Morality & Mortality (Artificer x Reader)

Disposal Unit

[[CREDIT TO DAVID MASON]]

Scene 1

Your P.O.V

_______________________

Artificer never cried.

In the few Cycles you've known her, it was apparent that she was nothing but a bloodthirsty, stoic, killing machine. 

With a spear in one hand and a grenade in the other, none could stand in the way of her unstoppable wrath.

The uncountable number of Scavengers split from head to toe, the vast number of lizards that had succumbed to her blade and the centipedes that have had their torso blown to bits of orange flesh only furthered this point. 

Killing was routine, and the fact that Arti relished in giving her prey the most gruesome deaths she could come up with only added to her unhinged brutality.

All of this painted a picture of a one eyed slugcat that knew no mercy. The Saints had taught you that heretics were nothing but barbaric wretches waiting to be put down by The Cycle. This meant that Artificer was just another one of these cutthroat murderers. 

She couldn't feel empathy. She couldn't feel sorrow.

The Saints had drilled that information deep into your skull. As much as you considered her a close acquaintance and a useful asset. She was still a sinner, through and through.

And sinners were not slugcats. They weren't considered living beings, just flesh puppets fuelled by sin.  

However, that dogma you had clung onto for Cycle knows how long seemed to just vanish once you witnessed what was happening in-front of you.

Artificer was weeping.

Her tears ran down her scarred cheeks, gasps of air could be heard between bursts of ugly crying. Her ears dropped low, with her head held even lower.

She covered her face with rough hands, as if trying to block the cascade of repressed emotions that had bubbled inside her for far too long.

And all you could do was watch.

It hurt your soul seeing another break down like this, even if she was a monster by The Saint's standards, she still deserved sympathy. 

So you hugged her, it was the only right thing to do.

Her breath hitched and she looked your way, not quite making eye contact but still giving you the centre of her attention.

"You're awake..." Her usual demanding tone had been replaced with a voice of defeat and resignation. "Just stop, whatever you're doing won't work, leave me alone"

You only held her closer; you only hugged her tighter. 

"... I look hideous, don't I? I'm not supposed to be like this but I just-"

She let out a shaky breath, her sentence stopping midway through. 

"I-It's going to be alright, I'm here now, that's something I guess" Your attempts at soothing her anguish were as useful as putting a bandage on a decapitation but doing nothing would only make things worse.

"Just, stop hugging me, please"

"No, you're feeling down so I-"

"I said stop" Her voice was serious, Artificer seemed incredibly annoyed at your attempt at comfort.