Simon paused outside Richard's office as he gathered his courage, a tense nervousness holding him back now that he was standing at the office door. There was no sound from inside, and the silence made it even harder for him to make himself known. He threw a glance back to the living room as if giving himself more space to collect his thoughts and drew in a breath. Then he raised his hand and knocked.
For a moment, there was nothing. Simon contemplated turning away.
"Come in." Richard's voice was strained.
Simon opened the door slowly, peering inside before stepping in. Richard was seated at his desk, elbows on the surface and his hands clenched into his gray hair. When he looked up, his hazel eyes shifted from exasperation to mild surprise. Simon stood at the door, his hand resting on the handle as he gazed back at him.
"I was wondering if I could speak to you," said Simon.
Richard held his gaze, seemingly frozen on the spot. It was difficult to read his emotions, and Simon couldn't help the anxiety that raced through his core. Finally Richard motioned to the chair in front of his desk and cleared his throat.
"Sure. Come on in."
Simon moved further into the room, closing the door behind him and making an attempt to control his apprehension as he moved to the chair. As he sat down, he studied Richard quietly. Richard's expression hadn't changed although he was now leaning back in his desk chair, staring off to the side as though whatever he was thinking about was startling himself. Simon found himself remaining silent, fearing he would interrupt him. Finally Richard shifted slightly, twisting his chair and gripping his bearded chin in one hand. The look he now gave Simon was one that feigned curiosity. There was a scrutinizing glint in his eyes, and it forced Simon to rethink his approach.
He straightened in his chair as he met Richard's gaze, feeling a heavy weight sink over him. It was shocking how much control Richard seemed to have over every encounter with him as though he already knew what Simon had to say. He knew what Simon had planned to ask him first, and what he would eventually lead into. But the way Richard was looking at him now pulled him straight towards that sensitive subject. There was no point in delaying with light conversation.
Simon leaned forward slightly, tensing his eyebrows in sincerity. "I wanted to clarify what you saw yesterday afternoon."
The scrutiny in Richard's eyes intensified in the smallest degree. "You mean how you paraded my daughter around the yard like a neanderthal?"
A jolt of terror shot through Simon at the disgust in Richard's voice, and he dropped his gaze to the floor to stem some of the blow. He breathed in deeply, aware that this was something he should have expected. In a way, he also deserved it. There was only one thing their behavior could have meant, and it was that Kate had chosen Simon over her father's warnings. It was a clear and utter betrayal. A display of a complete lack of respect, and answer in the form of Simon taking Richard's daughter right in front of him. He was surprised Richard wasn't screaming at him.
There was a creak as Richard leaned forward in his chair, and Simon kept his gaze firmly locked on the floor as shame continued to course through him.
"Or how you made her happier than I've ever seen her in her whole life?"
Simon looked up, a numbness falling over him. Richard had his hands clasped together on the desk in front of him, a soft fascination lit in his hazel eyes. What he'd said had been gentle and quiet, almost thankful. Simon didn't know whether to believe it. The fact that everything in him wanted to was making it even more difficult for him to believe it.
Richard straightened and released his hands, throwing his gaze down at the surface of his desk. "I don't know what to think, Simon. I─" Richard made a noise through his nose, then looked back up at Simon, his eyes tense again. "I don't trust you. I know what you are, and I know the dangerous potential that you have. Kate won't let you go, and I can't rip her apart by taking you back to CyberLife. There's just something about you that doesn't follow the rules. It's like you bypass them as if they aren't even there. I can't figure you out."
Simon absorbed his words, glancing down to regain some of his strength. He closed his eyes, drawing up confidence. "Maybe you're not meant to," he said. He looked up at Richard who was watching him curiously. "Maybe the only way for you to truly trust me is… the natural way."
Richard tilted his head to the side, studying him with more intensity. "What way is that?"
Simon opened his mouth to speak, then decided against his initial response. He gripped the armrest of his chair and looked to the side as he fought for a way to relay his suggestion without it sounding contemptuous. It was more difficult than he thought. He broke it down into its basic parts in an attempt to emphasize his sincerity.
"We can simply get to know eachother," said Simon.
For a second, Simon felt a pang of fear as Richard's face tensed. Then Richard leaned back slightly, and his beard twitched into a smile.
"Get to know eachother…" Richard laughed, although it didn't calm Simon's nerves. "You expect me to drag out a case of beer while we what… go bowling?"
Richard was looking at Simon in a way that his smile didn't meet his eyes. Simon forced his determination to remain steady, holding his gaze. "If that's what you'd like," he said.
Richard let out a deep laugh, turning to the side as if preparing to stand up. He brought his leg up to rest on his knee and tapped a hand on the leather of his chair. Simon didn't move. He continued to watch Richard as the man looked back at him, his bearded face lit in his smile although the malice underneath it had vanished. He knew what Richard was trying to do, and he also knew that whatever happened, he couldn't allow Richard to lead him. The message was clear. All he had to do was wait for Richard to acknowledge it.
Slowly, Richard's face relaxed. He leaned back in the chair, his hazel eyes narrowing over his puzzled smile. Simon studied his face carefully, knowing he would never be able to interpret it but the need to try still overpowering him. Richard suddenly brought a hand up to his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose so that his eyebrows tensed. The man let out a deep sigh.
"I want to trust you," said Richard quietly. His voice was unusually strained, and Simon had the impression that Richard was speaking from a very vulnerable place. "I want to think you're an exception to the rule. God, if you were human… if you were human…" Richard looked up at Simon, his expression oddly soft as if he were picturing someone other than Simon sitting in front of him. "... I'd be so happy for Kate."
Simon was tempted to take the statement as a compliment. It hadn't been a direct insult. In fact, it was as close to acceptance as he'd ever heard from another human besides Kate. But the way Richard was looking at him, the energy in his posture, and how he'd worded it put Simon on edge. It made him feel inadequate. Fake. And the worst part about it was that he had every right to believe that Simon wasn't good enough, because he simply didn't want to.
A strange power burned through Simon's core, sweeping away the nervousness that had been brewing in him. It made him restless, as though his thirium was carrying too much of a charge. He placated it by leaning forward, resting his elbows on his knees and gripping his chin in one hand. The motion seemed to get Richard's attention, and Simon leaned into it further, noticing how Richard's face seemed to brighten in a slight shock. He'd seen that look before on Kate's face many times, the first being in her room when he spoke to her about Matt. He hadn't realized what he was doing then, and it had taken him months to connect the reaction to his behavior. It wasn't something that androids did. It was a human motion.
Simon held Richard's gaze, his stance giving him more confidence. "When I first met Kate, she couldn't tolerate me," said Simon. "She avoided me in every possible way. She wouldn't eat or sleep, and spent the majority of her time in her room. My protocol demanded that I establish a relationship with her in order to serve her better, especially in regards to her epilepsy. I tried every social interaction that CyberLife recommended for bonding with reluctant humans. None of them worked. She hated me even more."
Simon shifted so that he rested his hand on his knee, raising his head slightly. "Then one day she gave me an order. Not a conflicting order, but…" Simon tilted his head and glanced to the side. "It required me to bend certain CyberLife restrictions. Her particular request meant that I needed to make changes to my programming. As in I needed to disregard it."
Richard's face had been growing more focused as he listened to him. Simon drew in a breath and continued on. "It's because of that order that I am what I am. It's caused unimaginable damage, but also created so much good. It hasn't failed me yet, even after everything we've been through."
Simon was silent for a moment as he looked at Richard, analyzing him for some kind of response. Richard only gazed back, somewhat frozen as if pushing for an answer. Simon finally straightened, resting his hands on his knees.
"She asked me to be openly honest with her," said Simon. "And for me to tell her what I thought of her, even if it made her angry."
Richard let out a breath of air through his nose, his expression unchanging. Simon watched him apprehensively as Richard threw a glance to the side, the corner of his mouth tensing as if he were trying to avoid a scowl. "So you think telling me your opinion of me is going to make me trust you?"
Simon cocked his head to one side, narrowing his eyes at him. "I wouldn't presume to know so much about you, Mr. Hayes. But what I do know is that I respect you, both as a person and as a threat." Richard's eyes met his again, and Simon felt his thirium pump stutter at the intense look Richard was giving him. "But you've been kind to me, and more importantly, you've been honest," Simon continued. "I understand your concerns even if I choose not to appease them. I hope you'll accept this as open honesty when I say─" Simon found himself hitching, and forced himself to speak. "─ when I say I'm in love with your daughter, and if you think that isn't good enough for her simply because I'm not a human then with all due respect, you can go fuck yourself."
The silence that fell over the office was agonizing. It took every ounce of Simon's power to keep his gaze firmly locked on Richard's. The man's eyes had grown wider, a fierce spark lighting them under his gray eyebrows which were only slightly tensed. His mild expression only gave it more fury. It should have been terrifying. It should have stopped the thirium cold in Simon's chest. Instead, Simon felt himself thriving on it. Incorporating it into his own reaction which was to return Richard's expression back at him. It didn't matter what Richard thought of him. He knew he would never convince him of his worth. But he could at least make it difficult for Richard to accept that Simon was still nothing more than an assembly of biocomponents.
Richard looked to the side and sat up straight as if to respond, but remained quiet. Simon didn't move. He held his gaze, clenching his hands on his knees. He knew the danger he was putting himself in. He knew he shouldn't be disturbing the waters. Anxiety and determination battled eachother for superiority, neither of them wanting to mix. As the seconds went by, he found himself desperately wanting Richard to respond. Words were easier to deal with. Silence was torture.
Finally Richard looked back at him, his eyebrows narrowed but his face tensed in what Simon recognized as a pensive expression rather than anger. Richard shook his head slowly. "You know if a man said that to me, I'd punch him in his god damn mouth."
Simon leaned back in his chair and crossed a leg over his knee, folding his arms over his chest. Richard's pensive look morphed into curiosity again.
"Are you suggesting we fight over this?" said Simon.
Richard's eyes widened. The anxiety bit at Simon's chest as he frantically wondered if he'd finally crossed the line.
Richard barked into loud laughter and his head went down to fall onto his palm as he hunched over his desk. Simon could only watch in stunned disbelief, the thirium racing through his chest. His system struggled to settle on a reaction as Richard straightened somewhat, rubbing his eyes with one hand and still laughing. When Richard looked back up, Simon's heart leapt. Richard's hazel eyes had regained their warmth, his smile genuine under his thick gray beard. The joy on his face was something that automatically spurred a familiar celebration in Simon's mind. He felt it influencing his own emotion, and his anxiety faded a bit.
Richard slowly raised himself, running a hand over his beard and resting back against the chair and still giving Simon that warm smile. He waved his hand. "Maybe we should just stick to bowling."
Simon let out a small breath of laughter and smiled. Part of him was still defensively cautious, but for the first time he felt a subtle safety in Richard's presence as if a barrier had been lifted revealing a grand but pleasant truth on the other side. It was a strange relief, and also sparked an inquisitive optimism towards him. Suddenly it felt like there were so many more possibilities before them. A chance for Simon to truly understand who this man was, and perhaps explore a means of proving himself to him. He didn't know why he felt the need to. But now that he had drawn this reaction from him, it seemed so much more important.
Simon relaxed in his seat, appreciating how unusually powerful he felt, as if he held as much authority as the man sitting in front of him. "I'd like that."
Richard's smile widened, and he tapped his hand on the surface of the desk again. His face tensed again as though he were thinking, and then he raised his eyes to Simon's. "So what did you tell Kate? When you told her what you thought of her."
Simon glanced to the side, pulling up the memories that seemed much older than they really were. He looked back at Richard, condensing it down more succinctly. "I called her a bitch."
This time Richard fell forward completely on his desk as he laughed uncontrollably. Simon couldn't help his own laughter as he pressed his forehead into his palm, leaning sideways in his chair. Somehow Richard's own laughter seemed to be fueling his own, and his shoulders shook as he clenched his eyes shut, his body convulsing in automatic waves as he laughed into his hand. It shouldn't have been this amusing. This was completely inappropriate. But at the same time, it felt absolutely necessary.
It took him a moment for him to realize the door had been thrown open next to him. He struggled to force his laughter under control which was difficult considering Richard was still laughing, and he lowered his hand.
Kate stood in the doorway, Clark standing partly behind her with one hand pressed against his face. She looked back and forth between Simon and her father, her eyes narrowed in confusion. Richard was slowly recovering, finally sitting up straight and running a hand over his face. The obvious question practically radiated from Kate's body.
She looked towards Simon, and he was aware of his own residual amusement although there didn't seem to be any point in hiding it. She opened her mouth and made a sound, then closed it again as she threw the same questioning glare at her father. Simon rested his cheek against his fist as he watched her visible thought process. Finally, she pointed at the android behind her.
"Your psycho step-daughter broke his face off," she said bluntly.
For a moment, no one spoke. Richard stared at Kate, his face still red from laughter and the smile still pulling at his face. From where Simon sat, he could only just make out Clark's form behind Kate's body as the android tried to look left and right, his hand still pressed to his face.
Richard let out a snort and stood up from his chair. "God damn it, Taylor…"
Simon stood as well, and he was able to see the lines of blue which were trailing down along the android's forehead and nose. His amusement faded as he moved forward, the damage becoming clearer. There were two gashes on the left side of Clark's face, the white plastic exposed in patches around them surrounded by a ring of blue. His face seemed oddly detached, as though it were merely a mask.
Richard sighed as he leaned left and right, analyzing Clark's face. Simon glanced between them, the seriousness of the situation beginning to sink in.
"What did you say to her this time?" said Richard as he gripped Clark's chin to turn his head slightly sideways.
"I was discouraging her from taking another android to her meeting," said Clark. His jaw clicked oddly as he spoke. "This time, she took your AP700. An expensive model."
Richard shook his head as he took a step back. "The android she had with her? That's not one of ours." His eyes tensed slightly as he gazed at Clark. "Didn't you know that?"
Clark blinked, and Simon watched curiously as the android's LED spun yellow. "I… must not have updated my database."
"Well, with cranial damage like this, it's no wonder you probably aren't able to process information very well." Richard touched Clark's head carefully. "I'll patch it in place, and you should refill your thirium. Then I guess─" He sighed and rubbed his eyes with one hand. "─back to CyberLife again. I'm really sorry about this, Clark."
"No need for apologies, sir."
"Back to CyberLife," said Kate. She had been leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed. She narrowed her eyes at her father. "How often does she do this?"
Richard's expression didn't change, but Simon could see the tension in his shoulders. "That's not really your concern, Kate." He placed a hand on Clark's shoulder as he began to guide him out of the room. "I'll be right back. I'm getting sort of good at this."
Kate moved slightly out of the way to stand next to Simon, throwing him a frustrated glance. He wasn't sure he was quite ready to answer her questions yet. The way she was looking at him was warning him of the interrogation she was about to deliver for him. Before he had a chance to even begin to prepare for it, Richard's head suddenly poked back into the room.
"Actually, as long as I'm doing this, why don't we fix that eyebrow of yours?" said Richard. "I have to get my tools out anyway."
Simon was taken aback by the suggestion. He opened his mouth to reply, but paused to look at Kate. Her eyes were lit in surprise, although he could see she was making some attempt to hide the sorrow lined in them. He couldn't help his own nervousness. Since Richard had first mentioned it to Kate, Simon hadn't brought up the subject again. It was obvious that she didn't seem to want his eyebrow to be fixed despite how the blue crack seemed to draw up bitter resentment in her. He didn't like to see the self-hatred in her expression. At the same time, removing it felt like he was taking away some kind of closure for her. As if she needed to see it as a reminder for how difficult things had been between them in the past.
Kate turned to look at him, her eyes locked on his eyebrow. That pained expression was growing stronger now, filling Simon with helplessness. He knew what she was about to say. He also knew it wouldn't make any sense, no matter how she would argue it. This was her internal battle. Her own personal punishment. A way for her to apologize to him every time she looked at him. He could see it in the way her eyebrows tensed as they did now, a melancholy light in her hazel eyes and her mouth slightly open as she lost herself in her thoughts. A visual copy of how he'd felt that morning when he was sitting on her bed and she'd suddenly pulled him in to press her mouth to his forehead.
He shifted slightly, a powerful strength flowing through him as he gained her attention. Then he looked at Richard. "Sure. Thank you, that's a good idea."
Richard nodded and then moved back out of the room. Simon began to follow, feeling Kate's shocked gaze on him. He felt her touch his arm as he moved by her.
"Simon…"
He quickly pressed his hand to the side of her neck, throwing her a focused gaze as he ran his thumb along her cheek. Her pained expression instantly softened as though she'd lost her breath.
"Trust me," he said quietly. She lightly pressed a hand to the back of his, then followed behind him as he gently pulled his hand away.
They moved in silence up the stairs and to the workshop which was flooded with bright golden light. Clark moved to the end of the workbench as though this was normal routine, and Richard opened the drawer of a tool chest, sifting through it noisily. Simon watched in interest, leaning carefully with his hands on the edge of the bench as Kate moved next to him. She was unusually close to him, her arm brushing against his as she leaned forward to rest on her elbows, and he could tell by her posture that she didn't care if it looked suspicious. Had Simon not spoken with her father earlier, he would have immediately moved away. Instead he took advantage of this strange new armistice, a gentle peace flowing through him at such a light show of affection in front of what had been terrible danger.
Richard worked carefully on Clark's face, his hazel eyes narrowed in concentration as he wielded a sleek 3D pen. "I'm going to need more filament at this rate," Richard muttered.
"I can─" There was a light snap and Clark's face swung sideways. Both the android and the human jolted quickly to catch it.
"Yes, you can pick up more on your way back," said Richard as he pressed Clark's face back on properly. Simon watched curiously as the flesh color of Clark's face drained and returned over and over.
"So is he just Taylor's personal punching bag?" said Kate. Simon tilted his head in her direction to see that she was staring at the android, her eyes narrowed.
Richard let out a frustrated sigh. "It's complicated, Kate. You wouldn't under─"
"She cut his fucking face off, dad," said Kate. "With a knife. And I'm assuming that android she took with her is going to be perfectly fine?"
"Kate, I'm not going to try to explain it to you." Richard paused what he was doing to twist towards her, throwing her a fierce glare. "This is between Taylor, her mother, and I. And it happens to be a very sensitive topic so please…" He waved his hand, his eyes growing tense with a strange discomfort that Simon didn't think Richard was even capable of. "Leave it for now. Okay?"
Kate made a sound, then turned her head away so that her hair fell over her shoulder. Simon looked in between them, noting the turbulence that now hung in the air. Clark seemed to have noticed as well, his eyes darting to Kate before settling back on Richard.
"I apologize for being the source of your disagreement," said Clark. "I should not have instigated a confrontation with Taylor."
Richard let out a soft breath as he turned back to Clark. "Don't apologize. It wasn't your fault. It never has been, really." Richard threw a quick glance over his shoulder in Simon's direction. "Would you mind grabbing a pack of thirium? It's in the crate behind you."
Simon straightened at suddenly being addressed and turned, noting the white crate with the CyberLife logo. He moved to it and opened the lid, releasing a cloud of mist along with a rush of cold air. The crate was filled with a sizeable stash of thirium bags, neatly organized into practical stacks. There was enough here that he wasn't able to immediately count them all. He felt a small wave of confidence as he retrieved one of the bags and closed the lid, moving back to the table and setting it down next to them.
Richard set the 3D pen down and leaned in to analyze Clark's face. The holes were now filled with white lumpy plastic, and his face was stitched on with strategic lines along his hairline and jaw. Clark looked in Simon's direction as if seeking his approval to Richard's handiwork. Simon gave him an encouraging smile.
"Alright, try not to talk too much," said Richard as he moved back, resting sideways against the bench. He looked back at Simon, his eyebrows raised. "Are you ready?"
Simon tensed his shoulders slightly, for the first time a nervous energy gripping him. He threw a glance at Kate who was now looking at him with a subtle fascination, the corners of her mouth pulling and a bright light in her eyes. It was a welcoming trade from the shame she usually showed in regards to his eyebrow. He turned back to Richard who was opening a small white plastic bag. "Where do you need me?" said Simon.
"Right there is fine," said Richard as he approached him. "It's just a replacement panel. No mechanics or components." He set a white curved piece of plastic on the table next to him and carefully analyzed Simon's face. Simon had to force himself not to automatically move backward. It was somewhat disconcerting having Richard only inches from him. He was able to see in greater detail the man's sharp features and his eyes which were unnervingly similar to Kate's, not only in terms of shape but also in color and expression. Simon looked to the side, finding some comfort in being able to focus away from him.
Richard let out a sigh. "The hardest part is always getting the damn panel off." He brought up a small black tool with a tiny metal hook on one end, prodding at Simon's forehead. "Any damage and there go the clips. Like replacing a fender on a car. Skin please."
It took a moment for Simon to realize what Richard had said. He straightened, about to simply let the flesh texture wash away when he heard movement behind him. A painful hesitation held him back, coming from a deep part of him he didn't know he had. He didn't need to look to know that Kate was standing next to him, watching him. Though with what, he wasn't able to tell. It took everything in him not to first look at her before he pressed his finger to his temple, closing his eyes and drawing his skin away.
Richard immediately moved in, his hazel eyes narrowed as he plucked at the panel above Simon's eye. Simon's heart raced as Richard worked, a desperate need to see what Kate was doing making him restless.
"This will be the first thing I bring up tomorrow," said Richard as he quickly twisted to pick up another tool, tilting sideways and digging at the panel with one tool in each hand. "Better locking mechanics for broken─" There was a snap, and the plastic panel sprang off of Simon's face, clattering to the floor.
Simon looked down at it. Richard let out a soft laugh. "Well, that was easier than I thought it'd be." Richard turned back toward the table, and Simon unwittingly felt a debilitating wave of anxiety. He turned his head slowly to gaze at Kate.
Her shoulders were drawn up, one arm wrapped around herself and the other resting on it as she touched her mouth in contemplation. Her mouth was covered, but her eyes were focused on his in the most intensity he had ever seen them. There was no fear or shock in them. And he realized after a while that she wasn't analyzing his face. She was locked onto his eyes, that strange energy growing brighter with every moment that passed. He tried desperately to identify it. To let it fill him so that he would have some idea of what she was feeling. Before it could sink in, Richard turned back to him. Simon straightened again, his nervousness somewhat worse than it was before.
"Easy part," said Richard, holding up the new plastic panel. He pressed it above Simon's eye and it clicked into place. Richard leaned back, his beard twitching to the side as he gazed at him. "I ought to charge CyberLife for this."
Simon quickly reactivated his skin, feeling slightly more revitalized. He touched his eyebrow and was stunned by the new solid feel of it. With a smaller degree of trepidation, he looked back at Kate. She had lowered her hand just under her chin, her eyes still lit with the same intensity, but now he could see her mouth. It was tensed in a familiar way that brought a distant thrill to him. He was suddenly drawn back to that moment in the hallway when he'd first let himself fall into the complicated mystery emotion, and she had turned back to look at him. He still didn't quite understand it. It wasn't enough to completely reassure him. But it was oddly relieving, and he willed himself to accept it.
Richard stepped back, collecting his tools off the bench and throwing Simon another analytical smile. "Try to stay away from flying metal objects if you can," said Richard before moving back to the tool chest. "Be sure to get some white filament, Clark. 'Flesh tone' doesn't exactly pass for flesh."
"Of course," said Clark.
There was a sliding of metal drawers as Simon gazed down at the floor. A strange apprehension gripped him as he knelt down and picked up the broken panel which was still a sleek and shiny white. As he stood, he saw Kate move closer to him out of the corner of his vision. He looked up at her, and his thirium pump quickened at the expression on her face. She stared at the panel in his hand, her hazel eyes narrowed and her eyebrows tensed in a conflicting mix of emotions. She didn't look at him as she carefully took it from him, turning it slowly in her hand.
"Let me know if you have any problems with it," said Richard as the man moved to the door. Simon was hardly paying attention when he noticed Clark following him. Simon straightened, a frantic jolt flowing through his body.
"Thank you, Richard," he said quickly. "Clark, can I speak to you a moment?"
The android paused and turned in the doorway, and Simon saw Kate look up at him. He threw an acknowledging glance at her before he moved forward, breathing deeply to settle his nerves. Clark watched him with what appeared to be a hint of puzzlement, although Simon wasn't sure if the damage was contributing to his lack of expression.
Simon made a quick check of the doorway to be sure that Richard had left, then turned back towards Clark. "I understand you're going to CyberLife for repairs. Can you acquire a specific biocomponent for me?"
Clark tilted his head slightly, and this time Simon was able to interpret the confusion on his face. "Are you damaged?"
Simon shook his head. "This isn't for my model. I need biocomponent #7391j for an AP700 male android. Can you get it?"
"May I ask why?"
Simon let out a soft breath as he felt Kate move next to him. He gathered himself, struggling to work around the situation. "Would it affect your decision to bring me the component if I didn't give you an explanation?"
Clark's LED flashed yellow for a moment. He tilted his head to the side. "That's an expensive component for an advanced android. If I'm going to make the time as well as spend Mr. Hayes' money on it, I will at least need to know why I'm doing it."
"I'd like you to do it because I'm asking you to," said Simon. "I can't give you any other reason than that."
"I can't accept that reasoning," said Clark. His eyes narrowed, and Simon felt a subtle dread. "If the component isn't for your model and you won't give me a logical explanation for needing it, then I'm afraid I can't be compelled to make that kind of financial decision merely at the request of an android."
"I want it," said Kate.
Both androids looked at her. Simon felt a wave of shock at her determined expression, her arms folded across her chest. She gazed at Clark expectantly.
Clark seemed to struggle for a moment. "I─ I'm sorry, Ms. Hayes. I wasn't aware that you were the one making the request. I'll be sure to deliver it to you when I return." The android threw another quick glance at Simon who was no longer making an attempt to hide his surprise. Then Clark turned and moved out of the workshop.
Simon's shock shifted into relief as he rested his shoulder against the doorframe. He ran a hand over his face, noting again how different it felt now that the sharp crack on his eyebrow was gone. When he straightened, he was suddenly hit with a wash of nervousness. Kate was leaning against the wall, her arms still folded across her chest and her gaze narrowed as she studied him. Simon lowered his hands slowly, the weight of what was about to happen nearly breaking him. He was terrified of where she would start. There were so many things he was supposed to tell her but the morning had gone completely unexpected. She had been left in the dark for most of it, and he could almost sense the frustration energizing the air around her.
"So you remember that question deal we made?" The bluntness of her voice practically tore his system apart. She tilted her head to the side, her eyes gaining a fierce spark. "I'm making good on that. Why am I getting a biocomponent, what did you talk to my dad about, why did you suddenly decide to get your eyebrow fixed without talking to me first, and what the hell did you want to show me?"
Simon's heart was pounding. He dropped his gaze to the floor, struggling to speak. He hadn't realized how aggravated he'd made her. This hadn't been something he wanted to turn into some kind of secret, and he certainly hadn't meant to make so many decisions on his own. His attempt to make this easier had only made it undeniably worse. The familiar overwhelming guilt crept over him again, and he couldn't bear to make an attempt to explain it to her. He was doing it again─ making things unnecessarily complicated and letting her down. It was a skill that despite his proficiency at, wasn't showing any signs of improving.
Something touched his face, and he looked up. Kate was gazing at him, her eyes bright and focused as she pressed her hand against his cheek. A numbness ignited his body. She no longer looked angry or upset with him, but her face was lined with a powerful concern. Her mouth opened slightly as she brought her other hand up to grasp either side of his neck, running her thumbs along his cheeks. The sensation swept away the horrible shame, and Simon felt his body relax.
"Hey…" Kate moved into him, and Simon closed his eyes as he let out a breath, tilting his head against her as she pressed her mouth to his temple. Automatically, he gripped her waist, holding her gently as her nose drifted down his cheek. When she moved back in front of him, a small smile was pulling at her lips, her eyes still lit in concern although they now filled him with encouragement.
Her thumbs brushed his cheeks again, and the corner of her mouth rose as her hazel eyes flicked between his. "Talk to me."
Simon couldn't help but let out a small laugh, his confidence growing slightly. He glanced down as he worked to put his thoughts in order. He understood what she was trying to do, and he also knew there was no point in fretting about it. There was no easy way to say this, no matter how hard he tried to make everything streamlined. The more he organized difficult situations, the more he simply prolonged the inevitable. And made everything unnecessarily stressful in the process.
He drew in a deep breath, raising his head and meeting her eyes. "Matt's android Seph is hiding in the boat house."
Kate's expression didn't change. Simon watched her carefully, the silence almost deafening. However, the longer he watched her, the more he noticed that her eyes were widening, and her face became tense. Not much time had passed before she was now staring at him in shocked disbelief, her body frozen in a kind of terror.
Simon didn't move. He was too nervous to speak. He felt that if he made any kind of indication towards her that she would explode. He continued to meet her gaze, fighting the dread that was threatening to creep up on him again. The damage had already been done. This was the only thing he could do to rectify the situation. He wished he could have done better, but this seemed to be the only thing that had felt right all morning long.
Kate looked to the side, the bewilderment set in her face. "Wha─" She cut herself off with a noise, clenching her mouth shut and the tense disbelief returning again. Simon could almost see the torrent of questions running through her mind, and the pauses in energy in her eyes as she seemed to answer them herself. He waited quietly, accepting the fate he'd carved for himself though allowing himself to hope that the result would be more mild than he feared. She needed time. He would give her an eternity if she asked for it.
She dropped her shoulders, and her eyes met his again. There was less disbelief in them now and more surprise. It was almost as if she were forcing herself to accept what he'd said without further questions. He continued to watch her, waiting for some kind of reaction that he could follow up with.
Finally her gaze softened, and she shifted as she brought her hand up to the right side of his face, pressing her palm against him and gently running her thumb over his now complete eyebrow. He leaned into her hand, his gaze locked on hers. The touch of her hand was startlingly passionate, her movements slow and careful. It was as if she was channeling every warm and tender sensation she could manage to him through her palm, and Simon couldn't help but wonder if she'd learned this from him.
Her hand drew away, bringing reality back to him. He watched as she leaned slightly sideways past him. She swung her arm, and Simon only just had a glimpse of the broken component of his eyebrow sailing through the air before it disappeared into a waste bin with a loud crack.
Kate let out a deep sigh, meeting Simon's eyes again. She shrugged her shoulders, biting her lip as if to fake a sideways smile. "Well, let's go."
