Heroes and Legends (pt. 4)
Wilford wakes to the sound of Dark breaking thingsā¦ again. Itās been a week since either of them have had a full nightās sleep, and certainly it wears on Dark more so than Wilford. Will rolls out of bed and shuffles through the hall to Darkās room where the Ego is taking a bat to his bed again. At least he hasnāt hurt himself this time, Wilford thinks and presses farther into the room. There have been times when Dark will turn on Warfstache in his blind rages, and Wilford has had to defend himself in whatever way possible. But this time, when Dark sees Wilford poke into the corner of his vision, his shoulders sag forward, and he drops the bat.
āHey, Darky. Want to talk about why youāre beating on the bed? I mean, we can get you another oneā¦ā Wilford edges closer bit by bit until Dark raises his arm like heās going to hit him. āOk, ok!ā He raises both hands, a sign that he means no harmā¦ for once.
Dark shakes his head. āGet out.ā
āBut Dark, if you need to talkā¦ā
āThis isnāt one of your interviews, Warfstache!ā Dark grits his teeth, shell cracking and bending into different colors.
Will shakes his head. āYou think I donāt know that? Weāre friends, I just want to help.ā
Dark laughs and tilts his head to the side. āOh, really? You think weāre friends? Is that what you think?ā Darkās aura surges forward, trying to surround Wilford, but Will waves it away like someone has blown smoke in his face. āI put up with you because I have to! Thatās it!ā
Wilford feels the words hit him in the chest, and it knocks the air out of him. āFine,ā he growls and heads out of the room, slamming the door behind him. He doesnāt like to think that whatever is changing Dark, making him colder, harder, crueler is slowly stealing his only friend from him. But itās the truth, and Wilford has to face it.
Mark wakes up suddenly one night, Chica asleep at his feet on the couch. Mark nudges her off of him gently, petting her head softly when she looks up at him and talking to her until the golden retriever goes back to sleep. āGood girl, such a good girl,ā Mark whispers as he slips out of the room.
He heads for his bedroom at the back of the house, but the closer he gets to his room, the more unnerved he feels. Something about how cold the air in the house has become, something about the way the darkness seems to reach for him lets Mark know heās in trouble, but just like someone in a horror movie, he keeps moving towards the source. He should know better.
But something else is drawing him in.
When he looks inside his room, Mark is shocked to find someone else standing there beside his recording desk, a hand on his computer and humming quietly to himself. āWho?ā Mark manages before the other man turns around to face him. Itās himself, or at least, a much darker version of himself. Mark jumps back. āDarkiplierā¦ā
āWell, well, give the boy a prize.ā Dark steps closer to Mark, hands folded behind his back in perfect posture. āItās good to see you again, Mark. How long has it been? A year already?ā
Mark runs a hand through his hair and nods a bit, mouth wide in shock. āUm, yeah. I think so.ā
Dark smiles, somewhat pleasant and somewhat threatening. āHow have you been? I see that the channel is doing quite well. You must be so proud.ā
āYeah, the channel has really taken off since the last time we talked.ā Mark continues to fidget as Dark walks around the room, taking note of the piles of unwashed clothes and the tangle of chargers plugged into the roomās outlets. āWhatāuh, what brings you by this time?ā
āYou act as though I need a reason to drop by to see my old friend,ā Dark says, putting a hand to his chest as if heās been wounded by Markās words, but Mark is pretty sure this whole thing is a ruse, heās just not sure how to deal with him. He canāt very well swing the door open and demand that Dark leave. Frankly, Mark is too short for that gesture.
Dark steps closer and places a hand on Markās shoulder. āIām here to check on you. Make sure youāre doing alright. It must be hard living here by yourself, ever since your friends moved out.ā
Mark stutters out a shaky, āWell, I-I mean itās not s-so bad. Iāve got Chi-chica.ā He grips his hair and avoids Darkās gaze.
āI know that itās hard when you have disagreements with close friends. Iāve had a few myself recently. Maybe you and I canā¦ talk it out together, huh?ā Dark tilts his head to the side, so sympathetic and understanding. Itās been a while since Mark has had someone to talk to about what happened with the Cyndago guys, and heās so, so tired.
āMark, you know that I exist because of you. I have you to thank that I can be here right now. Wonāt you let me in, trust me enough to let me help you?ā Darkās aura wraps around Mark like a hug, like the embrace of cold, black water, and Mark is too late to gasp for air as he goes under.
Markās vision goes black for a bit as he whispers, āYeah, I guess that makes sense.ā
āGood, good,ā Dark says happily, gripping both of Markās shoulders and smiling, baring his teeth. āItās about time you and I had a littleā¦ heart to heartā¦ā
