Take care of an Angel first

After exiting the building--much easier to do than getting in, you walked right out in plain clothes--you rode atop Angel Five through the city, winding through traffic as you collected your thoughts. The revelation that Rider Seven had ties to Hideki, one of the few companies that might actually know what to do with stolen nanotechnology, and specifically ties to the director of the lab who might have the sort of top-secret R&D clearance to work on such projects? That put Dr. Brooks at the top of your list for a chat.

You felt a tear running down your cheek, and then another. It seems you hadn't been the only one thinking about Rider Seven, although his Angel partner took his deceptive behavior far more personally. You couldn't calm her down, since you couldn't calm yourself down, and so the tears started to flow. A few blocks from home, you couldn't ride anymore, your vision became too obscured, you had to pull over and tear the helmet from your head to wipe your eyes.

Tex unfurled, tucking her wings behind herself as she stood beside you. "Are you suffering from an injury or illness at the moment?"

"No, nothing like that," Angel Seven said, her voice wavering. "It's just... that was my partner back there, and he didn't seem to care one bit about my wellbeing, he left me to possibly die had you all not come along and found me in the park. He's some sort of fraud, and Yabusa thought he and I would be a perfect match! I feel horrible."

Realizing there wouldn't be much of a chance to get back to riding, you took Tex's hand and tugged her to walk along with you the remaining few blocks. Ironically, this route seemed to save you time, passing backed up traffic along the way.

Tex squeezed your hand, trying to find a way to be supportive in a real-world conversation unlike anything she'd ever dealt with. "Perhaps we are mistaken about Rider Seven and this is merely a misunderstanding? Regardless of compatibility, you are no doubt a capable Angel in order to be in the program."

Angel Seven sighed, as you wiped more tears. "Thanks for the attempt, Tex, but I don't think we're wrong about him. He's covering for something. I just thought... I don't know. He's always been a little distant with me, I thought it was just a shyness that we would work through. Now I just feel lost and empty knowing he was also hiding something, too. And it has to be something related to all this nanite stuff."

Two pairs of feet walked side by side for about a block in silence, as Tex opted to not try to understand the situation logically. Angel Seven couldn't hold her thoughts inside now that the floodgates had begun to part. "I'm going to say it, I don't feel cut out to be an Angel anymore, I can't work with Rider Seven again and being paired up with a new Rider would be awkward, I dunno. ...I kind of, I guess, I like being part of Unit Five. Don't say it's because of the nanites in my head either, because I don't care. Maybe that's just who I am now! I like being a part of Unit Five! I want to stay here, I want to, I dunno, keep being worn like this, to be Rider Five for good! Maybe I'll be Angel Five sometimes! Maybe even you can be a part of me, Tex, I just want to be a part of something, and this feels so much better to just let go and let someone else take the wheel! Maybe I'm just jealous of what you all have."

You felt the emotional churn within Angel Seven's body, though as she admitted her feelings about what she really wanted, you felt as if a weight lifted. Maybe she did really want to stay with you long-term and not go back to how things once were? You wouldn't mind if Angel Seven provided her body for the other three minds to use.

But first, you wanted to cheer her up, if she was going to become your second partner in a sense. Thinking for a moment, you realized you weren't far from the bakery you always jogged by. Knowing a little bit about Angel Seven's tastes, you tugged Tex off the expected route. Confused but trusting you, Tex followed dutifully.

"Where are we--" Angel Seven tried to finish a sentence, but once you pushed open the bakery doors you'd taken control, wiping your eyes one last time before approaching the register. A minute later, you held a box of fresh jelly-filled donuts, deciding now was as good a time as any to lean into a police stereotype. You'd let Tex pick out a few donuts, but for Angel Seven you chose the raspberry flavor.

Letting Tex carry the box, smiling at her excitement to try something tasty, you hoped the little gesture would have the intended effect. "I remember overhearing you talking to Angel Eight about how your mom makes homemade raspberry jam, so I figured you might like a little treat to take your mind off things."

While you felt the smile widen as Seven once again commandeered control of the face, the tears started to flow again, right outside the stairwell to your apartment. "You remembered that? See, that's what I mean, it's these little thoughtful things! That's why I want to stay here with you! Rider Seven never did anything like that, I don't think he knows a single thing about me. You're so kind... I'm glad it's you in my body. That's such a weird thing to say, but it's true. Though, if you weren't inside me, I could kiss you."

You took the steps slowly, letting Tex lead the way, looking up at the shapely rear of the body of Angel Five that Tex temporarily controlled. "...You know," you mused, "kissing isn't out of the question, one way or another. Let's start with a donut and go from there."

With everything out in the open, it felt like Angel Seven really needed a genuine connection. Whether that meant you stay in her or you act as a thoughtful Rider while she acts as the body for Angel Five and/or Tex, that remained to be seen.