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1.
Beau and Bat watched as Bone carefully placed the basket of strawberry muffins onto the doorstep of Medkit’s home. They hoped he’d appreciate it; he hadn’t visited Thieve’s Den for a month and a half following Vinestaff’s passing. It was hard to witness; the Biografts were all already hurting after Subspace’s death earlier that year, along with Hyperlaser, Katana, and Boombox. Boombox didn’t know Vinestaff well enough to be terribly upset, but the others did. Biografts were all coping in their own ways. Katana slept longer and spent more time in his garden, and Beau remembered seeing him cry while caring for his beautiful pink carnations. Hyperlaser spent most of his time working or caring for Princess or the Biografts as an attempt to keep himself distracted. Shuriken and Slingshot were grieving, too, rarely leaving each other’s sides. Maybe Medkit just preferred to cope alone. So the Betas left him a gift in the hopes that it’d make him feel better.
...
Medkit opened the door to leave his house to do his weekly grocery shopping, just to be met with a basket upon his doorstep. Curiosly, he picked it up and gently lifted the white cloth covering it. It smelled nice, and inside of it was a dozen beautifully baked strawberry muffins and a wax-sealed letter. Whoever made this must’ve put a lot of effort and care into it. Medkit brought the basket inside and placed it on the kitchen table, taking the letter out of it. The front said, in small letters, ‘To Medkit’. He opened it, treating it kindly and gently, and removed the paper inside and unfolded it to read the text. In poor but deliberate handwriting, it read, ‘Hi Medkit, we hope you’re okay. We love and miss you - From, Betagrafts’.
Medkit stared blankly at the note for several moments before grimacing and angrily crushing it in his hands. He roughly put it and the envelope back into the basket and threw the basket into the trash. The gentle childishness of it, the Betagrafts themselves, the usage of homegrown fruit in the muffins- everything reminded him of her, and he hated it. Vinestaff... she was all he could think about anymore. He just wanted a little peace- just a moment without her plaguing his mind; it hurt him so much. He grabbed a fistful of his hair and pulled at it, choking out a sob. He’d stay inside again today.
...
2.
Two weeks of silence later, and the Betagrafts were back. This time Bone and Bat followed behind Beau. Beau stood directly outside Medkit’s door with the intent to speak to them soon. It raised its hand and knocked five times, and it and the other two waited patiently.
Very patiently.
For several hours.
...
Medkit heard 5 knocks at their door from their bedroom.
“Banhammer, should anyone be visiting today..?” Medkit asked quietly, unwilling to disturb the quiet and content moment they were sharing.
“I don’t think so?” Banhammer answered.
“Mm.. if nobody texts or calls.. it surely is not that important. I don’t want to see anyone other than you right now...”
“M’kay. Sounds good to me, baby.”
Medkit sighed, letting themself sink into Banhammer’s warm, comfortable chest further. Banhammer placed her hand on Medkit’s back and gently rubbed circles into it, blissfully unaware of the Betagrafts outside.
...
3.
“Oji ‘Tana?” Beau looked up at Katana with curious eyes while leaning against the old man.
“Yes, child?” Katana looked down at the Betagraft.
“When will Slingy-shot and Shurry-ken be done with work?” The Betagraft asked, watching Slingshot make a coffee for a customer.
“A few hours, still.” Katana shifted slightly in the seat of their booth to become more comfortable.
Katana wrapped her arm around Beau, and it purred at her. She affectionately bonked her horns against Beau’s. Beau trilled.
“I love you, Oji.” Beau purred.
“I love you too, my sweet child.” Katana smiled under his mask.
Beau quickly turned its head toward the entrance of Slingshot’s cafe, and Katana looked there too, now alert.
“Medkit! M-Medkit, hey! Medkit!” Beau shot up in its seat and waved.
Medkit acted as if he didn’t notice the Betagraft when he entered the cafe, crossing his arms and keeping his attention onto the menu. Beau kept trying to get his attention from its seat. Medkit didn’t expect or want to see the Betagraft, though, but what if it approached him? Would he just pretend it’s not there? What could he-...
Medkit acted like he noticed his phone vibrating and brought it to his ear, pausing for a moment. Beau couldn’t make out what he was saying, but Medkit seemed to become worried, and left quickly.
“Oh... he didn’t notice me, Oji.” Beau whimpered. “I miss him.”
“...Mhm.” Katana thought the avoidance looked purposeful, but he didn’t know how to tell Beau. He didn’t say anything.
“He never hears us at his door, either. Do you think his hearing is bad...?”
“Perhaps. Maybe he’ll notice you soon, child. Do you want to learn more about the meanings of flowers to take your mind off of him?”
“..Yeah,”
...
4.
It had been five months with no contact, and Bat rested its chin on Medkit’s doorstep, curled up on the rough ground, softly whining and whimpering as it waited for Medkit to come outside. It closed its sad, tired eyes and held its tail delicately in its hands. Bat missed Medkit so much. It missed everyone so much. Subspace had been gone so long and could never come back, and Bat just wanted its dad. Vinestaff had been gone for as long as Medkit, and she couldn’t come back either. Why wouldn’t Medkit, though? Medkit was fine and well. Bat knew it.
The door opened. Bat felt itself get so excited it got a little dizzy as it sat up straight and began wagging its tail. It watched Medkit come outside.
“M-M-Medkit! Me-eddy!” Bat flapped its hands and grabbed Medkit’s sleeve.
Medkit didn’t even spare it a glance, tensing and pulling their arm away and closing the door behind themself. They continued making their way to... wherever they were headed.
“Med..k-kit?” Bat’s excitement faded and disappointment quickly seeped into its voice.
It got no response.
...
5.
Bone silently placed the white tulips and blue hydrangeas that it, Beau, and Bat had grown in Thieve’s Den onto Medkit’s doorstep. The three had realized, now, that Medkit had been avoiding them, and the Betas had come to the conclusion that they did something wrong, and Medkit hated them for it- whatever it was. They felt terrible about it; what did they do that made Medkit hate them so much? He hadn’t talked to them for half a year. Maybe he just wanted an apology before he’d talk to them.
Hyperlaser placed beams hand on Bone’s shoulder.
“Bone, don’t wait for him today. Please go home. I’ll catch up to you, okay?” Hyperlaser kissed Bone’s shoulder. “I want to stay here alone for a moment.”
“..Okay. I will, tio.” Bone leaned down and bonked its head against Hyperlaser’s helmet.
“Thank you, kid. I know it hurts. I promise things’ll get better soon.” Hyperlaser smiled under her helmet. “I love you.”
“I love you too, tio..” Bone spoke quietly. It turned around and began making its way back to Thieve’s Den.
Hyperlaser knocked and waited a few minutes for the door to be answered. It wasn’t answered.
“Hey,” Hyperlaser spoke loudly. “It’s Hyperlaser. Please answer the door. I need to talk to Medkit.”
After a moment, the door clicked and opened slowly. Hyperlaser was met face-to-face with a tired and mildly annoyed Medkit. The deer Phighter’s hair was a bit messy, and his clothes were disheveled; he looked like he’d just gotten out of bed. His hair was not up in its usual low ponytail, and his eyepatch was not on.
“What do you want, Hyperlaser?” Medkit ran his fingers through his unkempt hair.
“Hello to you too, Medkit. Look,” Hyperlaser motioned to the flowers upon Medkit’s doorstep. “At those. Do you know what those flowers mean, Medkit? Do you know who left them for you?”
“.. The Beta Biografts left some stuff, again. White tulips are purity, forgiveness.. and peace. Blue... hydrangeas...” Medkit sighed. “I don’t know what those ones mean.”
“Blue hydrangeas represent forgiveness, rejection, and regret. Do you realize why they left these for you?”
“No. They should stop leaving me things.”
“They’re asking for your forgiveness, Medkit.”
“Forgiveness for what?”
“That’s exactly what they want to know.” There was something in Hyperlaser’s voice, something angry, the kind of anger a parent would have for their child. “You have been ignoring them ever since Vinestaff’s passing. They think they did something wrong.”
“...They remind me of her. They remind me of Subspace. I don’t want to see them anymore.”
“Is that their fucking fault?”
Medkit was quiet.
“They’re not disposable creatures you can just throw away when they remind you of something bad or when you’re bored of them. You were just fine with them when Vinestaff was still around. They have emotions, they are their own people. You built a bond with them; you, of all people, should know this. Medkit, are you aware that they loved Vinestaff too?”
“Medkit, their father died. Soon after, Vinestaff did too. They had to go through that- keep in mind, they are children- and then you just decided to ignore them with no warning, no reasoning, and you avoided them, pretended they didn’t exist, for months. They love you, Medkit. I don’t understand why you can’t see that! They think that they did something to make you hate them! These poor fucking children, they wait by your door for hours and cry when they’re taken back home, and you won’t even think about them! Imagine if your caregiver just seemed to stop loving you! Do you know how fucked up that is, Medkit?! You’re traumatizing these children! They don’t- they CAN’T understand! They think something is wrong with them because of you, and all you’re thinking of is your goddamn self!”
Hyperlaser took a few deep breaths and curled her shaking hands into fists, silently thankful for her inability to produce tears.
“...I’m sorry-“
“Don’t tell that to me, tell it to the Betagrafts. They’ll be back tomorrow, just like they always are. I just hope you know how undeserving you are of their loyalty and their forgiveness.”
Hyperlaser left, and Medkit picked up the flowers and took them inside.
...
6.
Bone, Beau, and Bat snuggled each other at the bottom of Medkit’s doorstep, whimpering and sobbing on each other, waiting for him once again, their hope for a response slowly fading away.
“...Betagrafts?”
The three jerked their heads in the direction of the voice. They must not have heard the door open. The Betagrafts all shot up like bullets, and Beau took a step towards Medkit, who took a small step back. He looked surprised.
“Me-Medkit! Medk-kit, we’re s-s-sorry, I-I p-promise it’s tru-ue!” Bat whimpered, loud and desperate and afraid Medkit would slam the door in its face before it finished talking. “Pl-Please don’t close th-the door!”
“What did we do, Medkit?” Bone asked softly. “Do you still hate us?”
“Stop it, you guys are saying too much! He’s gonna keep hating us ‘cause you’re overwhelming him!” Beau cried out, frustrated and sad.
Medkit’s eye widened, and he felt his chest tighten.
“Oh, please, don’t be mad at each other, I-...” Medkit swallowed thickly. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry for leaving you three for so long. You didn’t do anything. You didn’t deserve it,” He widely opened his arms. “Please... come inside.”
The Betagrafts nearly launched themselves onto Medkit. He was toppled over by them, and his ears were immediately filled with loud, rumbly purrs. Bone wrapped its arms around Medkit’s waist and hid its face in his tummy, and Beau buried its face in his neck and wrapped its arms around his shoulders, and Bat pressed its face against Medkit’s chest and wrapped its arms around Medkit’s torso and over the other Betagrafts. While the Betagrafts purred, they simultaneously emitted whines and sobs, and Medkit stared at the ceiling with a pale face. Hot tears filled and stung his eye, and he blinked and let them fall. He felt like the worst person in the world right now. Maybe he was. But all that mattered right now was comforting these children. He let himself lay under them all and feel terrible, as he deserved to. At least they were finally happy.