Work Text:
Maintenance was a peculiar time to kiibo. They were some of the only times the robot would witness Miu so focused and uncharacteristically quiet, yet they were unsure if they preferred that compared to her normal, boisterous self. Their current maintenance was no exception.
Currently Kiibo was laid out on the maintenance table whilst Miu was working under one of their open chest plates, and although she was demonstrating the aforementioned silence, they couldn't help but find it odd. Find her odd. They were not used to her being silent for so long, save for the occasional muttered curse or grunt. Typically, she would be popping up and around them to explain what she was doing before refocusing for another bout of silence. Other times, she would be having a normal conversation with them – well, as normal as a conversation with the inventor can be – as if she weren't arm deep in their innards. This time around it seemed like they were going to go the whole maintenance without a proper conversation . They could just go into sleep mode like they used to, but the robot had grown to value these moments during times where the inventor was working where they got to see a side of her no one else saw. They enjoyed the mellowed out conversations and watching her work; the look of focus etched on her face that they found endearing. They wondered if breaking the silence through conversation would bring her back to her usual maintenance antics.
“What are you working on now?” Miu was visibly startled from the question, not expecting them to speak so suddenly. When they first started their maintenance sessions, Kiibo wanted to know every detail about what Miu would be doing to them.They barely trusted her then and wanted to know what was being done to their body for their own safety and state of mind. Nowadays, Kiibo had grown to deeply trust the inventor with their systems, letting her do almost whatever she wanted no questions asked, because they knew she would do anything to seriously harm them. The robot hardly ever had to ask questions like that, usually Miu answering any questions before they were even asked by her typical comments she would make.
“ God fucker, warn me next time you bust in my ear”
“I apologize. I was just curious”
“Well if ya need to know, your internal fans have been loud and it annoys the fuck out of me how constant it is, so im replacing them with better ones”
“Oh. they never seemed to be issues before though?”
“Yeah you know, general tech wear shit and increased demand from whatever hardware i've stuffed in you”
That satisfies the initial question, but shortly after the overarching silence would resume. Kiibo thought it best to ask another question to keep the conversation going.
“What made you start inventing?”
“Huh?” The inventor had a look of confusion on her face from the question. “Have I never told you that before?”
“I do not recall this conversation topic no”
“Alright then.” She straightened up and pushed her goggles off her face. “Anyway, this might sound hard to believe but years ago, I was a boring unremarkable girl with less talent than a dead hooker.” Kiibo couldn't help but wince at her word choice, but continued to listen. “Then one day, I got into an accident and was in a coma for a long-ass time. There was surgery and all that shit and when I woke up my head was swarming with all kinds of ideas for inventions.” The robot was trying to process all she just said in a short time. Accident? Coma? Waking up with an ultimate talent? They were crazy ideas, but Miu was also crazy, so they decided it was a sort of a fitting past for her. Although, that much information was not what Kiibo was expecting from that question. Though Miu did sometimes (ok a lot of times) overshare to an inappropriate level, what she just shared with them seemed a lot more personal than the usual unintelligible nonsense she usually can spew. Perhaps they could take it as a testament of her being comfortable around them to share something like that, or they would, if their thoughts were not interrupted.
“I mean, thats fucking wild, isnt it? Makes no sense. That's why they must have augmented me during the surgery!” Maybe she was getting too comfortable with what she was telling him. The thoughts spewing from her mouth were bordering on insanity, so they decided to attempt to change the conversation topic. Though, Kiibo did think it captivating with how much passion she was talking to him with. Maybe they were the first person she was telling about this? Or maybe it really was just a matter of her being comfortable enough to open up to them. Whatever it was, it put a smile on their face. That still didn't change Kiibos decision to attempt to change the topic, as knowing Miu, if they asked more follow up questions on this specific subject, she would soon be discussing topics that would make the robot increasingly uncomfortable.
“Whats your favorite food?”
“Whats with the sudden obsession over me?” By now she had put down her tools and was leaning an elbow on the worktable, seemingly more focused now on their conversation rather than the work she was doing. “I mean, its only obvious that everyone would be obsessed over me!” she loudly bragged.
“I’m sorry. I was simply-”
“I’ll still fuckin’ answer you. I dont have a favorite food, but boba tea is the shit. Sukiyaki caramel also kinda fucks hard too, though none of the other shit eaters at this school like it besides kokichi, and hell if thats enough to like that prick.” She leaned back in her chair and stared at the ceiling, “there is that astro cake stuff everyone likes.” she glanced at them on the table, “almost everyone. Remind me to install an eating function into ya”
They thought about what to follow up with next. It was nice getting to know a little more about Miu, but they wished that it felt less forced. It would be easier if she was asking questions too, but today for some reason she was in a less talkative mood, something incredibly rare for the inventor.
“Did you have a best friend growing up?” Miu flinched at the question. She leaned forward after a few seconds as a look of distraught crossed her face.
“Fucks it to ya? Best friends are just beta cucks that cant get any so they settle for second place” she let out a huff and clenched her hands in her lap, “ ‘sides, friends get in the way of my work, why do I need some loser wasting my precious time that I could be using inventing creations that will benefit all of humanity?”
“Apologies, but I do have a follow up question to this topic.”
“Shoot”
“If friends are such a waste of time as you say, does that make me a waste of time? Am I not considered a friend.” Kiibo looked her in the eyes, a glimpse of nervousness was spreading throughout her features.
“Th-that's different! You’re just better than all the other plebs in our class.” She was starting to get flustered from the interaction, quietly hoping the redness of her face wasnt noticable.
The robot thought for a second. “But then by definition would I be your best friend? The exact meaning is ‘a person's closest friend.’” They were oblivious to the deepening color in the inventor's face. “Am I a ‘beta cuck’” to you?
“Like I said, shithead, you’re just better than the other losers in our class!'' By now Mius' face was beet red, yet the robot had not broken eye contact, so she could only hope that they had not yet noticed.
“That's contradictory. You describe friends as a waste of time, yet you defend your friendship with me. Do you enjoy our friendship or do you not? Please make it clear how you feel about me.” They were still laying down in front of Miu, but Kiibos' stare was intense. It was only contributing to how flustered Miu already was.
She was stunned into silence, mouth agape. She decided to oblige their request, because why wouldn’t she? She was Miu Iruma, who says what she wants!
“Th-The way I feel about you?” She regretted answering, but she was too far in to back down. “...” ok maybe she’d say it quietly. “...ah…..ov….ou….”
Kiibo didn't understand what she said. It was too quiet for them to pick up. “Can you repeat that?”
“God are you deaf or just dumb? I'm not saying it again”
“But I genuinely did not hear you and I am curious to your answer”
She leaned back in her chair letting out a huff of irritance. “Fucking hell fine, Ill give you a hint. What I said, it starts with an L''
It starts with an L?
Lah…ov….ou?
Ah…..lov…ou?
I love you?
Oh
Oh!
“You… love me?” Mius face exploded in color, she didn't expect them to actually hear her! Well, she was in too deep already, might as well follow through and hope for the best. If they reject her, they better be prepared to apologize to the entire world for the emotional distress.
“So what if I do. Fuck ya gonna do about it.” They finally sat up from their place on her worktable, looking down at themselves before looking at her again, taking notice of how her confident facade is betrayed by her red face and nervous features. They weren't prepared for that type of answer and had no clue how to respond, so they figured they would respond truthfully.
“I…. love you too, Miu.” Both their faces were red and it seemed impossible for them to make eye contact now, the awkward tension filling the room more and more. Seconds passed before Kiibo made the first move, placing their hand over hers. This assisted in dissipating the awkward tension, at least on Mius behalf, because as soon as their hand made contact with hers it was like she was instantly back to normal. She grabbed their hand and sat up straight.
“Of course you love me! It only makes sense that everyone would! HAHAHA!” Kiibo reacted with a soft smile. She looked to be back to her normal boisterous self, which got Kiibo wondering what exactly caused her previous bout of silence? Until they realized that there was a high chance she was nervous. Perhaps she had been planning a way to tell him, and their rapid questions sped that process up. She was already back to gushing about her latest upgrades she had planned for them, but now with a hand intertwined with theirs, a soft smile on her face, and her cheeks lightly blushing. Kiibo couldn't help but stare at her features in adoration as she continued about her plans.
Yep, Kiibo loved maintenance time.
