Work Text:
There were sounds of sparks coming from the workshop in the bunker.
Inside, Uzi slammed a screwdriver on the table, muttering to herself as she worked on the railgun that was in front of her.
"Just a little more..."
She thought it would be cool to give it some upgrades. Even though she didn't really need them—no more world-ending eldritch horrors to deal with. Probably. In case of emergencies, she thought.
A faint glitching noise from outside caught her attention. She whipped her head around, looking out from the open door, only to find nothing.
She shrugged and turned back to her railgun. Then—
Footsteps. Oddly familiar. She looked at the doorstep again and saw N standing there.
"Oh—hi, Uzi!" he said, voice unsteady.
She squinted at him and asked, "Did you explode something again, dork?"
"I didn't explode anything!"
"Then why are you standing there looking hella suspicious?"
"It's nothing! I just uhh f-feel a little...strange?" he answered, eyes flickering for just half a second, but enough for Uzi to catch it.
"Strange? What do you mean?"
"..."
"N?"
"I don't..." his voice faltered as his visor went black completely for a minute and he clenched the wall to stay upright, swaying slightly.
Uzi ran to him and held his arm, "N? You good??" she asked.
"U-uz..."
"N, what's wrong?—" she said before realizing N had grabbed her hand. Too firmly. He never did that.
"Hey—you're hurting me—"
"...Uzi, go..."
She looked at his visor and instead of those soft yellow oval eyes, they were replaced by a bright, glowing X, and his hands had changed into claws.
Before Uzi could even react, N lunged at her. She dodged his claws just in time.
"N, calm down!! It's me!" she yelled, quickly grabbing her railgun before N tried to attack her again.
His arm swung, and his claw came dangerously close to her face but she blocked it with her solver.
She stumbled a few steps back and held up her railgun, aiming.
She glanced at his visor, the X was still there, flickering constantly like he was trying to fight back.
She hesitated.
Damn it.
N lunged at her again. She tried to dodge—but he was faster.
His claws tore into her shoulder and she winced as oil dripped from the wound.
She pulled back and pushed him away with the solver.
He stood still for a minute, his whole body shaking like he was struggling against something.
Uzi slowly took a step closer to him.
"N...?"
Bad idea.
He suddenly moved and attacked her again, she ducked immediately but felt his tail wrapping around her arm.
He smashed her against the wall with his tail. She coughed up oil as he kept her pinned.
He moved closer, his face was inches away from hers now.
He could bite her.
He could attack her.
But he didn't.
She looked at him and saw his visor. The X flickered wildly as his normal eyes peeked through it. Fighting. Struggling.
"N. I'm not scared. Just...come back." she said quietly.
His grip loosened for a fraction of a second—then tightened again.
His wide grin faltered, razor-sharp teeth disappearing as his mouth closed.
"N...please," she pleaded. "I'm not afraid. Not of you."
After what felt like an hour but was only seconds, the X on his visor flickered off completely.
Those soft, yellow oval eyes returned but wide with panic.
He gasped and immediately let her go.
He backed up from her, looking at his claws. Oil—her oil dripping from them.
He glanced at Uzi and just saw her shoulder, oil leaking from there, he had done it.
He couldn't even look at her.
Uzi stepped forward, "N—"
"No...please...I'm sorry," he dropped to the ground, breathing getting heavier as he trembled.
She kneeled down in front of him, trying to reach him but he jerked his hand away.
"I'm fine, N. It's okay," she said.
"No no no, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to I—I hurt you..."
"N, I'm really fine, it'll just heal, look—"
"No! I still hurt you! It doesn't matter!! I-I'm..." he said, his breathing getting faster, uneven breaths coming out.
"I don't deserve you...I—"
Before Uzi could even think, she moved and pulled him into a hug. Firm. But anchoring.
N froze for a moment, "Uz—?"
"Shut up and breathe, idiot." she said, tone getting softer, "It's not your fault, don't ever say that again."
His arms came up and finally wrapped around her tight, desperate. He was still shaking, "It is my fault...I should've—"
"No, it's not."
"But—"
"Did you mean to?"
"...What?"
She pulled back and looked into his eyes, but his were fixed on the ground, "Did you mean to hurt me?"
"No..."
"Then it's fine. I'm fine. It's not your fault."
He finally looked at her, "You're not mad...?"
She scoffed, "Why would I be mad, dork?"
"Really?..."
She groaned, "Yes! See? My wound has already healed."
"I'm sorry..."
"I swear if you apologize one more time, I'm breaking your voice box,"
"...Can I hug you again?"
She stared at him.
"When have you ever asked before?"
"..."
"Robo-God. Yes, you can!" she yelled before pulling him into her.
He practically melted in her arms as if he was waiting just for that.
"It doesn't hurt right...?" he asked, muffled into her neck.
"No," she answered.
She lifted her hand—hesitating for just a second before running her fingers lightly through his hair.
His shoulders relaxed at that as he closed his eyes, "Uzi—"
"Don't say anything,"
"Ok..."
His visor flickered as he looked at her shoulder again, like he still didn't trust it was gone.
His shaking decreased—not gone, but not violent anymore.
A soft, quiet rumbling sound could be heard from N's chest.
Uzi's eyes widened.
"Are you serious?"
"...It feels nice,"
She snorted, "Next time you go full murder-mode, at least warn me first."
He finally smiled slightly, but real.