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“— But let’s be honest, Sox, this was all your fault.” Buzz said with a chuckle. At least Sox thought he was Buzz… he looked at the former Ranger but didn’t see Buzz. The man who was so hopeful and cared for others was gone and there stood… an imposter. A monster impersonating his friend. Impersonating Buzz.
“You stood there like a deer in headlights.” Buzz continued as he held Sox’s face still. Sox almost wanted to pull back but tried to relax as Buzz tried to fix any permanent internal damage. “You know how angry I can get.”
“I’m sorry.“ Sox replied immediately. Why was he apologizing…? This wasn’t an accident…
Buzz threatened him so many times. He said this would happen one day. And it happened. And Sox didn’t do anything…
Was it his fault…?
“I forgive you. I’d say sorry too but technically, I did nothing wrong. This…” Buzz held Sox’s face by his chin tightly, holding the destroyed half of his face up. “… was long overdue. You understand that, right?”
“Yes, sir…”
“Good.“ Buzz let go of Sox’s face and finished up repairing him. “I think I like this look, though.”
“What…?”
“I think I’ll keep it like this. As a reminder.”
Reminder…
“Of…?”
“Of who’s in charge, of course. And what will happen to you if you fall out of line.”
“But I wasn’t—“
“Shhhh…” Buzz said softly. Sox felt like emptying his insides. But he kept quiet, looking away.
“Sit up for me.”
Sox sat up, looking down as his own hands. After a moment of Buzz doing nothing, Sox watched as Buzz’s larger hand held his smaller ones.
“Look at me.”
He did.
Buzz wasn’t there. Sox looked him right in the eyes and Buzz just wasn’t there. This was a stranger. A much older and worn out stranger.
“And you can see clearly?”
“Kind of… but I can see just fine…”
“Good.”
Sox looked back down at his hands, silently praying that Buzz will leave him alone. That was shot down the second Buzz held his chin once again, only gentler this time, to make him look at him again.
“I love you.“ He said. “Y’know that, right?”
Sox stood silent. He just nodded.
“Say it back… please?” So desperate.
He didn’t want to. He REALLY didn’t want to…
He loved the Buzz he met over 100 years ago. He loved the man who cared for his friends and people. He loved the one that did all he could you make sure people were safe. He loved the one that promised to finish the mission that will get everyone home safely…
Sox loved Buzz. Not whoever was speaking to him now.
“I love you.” Sox forced out.
Buzz gave him a satisfied smile. “Good robot.”
Sox couldn’t cry but he felt an overwhelming urge to sob. He let out a cry and held onto the only thing there. Buzz.
Buzz held him gently, one hand on the robot’s back and the other on his head. “There, there… I’m not mad… everything will be okay… I’m here. And I’ll always be here.”
Buzz then gently pushed Sox away and lied him back down on the ‘operation’ table.
“Now, recharge. I’ll check on you later.”
Sox just stared up at the ceiling for a long moment before nodding. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
He felt a soft kiss on his forehead before Buzz left he room, the heavy doors slamming shut.
Sox didn’t look at the outlet. He wanted his battery to die out so he’d spent at least some time away from Buzz’s tormenting.
Sox wanted to kick, to scream and cry, to break himself apart beyond repair. He wanted to run away. But where would he go? Home? He didn’t have one! Nor did he have a ship to leave on. He knew if he tried to steal one of the small ships, he’d get caught by the Zurg robots and Buzz will beat him almost beyond repair. Worst part is that Buzz would put him back together and let him suffer further.
Sox could try to float in the endless abyss of space and Buzz wouldn’t even let him have that.
He couldn’t leave…
He missed the old Buzz. His Buzz.
He felt exhausted…
His eyes flashed low battery symbols before he felt himself shut down completely.