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After the entire debacle at the slaughter house, 3456 had scolded him on and off for the better part of a week. Back at the smoke shop, punishment for a week would’ve been near unbearable, neither his mind or body functioning properly by the end of it. Yet somehow the quiet disappointment in 3456’s tone had been worse. Worse than worse when he realized the majority of the disappointment was aimed at herself. That understanding bypassed his black leaf withered nerves and struck somewhere deep in his chest, somewhere he could still feel pain.
Monate didn’t feel pain now. Even though in theory he should’ve been drenched in its passion. Still, the firmness in her voice as she had repeated the same sentiment she had in the Central Hospital had lodged itself near his heart, and it was without hesitation he swiped to her icon on his phone. The screen was a little difficult to navigate with slick fingers, each motion leaving a rusty streak on the digital display, but adrenaline steadied his chilled digits enough to tap out a short message.
‘Im in trouble’
‘Sorry’
Her reply came not even 5 seconds later. A terse ‘Where are you’ without even a question mark. That’s how he knew she was serious. 3456 was going to be mad. He could already imagine the burning red of her irises as she gazed down at the smear of parts his body had become on the grass. She wasn’t going to be happy, but he’d done his best, and that’s all she ever asked of him, never unfair like the man he’d once considered his foster father. Monate had even managed to press the gps locator link she’d texted him next before losing the feeling in his fingers completely and his phone slipped out of his grasp falling somewhere nearby. It really was the best he could’ve done.
The abomination which had caught him off guard lay in cold, limp pieces all around the lawn like the world’s worst birthday confetti. A conjoined mass of pulsating limbs and grotesque internals, what might’ve once been human had surged out of the darkness of the basement lab crushing beakers of assorted colourful liquids as he’d sprinted up the steps two at a time. If only he’d studied up more on the scientist he’d come to find. If only he’d run faster. If only, if only, the regrets were numerous, could easily be pulled out of the mire like handkerchiefs out of a magician’s hat. No what-if would change reality—the monster had caught the rabbit before it could disappear back into its silken burrow.
A scrap of ashen skin in the weeds nearby caught his gaze as Monate’s head fell back and he could do nothing but look up at the vibrant artificial sky near dusk. At least 3456 would be the one who’d get her hands on his body instead of any pervert or underground scuzzbag. Ash always said his rare lineage would fetch a decent price on the aftermarket. If that was still true, maybe his body could help fund one of 3456’s future projects. The thought was so pleasant, he almost drifted off, only blinking blearily when distant footsteps grew louder. When the shadow of his savior fell over him.
Her mouth was moving like she was saying something. He tried to focus back in, anchor himself even momentarily back to the body which had only ever caused him trouble. A curse from birth, it was still the only body he could communicate with 3456 through, one that she’d shown such care time and time again, his past life mere faint scars by the time she’d finished with him.
“3456… I called you,” Monate couldn’t help but smile, his mouth mirroring the crimson totem on his forehead. Brilliant arterial red gurgled from the corner of his lips skewing the optical illusion asymmetrical.
If he’d been expecting praise or scolding, neither came right away. The scene must’ve been really bad for her to be standing so silently. While the adrenaline still hadn’t cleared enough for the pain to hit, the chill in his extremities was seeping up through his limbs toward his core, or what was left of it with the majority of his organs decorating the grass. That expression didn’t suit her. It was up to him to lighten the mood a little.
“A band-aid might not cover it this time,” he giggled breathily.
“Don’t move your diaphragm.” A light sheen of sweat beaded her brow as 3456 glanced over his wounds, her eyes narrowed in concentration. It was pointless, he wanted to tell her as he saw the gravity of the situation quickly register, saw her chew her lip and try to reassess, but 3456 had told him to stop talking, and it would be bad manners to act up like a child at the end. She always had been hard-headed, bluntly honest, hopeless at mundane tasks like basic cleaning, but from before even the first time they’d met in person, 3456 had always done right by him. She was his treasured first friend. And he didn’t want to cause her more pain than he’d already.
3456 opened the work case she’d brought and her hands were flying so fast they became a blur. Really, just about everything was beginning to meld together in shifting colours. Monate would’ve loved it if she could stop and just hold him at the end, but 3456 was always in motion. Even if they went to the beach on vacation, he couldn’t imagine she’d be the type to suntan, more likely she’d find something productive to do even on a day off.
Something attached to his finger and an alarm immediately began dinging on a device nearby. The tell tale prongs of a nasal cannula hooked into his nose, small hands swiftly securing the cord behind his ears. It was only when the cold metal end of an instrument began to part his lips that Monate managed to muster enough remaining strength to knock 3456’s hand slightly off target.
“This will help keep your airway open,” 3456’s voice was deathly calm, but the red in her eyes flickered when he refused to let her go through with the intubation.
“Adult now…” He could make his own medical decisions. It was supposed to be a joke. The lady ripping her jacket off and balling it up under his head to elevate it didn’t seem to find it funny.
“Sorry your love went to waste…” He coughed violently, vision briefly blinking out.
3456’s face was so close when he phased back in. The thick coils of her hair brushed his face. He wished he could feel it when she pressed her forehead to his. “Never… it’s never once been a waste.”
“Would you… do something for me?” His fingers twitched slightly in the direction of the pocket knife he knew rested in her pants pocket.
“No.” Hands came up to cup his face. Through the dimming world, he realized that they were slightly shaking. “It seems not even an artificial body can vanquish human selfishness. The people I care about… I want to be with them with as long as I can.”
That was okay. He didn’t blame her for it.
“Would you object to spending more time together?” If he could see anything then, Monate would’ve seen a peculiar expression cross her face as her mouth formed the question.
So 3456 had a wistful side to her as well. It was only the most recent of the new things he found himself discovering about her even after so long. Meeting 3456 had opened up his world, completely reconstructed his idea of what life could be. More than sleeping and eating and killing and pursuing one-off rewards, he’d met a force of nature who’d showed him what it meant to truly love a person. Taught him the joy found in helping a friend reach a box of parts on a high shelf, found in cooking breakfast from an online recipe early in the morning as the sky began to change colours, found in knocking lightly at a door after a nightmare knowing entry would be granted, knowing a space would be made beneath the covers.
“I want… to be together too,” but…
He was so sleepy.
“Did I… do good today…?”
“You did good.” Came the response. Even in the darkness, her voice was warm.
A calloused palm brushed his face.
“I’m very proud of you, Monate.”
There was an angel staring down at him when he woke up. Not an angel in a mural this time but his angel. The Lemon Cat patterned pajamas 3456 was wearing indicated it was past evening. Her piercing red eyes, widened by shock, could’ve resembled the twin suns of a distant planet.
He instinctively moved toward her and rather than walked, found that he had leaped several feet off the surface of the work bench he was standing on. In surprise, he crashed into a pile of scrap metal inhabiting the corner of the counter. Wait, standing on?
When two hands came down resting palms up on the table, Monate gave moving a second try and managed to launch himself head-first into her grasp.
The gigantic elevator of 3456’s hands moved him up to her face and she examined his body. One of his ears twitched as he looked around. The apartment was a mess again. With the open boxes of several mail order parts littering the work area alongside the usual jumble of dishes and empty mugs, there was a lot to do. Only… as 3456 nodded and brought him over to the bathroom mirror, Monate gave a bit of a start. Rather than using a large sized body, 3456 was in her standard form. It was himself resting in the palms of her hands that was different, nearly indistinguishable from a white ball of fur with blue eyes and red markings. Monate considered the situation, nuzzled into her hand in acceptance. It might be difficult to stay caught up with his housekeeping duties in his new leporine form. Especially one so… fluffy, but he would try his best. And 3456 wouldn’t unreasonably expect more.
Actually, after murmuring “Welcome Home, Monate,” she tucked him into her breast pocket, seemingly more than content with just his company.
A pair of fuzzy white ears poking out was all that could be seen of him then as he curled up for a nap. Perhaps the future would bring a larger body, maybe even a humanoid one, possibly an upgrade for speech, until then, he was happy just to spend time with his favourite person once more.