Artificial Memory (DISCONT'D BUT WILL UPLOAD UNEDITED CHAPTERS)

Chapter 5: I Take "Dog Person" To A Whole New Level

With a grunt of annoyance, I ignored it and walked to the bathroom,  reaching under the sink for a darker-coloured cloth that wouldn't stain easily. Once I did that, I headed to the kitchen. I grabbed a large bowl, sticking it under the tap and running the warm water. Triumph followed me like a lost puppy the whole time.

With it filled to a satisfactory level, I held the cloth in my mouth and carried the bowl upstairs to Memory's room. I laid it beside him, soaking the cloth in it.

I then set to work washing the congealing blood off of his skin and removing whatever clothing articles were soaked with it. Those being his scarf, hoodie, and shirt. His pants were fine. As I washed him down, a voice quietly asked,

"How can you show so much compassion to him? You've only known him for a year."

I glanced behind me with curiosity to see Triumph kneeling there with another dark cloth in his hand.

It was as if my sense of forgiveness had returned. Damn it. I gestured to let him know he could help me.

"I'm not at liberty to discuss that with you."

I muttered, not wanting to discuss my emotions with him.

He kneeled beside the bed on my right, helping me work. His eyes had such an odd warmth in them. Like he respected me. He was quiet until we finished, then he stood and took the bowl of bloody water and the rag.

"I'll take this for you."

He offered.

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to read him.

"Why are you helping me? I nearly busted your teeth out."

"I want to show you that I'm trustworthy. I mean, I wanna make up with you both."

He responded.

I raised an eyebrow.

"I'll give you one more chance, since you're Memory's brother. But if I catch you doing another shitty thing like that...I'll kill you."

I hissed under my breath, just loud enough for him to hear.

He nodded.

I walked with him to the bathroom. There, he dumped out the bloody water in the tub and rinsed it out as I began rinsing my wound with water from the tap. I winced, biting down on the inside of my lip. He laid the bowl upside down to allow it to dry, then gently guided me aside to seat me on the closed lid of the toilet and opened up the red fabric kit.

"Now that you trust me a bit, mind explaining your attachment to Memory?"

He asked.

I glared at him, then sighed in irritation at his persistence. I muttered,

"I find him a.....attract..."

It was hard to choke out those cursed words. 'I love him' sounded cheesy, 'I like him' wasn't strong enough, and any other words sounded stupid.

"You're in love with him."

Triumph finished.

He brought out some hydrogen peroxide and began treating my arm. With a grimace of pain, I mumbled,

"You could say that."

"It's a good thing he's pansexual."

"He doesn't like me that way, though."

I shut Triumph down quickly. He didn't need to further our relationship through any crazy scheme this idiot could think up.

"Oh man, you haven't even mastered THAT ability yet!"

He snickered.

I gritted my teeth. I wanted to punch him so badly but my left arm was being treated and my right fist was possibly broken.

"Fuck off."

I growled.

"Sorry. I mean, the ability to sense people's intent and interests."

He apologized.

"That's really intrusive."

I spat, narrowing my eyes.

"No. It's just the ability to sense if a person is hostile, benevolent or neutral towards you and your allies. It's also an ability that lets you know if someone likes something. Like, I can sense whether a person is into videogames, military, fashion, animals, or anything."

"Oh? Sounds a bit interesting."

I commented. For once, this was something I could see myself getting into.

"Yeah. I can also sense that Memory is VERY, VERY interested in you. As in, he's crushing on you."

He said, voice and eyes teasing.

I glared off to the side, snapping,

"No. He's not. Now shut up."

"AHAHAHA YOU'RE AS RED AS A CHERRY!"

"Please don't use that terminology while we're talking about crushes and sexuality."

I said.

He let out a soft laugh, then nodded.

"Yeah, I should've said tomato or something else, right?"

"I guess."

He finished bandaging me up, then wrapped my knuckles. I then stood up, meeting the young man's eyes.

"Thanks."

"No problem. I can wash Memory's clothes."

He replied.

As he left, I called,

"Hey."

"Hm?"

"...will transforming hurt him again?"

I asked.

Triumph smiled at me, then murmured,

"No. It's just the first one that hurts like a bitch. He won't lose control again, either. It's just because the rejection response was a problem. I went through that, too."

I let out a sigh of relief before realizing I'd showed a sign of weakness in front of him. When I glared over at him as a warning, he laughed.

"I'll help you with yours, too."

I stiffened.

"I...transform?"

"Yeah. All Fallen can."

He explained.

I stared at him for a second, then slowly glanced at my shadow against the shower curtain. The sun cast the vague shadow of a large cat against it. A cougar, lynx, or leopard stood on all fours. It's paw moved when I lifted one foot. When I put it down in shock, Triumph laughed out loud.

"With that attitude, you're a cat all right!"

"THE HELL DOES THAT MEAN, YOU ASS?!"

I shouted, grabbing a tin of band aids and whipping it at his face with all my might. He narrowly dodged it and it nailed the wall of the hallway behind him. A giggle echoed down the hallway.

I then smirked to myself.

I guess I could get used to this guy, too.