AN: This story is based off of the ink Henry AU created by shinyzango and themarginalartist. Check out their awesome work on tumblr.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Bendy and the Ink Machine characters. Just my own OCS.

"Ben!"

Well, this was awkward. Ben knew he would have to meet the children, just not this soon. The fact that he got caught stealing cookies again, didn't help the situation. He had three sets of eyes staring at him and it was making him uncomfortable.

June told the children who he was and that he wasn't going to hurt them. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind. He guessed the kids needed some reassurance. Couldn't blame them. He was a demon after all.

The girls looked him up and down until they stared at his bad leg a little too long. He hated it when people stared at his leg. It made him angry for reasons he couldn't explain. If they kept it up, he was going to pluck their little eyes out!

"Are you the one from that scary place?" Ben's thoughts ground to a halt. Scary place? What was that child talking about.

June glanced at her children for a moment before looking at Ben. She smiled but it didn't look very happy. It seemed very shaky to him. He really was bad at reading faces.

"She means the Studio." They thought the studio was a scary place? Not to him. It was his home, his domain. It was all he ever knew. Oh, that's right. They were in the room when he went to get Sammy. They were staring at him back then like they were now. He got angry back then too.

He nodded.

"A-Are you gonna take mommy away again?" The smaller of the two children had such a soft voice. Ben's smile twitched slightly. The kids were worried about that huh. Worried that the big, bad monster was going to drag their mother back to the scary place. He had no intention of doing that again.

It wasn't even his idea in the first place! Still, he was the one that took them all. They're still staring at him, waiting for his answer. June looked nervous as well. He normally didn't care what others thought of him, but in this case, he needed to do something. June looked like she was ready to take the kids and run.

Ben crouched down and let his hands rest on his knees. He often used his height to intimidate others, but that wasn't his goal this time. Even like this, he was still taller than the little ones, but there was nothing he could do about that.

"Noooo. I'mmm not." The children just stared at him. He got the distinct impression that they didn't believe him. He could respect that and it didn't surprise him. Demons can't be trusted, right?

"You promise?" The taller of the two children stepped forward slightly, letting go of June's skirt. He found it kind of funny that the children were actually bargaining for their mother's life. "I promissse."

The other child piped up from behind June's legs. Said something about a 'pinky promise'. He wasn't sure what that was but it seemed to be important to the children.

Ben watched as the girl lifted her hand and stuck her little pinky out. Huh, a deal? That's what this was. They wanted to make a deal with him? Fine, he could play their game.

Ben held out his ungloved hand, curled his fingers, and had his pinky sticking out. He was curious to see what would happen next. Much to his surprise, the child reached out and wrapped her little pinky around his own. Her hand was so tiny compared to his. She tugged on his hand like an odd handshake. "Pinky promise." She said with a little more confidence.

The tension in the room dropped considerably after that. It seemed that the girls were satisfied with his response and June looked relieved.

Ben chuckled and wondered how relieved June would be if she knew she just allowed her children to make a deal with a demon. Sure, it wasn't the traditional 'handshake', but the principle was still the same. Well, she didn't need to know and like hell he was going to tell her. Although…it would be funny to see the woman freak out about it. Maybe…another time.

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Ben had never been around children before. None had the pleasure of gracing the halls of the Studio. At least, not that he could remember. His memories were a little fuzzy though. Everything before the Studio went to hell is a blur for him.

He was quite sure he wasn't good with kids. The way they stared at him made the corners of his mouth twitch. It seemed that children weren't very good at hiding their emotions like some adults. Ben could clearly see a mixture of fear and curiosity written all over their little faces. It was those looks that had him stamping down the urge to snarl at them. He knew June wouldn't appreciate that.

Each time Ben entered the home with the children around, their curiosity of him increased. Then one day, the older sibling, whose name he learned was Beth, got up the courage to ask him a question. Once she was sure he wasn't going to kill her, she bombarded him with more!

He had no idea that such a small being wanted to know so much about him. It was overwhelming at times. He couldn't remember the last time someone sat down and actually talked to him. Granted, he often drowned them in ink before they could get two words out, so this all felt kind of weird.

Some of her questions he could give one word replies, some left him baffled by their silliness, and the others he just flat out refused to answer. Sometimes her incessant chatter got on his nerves and he just stared at her. She was smart enough to get the hint and stopped talking. He could see June frown whenever he did that, but it was better than him trying to strangle the child. He knew she definitely wouldn't approve of that.

The younger sibling, the one called Sarah, was very wary of him. She barely spoke to him when he came around, but when she got up the nerve to ask him something, her voice was soft. He didn't mind. He had excellent hearing.

Sometimes Ben would show up when the children were in school so it was just June and himself in the house. She was either cleaning, fixing food, or talking with the neighbors. He loved catching her by surprise. She would have music from the radio playing so loud that she didn't hear him coming. Then he'd lay his head on her shoulder and she would always jump.

Ben knew she didn't like it when he did that, but he couldn't help it. Ever since she removed that damned collar from around his neck… The way she leaned against him to undo the clasp he couldn't reach… He wasn't lying when he said she felt warm. It was nice and he wanted more.

He didn't mean to scare her the first time he showed up at her home, even thought it was fun to watch. And the second time, when she thought he was some hallucination, that was priceless. She actually tried to hit him! Pressing her hand against his cheek felt really nice. Her palm was soft and radiated heat. He was going to tell her why he was there, but the father called out. For the first time in his existence, he wanted to avoid a fight, so he left.

The next time he came back, she was preparing a meal. Ben tried a little harder not to scare her this time. June was still nervous but she didn't try to kick him out of the kitchen. Heh, not that she could!

Now normally, he didn't need to eat. Heck, he went for years without touching those cans of bacon soup. Seriously, why did they have so many cans of that disgusting stuff? The point is, he didn't need food, but the heavenly smells coming from June's kitchen made it hard to resist. Ben was shocked when she offered him whatever it was she was cooking. He couldn't say no.

The food was just as good as it smelled. He was so into what he was eating that he didn't even care that she was staring at him the whole time. Deep down, he just hoped that she realized he wasn't there to do harm.

Things got a little easier after that. Well, easy for him anyway. June was still jumpy around him and she wouldn't leave him alone with her kids, but he thought they were warming up to him. As much as anyone could warm up to an ink demon.

The only one in the home that was giving him a hard time was the father, Jason. The man didn't even try to hide his hostility towards him. He never left Ben alone when the kids were around. He would glare at him with those cold eyes.

Ben found his thoughts growing darker whenever the man was around. He had made a deal with the girls not to take their mother away, but the father was a different story. It wouldn't be too hard to sneak up behind the man when he was working on that large vehicle. He could grab him and drag him back to the studio…maybe have a little fun with him before causing his untimely death. That would be so much fun, to add new screams to those musty halls would be delightful.

Of course, he could never get away with that. Henry would know he had something to do with it and would try to get rid of him. Or worse, he'd sick the little ink spot on him. They would ruin the good thing he had going with June too. Deep down, he liked being a guest in her home verses an intruder that snuck in from time to time. So, he'll put up with the glares and scowls…for now.

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Ben had a lot of tricks he used to intimidate others. One of those was the fact that no one could see his eyes. Ink constantly dripped down his face and covered them. It wasn't something he could control and he really didn't want to. It worked and that's all that mattered. No one had the courage to ask him if he had eyes, until now…

"Um Ben?" Oh boy, sounds like Beth had another silly question for him. He wondered what it'll be this time. "Do you have eyes?" Oh…he should have expected that one sooner or later. It still caught him off guard though.

Now Ben had every intention to NOT answer that question. They couldn't force him to! He would let Beth stammer on and stare her down until she gave up. It might have worked if the children weren't staring at him expectantly. Even June had a look of curiosity tinged with apprehension on her face.

He tilted his head back and hissed softly. The small group jumped at the sudden sound. He hadn't meant to do that, but it was still funny. He supposed… he could bend his own rule, just this once.

Ben reached up and slowly pushed some of the ink away from his face. He lived with ink dripping down his face for so long, he'd gotten used to the way his little world looked through the inky filter. Without the substance obscuring his vision, the room looked a little brighter and more…vibrant.

The room got very quiet. June and the girls were staring at him. No one said a word. He suddenly felt self-conscious and wished he hadn't given into their curiosity. Ben could feel himself growing angry and he just knew if they didn't stop staring at him, he was going to do something stupid.

"Wow, your eye is pretty." Sarah's soft voice broke through the violent thoughts racing through his head. They were all staring at him in wide eyed amazement and seemed to agree with her.

Pretty? He didn't think his eyes were anything special. Then again, he hadn't seen his own eyes in a long time… If he could blush, he would have. They were embarrassing him. Surprisingly, he wasn't angry about it. Instead, he grumbled his thanks and let the ink cover his exposed eye again.

There was a look of disappointment that flashed across the kids faces before June ordered them to get back to their homework. Ben was relieved to have the attention taken off of him. June smiled and thank him. For what, he wasn't sure but it felt…nice.

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Ben rarely did anything to make others happy if he didn't get something out of it. It wasn't his job, at least, not anymore. It's been years since...no, it didn't matter anymore.

Anyway, after he snuck up on June in the kitchen (gaining him a stern glare from the woman no less), he shuffled into the living room. The father was there, watching him from behind his newspaper. The children were on the floor, playing with some of their toys.

Ben sat on the floor and looked over the various nick knacks that littered the floor. He picked up a large, pink bunny with a red bow tied around its neck. The poor thing was a little frayed around the edges but was very soft to the touch.

Turns out, the bunny's name was Charlie and he belonged to Sarah. She stared at it anxiously, like she was afraid he'd tear it apart or something. Ben sighed internally and handed her back the bunny. The child's face lit up and she thanked him as she hugged the stuffed animal to within an inch of its life. The next thing he knew, Beth was introducing him to a golden teddy bear and all her other toys. Sometimes that girl's enthusiasm baffled him.

Watching the children play with their toys, Ben got an idea. As soon as he returned to the studio, he headed straight for the Heavenly Toys workshop. He sorted through the pile of plush toys that sat in the corner. He needed to find some that were in pretty good condition.

The first one he picked up was a large Bendy plush. This one had Beth written all over it. He knew she would love it. For Sarah, it was a toss up between Boris and Alice. It took all but two seconds for him to make his decision. He wouldn't touch that blasted angel's plush with a ten foot pole. The damn thing would probably give her nightmares.

Once he made up his mind, he carried the large stuffed animals back to the house. He placed each one at the foot of the girls' bed. He took a step back to admire his handiwork. He hoped that the kids liked his gift.

Ben found out the next day when he walked into the loving room to find the girls playing with the plush toys. Sarah sat in Boris' lap and seemed to be reading him a story. Beth had a large hat on Bendy's head and was trying to serve him make believe tea. Both girls flashed him bright smiles and thanked him.

It filled his inky heart with pride to know he put those smiles on their faces. Little by little they looked at him less like a monster… and more like a friend.

It was hard to tell time in the Studio. There are many clocks on the walls throughout the studio but there is no way to tell if it's day or night. The sunlight from the upper don't penetrate the depth of the building.

Ben didn't keep track of when he showed up at June's home. He just came and went when he felt like it. So sometimes he would show up in the middle of the night when everyone in the house was sound asleep. It was quiet and still. He loved it.

It was never quiet in the Studio. There was always the sounds of dripping ink, creaky floorboards, moans and groans from whatever was roaming the hall, and the clanking of the machine pushing ink through pipes that threaded throughout the building. With his sensitive hearing, the constant noise irritated him to the point where he would loose his temper and take it out on the first creature that crossed his path.

Standing here in this quiet home, Ben found something he thought he'd never have: peace. He didn't have to chase anyone. He didn't have to drag tainted souls back to the ink. He didn't have to do anything! Ben just sat on the floor in the middle of the living room and relaxed. He didn't even think he was capable of that.

Tonight was different. A bright flash from the window caught Ben's attention. He crossed the room and cautiously peaked out the window. Another flash lit up the night and water fell from the sky. Rain.

In the Studio, the wall were either too thick or he was too deep to really notice when a storm hit. The boom from thunder was often muted or drowned out by the clanking of pipes in the wall. This was the first time he got to see a storm raging with his own eyes.

The rain pelted everything with great force. The trees bend and sway under the weight of the water and wind. Lightning forked across the sky and thunder boom. The concussive sound caused the windows to rattle. It was a violent dance of beauty and power.

"Ben?" The demon startled slightly before turning towards the source of the voice. It was Jason. He was standing at the bottom of the steps with his arms crossed over his chest. He stared with narrowed eyes. "What are you doing here?"

Ben was so engrossed in the spectacle outside, he didn't hear him coming down the stairs. Another flash and rumble brought his attention back to the window. He shrugged and hissed softly. "Watching the ssstormm."

He heard the soft padding of bare feet as Jason walked over to stand beside him. His arms were still crossed and he closed his eyes when the flashes of lightning got too bright. The man sighed and spoke without looking at him. "Doesn't this scare you?"

Ben tilted his head quizzically. That was a strange thing to ask. "Nooo, whyyy wwwould it?"

Jason chuckles and shook his head. "You're definitely not like Bendy." That statement confused Ben even more. Jason didn't say anything else after that and he let it go.

Ben wasn't sure how long they stood at the window. The rain was coming down less and less. The strong winds turned into a gentle breeze. The lightning flashes weren't as bright and the thunder sounded further away. Jason turned and headed for the stairs. He stopped with his hand on the banister and looked over his shoulder.

"Don't steal too many cookies tonight-" the man smirked, "or June's gonna find a better hiding spot for the jar." Jason yawned and headed up the stairs leaving a bemused demon standing near the window.

Ben chuckled softly with a crooked smile on his face. Maybe he'll hold off on dragging the man to the Studio a little while longer.

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This was the first time he got to go outside in broad daylight. June told him that she needed to go the in the backyard to hang up some sheets. He was more than happy to join her.

Wow, it was bright! Even through the inky tint that covered his eyes, it was very bright outside. Ben shuffled around the yard, touching the trees and colorful flowers he came across here and there. There was a fresh, cool breeze that caused the leaves to flutter. So, this is what the outside world was like.

Ben sat down under a large tree. He leaned back and stared at the clouds. The rough bark dug into his back, but he didn't mind. His thoughts began to wander when something tapped his leg. It was a squirrel. He had seen enough drawings of the furry creature to know what a squirrel was. He was surprised that it was so close to him.

Ben sat perfectly still and waited for the creature to get a little closer. He snatched the little thing up in his gloved hand. It wiggled and screeched as he tightened his grip on it. Its fluffy tail waved frantically as it tried to wiggle out of his grasp. It even bit down on his finger. He barely felt it.

It amused him how the little furry creature thought it could get away from him. Once he had his hands on something, he rarely let it go. Ben studied the squirrel's features for a few more seconds before he grew bored and snapped its neck. There was hardly any resistance at all. Definitely easier than snapping a grown man's neck. Maybe he should take the body home. See what its insides looked like.

Ben formed a ball of ink in his hand. He watched as the ink swallowed the body then he transported it back to the Studio. Well, that was fun. He got to see a real squirrel, killed it, and will get to play with the body later. All and all, he was having a good day…

And the good mood was ruined as soon as he followed June into the house. She was acting strangely. She wouldn't look at him, didn't talk to him much, and he swore he saw her hands shaking while she was cleaning around the house.

This all felt wrong. It was almost like…she was afraid of him. Like the first time they met. But, that can't be right. Sure, he liked to sneak up on her from time to time, but he hadn't done anything to warrant this kind of response.

Before he had realized what he was doing, Ben walked up behind June and grabbed her hand. She jumped and looked up at him with wide, frightened eyes. This didn't make sense at all.

"What'sss wrong? You'rrre ssshaking." June winced and her shaking got worse. She stammered a bit and told him nothing was wrong. Ben pulled her closer so he could study her face. He barely stifled the growl that crawled up his throat. She was lying. He hated being lied to!

A loud honk broke Ben's concentration. His grip on June's hand loosened. She opened and closed her mouth as though she wanted to say more, but nothing came out. This was really starting to frustrate him. She finally spoke, but it didn't help him.

"O-Oh, the girls are home! I-uh, I need to go…". She pulled her hand away and stepped around him. He watched as June hurried off to the front door. What was going on?! Why was she acting this way? Did-Did he do something wrong? Ben waved his hand and opened up an inky portal. He was in a foul mood and didn't want to be there anymore.

Every denizen in the lower levels got out of Ben's way as he stormed down the halls. Anyone that was too slow to act, was caught, and torn apart. He needed to blow off some steam. Sending souls to the ink will calm him down, eventually.

When he felt like he had his rage under control, Ben returned to the home. June was calmer than the last time he saw her but she still kept a watchful eye on him when he was around the girls. It was like she didn't trust him. That stung a little.

The girls were collecting colorful leaves off the ground and showing it to him, but Ben paid little attention to them. His thoughts were still a jumbled mess. He didn't know how to handle whatever it was he was feeling at the moment. It was all so confusing.

All of a sudden, Ben froze. He cocked his head to the side and listened. He thought he heard something near the bushes. Maybe another squirrel or some other small creature he could 'play with'.

Ben knelt near the bush and pushed the branches aside. There was a tiny form huddled by the base of the bush. Bright, golden eyes blinked back at him. Ben reached in and pulled the little bundle of fur out. It was a cat. It was shaking and let out a squeaky mewl. The girls heard the sound and ran up to him.

"Oh wow, it's a kitten!" Beth ran her fingers across its head.

"Aww, it's so cute!" Sarah lightly scratched the kitten behind its ear.

Beth ran off to tell June, leaving Sarah and Ben to look after the kitten. It was so small and vulnerable. All it did was sit in his hand and blink at him. Sometimes it would open its mouth and make the cutest little squeak. It was really quite adorable.

"Hey Ben? Whatcha got there?" He turned around to show June the kitten he just found. The children were so busy cooing over the cat that they missed the panic that flittered across June's features, but Ben saw it. What was she worried about?

The children wanted to keep the kitten. June hesitated. They started the beg, making promises they would take good care of it and what not. Ben ignored them. June's eyes kept jumping from him to the cat. There was something going on and he didn't like it.

If June didn't want it, maybe he should just take the cat. Ben was sure he could find someplace to keep it alive until he was done playing with it.

"Ben, give me the cat." He couldn't stop the frown that he was sure was on his face. The tone of her voice left him no room to argue. If it was anyone else, he'd have killed them. He doesn't like being ordered around. He grumbled softly and handed June the kitten.

June turned the kitten around so she could get a good look at its face. Ben watched as her eyes softened. She didn't look as stern as she did a moment ago. Maybe she'll keep it. He sure hoped so. He's never felt this anxious in all of his existence. Why was it so important to him?

June held the kitten close to her chest and looked at the group. "Okay girls, go tell your dad…that we're getting a cat." Both girls screamed and ran to their father. June back to him. The sternness in her gaze was back again.

"Ben, we will keep this cat but on two conditions!" More demands? He was growing tired of this.

"One: You can't take this kitten to the studio. It's just a baby and it'll get hurt there." How did she know? Sure, the thought crossed his mind, but…was he that predictable? Ben hissed softly and agreed. He supposed she was right about it being too dangerous there. The kitten was very small. Anything in the Studio would eat it alive.

"Two: Don't kill the cat!" Ben was reeling. Why would she think he'd do such a thing, even though it was true. "Don't act surprised. I saw what you did to that squirrel." Oh, she saw that huh. Is that why she was acting so funny? It was just a rodent! It's not like he tried to kill one of her children. He didn't understand why it upset her so much.

"If I even get a hint that you'll hurt this kitten, I'll give it away. Do you understand?" Now she's threatening him over a little cat? She was scared of him but was willing to stand up to him for the life of a cat? She had moxy, he'll give her that much. Ben could feel his smile returning. "I unnderssstand."

June told Ben to hold out his hand. She placed the kitten in his gloved hand. "I'll show you and the girls how to take care of it okay?" She glanced to the side to see the children coming back. "I'm trusting you Ben. Please don't let me down." She whispered.

Trust? She was actually putting her trust in him? Wow, no one's ever trusted him before. The way she was staring at him, she was pleading for him to agree. There was no deception in her eyes either. He agreed to her terms just as the children ran up to them.

Ben and the girls had spent the afternoon playing with the little bundle fluff. He had to admit, the kitten was kind of cute. It would paw at the various feathers and blades of grass that the girls wiggled in front of it. Sometimes it would try to crawl on his chest and paw at his floppy bow tie.

After he gave the little kitten a name, the children went off to do other things, leaving the kitten to Ben's tender mercies. He guessed they tired the little creature out because it was sleeping in his hand. The subject of trust came up again. Ben knew he wasn't the easiest being to trust. He's a demon. He had done terrible things and violence came easily to him. June was willing to trust him with the most precious things in her life…so maybe he could try a little harder to ease her mind.

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Ben didn't know what to expect when he shuffled into June's living room that day. Henry and Bendy being there was the furthest from his mind. He should have known they would come to check on him sooner or later.

He was convinced that June had a wicked sense of humor when she took Cloudy from her brother and handed the kitten to him. The look on their faces was too funny. They looked like a couple of fish out of water gasping for air. June's mouth twitched slightly at their shocked expression. Ben chuckled internally. He knew there was a reason why he liked this lady.

He would never say it out loud, but he was a little envious of the ink spot. Bendy escaped from the Studio with Henry and never looked back. June would hug him and not shudder from his touch. He was apart of their family. Hell, the little toon was cute enough to make complete strangers forget just how unnatural he really was. Ben knew he couldn't pull that off. People would take one look at him and run.

Ben thought it was ironic. Out of the two of them, he felt like he was the most honest. With him, what you see was what you get. He's a demon, a monster. He couldn't hide that even if he wanted to. Get Bendy angry or threaten his loved ones and watch his true demonic nature come out. He should know. He took the brunt of that power on more than one occasion.

So, here he was, sitting on the living room floor with Bendy and the girls. Cloudy was stumbling around and trying to pounce a ball of yarn. June and Henry were in the kitchen, talking quietly to one another. At least, they thought they were being quiet. Ben could still hear them. When the squirrel incident came up, he made it a point not to listen. He didn't want to hear an, "I told you so!" from Henry right now.

"Cousin Bendy?" Sarah's voice grabs his attention. "You and Ben are made of ink, right?"

The little toon's smile grew wider and he puffed out his chest. "Yup, we sure are!"

"So, can you do the same things?" Bendy's features scrunched up as he tried to figure out what she was asking. Ben was curious himself.

"Yeah, y'know! Like how you can make yourself bigger or how Ben can walk through walls 'n stuff!" Beth added.

"Ohhh…" Bendy glanced at him then back at the girls. "Um, no. We can't do the same things." It was true. Ben couldn't change his size like the little ink spot. That ability saved him and Henry's life more times then he cared to remember. It was a real sore spot with him.

"Sure I can make myself err bigger-" the little toon scratched the back of his head. "but I can't control the ink like Ben can."

"Control the ink?" Both girls looked a little confused so Ben decided to elaborate in his own unique way.

Ben held out his ungloved hand and concentrated. He formed a ball of thick ink right before their eyes. After a few seconds, the ink began to jiggle. Two small triangles popped out of the top as the body took shape. It gained a familiar form just as it opened its 'eyes'. They glowed a soft violet at it blinked at the group. It opened its mouth and warbled. Without proper vocal cords, it couldn't meowed like a proper kitten.

Beth gasped. "It looks just like Cloudy!"

Ben lowered his hand and the ink kitten tumbled to the floor. Cloudy approached its new playmate cautiously. The little kitten pawed at his inky companion before getting pounced. Both kittens rolled around on the floor and bumped into the ball of yarn. A lively game of tag broke out as they chased each other around the yarn. The girls squealed in delight. Now they had two kittens to play with.

Ben smiled crookedly at the look of amazement on the little toon's face. He knew that Bendy had seen Henry use thick ink in the Gent machines to make inanimate objects like gears and tools. This was different.

Thick ink could mimic a living being in two ways. Either it's infused with a soul or it comes from a being with a will strong enough to control it. The ink was apart of him. The ink kitten was small enough for him to shape and control with a bit of concentration.

Ben let the girls play with his little creation for a few more minutes before he had to call it back. He couldn't keep it up for too long without the ink loosing it's shape and turning into something more twisted. He knew he would get blamed for scaring the kids even if he didn't mean to.

Ben sighed and got to his feet. He needed to return to the studio. He held Cloudy a little longer before handing the puffball to Sarah. An inky portal formed on the living room wall and Ben shuffled towards it.

"Hey Ben!" he turned slowly to find Bendy standing behind him. The little ink spot rubbed his hands together and looked nervous.

"Why do you go back?" Ben tilted his head and waited for the toon to continue. "I mean, it's obvious you can leave that place whenever you want." Bendy waved his hand at the portal. "Why not…just stay here. I-I'm sure aunt June wouldn't mind." He said that last part in a softer voice.

Ben stared at the little toon longer than he meant to. He didn't think Bendy understood, but there was one way to find out.

"You don't feeeel it, do you?" Bendy's face went blank and Ben got his answer.

"Um, feel what?" Ben shook his head and stepped through the portal leaving a very confused toon behind. The last thing he heard before the ink closed around him:

"So old man, you have any plans for Halloween?"

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He was back. Surrounded by the same dreary walls, ink stained floors, and shadowy figures roaming the halls. This was his home and his domain. He kept every soul here under control. He was the jailer…and the prisoner.

Ben stood near a tunnel that lead to the source. The ink that flooded these tunnels was very potent. His portals could only take him this far because he had very little control over the ink this far down. He'd have to walk the rest of the way.

There were very few creatures that came down this far. The ink felt different down here…more alive. Even as Ben sloshed through the stuff, it made his insides twist. It felt like, like something was tugging on his very being. He often felt the same pull if he was away from the studio too long.

The tunnel branched off and into other rooms. Ben continued until he came out on a raised platform made of stone. Looking down, he could see a large pit filled with ink. The substance rolled like waves on a dark sea. The ink machine was suspended above it by heavy chains. There was a large pipe that was attached to the underside of the machine. The other end plunged into the depths of the ink. The machine acts like the heart, pumping the ink through the network of pipes like the veins of some giant beast. In that respect, the studio was alive.

He hissed softly. This was the other thing that made him envious of the other Bendy. He didn't feel the need to come back to this place. The bond he created with Henry was so strong, this place no longer had a hold on him. Ben's bond was with the Studio. He couldn't be away from it for too long without feeling like something was trying to tear out his inky heart. It physically hurt and it frustrated him. The outside world was very interesting. He wanted to see more! Experience more. He wanted…freedom.

A shudder ran through his body. Standing this close, the pull on his being was especially strong here. Ben had a feeling that he would loose himself if he got too close to the source. He didn't want to loose who he was, even if who he was…was a monster.

His thoughts drifted to June and her family. She invited him into her home and gave him a way to escape all of this. At least for a little while. He just hoped he didn't do anything to screw things up.