Work Text:
Going back to Lumière never gets easy, somehow. He should have gotten used to it by now, but…
He doesn’t like Lumière. It was his home once, but now — now, in the darkness of the night, after so many years out on the Continent, the city streets seem too narrow, the houses looming over his head. Just like the walls of the cave he got stuck in once for a few months.
He doesn’t like the comparison.
The streets of the city feel foreign to him. He knows that it is he who is the outsider.
It is almost funny. To be an outsider in the city that was built for him specifically, with the sole purpose of being his home.
He is not in the mood to laugh.
The chroma of a Paintress is calling to him — despite her being painted over, he can still feel it. The path is familiar — to get to the orphanage, to check on her quickly, to make sure she’s fine and to get out of the city as soon as possible.
The path is familiar. Until it isn’t. Chroma keeps calling him — past the orphanage, closer to the center of the city.
Another foster family, then. It’s good, he supposes. A child should have a home. Even if that child is a young Paintress, waiting to grow up enough to become another pawn in the never-ending war between her parents. Maybe she’d be able to enjoy this little life — whatever years of it are still left.
The thought tastes bitter. He doesn’t like that she is here — he doesn’t like how he is planning to use her too.
He doesn’t want to see his sister in this girl. He doesn’t want to hold the memories about her childhood in his heart. He doesn’t-
A dog — a puppy, really — appears in front of him, and the bitter thoughts disappear from his head. He crouches slowly, unwilling to scare the animal; reaches out an open hand.
“Hey… Hey, buddy. What are you doing here?”
The puppy approaches — slowly, cautiously, but without much fear. Its tail is wagging gingerly, fluffy and long.
It starts wagging faster when Verso moves his hand to pet the animal. Scratches its neck, its head behind the soft ear.
“You’re fluffier than Monoco, aren’t you? Don’t tell him I said that though. He will be jealous.”
The puppy licks his wrist. Verso chuckles.
“Let me see if I have anything for you, yeah?” he reaches into his bag. “Where’s your collar, buddy? You don’t belong here too, do you? I wish I could take you with me.”
He wishes the animals could survive on the Continent. He misses having a dog — he doesn’t even care if this is something painted into him or not. If that Verso liked dogs too — well, the man clearly had good taste.
One chicken sandwich and half an hour of playing fetch later they become best friends. Verso finds himself smiling, the expression almost foreign on his face; it feels nice to just… be. For a little.
He almost forgets about his duty until the first rays of the rising sun remind him of the time passing. He sighs, starting to get up from where he crouched to pick up the fragment of a Volester wing he was throwing — the only thing he had on his person that could pass for a dog toy. The puppy hops excitedly, waiting for him to throw it again.
Verso sighs, the smile disappearing from his face. “I have to go, buddy. You’ll be okay here, won’t you? I can’t take you with me. It’s safer here for you. For anyone, really.”
The dog whines, as if understanding his words. Then, suddenly, perks up its ears, listening to something. Verso hears it too — a door opening nearby, a low whistle. The sound of something small — something like a bowl of food, maybe, — being put on the cobblestones.
The puppy takes a few steps towards the sound. Stops. Looks at Verso, almost invitingly.
“I can’t go with you either,” he chuckles, bending down to pet the fluffy ears again. “I was mistaken, aren’t I? You do belong here after all. Is someone looking after you? Or feeding you at least, I suppose.”
The whistle repeats. The dog tilts its head, clearly torn between Verso and the noise. Verso smiles sadly.
“Go. Whoever it is, they will be worried if you don’t come. You wouldn’t want to make them worry, would you?”
The puppy looks at him for a couple of seconds more; then starts, slowly, towards the whistle. Glances back at Verso; sighs, almost human-like, when Verso doesn’t follow.
Takes a couple of steps.
Runs back, snatching the Volester wing out of Verso’s hand, and disappears in the alley before Verso can process the theft. It makes him laugh.
It makes the weight on his heart feel a little bit lighter.
He comes to Lumière a little more often after this, making sure to bring some more toys and food with him. The dog meets him on the streets when he is sneaking towards Maelle’s new home (this one finally seems to be good for her — she doesn’t return to the orphanage after that), and he allows himself a couple of hours to just… have this little comfort.
It feels nice.
(He feels a little bit more dead when the dog stops showing up a few years later. It is probably silly, but the idea of erasing everything seems easier to execute now, with his accidental friend already gone. He tries not to think about it.)
(He fails.)
***
Lumière feels less suffocating — now, without the burden of someone dying in the Canvas to keep him alive. The city itself seems brighter — lighter, so much more free. Getting ready for a celebration — one year since the Paintress was defeated.
Verso still feels like a foreigner here, walking along the street in his old expeditioner coat.
Maybe it’s not too late yet to turn around and leave. His friends will be disappointed, and Maelle, if she does return to the Canvas for the celebration, will be sad, but…
A dog walks out of an alley in front of him. Stops, sniffs the air; lets out an excited bark and runs, barreling into him, its paws on Verso’s chest. Verso can’t help but laugh, barely managing to steady himself and raising his hands to pet the dog’s head. The animal is jumping around him, wagging its tail almost violently; the barking and yipping echoes around, bouncing off of the city walls.
“Calm down, buddy, calm down,” Verso, laughing, crouches in front of the dog, letting it lick his face. “Yes, I’m happy to see you too. You missed me? Did you miss me? Such a good boy. Who’s a good boy?”
The dog goes crazy with excitement, pressing its head into Verso’s hands. Verso can’t help but smile — so widely it hurts his face a little.
Maybe coming back wasn’t such a bad idea.
“Hey, stranger.”
He looks up to see Gustave — crossed arms, a little smile on his face. Verso smiles back at him. “Hey.”
It is… nice, to see him. They have gotten pretty close during the expedition — after Verso saved him on the Cliffs. Even though nothing really happened, Verso thought sometimes that maybe…
Maybe.
Anyway. It is nice to see him again.
Gustave steps closer. Crouches to scratch the dog's head between the ears, earning himself a happy lick on the back of his hand.
“What are you doing here?” asks. “I thought you were out on the Continent.”
“I came back. Sciel bullied me into participating in the celebration, so… yeah.”
Gustave nods. Looks down at the dog who rolled on its back, asking for belly scratches; the tail wagging happily, stirring up the dust and dirt on the road. “Someone's excited to see you.”
Verso chuckles. Looks at the dog too. “Yeah, he's… an old friend. I used to see him around when I-” he trails off. When I was stalking your family doesn't sound right for the conversation.
“When you came here to check on Maelle?” Gustave offers.
Verso is grateful. “Yeah.”
Gustave nods again. “I wondered where Bones used to get all those weird toys from. Nevron parts, really?” He glances at Verso, amused. “That's one mystery solved.”
Verso feels an involuntary smile tugging on the corner of his lips. “You're welcome.”
“For what?” Gustave chuckles.
“For making your life more interesting.”
Gustave smiles at him, rubbing the dog’s belly. Bones looks like the happiest dog in the world; content and healthy and well-groomed.
Loved.
Verso sighs. “I was… sad when I couldn't find him anymore,” admits quietly. “Dogs don't live forever, but… I wish I could've said goodbye. I'm- I'm glad Maelle brought him back.”
Gustave’s eyes widen. “He didn't die,” he hurries to explain. “I, uh. I might be at fault for you not seeing him around those last years. We adopted him when he got older. He- he wouldn't live in a house before, so I just fed him, but… But he was alive and well when I left for the Expedition! My apprentices were supposed to look after him when I was gone. And let me just say, they spoiled him to hell and back.” He chuckles. Then frowns. “Sorry for making you worry about him. I- I didn't know.”
It feels like a knot loosening in Verso’s chest — a knot he didn’t even realize was there. He lets out a sigh of relief; shakes his head. “Nothing to apologize for. You gave him home. Both him and Maelle.” He chuckles, trying to lighten the mood. “Have you always had a habit of picking up strays?”
Gustave smiles, slightly embarrassed, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. “I just think that everyone deserves to be cared for.”
“You're a good person.”
Gustave gives a little shrug — an obvious I don’t agree but I don’t want to argue. “Want to help me with the celebration planning?” changes the subject. “We could use some music there. And you look like you could use a nice meal. Care to join me for dinner?”
Verso chuckles. “Are you trying to prove my point about picking up strays?”
“Depends.” There's mirth in Gustave’s eyes. “Do you want to be picked up? I've got treats.”
Verso laughs. “Sure. Since there are treats involved.”
A laugh he gets in response warms something in his chest.
Gustave gets back to his feet; offers Verso a hand. He accepts, letting the engineer help him stand up. Gustave beams at him, standing incredibly close.
“I'm glad you're back,” offers.
Verso gives his hand a light squeeze before letting go. “I, uh. I guess I'm glad too,” admits — finding, to his surprise, that this wasn’t a lie.
Gustave’s grin grows wider. “Shall we?” he says, nodding towards somewhere along the street. Whistles, “Come, Bones! Dinner time!”
The dog, clearly knowing the direction, starts along the street — pausing from time to time to look back at them, eyes inviting and impatient. Gustave tugs at Verso’s sleeve, pulling him along.
Verso doesn’t resist, quickly roped into a conversation about the celebration planning.
Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to come back, after all.
(Maybe — maybe — he could even be persuaded to stay.)