Chapter Text
Solomon was hunched over the table, tinkering with a few wires as the computer screen flashed its status bar in a blazing, brilliant blue. His lips were pursed, his handsome brow furrowed in concentration. It had been hours since he had disappeared into the workshop terminal, and you had finally decided to chase him down with sustenance to make sure he remained energized; it was, as you had come to understand, organic beings’ greatest weakness.
Though, your recharge time was like going to sleep. At least that’s what the two of you called it.
“Solomon, it’s time to eat,” you announced from the doorway. He looked up, blinking against the light shining down on his workbench shifting to spy you with a smile.
“Ah!” He exclaimed, eyes flicking to mark the glowing digital numbers that heralded the time. “I didn’t realize I’d been in here that long.”
You imagined not. If there was one thing you had come to understand about him, the mad genius, it was that time to him often waxed and waned beyond the keepings of a clock. “Here.” You crossed the room, setting a sandwich and cup of water on the table.
Solomon eyed the water with a petulant slant of his lip. “Shouldn’t pick me ups come with coffee?”
“I found many articles on the net that excessive caffeine is bad for humans,” you answered seamlessly. You had been expecting some disappointment from him after all. “And I believe if I forwarded your coffee habits and sleeping schedule to a medical professional, they would be highly concerned.”
Begrudgingly, the tech wizard picked up the glass of water. “Fine, fine. You know, you’re free of servitude programming now. You don’t have to monitor my health so closely.”
You tilted your head. “Please clarify.”
“You were a personal service android, yes? Meant to keep a master’s house in order and monitor his schedule,” Solomon began. He paused, and you nodded. “All I’m saying is I took the code out that kept you to those patterns. You’re free to do what you want.”
“Perhaps you have misunderstood,” you decided. “I don’t do this because you’re my master. I thought this was what humans did for people they loved.”
The water nearly slipped from Solomon’s hands, but your quick reflexes managed to keep the cup from emptying all over his workstation. “Ah, good catch,” he stammered. His grey eyes were not looking at you, rather the cup. You tilted your head the other way inquisitively. It was unlike him, you thought. In all the weeks you had known him, he seemed confident. Self assured. His cheeks looked…pink?
“Are you ill?” You asked, reaching forward. He flinched under your touch, but you were more concerned with the reading that was coming through the temperature nodes on your palm. Elevated.
“No, I’m—” Solomon started.
“You’re feverish,” you declared. “I will get the medicine from your cabinet.”
“No! No, wait, please,” Solomon exclaimed, leaning and reaching to take hold of your hand. It stilled you, those steady warmth readings coming through your palm once more making you feel happy. “I’m fine. I’m not sick, so please don’t go for the medicine.”
You nodded. Solomon’s fingers coiled around yours, his touch blurring the lines of gentle and fierce. Still, you didn’t pull away. This man had given you the world; your name, a life free of subservient code that you had been built with, a place to stay until you knew what you wanted to do. You wondered if it was selfish to want to stay with him, to want his hand in yours.
If so, it felt very human.
“…Do you mean that?” Solomon finally asked.
“Please clarify.”
“That you lo—”
There was a knock on the door, the rap forceful enough to make the tech wizard’s words catch in his throat. “I’ll get it,” you stated, pulling your hand from his and turning to make way toward the entry. Solomon shadowed you at your heels.
When you opened the door, two figures stood your opposite. One was a face you very well recognized; Barbatos had been the one to escort you to Solomon those months ago, back when your code had been fighting every step he had helped you take.
That meant…
Your eyes slid to the face beside him. Unfamiliar, yet with the same blank look you had been wearing. “Good evening,” Barbatos purred, hand gripped around the android’s upper arm.
“Hello. Solomon?”
“Right here,” the man answered, breezing up to the door. “Brought another, I see.”
Normally he sounded thrilled when someone in need of help appeared on your doorstep. Today, though, you noted he seemed a little annoyed. “Bring them in.”
You moved aside, and Barbatos was able to breeze the new android in toward the workshop.
“You might recognize this android as another personal assistance model,” Barbatos declared. “The Young Master paid quite heavily for its release to him, so I hope you are able to help.”
The android was lowered into a chair, and Solomon leaned in, peering at the base of the being’s neck in study. “He bought this one from someone, did he? A newer model,” he hummed thoughtfully. His eyes flicked to you. “Can you get me the new cable? Our friend has a different port.”
You nodded, knowingly crossing to the drawers with the connectors. There was only one new-model wire; you were able to bring it back with no issue. Solomon began working swiftly, hands mechanically though gracefully moving between the android and his computer, the steady clicks of the keys a staccato heartbeat to the otherwise quiet room.
The android closed its eyes, falling still. You recognized a power down when you saw one.
“Are you staying, Barbatos?” He hummed in question.
That was unusual. Normally he was too focused on work to take note of guests. That had been something you had learned quite early.
The teal-haired man shook his head. “The Young Master sent me for delivery only. It’s quite late. I trust you can handle things from here?”
“Of course,” Solomon assured. The screen changed, a new loading screen opening with a hefty timer. Updates always took a while.
“Would you like some tea before you go?” You piped in question. It was, after all, a human staple to provide hospitality as well.
Still, before Barbatos could offer an answer, Solomon cut in with a smile. “Nonsense,” he clucked. “Lord Diavolo must be waiting for him. You heard him—it’s quite late, and I was actually in the middle of something important.”
You blinked, looking between Solomon and Barbatos confusedly. Middle of something important? Well, he was working on something when you brought him his snack, you supposed. You also knew your power banks were going to need a recharge soon. Perhaps it was later than normal for Barbatos as well.
Barbatos chuckled, his teal eyes brightening for a moment before his face fell once more into that familiar, professional appearance. “Then I will leave them to you. It’s good to see you both, I’ll have to prepare tea for a visit soon.”
Solomon looked up and smiled. “Sure. Bye, Barbatos.”
You followed the man to the door, seeing him off and back out into the swath of bright, neon lights. It was time to set about your bedtime routine, you decided. After all, Solomon had said he was in the middle of something important.
You turned, nearly crashing into Solomon as you did so. “Apologies,” you gasped.
But for all your startle, he did not appear to be ruffled at all. Instead, his hands reached to grab your hands. “Now, where were we?” He asked, though you were unsure if he was posing the question to you or himself.
“What of the android?” You asked.
“The update’s already being pushed, the code will remove the subservient programming—don’t worry,” Solomon dismissed.
Still, something about this was…odd. “…Weren’t you doing something important? It’s why Barbatos had to leave, right?”
Solomon’s face went slack. “This is the important thing,” he countered.
A beat of silence. “I see,” you said.
Solomon sighed, a self-depreciating laugh for a moment echoing from his chest. “Sometimes important things aren’t about saving the world,” he explained. “Sometimes something is important to a person because it’s a big deal for them.”
You tilted your head. “Like when you say you’re hungry? Someone else might not be hungry, but you feel it.”
“Yes. Well, this is more important than that. …There is a lot left that I need to teach you,” he hummed. “But I’m curious. Do you know what love is?”
“Love is an intense feeling of deep affection,” you answered.
Solomon burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, it’s just…not the definition, per se. I mean, do you understand it? When you…” He trailed off a moment, that dusty pink color coming back to his cheeks, and his hands reading warmer on your sensors. “When you say you love me, what does that mean to you?”
Was that what this was about? “It is deep affection,” you began. It looked like the tech wizard was about to say something, but you were not quite done. “It’s warm. It feels safe. I…want to stay here, with you. You gave me a name and a life. I want to use that life to help you. Not because I have to, but because it would make me happy to see you succeed.”
Solomon stared, his cheeks after a moment growing darker. “You know, I said I had a lot left to teach you, but I think you’ve got a lot to teach me, too,” he mumbled. He paused, catching his breath. His pulse was reading high; you wondered what that meant. He had said he was not sick, after all. “…Are you familiar with what humans do when they love someone?” He asked after a moment.
“Yes,” you answered with a nod. “They share a house, and support each other. We already do this.”
Solomon balked. “…We do, don’t we? Ha.” He chuckled, the sound bubbling brighter and louder until his laughter filled the house. “I suppose that would mean asking you on a date is going backward!”
You tilted your head. “It is the sixth of—”
“Ah, no, not today’s date. A date is when two people do something together to see if maybe they like each other in a way that is compatible.” Solomon finally dropped your hand, using his fingers to wick water from his eyes as his laughter quieted.
“A date is romantic?” You questioned.
“Very romantic,” Solomon assured. He smiled, pale eyes sparkling.
“…Then I would like to do a date with you,” you declared.
Solomon’s lips stretched wider. “Then it’s settled! Tomorrow, after we drop our new friend off to get settled in at Lamentation, I’m going to show you the town.” He turned, a light step whisking him back to check on the status of the download, a cheery tune hummed on his lips.
“But I have seen the town,” you said.
“It’s an expression,” Solomon countered. “I promise you’ll understand after tomorrow.”
There really was so much left for you to learn. Still, you smiled. “All right.” After all, if Solomon was the one teaching you, you wanted to learn everything.