029. Happiness

I guess happiness is burying your face into that yellow scarf, looking up to the starry sky from the highest rooftop in all of Monsteropolis at three in the morning on Valentine's day.  Or maybe it's hearing the turning cogs inside the chest of the one you love, and knowing that they can feel your own cogs turning.  Maybe it's the warmth that you share with someone, knowing that it's been a year and they can't love you any less than they did 365 days ago.

"Metaldork.  I just saw a shooting star.  Did you see it?"  Blues teases me.

I grin to him.  "Of course.  But did you remember to make a wish?"

"Of course.  Ain't tellin' ya, or it won't come true."  Blues snickers, ruffling my hair.

"Wouldn't dream of making you tell me either.  I want your wish to come true the same as I want mine to."  I smirk.  "After all, love is wanting for the happiness of the one you feel it for, right?"

Blues tilts his head.  "You know, I know I've heard that before and all, but I didn't think about it until now.  I guess you're right."

I close my eyes, smiling, my head against his chest.  "The clockwork is so soothing..."  Suddenly my eyes flicker with a hint of sadness.  "But I know your core is paining you."

Blues clutches to my shoulder.  "Unbearably so.  But...I...can't let him fix it.  I don't want him to take my independence away.  I don't want him to change everything about me into someone you may not love..."

"Blues, it's okay.  I want only for your happiness and I know that your happiness is not going back to Dr. Light."  I murmur.

Blues heaves a soft sigh, moving his hand up to play with my hair.  "...My happiness is also not suffering with the pain of this faulty core, or worrying if I'm going to end up leaving you mourning me."

I wrap my arm around him, burying my face into his soft, warm chest.  Even though we're mechanical beings, we do have a little bit of that human aspect to us.

"Blues, just promise me that you'll tell me, no matter what you decide.  That's all I want."  I whisper.

He clutches to me tightly, wincing hard.  "P-promise.  N-now...m-move off my chest for a moment..."

I open my eyes and move away from him for a moment, giving a terrified look.  He clutches to his chest tightly, closing his eyes and hacking up oil and bits of microchips.  I stroke his face lightly and kiss his forehead to comfort him.  The pain must be unimaginable.

"My wish...came true."  He whispers hoarsely.

I blink, staring.  "Wh-what?"

"I...felt this latest...wave of pain...from...my core...coming on.  And I wished...I wished for you...to stay near...to...comfort me."  He gives a shaky, weak smile.  "You're a keeper, Metal."

I lean in to wrap my arms around him, pressing my forehead against his.  "I can't abandon someone who makes me happiest of all."

"You...really are a dork, you...know that?"  Blues whispers weakly.  "...But... that's...why I love you, Metalman Wily."

He closes his eyes and shudders in my arms.  All I can do is continue to hold him close; he needs me right here, right now.  And not because it's Valentine's day.  It's...it's because I love him.

"Blues.  I'm here."  I speak commandingly.

Blues suddenly clutches to the folds of my shirt, gasping to keep cool air flowing through his thermal regulator.  "Promise me that you won't let him change me!"  

My eyes suddenly widen.  "What?"

"H-hurts so much...don't want him to change me...but hurts...so bad.  Take me to the lab.  Make him swear he won't change me!"  Blues sputters, his face in obvious pain.

I nod, getting myself to a position from which I can stand, and take him in my arms.  "I promise.  You're too precious to me.  And...thanks for keeping your promise."

He clutches tight to me again, wincing and gasping several times.  "Hurry...hurts so much..."

I leap down from the rooftop, making blazing speed toward Light Labs.  As for my wish?  Came true already, don't you know?  I had a simple one, really.  I just wanted him to tell me he loves me.

I think I realize what love is, really.  It's wanting for the happiness of another that you have that connection with.  I guess that's how I can say I love Blues so damn much.  And that's why I want his wishes to be fulfilled.  I just want to see him happy.