2038: Vincent

Argument

[Trigger warning: This chapter contains suicidal acts. Please do not continue reading if you are triggered by it.]

I woke up in the middle of the day. My eyes were puffy and felt heavy when I blinked. I looked at my hands; the frostbite went away and now my fingers were just back to swollen and shattered. I got up from my bed and changed, still remembering the spare gun in my dresser was waiting for me to use it.

"Good morning, lieutenant." Vincent called from the couch, lowering the volume. I ignored him and looked outside. The snow was starting to melt now. I heard the television click off, and footsteps walking towards me. Vincent wiggled his arms around my sides and pulled me into his torso. I relaxed, but on the inside I was still tense. The hug was shorter than usual this time; I was sure Vincent could tell that I was upset at him for telling me I had to leave soon. He entered the kitchen and pulled out a pan.

"I'm not hungry." I told him. He looks back and then puts the pan back where it was. I go back to my room and get under the covers, forgetting to close the door. Vincent taps on the frame to let me know he's there. I turn away as he sits on the bed.

"Are you okay today, lieutenant?" He asks calmly.

"No." I replied. He adjusts his posture and then uses his hands to hold up his weight.

"Why is that?" His tone lowers, but keeps the same calming tone.

"I really don't want to leave." I feel my throat tightening, and my eyes get blurry again. The scabs on my forehead start to throb again as I get ready to cry.

"I told you, I will be okay here. It's a few years, then you'll be able to see me again."

"I can't wait that fucking long, Vincent!" I yell out, my voice shaky.

"I understand–"

"You don't! I have a special bond with you and all you want to do is throw it out the window!"

Vincent gets up from the bed. "Why me? Why a stupid robot that has to go save the damn world over a real human being?"

"Because you remind me of my father!" Vincent stops pacing around the room, and silence fills the air. I hear Vincent swallow, then feel his weight sit back on the mattress.

"I am a father to you?" I hear a small shake in his voice, and wonder if he's crying with me. Then, I hear two small tip's on the quilt. He was. Too much emotion for him. I get up from the other side of the bed and hug him, then go to my dresser. He gets up, and starts walking out, probably thinking I'm changing. I take out the gun from my drawer and step back with it. Vincent pauses right before he walks out, and turns to me swiftly.

"Lieutenant?" His light turns red again. I direct the gun to my temple slowly, backing away from him.

"If I can't stay here, then I won't stay at all." I take a deep breath in and hold it in my lungs. My heart pounds out of my chest. Vincent stares.

"No, listen to me–"

"If I can't stay here, then I won't stay at all, Vincent." I repeat, putting more violence into my raspy voice. Vincent holds his hands to his sides in fists like he's about to try to grab the gun from me.

"Elias, please," Vincent pleades with tears running down his face. "I'm sorry, don't do that." I stare at him, wondering if I should leave everything.

Vincent's light spun around red. "If you leave everything, you won't be able to see me again." My posture relaxes a little, and the gun lets go from pressing on my temple to hovering over it. I barely rest my pained fingers on the trigger. He looks at the gun, then back to me.

"I can't." I say, then pressing the gun back down lightly. Vincent releases his fists and wipes an eye.

"Please." He said one last time. Flashbacks played in my head of when he was so kind to me, and if I were to leave him, I'd be considered weak. I'd be recognized as selfish; what my sister labeled my dad as after she found him. I lower the gun completely to my side and drop it on the carpet. Vincent walks over to me, putting a hand on my shoulder, and using it to pull us into a hug again. We stood there, letting our emotions seep below us in Hell where they'd rot. He was tired, I was tired... But we couldn't leave each other for good. If he died, I would go with him. But if I died, he'd stay. He wouldn't be weak. He could thrive without his human until he is finally killed, or deactivated. I needed to work on that death bug flying around my head. I needed to finally squish it for good. And I knew Vincent would try his best with helping me overcome my issues with abandonment.