Reviews :

Jay Sketchin : Oh Def. Do you know him to now want to do anything different than to give Berri hugs IMMEDIATELY? lol!

Snake557 : Squee!

CHICKENM4N : Hey! Good to have you back, missed you. And, thank you! I appreciate the reassurance, there.

Nikki Firesong : Aww, thank you. Yeah, Turbo definitely learns, the hard way, that getting what you want means putting in the insane amoutn of effort. Something he's definitely not used to, due to being just carted around by Lash for the past few eons haha. And, sounds awesome! Great work. Sounds like Ralph has found something very similar to EZ Living haha.

Burgie : Some days are definitely better than others, for Turbo, that's for sure!


Song Listened To :

You'll Be In My Heart by Glenn Close and Phil Collins


*Chapter 75*

"She just messaged me, asking where I was," Turbo's quiet voice barely bounced on the dim walls of his hallway, so tenderly illuminated with the barely rising sun.

As him, Zed, Tessa and Rancis slowly made their way to Turbo's spiral staircase that lead to his second story loft, ultimately where Berri rested, Turbo now felt a lump gather in his throat. Mere moments after he confessed to the three individuals that he was in love with Berri, they were then due to seeing the both of them interact. Turbo grimaced an annoyed face at himself, and no one but himself, he shut his eyes tight and now bashfully came up to the landing. He quietly continued on as his golden gaze lofted across the dim loft, straight to where Berri was sitting. She was propped up against the backrest of the massive, swooping couch and ottomans, all piled together to form one massive bed. Her eyes were wet, she looked in Turbo's direction in mild dejection, as if she was worried that maybe she had been left behind, and although Turbo could hear the footsteps of his peers behind him, all of his worry fell to the wayside, the urge to rush to Berri's aid far outweighed the need to be conservative and sheepish to Rancis, Tessa and Zed.

"Where did you go?" Berri's weak voice staggered, she shook her head in a rise of overwhelming apprehension and peered her teary gaze up to Turbo, who warmly and quickly approached, "I-I...I woke up and you were just gone, i-it was dark in here, y-your eyes... Helped."

"It's okay," Turbo warmly soothed as he approached, though upon easing back into Berri's gravity, it was blatantly apparent that their cozy love nest was easily splayed in blankets and pillows for two, something he was now feeling extremely shy over, the raw fact that her mother, father and great uncle were now carefully easing into their little bubble. Turbo cleared his throat and gently lofted his gaze back to Tessa, Zed and Rancis, and then again to Berri, "I... I had to let Tessa and Zed what went on, before the whole of Arcade got to them, first. I-I hope you're not mad..."

"You okay baby?" Tessa worried as she rounded about Turbo and came to Berri's other side. As she sat down on the cushion, off of their pillows and blankets, she was surprised to see Berri's still wet eyes urgently peer into Tessa's in whole dread.

"Mom, please don't be mad, I-I know I shouldn't have left, I know it was stupid," Berri's voice was wavering and unsure, a shaky shell of the woman she used to be, traumatized and lacking sleep, her eyes were sunken in misery. She shook her head and allowed her nearly limp hand to attempt to grip Tessa's, "I-I hope you and dad can forgive me, I-I... I won't do it ever again, I mean... I-I never want to leave Sugar Rush again, mom-"

"Hey, hey," Tessa eased through a small, loving giggle as she grappled Berri's hand and shook it a little. She narrowed her gaze and smiled into Berri's eyes, "Enough. Relax... W-We... We saw what you went through, Bear, and... You've been punished enough."

"Seriously," Rancis huffed as he bugged his eyes and looked down to his feet; Berri looked up to Rancis and Zed in whole confusion.

"H-How...?" Berri's voice wavered, though Turbo raised his eyebrows and looked down to his hands.

"...Surge came into Sugar Rush, just now, and showed us the train's security footage," Turbo mumbled in whole entire dismay, though in a gentle draw of strung, nervous eye contact, both him and Berri sagged their dreaded gazes into each others. Turbo narrowed his gaze, shook his head and huffed a shaky breath, "Probably the hardest thing I've ever had to watch."

"Y-You guys saw what happened?" Berri wondered, she barely perked up, as if she was grateful she didn't have to explain all of it out, for everyone, though Zed heaved a shaky breath and rubbed his forehead, as if to potentially hold back an onslaught of emotion that was just now catching up to everyone.

"Sucked, Bear... But I do know one thing," Zed's deep voice covered the group in impending warmth, and as him and his daughter caught eyes, Zed finally eased her a teary smile, "That was some quick thinking, right in the heat of life or death. You've severely disappointed me, by sneaking out, when you know FULL well what could've become of you, but..."

Berri froze and peered her terrified gaze up to her father, a man of purpose, a man of his word. He inhaled a deep breath through the broaden of his muscular chest, shook his head, lofted a glance in Tessa's direction and finally gave Berri a kind, impressed smile, alongside a small nod of approval.

"You kicked ass, Bear... You held your own in that metal box of death," Zed staggered a small, shaky laugh, and although he had been holding his own this entire time, he finally coughed a noise, covered his eyes, stepped away and so desperately tried to compose himself, "User dammit."

"You were doing so well," Rancis muttered with a teasing laugh as he firmly, yet lovingly, pat Zed's upper back as Zed marched away.

"I'm taking the day off of Academy, as... I'm positive you'll be, as well, huh," Tessa eased to Berri as she continued to hold her hand, Berri limply nodded and lulled her eyes closed in dread, though as Tessa leaned forward to kiss Berri's forehead a few times, she began to stand, and the three now looked as if they were ready to think about leaving Turbo and Berri alone.

"Y-You guys get some more rest, especially you, Bear," Zed instructed, he pointed to Berri firmly, his eyes were wet, as if he maybe was still holding on to a solid amount of disappointment, in Berri, more than Berri imagined would linger. Berri raised her eyebrows in nervous surprise as Zed choked a noise, to clear his throat, and inhaled a hard sniffle, "We have a lot to discuss, afterwards... Surge wants to take that footage to the news, to warn the whole of Arcade."

"Th-the footage of me fighting off the virus?" Berri's trembling voice staggered, though as Zed's stern demeanor began to now spike, everyone began to become heightened with emotion.

"Yes, Berri Schweetz, THAT one," Zed's voice now boomed, which caused Turbo and Berri to flinch in surprise; Turbo now honed his golden eyes tight to Zed's figure and felt his heart surge with confusion. He was well aware Zed was now just going through the motions, heightened feelings of anger and fear and sorrow, on top of pure relief and adrenaline, though another thing Turbo was now battling with was just when it'd be appropriate for him to step in and defend Berri, here. Although his heart now surged in confusion, he was relieved to see Rancis gently ease his hand to Zed's lower arm, as if to silently plea to him to ease up; Zed persisted, "The one where you STUPIDLY left the game in pursuit of a boy that means nothing to me, right now. THAT footage, okay?"

"Y-Yes sir," Berri's voice whimpered in tender, nearly pathetic tone; Turbo frowned and firmly glanced to her, and in his quick volley, he cocked an eyebrow and now shot Zed a look of mild challenge.

"When you returned to Sugar Rush, who was the first person you called?" Zed now loudly argued as he put his hands on his hips and eased away from Rancis's nervous, gentle hold; Berri opened her mouth in a falter and now bashfully glanced her teary eyes to Turbo's, who easily gave her apprehensive, though loving eye contact in return. Zed inhaled a raspy breath and shook his head, "Gunner? Y'call Gunner first?"

"No, sir," Berri grimaced a small hiccup of a cry, and it was here did Tessa gingerly grip Zed's lower arm in a show of now commandeering the conversation.

"Zedian," Tessa curtly urged in the softest tone she could convey disappointment through, as well.

"Wren? Theo? Who was it?" Zed barked as big tears welled in his eyes, once more, and although Berri bashfully glanced to Turbo, she opened her mouth to answer and was uncertain just where this was going.

"Turbo, sir," Berri bashfully huffed through a gentle whimper, to which Zed gently pointed down to Turbo and narrowed his gaze to Berri; Turbo felt his mind suddenly flip flop, the idea of now challenging Zed and protecting Berri very quickly reversed to a feeling of camaraderie with Berri's father.

"You think long and hard on that notion, your highness," Zed stabbed, "Who exactly is going to be there for you when you fall? When you fail? When you make the STUPIDEST decision of your whole entire life? Your family, of course, but, it's clear Turbo was who you immediately placed first in line."

"Yes, sir," Berri murmured through tears that streamed her cheeks, and although Rancis, Tessa and Turbo were previously on edge and about to go to bat for Berri, they all reeled at Zed's reversal and were now frozen in a weird revival of agreeing, with the King's stern words.

"You are to stay in this loft, for the rest of the morning and afternoon while we figure this mess out," Zed sternly directed down to Berri's teary figure, he pointed a firm finger down to the ground and, although his eyes were wet from the rush of emotion, he held his ground and kept his posture and expression strict and stern, "We'll reconvene before Academy is to let out, this afternoon. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, sir," Berri repeated, she knew it was the only thing she could say without Zed's head exploding, though Turbo and Berri both flinched the second Zed now pointed a firm finger in Turbo's direction.

"Knightly duty for the day. Princess locked in a tower for the next eight hours, do not let her leave your sight," Zed stated firmly, and although this was a tender, sweet notion of trust being lofted right Turbo's way, Turbo froze and knew to strictly follow Berri's idea.

"Yes, sir," Turbo's deep voice now meeped, and with this, Tessa heaved a half-hearted chuckle, sagged her face into her hand and shook her head amidst a widening smile.

"Alright, your majesty, c'mon," Tessa muttered in whole annoyance as she firmly pat Zed's upper arm, "Don't blow a fuse, up there, my dude."

"I'm pissed," Zed stabbed as he now ripped away from the group and began to head to Zed's spiral staircase, "I have a million phone calls to make."

"Just call me if you guys need anything," Tessa lovingly reassured to the two, who now sat shoulder to shoulder in pinprickled, bashful, frigid posture.

"Your majesty," Turbo's deep vice finally grumbled with gratitude, amidst a gentle, loving smile.

As Zed continued to mutter a few things to Berri, upon exiting, Tessa and Rancis quietly began to argue with him, little notions of reminding him to calm down and that things will get picked up later, and now was a time of rest and recuperation. Turbo exhaled a shaky chuckle, and as the three left, him and Berri sat side by side, shoulders scrunched together, in the still, dim silence of their pre-sunrise pow-wow. The second his large front door could be heard shutting, from over the balcony of the loft, Turbo finally relaxed his shoulders, heaved a shaky sigh and gently peered his glowing gaze to his right, where Berri sat still frigid and sniffling. He raised his eyebrows and softened, each encounter with her was something new and tender, he could feel his hardened heart finally warm from death, even just barely; something about her that made his stomach line with butterflies, a feeling he once long forgot. He long blinked in tender realization that retrieving said heart of gold, of Berri's, was now solely up to him. Having been given the go ahead from the most important people in her life, he knew now he needed to puff his chest and take Rancis's advice of trying confidence on for size.

"I can't wait to go back to sleep," Turbo grumbled with a small smile; although the traumatizing video he just watched would likely stay with him for a long time, he knew to swallow his feelings, on the subject matter, and focus on comforting Berri. However hard it was to watch, he knew that enduring said traumatizing event was eons harder to deal with. With Turbo's nonchalant, gentle words, Berri furrowed her blue eyebrows in tender surprise and lofted a glance of renewed endearment his way. He hooked his golden eyes into hers and gave her a soft smile, "I know the answer to this question, but... Are you okay?"

Berri froze and held her teary, blue eyes to his, and although they both knew it was entirely redundant to ask this question, she somehow felt the weight of it all. Berri knew he wasn't blatantly asking if she was just simply okay, though more so an extension of his heart, to subtly ask if there was anything he could do for her in her time of need. Berri raised her eyebrows in prickled surprise and locked eyes with Turbo; what used to be a terrifying glower was now a unique gaze of warmth and light, the edges of his interesting, square pupils were sharp and precise, just like his unwavering love towards the very limited amount of people he chose to let in. Berri felt as if her heart was struck down, something she now was almost diligent in not admitting to herself, though in her heart of hearts, she smiled on knowing full well this was just where she was needed. With the rush of positive emotion so desperately attempting to vanquish the negative, it all cancelled out and only caused the rush to turn into more tears. Berri crumpled, a willing grimace of a small choke of a cry, she knew she was safe here with him.

"No, I'm not okay," Berri eased patiently as he covered her face and sagged into herself, and although she hunched as if she maybe would just expect Turbo to rest a hand on her shoulder, she hiccuped a nervous noise of surprise as she suddenly experienced the unexpected, from him.

"Well, then I'm not, either," Turbo's warmth sapped the loft, a drown of honey he knew the sunrise would only sweeten. With ease, his strong, masculine arms began to scoop her smaller body into his broad chest, and in a single sag, he successfully eased both him and Berri back down to the cushions, their heads securely rested on his comfortable pillows. Without being too overbearing, he managed to snuggle her back into the dip of the couch's back rest, simply so he could convey protection. He cleared his throat, sat up for a moment, tugged the covers up to their shoulders and came back down to the pillows. Her bashful, teary eyes gazed up at him in a dewy, pinprickle of blushing, wet cheeks, and as Turbo did absolutely everything he could to keep this roll of confidence going, he gave her a coy smile and long-blinked in sleepiness, "We can just... Be 'not okay' together. It's okay to not be okay... As long as we have someone to lean on."

Berri heaved a shaky breath of gentle relief into Turbo's chest, she gingerly peered up at him and was now starkly aware of their close proximity. Although still in tears, she eased a bashful smile and evaded said tight proximity by gingerly digging her face into the front of Turbo's neck. In a tight snuggle, she was thrilled to feel Turbo warmly tuck his chin to the top of her head and wrap his arms tight about her shoulders. She secretly smiled into his jugular and wormed her arms about his chest, a secretive little bubble of love they both knew not to speak about. She breathed a shaky breath, lulled her eyes closed, and was more than prepared to maybe keep on the touchy subject of just what happened, though as Turbo's deep, lovely voice filled her head with ease, he pushed the envelope and so gently began to just barely comb his fingers through her long hair, an aimless task to do whilst he successfully kept the two off of the dreadful, impending topic.

"What's your favorite thing to do?" Turbo's warm voice nearly whispered, and as the glow of Turbo's eyes hit the orange backrest of his massive, swooping sectional and couch, and eased back into the loved cloth of Turbo's thin, black tank, she sagged deeper into his care and felt her muscles begin to relax.

"...Favorite thing to do?" Berri asked in question, not as if to wonder if she heard him right, though more so wondering just where this was going. She furrowed her brow and now knew she had to sift through the incredibly huge memory files more recently filled with trauma and blood and gore, and somehow scrounge for better times, buried deep in her cerebellum, "Favorite thing to do... I-I... I can't pick just one."

"You don't have to," Turbo assured through a loving whisper, Berri slowly lulled her eyes closed and soaked in all of Turbo's care.

"Well... I-I love taking Chester on runs about the palace lot. I love going to Orion City... I love singing and playing my guitar," Berri warmly and slowly listed, her hot breath coat Turbo's throat, something he was desperately trying not to focus too hard on. She eased a giggle and cutely tightened her grip about Turbo's ribcage, "I love being here, with you... I-I like when Uncle Oliver has those fantastic cookouts in the rec-hall, by the pool... I like campfires, stargazing, rainy days..."

"Rain," Turbo repeated as Berri came to the end of her list, he shook his head, lulled his eyes closed and huffed a soft noise of remembrance, "Man... I forget what rain is like."

"Wait, why?" Berri wrinkled her nose, having recalled at least a hundred rainy days in the last year.

"It doesn't rain, this high up," Turbo stated through a sigh, as if he was potentially bummed about it, but he didn't let it get to him.

"You don't get rain up here? Like... At all?" Berri questions, they remained tightly snuggled into each other.

"Nope... Wish I did, though. I'm sure the game has the capacity for it, I just... Have yet to witness it," Turbo grumbled, he shook his head and breathed a chuckle atop her head, "I'd go crazy with excitement if it ever rained, up here."

"Man, I hope I'm here when that happens," Berri giggled, the simple sound of her happiness, the ease of her smile, how successfully Turbo had gotten her to forget all about her problems, he continued to run his fingers through the dregs of her hair and felt quite proud of himself, "What do you think you'd do?"

"I'd high-tail it to my roof so I could run in it," Turbo eased a louder chuckle, a contagious shake of love that had Berri now grinning, "I'd do something crazy, I know that much. Such a rare event, I'd have to do something drastic to seal the deal."

"User, now I'm always going to be checking the weather," Berri breathed another giggle and felt the simple, loving sweep of sleepiness come back to her. She heaved a hard yawn into Turbo's throat and collar as she drowsily pressed on, "I certainly don't want to miss that showdown."

Turbo smiled and could feel Berri's body weight sag into a state of potentially wanting to attempt to fall back asleep, which cued him to ease off the conversing. He furrowed his eyebrows in gentle contemplation and revisited his words. He knew it was all just for show, though he now began to rack his brain, just exactly the stark act he'd do if it actually did start raining on his loft. He shook his head and rolled his eyes, he knew it was impossible and said crazy act of excitement would never be a thing, though he still somehow felt his heart surge with confused purpose. As he held Berri close amidst the gentle kiss of a sunrise on their shoulders, he closed his eyes and somehow hoped that said event would include Berri. Experiences he was desperate to share with her, and only her, had him itching to keep her in his presence for the rest of time, no matter how selfish the desires of his heart seemed.


A/N :

You guys remember my painting 'Orion City Secret' ?

A whole year and a half's worth of foreshadowing, my dudes. I literally am so close I'm going to explode. UHG.