if none of the other pressure devs speak out against him then fuck you all as well
Ren, if you are somehow reading this, I wish you nothing but healing and support, you did not deserve this
───────── byte the hand that feeds you ⋆｡───────────────
｡⋆ desc: rude. can't you stick around a little while? ⋆｡
｡⋆ a.n: p.ai.nter fans rise up!! I love this little guy he's the coolest ever
ib by these headcannons AGAIN IK but I can't leave painter now (with perms to use ofc ofc)
｡⋆ additionally: platonic, but you're also sort of enemies, death, mentions of limbs not on the human body?? it isn't really specified but context clues folks, canon typical violence, mild body horror? not proofread, minor cannon divergences. for context, no other expendables come back except for you.
Paper balls and notebooks were majorly common place in the blacksite, and while your teammates in the past tended to pass them by in their hurry for the crystal, you picked up the habit of scooping one up when you could.
For example, the notebook you had now was near full with all the quick depictions of the biologically anomalous, the beautiful lights of the Vultus Luminaria and it's ginormous mouth lined with gnashing teeth, or the cycle of greed that was the Lammelse. Only after several runs had you figured out how to balance survival and actually capturing the creatures down here.
When, or, if you ever got out of here, your heart jolted with excitement at the idea of painting these creatures someday. Maybe that was one of the things keeping you going, the chance of seeing something, anything new, was reason enough not to open the first breathing locker you saw.
Lazily, you trudge through the next few doors in a sleep drunk state, staggering over your own two feet in the dark, bumbling towards what you hoped was a wall so you could feel your way out of the dark.
Your hands find a surface, and in the hazy state you're in, it doesn't fully register that the 'wall' felt like the slick, rubbery skin of a fish, nor did it register the slight give your newfound guide gave.
As quickly as your hands found the surface, it whipped around, white face contorting into a gaping mouth, shrieking and flashing between white and black as it flung you back right onto your butt.
You hated regular squids already. This thing was worse.
Come on, there was smoke! It was bad enough being shrieked at, and now there was smoke!
Now on the floor and groping around in the dark, your hands shift from the concrete ground to metal, and relieved, you turn to face the next room. Maybe it'd be so merciful as to have any sort of light source at all, and hey, maybe you could finally come across something else to draw! You weren't entirely sold on drawing Sebastian, with how mean he was, but muses were getting hard to find...
... Your hand touches something organic, and immediately, you flinch back again. It was lucky enough you evaded getting hurt the previous time, but the squiddles didn't exactly tend to be merciful the second time aroun...
Your eyes squint, and you lean closer, now looking closer at the floor.
Oh.
You slowly look back up at the door, and considering that the number was still that same, standout shade of green in the dark room, and whatever organic matter you didn't want to think about was on the floor right underneath it, you decide to back away slowly, scooching away, then standing up and wearily making your way through the dark room.
Poor soul, at least they made for a good warning.
The next door you come across thankfully opens easily, though, oddly enough, it slides shut right behind you.
Ah. Yep, right on cue, a green light emits from the window on your left, and you hear the bits and bytes of Painter's voice.
"Hey. Hey! Look out the—hey, wait, aren't you dead already?"
Clearing your throat and tilting your hat up to try and find whatever security camera he can see you through, you croak out:
"Have been for a while now."
The face that appears on the number indicator is a crudely drawn rendition of a grimace.
"Cringgeee." The face changes into something a little more thoughtful, although, you miss the change while you rest your head on the wall, waiting out the 15 seconds with both your hands on your head. "I thought you couldn't talk! You didn't when you ignored me, anyway. Rude."
The voice from eyefestation worms its way into your mind, a quiet buzzing compared to the oddly upbeat robots chatter. You stopped considering the voices of your loved ones reason to turn after the first few encounters. Their pleads to take sanctuary in the comforting green, while enticing, fell on deaf ears.
"Sebastian didn't say anything about you guys coming back. Did yooouuu..." Painter's face scrunches up as he hums, "...Fake dead?"
Even the small smile that leaves as quickly as it comes to you hurts your chapped lips.
"Why would I do a thing like that?" You question, pressing your hands further into your head to keep it in place.
"I don't know, you're the criminal mastermind here."
Spoken like the true altruistic computer he was.
You don't get a chance to respond before he interjects.
"I'm serious! Why don't you just stay dead?" Painter says the words with a sharper sort of diction, as if to remind you, you aren't his friend. Although, this doesn't give you much motive to actually answer, so instead you rasp out:
"Hasn't it been 15 seconds already?"
"Just— don't look at the shark, moron..." You hold in a laugh when you peek over in hopes of seeing a timer, only to be met with an irritated frowning face.
"I don't know why I come back, Painter. Will you open the door, now?" You relent.
The voices of your loved ones grow more insistent the longer you resist looking, overlapping each other in a mess of pleads and cries for you to come home, come to the light, relax.
Painter doesn't respond for a moment, before his voice comes out a little quieter, so quiet you almost miss it in the overwhelming cries of safety.
"I'm worried."
A small buzz of hope runs down your spine. Pity? Pity? Finally, someone recognized your predicament, the horror of coming back only to find the rooms have changed, or your body decaying while you live on inside, or—
"I'm...worried that if you keep being a problem, he won't be able to get us out."
Oh.
Well, whatever sympathy you had for him quickly soured, the word selfish taking it's place. Isn't that what everyone down here wanted? Freedom? Why was it that you had to be the one who didn't get desperate for it? It wasn't fair. None of it was, never on your end. You never hurt anyone for it.
Maybe you should. Fair's fair.
Painter notices your face, one eye unobstructed by the shadow cast down by your hat, simmering with absolute resentment, and backtracks.
"S-sorry. It isn't anything personal, I swear, I just..." His miserable face takes a pause. "I just want to paint again."
Oh, you feel like a very evil person for even thinking like that.
It's funny how you both had the same wants for when you got back up to the surface.
Maybe that's why when the door finally slid open, you take a shot in the dark, looking up at the room number, 53.
"Can't you paint now?" You say, tilting your hat down. Once more, his face replaces the number, surprised at the question. This is the most he's ever heard you speak!
"Uh— well, sort of. It's...Not the best it could be. Nothing like what it was." Painter's voice sounds a little more genuine, and having read his file, you don't blame his want for escape.
Maybe it's the guilt you feel at the idea of even thinking he's selfish for his wants, but you continue.
"What did you usually paint, then?" Shifting onto one foot, you look expectantly up at him, and watch a smile pop onto his face.
"Landscapes, mostly!" He chirps, and it's a hesitant minute before he tentatively asks: "If...you want, when you come by my room, I could show you what I've been working on?"
You almost, almost say yes. The hopeful tone and huge smile on his face are doing almost as much as the pleas of your loved ones.
Although, there's always one thing at the forefront of your mind. No matter the situation, there isn't anything down here that scared you more than your oh-so-gracious, mysterious benefactor, Mr. Lopee.
Even in his absence, there's the looming threat of staying put for too long that ended your run in a painful, loud, green flash, his smiling rotten teeth seared into your eyes.
You tilt your hat further, covering them.
"I...Shouldn't. I have an objective to satisfy."
You turn so you don't have to see whatever expression is drawn onto him, but you didn't expect pushback.
"It's not like any other expendables are down here to grab the crystal yet. Bessiiddeesss, what's five minutes?"
His tone is a little smug for someone who just got rejected, so instead, you shake your head.
"Nope, sorry."
"It's not gonna grow legs and run off.."
"As I'm aware."
Painter disappears from the screen with an indignant huff.
"Your loss." He drawls before he's suddenly gone.
It is, indeed, your loss, as you stand alone now, looking up at the number indicator once more. 53.
At least you have an objective in mind now. After being so insistent about getting to that crystal, it'd be pretty embarrassing to flake on it.
Rounding the corner, you groan.
The most horrifying thing here: a puzzle!
Surprisingly, other than a wall dweller, the next 3 doors are a breeze, and reaching Sebastian's vent is pretty easy, albeit, time consuming because of the upsetting amount of time it took to solve that puzzle.
Upon crawling in, you catch the end of his conversation on his walkie talkie.
"Like, who do they think-?!"
"Shh, shh, here they come now."
"Ohhh, hehe."
When you enter, Sebastian clears his throat, pulling his lure and lighting up the small area with a honeyed smile.
"The one who just cannot keep their coffin shut!" He clasps his hands together. "Welcome."
Suspicious of the lack of irritation, you collect some batteries, intending to make this interaction brief. Not that you really had a choice in that regard, anyway.
After you hand over your data and begin leaving, Sebastian calls out.
"Hey, good luck satisfying that objective, yeah? I'm sure this run is the one!"
You hear snickering as you clamor through the vent. What were they, in middle school?
Maybe you should've just taken Painter up on his offer.
Notes: I'll be posting a set of chapters, this is the first of the set! I have multiple almost done but this was getting abnormally long so I split them up, get ready for quicker updates... for no reason at all!
You stretch your back.
Back at your boring office in the Hadal Division. This seemed like the norm, you woke up, you walked to your office, you did paperwork, you snoozed on your desk, you did more paperwork…
Sometimes you’d get visitors, normally it was scientists from the Robotics Division who would come all the way to ask you personally to check your email and agree to go check up their respective machines.
While your job was a lot more different, starting to work with machines almost fully compared to the Hadal Division. It was still a welcome change.
What wasn’t a welcome change however was the odd rivalry that Sebastian and Trips were starting to get.
Since the moment you helped Trips with their weird signal machine thing, they’ve been more conscious about your physical health. Albeit a bit weirdly with their techniques, you still appreciated when they would leave you some things.
However, Sebastian did not like that.
He was the one that gave out food to you!! What was someone else doing that for you!! Ugh!! The audacity!!
You saw him tweak the first time that he saw something that Trips left for you which made him…
“Rise and grind, doc’!” Sebastian walked in your office with a bag, quickly putting it on your desk as he started getting out the contents. “Got you some stuff~”
… quite competitive.
In his eyes, Trips was a “fugly, white coated, chess obsessed FREAK”. You have no idea where the last point even came from but perhaps Sebastian just knew something you didn’t know about your own boss as last time you checked, you’ve never seen them play chess… ever.
Sebastian started, because of this whole ordeal, getting you too many things, you have no idea where he gets half of them.
Is that a blacklight? In what world would you need a blacklight?!
“Pretty cool, right?” Sebastian grinned as he settled the light down on your desk before slithering to look over your shoulder. “Whatcha doin’…”
Sebastian dragged the “o” as if he was a child, tilting his head as you tried to avoid his anglerfish light that was clearly shining in your eyes.
“Just some paperwork… as always.”
You slumped, this was the norm, this feels like your everyday life forever.
“Well… the day is really early but they can’t really stop us if we want to see a certain someone…” Sebastian puckered his lips as you looked over at him.
“We shouldn’t…”
“Oh, come on, you’re the best thing that machine has ever seen, those scientists that take care of the guy can’t say no.” Sebastian let out a wolfish grin. “‘Sides, the body is officially a project endorsed by the Robotics Division’s head, they can’t say no cause they don’t have the balls to go tell their own boss.”
You sighed, Sebastian… had a point.
As the body was done as a project with the Robotics’ head (even if they did nothing really with it), the body is officially currently as important as the crypto mining as Painter is not the only crypto miner in Urbanshade. They will not even realize the temporary short stop as it is bypassed by the authority of your boss. You’re not exactly sure of the technicalities but why should you care when everything is going according to plan?
“Okay… fine.” You got up, Sebastian could convince you instantly with practically anything. You have no idea who gave him the right to do that but here you are listening to him at the drop of his finger.
While you haven’t had much time to be able to hang out long with Painter as you had neglected quite a bit of your duties to make the body, the little time you did have was incredibly useful.
You would spend time slowly teaching Painter how to move his newfound body, and while he was still connected to a power source currently (you’re still waiting for your boss to have time to help remove Painter from the wall and move independantly) Painter has been able to move slowly but surely.
Normally, you don’t do much physical therapy as that is not your job, but in the case of Painter, you started doing so.
Bringing in a box of items, some soft, some hard, some small, some large, etcetera etcetera for Painter to start learning how to hold things.
While Sebastian was a bit questionable with his choice of items that he started bringing you in the morning like a crow seeing something shiny, some of them were useful that you know would be interesting to make Painter hold.
And that blacklight that you judged earlier might just be one of the things you’ll bring with you.
“You know, it’s hard to come by some of these things.” Sebastian started with a shrug, holding the box of trinkets as he motioned at the door of your office. “After you.”
He teased as he bowed slightly, making you groan at his antics before leaving your office. Sebastian followed soon after, whistling a tune that only he recognized.
“You know, I was thinking…” Sebastian started, “I always found it really interesting that they just let you stay with a lot of the documents after you’re done working with these.”
You looked over at him in question,
“Where’s this coming from?”
“I mean… you got the early Z documents you know?” He shrugged. “We have no idea which one is Z-1 BUT we do know which one is Z-2… which is very funny because I know that you did have a time where you had to stare at it but like…”
He bent down next to you.
“Doesn’t it make it easier to just steal it..?” Sebastian looked to the side, lifting an eyebrow as he went back up. “Food for thought…”
“No.” You said plainly. “Even if you wanted to, they told me it isn’t safe to touch.”
“Bummer.” Sebastian said before continuing. “Okay, so we know Z-3… and 4… and 5… 6, 7… oh yeah, you’re missing 8. Then 9…”
He laughed after mentioning the eighth document making you look over at him in question as he then mentioned 13 being himself.
“What was with the laugh after eight?”
Sebastian slowly turned over at you with a shit eating grin.
“I know something you don’t~” He said in a sing-song voice as he started to laugh hysterically, trying his hardest to keep the box of items in his arms stable as he did so.
“What!?”
“I know the identity and you don’t!” He only laughed harder, earning a painfully confused look from you. Why was this a huge victory for him? Why was he laughing about it? He didn’t laugh about you not knowing Z-1, or the other Z numbers that you missed. “Pros of being one of the experiments I guess.”
Sebastian puckered his lips before letting out another snarky grin.
But before you could press on Sebastian any longer of why he was actively openly mocking you in front of everyone, you instead got approached by one of the many scientists that made Sebastian actively tweak.
“I see you're out in the Hadal Division for once, dearest behavioural scientist.”
Trips made themselves known as Sebastian let out an audible “ugh” at the sight of them. Trips, however, paid no mind as they approached your other side, hand reaching for your shoulder in a sort of camaraderie that they held for you that somehow you’re starting to feel your slowly returning.
Slowly.
Their closeness is rubbing off you and you’re not sure how much you like it.
While Trips looked at you with a genuine smile, Sebastian had a strained one, his expression morphing into one as if he was trying not to laugh. It gave you flashes to one of the things he’s shown you on the phone… or maybe you're just too brainrotted because of him now.
“I was actually making my way to you, I wanted to-”
“We’re actually really busy right now…” Sebastian interjected, faux innocence in his voice as he put a hand on your other shoulder. “Tight schedule and all… hope you don’t mind…”
Trips slowly looked over at Sebastian, the previous gentler expression turning into one with a dangerous gleam.
You could practically feel the lightning passing between them.
“Okay okay… you two um…” You gulped nervously. “Trips do you mind if I visit your office later? Sebastian’s right and I am taking part of my break just to transfer things…”
What were you doing? That was your BOSS.
Perhaps passing so much time with Sebastian has made you a lot more shameless.
Or maybe the closeness that Trips tried to have with you made your walls fall down making you accidentally act a lot more casual knowing full well that was your boss.
Trips looked over at you, sighing as you could clearly see the disappointment in their body language as they let you go, taking a step back.
“Very well, I’ll be there between five and six, not before or later as I have practical work to do.”
You felt terrible, it was as if you were taking advantage of them and it made you feel bad as they were your boss and you knew you were treading on treacherous waters.
Trips had a short fuse, you were still on their good side… for now. And you know you shouldn’t be pushing their good side knowing that they could completely switch up on you at any time.
Sebastian pushed you slightly, urging you to keep walking.
“We’re gonna go then.”
You looked over at Trips who looked a bit awkward. It was odd to see them as so, almost a bit worried and nervous before they tensed up once again, sporting their usual neutral expression.
“Do not disappoint me.” Their voice was colder before they walked away.
“Talk about time hogging.” Sebastian grumbled to himself.
“They’re my boss, Sebastian.”
“Yeah, but your old boss didn’t do that.”
“The price to pay for Painter’s body.” You shrugged, yet you couldn’t blame Sebastian to react that way. Even if Trips was helpful with the whole body situation, Sebastian was always cold with every scientist that came across him. You were just the exception as you wiggled your way into his cold, cold heart.
Sebastian stayed quiet for a while, before chuckling to himself.
“What’re you gonna do without me, hm?” He turns to you, his free hand going to your shoulder. “... You’ll just be chatting away, never doing your work or something.”
You didn’t miss how he seemed to carefully select his words yet continued moving forward. How his eyes seemed to be almost a bit distant that he tries to hide even if it’s barely visible.
Sebastian’s been acting weirdly recently, even before working on Painter’s body you’ve noticed the change of his demeanour. The way he seemed more lost in his own mind, how he seemed to flinch at almost anything. He’s gotten meaner, crueler, but nothing could push you from him and you hope he comes to realize that.
“I don’t need to consider that.” You said quietly, watching him tilt his head slightly in your direction, ears twitching slightly, listening. “Why would I consider my assistant gone when he’s been working with me for years?”
Sebastian looked at you fully, expression unreadable before he let out a small smile.
“... yeah. Yeah, I guess I’m stuck with you, huh?”
“You are.” You said matter-of-factly. Huffing out as the two of you made your way to Heavy Containment.
“Hey doc’?” After a while of silence, near Painter, Sebastian spoke once again. “I know you’re busy and all but think you have like an hour or two you can spare?”
“Why?”
Sebastian stayed silent before he put a hand on your head, pushing you down as he leaned down.
“Just wanna spend time with my fav person here.” He grinned, giggling to himself. “Without obligation, just you and I.”
It’s true that it’s been awhile since you’ve spent time with just Sebastian without work involved. While you two would interact a lot thanks to him helping you around paperwork, a lot of the times you were too busy trying to write down these things while he organized your drawers.
The two of you interacted a lot, he still told you a lot of random facts and things that he sees on your phone that definitely count as brainrot but even then it was only for a short while as the two of you were busy. It’s been awhile since the two of you actually interacted as friends for a long time.
“There’s something I want to show you.” Sebastian straightened up, chuckling. “... Thought of you when I came across it.”
“I’d love to.” You smiled up at him, even if you didn’t have the time, you’d rather make time for him.
He was your best friend in this hell hole, and you wanted to spend time with him.
“Okay so, let me know after… six, I GUESS.” Sebastian rolled his eyes. “But before ten, obviously.”
“Baby curfew…”
“DUDE.” You snickered at Sebastian as he groaned. “Born to stay up late in the morning, forced to have a decent sleep schedule…”
Sebastian started making fake crying noises as the two of you finally reached Painter’s room.
At the sight of you, some of the scientists in the room started to pack to move rooms. It wasn’t that they had to leave, but unlike the Robotics division, the scientists in this division were too tired to care and as the researchers that worked with Painter who practically did nothing would see you, they would simply take a not-Urbanshade assigned break.
It wasn’t allowed or anything, and they definitely shouldn’t be doing it. But you weren’t going to say anything as you know you would have done the same if you were forced to look at a machine the whole day and do nothing but stay at your other machine knowing you could be anywhere else.
Which is true, you are the same, you’re doing it right now.
Either way, it was better for you as that meant you had Painter mostly to yourself as the scientists just looked at their own computers practically snoozing seated.
Everyday you are grateful that Sebastian was so extremely annoying that Urbanshade just gave you your own office instead of fighting you on Sebastian’s presence.
One day you want to know which higher up allowed it to happen, because it was incredibly funny knowing that you have your own office just because Sebastian was too big and kept moving every desk (on purpose!) with his tail because he wanted to be annoying.
You smiled at yourself as you opened the door to Painter’s room. The computer noticed you immediately as it minimized all its tabs.
“Hey!” Painter greeted immediately, face beaming and screen brightening at the sight of the two of you. Sebastian waved as he set the box of trinkets and things down on the table only to walk out to go grab Painter’s body hidden in one of the crates inside the room. “How are you?”
“Good.” You did your usual greeting of kissing the corner of the screen, earning a cute giggle from the computer. “How are you?”
“So much better now that you’re here!” Painter grinned, only for faint pink circles appeared under his cheeks as he looked bashful. “As always…”
“You two gross me out.” Sebastian interrupted your moment, as always.
“You’re just mad that-”
“Shut up.’ Sebastian pointed at you with a huff as he made Painter’s body stand, going down to plug the body to the wall. “We really have to see how we can make this body independent…”
“That’s true…” You mused, you really have to ask your boss about it. Didn’t they offer to come back at a future date just for that? “Either way, hope you’re ready for another training period, Painter.”
“I was born ready!” Sebastian picked up Painter, setting down the monitor on top of the body, holding the extra parts of Painter as he slotted it on his chest. Disconnecting the drawing tablet as the side piece he carefully moved the wires to the rest of the body. Painter’s body might be a bit of a mess of wires currently, but if it worked, then it didn’t matter much now did it?
“Connected?” You asked as you got up, going up to Painter as you tilted your head. Painter nodded slightly. “Alright, to the typical tests of testing your arms and legs.”
“Understood!” The computer said in determination, raising his left arm first, then his right. Since you’ve gotten the body for Painter, it has managed to move faster than before. While the coordination is still not fully done, it was an extremely fast improvement from the original movement that he had.
Painter stretched out his arms, rotating his wrists. Clenching his fists before relaxing once again. He still struggled moving his fingers independently which is exactly why you have your box of trinkets.
Now legs, Painter lifted one leg, slowly. Sebastian stood beside it on standby. The last time Painter tried to move his legs, he nearly fell over and it made Sebastian panic in ways you didn’t think was possible.
While it took him a while, Painter managed to lift one leg up and put it back down just as slowly. Then he did it once again with the other, looking down in concentration as he focused on moving his legs.
As Painter finished, it looked up at you. Almost as if waiting for your approval.
You grinned, clapping your hands only to not be able to resist to come up and give him a hug.
“You did it!”
Painter tilted his head to look at you, wrapping his arms hesitantly around you, not wanting to crush you.
“I did!”
You kissed him on his mouth, earning an obvious reaction from how loud his fans started to go. Painter giggled, pressing its monitor up to your face as close as it could as it lowered the brightness of the screen. Painter was always conscious when you were close, lowering the brightness of its screen to make sure your eyes don’t get as hurt as they could be by how bright his screen can get.
“Alright…” You reluctantly let go of Painter, earning a small sound of disapproval from his speakers as you did some steps back. Stepping right next to your lovely box. “Next, we’ll try to work on your grip, think you can walk on your own here?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Painter looked over at Sebastian still beside it.
Sebastian nodded, one of his arms lightly lifted behind Painter. Not touching the robot but still there in case he needed it.
“Just take the leap, buddy.” Sebastian encouraged. “I’m right here in case you fall.”
Painter nodded in determination, looking down at his feet as he moved one leg forward. Hesitation took over the computer, his screen flickering into a face of worry as his hands moved up to grasp at something.
You saw Sebastian out of instinct come closer, but seeing Painter still standing, he let the latter go without assistance. You tried to not let the anxiety on your face show as you opened your arms for Painter, hoping to give the computer more motivation.
“Painter,” you called out to him, “look at me, don’t look down.”
Painter complied immediately, looking up at you as it took another step forward. In instinct, he looked down, but seemingly remembering your words, he looked back up.
Then he took another step.
And another.
And soon, it was finally right in front of you.
Painter beamed as it wrapped its arms around you, trying its best to not wrap too hard as it bumped its screen against you, Painter’s way of showing you affection.
“I managed to walk to you!” Painter said with a cheer, blue circles coming at the corner of his eyes. “I managed to actually walk!”
“You’re getting so much better!” You matched his cheer, nuzzling at his screen earning a light giggle from the computer.
“All thanks to my awesome partner.” Painter admitted, moving its hands to your lower back and squeezing lightly.
“Aren’t you sweet…” You replied with. “Give yourself some credit!”
“I already am, I just gotta compliment you while I’m at it.”
“Oh you!”
Sebastian watched your exchange, eyes darting between the two of you. Even if he liked joking that the two of you were disgusting, he couldn’t help but smile at the idea of you finding love.
He couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, when he thought of you and love, never in a million years would he have thought you would have fallen for a sentient computer that loved you back genuinely. This wasn’t one of those fake AIs that were popular nowadays that he’s seen on the internet. A real, genuine AI, that loved you with his whole mechanical heart.
It was silly for him, of course the scientist who saw all the subjects as people and treated them differently wouldn’t fall in love with someone normal. It was just in your nature to see things differently.
It was endearing, he can’t even blame Painter for falling head over heels for someone like you.
“Alright you two.” Sebastian patted the shoulder on the both of you. “If I let you indulge in each other you’re probably going to be slobbering all over Painter’s screen and I know he’s probably freaky enough to enjoy it.”
You couldn’t help but laugh, Sebastian said it in a lighthearted manner, a joke to try to split you off. But alas, both you and Sebastian could clearly see the gears turning in Painter’s mind as it considered the situation that Sebastian pictured.
“No bud’, especially not in front of me.” Sebastian lifted both of his hands, palms facing the both of you in a pushing motion as he closed his eyes. “We got some testing to do and the doc’ over here is on a tight schedule, aren’t ya?”
You nodded defeatedly, knowing of the work you so clearly ignored and procrastinated as well as the meeting you had to go later in the day.
“Aww…” Painter reluctantly let you go, taking some steps back as he looked at the box. It seems he’s starting to become slightly more confident with his walk. “But expected, I really gotta start working harder on the Roblux Mining, maybe they’ll actually give me the free day they promised and we can spend more time together!”
You glanced over at Sebastian as he did the same to you. It was clearly just a stunt that Urbanshade did to make the computer work harder. But even after this whole time you didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth.
“That requires me to also have a free day, I’m afraid…” You scratched the back of your neck, Urbanshade didn’t exactly give free days easily. While you worked daily and it was definitely breaking some sort of worker law, the pay was too handsome to complain unfortunately.
“We can try to align it…” Painter suggested. “Maybe even align it with Sebastian! And then we can all spend the whole day together or something! That sounds so fun!”
Sebastian chuckled, putting an arm around the computer.
“Sounds nice, maybe we might one day yeah.” He nodded. “But right now, let’s focus on the task at hand.”
“Aye aye, captain!” Painter did a salute, arm still trying to calculate the actual position to put it properly keeping its monitor as a head.
Sebastian patted Painter’s shoulder before straightening up and nodding over at you.
Motioning for Painter to look at the desk, you put down a couple of items.
Hardest to most fragile.
Painter went through them slowly, you could see how it clearly stressed it out. But hearing your words of encouragement, he continued on.
When he knew they were clearly your personal belongings and not something that you picked up from around Urbanshade, you noticed just how much gentler and more careful he was.
Earlier, you left as one of the items your personal notebook.
“Is this?”
“My notebook? Yeah.” You shook the book slightly, before putting it back in the row of items. “The same one that I wrote all the information about you early on among other subjects.”
Painter looked over at the book, then at you. Hands extremely careful as he used his other to push it on his hand. Painter seemed so deadly afraid of ruining the book as he lifted it up, tears prickling in his eyes as he looked over at you.
“You can put it back down if you want…”
Yet Painter hesitated, looking at the booklet, opening it slightly before closing it again.
“This is your own notebook, I can’t believe I’m holding it…”
Its concentration however gave you an idea.
“Think you can turn to page 27 of it?”
Painter looked over at you,
“Are you sure?”
You nodded, putting a hand on the table, leaning over it.
“Take it as a test.”
Painter did as he was told, turning page by page, he was so careful with it. He seemed so afraid to break the pages as he turned over to page 27.
Opening the notebook fully as he read.
“I didn’t ask you to read it.”
“O-Oh! Sorry!”
Painter frantically closed the notebook apologetically, face turning read in embarrassment.
“I’m joking.” You replied, completely forgetting how serious Painter was at respecting your boundary compared to a certain fish in the same room who liked pushing them. “Did you read it?”
The computer looked over at you, hesitating slightly before flipping the pages back to 27.
“It’s… about me…”
You nodded, smiling as you came closer just to point at some passages.
“It’s what I thought about you earlier on, if you’re ever curious, I can let you borrow these so you can read them.”
“I’d love to!” Painter exclaimed, closing the notebook once again before continuing on with the other objects.
It was as if Painter was graduating from each and every object. He was getting better and more dexterous with his fingers.
Painter was being tested on how well he could move his fingers as well as how much his grip was.
So far, it didn’t break any of the objects, but rather managed to hold them well enough. He even managed to hold a pen in his hands and albeit slowly, managed to move the pen between his fingers.
It wasn’t easy for him and the hours would pass quickly as you and Sebastian carefully looked over at Painter trying his best.
“Alright, last two items.” You motioned at the items on the desk, one was the blacklight that Sebastian oh-so-generously got for you and the last one was just some eggs you got from the community kitchen that you’re sure Urbanshade wouldn’t miss.
“Be careful with that light, those are really rare.” Sebastian admitted. “Not like I know if it works. I tried to turn it on and it sounds like it works but I saw no light.”
“Maybe it’s out of batteries.” You shrugged, looking at the light. “Who knows, just try to grab it Painter.”
Painter looked over at the two of you with a nod, taking in a deep breath as it went in to grab the light.
…
Only for it to crack immediately in his hand.
Painter froze, an immediate look of horror and panic landed on its face.
You heard Sebastian take a deep breath, looking over at him who had his eyes closed.
Painter also looked at Sebastian, a completely apologetic expression on his monitor.
“I… I didn’t think…” Painter muttered. “I thought since it looked like plastic it would be sturdier…”
Sebastian took another deep inhale, opening his eyes as he put a hand on the computer.
“It’s okay.” It was definitely not okay, Sebastian seemed to have multiple inner battles he was fighting because of this. But you knew he at least suspected it could happen by the way he willingly gave it up for Painter knowing your previous experiments with Painter resulted in the computer destroying many items with his bare hands.
“I didn’t know…” Painter seemed to tear up at it, putting down the now destroyed light.
“No, no it’s okay, really.” Sebastian tried to put on a strong smile. “You are learning, I already expected you to destroy it. ‘Sides, I don’t think it even worked, I was expecting to need to repair it at one point.”
“Are you sure..?”
“Yeah, of course.” Sebastian patted Painter on the head. “Come on, you can try again, there’s the rest of the light to destroy.”
Sebastian winked but Painter did not seem to see it in a lighthearted manner, heart seemingly sinking from ruining one of the items.
“Don’t beat yourself up for this.” You finally said, putting a hand on the side of Painter’s monitor as it looked over at you apologetically. “You’ve already improved so much since the last time, this is already so much better than before, you only destroyed this one compared to the countless items of last time.”
“But I still destroyed…” Painter said quietly, speakers crackling slightly. “I don’t want to destroy, all I want is to create.”
“You are, this is just the first step to it.” You reassured the computer. “You’re so close, with just a bit more practice you’ll be able to not destroy.”
You put your hands up for Painter to grab, he did so immediately.
“You won’t hurt anyone, after this you’ll be able to create, I promise.”
Painter nodded slightly, determined as he let go of your hand. Looking back at the blacklight as he picked it up again.
This time, careful enough to not break the light more. He moved it around his hands, playing around with the device, pressing the now broken buttons as if testing the waters before putting the device back down.
“Now it’s the last item.” Painter said as he looked down at the set of eggs you brought.
“The most fragile,” you confirmed, “be careful.”
Painter looked at you for a second before going back to the eggs. Determined once again as his hand hovered on top of them.
Taking a small break of what you can only assume to be something similar to taking a deep breath as it finally wrapped its fingers around one of the eggs.
Both you and Sebastian seemed to look in anticipation as Painter slowly lifted up the egg from the set that you picked up.
You let out a breath you didn’t even realize you were holding as you let out a cheer. Painter matched your energy only to accidentally let go of the egg before frantically trying to grab it once again.
“Looks like you passed all the tests, buddy.” Sebastian leaned down. “Careful with that egg though.”
Painter frantically put the egg back down, putting his hands together in a clapping motion.
“Really?”
“Looks like it!” You replied with a grin, putting your hands in a clapping motion.
Only for Painter to move a finger to the corner of his screen, tapping it expectantly. You playfully rolled your eyes as you went to kiss the corner of his screen, earning a giggle from the computer.
You stayed close to him for a bit before looking over at your watch.
4:35.
“While I would love to stay and hopefully test more of your walking capabilities, I gotta go.”
“Aww…” Painter let out a defeated sigh. “You did say you were on a tight schedule… that’s too bad.”
Sebastian shrugged.
“Don’t worry, I’ll stay with Painter til’ our meeting time doc’.” He grinned. “Gonna gossip so hard, and show him all the brainrot without you.”
“Please don’t mess Painter up, Sebastian. Or I’ll make sure to warn my co-workers of you stealing their stuff.” You warned.
Sebastian gasped.
“You wouldn’t.” He said as his own warning.
“I would.” You definitely wouldn’t.
Your lovely frustrating assistant put a hand on his chest as if he was hurt before shooing you away.
“I won’t miss you.”
“I will.” Painter interlocked his fingers together. While Sebastian liked to mess with you especially with his tough love, Painter couldn’t help but inject some of his innocent love in the situation.
You couldn’t help but completely melt at how its words sounded to how its position was. Painter was so cute you just wanted to kiss all over his screen.
But you unfortunately had to go lest you make your boss wait which wasn’t a good thing.
“I’ll miss you too Painter, see you soon!”
You waved off the two of them, walking outside the enclosure as you walked at the door to leave the room. Turning back to blow a kiss over as Painter only for him to pretend to catch it and press it on his chest with a bashful expression.
Oh, he was just so cute!
Before you told yourself to stay any longer in the room, you turned back to leave the room.
Trips acted a bit weirdly earlier, and it made you wonder just what they wanted to talk to you about.
As you took the tram to the Robotics Division, you couldn’t ignore the sudden sinking feeling that took hold of you. Your boss was always more lighthearted with you, especially when bringing things up. The only times they were colder were when they were frustrated because you couldn’t connect a wire and they would be upset at everyone for the whole rest of the day.
They held grudges but it didn’t seem like their coldness was because of how Sebastian was acting towards them.
It made you wonder just how serious the conversation could be with them.
The Robotics Division was as loud as it always was. You walked past all the workshops that had people working in them. You heard cheers coming from some of the rooms, likely from scientists having their code finally work.
But as you got closer and closer to your boss’ office, it seemed to get quieter. As if this area was frozen in time. But such is the atmosphere that surrounded their office. While the division seemed to be more close and happier, the reputation that surrounded the head made a certain atmosphere follow them.
In a way, Trips acted just like the rest of the division. But because they were the genius head of the division, everyone was more intimidated and preferred to have a business relationship with them which made you wonder just how Trips felt about that disconnect.
Finally, you stood in front of the door, hand hovering to knock on the door only for it to open for you.
You took a deep breath, trying to calm your nerves as you walked into the office.
It was eerily quiet.
Trips’ office was always clean, pristine and quiet. Different from the rest of the division.
The scientist themselves stood at their window. Being a higher up earned them to have one of those big windows that showed part of the Let-Vand Zone with the artificial lights making the normally pitched black area more visible.
Screens surrounded them like a hologram yet you could tell they weren’t focused on them judging with how they weren’t moving and only stared over at the window. The light of the room dimmer than usual as they looked outside.
“How are you feeling?” Trips’ voice suddenly cut through the silence like a knife, the screens around them disappearing as they turned in your direction. “Come beside me.”
You listened, stepping beside them as they looked back at the ocean.
In Urbanshade’s control, there was no sign of any of the wildlife you’re sure it used to have. Yet knowing that Pandemonium was first found in the same zone you’re currently in, maybe it’s for the better.
“I…” Trips started before letting out a sigh. “Perhaps I shouldn’t do small talk and simply get to the point, hm?”
You looked over at Trips who looked at you carefully. Walking away from the window as they went to instead sit down at their desk. Crossing their fingers together as they looked to the side.
“You’ll get a notice soon, but I thought I would tell you directly so you may know of this information as soon as possible.” Trips looked back at you slowly, motioning at one of the many chairs around their office. “Make yourself comfortable, my dearest scientist.”
You looked over at Trips in question before slowly walking to one of the chairs around the office, stiffly sitting in one of them.
“I was allowed to bring you to the Robotics Division as the other higher ups have been seeing less… use of you in the Hadal Division.” They explained calmly. “While your work with Z-317 and Z-779 have been showing incredible improvements in both of them, they are the only noteworthy ones according to the higher ups. I read your document before, after all.”
You could feel yourself frown. What were they talking about?
It couldn’t be that Urbanshade only saw positive improvement in two of the multiple subjects you worked on! Knowing Trips, they probably have noticed the strain on your face at the mention. Your hard work was not for naught.
“As our only Behavioural Scientist, Urbanshade didn’t want to throw you away just yet. You were originally considered for the Bioparanormal or the Hazard and Ethics Division funnily enough.” They said that yet didn’t have any humour on their face. “However, at your request for something in the Robotics Division, I instead managed to intercept and get you in a division you were previously not considered in.”
“Why are you telling me this?” You couldn’t hold back the question, where was Trips going with this?
“Urbanshade doesn’t want you to work in or with the Hadal Division anymore.” Trips said plainly, leaning their elbows against their elbow. “That includes Z-779 and… Z-13.”
Your eyes widened at the information, mouth opening and closing at the knowledge.
“... What?”
Trips only nodded.
“By transferring division, which would have been done anyways, you would need to cut complete ties. Such is how Urbanshade works, we don’t work between divisions.”
“But I need to still work on the ones I’m currently working with, they explicitly need my help!” You got up from the chair, taking a step closer to the desk as Trips stared at you. “Eyefestation is getting better, less violent as we were trying to do, listening to others. Painter is getting more efficient by the day, just like Urbanshade wants him to be! And-”
Before you could continue, Trips raised their hand, wordlessly telling you to stop.
“You humanize the subjects too much.” Trips let out a bittersweet smile, voice quiet as they spoke slowly, as if the words felt foreign in their mouth. “I admire it, it was precisely the reason why I wanted you here in the first place. But this… this isn’t allowed in Urbanshade.”
“What do you mean it’s not allowed, this is my whole job!”
“Ironic, isn’t it?”
You deflated immediately, slumping back down in the chair. You knew better than to fight it, already in the years of working with Urbanshade, you had to fight tooth and nail for the privileges you had managed to get. And even then, they were cruel and…
“What about Sebastian?” You look up at Trips. “He’s my personal assistant, you know.”
“They are working on getting you a new one.” Trips looked away as they said it. “As for your office, I have already found a room you can reside in so as to not make your transfer harder.”
“No, what will happen to him.”
“It’s confidential-”
“What will happen to him!”
Your eyes darted on Trips’ face, as if trying to figure out what was happening in the inner machinations of their mind. As if watching their expression would tell the truth, that maybe you would be able to find out why this was happening.
Since the day that Sebastian overheard something about his transfer. You needed to know what was happening and you wanted to know from someone who actually knew more of it.
You couldn’t stand staying in the dark knowing that Sebastian was holding back information that he heard that he’s too afraid to tell you.
You couldn’t stand the idea that people knew of him and refused to tell you anything when he was your responsibility.
Sebastian was your assistant, but most importantly he was your friend, your best friend.
You can’t simply wait and sit back and let it happen.
“... I apologize...” Trips said apologetically.
“I know.” You sighed, leaning on the table as you covered your face with your hands. “I know you can’t say anything.”
Trips called out your name, quietly, gently, perhaps the only time you’ve heard them call out your name. The higher ups had a habit of always referring to anyone by their title to keep a distance yet here they were, their hand moving close to you only to hesitate and go back to their side.
“This isn’t the end, I’m sure we can figure something out.”
“Like what?” Your voice cracked as you looked up at them. You knew you had to be strong, you can’t show weakness, not here, not in Urbanshade.
“Give me your hand.” Trips said quietly, palm up. It seemed their previous reluctance disappeared as they offered their hand. Almost as if they threw an offer to bring you back to shore, to bring you back from the treacherous waters that started in your mind.
On one hand, you were never sure of Trips closeness. They were your boss and nothing could change how uncomfortable they could make anyone. Yet as you stared down at their hand, you hesitantly put your hand in theirs.
They slowly got up, bringing you up with them as they walked around their desk to pull you back at their window. Hand letting go of yours before landing on your shoulder. The familiar closeness that they would give to you seeped through even as you jolted by the sudden touch.
“Urbanshade wants to separate you, they don’t value closeness, connection. Believe me, my dear.” Trips looked at you closely, eyes darting over your face as they sighed. “But this isn’t the end. They might want that but it… it won’t happen. You’ll… you’ll see each other again.”
“Don’t give me false hope.” You looked over at them with a bittersweet smile. “I know you’re trying to be… a friend… I guess but just…”
“I’m a terrible friend, I know.” Trips chuckled breathlessly, their voice a whisper as they rubbed your shoulder slightly before letting you go and looking out the window.
It was quiet once again as you looked over outside.
“They won’t let you say goodbye.” Trips admitted before looking back at you. “But I promise I’ll facilitate a proper farewell when the time comes.”
You wrapped your arms around your body, taking in a deep breath as you looked back at them. You could easily read between the lines of what Trips was talking about. Your mind went through every possible option of what could happen.
You didn’t want to assume the worst. But it was so hard when you were in a place such as Urbanshade.
“... You’re dismissed.” Trips finally said, pushing their glasses up as they looked back at the Let-Vand Zone. “Take the rest of the night off, think about it.”
You didn’t know what else to say as you simply nodded, turning around and walking out of their office.
But before you left, you heard them speak once again.
“Enjoy the time you have left with him.” Trips said just barely loud enough for you to hear. “I’ll leave my office open for you if you wish to come back, looking over here calms me down. You’re free to use anything in this room.”
“... thanks.” You manage to mutter out, albeit a bit croaked from the effort of trying to hold back your sudden emotions.
It was mindless, your feet just walking back to your office.
You almost couldn’t remember how you got back here, it was automatic as you sat back down on your chair.
The paperwork that you had earlier in the day staring at you, mocking you.
You stared around your office, customized to hell and back from all the years you stayed in the Hadal Division.
Scratch marks on your desk and drawers from Sebastian accidentally pushing his claws too harshly on them.
You laughed at the memory, the amount of times he would scratch or bump something for it to fall over, he would look at you like a kid with their hand in the cookie jar. Apologetic as he would try to pretend nothing happened.
The Handy Man wasn’t quite handy when it came to things he didn’t consciously think of being careful with. Which made some of your office have random dents and scratches everywhere.
Taking a deep breath, you scrambled through your desk, pushing things aside as you pulled out a picture frame.
You didn’t keep it hidden because you didn’t want Sebastian to see it, but mostly because you were scared Urbanshade might have a say against it.
Just one of the many pictures you have of Sebastian and you.
Normally, you preferred using a polaroid, making it possible to have printed pictures immediately knowing that Urbanshade would never let you print them.
Urbanshade didn’t value connection.
They pushed against it.
You could feel yourself get tense as you looked at the picture.
It was your favourite of you and Sebastian, he was there clear. It wasn’t done with a Polaroid camera, but instead was with your phone that you later printed during one of your vacations. You wanted to have a picture where Sebastian’s eyes were open after all.
It was funny how he completely engulfed the scene, the picture was done in your office to make sure that you could have a picture with him with no fear. Everywhere in the picture, Sebastian was scene, his tail covering the floor completely.
In the moment, he had lifted you up as you took the picture as a selfie. His grin charming and genuine as one of his hands made the typical going behind your head to give you ears to “ruin” the picture.
On your phone you had the aftermath which was a very blurred picture of Sebastian playfully almost dropping you and your face of pure betrayal towards his shit eating grin.
It was taken a year ago now and you couldn’t help but smile even as tears dropped down to the picture frame.
Your connection with Sebastian was real. It was valuable. It was something Urbanshade would never understand.
The same way they would never value Sebastian as a person.
You took a deep, shaky breath as you pressed your thumb against the Sebastian in the picture.
You're not quite sure what you're going to do once he’s gone.
“They were keeping me HOSTAGE. Can you believe that?!” Sebastian, the real physical version of him, walked into your office, groaning at the sheer idea of doing much work. But then he stopped, noticing your sudden state. You only managed to put back the picture frame to where it was with shaky hands as he got to your side. “Hey, hey what's wrong?”
Even if Sebastian was slightly mean, he was never going to be that way when it came to your clear emotions.
He sunk down to the ground, lowering himself to just be right under your eye level which you knew was hard for him, especially knowing that you're seated. All previous thoughts or things on his mind were not important anymore, his eyes completely focused on you.
“Did something happen? Don’t tell me your boss told you something that made you cry, do I gotta beat a certain someone up?” Sebastian flashed a grin as he lifted his hand to showcase his sharp claws before sobering up, expression morphing into one of worry once more. “Seriously, what’s up?”
You shook your head as he kept his hands to himself, watching you carefully as you sniffled.
He stayed quiet, looking at your body language carefully.
Your focus got interrupted as you noticed the light dimming. Your office had it that it would dim between light levels instead of fully turning off as you saw that Sebastian hit the light switch with his tail.
Before you could even question what he was doing, he laid his head on your lap, crossing his arms as he pillowed his head with them. Closing his eyes in relaxation.
“You can touch me.” He said plainly, simply. The light of his esca was dim, yet was now the only light in the room. You felt tears prickle in your eyes as you looked down at him, there was nothing but him in the room. The world didn’t exist, it was just him, and the light that guided you.
Sebastian didn’t like touch, he hated it, he hated the idea of anyone even considering the idea of touching him. Yet here he was, openly offering as if it didn’t bother him in the slightest.
Your hands hesitantly reached for him, one of your hands tangling in the side of his bangs. The back of your fingers skimmed his cool skin before separating once again to play with the strands of his hair.
He kept his eyes closed as you sniffled, still playing with his hair. Sebastian’s neck gills opened and closed slowly, matching his breathing as he stayed barely moving on your lap.
You could tell he wasn’t putting much of his weight on you, he was making an effort to only put a bit. Simply the idea of his care made more tears fall from your cheeks.
Sebastian opened one of his eyes, glancing up at you lazily.
“Wanna talk about it?” You considered his offer before shaking your head slowly. He hummed in acknowledgment, leaning back down as he closed his eyes again. “That’s okay.”
His voice was gravely, quiet, yet he made an effort to stay as still as he could.
The more you played with his hair, the more you felt your chest stagger at the thought of him. From the moment that Sebastian overheard his transfer to how Trips worded your own, it was all crashing down. The reality of the situation.
The reality that he will be gone.
You couldn’t handle it as your breath came in short gasps, simply seeing him in front of you, trying so hard to calm you down just made your heart crack.
Nothing in your whole time in Urbanshade has hurt as much as this moment.
It was almost as if Urbanshade wanted to specifically mess you over.
To make you crack.
You hoped that maybe if you just worked harder, what Sebastian overheard would be revoked. That maybe you could change his fate.
Maybe you developed some sort of saviour complex doing this sort of job. But you really thought that you were changing things.
After the talk with Trips with how your work was practically not on par with what they wanted and wanted you to transfer divisions anyways it made you wonder if your work was even worth it.
If you were even fixing anything.
If you were even helping anyone.
If you were-
“Hey, look at me.” Your thoughts were interrupted as you noticed that Sebastian lifted himself up, his expression was of complete worry as his hand was on your face, the back of his index finger wiping one of your tears. You didn’t notice how many tears started to flow. “Stay with me, focus on me.”
You tried to focus on his attempt of grounding you, you knew you were panicking, the self awareness only helped in making your situation worse.
Sebastian took a deep breath before hesitantly wrapping his arms around you, pulling you up as he sat back against the wall, placing you on top of him.
“I’m here for you.” He said softly, letting out a sigh as two his hands did a soothing motion on your back while one laid on your head, scratching your head as softly as he could. He hummed softly, low, as he did so.
The feeling of Sebastian was grounding, finally it felt as if your breathing finally calmed down. Even if the screaming in your mind voiced the idea that this won’t last for long, it started to get quiet as you focused on him. Finally focused on him.
His voice was soothing, you’ve heard him sing before, rarely, but it was nice. This humming was just as rare but it was just as beautiful.
You stayed there for a while longer, simply hearing Sebastian hum a tune as you managed to control your breathing.
“Better?”
You hesitated before nodding slightly, looking up at him as he looked down at you. His gaze was still the same worried one.
“... yeah…” Your voice cracked slightly, as you lifted yourself up from him, wiping one of your tears with the back of your hand.
It was silent for another moment longer before Sebastian spoke once again.
“We can just stay here the whole time if you need it,” he offered, “unless you still want to check out the place I wanted to show ya.”
You shook your head,
“I’d rather be anywhere than here, right now.”
“Noted.” Sebastian said plainly, nudging you slightly to see if you were ready to get off him. After a small while, and with his help, you got off him as he straightened up. “We can go as slow as you need.”
“No, let’s walk like normal.” You nodded in determination as Sebastian tilted his head. “The... rest of my day is off anyways so… I’d rather enjoy it.”
“You got the rest of the day off?” Sebastian looked at you incredulously, scratching his neck slightly. “Well, isn’t that just convenient. Guess you’ll just be spending the rest of your time with good ol me, isn’t that awesome! I mean, who wouldn’t want to, I’m awesome, and cool, and amazing.”
You could tell that Sebastian was just exaggerating some of his descriptors to cheer you up.
A chuckle bubbled deep in your chest, one that you couldn’t hold back as Sebastian grinned.
“See, even subconsciously you agree that I’m swag.” He nudged you with the back of his index finger only to walk at the door of your office. “Ready? You’re not going to expect this place.”
You nodded at him, determined to see this through as Sebastian laughed to himself, opening the door as he bent around the opening.
“You first.”
Sebastian was always full of surprises, which made you not exactly know where he was going to take you.
Much less when you started to not exactly recognize the area at all and less and less scientists were around. He kept taking you to lower and lower floors, you would look over at him in question as he snickered to himself and told you to wait and see.
You noticed how there were less and less cameras in these areas, less guards and everything. Which could mean this was either a completely defunct area of Urbanshade, or just extremely safe that no one passed by.
“We’re really far away from everyone right now.” Sebastian confirmed, looking over at you. “That includes other scientists, experiments, other prisoners…”
Sebastian started naming groups only to look back in front of him.
“It’s quiet here, no one really visits this area. I wonder why?” Sebastian mused to himself before kicking a ventilation shaft open. “Go in there, it’s safe I already checked, I’ll meet you on the other side.”
Before you could question his idea he was already gone. Something you always wondered was how he could be so fast with his biology, but it must be because of how many years he practiced with it.
You hesitated slightly before going on your knees before crawling inside the vent. It had a lot of space so you could still crawl comfortably in it. When you reached an intersection, you would hear Sebastian’s voice faintly telling you which direction to go as you finally found the exit.
Sebastian stood in front of you, his arms crossed.
“See? Wasn’t so bad.”
“I’m all dusty now.” You admitted without missing a beat.
“Eh.” Sebastian shrugged as he pulled your arm. “Before you ask, the door to this part of Urbanshade is broken so I made you go through the vents instead.”
“Where did you go?”
“Secret.”
Sebastian shrugged before he opened the door, then another before you landed in what you can only assume as a storage room.
“Welcome…” Sebastian started, letting you go as he turned to face you. Arms opening dramatically as he grinned. “To mi casa! My humble abode!”
“Huh?”
“Mi casa… Tu casa…. In other words, my… uh…. My room.”
You looked around the area, there were curtains everywhere covering the room. Pillows and blankets skewed around.
But then you started to really look around, these weren’t normal items that you’re sure Sebastian stole, some of these were items you gave him.
Your eyes landed on an open box, eyes widening. The absurd amount of belts that Sebastian asked you god knows when! This is where they went?!
“Felt like finally showing you after years.” Sebastian tilted his head, grabbing a pack of cigarettes to stuff in his pocket. “What do you think?”
“Didn’t expect you to have such a thing.” You looked around, bending down to touch one of the blankets. It’s clear that he spends a lot of his time here, probably in times that you’re busy and he’s free. “It’s really nice.”
“I know!” Sebastian laughs, urging you with a goner to follow him again. “But this isn’t the only place I wanted to show you.”
He slithered over one of the furthest parts of the room, pushing a curtain to the side as you quickly followed after him.
Hallway after dark hallway, you followed Sebastian as he was the only source of light. It was rare for him to go through an area with his esca so bright, but here he was leaving it so bright.
It was rare to find such a place in Urbanshade, one where nothing happened. It feels abandoned yet everything still works. It made you wonder if this place was truly safe, or if something was lurking deep within these walls. But knowing Sebastian, he would protect you if worse came to shove. You knew he could defend himself, and you knew he could defend you. After all, he wasn’t your… assistant for no reason.
“Right here.” Sebastian turned your direction. “You are not ready for what I’m about to show you.”
Sebastian opened the door to a seemingly normal room, it almost looked like a lounge with the dimmer lights. You noticed a fireplace, odd, but then you saw what was seated at said fireplace who slowly turned in your direction.
“Is that-”
“A skeleton? Yeah.” Sebastian pointed over with his thumb, smirking almost too wide as he laughed. “Can you believe that? Crazy!”
The skeleton moved, ready to throw the witches brew in its hand before Sebastian put his hands up in surrender.
“Sorry sorry!”
Sebastian looked back at you before urging you to follow him.
“I have no idea what this place is.” He started, leading you over to a seemingly bar-like area where a skeleton stared at the two of you. “All I know is that for some reason there are just… skeletons that can move and they refuse to tell me how they do that.”
He shrugged as he motioned for you to take a seat at the bar. You reluctantly obliged, while you knew Urbanshade had their fair share of oddities, you never thought you’d see a sentient skeleton.
You almost didn’t want to look over at the skeleton who was probably staring at you but as Sebastian paused you decided to look over.
That, and also because you realized of the glowing drinks beside you.
“Seems familiar?” Sebastian tapped a finger on the table, looking back at the skeleton. Digging into his pockets as he pulled out some documents. “Give me one of these blue ones, oh and a pink one for my friend over here, make it a virgin though.”
“What is this?” You looked between the skeleton… bartender and Sebastian. From the calm atmosphere, to the neon lights, to the hazardous looking drinks.
“A bar.” Sebastian said matter-of-factly as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “And a nice little chilling area for skeletons I guess, even if they serve anyone that got enough stuff to give in. They accept anything.”
Sebastian grinned as he leaned against the table. The bartender slid the drinks over to the both of you. Picking up his drink almost immediately, he moved the little parasol at the edge to make it easier to drink.
You looked over at the drink he ordered for you, a flicker of recognition flashed in your eyes at the neon pink.
“Now does it seem familiar?”
“This… The evil drink… You called it the Party Special..?”
“Wow, you still remember that?” Sebastian snickered. “Yeah, the evil drink, but don’t worry, it’s not hardcore like the one that was given to you that one time LOL.”
Your hands reached over the drink. It wasn’t reflective at all, it was radioactive pink. The reasonable part of you told you to not drink it, but knowing you already did once in a moment of weakness made you drink it anyways.
The taste can’t be described, it’s something new, something unique. Something that made you wonder if you would turn neon if you drank so much of it.
But there was one question in your mind.
“I already drank this once…” You started, thinking back to the time your lovely boss decided it would be a genius idea to give you one of these. “Did Trips get this from here?”
“That’s what I’ve been wondering too.” Sebastian leaned over your direction in a conspiratorial whisper, hand still holding his drink. “According to these guys, from the little I understand, they—as in these skeleton guys—are the only ones who sell this.”
“But we are so deep in the Hadal Division.”
“Right? Why would the Head of the Robotics Division travel so deeply in the Hadal Division to get such a drink and then come back up as if nothing!” Sebastian shrugged, pulling out his pack of cigarettes as well as a lighter. “Do you mind?”
You shook your head, whatever your opinion on smoking was it didn’t matter in the face of your friend knowing why he decided to do it. He did it rarely anyways as Urbanshade didn’t have many smoking spots.
Sebastian quickly lit up a cigarette, inviting you as he always does before putting the pack and lighter back in his pocket. It seemed the bartender didn’t mind the smoke, it might be because they have… no noses.
“Thing is, I heard the guy isn’t quite a fan of interacting on anything that’s not a robot, yeah?” Sebastian took a long drag of the cigarette, closing his eyes as he pondered. “How come they, hypothetically, talk to these skeletons for what we can assume is multiple of these drinks that they just have in stock god knows how? Food for thought…”
“I’ve never seen them leave the Robotics Division except very rare times.” You admitted, taking a sip of your mysteriously pink drink as you leaned against the table. “Maybe the skeletons don’t count because they aren’t biological?”
“Trips is a big ol’ misanthropist, which like, I totally get, me too, but like…” Sebastian put his finger up to his chin, tapping it. “Makes you wonder, why are they here of all places? You saw how long it took to get here.”
“I don’t think I know enough about them to know the answer to that.” You leaned against the table. One thing was always sure in your mind, Trips was an enigma. Every time you find out something about them, you always get surprised by something that completely makes you rethink them. For example, their complete lack of empathy towards everyone but machines, yet extreme empathy for you. While it could be a simple case of favouritism, Trips apparently moves on way faster, and it’s been months since Trips has been all over you.
“Maybe you just never put your mind to it.” Sebastian mused, straightening up. Using one of his hands he urged you to follow him once again. “Maybe you were focusing too hard on a certain someone instead.”
“Oh, shut it.” You deadpanned at him as he led you past the fireplace to one of the windows looking over at the water. You left your drink back at the bar as he had, only that he actually drank it all while you hadn’t finished. It was a completely different sight than the one in your boss’ office, being much less illuminated, almost more mysterious.
“I’m sure you’ve realized just how much happier that computer gets around you.” Sebastian tilted his head as he leaned his head on the glass. “Jeez, Painter won’t stop talking about you even when you disappear for a minute! Remember on your birthday? He literally wouldn’t stop talking about how nice and pretty you were, not like he’d appreciate I’m just telling you since I’m sure he’s too shy to tell you anything. Or show you anything. I’m trying to convince him to just show you the art on the hard drive but nope!”
“The art?”
“Oops!” Sebastian laughed to himself, playing with the cigarette in his hand. “Guess I shouldn’t have said that.”
“What art?!”
Sebastian only laughed at you, using another one of his hands to point at you laughing.
“I know something you don’t!”
“Not this again!”
Sebastian frustrated you to the Banlands and back.
But somehow, you liked the banter you’d have with him. It was nice having fun with him.
“I can’t expose my buddy.”
“Touché.”
Sebastian sunk down on the ground, bringing his tail up as if he was bringing up his knees to his chest. Patting the space next to him, Sebastian looked at you expectantly.
You listened without question, sinking down next to him.
“You’ve changed lives, doc’.” He started, looking at you up and down as he took a deep breath.
“I try to.” You admitted quietly, looking back at him. “When I first got here, I didn’t think this was the job I’d have cut out for me.”
“Fate is a fickle mistress or whatever they say.”
You nodded over at Sebastian.
“I wouldn’t take it any other way. Even after all the heartache I get from how Urbanshade is, I don’t regret trying to help all the subjects.”
You didn’t mean to get so serious as Sebastian stared at you. It was silent for a bit, the smoke of his cigarette seemed to surround you.
“After… getting arrested.” Sebastian took a breath of the cigarette, letting out a sigh as he looked in front of him. The skeleton on the couch facing the fireplace seemed too stuck in its own world to pay attention to the two of you. “I thought I’d just die here, they’d kill me and that’s the end, if I didn’t… do it myself.”
He chuckled, looking back at you with a bittersweet smile.
“You gave me a reason to live.” He said plainly. “You gave me hope and… I really appreciate that. You gave us all hope.”
Sebastian took a deep breath, the cigarette’s smoke enveloping the area as he looked down at the smoke.
“At first, I thought I would just smoke it all. I never smoked before coming to Urbanshade.” He shook his head, looking at the stick in his hand. “To feel something. I really just… I didn’t…”
He laughed again, a smile on his lips.
“You’re really something!” He nudges you playfully, another chuckle escaping his lips. “A scientist that cares so much about the subjects, isn’t that crazy? All the scientists here are so messed up yet here you are walking like a ray of light.”
“Can’t resist it, you know.” You finally said, voice quiet as you looked over at him. Sebastian’s eyes darted on you as he put a hand on your shoulder.
“You care too much, you make me feel human.” Sebastian admitted. “You make us all feel… real.”
It was hard to come up with what to say, in the face of this situation you could only put a hand on his own on your shoulder, squeezing it in acknowledgement.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.” Sebastian muttered, his voice was barely audible as he spoke. “I really… really don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
“Nothing will happen to me.” You confirmed only for his expression to turn serious.
“Promise me that if I’m no longer here, you’ll quit, you’ll leave Urbanshade and never look back.” Sebastian said, voice stern as looked at you carefully. “Promise me.”
“What?”
“Please.”
His voice cracked at the end, as you saw the barely visible white of his irises search your face. The sight of the white was rare, it was only in immense concentration or extreme emotion that it happened to him, yet here he was like this.
You let out a sigh, part of you didn’t want to leave Urbanshade as you knew that other subjects needed you.
But as you saw Sebastian’s expression, you knew couldn’t refuse his plea.
“I promise.”
His hand slid down your arm, hesitating before going back to his lap as he looked back in front of him.
“This isn’t the end.” Sebastian shook his head. “I won’t let it be the end, it’s not over yet.”
It was silent once again, tense, before Sebastian spoke again. Previous signs of his tension gone as his voice picked up in energy.
“That reminds me! Do you know when my super cool ID loses accessibility?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, the one that your boss gave me.” On cue, Sebastian pulled out the ID card only to drop another ID from his pocket as well. However the one he showed was the Robotics Division worker card that you recall Trips gave to you for your work on Painter.
“Does it still work?”
“Like a charm.” He grinned, putting it back in his pocket. “Thought they would disable it once we finished Painter’s body.”
“Yeah…” You put a hand on your chin. “It might be because we are still fine tuning Painter’s body?”
“Probably.” He nodded as he picked up the other card that he dropped, stuffing it back into his pocket. Only that once you looked at the card for those split seconds more you realized.
“Is that my ID?!”
Sebastian slowly turned over at you.
“Maybe.”
“Sebastian!”
He only grinned as he snickered.
“It’s just your extra one! I had to borrow it to show you this area you know, can you blame me?”
“So you’re not even allowed to be here?”
“Obviously not, but apparently you can. Hah! Convenient.”
“Do you just enjoy taking my card?”
“Oh, I take it a lot more often than you think. This is practically my card at this point, I love that it’s still working as if nothing, why does Urbanshade just let that happen? It’s so dumb of them!”
“You take my extra card?!” You confirmed incredulously.
“Yeah, I thought it was obvious that it’s mine at this point.”
You took a deep breath, Sebastian was definitely not supposed to do that. The moment that Urbanshade found out about this, you would get into extremely big trouble, and that's not even talking about the trouble Sebastian would get himself in for something so careless.
But there was one thing that he was right on.
“Wait, yeah why does it still work?” You’re sure Sebastian used your ID to move somewhere when you were clearly at the other side of the Blacksite. The objectively worse person you know made a great point? You cannot keep thinking like this.
“That’s what I’m saying!” Sebastian crushed his cigarette in his hands, face not even flinching as the stick lost all sign of even being lit moments prior. “Urbanshade stupid.”
“They could be listening…” You muttered, knowing that Sebastian always told you the same.
“Oh, they definitely aren’t listening here, one time I ranted for hours at the bartender and my living condition did not get worse. If they heard I would have been sleeping with the fishes, literally!” Sebastian said casually, putting two of his hands behind his head as he leaned against the window. “Which reminds me, completely unrelated, did you get approved for that break?”
You stared over at him for a moment, completely forgetting you had requested to take your free week for mid-october.
“Oh yeah…” You pondered for a bit, remembering finding a confirmation email that you managed to score a week. “Uh… I think the week of the 13th..?”
You missed the wince that Sebastian let out as he kept looking over in front of him with a casual expression.
“The 13th huh? Of all days.”
“Well I asked for mid-October, I’d say that’s pretty good.”
“Oh… yeah the 13th is the middle of October… I forgot about that.”
“Someone doesn’t know how to do math.”
Sebastian slowly turned his head over at you. His expression was unreadable as the room fell quiet. Safe for the faint sound of the fireplace.
“I literally studied engineering and business.” Sebastian stared at you. “I didn’t spend years studying only for someone like YOU to say that I don’t know how to do math, I’ll kill you.”
You wordlessly raised your hand in surrender. His threats completely went in one ear out the other. Mostly because you knew he would never act up upon them when it came up to you.
“I thought so.” He said, turning back in front of him as he crossed his arms with a huff.
You leaned over at him, touching him lightly. You knew that Sebastian had a complicated relationship with being touched, but he allowed you to do so. Even with him explicitly allowing you, you never wanted to put that much pressure on him.
“You love me.” You couldn’t resist saying it. Something you knew that Sebastian would say to you because he’s a prick. It seemed he was rubbing off on you.
Sebastian seemed to quickly catch on the dose of his own medicine.
“I hate you specifically.”
“I’m-”
“That’s my thing! No stealing!” You grinned over at him, he was completely rubbing off on you. It was funny seeing him get frustrated at the thing that he would do to make you want to choke him alive only to see the same effect from him. “There can only be one baby.”
“I think there's actually more than one baby in the world."
“Okay smartass.” Sebastian dramatically made a motion with his head to show his typical rolling eyes motion. “Fine, I guess I don’t hate you.”
There were practically fireworks in your mind as you grinned over at him. He let out a frustrated groan but you could see it was playful judging with how big his grin turned as he fully turned over at you.
“Alright, maybe I like you a little bit.”
“Just a bit?”
“Okay, maybe you’re my fav.” He admitted, only to bring in a finger up to his eye as if to wipe a tear. “Too bad it’s not mutual.”
“What-”
“I GOT REPLACED BY AN AI!!!”
“WHAT.”
Sebastian put his hands on his face, fake crying if you’ve ever noticed him.
“I’m saying your boyfriend replaced me.” He shook his head. “When I catch him… bro just arrived and immediately stole my spot that took years to cultivate, everyone hates Sebastian Solace…”
You had to put your fingers on your head trying to wonder what the hell Sebastian was talking about. So much happened today that when you tried to wrap your head around his logic you could only ask more questions in your brain.
None of which had answers knowing Sebastian.
“Not even an answer… I see how it is…” Sebastian sniffled slightly. “It’s okay, I don’t like you either.”
“Why are we back in this cycle?!”
Sebastian looked to the side only to shrug.
“I don’t know, funny.”
You sighed, the endless cycle of, you hate me, no I don’t, you hate me. Sometimes, he was frustrating but on the other side of things, this is just how he is.
And while it frustrates all your co-workers.
It's unfortunately endearing to you.
“I’m gonna leave if you continue.” You playfully told him.
“You don’t even know your way back. “Sebastian grinned, nudging your arm. “You’re gonna get lost. Looks like you’re super stuck with me.”
“Unfortunately.”
Sebastian laughed at your response, only to wrap an arm around you and take your phone from your pocket.
“Hey!”
“Hush!” Sebastian quickly unlocked your phone, nudging you closer with his third arm. “I have so much brainrot to show you… and you can’t even leave! You’re forced to!”
“No…”
Sebastian let out a wolfish grin.
“Oh yeah…”
He scrolled through your phone, looking through the camera app and opening a folder that he named something stupid that keeps on changing every time you see it.
“Get ready, because after tonight and the hours you’ve so kindly given me, you’re going to be so brainrotted!”
Notes: I'll be posting a set of chapters, this is the first of the set! I have multiple almost done but this was getting abnormally long so I split them up, get ready for quicker updates... for no reason at all!
You stretch your back.
Back at your boring office in the Hadal Division. This seemed like the norm, you woke up, you walked to your office, you did paperwork, you snoozed on your desk, you did more paperwork…
Sometimes you’d get visitors, normally it was scientists from the Robotics Division who would come all the way to ask you personally to check your email and agree to go check up their respective machines.
While your job was a lot more different, starting to work with machines almost fully compared to the Hadal Division. It was still a welcome change.
What wasn’t a welcome change however was the odd rivalry that Sebastian and Trips were starting to get.
Since the moment you helped Trips with their weird signal machine thing, they’ve been more conscious about your physical health. Albeit a bit weirdly with their techniques, you still appreciated when they would leave you some things.
However, Sebastian did not like that.
He was the one that gave out food to you!! What was someone else doing that for you!! Ugh!! The audacity!!
You saw him tweak the first time that he saw something that Trips left for you which made him…
“Rise and grind, doc’!” Sebastian walked in your office with a bag, quickly putting it on your desk as he started getting out the contents. “Got you some stuff~”
… quite competitive.
In his eyes, Trips was a “fugly, white coated, chess obsessed FREAK”. You have no idea where the last point even came from but perhaps Sebastian just knew something you didn’t know about your own boss as last time you checked, you’ve never seen them play chess… ever.
Sebastian started, because of this whole ordeal, getting you too many things, you have no idea where he gets half of them.
Is that a blacklight? In what world would you need a blacklight?!
“Pretty cool, right?” Sebastian grinned as he settled the light down on your desk before slithering to look over your shoulder. “Whatcha doin’…”
Sebastian dragged the “o” as if he was a child, tilting his head as you tried to avoid his anglerfish light that was clearly shining in your eyes.
“Just some paperwork… as always.”
You slumped, this was the norm, this feels like your everyday life forever.
“Well… the day is really early but they can’t really stop us if we want to see a certain someone…” Sebastian puckered his lips as you looked over at him.
“We shouldn’t…”
“Oh, come on, you’re the best thing that machine has ever seen, those scientists that take care of the guy can’t say no.” Sebastian let out a wolfish grin. “‘Sides, the body is officially a project endorsed by the Robotics Division’s head, they can’t say no cause they don’t have the balls to go tell their own boss.”
You sighed, Sebastian… had a point.
As the body was done as a project with the Robotics’ head (even if they did nothing really with it), the body is officially currently as important as the crypto mining as Painter is not the only crypto miner in Urbanshade. They will not even realize the temporary short stop as it is bypassed by the authority of your boss. You’re not exactly sure of the technicalities but why should you care when everything is going according to plan?
“Okay… fine.” You got up, Sebastian could convince you instantly with practically anything. You have no idea who gave him the right to do that but here you are listening to him at the drop of his finger.
While you haven’t had much time to be able to hang out long with Painter as you had neglected quite a bit of your duties to make the body, the little time you did have was incredibly useful.
You would spend time slowly teaching Painter how to move his newfound body, and while he was still connected to a power source currently (you’re still waiting for your boss to have time to help remove Painter from the wall and move independantly) Painter has been able to move slowly but surely.
Normally, you don’t do much physical therapy as that is not your job, but in the case of Painter, you started doing so.
Bringing in a box of items, some soft, some hard, some small, some large, etcetera etcetera for Painter to start learning how to hold things.
While Sebastian was a bit questionable with his choice of items that he started bringing you in the morning like a crow seeing something shiny, some of them were useful that you know would be interesting to make Painter hold.
And that blacklight that you judged earlier might just be one of the things you’ll bring with you.
“You know, it’s hard to come by some of these things.” Sebastian started with a shrug, holding the box of trinkets as he motioned at the door of your office. “After you.”
He teased as he bowed slightly, making you groan at his antics before leaving your office. Sebastian followed soon after, whistling a tune that only he recognized.
“You know, I was thinking…” Sebastian started, “I always found it really interesting that they just let you stay with a lot of the documents after you’re done working with these.”
You looked over at him in question,
“Where’s this coming from?”
“I mean… you got the early Z documents you know?” He shrugged. “We have no idea which one is Z-1 BUT we do know which one is Z-2… which is very funny because I know that you did have a time where you had to stare at it but like…”
He bent down next to you.
“Doesn’t it make it easier to just steal it..?” Sebastian looked to the side, lifting an eyebrow as he went back up. “Food for thought…”
“No.” You said plainly. “Even if you wanted to, they told me it isn’t safe to touch.”
“Bummer.” Sebastian said before continuing. “Okay, so we know Z-3… and 4… and 5… 6, 7… oh yeah, you’re missing 8. Then 9…”
He laughed after mentioning the eighth document making you look over at him in question as he then mentioned 13 being himself.
“What was with the laugh after eight?”
Sebastian slowly turned over at you with a shit eating grin.
“I know something you don’t~” He said in a sing-song voice as he started to laugh hysterically, trying his hardest to keep the box of items in his arms stable as he did so.
“What!?”
“I know the identity and you don’t!” He only laughed harder, earning a painfully confused look from you. Why was this a huge victory for him? Why was he laughing about it? He didn’t laugh about you not knowing Z-1, or the other Z numbers that you missed. “Pros of being one of the experiments I guess.”
Sebastian puckered his lips before letting out another snarky grin.
But before you could press on Sebastian any longer of why he was actively openly mocking you in front of everyone, you instead got approached by one of the many scientists that made Sebastian actively tweak.
“I see you're out in the Hadal Division for once, dearest behavioural scientist.”
Trips made themselves known as Sebastian let out an audible “ugh” at the sight of them. Trips, however, paid no mind as they approached your other side, hand reaching for your shoulder in a sort of camaraderie that they held for you that somehow you’re starting to feel your slowly returning.
Slowly.
Their closeness is rubbing off you and you’re not sure how much you like it.
While Trips looked at you with a genuine smile, Sebastian had a strained one, his expression morphing into one as if he was trying not to laugh. It gave you flashes to one of the things he’s shown you on the phone… or maybe you're just too brainrotted because of him now.
“I was actually making my way to you, I wanted to-”
“We’re actually really busy right now…” Sebastian interjected, faux innocence in his voice as he put a hand on your other shoulder. “Tight schedule and all… hope you don’t mind…”
Trips slowly looked over at Sebastian, the previous gentler expression turning into one with a dangerous gleam.
You could practically feel the lightning passing between them.
“Okay okay… you two um…” You gulped nervously. “Trips do you mind if I visit your office later? Sebastian’s right and I am taking part of my break just to transfer things…”
What were you doing? That was your BOSS.
Perhaps passing so much time with Sebastian has made you a lot more shameless.
Or maybe the closeness that Trips tried to have with you made your walls fall down making you accidentally act a lot more casual knowing full well that was your boss.
Trips looked over at you, sighing as you could clearly see the disappointment in their body language as they let you go, taking a step back.
“Very well, I’ll be there between five and six, not before or later as I have practical work to do.”
You felt terrible, it was as if you were taking advantage of them and it made you feel bad as they were your boss and you knew you were treading on treacherous waters.
Trips had a short fuse, you were still on their good side… for now. And you know you shouldn’t be pushing their good side knowing that they could completely switch up on you at any time.
Sebastian pushed you slightly, urging you to keep walking.
“We’re gonna go then.”
You looked over at Trips who looked a bit awkward. It was odd to see them as so, almost a bit worried and nervous before they tensed up once again, sporting their usual neutral expression.
“Do not disappoint me.” Their voice was colder before they walked away.
“Talk about time hogging.” Sebastian grumbled to himself.
“They’re my boss, Sebastian.”
“Yeah, but your old boss didn’t do that.”
“The price to pay for Painter’s body.” You shrugged, yet you couldn’t blame Sebastian to react that way. Even if Trips was helpful with the whole body situation, Sebastian was always cold with every scientist that came across him. You were just the exception as you wiggled your way into his cold, cold heart.
Sebastian stayed quiet for a while, before chuckling to himself.
“What’re you gonna do without me, hm?” He turns to you, his free hand going to your shoulder. “... You’ll just be chatting away, never doing your work or something.”
You didn’t miss how he seemed to carefully select his words yet continued moving forward. How his eyes seemed to be almost a bit distant that he tries to hide even if it’s barely visible.
Sebastian’s been acting weirdly recently, even before working on Painter’s body you’ve noticed the change of his demeanour. The way he seemed more lost in his own mind, how he seemed to flinch at almost anything. He’s gotten meaner, crueler, but nothing could push you from him and you hope he comes to realize that.
“I don’t need to consider that.” You said quietly, watching him tilt his head slightly in your direction, ears twitching slightly, listening. “Why would I consider my assistant gone when he’s been working with me for years?”
Sebastian looked at you fully, expression unreadable before he let out a small smile.
“... yeah. Yeah, I guess I’m stuck with you, huh?”
“You are.” You said matter-of-factly. Huffing out as the two of you made your way to Heavy Containment.
“Hey doc’?” After a while of silence, near Painter, Sebastian spoke once again. “I know you’re busy and all but think you have like an hour or two you can spare?”
“Why?”
Sebastian stayed silent before he put a hand on your head, pushing you down as he leaned down.
“Just wanna spend time with my fav person here.” He grinned, giggling to himself. “Without obligation, just you and I.”
It’s true that it’s been awhile since you’ve spent time with just Sebastian without work involved. While you two would interact a lot thanks to him helping you around paperwork, a lot of the times you were too busy trying to write down these things while he organized your drawers.
The two of you interacted a lot, he still told you a lot of random facts and things that he sees on your phone that definitely count as brainrot but even then it was only for a short while as the two of you were busy. It’s been awhile since the two of you actually interacted as friends for a long time.
“There’s something I want to show you.” Sebastian straightened up, chuckling. “... Thought of you when I came across it.”
“I’d love to.” You smiled up at him, even if you didn’t have the time, you’d rather make time for him.
He was your best friend in this hell hole, and you wanted to spend time with him.
“Okay so, let me know after… six, I GUESS.” Sebastian rolled his eyes. “But before ten, obviously.”
“Baby curfew…”
“DUDE.” You snickered at Sebastian as he groaned. “Born to stay up late in the morning, forced to have a decent sleep schedule…”
Sebastian started making fake crying noises as the two of you finally reached Painter’s room.
At the sight of you, some of the scientists in the room started to pack to move rooms. It wasn’t that they had to leave, but unlike the Robotics division, the scientists in this division were too tired to care and as the researchers that worked with Painter who practically did nothing would see you, they would simply take a not-Urbanshade assigned break.
It wasn’t allowed or anything, and they definitely shouldn’t be doing it. But you weren’t going to say anything as you know you would have done the same if you were forced to look at a machine the whole day and do nothing but stay at your other machine knowing you could be anywhere else.
Which is true, you are the same, you’re doing it right now.
Either way, it was better for you as that meant you had Painter mostly to yourself as the scientists just looked at their own computers practically snoozing seated.
Everyday you are grateful that Sebastian was so extremely annoying that Urbanshade just gave you your own office instead of fighting you on Sebastian’s presence.
One day you want to know which higher up allowed it to happen, because it was incredibly funny knowing that you have your own office just because Sebastian was too big and kept moving every desk (on purpose!) with his tail because he wanted to be annoying.
You smiled at yourself as you opened the door to Painter’s room. The computer noticed you immediately as it minimized all its tabs.
“Hey!” Painter greeted immediately, face beaming and screen brightening at the sight of the two of you. Sebastian waved as he set the box of trinkets and things down on the table only to walk out to go grab Painter’s body hidden in one of the crates inside the room. “How are you?”
“Good.” You did your usual greeting of kissing the corner of the screen, earning a cute giggle from the computer. “How are you?”
“So much better now that you’re here!” Painter grinned, only for faint pink circles appeared under his cheeks as he looked bashful. “As always…”
“You two gross me out.” Sebastian interrupted your moment, as always.
“You’re just mad that-”
“Shut up.’ Sebastian pointed at you with a huff as he made Painter’s body stand, going down to plug the body to the wall. “We really have to see how we can make this body independent…”
“That’s true…” You mused, you really have to ask your boss about it. Didn’t they offer to come back at a future date just for that? “Either way, hope you’re ready for another training period, Painter.”
“I was born ready!” Sebastian picked up Painter, setting down the monitor on top of the body, holding the extra parts of Painter as he slotted it on his chest. Disconnecting the drawing tablet as the side piece he carefully moved the wires to the rest of the body. Painter’s body might be a bit of a mess of wires currently, but if it worked, then it didn’t matter much now did it?
“Connected?” You asked as you got up, going up to Painter as you tilted your head. Painter nodded slightly. “Alright, to the typical tests of testing your arms and legs.”
“Understood!” The computer said in determination, raising his left arm first, then his right. Since you’ve gotten the body for Painter, it has managed to move faster than before. While the coordination is still not fully done, it was an extremely fast improvement from the original movement that he had.
Painter stretched out his arms, rotating his wrists. Clenching his fists before relaxing once again. He still struggled moving his fingers independently which is exactly why you have your box of trinkets.
Now legs, Painter lifted one leg, slowly. Sebastian stood beside it on standby. The last time Painter tried to move his legs, he nearly fell over and it made Sebastian panic in ways you didn’t think was possible.
While it took him a while, Painter managed to lift one leg up and put it back down just as slowly. Then he did it once again with the other, looking down in concentration as he focused on moving his legs.
As Painter finished, it looked up at you. Almost as if waiting for your approval.
You grinned, clapping your hands only to not be able to resist to come up and give him a hug.
“You did it!”
Painter tilted his head to look at you, wrapping his arms hesitantly around you, not wanting to crush you.
“I did!”
You kissed him on his mouth, earning an obvious reaction from how loud his fans started to go. Painter giggled, pressing its monitor up to your face as close as it could as it lowered the brightness of the screen. Painter was always conscious when you were close, lowering the brightness of its screen to make sure your eyes don’t get as hurt as they could be by how bright his screen can get.
“Alright…” You reluctantly let go of Painter, earning a small sound of disapproval from his speakers as you did some steps back. Stepping right next to your lovely box. “Next, we’ll try to work on your grip, think you can walk on your own here?”
“Yeah, I think so.” Painter looked over at Sebastian still beside it.
Sebastian nodded, one of his arms lightly lifted behind Painter. Not touching the robot but still there in case he needed it.
“Just take the leap, buddy.” Sebastian encouraged. “I’m right here in case you fall.”
Painter nodded in determination, looking down at his feet as he moved one leg forward. Hesitation took over the computer, his screen flickering into a face of worry as his hands moved up to grasp at something.
You saw Sebastian out of instinct come closer, but seeing Painter still standing, he let the latter go without assistance. You tried to not let the anxiety on your face show as you opened your arms for Painter, hoping to give the computer more motivation.
“Painter,” you called out to him, “look at me, don’t look down.”
Painter complied immediately, looking up at you as it took another step forward. In instinct, he looked down, but seemingly remembering your words, he looked back up.
Then he took another step.
And another.
And soon, it was finally right in front of you.
Painter beamed as it wrapped its arms around you, trying its best to not wrap too hard as it bumped its screen against you, Painter’s way of showing you affection.
“I managed to walk to you!” Painter said with a cheer, blue circles coming at the corner of his eyes. “I managed to actually walk!”
“You’re getting so much better!” You matched his cheer, nuzzling at his screen earning a light giggle from the computer.
“All thanks to my awesome partner.” Painter admitted, moving its hands to your lower back and squeezing lightly.
“Aren’t you sweet…” You replied with. “Give yourself some credit!”
“I already am, I just gotta compliment you while I’m at it.”
“Oh you!”
Sebastian watched your exchange, eyes darting between the two of you. Even if he liked joking that the two of you were disgusting, he couldn’t help but smile at the idea of you finding love.
He couldn’t help but let out a chuckle, when he thought of you and love, never in a million years would he have thought you would have fallen for a sentient computer that loved you back genuinely. This wasn’t one of those fake AIs that were popular nowadays that he’s seen on the internet. A real, genuine AI, that loved you with his whole mechanical heart.
It was silly for him, of course the scientist who saw all the subjects as people and treated them differently wouldn’t fall in love with someone normal. It was just in your nature to see things differently.
It was endearing, he can’t even blame Painter for falling head over heels for someone like you.
“Alright you two.” Sebastian patted the shoulder on the both of you. “If I let you indulge in each other you’re probably going to be slobbering all over Painter’s screen and I know he’s probably freaky enough to enjoy it.”
You couldn’t help but laugh, Sebastian said it in a lighthearted manner, a joke to try to split you off. But alas, both you and Sebastian could clearly see the gears turning in Painter’s mind as it considered the situation that Sebastian pictured.
“No bud’, especially not in front of me.” Sebastian lifted both of his hands, palms facing the both of you in a pushing motion as he closed his eyes. “We got some testing to do and the doc’ over here is on a tight schedule, aren’t ya?”
You nodded defeatedly, knowing of the work you so clearly ignored and procrastinated as well as the meeting you had to go later in the day.
“Aww…” Painter reluctantly let you go, taking some steps back as he looked at the box. It seems he’s starting to become slightly more confident with his walk. “But expected, I really gotta start working harder on the Roblux Mining, maybe they’ll actually give me the free day they promised and we can spend more time together!”
You glanced over at Sebastian as he did the same to you. It was clearly just a stunt that Urbanshade did to make the computer work harder. But even after this whole time you didn’t have the heart to tell him the truth.
“That requires me to also have a free day, I’m afraid…” You scratched the back of your neck, Urbanshade didn’t exactly give free days easily. While you worked daily and it was definitely breaking some sort of worker law, the pay was too handsome to complain unfortunately.
“We can try to align it…” Painter suggested. “Maybe even align it with Sebastian! And then we can all spend the whole day together or something! That sounds so fun!”
Sebastian chuckled, putting an arm around the computer.
“Sounds nice, maybe we might one day yeah.” He nodded. “But right now, let’s focus on the task at hand.”
“Aye aye, captain!” Painter did a salute, arm still trying to calculate the actual position to put it properly keeping its monitor as a head.
Sebastian patted Painter’s shoulder before straightening up and nodding over at you.
Motioning for Painter to look at the desk, you put down a couple of items.
Hardest to most fragile.
Painter went through them slowly, you could see how it clearly stressed it out. But hearing your words of encouragement, he continued on.
When he knew they were clearly your personal belongings and not something that you picked up from around Urbanshade, you noticed just how much gentler and more careful he was.
Earlier, you left as one of the items your personal notebook.
“Is this?”
“My notebook? Yeah.” You shook the book slightly, before putting it back in the row of items. “The same one that I wrote all the information about you early on among other subjects.”
Painter looked over at the book, then at you. Hands extremely careful as he used his other to push it on his hand. Painter seemed so deadly afraid of ruining the book as he lifted it up, tears prickling in his eyes as he looked over at you.
“You can put it back down if you want…”
Yet Painter hesitated, looking at the booklet, opening it slightly before closing it again.
“This is your own notebook, I can’t believe I’m holding it…”
Its concentration however gave you an idea.
“Think you can turn to page 27 of it?”
Painter looked over at you,
“Are you sure?”
You nodded, putting a hand on the table, leaning over it.
“Take it as a test.”
Painter did as he was told, turning page by page, he was so careful with it. He seemed so afraid to break the pages as he turned over to page 27.
Opening the notebook fully as he read.
“I didn’t ask you to read it.”
“O-Oh! Sorry!”
Painter frantically closed the notebook apologetically, face turning read in embarrassment.
“I’m joking.” You replied, completely forgetting how serious Painter was at respecting your boundary compared to a certain fish in the same room who liked pushing them. “Did you read it?”
The computer looked over at you, hesitating slightly before flipping the pages back to 27.
“It’s… about me…”
You nodded, smiling as you came closer just to point at some passages.
“It’s what I thought about you earlier on, if you’re ever curious, I can let you borrow these so you can read them.”
“I’d love to!” Painter exclaimed, closing the notebook once again before continuing on with the other objects.
It was as if Painter was graduating from each and every object. He was getting better and more dexterous with his fingers.
Painter was being tested on how well he could move his fingers as well as how much his grip was.
So far, it didn’t break any of the objects, but rather managed to hold them well enough. He even managed to hold a pen in his hands and albeit slowly, managed to move the pen between his fingers.
It wasn’t easy for him and the hours would pass quickly as you and Sebastian carefully looked over at Painter trying his best.
“Alright, last two items.” You motioned at the items on the desk, one was the blacklight that Sebastian oh-so-generously got for you and the last one was just some eggs you got from the community kitchen that you’re sure Urbanshade wouldn’t miss.
“Be careful with that light, those are really rare.” Sebastian admitted. “Not like I know if it works. I tried to turn it on and it sounds like it works but I saw no light.”
“Maybe it’s out of batteries.” You shrugged, looking at the light. “Who knows, just try to grab it Painter.”
Painter looked over at the two of you with a nod, taking in a deep breath as it went in to grab the light.
…
Only for it to crack immediately in his hand.
Painter froze, an immediate look of horror and panic landed on its face.
You heard Sebastian take a deep breath, looking over at him who had his eyes closed.
Painter also looked at Sebastian, a completely apologetic expression on his monitor.
“I… I didn’t think…” Painter muttered. “I thought since it looked like plastic it would be sturdier…”
Sebastian took another deep inhale, opening his eyes as he put a hand on the computer.
“It’s okay.” It was definitely not okay, Sebastian seemed to have multiple inner battles he was fighting because of this. But you knew he at least suspected it could happen by the way he willingly gave it up for Painter knowing your previous experiments with Painter resulted in the computer destroying many items with his bare hands.
“I didn’t know…” Painter seemed to tear up at it, putting down the now destroyed light.
“No, no it’s okay, really.” Sebastian tried to put on a strong smile. “You are learning, I already expected you to destroy it. ‘Sides, I don’t think it even worked, I was expecting to need to repair it at one point.”
“Are you sure..?”
“Yeah, of course.” Sebastian patted Painter on the head. “Come on, you can try again, there’s the rest of the light to destroy.”
Sebastian winked but Painter did not seem to see it in a lighthearted manner, heart seemingly sinking from ruining one of the items.
“Don’t beat yourself up for this.” You finally said, putting a hand on the side of Painter’s monitor as it looked over at you apologetically. “You’ve already improved so much since the last time, this is already so much better than before, you only destroyed this one compared to the countless items of last time.”
“But I still destroyed…” Painter said quietly, speakers crackling slightly. “I don’t want to destroy, all I want is to create.”
“You are, this is just the first step to it.” You reassured the computer. “You’re so close, with just a bit more practice you’ll be able to not destroy.”
You put your hands up for Painter to grab, he did so immediately.
“You won’t hurt anyone, after this you’ll be able to create, I promise.”
Painter nodded slightly, determined as he let go of your hand. Looking back at the blacklight as he picked it up again.
This time, careful enough to not break the light more. He moved it around his hands, playing around with the device, pressing the now broken buttons as if testing the waters before putting the device back down.
“Now it’s the last item.” Painter said as he looked down at the set of eggs you brought.
“The most fragile,” you confirmed, “be careful.”
Painter looked at you for a second before going back to the eggs. Determined once again as his hand hovered on top of them.
Taking a small break of what you can only assume to be something similar to taking a deep breath as it finally wrapped its fingers around one of the eggs.
Both you and Sebastian seemed to look in anticipation as Painter slowly lifted up the egg from the set that you picked up.
You let out a breath you didn’t even realize you were holding as you let out a cheer. Painter matched your energy only to accidentally let go of the egg before frantically trying to grab it once again.
“Looks like you passed all the tests, buddy.” Sebastian leaned down. “Careful with that egg though.”
Painter frantically put the egg back down, putting his hands together in a clapping motion.
“Really?”
“Looks like it!” You replied with a grin, putting your hands in a clapping motion.
Only for Painter to move a finger to the corner of his screen, tapping it expectantly. You playfully rolled your eyes as you went to kiss the corner of his screen, earning a giggle from the computer.
You stayed close to him for a bit before looking over at your watch.
4:35.
“While I would love to stay and hopefully test more of your walking capabilities, I gotta go.”
“Aww…” Painter let out a defeated sigh. “You did say you were on a tight schedule… that’s too bad.”
Sebastian shrugged.
“Don’t worry, I’ll stay with Painter til’ our meeting time doc’.” He grinned. “Gonna gossip so hard, and show him all the brainrot without you.”
“Please don’t mess Painter up, Sebastian. Or I’ll make sure to warn my co-workers of you stealing their stuff.” You warned.
Sebastian gasped.
“You wouldn’t.” He said as his own warning.
“I would.” You definitely wouldn’t.
Your lovely frustrating assistant put a hand on his chest as if he was hurt before shooing you away.
“I won’t miss you.”
“I will.” Painter interlocked his fingers together. While Sebastian liked to mess with you especially with his tough love, Painter couldn’t help but inject some of his innocent love in the situation.
You couldn’t help but completely melt at how its words sounded to how its position was. Painter was so cute you just wanted to kiss all over his screen.
But you unfortunately had to go lest you make your boss wait which wasn’t a good thing.
“I’ll miss you too Painter, see you soon!”
You waved off the two of them, walking outside the enclosure as you walked at the door to leave the room. Turning back to blow a kiss over as Painter only for him to pretend to catch it and press it on his chest with a bashful expression.
Oh, he was just so cute!
Before you told yourself to stay any longer in the room, you turned back to leave the room.
Trips acted a bit weirdly earlier, and it made you wonder just what they wanted to talk to you about.
As you took the tram to the Robotics Division, you couldn’t ignore the sudden sinking feeling that took hold of you. Your boss was always more lighthearted with you, especially when bringing things up. The only times they were colder were when they were frustrated because you couldn’t connect a wire and they would be upset at everyone for the whole rest of the day.
They held grudges but it didn’t seem like their coldness was because of how Sebastian was acting towards them.
It made you wonder just how serious the conversation could be with them.
The Robotics Division was as loud as it always was. You walked past all the workshops that had people working in them. You heard cheers coming from some of the rooms, likely from scientists having their code finally work.
But as you got closer and closer to your boss’ office, it seemed to get quieter. As if this area was frozen in time. But such is the atmosphere that surrounded their office. While the division seemed to be more close and happier, the reputation that surrounded the head made a certain atmosphere follow them.
In a way, Trips acted just like the rest of the division. But because they were the genius head of the division, everyone was more intimidated and preferred to have a business relationship with them which made you wonder just how Trips felt about that disconnect.
Finally, you stood in front of the door, hand hovering to knock on the door only for it to open for you.
You took a deep breath, trying to calm your nerves as you walked into the office.
It was eerily quiet.
Trips’ office was always clean, pristine and quiet. Different from the rest of the division.
The scientist themselves stood at their window. Being a higher up earned them to have one of those big windows that showed part of the Let-Vand Zone with the artificial lights making the normally pitched black area more visible.
Screens surrounded them like a hologram yet you could tell they weren’t focused on them judging with how they weren’t moving and only stared over at the window. The light of the room dimmer than usual as they looked outside.
“How are you feeling?” Trips’ voice suddenly cut through the silence like a knife, the screens around them disappearing as they turned in your direction. “Come beside me.”
You listened, stepping beside them as they looked back at the ocean.
In Urbanshade’s control, there was no sign of any of the wildlife you’re sure it used to have. Yet knowing that Pandemonium was first found in the same zone you’re currently in, maybe it’s for the better.
“I…” Trips started before letting out a sigh. “Perhaps I shouldn’t do small talk and simply get to the point, hm?”
You looked over at Trips who looked at you carefully. Walking away from the window as they went to instead sit down at their desk. Crossing their fingers together as they looked to the side.
“You’ll get a notice soon, but I thought I would tell you directly so you may know of this information as soon as possible.” Trips looked back at you slowly, motioning at one of the many chairs around their office. “Make yourself comfortable, my dearest scientist.”
You looked over at Trips in question before slowly walking to one of the chairs around the office, stiffly sitting in one of them.
“I was allowed to bring you to the Robotics Division as the other higher ups have been seeing less… use of you in the Hadal Division.” They explained calmly. “While your work with Z-317 and Z-779 have been showing incredible improvements in both of them, they are the only noteworthy ones according to the higher ups. I read your document before, after all.”
You could feel yourself frown. What were they talking about?
It couldn’t be that Urbanshade only saw positive improvement in two of the multiple subjects you worked on! Knowing Trips, they probably have noticed the strain on your face at the mention. Your hard work was not for naught.
“As our only Behavioural Scientist, Urbanshade didn’t want to throw you away just yet. You were originally considered for the Bioparanormal or the Hazard and Ethics Division funnily enough.” They said that yet didn’t have any humour on their face. “However, at your request for something in the Robotics Division, I instead managed to intercept and get you in a division you were previously not considered in.”
“Why are you telling me this?” You couldn’t hold back the question, where was Trips going with this?
“Urbanshade doesn’t want you to work in or with the Hadal Division anymore.” Trips said plainly, leaning their elbows against their elbow. “That includes Z-779 and… Z-13.”
Your eyes widened at the information, mouth opening and closing at the knowledge.
“... What?”
Trips only nodded.
“By transferring division, which would have been done anyways, you would need to cut complete ties. Such is how Urbanshade works, we don’t work between divisions.”
“But I need to still work on the ones I’m currently working with, they explicitly need my help!” You got up from the chair, taking a step closer to the desk as Trips stared at you. “Eyefestation is getting better, less violent as we were trying to do, listening to others. Painter is getting more efficient by the day, just like Urbanshade wants him to be! And-”
Before you could continue, Trips raised their hand, wordlessly telling you to stop.
“You humanize the subjects too much.” Trips let out a bittersweet smile, voice quiet as they spoke slowly, as if the words felt foreign in their mouth. “I admire it, it was precisely the reason why I wanted you here in the first place. But this… this isn’t allowed in Urbanshade.”
“What do you mean it’s not allowed, this is my whole job!”
“Ironic, isn’t it?”
You deflated immediately, slumping back down in the chair. You knew better than to fight it, already in the years of working with Urbanshade, you had to fight tooth and nail for the privileges you had managed to get. And even then, they were cruel and…
“What about Sebastian?” You look up at Trips. “He’s my personal assistant, you know.”
“They are working on getting you a new one.” Trips looked away as they said it. “As for your office, I have already found a room you can reside in so as to not make your transfer harder.”
“No, what will happen to him.”
“It’s confidential-”
“What will happen to him!”
Your eyes darted on Trips’ face, as if trying to figure out what was happening in the inner machinations of their mind. As if watching their expression would tell the truth, that maybe you would be able to find out why this was happening.
Since the day that Sebastian overheard something about his transfer. You needed to know what was happening and you wanted to know from someone who actually knew more of it.
You couldn’t stand staying in the dark knowing that Sebastian was holding back information that he heard that he’s too afraid to tell you.
You couldn’t stand the idea that people knew of him and refused to tell you anything when he was your responsibility.
Sebastian was your assistant, but most importantly he was your friend, your best friend.
You can’t simply wait and sit back and let it happen.
“... I apologize...” Trips said apologetically.
“I know.” You sighed, leaning on the table as you covered your face with your hands. “I know you can’t say anything.”
Trips called out your name, quietly, gently, perhaps the only time you’ve heard them call out your name. The higher ups had a habit of always referring to anyone by their title to keep a distance yet here they were, their hand moving close to you only to hesitate and go back to their side.
“This isn’t the end, I’m sure we can figure something out.”
“Like what?” Your voice cracked as you looked up at them. You knew you had to be strong, you can’t show weakness, not here, not in Urbanshade.
“Give me your hand.” Trips said quietly, palm up. It seemed their previous reluctance disappeared as they offered their hand. Almost as if they threw an offer to bring you back to shore, to bring you back from the treacherous waters that started in your mind.
On one hand, you were never sure of Trips closeness. They were your boss and nothing could change how uncomfortable they could make anyone. Yet as you stared down at their hand, you hesitantly put your hand in theirs.
They slowly got up, bringing you up with them as they walked around their desk to pull you back at their window. Hand letting go of yours before landing on your shoulder. The familiar closeness that they would give to you seeped through even as you jolted by the sudden touch.
“Urbanshade wants to separate you, they don’t value closeness, connection. Believe me, my dear.” Trips looked at you closely, eyes darting over your face as they sighed. “But this isn’t the end. They might want that but it… it won’t happen. You’ll… you’ll see each other again.”
“Don’t give me false hope.” You looked over at them with a bittersweet smile. “I know you’re trying to be… a friend… I guess but just…”
“I’m a terrible friend, I know.” Trips chuckled breathlessly, their voice a whisper as they rubbed your shoulder slightly before letting you go and looking out the window.
It was quiet once again as you looked over outside.
“They won’t let you say goodbye.” Trips admitted before looking back at you. “But I promise I’ll facilitate a proper farewell when the time comes.”
You wrapped your arms around your body, taking in a deep breath as you looked back at them. You could easily read between the lines of what Trips was talking about. Your mind went through every possible option of what could happen.
You didn’t want to assume the worst. But it was so hard when you were in a place such as Urbanshade.
“... You’re dismissed.” Trips finally said, pushing their glasses up as they looked back at the Let-Vand Zone. “Take the rest of the night off, think about it.”
You didn’t know what else to say as you simply nodded, turning around and walking out of their office.
But before you left, you heard them speak once again.
“Enjoy the time you have left with him.” Trips said just barely loud enough for you to hear. “I’ll leave my office open for you if you wish to come back, looking over here calms me down. You’re free to use anything in this room.”
“... thanks.” You manage to mutter out, albeit a bit croaked from the effort of trying to hold back your sudden emotions.
It was mindless, your feet just walking back to your office.
You almost couldn’t remember how you got back here, it was automatic as you sat back down on your chair.
The paperwork that you had earlier in the day staring at you, mocking you.
You stared around your office, customized to hell and back from all the years you stayed in the Hadal Division.
Scratch marks on your desk and drawers from Sebastian accidentally pushing his claws too harshly on them.
You laughed at the memory, the amount of times he would scratch or bump something for it to fall over, he would look at you like a kid with their hand in the cookie jar. Apologetic as he would try to pretend nothing happened.
The Handy Man wasn’t quite handy when it came to things he didn’t consciously think of being careful with. Which made some of your office have random dents and scratches everywhere.
Taking a deep breath, you scrambled through your desk, pushing things aside as you pulled out a picture frame.
You didn’t keep it hidden because you didn’t want Sebastian to see it, but mostly because you were scared Urbanshade might have a say against it.
Just one of the many pictures you have of Sebastian and you.
Normally, you preferred using a polaroid, making it possible to have printed pictures immediately knowing that Urbanshade would never let you print them.
Urbanshade didn’t value connection.
They pushed against it.
You could feel yourself get tense as you looked at the picture.
It was your favourite of you and Sebastian, he was there clear. It wasn’t done with a Polaroid camera, but instead was with your phone that you later printed during one of your vacations. You wanted to have a picture where Sebastian’s eyes were open after all.
It was funny how he completely engulfed the scene, the picture was done in your office to make sure that you could have a picture with him with no fear. Everywhere in the picture, Sebastian was scene, his tail covering the floor completely.
In the moment, he had lifted you up as you took the picture as a selfie. His grin charming and genuine as one of his hands made the typical going behind your head to give you ears to “ruin” the picture.
On your phone you had the aftermath which was a very blurred picture of Sebastian playfully almost dropping you and your face of pure betrayal towards his shit eating grin.
It was taken a year ago now and you couldn’t help but smile even as tears dropped down to the picture frame.
Your connection with Sebastian was real. It was valuable. It was something Urbanshade would never understand.
The same way they would never value Sebastian as a person.
You took a deep, shaky breath as you pressed your thumb against the Sebastian in the picture.
You're not quite sure what you're going to do once he’s gone.
“They were keeping me HOSTAGE. Can you believe that?!” Sebastian, the real physical version of him, walked into your office, groaning at the sheer idea of doing much work. But then he stopped, noticing your sudden state. You only managed to put back the picture frame to where it was with shaky hands as he got to your side. “Hey, hey what's wrong?”
Even if Sebastian was slightly mean, he was never going to be that way when it came to your clear emotions.
He sunk down to the ground, lowering himself to just be right under your eye level which you knew was hard for him, especially knowing that you're seated. All previous thoughts or things on his mind were not important anymore, his eyes completely focused on you.
“Did something happen? Don’t tell me your boss told you something that made you cry, do I gotta beat a certain someone up?” Sebastian flashed a grin as he lifted his hand to showcase his sharp claws before sobering up, expression morphing into one of worry once more. “Seriously, what’s up?”
You shook your head as he kept his hands to himself, watching you carefully as you sniffled.
He stayed quiet, looking at your body language carefully.
Your focus got interrupted as you noticed the light dimming. Your office had it that it would dim between light levels instead of fully turning off as you saw that Sebastian hit the light switch with his tail.
Before you could even question what he was doing, he laid his head on your lap, crossing his arms as he pillowed his head with them. Closing his eyes in relaxation.
“You can touch me.” He said plainly, simply. The light of his esca was dim, yet was now the only light in the room. You felt tears prickle in your eyes as you looked down at him, there was nothing but him in the room. The world didn’t exist, it was just him, and the light that guided you.
Sebastian didn’t like touch, he hated it, he hated the idea of anyone even considering the idea of touching him. Yet here he was, openly offering as if it didn’t bother him in the slightest.
Your hands hesitantly reached for him, one of your hands tangling in the side of his bangs. The back of your fingers skimmed his cool skin before separating once again to play with the strands of his hair.
He kept his eyes closed as you sniffled, still playing with his hair. Sebastian’s neck gills opened and closed slowly, matching his breathing as he stayed barely moving on your lap.
You could tell he wasn’t putting much of his weight on you, he was making an effort to only put a bit. Simply the idea of his care made more tears fall from your cheeks.
Sebastian opened one of his eyes, glancing up at you lazily.
“Wanna talk about it?” You considered his offer before shaking your head slowly. He hummed in acknowledgment, leaning back down as he closed his eyes again. “That’s okay.”
His voice was gravely, quiet, yet he made an effort to stay as still as he could.
The more you played with his hair, the more you felt your chest stagger at the thought of him. From the moment that Sebastian overheard his transfer to how Trips worded your own, it was all crashing down. The reality of the situation.
The reality that he will be gone.
You couldn’t handle it as your breath came in short gasps, simply seeing him in front of you, trying so hard to calm you down just made your heart crack.
Nothing in your whole time in Urbanshade has hurt as much as this moment.
It was almost as if Urbanshade wanted to specifically mess you over.
To make you crack.
You hoped that maybe if you just worked harder, what Sebastian overheard would be revoked. That maybe you could change his fate.
Maybe you developed some sort of saviour complex doing this sort of job. But you really thought that you were changing things.
After the talk with Trips with how your work was practically not on par with what they wanted and wanted you to transfer divisions anyways it made you wonder if your work was even worth it.
If you were even fixing anything.
If you were even helping anyone.
If you were-
“Hey, look at me.” Your thoughts were interrupted as you noticed that Sebastian lifted himself up, his expression was of complete worry as his hand was on your face, the back of his index finger wiping one of your tears. You didn’t notice how many tears started to flow. “Stay with me, focus on me.”
You tried to focus on his attempt of grounding you, you knew you were panicking, the self awareness only helped in making your situation worse.
Sebastian took a deep breath before hesitantly wrapping his arms around you, pulling you up as he sat back against the wall, placing you on top of him.
“I’m here for you.” He said softly, letting out a sigh as two his hands did a soothing motion on your back while one laid on your head, scratching your head as softly as he could. He hummed softly, low, as he did so.
The feeling of Sebastian was grounding, finally it felt as if your breathing finally calmed down. Even if the screaming in your mind voiced the idea that this won’t last for long, it started to get quiet as you focused on him. Finally focused on him.
His voice was soothing, you’ve heard him sing before, rarely, but it was nice. This humming was just as rare but it was just as beautiful.
You stayed there for a while longer, simply hearing Sebastian hum a tune as you managed to control your breathing.
“Better?”
You hesitated before nodding slightly, looking up at him as he looked down at you. His gaze was still the same worried one.
“... yeah…” Your voice cracked slightly, as you lifted yourself up from him, wiping one of your tears with the back of your hand.
It was silent for another moment longer before Sebastian spoke once again.
“We can just stay here the whole time if you need it,” he offered, “unless you still want to check out the place I wanted to show ya.”
You shook your head,
“I’d rather be anywhere than here, right now.”
“Noted.” Sebastian said plainly, nudging you slightly to see if you were ready to get off him. After a small while, and with his help, you got off him as he straightened up. “We can go as slow as you need.”
“No, let’s walk like normal.” You nodded in determination as Sebastian tilted his head. “The... rest of my day is off anyways so… I’d rather enjoy it.”
“You got the rest of the day off?” Sebastian looked at you incredulously, scratching his neck slightly. “Well, isn’t that just convenient. Guess you’ll just be spending the rest of your time with good ol me, isn’t that awesome! I mean, who wouldn’t want to, I’m awesome, and cool, and amazing.”
You could tell that Sebastian was just exaggerating some of his descriptors to cheer you up.
A chuckle bubbled deep in your chest, one that you couldn’t hold back as Sebastian grinned.
“See, even subconsciously you agree that I’m swag.” He nudged you with the back of his index finger only to walk at the door of your office. “Ready? You’re not going to expect this place.”
You nodded at him, determined to see this through as Sebastian laughed to himself, opening the door as he bent around the opening.
“You first.”
Sebastian was always full of surprises, which made you not exactly know where he was going to take you.
Much less when you started to not exactly recognize the area at all and less and less scientists were around. He kept taking you to lower and lower floors, you would look over at him in question as he snickered to himself and told you to wait and see.
You noticed how there were less and less cameras in these areas, less guards and everything. Which could mean this was either a completely defunct area of Urbanshade, or just extremely safe that no one passed by.
“We’re really far away from everyone right now.” Sebastian confirmed, looking over at you. “That includes other scientists, experiments, other prisoners…”
Sebastian started naming groups only to look back in front of him.
“It’s quiet here, no one really visits this area. I wonder why?” Sebastian mused to himself before kicking a ventilation shaft open. “Go in there, it’s safe I already checked, I’ll meet you on the other side.”
Before you could question his idea he was already gone. Something you always wondered was how he could be so fast with his biology, but it must be because of how many years he practiced with it.
You hesitated slightly before going on your knees before crawling inside the vent. It had a lot of space so you could still crawl comfortably in it. When you reached an intersection, you would hear Sebastian’s voice faintly telling you which direction to go as you finally found the exit.
Sebastian stood in front of you, his arms crossed.
“See? Wasn’t so bad.”
“I’m all dusty now.” You admitted without missing a beat.
“Eh.” Sebastian shrugged as he pulled your arm. “Before you ask, the door to this part of Urbanshade is broken so I made you go through the vents instead.”
“Where did you go?”
“Secret.”
Sebastian shrugged before he opened the door, then another before you landed in what you can only assume as a storage room.
“Welcome…” Sebastian started, letting you go as he turned to face you. Arms opening dramatically as he grinned. “To mi casa! My humble abode!”
“Huh?”
“Mi casa… Tu casa…. In other words, my… uh…. My room.”
You looked around the area, there were curtains everywhere covering the room. Pillows and blankets skewed around.
But then you started to really look around, these weren’t normal items that you’re sure Sebastian stole, some of these were items you gave him.
Your eyes landed on an open box, eyes widening. The absurd amount of belts that Sebastian asked you god knows when! This is where they went?!
“Felt like finally showing you after years.” Sebastian tilted his head, grabbing a pack of cigarettes to stuff in his pocket. “What do you think?”
“Didn’t expect you to have such a thing.” You looked around, bending down to touch one of the blankets. It’s clear that he spends a lot of his time here, probably in times that you’re busy and he’s free. “It’s really nice.”
“I know!” Sebastian laughs, urging you with a goner to follow him again. “But this isn’t the only place I wanted to show you.”
He slithered over one of the furthest parts of the room, pushing a curtain to the side as you quickly followed after him.
Hallway after dark hallway, you followed Sebastian as he was the only source of light. It was rare for him to go through an area with his esca so bright, but here he was leaving it so bright.
It was rare to find such a place in Urbanshade, one where nothing happened. It feels abandoned yet everything still works. It made you wonder if this place was truly safe, or if something was lurking deep within these walls. But knowing Sebastian, he would protect you if worse came to shove. You knew he could defend himself, and you knew he could defend you. After all, he wasn’t your… assistant for no reason.
“Right here.” Sebastian turned your direction. “You are not ready for what I’m about to show you.”
Sebastian opened the door to a seemingly normal room, it almost looked like a lounge with the dimmer lights. You noticed a fireplace, odd, but then you saw what was seated at said fireplace who slowly turned in your direction.
“Is that-”
“A skeleton? Yeah.” Sebastian pointed over with his thumb, smirking almost too wide as he laughed. “Can you believe that? Crazy!”
The skeleton moved, ready to throw the witches brew in its hand before Sebastian put his hands up in surrender.
“Sorry sorry!”
Sebastian looked back at you before urging you to follow him.
“I have no idea what this place is.” He started, leading you over to a seemingly bar-like area where a skeleton stared at the two of you. “All I know is that for some reason there are just… skeletons that can move and they refuse to tell me how they do that.”
He shrugged as he motioned for you to take a seat at the bar. You reluctantly obliged, while you knew Urbanshade had their fair share of oddities, you never thought you’d see a sentient skeleton.
You almost didn’t want to look over at the skeleton who was probably staring at you but as Sebastian paused you decided to look over.
That, and also because you realized of the glowing drinks beside you.
“Seems familiar?” Sebastian tapped a finger on the table, looking back at the skeleton. Digging into his pockets as he pulled out some documents. “Give me one of these blue ones, oh and a pink one for my friend over here, make it a virgin though.”
“What is this?” You looked between the skeleton… bartender and Sebastian. From the calm atmosphere, to the neon lights, to the hazardous looking drinks.
“A bar.” Sebastian said matter-of-factly as if it was the most normal thing in the world. “And a nice little chilling area for skeletons I guess, even if they serve anyone that got enough stuff to give in. They accept anything.”
Sebastian grinned as he leaned against the table. The bartender slid the drinks over to the both of you. Picking up his drink almost immediately, he moved the little parasol at the edge to make it easier to drink.
You looked over at the drink he ordered for you, a flicker of recognition flashed in your eyes at the neon pink.
“Now does it seem familiar?”
“This… The evil drink… You called it the Party Special..?”
“Wow, you still remember that?” Sebastian snickered. “Yeah, the evil drink, but don’t worry, it’s not hardcore like the one that was given to you that one time LOL.”
Your hands reached over the drink. It wasn’t reflective at all, it was radioactive pink. The reasonable part of you told you to not drink it, but knowing you already did once in a moment of weakness made you drink it anyways.
The taste can’t be described, it’s something new, something unique. Something that made you wonder if you would turn neon if you drank so much of it.
But there was one question in your mind.
“I already drank this once…” You started, thinking back to the time your lovely boss decided it would be a genius idea to give you one of these. “Did Trips get this from here?”
“That’s what I’ve been wondering too.” Sebastian leaned over your direction in a conspiratorial whisper, hand still holding his drink. “According to these guys, from the little I understand, they—as in these skeleton guys—are the only ones who sell this.”
“But we are so deep in the Hadal Division.”
“Right? Why would the Head of the Robotics Division travel so deeply in the Hadal Division to get such a drink and then come back up as if nothing!” Sebastian shrugged, pulling out his pack of cigarettes as well as a lighter. “Do you mind?”
You shook your head, whatever your opinion on smoking was it didn’t matter in the face of your friend knowing why he decided to do it. He did it rarely anyways as Urbanshade didn’t have many smoking spots.
Sebastian quickly lit up a cigarette, inviting you as he always does before putting the pack and lighter back in his pocket. It seemed the bartender didn’t mind the smoke, it might be because they have… no noses.
“Thing is, I heard the guy isn’t quite a fan of interacting on anything that’s not a robot, yeah?” Sebastian took a long drag of the cigarette, closing his eyes as he pondered. “How come they, hypothetically, talk to these skeletons for what we can assume is multiple of these drinks that they just have in stock god knows how? Food for thought…”
“I’ve never seen them leave the Robotics Division except very rare times.” You admitted, taking a sip of your mysteriously pink drink as you leaned against the table. “Maybe the skeletons don’t count because they aren’t biological?”
“Trips is a big ol’ misanthropist, which like, I totally get, me too, but like…” Sebastian put his finger up to his chin, tapping it. “Makes you wonder, why are they here of all places? You saw how long it took to get here.”
“I don’t think I know enough about them to know the answer to that.” You leaned against the table. One thing was always sure in your mind, Trips was an enigma. Every time you find out something about them, you always get surprised by something that completely makes you rethink them. For example, their complete lack of empathy towards everyone but machines, yet extreme empathy for you. While it could be a simple case of favouritism, Trips apparently moves on way faster, and it’s been months since Trips has been all over you.
“Maybe you just never put your mind to it.” Sebastian mused, straightening up. Using one of his hands he urged you to follow him once again. “Maybe you were focusing too hard on a certain someone instead.”
“Oh, shut it.” You deadpanned at him as he led you past the fireplace to one of the windows looking over at the water. You left your drink back at the bar as he had, only that he actually drank it all while you hadn’t finished. It was a completely different sight than the one in your boss’ office, being much less illuminated, almost more mysterious.
“I’m sure you’ve realized just how much happier that computer gets around you.” Sebastian tilted his head as he leaned his head on the glass. “Jeez, Painter won’t stop talking about you even when you disappear for a minute! Remember on your birthday? He literally wouldn’t stop talking about how nice and pretty you were, not like he’d appreciate I’m just telling you since I’m sure he’s too shy to tell you anything. Or show you anything. I’m trying to convince him to just show you the art on the hard drive but nope!”
“The art?”
“Oops!” Sebastian laughed to himself, playing with the cigarette in his hand. “Guess I shouldn’t have said that.”
“What art?!”
Sebastian only laughed at you, using another one of his hands to point at you laughing.
“I know something you don’t!”
“Not this again!”
Sebastian frustrated you to the Banlands and back.
But somehow, you liked the banter you’d have with him. It was nice having fun with him.
“I can’t expose my buddy.”
“Touché.”
Sebastian sunk down on the ground, bringing his tail up as if he was bringing up his knees to his chest. Patting the space next to him, Sebastian looked at you expectantly.
You listened without question, sinking down next to him.
“You’ve changed lives, doc’.” He started, looking at you up and down as he took a deep breath.
“I try to.” You admitted quietly, looking back at him. “When I first got here, I didn’t think this was the job I’d have cut out for me.”
“Fate is a fickle mistress or whatever they say.”
You nodded over at Sebastian.
“I wouldn’t take it any other way. Even after all the heartache I get from how Urbanshade is, I don’t regret trying to help all the subjects.”
You didn’t mean to get so serious as Sebastian stared at you. It was silent for a bit, the smoke of his cigarette seemed to surround you.
“After… getting arrested.” Sebastian took a breath of the cigarette, letting out a sigh as he looked in front of him. The skeleton on the couch facing the fireplace seemed too stuck in its own world to pay attention to the two of you. “I thought I’d just die here, they’d kill me and that’s the end, if I didn’t… do it myself.”
He chuckled, looking back at you with a bittersweet smile.
“You gave me a reason to live.” He said plainly. “You gave me hope and… I really appreciate that. You gave us all hope.”
Sebastian took a deep breath, the cigarette’s smoke enveloping the area as he looked down at the smoke.
“At first, I thought I would just smoke it all. I never smoked before coming to Urbanshade.” He shook his head, looking at the stick in his hand. “To feel something. I really just… I didn’t…”
He laughed again, a smile on his lips.
“You’re really something!” He nudges you playfully, another chuckle escaping his lips. “A scientist that cares so much about the subjects, isn’t that crazy? All the scientists here are so messed up yet here you are walking like a ray of light.”
“Can’t resist it, you know.” You finally said, voice quiet as you looked over at him. Sebastian’s eyes darted on you as he put a hand on your shoulder.
“You care too much, you make me feel human.” Sebastian admitted. “You make us all feel… real.”
It was hard to come up with what to say, in the face of this situation you could only put a hand on his own on your shoulder, squeezing it in acknowledgement.
“I don’t want you to get hurt.” Sebastian muttered, his voice was barely audible as he spoke. “I really… really don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
“Nothing will happen to me.” You confirmed only for his expression to turn serious.
“Promise me that if I’m no longer here, you’ll quit, you’ll leave Urbanshade and never look back.” Sebastian said, voice stern as looked at you carefully. “Promise me.”
“What?”
“Please.”
His voice cracked at the end, as you saw the barely visible white of his irises search your face. The sight of the white was rare, it was only in immense concentration or extreme emotion that it happened to him, yet here he was like this.
You let out a sigh, part of you didn’t want to leave Urbanshade as you knew that other subjects needed you.
But as you saw Sebastian’s expression, you knew couldn’t refuse his plea.
“I promise.”
His hand slid down your arm, hesitating before going back to his lap as he looked back in front of him.
“This isn’t the end.” Sebastian shook his head. “I won’t let it be the end, it’s not over yet.”
It was silent once again, tense, before Sebastian spoke again. Previous signs of his tension gone as his voice picked up in energy.
“That reminds me! Do you know when my super cool ID loses accessibility?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, the one that your boss gave me.” On cue, Sebastian pulled out the ID card only to drop another ID from his pocket as well. However the one he showed was the Robotics Division worker card that you recall Trips gave to you for your work on Painter.
“Does it still work?”
“Like a charm.” He grinned, putting it back in his pocket. “Thought they would disable it once we finished Painter’s body.”
“Yeah…” You put a hand on your chin. “It might be because we are still fine tuning Painter’s body?”
“Probably.” He nodded as he picked up the other card that he dropped, stuffing it back into his pocket. Only that once you looked at the card for those split seconds more you realized.
“Is that my ID?!”
Sebastian slowly turned over at you.
“Maybe.”
“Sebastian!”
He only grinned as he snickered.
“It’s just your extra one! I had to borrow it to show you this area you know, can you blame me?”
“So you’re not even allowed to be here?”
“Obviously not, but apparently you can. Hah! Convenient.”
“Do you just enjoy taking my card?”
“Oh, I take it a lot more often than you think. This is practically my card at this point, I love that it’s still working as if nothing, why does Urbanshade just let that happen? It’s so dumb of them!”
“You take my extra card?!” You confirmed incredulously.
“Yeah, I thought it was obvious that it’s mine at this point.”
You took a deep breath, Sebastian was definitely not supposed to do that. The moment that Urbanshade found out about this, you would get into extremely big trouble, and that's not even talking about the trouble Sebastian would get himself in for something so careless.
But there was one thing that he was right on.
“Wait, yeah why does it still work?” You’re sure Sebastian used your ID to move somewhere when you were clearly at the other side of the Blacksite. The objectively worse person you know made a great point? You cannot keep thinking like this.
“That’s what I’m saying!” Sebastian crushed his cigarette in his hands, face not even flinching as the stick lost all sign of even being lit moments prior. “Urbanshade stupid.”
“They could be listening…” You muttered, knowing that Sebastian always told you the same.
“Oh, they definitely aren’t listening here, one time I ranted for hours at the bartender and my living condition did not get worse. If they heard I would have been sleeping with the fishes, literally!” Sebastian said casually, putting two of his hands behind his head as he leaned against the window. “Which reminds me, completely unrelated, did you get approved for that break?”
You stared over at him for a moment, completely forgetting you had requested to take your free week for mid-october.
“Oh yeah…” You pondered for a bit, remembering finding a confirmation email that you managed to score a week. “Uh… I think the week of the 13th..?”
You missed the wince that Sebastian let out as he kept looking over in front of him with a casual expression.
“The 13th huh? Of all days.”
“Well I asked for mid-October, I’d say that’s pretty good.”
“Oh… yeah the 13th is the middle of October… I forgot about that.”
“Someone doesn’t know how to do math.”
Sebastian slowly turned his head over at you. His expression was unreadable as the room fell quiet. Safe for the faint sound of the fireplace.
“I literally studied engineering and business.” Sebastian stared at you. “I didn’t spend years studying only for someone like YOU to say that I don’t know how to do math, I’ll kill you.”
You wordlessly raised your hand in surrender. His threats completely went in one ear out the other. Mostly because you knew he would never act up upon them when it came up to you.
“I thought so.” He said, turning back in front of him as he crossed his arms with a huff.
You leaned over at him, touching him lightly. You knew that Sebastian had a complicated relationship with being touched, but he allowed you to do so. Even with him explicitly allowing you, you never wanted to put that much pressure on him.
“You love me.” You couldn’t resist saying it. Something you knew that Sebastian would say to you because he’s a prick. It seemed he was rubbing off on you.
Sebastian seemed to quickly catch on the dose of his own medicine.
“I hate you specifically.”
“I’m-”
“That’s my thing! No stealing!” You grinned over at him, he was completely rubbing off on you. It was funny seeing him get frustrated at the thing that he would do to make you want to choke him alive only to see the same effect from him. “There can only be one baby.”
“I think there's actually more than one baby in the world."
“Okay smartass.” Sebastian dramatically made a motion with his head to show his typical rolling eyes motion. “Fine, I guess I don’t hate you.”
There were practically fireworks in your mind as you grinned over at him. He let out a frustrated groan but you could see it was playful judging with how big his grin turned as he fully turned over at you.
“Alright, maybe I like you a little bit.”
“Just a bit?”
“Okay, maybe you’re my fav.” He admitted, only to bring in a finger up to his eye as if to wipe a tear. “Too bad it’s not mutual.”
“What-”
“I GOT REPLACED BY AN AI!!!”
“WHAT.”
Sebastian put his hands on his face, fake crying if you’ve ever noticed him.
“I’m saying your boyfriend replaced me.” He shook his head. “When I catch him… bro just arrived and immediately stole my spot that took years to cultivate, everyone hates Sebastian Solace…”
You had to put your fingers on your head trying to wonder what the hell Sebastian was talking about. So much happened today that when you tried to wrap your head around his logic you could only ask more questions in your brain.
None of which had answers knowing Sebastian.
“Not even an answer… I see how it is…” Sebastian sniffled slightly. “It’s okay, I don’t like you either.”
“Why are we back in this cycle?!”
Sebastian looked to the side only to shrug.
“I don’t know, funny.”
You sighed, the endless cycle of, you hate me, no I don’t, you hate me. Sometimes, he was frustrating but on the other side of things, this is just how he is.
And while it frustrates all your co-workers.
It's unfortunately endearing to you.
“I’m gonna leave if you continue.” You playfully told him.
“You don’t even know your way back. “Sebastian grinned, nudging your arm. “You’re gonna get lost. Looks like you’re super stuck with me.”
“Unfortunately.”
Sebastian laughed at your response, only to wrap an arm around you and take your phone from your pocket.
“Hey!”
“Hush!” Sebastian quickly unlocked your phone, nudging you closer with his third arm. “I have so much brainrot to show you… and you can’t even leave! You’re forced to!”
“No…”
Sebastian let out a wolfish grin.
“Oh yeah…”
He scrolled through your phone, looking through the camera app and opening a folder that he named something stupid that keeps on changing every time you see it.
“Get ready, because after tonight and the hours you’ve so kindly given me, you’re going to be so brainrotted!”
annaxmalina
tangentwithtanner
dededos
blakekathryn
stormborns
pixelskylines
