Chapter Text
There was a small chirping sound next to her ear.
Columbina grumbled, tucking further into herself. She knew she’d asked Sandrone not to let her robots into her room, and this was far from the first time that promise had been broken. She knew better than to swat at it, though– Sandrone got so fussy when her toys were damaged. Maybe if she just stayed still, it would go away, and she could go back to sleep…
No. If only it was ever so easy. The little thing perched on her shoulder refused to stop squeaking, and Columbina pulled herself up, sighing. She’d have… to…
Right. She wasn’t in that place anymore. She didn’t have a bed, or blankets, or temperature control for that matter. And the thing next to her, still crying out its alarm… was a tiny, red, translucent rat.
Columbina blinked. “I didn’t think you’d be back.” It squeaked once more, then jumped down into her lap, looking up at her with worried eyes. She could feel that it was the same little spark as before, the same way the land’s power rose to meet her hands when she so much as thought of it, but it had gotten stronger and, for some reason, decided to return. “There is still no boon forthcoming from me. You should know that.”
It chittered, as if amused at the idea, then ambled over to her hand, nudging it with its soft nose. Funny, the kuuvahki didn’t change a thing of its texture. It felt just like a real rat– if cleaner and less smelly than most. She tentatively ran a hand down its back, and was rewarded with a suddenly boneless little creature and a soft rumble akin to a purr.
“...I mean it, you know,” she said, a little more hesitantly this time. “If you seek something from me, you shouldn’t have bothered returning.”
It did not acknowledge her words at all, still preoccupied with melting beneath her hands.
Maybe those words were too harsh. She didn’t hate the little creature, and perhaps if she was pressed she’d admit that she did like having it around. But to leave so suddenly and re-appear as though nothing had changed… would it happen again? How could she know whether it intended to return?
It had fallen asleep now, breathing slowed in rhythm with her semi-regular pets.
Maybe… maybe it didn’t matter. The Traveler came and went, sometimes without the promise of return. If it left her permanently… she could handle it. Maybe. Probably.
…She’d left the Fatui to get away from these sorts of feelings. Was there truly no escaping it?
In the coming days, despite her best efforts, the little creature proceeded to continue worming its way into her life.
Columbina stood at one end of the cavern, looking at the wall, arms crossed. “I’m tired. You’ve had quite enough.”
The rat let out a long, soft chirp from behind her.
“No. I can tell time, even here, and it has been multiple hours. You can stand to be without being pet for a little while.”
Several soft, sad squeaks.
“If you want any more today, you have to give me something in return.”
It was silent. After a moment, she braved a glance over her shoulder, and quickly spun away again– it was looking at her with eyes large and pleading, beading with kuuvahki like she’d just taken away its most precious thing in all the world.
Really. It was almost funny.
“Acting like a real animal won’t get you anywhere,” she murmured, ignoring how it very much had. “I know you can understand me.”
There was again no response, and she glanced back again to find it had stopped its charade, looking at her curiously with its head cocked. She mirrored it. “Did you think I hadn’t noticed?” When it was a simple spark, it had been harder to tell, but with body language to track and a head to shake, it was frankly quite obvious that the little creature could understand her. Occasionally, it went as far as to attempt to squeak back an answer to a question, then turn in on itself in frustration, as though it had expected her to understand it. Given its unusual constitution, it wasn’t hard to conclude that it had been human once, or at least understood by humans.
Well, if it couldn’t communicate (at least, not beyond simple things), then she would have to do the talking for them both. What a bother. “I don’t mind,” she said, and was surprised to find despite her earlier thoughts that it was true. Conversations were taxing. “But it does mean you can’t get away with things like that.”
It snorted, and shuffled back over to her, snuggling against her side.
“This will not work either.”
The rat hummed, as if saying it was worth a shot.
When Columbina woke to the little rat standing at attention at the cavern entrance, she knew what was to come, but she still wanted to ask. “Are you leaving?”
It turned back to her and dipped its head.
“Will you come back?”
Another nod. Columbina found herself letting out a gentle breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. “Good.” She rather appreciated its company, she could admit that to herself at least. “I will be here. Be safe.”
It dipped its head a final time and scampered to the cave’s mouth–
“Wait!”
It stopped immediately when she spoke, turning back to her.
“...My name is Columbina.” It came out soft, and she was surprised that the rat seemed to hear her. “So you have it. And one day… you can tell me yours.”
The rat stared at her, expression impenetrable. After all, at the end of the day, it was a rat.
Then it turned and ran away, leaving Columbina behind.