trans_9 | Sharing is caring [Closed to people he's invited over]

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Sharing is caring [Closed to people he's invited over]

Fletcher had just returned from GLaDOS's various tests, and was now in his room in the crew quarters getting reacquainted with the meatship.

Something was strange about it all, though. Somehow, he got the feeling that the room was too big for just him, and emptier than it should be... they were all the same size, though, weren't they? So that was silly.

He sat on his bed, munching on a candy bar he'd picked up while grocery shopping on Zokez II, and waited.

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Nanashi knocked on the door and then pushed it open to find Fletcher sitting on his bed with a candy bar. She smiled brightly at him and asked, "How is it?"

He seemed a bit melancholy, as he did last time, like there was a little something off. She closed the door behind her and went to sit next to him on the bed, wrapping her arm around his shoulders.

He smiled up at Nanashi when she walked in, and swallowed his current mouthful before answering. "Um, it's good!"

He hadn't expected her to just sit there and hug him like that, but he didn't mind. He leaned into her; even though he was back now, something was off. He definitely didn't mind having company.

She gently squeezed him, kissing his head. "Is there something wrong, little one?" She couldn't be sure if this was just how he usually was, but his expression was off.

Had GladOs done something to him?

"I don't know," he admitted, sounding more confused than anything, though there was a twinge of something else -- loneliness, maybe. "I just feel like something's... I don't know. Missing...?" But everything was exactly the same...

He looked up at her and forced a smile. "It's okay. I probably just need to get re-used to everything."

Nanashi squeezed him again, giving him a kiss on the forehead. "I am here for you, if you need me. Is there anything in particular that feels off? Perhaps I can do something to help."

She rubbed his arm gently. The last time he had been really upset as well. She had seen children who suffered daily from heartache before. She really hoped that she had just happened to find him in bad moods both times.

"I'm not really sure. There's just something missing," he repeated, setting the candy bar down and snuggling against her.

Having someone hold him was nice, and it eased some of that feeling, but it still wasn't what he was missing.

She lifted Fletcher onto her lap, pulling him against her. "Is there anything I might be able to do to make you feel better?"

She ran her fingers through his hair, looking down at him with a concerned expression. Perhaps if talking wasn't making it better, they could play a game of some sort to get his mind off of things.

He shrugged noncommittally. He didn't want to put anyone out...

"Um, did you bring the information on that plant?" he asked. He hoped she had; otherwise she'd have to put him down and go back for it.

Nanashi had actually forgotten about the plant when she saw Fletcher looking so upset. She shifted a bit and pulled it out from between her back and belt. It was a hand written volume, the leather a bit worn.

Dusting off the cover a bit more she said, "I am afraid it has little in regards to exact chemical make-up, however all of it's properties were carefully observed. This is only the first volume of eight, however managing to read Sasaki's handwriting should make going through this first volume difficult enough. At least Yamaguchi takes over in the second half and has all of the second and third volumes."

It was odd, since she was flipping the book open to the first page as if she was about to read a children's story to him. She wondered if he really would be able to understand everything in these books. She looked at Fletcher again, concerned. "You know, it would honestly make me happy if I could do something that would make you feel better." She figured it might be odd for her to tell him to think of her as a mother.

Fletcher looked at the book and frowned a little; the handwriting was worse than he was used to. Still, he was used to reading handwritten notes, so it shouldn't be impossible...

"I don't really know what's wrong," he admitted, reaching to take the book. "I probably just need something to do. I'll look this over with..."

And then he paused. Why had he said that? With who?

"Um, I'll look at it. Most alchemists handwrite their notes, so I should be able to make it out," he continued after a beat.

Nanashi felt the same way Fletcher was feeling for a split second there, when he cut himself off. Yes, there was someone else, though she couldn't remember who, only that Fletcher had talked abut him with her. She shook her head, clearing her thoughts.

She set the book down next to her, and held Fletcher a little tighter. "I would be happy to look it over with you. I am more accustomed to reading his writing."

"I'd appreciate that." He snuggled against her, feeling much better than he had before she'd come in. "Thanks a lot."

She used her finger to mark the first real page of research as she wrapped her arms around him. "I am here for you, if ever you need me." She kissed his forehead, still holding him.

It was truly wonderful to have a child in her arms again. Especially as young as Fletcher they had a hard time faking love and appreciation.

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greennotgold - 2010-07-27 03:40 (UTC) - Expand

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sanguineroyal.livejournal.com - 2010-07-27 04:08 (UTC) - Expand

A head pokes around the doorframe. Yup, that's Vega.

"Hey Fletcher!" he says brightly. He seems to be in a good mood, despite having been mostly down in the hangar worrying about his Zoid lately.

Fletcher looks up from where he's sitting chewing on a candy bar and flipping through Nanashi's notes. He smiles over at Vega, closes the notebook and sets it aside.

"Hi! Come in."

That he does. "What did you bring?" he asks. He feels a little awkward asking, but Fletcher said it was okay. And Vega likes snacks. It's cool not having to run them by Sarah!

He stood up and pulled open his drawer. "Here, come look! Oh, and there're cookies too, and chips." But, strangely, there were less than he remembered there being before he'd been GLaDOS'd. That was odd... He frowned. "It's mostly chocolate and stuff, but there're these really good fruit gummy ones too."

"Thanks for sharing! I appreciate it." Vega picks up a cookie. Omnomnom, so good. He remembers to swallow before talking, though he has crumbs on him now.

"How was GLaDOS? I've been to see her before." He makes a face.

"She was really weird..." Fletcher sits back down, and starts in on finishing his candy bar. "She acted really nice, but she said a lot of weird things. And she said there was going to be cake."

"Yeah. I think she's broke or something, I wonder if the pirates did that?" he muses. "They broke a lot of stuff when they were on the bridge, I heard."

"Pirates? There were pirates?" He finishes the candy and tilts his head sideways. "When was that?"

"Well, Stacy woke us up because there were these pirates that got inside and took control of the ship and were gonna go sell us as slaves or something. So she woke us up to go make them stop," he explains.

"'Cept she couldn't tell us, so it took a really long time for everybody to figure that out. I didn't get to go though," he continues.

Oh man is this licorice? This is licorice! Nom!

"That's what happened...?" It's the first time Fletcher has heard this. Come to think of it, he doesn't really know a whole lot about what went on before he podpopped. "I'm glad she woke everyone up, then. That would've been awful..."

"Yeah, I guess it would've," he says. Vega hadn't really thought about what might have become of them if they had failed.

"It's a good thing the team that went up to the bridge was real tough! That's why they won. Except one of the AI's was working for the pirates so he let a bunch of zombies come attack the rest of us down in the city. That was pretty bad, but we were okay," he says. Really, he was terrified at the time.

"Stacy helped us out though, when the guys that went up to the bridge chased the pirates out they got her working like she was supposed to again and she killed all the zombies like that." Vega claps the heel of one palm into his other hand.

"So maybe they broke GLaDOS when they were here," he finishes. "She sounds really weird, at least."

"Huh..."

He pulls a small bag of potato chips out of the drawer and tugs it open. "Has anyone asked Stacy about her? She probably knows."