Chapter Text
Something was wrong with Aventurine. Veritas had gotten very good at determining that. The android had a specific way of dealing with issues, something Veritas picked up on after knowing him for so long. Aventurine often fiddles with a poker chip he keeps on his person. Sometimes it's just used as a distraction, but it's just as often used in an attempt to keep his mind steady. He also smiles a certain way. It tightens at the corners, becoming too fake when he tries to go for something more natural. Admittedly, that's something Veritas took a long time to understand. Recognizing body language wasn't always his strong suit.
Back to the matter at hand— Aventurine was hiding something. Veritas didn't know what it was, but he knew it would be best the sooner they talked about it. Most things they've been able to resolve through talking, not accounting for the one time Veritas was too drunk to properly talk.
Working up the courage, Veritas knocks on Aventurine's door and walks in. "Aventurine, I wanted to ask you—" He stops immediately when he finds Aventurine crouched on the floor, one hand over his eye as the faint sound of something sizzling could be heard. "Aventurine! What's wrong?"
Aventurine speaks rapidly, barely making sense. Veritas could barely piece it all together. "It's me but it can't be me— I'm— my body? No… who?" It's all nonsensical until a familiar name begins to be repeated multiple times.
Kakavasha.
It's a name only Veritas has said recently. Kakavasha, the brilliant and foolish gambler who used to work at the Company. The man who accosted Ratio to make him an android that he could transfer his memories into. The creative and secretly sweet person Veritas had fallen for. He had been naive at the time, hoping a caring relationship would get Kakavasha to stop his inane plan. He learned quickly that it wouldn't work. Still, he never thought he'd hear that name from Aventurine. They had taken pains to ensure Aventurine would become his own person.
"Aventurine, how do you know that name?" Veritas carefully asks, his hands gently examining the still freaked out Aventurine. The metal of his body was slowly heating up as his spiral continued. Veritas couldn't tell if it was the android equivalent of a panic attack or the sign of a virus attack.
Aventurine mumbles more things, his body beginning to jerk around in Veritas's hold. "Vasha— Kakavasha… it— he— me? Memories—"
It was hard to piece together, but Veritas had started to develop a rudimentary form of understanding. The implications made his blood run cold. If Aventurine was right and he was acting this way because of memories then—
His hand is suddenly gripped tightly. "Aventurine!" Veritas calls out, metal digging into his skin harshly. He looks up at Aventurine, about to tell him off, before the words die in his mouth.
Aventurine's eyes were bright red. His body goes rigid, mechanical. Robotic.
"Aventurine—!" Veritas is pushed to the side, stumbling as Aventurine rises to his feet. His eyes, cold and uncaring, state into him. Veritas has never seen him like this. Even when everything happened, Aventurine had never acted like the other androids. He never turned, willingly or forcefully. He stuck by Veritas's side always.
Aventurine doesn't move for a while, the two stuck in a stare down. Veritas didn't even have his gun on him, but what would he even do if he did? Shoot his partner? After everything?
Aventurine takes a step forward, red eyes glitching and changing colors. "Veri…?" he asks, his voice module beginning to glitch out also. A hand reaches towards him in a jerky motion, causing the scholar to flinch and raise his hand up protectively. That seems to cause Aventurine to snap out of it briefly, his eyes returning to their normal colors.
He doesn't say anything, running past Veritas and out the door. "Aventurine, wait!" Veritas calls out, getting to his feet and running after him. He sees blond hair disappear out the doorway before he stops, breathing heavily. Aventurine…
Veritas is losing him for a second time.
Error ### Error ### System Malfunction
Aventurine couldn't breathe. He was hearing things— seeing things— and he couldn't stop. He was remembering things that he couldn't have gone through. He was Aventurine. He was Kakavasha. He was—
Who was he?
He was made for a purpose. A clear goal. An end in sight. He's robotic. Mechanical. Everything his creators said he was. He couldn't be more than that. He shouldn't—
Gentle hands touch his. "Run, Kakavasha. Run as far as you can. Don't look back, please."
He used to be smaller. He had a sister. Flesh and blood. Air in lungs. Kakavasha. Child blessed by a Goddess.
Error ###
Aventurine and Kakavasha. Kakavasha and Aventurine. He couldn't be both. He had to choose. A child's screaming. A person's blood on his face.
Error ###
Who was he anymore?
"So Aventurine suffered a data leak?" Acheron asks, a frown on her face. Veritas was back in Black Swan's hideout, tearfully and tiredly explaining what happened to Aventurine. He pulls the blanket tighter around himself.
"The longer we stay here the more likely he might get hurt. We have to find him now before someone else does." Veritas tries to explain. Neither of the androids would let him get up after he stumbled back to them. Black Swan holds her hand up, preemptively stopping him.
"If we're going to fix Aventurine then we need to understand how a data leak like that happened." she explains. "If he was holding onto false memories and they've already begun to mix then he's in an extremely unstable state right now. He's most likely reverted to the rewritten directives the other androids have to conserve stability."
"But why would he be holding onto contradicting memories?" Acheron asks. "It can't have been a fail safe measure."
Veritas remains quiet, guilt building up in his stomach. He knew why this was happening but he couldn't bring himself to say anything. It was his fault Aventurine was losing his mind. It was his fault Aventurine was glitching out and potentially hurt. Acheron's gaze finds its way on him, a silent admonishment.
"Dr. Ratio? Is everything ok?"
He couldn't keep it secret. They would have to know in order to fix everything. He sighs, bracing for the worst. "I'm the one who hid those memories in Aventurine's system. This is my fault."
Confessing that to two androids was not going to lead to anything good, yet he does it anyway. He sees Acheron's expression first, barely contained fury in her gaze as her hand twitches on her scabbard. "How could you do that to him?" she seethes, stepping closer to him. He doesn't move away, his head hung low in shame.
"I couldn't let Kakavasha die!" he yells at her. "I wasn't going to let some parody of him remain and be used by the Company. And I didn't want the memories of him being a person be gone forever. There was no possibility of a data leak, I had made sure of it before I did the original transfer. He was supposed to be safe."
Acheron didn't look impressed. "But why keep the memories if they were not supposed to be found? You could have held onto them in a safer way."
His shoulder slump. She was right, and his reasons for not doing so were selfish. "I… I liked that Aventurine looked so similar to Kakavasha. I never expected him to develop any kind of romantic feelings. I was satisfied only being near him. When the Company broke down, I did not expect him to stay with me."
Veritas sighs, looking into Acheron's eyes. "I know I have done something unforgivable, but right now my priority is making sure Aventurine will be ok. If that means we have to erase the memories then so be it. I just want him to be safe."
Acheron doesn't say anything, turning to Black Swan for guidance so she wouldn't make a decision in anger. Black Swan looked contemplative, eyeing Veritas carefully as she weighed her options and calculated possibilities and probabilities. "Perhaps there is a way to save the memories but I can't make any promises. Like you said, the goal is to save Aventurine. Kakavasha might not come out of this alive."
Veritas nods. "I understand."
"Good. Now, you and Acheron need to go look for him. I'll start preparing a program that can force him into shutdown. You'll just need to get close to him for it to work. I'll send you both a copy when it's done. If you find him earlier then just keep him distracted or trapped until it's ready."
They both nod. Acheron adjusts her grip on her katana as Veritas readies his gun. It was the best plan they had at the moment: contain until further instruction essentially. He sighs again, mentally preparing himself for what might need to happen to ensure Aventurine's survival.
The two leave Black Swan's hideout in silence.
Aventurine doesn't know where he's going. His vision flickers in and out periodically, malfunctioning along with everything else. Sometimes he's in a desert with sand all around him. Sometimes he's in a fancy apartment owned by someone familiar. Sometimes he's in rundown buildings lit by small campfires. He's everywhere and nowhere all at once.
It's cold. Cold…? His sensors aren't activating.
Where is Veritas?
Aventurine blinks, his vision returning to normal. It's dark out, with only the stars to watch over him. It doesn't matter where he is because he doesn't have anywhere to return to. Is he broken? What could he do now? Where could he go now? He hurt his partner. How does he come back from that? Veritas, who has only ever been kind to him even when the revolution started. Even when it was dangerous to be associated with androids. And how does he pay that back? By hurting him?
"I see you have returned." A voice cuts through Aventurine's panic. He looks up, seeing the holographic flicker of the lion who's den he walked into so long ago. Sunday watches him with a cautious eye. "Your friend led me to believe you were dead."
"I am. Not." Aventurine stutters, barely able to move his mouth let alone speak. It was taking everything in him to not go insane, to not revert to the orders he was given in the distant past.
Kill all humans.
He wasn't like them.
Sunday hums, looking over Aventurine. "I take pains to make sure the androids I dispose of can't return. How were you able to return?" Aventurine doesn't answer, but Sunday seems to connect the dots himself. He doesn't even use any of his powers. There's no horrible sense of probing. Maybe he doesn't notice because of everything else happening in his brain. "I guess it was the doctor. Where is he, anyhow? I imagine the two of you are not often apart."
"Gone." Aventurine says. "Why do you care?"
"Do you not realize how close to the Sanctuary you are? I do not tolerate any androids in its presence, much less one that has already seen it and walked its halls."
The Sanctuary. Aventurine's big gamble. His programming screams at him, wanting the forbidden knowledge to spread like wildfire. Let the other androids know where it is. Let them overwhelm and tear the place apart.
Kill all humans.
He wouldn't.
"Didn't notice. I'm kinda preoccupied right now." Aventurine laughs, the sound coming off more grated than suave. He groans in pain, a hand going to his head. Holding on so painful, each lucid moment making his programming try even harder to shut him down.
"I admit I have a morbid curiosity about you." Sunday speaks again, willfully or unknowingly ignorant of Aventurine's current pain. And then—
Searing pain. Worse than what his body was putting him through. Sunday probes through his corrupted files and broken code, each touch an extra dose of gasoline on an already flaming corpse. Aventurine cries out again, his eyes flickering red for a moment. Only then does Sunday stop, though the underlying heat doesn't go away.
"You… were a person?" Sunday questions, his voice wavering. Even his hologram starts to flicker. "Why… why would you do such a thing to yourself? Why put yourself into a body lesser than yours?"
Aventurine doesn't answer him, watching the fear course through Sunday. "Have you never grown tired of living?" He watches Sunday shake his head as something akin to pity flashes in his eyes. "Then you would never understand."
"I won't." Sunday repeats, almost like acceptance. Aventurine would love to appreciate it more if he could. That would make Veritas laugh, wouldn't it? To see such a man forced to admit defeat. The scholar sometimes got a kick out of it, even if he wouldn't want to admit it. Veritas…
Kill all humans.
He…
"I- I can't hold on…" Aventurine admits, warnings flashing on his eyes only he could see. "Please tell Veritas where I am. Or don't, it doesn't matter anymore. I wish I could…"
Tell him he's loved. Ask why this had to happen. Tell him Kakavasha adored him.
Kill all humans.
Aventurine's world turns red.
The search for Aventurine continues in near silence. Veritas has accepted that fact, but it didn't lessen the sting in the slightest. Acheron's silence was deadly, a looming quiet that choked out everything else. He was forced into a vivid state of awareness of it, hyper vigilant of every time her ire turned to him. He deserved it all.
Black Swan's shutdown program had been completed. The files were sent to them moments ago. Veritas has been trying his best to come to terms with all the possibilities of what might happen when they finally find Aventurine. None of them were nice. Worst-case scenarios flood his mind.
It was never going to be Aventurine's gambles or luck that would be his downfall. It would always be Veritas's own hubris that would destroy him. It was an irony he couldn't appreciate. His own humanity would kill Aventurine. Blood was going to be on his hands twice.
Veritas still remembers what it was like when Aventurine had successfully turned on. He remembers the cold meeting room he had been stuck in for hours as he showed the Company what had become of their most prized asset. He could've been killed where he stood for what he had done. Aventurine could've been decommissioned with a snap of their fingers if they believed he wouldn't be valuable. He wonders if Aventurine still had those first few memories of waking, of the way everyone looked at him with scorn and contempt for replacing a man he never knew.
Whether it was a blessing or curse, the Company decided to trust Kakavasha's last gamble. They allowed both of them to live, leaving Veritas in charge of Aventurine. Veritas had never known fear until that day. Sometimes he wonders if Kakavasha knew what he was leaving him with. Did he care? Or was he that done with humanity that it didn't matter to him anymore? Either answer scared Veritas.
He wonders, late at night, how different things might have been if Kakavasha continued to live. Would they still know each other? Would they only meet during the android revolution? Would they be friends? Enemies? Something more? Veritas had forced himself to acknowledge that his love would never save Kakavasha, but what if it could? What if he had simply tried harder? Called off the project? Blackmail?
A cold voice cuts through him. "You're spiraling." Acheron says bluntly, a sudden hand on his shoulder. He startles, his mouth parted as if to speak before closing it again. He nods, acknowledging her before stepping away. It was idiotic of him to be doing this now. They had a mission to complete. The longer they don't find Aventurine, the more likely he could be hurt or in trouble.
"Ratio." her voice calls out again. Veritas turns around this time, bracing himself for what she had to say. "Is Aventurine the same as Kakavasha?"
It's not a question he was expecting. He thinks it over. "No," he answers truthfully. "He never was. It was never the plan for him to become Kakavasha."
She nods, her anger lingering but fading. "I believe you now when you said you didn't want to cause harm. Humans in grief don't always act with rationality. But, are you ready to accept the punishment Aventurine will give you if he returns to normal? As he is his own person, he might not agree with what you've done."
"I… I believe I can handle it. It will all be deserved, regardless of what he decides. I won't refute any of it." Veritas answers. There was nothing else he could do. What happened later would be all up to Aventurine. He'd be the one to decide what Veritas's fate should be. It'd be tough, but Veritas would have no other choice but to handle it.
He's about to ask Acheron where they stand now when he feels a familiar aching pain reverberate in his skull. He immediately pulls out his gun, spinning around and pointing it at the hologram flickering to life behind him. Acheron's scabbard is raised at it too, picking up on Veritas's fear. They watch the hologram flicker into existence, Sunday's familiar face looking back at them.
He's changed a little from the last time Veritas has seen him. He didn't seem as smug as he used to act. If anything, he looked a little scared. Sunday's eyes widen a little when his gaze lies on Acheron, no doubt picking up on the fact she was an android.
"Psychic." Acheron states, also picking up on how Sunday could tell. Sunday's smile is grim.
"Indeed. I had the displeasure of running into Aventurine again."
Veritas's heart stops for a moment. The worst-case scenario runs through his mind again. If Aventurine stepped near the Sanctuary the way he was—
"He is not dead." Sunday clarifies, and Veritas remembers to breathe. "He seemed to have reverted to his original programming. I had found it strange that he could supposedly ignore those directives in the first place and now I know why."
He stops his explanation to come closer to Veritas. Even knowing it was a hologram doesn't stop Veritas from taking a step back. The last time they had truly met, Aventurine's blood was on his hands. Sunday only stops when Acheron intervenes, putting herself between them. He continues, "I can give you his current coordinates, but to have two androids know the location of the Sanctuary would be unwise."
"So you want only me to go find him?" Veritas asks, surprised when Sunday shakes his head.
"Against my better judgment, I believe it would be best if multiple people were there to apprehend him. Instead, convince me this android will not act like Aventurine or reveal the Sanctuary's location to others. Then I will give you both the coordinates."
Veritas can't help but laugh at Sunday's conditions. Someone was in danger and he still had time to be playing around and waste their time. Then again, whatever condition Sunday saw Aventurine in clearly wasn't enough for him to see the android as more than a piece of metal. Sighing, Veritas turns to look at the Acheron. He reluctantly lowers his gun and watchers her do the same with her scabbard. She trusted him still, even after everything. It was only fair he does the same for her.
"Miss Acheron has no reasons to reveal the location of the Sanctuary to others." Veritas explains to the priest. "She is a solitary android who often roams alone. She is only with me as assistance in finding Aventurine." He speaks carefully, making sure he doesn't mention Black Swan to Sunday. He believes the man would have a heart attack if he knew of the existence of yet another android. Two already terrified him enough.
"What reasons would she have to help you?"
"I wish only to help Aventurine." Acheron speaks up. "Androids who suffer a data leak like Aventurine are incredibly vulnerable and prone to senselessly attacking others to protect themselves. Combine that with the androids' current directives and it causes them to revert to their programming to spare themselves of the pain. I wish to make sure he's stabilized and unharmed."
Sunday ponders their words, his eyes closed as he thinks them over. Veritas wishes he would hurry up with his thinking, but he doesn't say it aloud. He almost doesn't think it in case Sunday decides that's the time he wants to probe Veritas's mind again.
Eventually, he seems to come to a decision. "Alright," he says with an air of finality to it. "I have decided. Veritas, I am entrusting the coordinates to the android to you. Once he is apprehended I wish to see for myself that he is caught and will cause no more harm. I will only intervene if I think the Sanctuary will be harmed. Are those terms agreeable?"
Veritas nods. "Those terms are agreeable. We would like to have them as soon as possible so we can ensure Aventurine's safety."
Sunday nods, coming closer to Veritas again. This time, he doesn't flinch or panic. The weird invasive feeling comes back as Sunday speaks the coordinates directly into his mind. He will never get used to this feeling. As the hologram disappears from their sight, Sunday's presence still lingers in his mind.
"My old offer still stands." Sunday tells him. "If you let those androids leave on their own, I will be more than happy to welcome you back into the Sanctuary. You don't have to stay with them once this is all over."
Veritas doesn't react, waiting for Sunday's horrible presence to fully leave before he lets his true feelings gone. When he believes himself to be in the clear, Veritas scoffs. Despite Sunday's faith in him, he had no plans of leaving Acheron or Aventurine. He was going to see this through to the end.
"Ready?" Acheron asks Veritas, waiting for his signal to head out. Veritas nods, putting his gun away. It was finally time to help Aventurine.
Aventurine— Kakavasha?— isn't sure where he is now. He feels oddly disconnected from his body, like it isn't there anymore. He's vaguely aware of his movements, but they don't seem to entirely match up with what he's doing. Thinking about it hurts too much, so he's mostly stopped that now.
Kakavasha— Aventurine?— is in the desert now, though he has no recollection of how he got here. Anything resembling a desert was far from the apartment complex he and Veritas were hiding out in. He wonders if Veritas is ok. Now that he's feeling calmer, Aventurine is starting to feel bad about how he acted.
Where does he go from here? He doesn't have a family— no longer has a family— and even just being near a person has him start to freak out. If he hurts someone like this, would he care? Or would he be so far gone it doesn't register to him anymore? Has he already—
No, he can't think like that. It was already hard enough to think. He didn't need to make it harder.
Aventurine keeps walking, unable to do anything else. Sometimes his systems work, sometimes they don't. At this point he's given up on figuring out what to do.
Eventually, the sand starts to clear. Wind he didn't feel before comes to a stop as he stands in the center of the sun's harsh rays. His systems could overheat, but it wouldn't be the same as if he had skin. He stands there, unmoving, until someone steps into his view. Aventurine opens his mouth to tell them to move away from him when he stops.
She has his eyes. Magenta cyan swirls of color stare back at him. She's shorter than him, and he can't focus on why that feels wrong when she looks up at him and smiles. "Kakavasha." she whispers, and it feels like a home he doesn't belong in.
Aventurine can only nod, watching in fascination as the young girl in front of him shows no signs of fear. She's strong in Kakavasha's memories,— taller than the sky and larger than life. It feels weird to think Aventurine and Kakavasha were taller than her. "You shouldn't be here." he manages to say, not wanting to potentially hurt her even if she's only a memory.
She doesn't move. It strikes him now that he doesn't remember her name. He wonders if Kakavasha did. Did he cry when he realized he no longer knew? "You shouldn't be here either." she says, taking his arm without a second of doubt and leading him away. "C'mon, let's go somewhere else."
"Where?"
"Anywhere you want, Kakavasha. We can go wherever we want."
"No we can't."
"Yes we can!"
The banter comes easy, and the laughter that follows is even easier. She leads him to a series of large tents, pulling him under one and into the shade that grants them relief from the sun. She looks up at him and asks, "Isn't this nicer?"
He nods. "It is." They don't speak for a moment as Aventurine takes a look around. It's sparse, but it feels more comfortable than anything he's known before. He wouldn't mind staying here forever if he could. "Why did you bring me here?"
"Don't you want to be at home, Kakavasha?"
"I don't have a home anymore unfortunately." He sighs, looking up at the harsh sky still peeking out. "This isn't home. It's a nice memory, but that's all it will be. Something nice."
The young girl frowns. "What's wrong with staying in a nice memory?" She sounds so young when she says it. She is so young. It wasn't fair she was gone so soon.
"It isn't real." Kakavasha says, hugging his sister one last time. It feels real, like he's hugging someone solid. "You're not real, but that's ok. I think I need to go back to Veritas."
"He's a doctor, right? Is he going to help you?" she asks him, her hands holding him just as tightly.
"He is. He'll help me." Kakavasha assures her. He isn't entirely sure how Veritas could help him, but all he knows is that Veritas is safe.
Unconfirmed Lifeforms Detected. Scanning…
"Let me hug my little brother for a little longer, ok?" His sister asks, and how could he say no to her?
Warning! Hostile Lifeforms Detected.
"Go ahead, sis." he smiles, his body remaining in its place.
Confirmed Life Form: Veritas Ratio.
Everyone is panting by the time Aventurine is placed gently on the ground. They were expecting a fight, but they weren't expecting just how hard Aventurine would fight them. Sunday was pretty much useless in a fight considering he was a hologram but he worked as a good distraction. Acheron nearly unsheathed her katana in the fight, a sight that still makes the hairs on Veritas's neck stand up. Even when she stopped, he could feel the raw energy emitting from her weapon. What kind of power was she capable of? He might be lucky to not know.
The only thing that stopped Acheron from needing to escalate the fight was Aventurine suddenly hugging Veritas. The scholar had no idea what was going on behind Aventurine's red eyes, but it seemed his mind was disconnected from his body. Whoever he was hugging, he didn't want to let go. Veritas carefully hugged him back, hoping his own emotions could be felt as Acheron got the shutdown program to work.
With Aventurine now safe from both others and himself, the real work could begin. Acheron kneels next to Aventurine to get to work as Veritas makes his way back to Sunday. The priest watches over the androids with a critical eye, making sure nothing was going wrong from his point of view. Veritas positions himself in front of Sunday, blocking his line of sight as Acheron carefully pulled up a screen for Black Swan to use so she could see and assist.
"My beliefs on androids will not be swayed by the display of violence I saw her commit." Sunday says, judgmental eyes peering into his. After everything, Veritas doesn't have the same fear he used to hold towards the man. A different light has been cast upon him. He was still the one who killed Aventurine without warning, but he was also scared. Afraid. For better or worse, Veritas thinks he understands Sunday a little better now. Watching someone you love become a completely different person was a terrifying experience for him. That wasn't to say Sunday had the exact same experiences as him, or justified everything else he was doing, but Veritas thinks he learned something new about him. How odd.
"I did not expect it to." Veritas says back, aware of how Sunday's shoulders tensed at every slight sound that made its way back to him. "You know, Aventurine really is a delightful person to talk with if you let him. When you first shot him you barely got to hear him speak."
"I… don't think he'd be amiable to a conversation. But, thank you. I have no interest in fostering any new relationships at the moment but I do believe everything you've said to me thus far."
Veritas turns around at this point, hearing Acheron stand up. She turns her hand, Black Swan appearing on her palm. Sunday doesn't comment on it, just far away enough that he couldn't see the code that made up her body. The Memokeeper's smile told Veritas everything might be alright. "Nothing seems to be too badly damaged. Aventurine is a fighter. I administered something that could be considered medicine. His systems will decide if the memories need to be purged or not."
"And you cannot remove the memories themselves?" Sunday asks, an eyebrow raised at her decision. "Would it not be easier to be rid of the root of the issue?"
Black Swan only shakes her head, unaffected by Sunday's words. "Performing brain surgery is never easy on humans or androids alike. With androids, at least, his systems will take the best course of action. He still has autonomy, Mister Sunday, and he can still decide for himself what he wants to do with the memories."
Despite his displeased expression, Sunday doesn't argue with her. "Very well. To hold up my end of the bargain, I shall take my leave. I don't ask for any updates on the android, but I will appreciate none of you coming back to this location in the near future." His eyes flick to Veritas's direction, the subtle gaze letting him know he was still welcome regardless of his words. The scholar still isn't accepting it, but he supposes the gesture is appreciated. Without anymore parting words, Sunday takes his leave like he said he would. The hologram flickers out of existence once more, leaving the group for good this time.
Veritas sighs, a tension gratefully leaving his shoulders. Whatever happens next would be up to Aventurine. It was a frightening notion, but Veritas had staked everything on the gambler. He'll be back, however that might look. Black Swan looks pleased with him, and even Acheron gives him a nod of acknowledgement.
Acheron breaks the silence first. "We'll carry him like last time?" she asks him as Black Swan's own projection disappears. A short laugh escapes Veritas as he nods. Perhaps their relationship hasn't deteriorated as much as he feared.
The two turn back to Aventurine, getting ready to pick him up and carry him back to Black Swan's base when his sensors start to beep. Without wasting any time, Veritas drops to his knees and pulls up Aventurine's diagnostic screens. His systems seem to have already started the processes deemed the best to take, various programs running and shutting down just as fast. Acheron watches over them as the screens suddenly grow dark and disappear.
"Aventurine?" Veritas whispers, watching with bated breath to see if Aventurine would move. For a moment, nothing seems to happen. Veritas is about to lose hope when the android suddenly starts back up. Magenta cyan eyes stare back at him as Aventurine's lips curl up into a familiar and well missed grin.
"Seems your bet on me paid off, Veri."
Veritas doesn't even have a remark for that, throwing his arms around Aventurine again as he holds him tightly. Mechanical arms hold him back as they hug on the floor.
Aventurine was ok.
There was a lot of things to be packed up before they could continue their journey. Aventurine still likes the idea of going to see Topaz. Maybe they won't bring up much of the aftermath of their Sanctuary trip to her. It'd spare them the pain of having to explain everything, and it'd probably save Ratio from Topaz's wrath if she learns what he did.
Aventurine still isn't sure what to think about it either. Once Black Swan had confirmed that he was ok for real, Ratio had explained everything. He talked about Kakavasha, about the more shady parts of the Company, and of his choice to go against Kakavasha's wishes and leave all of his memories within Aventurine. The android had unknowingly been a living sigil for Kakavasha this whole time. It was an odd feeling to know exactly what he was now. A mystery had finally been solved, and yet, it left Aventurine feeling a little empty.
Learning about what Ratio had done was a shock to his system. It hurt a little too much in the moment, and their relationship had definitely suffered because of it. And yet, Aventurine finds he can't stay mad at Ratio for too long. Grief does weird things to people. It was why Kakavasha decided to give up on living. It was why Ratio wanted to preserve his memory of him. It was why Sunday chose to make a safe place for humans only. Now that Aventurine was stable enough to separate himself from Kakavasha, he gets to look at this man with an objectivity no one else has.
Kakavasha's life was incredibly tragic. Aventurine could understand why he took the path he did. If it weren't for his death, Aventurine wouldn't be standing here now pondering about it instead of packing. Kakavasha gave him a gift, whether he knew about it or not. Aventurine had made the tough choice to keep the memories of Kakavasha, to remember the man that created him. Not just him, but also the people in his life that were gone long before the android revolts started. It felt right, and Aventurine has yet to regret the decision.
He should probably finish packing up. Ratio liked to be on time when they had plans in motion. He had already calculated the time it would take for them to get to the next town over while carrying their supplies. Aventurine gets back to work, getting everything sorted as Ratio walks into the room. He doesn't step past the doorway, still giving Aventurine space.
"I finished the other rooms." he says, his eyes just barely on Aventurine before they focus on the floor. "Topaz was quite ecstatic when I gave her the news that we will be going to her. She said the cats have missed us both."
Ratio's cats. It was still weird that Aventurine had two sets of memories about them. He had met them as both Aventurine and Kakavasha. The memory of them warming up to the android is a cherished one. Cats didn't care about humans or androids. They just wanted cuddles. Letting them stay with Topaz had been for the best. He smiles, the action more real than the last few times he's done it. "Well, I missed them too! I hope she knows I'm going to badger her about all the stuff that's happened to her."
"Oh, she is very aware of it and is actively dreading it." Ratio tells him, their banter slowly returning. "Well, if you are finished here then I will do a final check before we set off." Without giving Aventurine a chance to respond, Ratio disappears back into the apartment. It had been nice for the few days Aventurine was actually upset with him, but now he just misses Ratio's touch.
With everything set up for them to leave, it was time for them to bid farewell to the run down apartment complex that had been their base of operations for so long. It was always bittersweet to be leaving a base, especially when they had been there for a while. It was easy for the broken and forgotten structures to become something like a home. This time Ratio seems to be the more emotional one of the two, taking his time to walk around the rooms one last time before finally exiting the apartment. He had been there longer than Aventurine, so he supposes that's only fair.
"Ready to head out?" Aventurine asks him. Ratio nods, taking one last glance at the place before turning forward.
"I'm ready. We have a lot of ground to cover if we want to make progress while there's still daylight."
"Aye, aye, doc." Aventurine teases as the two set off once more. Black Swan and Acheron had already said their goodbyes earlier, the two having set off on their own journey a day before them. Acheron was a solitary android that tended to follow the wind, and Black Swan liked to go to wherever held the best memories. It had surprised Aventurine to learn they weren't traveling together, but he realized Black Swan's metaphysical body made the decision an easy one to make. Even if she traveled far, she would never be too far from Acheron. It was a sweet thought, and it made him think of himself and Ratio.
"Hey…" Aventurine starts, but Ratio unintentionally cuts him off.
"Aventurine, I must apologize again for how my behavior had affected you." Ratio apologizes, the two not stopping their walk as he continues to speak. "I could have caused you worse harm than what you had gone through, and the blame lies with me. If you want to travel on your own, I would understand. I do not want you to feel like you have to bind yourself to me because of a decision I had made in grief."
Those words make Aventurine stop. Unable to hold it in, he pulls Veritas closer to him and kisses him. The pressing of lips together makes Veritas flinch, their teeth embarrassingly clinking slightly before they figure out a rhythm. Aventurine pulls back first, happy to see the way Veritas's ears gain a blush at their tips. "I'm not angry with you anymore, and I certainly don't want to travel on my own. You gave me so many chances over the years for me to back down, and I never back down from a challenge."
Aventurine smiles, watching the light dance in Veritas's eyes. "You're stuck with me, Veri. We can figure this out together, the same way we always have."
Dumbfounded, Veritas could only nod. "I… yes. Yes, I would love that. Shall we keep walking?"
Aventurine grins, the two returning to their walking pace. They move side by side, ready for whatever life wanted to throw their way next. They could handle it.