I wonder, maybe I would write that prequel next time...

...Nah, I'll just wait until we learn more about IRIS before I could write that. I was never good at writing action scenes anyways.

"Here's your banana bread!" Hex yelled, giving his friend a plate with banana bread on it.

"Ah, thanks Hex!" the rich guy thanked.

"You're welcome, dear friend!"

Hex sat as he watched his friend happily eat his banana bread. It makes the robot happy seeing his friend so happy every single time. He'll never get tired of it.

After a few bites off from the bread, the rich guy realized something as he saw the calendar.

"Huh, today is the day where you were manufactured," he noted. "You're one year old now."

"Really?" the robot asked. "How did you know?" He was surprised that he did, since the day he found the robot was way past his manufacture date.

"Yeah! It said so in the manual," the rich guy answered.

"Oh."

"I wonder… are you aware of a little something called a 'birthday'?"

"Oh, that's the day where humans are born!" Hex said in excitement. "Why did you ask that?" he asked. Last time he checked, today isn't his friend's birthday!

"Well, I was thinking," the rich guy said. "Aren't manufacture dates basically birthday dates for robots? So…"

Hex realized the implications."Wait, so you're saying that…!"

"Yeah. Happy birthday, Hex."

Hex was… speechless. Stunned, even. He didn't expect this, but it was a nice surprise. He found himself smiling, liking the idea.

He wished that this everyday life with his friend will never end, but alas…

He is just a mortal. He'll die someday, and Hex will outlive him for hundreds of years.

February 10th.

Today is Hex's manu… birthday, and his new friend knows it. In fact, he brought the robot a gift.

Well, he just said that a minute ago and left the house to buy it, so it seems like he's going to wait for a long time.

While he waits, he decided to bake some banana bread. It's his favorite thing to bake, after all.

After putting the banana bread mixture in the already heated oven, Hex watched it bake. As he could just count the seconds, he doesn't need a timer, so he didn't.

As he watched the oven bake the banana bread dough, the robot began to think. It has been a year since his friend died, huh…

…

…he remembers the day very well. It was slow, yet he knew what was coming. His friend was, in the end, a human, after all. He learned that day that everybody is on a timer, and when that timer ends, so is your life, if nothing else kills you.

Hex had heard all about death, yet his programming did not account for that at all. Then again, no one had accounted for that at all, as no one thought about it on a daily basis.

Nobody knew where they went when they die until only recently, but it is still something to be dreaded, as it meant you are unable to go back to the mortal realm… unless there is a necromancer around.

Hex, however, wanted his friend to live in peace in the afterlife, even though he wanted to talk to him one more time.

Even though it is the natural order of the world, he can't help but dread death. This is the main reason why he detests murderers; they cut other people's lives short. A life they could have spent on more things. Things that they like.

One of the reasons why he initially didn't trust Tricky.

Now that he thinks of it, Tricky reminds him so much of his friend. He couldn't help but cry for the things that never were.

What would he think of the friends Hex made? Would he think they're weird but cool and be proud of him for making new friends regardless? Would he invite them to his mansion for some activities?

Hex couldn't handle it anymore. He wishes that he was here. Still alive, breathing and moving. But alas, death will come to mortals one way or another.

Despite his happy exterior, he couldn't help but grieve for a fallen friend.

He kept on crying, crying, and crying. While he cannot shed real tears, his fake eyes simulated those on his screen, even though no one is looking.

"Why… why did you have to go…?" Hex sniffed. "Why did you have to die…?"

He kept crying, almost losing track of the seconds that passed since he turned on the oven for the banana bread.

He wept for what seemed like many hours when…

"Hex?"

A hand on Hex's shoulder.

Hex looked at the person the voice came from, hoping that it was his fallen friend, even though he isn't.

It's Tricky. He must have heard Hex cry from the entrance.

"I'm… fine," Hex lied, but even if he doesn't have the red text like Tricky does that reveals his true thoughts, he knows that it is a lie.

"Wanna… talk about it?" Tricky asked. "Also, you ok with the banana bread?"

"O-Oh, right. The banana bread," Hex said, then counted the seconds that have passed. There were a few seconds left before it finished baking.

Hex stood up, turned off the oven, then took out the tray with banana bread on it. He then moved to the table… all without saying a single word, when he is usually chatty.

Tricky knew that something was wrong, but he didn't want to push it. He couldn't help but wonder, however…

"Um, here's a present for your birthday," Tricky said, giving Hex a thin rectangle-shaped object wrapped in gift wrapper.

"T-Thanks," Hex tried to thank in a cheerful tone, but his grief prevented it from being genuine.

The atmosphere is rather… awkward, to say the least.

Tricky stared at the banana bread. It is still freshly baked. Usually, he'll eat it right away, but…

Hex isn't happy. And today is his birthday! There is definitely something wrong.

"Um, Tricky? Why aren't you eating?" Hex asked.

Ah, Hex usually calls Tricky 'Tricks', but it seems like whatever is bothering him, it is very serious.

"What's wrong?" Tricky asked in response.

"…lots of things," Hex answered, looking away from Tricky. "This… reminded me of… my friend."

"Oh…" And the puzzle pieces fell into place.

Tricky only heard of Hex's fallen friend a few times. Went to his grave together, even! But it seems like he doesn't know him enough to know how close he is to Hex. He was there when his friend died on his deathbed, according to Hex's friends.

"But… I thought you moved on!" Tricky pointed out. "Did you… lie to yourself?" Now he is worried for his very human-like friend.

"I'm trying, but I can't help but miss him sometimes…" Hex answered. "Maybe I didn't completely move on at all…" he added in a sorrowful tone.

"W-What?" Now Tricky is shocked. He had never seen Hex sad since… that time when he helped Tricky escape from that corporation when he felt utterly useless as he is not programmed nor built to fight at all. Tricky knew that it was not true, as while the robot couldn't fight, at least he can give some moral support. Plus, he is actually a pretty good strategist!

"Hey, that's not true! Even if you haven't moved on, at least you're trying!" Tricky added. "The first step to change is to know what needs to change and have a strong desire to change! You said that to me, remember?" he added.

"But… it's… I feel like… I can't move on…" now Hex is the one who is starting to cry. "I feel… I feel like a burden…"

"Hey, buddy… It's ok. You're not a burden. The path to moving on isn't easy, but I'll be there every step of the way, just like you said," Tricky reminded.

It seems to calm Hex down somewhat, but not completely. Tricky decided a hug would do.

Taken aback, yet appreciating the hug, Hex decided to hug back slowly.

"T… Thanks."

"Oh yeah, that reminds me, your present!" Tricky said, giving Hex the present.

Hex took it after looking at it. There seems to be a ribbon on the gift.

Removing the wrapper, it revealed itself to be two cookbooks. One for baking, another for cooking.

"These… for me?" Hex asked.

"Yeah!" Tricky answered. "These are for you!"

"Thanks. T-Thank you," Hex thanked. His face seemed to light up.

"Oh yeah, I also invited some of your friends," Tricky said, and as soon as he said that, Whitty and Carol entered the room.

"Hey Hex, you… doing alright?" Carol asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright. I think," Hex answered.

"Buddy, I know that your friend died a year ago today, but that doesn't mean you have to be gloomy on your birthday!" Whitty said.

"Yeah!" Tricky agreed. "...wait, he died a year ago?" he then asked, shocked at the revelation.

"Yeah. It's… still in his mind. Grief is just like that…" Carol explained in a somber tone.

That made Tricky sad, but it puts a lot of things into perspective. But he can't be sad. Not anymore. Today is Hex's birthday, and he should be doing what a clown is supposed to do in this situation!

"Hey, guys!" Tricky said. "How about we host a party? I'll be the DJ!"

"Hmm… that's a good idea!" Carol said, lighting up. "I could call Sunday in for the music!"

"But… wouldn't that make our neighbors mad?" Whitty asked.

"Last time we hosted a party with Sunday, no one complained, right Hex?" Carol pointed out.

"Yeah, that is right. Heck, they were at the party!" Hex answered.

"But, the Greater Good might-" "And I can beat them up those 'Greater Good' goonies if they find him here!" Whitty wanted to object, but Tricky cut him off.

And so, they planned the party. Invited a lot of people, even. It was a fun time, and certainly made Hex's day.

He felt happy, and he can't help but enjoy it.

Eventually, nighttime came, and everybody went home. Hex and Tricky cleaned everything up.

After getting the last of the decorations and putting them in the storage room, the two of them prepared to go to sleep. Well, Tricky is, not that he needs it.

Hex got a lot of presents from his friends and put them all in the living room to open up later.

Tricky just took a bath and is currently drying.

"By the way, thanks for helping me today," Hex said.

"You're welcome! Consider that me returning the favor!" Tricky said in a cheerful tone. It seems like Hex is himself again.

"Heh, I guess we still have a long way to go, huh," Hex mused. "We have our demons, but as long as we are here together with our friends, we can help each other heal."

"Yeah, that seems about right," Tricky commented.

"Oh, how about we go to his grave again tomorrow? I have some things to say," Hex said. "Would you come with me… Hofnarr?" he added while stretching his hand, hesitating to say Tricky's old name as he isn't used to it.

It seems like Tricky is shocked at being called that, but he is happy to be invited. "Yep!" he said, holding Hex's hand.

And so, after talking about what to say and what to do tomorrow (and Hex calling Tricky 'Hoffy' which the latter seemed to be amused by), both of them slept. Well, Tricky did, while Hex put himself in sleep mode.

Meanwhile, a ghost is watching the two of them sleeping. He decided to leave, satisfied to see his old friend live happily with a new friend.

A human-like robot and a zombie with no desire for brains. What a weird duo.

Somehow, the two of them managed to become friends.

Both of them have some disagreements sometimes, but their bond is strong enough it'll work out anyway.

As long as they are together with their friends, they will overcome any obstacle that is being thrown in their way. Perhaps heal each other from their grief.

And that's it! This is the end of this little fanfic. Thanks for reading this little fic.

Also, don't forget to leave favorites and reviews. I appreciate it.