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Mensah blew on her morning cup of tea then takes a sip.
She’s in her home on the planet with Farai and Tano, the children running about as they get ready for the day. SecUnit is also at the table with them, trying out another sitting position. This one involves its arms crossed on the table and its head down between them while the seat starts to tilt precariously. A few drones circle around the four of them slowly, while others branch out around the room and follow the children.
She adds more syrup to her drink
It's nice to be home for a bit between her councillor and planetary duties. It brings her comfort to be surrounded by so many loved ones in a place that has never made her feel confined or threatened. There’s no small enclosed rooms without windows here, no eerie silence of the air barriers, no looming threat that at any moment she’ll be relocated to another room to be told misinformation and then asked endless questions once she starts to lose her composure.
She startles.
Sofi, one of her youngest, is laughing loudly in delight as she tries to catch one of SecUnit’s drones, but loses sight of it when it flicks up out of reach. They are small and insect-like, fast and easy to lose sight and sound of. Most of the other children have adapted to the breadth of SecUnit’s presence in their house without issue, although some of the oldest ones like Amena remain wary at the change.
Fortunately the wariness doesn’t seem to be due to any corporate propaganda the way Mensah and the others had kept it at arms length on the survey. More the wariness of teenagers unimpressed with having the family dynamic change in a way not yet defined, influenced by the sceptical presence of her own siblings and Thiago, who have made it clear that while they will always welcome any expansion to their family, a silent killing machine that looms behind her shoulder and avoids eye contact is a bit harder than usual to accept.
They will be fine, it is safe here. She responds to its latest message, an image of three of her children outside unsupervised with one of Thiago’s near the designated transport area, Can you place all parts of the seat on the ground? Sofi is impressionable.
SecUnit marks her message with an acknowledgement and lowers the seat. Pointedly without raising its head. Then it sends her a diagram of the chair upside down and a humanoid faceless figure that presumably represents itself sitting balanced on top. She can feel herself smiling, which has the bonus of making Farai and Tano smile too. I’m going to veto that as well, unless you are the only one in the house and don’t show any recordings to the children.
Three drones break off from the circling collection, one for each of their faces. Tano is more startled than Farai, while Mensah sticks with pretending not to notice. She rather thinks of them as a second pair of eyes, and as such they fall under the avoiding eye contact preference. She wonders what has caught its sudden attention.
SecUnit has been acting oddly since it started staying with her family on the planetside farm. Oddly, for itself. A change in its usual patterns that she isn’t sure if it is a sign of it opening up, growing comfortable to express itself, or perhaps a form of withdrawing and an early sign it is intending to leave again.
It watches them a lot. It is always watching, of course, it’s hard to understand privacy when you are designed to watch and listen. When your whole life has been under the observation of the company - your biometrics and behaviour constantly monitored and then corrected if your attention strays. Required to watch not just your clients, but to watch out for your owners so that you are not caught and destroyed.
But it has been different recently. It was watching much more intently than the passive observation she was used to. More times than she can count, Mensah had looked up and accidentally caught its eyes observing her until they widened and flicked away. (She pretends not to have noticed and it pretends not to have noticed her noticing.)
It seems to happen more often when she was with Farai and Tano, than when she was alone or with her children. Mensah wonders if it is to do with their relationship. SecUnit hasn’t had the most positive experiences or examples in human-to-human interactions, but she didn’t think how she was with Farai and Tano would be that different to similar relationships in the Corporate Rim. But then she sees how it is looking between them, never without its eyes or drones, constantly monitoring them and never at rest the way she wishes it could be. She has to wonder what it thinks it is seeing.
* * *
Increased watching isn’t the only odd behaviour she’s noticed from it.
The first bit of oddness started when Mensah was in the kitchen. Farai had snuck up from behind and trapped her against the counter, peppering the side of her face with soft kisses and then one long drawn out one that had left Mensah breathless. She had to assume it triggered a safety alert for SecUnit, because suddenly there were drones between their faces, startling them apart, and then she could hear the floorboards creaking under its weight as it moved through the rooms towards them. Not running, but certainly not slowly.
She smoothed her clothes down, feeling oddly like a teenager caught doing something she shouldn’t be doing. Which then made her want to laugh from the ridiculousness of it, that she was feeling fluttery and nervous. She grabbed Farai's hand and pulled her closer, just as their unintentional interruption entered through the door to interrupt them again.
“It’s fine SecUnit, nothing to worry about.” Mensah assured it. “Sorry if we alarmed you, it’s a sort of… game we play sometimes.”
It was looking between the two of them. “I know that.” SecUnit said it defensively, uncertainly. It hesitated as if it wanted to say something more, a frown between its eyebrows as it stared beyond them.
Then turned and left the room as abruptly as it entered.
Farai gave a snort next to her, which was enough for Mensah to join her with a chuckle. “I didn’t finish wishing you good morning.” She said, leaning in closer to repeat the earlier kiss. The faintest brush of air on her opposite cheek let Mensah know at least one drone was still in the kitchen with them, that it was closer to their faces, but she opted to close her eyes and enjoy the rest of her wife’s attention. SecUnit would share what was concerning it with her when it was ready, until then she knew it would hate for her to notice its monitoring.
* * *
Another time that had Mensah glance at it in genuine confusion was on a walk with her partners. Farai and SecUnit had drifted behind a little in private conversation – she wasn’t sure what they discussed, Farai didn’t volunteer the information and Mensah didn’t ask, but their voices were batting a topic back and forth and they both seemed to be having fun.
Tano had been moving along quickly as usual, her cane tapping away and her free hand swinging between them. She slipped slightly for a moment, and Mensah reflexively reached out to grab her arm and stabilise her. Farai made noises of concern behind them while Tano reassured them all, “I’m fine, I’m fine, just slipped on a wet leaf.”
A glance behind saw SecUnit’s usual expression of disgust at any reminder that it was on a planet, partnered with Farai’s soft concern. Tano looked embarrassed, despite having nothing to be embarrassed about.
“Well, it wouldn’t do for any of us to slip. I’m getting a bit old for that.” Mensah observed. “Mind if I hold your hand for balance, Tano-dear?”
Tano gave her a look that says she isn’t fooled at all, but it was followed by a hand held out. “Sure, sure. We can’t have you breaking a hip in your old age.”
Just as Mensah went to grab Tano’s hand, SecUnit slipped in between the two of them. For such a large person, it can move fast and quietly. Her hand brushed against it before she pulled back in confused startlement. It was usually so aware of personal space and reluctant to get in between two people for that reason.
“Oh.” Tano expressed her confusion and surprise much more obviously. “Hi SecUnit, no need to worry. I’m fine, see?”
Mensah couldn’t see what Tano was showing, but it seemed somewhat appeased. Then there was that odd hesitation as it stood between the two of them, frowning forward at the rest of their path. Its hands, which were dangling limply, suddenly clenched and SecUnit moved down the path in front of them. It shoved another wet leaf to the side with precision and sent some drones off ahead, presumably to find more. The rest of the drones were circling them, and Mensah couldn’t help but smile at one. “Thank you SecUnit, you are very helpful.”
She held her hand out for Tano’s - soft and padded, smooth and warm. Then Farai, who saw no reason to be left out of the handholding now that her conversation partner was ten metres ahead of them, slipped her hand into Mensah’s other one. Just as comforting to hold, a familiar presence that made her feel safe and secure.
* * *
Possibly the most out of character moment was when the three of them were in the bathroom, getting ready to take a group bath. Farai was helping Tano undress, and Mensah had gotten as far as removing her top and bra, when the door to the bathroom opened.
Expecting one of the younger children, Mensah had turned around to ask what they needed only to realise her gaze needed to move up for the larger than expected individual.
They all froze, including SecUnit, who seemed to be immediately regretting its decision to open the door. Its eyes were wide and swept over all of them, then the bathing area, then at them, then away again. Its drones had started to stream in after it, but they all stopped and hovered as uncertainly as it was.
Mensah recovered first. “SecUnit! We were just about to take a bath. Was there something you needed?”
“No.”
It was frowning again, with a strained expression and a tight mouth.
“Are you okay?” She softened her voice as she asked.
It turned and left the room with most of its drones. Which was both very characteristic and unexpected of it.
She liked to think she had a good understanding of its thought processes these days, but at this moment she was lost. Mensah closed the door behind it, then offered an uncertain shrug to her partners.
“It’s probably testing boundaries.” Farai offered. “It’s had to adapt to a lot of things recently, maybe it's finally getting comfortable around us to express itself?”
“That would be nice.” Tano commented as she eased herself to sit on her bathroom aid. “It’s a bit startling, but I like to see it reaching out in its own way. If a bit… unconventional”
Mensah finished getting rid of her pants and underwear. “I’ll bring it up during my trauma treatment to make sure it's not something we should be talking about with it.” The water was perfectly warm as she stepped into it, sliding in between Farai and Tano to her preferred spot . “Clean first or soak first?”
* * *
There were moments that were more characteristic of it too, that Mensah only considered a sign that something was going on in retrospect.
The children were all out for the day with their uncles, leaving the household blissfully quiet. SecUnit had announced that it had received a new series to watch (most likely traded with one of the children, although she pretended not to be aware of this as it encouraged positive interactions between them). It was holed up in the common area, as it had the biggest display surface.
The intention had been to make some sweet cakes for everyone to have that night, the reality was that Tano had dabbed a bit of syrup on Farai’s nose and when Mensah had leaned over to contribute her own bit of syrup, Tano got her nose too. This escalated to some light kisses to remove the residue and Mensah soon felt her heart rate increasing.
It had been so long since they had, well, been together as partners tended to be. Between the survey, the effects after the survey, being kidnapped, being rescued, helping SecUnit recover, then all the bot-refugee restrictions and the assassins. Half the time she missed coming down to the planet to avoid drawing GrayCris eyes to her home, the other half the time she was too tired and drained to even think of receiving any physical comfort more than a hug.
But now, with her trauma treatment and medication stabilising, Mensah was feeling her heart rate quicken for reasons other than stress. It was a good feeling, and she leaned over Tano to press her in against the table while Farai pressed up against her back to wrap herself around both of them. (The benefits of longer arms, Mensah was slightly jealous).
“Kitchens contain many unsafe hazards.” The voice startled her enough that she nearly bit down on Tano’s neck, then swore under her breath. “That are unsafe. Because they are hazards.” SecUnit continued.
Mensah pressed her hands to her face and took a breath, Tano patting her back in sympathy. She knew it wasn’t SecUnits fault, that it had surprising gaps in its knowledge about humans that could present in unusual ways at times. Especially safe and positive interactions between humans that could really confuse it, as it had confessed to her how much body language it did not understand and how worried it was about its humans fighting each other. Which wasn’t too surprising, really. It likely had become aware of her rising heart beat and she had gotten into the habit of calling for it when she did so.
(She wasn’t the only one who needed trauma treatment after all, but she’d yet to find a way to broach the topic that wasn’t redirected to her own. It was getting so good at directing conversations away from itself.)
SecUnit looked towards the wall while its drones assessed each of them. They were getting a thorough scan, but it was otherwise avoiding contact. Was it inspecting them a bit longer than usual? Was it that concerned by what was going on? Usually Farai was the one to have the kind of conversation to explain the difference between negative physical contact and positive contact, but it would probably be better for them all if it was Mensah who talked-
“Physical socialisation should occur in safe private places designed for it.” SecUnit said it with an emphasis.
Oh, it knew. Well, that was a relief.
It also looked very uncomfortable and Mensah remembered how it had its drones stationed all over the public areas of the house. Poor SecUnit, it must be hard to get out of the habit of surveillance when that’s all you’ve known and all you’ve been built for. How many times had it been forced to see sexual actions despite its aversion?
Reluctantly she untangled herself from Farai and Tano. “Sorry you saw that, I got carried away.” Mensah forced her strained smile into a genuine one of concern.
“Of course, you’re correct. Thank you for reminding us.” Tano caught on and nodded at it. Farai murmured her agreement as it stood there blankly for a moment, then left.
The sweet cakes were rather nice and she caught it smelling the air later on with a relaxed expression.
* * *
“I’ve missed this.” Mensah sighs as she gently bites her way up Tano’s neck. Farai’s legs are tangled up in hers and she glances down to admire the different shades of their skin as she rubs against them. Oh, she had missed this.
Tano makes a ‘mmph’ noise at her slowing down, and she snuffles back into her neck. Returns to her diligent work of re-learning their bodies and all their differences. Mensah is just starting on one of Tano’s freckles when the door swings open loudly. Pointedly loudly.
SecUnit can be quiet. It is usually quiet, for all its size and bulk, or sends a drone ahead when it would want a discrete presence. So for the door to interrupt that loudly, and for it to come in person instead of a drone, meant it wanted to be noticed.
Mensah pulls herself up from the pile, while Tano and Farai arrange themselves behind her. Not out of modesty so much as a desire to make the situation less uncomfortable for SecUnit by covering up their nudity. They are all aware of its discomfort around humans and sexual activities and it has just entered their room into both.
Now that Mensah’s looking at its stressed face and perpetual frown, she wonders if the interruption isn’t an extension of its discomfort and an expression of its uncertainty on how to broach this with them.
It is sad that its past experiences have affected it like this, and now it is affecting all of them in a way that is leading to conflict. Mensah starts planning how they could work around this. If necessary, she could abstain (with the agreement of her partners) when it visited. The drones added a complex layer, already peeling out around their room and bed.
She takes a calming breath. “SecUnit, do you need something?”
It’s making a new expression, something between horrified and determined, but despite its mouth working it doesn’t vocalise anything, or contact her over the feed. It makes an aggravated noise, a mechanical sort of grown and she can hear its arm guns clicking through its range of power.
“Is there something wrong?” She tries to coax the exact problem out of it. All that happens is it makes another frustrated noise and then leaves.
The door is still open.
“Ayda…” Tano says it as she runs a hand down her face, scrubbing any irritation away. She’s always been the quickest to frustration of the three of them, especially when aroused. Mensah checks in with Farai, whose expression is landing more on the concerned and confused side. That’s closer to Mensah’s own feelings, she is mostly confused by this sudden behaviour and concerned about where it’s coming from.
(A bit worried, she might admit that it is escalating and SecUnit doesn’t have the appropriate trauma modules to help guide it through why it is acting this way. Their human modules, and their bot modules, don’t quite cover the unique environment and experiences a construct would be exposed to.)
“I’ll talk to it.”
Mensah puts her robe back on and ventures out.
* * *
It’s in their common room, standing in a corner facing away from her and radiating a more than usual amount of discomfort. She studies it for a moment, from the tension in its shoulders to the clenched jaw and the way it was poorly trying to hide its frustrated expression. Only one of its drones comes up to observe her.
She seats herself on the corner of the couch, leaving it the option to join her or not, and watches its back. “Is there something that’s been bothering you?”
SecUnit is quiet for a long moment, then covers its face with its hands. “Yes. No. I don’t know.”
Not surprised that it didn’t know. The longer it was with them the more its needs revealed themselves to it, and it didn’t always know what they were. She, Farai and Tano had resolved to do their best to help it work them out for as long as it would allow them.
“I’ve noticed that this escalates when I’m being affectionate with Farai and Tano. Is this upsetting to you?” She keeps her voice calm and non-judgemental, frames her question as mildly as she can even as it makes her a bit sad.
“Maybe.” It’s getting quieter, unhappier.
“Are you afraid? When we are together like that?” She can’t begin to imagine all the things it has seen or gone through. It’s understandable it was going to get upset over something eventually, even the more benign activities. They can work through this.
“No!” SecUnit says it forcefully, then lowers its hands into fists. It turns and moves into the space on the couch next to her and lets itself fall over sideways to bury its head into the cushion.
“I’m not afraid. Or upset, not really. I just want…” It brings its knees up to its chest and wraps around them while it works through its thoughts. “I like being with you. I like Farai and Tano. I don’t want to not be with you when you are with them.”
Mensah can feel herself relaxing, if still a little sad. She can work with this, she's had many years of comfort from them and will have many more: “We don’t have to be close to each other when you’re visiting. I’ll have to talk about it with them, but for as long as you’re here this is your home too and we want you to feel comfortable and safe.”
She would miss their frequent touches and kisses.
A package lands in her feed.
When she opens it, it’s a collection of recordings of herself and her partners, as well as some scenes from a selection of shows that she had thought it would usually skip. They are mostly centered around moments of couples sitting near each other, a hand being held, a pile of bodies cuddling in a bed. It’s all rather peaceful and sweet, especially with the repeat recording from multiple drones showing it holding Mensah’s hand while Farai kissed her at the festival.
It doesn’t show SecUnit’s face in any of them, but she gets the sense over the feed that it hesitantly liked this moment.
“I see.” She responds thoughtfully, flicks through them again to note down the more common themes. Multiple people together, inviting another into existing partnerships, non-sexual involvement. “I think I understand, so you want to be a part of us? And with us?”
“Yes?” As the tension leaves its body, its voice regains its usual factual flatness. “But not like a sexbot.” It adds that quickly. “Because I’m not.”
“Of course not.” She didn’t think it would. “I didn’t think you were interested in sexual activities?”
“No.” SecUnit says it firmly.
“You are aware, back then just now in our room, we were going to have a sexual activity?” Best to lay it all out on the table, this is too important for any more confusion between them.
“Yes.” It presses its head harder into the pillow, but she can see the side of its mouth in a grimace. “But I don’t want to not be with you.”
This wasn’t expected but it’s not unwelcome. If this is something it truly wants.
“Would you like to be there for that? Or for us to leave the door open?” She wasn’t so sure about the latter part, because of the children, but it wouldn’t take too much effort to rearrange things such as they only spent nights together like this when the children stayed the night at Thiago’s or one of their other Uncles or Aunties. She’s not getting any younger, and as much as she enjoys re-acquainting herself with her partner’s bodies- well, waiting a few more days isn’t as much of a hardship anymore.
“Yes. I want to be there. For that.” SecUnit almost whispers the words. “But I don’t want to watch. Or be part of the- the sexual activities.”
Mensah keeps herself calm and purposely makes an understanding noise. “Thank you for explaining. I’ll need to talk with Farai and Tano first. Are you okay if I leave you here?”
“Yes.” It's struggling with its voice again. “I care for you. I don’t want to make it weird.”
“This isn’t weird. We can find something that suits all of us, that lets you be involved. Where you don’t have to do anything you don’t care for.”
As she leaves, Mensah is tempted to ask again if it is really sure and this isn’t some kind of trauma response, but stops herself. It’s already hard for SecUnit to talk about wanting something, so to say this all out loud to her was as sure a sign as any that it did truly want some part of this.
(She also couldn’t deny the small, excited part in her stomach. To have another way to support it making a choice, to connect with SecUnit and show it how much she treasured its presence in any fashion it allows.)
* * *
“I have no objections to this.” Farai trails her fingers over Tano’s freckles as she continues. “I like SecUnit, and I like how much you like SecUnit. If you could see your face when you’re talking with it, when you’re watching it…”
Mensah’s cheeks burn as Tano makes a noise of agreement, then adds: “The only thing I’m surprised by is that it wants to involve us as well. I thought it might want to be in a situation where it partners with only you.”
She was surprised at that too, SecUnit makes no secret of its wariness and distaste for most humans. It hadn’t given any sign that it was warming up to her partners like this. But then, she has seen it having quiet conversations with Farai and despite its dislike of touch it has never discouraged Tano for using it for balance.
Her skin is already getting warmer in nerves and anticipation as she presses a thankful kiss onto each of them.
“It’s not bad to look at either.” Mensah gives Tano a scolding look, even as Farai snorts a laugh and nods along. Mensah thinks of SecUnit curled up on the couch, the curve of its neck, the dataport peeking out from its hoodie and the way its hips dipped into the cushions. It's certainly not bad to look at, there's an appeal to it. But something best left unsaid. “Not like that! I won’t make it uncomfortable, I’m just saying I don’t mind having it watch me, or not-watch-me. Or its drones watching me. It’s flattering to these old bones.” Tano continues.
Tano may be the oldest of them, but she’s hardly beyond her prime. None of them ever thought at this age that they would expand beyond three, not with their remote living conditions, Tano’s limited mobility, Mensah’s employment demands.
Now that she thought about it, SecUnit really had slipped into their family dynamic without any of them noticing. It was always there, ready to help Farai clean up or support Tano when her legs grew weak. It was always there to comfort her through shaking hands and hidden tears.
Still, they didn’t want to make assumptions, there was always more consensus to reach.
“I’ll invite it in then.” She neatens the robe she’s wearing. They had decided it would be better if they all wore coverings, for any discussions, to reduce any discomfort for SecUnit and to show it they were willing to work around its boundaries. SecUnit? Would you mind coming in? We’d like to talk to you.
It must be nervous, because it responds immediately: Acknowledged.
The door opens a scant second later and Mensah can’t help the smile, amused. It must have been waiting just outside, quietly following her back. It probably was listening to their conversation, she hadn’t expressly forbid it after all and it does make things easier.
“Were you listening?” She asks.
SecUnit comes to stand at the end of the bed, then adjusts its gaze to look about a meter to the right of her. “Yes.” It says.
A drone drifts down from the ceiling. Then more follow in through the door, enough of them to make a comforting humming noise in the background.
Farai gives an amused huff besides her. “Well, that saves time. Why don’t you sit on the bed and we can go over some things?” She pats the sheets that they're sitting on.
Well, except for Tano. She was already under them before SecUnit’s earlier interruption and they didn’t want to drain her by getting dressed then, potentially, undressed again. Her eyes are peeking out, lidded and scanning SecUnit up and down. When she shifted Mensah would get a tantalising glimpse of her skin. She ached to touch them.
SecUnit moves around to Mensah’s side of the bed and slowly sits with its back to them. The drones start circling around the bed, glimmering in the night light, and she’s sure a few more will have spread out around the room. It’s a helpful measure of how much focus it is giving them and the sound is soothing.
“We need to make sure we’re all on the same plan out loud, regardless.” Mensah said it firmly, using her planetary leader voice. Best to start it off with everyone in clear agreement. “You can leave at any time if it’s all too much for you, and you need to let us know your boundaries, and if there’s anything you don’t want us to do around you.”
“I don’t want to be touched.” SecUnit says it quickly. “Or be a sexbot.”
The three of them nod quickly, seriously. Mensah loved that her partners were willing to work with this and that she could speak for them with confidence: “Of course not, none of us will touch you. Or treat you like a sexbot. Is there anything you would like to do or take part in?”
She thinks she can see a bit of a frown on the side of its face, a thoughtful one.
It mimics Farai’s movements from earlier, patting the bed. “I could sit here?”
“Anything else?” Tano asks.
Mensah doesn’t mean for them to tag-team it, it’s just how they end up talking for each other after so many decades of being together. Maybe one day SecUnit will talk for them too, but until then Mensah expects she will avoid talking for it as much as possible. It needs the chance to speak for itself, to make up for all the times it hasn’t, to take the lead in anything and everything possible. Including this.
“No.” It says it firmly. “I want to sit here.”
“You’re aware we were going to have some sexual activities?” Tano is getting impatient and running out of energy, it makes her blunt. “We’re going to be naked and kissing, among other things.”
SecUnit turns its head away to hide the face it is likely making, which doesn’t build much confidence in Mensah as to its genuine enthusiasm. “You can do your activities.” It says it reluctantly.
“SecUnit.” Farai’s voice is gentle, and Mensah is thankful her partners are so willing to help talk this out with it, keenly aware that while she is wrapped up in them, in their bed, that on her desk are hard copies of paperwork that designate SecUnit as hers. Hers in a way she doesn't want it to be, not like this where it is freely offered. “You don’t have to be here if it makes you uncomfortable. We can find other activities for you to be a part of.”
“No.” The drones circling them have come in closer, and it turns its head just enough for them to see its blank face. “I want to be here. For this.”
Mensah looks back at Farai and Tano, checking for a quick nod from each (and a smile from Tano that promises many things).
“I’m fine.” SecUnit says it again firmly, mimicking Mensah’s voice back at her, even as its hands curl into the bed sheets then relax. “Please continue.”
Well then. It knew what it wanted and Mensah didn’t want it to feel like they didn’t trust it. It might be a small selfish part of her that drives her desire to back off and not check again, to try to make choices for it on what it is present for.
This was going to be awkward but first times usually were.
They start with light kisses and touches of each other. Whispering nothings as they relearn each others’ bodies through touch and taste. The new creases in their skin, the stretch marks, some extra padding on Farai and Tano, and the weight Mensah had lost during her kidnapping. All her new scars and wrinkles, the healed wounds and blemishes.
They help remove each other's robes, and lower the sheets to free Tano so they can admire her. Farai lands on her gently with a giggle, rubbing her face into Tano’s breasts. Their skin is just as beautiful as Mensah remembers, contrasting beautifully against each other.
Behind her, SecUnit hesitantly removes its shirt. Her heart jolts as its body is revealed to her from under the shapeless hoodie it preferred.
“You don’t have to.” She reminds it.
“No. I want to.” It reminds her.
It continues to sit quietly with its back to them, and she takes a moment to study it.
It’s a nice back, broad shoulders with a tapered waist before thickening out again for its thighs. The data port and other ports are clearly visible, and she can see the seams between sections of its unnaturally smooth skin. So different from their own, even with the modifications it had made to it, there are no imperfections. (She wants to touch it, to run her hands over its body, the curve of its spine. She wants to learn it the way she relearns Farai and Tano every night. Memorise it the same way).
Mensah licks her lips.
She turns to her partners and folds herself into them.
Tano kisses each of Mensah’s almost healed injuries and the discoloured skin from the beacon explosion that felt both so recently and so long ago. Farai spreads between the both of them, pressing Mensah into the soft skin and giving an opportunity to enjoy the sensations of each of their bodies. SecUnit would complement them nicely, if it was ever inclined.
It was nice that it was present in its own way, the faint hum of its drones circling above and around them.
As Tano was starting to lose the last of her remaining energy, they concentrated on her first. They worked her up until she was breathing deeply, twisting and panting under them. Then, spent and sleepy and satisfied, she leans back to watch the two of them on top of her. A single drone dips in close to Tano, and she gives it a wink, then makes a delighted noise as Farai finishes grinding down on her.
Then both their attention is on Mensah only.
Oh, she’s missed this.
She’s almost there, clawing at the sheets with Tano wrapped around her and Farai’s hand between her legs, when she feels it.
A cool hand, cooler than a human’s, with a different texture to it.
The fingers slide between her own, then tighten lightly. It's a light pressure, a gentle and reassuring pressure. It immediately sends her back to escaping TranRollinHyfa, running through the crowds with her hand in SecUnit’s. The relief and safety she had felt in the moment it told her its name and she realised it had come back for her.
The dual combination of feeling safe, protected and surrounded by loved ones tips her over the edge.
When the rush starts to fade to a tingle, she opens her eyes and looks at the drones circling closely around them. They are beautiful, the way the light glimmers off them. Every one of them, a part of SecUnit.
Tano has already started to doze and Farai turns down the lights before slipping under the sheets next to her. Usually Mensah would be the one in the middle of the two, but not tonight. She looks over to her right and startles to see the lenses of SecUnit’s eyes reflecting back at her.
She hadn’t realised it had turned around.
Was that okay? She subvocalises the message before she thinks too much about it.
In the darkness it is hard to get a read on its emotions, but she thinks it might be. It's still holding her hand, after all.
It was fine. The reflections disappear as it turns back around, but does not leave its spot on the bed. She could probably reach out and touch its back, if not for the knowledge that it wouldn’t like that. You should sleep, you need your rest period.
What will you be doing?
I'll sit here. I can... guard you better, from here. The majority of the drones settle around the room, on shelves and cabinets. A few of them remain circling the bed slowly. As an emotional indicator, she would say the drones indicate that it is calm and relaxed. Not on alert, but willing to stay and watch them.
Thank you. Mensah doesn't know what else to say, there's a lot she wants to say.
Go to sleep, Dr. Mensah. I'll be here in the morning.
Mensah's legs are tangled in Tano's and one hand rests against Farai's cheek. The other remains in SecUnit's hand and she goes to sleep with the sensation of its fingers laced between hers.