Archive of Our Own ^beta

Home.

What an empty home.

She barges through the door, not caring for the fact that she broke the lock.

It doesn’t matter right now.

She has a husband to fix.

She even brought the kid she wanted.

Holding Alli’s hand, dragging her, while she was carrying her husband over her shoulder. She hasn’t stopped for a moment. Still making her way through the castle. Her husband’s castle.

That other kid is still following her.

She doesn’t care.

She has a husband to fix.

But, her husband practically gave her a helper.

Would be a shame if she didn’t use it.

“Take care of this one.” She tells the kid, handing over Alli.

“O- Okay!” He takes Bunny, still shaken. He stops. Just... holding her. Listening to her heartbeat. Alive. Beating. Alive. She’s Alive.

He can’t cry.

He can’t relax.

He. Can’t.

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The forest is quiet.

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Anti-Wanda puts down her dear husband on their bed. His favourite place to be. Then, she just needs to fix his wings. She can attach and then build something if needed. He’ll be all better.

It would be easier in the workshop.

But, he deserves a nice place to be.

She can clean the bed.

She gives him a hug.

He doesn’t give one back.

It’s okay.

She’ll put him back together.

She’ll make it all okay.

She always helps him fix stuff.

She can fix this too.

Laying him back down, exposing his back. 

Looks bad.

She can fix this.

She just... needs to reinforce his wings and... all that...

Taking a few measurements.

She lets him rest softly on the bed, as she makes her way to his study. Need to find some blueprints for wings. Though, it’s a big study, how is she to find it fast? She doesn’t have the time. Every moment without her husband is a moment she rather not have.

Time is of the essence.

A sound is heard.

It wasn’t her.

Wasn’t her husband.

She makes her way towards the possible intruder.

If they’re here to hurt her husband, she’ll-

Oh.

It’s the kids.

Right.

The kids.

“Come with me.”

“But-” He stops. “Okay.” Giving in. Following while dragging Bunny with as much strength he can muster.

Too slow.

She picks up the kids.

One of them she can probably use. 

And then, after all of this is done, she can finally dress up Alli so very cute! They can be a happy little family again. It’s all good. Everything will be fine. She’ll put him back together.

Study.

Dropping the awake kid on the floor.

“Look for blueprints, I need ones for wings.”

He nods. Afraid.

“Start there.” She points, Alli still in her grasp. “And don’t touch anything else.” 

He does as told, starting to look.

While she puts Alli down on the sofa. She should still try to treat her things with care, even if she wants to only focus on her husband. 

Pat, pat.

Looking at the weird little kid.

Imagining the onesie she has in mind.

Imagining the family photo they’ll have later when everything is back together.

It’s-

“Um...” The other kid. 

She turns with a sharp look. “What.” She finally had a moment of joy, and he ruined it.

“I think they’re sorted in alphabetical order, maybe it would be smartest to start with ‘W’?” He tries, though, he’s starting to regret it. He should have just... looked where he was directed.

What is he?

A robot?

Feels like it.

It’s what makes the most sense.

All he’s good at, is... listening.

Memories.

Just, yesterday. Yesterday. He’d like to forget all about yesterday.

“Sure.” Annoyed, but agreeing. As long as it makes things go faster, she’ll agree.

He nods, trying to find where ‘W’ might be, looking.

“Don’t touch anything you shouldn’t.” She warns again, before starting to look around. Just looking. No method, just diving in as she always does.

Another nod, he stays quiet, looking for ‘wing’ blueprints.

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The forest is buzzing with flies.

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She found some useful blueprints, things that will help her put him back, yet, no wings, odd that she wasn’t able to find ‘Wings’ in a place full of ‘Prosthetics’. 

“I think I found something.” The kid informs.

“Show it.” Coming closer, her newfound papers in hand.

He shows.

“This works.”

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The larvae are sure to enjoy when they hatch.

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Blueprints acquired.

Now, to build it all.

At the start, she uses that assistant her husband gave, yet-

“Give me the wrench.” Expecting to be given the exact one she wanted.

Nothing.

Fine.

“The 8mm wrench.” She shouldn’t expect a stranger to know things like her sweet Pookie does.

It takes a while. 

She’s just about to do it herself before-

“Pliers?” She questions. He gave her pliers. Useless.

He looks at the tool he gave. It sounded like he picked wrong. He- He didn’t- He doesn’t know anything about this stuff, so he just-

“I’ll do it myself.” If this is how slow he’ll be, that’s simply the best way to do it. So much for having an assistant.

᯽ꕤ᯽ꕤ᯽

What a feast.

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Done.

She followed all the blueprints. 

Fixed all she could see.

He’ll have new better limbs, and better wings too.

He’ll be all better.

She just has to put him back together.

That is all.

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It’s slowly rotting.

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He’s not rotting! 

He’s fine! He’s okay! 

She still has time.

There must be time.

She has all she needs, made her assistant carry it all. It’s odd though. That assistant of hers has started to grow so incredibly weak. She hasn’t even been working him that hard.

A grumble. Again.

“I told you to stop that.”

“I can’t help that I’m hungry...”

She has more important things to focus on.

First, she’ll fix up his limbs, adding all the mechanics he’ll need to make them better. He’ll be perfect. Even if he already was. He’ll be perfect. Perfect again. Like he always has been.

She moves him about.

He’s so stiff.

But, there is magic for that, getting him back to his proper shape. She knows he’s no slouch. She’ll get him back in shape in no time!

It all clicks into place.

Just a few adjustments.

Done.

He looks better already!

Now.

“The wings.”

The assistant assists, giving.

Taking.

Attaching.

Perfect.

It’s good.

It’s all good.

“You can wake up now.” She informs him. It’s time to boot up the system.

Nothing.

“Pookie?” Maybe he just needs some more sleep? “You can’t sleep forever.” He needs to get up. She knows he’s not a fan of laying in bed for too long.

The assistant watches. Trying to forget his own memories. Yet, tears keep erupting. He stays quiet. Crying. He doesn’t like this. He hates it.

He thought...

Can’t she use magic to bring him back or something?

Like, his soul is lost somewhere, and she can just track it down and put it back, right?

Yet.

If that was the case.

Wouldn’t she have done that from the start?

“He... he’s not coming back.” He’s slowly starting to realize. Is this all his fault? What would have happened if he had chosen differently?

“He is.” She’s not giving up. Not that easily. If there is one thing she loves about her most wonderful husband, it’s how he never gives up, despite adversities. If anything, he uses them to his advantage.

She knows he’s more calculating, thinking things through better, and... maybe... if she had done the same, this would have worked better. 

She can still fix him though.

Just need to figure it out.

“I just need to wake him up.” That’s all that’s in her way.

The best husband ever is simply sleeping, just like that little kid, Alli, whom she brought home- Oh! What if- 

If she’s able to wake Alli up, maybe she can use the same method to wake her sweet beloved?

She looks at the assistant.

Idea in mind.

He flinches.

A step back.

“Where is Alli?” She needs to do this NOW.

“I- Alli?” Who?

“The kid.” She gets up. What a useless assistant she has. No use thinking, doing is better. She can find Alli.

“You mean Bunny?” He questions. “She’s on the sofa.” He follows after. “In... what I think is the living room?”

“Alright.” 

He keeps walking after, worry starting to creep in.

Walking. So quiet. 

Until he finally finds the courage to speak.

“You- you won’t hurt them... right?”

“Huh?” Is it talking?

“Like... I know in stories and stuff you use electricity, but... what if...”

Oh! She can try that!

She takes his hand and rushes to the living room.

“Alli!” There she is!

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The forest is cold at night.

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“What are you doing?” She was just about to wake the kid up. The electricity is charged and everything.

“I won’t let you hurt them.” The assistant warns, standing in her way.

Empty threats.

Nothing she should bother with.

She approaches her useless assistant, she can just electrocute him first, then the other. Might need a recharge, but that should work.

Fear fills him.

He can guess what she’s planning.

Scary.

Scared.

He runs.

How useless he is.

He sure is, but, at least he moved out of the way. She approaches, this will work. Her hubby has used electricity for many things. So, this makes sense. Not that she cares much for sense. She’s not a big fan of fashion. Not like her husband. He was always so handsome. He is always so handsome.

She puts the tools to use.

Alli’s little body twists and turns as the electricity works its way through. It’s sure to hurt. Looks like it hurts. Wonder if it’ll hurt when they wake?

But... they don’t wake...

Strange.

Looking closer.

Oh.

She remembers, he did say something about there being magic in Alli. If they won’t wake, maybe she could at the very least get some of that magic for her dear husband. He always likes to play with magic and see what he can do with it.

She picks up the limp body and goes to the workshop, where all the big fun machines are. Where she usually has her fun.

The other kid, he follows, at a distance.

“Bring the electric stuff!” She calls to him.

᯽ꕤ᯽ꕤ᯽

The larvae can gnaw on so much meat. 

᯽ꕤ᯽ꕤ᯽

He doesn’t like this.

Not one bit.

Worst part is.

All he can do is listen.

Then again, that’s the only thing he’s ever been good for, hasn’t it?

᯽ꕤ᯽ꕤ᯽

Fairy. Meat.

᯽ꕤ᯽ꕤ᯽

She puts the kid in the machine, she knows this one, it’s pretty simple, it extracts magic. Very useful.

Clicking the buttons, while the assistant slowly comes with the electric stuff.

Eh. Doesn’t matter. He can be slow, the electric stuff isn’t the priority.

This is.

Pulling the leaver, the machine comes to life, slowly draining the magic.

The levels keep rising.

Huh. Guess there was quite a lot in that one then.

Whelp. More for Pookie! 

He’s sure to appreciate that!

She smiles at the thought.

He’s sure to praise her.

Tell her she did it.

She put him back together.

Then.

*BAM*

The front door is heard slamming open.

No. 

She turns the machine off.

Who. Is all that echos in her mind.

Does no one know they should keep themselves away from the castle, unless called?

The person that came, calls, loud.

Apparently not.

Wait.

She recognizes that voice!

“Irep!” She calls as her anger turns to joy.

“Evening mother. Do forgive my tardy arrival, but the prison had a new guard, and it took sooo long to get his routine down.” He explains.

She jumps him with a hug. “You’re home.” She smiles. A little back to her normal self. She hadn’t even realized how much she’s missed him.

“Indeed, I’ve arrived.” Pulling himself out of the hug. “Now, may I ask as to the whereabouts of father?” 

She stills. Remembering.

“I have something I’d like to discuss with him.”

“I’m putting him back together.” Staring down at nothing. 

“Huh?” Doesn’t sound like mother is as she should. 

She needs to go back.

“Mother?”

“I’ll tell your father you’re back.” She turns, moving away. She just needs to finish putting him back together. Just need to finish all the repairs properly.

Whelp, he has nothing better to do. 

It’s not like he’s concerned or anything.

Just... curious. That’s all.

He follows.

᯽ꕤ᯽ꕤ᯽

It’s not every day you get a delicacy to eat.

᯽ꕤ᯽ꕤ᯽

Alone.

He pulls Bunny out of the machine. 

Please... be okay...

Feeling them.

Listening.

It’s faint.

It’s there.

It’s weak.

He’s afraid.

Why does it feel like, that, at every turn, he just makes things worse?

Maybe... if Bunny never met him... they’d be okay...

And... what about his other friend?

His dad? Those other people.

If he was better...

If he was...

If he was more than just bad luck and misery.

But, that’s too much to ask for.

It feels like, his whole life, he’s just been asking for things, taking, taking, TAKING.

He wants it to stop.

He wants his friend back.

He wants-

He’s trying to take again.

But, what can he do?

Looking around.

He takes note of the electronics he brought. Should he... Well, he saw how that woman did it. Though, he should probably have it on a lower voltage. Or maybe it needs to be high? Even if it looked like it hurt. He should do what he can to help.

Before it’s too late.

Before they also leave him.

He’s just a kid.

He’s just a kid.

What did he do wrong?

Why does the world hate him?

“I’m sorry...” He whispers softly to his friend.

The machine is charging.

“I’m sorry...” He repeats, tears starting to well.

It keeps charging.

“I’m s-sorry-” It’s hard to speak.

Either he fails, and they never come back.

Or, he, against all odds, is able to do it, and they do come back.

In pain.

They’ll be in so much pain.

And, it will all be his fault.

They can blame him all they want.

They can even hate him if they’d like.

As long as they’re alive.

He can take it.

It’s not like anyone ever actually cared about him.

A breath.

Lifting the plates high.

“I’m sorry.” 

He puts them on the body.

Wishing for the best.

Expecting the worst.

᯽ꕤ᯽ꕤ᯽

So, why wouldn’t the larvae enjoy the soft, slowly decaying bodies of condensed magic? They’ll be there, till there are only bones left.

When the bodies turns stiff and hard.

When the bodies starts to bloat with gas.

When the bodies looses it’s mass, liquifying.

Until, all the soft yummy stuff is gone.

They’ll be there.

Enjoying.