Chapter 12: Strangeness
A/N: Italics are flashbacks. And also when a character is singing. Or onomatopeia(s).
Disclaimer: I don't own HNKNA or any characters in it, they belong to Quinrose. I only own my characters and this story.
"What you writing Patwick?" Remy asked.
"Formulas." Patrick answered without looking.
She tiptoed to his desk and saw many numbers, letters, and mathematic symbols written on those papers. She didn't know what he's writing, what formulas is, but those papers were definitely filled with complicated things she wouldn't be able to understand until the next ten or fifteen years. If she was able to go back home that is. Big if.
She decided to leave the doctor monkey alone and continued on with her activities: wandering around the infirmary. Because Patrick didn't let her go out and she got nothing better to do. She let her pink salmon gems wander around the room and saw a small bookshelf a few inches beside the resting room door. She strolled her feet towards it and stood in front of it. She scanned the top shelf.
'Internal bleeding, punctured artery, the law of...' she read the titles in her mind.
Those were books for grownups, she's not interested in those. She scanned the second shelf and paused after the fifth book.
'The Shell and The Mask.' She read.
Now that, she's interested in.
"Patwick, can I read this book?" she turned and held the thick book in front of her.
Patrick took another paper and began scribbling down again, "Sure sure. Read read."
She returned to the couch and made herself comfy. She gazed at the book cover. It was a dark green book, looked so old, and just a bit dirty. Or dusty. She smiled a little bit and felt curious. So she opened and started reading.
After the third chapter she yawned. She turned her attention to the window to look at the time. It was still night and still no signs of Boris.
"When will he come back?" she asked out loud.
Patrick piled his works and put in a red manila folder. "Soon soon." He replied, still looking busy.
She sighed and continued reading.
She fell asleep after that.
"Nemy... Wake up.. Time for breakfast.." Patrick shook her shoulder gently.
She fluttered her eyes open and yawned. Patrick sat beside her as he opened the drink cups to let it cool down a bit. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"You fell asleep." The doctor said.
She said nothing and noticed the book she was reading was on the table. Some things were also on the table. There were two plates and two steaming cups. Both plates had sandwich on it and the cups, looked like chocolate milks.
"Is that chocolate milk?" she eyed the cups.
"Yes. You like?"
She grinned and nodded.
"Careful though. It's still a bit hot." Patrick said, watching her with a smile.
She took the cup and blowed a few times before taking a sip.
"Ahh~" she sighed happily.
Patrick chuckled. "I got eggs today. With tomato sauce."
"Yay!" she exclaimed.
They finished about half an hour later and Remy continued reading where she left at. Still, no signs of Boris. Just where did he throw it away? Is it that far that he had trouble finding it?
Patrick finished washing the plates and came back to sit beside her. He noticed she was reading the only fiction book he had on his bookshelf. He never finished reading that book. Not that he doesn't like, he just had so little time to spend on fiction books. He didn't even buy that one, he found it when he was out searching for resources.
"Patwick?" she looked up at him.
"Yessss?" he responded.
"When is Bowis coming back?" she asked.
"Don't worry. He'll come—"
Bang bang.
"Hey."
"...soon." Patrick finished.
It wasn't a knock, or angry banging either, but a knock nonetheless. And it was Boris's voice.
"I got the hat. Now let me in." Boris said outside the door.
They both looked at each other. Patrick raised one of his eyebrows. Remy, getting the code, nodded. The doctor stood and went to open the door.
Boris waited as the door opened and he saw Patrick standing there with a flat expression.
The cat held up the black hat in his right hand.
Patrick glanced at the hat for a few seconds, then he glanced at Boris.
"I'm not sure it's the hat." Said Patrick.
"It has the mouse's scent all over it. How can it not be the hat." Boris shot back.
Patrick narrowed his eyes at him. He knew it was the hat, he still remembered it, he's only messing around with Boris. Trying to make him annoyed. But Kemy's waiting, so he decided to be nice. He stepped aside and the cat strode in.
Boris noticed Remy looking at him from the couch. He stood in front of her, across from the coffee table.
'She looked like mini Gowland.' He thought.
He looked at her a bit uneasy because she didn't put on any expression. She was waiting for him to say something. Or do something. He knew that, but he didn't know what. So he let his ears dropped a bit and held the hat out to her.
Remy put the book she was reading on the table and stood. She took the hat gently and examined it. Black with silver decoration. Yep, it's Pierce's. Even though it's dirty and the cinnamon smell already gone, it still looked Pierce's. She smiled.
"Sorry." Boris muttered, looking down.
She looked at him and gave a smile. "I forgive you."
He perked up, "Really?"
She nodded, still smiling.
He lightened up immediately.
Patrick scoffed and closed the door. He came up to Remy and held out his hand. "Let me wash it for you. It's dirty."
Remy gave the hat to him. The doctor took it and disappeared to the small-hallway door.
She turned to Boris and said, "Thank you."
"Don't thank me. I'm just returning it. Can I get a rub now?" Boris asked. He blinked at her innocently.
She giggled. "You can."
"YES!" he leapt to her left. He positioned the back of his head on her thigh and let her pet him.
"Mwrrrr~" he purred happily and closed his eyes when she scratched the back of his ears.
Remy giggled.
He smelled a scent coming from her. "Hey Remy?"
"Mmm? Yes?"
"Why do you smell like the monkey now?" he asked.
"I use Patwick's soap and shampoo." She answered, still rubbing his head.
He opened his eyes and looked at her. His eyes turned to slit for a millisecond. "Hmph. I don't like it."
She blinked, "Eh? Why?" sniffed herself. "It's fruity."
He sat up beside her and hoisted her to sit on his thigh. He then hugged her from her back and nuzzled to her shoulders and back.
"Bowis?" she side-glanced at him but she couldn't see his face. He didn't reply.
She didn't understand. He could have just asked her if he wanted a hug...or cuddle.
"You can ask Wemy if you want to hug." She said with a smile.
"Why do you look like mini Gowland either? I don't like it." he voiced out. He didn't like it. Her smell, her clothes. She did look cute though. She would be look better in—
He blinked. What was that?
"Sorry Remy. What did you say?" he looked at her. He felt something on his left cheek and turned to look. It's her hand.
"Bowis okay?" she called. She had reached her hand up to touch his cheek.
He looked at her again. "Ahh.. I'm fine. Why did I hug you?" he raised his eyebrows.
She looked at him confused. He's acting strange. She tilted her head, "I don't know?"
He blinked. Well that's weird. He put her down on the couch and resumed his position earlier.
"Can we continue?" he asked.
She watched him for a moment before smiling. "Okay." She didn't understand what he was talking about, but he seemed to forget it already. She could ask him later.
And then she continued rubbing him like nothing ever happened.
Thirty minutes later, the door at the end of the room opened and Patrick came out looking fresh. Remy looked at him and noticed his change of clothes and damp hair. He's wearing a yellow shirt and orange pants, his long lab coat, and a towel around his neck to keep the water droplets from staining his collar. Not that it made any difference.
"I'm putting the hat in the dryer. Let's just wait till it dries." The doctor said.
Remy couldn't help but thought, that he looked different without his usual hair that stood upward like yellow grass.
"Patwick look different." She said with a funny smile.
He looked at her and voiced out a "Huh?"
Boris raised his chin. "Yeah. You look ugly."
The doctor ape had took the time to freshen himself and dressed up to match Remy. Since she wore yellow, he changed his shirt into yellow too. He didn't have yellow pants, so he put on orange instead. He still put on his lab coat because he likes it. He thought he looked pretty charming. So he didn't appreciate Boris's comment.
"What do you mean? I look handsome in this suit." The doctor said confidently.
Boris and Remy laughed.
Suddenly, the front door was banged open and the three of them squealed and jolted at the same time.
"Little girl~~ I'm baaaack~" sang Gowland.
"Don't bang on my door!" yelled Patrick.
Gowland ignored Patrick and noticed the other two in the room. He looked at the little girl with disbelief. "Little girl?"
"Hello mister Gowland! Welcome back!" She greeted cheerfully.
Gowland ran his eyes on her appearance and his face rose happily. "You look like me!"
Remy looked at herself and then at Gowland and noticed that they wore an almost similar outfit. She just didn't have the horse on.
"Oh!" she looked surprised. "I look like you!"
The two of them laughed at the same time.
Patrick and Boris only stared at the two of them.
"Feeling better?" Gowland came over.
"Yes. Head hurt less now." She answered. She continued petting Boris and Boris closed his eyes again.
"That's a relief. Sorry back then, I didn't know what to do." Gowland said looking sheepish.
Remy shook her head. "It's alright. Wemy think too much, then it hurts. Not mister's fault."
Gowland smiled. "If you're feeling good, how about you get on some rides? I did promise you that."
Boris opened his eyes to this, "Hey I know some good rides."
She looked at Gowland and Boris then she smiled apologetically, "Sorry. But Wemy's head still hurt sometimes." Her last fit was yesterday and she didn't like it coming anytime today.
Boris bit his lips. He knew he was to blame for yesterday. He looked at her and felt guilt smeared his body. He closed his eyes again and tried to focus on her rubbing.
Gowland gave a smile though. "Oh don't worry, it'll heal. Right Pat?" he looked at his monkey friend who had not moved from his position.
"Will heal, will heal. But I say she rest more today." Patrick said.
Gowland nodded and looked at her again, "Don't wanna risk anything." Then the yellow man glanced at the cat looking calm as ever in her arms. "Hey Boris. What are you doing?"
Boris opened one of his eyes and glanced at him but decided to not say anything and stirred to lay on his stomach. "Remy scratch my earrrss~" he purred, hugging her waist.
"Mmm? Okay." She scratched him behind the ears and he let out a soft moan and nuzzled her stomach.
She giggled. This is the second time he did this. "It tickles Bowis."
Gowland watched the two of them then turned to Patrick, who was also turning to him with a frown. They never saw Boris attached to someone like this. He usually drags Alice when she's around but he never chases after her, not even asking for attention like this. The cat's acting weird and they're curious. But they wouldn't discuss this in front of the little foreigner.
Boris was actually enjoying himself and wanting to show off his new toy that was giving him so many affection.
Remy? She likes making people happy. Boris likes getting pet, so she did it to make him happy. Because she thought, if he likes it, then he's happy, right?
Gowland turned to the girl and Boris and narrowed his eyes. Then nodded at Patrick. He'll try something. Patrick shrugged and let him do as he pleases.
'Let's see how he'll react to this.' Gowland thought and smiled. "What's your name, little girl?" Gowland asked.
She looked back at him. "Wemy."
Gowland opened his mouth again. "We—"
"Remy." Boris corrected. "She's a lisp. Mmmrr~..." Boris nuzzled against her again.
"Remy." Gowland said.
She blinked at him with a happy smile.
"Boris seemed to be enjoying himself. I'm curious. Can I get a rub too?" Gowland asked curiously.
Boris's eyes shot open.
"Sure!" she replied.
"What?!" Boris looked at Gowland with a shocked face.
Gowland pulled the coffee table back and went to sit in front of her. He put his chin on one of her knee.
"Make a room a bit Boris." Gowland said cheerfully.
Boris looked at him with disbelief and then at Remy. "Remy!"
She looked at Boris as reached her hand out to rub Gowland's head. "Yes?" happily replied.
Boris pulled her hand back from Gowland. "You're supposed to be petting me!"
"But Gowland want one too."
Boris pouted, "You could have refuse."
Remy tilted her head, "But... It's just a wub(rub)."
"But..." Boris hesitated.
"Yeah.. It's just a wub Boris." Gowland casually repeated, all the while giving a smile that Boris could understand the meaning behind it.
Boris glared at Gowland, who looked back casually except for that glint in his eyes.
Remy looked between the two of them then at Patrick. He shrugged his shoulders when she looked at him. She returned back to the two. "It's okay." She started. Making both male looked at her. "I can wub you two." She finished.
"But..." Boris bit his lips. 'I want you to rub me only.' He thought.
She smiled at him, "It's okay Bowis. I still like your ears better."
Boris contemplated for a second. At least she likes something from him more. But he still felt uneasy with the idea of sharing Remy with Gowland. Him sharing her with the monkey was something he was still trying to tolerate since he was tending her. But adding Gowland into the mix was something else. He saw that glint in the old man's eyes. He knew Gowland was teasing him. And he didn't like it.
But he didn't want to look bad in front of Remy, they've just met twice and he didn't want to make her hate him. He already made a mistake by throwing away the mouse's hat in the first meeting, he didn't want to make any of that in the future. So he sighed inwardly and laid down again, turning away from Gowland and burying his face in her stomach.
She smiled and giggled, then she started rubbing both of their heads. She scratched Gowland's hair end near his neck with her right hand and Boris's ear with her left hand.
"Aaahh~ I understand now~" Gowland said, closing his eyes and smiling. "It feels quite good. No wonder Boris likes it."
Boris growled lowly in his throat. Remy thought he was just purring away so she let her smile widened, thinking Boris liked her touches. However, Gowland heard this and smirked. He knew that wasn't an ordinary kitty purr. Then he decided to annoy the freeloader of his park further.
"You should do this to Pat too, Remy. I'm sure he'll like it too." The owner said.
Patrick raised his eyebrows. 'Why did he drag me into this?'
"Really? Patwick wants to?" she glanced at Patrick.
The monkey man reached his towel, "Um..."
Boris growled again.
Patrick took that as a sign to decline. "I don't think so. I uh.." he tried to find a reason. "I'm, I'm... Uhh... I'm sensitive." He said in a bit serious face and nodding his head to her. "Yeah, sensitive."
Remy looked confused, "Sensitive?"
"Yeah. Sensitive." The doctor nodded.
She mouthed a small 'ooh..' and nodded her head, even though she didn't understand. But she took it he didn't like his head rubbed.
Patrick shrugged. "Well... I'm going to write my formulas again. You should return to your work Gowly." And then he left the waiting area.
"Okay~" she casually replied. She continued rubbing the two. She looked at Gowland. "Have work to do?"
"Yup." He smiled.
"Get it done then~" she smiled.
"Aww~ You're no fun Remy." Gowland pouted playfully.
She laughed.
Gowland stood up. "Well. I should go back." He went to the door. "See you tomorrow Remy~ My rides are ready for you anytime."
"Thank you mister Gowland. Bye bye!" she waved at him.
He waved. "Bye~~~" then the door closed.
Boris sighed and hugged her closer. "Finally." He mumbled.
"Mmm? Did you say something Bowis?" Remy looked at him.
"Nothing Remy. Can you pet me again?" he smiled cutely.
She brightly smiled, "Sure!"
Boris was finally, really, enjoying his time.