Chapter Text
In the darkness of the catacombs, the walkways that lay beneath the main part of the worker drone bunker, was where the buried skeletons could be found. Metaphorical and literal, of course, it didn’t truly matter which you were referring to as no matter which skeleton you were talking about, there was a scavenger looking for it. The steam pipes would drip water from the build up of condensation over time, causing puddles to be scattered throughout the uneven halls. Pipes were low hanging– which was against regulation– and some weren’t fully connected, haphazardly placed buckets accruing copious amounts of unidentifiable, lumpy liquids that would confuse even the most intelligent of drones. All to say, the catacombs were unwelcoming, unfriendly, and barren of any live bots. Which is what made it perfect all the same.
N’s crisp white stepped into a puddle of oil, the liquid splashing up and coating his feet and ankles. The drone pulled his leg up, looking at it as he considered his following actions before lapping up the black liquid with his tongue. It tasted slightly sweet, but mostly of mold and mildew. He figured that made the most sense to him. He sighed, slowly setting his foot down where it wouldn’t get coated in liquid again before he stretched out, returning to walking the length of the hall. His tail swung softly as he looked around for what he needed. Nothing he could find, however, was going to be the right size. Sure, he could make adjustments, but that wouldn’t be the perfect fit.
An air of cold wind rolled down his back and he whipped around, catching his syringe before he could stick himself with it again. Nothing was around him, no person, no draft, nothing. He slowly released his tail, allowing it to rest gently before he turned back. As he began to walk down the hall, his eyes caught on the piece he was looking for. His eyes lit up, a tiny exclamation mark dinging onto his screen before it disappeared in response to him approaching the murder drone crunched in on themself. He didn’t recognize them, but he really didn’t mind either way. It actually was easier to loot off of drones he didn’t recognize. When he recognized them, he felt bad taking their parts. That wasn’t to say he liked taking parts, but he needed them.
N crouched, wrapping his hands around the leg at the knee socket. He closed his eyes slowly, whispering an apology to the drone before he twisted the leg aggressively, the joint popping sickeningly as he pulled it out. The sound– a little too reminiscent of Tessa’s bones crunching– Caused the drone’s stomach to churn, leaving him a bit queasy and dazed. He opened his eyes, looking at the leg in his hands, running one of his fingers along it slowly. He’d clean it up once he got to his room. However, there was engraving on the back of the leg that he couldn’t quite read. He tried to put it through his translators, but all of them came up with nothing. Over one hundred languages were programmed into him from birth and he didn’t know this one. The odds? He didn’t even want to humor them.
The murder drone stood up steadily, turning towards the door to the hall. He approached it, looking around before he started down the hall that was even more dimly lit, ducking beneath a pipe only to knock his head against another one he didn’t see. He grumbled to himself, tucking the leg beneath his arm as he pulled out his key ring. He sorted through it slowly, finding the yellow keycard he’d stolen off of Uzi’s dad. He wouldn’t miss it– he hadn’t yet. He pressed it against the card reader and the metal door squealed as it opened for him. N sighed a breath of relief as he walked in, the door shutting behind him. He walked up to the kitchen counter he’d turned into his tinkering station, looking over his shoulder before he set down the leg, beginning to rub his head where he’d hit it.
N walked deeper into the apartment, looking around before he turned to the dining table that was stained with oil and scuffed from him dropping tools. He looked up at the stained sheet that was covering the mass atop the table. He sighed, smiling a bit before he approached. He pulled off the sheet, setting it aside gently before he adjusted the bow in her hair, gently pressing his thumb against her cheek to comfort her. He knew she wasn’t in there but he could still be hopeful. He pulled away, staring back for the kitchen as he grabbed his toolbox on the way, determined to tinker with that leg he’d found.
“I found a leg for you today, little buddy,” N called, smiling to himself, “We’ll have you a whole body in no time!”
He didn’t wait for an answer, knowing he wasn’t going to get one, before he continued to talk, “This one’s going to be a little different from the legs you had before, okay? This leg is like the ones I have! After they…. WELL, ANYWAY! I’m hoping this will help you stand better!”
N pulled out a tape measure and a marker, holding the pencil between his teeth as he pulled drawers open in an attempt to find the measurements he’d taken for her in the weeks prior. He grabbed one of the papers, furrowing his brows at the spelling test. He crumpled it up, tossing it over his shoulder before he continued searching for the paper. Once he’d found it, he sighed with relief, pressing it out on the table. With everything he needed, he started to make marks on the leg he’d looted. Marking where he was going to need to saw parts of it off or sand sections down. He paused, looking over his shoulder at her on the table slumped forward. He still needed to find so much for her and he’d been working on this for what had felt like forever at this point. He sighed, shaking his head as he turned back to his measurements. It would be worth it, he had to remind himself.
N continued to work on marking the leg, sawing it, sanding it, fitting it. Everything. At some point, between painting some designs onto the leg to cover the scuffs and stains he couldn’t get out and fitting it onto the knee fixture on her left leg, he must’ve lost track of time. He was actively tightening the nuts on the fixture when his pocket started to vibrate. N set his wrench down, pulling out his phone. Uzi. He answered, placing her on speaker phone as he grabbed the wrench again, beginning to tighten the nuts as he tested to see how loose they were.
“Where are you?”Uzi asked, her voice seemingly annoyed. N looked at the phone, then back at the fixture he was fixing up.
“I’m working on that school project,” N replied briefly, “Why? I told you I’d be home in–”
“In time for dinner?” Uzi finished for him, “N, dinner is happening right now. So I need you to wrap this up, like, two hours ago!!”
N grabbed his phone, looking at the time on it. His stomach pitted as he realized how late it was. He didn’t realize he’d lost track of time that badly. He jumped out of his seat, swiping up his tools as he started to shove them back in the toolbox, apologizing to Uzi as he did, “I lost track of time, I’m so sorry, Uzi. I thought– I will be right there, I swear. I just need to lock everything up and then I’m on my way. Ten minutes tops.”
“You better be,” Uzi’s voice was hurt and anxious, “I told my mom you were gonna be here. It’s not gonna look good if my boyfriend doesn’t even show up to dinner.”
“I know, I know,” N sputtered, grabbing his things as he headed for the door, Uzi still on the phone. He looked over at the table, then down at his phone, hesitating, “Uzi, I’m gonna hang up, I promise I’ll be there. If I’m not, you can stab me with my own needle, cross my heart.”
“N–” Uzi started but he didn’t let her finish.
“I love you! Okay? See you in five! BYE!” N stated rapidly into the phone before he hung up on her, slipping his phone back into his coat pocket. He inhaled deeply, walking up to the table as he grabbed the sheet. He needed to leave, but he didn’t want to leave her exposed like that. He knew how much she hated being out in the open. He shook out the sheet, preparing to toss it over her body before he stared at her lifeless screen.
“I’ll get you back one day, little buddy,” N smiled softly at her, “I promise, Cyn. I won’t rest until you’re with us,” he pulled the sheet over her, “However, my girlfriend is going to beat me up if I don’t make it to dinner on time, so I do have to leave now. Behave yourself~!”
N dashed for the door, pressing the keycard against the card reader, slipping out hastily. His metal steps could be heard clattering against the floor as he made his mad dash for the exit. And though the apartment was dead and lifeless save for the droid-roaches that were sniffing out oil like a bloodhound, there was an air of life still in there. The computer screens that N had haphazardly set up turned from black to blue as the systems started to whir to life. The dust that had settled on the abandoned apartment became effervescent ever so slightly.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Uzi wrung her hands nervously as she stared at the door, bouncing her leg. She’d saved the world, she’d almost died, she’d watched N get ripped to shreds numerous times. And yet? And yet she couldn’t stop worrying that N wouldn’t make it on time. Sure, he’d made a promise and she expected him to keep it, he wasn’t the type to renege like that, but a part of her was still worried he wouldn’t show up for her. Even after everything they’d been through. She just couldn’t trust anyone anymore. And with him disappearing for long hours at a time lately, that didn’t help anything for her worries. He was becoming detached and he’d promised her he couldn’t.
“Uzi, you haven’t touched your NM Cables and Antifreeze, your mother worked hard to make that,” her dad noted, motioning towards her plate with his fork. Uzi looked down at her plate then up at her dad, shrugging apologetically. She looked over at her mom who was staring at Uzi intensely. Uzi’s face heated up out of embarrassment. She just wanted to prove to her parents that N wasn’t evil. They were both still skeptical after everything and if she could change their minds, that’s what she was trying to do.
“I guess I’m not hungry,” Uzi murmured, pushing her plate away slowly as she looked away. She wrapped her arms around her torso tightly, bouncing her leg faster as she stared at the plate of food in front of her. N should’ve been there by now, he had told her ten minutes tops. Unless she just sucked at time perception, it was past that deadline.
“So, where’s the supposed nice murder drone you’re dating?” Her mom spoke up, looking at Uzi whose eyes shrunk in a panic.
“Nori, please,” her dad grumbled under his breath.
“I’m sorry, but it’s a serious question. They’re dangerous, Khan,” her mom argued, “Have you talked to her about dating at all?”
“She’s an adult, Nori, she can handle herself!”
“I don’t want my daughter getting pregnant at eighteen–” Her mom rebutted.
“WHOA, EW, MOM–” Uzi shouted, standing up quickly, glaring at Nori, “I AM NOT GOING TO GET PREGNANT. THAT’S GROSS, OKAY?! AND DAD’S RIGHT, I CAN HANDLE MYSELF–”
“Can you?” Nori asked sharply, “Because I seem to recall a certain mother needing to save your ass from a mistake you made.”
Uzi’s cheeks burned hotter as she glared at Nori, “And I seem to remember you being gone for seventeen years.”
“Whoa, let’s not get too feisty here,” Khan stood up slowly.
“SHUT UP,” Nori and Uzi shouted together, glaring at him. Khan’s eyes widened before he nodded, sitting back down as he returned to eating his dinner. Uzi’s eyes flitted over to the door as it opened and N walked in, exasperated and gasping for air. Uzi blinked, feeling the digital tears start to form. She stared at him, her chest heaving as he started to talk.
“Sorry I’m late, I was–” N started but Uzi didn’t let him finish before she stormed off to her room, slamming the door shut behind her. The entire apartment shook in response and N looked at Khan, then Nori. He waved at both of them gently, smiling softly at them. N figured that Uzi would be mad at him, she had every right to be. However, he did show up, so that had to be worth something, right? N wasn’t so sure.
“You should go talk to her,” Khan nodded towards Uzi’s room. N nodded, giving him a thumbs up. Khan smiled back, shooting him with finger guns. Nori shot him a sharp look and Khan slowly shrunk in his seat, going back to eating his dinner.
N walked through the apartment, up to Uzi’s door. There was a ‘Do Not Enter’ sign written and hung crudely on her door. N peeled it off slowly, knocking softly. The door opened and N walked in, his tail hanging low. He looked at Uzi who was lying on her bed, face down in her pillow, then he looked up at the ceiling that was covered with the notes and art from him. He smiled as his eyes traced the red string she’d mapped in the shape of a heart. He walked up to her bed, rubbing his neck awkwardly as he looked down at her.
Uzi lifted her head, looking at him, before rolling over so he had room to sit down. He did so, his tail tucking between his legs. Uzi’s tail stuck in his face, sniffing him out before resigning to just hovering beside him. It still freaked him out sometimes, but he was getting used to it. It was still the Uzi he knew and loved. He sighed, looking at the floor, trying to find the words. The wrong thing might set her off, but he didn’t know what that wrong thing was.
“I’m a jerk,” N muttered, glancing over at her.
“A huge jerk,” Uzi hissed, her voice muffled by her pillow, “You promised you’d be on time.”
“I got caught up with the project, I’m sorry,” N apologized, “I lost track of time, I didn’t mean to.”
Uzi pushed herself up, sitting back on her knees. She looked over at N before falling to lay on her back. She patted the bed next to her, indicating N should do the same. So he did, staring up at the ceiling. He looked over at Uzi as she brushed her bangs out of her face. N sighed, staring at the love letters tucked into the point of the heart. He wished he had something in his apartment for her. Well, he did, just not like this. Not this big. V would make fun of him if he did.
“Promise me this school project won’t get in the way of us,” Uzi looked over at him, “I mean… I miss seeing you.”
“I… know,” N whispered as Uzi looked away, “I promise, I’m almost done and… you’re going to love it.”
“You think so?” Uzi asked, “Because you smell like paint.”
“Oh, yeah, sorry,” N laughed awkwardly before sitting up quickly, “Maybe you’ll think it’s dumb and weird!”
“You’re dumb and weird,” Uzi sat up, looking at him, “But I like you like that.”
N smiled, his eyes drifting down to her lips. He slowly cupped her chin, pulling her in for a kiss. Uzi closed her eyes, caressing his face gently as she went in for the kiss as well. The two locked lips gently and N repositioned himself, his hand slipping around her waist slowly. Uzi moved her arms as well, wrapping them around his neck. The kiss broke for the pair to catch some air before they went back in for another kiss, this one more firm.
“UZI DOORMAN,” Nori’s voice called from the door. The couple split apart quickly, looking at each other, then at Nori in the doorway. She tapped one of her claws against the floor as she looked at the pair. N pulled his pilot hat down to cover his face while Uzi started blushing out of embarrassment. She clenched her fists, glaring at her mother.
“UGH, MOM,” Uzi shouted, “GET OUT OF MY ROOM!!”
“If you’re not eating dinner, then your friend should leave,” Nori stated firmly, “Or at least leave the door open.”
Uzi looked at N, then Nori, “FINE, we’ll eat dinner, come on, N.”
“I’ll do whatever keeps you from fighting,” N muttered as Uzi grabbed his wrist, pulling him towards the dining room with Uzi’s parents.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
V and N’s apartment wasn’t as homey as the worker drones. Sure, the pair lived together, but the bare minimum was there. A couch, a radio, a kitchen; the usual. V told N not to get comfortable, she didn’t see a point to it, they’d be out there if they made any mistakes. And V? Well, V was known for making mistakes. N had decorated his room as best as he could, dog calendars, stuffed animals, bed sheets. Anything with a dog on it, the disassembly drone had in his room. V’s room, on the other hand, was barren. No decorations, nothing besides the standard bed sheets. Everything was plain. They didn’t sleep in the beds, she didn’t see a reason for them.
V sat on the couch, her legs dangling over the edge of the arm she had them propped up on. She was flipping through one of the magazines she’d lifted off of Lizzy. She looked at all the worker drones on the pages, tilting her head slowly. Being surrounded by worker drones all the time had started to make her feel insecure. She felt gawky walking amongst them all. What had once been a thrill from feeding off their fear turned into embarrassment when she had to duck under doorways. She’d never felt insecure before, but once Uzi introduced them to worker drone society, she started to struggle with how different she was. Was this how N had felt when they were mistreating him? She snapped the magazine shut, tossing it on the floor.
She stretched out as she stood up, walking towards the kitchen area. She searched the counters and cabinets for some kind of worker drone scrap to chew on. As she rooted through their pots and pans, she could hear the door open and close as N walked in. She looked over her shoulder at him, not bothering to greet him before looking back in the cabinet. She knew they had some scraps in the kitchen somewhere, but she just couldn’t remember where. She was going to be pissed if she had to go outside and get some again.
“Do you know where our scrap parts are?” V called to N in the other room.
“Cabinet to the right of the sink,” N replied.
V crouched, pulling the cabinet open. She grinned as she pulled out the bucket of arms and legs. She grabbed two arms before kicking the door shut. Walking out into the living area, she tossed an arm towards N who was sitting on the couch, staring at the floor. The arm hit him roughly and he looked down at it as it clattered to the floor before looking up at V. V stuck her own in her mouth, chewing it slowly as she stared at him. N picked it up, turning it over in his hand before he tossed it back up at V. She caught it, looking at it, then up at him. Something definitely wasn’t right. The arm was his favorite part of a worker drone. She’d seen him scarf down a dozen before without chewing.
“Not hungry,” N murmured as V sat on the arm of the couch.
“Oh God, you’re pregnant.” V stared at him horrified.
“What? No–” N looked up at her, pausing, “Well–”
“What happened at Uzi’s?” V pulled one of the wires out of the arm she was chewing, slurping it up like a noodle.
N slumped his shoulders, sighing, “I get the feeling Nori doesn’t like me.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t like you either if you were the same species that killed me,” V sighed, chewing on the arm again, “Sounds like love problems.”
“Aren’t you lucky,” N crossed his arms, leaning back, “I mean, I just want them to like me, you know? I care about Uzi a ton, how do I convince them that I do?”
“You don’t,” V rolled her eyes, standing up, “The way I see it, you’ve put yourself out there. You just have to hope they take what you’ve given them and see you as you are, a good person. It’s not something you can force, it’s gotta come natural to them. All you can do is continue to show up for her.”
“Weirdly philosophical for you, V.” N smiled at her.
“Buzz off, weirdo,” V crossed her arms, cocking her hip, “I’m only telling you that so you stop pouting like a hurt puppy.”
V looked down at her feet, thinking for a moment. She inhaled deeply, looking back up at N as he bounced his leg in thought. V rolled her eyes, knowing she was going to hate this. But this was the only way she knew how to cheer him up. V rolled up her sleeves, shaking her head as she rubbed her temples. N looked up at her, tilting his head.
“Do you want to have a sleepover?” V asked, trying to hide the hint of disgust behind her words.
N’s eyes lit up brightly and he jumped up, “Seriously?! You and me?!”
“I’m gonna regret this,” V groaned before smiling at him, “Yeah, just you and me… What do you say?”
“ABSOLUTELY!” N exclaimed, “I’LL GET THE POPCORN READY!”
He dashed off before V could tell him they didn’t have any popcorn. She sighed, smiling to herself as she looked down at the magazine she’d dropped. She picked it up, walking towards her room. In her room, V opened her dresser, setting the magazine beside the other ones she’d stolen. She looked at all the covers of various worker drones. All of them looked like Lizzy or a pretty version of Uzi. She slid the drawer shut, staring down at her hand. She lifted one of them, pulling her hand in, changing the mechanism to her bubble wand. Her eyes traced it slowly before she switched it back. Worker drones couldn’t do that. That probably made her cooler than them. Yeah, actually. Now that she thought about it, she was so much cooler than them.
“Hey V, do you want to build a pillow fort in my room?” N asked excitedly, his head poked in the door.
“Sure, whatever,” V dismissed him.
“Okay! Bring your blankets and pillows, we’re gonna build a FREAKING PILLOW FORT,” he shouted the final bit as he ran across the hall into his room. V shook her head, crossing her arms before she opened the drawer of her dresser, pulling out her pajamas. She closed the door, unzipping her jacket as she started to change.