Archive of Our Own ^beta

The only sound that can be heard between the two is the sound of Bi-Han tapping on his tablet.

Tomas glances at him again. Maybe he should try starting a conversation to get to know him.

“It seems that my presence bothers you, sir. My apologies if I gave you the wrong impression.”

Bi-Han does not respond.

“Would you like to start a conversation? So that way we know more about each other as partners?”

Bi-Han does not respond.

No conversation, then.

“I hope we make a good team.”

Bi-Han gives him an acknowledging grunt.

“Is the desk next to yours taken?” Tomas asks, gesturing to the empty seat nearby.

This time, Bi-Han glances up at Tomas. “No, it is not.”

“Do you mind if I sit there?”

“As long as you don’t waste my time.”

“Very well.”

Tomas slides into the seat, taking in its capabilities. It’s plush, comfortable, and swivels — a classic office chair.

Looking up, he takes in Bi-Han’s work area.

[Bi-Han’s Appearance]

[Bi-Han’s Desk] <<

Multiple piles of papers are organized neatly into piles and folders. There’s only one loose pencil on the table, the others shoved into a cup on the corner of his desk. The computer monitor on one side of the desk has multiple interesting items on it — sticky notes, stickers, and a wallpaper of what seems to be two smiling boys, the one in a blue shirt with his arm around the shoulders of the boy in yellow.

[Bi-Han’s Appearance]

[Bi-Han’s Computer] <<

The sticky notes stuck on the monitor all have different messages scrawled on them with barely legible handwriting.

“Call Sareena! 666-420-1001”

“Meeting with Liu Kang next month”

“Black Dragon ties with Red Ice dealing?”

As for the wallpaper on the monitor, the face of the boy in yellow is somewhat covered by files and applications, preventing Tomas from identifying who the boy is.

There’s also multiple stickers of anti-android propaganda stuck on the monitor. Tomas decides to ignore those for now.

[Bi-Han’s Appearance] <<

Unlike his desk, the only thing neat about Bi-Han is his hair, which is tied into a tight bun on the back of his head.

Besides that, his face is littered with acne scars and shaving burns, and there’s eyebags under his eyes. A couple of his fingernails are either broken or split open, and his jacket looks like he hadn’t properly cleaned it in a while, judging by the cat hairs on it.

Additionally, Tomas also notices that Bi-Han is slightly underweight for a man his age and build.

Tomas’s LED flashes yellow for a moment as he considers talking to Bi-Han again with the information he’s gathered, staring at the man as he watches him pull up what seems to be a music playlist on his tablet.

[🔓 Concern] <<

[🔓 Sareena]

[🔓 Music]

[🔓 Cat]

“You are quite unkempt, sir. Are you alright?”

Bi-Han glares at Tomas in response. “And why is that your issue?”

“I just wish to know, we are partners after all-”

“That still does not make that something acceptable to ask,” Bi-Han snarls, “now quit being a nuisance and be quiet.”

[Bi-Han ⏬]

[🔓 Sareena] <<

[🔓 Music]

[🔓 Cat]

“Who is Sareena?”

Bi-Han glances up from his tablet.

“I…” Bi-Han hesitates. “An acquaintance. Our relationship is strictly professional, do not bother asking for more.”

His tone seems to have a bit less edge this time. That’s good.

[Bi-Han 🔼]

[🔓 Music] <<

[🔓 Cat]

“What kind of music do you listen to?” Tomas asks.

“Hm?”

“Your playlist. I do not recognize the artists on there.”

“…Of course you don’t, I doubt 5M0K3 models are made for leisure company,” Bi-Han notes with a snort, leaning back slightly in his chair.

“I still would like to know, though,” Tomas replies, leaning a bit forward.

Bi-Han hesitates, glancing down at the tablet. “The band’s name is ‘Cage Crash’.”

The answer is a slight surprise — Cage Crash is a heavy metal band, and Bi-Han never struck Tomas as a heavy metal fan.

“Good to know, sir,” Tomas notes.

[Bi-Han ⏫]

[🔓 Cat]

“You have a cat, right?”

Bi-Han’s brow furrows with surprise. “How did you-?”

“The cat hairs on your jacket,” Tomas says in response.

Bi-Han takes a quick look at his jacket, seemingly scanning it for any cat hairs. He’s still frowning as he turns back to Tomas.

“…I like cats.”

The statement that comes out of Tomas’s mouth seems like it was out of nowhere, but he rolls with it anyway. He gives Bi-Han a polite smile.

“What is your cat’s name?”

Bi-Han’s brow furrows some more. “And how is that any of your business?”

Tomas looks down at his hands in his lap, trying to process how to respond.

Silence fills the space between the two, with Bi-Han’s gaze seemingly boring holes into the android.

Then, his gaze softens, and he sighs as he turns back to his tablet.

“弟弟.”

Tomas looks back up at Bi-Han, who’s flicking through files on the tablet.

“His name is 弟弟.”

[Bi-Han ⏫]