Grabbing a pair of clean black pants and a white shirt I dropped them on the bed, wandering the small bedroom before I reached a drawer beside my bed. Leaning over I slid one of the draws out and after a quick search I found where I had left my clean underwear.

Picking up a matching pair of sky blue underpants and a bra I pushed the drawer closed, picking up the shirt and pants on the way to the bathroom. I found myself whistling just a few minutes later and once I set down the clean clothes on the bathtub I reached for the taps directly under the showerhead.

I fiddled with the taps now humming to myself as I adjusted the water until it was hot enough without being scalding. With the water set the way I liked it I began to peel off my clothes the jeans sliding from me first before the shirt followed, my underwear next.

Though as I reached for my gloves I hesitated that same flash of memory making my shoulders tremble before I swallowed, carefully pulling the gloves off exposing faint scar tissue that formed jagged lines around my left and right wrists.

Distracted by the still healing wounds I didn't hear someone calling me until Alex poked his head into the bathroom, a frying pan clutched in one hand. "Kiara, I wasn't sure if you like bacon so I thought..." Alex trailed off, the cheery smile on his face fading as he stared at me. When I finally turned around I slowly blinked my scarred hands forgotten when I realized I was standing in front of my new android companion naked.

"Alex!" I shouted as I dived for a clean towel. Wrapping it hurriedly around my body I narrowed my eyes at the android until he finally snapped out of whatever had caused his frozen state. "You don't just walk in on someone having a shower." I snapped at him and he gave me a smile that I usually returned. Though I froze in the middle of a smile when I remembered I only had a towel keeping me covered.

"I am sorry but I did not know that. That was not part of my programming but I will make sure to update my protocols in case this situation happens again." Alex told me the blue circle on his temple glowing for a few seconds before he blinked at me.

"Look I'm sorry I snapped at you. I'm so used to living alone that I don't bother to lock the door." I answered and he nodded at me, that same cheery smile on his face. "I meant to tell you I love bacon. Thanks for cooking for me." I added and he grinned, leaving via the still open doorway though I noticed that he made sure to close the door. Shaking my head I returned the towel to the rack, stepping into the shower stall.

When I walked into the kitchen now dressed in a shirt and pants I found Alex humming to himself as he dropped bacon from the frying pan onto a plate on the kitchen counter, a set of cultary beside it. Hearing my stomach rumble at the sight of crispy bacon and I noticed several pieces of toast I grinned, hurrying over while Alex dropped the frying pan in the sink.

"It looks great," I pointed out, taking a deep breath through my nose before I added, "and it smells even better."

Taking a seat at the counter I grabbed the knife and fork only pausing when Alex stood at the other side, watching me with his arms behind his back. "You know you're allowed to sit." I pointed out and he gave me a nod moving to sit until I brushed my hand over the chair closest to me. "Here's good."

Looking at me with slightly raised eyebrows Alex took the chair that I offered and after he was seated he watched with interest as I tore into my food resembling something like a starving animal.

When I finally leant back setting my cultery down like a civilized person despite acting nothing like one I noticed at Alex's eyes were focused on my hands and I blinked, quickly glancing down only to freeze when I realized I'd left my gloves back in the bathroom.

"Those wounds. Where did you get them?" Alex asked not even blinking as I rested my hands on my lap. Noticing the way my cheeks lit up he tilted his head to one side while his eyes moved to mine. "Is there something that you wish to tell me?"

"Not really, Alex." I responded and he sighed, climbing from the chair before he began to silently take away my dishes. He didn't even look up when I climbed from my own chair until I lightly tapped him on the shoulder and he turned his head slightly, his focusing moving from washing the dishes to my face. "If you really want to know meet me in the lounge room in five minutes." I told him, moving towards the hallway before Alex had a chance to open his mouth.

Alex just watched as I made my way slowly towards the living room, my hands tucked into my jeans so he couldn't see the wounds on my hands anymore. Even if he could scan them I was too far away and with a head shake he quickly finished washing the dishes before he followed me.

I had just sat on one side of a well-worn couch when I heard light footsteps and I looked up with a weak smile to see Alex standing over me. He didn't move until I motioned to the couch and with a slight pause he sat inches from me. Taking a deep breath I focused on what I would tell him before I opened my mouth, the words lost in my throat as my mind flashed back to the night I'd received my scars.

Seeing me swallow and my eyes widen Alex kept silent as my breathing quickened. After watching me for several seconds he opened his mouth to speak until I managed to find my voice and the words came spilling out.

"Two months ago it happened. I was walking home after getting groceries from the twenty-four convinence store when someone jumped me. It was a man in his late thirties and before I had time to recover he pulled out a knife, threatening to cut me if I didn't hand over my wallet. Shaking badly I managed to pull out all the money I had but he snarled at me, said it wasn't enough and I protested that I'd spent most of it buying the groceries he'd knocked out of my hands. Growling at me he slashed at my face with the knife and I brought my hands up, trying to defend myself. He cut my hands up so badly I screamed from the pain and sight of my blood that splattered the pavement." I coughed, not realizing I was crying until something warm struck my hands and I lifted my right hand to find my cheeks wet.

"If two androids hadn't heard my screams...I probably wouldn't be here. They defended me, forcing my attacker to flee straight into passing traffic. I...don't know what happened to him but I heard sirens and when two police officers came running I noticed the androids were gone. I remember getting driven to the hospital and having my hands stitched up before I gave a statement. I tried to leave my apartment two days later but after I had barely stepped through the open doorway I started to cry, seeing that night clearly in my mind and I quickly slammed the door shut locking it before I slid to the floor. Ever since then I can't leave without seeing his face and that blade." I finished, panting a little as my heart pounded in my chest. "I know no one else can see my scars but I don't like to see them either."

"Kiara, I..." Alex started before he noticed that I'd gone silent and as he watched on I began to sob. He wasn't sure what to do so he scanned through his programming, looking for the answer until I shifted forward. When I buried my face in his chest he froze as I sobbed louder, my arms wrapping around his back. A little awkwardly Alex wrapped his arms around me as I sobbed, words failing him as the blue circle on his temple glowed yellow.