#ft benrey

"Bye."

Gordon turns and walks back out the door, not looking back. He hears the team calling for him. The anxiety spikes. He picks up the pace, not caring where he's-

"see ya. where you goin' man?"

Gordon lets out a harrowed laugh and backpedals, stumbling backwards into someone. It's Tommy.

"Mr Freeman, wha-"

Gordon grabs him by the arm and pulls them both in the opposite direction until they're at a safer distance. He points at the figure of Benrey, only his upper torso sticking out of the sidewalk still.

"That's not real right? You don't see it? Tell me you don't see it, I'm suh...I'm seeing things."

A look of shame passes over his face.

"I don't- is he at your place now? Who's watching over him?"

"Uhh, sorry guys. I gotta go. Thanks fer havin' me over."

"Bye."

"Goodbye, Darnold!"

"Tommy?"

"Sun-Sunkist is there!"

"Sunkist? Tommy, that's a dog."

"Hey now."

"Not just any dog, she's, Sunkist is great with, kids!"

"That's, that's not the same thing!"

"Don't worry Mr Freeman, she's very intelligent, she'll be very good at, at baby-sitting."

"dogs sit all the time. why're you worried man?"

"..."

Right, there's just never a moment of rest for Gordon. His pulse starts to quicken as the entity seemingly walks out from somewhere deeper within Bubby's house. He scoots back roughly in his seat as Benrey glides by. Benrey sets something down on the coffee table in front of him - a bowl? He lifts his gaze and turns it unwaveringly onto Gordon. It's like his stare reaches into his soul.

"...what does that mean, Tommy?"

"It's okay, my Dad's handling it!"

"GMan??? How big's this problem you're handling even, should I be worried-"

"Gordon, I'm alright now. That soup was delightful."

"Uhhh, good for you man. Tommy-"

"No."

He does not elaborate. Gordon laughs nervously.

"Ok????"

"Excuse me, can you quiet down over there? We're getting to the good bit!"

Bubby gestures to the darkened TV screen.

"Dude, that thing's not even on!"

"woah, talk about taste man. you never watched tv before?"

Gordon shuts up so fast. Benrey dips back into the ceiling. He leaves a red orb of sweet voice behind in his wake.

"Mr Freeman, that was a joke! He wasn't planning on, hurting you."

"..."

Gordon drops his voice into a whisper.

"You guys are SERIOUSLY telling me you aren't concerned about that? Like, not even a little bit? That guy is like a fuckin' LIGHTSWITCH. You remember what happened last time."

"That thing's definitely poisoned."

"wuh?"

"N-nothing!"

"no it's not."

"Gordon, it appears Benrey has brought you pea soup! It looks delicious!"

Gordon watches Benrey's eyes dart between him and the untouched bowl of soup. He picks it up and edges closer. Gordon's eyes follow the bowl, unblinking, as it gets nudged into his cheek. He doesn't breathe. Benrey responds by nudging it harder.

"why, you want me to feed it to you? gonna be baby like your lil shit?"

"Please don't hurt him."

Gordon snaps his mouth shut immediately. He had NOT meant to say that. That was bad. That was like handing the guy a fuckton of awful ideas on a silver platter. Now he's CERTAIN he has to make sure he doesn't get to Joshie. Benrey's stare continues to be unreadable. A hushed "psst" somewhere to the right of him draws the guy's attention momentarily, before he lifts off the ground.

"you're bein' weird man."