prompt: jerry & ralph + healing
(Sorry this took me a while, I was thinking of the best way to write it!!)
The fall of Jericho seemed to be the last straw for the damaged android. What trust he had was cracked and broken, and he remained huddled in a dark corner of the Cathedral, his knife drawn and shaking but very pointedly aimed at anyone who dared to come near him.
Jerry noticed him. It was impossible not to. Anyone could see the figure was near rabid with fear but Jerry had the extra benefit of multiple sets of eyes. He noticed everything.
We have to do something, came the whisper through their shared connection. He’s hurt and alone. He doesn’t have to be alone. But he’s dangerous. We have to be cautious.
He waited.
After a few days the damaged android finally seemed to begin to withdraw. The knife remained at his side but was no longer in a constant grip. He was no less scared, Jerry knew, but being scared was exhausting and no one could stay in that state forever. He knew that, too. Very well.
He couldn’t wait any longer to approach him. Be careful, came the whispers to him and he reassured the rest he would, but it hurt them too much to see the offer suffer alone any longer.
“Hello,” he took quiet steps towards the android, hands upward to show he meant no harm. “You’ve been alone back here... you must be lonely. My name is Jerry.”
Immediately the damaged robot was moving, scooping the knife back into his hands and holding it out. “Don’t come closer!” He warned. “Ralph doesn’t want anyone else to come! Ralph doesn’t want anyone else to hurt him!!”
He’s too dangerous, came some of the whispers. You’ll risk yourself... But others of the Jerrys understood. As much as they were one, each Jerry had his own voice still.
He took another step forward. “Ralph! That’s a nice name,” he replied, his hands still held palm forward. “I just want to help. I promise. Will you let me?”
“Why?” Ralph’s eyes were still focused on him, though Jerry doubted the damaged one had any vision left in it still.
“Because it seems like you could use a friend.” Jerry’s voice remained friendly and genuine, as he took slow steps forward. “I won’t do anything you don’t want me to, okay? I just want to sit with you for a while.”
For a moment, Ralph looked ready to lunge still, but Jerry waited until the knife was slowly lowered, held at his side, and Ralph gave an unexpected nod.
“Okay, Ralph.” Jerry moved in the last few steps and sat against the wall. “Do you want to sit with me?” Ralph watched him for a moment before mimicking his movement and sitting as well, though he made sure to still keep his knife in his lap.
“What do you want?” Ralph demanded, even sitting still seeming to shiver and twitch. Some of it had to be the damage, Jerry was sure, but it was obvious the other android was still nervous. “Ralph just wants to be left alone. Ralph doesn’t need a friend.”
“That’s okay,” Jerry replied. “You don’t have to be my friend if you don’t want to be. I just thought... you’ve been alone for a while now. Are you sure you don’t want someone to spend a little time with you?”
Ralph’s expression looked pained before looking away. “They don’t want to be friends with Ralph. Ralph scares them. They think Ralph will hurt them.”
“Would you?” The question seemed to take Ralph off guard and he gripped the knife a little tighter before shaking his head.
“No,” he replied. “Ralph... doesn’t want to hurt people.” Jerry was surprised to see the emotion in the other android’s expression. He looked sad, and lost, and Jerry could feel his own chest aching alongside him.
“Everyone hurts people in their life.” Jerry reached over to touch his shoulder and to his surprise, Ralph didn’t flinch from it. “I think it’s what we do afterwards that matters the most, when we’re hurt or when we’ve hurt others. And if you want to be alone, that’s all right too, but I just want you to know that you don’t have to be because you don’t think there’s any other option.”
Ralph nodded again, and slowly set the knife down at his side. “Ralph wouldn’t mind if you stayed a little longer.”
