Chapter 15: Home of Sighs
(AN: This is the chapter where I'm nice to Lilia and Adam. Enjoy! ;))
With the completion of her new home, Lilia decided on taking a nap later in the afternoon, the last twenty-four hours drained her mental and physical being. Soon she fell asleep, even if the stone and plastic tarp weren't the most comfortable things to lie on for the essential human function. Before she did so, she gave Adam her iPad for him to shift through, along with the ear-buds, as promised. Reddish eyes soaked up the content the device contained. He looked through the pictures, played recorded videos, listened to music, and scrolled through the library of downloaded movies and digital books.
The sheer volume of content on such a tiny thing overwhelmed him.
Granted, the tablet device had a ten-thousand-year obsolete date, but the data it contained mattered more than it's archaic quality.
Then, a message popped up saying the battery had a fifteen percent charge and to recharge it.
What? Recharge? I've only been on this for a couple hours! Why would it need recharging? I knew it was an outdated device, but the level of energy wastefulness is unacceptable!
A heavy scowl painted his face as he turned off the device to conserve the fast draining battery. At the worst time as well! He watched a recorded video of Lilia cooking in a kitchen with a young human boy. The title of the video was "X-mas 2013_best present ever."
The camera sat at an angle facing the kitchen, so he observed her cooking said dishes. Adam listened to faint upbeat music and chorus in the background sung something in regards to "it's the season" and a "silent night."
What happened—by what Lilia described in the video—is she had prepared a large ham, butter beans, a green bean casserole, a sweet potato pie and an assortment of other platters of food for Christmas. This excited him. Not only he witnessed the domestics of human life but also familial interactions and how they celebrated the human holiday in action.
The young, human child in the video is her nephew in the family structure as evidence since he called her "Auntie Lily". Which left him confused since she informed him of her "only child" status due to her mother's infertility, a common phenomena in biological beings. The child's name is Markus and displayed an energetic and helpful disposition with the feast his aunt cooked. If he wasn't too busy playing with cars or machine-like toys. The human child had a darker skin complexion than his aunt; thick, short-cropped, wooly hair; large, gray eyes; and wore a pair of thick jeans, a yellow shirt, and sneakers.
Wait, he thought in realization, Lilia mentioned she had a sister though they weren't—as humans dubbed—"blood relatives." Perhaps this child belonged to that woman? But, where is his mother? Strange, I'll ask her at a later date. But I will admit the activity levels he gives and preference to playing reminds me of Eve. I hope she has secrets to directing one's behavior towards learning instead of play when the situation arises. Alas, more questions to the enigma of humans than answers. But, I have you Lila as my teacher. All I need is to have patience as you are with me.
Lilia in the video wore a red, shoulder-less dress which descended to her knees and a white bow-belt at her waist, accentuating her feminine figure. The bottom half of her dress swayed from her movements. From the clicking on the wood floors she wore heals. Her hair had the usual curls, but it had a neat and fresh styled appearance. The makeup on her face complimented the color and shape of her hazel-green eyes and full lips in a bright red shade.
Um, humans wore flashy and revealing clothes often from my previous studies. He thought, analyzing the behavior. Predominantly in the age ranges they seek mates. Strange how both sexes engage in the extravagant display when most species it's the male. Perhaps it's due to them "showing off" their health, fertility, personality, and—in a sense—their social status. But why when family is the party she shows off too? Is it her confidence? Or a simple matter of her "feeling" confidence in a particular clothes set? Or, maybe, a family sign they have a healthy female as a mark of genetic strength and dominance? So many questions! I must ask her when she rouses from her slumber.
I will admit the way her hips swayed was... distracting.
Frustrated and bored the device was low on battery life, he laid it on top of her backpack. Then, rested on his side next to Lilia and waited for her to wake from her nap.
He observed her restless sleep as she turned to get comfortable. Behind her closed lids her eyes rolled and darted. The short ends of her messy, curly hair pulled out from the tight braid. At witnessing her in the uncomfortable state pulled at him. With great care, he got up without alerting her, attuned his hearing to focus on her relaxed breathing, and teleported out to the tree line to the northeast.
The loud crash of a giant falling tree didn't disturb her deep sleep.
Adam didn't return until he finished. He even brought the leftover scraps from the tree to use as firewood. Unfortunately, his activities didn't go unnoticed as he detected a change in her breathing as she roused from her slumber. He observed her body stretching as she wiped the sleep from her eyes. The plastic from the tarp crinkled from her movements. The whites of her eyes turned a pinkish color from sleeping so hard.
Once she noticed the collection of firewood, she smiled. "Oh, thanks."
"You're welcome. Sleep all right?"
She rolled her hazel-green eyes and groaned. "Gonna have to get used to the floor." She admitted.
A knowing grin plastered on his face. "Not for long. I did a little project while you slept. You like it?" He pointed towards the item.
Her head turned, and Lilia blinked several times. Then, crawled out of the tent to get a better inspection of the item.
"Um, what is it?" she asked, unsure of what he created for her.
"It's a bed, or at least my interpretation of one. I hypothesized you'd want something to keep you off the floor." Adam explained.
The supposed "bed" is an eight by three by one-foot rectangle-shaped block of wood. Within the center of the top part hat a slight depression at its deepest, descended three inches which spanned six and a half foot. The "bed" had five-inch long legs carved to form four corners of the block of wood. The underside had two support legs which went across long-ways.
She gave him a warm smile. "Didn't know you were a part-time carpenter."
The machine offered a smile of his own. "I'm not, but I make do." Without prompting, he lifted the bed to place it where she'd sleep under the tent.
While he performed his task, she walked to her backpack and pulled out the blankets she took from the machine village. She spread them across the wooden surface and bunched up one to act as a pillow. Then, she sat and laid on top, wiggling to conclude the best position. A tender smile formed on her lips.
"Thank you Adam. You didn't have to do this."
"Yes, I could have let you suffer on the stone floors." He remarked.
She snorted, rolled her eyes, and tapped him on the shoulder, a playful glint in her eyes before getting out of the low tent. Once they are out of the confines of the tent, Lilia approached him and gave him a chaste kiss on the lips. Pride and accomplishment bubbled in his chest.
"You did good Adam. I'll defiantly use it."
He smiled before a frown formed. "As much as I like to bask in your compliments, I have to tell you the battery in your iPad needs charging."
The smile on her face faded, her eyes and brows pinched in sadness. "I knew this would happen one day. Sorry, I have no way of chargin' it. I have the cord that attaches to an electrical socket, but, well, I don't see a socket anywhere. And there's no electricity, so, yeah. It was... nice while it lasted."
Adam frowned even deeper at the news. "May I see the cord?"
She cocked a curious brow at him, but dug through her purse for the white cord and wall charger. She explained how they worked to him.
"May I take these with me?" He acknowledged the weight of his request, but he formulated a hypothesis. "I have a possible solution, but I need to study this a little."
Her hazel-green eyes lit up at the probable good outcome. "OK, but, please be careful with it. This is the only thing containin' all my pictures and videos of my family and friends from... before. And no rough housin'! Those tablets break easy."
A smile graced his lips. "I promise."
After their conversation, it neared on dinnertime, so both walked to the garden and picked bright, yellow squash and spring onions, enough to carry in their hands. On returning to the crumbling house, she placed the produce on top of her bed.
"Adam, could you arrange the firewood please?" She requested.
He placed the produce in his hands on her bed and did as she asked. Then, she brought her staff, backpack, and purse under the safety of the tent and put them next to her bed. Lilia dug through her backpack and pulled out the pot she used for purifying her water, a canteen, a plastic container with dry grass inside, and the stone and flint. Then, almost comedically, arranged the squash and spring onions on top of her materials. Somehow, she managed while crawling on her knees as she came to the fireplace.
"Hold the veggies please?"
He did so as the machine watched her as she put the gear on the floor. Then, pulled out dry grass out of the clear, plastic container and with practiced ease used the stone and flint to light the dry grass spread to the wood, the fire popped and cracked. A wide smile graced her lips at seeing the flames.
Then, Lilia took one squash in his arms and rinsed off the vegetable with the water from her canteen, enough to conserve her supply. Next, she took out her pocket knife and cut the squash. Or, at least, she attempted to cut the bright yellow vegetable. Her mangled left hand proved difficult in her ability to hold the vegetable in the air. It didn't help in her sanitary caution to clean it provided a slick surface, now she carried the risk of injury. He hypothesized her injury risk will negate if she placed it a surface for leverage, but he suspected she didn't want to do that on the stone step of the fireplace. It did several hours ago have caked bird droppings and covered in soot.
Not willing to witness her unintentional self-harm, he got up, arranged the produce in his arms so he had the use of his right hand to pull out one of the scrap pieces of wood. He arranged the piece using his feet to hold it steady as he summoned energy to slice it and once more an inch away from his original cut. He parted his feet as he bent to grab the flat board. It was at least a foot across by eight inches.
He presented it to her. Lilia once again bestowed him with a smile. Adam placed the board in front of her on the ground and she—with enthusiasm—sliced the squash with more accuracy and safety in mind. The same with the spring onions and set aside the unnecessary bits to throw outside the house. Lilia arranged them into the small pot before pouring water to cover the vegetables. Once she put the small lid on top, she set it close to the fire.
Then, it dawned on Adam what she was doing. Cooking! She's cooking just like I saw her do in that video!
Even though the activity shouldn't have excited him since he's seen her cook fish before, but this seemed more... domestic. Perhaps the setting itself enhanced the notion. She, after all, is cooking inside a house that will serve as her new home. To an extent, his own.
Our home. The thought rang in his mind as pleasure danced within his chest.
—xxx—
The cool, starry night came too soon. Faced, once again, with the dilemma of keeping his obligation to his brother.
She prepared for her slumber with fresh wood for the fire and removed her boots, pants, and bra. Before Lilia lay on her new bed, the delightful human woman tempted him with a kiss. Not long after initial contact, their tongues danced and intertwined. Tingles sparked throughout his body. When they pulled back, her hands alternated between grasping his shirt and rubbing his chest. Her front teeth biting her lower lip in consideration.
What are you teaching me this time Lilia?
A small, nervous smile graced her lips as her eyes turned warm.
She took one of the extra blankets off her bed and spread it on the floor. Adam looked at her, curiosity and anticipation trickled in his mind, as she laid on her back on the faded blue blanket. A delicate, mangled hand wrapped around his necktie and pulled him to lie by her.
Are you...?
Lilia placed a chaste kiss on his lips before looking him in the eye. "Adam... I... um, I want... I want you to... touch me."
Touch? I suspect you mean more than you are leading on.
"How do you want me to?" he asked.
He could see her swallow a lump in her throat before she asked, "Um, how much of human... well, um, of human intimacy do you know of?"
Human intimacy!
The prospect excited him that she wished to engage in such a fundamental part of human life with him. However, he reminded her, "You know I don't have that part of my anatomy."
A heavy blush formed on her face before she replied, "Yeah, but there are other things you can do."
Slyness formed on his face. "Oh yes, from what I gather from my studies."
He wasted no time in yanking his tie off, ripping his ruined shirt away, unbuckled his pants, and kicked his shoes off. Then, throwing his gloves away, uncaring of where they landed, refusing to have a barrier between his hands and her warm, soft skin.
Lilia, likewise removed her shirt and black panties. Adam couldn't help but stare enraptured.
She lay naked before him with nothing but an alluring, coy smile.
Warm and inviting hazel-green eyes called to him to play with her welcoming body. The burning light from the fire gave them intensity he couldn't help in his mesmerization. Long, curly hair splayed across the blanket. Full lips parted as her left pinky curved with delicateness into her mouth. Her right hand rested on her breast in a seductive suggestion. Further still from her swan-like neck to her full breasts, a perfect shape and size for his hands. The dark nipples called for him to fondle and suck. Her curvy, hour-glass shaped torso quivered with anticipation. Supple legs opened in a lewd display; the right calf caressed his thigh. Between those delicious legs housed the sex of a human female. A frame of short, curly hair on the mound. Between is the vulva slit and nestled within are the thin petals of the inner labia, the clitoris peaking at the top.
Adam couldn't comprehend where to start with stimulating her.
This is nothing like analyzing photographs.
A gentle blush graced Lilia's cheeks, lasciviousness in her voice, "Like what you see?"
He gave a half-smile as he leaned back up her body and gave a deep, hungry kiss that left her breathless and grasping his hair. Her fingers dug hot paths across his back, tickled his ribs, and groped his buttocks. Feminine mounds pressed into his chest, hard nipples stabbed his skin. A hunger within his gut pleaded for more.
When he let up, he observed the pink glow from his eyes reflection on her's, a testament to his excitement, senses intoxicated by her.
Lechery played across his lips in a smile as he muttered in a hot breath, "You have... no idea how desirable you are."
Lilia bit her lip as her blush deepened. His ears detecting the drum of her heart increase and deep, shallow breath of her lungs.
He kissed her supple neck, tasting the salty-sweetness of her skin and caressing her pulse-point with his lips and tongue. Lustful hands tickled her sides. He mapped the feminine curve of her torso and letting the intense heat from her body merge with his. Salacious lips descended as his wondering hands went up to meet at her twin mounds of her full breasts, and applying pressure to cup them, detecting the glands within them for nursing. Lips journeyed to the left one, kissing the dark nipple. The bud hardened from his attention and the areola pebbled from licking around it.
A sensual moan escaped from Lilia's throat. Her patient eyes gazed at him as he massaged and pleasured her breasts. Once the machine heard her moan again, it further emboldened him, exciting him that his ministrations brought her pleasure. Her left calf rubbed against his own. Delicate hands stimulated his sides and back, prompting a pleasured sigh from him.
"Hmm, you're doin' good Adam." Sensuality dripped from her full lips.
The positive reinforcement allowed him to continue his gentle massage of her breasts and put more of the hardening nipple within his mouth, alternating between sucking, teething, and licking the pert flesh. Her deep moans became more frequent the longer he kept his arousing ministrations. Then, he bestowed the other nipple his tender attention. A heady scent permeated the air. He recognized it's source came from Lilia, the perfume awakened curious sparks and trembles within his own metallic body, needing to sample other parts of her body too.
His greedy mouth and hands descended further, munching on her stomach and gauging the expanse of her hips with his hands. A gasp escaped her mouth as she realized where he intended to go. As he kissed her belly button, he concluded he didn't want the experience to be over so soon.
Instead of descending where she'd receive the most pleasure, he deviated and kissed the left side of her body, all the way down her leg. His hands pressed and perceived the skin, fat and muscle. Acquainting himself with the other curves and swells of her body, lips kissed the top of her foot and his fingers massaged her ankle. Lilia let out a drawn-out moan when his thumbs pressed into the sole and arch of her foot—drawing tight circles.
"Damn that's so good." Relaxation and pleasure dripped in her low voice.
Lips curled in a smile as he moved to the other foot, applying the same treatment as its twin. Then, making the reverse trip back up that leg, he kissed and massaged the limb, coming back to her belly button.
Only then did he go downwards.
She watched his decent through half-lidded eyes, her delicate hands stroking his long, silver hair. His hands further parted her thighs. A gasp from her lips came when he kissed her curly-haired pubis. When he kissed the left side of her vulva, he sucked on the flesh for a second, letting the flavor acquaint with his tongue. Planting more kisses and sucks on the other side of the flowery slit, Lilia's musk and scent danced and played with his sensors. Sensations and tantalizations sparked beneath his carbon skin; most of which were in his abdomen and groin region, sensing a tremble throughout his body.
"Oh muh God!" she gasped as her back arched.
Yes, this small nub has thousands of nerve sensors. The right stimulation by my mouth and tongue needs to happen, not too much or too little.
He licked her swollen clitoris again in a firm swipe, emboldened by her reaction. A long, throaty moan vibrated her chest. A crooked smile formed on his lips. Slyly he took the tip of his tongue and made tight circles around the tip of the clitoris. Her hands tightened on his hair as she let out another drawn-out moan. The mild pain on his scalp inflamed him. A tremble coursed beneath his hands on her thighs and her musk became headier. Adam planted a chaste kiss on the sensitive bud before he continued exploring with his mouth. He analyzed her reactions while he took careful notes on proper stimulation.
Petaled skin attached to the clitoral hood, he licked and sucked, amazed at the slick softness. His tongue dipped further between, lapping and savoring her tangy nectar. A throaty moan escaped his lips as he pressed further to lap up more flowing from her womb. He hummed in appreciation as he raised her thighs closer to her chest, leaving them up and apart. The better access allowed him to orally test and analyze the sensitivity of the slick vaginal opening. Delicate hands spasmed from the stimulation and her hips twitched.
Throughout the stone house her pleasured moans, sighs and whines became the only song Adam wanted to listen to.
Her right hand removed itself from his head as he watched her stimulate her clitoris. The experienced fingers rubbing and rolling in tight circles. Hungry reddish eyes examined her for a moment, allured by her touching herself in such an intimate way. Unable to resist, his mouth and tongue joined her fingers in their play of the stiff bud. A throaty groan was his reward as she removed her fingers only to trail them to her entrance. The first two fingers pumping herself. Again, he watched her a moment before it clicked in his aroused mind with what she wanted him to do. A twitch of a smile came to his moistened lips of her silent instructions.
Yes, he thought with burning intensity, yes teach me. Show me how Lilia!
For a brief, intense moment their eyes met before he trailed his right hand to her fingers. Lilia removed her's and continued to hold his head. His whole metallic body thrummed with energy as he realized he'd touch such an intimate part of herself. A long, drawn gasp escaped his mouth as her delicate flesh parted for his two fingers. Slick, musky fluid coated the invading digits. Further pressing into her as he came into contact with her fleshy entrance, it too parted and accepted his invading fingers.
They both moaned.
Her hot opening coated his fingers in thick slick as he delved all the way to the knuckles. Soft, fleshy walls tightened and constricted on his fingers, hugging and welcoming them into her body. So engrossed with the sensation he didn't move them until Lilia let out a frustrated groan and rolled her hips enough to stimulate herself on his frozen fingers. He took the hint and did as she demanded, appreciating the slick, moist sounds and her satisfied sighs and moans.
A visceral fantasy played in his mind it wasn't his fingers sliding and thrusting into her. The concept wasn't foreign to him, but now in this intimate moment he loathed the fact he couldn't give that to her. What would it be like as he slid part of himself that was hard and heavy into her? What would it be like as she squeezed him as he went all the way inside? Somewhere in the back of his coding, his groin region intensified its tingling sensation and his underwear clad lower half rubbed on the bunched blanket between his thighs.
He allowed himself to appreciate the sensations even though it was a cruel anatomical phenomenon.
Quick to put the thought out of his mind as he focused more on her pleasure. Accepting, with regret, that his hands and mouth will be the only bits that could sexually stimulate her. But, he couldn't regret it from her intense noises she made.
Moving on, he resumed his oral ministrations on her clitoris while still pumping her with his fingers. The stone walls of the house echoed her pleasured cries as he alternated his movements of his mouth and fingers. So desperate to experience what elicited the most pleasure. He could feel her heart beat intensify in his ears. The wonderful heat of her body increased. The longer he kept his stimulation of her delicious genitals the more erratic her twitches and back arches were. Along with her tight, provocative pulling of his hair, Adam appreciated the satisfying sting.
Lilia cried out, "Oh God! You're gonna make me cum!"
Cum...?
He didn't know what that word meant, but she wasn't telling him to stop.
The fingers pumped her faster, and he sucked and flicked his tongue on her hard nub.
Until she stopped breathing and moving before she let out a strangled, loud cry as her body arched as more fluid from her released around his fingers. He didn't let up as her loud cry stirred him more. Needing to hear it again. The pain from pulling on his hair crested as he breathed an animalistic groan in pleasure.
"Fuck! S-stop! Too much!"
At hearing her cry, he removed his mouth and fingers from her. The wetness from his mouth, chin and fingers glistened. He raised himself and examined her chest heave to catch her breath. A deep blush went from her face to her shoulders. Small beads of perspiration dotted her forehead, and a satisfied smile painted itself on her lips.
A heavy groan vibrated from his throat and chest. Without rationalization, he hooked her legs across his shoulders and leaned forward. His hands on both sides of her head to stabilize him and to make sure he didn't press his heavy weight on her. Her hips raised from the position as he molded his clothed lower abdomen to her groin, rubbing and grinding their two bodies together.
Lilia squeaked from the quick moment as her eyes blinked at him.
The intensity of his glowing eyes reflected in the shine of hers. A low groan he made amplified as he flexed his hips, rubbing himself against her. Lilia gasped from the sensation. Fingers dug into her hips as his eyes rolled, his mind whiting in an all-consuming burn.
He wanted to fuck her so bad.
"Adam..." she gasped, feeling the stimulation from his pant material on her sensitive clitoris. "Adam—oh fuck!—calm down!"
Delicate hands wrapped around his face as she locked eye contact with him. He had to think, calm himself, and release his crushing hold on her hips.
"I... I want..." He groaned, voice thick with an inflamed impulse to do what he wanted most. Angry and frustrated he couldn't. A code within him demanded he shove something long, hard and hot into her—make her scream his name. Have her wrap around him until his existence erased, to null all he ever was and become pure human sin. To sculpt his metal bones into human flesh.
Hazel-green eyes closed in heavy regret. "I'm sorry... I shouldn't have—"
"No!" Cutting her off. "I... I wanted to try too."
A heavy tremble vibrated his metallic body as he released her legs from his shoulders. To calm himself from the pent-up energy coiled within him. He shook on his hands and knees above her so he wouldn't crush her from his weight. Eyes closed tight to calm himself. Even as her flavor saturated his palate and lips, and her spent arousal invaded his nostril sensors.
"Adam—" she said before he shook his head to stop her.
"Was it good?" He asked.
He assumed the worst when she said nothing. But then, she chuckled, "You made me cum so hard I didn't know what you were doin' until you started humpin' me."
The cautious machine opened his eyes to observe a deep blush and lascivious smile on her face. Her right hand cupping the side of her jaw and the other hand resting at the upper part of her chest. Hazel-green eyes darted, unable to meet him in the eye and her front teeth bit her lower lip.
A prideful smile sculpted itself on his lips. "It'll do then."
With great care he carried her to the bed he made and settled her within the depression before covering her with a blanket, gentle in his motions. Lilia had a sleepy expression as her right hand caressed his arm and a small satisfied smile. The ministration only kept the heat coiled within him fanned. He couldn't help himself but to plant a chaste kiss on her lips. The tease she is, licked his bottom lip and moaned.
Dawning on him she tasted herself.
He jerked himself back and complained without heat, "Will you ever stop teasing me?"
A sleepy smile formed across her face as she drifted to her dreams. Her eyes covered by the lids. Then, she muttered in her tired, sleepy state, "love... you..." before she was fast asleep.
The only sounds were the crackling fire, her soft snore, and the crickets outside the house.
Those two words echoing in his mind as he stared at her.
"love... you..."
Mechanically, he crawled out of the tent they built together. Careful not to crinkle the tarp-covered floor.
"love... you..."
A fluttering energy spiraled within his chest and abdomen as he put back on his clothes and leather gloves. The golden tags clinking.
"love... you..."
He turned to look at her before he left.
I don't know Lilia... but I...
Then, he realized how vulnerable she was. No longer did she have the protection of a group looking out while she slept. A bear, a wolf, or some other predator can overpower her, an easy meal for their bellies. The skin he admired touching torn like paper to their teeth and claws.
He couldn't stand the thought of something happening to her while she slept. Unsure if it was... love he felt or his desire to protect her, but he couldn't leave without a measurable guarantee she will be unharmed until sunrise.
I know I told you once before I'm fond of you. But... is it like love? Or, am I lying to myself? Is this... love? You're always on my mind and your smile... your touch... I don't want to leave you. But, I need to take care of something too. Just please be safe. You have so much to teach me and I have so much to learn.
And Adam also had something else he needed to take care of before met with his brother.
He had a solution, but he doubted she will like it. However, it was the only guarantee and peace of mind it'll protect her while she slept. When she woke up, it'll be a different story.
He didn't want to remind himself of the time a dire bear almost ate her or the mad, rampage machine.
The silver-haired machine summoned energy and put in place a large barrier that covered the entire tent region and part of the fireplace. Adam made it so it lasted until the sun rose and if something were to attack, the barrier will shoot beams once it broke. His worry didn't completely leave, but it was enough he had adequate satisfaction to teleport away. With her iPad and charger in his hands, he did just that.
Lilia you'll be OK when you wake up. At least you'll be aware of your surroundings. And... you've taken care of yourself in my absence in the past.
The calculating machine had a little more than an hour before he needed to meet with Eve. It was enough time to take care of a loose end from earlier. Although she appeared to accept that excuse he gave, he doubted Lilia believed him with current events.
In a flash, he was in his copied cathedral. He heard grunting sounds and the slap of carbon skin and metal. Rolling his eyes, he put Lilia's device on a pew out of sight and found that loose end.
The "loose end" being a B-model YoRHa android he had captured.
This android was sitting in wait at the campsite where he went to retrieve the tent. It was a tough fight, but with his level of adaptation, he overpowered the model. He cut off the legs and arms to prevent escape. Although they were grave wounds, it wasn't enough to deactivate the android's machine body. Adam made sure. Not only that, the support Pod he destroyed during their battle. Also, she could not reach for her black-box to self-destruct.
As he came around the front pew the amputated android had wiggled herself off the pew he placed her. The android struggled and wiggled like a fish on the floor. The B-model screamed through the cloth he put in her mouth when she identified him. Irritated, he rolled his eyes and lifted the android back on the pew.
"All right," he said. "Now I have time, we're going to have a little chat." Then, he removed the gag from her mouth.
"Fuck you, machine!" she yelled at him.
"Good evening to you," he responded in a bored tone. "Now, I understand they sent you to destroy me and I can guess it was the YoRHa Commander. And I don't hold it against her, opposite sides even though I have no interest in this 'war' she wants to perpetuate."
She scowled, "Don't make me laugh machine. You won't get your hands on the humans you sick fuck!"
Adam snorted at her outburst. "Please, whatever it was she told you it's far from the truth."
"The hell should I believe you! You did this easily enough to me!" she yelled referring to her four missing limbs.
"Ha! Like you can't download into another body. Although it must have been terrifying, but it was the only guarantee you couldn't escape."
The android's doll face upturned in a sour scowl. "You should have deactivated me."
"And miss such an opportunity? No, don't think so. Now, during our little... scuffle, you demanded to know where I held the Resistance android and that I am dissecting them. What an interesting and colorful story your Commander told you. Why tell you that to get rid of little me?"
"Fuck you! Why should I believe you, machine?!"
Adam rolled his shoulders. "Well, can't be helped then. Did you bother to ask the Resistance leader Anemone in regards to the missing androids? Or the one you were sent to rescue? Because... well... according to that android you want to play hero with, she told me your Commander wants her dead. Or rather, the Council of Humanity designated her as an enemy. What's it called? 'Collusion'?"
The android's face turned stoic and defiant.
He raised his hands in defeat. "Fine, don't believe me. But ask Anemone about what I said. That might be enough to plant some... doubt. If not, ask the androids 2B and 9S."
He detected the twitch when he said the names of those androids. "Why?" A firm grit when she asked.
A smirk formed on his lips. "Because they know all too well of this 'collusion' me and Lilia have been doing the last few months. They are the ones who knew where you should wait for me. That spot was where Lilia and I met... all the time before she begged me to take her far from here since this 'Council of Humanity' has disregarded her life." An emotional turbulence spilled from his mouth as he got up, unable to contain it. The obscene anger and disbelief of when Lilia relayed the news to him that morning boiled over in his mind. "I am... so sorry for the poor android who could have killed her considering she's one of the precious species YoRHa have sworn to protect and fight on their behalf."
The defiant, placid face on the B-model android cracked. "What...? You're—No! That's not true! Liar! Every android in YoRHa has orders to rescue her! Rescue! That's why—! The Council wouldn't—!"
He laughed without mirth. "Seems so given how scared Lilia was. Unless the Commander lied to her or YoRHa. Well it doesn't matter either way. So, you can give a message for me. Tell your Commander, the Council of Humanity... the next YoRHa that comes I won't show mercy. And I find it funny that, me, a machine, cares more for her life than the ones who swore to protect it."
The angry machine grabbed her by the collar and teleported them outside the Resistance camp. Without warning, he threw her torso into the camp entrance while she screamed. Adam teleported away before any of the fighters noticed him.
What he didn't know is that Anemone had a nice, private discussion with that B-model later that night which led to Jackass going on a secret, extensive investigation. The letter addressed to her tucked away in a safe place.
—xxx—
An impatient silver-haired machine waited at their meeting spot. He had stewed in silence over the last few days that his plan of getting rid of the android had failed. Miserably at that. It was perfect, he'd be rid of her and his brother will be ignorant it was him who used his corruption power on the biped machine. Adam—his beloved Adam—will be free. Yet somehow that cockroach of an android escaped and lived. Although he considered the enjoyment from her cries of anguish as it tore her apart, he thought it best if he wasn't near in case his brother appeared.
He could admit from fact the machine maimed her and gave him small satisfaction. But it was a hollow victory, his brother still had yet to have freedom from that android. He isn't his and his alone yet.
During the day, he kept himself aware of his brother's movements. Their connection of being twins and attached to the server allowed him to see he's has been busy teleporting. He couldn't see through Adam's eyes or what he heard, a great pain on their individual separation.
We should've stayed as one and maybe I wouldn't be this way.
What piqued his curiosity is he teleported with a passenger (whom he assumed was that android) and stayed at the apple orchard during the day. He then took someone from their meeting spot to the copied cathedral before teleporting alone to the orchard. When it came time for him to meet, she didn't teleport with him to leave. Instead, he went to the cathedral alone and the previous passenger he dropped off at the android Resistance camp.
What concerned him during his tenure at the orchard is the connection Adam had to the server produced static followed by high-energy spikes starting at 8:43 pm and reached a peak at 9:26 pm. Even now the spikes emanated from him to a lesser degree.
Now here he was in front of him.
Brother... why did you leave that android at the apple orchard? What is the energy you have now? And... Eve's nasal sensors detected a strange aroma, why do you smell like that? Smells similar to musk from an animal. Pheromones, right? Why would—?
A bitter, knotted conclusion formed in his mind. That android! Has to be!
Eve dared not bring her up in conversation. His spite and jealousy prevented him from doing so.
Somehow, someway, he vowed to get rid of her and free his brother.
For now, all he wanted was to be with him.
All I want is you brother.
—xxx—
That wasn't how he had planned on spending the day with Eve. It had started out fine and for most the day he was enjoying himself with his twin. By mid-afternoon it deteriorated in rapid succession. Adam admitted he is the guilty party. Distraction egged his mind, and the last few months it had been a single thing.
Eve knew this, and it was the cause for his outbursts. Then, came the physical altercation that left them both hurt in more ways than one. It's not like he didn't mind playing rough with him, he enjoyed it sometimes. But, when it goes beyond that boundary. When it comes from his twin's unfortunate irrationality and jealousy. Since they've occurred more often, he's lost all patience with it. At this point he'd rather throw hits and leave Eve alone to wallow in his tantrum.
I understand your preference to physical activity to learning Eve, but I worry for you and your unhealthy ire towards Lilia. Leave her be so I can be a brother to you during our time together.
For the remainder of the day he spent analyzing a solution for Lilia's iPod battery charge. An hour later, he figured what type of battery it was and how it worked. It was such a simple, outdated mechanism it took no time at all to fashion a new battery for it that attached to the port. One that will not need charging for another fifty years if he calculated it right. In hindsight, the technology was the latest in innovation of Lilia's time. Just in case though, he fashioned a connection to the server to upload an encrypted backup of the content on the device. Not wanting to lose such precious data due to carelessness.
Once that finished, he smiled with satisfaction and went back to the video he watched earlier to continue. Putting the earbuds in his ears he pressed the "play" button on the screen.
He examined as relative after relative filed into her home. Some bringing their own dish to the event. Many of whom had children and heard them running around the apartment.
At one point when she went to the door to let the next relative in, he heard her scream. The other relatives cheered and whooped as the person who caused such a reaction from her came into the camera. She had her arms wrapped around a large and tall human male who wore a green camouflage uniform who held her up with one arm around her waist and a duffle-bag in the other. He saw the relatives in the room record the occasion on their devices. The little boy Markus ran into the screen and shouted, "Uncle Bradly!" and went to hug the man.
The scene cut and now it was her and the man, Lilia held the tablet so both their faces recorded. By description, the male had a paler complexion than she did with dark brown eyes, thick eyebrows, clean-shaven, a twisted scar on the left side of his face, and short-cropped hair. He wore a hat with the same color camouflage as his uniform. At the center was a badge that had three arrow shapes pointing up and the lowest arrow connected with a curve at the ends.
Lilia wiped her tears but smiled wide. "Well, look who showed up at my door for Christmas! Didn't you say you wouldn't make it?"
The man smiled and laughed before putting a kiss on her cheek. "I could smell your cookin' from Iraq and just had to come by. And I thought I'd give you this."
Out of view of the camera, he pulled a small, white box with a red glittering bow on top and presented it in front of her and the camera. Lilia's hazel-green eyes blinked at the gift and took it between her hands while the man held up the iPad. Her shaking, delicate hand opened the lid that had the bow and put it underneath the box. That same hand went inside the box.
Her facial expressions went by in rapid succession—uncertainty, nervousness, joy.
"B-Bradly what's... this?" In that hand she brought up another white box, but it was much smaller than the one that held it, had a velvety texture to it, and had a single hinge.
Someone off-camera had taken the tablet as it panned back to show more of the two. With both of the man's hands he took that box Lilia brought out and opened it in front of her while on one knee. Adam saw the glitter of a ring.
The man beamed as he asked in a deep baritone, "Lilia, will you be Mrs. Sergeant Bradly Knight?"
No one made a sound. In such a state of shock she had dropped the gift box. Fresh tears streamed from her eyes and a wide beaming smile stretched to reveal all of her teeth.
In a hoarse whisper she answered, "Yes."
The people in the room clapped and cheered as the man put the ring on the third finger of her left hand.
As the scene played, it left him with many questions. He didn't know how he should react to the revelation of her being married to another man. Even though it was interesting to study how proposals went between humans. But, it was Lilia who he watched it happened to. Who was 'Bradly Knight'? Adam knew he must have been in the military because of the uniform he wore and the rank of 'sergeant'. And where was this "Iraq"? He will have to search through the network. What also rattled him is that he's never seen her wear the ring he gave to her. Were they still married when she came here? Or did they get a divorce?
However, most of his questions became answered as he continued to search through the iPad and he found out what had happened to the human named 'Bradly Knight'. The life she dreamed of when he finished his deployment and discharged that following year, became buried along with their newborn the following year. Father and son waiting for her beneath the earth.
Now he understood why Lilia didn't want him to go face Grün.
When it was time for him to see her at midnight, he realized just how little he knew of her. The difficulty of being a victim of time travel from the life she built to where everything she knew, including her family, disintegrated into dust. Adam couldn't fathom the turmoil she became subjected to. The pain and suffering of being human out of her time. The hatred the entity had for her.
Despite all of that, he couldn't help but admire the mental and emotional strength for her to carry the pain and for her to still smile and laugh.
Her words echoed, "love... you..."
—xxx—
Silently, booted footsteps approached a sleeping woman. His reddish eyes scrutinizing her form. The messy mop of hair, the smell that came from her, and the dirty clothes. Even as he was so close to her, she didn't react. He noted how vulnerable she was, daring himself to touch the side of her face to see if she will wake. Only a murmur exited her lips.
A smile stretched across his face, but soon faded as an intense feeling of absolute hatred gnawed and coiled in his chest at seeing her. Inky black painted his skin.
The very same gauntlet hand he used to caress her fragile cheek, he wrapped around her thin throat.
And squeezed.
An echo demanded, Dress her in red.