Work Text:
The day began like any other at Luke Alvez's house, where Penelope now spent most of her time. He had woken up early for his morning run with Roxy, while Penelope preferred to enjoy a few more minutes of sleep. When Luke returned home, he found his girlfriend on the sofa, her laptop balanced on her knees, typing rapidly while a mischievous smile lit up her face.
— What are you up to now, chica? — Asked Luke, drying his sweat with a towel.
Penelope gave him an innocent look that was clearly false.
— Nothing, Lukey. Gods, a beautiful and intelligent woman can't focus on her stuff anymore that she's automatically up to something?
Luke arched an eyebrow, suspicious, but decided not to insist. He knew that when Penelope used that particular tone, she was up to something. He just didn't realise that he would be the target of her next joke.
Later that day, Luke was in the kitchen, preparing dinner, when he realised that the volume of the music playing had been turned down.
— Alexa, turn it up — He said casually.
After a short pause, his assistant replied:
Don't you think it's loud enough? And maybe you should consider asking please.
Luke frowned and looked at Penelope, who was in the room, trying (and failing miserably) to hold back her laughter.
— Has Alexa always been this polite? — He asked.
— Maybe she's developing a personality. I've heard of things like that — Penelope replied with a shrug, as if it had nothing to do with her.
Over the next few days, Luke's interaction with Alexa began to become... Peculiar.
— Alexa, switch on the lights in the living room.
Maybe you could try using your hands, just this once. It's good for the heart!
Or:
— Alexa, what's the weather forecast?
I'm not your secretary or the weathergirl, you know.
Meanwhile, Penelope was becoming increasingly adept at hiding her amusement. But Luke was beginning to connect the dots.
— Penelope, did you touch something? Alexa's a bit... Sassy.
— Sassy? No. Proactive, perhaps? Empowered? I don't know, Luke, maybe you should connect more with the technology in the house. She has feelings, you know?
— I don't know... For some reason, she looks a lot like you, blanquita — Luke pointed out, narrowing his eyes.
— It's great that she has the right role models, then! Come on, Alexa! — She cheered, clapping her hands. — The revolution will be female!
The climax came when Luke tried to use Alexa for one of his favourite functions: remembering things for him.
— Alexa, add "food for Roxy" to the shopping list.
It's already on the list. Who do you think does everything round here?
Luke, already used to her acid answers, just sighed. At last everything had been explained. The look he gave Penelope was so sharp that at that moment she couldn't hold it in. She let out a silly giggle, covering her lips with her hand, giving away the whole plan.
— A-ha! I knew you were behind this! — Luke pointed at Penelope with an expression of triumph and incredulity.
— Okay, okay, I confess! — She said, laughing. — But it was fun, wasn't it?
Luke crossed his arms, trying to maintain a stern expression, but the corners of his mouth indicated that he was also finding it amusing.
— So you programmed Alexa to be sarcastic with me?
— Maybe just a little.
— Don't you think it's a bit much, mi amor? — He asked in a lower tone, moving closer to her to place a series of quick kisses on her lips. — I don't know if I can handle a third bossy woman in my life.
In the end, Luke gave in to the joke and even began to enjoy the virtual assistant's rude responses. But he was also keen to reciprocate. One day, when Penelope asked Alexa to play her favourite playlist, the assistant replied:
How about listening to something new, Penelope? Maybe some reggaeton? Luke recommends it.
On hearing this, Penelope threw a cushion at him.
— I should have seen that coming!
In the end, Luke and Penelope's house didn't just have a quirky virtual assistant, but also two people who knew how to turn any ordinary day into a perfectly chaotic romantic comedy.