"So do you like getting scratched behind the ears like a cat?"

"Don't even try."

"Huh."

"…"

"…"

Avocato looked at Gary with a raised brow. Gary stared at him back, raising a hand into the air.

"Gary, no –"

"Come on, just a little tickle!"

Gary grinned, running towards Avocato so suddenly that the Ventrexian barely had time to dodge the oncoming hand. Gary smashed into the wall, laughing.

They had known each other for some time now, and Avocato just couldn't understand why the question arose now. He thought they were past all the strange questions.

Apparently not.

"Avocato it's for science!" Gary yelled out as they ran down the halls of the Galaxy One, sliding across the smooth floors. Despite the childish game, Avocato found himself smiling, letting out a small laugh.

He found, more and more, that laughter was easier to come across around Gary, probably because of his immature antics.

(Or maybe it was because Gary was the first nice person he'd met in a while.)

Avocato let out a small noise as he slid around a corner.

"Avocato!" Gary dragged out his name, keeping up the chase.

"You're not scratching my ears!" He yelled.

Suddenly, Gary was in front of him, slinging an arm over his shoulder. Avocato stared at his sudden appearance in disbelief.

"You know you want them scratched. Every kitty does." Gary replied.

"I'm not a cat." Avocato pointed out. Gary shrugged.

"Close enough." The blonde grinned hugely, wiggling his fingers into the air. "Now lets get scratching!"

Avocato smiled, shaking his head.

"I don't think so." In one fluid movement, Avocato flipped Gary over his shoulder like a rag doll, pinning him on the ground with a loud thump.

Gary yelped, glaring up at Avocato, who was still smiling.

"Oh you just got into a fight with the finest ass in the universe." Gary warned him. Unfazed by the threat – Gary didn't stand a chance against him – Avocato's smile turned into a grin and he cracked his knuckles.

"Oh I look forward to it, baby."

When Gary lunged, Avocato began to sprint down the hall again, playing chase.

"I advise you do not go down there." HUE's voice drifted through the walls. "The SAMES are still repairing the ship, and lots of areas are still dangerous."

"We'll be fine, HUE." Avocato brushed him off, weaving through the SAMES and their various tools.

"Really, I don't think –"

"Shut up HUE! I've got to win against Avocato!" Gary's comment made him laugh and he ran faster. Gary's footsteps were growing louder – surprisingly, the human was gaining on him. Most likely because of all the robots blocking each hall; Avocato wasn't used to so many of them, but Gary could probably do this with his eyes closed.

The Ventrexian threw a robot out of the way (it had been dubbed Boobs by Gary) and finally, he was out of the construction area. The ship was surprisingly big, seeing as it was only for a prisoner, and he was almost lost.

Avocato would've kept running all the way to the kitchen, but the sudden absence of Gary's footsteps were concerning to say in the least.

"Gary?" The Ventrexian retraced his steps, ears twitching at the sound of the SAMES panicked voices.

"Oh no."

"We're doomed."

"He won't move."

"Panic."

"HUE?" Avocato still couldn't see Gary, but something inside him twisted for his companion.

(That was a lie.)

(Gary was his best friend.)

"It appears that Gary has fallen unconscious a few metres away from you." HUE told him. "I cannot give a full diagnosis here, but due to probability he has most likely experienced an electric shock."

"Shit." Avocato searches through the crowd of SAMES, eyes falling on a still figure crumpled on the floor.

Gary looked asleep, if it weren't for the odd position he was in. It was almost as if he were –

(Dead)

Avocato shook his head, eyes narrowing as he felt for a pulse. It was quick, but it was better than none.

"Gary?" Avocato tapped Gary's cheek lightly, but got no response. A sudden spark of blue caught his eye and he jumped back at the slight shock that raced through his skin on contact. He cursed, glaring at the source.

Gary's robotic arm was spitting sparks, the fingers twitching.

"Okay…let's get you out of here." Avocato gingerly dragged Gary out of the hazardous place, growling at any SAMES that stepped near. They were still panicking, running in circles.

"The med bay is in the second corridor on the left." HUE supplied once Avocato was in a safer area.

Not wasting any time, Avocato scooped up Gary bridal style, holding him close to his chest.

(He wasn't going to die.)

(He didn't know what he'd do if he did)

When the fluorescent lights almost blinded him, he knew he was in the right place. Following HUE's instructions, he placed him in the bed, flinching as a glass dome closed over him.

"Is he going to be okay?" Avocato asked the AI, locking his eyes on the human in front of him. He looked pale and still, a direct contrast to the energetic Gary a few minutes ago.

"This is why I advise not to run through corridors." HUE said unhelpfully. "But thanks to my brilliance, Gary should be just fine now."

Avocato sat down, staring at the needles poking through Gary's skin. A robotic arm removed Gary's artificial limb, placing it on a table.

"What was the damage?" The Ventrexian asked lowly, hunching in his chair.

"I can't disclose any patient's medical information without their permission unless it is life threatening." HUE informed him. Despite the frustrating privacy, Avocato let out a sigh of relief.

"So nothing life threatening?" He asked.

"No. Gary is safe."

(It was still his fault)

It was quite late into the night when HUE decided to take Gary off the painkillers and pull him back into consciousness. Avocato was there when the human opened his eyes blearily, apparently not too surprised to see himself in the med bay.

"Again?" Gary muttered, slapping a hand on his forehead. "HUE? What did I do this time?!"

"You got yourself shocked, idiot." Avocato rose to his feet, stretching. Gary jumped at his presence.

"Hey, 'Cato my man! Or my cat? My Ventrexian? My alien? Hmm…" Gary furrowed his eyebrows. Avocato smirked, helping the blonde to his feet.

"Man will do."

"What about dude?" Gary pressed, grinning.

Avocato thought. Dude sounded nice.

(As if Gary thought of him as a friend too)

"Dude sounds good."

"Aw right! Best buds forever!" Gary tried to jump and fist pump the air, but his legs were too shaky to hold him up for that long.

"Gary I do not recommend any physical activity for at least a day." HUE suggested too late.

"No kidding HUE!" Gary stumbled. Avocato caught him before he could hit the ground, letting him rest in his arms.

"Wow, we really are bros." Gary muttered. He gave Avocato a sly look, grinning.

"What?" Avocato asked uneasily. Gary's gaze moved further up, staring right at – oh no.

"Ear scratch…" Gary whispered.

"No."

"Come oooon…"

Again, Avocato was consumed with the immaturity and relaxation that came with being in close contact with Gary for any length of time. He sighed, unable to say no to the blonde lying in his arms.

"Fine." Avocato rolled his eyes. "A few seconds only."

"Five."

"Three."

Gary huffed.

"Fine." The grin slid back on his face as he reached out for Avocato's ears. "Tickle time…"

The experience, Avocato concluded, wasn't that bad.

(It was actually really nice but he wasn't going to admit that)