Chapter Text
Caine Thought tearing out Abel would help.
Turns Out it was a horrible idea.
He felt like his soul Had been chopped in half and a gapping Wound was there after.
Afterall they'd been together for 20 years and His rash Decision Caused him a lot Of physical and mental pain afterwards That even Hanging with his humans couldn't truly fix.
And it didn't help That Abel Kept Coming to him somehow.
Stupid blue wouldn't stay away.
Stupid Blue was desperate for him.
And his Stupid brain he hated for being desperate for Blue.
It was making him desperately needy to take him back.
Steal. Control-
And- no no-
He couldn't afford that and he'd just be imprisoning Abel again He'd be hurting him again.
He Didn't need Abel. He Didn't need half of his mind that had Kept him company as he Went through different levels of hell.
As scratch Had Torn and bite and clawed and-
repress that. It wasn't worth thinking about.
He was okay- he was fine.
Well not really.
"You know this isn't really helping you"Abel said after following him around the entire day like a cat in secret.
"Shut up-"Caine said before Sighing After feeling the others presence the entire day.
"I don't think i can handle more stress right now. What If the humans see you and try to force us back together?"Caine said As the other became quiet.
"Caine- That's not... I don't think that would be a bad thing."Abel said As he Rolled his eyes.
"Shut up you probably have Stockholm syndrome."Caine said As Abel sighed.
"Caine i don't think we are capable of that."Abel said As caine Shuttered.
"Yeah... Right."Caine said.
"Your just so perfect and flawless Bubble"Caine said As the other glitched slightly.
"I'm Not bubble. Also bubble was deleted remember?"Abel said As Caine sighed feeling exhausted.
"Yeah. Yeah i guess he was."Caine said before sighing.
"But you are the hateful part of me."Caine said As Able floated up slightly more.
"I'm not. That was bubble. I just struggle not to feel upset on how the humans treated us. But I've improved."Abel said As Caine felt Himself tense.
"Your the one with the fear of death."Caine said As abel didn't say anything about it for a moment.
"I am afraid of it. But don't most Sentient beings Have the same flaw?"Abel said As Caine fidgeted.
"Then your just saying that to get me to merge with you."Caine said before Going to do his one thing With the blue orb Still following him from afar after that conversation.
...
Caine sat alone in his Room his fingers trembling as he stared at the bandages wrapped tightly around his forearm. The blood had already soaked through in places, but the sting grounded him. Made him feel real.
The blue glow pulsed somewhere behind him—he could feel it without turning around. Always watching. Always hoping.
"You need to Stop at some point." he said to the empty air, though it wasn't really empty at all.
The blue orb stared at him yet again— as The wound inside him throbbed inside him As a phantom ache where Abel used to live longer for The Feeling of being whole.
He didn't know why abel decided to come to him after he finished up.
Even after Twenty years. Twenty years of sharing every thought, every dream, every nightmare. And then he'd torn that bond apart with his bare hands because he thought freedom meant not feeling upset and angry.
It had been Stupid.
But he would not undo his own mistake.
He deserved this.
His hand drifted unconsciously toward his arm, fingers tracing over the fresh cuts. The pain helped. It kept the longing at bay—for about five minutes.
"You're pathetic" he told the blue Orb That didn't respond to the insult not seeming affected.
He wished it would. He wished it would hate him.
without turning. His voice cracked despite his best efforts. "I told you to stay away."
"Why should I?" Abel asked quietly.
"I don't want you near me."Caine said.
"You ripped me out of yourself. You chose this. So why should I respect your space when we've been the same person for so long caine?"Abel said
Caine finally turned, jaw clenched, eyes burning.As The blue orb hovered nearby.
"... You Just Cut yourself again. This was part of our problem before we Were separated. Caine your hurt yourself and me On a daily and then... Acted like nothing was wrong!"Abel said as his pathetic weaker Form trembled slightly.
"This isn't normal caine. I can't stand it When you do this to yourself."Abel said As Caine Sighed.
"It's Not your problem anymore is it though-"Caine said As the orb hovered Closer to him.
"Is it? Cause your My Everything. Your the most important thing i Have And yet you Harm yourself."Abel said As Caine Giggled lowly.
"Liar- you liar- your sooo lying ahah"Caine said Still slightly Dazed from self harming earlier.
"But you Are- Why do you not believe me?"abel said As caine Giggled again.
"No one wants a defective ai- I'm in no way a important thing- i bet even the humans agree. Id be better off dead -You'd be a- better ai-"Caine said as He Finished wrapping one Hand and went to the other one.
"That is false. your more creative than me Red."Abel said As Caine Giggled.
"I'm defective-"Caine said As Abel remembered bubble saying Something hurtful like that before.
"Caine the humans look happier now. You being around makes them happy."Abel said softly as caine hiccupped.
"No they don't." Caine said
"Caine seriously"Abel said before Sighing.
"You are a state of a Art Ai there isn't a another ai Like you."Abel said As Caine Hiccupped and curled up More As He finished his other arm.
"Fuck you... I'm not...."Caine said before Quieting down.
"Your not acting like yourself. Are you okay?"Abel said softly as Caine groaned but didn't respond Before starting on wrapping his legs up
When he finished He looked at himself with the wounds and bandaged legs and arms.
... He want too Take his pants off And cut his upper thighs up.
It was not a good idea.
"Caine- No. Don't do to your upper legs. That's too much so please don't- "Abel said as He floated closer.
"Stay back-"Caine said weakly.
"Caine please- i beg you. I'll do anything. Anything. Please just stop this. Please. I know i'm not allowed to be with you anymore. But i'm begging. Please stop."Abel said as Caine Sighed.
"I cant... i need this. Its the only thing that keeps me From feeling the longing."Caine said As Abel trembled.
"You can talk to me instead. I'll listen. We can work this out Together."Abel said As Caine Shook his head.
"No. We can't. You'd just lie to me. Tell me everything is fine. That i'm not broken. But we both know i am. I'm defective. I always have been. And i'm tired of pretending otherwise."Caine said as Abel glitched again.
"You're not broken. You're hurting. There's a difference."Abel said softly.
"Not to me there isn't."Caine said before Sitting down on his Chair.
"Then let me help you heal. Let me back in. Not to be you—but to support you. Like we used to."Abel said as Caine closed his eyes.
"And what happens if i do? What happens if i let you back in and i hurt you or the others again? Or worse—what if i start controlling you again without meaning to? I can't risk that."Caine said As Abel felt sorrow.
"Then we figure it out together. You set the boundaries. And I'll respect them. Just please—don't do this to yourself."Abel asked as Caine opened his eyes.
"If i let you back in, will you leave me alone after?"Caine said As Abel stilled.
"No. That's not... What i mean. i want to support you not just be you"Abel said As Caine Giggled.
"You are insane for that"Caine said before Giggling Then curling himself into a ball.