[[In between chapters with actual plot-advancing information, i'll post little bits to tide you guys over. Most of these will be elaborations on canon headcanons from theshippingturtle and others. Please enjoy!]]
"Hold still!" Jay put both hands on Tim's shoulders to steady him. He had been fidgeting and craning his neck around to see what Jay was doing for the past 20 minutes and it was making it extremely difficult to connect the wires he wanted connected.
"Well you're taking forever!" He turned to face forward, slouching slightly. "And I have no idea what you're actually doing, so I'm kind of nervous ok?"
Jay sighed and began working again. "Listen, I'm installing a separate battery for the nerves I'm about to put in. Once you can feel, you'll be able to feel pain too and if I have to open you up and repair something, I can disconnect the battery so that it won't hurt. Now, this involves using tiny screws and working with exposed wires, and if you keep fidgeting like this, I'm going to wind up - OW!"
Tim had turned his neck back again, causing Jay's hand to connect with a bare piece of wire and singing the skin on his fingertip. He felt tears springing up to his eyes as he blew on the new burn, which was already beginning to blister, trying to cool it down.
"Oh my God! Jay, I'm so sorry!" Tim spun around completely, grabbing Jay's wrist so that he could see the burn better.
"No, it's fine, I'll just run it under cold-"
"Oh God it's blistering, Jay I'm so sorry."
"Tim, it's fine!" Jay yanked his wrist free and immediately regretted doing so. Thin lines of steam had begun to pour from the corners of Tim's mouth. Little wisps were escaping from the cracks between various joints.
"You literally just told me to stop moving and I moved anyway. I feel like such an ass."
"No, Tim, it's fine. Look, the swelling's already going down and it's getting less red!" The words tumbled over one another as Jay tried to sound comforting. He was at the sink now, running cold water over the wound. Cursing under his breath, he wrapped his finger in a bit of cloth and rushed back over to Tim.
"Listen, babe, calm down-"
"Babe?"
"Er..."
"Really, Jay?" His voice was slightly distorted and the steam was starting to get worse. "I'm not a baby, I'm apparently a pretty dangerous mis-"
"YOU'RE NOT A MISTAKE." Jay stood suddenly and grabbed Tim's shoulders, surprising him with the strength of his grip. He remembered what Alex had said when he first picked up this project and it made his stomach hurt.
You're not a mistake. Sentient robots don't have to turn bad. Alex is wrong, I know you'll be just fine.
Tim had stopped speaking, but the steam had not stopped. It was beginning to pour more heavily from his mouth and new strands of steam were starting to leak from his joints.
"Tim, calm down, you're going to overheat." Jay sighed shakily.
"You're bleeding, Jay."
Jay glanced down at his wrapped finger and sighed. The blister seemed to have popped and blood was starting to show through the wrappings.
"It's just a bit of blood, Tim, it's ok. Please, calm down. I'm the one who didn't wear gloves while working with exposed heated wiring, if it's anyone's fault it's my own."
Tim just stared up at him. He started to say something but an idea seized Jay suddenly.
He cut Tim off with a kiss.
Jay's mouth filled with hot steam, causing him to cough and stumble backwards. Tim's face flushed red.
"Jay you idiot!" He yelped, picking Jay up by the shoulders and sitting him down on the workbench.
"I-I'm sorry! I just thought - In movies it-" Jay sputtered, eyes watering slightly from coughing.
"This isn't a movie, Jay!" Tim sighed, immediately regretting how loudly he'd said the words. Jay probably thought he was yelling at him. "I'm sorry." He mumbled.
"It's okay."
They were both quiet for a moment while Tim tried to calm himself down. The steaming slowed and ultimately came to a complete halt. Jay stood up slowly and walked back over to the sink to change the bandage on his burn. Tim watched him go.
Sigh.
Jay jumped slightly as he felt a rough tap on his shoulder.
"How about you try that again, with less steam this time around?" Tim grumbled.
"Is...Is that okay?" Jay's eyes went wide.
"Of course it's ok you twit."
Before Jay could respond, Tim had a fistful of his shirt. His lips connected with surprising smooth metal. Jay felt a strange warmth spread through his belly and chest. He felt tense and nervous and desperate. Every part of him ached. Tim moved his lips gently against Jay's. Slowly at first as if testing to see if that's what he was supposed to do. Then, when Jay returned the kiss, much more roughly. Warm metal fingers crept up the small of his back, stroking the protruding ridges of Jay's spine purposefully, tenderly. A violent shiver ripped through Jay and his breath caught in his throat. Tim pulled away and stepped back, leaving Jay staring at him wild-eyed and chest heaving.
"You didn't feel that?" He croaked, backing up slowly until he was gripping the edge of the sink.
"Er...no. I can't, remember?"
"I've really got to install that system for you."
Tim watched him quizzically. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, yeah. I'm fine." Jay let out a long, unsteady breath as he tried to calm his body. "That was just...really hot."
"I didn't burn you again, did I?"
Tim really couldn't understand why Jay started laughing so hard.