Final Space Oneshots

Time Shards (4)

Avocato watched as the younger Gary stuffed his hands into his pockets as Fox walked past. His eyes flicked from his tense posture to his narrowed eyes, and he sighed.

It had been two days since Gary had been de-aged, and Avocato hoped that the younger human would start to trust them more. Even though the Ventrexian knew that the older Gary wouldn't remember this, he couldn't help but feel saddened by the fact that this child still refused to trust anyone. That was, anyone but Little Cato.

It made him smile to see the two teens got on very well, and Gary almost acted happy around his son. Any other time Gary wore a haunted expression that he had only seen in glimpses in the older Gary.

"It's his last day like this, right?" Avocato leaned over to Nightfall, pulling his gaze off the human. Nightfall nodded, sipping her drink.

"That's what AVA said." She paused, studying Avocato knowingly. "This will be your last chance to talk to him like this."

"What's the point?" Avocato sighed. "He won't remember, and he doesn't want anything to do with me."

"Maybe not. But there's no harm in trying." Nightfall replied.

"It's just..." Avocato's mind replayed what Little Cato had told him a few nights ago. His son was distressed as he retold what Gary had told him, and Avocato could see why.

"...I never knew how hard he'd had it." Avocato glanced up at Gary again, who was trying to be as small as possible. "And that's only an inch of what he's been through! I just...I just want to tell him..."

Nightfall interrupted his ramblings by putting a hand against his lips.

"Save those words for him." She told him. Avocato blinked at her, then nodded.

Nightfall stood up, exiting the dining area to retreat to her room. Avocato looked back at Gary, who had not touched his food despite his thin frame.

He only ever ate what was in packets, sealed up tight. It seemed that he was under the impression that they were trying to drug him, which made Avocato's heart clench unpleasantly.

But tonight they couldn't help it – they were eating a mess of leftovers that had gathered in the fridge as they were out of any sealed foods. Thankfully, HUE hadn't cooked any of it.

"It's okay! It's just leftovers. We have them sometimes." Little Cato hadn't eaten much of his either, spending his time trying to persuade Gary to.

Gary just shook his head.

"Little Cato." Avocato decided to take action, and called to his son. "Give me his plate."

Hesitantly, Little Cato passed it over. Gary's blue eyes followed it, and finally met Avocato's own.

It's was like they were seeing straight into his soul. They were frightened, angry, confused – and yet a small shred of innocence glinted in the centre. Avocato didn't want to look away, but Gary broke the contact to stare down at the plate.

Avocato grabbed his fork, stabbing into a big chunk of Gary's meal. Then he ate it, trying to prove that the food hadn't been tainted in any way.

"See. It's just regular food." Avocato said. He pushed the plate back to Gary, giving him a warm smile. "Now eat it before it gets too cold."

Gary hesitated, then picked up the fork awkwardly and began to eat. Avocato had noticed over the few days that he hadn't held his cutlery right. It was only a bold reminder of how early Gary had roamed the streets.

"You gotta mix it all in, like this!" Avocato smiled as he watched his son enthusiastically show Gary the "proper" way to eat leftovers. Gary watched him silently then did the same.

"Now you get every good food together! I call it a food tornado!" Little Cato finished, shoving a large chunk into his mouth.

"Gross." Ash shuddered from the other end of the table. Her eye lingered on Gary before she stood up, making her leave.

"I've never had leftovers before." Gary muttered, stabbing his fork into the food.

"Never?" Avocato asked. Gary shook his head, and Avocato was pleased to note that Gary looked more open to him now that he had gained some of his trust.

"That's all I ate as a kid." The Ventrexian grinned. "My parents didn't understand why you would limit yourself to one type of food each meal time."

Gary opened up to both Ventrexians more after this, and Avocato couldn't be more pleased. They had quiet conversations about their planets and customs, and it was only when Little Cato was falling asleep at the table did they stop.

"Get to bed Little Cato. Or I won't let you take a look at my guns tomorrow." Avocato ordered. Little Cato stood up groggily, muttering phrases under his breath as he made his way to his room.

Gary had been sleeping in the main room for the past few days, not wanting to restrict himself into the locked rooms. So Avocato let him do his own thing as he cleared the table, hiding his concerned frown.

Nightfall's words came back to him, and he sighed quietly. This was the last evening, and Avocato didn't know whether he wanted to just leave Gary alone or tell him everything he wanted to say.

When Avocato turned around, he couldn't help but smile at the sight.

Gary was fiddling with his older self's playing cards, shuffling them in his hands.

"You play?" Avocato asked, strolling over to the table. Gary jumped slightly.

"A little." He answered.

"Well then deal me in." Avocato smiled. Gary studied him for a few seconds, then sat in the seat opposite him and began to dish out the cards.

"What are we playing?" Avocato asked.

"Go Fish." Gary replied. Avocato couldn't help but grin – it was Gary's favourite card game, even now.

Avocato grabbed his cards, but he was paying more attention to the teen in front of him than the game itself. And, in that moment, he chose what he was going to do.

"Gary." Avocato paused the game, placing down his cards. Gary watched him carefully, shoulders tensed.

Avocato took a deep breath, and spoke what he needed to say.

"Gary, I know that your life is hard right now. I know that it seems hopeless for you." Avocato began. Gary stayed silent. "And it's going to get harder before it gets better, and you're  going to want to quit before you get there. But Gary, please trust me when I say that it is worth it." Avocato gave a small smile. "You will meet people and do things that you only dreamed of, have adventures far beyond the universe. But sometimes, you will be scared."

Gary was still staring at him, his blue eyes piecing into his.

"But when you do get scared," Avocato said quietly, "you will have someone to share that fear with. To share happiness with. To share grief with." Avocato stared back at Gary. "So when you get to that point where you want to quit, to give up, don't. Keep going. Please, keep going."

Avocato stood up slowly, watching the time tick on the wall. Two minutes until midnight.

"But what if it's too hard?" Gary's quiet voice asked him. "What if I get there, and there's nothing?"

"There will be. I promise." Avocato smiled at the teen. "Trust me."

The last minute until midnight was spent in silence, the hum of the engine the only sound to be heard.

And when midnight finally did strike, and when Gary's features grew older in a flash of pink light, Avocato was hugging him tight.