He'd never lose his love. Ever.
He'd never forget.
Alfendi wanted to always remember Lucy. Always have her by his side.
So after her so-called 'disappearance', he found her quite easily.
He found her in a new form.
"There you are, Lucy." Alfendi mumbled, picking up the small light brown creature from the grass in the park.
She squirmed slightly in his arms and did not take kindly to human interaction. Her floppy ears were flat on her head and her nose wiggled as she was carried off to the Mystery Room.
Alfendi did not mind taking care of Lucy the rabbit. He was quite used to animals around him but never quite enjoyed their behavior. Lucy though, was the exception. He'd care for her and make her feel like she never left, never changed, was never taken from him.
"Alfendi!" The door to the Mystery Room slammed open, startling the occupants within.
Lucy hopped into his arms in fear.
"Hilda! You could be a little quieter when coming in." Placid spoke, calmly, "You frightened Lucy. Please don't do that." He put a gentle hand on the animal's fuzzy head.
The blonde walked over to the desk and glared. "That animal is not Lucy, Alfendi. She's gone."
"No, she's not." He denied plainly, striking away whatever lies this witch had to offer. "Lucy is right here. And not missing."
It was so difficult to argue with a madman. So broken, alone and lied to. He'd believe his own untruths before any others, no matter how warped and absurd they were.
Hilda just wasn't sure how to respond. He had been with the rabbit for a month and in that time, his work was extremely lacking. "Look, Alfendi, you can't keep that thing-"
"Hilda."
She stopped and looked him right in the eye.
"Lucy is not a thing. She's a living creature, and she has a name. If you intend on referring to her in this conversation, I expect you to use it." His tone did not waver as he spoke.
He was so serious about this, it was frightening.
This was surely a joke.
The bunny, Lucy apparently, repositioned herself in his arms, then put her front paws on his shoulder.
"Fine! You can't keep Lucy in this office and completely ignore your duties as an investigator."
"I haven't been ignoring them." He countered, patting Lucy on the back. "I've been preoccupied, is all."
"With the rabbit?"
"Lucy." He placed the brown pet on his desk, where it sat still and watched him with its big eyes.
"It's a rabbit, Alfendi. She's not meant to live in an office. She can't help you. You have to get her out of here!"
His head centered itself on Hilda, showing an intent of murder in his crazed glare. "She's not leaving. Lucy will stay here, as any assistant should, and that's final! If you have any problems, talk to someone else! I don't give a damn if you think my progress is lacking!" His body practically loomed over the fluffy animal's small one, in a protective way, just in case this thief had any bright ideas.
"Unless you plan on getting fired to become a magician, I'd suggest you'd get rid of 'Lucy' and face reality." She slammed her fist onto the desk. "She's dead and gone, Al!"
"No she's not!" He screamed, his voice cracking slightly as he pulled Lucy off the desk.
A soft knock interrupted Hilda's next retort. "Hilda. Stop." It was Florence. She motioned for the blonde to come with her.
Begrudgingly, Hilda went with her coworker, a murderous glare following her movements as she left the room.
"You shouldn't do that, you know." The scientist said matter-of-factly as they walked to her lab.
Hilda rolled her eyes, but understood, nodding as she said, "I know. It's just ridiculous the way he treats that… Rabbit, like its a human being, like its Lucy."
"That's his way of coping. He loved her, Hilda. A lot. You know that too. He gave everything in his heart to keep her happy. So when she…" Florence cringed as she said her next statement, "She died, he needed another living thing to give that love to. If he thinks that bunny's Lucy, then let him. It'll keep him from doing the worst."
"What could be…" Hilda quickly stopped herself from asking. She knew well what the alternative was.
"Suicide." Florence said anyway.
Meanwhile, in the Mystery Room, Alfendi sat at his desk, holding a baby carrot up to Lucy's buck teeth. Her nose wiggled over the vegetable then she took one swift bite from it.
"You're not dead, Lucy. You're right here, with me. Forever. You're safe here. You'll never die." His whispers went in one droopy ear and out the other. He gave a weak smile as she finished the carrot.
Was this really what he had become?
He went to grab another, then realized they were all gone. "Finished them all. Go figure. Still eats so much for such a small body." He murmured, resting back in his chair as the pet sat still and wiggled her nose.
"I'm not crazy." Alfendi stated, placing the animal on his lap. "You know I'm not that crazy, Lucy." His jaw tightened as he said her name. He set it still and gulped. Breathing slowed and the room fell silent.
"Lucy…" He repeated, a frown tugging at his lips.
She's dead.
"She's not…" Alfendi began, but the lump in his throat shut his voice off. He tried swallowing it down again, only to be able to choke out, one last time, "Lucy."
His body shook as he tried to contain himself.
The rabbit hopped onto the floor, not responding in the slightest to his cries.
Eyes watery, and finally, the truth set in. He attempted one last time to keep his calm composure. Placid couldn't. Not even Potty could.
He put his head in his hands, tears falling off his face.
Finally, he faced facts.
Lucy is dead.