Guilt Tripping

BATIM (Bendy x Reader)

Chapter 1 Magnanimous

"Hmm…," Joey says to himself as he stares blankly into a dark glob of ink on his desk. A memory sweeps past him in an instant, but it vanishes instantly. The memory contained a grinning face with black Pacman eyes as he tap-danced his way to glory. It was the last episode of the Adventures with Bendy and Boris series. It brought a hint of nostalgia to Joey's heart. If only he had the time and the patience to finish his products! Henry always worked his butt off for Joey, but it was all over now. Bendy and Boris were dead material now.

Gently, he took the bottle of ink and put it away beside the desk. It'll never be used or seen again. Well, for ten years, at least.

"Henry! We're bringing (y/n) back home tonight! We need to get going! No point in reliving pointless memories… Even if they are the best we have…," Joey called into the other room with yet more nostalgia flooding into his heart.

Henry, a man with short, blonde hair with a blue ink-stained vest on, looked up. His ink pen fell to the floor as he realized what time it was. He was drawing Bendy. The star in their hearts with a joyous grin and little black tap dancing feet. Such potential, Henry thought. He knew Joey was right, however.

"Sheesh! I'm coming! Just be a bit patient, alright? By the way, do you know where (y/n) is?" he asked.

"I think I last saw her in the projector room. She's watching the last episode and it should be over by now. Could you bring her for me?" Joey asked as he thoughtfully straightened his mustache. It was also stained with ink.

Henry nodded as he stood to his feet. "Okay. I'll go peek in and if it's over, I'll get her. Be back in a few minutes!" Henry chirped with a wave.

Walking down the long hallway, he glanced up at the huge pipes with water rushing through them on the ceiling. Who needed that much water for one building anyway? Well, they'd never run or break again. That was for sure. He reached the end and looked in. Henry saw the screen with the ending to the series being played on it. The credits were playing. He also saw his little 8-year-old niece twirling in a summer dress around the room. She was singing.

There's a place in my heart…

For him and me…

He'll ask me to dance and sing

We'll never be apart!

Just Bendy and Bendy and Bendy

And me!

Laughing slightly at your little song, Henry knocked on the wooden wall to get your attention. You didn't even know he was there listening in. Your face turned a little red from embarrassment. "Uncle Henry! How long have you been there…?"

"Not too long. You have a beautiful singing voice, though. Come on! Grandpa Joey says it's time to leave. I'll help you turn off the projector," Henry told you gently. He knew you didn't know that was the last episode with Bendy and Boris. Their spot on TV was being replaced by a different show.

"Okay, Uncle Henry…," you said slightly disappointed. Being an 8-year-old with an insane crush on a cartoon character wasn't easy. It was easy to watch the cartoon, but it was hard to stop. "My Little Devil Darlin' wanted me to stay here with him!"

Henry giggled a little at your cute nickname as the projector shut off. He ruffled your hair and nodded. "I'm sure Bendy would love you if he were real! You two are both always getting into trouble…," he stated. Then, he leaned in closer. "I haven't told your grandfather about the flour incident in the kitchen. Your secret is safe."

You both smirked at each other. Henry always let you get away with things because Joey always got scary when angry. One time, you accidentally spilled ink all over the floor and Joey figured out that you stained your nicest dress black. At first, you laughed and said that you looked more like Bendy, but Joey wasn't nearly so pleased.

The two of you walked down the halls. You never noticed that the projector light came back on in the other room on its own. A voice called out your name knowing that it'd be the last time in years that they'd be able to see you enjoy the show again.

"No, (y/n)... Don't leave yet! Come back! Don't abandon me yet! I meant to tell you!" cried Bendy's voice. Nobody heard his desperate cry. "Um… (Y/n)?" The 2D image of Bendy turned to Boris and sadly walked away knowing it was pointless.

"Aw… Come on Bendy! You'll get another chance next week!" Boris encouraged his best friend. Bendy looked back to him with the face of depression itself.

"No, Boris. That was our LAST show. She's not coming back. I've heard Joey talking…," Bendy explained.

"Wha-?! How did-?! Just… how could they do that to us…? Things were going well! We were climbing our way to the top! Bendy… If that's true, then what do we do now…?" asked the wolf slowly.

At first, Bendy didn't respond. When he did respond, it was a very dark answer. "We sit and rot in the land of the forgotten… Like all cartoons do… Because they can't die. We're stuck here forever."

As soon as the darkness of their situation sunk in, Boris became both sad and terrified. He howled a sad wolf howl. Their days of entertaining on the silver screen were done.

Joey ushered you and Henry into the car. Even though he said that you both had to leave as fast as possible, for some reason, he got the urge to go back inside alone. With an awkward glance towards you and his co-worker, he retreated back inside.

"Well…, that was strange," Henry stated as he watched the old doc run back inside.

"Is grandpa okay?" you asked with a confused glance towards your uncle. Henry nodded to appease your worries. It didn't really work. Images of him coming back as a monster or not at all came to your head. Then you realized how silly that was and continued to wait.

After a minute of silence, Henry decided to break it. "So, you were singing about Bendy earlier, huh?" he asked you.

You decided to be completely honest. "Yes, I was. There's nothing else I watch that really provides any good entertainment. He's kinda my hero…," you admitted.

Henry was silent as he remembered that being the last episode. He couldn't bring himself to tell you. "Well, who do you think is better? Bendy or Boris?" he asked changing the subject.

"You know who, Uncle Henry! Bendy!" you chirped.

"Awwww… But what about Boris? He needs a little attention too!" Henry replied giving you a pouty lower lip.

You stood on your knees in the seat. "Bendy can sing, he's really good at dancing, and he can do almost anything!"

Henry continued his argument. "But Boris is his best friend and is extremely strong! He can play any clarinet he finds and will always get your precious Bendy out of any jam!"

"He's not my precious Bendy! He's my glorious, fabulous, magnanimous, respectful-"

"Magnanimous?! What makes you think he's that? Also, who taught you such a long word that even tall people can't understand?" Henry asked.

You beamed at your display or knowledge. "My teacher taught me! Also, Bendy is magnanimous!"

"Name me one time he's forgiven, someone! If you can do that, then he's magnanimous!" Henry told you.

"Um…"

"Told ya."

You silently sat in the seat. Episodes flew through your head as you still tried to find one time he forgave someone or let go of a grudge. You couldn't think of one. Finally, you gave up. No arguing with the maker of the show about the star's personality.

"Say, why do you argue so hard for Bendy's side anyway?" asked Henry.

You sat higher with your knees on the seat to prove your point. "Because he's adorable!"

"Oh, I see. You like that little devil, don't you?" Henry answered with a smug look. You found yourself flopping back down on the seat with your cheeks burning red.

"No! Not like that!"

"Ah-ha! Detective Henry just struck a nerve! Once again, he is victorious!" Henry cheered with a large grin on his face.

You crossed your arms at him and refused to speak or look at him. It was childish, but you were a child. It stayed like that until Joey returned. He hopped into the driver's seat and turned on the engine. "You ready to go, Little Miss?" he asked as he looked back to you.

"Yes, sir!" you answered.

With that, you drove away from the curb and down the road back to your house. It would be the last time in ten years you'd ever see that studio. But you never knew of the shady plan that formed in Joey's mind that very day. The day he abandoned his work was also the day he started his work…