literature

I just wanted to be human Chapter 20

Deviation Actions

giraffesonparades's avatar
Published:
1K Views

Literature Text

Song: Ghost
Artist: Howie Day

Song: The Little Things Give you Away
Album: Minutes to Midnight
Artist: Linkin Park

Chapter 20: I can take it

After putting Hatchworth back on the ground, Spine moved to Peter V and gave him a tight thank you hug. Peter smiled out of the corner of his mouth, patting the robots back.

“You don't have to thank me.”

“Mais... non... <<Of course I have to thank you.>>” Spine was surprisingly enthusiastic. Maybe it was the new lease on life. That he could do things for himself once more.

“Dad.” Peter VI coughed, letting them have their brief happy moment. “Could you help me with this now...” He plopped back in his chair and swiveled to the screen. Spine was mostly repaired, but Rabbit was still in the dark. Spine's smile quickly faded, now punishing himself for forgetting for however short the moment was, that his brother was still in limbo.

Peter V sighed and placed a comforting hand on Spine's shoulder. “Don't worry to much. You can't strain your new system.” He gave Spine a gentle smile. “Now the two of us can give him everything we've got.”

Spine nodded, still not about to forgive himself. There was a ping as the intercom system turned on, Brianna's voice coming over the loud speakers. “Dr. Walter. Micheal Reed has a phone call.” She announced.
Peter V shuffled to the intercom, pressing the button “He's kind of... indisposed at the moment.” He sighed, turning back to the sleeping engineer. “Whose the call from?”

“Its that Estates Lawyer again. This is his 3rd call.” There was annoyance in her voice, but dealing with Lawyers could do that to anybody.

“Take a message then... he will just have to call him back.”

The intercom went silent again, as well as the room. Peter V moved to his son, looking over his shoulder as he typed away at the keyboard. Giving him hints as they shifted through Rabbit's coding. Spine and Hatchworth stood around awkwardly. They couldn't do anything to help. Nothing. Only the Walters could fix Rabbit.

Hours passed before anyone addressed each other again. It was Peter V's stomach grumbling that broke the silence. They had worked through breakfast, lunch, and now it was dinner time. One couldn't think on an empty stomach. He raised his eyes from the desk at the two bots. Spine and Hatchworth were sitting patiently next to each other, watching the Walters intently. Their sight never wavering over the long hours.

“Hatchworth?” He asked and the bot immediately jumped to his feet, prepared. “Could you bring us some sandwiches?”

“Of course.” He tipped his hat to him, and then to Spine, before dashing out of the room. Something he could do. Finally.

Peter and Spine watched as Hatchworth eagerly ran out of the room for the kitchen, then turned to each other. “Spine... If you feel up to it.” He turned and nodded towards the slumbering Micheal. “Do you think you could take him to his bed? I think this is a longer nap than usual.”

Spine didn't like the idea of leaving Rabbit's side, but if he could do anything to make it easier for the Walters he couldn't say no. He gave him an affirming nod, “Qui.” And hustled to Micheal. Very carefully pulling the screw driver out of his hand and rocking him into a princess carry. He rested the human's head against his chest, his good arm folded over his broken one against his stomach, his legs dangling free over Spine's arm.

“I know I don't have to tell you this but...” Peter sighed as he held the door open for Spine. His eyes were soft and his words heartfelt. He worried for the young engineer. He reminded him a little of himself so young. And unlike his son, Micheal volunteered for his position. “Just, be careful with him. His damages... those we can't fix.”

The door closed behind him and as Spine carefully moved up the stairs he stared down at the sleeping human nestled in his arms. All this time he was so worried about Rabbit, he didn't even think of Micheal. But then Micheal wouldn't talk to him. He couldn't even look at him anymore. There was something unspoken between them, something Micheal was holding onto. The tension was so obvious to everyone. It made them uncomfortable to be in the same room as the two of them. When Micheal was awake he was uncharacteristically quiet. He took whatever orders the Walters gave him and then would go straight into his work. And he slept so much. For that Spine blamed the pills. He knew humans had to take them for their pain, but this seemed excessive. Micheal did it to the point where he could barely retain consciousness. Maybe he just didn't want to stay awake long enough to think.

They were making their way down the long and empty hallway to the humans rooms. Micheal began to squirm in Spine's arms. He was growing warm, sweat beading on his forehead. His body clearly distressed. With their relationship being as broken as it was, Spine could not be comforting. He could only hold him tighter so he wouldn't fall. But as he gripped harder Micheal seemed to squirm more. Having the cold metallic hands clenching him made him more stressed.

He let out a soft moan, flailing his arm up and smacking Spine in the chin. As his hand made contact with the cold titanium Micheal's eyes fluttered open. It took him a split second to see that it was Spine grabbing him, staring down at him. And only another to let out a frightened blood curdling scream. He kicked and flailed, fighting to escape Spine's tight grasp.
Spine's initial reaction was to hold him tighter, keep him from falling, but that would just make the situation worse. Peter asked him to be careful. So doing his best to let Micheal escape without hurting himself, he loosened his arms and pulled them back to his body.

Micheal rolled onto the carpet panting. His good hand gripped onto his chest. He thought it was just a nightmare, was this still part of it? His chest burned and he felt the palpitations return. He was warned to take it easy, not to get too excited or else- and there it was. It skipped a beat. Now he knew he was awake, because this was no kind of pain you could dream up. He crawled to the wall, leaning against it, trying to catch his breath and clenching his chest. His eyes were tightly held closed, forcing the heavy breath through his nostrils to try and calm himself.

Spine just stood still, quiet. His arms hung dead at his sides as he watch the human struggle to get away from him. He knew Spine wouldn't hurt him anymore, but he still wasn't over the one time he did. Even if Micheal didn't mean to, it hurt his feelings.

“What... time... is it?” Micheal panted heavily. At least he wasn't so frightened he couldn't talk to Spine.

“Il est... six heures.”

Micheal groaned and forced an eye open, glaring up at the silver bot. “I don't... know... what that... means.”

Spine tried to be patient with Micheal's annoyed tone. He had to be gentle. Slowly he knelled in front of him on the floor and raised six fingers, signaling that it was six o'clock.
Micheal blinked his eyes into focus and let out a relieved sigh. “Close enough....” His hand still massaging his chest he forced himself to his feet, not taking the hand that Spine had offered to help him. And with Robot in tow, Micheal made his way slowly to his bedroom. Spine wasn't about to leave him in case something happened, and he wasn't about to accept his help. And once again they weren't talking to each other. Or more like Micheal wasn't talking to him.

His bedroom door was thrown open, bouncing off the coiled spring. He moved quickly to his night stand and began to shift through the many bottles of medication. Curious, Spine followed him and stepped inside. Lately Micheal had been private about his room, and you could see why. It was in shambles. A lamp was broken on the floor, there were piles of dirty and bloody clothes. Plates of barely eaten food, and several empty prescription bottles. He wasn't caring for himself, he wasn't eating, hardly showered. And the pills, all those pills.

Micheal could feel his judging eyes over his room. Just another reason he wanted to turn it off. He popped open a bottle and poured out 3 or 4 different colors. Grabbing a bottle of water off the nightstand, he threw them into the back of his throat and guzzled it down. Now Spine was staring at him. As he swallowed hard they met eyes, the sparks flying.

“You have no right... to give me that look.” Micheal growled.

“Ce qui?” Spine slightly offended. What look! The fact that he was concerned? That he cared? That he was worried? Everything he said and did just irritated him more. So what? What did he do!?

“I know you think I take too much, too often. But do you even know what these pills are?” Micheal grabbed just one of the empty bottles on the floor, throwing it hard at Spine. He caught it over his head and read the label. “This is my heart medicine. Ya know... the stuff I have to take everyday. For the rest of my life.” The bitterness seeped into every syllable. Now he knew what this was about. “For the rest. Of my. Life. Do you understand what that means?” He turned to Spine now, his eyes were piercing. His words laced with anger. The pills were working, now he could be excited.

“Anything that says 'Don't do if you have heart problems' I can't do. I can't ride roller coasters, I can't drive a car for at least another year, I have to take these... these STUPID PILLS EVERY DAY!” He screamed, frustrated, and kicked the night stand. Then stomping on empty bottles with each word. Breathless he stood still again. “And if I don't... if I somehow  miss it... the irregular beat, the palpitations. Even when its over its not over! I will live with this... this... This!” He screamed ripping his shirt off and over his shoulders.

On his back was a large scar, raised tissue branching out like veins over his whole back. Where the bolt had gone through his flesh and leaving its mark permanently etched on him. Spine hadn't seen it before, nobody had. Micheal had said all of two words, and now exploded into anger at him. What could he do besides stand there and take it, trying not to show his shock.

“... and that's not even the worst of it...” Defeated he fell to his knees. Quiet tears streaming down his cheeks. “They said as I get older... it might effect my... my cognitive functions. Do you know what that means?” He sat quietly for a while, trying to keep back the tears enough to speak. “What does it mean to you... They fixed you. Everything is fine again. This whole thing is just a blip in your time-line... Will you even remember it in 30 years?” He placed his palm on his forehead, his breath cracking as the tears flowed freely. “Will you... when I won't? When I can't...”

Spine's hurt feelings faded as he watched Micheal break down. It was just a matter of time really, all that pent up anger and emotion. Perhaps this was why Peter sent him up with Micheal. He wanted them to patch things up, they just needed alone time together. And he was right. Micheal's damages couldn't be repaired.

He let out a sigh and very carefully sat next to Micheal on the dirty floor. Thankful that he let him be this close, but keeping his distance. If Micheal wanted to be comforted he would, but nothing without permission.

“... everything she tried to take away from you...” He sobbed. “She's taken from me... it just might take time..”

For a whole hour Micheal wept. Once Spine thought maybe he was dried out, there was a sniffle, a revelation, and then the sobbing started again. As he exhausted himself and the pain medicine kicked in, he sounded more drunk than depressed. At one point he even seemed to have fallen asleep sitting up. He titled forward slightly. Spine raising both hands and keeping them hovered around him in case he fell. He swayed, dipping closer, then shot his eyes open.

“... I don't know... why I'm so mad at you...” His words were slurred, stumbling as he turned and crawled to his bed. He was able enough to pull his chest against the side, hanging his arms over as he began to drift asleep again. “...I think.. its just cause...” He yawned. He barely seemed aware of his surroundings, maybe now Spine could help.

Spine helped pull him to his feet, trying to keep his grip soft and gentle to not disturb him. He made Micheal sit on the mattress, then helped him swing his legs over and finally taking his shoes off.

“...If I blame myself... If I go down... that... way...” Micheal mumbled. His eyes closed and his words distant. Spine unraveled the comforter and gently tucked him in.“... I won't... come back...”

Spine watched him sleep, sitting on the edge of the bed. For once he seemed peaceful. Maybe the nightmares would stop, maybe after confiding his fears he could learn to forgive himself. Humans were so complicated. Their lives so short, and so troubled. Micheal didn't deserve to suffer because Spine made a mistake. It was something he could never forget. In all his years, he remembered every moment he hurt the humans he loved.... trying to forget the times they hurt him.

<<If you have to hate me, blame me, I understand. I can take it. I have eternity to take it...>>

Hatchworth got closer to the end of the hallway. Raising an eyebrow to Spine. His back was leaned against Micheal's bedroom door. His head hung low and his eyes dim. The streaks of oil on his face were dry and crusty, old.

“Spine?” He didn't respond, his eyes still staring blankly at the carpeting. “They are ready to turn on Rabbit.... are you-”

<<I'm fine...>> Spine cleared his throat, standing straight.

“Okay then.” He grumbled, not believing it one bit. “But first I would clean your face... if you want them to believe that.”
Song: Ghost
Artist: Howie Day

Song: The Little Things Give you Away
Album: Minutes to Midnight
Artist: Linkin Park

Chapter 20: I can take it

okay two updates today... cause I love you people. This one almost killed me. :'( Micheal I love you! Why do I ruin your life? I don't know but... I love it.
Writing Spine's french is hard. I put what I remember but I'm afraid its not all right. I use the << arrows to show when he talks cause that's how in my french books it showed dialogue.

Previous Chapter: Toujours

Next Chapter 21: Rabbit, The Sorceress, and The Beast
© 2013 - 2024 giraffesonparades
Comments21
Join the community to add your comment. Already a deviant? Log In
mrsmyrnin's avatar
this is really good but i'm just wondering, Spine speaks english in the last bit, is that because it's from his point of view?