Chapter Text
“Did you know that there are over 700 different types of bacteria in the human oral cavity?”
Chell simply smiles in that infuriatingly devious way she tends to do. GLaDOS can feel her thumb running along the edge of her faceplate. She tries not to let it distract her.
“I bring that up because you seem to think my optic sensor is a petri dish. It isn’t.”
Chell, damn her, just leans up to place another kiss on the corner of her optic, barely brushing the glass. A jitter of electricity passes through her chassis. Involuntary.
With a final caress to GLaDOS’ faceplate where she lets her fingers linger on the metal, Chell leans back on her heels and signs that she’ll be back soon. It takes GLaDOS a microsecond longer than usual to process the motions.
“Yes. Yes, fine. Just leave me here to disinfect myself. I see how it is.”
She huffs a laugh before shouldering her bag and making for the elevator.
Chell, damn her, turns before she reaches the doors to blow GLaDOS a kiss. GLaDOS pretends, badly, that she didn’t notice, busying herself with something on a big monitor that’s open to a blank text input. She only turns back when the elevator starts to whirr its way back up to the surface.
GLaDOS isn’t just the chassis hooked up to the central AI chamber. Her body is, ostensibly, every electronic in the facility. The panels, the doors, the test chambers, the pneumatic tubes. Every camera is a live visual. Every speaker, mostly superfluous given Chell’s muteness, is an audial feedback. The movement of the manufacturing wings, the relaxation chambers, they are to GLaDOS as a second skin.
When she begins to sing Chell’s aria as the elevator rises, it’s not because she thinks Chell’s gone. It’s because she knows she isn’t.
It’s the same as the one she composed when she thought Chell would be leaving forever, but this time it’s something simpler. Sweeter. Just GLaDOS’ humming piped through the speakers. No turret chorus, no piston harmonies. This one is GLaDOS giving Chell back her little kiss.
It follows Chell out of the elevator, out of that little derelict shack. She taps the tune against the strap of her backpack as she sets her sights to the end of the wheat field to the east.
GLaDOS doesn’t know where she goes after that. As far-seeing as she is, she can’t follow her into the woods of what used to be called Michigan.
She sets her attentions back to her latest project – the one she’s keeping as a surprise for Chell. With a little luck, her immobility won’t be a given for much longer.