Chapter Text
"Why aren't you like, married yet? Aren't you a grown up?"
Nurse Bendy was coming home from work when she met Stephanie in the stairwell. For a month or so now, they would arrive at the same time and chat about their lives before going to their respective apartments. Both women felt they were growing close but neither voiced it.
The question surprised Stephanie. "Oh! Well, I don't think marriage is quite for me," she chuckled.
"Why not? You're like, nice. Too nice for a place like this." Nurse Bendy looks down at the floor, a frown forming on her face.
Stephanie raises an eyebrow. "I don't know that the right person for me is in Moralton. What about you? Is Principal Fakey ever going to put a ring on that finger?"
Nurse Bendy crosses her arms and sticks out her tongue. "Ew! He better not! He says he loves me but I hate him. He only does bad things to me." She looks dejected for a moment and lowers her voice. "Bad things... that make me feel.. worthless. And stupid."
Stephanie puts a hand on Bendy's back, giving a supportive rub. "Oh, Nursula. I didn't realize, I'm sorry. I guess I thought you were just bored with him."
Nurse Bendy scoffs. "Yeah, bored is right." They've reached Bendy's apartment by now. She shuffles her feet awkwardly for a moment, not wanting the conversation to end. "Um, thanks for talking to me Stephanie. It feels.. good, or whatever."
Stephanie gives her a warm smile. "It feels good talking to you too, Nursula. I'll see you tomorrow." With that, Stephanie heads off for her own apartment. She thinks to herself how nice it is that Nurse Bendy is coming out of her shell. She's glad that she can make her feel comfortable, and she wonders if she opens up with anyone else like that.
Once Stephanie is out of view, Nurse Bendy enters her apartment, shutting the door behind her. She slumps against the door for a moment and sighs. Stephanie really is too nice for this place, she thinks. The way she talks so softly, her reassuring smile, the gentleness of her touch. Bendy feels all warm inside just thinking about it. About how she can still feel the spot on her back that Stephanie touched. About how she wishes Stephanie's hand was still there.
As her mind begins to wander, Bendy considers when she last felt so cared about. There's Joe of course, but Hubby betrayed her, and her brother certainly isn't a comfort, and every other man in her life does nothing but use her. Stephanie is the only person who's good to her.
Bendy goes through the motions of her nightly routine, bathing, making dinner, brushing her teeth. It's only when she lays down for bed that a single word pierces her thoughts: ALONE. She's so sick of being alone. She doesn't want to marry and have kids, even though it's her duty as a Christian. She's always accepted that she would settle down eventually, but she used to believe that she'd meet Mr. Right and everything would work out fine.
But now the thought of Mr. Right makes her stomach turn. She just can't bring herself to even imagine dating a man, let alone marrying one. Before falling asleep, Bendy has one last thought. "If only Stephanie were a man, then I could marry her."
Chapter Text
Nursula Bendy has been doing much better since her estranged son, Joe, entered her life. She spent so many years blocking him out of her mind, the difficult pregnancy on her young body, the painful birth, the even more painful separation. It was so much easier to infantilize herself than to confront her loss. Easier to play pretend than to face her actual family.
What actual family she does have, she hasn't been close with for some time. Her father, not in the picture. Her mother, old and difficult to get along with. She does have an older half-brother, Danielle, but he's nearly 15 years her senior so they were never super close. Despite the fact that they live in the same building, they hardly ever talk. One of the few traits they share is a blank, unreadable expression facing the world. For a time, Danielle would give Nursula updates on Joe, but eventually it became too painful to bear. It was easier to be numb. But with Joe in her life again, Nurse Bendy started speaking to her brother again. He was cold, and not very sensitive, but he listened to her.
The siblings sat comfily in front of Danielle's lavish fireplace. A massive stuffed bear stands proudly nearby. The man may come across as rather plain, but he truly has a flair for the dramatic. Nursula didn't understand it, but she could appreciate that Danielle expresses himself in his own home. She thinks for a moment of how her apartment betrays her public persona as well. Perhaps everyone in Moralton is only really themselves behind closed doors.
"So this girl, Stephanie, I see her in the hall like, all the time. And we always talk and she's like, really nice or whatever and I like her a lot. But we've never spent time together besides that and it makes me kinda sad," Bendy rambles. Danielle can see the energy that comes from his sister; nervous, excited, and maybe even a little afraid.
Danielle responds plainly. "So ask her to spend time together."
"I can't do that! Every time I think about it I feel all weird in my belly."
"Then don't ask her."
"But I *really* like being around her."
Danielle gives his sister a blank look. "Either ask her out or don't. This back and forth stuff is getting annoying."
Nurse Bendy blushes then scoffs dismissively. "That's not what I meant by spending time with her. I'm not gay."
"It clearly is and you clearly are."
"Then... what do I do? It's not like girls can marry girls. That's ridiculous."
Danielle grows frustrated by her ignorance. It has its charm, but it wears off quickly. Here Nursula is, complaining about a relationship she's too scared to start while he's got problems of his own. Danielle thinks she's lucky that he's such a good listener. "There are *other* things girls can do with girls."
"... Like what?"
Danielle rolls his eyes. "Like enjoy each others' company. Relationships aren't just marriage and sex. It's about loving someone... and willing to do anything to be with them."