Chapter Text
He hadn’t really thought about it when the ranger had first come to him for help, but he was honestly starting to get a little irritated at the broken pronunciation of the words that the other was saying as he stood behind the man. If this had been any other book, he might be willing to understand… but this?
This was nothing to any of the students he'd usually encounter.
“You cannot be serious right now… This is the book that you're struggling with?” Ratio says as he peers over the pages. “A basic intermediate school read?”
“Y-yeah…?” The cowboy almost seemed to wilt in place when he heard that, metal fingers accidentally catching the page he was on as he snapped to attention as he fidgeted with the paper, not yet realizing that the page was stuck. “I'll get it, jus’ gimme a lil bi-” It wasn’t until he heard the ripping of the page that he realized what was happening. “F-fudge! Uh, I’m sorry…!”
“Did your parents also not teach you not to damage the property of others?” Veritas scowled at the man as he watched him fumble with the paper and trying to get it out of his finger joints without causing further damage.
“I'll fix it, o-or replace it…!” With the way he was panicking, he was having a hard time trying to not do more harm than good as he gently worked the paper out. “I'm sorry, uh… fork… my dads really tried their best, doc… and these fudgin’ hands…! Uh… They ain't as delicate as they used to be…”
For a moment, Veritas stopped when he realized the true distress of the other, things clicking slowly into place as he watched Boothill seem to start to panic. He bit at the inside of his cheek before he sighed softly and started to pull out the chair to settle himself down beside the other and take the book to look it over for a moment. The damages were miniscule… but this book. This book was harder to find despite it being an easier read for others.
When the cowboy had asked for the history book on this particular subject, he'd thought nothing of it… but he recognized the name of this planet.
And he also recognized the reason why this book was actually so hard to find…
Was this…?
Veritas shook his head as he gently flipped the page. “Perhaps I spoke a bit too harshly… this book is quite easy to find, so do not fret too much over this small tear. Come here, show me what you were struggling with reading.”
A fib, but he wasn't exactly hurting for money either… And some careful taping would do the job.
The cowboy seemed cautious for a moment, but moved in just a bit closer and gestured to the first few lines. “I can get a few of the words… I’m not dumb, I jus’...”
“Not everyone had the same privileges in their youth as their peers,” Veritas sighed as he reached for the ranger’s hand to place his finger under the first word in the sentence. He sighed as he made eye contact with Boothill, his expression almost contemplative as he watched the cyborg. “It was… unfair of me to assume your education level. And for that, I apologize sincerely.”
“Nah, doc, it's fi-”
“It is not fine. I overstepped, made baseless assumptions about how you were raised and for that you deserve an apology.” Veritas sighed as he shook his head. “Now, please… focus on the pages.”
He didn’t even seem to realize Boothill's shock as he gently pressed the other’s metal hand to the pages again. Boothill almost wanted to pull his hat over his face when he realized he felt a little hot under the collar. Was he steaming?
“I am going to read the first few lines to you, but then it will be your time and we'll sound them out.”
He was gentle as he guided the other’s hand while he read. Each word spoken a little more carefully than he would usually do with his students, when he’s done speaking, he doesn’t realize how distracted Boothill seems at first. It takes him a while as he watches him, but eventually he can’t help but see how troubled the man seems again.
Something about that look actually hurt him when he realized the weight of this whole thing.
“I may be presuming,” Veritas clears his throat to get the ranger’s attention back on him again. “But was this… your home plant, by any chance?”
“Heh, I’m an open book, huh?” The ranger laughed heartily at his joke, but even Veritas could tell it was a little empty. “Yeah… this was my home.”
Boothill couldn't help himself as his fingers touched over the picture of a familiar place. “It’s… mighty nice seein’ it all in one piece again.”
He didn’t even need to look up to realize the hesitation in the ranger’s voice.
This man in front of him… It didn’t take a genius to realize just how much weight was on him.
His body, almost entirely composed of metal and planet razed… What all had he lost in his life? It almost had the doctor scared to ask how everything felt to be the one seeing history in motion.
A long drawn out sigh from Boothill drew him out of his thoughts as the ranger stared at the pages in front of him. “I… actually took her to see this place… It really was a beaut… The first time I got ta see her runnin’ around.”
Her? More family…?
Veritas' hold of the other’s hand tightened a little as he scanned the picture. After a few moments, he started to move again, being delicate with the ranger’s hand as he kept him in place. “How… about I read you the rest of the chapter? The author details a lot of beautiful places on this planet in this one and I feel you should be able to enjoy the material…”
“Hey, uh, doc.. you sure about that? Wasn't I supposed to be learnin’ here…?”
“You will. One of the easiest ways to learn is to listen, you'll be reading with me but hearing the words will help.”