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Once the two robots had entered the store, Jevin lodged his axe into the door handles to prevent entry. The doors shook and jostled at the repeated impacts from the would-be intruder, but they soon got frustrated and left.
The blue sprunki glanced back at the survivors. At least, he hoped they were survivors, and that he hadn’t just locked himself in with two agents of…
“…you okay?” He asked.
Fun Bot seemed to be out of breath, their paint scuffed, and their screen burned with an expression of sheer horror. “…yes…” They responded. “…thank you.”
The computer didn’t respond. He was missing his trademark hat and table, and his friendly face was replaced with one unblinking eye.
Jevin breathed a quiet sigh of relief. “Good.” He glanced back outside, scanning for any hostile sprunki. “…we should stay here for the night. Better safe than sorry.”
“Agreement.” Fun Bot pulled themselves off the concrete floor and picked up their… brother? Jevin wasn’t exactly sure just what their relationship was, if they were family or just friends…
Not like he could just ask Clukr.
…Clukr.
“…hey.”
Three eyes turned to meet Jevin’s. “Yes?” Fun Bot cocked his head.
Jevin almost restrained himself from asking. On one hand, it could dredge up some pretty terrible emotions for the two. On the other, if there was a chance he could save them …
“…do you know if your creators are alive?”
Fun Bot frowned. “…I… do not believe-”
“THEY ARE ALL DEAD”
The robot nearly dropped Mr. Fun Computer, and Jevin flinched. “...I see. Sorry for your loss.”
It took them a moment to find their voice, but Fun Bot responded. “…it is not your fault.”
“I know.” Jevin glanced around the shelves and grabbed a can of fruit. “I’m still sorry it happened to you. Do you two need to eat?”
“We sustain ourselves off solar power.”
“You don’t happen to have a can opener on you, then?”
Fun Bot tapped a concealed button on their stomach, and one of their fingers retracted. It then returned as a can opener.
Jevin held out the can, and Fun Bot opened it. “…thanks.” Jevin said as he popped off the lid.
“Consider it repayment for saving us from… him.” Fun Bot sat down, placing Mr. Fun Computer between the two.
The can was filled with peaches. Not Jevin’s favorite fruit, but he hardly had the right to be picky these days. The can was gone in just a few minutes.
Jevin considered trying to say something to Fun Bot. Asking them how they were holding up in the apocalypse. Offering to let the two join him for a while. Something like that.
He settled on a simple “…you okay?”
Fun Bot slowly looked up. “You already asked me that.”
“I mean after… everything happened.”
“…I don’t know.” Fun Bot admitted. “Physically, my body is unharmed. But my internal systems are… damaged. And I do not know how, or why.”
“…when did this feeling start?”
“Feeling?” The robot thought for a moment. “Perhaps it is a feeling. And… it started when I last saw my creators.”
Jevin grimaced. “…Fun Bot, I believe you are feeling grief.”
“Grief.”
“…you’re sad that your creators are dead.”
“I am aware of the definition.” Fun Bot snapped. “…but I think you are right.”
“THEY ARE NOT REAL”
Yet another whisper from the computer startled the pair. “…you at least seem to be doing better than him.” Jevin noted.
“He has been like this for a while now.” The robot noted. “I hope he will return to his old self soon.”
“Well… everyone grieves in different ways.” Jevin rubbed his arm.
“…Jevin.”
“Yeah?”
“May I question you?”
“Shoot.”
“…will this feeling go away? Grief, I mean.”
The cultist didn’t have an answer.
He didn’t have anyone to grieve. He hardly knew any of the sprunki outside of Gray, spent all his time prophesizing the end of the world, and now it was here.
Jevin was really wishing he was better with people.
“…I believe it lessens with time.”
“But it does not go away.”
“Permanently? No.”
Fun Bot looked back down. “I understand.”
The three stayed quiet for a long while, only the distant sounds of a bass drum to break the silence.
“…Jevin.”
The cultist nodded.
“I want to cry.”
He nodded again.
“But I am not able to.”
Jevin nodded one more time. “…that’s a common sentiment.”
“…I’m assuming you two don’t need sleep?”
“No.”
“Then would you mind keeping watch and waking me if anything’s outside?”
“No.”
“Thanks.”
“Good night, Jevin.”
“…goodnight.”