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Vic didn't really know what he was supposed to feel anymore. Alan had already apologized for everything he had done. He was held accountable for his own actions. And to his credit, he had never tried to force a relationship with Vic or pressure him into forgiving him. Instead, he had given Vic the space to make his own choices and leave him alone. From afar, Vic had watched his creator grow and change, becoming a genuinely better person for the children he had created and later adopted.
Alan had also given Victim the chance to vent all of his anger, resentment, and pour his hatred. He had allowed Vic to punch him, slap him, and shake the hell out of him without ever fighting back. Vic had thought that seeing Alan bruised and bloodied avatar crumpled on the floor beneath him, would finally bring him the satisfaction he had craved for so long.
Instead, all he could do was cry.
There was no satisfaction, only emptiness. He felt numb… he felt fucking awful.
As Vic knelt there, breaking down, Alan's battered avatar slowly crawled toward him. Despite his injuries and broken legs, Alan wrapped his arms around Vic and held him close.
Vic was glad that his creator had apologized again, and after their one-on-one conversation, he had genuinely considered accepting that apology. He thought that would be all, so why did he still find himself yearning for this version of Alan? Yearning so deeply that he wished this had been the Alan who had created him in the first place.
He wouldn't lie to himself, he was jealous.
Jealous that Orange, or The Second Coming and the fighting stick figures, had gotten this version of Alan. He knows that they have a rough start and they forgive Alan's actions towards them. This Alan who slowly became attached to them, loving, caring, and willing to do anything to keep the Color Gang safe. This Alan who scrambled his feet and asked around to find another way to the Outernet just to save and fight for them without hesitation.
Vic couldn't help but wonder what his own life would have been like if he had been created by this Alan instead.
Would he be happy like them? Would he stay inside the PC? Would he meet Mitsi and Agent or establish the Rocket Corp? Would he meet his friends? What was like the world without the burning hatred in his gut?
And partly Vic understands perhaps it was because Alan had been young back then just a teenager. Teenagers made stupid decisions and foolish mistakes all the time. Green had once described it as Alan going through an "emo phase" and, strangely enough, that explanation wasn't entirely wrong.
The thing is, Vic could never see Alan the way they did. The memories of the torture and pain he had endured at Alan's hands were still etched too deeply into his mind, the scars that time alone could never erase.
But maybe... maybe Vic could learn to make peace with himself. It wouldn't happen overnight, and he knew he couldn't simply erase years of anger and hatred. Still, perhaps he could begin letting go, little by little, as he worked through his feelings.
He might even try therapy, just as Blue and Green had been suggesting.
"You've really changed for them." Vic said quietly as he watched Alan spending time with the kids at the park, taking them on a picnic. It just so happened that the CEO of Rocket Corp was passing by and had witnessed the scene. He stopped to have a conversation with Alan and say hi to the kids.
Alan shook his head. "No, I... I think they're the ones who changed me." he said, smiling softly as he looked over at the children.
"That seems the case, still I would've found a way to kill you in your world if I'd learned that you were mistreating or hurting the kids." Vic huffed, crossing his arms.
Alan let out a snort. "Honestly, I don't doubt that you would.”
As the conversation continued, Vic found himself stealing a glance at Alan. The unmistakable fondness in his expression as he watched the kids didn't go unnoticed.
Vic was about to leave when Alan stopped him.
"Do you want to stay for a while?" Alan asked.
Vic frowned. "Why?"
Alan shrugged. "I think the kids like you. They'd be happy if you spent some time with them.”
Vic glanced over at the Color Gang. The children had gathered fallen branches from beneath the trees and were now using them as makeshift swords, enthusiastically fighting one another in the open field.
"I have responsibilities at the company." Vic said.
Alan visibly deflated and nodded. "I see. You're a busy stick, after all.”
"But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to stay for an hour," Vic relented. A small smile tugged at his lips. "I just hope they can give me a good fight.”
Alan's face immediately lit up, a wide, toothy grin spreading across his face. “I don't know about you, but the kids can throw hands. How can you fare against them?”
“Watch me.” Vic said confidently.
Alan watched as the Color Gang noticed Vic approaching and immediately decided to gang up on him. Unfortunately for them, taking on Vic proved far more difficult than they had expected. Alan cackled from the sidelines as Vic bonked Green on the head with a branch.
Well... This wasn't so bad after all Vic thinks.