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Razmuth by ArtofZombiy
ShellShock: Evening Walk by chinara
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ShellShock - Ch. 67
Shell ShockWriters: Denny and LeilaRating: PG-RWarnings: Ratchet/Azimuth. Violence.Disclaimer: We value our lives too much to even dare think about claiming Ratchet and Alister as our own. We borrow them for an RP, so don't worry. [Put the Wargroks back into your cage!]Summary: Everyone's nightmare is to wake up in a cold, dark place without a clue where one is. Sadly, that's what's happened to us. What's even better, we have monsters and weird encounters to endure as well. And then there's them…Lucky, right? If I ever get out of here, I will need some therapy sessions.Chapter 61“All right, robot… we are almost done.”Purple fingers slid across the tubes forming Zane’s neck. Their path was trailed by orange light that faded into magenta lines woven into fine mesh. Golden eyes focused on the final cable whose damage slowly faded as it completed its operation. “There. The repair is complete. As promised, no pain – if anything, improved flexibility for your joints.” The Shapeshifter stepped back into view of the robot sitting before him, lifting his chin to have one last glance at its work. “Any discomfort or need for readjustments? Tell me now, or there will be nobody left to fix it for you.”Zane, with all of his willpower, kept his movements slow as he dislodged the entity’s grip. He rotated his head from side to side, then tilted it into different reactions. Like the Shifter said, his neck moved more flexibly now. Nothing pinched or stretched or burned. It hadn’t felt that good in months.“Everything seems fine,” he said curtly. His mouth worked for several seconds before he added, “Thanks. It feels… good.”“Of course it does.” The Shifter smirked and pulled back, crossing its arms. “You are welcome, robot. It is rare for anyone to be graced with my refined skills, even more so an inf— non-Shapeshifter lifeform.” For a brief moment, pride flickered over the entity’s face as he scoffed. “You are lucky I was still alive to repair your neck. Any of those practitioner hacks in the facility would have botched your beautiful cabling beyond recognition.”Zane felt his face twitch, pulling from his cheek to the damage hiding under his visor. He relaxed when the Shifter stopped itself from using that utterly shitty phrase Shapeshifters liked to sling around.That didn’t stop the next irritated twitch. He scowled at the other, crossing his arms.“I don’t know if you’re complimenting or insulting me. But since I love attention, I’ll take the last part ‘bout my cabling, because it is beautiful. “Didn’t think you had it in you to be so gentle.”The Shapeshifter blinked and tilted its head. A scowl appeared on its forehead while it transformed the ground beneath its feet into a soft throw pillow and sat down. Its eyes flickered faintly. “My task was to repair you. Being rough on you would not have been conducive to saving your neck. And since you are now back in a stable condition…”The entity touched the ground once more, only this time the rock Zane had sat on turned into a floor pillow as well.“We can go back to sitting uncomfortably in silence to one another.”Zane rolled his eyes. It didn’t stop him from sinking back onto the cushion, rubbing his fingers across the smooth material. Sue him, he wanted some comfort again after the recent shitshow. He couldn’t believe that he would even have these feelings, even in the current privacy of his mind, but he already missed the peace of the Superior’s room and their strange hospitality.He’d have time to a have a panic attack later about how another of the strongest Shapeshifters had made a pillow right beneath his ass.“Not really a fan of another awkward silence. Plus, something is going on we could talk about.” He eyed his unwilling companion’s form critically. “Your edges are… blurry.”“… You are awfully concerned for the person who, as you so elegantly put it, has fucked up your life.” Shifter scowled and looked to the side, rustling its fingers through its hair. Shoulders tensing up, it pressed its lips together as if trying to concentrate. “Are you sure you want to talk to me, robot? Shouldn’t you be scared for your life or something?”“I’ve re-scheduled my panic attack to a later point. I’m currently reveling in my emotional numbness, so no thanks.” Drumming his fingers on the cushion, the robot considered the thought that was pushing to the forefront of his processor. You know, I spent some really pleasant hours with the Superior? This is partly the source of numbness. I’m still processing that this happened.He was still suspicious of the Shifter. Definitely angry, and certainly afraid. He wouldn’t mention anything about the Superior in the Shifter’s presence. He wasn’t that ‘numb’ or curious.At the same time, a part of Zane… wanted to know more about it. He didn’t know yet what changed, only that those long conversations with the Superior had done something. Something had shifted in his processor – and wasn’t that an ironic wordplay in this situation. And the Shapeshifter in front of him did treat him sort of civilly despite his distaste for it, did heal the damage to his neck with the least amount of touching possible, and did make waiting around physically more comfortable.Neither of them had any idea when the two Lombaxes would return. But as long as it felt, it couldn’t take days either.When they would return, they were going to kill the Shifter. The idea twisted something cold in his chest, which was stupid. This wasn’t the first time he’d see somebody who he had spent time with die.I’m about to do something stupid, Zane concluded.“I’m not concerned about you. But-” He shrugged. “I’m not really mad at you at the moment either. We’ve already ranted and spewed at each other, how you hurt and marked me, etc., etc. I’ve gotten it temporarily out of my system.”“And honestly? I’m tired of that angsty slag. I recently spent several hours in an… enlightening and most of all pleasant conversation with one of your kin.”And ironically on to another Shapeshifter, with whom he had shared only positive experiences, and hey, why not try to continue the trend? His existence was fucked already, anyway. “I won’t force you into talking. I’m overwhelmed, not stupid.”That’s a lie.“We’ve managed to be civil to each other. Well, we’re as civil as two assholes can be. And you’d probably like to do something better than sit in silence, too.”The entity stared at him, brows furrowed and lips curled. Fingers tapped agitatedly onto the floor pillow while the Shifter remained quiet and looked away again. The robot startled at the thought that he had found the entity briefly attractive as it lounged on the other side of the room, in that well-kempt, fitted attire, and rolled up sleeves.“… Maybe I should examine your head. You must have obviously injured your interior processors.” The Shapeshifter snarled quietly as its fingers clawed into the fabric. “Last time you saw me you were screaming as if I was about to kill you – and this time you are just… calm.” It paused. “You confuse me, robot. You always have. If only you hadn’t, you wouldn’t--”The Shapeshifter yelped, suddenly cramping up and curling into the pillow. The robot had not imagined the blurry edges, after all, as the Shifter’s body dissolved erratically, almost like a glitching hologram. In those moments, the hacker realized that the Shapeshifter was nowhere in as good shape as it had made him believe. At least judging by the numerous cuts, gashes and bruises that seemed too fresh to be old war wounds.“What the-!” Whatever scathing retort Zane had to the Shifter’s nonsense, it was forever lost in his shock. He certainly wasn’t calm anymore.Pillows. The dumb pillows. After healing Zane’s damage to his neck.“What the fuck is wrong with you?! Why would you use your powers when you’re that badly hurt?!”The Shapeshifter snarled, fingers curling deeper. "A-a-and let you die? No way i--I--I would let that happen. Give me... Give me a moment--""Now who's being irrational?" The snarl made Zane growl back. Oh, fuck this, if it really was true that the Shifter couldn't do anything to him... He scrambled over to it, glowering down. "You insult me, question if something happened to my processor just because I'm currently calm around you. Then you turn around and say this shit! We barely know each other!"“Exactly – we don’t know e-e-each other.” The Shapeshifter squinted, clenching its fist until its body consolidated once more. “So what’s it to you why I did what? I am going to die, within the foreseeable future, while you don’t have to. If before dying I can do something nice for you, maybe all this shit will not have been in vain.”A scoff.“That’s just more bullshit. You marked me as your property, but you don’t know me. You can’t have any investment in me. So why would you want to help me in the first place?” He pointed his finger into the Shifter’s face.“Why do you feel you’ve got to make up for anything you did? You proudly claimed before that Shapeshifters are entirely selfish.”“That’s right, I am entirely selfish. I only dedicated my entire existence serving a self-absorbed Shapeshifter that was willing to throw everything away we had built up together for its own desires.” The entity’s face contorted briefly in a flare of anger. “All I wanted was its recognition and adoration – so I did everything for it, no matter how dirty, how repulsive the task was to me. No matter how much I hated what I had to do, what I had to endure. If it would get me closer to winning its affection, I would do it. And I suppose that being in this… special place, completely removed from what drove me for the years I have existed, has forced me to realize how much of my life was for nothing.”A chuckle escaped the Shifter. “Well, except anything involving you.”Zane certainly wasn’t religious, but he prayed to Orvus for patience. At least the Shifter didn’t look like dying anymore, even if the damage was only hidden again.“You’re not making any sense. What about me has…” His processor skipped as he took in the small smile on the Shapeshifter’s face, how it softened its expression, and noted how handsome it was.And he claimed, even just indirectly, that something about Zane had made his existence worthwhile.He ruthlessly cut off the tangents his processor wanted to run along to sate his curiosity. Instead, he shook his head to gather his words.“Again, we barely know each other. How could I’ve made such a positive effect on your life?”“I would never go as far as to postulate that I know you, robot. But… do tell me. Did you never find it odd that of all workers in the facility, you were the only one that could keep Shapeshifters at bay with your singing? Or that you were the only one that — well, that did not have a violent encounter with a Shapeshifter up until…” The Shifter gestured towards its eyes before looking away.“… I liked patrolling whenever you were out and about. Especially when you would sing a little. It was a welcome reprieve from wrangling control away from power-hungry entities in our ranks – and if I could ensure you would be left alone? Even better. It was the least I could offer in exchange for what you unknowingly gave me.”“Wait, it wasn’t my singing-?” His mouth fell open.“Do not get me wrong. Any Shapeshifter would become more mellow hearing you sing. After all, we love all things beautiful, and your voice is... very much one of those things. At least for me.”The spike of panic dissolved, leaving his systems still running faster than they should. Okay, okay, crisis averted, he could manage this amount of anxiety and fear… Fuck, back then he’d been in more danger than he’d realized. Right now he really didn’t feel like unpacking those feelings and letting them run their course.“Alright, that makes some sort of sense. My voice is beautiful, as you’ve said.” Zane straightened up and pressed his fist against his chest, playing up his pride. “No wonder it enchanted you, especially since you don’t have voices.”The Shapeshifter snorted. ”You mean Zephyr - the Superior does not have a voice. It is the one imperfection it could not figure out. Thus I ordered all Shapeshifters to mute their chords so that its Excellency would not feel... inferior.” With a sigh the Shifter sunk deeper into its pillow, still keeping an eye on the robot. ”What is it about you that makes me chatty? I have not told anyone any of this before. Do not tell me you have some social enhancer program activated.” That or it was its imminent death that loosened its tongue.That wasn't what Zane had expected. So, all of the other Shapeshifters or many of them could actually speak? The entire mystery surrounding their telepathy, why they giggled but never spoke- there wasn't a supernatural reason behind. Just expectations and protecting the reputation of one of their leaders within their hierarchy.It was so... mundane. By now, he should maybe have expected something like that, after the Superior- Or was it Zephyr? Was that another special title for the Superior? "I swear I have no such programming." He switched to the topic that felt safer to him. "And even if I did, I doubt it could affect you even in your sorry state." Trailing into silence, Zane fought with himself because that wasn't everything he wanted to say. And he was a liar again, because nothing at all about it hinged on safe or not safe.The Shifter laughed as a faint smile stole itself on its lips. ”I would not know, robot. It is not like I would know everything about your structure, after all. But, I will take what I get, whichever is true.” Turning towards the mech, the Shapeshifter looked at Zane and that the robot was still kneeling next to it. “Would you not prefer sitting on the pillow? Or would you rather I pull it over for you?”"And how would you pull it over? By letting your arm fall off?" Zane scoffed, standing up. "Not a chance. You stay put here and don't use any of your energy for unnecessary stunts. "Also, if you insist on being polite, especially after you marked me, then the least you could do is call me by my name. I'm Zane, not 'robot' or 'mech'."The Shapeshifter blinked as it could not help but stare at the hacker when he went off on his quest to bring his pillow over. What a— the entity could not even remember the last time someone had spoken in such a tone with it, with neither malice nor fear. And to consider that this was the robot that had been marked by the very Shapeshifter present! The smile on its lips grew larger, until the Shifter could no longer suppress its amusement. What a curious individual. ”Right. I forgot that non-Shapeshifters around here place quite a bit of value on their given names. Is it not much more cumbersome to remember every life forms preferences instead of their species or function?” Propping its head up on its palm, the Shifter chuckled and watched Zane across the room. ”But I digress. I shall respect your request.” Clearing its throat, the Shapeshifter inhaled quietly. “Zane.”Several things happened in the next five seconds. The chain of events started with the simple act of Zane - having heard the Shifter's explanation about Shapeshifters' voices but not yet having internalized it - dropping the pillow he was carrying. But it wasn't simply the act of the Shifter speaking. The robot had not expected the rich, deep timbre that spoke his name or the affection in that voice.Stupefied as he was, he kept walking. His feet tangled in the dropped pillow. The following events were so embarrassing that the struck the memory from his processor, but they involved many a flailing limbs and undignified noises.Eventually, he crashed onto his back in a long sprawl, blinking upside-down at the Shifter. Who was still lying on his pillow, now looking like a model from a high-end fashion magazine, and his entire body erupted with heat. Golden eyes looked down at him, as the entity made no motion to move or help Zane up.“You were right,” it mused, “This way of procuring the pillow definitely was better.” Its gaze darted over the robot’s body, followed by a raised eyebrow. “Did you hurt your interior ventilation system? Your temperature is raising quite notably.”Zane could have moved, even just rolled onto his front, yet he felt pinned by those eyes. While looking at things upside down wasn’t a regular occurrence for him, he adapted quickly. And the Shifter’s gaze darted in a way – lingering a micro-second longer on his legs, his hips, and his chest – that meant he was…“Are you checking me out?” he blurted.“How else would I be aware that your body temperature is elevated? You just tumbled over yourself, so of course I would check you out to ensure that you did not damage yourself again.” The entity smirked. “Is that a crime?”“You didn’t deny you were checking me out. That phrase doesn’t have that much medical connotations, and you’d know that.” Glowering, he put his arms behind his neck and arched his back so that he could directly stare at him. It just so happened it made his chest push up.Shifter wanted to tease? Zane would tease right back! The Shapeshifter chuckled, leaning down a little. “Careful there. It may not be advisable to play with a Shapeshifter.” It blinked, before a frown appeared on its face and it looked away. “Especially not this one here.” Zane’s mood sobered. He maintained his current posture, expression having gone blank. Even his visor showed only the most basic shape of his ‘eyes’ that meant he was conscious.“You now feel bad about the mark,” he said. “And you’ve been enjoying listening to my singing for months, never approaching me, making sure nothing attacked me.“So. What changed? Why did you attack me if you wanted to keep me safe?”The Shapeshifter winced. Its shoulders rose slightly as its stiff body posture returned. “... It was not supposed to end like this.” Its thoughts sounded almost… meek. “You were never supposed to be attacked like this. But it happened because I was… careless. Too slow.”And here Shifter – when had he started calling him that in his mind? – was talking, but again only in circles instead of pointing into the center. “What. Happened,” he snapped.“Shapeshifters are notorious for infighting. Unless you devour other brethren, you cannot rise in the ranks. You remain weak and incomplete.” The entity bit its lip and exhaled slowly. “As one of the Superiors, I was used to a target being painted on my back. Attacking me directly promised nothing but death, and that was well known. So the Loving looked for ways to attack me indirectly – and found you.”Shifter bit its lip and furrowed its brows. “They knew I enjoyed travelling your route. They knew I… was attached to you for some reason. So they went after you instead.” The entity grabbed its head, lips curling as it continued. “I noticed that some of our brethren were missing that day. I did not think much of it, since your usual work routine would not bring you outside facility territory at that time – but then I saw what they were planning to do to you on the surveillance feed. I immediately rushed over, but they had already--” It gestured towards Zane’s visor as its voice trailed off. “So, in a fit of rage, I killed them. Every single one of them. However… it did not change that they had hurt you already. And I knew that now, with me having drawn so much attention to you by simply rushing to your rescue, they would not be the last to come. I had fucked up even more than before, and I panicked.” The entity snarled, claws digging into its face. “I couldn’t leave you unprotected, but I also could no longer patrol your route. Fixing you up would have drawn the attention of the good doctor, and consolidated that you would be the chip in my armor. There was no way out of the situation that would keep you safe, and not compromise my position beyond repair – “Except for marking you.”Closing its eyes, the Shifter took a moment to breathe before it continued. “The mark is the only symbol that Shapeshifters will unequivocally respect. As you know, touch someone’s marked prey, and you will be executed by its Excellency itself. It also allowed me to play off your rescue as being territorial – I was just protecting my prey, after all, and those Shapeshifters had just picked the wrong robot to assault.”The energy lines on the entity’s body dimmed. “In hindsight, I could have taken the situation in so many different directions –but I did not. In that moment, it just seemed like the only way out, and I made a snap decision that ended up severely affecting you. So tell me.”The Shifter locked gazes with Zane. “How could I not regret what I have done?”Blank eyes stared at the Shapeshifter. The hacker had not moved an inch since it had started explaining, and remained motionless even after it stopped. The entity could almost hear the gears shifting inside his head, as he tried to process the information it had just provided.Then Zane's expression contorted, along with the low growl that left his mouth.“You fucking stupid, arrogant, self-absorbed, oblivious, idiotic coward,” he bit out through his snarl. He rolled onto his knees just so that he could slam his fist into the cave ground. Rocks splintered into pieces.“You wanted to protect me? Shit lot of that you did! Do you have any idea what hell you put me through?!”Warbling, his voice cracked so badly that Zane usually would have cringed. He was too tired, too hurt, too angry to care about his audience.For months he had lived with the panic, the doubt, the fear. Where had he gone wrong to attract the Shifter’s possessiveness? Why had his singing not been able to protect him from the Loving? Would the Shifter or any of his kin sneak into the faculty and kidnap him, to finish what the kiss and the mark had started? Nightmares sometimes made rest impossible. But the echoes of the invasion of both his mind and body hit him in odd places, in odd times – from anywhere, in any time. He never found safety or peace because he wondered what if?Now. NOW. NOW-“You’ve lived with this infighting since you started existing! How did it not occur to you that your enemies would target anybody you show interest in?” He jabbed his finger against its chest, unheeding what damage he might cause. Now he had learned it was because Shifter had fucked up so badly that he heaped another piece of agony onto him in a show of protection that might not have been necessary in the first place!The Shapeshifter’s eyes widened. For a brief moment, shock flickered across its face as Zane continued to jab his finger into its torso. Then it closed its eyes and bit its lower lip. As expected. Nothing good comes from speaking my mind.“You are right,” the entity replied quietly, “What a great ‘Shifter’ I am when I can be blindsided like this for personal affairs. And as consequence I screwed you up. Nothing I say or do will change that fact.”It paused. How stupid of me to think I could make up for my mistakes.“… We really should have left it at superficial pleasantries.”“Of course. You coward would say something like that.” Zane’s fingers pressed harder. He loomed over the Shapeshifter, their faces almost touching. “I’m pissed. I’m furious,” he hissed. “And your entitled self-pity is pissing me off even more. Did you ignore the part about how the not knowing tormented me? I wouldn’t have ever been able to let this go, even if had been able to leave this Orvus-forsaken hell of a place, ‘cause I thought that getting hurt was my fault.“So you owe me the truth and more.” He jabbed each word for punctuation. “You had several months of time to clear up that horrible conclusion. Instead I had to deal with the impressions of your feelings I got over the mark on top of every other shit bombarding me. Feelings like fury that contributed to the terror I experienced. How was I supposed to take that except that they were directed at me?!”With no need for oxygen, he inhaled still, fans hissing.His head rang from the echo of his voice, the cave walls batting the shrill notes around every way and back. He glared down at Shifter, daring him to voice any excuse. “Now I’ve got to listen to the shit you’re babbling. You’d have left me to rot in that hole for the rest of my life. And keeping silent about it wouldn’t have been for my sake. You’d just avoid facing that you fucked up that badly, and escape with your death.” The Shifter just stared at Zane. For the first time since the hacker had met Shapeshifters he saw absolute helplessness on the entity's face. The mouth was moving, the eyebrows were twitching -- but no sound came out. No giggle, no smart remarks, nothing. All that Zane received as answer was... Silence. And shock.Eventually, the Shapeshifter blinked and shook its head before modulating its voice. "I... I am sorry, Zane. I truly am. I-- I just... I do not know what to do to make up for this. I want to. I really hope there is something, anything I could do to make amends. I just do not know... How."Zane watched him critically. It was looking like into the expression of a freshly activated robot who had no idea how to proceed in an unknown social situation where they had messed up. And he really, truly sounded so unsure. The Shifter's voice... Zane shook his head. Even pretending to be hurt to ambush their victims, Shapeshifters didn't do vulnerable or small.His eyes narrowed. He sat back on his haunches, rubbing his face. "Well, you've got several parts already covered. You admitted that you fucked up, how it came to be, why it was wrong. The next step is that you’ll give me a proper apology for all of that, saying sorry. “However! Don't even think that I have to forgive you. That'll remain my decision, no matter what you're gonna do."“I would not dream of that. What I did cannot be forgiven.” A proper apology, hm? The entity scratched its cheek, eyes darting to the side and towards the hacker repeatedly as it seemed to be mulling over the best approach. Then it sat up on his knees so that it was facing Zane properly, placed its hands on its thighs—And lowered his head as it bowed. “Zane. I am truly sorry for what I have done. You were never supposed to come to harm, but due to my inadequacies you were the one who was hurt. I do not regret marking you. It was the only action at the time I could take to mend the damage done. Keeping you in the dark, however, was a mistake. Thinking I was protecting you was a mistake.” Slowly the entity lifted its head to lock gazes with the robot before him. “And I hope that knowing the truth will enable you to find peace.”Like a mirror when the entity had first revealed what happened, Zane’s expression and visor had gone motionless. He had gone on his knees like the Shifter, an almost mirror to the entity sitting in front of him. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking and feeling as the silence lasted.Eventually, his expression contorted once more. His visor flickered.“Damn it,” he croaked, shoulders beginning to tremble. His lips followed. “Damn it.”Shifter’s golden, too earnest eyes were suddenly too much. His voice going soft as he apologized. His bow. It was all too much, and Zane really needed to get a grip on himself.The entity almost jumped, shoulders raised as confusion washed over its face. Just what—“Zane,” it asked, hands hovering in the air as it did not know what to do. “Zane, what is going on? Was my apology incorrect?” Shifter grabbed its head and growled in frustration. “Damn it… why can’t I get anything right with you? Instead of talking to you, I just watched you from afar. Instead of protecting you, I messed you up… I should have just come to you, rank be damned. This whole fiasco could have been prevented if only--” It shook its head. “Why do things related to you always confuse me so much?!”Zane clamped his hands on the entity’s shoulder, getting his attention. His systems were whirring with stress, the trembling had wandered to cover his arms as well, and his face kept twitching as choked noises escaped him. The only detail stable about him was his unmoving visor, but where usually they displayed a facsimile of eyes, magenta letters glowed instead.Shut up! Here and now you didn’t anything wrong. It was exactly what I needed, but your fussing makes me only more emotional!The entity stared at him, shaken out of its rant. "... Why am I making you emotional?", it quietly asked.Zane's hands spasmed, digging into Shifter's shoulders. It was all he could do to hold on and not to crumble, revealing more vulnerabilities to the other.Imagine you're having too much pressure and activity, but from emotions, constantly straining your body and mind. And my systems were stuck in this phase for several months.All my systems are experiencing release from this pressure. Your apology activated the release. My reaction is the outlet.Again, the Shapeshifter was dumbfounded and stared at the robot. "... I am sorry for this?"That startled a bark of laughter from him, staticky as it was. The next letters blinked in and out.You're hopeless at emotional first aid 101.The moment of mirth lasted only for a few second. But the moment had made an opening, and Zane did something that surprised them both as he wrapped his arms around the Shifter and pressed his face against the side of his neck.The Shapeshifter shrieked, almost jumping away from the hacker. A distinct pink hue flushed over its face as - quite unbecoming of a superior Shapeshifter - its hands flailed in the air and it barely managed to catch them before it would fall on its back. Still, Zane ended up halfway laying on it either way.He made a noise once the Shifter had finally gotten its bearings. A strange noise.It sounded... Not, it didn't really sound like giggling, because what if some of the Shifter's kin had escaped and found them here? But no, that was impossible, the Lombax had made sure of it.So why did...?Zane squeezed him tighter, as his chuckles grew. He murmured something into the flesh of Shifter's neck."What... What is so funny?", Shifter stammered, too confused to move in any direction at all. Its fingers scratched the surface of the floor as it noticed that its energy flow was... picking up in speed. It did not help that Zane was pressing himself tightly against its body, involuntarily making the Shapeshifter compare its old data to the new input on the robot's structure. Orvus, why was its face heating up?Eyes darted around the room until their gaze inevitably ended up on the hacker. By all that was sacred, this was the closest it had been to Zane since... Since the marking. And by Orvus... "You are beautiful," he muttered quietly to himself."I don't know," Zane snorted. By Orvus, he sounded awful. Thankfully nobody else could hear him like this. It'd damage his reputation.Maybe it's that I'm glad that even the great Shifter can mess up. He smirked. Or that you've just flailed around. That was definitely funny-He blinked and spoke. "Wait-- what did you just say?"The entity's eyes widened as it covered its mouth with its hand. The pink hue grew even brighter than before as it turned its head away and stared at the ceiling. When was the last time it had been flustered this much?And why did it not want not stop itself from continuing?The Shapeshifter paused, slowly lowering its hand and moving to caress Zane's face. It only stopped at the last moment, an inch shy of touching, while the Shifter locked gazes with the hacker once more."... I said that you are beautiful, Zane."At last both were evenly matched in temperature. Zane's own, on the click of internal fans, had rocketed up with that confession. Eyes returned on his visor, wide and round like his open mouth. It felt like the smelter ovens in the small space between their bodies as if they would melt and stick to each other. Alone the Shapeshifter's palm, so close to Zane's face, radiated warmth."Shifter," the nickname rolled from his mouth without thought. Like hell he would use a title for him. "You better control your need for energy better than your mouth.""... Excuse me, what?" Oh, how the sound of its title spoken by Zane was making it shiver... it could have dissolved then and there, and it would not have regretted anything. But what was the robot suggesting?"Any Shapeshifter can control its hunger, most of all me. I wouldn't have the title of the Shifter if I couldn't control myself--""Oh, shut up."Seemed like it was Zane who had to act - so he did. Grabbing Shifter's face between his palms, he held him still to kiss his lips. Would they be soft?Oh, they are.Once more, Shifter's eyes snapped open. The sensation of the robot's lips against its own, the momentum, his weight on its body--By the stars, if Shapeshifters could overload, the Shifter would have exploded. Only when Zane withdrew ever so slightly, their breaths mingling between their mouths, did the entity catch up with the moment. It gulped - what an organic thing to do - and just stared at the robot. "You just--" Shifter's face grew brighter. "You just kissed me. A Shapeshifter. You just--" Shaking its head ever so slightly, the entity locked their gazes once more. "You must let me return the favor."“Then do it.” Air ghosted from Zane’s lips over Shifter’s. “Don’t leave me waitin’ anymore.”Orvus, those words had sunk into Shifter’s spine. Its head was spinning as its pride, emotions, thoughts collided over and over. Was it really about to engage in these… activities with a non-Shapeshifter? Truly? The proudest, most fiercely dedicated Shapeshifter of all—Stop lying to yourself. It had never been your life’s purpose. Shapeshifters have never been superior. You could not live with the fact that perhaps your desires did not align with your kin’s cause. And instead of dealing with it, you lost sight of who you truly were and what you wanted – so you threw yourself into a deluded one-sided love fantasy with a selfish leader figure instead of accepting truth of your own desires. Pride and prestige deluded you into dedicating yourself to something you never truly wanted.So why don’t you, at least this once, do something you really want?Purple hands framed Zane’s face as Shifter tilted its head and connected their lips once more with an open kiss. More followed, one hand travelling down to the hacker’s lower back and gently, but firmly, pressing him closer while it rested their foreheads against one another. Its energy lines were thrumming, so much that they shone through the Shapeshifter clothing shell. Golden and virtual eyes locked their gazes, Shapeshifter lips with robotic ones.“Zane,” it whispered, fingers trailing to the back of the robot’s head, “Zane.” Curious, Zane’s own hands floated higher and backwards on the entity’s head. Shockingly soft hair brushed against his fingertips. It felt like silken, solid water under his palms.“That’s my name,” he chuckled, systems lighting up as if it had been injected with pure energy. Was Shifter radiating energy, and he was absorbing it? That would be so funny and ironic.“You’re really cute,” he whispered against Shifter’s lips. He was so flustered – a delight to watch him. And his voice… it had dropped to a timbre that rumbled into Zane’s chest with each utterance of his name. "Now that is a word that has never been used in association with me." The entity chuckled faintly as it took in the feeling of Zane's fingers rustling through its hair structure. Its eyes searched for the robot's counterpart on his visor. A surreal view, seeing its own image reflected and yet knowing that it was seen. Why had it dedicated its life to that ridiculous cause again?"You know, people are usually scared of me," it confided, "It does not matter if Shapeshifter or not - and here you are again, defying all expectations." A crooked smile appeared on its lips. "You truly are remarkable. No wonder I was riveted by you all this time."“Of course, I’m remarkable. I am me, after all.”Zane carefully avoided thinking whether or not he was still scared of Shifter. The current rush of feelings was doing a lot to keep him calm. And it helped that whatever bond he had with the entity, no terror or fury were swamping his mind.The entity laughed, kissing the robot on his visor tip. “That you are, Zane, that you are.” Fingers trailed the rim of the visor, occasionally brushing over the edges of the hole it was covering it up. “I wish I could give back your eyes.” Shifter’s brows pulled together as it took in the damage its brethren had left behind. “I wish I could do many things for you.” The entity paused while its hand gently traced the contour of Zane’s jaw until its thumb rested on the robot’s chin.“May I show you my full appreciation, at least?”Zane pulled him in for another kiss by his hair. “You may.” The pause lasted for only a second as he teased him. He tilted his head to a different angle and suckled on his lower lip, followed by short licks flickering into his mouth. Zane, bemoaning that he only had two hands, gave one up from tangling in Shifter’s hair and dragged it heavily down his back across his clothing shell, along his spine, to reach his goal. Groaning, he cupped that delectable ass and squeezed. A low yelp escaped the Shapeshifter. How dare this robot be so… so—cheeky?! Well, two could play this game.“Don’t get alarmed,” it growled before wrapping one arm around Zane’s waist and flipping him on his back. Now it was Shifter who had the upper hand, smirking deviously as it looked down at the beautiful robot beneath him. “You know, I think we are both a little… overdressed.” With one hand it reached up to its collar, undoing the first button as its golden eyes never released its gaze from the hacker. “That needs to change.”“You’re moving quite fast for, what. A squeeze to your rear?” Zane’s smile felt firm, secure. Nervousness fluttered through him at his position. He hadn’t intended to go further than just kissing. It was just. He’d seen Shifter’s ass, here in the cave. Before, he’d been distracted by fear and uncertainty. Before, he looked away so that Shifter wouldn’t find him staring that one time the Shapeshifter had turned his back to him for long enough to look at his behind. It flashed in his processor while kissing him, and he had wanted to feel it, wanted to play, wanted to-Alright, so maybe a part of him wanted to go further. But it hadn’t communicated with the rest of him.“Kiss me some more, please?” He tried.The entity blinked and tilted its head. Ah, so it had misread the situation… It sighed and pulled up a smile on its face regardless, caressing the robot’s cheek before leaning down and melding their lips together.“Of course,” the Shapeshifter replied, fingers seeking to intertwine with metallic ones as it hovered over the hacker. “I would love that--” Shifter growled and winced, face contorting as its body blurred in shape once more, and its energy lines flickered. Damn it… why now?!“Shifter?!” Arms flying up, Zane supported him before he crashes down. How could Zane have been so stupid? He had just seen the damage rendered to him a few minutes ago, had chided him for using his energy so much. He grappled with his panic as he tried to soothe Shifter.“Come on, lie down. No need to stress yourself further.”"I--I am fine, Zane... I am fine--" Shifter wheezed and moved to the side, body dissolving and consolidating in pulses as it fought to control itself again. So that was what close to dying felt like, huh? It had known that the halfling had exhausted its energy resources significantly, but that it would be so close to dissolving..."... You may want to stay away from me," it transmitted as it's fingers clawed into the pillow, "I... I am low on energy. Can't even pull energy out of the ground minerals anymore. I just need to... To... Regain composure."“And I'm Orvus, the God of Time." Hands hovering around Shifter, he did as told and didn't touch him. At least he was lying down, but the sight unsettled Zane. The instability was even worse than before."Would regaining your composure really help?"It was a wonder how Shifter had been holding back while kissing and touching him while in this state. Zane shuddered. He could have been a meal to him, and he had basically offered himself up. And nothing had happened except kissing..."It... will. I just need to focus." Shifter snarled, fingers digging through the pillow and into its palms, drawing matter from the pressure. "The general has... done a number on my systems. After all, not like I will need my energy... in the future." Slowly, but surely, the matter settled once more in place. Shifter groaned lowly as it relaxed onto the floor. "It has been a while since I have been this starved.""Sorry to inform you that this information is only concerning me more."What did one do to help an injured Shapeshifter? Did Zane really have this thought? A bit late now, isn't it? You already poured your feelings out to and made out with him. Not to mention that the idea of him dying upsets you.Thank you kindly for your analysis. He snarked internally. Giving Shifter energy was right out of the question. After... after the Loving and the marking, even as well-meaning the latter had been, had left him terrified of any idea that combined 'Shapeshifters' and 'my energy'. But he wanted to help him. Shifter was dying, so it was unlikely he could give him enough energy to heal what the General had done to him, but maybe he could make him feel more comfortable? Or slow it down?"How can I help?" he settled on, just the slightest quiver in his voice.The Shifter laughed. It sounded almost like a bark. "Zane, unless you have a vial of energy on you, I think there is not much you could do for me." With tired eyes, it looked at Zane and smiled. "I will survive. Well... at least long enough to see you off later, I hope.""I just wish I could help you. In some way- in any way." Zane whispered, but with such vehemence that it took him off guard.The Shapeshifter raised a brow, but remained quiet at the suggestion. Then, it slowly rose up to face the robot on the same eye level, almost as if it wanted to pierce him with its gaze."In all this time I have been alive, never has any non-Shapeshifter wanted to give a Shapeshifter energy freely," Shifter replied slowly, "And yet you seem to be intent. So let me tell you a fact: Anything you could do would involve a Shapeshifter's kiss. I would need to take energy from you, for there is no way a non-Shapeshifter would even know how to channel their own energy resources into another being."Another pause followed as the Shifter unwaveringly stared into Zane's projected eyes, not turning away even the slightest. It wanted to see Zane's every reaction, and allow the robot to do the same with it. "Do you still insist to help me?"“Why do you insist on being so straightforward with me?” Zane blurted out. “It’s strange even with your fondness. You’re known as the Shifter, the one who manipulates and directs other Shapeshifters. But you’re the first person in many months who is honest from the start about his plans and intentions.”The Shifter raised a brow. So the robot identified it as a male specimen, hm? Interesting."Why wouldn't I be honest with you?", it replied quietly, "The rational answer is simple. I have nothing left to lose. My kin have been killed off almost entirely, I have been cast away by my leader, and to add insult to injury, I am at the mercy of a Halfling. It cannot get any lower than this for a Shapeshifter. All that this manipulating and scheming has ever brought upon me is pain and humiliation. I have spent a lifetime pretending to be someone I am not. However, you are right that this is no reason for me to be so... Forthcoming. I have a theory as to why." Its eyes gleamed as a soft smile appeared on its lips."For some reason, in front of you, I have never felt the need to pretend. You are the kind of person who would see right through such a charade. You confuse me so much with your actions that sometimes I wonder if I am the one being manipulated here, when I am not." It lifted its hand reaching for Zane's face, but withdrew before they would touch."But... Overall, I suppose it boils down to the fact that you make me want to meet your honesty with mine."Yet another moment that sent Zane's body heating up. Not from embarrassment and or being flustered over a compliment or his attraction to Shifter. It wasn't like Zane was unused to lies, subterfuge, omissions, traitors, and deception. He had worked long enough as a hacker before he landed in this hellhole to learn the different shades of depravity among people. He had played his own part in crimes, for his own gain solely, or was paid to get others what they wanted. Some he had betrayed; some had betrayed him.The Facility developed its own problems with people like Nefarious and Lawrence heading the place. Workplace squabbles, idea theft, lies to get out of working, or out of trouble for not working, favors owed and given... How often had Bar given a vague excuse why he couldn’t work in an area deemed dangerous because it had been breached by investigating Shapeshifters?But really. Had it really been that long that anybody was so straightforward with him about their intentions? Ratchet could count. Ratchet also had nothing to gain from him, and he wasn't adept in manipulating him. Their interactions, before the General vanished, used to be refreshing. Even after there was never any weight of expectations.Shifter, though? Zane had history with Shifter. Heavy history and an investment. The idea that he inspired Shifter to be honest, that he affected him truly that much he didn't feel the need to honey his words or to blunt sharp edges-The weight of that hit the robot full force. His voice failed, clicking, before he regained control."That... I'm not sure if you know how much that means to me. While you say it's more in your nature to be honest, you still go out of your way to communicate with me so clearly. Not only about your intentions and actions, but also how those would affect me. It's... unusual.""Is it so unusual if one is invested in the well-being of someone one cares about?" Shifter chuckled as it - he - tilted his head. "Besides, I have said it before and I say it again: You need to make it out of here. The probability that I will make it is close to zero. If anything that I do before I die is supposed to matter, I would like it to be of positive impact to you."You’d do much more good if you stayed alive, Zane didn’t say.What was he doing here, having these thoughts? Shifter had apologized for the things he had done to him – and those were only a few in an ocean of terror of the last years. His friends and colleagues had suffered under them alike, his newest being the General and Ratchet. The two who had been tasked to eliminate all Shapeshifters so they’d be allowed to leave, because Shapeshifters were that dangerous.Even Shifter admitted to that, how horrible they treated even each other. If just one of them survived and left the planet into a universe with so many possibilities to obtain all kinds of energy…So why did he care for this one Shapeshifter so much? One of the most powerful, one who had directed and caused so much pain, including to Zane himself, after one apology? He was still far away from forgiving him, but-Why did it upset him that Shifter would die?Was it attraction? Was it loneliness?Or… to repeat, maybe it was that Zane was still far from forgiving him, no matter how much he enjoyed kissing him or talking with him. Shifter did try before to get out of confronting his mistakes by keeping his silence right into his death.“... If you really wanted to leave a positive impact, you should not resign yourself to dying. What good are you to anyone if you’re dead?”The entity stared at him as if he was insane. Shifter wanted to dismiss the thought – after all, as was well known, he had been instrumental to causing a lot of the… trouble around the facility, especially in the last few months. What did he deserve after all this?Nothing.But… that did not change the fact that Zane’s question kicked loose a train of thought that he had never considered. What if he did survive? What if he explored the universe beyond this microcosm they had been stuck in since his creation?He scoffed. How selfish.“Aren’t you getting in a little too deep here, Zane?” Shifter idly drew a circle on the ground as he continued his musings. “You are playing a dangerous game, giving me such sinful thoughts. I have just found peace with my demise, and here you come crashing into my life again, and again, and again, pulling me right back with a sense of… hope.” Fingers scratched through the circle as the entity scowled.“But be it as it may, I will not make it past the next day – either by the Halfling’s hand, or by the end of my energy reserves. What sense is there in waxing about what I will never have?” As it spoke, the Shifter’s expression soured. Just… thinking of that abomination of a hybrid made his molecules stiffen.“Besides, even if you were to give me energy, I cannot leave. The Halfling and the… other one want me dead. I would not make it out of this room, even.”“What I’m saying is ’cause I’m ultimately selfish. I’m still angry at you, I’m petty, and I’m not ready to let you go so easily.” Zane shrugged, gaze flitting between his hands and between Shifter’s face. A wince followed as he brought up the Lombaxes. Sighing, he turned his head to collect his thoughts, before looking at Shifter again.“Plus, you’re powerful. You could achieve a lot of good things with that, which is one of the points I’d bring up when putting a good word in for you with the Lombaxes.” He snorted at Shifter’s shock. “I’m not saying it’s a good idea, not with the state these two are in. But there’s still a slight chance that they’ll listen to me.” “But you need to survive until then, which is the more immediate problem. Especially because I have no idea how I could give you energy without kissing you on the lips.”“It does not have to be on the lips, just so you know. It can be anywhere on the body if the goal is not to paralyze the other person immediately.” Shifter looked at his fingers and sighed. “This aside, you just confuse me even more, Zane. You are not ready to let me go? It almost sounds like you are getting a little fond of me. That would be ill advised.” The Shapeshifter paused as his gaze on his hand intensified, while a faint punk hue seemed to slowly emerge once more.“But… One more pledge won’t hurt. If that is what you wish, I… will make that the last task in my life.” The Shapeshifter barely lifted his head, eyes darting between looking at the robot and anywhere else. “Becoming a person you can forgive, that is.”Zane’s face heated, too. That only kisses to the lips could paralyze seemed suddenly like a minor detail instead of another important piece of information.“So what if I’m fond of you, too?” he grumbled. “And don’t go making pledges you don’t know if you can keep them just ‘cause I want something. I already have images in my head where you help out as my bodyguard. Properly offering protection to me.”“It is a floating task for a reason.” Shifter raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly. “But I see, your selfish side is shining through just a smidge now! You just want to have muscle at the ready for some of your daring exploits. Not that I mind. The sheer thought sounds entertaining, so I hope your negotiation skills will convince them to let me live.” He paused for a moment before he continued.“Besides, this would… give me a reason to stop by every now and then, should you allow me.”“Yes, I’d allow you to visit me, as long as you called ahead… Now stop flustering me or I’ll metaphorically combust.” The robot shifted on his knees, the glow of his visor betraying his delight.Zane liked that image – of Shifter announcing his visit, caring about his boundaries, and the visit itself. Zane liked that image more than he should.Then what Shifter had said caught up to him again, and he groaned. So much for not being flustered any more. “So if you’d want to take my energy without a kiss on the lips, how would you do it? And yes, this is permission.”The entity laughed, trying to hide his amusement, but failing. “Will you ever stop surprising me, my dear robot?” He sought out Zane’s hand and intertwined their fingers. Slowly he lifted the other’s knuckles up so that they were almost touching his lips, while his gaze locked with the robot’s once more.“I look forward to the memories,” he whispered as his eyes fell shut and his lips touched Zane’s hand. The noise Zane let out resembled his fingers smashing an analogue keyboard and his voice modulating the string of nonsense letters. His entire body burned, but no part more than his hand that Shifter was still holding. It had to be scorching his lips!No fair. No fair at all that Shifter was so smooth at flirting! He shouldn’t be able to throw Zane off of his game. Why was his hand tingling? That… that had to be the energy absorption. Yes, there could not be another reason. Shifter had already pulled back – so it was over already? What?The entity slowly opened his eyes again, looking for Zane’s gaze. A soft smile appeared on his lips as he lowered Zane’s hand, but did not let go just yet. Just a coincidence, surely.“Thank you, Zane. I feel much better now.” “Y-you’re welcome,” he stuttered. “But- but that was it already what you needed?“And you keep saying how much I confuse or amaze you, and then you pull things like that-” There was no hiding how flustered he was as he gestured at their still joined hands, which he didn’t even try to separate. “Don’t pretend you don’t know how smooth of an ass you are.”“Shapeshifters look for energy that is interesting to fuel their bodies. That is why technically, an energy core may have more output than that of a lifeform, but the lifeform still gives better quality.” Shifter smiled faintly. “Some of it is tied to preference, some to the species. If energy tastes good to us, we do not need much. If it is disgusting, we could devour a planet and it would not regenerate our energy levels.”Scratching his cheek, the entity looked to the side.“… Make of that what you will.”Zane responded by grabbing him by his shirt. He had to stop his intended, dramatic move as he had yet to let go of Shifter’s hand. Improvising, Zane put it on his own hip while he wrapped both arms around the entity’s neck to draw him close. So close that he could tap his forehead against Shifter’s.“You really make it hard not to want to kiss you back,” he said in an accusing tone.The entity stared at him as he found himself in a peculiar position again – but this time, Shifter knew exactly what to do: He pulled Zane’s hips towards him and used his free hand to support the other’s head as he caught the robot in an open kiss. This time, he was not misreading the signs.What followed stretched in an indeterminate span of time. Was it minutes? Was it hours? Zane certainly didn’t know. He had shut down his internal clock so he could focus entirely on kissing Shifter, touching Shifter, marking Shifter… Shifter kissing him, Shifter leaving marks of a much more fleeting nature across his body.Zane could feel himself getting lost in those golden eyes watching, adoring him. The feel of Shifter’s lips on his neck cabling, his hands drawing lines on his back, replacing memories of the old mark with new ones. And before they knew, they were locked in an intimate dance that continued until neither wished for this moment to ever end.
Drawings
ShellShock - Sorry by chinara
Rose Breeding by CaylePolin
I'm Not Going To Hurt You by YellowDizzyLombax
Other
Alister/Ratchet by CaylePolin
Ratchet And Clank Meme by noelombaxprincess
Alister's Broken by noelombaxprincess
Ratchet x Alister Dispair by noelombaxprincess

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:iconsgtyayap:
SgtYayap Featured By Owner Feb 14, 2012
Oh, okay! :)
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:iconblue-bird-1494:
Blue-Bird-1494 Featured By Owner Dec 20, 2010
Hey, can I be just a regular member? I never really contributed to this group at all, and I'm going to join a group that I'll most likely be more active in. I know it was kinda a tough decision to step down but I just haven't done anything for this group and I just don't have too much interest in it. Sorry about stepping down... ^^;
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:iconchinara:
chinara Featured By Owner Dec 20, 2010  Professional Digital Artist
Nothing broken, nothing broken o: as long as you stay as a member it's fine c:
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:iconblue-bird-1494:
Blue-Bird-1494 Featured By Owner Dec 21, 2010
Ah, ok. :)
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RougeTek Featured By Owner Dec 20, 2010
Oh it's no trouble. ^^

We'll do that for you.
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:iconblue-bird-1494:
Blue-Bird-1494 Featured By Owner Dec 20, 2010
Ok, thanks :)
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:iconrougetek:
RougeTek Featured By Owner Dec 20, 2010
No problem. ^^
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Priestess-Shauni Featured By Owner Dec 15, 2010
Hi. XD
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:iconrougetek:
RougeTek Featured By Owner Dec 18, 2010
Hello! ^^
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:iconchinara:
chinara Featured By Owner Dec 15, 2010  Professional Digital Artist
OMG HI LEILA OMNOMNOM <3 c:
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