"You wanted to see me Commander?"

Heliodor clasps his hands behind his back and turns around smartly on his heels. "Ah, there you are my little assistant." He coos at you in a mocking rumble. "Right on time, I have a big evening ahead of me and I must look my best."

You keep your face politely neutral, though a part of you wants to roll your eyes. Heliodor was a vain being, he didn't call for you unless he wanted you to polish his armor. Which was quite often, at least 2-3 times in a week. He sits down on one of the arm chairs used for modifications, crossing one ankle over the other and tapping his foot impatiently as you are busy around the room. You gather a cleaning rag, a buffer and a few different containers of polish before you hoist the armload onto the small side table that sat beside his seat.

Cold mechanical fingers cup your chin, and you freeze, your eyes staring at your hands and what they had been holding. Reluctantly your face is turned and you look at him.

"Yes… Commander?" You mumble, his fingers gently stroke your cheek before he lets go with an amused chuckle.

"Nothing, nothing, carry on."

You squint at him suspiciously before going back to uncapping a bottle of polish and pouring a decent amount onto the rag in your hands. You drag over a stool and begin, placing the rag onto one of his hands and leaning forward as you begin to work the polish into the metal plating.

Your mind stills as you fall into a rhythm, running your hands up and down along his arms and bulkhead shoulders. He leans forward obediently as you stand, running the rag down his back.

To your surprise, he shudders and you jump at the unexpected response, "Are, are you alright?"

His head swivels to look at you, "Of course I am." He gestures nonchalantly but his voice sounds strained. "Please continue."

The 'please' has you gawking at him. You couldn't remember him ever saying please for anything. You cautiously bring the rag to his side, rubbing in slow circles until the spot gleamed.

"I am surprised you came to me looking this worse for wear." You tsked, "What happened?"

He groans, "Renegades, a band of ruffians that I had to teach a lesson." You glance at him again, eyebrows raised.

"That… Must have been quite a battle."

He hummed distractedly before perking up, "Mm? Yes! Oh yes, it was extremely inconvenient."

He makes another sound as your cloth moves up towards his chest. You pause again confused, "Commander… is everything alright?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" He hurrumphs like a spoiled child.

"You're… er…" you hesitate, "Well normally my Lord you are not so pleased with this cleaning routine."

The metallic form creaks underneath your hand, body visibly stiffening.

"Perhaps I have taken more damage than I have realized. Damn these new modifications, they are supposed to keep me cognizant of the damage I take in battle. I didn't realize I would be this tender in the aftermath."

"You're in pain?" You say skeptically, "I am hurting you?"

He takes longer to answer, "No… just an ache of moving," He supplies although his tone sounds unsure.

He was acting strange, the lights of his eyes blinking as he all but melts under your touch.

You frown, putting another splash of cleaning polish onto the cloth rag in your hand. Looking over the pretty armor he is encased with. Routine polishing of his framework was a usual job he demanded of you. Making sure his metal hide was taken care of and oils added to it to prevent coroson. Yet his responces to your touch was bordering on inappropriate. He sighs again, his voice filled with juttering static. Despite yourself the space between your knees throb.

You had always thought he had a nice voice. Deep and mechanical, you can recall when he chuckles in that dark amused way it never fails to cause a shudder down your spine–

No.

Hard stop.

Not going to think about that right now.

Enough of this, this is getting weird. Weirder than normal because he certainly is weird. He claims to hate humans and then requests one to work on him in such an intimate way? If you were smarter or had some means to disable him… you would have done so by now… right?

Nope. We aren't going to admit that you enjoy polishing him to a gleaming celestial shine. This is about his weird issues right now, not yours. If this really was what you were beginning to suspect, you knew a perfect way to confirm your suspicions.

Your mouth twists coyly, looking up at the hulking shape looming above you from beheath your eyelids. "Does this please you, my lord?" You put as much sensualness into the words as you can muster. He is a big metal moron, you learned early on that stroking his inflated ego was too easy. He makes a sharp sound, his voice stutters and crackles with static, "Nnn… yes perfect," He groans unable to stop himself.

The facade slips off your face, "I knew it!" You slap the rag against their metal stomach. He jerks, his eyes brighten and turn into perfect circles.

"Knew-Knew what?"

"Don't you dare play with me! Why are you acting weird? Did you turn up your sensitivity or something you pervert!"

A bit of that usual pompous glint in their eyes returns and he scoffs, "You should be honored to place your hands upon me."

Your mouth is moving before you can stop yourself, "Honored? Honored? Oh yeah sure buddy I am so honored! So honored to be kept in a cell as your personal meat puppet!"

He grips you by the shoulders, your eyes popping open as he all but drags you onto his lap. "Nnnngh! organic pain in my circuits! Is it so bad of me that I dream of your caress?" He demands. Then he pauses and stares dumbfoundead, realizing a little too late what he said. "I… er. I didn't say that–"

Your mouth opens, face burning hotly, speechless for a moment almost forgetting yourself. Then you swallow hard, shoving your hands against his gleaming metal chest. "No! I'm not going to feel sorry for you, stupid. You're inorganic, you can turn that setting off!"

"Stupid??" His voice box crackles, "You have the gall to call me stupid?"

There is a sound, and a voice rasps over the communicator causing the two of you to startle.

"Commander Heliodor, report."

He claps a hand over your mouth and one of your hands slap over the voicebox located on the side of his face. The two of you sit in awkward wide eyed silence. Slowly Heliodor peels your fingers away from his speaker. "Yes, my Liege?"

"How long will you be preening under your pet?" The gravelly voice growls, "Haul them back to their cell so we can continue on with our plans."

"But I… my liege I must look my best for the coronation."

An annoyed crackle comes from over the communications line. You squint as Heliodor keeps a hand firmly over your mouth.

"Nngh, if you must. Hurry up! Make it quick!" The line pops and fizzles back into silence. With this distraction you wrench his hand away, "Oh yeah, looking your best, that's definately what this was."

"Don't mock me," He warns, the deep vibration felt underneathe your fingers.

A part of your brain was emboldened by the realization that he hadn't made a move to hurt you. Further towing the line you snap back. "You act like you're better than everyone, yet you are still dealing with the very issues you say you are above." You poke him in the chest as you enunicate. "It's hy-po-cri-ti-cal." He shudders and you jerk your hand back like touching him was a live wire.

"Stop-stop that!" You stammer your face roiling with heat again, "Don't react like that it's weird!"

He grabs your hands, "Stars above you mouthy creature! You have put me into a precarious position! You have forced my hand! Now I must admit my feelings before I blow a fuse!

"You- I–" You begin to try to wriggle out of his grasp. "Nuh uh! No way! We hate eachother! Absolutely, totally hate eachother! Hate, hate, hate!" You aren't sure who you are trying to convince more. His hands are gleaming vices you can't pull away from. He drops his crowned head, forehead brushing against your hands. He stays there for a moment before his golden yellow eyes flash at you. Him being silent was perhaps even worse than the gloating.

"No. You don't," You try again a tremor wriggling it's way into you're voice. "If you cared for me even an inch you would have let me go."

"I cannot."

"Why not?"

The golden glowing eyes flicker, "It would not be safe."

"You're worried about my saftey now?" You mumble, unable to look him in the eye. "You weren't before…"

You glance back to see him still watching you intently, and you look away again.

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Another poly ship idea for giggles because I live for silly chaos EKDJDJSKS. Heli would be so jealous he wouldn’t know what to do with himself. You like his mortal enemy?? Heli is so much better than THEM. How could you even hold Castor’s horrible little hand?? And then Heli proceeds to sulk and devise ways to bump Castor off so he can horde all of your affection (it doesn’t work)

- - - - - - -

You wake up with a start in what looks to be a cozy little cottage. A warm hand holds yours, gently stroking your thumb. You look up to see a face haloed by cheerful coils of black curly hair, and a sweet gentle face.

"How are you doing hun, I was told you had quite the night."

You begin to sit up, eyes wide as you glance around. "Where am..."

She sighs, and rolls her eyes, "My house, BB got scared when you fainted, and didn't know where else to go. They couldn't take you to a hospital without causing a stir."

"BB..." You rasp, trying to recall last night. When you remembered the ghastly face leering down at you, you yelped. "The-the creature?"

The woman glances a look your way, one delicate eyebrow raised. You feel your cheeks warm, the woman smiled though it was strained. Using her free hand to massage her temples she closed her eyes.

"Yeah that's BB," The words are spoken on a sigh, "They weren't supposed to be roaming around the city. Goodness knows I've told them to stay out of there. Do they listen to me?" She finally drops your hand to toss it casually palm up. "No. And they probably never will." Her voice is tinged with both exhaustion and affection. "The big idiot." She stands and smooths down her jeans. "Anyway, your ankle should be fixed, all set to get on home."

You stare dumbfounded "My ankle... I don't think," she glances another look at you, something bemused glimmers behind those eyes. "Try," She says simply. Your lips twist to a confused frown, your body already recognizing the change, as you move your legs and you can already tell that the tense stirring of pain wasn't there. The tendrils of your body recognizing itself was smooth without any jagged spikes of pain. You roll your foot before you even touch the floor, and while you feel the muscles stretch and pull, no other sparks make themselves known.

"I don't get it," You mumble to yourself as you stand, lifting up your leg and knee to once again test the muscles in your foot and ankle. Pausing in your pondering you lift your chin "Thank you. I don't know what did but... thank you."

Her eyes crinkle and she smiles. "I'm Alice."

You return the smile, "Thank you Alice," You supply your own name back then hesitate, "Can I also thank BB? I don't think I would have been here if it wasn't for them."

She rests a fist on her chin studying you with renewed interest, "I knew I liked you. Even from just the barest glimpse I saw. Come on," She waves you on and you follow dutifully out of the small room and into a hall full of paintings.

"Your house is beautiful," you stop to appreciate a painting, a warmth dappled apple tree bursting with an abundance of tiny white blossoms. The longer you stare, the more It looks like the delicate branches are waving, and you blink to clear the strange effect from your eyes.

"Thank you, I love painting," Alice admits, "The ones in here are mine, I always try to take it upon myself to keep this hall full of the things that make me happy."

"Beautiful," you murmur again, studying the painting with awe. Again as you watch, the branches begin to sway again. What a weird trick of the light. You practically have to peel your eyes away from it as you follow Alice to the parlor.

Your body jerks as you turn the corner to see the skinned and weeping face of the ghoul. It looks so out of place in it's big dark suit sitting on a prim little chair and sipping tea. They also jerk at seeing you, the little flickers of light getting huge before darting around, a smile trying and failing to twitch on its face. They take a sip of tea, before anxiously biting into the cup. Your shoulders raising in horror as you hear the crunch of porcelain as it chews the shards and swallows.

Alice's face falls, "Body..." the corner of lip twitches as she introduces you. "They have something they liked to say," You are scooted forward, for a minute you google at the figure in the chair, the big hole in the little teacup and BB trying to drink from it, tea now splattering down the front of their suit and the table.

"Thank you, for saving me?" It sounded more like a question than a statement, but BB physically relaxes, "Oh." They say in a sigh, a goofy grin wobbling across their face before they look down at the tea splattering the table. "Oh!" They yelp and jump to their feet, "We're so sorry Alice!" The rush out of the room and Alice gives a huff.

BB reappears with a roll of paper towels and begins frantically mopping up the spill. Cautiously, you wander over and grab a few leaves as well. Bending down to hesitantly blot the chair and the rug.

"We're so sorry, We're so sorry, We're so sorry," BB babbles, you study the ghoul feeling as though you are watching from outside of your own body. Not a dream, not a hallucination. Busying your hands helps, but your gaze can’t help but glance back to that face. That face!

"Oh BB... it's fine." Alice murmurs, you hear her fingers snap, you move to continue blotting the floor but pause as every hair on your head prickles. The rug is bone dry, so are the paper towels in your hand. The ones that were soaking wet just moments ago. You open them, looking for anything that would show you hadn't lost your mind, tea stains, anything. But all you see if a perfectly white, heavily crumpled, paper towel. You lean back on your knees, your head now thoroughly spinning and the world teetering dangerously on it’s side.

"Uh... ha... huh?" You look up with childlike naivety at the two faces peering down at you.

"Oh no, you don't. You're not going to faint on us again." Alice mused, "I'm going to make all of us some chamomile." And with that she strode out of the room.

"Too much?" BB gives a cringing smile, sitting down on the floor next to you, you can hear wet squelching noises as they move and you look down quickly, averting your eyes to stare at your lap.

"It's a lot to take in," BB's voice continues, "We learned about magic in a, oof, quite a terrible way really. It was terrible a shock but after that, you know, the whole magic thing can be pretty cool. That is, once you get over the whole idea of everything you thought you knew being turned on its head..." BB gives an awkward laugh, "Oh, oh dear this isn't helping, is it."

"It's helping a little." You manage "I've always liked fantasy."

“Did you read a lot of fantasy books?” They sound relieved to grasp a thread of a distraction, your eyes wander from your lap, to stare at their hands, noticing they wore long bright yellow rubber gloves.

“What does BB stand for?” You murmur instead,

Now it was BB’s turn, to duck their head, “Oh… well, we don’t really remember our names.“ Those rubber gloves twine together, fingers fidgeting nervously. “We thought the name Body Bag was kind of funny, all things considered.” They give a weak laugh and continue to fidget.

Alice sweeps back into the room and Body squishes to their feet, your eyes glance to the rubber glove that is held out for you. You swallow and take the gloved hand, the grip is firm, yet the way it gives underneath your hand makes you feel uncomfortable. You are hoisted to your feet, and a warm cup is placed into your hands. You raise the cup to your lips and take a sip.

"I can't believe you scared this poor dear half to death." You eyes raise, but you can see Alice smiling widely.

BB, who had taken a sip of tea almost spits, swallowing hard and coughing. "Me-me?!" They splutter with a croak. "I did nothin' of the sort!" You can see they have a new cup in their hands, the one with a bite taken out of it, left on the table.

Alice bites back a smile, tucking it into her cheek. "Sure, sure, rescuing cuties in distress is just my hobby. I'm sure there were no terrifying ghouls lurking around to scare the daylights out of them." Alice looks BB up and down before she slides a sly hand beside her mouth, not attempting to whisper as she leans to you, "They're lucky they look scary, they're really a big softy."

"Hey!" BB stomps their boots with a laugh, squelching noises coming from them. "If I can protect people, I'll look as scary as necessary!"

Alice smirks raising a brow, "Scaring the people you are trying to help, bit you in the butt. Just saying." She takes a seat and BB does the same, sticking a purple tongue out at their friend. Your eyes bounce between the two before hesitantly taking up a chair.

"You two have been friends for a long time I gather."

"That's right," BB smiles, "Alice has helped me more than I can even say. She keeps me grounded and in high spirits."

"What... happened to you?" You ask cautiously. You can feel the air around the table change, as if a heavy curtain was drawn over the sunshine of the room. Alice's expression turns sad, and B just stares. You drop your gaze to look at your hands embarrassed.

"It's a long story." Alice begins, she sounds uneasy, but then BB began to speak in a low quiet voice, "There was a man who, murdered a lot of people. That man also happened to be a sorcerer. He thought he could make this... amalgamation of a meat puppet. Something he could sic on other people and continue to grow as it killed for him." BB paused and when they began again, there was an odd hollow note in his voice. "But it backfired, the bodies he spelled remembered him, remembered what he did to them, and didn't want him hurting anyone else."

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked," Your voice came out in a rush, your throat so tight the words barely fit through.

Their voice sounded dreamy far away, "It's good to remember. Remember why we are still here. Why we still roam." BB sways, rocking slightly, in a trance-like state before their eyes shuddered and they shiver. "We get flashes of the people who we used to be." They confess, their voice had gone back to a more chipper and present sounding. "Thank goodness most of the more gruesome bits aren't remembered." They laugh uneasily, "We probably wouldn't be very nice if we were a big ball of dark energy and trauma."

Alice's expression clouds, her eyebrows twitch before her face smooths over to something lighter. "We like you just how you are."

BB beams, "And that's why we're still here, and still go into the larger cities!"

Alice scowls and crosses her arms, exasperated. "You know I worry about you, what if you get caught? Or something happens."

"We can only help so much Alice," BB says, "We'll be careful."

"That man still isn't around is he?" You swallow hard, "In some form or another?"

"Oh no," Alice consoles, "But it's best to stay vigilante." She sighs and slaps her palms to her knees, raising from the table. "And on that note, I think it's time for our guest to be led back home. They've had quite the adventure." You raise with Alice and notice as BB seems to deflate before they almost knock over their tea cup, scrambling to right it.

"It was nice to meet you," Body speaks in a rush, their smile wide and nervous. "I hope you have a lovely day."

You wave back at them, a tiniest hint on your smile playing on your lips. Following Alice through the winding house, you observe the furniture and paintings. She opens the door to the porch and you step out into the sunshine. Golden hour dripping through the trees to cast their warm orange glow across the ground. "Oh. Wow. I think, I know where I am. I didn't think anyone lived in the residential park."

Alice pauses in the doorway and smiles, "It was lovely to meet you, I hope you have a safe trip home."

You beam and nod, "I will, thanks to the both of you. I hope you have a lovely, morning? Evening?" You laugh anxiously, "I'm afraid I don't know what time it is. I hope it's the early morning, I'd feel bad if you had to watch over me for a whole day."

Alice's lips part, words on the tip of her tongue before her eyes crinkle. "No, no. I'm glad you visited us, we don't have the treat of entertaining guests."

"Maybe we'll meet up again someday,"

"Someday perhaps," Alice muses.

BB pauses, watching Alice curiously as she waves goodbye. You give a shy wave back, as you turn off the street and disappear out of sight.

"You didn't..." Alice glances at them and the ghoul swallows an awkward smile winking across their face.

"You didn't wipe their memories. Isn't that... dangerous?"

Alice rests her hip against the door and crosses her arms. "Maybe. But I am running off of a hunch, and if my hunch is wrong, well." She shrugs one elegant shoulder, "I'll just have to cast a wider net of magic with the spell."

“I know you can do that,” Body begins nervously, “But that would take a lot of energy and—“

"I think" Alice begins, her voice quiet, "You should have more than just one friend. Especially when that friend holds too fast onto the past."

BB looks down at their yellow gloved hands, and flexes their fingers. Their brows hedge together. "I know you miss her. Sometimes I think, your connection is the one thing that is keeping us all from falling apart.” Alice stiffens at the words as Body continues sadly, “I wish I could do more to help you reach her. Everyone... is so tangled up, we don’t know where one of us ends and the other begins. If we could figure out how to separate ourselves more..."

"Sh." Alice places a hand on their shoulder. "I know. I still see sparks of her in there, you know? Glimpses are enough, and you’re my friend too." She looks searchingly into Body’s white flickering eyes, “The only thing I wish,” She takes a deep breath, “Is that I could have killed that son of a bitch myself.” She goes back into the house, leaving BB to stand on the porch. They pluck a flower from the morning glory vines that are creeping up the railing. Twirling the trumpet delicately between their fingers.

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