LU 220 - Dr. Thornberry 58

I walked back to the police station with Space today and took a big breath as I entered the building alone. He was rooting on me and I couldn’t let him down.

I waltzed in like I owned the place, (I do) and went right up to Funnii. After a bit of recollecting as old buds, I got him to take me to his house, and he showed me the pit he was keeping Boulty in. Hell of a good pit honestly. Really dark, honestly just trauma inducing; it was exactly what I had wanted. I internally celebrated while we brainstormed on how to get him out.

I continued to make small talk, learning that Funnii never even knew Space’s name, and called him ‘Sir’ because he was commanded too. I listened on and nodded, it all sounded very likely to happen.

*”So yeah- I had a little game planned with Boulty and needed him back”*

That was a lie of course, but I couldn’t be that bad at lying. He agreed to hand him over too! All was going well, but as I was about to give the sleeping Boulty something to deepen his sleep even more, Funnii asked me a question.

*”Vice, I can sense your heartbeat getting faster and faster... is there another reason you want him?”*

I started to panic, but kept my cool, and started working a bit faster.

*”I’m just a bit jittery, even around people I trust.”*

*”Well I don’t know if there’s even a little trust here, its been a while, but fine, you can have him.”*

I acted excited and grabbed Boulty, knocking him out and tying him up. I started heaving him out of Funnii’s home when he asked another question.

*”When’s the next clan meeting?”*

*”Oh I had to disband it-“*

*”You WHAT?”*

*”…I’ll do my best to get it back, but I was forcefully away and all.”*

*”Forcefully?”*

*(Fuck)* *”Yeah I was uh- hospitalized.”*

*”No wonder the clan fell apart.”*

I stared at him for a second, tightening my grip on Boulty when I saw tears well up in Funnii’s eyes.

*”Go on, go do your business.”*

*”No Funnii- please-“*

I ran back in after him, but stayed near the entrance, I had a lingering feeling I shouldn’t go in too deep. I rummaged through my bag for a pen and paper and found some. I scribbled a hastily written apology letter and put it on the ground with a stone paperweight. I felt a bit bad, but I had to get back home.

After some time of dragging Boulty’s body across the dirt, I finally reached the office. I threw the child under the counter and drank some strength to regain my energy. Who knew it was so hard to carry a body for miles when you can already barely walk?

I then went next door to the station before going to find Space when I heard a familiar voice coming from upstairs. ..Mira? I slowly walked up and sure enough, Mira was pacing around the empty room.

*”Mira!”*

*”V-Vice?”*

She immediately ran over to give me a hug and I did the same, wrapping my arms around the enderian’s waist. I was so glad to see her I was about to start crying.

*"I’m so sorry about last time-“*

I shook my head and told her it was alright. I had asked to be killed, she had nothing to apologize for. I was glad Space was back.

*”Also- what the fuck happened to your face?”*

I got scared someone may be listening in and quickly lied.

*”Oh! I fell down a set of stairs!”*

..She obviously didn’t believe me, and kept digging deeper at my lies until I told her I wanted to talk somewhere more private. I couldn’t hide this from her forever. She picked me up and warped to her home, a soft pink and purple cottage with a surrounding of plants. Not what I expected her to live in, but it was cute. I was led to the living room, and took a seat on her sofa. It was explaining time.

I didn’t go through everything, since I didn’t want to unpack everything at once. But I told her I had gotten kidnapped, and about Agaric’s strength; it was something that couldn’t be underestimated. She seemed shocked, to say and apologized about everything. Which I didn’t care that much for, there was no point pitying me on something that had already happened. I also went into my home situation, and Frezz. But I didn’t let myself talk about Space, I know how she felt about him.

I asked about how she’s been to change the subject and I was reluctantly told about some nightmares. They consisted of trees, her friends..

*”Surprisingly, you were in my most recent one Vice.”*

*”What was I doing?”*

*”…Well you had blamed me of killing you, and you were mad-“*

Before she could go any further, I got close and crouched in front of her.

*”Mira I want you to get this into your head. I would never get mad over you at that, nor anything that I asked you to do. In fact, it would take a lot to make me genuinely angry.”*

*”…You’re a good guy when you want to be mate. I wouldn’t have expected you to be like this when we first met.”*

*”I doubt I’d be like this back then either.”*

Mira patted me on the head with a slight smile, scratching my ears at a nice angle.

*”I like to think I have a soft spot for people I keep close to me.”*

I just beamed, I’m so glad to have someone like Mira by my side. But it was time to go- I didn’t want to be a nuisance.

*”Do you want to stay here? I know you don’t have anywhere to stay-“*

*”Oh I’m staying in the office for now, I don’t want to be a leech. Thank you though!”*

She seemed like there was more she wanted to say, but just let me go. I grinned at her and raced off, it was time to find Space. I got back around an hour later, exhausted. All the work from earlier had all started to come back now. A quick snooze on the chair isn’t bad right?

...

*”Vice- Vice wake up.“*

I groaned, waking up to Space’s voice yet again, I could really get used to this. I told him where I’d been and showed him the kid. He looked sad for a split second but his expression went back to normal when he looked back at me.

*”I want to establish something. Never, and I mean NEVER, step foot near or in that mass again. Do I make myself clear?”*

*”Yes but Chizzy-“*

He explained to me a deal he had with Agaric, but didn’t tell me *what* it was. I hated that, but trusted him enough to keep it under control. Chizzy had friends up her and she obviously needs them. But for now, we had to think about getting that kid back home.

*”Do you mind carrying half the weight? I’m a bit tired.”*

*”Half? Vice I can carry YOU on my shoulder, I got this.”*

He slung Boulty up with ease, looking down at me with a satisfied smirk.

*”You were saying?”*

*”Okay fine showoff.”*

We started walking back home, and once we got there, Space put Boulty in a new bed while we climbed into ours. I didn’t even have time to watch him fall asleep, I was too tired and my leg ached for the first time in a while. I was out as soon as I hit the mattress.