Truly

Disclaimer: CTCD doesn't belong to me.


Courage frowned, "Where are you going, Computer?"

Computer blinked slowly, his face characteristically neutral. Internally, he was willing for as much patience as his organic body could contain as Courage's twit-like question. "To bed."

He had just finished padlocking Muriel and Eust – no, Courage's room from the inside. The moment Computer had finished his three servings of pancakes; he had called for an immediate delivery of said lock to install onto the door.

Exhausted after his first day as an organic being, Computer had grabbed spare linens from the closet and was currently making his way to the attic.

Overall, it was a fairly surreal day for the pink pup.

Then again, it was pretty surreal that his desktop had transformed itself into a living computer.

Then again, considering the amount of crazy events that Courage had encountered in the past, Computer becoming a human was rather tame.

To be technical about it, Computer was more cyborg than human. He had attempted to explain, between not so delicate mouthfuls of pancake, the complexity of having a squishy body but technically still not be a human since he retained his computing abilities and more than half of his body was still inorganic. Suffice it to say, Courage, despite his cleverness, possibly only understood a third of explanation before his eyes glazed over.

"Optimal performance for this biology-driven body is approximately eight hours, and in order to wake up in time to have a productive day, this is the appropriate time to recharge – or rather," he rolled his eyes, "Sleep." His eyes narrowed, staring at the dark bags under Courage's eyes. "You should be sleeping as well. The pallor of your skin is 32% paler than normal and your energy levels are atrophic."

"Where are you sleeping?" Courage asked, ignoring the biting observation about his complexion. He did not need another reminder of his restless nights.

"The attic, of course."

Alarmed, Courage retorted, "But it's cold there!"

"That is where I resided previously," Computer stated, "Make sure to lock your door in order to make it into a habit." His tone forcibly neutral, although the frustration bubbling underneath the surface like magma beneath the earth's crust was palpable, "Katz has already sent me his itinerary. His approximate moving schedule indicates that he should be arriving at the end of the week, thus, giving me time to prepare for his undesired arrival. The attic is above your room, I should be able to hear if he does anything… unsavory."

Computer spat out the end of his sentence like acid, causing Courage to flinch.

"I…" Courage began but his shoulders slumped in defeat, "It was automatic."

"I realize that it was a tense moment," said Computer, "And you, for all that you have endured since I have known you, are frustratingly kind. An annoying trait." He murmured, so softly that even Courage's ears did not pick up on it, "And I would have it no other way."

"What did you just say?" Courage asked.

Computer snorted, his expression unchanging, "At least we can charge him for rent. I already emailed the housing agreement. He's paying quadruple the average rent."

"Quadruple?!"

"It was that or pay triple and sleep on the couch, renters laws be damned," Computer shrugged nonchalantly. He turned around towards the attic, "Again, padlock the door. I modified it with my own design so he should not be able enter lest he uses an axe." Computer paused, "I'll make sure to reinforce your door later this week."

Computer's first step toward the attic nearly ended with him tumbling to the ground.

"Dog!" Computer gasped as he felt Courage's body collide into his back, nearly sending them to the ground if not for Computer's quick physics calculation that allowed him to change his momentum quickly enough to avoid a potentially painful meeting with the hardwood floors of the hallway.

"It's cold up there," Courage reiterated, at least, that's what Computer interpreted from the muffled sound of the pink-haired boy against his pajama top and the feeling of Courage's damp breath against his sensitive skin.

"I have a blanket," Computer stated, reprimanding his body for shivering as Courage clung to him.

Stupid squishy bodily reactions.

Courage's shook his head, "You changed yourself into a human…cyborg-thing, the very least I could do is give you the bed. I can sleep on the couch."

Computer looked over his shoulder, staring at the thick mop of pink hair of the person who was keeping him from resting, "You are technically the owner of the house and that is the master bedroom. Social decorum dictates that you sleep in the bedroom."

"And you're the guest, therefore you get the bed!" Courage retorted, stubborn.

"So I'm merely a guest now?"

Computer knew it was a low blow, but it succeeded in getting the reaction that he desired.

Courage loosened his grip, "No! You aren't a guest, it's just that – "

Computer looped around to face Courage, causing Courage to jump but he remained insistent in terms of bodily keeping the white haired man from moving any further to the attic.

"That?"

Courage averted his eyes down to Computer's chest, his fingers clenching and unclenching into the soft material of Computer's night shirt, technically Courage's but they had been unable to shop for clothing just yet. "It's just that you're…you're my family. You changed…into this," Courage pressed his open palm against Computer's chest. Underneath it, he could feel the solid and comforting thump of a heartbeat. "I know you don't like squishy humans but here you are…"

"I don't like you bags of primarily water," agreed Computer, but he raised a hand and pressed it over Courage's hand, the corners of his lips tilting upward in something akin to a smile. "You are an outlier in terms of my general disdain towards organic matter."

"You're complimenting me," Courage smiled, his eyes shiny and bright with unbidden tears. "You're going to spoil at me this rate."

Suffice it to say, Computer was perplexed at Courage's mixed reaction. He was smiling but it looked like was on the verge of crying. A quick database search indicated that there was a 79% that Courage his emotional reaction was out of happiness. Squishies were odd.

"You are…pleased?" Computer asked, raising his hand to press the pad of his thumb against the corner of Courage's eyes. It was wet.

"Oh," Courage blinked, sniffling. "Sorry, people sometimes cry when they're happy."

"I've read that when squishies are overcome with emotion, that crying is generally a natural outlet in order to physically relieve themselves of such an emotional burden." He signed, "I will have to read more about emotional responses. On day and I have already caused abnormal behavior from you. I will research this accordingly tomorrow, but for now, buck up and stop crying, you twit. Now, if you would excuse me," he attempted to tug away, "I must rest. Bolt the door."

Courage blurted, "We can share the bed!"

Computer paused, staring at Courage's face, which was reminiscent of a garden-variety tomato. "I was not aware that cohabitation of the bed was common practice for people whom were not engaged in coitus."

Fascinatingly, Courage's face bloomed to a scarlet shade of red. Computer began pulling up links for possible fever cures other than Muriel's bizzare soup.

"It…it isn't," Courage answered, firmly staring at Computer's shirt as if it was the most interesting article of clothing he had ever witnessed. "But…you won't let me sleep anywhere else and I can't let you sleep in the attic since you've complained that the couch is not suitable for human touch, let alone sleeping."

"I will have the couch replaced, or at the very least fumigated," Computer added. He would never tell another soul that he was rather terrified of it. He was fairly sure the couch existed possibly during the formation of the area of Nowhere. Possibly before, but he would have to collect some samples to get a proper timestamp.

They stood there for 15.3 seconds before finally, "You will not let me go if I do not give me the answer you want, will you?"

"I can wait all night," replied Courage.

"Stubborn dog."

The supernova-like smile in response from the pup was more than a little startling.

Sleeping arrangements were indeed an awkward facet of life.

Courage took Muriel's side of the bed while Computer settled himself on Eustace's. The sheets, blankets, and everything else aside from the mattress was replaced but something in Computer recognized the whispers of the former owners of the room, the house, and the reality that Courage attempted so fervently to protect before their deaths

There was a noticeable gap of space separating Courage and Computer. The space between them felt as vast as the distance between the house and the Town of Nowhere despite Computer's measured 1.3 feet of actual distance separating them.

Aside from that, Courage huddled in a little ball, sleep a cruel mistress as he trembled, murmuring almost intelligible sounds.

Computer did make out the word Muriel and a 'sorry' coming from his mouth. He was perplexed.

A nightmare perhaps?

Foolish organic beings.

Computer did not recognize his actions until he was startled to realize that while his mind was analyzing the mean of Courage's murmured responses, he had turned over and tucked an arm around Courage, pulling his shivering body into an embrace. Immediately, Courage stopped shivering, his body becoming lax, and melting against Computer's form. His fingers that had been previously clenched against his chest were suddenly grasping Computer's forearm, as if attempting Computer from fleeing.

"Twit," Computer murmured into Courage's hair. He did not immediately sleep afterward. Oh no, he listened to Courage's steady breathing, waiting for any more stuttered whispers from the pitiful pup. He would finally fall asleep to the tune of Courage's finally peaceful breathing.

Courage stirred, warm and rested for the first time since…since he almost forgot how long. Possibly after Courage first witnessed the old man cough up blood and made him swear not to tell Muriel.

The smell of static and pancakes tickled his nose.

He frowned. Weird.

And then froze.

A warm weight was against his side, and an even warmer person was pressed against his back. He almost freaked.

Almost.

The familiar 'thump, thump, thump' of a heartbeat, one he had remembered and ingrained into his memory from last night was against his back.

Courage slowly looked down at the arm firmly wrapped around him. Peering closely, he noticed red streaks on an unearthly pale forearm.

Computer.

Courage slowly stretched his fingers, the feeling of blood flow a welcome relief to his digits. Slowly, he softly pressed the pads of his fingers against that arm, the red marks aligning exactly against the pad of his fingers.

"Oh…"

"Yeah," said a warm breath against his ear, "Oh."

Courage squeaked.

"You twit," Computer murmured against Courage's ear. "It'll heal by morning, ignore it."

Courage barely heard Computer's words. The sound of his voice, gravely and rough from sleep, like the grains of sand escaping from his fingers at the beach. "Go back to sleep, It's only 5 o'clock, and I am a far cry from fully recharged enough to handle your antics."

"B – but," Courage would have retorted except Computer yawned and buried his face into Courage's nape, his arm tightening around Courage's body as if he was a life-sized stuffed animal.

"Sleep," Computer commanded once more, his tone undercutting whatever arguments that Courage may have attempted.

Courage paused before he settled back, listening to the steady rhythm of Computer's heartbeat against his back finally lulling him back to sleep.

"In case you haven't figured," Computer murmured, purposefully grabbing the container of syrup from out of Katz's reach after Courage placed his pancakes in front of him. "Your presence here is a nuisance."

"I am a paying tenant," Katz purred, defiantly taking a bite out of his pancake. Fortunately for him, Courage had decided to make banana nut pancakes, so the stark lack of syrup in his breakfast was not too sorely missed. "Your business ethics are quite discouraging."

Computer snorted at Katz's mention of ethics let alone business ethics. "Pot to kettle."

Courage and Computer had woken up later than anticipated, and had only awakened due to the insistent tapping and doorbell ringing at the door. There was no time to consider awkwardness and social norms as they pulled away from one another to scamper downstairs – Computer in a more than obvious murderous rage and Courage out of politeness and concern for manslaughter charges.

Katz was on the front porch, his boxed belongings behind him, and his patented bored expression, a slightly devious smirk twitching on his lips, did not bode particularly well with Computer. This resulted in the cyborg taking an abrupt step back and slamming the door on the cat.

"More coffee?" Courage immediately placed himself into the line of sight, such was quickly becoming routine, between the two. He was fully aware of the animosity in the air, but fortunately he had homeowner's and renter's insurance. He was a practical dog, after all. It had taken the bribing of more pancakes from Courage and Katz waving the housing agreement in front of Computer before the cat was finally allowed inside the house.

Courage was more used to dealing with crazies going Muriel and Eustace and the property. Rarely did they ever bother with him personally except to possibly maim him.

This was new.

"I'll have some coffee as well," said a familiar voice from behind the screen.

"Shirley?" Courage yelped, nearly spilling his pot of coffee as he scrambled to let the green-haired woman inside.

The top of her head barely reached Courage's nose, but that did nothing to ease Courage's nervousness at the sudden appearance of the young gypsy woman. She authoritatively pulled the collar of his shirt downward so that she could peer at him eye-to-eye.

"You look well," Shirley finally stated, freeing his shirt, but not before she patted him lightly on the cheek. "You've been getting sleep."

Courage pretty much failed to cover up the blush that originated from his cheeks past his neck.

Shirley's heterochromatic colored eyes flickered to Computer, who was in the midst of arguing with Katz. She smirked, nudging his arm with her shoulder amicably as she made her way toward the kitchen table.

Katz had quickly made a grab for the pot as Courage scurried away to Shirley before it could spill all over the table. Computer glared, having attempted to grab it as well but Katz had unfortunately beaten him to it. Smugly, Katz poured the remainder of the coffee into his mug.

"Oops," Katz set the coffeepot down, a playful smirk on his lips, "Looks like we're out."

"A shame," Shirley stated as she briskly rounded around the table and grabbed Katz's cup of coffee. She took a long sip, satisfaction brimming in her voice. "Good coffee."

"It better be," growled Katz, "It's twenty dollars an ounce."

"Then it clearly merits another cup of coffee," Shirley raised her cup, Computer tapping his own mug against hers.

"I'll make another pot," Courage stated, "Do you want pancakes too?"

"Of course," was the prompt answer, although she still grabbed an empty plate and grabbed a pancake from both Computer and Katz's plates.

She heavily covered the pancakes in syrup, a moan of happiness escaping from her throat after her first bite.

"What are you doing here?" asked Katz as Courage placed another large stack of pancakes on the table before he took a seat between Shirley and Computer. Katz bristled, knowing Computer was smugly drinking his coffee.

"Breakfast," was her only reply before she dug in, a satisfied grin spread across her face as Katz pointedly scowled at her.

It was half past ten in the morning and Shirley remained. By then, Katz had driven off to work, or whatever corporate, soul-sucking expenditure he was in the midst of, while Computer was in the attic. The muffled frantic typing of keys on a keyboard, and an occasional disgruntled sight could be heard in the house's old ventilation system.

Courage nervously sat in his seat, facing adjacent to Shirley. Somehow, the two had become more than acquaintances. When the old man had fallen ill, he had begged her and the Doctor to help, and while she had provided herbal remedies (at an exorbitant price) that would help soothe the pain but would prove futile for whatever ailment the plagued the old man. Courage did not know when to pinpoint it, but she had suddenly become a norm in his life.

The week after Muriel had passed and Computer mysteriously offline, Shirley had appeared at his kitchen doorstep and demanded breakfast. She had wanted everything from waffles, to bacon, fried potatoes, and chili. In-between scurrying to find the necessary ingredients and moaning about 'Why ME?' while chopping potatoes, it finally dawned on him. Shirley stood beside him, standing on a stepstool and cutting thick slabs of bacon, humming a song he remembered vaguely from one of Muriel's old black and white films, and he finally realized he had momentarily forgotten to be sad.

When he had asked why she had decided to have breakfast with him, she had shrugged and placed another large spoonful of bacon gravy over his potatoes.

For a diminutive woman, she ate like a bodybuilder, and for some bizarre reason, expected Courage to do the same.

"I thought you would need a friend while your housemate was away."

Courage could not ask her anymore for she had taken it upon herself to feed him. Almost literally in some cases, jabbing him in the cheek with a spoon laden with creamy oatmeal, when she thought he was not eating quickly enough. He later forgot about his earlier questions, too busy resting his head on the hardwood table and attempting not to barf the contents of his stomach.

"Still too thin," Shirley huffed. She placed a cup of tea in front of him, the citrusy smell of lime and ginger calming his stomach. She patted his head, almost like Muriel but then again, nothing could replace Muriel. "Ah well, that'll change soon enough."

Courage had not dwelled about Shirley's mysterious appearance a couple of days before Katz's appearance and Computer's reappearance until now.

"Oh." Courage momentarily paused from mixing his bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough. Apparently Muriel had imparted a need for cooking or baking every time something occurred.

Shirley was resting her head on her steeped fingers, staring absently at the wall.

"Shir –"

"He means you no harm," she stated off-handedly. She took a sip of her tea, scowling at its cooled state.

"What?"

Shirley tapped her spoon against the side of her mug, steam appearing from its contents. "Both of them actually," she clarified, "They are both here to ward off the troubles that you usually run into." She rolled her eyes, "Although for what trouble they manage to deter from you, they'll probably make up for it by quarreling with one another." She took a sip of her tea, "Men."

Courage resumed mixing. The swirl of dough and chocolate chips the only thing grounding him at the moment. "I don't get why. Computer, I – I guess because we're friends…" Shirly snorted at the word friend. Courage continued, "But Katz hates me."

"Hated," corrected Shirley. She used her spoon to snag some cookie dough from the mixing bowl, humming happily at the taste. She eyed him speculatively, reading something about Courage that he could not see for himself. She cocked her head to the side, strands of luminescent green hair falling across her mocha-colored skin. It was such a beautiful contrast – she reminded Courage of the tropical, brightly colored birds he saw at the pet shops, beautiful and seemingly untouchable.

Unexpectedly, she pressed her thin fingers against his cheek. "You are a special little dog, Courage." She peered offhandedly into her cup of tea, "Even I am rooting for you."

"For what?" Courage gulped, unnerved to be the center of her unwavering attention. It almost like when Computer and Katz stared at him, but there was always something else in their eyes that Courage could not understand.

Nor would he allow himself to understand. Not yet.

Shirley abruptly tapped his forehead with a finger. An honest and forever mysterious smile on her face as she replied, "Your happiness, dummy."


A/N: So I totally had not expected it would take almost two years for me to finally update. I'm so sorry my dear readers! Especially for those who reviewed years later, asking if I was going to update. Every time I got an email notification, I was super happy and then super guilty! haha It won't take years for me to finish this, I promise! I hope you like it, and review please! Guilt trip-y reviews apparently worked well. More importantly, I hope you like the progression of this story!