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You think nothing of it when Wheatley follows you into the showers. If anything, you’re glad the management rail extends this far so he can stay with you. After your separation, you weren’t eager to let him out of your sight again. You really thought he had died in her grip. Here he was, though, chatting with you about his daring escape.
“You wouldn’t believe the size of that bird. Honestly, wonder what they’re feeding the bloody things. Massive!”
You nod, removing your boots and placing them in a pile with the portal gun.
Wheatley continues. “I’ve never seen anything like it. Seriously if you’d seen this bird, you’d be-” You pull your tank top up and off, then yank down the jumpsuit and underwear. “-Oh. You’re naked now.”
His optic is open wide, pupil a tiny shocked pinprick darting all over as he takes in your newly bared skin. For some reason it hadn’t occurred to you that a robot might be uncomfortable with nudity. You’d stripped down for so many medical exams that it had just become a part of life in the facility.
The little core shook himself, regaining some composure, “I mean, uh, of course you’re naked! In the shower! Right! Wouldn’t want to get your clothes wet. The clothes you’re no longer wearing.” His gaze had fallen to the floor, away from you
You were about to apologize before something came to mind.
“Wheatley, you said you said you were in charge of the relaxation center. There were thousands of people down there. You must have seen someone naked.”
“That... that is true…you’re not wrong... but you see, those humans were, typically, uh, much further away. It’s rather different when you’re all up close. All those lumps and bumps. Bits and bobs. More than I was expecting to be honest. Oh! Not, er, a bad thing! Just, a lot to take in.” He sheepishly tucks his handles in. “Do..do you want me to leave?”
“No!” You’re surprised how quickly the answer jumps out of your mouth. “I mean, unless you really want to. Look, I’m sorry I didn’t, like, warn you, but...I wasn’t..to tell the truth, I’d be a little scared in here by myself and...I feel safe around you.”
“You..you do?” His lower lid lifts up in a smile.
“Well, yeah? We’re friends, right?”
“Oh, yes! Absolutely!” He beamed. His optic had dilated back to it’s full, steady blue glow.
The change in attitude is so sudden you can’t help but laugh. Confident he was no longer going to pop off his rail with embarrassment, you finally returned to the task of getting clean.
“I’m going to turn the water on, okay?”
“Yes, of course! Don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye out. Ol’ Wheatley’s got your back!”
It takes some fiddling with the tap, but you eventually get the water to a nice temperature. You sigh as you finally let the water pour onto your back.
“So what were you saying about the bird?”
“Ah, the bird! Right! So imagine the biggest bird you’ve ever seen. Assuming you’ve seen one, of course. If not, just picture something else incredibly large. Anyway, there I was, on the floor…”
You close you eyes, savoring the calmness brought by the warm water and the voice of your companion.