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Madkit remembered meeting that small child for the first time. It was like any other day. They had spent all night working on various alchemic equations and substances that had plagued their conscience for weeks, desperate to finally discover the solution. The utensils still coated their desk like a thick layer of dust. Med was tired, as usual.
They did not know why they met him. They don't know why fate chose this. He was a robot. Mad could tell. Or, maybe partially a robot. The robotic parts that pressed into his skin Med could not in a million years identify the origin of, which severely got under their skin, prompting them to want to know more. Who was he? Why was he metal? Why did he decide to speak to someone like them?
And... why did his smile warm their soul so thoroughly?
It started with Madkit desiring to unearth where and why this boy was the way he is, however it had bloomed into genuine love and appreciation for the other. It morphed into a familial urge to protect and shelter, and conceal him from the dangers if the outside world. Though, they couldn't do that. He had a parent already. A god.
That god had no business in knowing that his child had been conversing with an illustrious yet crazed scientist. It sounded bad that Med was meeting this demon quite often now, but truly, all they ever did was talk and Sword would often gift little things to them, which they surprisingly kept very close.
It was quite sudden. Something had happened with Sword's parent. Something that shook the entirety of the Inpherno, meaning he could no longer provide care, love and a home for the young boy. Without someone, Sword would not survive. Sword would die. Sword would be taken. Sword would be kidnapped and pried apart, his whole existence exploited, leaving him utterly traumatised and broken.
Madkit had to be quick. If someone knew, it would complicate everything. Sword had buried his way so swiftly into the scientist's brain, he was like a little robotic virus. When Mad looked into his eyes, the glow that emanated was not false, it was not fabricated - it was human, it was real. When Sword brushed by Med by accident, the warmth that radiated was filled to the brim with love and truthfulness.
It was the first time they had entered Madkit's laboratory since Sword's guardian had.... yeah. Sword was shaking, shadowing the scientist wishing he could get whisked away, never to be seen again. Mad looked at him. Lord. This boy was still so young - 13 years old to be exact - and all this had happened to him?
Med was not one to care about anything but their own projects and creations, but for some reason, this mattered.
Their typical insane yet composed appearance fizzled out as they peered back at the boy following behind.
"Sword, Sword." Madkit spoke the second word a tiny bit quieter. "I apologise that I pulled you away before you could bid farewell, but... they would have hurt you," Sword gave Med a terrified but also wistful glare, which worried them.
"I wanna go back.." Sword choked out, sadly. Med's heart twisted, sending a surge of pain throughout their nervous system.
"You can't. We can't." Mad spat. They wish it did not come out as harsh as it did, because directly afterwards soft sobs erupted from the child's throat and tears streamed down his eyes like a river - this was the first time the scientist had seen the boy cry, and it hurt. It felt like they were being burnt alive. It felt like they had failed already as his new caretaker.
"Sword." They did not know, but it felt like now was the right time to offer a hug. "Sword, do you want a hug?" The child paused wiping his face for a second to peek up at the scientist looming over him, and then diverted his gaze to the floor.
"Yes..." Sword chirped out, so quiet that Madkit almost didn't even hear it. Sword was apprehensive but went in for the hug, of which the taller demon reciprocated it openly. The wails continued to spill but at a slower rate.
"If you want to talk, no matter how heavy, I'll always listen to whatever is burdening you." Those words fell of their tongue, leaving a taste in their mouth that they had never felt before. They were not supposed to feel these feelings or say these things, let alone to someone who would be so beneficial to their research if they had just tied up the boy and tore up his body, layer by layer. So much would be learnt. But, they just couldn't. Maybe it was some instinct deep inside Madkit's body that stopped them from doing it.
"I don't want to... right now.." Sword whispered, unsure and very afraid.
"That is alright, don't worry," Mad responded - the statement, if only a little, calmed Sword's nerves. "I know we left so suddenly.. but it was for your own good." All Sword did was remain in the embrace and listen to the words being spoken to him. He did not really care what was said, just that someone was speaking to him and comforting him and caring for him and acknowledging his presence. It felt a little stupid, but he clung to it like he would die if he didn't hold onto it. In a sense, Madkit was all he really had left now. "Would you like to watch me do some work?"
"Mhmm! Yes please!" Sword screeched, excited at the prospect of being able to watch his brother perform their alchemy in front of him again. His eyes were still wet with tears but his cries had subsided.
"Alright, follow me!!" Med pulled out from the hug, yet the warmth from it resonated and remained on their skin like phantom limbs grabbing on for dear life.
Was this dangerous? Was this really the right thing to do? There was probably someone better out there who could take care of this boy much better than Madkit could... but they didn't know that kind of person existed, and they did not want to chance it. They in no way could risk the child being harmed. Though, the idea that Sword did not choose this still nagged at their mind. Is this really what Sword wants? Does Sword know what he is? Does Sword know why they needed to leave so urgently? Does he know the truth?
One day, Sword would need to know the truth. The truth that stung. The truth that forever remained in Mad's mind, no matter how happy the moment, it persisted and existed as a stark reminded that this was not right. That this was not supposed to happen. That this soon would come to a close. What hurt was that they did not know when it would. But, what hurt the most is that this boy did not know. Would he ever know?
Madkit resorted to holding their brother's hand, clenching it tightly and protectively, almost as if Sword let go, he would disappear or fade away. They rubbed their fingers along the crevices in the teen's hand - the metal plating it was sturdy and smooth and quite comforting. They began proceeding forward again, at a steady pace.
"Thank you, I'm sorry for crying... I just.." Sword spoke.
"It's okay, no need to thank me, and no need to apologise. I understand. This is tough. This was not an easy decision for me to make," The scientist admitted, their gaze drifting to the corners of the walls. Both trudged, satisfied to be in each other's company. Madkit let go of Sword's hand, pushing open a large double door, revealing their lab.
Just as messy as when Sword and Madkit first met. Some things just never change. Sword immediately bolted and sat himself in the chair situated by the desk, which had a myriad of colourful liquids and bottles scattered across its surface. Interested, he poked at a rack, housing multiple test tubes.
Mad followed suit and ran, though instead to scold Sword. "Hey, hey! Don't touch! You'll mess up the experiment!" The scientist pulled the boy's fingers away. Sword pouted.
"Aww.. c'mon.."
"Just sit still and watch and I'll show you, okay?" Madkit reassured. "Well. Over the past few weeks I have been trying to formulate and create ammunition for many weapons, and I think I have almost perfected it!" Mad shuffled about the containers on their desk and pulled out two, falling deep back into their mad scientist persona. "I have whittled it down to just these two - each having only a slight ingredient change, but the results very different!!" They viewed both test tubes in awe, marvelling in the fact that this was something that they had created all themself. "Okay. Okay. I've been carefully analysing and considering their properties, but I still cannot decide!"
Briefly, Mad peeked over to the boy.
His eyes had fallen shut and he seemed to be sleeping. At first, the scientist jumped to being offended, but then they softened, remembering how much the boy had been through. So much had happened recently - he really did need rest. Madkit set the glass back onto the table, walking over to the chair, bringing their arms around the teen, holding him in a bridal hold. He had fallen asleep fast.
The scientist trotted with haste to their bedroom, placing him onto it and tucking him under, brushing his overgrown fringe out of his face, smiling down at the child.
He looked so calm. He looked so happy. It was like time had stopped. Why did they meet this boy? Why did fate choose Med?
"Goodnight," Mad uttered.
It was going to be okay.
But still, like a worm in their mind, it whispered into the darkness.
Would Sword ever know the truth?
Medkit hoped he wouldn't.