Part 101. The Legacy

                                    

                                          
Part 101.  The Legacy
                          
"So.  How mad was she?"
                          
"That you didn't come back last night?" Wheatley asked, turning away from the hole to look at him.  He'd been looking out of it that morning and Claptrap had returned from Pandora just as he'd been about to leave.  The weather was sort of dreary today and there weren't many humans about, so it hadn't been that exciting.
                          
"Yeah."
                          
"Mm... well, she wasn't really mad.  Not exactly.  She was more... trying to be."
                          
"I wasn't doing anything," Claptrap said.  "I was gonna come back just like I said, but then Hammerlock showed up.  And he... actually wanted to talk to me."
                          
That was far more important than his absence had been.  "'bout what?"
                          
"About what I've been doing."  He raised himself a little bit.  "We've always had this like... well, he's always helped me out when I needed it, but he didn't like me, y'know?  He just did it 'cause he's a gentleman.  But I feel like... I dunno.  Like maybe it changed a little bit.  Just a little.  Like we're kinda friends now."
                          
Well, that was quite nice, Wheatley thought.  Hammerlock was an alright sort of bloke, other than his accent that was.  All right, his accent was also quite nice, but that wouldn't stop Wheatley wishing that was the one he had.  "You're probably quite diff'rent from when he saw you last."
                          
"Different good, I hope!"
                          
Wheatley had to frown at him.  "You don't think so?"
                          
Claptrap half shrugged.  "I wouldn't say I'm the best person to ask about myself."
                          
Wheatley was going to need some time to think that one over.  Who would be better to ask?  He could agree that maybe someone could see things about him he couldn't, due to the difference in the old perspective, but... surely anyone could tell if they'd become a better person without any help?  Wheatley was positive Claptrap had, and he hadn't even been around to see him at his worst!  How could Claptrap not know?
                          
"She messaged me twice," Claptrap said, and it took Wheatley a moment to think of who 'she' was and why she'd be sending messages.  "Haven't looked at them yet.  Should I?"
                          
"Yes."                                                                                                                                                                                                    
                          
"The first one just says 'goodnight' and the second one says 'I wish you wouldn't disappear like this'."  His antenna curved a little.  "She's pretty mad, huh."
                          
"No," Wheatley answered.  "She's not mad at all.  The first one is um, she missed you but didn't want to make a big deal out of it, and the other, well, it's... in a relationship, you've always got to be communicating."
                          
"I do talk to her!  All the time!"
                          
"But you haven't," Wheatley said.  "Not since we left yesterday.  You've been avoiding her.  You can't do that."
                          
Claptrap turned away from him.  "Well, I... I didn't mean to, I just – "
                          
"Look," Wheatley interrupted, "you don't have to keep her up to date ev'ry minute of the day.  But if you don't, if you'd rather keep to yourself for a bit you've got to let her know about it.  Because that's weird for you.  's not a thing you usually do.  You usually keep her up to date ev'ry minute of the day!  It's alright if you don't want to talk or if you'd like to head off to Pandora for a while.  But you've got to mention it so she knows that.  Does that make sense?"