Reflective Detective One Shots!

Parting Gift

[AN: SORRY THIS TOOK SO LONG! My motivation has been non-existent for a while TwT I've gotten a few requests, and I'm working through them! More chapters will be coming soon!]

Rodger, the magnifying toon, walked along in silence. Beside him was his lover turned twisted, Glisten. Glisten was quiet, mumbling nonsensically as Rodger remained at his side. Rodger gently squeezed his hand, tilting his head with a caring look in his eyes. Glisten was nearing insanity, the only thing that let him cling to his fractured mind was Rodger's company.

Pop! Machines completed: 1/6

Glisten looked up at the sound, panic in his gaze. He calmed when he noticed Rodger was holding his hand. Could Glisten even feel it? It didn't look like it. It looked like the ichor that stained Glisten's hands killed any sense of touch. The twisted blinked at Rodger's grip before lifting his hand, gently nuzzling his frame against it.

"Rodger... Do you still love me?" Glisten asked. His words sounded choked. The speech made ichor drool from his broken face plate, as though he had to cough out the fluid to speak.

"Of course I do. I'd never stop loving you," Rodger reassured. Glisten seemed to calm down. He could barely feel anything, words provided more comfort than the faint tingling in his skin touch gave him. That didn't stop him from gripping Rodger's hand as they walked, however.

Pop! Machines completed: 2/6

Glisten flinched at the sound of another completed machine. He looked to his side. Rodger wouldn't leave him, he was right there. He could hear Pebble barking faintly, and hurried apologies from others. Though, it was like Rodger and Glisten were in their own peaceful world, wandering through the floor. Rodger hummed softly, the sound comforting the shattered mirror toon.

Pop! Machines completed: 3/6

Was Rodger getting anxious? Glisten saw the way he looked around, the way he checked their surroundings to ensure they were safe.  Glisten squeezed his hand, a bit tighter than he really meant to. Rodger nearly winced, looking back at Glisten. The twisted tried to comfort him, a loving gaze in his remaining eye. Rodger sighed, he couldn't blame Glisten. He knew it had been an accident. But he was also painfully aware of how close they were getting to Pebble and his distraction...

Rodger gently guided Glisten away from the area. They were silent for the most part. Glisten didn't know why. Was Rodger afraid? Was he disgusted? Doubt clouded Glisten's mind once more. He needed Rodger to stay, he couldn't be alone. Not again. Not anymore.

Pop! Machines completed: 4/6

Glisten could see the broken elevator, and an uncompleted machine. Rodger looked at Glisten, then the machine. A silent request. Glisten nodded, settling on the floor beside the machine as Rodger wrapped his hands around the valve. Glisten watched him turn the valve, watched him work away. Glisten was quiet still. Rodger's machine was only about halfway done.

Pop! Machines completed: 5/6

Rodger let go of the machine he had, the nearly completed machine the last on the floor. Glisten grabbed Rodger, hugging him close. Glisten was shaking, he knew what was coming. He was afraid, he knew Rodger would leave when the machine was done.

"Glisten... I promise I'll come back. I swear it to you."

"No, no, no! You can't leave! You wouldn't come back! You'd be afraid!" Glisten sobbed. Rodger pulled out of the hug, leaving Glisten looking heartbroken. But Rodger didn't leave, he pulled off his jacket. Glisten tilted his head, sniffling as Rodger draped it over to twisted's shoulders. Glisten lifted his hands, taking hold of the jacket carefully.

"There. Take this... You know it's my best jacket. I'll come back for it, and I'll come back for you. I swear. You just need to be patient, hold on a little longer."

Glisten nodded slowly, sniffling. The jacket provided a bit of comfort, a promise of Rodger's return. Glisten rubbed the tears from his remaining eye, lowering his head. Rodger placed his hands on the valve of the machine, giving it a final twist.

Pop! Machines completed: 6/6
Get to the elevator!

Glisten took hold of Rodger's hand. Rodger leaned up, gently tapping the frames of their heads together.

"I promise I'll come back." Rodger whispered, before slipping free, running to the elevator.

Glisten watched from afar, he didn't move, didn't lunge, didn't attack... No, he merely watched the toons gather in the elevator, the doors shutting behind him. Glisten gripped Rodger's jacket around his shoulders, comforted by the promise of his lover's return.

He'd come back. Glisten trusted Rodger. Even in his twisted, broken mind, he found his trust. He just had to hold on a little longer...