Chapter Text
The silence of the dimly lit streets had never felt this deafening ever since Tenna was thrown out of his last Lightner’s home.
After being passed around to so many different families, only to wound back outside all alone, Tenna was about ready to give up on his hopes and dreams of ever being loved again.
As cable tv slowly started to fizzle into obscurity, the ratings kept on with its downward spiral and his mental state couldn’t help but do the same.
He really tried to salvage whatever he had left to be new and innovative with his shows. Really tried to keep TV World as bright and lively as before. Really tried to keep it together the past few years and hold onto that dwindling hope that he’d be adored again by a loving audience.
Yet, nothing could change the reality that he just wasn’t relevant anymore. Mr. Ant Tenna, an old crt who couldn’t compete with the new age’s advancements with all these new phones and computers. Everything moved too fast for an outdated tv like himself.
As the show was coming to an end with the credits already rolling, Tenna sighed and dragged himself off stage to return to his lonesome in his private dressing room. A hollow feeling was swallowing him whole and he couldn’t let anyone see him for more than the esteemed, charismatic showman he was. Well, at least the one from a decade or so ago.
Upon opening his dressing room door and heading straight for the couch situated in the corner of the room, he shrugged off his red coat and crashed face first onto the cushioned mass with a heave of steam blowing out from his air vents.
Tenna rolled over with another sigh, staring blankly at the bleak ceiling. That empty feeling had consumed him now that he was alone. No one around to see him at his lowest point.
He wondered how grey everything had become around him, how much of a far cry it was from the vibrant TV World he had known ever since his very conception.
He was broken and worthless. He could pretend all he wants that everything was the same as it’d always been, but deep down, that crushing feeling was always present no matter how much he tried to suppress it.
The sudden movement he felt from his Light World counterpart shook Tenna from his thoughts, and he channeled his screen to look through it.
There you were, kneeling down and inspecting his unnoticeable self on the side of the silent street.
You carefully reached out to pull him closer to you under the street lamp.
“Why would anyone throw something like you out?” You spoke aloud to no one in particular. Oh Tenna could name all the reasons why, “Well, I’m not an expert technician or anything, but you seem to be in perfect condition!! A little burn in on the screen and a bent antenna, sure, but nothing I couldn’t fix.”
You looked up and glanced around under the bright, white light. Tenna couldn’t help but think you were an angel sent to save him.
“Well… It’s not stealing if no one’s looking right?” You smiled a bit at his blank screen as you hauled him up into the passenger seat of your car. Tenna bristled at your sweet smile and how gentle you were handling him as you buckled him up. You gave him a few pats on the head, “All ready to see your new home? It’ll only be you and me but… You’ll fit in nicely on the top of my dresser.” You whispered softly, as if it was a secret only meant to be shared between the two of you.
As you started up the car, Tenna couldn’t help the hope blossoming within him again. The warmth and care you exuded comforted him in waves, dispersing the darkness of his thoughts.
Maybe, just maybe, he could hold on a little longer. If only for you.