head over foot, a iko and kinney fanfiction one shot
The sound of Iko’s laughter resonates through the hall, inevitably reaching the ears of Guard Liam Kinney as he resided at the end of it. He sneers at the sound, and pictures her perfect robotic body turning the corner and her frowning at him. He hears another voice laughing with her–Selene, he notes. They are joking together. When they eventually do turn the corner, Iko is doubled over with laughter and Selene is grinning from ear-to-ear.
“I can’t believe Kai did that to you!” Iko exclaims, whilst trying to catch her synthetic breathing.
“I know, but he did! He was on his knees, and I was terrified, and then he–”
“He pulls out the foot!” More perfect laughter from perfect android Iko.
It takes an eternity for Iko to finally notice him standing there, and when she does, her lips contort into a deep sneer. Stars, she was beautiful. It wasn’t fair. Why did he have to go and fall in love with nothing but metal? It was becoming annoying. She’d say something completely normal, completely human, and he would forget entirely about the wall between them–the wall being the fact that she was a robot and he was a human. Or, Lunar. He’d have to force himself to remember that she wasn’t, that he couldn’t, that they… That it was unfair.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in,” Iko jeers at Kinney. She turns to Selene and sighs. “What is he doing in front of my room?” She throws a pout on her face and Kinney feels a unwanted hitch forming in his lungs.
“I thought it’d be safer to have someone we know guard you while we stay here.” Selene frowned. “You’re my best friend, Iko. I don’t know what I would do if I lost you. And, I trust Kinney.”
“But, Cinder, he’s completely moronic. And racist! He treats me like I’m just a–a robot!”
Kinney laughs abruptly, “Isn’t that exactly what you are, though?
Iko huffs. "I’m practically human,” she says, crossing her arms. “I have feelings, you know.”
“Sorry I wasn’t aware,” he replies in a mocking tone. He rolls his eyes even though his brain is screaming she’s right! She is practically human. She does have feelings. She can make jokes. She understands sarcasm. Why can’t he love her then? What’s wrong with it?
Because practically human isn’t completely human, he reminds himself. He wishes she were human. He wishes it every day. It’s the only thing that’s stopping him from kissing her right there on the spot.
That and the fact that she thinks he hates her.
Selene laughs. “Look, I’m sure everything will turn out fine. Why don’t you take the time to recharge? We’re having dinner with Kai tonight.”
“Oh, no, no, no. We are not having dinner with Kai. You are having dinner with Kai,” Iko says, shaking her head vigorously.
Selene raises an eyebrow. “Iko, I told you that I don’t feel com–”
“You are dating him, Cinder! You can’t be afraid of him. You’re in love with him.” She speaks about love in a dreamy way. Sometimes he gets to guard her chambers often if he persuades Selene the right way and enough times, and he can hear her talk to herself from outside her door. What it’s like to be loved, feel loved, to love someone else. His heart reaches out to her and he tries to whisper quietly on the other side that he’s here, and he’s definitely in love with her.
But he doesn’t. Because she’s a robot. She wouldn’t understand even if he made her.
“I’m just a little nervous, I guess. You know, about seeing him again after being away so long. Again.” Selene rubs at her hands and Kinney recalls Emperor Kaito telling him that she used to wear gloves all the time. Kinney guesses it’s become a sort of force of habit she does when she’s really nervous.
“You shouldn’t be,” Iko urges, clutching Selene’s hands in her own, metal and all, “He proposed to you with a foot, remember? Head over foot is what he is for you.”
Selene giggles unbelievably, shaking her head. “Okay, fine. I’ll have dinner with Kai. I’ll have a servant bring you something to eat, yeah? Now I really think you should recharge.”
“Fine,” Iko giggles, too.
Kinney clears his throat. “This is all very heart-warming, but must I remind you that I’m still standing right here?”
Iko sticks her tongue out at him. “Yeah? Must I remind you that no one cares?”
Selene rolls her eyes and places a kiss on Iko’s forehead. “Love you,” she murmurs.
How can Selene do it? How can she love a robot? No…how can she be so open about it?
“Love you, too,” Iko smiles. Kinney’s heart leaps, but then he remembers that the words aren’t directed toward him. He orders himself to calm down. He composes himself in time to see Selene traverse down the hall and around the bend.
Iko sashays up to him. He wishes she didn’t, though, because his eyes are now focused on her hips which are swaying and her eyes which are playful and charming. Vibrant, changing colors with her mood, he knows. She brushes past him. Her arm touches his and he inhales quietly, hoping her robotic interface doesn’t pick up on it. She pauses there.
“I’m going to recharge,” Iko says. “I don’t expect to be disturbed.” She tilts to her head to the side and peers up at him. She’s a robot, he reminds himself over and over. A lifeless android who could never ever love you. “Got it?”
And she bristles and leaves him. Just like that. He’s alone.
He runs a hand down his face and let’s out a small frustrated groan.
How much longer can he keep on pretending that he isn’t head over foot with an android?
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