BATIM: The End (Some BendyxHenry)

Buddy

Buddy had gotten used to being free of the loop. Though he was still inside Boris's body, he no longer minded quite as much. For lack of a better explanation, he'd just grown used to it. And their minds had been merged for so long, Buddy wasn't sure who's thoughts were whose. He thought of himself as Buddy, but Boris was definitely there, below the surface. He sat inside his Safehouse, eating a can of bacon soup. It was great, bits of bacon swirling in a dark brown sauce. He spent every afternoon this way, before heading out towards Sammy's domain. Though the loop was broken, Boris couldn't help but feel hopeful every time he passes the place where he'd first met Henry. He kept kicking his soup can out there, hoping to hear Henry's familiar voice call out, scared but determined. "All right, who's there? Come out and show yourself." Brave words, especially considering he'd just been chased by the Ink Demon himself. Henry had always seemed to be made of tougher stuff than Buddy. It made him feel embarrassed, thinking of all the times he'd hidden behind Henry, or how he'd just cowered in the elevator, as Henry did Susie's bidding. Buddy frowned, thinking of her new attitude, as leaders of the Angels. So far she'd left Boris alone, which he was grateful for. But he was sure it wouldn't last. He couldn't join her, not after what she did to him and Henry. But the Demon path? Buddy shivered, remembering being pulled into the ink, Dott grabbing his hand desperately, trying to pull him up. But the Demon was too strong. Buddy had ended up letting go of her. Thinking of her now, Buddy hoped she'd gotten away. That was back inside the real studio, not this simulation of it.Buddy walked over to his art. He'd taken the posters of the characters inside the studio and tore them up, then putting them together into an all new character. He'd been trying to remember what Dott looked like, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't recreate her. She had been his best friend. He missed her. Boris finished his bacon soup and made his way out of the Safehouse, holding the empty can in his left hand. As he approached the door to Sammy's domain, he set the can down and kicked it, causing it to roll over in plain sight of the door. Buddy stayed quiet, listening hopefully. Silence. Then, "Are you really still doing that?!" Buddy sighed and peeked at the door. Sammy stood there, his arms crossed. He sounded more annoyed than angry, but Buddy was still cautious. Even when he was still human, Sammy was a very outspoken man. "Come on then." He said, sounding impatient. Buddy hesitated, then stepped out from behind the wall. Sammy let out an exaggerated gasp of surprise. "Oh, it's a Boris!" He said mockingly. Buddy rolled his eyes, but stayed quiet. Sammy snorted. "Your still waiting... hmm. I would've moved on ages ago." Buddy ignored him, waiting for him to get to the point. Sammy let out another exaggerated sigh. "Oh for crying out loud! He's not coming! He probably decided to go a different way. Your waiting for a master that isn't coming back." Buddy ignored the dog jibe. Sammy knew full well Buddy was a reincarnated worker, even if he didn't know specifically which worker Boris was. And Buddy wasn't about to tell him. Sammy let out another sigh, though it was quieter this time. "Wish I knew what he did to gain your loyalty." Sammy muttered.  Boris didn't say anything. Sammy frowned at Boris. "Oh, go ahead." He said, waving his hand towards the door. Buddy was stunned. Sammy never let anyone into his department, unless it was to sacrifice them. And even then, he was never so open about it. Sammy let out a snort at Buddy's stunned expression. "Times are a change-in!" He announced. "And if you find that friend of yours, I recommend following the Demon path.... Or you won't be making it back here at all." Sammy turned on his heels, then marched back through the wall, doing that teleportation thing he does. Buddy was stunned. He was pretty sure the only reason he was still alive was because he had forsaken the Angel path, and Sammy saw him as a possible ally. Or Henry as a possible ally. Either way, Boris's goal was the same. Find Henry. Boris was sure Henry would know what to do.
Boris made his way through the music department, ignoring the audio logs that were lying about. They probably didn't say anything important anyway. He climbed his way up to the first floor, and was immediately met by a Lost One. Boris took a step back, surprised. They didn't normally come up here, on the upper floors of the studio. No one did, really. The Lost One grabbed onto Buddy's arm as he walked past, and Buddy paused, looking at the Lost One's glowing yellow eyes. It blinked at him, it's mouth opening and closing as if he were trying to ask Buddy something. Buddy wished he could help. After a minute it let go of him, and Buddy ran on ahead, looking around everywhere for Henry. He checked the small projector room, and the room with the Ink Machine. No sign of his friend anywhere. Buddy was making his way towards the animation department when he began to hear voices. "I'm telling you, the studio isn't nearly as creepy in real life." A familiar mans voice sounded somewhere ahead, near the entrance of the Studio. A achingly familiar woman's voice answered him. "Actually, I'm pretty sure it is. Especially when the power is out."
"That wasn't my fault!" Buddy peeked around his second door that morning(?), and was met with a surprising sight. The man, still standing by the entrance, is what caught Buddy's attention first. Buddy couldn't believe he actually had the guts to show his face here. Joey Drew. And the young woman standing in front of him... It was Dott! Buddy had to rub his eyes, sure he was seeing things. There was no way they could be here right now. He must have made some kind of gasping noise, because they both turned towards Buddy, gaping when they saw him clearly. It was Joey who spoke first. "It's a Boris!" Buddy felt a tinge of anger at Joey's tone, it sounded like Joey was very pleased about finding him. Boris let out a growl, and Dott put her hand on Joey's chest, pushing him back with a little shove. Buddy was surprised at how she just pushed Joey around like that, but maybe she no longer minded now that he wasn't her boss. At least, Buddy hoped he wasn't still her boss. "That's enough Joey." She snapped, glaring at him. "That was one of your employees, who's life you've ruined!" Joey held up his hands in defense. "Hold on," he protested, "I didn't mean it like that.." Buddy glared at him. Dott sighed. "Hello." She said, gazing at Buddy. Her tone had softened, which wasn't really like her. It surprised him. She slowly moved towards him, hand outstretched, as if he were an animal she was afraid of scaring away. Buddy snorted and took her hand in his. Her reaction was surprised, but she kept her composure. Buddy studied her. She seemed to be the same confident person he'd met when he started working at the studio, just a bit older. More tired. Dott studied him back, her eyes narrowed as she tried to read him. "Dott." Buddy whispered. Her eyes widened and she jerked her hand back. The fast movement startled Boris, and he bolted back into the hallway. "Fast movement." Joey commented. "Boris isn't a huge fan, and scares easily." Buddy let out an irritated growl. 'Gee, thanks Joey.'
"Buddy?!" Dott's surprised yet hopeful voice called out. Buddy poked his head out again, peering at her. She gaped at him. "Is that... you?" She whispered, tears shining in her eyes. Buddy blinked at her sadly. "I'm sorry I let go." He told her softly. "I didn't want you to share my fate." She let out a half sob and rushed forward, hugging him tightly. "I should have pulled harder." She sobbed. Buddy shook his head. "It wouldn't have worked, it was pulling me in." He protested. "You would have just ended up being pulled in with me." She let go then, gazing at Buddy with a strange look in her eye. She looked almost pissed. "What.." Before Buddy could even finish his question, she turned and punched Joey in the face, who had started to walk up behind her. "Ow!" He yelled, backing up. "That's for every time someone has been dragged into this hellhole!" She yelled at him. Buddy shook his head at her. "That's enough." He said, feeling he had to stop her before she literally killed him. "I hate him as much as the next." Buddy said, "But attacking him isn't gonna solve anything." Dott frowned at him. "I know. But it makes me feel better." Boris just shook his head at her. "So, question." Buddy tried. Dott blinked at him. "Shoot."

"Have you seen anyone else up here?"