Gopher walked aimlessly, abandoned by the 6 Noahs he'd sought to serve and please in memory of the first, but they no longer wanted him. He had found solace with a new caretaker which became his downfall and betrayal to his masters. They insisted he go follow that witch now instead of them. He had screwed up too much now to be worth their time any longer while, in reality, they wanted him closer to Madelyn so their plans to take back the book of Eibon could ensue. Gopher would be their loyal retriever, not even Gopher knowing he would be doing this until he time was right knowing he'd never betray them if they asked him to get the book and seal both Kid and Madelyn within it for revenge of their fallen Greed.
With his heart almost literally shattered, Gopher soon sought out that woman in anger, the one who showed him "comfort" and "happiness". The woman who took the Noahs away from him. He showed no confliction as he jingled the bell she'd given him to tell her to come find him, smirking with an unstable, semi-insane grin as he knew he had to kill her. That would renew the faith of the 6 Noahs. It had to work...
Upon him waited anxiously, his body began to twitch in the excitement of the rush he would feel by killing Madelyn in cold blood and taking her souls to the Noahs he thought cherished, yet he didn't realize how little he truly cared for them compared to HIS Noah. The one he originally loved unconditionally and the one who had created him. He smirked as Madelyn landed before him and retracted Aradia's Grigori wings, looking at him and frowning, seeing and sensing Gopher's agony.
She looked down and a tear shed from her eyes as he got on the defensive and stood as such. He didn't know what to do as his eyes became widened and showing how caught off guard he was. Sweat trickled down his forehead as she looked up at him almost in tears and tried to keep eye contact. She knew it was her fault, "What happened..? Did they..?"
Gopher started panting softly with a rush of adrenaline, his heart feeling pain upon seeing her cry and he calmed down instantaneously before connecting that he'd hurt someone who cared for him. He was about to 'kill' her, and here she was, crying for him. He didn't understand and his anger and frustration built again. It was her fault. She toyed with his emotions, he was certain of it, "They all abandoned me. The Noahs don't want me anymore, heheh. And you know whose fault it is? Yes, it was yours you fodder," he scowled with a downward V-shape upon his lips, his teeth visibly gritting at the sides, "Making me feel comfort, happiness, giving me consolation. Why are you crying for me, you cruel witch? You only seek to toy with the emotions of others!" He glared bloody daggers into her heterochromatic eyes as he found her walking closer to him and he stood once again in a defensive stance. He didn't want her to touch him, he'd shut down again just like before. His anger would never be unleashed, he'd never be content. She reached him before she dropped to her knees at his feet. She embraced him—holding him tightly and looked up at him in tears of deep regret and apology.
She begged for forgiveness, yet asked for none it seemed, "I'm so sorry, I didn't know they were watching." She grips his bellbottoms tightly as she lowered her head and sobbed softly, "I thought we were safe. I'm, so, so sorry..." Gopher's eyes showed fear of her. Why did bringing her to her knees in tears of his love for Noah pain him so? He couldn't grasp why he was clutching onto her, why his heart strings were being pulled in by her. A desire to be needed, wanted, cherished—and that was something none of the Noahs gave him.
He shouted in panic, "W-who are you? W-why, why do I feel this way around you?! I don't understand!" He mercilessly knocks her back with a fit to the face in an emotional reaction and reflection of pure rage and frustration to protect himself and his memories. She went rolling onto the ground after skidding and then began trying to push herself up as he chuckles and steps on her—forcing her down into submission to him. He started relentlessly stomping on her and kicking her as his grin showed and twitched with his eyes shaking unstably. He laughed nervously in an insane panic, "Tell me! Who are you to me?! Why do I care how you feel?! Huh?! I love Noah-sama!" She gave no answer except gasping and yelping as he abused her, "Answer me you witch!" He glares and kicks her over, looking at her now bloodied body and stilled face—no longer whimpering and yelping in pain. He felt his heart breaking further as he saw she couldn't even open her eyes from his relentless assault.
"M-Maddi-chan... I," He spoke, his eyes beginning to reflect his anguish, his panic as he fell to his knees and gripped her hand. His head was hurting, spinning, and pounding as his body trembled. His soul felt as if it would burst from all the pain he felt inside, "Maddi-chan... Please, g-get up. I didn't mean to- I didn't want to-..." His sanity was slipping, not yet realizing his newfound and strong connection to her and that he'd known of once before. His heart was confusing him. He closes his eyes wincing as his hair was out of place as he sweated. He opened his eyes and with determination in their deep blue hue, he picked her up, holding her tightly as he grew Grigori wings and jumped into the air. He began immediately heading towards Death City to help her. Upon arriving there, he presented her to Shinigami-sama, Kid, on his knees before thew new Lord Death. Kid glanced before his head jolted to face Maddi. His eyes widened as he rushed to her upon Gopher placing her safely on the ground in the Death Room. Gopher had only gotten access due to Maddi's demand that he be allowed wherever he desired—whatever made him happy.
Kid growled with clenched fists, "What happened...? What'd you do to her?!" Kid immediately kicked him to the ground without hearing his explanation and called to Liz and Patty who turned into guns before Kid felt Maddi tugging on his Shinigami's coat. Moving was possible after the shock of the pain was slowly wearing off—and she refused for Gopher to be harmed, no matter what.
"Don't you touch him... Don't you dare, hurt him." She said firmly as Kid's expression became calmer and knew of her great empathy towards him that he couldn't fathom as he now focused solely on her. Gopher propped himself up after skidding across the floor and wiped the blood off his mouth as he stared at Maddi. Kid held her bridal style, her body limp as he took her inside to Kim.
Kid stopped and glanced back behind his bangs, "You are very lucky to have her care for scum like you. If she didn't, you'd be dead now... Never forget that!"
Gopher's eyes widened before he pulled his legs in towards himself, cradling himself as the pain was too much, and the regret was even worse. He no longer desired to hide his emotions, letting his tears go, and letting his shame be known, "Maddi-chan... Please forgive me..." He now cried with full release of his emotion, yelling out in his broken agony just hoping she'd hear him, "I'm sorry!" He shook and buried his face into his knees as Liz and Patty stopped through all this and clearly saw his anguish. Maybe he wasn't so bad, just misguided the girls believed.
Patty was first, walking over to him and bending over as she held out her hand with a kind and amused smile to take him to Maddi, "Heya mister Gopher guy. Come with us~" Patty giggled as Liz wasn't far behind and helped him up. Gopher watched the two in confusion as he reluctantly accepted Liz and Patty's hands and he stood in a daze. Liz soon responded after Patty, continuing her thought, "She wants you with her I'm guessing, so come with us to see her," Liz added with a gentle smile.
Gopher nodded and had calmed down at his release of emotion as he went inside with the girls, walking in to see Kim healing Madelyn before he found himself suddenly jolting to her aid and held Kim's arm, "Don't touch her!" He gasped softly in complete surprise of his actions as Kid and the others watched him. Kim glared at him before he released his grip, "Sorry..."
Kid was now testing him. If Liz and Patty knew something he didn't, maybe it was time to give Gopher his second chance. Gopher stepped back in disbelief of all the events that had taken place all in one day. The others saw him falling to his knees, then on his bottom, gripping his head as he sat Indian style before he giving a jolted and shocked expression upon feeling Madelyn's hand touching his face.
Gopher looked at her with unrelenting loyalty and fear, gripping her hand firmly and not wanting to let go again, "I'm so sorry... Please forgive me, Maddi-chan." He spoke softly, deciding it was best to be near her as he had nowhere else to go—and no one to go home to. He bowed his head, gripping her hand with both of his, "... Maddi-chan. I swear my loyalty to you. My Noah-samas are gone. My Noah, is gone. I need you... Please let me serve you Maddi-cha- Sorry, Maddi-sama." His breath was shaky, yet his words were confident and clear before he heard her chuckle softly as she smiled at him, "Huh?" He was confused, looking with widened eyes.
Madelyn giggled softly before releasing her hand from his grip and gently brushing the back of her hand against his cheek as he found himself closing his eyes, gripping her hand and leaning into her gentle touch, "Let me serve you and take care of you. I want you to learn to be human, and that means you're free to indulge yourself within reason, you don't have to serve me. You are not a tool anymore, you will not be my tool. You will be my "companion", and I will cherish you equally and lovingly." She smiles weakly as he looked up at her with wide eyes in tears. He started crying again and forced himself up before hugging her and held her tightly.
Gopher buried his face into her chest, "Thank you, Maddi-sama!"
"Just call me Maddi-chan, or Maddi, Gopher," Madelyn smiled and looked at him before he smiled gently.
"No, ma'am. Please, let me call you Maddi-sama, it's my way of saying I respect you..." He felt her pat his head gently, him blushing and closing his eyes before looking at her with a slight pout.
Madelyn giggled softly, "If that makes you happy, it's fine with me." She replied with her southern twang accenting the i of her last spoken word.
Kid blushed softly, enjoying her accent before he found himself pouting with envy of how she treated Gopher compared to him. Kid then released his glare, showing an empathetic gaze towards Gopher and his eyes filled with sadness. He was beginning to understand that Gopher was just like Crona. He was never bad, just unloved.