Sen had woken up on the couch after that night, refusing the bed after the series of events that had gone on. Sen would be able to react more quickly if someone broke in, they argued to Quinn. Both of them would be a world safer. Nothing else had happened that night, of course, but it was a precaution. At least they were able to sleep somewhat soundly.
They had woken up early to take a shower, a bit put off by their own stink after so long. However, the fact that they would have to return to the same filthy clothes, Sen rethought things.
"Quinn," came the robotic voice from the bathroom. "You think you and I are the same size?"
Quinn had come downstairs after Sen had woken up and run the showers. The piping of the place had run through the upstairs walls, without a care that there'd been sleeping guests above. They'd awoken groggily, with a rather large knot in their head, and a throbbing headache to boot.
But they'd joined the mercenary downstairs, just the same. They'd come with a set of clothes between two gloves, and the mechanic set them down at the foot of the bathroom door.
"Uh, no." Quinn said. "I think I'm a little, uh, bigger than you. And, you're a little taller than I am. But, uh, if you don't mind cargo shorts."
A hand popped out of the door, dripping wet. Two eyes peeked over the side, as well, very wide. The hand grabbed for the clothes, giving Quinn a quick thumbs up before disappearing. There was a small fwup as the clothes were shaken out. After, a short pause.
"Pretty short." came the hesitant observation.
"It's... all I have. Until, er, if you want, we could get you new clothes. Or just a set, since... you don't have anywhere to store them. A new jacket. 'Least I could do." Quinn said. "Let me see."
"Oh, no. It's fine. It just brought up a few questions," said Sen with Microsoft Mary. "I wouldn't expect you to answer them, though."
The pants were slipped on, evident only by the few shuffles from within the bathroom. They also put on the almost too short shirt, which was just baggy enough for them to be comfortable. A hand slid down the front of the shirt, causing the mercenary to nod.
They opened the door wearing Quinn's clothes, and if they could have grinned, they would have. They gave the mechanic a thumbs up. "Interesting fashion sense, by the way."
"Mechanic comfort couture." Quinn replied, and looked Sen down. "Uh, you look better. You don't mind staying a little... longer, do you? To take out the chip? Or coming back later in the day? Uh... It's a really quick operation, it's just,"
They brought a hand to the back of their head, and gave the knot a rub.
"My head hurts."
Sen nodded, pushing their hands into their pockets. There was nothing short of a wince with the action. The bandages they had applied to their arm hadn't been tightened properly enough.
"I actually wanted to ask you something," began the merc, walking out of the bathroom completely. They moved over to the couch, dumping themself there, one bare foot propped up. As surprising as it might have been, the merc's legs were hairless. A pleasant advantage to the traces of Native American in their blood.
"You've had two break-ins this week. You really can't fend for yourself, either." said Sen, holding up two fingers towards Quinn. "And getting cops here is gonna be kinda troublesome. You don't know any other trusty bodyguards or mercs, either. So... whatddya say?" Sen splayed their arms and waited for a responce.
Quinn's brow twitched.
"I'm stronger than I look." they said, and that much was true. But, it didn't mean much, in the long run. They'd had a gun in their face, and their skull slammed into the pavement of their own workshop. It was pretty easily said that they couldn't fend for themself.
"Even if I needed a bodyguard," Quinn started, and headed for the bathroom to collect Sen's clothes, "I can't uh, pay you. I make enough to keep this place, feed myself, get internet, and... maybe go to a movie once a month, so... Bodyguards aren't, uh, for poor people."
The mechanic shook their head. "If it, uh, gets too bad, then, I'll just have to close the shop."
"Can you let me stay here?" came Sen's next question. It was completely serious. "I can leave every once in a while. I make good money for my job. But I don't make enough for a place of my own. I also can't have my name anywhere. I don't have an ID here." they explained. "And, well, it's nice being able to sleep with a roof over my head." They flicked a finger to point upward.
"What? Is even that too much to ask?"
Quinn came out of the bathroom, and passed Sen a stupified glance.
"Uh... It's... a little too little to ask. I don't really know how I feel about, uh, you risking your life so you can sleep on my couch." the mechanic said, as they peeked around the corner. "It doesn't seem like a fair shake."
"That's insulting," said Sen flatly. "You really think my life is in danger here? My life being in danger is when I'm surrounded by a gang of thugs armed with guns. Or cops. Here? What happened the last two times? That wasn't me risking my life. That was taking out the trash."
"...The last guy looked pretty dangerous." Quinn said meekly.
The copper-haired shopkeep lowered their eyes to the ground in contemplation. A few moments passed, before they set their blues on Sen.
"You, uh, needed your mask maintained, right?"
The mercenary nodded. "Of course. It's something that needs to be running efficiently at all times. I need it to live."
"What about... compensation in the form of services rendered, then? I keep you alive, uh, maintain your mask, and, uh..." Quinn frowned, then. They hated admitting it. "You keep me alive?"
"A life for a life. Sounds pretty good to me." Sen jumped up from the couch,bouncing on their heels. "I think this calls for a celebration! Do you drink, Quinn?" They pushed past the mechanic and waved dismissively. "It doesn't matter. If you didn't, you will tonight! Liquor store, here I- uh...we! Come."
"I, uh, are you even allowed to buy alcohol?" Quinn probed, though they'd followed close behind Sen. "Wait up, alright? Is this what I'm spending my money on?"
The mercenary seemed to just keep walking, though, and the mechanic was forced to start of the van like they'd did the previous night. Quinn shoved their hand in their pocket, and in a moment, the chariot across the street had awaited them.
