Inspired by the wonderfully talented Sniggyfrumps - because she just knows how to get into my brain.
Quote: "... Decisions that made my bed/Now I must lay in it/ Deal with things I've left unsaid..." -- Adam Levine
Disclaimer: I do not in any way, shape, or form own the character(s) in this story.
The clinking, tink-ing, and whizzing of construction sounded from the Leader's bedroom.
Otto was doing renovations.
It was an unusually slow process despite the time crunch he was under. He just couldn't hurry with this - it'd mean too much.
The room was slowly transforming from a familiar authoritarian base to something new and alien as a bed-frame fit for a young human took the place of a charging pod.
Otto adjusted to change well - he was an naturally out-going and optimistic individual. He enjoyed change. This change however, had him shaken to the core.
It was unfair; it was outrageous; it was wrong. He was violating a sacred place of refuge of one of his dearest, most trusted fri - no, former friends.
It was still a tough to get his head around sometimes.
He couldn't picture it any other way but with the orange simian levitating off the ground with a stern yet graceful frown on his face while hundreds of candles burned around him. This was were their former great leader could always be found in the evening, quietly going over strategies, or thinking, and always ready to be bothered.
It still hit the green monkey hard. Mandarin wasn't coming back. He chose not to think about it most of the time. Yet here he was, replacing the last remaining physical ties to his (ex)leader. It was hard not to think about.
Replacing parts is a lot simpler than replacing people - people leave all these memories and emotions that can't be ignored or blended into the background. They're all special. Otto loves messing with mechanical bits because they are always easy to replace and you don't have to think about it. They aren't unique.
Otto sometimes still wondered if he could have somehow prevented it all. He knew he wasn't supposed to, but he couldn't help it. There were a hundred little clues to tip them all off, and he had ignored them all. Now he was replacing the relics and relying on memories of happier, whole days to get him through. He liked Chiro, he really did. It was just that Chiro was still a kid though and Otto doubted that he'd be able to cope with all the hurt and heartache they'd be throwing at him. He had been there during the whole betrayal and he had thought he'd gotten over all the loneliness and heartache left after it's wake, gotten through the minor identity crisis and the emotional drowning and the far too large gap left in his relationship with the rest of the team.
He was a hopeful, happy monkey, but even he had his limits. He'd just have to watch out more. Be there for this new leader more. Love him more. Make sure that nothing like this was ever necessary again. Otto promised that he'd make the most out of their new leader; he'd be happy to have him and to play with him and he'd do his very best to make sure that nothing like Mandarin ever happened again.
There was no way he could ever stand feeling so alone again. His heart couldn't take it.