..hugging him.
It wasn't one of those fake hugs that she had to do when they got into stupid heated arguments and were forced to make up by Henry, Joey and Harmony or some of the other studio workers, nor the type of hug that had to be performed in a show as it said in script.
This was a actual, real, sincere hug. A tight yet gentle embrace. He didn't have to look at her to know she was silently crying.
"A-Angel…?" he hiccuped, "A-A-Alice…?"
"Shh," Alice riposted, rubbing his back. It may have felt weird, and yes maybe he wasn't her friend and she wasn't his.
They were rivals just like any other….polar opposites to say the least.
She was usually only loving and gentle to those who weren't Bendy because she knew the demon. She knew he wasn't mushy or the type to openly show emotions. But this time was different.
As shocked as she was, she didn't have the time or want to show it. Bendy was obviously hurting and quite honestly she was too, being told about Henry's leave. She was far too numb to care about his or her pride.
"It's okay Bendy. We're here for you."
Bendy hesitated to return the embrace before a whole new set of sobs erupted from his throat. Just this once.
Bendy sobbed openly, hugging the angel back, gloved hands clenching the back of her dress as he sobbed into her bare shoulder and Alice could feel warm inky tears.
Boris finally joined the embrace as Alice began crying too. She looked at the wolf with tears streaming down her face and without a second thought he hugged both her and Bendy as they all bawled together.
"J-Joey…?" Bendy asked quietly as he entered the office.
Joey sighed softly and Bendy could tell he still wasn't happy.
"Yeah Bendy? What is it?" he riposted, focus on the paperwork he was signing.
"A-Are ya…still…erm…mad at me?" The demon asked quietly and sheepishly, rubbing his arm.
Joey groaned, running a hand over his face as he finally met eyes with his muse. "You tell me Bendy. Did you or did you not pull a bunch of unnecessary pranks right before show?
I told you Bends, we have no time for this!"
Bendy flinched. "J-Joey…I…" he trailed off.
"Just forget it," Joey growled. "Honestly Bendy there are times where you need to stop acting like a goofball and take things seriously!"
"I-I….I'm sorry…" Bendy whimpered guiltily, tears of anxiety filling his eyes.
Joey froze, an alarmed look washing over his face as he got up and knelt to Bendy's level.
"No, no c'mon Bends don't cry," he murmured softly, wiping away his inky tears.
"Don't cry bud." he sighed, "I'm sorry Bendy. I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just…things have been a little…off at the studio lately." he stated, sitting back down in his chair.
"Off?" Bendy blinked as he climbed up on his desk. "Off how?"
Joey grinned, shaking his head. "N-Never mind…it's nothing, Bendy." he said, not wanting to worry the small demon.
"You tell me things have been off then you say it's nothing which is it?" Bendy questioned.
"Nothing," Joey repeated in a softer voice.
"Joeyyy," Bendy groaned, jumping up on his creator's shoulder. "Yer lying I know you are. If something's up I wanna help."
Joey sighed tiredly with a smile. "If there really was something up the best thing you can do to help is to focus on doing a good job on stage, and not be hard on yourself." he glanced at the clock, "…and go to bed. You need to get rest. I'll see you in the morning."
"Joey…" Bendy sighed hesitantly as he slid off the man, worry evident in his tone.
"Everything's fine," Joey tried to reassure him, rubbing in between his horns. His frown deepened when Bendy still didn't look convinced.
"Okay," he started, "Do you want me to stay here and sleep with you and the toons tonight?"
Bendy's eyes lit up. "Yeah!" he said as he jumped back up on his shoulder. "Can ya?"
Joey chuckled. "Just this once Bendy. I don't want to make staying here every night a habit and never go home."
"Just this once." Bendy agreed and yawned sleepily. "Thanks Joey."
"No problem you little daredevil," Joey snickered, rubbing his head once again as they walked out of the office.
"I'll be back in a bit, alright?" A young red haired woman announced to one of her cousins who were currently staying with her.
Her cousin had chocolate brown hair and indigo eyes.
"I'm going to go talk with a friend."
"Alright Harmony," Her cousin named Teresa nodded. "Take your time, don't rush."
"I know. It's not like you're gonna throw a huge gigantic party and invite a bunch of guys over right?" Harmony joked with a smirk.
"Very funny," Teresa riposted, rolling her eyes. "Do us both a favor and head out already will ya? I know how much you hate being late to things."
"Got it. I'm gone." Harmony said, playfully punching her in the shoulder before grabbing her bag and walking out the door.
"You really haven't heard anything from Joey, Susie?" Harmony asked, concerned.
Susie sighed, unsure of how to answer. Joey wasn't dead. But how would she explain that to Harmony? It would be so much easier to explain the whole horrific experience when gang is together again.
"And…Henry?" Harmony swallowed.
Susie paused. Now Henry she wasn't sure of at all. They had lost contact a long time ago.
"I'm not sure Mony," she answered honestly. "I haven't heard from the guy in ages. I'm not even sure what he's been doing."
The woman sighed, shaking her head. "This whole thing is just complicated."
"Well of course it is!" Harmony spat. "The toons probably think we all abandoned them! Especially Bendy! He might even think we hate him! But we don't!"
"But he doesn't know that," Susie pointed out. "Only we do."
"Precisely! I just-" Harmony paused, abruptly freezing causing Susie to frown in concern.
"Harmony? Are you alright?" She asked.
"Bendy," Harmony repeated under her breath. "Bendy. Bendy…Bendy…Bendy! Of course!" She laughed, jumping up from her seat.
"Umm Harmony?" Susie asked again.
"I think I might know where Henry is!" Harmony said with glee as she grabbed her things. "I'll see you later Susie!"
The young woman said before running out the door of the cafe, nearly bumping into a blonde young man and quickly apologizing before taking off.
The same man walked over to Susie and sat down in front of her. "Well," he sighed. "Looks like it's time to finally go back."
Susie grinned. "Hey Joey. Yeah. It's time to go home."