I honestly couldn't come up with a name for this chapter, but it's fun to throw in references from the comic. If you're reading this on Wattpad, I have even added the comic panel where the quote shows up. I suppose it does work because he shows Jenny his back a lot in this chap... read on to find out.

Song inspo: I'll Stand by You by Girls Aloud. This song is seriously cute and fits this chapter

Jenny and NNY painted the walls in silence. A day had passed since NNY used her like a puppet to create that terrifying monster, and Jenny was still in awe.

Just when she thought she would never lay eyes on that hideous creature again, there it was, staring straight back at her.

A blast from the past...

That monster had been festering inside her for far too long. But now she had finally set it free. All it took was a little interference from NNY in the end, and she had never felt so grateful.

Because of NNY, Jenny could finally call herself a 'real' artist.

If only there was a way she could pay back his kindness. He was a struggling artist, yet he still took the time to help her.

She looked over her shoulder, smiling. He had his back to her, so she couldn't see what he was painting, but she knew it would be spectacular.

NNY had come to life the moment he took her hand and painted. The only difference now was that he was painting with real paint.

They had run out of that woman's blood in the end, but that was okay; NNY went out and bought some red paint per Jenny's request.

She just hoped NNY would be able to find his inner artist again. Blood seemed to be the only thing that motivated him these days, and hopefully, the red paint may activate the creative parts of his brain.

Jenny narrowed her eyes on his back. He had the words "This is my back," written on the back of his shirt, but that wasn't what she was focused on.

She was focused on the stick figure he was drawing.

She lowered her paintbrush. "Happy Noodle Boy?"

NNY flinched, angling his face slowly to look at her. He held a palette in one hand and a paintbrush in the other, blinking at her dumbfounded.

"Huh?"

She pointed at his drawing. "You're... painting Happy Noodle Boy."

It's not that Jenny didn't love Happy Noodle Boy and his crazy adventures; she had just hoped that NNY would draw something more... inspired, maybe?

While very inspiring, HNB could never compare to the monster that NNY painted yesterday. Well, co-painted.

It was a team effort.

That monster was starting to dry now, but Jenny wasn't too concerned. NNY's wall wasn't soft. Nothing was trying to crawl its way out and destroy everything in existence.

They were safe.

NNY finally stepped out of the way, peering down at his steel-toe boots in shame. "You must be so disappointed. Especially after I criticized you for painting those flowers yesterday."

Jenny stepped closer, looking up at the stick figure that was Happy Noodle Boy. He was yelling obscenities at a large crowd of people, and it looked as if one of the crowd members were about to pull a gun on him.

It was still beautiful, regardless. Well, in its own way.

She laughed nervously. "What are you talking about? It's... amazing... I mean... well..."

NNY narrowed his eyes at her, and he could see right through her lies. Pooh. How does she get herself out of this?

"... Well... your use of commas is very good..."

She was referring to the commas inside HNB's speech bubbles, of course.

NNY widened his eyes in horror. "Commas...? You're giving me grammar?!"

Jenny shifted her eyes, giving another nervous sound. NNY dropped his paintbrush and palette onto the floor, then stormed out of the room, gritting his teeth.

"This is hopeless. I was a fool to let you talk me into this. I'm no 'real' artist, or whatever it is that you like to call me, Jenny. I have no talent. Well, not anymore. That monster took it all..."

He stopped in the doorway, bowing his head. He fisted his hands, trembling with pent-up rage.

Jenny watched him bewildered. She had no idea what to say. All she could do was watch while NNY was having an existential crisis.

Poor thing. If only there was something she could do to help him.

She peered up at the monster again. Could NNY be talking about her monster? The one that haunted her ever since she was a little girl? She could have sworn it was real, talking to her from inside her bedroom wall.

He'd had two friends. They mostly did all the talking, telling her to do awful things, but Jenny never listened.

Instead, she shut them out, falling into a quiet resolve. She became withdrawn, losing her connection with the world outside of her bedroom.

Even worse, she had lost the ability to paint. Not even the flowers inspired her anymore in those dark days.

Then everything deteriorated once her grandmother died. The monster grew and grew, cracking through the walls slowly but surely. And the more Jenny ignored it, then the angrier the monster became.

That was around the time the doctors found out about the monster and started experimenting on her. They were fascinated by the monster and the control it had over Jenny.

It went on for years and years, until one day, it got too much. The monster escaped in the end, destroying the entire world.

Yet no one remembered. Because the world had been restored once the monster escaped, and then it seemed to have vanished forever.

Well, that was what Jenny thought. Until that cold night six months ago. Jenny had felt the exact same rip in the universe, just like the last time the monster had escaped. Only this time the rip had been stronger, more intense.

And it was that very same rip that led to her escape from the hospital.

Jenny had always known that the monster had never truly gone. It had just found a new home in the end. A new host.

Someone else it could torment and tempt to do its bidding.

In other words, it found a new slave.

Jenny looked back at NNY. He still faced away from her, and she wished she knew what to say to cheer him up.

"It's... not so bad..."

NNY sighed, glaring at her over his shoulder. "Don't humour me, Jenny. Just be honest and tell me what you really think. You don't have to be nice all the time."

Jenny huffed. "No, I do. There is enough cruelty in this world to go around. So, forgive me, Johnny, but I am not going to be mean to you. Even if it does help you in the long run."

NNY looked at her dumbfounded. It seemed he had no idea how to respond to that. Jenny seldom lost her temper, least of all around NNY, but he was being unreasonable.

She was merely here to encourage him. Not make him feel worse than he already did.

NNY rolled his eyes, whirling out of the room, and Jenny went after him. "Where are you going?"

"Go home. Jenny. You have a shop to run after all. A life. So, don't worry about me..."

She disregarded his comment, continuing to follow him. It wasn't until they reached the stairs to the next floor that he turned suddenly, making her stop in her tracks.

Jenny bumped into him, and they almost toppled down the stairs. But NNY got his footing, grabbing her by the elbows.

"I said, leave. Don't follow me."

He gripped her arms a little too tightly, but Jenny maintained her composure, never looking away from his crazed eyes.

It appeared he truly did want to be by himself. Maybe Jenny should honour his wish. But she also couldn't stand the thought of leaving him alone.

He was hurting, and she wanted to be there for him. Just like he was there for her...

"No."

He quirked a brow. "No?"

She nodded. "That's right. I'm not going anywhere. Not until I know you feel better."

NNY's eyes flashed, and there was his bloodshot sclera. "I think you're really underestimating my patience, Jenny. When I say I want to be alone, I mean it. Now, go home."

He leaned closer to her face to really get his point across, but Jenny still made no move. It appeared they were at a stalemate.

It was a tense situation indeed.

Jenny still held the paintbrush. It was a dangerous move. Don't poke the bear, they say, but she still reached up and dabbed a red blotch on his nose.

"Boop. Now you look like a clown."

His eyes bugged in horror, and rightly so; she just overstepped a line. She guessed this was the part where he would murder her...

Jenny waited, but NNY made no attempt to stab her. He was just frozen. She may have even broken him.

She dabbed another spot on his cheek, and NNY finally snapped. He snatched the paintbrush from her hand, looking at her vehemently.

Jenny tried to pull free of his arm, but it was hopeless. NNY's grip was like iron.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't shove this paintbrush down your throat, Jenny."

Jenny actually thought her response over, despite the fact that a homicidal maniac was threatening her with a paintbrush. "Because... because you would feel sad after you choked me to death. Also, you would be all alone in the world with no friend to rely on..."

NNY's eye twitched. His grip around her arm tightened slightly, but she remained steadfast.

She wasn't afraid of him. If NNY was going to kill her, then he would have done it ten dates ago.

Finally, he opened his mouth. "I said one good reason. That was two..."

She smiled sweetly. "So, you agree... it was a good reason?"

NNY face spasmed. Then his body trembled as he tightened his grip around her wrist. Jenny winced, trying her best to hide the pain.

Finally, he pushed himself away, stomping down the stairs. "Just go, Jenny. You've tested my limits long enough."

Jenny rubbed her wrist. There was going to be a nasty bruise there tomorrow, but she didn't care. She wouldn't leave.

It wasn't fair. NNY had been there for her, so why couldn't she be there for him?

"No. I won't leave. You're hurting, NNY, and I want to be there for you. Just like you were there for me..."

He froze halfway down the stairs, keeping his back to her.

"So please... let me extend the same kindness to you."

NNY exhaled. "I told you. I am not kind."

"You are... and you go out of your way to make sure I don't get hurt, just like the time you hid those reviews so I wouldn't be able to read them..."

NNY turned, and the pained look on his face almost made her falter. "That... that was different... you were inconsolable..."

"No, it wasn't. You're inconsolable, too. You just show it in a different way. I care about you, NNY, and I won't leave until I know you are better. I promise. Once I know you are fine, then I will go."

She wouldn't go forever. Jenny would come back. She would always come back to NNY.

NNY had no idea what to say. It seemed she had left him truly and utterly tongue-tied. It just showed how much he wasn't used to the idea of someone caring about him.

The concept was foreign to him.

He was just too used to going it solo. It was so much easier to push her away. But Jenny was determined to lift his spirits.

She would help him find his creative spark again. Just like he helped her find hers.

Jenny held her hand out. "Now, come on. Join me in the art room."

That wasn't its official name, but it didn't matter. She and NNY had some creating to do.

NNY looked at her hand torn. He wrung his fingers together, biting his lip. Then he opened his mouth to say something, then shut it again.

Jenny wouldn't give up. So she took a step down further, encouraging him a little more. "Come, let's create art together..."

NNY's eyes lit up like a child's. "T-together...?"

Jenny smiled. "Yeah... you and me..."

She still had no idea how they created that monster together. That creature had haunted Jenny for the past twelve years. So it made no sense.

How could NNY have known what her monster looked like?

Had he seen it before?

NNY said he'd had his own monster once upon a time too. Could it be...?

A ghoulish cry echoed up the stairs, and NNY froze. "Help! Somebody help me! Oh, God, it freaking hurts! Please! Please don't let that skinny fucker kill me!"

Jenny's face blanched. "Who... who was—?"

NNY moved in a flash. One moment, he was halfway down the stairs. Then the next he was carrying her down the hallway, all the way back to the art room.

Jenny didn't even get to find out who'd been yelling for help; NNY had rushed her down the hall like a cat on crack.

"Let's do art! Art! Here!"

NNY shoved a whole bucket of red paint in her arms. Jenny looked at him horrified. "NNY... what's—?"

He grabbed his own bucket, laughing hysterically as he tossed its contents at the wall. Now Happy Noodle Boy and his crowd of disgusted onlookers disappeared.

"Look at me?! I'm doing art! Hahaha!"

Jenny blinked, stepping away from him. Did someone light a fire under his butt? Because... wow.

She kind of already knew he had a screw loose, but this was just a whole other level of crazy. It seemed he really didn't want her to find out who was yelling down in the basement.

Was it someone Jenny knew?

NNY shoved his hands into the splotch of paint on the wall, creating random images and patterns. He cackled the whole time, eyes rolling back into his skull.

Well, at least he was painting...

Jenny shrugged, tossing her own paint at the wall. She even mimicked NNY, shoving her hands into the paint.

It was actually kind of fun. This was how pre-schoolers painted, and it looked as if they really had gone back to basics.

Jenny giggled. "This is actually really fun! Your way is way more exciting, NNY."

"Yeah? Then check this out!"

Without warning, he opened another bucket, burying his hand deep inside. Then he threw paint at her, laughing like a madman. "Art!"

The paint splatted her in the face, taking her breath away. She may have even seen stars at one point as she staggered back, wiping her eyes.

NNY was still cackling like a maniac, and she couldn't help but smile.

Oh, he wanted to do that kind of art. All right. She grabbed her bucket, a wicked smirk growing on her face.

Time for payback.

NNY

NNY stopped laughing the moment that paint hit him in the cheek, and when he looked up, he found Jenny doubled over, covering her mouth.

The blood rushed through his head as he crashed back down to earth, getting his bearings.

What happened? The last thing he recalled was being on the stairs, arguing with Jenny. That was when his victim cried out for help, and the memories came rushing back.

Shit. NNY had vanished into one of his realities again. The moment that victim started screaming for help, he sped out of the room, getting Jenny as far away as possible.

He could not let her see who was down there.

Her pealing laughter echoed through the room, and warmth spread through his viens when he saw how happy she was.

He still couldn't believe she was his. She was like a dream come true, and he knew then that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

Even if the rest of his life was twenty-four hours, he didn't care. NNY would die a happy man.

While she was distracted, he stalked closer, pouring the rest of the paint over her head. Jenny squealed, and it was all NNY could do to refrain from laughing.

"NNY!"

NNY chuckled. "Not so funny now, huh?"

"You... you horrid..."

He dropped the bucket, stumbling closer. He backed her to the wall, placing his hands on either side of her head.

He could see himself reflected in her big doe eyes, and damn, did he look scary. "I'm a horrid what?"

Jenny's lip shook, and he focused on that plump flesh, wanting to suck it into his mouth. But first, he wanted to hear the rest of what she was going to say...

Maybe he would get to hear her curse again. She was beautiful when she cursed.

Her hair and face were completely covered in red paint, and she looked like something straight out of a horror movie. Maybe Carrie when her bullies drenched her in pig's blood at her prom night.

That red mask of fake gore really brought out the vivid blue of her eyes, and it was enough to make NNY's heart beat faster.

"I'm a horrid what...?" he whispered, his eyes flashing brighter. He saw them reflected in her giant orbs.

Jenny peered down at his lips, desire burning in her eyes, but he distracted her by leaning in closer. He felt the heat of her breath on his face, fisting his hands beside her head as he fought the urge to fuck her against the wall.

She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Then she opened them again and whispered, "A horrid peace of shit..."

NNY lost his cool. He threw himself at her lips, but she ducked out of the way, leaving him to kiss the wall.

What the fuck?

He turned around. She carried a bucket of paint in her hand, stalking closer and closer. NNY shuffled out of the way.

She looked absolutely fucking insane, perfect blue eyes blurring from her red face, and he hated himself for being aroused.

If this was how he was going to die in the end, so be it; he would rather die at the hands of a beautiful, psychotic woman anyway.

With a sharp battle cry, she tossed the contents of the bucket at NNY, covering him head to toe in red paint.

NNY yanked up a bucket, and now they started throwing paint at each other, turning the art room into a warzone.

But who cared? NNY hadn't had so much fun in his life.

They soon got to the last bucket, and it looked as if they were at an impasse. Who would get to it first?

NNY gave her a creepy smirk. To his surprise, Jenny gave him one of her own, and his heart skipped a beat.

A true psychopath. She had never looked lovelier.

They raced towards the bucket, tripping and stumbling over each other in a bid to get to it first, yet NNY won in the end.

Yanking up the bucket, he whirled around, glaring at the little pink-haired Jenny. A creepy laugh escaped his lips.

Her eyes enlarged, and like a frightened little rabbit, she stumbled backward. He corned her to the wall, and now she had nowhere to run.

She pressed her back to the plaster, gazing horrified at the bucket as he lifted it above his head. Her chest heaved as she gasped for breath.

"NNY, please... don't..." she begged.

He lifted the bucket higher and higher, ready to dump the paint all over her head, and she pleaded once again, waving her arms.

"No! I surrender!"

Finally, he turned the bucket upside down. Yet instead of tipping it over her head, he poured it all over himself, and now her startled face vanished behind a sheet of gooey red paint.

It dripped all the way down his face, momentarily blinding him, but it was worth it just to see her expression.

He chuckled. "Gotca!"

His cackling bounced off the walls, and he really did sound insane. Yet he was elated when he heard the sound of Jenny's pealing giggle.

"You almost had me!"

He had. The way she'd begged for him to stop.

He loved the sound of her begging...

His laughing soon died in his throat the moment she stepped closer, wiping the paint from his mouth. Then she kissed him, prolonged and gentle, and NNY lost himself in pure bliss.

The bucket slipped from his hands, clattering to the ground. His heart thumped in his ears as she became his sole focus, and now they were the only two people left in the universe.

He teased his fingers through the strands of her paint-soaked hair, slipping his tongue between her lips.

NNY pressed her against the wall, and their paint-covered bodies created beautiful art on the old plaster.

She groaned against his mouth, and he swallowed up the sound, humming in deep primal pleasure.

NNY had never felt so alive. His heart pumped through his body, and he was simply drunk on her.

When they pulled away, they kept their mouths close, breathing the same air. Jenny ran a finger down his hooked nose, and he opened an eye.

"Take me to one of your torture rooms..." she whispered.

NNY opened his other eye. Did he hear her right? "W-what?"

Jenny brushed her finger across his lips. "You heard me. I want to see the real you, NNY. The maniac."

His vision swirled as the blood rushed through his ears. Then he swallowed, wondering what the hell should he do.

She wanted him to pleasure her by means of torture.

The old NNY would have baulked at the idea of something so absurd, but he wasn't that NNY anymore.

The Reverend reminded him constantly of his past sexual exploits with women, and he had always been somewhat of a sadist (and often times the masochist too).

This was so fucked up, even for NNY. But Jenny was persistent. Who knew she was a kinky freak all along beneath that pink sunny facade?

He squeezed his eyes, holding her closer. Very well. He would do it... for her. If it made her happy, so be it.

Who knew? Maybe he would actually enjoy himself too.

Without warning, he threw her over his shoulder, cackling like a maniac as he rushed her out of the art room.

It's torture time.