Work Text:
A gift from ACME
The paper shook in Ivy's hand as she read it over and over. The edges crinkled where her hands held it. She didnt know how many times she had read it, picked it up and over and over-
Letting out a breath of air she placed it down on the table beside her. And she placed her head in her hands for a moment, a slight groan in her voice as she swiped them down her face.
Keeping her hands on her cheeks as she stared ahead at the wall of the garage. Her desk was covered with metal and loose parts. The abandoned semantics of Carmen's broken grappling hook sitting there and collecting dust. As were most things these past few months.
She looked at it for a moment before sighing and bringing her hands down. Staring down for a moment before turning her body to look to the other side of the room.
On a table, placed close to her tool wall, sat Player. Slumped over himself, hunched over in half. She had the half mind to walk over and pick him up and sit him upright. Though she knew it wouldn't work. He would just slump right back over. As if he was asleep. Or that's what she told herself what he looked like. Thinking anything else made her want to burst into tears.
He was pale and unmoving, almost as if he wasn't breathing. The only thing signaling he was alive was the faint whirring. The metal running down his face and arm. The cords wired in his hair and fell down his neck.
It was unsightly and she grimaced as she looked at him.
Burned and rebuilt by a mad scientist. Ivy honestly didn't know how he was still living. Still breathing. Still going .
Hell she didn't know if he would wake. Which she didn't know how to feel. Her emotions were misplaced and out of whack.
She had grieved for the team's hacker months earlier, when they thought he was dead. When they had no notion that he was alive.
Though it had seemed Vile had been busy.
Clearly.
So she had been trying not to get her hopes up. Which was not working.
Her pure excitement and happiness of Player being alive completely overturned the thought that he might not even wake up. Or worse, it was a robot wearing the corpse of her dead friend. Which was a thought she was quick to erase from her head. Vile wouldn't stoop that low would they? And his body wasn't decomposing so…
She shook her head and turned her head to glance at her desk again. Her eyes landed on the Acme note.. Again. It had arrived a day prior in the mail and at first was thought to be some sick joke. Was ACME really willing to stoop that low? Player had been dead for months on end. She herself saw the building catch fire, she saw it crumble and God she heard the screams of terror of multiple people as it went down, and in it all a younger voice of someone who truly wasn't old enough to be caught up in the world of Vile. (Though wasn't she herself also not old enough? Was she also just barely an adult? Not even twenty yet?) And she in all her heart had begged it not to be him.
And yet.. They found no trace of him. Nothing, it was unsettling and terror inducing. They had assumed the worst. Who could truly bounce back from a fire and collapsing building? Well it seemed like some could, if Player was not a prime example.
Then not even 5 months later, hours after ACME had sent them that letter, that damned note. And he's sitting on the doorsteps of the warehouse. Slumped over and metal running down his body. Ivy could faintly remember the mind numbing nausea as Shadowsan had carried him in. Laid him on the couch. The conversation that followed that evening was fuzzy to her mind.
And now she was here, the note thin from her constant rereading and one of her closest friends sitting on her desk. Truly how did things end up like this?
Ivy sighed again, and got up from her chair. She stood still by her desk for a moment. Her hands ghosted the papers that lay there. She turned for just a moment to glance at Player, before bending down under her desk to grab her toolbox.
She hefted it into her arms and made her way over to the table that Player resided on. Placing the box down next to him and she backed away for a moment. Just staring at him. She was pretty sure this is the closest she had gotten to him, well since he had been there. Even Zack had left him on the desk for her. Which means she was tasked with figuring out how to wake Player. Well they all were, though Shadowsan had taken Zack to scope out a conversation with ACME. How they had gotten a hold on him.
Which left her here to deal with her emotions and all… well this.
Pulling a wooden stool from out under the table she put it down next to her. Grasping it tightly as if she wasn't prepared for what she was doing. Maybe the fear of her being able to do nothing was too strong. What if this was a lost cause, what if Player didn't wake up and it was all her fault because she couldn't-
She took a breath and leaned over the stool for a second before leaning back up. Staring at the limp form of her friend she slowly reached her arms out. And she grabbed his forearms gently and she winced. Why was she so scared? Maybe it's because he was so fragile, she didn't know, she was so unsure. Lifting him up to prop him up against the wall and using her one hand to make sure he didn't slump over again. She examined his face for the first time in a while. He looked gaunt, his features pale and the eyebags on his side of his skin covered face were very prominent. He didn't look peaceful in his sleep, he looked fearful almost. Like it was permanently etched onto his face. Her face fell more than it already was. Sighing she lifted a hand to hold onto his cheeks.
Cold, very cold. Unsettling.
One side a metal against her hand and the other feeling dead and sickly. She grimaced.
Moving his face back and forth to look at both ears. Checking for any unseen buttons or wiring really. He didn't even move at her touch and she did not like it , not one bit. She lifted his chin up, before placing it back down, lowering his head to look at the neck. That's where buttons for robots were in the movies. (And she didn't like that.. Calling her friend something robotic. He was a cyborg now, she supposed. Though human all the same, he didn't deserve a bit of what Vile had done to him)
Though no buttons lay there, just shoddy wiring from his hair hanging down and little bolts from the seem going down what she assumed was his spine. Her own back prickling at the thought of having those nailed in.
Though..
She squinted a bit in the admittedly dim lighting (Should have turned the light on) Down exposed neck the metal altered slightly. Player wasn't wearing his signature hoodie, just a red shirt. So his neck was more exposed, and down lower near his collarbone was where the metal changed, more sturdy and protected. Maybe where buttons were stored? Or a trademark, would Vile have trademarked him? The thought was almost humorous if not so disgusting. He wasn't an animal. He was a human teen. Though clearly Vile didn't know the difference.
She leaned back for a moment to her toolbox and grabbed a few screwdrivers. Lifting herself up, she pulled the collar of his shirt down to peer at the metal plate. She ran her hands over it for a moment, unlike the rest of his upper torso, it was metal all the way across his back, no split seam. Gripping the few screwdrivers she grabbed, she lifted them up to compare bolt sizes. Eventually landing on one, she placed the others down on the table. The small thump and clink echoing in the silence as she worked the panel open. Four bolts and time. Maybe she would find the on switch.
Unscrewing all four she gently lifted the panel of his back and placed it down softly. Before her eyes shot back up to look at what she uncovered. It was a code panel and a few unlabeled buttons. Though one thing caught her eye.
It was in the font Vile often used, their trademark font. So a bit hard on the eyes, she squinted at the small writing. (Maybe Zack was right, she did need glasses) And it was labeled,
“Off”
“Idle”
And
“On”
Her heart picked, excitement racing through her at a quick moment. Raising a shaky hand she placed her hands on the small switch, moving it over slightly into idle. She assumed it would be a slight shock factor. So she avoided touching it for now.
And she placed her hand on Player’s back to steady him and lay him back against the wall. The whirring when she had flicked the switch had gotten a bit louder and she took that as a good sign. Quickly standing to adjust her position, she looked at Player’s face. Nothing had changed really. Her face fell, maybe idle hadnt worked? Moving quickly to get to the panel again, she moved him so that he was forward again. And she would have flicked the switch again if not for a slight sound of grumbling. Of discomfort maybe?
She stared in silent shock for a second, before placing him against the wall again to stare at his face. His expression was twisted into something new. Discomfort? Or the feeling of being woken abruptly. She just stared, her body brimming with happiness.
Both eyes (Surprisingly, she would have assumed the other would not move) and then they blinked. Once, Twice, and then a third, before settling to be open. And he looked at her.
And she smiled so big it almost hurt.
“Hi, Player”
Her voice trembled as she spoke. She could feel tears pooling at the corners of her eyes and she lifted her free hand to quickly wipe them away.
Player’s eyes filled with shock and recognition (Which relieved her to no end) and the corners of his mouth just barely quirked up into a smile. Which she returned with wet eyes. Bringing him into a gentle, yet well meaning hug.
His head tucked under her chin.
“I'm so glad you're alright”
She mumbled, gripping him tight. He made a sound, a squeak maybe? And she pulled him back to look again.
“You are feeling alright.. Right?”
She asked.
He smiled.
She assumed that meant good, all things considered. Though it was a bit strange as to why he wasn't talking. Was that a function? Mute button (And wasn't that a bone terrifying thought. A device that could silence you at the click of a button) Though he seemed a bit nervous, which granted, she understood to an extent.
“.. What's wrong”
A ghost of a grimace passed over his face and he twitched, one of hands moving slightly. She stared for a moment.
“Can.. you not move?”
His face told her all she needed to know. Her heart dropped.
“Why?”
His body slumped for a minute before his eyes rolled, an over the top roll. She looked at him and he moved them to the right, as if gesturing to something.
She paused for a moment, thinking. Then she snapped her fingers in a sudden moment of ‘Duh’
“The on switch?”
She asked. And he broke out into that small smile again, so she assumed she was right.
Balancing her hand against his back again she pulled him forward, being as gentle as she could. Pulling his collar down she revealed the panel again and flicked the switch one more time. And as soon as she did, Player slumped away from her touch. At the sudden movement she backed off as he breathed heavily. As if he hadn't had air in a long time (And god she hoped that wasn't the case) He broke into a slight coughing fit and she hovered her hands just in case he keeled over all of a sudden.
“Holy shit- Oh my god-”
He said between coughs before laying over himself to inhale deeply. (And she noted his voice sounded staticy, robotic almost) She slowly sat down in her chair and scooted back a bit so as to not invade his space.
The silence between them wasn't awkward, just heavy. She broke it.
“You.. Good?”
He lifted a shaky thumbs up and she giggled just a bit.
“You sure?”
He groaned, holding his head.
“Peachy”
He mumbled and she just laughed a bit more.
“I would assume”
He lifted his head to peer at her through the bangs that fell over his face (and just a bit longer then she ever remembered his hair being)
“Yeah I bet”
He said, with a sarcastic tint to his tone.
“Well aren't you feeling sunny?”
“Sure”
She sighed, a smile gracing her lips as she leaned back slightly.
“That's good”
He snorted, before nodding in agreement. Ivy sat there, just basking in the moment. Player was fine, and all was.. Well mostly good. They still had some issues with a certain lady in a red hat. Though she had other things to worry about now.
Lifting herself back up she put her hands in her lap.
“Though..”
Player stared at her for a moment, before slightly straightening his posture to match the serious tone she put off.
“Now that you're a bit more responsive. How are you feeling? Any pain? Sickness? The overwhelming urge to kneel over and die?”
He snorted at the last one as she spoke.
“Uh no, to the last one at least, but um.. Nothing but the overwhelming sense of pain I always feel”
She lifted a brow at those words. He simply shrugged.
“Getting metal parts forced onto your body does that to a person”
She snorted.
“I guess”
The conversation paused again before she spoke once more.
“Any head pains? Or things you can't remember? Your name?”
He rolled his eyes.
“I can remember my name Ivy. Its Player, do you need me to introduce myself?”
“Maybe..”
She said with mischief laid in her tone. He stared at her, before sighing. He waved his hands in front of him in a sad attempt at jazz hands.
“You can call me.. Player”
“Did you just quote what you said when you first met Carmen?”
“No!.... Maybe”
She burst out laughing.
“Ok! I get it, you know your name.”
She paused as sudden brilliance passed over her.
“What about your legal name?”
“Don't push it Ives”
“Ok fine, worth a shot”
“Im half delirious, but I still know a trick or two”
She paused, staring at him.
“Do you feel delirious?”
She asked, concern suddenly filling her, the sudden humor of the situation gone.
“What? Nooo, your the one spinning not the room, ha ha, ah”
He said, blinking fast before slumping over the table. She rushed forward to catch him.
He landed and she let out an “oomf” at the sudden weight. The metal being hard against her skin. She sighed and pulled him close. Putting his head by her shoulder, he grumbled like a grumpy toddler.
“Tired?”
She asked.
He shook his head no. She just rolled her eyes. Teen boys.
“Welp!”
She said, getting up from the stool, with the hacker still in her arms, he let out an alarmed squawk and flailed a bit. Though she didn't let go of him, not even once. She barked out a laugh.
“Too bad! Sleep time”
He whined into her shoulder.
“Noo..”
She just shook her head. And patted him on his own.
“None of that, Sleep!”
And maybe things aren't perfect, far from it and maybe they would have things to deal with in the morning. Conversations to be had, tears to be shed.
But right now it was time for calm and rest, as she laid Player down on the couch outside in the living area. Laying a blanket over him and standing vigil next to the place he lay.
“Mm, not tired”
He said softly. She just smiled and leaned onto her arms.
“Sure you aren't Player”
He grumbled into the cushions.
Yeah, she had a feeling things would start going good after this.
Healing and Happiness.
(And if Shadowsan and Zack walked in on the two on the couch, Player sleeping and Ivy laying there with her head down next to them. They wouldn't say anything on the matter)