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Coil carefully opened the window, making his way inside a room he shouldn't be in. He was wearing a warm jacket with a hood that was pulled over the thief's head. But that's not what he's here for now.
— It hasn't even been a week. Are you here again? — said the pink-horned infernal, turning in his chair to the other. Coil closed the window behind him so that the room wouldn't get too cold. He took off his hood, revealing his smiling face to the world.
— Have you missed me yet? — Coil immediately began to spur on the other.
— No. Every time you come, I run the risk of being noticed. Last time, my subordinate told me that he “saw the criminal leaving my office,” and was “completely shocked by what he saw, so he could not immediately report.” — he answered him. Coil laughed.
— Oops, my mistake. — he took off his jacket, hanging it on a hanger by the entrance. He made sure the front door was closed. Great. Subspace stood up from his chair, folding his arms over his chest and frowning at the other infernal. He rolled his eyes.
— Wha-a-a-at? Grumpspace. — Coil kept mocking him. Subspace exhaled heavily, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
— How about I order the biografts to take you out of my office and into the prison? — the scientist said threateningly. He said it so seriously that you'd think he wasn't joking. But Coil had known all these things for a long time.
— Mmm, will you put me on a chain, and then hand me over for experiments? You'll tie me to the bunk with strong straps and pull out your—
— Argh, no!! — Subspace shouted, but not too loudly to be heard from outside.
— Oh, you're upsetting me. — Coil said without a trace of sadness in his voice.
— I will leave you in prison to rot until your last days, you will be buried in the forest, where animals can dig up your remains and gnaw your bones. — the scientist replied angrily. The hellhound laughed again.
— It's so romantic, and all that for me! — Coil smiled even more brightly. Subspace blushed a little, but Coil noticed it.
— Ah, ah, ah, I’m right! — he exclaimed, putting his hands on his lower back.
— Shut up, or the whole of Blackrock will hear us. — Subspace snapped irritably, turning back to his desk and examining some important papers.
— You know that my working day was over a long time ago, why did you come? — he asked a little more calmly.
— I knew you're going to be late. So, I decided to check on my old friend. — Coil chuckled.
— Grh, I'm not old!
— Whatever you say, Oldspace. — Coil slowly approached the infernal, carefully placing his hands on his shoulders and leaning slightly on his good one. He watched what the other was doing.
— No secret files? — Coil asked, jokingly upset. Subspace exhaled through the mask.
— No, get the hell out. I'm going home soon. — he replied in a distorted voice because of that mask. Coil was silent for a few seconds before continuing:
— Sub, maybe... — he came a little closer, lowering his arms a little to hug the other — Maybe I'll go with you? — the hound asked awkwardly. He had never been in his house, just like the other infernal had never been in his. Although, technically, he didn't have a home, plus, he didn't want to set foot in the Playgrounds. Despite the fact that their communication consisted of mutual name-calling and swearing for the most parts, Coil still felt awkward asking something like that. It worked both ways, actually.
Subspace stopped. He turned to the infernal who was hugging him from behind.
— Urgh, okay, just put on my jacket so you don't look too suspicious with your Playgrounds one. I'll get my old coat. And get off already.
Coil obeyed, happily walking away from him. He looked at the hanger where he had left his jacket — next to it hung a black long coat and a black and pink jacket with fur. Of course, it won't suit his horns, but it will do.
— And when do we leave? — Coil asked impatiently. Subspace rolled his eye.
— Be patient, I need to clean up. Sit down. — the scientist ordered, pointing to a chair by the wall. Coil put his hands on his waist again and stayed where he was, unwilling to obey again. He watched as the other infernal carefully arranged the papers on the table. It's amazing because Coil has always seen only a mess in his workplace. Does he always clean, or only in his presence?
When the Sub was done, they got dressed together. Coil immediately pulled a hood with pink fur over his head and put his hands in his pockets. It's a little cramped, but he can tolerate it. The main thing is not to tear the jacket. Subspace gave him a wry look.
— You still look like a thief, okay. — he sighed heavily. Coil shrugged his shoulders. The scientist led them to the place where the least people were walking, and they did not leave through the main entrance. They picked up Gammagraft along the way. When they reached the parking lot, Subspace took out his car keys. A custom tripmine keychain hung with them. Coil chuckled. Subspace opened the back door, inviting his companion to sit down. Coil looked at him for a few seconds, then grinned.
— As they say on the streets: “Don't get in a car with a stranger.” Looks like I'm going to be sold for organs today, ha-ha! — Coil replied a little excitedly, getting into the car. Subspace followed him. Gammagraft got in the driver's seat.
— They can drive? — Coil asked in surprise, watching Gamma start the car.
— Only this is a model that I created for myself. It, like all infernals, passed for its driver's license. — Subspace replied.
— Driver's license? — The scientist frowned at the infernal in response. Of course, they don't even have that concept. Okay. He exhaled.
— Yes, we need a license to drive a car. — Subspace explained as if to a small child. Coil chuckled.
— You're weird. — Coil replied.
— For all you know, you may well be fined at Crossroads for driving without a license. — Subspace continued the conversation as they drove out of the parking lot.
— I've never been interested in cars. — Coil put his elbow by the window and leaned on his hand, looking at the gloomy landscapes outside the window.
— I don't understand how you live here on a permanent basis. It's so sad here. — Coil said, sounding bored. Subspace was looking at him, carefully examining all his facial features up close.
— When you live here from birth, everything seems familiar and attractive. It's just that you freaks don't understand it. — he replied rudely, turning away to his own window.
They continued walking in awkward silence. No matter how confident Coil looked, anxiety boiled inside him. For the first time, he feels trapped, almost completely trusting the infernal, with whom they are essentially at enmity. He didn't know what he was thinking when he asked to come into his house. Oops.
When they arrived, Gammagraft neatly parked in one of the several vacant spaces on the premises. A large and spacious private house towered in front of them. Coil's mouth dropped open in surprise. Of course, an important scientist from Blackrock will have his own house, but that…
Subspace got out of the car and walked around to open the door for Coil on the other side. They went inside the building with Gammagraft. In the hallway, everyone undressed and took off their shoes. Gamma wiped its metal feet with a wet cloth and headed somewhere. Coil watched it go, and after it disappeared down the aisle, he began to keep a close eye on his enemy next to him. He looked very tired. It doesn't look like he was going to be quartered here. For now.
— Come on. — Subspace said briefly, waving his hand, calling for Coil to follow him. They went up the cold marble staircase to the second floor. It was a good thing they were both wearing socks, otherwise the feet would be stinging from the cold. Subspace continued walking straight down the corridor without turning around. Coil's intrusive thoughts were telling him to stab him in the back, but everyone in this building knew he wouldn't do that. Not only because it would be a dirty move, but also because Coil had feelings for that evil pink-horned infernal, damn him. Therefore, he could only obediently follow him. The scientist opened the doors, inviting them into a spacious room, made in a dark crimson color, not so that it hurt the eyes, but so that it was clear whose bedroom this was. Opposite the door was a spacious double bed, neatly made. Everything around her spoke of cleanliness and sterility. Coil assumed that Gamma was doing all this because the infernal didn't look like he was too decent, no matter how hard he tried to appear that way.
Subspace went to the closet next to the bedside table and started rummaging through it. He took out two sets of clothes — shorts and T-shirts, one of which he threw on the bed.
— Get changed. I won't let you sleep in street clothes.
Is Coil staying here?? He was shocked by this information, because he personally planned to leave late at night, when everyone would be asleep, to return to his kennel, but it seems that the Subspace understood his request differently. Coil took the clothes and looked at them—the shorts were classically black, with large, comfortable pockets, and the T-shirt was blue with some kind of silly print. He turned around awkwardly.
— Uh… Um… Where do I..? Where am I..? — Coil was horrified at how weak—willed he was, but he felt incredibly uncomfortable in the house of a barely familiar infernal. How did he agree to all this…
— You can go out and choose a room. You can take this one. Without a difference. I'm going to wash up, so it's going to take time. Get settled in. — Subspace explained briefly. Coil thought about it, and as if suddenly remembering something, he asked:
— Can I help you? — he asked confidently.
— Gamma helps me. — Subspace replied, gathering all the necessary clothes in his hands and was about to leave, but Coil grabbed his shoulder — unfortunately, it hurt. Subspace hissed in pain.
— Sub, please. I'm a fast learner! — it was an important moment for Coil. It's a question of whether someone else could trust him the way he trusts his life now. He had heard from Subspace that he was having a very hard time because of his rotting, and in this case he needs to be careful and do everything slowly. He was going to squeeze everything he could out of today to advance their relationship, even if he didn't know if the other infernal felt the same way. Maybe it was his first “friendship”, considering that he didn't get along with anyone?
Subspace turned around wearily, frowning.
— Mongrel, what do you want? — Coil's heart seemed to break into tiny pieces. If he had ears and a tail like a real dog, he would have hugged them to himself, looking so beaten up that Subspace felt somehow embarrassed by his refusal. He sighed.
— Ugh, let's go. — as a result, he added shortly, removing the hand from himself and, without waiting for the other, went to the first floor. Coil stood alone for a few seconds, but still went to the bathroom with the infernal.
Gammangraft, noticing them, immediately offered his help:
— Creator, are you going to wash? — the robot currently engaged in cooking asked in a mechanical voice.
— Not today, Gamma. Keep working. — Subspace ordered.
They went into the bathroom together. Subspace took off the long sweatshirt he wore in the lab, exposing his skinny body covered in pink. Coil turned away so as not to embarrass him(self). The infernal continued to undress down to his underwear, and when he was done, he sat in the tub, hugging his cold body. Coil had to turn back, no matter how embarrassed he was.
— What should I do? — he tried to ask calmly. He was sad to see what another person's body had become due to illness and poor nutrition.
— Pour warm water into a bucket and take a cloth. — Coil obediently did as he was told. He squatted down and, wetting the cloth, carefully began to wipe other’s body. Over time, his attention shifted from the awkwardness of the situation to the task at hand. When he was done with all the healthy areas of his skin, he exhaled happily.
— I'll handle the rest myself. Come out. — Coil would be offended by the tone if they didn't communicate like that almost every meeting.
He went out the door, closing it behind him, and went upstairs to change. He didn't know where to put his gear, so he chose the first room he could find and put everything there.
He was finishing unwinding his dirty bandages when he heard footsteps outside the door. He quickly got up from the bed he was sitting on and headed out into the hallway.
— Are you going to eat? — asked Subspace, who had already changed into his home clothes. Coil shook his head.
— Have you had dinner? — he asked in response. Subspace frowned and turned away. Coil sighed heavily.
— Let's have lunch together, if you mind leaving me hungry? — Coil smiled piteously.
—Whelp. — Subspace spat out. Coil gave a short laugh.
He approached the higher infernal, offering to go down. And he agreed.
They sat down opposite each other. Gammagraft, having finished serving the food, stood next to Subspace's chair.
— Turn on the ventilation, Gamma. Subspace ordered, slowly unfastening his mask. The robot obeyed and went somewhere into another room. Suddenly, there was a noise, and cold air began to blow strongly in the room. Subspace calmly took off his mask, finally breathing in the fresh air.
— Why is that? — Coil asked, interested.
— You will die without strong ventilation in the same room with me without a mask. I rarely have visitors, so I usually leave the ventilation running when I'm not at home. — indeed, there was a faint pink smoke coming from the Subspace, which did not look too safe.
They both started eating. The scientist had some kind of porridge, while Coil was served potatoes with a rather large piece of fried meat. He hadn't even eaten that much at home. Everyone was silent.
When both of them finished eating, Gammagraft began to clean up after them. “This is a luxury.” Coil thought. Subspace put his mask back on and barely got up from the table, after which he went towards the stairs, but he stumbled and almost fell if Coil hadn't reacted and picked him up in his arms. Gammagraft was also going to help, but he didn't have time to do it first.
— Thanks. — it said instead of its creator. Coil smiled back softly. Subspace was holding his head. It seemed to be spinning.
The hellhound led the scientist to his room by the arm so that he would not fall down again, and left him in the room.
— Can I take a shower here...? — Coil asked. Subspace grunted something. Coil decided that meant “yes.” He rarely visited anyone, especially such important people, so he didn't know if it was okay to take a shower in someone else's house. But he didn't want to mess up other people's sheets, so he went to the bathroom himself.
It took a while before Coil finally came out, rubbing his clean horns. The lights were already off everywhere. Great. Coil activated his gravity coil to illuminate the area a bit, and almost groped his way to his temporary room. As soon as he could close the door behind him, he immediately flopped onto the bed. He really wanted to sleep, but it was always difficult for him to fall asleep. Thoughts kept coming into my head.
Surprisingly, nothing bad was done to him here. Gamma behaved very peacefully, unlike other biografts, and Subspace himself did not give any bloodthirsty orders. Were they friends? Do enemies spend the night in each other's house, having dinner at the same table? Coil couldn't tell. His thoughts were terribly tormented, and he decided to visit another infernal. Perhaps it was also because he was worried that he would die in his bed.
Coil carefully opened the door so as not to disturb anyone. Gammagraft was standing in the corner, apparently charging. Subspace was lying in his bed in only his boxers. His room was warmer than the others, so he didn't even need to cover up. Coil walked over to the other man's bed with quiet steps, sitting next to the infernal. Subspace seems to have woken up.
— What..? Coil..? — it was the first time in a long time that he had called him by his first name. Coil was surprised and blushed a little. Coming from someone else, his name sounded so... appealing. Not as usual.
— Can I lie down? — Coil mustered up the courage to ask such a brazen question. Subspace, apparently half asleep, hummed satisfactorily. If Coil had a tail, he'd be wagging it with all his might.
He carefully lay down next to him, hugging the other infernal with one arm, who in turn curled up a little in his arms. Coil felt his warmth. Alive. Breathable. He was alive, and Coil lived with him. Everything was fine. Their legs seemed to intertwine a little out of habit. Perhaps this was how their bodies needed someone else's warmth. Coil finally fell asleep with an empty head.
The next morning, Coil was gone. Subspace wondered if he had dreamed the whole day yesterday. But the drop of warmth left in his cold soul proved otherwise.