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Kenny and the Bounty Hunter had become the best of friends fast. From their first bounty together to the current day, they had bonded pretty quickly. It was clear to the rest of the Gatlings (and Knifey) that Kenny was the favorite. No matter how much more useful the other alien guns proved to be, the Bounty Hunter would swap them for Kenny in a heartbeat. That's not to say the Bounty Hunter wouldn't use the other guns, she swapped often in combat, especially if it risked dying, but she just seemed to prefer holding Kenny (even at rest). She preferred his silly comments, his jokes, and his stutter to any other Gatling.
As the Bounty Hunter's range of weapons grew, each gun couldn't help but to notice a few things about Kenny and their shared wielder. Just how much differently they were treated from each other. It was impossible not to notice.
Gus was the first to catch on. He was, of course, the second gun acquired and an intelligent Gatling. He'd figured Kenny and the Bounty Hunter had known each other for a while before Gus met them and left it at that. Yet it did make him feel unappreciated.
When Sweezy joined the crew, the Bounty Hunter's dislike of her could not be more obvious. She was brought out only to slow fans and objects, and the rare occasions where she was desperately needed (boss fights). Anything she could do (non-time bubble wise) was substituted for Creature's crowd control or Gus' disc. Honestly, she was starting to think she was only brought out on accident at this point. In truth, the Bounty Hunter found her fun to shoot, but couldn't stand to listen to her.
Today was a day of rest for the bounty hunting crew. Bounty Hunter spread her artillery out on the bed for comfort as she tried (and failed) to get her computer working again. She really wanted to log into her favorite online games, but with no wifi in space there was no hope. "Y-you know I forget humans have computers and all," Kenny remarked from where he was lying on a stained pillow.
"Yeah, you humans are so primitive in your technology. It's a wonder how far you made it this far, Bounty Hunter," Gus added.
Bounty Hunter just smiled at the gatlings on her bed. She smiled at their unique, alien faces staring up at her. She found them adorable. Gus, resembling a mud-skipper, her favorite fish. Creature and his endless optimism (and his many short-lived children) and Kenny, especially Kenny. Wait— weren't there four Gatlings?
"Looking for Sweezey, Bounty Hunter?" Somehow Kenny knew what she was thinking. "W-w-well she went downstairs to watch movies with Gene. She—something about y-you not liking her very much?" Bounty Hunter just shrugged in response before going back to hopelessly tapping at their computer.
Nothing came out of it so she listened in to the chatter of her weapons behind her as she thoughtlessly scrolled through her files, hoping to find any saved movies or videos.
"Don't you find it strange that she knows all our names but we don't know hers?" Gus asked—or rather stated. The question was half directed towards Bounty Hunter as it was said loud enough for her to hear.
"Um..w-well she doesn't talk very much. If—if you haven't realised." Kenny answered, not as defensively as Bounty Hunter would've liked.
"Is it something with a "C"? I hope its something starting with a "C," then we can be matching!" Creature chimed in.
"Yeah I doubt there are any human names that ryhme with Creature," Gus almost laughed.
"Have any of you thought about just asking her?" Knifey grumbled from the knife holder on the desk that Bounty Hunter had imprisoned set him in. It was such a simple and stupid answer but it shut the three Gatlings up for a moment. It also got Bounty Hunter's attention and she turned in her chair to look over at her sentient weaponry.
"You don't know her name, Kenny?" Gus interruped the brief silence.
"What? W-why would I know her name if neither of you do?" Kenny questioned.
"'Cause! You're clearly the favorite. Don't deny you're the favorite Gatling, Kenny, we all know you are," Gus retorted.
"Th-thats ridiculous! Bounty Hunter d-doesn't play favorites." Kenny's antenna wiggle for a second.
"But if she did, which she does, it'd be you." Gus frowns.
"She definetly plays least favorites, thats for sure," Sweezey growled as she squirmed through the doorway.
"Sweezy! You're back." Creature smiled as he spotted his friend.
"Not for long. Gene sent me to tell you we're out of food. Completely out. Tweeg and him ate everything."
Bounty Hunter sighed, she'd just gone out and bought food. Gene was lucky those bounties paid so well with everything she bought for him. She shut off her computer, swilved in her chair, and got up to holster her Gatlians (and Knifey).
"Can we get some honkas this time?" Creature squirmed in the holster. "Crinkle cut honkas? They're so good, Bounty Hunter!"
"Honkas? We should get some creme du furgle, now that's some fine dining." Gus joked from his position in the holster.
"Honkas do sound pretty good," Sweezy agreed as she was set away as well.
Bounty Hunter held Kenny in hand as she came down the stairs to ask Gene what he wanted from the store. She came into the living room to be immediately distracted by the display of tentacle like things and colors on her tv screen. Bounty Hunter had seen Gene watching this on more than one occasion but she could never out what it was meant to be. Some weird alien porn? She hoped not…
"Hey! You're blocking the tv! Come on," Gene barked, getting Bounty Hunter's attention. "Oh yeah and we're fresh outta grub if Sweezy didn't tell ya'. I'm sure you have enough pesos to buy us some more, right?"
Bounty Hunter nodded.
"Good, get me something good…sqiungies. Yeah sqiungies. And leave Sweezy, we have a movie to finish." Gene nodded as he spoke.
The Bounty Hunter approached the couch to un-holster Sweezey and set her down.
"Ooh! I want to watch a movie. Leave me too, Bounty Hunter." Creature requested and Bounty Hunter agreed.
After she set Creature down she glanced at her remaining weapons as if asking if either of them wanted to stay behind too. Kenny "Why not? I could go for a movie," Gus spoke up.
So Kenny and Bounty Hunter left the house on their own. Bounty Hunter went straight to the nearest food-stall. Blim City had plenty, but the Bounty Hunter frequented one that sold the alien equivalent to ice cream. It was thicker, a bright green, and honestly tasted nothing like it, but Bounty Hunter enjoyed it anyways. She bought two cups, one for her and one for Kenny, sprinkled some Gatterall over the top of the second, and took a seat on a common bench and table. Apparently this was a finger food, as the alien selling it carried no untensils on them. That was fine with her, Bounty Hunter didn't have any problem with getting her hands dirty.
The Bounty Hunter was a good few bites into her "ice cream" when she felt something bump into her hip. "Are…are we still waiting on our food?" Oh. She was so focused on her ice cream she forgot to take Kenny out of the holster. Bounty Hunter quickly reached down and pulled Kenny out to set him on the table. She gave him a little pat as a sorry.
"No worries, Bounty Hunter. I know you didn't forget about me on purpose." Kenny squirmed across the table towards the second cup of…whatever it was. "Wh—wait wh-what is this? Gatterall! Oh man. T-thats so nice of you Bounty Hunter." Kenny inched closer to the cup, doing his best to stick his face in it without tipping it over.
Bounty Hunter found the way Kenny inched around like a catterpillar both unerving and fascinating. She could say the same about many parts of him. Like what was a "trick-hole?" She had questioned that in her mind since he introduced the idea to him but never actually asked. I mean, biological guns, they surely weren't firing metal bullets (she was sure Kenny was firing his shit at the G3), and she'd seen similar colored goo from other aliens—she was even sold some by the gallon! Bounty Hunter could only hope a "trick-hole" wasn't what she thought it was.
"Hey, Bounty Hunter?" Kenny pulled her out of her thoughts. "Sorry about the whole name thing. I-I mean…I don't think any alien but Lizzie knows your real name—or hu-human. I figured maybe you'd want to keep it that way?"
Bounty Hunter thought it over while she finished up her "ice cream". Kenny was happy to keep munching on his as long as Bounty Hunter kept sprinkling cracked bits of gatterall. Once she finished and licked her hands clean she re-visited the question. For what must have been the first time in days, she spoke. "Mmm…My name is Charlotte."
Kenny squirmed back from his cup, his face covered in whatever substance was in the cup. "Oh. I-I didn't think y-y-you'd actually speak. I haven't heard you talk since that aurgument with Gene."
"Just felt like talking I guess." Bounty Hunter—or Charlotte, sighed. She pulled a napkin from her pocket to wipe at her hands. Sure it was technically her gloves as she was still wearing her suit but it still felt appropriate to clean them of the tasty goo.
She watched as Kenny finished up the last of his cup. The Gatlian had to tip over the cup to reach the near melted bits inside but his handle prevented him from wriggling in far enough to reach. Charlotte could tell he was struggling so she did what she felt to be appropriate and held the cup for him. The melted green "ice cream" and crushed bits of gatterall spilled out of the cup right onto Kenny's face.
Charlotte couldn't help but giggle as the gatlian sputtered and tried to shake the stuff off; though she did feel a little bad watching him struggle. She brought her napkin up to wipe at his face, being careful around his large eyes and a tad bit rougher everywhere else.
Kenny was silent as the Bounty Hunter cleaned him off. His eyes were squeezed shut and he looked greener than usual. That could just be because of what he ate (and spilled) but the faint smudges of green didn't come off even as Charlotte wiped with a little force at his cheek.
Thats weird…
"Uh…B-Bounty Hunter?" Kenny's antenna were angled back towards his head, twitching and wriggling, in the way they often were when he was nervous. "W-wh-what are you doing?" Kenny was staring wide-eyed at Charlotte now that he could open his eyes.
"You had a little something on your face," She giggled.