Chapter Text
Returning to a location they had been chased out of previously wasn't exactly the smartest thing to do. In fact, WPNZ had tried to urge against it. The tavern patrons hadn’t really been very friendly towards them after their failed attempt at killing their thief. But, after having been informed by their dragonborn blacksmith friend that things had been smoothed over, it had, apparently, been settled as a meeting place.
They had just finished a rather long adventure, so, WPNZ supposed it was only fair that Puzzles would want to stay in a nicer room for the night, on top of meeting their contact. Unfortunately, being in such a small, enclosed space always made the suit of armor antsy.
He stuck close to Puzzles as they entered the tavern, claws twitching restlessly at his sides. It was bustling inside, just as it had been the first time they had entered. Creatures of all shapes and sizes littered the tables and chattered aimlessly about anything and everything.
There were, of course, a handful of folks that had clearly been present when Puzzles and WPNZ were chased out of the town. They seemed... less than pleased. Of course, any eye contact was met with a snarl from WPNZ.
Yellow eyes dart up to his ward, helm canting to the left. "There's a booth in the back corner," he grumbled, hiking a thumb towards the empty seats.
“Is that where she said she’d meet us?” Puzzles asked, head swiveling towards the direction. For Puzzles, while the more aggressive eye contact was nothing but relished in (nothing wrong with trying to take in an audience!), his gaze seemed much more weary in comparison to the first time they’d stepped through the wooden doors.
The last adventure they’d partaken in had been a rather taxing one, and even Puzzles had to admit this particular quest hadn’t been as exhilarating as he had initially hoped. His cables still ached from the fight they’d just barely managed to finish, and from retrieving Horsie before she was turned into some sort of meal over a rotating spit.
The reminder of that poor horse needing a name change, at the very least, managed to bring a flicker of a grimace across Puzzles’ screen. He made a mental note to remind WPNZ to reconsider his naming convention before shaking his head, the thought of what next awaited them already rolling in his mind.
Paying the staring patrons no mind, the adware made his stride towards the empty booth— squeezing into the thing as much as his lanky legs would allow.
"Should be," WPNZ confirmed. "She's either in here somewhere, waitin', or we managed to beat her here."
He still had the letter stuffed in his satchel- not that he could read the damned thing. He was just thankful that Puzzles had eagerly snatched it up, once it was delivered via a rather charming falcon.
Sticking close to Puzzles' side, WPNZ followed him over to the booth, then slid in next to him. The empty seat across from them was, of course, for their contact. Whenever she decided to show up.
"Here," the armor said, tugging the letter out from his satchel. He offered it to Puzzles, eyes sweeping across the tavern to make it seem like he was keeping watch. Which, to be fair, he was. But, it was also to avoid the note. "Double-check to make sure we're in the right spot."
“Meet me in the booth located in the left hand corner of the tavern,” Puzzles read aloud, casting a glance towards the tavern. “Seems to be.”
Folding back the letter (far more neatly, this time) his gaze drifted towards the crowd. Parties conversed, people drank, and other creatures huddled up in booths– no doubt, Puzzles thought, awaiting for their contacts to meet.
“You’d think they’d try to discuss this sort of thing in places with a little more sunlight,” Puzzles scoffed, squinting at the more brightly lit spots within the tavern. “I don’t mind building up a bit of suspense, but you’d at least think they’d care to mix things up, now and again!”
"'M sure she'll be here soon, then." WPNZ relaxed, once he heard Puzzles folding the letter back up. He rested an elbow on the table, then placed his chin in his hand.
He met Puzzles' gaze with a tired blink, helm tilting off to the side to show he was listening.
"Mm. Well, it ain't really smart to do business out where everyone can see." That especially applied with the business the two of them tended to deal in. "'Sides, it means we ain't gonna get our shit stolen again. Safer this way."
The armor offered an amused squint. "Or, well, I mean, I guess you could tell our lovely client that. Sure she'd enjoy the criticism right as she's handin' over the goods."
“I suppose you have a point.” Getting their things stolen by that tiefling a few weeks ago certainly put a massive damper on their adventure. The thought of her smug smile brought a grimace to his screen.
“I just don’t see why we need to do so in a place so… public. Feels far more suited for the back of an alleyway. Or a seedy bar. Or…” he gestures vaguely, offering a shrug. “Someplace that doesn’t have a reoccurring audience.”
WPNZ’ sarcastic remark was met with a playful punch to his arm, uncaring of any dents he might have made. “Oh, shut it, tin can.”
"Dunno, Box, maybe she wants to make sure we ain't gonna just kill her and take her shit." WPNZ also shrugged, mirroring his friend. "Havin' eyes on us 's safer for both parties."
Why WPNZ knew this, he didn't know. The knowledge scratched at the back of his mind like an old wound. It was there, even if he didn't remember the story behind it.
The armor snorted at the punch to his arm. He sat up, eyes narrowing with a devious glint. "Box-headed freak," he shot back, talons reaching up to pull down that stupid hat Puzzles always wore.
“And why would we do that?” Puzzles scoffed, sounding almost insulted at the thought. “We’re not barbarians, WPNZ! She’s worked with us long enough to know we’ve no bloodlust to satiate— and certainly not with her.”
He pauses, drumming his fingers against his lower casing. “Well, you do, at least,” he teased with a lopsided smirk. An undignified yelp left the TV as his world suddenly went dark, and he reached up to push his hat up back to its rightful place.
“ACK— HEY!” Puzzles growled, smacking the back of WPNZ’ helmet to send it spinning.
“Sorry excuse for scrap metal!”
"You've been workin' with her. I always stand guard," WPNZ shot back. He always felt... Weirdly uncomfortable when she was around. He didn't know why, but he didn't question it. He would just excuse himself to let Puzzles do the talking.
He wasn't even sure she knew his name. Probably not. They had never spoken directly, after all.
WPNZ was about to continue, only for his helmet to be sent spinning. He reached up to stop it, talons grabbing hold of his helm with a dizzied groan.
As soon as his eyes refocused, however, they turned into thin slits. He pounced at Puzzles with a snicker, fully aiming on shoving the TV down onto the booth's cushioned seats.
”WHAT ARE YOU—“ A shrill shriek echoed through the tavern as Puzzles was pushed against the seat, his head just barely smacking against the wood of the tavern walls. He shook his head to clear the spirals from his eyes, though it did little to help subside the heat that replaced it as WPNZ loomed atop his frame.
“GET OFF OF ME, YOU BRUTE!” he shouted, legs kicking and failing wildly underneath WPNZ’ weight. They did little more than have Puzzles sink further into the cushioned seat, internally cursing himself over his deadweight of a best friend.
Rather pleased with himself, WPNZ tapped the tip of his talon against Puzzles' screen. He wore a rather smug squint at the soft dink, dink, dink sound the action made.
"Nah, don't think I will," he concluded. "Or, well, if you ask nicely, I won't use your lil' weakness."
".... Am I interruptin' somethin'?"
A voice sounded from behind them, startling WPNZ more than he would care to admit. He whipped his helm around, yellow eyes taking on a slight hint of blue when he saw their contact standing there.
"Do all that romantic junk on your own time. We've got business to settle," the blue and white feline huffed, hands on her hips. Her heavy duty armor was intimidating all on its own, but those eyes....
WPNZ shifted his weight off Puzzles, allowing the TV to sit back up.
“You wouldn’t dare,” Puzzles growled out, the faintest tint of red flushing across his screen. Pointing a sparking finger towards WPNZ, he readies his charge— until the tabaxi’s voice cut through their little quarrel.
“ROMANTIC?!” Puzzles exclaimed, thankfully having the foresight to turn his volume down before alerting the entire bar. “That was the farthest thing from— we most certainly aren’t— you— you—”
Scrambling back up into a sitting position, Puzzles sputters out some sort of excuse, giving a brief knock to the side of his head to try and clear the intense whirring from his overheating fans. Clasping his hands together as politely as possible, he strains a smile, though doesn’t dare meet WPNZ’ gaze, instead keeping his eyes locked firmly on their contact.
“Just— get on with it, already! What do you want from us?!”
WPNZ cringed at the volume of Puzzles' exclamation. Sure, it wasn't nearly loud enough to alert the rest of the patrons, but it was loud when you were sitting right next to the fucking speaker.
He righted himself, then sat down properly, eyes a very vibrant blue. Puzzles wasn't looking at him- which was fair-, and he didn't have any plans of looking at Puzzles.
The tabaxi gave both of them a very deadpan stare, then rolled her eyes. "I don't get paid enough to care," she replied, moving to take her seat across from them.
WPNZ stared at her, eyes slipping back to their usual yellow. He felt like he knew her… That wouldn’t make any sense, though, would it? It felt like a memory was trying desperately to break free of its confines, but it couldn't quite get there.
The tabaxi paid him little mind, her eyes focusing solely on Puzzles. "I have another job for you. There's a mage of some kind that lives out in the forest. My employer wants him dead." She held out a bound scroll and a map. "It ain't gonna be easy. He's been rumored to be messin' with magic he shouldn't be."
WPNZ scoffed, reaching forward to grab the map. "He ain't met us yet. 'M good at killin' mages." He looked up from the map, only to find the tabaxi staring at him in a very odd way. It was unnerving. WPNZ leaned closer to Puzzles on instinct.
“And thank goodness for that,” Puzzles muttered under his breath, thankful his fans seemed to have finally relaxed. Tilting his head, Puzzles reached over to take the scroll, unfurling it with a curious look. A quick glance reaffirmed the tabaxi’s words— whoever provided this quest certainly wanted him dead— and viciously so.
“What, just for that?” Puzzles asked, though the phrasing of ‘magic he shouldn’t be’ sent an almost unnerving chill down his spine. His mind drifted back to the inn they’d encountered some time ago— the terrifying endeavor still having burned itself into his mind, even long after they’d burnt it to ash.
You are the cause…
Shaking his head, Puzzles meets the tabaxi’s gaze once more, his expression shifting into something far more quizzical. “Pardon the intrusion, but I’m afraid we’re going to need a bit more detail if we’re to be taking on a job like this.” He taps the center of the scroll, the scribe of cursive reading WANTED DEAD bold and in plain view.
“As much as WPNZ here enjoys the thrill of a hit, I’m afraid that’s not where my priorities lie.” Narrowing his eyes, he reaches up to crank his volume dial even lower as he leaned towards the tabaxi.
“I want to know why we’re the ones they’ve selected.”
While Puzzles glanced at the scroll, the tabaxi kept her gaze centered solely on WPNZ. He sat straighter, eyes narrowing back at her. The way she was looking at him sent shivers through his plating. Her gaze was piercing. It almost seemed like she was looking for something.
.... Was he supposed to know her? Why did he feel like he did? Why did he know what her fur felt like, even when they'd never touched?
Thankfully, her gaze tore itself away from him when Puzzles spoke up again.
"Look, rookie, I don't ask questions. I just pass on the information. I only-," the feline paused, eyes darting back towards WPNZ after hearing his name. Recognition seemed to spill into her expression. She stiffened, gaze jumping back to Puzzles, once the TV leaned in closer.
She didn't seem like she was listening to what Puzzles had to say anymore. His questions went unanswered and unacknowledged.
".... What did you call him?"
“Er…” The intimidating atmosphere he’d hoped to create almost immediately dissipated within that moment. Sitting back up in his seat, he blinks a few times— eyes flitting from the tabaxi to WPNZ before finally landing back onto her.
“...WPNZ?”
WPNZ peered at Puzzles from the corner of his eye. Something in the back of his mind screamed danger, but something else informed him that she was safe?
He didn't know how to feel. He didn't like the situation- didn't like the way she had been looking at him.
The tabaxi's ears flattened back against her head, and her eyes narrowed into slits. She leaned forward over the table.
"I knew it," she hissed. "Thought I wouldn't notice? That I wouldn't recognize you under all that armor? Take off the helmet, WPNZ."
The knight leaned more heavily against Puzzles- partially to act as a shield between the tabaxi and his friend, but also as more of a comfort. He didn't say a word, mind stalling almost entirely.
“What do you mean?” Puzzles had to laugh, finding himself perking up even amidst the tense atmosphere. Even so, the laugh itself bordered on uncomfortable, unsure of just what exactly he’d stepped into, here. Leaning forward, he gestures to WPNZ at his side, putting on his best showman’s smile.
“That is WPNZ. He is the armor.”
Leave it to Puzzles to laugh in the face of, well..... whatever this was. Of course, the TV was also oversharing. They weren't supposed to just tell people that he was hollow inside. He didn't want to deal with a bunch of creatures thinking he was undead.
That would.... absolutely end poorly. He knew that first hand. Not that WPNZ doubted his ability to kill everyone in the room, should it really come down to it. He just didn't feel like having his armor torn to shreds in the process.
"Can it, Rookie!" The tabaxi shot Puzzles a harsh glare. "Keep your nose outta this."
WPNZ narrowed his eyes, a low growl rattling out from him. "Don't fuckin' talk to him like that," he hissed.
"Oh, so you'll defend him from some stupid insult, but when I needed you to defend me, you ran." Her voice sounded cold. Detached. Hurt. "Take. Off. The. Helmet."
“Excuse you?!” Puzzles shot her a piercing glare of his own, hands balling into fists. The air of charisma he’d tried to hold instantly switched to a look of fierceness, pulling the scroll closer to himself.
“YOU came to US! Just one of us partaking in this job of yours wouldn’t exactly be convenient to your employer, there— now would it?!”
Though, as Puzzles’ gaze slowly drifted between the two, he sensed that perhaps the job wasn’t what had quelled the two’s sudden argument. His facecards frantically swapped from anger, to bafflement, and finally, confusion, leaning back against his seat with a quizzical look.
The dry laugh that left the tabaxi somehow managed to sound like a threat all on its own. She didn't look at Puzzles this time when she spoke, her eyes boring into WPNZ as though she could kill him just by looking.
"This isn't about the job," she spat.
WPNZ gripped the edge of the table, his talons digging into the wooden surface. This woman clearly thought she knew him, despite his mind drawing up a blank. The only reason he could think of to be the cause was, well....
He had told Puzzles that he didn't remember anything before waking up. The mages had told him he used to be someone- or, really, he had heard it while they talked amongst themselves.
"Look, lady, I ain't-," he started to say, only to get cut off. His eyes darted towards Puzzles', his confusion visible in his gaze.
"Stop! You can't just walk in here, actin' like you don't know! That you-..." She raised a paw to rub at her eyes. "It's been years, but I could never forget your voice."
Her gaze jumped back to Puzzles, finally. She seemed to be internally battling with herself. "He's dangerous, and he'll run the second you need him most," she warned.
“Well, he hasn’t,” Puzzles responded after a long silence. Though his confusion was still evident, he held firm, his steadying gaze boring right back into the tabaxi.
“The WPNZ I know wouldn’t run— hasn’t run.” He clasps his hands together, brushing his thumbs against one another. A part of him considered bringing about a few sparks of electricity as a warning, but he held off, instead focusing his energy on WPNZ.
“You must be sorely mistaken.” Puzzles responds coldly, tone edging on a threat. “And I don’t believe you know him.”
WPNZ' eyes jumped from Puzzles to the tabaxi, then right back to Puzzles. He didn't understand the mess of emotions he was feeling. He should be more confrontational. He didn't know this woman, even if he felt like he should. She was clearly a threat. Yet, that small part of him that seemed to recognize her wouldn't let him act.
'He'll run the second you need him most.'
Something about that managed to cut him. He didn't know why it hurt. It shouldn't. He had no memories of the event in question- didn't even know who he was to the tabaxi. Her name wasn't one he could recall, though the vague impression of a particular weapon came to mind.
That didn't make any sense, though.
His gaze shot back to Puzzles when the bard spoke up. The way he spoke so confidently about WPNZ was... well, it meant everything to him. His yellow eyes softened and his body relaxed somewhat.
"The WPNZ you know is a fake," the tabaxi replied. She pushed herself out from the booth to stand. The way her tail lashed back and forth gave away her anger. "An act. He'll never change. He isn’t capable of it."
That hurt. It was so much more painful than her previous words, but he still didn't understand why.
Her glare settled back on WPNZ. "Take or leave the job. I don't care. Whatever you do, stay the hell away from me and the kids." She leaned forward, jabbing a finger into WPNZ' chest. "They don't need a deadbeat dad like you in their lives."
“Right, and I’m half-bugbear,” Puzzles scoffed, rolling his eyes. Whatever she meant by that, he found he had little room left to care, rolling the script back into place.
The moment her paw made contact with his plating, however, had him jump to his feet almost instantly.
“Hands off, alley cat,” Puzzles hissed, shoving himself between the tabaxi and WPNZ. Holding up a sparking finger, he pressed it up against her forehead, his low growl indicating he would threaten to shoot.
“We’ll take it. But don’t expect us to be crawling back to you any time soon.”
It was a good thing that Puzzles shoved his way between WPNZ and their... acquaintance. Her words had left him stunned and non-responsive.
.... Kids? She wouldn't have called him a deadbeat dad, unless-
Fuck, did he have kids?
No, no, that couldn't be right. Was she lying? That wouldn't make any sense either- there was nothing to gain. Besides, she had looked so earnest and hurt when she had said it.
WPNZ' eyes dimmed to the point where they were only just barely visible as he began to zone out.
The tabaxi, for her part, wasn't focused on him anymore. She hissed when Puzzles pressed a finger to her head, her eyes nothing more than slits. She seemed more angry than she was scared. In fact, not an ounce of fear glistened behind those eyes.
"Do what you want," she spat. "You have your information. I'm leaving."
“Not like it was of any use,” Puzzles sniffed, hooking his thumb in a threat to pull the trigger. “You could have done so much sooner.”
Metal talons very gently gripped onto Puzzles' arm. WPNZ still wasn't really present- mentally, at least-, but he was aware enough to know that he didn't want the tabaxi dead.
Not when it seemed like she was the only tie to what he used to be.
WPNZ didn't regret where he was now. He felt at home with Puzzles. The adware saw something in him that even he was blind to, and it made him feel... seen? Appreciated? Loved?
However, that didn't mean that he wasn't curious. There were so many questions burning inside of him; so many unknowns. Not that his mind could really focus on any of that in the moment. He was far too busy spiraling over the possibility of having kids.
A low growl left the tabaxi. "Back off, Rookie," she snarled, waiting for Puzzles to put down his hand.
Not like Puzzles could have killed her, anyway-- though she didn't need to know that. Singing her fur was likely all his attack would do, and with his solution bags running low in supply, he needed to conserve as much energy as possible, in case of a real threat.
Still. That didn't mean he couldn't try and put on a show, while he was at it. Shoulders relaxing, Puzzles silently withdrew his weapon, though didn’t dare break eye contact until his back fell against the booth. His gaze flickered to the rolled up scroll, idly tracing the paper with a finger.
"Didn't she say she was leaving?" he muttered to himself, more than to the tabaxi or WPNZ. "Looks as if someone forgot her cue."
The moment Puzzles removed his threat of injury, the tabaxi took a step back. She shot the both of them one final glare, then turned on her heel. Her tail lashed angrily behind her as she stormed out of the tavern.
WPNZ didn't even notice that she had left. His eyes were still dim- yellow hues only just barely visible in the black expanse of his helmet. It felt like his entire work had been rocked.
Kids? As in plural? What did they look like? Had he really run when he was most needed?
Both of his arms returned to his own space, claws picking mindlessly at his plating. He didn't know what to think, or how to feel. Rattled was the best word he could think of to describe the sensation.
Puzzles was in the same boat. Mostly, anyway.
While the situation hadn't quite rattled him as much as it had WPNZ, the bard was, for once, uncharacteristically quiet, his digital brows having furrowed into an expression that bordered on unreadable- if not uncomfortable.
With how little the man talked about himself, Puzzles figured it at least had something to do with some dark and brooding backstory.
And he was right. As he always was.
But instead of feeling smug, or even prideful that his institution was right (again, as it always was) he only felt pity for his friend, if not innate curiosity. The drama was juicy, and Puzzles could hardly believe he’d gotten a front row seat to something so invigorating, heartbreaking, tragic!
He knew from their adventure, from some time ago, that WPNZ had no memory whatsoever of what his past life entailed- but, from the tidbits the tabaxi had shared, it seemed fulfilling- if not surprisingly domestic, considering what WPNZ was involved in.
The words deadbeat dad echoed in Puzzles' mind, and he fought back an uncomfortable grimace, the words hitting harder than he would have preferred in the moment.
He needn't focus on that anyway, he told himself, shaking his head. He hadn't realized WPNZ had been dead silent the entire time until he cast him a glance.
"WPNZ?" he asks, voice bordering on uncertainty. The second his name left his speakers, he found himself at a loss, unsure of what to even say.
"Are, ah... are you... alright?"
WPNZ didn't respond at first. In fact, he didn't even react to the sound of Puzzles' voice. He just kept picking at his armor, not really seeing anything in front of him. Far too many thoughts were jumbled around in his head, making it impossible to focus on any singular one for more than a few seconds at a time.
Then, suddenly, the sounds of the tavern came crashing back in. He jolted, eyes flashing, then immediately dimming back down to being almost invisible. Everything felt very loud, and it was triggering his anger for some reason. He turned his helm to look up at Puzzles with a distraught glint to his gaze.
His eyes were one of the very few indicators of his physical and mental state. When he was hurt, weak, or distressed, they dimmed.
Currently, they were just as dim as they had been the day Puzzles found him.
WPNZ slowly shook his helm in response to his friend's question. He didn't understand the emotions swirling beneath the surface. They were so volatile and raw, yet they felt like they belonged to someone else. Trying to put that into words, though, felt impossible. So, he just stared up at Puzzles, hoping he'd somehow understand.
Unfortunately, Puzzles couldn’t.
As well as he thought he could read WPNZ, his expressions— or lack thereof— was something else, though the dimness made it obvious his friend wasn’t in the greatest mood.
When it came to his spats with the armor— they were firey and explosive, and, sometimes, even downright petty. Yet, even despite the range of emotions that flowed from one another, they always managed to make up, in the end— with a few dents, scrapes, and severed wires to prove it.
This, however, was different. It was personal— agonizingly so— to him and the tabaxi both. Attempts at reassurance in a situation of this caliber felt inappropriate, and Puzzles found himself at a loss for words.
Really— what could he even say in a situation like this?
Casting his gaze down to the table, he rubs his neck, his screen having begun to grow almost unbearably hot.
“I— ah… figured,” he mumbled, picking at his cables. “My… apologies.”
The urge to dig his talons into something was strong. If he had something to destroy, then maybe he could get lost in his anger, rather than whatever else was brewing beneath the surface. At least he knew the anger was his.
The other emotions felt foreign.
"'S fine," he mumbled, voice unusually quiet. It felt like every noise within the tavern had been jacked up to the highest volume, which easily drowned out his own words.
He needed to leave. It was too stuffy, and the layers of noise were beginning to overwhelm him.
WPNZ slid out from the booth and stood. He didn't leave, though, instead turning to look at Puzzles expectantly, waiting for the bard to join him.
"Need some fresh air," he announced.
Maybe he'd be able to actually think outside. The sun had been on its way down when they first entered the tavern, so, surely, the stars would be out by now. They always helped him feel a bit calmer.
Puzzles needn’t be asked twice. Without a word, he brings himself to a standing position, grabbing onto the scroll before making his way out of the booth. He was thankful he’d stumbled only slightly in his efforts to trail after his friend.
Thankfully, the drunken patrons looked to keep to themselves this time around, leading for a swift exit outside the doors. The scattering of stars Puzzles was greeted with as he stepped outside had his breath catch within his throat— almost losing his initial thoughts of reassuring his friend.
His friend. Right. WPNZ needed him, right now.
Breaking his gaze away from the sky, his head swiveled down to face WPNZ, the concern in his expression palpable. Placing a hand atop his shoulder, he tries to give the armor a half-smile, tilting his head to the side.
“Better?” he asked, hoping he sounded at least somewhat reassuring.
As soon as Puzzles stood, WPNZ made a beeline for the exit. He kept his helm down and his arms swung stiffly at his sides.
Everything was just so loud.
His thoughts pounded against his inside of his helm, and the noise from the other patrons was coming to a crescendo, and-
WPNZ burst outside with a stuttery breath. It was noticeably quieter outside, though he was vaguely aware of the sound of his armor clattering. His attention didn't stay on that for long, however. The moment he looked up at the stars, the tension in his frame started to ebb.
Feeling something settle on his shoulder, WPNZ turned to look at it. The gloved hand was instantly recognizable. Yellow eyes trailed up to Puzzles' screen- their glow brightening somewhat. The expression he was met with had his gaze softening.
"Somewhat," he answered. "... Wasn't expectin' all of.... that." He raised a hand to pick at his bandana, gaze shifting back towards the stars.
He felt... broken. Or, maybe he just felt like an imposter.
"I don't think either of us were," Puzzles manages a soft, if not uncomfortable chuckle. "I wouldn't have expected such a dramatic turn of events until at least act three."
A few of them had managed to float back to the forefront of his mind, despite his best efforts- the desire for knowledge almost tantalizing, considering what plot twists had been uncovered. In Puzzles' mind, this was only the beginning of an already arduous storyline- and they had yet to even reach the climax.
"Did you... want to talk about it?" Puzzles figured he didn't, after all that had been revealed- and it wasn't like the adware necessarily blamed him.
Such a bombshell had already sent WPNZ into a spiral- and though he clearly seemed more sound, given their quick departure, Puzzles didn't want to simply leave his thoughts to fester. He knew WPNZ wasn't the most talkative when it came to "sappy, gooey" stuff, such as feelings– and with whatever had just transpired between the two of them, Puzzles felt as if it was more than likely his fault.
"...Apologies," he muttered, anxiously picking at his cables. His gaze fell to the ground while he tried to run his mind back on what specifically he should be apologizing for. "For... that."
He glanced towards the scroll still in his hand, thumb brushing against the frayed paper. "I can reach out and say we won't be taking the job. And... find a new contact, while we're here."
He did want to talk about it. He just didn't know where to start. WPNZ didn't do feelings. He killed and punched things. That was his job. The more emotional side of things was usually left to Puzzles.
Trying to gather together his thoughts to explain them in a more coherent way, however, must've taken too long. Before WPNZ had the chance to even answer, Puzzles was suddenly apologizing. Which, mind you, didn't make any sense.
"... What?"
The armor turned his sights back onto Puzzles. When the bard's eyes dropped down to the scroll, so did WPNZ'. He still didn't understand what the man could possibly be apologizing for. "No, we can take the job. That ain't- 'M not upset with you. There ain't nothin' to apologize for."
"I just-...." A frustrated sound left him as he rubbed at his eyes. Of course, it didn't actually do anything. "I dunno. She knew me, Puzz. Or, whoever I used to be."
“It certainly seemed to look that way.” Puzzles wasn’t sure if he should have elaborated or not— deciding to instead keep it vague. He briefly recalled some desire for WPNZ to know about who he was beforehand. It may not have been on the best of terms, no, but it was better than what little they had to go on.
“But— it’s a start— right?”
WPNZ sighed, heavily. He leaned in towards Puzzles, allowing his shoulder pauldron to rest against his friend's arm.
"'S one hell of a start," he replied. There was a note of exhaustion to his voice- one that spoke of how heavily everything was weighing on him.
.... Shit, he really needed to address the elephant in the room. For his own sanity, if nothing else.
".... She called me a deadbeat dad. Y'know what that implies." Claws tapped idly against metal armor. "Fuck me," he growled, eyes screwing themselves shut.
“It couldn’t be more on the nose,” Puzzles offers him another half-smile, far more sympathetic. Giving his pauldron a brief pat, Puzzles’ gaze flits back up towards the sky, his expression shifting into one of thought.
It wouldn’t do well for them to stand around, he knew, especially with everything that was left to be discussed. The scroll in his hand was given another glimpse, and for a few minutes, Puzzles remained quiet, the loading circle on his screen rotating slower than usual.
The job could wait until morning.
“Come.” Pushing himself off of WPNZ’ weight, he makes a steady beeline for Horsie, his finger beckoning for WPNZ to follow.
“Let’s find a place to camp for the night.” He grimaced as he went about untying her reins, trying his hardest to ignore the feeling of irritation at having to sacrifice his night at the tavern.
The reminder he was doing this for WPNZ had his irritation subside the slightest bit.
“We can talk about it once we’ve set up.”
The pat to his shoulder earned a soft rumble. Yellow irises reignited within the depths of his helmet and quickly locked onto Puzzles again. WPNZ was met with the little loading symbol his friend would display when he was thinking, so he waited, patiently.
It confused him, however, when Puzzles began heading towards their horse. He glanced back at the tavern. Why would they be making camp when they were right in front of a building that could house them? His ward had always made it very clear that he preferred sleeping on a bed, rather than the ground.
"Camp?" WPNZ turned back towards Puzzles. He walked over to Horsie, talons reaching to pet along her snout as his friend untied her. "I thought we were stayin' here?"
Staying outside had always been preferable to the armor, since it gave him more freedom to do things while Puzzles slept. But, it wasn't like he had ever complained about having to stay in a room. Out loud, at least. The confined spaces made him antsy.
“You said yourself you needed some fresh air.” A particularly hard knot earned an annoyed grunt from Puzzles as he gathered up the rope in his hands. Something his lanky fingers certainly didn’t help.
“I figured a night outdoors would help clear your mind a little,” he hums, coming to a stand with a satisfied nod.
Gesturing up towards the starry sky, he turned the opposite direction of the tavern, offering a glance back towards WPNZ as he began to head towards the path outside town.
Not quite far enough into the forestry to be considered isolated, but close enough to nature where they could, at least, claim a good campsite. The lack of canopying trees was an added bonus with the two’s frequent act of stargazing.
“Besides,” he calls back, screen splitting into a grin, “I’ve already found us the perfect spot!”
".... Oh."
Such a nonchalant tone for such a thoughtful answer. The fact that Puzzles was willing to sacrifice a night in an actual bed, simply because he knew WPNZ liked being outside, was, well, sweet.
It wasn't a kindness that he deserved, but it certainly meant a lot. More than he knew how to express.
WPNZ caught up to Puzzles once the bard had begun walking. He kept pace with his friend easily enough, though his eyes kept darting up towards the familiar glow of the TV's screen. The smile that made itself known on his friend's face was soothing, in a way.
"Perfect, huh?" WPNZ didn't doubt the words. Puzzles was fairly good about finding decent spots to settle.
“You’ll see once we arrive.” he hummed, unable to bite back an excited *chortle*.
And Puzzles wasn’t wrong.
What greeted them both was nothing short of breathtaking.
Tiny flowers poked out of patches of grass that weren’t weathered by the dirt path. Shrubbery, too, circled around the spot, almost perfectly aligning itself with the horizon line that spread out towards the gathering forestry ahead.
Even fireflies had begun to gather around, lighting up in tiny flickers that almost mirrored the speckle of stars above.
Puzzles, for the most part, had spent his time setting up while the armor was completely awestruck— removing Horsie’s drool-slicked reins with only a slight grimace as he placed them into the grass. An awkward pat was given to her backside, as if urging her to walk ahead and explore.
“Well?” Puzzles asked, once he’d released Horsie to her grazing spot. He placed his hands on his hips, tilting his head to the side. His efforts to act nonchalant only furthered his excitement, and with a dramatic twirl, he shot the armor a beaming smile– jazz hands following his question. “What do you think?”
WPNZ was, in fact, awestruck by the little slice of paradise that Puzzles had somehow managed to find. The moment they entered the little clearing, he was entranced by the flickering sea of fireflies. He spent several minutes just watching them as they floated through the air.
When he had still been held by the mages that created him, he had been entirely unaware of the beauty the outside world held. WPNZ counted himself lucky. If not for Puzzles, he would never have seen any of this.
Speaking of the bard, WPNZ turned his helm to look at him at the sound of his voice.
Apparently, he had been zoned out long enough for Puzzles to wrangle Horsie's tack away. She had started grazing on some grass nearby, but he saw the way she kept eyeing the television. WPNZ would forever find it amusing seeing just how fond the horse had grown of Puzzles.
"How'd you find this spot?" The armor tilted his helm as he returned his gaze to his friend. "'S nice." It was a lame compliment, but he genuinely didn't know how else to express his enjoyment of the little area.
“Oh, this?” Puzzles waved a dismissive hand, but the slightest hint of praise had the bard already puffing out his chest in pride.
“It’s just something I came across while we were gathering supplies earlier.” Puzzles didn’t dare mention the reason, lest he sour the mood— or the fact he’d actually stumbled across it by scaring away a couple in the midst of their heartfelt confession scene. Or breakup. It was difficult to make out amongst the screaming until he finally muted the two lovebirds.
He didn’t need anyone else getting in the way and sullying the spot he’d rightfully claimed.
“It’s not anything special,” he fibbed, ignoring the pang in his head that told him it very much was. “I figured it’d be a much better place to clear that metal head of yours.”
A soft chuckle escaped WPNZ. He could tell that Puzzles was trying to pretend like his little surprise wasn't a big deal. The way the bard puffed his chest, however, gave him away. There was probably more to the story than what Puzzles was telling him, but WPNZ decided he would just play along.
"Well, credit where credit is due. Ya did good, Firefly."
Finally, for the first time since arriving in their camping spot, WPNZ moved. He trudged around the clearing, eyes searching for anything that could be used to start a fire. It made for a nice distraction- one that he really appreciated.
Because any time he paused for more than a few seconds, he thought back to her.
"Do you think she was tellin' the truth?" It was asked suddenly while WPNZ continued gathering sticks.
“…Pardon?” Puzzles asked, glancing back towards WPNZ. The nickname had him glowing as much as the bugs around him— his screen having even flickered between brightness settings with how excited he’d gotten.
He hadn’t even realized he’d been lost in thought for the past few minutes until WPNZ called out to him, having taken a seat and to shuffle through his satchel while WPNZ worked.
His high came crashing down almost instantly as his expression shifted from baffled to pondering.
“Oh, er— I don’t know,” he admitted after a few seconds, grabbing a solution bag from his satchel. Turning away from WPNZ (and Horsie) he begins to unbutton his vest, slipping the feeding tube between his fingers.
“She seemed, er— quite familiar with you, I suppose.” After he made the mistake of saying WPNZ’ name, he internally scolded himself, screen switching to a grimace.
An armful of sticks were brought over to where Puzzles was sitting, then dropped into a pile. WPNZ knelt down next to them to begin the process of actually building the fire. His gaze was drawn by Puzzles turning away from him, but he managed to catch a glimpse of the solution bag before the television fully turned.
WPNZ didn't really understand why Puzzles was so weird about refueling. It wasn't all that long ago that the assassin had to scramble to get a bag hooked up after his friend had shut down. He'd seen several sections of the other man's torso by this point.
Although, he supposed he didn't really have a say in any of it. It wasn't like he had a body to really consider what it was like, after all.
".... Yeah, I guess," he replied, shifting his full focus to starting the fire. Soon enough, little flickers of flames began licking at the wood. WPNZ leaned back, satisfied. His gaze ended up lingering far longer on Puzzles than it did the fire, though.
His friend seemed.... Uncomfortable? To be fair, the topic was sort of... well, odd. WPNZ still didn't know how he felt about it. He could only imagine how awkward it must be for Puzzles. He looked down at his hands, palms twisting to face the sky.
"Sorry. We don't gotta talk 'bout it."
“No, no!” The sound of shuffling kicked up, and though Puzzles didn’t meet WPNZ’ gaze, the bard had seemed to shift into a far more alert position— a small pop! filling the momentary silence as he rushed to put everything away.
“I assumed— this spot would— ngh— make it easier to— rgh—talk about it! Excuse me a moment!”
The bag was already half empty by the time Puzzles placed it back into the bag, his expression flickering from frustration to relative satisfaction as he brought himself to a stand.
Considering how meticulous he tended to be about the process, it was evident he’d been more focused on WPNZ, rather than the task at hand— satchel sat in his lap as he took his place beside him.
“She could have been. She also could have not been.” His loading circle reappears, tapping his ‘chin’. “But she seemed to be quite genuine.” Puzzles frowns, running his fingers over the strap of his satchel.
“I don’t see why she’d lie about something like that when she’s been working with us for so long.”
WPNZ watched as Puzzles rushed to do.... Something. What it was, he couldn't be certain. With the bard still facing away from him, he could only assume it had something to do with the solution bag?
It felt a little scandalous to continue watching, though, so he averted his gaze. By the time Puzzles was sitting down beside him, WPNZ was poking at the fire with a stick. The adware's words were listened to intently, even if WPNZ didn't actually look at him.
"Yeah," he replied, once Puzzles finished. "'S what I was thinkin' too."
The stick in his hand was set aside so that he could thread his talons together. Having Puzzles confirm his own thoughts wasn't exactly what he wanted to hear. He'd been hoping that he'd missed something.
That the tabaxi had been lying.
A heavy sigh left WPNZ. "..... I have kids," he said, quietly. The disbelief in his tone was palpable. "Fuck, I have kids."
Kids he didn't remember. Kids he didn't know.
"Or- I- he has kids. I don't-," a sharp wave of his hand expressed his frustration at not knowing how to communicate his thoughts. "I don't know what the fuck I am. Or- what he was."
Damn, he really needed to break something. Or, maybe-
WPNZ grabbed a rock from the ground behind him and chucked it into the forest. He heard it explode into pebbles against whatever surface it had collided with.
The sound of the rock hitting what was assumedly a tree had Puzzles' antennae flatten, shoulders hunching upward in a wince.
"You," he corrects quietly, though the instant the word leaves his speakers, he clears his throat, glancing back into the fire. "What I mean is- you're WPNZ."
Meeting WPNZ' gaze, his expression softens. "Regardless of whatever body you reside in."
Puzzles' quiet response had WPNZ immediately turning to look at him. He studied his friend for a moment, that singular word sinking in.
The following explanation resonated somewhere deep inside him.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, everything else faded away. His anger died out, smothered by the embrace of such kind words. The sentiment was appreciated more than he could explain.
WPNZ hoped his appreciation showed in his eyes.
"My name," he said, quietly. "I thought you gave it to me. But, that was my name before. She wouldn’t have known it otherwise. How did you.....?"
He knew there was something carved into his chest plate that he covered with his bandana. But, unfortunately, he had no idea what it said. Was that where it had come from?
"Oh-! No, no, I..." The rush of heat blossoming across his screen was so sudden it almost made the adware dizzy. Holding his hands up in a defensive pose, Puzzles' gaze darts about wildly, an EKG line dancing across his screen. His fingers gripped along the brim of his hat, tugging it down in an effort to shield his face.
"I-I simply read what it said on your plating and assumed that was your name." he murmured, clearing his throat.
WPNZ tilted his helm in confusion at the sudden appearance of that EKG line. What had he said that could have warranted that?
Regardless, the answer he was offered cleared a few things up, at the very least. He finally knew what the markings on his chest said, so that was a bonus.
"Oh." WPNZ slid a hand under his bandana, claw tip tracing the letters carved there. "No, I was called by a number. Never a name."
Something about an object not needing a name. It made sense, honestly. Why humanize a suit of armor?
"Hm. Well, 'm still countin' it as you namin' me. You were the first one to refer to me by it." He still remembered when Puzzles had first used his name. How it had felt right immediately, so he had responded to it as such.
.... He hoped Puzzles wouldn't think too hard about how he hadn't realized his name was carved into his armor.
“Really?” Puzzles quirked a brow, his embarrassment beginning to subside as he mulls over WPNZ’ words. “I would have expected whoever did so would have carved your number into your plating instead.”
Leaning back, his loading circle again reappears, before just as quickly vanishing, shooting WPNZ a thoughtful look. “Maybe it was your name before, and someone took the initiative to write it down?” He shrugs, his blush briefly returning as he glances off to the side.
“Hmph. Well, it’s better than Horsie, I suppose.”
Carving the number would have made sense. Maybe it was on his armor somewhere. Possibly inside? He didn't know. It wasn't like he would have been able to tell what it said, even if it was.
"It had to have been," WPNZ agreed. He glanced away from Puzzles to look up at the sky. It felt like a warm, comforting embrace every time he stared up at it. Familiar, freeing, and safe. "That tabaxi recognized the name. 'S how she put two and two together."
Then, a squint. "Or, well, she recognized my voice first. Saw her lookin' at me after I spoke."
At the jab to their horse's name, however, WPNZ elbowed Puzzles in the side. "Hey, Horsie ‘s a great name! She likes it! You're just jealous that you didn't get to name her."
“No thanks to me, of course.” He lets out a dry, humorless laugh— WPNZ’ elbow to the side getting an actual one out of him.
“OHOHOW!” Puzzles grunted, rubbing his side with a wince. Rolling his eyes, he shoots WPNZ a half-smile, half-grimace.
“For a child’s toy, maybe,” he snorts, returning the gesture with a smack upside the helm. “I’m envious I didn’t think to stop you.”
WPNZ' gaze softened at Puzzles' words. Now that he was actually looking, he could see the guilt his friend held towards the previous interaction. Although, he didn't really understand why Puzzles felt like he had any fault in it.
The words he has, however, are held for a few moments longer when Puzzles smacks him. It earns a chuckle- one that has tension visibly bleed out of his armor. "Couldn't have stopped me, even if ya wanted to," he snorted, amused.
"But, hey. Box, none of that shit was your fault. You know that, right? She'd have found out, one way or another. She was suspicious of my fuckin' voice."
Then came a realization. "Shit, we would have had to of...." He gestured vaguely with his hand. "If I had kids with her, then was she my ex?"
“It being far later would have been more preferable.” Still, he knew WPNZ had a point. There would have been other ways, regardless of his name being spoken— and taking on the guilt wouldn’t do either of them any good.
“If you were said to have kids, then I suppose so.” Puzzles frowns, propping his chin up in his hand with a contemplative hum. “Ex-husband, it looks to be from what she’d implied.”
WPNZ let himself lean against Puzzles, eyes disappearing for a few moments. He had a lot to think about. So many twisted paths that were becoming increasingly more complex and disorienting. Maybe he needed to hunt down that tabaxi- to actually talk to her and ask questions.
.... That sounded like a daunting task.
Something in him longed for her, though he didn't understand why. He longed for her in the same way he longed for Puzzles, albeit not as strongly as the latter- which.... well, context clues brought him to a rather startling realization.
When WPNZ' eyes reappeared, they were a vibrant blue. He kept his helm ducked, and his gaze away from Puzzles.
"Husband," he echoed. His talons scratched a little deeper at his plating. "He was her husband. I'm not," is what he decides. "I don't need whatever that relationship was. I've got you, now."
“Huh?” WPNZ’ revelation earns a startled noise out of the adware, shoulders hunching once again at the sudden burst of energy.
“Well, I-“ The EKG line returns, and he swivels his head away, tilting the brim of his hat further down his screen. He felt his chest flutter, and for a moment, Puzzles found himself completely speechless.
How was it that WPNZ brought about such a feeling he barely had the words to describe? To lift him up, even when the situation had grown tense? How was it that he continued to persist with such a dawning realization– and move on so quickly, like nothing had ever happened?
Puzzles felt a pang of envy blossom in his chest, at that. He’s got me now.
He had no idea why that sentiment nearly brought a tear to his eye.
“It… seems you do,” he murmured, the corner of his ‘mouth’ just barely twitching into a bashful smile.
Luckily for Puzzles, WPNZ was busy looking anywhere but at the TV. So, he didn't see that blush- didn't notice any sort of fluster.
After all, he was dealing with his own fluster. He could see the blue glow of his eyes reflecting off his plating, and he was trying to make it go away.
Puzzles' words didn't help.
WPNZ cleared his throat (what throat?) loudly, shoulders hunched and helm still ducked. "Enough of the mushy shit," he announced. "I think 's more than enough feelin's for one night."
“For once, I’m inclined to agree.” Anything that would get this godforsaken blush off his screen. Clearing his throat in turn, Puzzles lifts his satchel off his back, dropping it to the ground with a soft thump.
Keeping his eyes steeled towards the ground, he offered WPNZ little more than a cursory glance, before flopping onto the ground and readying himself for the morning ahead.
“We’ve got our work cut out for us tomorrow.” Resting his boxy head against his satchel, he drapes his cape across himself, curling his legs to his chest. “Best to get some shut-eye in before then.”
When he heard Puzzles moving around, WPNZ finally glanced in his direction. He watched for a moment as his friend began getting ready to sleep for the night. It was inevitable, WPNZ knew. He didn't really feel like being alone with his thoughts, but Puzzles needed the rest.
Although, seeing the bard pull his cape over top himself suddenly reminded WPNZ of something.
WPNZ pushed up on his chest plate, creating a gap for him to stick his hand in. Immediately, his talons made contact with the item he was looking for. It was pulled out with a soft hum.
Without a word, WPNZ unfurled and tossed a small quilt over Puzzles' form. There was no way it would be able to cover all of the TV, should he want to stretch his legs out, but it was larger than the cape. WPNZ had also made sure to grab something with a texture he knew wouldn't bother his friend.
"To keep ya warm," is all he says, offering a nonchalant shrug.
“…Hm?” The sudden added weight to his person had the bard almost immediately sit up, his previously embarrassed look now having been replaced with a look of bafflement. Glancing down at the quilt, then WPNZ, and quilt again, Puzzles broke the previously relaxed atmosphere with an echoing, “YOU HAD THIS THE WHOLE TIME?!”
WPNZ cringed, one eye slipping shut, while the other narrowed. Fuck, Puzzles could be so loud. At first, he didn't even understand what he was being yelled at about!
"What? No! I just fuckin' got it! Snagged it in the last town over when I said I was gonna get Horsie some water."
A squint was shot at Puzzles. "Why the hell would I carry a quilt around without tellin' ya?! 'S not like I use 'em!"
Apparently, his gift was offered in an improper way.
“Because you didn’t think to tell me until THIS VERY MOMENT!” Puzzles exclaimed, throwing his arms up in exasperation. The fact he’d been sleeping with his cape since the previous town when WPNZ, apparently, had this stored away was almost enough to make the adware explode with anger. Embarrassment, mainly, for not having expected such a heartwarming gift– but mostly anger in the fact Puzzles had no idea how to handle it.
It didn’t, thankfully— though the very obvious twitch of his eye gave his true feelings away.
Letting out a disgruntled sigh— and a few irritated mumbles under his breath, Puzzles gripped the hem of the blanket before pulling it over himself once more.
Though he doesn’t go back to lay down, he shoots WPNZ a terse, strained smile, trying his hardest to show his friend some sliver of appreciation amidst his embarrassment irritation. Puzzles made a note to himself to figure out some way to repay his generosity.
“Right. Thanks, WPNZ.” he gets out, turning his back towards WPNZ to avoid having to meet his helm with his large, teary-eyed screen.
Ungrateful asshole.
WPNZ had gone out of his way to do something nice, because he hated seeing Puzzles shiver at night; however, he was starting to regret that decision! Apparently, he had done something wrong.
The armor's squint shifted into a glare. He shoved himself onto his feet with an angry growl, then, without another word, stalked off in the direction he had last seen Horsie.
He had jumped through several hoops to find a damn fabric that he was certain wouldn't bother Puzzles. In fact, he had actually paid for the damn thing!
Whatever. It didn't matter.
Airheaded brute.
Rolling his eyes, Puzzles took the act as a sign to get some shut eye, throwing himself back onto the ground with a soft grumble. Despite how he’d acted moments previously, however, the adware couldn’t say he was actually upset.
Annoyed, certainly, that it only now came about after a handful of days spent traveling with little more than his cape to keep him warm. He found himself thankful his blanket was doing a far better job of hiding his blush than his cape ever could.
It wasn't his fault that he'd forgotten about it! WPNZ didn't always have the greatest memory, and it wasn't like he used blankets. It genuinely hadn't crossed his mind.
Another harsh growl left WPNZ as he approached Horsie, though he took a quick detour to slam his foot into a tree. It helped relieve a smidge of anger, but not much. Then, he returned to their horse, talons petting along her neck and sides.
She couldn't be left to roam free overnight, so he hooked her harness and lead back on, then tied her to a nearby tree. There was still plenty of room for her to graze, of course.
.... Maybe trying to grooming her would take his mind off things. It was going to be a long fucking night.