20 Emily's Breakdown

[Warning: The following chapter contains graphic depictions of self-harm. Reader discretion is advised]

Emily runs back to her room crying, nearly tripping over her doorway. She slams the door shut and curls up in the corner, shaking and cursing at herself. She looks around and sees a sheet of metal near her workbench.

Kaine runs at the speed of light to Emily's room, regretting everything he said. To know that what he said made Emily run away hurts him to his robotic core. He remembers her face slowly turn from her bright, smiling self, to a sad, shocked and crying girl makes his memory core wish to self destruct. He turns the corner of the hallway and sees her room right in front of him.

He thinks about what he should say, how to apologize, and ask if she still wanted to be with him, and then he hears a thud and what sounds like metal being clashed to the ground. He knocks lightly, saying: "Emily, dear? I'm sorry about what I said. Are you ok? I heard some noises in there." There's no reply. "Emily. Please forgive me." He says again, saddened. "I-I'm fine. Just please go away. I want to be alone right now." She replies sounding weak. Kaine starts to walk away before stopping in his tracks when he hears Emily exhale sharply. "I shouldn't have to do this." He says to himself as he turns and looks into Emily's room with X-ray vision. He gasps and bursts through the door.

The room is dark, so much so that Kaine thought he was dead. He turns on his night vision and looks around. He sees a sheet of metal on the workbench that has a chunk taken out of it, in the shape of a jagged V. He continues to look around and sees Emily curled up in the corner of the room with something in her hand.

He takes a step closer, and hears a small splash under his feet. He looks down and sees a type of liquid, trailing over to Emily. "Oh, please don't be what I think this is." He says quietly as he continues to walk closer and closer to her. "Please just leave me alone right now." Emily says weakly. Kaine notices that she's shaking, putting her head between her knees.

Kaine kneels down and brushes her hair. "Emily, please let me see your arms." He says slowly and comfortingly. Emily tightens up In response. He asks again, slower: "Emily. May I please see your arms? I just want to make sure that you're ok." Emily loosens herself up, shower her arms to Kaine, still laying her head on her knees. Kaine scans her arms, seeing at least 35 cuts total. He also notices that only 12 of them are fresh. "Emily. Do you do this often?" Kaine asks, trying to look her In the eyes.

He lifts her chin up with his other hand. Tears streak down her face as she looks at Kaine. "I didn't want you to know because I thought I could control it, but I can't! I'm just a stupid girl. You said it yourself." She says as she puts her head back on her knees.

Kaine thinks about what to say for a second, before finally hugging her. "I'm stupid too, so we can be stupid together." Emily lifts her arms and hugs him back. Kaine picks her up and starts carrying her out of her room. "Let's get you to the medical bay." He says walking slowly to comfort her. Emily drops the piece of metal and lays her head on Kaine's chest, her love for him growing back each step.