We got off the bus, and I lead the way to the grave yard. Ralph pulled the hood down from the cloak he was wearing. I had asked him to put it on, as to not raise too much suspicion on the bus. I mean, he's an android, and he's supposed to be in the compartment in the back of the bus. And I know for a fact that he wouldn't want to stand there alone, even if I didn't ask him.
I walked along the path, holding the small bouquet of flowers. And crouched down by a tombstone.
Leo Manfred.
Ralph had lagged behind with Tai. I put down the flowers, and kept silent until the android got closer to me, reading the inscription. I stood back up, but I still faced the grave. "My full name is (Y/N) Manfred" I started. "And like I said yesterday. He was my dad" I continued, while Ralph kept quiet. "I... didn't know much about my father growing up, since it was my grand-dad, and Markus, who took care of me. They raised me while dad was out... doing whatever" I continued, trying to scramble together what I did know.
"I barely saw him even. And when he did visit, I remember... Markus... keeping an arm around me. As if to protect me" I kept telling my story. "And I wasn't allowed to really interact with my dad without Carl's permission... I was... sad, 'cause he's my dad. But I know they were trying to protect me" I took a moment, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I still don't know what for. But he always had this... look about him. Which scared me. Like he... like he wasn't himself... and even though I didn't know him. He's still my dad. If he didn't get together with my mom, I wouldn't be here" I paused for a moment. "I have no clue on who my mother is. Never got a name. I don't know what she looks like. But she obviously didn't want me, since I was left alone with my dad. Who then passed me onto my grand-dad" I tried to fight back the tears. "Sometimes I... wonder if we could have been a family" I stated, swallowing again. "A family I never got to have" I added. Don't get me wrong, Carl and Markus are my family, but sometimes I wish I had my parents. And I don't think that Leo was fit to be a single father either. I mean, he was only seventeen when I was born.
I felt Ralph put a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to hug him. "Stupid, Ignorant, seventeen-year-olds" I sobbed, as the android hesitantly wrapped his arms around me. I could feel his hands twitching on my back, probably unsure of what he should do. He's been the one who's needed comfort, but he's most likely never comforted anyone himself. I sniffed, and pulled away, just enough to be able to look up at his face. "I just... don't understand people sometimes. You spend months, waiting for something. Just to throw it away when it's not what you expected, or got bored of it" I started. Staring at his chest. "I couldn't ever do that, especially when it's a living thing... which is why I couldn't just replace you" I looked up at the android. "I... really felt like we were friends back then, even if you weren't deviant, and wouldn't have that connection with me personally" I looked back down, straightening the folds in his coat. "You can get new friends, but you can't just replace an individual for another. So I never ended up getting a new android, despite the fact that people were always asking why I didn't have one" I continued. Ralph hadn't let go of me through the entire time I was talking.
I looked back up at him again, staring him in the eye. "I care about you. Never forget that" I stated, and leaned my head against his chest. Now much calmer. I don't want to follow in my father's footsteps, and will do everything I can to protect those I care about. Just because I suffered, doesn't mean that others have to. We stayed there for a while, with the snow softly falling. The sound of his thirium pump beating, being the only noise to break the silence. At least for me. It stays in the same rhythm, not failing a single time.
"If it's not too much for you. Carl would like to meet you while he has the chance" I stated, still listening to his heartbeat. "I won't force you if you don't want to. He's human too, after all" I added, waiting for an answer. "If (Y/N) trusts Carl, then Ralph will too. He's a nice human, right?" he asked. "Of course he is. He treated Markus, an RK200, like his own son" I answered, looking up at the android. "Okay... then Ralph wants to meet him too" he finally answered. I get the feeling that he does want to make friends, but is just too scared to do so. Not that I judge him for that. It's probably easier for him too, if he's with someone he already knows, and can hide behind if things go south.
I gave him a smile, and backed away from the hug. Walking back to the bus-stop, with Tai right beside me.
When we arrived at the manor, I looked behind me to Ralph momentarily, before knocking on the door. Holding onto Tai's leash so she wouldn't just run inside. The android opened the door, and didn't say anything. "(Y/N) Manfred. I'm here to see Carl with..." I glanced back to Ralph, and turned back to the other android. "-my android. He wanted to meet it" I finished my sentence, and we were let inside. I fixed my scarf, and hung my coat up.
We climbed the staircase, and walked to the bedroom door. I was stopped a couple feet before we reached it, but Ralph gingerly taking my hand. I looked behind to see his LED red. "It'll be alright. He's not gonna hurt you" I said, shifting my hand to get a better hold of his. Leading him into the bedroom.
He ended up stopping about half way to the bed, while I sat down on the chair beside it. "(Y/N)? What a pleasant surprise" Carl muttered. "We were in the area, so I thought we'd visit" I said, as Tai sat down in front of me. Carl put his hand down, to let her lick it. He chuckled, petting her long fur. "You said you wanted to see her again... I couldn't just say no when you've done so much for me" I stated, holding onto her collar to keep her in place. She can be a bit rambunctious when she's excited.
Carl seemed to notice Ralph standing further away, just looking. "Who's this?" he asked. I looked behind me, and put my hand up, curling my fingers a couple times to call him over. His LED blinked red a couple times, before turning blue as he started approaching. "This... is Ralph" I answered, taking his hand. He let go, and sat down beside me. "I told you about him last time I was here" I added, putting my hand on the android's shoulder. "I remember. But what happened to him?" Carl asked, noticing the scars. I looked down at the android, seeing his LED turning red again. I was about to answer, but was stopped. "Humans attacked Ralph. Using a knife to hurt him. But (Y/N) stopped them, and Ralph ran away" he answered, which I wasn't expecting. He hasn't wanted to talk about it before. I squeezed his shoulder lightly, making him glance at me for just a moment, before turning his head back down.
"This world doesn't like those who are different. Trying to get rid of them when the chance is there. The world is ruled by fear. Fear of others... Fear of the future... it's like me, too old. It's time for it to end" Carl answered. I pondered for a moment. "Fear of the unknown. Trying to break whoever is stronger, or different" I stated, loosening my grip on Ralph's shoulder. "Don't let anyone tell you who to be, Ralph" Carl said, directly to the android. His LED blinked a couple times, before settling. "And take care of (Y/N) for me, when I'm gone" Carl added, with a smile. "Of course. Ralph doesn't want her to be hurt" the android answered, looking up at me.
The android caretaker stepped inside the room, and asked us to leave. We both stood up, and were about to leave. Until Carl called my name. "Whatever happens between you two, I just want you to be happy. Don't let anyone tell you it's wrong if it makes you happy" he said. We were almost shoved out of the room, not really giving me a chance to answer. "Let's go home" I said, putting my hand against Ralph's arm before walking back downstairs with Tai and Ralph right behind.
((I found out Leo is 28 only recently. But I've already gotten this far, so... guess he's older))
