Enter Abyss

Chapter 27; Confession and power cores.

Things were different between Cogs, Archer, and Pip since that night in the library.

To be sure, were not mad at each other. Far from it; Pip would constantly pat Archer awkwardly on the shoulder, telling him that it would be ok and that she would fix this. Fix all of this. Then she would disappear for days or even weeks on end, coming back to their room looking more disheveled than usual.

Archer would only nod, then, lost in his head as he did nothing but read his mother's journal. And, when he wasn't doing that, he was working with Galen on Arnold.

As for Cogs himself, he began spending more time with Meera, making maps with her, letting her teach him the ins and outs of the palace, reading books to her until his voice was hoarse, singing funny songs with her till they were both on the floor laughing. Growing closer and closer to her each day.

It was nearly summer again when he realized he loved her.

Now, sitting in his room, laying on his bed listening to Archer fiddle with some sort of machinery, Cogs knew that Meera was different. She was special. 

"We've been here almost a year, you know." he said suddenly.

"Has it been that long already?" Archer asked, not looking up at him and continuing to tinker with whatever bit of Arnold sat on his bed.

"I think so. It's your and Pip's birthday soon isn't it?"

He watched as his friend sat up suddenly, nearly tumbling off his bed. "She never mentioned anything about it.... bloody heck, she's the one responsible for remembering birthdays! I haven't even SEEN Pip in the last few days."

"Neither have I."

"Probably too busy with Meera, eh?" Archer's grin was teasing, his voice not unkind.

Cogs felt his face grow warm. "I think she's the one, Arch."

"I thought you said Pip was 'the one'."

"Dear gods, let's not get into that again." Cogs sighed suddenly, "I'm going to tell her I love her."

"Who, Pip?"

"Meera, you dolt! Tonight. I'm going to tell her tonight."

Archer looked up at him, scrutinizing him with an inventor's gaze. "Do you want some advice?"

"You're bad at relationship advice."

"I am not!"

"You once compared love to a boiler."

"That was only one time...."

Laughing, Cogs sat up in bed and faced Archer. "All right. What do you think I should say?"

" 'I love you,' would be a good start."

Cogs gave him a look and Archer amended quickly, "Or tell her how beautiful she looks, how much she means to you. Tell her how her eyes sparkle in the light of the glowing rocks. Tell her how she makes you smile, about how you always think of her. That sort of thing."

Nodding, Cogs thought about writing that down. The question was, how did he go about asking her? He asked Archer this and the red-headed boy frowned for a moment before saying, "Somewhere quiet, where there won't be any interruptions. Oh! You could have a picnic in Arnold's head! Its a bit of a climb but--"

"That's alright, Arch." Cogs said, not quite liking the idea of confessing his undying love for a girl in a mecha's head. Still, the idea of actually saying the words 'I love you' to her made him grin; partially from excitement, partially from nerves and he could not help but wonder what she would say, how she would respond. Would she love him back?