Trigger- Drabbles and Thoughts: Eyes on Me- Part 1

 “You look terrible.” The tanuki woman frowned as Trigger leaned against the booth, giving a tired hand lift in greeting. They’d found an interesting location to meet for breakfast, or rather Kyanoko had, which he assumed was bound to be a novel experience.

“Gee, thanks.” He quipped back as he sank into an open seat, gratefully taking the cup of something hot and caffeinated. “Sorry I had a kinda shit night.” The attempt to sip hot drink was stalled, and his tastebuds saved a scalding as he immediately paused to add: “Not because of the other day.” Overtop her faintly guilty expression.

Well… maybe not entirely true. Mostly true. Sufficiently true.

It had maybe influenced him to have his own childhood in mind, and more than that, his own mortality in mind. “Thanks for letting me come though.” He added, thoughtfully, and meant it.

Was it weird to mean that?

“You were doing me a favor.” She pointed out, pulling out a folded menu and examining it while Trigger distractedly eyed the stack of tiny jelly containers. It was a variant earth of some kind, but they hadn’t looked much past the Diner. The fact that instead of Strawberry and Grape the packets were interesting things like “Cloudberry” and “Elderberry.” And Lime marmalade instead of orange was a twist though.  On the plus side he could buy jeans and t shirts and -socks- without worrying about a bounty hunter.

He had not mentioned that to Kyanoko. He hadn’t mentioned his home world in much detail at all.

“Is Ginger going to join us?”

“I think she’s running a bit behind. Ooh, you like pancakes yeah?”

“Hell, yeah I like pancakes. I think pancakes might be a universal constant.”

Conversation drifted back and forth for a few minutes, debating if the egg sandwiches were a worthwhile gamble or if they’d be a kind of egg that was so off variant that it would ruin breakfast. The continued repair attempts on the Mocktopus (and where he could find the tinier tools he might need to open certain parts for repair.)

It was pleasant. Comforting.

It was him letting himself get off topic.

“Hey so… speaking of favors…” He ran his thumb over the stem of the spoon harder than necessary, imagining it bending under the pressure.

Kyanoko watched him with open curiosity, and he felt a surge of guilt and determination at war with each other.

“It’s kind of a weird one. And if you’re uncomfortable I want you to say no.” He continued, watching the journey of reaction in her expression.

“Yes?” She prodded, now more slowly, her claws pinched around the pull tab of a jelly packet for her toast.

He wanted to rewind the conversation or get up and walk out with a ‘never mind’. He wanted to do a lot of things, but he needed to do this one.

The spoon clinked against the mug as though offering its own opinion or urging him on.

“If something happens to me at some point… “ He was fidgeting and he knew it. “If something happens. If it happens and it’s not my home portal… I need someone to make sure no one tries to take my left eye.”