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Ever since APOLLO was recovered from Far Zenith clutches, Beta has been glued to her interface as if Aloy had set off an adhesive bomb in the living area. It reminds Aloy of the single-minded obsession she had when she was searching for a backup of GAIA. It was why she preemptively asked GAIA to keep an eye on her during her trip to the Burning Shores. She was hoping that Beta might take better care of herself once the novelty of APOLLO wore off a bit, but if anything, it had only gotten worse. Any suggestions about taking breaks or eating meals were met with distracted replies like: “One moment, Aloy”, “Not hungry yet”, “Almost done”, “mmhmm” etc etc.
Aloy grumbles as she returns to her room after yet another failed attempt to get Beta to eat. Her hand comes up to pinch the bridge of her nose in frustration as she leans heavily against her desk. Firstly, why is being a sister so difficult? If Beta keeps this up, she is going to fall sick and Aloy is already unsure of what to do with the rapidly rising panic in her chest. Secondly, Aloy isn’t sure she likes being brushed off so nonchalantly when she was only worried about Beta’s wellbeing. Surely, she doesn't sound like that when brushing people off…does she?
A Varl-like chuckle wells up in the back of Aloy’s mind and she huffs sadly into her empty bedroom. “At least I have the decency to brush you off directly by leaving you in Meridian. Waiting a whole day for Beta to eat because she said ‘one second’ is different.”
An image of Varl teasing her flashes unbidden across her mind. “You said we would leave in the morning.”
A pang of deep sadness strikes Aloy and she sucks in a quick, sharp breath. Nope. She is not doing this today. Excess feelings can go away. Sent into her mental stash…for preferably forever. She is supposed to be cooking up a plan to peel Beta from work to get some food and rest, not…whatever this is.
Focus Aloy . Beta needs to eat. Perhaps dinner can still be salvaged if she can make a quick trip to Plainsong to ply Beta with some Sourfruit Tart…
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When Aloy returns to the Base, Beta is not in her usual spot in the living area. Worried, she pings Beta on her focus. There is no answer.
“GAIA, where’s Beta?”
“Beta is on APOLLO in her room. She has been exceptionally focused on learning and searching for leads on NEMESIS lately. I am worried that it is taking a toll on her health.”
Aloy sighs, collecting some extra food and water before making her way down to the basement. “You and me both GAIA, you and me both.”
A quick bloop and swoosh of the door has Aloy breezing into Beta’s room when she hears it.
A cough .
“Beta?” Aloy clocks her sitting up on her bedroll, cheeks slightly flushed.
Beta’s hands continue moving uninterrupted across her interface. “Yeah?” Another cough.
Aloy narrows her eyes at Beta’s glassy ones. “I think you are sick.”
A scratchy, non-committal hum floats into Aloy’s ears.
Aloy feels like she might be reaching the end of her patience.
“Beta.” Aloy tries again, frustration leaching into her tone.
“mhmm?”
“You need to rest and eat. I brought you a ta-”
“Later”
“Now.”
“Not hungry”
Aloy’s frustrations boil over. She growls as she swipes her hand across Beta’s interface and turns it off.
“Wha- Hey!”
“Don’t ‘Hey’ me!” Aloy says firmly as she squats to eye level. “You have not been sleeping or eating and now you are sick. She shoves the tart straight under Beta’s nose. “Eat. Tart. Now.”
Beta glares at Aloy, arms crossed indignantly. Aloy glares back, tart in outstretched hand.
“I’m fine” Beta grouses. “Everyone is trying their best to find a lead on NEMESIS and I finally have unrestricted access to APOLLO. I need to learn as much as I can from it.” Beta’s tone sharpens defensively, “Besides, you push yourself all the time!”
Aloy stiffens. Not at the provocation, Aloy is only too aware of when people are trying to pick a fight with her, but rather at what she feels Beta had left unsaid. Following her instincts, she softens. “Beta.” She begins gently. “You are safe here. No one is going to take APOLLO from you.”
Beta flinches. Bullseye .
“APOLLO is back with GAIA and GAIA is now back with us. Far Zenith can’t hurt you, GAIA or anyone else ever again. I will continue to protect you both no matter what we encounter in the future. Nobody is going to be restricting your access either.” Beta opens her mouth to retort but Aloy beats her to it. “I know, NEMESIS is coming but we have bought some time remember? Your health is important so can you try to take care of yourself? Y’know, eat, drink and sleep?.”
Beta frowns. “Define taking care.”
Aloy opens her mouth and then closes it in the same breath. An identical frown appears on Aloy’s face as she mulls the question over. The first thing that comes to mind is ensuring that any wounds get taken care of quickly, but that’s not applicable to Beta right now. As for eating, drinking and sleeping, lately, Aloy makes do with what she can get, when she can.
(What did Rost say about taking care of herself again? Before the Proving, before her entire life got turned upside down?)
“Eat an average of 3 meals a day, drink 8 cups of water and obtain 8 hours of sleep.” GAIA’s voice supplies helpfully, breaking Aloy out of her thoughts.
“Well…” Aloy begins uncertainly.
“That's…” Beta continues incredulously.
“A lot…” Both finishes simultaneously.
“Indeed.” GAIA says in her kind voice that is also somehow gently chastising and…is that a hint of smugness that Aloy detects?
A stomach grumbling brings Aloy’s attention back towards Beta. Her ears are tinged red as she reaches for the forgotten but still outstretched tart. Aloy smiles gently and begins to move to retrieve the other supplies when she is interrupted by a raspy, uncertain, whispered, “Stay?”
“...Yeah. Scoot over.”
Which is how Aloy finds herself sitting up on the bedroll with Beta on her right, nibbling on her tart, very much like how a squirrel would nibble on a nut. It’s adorable, but Aloy can see that this conversation has clearly taken its toll on Beta. While Aloy doesn’t think her fever and cough have gotten worse, she is visibly more tired.
“Second Time Around?” Aloy asks as she pulls up the Holo.
Beta brightens and nods, taking bigger bites from her tart now that her hunger seems to be registering. The tart quickly disappears and Aloy hands over more food and water as they watch the episode together. Slowly but steadily, Beta’s leaning more and more against Aloy until her head drops unceremoniously onto Aloy’s shoulder. She waits until she is sure Beta’s deep asleep with even breaths before closing the holo. Holding her breath, she carefully and gently maneuvers Beta fully into bed...only for her to sleepily roll onto her side and use her right hip as a pillow. Perplexed as to how quickly she was trapped, an experimental wiggle causes Beta to murmur unhappily, and her right arm comes up across her legs, trapping Aloy even more.
Aloy sighs, fondly this time, and resigns herself to waking up sore tomorrow. “GAIA, how is she doing?”
“Her fever is beginning to recede. With a full night’s sleep, I expect her to make a quick recovery over the next 2 days.”
“Thanks GAIA, goodnight.”
“Goodnight Aloy.”
The lights start to dim and Aloy looks down at her sister, protectiveness bubbling in her chest. Beta has suffered immeasurably from her time with the Zeniths and has endured it alone. She gently grasps Beta’s right hand in her much more calloused left. Never again, Aloy silently vows. She will protect her home, her people with everything she has.