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“I hope it’s to your liking…” The large man opened the grey door numbered 103.
It was homey, warm, and unlike anything found in Blackrock.
Wooden and paper. Floors of dried stew. Hyperlaser remembered how fragile it was, how he needed to take off his shoes.
Somehow they lasted longer under the weight of a whole Katana over a Hyperlaser rifle with boots.
“It’s fine. Much more comfortable than my house.” It was weird taking off his shoes, to make part of him vulnerable.
Following Katana in, who closed the door behind them.
To their right, was a short corridor with some straw tied in a pile with rope binding it. Past another wall, Katana placed his gear on a stand.
”You have something similar?” The scabbard bathed the light. He turned to him. The mask reflecting off of his helmet.
”Nah. It’s unnecessary.” Katana reached back his hand, back towards Hyperlaser. “Think Princess would’ve knocked it down.”
Their hands connected. Katana moved them towards the ladder.
”Shall I go up first?” They didn’t want to disconnect from each other.
”…” A skinny wooden ladder. The width of each side were as wide as Hyper’s shoulders. “…sure.”
“Something on your mind?” He tried to imagine him climbing up it in a moment… everyday…. “Hyper?”
”Huh?” His hulking body was already half way up. “Go up first, I’ll follow.”
He nodded.
Upstairs were shockingly tiny. The lack of the apparent bed seemed strange. A large television sat in the middle of the room.
”Is there truly something on your mind?” Katana was across room, at the kitchen. At the stove that was about the width of his waist.
The holes in his mask looked back at him.
“Have you considered moving somewhere… more accommodating?” Katana beckoned him next to him. He carefully walked around the piles of cloth, newspaper, and cushions on the floors.
”It’s already a gracious privilege that I can be here.” Hyperlaser stood shoulder to arm, watching as the hot water was poured out of the pot.
”Mhm?”
”This mask? Do you remember what it signifies?”
”I do.” Shows that they can beat them in a fight or something.
Katana took some leaves that he chipped off the block, and poured it into the pot.
”Do you remember why I poured in hot water before the tea?” He poured in more water.
”Was it to clean it?” Closing the lid, he let it steep.
”While not entirely wrong, it is to warm the pot.” Katana’s gaze was on him, now that his tea was prepared. “How’s Princess?”
”Mmmmmm… She’s doing fine.” Despite the focus being on his mask, Hyperlaser felt something twist into his fingers.
”You’ve got cold hands Hyper.”
”I could take off my gloves.”
”No, it’s fine. You could take off that suit. I’d suggest it.”
”And why’s that?”
”You’ll be warm from the tea later.”
Katana’s hand were scarred, from past burns. Calloused from his devotion. And warm from his soul.
He felt a little more of it. Katana let it.
”It needs to steep a little longer. Is there anything you’d like to do in the mean time?”
”…What is there to do?” Already walking through to get to this point hadn’t showed much.
”We could watch television.” Yeah, Hyperlaser already got that. “Maybe eat something.” They’re already in the kitchen. “Do you have an interest in reading?”
”I… have troubles reading on paper… I work mostly with audiobooks.” Honestly, that was an excuse he made when he accidentally walked into that library.
”I could read it to you.” The fashion he said that, unbothered and in embarrassed. It was something to aspire to. Hyperlaser felt his hand being pulled towards the middle of the room.
”I-I probably wouldn’t find much interest.” He still felt that large hand pulling him away from the kitchen.
”Then we can watch television.” Regardless, he found themselves in the middle of the room.
Katana went to pour the tea… finally.
”Do you not have a bed?? Hammock?” He remembered demons slept somewhere. Couldn’t be the floor right?”
“Sleeping on the floor is beneficial for your back Hyper. The mats are rather comfortable.” He felt the hot tea warm the cups as he filled it up. “There’s blankets in the wardrobe, put them out.”
He found a roll of thick blanket. Which he held in his hands. Katana came back with two cups in his hands.
”Do you really sleep on the mats?”
“Is it that hard to believe?”
”A little.”
He handed one to Hyper. Then crisscrossed his legs on the small cushion. The blanket was draped on his shoulder.
Hyperlaser figured to sit down near him. Binding his legs to his chest with his arms.
”Come,” He motioned for his lap. Hyper stared for a little bit. “there’s not much room.”
“Fine…”
Hyperlaser found himself underneath a drowsy Katana and a blanket. His arms sealed him against the mats.
The television was on, strange how it seemed to be the only thing the right size for him. It showed something Hyperlaser could not care less of.
The warmth under the blanket let Hyper melt into his comfort. Like the frigid cold of Blackrock never had touched him.
He has been right, he’d be hot later.
”…It’s hot Katana.” He groaned awake.
”Told you…” His voice damp with exhaustion.