Sodor's New Worker (Semi-Hiatus Due to an AO3 rewrite)

Natural Avoidance

   After that day, she cut as much contact with the Class 28 as she could. Actually, if she could help it, she avoided every Tidmouth entity.

Which, unfortunately, somehow, included Nathan.

"This is BULLSHIT." he complained to his girlfriend. "I don't even live there and she still finds a way to avoid me. What the hell did I even DO!?"

"...Exist?" Mavis shrugged. The diesel woman was touching up her makeup. She was listening, but she knew better than anyone that Maddy was most likely acting in a way to keep herself safe.

"Very insightful, Mav." he grumbled. "She JUST told me we were friends again, and we're right back to where we started. Avoiding me as if I have the plague. I've done nothing. I'm INNOCENT."

"Maybe not to her." she hummed, holding still as she touched up her eyeliner. "You know how she is."

"Irrational is what she is.." Nathan replied, running his hands through his hair. It needed a wash; a proper one. Lord knows the last time he had a good wash.

"Have you tried seeing the world through her eyes?"

"What do you mean?" Nate questioned. "She had a bad life before here. We all know it twice-over. What do you expect now? Some pity party?"

   Mavis sighed, setting down her tools to turn and look at Nate. They didn't argue often, and if they did, it was usually calm and collected. They both had previously learned to not act like Maddy or James did, because they both saw first hand where that got them. She crossed her legs, looking at the scarred individual sternly.

"Look deeper."

"Do you know something I don't, Mav?"

"Probably. She still hangs out with me, Annie, Claribel and Molly. Molly didn't exist on the mortal plane when it all happened, and Annie and Claribel are completely innocent."

"And what about you?"

"I never did what the rest of them did. I spent my time grieving and caring for Wally."

"And...what about ME. All I did, mind you once more, was die."

"Have you thought that your genius plan to save us all influenced her decision?"

"HOW. WHY." he snapped, now pacing around the area. "It's not MY FAULT it went to shit. I don't DESERVE THIS."

"No, you don't, but if you would just perceive things from her perspective-"

"Why do I have to look from hers?! Why can't she from mine!?"

"Because, as you said, she's irrational. Now sit."

   The taller woman pointed to a seat across from her. Nathan took the seat, bouncing his leg restlessly. He was getting annoyed. Not at Mavis, but at Maddy's behavior toward him. It was unfair; he knew that and he was damn sure Mavis knew it too.

"I love you, Love-a-Bug, but your persistence is going to land you in more trouble. If I have to spell it out for you, I will."

"Oh, Queen Bee," he retorted annoyingly. "Please do. Excuse her behavior."

"I'm not excusing anything. Now." she sat back, crossing her arms under her chest. "Picture this. You are seven years old and your parents, your parents who you believe love you to the ends of the earth, tell you you're going on an adventure. Only to learn you have essentially been sold to a facility for highly illegal experimenting. You spend puberty in there. It is all you know, but at the same time you know it's not right."

"Mav where are you going with this-"

"Shush. You're 21. You finally get out and start fresh. It's all good for a while! You have some hiccups, but you have a family and a boyfriend turned husband who all adore you. Life is fantastic. Years go by. Then one day you're swiped away, from the shower no less. You don't know what's going on. You're in a cage along with most female engines on Sodor that they could find. Your best friend, rightfully so, chooses his girlfriend to set free, despite you being the one they want. You are angry. Betrayed. You loved these people and they tore your life apart in less than 10 years. You don't know what else to think. You can't trust these people anymore. You can't trust the one who had this plan."