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Though the lights had long dimmed, Pluey still found themselves lingering in the studio, waiting. Their Mike suit safely tucked away in the room, they had returned to sit on one of the audio controllers’ stools and wait. The others had all left, but Pluey couldn’t leave just yet, not without…
“Plues? Are youse still there?”
Pluey turned towards the familiar voice, getting up as they did. The backroom curtains parted, and Jongler slinked through, catching Pluey’s gaze as they did. They had also doffed their Mike suit, naturally, and had a closed cardboard box in their hands. Making their way over to Pluey, they seemed to not struggle with the box, easily switching to a one-armed hold when they got closer to Pluey.
“Oh, youse are. Thanks, Plues”. They set the box down beside them, and Pluey saw a small hint of red peak out where the flaps met. “I had to, uh… get this outta there discreetly” they said, tone more hushed, looking towards the box. “Gots roped into helping some of th’ other stagehands lift the heavy stuff outta the way. Took longer than I expected.”
It’s okay, I don’t think I waited too long.” Pluey signs, giving Jongler a small grin. Did you want to go to the after-party together?
Jongler scratches their head sheepishly. “Tells you the truth, Plue, I near forgot about thats.” They think for a moment. “Let me drop this off, then we can goes together. That sound okay?”
Pluey nods enthusiastically, its hat nearly falling off its head. Yes, of course! Thank you.
It hesitates for a moment, before reaching up and planting a kiss on the side of Jongler’s face. As it pulls away, it sees its partner redden softly before moving to pick the box back up. One of Jongler’s hands gently takes Pluey’s forearm, and it feels a cool metal pressed to its cheek, followed by a soft electric shock. Their hands interlace, and the pair begin the walk to the Mike room.
Sometimes, Pluey can’t believe how lucky they are. It hadn’t been terribly hard to figure out that Jongler felt the same way as them; really, the issue had been in finding the right time and place to ask them about it. That had been some time ago, but they still worried Jongler wouldn’t want to indulge in physical affection sometimes — Pluey had been good, doing it when all eyes weren’t on them and trying to follow Jongler’s lead. In moments like that, when their affection was returned so quickly, Pluey knew they had made the right call. Towards the end of the show season they had even planned their first ‘real date’, and Pluey had been counting down the days until the final episode had been filmed and they both had some free time. There was only one matter the two had been dancing around, but it could wait… for the moment.
They dip in and out of the room, efficiently, unseen by any who might ask questions. The two of them had been drilled by Battat endlessly on the importance of keeping time in the room minimal and only when necessary; though Pluey often wondered why, then, Battat seemed to spend the most time in there of the three of them. He took his duties seriously, and often Pluey considered that he might do things like maintenance on the suits or script revisions. No, no, no. It didn’t want to think about Battat right now, it thought, shaking its head.
“...something wrong, Plue?”
Jongler rubs Pluey’s hand, and the Shadowguy exhales gently before nodding. I’m good, just thinking they sign, pulling away for a moment to do so before returning to hold Jongler’s hand. They get a nod in response, and a comfortable silence falls between them before they reach the room the party was to be held in. It was still a bit early; some staff had trickled in but Pluey saw some still missing as they approached the door. Some decor had been put up, and drinks and some appetizers dressed the table that stood against the wall. Music emitting from the room got louder as they approached; something different than the tunes Pluey was used to hearing during the show, but not differing too drastically in tempo. Light chatter gradually filled the room as they stepped in; some people looking from their conversations to the pair, smiling or giving waves at them, before resuming. The lighting was dimmed, but Pluey could still make out people’s faces fairly effortlessly.
Including Battat’s. Or, they should say, Small Mike’s.
He still wore his Mike suit, and was currently talking to two Pippins, who seemed to be fully transfixed in asking ‘Mike’ countless questions about his role. They were ceaseless in expressing how smooth everything ran with Mike, how much the show needed him and how effortless he made everything seem. No doubt all things Battat would love to hear, and judging by how equally focused he seemed, Pluey’s deduction was right. It looked over and saw Jongler staring as well, with that way they carried their head that Pluey knew meant they were pondering something.
Did you want to go talk to him? Pluey signed. Jongler’s visor narrowed, focusing once more before returning their gaze to Pluey.
“Not right now, maybe later, if he’s… youse knows…” Jongler trailed off, making a side to side motion with their right hand. “... If he’s himself.”
I’d like that too, honestly. Pluey signed. There’s something I’ve been meaning to … It hesitates mid-sign. … actually, it’s okay.
“Hm. Youse sure?”
I… yeah, maybe not tonight. Maybe later.
It wasn’t like Jongler didn’t know. Pluey knows they do. It’s just not something they’ve explicitly… discussed before, even before Pluey confronted Jongler. Battat was the one that brought them together, that made them get closer, who gave them both excuses to spend more time in each other’s company.
Battat was also the one who the two still mutually yearned for. Terribly.
Pluey still couldn’t quite place when exactly they knew, but the ‘why’ wasn’t something they had to think too hard about. As they gazed at Battat across the room, still mingling with an even larger group of Pippins now, they felt something build in the back of their throat. It didn’t stay long, as Jongler’s hand gently rubbed Pluey’s shoulder and it dissipated with the action.
“I’m gonna goes to talk to the others ova there”, Jongler spoke, their head turned towards a group of Zappers hanging around an elevated round bar table. “Been meaning to catch up. I’ll check in on youse in a bit, don’t worry.”
Sure! Have fuuun it signs, giving Jongler a parting kiss on the cheek. Their visor crinkles up, pleased, and they head towards the group. Pluey tries not to stare too hard this time, but they look just long enough to see the other Zappers greet Jongler warmly, putting an arm around their shoulders and offering them something to drink.
Left to its own devices, Pluey looks around the room again. The music had picked up just a touch, and more people had shuffled in, branching off into smaller groups on the other tables set up around the place. It really never dawned on Pluey just how many people it took to run the show until they saw them all in the same room. They make their way to the refreshment table, which was thankfully not terribly picked over yet, and fill a small plate. After finding what it hopes is fruit punch — and not battery acid — it finds itself heading over to a group of other Shadowguys that take up a larger, rectangular table in the back. A couple on the end have started some kind of card game that Pluey is only vaguely familiar with, but something seems off and they wonder if a rule or two have been modified. Two in the middle, sitting across from each other, engage in an arm wrestling competition, though Pluey can hear that they’re also gently kicking and nudging each other's feet in an effort to distract the other. The rest are scattered in various conversations, some turned towards the party and some faced away, focusing on just the group. Without much thought, Pluey slid in at the end without the card game, beside a Shadowguy faced towards the party speaking to another across the table, also faced away. At Pluey’s arrival they gradually stopped; the one Pluey had sat beside opened his arms wide and gave them a light punch on the shoulder.
(Pluey! Long time no see!) he chimes, resting an arm on the table. (I feel like we hardly see you these days)
Had it been that long since they had spoken? Pluey really didn’t recall. Battat had stressed the importance of maintaining regular appearances to take any suspicion away from them, but Pluey admittedly didn’t go out of its way to do that.
I haven’t had a lot of free time, it admits, keeping things vague. Especially as the season came to a close, but I think things should be less stressful now, y’know?
(Tell me about it) the other Shadowguy replies, swinging their legs around the table to face the other two. Their hat had been removed and placed on the table, and Pluey's eyes were momentarily drawn to their bunny ears, before they hastily looked back at them. (I tried to find time to slack off juuust a bit when I felt extra overworked, but man Mr. Tenna’s presence is terrifying sometimes, eh?). Pluey can’t help but nod, no doubt having felt it deeper than anyone else at the table here.
Conversation picks up, and Pluey finds it surprisingly easy to talk to them. Eventually two others join, and Pluey slowly drifts into mostly observing while chiming in when something topical comes up they can add to. They find themselves still absentmindedly looking to the other Shadowguys across the table, still playing cards with no clear winner distinct yet. Some, like Pluey, still don their hats but others have also removed them like Pluey’s other conversational partner. The distinct animal ears are fairly common among the Shadowguys, and Pluey realizes they haven’t really… paid attention to the assortment before. Most, at least at this table, have long rabbit-like ears but the one seeming to be the dealer for the card game had distinctly cat-shaped ones. Pluey looks at them, studies their shape, before a voice rings through and brings them back to the present.
(Did you wanna learn how to play, Pluey?) the Shadowguy seated beside Pluey asks, voice raising melodically. (It’s not too different from the games we’re used to playing, but they’ve added some weird house rules that make the rounds last much longer and makes adding up the points a bit tricky.)
(But it’s fun, I promise!) a softer voice pipes up, seated beside the bunny-eared Shadowguy across the table. (I’ve only played twice myself, so I’m not an expert, but maybe we can collectively teach you.)
(Or we could ask the cardmaster…) The bunny-eared Shadowguy suggests, hand placed under their chin in contemplation.
Pluey tries to listen; they know they should respond, but their focus has long drifted. The cat-eared Shadowguy, the ‘cardmaster’, laughs at something a hatted Shadowguy across from them has done, and they put their hand of cards down seemingly in victory. There’s something about the way they carry themselves; something in how others naturally gravitate to them that Pluey had never noticed before. A feeling that had been slowly seeping in starts to prickle the back of Pluey’s neck. Suddenly their shirt is too loose, rubbing on the hairs on the back of their neck wrong; their jacket is too tight and they feel like shifting their legs continuously. Is this… jealousy? It curls its toes in; concentrates, tries to resist looking over at them again. Fighting the urge, it remembers it’s in the presence of others and a response is needed.
Oh, sure, that sounds kinda fun it signs, hands feeling stiff. Their throat feels dry. I might need to sit in a couple of games first with you guys, though.
(That’s not a bad way to learn, just don’t give the players any hints) the bunny-eared Shadowguy chimes, dipping low at the end with a wink. Pluey laughs, genuinely, and takes a deep breath in after, exhaling and trying desperately to relax. It works to an extent; their clothes feeling less like sandpaper against their skin and sweat drying under their hat.
No promises.
They look past their tablemate’s shoulders towards where Jongler had been sitting, and just catch them mid-movement towards an unsuited Battat. Seeming to have caught the green Pippins’ attention, Battat greets Jongler warmly and he clinks glass against Jongler's in celebration.
Well, it was good to catch up; I’ll see you later for a game? they ask.
(Aw, off so soon, Plue?) The Shadowguy beside it asks. (We’ll be in touch; leave a few days free for us to teach ya!)
Giving a deep nod, tilting their hat in the same motion, Pluey stumbles away from the table towards their partner and Battat. This was an excellent opportunity that Pluey wasn’t going to let slide, and it started to think about things to say, though so much of it depended on what Jongler had already said themselves…
They had spoken of it plenty of times. Finding opportunities to be a little more flirtatious than the workplace environment would allow was ideal, but those opportunities were few and far between. Now, though, was prime for getting Battat where they wanted him and Pluey was thankful Jongler had found an opening.
“Me and Plues were planning on seeing a movie sometime, now that we've gots more free time”, Jongler starts. “And if youse wanted to come with us, we’d both really loves to have ya.”
We would, Pluey starts. I’m not too picky on which one we see, so if you had one in mind we could go check it out they sign with a small smile curled up their face.
Battat seems to mull this over for a moment, brow furrowed in thought like the pair had seen countless times before. “Let me… uh… get back to you on that…” they finally manage to get out. “I’ll have to check my schedule; I’d like to use this time to get a head start on preparing for next season; Tenna always has a big meeting with Mike to go through some general script and technical things, so I should start as soon as I can…”
“Aw c’mon, boss. We’ve really wanted to spend time with youse; one day is all we’re askin’ for here”
Pluey clasps their hands together, bringing them up near their face, and mimics batting their eyelashes like they’ve perfected in the Cat Mike suit. They look intently at Battat, who returns their gesture with an upturned lower lip, expression now a cross between irritation and thought.
“Don't make that face at me” Battat starts. “I don’t know what all this is about, but sure, I’ll go with you to see… some movie, I don’t care which” he concludes. Pluey can sense the hesitation in their voice, but getting Battat to actually do something with them has seemed all but unachievable until now — even as Pluey looked over to Jongler, its partner seemed equally as shocked, but held it well in their body language.
Excellent! I’ll start making plans right away. There’s a nice place nearby we can get dinner at before. Pluey’s hands shake as they sign, from both excitement and fear that Battat might change his mind sometimes between now and the movie.
“I’ll makes a reservation, just in case” Jongler adds.
“Wait — wait — dinner isn’t…” the green Pippins retorts quickly, some kind of fear shifting on his face. They trail off, and the fear leaves as soon as it had come on them. “... never mind, that sounds… acceptable.”
Pluey looks at Jongler and smiles, satisfied. Their partner also looks contented by Battat's choice, and after a moment Pluey returns to face Battat again.
I’ll send you a list of movies to look over; otherwise I’ll just pick one it concludes.
Battat sighs. “Fine, that works”. He sounded… less bothered than he had a moment before, which fills Pluey with relief. “A… anyways, I need to go, uh, socialize more I guess” they stammer, before backing off a bit to leave.
“Boss, wait a sec!”
Jongler reaches out to Battat, who slows down, confused. The Zapper gently takes Battat's tie in their hands, and Pluey notices it was indeed considerably loose.
“Lemme fix thats for ya, Boss. Gotta have you lookin’ your best!”
Battat stiffens and stands idle as Jongler effortlessly fixes their tie. Battat’s eyes occasionally drift downwards, to Jongler’s hands, and back up to just under Jongler’s visor. Pluey can see him blush slightly, and their heart swells just a touch. Sure, it could mean nothing, but off-chance it did… well, wouldn’t that be nice?
“...thank you.” Battat says monotonously. “I… appreciate it.” They hesitate for a moment, before giving a curt nod and leaving proper. Pluey shoots Jongler a thumbs up, to which they scratch the back of their head shyly.
The party carries on, eventually fading naturally as people dip out, heading home to retire for the night. Pluey leaves before their partner; the pull to return to the Shadowguy table strong, but still giving it an uneasy feeling in their stomach. Every glance, every lingering look both invites Pluey in and repulses them in a way they can’t figure out. If I leave, it can’t tempt me they eventually rationalize; giving Jongler a parting kiss before heading home, leaving the quiet music and lingering chatter behind them.
It wakes up almost abruptly that night, woken by some noise outside. At some point, Jongler must have come home; it feels their body pressed against it tight, one arm draped around it comfortably. Sweat sticks to Pluey’s hair, and they wipe their forehead, hand wandering for just a moment over the top of their head before continuing. They exhale, reach for Jongler’s hand and press it closer to themselves before slowly falling back into a deep and dreamless sleep.
*****
Pluey is well aware they shouldn’t be here. It would be strange to be caught back, in the off-season, unless it was by Tenna’s request or a few days before the start of the first taping in preparation. They had managed to slip in unnoticed; the security kept minimal and Pluey was more or less aware of the schedule they kept for rotations. It had come prepared with a handful of excuses, though, just in case. Their go-to was a simple ‘I forgot something', as it was early enough into the break that having left something important behind wouldn’t be too absurd. The route to Mike’s room was one they could navigate with their eyes closed, especially having been back with Jongler so recently. It had slipped in the door, closing it behind it as quietly as it could, and now stood facing the closet where the three Mike suits hung neatly, accessories in a bin beneath them.
Carefully, Pluey takes the Cat Mike suit, and stands with it in their hands for a moment. They’ve worn it countless times, pulling their arms and legs through and zipping up the back without much thought. The material in their hands is soft, kept clean initially by Battat's insistence and presently their own drive to look put-together in front of the cameras. Slowly, for no particular reason other than to stretch out the moment, they begin the ritual of putting it on. Zipping it by themselves is a little difficult, but not something they haven’t had to do before. After the shoes come the gloves, and Pluey gradually makes its way over to the mirror after finishing. They take in what they see; really, truly, look at themselves under the guise of ‘Cat Mike’. The Mike who sat on Tenna’s lap, purrs (the best they can), makes dough, loafs… Cat Mike. Pluey bends their arms, sits, tilts their head back-and-forth, chases their tail in a fit of whimsy; no stress of their shift coming up to distract them from having to leave. Slightly exhausted, they lie down, looking up at a dried water stain on the ceiling. Things turn in their mind; they try to sort them, orderly, but one resounding thought beats the rest to the ground. This feels right. Pluey closes its eyes, focuses on its breathing for a moment, then gets up to sit cross-legged. It isn’t long before something in the corner of the room falls, and Pluey jolts up to stand. They quickly scan the room and see their hat on the ground, fallen from the folding table it had been sitting on. Relieved, they head back over to the closet to get undressed. It didn’t want to be late for the movie, and although it was some hours away, Jongler had mentioned running an errand beforehand and they wanted to help out. Leaving as quietly as they had come, they close the door to Mike’s room behind them, locking it with a soft click. Pluey darts through the studio halls until they reach the door, only having one close call with a security guard but managing to make it out without being spotted. Head still full, Pluey heads back eager to clear their mind of this for the rest of the day.
*****
“... and the lighting there, too, was absolutely gorgeous. Films these days can be so… dark, literally, it was refreshing.”
Battat had been talking about the movie the entire walk back, and Pluey had been surprised with how much it also had to say about it. Honestly, it was! I also liked the through-the-window shot near the end, framing the main character while closing them off from the rest of the cast, it signed excitedly.
“Oh, no, yeah, that was brilliant. Truly an exceptional shot.”
Jongler had kept pace with them, occasionally nodding their head or offering a few words of agreement or a rare counterargument. Pluey could tell they were just as excited as it was to hear their boss speak so much, about something that wasn’t a theory or work-related nonetheless. He had such passion in his voice, and Pluey understood even more how the other Pippins could be so naturally drawn to him and listen to him speak as Small Mike.
“Has the director done anything else similar?” they ask, after the two had exchanged more opinions and points. “I’d be interested in checking more of their work out.”
“Oh, yeah, actually, I think they’ve done two other films kinda similar to that ones” Jongler pipes in. “The earlier one is… good, but the second one is much better, in my opinion, of course” they add, the latter part quickly tacked on the end. “If you’d like to come over and watch them with Plues and I…”
“Yeah, actually, I would.” Battat replies, immediately. “Just tell me when.”
Jongler thinks. “Maybe tomorrow night, or —”
Pluey shakes their head, almost at the same time as Battat. “No, well, not then. I’ve got, uh, plans then” they add, looking up to Pluey briefly. “You too?”
Oh, er, yeah. I have something that evening blocked out and I’d like a bit of time to… prepare for the evening
“Sure, no problem. It doesn’t have to be soon” Battat says with a grin. “I’ll still hold you both to it, though.”
Pluey feels their chest tighten with excitement. No way, no way at all that was flirting, but it was still incredible to hear. Jongler had turned away, so they couldn’t gauge their expression, but they could make a few assumptions if they felt anything similar to how Pluey was feeling right now (if prior conversations had been any indication).
Good, we won’t forget, will we? it replies, nudging Jongler playfully when it notices them turn their head back to the conversation.
“Oh, uh, no sirree; we won’t forget one bit” Jongler replies, scratching the back of their head. Pluey laughs a bit, and Battat joins them, a quiet exhale of a laugh.
The three walk in silence for some time, dipping in and out of conversation, before Battat peels off to head home, insisting on walking the remainder of the way alone. Jongler and Pluey continued on, some shared glances between them validating what Pluey had thought prior.
“So, do you think he… well… the way he worded that… d’ya think that possibly…”
I don’t know Pluey signs, slowly. I don’t want to assume anything, but… I don’t think it’s entirely impossible…. They hold their hands still in the last position, before dropping them to their sides. I think we’ll have to see what happens next time we run into him.
“Yeah, I suppose so” Jongler says absently. “Oh, uh, unrelated but I wanted to ask ya what youse were up to tomorrow night” they ask. “I don’t think youse brought it up to me; wanted to make sure I didn’t forget nothin’.”
Pluey fidgets a bit; they raise their hands to sign again several times before rearranging them, dropping them, going to sign something else, before giving up.
Actually, um, can we… talk about that at home? it asks. Jongler’s visor crinkles with concern, and Pluey puts its hands up and waves briefly. Oh, no it’s nothing bad, they hurriedly sign, just something that might take some time to explain properly.
“Okay, Plues, I trust you” Jongler replies, visor relaxing and their shoulders unstiffining, which Pluey hadn’t even noticed at first. They reach for Pluey’s hand, give it a rub, and hold it the rest of the way.
*****
A gentle creak of the door pierces the silence, and Pluey’s head whips around to see Battat’s small frame fill the doorway, light poured in behind him. It freezes, still in front of the mirror in the Cat Mike suit, mid-paw up at an imaginary ball of yarn. A heavy pause fills the space between them; Battat unable to look away from the sight before him and Pluey unable to move from the position it found itself in.
“... what are you doing?” Battat asks flatly, breaking the tension.
Desperately, Pluey wants to run to the door and leave this all behind, but with Battat in the way, that wouldn’t work as well as they’d hoped. Instead, they find it in them to unfreeze from their position, and face Battat properly.
I’m pretending to paw at a ball of yarn they sign, realizing as they finish that Battat can’t see their fingers. Shaking the mic-shaped gloves off, they sign again, watching Battat's expression go from irritated to slightly less so.
“Well, that technically answers my question” he responds. “I guess I meant more what you’re doing here”; he gestures, with an open palm to the general area of the Mike room.
Oh, right Pluey signs. I’m… It falters. None of it’s conjured excuses were designed for if it got caught within the room itself, let alone by it’s pseudo-boss. I’m practicing my Mike poses.
“Your Mike poses.” Battat restates. “Right.”
Under the cat helm, Pluey sweats a bit. The situation isn’t helped as Battat walks forwards, closing the door behind them without looking back. It clicks shut, locked, and Battat pulls up a folding chair that had been neatly tucked away between the wall and another shelf in the room. They unfold it and sit on it backwards; arms tucked on the top of the chair and their sharp chin resting on their right wrist.
“Look, I’ll be blunt. I can’t have you coming in here too often. I had a feeling you had come once before recently, after I saw your hat left on the ground when I came by to iron out our bowties, but I didn’t say anything because I thought it might have been a one-off. But… now I’m not so sure.”
Damn it curses internally. It had been in such a hurry to leave the first time, that despite it being the cause of its initial pull back to reality, it had certainly left it sitting on the floor where it had fallen.
“I’m not mad at you, but you have to understand where I’m coming from.” He leans in, looking away for a moment before making eye contact again with Pluey. “We’ve all done such a good job at keeping this under wraps, and I can’t do this without either of you.” His tone softens as he says this, green eyes lidding. “It’s fine to pop in here from time to time, just not frequently.”
Pluey shifts in place, looking down at their feet. As with Jongler, they bring their hands up to try and say something — anything — but the words don’t come. They want to explain themselves, but then again, Battat hadn’t even asked —
“So… what brings you in here so often, anyways? Surely it isn’t posing all the time… unless it was, which is fine, I guess.”
It walks over to pull over another folding chair and sits across from Battat, one leg resting on the other, ankle just above the knee. It folds its hands in its lap, and sits down to tell Battat everything it had told Jongler the night before.
*****
Warm drinks in their hands, either finished or long gone cold, Pluey sits beside Jongler on their couch turned to the side to face them. Jongler had also turned to face Pluey, one arm thrown over the back of the couch and wrapped around so their free hand was idly draped on the back cushion. Pluey’s mug sat in their lap with their drink still half untouched, as they had been doing nearly all the talking. Jongler had listened, intently, giving nothing but an occasional nod or asking a brief follow-up question. After a considerable gap, when Jongler was almost certain Pluey was done, they finished the last sip and adjusted to sit more upright.
“Youse done, Plue? I don’t want to cut youse off.”
It nods.
“Okay, okay” they start, looking to the side as if finding the best order of words in their mind. “Well, to starts, how you feel… at least from what you’ve said, of course, I think makes sense for youse.”
Pluey looks at them, giving its head a tilt, and waits for Jongler to elaborate.
“It’s just, I dunno, you seem more ‘present’ when you’re out there dressed up” they begin. “You seem more… you? More confident?” Jonger adds, leaning in a bit. “And honestly, I understand to an extent. I think…”
With the hat? Pluey asks, smiling at their partner.
“O-oh, yeah actually” Jongler replies, giving a soft chuckle. “Makes me feel, uh, cool?”
You do look cool Pluey signs, Cool and handsome. Very stylish.
“Aw geeze, thanks” the Zapper replies sheepishly. “Anyways; no, yeah, I think I understand for the most part. You wanna feel more… you. Happier, just… better.”
Pluey nods emphatically. Yes, yes, exactly! it signs, placing a hand atop Jongler’s after.
Its partner beams, visor brought up in delight. “Oh Plues, thank you for bein’ honest with me.” Jongler sneaks a kiss to Pluey’s head, and leans back to give the Shadowguy a bit of space. It isn’t for long; Pluey follows them as they lean back and nuzzles the side of their face, content.
I know I should probably tell Battat they sign, after pulling back. I’m just nervous, I guess. How do I go about it?
“Well, it doesn’t have t’ be right away. Just do it when it feels right; when you’re ready and they’re willin’ to listen.”
Yeah, you’re right. Maybe before the next season starts… that feels nice.
“That’s not a bad idea, like a fresh start or somethin’”
Pluey gives Jongler a slow blink, smiles, and rests its head on their shoulder.
A fresh start, I like that.
*****
For what feels like several minutes, Pluey waits, still seated across from Battat. The green Pippins sits deep in thought, hands clasped in a way that reminds Pluey of when he’s deep into theorizing. Part of Pluey wonders, briefly, if it's said something wrong and Battat is thinking how best to relieve it from Mike duty. Pluey doesn’t have long to speculate on this before Battat finally clears his throat and adjusts in the chair, stretching for a bit before folding one leg up to mirror Pluey.
“Well. I… appreciate the full transparency.” Battat finally says. “That also helps me recontextualize several other events that I’ve had some questions about before.”
Before Pluey can ask what ‘events’ they meant, they hold up a hand. “Nothing bad, mind you, just particular things I wondered about.” They pause briefly. “And you said that Jongler… could relate to you, more or less?”
Pluey is about to raise their hands to sign, but keeps them held in place, settling to give Battat a simple nod.
“...huh.”
With that, Battat thinks again for a moment, weighing some kind of dilemma in his mind no doubt. Pluey likes to think it’s gotten good at telling Battat's expressions apart, even when they’re the same, and this one reads heavily as Battat putting various points on some kind of metaphorical scale to find the best way to respond. This seems to be proven true when Battat gives a small “Okay” under his breath, and makes eye contact with Pluey once more.
“I think” he begins, “that also may be why I was subconsciously drawn to you both to help me with this job.” Pluey perks up, eyes wide under the Cat Mike suits’ head. “I, uh, haven’t articulated it before, but I think I understand both of you when you talk about feeling… how did you say Jongler worded it? ‘More yourself?’”
And more confident Pluey adds.
“Yeah, that too. I guess when I think about it, when I dress up as Small Mike, I do feel… good in it.” He relaxes his posture a bit, hands clasping and unclasping gently. “I feel like I can speak better in it; more clearly, more easily. Just in general, I feel like wearing it helps in… every way.”
You do get it!
“I… well… I guess I do?” They stammer. “I mean, I’m glad it’s at least something I can talk to someone about.” Battat looks away from Pluey briefly, before resuming eye contact. “Well, technically two people I guess” they add, laughing nervously.
Pluey wants to say something in return, to reassure Battat more, but nothing comes fast enough. Battat gets up from the chair, stretches briefly, then begins to put the folding chair back in its proper place. Pluey finds themselves following suit after, picking up their walking pace to meet Battat in the doorway.
“Well, I’ll leave you to this, but just keep in mind wh—”
Wait.
Pluey grabs Battat’s wrist, giving a gentle pull back. They turn, facing it with widened eyes.
You, uh… you’re still invited to see a movie with Jongler and I again, okay?
Battat swallows. “Oh, I, assumed… so? Hoped so.” His face reddens.
And honestly, any date we go on, you’re more than welcome to join us on. We would both really, really love to spend more time with you.
Something deep in Pluey’s gut shifts. Had that been too much? Something had overtaken them; emotion that had seeped out from both their and Battat's feelings being laid out so plainly. They had agreed with Jongler to take things slowly, given how Battat could be with these kinds of things. They both had their reservations about advancing too far, but a deep part of Pluey had craved this kind of forwardness.
The door clicks back shut, Battat closing it gently. He stands there, momentarily caught off guard, before composing himself the way he had done countless times before as Small Mike. “You… no, I wouldn’t want to —” he cuts himself off. “You mean that.” It isn’t a question, but a statement; one Battat seems to say more to himself than Pluey.
I mean it, Battat.
The Pippins’ face flushes again, and Battat quickly turns to open the door again. “Yeah, I think that sounds… nice. I’ll see you later, then” they conclude. Pluey lets them leave; giving them a few moments to create some distance before it leaves the room itself. Heart full and head swimming, Pluey makes a brief stop to get a cup of coffee somewhere, eager to relay everything to its sole confidant.
*****
Lights hone in on stage, narrowing before widening again. All around the studio, stagehands and technical assistants hurry to their places, while camera operators clean and refocus their lenses. Battat leans on a back wall, his main jobs completed and Mike Duty belonging to someone else tonight. Jongler sits across the room, and Battat catches their attention; the Zapper gives him a small wave. Managing to give them a tired but earnest smile, Battat musters up a small accompanying wave, eyes wandering to a small section of the studio where several other Pippins have gathered and seem to be arguing over some document one of them is waving around. Before they can notice him staring, he looks towards a table in the far back room where Mike usually enters from.
It isn’t long before Cat Mike enters, quietly, and peeks at a small box left on the table. Battat watches them read the tag — To Mike, from J & B —, written in exceptionally fine penmanship, and eagerly peek in the box. Their hands flex a bit as they step back a bit, before peeking inside again. He already knows what lies inside; it hadn’t taken long to alter, and Battat had spent half of the time asking Jongler for their second opinions. The top of it is just visible; the peaked tips of ears atop a traditional Shadowguy hat, seamlessly blended in. Battat knows Pluey can’t show it off, not while on the clock, but if their excitement is visible from this far across the room, then…..
He gives a small exhale, and looks towards the stage.
Back to one, he thinks. But things might be different this time. For the better.