The music of the club reverberated through the very soul. It pounded through the ears of the crowd of bodies packed together, most of the patrons either too drunk or high to pay any mind to the heat of so many people in such an enclosed space. And even though Arin was among that crowd, it wasn’t alcohol or drugs that was keeping his mind occupied; it was the android on stage.
It was unlike any model Arin had seen before. They’d programmed countless androids for use as vocalists, but this one stood out. The sparkling blue spandex suit and flowing cape certainly contributed to the captivation. Watching the android’s mass of curly hair bounce in time with its head bobs was equally bewitching.
Arin couldn’t place it, but there was something incredibly human about it. It actually used a range of facial expressions and other swaying body movements as it stood behind an old fashioned microphone. It truly looked alive in front of an audience. The one thing giving it away was the blue circle of LED light on its temple.
Arin had never wanted to own an android more.
Of course having a robot around had its perks. They followed instructions without question, and they did everything to the letter. They were programmed for countless medical procedures, recipes for cooking, and a slew of other useful mechanisms, but Arin had never quite gotten it. Even knowing they couldn’t feel pain or emotions, Arin could never get past how real they looked. He’d also met a handful that were deceitfully human-like in nature, but they were androids who had served the same people for years and learned body language. When an android was fresh out of the factory, they were always a bit stiff until they warmed up to the behavior of their owners.
Arin frowned to himself at the word. He didn’t think he wanted to own anyone, even if that’s what androids were built for. But this model–the DS6969, or Dan–was special. They only brought it out on rare occasions to keep the crowds coming in; it was one of a kind. Whoever had modified the android’s vocals had done a superb job. It was even able to harmonize with itself using multiple layers of vocals coming from one mouth. But, Arin supposed, that was one of the wonders of modern technology.
“You have to work with me,” the club’s owner, Brian, said. “It’s an exclusive.”
“I know h–it is,” Arin replied. He’d been saving up money in case he ever decided to go through with joining the modern era and invest in an android. “But fifteen thousand is a steep price.”
“There were a lot of modifications put into this machine,” Brian folded his hands on his desk. “I think fifteen is rather generous, considering the amount of revenue it brings in.”
“So can’t you use that revenue to buy a new one?”
“If it were that simple, why don’t you go to the nearest warehouse and buy a cheaper model?”
Arin crossed his arms, “Touche. But I want Dan.”
Brian grinned softly, “You’ve been telling me that for weeks.”
“And I’m only now getting you to budge,” Arin set his hands on Brian’s desk and leaned forward. “I’ll bargain all you like.”
“If there’s one thing I know, it’s that you’ll take care of it. So how about this. I’ll let you buy it for ten thousand, on two conditions.”
“Hit me,” Arin said, trying not to sound too excited.
Brian fixed him with his gaze, “You send it back once a week for shows. I can’t just let you steal him from the public. As such, secondly, if I catch wind of you using it elsewhere for other concerts for your personal gain, you lose your right to it.”
Arin pretended to mull this over before saying, “Deal.”
Brian grinned, “Pleasure doing business with you.”
Arin opened the door to his house, which was a simple but comfortable single-story home. “Here we are,” he said, turning to watch Dan’s expression. It was interesting to see him off stage. He was still wearing the blue uniform; Arin didn’t mind, but it had attracted a lot of unwanted attention on the bus ride.
Dan was behaving as most standard androids, undoubtedly scanning the house as he swept his eyes around the area. Dan smiled, “It’s nice.”
“Yeah, I think so, too,” Arin said, kicking off his shoes and heading to the kitchen. “Guess I’m on a bit of a budget after that investment, huh?”
Dan tilted his head, “Your purchase of me, you mean?”
“Yup,” Arin responded. “You didn’t come cheap.”
“People with true talent rarely do,” Dan replied with a small grin.
Arin slowly turned back to him, “Did you just make a sex joke?”
“Is that okay?” Dan asked.
“Well, yeah, I’m just surprised. Androids don’t usually pick up on innuendos and shit.”
Dan giggled, even the laughter musical, “I’m not your average android.”
“You certainly aren’t,” Arin agreed and went back to throwing together a simple sandwich.
As Arin smeared mayo on a slice of bread, he heard Dan ask, “What would you like me to sing?”
Arin blinked and looked over his shoulder, “What?”
“What would you like me to sing?” Dan repeated.
“Oh. Do you want to sing?” Arin asked.
“It’s what I was made for. I had assumed you bought me because you enjoyed listening to me.”
Arin’s brow furrowed as he went back to assembling his dinner, “I mean, I do, but…that’s not all you’re good for.”
Dan nodded and began walking forward, “You’re right. I’m programmed to accommodate many different needs.” Before Arin realized Dan had gotten so close, he suddenly felt hands slide onto his hips from behind. Arin tensed from a mix of shock and a severe case of the stomach flutters as Dan’s lowered voice spoke into his ear, “But those talents are reserved for special buyers.”
“Woah, woah,” Arin grabbed at Dan’s wrists and paused, letting go to awkwardly turn around and grab them again, practically pinned against the counter by the android. Arin said, “That’s…well, it was nice, but that isn’t what I bought you for, either.”
Dan’s eyes narrowed slightly, eyes roaming Arin’s face as he replied, “I’m sorry if I overstepped a boundary or jumped to conclusions.”
“You didn’t,” Arin assured, only mildly perturbed by the fact that Dan was making no move to back away, clearly not understanding human boundaries. All the same, he didn’t push Dan away, continuing, “Maybe…we’ll get to testing that some day, but I bought you because I saw potential in you.”
“Yeah. You know, the ability to grow into something more. You’re an amazing singer, and…I imagine really good in bed, too, but you don’t have to be just a singer or a sex doll for me. I don’t want that for you, unless that’s really all you want to do,” Arin said.
Dan pulled his arms back slowly and thought, appearing to stare at a nondescript point. After a moment of computing, he looked back up at Arin and asked, “What else can I do?”
“Whatever you feel like, really.”
“What sort of things do you do?” Dan asked with a curious grin.
Arin set the second slice of bread on top of his ham sandwich and took a bite, saying, “I draw sometimes, but mostly I play video games. You’d probably be like…stupid good at them.”
“I’ve never tried one,” Dan replied simply.
“Oh, dude,” Arin clapped a hand on Dan’s shoulder, “I know what we’re doing tonight.”
“Get the key, Arin, the key!” Dan said with growing anticipation.
“I’m trying my best here, this fuckin’ boss is really-NO,” Arin shouted at the screen. “That’s fucking bullshit!”
Dan was laughing at the latest blunder, in which the boss of the level had repeatedly hit Arin until Arin’s avatar fell off a cliff. “It seems the dungeon master will hold on to the key for another day,” Dan said.
“Oh no he won’t, I’m coming in hot,” Arin retorted, gripping the controller tightly and leaning forward on the couch as he restarted the fight.
Dan smirked at Arin and watched him from the corner of his ocular unit as he said, “You could be coming in hot elsewhere.”
“Listen, Daniel, as much as I would love that, I’m a bit busy with mister bitch…tits…thinks he can do whatever he wants Mcgee over here.”
Dan chuckled, “Well, as soon as you’re done with mister Mcgee, I think you’ll have earned a reward.”
“Thanks Dan I’ll keep it in mind,” Arin said quickly as he did his best to focus and not become distracted at the thought of the reward. “Come on, asshole, just–fucking don’t you dare go for the edge I swear to–no, NO! God damnit!” Arin threw his controller and collapsed backwards. “Next time on fuckin’ Game Grumps.”
Dan giggled, covering his mouth and saying, “He’ll get it next time everybody, we promise. But first, some pity sex.”
“I don’t want your pity sex!” Dan allowed Arin to retort before Dan switched off the recording equipment using the wireless connection in his mind. Arin groaned and rubbed his hands over his face. Dan cooed, “Aww, poor guy,” as he wrapped an arm around him.
Arin shifted to lay his head on Dan’s shoulder, mumbling, “This is really hard.”
“You know what else is really hard?” He bit his bottom lip as Arin gave him a tired look before Dan said, “My heart.”
Arin snorted, “What, do you have a heart boner for me?”
“Yeah,” Dan replied, curling his other arm around Arin in a hug. Arin chuckled and fell silent, enjoying Dan’s company in silence for a few moments before Dan said, “You make me feel like I have one.”
Arin blinked and turned to look up at him, “What?”
Dan removed one arm to rub at the port in his chest where his battery was, “A heart. Back at the club, all I was ever good for was entertainment. But here, I feel like…I’m feeling. And I feel like I’m so much more than that.”
Arin said, “Well don’t be silly, Dan. Of course you’re more than that.” He hesitated and set a hand on Dan’s cheek, “I always knew you were more than that.”
Dan leaned his head into Arin’s palm with a soft hum, setting one of his own hands over Arin’s. “I feel free with you,” Dan said quietly.
“Free? To me, it’s more like priceless,” Arin wiggled an eyebrow before they both snorted at the corny joke. It wasn’t until they’d collected themselves that Arin even noticed their mouths were inches apart from each other, and before he knew it, Dan had leaned in for a kiss. And Arin let him, because by now he knew:
i’m gonna be honest, if this gets enough attention i’d be more than happy to turn this into a full length ao3 fic. there were so many possibilities i tossed around while writing it; let me know what you think!!
