hey howdy this is one of those rare images that makes me churn out 800 words in ten minutes because it’s so good and i HAD to man. i had to.
He notices the other is particularly solemn and quiet today.
Of course, Hayden takes note of it, sneering about how human-like the Slayer being is a fault and a weakness.
Still, the Slayer ignores him.
Normally, he would at least glare or gesture (albeit rudely) to where Hayden’s voice pours from overhead. Today, he does nothing.
Something is definitely wrong when not even Inky rouses him from his trance. She weaves between his ankles, chirping and trilling to get his attention. He stumbles over her once, his face twisting in irritation. Pointedly, he nudges her to the side and out of the way before continuing.
Inky seems just as baffled as Vega is. Her eyes go wide and her tail flicks irritably as she hops onto the counter by Vega. When he turns to look at her, she gives a comically timed indignant huff. She looks to him for solace and, what he expects to be, validation. He gives a little head roll in lieu of rolling his eyes and ruffles her ears.
He hears the doors to one of the spare rooms shut rather forcefully. It startles Inky, who goes splay-legged for a moment before regaining her composure.
Vega hums worriedly. “I do think we should check on him. Do you?”
“Aa,” says Inky in confirmation.
As he pads down the corridor quietly, he can hear the light thumping of Inky trotting to keep up.
He hesitates before knocking at the metal door. Perhaps the Slayer wanted to be alone, which is an entirely possible thing. Still, he would have at least acknowledged Vega and Inky in some way. He makes up his mind and gently raps his knuckles against the door.
After a pause with no response, he delicately pads in the code to open the door. Inky stretches up from the floor to try and swat his fingers as they move around the number pad, which almost distracts him from his current task.
Inside, he finds the space suspiciously empty. A book left open and dog-eared on the desk. A blanket haphazardly thrown across the floor. Little things, but certainly enough evidence that something is wrong.
“Slayer?” he calls out. “Are you in here?” He pauses. “Are you alright?”
Inky barrels in past him none-too-gracefully, bee-lining for the back of the room. Her tail is high and curled at the tip and she announces her arrival with a series of chirps he knows the Slayer would be weak to ignore.
He faintly hears movement when the chirping stops. The sound of shuffling feet, a heaving sigh.
“Do you mind if I come in?”
When he gets no response, he nearly tiptoes in. His optics can see perfectly well in the darkness of the room, and they are quick to settle on the Slayer’s hunched form.
“What is wrong?” he presses worriedly. “Did something...happen?”
The Slayer shakes his head.
Inky tries her best to wriggle into the space between the Slayer’s arms, to no avail.
Delicately, the mech moves to sit opposite of the man. “Are you alright?” he repeats quietly. He resists the urge to wring his hands together in a show of anxiety.
The other is quiet for a minute. Inky never ceases her attempts; he finally breaks and lets her curl up in his bulky arms. When he goes to raise his hands to respond, he is quick to drop them back to his lap.
Finally, the marine answers. His hands move sluggishly as if he is wary of what he is saying.
‘Sometimes I feel like I don’t fit anywhere.’
Vega hums. “You do realize that none of us are where we’re supposed to be, yes?” The Slayer nods minutely. “It seems that we have made our own little ‘normality’ aboard the Fortress. It may be far from standard, but it works.” He shrugs lightly.
He can tell the other wants to argue.
“And even if you don’t see it, everyone has their place here,” he drawls. “Hayden stays in his damned confinement where he’s less likely to start anything,” he mutters under his breath, “Inky belongs right there, in your arms,” he pauses.
The Slayer makes eye contact with him: what about me?
“And you, Slayer,” he holds down a giggle, though a smile is still evident in his voice. “You belong right here.” He opens his arms.
The man cocks an eyebrow, confused, before Vega acts. He leans forward and scoops the man into his lap, Inky included. He can hear Inky lightly protest at being manhandled in such a manner, but is quick to settle.
Vega holds him close, the Slayer’s back to his chassis. Pointedly, he wraps his arms around the unarmored body in front of him, tucking his arms under the Slayer’s own in a firm grip. Gently, he plunks his head on the other’s shoulder.
He feels the Slayer relax as the tension ebbs out of him. Once he’s completely limp, Vega murmurs again.
“See? We all have our place.” He pauses for effect. “Except Hayden.”
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