Hold Each Other (Lou x Nolan)

Chapter 22

Prototype. Nolan. Those words didn't seem to go together. It was silent, in the crowd and on the stage. Lou was a statue, hadn't moved and inch. The words replayed in his head, 'Should I say..prototype Nolan'. It couldn't be true.

Ox walked up to Lou carefully, he wasn't sure what Lou would do if Ox startled him. ''Lou? Are you ok?''

Lou didn't respond, his breathing began to quicken. He was hyperventilating. This was too much for him. He sat down on the stage with Ox kneeling beside him, hand on his shoulder.

Nolan had run off stage when the news was revealed, or secret per say. A secret. I thought couples didn't keep secrets from each other, and why did he never tell me this.

But more importantly, how was he a prototype? He wasn't a mold for Perfection, Lou was.

After a few minutes, Lou regained his breathing. He was a bit wobbly on his feet but he needed to find Nolan and get an explanation. 

''You sure you're ok?'' Ox asked helping Lou up.

''I'm fine, I need to find him.''

He jumped off the stage, stumbled a bit but steadied himself and began to search for Nolan.

Ox had cleared everyone in the crowd, they went off to their business. The robot who revealed Nolan's secret was nowhere to be found. 

After a few minutes of searching, he finally found Nolan, sitting ontop of a large purple tree next to Wage's house. Wage was standing next to the tree looking up at Nolan, hands on her hips. ''Wage! How did he get up there?"

''He climbed ya knucklehead! I never seen anybody climb so fast in my life.''

''But why..why wouldn't he tell me?''

Wage sighed, ''I'm not sure Lou, I wish I knew. When he came to Uglyville we became good friends and I showed him some baking tricks. We never kept secrets.''

"Neither did we, or so I thought.''

''Go on up, talk to him.''

Lou began to climb up the tree. It must have been at least 25 feet.

Eventually he found Nolan sitting on a branch. ''Hey, can I sit here?''

Nolan scooted a bit to the right, ''Suit yourself,'' he said.

Lou made his way over to Nolan and sat down. The silence was awkward to say the least.

''So....prototype, hey?''

Nolan nodded, ''Yep.''

More silence.

''Look, I'm not mad, if thats what you're thinking. I'm just....shocked I guess.''

Nolan didn't acknowledge him.

''I'm just wanting some answers. Why did you keep this secret from me, such a big one at that? How did this happen? Why did that robot reveal it during the ceremony?''

Nolan sighed, ''I...I was planning on telling you today. After the ceremony.''

''Looks like the robot beat you to it. How did he know?''

''I guess I should start at the beginning. When I was made, I realized I'm different from everyone from here. Two different colours for eyes, some weird green hairs, shorter, thinner. At first I accepted that I was flawed and I was fine with that. But then a robot, the one at the ceremony, had told me that my flaws, were a mold, a warning almost, to other dolls that my imperfections mean no child to love. I was made as an example of what not to be, and you are what they are supposed to be.''

It went silent for a few moments. Nolan looked at Lou, ''you ok?''

''Yeah. Wow.....so you're the exact opposite of me.''

Nolan shrugged, ''Basically.''

''Some couple we are.''

Nolan playfully pushed Lou. ''I guess we are.''

Nolan continued explaining, ''So when I was told that I was a prototype, I knew that I will never have a child to care for. Then the robot told me that if he gives me what he wants, he can give me what I want, basically I was useless since you were the only mold needed, not me. But he wanted me gone since you were there, so if he could sneak me in the Big World and relieving me of my presence for him.''

He continued, Lou still listening, ''At first that sounded great, fantastic even, but there was one problem.''

''What was that?''

He looked at Lou, into his eyes, ''I couldn't bring you.''

Lou was taken aback. ''You...wanted to bring me with you?''

Nolan nodded, ''Yes..but only one child per doll. I asked if you could have a child by yourself but I was told that you are needed as a mold for present and future dolls forever.''

Lou then gave Nolan a sudden but big hug. He kissed his cheek, ''thank you.'' he whispered.

''For what?'' Nolan whispered back.

''For trying to take me with you. Nobody has ever done such a thing.''

Lou looked at Nolan, his imperfections were what made him perfect in his eyes. He kissed Nolan, making him blush adorably, ''Even if we're stuck here forever, I wouldn't chose anyone else to be with than you,'' Lou said.

Nolan smiled and kissed his boyfriend, they hugged and both whispered in each others ears, ''I love you.''