Work Text:
Maintenance was, unfortunately, mandatory.
Such is the life of a mechanical being, Hummer thought as he padded down the deck of the ship.
Hummer disappeared into the library, leaving Wifies to storm-watch. The clouds had been menacing earlier, after all.
He picked a few tools from a drawer, including a multi-tool that he made himself.
It's function was similar to a Swiss army knife, able to hold many small convenient tools in one place.
Hummer flipped through them, and found the screwdriver.
Then, he rolled up his sleeve, and unscrewed the small panel on his right arm. It was inconvenient, due to the fact he was right-handed. He picked through a few small wires, ignoring the jolt that caused his tail to twitch angrily.
He was lucky it was such a minor thing this time. He reached to grab a few dry sponges and rags, wiping dry the mechanism.
For water damaged parts, take everything out, wipe dry, then let the air dry it.
It was easy to fix on such a small scale, although he figured he'd be able to fix it on a large scale, too.
There was a knock on the library door, and Wifies peeked his head in.
"You busy?" He asked, although he knew that answer.
"Sorta," Hummer said, "Just finishing, give me a second."
Wifies steps inside, "It's storming out."
Hummer lifts his head, listening to the crackle of thunder outside. He rolls down his sleeve, standing up and abandoning his tools.
Wifies walks over, studying the tools. A screwdriver, a wire-cutter, and others were strewn about the table.
Hummer lights a lantern, bathing the library in warm light.
Wifies speaks up, "What's it like?"
"Hm?"
"Maintenance."
"Oh! Er- not bad?" Hummer stammered, confused.
"Just… just asking, because I've never had a mechanical friend." Wifies explained, picking up the wire-cutter.
He knew what it was for, but were Hummer's wires that expendable that he was able to cut them when needed?
How would he replace them? Did he replace them? What was that process like?
Hummer takes the wire-cutter, putting it away in a drawer.
"Do you, like…" Wifies thought about what he was going to say, "Need these? Your wires."
Hummer didn't respond for a few heartbeats.
"Ehm… I don't need some of them." He rolled up his sleeve, showing the open panel to Wifies.
Wifies seemed genuinely curious, and he took Hummer's arm.
There clearly used to be more wires, but they were either cut, or actually ripped out.
"Do you feel anything in this arm?" Wifies questioned, studying how the paint around the gap was chipped, seemingly scratched off.
"I… don't have a lot of feeling in either of my arms, actually." Hummer stated, although he stumbled over his words, "An.. old habit."
Wifies glanced at Hummer with a sympathetic glance, then turned Hummer's arm gently, prodding at gaps. Hummer retracted his arm at that, cord tail lashing. Wifies put both hands up, as if saying 'sorry!'
"It's, uhm.. don't do that." Hummer stammered, "Feels weird."
"Sorry." Wifies said, stepping back.
Hummer gave a thumbs up, and then settled down at one of the tables.
He pushed aside the coffee-stained papers, taking a book with his name on it, and a pen.
Wifies settled across from him, gingerly holding some of the fragile papers.
They were silent for a while, the only noise being the shuffling of papers and pen scratching against paper.
Wifies spoke up, "You can… talk to me, if you need to."
Hummer looked up from his book. Was this about the arm thing?
"Oh… er- thank you?" He mumbled, focused on his work.
Wifies fell silent once more as he flipped through the pages of an old journal. His mind was still caught up on how Hummer could function without some wires in places.
It'd be similar to a nerve dying, right? He tore an empty page from a journal, and began scribbling hypothetical anatomy.
Pistons and something else that could have him move and feel, just like a human.
What was his brain like? Motherboards and tech, oh the idea was so interesting to Wifies.
Hummer noticed this, although he didn't say anything. He watched Wifies scribble out of the corner of his eyes.
In a bold move that he may or may not regret, he took the page from Wifies, who inhaled sharply from surprise.
"What's this?" Hummer asked.
He knew what it was.
Wifies stammered over his words, "Hypothetical android anatomy! Just to see how I would personally build something like you!"
Wifies was totally lying. He was truthfully just curious about Hummer, but he'd never say that.
Hummer scanned the sketches, noticing that most of them focused on movement, on how one would twist and turn so organically that you'd never know they were mechanical.
Wifies watched with bated breath, and then audibly exhaled when Hummer set the page down.
Hummer was for sure going to regret this, he thought as he sighed.
"It… focuses a lot on movement," He began, "If you want to build something like this… Maybe it's good to have a reference instead of just theorizing?"
Wifies' mouth hung open, "I'm… not trying to be weird, I promise."
Hummer snickered, "I know, and I'm offering to show you a reference."
He stood up, and so did Wifies.
Hummer was for sure going to regret this, he thought as he hesitantly unbuttoned his formal shirt. It hung off him slightly, fabric loose.
Only halfway, otherwise he knew Wifies would freak out.
Probably.
Wifies stepped closer, leaning to get a closer look. Hummer's tail tip flicked back and forth, and then coiled around his leg nervously.
As Wifies looked, he began to sweat. Why was he sweating? It was good reference, so why was he nervous?
He gingerly reached a hand towards Hummer, but hesitated. Hummer stepped closer, Wifies' hand making contact with the cold metal.
Wifies traced one finger around the metal, then said, "What're you … made of?"
Hummer's hand found Wifies' wrist, guiding it around to the side, "It's.. er… aluminum, I think?"
"Alloy or pure?" Wifies asked, looking nervous at Hummer's gesture.
Hummer thought, then chuckled,
"Does it matter?"
"…No."
Wifies stepped back, a blush creeping to his cheeks. Hummer always thought that humans looked silly when that happened.
Wifies' hand hesitated, hovering slightly above Hummer's shoulder. Hummer lifted that one shoulder, pressing Wifies' hand to it; he offered one hand to him, and he noticed that Wifies' hand was shaking as he took it. Hummer brought Wifie's hand to his chest, and leaned forward.
Wifies paused, giving a small exhale. He traced his hand up to Hummer's neck, feeling the metal. How it felt flexible, despite being such a solid material. He had to have been lying about the fact he was made of aluminum, right?
Hummer laughed, "You alright?"
Wifies nodded, then leaned forward, almost connecting his face to Hummer's screen. It buzzed lightly, the static humming. Hummer took Wifies' other hand, holding it to his waist.
Wifies gulped audibly at this.
Hummer chuckled warmly.
Wifies originally expected something else, something like a schematic of an android, but he'd be lying if he said that he wasn't having enjoying this.
Even if he was incredibly nervous.
Hummer's tail found Wifies' leg, curling around it tightly. Wifies glanced down, and laughed lightly.
Then, he mumbled, "This is a lot."
Hummer tilted his head, "Are you sure you're okay?"
Wifies shrugged, then stepped back ever so slightly. He carded a hand through his hair. Hummer reached his hand to Wifies' face, splaying his hand to cover a small half. Wifies leaned his head to the side, pressing his face into Hummer's hand.
He smiled. A warm, infectious smile that would've made Hummer smile too if he had a mouth.
One of Wifies' hands found Hummer's cold metal, and his small grin never faltered.
Wifies stepped forward, embracing Hummer. He rested his chin on Hummer's shoulder, exhaling.
Hummer, for the first time this entire thing, felt his fans kick on to a higher speed. A laugh escaped his voice box, and he wrapped his arms around Wifies, returning the hug.
Wifies was, frankly, both overwhelmed and joyous from the previous situation. He listened to the hum of Hummer's fans, until he pulled back, hand still pressed to Hummer.
"Sorry.. I-" Wifies stumbled over his words, "Sorry."
"No, you don't need to be sorry." Hummer responded, standing still. He took notice of how Wifies' hand never left him, so he grabbed it, and pressed it against his screen.
Wifies' mouth formed an 'o', a warm blush on his cheeks. Right there and then, he almost wished he could kiss him.
Maybe he could, but Hummer had already let go, and Wifies found himself chasing that warmth once more. He reached his hands out, but it was futile.
Hummer said awkwardly, "Eh.. let me find that blueprint for you, okay?"
His tail twitched, lashing behind him.
Wifies noticed this, already knowing that it did that when any sort of strong emotion was near.
So, what emotion was it? Wifies hoped it was the same as his.
Hummer stepped out the door, headed for the ship storage.
Wifies was left, still thinking about Hummer, what happened, and the warmth of his screen. He presses his hand to his chest, and thinks. He thinks so hard that he may as well be a professional overthinker.
Maybe… just maybe, he was not as normal as he thought, which was funny.
He remembers the loud hum of Hummer's fans, how cold the metal was, how everything felt in that moment.
What if Hummer was messing with him? Being funny, not knowing how Wifies truly felt.
His thoughts trailed off.
In an attempt to distract himself, both from his thoughts and the feeling that maybe Hummer was just messing with him, he puts his head in his hands.
…Maybe he should take a nap.
That might help.