I particularly adore the unlikely friendship that evolved between Kate and Oscar in the Syberia gameverse. In fact, this fic takes place during the newly released Syberia 4: The World Before - where, even though they have both changed so much, their friendship is still going strong!
2022 Tropes & Fandoms events - Trope: Hurt/Comfort
Keeping the Darkness at Bay
"I have found that it is the small everyday deed of ordinary folks that keep the darkness at bay. Small acts of kindness and love." ~ Gandalf (J.R.R. Tolkein ~ The Hobbit)
...
Kate gasped and shot upright in bed while her heart thumped madly inside her chest. She almost panicked in the darkness that tried to envelope her…just like it always did down in the horrible salt mines. During those short sleep shifts when her body turned off in exhaustion but her mind kept racing, was when the darkness crept up and tried to overtake and end…once and for all…the woman she had become.
Just then, however, she felt a comforting weight as it climbed into her lap and broke the spell of fear the darkness had temporarily created around her.
"There, there, Kate Walker." A voice spoke to her. "I do believe that you were experiencing one of those unpleasant nocturnal illusions, again."
The familiarity of Oscar's voice grounded Kate and brought her back to herself. It helped her to remember that she was safe in her room in the guest house in Vaghen…and not a slave back down in the Iron Taiga mines where she had to witness Katyusha's death over and over again.
It was just a nightmare, she realized.
After all, Kate knew that she had escaped that hellish place many months earlier. Nevertheless, even though her body had mostly healed from the forced labor and her hair had finally grown back long enough to again pull up into her favorite loose bun style, Kate's mind sometimes still traveled back to that terrible period of her life and to the special person she had lost there. Thankfully, those painful dreams had abated as time went on, though, and had actually occurred only once since she had found Oscar a new body to house the heart she had somehow managed to keep safe for him during her imprisonment.
Oscar's presence immediately started to calm her on this occasion, however, so she picked up the automaton and held him even closer for a moment. Only when her muscles relaxed and her breathing evened out did she finally release him. She remembered that in his first humanoid body, Oscar had admitted that he did not fully understand Kate's need for physical contact. He had never denied her the comfort that it obviously brought to her, though. In fact, he had even anticipated her need and initiated it himself a few times, as well – most notably in his second body after he had rescued her from that dreadful private detective when he had drugged and kidnapped her in Baranour.*
At any rate, Kate knew that it was a good thing that Oscar did not object to her frequent hugs. After all, even though he had previously been a "handsome metal man," as even Ayawaska the Spirit Woman had noticed, his cute new form (which Kate assumed was modeled from an animal in the Amerzone...or maybe it had just come straight from Hans Voralberg's vast imagination) was the perfect size for cuddling in a way that she had been unable to do before. Consequently, Kate just could not seem to resist the urge to do just that as often as possible. Plus, the frequent contact between them helped to reassure her that they were indeed together again after such a heartbreaking separation and harrowing time apart.
"Do you wish to discuss the experience, Kate Walker?" Oscar waited patiently to ask until Kate had regained her composure and again set him back down on the bed next to her.
By then, her eyes had adjusted to the darkened room, and she realized that there was just enough light that she could see Oscar's concerned eyes as they looked up into hers. How Hans Voralberg had ever managed to give the automaton "feelings" was a constant source of amazement to her. It must have had something to do with that additional "soul auxiliary" that Oscar had told her about when they first met back at the factory in Valadilene and she had helped to make the feet for his initial body. Whatever kind of mechanical magic it was, though, Kate was so grateful for it…and for him.
After all, Oscar…no matter what body he wore…had become her best friend in this strange new life of hers. Therefore…just as she had from the moment she had decided to jump back on the train to continue the journey to Syberia with him and Hans…she decided to keep moving forward instead of looking back.
Consequently, she just shook her head. "No…just more ghosts," she answered truthfully…just as she had after the Youkal ceremony in the temple had showed her everyone she had left behind in New York.
Oscar nodded with understanding as he, too, connected her words with the memory. "Then might I suggest, Kate Walker, that you get some more rest? You will need your energy if you plan to continue your search for Dana Roze tomorrow."
"You're right, as usual, my dear Oscar," Kate admitted with a smile. "How did you get to be so smart?"
"I am just the way that Hans Voralberg created me, Kate Walker," he answered with his usual mechanical nonchalance.
"Only smaller…and able to curl up in a ball now," Kate giggled before a thought suddenly occurred to her. "Oscar, do you like your new body? After all, I know that it's very different from what you had before…and from what Hans envisioned for you in the first place."
"Of course I do, Kate Walker," the automaton insisted…much to her relief. "Even though I can no longer conduct a train, at least this way I am always able to stay close to you. After all, I believe it would have been quite difficult for you to carry either of my previous bodies around in your knapsack!"
"That it would, Oscar…that it would!"
Kate giggled a little at the thought of all the strange looks she would indeed get if she tried to walk around Vaghen with a full-sized, man-shaped Oscar on her back. That giggle soon turned into a full-fledged bout of laughter as she continued to picture the scene. When the laughter had trailed off into giggles again, she noted that the little bit of emotional release had indeed made her feel much better…about everything…and she curled up around the cute creature as she made herself comfortable again.
"Good night, Oscar," she added softly. "Thank you for being here."
"Good night, Kate Walker," Oscar replied. "Rest well…and be assured that I will still be right here when you wake."
Her only reply was a deep sigh as the denied sleep rushed in to claim her again. With no physical need to do the same, however, Oscar...determined to keep her darkness at bay...settled himself down in order to keep silent watch over his resting companion...until it was time for her to awaken in the promising light of a new day.
*An Automaton With A Plan
