Work Text:
Bendystraw but it’s an arranged marriage.
Stupid???????????? Bro
Cuphead Kettle had been born into the Moon Industry and thus contributed as best as he could to the development and success of his family’s company all his life. The Moon Industry itself was founded by his grandfather, Eugene Kettle, who raised Cuphead, his younger brother Mugman, and their cousin, Missy, since they were infants. The name for the industry, ‘Moon’, came from the main product the company created and sold- Moonshine. Of course, the company specialized in more types of alcohol, but the industry’s Moonshine was by far the most strong and unique of their other drinks.
The company took off nearly immediately, becoming one of the most prominent industries to succeed in such a short time. And because of this, the three children who were to inherit the company were luckily born and raised into wealth and privilege.
Mugman was the youngest of the three children, with Missy (or ‘Miss Chalice’ as everyone called her) being the oldest. Cuphead was the middle child in the family, and even though he didn’t take most things seriously, he was always determined to do whatever he could to maintain his family’s success and prestige. It was obvious, however, that Miss Chalice would most likely be the first of the children to properly handle the company's intricate works. She had already learned how to successfully lead a group of people when Cuphead was still struggling to ride a bike. Nobody in the family was jealous of Chalice’s leadership skills, surprisingly enough. Mugman was too young to be concerned about taking over the industry, and Cuphead was fine in his position of acting as his cousin’s advisor while also trying his best to learn what he could from her. The three of them were simply too close to one another and too different as people to envy each other. They respected one another’s talents and listened to each other when offered feedback, keeping the peace.
Their grandfather (whom they nicknamed ‘Elder Kettle’) was an extremely kind and hardworking man whom the children had loved and respected more than anything else. He had cared for the three single-handedly while also managing to maintain a successful industry. Though he was very independent and confident, he was also smart. He was clever enough to know that teaming up with other prestigious families would benefit his company in the long run, and thus took it upon himself to arrange truces with competing industries.
One of these industries was named the Ink Conglomerate, an extremely powerful company that had been running since the 17th century. The founder of the industry itself, Joey Drew, had found a way to extract a potent kind of ink from the organic matter of the earth. The ink was an extremely powerful substance that could be used to create objects, plants, and even people. Before leaving his company in the hands of his daughter, Audrey, Joey Drew built a machine that could regulate and shape the ink into whatever the creator wanted, making the Ink Conglomerate one of the most powerful and dangerous industries the world had ever seen.
Luckily for everyone else, world domination was not the intended purpose of the Ink Conglomerate. Joey Drew was a simple man with simple dreams. After discovering the secret ways of drawing the ink from the organic matter of the earth, he used it to create the first animation studio known to the world, as well as various objects and marketable items to sell to the public. As far as anyone knew, Joey Drew had only used the ink to create one living being, which was Audrey. Beyond that, the company refrained from using the substance to make anything other than objects or cartoons.
Now, current day, it was Henry Stein and his wife, Linda, who had inherited the Ink Conglomerate through a descendant of Joey Drew. Being that they were both close to the Drew family and the Ink Conglomerate, they were entrusted with both the company and the secrets of the machine. They were honest business partners who held their customers and employees in high regard while also maintaining the ideals of their founder. Unlike Joey, however, the couple had chosen to use the ink to create a small family that would be able to inherit the Ink Conglomerate after them.
They first created Alice, who had taken the shape of an Angel. She had thin, white, fluffy wings that were big enough for gliding, and pitch black eyes with matching long, curly hair. She was a natural-born singer and actor, and had taken an interest in building and taking apart small machines and contraptions ever since she could walk.
After her was Boris, who was a Wolf-Mutant. He had dark black fur around his head and sharp white fur that covered his face. He was the tallest of their children, and by far the most eccentric and sociable. He enjoyed all kinds of sports and games and was exceedingly athletic. He had a sense of intelligence, but was certainly more the brawn of the family.
Finally was their youngest son, Benjamin. (Who, being the baby of the family, was cutely nicknamed ‘Bendy.’) Bendy was an Imp, and an incredibly short one to boot. He was academically smart in every way and put it upon himself to succeed in whatever he did. He was poised, elegant, and as calm and collected as a person could be. He was obsessed with the performing arts and was a master at instruments like the piano and violin. (He was also a magnificent artist, but only Alice and Boris were aware of that.)
Despite how different their children were, Linda and Henry loved and cared for them like any parents would. Like any powerful industry, the Ink Conglomerate had teamed up with many different companies. Their most prominent partner, however, was Moon Industry, with whom they frequently did business. After the creation of their children, Linda and Henry Stein were overjoyed to hear that their dear friend, Eugene Kettle, had been given custody of the kids of his own. When the heads of the Ink Conglomerate and the head of Moon Industry had the time, they would often take their children to meet with one another, hoping they would build meaningful friendships and continue the partnership between the industries when they were older.
Today was one of those days, with the small detail that it had been their first rendezvous in nearly eight years. Cuphead was straightening himself up in his room before he heard a slight knock on the door. He hadn’t even had time to turn his head to the sound before his cousin, Chalice, barged in.
“CHAL!!”
Cuphead exclaimed, a little put off by her breach into his room. Miss Chalice looked at Cuphead with no remorse in her eyes, shrugging absent-mindedly. His cousin had a place of her own, but would often spend her afternoons where Cuphead and Mugman lived.
“What?”
She asked, waltzing into Cuphead’s room.
“I knocked.”
Cuphead huffed before leaning back on his bed and sitting down. He barely had time to get comfortable before Miss Chalice was shoving shoes in his face. She had two pairs, one of them bright cyan and the other pure white.
“Which ones? I like the cyan ones because they go with my eyes and my jacket, but the white ones match my dress.”
Cuphead pushed the shoes away from his face, taking a hard look at his cousin. She was in a simple white dress with a light blue jacket around her arms. Cuphead was never as worried about outfits as Mugman or Chalice were.
“Uh…I think you’re being too paranoid. Aren’t we going to meet with these guys for like, an hour at most? Does it matter what shoes you wear?”
He asked, shrugging. He knew he sounded rude, but he was trying to be genuinely helpful. The less you have to stress about frivolous things, the better. Chalice frowned.
“I want to look nice,”
She started, dropping her shoes on the ground and slipping the white ones on first, looking at them intensely to try and see if she liked them or not.
“And we haven’t seen the kids of the Ink Conglomerate in years. It’ll be good if we make an impression on them. They’re important to the company and stuff.”
Cuphead didn’t answer. It made sense that Chalice would think of this as an opportunity to maintain the strength of the company, but he couldn’t see it as anything other than a forced playdate. The last time he had done this sort of thing, he was around ten years old. The only Ink Conglomerate kid he enjoyed hanging out with at the time was Boris, since he knew how to play baseball. He barely remembered the other two, though. Benjamin and Alice, was it? All he could remember about the kids themselves was that Alice was the bossy one, Boris was the fun one, and Benjamin was the boring one. Chalice and Alice got along well enough, which was great for them, but Cuphead wasn’t really friends with any of them. Mugman seemed to enjoy being around Ben, but Cuphead wasn’t sure if the two had ever even had an entire conversation with one another. They were both pretty quiet and shy, from what he had gathered. He tried to get along with all the Ink Conglomerate kids, but they all seemed kind of….meh. They were too stiff. Too ‘business-like.’
“...They’re kind of boring.”
Cuphead responded as Chalice slipped on the pair of cyan shoes.
“Um…maybe that’s because they were like, ten? I’m sure we were pretty boring to them, too. But we’re older, now, so…new chances and all that.”
Cuphead was about to come up with a retort when his younger brother, Mugman, walked into the room, shoving a blue ribbon and a small, spade-shaped trinket in his face.
“Which one? I like the ribbon because it goes with my tie, but the charm gives off a certain sense of personality, right? Or is it too much?”
Cuphead pushed Mugman’s hands from his face, frowning.
“I- dude, I don’t know. I don’t know. Why is everyone gathering in my room???”
He asked with slight annoyance. He couldn’t wait to live on his own. Mugman and Chalice ignored his question, with Mugman heading over to Cuphead’s mirror that hung over his desk to tie his accessories around his handle and Chalice continuing to switch shoes. Eventually, Chalice gravitated towards the mirror, with Mugman absent-mindedly scooting over to make room for her. Chalice lifted her shoes towards him, and without her having to ask, Mugman pointed to the pair of cyan heels. She nodded briefly before Mugman tilted his head to allow her to see his handle, both the ribbon and spade charm hanging off it. Chalice pointed to the ribbon before Mugman nodded silently. If it wasn’t for the fact that his right eye was missing, he would’ve given a fat eye roll to both Missy and Mugman. They were ridiculous in a way that made him smile at how corny they were being.
The fact that both Mugman and Chalice were making efforts to look nice rubbed off on Cuphead, if not by a little bit. He decided to slip the only sweater vest he could stand to wear over his plain button-up and put on a nice pair of black shoes. Not too much effort, but not too boring, either. By the time he was through tying his laces, the sound of Elder Kettle’s heavy footsteps slowly made its way through the hallway. Cuphead looked up to see his grandfather in the doorway, leaning slightly on his cane. Chalice smiled as she walked over to where he stood, towering over him with her height. Elder Kettle immediately beamed at the sight of her, smiling widely.
“Aww, you look so nice, Missy!”
He said, causing Chalice to grin sweetly. She held her cheek in the palm of her hand while jokingly swatting him away with the other.
“Dawww, you’re too much!”
Elder Kettle turned to Cuphead and Mugman, his smile immediately disappearing. His eyes narrowed on the boys as he fixed his glasses.
“You two,”
He started, pushing Mugman’s leg with his cane.
“Need to pick yourselves up more. Mugman, tuck your shirt in. You look untidy. And Cuphead, boy, sit up straight! You’ll give yourself a hunchback!”
Cuphead suppressed an eye roll as he dramatically fixed his posture. Mugman began tucking his shirt in as he complained.
“You’re only ever nice to Chalice!”
He whined. Elder Kettle’s eyes widened as he shrugged, brushing Mugman’s comment off.
“I have no idea what you mean. I love all my kids the same.”
Mugman huffed heavily as he fixed his vest. It was true that Elder Kettle, without a doubt, loved all three of them, but it was obvious he was easier with Chalice than the two boys. Cuphead wasn’t sure if that was because she was the only girl in the family or if it was because she was guaranteed to inherit the company first. Either way, he hated the occasional micromanaging.
“Anyway, finish getting ready, you three, we’ll be leaving in ten minutes, y’hear?”
Elder Kettle said, with Chalice, Mugman, and Cuphead responding with nods and quick ‘okay’s. As Elder Kettle walked back down the hallway, Chalice slipped on her cyan heels and sat in Cuphead’s desk chair, spinning herself around slowly.
“Mugs, do you remember the Ink Conglomerate kids?”
Cuphead asked, Mugman tearing his attention away from fixing his outfit to look at his brother. He shrugged.
“..Not really. I was eight the last time we saw them, I think. I remember Boris, though, he was fun, right, Cuphead?”
“Boris?”
Cuphead questioned,
“I thought you were friends with Ben.”
Mugman put on a confused face as he adjusted his tie.
“Who???”
Cuphead felt a grin spread on his face at his brother’s response.
“Ben! Benjamin! The little Imp guy.”
“Oh! I remember him!”
Chalice chimed in, continuing to spin herself in Cuphead’s chair.
“He was so tiny! Like a walking doll! Ohhh, he was so cute! With his little bowties!”
Chalice motioned to her neck as if she were adjusting a bow tie. Mugman shrugged.
“Don’t remember him.”
Chalice stopped spinning in the chair as Cuphead leaned over.
“What? Seriously?? I thought you and him were like best friends!”
Cuphead said, smiling, unbelieving that his brother was being sincere.
“Nope. Don’t know ‘im.”
Chalice was about to say something to combat Mugman’s bad memory before pausing and thinking a moment.
“Well, I mean…that does make sense, I guess. I remember he was super quiet. I don’t think I’ve ever heard him say anything.”
Mugman extended his hand toward Chalice as he looked at Cuphead, grinning.
“See? That’s probably why I don’t remember him.”
Cuphead rolled his eye jokingly before standing up.
“Yeah, whatever, I guess. What do we do there, anyway? Just…talk with them? Like a little play date?”
Chalice shrugged as she started slowly spinning herself in the chair again.
“Sure, why not? I miss play dates. Those things were fun.”
“No, they were terrifying. You’re just expected to let some random kid show you his bug collection in some random house you’ve never been in before.”
Mugman said, shuddering jokingly while recalling a bad incident between him and one of his old classmates.
“That’s cuz you’re a wimp.”
Chalice responded.
“But this is like, a GOOD play date, y’know? For the company!”
She said, sarcastically throwing a fist in the air.
“Can we stop using the word ‘play date’? You guys make me feel like I’m five.”
Cuphead said, kicking Mugman’s and Chalice’s feet slightly.
“Ow! You brought it up, stupid!”
Mugman said, punching his brother’s arm.
“Yeah! Screw you!”
Chalice smiled as she kicked Cuphead’s knee, still spinning in the chair. Cuphead chuckled to himself before rushing past the two and through the doorframe.
“Okay, yeah, whatever. Everyone out of my room, please.”
“Boo. You suck.”
Chalice muttered before standing up and walking past Cuphead, Mugman following behind. Cuphead waited until both of them were out of his room before shutting the door behind them and making his way down the hallway alongside his brother. The three made their way down the stairs of their estate and out the front, where a long, sleek black limo waited for them in the driveway. They climbed in the back, noticing Elder Kettle seated across from the three, facing them.
“Anyone forgetting anything?”
He asked before the three shook their heads, all responding with short ‘no’s.
“Alright, let’s take off, then.”
“This is gonna be so much fun! We haven’t seen the Moon Industry kids in forever! Bendy, c’mon, you’re not excited?”
Boris exclaimed, nudging Bendy’s shoulder and causing his brother to look up from his book. Bendy, Boris, Alice, Henry, and Linda were already in their estate’s garden, waiting for their guests to arrive. There were bushes of flowers adorned with hundreds of colors, as well as trees that towered over the garden walls. Plenty of small, stone water fountains lined little paths along the garden’s many hidden trails. It was perfectly sunny out, with butterflies fluttering past and tiny ants crawling past the lush, green blades of grass. It was a beautiful Spring afternoon. Bendy looked around him to see his parents sitting at a round glass table, talking with one another. They seemed somewhat anxious to see their beloved friend and business partner in person after so many years. Nearby was Alice, who was picking bright, golden flowers from a bush. She had already accumulated a lovely light blue bouquet early that morning. Her wings were tucked neatly behind her, with her wavy hair draping over them cooly. She seemed to be just as excited as their parents. Boris was seated next to Bendy on the stone steps that stood against the white archway that towered over the rest of the garden. He looked at his brother with wide eyes, a little bit stunned to be spoken to so suddenly.
“Excited? Oh, no, I am.”
Bendy nodded, keeping a cool expression. His eyes returned to the page in his book as Boris continued the conversation.
“You don’t seem excited at all. You seem just as glued to that book as always. It can’t be that entertaining, can it? It’s got no pictures!”
“It’s a wonder what the imagination can do.”
Bendy responded dryly.
“Well, anyway, I’m extremely excited. Mom and Dad have been going on and on nonstop about the Moon Industry kids coming to visit again. You remember Missy, right? She was the one who freaked Alice out with that stinkbug she found in the garden. Oh, and Mugman! The blue one! He was the one who cried nonstop after he saw that garter snake. And Cuphead! He hit you in the head with that baseball, remember?”
Bendy remembered. He had been minding his business when all of a sudden, something that felt like a boulder struck the side of his head. Cuphead swore to him up and down that he had struck him by accident, but all Bendy could do at the time was cry due to the pain. After the incident with the stinkbug, Alice screamed about how much she hated Missy and never wanted to see her again. And Mugman was a crybaby.
“Yeah…they’re a very….flattering bunch.”
But that was all eight years ago. Surely by now the three must’ve changed, right?
“YOU may think they’re unimpressive, but I thought they were HILARIOUS.”
Boris smiled, flashing his sharp teeth. Just as Bendy had begun focusing back onto his book, Alice had hopped up towards the two, blue and yellow flowers in hand.
“What’re you guys talking about?”
She asked before plopping down next to Bendy, sandwiching him between her and Boris.
“Moon Industry kids.”
Boris responded, taking Bendy’s book from him and flipping through the pages, trying to find pictures. Alice began plucking the petals from a blue flower as she spoke. Bendy sat in between the two uncomfortably, waiting for Boris to return his book.
“Meeting with them will be nice again. It’s been so long, after all.”
Alice said, smiling as bright blue petals fell to her feet.
“I thought you never wanted to see them ever again.”
Boris said, handing Bendy back his book after failing to find any images. Alice shook her head in denial.
“No, no. Not all of them. Just Missy. I mean, I SAID I never wanted to see Missy again, but I really don’t mind. I’m sure they’re all much more pleasant now.”
Bendy thought it all over. The only point of these occasional meetings was so that the Ink Conglomerate and Moon Industry would be able to maintain their partnership in the long run. They didn’t necessarily have to be FRIENDS; they just had to be able to stand one another to a reasonable degree. He would greet them politely, smile and nod when they tried to make conversation, and do his best to make a well enough impression. All he had to do was be civil.
“...Ben.”
Boris said. Nudging his brother’s shoulder again.
“Hm? What? What is it?”
Bendy asked, flipping through his book to try and find where he had left off.
“If you become really good friends with them- like- REALLY good friends- they might give you free booze.”
Bendy froze before snapping his head towards his brother, who was smiling widely at his reaction. The only people who knew about Bendy’s secret enjoyment of consuming alcohol were his siblings. While the idea was somewhat appealing, he didn’t let it overcome his reasoning for a second longer.
“I…that’s not a good idea, I don’t think.”
Bendy responded, hesitating as he turned his head back to his book. A silence fell between the three.
“...You’d love it.”
Boris murmured. Bendy could see his corny smile from the corner of his eye. Beside him, Alice suddenly sprang from her seat on the stairway, her head twisting to look behind her.
“Ooh! I think that’s them! I think they’re here!”
Alice exclaimed as she laid her bouquets in a patch of grass next to her. Bendy and Boris both looked up behind them to faintly see a sleek, long car parked in their driveway in the distance. Boris and Alice shared excited looks while Bendy felt a small pit form in his stomach. He hadn’t expected himself to be as nervous as he was in this moment. He figured that the slight pressure of having to make a good impression for the sake of their company was the main contributor to his uneasy feeling. His head turned around and back to the garden to see both his parents rising from their seats and heading over to the white archway. They had seemed noticeably less excited than earlier that morning, but Bendy thought nothing of it. The three stood from their spots as they caught glimpses of four figures walking towards their front porch. They watched as a servant allowed them inside, leading the four to the estate’s garden.
Before Bendy knew it, sitting across from him and his family was Eugene, Missy, Cuphead, and Mugman Kettle. It was a little shocking to him to see how much the Moon Industry kids had grown. They were much, much taller and seemed more put together than the last Bendy had seen of them. They sat in order of tallest to shortest, which Bendy thought was a little funny. The order went from Mugman, Cuphead, and then to Missy, all of whom were sitting nicely in their seats. The most jarring observation, however, was the fact that Cuphead’s right eye was now covered entirely by a bright, white patch. Now and then, Bendy would have to correct himself and avert his gaze, knowing it was extremely rude to stare. After his parents had greeted the Moon Industry kids, they directed their attention to Eugene, who followed them off into the garden, presumably for a more private and adult conversation. Now, sitting at the table were the six children from both industries, smiling at each other politely but not saying a word to one another. Cuphead was about to get up from his seat and see if Mr and Mrs. Stein had any snacks inside when Alice spoke up, breaking the silence between the group.
“...So! It’s nice to see you all, again…how are….how are you all doing?”
“We’ve been great!”
Chalice responded nearly immediately. It was obvious that she was relieved somebody was finally talking.
“We’ve all been super excited to see you guys again! It’s been so long, hasn’t it? How old are you, by the way?”
Boris’s smile widened, happy to join in the conversation.
“Well, Alice turned 21 about a month ago, I’m 20, and Bendy is 19! How about you?”
“I’m 16.”
Mugman said, raising his hand slightly. A small smile formed on his face. He seemed to be getting comfortable. Chalice chimed in with her own response shortly.
“Oh, that’s awesome, I’m 20, too! And Cuphead’s-”
“18.”
Cuphead said, cutting Chalice off. There was a grin on his face as he looked at Bendy for a split second before averting his eye and focusing back on Alice and Boris. Despite the brief moment of eye contact, Bendy felt the pit in his stomach grow larger. It had taken him not even five seconds to realize that the Moon Industry kids were all somewhat attractive. Out of the three, however, it was Cuphead that Bendy found the most admirable in terms of appearance.
Bendy kept his eyes on his hands as he folded them together politely in his lap. He had no intentions of joining the conversation anytime soon. Out of his line of vision, he could hear his siblings and their three guests laughing and talking. Bendy could hear Mugman snicker after Boris had brought up the bug incident between Missy and Alice, to which Cuphead exclaimed he had faintly remembered the event, with Chalice denying it ever happened. The five of them seemed to get along just as well with one another, and since it didn’t seem like he would be invited into the conversation, Bendy carefully reopened his book and flipped the pages to where he had left off.
Just across from him, Cuphead sat speaking joyously with the company around. Occasionally, he would glance at the demon, thinking about him curiously. There was no way Bendy was older than him. He seemed just as short as the first time they’d met. Obviously, height never determined age, but it still stunned Cuphead that the only one amongst the five who was younger than him was Mugman.
Looking at Bendy, Cuphead could feel a slight sense of nervousness arise in him, which he found extremely odd. Despite his lack of height, it was undeniable that, unlike his siblings, Bendy emitted a sort of intimidation that Alice and Boris lacked. He was extremely cool and collected, as well as poised and dignified. He seemed almost regal. While Chalice, Mugman, Alice, and Boris continued their conversation, Cuphead’s focus remained fully on Bendy. After a brief moment of silent staring, Bendy finally looked up from his book, feeling he was being watched. His eyes immediately met with Cuphead’s gaze, the eye contact causing the pit in his stomach to come close to a roar. Cuphead smiled kindly, with Bendy returning the gesture despite feeling engulfed with anxiousness. Now, looking at him more closely, Bendy noticed that the eye Cuphead still had hosted an admirable brown pupil, its hue a pretty, warm pecan color. He had a cute, button nose that was bright, cherry red, and smooth, glossy skin.
“...Uh…What are you reading?”
Cuphead asked. He immediately noticed how pitch black Bendy’s eyes were. He could feel himself become more intimidated as the demon stared at him. Bendy looked down at his book. It was a hardcover copy of his favorite fairy tale, “Beauty and the Beast.” He had taken the cover paper off so that no one would be able to see that he was reading a bedtime story for five-year-old girls. He hesitated before looking back up at Cuphead.
“...War and Peace….by uh…Leo Tolstoy.”
He lied. It was the only book he could think of that was somewhat sophisticated. He knew it was immature to be reading a princess book at his age, but then again, who cared? Cuphead, unaware that Bendy had lied, felt a ping of adoration flow throughout him. He wasn’t very smart. He hated school and hadn’t touched a book since he was in the sixth grade. Nobody had to do much to impress him. Bendy could’ve been reading airplane instruction manuals from the 20s, and he still would’ve been left in awe.
“That sounds cool, what’s it about?”
Cuphead said, partially interested. He always found it nice to ask others about their interests, even if they were things he knew absolutely nothing about. Bendy hesitated. He hadn’t actually read the book before. It looked like he was gonna have to make something up.
“...Uh….Uhm…Just a bunch of…political stuff. Economical…wars…uh…what about you? Do you read?”
Bendy stuttered, smiling awkwardly. He changed the topic almost immediately, just in case Cuphead would decide to ask him any more questions on a book he knew zilch about. He was tempted to ask about his missing eye, but he held his tongue, sure that the question was far too invasive. Cuphead shook his head, appreciating the question.
“Nope. Not as a hobby, I mean. I like baseball, though.”
Bendy remembered the last time Cuphead had visited. He knew.
“That sounds fun….could you…tell me stuff about baseball?”
He asked. He really wasn’t all that interested. He hoped that if he managed to get Cuphead to talk only about himself, he could tune him out and return to his book or, at the very least, escape conversation. Cuphead’s face lit up with a sense of joy. His smile widened as he sat up, beginning to explain the basics of the sport with genuine enthusiasm. Bendy immediately took notice of how Cuphead’s expression changed, to how excited he had gotten after just one question. He watched as Cuphead went on and on about the subject, even using his hands and arms to try and create visual examples of what he was explaining. Bendy, for some reason, was unable to return his eyes to his book. He couldn’t tune out Cuphead’s voice at all. He sat still, listening and staring as Cuphead continued to talk. His brown eye and athletic arms were captivating. Bendy stared at the goofy smile plastered on Cuphead’s face. He felt a small smile of his own curl slightly on his lips. A small sense of heat crept into Bendy’s cheeks.
“-And there’s this one move called a CURVBALL. It’s easy to do if you’re throwing the ball, but hard to hit if you’re the one up to bat-”
Cuphead continued, becoming more and more energetic with each word. Bendy watched and listened intently as he droned on and on. The pit in his stomach twisted into something warmer, though he wasn’t sure why. How was it possible for someone to be this adorable?
Before either of them knew it, hours had gone past, and it was already four in the afternoon. Bendy’s parents returned along with Elder Kettle, with all three of them looking slightly disheveled. None of the six children took any notice, however, as their guardians all displayed smiles when telling them it was time to say goodbye to one another. Alice, Boris, Mugman, and Chalice all looked somewhat disheartened with the information, but were happy nonetheless that they had gotten to spend time with each other. Bendy felt another pit form in his stomach, but this time it was a feeling of disappointment rather than anxiety. He watched as Cuphead, Chalice, and Mugman arose from their seats and headed out of the garden with Elder Kettle. Bendy, Alice, and Boris waved to the Moon Industry kids as they disappeared from view. After the sight of Cuphead vanished, Bendy felt his shoulders release tension, unaware that he was so tense to begin with. Alice and Boris were still exchanging smiles as Bendy stared off into the distance. The last time he had seen the Moon Industry kids was eight years ago. How long would it be until he saw them after this? His trance was broken suddenly by the sounds of heavy sighs coming from his parents, who were standing behind him. He and his siblings looked toward them to see regretful expressions on both of their faces. The three kept silent before Alice spoke up, breaking the quiet.
“...What’s….what’s wrong?”
Their parents, unaware that their children had caught onto their wavering spirits, sighed again, taking their seats at the garden table.
“...There’s something important we need to talk with you three about...”
“MARRIAGE?????”
Chalice exclaimed, surprised by the words that had so suddenly come from Elder Kettle’s mouth. Her, Cuphead, and Mugman were sitting at their dining room table across from their guardian, all three equally shocked at the news. Elder Kettle kept steady as he gave a sorrowful sigh.
“Let me explain, let me explain…this afternoon, while you three were talking with the Ink Conglomerate children, I had a long conversation with Mr and Ms. Stein. They told me some news that could affect both their company and ours. In town, there’s a man named Lucifer and his sleazy assistant, Mr King Dice. The Steins had informed me that those two are planning on building a rival industry that could very well wipe out our businesses. The Steins and I had talked about all the possible things we could do to build a more sound and compact bond between our industries, but the only things that can unite our companies more than contract agreements are either a child born under both the Ink Conglomerate and Moon Industry, or-”
“Getting married??”
Mugman questioned, cutting Elder Kettle off. The silence that quickly fell between the four confirmed the question.
“But- But this can’t- I don’t-”
Chalice stuttered, unable to get a proper sentence out. Cuphead sat stunned as Mugman frowned. The amount of information just thrust upon the three was close to suffocating. While sitting in silence, listening to Chalice struggle to speak full words, Cuphead thought over everything carefully. Chalice and Cuphead were of legal age for marriage. Mugman wasn’t. That meant that it was between Cuphead and Chalice to go through with this. His grandpa was a kind man. Extremely loving. He wouldn’t force any of his children to get married, but for the sake of the company, it seemed he didn’t have much of an easier choice. Laying all the facts down, it was clear to Cuphead that he would have to make a sacrifice for the sake of his cousin and his family’s future. His chest heaved for a moment as a knot grew in his stomach. His throat was extremely dry, but he managed to push out the words that lingered in the back of his mind.
“..I’ll do it.”
Chalice stopped talking. Both Mugman and Elder Kettle’s eyes darted to Cuphead, whose body tensed almost immediately after he spoke.
“Cuphe-”
Chalice started, attempting to ease her cousin down. To no avail, Cuphead immediately cut her off.
“Mugman’s not old enough to get married, and Chalice has already sacrificed pretty much her entire life for the company. It wouldn’t be fair to make her go through with this.”
He stayed still. Elder Kettle hesitated before continuing, sighing heavily as he adjusted himself in his seat.
“...You don't have to. We can find another way to ensure the industry isn’t taken over by this rival. Marriage isn’t necessary-”
“It’s okay.”
Cuphead objected, looking at his grandpa with an expression of mixed regret and pathetic nobility. He had never thought about getting married before. In fact, anything involving romance had never crossed his mind or even appealed to him, so in retrospect, what would be the harm of getting married? From Cuphead’s point of view, it was nothing but a unique business deal. He looked back to when he was younger. There was no denying that, compared to his brother and cousin, he was the most stressful kid to have raised. He threw tantrums, got into insane amounts of trouble, and brought his poor grandfather more anxiety than any man should face. Now that he was older, he sincerely regretted all his past behavior and realized how much respect Elder Kettle truly deserved. He had worked all his life to create this industry and make it as successful as it was for the sake of his children and their future, and Chalice was already doing as much as she could to make sure she was ready to take on the company name. The very least Cuphead could do was make the small sacrifice of agreeing to matrimony to one of the Ink Conglomerate kids. It wasn’t as if this was the end of the world, after all. All the Conglomerate kids seemed nice enough. Alice, Boris, Bendy… and besides, who said that this had to be a romantic involvement? Whoever Cuphead was paired with, the two of them could very well just agree to be friends or simple business partners. Cuphead’s body relaxed a little as he reassured himself. This wasn’t the end of the world. It was time for him to play his part in keeping their industry running.
He looked Elder Kettle in the eyes, keeping a somewhat confident composure. A thick moment of silence passed between them before Elder Kettle nodded carefully, his face still regretful but more content. He stood from his seat as he grabbed his cane, wobbling around the dining room table and swiftly holding Cuphead in a firm, one-handed hug. Cuphead reached out with one of his arms to return the gesture before his grandfather pulled back, patting him on the shoulder before making his way out of the room.
“I’ll call Mr and Mrs. Stein and tell them our decision.”
Elder Kettle smiled slightly before exiting the dining room and down the hall. Cuphead looked at Miss Chalice and Mugman to see both their mouths agape, staring at him wide-eyed.
“You can’t be serious.”
Mugman muttered, his voice near to a squeak.
“Cuphead,”
Chalice stuttered, her eyebrows furrowing.
“You didn’t- You didn’t have to do that.”
Cuphead shook his head slightly before a small smile appeared on his face.
“It’s okay. It’s no big deal, anyway-”
“No, this is a BIG DEAL.”
Chalice interupeted.
“You’re getting MARRIED. To one of the INK CONGLOMERATE kids. That’s…this is insane. Out of all three of us, I thought Mugman would be the first to get married.”
She smiled widely as Mugman quickly turned his head to her at the mention of his name.
“...well gee, thanks-”
“Not a compliment.”
Chalice said abruptly, cutting Mugman off. She leaned back in her seat as Cuphead and Mugman shared a glance.
“...So….This is kind of….weird.”
Mugman muttered.
“..Yep.”
Cuphead responded. He could feel his shoulders tense up again before Mugman continued.
“You’re getting married.”
Cuphead nodded in response.
“...Which one do you think you’ll get married to?”
Mugman beamed, excited by the unknown possibility of his brother being engaged to one of three people.
“I don’t think he can choose.”
Chalice spoke up, answering his question. Mugman and Cuphead looked at her as she continued to lean in her seat.
“I think it’s whoever Mr and Ms. Stein pick. Or who the Ink Conglomerate kids decide should do it.”
Mugman frowned, turning his gaze to his lap. The small bit of fun was gone.
“..Oh.”
He muttered. Cuphead, Mugman, and Chalice sat in silence, each of them taking in the information at their own pace.
“...But….Thanks.”
Chalice spoke up, breaking the quiet that lingered in the room. Cuphead looked over at his cousin, who had a faint smile plastered on her lips.
“...I never want to get married. Business or not. Thanks for…thanks for doing that, Cuphead.”
She said. Cuphead couldn’t help but smile. Something in him released tension. He felt nice knowing that he had helped someone dear to him. He was about to respond before his brother chimed in.
“What if he didn’t do it for you? What if he actually wants to marry one of the Ink Conglomerate kids?”
Mugman teased, his smile returning. Chalice beamed at the joke, adding her own comments as she adjusted herself in her seat.
“OH MY GOD, WAIT.”
She exclaimed,
“IS THAT TRUE?? WHICH ONE?”
At this point, Mugman and Chalice were giggling at each other and making those dumb ‘oooh’ sounds as they contemplated which Ink Conglomerate kid Cuphead supposedly wanted to marry. In truth, Cuphead didn’t want to marry any of them, but at the same time, he didn’t mind. Alice was smart and admittedly pretty. She was also really nice and graceful. She was definitely the most easy-going of her siblings. Boris was extremely friendly and had an attractive build. His narrow eyes and soft-seeming fur were a little alluring in a way. Bendy, however, had the strongest effect on how Cuphead felt. He had an intimidating way about him that would’ve made Cuphead somewhat nervous if he didn’t like how he felt when he was subjected to it so much. Bendy’s pitch black eyes, smooth, neat regality, and overall intelligence made Cuphead happy to think about. None of the Conglomerate kids interested him romantically, per se, but he definitely wouldn’t mind becoming closer to any of them. His train of thought was lost to his intense focus on each of the Conglomerate kids as he tuned out the sound of his cousin and his brother laughing at their own jokes.
Mr and Ms. Stein had just finished breaking the news to their children that their plans for one of them getting married to one of the Moon Industry kids were an important contributor to maintaining their company. Henry Stein had left the garden at the alert of a phone call from Eugene Kettle, while Laura, Bendy, Alice, and Boris remained, discussing the issue at hand. Alice, unlike her parents and siblings, was not the least worried about the possibility of being engaged.
“Sounds fine to me.”
She shrugged. Boris and Bendy gave her a weird glance.
“I’d either be engaged to Cuphead or Chalice, and both of them seem alright.”
She smiled, not thinking of either one romantically, but contentedly. Boris gave a confused look, correcting his sister.
“What about Mugman?”
“He’s too young. He’s only 16, remember?”
Bendy chimed in, causing Boris to turn his attention to him. Bendy stared aimlessly through the garden, his mind not entirely present in the conversation as he went over the information in his head. One of his siblings- possibly him- would soon be married to one of either Miss Chalice or Cuphead. His mind was stuck specifically on the ‘what if’ if he were the one to be married- thoughts of Chalice and Cuphead flourished through his head. Miss Chalice was lovely, sure, but Bendy wasn’t thinking about her nearly as much as he was thinking about Cuphead. He felt a faint blush spread onto his face. The thought of being married as a whole made him nervous, and though it wasn’t certain that he would be the one chosen for the arrangement, he still couldn’t help but feel a flurry of emotions in his stomach.
“Oh, that’s right,”
Boris said, remembering Mugman’s age. He leaned back in his chair as he thought about the possibility of being married to Cuphead or Chalice.
“...Well…personally…I think both Chal and Cups are great, but I don’t think I’d wanna do it.”
He shrugged. He knew his sister was on board to carry on with the arrangement herself, so he felt no pressure to have to volunteer. It came down to either Bendy or Alice. He turned to his sister, looking for some sort of closure.
“You said you’re fine with getting married?”
He asked. Alice nodded, shrugging slightly.
“Doesn’t seem too awful. At this point, it’s just a business arrangement, isn’t it? I never really had plans of getting married to anyone in the future, so I really don’t mind doing it for the sake of the company. Besides, Chalice seems really nice-”
“It could be Cuphead, though.”
Bendy chimed in, quickly cutting off his sister. It annoyed him slightly how she was so carefree and willing to make such a big move in her life. Before Alice could respond, Laura, their mother, voiced her own statement.
“I appreciate your cooperation, Alice, but this is a very big decision we all have to make. I think we should have a further discussion about this. Boris has already said he would prefer not to go along with the arrangement, but I believe it would be in our best interest to keep the possibility that any one of you could be engaged.”
She turned to Bendy, the attention now on her youngest son.
“Bendy, darling, what do you think? We haven’t heard from you, have we?”
Bendy hesitated. He sat up straight in his seat, trying to keep his composure. He wasn’t sure if he had ever wanted to get married. Of course, he had always had fantasies about a special someone coming into his life and spending the rest of his days with them, but so far, no one in the real world appealed. He wasn’t one of those people who had experienced the thrill of romance once in his life. He thought about what Alice said. She had referred to this as simply a ‘business arrangement,’ which Bendy couldn’t help but be a little angry over, but at the end of the day, wasn’t that what this was? A business ordeal? It was the least preferred thing Bendy could want when thinking about matrimony. He wanted the chance to experience romance. The thought of finding love and a mutual bond with someone was something he often thought about. He didn’t want to be forced to marry somebody, for the sake of his company or not. If Alice was all for it, then what was the harm in saying no?
Bendy opened his mouth, prepared to give his final opinion on the matter.
“I think that-”
“Laura! Everyone! I just got off the telephone with Eugene!”
Bendy stopped talking, interrupted by the sounds of his father’s voice as he entered the garden, and headed towards the rest of his family quickly. He sat down next to Mrs. Stein, sighing somewhat happily as he began speaking.
“I’ve just been informed that between the Moon Industry kids, Cuphead has offered his hand in the arrangement.”
Bendy blinked in response as he heard the sound of Boris snorting loudly in amusement. From the corner of his eye, he saw Alice slump slightly in disappointment.
“.....oh.”
She muttered.
Laura returned her attention to her son, clearing her throat as she smiled at her husband’s excitement.
“...what were you saying, Bendy?”
“OOOOH I’M SO EXCITED FOR YOU!”
Alice squealed excitedly, her wings softly nudging Bendy’s arm uncomfortably. He was sandwiched between both his sister and his brother as the three of them, along with their parents, sat in the back of their car on their way to the Moon Industry estate.
It had been about a week since Bendy had agreed to marry Cuphead, and after a few telephone calls and agreements between his parents and Eugene, the five of them were on their way to thoroughly plan the arrangements in person at the Moon Industry estate. Bendy was still slow from shock as he stared blankly through the car window. He was certain that he was reserved enough to decline the idea of marrying someone he wasn’t close to, but all that came out of his mouth that day in the garden was how much he would appreciate being the one to go through with the arrangement. Alice quickly stepped down from her willingness upon noticing how full of anticipation Bendy seemed, and now, his palms sweating and his head light with anxiety, he was about to come face to face with his soon-to-be husband. He was positive that his willingness to go along with the engagement was due to his loyalty to his family and their business, despite being unsure if his blind obedience was the wisest decision. He had the key belief to always put his family first, and to honor all the hard work his parents and elders had put into their company, even if it meant making sacrifices at his expense since he was young. His strict loyalty wasn’t taught to him by his parents, however. He knew Laura and Henry loved him too much to force him to sacrifice part of his life for the sake of their industry. Though some of the choices Bendy had made cost him parts of his own freedom, he had always made them of his own volition, right? He shook his head. Now wasn’t the time to be consumed by confusion.
Alice squealed over Bendy’s nearing engagement while Boris snored loudly, fast asleep. Both his siblings and his parents were completely oblivious to Bendy’s frightened composure. A cold chill ran through Bendy’s arms and legs. He felt the urge to hop out of the car and run away as fast as possible while also feeling stiff as stone. Every second he spent in that car was slowly eating away at him. The anxiety he felt was growing more and more. He bit the inside of his mouth as he bounced his leg up and down, his sister droning on and on about how excited she was, with his parents and brother occupied with themselves. The car began to slow as they drove up a large driveway, the sight of a large estate that Bendy could only assume belonged to the Moon Industry family coming into view. His heartbeat quickened heavily. Large smiles appeared on his parents' faces as his father shook Boris awake.
“...Oh, we’re here?”
He asked groggily. Bendy felt his sister give him a hearty slap on his back from beside him. His attention didn’t turn to her, but he could easily tell that she was grinning so wide the whiteness of her teeth would blind him.
“Are you nervous?”
Chalice asked, snapping Cuphead out of his dazed state. He couldn’t tell if he was or if he wasn’t. That previous week, all he could think about was the nearing engagement, but the anxiety he felt over the matter was low. He didn’t know much about Bendy, other than that he seemed composed, confident, and obviously very intelligent, so even if it turned out that he and Cuphead didn’t get along, at least he would be helpful to the growth of their companies. From what Cuphead managed to gather from their last meeting, he seemed a little quiet and reserved. But just because he was shy didn’t necessarily mean he wasn’t a nice person. Fixing his posture as he waited beside his family for the arrival of their guests, Cuphead tried his best to keep an open mind. He smiled slightly as he turned his attention to Miss Chalice.
“...Meh, not really. I’m not too worried about it.”
Cuphead shrugged. From beside him, he felt his brother nudge his arm.
“Hey, look! They’re coming up to the porch! That’s them!”
Mugman smiled. Cuphead felt his heartbeat quicken and his palms start to dampen with sweat. He curled the fingers on his hands until they formed into tight fists, trying to maintain his composure. He wouldn’t let himself ruin this meeting out of silly anxiety. He looked out the same window Mugman did and, in fact, saw five figures exiting a large, white car and making their way toward their estate’s front porch. Cuphead felt his knees quiver slightly. Among his siblings and parents was Bendy, who seemed just as calm as he had the last time he and Cuphead met. The intimidating confidence that radiated off the demon only made Cuphead even more anxious. Less than a second went by before the five members of the Ink Conglomerate were welcomed into his home, the nine of them heading into the main living room to properly coordinate. Elder Kettle, Laura, and Henry sat close to one another as they discussed their plans to carry on with the engagement, with Miss Chalice and Alice joining in the conversation every so often. Mugman and Boris sat talking to each other at a small table over some picture they had seen at the movie theatre, while Cuphead and Bendy sat at the same table, trying to avoid eye contact while simultaneously trying to strike up a conversation between one another.
Now and then, Bendy would catch glimpses of Cuphead’s eye staring at him, but couldn’t bring himself to share the eye contact. He felt so out of place here. His entire body was tense, and he felt about ready to throw up. He hadn’t brought a book or anything to help keep himself occupied, so he spent moment after moment scanning his brain for some sort of conversational topic. Cuphead was seated next to him, quietly doing the same. His mouth was dry with nervousness, and nothing in his mind appealed. He knew that neither one of them could sit in silence forever, so despite his lack of conversation starters, he decided to open with the usual ‘How was your day?’
He opened his mouth as he turned his attention to Bendy before a slight tap on his shoulder cut him off. He turned his head to see Alice and Chalice standing beside each other, smiling warmly.
“We just got done talking with Elder Kettle and Mr and Mrs. Stein.”
Chalice started,
“It sounds like the plan is just one of those boring legal ordeals at a courthouse.”
Cuphead was about to respond, but it was Alice who spoke first.
“Kind of disappointing, but something like that was to be expected.”
Her voice sounded passive and unbothered, but it was obvious her expectations were higher than simply watching two kids sign a few papers in a dingy office. Cuphead smiled at the news. He didn’t like the idea of a flashy wedding.
“That’s fine with me. It doesn’t have to be such a big deal.”
He shrugged. Alice frowned sadly as Chalice responded.
“Ah, we know, but it would’ve been kind of fun to go to a real wedding. Remember that one wedding we went to when we were younger? That was fun.”
Cuphead barely remembered, but he knew it was a memory Chalice enjoyed. He was about three or four, and his brother was too young to talk. All he could recall was how much he complained about having to sit down and be quiet for so long.
“...Sure.”
He cringed. Chalice didn’t notice. She and Alice turned to each other and began a separate conversation of their own, leaving Cuphead alone with Bendy again. He glanced towards the demon, who seemed lost in thought. He took a hefty breath before turning his attention back to Bendy, ready to make another attempt at conversation.
“...How was your day?”
He asked. Bendy jolted slightly at the sudden attention. He turned his head towards Cuphead as he adjusted himself in his seat.
“Good. Good, it was..good.”
Bendy squeaked out nervously, trying hard to keep his confident image. He was struggling to keep eye contact.
“How was yours?”
He asked, making an effort to be polite. Cuphead grinned, though he felt his anxiety worsen.
“It’s been great so far, thanks!”
Bendy smiled and nodded slightly in response, quickly returning them both to silence. He was desperate to escape the awkward air that clouded them. Being that the two would soon be engaged, the least he could do was try and form a friendship between them.
“...so…uh…you told me you played baseball, right? What else do you do?”
He asked. Cuphead snapped his attention back to Bendy. His palms began to sweat, though his grin grew larger at the question.
“Fencing.”
He replied. Bendy’s eyes widened. He found Cuphead’s response quite impressive. Fencing, from what he had read, was a very organized and precise sport. He realized that Cuphead’s athleticism and sturdy build came not just from a large amount of physical strength, but also meticulous training. He found it even more impressive that Cuphead took part in such a sport despite only having one eye.
“...That’s amazing.”
He blurted. Against his attempts to hide his astonishment, he felt his cheeks begin to heat up and a smile form on his lips. Cuphead smiled warmly at the praise, his heartbeat slowing down as his shoulders began releasing tension.
“...Thanks. I’ve been practicing for years. Besides baseball, it’s my favorite sport. What about you? I know you like to read, but do you have any other hobbies?”
He asked. He felt himself wanting to learn more about what Bendy did and what he liked. Bendy hesitated, unsure of how to answer. There were many things he liked other than reading, though he wasn’t sure if sharing any of his preferred hobbies would impress Cuphead. He was a fan of drawing, but he wasn’t ready to share his doodles with anyone else. There was cooking, but compared to fencing and baseball, it seemed a little pathetic. Writing music was one thing, but everything Bendy wrote was meant to be kept to himself. Not even Alice and Boris were aware that he liked to compose his own songs. Eventually, he landed on the violin and piano. All of his siblings played at least one instrument. For Alice, it was the harp, Boris played the clarinet and trumpet, and for Bendy, it was the piano and violin. Though all three of them were talented with their instruments, Bendy was by far the hardest working and gifted.
“I like playing the piano. And the violin. I play both.”
He responded. Cuphead beamed with excitement.
“Whoa, you too? I used to play the piano all the time when I was younger!”
Bendy tasted a sour flavor in his mouth. Though he was mostly a humble person, he was always eager to show someone up when it came to something he was particularly good at. He opened his mouth to brag until Cuphead spoke up before him.
“My family has a big piano in our study room that I always liked to use! I used to play it almost every day! Mugman eventually wanted to learn to play it, too, so I taught him all the songs I knew. I had to give it up after I got into high school and fencing and baseball and all that, but I really miss playing it.”
Bendy held his tongue at Cuphead’s enthusiasm. Immediately, he felt a rush of shame course through his chest for thinking of bragging. His cheeks grew redder and hotter as he listened to Cuphead speak. He was so adorably excited to talk with Bendy about something they had in common, it was hard not to feel bad. Something was captivating about Cuphead’s voice that made Bendy want to sit and listen for hours. It didn’t matter what was being talked about; hearing him speak so optimistically was endearing.
“It’s so cool that you play the piano. You should let me listen to you play a song sometime.”
Cuphead smiled warmly. Bendy sat up straight in his seat, trying hard to hide how red his face was probably getting. The praise he was met with made his heartbeat quicken. Though he was often complimented on his talents, hearing such words coming from someone as impressive as Cuphead made him smile nervously.
“...Uh…sure…maybe…”
He said, quietly. He hesitated again, searching his mind for ways to bring up the next obvious topic in their conversation. Small talk was nice, especially when getting to know someone, but with the fact that he and Cuphead were soon to be wed, it was hard to think about anything else.
“...Anyway…about…about our…engagement.”
He said, clearing his throat and keeping his voice low and straightforward. Despite his cool composure, his face was still hot with anxiousness. Cuphead paused, his smile fading. His heartbeat quickened again, and his shoulders regained their tense feel. He put on a smile, refusing to reveal how nervous he was to Bendy.
“Oh….right. Well, I’m all for it. I mean, I’m not sure if you are, but even if you’re not, I hope we can at least be friends.”
Bendy glanced towards Cuphead, catching sight of his warm smile and friendly demeanor. He seemed sincere. His welcoming expression was somewhat comforting to Bendy, and he couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m…I’m also alright with doing it…And I’d like to be friends…you seem like a nice person.”
Cuphead quickly took notice of how nervous Bendy was. His body was composed and collected in his seat, but his anxious expression let Cuphead know he wasn’t as effortlessly intimidating as he seemed. He smiled softly, hearing Bendy’s words. Knowing they were both willing to make an effort to be friends with one another made his shoulders release their tension again.
“..That’s great to hear,”
He sighed.
“I’m excited to be closer to you.”
After Alice, Boris, Bendy, Laura, and Henry returned home, it was revealed to him by his parents that he and Cuphead were to be married exactly three weeks from the day of their visit. That night, Bendy stared up at his ceiling while he struggled to fall asleep, his mind echoing the words Cuphead had said to him.
‘I hope we can be friends…’ ‘I’m excited to be closer to you..’
The sound of Cuphead’s voice and the image of his smile haunted Bendy’s thoughts, keeping him awake with excitement and nervousness. He curled up on his side, tucking himself underneath his blankets in an attempt to lull himself to sleep. He was sure that when Cuphead said he was excited to be closer to him, it was meant in a platonic manner, but Bendy couldn’t stop himself from smiling stupidly at the words. In his defense, it was the first time an attractive person had told him they were eager to know him better, so he allowed himself to be thrilled over such a silly thing. He focused on his excited emotions as he sank his face into his pillows. He had a plentiful amount of crushes in his life, though none of them had branched into anything more than simple admiration. It was true he found Cuphead attractive; he was nice, physically appealing, and overall seemed like an easy-going person, but whether or not he wanted more with Cuphead was the question Bendy couldn’t seem to answer. It was easy to say he admired the cup to an extent, but he wasn’t sure if he wanted to actually pursue a romantic relationship.
Bendy tapped his pillow with his finger rhythmically. He had already chosen to marry Cuphead, but that was for the sake of his family. There was no guarantee that the two would fall in love, but that wasn’t something Bendy felt too bad over. Eventually, after careful thinking, he finally decided that he was fine with just being friends, but if the opportunity ever arose, he wouldn’t mind taking things a little further.
Cuphead sat at his desk, unable to sleep. He was staring down at a large book that he had found in his grandfather’s library. He wasn’t sure if it was because he was sleep-deprived or bored, but he couldn’t seem to get himself into the story.
“War and Peace is so boring..how did Bendy ever manage to read something like this?”
He yawned. He was determined to get to know Bendy as well as he could, but so far, his options were a little slim. All he knew about Bendy was that he played a few instruments and read books. Not that he was shaming the demon's hobbies, but he had to admit they made Bendy seem a little dull. Cuphead shut the book, leaning back in his chair as he sighed to his ceiling. His eyelid was exceedingly heavy.
“...No one’s THAT plain…there has to be more to him.”
As he felt himself begin drifting off to sleep, an idea popped into his head. He would ask Bendy to hang out with him sometime. If it were just the two of them, he would be sure to find out more about his future business partner. Cuphead grinned to himself before knocking out completely, filling the quiet room with loud snores.
Bendy seated himself in his dining room, munching on some eggs. The amount of sunlight that peered through his window that morning told him it would be a warm and peaceful Thursday. His siblings were already at the table, with Alice eating a bowl of oatmeal and Boris messing around with his clarinet. The three usually spent most of their nights at their parents’ estate, though Alice and Boris had homes of their own. Bendy was the only child who was still in search of his own home that wasn’t too far from his parents’ company. Henry could be seen sitting at the table as well, sipping on some coffee as he scanned the morning paper. Bendy was unsure of where his mom was, but he assumed she was in the kitchen, preparing herself some breakfast.
After finishing his plate, Bendy headed into the kitchen to wash his dish. He went over the to-do list in his head as he scrubbed his dirty fork. Practice piano, practice violin, run some errands…pretty much what he did every day. Usually, during the week, he and his siblings would help out at his parents' company, but today was one of Bendy’s off days. He walked from the kitchen into the living room, plopping down in a plush armchair. Beside him was a small table with a pile of coasters and a book he had placed on it the day before on its surface. Bendy picked up the book and flipped through the pages, finding his spot. He had about 15 minutes to kill before he had to carry out his daily errands, so he sat back and began reading. He had barely begun to focus on his story before Alice walked into the room. She had a wide grin on her face as she trotted up toward Bendy.
“Ben, guess what? You got a phooooooneeee caaaaallllll!”
She sang. Bendy looked up at her, placing his open book onto his lap. From the way his sister was beaming, it didn’t sound like the call was work-related.
“From who?”
He asked innocently. Alice’s bright smile turned into a sly smirk as she leaned forward, keeping her legs straight.
“Future Mr Cuphead Stein. Or, wait, I guess it would be Cuphead Kettle. I think you guys are gonna keep your own last names. Anyway, Cuphead called, and he said he wanted to spend time with you this afternoon if you were free. What do you think?”
Bendy paused. It was surprising to hear that Cuphead wanted to hang out with him so soon. Bendy went over his list of daily activities. He had plenty of free time on his hands since he wasn’t working for the company today. He looked down at his book, feeling nervousness creep into his chest. There was no reason not to spend time alone with Cuphead for an afternoon, right? If anything, it could be a fun way to learn more about one another. The idea made Bendy somewhat excited.
“...Sure, I’ll go. I’ll call him back in a minute.”
Bendy smiled. Alice gave him a thumbs-up before she joyously skipped away. Bendy’s eyes returned to his book. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t focus on the words below him. His face was overcome by a heated blush. He stood from his chair, placing his book back down on the small table. He headed across the hall, where the telephone was, and began dialing the number for the Moon Industry estate. Their home number was written on a small scrap of paper wedged between the pages of the Steins’ phone book. Bendy grasped the telephone in his hands as it rang. Eventually, someone on the other end had picked up the phone.
“Kettle residence, Mugman speaking.”
Mugman answered. His voice was stale and uncaring.
“Hello, Mugman. It’s…it’s Bendy-”
Before Bendy could finish his sentence, he heard a shuffling of words on the other end.
“Hey- hey! Fine! I’m moving! I’m moving! Stop pushing me!”
There was a brief moment of silence before a new voice chimed in.
“Bendy! Hi! It’s Cuphead.”
Bendy grinned stupidly again. Cuphead’s voice sounded so bright and cheery.
“Hi, Cuphead…I uh…Alice told me you called earlier, and I just wanted to tell you that I’m free this afternoon, so...”
“Oh, you are? That’s perfect! I’ll see you later, then. Wait, where do you wanna meet up?”
Bendy paused. He hesitated before coming up with a meeting place in his mind.
“How about…How about in town? Near the market entrance? Y’know, on Woodstreet?”
Cuphead understood where Bendy meant, agreeing to the meeting spot before giving a short goodbye and hanging up the phone. Behind him stood his brother, who was staring at him blankly.
“..What?”
Cuphead asked, shooting Mugman a rude glare.
“You’re going on a date with him?”
Asked his brother, who tilted his head in curiosity.
“...No?????”
Cuphead responded.
“I’m just hanging out with him later, that’s all. We’ll just walk around and talk and stuff. That’s not a date.”
Mugman thought to himself before he answered.
“...I mean…That sounds kind of like what you’d do on a date…”
Cuphead frowned as he turned away from his brother, walking into a separate room.
“Whatever. It’s not a date. Don’t read into it.”
From behind him, Cuphead could hear Mugman scoff as he left the room. He was positive that spending time with another person didn’t qualify as ‘dating.’ Whatever he and Bendy did, it would be sure to develop a lasting friendship between them.
Bendy munched away at his ice cream, licking his spoon as he enjoyed the cold treat. So far, things had been going smoothly between him and Cuphead. Earlier, they had walked around the market and talked about one another, finding more common ground and becoming closer friends. Eventually, they had gotten themselves some ice cream and decided to take a walk through a nearby park. The two of them were now sitting on a bench, enjoying their dessert. Cuphead felt a warmth in his face as he ate his treat, enjoying the taste. It turned out Bendy wasn’t as boring as he feared. Despite his collected composure, the demon was revealed to have a more carefree and fun side. The two made jokes with one another and made themselves laugh a worrying amount. Cuphead had gotten a small cup of chocolate-flavored ice cream, and Bendy had gotten a strawberry. As he was licking away at his spoon, Cuphead glanced down at Bendy, who was happily eating his ice cream. He nudged Bendy lightly and motioned to the imp’s dessert, wanting a taste. Bendy scooped up some of his ice cream and handed the spoon to Cuphead, who took Bendy’s hand boldly and munched at his offering.
Bendy jolted slightly at the sudden hand touch, but kept his cool. Cuphead pulled his head back, smiling warmly.
“That’s good! I like that.”
He beamed. Bendy couldn’t get himself to respond. His face was beginning to flush again. He quietly scooped up another bit of ice cream and lifted the spoon to Cuphead’s mouth.
“....Uh…here, have some more.”
He smiled anxiously, hoping Cuphead would take his hand again. To his surprise, the cup placed the spoon in his mouth and happily ate Bendy’s second offer of ice cream. Bendy waited until Cuphead was done before carefully pulling the spoon out of his mouth. Cuphead smiled thankfully again, enjoying the kindness Bendy was giving. Bendy ginned nervously, taking another spoonful of ice cream and feeding it to Cuphead’s mouth, continuing to feed him. He felt his heartbeat quicken as Cuphead innocently slurped up the ice cream he offered him, unaware that Bendy was secretly admiring the adorable way he accepted spoonful after spoonful. Eventually, Bendy reached his spoon into his cup for another bit of ice cream, only to realize it was all gone. Cuphead noticed how Bendy’s treat had run out, and felt bad that he had eaten it all. He scooped up some of his own ice cream and lifted the spoon to Bendy’s mouth, smiling brightly.
“You can have some of mine!”
He said cheerfully. Bendy hesitated before parting his lips slightly and allowing Cuphead to feed the spoon into his mouth. He licked away at the sweet flavor of the chocolate ice cream and enjoyed every bit of it. He closed his eyes, feeling his face burn up as excited thoughts rushed through his head.
“OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD, I’M SHARING AN INDIRECT KISS WITH A HOT GUY, MY LIFE IS THE GREATEST.”
Eventually, the moment ended abruptly with Cuphead taking the spoon out of Bendy’s mouth, leaving the demon longing for another taste. Bendy looked up at the cup to see the same adorable, warm smile as before.
“HA! You must’ve really liked that flavor, huh? You looked like it was the best thing you’d ever tasted! I told you you should’ve gotten chocolate.”
Cuphead laughed. Bendy loved how oblivious this guy was. He nudged Cuphead’s arm slightly, smiling widely.
“Well, you ate all my ice cream! I was just enjoying what I had left.”
He joked. Cuphead chuckled before handing Bendy the rest of his ice cream, standing up from his spot on the bench. Bendy took the small cup in his hands, standing up after his friend. He quickly finished the rest of Cuphead’s ice cream, licking the spoon over and over until the sweet taste of chocolate and what he assumed to be Cuphead’s breath faded from the plastic. He threw away his trash as the two began walking back into town. As they were walking, Cuphead felt his stomach growl with hunger. He looked around the streets before a small, red diner came into view. A smile appeared on his face as he turned to Bendy, nudging him gently.
“Hey! Did you have lunch today, Ben?”
Cuphead asked. Bendy’s attention forwarded to his friend as he thought. He was planning on having lunch when he got back home, but the idea of eating out with Cuphead was a much more appealing thought.
“Nope,”
He smiled.
“But I’m kinda hungry. Did you…Want to get something to eat?”
Cuphead nodded at Bendy’s question with a wide grin. He gently swooped up Bendy’s arm in his hand and began walking towards the diner. Bendy felt a tinge of nervousness as well as excitement as Cuphead led him across the street. Eventually, the two found themselves inside the small diner, surrounded by the noises of conversation and clinks of silverware. Cuphead inhaled deeply. The salty and savory smells filled his nose as his hunger grew.
“I’ve never been here before, have you?”
Cuphead asked Bendy gleefully. Bendy shook his head as Cuphead released his arm. The two walked up to the hostess who was greeting patrons as they came in, helping seat them at tables.
“No, I’ve never been here before, but I think a few friends told me about this place. They said the food was good, so I’m glad we came in.”
Bendy responded. He felt happiness course through him as the hostess helped seat them. The pair were taken to a small, two-person booth right against the window of the diner. From here, they could easily see everything going on in the city streets. Bendy slid in first, sitting closely against the window. He expected Cuphead to take the seat across from him, but to his surprise, Cuphead had slid in up against Bendy. The booth seats were tiny, but Bendy refused to ask Cuphead to change spots. Though they were only slightly cramped, they were close enough for Bendy to be able to feel the heat emmiting from Cuphead’s skin. Their shoulders and thighs were touching carefully, which further excited Bendy, causing an anxious smile to spread across his face. Cuphead felt a surge of warmth in his chest. He was happy to be spending so much time with his new friend! A tiny smile appeared on his face as he felt their shoulders nuzzle each other. Something in him calmed down now that he was closer to Bendy. The longer they sat, the more they came to realize how chilled the diner was. The air conditioning must’ve been cranked way too high.
A waitress quickly came and greeted the pair, handing them each glasses of water and menus. Cuphead and Bendy scanned the dishes, talking with each other about what meal the other should get. Soon enough, the two decided on the food they wanted, giving their order to their waitress as she came back to check on them. The two sat in a brief silence as the waitress departed, neither one knowing what to say to each other. Cuphead was spacing out, enjoying the warmth of the closeness between him and Bendy. Beside him, Bendy was softly shaking from anxiousness and pure excitement. He had never been so close to a hot guy like this! So far, the day was going GREAT. Cuphead snapped out of his dazed state at the feel of Bendy gently shake beside him. He figured with how cold the diner was, his friend was freezing.
“Ben,”
Cuphead started, nudging Bendy’s arm softly. The demon’s attention shot towards his friend.
“Are you cold? You’re shaking.”
He asked. Bendy felt excitement shoot up in his chest. Cuphead seemed genuinely concerned in a way that Bendy thought was adorable. He was pretty cold, but at the same time, he was also just shivering with excitement.
“I mean…just a little.”
He shrugged. Cuphead looked at Bendy with a deeper concern. He didn’t feel good knowing that his friend was so cold he was shaking. Cuphead immediately pointed to his sweater, offering it to Bendy. The demon quickly denied Cuphead’s shirt, knowing the excitement from wearing it would only make him shake more. The two sat in silence for a moment. Cuphead wanted to help, but wasn’t sure how, and Bendy was so thrilled he felt as though he was about to scream. He sat up straight, trying to calm himself down a little. The feel of their bodies slightly pressed up against each other was exhilerating, but also soothing in a way. Bendy focused on the warmth that came with being so close to Cuphead, and managed to relax a little, putting an end to the shaking. Cuphead noticed how Bendy had stopped shivering, but still worried about his friend. He didn’t want to pressure Bendy to take his sweater, but he didn’t want him to sit there and freeze. He decided to try and warm him up gently. Bendy noticed a small smile appear on Cuphead’s face as his friend boldly took his hand in his, holding it softly. Bendy jolted at the surprising touch. All of his efforts to try and calm himself down were wasted as he immediately started shaking with excitement again, his face heating up with joy. Cuphead’s concern grew as Bendy instantly began to shiver, pressing the side of his body closer to Bendy’s so that their shoulders and thighs were now completely touching. Cuphead moved his arm, wrapping it around Bendy with care. The demon felt his heartbeat speed up mercilessly as he was pressed up closer to Cuphead. His mind was swarmed with excited thoughts, but eventually the warmth and soothing feel that came from Cuphead’s touch managed to seep into his skin, causing the shivering to cease. Bendy was a little embarassed with how easily he had managed to shake in the first place, but he was mostly filled with pure joy over the fact that a hot guy had wrapped his arm around him. Cuphead kept the closeness between him and Bendy. He not only wanted to make sure his friend was warm, but there was also a soft, enjoyable feeling that came with being near Bendy. The waitress had soon returned with the pair’s food, with Cuphead and Bendy talking and eating happily until they had finished and pad their bill, heading out of the diner and back into the city streets.
Eventually, Bendy offered to let Cuphead spend the rest of their time together at the Ink Conglomerate estate, to which Cuphead gleefully accepted. Immediately upon entry, they had both taken notice of how quiet the house was. Bendy explained that his parents and siblings were probably still out working and that they wouldn’t be back until later. The two collected snacks from the kitchen and sat in the living room, talking away as they ate. Sometime in their conversation, Cuphead caught a glance into a separate room that was in view from where they sat. In that room, he saw a large, black piano with other instruments hanging on the walls around it, as well as various collections of sheet music placed on bookshelves. He stood up excitedly, walking into the room as Bendy followed.
“This is the piano you were talking about, right?”
Cuphead asked happily. He sat down on the stool that was placed in front of the piano, scooting over so Bendy would have room to sit beside him. Bendy nodded as he took a seat.
“Yep. I’ve been playing this and the violin since I was five.”
Bendy smiled as he pointed upward to the wall in front of them. Cuphead looked up to see a bookshelf filled with sheet music, as well as framed photographs of younger versions of Alice, Boris, and Bendy playing their instruments. Next to the photos were collections of trophies and blue ribbons, all marking first place. Most of them, Cuphead had noticed, had Bendy’s name on them in bold letters.
“...You said you used to play, right?”
Bendy asked, snapping Cuphead out of his admiration. Cuphead looked to Bendy and smiled in response, his expression joyful.
“Yeah, I did.”
He responded softly. Bendy paused for a moment before motioning to the piano, allowing space for Cuphead to play. Cuphead hesitated before carefully placing his fingers on the keys, preparing himself to perform a short song. He plinked out notes on the instrument, but the song he played sounded hesitant and stiff. He felt his face warm up with embarrassment as he continuously messed up the song. Eventually, he stopped mid-performance, placing his hands in his lap. Bendy assumed for a moment that Cuphead was just nervous when playing in front of others, but his suspicions were denied when Cuphead spoke up.
“I uh…It’s been a while. And…and I’ve kind of had trouble playing since…”
Cuphead pointed to his patched eye, smiling anxiously at Bendy. Bendy gave a short ‘oh’ as he understood Cuphead’s hesitancy. There was a thick silence that passed between them before the demon spoke.
“...I…You don’t have to answer, but how’d you lose it if you don’t mind me asking?”
Cuphead’s eye widened slightly at the question. He smiled kindly, though it was obvious to tell he was a little nervous.
“No, no, it’s okay. I uh…I lost it when I was twelve. I was outside by myself one day when someone uh…when someone shot me in the head. I almost died, but luckily the hit wasn’t strong enough to kill me. I lived long enough to be found and taken to a hospital, and that was when Elder Kettle told me it was an attempted assassination by some hitman hired by a rival company. That incident was one of the reasons he put my brother and my cousin and me in homeschool, and why bonding both our companies is so important to him, so no one else gets hurt.”
Cuphead’s story was bleak, but he didn’t seem to be bothered as he recalled the memories. Bendy was silent, but his thoughts were rampant in his head. He wasn’t sure what to say or how to respond. He assumed that losing an eye meant suffering to some extent, but he still couldn’t help but feel shocked at the story Cuphead had told.
“It hurt really bad at the time, and I have trouble seeing, but I still think my missing eye makes me look badass.”
Cuphead smiled, maintaining an optimistic attitude. Bendy tried to sense if Cuphead was hiding any sort of pain behind his gleeful expression, but he could tell very easily that the cup was being genuine. Bendy relaxed, realizing that Cuphead didn’t wasn’t searching for any pity. He smiled and snickered at Cuphead’s joke.
“You look like a nerd.”
Bendy chuckled.
“But still, I’m sorry that happened. It must’ve been horrifying.”
He continued, softening his tone. He knew Cuphead didn’t want any awkward pity, but he still felt it rude not to acknowledge the gravity of the tale. Cuphead’s smile brightened at his response. He felt the warmth in his face return.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to apologize.”
He said, his smile softening.
“It WAS scary- it was SUPER scary- but I’m doing better. I’m glad you asked, actually. Sharing stuff like this means we’re getting closer.”
Bendy’s chest began to heat up again. He WANTED to be closer. How close, he couldn’t entirely tell, but he felt a need in his stomach that was pulling him forward. He felt a warm longing to be closer to Cuphead, physically and emotionally. He shifted his leg so that it was inches away from Cuphead’s, almost touching. Cuphead didn’t take notice, and Bendy didn’t mind that he hadn’t. The warmth he felt in the moment was enough. Cuphead cleared his throat before motioning his head towards the piano.
“...I still miss playing. I stuck with baseball and fencing, even though it got difficult to see, but I had to work twice as hard to be as good as I am now. With all the extra work, though, I haven’t had time for piano…Could you…maybe play something?”
Bendy paused for a minute as he looked at Cuphead. He wanted to fulfill his request, but he knew it wouldn’t be enough for his friend. No matter how many songs he played for Cuphead, he could tell it would only make him miss the instrument more. After a brief moment, Bendy softly grasped both of Cuphead’s hands in his and placed them on the keys of the piano. His hands hovered lightly above Cuphead’s, and slowly he began moving his fingers and pressing the keys, directing Cuphead’s hands as he performed a melodic song. Cuphead remained quiet as he allowed Bendy to play for both of them, enjoying the familiar feel of his fingers on the smooth keys. The room was filled with sweet-sounding music. Before long, the song was over, and Bendy released Cuphead’s hands, placing his own in his lap. Cuphead paused, staring blankly at his fingers as they rested on the piano. A warm feeling rushed through his chest. He smiled softly. Excitement flurried throughout him. Every part of him was loving the gesture Bendy had performed. It had been so long since Cuphead was able to properly play a song on the instrument. Without thinking, Cuphead leaned closer to Bendy, resting his head on top of the demon’s. He sighed heavily with contentment, closing his eye.
“...Thanks.”
He sighed. A smile stayed glued to his face. Bendy sat silently, shocked and flustered by how Cuphead had positioned them. He enjoyed the feel of Cuphead’s head resting on his immensely, and didn’t dare move an inch. He wanted to stay this way for as long as he could.
“...Of course.”
He responded. His smile was just as warm and happy as his friends’.
About a week had passed since Cuphead and Bendy first spent time together on their own, and from then on, the two would frequently talk with each other as much as possible. Tonight, there was to be an event happening at the Moon Industry estate in celebration of Miss Chalice’s promising success within the company. Bendy and the rest of the Steins were, of course, invited, and Bendy continuously felt an overreaching excitement in his chest as he went about his day, eager for when he’d be able to see Cuphead in person again. Soon enough, the time of the event came, and Bendy quickly found him, his siblings, and his parents in their car on their way to the Moon Industry estate. Boris was the first to notice Bendy’s excited expression. Bendy’s eyes were glued to the window, watching as they rushed past trees and buildings. Boris nudged his brother’s arm, causing Bendy to forward his attention to the wolf.
“I bet it’s the drinks you're most eager about.”
Boris teased. Alice looked at him in surprise, but couldn’t help but chuckle over the inappropriate joke. Bendy flushed intensely at his brother’s remark in embarrassment, thinking solely about Cuphead.
“Boris.”
Henry said sternly, unappreciative of his son’s unruly joke. Boris gave an apology, but he and Alice seemed unable to stop laughing.
“I- NO, THAT’S- I’M NOT-”
Bendy stuttered, trying hard to get a proper denial out.
“IT’S NOT- IT’S NOT LIKE THAT. HE AND I ARE JUST-”
Bendy quieted down when he took notice of his siblings' puzzled expressions. It was then that he realized Boris was referring to the alcoholic drinks that were often served at events like these, not Cuphead.
“....just friends…I mean…No.”
It was mere seconds before Alice and Boris howled with laughter, shaking the car with their amusement. Bendy sank further into his seat, consumed with embarrassment. He buried his flushed face into his hands as he suffered the endless teasing and chuckles. Boris grabbed his brother by his shoulders, shaking him wildly as he wheezed.
“YOU CAN’T- YOU JUST- I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU- OH MY GOD!”
Boris could barely formulate words as Alice filled the car with her cackles. Bendy heard the sounds of his parents attempting to calm their children down, but to Bendy’s horror, even his own mother let out a giggle. Eventually, a silence fell in the car, with the only sounds being those of Alice and Boris’s heavy sighs. Now and then, one of his siblings would start bursting out in laughter, and the other would join in, refilling the car with excited screams and wheezes. Bendy felt nothing but bliss when their car finally rolled up the Moon Industry driveway, and without waiting for his family, Bendy was already out of the car and into the estate. Immediately, he was surrounded by other nicely dressed people holding drinks and talking heartily. Moving through the crowds, Bendy eventually caught the eye of Cuphead, who was accompanied by his siblings. Moving closer, Cuphead quickly caught a glance of Bendy and smiled widely upon his arrival. Cuphead left his cousin and his brother to talk with one another on their own as he strolled up to Bendy.
“Ben! You’re here! Hi! It’s nice to see you.”
Bendy smiled kindly in response, feeling a warm sensation in his chest at seeing Cuphead again. Cuphead’s smile dwindled as he looked around, searching for the rest of Bendy’s family.
“...Where’s uh…where’s Alice and Boris? And your parents?”
He asked, innocently curious. Bendy’s welcoming feeling faded as he frowned. He couldn’t care less about his family right now.
“They’re still outside. Anyway, how have you been?”
Bendy asked, quickly changing the subject. Cuphead centered his attention back to Bendy as the two took part in conversation. The night continued as Bendy and Cuphead spent time together. They were in the lounge when Alice and Chalice strolled up toward the pair, both smiling mischievously.
“Cuphead, guess what Alice told me?”
Chalice said, chuckling under her breath in amusement. Alice was close behind her, unable to stifle her snickers. Cuphead looked at the two, genuinely curious as Bendy’s stomach dropped. He knew his siblings would be so immature as to tell the Moon Industry kids about his slip-up in the car. He began tugging on Cuphead’s sleeve, trying to drag his attention away from Chalice and Alice. Chalice cleared her throat of laughter before speaking up again.
“She told me earlier- PFFT HAH- she told me that earlier with Bendy-”
“Cuphead! I’m hungry, let's go get a snack.”
Bendy interrupted, hurriedly pushing Cuphead away from Chalice and Alice. The girls were too busy laughing at one another to death to notice Cuphead and Bendy’s departure. Cuphead blindly followed as Bendy gripped his sleeve. The mention of something to eat made him happy. The pair made their way into the kitchen. It was nice and secluded, and they were alone. Cuphead rummaged through the upper cabinets for a snack as Bendy looked out to where the rest of the people were. He noticed the drinks in their hands. While Cuphead was busy finding something to snack on, Bendy slipped out of the kitchen and quickly grabbed a glass of his own from a serving platter. He gulped down the dry-tasting liquid and returned the empty glass, quickly grabbing another and slurping it down. It was awful-tasting stuff, but he knew the after-effects would be worth the sour taste. He was on his third glass when he started to feel his face warm up and his legs quake slightly. He hadn’t tasted this kind of alcohol before, but whatever it was, it was doing its job extremely well. Bendy chugged down his glass, though this time he was slower than before. He took another glass, but at this point, he felt as though it was a good time to stop. The glass still in his hand, he decided to take it back into the kitchen with him. Cuphead was leaning against the large, marble counter, munching away at what seemed to be a handful of walnuts.
“Oh, hey, there you are.”
He said, greeting Bendy. Bendy felt himself sway a little as he walked closer to Cuphead. He was a little off balance, but he was sure he wasn’t drunk.
“I could only find a bunch of nuts. Elder Kettle must be wanting to cut back on junk food.”
Cuphead said, his voice muffled as he chewed. Bendy’s face felt too warm to properly respond. He silently handed Cuphead the drink that was in his hand, drawing the cup’s attention away from his snack.
“...Uh..here.”
Bendy said. Cuphead paused for a moment before clearing his throat. Nervousness crept into his chest.
“...Thanks, but uh…I’ve never…I’ve never drunk alcohol before.”
He responded anxiously. Bendy was a little surprised by this information. He figured that since Mr Kettle ran a company surrounded by alcohol, his kids would at one point in their lives get a taste of the substance. Cuphead noticed Bendy’s confusion, as well as his odd behaviour. It was obvious that Bendy had had a few drinks himself.
“I used to try drinking all the time when I was younger, but Elder Kettle would always step in. Eventually, I just gave up.”
Cuphead explained, shrugging. Bendy smiled nervously, subtly forwarding the drink closer to his friend.
“Well, why don’t you try it now?”
Cuphead hesitated at the offer but gladly took the drink and gulped it down. Immediately, he started hacking harshly, causing Bendy to laugh.
“You’re not supposed to chug it!”
Bendy exclaimed, unable to control his snickers. Cuphead smiled, though he would give anything to get the awful taste out of his mouth. He rushed to the kitchen sink and ran his mouth under the tap, gulping down fresh water. Eventually, he reeled his head back, trying hard to clear his throat.
“I didn’t think it would taste like that!”
Cuphead blurted. The two drowned the silence of the kitchen in laughter before calming down. Cuphead quickly began to feel his face warm up. His head swayed slightly as he leaned back against the kitchen counter. Bendy leaned beside his friend. Cuphead touched his cheek, surprised at the warmth.
“...Wow, that stuff kicks in fast…I only had one cup, though…”
He muttered, sighing. His head was beginning to feel a little light. Bendy smiled. It was amusing to see Cuphead react to alcohol for the first time.
“Well, you drank it really fast. Besides, it’s your first time drinking, so…”
Bendy shrugged. He felt his heart beat with excitement. Cuphead snickered as he swayed slightly.
“Did you drink? You drank a glass, right?”
Cuphead asked, looking to Bendy. Bendy nodded, loving how flushed Cuphead’s face was.
“I had three.”
“THREE?”
“Yeah,”
Bendy laughed. Cuphead’s shocked response made him smile.
“I’m not an alcoholic, or anything, but I do like to drink whenever I can. Whatever that was, though, was strong as hell. I’m starting to feel really lightheaded.”
Cuphead neared closer, nodding in agreement.
“If strong means disgusting, yeah, it was.”
Bendy tried sliding closer before his hand slipped on the counter, causing him to stumble forward. Acting fast, he clung his hand onto Cuphead’s shirt, gripping it tightly. Cuphead stumbled forward a little at the force, helping Bendy up as he laughed at his friend’s slip-up. Bendy hesitated before carefully grasping his hands on the waistline of Cuphead’s shirt, softly. His touch was subtle, and it took Cuphead a few moments until he noticed where Bendy’s hands were. Bendy’s face flushed more, this time with embarrassment. Cuphead didn’t mind the touch. He just figured Bendy liked being close to him. He decided to wrap his hands around his friend, thinking he was leaning in for a hug. Bendy was shocked as he was squished against Cuphead’s chest. His mind reeled with excited thoughts. He quickly took the chance to wrap his own hands around Cuphead’s waist, causing Cuphead to smile brightly. He had no idea what they were hugging about, but he enjoyed the gesture, anyway. Bendy was such a good friend. Cuphead often found himself thinking about Bendy nearly every second of every day. He constantly wanted to speak with him and be around him. In fact, pretty much everything Bendy did made Cuphead smile. He liked the way Bendy greeted him, he liked how welcoming and warm his soft black eyes were, he laughed at every single joke he made, and every time Cuphead thought about Bendy, he could always feel a faint ping of joy in his stomach. Abruptly, Bendy nervously released Cuphead’s waist, not wanting to be too clingy. Sadly, Cuphead reluctantly let go in turn. He didn’t realize how much he enjoyed touching Bendy until they had separated. Bendy anxiously began leaning away. He felt a little embarrassed by how he had suddenly grabbed onto Cuphead the way he did. Cuphead could feel himself longing for his friend again as Bendy leaned away, snickering nervously. Without thinking, Cuphead thrust his hands forward gently before gripping onto Bendy again, pulling him into another hug. He held his friend closely, the warm feeling of contentment returning. He had never had a friend he felt so nice around like this. He continued to softly hold the demon in his arms, sighing heavily at the happiness he felt. A wide smile spread across his face as he closed his eye. Below him, Bendy was in a fit of astonishment as well as unbridled excitement. Cuphead’s chest felt firm and warm. Immediately, he sank his face into Cuphead’s shirt. Everything felt so good. He never wanted this to end. This was the best. A wide grin spread across his face in pure joy. He pulled away from Cuphead again and looked up at him. Cuphead opened his eye in surprise as he felt another ping of sadness in him as Bendy pulled back. He wondered if hugging him was a bad choice, beginning to worry if he had overstepped a boundary. To his surprise, Bendy grasped his cheeks with both his hands, pulling him into a swift kiss.
Cuphead stumbled forward a little at the sudden pull. He was shocked, but not angry. Bendy wrapped his arms around Cuphead’s neck, kissing him deeply. Every part of his body was warm and light. He kept his grasp on Cuphead firm, yet welcoming and gentle. Cuphead wasn’t sure how to respond. He had never been kissed before, so he had no idea what to do. He felt extremely lightheaded. Everything was hot and confusing, but inviting. He didn’t know what to do at that moment, but he knew he didn’t want Bendy to stop. He closed his eye and allowed the demon to continue kissing him passionately. It felt good. He subconsciously moved his body forward and pressed his chest to Bendy’s lightly, wrapping his arms around the demon and pressing his mouth closer to his. Bendy’s tongue was soft and warm. His breath was sweet and tasted nice. The only thing that controlled Cuphead at this point was the flurry of warm emotions he felt. Despite not knowing how to kiss properly, Cuphead tried his best to return the gesture. His lips and tongue moved along with Bendy’s slowly. Noticing how Cuphead seemed to be enjoying the kiss, Bendy continued to embrace him firmly. Cuphead’s mouth tasted amazing. His lips were soft and his tongue was strong. Bendy wanted to kiss him until they both passed out on the floor from exhaustion. After a moment or two, Cuphead pulled back, gasping for air. His head felt even lighter now, but he couldn’t care less. After about four short breaths, Cuphead quickly pressed his mouth to Bendy’s again. Every sense in his body was consumed by a longing for more closeness. Bendy returned Cuphead’s eagerness, tightening his grip around his friend.
Long moments passed as the two continued kissing in the empty kitchen, neither one wanting to stop anytime soon. The sensation of the touch sent both Cuphead and Bendy into a state of blissful peace and comfort. Bendy was the first to pull away at the sound of footsteps nearing the kitchen entrance. Cuphead quickly heard them as well, nervously shifting himself so he was no longer touching Bendy. He felt a strong longing every time his hands weren’t on the demon, but he remained still as Boris, Chalice, and Alice stepped into the kitchen.
“Oh! There you are!”
Alice exclaimed, smiling at Bendy. Bendy felt too lightheaded and flushed to give a proper response.
“Mom and Dad said they’re gonna head back in five minutes. Boris and I are gonna get dropped off at our own places, and they wanted to know if you’d rather spend the night here or back home.”
Bendy’s eyes widened a little, trying to process the opportunity while in his buzzed state. Cuphead was just as surprised, feeling excitement rise in him at the thought of Bendy spending the night. It would’ve been the first time having an actual sleepover. Chalice was sure to be in her own home for the rest of the evening, which would mean the only people in the estate would be him, Bendy, Mugman, and Elder Kettle. Bendy stammered a bit before coming up with an answer. While spending the night with Cuphead would be a dream come true, he was far too dazed and too flushed to think straight. The fact that he had just kissed Cuphead was already confusing enough. He figured he just needed some time.
“Uh…Yeah. Tell mom and dad I’ll come back home with them tonight.”
He responded. Cuphead felt a ping of sadness in his chest, though he let it go easily, feeling too lightheaded and tipsy to get hung up on the matter. Alice nodded as she and Chalice turned away, walking out of the kitchen. Boris’s eyes narrowed on Bendy for a moment before a sly smile appeared on the wolf’s face.
“...How many drinks did you have?”
He asked his brother. Bendy frowned, but was prepared to answer this time.
“Just three.”
He said confidently. He wasn’t going to let Boris mock him again, especially in front of Cuphead. Boris snickered loudly before speaking up again, motioning to Cuphead.
“...Are you sure it wasn’t four?”
He asked before bursting out in a fit of giggles. Bendy flushed with embarrassment and anger before pushing his brother out of the kitchen, following behind. Cuphead didn’t catch the joke whatsoever, trying hard to figure it out in his buzzed mind.
“LET’S JUST GO. I’m so TIRED of you! I’ll see you later, Cuphead.”
Bendy hissed angrily before giving a nervous, yet sweet, goodbye to his friend. Cuphead waved back softly, surprised and a little upset that Bendy was leaving so soon.
It was a bright and warm morning. About two nights had gone past since the pair had kissed, and now that Bendy was in his right mind, he was playing the memory over and over in his head, feeling both immense bliss and furious embarrassment. He had basically confessed his feelings to Cuphead in the most humiliating yet pleasurable way possible. He was tucked into his bed, trying to focus on a book, but to no avail; all that played through his mind were worries and wonders of him and Cuphead. Cuphead had kissed him back, right? That could mean he liked him, too. But then again, Cuphead was also in a different state of mind when the pair had touched. Bendy wasn’t sure if their kiss was entirely based on mutual feelings, which pained him immensely. Though it was possibly the most wonderful experience he had ever had the fortune of living through, Bendy couldn’t help but want to take it all back. His thoughts reeled with worries of Cuphead sitting in his room, feeling disgust and regret over what the two had done, or even worse, telling the rest of his family about the incident and how much he hated that it happened. Bendy reminded himself that Cuphead was a kind person and probably wouldn’t do that sort of thing, but the gruesome thoughts still lingered in his head. If there were ever a chance of him and Cuphead simply remaining friends, he had just ruined it. Cuphead was amazing. He was nice, and funny, and talented, and easy to talk to. Bendy wanted them to be close, platonically or romantically. The feeling that he might have just destroyed both possibilities was eating him up inside.
Meanwhile, in his own room, Cuphead was also hung up on thoughts of the event that had passed between him and Bendy. He had never been kissed before. In fact, he had never had any kind of romantic relationship in his life. He mainly felt confused. He didn’t think he liked Bendy like that, did he? Thinking back, Cuphead knew he felt somewhat strongly about his friend, but he always assumed those feelings were platonic. He sighed heavily, recalling how he felt when Bendy and he kissed. The experience was exhilarating and lovely. The memories brought a wide smile onto Cuphead’s face, though he still felt a mix of confusion. He LIKED kissing Bendy. Did that mean he liked him more than a friend? And even more, Bendy kissed him first. Did that mean he liked Cuphead romantically?
Cuphead shook his head. He must’ve been reading this wrong. Maybe he liked Bendy more than he thought- that was fine. But did Bendy like him? He kissed him- so that must’ve meant something, but did it mean what Cuphead thought it meant? He didn’t want to take the chance of confessing to Bendy only to be rejected. He knew he was being stupid. The answer was probably right in front of him, and he was just too blind to see it. He covered his face with his hands as he groaned to his ceiling. He and Bendy would be engaged soon, anyway, so it was probably better to clear things up as soon as possible. He forced himself out of bed and out of his room. He made his way downstairs, where the telephone was, and dialed Bendy’s phone number. It rang twice before someone’s voice could be heard at the other end.
“Stein residence, this is Boris.”
Cuphead hesitated as he heard Boris’s voice. He cleared his throat before speaking, trying to seem cool.
“Hi Boris, it’s Cuphead.”
“Oh! Cuphead! Hi!”
Boris greeted happily.
“What do you need? Did you wanna talk to Bendy?”
He asked. Cuphead staggered a little before answering.
“..Uh…Yeah, I did.”
He smiled to himself as Boris went off to grab Bendy. He just now became aware of how much time he and Bendy had actually spent together.
“...Cuphead?”
Bendy squeaked. Cuphead jolted slightly at the sound of Bendy’s voice. On the other end, Bendy was nervous beyond comprehension, worrying immensely about what Cuphead might say. Cuphead’s smile widened as he cleared his throat again, happy to be speaking with his friend.
“Hi, Ben! I was just wondering if you wanted to spend some time with me today.”
Cuphead said. His voice was bright and cheery, which made Bendy a little confused. He was sure that Cuphead would be a little put off by what they had done a few nights ago, but he relaxed a little, hearing how joyous Cuphead seemed.
“...Uh…Sure. Yeah. We can hang out today.”
Bendy responded, smiling. On the other end, Cuphead felt his heart thump loudly with excitement. He and Bendy agreed to meet up at the Ink Conglomerate estate later that afternoon. Cuphead hung up the telephone and swayed throughout his house, trying to think of what to say to Bendy to get the answers he needed without making things awkward between them. He was happy to be able to spend time with Bendy later, but he was still a little worried about what their kiss had meant. Bendy was thinking the same thoughts, only with more frantic anxiety. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to act right around Cuphead now that they had kissed, and even more, how their relationship would continue after they had. Was Cuphead planning to ignore that the kiss ever happened? Maybe that was why he sounded so happy on the phone. Either way, he was going to see Cuphead soon, and only then would all his questions be answered.
A few hours had passed, and the two found themselves in Bendy’s room. Cuphead had been in here twice since they had started hanging out, and he always sat himself in Bendy’s plush desk chair. Bendy sat on his bed as he and Cuphead joked and talked like they usually did. He was wondering when would be a good time to bring up their kiss, if there was ever a good time at all.
“I can’t wait to move out.”
Cuphead sighed, starting a new conversation. Bendy agreed.
“Yeah, Boris and Alice are basically still living with me. They’re in my house so often I think I’m going insane.”
Cuphead nodded along before getting up from his seat and strolling over to Bendy, sitting next to him on the bed.
“...Do you think when we’re married we’ll have to live together?”
He asked. His tone was innocent and wondering. Bendy stuttered. He felt his face flush with how close they were now.
“Uh…We don’t have to.”
Bendy smiled anxiously. Cuphead frowned a little at the response.
“...Can we? I mean, would you want to?”
He asked. Bendy reeled back at the question as he noticed the genuine upset expression on the cup’s face. He nodded a little as his smile softly faded.
“...Yeah, I want to.”
He answered shyly. The smile on his face was starting to make his cheeks hurt. Cuphead’s excitement returned. He knew having Bendy as a roommate would be amazing. Now that the two were close and alone with one another, they were both wondering about ways to bring up the obvious. Cuphead was the first to speak, fidgeting nervously with his hands.
“So uh…do you…remember what we did the last time we hung out? At…at my house?”
He asked anxiously. Bendy jolted with slight surprise. He was happy Cuphead wasn’t ignoring what had happened, but he was even more nervous now that the topic had been brought up. Bendy hesitated, the silence around them deafening. Finally, he spoke up.
“...Yeah.”
He answered. His voice was almost as quiet as the air around them. Cuphead shifted his body slightly closer to Bendy, feeling the soft longing in his stomach return.
“Do you…Do you wanna talk about it?”
He asked. His face was red with embarrassment, but he was determined to push through if it meant getting answers. Bendy nervously nodded before agreeing. Cuphead felt his excitement grow as he looked at Bendy, who returned the glance with anxiousness.
“I’m sorry I kissed you without asking.”
Bendy said. The embarrassment in his chest was overwhelming.
“No, no, it’s okay, I liked it!”
Cuphead said bluntly. His smile was cheery as he looked at Bendy. Bendy felt another ping of embarrassment as well as pure excitement surge through him.
“That’s…that’s good.”
He responded. His voice was shaky. Cuphead tilted his head with curiosity. He wanted to know how Bendy felt.
“Did you…Did you like it, too?”
He asked anxiously. Bendy felt his shoulders tense as he choked out a response.
“I don’t know…maybe we should try again?”
Immediately, Bendy regretted what came out of his mouth. Every part of his body tensed up as he suffered. Cuphead’s eye widened slightly at the remark. He wasn’t sure if Bendy was joking or not. Softly, he placed his hands on Bendy’s face, but didn’t near his mouth close enough for a kiss.
“Do you actually want to?”
He asked. Bendy stared up at him with joy and nervousness. He nodded slowly before moving closer to Cuphead, their bodies touching softly. Cuphead neared his lips to Bendy’s carefully before coming into contact, closing his eye. Bendy closed his eyes in response, reveling in the warmth and sweet taste that returned. He kissed Cuphead the same way he did a few nights before, wrapping his arms around his neck and further deepening their kiss. Cuphead felt fire-like anticipation and longing spark through his body as he and Bendy embraced one another. He felt a welcoming, loving feeling as they made out. Bendy’s mouth tasted just as incredible as he remembered. Was this what being in love was like? Longing to touch the other person? Thinking about them constantly? Whatever the answer was, he enjoyed the feel of Bendy’s mouth on his immensely. Their tongues moved with each other kindly, but also firmly and eagerly. Bendy felt furious excitement rush throughout him as he softly pushed Cuphead backwards, causing him to lie on top of his friend while Cuphead lay on his back against the blankets and pillows. Cuphead didn’t protest to Bendy’s movements, continuing to kiss him lovingly. Bendy felt his jaw tingle with need, feeling unsatisfied with kissing Cuphead only on his mouth. He got the sudden urge to bite Cuphead, though not out of sadistic pleasure. Bendy parted their mouths, allowing Cuphead to breathe as he kissed the cup’s cheeks, pecking his friend’s face all over. Cuphead chuckled shyly, enjoying the kisses Bendy gave him. The demon began slowly moving from Cuphead’s cheeks to his neck, moving the collar of his shirt aside to get a better taste of his warm skin. Cuphead squirmed underneath Bendy, but didn’t protest. He was feeling too good. His chest was on fire as Bendy kissed his neck gently, opening his mouth slightly and grasping Cuphead’s skin between his teeth, closing his mouth firmly. Cuphead sucked air through his teeth sharply, opening his eye with surprise. Bendy had just bitten him, but it didn’t feel like a bite with cruel intent. It felt…sweet. He liked it.
Bendy quickly took notice of how flushed, but pleased, Cuphead seemed, and continued to place small, loving bites all over the cup’s neck. Cuphead closed his eye again in joy, wrapping his arms around Bendy’s back as the demon continued to bite down, kissing the marks he had made on Cuphead softly. Eventually, Bendy worked his kisses up towards Cuphead’s cheeks, pausing a moment before forwarding his mouth to his friend’s again, the two melting into each other sweetly.
Long moments passed as the two continued to kiss, both of them feeling content and happy. Soon enough, the pair had parted their mouths, sitting up on the bed. Bendy held Cuphead’s hand gently as they sat up straight, both of their faces flushed with pleasure and embarrassment. Cuphead took a moment to think before speaking up, breaking the silence that surrounded them.
“Do you like me? More than a friend?”
He asked innocently, smiling at Bendy. Bendy stared at him blankly before snorting with amusement. There was no way Cuphead was this oblivious.
“Yes???? Obviously??”
He responded, unable to control his snickers. Cuphead smiled back, though his expression was nervous.
“OH.”
He let out bluntly. Bendy chuckled again before sweetly placing kisses all along Cuphead’s face. Cuphead began snickering along, returning the loving gesture.
Bendy was sitting in the living room, cooped up with a book. He turned the pages periodically before Cuphead walked in, taking a seat beside Bendy in a plush chair. He stared at Bendy blankly, watching the demon as he tilted his head slightly. Bendy quickly caught notice of Cuphead’s stares and glanced back curiously. Cuphead smiled silently upon grabbing Bendy’s attention, getting up from his seat and standing over the demon, pressing his hands on the armrests of the chair. The way he was stanced made it seem as if he were trapping Bendy in his seat, giving him no choice but to look up at Cuphead with curiousity. Cuphead felt a surge of longing beat in his chest before gently pressing his mouth to the demon’s playfully. Bendy returned the kiss as he set his book down in his lap. He closed his eyes and moved his hands so they were lovingly grasping Cuphead’s face. He enjoyed the taste of the cup’s sweet breath before parting their mouths and smiling gently. He opened his eyes to see Cuphead lovingly staring back at him.
“There. I kissed you. Will you stop trapping me in my chair, now?”
Bendy asked, pretending to be annoyed. Cuphead’s smile widened before backing off, returning to his seat next to Bendy.
“...I think I like you.”
Cuphead said, causing Bendy to shoot him a sour look.
“...Dude we’ve been kissing, like, every day.”
The demon said. Cuphead tilted his head with confusion as Bendy stared.
“...So you like me too, right? Just to be clear?”
The cup asked. Bendy couldn’t help but grin playfully as he softly punched Cuphead’s arm, causing them both to go into a fit of chuckles and smiles.