I'm drowning in so much fLUFF! Can you do “Who told you that?” with a dash of angst? You don't have to if you don't want to.
two for this one!! a lil angst as asked but fluff to smooth it out
“Slayer?” Vega’s voice cuts through the haze in his mind. “What are you doing?”
He shrugs. Isn’t it obvious? He’s donning the Praetor suit and picking weaponry.
“You should be resting,” Vega urges.
He decides to politely ignore him.
“Slayer, please,” Vega pesters.
His will snaps. He turns around, hands at the ready. ‘Have to.’
“You do not have to go out when you are not ready,” Vega counters. “Wait until you are more rested up and alert.”
He shakes his head. ‘Only thing to do.’
“‘Only thing’?” Vega repeats. “There are many other things we could do to quell the invasion, Slayer. We--”
He waves a hand dismissively. ‘Only thing I’m good for.’
Vega stutters. “Who told you that?”
His hands clenched into fists before spelling out. ‘Hayden.’
“I simply do not care what Hayden thinks,” Vega snaps. “You shouldn’t either. Hayden believed I was just an AI that should have been destroyed on the Mars base to open the portal to the Well. You thought otherwise.”
He knows where this is going.
“Hayden thinks you are merely a tool to be used. A possession to flaunt,” Vega damn near growls. “You are so much more than that.”
His hands raise to argue.
“No, no, Slayer. Let me speak, please,” Vega cuts him off. “You are not some mere tool to be used, a pawn to be played. You are a hero to this planet. You have saved many lives with your work that you did on your own volition. Hayden doesn’t rule you anymore. You have free will.” His voice softens. “You do not need to believe what he has said. Believe what I am saying right now. You are so much more than what Hayden thinks you to be.”
He pauses as the words sink in. Vega doesn’t see him as a murderous machine. He doesn’t see the Slayer as Hayden’s dog, following commands at his whim. Vega sees him as his own individual with his own choices and thoughts.
The helmet in his hand pauses on its way to his head. He sets it down silently, looking to Vega. Vega looks apprehensive, like he believes he had said something wrong.
That wouldn’t do.
The Slayer, half-adorned in the Praetor suit, crosses the space between himself and Vega in a swift stride, wrapping his arms around Vega and, with control he’s learned to exert, crushes him to his chest. After a second of embracing, he steps back.
‘Thank you.’
