Chell's steely eyes flickered from one corner of the room to the next, seemingly trying to fixate on anything but the elephant in the room.
While normally she would focus on GLaDOS's large chassis or the ceiling of the Central AI Chamber, she found herself instead looking at her feet, her gaze on her long-fall boots, scuffed from years of wear.
GLaDOS apparently took no notice of Chell's nervous behavior and was instead continuing on with her explanation of her newest breakthrough - which were the ten test subjects currently lined up in front of the two of them, all clad in Chell's familiar Aperture jumpsuit and boots, with a blank expression to match.
"Blue and Orange unfortunately had to sacrifice around fifty humans in order to get the ones fit for testing back to the upper levels, but they were in critical condition anyway, so don't get too sentimental about it," the super computer said, rambling about her co-op testing bots' latest achievement. "Supposedly, all ten of these specimens were top-tier subjects that had been rewarded with one year of cryosleep for their accomplishments in the testing track, and upon my deactivation by a certain you-know-who, had never been awoken."
GLaDOS paused, as if taking a breath, and fixed her optical sensor on Chell's hardened face, surveying her reaction carefully.
"So? Thoughts? You do think, correct?" she teased, trying to read even the smallest change in Chell's expression.
The female former test subject was thoughtful for a second, her brow furrowed and her arms firmly crossed over her chest.
"I thought you had phased out human testing," Chell signed to the massive AI, a frown clearly worn on her perturbed face.
"I did," the super computer confirmed. "However, Blue and Orange were designed specifically for co-op testing, which has become rather boring to me."
GLaDOS chuckled, then added icily, "I don't suppose you would have wanted to continue the human test subject testing initiative for me, would you?"
Chell immediately and violently shook her head, goosebumps forming along the exposed skin of her arms at the suggestion. She peered curiously at the other humans again, who remained silent despite the animated conversation happening in front of them.
"Why aren't they talking?" the brunette woman signed, staring curiously at the ten stony-faced humans.
"Like I said, these are top-tier testing subjects," GLaDOS explained, an aura of smugness about her. "They have yet to be instructed to speak, and so they won't. You have a lot to learn from this bunch about discipline and obedience."
Chell rolled her eyes, but something about this whole situation was unsettling to her. It dawned on her that she had never witnessed GLaDOS interact with another human aside from herself, save for in the depths of Aperture when they had listened to Cave Johnson's raving.
"Stop your pouting," the AI instructed, taking on an almost synthetic warmth to her tone. "I know you enjoyed having me all to yourself. Don't worry; I would never let some new pets come between us."
The test subject could instantly tell that GLaDOS was teasing her and she gave the robot an exasperated look, hands on her hips.
"Can I leave now?" she signed, not wanting to get in the way of GLaDOS spending time with her 'new pets.'
The super computer was silent for a second as she studied Chell, but before long, the Central AI Chamber door slid open behind the human, and the bright white lights of the room illuminated the empty hallway that stretched out beyond it.
"Go," GLaDOS instructed, and Chell complied, glancing back over her shoulder at a robot who seemed more keen on watching her exit than observing her new playthings.
It was the next morning, and Chell was startled and confused by a large assortment of wildflowers and companion cubes arranged by the Central AI Chamber door.
GLaDOS never seemed like one to try and decorate, especially with how minimalistic all her tests seemed to be, so the brunette was thoroughly bewildered by the blossoms that had obviously been freshly taken from the surface.
She knocked, as she always did, and the door slid open despite the super computer already having known she had been outside the room.
"You're late," the robot pointed out sharply, bringing down a clipboard on a metal claw for Chell to take. "Here is what I need taken care of today."
"Why are there flowers in the hallway?" the woman signed before taking the clipboard and studying it with little interest, her eyes glossing over the usual instructions.
Catalog remaining Aperture foodstuffs. Load and operate Aperture Science Washing Machine Appliance. Load and Operate Aperture Science…
The list went on, and Chell didn't care to read over the whole thing.
"It's simply tragic," GLaDOS began to explain, her voice laden with mock remorse. "Sadly, we lost Test Subject 46753 last night in a horrible, unprecedented testing accident."
"You've killed one of the 'top tier test subjects' already?"
"The test killed them," the AI corrected her, her chassis nearing closer to Chell, her one shining optic resting intently on the human. "All I could do was mourn her loss and craft a memorial."
"Now, about your daily tasks," the robot continued, seemingly unphased by the loss of one of her prized test subjects. "As you'll see at the bottom of the list, there is a new instruction for you."
Surprised, Chell glanced back down at the paper and read the last few lines, genuine surprise etched across her face.
It read: Lead Test Subject Counseling in Aperture Office 73.
"Counseling? You want me to counsel the superhumans?" she signed in disbelief, sheer anxiety gripping her.
Chell had not interacted with another human in centuries, and her few robot interactions didn't have a great track record either.
"Don't worry, they are fluent in American Sign Language," GLaDOS assured Chell, misplacing her concerns. "Along with Spanish, French, Chinese… but I have them beat in sarcasm, of course."
Chell frowned, the clipboard now hanging limply in her hand.
"You never counseled me," she signed, almost teasingly, but was wondering just why GLaDOS was putting so many resources into the new test subjects.
"Well, you're beyond help," was the dry but expected response from the robot looming above her.
Chell rolled her eyes, knowing there wasn't much she could do to get out of this new therapist job GLaDOS seemed intent on making her do.
"I'll go get started on these," she signed, her gaze falling to the clipboard and away from GLaDOS's unblinking face plate.
GLaDOS simply opened the central AI chamber door for the brunette without a word, apparently watching one of her new testing tracks being attempted. She seemed quite pleased with herself, with an air of accomplishment about her that she hadn't had since Chell had last tested with her those years ago.
The human abruptly hurried out of the room, her back to the robot so she couldn't see the pout worn on her face.
It was around two pm and Chell had been waiting in the meeting room that had been set up for her to perform the so-called "Test Subject Counseling." She doubted one therapy session led by someone who likely needed counseling as well would be able to cure them of the horrors of Aperture, but at least she could relate to their experiences, she supposed.
Five test subjects sat before her, none of them having spoken nor made eye contact with her since they arrived.
"You can speak freely here," Chell signed, reading specifically what GLaDOS had printed out for her to tell the group. "This is a safe space and no one will know what is said here."
The brunette internally scoffed; if GLaDOS ever left a room free of cameras and microphones, it would be the day Wheatley crashed back to earth.
Almost instantly, however, the faces of the expressionless test subjects began to soften; they exchanged glances with one another, and then looked back to Chell, as if looking for secret bolts and wiring on her skin.
"You are a human, correct?" one of the male test subjects asked, and goosebumps formed along Chell's skin as his voice met her ears.
She hadn't heard a real human voice in years; it was much quieter than she was used to and it didn't bounce around the walls of the room like GLaDOS's synthetic voice did when she played it over her various speakers throughout Aperture. Chell wasn't sure if she liked it better or not.
"I am," the brunette replied, unsure of how she would even prove her humanity if they continued to ask questions.
The other humans did begin to look more relaxed, however, and Chell gave them a soft smile in return
"I'll call you each back when it's your turn for test subject counseling," she continued, once again reading off of the clipboard with instructions that GLaDOS had provided her. "First up is…Test Subject 15243."
The other eight test subjects shuffled out of the room and surprisingly, it seemed Test Subject 15243 was the man who had spoken up earlier and asked Chell about her humanity.
There was an awkward pause as Chell flipped through the pages on her clipboard, looking for the mandatory questions she was supposed to read through.
"Regarding testing track nine, test number seven, involving the use of Thermal Discouragement Beams and Excursion Funnels, please rate on a scale of one to ten, with one being… "
She slowly put her hands down, frowning at just how long and boring this question was. She gave a small sigh and studied the nervous and worn face of the other human in front of her; it wouldn't hurt to go off script for just a little bit.
"What is your name? " she signed, taking the superhuman test subject off guard, considering the content of her previous question.
He gave her a confused look, and then slowly replied with, "Test Subject 15243."
Chell rolled her eyes, then signed back, "I mean your real name. I'm Chell. "
The man seemed hesitant at first, then said softly, "My name is Lee."
Chell smiled and signed, "Hi, Lee,"slowly spelling out each of the three letters of his name. "Thanks for sharing."
The man still looked wary, and he continued to survey Chell with a guarded look.
"You're not a test subject, are you?" he asked, his dark brown eyes locking with her own.
"No, not anymore," the former test subject began to explain, thinking idly about how he had become the one asking the questions. "I used to run tests with you-know-who until certain…events led us to parting ways. Now, in exchange for shelter and food, I work as something of an assistant to her. "
Lee shuddered, a look of disgust worn on his face, and Chell felt somewhat uneasy.
"You came back of your own accord, to work with her? " he spat, and Chell sat more upright in her chair, her brows furrowing.
"The world you and I knew no longer exists, and the one that does exist now is not so kind," she explained in reply, trying to get across just why she returned. "GLaDOS is-"
"GLaDOS? Is that her name?" Lee said incredulously, cutting Chell off, and her stomach sank.
The brunette nodded and began to sign, but Lee put his hand up to signal her to stop. Cautiously, she put her hands back on her lap.
"Name or no name, that robot is a monster," he began, and Chell couldn't help but think about the irony in someone else addressing GLaDOS as such in front of her.
"Whoever or whatever programmed that machine is unwell," he continued. "They certainly did a good job in trying to make it seem like it has its own conscience, but it's just a pretense so that we will be more likely to obey it. You have been fooled into coming back here, and you and I are likely doomed to share the same fate as Test Subject 46753."
Chell frowned as she thought back to the companion cubes and flowers that had been placed outside of the Central AI Chamber door, and she stood up from her chair, startling Lee and knocking her clipboard off of her lap and onto the floor.
"GLaDOS has a conscience and she is my friend," she signed somewhat aggressively, anger welling up inside of her; she wasn't sure why, but the other human talking about GLaDOS as though she was just a program bothered her.
"She wouldn't kill me," she continued, almost desperately, and Chell wondered if she was saying that more to convince Lee or to convince herself.
Lee stood up in turn, his expression hard and full of contempt. "Oh, so she's never tried?"
Chell's mouth hung agape, a sinking feeling pooling in the pit of her stomach, and Lee's harsh expression of "I told you so" added even more anxiety to that pool.
He sighed. Before turning to leave, he simply said, "What makes you any different from me? We're both nothing to her."
Chell sat back down and noticed that her eyes were threatening to well up with tears; she remembered that GLaDOS was secretly listening in on this conversation and began wiping her eyes with the bottom of her tank top, willing her upset-ness to go away.
She took a few deep breaths, almost half expecting GLaDOS's familiar sarcastic tone to ring out over the intercom speaker in the small office she was currently seated in. She found herself a bit disappointed when only silence came, and she sighed, typing in the test subject number of the next person that was scheduled to come in. A few seconds passed before a girl around her age wandered in, looking both curious and shy.
"Hi," she greeted Chell before sitting in the chair opposite her, and Chell felt a bit more relaxed with this test subject compared to the previous.
"Hi," Chell signed in return, hoping she didn't look as if she had just been crying. She decided to just skip to the actual 'therapy' part of this rather than asking for this girl's name or anything else too personal. It didn't seem like a good idea after all, given Lee's session.
Her brown eyes scanned the list of questions on the clipboard GLaDOS had given her and she decided on one of the shorter ones to start with.
"What do you like about testing?" she signed, suddenly frowning as she read the footnote for the question: "For test subjects under age ten only."
Surely Aperture wasn't experimenting with children…but then again, she recalled the "bring your child to work" day fiasco and the fact that the dubious company had been doing 'science' since the 1940s, when things were much less regulated.
The other girl's face lit up at this question, which Chell found slightly odd considering there couldn't possibly be too much to like about the deadly testing.
"I thought these questions were going to be really difficult and personal," she began, explaining her relief. Chell cringed slightly at the thought of the difficult and personal conversation she had just had with Lee, but held her tongue as the other human continued.
"I don't really like the testing itself, but I love when the robot lady praises me," she continued, her tone far more happy and cutesy than Chell would expect an Aperture Science Test Subject's to be.
The brunette woman frowned. Praise her? She could only be referring to GLaDOS. Since when did the super computer give out compliments?
"As in, when you do well in the testing tracks?" Chell asked, and the other girl nodded.
"Yeah, if I do the test fast, then she is so nice," she explained, crossing one of her legs over the other. "She once told me I was the best test subject she ever had. It was such an ego boost."
Chell's stomach felt a bit uneasy at that comment; she was pretty sure GLaDOS had paid her the same compliment at some point. She bit her lip and surveyed the clipboard again, finding it difficult to read the questions as her mind was now racing.
She didn't like how GLaDOS kept coming up in these sessions. It made sense given she was the main point of contact any of them had, but she felt uneasy and maybe even a bit upset.
Chell hesitated, one question weighing on her mind more than the others. She knew GLaDOS would hear if she asked the test subject in front of her, so she was weighing her pride against her curiosity.
"Are the two of you friends?" she finally asked, giving in. She wasn't even completely sure she wanted to hear the answer.
"We're more of like a manager and their trainee," the girl answered, not really sure how to describe the relationship between the two. Her gaze fell for a second before she trailed on and said, "It would be hard to ever consider her a friend, right? Considering how many humans she's probably inadvertently killed."
Chell scoffed at the word "inadvertently" being used to describe GLaDOS's murders, but she felt that same emptiness in her chest again from when Lee had said something similar.
"Yeah, I suppose so," she replied simply, placing her clipboard of questions back on the desk before her. "That concludes our therapy session. You can return to the waiting area."
The two thanked each other and the test subject quickly slipped out, leaving Chell alone with her racing thoughts.
"You have been fooled into coming back here."
"I was the best test subject she ever had."
Lee and the second test subject's words kept replaying in her head, and she couldn't deny that they made her feel sad. She didn't want to think GLaDOS was lying to her, or didn't value her life at this point. She also didn't want GLaDOS to replace her, or find herself enjoying the company of another human even more.
Her cheeks flushed a bit as she realized that she wanted to mean something to GLaDOS. Sighing, she decided there was no use sitting around and feeling hung up on this. Chell headed back to the waiting area and called off the remainder of the therapy sessions, instructing the remaining subjects to go back to their quarters.
She was going to go talk to her friend GLaDOS.
GLaDOS was currently observing Test Subject 5765, who was nearly finished with a particularly challenging test involving aerial faith plates and lots of deadly goo.
The human seemed to have hit a wall, as many humans do, and couldn't figure out the next step in the puzzle.
"Chell would've been able to solve this by now," the super computer mused to herself, finding her thoughts often trailing back to her stubborn little worker.
She knew better than to put Chell back in the testing tracks, but she couldn't say she didn't ever dream of it.
The new human test subjects were good playthings and had helped her with testing some of her beta projects, ones far too deadly and tedious for her to dare put Chell in, but the testing euphoria response was not the same.
It was almost funny to GLaDOS how Chell had once been the object of her utmost detestation, and now she couldn't fathom the idea of putting her into a lethal test. She had really made herself useful, not just as an assistant, but as company in the lonely void that was Aperture Science.
GLaDOS thought of the video and audio footage she had just witnessed of Chell, who had gotten a bit heated with one of the test subjects during the counseling session.
GLaDOS is my friend…She wouldn't kill me.
The AI was glad to see Chell express those sentiments, but it was also embarrassing to see her defend her so desperately. The robot was also surprised to sense that Chell was heading to her chambers now, especially given the fact that she ended the counseling session early. It was unlike her to leave any of her tasks unfinished.
The chamber doors slid open and the brunette woman stood there, almost out of breath, still clutching her clipboard against her chest.
"My, was it that hard for you to talk about feelings?" GLaDOS quipped, putting her focus entirely on Chell despite the fact that 5765 was nearly finished with her test.
Chell flushed at the question, determined not to let the super computer lead her off track for what she had come there for.
"Did you hear the meeting?" she signed, somewhat embarrassed.
"I can't hear anything you say, dear," the robot replied, and Chell scowled, her hands now on her hips.
"Yes, I observed the counseling, just as I observe everything in my facility," GLaDOS admitted, wondering just why Chell seemed to care. She was the queen of Aperture, afterall, and everything within the facility was hers to do with as she pleased - perhaps even Chell.
"So is it true?" the human asked, and GLaDOS fixed her shining optic on her, the metal covering around it squinting slightly.
"Just because I can watch you does not mean I can read your mind," the robot responded, drawing in a bit closer. "Although I doubt there is much going on in there."
"Was that girl the best test subject you ever had?" Chell signed, her hands flustered; she hated how upset it had made her to hear that GLaDOS had told someone else that and was even more upset to think it might be true.
"Words of praise do wonders for some humans in the testing track," the robot replied, seemingly unphased by Chell's questioning. "I've said lots of things I don't mean. And lots of terrible things that I do mean, of course."
Chell's stomach dropped as she thought of just what kind things GLaDOS had said to her that she hadn't meant; she then frowned as she realized there were plenty of awful things the robot had said before that she definitely did mean.
"So, I'm not your favorite test subject?" Chell dared to sign, her eyes no longer meeting GLaDOS's face plate.
GLaDOS drew closer to Chell, her optic glancing to the floor and then back up to meet the woman's gaze.
"You know I don't play favorites," the robot remarked, her tone smug as always but undeniably soft.
Chell nodded and rolled her eyes, playfully signing "yes" against GLaDOS's smooth face plate to show her understanding. The AI pressed her core against Chell's hand in response, taking the woman by surprise; Chell opened her hand and caressed the warm metal, a lump in her throat as silence stretched between the two.
"But if I did," GLaDOS continued, her shining yellow optic boring into Chell's steel blue eyes, "you would not be my favorite test subject. And do you know why?"
Chell frowned, distractedly stroking the AI's face plate with her thumb, the pleasant hum of electronics working against her hand.
"Because you, mi cara, are my favorite human. My friend. A much higher honor to have," GLaDOS answered in a confident voice, studying Chell's face intently in the hopes of seeing relief.
Chell admittedly did feel better but wasn't entirely convinced. What made her any different to GLaDOS than the other humans? Seeing the way the robot interacted with them made her question what GLaDOS really thought of her. She was treated better, given that she didn't have to run testing tracks, but she felt more like the super computer's pet than her friend.
GLaDOS seemed sincere, though, and was still staring at Chell with a hopeful, almost nervous vibe.
"You can be kind of nice when you want to be," Chell replied finally, a tired smile worn on her face.
"Maybe I should get a regulatory core to fix that," the robot responded, joking but also a bit touched at how pleased Chell seemed from her comment. "Now, I believe you have quite a few more tasks to complete for me today."
"Fine, but no more counseling," the brunette asserted, crossing out that particular task with her pen.
"I'll allow it," GLaDOS relented. "You're hardly qualified given the brain damage."
Chell rolled her eyes and turned on her heel to leave but couldn't hide the grin GLaDOS had put on her face.
Nightfall finally came in Aperture and Chell stretched at her desk in her own personal bedroom, looking down at the list GLaDOS had given her to complete that morning. All the tasks had been checked off, save for the counseling one, which was now illegible under pen scribbles.
She supposed she'd give the robot one last visit today and confirm that everything was completed. They'd ended things on a good note that afternoon, so Chell had slight butterflies in her stomach at the thought of chatting with GLaDOS again.
She slowly made her way to the AI chamber, stifling a yawn. She stood outside the entrance before knocking softly, but the doors didn't open on their own, which was a first; she listened quietly only to realize she could hear the voice of GLaDOS and someone else on the other side.
"...my most accomplished test subject, by far," she heard GLaDOS's familiar synthetic voice say over her PA system.
"I am honored to work for you," a female human voice replied.
"I could use another assistant, actually. With your skills, the efficiency of Aperture would–"
At this point, Chell loudly knocked on the door, and GLaDOS's voice abruptly stopped.
The doors finally slid open to reveal the AI only a few feet away from the test subject that Chell had met in counseling earlier that day, the bubbly woman.
"This particular human could stand to learn from you, 86754," the robot continued, addressing both Chell and the test subject. "She does not listen to instruction well. Chell, I kept the doors closed for a reason."
Chell was seeing red at this point; how dare GLaDOS chastise her in front of one of her "playthings"? What was so private about their conversation that she had been shut out of the room? GLaDOS had never once made her wait to speak with her, and the fact that she was now in favor of this other human made her feel sick.
Test Subject 86754 observed Chell blankly, not acknowledging that they had previously met; Chell supposed she was intentionally doing so because GLaDOS was present.
"I wanted to report to you on today's tasks," Chell signed, her face not at all masking her unease.
"Finally finished, then?" GLaDOS replied, her usual quippy tone back. "I'd honestly begun to wonder if you got lost."
"I need to speak with you about them alone," Chell demanded, her signing clearly upset as she emphasized the last word; the super computer was silent in response and 86754 maintained her expressionless face but shifted awkwardly on her feet.
"I'll summon you again later, Test Subject 86754," GLaDOS finally said and the other human rushed out; Chell caught her glancing over her shoulder as she left, finally showing an expression of shock.
There was an awkward pause as the unwelcome human shuffled out, and GLaDOS and Chell just stood there staring at one another, the brunette woman's face obviously frustrated.
"You're really not setting a good example for the other humans," the robot finally said, daring to break the tension. "If they get the idea that they can talk back to me, I'll–"
"I couldn't care less about the other humans," Chell interrupted in a huff, sick to death of their constant mention. "Things were so much better when it was just me and you."
GLaDOS surveyed the wound-up woman before her, surprised at her sudden outburst.
"Oh? And here I thought you could finally make some real friends," she joked, but Chell was most certainly not in the mood.
She bit her lip as she felt her eyes begin to sting, threatening to spill over with tears; GLaDOS was her real friend, or so she had thought. Then again, maybe she didn't want them to be friends at all.
She wanted to be special to GLaDOS, perhaps even something more than a friend, and these new test subjects threatened that. It was enough to almost drive her back out of Aperture at this rate – she felt so vulnerable being confronted with her feelings in this way.
"Oh, Chell," GLaDOS's voice called out again, her tone much softer than usual; Chell then realized that she was crying, and she hastily wiped her eyes with the bottom of her tank top.
"I won't make you interact with them anymore if it bothers you that much," the super computer relented, admittedly very curious as to why the new humans in the facility seemed to be such a touchy subject for Chell. "But at least explain why you don't like them. Is it because they grew up with parents that loved them? Maintained a healthy weight?"
GLaDOS was taking jabs at her, clearly trying to lighten the mood, but the fact that she wasn't taking her seriously just hurt the brunette more.
"It's not that I don't like them – I don't like being compared to them. I don't like hearing about all the time they spend with you, and I don't like hearing about how great you think they are," Chell signed aggressively, letting all of her feelings on the matter out at last.
This whole situation didn't sit right with her since the beginning, and she was worried jealousy might be the root of it; now she was ashamed to admit it's definitely a large part of it.
GLaDOS was nonplussed. This was most certainly not the reaction she had expected, and she had never seen Chell act like this.
"There's no comparison to be made," she quipped, but Chell was seething. The AI backtracked, unsure of how to reassure the disgruntled human before her.
"Chell, they are nothing to me. They are test subjects," she continued, gently now.
"I was a test subject," Chell signed with a hurt expression.
GLaDOS hesitated.
"You were always much more than that," she replied after her pause, her tone almost sincere. "Including a lunatic, overweight, adopted, murderous…"
Chell sighed, which took the AI off guard. The normally proud woman seemed so defeated, and the robot wondered what it was she wanted her to say.
"Tell me I'm special. Tell me I mean something to you," Chell signed in smaller movements than usual, as if reading GLaDOS's mind.
"You certainly are special," the super computer replied, but couldn't help but feel like she was compensating with passive aggression to mask her unease.
Chell could only feel frustration in this moment. She was finally letting down her walls in front of GLaDOS, who didn't seem to care enough about her feelings to take the moment seriously. The two stared at each other for a beat before the human turned to leave, afraid her frustration would lead to tears in front of the robot.
On the other hand, GLaDOS didn't know what to think, which was rare, given her vast processing ability. She certainly hadn't expected this reaction from Chell over the new test subjects but she knew that after they had arrived, she had begun to realize her own feelings more as well.
She cared nothing for them. They completed the tests and furthered science and even activated her testing euphoria response, but it was all meaningless compared to how she felt about Chell.
She often found herself wondering what Chell was doing while she boredly watched the subjects attempt her tests. She was excited when she and Chell got to talk like this, and when the little murderer did complete her tests? The euphoria response was unlike any other she had experienced before.
GLaDOS had never thought much about love or attraction before. She hadn't even considered herself capable of those things before finding out about her connection to Caroline. But when she replayed the words Chell had just signed to her, she felt as though her wiring was red-hot.
The AI internally groaned. So much for being married to science.
"Chell, don't go," GLaDOS called as the woman turned to leave and Chell froze, her back now to the super computer.
More silence stretched between the two, but GLaDOS was taking that time to steel herself for what she was about to say.
"You are special to me," the robot started, her tone low and quiet. "More special than any other test subject I've had before."
Chell whipped around, her face a bit flushed but the expression worn on it unsure.
"Because I'm your friend?" she signed, recalling their previous conversation that had left her down the rest of that night.
GLaDOS hesitated.
"Well, we are friends," she replied, embarrassed by Chell's question. "And we are also more than friends in the sense that you work for me now."
Chell clenched her fists by her side, her brow furrowed. GLaDOS was avoiding her question, but had at least admitted she was more special than the other test subjects. She'd take that as a small victory.
The brunette woman knew what she had to do now. She was never going to get a straight answer out of GLaDOs; the robot was either too proud, embarrassed, or maybe even dumb on this subject to answer properly.
"Well, you're special to me, too," Chell started, taking back the initiative. "And it's not because you're my friend or my co-worker."
"We do have a history," GLaDOS quipped, but inside she was very curious as to the reason she was so special to Chell.
"What if we could have a future?" Chell signed, her gaze drifting downwards.
Now it was Chell's turn to be nervous; GLaDOS was a multi-billion dollar super computer. Couldn't she just read her mind and they could call it a day?
"Oh? Do you want to test again for me?" the robot teased, not noticing the nervousness in Chell's face.
"If it would make you happy," was all the human could think to reply with, her face burning now.
GLaDOS was thoughtful for a moment and replied with, "I am already very happy. I know you're not overly fond of my tests."
The two stared each other down, wondering if what the other was thinking could possibly be true. Chell was doing her best to put herself out there, but couldn't get a read on GLaDOS; GLaDOS, on the other hand, was dueling with her embarrassment and her pride.
"Well, I think I've taken up enough of your free time," the AI said, breaking the silence that kept creeping up on the two of them. "I hope you feel a bit better about the test subj-"
"I'm in love with you," Chell signed quickly in a slight panic, afraid that the conversation topic was going to be changed before she had a chance to finally say it.
The human woman was internally screaming; she had finally admitted it. She looked to GLaDOS, who didn't even have a face; she had no possible way of knowing what the robot was thinking or how she was feeling. The tension was maddening.
"Could you repeat that? My optical sensor had a malfunction due to a driver reset," was the incredibly frustrating reply that came from GLaDOS, who was having a slight meltdown within her core processors.
Chell buried her face in her hands briefly before drawing closer to the core, her face red but determined.
"I'm going to kiss you," she signed, knowing GLaDOS's one eye had been locked on her the whole time and still was. "If you don't want me to, now's your chance to say something."
Kiss me, a robot? GLaDOS thought to herself incredulously, but Chell's face was drawing nearer each second and if she didn't stop it, she was basically confessing her love in return.
But GLaDOS knew. She'd known for a while now, ever since the return of her favorite test subject, particularly with the arrival of the new human testers. Perhaps she even had an inkling of it when she and Chell struggled together in the abandoned underground of Aperture and she had to make that decision to let her finally go, because that was what was best for the human. And she had wanted to do what was best for Chell.
"Chell…" GLaDOS began, and the woman stopped, looking up expectantly at the super computer.
"I do not know if I am capable of love," the robot continued, and it dawned on her that this may be a confession of one of her greatest fears. Chell just listened patiently.
"But I've never felt this way before. The way I feel about you, that is," GLaDOS went on. "I've known many, many humans. I've seen many cores come and go, and I've run many tests. Indifference to all of it was always very easy for me until you came along.
"I do not know if it is love, but when it comes to you, we can try it. I want to try seeing if I can maybe…"
GLaDOS trailed off, but Chell understood. She was elated; GLaDOS's phrasing had been a bit sad, but the human had never considered that love could be beyond what the robot was capable of.
But GLaDOS wanted to try. GLaDOS didn't reject her.
"If you can try loving me back?" Chell responded, gently brushing against the AI's faceplate with her fingers, surprised at how warm and abuzz it was beneath her touch.
"Yes," GLaDOS affirmed, leaning slightly into the touch; Chell placed both of her hands on either side of the core now and drew herself up to GLaDOS, her own eyes so very close to the shining yellow optic of the AI.
Tenderly, Chell pressed her lips against GLaDOS. The kiss was a bit strange; GLaDOS couldn't really do anything but relish in the sensation, and Chell couldn't get over the heat and hum of electricity coming off of her faceplate.
GLaDOS could feel that Chell's lips were soft and warm as well, and it felt good to be held on either side by her smooth hands. They broke apart and looked at each other awkwardly before Chell broke into a smile.
"Well, I'll add robosexual to the list of defects on your file," GLaDOS said, trying to salvage any embarrassment with teasing. "I bring you ten human love interests and what do you do? You fall in love with the evil super computer."
"I don't think you're evil. And to be fair, you killed four of those supposed love interests," Chell responded. Actually, looking back, that does seem a bit evil.
"It would be evil of me to not let you get some sleep," GLaDOS retorted, realizing it was nearing one in the morning. "Also, the tests killed them. I've already explained this."
Chell brushed GLaDOS's violent comment off and yawned, realizing she did in fact seem sleepy. She didn't know if she'd even be able to rest, given the butterflies doing flips in her stomach; she had finally confessed to GLaDOS, and the AI had reciprocated. She would've thought this whole night was a dream if it weren't for the fact that she was so tired already.
The brunette woman smiled at the robot, who was in the process of bringing down a blanket from a hook to hand her.
"I suppose you expect special treatment now," GLaDOS said in a monotone voice, and Chell wondered if she'd ever drop the quippy attitude. "Stay tonight, but I still expect you to work tomorrow."
"Most of the tasks you have me do are my own laundry anyway," Chell replied cheekily, and GLaDOS didn't have an immediate retort to that, as it was true.
The lights in the vast white room began to dim and Chell's eyes fluttered shut as she felt her body give in to sleep, the last thing she saw being GLaDOS's shining optical sensor, which never took its gaze off her.
It was morning and Chell groggily sat up and rubbed her eyes. GLaDOS was, of course, already awake, and Chell was pretty sure the robot wasn't capable of sleep anyway.
"Good morning, mi cara," she greeted Chell, whose face promptly reddened at the nickname.
"Morning," she signed, standing up; she was surprised to see that the central AI chamber doors were already all the way open and she tentatively stepped outside, looking around.
The hall was empty and looked newly cleaned, perfectly white and pristine just like the rest of Aperture. The companion cubes and wildflowers were all gone without a trace.
"No deadly tests today?" Chell joked, and GLaDOS's voice chuckled over the intercom, seeing as she was too far from the human to be heard from her chassis.
"I think it's about time I phased out human testing permanently," the AI responded, and Chell peered at her in the central AI chamber, a skeptical look worn on her face.
"What did you do?" she asked.
"I sent all of the test subjects to the surface," GLaDOS explained as Chell's eyes widened. "I'm perfectly satisfied with just one human. In fact, one human is already far too much trouble."
Chell gave a nervous laugh, but felt a bit uncomfortable.
"Did you kill…? Are they…dead?"
"No, but it's very possible they may die," GLaDOS replied matter of factly. "But with a murderer like you down here now, their chances of survival are decent."
Chell gave a sigh of relief and she headed back into GLaDOS's chamber, the door shutting behind her.
GLaDOS hesitated. "And I'm very glad to have you down here with me, I suppose."
"I'll never leave," Chell signed, half joking, but she secretly knew by GLaDOS's side is where she wanted to be forever.
Chell placed her hands on either side of GLaDOS's face plate as she had last night and pressed her forehead against the smooth metal exterior, feeling the quiet hum of the robot's processors against her.
"Don't threaten me, now," GLaDOS remarked, leaning in slightly to Chell's touch. "I will miss the testing euphoria response, I suppose."
Chell was confused for a second and then realized the super computer was talking about the absence of the test subjects; she was thoughtful for a second and took a deep breath, her thumb gently rubbing GLaDOS's core.
"I can run some tests," she relented, and she felt GLaDOS's core shake slightly. "But nothing deadly."
"Oh? You would do that for me?" the AI replied, trying to sound nonchalant but clearly excited.
"Of course. Because I love you."
GLaDOS was elated, but also felt a bit anxious at Chell's recent use of the word "love"; it made her happy to hear it, but she was also afraid she might never understand what it meant to love someone like a human could.
But, as she surveyed Chell's content face, she knew she did truly, deeply care for this woman.
And GLaDOS would just have to try and love her like only she could.