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“C’mon, not too much longer left to go.”
Mephone watched OJ call to him, as he continued along the dirt path. The sun shining through the gaps in the leaves of trees, creating an interesting shade that covered the ground below.
It was a nice temperature. Not too hot, nor too cold.
Just the way Mephone liked it. Which is why OJ decided to bring him somewhere today.
He wouldn’t say where, which made Mephone rethink going. Though.. he thought a little more, and assured himself that it was OJ. OJ just liked surprises. He could trust him.
There was absolutely no reason not to, after all. He was the first person to try understanding Mephone.
A lot more than anyone’s ever really done, before, really. Everybody just sort of.. hated him, which was reasonable- just…
Some people ended up hating him by default, even before he did anything wrong.
He picked up his pace, his breath harsh.
They’d just been walking for a good hour now. Way west of the Hotel- on the main land. Across the bridge.
Mephone made sure to note everywhere they went, just in case something happened.
There was always a possibility.
They walked under trees. Trees surrounded them, almost like a forest. Just.. less.. forestry.
The dirt path had faint marks in it. Mephone assumed it was from bikes, or other people walking.
The more he looked the more noticeable the bike trail was.
So bikes could go this way.
He internally groaned.
This is what OJ told him not to do. He always said he looked ‘way too far’ into things. That the element of surprise was to actually be surprised and not try to guess it.
Which made no sense to Mephone, but he just nodded. Not wanting to, like,.. hurt his feelings.
He caught up so he walked right behind OJ. Then he started noticing the scenery ahead start to change.
OJ seemed a lot more tired than Mephone was. Being a robot,- Mephone could go on a lot longer without getting tired when at good battery levels.
“Uhm..” Mephone mumbled, trying his best to initiate some sort of talk. The noise of bushes rustling with the slight wind was a little awkward.
“..So.. do you.. er..“ Mephone now walked alongside him, trailing off as he noticed OJ looking at him expectantly.
“-Do you walk this long a lot..? It’s- been a while.. how far- is this place, anyway?” He sputtered out, concern coated his tone.
OJ went back to looking in front of him, smiling naturally.
“Well, not all the time, sometimes though. It’s great exercise.”
Mephone gave just a noise of acknowledgment, continuing the walk. Though, his gaze remained on the dirt path with the funky shadows from the trees above.
Then, the walking came to a sudden halt, when OJ stopped, as he let out a satisfied sigh.
Mephone paused, lifting his head up and looking around.
Then, he noticed they stood by a.. rather large lake.
All around the lake was dirt and grass, only a small wooden curb blocking the lake from getting water on the grounds beside.
It was pretty, Mephone had to admit. The sun made the water look almost magical. The yellow-red from the near sunset reflected off of it, and it looked shiny.
It sparkled.
“So, thoughts?”
Turning, he was met with OJ staring at him, a hopeful, but also prideful expression on his face. A noticeable grin, aswell.
Rolling his eyes, Mephone kicked his foot forward weakly, causing some stray stones to roll into the water with a quiet plop.
He raised his eyebrows up, turning his head to OJ.
“Nice.”
OJ’s smile grew, and he shoved his hands into his jean pockets.
“Alright. Let’s go, I have more to show you.. you’ll like it, swear.”
Mephone felt a warmth inside of him.
The lake was nice.
But…
Lakes were.. big pools of water.
Mephone stood as far from the edge as he could as he followed behind the man in front.
The sound the water made as it was pushed by the light breeze was calming, in some way. The sound was nice,-
But Mephone didn’t want to be anywhere too near it.
OJ took him around the lake, to some small docks. A canoe was left there, tied to a wooden beam by some rope. It looked old.
“So. Wanna sit down? Just there.”
OJ pointed over to the bright wooden dock in front of them, motioning for him to sit at it.
A small cloud of anxiety intruded Mephone’s mind, telling him he’d fall if he stepped on it- and what not.
He just inhaled heavily, brushing all of his negative thoughts away. OJ planned this and walked an hour to bring him here. He couldn’t ruin it because of some dumb, irrational fear.
Irrational.
It was totally, very irrational.
He nodded with the most convincing smile he could give, and slowly stepped onto it.
Each painful, suspenseful step he took caused the wood to creak under his feet. His only constant thoughts were along the lines of,-
Please don’t break. Don’t collapse.
Gulping, he slowly crouched down, and sat, his hands slightly trembling.
OJ then walked beside him, as normal as ever, the creaking making Mephone wince.
OJ then took his seat, comfortably letting his legs fall over the edge.
Mephone didn’t know how he was so comfortable. Was he not worried he’d fall in?
Or was that just Mephone?
Because OJ and him were different.
OJ was normal.
Mephone wasn’t.
He shuffled, sitting awkwardly with his legs criss crossed.
OJ patted the part of the dock beside him, looking at Mephone with a face of confusion.
“Come up here. You can see better.” He noted, his head slightly tilted. His orange coloured hair blew, but it somehow didn’t get in his face. Unlike Mephone’s.
Mephone hated that about his hair.
But he’d never cut it. He was comfortable with his hair. He didn’t want to change it like that. Dying it was enough. He’d done enough with it recently, with Knife and all that.
“Mephone?”
Mephone brought himself back, and reluctantly scooted over to sit by OJ, allowing his legs to fall over the dock, swinging over the blue pool as OJ’s did.
He swallowed, the longer he stared at the water, the more he felt like he’d fall. He’d sink. Go up in a fuckton of volts like.. last time. He wasn’t fond of that idea. Not like that.
He swore he could feel his heart pumping the modified oil through his systems faster than it was designed, his chest began aching.
Just as he felt the sweat collecting on his forehead, a firm hand gripped his shoulder. A warm hand. Non threatening.
Not like his.
Mephone bit his lip, pulling his eyes away from the water, to OJ. Who looked just as worried.
But not about the water.
About something else.
“You won’t fall. You see these docks? They’ve been around since I was way younger. Definitely sturdy, especially since people used to have heavy buckets on these things. For putting in the boats.”
His voice was quiet. Not too quiet, but quiet enough. Comforting, even..?
That was embarrassing to say, but no one could hear his thoughts, so it was okay.
“Mhm..” He hummed back, feeling a little more at ease. Maybe it wasn’t.. as bad as he thought.
“Even if something bad did happen, Mephone, I wouldn’t let you get hurt.”
That made Mephone perk his head up.
..
OJ seemed worried about him.
That thought almost made him laugh.
He always had the same question on his mind. Even if it was at the back of his mind, it was always still there. He constantly waited for the answer. He’d never get it, but he’d think of it all the time. Sometimes, it even prevented sleep at night. More than the dark did, too.
Why did OJ care so much?
..
Just months ago, he stood in a courtroom, those annoying cameras surrounding him. Him, and everyone else.
And OJ gave him a look of annoyance. Hatred. Disgust, even. How you’d look at an insect. Or how you’d look at your worst enemy.
Now, though..?
The look OJ gave him was welcoming. Kind.
Trusting.
Understanding.
The way you’d look at a cute puppy.
The way you’d look at your..
..
It was a nice look.
But Mephone never understood why he chose to try.
Why did he choose to help him that night?
Mephone could remember the wet cloth against his head. The cold. Even if it was a blur. Even if he wasn’t right in the head that night.
He applied the bandaid to that wound.
And he always applied more.
He never doubted him after that.
He just…
Trusted him. He treated him like..
A person.
Those thoughts are the thoughts that ran through Mephone’s head, as he stared at OJ, while he stared at him.
If Mephone could write that letter again..
He shook away the thought.
Mephone had so many words, but they wouldn’t come out.
All he could muster up..
“..Thanks.”
A short thanks.
A short thanks to the man who’s the reason he’s alive right now.
OJ pursed his lips, then bent slightly over the water.
Mephone felt a surge of fear rush through him for a moment, and just as he was about to grab OJ back out of instinct,-
“If you look close, you can see some fish swimming. Wanna have a look?”
Mephone stopped.
He wasn’t going to fall in.
He was..
Looking at fish?
Mephone shuffled closer to OJ, their shoulders now touching.
He could feel his nails digging into the old wood, as he bent over himself, not as much as OJ, but enough to see the water below.
He squinted, and noticed something moving under the water.
He bent slightly further, suddenly forgetting about all of his anxieties.
It was a fish.
He watched as it swam about, the small bubbles that came after it.
He also noticed his own reflection in the water whilst gazing.
OJ’s too.
He could see OJ’s reflection looking at him.
Still smiling.
Warmly.
A happily jumpy, yet calm, relaxed feeling took over.
He felt himself begin to smile.
By himself.
His face just moved on its own. He didn’t have to do it himself.
It just happened. And it wasn’t exhausting.
“I see it- it’s.. why’s it staying just there, though?” Mephone questioned, his voice seemed less harsh. Quieter.
Lighter.
OJ chuckled, leaning over to look at the same fish.
“Maybe he likes you. Maybe he can see you too, guy just wants to say hi!”
Mephone’s smile grew wider.
He waved nicely, down at the small fish under.
—————
It was the first time OJ saw him smile like that.
OJ watched as Mephone beamed, waving down at the fish he saw. It was a thin fish, larger lengthwise. Still small though.
Mephone seemed to like it.
“You should give the fish a name.”
Mephone whipped his head around, raising an eyebrow, puzzled.
“What?” He laughed, his smile only getting brighter.
“Well, the fish can’t be nameless, can it?”
“-Can he.” Mephone corrected, a finger raised.
Mephone turned back around, leaning down to look at the fish again.
He began humming, and slowly began to speak.
“Hey, OJ..”
“Yeah?”
Mephone sat himself up properly, and fiddled with his hands.
“Is that fish red?”
OJ stopped, only half understanding what Mephone was getting at.
“It sure looks like it. Hard to tell, since the colour of the water, but..” He trailed off, his eyes landing on Mephone’s expression.
It was one he couldn’t put into words.
“I sure say so.”
Mephone gripped the dock’s wood again as he bent back over, nodding to himself.
“Then his name can be Red.”
OJ felt himself still.
..
He knew that name.
He decided not to question it, though.
Maybe..
“Hey, look what else.”
OJ lifted his legs back up onto the dock, pushing himself so he was nearer to the grass and dirt.
He spotted it.
The small rocks, there were always piles of pebbles and rocks in places like these.
He grabbed a few, pushing himself back down beside Mephone.
Opening his hand, he dumped the pile in between the two of them.
Mephone’s face scrunched up in confusion.
“Huh?”
OJ just spread the pile out, grabbing a flatter rock, holding it in his hand.
“What’s with the rocks?”
Laughing to himself, OJ just smirked.
“Watch this.”
Tossing the rock, it seemed to bounce along the water with multiple splashes. All until it stopped, and the water submerged it.
A loud gasp came from beside him, and Mephone had his hands raised.
He seemed to do that when he was surprised.
“Cool huh? Wanna do it yourself?”
Blinking rapidly, Mephone gave him a stare that could only mean, ‘Absolutely!’
“Alright, here-“
Taking up a similar rock to the one he just threw, OJ handed it to Mephone, letting it sit in his hand.
“Pinch in between the fingers- since it’s smaller.”
Mephone did just that, and turned back to him, awaiting further instructions.
“Okay.. now, it’s all in the wrist. Try to throw it in a way where it’d jump along the water. Low and flat.”
Straightening up, Mephone stuck his tongue out in concentration, getting ready to throw.
Then he did.
The small rock bounced along the water, even further than OJ’s.
Mephone kicked his legs a little, now smiling with his mouth open.
“WOAH! You saw that? Further than yours! That’s probably a world record.. for..- uhh.. bouncing rocks on water?”
Bouncing rocks on water?
OJ grabbed his stomach, and felt himself laugh.
Laugh a lot. The type of laugh that makes your stomach hurt.
Mephone pouted, making a face.
“Hey?! That’s what it is!!”
OJ wiped his eyes, nodding as he giggled.
“Ahh.. it’s- skipping rocks, Mephone. Skipping rocks.”
Rolling his eyes, Mephone leaned backward and crossed his arms.
“Yeah well, I’m a better rock skipper than you, so take that!”
An amused smile remained on OJ’s face, as he picked up another rock.
Then he felt the mood start to shift slightly.
“Well.. let’s see then. We can do more.”
Mephone beamed, a determined expression plastered on him.
“You’re on!”
“-But uh.. while we.. challenge each other- I just..”
Tell him.
Ask him.
You need to talk to him now.
“- I’d like to talk.. about something with you.. if that’s.. okay.”
Furrowing his brows, Mephone seemed to grow slightly uncertain, with that comment.
“Huh… okay, then..”
The two both got their own rocks, skipping them along the stretch of water. Each splash glistened, and the imperfect bumps and small waves looked beautiful.
The calm wind helped OJ collect his thoughts.
“Okay.. so…”
He began, tossing another rock.
“I just.. I’ve been.. thinking, a lot, Mephone.. about…”
It sank.
Mephone’s bounced.
“-About..”
It sank.
He bit his lip, gripping the next pebble in his hand, tightly.
“Your letter.”
Mephone threw another just as he spoke those words, and froze up immediately.
“-My.. letter…?”
OJ could feel his heart beat in his eardrums.
“..You remember, don’t you?”
Gulping, Mephone quickly threw yet another, whilst OJ dropped his pebble.
“I do.” He stated flatly, defeated.
He threw again. And then again. Quicker each time, like it was a stress reliever.
“..You mentioned.. in that letter..”
OJ’s breath hitched, and his voice broke a little.
His breathing quickened slightly, and he bit down on his lip.
“That I am like… a..”
Mephone stopped the throwing, resorting to grabbing at his shorts instead.
His eyes were shut tight, and he was closing in on himself.
The poor guy was scared.
He was afraid.
It made OJ resent that man even more, he felt the stories Mephone told weren't…
The whole truth.
What did he do to him? To make him afraid of talking about how he felt?
So afraid.. he had to put it in a letter.
A letter he was willing to forget existed.
“That I am like a father.”
Mephone flinched, and brought his legs up, scooting backward and bringing his knees to his chest- hugging them tightly.
He was almost facing Mephone’s back.
Mephone didn’t reply.
“Mephone…”
OJ raised his arm slowly, and placed a reassuring hand on Mephone’s back.
With slow, steadiness, he rubbed in a circular motion.
At first contact, Mephone tensed up- but relaxed after a moment.
There was silence.
Until OJ continued.
“That’s okay.”
A weak, quiet sob came from Mephone, and OJ could feel the vibration of his body shuddering in his hand.
He moved his hand up, taking Mephone by the shoulder, pulling him close.
“That’s okay, Mephone.”
Sniffling, Mephone buried himself closer, resting his head on OJ’s shoulder, not bothering to quiet himself.
OJ’s heart shattered into a million pieces then and there.
The cries made OJ’s stomach turn.
He had a million questions.
How could someone do such a thing?
Hurt a child, so badly-
That they become afraid of their own emotions.
How could somebody listen to those cries for so long, and not comfort him?
Instead, cause more?
It made his stomach churn.
He hugged Mephone tighter.
“That’s okay.”