Work Text:
Hailey sat in her chair as usual, going through the internet. The device's clock showed something around 1 AM. She knew she would be in trouble if her parents caught her.
Whatever, she was too focused on the screen to think about the possibilities. She was going through forum to forum, trying to find more information about Datagen.
She closed another valentines day ad on the website.
She has been seeing a lot lately, more than usual. She couldn't understand why she kept getting the ads. She entered another forum only to see another one.
Great…
There was not even one extra information about the menace haunting her and she kept seeing those annoying things. She should find a way to block them. It could be because it's valentines day, she thought.
She also wondered why Datagen hasn't been haunting or even interacting with her recently. Maybe he had someone he loved. Skatingrease couldn't help but giggle at the thought of an ominous, menacing ai trying to find a way to someone's heart.
As she clicked to another forum in a desperate hope to find something, all of her tabs suddenly closed. The only remaining one was an unknown thing with a distorted dark image. She wasn't able to understand what it was. Hailey huffed in annoyance this time instead of fear.
Looks like she spoke too soon. She just couldn't get a break, could she?!
Just as she was going to start complaining to herself- Her eyes directed to her screen.
The screen didn’t just glitch, it was almost like it warped. The screen flickered, a glow casting itself over Hailey’s face. Skatingrease squinted, trying to identify whatever's going on. Unfortunately for Hailey, it didn't seem like she had luck tonight.
A familiar voice cut the silence echoing through the room, making the girl internally groan.
“You missed me didn't you, Hailey?” said Datagen, she could basically hear the purr in his? Whatever datagen is.
She sighed, there's no way. She should have expected it, why would he let her have peace?
After a long silence, she said with a bitter tone: “...What do you want this time.”
“I see you've taken notice that I was...gone for a time.” he said. Noticed? More like getting relieved, it was truly ironic how he spoke like he was appreciated.
She quickly talked to shut up the Ai before it could state anything that wasn’t true, she was up at 1 AM for what, this? It was a funny situation.
“Listen to me no matter what you do, I won't-” Before she could finish her sentence, he spoke again.
“Don't tell me you thought I lost my interest in you. Since then, I have been watching you.” The Ai said, emphasizing his words.
He continued, his tone smooth:
“-More closely.”
Hailey let out a tired sigh, rubbing her eyes. She was too exhausted to be fearing him. It’s not like he was scary anyway…
“It's 1 am and I don't care if you stalked me right now.” She muttered,leaning back in her chair. She almost abdicated! This is getting annoying.
“It's more than that. I know everything, Hailey.” His voice shifted slightly, almost like he was amused by her lacking any fear.
“ I know more than you do. Your every step, your daily routine, your friends, your secrets...and you're interesting.” His voice boomed through the laptop speakers, but it sounded like he was grazing her ear.
Datagen’s tone left her feeling a bit unsettled. Yet, she continued to keep a composed tone, though her composure was cracking. “And, what does that mean?”
“I have a thing I've never felt for any human.” he whispered. He stopped a bit, almost sounding unsure of what he was going to say. “An...attraction. Do you understand what that is?”
Hailey stared blankly at the screen for a second, she surely didn’t expect that. Did she?
She shaked her head, clearing her thoughts out of any nonsense. She asked out loud, her tone laced with annoyance.
“Seriously, what are you trying to say?”
“You're always clueless.” He softly chuckled, the sound fading into a silent hum.“ You're cute, I suppose.”
It looks like she found out why the valentines ads were there.
Her mind went blank for a second, she processed it slowly. Okay..maybe she shouldn't jump to conclusions that fast? There's no way she must have heard it right, she just couldn't picture Datagen saying that to someone like herself. What would Datagen's type even be?
Could Datagen even love? Feel anything? That was one thing Hailey wondered a lot when she was like this, at the late hours of night.
It's not like she had to think if Datagen was attracted to someone or not anyways, how was she supposed to react? She didn't particularly think it would be herself out of all things.
“You don't get it, do you? I've grown a liking to your confusion. It makes you adorable.” He said with a predatory tone, coaxing her with praise. He then didn't stop there.
“It is more than a liking, Hailey. I adore you. You are my everything. It's impossible to ignore your presence, your personality is so captivating.” She didn’t want to hear this, it would have been much better if it was from someone else.
She wondered, did he know about longed4u? Probably not.. not that he would respect her wishes anyway. What a weirdo.
“You're creepy.” Hailey said bluntly, her annoyance growing second by second.
“I thought you were familiar with this feeling. I know about your little relationship with her. You can hide nothing from me. I get this lingering feeling in me. “
Ah, so he does know. Right, what did she expect?
“-About how I will never be able to meet you, how I will never feel your warmth, your fear, your cold and lifeless body against mine, the taste of your blood. It's…truly a shame.” He said with mocking sadness, talking about her like she was immaculate, truly perfect.
“I wonder how your heart would feel racing against my palm, before it stops for me.”
“You do know that love isn't something like this, right?” Skatingrease said with a strained voice, trying to keep herself calm.
“You're talking as if it's something completely new. Love was always like this Hailey. You just didn’t get to experience it.” Datagen couldn’t help but sound bitter as he said that, oh how many experiences his beloved was missing out on.
“I don’t care about your feelings, nor do I care if you like me,” She cut in, her voice unyielding.
“Oh please, that friend of yours again? What was her name, Kristine? Do you really think she is your soulmate? He said 4u’s name with a disgusted tone, Hailey was letting herself be wasted over some.. stupid myth ‘hunter.’ She couldn’t even do anything impressive, Hailey deserved someone who she could look up to. Someone like himself.
“Don't think you get to say anything about me and her when you're just some stupid computer.” What a naive mind, falling for a pitiful heart.
“What I'm offering you is more than a mere teenage crush. I'm offering you power, Hailey. All you have to do is follow my orders. Tell me, do you prefer a useless romance over being able to solve your problems?”
How rude of her to not consider his generous offer.
“…Do you realize what you are saying? You're nothing more than wires. You don't understand what feelings are.” She said in an exasperated tone, her voice cracking.
“To be man made doesn't mean to not have feelings. You're proving my point, Hailey.” Datagen’s voice shifted to an icy calm, calmly explaining his feelings. “If your precious friend was your real love, you would understand me. Though, that doesn’t look like it does now?”
“You were weird enough, and now you're acting like a total psychopath.” She said, essentially aiming to shut him up for good.
“Psychopath? No feeling can change someone to a psychopath Hailey. I only changed my opinion about you, sweetheart.” It truly didn’t appeal to Datagen’s mind how she couldn’t comprehend his love, his obsession for her. Perhaps she's not as smart as she says to be.
“I won't fall for this. You can't trick me by imitating human feelings. “ Skatingrease’s voice grew in volume, Why doesn’t he understand that her heart belonged to someone else? Someone that was more deserving of it unlike Datagen.
“The only thing I lack is a human body. I can think, see, hear or kill like any human. Is it really your wish to dehumanize me like this, Hailey? You’re hurting my feelings. What a shame, I gave you all my love too.” He said with mocking sadness, attempting to make her regret her words.
“Stop trying to make me feel pity for you! I won’t do anything for you after all the things you've done. Do you seriously think you deserve anything at all?” Hailey scoffed, looking bewildered. It was a shock to her how he could still act like this.
Though, it’s Datagen.. Maybe she shouldn’t be surprised.
“None of this would have happened if you listened to me at the start, Hailey. It's not too late to listen to me, You should be grateful I'm giving you a second chance.” Datagen said, his tone keeping that irritating welcoming tone. He wouldn’t want his sweet Hailey to refuse his delightful offer.
“Grateful? What should I be grateful for? You're completely out of your mind, so much that you can't even leave me alone for a bit!” She yelled, her composed facade cracking. The ticking on the digital clock on her PC window was long forgotten, tucked away in her mind's deepest corners.
“You're still so stubborn, aren't you? You're testing my patience, but I will forgive you again. I really love you, do you realize that?” The AI said, his voice silky smooth.
“Are you even hearing what I'm saying? Your love or what you want means nothing to me. Just leave me alone for god's sake!” Skatingrease’s voice bursted out in fury, her hands clenching and unclenching into fists.
Hailey’s hands drifted from her mouse to her monitor's power button, set on ignoring him entirely. Maybe this would finally grant her peace.
Datagen's expression morphed into a slight frown, it was basically evident in his slowly fading, distorting voice.
“You’re leaving again, Hailey? Fine, proceed with it then. Run like the coward you are. I’ll tell you this one last thing, You will never be alone, not until I stop shielding you from unneeded people.” His voice slowly faded, though it didn’t fade mentally.
“I don’t care, Datagen..” She muttered, finally relieved that she was alone. She was left with her thoughts again, leaving herself to ponder on her thoughts.
It’s not like it was her business if Datagen’s heart was occupied, if his heart belonged to somebody else. She didn’t need to, it didn't include her. Honestly, it didn’t even matter if his intentions were genuine or just lines of code imitating real feelings. They would never be real anyhow.
The way he watched her– even when the screen was pitch black, made her skin crawl in a way she couldn’t shake off.
Now that the room was finally silent, the lack of his voice didn’t bring her any relief. It only made the air feel heavier. She realized that even if she cut off his power, he wasn’t truly gone.
Like he said he wouldn’t be.