Haley Thistle
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Ruin the Kaiju: Part Two (rough draft)
🕑 Added 2022-10-26 20:00:05 +0000 UTCA small beeping noise stirred you from your slumber. You inhaled sharply, sitting up and rubbing the corner of your eye as you woke from the small nap. The lab was quiet, save for the beeping coming from the monitor you had been working on.
“I’m up, I’m up,” you cleared your throat. “I was just resting my eyes.”
The little pink bunny dragon on the screen hopped around. “You should go home and rest,” Ruin suggested.
“No. It’s fine,” you murmured. You adjusted our back and cracked your neck. “I just need to get a little more done is all.”
“You’re working too hard,” Ruin typed out.
You looked over the screen then turned and gave a soft smile to Ruin in their tank. “I can at least stay until Meyers comes back.”
Ruin wiggled in the tank, hitting against the glass in protest.
“I’ve worked more awful hours than this, don’t worry,” you said as you got back to work. “I can feel a breakthrough with this code coming.”
Another message typed out on Ruin’s screen. “How can you feel that?”
You reached for your cup of coffee, which was now cold, and took a sip. “I dunno, it’s just a feeling. I’ve done this so much, I grew a sense for it.”
“I know this could take a long time. But how long do you feel it will?” Ruin asked.
“That’s different,” you chuckled. “Gosh, I dunno. There’s groundwork already. But finding just the right designone to help you…could be months. Years even.” You glanced back to Ruin who shifted in their tank. “Hopefully not years.”
“It’s okay.” Ruin replied.
“I hope I’m not keeping you from anything. All this time you’ve spent down here working on this project. It’s been a long time as it is. If this takes years, I just hope I don’t suck up too much of your life.”
Your heart fluttered a bit from the sentiment. “Not much life to suck up. So don’t you worry about me.”
Ruin sloshed in their tank while their little avatar on the screen grew a worried expression. “What do you mean?”
“Hmm, well-” you thought for a moment. You didn’t want to sound too depressing to Ruin, even if all you did was work sleep and eat most days. “Aside from my planned vacation every year, there’s not much. Not dating, no pets-”
“You’re not dating anyone?” Ruin asked.
You shook your head. “Not for a while. I moved out here for this job, and it’s taken up a lot of time.” You flinched and quickly looked back at Ruin. “Before you! Don’t worry. I didn’t have much of an exciting private life before this.”
“Oh.” Ruin’s little avatar went still for a moment. “Have you had a partner before?”
You shrugged. “A couple.” You stood up and went to the coffee machine to refresh your cup. “Nothing very serious.”
Ruin wiggled in their tank. “Have you ever been in love?” They typed.
You walked back to the screen to read it then smiled. “Who knew such a creature as you could be a romantic.” You sighed and pushed your lips to the side. “I’ve loved people. But I don’t think I’ve ever been in love like that.”
“What would your dream romance be?” Ruin asked.
You laughed. “Oh gosh! I’m in my thirties now, Ruin. I would just be happy with someone who's nice to me and doesn’t mind computer parts laying everywhere.”
“Really? That’s all it takes?” Ruin’s avatar looked surprised.
You exhaled slowly, gazing at the screen and pondering over the question. “I don’t know how it is for you, but here, as you grow up, you realize that fairy tales and romance novels only get a percent of romance correct. You grow up and you realize that it’s the basic things that matter. Not the grand things, the movie things-” You press your lips into a tight line then click your tongue. “Romance isn’t a series of tests or grand gestures. Romance, at its core, is the mundane things, the things you take for granted. At least, from what I think of it, romance isn’t what you expect. It should be comfortable, not breathtaking.”
Ruin’s avatar bobbled on screen.
“I’m sorry!” You laughed. “That’s just my opinion. I know you love your romance movies and everything. To each their own.”
“No. It’s nice knowing. I thought it seemed exhausting sometimes.”
You smiled. “What are you looking for, Ruin? Who would be your ideal partner? And they can be as romantic and breathtaking as you like!”
“Oh gosh, that’s embarrassing.” Ruin wiggled around inside of their tank.
You giggled and grabbed your coffee from the maker. “Hey, I did my own spiel. I’m curious to know what you’re looking for. You must have some sort of ideal.”
“Okay.” Ruin typed. “Well, you see, this is going to sound a bit weird. But I promise, it’s how I truly feel.”
“Oh?” You sat back down. “Go on.”
The door opened and Meyers came in soaking wet.
“Goodness, what happened to you?” You gasped.
Meyers whimpered and took off his soaking coat. He remained quiet as he paced across the room, fidgeting with his hands as he went.
“He doesn’t like the feeling of wet clothes,” Ruin typed out. “Go help him, he could be overwhelmed.”
“Hey, Meyers, come sit down, I’ll get your clothes out for you.” You stood up and went to the wall of lockers, taking out a sweater you knew Meyers liked the feel of. The hem of the sleeves was a little worn, due to him pulling them up then rubbing them with his fingers constantly.
Meyers was shaking his head and pacing, stopping only when he saw you had the sweater in your hands. “Thanks,” he spoke quietly.
“What happened?”
“Raining?” Meyers said as he removed his wet shirt. “Car drove by and splashed me. Ruined my surprise.”
“What surprise?” You asked.
Meyers kept the neck of the sweater around his nose for a long moment. He rubbed the worn sleeves between his fingers then slowly, deep breath by deep breath, he relaxed. “I got us a treat at the bakery. They were just opening as I was coming back. But the bag got soaked.” he gestured grandly, his tail swished behind him.
“That’s sweet of you. I’m sorry you got soaked.”
Meyers huffed and tilted his head away. “I’m just glad to be back here. I would have gone back, but all I wanted to do was get those clothes off and be around you and Ruin.”
You smiled softly at Meyers. Having spent so much time in this lab with him and Ruin, you had to admit you’d grown fond of them both. “If you’re hungry I can go pick up something to eat. I don’t mind getting a bit wet.”
Meyers pouted. “You should go home. You’ve been here all night.”
“I’m fine. Both you and Ruin don’t need to worry about me.”
Ruin’s monitor beeped loudly. “At least finish your coffee before you go. No need to waste it.”
“Alright, I can do that.” You sat back down, picking up the warm mug and easing back in your seat.
A few days later you were working at the computer again as you worked out the code. Ruin was watching a movie in the background, and the sound of it had become a soothing part of your work. You yawned then realized the TV was quiet. You went to look behind you when Ruin’s avatar appeared on the screen.
“Can I ask you something?” Ruin typed out.
You smirked. “You just did.”
An angry face appeared on the little bunny dragon.
“Go ahead. What’s on your mind?” You saved your progress then cracked your neck with a deep sigh.
“It’s a strange question, but it’s been on my mind for a while now,” Ruin typed out. “It’s something I’ve seen in my movies, but it’s never played out the way I feel.”
Behind you Meyers was coming back into the lab, carrying a box under his arm.
“Can someone be in love with two people at once?” Ruin asked.
“I think so,” you replied.
Meyers set the box down. “Think what?” he asked.
You glanced back at him. “Ruin was asking me something. They want to know if someone can be in love with two people.”
“Are you in love with us, Ruin?” Meyers asked teasingly as he opened the box.
Ruin’s little avatar began blushing and you held your breath.
“What are they saying?” Meyers giggled.
You rubbed the side of your neck as you sat up in your chair. Our heart was picking up pace with each silent second.
Meyers looked at the tank then back at you. “What did Ruin say?”
“Is it bad if I am?” Ruin asked.
Meyers came up to the screen, his pale blue skin took on a huckleberry hue and he rose back up straight.
“No, it’s not bad at all, Ruin,” you said to feel the silence. “We’re both surprised, that’s all.”
The little avatar bounced around anxiously while Ruin in the tank pressed themself against the farthest corner. “I’m sorry! I’ve not known what this is or what to do with it! But everyday it grows stronger and stronger. I want to burst!”
“Well, don’t burst,” Meyers said softly. “That’s the last thing we need.” His soft, green eyes flicked down to you. “But, this certainly is a new discovery.”
You glanced at the tank as Ruin continued to climb up the corner.
“I’m sorry if this makes things weird,” Ruin typed out.
“No, you didn’t. It’s just a shock is all,” you murmured.
Meyers nodded. “Not everyday someone confesses such a thing. Least of all someone like you.” His tail moved back and forth rapidly behind him.
You stood up and approached the tank, placing your palm upon it. Ruin slowly left the corner, coming towards your hand as it took on the shape of the bunny dragon. Smiling up at Ruin you felt a warmth through the glass and Ruin began to smile as well.
Meyers came up behind you, adding his hand over yours as the warmth through the glass grew. Just like you said, it wasn’t a romance you expected. But also, in defiance of what you said, it was breathtaking.
Weeks went on as you and Meyers worked to figure out a way to help Ruin escape. Meyers had perfected the pod you would use to get Ruin out as well as recuperate from seperating from the bulk of themself.
Ever since Ruin made their confessions, things in the lab had also changed. Ruin was more open about their affection, for both you and Meyers. You and Meyers were also growing closer and more comfortable with one another. Ruin called the lab the ‘love nest’, which at first was funny, but now it was starting to feel true. Ruin would often come out of their tank to greet you, often nestle around your shoulders and the top of your head while you worked near the tank. Meyers wasn’t a cuddly person, but often when he was feeling overwhelmed he wanted to be held and have his hair stroked.
After several months, you felt the code was ready for some tests. It was nerve wracking to say the least, because what if it wasn’t complete or something happened to Ruin in the process? But you felt good about your work, and with Meyers’ pod you felt a bit of excitement.
Meyers held up the pod as Ruin dropped some of their goo inside. “Okay, are you comfortable in there?” You asked.
There was interference on the monitor, indicating that Ruin was in the process of separating. The bunny dragon avatar was bouncing and giving a thumbs up between the static at least.
“I’m sealing the pod,” Meyers announced as he shut the lid. He locked it in place and turned the knob so it became vacuumed and sealed.
You turned on the especially made wireless headphones as meyers put the pod upon your back. He came around and placed his forehead upon yours.
“It’ll be okay,” you whispered to him.
“I know,” he breathed. “Just…a little extra connection for Ruin.”
You smiled and placed a soft kiss on his cheek. You reached up to the headphones, hearing a hum come through. “Ruin, are you there?”
“Hi,” a soft, garbled voice came through.
You smiled brightly and Meyers closed his eyes tight. “Okay good. How does it feel? Are you able to come through?”
There was silence.
You stiffened your jaw and tried to breathe. “Ruin. Ruin, come in.”
Ruin’s signal was coming in staticy and raspy. Between buzzes and beeps you heard their voice come in faint. “Someone…is…coming.”
Meyers’ opened his eyes and rushed over to the security feed. His whole body went stiff as he switched through feeds. “Not good,” he whispered.
“What’s going on?” You asked.
“Nothing great.” Meyers turned around with an urgency in his eyes. “We either need to put Ruin back, or we try to run now.”
Your heart stopped and everything else went icy cold. “You must be joking.”
“You know I don’t do that,” he said. “I knew we’d eventually seem suspicious, but I had hoped we had more time.” He turned back to the monitors, flickering between cameras. “I can buy you time, but you need to get yourself and Ruin out of here.”
Your heart was beating again and everything flashed between red hot and ice cold. “But we don’t know if it’s working! I don’t even know if there's a connective limit! What if I lose Ruin?”
Meyers placed his hand upon your face. “I trust your code. Ruin will be fine.” He led you into a narrow corridor that was mostly storage lockers. At the very back was an emergency exit. He took out that butter knife and pushed it behind the plate and after a few maneuvers it opened the door without triggering an alarm.
“Are they there?” He asked.
“Here,” Ruin voice came in weak.
You nodded. “Yes. It’s faint, but I can still hear Ruin.”
Meyers pointed down the hallway. Go that way and you’ll be at the other side of Ruin’s tank. You’ll be close and hopefully have some time to get Ruin through.” he then handed you a set of keys and closed your hands around them. “Go to Missionary Lake and find cabin 432. Wait there.”
You squeezed tight onto his hand. “How will I know you're okay?”
His eyes darted around for a moment. “You’ll see me,” he stated. He placed a kiss on your cheek and turned back towards the lab.
You tapped the headphones as you walked through the door. “Ruin? Speak to me. Keep talking, don’t stop.”
“I’m scared,” Ruin said. The closer you got to their tank, the stronger their voice became. Once you before it, you stood there and caught your breath.
“I know, I am too.” You sat down at the base of the tank.
“You should leave,” Ruin said.
You shook your head. “No. I can’t. This is our only chance now.”
There was a rumble from inside the tank.
“Tell me what’s going on,” you said.
“I don’t know. I can’t see anymore,” Ruin whispered. “I can hear Meyers though, but it’s like he’s far away. He’s calm…there's no other loud voices.”
You took a deep shaky breath.
“It’s cold,” Ruin said.
You turned to look at the pod on your back and you saw that Ruin’s usually bright pink goo was turning dark. “Stay with me, Ruin. keep coming through.”
“I’m trying.”
“Hum, okay,” you murmured. “Just keep humming so I can hear you.”
Ruin was quiet for a beat. “Okay.”
You rubbed your face between your palms, holding back tears as they tried to spring forth. Ruin hummed along, to a song of their own. You knew you had to move, you had to get up and go before anyone realized where you were.
“Ruin, do you think it’ll be okay for us to leave?” You asked.
The humming stopped. “I think so.”
“Keep humming,” you said. “I’ll go as slow as I can.” You stood from the ground, looking back briefly in case Meyers came through the door. You walked slowly, hoping you could keep Ruin close to the tank for as long as possible.
You eventually came out at the back of the building. It was overgrown, and the parking lot there looked like it was never used. Meyers car was parked there, as he probably used his butter knife key to go in through the back.
Ruin was still humming, but the sound was fuzzy. Then there was silence. You stood still until Ruin made a small peep.
“The sun!” Ruin rushed to one side of the pod. “It’s been so long.”
You stared up at the sky then took Ruin’s pod off your back. You hugged it tight as the sunlight poured down upon you.
“It’s beautiful,” Ruin whispered.
“It is.”
Ruin started humming again, this time to the tune of ‘You Are my Sunshine’. You got into Meyers’ car with the pod in the passenger seat and you drove away.
Missionary Lake was about two hours away, and all you could do was listen to Ruin humming. Once you found Meyer’s cabin you sat down with Ruin’s pod upon the couch.
“We’re here now,” you said breathlessly. “We’re here.” You placed Ruin’s pod on a table in front of a window, opening the curtains to let the beams inside. Ruin’s pod shone, and from inside Ruin glowed with a holographic shine.
“You can rest,” Ruin’s voice was faint. “I’ll keep humming.”
You sat down at the table. “I’ll just close my eyes for a second.” You laid your head upon the table, closing your eyes. Ruin kept on humming ‘You are my Sunshine’, and soon you faded to sleep.
The sound of wild turkeys rose you from slumber. You grumbled under your breath, rubbing your eyes as you came to. It took you a moment, but you realized Ruin was quiet. You quickly picked up and adjusted the headphones.
“Why’d you let me fall asleep?” You fussed. “Ruin? Ruin! Come in!”
Ruin was silent and it stuck in your chest like a knife.
You tapped the pod. “Ruin, come on. Ruin!”
The pink goo inside was still and liquidy, sloshing with your tapping.
You cupped your hand around your mouth. “No, no. This can’t be happening. No. No.” You picked up the pod and held it in your arms, trying to get the connection going. But there was no answer.
Car lights appeared outside. You sat still, holding the pod while the door opened. Meyers walked inside, a bewildered expression upon his face. He found your crying over Ruin’s pod and he placed his hand upon your shoulder.
“I fell asleep,” you whimpered. “It must have disrupted the signal,” you started blubbering harder.
Ruin’s goo sloshed in the pod.
“Give them here.” Meyers held out his hands, taking the pod from you. You took off the headphones, checking to make sure th battery and the backup battery were working.
“We had nothing to worry about,” Meyers sighed. “A general was wanting a tour of the facility.”
“What?” You hiccuped.
“It doesn’t matter now.” Meyers unsealed the vacuum and Ruin’s goo puffed up inside, looking fluffy like cotton candy. He sighed, waiting for some other reaction than that. “Ruin was still after you left.”
“Then it…it did and…it didn’t work,” you sniffled.
Meyers hung his head, rubbing the hems of his sleeves. “Maybe.”
You sat down on the floor beside him, hand trembling as you placed it upon his arm. He turned to you, cowering down into your arms. You held him close, smoothing down his hair as you both began to cry.
Something tapped the back of your hand, and looking down you saw a pink palm. Coming out of the pod was a small bunny dragon looking creature.
“Ruin?”
They smiled and the old TV in the corner turned on. Through the static, you heard Ruin speaking. “Sorry! I fell asleep too! All that sunlight felt nice, but it made me sleepy too.”
Meyers rubbed his face. “You scared us!”
“I’m sorry!” Ruin put their arms around us. “I’m okay!” Their voice cried through the TV. “I’m here now! All your hard work paid off!”
You clung tight to Ruin with Meyers, crushing them between you in a tight embrace. You started crying for another reason now, so happy Ruin was safe.
“Your code worked great! Everything so easy, but it did work me a lot.” Ruin said to you. “Is it okay if I kiss you now?”
You nodded, sniffling as Ruin placed a soft, wet kiss to your lips. There’s body felt like hard jelly, but they were warm and smelled sweet. Ruin turned to Meyers kissing him as well.
“Your pod was so comfy too,” they said.
Meyers hiccuped. “I wanted to make sure it was roomy.”
“Aww, don’t cry!” Ruin wiped away his tears. “We’re together now. I can finally be free!” They stood up, stretching out their body and waving out their long arms. “I owe you both so much.”
You looked at meyers and smiled, he grinned back at you. You both exchanged a kiss while Ruin giggled happily through the TV.
Things would be uncertain from this point, that much you knew. But from here on out, your life was changed forever. Again, thanks to a Ruin.
Comments
Amy Mused
This was such a sweet story! I love Ruin and both Myers and the reader!
