"Aquabats, fall back! Go go GO GO GO GO-!"
The team piled into the BattleTram one by one, ragged and battle-torn from the fight they had just retreated from. This latest foe was one tough customer, but the battle was far from over.
Slamming the door behind him, the Commander was quick to belt out orders. "Alright, we've got their attention, let's get them away from all the bystanders before we finish 'em off! Ricky, get behind the wheel and lead them out of the city!"
"I'm on it!"
"Crash, you're manning the missiles! When I give you the signal, blast those toadies to kingdom come!"
"Roger victor vector copy that over!"
"And Jimmy-!" The Commander faltered as the robot, who was already on his way down the opposite hall, halted and half-turned, revealing an injured Eaglebones curled up tightly in his arms, trembling and pressing his face into Jimmy's chest to muffle all utterances of pain.
"…Right! Go help Eaglebones."
Even as the battle raged on, the tire screeches and explosions outside where dulled deep in the sanctity of Jimmy's lab. The robot was quick and efficient, too often used to converting his workspace into a medical response room. Especially for their guitarist.
After pulling the examination bed out into the middle of the room, Jimmy eased Eaglebones down, curling him away from his chest as gently as he could. There was no way to fully prevent moans of agony, as any and all movement agitated his wounded arm, bent in all the wrong places and swollen under the tattered lycra. Eaglebones was left reeling in mind-numbing pain, teeth gritted and grinding as he aggressively tried to suppress any groans or gripes or other shows of weakness.
It was something that honestly baffled Jimmy, how the most physically fragile member of their team tried so hard to put on a strong face. It was admirable, but unreasonable. Still, he said nothing, more concerned with treating the injury as he bustled around his lab.
He paused when a slight, pitiful whine managed to escape the guitarist. "Hang in there, Eaglebones," he called out reassuringly, shuffling through drawers for proper bandages.
"UrrghI'm fine-!" he growled out, clearly far from fine but quick to deny it. "I told you, I'm used to this kinda—hh! Unnghh…!"
Jimmy shook his head, approaching the bedside with his supplies and a disapproving frown. "Broken bones are never something you 'get used to,' no matter how often it occurs. We've had this conversation countless times."
Eaglebones let out a pained, frustrated laugh. "Yeah, great, tell that to everyone else! 'Oh, look, Bonesy broke his leg again! Just walk it off, buddy'—(gasp!) Hhhhnnnn..."
He remained stiff for a moment, then gradually relaxed as the cooling burn of a fresh ice pack started to numb the pain down. Holding the pack to the injury, Jimmy watched his bandmate carefully, noticing cues here and there as he eased in tension until he sprawled out weakly, one leg dangling over the edge and the other arm coming up to cover his sweating brow as he panted faintly.
Once he had calmed down, Jimmy finally ventured, "Is something upsetting you, Eaglebones?"
The only acknowledgement he gave was pursed lips.
"You know your condition is nothing to be ashamed of," the robot continued, pulling the pack away and examining the fracture with x-ray vision. "And you also know I would never judge you no matter how you responded to the tremendous amount of pain you're in, right?"
Eaglebones scoffed. "Geez, Jimmy, it's not even about the pain." He lolled his head to the side and threw up his arm in aggravation. "The others are up there risking their necks and I'm stuck in here!"
Jimmy paused, honestly not expecting that answer. "…You feel useless." It was a revelation, not a question.
And it hurt, that showed plain as day as Eaglebones flinched. He turned a defensive glare towards the robot, eyes wide and glistening. "Well heck, wouldn't you if you went down in one hit?! When you try your darned hardest to help and you keep getting knocked down and—!"
CRACK!
Eaglebones screamed. He didn't have a chance to hold it back; without warning, Jimmy had begun setting the bones to heal, snapping them back into place.
"I'm sorry, Eaglebones," he muttered, not at all pleased with the measures he had to take. "Your arm needs to heal properly and we're a bit short on time, here."
It was standard procedure by now. The robot was the only one who could stomach it, so this exchange between the two of them happened frequently. But this was the first time Jimmy had seen tears streak down his face, even at this point.
He calculated which factors in the conversation were different, and he quickly understood. He then withdrew his cold metallic hands, allowing Eaglebones a moment to choke out a few open sobs while he prepped the bandages.
"Eaglebones…" he began softly, choosing his words carefully as he began wrapping the angry red limb. "It matters not how often you get knocked down. What matters is whether you keep getting back up."
The guitarist went quiet, slowly turning his wide teary eyes back as Jimmy continued. "We wouldn't have taken you into our family if we thought you were useless. None of us are. We all depend on each other, through both our strongest and weakest points. Sit up, please."
Eaglebones gave no protest, shakily propping up with Jimmy's help, and the robot began fastening a quick sling. "The strength you lack physically you more than make up for in your passion, courage, and will. Even if sometimes you get a little arrogant, you still fiercely protect each and every one of us."
Eventually, Eaglebones dragged his meek gaze up to meet Jimmy's comforting smile. "Don't let your weaknesses gloss over your strengths. Revel in the victories, and face the losses with a grimace, then keep moving forward. If you maintain that, at least, you'll never be useless to us. Ever."
Eaglebones managed a watery grin before a last few extravagant explosions went off, followed by a series of cheers.
Jimmy beamed. "Speaking of victories…!"
The rest of the team tore into Jimmy's lab, relaying the good news through whoops and hollers and high fives and celebratory jigs. Jimmy shared in their raucous joy, then stepped back as they eagerly swarmed their injured bandmate.
"Yo, Eaglebones! How you holding up, buddy?"
"I—f-fine! I'm good, Commander!"
"You sure, man? I heard this big ol' scream, woulda rushed over to help if I wasn't driving!"
"Heh, yeah… sorry for worrying you, Ricky."
"Can I sign your cast?"
"Crash, I don't have a cast, it'll heal by tomorrow."
"Then I'll sign the sling! Here, lemme go get my markers~!"
Within the whirlwind of excitement and celebration, Eaglebones met Jimmy's serene gaze again. The sentiment in his huge, crooked grin expressed more gratitude than words ever could.
