Ever since surviving the events in the core of the Mechonis, Egil found himself withdrawing from people even more than before. He would still interact with them when needed, sure, but when it wasn't needed? He kept his distance. It was for the best, he felt, given all that had happened.
He would be working to even start repenting for all he did until the day he died, and that was something he accepted. Egil did not expect open arms or celebration for his survival or return, never had. The quiet understanding was more than he could have hoped for, really.
And so, he continued working, rarely getting guests. Usually Shulk wanting to talk machines, Vanea insisting he was still loved, or even Fiora warily trying to make small talk. There was, of course, also Menyx…
A sibling he had had no clue existed until very recently, and had taken a shine to him very quickly. They often found their way here, out of the loop in terms of just how bad things had been, always wanting to spend time with him.
"Menyx, you know I'm too busy to play. I have a lot of work to do." He kept his voice soft, even as he scolded them for showing up once again. "You should see if Vanea can play with you."
"Vanea plays with me all the time now, you never do…" Menyx sounded like a kicked puppy. "I wanna play with you, Egil! Please! Just once!"
Egil sighed, not looking up from his work. "You know I have to keep working, Menyx. There's too much to do."
"But we're siblings, aren't we? Vanea says siblings should always make time for each other." Menyx moved to float directly next to him. "Do you not like me?"
"I have nothing against you, if anything, you're the only Machina I know who I don't have… residual problems with." It was hard for him to truly move past the idea they had all betrayed them - but Menyx had never known him well enough to do so. "I simply have so much to do if I want to even begin making up for all I did."
Menyx sniffled a bit and Egil sighed. As much as he hated to admit it, he was quite weak to the child… A few weeks of knowing they existed and their crying was enough to break his heart in two. Not that they knew that, though, as he often just moved to avoid them when sad… But right now? There was no avoiding them.
He set down his tools and stood, moving to open the pod and get a good look at them. Before they could really react, he poked their nose, remembering just how soft Machina children were… he used to hold them quite often, but it had been a good eight hundred years since then.
Well, he supposed he could just… make up for that a bit now.
He pulled them out of their pod and they quickly snuggled in, resting against his shoulder. "Ah, is that all you wanted, then?"
"I wanna know you, you're my… my brother, right? It's only right if I do…"
He chuckled, running a hand through their hair. "I suppose so. Maybe you're right, it's only right if we get to know each other."
So, for now, he would give them some of his time. An hour or two with Menyx wouldn't cut too much into all he had to do, right?
Aaaaand here's the final one! Hope anyone who read these enjoyed em~!