Paige curled into Rabbit's side in their secret spot.
He pulled her closer the soft thrum of his mechanics soothing her. He planted a gentle kiss on the top of her head she needed comfort. His boiler kept her warm as he held her gently she could have died. He didn't leave her side for than a moment with the exception of separating Norman and The Spine.
He looked at her she hadn't said anything since they saw the Becile parts. She hadn't protested as when he lifted her into his arms only clutched at his jacket pressing closer to him. he loved her and it killed him to see her so upset.
Rabbit didn't know what she had seen. He had told her to stay there when they heard the scream but she didn't. She saw The Spin angry as he'd held Norman in the air fist clenched and ready to deliver a fatal blow. She ad never seen any of the robots truly angry it petrified her. She couldn't speak even if she could she didn't know what to say. She focused on Rabbit feeling safe. Everything will work out in time she thought as she held him even closer.
Wanda dialed Nathaniel only to be dismissed with a not now Wanda before he hung up.
Wanda called The Skull. "Lab. NOW."
The Skull hung up the phone. he could tell she was angrier than usual by the tone of her voice. He wondered what she could be so mad about for a moment before Hare and The Jack. It was not his job to ask why. "We're going to the lab."
The Jack giggle psychotically as always and Hare looked angry.
"Why are we goin' there again?" Hare nearly growled.
"I didn't ask." He said before grabbing Hare's jacket by the collar and dragged him along behind him.
They got to the lab within 5 minutes, Wanda was already there with on her hips. "Did you have a nice walk? Took your time?"
None of the robots responded.
"Anyone care to guess why I'm angry?"
No response.
"I'll tell you why. You," She gestured to the three of them, "nearly got my brother killed today. One of you want to give me a reason not to disassemble you all right now?"
"You need us." The Skull stated.
"Do I? And why is that?" She asked, unconvinced.
"If you didn't us you would have locked us away a long time ago." The Skull said flatly.
"True. But you haven't nearly gotten my brother killed in the past."
Hare vented steam angrily and said "How did we nearly get your brotha killed? We didn't even go near 'im."
"No," She produced a few parts from her pocket. "But you did leave these behind. The Spine found these outside the basement window. He went down there because Paige saw someone who looked like Rabbit." She glared at Hare, as did The Skull.
"What was he stupid enough to take credit?"
"No," Wanda snarled. "He was stupid enough to tell the truth. The Spine was going to try to beat the information out of him, information he didn't have."
Even The Skull was mildly surprised, The Spine was rarely violent.
Wanda was tempted to begin to throwing things but stopped herself. "Get out of my sight, she said in a quiet voice so cold it chilled the Becile Bots to their cores as they exited the room swiftly.
Wanda put her back against the wall as she stared at the 'skin' clad robot. She had already replaced the matter core, blue matter with a touch of green, but it was far from a stable form yet. She locked the lab and sent a message to The Skull that he and his 'brothers' to put the robot back later.
Coffee had been nice, they'd talked for a while longer and hadn't had to wait forever for the coffee to come. She took Nathaniel's offer of a ride and convinced him to take her by the Walter Manor if only for a minute.
She climbed out of the car, "I'll be back in just a minute." She walked up to the house and was surprised to find The Spine sitting on a bench outside.
He looked up as she approached. "You came back." He smiled.
"Yes but I-"
She was cut off as he pulled her close and dipped her down into a kiss. In her surprise she didn't fight him, but she didn't kiss back. he let her up after a few moments. "I knew you were different."
"Spine I-"
"I'm sorry I shouldn't have pushed when you said you didn't want to answer."
"I'm here to say goodbye." She was finally able to say.
"Goodbye"?" he raised an eyebrow, confused.
"I… I met someone." Holly looked down, not wanting to say it."
"Oh… Wall that was quick." He was hurt and tried to hide it, his words coming out more spiteful than intended.
"There's no need to be mean. At least I came to say goodbye, Nathaniel thought you didn't even deserve that much."
Rabbit happened to wander by the door and that moment, not knowing they were in the middle of breaking up. "Holly! I-I-I'm sorry about earlier. Just cuz you're Spine's g-g-g-girlfriend doesn't mean I should be m-mean." He looped a brotherly arm around her shoulders and flashed her a toothy grin.
She shrugged the arm off. "I'm not his girlfriend. Not anymore." She spat, She was annoyed by Rabbit and The Spine they were making it harder to say goodbye.
Rabbit looked at his brother with confusion, "But this mornin' you said…"
"Not anymore apparently." The Spine said.
"is it m-m-m-my fault?" Rabbit asked, worrying that his reaction to her had broken them up.
"It has nothing to do with you Rabbit. She's met someone else."
Holly crossed her arms, glaring at him. "I never would have met Nathaniel if you hadn't tried to force me to say something I didn't want to say. I should probably go back to the car, he's waiting for me."
"I think I-I-I want to talk to this guy myself." Rabbit said, hoping to make his younger brother feel better about the whole ordeal.
Before Holly could protest, he stalked towards the car with The Spine following close behind. Holly tried to grab at the Spine's jacket, and beat at his back trying to stop him. "Leave him alone!" She shouted as they got closer to the car.
Nathaniel stepped out of the car quickly. "Can I help you…'gentlemen'?"
Rabbit walked up to Nathaniel, "W-w-w-we just want to talk."
"About?"
The Spine stepped up beside Rabbit and Holly took a few steps back knowing that all three men can be dangerous when they wish to be.
"I-I-I heard you were hitting on my-my-my brother girlfriend. And I-I-I got a problem with that." The Spine didn't speak, just glared at Nathaniel with disdain.
"She didn't exactly stop me, and she didn't exactly say they were together anymore either. Now here is what is about to happen. Your going to take 5 steps back, Holly and I will return to my auto-mobile, and we will have our good-byes. Is that understood 'R-r-rabbit'?"As he mocked Rabbit he slowly rotated his hand
" is your name isn't it? I don't particularly appreciate it when people make fun of my brother, especially not over compensating humans. So before you say anything more I want you to be very careful and think about exactly whose house you are at." The Spine said, not taking his eyes off Nathaniel for a moment, something told him that this man was dangerous, and that there was something very wrong with him.
Holly didn't approach any of them, she could see the argument was not yet over, both of them had a stubbornness not so easily over come
Locking eyes with The Spine, he thought for a moment. "My apologies. I should have known better then to expect anything else from this house, but my words stand. Holly and I are leaving, whether you step back or not is your choice but don't leave any marks on my Auto."
"Oh no b-b-buddy. I don't think we're done talkin'" Rabbit said taking a step forward.
The Spine put out an arm stopping Rabbit from going further. "Who are you anyway? … You seem familiar." The Spine said.
"I am the man who isn't afraid to defend himself if necessary, I am the man who can treat Holly right, and I am the man you dont want in front of you right now. Now if you would excuse us, all I wish for is to leave with Holly and have this confrontation to be done with." Nathaniel grew angrier and more defensive slowly but surely.
The Spine looked at Holly, "I know you probably don't want to hear anything I have to say, but this man is dangerous, don't go with him."
Nathaniel tried to talk over The Spine. "I am no more dangerous to you than you are to me, don't listen to him. After what he's put you through he would say anything to get you on his side."
The Spine glared at Nathaniel. "Do you have a last name? Or are you like every other cartoon villain, one name that's supposed to strike fear into our hearts with that and that alone. You don't scare me."
Nathaniel was reluctant. "…Gregory. Nathaniel Joseph Gregory VIII"
"I knew it." The Spine said with a degree of dissent. "Holly, I know this man, he's dangerous, getting involved with him will get you hurt."
"Holly, get in, we're leaving before he tells any more lies." Nathaniel opened the car door for her.
Holly walked towards Nathaniel and cast a glance at The Spine, she cast a glance at The Spine before climbing in. Thats all they were, lies. They couldn't be anything more, could they?
"Well gentlemen, I bid you good bye. I can promise you I will not be returning."
She gave a half hearted wave at The Spine and Rabbit when Nathaniel turned away, The Spine looked hurt, but she knew it was all fake. It had to be, because if it wasn't she was making a mistake. A big one, but she stayed with it none the less. As the car pulled away from the driveway, she could see The Spine, beginning to chase the car down the way in the rear view mirror. She looked straight, refusing to let loose the tears that threatened to come streaming down her face. He'd had his chance to run, to chase her as she walked away. She didn't look anymore. The time for running was over. "I never want to come back again, can you just take me home?"