"I would NEVER lose interest in (Y/n)." Billy icily retorted, gritting his teeth before coldly clenching his fists and glaring towards his friend. "Never EVER. Whether she suffers from mental health issues, emotional health issues, physical health issues, or just overall health issues. That crap just doesn't matter. So if you EVER make jokes like that again—"

"I-I'm sure he won't." You hurriedly interjected, secretly touched by Billy's response and how much warmth swirled within his words. "Right? You were just agreeing with my former remark, weren't you Stu?"

"Oh, uh, yeah. Sure." Reverting back to his awkward self, the other boy lost his arrogant attitude and shook his head ever-so-slightly; almost as if he'd only now just come back down to Earth. You weren't particularly judgemental or anything - heck, you were dating eight slashers as of late, so you had no room to talk - but his personality before was like he'd switched person nearly entirely.

It was...It was pretty unusual to say the least. Perhaps he dealt with mental issues like Billy did...? You had no idea. "Let's just start walking home. I'm sure we're all just very, very tired." You spoke in a soothing tone of voice, trying to calm the other two down and clear up any remaining tension.

"I guess..." Billy's facial features filled with further disappointment, his voice sounding quietly wistful as he made it fairly clear that he desperately wanted to spend more time around you.

"Besides, we can always text...!" You worriedly consoled him, now growing concerned due to how upset he was quickly becoming. "Like, either later tonight, or in the morning, y'know...?"

"'Course we can." Stu replied to you contentedly, "So don't worry too much about Billy. He just needs to teach himself the...simple rules of socialism and self-control. He still doesn't know - or has even learnt - where to draw the line and give in to other people's demands sometimes."

"Oh, I...I see..." You timidly responded, doing your best to keep your calm as you started walking back towards the slashers' house. "That's...understandable...I...I suppose..."

"I'm sorry, we're supposed to be walking you home and keeping you company, but all we've done so far is start a fight and made you feel uncomfortable." Stu apologised with a regretful smile, picking up on how on-edge you'd swiftly become and looking relatively bad about it.

"Hey, it...it was unintentional. You guys didn't mean any harm." You brushed it off as kindly as you could, wanting to lighten the tension and make it less stressful for the three of you. "We were all just tired, and it's growing pretty late. So let's just get home."

"You're far too sweet to us, (Y/n). But yeah, you're right. I think we all need to get some rest and unwind." He agreed gently; playfully poking your cheek with his forefinger before continuing his comment. "You especially."

"Wha-huh...? Why me especially...?" You asked in bewilderment, frowning from confusion while you wondered what he was basing that on. Did the two of them know about how you fainted in your nightmare!? No...No...! That was impossible. Only Freddy knew about that. Right...? Right...!?

"Well, even though Billy and I don't like it, you ARE dating SIX other men. Not only that, but they're insane, they're dangerous, they're unpredictable. I mean fuck, they could turn on you in less than a heartbeat." Stu commented seriously, his mood switching from amused to annoyed after you realised he was scolding you for your prior request.

"I mean, they could...but at the same time—"

"Plus, your so-called "free will" could also be ripped away from you at any given moment." Billy maliciously pointed out, wanting to throw the others under the bus every time he possibly could. "Doesn't that bother you? Even in the slightest...? Because you barely even got it back in the end...!"

"I don't want to talk about this." You denied them any sort of answer and fiercely shook your head, feeling oddly hurt by their probing. "I need to get back anyway. The streetlights are flicking on and the others are probably worrying—"

You were about to continue your excuse and hurry on home when you spotted something lying against one of the walls in the alleyway. It wasn't destroyed...or dusty...or dirty...nor did it seem to be very broken or busted either. It didn't look like anybody had trashed it...or thrown it away for a newer model, or even deliberately left it here. Still though... where...? Thinking hard, you stared firmly at said doll; taking note of its appearance, reading all of the doll's phrases, the company's name, absolutely everything. Feeling frustrated, you released a sigh and gave up, realising that you didn't have a clue where this random doll came from. Perhaps a recent kid's cartoon that had been aired on TV...? Maybe it was some merchandise that got newly-created and then discontinued mere days afterwards...? Luckily Billy and Stu bent down either side of you, looking at said boxed-doll with you. Perhaps they knew where the trinket was from and recognised toy...?

"Hey uh, Billy...? Stu...? Do either of you two know anything about this specific series...? It looks like this doll came from a children's TV show or something..." You asked them curiously, your interest in the plaything sparking up as you patiently waited for their response. Would they know? Would they not? Would they share the same confusion that you had? How would they react...? This was all so—

"Hey Billy, look." Stu snickered mischievously, raising his forefinger and pointing at the boxed-up toy with an unexpected smirk.

"Hold up, isn't that one of those Good Guy dolls...? Y'know, the ones that came from the Good Guy Series...?" Losing his past anger, Billy grinned, also recalling where the childish thing had first made its appearance and finding it funny.

"So this did come from a children's cartoon...Huh..." You mused aloud thoughtfully, continuing to look at the strikingly sweet-looking doll. And this toy had unusually sharp, blue eyes too...Seriously, most toys's eyes just had casual colours, but these doll's eyes were one-hundred-percent breathtaking. You...You almost couldn't look away.

"Yeah, this did come from a kid's show." Stu answered before nodding at Billy, his smirk still stretched across his face while he decided to explain altogether. "One that aired when we were all growing up together. I mean the title of the toy gives it away, but the TV Show was called "The Good Guy"."

"It must still be pretty popular..." You assumed with interest, enjoying the conversation the three of you were having and forgetting about the time. "Considering people are still selling...buying...and even tossing them away like this."

"Nah...Not at all..." Billy disagreed carelessly, shaking his head at your remark as he focused on you instead of staring at the doll.

"Well, I mean, it used to be." Stu corrected his friend without hesitation, also directing his glance towards you and away from the boxed toy. "Extremely popular. Aimed towards kids and made by the incredibly well-liked Play Pals toy factory."

"Well-liked, Play Pals...toy factory...?" Mulling over his description of the industry, you placed your thumb and index finger underneath the tip of your chin whilst your curiosity increased. "Sorry, but I can't say that I've ever heard of it."

"Hey, don't sweat it. It's not your fault if you don't remember it. Most people don't remember childhood memories anyways, let alone a kids cartoon." Billy breezily comforted, shrugging before he shot you a casual smile and carried on. "But Stu's right. Even though the company's still going, it's not as...admired as it was almost a decade ago."

"What...? Why not...? How so...?" You interrogated the matter firmly, wanting to learn more and understand said company's strange backstory.

"Because of what gave it bad publicity." Stu smoothly added, supporting Billy's statement and finishing off the business's short overview.

"Okay...So what gave it bad publicity then...?" You requested to know with a fearful gaze, becoming more and more stressed by the minute.

"The Good Guy dolls did."