Chapter Text
Half way down the hall, Snowball meeped loudly in front of Cup and Mugs’ door.
“What?”
Snowball jumped from his shoulder and scratched at the bottom of the door. She looked up at him again. “Meep.”
“What? I think they’re downstairs.” Bendy said.
“Meep,” she repeated again in frustration, scratching at the door more. She stood up on her hind paws and started to scratch continuously at the door.
“Later Snowy, I don’t have a key. Ask when you see the Cupbros,” Bendy said. “Now c’mon.”
The dandehog gave him a long-suffering sigh and scampered back.
“I know,” Bendy snickered. “I’m the worst,” he kidded as he stepped onto the elevator. He got to the restaurant but didn’t see any sign of his friends. Bendy raised a brow.
“Sir?” the host asked.
“My group is in one of the private rooms. Bendy?” he said uncertainly.
“Ah, right this way sir.” The host turned and led him to a hall and a row of snazzy doors that had a diamond patterned mold in the wood finish. “Here you are sir.” The host stopped at the number six room and opened it for him.
“Thanks,” Bendy said and walked in to see the long table full of his friends look his way.
“Bendy!” Mugs said surprised.
“Hey kid.” Oswald gave him a lazy salute.
“It’s good to see you here. Holly was just telling us there’s a part.” Mickey smiled.
Holly lit up and smiled at him. She had a map spread out in front of her. “I was just showing them the other side of the mountains.”
“What’s with the goggles?” Donald asked. Oswald elbowed him. “What!” Donald glared at him.
Felix smiled. “Glad you could join us.”
Bendy stepped up to the map. “Good to be here.” He looked down at the map, seeing a similar setup he had on the magic map. He tapped the map on the table. “Around there.” Bendy looked up. Cup gave him a curious look. Bendy knew he’d have to explain, but he’d rather get this business done first.
“Farimont Springs,” Felix read. “It’s only a few hours drive from here.”
“So we don’t have to go climbing over a mountain?” Cup asked. The cat shook his head.
“It looks like there’s a road that leads right to it,” Holly said, pointing at a line on the map.
Cup frowned and narrowed his eyes. “That’s...way too cussing easy.”
“Can’t you have something easy for once?” Donald asked
“When it comes to the parts?” Mugs said. “No way.”
“That just makes me think there’s something terrifying hidden in the details here. We need to find some information about the area,” Holly said nodding in agreement. “Which means,” a gleam came into her eyes. “A trip to the library.”
“Well, we know where the library is,” Mickey said. “It shouldn’t be too hard to find information on the town.”
“But that doesn’t promise us any information on the part,” Felix said. “Those things are hidden and for good reason.”
Bendy could agree with that. The table was quiet for a heartbeat.
“Well, we know it has to either be the instrument or the cup,” Holly reasoned.
“If it’s the cup, that might explain hot springs and their claims to have healing properties,” Felix said thoughtfully.
“Healing waters? Sign me up. This is just sounding better and better,” Oswald said and smiled. Felix ducked his head.
“Shut it. There’s gonna be a cussing catch. A mountain troll or a deadly curse or a cave of monster things. There’s always something when it comes to these things,” Cup said with a scowl to the rabbit.
The rabbit scowled back and snorted. “Such a killjoy.”
“Oh, I can kill more than that bun-bun,” Cup threatened.
“Cup.” Mugs frowned at him and glared.
Cuphead glared back but turned away.
“It’s all speculation at this point. The historical records might reveal more. Local myths and such even. Doing some more research is the least we can try,” Holly suggested, rising.
Cup leaned back and tossed his arm over the back of his chair. “I got a local contact. He might be able to tell us a bit more.”
“Actually,” Bendy finally spoke up. “I need to talk to you two.” Bendy glanced around the table. “And you too Felix.” Felix perked his ears and nodded.
Alice looked over at him. She hadn’t said anything to him, but he had felt her eyes on him quite a bit. She looked pale and tired, but at least she wasn’t with blue veins and looked ready to fall over at any second.
“What’s going on?” Donald asked.
“Probably something to do with the goggles,” Mugs said.
Bendy sighed. He felt something tickle his face and reached up to pat Snowball.
“Not keeping secrets now, are you Bends?” Oswald chuckled.
“Meep,” Snowball told him reassuringly, pressing up against his neck. “Meep-meep.”
Bendy swallowed and glanced at Holly.
She gave him an encouraging smile. He then glanced past her to Alice. The angel smiled at him, but it was a bit strained. Nowhere near her real smile. The pressure in his head built, but Bendy was unwilling to let it go here. “Actually I do have something.” Bendy set down the scroll.
The table grew quiet. Bendy ignored his nerves. “I’m dealing with some demon stuff right now. My magic isn’t listening to me like I would like. I tried to call Hat about it, but he’s not able to come right now. He sent me this instead.” He indicated the scroll.
Felix reached over with a questioning look. Bendy nodded for him to take it. The cat unrolled it and hummed. “These are training exercises,” Felix stated with down ears.
“Magical exercises, yeah. I need a place to practice,” Bendy muttered.
“Is that really important right now?” Donald quacked. “I thought you people were all twisted over for these parts.”
Bendy tightened his grip on his hand. Control. Breath.
“Magic control is always important,” Alice spoke up. “I can help you look for a good area to practice Bendy.”
Mugs lifted a hand. “Now, are we talkin’ practice like Holly’s practice or—”
“That’s different. What I do is testing,” Holly replied. She looked at Bendy. “This is different. Right?”
Bendy cringed, the air cooled. Alice blinked a look of surprise crossed her face.
Cup narrowed his eyes. “He’s a demon Mugs. He’ll be practicin’ like a demon.”
Mugs frowned, “Whadda ya mea—Oh.” Mugs eyes widened. “Oh.” They knew? Wait, they knew enough to react like that?
“And what the hell does that mean?” Oswald demanded.
“We’re gonna need a lot of space with no people,” Cup mused lightly and rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully, but his eyes held the level of cold seriousness that Bendy knew meant he was concerned. Bendy frowned. Was it really gonna be that bad? What was it going to be like?
“Isn’t Bendy quarantined to the city?” Holly asked tentatively.
Cup glanced between Bendy and Alice. “Then we’ll have to sneak him out,” he said plainly.
“Can’t it wait?” Mickey asked with furrowed brows.
“If Bendy is bringing it up with a meeting about a machine part, it’s serious,” Felix said without looking up from the scroll. Bendy let out a sigh of relief. Okay, so they understood, sorta, and were helping him. That was good.
Mugs looked down at the map. “Then why not the forests in the mountains?”
“We’ll have to be careful that no one else is around,” Felix said.
“They have a night light show on the northern side of the city, so you’ll want to avoid that,” Holly said pointing. “And they have people with garden talents who grow the city’s food in the south, outside of town. So you’ll want to be either in the west or the east. And since the west is more open plain than forest…” She trailed off. “I suggest the east.“
“As long as no angel sees us, we’re fine.” Cup sighed and frowned. “But I don’t know if we’ll be able to do this and go after a part right after.”
“Why’s that?” Mickey said.
Cup and Mugs shared a knowing, serious look. Alice’s eyes grew wide with worry. Bendy swallowed, a shadow under the table wavered, and he had to focus on it to stop. “Because I—”
“It’ll be intense. Bendy’s going to be exhausted,” Cup cut in. Bendy lifted his head. Cup winked at him. He knew. Mugs and Cup knew and they were covering for him? Why? Why were they trying to downplay it? That he could lose control? Were they worried about a rampage like he was? “We’ll go check it out after this, and if we really are in the clear, we’ll bring you out tonight and we can start.” Bendy’s eyes widened. Tonight?
“In the meantime, I’m going to research. Anyone who would like to help is welcome,” Holly said.
“Matters, are we allowed to watch this training?” Oswald asked.
“You’re not invited,” Cup said sharply. “Bendy asked for us and Felix. That’s it.”
“Are you sure?” Felix looked at Bendy. Bendy nodded once.
There was a long silence at the table. “This...feels like a big deal,” Mickey said slowly. “I don’t fully understand, but if it helps, then just let us know if we can do anything for you.”
Bendy blinked and smiled. “Thanks.”
“Guess the rest of us are on book duty then. “ Oswald leaned back and put his hand behind his head. “Don’t worry Felix. I’ll save anything good for you.” Oswald winked. The cat ducked and pulled his hat down.
Holly sighed at the two of them, a concerned expression on her face.
“Can I ask what we do about Boris?” Alice asked gently.
The room went silent as the grave. It was like she had stepped on a landline. Mickey, Oswald, Felix, and Mugs were looking at Bendy. The others wouldn’t raise their eyes from the table. Cup was the only one that didn’t appear interested.
Alice seemed to notice she said something. She looked around in confusion. “I mean, he isn’t here, and if we all leave, he’ll come back to an empty hotel. He might worry.”
“Cussing deserves it,” Donald muttered. “Wah! Ow!” Mickey was shaking his head. Bendy was surprised. It was usually Oswald that would do that to the duck.
Bendy sighed. He was fine. “I can leave him a note.” He had to clean up their room anyway.
“Are you sure that’s wise?” Holly asked quietly.
Bendy grimaced and nearly lost it there. A tendril of shadow snaked over the table, and he slapped a hand down on it to stop it. Alice jumped and looked like he slapped her.
Holly’s narrowed with concern as her eyes followed the shadows. “Maybe someone could wait here for him? Mr. Mickey?”
The rest of the table stared at Bendy with confusion or alarm. Only Holly, Cup, and Mugs didn’t seem surprised.
“Yeah, I can do that,” Mickey said and shook off his surprise.
“Well, are we done then? Should we all head out?” Cup asked.
“What about that pal of yours?” Oswald asked.
“You go Cup. I can check outside the city with Felix,” Mugs said.
Cup sighed. “Whatever. Let’s get going then.” He stood up. “You wait in your room until we get you Bends.”
Bendy frowned. “No kidding? I was gonna go out on the town.”
Cup snorted and smirked. “You schmuck.”
“Right back at you,” Bendy said. He was relieved though. They were going to help him. Cup and Mugs seemed to really get what was going on without him having to say it. Thank the stars. They weren’t horrified with him either. Though he felt like he still would have to explain more with Felix or maybe Mugs would even do that for him.
Boris finally jumped down from the tree and started to head back to the hotel. It had probably been too long, and Boris didn’t want to cause another panic. He could only take so much yelling after all. He didn’t think that was what he would go back to. He was pretty sure Bendy would be back to giving him the cold shoulder. He had chased his thoughts in circles for so long he felt dizzy. He walked into the hotel, and the warm air hit him in the face. He pulled down his hood and enjoyed his normal, fluffy, wolf ears. Thank the stars the itching had finally stopped. His ears. His normal ears! He was almost giddy that he was normal again.
Boris headed to the elevator.
“Boris!” The wolf stopped and looked back to see Mickey get up from a couch with a smile on his face. “You’re back.”
“Mr. Mickey,” Boris said slowly. He glanced around behind him to see if anyone else was there. No, it was just the mouse. That was odd. Mickey had hardly been left alone. Oswald and Donald were pretty much glued to him any time the wolf had seen him. “Where’s everyone else?”
Mickey smiled and scratched the back of his head. “Most of our friends are at the library right now.”
Boris raised a brow. “The library?”
Mickey nodded. “Yeah, to dig up some information on the area around the part.”
Boris furrowed his brows. His ears dropped, and his tail went limp. “ The part? Did Bendy tell you?”
The mouse nodded. “Yeah, we didn’t know where you were or when you’d come back, so we couldn’t invite you. Sorry about that. Holly got everyone together, and we discussed what to do next.”
“You did? Without me?” Boris asked.
Mickey paused. He stepped up to Boris and nodded. “We did. I stayed here to explain what we decided and so you and I could catch up with the others.” They’d left him behind. Boris felt a cold hollowness open up in his chest. “Holly, Alice, Ozzy, and Donald are researching the area. Cup went to go talk to a friend of his.”
Boris was sure Cup went to Bigby again.
“And what about Mugs and Mr. Felix? And Bendy?” Boris asked.
Mickey smiled and started to lead Boris back to the doors. “They’re, uh, doing something else together.”
“What’s that?” Boris asked.
Mickey glanced around as they walked down the stairs. “They’re looking for a place for Bendy to work on his magic training.”
Boris almost tripped out the door and down the stairs. Mickey caught him, barely. He was left pinwheeling his arms before the mouse pulled him back up. “Are you okay!”
“Bendy’s doing magic!” Boris gasped. “There’s no way!” Bendy never used his magic! He had told Hat no! He didn’t like his magic! Why would he suddenly change! Where was this suddenly coming from?
Mickey seemed taken aback that Boris was so surprised. His idol looked at him worried. “Well, I think his magic is bothering him, so Mugman and Felix wanted to help.”
“Can we go check on him before we go to the library?” Boris asked.
Mickey grimaced. “I’m sorry. I don’t know exactly where the others are, and Bendy only wanted Mugman, Felix, and Cuphead to go so...I’m sure you can check on Bendy later.”
“So I’m not allowed?” Boris murmured.
Mickey put a hand on his shoulder. “Don’t feel bad Boris. We’ll see them tonight after they get back.”
Boris gave Mickey a weak nod as they started down the streets and deeper into the city. Bendy didn’t want him there. Bendy had gone off without him. He didn’t wait for him to start working on finding the part. Boris had the map even, and Bendy had gone ahead. Maybe their fight was worse than he thought.
“Are you okay Boris?” Mickey asked gently.
Boris sniffed, the cold almost burned his nose. “Yeah. Bendy is just being a jerk.”
“Oh? Why’s that?” Mickey asked curiously. “If you’re okay with talking about it that is.”
“He told me I don’t listen. So I’m trying, but he’s still mad at me,” Boris said. “It’s like I can’t do anything right.”
“That’s not true. You love Bendy, and he loves you,” Mickey said. “I think you’ll just have to be patient with him.”
Boris sighed. Mickey petted his head. “You boys will figure it out. I’m sure of it.” Boris smiled and nodded, still not happy. The trip to the library was rather relaxed. Mickey stopped at one of the blimps that were selling snacks. He suggested they bring the others a treat.
They got to the grand, tall building, and Boris was happy to get out of the cold. There were so many books. No way a single person would ever read them all. Just rows and rows of them. It took Mickey and him a moment to find them. They had gotten a conference room so they could talk privately together. Donald and Alice were hunched over books. Oswald was leaning back, his ankles crossed on the table, a book on his lap.
Donald gruffed. “I’m gonna die of boredom.”
“Drama queen.” Mickey walked in with Boris right behind him.
“You two took your sweet time!” Donald scowled.
“We decided to smuggle in some snacks.” Mickey held up a couple bags.
Alice gave the mouse a small pout. “I don’t think they allow food in here.” Though she was eyeing them hopefully.
“That’s why it’s smuggled.” Boris grinned his rare mischievous grin and put the bags on the table.
“Well, hope you brought some drinks because this reading is as dry as the Far West desert,” Oswald said.
“Oh lovely,” Mickey said with a joking chuckle.
“It doesn’t seem like we’re getting anywhere looking for a cussing temple or Mi—Whatever stuff.” Donald sighed.
Boris sat down with Mickey and got one of the books open.
“We’ll find something. We just have to be patient and determined,” Mickey reassured and started reading himself.
Boris swallowed his groan. It was only a few more minutes before Donald was done and dropped his book loudly on the table. “This is a cussing waste of time,” he growled. A librarian peaked out from one of the shelves and gave him a scalding glare. Boris had a feeling she had shushed the duck already. Or maybe she was just really grumpy.
“Yeah, I think so too,” Oswald sighed and pulled some jerky out of one of the bags.
“Why not just go to the cussing museum to see if there is anything?” Donald suggested with his feathery hands on the table.
“Actually that isn’t a bad idea,” Oswald said lazily. Had he been in the same book this whole time? Boris doubted this guy was taking this research stuff seriously.
Alice set down her journal and sighed. “ There are plenty of explorers. But either the temple is very well hidden or it’s not here.” She shrugged helplessly. “There’s nothing on the Micco.”
“A great use of the last, what, two hours?” Donald said drily.
“Well, we know more now, so that’s good,” Alice said, trying to sound positive.
“Let me get Holly and let’s see if there are any notes that can help us with this town. Where is she?” Mickey said. “We aren’t going in blind this time.”
“She’s looking at the old newspapers,” Oswald said. “Those reel things in the back.” He pointed with his thumb over his shoulder.
Mickey came back with Holly and both sat. She hummed over her notebook, distracted. “Okay, so let’s go over what we know.”
Donald sighed and folded his arms to drop his chin on it. Boris was not feeling very motivated or hopeful with Oswald and Donald’s moods.
“Fairmont was a resort, based off the natural hot springs that bubble up from the mountains. The farmers and loggers used the area as a resting and vacation spot,” Alice said. “They claimed it had healing abilities.”
“It’s in the middle of the river trade system they have up here. The spring connects to the main river. Fairmont was very successful a hundred years ago,” Oswald tossed in drily.
“And the oldest thing reported out there in the news is a hundred and fifty year old hotel,” Holly said, clicking her tongue.
“Nothing about magic,” Mickey said. “At least, not outside of the hotsprings from what you all have written down.”
Everyone agreed. Seemed magic was a more recent thing that happened here in Talent Town.
“So there’s no ancient ruins or legends or anything to help us,” Boris concluded. “How about looking into weird stuff?” The wolf suggested with a raised finger.
“The weird stardust doesn’t happen until after we show up,” Oswald said flatly.
Holly perked, head coming up from her notebook. “I have strange things,” she said with a glint of interest. “Lots of local spooky stories. This town is an interesting city.”
“Why am I not surprised?” Donald quacked sarcastically.
Holly ignored him, continuing, “It’s been abandoned for the last fifty years or so. According to the record, the entire population moved out all at once after a series of mysterious disappearances.”
“Really?” Mickey asked.
“Disappearances?” Oswald perked his ears.
“Sounds like a bunch of ghost story whooy.” Donald waved off.
After Boris had learned about Angelo, ghosts weren’t whooy to him anymore. After the quest, he wasn’t brushing off anything anymore.
Holly wrinkled her nose at Donald. “Say what you will, but people did disappear. A lot of them. The newspaper stated that the remaining population moved out after a mass disappearance. Some estimates put the disappearance at roughly half the town. But the disappearances in general seemed to have started about a year before that event. The town made a big deal about it. Many of them moved here short term after it happened before moving on.”
“Why?” Mickey asked with wide eyes.
“What was causing the disappearances? Were you able to find anything?” Alice asked with concerned eyes.
Holly shook her head. “They never found out. Something in the woods around the town,” she said with a hum. “There was speculation that some sort of animal was out there that was killing people. They hired some professional hunters before the move, earlier on when some children disappeared. But the hunters disappeared as well,” Holly said in a spooky tone.
“What about bodies?” Donald asked. “Bones? Any evidence of what it was?”
Holly frowned and shook her head. “Nothing mentioned in the news clippings I read.”
The table fell silent for a moment.
“Well, we have a new lead. Let’s get to work.” Mickey smiled. “We’ll look into the last fifty years and these disappearances.”
Donald and Oswald groaned.
Alice chuckled. “At least it isn’t logging. I was up a tree reading that one.”
“Alice, no. Stars above! Please no,” Donald said.
“What? I’m just trying to branch out a bit.” Alice smiled mischievously. Holly giggled beside her, looking relieved.
“Oh no.” Boris sighed. “Here we go.”
Alice continued to pun as they set about chasing down their lead on strange disappearances. Things became interesting and frustrating. The first ten or so years after the disappearances there was news here and there. Police, hunters, and explorers disappearing. Then they had put up a fence and closed the entire abandoned town off to the public. After that, news was frustratingly scarce.
Oh this was going to be a fun day.
Cup scowled at the wolves blocking his way. “I was cussin’ here the other day. Bigs knows me ya mooks.”
“Well he isn’ here right now, so yous gonna have to wait here until we can be sure.” The wolf on the left of the entrance to the private rooms said.
“Go get a drink and relax,” the other said.
Cup was tempted to shoot them. He mentally listed all the reasons why it was a bad idea and turned away. A drink felt like the world’s biggest waste of time. They had a part damnit! Bendy was on magic overload! The wolf was here because of the thing, and now that Cup came to talk in depth about it, he’s not here! Was this a joke?
With a dark glare, he went to the bar and ordered a drink. Nothing heavy of course. He found a corner of the room away from the toons that were there and slouched in his seat. There weren’t so many here now that it was midmorning, and people had work or other things to do on the streets. Most of the people that came through were wolves, unsurprisingly. The Pack was legendary, after all, and Bigs did a good job keeping things as rumors and hearsay. It certainly wasn’t the oldest mob around, but it was one of the most infamous. They were good at covering their tracks, and if something or someone needed to disappear, they did. Bigby’s track record was about as impressive as Cup’s. The difference, of course, being that Bigs was a household name of fear, and Cup was never heard of.
Made how the two of them did things very different. Bigby even had a doppelganger standing in running his Chicago branch. Some mutt that he really trusted. As a crime business kingpin, Bigs was one of the best. Too bad for all the other stuff.
Did Cup believe all the stardust about family and Bigs turning over a new leaf? Meh. In Cup’s lifetime the few chances he had to meet Bigs, the fella had always been jovial and kind. But his history, the ‘legends’ that he came from were covered in blood. Not much different from Cup’s own history. That’s the path set for them in the criminal underworld. Though, Cup doubted all the deaths around Bigs were necessary. There was something off about the wolf. Now that might be the history, but Cup prided himself on his sharpeye when it came to people. He admitted he was a cussing idiot when it came to some things. The stardust that Felix did. The books Bendy read. Half the moonrocks that came out of that lizard doctor’s face. But when it came to people, Cup could read the best.
So his impression of the wolf?
He enjoyed the violence. Or he used to anyway. Cup wasn’t sure the story about the guilt was true. He’d have to see the mook in action, and he never had. Cup knew the wolf had become bored. Of course Cup was entitled to some details about Bigs that was hush to most others.
Like the fact that Bigs’ was as much a debtor as himself. The wolf’s debt was a rather complex matter too. One could dare say that Bigs was one soul that had managed to trick the Devil...or so it appeared at first. The ones that knew of the debt and the deal would believe that at least. But anyone that got to know the fella would see the truth.
The inner circle of the boss’ business knew otherwise. One would have to see both sides of the coin.
The truth under all the fables and rumors and shadows and smiles.
The wolf was trapped.
And he knew it. He hated it. He hated it just as much as Cuphead did. Maybe even more. Cup wasn’t sure who had it worse off, but Cup at least had hope for an out. Even if that hope was dying with his growing connection to these people Mugs and him were traveling with.
Anyway.
The wolf was trapped in an interesting way for a debtor. After all, the Big Bad Wolf’s debt was easy enough when outright stated. He was immortal. He would not age, and he could not be killed. At least not by normal means. Knowing the boss and his contracts, there had to be an Achilles’ heel written somewhere. Hell, that heel might be the wolf’s dream come true after living so long. His own wish made into his personal hell. Servitude to the Devil for as long as he was immortal. It could go forever. And if he broke it? Cup didn’t think his punishment would be death. No. The boss would see that as a kindness. Cup wondered if Bigs had already broken it and had his comeuppance already. Maybe that was really why he was so mellow. So accepting of his place. Or hell, maybe this was it. Just stuck here in this scummy world, a dog on a leash.
Maybe the demon broke the wolf to the point that the legendary monster just wanted peace and comfort. That he protected these mutts from making his same mistakes or worse ones. Ha. Worse ones. Cup wasn’t sure how much lower you could go after Bigs without going insane.
Either way, the facts stood; and speculation aside, the wolf was kind, his history bloody, and he was immortal for however long the boss wished it. Thus why the mangy killer was able to drag himself out of that damn river with a cut stomach full of stones. Ugh. Gruesome.
Not that Cup hadn’t had his fair share of cussed up things that should have killed him. Or his own deaths, if he could call them that, to reflect on. Though what he went through and what Bigs did were two very different things. So similar and so different. That’s what they really were.
Cup sipped his drink and watched the bar with bored eyes. The waitress was playing a tricky game between three fellas, and it was only a matter of time before one of them noticed the other two. Unless she got them drunk enough, but that could lead to a whole new situation.
There wasn’t a band, so the bartender had a radio playing some slow jazzy tune that made Cup feel like he was here in the middle of the night after all the fun instead of the mid-day.
Where the hell did that put Cup? Well, Bigs was his senior by a long cussing shot, and the nice guy act was new. Hell, Red had been his last attempted victim that Cup knew of. So in his damn life time he had still been the monster that came and went. And ate children.
Not this wolf family focused schmuck.
So there was that. But Cup technically outranked him. If they were playing cards, Bigs was a king but he and Mugs were aces. He was sitting here as a guard while Cup was going in to collect. Cup wondered if the wolf resented him at all for it. Then again, who wanted to be that close to their tormentor? Only madmen and those with a plan. Cup wasn’t sure where he sat on that.
Finally, a lumbering figure appeared. “About cussin’ time,” Cup muttered to the empty glass he had in front of him and stood up. He stepped up alongside the mutt, ignoring how several eyes around the bar followed him.
“Bigs,” Cup said. “We needa talk.”
“Oh! Cuphead! Back again!” Bigby grinned his doopy, wolfish grin. “Let’s go back to my room. Just let me get a drink first.” He waved at the bartender. The other wolf nodded, apparently a wolf of habit since that was enough for the worker to know what he wanted. Cup and the leader of the Pack headed to the door with the two guard mutts glaring at him. Not that he blamed them. Cup was well aware of his own reputation and why the wolves would be so wary of him and defensive of their leader. After all, Bigby did a good job of getting their loyalty to the point of stupidity...and Cup had a perfect record.
So Bigby led him back; and Cup took a seat in the nice, cushioned chair at the private table in rich dark wood. The lighting was a bit dimmer here, and the noise was far more muted.
“So, what have you come for this time, assassin?” Bigby smirked. Seemed with the pup nowhere near and with no hope of over hearing them, the wolf was willing to drop all the bush beating. Good. Because what wasn’t said was just as important as what was said.
“That part. Everythin’ you know. No details left out,” Cup said.
Bigs raised a brow. “And nothing from the boss?”
Cup hadn’t talked to the boss in a long time. He hadn’t reported since before he was kidnapped and in that damn circus, but he couldn’t report here. This was an angel watched city with all this damn magic around. Any demon activity would spring a flag on them. That also meant that Bigs never reported in the direct manner that Cup did. They probably had a different system set up for the wolf. Letters, something without magic. Possibly a runner. Cup smirked. “I ain’t your damn messenger.”
Bigs laughed. “No, but ya can’t blame a guy for trying. After all, any debtor sees you coming, and we feel the reaper breathing down our necks.”
Cup snorted. “I ain’t after your damn contract. ‘Sides, you’re one that the boss would have to come for himself.”
Bigby’s smirk was sharp and knowing.
“So, that stardust doesn’t cussin’ matter. The part,” Cup said again. “Details.” He hardened his tone.
“So impatient,” Bigs snickered.
“And you’re not? How long have you been stuck here? Why not go after it yourself?” Cup demanded with a frown. He had to admit, he was damn curious. Cup thought this ink machine stardust was top tier secret. And it had been until the BBros and Oddswell. But even then, fellas like Sam and Bigs were already at the parts. Waiting. Waiting for what? Them? And how could a low-down flop like Yosemite Sam being working a similar job as the starfallen Big Bad Wolf? It didn’t cussing add up. What the hell was the boss doing? Cup was still missing pieces here.
Bigs shook his head. “Boss said not to. So I didn’t. Dunno much about the thing myself. Never seen it, but the area is abandoned and closed off with a fence going around easy access areas. They’ve only one road that leads into that place now. Fairmont is also covered in fog at this time of year due to the cold air and the hot springs, so it’s not visible from atop the mountains like it is during the summer. That’s a better time to go in my opinion.”
“Ever checked out the area?” Cup asked.
“Yes,” Bigs nodded. “I dared to even enter the town, but I didn’t go into any of the buildings. A lot of things are still laying around, plants growing up walls, that feeling.” The wolf shivered.
“What?” Cup frowned.
“It’s like you’re being watched.” Bigs smirked. The drinks came, two whiskeys.
Cup waited until the waitress was gone. “A cussin’ ghost town? And you what? Think it’s actually haunted or somethin’?”
“The people here do.” Bigs took a drink of his and smiled appreciatively.
“Still the middle of the day,” Cup muttered when the wolf gestured to the other glass. “Ya’ ain’t tellin’ me you're scared.” Cup leaned his elbows on the table.
“Afraid? No.” Bigs shook his head. “But cautious. After all, it’s not killing but disappearing that’s the problem over there.”
Cup raised a brow. “Disappearances?” He had to refrain from clicking his tongue. Bigs didn’t have to fear death.
The wolf nodded his large head with that smile still in place. “For the last fifty years. And no. Nobody has ever shown up again. Not a single one has ever crossed that fence after disappearing.” He chuckled.
Cup laced his hands together. No bodies? “How many?”
Bigby shook his head. “Too many. Dozen since I’ve been around? Hard to say with stupid youths and daring tourists dropping in there every few years.”
A dozen gone? “How long has it been goin’ on?” Cup narrowed his eyes.
Bigs tilted his head and thought. “Eh, something like forty or fifty years.”
Okay. So it wasn’t like this happened over night.
“The police?” Cup asked.
Bigs snorted. “The whole damn government has no cussing clue what’s going on in there.”
That was good. Then a thought struck him. “The angels ain’t watchin’ this place because a magic. They’re cussin’ watchin’ that place, ain’t they?”
Bugs grinned. “Stars I’ve missed clever company. Yeah Dish. They’re watching Fairmont, but they have about as much of a clue as the authorities.”
Thank the cussing stars. Cup did not want to deal with cussing angels right now. He was so damn done with them and demons for now. Alice and Bendy being the exceptions.
“So, it has to be the part,” Cup muttered. “They can do weird cussed up stuff like that. And the angels, have they been poking around there?”
“I guessed as much. Nah, them angels don’t cross the border, at least not the ones I’ve noticed. The boss wants you to go in and get that thing?” Bigs asked matter-of-fact.
Cup snorted and dragged the glass toward him. Bigby took that as his answer. He chuckled. “I don’t envy you.”
“Ya don’t?” Cup raised a brow. “I would think you’d be bored out of your mind and itchin’ for some excitement.”
Bigby’s large shoulders shook with his humor and he took another drink. “Nah. Not anymore. You may have a hard time believing this kid, but I’m actually happy like this.”
Cup lifted his glass and took a drink.
Bigby chuckled. “You don’t believe me. That’s fine. I don’t expect to convince you. Hell, I would think this is all fun for you too.”
Cup raised a brow. “Would?”
Bigby’s fanged smile stretched wide. “You care.”
Cup narrowed his eyes.
Bigby laughed before Cup could retort. “Don’t worry! Like I said, I’m not like that anymore. But…” Bigs narrowed his own eyes. “Ya don’t really lose the eyes of a killer, do ya?”
A pregnant silence fell between them. Bigs seemed unbothered by it. Cup didn’t break eye contact. If this wolf was implying—
“No,” Bigby said softer. “No you don’t.” He sighed and finished his glass. “I’m not gonna target your brother that you are obviously keeping away from here or that little pup. But you need to guard that heart of yours a bit better. It’s poking outta your sleeve, and the boss will notice.”
Cup’s jaw tightened, and Bigs nodded as if he noticed Cup’s hidden frustration just as easily. Hell, the wolf probably saw right through him. How the hell had this mutt pieced him together so cussing easily? Damnit.
“So what? You’re swearin’ to a pacifist life now? You?” Cup barely kept the growl out of his voice. He reached into his jacket and pulled out a cigarette.
Bigs burst with laughter. “Hardly! Working for the Devil? That’s a good one, kid! We both know that’s a load of moonrocks. No. I’m just not actively seeking the hunt anymore. Blood isn’t exciting. Pain doesn’t have a reason. I’ve seen enough of suffering. I want something more for the wolves that I have indirectly hurt.”
Cup frowned. He still didn’t buy it. He offered the wolf one, but he shook his head. Cup lit his and let the warmth fill his lungs. “And what about the families that you directly hurt?” he dared to ask, letting the smoke out slowly.
Bigs faced him with a measured look. Cup wondered if he overstepped his bounds. Bigs answered though. “I allow them to think I’m dead. For their peace of mind.”
“Hardly a kindness,” Cup grumbled. Wasn’t that stardust more for Bigs’ benefit? So this scum didn’t have to be hunted.
Bigs chuckled. “It frees them from fear and revenge. They’re allowed to move on from their grief. That is for the best. I cannot bring back the dead nor right the wrongs I have done them. Peace or at least some form of closure is all I can offer.”
“But it’s a cussin’ lie! You’re right here!” Cup growled. Why the hell was he arguing about this?
Bigs chuckled. “That doesn’t matter. For all purposes but the boss and the Pack, I am dead.”
Cup felt a chill slide down his spine slowly, causing goosebumps to rise on his arms.
Bigs watched him for a long moment and then smirked. “You’re young. Strong. Still full of the zeal for life. Death has a different meaning for me than it does you. Do yourself a favor and get out of this work. Go somewhere where you aren’t drowning in guilt, boy and leave the blood behind.”
Cup stiffened and glared at the wolf. “What the hell are you going on about?” he finally said. He narrowed his eyes. “Talkin’ like that can get you in trouble, wolf,” Cup said coldly.
The wolf laughed again. “What are you going to do? Report me? Shoot me? Like you said, you aren’t here for my contract. What do I have left to fear?” The wolf shook his head still chuckling. “You aren’t some starfallen loyalist to the boss. You’re doing what you have to, and you’re good at it. That’s all. The moment you have an out, you’ll take it.” He said with confidence.
Cup’s eyes widened. “How the hell do you know that! For all you know I’d bend over backwards for the boss!”
The wolf smirked unbelievingly. “You don’t like taking orders. Don’t give me that stardust. But like I’ve been saying, ya don’t gotta worry about me. I won’t say nothin’ about it. Hell.” The wolf’s smirk got big. “If I see an opening to get out, I’ll let ya know.”
The knife of fear went straight through his chest. Very, very few people knew where Cup really stood with the boss. Most believed he was a damned loyal dog. Hat and a few others knew the truth. Cup had kept it that way. But if the rumor went around that he was as loathe with the demon as so many others, well there was a chance idiots would start trying something stupid. Bigs had a damn ace, and he cussing knew it. Cup had always hated the almost political side of the damn criminal world. The place where the scum with the deepest pockets and the biggest guns was the man that was right. Information was only of the damn biggest guns a schmuck could have, but only if he knew how to play the damn cards right. Cup had no doubt Bigby could make Cup’s life very difficult. The wolf wanted him to know it too, but under this damn pretense that he was a starfallen buddy to cussing trust. “What the cussing hell?” He let out along with another breath of smoke. He made it sound like a tired sigh instead of how keyed up it really made him. He wasn’t going to go for the damn bait. To hell with this creep.
Bigs grinned. “What can I say! I like watching the youth and all that energy you lot have. Just that naive hope.”
“I ain’t naive.” Cup’s icy statement cut off Bigby’s laugh. He glared at Bigs. Cup wasn’t going to play his game. He wasn’t gonna be buddy-buddy. Hell no. He was the Devil’s assassin, and this schmuck across from him was a dangerous loose canon. He wasn’t throwing his cards in with the wolf. Cup would have to be careful. This scum could throw a wrench into everything for Cup. And it might come down to him having to kill the legend. One problem...
Bigs looked at him in that measured way again. After another silence that made it feel like the wolf was peering into his soul, the wolf looked away with a small huff. Cup couldn’t tell if it was amused or not. Disappointed or not. “No. No, you’re not,” he said quietly. What wasn’t said was just as important as what was. The message was loud and clear between them. They weren’t friends. So, now Cup’s problem.
How do you kill an immortal killer?
