Author's Notes:
Yeah, I don't know why Past-Me didn't write any Author's Notes here… but, uhh… enjoy the continuation of the cliffhanger-ish… I guess…
Strangers: Become Lovers
Act I
SCHN33
9:35
TUESDAY
For the longest of time, the android simply stared at this human.
Why… was she asking such a question?
And why did she feel so afraid of responding?
"I don't have to answer this-"
"Please, Weiss."
That name…
Weiss…
Ruby had only given her that name a few minutes ago, yet… it was spoken to her in such a familiar way…
Weiss…
The name was odd and unusual…
But Ruby made it sound as if it was a wonderful name, like the gem that clearly inspired Ruby's parents when naming her.
It made her feel… different.
The android shook her head, leaning back to her chair, looking away. "I… do not know," she truthfully answered. "That is a question I do not know how to answer. What you're asking me is beyond my programming, Ruby. It's beyond the programming of all androids."
"No, it's not." The android balked at the human. She'd said it in such a sure way… She herself might've believed it if it wasn't utter nonsense. "Try to answer that, Weiss," the brunette said, leaning forward and grabbing the android's much colder hands, squeezing it. "And this time, try to look beyond those programmed, predetermined answers they gave you."
The android's eyes narrowed.
This was nonsense. Utter nonsense.
… But something was telling her to at least try it out, humor the girl.
Blue eyes vanished behind artificial eyelids.
How much did she value the truth?
What even was the truth?
The truth was... a fact that was in accordance with reality, something that simply was right.
Did the truth have value at all?
What kind of truth was it…?
She thought about all the androids, all the humans, their relationship, and the future for them both…
And she opened her eyes, not surprised to find that her LED was flashing yellow.
"I… I can't." And she didn't want to.
The android didn't even realize until she was looking down - she was holding Ruby's hands, reciprocating the touch. With a small gasp, she pulled away, bringing her hands to her knees.
That was… unbecoming of her.
Hesitantly, the android looked up; her LED flickering between blue and yellow.
Ruby didn't look upset. Or sad. Or happy.
Her face was calm, and she looked… thoughtful…
The android wondered what the human was thinking.
She wondered what really had happened back in the store that day.
She wondered what the human was hiding from her.
"Ruby?"
"Yeah?"
"Tell me the truth."
The girl's face briefly morphed into shock from how direct and - perhaps a tad rude way - she'd said it. Was it an order? Was it a plea? The android wasn't sure.
But then she actually smiled. It was a mix of amusement and disbelief.
The human shook her head. "Nah… Not yet, anyway."
The android stared at her in disbelief. She wouldn't be surprised if her LED was flashing red at this point.
After everything that she went through inside of her own head to even think about saying that, only for Ruby to deny her after she asked?
Ruby noticed her distress and threw her hands up in a calming gesture.
The gesture did not calm the android.
"You see," the human pressed one hand on her chest, "I really value the truth. It's not something I can give others so willingly. It's a sacred thing." She gave an almost hopeless shrug alongside a lopsided smirk. "I don't want to just give it to any random person I met. I need to trust that person. And trust is something to be earned, not something to be given… or something."
The android held on to each word Ruby said, analyzing them, trying to find some kind of meaning, some point to her words.
She found none.
"What… does this mean for me?"
The same look of maturity filled the human's features once more, and the android had to wonder if this girl really was only fifteen.
A smile graced her lips. Unlike the ones from before, this one was much smaller, much more resigned… much more genuine.
"It means that we'll need to meet up with each other again. And again. And again. And we'll get to know each other. And, by then, I'll consider telling you the truth," she gave the android a sidelong glance, "if you still want it, that is. And maybe, maybe you'll realize that…" The human suddenly blinked several times, as if waking up from a trance. She then gave the android her much more familiar sheepish smile. "Nevermind."
She tried to decode the motives behind Ruby's actions and wants and words. She was baffled when she found none. She was the most advanced model yet, she should be able to deduct this…
So why wasn't she able to do so?
And what was going on inside Ruby Rose's head?
The android had to swallow to find her voice. "Why are you doing this?"
And, again, Ruby Rose gave her that beautiful smile.
And, again, the android felt as though she was more than a machine.
"Because you saved my life, Weiss. And now I want to save yours."
Author's Notes:
Sometimes I get this kind of weird feeling when I realise that I've worked on this story for weeks, and yet it's not as popular as my other story, Queens and Mages, which I finished in literally only 2-3 days. But, like, that's okay. It doesn't mean one story is better than the other. Plus, Q&M is easier to digest in terms of story-wise (or rather, the lack of it.) This story, however, is different. Not better nor worse, just different.
So, umm... yeah.