Hey, Can I Meet You Tonight?

Saw You In A Dream, You Stayed The Same

It hurts

were the only thoughts that passed through the young girl's head as she laid in her bed that night.

The young child tried to remember a time before all this around her.

Before all the bleakness and cold.

All that came to her was a warmth that felt faintly of familiarity and settled onto herself, flashes of a soft smile coming from a man she could never quite make out, but felt as though she knew the owner.

It didn't matter, these feelings never lasted long enough to know or care where-

"Eri" a voice cut in, piercing through the child's thoughts, ending them and returning the cold back to her.

"Eri, wake up, It's time" the voice lowly prodded into the bland, dark room.

She winced, curling tighter into herself. She didn't want to get up, not yet.

More sternly and a tad louder, the voice called out "Eri, get. Up", slight irritation simmering underneath.

Please, just a few more minutes. Please! She silently begged. She wanted to hold onto that warmth just for a moment longer, to memorize that smile.

"Eri! Enough!"

Eri was yanked from the bed before being scooped up into the arms of the arms of the hooded bird man (Croni, she thinks his name was?).

Squirming a bit from discomfort before she settled in the bird man's hold, they started on their trek to the "operation room."

The meek girl didn't like that room very much.

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After another tiring session of being unmade and remade, the Eri's awareness slowly returned to her, bringing it a familiar warmth in her wake. The warmth surrounding her, but with new feelings of fuzz and soft shaking with it.

Was she dreaming again?

This was like those feelings she had before!

Opening her eyes, a purple fur blocked her vision. It was soft. Slowly moving her hand, Eri reached a comfy feeling fabric material and gently gripped onto it. At last, she figured that this must be someone holding her. Who was this? Who was giving off this nice warmth?

She nuzzled into the purple mass before her, gently pulling on the clothing item in her hand. "Warm"

The slight shaking ceased showing that that the one holding her either heard her speak or felt her pull, maybe even both.

The mystery person quickly pulled away from her before lightly holding onto her small shoulders with warm, elasticy-like and smooth hands. Surprised, Eri looked up, her ruby red meeting wide golden eyes. Jolting, Eri felt a needle of anxiety spike into her being. She stared at the man before her, taking in the sight of a simple black face mask in place of the usual beak like one she's seen him wear, brows furrowed and his sharp yellow eyes wide with a strange and unusual apprehension in them.

They sat there, eyes locked, taking in one another for a few more silent and tense moments before the man decided to speak.

"Are you-" he cut himself off, "- no, of course you're not. Not after I just-" he cut himself off again, showing a hint of nerves in his speech- it was surprising to Eri. She has never seen him frazzled, so.. human. It was strange. The man, (Overhaul, she knew) continued on,"I-... I have been contemplating lately and, .. I've come to the conclusion that- " he stops once more, a hint of frustration on his face now. Jerking slightly, Overhaul pulled his hand away a bit before placing a hesitant hand onto Eri's small head, bringing with it a surprising soft warmth that she had always wanted and dreamt about,alone. "I've, after much thinking and consideration," he stammered a bit, with a scratchy yet soft voice- as if his voice was unused to being used in such a way, (she thought it sounded nice, if not very strange). "- that this.. isn't something that I neither want nor is it a benefactor to me or my plans. I also know that you have no reason to believe me- highly understandable- but I want to apologize and try to actually do right by and for you now. So please, " Using his free hand he grabs the edge of his mask, pulling it down to reveal a small shaky smile underneath. " lend me a bit of your trust and permission to either lead or bring you to a bright way in your life, Eri."

The small girl Eri stared at the man before, taking in both the warmth emitting and the smile (aimed at her, for her), and once again being reminded of that man in her dreams. She stared before she acted.

Eri placed her small on top of the larger one on her hand, adding a firm pressure with it. Keeping her eyes locked with his, she spoke in a quiet voice,

"Okay."

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Edit: Happy New Years!!