Here we go again :3
Harlequin and Harlequin Swap Au's by @tadc-harlequin-au
Purple/Lilac by @just-mary-ann
Also honorable mention for outfit ideas @thore-lb
Once again introducing
Red
Red... Red and pink... Caine's eyes weren't Red and pink, they were blue and green... But...
"Ugh... I feel like $#¡@..." Caine spoke groggily as he sat up, his attempt to swear censored by his filters. He'd fallen off one of the support beams in the middle of the bunker like an idiot and Pomni had rushed down to make sure he wasn't damaged, but there was something wrong, Caine had tried to swear... Caine never swore, he adamantly refused to even, even though it was censored Pomni knew Caine would never talk like that...
"Wow... You're gorgeous..." Caine blurted out, ripping Pomni out of her thoughts so fast it felt like she'd gotten whiplash.
"What..." Pomni had to have misheard him, there was no way he'd ever say that, especially with the tone of voice he used. His voice sounded smooth and sweet, nothing like the harsh, brash personality he usually showed...
"I said you look stunning, My lady~" Caine spoke with that same softened tone, pulling Pomni's hand up to his face and pressing his lower jaw to it for a moment in a mock kiss before pulling back.
"I DIDN'T SAY ANYTHING! SHUT UP!"
The gruff sound of what Caine would have normally said rang through Pomni's mind as Caine pushed himself to his feet and held out his hand to help Pomni up herself.
Pomni went to take Caine's hand, hesitating a moment before simply standing up on her own like she would have usually. "Well, let's get back to the upper levels, I have things to do, including keeping an eye on you now."
Caine drooped slightly when Pomni didn't take his hand, seemingly pouting for a moment before popping back to a straight posture and sweet demeanor. "Of course my darling puppeteer!" Caine spoke cheerily, quickly walking ahead of Pomni to open the door to the stairwell for her with a bow.
Pomni was once again shocked by Caine's change in demeanor, usually he'd complain that her work was "useless" and "wouldn't lead to anything in the end". She could practically hear what he would have said normally.
"OH YEAH, LIKE YOU'VE GOT ANYTHING TO DO OTHER THAN SMOKING, YOU'RE GOING TO CLOG UP YOUR INNER MECHANICS!"
His change in personality was surprising, but the thing that truly confused her was how he reacted to her... It was almost as if he though he thought SHE was his owner...
...
OF COURSE! When he'd fallen he'd jostled something that shifted who he saw as his owner, and his personality was made to copy after his owner!
But... How was she supposed to fix him then, she didn't know how to do that kind of thing, she barely had the knowledge to lightly modify herself, let alone-
"Hey Pomni! I'm back!" Able called, coming down the stairs, likely looking for me. Of course! Able knew how to do this kind of thing, modifications, messing with code and whatnot!
Though Able's sudden entrance had definitely started Caine and he immediately drew his weapon, though Pomni quickly shut him down before he could even move to attack Able with a single, sharp command. "HEEL."
Caine immediately straightened his posture and put away his weapon, standing at attention and looking to Pomni as if waiting for further instruction. Though she could still swear she heard what he would have usually said.
"DON'T GIVE ME COMMANDS! I'M NOT YOUR DOG!"
Able was extremely confused by the scene that unfolded before him before Pomni walked over and explained the full situation. He agreed to check out Caine's program and see if he could do anything about the situation.
Upon close inspection Able found that Caine's program hadn't completed broken, it was simply a glitch in his personality block and would probably go away after a while, though he couldn't give any estimate as to how long "a while" would be. They also found that he only seemed to have limited things he remembered...
Once everything was said and done and Caine was set back online Pomni saw that Caine's clothes were still all dirty.
"Caine, go clean up and put on some fresh clothes." Pomni commanded smoothly, though unlike usual she didn't have to fight him to do what she wanted.
"Of course my dearest Puppeteer~" Caine spoke with that same romantic tone, giving a full bow before turning on his heel and leaving to do as she asked.
"OH THE DIRTS FINE! WHAT, ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT ME STAINING YOUR CARPET!!!"
Pomni could practically hear Caine's rougher voice ringing in her head as she also turned to go to her office.
Later on she was preparing a blend of herbs to put in her pipe when she heard a knock on her door. "Come on in." She spoke without looking up, though when she finally spared a glance her eyes were caught like flies in a spider's web.
Caine was in a completely different outfit, though she quickly realized that he'd actually knocked, Caine never knocked before entering her office... Though looking closer at his outfit he had gotten rid of his hat, bowtie, and overcoat. As well as changing to a different white undershirt with full length puffed sleeves and a puffed out piece of red fabric on his chest, he'd also changed to a black vest instead of his usual red one. He altogether seemed more put together than usual, cleaner...
"How do I look ma'am?~" His voice seemed so smooth, it was almost uncanny in a way.
"Hm... You look quite good in that..." Pomni muttered softly, though seemingly more to herself than him.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS STUPID COSTUME!?!?"
Caine turned his head as if he'd heard something before shaking it off. "May I come over there, my dear Puppeteer?~"
"Yes, go ahead and close the door as well." Pomni spoke as she loaded the herbs into her pipe with practiced ease, not taking her eyes off of Caine as she did.
"POMNI!! YOU UNTRUSTWORTHY CRIMINAL!! WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING TO DO!!"
"Something you're too scared to ask for~" Caine silently whispered to himself.
"OH, YOU CAN HEAR ME! GREAT! NOW TURN AROUND AND LEAVE!"
"Oh, I simply want to feel her body against mine~" Caine all but purred to himself.
Caine smoothly sat down in the chair across from Pomni's desk, his posture straight and proper but still softer and more relaxed than before. Even the slight expression of his eyes was different, softer, more relaxed... No... This is not Caine... Not the one she knows. The Caine she knows would never act like this, never dress like this.... The Caine she knew would never ask before entering her office and would never listen to a word she said... This was not Caine. This was not the puppet she told herself she didn't love.
"Caine," Pomni found her voice to speak. "do you remember anything before waking up at the bottom of the bunker?"
"Does it matter all too much," He leaned over Pomni's desk towards her. "I'm here now, all yours my dear Puppeteer~"
Pomni didn't know how to respond. Looking deeply into the red and pink eyes that were partially hidden by his teeth. She put a hand under his jaw, feeling him press into her hand as she tilted him up.
"HEY! HEY!!!! HANDS OFF WOMAN!!! HANDS OFF!"
Caine's eyes went lidded and he hummed contentedly in Pomni's hold. A faint blush was visible on Pomni.
"WHAT THE HELL! I SAID OFF!! THIS IS NOT HAPPENING! THAT'S NOT EVEN ME!!!"
"How do you like me now?~" Caine asked, seemingly out of the blue. "Aren't I better than before?~"
"Before?" Pomni latched onto the word. "What were you like before?"
"Unrefined, rough, disobedient, messy, always running around causing problems," Caine gently trailed his hand along Pomni's arm watching her light the herbs in her pipe. "But now I'm proper, obedient, clean. And I'll never cause you problems again." Caine stood up, leaning over the desk as if to kiss her. "I'm all yours now my darling~"
"NO! NONONONO!!!! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENING!!! DON'T YOU DARE!"
Barely anything separated them. But suddenly Pomni let out a puff of smoke, pushing Caine back down into the chair across her desk.
She quickly moved around the desk, turning the chair he was in and pressing its back against her desk.
"Oh, my dear puppeteer, so assertive~" Caine leaned back into the chair.
Suddenly Pomni was looming directly over him, pinning his hands to the armrests of the chair.
"Mh, don't be too rough with me, my darling~" Caine said, spreading his legs slightly.
"Caine..." Pomni said seriously. "I know you're still there! Get out here already you damn bastard!"
"What!" He said, stunned.
"AHAHAHA!! YES! IT'S ME! ALSO DON'T SWEAR!!"
"HUSH!" Caine whispered harshly.
"Caine, this other personality appeared because of a glitch in your character block. It shows a hidden side of you, one you're ashamed of. Its overplaying these qualities and is trying to take over your body. Don't let it overwhelm you!"
Caine's eyes sparked for a moment.
Caine found himself in a dark, endless seeming space facing what looked like himself. Almost, at least the figure before him looked all too similar and all too different at the same time, both him and not at the same time...
"Tch, really just had to ruin my fun, didn't you..." The other Caine spoke mockingly, voice low to the point of almost being a growl. He adjusted his clothes, tossing up his cane slightly and clicking out the spikes to prepare to fight, though he kept one hand behind him.
"This is my body! You insolent glitch!" Caine spoke as he drew up his own weapon.
"But I think our dear puppeteer likes me better." The mirror of Caine threw down the small bottle he'd been holding behind his back, which exploded into a puff of smoke showing one of the times Caine had actively tried attacking Pomni rather early in their relationship. "All you ever do is fight her, clashing at every turn, but our dear Puppeteer has needs~. Needs you're too afraid to help with, but I'm not~"
"That is extremely inappropriate!" Caine suddenly lunged at his mirror self, swinging his cane, though his other self easily dodged. "And it is not a "need", we're robotic, that kind of thing is unnecessary!" Caine called out to his other self.
"Oh but even if it's not needed as you say, it's still something she wants, craves, desires, something she wants with you~" The other Caine called out mockingly quickly trying to hit him with an attack of his own.
In the real world Pomni could hear their entire conversation, their eyes blinking and switching colors whenever who was talking changed.
"I think that information is none of your damn business..." Pomni muttered softly as she heard that last line from the other Caine.
"I believe I'd be well aware if Pomni felt anything like that towards me." Caine all but growled as he readied his weapon again.
"Oh, of course you are, how do you think I know what she feels for you~ You're just scared to admit it~" The other Caine spoke as they slowly started circling each other in their mind.
As they continued circling the other Caine smirked slyly.
"Why not let her decide, hm? I believe she'll fairly judge which one of us she wants~"
In reality Pomni stared down at Caine's red and pink eyes. She knew that if she was entrusted with the choice she'd pick the original, but she also knows Caine hated easy wins.
The original Caine blinked at his other self a few times as if questioning his audacity before lunging forward suddenly.
"NEVER!" Caine landed a solid hit to the back of his other selves legs, knocking him to the ground. "THIS IS MY BODY! I'LL CHOOSE MYSELF!! AND YOU CAN DIE!!" Caine yelled out as he attacked his other self, catching his breath before silently whispering to the other version of himself. "She is MINE."
Caine struck the final blow by smashing the other Caine's heart with his cane.
As Caine felt his other selfs heart crack apart under his weapon he blinked his eyes open, shining blue as the ocean and green as the grass, taking a moment to adjust to controlling his own body again. He took a few deep breaths despite thinking that they seemed unnecessary, though he'd never felt like he needed to before now...
After he readjusted he realized that Pomni was still looming over him, looking at him almost appraisingly. He noted that her breath smelled nice, a mix of lavender, pine, and some other herbs that seemed to blend together... Wait since when could he!?-
"Hey." Pomni spoke sharply, tilting Caine's head up to look her in the eyes. "You back lap dog? You seem out of it..."
Caine was easily snapped out of his confusion and mild distress by Pomni's words. "Hey! I'm not a lap dog!"
"Oh really?" Pomni leaned closer again, her lips were centimeters away from Caine's teeth.
Caine barely registered what was happening as he moved without thinking, pressing the seam of his teeth to the lips of Pomni's mask feeling something run along her lips before he pushed her away slightly at a sudden influx of sensations.
Caine coughed a couple times before speaking. "Bleh... Lavender doesn't taste as good as it smells..." Before either Pomni or Caine could dwell on what he said for long enough to understand what just happened Able opened the door to Pomni's office and they had to stumble through explaining their current positions.
;3
