Chapter Text
"We'll see about that"
Stupid sour Leo Dooley. You'll never get that last hit, though, I would've preferred it over my own father. He's already done enough.
...
I wonder.. How am I thinking right now?
...
I only had the time to mull over my death last time I died because I was alive under the rubble for a while, I wonder how...
"I think it's booting up," The voice of a teenage boy rang out as the first thing I heard. I opened my eyes, registering the appearance of the curious blonde boy above me who seemed to light up when he realized I was awake. "Woaaah! Cool, Schwoz, you fixed him!" He looked over his shoulder, talking to... Schwoz? What's a Schwoz?
"The hell is a Schwoz?" I let slip, sitting up and deciding to take a look around wherever I am now. It seemed to have a consistent blue and red theme among the silver just about everywhere. Just another high tech cave, I mean, at least this one has more personality than my dad's, Donald's or Giselle's labs. Maybe not being a lab is the reason it's fun.
The blonde boy laughed at my question and set a firm hand on my shoulder, a heavy slap for someone who seemed to be younger and smaller than me. He spoke up with a smile on his face, "That's what everyone says. Schwoz is like an engineer sorta guy, I dunno.. Uh, welcome to the mancave! Schwoz would've fixed you up somewhere else but his lab is getting its yearly cleaning and he wanted to fix you the moment he saw you, soooo..." He trailed off before seemingly catching a loose braincell and speaking again, "Oh, yeah! I'm Henry, I kinda work here." He gestured loosely behind him with a little laugh, looking at me like he was awaiting my own introduction.
"Marcus," I stated simply. It's been a while since I've had to introduce myself, last time I did was with... Donald, if I'm not mistaken. Wait, this kid looks young, I wonder..
And, before I could stop myself, I asked, "Uh, how old are you?" I asked awkwardly, adjusting myself on the weird circle couch I was on. I didn't take much notice to it till now. Henry perked up, looking a bit surprised by the inquiry, though, he did answer, "Oh, uh, I'm fifteen, what about you?" He's quite young.. I was that age when... Anyways, how old am I? I never really thought about it until now... I was fifteen when I died but two years passed before Giselle brought me back but did I age? I wasn't even alive those two years... Guess I would've been seventeen... How long has it been... I'd say a year, maybe... hopefully....
"Hello, earth to Marcus?" Henry waved his hand in front of my face, his own twisting in slight concern as he tried to gage a reaction from me. "Oh, sorry. I think I may be 18 but I could be wrong, I don't exactly know anymore," I shrugged, Henry's reaction a mix of curiosity and surprise at the answer.
...
I'm out again.. I wonder why.
...
Might as well sleep. Not like I can, but, I can just stop thinking until it's time to power back on and talk to whoever decided to rebuild me.
...
I want my dad.
The next time I woke up, I seemed to find myself completely repaired. I didn't notice originally, but, the feeling of the fake skin covering my exoskeleton is a lot different compared to lacking the skin. I guess I must've looked real odd to that Henry kid.
.... I'm alone, I think...
I get up and look around, again. Same high tech cave as last time. Wonder if I could find a mirror....
After a bit of aimless stumbling around, I found one in plain sight. Taking a look at myself was a little scary. I looked the same. Completely and utterly the same.. "How did they..." I uttered to myself and surprisingly, someone else was there to hear.
The odd accented voice hit my ears for the first time, foot steps pattering towards me as he spoke, "I managed to find your.. Original design somewhere in your memory." He explained, standing next to me.
"Oh," I muttered quietly, setting the mirror back as I looked down at my hands. A moment passed and I managed to find the courage to speak again, "Thank you." glanced at the short adult man next to me, continuing when I saw his face twist in a slight confusion, "For taking the time to rebuild me and all that. You could've just used me for parts, it's not like I could've stopped you." I laughed. Honestly, I think that might've been the most genuine display of any positive emotion I've ever experienced.
He smiled at me and patted my arm before just.. Leaving...
I feel like a kid. An awful and broken kid.
I am awful.
I feel odd. Being alive again and not being immediately set for evil is weird.
... I feel heavy. And hopeless.
I don't even know these people and their kindness is going to waste on me. And I'm letting them.
I'm horrible.
This place is full of cool things.. And they're trusting me in here.... They're trusting me.
... If I power off on the couch I'll stop thinking.
But if I power off on the couch... Something might happen.
... I need to stop overthinking.
...
It's too late to power back on... But I'd hate to scare them when they come back down, I'm just standing in the middle of their high tech cave.
...
...
I feel like I'm on a bed... And I hear people talking.
"Yeah, Ray told me to take him home because he was creeping him out. Marcus is pretty chill though."
I'm pretty sure that's Henry.
"Oh, look, his eyes opened!" Another boy pointed out.
I opened my eyes? Huh. Well, I guess my sensors didn't trigger on for a moment.
The other kid who spoke was a curly headed boy who was, oddly, reaching out to me as if he was going to pet a cat. I didn't really mind, just kinda yawned.
"Cool! He's like a real person!" The curly haired boy mused, a dark skinned girl smacked his hand away from me as he was slowly reaching for my hair, earning a quiet, drawn out, 'oww' from him. She gave him an annoyed look as she spoke, "Then don't treat him like a new pet!" She scolded, turning to me.
"I'm Charlotte, the guy who tried to pet you is Jasper, we're Henry's friends," She introduced, offering her hand, which I took. She pulled me to sitting up and I adjusted myself. Henry was sitting next to me on the small bed, Charlotte sitting at the end and Jasper standing awkwardly next to the bed. I moved my legs and Jasper immediately took his chance to sit down, which was sort of funny.
Henry smiled at me before looking like he remembered something, which, I assume he did because he immediately started talking. "Oh! Marcus, you okay with sitting around in my room when we go to school? You can sleep or do whatever as long as you don't break things," He laughed and I nodded. I don't feel all that talkative today.
It was nice watching them talk, but, of course, they had to go.
... I wonder if Henry has a dad.
Does he care about him?
I hope so.
I hope he never has to go through the pain of feeling utterly betrayed by the man who raised him.
... I miss him.
My dad, I mean.
... Who am I even talking to.
And who am I kidding.
Even in the memories where I thought he cared for me he didn't.
Why would he.
Why would anyone.
... I wonder what he would think. Finding out I'm alive again.
I think I can be good this time.
I think this is my new life so why let it go the same way.
... I'm an awful person.
... And I miss my dad.
... But I guess I'm here now.
...
"Marcus, get up, Henry's here!" Ray's voice woke me up like a slap to the face, a yawn taking over my body as I could barely keep myself awake.
It was only a month ago that Schwoz made a machine that basically turned me human, I don't know how it works and I don't really care for it. I haven't had my bionic powers in a long time, that's for the best, honestly, I like being a normal human instead of a bionic android.
Oh yeah, Henry's here! I get out of bed, my body deciding it's the best time to reveal the aching pain in my neck. Damn you, weird, evil sleeping habits! Oh well.
Getting to the main part of the cave, Henry and Jasper are sitting on the couch and Charlotte at the console. I go over and give Henry a hug, shaking him around a bit, to his protests and laughs. He feels like a brother, sometimes, maybe a cousin more, but, I don't have a reference for comparison.
"Hey, Henry! You finally get rid of that cold?" I hummed, sitting next to Jasper who was violently trying to find something on his phone to show someone. Henry nodded, sighing before he started up a small story, "Yeah. Piper threw a tissue box at my face, which is unrelated to how I got better but very rude." He laughed and I found myself following suit.
I like my new life. It feels right. I like feeling normal.