Ahahaha, here I go writing questionable fanfiction again. Set after Act 26 and a few certain other fanfictions I wrote.
It had been a trying last few weeks. Really it had been a trying year, but that was another matter. Last week she had been kidnapped again, dismantled by Beck (at least he had the decency to apologize after), had her memory appended to a Megaduce and had had to save Rogers' life again. The the world was reset to before the big fight and it was like nothing had even happened. Where it not for the fact that seemingly the whole city remembered the incident, or at least remembered the city in ruins and a large gleaming white Megaduce seemingly appearing from nowhere and fixing it, Dorothy would've thought that she was going crazy.
She was staring out over the city now, from her perch on the parapet. As it was the city had had most of the damage repaired, thankfully. Other than a few road repairs, not much was needed to get the city back up and running. Even if people remembered that the fight had happened, they couldn't seem to recall who had piloted the two combating iron giants. Dorothy suspected Angel had made it that way, as a way to protect herself as much as Roger.
Thinking on Angel, Dorothy wondered where she had gone. After the world had been reset, the two of them had met briefly, Angel saying she was glad to have been a part of Dorothy's life, to take care of Roger and then walked away, disappearing into the crowd. It had been a whole week since then, and while usually her friend came by at least twice a week, she hadn't made any appearances at the mansion, and had made no attempt at contact. In fact, no one had been able to find her at all. Dan Dastun had been searching for her, Roger had looked everywhere and even tried to get information out of Big Ear to no avail. Even Norman's more seedy contacts hadn't found any sign of her. It was like she had simply disappeared from Paradigm City. No, more it was like no one even knew who she was, or ever had.
It wasn't impossible for someone to disappear, but so completely? Dorothy was worried. The way Angel had ended their last conversation... It was almost like she had no intention of returning to the mansion, and no longer wanted to be a part of their lives.
Their, yes that was a good way of putting it. The Smith household was a family, more or less. And, while by no means traditional, it was a loving family. Well, loving might be a stretch, but they did care for each other. And one way or another both Roger and Dorothy wanted Angel to become a part of it, each for their own reasons.
For Dorothy, her reasons were rather simple. Angel was her friend, and after their sexual encounter a month ago, Dorothy felt something when she was around. She wasn't quite sure what that feeling was, or if it was a mixture of many. She was still getting used to the emotion chip that had been activated, and did not always know what she felt. But whatever it was telling her, Dorothy had decided it was pleasant and wanted to feel it again.
Roger's reasons were not the same of course. After that final encounter and the world being reset, Roger couldn't really hide his feelings for either woman. With Angel it was easy to tell that he liked her, as whenever she was around the bachelor would stare at her rather ample bosom or rear. But when it came to the rather dour gynoid, he could never really say how he felt, or at least he had trouble finding the words. The awkwardness of his confession to Dorothy had proved as much.
"I've never been very good at confessions, Dorothy, you know that." Roger had seemed flustered while he spoke. He slipped his hands into his slack pockets and seemed to rock back and forth on his toes a bit, like a lost school boy. "But I can't imagine life without you here. Even if I find your morning wake up calls annoying I don't think I could do without them." He almost seemed to blush at those words. "Though if you woke me up like the other morning, I might mind it less."
Something about the confession made Dorothy's processors go into overdrive and the motor that worked as her heart whirred faster, then came the but. "But I also have similar feelings for Angel. I know that isn't fair to you, it isn't fair to her either. I want to find her, and sort this all out." He seemed to tense up a bit after those words, and seemed to hiss through his teeth in a low voice "And find out what the kiss between the two of you was about."
Ah that. While Dorothy didn't regret her decision to kiss Angel that day, it and the fact that she hadn't come home the night before had caused quite a stir in the household. Norman was beyond upset with her for that less than lady like display, and her attempts at stonewalling any explanations. While his concern was more than likely out of worry for her, she had found it difficult to remain tight lipped. Dorothy was her own person, why should she have to explain who she chose to show affections too? And why couldn't either man see it for what it was? An innocent show of affection.
Roger had taken it a different way, initially. He had thought it was both amusing and childish that Dorothy had smooched and ran away. He changed his opinion later when it became apparent to him that something had happened between the two women in his life. Roger had even started to fret over it, which was rather unlike him. Dorothy had overheard him telling Norman to keep a close eye on the two women, should Angel drop by again. And not to let the two of them be alone.
But she hadn't come by since that day, and no one knew were she was. Thinking about it made Dorothy's mind go in circles with worry, like it was now. She was about to return indoors and find something to occupy her mind with when she heard the clip of high heels on stone.
"Hello sweetie, oof" Before the buxom blonde could finish speaking she had her hands full with a rather affectionate gynoid. The young red haired girl rested her cheek again the pink leather clad chest, gently nuzzling her long missed companion. The scent of leather, rain, and whatever perfume she was wearing had a rather calming effect.
"Hm, so you did miss me?" Angel began to stroke Dorothy's cheek. The soft caresses elicited a low and contented sigh. She had missed this more than she cared to put into words. Dorothy didn't want to let go.
Of course she was forced to let go, when a rather curt "hehem" was heard from behind them. They quickly stepped away from each other, Angel fussing with some imaginary creases in her outfit. The always stately butler of the Smith household stood behind and a bit away from them. Norman had waited, rather patiently in his opinion, for the young women to notice and hopefully behave themselves. Though his face betrayed nothing, the look in his one good eye was enough for Dorothy to know that he was questioning what had been going on between them.
"Hello Mr. Burg. It's a pleasure to see you again." Angel smiled, feigning politeness. While she actually liked Norman, she was afraid to anger the man, for reasons unknown to Dorothy, which she had no doubt done by breaking in again. Had Angel arrived through the front door, Norman would no doubt have escorted her here, and not given the two of them time alone.
"I'm sure, Ms Lovejoy. Would you like any refreshments? Tea or Coffee?" Again, his face betrayed nothing, but he had a hint of amusement in his voice.
"I could use a pot of coffee right about now. It's been a rough week."
"So it has. Right this way please." Norman led them into the foyer. "I'll be back in a few minutes. Do make yourself comfortable… But not too comfortable." The butler left them alone then, either from forgetfulness or simply not wanting to follow the masters orders.
"He still doesn't trust me does he?" Angel sighed and threw herself onto one of the couches lining the room.
"It would help if you used the front door occasionally." Dorothy closed the glass pane door.
"Mhmm." Angel put one arm over her eyes, as if it was too bright in the black room. She seemed haggard. Her eyes had dark bags that couldn't be hidden by makeup, skin paler than normal and her cheeks were flushed a bright red. In short, the fallen Angel looked more like a flu patient than her namesake.
"What happened? And where have you been this past week? No one could find you, it was as if you had never existed." Dorothy sat down and took Angel's other hand in her own. Her pulse was weak. Why hadn't she notice before? Her circuits had probably been too preoccupied by finally being able to see Angel again.
"I had to disappear." She spoke weakly, "Too many Union agents want me dead, the police are looking for me, and Paradigm Corp thinks I know too much. I'm hounded from nearly every angle with no escape." She gave a sidelong glance in Dorothy's direction. "You seem to be doing well though. No one remembers what happened, so at least I got that much right."
The butler re-appeared then, bringing with him a pot of fresh coffee and a tray laden with some cream and sugar. Placing a porcelain cup on the table before them he poured a cup, left the tray and pot on the table, then left again. Dorothy suspected he would not be far, perhaps deciding that discretion was a better method of keeping the women in check.
The question of Dorothy's well being was forgotten for a moment, as Angel added some sugar to her coffee before downing the cup. She poured herself a second, added more sugar than the first, and nursed on this one slowly. "How I've missed coffee, and sleep." Sighing in a low voice. "I haven't had a good nights rest since this hell began."
"If you need to rest I can have Norman prepare a room for you." In truth a room had already been set aside for Angel at Roger's request, but Angel didn't know that.
"No. No I have to keep moving. I'm grateful for the coffee, and a chance to see you again, but I..." As Angel tried to stand up her legs buckled beneath her, and she fell back to the couch.
"Are in no condition to be going anything but going to bed." Dorothy gently took Angel's hand in her own. "You look exhausted Angel, you need to rest. No one will bother you here, so please stay." She tried to be reassuring, but having always level tone made it difficult. When Angel gave no resistance to the idea, Dorothy led her to the room that had been set up for her eventual arrival.
The room wasn't much, having been left mostly blank as it was intended for Angel to move into, but at least there was a ready bed for the fallen to rest. Norman was at the bedroom door behind the women, but Angel didn't seem to notice or care as she removed her pink overcoat and boots before crawling into bed. She was asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow, so Dorothy tucked her in, grabbed the coat off the floor, and closed the door behind her.
Next chapter will be posted soon hopefully, along with the more adult oriented material.