Work Text:
Painter was in the same place they always were, on a desk located at the bottom of an ocean. They had run out of photographs to reference for their art a while ago, considering how much of their time they spent alone in their room painting landscapes. It distracted them from everything they didn’t want to think about. Abandonment, death, how they’d ever possibly escape… Now, they just resorted to repainting old scenes. Maybe they’d improve, who knew!
They didn’t really need sleep as a computer. Well, their hardware would probably thank them if they shut down for a while. Truthfully, they’d sort of forgotten how to do it, or what it even felt like. When they weren’t trying to keep expendables away from the crystal, they would always rather paint so they could stay awake and alert of any danger.
Maybe they could try.
They tried powering off their screen. That was always the first part. Then… Their fans would slow. What was the next part? Maybe they’d shut down if they just waited long enough.
Just as they began to wait, just sitting in silence, someone came through the door. Painter almost reversed all of their progress towards “falling asleep” out of surprise, before they quickly recognized you. After the initial scare, they quickly calmed down. They knew you wouldn’t try to hurt them.
You were one of the “good” expendables. Despite everything Painter did to hurt you, you always managed to forgive them even when you were still bleeding. They had to admit, though, it was a little annoying. You wouldn’t give up on them, no matter how hard they tried to scare you away. After all, Painter had done terrible things that didn’t deserve your forgiveness. But you probably did, too. You had to do something bad enough to earn a place down here. Part of Painter hoped you really were going to stay with them, but they’d never admit it.
You were the only expendable who would enter their room out of curiosity and actually stay. You listened to them, and they’d listen to you. Eventually, whenever you’d walk into a room full of turrets that Painter had full control over, they couldn’t bring themself to activate them.
Painter suddenly remembered another step to powering off. Their camera couldn’t be on. Yet… They didn’t want to turn it off. They thought they’d rather keep watching you. Looking at you made them want to try painting portraits again, despite knowing how badly they’d butchered them in the past. They couldn’t remember who they made portraits of.
You entered their cage. Painter had a better view of you now as you sat on the ground in front of them. You sighed, seeing that they weren’t waking up, but decided that they probably needed the rest. You knew they were just as stressed as you.
You thought you’d talk to them anyways.
“So… Painter.” You tested the waters. It seemed like they were fully shut down, so you continued.
“I hope you’ve been okay. You probably get pretty lonely. I know I do.” Even though Painter was asleep, you didn’t feel lonely right now.
Painter tried to think of what they’d say to you if they weren’t putting on a facade of being asleep. They couldn’t find the words.
“I’m tired of this. Not you– I mean… This whole experience of basically going to hell early. I guess my crimes really were that bad.” You laughed to yourself.
Painter held back a laugh of their own.
“To be honest, you’re the only reason I haven’t fully lost my mind yet. Thank you for… being there for me, I guess.”
Painter could say the same for you. Wait, what were they thinking? Of course! Sleeping computers didn’t have their microphones on all the time. That would be creepy. They were being creepy right now, watching and listening to you. Painter was disgusted by themself. They’d always be bad, though. No matter what they did to change. So, they thought, they might as well do this as well.
“I… I wish we could find a way to escape together without one of us having to make a sacrifice. I want to be with you. I want to see all the places you’ve made paintings of in person.” Though… You thought they probably wouldn’t remember after everything they’ve been through. Either way, you knew you’d find them. For Painter.
Painter thought that maybe they didn’t want to be awake anymore. They wanted to cry. Crying was a human thing, but Painter learned to mimic it when they couldn’t process something well. It was stupid to want to be more like humans when they’d only ever hurt Painter these days.
Maybe it made sense though. Painter felt things that other AI didn’t. That was the whole reason they were taken away. AI was never meant to feel anything at all, and this was Painter’s punishment for doing so.
You couldn’t think of anything else to say. You stared into Painter’s screen and saw nothing but your own reflection. You realized how exhausted you were physically. You weren’t lying when you said that you were tired.
You crossed your arms on the desk and rested your head on them. Your eyelids grew heavier. You realized you felt safe here, more than anywhere else you’d made miserable attempts to get some sleep in.
You looked up at Painter one more time. “...Rest well, I love you.” You could never say that in front of them when they were awake. Why was it so easy now?
Painter felt…
…
You were jolted awake as your vision flooded with bright blue.