Chapter Text
The next morning, Tesla announced they were going to set out and find some materials for a new arm. They ordered Armstrong to stay here, so as not to wear its body down following them.
Rust was packing up to leave nearby, with Zero hovering over them.
"Can we walk together out of the forest?" Zero asked.
"Of course." Rust shouldered their pack and stood up. "Just don't push yourself, alright?"
"Mmhm…" Zero stared at them a while longer, until Rust finally glanced its way and cocked their head to the side.
"What's up?"
"I wanna go with you," it confessed. Rust's expression softened, turning understanding, and wistful.
"I'd like that," they said. "But…"
Zero sighed and nodded.
"I know, I know…"
Not all environments were welcoming for living fire. Rain and snow were especially hard. Traveling long distances used up a lot of Zero's energy, it would need to find a lot of magic and fuel to sustain itself along the way, and there was no guarantee of that.
That aside, there was also the issue that not all people were welcoming to living fire, either. Zero definitely didn't want to make more trouble for Rust; they already found enough on their own already.
Rust's purpose didn't allow for them to skirt around tough terrain, or tough people. If only there was some way of like, hitching a ride, in an easy and inconspicuous way…
"I'm going to see if I can't find some more protective clothing for you, too." Tesla was still lecturing Armstrong. "Those clothes are as ragged as your body. Just, stay here with Doc until I get back, ok?"
Armstrong nodded. Both it and Doc seemed more than happy with the arrangement. Tesla gave a short nod in satisfaction, then turned and headed out. Zero watched Tesla's retreating form, their now-unlit lantern bobbing along at their hip.
Suddenly, its eyes lit up.
"That's it!" He gasped and whirled around to grab Rust by the shoulders. "Rust! Do you have one of those thingys??" Rust gave it a blank look.
"Thingy?"
"The- The thing!" It twirled its finger around in a vague gesture. "With the metal, and uh, glaaaass? That carries around fire!"
"A…lantern?"
"Yeah!!" Zero hopped up and down in midair, shaking its fists in excitement. "Do you have one of those??"
"Not on me, no." Rust tilted their head to the side, wearing a baffled expression. "But I can get one pretty easily. Why?"
Zero made a gleeful, drawn-out squeal, its bouncing increasing.
"Cause I've got an idea!!"
000
Zero waited at the border of the forest, a mass of excited embers spinning around themselves.
Doc had helped it gather some power in the forest, finding some gas vents and nice dry wood. They gave Zero a boost, but what the plan really hinged on was…
Finally, Rust appeared coming down the path. Zero swirled brighter to get their attention, as if they weren't already heading straight for it. Rust did pick up the pace a bit, if only to not have it burn itself out waiting.
As Rust came close Zero snapped itself back into a humanoid form. "Didja get it??" It asked.
"Yep." They held up a large, simple, but well-made lantern. "Does this look good?"
"It's perfect!" Zero squealed. Rust pursed their lips.
"You sure about this?"
"Yeah!"
"Well…" Rust held the lantern straight out at it. "Alright."
Zero dissolved into a shower of orange sparks, which then shifted and flowed as a stream into the opening in the lantern. Rust waited a bit, then peered into it.
"Zero?"
"Hiya!" The fire chirped back. It flared and shifted about, brushing up against the walls of the glass. "Ooo it's so cozy!!"
"Glad you think so." Rust said, but something on their face must have showed, because Zero's fire dimmed a bit.
"Rust…" It began. "Um, are you ok with this? You said you wanted to before but…"
"I do want to travel with you," Rust said quickly. "Don't doubt that. It's just, I dunno…" They held the lantern up to their face, frowning. "Doesn't sit right with me, carrying you around in a metal cage like this."
"Aw don't think about it like that!" The fire danced about. "Think about it as like…just giving me a ride!"
"I guess…" Rust scowled and rubbed at their chin. "But if I zone out and accidentally snuff you or something…" The fire dimmed a bit.
"You can do that?"
"Yeah, there's a little hinge that lets you block the airflow…" They led off, then their face lit up with an idea. "Hang on."
Rust took a dagger from their belt, then used the pommel to smack at one of the metal panels until it snapped off. Putting the dagger away, they nodded in satisfaction.
"There, now I can't accidentally snuff ya."
"Ooo…" A little tongue of flame licked out from the opening. "Breezy!"
"Sure." Rust hung the lantern on their belt. "How's that?"
"Perfect!" The lantern rattled in excitement. "Let's go!!" There was a pause. "…Where are we going, again?"
Rust chuckled and patted the lantern. "Down south," they answered. "Got some plans for helping some people down there."
"Cool!"
Rust started off down the path again, the lantern swinging at their side. They had a long walk ahead of them, but it was hardly an extra weight. And when night fell and it was time to camp out for the night, it would be nice to have a companion to talk to.
The thought of it created a feeling of faint warmth, not exactly due to Zero's flame.
"…Hey." Zero spoke up.
"Yeah?"
"Can I sing while you walk?"
"Go ahead."
"Yippee!!"