Hmmmmm, just a little ZOE time. Enjoy!
"Go." Her voice gargled. Two guards left her side, their robotic footsteps clunking away. Her mind whirred with irritation and she lifted her arms from her sides, crossing them across her chest.
Jarvis was standing in front of CLU's chamber, blocking her from entering. ZOE smiled under her helmet, knowing that the program was envious of her relationship with his master. CLU never summoned or dismissed her like he did Jarvis.
"Master CLU is occupied." He smirked, thinking his words hindered her actions. Occupied. He should know better by now. She strode forward, debating whether or not to strike Jarvis across the face. Violence seemed so tempting, especially today. The construction on the grid was grinding her nerves and the incompetence of the guard wasn't helping.
"Out of my way." She growled. Jarvis set his jaw.
"He is not to be—" Her hand moved like lightening, whipping across his face. He knew that CLU's orders of solitude did not apply to her, yet he had the gall to stand in her way. CLU's laugh was muted through the door, her slap echoing in the hall. Jarvis looked up at ZOE, holding his mouth. The disgust on her face wasn't apparent but her message was clear.
"Let her in." CLU chuckled, the door silently opening to reveal his dark room. Jarvis ducked to the side, anger clouding his eyes. ZOE wasn't satisfied. Her fist flew to his throat, gripping around it harshly. He didn't respect her, but he would.
"Out. Of. My. Way." She repeated, her voice dipping lower than normally possible. Her fingers dug into his flesh and he squirmed, terror replacing the disdain in his eyes.
"I uck— apolo—gize." Jarvis choked out, his hands writhing uselessly at his sides. ZOE grinned. Her hold disappeared and she pushed him away as he gasped for air. CLU chuckled again and she entered the darkness, the door closing promptly behind her.
Her suit lit the room as she walked through. The normally glowing walls were black, leaving her the sole beacon in a sea of shadow. CLU's chamber was a long yet narrow room and it ended on a raised platform. His bed engulfed the entire back of the room, large enough for five programs to stretch out over its surface. She retracted her helmet as she approached his dark figure.
He didn't speak, but motioned her forward, smiling softly. Her irritation from the day evaporated when he smiled like that. He made all of her exhaustion worth it. This smile was reserved just for her. CLU was forced to maintain his authority everywhere else, to everyone else. Not to her. Here, just the two of them, he could show her his pleasure and his pain.
She gazed down at his form, CLU's skin bare. The sheet fell just above his waist and he sat forward, his legs bent on the mattress. ZOE slipped a knee up and over the soft fabric and felt her body relax. The cool material was a blessing after a long day of endless work. She stretched out over the bed and crawled into CLU's arms. He hugged her to him and she nuzzled his chest, already drifting into a lethargic hum. A finger looped under her neck and ZOE shivered as all the material fell away, following CLU's trail down her side. His bare hands wrapped around her naked torso and pulled her closer, cradling her like a treasure.
ZOE closed her eyes and hummed against him. On the grid, she was strong and harsh; here she was docile and feminine. The sheet slowly slipped up her thighs and CLU pulled her down, nestling her against his shoulder.
"I think he's growing jealous." CLU teased softly, settling his chin on top of her head. ZOE groaned.
"He has no purpose." She said dismissively. ZOE wrapped her arms tighter around CLU's chest, hoping he would drop the subject. She disliked Jarvis and she knew that, no matter what her complaints, the program would always be lurking at CLU's left side. A soft sigh emitted from her lover's lips and it jolted ZOE from her thoughts. She raised her head and studied CLU's face.
"Does my treatment of Jarvis displease you?" His eyes were closed and his forehead was slacked in a look of sadness.
"No." He mumbled, rubbing a hand up and down her arm. ZOE knotted her brow and touched the middle of his chest. His eyes opened and she cocked her head. His gaze was dull and pained, his blue irises missing their warm glow. She rubbed her palm over his pecks, recalling the only true source of frustration for CLU.
"Flynn." She whispered, lowering her gaze to his skin. CLU closed his eyes and she rested her head under his chin once again. She listened to his pulse, running her hand back and forth with tenderness and understanding.
Only a millicycle ago, CLU and Flynn had traveled to the outskirts to plan another construction, ZOE staying behind in the city. When they'd returned, they were followed by hundreds of programs. The creator had been wild with excitement, claiming they were new, free-forming algorithms that he'd never seen before. ZOE was confused by the notion and had not known how to react to this news. They were unlike anything she'd ever encountered, coming out of the outlands like aliens in their world. That night, CLU had been crestfallen, the feeling of inadequacy and jealousy eating at him like wildfire. He didn't understand these beings so he didn't trust them.
"He has named them." CLU murmured. His hand drifted to her hair and his fingers ran through it, absentmindedly petting. His voice was soft but his chest still rumbled under her body. "He calls them, ISO's." She rubbed her face against his neck. "He spends all his time studying their code, asking them questions." He continued, the pain in his voice increasing with each confession. She hugged him closer, aware of the hurt Flynn inflicted on her leader. Comforting him was impossible, his voice getting bitter as he spoke. "Nothing is progressing." ZOE kissed his jaw, looping a leg around one of his. She wanted to relieve the source of his frustration, but for now she could only offer compassion.
"We will continue. You have always overcome his delays." She whispered, turning his head so she could reach his mouth. His kissed her gently, molding her into his chest with his strong arms. He flipped to lay on her body and scooted down, resting his head on her stomach. She smiled at him and ran her fingers through his hair. CLU placed the side of his face on her ribs, his arms wrapped around her waist. ZOE cooed at him.
"You will make the system perfect. You have done so without him before." He glanced up at her and frowned.
"They have no purpose, yet he allows them to delay our ultimate goal." ZOE grinned gently.
"If we eliminated every program without purpose, I would have ended Jarvis many cycles ago." CLU snorted and relaxed, his frown dissipating. She stroked his cheek. "Yet we somehow manage productivity with him around." He laughed softly into her stomach and she smiled, happy she'd lifted his spirits, if only for a moment. Out on the grid, they couldn't afford emotion. But in this bed, intertwined in each other's arms, they were allowed happiness, however brief. His lips made a loud smack on her skin as he kissed her playfully, sliding up to meet her mouth. He kissed her deeply and she let her eyes close.
CLU rolled to his side and held her to him, never breaking their embrace. They forgot the grid and celebrated each other. ZOE inhaled his scent and her heart leapt with joy. She belonged to him and he to her. They were going to spend eternity creating their perfect world but all she needed, all she wanted, was CLU.
Sleep started to tug at ZOE and she faded, growing heavy in CLU's arms. He held her close and stroked her face, ending their kiss with a peck on her nose. She squeezed him momentarily then her breathing slowed as she fell into sleep mode.
A little glance of happy. =) I thought I owed you that much. The calm before the storm, if you will. Leave me something.