“Mars! I wasn’t doing any harm!” Beano protested as Mars
dragged him into an empty hallway.
Mars was shaking, so fine Beano hadn’t immediately noticed.
“Mars?” Beano forced himself to calm down, discarding his
mild annoyance at being taken from the party.
“I heard you. Why would you...”
Beano looked away, not able to bear the look of confusion
and betrayal on Mars’ face.
“Because they don’t tell the kids.” Beano replied, that
small ember of rage burning hot in his chest. “They didn’t tell us.”
“This isn’t the way Beano.” Mars sighed, the bear sitting
down with his back against the wall, his burned side facing Beano.
Beano shifted, watchful. He watched Mars’ blind spot, and
Mars watched his back. It was habit from underneath and even though they should
be safe here, in the workshop, they hadn’t discarded their habits.
“What is the way?” Beano asked, the question falling flat.
"I don't understand what you want from me
anymore." Beano said sadly, glancing back towards the party. It was easier
in the dark, he thought but was not foolish to say so.
"I don't know either." Mars said, "I'm
not..." Mars sighed again. "Do you want to go back to the
party?"
Beano shrugged, the party hadn't mattered, only the chance
to talk to the younger toys. He hadn't planned on giving away secrets. But...
"I have no purpose." Beano said, "Not
anymore."
"We got here. We'll get another assignment. Or
something..."
"No." Beano said, "They don't send toys out
again, we might get into the guard, if we pass the psyche evaluation. There's
teaching, again if we pass phych. I don't know what else there is for old toys."
"Beano..."
"You know I won't pass Psyche." Beano said, that
flame burning bright and angry.
Mars snorted, "They won't let me teach, have you seen
the teachers? Not a scar amoung them. I might frighten the kiddies."
Beano glared at him, "If you want it, go for it. You'll
do a better job than any of the teachers they have here. Hell you did a better
job teaching me in the field than they ever did in the classroom."
Mars shook his head, "No. I don't want it."
Beano laughed, "Then what do you want?"
Mars eyes flickered as he considered. The question had been
posed before, a dozen times before. But Beano hadn't asked since they arrived.
Before the answer had been simple.
Protect the kid.
Rescue Beano.
Get out of the dark.
Get to the workshop.
All short term goals, except the first.
They had failed.
Why would anyone trust them again? Why would Beano trust
him? He couldn't even trust himself.
"Mars?"
"I don't have any idea anymore." He said, all the
drive lost.
They were safe. Safe and protected and useless.
"Why don't they tell?" Beano asked. "I mean
it wouldn't have made much difference in our case..."
Mars snorted again, "You don't believe that."
Beano grinned sharply, "No, I don't believe that."
Beano drew his sword, the once bright blade had lost all
light, almost as dark as the Dark Realms.
"Put that away." Mars said sharply, "You know
what they'll do if they see it."
Beano twisted his wrist and the blade vanished again. His
eyes were haunted. "I'm dead Mars. As soon as they find out..."
Mars groaned, resisting the desire to pull his own blade
out, the fur on his back raising as he expected an attack. "A very good
reason not to pull it out."
Beano's tail twitched back and forth, "It's not working
Mars, being in the workshop isn't enough."
Mars shook his head. "It will. We'll find a way."
Beano laughed again. "Or die trying?"
"Or die." Mars said flatly.
Beano sat down against Mars. "Or die." He agreed.
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