"Quorra." Sam folded his arms.
"Mh." The ISO in question, currently doing the least convincing human impression she'd done since leaving the Grid for the first time, hid her head in her hands.
"You are my sister in all senses except biological, and I love and support you." Sam continued. "And I am aware it is a free system, so you can love whoever you like. I am not entitled to all the details of your love life, and you know I will happily fight anyone who gives you grief about your girlfriend."
Quorra scowled at a memory - finding out the User world was not always as accepting as the Grid had been a rude wake-up call, especially when she realised the way those hecklers had treated her was how some of her fellow ISOs had treated the Userforged (not Basics, never Basics, she knew that now).
"However, I am judging you a lot right now." Sam poked her arm. "Her? Really? She tried to kill you, Q. And unlike Paige, she almost succeeded."
Athena, resplendent in red and every inch the weapon Julian Dillinger had coded her to be, radiated smugness.
Sam pointed at her. "Do not. I can and will load you on a pocket calculator if you hurt my sister."
Quorra mumbled something. Athena's tiny smile grew.
"I did not need to know that about your sex life, thank you, please never tell me things like that again." Sam pinched the bridge of his nose. "But, and I can't believe I'm saying this, be safe, and consent is sexy." He hissed a breath between his teeth. "And now I sound like Alan."
"So..." Quorra peeked at him. "You're not mad?"
"I am mad at the Analogue world for not being as accepting as the Grid. I am mad at myself for putting you in a position where you felt you had to hide the identity of your girlfriend for... almost four months, if my maths is right. I am not mad at you." Sam explained softly. "I'm... confused, and still wary, about you-" he pointed at Athena again. "-but you did chase us literally halfway across the world, with lethal intent for a good portion of it. However, I am not mad at you, because your Creator is a terrible human being, and you didn't have anyone teaching you you are more than what he made you to be. You had to learn that by yourself. In twenty-nine minute bursts, because you died painfully at the end of each one."
Athena grimaced. "An experience I do not want to repeat."
"Yeah, well, that's why I helped you fix it. Granted, I didn't know it was you I was helping, but I would have helped you anyway. No one deserves that. And you make Q happy, if you keep doing that I'll get used to you and we'll be fine."
The look Athena gave him, all quick-flash disbelief and vulnerable gratitude, still made Sam want to throttle the latest Dillinger-issue pain in every Baines-Bradley-Flynn's ass. No one, war Program or otherwise, deserved to feel like they didn't deserve kindness or forgiveness for what wasn't their fault.
"Now shoo. Go seduce my sister. Have fun, I am going to bed at midnight but call me if you want me to come get you." Sam instructed, chivvying Quorra out the door and into Athena's arms. "I know you can both handle yourselves, but let's try to keep it so I'm the only one who's ever needed bailing out of jail."
"Hi." Quorra whispered. This close, it was clear Athena's eyeliner was no longer wholly black - still heavy, bold and smoky, but flecked with white stars.
"Hello." Athena murmured back, thumb tracing the silver hexagon on Quorra's bicep. It still buzzed gently against her sensors, unlit in the Analogue world but energy echoing under it.
"We have a reservation." Quorra made no effort at moving, and every effort not to smudge Athena's lipstick when she stole a quick kiss.
"We do." Athena nuzzled Quorra's chrrk, revelling in the consequences of her first true choice - in freedom, and possibilities.
"We'll be late." Quorra hummed.
"I hear it's fashionable to be so." Athena offered, receiving a giggle for her efforts. "Though we should probably allow your brother to close the door, at least."
Quorra's giggles became full-blown laughs. "Probably." She agreed, finally starting to head off in the direction of the bus stop. "After all, I recall I owe you a proper date?"
Athena chuckled, and followed. "I believe, my sunrise, that it is I who owe you."
