Kindred

A/N: Hey everyone, the past few weeks have been rather stressful, so I wanted to write this small fic. The similarities between Wilson and Wagstaff have always been impossible for me to ignore, and this was the result.

Disclaimer: I don't own the DS games.

Enjoy!

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Bidding the pig vendor a good evening, Wilson closed the door and made his way through the bustling town with a bag of groceries and and another of supplies. Mr. Wagstaff was the one who asked him for the latter. The food was just something he wanted since they had enough money saved up. Plus, they were running low on coffee and he couldn't give up the beverage again after finally finding it in this bizarre world. Grinning nervously under the suspicious glares from the town guards, he stuck to the path.

Their house soon came into view. It was a simple looking thing with a blue roof and white walls, much smaller than the house he had back home. He wouldn't complain though. After spending months in the harsh wilderness, he was just grateful to have a roof over his head. Taking a deep breath and putting on a relaxed face, he reached for the doorknob.

"I'm back," he muttered, shutting the door behind him with a tap of his foot.

"Welcome," he heard the muffled voice coming from the other room.

He dropped off their food in their small kitchen before taking the other bag to the inventor's room. He grimaced at the clutter laying about. There were tools, gears and blueprints scattered in almost every inch of the room. The old man certainly wasn't the most organized when it came to keeping his workplace clean, but he could relate. Such trivial tasks could wait when there was science to be done!

Wagstaff turned from his workbench and hurried over upon seeing him. "Oh, thank you, my boy! These are very crucial for my invention,"

"Think nothing of it," Wilson said and watched him shuffle back to his workbench. He was ready to leave when the inventor spoke once more.

"Would you like to look at my work so far? I would love to hear your thoughts on it,"

A knot formed in the scientist's stomach and, no matter how much he wanted to crush the feeling, he found himself declining. "I wish I could, but I have a project that needs tending to as well. I hope to be done with it by tonight,"

"Oh, then you best be on your way,"

Nodding with a fake grin, Wilson slipped out of the room while mentally berating himself.

Meeting another human in this strange world was the most pleasant surprise Wilson ever had since he got stranded here, let alone another man of science! He should be happy, yet that familiar twinge would arise within him whenever he was working with Mr. Wagstaff, and he couldn't for the life of him understand why.

Sighing, he went inside his own room where his machine sat on the table. It was a box-shaped with a few twisting pipes sticking out of it and a big red button in the middle. He reached for his screwdriver and his hands froze, hesitating.

Why am I second guessing myself this much lately? He thought, frustrated. Working with his inventions used to come so easily to him before.

Swallowing back his irrational unease, he began tinkering with it. He didn't know how long he sat there. At some point, the door to his room creaked open, snapping him out of his daze. Looking back, he saw the inventor peeking through his door with a cup of steaming coffee in hand.

"Sorry to disturb,"

"I-it's okay. I'm practically done," Wilson shrugged. "But I thought you wanted to work on your…um…machine?" he asked. It just hit him that, despite brining all those supplies for it, he had avoided listening to anything related to the inventor's machine, including its name.

Taking a sip from his mug, Wagstaff rubbed his back. "I've spent most of the day there, so I thought a break would do me good," he hummed. "In the meantime, I wished to see what you have been working on,"

Wilson stiffened and glanced over to his machine. "Oh, of c-course! Come over,"

"So, what is its purpose?"

Puffing up his chest in pride, Wilson explained. "You see, I had this idea during the last hay fever season. While our gas masks do a decent job, they are rather…"

"Irritating? I know what you mean," The old man laughed.

"Right. I thought maybe I could build a machine that could keep the air clean, at least in our home so we won't have to wear the masks here as well,"

"Ooh, fascinating,"

Feeling his confidence growing, Wilson triumphantly pressed the button and listened to the machine hum to life, sucking the air through the pipes. They blinked when it began to sputter suddenly. Before either could question it, it blew up, filling the room with dust and smoke.

Coughing, Wilson waved his hand to see his invention in ruins.

"It seems something must have gone wrong with the engine. I could bring my tools and assist you with fixing it," Wagstaff said, taking off his goggles to wipe the dust off them.

"No, I can fix it myself,"

"It's alright. I don't mind at all-"

"I said I don't want your help!" Wilson snapped before he could stop himself. Staring at the stunned look on the inventor, he sank into his chair and buried his face into his hands. "I'm very sorry…"

Frowning, Wagstaff approached him awkwardly. "Um, did I…do something wrong? If that's the case, then an apology is in order,"

"No! It's not you. I-it's…me. I'm the problem here," Wilson forced himself to admit.

"What?"

Wilson sighed, realizing there was no way out of it now. "I always dreamed of meeting another fellow scientist, someone I could discuss my work and theories with. I was the only one in my town though. When I met you, I was over the moon, but whenever we worked together, I always ended up feeling…ignorant,"

He thought back to all those instances where he would hang around the old man's workshop and would feel utterly lost whenever he began explaining things he had no clue or understanding of. It made him feel outclassed in a way he couldn't hope to overcome.

"You practically know everything. You made those thumpers with some gears and hunks of metal. Meanwhile, I can't even experiment with chemicals without them exploding in my face half the time!"

Now that he said it out loud, it sounded even sillier than he imagined, and his embarrassment only grew. Some gentleman he was, getting so worked up and jealous of another friend's work.

To his surprise, Wagstaff chuckled, though it held no mirth. "My dear friend, I see you have me all wrong. I don't 'know everything'. That's why I'm always asking questions. And I'm only good with things I have experience with. I don't know anything when it comes to people, for example,"

"Huh?"

"I have an entire factory full of workers back home and I never spoke to any of them about anything outside of work. It is just easier for me to discuss matters I'm familiar with and then leave. I can never hold small conversations. I dread them sometimes. I'm aware the vendors and other citizens of this town are trying to be friendly, but whenever they try to strike a conversation with me, I can't think of much to say. Whatever I end up saying drives them away…for some reason. But that is exactly why I ask you to bring me supplies from time to time. You're better at dealing with people and making acquaintances,"

"Hardly," Wilson snorted, thinking of the weeks he would spend locked up in his lab back home without seeing another human soul.

"Still far better than I could do," the inventor smiled and rested his hand on his shoulder. "The point is, you just need more time and experience, friend. Just like I have. I'm filled with confidence that you will be a brilliant scientist once you learned enough,"

Flustered, Wilson rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Thank you,"

Wagstaff bent down to pick up the screwdriver, mumbling briefly about his back before handing it back to him. "How about this. I will assist you with fixing your invention and you will help me with my problem in return,"

Considering his own practically nonexistent social skills, Wilson winced. "Are you sure?"

The inventor laughed, eyes glinting with understanding. "Don't worry, even the smallest things would do me wonders,"

Smiling back, Wilson shook his head. This could end horribly, but…he couldn't deny feeling a little excited about the offer. "Alright, we have a deal then,"

The two of them gathered their tools and began fixing the machine together.

Wilson didn't hesitate anymore.

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A/N: Thanks for reading!