LU 132 - Dr. Thornberry 34

I met up with Frezz in the middle of Spawn today. Do I know how we were able to meet up inone place, at a certain time, without planning on being there? Nope, but I guess we just know each other well. I saw him wear his stupid little mask and approached him.

*"Hey John."*

*"Hey Vice."*

*"We have a lot to talk about."*

I guess we both had been busy the past few days. He told me the thing he needed to tell me about was more of a show and tell type thing, so he let me talk first. I told him everything that had went down yesterday and how I wanted to adopt Hallthor as our child. He seemed distant at first, but when he realized I wouldn't let this go, he agreed.

Ecstatic, I ran to the casino. Frezz seemed to be slow, so I talked to Hallthor while I waited for him. I told him the good news and sat adjusting his bed when he fell into his bee state. I looked up as he flew and landed on the candelier that hung down from the ceiling. He was holding a book. I wonder what it was. But as I was thinking about it, he threw the book down on my head. Ow, but at least I can get my questions answered. I rubbed my head with one hand as I opened the book with my other.

*Buzzz, bzzz, bz, bbbzzz, buz buzzzz, bzzzzz*

What.

I don't understand it when he *says* it, how am I supposed to understand if he *writes* it? Welp, I guess I have to figure this out later too. At least I now know that he's saying *something* while in this state. I just need to translate it. Shouldn't be that big of a deal. I *am* a scientist at the roots, and experiments, both good and bad, are my job.

I gave the book back to Hallthor and he changed back to his normal self just in time for Frezz to poke his head through the door.

*”Okay good, you guys are in here.”*

He took his skull mask off as he walked over to the two of us.

*”I assume Vice told you the news?”*

Hallthor nodded. I looked at Frezz with a grin on my face.

*”Should we bring him-“*

*”Yeah. Let’s bring him home.”*

We finally reached our house and Hallthor looked at it in all it’s glory.

*”Nice huh?”*

Hallthor agreed, and Frezz took him inside to give him a tour. While they did that, I made a small cranny on the main floor with dirt and flowers. The two of them came back downstairs and Frezz placed a bed for him. He seemed to appreciate our kindness.

*”Now Vice, I have something I need to show you.”*

*”Oh- okay, yeah. Let me just say goodnight to Hallthor.”*

We both walked over to him and said goodnight.

"*Oh and Hallthor? Don’t go in the basement okay? Ever.”*

…We have a basement? What does he mean by that? But rules he makes are rules I’ll follow, so I agreed with him and tucked Hallthor in. He fell asleep quite quickly and by the time Frezz pulled me to the side, he was already snoring.

I followed Frezz into the kitchen and he dug a block out of the floor. Beneath it was a trapdoor. I jumped in with him and he opened the trapdoor underneath me. I was standing on the edge and looking down at a… long fall. I jerked my head up and looked at him. What was this? But he just nodded at me to go down... So I did.

I braced myself for impact but ended up softly falling into water, with Frezz jumping down right after me. I opened my eyes and took a look at my surroundings.

And then I took a look at *him.*

On one side of the room, in the glass cage, was Wrath. The last warden. The one that Space hadn’t killed.

I stepped back in horror, watching Frezz step closer to the containment cell.

*”Frezz...?”*

He turned around and looked at me, the warden behind him.

*”Vice. I can never retire. This is my life, my legacy. I’m here to protect them.”*

I was shocked beyond words. I could barely get a single sentence out of my mouth.

*”But they- you know- I-..Why?”*

Frezz just looked at me solemnly and walked to the other side of room to where I was crouched. I slowly backed away from him. I could see the disappointment in his eyes, but I ignored it. I watched in silence as he pulled a button out of his pocket and placed it on the floor. With one push, the entire back wall came down. He walked into the darkly lit hallway. I watched him, realizing what the room was made of.

Skulk. Every last corner was skulk.

I gulped down a wad of spit that was stuck in my throat and attempted speaking again.

*”You know I’m scared of them.. why would you..”*

*”Vice. I wanted to be honest with you. He’s the only family I have left.”*

He always acts so- odd whenever he’s around wardens. It’s like he’s a different person.

"*But what if I get hurt? What is Hallthor gets hurt? What if YOU get hurt?”*

*”I told Hallthor to stay out of the basement, and I’m here to protect you. As for me, the only thing I have to worry about is those trees. But I’ll be fine. Plus, I’ll be fighting with experienced people.”*

The trees? He’s fighting them?

*”I’m fighting them too you know.”*

He turned around and gaped at me, wide eyed.

*”You’re doing, WHAT now?”*

*”Fighting the trees. I hate them so much Frezz. They killed you. And I can’t let that go so easily.”*

*”Exactly Vice, they killed me. Past tense. It’s over now.”*

*”I don’t care if it’s in the past. They hurt you and I’m not going down without a fight.”*

*”B-but I can’t let you get hurt.. I don’t know what I would do if you.. died.”*

*”Frezz. That’s the same way I feel about you. But I’m not going to die.”*

*”But I have other forces! And more fighting skills than you! Vice please. Please don’t.”*

*”W**e won’t get hurt if we work together. I protect you, you protect me.”***

He begrudgingly agreed, and walked out of the hallway, me at his heels.

*”But Frezz, I still don’t like having this warden in the basement.”*

He looked incredibly sad, I could see it, even through that mask he always wore.

*”Vice, you like me though right?”*

*”Well yes, you’re you.”*

*”But I’m part of them. We’re equal.”*

*”You never chased me or- tried to kill me...Well you did capture me but-“*

He took a few steps closer to me and put his hand over my mouth. I went quiet and he let go, still close.

*”I know I told you that I kidnapped you as leverage to Space, and because of the whole election, and I told that to myself too. But I realized something recently. I realized that none of that was true. It wasn’t the case at all...*

***Vice I- I love you**."*

I couldn’t even do anything, say anything, I- I was shocked. Not shocked in a scared way, or a disgusted way. But I was happy? ...Do I- love this man? I think I do.

*"You love me?"*

He looked down at the ground and told me that’s what he *thinks* it is, or that’s what it feels like. Is that what love is supposed to feel like? If what I’m feeling *is* love, then it’s a feeling of warmth and- sizzling? Kind of like grilling meat on a pan but it’s burning inside of you. I took in a deep breath and looked him in the eyes.

***”I love you too.”***

This would’ve been a good time to hug or something, but I think we were both a little shocked at ourselves for admitting such a deep feeling so openly. He just helped me get to the surface. Once there, he blocked off the hole in the floor. We quickly checked on Hallthor, to see that he was awake. It seemed he had taken his sweatshirt off in his sleep, and Frezz saw his redstone arm for the first time. I had to awkwardly explain to him that *I* had done that to him and he just sighed and went back to Hallthor. I could hear him telling Hallthor that he could fix his arm, and that it was always an option for him. Maybe he likes having the kid here now? I hope so. He just turned around to look at me and we went to our own bed after retucking Hallthor into his.

We both crawled into the bed and fell asleep. Who knew sleeping with someone else was so warm and comforting? Especially when its someone you love.

We’ll be okay fighting the trees, right? *We won't get hurt if we're together...*