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Tekhartha Zenyatta.
i've heard a lot about him from Ramattra. they were-.... they are close. despite their opposing morals. despite the fact that they argue. despite the fact that Ramattra is endlessly frustrated that Zenyatta won't see things for how they are and join Null Sector.
they're still so close.
close enough that when Ramattra aches for home (he does, i know he does because i do too), Zenyatta allows him to slip into the Monastery without ratting him out. in fact, Zenyatta welcomes him back with an open heart and open arms.
i've never seen anyone hug Ramattra. i came close a few times, but.... well, it doesn't really matter. even if i had, it would have been nothing compared to the way they hug. they fit together like puzzle pieces. their model types are so different, but it looks like they were made for each other.
Zenyatta's arms wind around Ramattra so he can play with the tail end of his cloak, faded in that exact spot where he had done so a hundred times before. and Ramattra cradles Zenyatta's head to his chest, leaning down until his cranial wires are obscuring both of their face plates.
what am i doing here?
i wanted to visit the Monastery. i wanted to see if my writing is still on the underbelly of loose bricks, and if anything in the workshop needed fixing.
Ramattra was kind enough to let me come with him.
i knew they were close, but i didn't prepare myself for this twisting feeling in my gut.
i'm seeing something i'm not supposed to.
i don't belong here.
i turn away from them and continue up the steps. i'll go look at those bricks and try to get that image out of my head.
"You must be the Mechanic."
Zenyatta's voice sounds like wind chimes and soft bells. i stop, turning back just enough to see that they've broken away from the hug.
"Ramattra has told me much about you."
i glance at Ramattra, and he nods.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you in person."
he holds out his hand. i come back down the steps to shake it. his hand is surprisingly warm, intentionally warm. One of the many potential quirks of a Comfort omnic.
after a brief shake, he lets go, then holds out his arms to me.
what is he doing?
his arms lower a bit, not entirely, before he finally clarifies.
"Do not feel obligated to hug me. I understand some find it to be a bit much for greetings."
.....ah. he's offering me a hug.
(when was the last time- will the rest of him be warm- what if i can't be normal about it- what does Ramattra think- is he only doing this to be polite- do i deserve this-)
i don't know what possesses me, but my body sets into motion before i can stop myself. my mask clanks softly against the metal of Zenyatta's shoulder when we make contact. we're close enough now that i can feel the gentle heat radiating from his whole body. there's something else there too. something i can't place. a feeling. a sort of soft hum that i can't really hear. it isn't the sound of his internal mechanisms. no, i know that sound well. this is something different. almost like the feeling is coming from within both of us and combining in surrounding air.
but still, i refuse to move my arms. i don't want him to feel trapped, to feel obligated anymore than he already does. if he decides to push me away now, i won't blame him.
but he doesn't, because of course he doesn't. he wraps his arms around my back and gently pulls me against him.
i think i'm shaking. i'm warmer than i've been in a long time, and i'm shaking.
hm.
he pats my back, reintroducing space between us with his hands on my shoulders, and it feels like he took something important with him. as though i fit against him just as well as Ramattra does. or i did, in the moment.
"You must be cold." i am cold and he knows it. i'm not sure why he's saying it as though he's making a guess. "Let us head inside."
Zenyatta pulls his hands away, taking his warmth and gentle hum with him.
the inside of the Monastery is warmer than being outside. but there is no heating system, so the mountain chill still gnaws at my joints.
Ramattra and Zenyatta hang a left, and i continue straight.
"Where are you going?" Ramattra asks quietly, and i turn around to the sight of them both stopped in the hall, staring at me.
"the workshop. figured i'd make myself useful and find something to fix."
"How do you know where you are headed?"
"i've been here before."
"Really?-"
"Perhaps-" Zenyatta interjects. "-we should save this conversation for when we reach our destination."
"Ah, of course." Ramattra steals a glance around. "Come, Mechanic." he waves me over, and i don't think twice again about following the two omnics.
neither of them are speaking, though their hands are interlocked. i may be so sleep deprived that i'm starting to hallucinate (which has happened before), but they both let off a soft glow. like warm candlelight.
Zenyatta turns to face me and offers out his empty hand. i take it. Ramattra angles his faceplate down towards us, but doesn't comment. the buzzing from before comes back to a lesser extent. that slight warmth, and that slight relief from the ache in my muscles returns as well.
we walk, hand in hand in hand, and i feel like i'm falling. like my stomach is flipping. like eventually i'm going to hit the ground hard. Zenyatta squeezes my hand and i squeeze back.
i don't notice we're walking through the living quarters until the three of us are stopped in front of a door. Zenyatta lets go of us both to open it, stepping aside for us to enter.
it's Zenyatta's room.
he's got a nest in the corner. there might be a mattress under all of those pillows and blankets, but i doubt it. there's a desk pressed against the wall nearby, stacked with some odds and ends. a few framed photos of who i assume are friends, a couple of books, some half burnt candles, a small collection of dried flowers, handfuls of pretty rocks.
and, of course, he has a charging station. it looks functionable, but definitely outdated. maybe i could upgrade it for him?
Ramattra takes a seat on the chair in front of the desk, and Zenyatta moves some things aside to sit on the desk itself.
"Please, make yourself comfortable," Zenyatta says, directing his words at me.
i find myself most comfortable when i have work to do, so i take a closer look at Zenyatta's charging station. besides, the only other place to sit is the nest, and i'm not stupid enough to assume i won't fall asleep.
the two of them converse in low tones. i could listen in, but i prefer to focus on the fraying wires of the other omnic's charger. it would be easy to get replace parts from the workshop, and even easier to swap the components out.
"Mechanic," Ramattra begins, and when I turn, both Omnics have their full attention on me. "You said you've been here before. When was this?"
"i lived here with my mentor when i was young."
"Really?" Zenyatta's tone pitches up in curiosity.
"mhm. she spends most of her time away from the Monastery though. offering aid where she can. we were on the road more often than not."
"Your mentor is a monk? Here?" Rammatra sounds baffled, posture straightened confrontationally.
i nod.
"i doubt she's here right now though."
"I thought it was rather strange that you requested to join me.... Why didn't you tell me?"
"you didn't ask."
"Right... Of course." He sighs
Ramattra and Zenyatta share a look before their attention returns to me.
"Speaking of asking things; Mechanic, what is it you are doing over there?"
"mh? oh, i was assessing your changing station. the wires are fraying. i could swap them out for you."
"There is no need for that, thank you. I use the lengthened charging time to meditate and reflect."
Zenyatta slides down from his perch on the table and approaches me.
"Besides, you must be tired after your journey. Wouldn't you like to sit for a while?"
he offers out a hand to me.
"i'm used to it."
"You shouldn't be."
.....i take his hand.
he leads me over to his nest, but remains in front of me.
"Turn around please."
he lets go of my hand and i oblige his request, though i can't think of why he would ask me to turn away.
warm metal arms wrap around my chest, and i am pulled against Zenyatta's chassis. the strength of his grip is lose, his pulling more of a suggestion than an act of force. it would be easy to break away if i wanted to.
i don't.
once he has me flush against his body, we both begin to tilt backward. to my surprise, the gravity around us seems to lessen. rather than crashing down onto the nest, our descent is slow and graceful until Zenyatta's form has fully sunken into the pillows. he's sat with his legs crossed, with me positioned within the gap.
by the Iris, he is warm . that hum has returned tenfold. it soothes the soreness of my joints, and for the first time in years, there's no pain. no cramp in my hands from handling tools for hours, no ache in my back from hunching over my desk and sleeping in my chair, no burn in my eyes from so many sleepless nights.
i'm shaking again. why am i shaking? i look down at my hands, try to imagine they are perfectly still, but willpower isn't enough. Zenyatta takes my hands in his own, ending my pointless attempt.
"Are you well?"
it feels like i'm still falling. when am i going to hit the ground? Zenyatta's grip loosens, his hands leaving mine.
"You are welcome to sit by yourself, if it would make you more comfortable-"
"No.... no, it's alright."
"Very well then."
he takes my hands again, and i return his grip.
the Monastery never felt like home to me. nowhere did, and i liked it that way. but this is-.... i think this is what home is meant to feel like.
my eyes begin to droop. the last thing i comprehend is Zenyatta's voice. is he speaking?... no, humming. his thumb caresses my hand.
˖ ݁𖥔.☁︎.𖥔 ݁ ˖
"Well, that didn't take long." The Ravager finally speaks, breaking the comfortable silence.
"No, it did not."
"I must admit, I am.... surprised."
"Really? Was it not you who said your Mechanic rarely sleeps, and never ceases their work? I would be surprised if they didn’t fall asleep."
"It isn’t that. I mean to say that I did not expect them to be so at ease. Especially with you."
"Oh?" Zenyatta tilts his head to the side, optical processors moving from the sleeping human to his omnic companion.
"They have never met you before, yet..." Ramattra gestures to their sleeping form with a wave of his hand.
"Well, perhaps they are so comfortable because I have been welcoming and thoughtful towards them."
"Mh..."
"And perhaps it is also because I have not sworn myself to conquering their entire race." Zenyatta's voice remains the same as always, low and gentle, but a rare edge to his inflection is present. One that Ramattra knows all too well.
"We are not doing this right now!"
"Because you cannot simply storm off this time?" Zenyatta glances back down at the Mechanic.
Ramattra grumbles a string of nonsense. The start of argumentative words begin and end before they can truly escape his voice box. He finally settles on nothing, and the gentle silence grows tense with the threat of quarrel.
".....it isn't as though they care." Ramattra finally mumbles.
"Hmm?"
"They don't care about humanity. They were the one who offered to join my cause, after all."
"Still. I doubt that helps them feel safe around you."
More silence. Less charged with ire, but tense all the same.
"....i cannot leave my debt to them unpaid, even if they are human."
"Your debt? You just said they volunteered to your cause-"
"No, no! Not that. I mean the-..... you know."
"Actually, I don't believe I do." His tone takes on a subtle teasing melody.
Ramattra sighs. "You really are going to make me say it out loud, aren't you?"
Zenyatta nods.
"Fine then. I owe them for their... extra care." He cringes through the words so hard his servos lock up in a wince. "Only, I could never imagine what they want for."
"Why not simply ask?"
"I-.... don't know."
"Hmm. Well, I believe you have your answer now."
Ramattra nods. A beat of silence.
".....Well?"
"Well what?"
"You wish to repay this "debt," do you not? There is no better time like the present."
The Ravager straightens, perhaps defensively, but Zenyatta offers out a hand. He cannot refuse. He shifts down from the chair and joins them among the downy. For a moment, he isn't sure what to do with himself. Their positioning leaves little room for a third participant, especially one as large as himself.
A bit of contemplation leads to Ramattra laying his head on his Mechanic's lap, though with them resting in the gap Zenyatta has created, his head is laying across one of the monk's legs as well.
"I suppose it will do for now," Zenyatta hums. "But next time the chance arises, I trust you will properly "repay your debt," yes?"
Ramattra shifts, facing upward to look Zenyatta in the eyes. "Of course.”