"Call me Erik," N'Jadaka said on the phone. He's wearing a white coat, "I usually won't be home often, but I will take a better adjustment with the HR,"

"Shuri deserved better, you know that. You are not fit to be her guardian," a woman, a beautiful woman interferes,wearing the same lab coat. Erik rolled his eyes and took the call somewhere else.

Erik hangs up the phone and strides to the woman.

"The lawyer call, he said Shuri will be taken to someone's home," Erik contemplated, "Not on my watch. Those sick fucker might took advantage,"

"She's not you,"

"She might be,"

"I saw her," a silent, "Before the funeral, years before. She's a good kid. When I met her again, I thought she'd be the same person as before. But I saw her eyes and I knew we're the same person,"

"Erik…."

"I'm using a Russian super soldier's body for my new prototype."

"He'll suffer,"

"He won't, he's dead."

"Dead? A dead super soldier? Are you kidding me?"

"It's going to be fine, he's going to be perfect, he won't have a will of his own,"

.

.

.

.

"I've made you a friend, Shuri. A caretaker, a friend... prototype no.143000,"

"Hi. I'm..." He closed his mouth and stared

"I think it's a bit ruined, lemme introduce the Prototype 143000,"

"He looks like he's James,"

"Hi, I'm James,"

Shuri eyebrows shook. She blinked a few times. He sounds human and looks alive

"Hi James, the prototype 14300. I'm Shuri," Shuri didn't like how the prototype eerily looked at her. It looked at her carefully. His eyes glowed pink. Then he beeped and his eyes stopped glowing.

"Hi I'm James prototype new serial number 14375,"

"I didn't," N'Jadaka take a deep breath, "It functions real well before I took it home," then his phone rang

Shuri kicked the paperwork scattered around the droid. The instructions were a lot, like stacks of paper on another. Shuri picked it up, and put it in the cupboard. She'll read it when she has time.

The video from N'Jadaka laptop keeps on repeating in a catchy melody, N'Jadaka went outside. He had to take a call. An important call.

Then the prototype beep

' The prototype 143000 cannot lie and serves to fulfil the owner's needs that it feels fit…. '

Shuri thought of her bag pack, she hadn't unpacked it since a month ago. Thinking she'd be taken to some other foster home.

'A friends, A listener , A babysitter , A teacher , ….'

"Hey, can you unpacked my backpack," Shuri ordered the droid

The sound from the prototype was dismissed.

His eyes seemed to linger and observed the house, he stood and went to who knows where.

Shuri didn't think much, she went to the kitchen and made herself a hot cocoa.

When her cousin came back, N'Jadaka was pissed because he couldn't find the prototype in the living room. He was chaotic and when he does find the prototype, he's insulting it.

'Not her room. That's inappropriate !"

"It's fine, he's mine isn't he?" She's pointing with her hot cup of cocoa

N'Jadaka silently and vehemently agreed and grabbed the prototype back into the living room. "It's not fine. He's somewhat yours but also not, alright,"

"We'll see,"

That night, right after they set her up as the prototype main user. Shuri went to her room to sleep.

The next morning, right before school, all her clothes were perfectly folded in her dresser.

"Huh, that's pretty cool,"

N'Jadaka is really a good roboticist. The android is the game changer. She's impressed with it

Shuri was working on her homework. James, the prototype no. 14375 sat behind her, watching the window or maybe staring outside. There's nothing human–like he's been doing since he's online

"It's going to be raining, it's hot and humid," the android stood up, and he left abruptly. Shuri wasn't aware until he came back with her dried clothes from the clothesline outside.

" You need to buy new panties—"

"Hey! Don't touch that,"

Shuri swiftly grabbed her underwear and threw it in her wardrobe. The android stood up and hung her dried clothes in her wardrobe, and he closed the door.

They stood closer and Shuri eventually really looked at him. Beautiful skin,bluest eyes like the ocean, they were looking so…

"Oh wow, you looks so real,"

"Absolutely miss. My entire body is made of human and robotic equipment and I've a brain,"

"A droid with a brain?"

"Absolutely miss,"

"Impossible. Human and android as one? Huh, it might be a new species," Shuri turned around and continued her homework, "I think you misunderstood your motherboard with brain,"

"..."

When he didn't answer her, she looked at him. He didn't look like he's mad or anything. Just staring at her.

"I'm sorry….I," she pressed her lips thinly, He's hardly human but he does make her feel guilty,

"Are you offended?"

"I rather bite my tongue than express unnecessary shortcoming,"

Yawn, "You know, I kinda like you," Shuri smile,

"Like me?" His eyes started to glow white "Like…love?"

"Mmm yea... I think so,"

His eyes glow, as if he's browsing his mind or his setting. Not that she ever knew. It beep like a minute after

"Thank you, I like you too, miss,"

"I know I'm likeable,"

"It's a pleasant to be in your circle, miss,"

"I'm glad," Shuri smiles. Genuinely smile. "You're rigid and formal, it's a torture, call me by my name,"

"My formality can be changed. I recalled it is in my setting,"

"Which set-up?"

"Free form,"

"What's that?"

"I am able to live up to my full potential. I'm able to work on my own, you'll be attend with my full potential, miss,"

"That sound promising,"

Months Later

"I miss my mom," Shuri laid on her side, her bed smelling less and less floral lately. Since she always brought her droid to hangouts with her. It smells like him lingering on her bed.

As usual, N'Jadaka seldom returned home. Lately, he seems preoccupied and only shows up when the Child Protective Services are involved or about to be involved. This makes her question whether she truly holds any importance to him as family, or if he is simply insistent on making her feel indebted by doing her a favour.

She wishes she could tell him all about her droid, James, as she lately tried to use his name rather than his number seems more and more accommodating.

"It's fine. I'm here," he said, sitting at the edge of her bed.

"You're an android,"

"That's nothing wrong with being a droid," he's sidled closer to her now.

"What I mean is you're not my mother. I don't care if you're a droid,"

"..."

"I bet when N'Jadaka did successfully remake his experiment and better android, you're going back to the lab.. You won't have feeling but I do and I'm going to be missing you so bad,"

"Yes I do. I care for you,"

"N'Jadaka made you, he program you to care,"

"I am my own person,"

"You're so adamant about it,"

"I tried,"

"How does it feel to be an android?"

"Boring and I age annoyingly slowly," a silent, "How does it feel to be a fully human?"

"Boring but I guess it beats being a droid in a certain area. Like…. Mmmm lemme see …. Well, you can't age, taste, you can't breed..."

"I can breed,"

"Yeah right, you can't,"

"I think I know my own body." he replied with a quip, Shuri laughed, she sniffled and wiped her tears. "I can't believe you're sassing me,"

"You know, I'm more than a droid. I'm half droid, I've human parts,"

"Pffffff…. Half a droid doesn't make you a human," Shuri laughed,

"So does ageing, it is not special,"

"Mannn, when you put it like that. It's not. But someday, I'm going to be a mom and getting older and you're gonna stay the same and doing the same thing, maybe even protect my kids,"

"Like a father?"

"Yeah, well I guess so. Constantly, you'll be there for them. Like you do me."

"I'll always be there for you, even if you don't need me,"

"Awwww that's so sweet, I know I taught you well,"

"No It's... it's true,"

"You are getting good at this," she turned to look at him only to find him lying next to her. He gazed at her with the soft eyes of his, observing her. "Look at you man, with your witty remark, impeccable manner and pearly smile, you're killing all the ladies." she teased, she had him smiling with bashfulness

"Oh, oh! Look at your dazzling eyes !" She teased him, giggling next to her—throwing his head back. "Don't be shy, come on!" she jest and he pushed her away, they end up roughened up each other

They playfully jostled against each other, she push him off her, his messy hair against her cheeks, roughly, on the bed until her hands become weak and she begged him to stop, and gasping for the air, tummy hurt from all the heartily laughed and ticklish banter they had. The light filtered in her room, and the opened window let the cold air in, the rise of the sun was ignored.

"Someone take this man away ! " Shuri jest, she had her feet propped on his thigh, giving them both a wide berth.

"Oh you want me to leave? There won't be anyone to pick up your slack next time," he brays, pushing her off him, fighting her off with a gentle push and pull. She clung on him, gasping for air, "Wait ! No, no, no, you're mine, please..."

"Don't go ..." Shuri wiped the tears from the end of her eyes,"You're mine, I'm sorry I said that,"

"I am yours…"

"You're my man," she giggled, but he didn't speak or move further. His update uploaded and he became rigid.

His blue eyes glowed and turned pink and white for a few minutes before he turned it back to normal. It beeped. Shuri ignored her android, she looked over at the digital clock, hanging on the centre wall of her room, it's 7a.m.

"Let's get you ready before school, I haven't charge you for days,"

"I can charge myself."

"Sure,"

"A real man never asked favour from his woman,"

"Oh what a man," Shuri busied herself, peeling her clothes off, and it fell on the floor. She all smiled, when the droid watched her, staring. A man or an android? He's an android, what possibly can go wrong? He has no need unlike a real human, and she's an atrocious flirt

"I did tell you that you can't save our private moments to my cousin's security file right? That would be disgusting. I hope you delete our privacy everytime you're in my room with me alone."

and she took off her last piece of clothes after she got into the shower. Kickin it out of the tub. "Especially when I'm naked," her voice echoed. The door opens and her droid walks in, watching her

She's showering, her back against him.

His eyes glow whites and blue for a minute. His setting beeps and it indicates a new update. Lately he's been doing that.

He passed her a towel when she's finished

.

.

They went to school and he's acting like an insufferable bodyguard but he's an android. He's coded to care for her which is understandable, and she likes him around, but it boosts his reason to behave around her. Handsy

N'Jadaka popped out of the kitchen, cooking dinner in his kitchen, in his house. It feels strange. He's been gone for weeks, sometimes he hadn't bothered to check on her, the said man stood in her bubble a.k.a his own house.

"I thought you're not home this week,"

"Cousin…. you're quick to chase me out, I see…" N'Jadaka jest, his eyes glance around, looking for his prototype but the prototype has gone upstairs.

"Recharge,"

"Phew, he's giving me an ick," N'Jadaka quipped,

"Excuse me?" Shuri gasped, "You gave me a whole android and now you're reluctant to look at it?"

"Droid? He's a super soldier droid, I gave you the best one."

"Soldier…what?"

"I mean… look, he's a…. a soldier turned into a droid."

"Oh hell no, that sounds even worse," she's shook but N'Jadaka had a gummy laugh when she pointed that out. "Yo cousin, that's not funny,"

"You know what's worse, I can't seem to find a file on your daily routine. Like it's gone…"

"Oh, I told Bucky to cut it,"

"Bucky?"

"Yeah. yeah," she nodded, "It's his preference, you know. Shorter than all those numbers that had me spewing unrealistic numbers out of thin air, prototype no.475800 or whatever ya know. It's not my vibe,"

"Shuri … he's blocking the file. I can't access… I don't have the file."

"Well, now you sound like a pervert."

"Excuse me?"

"What file cousin? My daily routine? That's perverted behaviour alright." Shuri snapped,

"Shuri… please–"

"I'm fucking tired N'Jadaka, don't make me repeat myself,"

He shut his mouth, nodded.

"Thanks,"

Their back and forth questions centre around her school. N'Jadaka left after they had dinner. She promised him that all the missing files were her response to her privacy, and she promised him there's nothing more. Bucky will open the access right back which excludes her in her private time.

"I swear he's charged in your designated room. Last time I checked he's exactly in his designated place. I won't sell him on ebay," Shuri waves him off. He drove away.

"I had a chance to choke the life out of him," he laid next to her, Shuri rolled over on her stomach, propped her head on her hand,

"Be my guest and queue up,"

He raised an eyebrow, amused. "I'm mildly surprised you didn't undo him, for giving you a soldier droid instead of domestic droid,"

She giggled. "I guess the power of love help me endure it,"

"Oh, that's…. interesting," he paused, "You fancy him?"

"Who? My cousin? "

"Yes. That wretched cousin of yours,"

"What kind of question is that? Hell no ! He ain't the one. My man is equipped with a free form set-up in his setting. "

"Oh ! a true gentleman," he agreed, "Is the said man, is in the room with us perhaps?"

"Is he?" She blew an air out of her nose,

"Mmmm," he feigned a concerned

"Mmmm," she chuckled,

"He must have a pleasing and well-defined feature," He tilted his head, watching her cover her face with her hands, she nodded shyly, "Charming man, I presume?"

She giggled "Boo ! What a self-proclaimed man! Too proud! "

"Is he?" He proceeded to pull her feet and tickle her feet, she couldn't stop coughing, she yelled at him while laughing a bray.

"Oh,no,no,no you were right! Stop ! You'rekillingme!"

"What was that?"

"He has a pleasing and well-defined feature !" She screamed, on the brink of losing the air out of her lungs.

"Oh, you're being so kind," he released her feet, watching her regain her breathing

"Do I get a gift for being kind?" she teases

"Say please, It's a good manner,"

"Please, give me a gift," she giggled. "Pretty please…." she coaxed playfully, he pressed her down onto her back and leaned closer—kissed her lips. Her breath hitched, startled, she gently pulled away. He seized her, bearing his weight upon her

"What're you doing?" She gasped, bewildered.

"It's fine, it's fine," he chanted, reassuring her, "We need this, it's fine, I'm yours," he murmured softly, coaxing her to let go.

"I don't know," she said quietly, "I don't know, I don't wanna be a sinner," she quickly added, unease, "I can't,"

"I'm an android," he sighed, kissing her neck and kneading her mound. "Am I not an android?"

"You're not a man. You're an android." she mimics, rendering her into a breathless young lady under the persuasive droid.

She held onto his strong shoulder, as he had her intimately in a slow and tantalisingly heavy motion of unholy matrimony. She soared on waves of pleasure, the heat in her coil fluttered, got her feeling hazy and breathless as he steered at a quicker pace, and she's tingled, trembled … had her toes–curling and she had atrocious waves of pleasure released, and he grinned, shamelessly kiss her neck, as she's clenching and flutter

She kept feeling nauseous, and bloated. Nauseous. Her white discharge is getting a lot worse than before even though her soreness has lessened. It stung. He was adamant. They might have had it rough, due to their new discovery and excitement, it might have got to do with them being extra creative as well with their prolific time…

"I feel so sick lately, I think I'm dying,"

"You'll be fine, morning sickness will be a regular occurrence in your first trimester,"

"Morning sickness? I'm not—do you think I'm sick?"

"I think you're in delicate conditions,"

Shuri howled with laughter, "You gotta stop reading too much stuffs online like Reddit, alright ,"

"Who's Reddit?"

"What's this question even? Reddit is a website…duhh,"

He rolled his eyes

"Oh come on, Bucky… don't be mad. I know you're upset, but you're overeating. One command and you're gonna be fine. Breezy. I can reset your files right now…mmm maybe we can tinker it better," Shuri reached for the stack of paper underneath her bed, "Oh, here it is,"

"Tinker me?" He shook, he looked at her with disbelief " I specifically told you… N'Jadaka tried to reset me to nothing," he pressed, "I don't even remember what my face looks like, Shuri ! " he barked

"And? What's your big deal? You're going to be fine. You're an android, Bucky," she snapped,

"Fine?!" He snapped,

The morning light fell on his back, as he strode closer, and it's unsettling how he towering over her with his intimidating pose, hands by his side, jaw clenched, staring down on her.

She backed away from him, he stopped in his stride. It gave her a little strength to oppose his insolent behaviour. "What's up with you !" Disappointment is an understatement

He had no right to intimidate her ! She probably should just take his charger off to see if he likes being off forever!

Shuri rolled her eyes, and turned her back on him, stomping her way out of the door. It's agonisingly insulting how her outburst didn't faze him. "I hate you!" she bursts, tearing up. Oh hell, now she's overly sensitive. She hates being vulnerable.

"No, no, Shuri," he seized her as she pulled away, "Shuri listen to me, I'm sorry, just listen to me,"

She huffed and folded her arms. He sat her on the edge of the bed. "I'm listening," she pulled away from him, and stomped her foot down with force, sulking.

"You're gonna hurt your feet, stay still," he said. He gestured to her to sit on the edge of the bed, he then put an ointment on her sole and gently rubbed her right foot with care. Begrudgingly, he's right, her clumsy noisy stomping tantrum had her feet hurt

Initially, it's uncomfortable for her to let him care for her, but he is adamant and he's gentle—she at some point, gave in and let him massage her feets. It feels so good that she makes noncommittal noise, soft sounds of approval, and it turns into humming as he rubs her foot. She enjoys his warm hands on her foot, pampering her.

"You're welcome." he grinned,

"I'm sorry I snapped," she apologised,

"It's fine, I guess it's your hormone," He rested his hand on her tummy. "Be good to mommy, baby, mommy's been sick," he murmured again, but not to her. He kept caressing her tummy and it didn't sit right with her.

It terrified her to core

"You're just an….android," she reason, her heart skipped, "I—I'm not expecting," she stuttered, she slapped his hand off her, her fuzzy mind turned blurry and she's panicked

"Yes, I am. I am a super soldier turned into a droid. I am equipped with fertility, as I said before I can breed, "

"NO,no,no…, you're wrong, you're an ANDROID…" Shuri shoved him off her— a bitter taste biled up, and her stomach convulsed in an unpleasant twist that she puked on her bedroom floor, she puked and puked until she was dry-heaving and her body convulsed in empty spasms. He patted her back with tender concern, he gently soothed her back, offering his comforting touch.

"You're doing so well, my love," he tenderly placed a kiss on the top of her head.

.

.

.

Beep

N'Jadaka voice mail echoed from the living room.

"Hey Shuri, I won't be home this week. There's good news! My company is going to launch a whole market of my robotic prototype to the public! It won't work as well as yours but–"

Beep Beep Beeeep

another voicemail

"Listen to our marketing ! "

' The prototype cannot lie and serves to fulfil the owner's needs that it feels fit…. '

'A friends ! A listener ! A babysitter ! A teacher ! A lover ! We're human droids ! A replica of dead loved ones? We can be one too ! ….'

"I'm going to change the world, Shuri! I know it!"

.

.