Chapter Text
Things had been… Well not peaceful, they couldn’t be when Jericho was more or less threatening a war, but it was much more normal to be back in Detroit. Dream felt less stressed, and was actually able to think more clearly.
He’d had a much needed day off where other than visiting George he really just rested, and he realized how idiotic he’d been putting his friend at risk by allowing him in on the chase of a deviant and the two people who’d hurt them in the first place. He was honestly quite lucky that George hadn’t sustained further injury, and that the doctors predicted a full recovery, or else that would be guilt Dream would have to live with for his whole life. It still was, but at least George wasn’t punished for it.
But with how strained their precinct was, and George not being able to work at all, Dream had only been afforded one day off. Though he now felt damn ready to be back on the field, ready to stop other deviants from harming other people.
There was a knock at Dream’s door.
He could only guess it was Sapnap coming to watch over George who was staying in Dream’s guest room. They needed someone here to make sure he stayed in bed and didn’t do things himself. Letting him go out gave him the wrong perception that he was fine and should just get up and do things. It wasn’t like he needed constant monitoring, just to have someone else in the same house with him to usher him back to the bed.
Sure enough, it was.
“Good morning, how are you feeling smiley?” Sapnap greeted, entering the house.
They were all over at each other’s places so often there wasn’t really any formalities, and he just went into the kitchen opening the fridge grabbing a snack. Other people’s food always tasted better, could you really blame him?
“Please tell me that nickname isn’t going to stick,” Dream sighed.
“As long as you insist on wearing that mask it will be.”
“You know I need it to help my face heal, and no, the sharpie won’t come off, I’ve tried every solution there is online.”
Sapnap barked out a laugh, “I can’t believe you’ve cursed yourself like this. No one is going to be able to take you seriously.”
“I would say I come off more threatening,” Dream joked.
“You come off like a serial killer,” Sapnap corrected.
Which honestly, in Sapnap’s opinion, wasn’t far from what their job required them to do as of late. So maybe Dream’s mask was fitting.
“Come on, it’s not that bad,” Dream denied.
“It really is,” Sapnap insisted, “I’m sure George will agree with me.”
“His opinion barely counts, he’s too out of it.”
“Alright, well you shouldn’t fear his answer then,” Sapnap stated, walking off towards George’s room before Dream could reply.
Already at the door when he said, “George is still asleep!”
But he wasn’t now… Sapnap had accidentally made Dream inadvertently wake him up with his shout.
“Hey…” George greeted a bit sleepily.
Well, it was too late to turn back now, might as well see if he needed anything.
“How are you feeling?” Sapnap questioned.
“Bit better,” George hummed, “I had a weird dream though. T’ere was a deviant child ‘nd it got me out of the snow and took care of me.”
Sapnap felt both relieved and nervous that George actually did remember it.
It was kinda odd that it took him a day, but at the same time it wasn’t considering the concussion. Though it could lead to either something really good or really bad depending on how this conversation went, and he couldn’t really steer it the way he wanted.
Dream scoffed a bit, “Really?
There was certainly some reality that seeped into that dream. Being in the snow and chasing after a deviant that was a child model.
Though he never would have thought that would be something George’s subconscious would come up with. Being protected and cared for by a deviant, especially since he was injured because of the chase of this one in particular.
And all their encounters with deviants were either neutral or threatening. Deviants weren’t dumb enough to help police, and all androids had been programmed with facial recognition of police officers in case they needed to get help for their owners.
But he guessed that dreams didn’t need to be logical.
George hummed in agreement, “It was w’s really weird, th’ android just seemed very nervous…”
“You sound exhausted,” Sapnap noted, opting to change the subject for now.
“Ya just woke me up, wha’do you expect?”
“Sorry about that,” Dream apologized.
“Yeah, I just kinda figured you would have been awake for food,” Sapnap rubbed the back of his neck.
“I thought it would be better to let him sleep as long as possible,” Dream explained.
“You were goin’ to go to work without wishing me a good day?” George whined half-jokingly, “What if you died and I didn’t get to say goodbye?”
“I haven’t died yet.”
“Yeah, but you don’t have me there.”
“Which means I’ll be even safer now.”
“Hey! That’s mean!” George huffed.
“Jeez, you’re really going to insult a concussed guy who’s just looking out for your well being?” Sapnap scolded.
“Alright, alright,” Dream relented, “From now on I promise I’ll at least wake you up before I go to work.”
“Good you better,” George grumbled, “If not I’ll kill you, got it?”
In his current state, Dream would like to see him try.
“Yup, I understand,” He assured nonetheless.
“You’ve somehow become even more clingy,” Sapnap teased, pushing George’s shoulder with barely any force - not enough to actually move it.
“I can’t watch over you asses, so I gotta make sure you're safe one way or another,” George shrugged, “What’s the job today anyway?”
“Just the usual raiders on abandoned buildings, trying to find where the rebellion is hiding now.”
It’d been only a few days that they were out of Detroit, and in that time the deviants of Jericho had launched multiple attacks all around the city. They’d actually somehow managed to destroy one of the deactivation facilities. It was a disaster… many of the soldiers guarding it died.
It was much less of a flashy show then the first attack they tried, everything they were doing was much more under the radar, certainly nothing like appearing on the news. Most likely it was going to be harder to find them this time compared to the last because of it, which was frustrating. Though hopefully once they did it would be gone for good this time.
“Watch out for any falling paint cans,” Sapnap joked.
George hummed in agreement, “They’re more dangerous than any android we’ve fought.”
“Maybe we should kill all paint cans, they’re the only thing that can take us down anyway.”
“End to all paint cans!”
Dream laughed at the both of them, “I’ll take out any paint can I might run into.”
“Good, avenge me.”
“You say that like you’re dying,” Sapnap noted.
“I’m not dying, I am dead, you’re talking to a ghost.”
“Man, my house is haunted now? God, I can’t deal with getting an exorcist right now,” Dream sighed.
“Then don’t,” George replied simply.
“Wouldn’t it be a cleansing, not an exorcism?” Sapnap questioned.
“Does it really matter?”
“No, just wanted to be a dick about being correct.”
“I don’t even think you are right.”
“I can’t believe you two want to get rid of me,” George complained.
“I don’t want to get possessed or killed in my sleep by a ghost.”
“I won’t, I promise.”
Dream hummed with a lack of belief, “Well, this isn’t my issue right now. Have fun with the ghost, Sapnap~”
“Wha- you can’t just leave me to be haunted!” Sapnap complained, though he was careful to not actually shout.
But Dream was already out of the room, and not a minute later they could hear the front door close.
“Don’t worry Sap, all you gotta do is get out of my reach and I can’t hurt you.”
“I can’t believe you went from running in the snow to won’t leave the bed, it’s good, but strange.”
“I mean… if I get too out of it I will again.”
Sapnap laughed a bit, “Fair, well we’ll just have to make sure you’ll sleep.”
Maybe he could talk about the ‘dream’ George had…? How the fuck does he bring that up though?
“Ghosts don’t need sleep,” George dismissed.
“Seeing as I woke you up it seems like you do.”
“Mmmm… fair point.”
“Speaking of sleep though, uhm,” Sapnap started, “What if… what would you do if, hypothetically, the dream you had was real?”
No going back now. Hopefully he can convince his friend or this is going to greatly backfire.
“What? George laughed, “What kind of question is that?”
“Just… I don’t know, hypothetically, because we’ve seen some androids still helping out humans, so what if one helped you?”
“That wouldn’t happen.”
“Well, yeah…” Sapnap lied, “But what if?”
George was silent for a moment, “I don’t know…”
“Would you kill someone who saved your life?”
George’s brows furrowed, “It wouldn’t be a person, Sapnap.”
“Why not!” He argued before he could think it through.
But it was really too bad to take it back now.
“What’s the difference between us and them?” He continued.
“You… you’re pro-deviant…” George stated incredulously.
Sapnap shrugged, looking away. He couldn’t help but be heartbroken by his friend’s reaction.
“How long have you…?” George trailed off.
“You know that guy I was starting to see, but it didn’t work out because our ‘life paths were so different’?”
“Yes…? What does that have to do with this…?”
“Turns out he was a deviant, just… not a model I recognized.”
There was silence for a quick moment before George just began to laugh.
“Oh thank fuck I thought you were actually being serious!” He exclaimed.
There was no way Sapnap wouldn’t have recognized he was dating an android. Firstly because it was easy to recognize the different models, and secondly what did he think when he touched its skin and it was as cold as ice?
Surely had this happened Sapnap would’ve realized instantly. Yet, he didn’t join in laughing.
“I’m being serious George, Karl was an android, WF500 to be exact,” Sapnap mumbled, now looking up at George, “And I could… his emotions weren’t simulations, they were nothing like what I’ve seen in a non-deviated android.”
“You’re delusional.”
“No, I’m not!” Sapnap refused harshly, but kept his voice down.
He could feel tears just beginning to well up in his eyes. The memories of Karl, and how he’d failed him. He had to wonder if he met another Karl, what he’d know and think about Sapnap. It was unlikely he’d even recognize Sapnap at all.
And maybe that was for the best.
It was better that none of them would live with the hurt and betrayal that was evident on his once boyfriend’s face when Sapnap was a part of the crew that came to kill him and the others he was with. He should’ve done something then…
“I just…” Sapnap continued after a moment of silence looking down at his lap, “I’ve so desperately wanted you and Dream would have an eye opening moment like I got… and I thought that maybe this was it for you.”
“That what was it for me?”
“Ranboo saving you from the snow, despite us hunting him across state lines.”
“Who’s - wait, how do you know what its name is?”
“The other two shouted it at some point,” Sapnap lied.
“Alright,” George agreed, but frowned, “So what are you fucking doing on the force then if you don’t think what were doing is right?”
“Because I still believe in protecting people, I just think that ‘people’ includes androids too, that’s all.”
“What about all the actual human people who are killed by these things?”
The extra emphasis pissed Sapnap off.
“I don’t know George, maybe their lives weren’t being fucking valued and no one else was going to stand up for them, and so they have to fight for themselves, and they’re fucking scared of being ratted out and being murdered so they fight back!”
“Sap,” George pleaded, covering his ears with his hands.
“I need a moment,” Sapnap muttered standing from his chair.
He shouldn’t have shouted. He knew he shouldn’t with George’s still healing concussion, but the fire was running through his veins. The words were out there, and he couldn’t stop every emotion he’s had to hide from rising to the surface.
“Sorry about yelling,” He uttered, not turning around.
Then shut the door behind him.
-=+=-
The days felt like they were beginning to blur together for Puffy. She wasn’t sure if that was due to her lack of sleep, or the monotony of constantly driving around all day.
Probably both.
It was hard to sleep when the safety of her son was unknown.
Out in the cold for weeks. The winter coat he had would only do so much to fight off hypothermia… God, she just wished he could reply to a text or call her again, anything to tell her he was still okay. She kept replaying the phone call they had a week in her head ago over and over again in her head.
Was there something she could have said differently that could have convinced him to come back, or for him to wait where he was for her to come and help out?
He so quickly went from sounding awkward and guilty to snapping and being angry. There was only so much of that she could dismiss as being exhausted. Maybe she shouldn’t have pushed to know where he was so hard, it probably came off as though she was trying to track them down to harm Ranboo.
That wasn’t necessarily true, if protecting an android was the best way for her to keep Tubbo around, so be it. But if the android posed any sort of threat to either of the kids she wouldn’t hesitate to turn Ranboo in, even if it made her the villain in Tubbo eyes. His safety was more important, and he’d understand eventually even if he’d have to wait for him to grow up a bit more. Puffy was well aware how stubborn her son could be if he got something in his head. He was clearly dead set on th-
“Oh fuck!” Puffy shouted suddenly, slamming on the break as much as she could without skidding on the ice.
“What’s wrong?!” Niki questioned, mildly panicked as she looked around the vehicle.
“I’m pretty sure there was a kid in the snow!” Puffy answered.
She’d already unbuckled her seatbelt and had opened her door to go out in the cold.
Niki followed suit.
They were both horrified to see that Puffy was correct. There in the snow lay a young girl. Neither could see breath coming from her, where in the cold weather both of theirs was clearly visible.
The only real consolation telling them this girl wasn’t dead was that, while her skin was quite pale, it hadn’t turned blue with frost. Puffy put her hand on the girl’s forehead, trying to feel for any warmth.
Fear struck through her as she felt as cold as the snow beneath her. And not only could she not see the breath coming from her, but her chest didn’t even seem to be rising and falling.
Puffy’s throat felt choked off as she looked up to an oddly calm Niki.
She knelt softly in the snow beside the sleeping form, gently brushing hair away from the kid’s face. She wasn’t blind to the worry in her partner’s eyes. No doubt Puffy was thinking about Tubbo being in a similar position, she’d voiced her worries about them being cold multiple times.
“She’s alright,” Niki assured softly, gesturing to the now exposed red LED that was slowly circling.
It was far from ideal, but she was still alive.
“Oh thank god,” Puffy sighed.
For a moment Niki was worried she was going to get up and leave the girl who was clearly… damaged? injured? She wasn’t sure what the correct term was. The point was she needed help. And who knew if the next people who would come across her would be sympathetic to her, or if they’d just shut her down.
“We…” Puffy began, seeming to consider her options, “Should we take… her with us?”
Puffy, despite now knowing it was an android, just couldn’t disconnect her initial concern for the girl. It felt deeply wrong to leave her out here alone. Sure, they were in the middle of something else quite important, but just having her in the car wouldn’t take up any of their time really. And maybe they could give it to Michael if it needed new parts.
She was just a kid, and didn’t deserve to die out here in the cold all by herself. Though Puffy didn’t even know if it was close to death at all, or if it could even feel the cold.
“No reason we shouldn’t, she’d be much safer with us,” Niki smiled softly.
Puffy nodded in agreement, she dug her hands into the freezing snow and lifted her up. It was surprisingly light. She’d always assumed androids were quite heavy, but this was maybe like a third of Tubbo’s weight, which made it very easy to carry back to the car.
The android began to stir as she did, its LED turning yellow.
“Hey there, we’re going to take care of you, you’re safe, okay?” Niki cooed as the android's eyes opened.
She nodded, before snuggling into Puffy.
“Do you have a name?” Niki asked once they got her settled in the car.
The kid shook her head with a small frown, “Was never given one…”
“Do you want us to give you one, or-”
“Yes please!” She cheered excitedly, interrupting Niki’s other suggestion.
She couldn’t help but giggle at the sudden switch in tone. Well there was no arguing with a kid that knows what they want.
“Well how about…” Niki paused to think, “Shy? I think that sounds nice.”
“I love it,” The girl agreed, “I’m Shy, my name is Shy.”
Well there was no way they could give her to Michael, Niki was obviously way too attached to her. And honestly Puffy found herself a bit fond too. She was laughing and giggling, so ecstatic at something so simple as a name. It was a child-like wonder that was unmatchable, even by a human child.
She had to wonder if something like this was what the boys saw in Ranboo. If this was the reason they were willing to travel to a different state on foot.
Because she couldn’t find herself blaming them in that case.