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Ron knew Ratthews routine like no other at this point.
So he naturally found it weird when the rat hadn't shown up to clean off Rattina's memorial like he usually did by the end of every day. The only time he'd be barely recognized due to the darkness.
He found himself standing there and waiting for a couple moments, just incase the rat happened to be late.
But nothing ever came.
Ron did the work himself, deciding he'd hand out there more often to find out who'd been vandalizing Rattina's memorial as he got on his hands and knees to scrub off the spray-paint and marker.
" There you are. "
Ratthew slightly flinched at Ron's sudden appearance, but he didn't waiver, trying to find a way to close up the vent he'd broken into leading straight inside of the Animal Hospital™.
" What on earth are you up to? " Ron watched with investigative eyes as Ratthew skillfully hopped down ledges leading up to said vent, sliding down a lamp-post before brushing himself off as he stood on the pavement.
" Business, " He responded, folding something up in his hands, " That new intern isn't working tonight, so I can't easily just pop up without looking injured. "
Ron couldn't inquire about more, finding himself staring at that familiar piece of paper folded neatly in his hands.
Once he finished his cigarette, stubbing it out on the ashtray, Ron walked to his own bedroom finding Ratthew sitting on the floor by the edge of the bed, re-reading the same piece of paper over and over again.
He was so lost in thought he almost didn't hear Ron speak.
" What's that? "
Ratthew didn't answer directly, folding the paper back up as if he was hiding it, " I have a plan to find my sister. "
" Well thats a new one, " Ron responded sarcastically, sitting on the bed and already starting to loosen his tie. Ratthew rolled his eyes.
" Not like the other ones--this is different, " He almost muttered, catching Ron's attention, " I only have one chance for this. "
Ron slightly leaned back, his paws smoothing out the wrinkles on the bedsheets. He kept finding himself glancing at the paper the rat seemed to protect with his entire being, as if the contents revealed something earth shattering.
As much as he didn't want to pry, it was impossible not to, " ...What do you mean? "
Ratthew slightly hesitated as he handed the paper to Ron, who accepted it hazardously. He felt his fingers tremble as he unfolded it, adjusting his glasses as the words were presented to him.
" You're not doing this. " Ron suddenly shot up from the bed, the contact held tightly in his hand as it began to wrinkle at the rough treatment. His voice was firm, as if he could make the rat immediately change his mind with just those four words.
Ratthew didn't fret at the accountants sudden outburst, tucking his knees into his chest, " It's the only way.. everything else has failed, " He huffed, " Unless you have another plan that could get me directly inside Animal Corp? "
Ron looked astonished, so shocked that Ratthew would even propose something as absurd as this.
" Anything else is better than you also agreeing to be experimented on--you'll end up just like her! "
" I wouldn't mind. "
" ...Don't say that, " Ron swallowed hard, " You're being reckless. "
" And you've been doing nothing, " Ratthew shot back, unfiltered anger evident in his tone, " I haven't said shit about you still working for those monsters.. let alone the fact you haven't even been helping me look for her. "
Shamefully, Ron turned away, re-reading the contract the same way he had all those months ago. It was left unsigned, as if Ratthew was still unsure himself despite his own affirmations.
" I won't let you do this. "
Ratthew took his sweet time to respond.
" Why do you care so much all of a sudden? "
Ron froze, his eyes slightly widening at the question. The rat turned to face him fully before standing up, " You don't actually like me, you just like who I.. Look like, " His voice got quieter the more he went on, slowly starting to avoid eye contact, " If anything, I'm helping you. I'll find her, bring her back, and you can finally have what you've wanted all along. "
Time felt like it stopped in this very moment, just two people who couldn't even find the right word for their relationship looking everywhere and at anything else except the other.
" I'm not her. No matter how much you want me to be her. "
Ron struggled to say anything else in response, any word he could even think of saying not daring to make way past his lips.
He inhaled, and then exhaled before opening his mouth.
" I... I know you're not her, " He felt his heart strain with each word, " I just.. I just want you to be safe--you're small, you're delicate, and- "
He stopped his sentence, finally gathering the courage to look down at Ratthew, whose face became unreadable.
" I didn't know you cared about me that much.. Mr. From Accounting... "
A while back, Ron would've told anyone he'd rather shoot himself than relive any conversation that unknowingly lead to Rattina's disappearance. And yet here he was, reliving every second of one of them with her brother of all people.
The same brother who was so much like her, enough to repeat the same words she once said perfectly.
But still.. differently.
Ron tried to hold it back, but his eyes still began to blur with a mix of emotions--the sadness of the reality of it all, and the happiness from the past he'd so desperately tried to hold onto naturally finding his way back to him without some sort of force.
He sadly chuckled, " ..Seriously, while Animal Corporation is an efficient company, they're also... " he didn't have to try to find the right words to say this time, " I wouldn't let them borrow me for actual experiments. "
Ratthew seemed reluctant, but he still ended up taking a few steps forward, being mere inches from Ron, " I'll be okay, you know how I am. "
" Not really, " Ron admitted, a tear sliding down his cheek as he softly smiled, " I really don't. I know what you do but... But I only know her. "
He placed a tiny paw over Ron's own, his warmth bringing a sense of comfort, but in a new sense. Not one that was familiar.
" I'll be okay. "
" No--No you wont, " Ron finally allowed himself to say. Even if he had the chance to do so in the past, that silence that once haunted him of a mistake that couldn't be taken back finally allowed itself to go away. " I was fucking stupid for letting her do it--I'm not loosing you too. "