[Closed] I can hear them running chains around our door

[firewalled]

Who: Rich and Trunks
Where: 2-B
When: Backdated to late night Jelly 2.
What: Rich returns back to the sleeper car after bolting on Trunks, and most likely after realizing a few things about the incident on the network. Bonding over trauma ensues.
Warnings: Discussion of mind control, physical and mental abuse, homophobia/transphobia, likely suicide by fire... anything about Rich's backstory might come up here so avoid if any of that is too difficult to read about!



Rich hardly dares to breathe as he steps into the room he shares. His steps are as light as he can make them, and he doesn't bother with turning on any lights. Honestly, he had been planning on just napping in the quiet car, but with how he had bolted out earlier, he had a feeling at least one person in the room wouldn't appreciate that.

God, Trunks must have been worried sick, and Rich certainly can't blame him. At least, not with the context. Even if Rich wouldn't want the concern, after what he witnessed between Jack and Rich, and after Rich had convinced himself it all was nothing...

He had been pretty messed up, and he's lucky he's started to recover himself now. It's a slow process, but healing always is. Now, if he can just make it to his bunk without interrupting someone else's process... will that be possible? Or has Trunks stayed up waiting for him?

Comments

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks wasn't exactly awake, but he was definitely not sleeping. Trying to, sparring and talking with Cassie had helped a good amount. But there were still loose ends, and anger still simmered low in him. His own, anger for Rich, anger for Cassie... Part of him even coming to hate that brief glimpse of something human (or close to) he'd caught for a second on Jack's face in the ICP.

Which means that while Rich is quiet, Trunks can easily hear him. Saiyans, and half-saiyans, have heightened senses after all. "Feel any better?"

[firewalled]

Rich gasps softly as he hears Trunk's voice, nearly banging his head on the bedframe as he sits back up, turning to look in his direction. He looks quite sheepish, and his eyes are still red from crying, but he does manage a soft smile.

"I think so. I'm sorry you had to wait up for me."

[light_of_willpower]

Now Trunks turned, moving to get up on his own bunk. Careful, as he didn't wanna disturb their room-mates anymore. Purple PJ pants and a tank top, and slippers, as he moved over to Rich's bunk. "You up for some chatter in standard? Better we not disrupt any more..."

[firewalled]

"Uh... yeah. That might be a good idea." Rich is exhausted, sure, but... Trunks doesn't deserve to be left hanging. He slips away from the bunks and slowly slides the door open to follow Trunks to a different car.

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks has not missed that Rich is exhausted. He feels guilty for not letting the other head straight to bed, but they needed to clear some things up. Trunks has started to walk, and they're half-way through the sleeper cars, when he stops. And scrubs a hand down his face. "New plan. Spa car. It's closer. There are chairs to relax in in there besides the pool and sauna." Turning his head, he looks at Rich in question. "Sound good?"

[firewalled]

"Spa car, huh..." That actually sounds pretty nice. Maybe he can dunk his head in the pool when the grilling is over, so he nods. "Lead the way. As long as the chairs are comfy, I'm good."

[light_of_willpower]

"It has a sauna and a hot water pool too. 's pretty nice. Also it has a supply of swim trunks." Giving that information while they continued their walk. Which was now, thankfully, a much shorter walk and it did not take long before they were opening the door to the spa car.

[firewalled]

"I could definitely get behind a nice swim, honestly. I haven't ever tried a sauna, though."

When they reach the car, Rich tries to continue to smile, but it's clear he's more nervous now that their talk is drawing closer. "Is this the place?"

[light_of_willpower]

"It is. Swim suits are in that cabinet." Trunks pointed. "Sauna's over there, the rest should all be obvious." Trunks moved over to one of the chairs, and took a seat. Stretching out a bit, even if he still felt tense from frustration and anger and annoyance.

None of it with Rich though, but more on his behalf. As well as from Trunks' own history with robotic-life-type androids.

[firewalled]

Rich makes a note of where the bathing suits are, but then follows after Trunks, up to the chairs. He sits nervously perched on the edge of one of them, silent for a few moments.

"I'm... really sorry I ran off, Trunks. I was freaking out and wasn't thinking things through. I get it if you're pissed at me."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks just blinked at him, before chuckling softly. "I'm not mad at you Rich. I get that you were panicked. I was more concerned--and I'm sorry I didn't just shut the ICP off when that creep started talking."

[firewalled]

"You don't need to apologize for that. I... probably shouldn't have bothered responding. I knew better than to try to fight with him."

He's tried to get his own SQUIP to see sense and failed. Why would another AI be any different?

[light_of_willpower]

"Rich," Trunks started, making sure his tone was understanding. Because he really did get it. "You were understandably having a panic attack, and then the person who caused it, just taunted you more." No judgement at all in Trunks' tone.

"I have my own trauma related to androids. I'm from a whole world being terrorized by two homicidal psychotic ones, so I'm not unusual either. Meaning I won't judge you, or think you're weak, or anything. I want to help."

[firewalled]

"You... jesus, I'm sorry. I didn't know. Here I thought I was the weird one here." He grits his teeth as he thinks back on the way Trunks had reacted to the conversation over the ICP.

"Fuck, I should have known... he was upsetting you too. I guess Cassie was right that we need to deal with him for everyone's safety, not just mine."

[light_of_willpower]

"I've dealt with worse than him, Rich. I was more caught off guard, or I'd have stopped him from bullying you over the ICP sooner." Probably by smashing it, considering how angry Trunks had been. "I was, and still am, more concerned for you." Pausing, and Trunks reached up to rake his fingers through his hair. "The problem, and I already shared this with Cassie too, is likely that the train considers him a passenger. So blasting him to scrap likely won't help."

[firewalled]

"...I'm sorry for making you worry." Rich mutters as some sort of response. He doesn't exactly know how to reassure Trunks that he's fine, or that he doesn't need help. Devero already proved to him that he couldn't just deal with this alone, but he doesn't know what to say about the way he is.

Instead, he just shakes his head. "I don't know if I'd want him dead anyways. I mean... it's complicated. I know he's not a real person, but the train making him a passenger... he's got more of a personhood than my SQUIP, for sure."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks raised an eyebrow, but they could debate what qualified as a 'person' some other time. Jack being a 'person' or not wouldn't stop Trunks from taking him out if it became necessary. Wouldn't be the first time Trunks has dealt with threats lethally.

"You don't need to apologize for making me worry. Even if I didn't have my own issues--I don't like bullies. You were being bullied, and you're a friend. I'm kind of protective over my friends."

[firewalled]

Rich isn't the type to want someone dead, even someone who's an asshole. It's just when it's an AI that things become... complicated for him.

Even more complicated is the matter of friendship to him. He's a little taken aback by what Trunks says.

"You... want to be my friend? Actually?"

[light_of_willpower]

"Is there a reason I shouldn't want to be your friend?" Trunks said with a half-grin. Teasing slightly.

[firewalled]

"I... I don't know," Rich admits. "It's... complicated. I think because of who I used to be, I tend to think... no one would actually want that." Maybe he wasn't supposed to take that so seriously, but it's a thought that's still weighing on him.

[light_of_willpower]

"Well, I can only guess at some of your past. But I believe people can change, given a good enough reason."

[firewalled]

"Yeah? And what are your guesses? Or do you wanna hear the whole mess, from the start? Bet there's something in there to scare you off," Rich says, suddenly a little more hostile than before. Where did that anger come from?

[light_of_willpower]

"You've been through a terrible trauma, besides what your squip induced. It also has done some terrible things, or tried to make you do them. I'm pretty sure, to put it bluntly, you've been through some shit. And after reading that document, you're hesitant to trust people." All guesses on Trunks' part.

"You don't scare me Rich. I've lived pretty much my whole life, minus 6 months, under the reign of actual monsters. I've met a few more, before coming to the train. I'd be dead, except I'm a good 'mouse' for them to play with as if they were cats. So go ahead and tell me all of it."

[firewalled]

"...Trauma, huh." Perhaps Rich can agree with that. Perhaps part of him still thinks he shouldn't be upset when other people have it worse, one of whom is right in front of him.

"I guess I'm nothing compared to actual monsters..." Rich sighs softly, and rubs a hand over his face.

"I'll talk... as long as you'll tell me more about the shit you've been through too. I don't want to unload on someone without... doing something for them too. So I don't know if that'll help, but... I just want to do something good."

[light_of_willpower]

Trunks shrugged a shoulder. "What do you want to know? It's not like any of it's a secret."