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Mags tutted to herself, the last of the rewiring for the bot finally finished. Poor thing still hadn’t rebooted and she could hardly blame her. Seems she was sitting in the dump for anywhere between six months and a few years. She’d been sheltered, partially, under a car. Most of the sun didn’t get to her and damage her. However, she still hadn’t held a charge for who knows how long and sustained some damage to the shell of her body.
She might not even turn on.
She sighed. If she was dead she supposed she could sell her metal. She always felt bad doing that type of thing, as if she was involved in some illegal organ donation, but a dead bot couldn’t do anything. And in her sector it was illegal to bury a bot on purpose.
(Fine to let them rot in the dump! The law didn’t make a damn lick of sense.)
It was about an hour of having her hooked up that she heard the hum of her and saw the lights blinking on in her eyes.
She crouched down near her, holding onto her breath.
bzZt “-HOt and reAdy to gO. Please state your name you sexy ~insert preferred term here~ “ The bot shook with each glitch through her system, obviously she was still not in her top condition.
Mags had known this old girl was a sex bot, the holes were a dead giveaway. However, she hoped they didn’t have to go through all the rigmarole that a “new owner” would.
“Oh, sweetheart,” She brought a hand to behind her head, the ‘hair’ on her head matted and barely holding on, and looked to see if there was a button “You don’t have to do all that. You back to factory settings? I can see if I can mend any programming bug-”
“Please state your name,” She asked again, her sultry tone not changing. “seXy, handsome-handsome-handsome–”
“Alright, alright. It’s Maggie. But everyone calls me Mags. Even that lawyer chick that came from that uppity planet called me Mags,” She tried to flip her over, to get her back paneling off, the sex bot grabbing onto her arm actively pushing her away.
“Wowie hot stuff Mags. We’re getting this on quick,” She was wriggling trying to leave, her words and actions not aligning “I have several modes for you- yes you- to choose from! First question, would you like me to be Sub-sub-subservient or Dominating.”
“Hey girl, I don’t need any of that. Just fixing you up,” She tried to soothe but the flight response had not left her.
She finally let her go. Watching her crawl away for a minute but then she fell over. She curled in on herself, arm over her face, and she made herself as small as possible.
“Alright, hun, I’ll give you some time,” She let her have some distance even if internally she was itching to go back to fixing her “You just let me know when you're ready.”
*
It took about a day in the shop for her to come around and start truly trusting. Mags never minded, she just worked on her various projects while checking in every so often to make sure she didn’t run off.
(That was also illegal. A bot unattended without good reason would result in termination.)
“My balance is off… Could you help with that?” Her voice had become even, monotone.
It was the opposite of before. Tad concerning but she was taking it as progress. No emotion was better than forced emotion. She was just worried it was hidden emotion- but she wasn’t going to nitpick her.
“ ‘Course I can, sweetie,” She motioned her over, having her sit in front of her. Balance, usually, wasn’t a difficult fix. It could be as simple as one leg had lost a screw.
She fidgeted every time she touched her inner leg but didn’t try to wriggle away. She didn’t let her touch linger.
“Mags… Why are you fixing me?”
“You looked like a bot who could still work. If you can power on then I think you should be powered on. Rotting in a dump when you can have a rich life? Kind of horrid way to spend your last days. Even if you weren’t aware,” She gave her a little smile “Alright, see if thats better.”
She gave a moment to walk around, slowly. As if she was afraid if she fell she’d fall apart. She gave a nod.
“Do you… want me?” She asked.
Her eyes were haunting, staring right into her soul. One blue. One yellow. How many times had that eye color changed? How many times did someone want her to look different and they forced a new look upon her?
“You can stay here as long as you need,” She said, carefully “If… if you’d like to leave just let me know. I know a few planets that let bots roam freely and I’ll try to get you settled there.”
Those eyes didn’t leave her.
“I will stay.”
*
Mags had asked her if she wanted new clothes and when the answer was yes she’d begun to scrap together her money. She had five different currencies and, if someone was willing to take it, it should be enough for an outfit. The tailor owed her anyway after she’d fixed his ship twice because he let his stupid son fly it. Who lets a ten year old fly by himself?
She was surprised seeing her in a pair of her overalls.
“I can get you something a little more… spiffy,” She offered, ignoring the sudden flutter to her chest. She’d never thought someone could look so pretty in her own clothes (Mags herself certainly didn’t look that good in them).
“These are nice,” She insisted “Do you mind it?”
“No, no not at all sugar. What’s mine is yours!” She turned around hiding her flushed face.
Damn, Damn, Damn.
She was going to distract herself by doing the pile of dishes in her sink. She’d let the things pile up for weeks, so it was a necessity (one she’d put off for far too long). However, when she’d found the sink empty she was flabbergasted.
“I like to help, so I cleaned up while you were fixing things,” She explained “I’d like to learn to fix things too. I could become handy in the shop.”
“Oh,” She took a quick exhale, looking at her “You know, you don’t have to. I’ll gladly teach you but don’t feel you’re forced to.”
She approached, taking Mag’s hands in her own. She didn’t ever seem big on physical contact, they had hardly shared a touch since when she was first powered on, and she knew this was a big step.
“I want to. I want to work with you ” She squeezed her calloused hands, the metal cool to the touch “I would like to spend time with you .”
“ ‘Course sugar-” She began but was cut off abruptly.
“Eve, you can call me Eve,” She tilted her head “I still like sugar and darling. And all the other names you come up with. But, I’d like you to call me Eve too.”
“ I’d love to work with you Eve,” Mags gave her a smile.
Eve smiled back.
*
Eve was a quick learner. She soaked in any information Mags gave her, asking questions and making insights. Besides the basics, she taught her first about her own body. Information that she was surprisingly lacking in.
She made a day of it, while she couldn’t find the exact model schematic she brought up similar ones as well as showing her what parts were inside her. Every wire, every panel, and anything in between was discussed.
She let her open her up, explore inside, and dig into her most vulnerable areas.
She watched every move. Completely relaxed. Completely different then their first meeting.
“Eve?” She asked, the robot looking up at her “You alright?”
“Yes, this is better than alright.”
She paused, unsure of where their line was. Where she could cross or where she should skirt away. In the beginning it’d been easy, fix her when needed, give her space otherwise. Be polite. Don’t let her catch on to those pesky feelings building inside.
“Eve?” She said her name again, her body stilling as Eve guided her fingers. Tangling them deep into her mess of wires.
“I enjoy our lesson,” Her voice was so even, so clam, so difficult to tell her true feelings “Let me make certain I’ve remembered everything. That’s acceptable, isn’t it Mags?”
She must’ve said yes, or nodded, but all she could focus on was Eve. On the sly smile that made its way across her face.
“I quite like you,” She finally said.
She’d never heard her laugh before. It was light and airy. It reminded her of her youth, when she’d run around and dig herself in mud piles not giving a care in the world.
“I thought it was obvious that I like you too.”