Laboratory Confessional

"...tell you what. Let me ask you a question - and answer me truthfully! - and I'll explain in return. Fair?"

Neo glowers. "You’ll make me regret it."

Faust's eyes glint inscrutably. "Take it or leave it."

"Fine, fine, deal. Fair's fair."

Faust's expression finally shifts, the corner of its mouth quirking ever so slightly in triumph.

"How long have you been in love with me?"

"I-" Neo sputters and jerks up stick-straight "I'm- how did. I didn’t think-" his face has become beet red in short order. Faust can’t help itself and starts to snicker.

"You asshole!" Neo hisses "This isn’t- I didnt agree to-"

"You absolutely did, fair and square," Faust's normally somber features have begun to crinkle in his amusement, and Neo blushes even harder. "No answer, no secrets."

"Aaaaaughhhh," Neo buries his face in his paws.

"...I fell for you so early," Neo's words finally come out in a rush, "b-but I didnt realize it. It fuled my obsession with- with your work, I couldnt stop thinking about it. I thought I was just desperate to do good. To end your machinations-"

"When?"

Still speaking through his paws, and bringing a third up to his forehead, Neo mutters, "In the jar."

Faust raises an eyebrow. "Kinky."

"NOT LIKE THAT-" Neo throws his paws up, frantic, face impossibly redder than before. Faust cackles, waving a paw in jest.

"Gods, do you only exist to antagonize me? Shut up!"

As Faust calms down, Neo's fury fades to a far less recognizable emotion.

"You-" his voice cracks, catching Faust by surprise. "you cared." They stare at him.

"You’re the first person who ever gave a shit about me. I spent the last- the last..." he waves a paw vaguely, "-many years wandering; on-and-off homeless and alone and hungry. I was-" he begins to tear up "- I was kicked out of my family for being bad luck. Just for being a spinx. For being mutable," Neo spits. "I’ve been used and ignored and forgotten for my whole sorry, miserable life and you....

"Even though you had me trapped because you were angry with me. Even though I tried to hurt you. Even though you had every right in the world to hate me you cared if I had enough to eat every day. If I was okay."

He leaves that hanging and scoffs; shakes his head, just a little, gently, and a tear finally rolls down his cheek.

"I dont know if that’s the answer you wanted but it’s the truth."

He knows he asked but Faust cant help but feel a little baffled at the outpouring of emotion.

"You are, then."

"what?"

"You are in love with me."

Neo looks up sharply. "You didn’t know??"

"Half of science is knowing how to ask the right questions." It smiles. "I had an inkling."

Neo shakes his head again, this time in disbelief. "I am, yeah. Don’t get me wrong, you’re a reprehensible mess and dont respect the order of this world! I mean what I say, I WILL stop you - but gods, yes I am." he glances back at Faust, then away again in scorn. "Not that I know what to do about it."

"Kiss me."

Neo chokes, face snapping back up Faust's, eyes wide. "wh-"

He quirks a smile. "Kiss me about it."