Joey and The Ink Machine. || A BATIM AU FANFICTION.

THE OLD SONG - PART 5

"Ugh.."

Henry's head fell yet again as he coughed—the pain aching in his legs. And his hands clutched at the floor. At this rate, he was going to need the crutches longer than he would have needed originally.

"Oh—shit—" Norman cursed beneath his breath. Henry could hear hurried footsteps approaching him from behind, until he found himself being lifted up into strong chocolate brown arms that wrapped around the underside of his own arms. As he found himself lifted to the ground, he looked up—seeing Norman's dark brown eyes stare back at him with mild concern.

"What are you doin' down here, Henry?" Norman asked, arching a brow. "I've been lookin' all over that damn top floor for ya!"

"I've.. I just.." Henry winced, feeling his leg experience a minor pulsing of pain. "..I needed to clear my head, I guess. That's all.."

"..so you went down here? Henry, I don't really think takin' a walk to clear your head is the best option when you're on crutches."

"Nn.."

"Ah, shit.." Norman uttered, noticing Henry's visible pain that must have practically been written on his face at this point. "He—Here.. lemme just.." He gently grabbed Henry, and propped him up against a wall. "..lemme just put you over there for a sec. Keep leanin'. I'll give you your crutches back."

Henry felt his back brush against the wall, and even though that didn't hurt, he could still feel the pulsing pain in his bandaged leg. He shut his eyes—hearing Norman walk over somewhere, and the sound of a distinct clicking that the crutches would make anytime someone touched them.

He then heard Norman's footsteps slowly walking closer, and finally found his hands touching the cold surface of his crutches yet again. He then gripped them, and pulled them under his arms with a groan. "Ughh.."

"Mmm.. here. I'll take you up to the top flor myself." Norman said with a pitiful frown, taking a step foward and slipping an arm around Henry's back to help him.

"..Sammy.."

"..huh?"

"Sa—Sammy.. I saw Sammy.."

Norman only stared as Henry gazed at the floor with a shocked expression, before a smirk then suddenly crossed his lips and he let out a raspy chuckle.

"Oh.. I know what this is. Don't try to fool me now, Henry. Mr. Drew told me all about that picture story you told him earlier."

"Wh—What?"

"You know.. you told him Sammy scribbled his face off in that photo? Nice goin'. Didn't know ya had that sorta thing in ya. Hahaha.." He then grinned, before looking ahead. "Now come on. Mr. Drew said he needed you anyway."

Henry stiffened. "..he.. did?"

"Yeah. Something about an upcoming toon. Needed you to work on it with him, but he just couldn't find you. So he sent me to come get you.. even though he.. could have easily gone to do it himself.." Norman mumbled quietly. "Still, I should probably go on and get you up there though. I don't even know how ya got down the stairs to this place with those crutches of yours."

Norman then paused. His eyes lingered onto Henry's face. Henry's frown was stiff and flat, his eyes were widened, and he stared ahead with raised brows.

Norman frowned, a little worried. "..are.. you okay, Henry?"

"What? Oh.. yeah.. yeah.. just.. take me to Joey." Henry said with a nervous laugh. "I'm.. fine."

————

"..Henry? Henry!"

Henry snapped his head up, yelping. And quickly—his eyes processed the surroundings around him, and then the situation he was in. Yes. Joey had called him here. And he was in his office. With nobody else except him.