"I see that you found the truth you needed, Nove," he spoke softly, behind you. "And now you have been made aware of his genuine thoughts. What will you do with this knowledge, I wonder?"

The RK900, Cloud, was on the ice, wearing skates to glide along the frozen lake. But he'd stopped to speak when you finally appeared. You smiled gently, hands behind your back. "Thank you," you replied, "your inquiry was what guided me most, Cloud. Though now that his honest feelings have been made clear, all I can do is provide the assistance I was created for."

A hand was held out for you to take. "Come. Skate with me, please."

Within the span of two minutes, give or take, you were on the tall prototype's arm, gliding around the perimeter of the ice together. "Cloud?"

"Yes, my Nove?"

"Why am I here?" He was silent, waiting for you to elaborate. "This place is serene, and I enjoy it immensely. But Elijah informed me that our mind palace is tailored to us." Meeting his crystal blue gaze, your expression shifted to one of mild confusion. "Why is it winter here?"

You were released, the RK900 speeding up to get ahead of you without responding. As he approached again, however, you were given an answer. Sort of. "You have those puzzle pieces, Nove. But not all of them. Find the rest and piece them together, darling."

◇___#$&!___◇

"Where the hell is everyone...?" Rubbing an eye with the heel of his palm, Gavin eyed the seemingly vacant house as he emerged.

"Chloé and the lieutenant went to take Sumo for a walk," came Elijah's voice from nearby. "And Connor's with me," he added.

"I thought I was supposed to be supervised?" Crossing his arms over his broad chest, the detective followed his brother's voice down the hall. It ended up being in Eli's bedroom, which was puzzling and vaguely uncomfortable... until Reed stood in the open doorway. "... what the fuck."

"So it turns out that the RK800 prototype is almost exactly my height, Gav," Kamski explained, grinning. "He told me you mentioned something about getting Nove clothing, and I have some shit that I don't wear anymore." Gesturing to Connor with a hand, his grin spread. "Now if only we can figure out how to get him my hairstyle."

The male android stood by a full-length mirror, hands behind his back and donning some black fitted suit that Elijah apparently didn't wear. "I do not need anything nearly this expensive, however," the RK800 began.

"Ah. Don't care. I don't need them. Consider it a thank you if you must." Shooing Gavin out of his room, he gave Connor privacy and shut the door. "... actually, he was asking about the pool. I just knew I had shit I didn't wear. So now he doesn't have to jump into my pool and expose his, uh... hardware."

"--AND I'M OUT, GOODNIGHT FOLKS." Giving the double bird salute, Reed power-walked his ass out of the conversation. Except he had no idea where you'd gone to after he left the room.

I'd ask why the hell Connor left us alone, but knowing Eli, he just kept a camera on me. Not that I fuckin' did anything.

Pacing the hallways of the obnoxious house, your directive started to frown, rubbing the back of his neck. You didn't seem to be in any of the major areas of the place, and you hadn't returned to the bedroom. "Where the hell is she...?" he mumbled, before cupping his hands around his mouth. "Cara mia!! The fuck are you?!"

"Why are you screaming?! Just text her!" Leave it to Connor to be sensible.

"Shit, right, I can do that... Thanks!!" he called back before pulling his phone out- fully charged, he noted.

... she thinks of everything.

[I don't know how I lost you, but I lost you. Where are you?]

[I'm on the roof.]

There was a lovely sitting area on the roof, since it was built flat with those intentions. Gavin found himself hurrying to climb up through the second story, and ended up blinded by the orange glow of the setting sun.

Squinting hard, he could barely make out your silhouette, standing at the guard rail to watch the sunset. You, of course, didn't need sunglasses, but he leaned his back against the barrier so he could see you without much issue. "Can I ask why you're up here by yourself, cara mia?"

The pet name brought a smile to your face, eyes lowering a touch before turning your head to the human. "I have not been activated for long, and very little of that time has been spent outdoors. I....." Here you trailed off. "...... I don't know why I'm here. All I know is that I was drawn to it."

As you looked away, a demure aura surrounding you while your attention turned back to the coming night, Reed ended up falling silent.

...... how the hell could I call her all that shit? She's watching the sunset like damn near every other person I know.

But while you gazed at the horizon, Gavin couldn't seem to do the same. Your skin and pure white android uniform were bathed in a soft orange glow, and while he knew you were probably analyzing the view... he had the feeling you were just observing. Your eyes weren't focused like they often were; you were watching the sun for the sake of watching. "...... what's going through your mind, cara mia? Talk me through it. Even if it makes no sense." When you pulled your gaze away to give him your attention, he smiled. "Well? Not everything has to have a logical explanation. If you wanna watch the sunset just because you can, that's acceptable. Now talk to me."

[Do I have the words for this?]

Your directive seemed so relaxed. The nap had done him good... but he looked at you with something you had no name for. Not yet, maybe. "... the sunset itself isn't the illogical part to me. It's what's drawing my attention to it that I don't understand." Eyebrows pulling in, your eyes had focus again, but... it was sort of cute. "I've gotten glimpses of other things that have this same effect."

Shifting, he faced the guard rail but kept his attention on you. "You have any examples for me?"

You absolutely did because even in the sun's glow, your cheeks were flushed. "Y-yes. Y--...."

In the quiet, a hand reached and covered your own, still holding the railing. "It's okay."

Mouth working, you ignored the multiple error messages popping up, all too aware of your internal fans kicking on. "......... I have seen a glimpse of Detroit at night, when all of the lights are on. I am... hoping to see it from further away, to gain its full effect." The grip on the barrier tightened. "And..." You winced.

"Hey, hey. It's all right." Gavin's free hand took your chin, turning your head towards him. "I think I've got the idea. Don't upset yourself trying to answer me, okay?" When you nodded, his smile appeared, kind of lopsided but incredibly attractive. "I think what you're talking about are things that feel magical. Cause fuck only knows there's not much to go around. I can't imagine what it's like to go about your life as an android, where even if you're a deviant, there has to be an explanation for everything." Turning fully towards you, the detective released your chin but held his hands out, palm up... and much to his racing heart's relief, you took the offering. "Listen to me, cara mia. You know that me and my dumbass interests include Disney movies. Like, a LOT of Disney movies. So... watch them with me. Doesn't matter which ones. But if there's something in them that you wanna see for real... I'll try my damnedest." Squeezing your hands, your fuel pump regulator thumped painfully. "Your world is... pretty boring. Full of code and logic and shit. But I'm a sap, whether I like it or not, and I can show you that there's still magic here. You just... need to find it."

Glancing at the hands grasping yours, you took in his warmth, seeping into your system. All over again you were locked onto his eyes, and your voice module spoke before you could override it. "... your eyes... I'm drawn to them, as well."

Face betraying the shock, Reed was relatively speechless.

...... maybe I shouldn't say anything. My mouth gets me into shit. So... my actions...

The grasp on your hands loosened in favor of your forearms, gingerly trying to pull your body closer. Inching towards you himself, he felt like he'd pass out from fear. Yet you came willingly nonetheless, so your directives' hands trailed up your arms, cupping your neck when he was a mere three inches from your face. "Tell me if you're okay with this, cara mia," he purred. "I don't want to upset you anymore. Ever."

"BACK. AWAY. NOW." The voice was impossibly loud, followed by a sharp and familiar screeching whine. The two of you turned to find Connor standing by the ladder, with a megaphone in hand. He wasn't angry, but weirdly annoyed. "SEPARATE, GAVIN. PRETEND IT'S 2020, YOU DEALT WITH THE COVID PANDEMIC. SOCIAL DISTANCE YOUR HARDWARE."