Two fics in one night? From moi? It's more likely than you think ;3
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The funerals never got easier to sit through.
Another coffin, another round of eulogies, another light show. It was a closed casket, all things considered. That poor boy down in the morgue couldn't do much with what was left. Danny hadn't written anything specific for the ceremony itself. Hadn't expected to go out so soon. They never did.
Truthfully, Otto hadn't known him as well as others had. He knew he was Lucy's boy, of course. Danny had been the one to convince him to finally stop by the work bay to get his knee joints realigned, and that's when he'd met the engineer. He had an allergy with stone fruits, just like his ma, and always ate double on wing nights. He'd been a good kid.
Lucy wasnt in the hall anymore. He saw her leave after the lights started blooming outside the station. Couldn't say he blamed her. If it had been Fi… shit, he'd have done much worse. It would be a blessing he didn't have his guns anymore.
When folks start filing out, Otto heads to the kitchens. Moving through the steps helped him think. He could take out as much anger as he wanted on the sauce. There's a small plate of wings once he's done, and he grabs a bottle of the "good stuff" on the way out.
He finds Lucy in the hangar hunched over a mess of scrap and wires. In all his years of knowing her, he'd never seen her look so small.
"Callaghan wanted to talk to you," He keeps his voice low for her sake. No point in startling her. "I told her to fuck off and let you breathe before dragging you through corporate bullshit."
Lucy's mouth twitches at the edge, glancing at the plate and the bottle of bourbon. "I hope not in those words. You know how she can get." Otto makes a show of rolling the shutters of his lens. "I'm a big boy. I can handle a stern talking to."
He nudges the plate closer but lets the silence linger. Neither of them were talkers on a good day. Lucy was still looking at whatever she was tinkering on. It takes him a moment to recognize the insignia carved into the metal.
"You know it ain't your fault, right?" It was loud in the empty hangar. The shine of her eyes is enough of an answer. He wished he knew something, anything to say.
Instead, he settles his suit down and disengages the link. It was dark enough in here that the transition's faster than usual. Otto settles against Lucy's side. "Sorry if I'm a bit damp," He croaks, "can't quite help it."
The two of them sit there in silence until the dam finally breaks. Lucy's tears are silent but her whole body shakes with them. Otto just sticks close, body humming with a gentle vibration.
Eventually, her breathing evens out again. She reaches for one of the wings. "Why'd you bring these, anyways?" Otto gives his best imitation of a shrug. "Figured you hadn't eaten in a while, what with you having to plan everything. And uh… they were his favorite."
Lucy finally gives him a watery smile. "You really are a big old sap under all that scrap." She takes a bite of the wing to ignore Otto's offended hissing. They'd definitely gone cold by now, but she didn't seem to mind. "… Thanks, Otto."
"Anytime." He slips back into the cavity of his suit, frame shuddering as he reconnects. "Oh, I almost forgot!" His chassis opens up and he pulls out the bottle. "I'm told this is the good stuff, but uh… I ain't got a way to tell that."
Turns out it's terrible. The last time he trusts Rhian's opinions on human liquor, in any case. Still, they sit and exchange stories until Lucy's near tipping over in her chair. Neither bring it up the next day, or any time after really, but whenever Otto can spot her slipping too deep into work he'll stop by with a plate of wings.
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Lupus Automata is, of course, by @catboymoments!
Lucy and Danny belong to @wowa-bublord (this had me teary eyed I hope you know)
Otto is mine!
