Chapter Text
“Static!”
“You are right next to my ear, no need to yell.”
“Put mushrooms and onions on both!”
“No. Gross. You only get one.”
“Oh come on! At least put some on half of yours.”
“No. I want some of my own pizza too.”
“Then just order another pizza!”
“Who’s paying for all of this again?”
Rhyme groaned and fell off of Static’s shoulders onto the couch. Static paid his dramatic display no mind, so Rhyme began kicking at his partner’s back. How dare he not pay attention to him when he’s upset! Static just waved him away.
“I already know what is going to happen.” Static said, moving so Rhyme couldn’t kick him anymore. “If I get another pizza you will eat it all in one sitting, and then you will get sleepy.”
Rhyme huffed. Ok, so they were right. But that doesn’t mean he still can’t be mad about it. He just laid down on the couch, taking up as much space as possible, and crossed his arms.
“Besides,” Static said, the smirk apparent in his voice despite the lack of change in facial expression, “I can tell you’re just doing this to stall for time because you can’t think of an answer.”
That got Rhyme to sit up and glare at Static. They’d just given him a riddle. I can tear down as much as I can support. I can consist of many or of few. Whether near or far apart, I’ll always be connected to you. What am I?
“I’m not stalling, your riddle is just stupid.”
Static called up the pizza place while Rhyme occasionally interrupted with an answer yelled out from his place on the couch.
“A rock?”
“No.”
“A factory?”
“No. I am on the phone, let me finish.”
“A… robot?”
“Do you want me to tell you the answer?”
“I’ll kill you in your sleep if you do.”
Even after the call was done, Rhyme still hadn’t figured it out. Static sat across from him, waiting for another response. But Rhyme had gone silent. If he wanted to get it right, he’d have to think like Static. He could do that. After a few moments of intense eye contact, Rhyme sat back and answered.
“A… herd? A family?”
Static nodded. “A family can have good or bad influences on you, and for better or worse you cannot truly be free of those influences. But you do have a choice in who you consider family.” He looked at Rhyme and then looked away. “A family can be tight knit. As few as a couple people who decide to be together, just because they like each other.”
Rhyme gave the answer some thought. The people at the factory were the closest he could get to having a family. Those people liked him, as long as he smiled for the camera and gave them the results they wanted. Others who liked him as a mascot sent gifts and letters of praise. While a nice temporary distraction, they couldn’t save him from the hell he endured every day for years. And just like that, he was put away and forgotten.
He didn’t notice Static had gotten up until a box of pizza landed in his lap.
“Try not to eat it all at once,” Static said, plopping down in his own seat.
Rhyme immediately scarfed down a whole slice in two seconds flat. Static wasn’t surprised in the least. As the pair sat and ate, Rhyme couldn’t help but wonder. Maybe this time it’ll be alright. Maybe this time he found someone who doesn’t mind his antics. Someone who engages in his little games. And when he secures his hold on the gem, someone he wouldn’t mind getting remade for.
“Alright, alright, now it’s my turn. You can have me, but you cannot hold me. I am difficult to forge and easy to break. I can be freely given, but you can never take. What am I?”