sranks | ROLLING AROUND AT THE SPEED OF SOUND

Yeah. I wouldn't ever want you to hurt like that.

[It's something of an apology on Sonic's part, too--he's never really gotten a chance to ever apologize for the first time Sonic tried to take a hit for Neo. Sure, he was overconfident enough to think that yeah, he won't die from this, but...

Sonic finds it in himself to smile, just a bit. Neo's always practical, but it's something Sonic appreciates; tangible actions, tangible ways to do something to help Neo. Sonic's been getting better with his handiness by the day, and Sonic can do just about anything if given proper instructions from Neo now. If that's truly a way to save him...]

...I'll do my best, too. To...to try and make sure that doesn't happen--so we don't get stuck in a position that it does. A lot of our friends were pretty devastated too. None of 'em gave me an earful or anything, but they definitely were concerned.

But I'll fight hard, too. I don't want to leave yours, either...if you're willing to give it your all, then I am, too. I know we can't guarantee it, but we're precious. To each other, and others, too.

[He doesn't want to say if we go, we go together, because neither of them should. He could see it in the way they all looked at him, sadness, anger that they held back, and some of them wanting to make sure he was okay. Some of them will likely come and make sure Neo is, too, he's sure.]

...Please, teach me about it. There's still a lot I don't know about you, but if I can make sure you don't die, I'll commit it to memory!

[He nuzzles against Sonic and those claws resume gently gliding through his boyfriend's quills.]

I will ensure to let them know I'm fine now. I'm... glad that they were there for you.

[It's strange to think that they were upset about him - but then, why wouldn't they be? He may not be as friendly and outgoing as his organic counterpart, but Neo's reached out to others and made connections, so of course they'd feel his loss. It would be the same were any of them to die.

Regardless, Neo nods at the next part. Yes, they're absolutely precious to one another, and they should never have to go through something like this again. He'll do what he can to make sure of it, and he knows Sonic feels the same way.]

My being is composed of two parts: my programming, the part that makes me who I am, as well as my memories. These are stored separately within my body. You've already seen the former; it's kept within the panel on my back. The latter is kept within my head. Both of these are required to recreate me as I am now, although if only one can be saved, my memories are more important.

[One could argue that Neo is tied down by his programming and that most of it has just caused more issues than it solves, but it is a part of who he is.]

[Sonic listens to that, purring becoming a little louder in the face of Neo's attention to his quills. He already knows a fair bit about the panel in the back at least, so it at least makes sense to him already given that he's done basic repairs.]

Makes perfect sense to me. I guess in a way, it's like...it's like your head and your heart? [Sonic places a hand on Neo's chest, as if to emphasize it.] Like, that's what it'd be on us. So as long as that can be preserved, you can come back in some way...

[Sonic considers that for a moment. He doesn't know which to think of as which, but it does make sense to him that Neo's memories would be important. After all, memories make a person just as much as their living, breathing body. But Neo's programming...Neo's programming is just as much who he is as his memories.

...Sonic hopes it never comes down to having to choose, because he does worry it wouldn't be the same, complete Neo that he knows without it. Even if he wonders if freeing him from that would be better.

Sonic discards that.]

...I promise I'll keep you safe and learn everything I can. I'll rebuild you from scratch if I gotta. Just means I'm gonna need to really hunker down and start learning more, huh? [Sonic grins just the slightest bit at that.] I don't want you to be anything but yourself, after all.

[His head and his heart. He hadn't thought of it like that, but that's an apt comparison. Neo continues to gently run his claws through Sonic's quills, nuzzling against his boyfriend at that.]

Thank you. I promise I'll be careful so you shouldn't ever have to do something like that - but now you know what to do should anything ever happen to me again.

[It's a concrete goal that Sonic can work towards, and that seems to have calmed him down. Neo's pleased to see it, of course.]

Thanks, Neo. I'll try to do the same, so you don't ever have to worry either.

[Sonic infinitely prefers concrete goals rather than what-ifs. If he can get himself knowledgeable enough, Neo will never have to worry about dying again. It's something Sonic can do, if he puts his mind to it, and...

It's something he can reach towards, to live a good life with his beloved. That alone is enough.

...Of course, once the silence hits and Sonic's contently looking around the house a bit, he notices the. Long abandoned cup of tea on the counter and sighs at himself a bit. That's probably undrinkable now...]

...Hey, Neo. You mind too terribly if I keep you to myself for the day? [Sonic's awake, at least, but look at all of this moving he's willing to do now that he has his boyfriend back. None. None of it.] I'm not tired, but...I dunno. I don't wanna be apart from you.

[rip that cup of tea...

Neo's claws continue to glide through Sonic's quills even as the silence spans beyween them. Though he wasn't nearly as traumatized as Sonic by all of this, the silence is comfortable now that his boyfriend's in his arms. Frankly, Neo doesn't want to let go. He's not sure he could explain it if he tried, other than that he simply wants to keep Sonic to himself - and it seems the feeling's mutual.]

Convenient, as I'm not interested in letting you leave my sight today.

[They'll undoubtedly be back to their usual more independent lives soon enough, but there's no reason to rush. Neo just got back, after all. He nuzzles against Sonic gently.]

I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. I'm all yours.

ROLLING AROUND AT THE SPEED OF SOUND

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