CHAPTER 8: Longing of Knowledge
A makeshift door slammed in the nick of time before the torrential rain poured. Lilia's body jumped at the thundering crack following the fierce lightning. The brief light cast shadows in her small room. Using her familiarity of the sparse space to set her staff at her right corner and her oversized purse on her makeshift bed, she felt through the contents to find her palm-sized flashlight. Once she found it she clicked it on; she could see the curved hanger she used to dangle the flashlight's strap. The light provided luminescence in the dark space. Her ears registered the heavy patter on the tin roof above her head. The angry winds made the trees sway and the wood planks that separated her from the rain, to moan in pain. Lilia had her hands rub her arms, which had formed goosebumps both from the cooled air and her nervousness from the booming thunder.
She sat on her bed before unlacing her boots and set them on the floor next to the headboard. A blush formed from remembering what would've happened just minutes ago.
Adam wanted to kiss me and I wanted it too.
She didn't know whether it was from her longing, her ache to feel intimacy again after many years of not having any, or she loved his calm company as a shield from her growing sense of loneliness. Lilia couldn't put her finger on it, but something was wrong in this world. It gnawed at her mind at night when she couldn't sleep. Her reservations of being with him thinned. Accepting it was the closest thing to companionship as she would get.
I... I need to tell him.
The more she told herself, the surer she became. She accepted the consequences that the YoRHa Commander would bring.
He probably won't believe me. I need to think of something to prove it. She thought as she wrapped herself as tightly as she could with the blanket on her bed, curling herself up at the corner of the bed.
Just as she lulled to sleep, she saw a flash of a shadow pass by her closed window before the cause slammed open her door.
It startled her to a shout. One intruder ran toward her grabbing her by the arms. After the initial shock, it took a moment to realize that it was the soaking wet form of 2B and 9S. And that it was 9S who grabbed her.
"Lilia!"
"Oh! God! Jus—2B! 9S! Y'all getten here! Yer soaked! An' close that door!" She spurted out at the intrusive androids and their Pods. "An' you! Back off!" Making her point in pushing the teen android. "Yer drippin' on my bed!"
They did so a second later. Their bodies, along with their Pods, cramped up the small space. Water dripped from them like fountains. The excess weight made their clothes hang limp and shined from her flashlight.
"I'm not even gonna ask." She said at their pathetic forms while rubbing a temple in annoyance. "I probably don't want to know. Just… take off your clothes and let them hang." She said irritated as she pointed to the twine she had hanging at the ceiling. "No sense in me gettin' wet cos of you two bein' fools in the rain."
9S looked uncomfortable with that prospect. His counterpart, on the other hand, had no qualms with discarding her dress to let it hang and her thigh-high heels. Just leaving her in a white, high-waist thong and strapless bra.
Lilia rolled her eyes, "Look 9S, it's either let your clothes hang and sit on my bed cos I have no furniture. Or, you keep your clothes on and lay on the floor. Besides, it's not like you two have anythin' and even if you did it's nothin' I ain't seen before. You can keep your undies on. We're all adults here I think."
When he made no move but continued to stand pathetically in his wet clothes, she shrugged at him.
"Fine, suit yourself." Then taking her purse she had left on her bed and tossing it where her boots were left space for 2B to sit.
They settled into an awkward silence. Only the torrential rain and thunder made conversation.
"So… uh… how have you been?" 9S interrupted the silence between the three.
Lilia shrugged her shoulders but couldn't help but blush from earlier events that day.
"Fairly mundane. I haven't run into any other bears since… ya know. And…" Her voice trailed, remembering her harsh words to the two of them.
"Oh. Well… that's good then."
"Yeah. And I… want to apologize. For what I said too." Her toes twitched and curled from her uncomfortableness. "I know that y'all are tryin' to look after me."
"No, you were right." 2B interjected. "We don't know what it's like. What you need to do to live and the stress you are forced to face."
"Yeah, we should've… offered to stay with you… until you healed more." 9S admitted while shifting his feet.
Lilia shook her head, "Don't worry about it. I'm sure you two have missions for YoRHa to do that were a bit more important than babysittin' a jerk human."
She didn't fail to notice they both physically shifted their postures. Though one more than the other. Thinking nothing of it and dismissing it as their wires reacting to the electricity generated by the thunderstorm.
An idea came to her as a more substantial peace offering between the three.
"2B… 9S… I wanna show y'all somethin'," she said as she reached underneath her bed and got out the box of things from her time. Calmly opening it and pulling out the device. "This is what we called an iPad."
—xxx—
Upon returning to the copied city… cathedral, his twin who looked at his disheveled, wet form in annoyance soon met Adam.
"What happened to you?" He asked in mild concern.
Adam only shrugged his shoulders. "Got caught in the rain."
He didn't have to explain for what reason. It was as plain as Eve's eyes rolling at the notion.
"Anyway," Eve dismissed that subject, "I thought we'd play hide and seek again tomorrow."
"At the desert apartments?"
Eve nodded.
"I'll see you then."
In a flash of gold light, he left him, and he was alone again. With only his thoughts as company. He approached the statue at the altar but stopped at the front-most pew. His shoes squished on the cold, white floor. Soon realizing he had formed a line of rain water behind him, he sighed with annoyance as he disrobed to let his clothes and shoes dry, methodically hanging them on the left pew. The wet clothes made a soft foomp at their heaviness.
Once completed, he entered sleep mode until it was time to meet his brother, lying down on the opposite pew of his soaked clothes. Even though the eyes of Mary were looking at the Christ, he couldn't help but have the feeling that their silicon eyes rested on him. Adam left the faces—Lilia's face—as they were from their inception.
Dejectfully sighing before closing his eyes as he sensed his wiring drift into sleep mode. An unusual experience, he wondered if this was the equivalent to when a human would sleep? Even though he knew of his surroundings in his low powered state and he knew humans were not. Vulnerable they were to danger when they would lose consciousness.
Perhaps his experience of the sensations within this waking sleep was just residual impulses from his code being active. Either way he often enjoyed the sparks of color and sensation, letting it guide him.
This time it was the words of a soft prayer and tingles of warm hands.
"Bless what we are about to receive O God. May we continue to love one another. Amen." Her voice, for it was female, wrapped him in a cocoon of silk.
A press of soft lips on his cheek that was sticky sweet from tart berries. Then, on his lips, the tang of blueberries lingered. He wanted more of that tempting flavor. A curious tongue licked the owner of those delicious lips. His throat moaned at the flavor.
He wanted more.
Pressing further. Adam sensed something strange emanating from the owner of said lips. However, his desire for the flavor, the heat radiating from them pushed the thought aside, even though it gnawed like a splinter.
She opened their mouth in invitation, and he quickly grabbed it. Flicking and swiping his tongue with hers. Tasting just as delectable as he knew it'd be.
He wanted more.
Taking his hands that mingled with hers and clutched her head. Pressing her deeper to him. Their teeth clicking.
He wanted more.
"Brother?" Called a voice. "Brother, wake up."
His eyes flew open. Feeling an electricity migrate through his metallic bones. A faint taste of blueberries on his tongue.
Eve looked at him particularly with a hint of annoyance.
"Are you ready to go? You haven't forgotten have you?"
Adam rolled his eyes at the jab as he sits up from the pew. "Just a moment, let me put on my clothes." He briskly walked over to where they were hanging and testing the fabric. The silver haired machine sighed irritatingly when they were still wet, only drying marginally.
"Adam, I don't know why you insist on wearing clothes. Let's just go." Eve said impatiently while crossing his arms and upturning his brows sourly.
His more stoic brother shrugged his shoulders, wanting to get the day over with, Adam went along without dressing. In hindsight, he should have put on his underwear even though they were still wet. The coarse, desert sand irradiated the space between his glutes.
During their play he spotted a large, blue-green plastic sheet, with metal holes, and a thick layer of dust covered it from the desert. It looked like the flaps that the Resistance fighters used as cover from the sun and elements.
"Need to bring a tarp or somethin' when it does rain."
Not thinking it'd be a good idea to haul it around with Eve, he left it until they had finished playing. He reasoned that conflict wouldn't be wise since they had formed a truce since they appeared to be evening out since their fight last week.
It didn't stop him from voicing his displeasure when they were close to finishing for the day. The blistering heat of the sun began to set, casting a deep orange hue that made the world look like it was on fire. Stunningly beautiful—the sandstone from the rocky cliffs and the decrepit apartments radiated in the sun's setting colors. The shadows held hints of blues and purples.
Like the blueberries that Lilia and he ate yesterday. Their juices staining her lips a lovely shade of red.
"Will you stop thinking of that android!" Eve shouted, face in a deep frown.
Adam shook his head. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb! I can sense your distracted through the network."
He sighed exasperatingly and had a look of defeat. "Excuse me for thinking brother."
His comment only raised Eve's ire, "Thinking?! All you do is think of that android. You're here but your wires are with that android. Stop it Adam."
The exasperated machine pinched the bridge of his nose to stifle his irritation at his twin's lack of emotional control. His lack of understanding.
"You've been like this since we started this 'compromise' of that android's." Eve continued to complain. "Stop seeing that android!"
"We've been over this Eve—"
"To hell what we've been over! All I want is you!" In a flash of angry yellow light, Eve left, leaving Adam alone with the dust of a human civilization for company.
The last thought rang angrily from his brother before disconnection was, what makes that android so special?
He didn't know what to do.
—xxx—
The following morning, she waited patiently at her fishing spot. Lilia parked herself on top of a boulder with her lure in the water. Her mind drifted to what happened that day. It wasn't unpleasant by any stretch of the imagination. Except that transport bit.
2B and 9S had come along, saying they had no missions and a growing curiosity to how she spent her day.
"Well, on days like this I fish as quick as I can then head back to the village." She explained. "I sometimes help them out or tell a story to the children. The other days I meet up with Adam."
"He… still doesn't…?" 9S asked.
Lilia shrugged, answering his question. "No. Never hinted that he does."
"And he's been… I guess… nice?"
She rolled her eyes and laughed softly. "A little lackin' in the meanin' of modesty, but a gentleman. Y'all must have some programin' to make y'all want to be human. He's takin' it so far to eat with me and help me fish and forage. Not complainin' though."
"And he still doesn't suspect?" 2B interjected, disbelief in her voice.
"Nope. It's… kinda funny, actually. So desperate to be one but can't see there's one in front of 'em." Her face then turned a little more serious. "Which is why I wanna ask, I… I want to tell him."
"No." They both said.
A loud, irritated groan emitted from her throat at their dismissal. "Fine. Whatever. Worth a shot anyway. Heh, might be somethin' I tease him about if he does. I hope the Commander doesn't chew him out over it. Speakin' of which, I… I want to ask you two somethin'." Her demeanor tensed up in nervousness.
"What is it?" Asked 2B.
Lilia shook her head. "It might be nothin' or me over-thinkin' but… jeez, I don't even know how to explain it." Deeply sighing in thought.
"This have anything to do with Adam?"
"What? Oh, no. I've thought on bringin' it up with him, but ya know, secrecy and all. But its…" A moment of hesitation before she tried to explain it. "I have a feelin'—suspicion, I don't know—about this whole deal."
"Deal?"
She moaned dejectfully before she tried again. "Just… me bein' here." In alluding to her time-travel. "Since I've been here, it's rubbed me the wrong way. Seriously, how or why the fuck am I here in the first place? Not only that but somethin' is just… wrong. Just… plain wrong. It stems from that Commander of yours. It's how she said they can't transport me… like… I don't know. Somethin' is just not right. I can't put my finger on it. Maybe if I talked to this 'Council of Humanity' myself I'd put my mind at ease."
"We will put a word in to the Commander." 2B said gently.
Lilia smiled at her. "Thanks. It might help me sleep better at night. You don't wanna know where my mind goes when I'm awake at night and my thoughts roam down that road."
"Do you want to talk about it?" 9S asked.
"No. Call it a superstition if you want. But, I'm afraid that if I say it, it'll be true. If it is… this is some punishment by some cruel god. And part of me… doesn't wanna know."
As fate would have it, one of the Pods rung in a transmission signal from the Bunker. 2B and 9S left to take the call away from her hearing range. She heard one of them shouting but could not discern what was said as it echoed through the woods. When they returned, they didn't express an ounce of happiness.
"That's a serious look you two are havin'." Regarding their demeanor.
It was the first time she had seen 2B lose her voice. "Look… we… have to get… going."
"You two OK?" Lilia asked concerned.
2B balled up her hands. "Yes. We'll be back though."
"Well…" she said while rubbing the back of her head, "I guess y'all can't help when missions come up. I'll see y'all later. Be safe. And hope I catch a fish."
"Y-yeah, you too." 9S said. "And good luck on… fishing."
They then did something unexpected. In a flash, they wrapped themselves around her in a hug. A tight, vice-like hug.
"Oh gawd! Can't breathe!" Exclaiming through gasping breaths.
Immediately they released their hold, backing away. She coughed a little and laughing at the situation, her cheeks turned red. They stood uncomfortably from her, especially for 9S.
"Don't mind y'all huggin' me, but not so tight. Bones break before metal." She explained.
"Oh, sorry."
Lilia mentally waved it away. "Don't worry. It's fine, nothin' like a few love bruises to nurse." She joked. "Anyway, you two should be off."
"Um, just be careful, OK." 9S said.
The human sighed good-heartedly. "I'll be fine. Go take care of your business."
With that, they begrudgingly left her side. Their forms disappeared into the thick woodlands as they sprinted away, leaving her with her thoughts again. As it often did when she was alone her mind wondered what Adam and his brother Eve were doing and hummed a little tune to entice the fish.
The next morning, Adam arrived before her and holding something folded within his arms. It was a large, bulky, and a faded blue-green color that had the remnants of a sandy dust on it.
"Hey, Adam. What's that?"
As he moved it to show her, it made a crinkling, plastic noise. "You mentioned about needing a tarp when it rains. Is this what you were talking about?"
Curious, she set her purse and staff on the ground and took the item that Adam had procured for her. As they unfolded it, the tarp had metal ringed holes at intervals. It was about ten-by-twenty feet with metal grommets at two-foot intervals. Lilia smile beamed at him.
"This is perfect! Where did you find this?"
"While I was with Eve yesterday. I found this at an abandoned apartment complex in a desert region far south of here. On recalling you mentioning a tarp device, I thought I'd take it to see if it was what you were talking about," he explained.
Lilia smiled again, "Oh yeah! This will definitely make a tent. A really rough one, but a tent. Um…" Thinking as she looked around to best place it. "I have an idea. Let me grab my ball of twine." She knelt to rummage through her purse and having said item in her hand, she balled up the tarp as she spoke. "Now, we just need to find two trees to hang this from. I'll tie the string to the metal rings and the tree."
Not having to go far from the bank itself to find two young trees that looked twelve feet apart. She instructed Adam to help her lay out the tarp itself, satisfied with the dimensions in her head and seeing how big the tarp was, rolling it back up. She asked Adam to help her get rid of the rocks and twigs between the trees. On asking why, she replied, "it's not a good idea to be sitting or lying on a rock or a stick poking you."
Once completed, she found the middle ring of the long side of the tarp and tying that to one tree at eye-level to her, cut the thick twine with her pocket knife; repeating the motion on the opposite side. The weight of the tarp made a gentle curve downward.
"How do we keep the tent open?" He asked once the tent was hanging.
"Um… you got any ideas? There's a lot of access too."
"Use rocks? Not big ones, but heavy enough to weigh it down," he suggested.
"Oh! That's a good idea. We'll put them on the inside and fold the excess for the bottom."
He nodded in agreement. "It'll stay in place if the wind blows.."
They returned to the stream bank and set collecting rocks. Lilia laughed when Adam collected the larger stones were as long as her forearm. His android strength allowed him to carry at least seven of the stones. Silently deciding on using the ones he collected, they placed them where they discussed on the inside. It kept the sides open and now they had a bottom. Even if the tarp fell, it definitely wasn't going anywhere.
The tent was four feet tall with a six-foot-long base. They had so much excess from the long side of the tarp it had a double layer at least two feet of the base.
Satisfied, she crawled inside the makeshift tent. Careful to not disturb the placed stones from her movement. Lilia shifted to one side so Adam had room opposite her. It was a tight fit, but it worked. The opening allowing her to see the stream and path she took from this end. She nearly chuckled when she noticed that it was a tighter fit for Adam since he was much taller than her. His silver head touched the tarp that made the hair stick to it; their shoulders rubbing.
A blush formed on her cheeks sitting so close to Adam.
"So, this is a tent." He stated as he looked around.
Lilia nodded. "Yeah, it's a tent, basically." Their accomplishment coaxed a smile at the thought before another pleasing notion settled in her mind. "We should camp one night."
"Camp?"
"Oh, um, yeah. Sometimes humans built a tent like this to camp outdoors. 'Roughin' it' they called it. We should… spend the night out here under this tent." The thought sent a thrill of excitement through her spine, I'd be the perfect way to tell him. The closet romantic in her activated at the notion of heart-felt confessions under the moonlight and twinkling stars.
His frown gave her pause. "I would… have to speak to my brother. He's been… adamant on starting our time together directly at midnight."
She lowered her head in disappointment, then she said, "Oh. I see. Well it's just a thought. I guess even if we don't, we're still technically campin' even if it's not over night." Mentally shaking her head to get away from the unpleasant subject, Lilia had the distinct impression Eve didn't like her very much. "Anyway! Let's fish. Fishin' is part of campin', let's go do that."
Quickly pushing herself out of the tent and standing up, her hands brushed the dirt off her bottom and thighs before heading to the stream. She heard Adam right behind her as his shoes crunched on the gravel and stones. She stopped where she placed her purse and staff, setting up her pole with the attachment needed.
"Lilia…" he said behind her.
Once she finished her task, she turned to face him. "Yeah?"
He slightly shifted his body before he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss on her cheek.
She could feel her breath being taken and her face warming.
"For the other day," he said simply. "You were right about the rain being annoying with timing."
Feeling a tightness in her chest and her head swimming, she coughed; trying to shake the sudden awkwardness out of her limbs though she couldn't help but to smile.
"Yes… well… I told you so. Anyway, um, lets bag us a fish and camp."
The sly android gave a small quirk of his lips, he nodded in agreement.
At the stream bank, she sat on her customary boulder and cast her lure into the stream. Adam laid on his side behind her, his head resting on his propped hand. The tag on his glove tinged from the movement, calmly waiting with her for a bite. The duo found quiet company with each other.
Lilia felt his reddish eyes on her and the water before closing in calm patience, while she waited, she hummed.
When she thought he wasn't looking, she took a moment to appreciate him. If Lilia didn't know any better, he was the antitheses of a business model, if you minus the strange gloves he wore and colored his hair a more natural color. Perhaps brown or black? She imagined him with black hair would be best for the sleeker look he was going for. Although the dirt and moss stains from the rocks he carried earlier ruined the white button shirt. Mentally she noted she needed to show him how to properly do his tie. His black-rimmed glasses were cute on his oval face, doubting he needed them to correct poor eyesight. If he wasn't an android almost ten thousand years into the future, women would have swooned at him, herself included.
She knew it wasn't meant to be though, what she had envisioned in her mind. The musings about the what-ifs were just that, musings.
In the back of her mind that spark of self-doubt reared its ugly head. It gnawed at the good moment of quiet companionship they shared. It'd be better for the feeling to be nipped in the bud, than to let fester. Lilia didn't know if she wanted to do this again.
She tentatively asked, "Adam… I have a question… why… did you want to kiss me?" Her heart closed, but hopeful as his calm reddish eyes opened to look at her.
The silver-haired android took a moment to formulate his answer, "I have… considered it for a while now. I was curious."
Feeling her heart break a little, but persevered in his meaning, knowing he didn't understand human feelings with his android heritage. "You were… curious?"
He nodded. "It is my understanding that humans would kiss those who they cared for. I wanted to… participate in that behavior."
That small bit of hope was enough to make her heart beat and swell in its guarded cage.
"You know humans had different kisses depending on the relationship, right?" She retorted.
Nodding again, "I figured as much. We aren't siblings or parent to child. So, it would be either be between friends or… lovers. I…" His voice trailed as he lost his words. Silver brows furrowing, Adam changed position to sit next to her, his legs dangling over to side of the rock and less than a foot of space between them. He couldn't meet her in the eye. "I… am willing to… try the latter, if you are."
Her heart's cage creaked open.
She smiled, "That's why you wanted to kiss me the other day."
A self-deprecating chuckle emitted from the android's throat. "Yes… I… couldn't find the words to ask so I… wanted to try a direct approach. But then—"
His words stopped as she leaned to kiss his cheek.
Her flesh and blood heart reached out and touched his one made of wires and metal.
Adam looked at Lilia then and saw her soft smile. No other words needed to be said between them.
The fishing pole twitched, letting the owner know she had a catch.
I don't know if I can do this again… falling for a fighter. But I… should try. I haven't felt this way since… since Bradly died. At least I know what to expect. Mi-Mi… Dad… Markus... I hope y'all give me your blessings.
They continued their companionable silence. Adam practicing his own cleaning and gutting of a fish, along with starting the campfire. Lilia setting the grill and placing the strips of fish on its surface. In the middle of eating, the heady scent of rain filled their nostrils. Both looked up, and they observed a small rain cloud coming towards them. Adam made a sour face and small complaint.
"Well Adam, it is that time of year. It looks like a small one, time to test the tent, yeah?"
The android crooked his brow and nodded in affirmation, quickly finishing the fish before heading over to the tent. Lilia carried her purse and pole with her, tossing her pole to the side before crawling in and assuming the same spot from earlier. A minute later, a soft rain fell. The droplets pattered on the plastic covering just as Adam sat next to her.
"I think it's workin'." She stated, setting her purse between her leg and tent wall.
"Seems that way."
While waiting for the rain to stop, her mind drifted again. That she was in a romantic movie with her boyfriend out camping and finding shelter inside their tent from the rain. Although what was portrayed in the movies was more 'clean' than this. Pretty sure no Hollywood director would dare have the couple filthy, sitting on dirt, and using a tarp as a makeshift tent. No, I'd be a perfectly constructed Coleman dome tent, with a large sleeping bag for two, a soft-lit battery-powered lantern at a corner, and them making love with the rain as background noise. They'd both be dressed in either a camouflage top or plain tee, cargo pants and sneakers—free of dirt and carefully constructed makeup and hair. Not one bug would buzz around them either.
Despite it not having that visual fluff, she could still feel that romantic tension.
A gentle heat rose to her cheeks again to where her thoughts were heading.
"Hey, Adam…" Her voice a tad breathless. He turned his maroon eyes to her. "I… was thinkin'… would you like to continue where we left off the other day?"
He smiled softly, "Now that the rain won't interrupt, I'd like that."
She inches closer to him, changing her position to better face him—he likewise did the same. The expression of calm curiosity on his face. She removed his glasses; why he wore them she didn't know, folding them and setting them aside next to her purse. Nervousness bubbled in her belly.
Well... first time for everything. She thought. Never kissed an android before.
Breathing in his smell as she inched closer to his lips. The strong fragrance of clean linen that had a faint underlining of pine from the woods along with a touch of metal. A small reminder of what he was despite him having a similar personality and appearance of a human. She could feel her heart pace quickening within her chest along with her breaths becoming deeper, and a tingle running down her spine. All the while he looked at her with his cool maroon eyes, nearly closing hers as she pressed her lips onto his.
They were soft and not as tacky as she thought and cool.
Is that apples on his breath?
The kiss was a brief peck. A test to see if she felt anything or if he would let her continue. After a moment, she decided that it wasn't unpleasant and kissed him again. Adam's brows furrowed, his mouth opening from the tentative touch. With delicateness, he returned the motion.
"That's good," she said breathless from the return.
She tilted her head, both continuing the motion of their lips pressing and smacking. A blush deepened on her cheeks, her heart hammering in her chest and her breath flaring. On instinct she put her hand on the spot between his clavicle and lower neck, finger tips touching the tie strings around the collar.
It momentarily stopped their kiss. Lilia looked into his maroon eyes, the outline of his pupil glowed a soft pink color, giving a heated expression to his otherwise calm, slack face.
Lilia bit her lip. The longing she bottled in her heart prompt her further.
"That was..." his voice trailed, betraying that within his metallic bones and wiring, he felt something stir.
She smiled softly, "Nice?" Finishing his thought.
Nodding in affirmation, "Yes. Another one?"
Still smiling, she granted his request. The shyness this time becoming less awkward as he reciprocated more. Her eyes fully closed, losing herself in the sensation. Gently with a tilt of her head or hardness of the press of lips, she showed him how.
The hand she had on his lower neck moved in a dainty caress, trailing along the button-up shirt and whatever skin she could touch, earning her a gasp and tremble from the android, but not stopping her from the exploration. Likewise, his own hand touched with nervousness along her lower thigh and knee. Understanding he was unsure, she stopped her hand in its gentle ministrations to clasp his own and place it on her hip. Her hand resumed its ministration. Adam experienced a fluttering tightness in his chest he couldn't explain and electricity prickling his stomach and spine.
Adam moved his right hand to rest along her back, fingertips running along and absorbing her warmth. Lilia was always warm, even now as her lips pressed on his. Metallic bones longed for that warmth she produced.
Then, Lilia sucked on his lower lip, letting it pop out of her mouth before running across it with the tip of her tongue. Adam stilled and his fingers clenched at the unexpected action. The pink glow within his eyes grew brighter. She repeated the suck on his upper lip and the moan she emitted increased the electricity bubbling in his abdomen.
The enamored android pulled her closer. Then, repeating the same lip suction on her lips as she did to him, she noticed how dry his tongue was as it took the moisture from her lips away.
The hand on her back, made a tingling trail up to her face, cupping it. The leather fluffed the small, fine hairs across her bronzed skin and the pleasant heat across her pink cheeks. She pressed further, deepening the meeting of mouths from the encouragement. Her wet tongue met his. Even though his mouth was not wet, it was soft and fleshy. It caused the dance to be awkward but not warranting them to stop. Lilia wrapped her arms across his neck from her unbidden instinct so desperate for it to not end. The tart, crisp flavor of apples filling her sinuses, moaning deeply at the unexpected flavor.
Her hungry body trembled and begged. Her clitoris throbbed, and a wetness slid between her nether folds.
I should stop this. But I—I want—
Gaining no more room for thought as the hand was on her hip found itself on her upper arm as he pushed her flat on the ground.
Her eyes flashed open. His eyes now glowed in the brightest pink, hungry, wanting, devouring.
She breathed and whined from the lack of contact. Before Lilia could protest, he was back to kissing her. Harder and hungry. Her breathing heavy gasping through the intensity. Her arms clutched at Adam, hands grasping his hair. The sensation on his scalp excited him.
She opened her eyes to look at him as much as she could though her daze of sensation.
His brows were furrowed in concentration. The pink glow within his pupil hurt her eyes. Adam saw the reflection of his eye-glow within the shine of her green-hazel eyes. The pupils wider than they should be in this light.
The enraptured android slowed down and pulling back, he took in her face. Lilia saw him study her with lust, the pupils glowing from excitement. His thumb ran across her pulse point. The cool metal a sharp contrast to her hot skin. Then, his eyes and mouth wide in open wonder and surprise.
"Adam..." She said questioningly through a soft, hoarse voice.
"You're..."
He didn't get the chance to finish his sentence as a small worried voice broke through the intensity they had created within the tiny tent.
"Ms. Lilia? Ms. Lilia what are you doing?"
Tensing up when she recognized the voice as one of the child-bots from the village. Turning her head to face the child-bot, it was one the big one that called itself 'little sister.' The child-bot was wet from the rain, which had stopped.
"N-nothin'!" In Adam's amazement, she could push him off her easily, "We're just… talkin'."
"What-cha talkin' about? And why were you so close? And what's that you're under?"
She could feel the redness on her face as she got up to glance at Adam's, whose pupils still glowed and looked at her in open amazement.
He knows…
"It's… it's a secret." Even though she said to toward the child-bot, it was directed at Adam. Hastily clearing her throat, she got out of the tent and made her way to the intrusive child-bot. "And what are you doin' here? You're supposed to be at the village!"
"Oh! I'm sorry Ms. Lilia! But my friends were getting worried! We wanted to know if you would do another story-time today. They were too scared, but I was brave to come find you!"
"Story… time…" Hazel eyes widened. "Little Sister, I said I would continue it another day."
"But it is another day Ms. Lilia."
She sighed with annoyance, "Fine, just… let me say goodbye to my… friend, and I'll take you back to the village. And have a talk with Big Sister!"
"But—but why?" She whirred at the thought of her Big Sister knowing she was being bad.
"Little Sister there is a difference between being brave and nosy. No story-time today. I wanted to… spend it with my friend."
She made a disappointed "Aww" noise.
Turning and nervously walking to the android, Lilia noticed he had put on his glasses, but it didn't hide his pupils that still glowed a soft pink as he looked her up and down. Heat returned to her cheeks as she shifted her feet and eyes standing a foot apart from him..
"Um, we should… discuss this another time."
A quick quirk of his lips flashed before he leaned in; at first, she thought he would kiss her, but he crooked his head to the side his lips at her ear.
"I would like that… my human." Whispering so that only she could hear.
Gasping at the vibrating sensation of his voice as it trickled down her spine all the way to her toes. Biting her lip as he returned to his original posture.
He knows. Not exactly how I envisioned on him finding out or me telling him but... Lilia felt the increased rhythm of her heart. It wasn't in fear it beat that way.
It was relief.
No longer did she have to hide from him.
His left hand caressed the side of her soft, flushed face, the finger tips trailing delicately down her throat—the metal tag from the glove clinking from the movement. Her breathing hitched as he observed her neck muscles reflex at the contact.
Lilia's own hand clasped onto his, knowing he stared at her in fascination. Watching her movements and feeling the life she radiated. From the patter of her heart, the deep breaths of her lungs, and the hot flush on her cheeks.
"Next time. Please?" He asked softly.
If she didn't know better, it had a ring of pleading to his question.
"Um, yeah, sure. I'll… see you then." Her voice a tad breathless.
Adam smirked before he leaned in again. This time, pressing a chaste kiss on her lips. She sighed in contentment, pressing her lips in return before they parted.
"I'll see you then." He breathed, voice hoarse and the pink glow of his pupils intensified.
Quickly clearing her throat, Lilia took a shaky step back. Their hands lingered in their touch before, they too, parted. She grabbed her things from the tent and walked to the patiently waiting child-bot sensing the intense stare from the glowing red eyes of the android.
"OK," she started while clearing her throat, "let's go Little Sister. Before the village gets worried."
"OK Ms. Lilia." The child-bots shoulders slumped from the impending lecture that her Big Sister would give her.
As they walked out of the area of the stream Little Sister piped up, "Ms. Lilia how do you make children?"
—xxx—
Adam stayed where he was until he could hear her no more, wanting to hold on just a little longer.
All this time and I… I never noticed. All those quirks and odd excuses. It all makes sense now.
What a jest fate played, his longing to study and be human and there was one in front of him since the moment he laid eyes on her almost three months ago. His chest contracted, reprimanding himself.
The thought of dissecting her that would lead to her death, disgusted him. That spark, that life she radiated would cease. No longer seeing himself able to go through with it. Content on keeping it as it were, learning so much without the need to.
Perhaps, he hypothesized, it isn't their organs that gives them that quality I seek. When we kissed… I felt… Something within me triggering. I… I have to know.