Chapter Text
Only a few days had passed since Puzzles and WPNZ had reconnected. Said couple of days had been reasonably difficult to adapt to.
Puzzles was more than ecstatic to have his beloved friend back; the bond he had with WPNZ was unlike any other. They relied and depended on each other and were inseparable for the most part.
Puzzles was, of course, surprised at how quickly WPNZ had adjusted to having the TV back in his life. WPNZ hadn’t let his guard down fully, not quite yet, but the sole fact that he even agreed to living together was a lot for Puzzles. It seemed a little unreal at first, after months of self-hatred and seething having him believe that WPNZ could never possibly forgive him for his actions. Puzzles wasn’t sure if he could even forgive himself after everything.
Only a few days ago, WPNZ had attempted to murder him. So much pent-up rage and resentment had pushed WPNZ to the very edge. He couldn’t handle seeing the TV’s face anymore. He didn’t know how to process or regulate his emotions. He had hated Puzzles so, so much. He hated how easily taken advantage of he was, he hated how Puzzles had dug down right beneath his layer of defence into his vulnerable side, intentional or not, and completely tore his heart apart.
Only a few days ago, Puzzles had risked his life to prove his devotion to WPNZ. He stood defenceless before the gunman and allowed WPNZ to beat him to the brink of death. He allowed him, not just because he thought he deserved it, but because WPNZ, too, deserved the chance to release all his frustration onto the man who betrayed him more than anyone else.
Regardless of how. . . violent their reconciliation was, it all worked out in the end. Puzzles was able to prove his remorse and WPNZ was able to put their past behind them and give their relationship another chance.
Of course, that journey was going to be a bumpy one. The two men still had quite a lot of issues to sort out; Some together, and some on their own.
Puzzles was an aspiring perfectionist, he had been ever since he was a small child. Everything he did, everything he said, had to be flawless. His mistakes in the past had been crucial to destroying his relationships, and now that he had finally got WPNZ back, he was all the more adamant about how careful he was.
He thought very, very carefully about his words when speaking to the machine, unfortunately, it would often end up with Puzzles stumbling over words and sweating because he couldn’t decide which ‘dialogue’ was the correct one.
Puzzles found himself buried in a pit of his own thoughts late each night, his mind repeating scenarios over and over so that he could overthink about every little word and every little implication. Anytime WPNZ seemed a bit uncomfortable, Puzzles would instantly connect it to something he said and frantically apologise in fear that he messed up again.
WPNZ wouldn’t hesitate to tightly grip his friend’s hand, and reassure him that he didn’t say anything wrong. It was so in character for WPNZ to know exactly what to say in terms of comforting him. The moment his grumbly voice broke through the insufferable voices in his own head, Puzzles would feel his frayed nerves soothing instantly. He felt so safe, yet out of place. The safety was not something he was used to, and that made it feel wrong. Undeserved. Unintentional.
Surely WPNZ was planning to get actual revenge for all the pain Puzzles had caused. Physical violence wouldn’t be enough, what if WPNZ wanted to give him the same treatment? Gaining his trust slowly but surely, just to stab him in the back without a second thought.
Puzzles loathed himself for these unwanted thoughts, how could he believe WPNZ to be just as cruel as him? WPNZ had so kindly forgiven him, given him a place to stay and a bed to sleep in, and more importantly, a friend. He would never in his right mind stoop down to Puzzles’ level.
WPNZ, even if Puzzles didn’t see it, was flawed as well. He was still plagued by the guilt of his past, it just didn’t show until he was pushed to his limits. He tried his hardest to be good, he knew Puzzles needed it, he only wished he could’ve been this good for his ex, too.
Aside from that, Puzzles and WPNZ were warming up to their new life better than expected. WPNZ found an apartment from a friend he refused to elaborate on, and was more than happy to invite Puzzles to live with him. He knew that Puzzles needed some socialisation more than anything, and he wasn’t going to allow the TV to go back to rotting in the streets all by himself. That certainly wasn’t going to help anyone.
Puzzles also needed some time to recover from his injuries. He was definitely still capable of functioning on his own, but the discomfort wasn’t something he could tolerate for long. He needed his screen replaced for very obvious reasons, not to mention the scuffs and dents littering the rest of his fragile TV head.
A strange thing to note was that Puzzles’ body still vaguely functioned like a human, but only to a certain extent. His body could recover on its own given that it wasn’t being over-exerted, but Puzzles still made a habit of repairing his body himself. It was useful to know how he was functioning, and not to mention his restless self was usually incapable of waiting long enough for everything to heal.
WPNZ, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. He would take any sliver of a chance he could get to have a good rest. In fact, he had been using Puzzles’ recovery as an excuse to take a break himself. While Puzzles would spend most of the day lying in bed, or on the couch watching some musicals, WPNZ would more often than not step in to offer some company.
Sometimes he’d sprawl across the bed beside Puzzles, and offer a listening ear for the TV to rant to. Sometimes he’d push his way in on the couch and join Puzzles in watching some shows, whether reluctantly at the sight of some corny romance, or intrigued by the drama of an action film. It was pretty obvious at this point that WPNZ missed Puzzles’ company just as much as the latter had missed WPNZ.
Not that Puzzles minded at all, he was thrilled that, for once, he had a committed friend who didn’t judge him for his obsessions and dramatic personality, even if he still felt like he had to put on a front occasionally. But he doubted that it was WPNZ's fault, just his own securities coming into play.
WPNZ meant a lot to him, a whole lot more than anyone else ever did. He felt too bad to admit it, but Puzzles found himself moving on from Leggy. She may have been the first person to ever make him feel understood, but their friendship wasn’t feasible. He wasn’t able to talk to her without harming Meggy, and that wasn’t right.
His and WPNZ’s relationship, however, felt to be the most natural one he ever had. No one was being hurt, no one was being brainwashed. WPNZ actually willingly sought out his company with no strings attached. Puzzles struggled to believe it, he wanted to believe it, it felt so right but he felt so wrong.
Even after all he did to make things right, he still never felt as if he deserved forgiveness. No matter how many sacrifices he made, words always stuck. He couldn’t get them out of his head, they played on repeat similar to a broken record, left as a mark of history.
Would there ever be a time in his life when he’d feel truly cleansed of his sins?
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Puzzles slowly came out from his deep slumber, his body tucked snug under the blankets that gave him a sense of grounded warmth he didn’t often experience. His display took a few seconds to power on, but soon enough he was met with the sight of their bedroom.
The apartment still had that dusty, old smell that came with buildings that hadn’t been lived in for a long time. It was only a small apartment, a bedroom attached to a cramped bathroom alongside a kitchen and living room. Not that the two of them along with Toomp needed a lot of space, but it would surely clutter up quite fast if they wanted it to feel more homely.
Puzzles couldn’t stand the emptiness of the place, and was quick to fill it up with his belongings and little trinkets. WPNZ couldn’t care less either way, but he couldn’t help but feel at ease knowing that, for the foreseeable future, this place was theirs and theirs alone. It still had a bit of work to be done, but it wouldn’t be long before they’d fully settle in.
Puzzles groaned as he stretched, his metal shoulder blades popping with the movement. He rolled over to face where WPNZ would usually be huddled up, only to notice his friend was absent. Puzzles would be lying if he said it didn’t leave him feeling a little empty inside.
He had become fairly accustomed to sharing a bed with WPNZ since they moved in. Neither of them were too fond of the notion of sleeping on the couch, nor would they enjoy sleeping on the floor. The easy option was to just share.
The idea made Puzzles a little nervous at first, his screen would heat up and fans would faintly whir, but soon he found himself wrapping his long limbs around WPNZ without much hesitation. It was nice being able to let loose without any judgment. WPNZ had no issue with Puzzles being touchy, which was a huge win for the latter. It wasn’t often he got to cuddle, and WPNZ, at first glance, didn’t seem the type to reciprocate the affection. Life was full of surprises after all.
Right now, it was just Puzzles and his thoughts. Well, excluding Toomp. The little blob was happy enough to spend the night curled up in a dog bed left by the previous tenants. He never caused too much fuss about the situation, even if he was still a little on edge around Puzzles.
As much as Puzzles wanted to bask in the warmth of their soft mattress, he couldn’t settle for long before craving the company of WPNZ yet again. With a drowsy sigh, Puzzles reluctantly dragged himself out from under the covers. The cool air met his metal body, causing a shiver to run down his spine. They weren’t yet able to afford heating, so they had to deal with the bitter cold breezing through the apartment early in the morning.
Obviously, they could just continue their life of crime and attain money and necessities that way, but it was still so soon. WPNZ wasn’t opposed to the idea, but Puzzles felt. . . guilty. Mostly on behalf of Meggy. He figured the best way to go was to appreciate the simplicity of life while they recovered, even if it left Puzzles craving some drama. He didn’t want to cause another mess and hurt more of his friends, but he was sure WPNZ would convince him to turn back to rebellion inevitably, it was a lifestyle the machine wouldn’t so easily give up. A lifestyle that both of them were destined for.
Puzzles pulled on a loose, silk, black dressing gown before making his way to the bathroom. He didn’t need to wash himself the same way regular humans did, but he still made a habit of scrubbing his screen down with a damp cloth and some spray to give it that flawless glow each morning.
A glance in the mirror merited a cringe as he was reminded of the scuffs and marks littering his precious head. A few cracks remained on his screen, but they were a lot less noticeable than before. That was to anyone other than Puzzles himself. The observant and obsessive freak could spend hours staring into the mirror and noting any imperfections he was bound to find, but he knew better than to waste his time with that.
With that out of the way, he shuffled out of the bathroom and made his way to the kitchen. A pleasant aroma filled the air so suddenly, a sweet scent of maple and pancakes. Puzzles peeked his head around the corner to see WPNZ huddled up on the couch with a plate of pancakes. He wore a dark blue knitted sweater, his left sleeve folded up as it wouldn’t fit around his cannon, and some loose shorts.
Puzzles didn’t know why, but he loved seeing his friend so relaxed and cosy. The urge to sneak up on WPNZ and give him the tightest hug was pushed aside as the gunman looked up in Puzzles' direction.
“Mornin’, Boxhead,” WPNZ grumbled fondly, shuffling to the side to make space for Puzzles to sit down. “I left some pancakes on the counter for you. ‘M surprised I even woke up before ya.”
Puzzles felt his cheeks warm as he picked up the plate of food left just for him. Such sweet acts of hospitality he was still yet to get used to never failed to hit him hard.
“Well, it’s been a long week hasn’t it, dear WPNZ?” Puzzles settled down next to WPNZ, holding the plate on his lap.
“You got that right.” WPNZ chuckled, leaning back as he finished off his food. Puzzles didn’t hesitate to tuck in. It was strange really, being able to eat without a mouth. The food would simply disintegrate as it made contact with Puzzles’ digital mouth. It wasn’t the most unusual thing about his body, though. Puzzles found it less stressful on the mind to allow mysteries to stay as mysteries.
It was nice to still be able to taste food, Puzzles took gratitude in that. WPNZ didn’t cook often, but he was careful enough that the simplest of meals turned out lovely. Puzzles savoured every bite, almost scarfing the meal down too quickly. He caught a grin tugging at the edge of WPNZ's mouth as the gunman watched him.
“Man, you eat like ya haven’t seen food in days. Should I be concerned?”
Puzzles scoffed and turned his head away, feeding into the light-hearted banter. “Well, maybe you should burn things more often if you don’t want others to appreciate your cooking.”
“Maybe your standards are exceedingly low, but ‘m happy to cook for you more often if it’ll make ya happy.” Puzzles needn’t say anything, the way his eyes brightened was answer enough that he was thrilled at the offer.
“Oh, no need to be humble,” Puzzles cooed. “You’re full of potential. I’ve plenty of cooking shows stored for us to watch if you’d indulge?”
“Heh, maybe later, Broadway. ‘m feeling a little restless today.”
“Oh? How so?” Puzzles questioned, turning back to face WPNZ as he continued eating.
“Well, it’s been a while since I’ve made use of my firepower–“
“By a while, you mean less than a week?”
“‘S not as easy as you think, Puzz. I was built for this kinda stuff.” WPNZ grinned as he flexed his machine arms. “I’ve been wanting to let off some steam anyway, was wondering if you wanted to come on a hit with me?”
Puzzles felt himself melt at the offer, but he unfortunately had to decline. “As much as I’d love to, I fear my body hasn’t fully recovered. I wouldn’t want to overdo it. . .” He sighed, tilting his head back.
“Aww, c’mon, I’ve seen you toughen out worse injuries.” WPNZ nudged the other, a teasing grin only making it more difficult for Puzzles to make up his mind.
“I. . . Well I–“ WPNZ, the sly thing, even dared to bat his lashes at Puzzles.
“‘S far too obvious, Broadway. I can tell you’re cravin’ that rush just as much as I am.
“I suppose if I’m careful,” Puzzles groaned, yet the glow on his face was a dead giveaway to WPNZ that he was excited.
WPNZ brightened up just as much, shuffling closer to the TV and wrapping his arm around him. “I knew ya wouldn’t be able to pass up an opportunity like that, I promise it’ll be fun.”
Puzzles found himself soaking up the affection from WPNZ, the way their bodies snuggled against each other felt so perfect. Puzzles didn’t fully understand the feeling, being new to this whole ‘best buds’ thing gave a whole lot of social cues and interactions to catch up on.
Sometimes the affection led Puzzles to feel a little nervous, and it frustrated him. Sometimes he cursed how exceptionally expressive he was due to his screen displaying his emotions. It was difficult to hide his anxiety when trying out something new. WPNZ seemed considerably unbothered by the affection. He had no reaction to holding hands, cuddling, or those few moments where they locked eyes and caused a very uncomfortable warmth to rush to Puzzles’ face.
What made things worse was Puzzles recognising all of these interactions from romances, yet it seemed so. . . normal? He and WPNZ shared these usually intimate interactions so casually. . . and WPNZ never said anything about it!
Nothing between them was official, Puzzles couldn’t tell if this was just a thing that close friends do together, and he hated that he made it such a big deal! What if bringing it up to WPNZ ruined something? Was he overanalysing the situation? Was he making it weird?
Before Puzzles could freak himself out too badly, a nudge to the shoulder brought him back out of his head.
“Hey, Boxy.” The nickname only made Puzzles clench his fists. “You good there? I think your fans are acting up a bit.” WPNZ snickered. Did he know something Puzzles didn’t? Why did everything WPNZ say make him feel so strongly!?
“Mhm! I’m fine, just a little, uh,” Puzzles internally cringed at the way his voice wavered, WPNZ’s analytic gaze was not helping the situation. “It’s a bit hot in here, I’m sure a quick step outside will fix it.”
Such a poor excuse of an excuse.
“The fuck are you talkin’ about? It’s freezing!”
“Yes, well, I suppose my internal fans are a little damaged. Nothing I can’t fix later!” WPNZ never even got a chance to question him before Puzzles pushed his plate to the side and stood up, feeling a little dizzy from the stress. “I’ll be ready in around 20 minutes,” He announced, not hesitating to escape back to their bedroom.
Puzzles groaned as he shut the door. He felt immensely guilty for pushing away WPNZ like that, but these new emotions he experienced were so controlling. He didn’t know how to manage them. Did everyone else feel like this when first making genuine friends? Or was this just yet another flaw exclusive to a freak like himself?
He allowed himself a minute to ease his own tension before removing his dressing gown and replacing it with his typical shirt, suspenders, and puzzle-patterned pants. Slipping on his shoes and bow tie to finish up his look made him feel a little better. The outfit allowed him to feel more presentable, his impression on others was important after all. If he was going to make a fool of himself in front of WPNZ, he might as well claim some points for style.
After polishing his TV head for that final effect, Puzzles nervously left the room and made his way back to WPNZ.
The gunman must’ve kept himself busy with washing up the dishes, he seemed mostly unbothered by Puzzles’ sudden exit and gave the TV a warm smile.
“Glad to see you’re still up for it. Was a little worried you’d pussy out, but I know you’re not like that.” WPNZ teased as he turned off the tap and finished up his chores.
“Oh, of course not! I would never be put off so easily,” Puzzles lied through his technicolour teeth, fiddling with folds of his sleeves. “I must admit, the thought of joining an actual hit with you is enticing. It’s not often I rope myself into that sort of crime.”
“Damn, I woulda thought with a death penalty like that, you’d have at least killed a couple people. What are ya not tellin’ me, Boxhead?” WPNZ ribbed.
“Oh, it’s nothing really,” Puzzles brushed it off with a wave of his hand. “Just a bit of, uhm. . . kidnapping, brainwashing, torture, destruction of property. . . Well, maybe not nothing–“ Puzzles stopped himself as WPNZ began to chuckle.
“I can see how we get along then, yeah? Never would’ve imagined you as the rebellious type if ya hadn’t come to me with an offer of a life of crime.”
Puzzles scoffed in amusement. “You know exactly what I’m capable of, don’t misjudge my self-control.”
“I know damn well, but I’d love to see ya prove it. You’ve got the perfect opportunity today.” WPNZ definitely had the intention of giving Puzzles a little ego boost, but Puzzles couldn’t just fully ignore that nervousness flooding his head.
He had this dreadful, fear looming over him that he would disappoint WPNZ, and he hated it so much. He wanted nothing more than to impress the other, to be admired. With how much he looked up to WPNZ, he wondered if the gunman ever felt the same way towards him.
He doubted it, yet. . . it wasn’t entirely unlikely.
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The two were huddled together on top of WPNZ’s motorcycle, Puzzles with his arms wrapped around his friend’s torso. Luckily, the sun had barely just begun to rise and not many people were out. Not that WPNZ cared, and Puzzles did enjoy an audience, but it was a lot safer this way.
WPNZ veered into a street and turned off his engine, so as not to make too much noise, and pushed the bike a little further until they reached a certain set of houses.
“I’ve got a couple people on my list that I’d love to be done with, but I think it’d be better to take our first one slow, yeah?” WPNZ offered as he stood up and brushed himself off.
“Right, wouldn’t want to get ahead of ourselves, would we?” Puzzles did his best to hide the tremor in his voice, but he didn’t miss the concerned look that flashed on WPNZ’s face for a moment.
“I know it’s been a little while since ya left the house,” WPNZ rested his hand on Puzzles’ shoulder and gave a reassuring grin. “Try to just relax a little. ‘S gonna be fun once you get ya get back into it.”
“Oh, I’m fine, I assure you.” Puzzles didn’t like to focus on his anxiety, acknowledging it only made it worse. Bottling it up and forcing himself to deal with it just to appear more mentally sane also made it worse, but at least he wasn’t dwelling on it.
“Sure,” WPNZ rolled his eyes, but chose not to press the issue any further. He was sure Puzzles would get back in gear soon enough, he just needed a bit of a nudge in the right direction. “We’re heading into this house over here,” WPNZ gestured to the house beside them, “The guy messed with me and Karen a while ago, I’ve been aching for a chance to get him back. Now seems to be the best time.”
Puzzles tilted his head. “How so?”
“Let me show you,” The assassin smirked as he pulled Puzzles by the hand, steering the TV towards the door. WPNZ pushed down the handle and the door opened with ease.
“. . . It’s just that easy?” Puzzles squinted at WPNZ as if this were all a joke.
“The idiot was throwing a party last night and decided to invite me. Guess he thought we were still on good terms.” He shrugged. “People’ll probably still be in the place. Not to worry though, I bet they’re all deep asleep if they stayed up late enough.”
“Wha–? There are more people in there?” Puzzles hissed, his voice lowered in caution.
“Relax, Boxhead. I’m sure ya have just the perfect ability to end someone without causing a fuss.” WPNZ gave the other a knowing glance towards Puzzles’ TV head.
“Couldn’t you have just broken into his house when there were fewer people around?”
“Adrenaline,” WPNZ answered simply. “I get quite a lot of it from sneaking around. We can get to the loud, crazy explosions later on once we’ve got a bit of practice in, kay?”
Puzzles nodded, an amused smile daring to tug at his mouth. He quite enjoyed these little scenarios he got himself into while with WPNZ. Spicing it up every once in a while with something different, and dangerous, only added to the fun.
WPNZ entered the house first, bringing a finger up to his mouth and signalling for Puzzles to stay as quiet as possible. Puzzles followed behind and made sure to give WPNZ a bit of space, the two had to be careful not to break anything or grab anyone’s unwanted attention.
The house was a complete mess, which wasn’t surprising. There were clothes and litter all over the place, Puzzles grimaced as he cautiously stepped over the trash, making sure not to trip.
He stuck right behind WPNZ as the assassin guided him through the place. Fortunately, the silence in the house spare from Puzzles’ and WPNZ’s own breathing meant that no one was awake to hear them. So long as the two didn’t wake anyone up to begin with, they would most likely be fine. Puzzles, however, couldn’t ignore his anxiety. Such a dreading feeling overwhelmed him, yet he brushed it off to focus on the task at hand.
The job went somewhat smoothly as they searched the house. There were a couple of unconscious people around the place, some sprawled out on the floor and some draped over the couch. A stench of alcohol was polluting the air, as proof of the events that took place earlier. Not a single one of them seemed to stir as the intruders explored, which just made it that much easier for them.
The two of them warily made their way upstairs after having no luck finding the target in the lower half of the house. If the owner of the house were here then it’d be much more likely to find them in their room.
Puzzles jolted forward as he felt his leg catch onto something, the dim lighting wasn’t helping them navigate at all. He managed to regain his footing with the help of WPNZ who caught him almost instantly. The two were huddled even closer together than before, and now WPNZ thought it to be a good idea to hold Puzzles’ hand in an effort to give him a little sense of balance. That hardly helped considering that Puzzles now couldn’t take his glowing eyes away from the assassin. His hand tightened around the other’s, taking a deep breath to focus his thoughts.
WPNZ didn’t seem to fully notice the distress that Puzzles was experiencing and continued guiding the TV, his hand tightly wrapped around Puzzles’, until they reached one of the bedrooms.
Bingo! WPNZ let go and stepped to the side as he pointed towards the unconscious man on the bed. It wouldn’t be too difficult to take him out, but a lot of WPNZ’s commonly used tactics involved explosions and gunfire, which would surely bring the attention of everyone in the neighbourhood, let alone in the house.
Puzzles was a little strained from his injuries, and WPNZ could tell. He didn’t want to push his friend too far, that would likely lead to an argument or hurting his friend. WPNZ was far too familiar with that. In an effort to be positive, WPNZ took those past mistakes and used them as lessons teaching him what not to do from now on.
Things were going slowly as of now, and it would just take a bit of recovery and patience, but he was positive the two of them would be back breaking in and blowing up shit again.
Puzzles, fighting his body’s physical hesitation, took a step forward. He heard the door click shut behind him, knowing that was his cue. WPNZ promised he would have his back just in case.
Without allowing another precious second to go to waste, Puzzles shifted a dial on his head and felt his screen opening up, materialising a glitchy portal. The air around him began to pull and his vision went to static. A loud, whirring sound filled his head, and he only hoped it wasn’t just as noisy on the outside. He trusted WPNZ to take him somewhere safe if worst came to worst.
For just a second, a sharp pain could be felt piercing through Puzzles’ screen, before everything went dark. It didn’t take long for him to regain his senses, but now everything was different.
A large, pixelated void stretched for as far as Puzzles could comprehend, floating CRT televisions displaying static occupied what was otherwise complete emptiness.
Their target had appeared right in front of him, only just beginning to wake up which was likely due to the sudden sickness he experienced from warping to the inside of the TV’s head. It wasn’t a pleasant experience according to anyone who survived entering it, and Puzzles could see why.
Without giving the guy a chance to make a move, Puzzles raised a finger gun and fired directly at his head. A white shock of magic shot through the air and impaled him, earning a distorted scream.
Puzzles almost flinched at the sound, almost felt a surge of guilt from it. Being in the presence of the SMG4 crew for too long may have softened him up a bit, but it didn’t last for long as he reminded himself that there was a reason WPNZ wanted the guy dead so badly.
It was quick, painless, and he had gotten the job done. That’s what WPNZ wanted. It didn’t matter if he had broken his promise to Meggy. That was in the past, and now he had to focus on his new, more meaningful relationship. Not to mention, he didn’t know if he could bear to see the expression on her face if he ever hurt her again.
Puzzles allowed a satisfied sigh to escape his speakers. He couldn’t help but admit that the job was thrilling, he could see exactly why WPNZ enjoyed it. The adrenaline and rush of excitement he felt when getting away with something heinous was almost comparable to when he had successfully performed a crucial act in front of an audience whose opinions he deeply cared about.
In this case, it was WPNZ whose opinion he deeply cared about. He wanted to impress the assassin, even if it was just a job as simple as this. The words of affirmation he received from the man were unlike any else. Puzzles found himself replaying the phrases on his speakers over and over in his own privacy, soaking up the acceptance he never thought he’d get a chance to hear again.
Puzzles was willing to sacrifice his approval from everyone else if it meant that WPNZ was proud of him. Never once in his life had someone’s acceptance mattered so much to him, not even his own father’s. He sometimes wished WPNZ knew that, maybe one day he’d have the courage to tell him himself.
Puzzles took a moment to recollect himself. He was quick to dispose of the body in the void, given that he wasn’t exactly in the mood to dirty himself with WPNZ while burying the body elsewhere. It made their job easier and left very little evidence that anyone had been killed to begin with.
Puzzles focused for a moment, and then felt himself slowly slipping back into the consciousness of his own body. His delicate TV head ached in all the worst spots, and what made it worse was that Puzzles swore he could feel wires sparking. The static on his screen died down and allowed him to process his surroundings.
The first thing Puzzles noticed was that he was no longer in the room that he had entered just a few minutes ago. Now he appeared to be in a dark walk-in closet. There were clothes draped above him, brushing against his antennae, and a door with slits just right in front of him.
He now realised that he was sitting on a carpet, and his back was leaning flush against another rising chest. He turned his head an inch, hissing at the strain in his neck, and was about to speak before a metal hand slapped over his mouth. Not that it would do anything, considering his speakers were located at the side of his head, but it got the point across perfectly.
Puzzles froze and listened carefully, a few muffled voices were becoming clearer as the seconds passed.
“Did you hear that?” A woman’s voice spoke, seemingly concerned. “It sounded like a vacuum, why would anyone be cleaning at this hour?”
Another voice chimed in, “I mean, have you seen the state of this place?” They scoffed as they entered the room. Puzzles and WPNZ were dead silent as the strangers searched.
“. . . Weird, I would’ve thought he’d be in here. Let’s go look in the other room.”
Fortunately, they were not thorough enough to have checked the closet. Puzzles waited a few more seconds to ensure they had left before turning back to the machine who had his arms wrapped around the TV’s waist. Puzzles would’ve been flustered out of his mind had he not been more worried about how they were going to leave.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake them up–” He whispered, feeling his chest tighten.
WPNZ didn’t demur to hush Puzzles. “Easy, Broadway. You finished the guy without a fuss, didn’t ya? ‘S exactly what I needed.”
Puzzles nodded slowly, taking in the way WPNZ was so calm about the situation. He hadn’t disappointed him, and they weren’t in trouble yet, they just needed to find a way out so they could move on to their next mission.
“You good to go, or do I need to carry you out as well?” WPNZ grinned as he held Puzzles upright, the TV had just about regained his balance and was able to sit on his own.
“Yes, just a bit of interference, I’m afraid. It’s not often I use that ability, it takes quite a toll on me and my body.” Puzzles huffed, but smiled in return nonetheless.
“Well then, we'd better get going before the whole house wakes up. Don’t know if I wanna face off a bunch of drunks if I’m bein’ honest” WPNZ let go of his hold on Puzzles and stood up, his legs bent a little due to how cramped the closet was. He pushed the door open and peeked out for just a moment, ensuring the coast was clear.
After confirming they were safe to leave, WPNZ opened the door all the way and stepped out, stretching his arms above his head with a satisfied grunt.
Puzzles, albeit wobbly, was able to stand up and follow after WPNZ. They both wanted to get out in the fresh early morning air as soon as possible, but knew better than to force their way out and potentially get caught. So far it had all gone seamlessly and they, Puzzles especially, did not want to ruin that.
The two made their way back downstairs, carefully avoiding a group of people who were now awake and chatting away in the other room. Puzzles hoped that if they made any noise, the group would have just passed the two of them off as some of the other guests. As long as they weren’t seen, then they weren’t out of place.
To their luck, they were able to exit through the door without alerting anyone else. A couple of extra footsteps probably didn’t raise awareness in a house full of people.
“Heh, good job, Boxhead. I’d call that a success!” WPNZ praised him as soon as they were off the property. The glint in his smug eyes showed how genuinely proud he was of the other. He wrapped an arm around Puzzles and pulled him to his side. “It’d be nice to have ya as a backup on some more of my jobs, only if it’s not too boring for you, obviously.”
Puzzles snickered at the teasing remark and averted his gaze. “Oh, you flatter me! Nothing is ever boring when I do it with you, my dear.”
Puzzles wasn’t sure if he was seeing things or if he had sleep he needed to catch up on, but he could’ve sworn he saw WPNZ fight off a flustered smile from taking over his face.
“Yeah, well, I could say the same for you. No need to be such a sap.”
That was definitely a blush forming on WPNZ’s face, and the way his voice softened was not just the wind.
“Ya feeling better now? Y’know, with getting yourself out of the apartment and allat. You seemed a little upset this morning, couldn’t put my finger as to why.”
“Oh, right.” Puzzles awkwardly fidgeted with his suspenders at the reminder. He slightly hoped that WPNZ wouldn’t bring it up, but another part of him was relieved that it was something WPNZ was willing to discuss.
“It’s just been a little. . . well, difficult. You know? I’m not used to settling down in one place with someone. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been really nice! You’re not the problem here, it’s just. . .”
Puzzles felt at a loss for words. He didn’t want to dump all his trauma and unspoken issues onto WPNZ right now, especially right after their success. Now should be a time for relaxation and celebration, not venting his heart out. “Maybe we could discuss this later?” He nervously offered, hoping it didn’t come off the wrong way.
WPNZ gave him a gentle pat on the back, that reassuring look on his face only told Puzzles he was in safe hands. “I’ll always be there for you to talk to, as sappy as that sounds.” His smile shifted slightly into a look of concern, and WPNZ looked at Puzzles in the eye. “Promise me, Boxhead. You’ll let me know if something's on your mind, yeah? I know you’ve been a little quiet lately, but with all the time-travelling nonsense and the danger you got yourself into. . . I think opening up is a good step to sorting yourself out. I don’t want to lose you the same way I lost Karen.” WPNZ’s voice wavered at the last part, lowering his head. He felt a little ashamed, but admitting it felt like the right thing to do.
Puzzles was taken aback for a second, before taking both of WPNZ’s hands and holding them tightly in his own. “I. . . I promise I’ll try to talk to you about this.” He couldn’t bring himself to lie, he couldn’t make a promise he couldn’t keep. He couldn’t promise anything other than his weak, pathetic attempts.
“Your trying is what matters, mine as well. We’re doing this together because we’re a team, remember? You, me ‘n Toomp. We won’t let you weasel your way out again.” WPNZ joked, but his words had blatant truth to them. WPNZ wasn’t going to let this fail, and Puzzles found comfort in that.
From now on, he wasn’t going to feel alone anymore.