[ NOTE: This completes a very old mini plot for Haymitch that allows for protective equipment for tech devices with either an elemental resistance, or just general drop protection. ]

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It was kind of a moot point now, but Haymitch sat in front of the computers in the HQ, data pads out in front of him and screwdriver in his mouth. He’d once been asked to make fire proof tech for Faustite, and now he was going to finally finish the damn things. That… that had been so long ago it felt like. Or maybe it wasn’t? He wasn’t great at telling time. Even with the digital readouts on the computers. When you slept eighteen hours a day, you only got six to handle all your business!

He swiped with a paw for the brain cell, and held on to it. Haymitch had to focus. It had taken him this long to build these data pads already. If he was going to finish these things, he had to focus.

Foooooocus. Focus. Focus.

Focus was a terrible thing for Haymitch. Always had been. Probably because he was stuck in the body of a kitten. He wasn’t mature like Tama or Iolite. Tama ran around in his human form - an actual human form, not just a glamour - all the time. He was chosen more often for promotions. He had long gorgeous white hair and fuuuuuurrrrrr.

Haymitch did have something Tama did not though. He was bonded to Albite. He had a bond that could probably only be broken by death or purification. Not that he thought Albite would purify, but his husband and general was... so it was a possibility. Very low, probably. Like. Barely there even. Albite wouldn’t leave the rest of the team, or his bonded cat just for his husband. No, because, he’d probably bring half the team and Haymitch with him. Hopefully. Probably. Yeah.

Ugh. He pressed his nose into his paws and sighed. He was never going to get these things done at this rate.

Focus!

He swished his tail and started tinkering again. Haymitch wasn’t… great at tech; which was impressive apparently because he could tumble and create a henshin pen and phone without thinking. That was more magic though. Just something he could, well, do! He didn’t have to think, like he was trying to now. If he wanted to make this upgrade the way he wanted to, he had. To. Think.

Originally, Faustite had asked for a data pad and communicator that could withstand his heat. At the time, it made sense, given the whole furnace in his stomach thing. Plus, it seemed like a good idea to Haymitch that other agents who were half youma have options on how to protect their tech from their own, well, youmay bits. Or to senshi who had attacks or other magic that had negative effects on their equipment.

It had just… taken literal years to get finished. Or what felt like years. Again, time didn’t really make sense to Haymitch, there was ‘awake time’ and ‘asleep time’, why did you have to tie it to the sun—

“Haymitch, for once in your life finish something!” he snapped at himself, tail lashing and ears flicking back. Jeez, he was such a useless cat! He couldn’t even focus in order to make a simple case upgrade for the damn datapads and communicators! He couldn’t help out in the damned mission beyond a forehead beam and aura dampenings, he could barely help out with upgrades, he wasn’t even good enough to keep Faustite from dying!

This was the only damn thing he could do, and he couldn’t even do it!

Haymitch hissed and pressed his head into his paws, screwdriver forgotten. He was so… useless. There it was. He’d known for a while, really. He had helped a few senshi upgrade, but otherwise? He just sort of… slept in Albite’s hair. Or Faustite’s office drawer with the extra shirts. He didn’t even go out to find new senshi to bring into the fold! He just. Lazed about.

Tama at least, seemed to have his s**t together. Haymitch… just got through with big kitten eyes and purrs. Maybe, that was just… what he was good at. Was that… was that okay?

There was a ripple along his bond with Albite, and Haymitch felt calmer almost immediately. Knowing the bond was there always helped keep him from just… freaking out, but actually feeling an acknowledgement from his senshi was… as though Albite was gently stroking his fur, scratching just below his ears. It helped recenter him, giving him a sort of laser pointer point to focus his attention.

“You can do this, Hayhay,” it seemed to say, “you got this.”

He couldn’t help himself, much less Faustite… but maybe he could help others, regardless of what happened with the plan.

The small kitten picked up the screwdriver again and got back to work.

Several hours later, somehow and some way, Haymitch stretch and looked at the group of cases. Several that would fit the datapads, and several more for communicators. Each could be customized upon request for specific resistances: either some sort of ‘element’ or more basically, drops and impacts. They were easy to install, and may not be the most perfect upgrades, they were functional.

He sat back on his haunches, and looked at his handy work. Faustite would be proud. Albite would be proud. Hopefully, others would find use of these useful as well. It was freeing to have finally, finally finished this task he’d taken up. Only problem, now what?

Something blinked over on the left and he glanced at it. The light moved, and he focused real hard on the moving dot. (It was just a tracking marker.) He… he must get the moving dot. It was his new mission. His only mission.

Wait. Wasn’t he doing something?

No. No this was his mission. The dot had to die. It kept moving! It obviously didn’t sense him, he had the advantage! He just… needed… a few more…

Haymitch leapt off the stool he was standing on and slammed face first into another computer monitor.

Wooops!

[ WC: 1000 ]