Spine scares a kidSpine walks frustratedly along the path in the park. He had been sure that getting out of the house would be a way to alleviate the stress that Rabbit had been placing him under, but Rabbit’s insistence in coming along had rendered any possibility of peace impossible. With his fedora tipped low over his bright green eyes and steam venting frustratedly from his cheeks, he tries to ignore his older brother’s presence.Rabbit had taken to throwing a ball at his back intermittently as they walked in an attempt to get him to ‘lighten up’. On the contrary Spine was becoming angrier and angrier with each ‘thump’
Life and Other Consequences Chapter 1Chapter 1One year after Paige’s death... “Hold still!” Lil’ Steve shouts, chasing Lil’ Mike down the hallway, attempting to aim his bow as he runs. Lil’ Mike skids around a corner and bolts into a nearby room. Seeing Steve he runs for cover behind the man’s ankle as Lil’ Steve comes sliding through the doorway after him.Steve looks down at the dolls with confusion before leaning down, scooping Lil’ Mike into the palm of his hand, and lifting him out of the reach of Lil’ Steve’s arrows. “What’s going on here?”Lil’ Mike Mike holds onto Stev
SalvationPeter Walter was lying on the bed, the light grew dimmer every day. He clung tightly to the time he had left, wanting to see his boys again before he left them for good. He held of with all he had left in him, for Rabbit, The Spine, And Three. He had promised them he would be there when they came home, and he refused to break that promise.He watched as someone entered the room, and his eyes widened in disbelief. "Delilah?" He asked. "They said you were dead."She moved soft and silent to his bedside, sitting on the edge of the mattress, resting the back of her hand against his forehead."I'm right here, Peter. I'm not leaving you behind."
One Day MorePeter looked down at the transmission again with shaking hands. His boys went to war to,or row. Rabbit, The Spine, Hatchworth, and Three, he didn't want them to go. There was nothing he could do or say to change it as he finished Delilah, the giant clockwork giraffe. One more day to war.The Spine was first to know, Peter had pulled him aside from the rest, knowing his reaction would be the most calm. The Spine watched his brothers, who were playing like tomorrow would never come, and for their sakes, he hoped that it wouldn't. One day more to smoke filled skies in Africa.Rabbit was next. The copper bot found Peter crying in his study the
A Little Fall of RainRabbit walked out into the rain, letting the feeling of the water droplets calm him. It always made him feel as if his family was whole again. Like his mistakes were all washed away with the falling water and that all the Peters, Upgrade, The Jon, even Jenny and Honeybee, were all there, standing with him in the rain, without worry. He closes his eyes, allowing himself to get lost in the memories.A few minutes later he felt the rain stop falling on him, still hearing the soft pattering of the droplets on the ground around him. He opened his eyes to see an umbrella being held over him.The Spine held it out, not caring that his expensive su
On My OwnHatchworth sat alone in his vault, the leak in his core had become too severe to ignore. They had to lock him away until it could be fixed. They promised that they would bring him back soon. He didn't know how much time had passed, but it felt like forever. When the bronze bot closed his eyes he could see his brothers smiling, pulling him from the darkness and not their arms. When he opened his eyes he knew they weren't there, that it was only in his mind. He didn't care, he would simply close his eyes once more and wait for the day he would be released from his dark and lonely prison and be back in his brother's arms.
Empty Chairs at Empty tablesRabbit returned to the barracks alone. His squad was gone, killed in combat, he was the only one left. He was upset, but the full shock hadn't set in yet. Later that night he went to the mess hall in search of water, and the shock set in fast and hard at the sight of the table where his squad used to sit. The place where they had played card games, laughed, and smiled. The place where they had become more than just a squad... They had become a family. And now it was empty. A new squad would be brought in soon enough, and the empty table would be filled. Until the new squad came all it would be is empty chairs around a tale, where his f
At the End of the DayIt didn't matter how well he could apply the makeup, or how fluid his movements were, at the end of the day he was only an automaton. Women who reached for his his hand would gasp when they felt the cold metal through his gloves. Those who dared venture as far as a kiss would scream at the feel of the chilled silicone lips disguised by the pale lipstick, pressing against their own. The women who so often left the marks of their kisses behind we're disgusted by the marks that remained on their hands from when he pressed his lips to them. No matter how hard he tried they always ran away. At the end of the day he was just an automaton, lonely as
Thousand YearsHe feels a hitch in his systems when he sees her for the first time, if he had a heart, it would've skipped a beat. The way she moves and talks entrances him. Her name is Brianna. He watches with interest as she moves about the room, introducing herself to each family member in turn, before turning to the silver automaton with a light smile, extending a hand."Hello." Her melodious voice chimes softly. "I'm Walter Girl B, but you can call me Brianna, if you like."He takes her hand gently, "Hello, Miss Brianna. I'm The Spine, welcome to the Walter Manor."She flashes him a smile before moving on to cont
ClaustorphobiaPeter VI had always been a curious child, it seemed like he was always running, always active, always exploring somewhere new.It wasn't until he was 10 years old he got up the courage to explore the basement. All of the bots had warned him at one point or another not to go down there, that it was dangerous. Up until today, he had listened to them, and stayed away, but with the bots gone, and no one around to tell him otherwise, there was nothing to stop him.He grabs a flashlight from a drawer in the kitchen. He knew the bots would be home before too long, but that didn't stop him from going down into the basement. He turns on the flashlig
Final ShutdownIt hurt. The pain enveloped him, and yet he refused to power down.Peter VI had shut him off, only to be stopped by The Spine’s screams and writhes in protest. Peter had examined The Spine in great detail, there was no coming back from this. Wires had been severed in several places, and part of the metal crushed inwards. All he wanted to do was end his friend’s suffering, but every time he tried The Spine would beg him not to. At this point all he could was prolong the pain.Peter VI didn’t know he could dream, that even when his body was off his mind was conscious in a small degree. Only Peter I knew, and the secret had d
Rabbit Chapter 30Several Months Later...The Spine awoke from stasis with a soft click and a puff of steam. Gears spun quietly as he rotated his joints with acute precision. He closed his eyes for a moment searching the Wi-Fi for any important messages. Suddenly his eyes shot open. It was Christmas Day. The Spine had already gotten his shopping done, and the gifts wrapped, but something was very wrong. The Spine had woken up under his own power. In the last 116 years he had never woken up on his own, not on Christmas. “Rabbit?” He called out to the empty room, hoping that maybe he was hiding as a joke. “Rabbit?” He call
Rabbit Chapter 28In Paige’s WakeMrs. Law hung up on The Spine with a definitive click. He had been expecting the tears and anger, but not that. “Oh god, Rabbit...” he said quietly to himself, realizing his older brother would be heartbroken.He walked into the kitchen with a somber expression, fending off tears. “We need to get her cleaned up. They’ll be coming for her soon.” He swallowed hard, feeling all the eyes in the room go to him.“Who’s coming for her, Spine?” Brianna asked, slightly afraid.The Spine sat down in one of the chairs, resting his elbow on his knee, and his head in his hand. &ldqu
Hatchworth and RubinHatchworth had only come out of the vault a week before, and was still becoming accustomed to the way the world had changed. Everything was new and different, but he was glad to be out of the vault and with his brothers again.The Spine had pulled Peter VI aside only a few days before, and together they figured out a way to give something to Hatchworth that could be his own. They worked in the lab at night, keeping the existence of their creation a secret.The Spine smiled as Peter VI welded the last piece of the tiny bot in place. It took the form of a small puppy, powered with a tiny reactor and steam. His silver body was adorned with ear
Rabbit Chapter 27The Spine had all but blocked out his connections to the Walter Wi-Fi, reducing them to no more than a slight hum in the back of his mind. He had chosen to remain in his room that day, breaking the monotony of the Hall of Wires.He replayed his memories of Holly, they’re date and the morning after. He missed her, and hoped she was alive and okay. He had let his guard down, allowed himself to have real feelings for her, even started to fall for her as she lulled him from his nightmares. He should have known better.He felt the buzz at the back of his mind intensify in short bursts for a few moments before quieting completely. He turned
Rabbit Chapter 25Paige curled into Rabbit’s side in their secret spot.He pulled her closer the soft thrum of his mechanics soothing her. He planted a gentle kiss on the top of her head she needed comfort. His boiler kept her warm as he held her gently she could have died. He didn’t leave her side for than a moment with the exception of separating Norman and The Spine.He looked at her she hadn’t said anything since they saw the Becile parts. She hadn’t protested as when he lifted her into his arms only clutched at his jacket pressing closer to him. he loved her and it killed him to see her so upset.Rabbit didn’t know what sh
Rabbit Chapter 24It was almost 90 minutes before The Spine was ‘okay’ again. His limbs were still slightly stiff as e walked out of the Hall of Wires. He pulled out his phone and made the call he was dreading. “Peter, can we talk?”“Study 27.” Was Peter’s clipped response, before hanging up the phone.The Spine tucked his phone back into his pocket and made his way down the hall. He dreaded the conversation to come.Outside the study, ignoring the urge to walk away without a word, he knocked on the wall next to the empty doorway. “Peter?”“Enter.” The Spine walked into the room quietly. Pet
Depressed“I want to be alone, Rabbit.”“But-but-but S-Spine!”“Alone.”Rabbit looked hurt but left The Spine alone.The Spine slid his spine free of his titanium body and made his way up the wires that hung from the ceiling. He found his way to the familiar nook where the wires him him from view and curled into himself.This was where The Spine came to cry. He never wanted his family to see him this way.On the outside he smiled and laughed, playing the straight man for them all. But on the inside, on the inside he was cold and hollow. He felt so alone.His black tears stained the wires a shade of midnight ra
Rabbit Chapter 23Norman sprinted down the hall ducking into a room at random. He pulled out his phone and dialed, it rang, and rang, and rang. She didn’t pick up.“Wanda? Wanda! Pick up your phone once in a while. Jesus Christ, listen, drop whatever you’re doing and get back to the manor. I don’t know what you’re doing but whatever it is the bots are on to you. They found Becile parts in the yard, over by the basement window. Please, whatever you’re doing, stop before someone gets hurt. The Spine already damn near killed me, don’t let the same thing happen to you.” He ended the call and hoped that the message w
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