Chapter Text
It was cold outside. The sky was a faded, almost gray blue, overcast with countless clouds. The grass was shriveled and dead, and the cornfield was decaying. Bambi hated when the seasons got cold. It meant that everything was miserable and lifeless, and in return he became miserable as well.
Sometimes he wished he had the power to create a protective aura around his farm, where everything was warm and bright and happy. Sometimes Bambi felt like a plant for desiring these wants. Sometimes Bambi buried himself amongst the corn plants like a wild animal, mostly because he thought it was fun. It gets lonely on the farm, and he only had so many ways to take care of himself and everything before the irresistible urge to roll in the dirt overtook him.
Dave had once caught him doing this ancient ritual. He was confused at first, as most people would be if they saw a two-hotdog tall man thing playing in a cornfield. After a few moments of silence, Dave shrugged and resumed whatever he was doing. Bambi continued his thing, and then promptly went to the hose to shower himself. He preferred it over the wet box in the house. Too claustrophobic. He'd rather stay in the barn than the house hidden past all the corn, and that was exactly where he was now.
Wrapped around him were several blankets, and right beside him was a bottle of water. He rested on a ledge only accessible by ladder. The barn had only one window, and he was idly watching from it. The interior was mostly clean, save for piles of hay in the corner. Woven baskets and equipment rested against the walls, and in the middle was a trapdoor leading to a secret basin full of corn. Bambi wasn't sure how or why, but everything in the basin stayed fresh and uninfected. Was it science? Witchcraft? He didn't know, but he was glad to have it.
It was only months ago when Bambi was attacked by the authorities. It was random and out of place, and apparently he was responsible for murdering an officer. Well, they weren't wrong. He had probably murdered one before in the past, but he wasn't caught. He certainly didn't remember it either. So suddenly being framed for the murder of someone during a hangout he had no memory of really screwed with him. Thankfully he was proven innocent, because the true culprit was this pint-sized 3D brat who looked like him.
Bambi wondered from time to time about this. A hangout between him and the friends he made in the 3D Realm. They remembered it well, but for some reason, he didn't. There was a gap in his mind, and he had absolutely no idea what he was missing. Probably a lot. And if any of it involved hurting Dave, he was going to bring hell onto whoever was culprit of this unforgivable crime.
He sighed. Just thinking about Dave made him want to fill his pockets with rocks and walk into the nearest body of water. Bambi couldn't describe the opinions and feelings he had for this man. Every time he was swept into Dave's embrace, heard his voice, or saw him smiling joyously in the light, Bambi felt his heart flutter. Like a butterfly was trapped inside him. It was a strange sensation, and he hated every moment of it. He doubted he'd ever get used to it.
And Dave himself... he was doing well. Certainly better than months ago, when he was hiding in his room for reasons he refused to explain. He had found a job in the 3D Realm as a mechanics teacher, but he also willingly answered and went over questions about Earth. He seemed to be happier this way. It was probably because the 3D Realm was extremely malleable, and allowed him to teach during the hours his son was in school. Quite a genius compromise.
Tristan was doing well too. Despite being thrashed by a crystal stickman, those two somehow became unlikely acquaintances. Diamond Man's buddy Garrett left unexpectedly, and seeing as he was now lonely, Tristan decided to accept his enemy as a friend. Or, that's what he said. Bambi had yet to see one of Dave's former students coming to the farm for a playdate.
Bambi sighed. "You both got new exciting things to do... and me? I'm still here. Always will be. Nothin' new happen with me because nobody cares about some angry little farmer. Nobody..."
"I care." Said a distorted voice.
Bambi swiftly turned to the source. A somewhat incomprehensible copy of him floated in the empty space of the barn. It had a manic grimace that never left its face. Its clothing was all red, with its hat having a point on top. It was significantly smaller than the behemoth size it preferred to be, yet Bambi was still easily dwarfed by it. He recognized it anywhere.
Expunged was an enigma. That was the best way Bambi could describe it. It couldn't be reasoned with. It was unpredictable and an all-consuming menace. It had unfathomable power over its home, and for some reason it really liked tortellini. For a different reason, it copied Bambi's appearance and voice, and apparently plenty of other people in its home did the same thing. Sometimes Bambi wondered if he was from the 3D Realm, but that couldn't be true, could it? He decided it was a stupid theory not worth exploring.
Bambi raised an eyebrow. "Don't you have some innocent people to torture?"
Expunged twirled midair. "You misunderstand, Bambi. Those people are not innocent, in the same way criminals aren't when faced with cold hard evidence of their crimes." It mused, glaring at him. "In the same way you are guilty of shooting up those thieves, and in the same way those thieves are guilty of attempting to rob you of your property~"
"You also had a part." Bambi added. "You ate them. One when we gave you those bodies and second when they appeared at night. Still don't know why you did... that..."
It managed a shrug. "A girl's gotta eat."
Jesus Christ. You are a fever dream to talk to, he thought. He let out another sigh, this one being longer and louder. "What do you want, Expunged?"
The chaos god floated closer to him, until it stood on the ledge beside him. Then it sat down and allowed its cylinder-like legs to dangle off the edge. "I'm horribly lonely." It admitted. "I saw you were lonely as well, so I thought we could be lonely together."
Bambi squinted at it. "That... that all?"
Expunged nodded, and spun its head a full five hundred and thirty-five degrees. "Yes. That's all. I would hang around my brother, but he has his own thing going on." It winked. "And I got you, friend~"
"I'm not your friend." He grumbled. "Also please do not do that ever again."
It giggled. "Aw... you're scared of me, aren'tcha?" It teased, its smile growing bigger. "That's alright. Natural, even. Lots of beings have grown to fear the great and horrible overseer that is myself. You're no different~"
As it finished, it swung its legs onto the ledge, and rotated the rest of itself to face him directly. Bambi didn't doubt its words for a moment. But as he stared into its stretched, goat-like eyes, he suddenly felt a strange urge. The urge to prove something. What if there was someone who wasn't scared of Expunged? Someone who could stand up to it? Someone who could understand it, and possibly befriend it? Bambi could only wonder.
...what if he was that someone? It would be a difficult task. It was definitely a foolish decision. He would surely die, whether on accident or by Expunged itself. Either way, Bambi wondered, and now he was going to start making that wonder a reality.
He scooted himself away, silently inviting Expunged a spot next to him. Its eyes pierced into his soul, unblinking. Then it slid up to him and settled in front of the window. Its size blocked out most of the light, nearly drowning the two in darkness. He shivered.
"Bambi..." Expunged said, cutting through the quietness. "Surely you must be freezing, all by yourself..."
Bambi huffed, ignoring the precipitation of his breath. "Am not. I got these blankets, and water."
He slipped his hand out of the blanket nest to prove his point, but the moment his skin felt the nippy outside air, he shivered. Expunged chuckled and shook its head. "You always were stubborn. C'mere..."
Its big, clawed hand hovered away from its body and approached him. Bambi scrambled backwards, but its fingers easily wrapped around his small body. Even in the defensive layer of blankets, it kept a firm grip on him.
"Hey! I'm fine where I am!" He shouted. "Let me go!"
But Expunged didn't listen. There was no one else nearby, and Bambi's phone was in a shattered state. No matter how much he squirmed or struggled, he couldn't break free. He could only watch as he was taken away from his spot, and brought to Expunged. He could only allow himself to be gently placed in its lap.
The hand was still there, but it was no longer holding him like a squeaky toy. Instead, it was merely placed on him. Bambi was frozen. Not with fear or from the cold, but shock. Expunged was so, so warm. Its core radiated heat. Enough heat to be comfy, but not enough that Bambi felt like he was being cooked. The perfect balance in temperatures. It was strangely inviting.
Being in this state made Bambi remember something. It was when he and Dave found Tristan, and Bambi stayed behind to work on dumb law procedure stuff. Bandu and Expunged hugged him without warning. Bambi remembered it well. So soft and loving. So comfortable, Bambi could feel his guard lower in real time.
The chaos siblings gave the best hugs, but it was probably for the better. Bandu was safe to hug, for he could do nothing wrong. Expunged however was someone Bambi had seen in action. It was ravenous and deceitful. It probably used its hugs to draw its victims into a false sense of security. It was probably doing this right now, waiting for Bambi to completely relax, so it could get him. It had him right in its clutches.
So then... why was it doing nothing?
Bambi was limp and zoned out. Virtually defenseless, especially in comparison to the red chaos god keeping him in this state. Expunged hasn't shown any form of aggression. It said it came because we're both lonely, he thought. Maybe it's telling the truth and it just wants to spend time with me. I wonder if it's trying to understand me, too. One thing for sure... gonna have to put a lot of trust into it... damn it why do I feel tired...
"See? Don't you feel better?" Expunged crooned. Its hand slowly moved in a petting motion.
Bambi made a muffled complaining noise. His eyes felt heavy, and his brain turned to slush. "Nooooo... you're making me sleepy... I don't wanna sleep yet..."
"Are you waiting for something?"
"No..?"
"Then take a nap." Expunged deadpanned. "Don't worry... nothing will hurt you as long as I'm here. And I'm not going anywhere."
Before he could protest, its fingers swiped over his face. His eyelids were dragged along, practically forcing his eyes shut. Bambi let it happen. The spell of comforting warmth got him good. Might as well get into a better position. He snuggled closer to Expunged, pressing himself against its body. It was a little weird. It was definitely going to get him killed one day, but he didn't care. He was too tired to care.
As Bambi drifted off, he could feel Expunged quietly purring.