Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Uzi was broken.

To her this was her life, every day she woke up to a pop-up warning her about the effects of running on a damaged processor. How she could physically hurt if she happens to overload again. Uzi wasn't a child though, she could handle herself just fine.

Clearing the pop up she opened her eyes, met with the familiar purple glow of her room lights shining above her. Today was supposed to be another normal day, get up, go to school, live life or whatever. Uzi never really understood how most people stayed so optimistic, it seemed exhausting.

It may be because she was practically programmed at this point to function without her emotions functioning properly, strong emotions made her headache. Sometimes, this event led to her nearly overheating and shutting off to prevent any further damage to her internal circuits.

As Uzi sat up she took a moment to sit and focus on her surroundings. Her head spun at her quick movements causing her to snap her eyes shut and wait for the feeling of spinning to stop. As she sat there she pondered what could have caused it this time. She went over the usual issues like stress, anxiety, maybe even being too happy, but as she crossed all of those off one by one it made less and less sense. Her brain was already fogging up and blurring things together and she wasn't even out of bed yet.

In her dazed state she didn't hear the faint sound of her door opening. The pounding in her head sent her into a near spiral, trying to stabilize her mushed thoughts while fighting just to stay awake.

It was exhausting.

Her visor flashed with a high temperature warning, the feeling of her clothes against the burning hot metal made her want to cry from how uncomfortable it made her feel. She felt a hand grab hers, the force of who she assumed to be a drone pulling her forward. As she felt the contact between her and the other drone she tried to pull away.

She was Uzi doorman.

She didn't need this person's pity. The feeling of them holding her felt almost foreign. The comfort of someone caring enough.

It was almost like she was in her mother's arms again, like she was still a small drone curious and happy around every corner. Excited to live life and be herself. Ever since the last time she was in her mother's arms she felt a part of her missing, like she'd never relive those moments.

But there she was, stuck in the past like it was her present.

She smiled, leaning on who was holding her, being too out of it to reply to the words they spoke.

That was the last thought before Uzi shut off.

___

To say Khan was confused was an understatement. When he powered on that morning he heard no extra sounds ringing through the small house he and his daughter lived in. At this rate that wasn't too out of the ordinary, when Khan got up and didn't see Uzi he assumed she had left early. He knew she had something important to do before school, what that was he didn't know.
He didn't exactly care either, she would stay out of his hair for a morning and so be it!

Or that's what he assumed up until he saw her backpack still placed by her bedroom door, and if it's one thing khan knew about uzi is that she wouldn't leave the house without it. Especially for school, and with the assumption by now she would need to at least be awake if she needed to go to her ‘super secret meeting’ he was reasonably worried.

He stepped up to the door, what once was automatic now needed to be forced open. Standing there he waited, mostly to see if the door was still broken but he kept that part to himself. After a few seconds he knocked gently on the door, calling out for the drone that was hopefully inside.

No response.

He knocked again, a bit harder This time.

No response.

This time urgency filled his movements, as he called out for the girl inside again.

This time, he heard a sound. What at first sounded like speech turned into pained whimpering into almost pleading sobs in nearly an instant.

Quickly grabbing at the door handle Khan yanked it open. Watching the piece of metal open to the side had to have been one of the most suspenseful experiences he'd had in awhile. Normally he wouldn't care much about Uzi, she swore she could take care of herself and shoved him away. In khan's opinion? She was still a kid, she didn't deserve anything that happened to her growing up. Not the bullying, not her mother's sudden passing, not the mental torment even himself put her through.

Khan could sit there and feel horrible about it. Or he could step into his daughter's room, walking around the papers. Just to find her in her bed, tears glitching down her visor as heat radiated off her. Grabbing his daughter by the arm he nearly dropped Her, the urge to pull back overcame his sensors at the feeling of how hot she physically was.

‘do this for uzi.’

He pulled her in, taking off her beanie and setting it to the side to hopefully help at least her head cool down a tad. He'd decided when he grabbed her for the first time to ignore the slight burn holding her in his arms left. Choosing rather to try to mumble encouraging words to her to at least try to get some sense of the situation. He had zero clue what would cause this, some kind of virus? Maybe lack of care?

He could think of one reason.

Which he shot down immediately, choosing to completely ignore the small idea placed in the back of his CPU.

As Uzi’s crys slowly dulled into an occasional sniffle Khan felt as she shifted in his arms. Twisting to a position that looked far from comfortable. Khan simply watched, Uzi’s visor flicked off a few seconds later, the sleep mode pop-up taking its place.

Pulling Uzi off him he laid her back in the bed that sat under them the whole time, making sure she looked at least decently comfortable before standing and turning to walk out of the room.

Shuffling over the discarded paper rambles on the floor he reached the still open door. Turning to look back one last time Khan sighed.

He closed the door behind him, making sure the soft click of the door shutting fully sounded behind him, before he walked away

he just hoped Uzi didn't end up like Nori.

Broken, and too far gone for repair.

Chapter Text

When Uzi awoke next she was still laying in her bed. She had really powered on around thirty minutes ago, her cpu limiting how much power she was running on till her temperature eventually started to go down. Now, she laid there practically helpless. Fainting was horrible, the constant feeling of being hot was almost enough to push her into overwhelmed sobs. Her screen flicked on once again, the loading circle that once dully illuminated the room shutting off.

All that remained was the dull glow of Uzi’s eye-lights. The world around her seeming almost duller as she attempted to adjust to being able to feel, and see, and hear.

She was honestly shocked she was even still alive after that shut down. She'd probably missed most of school that day, not like she had much planned either way. Small things such as attempting once again to sneak out before her father woke up. If she knew one thing about her type of drone is they weren't built to handle heavy stress, In Uzi’s case. She felt like she was almost built to hurt.

She knew it wasn't true, but the fact of denying that every time she moved the world seemed to darken more, her head spinning as she struggled to even sit up. Just the prospect of her even achieving such a thing seemed so distant. Aching pants filled the room as she struggled, her arms almost giving out from under her at the delay of her processor. The broken and burned feeling of her head, like someone had taken a hammer and a shaped steak and smashed her visor open.

She coughed, her breaths filled with slight sobs with every one she took.

Before she knew it she was held in someone's arms. The touch was far from comforting. In Uzi's opinion she could handle herself. Out of everyone the last person's help she wanted was from her father.

“Put me down Khan.” She mumbled, practically a whisper before she tried again. A glitched shriek Sounding in the start of her sentence. Khan looked down, empathy on his face. He actually bothered to care. If Uzi could, she would have scoffed, rolling her eyes and shoving herself away from her dad.

“Uzi I'm not going to let you hurt if I can do something about it.” Khan replied, and Uzi swore her oil nearly boiled at that. Well, more than it already was. “You care now? When I'm too broken to even move?” She retorted as her visor glitched slightly from the sudden rush of new emotion. “Uzi just let me help you for once. You're going to break again” Khan stated, cutting Uzi off from her next words by dropping her onto their couch.

“You don't know anything about me. Why do you suddenly care Khan.” Uzi spat, crossing her arms trying to ignore the way her world still seemed too dim to be called her own. The figure of her father walking in front of her. “Uzi your my daughter weather you like it or not. I know I've not been the best father. I've never claimed to be that to you, but if you think I'm going to let you Disassemble yourself from the inside out and lose the last family member I have your wrong.” Khan looked uzi in the eyes. The way she weakly attempted to stare back made him almost feel bad for yelling at her. Just almost.

“I never wanted to be your daughter. Your sad excuse for a family.” She tripped over Her own words, the heat that radiated off her rising once again. “I never wanted to be a doorman. You never cared, your the reason I'm like this Khan. I'm broken because you refused to get me help and I won't ever forgive you for that” Uzi tried to yell, she tried so hard. Agony filling her voice as she weakly stood up, her legs almost immediately giving out as she stumbled out more words she muffled herself in her dazed state.

Khan ran towards her, first checking if she'd damaged anything in her fall before placing her back on the couch.

Uzi's screen filled with the all too familiar loading symbol. It flashing as Uzi's visor returned to its normal glow.

“I'm sorry Uzi.” Khan mumbled.

He meant it, he was a horrible father too her. He knew deep down, it was too late to redeem himself. He could help her with this though, make sure she wasn't too stressed. In too much pain, anything. It's the least he could do for how he'd treated her.

He was sorry. He was so sorry.

Chapter Text

Khan sat at his desk, pen tapping against his table as he stared into the paper in front of him. It was another door repair form, he didn't know for who yet but it could wait. He had more important things to think about. Primarily Uzi, the same girl who'd pushed him away at any chance of him helping her. The same girl who was shutting off for hours mere days ago. The same girl who now was out of his site, apparently missing over three days without a ‘valid excuse’ could end up in Uzi getting expelled if it continued.

So when she woke up today, feeling at least a little herself, Khan forced her into returning to school. While yeah khan hated it just as much as she did he wasn't about to risk losing his job over his daughter who could very easily take care of herself.

Maybe he did see why Uzi thought he was a bad father.

Khan sighed, moving the paper away from his desk and grabbing the small bag he brought with him. Making sure to shove the spare wrench he'd pulled out previously back into the pocket. Walking out of the room and stepping into the hallway he wondered if he should return home. Make sure Uzi didn't get sent home early and would ultimately end up needing his help, or if he should walk to the main doors. Sitting with the rest of the WDF for some time to himself. Time to not worry about his life for a few hours.

He knew what choice he was going to make from the start.

__

Cold filled uzi's senses as she sat in the all too familiar chair of the nurses office, the pain in her head making her vision almost swim as she tried to keep herself together. She was fine, she wasn't damaged from the explosion.

Well, more than she already was that is. Sighing she looked up at the sound of voices, seeing two girls. Long purple hair cascading around one of their backs while the other had tied back blonde hair, and as they both looked at each other laughter filled the air.

“Ew! It didn't kill her” The blonde one spoke. Known as Lizzie, but she didn't deserve a name to uzi. Lizzie had bullied her since they were both children, Nori’s death promoting the start of it all.

Uzi stared back at Lizzie, tension filling the room before the pink eye lights snapped away. Turning back to Doll’s. Doll was never too mean to Uzi, the never really talked either. Not because of anything between them, mostly just because they both preferred to keep to themselves. In Uzi's opinion, the only reason Doll and Lizzie talk Is because they need to if they want to cheer together.

“Oh my gosh I'm so bad” Lizzie filled in the silence, Doll mumbling more words as the two rushed away.

Uzi sat in that chair and wondered what just happened. Was she expected to even know at this point?

Gosh she hates people.

“Classic toxic masculinity Chad! That's never going to get old.”

Uzi really hates people. She really does.

___

A soft buzzing was the next thing uzi could focus on that day. Her whole conversation with Thad seemed to go by in a dazed blur. Uzi knew she was moving, talking, all of it. She knew who she was talking to as well. It just all hazed together at some point, choking it up to her processor needing a few minutes to deal with the stress of nearly dying that day put her back at ease.

slipping out of bed she grabbed her railgun. The parts that broke earlier that day were fixed in the few hours she had before needing to charge again. Placing her beanie back upon her head she opened her bedroom door, cringing slightly at the loud squeak it made. She knew Khan wasn't home, most likely wouldn't be till mid-day of tomorrow she still panicked at the small noises. The ones he'd somehow always hear when she'd sneak out when she was younger. A few steps down the hall sat Khan's room, slipping open the door just enough to grab the keyboard Uzi felt around for the familiar plastic.

Once Her fingers swept past it she yanked the card, not caring how the keychain it connected too snapped at the force. Pulling the card out and smiling, Uzi closed the bedroom door. Looking around the unchecked parts of her house proved she was alone. Uzi walked to the front door, unlocking it and walking into the hallways of the colony.

__

Cold filled her senses as she stepped into the wasteland known as copper-9. She'd just lied to her ‘dad’, telling him that she needed some time outside for a project. It really was a project!

To her at least.

The snow crunched under her weight. Calming silence filled the air around her for what felt like the first time in ages. The wind made her hair blow in the wind as she admired the bright stars above her. The shine illuminating the dark and destroyed city that ran for miles. She enjoyed it out here. The undeniable feeling of safety that filled her core opposed to when she sat in her school chair, eyes always watching her.

She tried to think more, her steps running on autopilot at this point, the occasional crack of glass from nearly stepping on a dead worker her only guide through the endless abyss of the night.

Uzi feels like she should be more worried about that.

__

Never mind, uzi has zero clue what's going on. Currently, she was flying through the air. A glowing green cylinder in her hand as she landed. Mumbling something in her daze about anime. Sure, conversation starters range from small talk, to murder apparently. as of right now, she was on the murder side of things!

Uzi barely processed the entirety of meeting this drone. She remembered walking, remembered grabbing the disk, then being flung into the air. Now here she sat, gun in her hands and trigger being pulled as she shot.

She shot a disassembly drone.

“Holy hell.” Uzi stuttered in disbelief, shock filling her mind as she watched the drone grow it's head back.

Wait a second.

Grow its head back?

Looking around the world around her seemed to spin, grabbing the closest object to her she stumbled to her feet. Panic lacing her every breath as she ran at the drone. Hitting the item across his face and ultimately, watching him reset. All she could do was stand in stunned shock.

___

Uzi's hand was in the mouth of the things that killed her only family member. Or her only family to her. Pulling back in clear disgust and shaking her hand off. Uzi needed to think. How could she even get out of this now? Clearing her scattered thoughts she settled on atleast prying some information out of this guy.

Are they even a guy?

“So you mentioned other members of your squad. Are they uh.” Uzi paused for a second, clearing her throat before continuing. “Coming back soon?” She forced out, the gaze of the drone in front of her almost set her to unease. The prospect He could kill her at any time at first sent messages to run into her visor. The overwhelming fear enough to drive her away.

But as she sat and just listened to him talk about his teammates, she slowly realized.

This guy really wasn't that bad.

“This isn't just a landing pod! This is a spaceship! This could get us off the planet!” Uzi exclaimed, her voice going slightly higher than her normal tone at the sudden shouting. “More of a one use missile, they never taught us how to land.” N chuckled, at least that's what Uzi assumed his name was. “No I uh” Uzi cut herself off, not wanting to even remotely mention she was a worker drone with the risk that N will snap out of whatever trance she'd reset him into. “The worker drones! We could work with them to fix this. Instead of all the murder!” Uzi yelled again, watching N pull back slightly at her sudden words. “which uhm. Why are we doing that again?” She spoke in an awkward tone. She wanted answers, but had no clue how to ask for them without sounding like an idiot. “Other than ingesting their warm. Sweet. Oil to avoid overheating and dying? I really just want to be useful! I was given a job and I always want to try my best.

Uzi wasn't even going to ask what she just witnessed.

“And look at all the respect it's gotten you N! Do you really think the company isn't going to dispose of you once all the workers are dead!” She protested, staring daggers at the other drone who just seemed to sit there. Two stupid to realize how much this meant to her. “Oh wow! You sure are rebellious. It's kinda exciting-” N started, looking away from Uzi before doing a stupid pose with his hands. “But not as exciting as following the rules” He smirked. He smirked at her.

Uzi really did hate people.

As soon as the thumping started above her uzi bolted. N's next words blurring in with her footsteps as she started to lose the feeling Of where she was. Her feet running on their own.

Maybe she should get her processor checked out. She may end up getting herself killed if she continues taping out like this.

__

“Dad trust me-” Uzi coughed, pain filling her chest as oil slightly dripped from her mouth. Trying to pull away hurt. Trying to move hurt. Breathing hurt. “Dad?..” Uzi's words trailed off as she watched Khan take a step back, staring at his feet as he pressed a button in his hand. The door shutting infront of him.

Uzi coughed again, a high temperature warning flashing on her visor.

She didn't need people.

And the one time she did, He left.

Khan left her for dead.

“Woah N am I-” Uzi's hold against the wall fell, as she was flipped and flung through the air. Landing behind a storage crate. She was exhausted by now, tears filling her visor as she wanted to sniffle. Wanted to scream at Khan and sob for Nori to come back.

But she was alone.

__

Everything was blurring together fpr Uzi. All she could remember was pain. Vague conversations that took minutes to reconnect in her head. She remembers the green of her railgun, Shouting of her name, fainting, yelling at her dad and-

N. She remembers N.

Now, curled up in his arms heat pounding in her head she sniffled. Her whole body aching from what she assumed To be a fight from earlier. Uzi couldn't bother to care about the fact N held her like they'd known each other for years. He didn't mind the fact she was practically hot enough to burn any normal worker drones shell from a simple touch.

She heard talking, N was talking to V. Could uzi bother to care? No.

She was exhausted. All she wanted to do was be safe for Once.

Maybe she was safe. Here in N's arms. The one person who had helped her through her day. The single thing that kept her alive all this time.

She switched into sleep mode, curling Her knees into her chest as N wrapped his arm around her.

“I'm worried about her V” N spoke, his voice quiet as to not disturb the other.

“She'll be fine. Who knows, that may just be a normal thing for worker drones.” V looked like she had more to say, like she knew more.

“Maybe yeah. Whatever you say.” N didn't question it, more focused on keeping the girl in his arms safe from the other dissaemboly drone sitting across from him.

“Whatever you say V.”