An AU that entertains the idea of what if the Alchemist never turned evil and the silver monkey was completed without Antauri's soul.

Warnings: Violence (blood and gore), strong language (courtesy of Mandarin's filthy mouth), heavy description of dark thoughts, unrequited feelings, side Gibtauri

The Silver Monkey

Everything was too bright.

Instead of a warm light wrapping around him in comfort, it was sharp and tightened around his throat. He gasps against the bound; thrashing around to try and free himself. He could hear the muffled sound of various metal objects clanking harshly against the tiled floor. There was a shout and something was trying to hold him down. It was hot and heavy and his body trembled with a feeling he would not be able to describe until years later.

Something sharp was injected into his throat and he gasps as fluids filled his robotic veins, shutting down his functions. The trembling continued until a rush of cold cleared his mind and vision. A swinging light above him was the last thing processed before the dark took over.

That was his first awakening.

0000

The man who created him was called the Alchemist.

The Alchemist was kind. He had a soft soothing voice and he would always speak low as if he did not want to scare his creation. The scientist helped his creation adapt to his new life; helped by giving him a purpose. The man also gave him a name.

"Come, Varik," The Alchemist whispered as he opened the door to the outside world. "Let me show you what you will be fighting for."

Rays of light flooded the hallway where Varik stood. He immediately shut his eyes to the harshness of the light. His chest tightened familiarly and he felt that choking sensation crawling up his throat to which he tried to swallow down.

His creators voice cut through his mind and the concern in his voice made him feel sick to his stomach. "Varik? Are you alright?" He asked his voice laced with worry as he moves to close the door again. "Perhaps you are not ready to see yet…"

Varik's eyes shot open and for the first time he spoke: "No. I am always ready." The Alchemist was frozen in shock to hear the silver monkey's sharp, but controlled tone. All the scientist could do was stare as Varik defiantly walked through the lighted doors out into the world.

He was en-wrapped by a cool breeze and the gentle buzz of the forest life. His eyes wandered over the horizon. He did not realize just how blue the sky could be or how green the trees could be.

It sickened him.

0000

The next time Varik saw something so blue it was in the eyes of his… "partner."

Captain Shuggazoom was abnormally loud. His very voice brought pain and irritation to Varik's mind. The Alchemist introduced the stranger as his very good friend. How a soft spoken introverted man such at the Alchemist could be friends with such a loud and obnoxious man was beyond Varik.

Varik wanted to protest his partnership with the Captain, but it was not in his program to defy the Alchemist's orders. He could only keep quiet and do as ordered. For some reason, that brought a low boiling heat in Varik's stomach that would grew to his chest every time he saw the Captain speak so friendly to the Alchemist.

Varik was beginning to despise the color blue.

0000

The Alchemist had a new pet.

The animal was small and was never quiet. Varik did not need sleep, but was irritated nonetheless of the animal's constant cries in the dead hours of the night. His creator tried to explain to the robotic monkey that the small creature cried because he was weak and abandoned by his family. The little one needed constant attention for feeding and medical needs.

Varik bitterly hoped the little one would die so the laboratory could be quiet once more.

The small monkey grew stronger and bigger as the year went on and Varik started to further despise this new thing that the Alchemist called: Mandarin.

Mandarin was restless. He climbed, jumped, whined, growled, screeched, scratched, bit, and tumbled continuously in Varik's space. The orange furred simian seemed to have a deep curiosity for the robotic form causing him to conduct many experiments that only annoyed Varik. The Alchemist tried to soothe the tension by telling him that Mandarin was still small and as he grew older, he would mature and settle down. Varik only had to be patient.

Varik was not patient and he felt a deep sense of pleasure when he grabbed a playful Mandarin by the arm, yanking and causing a sharp crack followed by a pained screech to paint the air.

The crack of bones, he found, was quite satisfying.

0000

Antauri was an older monkey when he first joined the "family." A child of one or two, quiet and anxious of his new environment. Varik felt a sense of power over the new monkey and was content in just watching the child creep around with a worried air, tail between his legs.

Mandarin took to the visitor quickly. He nudged, jumped, and attempted to play with Antauri despite the black monkey's whines of protest. The orange simian tended to come on strong and it only made Antauri more anxious. This greatly amused Varik and he started to grow fond of Mandarin's disregard for Antauri's comfort.

Varik did not think much of Antauri at first, but as the black monkey grew in age and with more confidence, he started to make Varik uncomfortable with his defiant nature. Antauri had developed this blank stare that felt as though his olive eyes were piercing through your soul and knew of every thought you owned. Varik started to avoid him.

In the years to come, a throbbing heat steadily grew in his gut towards the deep voiced monkey. He would not mind tearing those penetrating eyes from their sockets.

0000

Varik had little interest in the rebellious red monkey that was soon brought in. He was loud, demanding, and full of spark. He found distaste in the name SPRX-77, Sparx for short, but as long as the monkey stayed out of his way, he could ignore him.

And Sparx did tend to stay away. There was an intimidating air around Varik that Sparx would not dare to disturb. Sparx stayed in his place by the Alchemist and Mandarin's side and that was just fine.

Varik would only wonder if the future pilot's blood would be darker than his fur.

One day, Captain Shuggazoom returned to the lab with a soft pink bundle tenderly enclosed in his arms. The Alchemist was struck by the small creature, he was nothing but soft eyes and gentle touch with the visitor. Varik could not understand it.

He looked at the small monkey with his own eyes one warm afternoon. He stood alone as he stared down at the soft golden fur that glowed in the sunlight and the almost too bright pink eyes. She was friendly, squeaking and reaching out to Varik with a pleased grin on her lips. Varik made no move and he only watched.

He understands biology from an outside standpoint. He understands that this small girl will be loved and adored by the men around her once she's older. She will be protected and cared for. She will go on in life being soft and kind. Varik understood that he should love her and possibly have an interest in her adult form when the time comes. It is common biology.

He did not feel warmth in his chest, however. He did not feel kindness or 'love' for this small female. His nose scrunched up in pure disgust. He could not be associated with such a small weak thing. She will amount to nothing and he would as soon as wrap his fingers around her throat and squeeze the life away than kiss her.

She was later named 'Nova.' Nova: brightness, light, fire…Varik only felt bile on his tongue at the name.

0000

Otto was nothing to him. An energetic green monkey who was nothing but smiles and laughter.

The light that emitted from the future mechanic made him internally sick. He avoided the monkey as often as possible and showed his dominance at every turn until the very sight of him caused fear in Otto's soul.

It took quite some time for the Alchemist to train Otto to not unleash his bladder onto the laboratory floor whenever Varik walked into his line of sight.

Varik could not stop himself from smirking whenever this event happened and felt a sense of emptiness when the behavior stopped.

0000

Mr. Hal Gibson.

The very name made Varik's throat dry and his eyes glaze over. The blue furred monkey was brought in from an experimental laboratory and was old enough to be put through the robotic process. Due to this, Varik has only known Gibson as this immensely intelligent being with a smooth, accented voice and a charming smile. Varik did not understand it at the time, but he liked this monkey.

He found himself making any plausible excuse to join Gibson in the lab to assist or simply watch the scientist work. He greatly enjoyed watching those deft fingers slowly and efficiently work on whatever project his clever mind chose to do. Gibson occasionally spoke to himself as he worked and seemed to get lost in his work, Varik disappearing into the seat where he sat in the corner. Varik was welcome to openly admire and observe Gibson at work. It was his favorite pass time.

The first time he felt a warm, comforting throb in his chest, it was when Gibson first emitted a laugh. Varik was no longer able to make a viable excuse to sit in with the scientist and he could only stand in the doorway in silence. Gibson quickly noticed him and gave him his sweet smile in greeting before requesting to know Varik's purpose from being there. Varik had no excuse and could only stand there.

Gibson waited patiently and Varik finally confessed that he only came to the lab for the scientist's company. The blue monkey paused a moment before he let out a laugh of pure honey and Varik almost did not hear the scientist say that he did not need an excuse to visit; he was always welcome in the lab.

Varik learned to like the color blue.

A/N: Yep, this is short and choppy, but so is Varik's mind at first. The stories get longer as we go, I promise :)

I hope you enjoy!