You’re safe now
A/n: boothills backstory had me sobbing so I made this. This isn’t a x reader btw its just boothill being fatherly over a stranded kiddo. I just got inspo of this randomly so here it is
“See? i can eat just about anything now.” He laughed as the little girl looked on in amazement. He never expected to see s kid this far out in peacony, far from the protection and stuck in the middle where dozens of stray robots and creatures lurked waiting to turn the innocent little girl into s splatter. That thought angered him. The thought that there was anyone or anything in this world so cruel to do that. She hadn’t hurt no one, she didn’t do nothing a kid wouldn’t be expected to. But more importantly, she looked like his had. His little sweetheart who started walking when she saw him come home. The little bundle of joy he found tossed like trash that he coddled and raised. That bundle was now gone, along with all he had known thanks to the jerks at the IPC. He was going to make sure they paid no doubt, he wouldn’t let that Oswald off so easy. No money in the world could buy him off, he’d have him beaten and bloody begging for mercy before putting rounds and rounds of bullets into his stupid fucking face. He wouldn’t stop until his fuckin skull was dust. But for now his focus was on the stranded girl. She was so little, so innocent, she was also very scared. She clung to him so tightly. She was a halovian, her wings were so tiny and cute, her little halo made her look like s true beacon of innocence. How could he just let her become another tragedy? He may be s cyborg now but he has more of a heart than most people do.
“Could you even eat the sundaes but with the glass intact?” She asked. He chuckled. “Of course. Once we get back to the main city I’ll show you, how about that?” He said. She nodded. “By the way, wheres your parents at.” He asked. She paused before looking down.
“Well… they aren’t here right now.. I was supposed to be watched by my uncle but… he brought over some friends and they got real noisy, I wanted to visit my friend but I got lost.” She said. He pondered, that wasn’t exactly a address, but kids don’t usually know their addresses anyways. He could probably report it to the bloodhounds but take her with him around the city to keep her distracted and happy. He wasn’t sure what their policy was with lost kids though.
“Now when you say ‘aren’t here’ do you mean like they aren’t home or…”
“They’re not in Peacony right now. They told me they’d be gone for a bit but they’d be back.” She said. God she was adorable, her little wings looked so soft he wondered if she preened them like birds do where they take broken feather out or groom themselves, or do halovians have a brush?
“Ah I see. Whats your uncle like?” He asked. She followed behind him as they walked through the empty and confusing landscapes.
“Well he’s loud. Too loud. He’s also to touchy. He gets all up in your face like ‘Oh my gosh I haven’t seen you in soooo looooong’ but he saw you a week ago! His friends got really noisy. I think they were playing some game.” She said. He pretended to be interested but he was also scanning the area for enemies ahead. Of course he still cared but he needed her to be distracted while he kept watch.
“Sounds awful. They couldn’t get a better babysitter?”
“I know right!” She agreed. “Say, why are those tv guys so mean here? In the Golden hour all this machines are so friendly. One even gave me candy once… but that one back there… it was angry at me… did I do something wrong?”
“Sugar, the ones here are feral. They aren’t allowed around people and if they get caught by any of those bloodhounds they’re supposed to take care of em’. You didn’t do nothing wrong kiddo.” He said. “In the future you shouldn’t approach any wild ones.”
“Okay Mister Boot.” She said. He chuckled, that name was quite silly even to him. He liked it.
“Now, just stick behind me okay? We are in enemy territory here so caution is necessary.” He said.
“Enemy territory? Oh like when Brother Hanu has to sneak through the bad guys bases! I love those cartoons!”
“Something like that. Now you focus on being hidden while I do all the heavy lifting okay?” He looked at her as she nodded excitedly. Apart of him felt so natural taking care of her. Selfishly he kinda had hoped she’d been a orphan so he could scoop her up and take her with him. He missed having a family, having a home. And although he could never replace his baby girl he couldn’t ever stand to see a child cry or be alone.
“Mister Boot? Do you have any parents?” She asked. “Or would that be like s screwdriver..” he paused.
“Yeah I did. And they weren’t screwdrivers.” He smiled reminiscing on those memories of his family, how they took him in, how close they all were. Just them on the ranch.
“Are they alive?” She asked. He was a little surprised, kids like her don’t usually know the concept of death. Her parents are supposedly still alive so he wondered were this came from.
“No.. they aren’t. But they loved me dearly and I cary them on in my mechanical heart.” He said, he pretended to be okay about it, that he had moved on. He had to, after all children rely on adults for morality and hope. He couldn’t let her know how painful it was, that’s her parents job to do.
“I.. I worry sometimes.. mama and daddy seem to be In trouble.. but they won’t tell me anything about it… Uncle said I should lay low and wouldnt let me out today.” She said. She seemed more anxious than ever. “If I lost my papa and mama.. then what would I do.. I can’t lose them…” tears pooled in her eyes. “I don’t wanna lose them to the bad people. I don’t wanna be alone!” She cried now. He quickly lifted her to his chest, holding her close, one hand supporting her with the other still on his pistol.
“There there. I’m sure wherever and whatever business they got they’ll handle. Don’t worry kiddo, you’ll see em again.” He said.
“But what if? What if they do go.. my uncle is in no position to take care of me…” her cries were s lil muffled. He hostled his gun to pat her on the back.
“You know something? while people can die, they don’t leave you. Everyone you love sticks with you. In your heart and in your mind.” He said. “You’ll remember their voice and their words, and you’ll remember their love. It won’t be easy, it hurts alot but no one can take that from you.” He said with a smile. She seemed to top crying as she wiped her tears away.
“Really?” She asked. He nodded.
“Yeah. So long as you keep living, and you don’t ever let them get you, they live on in your heart and in your memories.” He said with a smile.
“Okay.” She laid her head in his chest again, listening to the motors and gears as he continued walking.
“Oh we’re here! See? Safe and sound.” He said. She perked up to see the familiar lights close by. The spotlights, the noise of the city returning. She seemed happier.
“Can we get icecream? I’m kinda hungry.” She asked. He chuckled.
“Of course, I’ll even show you that trick I promised.” He winked.
“Thank you so much for helping us find our daughter! I cannot thank you enough.” The man in front of him was close to kissing his feet from the looks of it. It just so happens that they returned early from their trip and came home panicked when they didn’t find her.
“Its no problem really. If you ever need any help here,” he wrote his number on a piece of paper and handed it to them. “Id also be okay with babysitting, that brother of yours didn’t do a proper job if she managed to get out so easily.”
“Yes I assure you he won’t be trusted with such again. Thank you again so much.” He said. He trusted her parents. They looked relieved to see their lil girl again. The little girl snuggled in her momma’s arms, it looked like she’d live the rest of her life like that with how tight she was held.
“Alright, don’t go running away anymore lil missy. Just give me a call if you need anything.” He said. She turned to him and nodded, there was still a little chocolate icecream on her lips that was now rubbing off on her mother’s shirt.
“Okay Mister boot! Please come visit sometime!” She said waving goodbye. He smiled, as he nodded.
“Yeah, I’m sure we’ll run into each other again.” He said. “Just be good, and don’t ever give up.”
