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Gemini lost track of how long Pinocchio sat there slumped on the floor.
His weapon laid beside him, just within arms reach on the off chance any of those monsters came around the corner (although Gemini had high doubts since Pinocchio left no monster unslashed, so to speak). His head rested against his knees as the in-between puppet took in a few breaths.
It had been a taxing ordeal, Gemini reflected. From the never ending hoard to the giant monstrosities that rattled the earth, Pinocchio kept running, kept fighting, kept going… no one, not even a puppet, can go on this non-existent endless energy, he thinks.
And during that time, Pinocchio usually stayed silent… as did he. Gemini knew all too well to not distract or draw attention while in the midst of all the madness in Krat.
But here, in the self made semi-sanctum, Pinocchio stayed quiet for a bit too long, and for some reason, that bothered Gemini.
And he hadn't a clue as to why.
Perhaps it was the fact that Pinocchio had started to be a bit more vocal than usual with each swing, or maybe it was from seeing him just barely survive a fight. Or perhaps, and this felt the most likely, he genuinely worried over him after spending this long with him.
Or, maybe, it was all three. That was equally plausible.
He cared for the boy, there was no mistake in that, and he was more than accustomed to the silence, but this time around something got to the cricket and he felt compelled to break the silence, if not only for a little while.
“Hey, pal.” Gemini spoke, feeling Pinocchio slightly jump. “Oh! Sorry, didn't mean to startle ya.”
Pinocchio raised his head and unhooked Gemini from his belt, opting to rest his weight against the wall while placing the cricket's cage on his knees, as though to be at eye level, which let Gemini get a better look at him.
Noticeably, the boy looked tired. Swinging around weapons, dodging, and running was no doubt the source, especially since his latest fight against that King of Puppets fellow, the boy just looked spent.
But he was willing to bet on a whole lot of Ergo that that was just the tip of the iceberg.
“How're you holding up, pal?” Gemini asked.
Pinocchio contemplated, his eyes shifting to the side in thought before he looked back at the cricket.
“Tired.”
“Yeah… yeah, I'd bet.” Gemini sympathize. “We can always go back to the hotel, get some proper rest.”
The boy tilted his head.
“Ah, right. So, most people sleep? In beds? And seeing as you're being less, y’know, puppet-like, maybe you should do that.” Gemini suggested.
Pinocchio stared but soon slowly shook his head.
“Okay, so we keep going. Fair enough.”
Once more, Gemini found himself in the silence alongside Pinocchio who, occasionally, was fiddling with the button on the cage that turned on the light. It was another observation the cricket couldn’t help but take notice. Even in the more ‘brighter’ areas of Krat, Pinocchio always had the light on, and if he was in a spot where light wouldn’t help him and needed it off, his hand always just hovered over the button.
Like a safety net, he thought.
“You want the light on, pal?” Gemini asked. “I don’t think any of our ‘buddies’ are coming here, so it’s safe to do as such. I mean, if you’re not gonna actually rest, might as well be in something comfortable. Right?”
A hint of a smile graced Pinocchio’s face as he happily clicked the light on, enveloping his features in a soft glow from the lantern. Seeing that had Gemini cheer up, even if the boy wasn’t talkative, at least he seemed to be just a little bit happier.
All else considered, he thought.
“Light’s good, right? I agree. Can't stand being in the dark myself.” Gemini chirped. “And this is coming from someone who doesn’t leave this little house of mine.”
To Gemini’s surprise, Pinocchio chuckled.
He enjoyed seeing this side of Pinocchio, the side that can find even the smallest, tiniest, form of levity. Heaven knows he keeps trying despite the horrors plaguing Krat, so seeing the One Pal Army smile, well, it’s a win in his book.
Pinocchio tapped lightly on the lantern, looking away for a moment. Probably in thought, if one was to guess.
“Hey, pal? Mind easing on the tapping? It’s like hitting a fish glass.”
“Oh.” Pinocchio halted. “Sorry.”
“No worries.” Gemini reassured him. “Okay, so, let me rephrase myself from earlier. How are you… feeling?”
It was the blank stare that had the cricket contemplate if he asked the wrong thing as he watched Pinocchio’s eyes wander around before pointing at his chest where his ‘heart’ was. And immediately he sighed.
“Ah, not literally, pal.” Gemini chuckled. “I mean how are you feeling about all of this? Can’t imagine there’s quite a few thoughts in that noggin of yours. Especially now since, y’know… got that going on for you.”
“Oh.” Pinocchio probably would have blushed based on how his eyes quickly darted away from him.
If he could, he would shake his head. “Alright, so, lemme give a brief example. Suppose someone asked me how I was feeling. I’d say I’m feeling shaken up. Literally AND figuratively. I’d say that it’s upsetting for me to see Krat like this… and that I’m worried for ya, pal.”
Pinocchio took the lesson in thought and seemingly took a breath.
“So uh… how are you feeling? Unbothered? Confident? Things like that.”
The silence lingered a little longer, with the two just, for once, savoring the lack of clacking murderous puppets or bodily horror carcasses as Pinocchio thought over everything while making sure to not tap on the lantern and instead opted to just brush his thumb along the metal as he kept thinking in silence.
“It’s all… new.” He eventually said quietly. “Scary at times and frustrating. Even sad, I think. It makes me tired.”
“That’s a lot of feelings.” He sympathized. “Overwhelming?”
“Very.”
“I’d bet.”
“But,” Pinocchio continued, “the people at the hotel make me feel less tired, if that makes sense. I like being around them. I feel warm. Especially when they’re not scared.”
“You care for them.”
Pinocchio nodded. “Also…”
“Also?” Gemini echoed.
“I like your company.”
“I-is that so?” Now if he could blush, he would. Instead, Gemini just let out a small chirp as he let the boy continue.
Pinocchio smiled, looking at him. “The light you give, it makes things less scary, makes things easier to see and that with your stories, it calms me. Has me feeling less… alone.”
Being a one puppet army would do that, Gemini kept to himself. But something in him stirred and soon he felt warm as well.
“Well, we’re in this together pal, right? You keep fending off the creeps and I’ll keep bringing light to this dreary place.”
Pinocchio properly laughed, quickly placing a hand over his mouth before touching his heart.
“Ah, laughter! A new feeling!” Gemini beamed. “And not one of those creepy-clearly-maniacal kinds too.”
“Yes…” He kept smiling. “I like this one. I like this feeling.”
“Then let's keep at it. We gotta clear Krat of its problems so we can keep our chins up. Right?”
“Right.”
There was a lot to do… many dangers await to be faced, and he knew the boy was fully aware of that just as much as he was, so who was he to tell him to get moving right this second?
“Gemini?” Pinocchio spoke softly.
“Yeah?”
“Thank you. For being with me.”
Already, he can see the weight fall somewhat off of his shoulders. And that was better than how it was just a few moments ago. It also didn’t help that Pinocchio’s smile challenged the very light of Gemini’s lantern, the cricket thought. And that alone was worth protecting.
Gemini kept glowing and let the boy savor the warmth of the light and levity for just a little longer.
“Of course, pal.”