You voice was soft, almost cautious as you glanced at the impossibly tall RK model beside you. His stark, white jacket almost blended in with the snow around you, his grey eyes coldly taking in the deserted park. The lone swing creaked slightly in the breeze, flurries of snow falling around you both. Huffing a short, slow puff of air, you felt your lungs twinge from the cold.
When you realised that RK900—Nines, you mentally corrected yourself, after all you had both agreed that it would be a suitable name for him—was not going to answer you, you turned to face the river.
The night was bitterly cold, temperature dropping sharply by the minute as you rubbed your freezing fingers together hurriedly.
“Your death would have gotten in the way of my mission,” came Nines cool, stiff reply. Always so prim, always so unflinchingly inhuman in his delivery. “I simply did what I was programmed to do. It would be unfortunate to change partners now.”
There was nothing approachable about those razor-sharp edges of his. Nothing—except, perhaps—his surprising protectiveness of you. The way he always placed his body before yours, the way he always dragged you behind him, and pushed you out of harm’s way. He never took your thanks on board, never looked moved by your never-ending gratitude. He simply brushed it aside.
You hummed quietly under your breath, leaning your arms on the railing in front of you as you glanced at him over your shoulder with a light smile, “You know…when you’re not acting like a haughty piece of plastic, you’re actually pretty cool,” you joked with a chuckle. The snow in his hair danced in the slight breeze, the icy flurries accenting the lightness of his eyes as he took a step towards you, a barely noticeable frown on his face when he glanced at the river behind you.
“May I ask you a question, (Name),” he asked crisply, gaze focused on something in the far distance. “Why is it that you don’t treat me the same way others do?”
Ignoring the fact that he didn’t let you refuse the question, you spoke honestly, “Well no offence but you’re kind of terrible at making friends,” you told him with a bemused smile. “You’re supposed to be more advanced than Connor, but you can barely hold a conversation without people wanting to punch you in the face. I guess…I don’t think you’re that bad? People just need to get used to your pretence act. You’re not all bad, okay?”
Turning your gaze back towards the water again, you gazed steadily at the beautifully lit up bridge in the distance, the twinkling of the lights making you feel at ease. The android beside you was quiet for a long minute.
Blinking slowly, you tried to control the urge to turn around and look at him, “No, it’s not sympathy. What I’m trying to say—look, I think you’re fine just the way you are. I like you even with your prickly personality. I’m glad to be working with you, Nines.”
You cleared your throat uneasily, realising too late that you probably blurted out too much at this incredibly astute android who was no doubt picking apart your words right now.
“I was successful then,” he said so softly, so gently, it made your eyes widen. “It’s a pity.”
You turned around quickly, and the last thing you registered was something cold and hard pressing against your forehead.