Work Text:
“In order to better yourself, one must accept who they are at their core.”
The voice resounded gently, humming like a soothing melody as hands spread over the surface of a metal workbench. Fingers gliding over bits of machines and abandoned projects, eventually seizing hold of a thick cable, thumbing its sleek exterior. Wide eyes gazed up at the imposing figure before them, a mechanical behemoth vaguely resembling the silhouette of a man. The metallic head inclined, its bright optics gleaming behind a white visor as it absorbed the scene before it. A taunting scoff emanated from its vocal processor, eerily similar to that of a human's huff. "I have no need to seek wisdom from a human who struggles with comprehending the teachings of Mondatta himself."
In response, a soft croon of amusement escaped your lips, a smug smile gracing your face as your hand released the cable. Your tongue darted out to wet your bottom lip as you took a step back, your gaze intently scanning the features of Ramattra. The omnic sat motionless on the bench, towering over your frame. Nodding in understanding, you turned around, extending your hands to grasp metal instruments to assist in the process of removing Ramattra's frontal faceplate. "True, but a little bird has sung its song of your own struggles throughout the Monastery. You are not as stoic as you attempt to perceive yourself, Ramattra."
He groaned, tilting his head forward and curling his hands around the edge of the bench. A smoldering defiance surged through his circuits. Despite two years of begrudging companionship alongside you at the Shambali Monastery, Ramattra was still not used to your teasing. It seemed as though you knew everything about him-both the mechanical aspects as you work to polish his frame and the emotional part he has. Emotions were not an idea Ramattra willingly acknowledged he had. The roar of hatred and irritation were the only emotions he computed as normal. Being regarded as inferior to humans, a mere tool for their satisfaction and needs ignited a resentment within him. He deemed emotions a trait of humanity, dismissing them as useless rather than recognizing their potential as a means of communication.
So, when you swayed your hips and flashed a grin at him while taking apart each unspoken thought within his mind, he faltered. His rhythmic processes paused as he lulled over your words—the truth that he refused to acknowledge that you knew. His fingers curled harder into the metal surface, causing a creek of faulty screws to reach his audio receptors. Your head turned back to him, a screwdriver waving in your hand as you fixed him with a stare. In that moment, Ramattra felt as if you were gutting his metal body, leaving him open and vulnerable. Exposed to your searching eyes. Returning his head to its original position, Ramattra unfurled his hands from the workbench and instead clasped them in his lap, fixing you with a stare of his own.
In an attempt to conceal his inner turmoil, he brushed your hand away when you reached to touch the side of his face. "I am fully capable of... removing it myself," he stated, pausing to carefully choose his words. You tilted your head, a mannerism he suspected you had picked up from him, your raised eyebrows and neutral lips revealing no hints of your thoughts. Your face remained blank, untelling of any of your thoughts, and for a beat, he wondered how you were able to hide everything so easily as a human. In a second, your lips parted to release a sigh, and you set the screwdriver down with a thud. Leaning back slightly, you gestured toward his head, silently commanding him to take it off. A stab of regret briefly stung him but he ignored it. Ramattra's hands swiftly moved to the sides of his face, fumbling slightly before loosening the faceplate panel. With a hint of hesitation, his thoughts wandering briefly, he slid the plate completely off, revealing his optics as he peered down at you.
Not flinching and devoid of any signs of fear, your hands brushed away his and pawed at his sensors. At the touch of your fingers on his face, his lights brightened, flickering in patterns of red. His stance stiffened, his eyes scanning your face as your hands roamed his. The faint sound of metal clicking echoed in the room as you worked on his face, wiping off dust, securing loose wires, and tightening small screws. Remaining close, you leaned your head back from him, your hands trailing to grasp at his jaw. Your palms glided over the sharp yellow metal, your eyes meeting his, a smile lifting at the corners of your lips as you patted his chin. "You're all done," you whispered, your voice gentle so as not to disturb the atmosphere that settled between the two of you. His cooling fans whirred in response, his unblinking eyes locking onto yours as you released his jaw.
In swift motions, Ramattra's hands enveloped yours, pressing them back against his jaw. He held them there, his vocal processor stuttering before one of his hands reached down to clutch at the scarf of his robe. "Please... it would be impolite to perform such work and leave my faceplate unattended," he uttered, his optics flicking downward to gaze at your hands, barely visible as they caressed his jaw. "I thought you were more than capable of handling it on your own?" you replied, your voice hushed and teasing, your chin tilting upward, a smirk curved over your face as your fingertips traced patterns on his face. The hand that had been holding yours fell and softly thudded on the bench, his eyes fixated on you. He remained silent, refusing to speak due to the stammering that would undoubtedly escape his throat. Tapping your fingertips against his chin, you retrieved his faceplate and slid it back into place, securing it with a satisfying click.
You chuckled, fiddling with the screws on the side before distancing yourself from him. Ramattra found himself wishing to pull you closer, but he stopped that thought as he navigated through and removed system warnings. He sat there, uncertain of his next words and actions. For the first time in his sentience, he stood dumbfounded, struggling with the unfamiliarity of what to do next. Regaining his composure, Ramattra chuckled nervously, his hand rubbing the spot on his jaw that you had touched. Adjusting his robe, he slid off the workbench, gaining the confidence back to take a step toward you, only to stop himself. Instead, he stood observing as you slinked around the room. Washing your tools and returning each one to its correct place. During your work, you glanced back over your shoulder, locking eyes with Ramattra for a moment before nodding. "You may leave now, Ramattra," you uttered. Caught off guard, he racked his mind to respond coherently, his mind whirling with thoughts and emotions. Yet, the words struck a nerve in him, slipping through the gaps in his programming. With a nod that was uncharacteristically obedient of the Ravager, he began to walk toward the exit. He was rooted in place as the call of his name left your mouth, though.
"Come back tomorrow, though," you called, "I'll give you a real good cleaning of your chassis. It might act as a relaxing experience for you."
His processors buzzed with a mixture of surprise and intrigue at your proposition. The idea of a human cleaning him both enticed and unsettled him. The idea of allowing someone else to burrow themself into the inner workings of his mechanical form stirred something inside him, a vulnerability he was not accustomed to embracing. Yet, there was a hint of desire tugging at his circuits, a desire to be in such an open and close position with you. As Ramattra stood there, taking far too long to fully understand the simple sentence, the thought of relinquishing control, if only for a moment, left him uncertain. But there was something so calming about being with you alone. A human, the people he has grown to hate despite Mondatta’s lessons, caring for him left him wounded.
“You don’t have to if you don’t wanna…it was just an offer.”
With a smile, you waved him off and turned back around to your desk.
“Though it would be nice to see you more personally.”