[A/N: am i doing these fics w the boys based on things that they like??? Yes. Bc they're easy prompts. And i want these to be one-on-one interactions.

i started the games fic w Cubey like three months before this one. Tbh, this one and that one are really really reliant on the time setting, which i put to be '86 or early '87. Maybe it's just me, but finding things that DON'T exceed a timeframe is really really hard for me. So forgive if it's not realistic: i'm just stupid. Also i'm making up names for things, so if any exist it's not at all intentional.

Sigh, i know that i use feminine pronouns a lot when i write Auto, but… it's just kind of easier to distinguish things when they interact w a guy. I don't really know any neopronoun sets, but the ones that i've seen like xe/xis seem almost gendered as well. Auto is gonna stay genderneutral, but like… idk.

TW/CW: walking, tiny bit of anxiety, visual signals (like hand waving), lil bit of physical contact, friendship, excitement, happiness, discussing a subject that character likes (music), sharing opinions and secrets, inviting a friend to a home]

Auto came up beeping from behind Mitch walking on the sidewalk. She circled around to be partway in front of him, waving her hand to get his attention. "Hey Auto! What's goin' down, dude???"

Auto smiled. "Hi Mitch!!! Do you mind if i walk with you for a little while?" She cocked her head cutely.

"'Course not, bro! Let's get walkiin'." He grinned back.

"Thank you, Mitch!!" She fell in beside him again.

"How have you been?? You and i never spend time together one-on-one. You're not avoiding me, are ya'???" He spoke playfully.

But Auto became frazzled. "Nonono, of course not!!! I'm not avoiding you at all, Mitch!! I-i'm just… i'm just shy is all… You know how i get…" She grew sheepish.

Mitch chuckled and very lightly pushed his fist against Auto's arm. "I'm just messing with you! I know you can't get enough of me!"

Auto felt relieved, but also clumsy. She ducked her head. "Heheheh, yeah… Wh-who can???" She grinned nervously.

The two walked together for a couple of minutes in silence. Auto initially thought it was because of how awkward she was, but was able to shake the feeling after a bit. She guessed that she was able to do that because she trusted Mitch as a friend. She glanced over to him and watched how he moved. After a while of knowing him, it seemed like the headphones that he always wore were connected to his body, but they finally caught Auto's attention. She examined their shape and material and how Mitch's hair fell around them. There was more to examine, but she couldn't do it from her current position. One thing about them probably meant more to Mitch than the rest, so she decided that she would ask about it.

Auto moved around him again and waved her hand to get his attention. She figured that the music that he was listening to might be too loud for him to have heard her speak.

Mitch smiled a laugh at the display. "What's up, Auto???"

"Oh! I was just wondering about your headphones." She pointed to the side of her head as if she were wearing a set. "What kind of music are you listening to???"

Mitch seemed to brighten. He grinned wide, "oh boy. Are you sure you're ready for that conversation?"

Auto blinked in surprise. "Oh. Uuuhh…" She didn't put too much thought into it before nodding her head. "Y-yeah! I wanna hear what you have to say."

Mitch took a deep breath. He smirked. "Okay. So the music i'm listening to." Auto blinked. "It's a band called 'Tiger,' spelled with three Rs. I don't think they're my favorite, but they're really freaking good. This is this third album that i'm listening to right now, and i think it's my favorite of theirs so far. It's called "Pridewrath." I think it's better than their fourth, but from what i've read in a few magazines, their fifth album is going to be total zombies, dude. I'm wicked excited for it. It's gonna be out late next month, so i've been listening to them, like, nonstop."

"Nice! It's so great to have things to be excited about!!" Auto smiled wide and genuine, happy that Mitch was eager to share his thoughts. "What do you like best about them???"

"Oh man, i love the way they combine classic metal with really heavy guitar riffs. I haven't heard many other bands that are able to meld them so well together. They're, like, one of the most metal of all of the metal bands." His excitement was audible in his tone of voice.

"That sounds really cool! Do you have a favorite song of theirs???"

Mitch blew out some air. "Psshhhhh, it's hard to say. I really like 'Burning Alive' and 'Midnight Dawn,' but 'Let It Rain' is also really good, and that's on their second album, 'Cutting Light.'"

"That sounds cool!! I can never decide on a favorite song myself. There's too many good ones to choose from."

"A truer statement has never been said." He nodded seriously.

Auto was still curious about his opinions. "Is metal your favorite genre of music???"

Mitch tilted his head in thought as he answered. "That's also hard to say exactly. There are a lot of subgenres of metal that all have their own distinct sound. I definitely have some favorites of those, but i guess in general, yeah, metal is my favorite genre."

"I didn't know that there were different kinds of metal music! I need to listen to more of it. From what i've heard, i do really like it too." She smiled at him.

"Other rock is cool, too, though. All of that old school stuff that paved the way for modern music is really awesome to listen to. You can definitely see the inspiration from that music in even the heaviest stuff that you hear today."

Auto nodded. "That's true. Not to mention all of the covers that you hear of music from that era." Auto felt a bit nervous to share, but she thought that Mitch would understand where she was getting her opinion from. "I-if i'm being honest, i don't really like the way that some of that music physically sounds." Mitch looked at her. "Like the quality of the recordings, i mean. Compared to music from even a decade ago, all of that stuff sounds really… old. It's amazing how far the technology for it has evolved in such a short time."

Mitch thought about it. He nodded. "I think i know what you mean. I don't know if i've heard anybody have that opinion about it, but i do agree that the audio quality of newer music is really amazing. Even acoustic elements to songs sound like you're in the room with the musicians while they're recording!"

"Yes, yes, that's exactly what i mean! I really like that about music these days." She smirked shyly. "I guess you could say that i'm a sucker for technology, heheheheh."

Mitch smiled and rolled his eyes. "You don't say. I would have never guessed that from you!" They both giggled. "Well," Mitch leaned in and whispered. "Between you and me, i don't hate ALL pop music." Auto loved being trusted with secrets, but she sometimes didn't understand why they needed to be secrets. The confusion must have shown on her face. "A lot of metalheads and just music fans in general like to hate on pop music for being manufactured and repetitive, which a lot of it is. But there are some songs that have a lot to offer for being from that group of music. Even if it's only lyrics deep, some pop songs have some really good aspects to them." He moved his hand to be beside his mouth. "But you didn't hear that from me."

Auto smiled, despite still not understanding the gravity of what he said. "I don't mind much pop music. There are some songs that are really really annoying, though. I can imagine that some people would really dislike that."

"Yeah, it's really weird how some things get popular while other, better things don't. I think it's just a government psy-op, but you also didn't hear that from me, heheh." Mitch wrapped his arm around Auto's shoulders. "Hey Auto, wanna come back to my place so we can listen to some Tigerrr??? I bet you'll really enjoy it."

Auto's chassis wirred with excitement. She smiled wide. "Yeah, sure!!! I'd love to go listen to music with you, Mitch!!! Thank you so much for inviting me!!!"

"Anytime, dude!!!" Mitch smiled wide in return. "If it's ever music that you're looking for, then i'm your guy."

"I'd have never guessed that from you." The two laughed and went on to listen to and talk about music into the late evening.

[Post a/n: ouch, that was weak as all shit. Sorry that only speaking happened: i don't know how to apply action or properly describe facial/body language. Tbh this is a really disappointing entry for someone as obsessive about things as i am, but at the same time i'm not really a music fan at all, so… if you want me to tweak it with something specific just lmk and i'll do it. Hopefully that would turn out okay.]