Chapter Text
“I swear, this ain’t getting any easier, Uz.”
“Uz?”
“UZI!”
“Ahh!”
She jolted awake and quickly looked towards whoever had called her name. Her eyes fixed on a tall, handsome drone with yellow eye lights. N..
She was in the middle of her algebra class, her last class of the day. Must've fallen asleep… This is pretty boring. Why do we even need to learn math, aren't we like computers or something?
“Uzi, you awake?” N asked.
“Uh, y-yeah, I’m awake.”
“Took a little nap there, huh?” He said with a small laugh. “I'd try to sleep too, but I'd miss what we learned and be completely lost.”
“Yeah, well, that's what notes are for.” She said while grabbing N’s notes from his desk and filing them in her folder. They were done in red crayon and had various little dog doodles across them.
“Ok, guess I didn't need those.” He said while picking up the rest of his books.
“I'll give ‘em back. Eventually.”
“Sure, sure. Let's go, we can go home now.”
Has the day really gone by that fast? She glanced at the clock. 3:20. Huh. She did sleep the whole hour…
“C’mon!” N said as he hurried along
She picked up her things and walked with N towards their lockers. Opening it, she looked around at the mess it was in. Note to self: clean locker.
She closed the locker and went to meet N at his. That'll have to wait until next week. She thought. It was finally Friday.
“What do you think?” N asked enthusiastically.
“What?” Uzi responded
“About my hat! You were listening, right?”
“Oh, uh, no.. I was not.”
“Oh, well… Nevermind then.” N said as he closed his locker. “Let's go.”
Was he talking that whole time to her? She certainly had not been paying any attention.. Oh well.
They began their walk home. Their route from Uzi’s house to the school wasn't a long one, but neither was it exactly short. It gave them a lot of time to talk to each other.
“What was that question you asked me? Ya’ know, about your hat?”
“Oh, it was just if I should wear my hat normally, or like this!” He said, trying to sound cool as he turned his hat sideways on his head. Uzi let out a laugh. N had always been such a goof..
“Genuine question! What's so funny?”
“Nothing, just.. wear it however you want.” Uzi said, still smiling.
“You're mean.” N said with a smirk. Ever since the whole solver business, he had been officially accepted into worker drone society, both him and V. They had made decent progress befriending the people they spent years slaughtering, but they tried not to think about that. At least N didn't. V still retained some of her bloodlust. I hope she quit killing.. N thought to himself as they neared the Doorman residence. He had eventually gotten to the point that her parents didn't care he was over at their house anymore. Him and V still had their own home, but with N going to Uzi’s and V going to Lizzy’s, it was rarely occupied for more than a few days at a time. Walking in and setting down his stuff, N followed Uzi into her room.
“Ugh, this week sucked.” She complained.
“You think so?” N asked, sitting down at her desk.
“Yeah, between all the work we had and all the stupid people I had to interact with, it was torture.” She said, flopping down onto her bed.
“Huh. My week wasn't really awful..”
“Wanna tell me about yours?” He asked, turning to look at her.
“Uh, sure.. First, we had that test first thing Monday. Who hands out a test on Mondays? Then the next day, my lunch account had no money so I couldn't eat!”
“Doesn't your dad kinda like own the colony, though?”
“I know! And they still didn't let me eat!”
Uzi went on, talking about her troublesome week to N. It was kinda nice being able to get it all out. The week was a disaster for her, and she hadn't realized just how tired she was.
“Dinner’s ready!” Khan yelled from the kitchen, ending their little im promptu therapy session.
“Ooo, I wonder what's for dinner!” N said while rubbing his belly. The murder drones didn't really need to eat, but it still filled them up. Just not as much as oil.
“Ugh, probably take out. Dad just got home and Mom doesn't even have a body yet.”
“Isn't Khan making a body for her?”
“I think so. Might be why he's been so late returning home from work recently.”
Her parents were already sitting at the table. She was right, there was a bag of take out on the table. Uzi glanced at N. He had a weird look on his face, like he was deep in thought. “You ok?” She asked him. “Yeah, just thinking..” N responded back before sitting down.
“So guys, any news?” Khan asked the table while eating. “How was school, Uzi?”
“Disappointing. My week’s been awful.”
“Maybe it would've been better if you didn't stay up all night.” Nori interjected.
“Shut up, mom!” Uzi snapped back.
“Calm down, everyone!” Khan said. “What about you, N?”
“My week? It was pretty ok! Still getting used to this whole high school thing.”
“Well, that's good to hear.”
Small talk continued at the dinner table. Uzi looked at N again. He still had that look on his face. He's planning something. Maybe for this weekend.
“Hey, Uzi, do you want to go on a trip to the surface with me?” N finally asked.
A trip to the surface?
“Uhh, maybe. Why, though.”
“You said you had a long week. Whenever I had a rough day, I'd wander through the city. It'd help clear my mind and I'd feel better! It's also been a while since we've been up there. Maybe tomorrow, we could explore the city a little.”
She thought about it. That's.. actually not a horrible idea…
“Yeah, that sounds fun!” She replied.
“Hold on, are you sure this is a good idea, N? I mean doesn't the sun kinda kill you?” Nori asked.
“Yeah, well, we'll plan around it. My trips usually only lasted about half the day.”
“Khan?” Nori said, looking at him.
“Well, it's not necessarily a bad idea… You'd probably need to pack lunch or something if you're gonna be gone that long.”
“We’ll be prepared!” N said.
“Still.. you might get stuck out there. The sun sneaks up on you..” Khan continued.
“No, we'll be fine. The sun doesn't even stay up for that long!” Uzi argued. It was true, the sun was only up for about 6-7 hours a day. Copper-9’s spin and rotation around its star was relatively quick. The sun was only really up from 10 to 5. From 4 to 10, it was a light dawn.
“Still, something could happen.”
“Like what, Dad?”
“I don't know, but I don't want either of you getting stuck out in the city when the sun’s out. I'm not saying no, but it is very dangerous.”
“No, dad, we'll go at a good time. And we won't be out there too long.”
“What time do you plan on leaving?”
“Probably around 5PM.” N said. “Plenty of time to get home before sunrise.”
Khan thought about it. He looked at Nori, checking for her approval.
“Doesn't matter to me. It sounds like a good plan. Just be safe.” She said.
“See? Even Mom’s letting me go.”
“Alright. I guess it's fine. It'll do you some good, too. Just make sure you're prepared. Pack a little extra in case you get stuck outside.”
“Alright, thanks, Mr. Doorman!” N said happily.
They finished dinner soon after that. N and Uzi went back to her room. I'll pack tomorrow. Right now, I just wanna relax.
“Hey, N, wanna watch that show?”
“Yeah! I really liked it!” He said while laying down on Uzi’s bed. What he really liked was cuddling with Uzi. Not to say he didn't enjoy the show, but it was a plus.
“Change out of your jacket, though.”
“Oh, yeah, heh, sorry.” He said standing up. “I think my pajamas are in my room. I'll be quick!” He said while speed walking down the bunker hall to his house. It wasn't far at all, just a few doors. Inside he ran into V.
“Hey, V!”
“You're happy.” Replied V. She was sprawled out on the couch, watching some random TV show.
“Yeah, me and Uzi are going to explore the city tomorrow! Like I always used to do!”
“Oh, yeah.. I remember when you did that.” V said, half grimacing. She also remembered the beatings N would receive from J as punishment for them. She hated how she just let her hit him. She wasn't here anymore.. She had to remind herself.
“Yeah, well, I'm here to pick up some clothes. I'll be back tomorrow to pack.”
“Alright, see ya, buddy.” V called out.
“See ya, V!”
N had noticed that V had been much nicer to him since that final fight with Cyn. It was nice. It reminded him of how she was at the manor. He missed V’s soft side…
Returning back to Uzi’s room, dog pajamas dawned, he laid down next to her. He laid on his side and rested his head on her chest. She was on her back, watching the show that was on. They sat like that for a while, until they eventually both got tired. N was the first to fall asleep. When Uzi noticed, she turned the TV off and snuggled close to N. Gonna need all the rest I can get.
Tomorrow is gonna be a long day…
_____
N woke up early the next morning. He could barely contain his excitement.
“Uzi! Today's the day! We're gonna have so much fun!” He exclaimed as he got dressed for the day.
“Sure, buddy…” Uzi said tiredly while rubbing his eyes. Usually, I sleep in on weekends…
“I'm gonna go pack! I'll be back soon.” N said as he walked over to his house. I can't believe I’m really gonna go back up there. It's been so long since the last time I've really explored the city…
Opening the front door, he immediately noticed V passed out on the couch with the TV still on. He continued through his house until he reached his room. I wonder what I should bring? What did I used to bring? Well, Khan said I should pack some lunch, so I'll start there. Marching to the kitchen, determined to make something for both him and Uzi, and opened the fridge doors and gazed inside. All he saw were a few bottles of oil and some leftovers.
“Hey, V!”
“V!”
“Ah, what!” She yelled from the living room, jolting awake.
“Do we have any food?”
“Uhh… I don't know.”
Great. Now I have to go grocery shopping. N thought to himself as he went to leave.
“Where are you going?” V called out.
“Running to the store, I'll be back soon.”
“Oh, I wanna go! I love shopping!” V perked up.
“I'm only grocery sho-”
V shot up and ran to stand next to N. “I'm ready when you are!”
“Ok.. guess you're coming now. At least you're up this early.”
They started on the trip to the store across the bunker. It was decently far away from their house.
“So, what are you getting at the store?” V asks curiously.
“I'm only getting groceries for me and Uzi’s trip.”
“Oh..” V said, disappointed. “That's no fun.”
“When have you ever liked fun?” N teased.
“Oh, shut up!”
N chucked as he received a punch on the arm from V. It had been a while since they've hung out; even if it was just walking to the store together. It was nice. N enjoyed spending time with her. He remembered back at the manor when they used to spend much more time with each other. He sorta missed those days.
“What kinda groceries do you need for your trip?” V asked.
“Well, we need some lunch. And.. crap! I forgot to look at what else we need..”
“Not a great start..” V said while entering the store. “Let's just get the basics, then.”
“Nah, we won't need too much. I barely brought anything when I went to the surface by myself! Mostly because J would think I'm deserting.”
V winced at his words. She could only imagine what J would've done to him if she suspected that. Their time in the store was quick, they decided on only needing food from the store. They began to walk back home, mostly in silence, aside from the occasional comment or two by N.
“V, are you ok?” N asked after noticing how quiet she had gotten.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine.”
“You sure?”
“Yeah, just.. promise me that you'll be careful.”
“Of course, we'll be careful, V.”
Back at the house, N continued to pack. He made lunch for him and Uzi and packed a few blankets and some extra clothes. Better go check on Uzi. N thought. “See ya, V!” He said as he walked through the door and started back to Uzi’s.
He walked through the front door and went straight to her room. He opened her door gently and peeked inside.
“You busy packing, Uz?”
“No, dude, we still have like ten hours before we leave…” she said tiredly from her bed.
“Did you even get up yet today?”
“N! It's eight in the morning!”
“Yeah, but..” N sat down at her desk while coming up with the words to say. “Sorry, I'm just so excited for today.”
“Today's gonna be a fun one. But right now, I wanna sleep, buddy.”
“Ok.. I'll be back later, I guess.” N said as he left. He decided to go on a little walk to pass the time. He had a lot of energy to work off. N had made his third lap around the bunker when he felt a headache coming on, one he had been dealing with on and off all week. School was a little rough for him, too, he just didn't want to worry Uzi so he kept it to himself. It'll sort itself out. These kinda things always do.. he thought to himself as he began to walk home. Stepping through the front door once again, he greeted V who was still on the couch.
“Hey, V..” He said deflatedly. The excitement had worn off, and now a wave of tiredness washed over him. He sat down next to V.
“Why're you back so soon? I thought you were helping Uzi pack.”
“She wanted to sleep in. I kinda do, too.”
“Yeah, you look awful.” She said with a hint of concern in her voice.
“Oh, it's nothing. I guess I just woke up too early.”
“Really? I feel fine and I'm usually still asleep right now most days.”
“I also have a headache..” he rubbed his eyes and stood up. “I'll be fine, just need some rest.” He said as he walked towards his room to lay down.
“Rest up, then, buddy.”
N fell asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow. He didn't realize how tired he actually was, only that he needed to lay down for a little bit.
Just a little rest… he thought.
I'll need it for today…