VIDEO

[loborobo]

[The feed flickers on, which shows nothing at first. Oddly enough, it’s the inside of the altar room ov Vector Prime. Maybe someone had left their--

But there’s a flash of orange eyes. They only flicker in the feed for a fleeting moment. In another flicker, there’s something peering down into the device, a nose prodding it. It looks to be a a dog of a robotic nature.]

A communication device… [The dog’s eyes brighten and fade with every word and he lifts a red paw up to reposition the object.]

Calling Brave Police, this is Shadowmaru. [He lifts his head, ears alert as he hears something off in the distance. Thankfully it was one of the acolytes. The BP Unit relaxes.]

I am low on fuel. I’m not quite sure if this place even has fuel, but. I’ll try my best for the time being.

If anyone else can hear this, I will try my best to send my coordinates. I read other signatures here, but I’m not familiar with any of them. [His head perks up again, orange optics wary.]

Again, this is Shadowmaru, calling for the Brave Police. If anyone could give me their location, it would be appreciated.

[He then races off screen, the device jostling before shutting off.]

Comments

[thxforthememories]

[The longer he waits, the more anxious he starts to become. It's... more difficult than he'd expected. More complicated.]

[The longer he waits, the more he wonders if he should have even said anything at all. If he should have waited. Said nothing at all. His hands start wringing themselves, wings fluttering. Nervous motions. Those, at least, haven't changed.]

[There's the barest flinch, at "listen".]

[He looks up slowly, honestly dreading the answer. He'd been so happy a moment ago. So excited and pleased to know the one who'd mattered most was proud of him. Now he feels, in some way, like he's disappointed him.]

[The answer -- the touch -- takes his words away.]

You... you aren't angry with me? Disappointed...?

[You are the deciding factor echoes in his head, but he manages to bite it back, the hope on his face almost tangible.]

I never wanted to make you worry.

[loborobo]

No. I'm not disappointed in you, Kagerou. Honestly, you could never disappoint me.

I simply hope that no one would take advantage of you. Even a FirstForged.

[He raps a knuckle against Kagerou's glyph.]

So, claimed by a FirstForged. I know you want to keep us safe, and as well as your memories but... what exactly do you do in return for him?

[thxforthememories]

[Relief. Relief and some nameless emotion deep enough to drown in washes over him. He literally sags where he stands, and it's everything he has not to simply grasp the other ninja, pull him close and hold on again.]

[Instead of hurting or anxious, this time, his words are shaking with gratitude, with relief.]

I'm -- I'm so glad you're not angry... I was so worried.

[Which sounds foolish now. But after nearly a year of constantly wondering, constantly doubting and second-guessing... it's hard not to say it. It's like a weight lifted off him.]

[It's almost euphoric, this feeling.]

Listen. Watch. He... wants me to build a bird for this world, with Kay. But we haven't had time to. Answer questions, sometimes... nothing more than any of that.

[loborobo]

[He looks up at him, soft and fond before he shakes his head.]

I could never be mad at you, Kagerou. If anything, I was getting mad at whatever FirstForged claimed you. If he does anything to hurt you, you know I'll be going after him.

[He wags his finger at him scoldingly before he tilts his head.]

He. Wants you to build a bird.

[thxforthememories]

[The little sound he makes would have been a relieved sob on a human. Even though the look on his face is far from upset, even now. He can't be. He's too relieved.]

[He reaches out and grasps that hand, holding it with both of his, now.]

He won't. You can't say that, though. If anything happened to you...

[And then he seizes on that topic change, almost sheepishly.]

Yes. Kay and me... I know it sounds odd, but. It's not a bad thing, is it?

[loborobo]

Kay. Kay. Kay.

[He grins and looks up at Kagerou with his hands on his hips.]

Looks like you're going to have to introduce me to her.

[thxforthememories]

[Oops. His faceplates heat up, and he looks away, doing his best not to look embarrassed.]

Of course I will.

[Then, as if to try and explain himself better.]

She was my first human friend, Shadowmaru.

[loborobo]

[He looks surprised for a moment before he smiles wider.]

All the more reason to met her!

What's she like?

[thxforthememories]

[That smile makes his faceplates heat, enough to where he glances away, shrugging. But the corners of his lips twitch, smiling in his own right.]

She's... young. And excited. She loves swiss rolls and has a pet crow. She promised she would stay here, as long as I did, and I promised to look after her.

Kay is...

... she's family. We decided it, together.

[loborobo]

[He laughs softly and shakes his head with a fond smile.]

You and your promises. [He doesn't mean any harm by it, of course.]

None the less, she sounds interesting.

[thxforthememories]

[His wings flutter, embarrassed shifting.]

They're important to me. You know that...

[He does nod, though, unable to keep the smile off his face.]

She'll like you too. I know it.

[loborobo]

[Again with the face plate heating.]

You think she will? [Shadowmaru looks down at himself.]

...Does she like wolves?

[thxforthememories]

[Now it's his turn to reach out, to put a reassuring hand on the other ninja's shoulder.]

I know her. I know you. So I know she will.

[She has to -- after all, he doesn't know what he would do if she didn't.]

She's liked all the animals she's met here. I don't see why you would be different.

[loborobo]

[He smiles a little more.]

That's good to hear.

[Shadowmaru soon turns to look at their surroundings.]

So where do the Brave Police stay? [pause.]

Where do you stay?

[thxforthememories]

[Something in him warms, just being able to reassure the other. Good. That hasn't changed.]

[He nods back the way they'd come.]

A lot of times, most of us stay in the Police Headquarters... [Yes, that's right, he said us, not them.]

I live in Trion's temple. With Kay.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru grows a little uneasy.]

...Do we have to stay in our assigned temples? [He glances to his own glyph.]

[thxforthememories]

[And here's more difficult words. He'll try to be reassuring, regardless.]

[Even though his own fingers brush against the mark on Shadowmaru, and an odd ache fills his AI. Different. Why...]

I do. But not everyone else does.

They don't care where you stay... so long as you have a mark.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru looks up at him quickly.]

You can't stay anywhere you want? Why not?

[thxforthememories]

It's uncomfortable. Being away.

[He folds his arms around himself, unsure how to describe it.]

And Kay... Kay likes it, where we are.

[His optics flick down, then back up to the other's face.]

... there is more space.

[For you.]

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru shifts his weight.]

...Would you mind if I gave a few days to some exploring first?

[Plus, he didn't wish to impede on Kagerou and Kay's living arrangement so quickly.]

[thxforthememories]

I... no.

[He won't deny it would hurt, if Shadowmaru lived elsewhere. It would feel... wrong. But he smiles, through it, offering his hands.]

But, when your engine is converted, I'll take you to my room. So you'll always know where to find me.

[If you need me.]

[loborobo]

[He glances back up at him, shoulders relaxing as he holds one hand, giving it a small reassuring squeeze.]

I know I just got here, and I want to know about everything that's happened to you while you've been here.

But a ninja has to be familiar with his surroundings, right?

[Shadowmaru offers a small smile.]

A few days. That's it.

[thxforthememories]

[It does reassure him. He nods a little, running his fingers over the familiar hand in his grip.]

Right. Of course... Leave it to you to use your training to convince me.

[His fingers keep making the little stroking motions.]

I believe you.

[loborobo]

[He chuckles.]

Looks like I have more training to do, while I'm here.

[The bot pauses and looks down at his fingers, blinking before he looks up at Kagerou curiously, as if silently asking him what the purpose of the motion was.]

'

[thxforthememories]

Don't we all...? But don't worry. I'll help. Like old ...

[At the look, he stops moving his hand, as if he hadn't realized he'd been doing it. He even shrugs, in answer.]

Like old times.