A/N: Hey peeps! So a lot of y'all wanted to see Bonnie and Devon's reactions to the new circumstances (thank you for all the comments btw. It really helps.) It took me a bit to come up with something good (I hope), but I feel I did it justice. Lemme know whatcha thought plz! And if y'all would like to see something else, just let me know! As of rn, I still don't have a story line for this thing, so I'm open to ideas! Thanks and plz enjoy! ;D
PS: Also, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, seeing as y'all prolly won't hear from me until then. I hope both occasions are just as joyful and full of life for each and every one of you! You guys have all been amazing this year to me and I couldn't thank you enough! Hugs to all of you! Y'all are the best!
~ VINAI
Chapter 2:
Kitt had drove through the night with the radio playing Michael's favorite rock n' roll to help sooth him. He often found himself checking on his former adult driver every few minutes, but that time frame would dwindle drastically each time Kitt did a quick scan of the boy. Call it overprotectiveness or call it anxiety, Kitt was feeling it heavily. A deep sigh resounded through his CPU casing. Hopefully, with Bonnie and Devon's help they could figure out what to do to fix this. It was all he and Michael had to cling to at the moment.
Michael stirred slightly in the driver seat as Kitt merged off the interstate and down familiar side roads. Their ETA was approximately twenty minutes at the AI's current rate of speed. Although the AI wanted nothing more than to allow the boy his rest, Kitt figured a quick debrief would be in order just to help prepare Michael for what was inevitably about to come. Not that he didn't trust Bonnie or Devon with this new turn of events, or felt they would respond badly. He knew they'd always remain supportive. But he knew how Michael got with difficult situations. The man had a hard habit of stubbornly holding in his feelings instead of telling his family how he felt. Not to mention Kitt knew Michael's emotions have already been put through the ringer lately on top of every thing else before then.
To put it simply, Michael was not one to harbor negative feelings well.
So yes. Kitt felt the need to allow Michael a chance to explain himself before the spot light gets placed on him 24/7 for the foreseeable future. Or at least until they come up with a solution.
"Michael," he tried to roused the boy quietly. When he got no response, Kitt raised his voice a tad. "Michael, wake up."
"Mmh..." Michael whined and turned in his seat so he was now facing the passenger side. "Five more minutes."
Kitt chuckled at the adorable response. "I'm afraid not my friend. We are currently fifteen minutes out from the Foundation and I wanted you to be up and ready."
Michael's eyes widened a little. A quick scan told Kitt of his partner's steadily rising anxiety levels. "Michael, it's alright. No one is going to do anything to you." I would never let them even get close enough.
"I know, I know." Michael took a deep breath and attempted to calm his nerves somewhat. "It's... not them I'm worried about. It's... what's going to happen after this."
Kitt turned down their road. He paged the security guard they were on their way. Five minutes. Kitt then quirked a virtual brow at his partner. Michael's response confused him slightly, so the AI was glad he decided to follow his nonexistent gut and make Michael talk about his concerns. "What do you mean?"
A sad sigh, blue eyes glanced up at his voice box. "Kitt, you know I can't remain your driver. Not while I'm like this anyway." He indicated to himself, a note of frustration creeping into his voice. "You'd have to deal with a replacement or-"
"Never." Kitt's response was instantaneous. But what surprised them both the most was the amount of ferocity in Kitt's voice. "I'm not dealing with a replacement driver while you're out of commission. I'm your partner. Not anyone else's for any amount of time."
Michael didn't look very convinced. His big blue eyes stared at his voice box depressingly. "But I really don't think Devon will-"
"He will." Kitt said it firmly. No room for argument. He has to. And even if he doesn't, I will refuse his orders until he's forced to do something drastic. And even then, I will still refuse.
"We're here." The AI announces as they pull into the driveway. He darkened his windows. The guard gives them a quick wave as they enter. Michael plays with his hands to help ease the nervous bubbling in his stomach, but it did very little to help.
Kitt comes to a stop at what Michael assumes is the front of the mansion. He hears the powerful turbine engine die down before his partner speaks. "Are you ready?"
Michael couldn't quite find his voice, so he only manages a shaky nod. In response, the windows' artificial darkness fades to allow the sunlight in. Michael spots Devon and Bonnie right off the bat... and sinks lower in his seat. Both wore expressions of slight confusion when Michael had yet to appear from the cab. They waited for almost a whole minute.
The AI cleared his non-existent throat to gain their attention.
"Bonnie, Devon," Kitt addressed them evenly. His scanner was noticeably bouncing to and fro faster than normal. "Something didn't quite go as planned on our mission. I assure you Michael is fine, however he's physical appearance has... altered somewhat."
"Kitt, what are you talking about?" Bonnie was the first to speak, her voice tight with worry. Lord knew what Kitt meant by that response.
"Well... um..." the AI struggled for a response. Suddenly, his driver door opened on its own accord. Bonnie and Devon both spotted twp small shod feet land on the ground from behind Kitt's door. Bonnie gasped and Devon stood star struck when the kid finally revealed himself.
"Kitt," Devon started, his grey blue eyes never once leaving the boy's face. "Is... is that-?"
"Michael?" Bonnie finishes the question for him. The curly hair and red shirt he always wore were a good indicator but she wanted to be sure. The blue eyed boy smiles a little and gives a shy wave.
"Hey guys! How's it going?" Bonnie's face is full of disbelief and Devon looks as though he was about to faint.
"I think I need to..." the older man mumbled with a hand held to his forehead. Kitt quietly rolled forward, allowing the man to sit on his hood. Devon patted the warm surface in kind. "Thank you, my boy."
"Not a problem, Devon."
"How did this happen exactly?" Bonnie asked curiously, her brain wracking through possible scenarios. Michael just shrugged.
"I don't know honestly." He chuckled sheepishly. Michael had recounted what had happened to them both. Neither didn't have any clue as to how this could've happened, nor how to potentially fix it. The partner's weren't holding high hops that they would've had an answer, but to hear it for themselves was close to devastating. Kitt had felt his proverbial heart sink, Michael's real one feeling very much the same. It was hard for the boy to wipe off the hopeless and sad expression on his face.
"So..." nervous blue eyes glanced between the two adults. "What's going to happen now?" The question was asked innocently, but Kitt felt that same warm surge from earlier come back full force. He never wanted to think negatively of Bonnie or Devon, but if their response was anything less to Kitt's standard than he would voice his opinion on the matter. No way was he going to allow Michael anymore suffering than what he was already going through.
The two adults glanced at each other. "Nothing right now, Michael. We have to find a way to fix this first." Bonnie said. Then a certain crease came over her brow. One she only ever got when the woman uncovered something interesting. "Buuut, something tells me that's not your true concern."
Michael glanced at Kitt. Kitt extended his door until it gently bumped the boy in his side. "Well no. Not really. I-I, um..." Michael glanced at the floor, his heart beating fast. With a small burst of courage, he managed to meet the two adults in the eyes. "I won't be separated from Kitt right?"
"Heavens no!" their boss cried, coming to Bonnie's side. "Until we can find a solution to fix you, you both are on vacation, my boy. Do as you please, just don't reveal your true identity."
Michael's smile could've lit up the whole world. He ran to the two adults and hugged their legs tightly. "Oh thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
"You're very welcome." They both said through a smile. The boy tightened his embrace once more before darting off to Kitt's side. With his passenger securely inside the cabin, Kitt pulled a swift 180 and drove off to who knows where.