Chapter Text
The Elliott household ran on the steady hum of drones, with V as one of the many Worker Drones assigned to domestic tasks. You’d been hired to handle their upkeep, living on-site to keep everything running smoothly. It wasn’t glamorous work, but you found satisfaction in it, especially in the steady routine and the small interactions that came with each maintenance day.
This morning, you entered the quiet maintenance bay to find V tidying up the counters, humming softly to herself. She was always here early, working efficiently and quietly, but she stood out to you—maybe because of the care she took in her tasks or the way she moved with a little more precision than the others. You couldn’t quite explain it, but you’d found yourself paying attention to her more than the other Worker Drones.
“Morning, V,” you called, giving her a friendly nod.
She looked up, her white eyes meeting yours as she paused in her work. “Good morning, Technician,” she replied with the polite, almost rehearsed tone typical of her programming.
Despite the impersonal response, you gave her a warm smile. “I’ll be doing rounds on all the drones this morning. Let me know if anything’s off—I’ll make sure you’re all in good shape.”
She nodded, though you knew she was programmed to keep everything running smoothly without complaints. “Thank you,” she said automatically, turning back to her cleaning.
You continued your work at the bench but kept an eye on her as you adjusted the tools and arranged the parts. Something about V’s presence in the quiet moments—her steady hum of activity, her constant attention to detail—felt oddly reassuring. Maybe it was because she reminded you of someone, or maybe it was just that the longer you worked around her, the more you appreciated the little quirks she brought to even the simplest tasks.
After a while, you cleared your throat, hoping to keep the conversation going. “You do good work, V. The place wouldn’t be half as nice without you.”
V looked up, momentarily surprised by the comment. “Thank you,” she said again, though this time it was softer, almost as if the words held a bit of genuine appreciation rather than mere routine.
It was a small moment, but it brightened your day. The house was big, and the work could be repetitive, but V’s quiet presence and steady work were small comforts, and you were glad for them.
The morning passed peacefully as you worked through your usual checks on the household drones. Most were fairly routine fixes—a touch-up on V’s fellow Worker Drones, a few small repairs here and there, and a quick run-through of basic diagnostics.
Every so often, V would pass by with a stack of linens or a tray of supplies, glancing in your direction. You weren’t sure why you noticed her so much; she looked just like the other drones in most ways, and yet something drew you to her, like she had a spark that you couldn’t quite put your finger on. Maybe it was just the long hours of work that made her quiet presence a small comfort.
A little later in the day, you noticed V struggling slightly as she tried to reach a stack of heavy boxes on one of the high shelves. Without thinking, you stepped over to lend a hand.
“Here, let me get that for you,” you said, carefully pulling the boxes down and handing one to her.
She accepted it with a faint nod of thanks. “I could have managed,” she replied, not quite defensive, but with a tone that suggested she was accustomed to working alone.
“I’m sure you could have,” you replied easily, handing over the second box. “But I figured there’s no harm in helping out when I can.”
V seemed to consider this, looking at you thoughtfully for a moment before responding. “Humans normally just…let me handle things myself.”
“Well, I guess I’m not like most… humans.” You shrugged, feeling a small thrill from her attention, even if it was just a simple look.
She continued her work with her usual precision, but every now and then, you’d catch her glancing your way, her gaze softer, maybe even a little curious. Eventually, you returned to your workbench, occasionally sneaking glances in her direction, hoping she didn’t notice. But V, perceptive as ever, picked up on it.
“Do you need something?” she asked, with a touch of amusement in her voice.
Caught off guard, you chuckled nervously. “No, I…just wanted to check in. Make sure you’re all set for the day.”
V tilted her head slightly, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at her expression. “I’m perfectly fine, but…thank you. For earlier, too.”
The way she said it made your chest tighten slightly—a quiet acknowledgment, just enough to let you know that your kindness hadn’t gone unnoticed. V wasn’t just another machine going through the motions; she had something more, something you were sure wasn’t just the standard programming.
As V finished her tasks, a familiar, chipper voice echoed from the hallway. “Hey, V! Oh, and Technician!” N popped his head into the kitchen, his usual cheerful grin plastered across his face. Despite his intimidating appearance, N was oddly endearing, almost like an excitable puppy.
“Hey, N,” you greeted, chuckling a little at his eagerness.
N moved into the room, giving V a friendly nudge with his elbow. “So, how’s the day going? Did you two break anything interesting?” he asked, his eyes flickering with the playful mischief he couldn’t seem to suppress.
“Everything’s intact,” you replied with a smirk, glancing at V, who merely rolled her eyes at N’s antics. Despite herself, though, you thought you saw a faint glimmer of amusement in her expression.
“Good, good! I was just finishing my rounds with J,” N said, leaning a bit closer, as if sharing a big secret. “She’s, uh…on a bit of a tear tonight. You might want to avoid her if you can.”
He laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head. You’d noticed that J, unlike V and N, tended to be far more intense, approaching her duties with an almost rigid focus. She was good at what she did, but small talk definitely wasn’t her strong suit.
Just then, as if summoned by mention, J appeared in the doorway, arms crossed and an exasperated look on her face. “N, we’re supposed to be working, not…socializing,” she said, her voice clipped and efficient.
“Oh, right! Sorry, J!” N stammered, straightening up immediately. Then, as she turned her gaze toward you and V, you offered her a small nod, trying to keep things cordial.
“Technician,” J said, acknowledging you with a brief nod before turning her attention to V. “Make sure the kitchen is spotless before you power down for the night. We have an early schedule tomorrow.”
V dipped her head in a quick nod. “Understood, J.”
With that, J turned and left, her footsteps fading down the hall. N gave you and V a quick thumbs-up, flashing the words good luck on his screen before hurrying off after J, leaving the two of you alone in the kitchen again.
V let out a barely audible sigh as the silence settled back in, and you couldn’t help but chuckle. “Rough night?” you asked.
“It’s nothing new,” she replied, resuming her work with a hint of resignation.
After a moment, you picked up a cloth and joined her in cleaning the countertops. “Well, let’s get this done, then. No need for you to stay up all night over a few dishes.”
V looked over at you, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. “You don’t have to help.”
“I know,” you replied simply, glancing over with a reassuring smile. “But maybe I want to.”
She seemed to ponder that, resuming her work in silence, but you could tell by her slightly softer expression that she appreciated it. The two of you worked together, side by side, until the kitchen was immaculate and every task was done.
As you hung up the cloth and wiped your hands, you turned to her one last time. “Good night, V. I’ll see you in the morning.”
For a moment, she almost looked like she was going to say something more, but instead she just gave a small nod. “Good night, Technician.”
You couldn’t help but smile at the simple exchange. She still called you “Technician,” though you had a feeling that, in some small way, she saw you as more than just another human in the household.
After leaving V and the others for the night, you made your way down the winding staircase to your room in the basement. The dim, narrow hallway led you past shelves of spare parts and stacks of equipment. There was a warmth here, a kind of low, steady hum that came from the machinery running beneath the floors—heating pipes, the furnace, and the quiet buzz of the house’s power core all working to keep the place in motion.
Your room was small, tucked between the storage area and the maintenance closet, but it suited you well. A sturdy workbench took up most of one wall, littered with loose bolts, bits of circuitry, and a few half-assembled devices you hadn’t yet finished. Across from it was your cot, snug against the wall, with a single, worn blanket folded neatly at the foot. Above it, a dim, amber bulb cast a warm, flickering glow over the cramped space.
As you settled into the small room, you felt oddly at ease, listening to the steady sounds of the machinery and the muffled hum of the furnace. There was something comforting in the rhythms of the house, in the quiet routines that made up each day here. You liked that no two days were ever quite the same, with the drones to look after, the endless little repairs and tweaks that kept you busy. And lately, you found yourself thinking more and more of V—of her quiet presence, her slight smile, and the way she seemed to appreciate the small kindnesses you showed her.
Pulling off your work gloves, you set them on the edge of the workbench and took a final glance around the room, feeling a contentment that had taken you by surprise. The walls might be close, and the light might be dim, but it was your own space—a place where you belonged, however small. And y’know what? The occasional rude awakening after the pipe above your bed burst again was worth it in your book.
With a quiet sigh, you lay down on the cot, listening to the faint, comforting hum that filled the air. Tomorrow would bring more tasks, more small moments shared with the drones, and perhaps some more alone time with V. You found yourself looking forward to it.