Work Text:
The lab felt colder than normal, an almost bitter chill drafting in from the undoubtedly freezingChristmas Eve air. Christmas, a time of year that would undoubtedly come around again and again, a sour reminder of the fact that I was never adopted, that I never had that ‘perfect’ family the other orphans raved about.
No.
I didn’t need such foolish things, I had my machines and my coffee, even if my coffee maker was taking a long weekend to be with his family. One of the lucky ones of us to have actually found someone to love him.
No, I remained unchosen, denied any form of connections, any form of comfort.
I don’t need it though.
I never did.
I sat back in my chair, staring at the screen ahead, the thoughts of Christmas slowly fading from my mind as I looked over the code before me. I had too much to do, far too many deadlines, or whatever the government lackeys expected me to say.
I just had to stay focused, ignore all distractions and lock in. There was only so much I truly needed to do, just create a new blueprint of an assistant bot that the military goons can bring into the field. They said ‘like a drone, but not quiet’...
They just wanted a badnik.
A new version of a badnik.
Those morons don’t even know what they’re getting into but if they want an AI driven drone to help in the field, that’s what they’d get.
There was also the new mech design they were expecting. That would be an annoying process but if I really focus over the next three days I undoubtedly will have it finished and ready to present by the time all the old geezers get back.
I could hear Stone shuffling around, distracting me more than normal as he prepared to leave to see his adoptive family. A fate I would never understand.
The sound of his normally near silent steps was all I could hear other than the whirling sound of heat going through air vents. The fact he was leaving for his three day weekend nagging at the back of my mind.
Perhaps I should have gotten him something.
No…
It’s not like he would return the favor. I don’t matter to him, nor he does to me.
My mind strummed with the boring thoughts of family on a white christmas day, what gifts I would even give to this imaginary father of mine. A tie is the normal option I believe, however I wouldn’t give him something as bland or boring as a tie, perhaps one that could tie itself but no, that was too ordinary for someone as extraordinary as I.
Perhaps a robot to create the perfect blend of coffee as he reads his morning paper, or a machine to shine his shoes to mirrored perfection. Or something that could fetch his paper without the disgusting mess that a canine companion would bring.
And what of a mother?
What would I give her?
Perhaps a badnik that would clean, do the dishes, mop the floors, all the mundane work of someone who created such a specimen like I should never have to do.
I opened my eyes to Stone hovering nearby, shifting back and forth on his feet like some strange anxious dance. Perhaps it was time to leave and he was feeling guilty for leaving our lab to go do something boring such as seeing ‘loved’ ones.
Could one not actually related to you by blood truly love you as much as your true mother or father?
“Doctor-” He started before biting his lip, looking down at his hand before moving forwards and setting two things down before me. My perfectly crafted beverage of choice, an Austrian goats milk latte with extra froth on the top, and a box.
My eyes passed over the mug for the small box wrapped in tacky red wrapping paper with green christmas trees all over it, topped with a near neon plastic bow.
“What is this?” I asked while poking the box with a pen that had originally been discarded on my desk.
“A gift,” He said while withdrawing, backing away from me much like a dog with its tail between its legs, ready to be scolded. “I thought you’d appreciate one sir.”
“A gift??” I echoed, hooking the pen through the bow to list it up and staring at it as it dangled from the cheaply made topper. I glanced at the well dressed man who stood off to the side who was nodding excitedly, “Why?” I found myself asking.
The look on his face told me all that I needed to know, he didn’t have a reason, this was probably just a pity gesture, something cheap he got his boss to look sincere. I scoffed and threw my hand up, ignoring him as I picked up my drink to take a sip, dropping the box to the side as I returned to work.
“Sir, I just wanted to get you something that I thought you would like,” He stated, shifting to sit the box back upright. “I saw these while shopping for my mother, and I saw them, and I thought they would be perfect for you.”
“I don’t want them,” I stated while throwing my hand out, gesturing to him to leave me be for now.
“I-... Yes sir,” He sighed before he turned to walk away, leaving me, my coffee, my work, and that god ugly box of reds and greens. I didn’t need anything he had to offer, I’m nearly insulted that he would get me anything.
Yes.
That’s right.
I dont need the season, to joy, the anything.
I was fine on my own.
I zoned back into my work, the calculations, the grids, everything that needed to be done. I was fine, I just had to put that little box out of my mind and work harder.
Another hour passed and I found myself glancing at that stupid ugly wrapped box every few minutes, the horrendous wrapping paper an actual eye sore. I paused to stare at it before shifting to pick up my pen from before then drop it into the trash can. I don't need whatever stupid meaningless gift he'd gotten me.
I don't need anything.
I don’t need anyone.
My pen tapped against the desk as my eyes refocused on the page before me, the lines of code blurring together as I attempted to ignore the nagging curiosity in the back of my mind. I don’t need to know.
I don’t care.
I could just melt into the work before me as I always do, all distractions slipping from my mind as we worked around the room as we always did. In a strange routine of push and pull, I call for a file, he’d run and get it, he'd place a new mug of coffee before me, I would brush him off, it is who we are. Not friends. Just a simple groveling underling, and his rightful boss.
Groveling underling…
Yes, that’s it.
That's what he is…
And who am I to ignore an offering from a sniveling devotee?
I shifted around and looked down into the trash that was not half full of crumbled paper and screws, the gaudy wrapping of that tiny box barely poking through work that wasn’t quite perfect yet.
Leaning down I hooked a pen through that hideous bow and lifted it, brushing off a shred of an old blueprint before twisting it to look it over.
What could it be?
Perhaps one of those mini guns that the agent often carries around, tucked in his sock or in the back of his pants?
No, the box is far too small for that.
Maybe a high end hard drive for me to test in one of my designs?
No, his salary would never cover something like that.
What if it’s a tie…?
I fucking hope not…
God, I hate ties.
But what else could fit in a box so pathetically small as this, perhaps jewelry, but I have never worn anything more than simple black jeweled earrings.
Did he get me a new pair?
No, he wouldn’t, he doesn’t know my tastes, he is a simple minded man.
Ugh, he is a simple minded man, perhaps he got me some gaudy fake diamond earrings, like I’m some broad he wants to show off.
I set the small box on the desk, arms crossing as I leaned back to study the horrid wrapping paper. Did he actually find this appealing? Red with child-like drawings of trees littered over it, and shittily wrapped, too. I could do a far better job. Perhaps I will show him in the future.
What are these thoughts?
The future??
It's a miracle that he's made it thus far, I highly doubt he'll make it another year, let alone another month!
Perhaps I'll even fire him if the contents of this box aren't to my liking.
Yes that is what will happen, if he disappoints me he’ll be proving that he doesn’t know a thing about me. Not many do after all. I shifted to pick up the cheaply wrapped box, pushing the bow off before pausing at the paper, my hand hovering over the shiny decorative paper.
It was wrapped with care…
Not that I cared at all, it was a pathetic play at pleasing a higher rank. A groveling attempt to impress me.
I tore through the hideous paper, crumpling it and tossing it in the same can that I had fished this small box from just moments ago. I was right, it was a simple jewelry box, covered in crushed velvet with a small golden latch to hold it shut.
Earrings… it was definitely earrings.
I set the box down unceremoniously, brushing it off and deciding to ignore it once again, eyes landing on the lines of code that had gone untouched for far too long for my standard. I turned my body away from the box, trying to ignore the nagging feeling that was settling in my chest over the curiosity of just what was in there.
I don’t need to know.
I don’t need him.
He is nothing to a god like me.
Just a cowering disciple, scrambling for a way to please me from the wrath that boiled within.
Ugh.
Christmas was the worst.
I twisted my body away, glaring at the screen in a weak attempt to focus.
- Launch(function () {
- Function random() {
- | var num = Math.floor (Math.random() * Math.pow(2, 24));
- | return ‘#’ = (‘00000’ + num.toString9100. Substr (-6);
I blinked a few times as I stared at the code I’d just written, sitting back and tilting my head a bit. I guess I’d let my mind wander too much.
I turned to look at that cursed box, staring at it for a long moment before groaning and loudly and throwing my head back, running a frustrated hand through my hair. I sat up and snatched it, more annoyed than ever by this stupid distraction, and I threw it open.
It was…
Not what I expected.
I stared at the rubies, surrounded by white, perfectly embedded in a pearl. It almost looked like…
I glanced up at the wall, seeing where my babies sat in their nest, charging in silence.
My babies…
I looked back down, staring at the pristine cufflinks, attempting to wrap my head around the entirety of their existence. Stone had said he’d seen them and thought of me.
Thought of my babies.
It was hard to wrap my head around, to understand, to believe.
He… got it…
I glanced back, finding myself alone in the now all too cold lab, the silence thick, and haunting. I turned back to the small box that sat in my hand. Holding the only gift I had ever truly received… and I felt…
Seen…
My eyes started to burn as a shaky smile crossed my lips- he got me…?
He got me.
He saw me for who I was, more than just the role of leader I played, more than the scared orphan who just wanted acceptance, and more than the mad scientist most feared.
He saw me.
I took in a sharp breath, the harsh inhale causing my chest to tremor as I attempted to hold back the swelling feeling in my chest. Part of me curious on how they’d look attached to one of my nicer pieces, perhaps one of the suits I’d wear to a gala.
I leaned forwards staring down at the bright red that nearly felt like it was staring back at me, holding the same depth and emotion that each of my babies portrayed-
“Doctor?” His voice nearly sent me out of my skin, a warm mug being set down beside me, fresh and steaming with a heart swirled into my coffee with the foam. I quickly blinked back the liquid that dared burn my eyes, moving my wrist to wipe my eyes, my sleeve gliding down my arm just a bit. “See, this is why I got you these.” Before I could abject my wrist was clasped in the agent’s hands as he pulled it up and tucked the cufflink through my cuffs. “Your shirt sleeves are always rolling down and getting in your way.”
I stared as he moved to take my other hand, pulling it up and clipping the other on… What the fuck?
“Now you won’t be tripping over your sleeves.” He hummed, “And this also is a safety thing, less likely to get hurt with tight sleeves!”
I stared at the care I was receiving, at the warmth in his tone, and for a moment, the cold wasn’t so chilling anymore… and a new realization washed over me…
It seems someone could love you without the familial bonds of blood.