Chapter Text
When she burst in the doors, half an hour later, it was with high spirits and a red wagon absolutely loaded down with stuff. "Guess who got it all, suckers!" she gloated, chest puffed up with pride. "Even the welding stuff! I had no idea that Rules Guy needed this kind of junk."
Berdly hopped up from his spot in front of Tenna, hastening to block the screen from view. It didn't stop the familiar jingle from playing, and Susie's grin grew even wider.
"I see how it is! I do all the work while you bozos watch Kissy Kissy Mew Mew 2!" She doubled over with laughter, a sort of giddy relief crashing through her.
They were so close to fixing Tenna. It was like she could breathe again.
"That show is a classic!" Tenna informed them, as Berdly's cheeks went bright red. "The target demographic could be anyone!" Then he cupped his mouth, the way he did in a performance for the audience, and added, "Though I've never met quite an enthusiastic fanboy before!"
"Don't tell her that!" Berdly spluttered. Susie tried to rein in her laughter, but suddenly, Berdly's expression changed. No longer embarrassed, but more...sly. "Oh, but Susan," he crooned. Her hackles rose automatically. "Why, how would someone as tough as you recognize that theme song, anyway?"
Crap. She felt her own blush rising as Berdly crowed in triumph. Busted.
"Okay, enough already," she said loudly, rattling her trailer for emphasis. "You've got a job to do, remember?"
Berdly composed himself, grin lightening into a real smile. "Actually, I was wondering if…" He hesitated, glancing between Tenna – who shot him a thumbs-up – and Susie again. "Well, maybe you could...assist me? In the repairs?"
Susie's blood went cold. Her finger slipped off the wagon handle, suddenly numb.
"Uh, I - I dunno," she stuttered.
Berdly was too wrapped up in his enthusiasm to notice. "It's not too difficult and a dream really! And it'll be much smoother with two sets of hands, and -"
"Susie," Tenna cut in. His gaze angled towards her hands, balled into fists at her sides. Her palms stung from the claws digging into them. She let go abruptly, startled to see blood welling in the indents.
It's fine. It's fine. It's fine.
"I'm fine," she choked out. Something was squeezing her throat, an odd sort of terror building in her. "I'm - it's - nothing's wrong - I - "
A small bundle collided with her chest, and she caught it automatically. Still running on instinct, she whirled to face her attacker, just to stop short.
Berdly waited patiently. Between his wings sat a roll of bandages, identical to the one she cradled to her.
For a long moment, the two stared at each other. There was no sound, but the worrying of tennis motors, the drip of blood to the floor.
"Susie," Berdly said at last. "It's okay if you're not okay." His face looked strangely vulnerable. To her amazement, she realized that Berdly might not be all that sure of himself either.
Carefully, feeling as unmoored as she had that first time at Toriel's house, she held the bandages out to him.
A test.
An offering.
If it surprised Berdly, he didn't show it. Just smiled a nervous little smile, and started wrapping the cuts.
She waited, tense, for the moment to break. For him to say something about her leather skin, or comment on the littering of scars, or make some stupid proclamation about holding hands.
He didn't. He tied off the end, snipped the extra, and stepped back.
The care in his actions, the willingness to give her space, reminded her so much of Kris that it made her suck in a breath.
All at once she blurted, "What if I hurt Tenna?"
Tenna made a shocked noise behind them, but Berdly didn't even glance over. His gaze trained on Susie, far calmer than she'd ever seen him. "Then we fix him."
"But what if I really break him?" She pressed. Her claws caught on the bandages, and she flexed her hand. "I mean, like, I could… I could…"
"I won't let you do that," Berdly said. He didn't sound mean or smug or anything like that. Just… certain. Steady. "I'll be right there with you."
Susie bit her lip, hard. The glasses tweaked her ear until she stopped.
Burley gestured to himself. "Last time I had this dream, I told you about Noelle helping me study, right?" Susie nodded. "Well it's true. I could do some work on my own, but if it weren't for her, I'd be struggling by myself." Berdly hesitated, for the first time, but he finally admitted, "I know how it feels, y'know. To do your best, and your best... isn't good enough."
"Oh," Susie said. It had been surreal in the Cyberworld, listening to the biggest nerd in class confess to his shortcomings. In the year she'd known him, he'd always been larger-than-life, so when he claimed to be a forgettable bluebird, she almost hadn't believed him.
But Berdly knew how she felt. Wanting to be so much more. Wanting to be better.
Wanting to be good. Wanting to be loved.
"Noelle helped me grow," Berdly said solemnly. "It's my turn to help someone else."
He...he meant her. Berdly was going to teach her how to fix Tenna. Hell, maybe she'd be able to help some of the other Darkners, too. There were still other adventures to go on, and this might come in handy.
"I... I want to do it," Susie decided carefully. "I'm not… I'm not very smart though, so…"
"I think your friends disagree," Berdly, answered lightly. "Let's ask them. TV Man?"
"I definitely disagree!" Susie jumped – she'd completely forgotten about her company. Tenna was practically glowing. "I'm so glad you worked out! Oh, I don't know how I can ever thank you for this!"
"You don't have to thank us at all, dork," Susie snorted, pulling the wagon. "But you might have to shrink a little. Doubt you want us having to climb all over you when we're working."
Tenna agreeably lowered his height, easing back on the couch as he did. When Berdly dug through the tools, the TV leaned closer to Susie and whispered, "I really am proud of you, Susie."
"On my God, shut up," she said. She hoped her tail wasn't wagging. "C'mon, switch off already, let's go."
She wasn't a smart kid. Maybe she'd never have the good grades her family wanted, or the strength control she needed, or the power to change that terrible prophecy.
But she had Kris and Ralsei to fight alongside her. She had Spamton and Jevil to guard her back. Lancer to laugh with. Noelle to play with. Tenna to talk to.
Berdly to teach her how to repair an old CRT.
She could learn. She could grow.
Maybe Susie could belong somewhere after all.