"WHAT!?"

Bento couldn't wrap his head around it: riding in town on a towering mech while covered head to toe in scratches, burn wounds and bruises, claiming to have personally battled against the Mind of the Unrelenting, and won against it on top of that; then, managing to destroy a group of pursuing Vox stealth speeders right after?

These two were going to be the death of him.

"I... you-! In the middle of a dust storm, nearly a hundred miles out an' telling nobody where you're going! I thought you were on some damned joyride, not waging war against a Mind! You... I don't even wanna hear an explanation, because nothing could justify being so reckless!" 

Jarvis and Suzanne attempted to protest before being snatched by the collars and brought inside Bento's shack. They could only stare sheepishly at the sand below as they were taken in.

"I just can't believe it!" Bento set them both down before pointing to a cot in the corner. "Sit down, both of ya! I ain't in the mood for attitude!" No protest was heard as they plopped down on the bed, staying silent as they laid back against the wall. Bento knelt down, his eye narrowed as he stared them down. Finally, Jarvis was the first to speak. "Bento, come on, how could I have known the Mind had some kind of crazy grudge against me!? We were fine otherwise-"

Bento crossed his four arms while he leaned in to interrupt. "It doesn't matter if you didn't know! Damn it... you went out chasing after a largely intact mech that was a serious powerhouse all them years ago, aka, a real important and valuable piece of cargo! As if awakening the thing and reconnecting it to the Vox network wasn't bound to call in a fleet to tear you down before you even tried piloting it. If the Unrelenting didn't come at you first, it's sure as hell that some other problem would've! You know better! Both of you!"

Jarvis attempted to form a rebuttal, but Bento's death stare quickly caused him to falter. Suzanne fiddled with her fingers as she spoke up. "S-sorry, Bento. I was just... awestruck, I guess. I'd never seen anything like it, and I couldn't say no."

Bento nodded, his demeanor relaxing a bit. "...fine. I get it, alright? And you're not wrong. Having that Arachno-Walker on our side is a huge help, and I mean huge. Couldn't have been more than a few hundred made. Thing is... it ain't worth losing you two over. Not even a little." He rolled his eye before scooting forward a bit, holding out his arms. "Now get over here before I decide I'm pissed off again."

Suzanne quickly reciprocated, holding onto Bento tightly. Jarvis couldn't help but smile faintly, a bit of his worry slipping away before joining in. It was awkward, trying to get comfortable against Bento's cold metal body, but they made do, staying in their close position for several moments. Suzanne's warmth and gentle breaths relaxed Jarvis, almost forgetting the events of the day. 

"Alright, enough of that. Suzanne, go see Dent already, you need rest. Plenty." She quickly nodded before retreating, leaving them alone in the scrapyard shed. Bento shifted before standing up, a bit of lingering disappointment in his gaze. "...cmon, kid. Get up. We gotta talk." 

Jarvis set aside his helmet, immediately grasping the weight of whatever Bento needed him to hear. He followed close as Bento led him outside, the quick shift from dark to intense sunlight causing him to wince. Bento patted a spot on a small mound of dirt as he sat down, with Jarvis quickly joining him. They sat in silence for a moment, staring out to the dusty expanse of junk piles, with pallets and shipping containers filled with Vox parts and neatly assorted scrap to be sold. 

"Things are changing," Bento stated flatly. He picked a cigar from a pack on his hip, flicking his fingers and creating sparks as the cigar began to burn bright. He simply held onto it, gripped lightly between two fingers while observing the gentle flame. "They're changing a whole lot, especially for you. I've told you before, but I'll say it again. You're destined for a lot, kid. A whole lot more than I can probably even guess."

Jarvis nodded quietly, glancing up at Bento as he continued. "...I expect more from you, but... I also know it's a lot. All this added responsibility as you're gonna fight alongside some huge names in this world. You should know it well, but this place ain't gonna give you any second chances. I can only do so much, and... I won't be around forever. One day you're gonna be inspiring millions just like Darius, or... whoever else was important on Earth. Michael Jackson, I don't know."

He paused, crushing the cigar before flicking it into a trash heap. "Point is, if you're gonna do this, join Voran and the others in hunting that Unrelenting down... you need to be ready. Ready to take on a whole lot of responsibility." Jarvis adjusted his position as he held his rifle in his lap, absentmindedly fiddling with the scope. "Yeah. I know, and... I promise I'll be ready. I really want to be."

Bento placed one hand on his shoulder, squeezing it gently. "I know you will. I love ya, alright? As much as an eight foot bundle of scrap can, at least." Jarvis smiled softly, patting Bento's hand. "Yeah, I love you too, mister four arms." The robot's hand lingered for a few seconds before pulling away. "There's something I need to show you," Bento declared before standing up once more. He kicked at a nearby scrap pile, knocking off some twisted metal plating to reveal a rusted lockbox. "I found this a few months ago in one of the random scrap shipments, and... I wasn't sure if you were ready to see it."

That piqued his curiosity. Jarvis quickly approached, kneeling before the lockbox, his hand brushing over the dented lock that secured it. "What is it?", he asked, his eyes wandering between Bento and the mysterious container.

Bento tossed him a small brass key, and he quickly caught it, turning it over on his palm. "Just open it. You'll know."

The vague line only made him more interested as he jammed the key into the lock, turning it. A soft click emerged as the lid popped open, revealing a bundle of red cloth, covered in dust and orange stains. Jarvis' hands trembled as he immediately understood, recognizing the patterns on the edge before reaching out to take the fabric.

It unfolded into a small blanket, suitable for an infant. Quilted on the front were two words: "Jarvis", and "Lila" right beneath it, with a blue heart between them. Jarvis clung to the blanket like a lifeline, his eyes watering as tears threatened to fall. "M-mom-? I... Bento, how did you get this...?"

Bento knelt beside him, placing his arm around Jarvis. "I don't know. I saw a bit of red between some wooden beams, and... there it was. Just like how I'd seen it so long ago. The very same one." His lip quivered, the sight of the finely woven blanket spurring a mix of painful emotions within him, his chest filled with heavy sensations. "I don't... t-thank you, Bento, so much. T-this is... incredible."

Jarvis quickly wiped his tears as he stood, his thoughts a complete mess. "I-I need sleep, really bad. But... thanks, Bento. For everything." He managed a weak smile, calming the beating thrum of his racing heart. Bento only nodded as he watched Jarvis depart. 

Memories Bento hadn't dwelled on for a very long time began to resurface... remembering the day his life had truly begun.