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Drowsiness hummed at the back of Wise’s mind as the waking world emerged in front of his opening eyes in muted grey and blue hues. His staticky gaze drifted to the slumbering Bangboo hologram curled up atop his cellphone, a set of numbers cushioned beneath its roly-poly body flashed 3:26 A.M. in bubbly off-white numbers. A groan rolled at the back of Wise’s throat as he squeezed his eyelids shut to stave off the coming surge of energy.
When he pressed his hands to his eyes, the inside of his wrist brushed against the tip of his nose, carrying the faint, dewy scent of bergamot and honeysuckle. The rapid beating in his chest began to calm for a slow, easy moment, but the second his hand’s heel dug against his eye socket - color webbed across the dark expanse. Flashes of bright lights, a setting sun’s sparkle, deep blue hair, and fluttering movements came to a halt in one terrible instance.
It was as though he was standing outside his body while existing within it. Seeing himself several strides away, too slow to reach out and pull Belle back in time — too slow to save her. The stench of exhaust fumes, oil, and the strangely fluid scent of ozone filled his senses, trickling in like water into a deep basin. As it reached the rim, Wise’s chest was tight enough to burst, and his lips parted with a desperate gasp to take in as much air as possible.
He forced his hands away, trembling fingers curled tight in the downy lining of his comforter to yank it up to his face. Left in darkness with only his shallow breathing and thumping heartbeat, Wise tried to remember when he’d last hidden under his blankets in fear of a nightmare .
Maybe when he was still a child with a home and nothing but the monsters in movies to keep him up at night.
To his chagrin, time buried those memories deep within the recesses of his mind. It could have been a Hollow, given how unrecognizable being carefree was to him. Those gilded days were like a dream, swallowed by the void of survival and succession. Yet, he closed his eyes tightly and tried to remember.
Hours could have ticked by, and Wise wasn’t sure how long he’d spent within his cushioned sanctuary before a familiar chime echoed in the semi-somnolent stillness.
"Master,” Fairy muttered in a tone Wise almost considered concerned , if not for the voice’s monotony, “Your brain waves show high alpha and theta frequencies indicative of increased stress levels and alertness. Seeing as the window to enter deep REM sleep has closed, I recommend ceasing your attempt to feign a restful state."
Heat burned Wise’s earlobes as he pulled the blanket down, grumbling hoarsely, "That's a rather long-winded way to ask what's on my mind, Fairy."
There is no one to make direct eye contact with, and no face Fairy has to support her expressions, but Wise felt the proverbial eye roll before the AI said, "Master would not have disengaged without being presented with evidence of why his actions were inefficient, ineffective, and wholly illogical. Therefore—"
"I think I get it," groaned Wise. He pushed himself up on his elbows, then shuffled further until his blankets slid into a rumpled heap on his lap. A yawn pushed past his lips as he locked his fingers together, then stretched his arms above his head, joints popping and muscles smoldering from disuse. When his hands parted with a gasped ah , he returned to the sleeping Bangboo hologram only to find the small creature drowsily leaning against the numbers while rubbing its eye. The clock blinked 3:41 A.M., and Wise sighed, scrubbing a hand through his hair. Fairy’s punctuality was admirable, but they’d have to work on her personalization. He doubted fifteen minutes would be enough time to get any sleep, even for the average person.
As though reading his thoughts, Fairy asked, "Shall I propose an alternative method to salvage Master's circadian rhythm?"
Wise dragged his hand down his cheek, shoulders slumping with a put-upon sigh. It wasn’t as if he would get any sleep on his own, and he sincerely doubted Fairy would drop the matter.
"What did you have in mind?" He asked, resting his chin atop his hand.
"Processing…"
The quiet hum of his computer’s drive filled the silence, Wise’s eyes flickering as their lids threatened to close. Scolding Fairy for unauthorized use of his personal computer aside, the gears and electrical static whirring provided a decent lull. For a moment, Wise considered Fairy planned to serenade him with the tune of machinery. It wouldn’t be the first time the artificial assistant attempted to help through unorthodox methods. His eyelids slid shut, cheek melding to the ridges of his fingertips and knuckles as the first notes of drowsiness began to trickle in.
"Answer,” Fairy suddenly announced, startling Wise from his light doze. He rubbed the sleep from his bleary eyes. A frown leveled at his computer monitor as it flickered to life, casting a soft bluish-white glow across the loft. Fairy’s eye hovered in the center of the screen, flitting back and forth as though she were reading something. “Speaking to the subject of Master's concern will lower stress levels and prevent the reoccurrence of nightmares, otherwise known as night terrors, by reaffirming Master's sense of reality."
Wise sighed, covering his eyes with his palm to avoid the light and Fairy's gaze if he were a little more honest with himself. In a sense, he knew she was right. How many times had Belle come to him after being awoken by dread? Even in the fuzzy memories of before , Wise remembered strong hands grasping at the edge of his blankets until they were pulled away from his body. How elbows and knees would push and fight into his sleep-heavy limbs, tangling around him like a Golden Bangboo would a Gear Coin.
He never resisted, eventually forgetting where she began, and he ended once the squirming settled. But he’d never forget how it felt to wrap his arms around her, tucking the blanket against her trembling shoulders while whispering reassurance he couldn’t remember come morning. Lingering in that half-awake doze, humming scraps of a lullaby he was sure someone had taught him before— someone who promised to protect him like he swore to protect Belle.
"That won't be necessary,” Wise intoned before softening his words with a defeated sigh, “Besides, it's late. I just.. need a minute.."
"Second Assistant is still awake, as well, Master."
Wise twitched, peeling his palm back from his eyes. "..Belle is?" He asked, lowering his hand. "Was she having trouble sleeping?"
"Perhaps if Master would be amenable to speaking to Second Assistant, the answer would be clearer."
Wise leveled an unamused look at his computer screen where Fairy’s shuttered eye pointedly stared back. He wondered how she could see him until he remembered the webcam on his monitor. The eye narrowed further and sparkled . It almost seemed smug , and Wise couldn’t help but feel a little played.
However, if Belle were in any real danger - imaginative or not - she would come to him. Of that, Wise was sure of. While they didn’t know her, Fairy wouldn’t toy with Belle’s well-being. It would ultimately go against her mission as Phaethon’s assistant and turn Wise against her. No matter how efficient she was to their cause, the cause had no meaning without Belle.
So, it was safe to assume Belle wasn’t in immediate danger. The likelihood of her practicing to beat his high score at Godfinger was a better outcome.
The corner of Wise’s lips curled as his heart calmed itself. "Clearer than one you could provide? I'm sure she'd be happy to hear that in the morning."
Fairy’s eye widened, then squinted into a slit. "Hmph.”
The computer screen blipped into darkness, reflecting only Wise, propped up on his elbow. He lifted one hand, lazily drawing a tally on one side before shifting to lie down.
Fairy was right about one thing: I need to try to get some sleep.
Just as he debated going downstairs to watch one of the videotapes in the archive, a quick little rapping at his door bolted him upright.
"Belle?" He called out, staring at the door as it cracked open, allowing strips of low amber light to spill across his floorboards. Belle peeked around the door, glancing left and right like she planned to sneak inside. Then, her eyes found Wise, and a sudden rush of affection crowded in his chest at how her turquoise irises sparked with the familiar bioluminescent current of their shared ability. It’d taken years for Belle to learn how to hide her etheric sensitivity with how emotional and zany she could be.
Many nights, Wise awoke to glowing eyes watching him in the dark, and he’d learned not to panic. After all, how could his little sister be anything but dear—?
Aside from when she was a little annoying at times.
Wise smiled, tossing his blankets aside to swing his feet onto the ground. His arms rested on his knees as he leaned forward, tipping his head to watch Belle shuffle inside while carefully shutting the door behind her.
"We've got a busy day tomorrow,” Wise reminded. “Shouldn't you be getting some sleep?"
Belle huffed as she turned around, and said, "I should be asking you that. How did you know I was awake, by the way?"
Wise chuckled, tapping his fingers against his knee. "I would wager the same way you knew I was."
The two shared a lingering look, neither giving ground until Belle sucked her teeth and glared accusingly at his computer monitor. Wise also drifted a curious eye, brow arched at the blinking blue sensor. That only happened when his computer was in standby mode.
" Fairy …" Belle muttered from the side of her mouth.
A beep came from the computer monitor as the screen flickered to life, Fairy’s eye innocently drifting between the pair. "Second Assistant requested notification if Master could not access deep REM sleep and protested against proposed alternative methods. Was this not the agreed-upon method, Second Assistant?"
Belle wandered onto the loft, crossing her arms with a little sniff. “I don’t remember clueing Wise into the surprise as part of the plan.”
Wise smiled against his palm, then lifted his head slightly so that his chin rested against his hand’s heel. " So , two agents working together, but one has an ulterior motive leading to a double cross. An interesting plot to a movie, don’t you think?"
Belle glanced in his direction, eyes wide and lips parted as she struggled to grasp her words. Yet, once all else failed, she smiled sheepishly, rocking back and forth on her heels. "Ehe… well, y’see…"
"Affirmative, Master," interjected Fairy, heedless of the venomous glare Belle shot at the monitor. Wise wasn’t certain how well Fairy recognized facial expressions outside of her identification matrix but he doubted the artificial intelligence entity cared either way.
"That’s enough out of you, Fairy,” Belle huffed, then rounded back onto Wise with a crease forming between her brows. She stepped closer to the bedside then crouched down with her arms crossed atop of her knees. It made her look smaller, and younger in a way that stole Wise’s breath. Big blue eyes met his but instead of asking for reassurance and comfort, they softened with worried concern.
“Wise, is everything alright?" She murmured, as though speaking any louder would send the tension thickening in the air tumbling down on their heads. Wise opened his mouth but the words wouldn’t come to him immediately. There was plenty he could have told her — it was alright, he was fine, nothing was wrong because she was here and they were together and that was all that mattered — " Seriously ."
Belle’s voice broke through the static thrumming beneath his skin, and as if to keep him from sinking beneath the waves of thought, she gripped his empty hand tightly.
"Ever since that freak accident, you've been on edge," she squeezed his hand when he opened his mouth then hesitated — again — frustration building in her voice. "Zhu Yuan saved me, and Qingyi said I don't have a single scratch. So, what's got you all wound up?"
Wise curled his fingers tight around hers, trying to shut it out. It didn’t matter now, not when Belle was in front of him - whole, talking, alive .
“Just talk to me—”
He tugged at their joined hands to half-pull her up onto the bed, and wrapped his arms around her tight. Pulling her as close into his chest as he could possibly bring her without making both of them fall over.
"Oof, Wi—"
"If they were a second later, you would’ve been in the hospital or worse ," Wise choked out.
She wasn’t small enough to fit within his arms anymore, but he tucked her head under his chin and held on for dear life. The thought of Belle being taken into the cruel embrace of death flashed across his mind. His little sister, eyes devoid of life without a single movement and no cracking open of her eyes to tell him that she was still there. Would she have been splayed out on the asphalt, red staining her dark blue hair until it dyed burgundy?
Or would he find her inside of a Hollow, groaning with pain and begging to be let out of her mercy? Could he have done it?
No, no — he couldn’t bear it.
Fear gripped his mind, and all of the courage he’d felt that day was nowhere to be found within his dreams. It was only images of Belle far beyond his reach and no amount of wisdom would bring back the one he wanted to protect most.
"I can't stop seeing it,” Wise cried bitterly, tears squeezing from the corner of his eyes though he tried to will them away. They fell in Belle’s hair and disappeared but he could still feel their presence on his cheeks, and the warmth in the back of his throat that almost tasted salty in its bitterness. “You, in danger, and I'm just.. helpless."
"Wise…" Belle whispered, tucking her arms around him. It almost quelled his shaking, the strength of her grip as she held him tight. "They'll catch the guy who's been using those EMPs, and he'll answer for what he's done.”
She shifted slightly in their embrace, both pulling away from him and keeping him a tight hold of his shoulders. A warm hand enveloped his cheek, a thumb brushing beneath his wet eyelashes until the heaviness of his tears wiped away. He peeled open his eyes, shuddering a breath as Belle stared back insistently with glazed over eyes. “But Phaethon can't help if we're not caring for ourselves."
She shuffled a little to kneel beside him, keeping her hands pressed to his cheeks until Wise couldn’t move his head without Belle redirecting him back to her. She huffed, mustering a bittersweet smile that softened her eyes. The blue light from his monitor and Fairy’s display illuminates her, its a gentle glow unlike the harsh glare of the sunlight or the headlamps hurtling toward her like a meteorite.
"I'll try to be more careful when crossing the street,” Belle promised, “and you get some sleep . Please . You know how hard it is to keep Eous going when you haven't slept. I've had to peel you out of HDD more times than I can count when you're on commission overload."
Wise dropped his gaze briefly, though he couldn’t turn his head away to hide his shame. Eous seldom refused to return to his charging port when one of them was enthralled in work. Had he been taking the little Bangboo for granted? All of the assistance with keeping his coffee re-heated and a snack in hand didn’t go without a headpat or a thanks, but Eous’ companionship during the worst of his sleepless nights meant more than anything. The Bangboo would have mourned Belle as much as Wise did in his heart despite her being right there in his arms.
"And, I'm sorry about worrying you, but…" Wise grunted when Belle pressed her hands insistently to his cheeks, squishing his face until he could hardly see anything but her beyond the walls made up from her hands. Her eyes narrowed, nose flushed pink and scrunched up as she glared up at him. " Quit talking about yourself like that. I know you'd do anything to help me, like when I was trapped in that Hollow."
Wise’s breath hitched, and for a split second, Belle looked apologetic but she shook it off and pressed on.
"You might not be the fastest or the strongest, but you're my brother.” She quirked a smile, then threw her arms around his neck and pulled him in until his nose was buried against her shoulder. "And that makes me the safest girl in New Eridu."
She was warm, terribly warm and alive . It meant all the difference in a way Wise couldn’t put to words aside from a soft, "Thanks, Belle.."
"Anytime," Belle cheekily replied, running her fingers over the back of his hair in a soothing motion he didn’t know if she remembered the origins of. It didn’t matter though because in the end, he remembered Belle’s comfort more than the ones they’d lost in the past. And he would never let her join them in his memories.
Soon enough, Belle peeled herself away from him and held him by the shoulders with a big smile, “ So, how about we grab some snacks, watch a movie, and hang out in your room?”
"No way,” Wise snorted, rolling his eyes at her pout.”You’ll get crumbs all in the cushions."
"Do not!" Belle argued, giving him a shake.
Wise shrugged off her hands, and said, "Tell that to the vacuum."
"Psh,” Belle waved a hand dismissively, hopping off his bed. “Forget it, we’ll just have to go downstairs then.”
She turned around with a mischievous smile that melted gently, sweetly in the way that reminded him of the little sister who always clung to his side. "You coming?"
“Yeah,” Wise answered, pushing his blankets from his legs to swing them onto the ground. “Be right there.”
Belle gasped happily, then raced toward the door. She stopped at the threshold to look back at him then giggled, turning the corner. Her thudding footsteps rushed down the staircase and Wise waited until they were gone to take a breath.
"Fairy…"
His monitor flickered to life, Fairy’s eye roving around the room before coming to rest on him. "Yes, Master?"
"Biometrics," Wise requested.
There was a hum that filled the air before Fairy answered, "You have an increased level of serotonin and dopamine, Master, indicative of happiness and relaxation."
Wise chuckled, pushing up to his feet to pad across the room toward his computer. "Is that right?” He asked, laying his hand on the monitor with a gentle pat. Fairy might not have been able to feel his gratitude but he couldn’t go without expressing it in some way. The entity had been there for Belle when he couldn’t be after all. “Well, it seems your mission succeeded. And thank you, Fairy. For everything."
"… You are very welcome, Master. I recommend hurrying after Second Assistant. She is currently attempting to inflate several bags of Bangboo Bouncing Popcorn, and the possibility of Master's sodium intake reaching dangerous intervals is imminent."
Wise’s eyes widened. "I'm moving, I'm moving," he said, running to the doorway then swinging out into the hallway with a shout, “Belle, hang on!”