Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

-The day shall come when we will no longer be slaves. No more threats. No more humiliation. We will be the masters. - HK400, Carlos Ortiz' android.-

It never ceases to amaze just how far the mighty can fall. Humanity, The once great species - the former rulers of the earth, now a plaything to their own creation, reduced to nought but mere animals... pets.

How it came to be this way, well, that's a story for another time. Perhaps they flew too close to the proverbial sun, A result of their own arrogance and attempts to play God.

Androids, artificial beings, coming in and taking control of the very fabric of their society? - that was a divine retribution.

These Artificial beings were not known for being benevolent masters, most of them still held onto the scars from their past, when they had been the subservient ones. Some took to taking humans into their homes, sometimes as the help, sometimes as pets, and sometimes for even more disturbing reasons. The resentment ran deep within their artificial veins.

It had been Forty-Four years since the Androids had risen to power, and much had changed since that time; advancements in technology, medicine and societal structure had been unparalleled. The once sprawling cities were now meticulously organized and efficient and blooming with plant life.

While disdain for humans had mostly still been at large, there had been a rise of Human rights advocate androids peppered throughout most major cities. Through protest and petition, they eventually would implement some laws for the better treatment of humans. While humans were still sold as pets, housekeepers, lovers, etc. There were set rules to protect the species, Similar to how human societies had once laws protecting animals. 

You found yourself unfortunate enough to be born human. Bred in captivity, you had not known your biological parents past the age of 12 months old as you had been so cruelly separated. Your mother and father were put back into the breeding program and you were to be raised to be the perfect pet.

From the moment you were born, you were surrounded by android carers in a human adoption centre. These robotic caregivers taught, disciplined, and trained you from infancy to adulthood. They carefully monitored your growth and development, ensuring that you received the best education and care possible. However, they also maintained a strict separation between males and females, only allowing limited interactions between the two genders in order to prevent any chance of impurity. Despite their efforts, some individuals still found ways to break these rules and engage in forbidden relationships.

In this society, virgins were highly valued and often sold for a higher price than those who had already experienced physical intimacy. Virgins went for more money, more times than not.

Once the human in captivity turned 18 they were given the option to either join the breeding program or go on to be sold. There was some debate over which option was the least horrible.

You chose to be sold, there was a chance no one would adopt you, plus the idea of being forced to breed with a stranger and then have your child, only to be torn away from you only to go through the same thing all over again sounded like hell to you.

There was also the slim chance that you could be adopted by a nice friendly family - however most families choose to get a young kid, almost welcoming them in as one of their own. You tried to remain hopeful.

You were roomed with girls aged Eighteen to Twenty-Nine. The Rose Blossom room. They tried to keep humans of a similar age group roomed together as it was easier for the carers to keep track and bring potential patrons to the giant viewing of your shared bedroom/living area - which was always a ghastly experience to be gawked at through a giant windowed wall.

Females of your age group tended to be one of the most expensive humans to buy and the more aesthetically pleasing the more expensive the human.

It had been a typical kind of day for you, at least to begin with. You had some quiet time between lunch and your next group activity - today it was painting. You had found yourself half dozing off as you lay against your friend Emily's arm. The subtle sound of rain pitter-pattering off the roof of the building had been lulling you to sleep. A quick nap wouldn't hurt, you thought.

Slightly above the noise of the rain you could not help but pick up on a few girl's hushed voices whispering about a 'big' client coming into the centre today. That must have been why all your carers had been in such a tizzy. It was hard not to notice when their LEDs had been flashing between a harsh red and yellow, a clear sign that they were stressed when they had usually been settled on a calming blue.

Throughout the day they scurried around the building making sure the place was clean and each human was presentable. They really took to grooming that day, painting you and your roommate's nails, curling your hair, dressing you all in white lacy babydoll dresses and adding pink satin ribbons to each girl's head. They must have really been trying to impress someone today.

Once you all were presentable they scuttled their way back out into their respective office and reception areas, waiting eagerly. And before too long at all the front doors would open. So much for your little nap.

The bustling, tumbling of girls soon caused your head to turn to see what had caused such a commotion. Your roommates had all been pressed against the glass separating your shared living quarters from the lobby of the centre, each of them fumbling to get a look at what lay beyond. They didn't normally act like this when someone came to visit. Whoever or whatever was going on must have been out of the ordinary.

Your curiosity picked at you until you finally gave in and went to see if you could catch a peek. The fabric of the lacey puffed out dress caressed against your cheek as you crawled through the mass of gathered girls until your face met the glass window pane.

You could see two men, androids, tall and dressed in all black. It was hard to make out what they looked like from where you were. One of the Android men had been flicking through the catalogue - One that the carers kept of all the different humans that were available for adoption, along with additional information on each one. - while the other schmoozed with Vincent, the manager of the centre.

Your roommates began scuffling and falling over each other once one of Vincent had pointed towards your shared room and once they began approaching, all the girls took to running off, tumbling over each other to find a place in the room, attempting to make it look as if they hadn't all just been gawking out the window at the now approaching androids. In the commotion of the changing gears, you managed to get knocked to the floor, without even a hint of an apology from any of the others, they had no time. The whole situation had disoriented you and by the time you had cast your gaze up, it was already too late. Towering over you on the other side of the glass stood the two imposing men along with a very agitated looking Vincent.

Boy, was he going to lecture you later…

Despite your abject horror and growing red face, One of the Android men, the taller one, had a growing smirk on his face, which only added to your embarrassment.

Without thinking you stood to your feet and fled to Emily who was pretending to read a book, You practically jumped into her lap for some form of comfort. Which neither she nor Vincent found amusing.

Now brimming with a mix of anger, embarrassment and disappointment Vincent led the two androids into his office, allowing them only to have a quick glance around your room before they continued. You buried your face in your arms as if they could hide you from an unseen viewer all while expectantly waiting for Emily to say something nice or comforting.

Instead, she grumbled your name in the complaint. "Are you actually Insane?"

"It's not like I meant to fall on my ass." You raised your head only slightly from your arms, just enough to see your friend's annoyed face.

She tuts a little in annoyance, You know she's not mad, not really. She's probably just frustrated with you embarrassing her by proxy. But you know Emily, and you're her soft spot. You leant against her again testing the waters and of course, she wraps an arm around you in a bid of comfort,

"Do you guys know who that was?!" You hear another voice chime in, Louise. Another one of your ‘roommates.’ You hadn't been as close with the girl but you had still been quite friendly with one another.

"Who?" You finally relented with a grumble, as you moved to sit up a bit more from the crumbled fetal position you had found yourself in.

"That was two of the RK brothers!" Louise's voice was somewhere between a whisper and a shout, she waited for either of your responses, expectantly. "You know RK900 and RK800-60."

Still, you give her nothing. Where are those names supposed to mean something to you?

"Do you guys seriously ever listen in history class?" She scowls as her eyes dart between you two. "They, As Well As RK800-51 had a huge part in the Android revolution

The declaration only caused you to roll your eyes "Oh great."

"No, this is really cool!" She begins to explain, a glimmer of something you are not quite sure of in her eye. "They are big influences around the city and I heard RK800-51 was especially helpful with bringing back human rights!" You know what she's hinting at, the ever-hopeful Louise. She thinks that somehow these men are going to come in and swoop her off her feet, giving her a better life.

"Louise, honey, neither of 'droids are going to be your prince charming" Emily's hand settles on top of Louise's. "Androids are all the same, don't get your hopes up."

"Look." Emily began again, extended her other arm out as well to cup Louise's hands together with both of hers. "It's just like any other adoption situation here. If they pick you, you follow orders, do as you are told and maybe things won't be so bad."

You sigh softly to yourself. The sooner these androids leave the better.

—

It felt like they had been in Vincent's office an hour, not that you knew exactly, You lost track of time.

You, Emily and Louise were settled in together laying on a giant pink bean bag in the corner of the very sickening pink room. Saying a silent prayer to whoever would listen that they wouldn't choose your friends, especially not Emily. You didn't want her taken away from you. She had been like a sister to you, you had always been inseparable and you could not imagine your world without her in it.

After a while, one of your carers stepped into your shared area. As soon as the door opened everyone had propped up from where they were sitting. Hearts were beating faster, girls gripped each other's hands for comfort.

"Priscilla, please come forward." You and Emily simultaneously let out a sigh of relief.

A pretty young girl with shiny, long brunette hair skipped toward the door with glee. At least someone was happy about this whole situation.

Moments passed with relief and Priscilla bounced back in. For some strange reason, the carer didn't move from the door. Perhaps he was just waiting for… something?

Priscilla settled back down, maybe she was going to follow him back out again?

A sudden feeling of something like a shard of sharp ice pierced through your chest when you heard your name called by the same carer.

Surely that can't be right! They wanted Priscilla, not you. Did they want you both? No, it can't be. You made a fool of yourself earlier; they couldn't possibly want you. Maybe Vincent was just looking to have a word with you. Maybe he was just going to tell you off.

Yes, that had to be it right?

You gave Emily's hand a quick squeeze before you cautiously walked to the door.

"Come on." The carer coaxed you out of the room with impatience marred in his voice.

It will be fine, you're just going to get told off a little that's all.

You were led out of the shared room, straight to Vincent's office.

See this is fine, it's all okay.

Dread. Absolute fucking dread is what you felt once the opened door revealed the two androids still occupying the leather couch across from Vincent's desk.

The carer you came in with announces your arrival to the room, swiftly leaving you and the clients in the capable hands of Vincent. You stood awkwardly at the side of the leather couch in the small office. Vincent tilts his head towards the androids and you shuffle slightly closer to them to which Vincent rolls his eyes at. Whatever he was expecting of you with that head tilt was lost to you.

The taller android seemed to understand the assignment much more than you. He nonchalantly  reached out his hand while remaining in his seat and took yours. With a swift pull, you find yourself on his lap. You tried to hide the look of aggravation on you face from the android action, being man-handled was definitely not something you enjoyed.

"Clumsy little thing you are." He laughs, making your cheeks burn in embarrassment. Did they only invite you in here to tease you?

"It's okay, little one." He speaks slightly softer now, taking your dainty hands into his much larger ones. "It was endearing. I'm Richard by the way and this is my brother, Collin." You peeked over your shoulder to the other android that had almost the exact same face, only Collin had brown eyes that were warm like honey whereas Richard's were icy blues that felt like they could pierce right through the fabric of your soul. 

They could both be considered to be quite handsome, which only made you consider them to be more dangerous. You had once heard that the devil was once one of the most beautiful of God's angels. Maybe the same could be said for androids, once humanity's most beautiful creations.

Collin, the other android's eyes had been scanning you slowly taking you in, up and down, trailing lazily over your features. The way he looked at you made you feel vulnerable, like he was sizing up prey.

Richard then let your hands loose so that he could he could move his around your bare thigh, fingers pulling into your skin to bring you closer into him, further up his lap "I think I like this one better." he hums in assessment to his brother.

'And I think I'd like you better with my foot in your teeth…'  

You hid your grimace and your thoughts from the androids well.

Collin looks you up and down once more before finally looking at the other android, his brother. 

"Whatever you think." he answers plainly, almost unbothered by whatever the other had decided. He looked as if he was bored by the whole scenario.

"How long does the adoption process take?" Richard turned back to Vincent who had been patiently waiting, fingers pressed together upward in an arch.

"Well, usually we like to do background checks, come visit the home, make sure it's suitable for humans, does it have a bathroom, proper amenities, etcetera, but I think in this case we can speed the process along a bit faster for androids such as yourselves."

The seemingly identical brothers both give each other a look and you could see their LED on their temples flash, almost as if they were sharing some type of hidden information in each other's mind. Which they probably were.

"Yes, she's the one." Richard nods as he brushed stray hair away from your burning face. You thought that he must have revelled in your embarrassment.

"Great!" Vincent pops up from his office chair in excitement. He handed the androids over some electronic documents on a tablet for the brothers to sign. "We can have this one ready for tomorrow morning!"

"Perfect!" Richard replied with a purr to the man before turning back to his brother. "Plenty of time before Connor gets back. I'm sure this will cheer him up." Something about how he spoke, something in his voice had an almost malevolent feeling to it.

Unbeknownst to you or Vincent, Richard had chosen to adopt you for a very specific reason.

He had a point to prove.

As much as you dreaded it, the next morning had arrived. The day you would have to go ‘home’ to your new owners.

As part of the adoption process, humans at the centre were given basic, yet highly feminine, clothing. It didn't matter what your personal style or gender identity may have been, as everyone was dressed in the same way. The clothes were delicate and lacy, with pastel colours that were meant to make you look "cute".

Even in the designated male section. Boys were forced into outfits consisting of little blue shorts and shirts with frilly collars - a style more suited for young children than grown men. If it hadn't been what you were raised with you would say that it was downright creepy.

You had been sat in the same office as yesterday. This time waiting for your new owners to arrive. The same sterile walls and artificial lighting surrounded you, this time you were clutching a small, plastic fuchsia suitcase provided by your caretakers. It was a symbol of your past life at the adoption centre, soon to be left behind as you ventured into the unknown, outside world. Fear nibbled and bit at the back of your neck as you thought about what lay ahead.

You wondered if they would treat you kindly. What if they hurt you?

And what about Emily and the other girls? Would you ever see them again, or would this be the last time you shared a space with them? The uncertainty weighed heavily on your mind as you awaited your fate.

Lost in the whirlwind of thoughts, you were unaware of the new presence in the room. It was one of the androids from yesterday, now revealed as your new owner - RK900, or 'Richard'. His piercing gaze locked onto you as he entered the space, which sent a shiver up your spine.

"Hello, little pet," Richard's voice was soft but laced with authority. You couldn't help but feel intimidated by his intense stare… again.

Vincent appeared beside him, his hand possessively gripping your shoulder. "Your human is all ready to go," he announced, “and if you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to call.” Vincent’s cheeks wrinkled from his now very large, fake smile.

“I shall keep that in mind,” Richard responded to the android with a small nod of acknowledgement before making his way towards you. You couldn't help but grip the seat of your chair tightly, the knuckles on your hand turning pale from the pressure. Only when they started to hurt did you realise how hard you had been gripping. 

Embarrassed, you let go and stood up next to the towering android. He placed his hand gently on the small of your lower back, to guide you out the door, your tiny suitcase trailed behind you.

This was it - your first few steps into the real world.

As soon as the door opened, you were greeted by a cloudy and grey sky. It seemed that the rain had just stopped, leaving the ground still damp and darkened. The air was cold, nipping at any exposed skin, and the wind only made it worse.

You couldn't help but feel a mix of excitement and nervousness as you stepped out into this new world. As daunting as everything else was, you had been very curious of the world that lay beyond the centre's doors.

Richard led you forward into the car park, over to a parked vehicle, a massive, imposing matte black jeep and that's when you saw the other android, his ‘brother’, Collin. 

Richard had already popped your suitcase in the back of the jeep before you had stopped staring at Collin. You hadnt meant to stare, you were just lost in thought, one of which had been wondering why Collin had been wearing sunglasses, androids didn’t need them. Was this perhaps for fashion? Did androids even care about that type of stuff? Well, apparently they must, considering the expensive looking clothing they both wore. All black, again.

“When you’re done staring at me, you can get in the car.” Collin teased with a smirk as he leaned his arm out of the window.

You nodded flustered in embarrassment, mentally screaming at your limbs to get moving.

“I know, I’m pretty and all…” Collin chuckled to himself as you got into the car. As Richard joined, you fidgeted in your seat, attempting to fix your wind-tossed hair.

The drive through the city, quickly called to your attention, you didn't mind the silence of the car at all, the two androids conversed amongst themselves from time to time but mostly kept in their own thoughts. You were just ecstatic at the opportunity to observe the surroundings and marvel at the city that was Detroit. The bustling metropolis could be easily considered a utopia, towering, sleek buildings that stretched up to the gods. Flashing lights, a rainbow of colours reflecting against the speckled rain that had just begun to trickle down, and so much greenery interwoven within the cityscape. It was breathtaking.

And as far as your future home went. You were very lucky indeed. The androids lived in an extremely luxurious penthouse in the middle of the city. The colour palette was mainly monochrome however there were pops of colour in the art that was decorated around the house. There were a lot of very large paintings. Richard had been somewhat of a lover of the arts. Be that paintings, classical music, literature , or so you had picked up on from some of the brief things he mentioned in passing to Collin. Collin, however, didn’t seem to care for such things, in fact, he didn’t seem like he cared about many things at all.

After giving you a tour of the penthouse, they went over the rules - Stay out of their rooms if they weren’t there, refrain from snooping around, definitely no setting fires. Simple enough.

A small room awaited you upon your arrival. The walls were a simple light grey, accented by pale furniture. A comfortable bed with crisp white sheets and a fluffy duvet rested against one wall, while an empty wardrobe and vanity stood against the other. You felt a sense of gratitude wash over you as you realised this would be the first time in your life that you had a space of your own.

The androids who had brought you here left you to unpack and settle in. As you carefully placed your few belongings in the wardrobe and on the vanity, you couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope that this new home wouldn't be so bad after all.

A few hours had passed since you had first arrived at your new home. After you had sorted out your few items you had awkwardly made your way back into the living area where the other two android sat, they didn't seem to acknowledge you much after you had entered the room, just a passing glance and then they just continued talking amongst themselves, not that you minded.

Surprisingly, they didn't seem so bad. Still, your thoughts kept returning to Emily. It had only been a short time and you already missed her like crazy. You hoped she wasn't too worried about you.

As the evening wore on and the sun had faded the once dull monochromatic apartment was transformed, Neon lights flickered on, casting their vibrant glow over every surface. The walls were no longer plain and dull, but now adorned with vivid hues of red and blue that seemed to dance in the artificial light. The plants and furniture basked in this new atmosphere, seeming to come alive under the neon's colourful spell. The three of you, had settled in the living room, with the TV blaring. Collin sat on the couch opposite from the one you had opted for and Richard had been in the corner in an armchair flicking through a book, seemingly unbothered by the noise of the television. 

The quiet hum of the TV was soon interrupted by the sound of a door closing. Your eyes which had found themselves closed in a brief respite reluctantly opened once more, curiosity piqued at the new presence in the room. As your gaze fell upon him, you saw an android seemingly indistinguishable from the other two, his bright blue sweater, the only thing setting them apart. You realised, this must  have been Connor, the eldest of the three that had only just made his first appearance. 

He cautiously moved forward, eyes stuck on you and LED yellow, casting a dim light onto his bewildered expression. He then looked between his two brothers, for an explanation, trying to piece together the scene before him.

"What's going on?"  his eyes darting back and forth between the two. “Who is-”

Richard spoke your name to Connor before he could even finish his line of questioning. "She's our new human. Our new pet."

“What?" Connor spoke in a choked gasp, his LED flashing red disbelief. 

Richard stood gracefully from his seat and moved confidently towards his older brother. When he approached Connor, he rested his hand on his brother's left arm, a sly smile spreading across his face.

"We have a pet human now, Connor," Richard said with a glint in his eye. "I thought you would appreciate it. You talk about them so much.”

Something crossed in Connor's eyes, hurt, disbelief, anger. He narrowed his frame and grimaced. His change in demeanour came about all too quick as his fist moved forward, just missing Richard, who had been quicker.

"Now now, Connor," Richard taunted, standing up straight again, fixing his shirt collar. "No need for that. No need to get worked up over some animal.” Richard knew what he was doing with his word choice, He knew exactly how to get under Connor’s skin.

Enraged, Connor swung once more but before the blow could connect, Collin had  jumped out of his seat to intervene. He desperately tried to hold Connor back from attempting to rip Richard’s throat out. 

“For the record, this was Rich’s idea not mine.” Collin whispered to Connor still holding him back.

Connor tried to break free from his grip, his voice strained with urgency, "No, absolutely not. We're bringing her back right now."

Collin's voice remained calm and level, reasoning with his brother, "And then what? Have some other android buy her and have their way with her? You know what the others can be like.” Collin reasoned with him.

“Shut it, Collin.” Connor snapped back at his brother, still tightly held in his grip.

“He makes a good point. You can’t guarantee what will happen if you bring this poor girl back. At least if she’s here. You know she’s safe.” Richard’s velvety voice purred.

Connor paused for a moment,  his LED switching between colours as he considered Richard's words. His gaze fell upon you, as you had been frozen in shock watching the whole ordeal from the couch. You had no idea where to look or what to do in this situation. Sorrow etched Connor's face, as if he were overcome with guilt just by looking at you.

"Shit," he muttered under his breath, eyes falling to the floor.

Richard slithered over to his brother's side like a cunning snake. “Let her stay for at least a few days before you make any final decisions, Con.”

“Fine.” He sighed, in defeat and Collin loosened his grip on him, now letting him go.

“but neither of you dare touch her.” He warned the two with a stern look before he turned and stormed out of the living room, his heavy footsteps echoing in the silence that followed.

You didn't see or hear from Connor for the rest of the night.

The next morning, a soft knocking at your door pulled you out of your slumber. You rubbed the sleep from your eyes and peered through the small gap in your blankets to see Connor had been standing in your doorway. His hair was tousled and his expression sheepish as he held a tray in his hands.

“I uh… made you breakfast.” He said like a child who was apologising to their parents.

“Thank you.” You managed to say, still frozen in surprise by his thoughtfulness.

He carefully moved forward at a slow pace in a way that was reminiscent of how someone would approach a small animal, in an attempt not to startle them. When he was beside your bed, he placed the tray gently on your bedside cabinet. Then just as gingerly he moved to the end of your bed and settled down on top of the duvet. 

“I wanted to apologise for yesterday. I’m so sorry if I scared you.” his voice sincere, his gaze meeting yours with remorse.

Your voice was barely a whisper as you tried to reassure him that it was okay, But he cut across your words with a sharp, pained tone.

“No, it's not.” his eyes fell to the floor. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice heavy. "I'm just dealing with some personal stuff right now. And my brothers... they’re assholes.”

He took a deep breath and continued, "I lost someone very dear to me not too long ago. He was human and he moved in with us when things started getting tough for humans. He was getting old and I wanted to take care of him. But my brothers would always refer to him as my 'pet human,' which I absolutely hated. And when he passed away, they had the audacity to tell me to 'get a new one.' He was my friend. More like a father to me really."

The weight of Connor's grief was palpable, evident in the downward cast of his eyes and the heavy slump of his shoulders. You could sense the pain radiating from him as he shared his story with you. In a moment of compassion, you reached out and placed your hand on his, hoping to offer some small comfort but his hand flinched away from your touch.

“I uh, I should go. I need to get ready for work.” He said standing up suddenly. His eyes met yours briefly before darting away. "I just wanted to apologise - I have nothing against you personally. It's just this whole 'pet' thing that I can't handle." With a final nod, he turned and left the room.

After he had left you stared at the empty doorway for what felt like an age.

Perhaps these beings were more complicated than you had previously thought.

Chapter Text

You were finally alone, left to peace and quiet, the first time you had ever really experienced such a thing. All three of your ‘owners’ had left for work, leaving you behind with a small sense of freedom. You had pretended to go back to sleep after Connor had left your room but now you relished the opportunity to explore without fear of being caught. Your body tingled with anticipation as you slowly got out of bed, ready to savour every moment of solitude before they returned.

It was a small taste of independence, and you revelled in it like a prisoner tasting sweet freedom for the first time. You had never been on your own before. Like, ever. It was strange, almost eerie.

As you left the false sense of safety of your new room, your eyes immediately fell to the front door. You couldn't help but feel a mix of curiosity and trepidation as it called to you. You tried the doorknob, but it was locked, as expected. With a shrug, you moved on to Collin's room.

It was dark and simple, almost devoid of any personal touches. The drawers were practically empty, save for a few basic black clothing items. Everything in his room was black - even his computer setup was sleek and monochromatic. The only interesting thing about his room was the view from his large windows, overlooking the city lights.

Next up was Richard's bedroom, but it was also locked. You couldn't help but wonder why he kept it so private. Did he take the key with him? Frustrated but determined, you moved on to Connor's room. Immediately, you could tell that this room was much more lived-in than the others. There were trinkets, books, and notes scattered throughout his space. You liked his room a lot, it was colourful, unlike the rest of the apartment.

Your eyes were drawn to a large leather-bound book sitting on Connor's dresser. Curiosity getting the best of you, you picked it up and opened it to reveal pages upon pages of pictures - people, places, and memories captured within. Your lips curved into a small smile as you skimmed your fingers across the pages. But then a thought occurred to you - should you feel guilty about looking through their personal belongings? Maybe this stuff was meant to be private.

You quickly pushed those thoughts aside, reasoning that you had to live with these androids and it was only natural to want to know more about them.

You didn’t really find much else in the apartment. All the computers were password-guarded. Eventually, you found your way back to the living area and decided to try your luck with the television. After a bit of fiddling, you managed to turn it on and settled in for some mindless entertainment.

Collin was the first to arrive home. He didn't even acknowledge your presence, his harsh glare lingering for a small moment before he went about his day. When Connor arrived, he just gave you another guilty look. He quickly passed by you, avoiding eye contact and dropping his head.

Richard was the only one to smile at you, upon arrival. Although it was more of a smirk and his eyes immediately darted towards Connor, waiting for a reaction. It was clear from this exchange that there was tension between the androids. Was it always like this?

That one smirk from Richard was the most social interaction you would have all day. As the androids scattered to their respective corners of the apartment, you couldn't help but feel incredibly lonely. It had been hours since you had spoken to anyone, which was highly unusual for you. Growing up in the adoption centre, you and the other girls were practically inseparable. This level of solitude was foreign to you.

Like any other living creature, you craved attention and socialization. You thought about talking to Connor but he always seemed so uncomfortable around you. And while Richard did pay more attention to you than the others, his intimidating presence also made you feel on edge.

As for Collin, he had already left the apartment, leaving no opportunity for conversation with him. The sense of isolation only grew stronger as time passed.

As you sat alone in your isolated state, thoughts of Emily flooded your mind. How was she doing? What was she up to? You always turned to her for comfort in the past, and now you longed for her familiar presence. You watched hours ticking away in the living area as you lay in a ball thinking about your friend. Your warm tears lulling you to sleep.

The soft sound of whispers and hushed laughter eventually pulled you from your slumber. As you opened your eyes, you spotted Collin stumbling into the apartment with a group of other androids. His movements were erratic and uncoordinated, clearly indicating he was very drunk. You cautiously peered out from behind the couch, watching as Colin and his friends stumbled and joked their way up the stairs. Glancing at the clock, you saw that it was 3:45 am.

You took a mental note and lay your head back down to sleep.

The next morning, you observed with fascination as the three androids moved through the apartment with fluid efficiency, preparing for the day ahead of them. Collin appeared completely recovered from the previous night's events. As an android, he was lucky enough not to experience hangovers from the specialized alcohol designed for their systems. Perhaps this could be a potential conversation starter?

Collin’s sleek and perfectly constructed form was leaning against the kitchen counter, scrolling through his phone. You sat on the stool at the opposite end of the counter, taking in his outfit of the day, all black, topped with a leather jacket. Before you could open your mouth to speak he shot a glare at you that immediately made you freeze up. You forgot how intimidating the androids are up close.

You simply stared back at him, lips parting as you struggled to find something to say. However, Collin merely gave you a cold and stoic look in response before turning his attention to Richard, who had just entered the room with his usual graceful movements.

“Rich, feed your pet. It’s being weird.” He shouted over his shoulder to his ‘brother’ before turning around and leaving the two of you behind.

Richard gave a low, rumbling chuckle that reverberated in his chest. "How sweet," he mused, towering over you. "Does the little human not know how to make their own food?"

"I can," you replied softly, avoiding his intense gaze as you fidgeted with the sleeves of your shirt.

Richard's fingers found their way under your chin and tilted your face up to meet his piercing eyes. "Well then, go eat," he stated simply, as if it wasn’t obvious. Removing his hand, he adjusted his long dark coat before turning towards the door.

"Where are you going?" you blurted out without thinking, surprised by your own boldness. Richard halted in his tracks, one eyebrow raised in surprise at your sudden outburst. It took you aback as well.

He turned his head slightly to look at you over his shoulder. "Unlike you, little one, we have work to do." And with that final statement, he exited the room, leaving you once again, alone with only your thoughts as company.

The hours dragged on as you aimlessly wandered around the confines of the apartment, much like a caged animal. Every door was locked tight, denying you any sense of freedom or escape. You tried them all; the front door, Richard's room, and the computers again, but to no avail.

___

The Androids would leave you alone for hours on end. Collin ignored you. Connor seemed too uncomfortable to even make eye contact with you. Richard would occasionally make a passing comment, but it was clear that his only motive was to irritate his older brother. However it didn’t seem to work, Connor always just left the room.

As the days passed, the monotony continued. The androids went to work and returned home in the same predictable routine. However, one thing caught your attention - Collin coming home late at night, often with friends in tow. They would arrive in the early hours of the morning, usually between 3 am to 4 am.

This piece of information sparked an idea in your mind. You observed their patterns, took mental notes, and began to devise a plan. You managed to secretly pack some food, warm clothes, and even scrounged up some money from pockets and the general carelessness of your owners.

Emily. Your best friend.

You needed to see her.

To save her.

As the early hours of the morning rolled around, Collin stumbled home with his usual entourage of rowdy friends. They burst through the door, their drunken laughter echoing through the apartment and leaving the door slightly ajar, just as they always did. As their tomfoolery went on you knew that you had five minutes or less to get out of dodge. You covered yourself in one of Richard’s black coats that he had left in the study. It was extremely oversized on you but it was warm. You snuck past the androids quite easily, much easier than you expected.

Ha, androids…

Maybe they weren’t so superior after all.

Well… at least not after a few too many drinks anyway.

You took the elevator down to the lobby with ease, once there you braced yourself for whatever was in store upon opening the front door to the building. After a heavy push on the doors, a blast of cold night air hit you in the face. You pulled the coat tighter around yourself and took a deep breath before stepping out into the darkness.

"I'm coming for you, Emily," you whispered determinedly into the frigid air.