elysianorbitpixie:
She chuckled. “You really are amazing.” In the back of her mind a little voice warned against feeding his ego like this but she couldn’t help it. She had spent all this time watching Cletus fail to live up to the one he was trying to impersonate and every day of it had been agony. To now have all her hopes be renewed so suddenly was more than a bit overwhelming.
She felt silly for her tears now. This was a joyous occasion not one for crying. She wiped the back of her hand over her eyes and laughed again. For a second she contemplated kissing him but then she postponed that to later. They had so much talking to do.
“Well, about that saving Deponia thing,” she began, feeling awkward again. She knew how much he had wanted to do this himself, but oh well, it couldn’t be helped now. “After we thought you were … you know … gone … I had Cletus put on your clothes and pretend he was you. I thought it would teach him -” Humility, she had wanted to say but at the last moment she realized Rufus might not enjoy others considering being him as punishment. “… It would teach him … how to appreciate you more. And the two of us did report to the Council of Elders that Deponia is inhabitated and thus the destruction was called off.”
She beamed at him, hoping for a cheer or at least a smile in return.
Goal’s smile was nothing if not infectious, and the ugly, uncomfortable thoughts that Rufus’ was doing his best to ignore got shoved further into the background as he focussed on that. The relief he’d felt when the planet hadn’t blown up right under his feet had been genuine. She’d done a good job, even without him there, and that was something to be happy about. Priorities and all that.
Don’t doubt her.
Don’t doubt her. Don’t.
“Awwww, I get it, I get it. And, did it work?” His grin was all teeth. Too much, even. “You can be honest with me. I know why you really did it. It’s cute that you missed me that much, but babe, you know I’m irreplaceable.”
Clearly that was the only valid explanation behind that rather… questionable decision, but it wasn’t one Rufus wanted to think about on any deeper level. Good thoughts. Things were good now. Different thoughts. Cletus better not have washed his hat, or he was going to hear some words.
“…soooo that means I can get my coat back without a hole in the back?”
She laughed although it sounded a bit strained to her own ears. Did she try to replace Rufus with Cletus? A part of her wanted to deny it but she wasn’t sure how she felt. It had seemed the best solution to a terrible situation but maybe... She pushed the thought aside. It didn’t matter, now that the real Rufus was back.
“Well, you know Cletus. I must say he tried but...” she chuckled, shaking her head. “At least, he didn’t get found out yet. I guess he felt he owed you for helping him or he wouldn’t have made as much of an effort, but I’m sure he’ll be happy to stand aside for the real deal now.”













