Chapter Text
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The sylph ordered the mechanic to produce the prosthetics from his inventory. He obeyed and skillfully fastened the cybernetics to the patient’s bloodied torso, connecting wire to nerve, tube to vessel, metal to skin; all with the utmost care. Sweat dripped down his face - even more so than usual - as he worked. At the end of the operation, the patient’s blood loss was great, but the surgery was an overall success. The boy would survive.
“Equius,” said the jade-blood. “If you could, please take Tavros someplace where he can recover peacefully, away from all the ruckus in here. I will stay and tidy up the mess.”
“Understood… However,” the heir began sternly, pointing a finger in her direction. “Do not misinterpret my compliance as a submission to the orders of the likes of you.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” Kanaya assured, with relaxed sarcasm.
Equius nodded, then lifted the unconscious boy and swung him over his shoulder. “I will take him to my and Nepeta’s private quarters, where we will monitor him until he awakens.”
“Uh-huh! Don’t worry, Claw-naya! We’ll make sure he’s safe!” Meowed the excitable Heart player, who had come bounding to Zahhak’s side.
Kanaya smiled warmly at the cutesy cat pun used in her name.
“Splendid.” she chimed.
As the two moirails began to take their leave, Maryam called for Equius’ attention again. He stopped and turned to face her. “Yes?”
Kanaya studied his phlegmatic expression for just a moment before responding.
“This was a very significant act of kindness on your part...” Her tone was not of gratefulness or praise, but of subtle speculation.
Detecting the skepticism in her voice, Equius stared back and retorted flatly, “It was in his best interest. I act only to benefit our party.”
With that, he exited the crowded computer lab with Nepeta following close behind. The eight other trolls witnessing the gruesome operation returned to their own business – some shaken, others not – save one squeamish mutant-blood, who had fainted atop a pile of bicycle horns.
Equius and Nepeta traversed through the large expanse of the meteor, hiking across long hallways, entering and exiting transportalizers, and tackling staircase after staircase, all the while exchanging playful banter. A brief silence emerged between them and Nepeta pounced on the opportunity to scratch an itching question.
“Hey, Equius…”
“’Hay’ as in the crop?” Equius inquired with subtle, nearly undetectable humor.
“Uh… sure.”
“Excellent.”
“Yeah, Equius? Why did you build those legs for Kitram?”
Equius paused. “What kind of question is that?”
She cautiously pushed further. “Well… I know you’ve built robot parts for our friends befur, but why Tavros?”
“I do not see your meaning.”
“Well, you made Vriskers a new arm because the two of you were in cahoots, and you made Aradia a new body because you were flushed for her. But then… Tavros…”
Equius sighed. “Nepeta, like I've said before, I design prosthetics for others when it benefits the greater cause. My personal relationship with an individual does not dictate whether or not I will aid them. If asked, I will provide. Now, we are done with this topic.”
The cat girl gave a little ‘harumph’ and continued walking beside the other in silence.
Just a moment later, the more muscular of the two trolls looked down at the napping Tavros Nitram, who was hanging limply over his shoulder. The boy’s face was hidden, facing down, but Equius could tell that he was sleeping soundly, breathing softly, possibly dreaming…
But, after all, that was all this lowblood was good for; napping and being utterly useless.
Once the three of them had reached their quarters, Equius gently laid the sleeping fudge-blood down on his work table. Nepeta peeked over the edge of the counter curiously, whisking her tail from side to side.
“When do you think he’ll wake up?” she asked.
“Hopefully, within the hour. He lost a decent thirty percent of his blood. We will have to wait for his body to compensate.”
The olive blood looked at the patient in awe. “It’s purretty amazing that he survived!”
“Yes. I never expected that Kanaya could be so delicately skillful with such a cumbersome weapon.”
“Well, I bet Tavros is stronger than any of us might have thought!” she remarked with a smile.
“Nitram? STRONG!?” Equius scoffed. “Don’t say such preposterous things. A feeble lowblood could never endure such an operation upon sheer willpower. Especially not him. It was my own aptness for surgery that gave him his chances at recovery.”
Nepeta pouted and looked up at her stubborn friend. “Why do you always have to be such a sourpuss?”
Equius ignored her comment, grabbing a stool and placing it beside the table. He then picked up one of the stray robot parts off the floor and began polishing it with a towel to busy himself. The disgruntled Rouge moseyed away from the table and sat before one of her tea sets, still frowning.
Zahhak glanced at Nepeta over his shoulder, and rolled his eyes at her juvenile behavior. He turned back and his gaze rested on the boy lying on his work table. He watched for a moment as Tavros’ stomach rose and fell at a slow and steady pace. The light copper blush was gradually returning to his cheeks and his body twitched as he dreamed.
A tiny warmth flickered in the blueblood’s chest. Whether it was thanks to the skill of the surgeons, or a secret strength of will, Equius was glad that Tavros would live.
It would have been a shame to see those magnificent legs go to waste.