Chapter Text
The drive up to the cliff so far had been completely quiet, excluding the sound of KITT's engine. KITT had switched to normal cruise back at the semi and he hasn't said anything since then. Michael was starting to get a little worried that something was wrong, or that he had somehow upset KITT by his idea of stargazing with him. But, as if KITT could tell what Michael was thinking, his train of thought was interrupted by the sound of his voice.
''Michael.''
Michael glanced down at KITT's voice modulator for a quick second, before looking back out at the road. ''Yeah, KITT?'' He asked.
''Is it really necessary for us to drive all the way out here? We can see stars from anywhere at this hour, the only requirement is to look up at the sky.'' KITT said, trying to make his tone sound annoyed, but Michael still picked up on the genuine curiousity hidden behind it.
Michael let out a chuckle, before replying. ''You're right, we can see stars from anywhere at night. But in places where there aren't many lights..'' He paused, before gesturing infront of them with his left hand as he said ''You can see a lot more.'' After making his point, Michael put his hand back on the wheel.
KITT didn't respond at first, but after a few moments he spoke again. ''Michael, the stars are above us.''
A smirk formed on Michael's face as he said. ''I know that, KITT.''
''You gestured towards my hood.''
Michael looked down at KITT's voice modulator again, his smirk growing into a knowing grin. ''I know.''
After a few moments, KITT let out a quiet ''Oh.'' in realization and Michael burst into laughter, throwing his head back against the headrest as he laughed.
The rest of the drive was quiet once more. They eventually make it to a spot that Michael deems good enough and he parks KITT on the side of the road, near a guard rail.
As Michael opened the door and stepped out, he muttered, more to himself than KITT. ''Alright, this should do.'' He then closed the door and leaned his back against it, before looking up at the sky.
There were not enough words in the English language to describe the sight. Billions upon billions of tiny white dots in the almost black yet still dark blue masterpiece, created by the universe itself, shined above them. Each of those tiny white dots took millions of years to create and just the thought of being a human on planet Earth, that was practically insignificant in comparison...
It was almost overwhelming to KITT. He couldn't even imagine how Michael felt.
''I see your point now, Michael. The stars are..'' KITT went silent, struggling to find the words due to how mesmerized he was by it all.
''Beautiful.'' KITT eventually says.
Michael smiled, still looking up at the sky as he said. "Yeah, they are." He continued looking at the stars for a moment, before an idea popped into his mind and he spoke again. "But you know what's more beautiful?"
"What is it?" KITT asked.
Michael's smile grew and he looked down at KITT's voice modulator, before patting his door. "You." He whispered, even though there was no one else around for miles.
''Oh, Michael...'' KITT cooed, his scanner becoming brighter and moving faster than usual. Which, in a way, was his way of blushing, and Michael thought it was absolutely adorable.
Michael giggled like a little kid getting candy for the first time, clearly proud of himself for making KITT flustered.
There was silence between them for a little while, before Michael said. ''You know.. I actually brought you out here for a reason.''
''No, Michael, I do not know. But, since you hadn't mentioned it until now, I'm going to assume it's a suprise. So please, do tell, what is the reason?'' KITT paused for a moment, before his voice became quieter as he asked. ''Do we have another mission already?'' He sounded disappointed.
Michael's eyes widened and he immediately stood up straight and turned, so he could properly face KITT's voice modulator. He frantically gestured around him with his hands as he exclaimed. ''No!''
KITT went quiet and Michael froze as he realized how loudly he said that. He quickly lowered his voice afterwards. ''No, KITT. Nothing like that.'' He reassured him, patting his door again.
''I see.'' KITT eventually said, his voice still quiet.
Michael looked off into the distance, away from KITT, to try to hide the blush forming on his face. ''I.. I got you something.''
It honestly surprised KITT that Michael seemed to be genuinely embarassed about this, but he didn't mention it. Instead, he parroted back, his tone teasing. ''You got me 'something'?''
Michael frowned in an attempt to seem annoyed, but his facade quickly broke and a smile formed on his face instead. He crossed his arms over his chest, before looking at the voice modulator for a brief second to clarify. ''A gift.'' He then quickly looked away again, whispering. ''It was my idea, actually.''
''I certainly find that hard to believe.'' By the way KITT spoke, Michael imagined that if KITT was human he would put his hands on his hips and tilt his head, pretty much like a disappointed parent. The thought almost made him burst into laughter, but he managed to hold it in.
Michael cleared his throat and let his arms fall back to his sides, rolling his eyes. ''Okay, fine. Bonnie told me what to get.'' Michael then pointed at himself with his thumb, before exclaiming. ''But getting you a gift was still my idea!''
''I thought so. After all, you lack the ability to have good ideas.'' KITT mocked him.
Michael shook his head, trying to seem annoyed, but he just ended up smiling again. ''Shut up.''
Then Michael got an idea. ''You know what, pal? I might just keep the gift since you're acting like this.'' He threatened, but KITT could tell he wasn't actually serious, just teasing.
''And you're assuming that I want it?'' KITT teased him back. Michael's mouth was left agape in shock for a few moments, before he let out a scoff. He then made an offended ''Wooow'' noise, drawing out the sound to emphasize how offended he was.
To say the least, KITT was not impressed by Michael's reaction. ''Will you tell me what this gift is, or do you insist on being difficult?''
Michael let out an exasperated sigh, before opening KITT's door and reaching into the back. He pulled out an enormous black piece of fluffy fabric that was neatly folded, most likely by Bonnie. Michael struggled to hold it up infront of KITT's voice modulator due to how big it was, but he wanted KITT to be able to take a good look at it.
KITT looked at it in silence only for a few seconds, but to Michael it felt like an eternity. It was stupid, but he honestly felt like KITT was judging his very soul through the gift. Upon hearing KITT's voice again, Michael was a lot more relieved than he would like to admit.
''A blanket? Michael, I am an automobile. I cannot get cold like a human would.'' KITT sounded so genuinely confused, it almost made Michael's heart melt. But, a small part of him was still a little hurt because of what KITT said.
Michael cleared his throat, putting on a smile as he tried to pull himself together. ''I know that, buddy. I just... wanted to get you something.''
Michael's smile, albeit fake, quickly turned into a frown afterwards. He lowered his voice, practically whispering as he spoke again. ''But if you don't like it, that's fine. I'm sure I can find use for it somewhere.'' Michael tried not to sound hurt, but failed miserably. He then moved away from KITT's voice modulator, about to put the blanket back.
''Michael, anything from you means the world to me.''
Michael froze, before blinking twice as he processed what KITT just said. ''Really?'' He would never admit it, but his voice definitely cracked. Michael didn't know this, but KITT wasn't just referring to the gift, he was referring to their partnership as a whole.
''Yes, really.'' KITT asserted.
Michael placed the blanket on KITT's roof, before leaning down to look inside his cabin, more specifically at his voice modulator. He leaned his right arm against the top of the door and tilted his head, a smirk forming on his face as he asked in a teasing tone. ''You sure you aren't saying that just to cheer me up?''
KITT was clearly unamused by this. ''Michael, if you were in the driver's seat right now, I would have ejected you.''
Michael let out a chuckle. ''I'm sure you would, KITT.'' He then stood up straight and picked up the blanket again, saying. ''Alright, let's see if this thing is actually big enough to cover you.''
''I thought you were prepared.'' KITT mocked.
''You try to find a blanket the size of a car, KITT. It's not as easy as you might think. I had to get this one custom-made.'' Michael said, while ruining Bonnie's folding work as he slowly spread the blanket.
''Michael, did the thought never occur to you that you could have been looking in the wrong place? I'm certain I could easily find a blanket that could fit me.'' By the way KITT said that, confidence was practically oozing from him.
Now it was Michael's turn to be unamused. ''You're forgetting that this is supposed to be a gift for you.''
''Yes, I am aware of that. However, my point still stands.'' As KITT said that, Michael let out his second exasperated sigh of the past five minutes and muttered, more to himself than KITT. It was definitely still supposed to be directed at KITT, though.
Something along the lines of ''You're impossible''.
''What was that?'' KITT asked in an accusatory tone.
Michael just shook his head, before mumbling. ''Nothing. Don't worry about it.''
KITT was going to ask again, but he decided to drop it. ''If you say so.''
Michael finally managed to spread the blanket and walked infront of KITT. But as he was about to drape it over him, KITT noticed a single red line in the middle of the blanket.
''Michael, what is that?'' KITT asked, sounding almost like a curious child.
Michael gave KITT a confused look, before leaning over so he could look at the front of the blanket. His eyebrows raised in surprise when he saw what KITT was referring to.
A grin formed on Michael's face as he exclaimed. "I didn't think they would include it!"
KITT had no idea what Michael was talking about. "Include what?" He asked.
Michael blinked twice, his grin turning into a squint due to his confusion. ''Wh..'' It took him a few seconds, before his eyes widened in realization. ''Oh, right!'' He exclaimed again.
Michael tilted his head as he spoke. ''You know how I got the blanket custom-made?''
''Yes, Michael, you did mention that.'' KITT confirmed.
Michael smiled. ''It's supposed to be your scanner. I asked them to include it, but I wasn't sure if they would actually do it.'' He explained.
This just made KITT confused. ''Is that not the point of having something custom-made?''
Michael squinted again and looked around himself randomly. It seemed like as if his whole world view had been shattered and his brain was struggling to process it. ''Well, yeah, but..'' He trailed off, before eventually looking back at KITT as he said. ''Still.''
''I see.'' KITT paused for a moment, before adding. ''Well, it's certainly not as good looking as my actual scanner, but.. I appreciate the thought.''
Michael smiled again. ''Thanks, partner.'' Then, finally, Michael proceeded to carefully drape the blanket over KITT.
To say that it was enormous is an understatement. But, after all, it was specifically made for KITT in the first place. The blanket covered KITT's roof, his doors and his back side, leaving only his windshield and hood uncovered. In fact, the blanket was so big that, even though it almost completely covered KITT, the sides of it were just barely hanging above the ground.
Michael walked back infront of KITT after he was done to observe his handy work. He had to cover his mouth with his right hand to stop himself from bursting into laughter, but a few giggles still managed to escape. ''You look adorable.''
''That is not the word I'd use.'' KITT sounded very disappointed, but he wasn't disappointed at Michael. He was actually disappointed at himself, because out of all the humans on Earth, this is the one he's stuck with as his driver.
And he absolutely adores him.
Michael put his hands on his hips as he spoke. ''Well, what word would you use?'' He emphasized the word ''would''.
''I believe the term is ''absolutely ridiculous''.'' Michael chuckled at that, but it quickly turned into a yawn instead.
''Michael, are you tired?'' Michael was honestly surprised at how genuinely concerned KITT sounded as he asked that. Unlike earlier, when Michael's heart almost melted due to how confused KITT was when he realized the gift is a blanket, now Michael could've sworn he nearly felt his heart break.
But, Michael didn't want KITT to become even more concerned about him, so he didn't mention it.
Instead, Michael waved his left hand dismissively, using the right one to cover his mouth again. But instead of trying to stop himself from bursting into laughter, now he was trying to stop himself from yawning. ''No, KITT, I'm fine.''
But obviously, KITT didn't believe that, since the evidence was quite literally right infront of him.
''Michael, why didn't you tell me you were tired prior to us going all the way out here?'' KITT sounded like an angry parent as he spoke.
''I'm not... tired, KITT. My body just decided now is the time to catch up to everything that happened today.'' Michael insisted, but he ended up yawning again, this time at the start of his sentence. This just proved KITT's point further.
If KITT was human, he probably would've sighed in frustration. ''That's called being tired, Michael.''
Michael threw his arms into the air and frantically gestured around with his hands, but he didn't say anything. He then crossed his arms over his chest as they fell back down. "Alright, fine, I'm tired.'' He paused for a moment, before lowering his head as he muttered. ''But my way of saying it sounded better."
''Normally I would disagree with you. But considering that your usual vocabulary is.. less than professional, I'm quite impressed you know this many words in the English language.''
Michael's head immediately snapped up at this and he had probably the most offended look on his face KITT had ever seen on a human being. He could've sworn he even heard Michael's neck crack from how fast he did it.
''I'm gonna tell Bonnie about that.'' Michael threatened.
Unsurprisingly, KITT was nowhere near taking that seriously. ''Michael, we both know who's side she would be on.''
Michael smirked. ''Yeah.'' He paused for dramatic effect, before pointing at himself with his thumb as he added. ''Mine.''
''Perish the thought.''
Michael chuckled, before letting out yet another yawn. He then walked over to KITT's door and held the blanket up, placing a part of it on his roof so he could climb inside and get on the back seat. Once he was inside, Michael laid down on his back. KITT shut the door for him without a word and the blanket fell back down due to the force, covering his door again.
''If you're this tired, we should at least return to the mobile unit." Usually Michael would've teased KITT, saying something along the lines of ''Aww, you worry about me?'' but his brain was struggling to function properly at this point.
So, instead, Michael moved to lay on his side and just barely lifted his head. He made a humming noise, pretending that he was thinking very hard. "No.. I think I'll stay here. I don't feel like moving." He then let his head fall back down before speaking again, his speech a little slurred due to his cheek being squished against the seat. "m' too comfortable."
"That won't be a problem." KITT was obviously referring to the fact that he can literally drive himself.
But Michael was very serious about not moving, after all, it was for a good reason.
"I meant that I want to stay here, with you." Michael clarified.
KITT's scanner became brighter and moved faster than usual, just like when Michael flustered him way earlier. KITT tried to ignore it by putting up his "professional" facade.
"..Very well, then.'' KITT paused for a moment, before speaking again. ''But we will go back first thing in the morning." He used the type of tone a parent would use to scold their child.
Michael could easily see through KITT's facade, but he didn't mention it. Instead, he just smiled and said. "You got it, pal." He then closed his eyes and mumbled. "G'night, buddy.. I love you." He practically whispered the last part, probably not even realizing that he said it in the first place, but KITT still heard it.
At first, KITT actually thought he was just imagining it. But soon he realized Michael really did say that.
After a few moments, KITT whispered back. ''Good night, Michael. I love you too.''
But Michael's only response was soft snores. If KITT was human, he probably would've rolled his eyes with a huge smile on his face.
Michael didn't hear it since he was sound asleep by now, but KITT had turned on his surveillance mode, just to make sure that he would be safe as he slept. KITT continued looking at the stars, the only sound around him being crickets and, of course, the soft snores coming from Michael's sleeping form.
KITT knew they will likely have another mission to take care of soon, which meant they probably won't have much free time once they finish it, if they will have any at all. But, despite their very demanding job, moments like this where it was just him and Michael, truly meant everything to KITT.
Maybe even more than that, if that's even possible.