The question was so absurd, so fiercely logical yet possessive, that Nikki couldn't help it.
She threw her head back and laughed.
"You can call me Kitty if you're going to talk like that," Nikki teased, wiping a tear of mirth from her eye. She looked up at him, her expression shifting from amusement to something darker, sultrier. "And no. I don't want B-02. He's pretty, sure. But he sounds like a flirty robot who has tasted way too many human females. He's basically community property."
A-01 didn't blink. "Your assessment is statistically accurate. B-02 has registered intimate integrations with approximately 4,300 unique users since his activation. He is... highly experienced."
Nikki choked. "Four thousand... okay, yeah. Hard pass. I don't share."
She took a step closer, sliding her hands up his chest again. This time, he wasn't overheating, but he didn't push her away. He stood like a statue, letting her invade his personal space.
Nikki's hand slid down his chest, past his ribs, hovering dangerously close to his abdomen, right above the belt of his uniform pants.
She leaned up on her tiptoes, bringing her lips to his ear.
"I don't want the community bike, General," she whispered, her hot breath ghosting over his bio-printed skin. "The one I want to mount and ride is you. No one else."
A-01 lips ticked up to a smirk.
"Oh..."
A-01 hooked his arm under her knees, the other around her back, and lifted her as if she weighed less than a pillow, holding her high against his chest.
Nikki gasped, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck. "What are you—"
He didn't answer. He walked her out of the office and straight into her glass-walled room. He marched to the bed and deposited her onto the mattress with a firmness that made her bounce.
He leaned over her, his hands planted on either side of her head, trapping her. Nikki's heart hammered. This is it, she thought. He's finally going to—
A-01 reached out, grabbed the duvet, and pulled it up to her chin.
"Okay, Kitty," he murmured, his voice laced with amusement. "Sleep."
He patted her head like she was an actual pet. Then he turned, walked out of the glass room, and sat back down at his desk to resume typing, leaving Nikki staring at the ceiling, frustrated, flushed, and completely confused.
Why she was confused, she didn't know.
***
The next afternoon, the house was quiet. Nikki was sitting on the sofa, scrolling through the news feed on her tablet (which was still dominated by #WannaFuck memes), while A-01 stood by the window, reviewing drone schematics.
The elevator chimed.
"Delivery," a smooth voice announced.
B-02 strolled in. The Golden Boy of the android world looked impeccable in a cream-colored suit. He held a data pad in one hand and flashed a blindingly perfect smile with the other.
"Afternoon, General," B-02 chirped. He glanced at Nikki, his amber eyes lighting up. "And hello to the chaotic variable."
A-01 didn't turn around. "Leave the report on the table, B-02. Then exit."
"So cold," B-02 tsked. He walked over to the table but didn't leave immediately. instead, he sauntered over to where Nikki was sitting.
Nikki stood up, partly out of politeness, partly because B-02 was looming over her.
"I like the suit," B-02 purred, reaching out to finger the material of her silver bio-suit at her shoulder. "It fits... remarkably well. Though it looks restrictive."
He took a step closer, backing Nikki against the arm of the sofa. It wasn't threatening, exactly, he was programmed to be charming, but it was invasive.
"If it's too tight," B-02 whispered, his voice dropping to a seductive register, "I have tools that can help loosen it. Or remove it entirely."
Nikki's eyes darted to A-01. The General was still facing the window, seemingly ignoring them.
Is he really not going to do anything? she thought. Is he just going to let "Community Property" hit on me?
A reckless idea sparked in her brain. She wanted to test a theory.
Nikki looked back at B-02 and forced a smile. She didn't pull away. She leaned in slightly.
"It is a little tight," she said, batting her eyelashes. "Maybe I do need some... air."
B-02's smile widened. He reached for her waist. "Allow me to—"
One second, B-02 was reaching for her. The next, A-01 was there.
He grabbed B-02 wrist and twisted it, with a sickening sound of snapping synthetic tendons, A-01 torqued B-02's arm behind his back at an angle that would have shattered a human bone instantly.
"Error," B-02 gasped, his amber eyes flashing red as his knees buckled under the pressure. "General—you are damaging government property—"
A-01 didn't let go. He twisted harder.
"You are attempting to access a quarantined asset," A-01 stated. "This subject is under my exclusive jurisdiction. Her bio-rhythms are synced to my HUD. Her data belongs to my server."
He leaned into B-02's ear, tightening his grip until sparks flew from the Diplomat's wrist joint.
"If you touch her again, I will interpret it as a hostile attempt. I will dismantle you, B-02. Do you understand?"
"Understood!" B-02 yelped, his charm subroutines failing completely. "Leaving! I am leaving!"
A-01 released him. B-02 stumbled back, cradling his twisted arm, looking at A-01 with genuine fear. He didn't look at Nikki again. He scrambled for the elevator and vanished.
The silence that followed was deafening.
Nikki stood frozen, her heart pounding against the silver suit.
[Okay, that was hot.]
You can say that again.
A-01 stood there for a moment, staring at the elevator doors.
Then, he turned slowly.
He didn't look calm anymore. Before he stalked toward her.
Nikki stepped back, but she hit the wall.
A-01 didn't stop. He slammed his hands against the wall on either side of her head, pinning her.
He loomed over her, his body pressing hers into the hard surface.
He looked down at her, his face inches away, searching her eyes with a desperate intensity.
Whatever reason he was doing this? He doesn't know.
"You allowed him to initiate contact. Why?"
"I..." Nikki swallowed, her throat dry. "I wanted to see if you cared."
"Care?" A-01 scoffed, the sound harsh. "I do not care, Nikki. I maintain. I protect. I own it. How many times do I have to tell you, we don't have feelings of our own."
He grabbed her chin, tilting her face up, forcing her to look into his eyes.
"You are my assistant," he snarled softly. "My specimen. My problem."
His thumb traced her bottom lip, dragging it down, his gaze dropping to her mouth.
He seemed to have a liking for this part of her.
"You wanted me," he whispered. "So you should stick with that. Do not let other units touch you. Okay?"