Chapter 11 : Get used and make up

"…I'm sorry, Tuddrussel"

XJ5 was in the computer room, pretending to write a report. It was best to leave Sheila and Tuddrussel alone. However, he watched the entire scene through cameras. Sheila and Tuddrussel were sitting at table, Sheila holding his hands tightly in hers. "That is for the best."

"Great" Tuddrussel said, sarcastic. Though under his mask, XJ5 could guess how upset he was. "My first marriage…It lasted two months."

Sheila looked down. "I'm sorry…I'm not happy about it as well."

She had asked him to come over on their satellite. He didn't see the robot who accompanied him, the guy left as soon as Tuddrussel wrapped his arms around Sheila. Sheila prepared the dinner and the moment they were alone together, she declared her intention of divorcing.

"You know…I think we rushed everything. We married too soon…We married before knowing more about each other." Sheila sighed.

"Yes…I married you and I didn't even know how work alcoholic you actually were!" Tuddrussel stabbed his meat with his knife. Apparently, he tried to take his anger out over something. "With you, it was always about work, work, work. Since you are in Time Squad, you forgot what the word FUN actually meant."

Sheila nodded. "I know. I just didn't expect how much my works mattered to me."

"Well…Everything is fine." Tuddrussel paused. "I felt kind of trapped anyway…In this thing. Marriage." He then chuckled. "Tehehehe…Marriage is just a dumb thing, don't you think?"

Unexpectedly, Sheila chuckled too. "Yes…"

"Who likes marriage anyway? You are trapped with the same person your entire life until you are bored with." He sounded a bit too excited. To XJ5, it looked like he tried his best to mask his pain. "Why marrying…while you can still have fun?"

"I agree, Tuddrussel."

"It just ruins your life after all." Tuddrussel then read the paper before throwing it on table. "Give me a pen…I will be free from this life!"

Sheila sighed before giving him one. "Are you sure, Buck? I mean…You aren't forced to sign right now. You can just bring them and taking time to read them. I don't want to end this on bad terms."

"Hahaha! Bad terms? Don't worry, sweetheart! It would never be bad between us." He drew something on the paper, which was an elephant. Apparently, that was his signing. "We only will be…buddies. Like best friends!"

Sheila closed her eyes. "Of course, Tuddrussel."

"Hey! I would like to do something…one last time." Tuddrussel grinned at her. "Do you know what I wish right now?"

Sheila gave him a slight smile and leaned over him. "Yes? What do you want?"

"FOOD BATTLE!" Then Tuddrussel threw his meat on Sheila's uniform. She suppressed a sigh though unlike the last time, she took her plate and threw it back in Tuddrussel's face. He chuckled before attacking her with noodles while Sheila responded with the jug of water.

While they were actually making a mess in the kitchen, both of them happily laughed. They sounded like two children playing with each other instead of two married people who would divorce soon.

XJ5 sighed. At least, Sheila happily laughed.

Tuddrussel was waiting for his robot in the computer room, still talking pleasantly with Sheila."Hey! Do you remember what happened during our honey moon?"

Sheila chuckled. "How could I forget?"

"The man wanted to join us…We had to pretend being dead in order to be left alone" He burst out. Sheila joined him.

"We just threw off a cliff." Sheila paused. "You have to admit, Buck…that was mean."

"That was necessary…" He stopped laughing.

"Will you be alright?" Sheila asked him, touching his shoulder. "If you need anything…"

"No! Of course! I will be fine!" Tuddrussel swell out his chest. "Everything will be fine! Buck Tuddrussel is here!"

Sheila nodded, understanding. "Very well…We shall…see each other soon in front of the judge."

"Yes! Yes…Judge."

Suddenly, the light went on. The robot appeared. XJ5 stepped closer. The moment his vision was clear, he realized that he recognized this robot. This obsolete robot of his knowledge…that was Larry 3000!

"Larry?" XJ5 could only say, surprised.

"Sheila and…XJ5?" Larry cried out, stunned. "What are you doing here?"

"And what are you doing here?" XJ5 replied. Larry glared back at him, apparently not thrilled to meet him again. The feeling was actually reciprocated. It gave XJ5 more reasons not to wish Tuddrussel again.

"What? Do you know each other?" Tuddrussel asked. Sheila was as confused as he was.

"Yes." Larry sighed.

"How?"

Larry and XJ5 exchanged a look. Despite they only wanted to avoid each other, one same question was on their minds: should they tell them?

That wasn't really appropriate. Even if they were robots, that was an intimate act. XJ5 wasn't happy to tell them about this night they shared. He guessed Larry shared the same thought.

"…We met each other in one party." XJ5 was a better liar because he didn't display any emotion. Only his voice could betray him. "Larry…threw some oil at me."

"Yes! You called me obsolete!" Larry glared at him.

"Because you are"

"Enough" Sheila stopped them. She took Tuddrussel's hand in hers again. "Call me soon…okay?"

"Yeah, yeah…" Tuddrussel then moved near Larry. "Here we go, tin can!"

"Tuddrussel…Last time you call me tin can…" However, they didn't hear the rest of the sentence. They already disappeared.

Deep down, XJ5 couldn't help but feeling some pity toward Larry…being paired up with that guy, he had to be brave. However, he didn't express his thoughts. He didn't want to argue with Sheila again. According to the look on her face, she was still angry against him.

He watched her moving in the lounge. XJ5 guessed he should clean after their food battle. Robots were useful for this…They were made for this, cleaning after humans. However, he didn't care. Sheila…needed some time alone, despite her meeting with Tuddrussel went quite well.

When he came back to the lounge, he found Sheila in front of TV. He came closer to check what she was watching.

That was a white and black film…or rather, recording. That displayed a woman dressed in a white dress, cutting some cake with another bulky man in a kind of black suit. They smiled and laughed together.

"Hehehe food battle?" The man offered.

"YES! FOOD BATTLE! FOOD BATTLE!" Others people shouted. The woman shook her head. "No Buck…My dress will not like it."

"FOOD BATTLE!" The man insisted before taking some parts of the cake and throwing them at others.

Sheila sighed. XJ5 wondered if he shall stay with her or leave her alone. He couldn't guess her actual thoughts right now. She definitely needed comfort though XJ5 wasn't sure to be able to help her. Last time he tried and hurt her more.

Ultimately, he sat down near her, watching recordings with her. "…You were beautiful" He pointed.

"Thanks…" She replied, not facing him.

"…You still are. You just…were beautiful this day."

"I know I was. Every married woman are beautiful for their wedding." She crossed her arms around herself. "I wonder if I should delete these recordings."

Maybe she should, as these recordings were about a marriage that didn't last. However, XJ5 simply put his hand on hers. "…Don't."

She turned back at him. "…Why?"

Because she was right. She lost someone too, in one way. XJ5 didn't understand first. Now he did. "…Because there are still good memories. Deleting good memories…isn't good."

Unlike him, she could keep all of them. Sheila gave him a slight smile, before leaning her head over his shoulder, still watching TV.

XJ5 hesitated before wrapping his arms around her shoulders.