audio;

[thxforthememories]

I want to talk to the Brave Police. Right now.

[Kagerou what have we said about locking your messages like this.]

[Apparently all those talks still fly out the window when you're upset. Oops. And boy, does he sound upset.]

Comments

[loborobo]

[He clicks off his Link. And in less than ten minutes, a presence stands nearby, looking at Kagerou with dim green optics, posture... unsure as he emerges from the shadows.]

Kagerou?

[thxforthememories]

[He'd found a window seat of some kind to curl up in. This... isn't a conversation he wants to have. Not with anyone. And especially not with someone he'd already put through so much.]

[He looks up very slowly, when he hears his voice.]

Here.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru furrows his brow as he sees him. It made his AI ache. But he carefully approaches him, taking a seat on the edge of the window seat, giving him enough room. Despite wanting to be close to the other bot.

His wings relax and his hands rest in his lap.]

[thxforthememories]

[He doesn't know how to say this. Any of this. He sits there in silence for a long while, though one hand reaches over to wrap around one of Shadowmaru's.]

[Tightly.]

Will you be angry with me? If I tell you these things?

[loborobo]

[And instanly, his other hand cover's Kagerou's, holding back tightly. He even scoots a little closer to rest their hands atop his own chest plate.

Shadowmaru shakes his head, smiling softly.]

I would never be mad at you, Kagerou. Especially when... whatever happened here, before I came here, I had no power to stop it.

But I would like to know. From you.

[thxforthememories]

[He goes quiet again. Squeezing Shadowmaru's fingers. Feeling the soft pulse of living systems. It's more reassuring than he can say.]

[More silence. Then, he nods.]

[And bit by bit, he tells him. The words are halting, uncertain, but the story comes out. Everything -- how he'd trusted the wrong AI when he'd arrived, and been held against his will while it rummaged through his mind. Being dumb enough to plunge into the lake when his fuel ran out.]

[Joining the ill-advised team of soldiers and officers going up against Overlord... and the violence he'd shown them all. How later, Kagerou himself woke up unharmed, missing memories... and was told he'd been killed at the monster's hands.]

[But it's not until he talks of the incident with the Glyphless -- of the strange AI from their world who'd come -- that his voice starts shaking a little. Even now, he feels guilty over it. Over the death of the Chieftain.]

[He'd been the one to kill it, after all.]

[He falls quiet, after that, staring at the floor and trembling. Waiting for judgment. Or upset words. Something.]

[loborobo]

[He listens to him intently. His face contorts into surprise, and a moment of fear, before it settles on mild concern. This was all a lot to... take in.

He's silent for a long moment before he scoots closer to Kagerou and wraps his arms around his middle.]

I... That all happened to you. I.

I wish I could have been here for you.

I'm sorry.

[thxforthememories]

[He stiffens, just for a moment, as he feels those arms around him. He honestly expected some kind of reprimand. Some harsh words about being too reckless.]

[But ...]

[Instead he returns the embrace. Tightly. Fiercely. His face buries in the other ninja's shoulder as slight tremors run through him.]

[He knows everything now -- there are no more secrets between them.]

No, I... You couldn't control it.

You're here now. That's all I wanted.

[loborobo]

[Shadowmaru clings to the other bot tightly, burying his face in his neck cables.]

You've been through so much. I... I'll make sure nothing else happens to you. [His hold turns more possessive. Scared. Frightened.]

I promise, nothing more will happen to you. You deserve better in life.

[thxforthememories]

I won't let you be hurt, either. Not ever. Not since you're here again...

[His own grip matches the other ninja's perfectly. Tight and fierce and possessive. He needs him.]

[He needs this.]

Don't say that. I have you now. That's all I ever deserved.

You.