Bad Order

Recrew

Comet sighed when he and Luno entered the locomotive shed, pushing his hands into his pockets. There was still significant damage to the switcher's back end, and the relief he felt from being taken from his parents' home again soon faded away as he remembered what had happened.

Luno guided him to the platform, and they both sat on the edge.

"It's worse than I remember." Comet mumbled. "All I wanted to do was help you guys out, y'know? You were super busy and still had to get everything together, and–"

"We know your intent was good, Comet. I was more upset about the idea that you could have gotten seriously injured."

"Could have fooled me."

"I realize I had lost my composure in that moment." Luno said. "The day was...challenging to begin with, of course. This is not to excuse my behavior, though."

Comet scratched the back of his neck.

"It's alright. Really."

Luno looked at him.

"Why did you go back to your family?"

"It was the only thing I could think of."

"But you were unhappy."

"Yeah, but...I thought I blew it with you guys. At least back home I knew what to expect, even if it wasn't ideal."

"...I see." Luno said. "I suppose I understand what you are talking about."

"Yeah?"

"Yes. Familiarity as comfort. Even if that familiarity is painful or destructive."

Comet sighed.

"Now I just feel silly."

"There is no reason to. You acted as you knew how, and you've learned from your mistakes, as I have learned from mine. I did not intend to make you feel unwelcome here, even though that is what happened."

Comet rested his chin on his palm.

"Truth be told, I...didn't think you liked me all that much to begin with."

Luno frowned, more than he usually did.

"Why is that?"

"Well..."

"Hm. I believe I already know what you are going to say. I hear it quite often."

Comet chuckled nervously.

"That makes me feel a little better."

"I've never been good at expressing myself. It isn't any secret. Believe me, I have tried, but I think I end up terrifying people more than anything."

"Oh, come on. It can't be that bad." Comet said. "I've never seen you smile."

"That is for a reason."

"Just try it."

Luno paused, then awkwardly bared his teeth. It looked more like a grimace, and Comet understood.

"Ah."

Luno sighed.

"Anyway." he said. "You have a home here, Comet. Always. I do not ever want you to feel any differently."

Comet looked back down at the rails the switcher sat on.

"I wish I knew what my parents really thought, y'know? Did they secretly not think I'm a huge failure? At least Dad still does."

"I've told you before. Some questions are better left unanswered. It can hurt just as much–if not more–to know something you were never meant to."

"I guess you're right."

"Furthermore...you truly thought I did not like you?"

Comet shrugged.

"I dunno. I've never been good at reading vibes."

"If I did not like you, I would not have agreed to you coming here. I admire your curiosity, and since you arrived, I have seen you slowly emerge from the metaphorical shell that had been forced upon you." Luno said. "You are becoming your own man, no longer bound by your family. You have a strong work ethic, and I do not believe I would have trusted anybody else to be our station master."

Comet's face flushed.

"You...you mean it?"

"Of course."

They sat there in silence for a while. Comet looked up at the switcher, her gleaming livery shining in the dim lantern light. The nameplate on the side of her boiler kept catching his eye.

Caelestis.

"How long have you had her?"

"The switcher?"

"Yeah."

Luno thought for a moment.

"Not long, relatively speaking, I suppose." he said. "She is not our first."

"She's not?"

"No. We had another before her, named Maristela, but...she disappeared. Solano and I do not know where she went. But that is a story for another time."

"Huh. Didn't think you guys could lose an entire locomotive."

"We are not perfect."

Luno stood up from where he sat and hung his coat on the rack, taking his work apron from its place and tying it on.

"Caelestis is just as reliable and important as Maristela. The sooner she is once again functional, the better."

Comet looked up at him.

"What about the turntable?"

"That will take far longer, but at the very least we can function without it, even if it will be a little more difficult." Luno answered. "Well, come on, then. You will be helping us with the repair."

He helped Comet to his feet and handed him the spare work apron on one of the other hooks.

"Jeez...didn't think I'd ever see the day."

"Repair and maintenance is just about as important as knowing how to drive and fire the thing. Why not take your mistake as a teaching moment?"

"...Huh. Guess you're right."

"Solano has already done most of the disassembly work. Replacing the broken parts and reshaping everything that is bent is our job. He should have set all the parts we need out on the worktable there. The smaller bits, anyway."

As he and Comet got to work, the tension between them slowly began to ease. The switchers was relatable. Comet was finally somewhere he belonged...and he wasn't planning to leave anytime soon. He couldn't help but smile at the memory of Solano holding his father by the arm like that.

Luno and Solano were at the right place at the right time, and so was Comet. Fate had a different path for him than he ever could have imagined, and he found himself overjoyed that he had lived long enough to see it.

This was just the beginning. He hadn't been with the Railroad for very long, but he knew he was at the start of a very, very long journey, and he wouldn't have it any other way.