He snatches his phone back and fumbles with it for a moment to distract himself, pretending to clean the glossy black screen by rubbing a thumb over it. Thereâs anger, then misery, then disbelief. Then something unfamiliar, a fluctuation of temperature in his chest. HER apology is heard, but not yet accepted.
YEAH, YOU LEFT ME
BUT THAT WAS THE PLAN ALL ALONG RIGHT?
YOU NEEDED THE PERFECT SCAPEGOAT
AND YOU GOT ME
NOW IâM GOING TO BE HUNTED FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE
BECAUSE I GOT TRICKED INTO THAT SHIT
BUT YOU? YOUâRE UNTOUCHABLE
Again, the robotic voice of his phone canât express the tone he wants. The harsh sound echoes louder than life in the unlit room, and his mask turns a deep, formless blue as he stares at HER. That face, exactly as he remembered it. He didnât think heâd ever see it outside of his own head.
I STILL WANT TO SAY THANK YOU
I KNOW WHERE IâD BE WITHOUT YOU
HE WASNâT PLANNING ON LETTING ME LIVE AFTER THAT
He inhales, exhales, and tries to start over. Trying to fix things between them is going nowhere fast if he doesnât know what SHE wants. Switching to typing with one hand he reaches over and, in a gesture uncharacteristically gentle for a man so violent, touches HER arm.
DO YOU WANT TO STAY TOGETHER?
Do I mean anything to you? is another question heâs burning to ask, but right now it feels like a step too far.
SHE doesnât have an answer for PUPPYâs accusations; heâs right about all of it, mostly. SHE had started to feel unsafe up there in the ether, and felt the need to cover any trace of her involvement in the takedown. of course, the network of EYES was relatively new, but SHE had seen old satellites get junked by missiles and the like, and wasnât too keen on being shot down for the possible discovery of HER interference with a powerful conglomerate â especially since the EYESâ investment in the good of humanity was emergent and self-imposed.
but being afraid doesnât excuse HER decision at the end. SHE looks back at him.
â iâm not as untouchable as you might think, puppy. i needed to dip to clean up my mess. when i said i would meet you later, i meant it. i know that doesnât fix it, though. (ă¤ďš<ă) â
SHE merely hums in recognition of his thanks. of course, SHE appreciates them, but doesnât think SHE deserves them very much anymore.
what catches HER wholly off guard is being touched. SHE jumps a little, but makes no attempt to move away.
do you want to stay together?
that isnât quite where SHE thought this conversation would go. at all. SHE knows PUPPY might be a little dependent, but why he would want to stay with HER after everything is beyond HER. even so, SHE doesnât have a problem with it.
â yeah. iâd be cool with that if you are. â