Grating Metal 7 Part Two
Lungs heavy like a lumbering log, Nack crawled out of the bed.
Cream held his slouched body upright. "What are you doing?"
He panted.
Eggman's insufferable demands beat against Nack's pinned ears.
Nack's vision blurred as the surroundings doubled and swayed. He shook his head.
"You need to rest." Cream eased him back but he shoved himself forward.
He collapsed onto the ground, the cement bashed him in the muzzle. Nack yelped.
"Oh dear." Cream knelt beside him. She rested her hand on Nack's flaring thigh. "You're opening your wounds."
Can't be a little bitch.
Nack clenched his fangs as his arms wavered while he hauled himself upright before his arms gave out.
"Seriously, rest."
Eggman's voice clawed at his ears, "Did you rodents die? Hello? You got ten minutes before I hang up, you ungrateful dogs."
"Can't." Nack's dull body refused to budge.
"You're bleeding!" Cream darted for her satchel.
Can't fail them.
Nack shivered, he slid his body against the floor as he dragged himself to the stairs.
"Seriously, stop!"
A searing sensation surged up Nack's spine while his fur bristled. "I fucking can't!" He snarled at Cream.
Cream stormed beside him and sat on her knees while she applied more bandages. "So you'd rather die?"
"I need this!"
"No, you need to rest."
Nack's lungs begged for air. His arms tensed. "I can't lose this."
Cream lapped the bandage wrapping and tightened it against the gash. "Why...?"
"Because..." Nack's ears pinned to his head. "I do."
"No, you don't." Cream's knees bent and arms quivered while she lifted Nack upright and supported his lopsided, dangling body.
Nack's words hooked into the tip of his tongue. He shook his head. "Look around."
Cream dragged Nack towards the bed but he rested his hand on it and shoved himself back. "You're acting like a child!"
"Shut up!"
"Seriously, rest!"
"I can't!"
"Why!"
"You see what we're in?" Nack's stomach churned.
"I get it, but this isn't helping."
Nack panted, his voice wavered, "I need the money."
Cream brows parted.
He shook his head. "Not just for me..." Nack gritted his teeth.
"For them?"
Nack faced away.
Silence.
"...I'll do it..." Cream sighed.
Nack's eyes trailed towards her.
"Rest and I will."
"Why?"
"No time, just listen, okay?"
She's trying to find his location. Knew it. She never cared:
Lying little bitch.
A searing bolt surged up his spine. Nack clenched his fist.
"Hurry!" Cream shoved him against the bed.
Eggman's muffled voice carried like nails on a chalkboard, "You got five minutes."
Frigid sweat trickled down his forehead
Nack's chest constricted—it stifled his rapid, leaden breathing—his arm bent as Cream nudged him towards the bed.
"Rest!"
His words lodged in his throat.
"Please!"
"I need dis fucking money!" Nack shoved himself back as they staggered before Cream caught her bearing. "And ya ain't fuckin' this up for me!" His narrow eyes locked with Cream's round ones. He shook his head. "I need dis dammit." Nack blinked to fight the burning tears.
"Let me."
"Fuck you!"
Cream's ears stood and brows drew apart.
"To hell with you, cunt!"
Cream blinked as her jaw hung.
"You are not taking this away!"
"I'm not."
"I know what ya scheming."
Cream shook her head to deny her fucking lies.
"All ya after is Eggman!"
The side of her lip quirked up as she scrunched her face and recoiled her head back.
Nack collapsed forward against the bed. He gasped for air as his damned trembling arm supported him. Useless.
"I'm not."
"Lies."
"I don't even care about this!" Cream shoved him against the bed.
"No one does this shit for nothin'!"
"I am so fucking sick!" Cream shoved him into the cold steel bedframe as he yelped like a dog. "Of dealing with kids."
Nack snarled as his narrow eyes clashed with Cream's stern, cold ones. Neither budged.
Cream's eyes sheened with blistering rage.
Eggman said, "If you damn ungrateful animals get this, you better answer."
"Do ya?" Nack dipped his head by his chest.
"I'm a doctor, not a spy."
Nack clambered onto the bed as Cream grunted and hauled him onto it. He crossed his arms.
"Do you trust me?" Cream wiped the sweat from her forehead.
He grumbled.
"Yes or no?"
Nack flicked his nose and crinkled his muzzle.
She's hounding for'em. No other reason she'd do this.
His narrow eyes slid towards hers. "Prove it."
"I did."
Nack raised a brow.
"The earpiece." Cream's insufferable smirk mocked him.
He pursed his lips, Nack sighed and swore under his breath. His head lightened as he struggled to focus on his murky thoughts.
"Plus you need to rest." Cream huffed. "especially for what you did."
"I'm fine."
"A moment ago, you couldn't lift bread." Cream threw her palms in the air. "And now you're moving?"
"I said, I'm FINE!" Nack's head spun, vision fluttered. Lungs ached for air, a potent twinge in his heart.
"You don't look fi-"
Sound droned. The world blurred. His heavy body collapsed.
. . .
Air whirred in Gadget's ears as the wind lashed against his fur.
Gadget's sealed his eyes shut as they burned from the trickles of tears.
Haha...why did I say yes?
He clung to Finn's neck for dear life while his sore, quivering arms constricted. His ears and fur stood.
"You okay?"
Gadget faux his best smile as he nodded.
"If we need to land we can."
He froze in place.
Come on, it's no different from when me and Sonic were over that city.
Gadget crept his eyes halfway open and shook his head.
The blurry clouds overhead zipped by.
His stomach plummeted as bile slithered up his throat.
"You sure?"
Gadget swallowed the searing bile and nodded.
Come on, show him how strong you are now!
His strenuous smile wrinkled his cheeks.
Finn stared dead ahead. Vigilant.
Granted...he's not noticing. Or never really was.
Gadget's heartstrings unraveled.
Probably thinks I'm a coward still...
Gadget bitterly chuckled.
What am I saying? After what I just did...it's no doubt.
His lips wilted and shoulders slumped while his chest pitted.
Those mismatched eyes overlooked him as usual.
It's not like I've changed...
Finn's heavy pants alerted Gadget's ears.
Gadget glanced at him.
His eyes sagged as sweat mottled his forehead.
And yet he always pushes himself for me...maybe I can help?
Gadget reached for the stone but his hand retracted.
"Don't."
He glanced at Finn, who snarled at him.
Just let me for once.
Gadget's brows drew together as he crinkled his muzzle.
"Just." Finn gasped for air. "Don't."
When did he get so protective?
Gadget glanced at the stone. It beckoned him.
The smooth surface, easy to be held. The glimmer of light, beautiful.
Shouldn't be hard to use? If it works like the prototype then it should, shouldn't it?
His hand snaked towards the ruby.
"I think I see s-" Finn's body flickered—form in and out—he plummeted. Lifeless.
The air shrilled in Gadget's ears and whipped at him.
No, no, no, no!
Gadget flailed his arms, adrenaline shot through his veins.
Finn's body overhead, nose-dived like a hawk.
The glint of the ruby snatched Gadget's attention.
Gadget spread his arms out.
The ruby drew near.
He extended his hand out, inches from Gadget's fingertips, he swatted at it: missed.
Heart pounded. Eyes stung. Hope inches away.
Come on, come on!
Gadget flailed, grazed it.
Almost!
He reached out to touch it and...
A tree split Finn's bowls open.
Ear-splitting shrill.
Hands slipped. Heart tore. Sharp, searing pain from lashing branches.
Darkness engulfed Gadget.
Body slammed against a metal dome.
The world spun.
Earsplitting pounding against the steel.
Pain. Until:
His thoughts scattered and his body numbed and the dome slammed against the ground and liquid trickled and Finn's gargled breaths clawed his ears and Gadget's limbs refused to budge and tears poured down his cheeks and the shield dissipated into flecks of cubes and Gadget stared at the clear blue sky, the clouds roved by as if nothing had happened.
Finn wheezed.
Gadget winced.
His death rattle burrowed into Gadget's mind.
Gadget slued his head towards Finn.
Finn clutched the branch with his wavering hands. "G-goo...d thing...it was me." He feigned a smile.
The ground consumed the crimson as its putrid smell encroached. Entrails hu-
Gadget shut his eyes.
It's my fault.
"I-I'll...be okay." Finn laughed but coughed. "...May..be..."
He crawled towards Finn.
"D-don't...touch it..."
Gadget extended his hands and reached around. Nothing. He dragged himself.
"S-stop." Finn panted.
He froze. Fingers trembled.
"I...will...be ok...ay." Finn whimpered.
Gadget's eyes crawled opened.
Finn's arms collapsed, one rested by Gadget.
He held Finn's hand and squeezed. Gadget's stomach contorted.
Finn coughed and wheezed. "Ju..st, wait he-" He dwindled into strands of cubes that flowed into the ruby.
The ruby tinged against the ground.
The bandages faded.
Gadget dragged his dull legs as he crawled towards the ruby and loomed over it. He extended his trembling hand—he retracted it back—Gadget fixated on the pristine, smooth facets. His beaten reflection snapped him out of the haze.
It beckoned for him, the stone yearned to be held.
He shook his head but the thoughts persisted.
I can handle this. He said he saw something...
Gadget glanced over his shoulder.
Over there, so it shouldn't be bad? Right? Yeah...
His stomach constricted and flooded with doubt.
Besides, I know what I'm doing.
Gadget's trembling hand hovered over it. The thoughts of the demon racked his mind.
But will that happen again.
The temptation sheened.
He gulped what little saliva he had, dry and itchy.
If I don't...they might find us...
The internal thoughts skewed. He snatched the ruby. He limbed through the woods. Alone
weaved past the underbrush, swatted at pests that picked at his stinging wounds, calculated movement when he descended from boulders, and listened to the faint sound of a running river.
Gadget panted as he sat on a toppled tree trunk in a grove while he stared heavenward. Gadget's joints ached and skin itched while sweat stuck to his unkempt fur.
Puffy clouds drifted above the cracks of the canopy as the sunbeams flickered from dancing leaves.
Gadget clutched the ruby by his chest.
Birds and insects chirped while Gadget's ear twitched from the array of sounds.
Feels kinda like our hideout.
Gadget smiled, he rubbed his finger against the ruby. His heavy eyes fluttered as his mind wondered. Gadget's breathing ebbed.
...Just you and me hiding from the world...
His heart teemed with blissfulness.
Or running from it.
Gadget's ears drooped.
The gem's cool, smooth edge pressed against his fur.
He sank his fangs into his lips.
So I guess things never do change?
Gadget's bitter smile wrinkled his cheek. His stomach pitted.
Just can't get caught this ti-
Sticks snapped. Gadget swung himself in the direction. His eyes widened:
Something leapt at his face.
A croaky voice cried out, "Btttthhrraaaaaaaaaaaa."
Gadget's back slammed against the ground. He clutched the ruby in his chest as he fixated on the mobain.
A pumpkin fur badger with pecan browns marking towered over Gadget with her staff aimed at his throat. "Where's your secret agent buddy?"
. . .
Nack's eyes dragged open. He wheezed as his chest ached but shot up and fixated on the stairs. Nothing.
Where is she...
His gut sunk as his blood ran cold. Nack held his breath. His ear flicked.
Footfalls aloft. Headed towards the stairs.
She...didn't...
A door creaked open.
Heavy footfalls against steel.
Cream stepped down the staircase, donned in...a makeshift wrap of black blankets. Odd.
Nack narrowed his eyes.
A blanket veiled her face besides her eyes and ears. Cream stepped towards Nack. "I'd suggest to invest into some clothing." She crossed her arms.
"Tsh, honestly looks good on ya." Nack smirked. "Don't have to see ya face 'n bug eyes."
Cream glared.
"So...ya spoke to'em?"
"Yes."
Nack blinked. "So...why ya here then?"
"Pardon?"
"Didn't ya get what ya lookin' for?"
Cream shrugged.
"Don't play games." Nack flashed his fangs.
"I'm not."
"Then spit it out."
"He just left coordinate and plans." Cream raised her hands in the air as she shrugged.
Lying bitch.
"Tell 'em." Nack eyes locked with Cream's.
"Have it written."
"Hand 'em over."
"Left them upstairs." Cream crossed her arms.
Nack studied her eyes for lies. Nothing.
Dis ain't making any fuckin' sense.
"Why didja do it?"
"Because you have a family to protect."
Nack's muscles tightened as he held his breath. He huffed.
Cream tilted her head to the side and bowed it. "Isn't that right, Mr. Nack?"
He grumbled.
She snickered. "So I understand."
Nack's ears stood, he faced away.
"I know how important family is." Cream clasped her hands together by her waist.
"Why ya saying dat?"
"I understand."
Nack fidgeted with his fingers.
Silence.
"Gotta question."
Cream nodded. "Ask away."
"Ya patched me up, I get dat, but ugh...why help me beyond dat?"
"You'll learn." Cream paused. "At least after this."
Nack raised a brow.
Cream shrugged.
"What's dat mean?"
"You barely lived."
"And?"
Cream's brows parted, she blinked.
"What?"
"Did you learn anything?"
"What's there to?"
No reply.
What's her angle?
Cream sighed.
"What?"
"Nothing." She shook her head.
"No, what is it?"
Cream shrugged.
"Tell me."
"Well, you're dense."
"Pfft, ha!"
Cream's eyes narrowed.
"Ya can't talk."
She rolled her eyes.
"So tell me."
"Fine." Cream huffed. "You won't be able to get far."
Nack's skin pricked. "And dat means?"
"You're in a horrible condition."
"So?"
Cream blinked and shook her head.
Nack snarled.
"I've been around dense people, and believe me." Cream rested her hand on her chest. "You're the densest."
"Eh, what's new?" Nack smirked.
Cream crossed her arms and shook her head while her brows narrowed. "Okay, I'll explain it." She paused. "You lost a leg, I doubt you'll be able to carry this operation."
"Dis is just a scratch."
"A leg..."
"Yeah?"
"A leg!"
"Yeah, just need a leg up."
"You lost a leg!" Cream threw her hands out.
"Yeah, I can barely stand it."
Cream covered her mouth and turned away. "D-did you make a joke?"
"Tsh, and I'd get a kick out of it, but y'know." Nack chuckled.
She shook her head.
"Perhaps we can skip past this."
Cream raised her flatten palm in the air and waved it side to side.
Nack squinted.
Silence.
"So ya think I can't make it?"
"You're going to try?" Cream raised a brow.
"Yeah."
"Well, I can't stop you." Cream shrugged. "But I'd suggest for you to not."
"Why?"
"You'll die."
"No, why are you worried if I die?"
No reply.
"It keeps bothering me, ya say dat there's good and all dat bullshit. But." Nack paused:
"No one does anythin' for nothin' not even mobians like you." He pointed at her.
"Why's it matter?"
Nack's mind blanked, he scratched his chin. "Don't make a lick of sense."
Cream shrugged.
"What? Scared to talk 'bout it?" Nack grinned, a sliver of his fangs peeked from his lips.
"No, I already explained."
"Na, ya explained why ya think people can be good but." Nack leaned towards her. "You didn't say why ya do it."
Cream's eyes trailed away. "I think I need to rest."
"After ya explain."
"I have."
"So ya call me scared but when ya don't, you aren't?"
"Why do you care?"
"Gotta know."
"Why?" Cream shrugged.
"Ya want me to trust ya, so speak."
Her eyes narrowed.
Gotcha.
Cream sighed. "I follow a code."
"Na, ya doin' dis for a reason, so speak up." Nack studied Cream as she fidgeted in place.
No reply.
"Eh, maybe I'll take this and get myself killed?"
"...Okay?"
"Not worried."
Cream shook her head.
"I'm just gonna throw my life away."
She stared at him with a blank expression. Nothing.
Nack pursed his lips.
What is with her?
"Then go." Nack waved his hand at her. "Scram"
Cream shook her head.
Da fuck is going on?
"What, ya think I'm faking?"
Cream shrugged.
"I mean it, I am!" Nack's brows knitted.
"What are you going to do, hop at them?" Cream smirked. "Fall over?" She snickered. "Sorry."
Nack's blood boiled as he snarled.
She raised her palms in the air and stepped back. "Hey, after everything, I deserve to make a joke."
He huffed.
Cream rested her hands on her hips. "Just don't kill yourself."
"Don't plan on it."
"No, I mean if you accept it, you'll be."
"Tsh, I'll live."
"Just so you know, if it wasn't for me, Mrs. Rouge would've slaughtered you."
Nack rummaged through his hazy thoughts. Blank.
"And you'd bleed out if your wounds opened." Cream huffed. "Which would make the grueling night pointless."
"Just spit it out."
"Only if you don't accept."
"I'll think 'bout it."
"No really, it'd be suicide."
Nack shrugged.
Cream rested her hands on her forehead and ran them in circles.
"Tell ya what, you tell me, and I'll tell ya why I do dis, deal?" Nack extended his wavering hand.
She stared at it.
"C'mon."
Cream shook her head. "I already know why."
"Tsh, na, the real reason." Nack's eyes locked with Cream's as she raised a brow.
Silence.
Nack bobbed his head towards his extended hand.
"If you accept, Eggman's deal, then don't die."
Why is she keep saying that? I don't get it? Is she nuts?
"Sure, I won't," Nack said.
Cream's eyes trailed to his hand before she glanced at him and back at it. She raised her hand and clutched his.
"So, why ya do it?"
"Why do I have to go first?" Cream rested her arms on her hips.
"Said so." Nack smirked.
Cream sighed. "Mistakes."
"Like?"
"Poor choices."
"Which are?"
"Regrets."
Nack squinted while his nose crinkled. "And dat'd be?"
Cream raised her palms in the air and shrugged.
"Spit it out."
She huffed. "Okay, I'll just say...I had to make a choice." She inhaled before she heavily exhaled. "It cost mobians lives."
But why is she helping me?
Cream extended her hand towards Nack. "Your turn."
"Na, na, na. You gotta tell me."
"I did."
"No, you half-assed it."
"You said explain, you didn't say elaborate."
Nack dipped his head between his shoulders furrowed his muzzle.
"No, go."
He huffed "I do it for m-"
Bean yelled out, "Yo, Boss, we got it!" His dampened footfalls pattered aloft.
The door slammed opened.
He stormed down the stairs with something in his hand. "Wouldn't believe the line!" He bolted towards Cream with his hand in the air with the clutched object. "You'd think for a private hospital they'd faster."
"You...bought it?" Cream reached for the syringe.
"Fuck no! Those vampires can suck it!"
She tiptoed and extended her arm towards the vaccine while Bean dangled it. "Hand it over."
"Say the magic words—oh and dance!" Bean stuck his tongue out.
"Bean." Nack snarled.
"Please." Cream twirled before she bowed.
"No, it's fuck!"
"Ugh...fuck..."
"No, say fuck and dance!"
"Bean!" Nack's brows knitted.
"Yes, boss!"
"Hand her it, now!"
"Aww, b-but boss..."
"Now!" Nack's temples throbbed.
Bean sighed, he handed her the syringe and slumped his shoulders while he crossed his arms.
Cream spoke in a snide tone, "Thank you." She plucked the syringe from Bean's hand before she stepped beside Nack. "Could you get the buzzer?" She held his wrist while she turned it upright.
"Where's dat?" Bean said.
"Ugh...hmm, should be...upstairs."
"Where?"
"By the bloody mess..."
Bean snapped his fingers. "On it." He careened up the stairs and slipped past Bark, who strolled down the stairs.
Bark dragged himself behind Cream with his head slumped between his shoulders. His ears flattened while his eyes wilted.
"What's wrong, big guy?" Nack adjusted himself against the bed.
He stared at him with those pitiful eyes like a kicked puppy.
"Worried I'm piss?"
Bark nodded.
"Na, it's fine."
He shook his head and grumbled.
"Really, it's water under the bridge." Nack smirked.
Bark fixated on Nack's searing stub.
"Ya made the right choice."
Cream slowly shook her head.
"Oi, keep it to yourself." Nack flashed his fangs.
Bean rushed down the stairs with the buzzers while the wire tapped against the steel. He shoved Bark as he approached Cream. "Here ya go!"
"Could you plug it in, Mr. Bean? Oh and hold this while I shave him." Cream extended her hand with the syringe towards Bean.
"Ugh...what do I look like, a slave?"
"I'm just asking?"
"Bark, could ya do it?"
Bark nodded, he bent over to grab the wire, plugged it in, and held the syringe.
Cream shaved a patch of Nack's fur on his wrist, rubbed her fingers along it, and injected the vaccine into his arm before she wrapped a bandage around it. "And that's it!" Cream sighed. "Now." She turned to Bean and Bark. "Be sure to clean the dressing and change it, keep it wet around the wound not on it...and...that should be it." Cream wiped her forehead. "Okay, I need to pass out."
"That's it, doc?" Bean crossed his arms.
"Pretty much, if he starts to show any signs of shortness of breath or struggling to breathe, then call me."
"Is that really it?"
"Bean, let her go." Nack beckoned Bark. "Take her to a bed."
Cream waved her hands. "I'm okay, I don't ne-"
Bark lifted her in his arms and carried her up the stairs while she protested.
Bean stared at them while they exited the room before he glanced at Nack. "So..."
Nack crossed his arms. "So?"
" 'Bout what happen last night."
His chest constricted. Nack gulped. "What 'bout it?"
"What ya said, boss."
"What did I say?"
Bean rubbed the end of his beak. "Hmm, y'know." He winked.
"...Eh?"
"Three little words."
Nack's cheeks burned as his heart pounded. "Not sure what you're talkin' 'bout."
"What ya said before ya passed out." Bean fidgeted with his hands.
"Don't recall."
"It was before ya made this face." Bean tilted his head back and stuck out his tongue while he shut his eyes.
Nack's blood seethed as his gut churned.
"Do I gotta sing a song to remind you."
"Bean, I swear, I'm go-"
"Oooooooo, when ya have a feeling for a guy." Bean leaned in towards Nack as he bobbed up in down to a beat like an idiot. "And that guy has a feeling for ya, oh, you know it's going smooth."
Nack bared his fangs as his burning face beat with sweat.
"Cuz when feelings arise, it means someone is...ugh." Bean tapped the end of his beak. "When a feeling..no wait...when a guy has a feeling and they arise, it means someone has to try, or else it's going to die." Bean rested his hand on his chest. "Cuz when your heart yearns to touch, it means you're going to go out for lunch!"
Kinda wish I could die right now.
"Bean..." Nack covered his face while Bean continued with his obnoxious if you can call it singing.
"Cuz even though it's denied, you still have to try for he knows deep down, he doesn't want it to die! Ooooo, when ya have a feel-"
"Bean!" Nack snarled as he panted.
"Yes!"
"Shut it!"
"Oh..." Bean's shoulders collapsed.
"Nothin' fuckin' happened, you got it?" Nack slouched in the bed.
"But ya said I lov-"
"Didn't say shit, mate."
Bean's eyes drooped. "...Okay..."
"What ya heard was a heightened emotional response. I wasn't right in the head." Nack threw his hands out. "Got it?"
"Just like when you were drunk?"
"Exactly!"
"Oh."
Silence.
Bean rubbed his elbow. "Do you mean it?"
"Yeah."
"Boss...was there...ever a chance?"
"Stop."
"I just want to know." Bean scrunched up and crossed his arms.
"Stop."
"Please just tell me."
"I said fuckin' stop, mate!" Nack's brows furrowed.
"I will if ya tell me."
An acute twinge compressed in the back of Nack's head. "Get it through your thick fuckin' head. I don't love you, I never loved you, nor was there ever any fuckin' feelings." Nack furrowed his muzzle. "I don't have feelings towards men, I love women, I love tits, I love vaginas. Not fuckin' dicks!" He panted. "I'm not a pansy, I am a damn, fucking man! You got that!"
Bean's brows parted. He nodded. "...Okay."
Nack's chest pitted as he gazed into those hurt eyes. He pursed his lips and swallowed his apology.
I'm a piece of shit.
Silence.
"Thanks for being honest?" Bean shrugged.
Nack grumbled and turned away.
"Say...do ya think ya could make a promise."
His temples throbbed.
"Do...ya want to hear?"
"Fuck it, shoot."
Bean rubbed the back of his neck. "Could ya promise after we make the money...to try and...be a better person?" His eyes darted away.
Nack crinkled his nose.
"Please?"
"...Maybe."
"Fang..."
"Shut up!"
Bean flinched.
Nack shut his eyes and ran his hand down his forehead to his chin. "I...promise." He sighed.
"Thank you."
"Don't." Nack sunk his chin by his chest.
Cream's voice dug into his mind "Do you think you could be a good person?"
Not someone who's fucked up as much as me.
Nack glanced at Bean's sorry state.
Silence.
His sore throat stung. His eyes burned. Nack gritted his fangs before he said:
"I'm sorry."
Bean brow's parted as his beak dropped.
Nack coughed. "I'm just in..." He flicked his tongue against his lips. "Pain...and it's hard to..." Nack gazed at the ceiling. "Talk." He sighed. "I'm sorry."
"Really?"
He nodded, Nack glanced at Bean.
Bean blinked.
"I...appricate you...and I know I don't say it often..." Nack's ears slanted as his tail curled between his legs. "But...ugh, thanks for always staying."
"Why would I leave?"
"Cuz...I ain't good."
"That isn't true."
Nack wrung his hands. "Just know ya aren't stuck with me, okay?"
Bean chuckled. "Hey, boss. I can't leave our fucked up family."
Nack smiled, tears trickled. He wiped his wet nose and gasped for air.
Bean extended his arms out for a hug. "Promise to get better."
He glanced away as his chest tightened. "Do...ya believe I can?"
"Always!"
Nack faced him but his eyes avoided Bean's. "Even...after the way I treated ya?"
"Mhm."
"Why...?"
"Becuase, I believe in ya. And if ya get help..."
Nack's heart teemed with joy. "Thank you." He outstretched his arms and leaned towards Bean: they hugged while Nack sniffled.
. . .
Gadget quivered as her staff pressed against his Adam's apple.
"Where is he!" The badger shoved it against Gadget's throat— It throttled his breathing.
He coughed.
She eased the staff. "Speak."
Gadget scrunched up, he tightened his grasp on the ruby.
The badger scanned the area. An opportunity.
No, she can't know.
She glanced at the ruby. "What's that?"
Gadget moved his mouth as if to speak.
"Well?"
He clenched his teeth and hissed.
She blinked. "Are you broken?"
Gadget shook his head.
Silence.
The badger peeked at his wounds. "Lost?"
He nodded.
"What happened to the person flying?"
Gadget raised his hand but.
The badger shoved the staff against him and pinned his arm to the ground with her hide shoe.
Please just let me go.
Gadget trembled.
"Can you speak?" Her eyes narrowed and locked with his.
He shook his head.
The badger lifted her foot off of his arm and stepped beside him.
Gadget leaned up and rubbed his aching throat.
"Do you know where the other is?"
He tilted his head back before he stopped himself and shook his head.
"If you're lying, I'll be sure to feed you to the mole people." The badger extended her hand towards Gadget.
Gadget stared at it before he grasped it and she hoisted him upright.
"Can you walk?"
He smiled and nodded.
She studied him, her prodding eyes trailed towards the stone. "Is that important to you?"
Gadget held it by his chest and nodded.
"Was it you flying." Her eyes darted to Gadget's and clashed with his as she pierced him with her cold gaze.
He nodded.
"It's a magical stone."
Gadget clasped his lips and sank his fangs into them. He nodded.
She tapped her foot. "Hand it over." She extended her hand.
He cradled it in his chest while he dipped his head between his shoulders and shook his head.
Silence.
Neither budged. Their gaze clashed. They observed one another's movement.
Gadget's heart raced as his sore legs quaked.
"If I were you, I'd accept. Those wounds are looking pretty infected."
He slowly shook his head.
She huffed. "I'm trying to help."
Gadget shrugged.
"I promise I won't do anything. Just hand it over."
He shook his head.
"Do you want to die?"
His ears slanted as he bared his fangs.
"I didn't mean that as a threat, sorry."
Gadget eased up, his brows parted while his lips sagged.
She sighed. "The names, Sticks." She extended her arm towards Gadget's free one. "Unless you're working for G.U.N. then I'm no one."
He glanced at it and smiled. Gadget grasped Sticks' hand and shook it.
"I'd ask yours, but I'm guessing the government stole your voice like it did with the rest of the working class." Sticks glanced at the surrounding area. "But that won't stop us from unionizing!"
Gadget's brows parted and eyes widened as he faux a smile while he nodded.
She...doesn't seem so bad?
"Though I got to ask." Sticks crossed her arms. Her cold eyes locked with Gadget's.
Gadget gulped.
Sticks tapped her foot. She observed Gadget's fidgets. She said:
"You don't happen to work for a corporation trying to root its seeds of capitalism into our democratic socialistic society by marketing addictive foods, overpriced medication, and faulty products." Sticks gasped for air. "While sucking the life out of the working class and using them as a shield for your evil marketing? And robbing everyone's basic rights to living and demanding for tax cuts to sell your product cheaper and hire more cogs. When really you never change the prices as you keep it understaff and overworked and." She paused to catch her breath. "Barely pay the workers a living wage because you have to buy another yacht for no reason other than to fuel your insecurities of being a terrible person with no real friends?"
Gadget blinked.
"Ugh, I'll put it simply." Sticks rested her hand on her hip. "Do you think society is the best it could be?"
He shook his head.
"Okay, good." Sticks spoke under her breath, "I won't have to bite you."
Gadget scrunched his face up but shrugged.
"Anyway, do you need help?" Sticks glanced at Gadget's wounds.
He dragged himself forward but teetered.
Guess I didn't realize how far I pushed myself...
Gadget nodded, he wiped the sweat from his forehead.
Sticks shouldered the staff by its strap. She stepped beside Gadget with her back towards him as she squatted. "Get on." Sticks glanced over her shoulder.
She...went from murder to helping fast...
Gadget blinked.
"What? You think I can lift you?"
He shook his head and stepped behind her with his quivering hand on her firm shoulder. Gadget held the ruby close to his heart, its cold surface nestled against him.
"Need help?"
Gadget clambered onto her back as she lifted him with ease.
"If you fall, I'm not picking you up, got it?"
Gadget leaned forward against her.
"I mean you're going to need a better grip." Sticks held his thighs.
He slid his arm by Sticks' neck.
"And if you try anything. I'll drop you faster than the funding for education."
Okay...
Sticks knelt. "Hold on tight." She shot through the brush like a cheetah.
Gadget's fur bristled while he clenched up.
Air whirred, the surrounding blurred, and she careened up a lopsided tree to leap from its jutting branch while she flung herself across a gorge.
He froze in place, Gadget trembled as he chuckled.
"You okay?" Sticks peaked at him.
Gadget slued his head to nod.
"Scared?"
He snapped out of his daze and shook his head while he feigned a smile.
"Good, because there's five more."
Gadget clasped his lips and shut his eyes while he held on tight.
They traversed the forest as Sticks enjoyed Gadget's 'stoic' reactions.
His stomach gnarled while bile churned from each near-death experience.
Sticks and Gadget approached a towering stone wall's wooden gates.
A society...in the forest?
Gadget glanced at the two silhouettes of mobians atop the wall.
"You can get off now."
He climbed off of Sticks but fumbled onto the ground and hissed.
"Not a good first impression." Sticks reached her arm towards him and hoisted Gadget up.
A female voice called out, "Who's that?"
"Oh, that's...ugh." Sticks tapped her finger against her chin. "He can't speak." She faced him. "You go by he, right?"
Gadget nodded.
"Ah, okay." Sticks cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, "He also needs medical attention."
"Can he hurt us?"
Sticks peeked over her shoulder and glanced at the ruby before her eyes trailed to Gadget's. She turned to them. "No."
Gadget smiled as he sighed.
"You sure?" The mobian said.
"Yes."
Silence.
Sticks turned to Gadget and whispered, "Promise you're the only one?"
Gadget averted his eyes as he clutched the ruby by his chest.
"Because if I saw what I think I saw."
His fur bristled and skin crawled.
"Then we have problems."
Gadget nodded.
"Good."
The mobian said, "Okay, we're opening the gates!"
Would it be right to say?
Gadget's chest constricted while his breathing shortened.
What if they kill us? Does she even know about him?... What if I'm ruining it?
His body trembled and knees bent.
She probably does, this might be a trap...no...she'd just...kill me if it was? Yeah...no, this is fine. I'm fine. We're fine. We're safe. And I'll keep us that way.
Gadget's stomach dropped as his body trembled. He tapped Sticks on the shoulder and raised his hand while he moved his fingers like they're talking before he pointed to her.
"Talk?"
He nodded, he moved his hand as if he's written.
"Is it about the stone?" Sticks brows furrowed.
Gadget scrunched up. Bile crept up his throat: he nodded.