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"Here, like this." Nautila guides Vortice's hands, screwdriver held carefully. "You tighten the screws here, and then. . . and then. . ." her brows furrow, and she trails off. "What were we doing again?"
"Nautila teaching Vortice." Vortice reminds, helpfully. "Making bike strong!"
Nautila pauses. References it with what she knows, and what she thinks is reasonable for her. (Vortice knows this, because Vortice knows Nautila. When she'd first been awake, Vortice had searched for Nautila, and found her, and stuck by her side ever since.) "Bike repairs, got it. Okay, so, here's what you do. . ."
Nautila's hands on Vortice's are warm, and gentle. Nautila doesn't fear Vortice, or her strength. It makes Vortice warm inside, like the sun is shining down on her, like she's napped on sun-warmed stone again. (It would be better if Coalsie were here to learn too, Vortice thinks, but she hasn't seen him at all still.) Nautila doesn't worry about Vortice breaking things, maybe because of the Vorticesteel, but Vortice likes to think that it's because Nautila trusts Vortice not to. (Even if Vortice doesn't trust Vortice not to break things.)
Vortice isn't really good at making things, not like Nautila is, but that's okay. Nautila can fix things when they break, and Vortice can be there for Nautila when she breaks. Vortice will hold Nautila when she's sad and make sure Nautila remembers to eat and sleep. (Vortice gives great hugs, too. Nautila deserves good hugs.) Coalsie will show up sooner or later, and then the three of them will be all together again, and it'll be perfect. Vortice can't wait.
(Sometimes she thinks she loves Nautila so much it's too much for her heart to hold. Sometimes Vortice thinks she'd do it all again, dive into the whirlpool and inky blackness again, if that means Nautila would still live. Nautila deserves it. Nautila deserves everything, Vortice thinks. Vortice doesn't like words, but she'll use as many as she has to so Nautila can know how important she is to Vortice. As many times as Vortice needs to say it, she'll say it. Nautila deserves nothing less.)