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A small buzzing noise repeatedly sounded as Wrench slept in Belle's bed, cuddled up close to the coach. It sounded lightly every few seconds at a low volume, and as the two of them were both fast asleep they failed to notice it as the sound echoed through the silence of the room. They were breathing almost in sync, completely at ease as they slept soundly.
The buzzing continued for a good few minutes before one of them took notice. Belle groggily opened her eyes as the continuous sound drew her away from sleep, and as she was a pretty heavy sleeper this was somewhat surprising. Her eyes soon drew to the source of the sound:
Wrench's radio.
Wrench looked so calm as she slept, a look that was pretty rare to see on her during the day as she worked. As bad as Belle felt interrupting it, she didn't want to answer Wrench's radio for her in case it was something private or otherwise important.
Belle sat up and softly shook Wrench's shoulder in an attempt to wake her up, still not fully awake herself. Wrench's eyes fluttered open a few seconds later, slowing adjusting to the darkness of the room.
"Wrench," Belle whispered, voice still thick with sleep, "I think you have a message, your radio's going off."
Wrench blinked a few more times before completely adjusting to reality. After staring at Belle for a few seconds, looking slightly perplexed, she finally heard the radio going off. She retrieved it from her bedside table with both hands, sitting up slowly to lean slightly against Belle's side.
"Oh," she whispered back, checking the radio and finally making it stop buzzing. "It is a message."
She took a few seconds to listen to it before her heart sunk and her eyes widened.
"Wrench? What is it?" Belle asked, entwining her hand with Wrench's. Wrench looked over to meet Belle's eyes looking absolutely horrified, her breath becoming shaky and her eyes glancing around. Without speaking, she handed the radio to Belle who played the message aloud.
"Wrench, it's Killerwatt. I'm leaving a message to tell you that Electra got injured on their solo trip tonight and they are staying the night in a repair shed," Oh. Killerwatt's voice rang out from the radio as Belle listened closely, feeling how Wrench's hand was shaking in her own. Although Killerwatt was phrasing things like he usually would, Belle couldn't help but notice a hint of worry in his voice, something very different to the stoic security truck she was used to. It definitely didn't bring her any more reassurance.
"I would have liked to tell you this in person but considering the circumstances this was the best option," Killerwatt paused for a second, supposedly swallowing a lump in his throat. "I have been told that they're in stable condition, but that they were lucky to be nearby a repair shed to be able to get the help they needed. We will be leaving in the early morning to go and visit them to verify this information and to be with them, but please try your best to get some rest in the meantime. Kind regards."
The radio clicked off as Belle placed it on her bedside table. Wrench's hand was shaking so hard that it had began to take Belle's with it, her breath quickening. While Belle was shocked at what she had just heard, it was definitely nothing compared to how Wrench was feeling. She needed to help.
"Wrench," Belle whispered. Wrench continued to stare off into space, her heartbeat ringing in her ears and becoming so rapid that she was confident it was audible. Although she didn't get a confirmation that she had been heard, Belle spoke again.
"Wrench, this wasn't your fault," Belle continued. "You couldn't have known that this would happen. Don't blame yourself."
"But I should've been there," Wrench replied, almost silently. Her voice was noticeably shaky, sounding almost choked up as she spoke. "I could've helped them."
"If you were there, I know you would've," Belle said, squeezing Wrench's hand before moving her arm to rest around Wrench's shoulder, rubbing it, "but it was a solo trip, they were by themselves by choice. They're in a repair shed now, I bet they're doing fine."
"But not mine," Wrench hissed, tensing a little at Belle's touch but not making her move. "I'm their repair truck. The people there don't know what's best for them."
"I'm sure whoever it is will still be able to help. Even if they don't know them well they'll surely have access to their files," Belle attempted to reassure Wrench, though she still looked to be in her own world even if she was responding.
"I know that, I'm just-" Wrench paused for a second, her voice losing some of the bite that it had started to gain. "I don't know what to do. If I'm not there to help when accidents like this happen I don't know what purpose-"
"No," Belle interrupted suddenly, Wrench finally moving and snapping her head up to look at her. Her face was stained with tears as her pupils glanced around, looking in Belle's direction but not in her eyes.
"Wrench," Belle continued sternly, her expression turning serious. "You still have a purpose. You can't be around to protect them from every injury 24/7, especially when they go on a trip like this. You're allowed to be worried, and I understand why you are, but you shouldn't take responsibility for this."
Belle leaned forwards to place a kiss on Wrench's cheek as she let out another shuddery breath, her body visually slumping.
"I know," Wrench admitted quietly, "it's just hard not to. I spend so much time thinking about it and them that it feels wrong when I'm not there to help. Like I'm failing at the one thing I'm meant to do."
She slumped more, leaning into Belle's side with most of her weight. She was still slightly shaking, although she seemed to be calming down a little as the shakes started to become less violent.
"You're not a failure. Plus, you'll be going there tomorrow morning, right?" Belle asked. Wrench nodded in reply, Belle being able to feel the motion from where Wrench's head was laying on her shoulder.
"So, you'll be able to help then. You can double check that whatever these unknown repair shed workers did was up to standard. That can be how you help." Belle said. "And I know you'll do an excellent job."
Wrench took a second to take in her words, focusing on the repetitive motion of Belle's hand rubbing on her shoulder.
"…You're right. I can do that," Wrench replied, half to Belle and half as a reassurance to herself. "Thank you, Belle. For helping."
"Anytime," Belle hummed, squeezing Wrench closer from where her arm was still wrapped around her shoulders. Wrench had pretty much stopped shaking now, though there was still a slight tremor every time she breathed. Belle leaned in again to place a kiss on the corner of Wrench's mouth, before leaning a little further to kiss her briefly on the lips which Wrench very happily reciprocated, moving her hand to rest on Belle's cheek. She stopped after a few seconds, leaning her forehead on Wrench's and smiling.
"Do you want to get some more sleep now? I assume when Killerwatt says the morning he probably means very early," Belle commented. Wrench giggled a little in reply, the sound being music to Belle's ears.
"Definitely," Wrench said, pressing another small kiss to Belle's lips before breaking away to lay down in the bed again. Belle soon joined her, wrapping her arms around her waist and nuzzling her head in between Wrench's neck and shoulders.
"Good night," Belle whispered into Wrench's shoulder.
"Good night," Wrench replied, and the two of them soon resumed their deep sleep.