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honestly that one bit in my great fic exchange fic that's like "Mary liked things just right. Everything had a place and every place had a thing. Maybe that was why she cleaned the whole house. Maybe that was why Natasha seemed too good; she wasn’t something that Mary had perfected." is one of the Best Things i have ever written
the first time i heard your voice
for the great fic exchange
prompt: natasha/mary/helene + realizing that they’re all in love with each other
words: 2174
category: f/f, multi
no warnings apply!
read on ao3
nothing matters, everything matters
prompt: “eventually... you just move on” with natasha rostova
requested by: @taulorswifts
summary: Natasha stares out the window. Waiting. For him. For either him. She doesn’t care at this point. Maybe she never did. But she wants someone, anyone, to come up to the door and knock and come in and hold her and tell her that it will all be okay because God knows she can’t convince herself.
category: natasha gen
words: 749
read on ao3!
so starry-nightengale and i were talking about the musical and chelley and this headcanon happened. under a read more as to not flood any dashboards!
Chell had never had anyone to guide her through Aperture; she had always been pretty good at guiding herself and figuring out which way to go.
But, after waking up in the relaxation center to a chipper British voice knocking on her door, things had been different.
She finally had someone who she could genuinely call a friend. He warned her about turrets and told her which catwalk to portal onto. He made waking up in the hellhole of Aperture and having to go through it all over again just a little less unbearable.
They were on their way to the outdoors then, he telling her which way to take, and to “Well, just follow the rail, actually.” Chell had held back a giggle then, wanted to maintain her tough demeanor. Her cheeks had warmed a little, and she was grateful that Wheatley was looking down and getting rather flustered while doing so. She had grown to like Wheatley, much to her dismay. She couldn’t recall ever liking anyone, not even trusting anyone. After the last time Here, she found it very hard to let anyone into her bubble. Wheatley, however, had managed to squeeze in just fine.
Chell snapped back to reality, and realized just how tired she was. She felt rather discouraged, much to her dismay. Her voice then boomed throughout the facility, making another witty, rude remark about Chell. She then let the weight of everything settle onto her shoulders, and she collapsed under the weight and slid to lay down on the floor.
Wheatley, noticing this, rushed over to Chell’s side. After many failed attempts of trying to get Chell back onto her feet—These mostly consisted of Wheatley calling Chell “Very orange”—He took a deep sigh. “We’ll get through this,” he said gently. “T-together. Just the two of us, love, you and me. I promise.”
At this point, Wheatley was fresh out of ideas. He began gently humming a soft tune, then eventually began speaking in a sing-song tone, progressively getting louder and more confident. “Pick up that gun, and straighten your jumpsuit… She said it looked bad; I think it’s okay. You beat her once, now let’s go for a repeat. Just bring me with you, and we’re on our way!” Chell lifted her head then, and failed to hold back a grin. She liked where this was going.
“Suddenly Wheatley… Is right here beside you. You’ve given me purpose - I know what I’m for! I used to guard humans - but now I will guide you to freedom and baked goods - Wheatley’s your core!” By this point, Wheatley had broken into song. Why, Chell had no idea. Stifling up as much confidence as she could muster, she tried her best to continue the tune.
“I’ve never had a helper to guide me; ‘she’s self-reliant’, that was the phrase. The spark of conviction that’s burning inside me, Once was an ember, but now it’s a blaze…” Chell slowly trailed off, and glanced at Wheatley. His eyes shone; stopping now would be a letdown for them both.
“Suddenly Wheatley… Is right here beside me. He showed that he trusts me - he leapt off his rail! And through this confusion, I’ve got him to guide me; if we work together, then we can’t fail!” Chell stood up and grabbed Wheatley’s hand. He grinned his biggest grin yet, and she smiled back. They kept the song going, enjoying the happiness of this moment amidst the darkness of Aperture. “Please tell me, darling, you’re going to be clever… Tell me you’ll get through these tests in our way?” Wheatley sang, a worried look passing over his face. “All of her chambers are harder than ever, but now that we’re ready, I think we’re okay!” Chell replied, swinging her portal gun and doing a spin.
“Suddenly Wheatley,” she chorused, holding onto the note.
“Suddenly Wheatley,” he replied.
“Is here to provide me…”
“Here to provide you!”
“Limited guidance…” Chell jokingly sang, adding in a silly glare.
“Well, now, that’s grateful…” Wheatley replied with a sarcastic roll of his eyes.
“To get through this floor!”
“It’s what I’m for!”
“Finally an ally…”
“Right by your side dear!”
“Standing beside me!” Chell said, at the same time that Wheatley chimed in with “Rolling beside you!” They both looked at each other then, cheeks warming.
“To face down that monster!”
“To face down that monster!”
“To face down that monster!”
“To face down that monster!”
“Switch off neurotoxin!”
Chell’s eyes softened then, and she almost whispered, “Wheatley’s my core…”
Chell found herself rather stricken then, staring at Wheatley’s goofy grin and soft gaze. He was looking at her in a way that she couldn’t quite grasp; it was something between amusement, amazement and adoration. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed Wheatley’s tie and pulled his face to hers.
He stiffened instantly, but then relaxed and returned the favor. Chell dropped her Portal Gun, placing her arm behind his head and ruffling his hair. He laughed into her, and she felt it enter her mouth and vibrate all the way to the heels of her long fall boots. She grinned, and pulled away slightly to look at him.
He looked distant. His eyes were somewhere else, and he was frozen in place. Chell waved her hand in front of him, hoping to snap him out of it. She was genuinely worried now, hoping that she hadn’t done anything wrong. She waved once more, her mind spinning with a please be okay please be okay.
Wheatley still would not move. Chell, distraught, almost went on with her test in hopes that by the time she solved it he would be back and ready to help again. The chamber was suddenly very, very quiet. It almost frightened her.
Just as she was about to turn around, the corners of his mouth began to lift. She spun around to face him, and she found a dopey Wheatley with an even dopier grin. She took a step back, trying not to giggle. She bent down and picked up her Portal Gun; as much as she hated the thing, it had become a soft of safety blanket. Kind of like him.
As she realized his, he fainted and fell onto the floor with a loud thud.
Chell was surprised, but not shocked. Wheatley was not the type who look well to surprises, and apparently she had given him enough to be shocked about for a month. Fondly shaking her head, she carried on with her test.
The test was simple on her level; merely having to collect a reflection cube and angling it to hit the correct activators. Flinging appeared to be involved as well. Taking off at a jog to the other end of the chamber, Chell shot the appropriate portal.
Wheatley’s eyes shot open. He was on the floor, and his head hurt and his chest was buzzing and his stomach felt as if it were trying to fly out of him, but in a good way. Puzzled, he tried to remember what had caused him to end up in this situation. As he did this, he pushed himself up–a task that proved rather difficult— and scratched the back of his head, right in the spot where—
Wheatley remembered. Cheeks warming, he stood and brushed himself off. He scanned the chamber for Chell, and found her sitting by the exit, feet dangling off of the lift. She turned her head in his direction, and seeing that he was awake, seemed to lighten. “J-just, you know, testing out the floor. W-we wouldn’t want it to collapse or anything. I-I mean, it has been known to happen around here-I blame Black Mesa- so… y'know… can’t be too careful. I would be more than happy to, ah, ‘take the fall’ for you-no pun intended.” Chell was now in front of him, motioning for him to step though the portal. He took a weary step, and pretended to test the floor to further prove his point. Chell covered her mouth with her free hand to stifle a laugh. She stepped through the portal, which led to a hidden room. It appeared that this room could lead them to the lift. Coughing awkwardly, Wheatley continued. “Well, alright, pun intended, but- okay, you understand. Sorry it took so long, by the way, I was just- just trying to be thorough. Wouldn’t want anything to hurt you. After all, without you, I- I’m a core without anyone to wake up. I’m just another overgrown vine. I- I’m nothing.” Chell stopped leading then and spun around. Wheatley’s eyes darted back and forth, and he gulped. His voice always seemed to run faster than his mind did, but the look in Chell’s eyes said that this time, it was okay.
“Sooo…. I’m guessing we’re just going to pretend that- y'know, that didn’t just happen? I mean, not what I just said-however, that would be a nice added bonus… an extra whatever in the bag, but anyway- I-It might be easier, really, in the long run. Focus on the test. I mean, we seem to be behind enough as it is, a-although you are doing very well…” He trailed off, and glanced around the room. Neither of them moved for a long time, and they both stared at the hasty paintings that covered the walls. Chell’s eyes flashed with sadness, and she swallowed. Glancing back at Wheatley and smiling, she stepped onto the lift and motioned for him to hurry, and fast. He leaped though the portal, barely making it onto the moving platform before it was out of reach. She managed to grab a hold of his arm, and she kept hold until the lift came to a jolting stop at the exit. Chell didn’t let go of his arm, and he didn’t make her. He suddenly became aware of her thumb making small circles in the crook of his elbow. Noticing his stare, she slid her hand down his arm and linked her fingers with his, gave a small squeeze, and continued to the elevator that awaited them. He followed, nearly tripping over his own feet.
Once they were both in the elevator, but not without some trouble of letting them both in, Wheatley awkwardly shuffled his feet. Nervously, he said, “Um, though of course, obviously, i-if you wanted to d-do it again at any point, I wouldn’t have any complaints, just- y'know, maybe just warn me first-so that I don’t have to test anything else…Well, not that but-Ugh, I am not helping my case, am I?”
