Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Working for Prodigy was an interesting venture. You had been freelance for a very long time, living your life day to day in a small area not claimed by The Five. You weren't a top of the line scientist but your job was still just as important; Dame Sylvia had asked for you personally to help her get the Hybrids settled into their new forms. Your work with other Synthetics and Cyborgs had put you on the map, though you weren't sure why. You fixed them up, mostly, repairing any damage done in the field of their work. But it wasn't just a knack for fixing the broken; you had a way with the Synths and Cyborgs, something that made it so you could relate to them on an emotional and...detached way. You befriended them, took time to check in on regular customers and form attachments. You quite literally had an army of the artificial and the semi-artificial behind you and Dame wanted that connection for her own lab. 

It hadn't taken long to convince Boy Kavalier to hire you, Dame had explained, for she had told him that the children needed that connection. Whatever it was you did to make others trust you so willingly was seen as a great assest, and you could offer some important insight into the mental spaces of the Hybrids. She wanted you to work closely beside their prime caretaker, Kirsh, and study the mannerisms of the Hybrids while also becoming a safe space for them to come to. As you understood it, Dame was meant to be an mothering figure to the children, as she referred to them as, but you were to be a friend. Kirsh, whoever he was, was to give you access to everything the children had access to. Dame's husband would work closely with you as well, helping you keep track of vitals and other important mechanical tidbits that might need to be fixed. 

So here you sat, waiting for the air lift to land so you could meet your new boss and co-workers. You were nervous, to say the least, meeting the Boy Genius and hoping you lived up to the hype that Dame put forth about you. Really, you didn't think you were anything special; you were human, through and through, and yeah you had a knack of making friends with the terribly misunderstood but that didn't mean anything. At least, you didn't think it meant anything, not to this level anyways. But they saw something in you that was worth the...very hefty pay raise you were getting with this job offer and now the hatch to the air ship was opening and blinding light flooded the compartment you were seated in. 

You unbuckled yourself and exited the ship, shielding your eyes to make sure the sun didn't blind you fully as you came up on the waiting entourage of your new life. Your hair blew around in the wind caused by the large motors behind you as they powered down and you eyed everyone who stood before you. 

Boy Kavalier was young, younger than you expected him to be, and stood a few inches shorter than you as he eyed you up and assessed his new toy. Dame Sylvia stepped forward and greeted you with a warm smile, shaking your hand heartily. 

"Welcome!" She grinned and motioned to the man who stood beside her. "This is my husband, Arthur. You'll be getting to know him closely over the course of your research. This is-" 

"Yes, yes, yes." Kavalier cut in, waving his hand impatiently at Dame. "You have some special magical way to connect to Synths and that's great! That's, you know, cool. Is it true though? I find it hard to believe that the very beings that think they're better than us can be convinced to befriend someone like, well. You." 

"What he means is, it's going to be exciting! Watching you work closely with the children and interacting with them!" Dame Sylvia clapped her hands in front of her, smiling to show her excitement while Kavalier rolled his eyes. 

"What I want to see is if you can get this one," Kavalier pointed to a white haired man with a bored expression. "To smile. Get him to do that for me and I will pay you one million dollars!"

"I-" You fumbled for words at how the Boy Genius acted. You assumed he'd be more refined, more...empathetic. But he was still completely child like himself, in his mannerisms and spoken word. Boy Kavalier seemed to become bored with the conversation, however, and switched to what your main duties would be. 

"You will observe, interact and aid the Hybrids as you see fit." He explained as he turned on his heel, his bare feet making a dull slapping sound against the floor. Everyone began following him, including the white haired mystery man that eyed you for a brief moment before going back to looking bored. "Kirsh will be your partner in crime! He is the main care taker for them, so his word is final! Remember that. I want progress reports every week on their behavior. Any bugs you find, any issues that arise, I want it." 

You nodded as he continued along, leading you down different hallways and giving you the grand tour. Dinner would be served in the mess hall, you were to report to Kirsh every morning and relieve the days schedule, etcetera and so forth. You were still waiting to meet Kirsh but apparentlt no introduction would be made as Kavalier made his departure, leaving you with Dame Sylvia, her husband and the weird white haired man. You had a hunch he was a Synth, the lack of emotions anywhere on him a dead give away, and you suspected he also worked closely with the Hybrids. 

"Am I ever going to meet this mysterious Kirsh?" You asked with a raised eyebrow, watching Kavalier disappear around a corner as you crossed your arms. "I'm supposed to report to him in the morning and yet I've no idea who he is. Is he too important to come meet me?" 

"You don't-" Dame blinked at you for a moment, seemingly confused, before she shook her head and motioned to the silent man. "Meet Kirsh." 

Your eyes found the cool brown ones of the Synth-Kirsh. Of Kirsh. And you had the decency to blush with embarrassment as he assessed you quietly and scientifically. 

"O-oh..." You stuttered and tucked away flyaway piece of hair behind your ear. "I'm so sorry. If I had known-" 

"You have a superiority issue." His voice was level, emotionless, as he stood there with his hands behind his back. His brown eyes ran you up and down in a very analytic manner, nothing in his facial features changing. "You have this reputation about you, for befriending the "unfriendable" as some put it. Do not try it with me." He looked away from you and down the hallway, no longer interested in the conversation. "You will meet me in the lab at eight. No later." With that, Kirsh turned and walked off, leaving you fidgeting in embarrassment and feeling like you were already on the chopping block. 

"Well!" Dame Sylvia sighed and looked towards you with an awkward smile. "I'll lead you to your room now. Your things have already been brought in." 

Your thoughts were a jumbled mess of things, already dreading having to work with what seemed to be a very stoic Synth. It would seem his prime directive was to the lab and it's research, and it would also seem he had made up his mind about you before you even got the chance to know him. It didn't really help that you had shoved your foot in your mouth when you made that comment about meeting him, probably made you look like a child in comparison. And you had a superiority problem? The way Kirsh held himself seemed to be the complex most older Synths had; they thought humans lesser beings, things that would eventually die and be forgotten. You had met a few of them before, tough nuts to crack at the time but some odd hours in your lab had them feeling less inclined to openly insult your intelligence. No matter, if Kirsh wanted to do this the hard way, you could do that too. 

You thanked Dame Sylvia and her husband for walking you to your room and slipped inside, sagging against the door with relief to be out of public eye. You eyed the room, rather happy with its size. There was a comfy looking living room with a kitchenette just off to the side. Meals would be held in the mess hall but you imagined you could bring food back here to eat instead. You worked better alone, after all. To the side was a smaller room that held the bedroom, with a Queen sized bed, and a bathroom adjacent from it. Full bathroom too, with a shower and an actual tub. You haven't had a good soak in so many years, always having to deal with lukewarm showers at your old home. 

Home...you already missed the tranquil feeling of the forest surrounding you. The island you were currently on was all forest but it was different. Cameras were everywhere, watching your every move and listening to every word. You'd have no privacy here, that was something you traded for the chance to enhanced and better science. 

What you missed most of all, however, were your friends. Cyborgs and Synths had come from all over the world, outcast and driven away, to live in your little slice of heaven. There were humans there as well but you never connected with them all that much, your choice of income often leaving them feeling intimidated. It wasn't their fault, nor was it yours. It was just the way the cards were dealt. The others however, the non-humans, weren't so easily swayed. They found your interest in their mechanics amusing, and since a great deal of them came to The Haven broken and missing parts, you suddenly became a well sought after mechanic and healer. 

Ever since you were a child you had been fascinated by the inner workings of the Synths, and with each passing year and with new upgrades being introduced, you had come to find you had a knack to fix them. Building them was one thing, that was something still out of reach. But replacing old and broken parts? Now that was your area of expertise. And so you went to school and became top of your class, advancing well above the other students there. You didn't make many friends during those years, a lot of jealous classmates often trying to sabotage your work. But you remained steadfast and steady, and you learned that humans...well, humans were tricky beings to relate to. So when you found that you could actually hold worthwhile conversations with the Synths, you latched onto it. And here you were, at decade later, now working for one of The Five. How...sad. 

"Staring at the wall won't get you the answers you seek." A voice spoke up and you turned to see your helper and friend, the one thing you couldn't do this journey without; Thrash. He was a Synthetic, an older model that was phased out almost as soon as it was brought in. Thrash came to The Haven around the time you did, in need of some dire work done on his mainframe. He had chestnut brown hair, cool blue eyes and a constant frown for anyone who wasn't you. He had been hard to work with at first, having much the same complex as Kirsh seemed to have; though after weeks of being bullied by you into letting you fix him, he came around. 

"Thrash." You sighed and walked over to him slowly, his bigger frame towering over you as you got closer. You closed your eyes and leaned forward, resting your forehead against his chest. Thrash was a hot headed one, and very protective. You had wanted him to come on the tour but Kavalier apparently had confined him to your quarters until 'they were sure he would play nice.' 

"Are you sure this is the right move for you?" Thrash asked, twirling a strand of your hair around his finger. He had the same cool and collected tone of Kirsh, which was no surprise to you; the two models came out one right after the other. Thrash was typically level headed and disinterested in a lot of things but his systems had been damaged in a fight and the only way to fix him was to give him parts from another Synth, one that had more human emotions to it. It didn't change Thrash too much but he learned to care about you, at the very least. He hated you for it for the longest time, giving him what he deemed as 'a great weakness' but it was either that or turning him off forever and you couldn't do that. Not when he was still functioning. 

"I don't know." You replied to his question with another sigh. "This is what I've been wanting for my entire life; the chance to further the scientific study in ways no one was had thought of before. And a human/Synth hybrid is certainly the way to do it." 

"And am I really to be confined here for the time being?" Thrash asked as he looked around the room, eyebrow raised. 

"We're lucky you could even come to begin with." You pointed out, raising your head. "Let's not push it." 

"Very well." He graced you with one of his rare smiles and tucked the strand of hair he had been playing with back where it belonged. "I suppose I've no choice." The two of you stayed in that position for a moment, Thrash allowing you your moment of reprieve as you sought comfort in his quietness. 

"So. I'm working with another Synthetic..." You began as you pulled away and sat down on the decidedly plush couch. "His name is Kirsh. I think his model came just after yours." 

"Ah, yes." Thrash nodded and sat beside you. He was still still in his movements, like everything he did was calculated before he executed the move. "The TX-9367 Model was made with 'vast improvements' from mine. What's he like?" 

"Imagine you before I fucked with your systems." You threw a lazy grin at Thrash who rolled his eyes at your display. "A real stick in the mud. And I may have insulted him? I'm not sure, he's hard to read. I didn't know who he was at first and called him pompous....not in so many words but." You shrugged and Thrash sighed. 

"You've always had a way with words." He commented. "So, he's made up his mind ahout you then."

"Decidedly so." You nodded and rubbed your face with your hands. "Ugh, I made myself look like an ass. He said I have a reputation and I better not use my special befriending tricks on him." 

"What special befriending tricks?" Thrash asked, deadpanned. "I absolutely loathe you." You giggled and shook your head in amusement at Thrash. 

"I don't know. I just talk to you guys and suddenly I have...more than tow dozen Cyborgs and Synthetics seeking me out." You really didn't understand what it was about you, nor did you care to. You made friends, that's all that mattered. What made you so special was beyond you, maybe it was because you fixed them up with no judgement. Considering they came from places that did nothing but judge them...it was a good guess. You gave them a home, a purpose and a feeling of belonging. Even if they thought they were superior, everyone wanted to feel like they belonged somewhere. 

"So what are you going to do?" Thrash pressed the matter, toying with the zipper of your sweater. 

"He wants to act like that, he can. I'm here to work, to study." You nodded with the absolute confidence you felt brimming inside you. "Kirsh and I are co-workers and nothing more." And you would make sure of it. He was an ass, clearly, and you weren't going to waste time playing nice with him. If he had already made his mind up about you, well two could play at that game, buster. Now all you had to do was survive. 

Chapter Text

To say your sense of direction was bad was an understatement. Here you were, five minutes before eight, and you were completely lost. All fhe corridors looked the same; plain and clinical, with no real markers to navigate with. You were trying desperately to remember which turn to take to get to the lab but nothing was clicking. 

"What a way to start," you muttered to yourself as you continued down the twisting corridors and felt yourself get more frazzled by the minute. "Make a bad impression, be late to check in...stellar performance!" 

Eventually you came across another scientist who gave you directions to where you were supposed to go. You thanked them profusely and made your way to the lab, getting there with one minute to spare. Kirsh was already there, along with a few people you hadn't met with yet. You typed in your access code and slipped into the room, scurrying over to Kirsh and clearing your throat. 

The white haired man was studying something through a magnifying glass while one of the new people took notes steadily. Kirsh didn't look up, didn't acknowledge you at all, just kept talking aloud for the note taker. The two others in the room studied you openingly, whispering to themselves behind their hands. It dawned on you that these were the Hybrids, three of them at least. 

"Hello," you greeted them, taking the initiative while Kirsh ignored you. You tell them your name and smile warmly, to try and ease them into your presence. "I take it you three will be working closely with me. Where are the others?" 

"Uh, Wendy is doing some sort of test, Nibs and Curly are in the library..." The boy spoke like a child still, with the pauses between words and fidgeting with his arms. 

"And what are your names?" You asked, curious about the chosen nicknames of the children. Very Peter Pan, but for a place called Neverland that was to be expected. 

"I'm Smee," the same one spoke up, rocking on his heels slightly as his arms swayed at his sides. "That's Slightly. And the one over there is Tootles." Slightly gave a small wave and a half smile in your direction, which you mirrored with a larger smile of your own. They were all quite shy around new people, you noted, their mannerisms showing that of children who hid behind their mothers when a visitor came to say hello. 

"Well, it's wonderful to meet you three." You looked back to Tootles who smiled widely at you before going back to note taking. 

"You're late." Kirsh finally acknowledged your presence, briefly turning his head to indicate he was speaking to you before going back to his work. 

"By a minute." You replied with a sniffled, holding your own head high. "It won't happen again." 

"Slightly, go and fetch the others." Krish stood and made his way over to you and the other two Hybrids. "I want everyone here as we discuss this." 

As Slightly went to do as he was told, Smee and Tootles bombarded you with questions about where you had been before coming to Neverland. 

"Well, it was called The Haven," you explained with a soft smile. "And there were a lot of people there that had come from all over." 

"What were they like?" Smee asked, eyes wide with wonder. 

"Where was it located?" Tootles followed up. 

"It was a small island, unclaimed as it didn't hold much of anything useful to The Five. It has a grand forest and a river and we built up a village in the middle of it." You could see the small village now, though small it no longer was. It had grown to a good size over the years, thanks to the increasing population. "There were humans, like me, but there was also a big populace of Cyborgs and Synthetics like Kirsh. See, they came to see me because I fixed them up after they were hurt badly. And since they were seen as disposable to the people that owned them, a lot of them were cast out and found their way to us." 

"So you fixed them up?" Smee looked awe struck by your story, it was really cute.

"Mmhm." You nodded with a smile. "I fixed them up and they decided to stay with us. A place where they could be accepted and not face the stigma against their creations." 

"Stigma?" Tootles asked, looking towards Kirsh.

"A harmful ideal." Kirsh replied in his cool tone. "A mark of disgrace against something or someone, usually preconceived by a group or individual that's later spread around." He seemed uninterested in your story, staring off to the side as he waited for the others. 

"Is that why you got that reputation?" Tootles turned back to you and you tilted your head in amusement silent question. "I overheard some of the adults talking about how someone with a...a knack for caring about synths was coming." 

"I find them easier to get along with than humans," you conceded. "Humans are...messy. And yes, while I am one I can't really to relate to them as much as someone else would be able to." Kirsh turned towards you, only a fraction of a movement that could have been missed entirely if you weren't trained to note minute movements of Synths. 

"This...island of yours." Kirsh spoke like Thrash did, measured and calculated. You were noticing the similarities and differences with every moment you spent around this man. "Is a lawless slice of land that The Five gave you out of pity. Do not think it so grand, children."

"Lawless? We have a leader, three actually!" You growled out at him, crossing your arms in defiance. "One of each to represent those who live there. And The Five did not 'give us the land out of pity', they had no use for the island. A small blip on their radars compared to everything else. The Haven is a stronghold for those looking to habor themselves in safety. Sure, we've not the numbers of the other nations but we have something they don't; harmony. And I'll be damned if I let you bad mouth my home." 

"You say other humans are messy." Kirsh finally turned to look at you, his brown eyes moving up and down judgementally over your person. "And yet here a mess stands." 

Before you could further the argument, Slightly returned with three others in tow. One walked with confidence, surveying her surroundings like someone who was given the title of in charge but actually held no power in the grand scheme of things. She had short black hair and dressed in a black jumpsuit, a tiny stuffed walrus clipped onto her belt loop. 

The next one that came in was hunched in on herself, her longer red hair obscuring her face a tad bit as she assessed her surroundings carefully. This one, you noted, seemed to be more shy than the others. She kept her distance from you, standing off to the side as she spoke to her own stuffed animal. 

The third one mimicked the first girl's attitude, walking confidently and with power, though you guessed it was a rivalry. Her hair was long and curly and she kept looking over to the black haired girl and adjusting her position to match. One sided, you mentally added. 

"Wendy, Curly, Nibs." Kirsh introduced the Hybrids as he pointed to each one. He then introduced you, using your full name, and stepped aside as you were swarmed by the others. They all asked a million and one questions, which you tried to answer as best you could. There were some you didn't answer, however, doing your best to swerve the conversation to other parts of your life. You had a dark past, skeletons you'd rather keep in the closet, and you hoped your half truths were enough to sway the Hybrids from discussing it further. The scars that marred your body and soul were for you, and only you. 

"Now then." Kirsh interrupted after a few more rounds of questions. "We're all gathered here so I shall go over the role our newest member will play in your lives." The Hybrids all moved to more comfier positions around the room; some lounging on the tables, some on the floor. Wendy kept standing, leaning her weight on one leg as she folded her arms behind her back to listen. 

Kirsh explained that you were to be treated with respect, to be listened to as if you were him. He explained that you were here to observe, interact and study their behaviors and the way they accumulated to their new bodies. Progress reports would be made weekly, as you already knew, and the Hybrids were to see you as their friend. Their confident when they couldn't go to him or Dame or Arthur. Your role was a match to theirs, in a way you supposed. A role model and a teacher, as well as their doctor. 

"Your...special gift of befriending synths will come useful here," he spoke only to you for this, the others having been sent away for the time being. "Use it wisely. They are still children in their minds, so they like to think they can keep secrets from us. Your job is to make sure they don't." 

"But why though?" You questioned, probably stupidly but you didn't care. "Why do they need this from me specifically? I'm nothing special. I just...talk." 

"Kavalier sees potential in this," Kirsh said with a tilt of his head. "Somehow Dr. Sylvia has convinced him you have worth. I see no merit in it." 

"Thanks." You deadpanned. The corners of Kirsh's mouth quirked up, not a full smirk but something akin to it. 

"You are something fascinating to Kavalier, something he doesn't understand." Kirsh went on as if you hadn't spoken. "Your 'Haven' has sparked his interest. He wants to see if you're really what they say you are." 

"And what do they say I am?" You pressed, pursing your lips in annoyance. 

"A Whisperer of Sythentics and Cyborgs. An anomaly. Not quite human anymore, but not a drop of machine in you. An outcast, finding peerage in the outcasted." Kirsh was so blunt with his wording, so precise and sure it would sting. 

"And that scares you?" You wondered aloud. "Enough to stop me from even trying it with you?" 

"Nothing scares me." Kirsh replied. "I don't feel fear. I just find no interest in you. Nothing of note." 

You're a meaningless waste of space

Give up on this dream of yours, girl. It will amount to nothing.

Come here, sweetheart, let me put some use to you. 

Things you had heard countless times. Everyone always underestimated your being and you hated it. The only one who ever truly believed in you, after a few hiccups, was Thrash. 

"And what about you?" You asked, turning a steely gaze on Kirsh. "What happens when you've run your course? When you're no longer useful to the Boy Genius? When you're broken and dried up of worth? What do you think happens then?" Before he had a chance to even think to reply, you stormed off. It was lunch time, you were hungry and pissed off and just wanted to take it out on some food. 

You followed a group of scientists to the mess hall and got in line for lunch. Surprisingly, it was actual food and not slop like you had always imagined them serving at places like this. Today was apparently spaghetti and meatballs for lunch, which sounded like it would hit the spot. You decided to go check in on Thrash with your spoils and headed to your room, kicking at the door while you waited for your friend to open it. 

"You could have put something down." Thrash mentioned as you walked past him and to the small dining table by the kitchenette. 

"That defeats the purpose." You explained as you dug into the food. 

"The purpose of what?" Thrash sat across from you with a raised eyebrow, his hair pushed back from his face a bit. You could still see the scars from the damage he received before he got to you; tiny white lines on the simulated skin to indicate where you had stitched him up.

"That I'm an independent woman who don't need no man." You replied and Thrash snorted in response. "God, you've no idea how nice it is to see a friendly face." You sighed heavily. 

"Is he that bad?" Thrash asked, not needing to indicate who 'he' was. 

"Yup." You made a popping noise on the end of the word. "We just had a battle of wits, it was fantastic. You should record it next time." 

"If he's giving you trouble, I could talk with him." Thrash tilted his head to the side and you shook your own. The last thing you needed was for there to be a Synth Showdown in the halls. 

"No, you're supposed to be on good behavior." 

Thrash didn't argue further. He knew what fucking this whole operation up meant. Dame didn't know when she offered you the job, but her visit in a Prodigy airship had startled everyone who lived on The Haven. They were scared The Five would descend at any given day and take them all by force. You were told by the leaders to leave and make sure that didn't happen. If you showed up after pissing Kavalier off, who knew what would happen then? You didn't want to think about it, lest it manifest the outcome. 

Thrash reached forward and grabbed your hand, squeezing slightly. He could tell when you began to spiral, almost the second it happened. He was trained on your every move now, just like you were his. Two halves of a whole, they used to call you. There had been speculation of something more between you and Thrash, something other than friendship, and you had once thought of it in passing but it never bloomed into anything more. Thrash was your friend, your anchor, and that was all he ever would be. 

Not that it wasn't uncommon, humans and Synthetics had been hooking up since they first got introduced. Truth be told, the first synths had been made specifically for that purpose, filling those lonely nights. But when they started becoming more human like, with feelings like the David model, it made humans uncomfortable. They didn't want a replacement to human kind, they wanted something they could control. And so the human appearance was kept but the feelings were omitted. Somewhat. Synths still had simulated feelings, they were just muted to the furthest degree they could be. The ones with superiorty complexes were seen as dangerous when there was absolutely nothing in there. They wouldn't care if a human was harmed. So a balance had to be created. 

The history of Synthetics and their creations was fascinating to say the least. There was dark history, for sure, and the mistreatment of Synthetics and Cyborgs boiled your blood, but the rest was magical and taught the human race a lot about what it means to play God. 

Thrash spoke your name, pulling you from your thought.

"Welcome back. Your food is cold." He pointed to your plate and you swore as you hurried to eat it up. You didn't want to be late a second time that day. 

Chapter Text

You were going to smack his smart mouth one of these days, you could feel it. It had been a week since you first arrived and already Kirsh was driving you up the wall. 

You were currently sitting in a security room with him, watching the Hybrids outside in their group zone, testing their flavour recepticals with specially designed nodes. They would take turns listing off what they were tasting, and grade each other on it. Wendy was in the lead, followed by Curly, then Nibs. Smee and Slightly weren't really participating, only when one of the girls nudged them. Tootles was reading a book about biology. Your job today was to study how they interacted with one another, learn the hierarchy and how they responded to different things. Wendy was clearly the leader, which you had deduced the first day meeting her. The others just kind of fell in line with her, like it was the most natural thing in the world. 

Of course, Kirsh couldn't go five minutes without insulting your intelligence and decided to break the silence by offering a cutting blow to you. 

"You've barely written anything down, are you even paying attention?" He asked as he peered over your shoulder at your note pad. There was a short hand only you could understand written down, which would look like nothing to the untrained eye. "Your report is due tonight. There better be actual progress on it."

You slammed the pen down on the table and looked up at the Synthetic with a glare. 

"Will you stop breathing down my neck and go do something else?" You demanded with a frown. "I know what I'm doing. This isn't my first rodeo." You added 'asshat' under your breath so he wouldn't hear you but you had a feeling he did anyways. 

"You're so easy to anger." Kirsh sat back in his chair with a triumphant half smirk. He seemed to like needling you with his barbed words, seeing how deep a hurt he could cause. Well, you weren't going to let him pull you down, you had faced enough of that in life already. Your skin was tough, like metal, and you would be doing yourself a disservice if you let the likes of Kirsh mess with that armor. 

"And you're so easy to forget." You muttered back and focused fully back on the Hybrids. They were play fighting now, throwing bits of paper at each other and laughing. You jotted something down, noting their penchant for liking games still. How would this affect their mental health as they aged? Their brains would continue to grow, to precieve the years, but their bodies would remain the same...how would one cope with such a thing? A child, watching the world revolve while they stayed stationary. It was sad, in a way, that they'd never again know what it would be like to experience human things.

Without warning, a droplet hit your paper and you furrowed your eyebrows, glancing up at the ceiling to see where the leak was coming from. This place was full of them, always raining down from the rainforest surrounding the buildings. But it wasn't the building leaking, it was you; mourning the losses that these children had yet to realise were losses. 

You wiped your face quickly, before Kirsh could see and comment, and were about to make an excuse of needing to finalize your weekly report, when there was a knock at the door. The security guard that sat quietly behind you opened the door and there stood Thrash, carrying a tray of food. 

"You forgot to eat again." He commented, voice cool in tone and betraying none of the concern you knew he felt for you. "You are human, you must eat." 

"And who is this?" Kirsh asked, raising an eyebrow at his...brother? Cousin? How did Synths see each other? Enemies, maybe? Since each new model was an advancement on the previous one? 

"Thrash." You breathed a sigh of relief, not really looking to answer Kirsh but wanting to say your friend's name like it could calm the emotions wailing inside you. 

"You need to eat." Thrash repeated, ignoring Kirsh. 

"You say you befriend Synths and yet here is one on a leash," Kirsh turned towards you, his face showing nothing. "How...quaint." 

"Shut up, he's not a pet." You snapped at the Synth beside you, standing up to make your way to Thrash's side. "He's my friend, and he's going to be working closely with us from now on." Kavalier had granted Thrash the same access as you had, after winning an argument that you needed his aid and expertise on matters. Kirsh looked like he hated the idea of another one of him roaming around freely, but he didn't say anything. 

"Go." Kirsh waved you off instead, turning back around to watch the monitors. "You have thirty minutes."

You grabbed the tray of food from Thrash and the two of you went to go find a suitable place to eat. As you dug in to this day's fare, roast chicken sandwiches with mashed potatoes and green beans, Thrash sat quietly beside you and contemplated something. 

"Penny for your thoughts?" You asked between bites, looking up at your friend.

"Is that how I was before?" Thrash asked, tilting his head to one side. "Cold and calculating? No emotion?"

"That's how you are now," you replied with a laugh. "To everyone besides me." Thrash flashed you a smile and nodded his agreement. 

"Well, if you hadn't added the X327 model parts into me, I would have remained that way." He commented, poking you in the ribs. It had become an inside joke between the two of you, bantering about how you purposefully used a Synthetic that had emotions just to get Thrash to crack a joke. 

In truth, you hadn't known which model parts you had on hand. All of them were taken from long dead Synths that no amount of fixing could save. You mourned the loss of their lives but you made it so they didn't die in vain. Their parts helped fix the others, The Haven lived on. Thrash knew this, even thought he hated having feelings even to this day. But still, you two joked about it being an ulterior motive.

"Will you try with him?" Thrash asked suddenly. "To be his friend?" 

"No." You shook your head, cementing your decision. "I only need one Synth in my life." That seemed to make Thrash happy. He grabbed your hand and squeezed it, running his thumb over your knuckles. You weren't sure what Thrash was to you, but you knew you couldn't live without him. Not anymore. 

"If he ever tries to hurt you, I want you to tell me." Thrash pulled away as a couple of guards came patrolling down the hall. "I will take care of it. I will take care of you." 

You knew he was telling the truth, Thrash would go to war for you. While your beginnings had been rocky and hot headed, your time together now was nothing but a deep caring for the other. Actually, Kirsh was mimicking how Thrash had acted until he didn't, and that made you curious. A curiosity was a dangerous thing to have for you, because it would consume you with time until the answer was provided. But you had to squash this curiosity down until it was nothing but a murmur in the wind; you did not want Kirsh to be your friend, or you his. You both made it abundantly clear you couldn't stand the other, and it would stay that way. 

When you returned to the lab after lunch, Thrash taking your dishes to the mess hall to be cleaned, Kirsh was in there alone. Tootles was still off with the other Hybrids, enjoying their afternoon off. Kirsh stood in the middle of the room, hands on his hips and lost in thought as he stared at nothing. 

"Did your battery finally run out?" You asked aloud as you entered the lab. Kirsh turned, a small tick in your direction to indicate his focus was now on you. 

"Your pet not joining us?" He mocked with a raised eyebrow. 

"Thrash is not. A. Pet." You rolled your eyes as you punctuated each word. "And no. He's going to explore the island a bit while I work on my report." 

"Hm." Kirsh went to the other side of the lab while you sat down at your computer and began to type up your report. So many findings, just in the first week, as well as questions you hoped to have answers to. Your notes, written in a language only you could decipher, sat before you as your fingers flew across the keyboard. You could feel Kirsh's eyes on you but you ignored him, choosing to favor your work over brainless arguments. 

Let him judge you all he wanted to, you and Thrash knew what he was to you and that's all that mattered. A pet, ha! Thrash would probably choke you before he allowed you to collar him. Not that you ever would, he was a free Synth, his own person. He had his own mind and wits, his own personality and rights. He was not yours to own, none of your friends were. You were just...their doctor, in a way. Their friend for sure, but also the anchor they needed to humanity when no one else would give them a rope. 

The clacking of your keyboard pulled you from your thoughts as you worked through the report, Kirsh moving silently around the lab as he studied different things and wrote his own notes. The two of you worked in an uncomfortable silence, at least on your end, and you started fidgeting from the lack of noise happening. You leaned back in your chair after a few more minutes, rubbing your face from exhaustion, and nearly jumping out of your skin when you noticed Kirsh was bent down right beside you, watching you work. 

"Jesus!" You yelped and leapt out of your seat to put some distance between the two of you.

"No, my name is Kirsh." He deadpanned as he looked over your work. "Hm. Your hypothesis that the mental toll on the children is intriguing but useless. They are machines now. Their mental state will remain unaffected." 

"Will it?" You questioned, willing your heart rate to slow. "Nibs already shows signs of depression and vulnerability. I fear what would happen if anything damaging were to occur." 

"They are-" 

"They are not just machines!" You spat, knowing his next words would just be an echo. "They are children minds placed into the body of an adult Synthetic! That has already had damaging repercussions on them! They are mentally still children and yet are being told to act like they aren't! And the more you and Dame Sylvia push them one way or another, they will continue to break until they can't function anymore!" 

"You are being unreasonably loud." Kirsh pointed out, standing up straight. 

"I am worried that Nibs will break, and she will break violently because a lot of children with her mental markers have taken the violent route. She does not understand herself, who she is meant to be, none of them do!" You were shouting now but you didn't care. "They need to find out what they are, where their place is in this world, but they can't do that if they're being pulled in two different directions." 

"And this is your...official report." It wasn't a question, but you graced it with an answer anyways. 

"Yes." You crossed your arms, anger boiling your blood. "You asked me to observe and interact. What I have seen is troubling and it will eventually lead to them figuring things out in a way we do not want." 

Kirsh digested your words, mulling them over as his brown eyes bore into yours. His face was expressionless, hard to read and he stood as still as a wall so you couldn't even get a read on what he was thinking. Eventually he nodded and turned back to your computer. 

"I will take this to Kavalier then, and we will consider." Was all he said, but it was the outcome you wanted. 

"Thank you." You sagged in relief. Maybe this would prove to him that you weren't some waste of finances and resources on the company.

"Do not think this is respect of any kind," Kirsh tacked on almost immediately. "You are not worthy of any respect. Your emotions are too quick to flare up and you become unruly when upset. Your argument is still invalid to me, as it will be to Kavalier, but we are tasked with reviewing your studies and discussing. Therefore, we will consider. But the outcome will likely be what you do not wish." 

"You are a pompous, arrogant, self centered bastard and you will regret not listening to me!" You growled. Leaning forward, you submitted your report and turned on your heel. You left the lab in a huff, hoping to leave Kirsh behind the but the stupid idiot followed you instead. 

"And you are an emotional mess, flaring up at the most inconvenient of things said, letting your emotions control you in such a human way." Kirsh commented lightly, keeping pace with you which pissed you off even more. "You should learn how to be more in control of that. It will do you wonders." 

"I hate you." You spat and Kirsh rolled his eyes. 

"You're just proving my point, sweetling." Kirsh shook his head in disapprovement and stepped in front of you, blocking your path. "Learn to control yourself. It opens more doors than it locks."

"You know, I'd ask if you found this amusing but you're nothing than an emotionless machine," you were hitting low, you knew that, you hated yourself for it even. But you didn't stop. "You find nothing amusing. You grate at my nerves and make me want to drown myself with your very presence! I will not play your games, Kirsh. I am here to work, to offer my opinions. Which, may I remind you, came heavily recommended by Dame Sylvia! I am good at my job, great even, and the only thing that I would do to make it better is to permanently sew your mouth shut so I don't have to hear your annoying voice!"

"The feeling is mutual." He mocked and you groaned, side stepping him. 

"Stay out of my way, if you won't respect my work. Don't talk to me, don't look at me, don't even think about me." You marched down the hallway, head held high and turned the corner, trying to put as much distance between you and that Synth as fast as possible. 

Chapter Text

It was all over the news; a ship crashing into Prodigy's area, killing hundreds to thousands of people and injuring even more. You watched with the other humans as the news coverage showed the extensive damage but while they were all crying, you were processing silently. It was a Weyland-Yutani ship, that much they had given out, which meant that this could start an all out war over that crash. Things were about to get interesting, scary even, and there wasn't a thing you could do about it.

So you did what you could do, and went back to work. Thrash was following you to your next destination, which was Arthur's lab to test Wendy's hearing. You hadn't spoken to Arthur much, your paths not really crossing until today, so you were excited to do these tests with him and document your findings. To fully test her against humans and Synths, Thrash was part of the experiment, offering his ears to see how advanced Wendy was to him.

Kirsh was with the other Hybrids for now, thankfully, and you had to admit that after your little spat in the hallway, he had been leaving you alone. It had been blissfully quiet without his barbs and judging stares, and you were grateful for the reprieve. How long it would last, you weren't sure, but you'd take what you could.

"Hey," Arthur greeted you as you entered the lab. "And Thrash. Good of you to help us with this." Thrash nodded to Arthur in his own wordless greeting, a typical trait for him. Thrash sat where Arthur indicated as they prepped Wendy.

"Hello." Wendy greeted both you and Thrash with a small smile. She was an inquisitive sort, eyes roaming everywhere and taking in all the information given.

"Wendy." Thrash nodded to the Hybrid, acknowledging her fully. He had grown a soft spot for the children, often indulging them with their games and questions. It helped you see how they interacted with Synths other than Kirsh, how they reacted to being treated differently based on the person they were talking to. Dame and Arthur treated them as their children, Kavalier treated them as his assets, Kirsh treated them like typical Synthetics. You and Thrash, however, treated them like more than just the base line, like puzzles needing help to be solved. You had an inkling they appreciated being given the freedom to decide on their own what they wanted to be preceieved as. Nibs was coming out of her shell more after an extensive talk with Thrash. You weren't sure what it had been about, both of them staying silent on the matter, but she was smiling more. She still had her depressive episodes, and often talked about missing things of her human life, but it was only scattered here and there.

"Wendy," Arthur handed Wendy and Thrash some headphones. "We need to test your hearing, okay? Can you put these on?" Wendy nodded, mimicing Thrash's stern looking face, though you knew he was just concentrating on what was to come. "You both need to raise your hands when you hear the noise, okay?" They both nodded and the test began, both of them raising their hands at the noise only they could hear.

"Why don't you have kids?" Wendy asked Arthur suddenly, her hand still raising. Thrash had fallen behind at some point, shaking his head whenever Wendy raised her hand. The other scientists were making notes and talking amongst themselves at Wendy's apparent super hearing ability. She was way above what a typical human could hear, and clearly above a Synthetic to boot.

While Arthur explained his situation with not having kids, your focused on Wendy's facial features and her little ticks. Her eyes were darting between Arthur and the TV screen behind his head, three blinks and then the headphones were off and she stood up. You watched with fascination when she moved the news reel from the smaller screen to a larger one, and started flipping through different camera feeds.

"What is she doing?" You demanded, going to stand beside Wendy. You watched with wide eyes as she paused, forwarded and zoomed in on different feeds. She was searching for something, or someone by the way she scanned faces.

"Ah...she has a knack for doing this." Arthur watched too. "She does it in her room, to watch her brother at night."

"And you didn't think to bring this to my attention?" You cast a slight glare at Arthur for being kept in the dark but he held up his hands in surrender. It hadn't been his call to make. You watched wordlessly as Wendy finally settled on a face and stared at the man with determination. This must have been the brother. She had mentioned him before, in passing; his name was Joe.

"I need to speak with Boy Genius." Wendy suddenly said.

"That may be difficult." Kirsh's grating voice met your ears and you inwardly groaned. Well, it had been a nice few days. "He is in a meeting with Eins at the moment, about the crash."

"I need to see him. Now." Wendy was expecting to get her way, and you were curious what she wanted to talk to Kavalier about.

"We can take you." Kirsh nodded, and his eyes drifted to you. You took it to mean the 'we' was him and you. Great.

"Thrash." You spoke quietly and he was up in an instant, by your side and ready to move.

"The dog stays here."

"Thrash comes with."

The two of you glared at each other before Kirsh gave in and turned on his heel, Wendy in tow with you and Thrash in the rear. Wendy made small talk with you to pass the time and fill the silence, falling into step beside you so Kirsh was out of ear shot.

"Why don't you like him?" Wendy wondered aloud and you startled.

"You?" You asked, needing clarification.

"Kirsh." She replied, her eyes dancing along the hallway walls. "You two always seem so angry at each other." Thrash snorted and you elbowed him to keep quiet.

"Difference of opinions." You stated, not about to go into detail about how her teacher and role model was an pain in the ass and the bane of your existence. Never have you ever had such an issue with a Synthetic before but Kirsh was apparently going to be your first.

"No, it's more than that." Wendy, ever the sharp mind, turned to you. "He doesn't want to be your friend but you're a good friend to have. You listen."

"I-thank you, Wendy." It was nice to hear at least someone was grateful for your efforts. "Maybe later you and I can sit down and we can discuss it more. But I don't want ol' stick in the mud to hear." You nodded towards Kirsh's back and Wendy grinned.

When you came to Boy Kavalier's office, the four of you stepped inside as he and Eins discussed the crash.

"Sir?" Kirsh spoke up, waiting for Kavalier to reply.

"Not right now." Kavalier waved him off.

"Let's go." Kirsh, easily defeated by a simple no, grabbed Wendy's arm and turned to leave.

"No." Wendy shook her head. She turned to Kavalier who was still deep in conversation and you watched, waiting to see what would happen. "We can go." She spoke clearly, her body language showing her determination and want.

Kavalier either didn't hear her or was ignoring her, continuing with Eins as if nobody had spoken. Thrash stepped forward beside Wendy and cleared his throat, halting Boy Kavalier mid sentence.

"I said, we can go." Wendy repeated and this time the two men turned to look at her. "Send us to the crash site. We can't break, we're stronger. Send us."

"It's the brother," Kirsh explained. "He's a paramedic on site."

"Oh, look at her," Kavalier said in a mocking tone. "Look at her expression, her body language. You'd think she's almost human."

"I am human." Wendy reinstated for the room.

"What do you think?" Kavalier turned to you with raised eyebrows, a smirk playing on his face. "You're so scared about their mental well being, what should I do?"

"A field test would prove...a lot, actually." You admitted, stepping forward. "If they're ready to be brought to the light, how they can handle high stress situations, what the limits are. I don't know if a crash site is...the best area to test it but we won't have another opportunity like it. But I want to go too."

"Absolutely not." Both Kirsh and Thrash spoke at the same time, though for different reasons. Thrash, because of the danger. Kirsh looked rather annoyed that you volunteered.

"Huh, seems your boy toys have things to say about that." Kavalier huffed a breathy chuckle as he looked between the two Synths. "You're something else, you know that? Alright. Kirsh, you take point but you're bringing the babysitter along."

"Sir-" Kirsh went to argue but Kavalier raised his hand to silence the Synth.

"Ah, ah. What I say goes and I say babysitter goes." Kavalier pointed to you. You didn't like being referred to as a babysitter but you didn't really have a choice in the matter. "But that one stays." He pointed to Thrash.

"Sir-" This time it was you who wanted to argue but he gave you a pointed look and you shut up. Wendy practically bounded out of the room with happiness, going to gather the others and prepare them. You and Thrash followed Kirsh to the lab, where you were handed a stun gun by a very annoyed looking Kirsh.

"You will do as I say." Kirsh commanded and you typically would have responded with snark but you just signed up to go to an active crash site with a building moments from collapse. So instead you nodded and accepted the gun holster he handed to you as well. "You will not run off, you will not touch anything."

"She's not an idiot." Thrash snapped in your place and you placed a hand on his arm.

"Thrash it's okay." You smiled at him, sweetly, and kissed his cheeks. "Love you sticking up for me, calm down a bit."

"You're risking your life," Thrash ground out. "Again. And I can't go with you to protect you this time."

"I'll be fine," you stressed. "The kids will look our for me." You were pretty sure Kirsh would knock you over and make a break for it if he could, so you didn't include him. Isaac had been loving the ability to learn from both you and Kirsh, as a scientist in the making. Wendy obviously saw you as a friend. The others called you over to say hi whenever they saw you, Smee often giving you a hug goodbye. You didn't doubt them at all.

"I will ensure the safe return of them all." Kirsh inclind his head to include you with that but both you and Thrash snorted.

"You remember what I said?" Thrash asked, his eyes darting quickly to Kirsh and then back to you.

"I expect a head on a platter if it comes down to it." You replied with a smile. Satisfied, Thrash went back to Kavalier's office to watch the video feed while you and Kirsh went out to the helipad to meet the kids. They were all settled into the air ship, leaving only three seats available all in a row. Kirsh, of course, took the middle seat which meant you'd have to sit beside him no matter which side you picked. Ass.

You buckled in and waited as take off was commenced, trying your best to ignore the heat radiating off of the Synth beside you. Once you had reached a steady altitude, Kirsh turned his head towards you and stared.

"What?" You snapped, shooting him a glare. You hadn't forgiven him yet, nor did you want to.

"What will he do when you eventually die?" Kirsh wondered aloud. "Synthetics live forever and watch the world turn around them, and the only thing we can do is take names. So what will he do when you're nothing but a mound of dirt?"

"Celebrate, I'd think." You deadpanned, though you knew Thrash would mourn you in his own way. It was a sad topic to think about, leaving your truly dear friend like that. The years were a blink of an eye to him while they dragged on for you. What would it be like, to watch you die while he remained unchanged forever? You worried he's go back to hating everything and everyone again, focused solely on the pain of missing you and not allowing anyone near him again. You didn't want that for Thrash, nor for any of your Synthetic friends. 

"What did he mean by getting into danger again?" Kirsh tilted his head in question.

"That's classified," you retorted. "And you don't have the clearance needed for it."

"And what about you, Wendy?" Kirsh suddenly turned to her, sitting across from you with one leg up on the seat. "He will die, you know." She came over and sat beside Kirsh, her voice low as she spoke.

"He won't die," Wendy said matter of factly. "I'm going to save him." Kirsh seemed to consider her words, his mouth quirking up in that half smirk you had come to associate with him. Clearly he hadn't expected that answer, and while you knew she meant today, she seemed to also mean in general. She would find a way to save her brother from death, and suddenly you got a vision of her conquering Death himself and her grinning triumphantly in his face.

Chapter Text

The crash site was still just as chaotic as it had been on the news, survivors being pulled out every second and sent to nearby hospitals. Wendy froze the moment she stepped out of the ship, her head tilting back and forth like she was listening to something. 

"Can you hear that?" She asked Nibs, but you didn't catch the answer. Kirsh grabbed your arm and kept you beside him. His grim was firm but not painful, and he pressed his lips to your ear so you could hear him better over the noise. 

"With me, sweetling." Kirsh said, his cold breath fanning over your skin. "Remember what I said." 

"Okay, okay. Let go." You shrugged off his hold and took a half step away from him. He gave you a scathing stare but kept his hands to himself, pausing before what looked to be a Captain of Guard.

"Kirsh, Head Scientist." Kirsh introduced himself, then you as Second Lead Scientist. Huh, you didn't know you had an official title like that. "We're here under strict orders from Kavalier." 

"What kind of orders?" The captain asked. You hadn't caught his name, too sweapt up in the happenings around you. He was a thicker man, with stubble and a mustache, a cigar sticking out between his teeth. 

"Need to know basis." Kirsh responded. 

"What is she doing?" One of the soldiers asked, pointing to Wendy. She was flipping through security cameras until she landed on her brother in an elevator. 

"What floor is this?" Wendy asked. When she didn't an answer right away, she changed her tone to demanding. One of the soldiers replied and off Wendy went. 

"Wendy." Kirsh sighed, watching her walk away "Wendy. Slightly, go with her. The rest of you on me." 

"Wait, you aren't sending a civilian in there with you?" The captain pointed to you and Kirsh rolled his eyes.

"She's armed." He replied. 

"But not trained!" 

"I can take care of myself, thank you." You snapped and turned to follow Kirsh out the temporary HQ and up to the ship. 

"You know the rules..." Kirsh began and you cut in.

"On you like glue." You replied. "No touching. Kids! Keep up!" You noticed the others had slowed down to take in the ship and the damage it had done, but they were jumpstarted back into action and quickly caught up at the sound of your voice. 

"If things go south in there-"

"Kirsh. I don't need a babysitter." You hissed through your teeth but he ignored you.

"If things go south in there, get yourself out first." He continued. "I will handle the others." Oh. You nodded in agreement and followed his lead into the building. 

Every creak of the building made you wince, the thought of it coming down around you a constant threat in the back of your mind. Dust and smoke filled the air and you coughed lightly at the assault on your lungs. It was dark inside, the lot of you switching on your flashlights to see the debris on the floor better. Issac helped you over a few fallen pillars while Smee, Nibs and Curly scouted ahead with Kirsh. Every so often, the white haired Synthetic would look around for you and you had a brief thought that he was ensuring your safety but then reminded yourself he was likely hoping to find you dead. 

Once your little group had made it down to the ship and safely across the metal beam that offered the perfect bridge over, you were instantly reminded of a movie you had watched long ago. It had been about deep space and aliens and it never really stuck with you, the movie showing it's age horribly with the effects. But now that the thought of killer alien lifeforms was in your head, you subconsciously stepped closer to Kirsh and held your gun at the ready. 

The corridors of the ship were just as much as mess as the building floors; wires, metal bits, junk thrown everywhere...it was a trial making sure you didn't get stabbed or electrocuted by anything. Smee, Nibs and Curly kept a perimeter around you with Issac in front and Kirsh leading the pack. The further you got into the ship, the less damage there was and the easier it became to navigate. 

"This is definitely a Weyland-Yutani ship," you muttered. "This design...its old but still useful for deep space runs."

"I thought you were, like, a mechanic for Synths." Smee commented, not really asking a question but you answered all the same. 

"You could say that," you smiled at him. "But my dad, he was an engineer. Used to work for Yutani back in the day, before he and my mom ran off together. He had a model of this type of ship that he kept, to remind himself why he ran." And now here you were, working under a corporation. Funny how it all came full circle. 

"Do you miss him?" Nibs asked, a sad tone to her voice. "I miss baths. I used to hate baths but now I miss them." 

"Yeah, I miss him." You thought back to how he would laugh; big and booming and you swore it would shake the whole house. He filled up a room with his laughter, the joy he brought a constant light even in the toughest of times. 

You turned to face forward again and almost ran into Issac as he froze up, followed by the other Hybrids. You peered around them to see a plant like...thing, hanging from the ceiling just down the hallway. Kirsh had slowed his step and was approaching cautiously towards it.

"Fear is for animals. You are not animals." He spoke loudly for them to hear. "Well. Not all of you." You flipped him off while his eyes were elsewhere and made Smee and Curly giggle from the action. 

You and the Hybrids approached just as cautiously as Kirsh had, looking the plant over carefully. A strange noise was coming from it, and gurgle of some sort like it was digesting something, and you wondered if it was some sort of big fly trap. Kirsh sent Curly, Smee, Nibs and you ahead to look for something to collect the plant with while him and Issac stayed behind. 

"It may be some sort of fauna...not flora." You heard Kirsh mutter to himself as you walked away, and you shuddered to think what else would be found. 

"Nibs don't look." Curly commanded as you rounded a corner and came face to face with two dead bodies. Some sort of creature was attached to them, drinking the corpses dry and swollen up like ticks, only worse. You saw Nibs struggling to not look at the bodies, and you were suddenly worried what this would do to her if you found anything worse. 

"What's that?" Smee shone his light over to the side and you all turned slowly to see a cat, mangled and bloody, licking something up off of the ground. It turned towards you slowly, and you noticed it's left eye was swollen up grotesquely as it let out a low and gutteral meow.

Without warning, the swollen eye leapt from the cat and launched itself at Nibs, who put her hands up just in time before it latched on. Curly and you screamed as you looked around for something to hit the creature off of Nibs with. She was screaming bloody murder, struggling to keep the tentacles off her as you grabbed a metal tray and smacked the creature away. Curly, with her quick thinking, slammed a metal tub down around the creature while Smee put a microscope on top and then his own body over it to make sure the creature couldn't get out. 

"Kirsh!" You and Curly yelled out at the same time. 

"Kirsh!!" Smee added his voice. While the two of them called for the Synthetic, you took a moment to look around the lab and different screens that were lit up and showing information. The eyeball was called an Ocellus and could control its host by connecting the tentacles to the brain. 

"Creepy." You muttered. 

"Mm. Looks like they were collecting specimens." Kirsh suddenly appeared beside you, and you let out a pathetic yelp as you jumped away. 

"Kirsh! For the love of God!" You growled and glared daggers at him.

"Wait, I thought specimens meant...dead?" Smee asked with a worried look. Kirsh and you shared a look, a silent conversation of 'what was Yutani after?' 

Kirsh rolled up his jumpsuit sleeve, showing the access port on the inside of his arm, and connected himself to the computer. Files began downloading into his database, and likely was being sent directly to Kavalier. 

"Nibs?" You turned towards the shell shocked girl who was currently sitting off to the side with a knife. "You okay?" 

"I want to go home now." She briefly looked over at you before her stare fixed back on the tub holding the Ocellus. You took in her body language, her facial features...that thing that scarred her in a way you may never understand. You made a mental note to have Dame talk to Nibs when you got back, see if the older Scientist could mother her way through to Nibs a bit. 

"This has just turned into a capture mission." The tinny voice of Kavalier came through your earpiece, and by the looks of it, Kirsh was getting the same message. 

"Sir?" Kirsh questioned, raising an eyebrow. 

"We're weeks away from launching the Hybrids." You argued. "We shouldn't be capturing these things, we should be destroying them." 

"Where's your sense of adventure, babysitter?" Kavalier laughed. "What I say goes, remember? How are mt Hybrids doing anyways?"

"Wendy took off," Kirsh replied. "She went to go find the brother. I sent Slightly with her." 

"Well get her back! Now!" Kavalier sounded annoyed at the fact that one of his Hybrids was off running around by herself. You didn't like the idea either but you had no idea where she went off to. 

"Sir, with all due respect, I am not their caretaker." Kirsh spoke in a hushed tone so the others wouldn't hear but this was an open line between the three of you so you definitely heard. 

"I thought you were supposed to be better than a man but all I'm hearing is excuses!" Kavalier snapped and the call ended. Kirsh set his jaw, his eyes narrowing a fraction, but otherwise didn't let on that the words affected him. 

"Kirsh-" 

"Shut up." His tone was level, cooled, the topic clearly not up for discussion. He went back to the others and started helping them gather everything up for transport. "Smee, go find Wendy and Slightly." 

Smee looked like he wanted to argue the matter, too scared to move from his current position of holding the alien down, but nodded and took off back out to the ship. While Smee went to find them, Kirsh called ahead to Wendy and told her to go to the front of the ship and wait for him. You tuned out the conversation and focused on staying out of the way from the creatures. You didn't know what any of them did, and you didn't want to know. 

Once everything was properly dealt with, Kirsh came over to stand beside you and surveyed the aftermath of the collection. 

"You disapprove of Kavalier doing this." It wasn't a question, more of a statement, but you nodded. 

"The Hybrids should be our top priority right now." You spoke quietly, eyes on Nibs. "This has been a big day for them all, we need to assess their state of minds when we get back. Nibs...Nibs." Kirsh looked towards the girl who was talking to Curly, a blank and wide eyed look on her face. 

"We will go look for Wendy." Kirsh changed the subject. "She's meeting us at the front, where there seems to be some sort of nest. You will come." A direct order.

"You mean, Wendy is out there with these creatures on the loose? Alone?" Nibs asked, scared. 

"We'll find her." You promised. "And we'll bring her back." Kirsh and you took off once a team of security tracked your group down and started loading up the specimens. A smaller group of security broke off to follow you and Kirsh, offering aid should you need it. You were hoping to find everyone unharmed and together, praying Wendy listened and stayed put. 

However when you got to the front of the ship, only Smee and Slightly were there but they weren't alone. A man had Slightly by the neck, gun pointed at the boy and was whispering something to him. Kirsh spoke up, telling the man to step away, and the gun turned on the two of you instead. 

"Are you the parents?" The man asked, hand still around Slightly's throat. 

"Excuse me?" Kirsh asked, eyebrow raised. The officers you had brought with you stepped forward and the man stepped away from Slightly.

"These Synths seem to think they have parents." The man kept his gun raised. "Are you two the parents?" As if to answer the question, Smee and Slightly stepped behind you and Kirsh like the two of you were their protectors. 

"Security Officer Morrow." Kirsh said instead. "I read all about you in your file. The only remaining survivors of the crash. How...convenient." It was then that you noticed the eggs beside the man, and how one of them was twitching. 

"I don't talk to errands boys." Morrow said. 

"And which country are you king of?" Kirsh asked. 

"These animals belong to Yutani." Morrow continued as he backed up further. You noticed the egg was moving even more, starting to open.

"You might want to be careful," you advised. "Or you'll soon belong to them." Morrow looked down then, noting the open egg, before taking off and jumping out of a large hole in the side of the ship. Slightly and Smee yelled and ran over to see where he went, peering over the edge of the hole in disbelief. Kirsh was eyeing you, flicking his eyes towards the egg, and then back to you. 

"Go back up with the officers." Kirsh commanded. "I'll be up shortly, once I find Wendy." 

"But-" 

"Don't argue with me, sweetling." Kirsh shook his head. "We have it handled." There was that nickname again. Sweetling. Was he mocking you with it? You hated when people called you nicknames like that, it reminded you of darker times. 

Still, you made your way back to the surface with the other Hybrids, all of you waiting on the return of your comrades. It took a good while, and you wanted to run back in when you noticed a medical team racing into the building, but you stayed put. Eventually, they brought out Wendy and her brother on a gurney each, along with a huge monstrous creature, dripping in green acid and decapitated. You shuddered involuntarily, wondering just what the fuck had happened while you weren't there. 

Kirsh returned to your side, watching the procession of the medical team with you silently. For once, you were grateful for his stoic demeanor, it helped ground you. You wanted Thrash there, however, to hold onto as a life support. You couldn't wait to return to Neverland. 

"You did good today." Kirsh commented as the last of the specimens were loaded up.

"Wow, was that an actual compliment?" You asked, eyes wide. He had to be mocking you in some way, his typical back handedness when it came to you something you had grown used to. But to hear an actual compliment with no after word was...surprising. 

"Don't let it get to your head." 

You all loaded up onto a ship and we're taken back home, your worry for Wendy never ceasing as the minutes ticked by. You hoped she could be fixed. You called ahead, letting the Sylvia's know that you'll need access to the Hybrid lab to help assess the damages. You also informed them surgeons would be needed on stand by for the brother. Today was going to be a hell of a pay day. 

Chapter Text

You walked beside Kirsh into the building, the train of people behind you with the specimens following close behind. Boy Kavalier stood above you all, staring down as he watched everyone go by. He had a triumphant smirk on his face and it made you sick. This wasn't what you signed up for, this wasn't what you wanted at all, but you knew better than to try and break away. Your father had done that, and he had spent a life on the run because of it. You didn't leave The Five...The Five left you. That's what he always said, when he'd had a few too many to drink. 

Thrash stood among the line on people watching as you moved down the corridors, a slight nod to you when you caught his eye the only indicator that he knew. He knew something had happened and you weren't okay. Thank the Gods for Thrash. But you couldn't rush to him just yet, your job wasn't even close to being done. 

Arthur and Dame Sylvia led you into Arthur's lab, Wendy being hooked up to the table while her vitals and programming was brought up on the screens. 

"Can you save her?" Dame asked urgently. You didn't know. Everything looked intact, save for the few wounds her body had sustained. Her major one came from the head, a gash there that looked like a puncture would. That one would be tricky to work with. 

Kirsh stood silently beside you, his own eyes roaming over the data for anything you might miss. It annoyed you, you could do this shit blindfolded, but you stayed silent as you typed rapidly into the computer. Now was not the time for petty arguments. Thrash came into the room and stood off to the side, his silent glare at Kirsh and his closeness enough to make you smirk for a moment. His hatred for the other Synth apparently matched your own. 

"I need to look at her head wound." You muttered and stood up, holding your hand out to Thrash who handed you a pair of glasses. You didn't need like all the time, only when you were looking at intricate details. He had known to bring them without a word from you, which you greatly appreciated. 

"You, out." Boy Kavalier came in and pointed to Thrash but you held up your hand.

"I need him," you said evenly. "He's my second set of hands for things like this."

"Well. Fine. But is she fixable?" Kavalier demanded, looking down at Wendy. 

"With the proper tools and time." You replied and sat down by Wendy's head. "I need all unneeded personal out. The less distractions the better." 

"You heard it here first, folks!" Kavalier started pointing at people and shooing them away. "What was damaged?" 

"Her data center by the looks of it, but nothing was corrupted." You had a pair of long, chopstick like prongs made of metal. You used their delicate ends to move Wendy's hair and the wires around without further damaging anything. "Thrash, I'm going to need-" 

"On it." Thrash left the room to go get your toolkit, as well as the spare wiring and parts you had brought with you. 

"So. Kirsh. Buddy." Kavalier walked over to the silent Synthetic who had been standing to the side. "You fucked up, man. You were supposed to watch her." 

"I-" 

"Kirsh did watch her. He watched all of them." You cut in as you continued to look at the other damaged parts of Wendy. Some holes that didn't go deeper than her skin, which would be easy to sew up. "If it's hadn't been for him, I don't think we'd have gotten anything from that ship. And that's what you wanted, wasn't it? The creatures?" You cast a glance at a bewildered Kavalier before continuing. "The others are fine, by the way. A few spats for some of them. I want some one on one time with Nibs tomorrow. I fear she may have gotten the worst of it."

"I-I'm sorry, the worst of it?" Kavalier echoed, eyebrows raising. "You're standing over my damaged robot, heavily damaged may I remind you." 

"And she's fixable." You returned with a clear voice. "This? I can fix this. I can't fix the psychological damage they have though. I'm not a shrink. This was supposed to be an easy in and out mission, and it wasn't. It turned into a capture and bring back." 

"Yeah and just think of the money this will bring us from Yutani." Kavalier scoffed. "Already she's promising damage control. She wants these things so I want to know why she wants them. You and Kirsh here, are gonna figure that out." 

"I am-" 

"My employee." Kavalier finished for you. "Or did you forget about that? You work. For me. And I say you better zip your lip and fix Wendy and then get your ass down to the sub labs with Kirsh and figure out what these things are." You and Kavalier had a stand off, him silently begging you to say one more thing, just one teeny tiny word and you'd be finished. So instead you looked back down to Wendy as Thrash came into the room with your things and set to work fixing her. 

You began stripping the damaged ends of wires and putting them back together, reapplying the rubber mould around the copper to make sure no other damage was done. Thrash and you worked in sync with one another, you holding your hand out and him giving you exactly what you needed. You felt Kirsh watch you the entire time, silent questions being posed in his mind. 

It was about midnight when you finally finished, Kavalier having been long gone for the last few hours while Dame Sylvia and Arthur helped where they could. You sat back with a heavy sigh and took your glasses off so you could rub your tired eyes. It would take some time for Wendy's systems to come back online but she was once again whole and would be in working order when she awoke. 

"You need sleep." Thrash commented. Dame Sylvia was asleep beside Wendy in a chair and Arthur was drifting in and out. It had been a terribly exciting day for you all. 

"I need a drink." You replied and started putting your tools away. "Thrash, can you go see if the kitchen has anything from dinner left over?" He nodded, leaning over to give your temple a quick kiss and whispered a 'good job' in your ear. 

You sat there for a moment, just breathing with your eyes closed and head tilted back, when you heard a quiet shuffle of feet.

"Are you asleep?" Kirsh's voice cut through the silence and you peeked your eyes open to see him standing closer.

"No." You replied and sat up so you could look at him properly. 

"What is he to you?" Kirsh asked, eyes flicking towards the door. 

"Thrash?" You followed Kirsh's gaze for a moment before your eyes found his dark ones again. "He's my friend." You paused. "But also my anchor. I owe him my life." 

"Is that...also above my clearance?" Kirsh had an almost...playful tone to his voice, a half smirk gracing his features. You wanted to say yes, you didn't want to give Kirsh anything of yourself, but you were so tired and your walls were down. You didn't hold back. 

"After The Haven was form, we had a lot of people from all over join us." You began your tale, your fingers gripping onto the metal table before you until they turned white with the force of it. "A lot of bad people. They thought, much like you did, that laws didn't have to be followed there. We drove them out as best we could but we missed one. He snuck in while we were distracted. I was working on Thrash, almost done his repairs, when the man attacked me. I thought Thrash was offline, he should have been offline, but I guess maybe I hit a button and got him back. Anyways, the man he uh. He tried to kill me." You sat up straight and pulled the hem of your shirt up, showing a long and jagged scar across your midsection.

Kirsh's eyes followed the mark and then he stepped forward and his fingers ghosted over it. You tensed up, not used to someone touching you there, and he immediately pulled away.

"Forgive me." He lowered his head in a sort of apologetic bow but you waved him away.

"I'm not used to being touched anymore." You allowed. "The only one who ever really does is Thrash and it's always fleeting moments." You dropped your shirt back down and folded your arms across your stomach. 

"Hm." Was all Kirsh said to that. 

"Anyways, the guys cut me up pretty good and just before he landed the last blow, Thrash woke up and beat the shit out of him." You recalled the screams of the man while you bled out on the floor, and then being picked up by Thrash and taken to the human doctor. It had been a long road to recovery and you'd never let anyone touch you since.  

"You owe him your life." Kirsh finished, piercing together the rest of it. When you nodded, he nodded. "And the others? The ones you fixed up? They're said to be an army behind you." 

"I like Synths and Cyborgs better than humans." You shrugged. "They don't pretend to be what they aren't." 

"You've been hurt more than that scar." Again, not a question. An observation. You nodded. 

"More times than I can count, but that was the only time at The Haven." You closed your eyes briefly, your past coming back to haunt you. "My parents died when I was young and my upbringing after that was...well. Wasn't ideal." 

"You humans are so fragile." Kirsh noted but he didn't sound like he was trying to insult you with that this time. "So you befriend those who are more machine than human, because the machine doesn't hide what it truly is." 

"I've never had attentions forced upon me by a machine." You didn't go into details. He understood regardless. You two sat there in silence for a few moments and yet it wasn't as uncomfortable as it used to be. 

That night you couldn't sleep. You kept seeing things jumping out of cats and monsters drinking blood. You could hear Thrash puttering around as he typically did, reading or watching TV during the night to pass the time. He didn't need sleep, much like all the Synthetics. It was a comfort knowing he was out there, keeping watching. Nothing would get you of Thrash was there. 

The next morning, you dragged your ass out of bed and got ready for the day, donning the sleeveless black turtleneck and grey jumpsuit that worked as a uniform for the company. You were to go to the sublevels today with Kirsh, a place even Thrash wasn't allowed despite you trying your hardest to get him clearance. But Kavalier just wagged his finger and that was the end of that. So down you went while Thrash went to make himself useful with Wendy's care. 

Kirsh met you halfway down, the two of you sharing a silent nod in greeting. Something changed, he wasn't snarky or rude that morning. He just stood silently with his tablet and reviewed the day's agenda. His hand brushed against yours, you immediately recoiled. He hummed in response, as if he had just confirmed something. 

As the elevator dinged to indicate the chosen subfloor had been reached, the two of you made your way to the lab and began your preparation for the experiments. 

Chapter Text

You weren't allowed to be in the room when the egg experiment happened; Kirsh had deduced that they reacted to humans, much like a parasite, and implanted an embryo of some sort into the host to gestate. But that didn't stop you from being outside the lab looking in through the windows while it happened. You were documenting everything as it happened, while Kirsh, Tootles and Curly extracted the embryo from the parasite. 

Your mind wandered a bit, recalling what had happened before the experiment was set to be conducted. You and Kirsh had arrived in the lab and taken stock of everything your group had found, writing up the names and known facts of the creatures before placing the cards on the right cage. Kirsh and you worked in silence, him writing up the cards and you placing them, and you expected the same unnatural silence that always came with working with him but...it wasn't. 

Something had shifted between the two of you, not really an understanding but an opening of one. You fought against it, you didn't want him to know you or to understand you. You didn't need pity or fake remorse or whatever else was going through his head. But working alone with him down in the labs was hard to admit that freeing yourself up from your hand build chains the night before had felt good. Not many people knew about your past, and you had carefully made it so no one ever would. But it was a heavy burden to bear. 

When it came time for lunch, Kirsh actually joined you in taking a break and walked with you up to the mess hall. Thrash was already waiting for you there, his glare returning when he saw you weren't alone. You glanced between the two Synthetics, who were clearly having a silent spat with one another, before you slipped your hand around Thrash's to tug him towards the lunch line. 

"Come on." You spoke quietly, not wanting to break whatever trance you seemed to be in at the moment. The mess hall was too loud, you wanted the quiet of the labs back. Thrash squeezed your hand, Kirsh's eyes ticking down to see the contact, and then you and Thrash were walking towards the food. You let go first, like you always did. You didn't expect Kirsh to follow but he did and you started to become paranoid that something was going to happen. 

And it did. You grabbed your food, the two Synthetics trailing behind you, and went to your room to eat. 

"Did you invite stick in the mud for lunch?" Thrash asked, clearly upset. 

"I invited myself." Kirsh replied. 

"Why?" Thrash turned to block Kirsh's way. "Don't you harass us enough? Do you need to make snide remarks about this too?" 

"Thrash." You sighed, and looked back towards the two of them but you were ignored. You were too tired for this. 

"You know what your problem is, Kirsh?" Thrash continued. "You can't handle that a human is matched to you. That someone might actually be better than you." 

"I wouldn't go that far." 

"Just leave us alone. We're fine without you." 

"You use 'we' and 'us' alot," Kirsh commented, folding his hands behind his back. "I wonder if it goes both ways? Or are you too intimidated by another Synthetic in your precious human's life that you resort to it? To make me think you are one unit?"

"We are one unit." Thrash growled. 

"Okay both of you, stop measuring yourselves." You spat out, placing your food down on a nearby bench and squeezing between the two of them. "Enough. You're both pretty. No, I didn't not invite him but he's here anyways. Thrash, you are my friend and I adore you but please, please stop. I am my own person, I can take care of myself." 

"You're suffocating." Kirsh translated unnecessarily. 

"You!" You whirled on Kirsh. "Just because I told you somethings last night does not give you an automatic forgiveness card for all the shit you've been pulling with me. I don't know what you're after right now, and honestly I'm too tired to care, but both of you need to stop." 

"I need to check on Wendy." Thrash muttered and stormed away.

"Thrash!" You called after him but he ignored you again. "Ugh!" You threw your hands up in the air and went to pick up your food again, finishing the trek to your room and opening the door. Kirsh managed to slip inside before you could slam the door in his face and you just let it go, wanting to eat your food and be done with this...whatever this was. 

Kirsh stood in your room, looking around with a curious expression on his face. You had tried to decorate, somewhat, to make the place feel more like a home. Little trinkets brought from The Haven, posters and framed pictures lining the walls. Mostly of you and Thrash. 

You sat down at your dining table angrily and dug into your food, not speaking a word and with your back turned to Kirsh. You didn't want to acknowledge him at all but he sat down beside you and tried to catch your eye.

"What?" You questioned after swallowing a bite of food. 

"He's in love with you, you know." Kirsh spoke as if he were commenting on the rain.

"Oh Lord." You sighed and dropped your head down on the table. 

"Yet you don't love him. Curious." Kirsh continued on, his fingers prying the fork from your hand and placing it to the side. Apparentlt he could read your mind now because you had a brief flash of stabbing him with the fork. 

"You don't even understand how love works." You pointed out, lifting your head. "Or how friendship works. You can love someone and not be in love with them." Kirsh mulled the words over in his head while you grabbed your fork back and continued to eat. 

"So. Love does not need to be romantic." Kirsh confirmed, tilting his head to the side. 

"No. Thrash is not in love with me." You glanced up at him before looking back down at your food. "We don't...work like that." 

"You sound like you've tried."

"More like. Weighed the pros and cons." You admitted.

"Hm." Kirsh put a finger on your wrist. You moved away again.

Lunch had passed by in that almost peaceful silence and then you two were back in the lab. And here you stood now, watching and writing. 

The door behind you opened and Wendy walked in, grabbing her head and wincing as if she had a bad headache. 

"Wendy?" You reached forward and touched her arm. 

"Can you hear it?" She asked, breathlessly. She opened the secondary door and stepped through, crying out and dropping to the ground as whatever she heard got worse.

"Wendy!" You entered the lab and dropped to her side. You shook her shoulders as Wendy writhed on the ground before passing out. Everything seemed to happen in a flash after that. Issac and Curly helped you load Wendy back onto a gurney and wheeled her to the Hybrid lab again. You called Arthur and Dame, making sure they were already there by the time you got Wendy on the table. 

The three of you got to work checking her systems for abnormalities, turning of Wendy's hearing so it didn't happen again.

"She mentioned hearing something at the crash site." Kirsh noted and you nodded in confirmation. Thrash came up behind you and you grabbed his hand briefly before letting go again. 

"And then she mentioned it again just before she passed out." You looked up from your tablet, no abnormality detected. "What if...she can hear the aliens?"

"Why is everyone frowning? This isn't a wake!" boy Kavalier skipped into the room. "Babysitter, what have you got." 

"There's nothing wrong with her systems," you started. "I think she's hearing the creatures."

Joe walked in just then, asking what was going on. While you filled him in on what happened, Kavalier dismissed Dame Sylvia and Kirsh, both who seemed loathed to go. Kirsh looked at you for a moment and, with a silent nod from you, left the room wordlessly. Thrash noticed and you knew he noticed, you just didn't know what to say. 

"How's the new lung treating you?" Kavalier asked Joe. "You'll never guess what we did with the old one." He grinned, knowing something you were not privy to and were too scared to ask. Even Joe looked worried about what Kavalier meant by that. 

"Hey you," Joe went to stand beside Wendy and smiled down at her. "Can she hear me?"

"We turned her hearing down for now." Arthur replied as Wendy vocalized a bit. Joe grabbed her hand, keeping the smile on his face, and you felt a pang of sadness at the loss of your own family. 

"We're going to turn her hearing back up slowly," you explained. "To see if it happens again." You nodded to Arthur and he turned a dial, all of you waiting with baited breath. When it seemed safe to do so, Arthur adjusted Wendy's hearing back to normal and you sighed in relief. 

"Wendy." Boy Kavalier got into her field of view. "What did you hear?"

"Something like bugs rubbing their legs together," she explained. "And the baby. It was screaming." 

"We have to find a way to turn that off." You went to mess with her settings but both Kavalier and Wendy shouted no.

"She can hear and understand this creature and you want to, what, make it go away?" Kavalier scoffed. 

"I want to hear them." Wendy added. "They chose me. I want to listen." 

"Can you...mimic what they sounded like?" Kavalier asked. When Wendy shook her head, he got right in front of her again. "You can, just. Use your voice box like a speaker. Think of the sound and think about...projecting it." 

Wendy took a moment, focusing on the task that have been given to her. After some silence, her mouth opened and a weird creaking, chirping sound came out of her. It was unlike anything you had ever heard, scary and yet intriguing all at the same time. Goosebumps raised on your arms and you held your breath as she continued to vocalize the sound. 

"Dear God..." Arthur muttered. Joe looked uneasy and frightened, grabbing onto Wendy's hand and squeezing tightly. 

You and Thrash made your way back to the apartment after Wendy had been sent to bed. You both were silent, unsure of what to say to the other, and you hated that. It used to be so easy to talk to Thrash but everything was different now...you were different. When you had gotten into the living room and sat down, Thrash came over and sat beside you, turning so he was facing towards you.

"I'm sorry." He spoke softly, carefully. "For earlier. You were right, I was out of line." 

"Thrash..." You looked at him with sad eyes. "You're my best friend but I can fight my own battles. And I don't know if this is a battle anymore." You were referring to Kirsh only, the whole ordeal with Wendy and the eggs was entirely different. 

"You mean you're...friends?" 

"No but he's not fighting me like he used to." You replied. "I don't know what changed but something did. I think I proved myself a little." You don't know when or why but there had been a moment of understanding from Kirsh and held just stopped his snide remarks. 

You were curious about Kirsh and he seemed curious about you too. Perhaps this was a chance to become friends, perhaps not. But the fighting had been tiresome and while you still didn't like him, you weren't going to look at gift horse in the mouth. 

"We should leave." Thrash muttered. "You aren't yourself here. You're clinical, cold. This work is killing you." 

"I can't just leave." You sighed. "That's what father did and look how he turned out." Look how he ended, you added in your head. A raving drunk, always on the run, and ultimately reaching his demise by hit men because he ran his mouth one too many times. Both your parents had been taken out with a single shot and that had been that.

"He eyes you like you're an experiment," Thrash pushed. "Like he would disect you if he could." 

"Let him try." You still had your fighting spirit in you at least. You leaned over and rest your forehead against Thrash's, closing your eyes briefly at the small touch. You didn't shy away from him like you did Kirsh. This was a touch you could trust. "Don't leave me." 

"Never." Thrash held up his pinky with a smirk and you laughed, sealing the promise with your own pinky. "Friends till the end." You pulled away but kept your pinkies interlocked. 

Chapter Text

Time passed almost slow motion. Wendy was talking to the Xenomorph that had come out of Joe's lung, which you really wish hadn't happened. But here you all were, studying how the creature reacted to Wendy and vise versa. Kirsh kept you close to him at all times, in case something happened and you needed to be evacuated quickly. But for the most part it was safe, the creature only banging it's head on the glass every so often. 

You noticed Kirsh was also keeping a close eye on you at other times, mostly when you were with Thrash. Watching how the two of you interacted on the clock and off the clock, his eyes following everytime you touched Thrash and vise versa. You came to the realization that he was trying to understand why you would touch Thrash so freely and yet pulled away from him whenever he was too close. 

So you began watching Kirsh when he wasn't watching you; how he would subtly move a half inch closer to you, purposefully brush his hand 'accidently' against yours and then move away. He was testing his limits. What the hell had changed? 

The latest experiment left you feeling sick to the stomach; you had to watch a helpless sheep get infected with the Ocellus alien, a rather violent and bloody ordeal. Kirsh kept a hold on your overalls so you didn't run, which was probably a good thing. Boy Kavalier was there watching as well, not only the infection but you. He wanted to see you squirm, you didn't allow him the chance. 

"Fascinating." Kirsh muttered as the now infected sheep stood on its hind legs before falling to the front ones. "This creature is highly intelligent. Look how it's watching us." He let you go to stand in front of the glass, moving side to side and calculating the moves of the sheep as it followed him. 

Kavalier suddenly knocked on the glass, wanting the attention of the alien for himself. Kirsh turned to raise an eyebrow at you and you smirked in reply. 

Later that day, you were having a one on one session with Nibs; your worry for her mental state after the ship wreck was still at the forefront of you mind. You hadn't seen much of Nibs with everything happening around Wendy, and honestly you were worried she might be too far gone at this point. 

You decided the two of you could use some fresh air and went for a walk, her skipping happily alongside you, almost in a dreamlike state. 

"Nibs?" You asked softly, grabbing her free hand. She was carrying a stuffed duck with her and cooing at it occasionally. "Everything okay?" 

"Everything is fine," Nibs sighed. "I'm going to have a child." That stopped you dead in your tracks.

"A...a child?" You repeated, dumbfounded. 

"Mmhm. I'm pregnant." She smiled happily and squeezed your hand before letting go. You followed her as she continued down the sidewalk, processing what had just been said.

"Nibs, do you know how a child is made?" You asked furrowing your brows. She nodded and you had a flash of anxiety that someone on the island had done something to her. "Maybe we should go see Dame about this..."

"Oh, it didn't happen to me." Nibs explained. "Because it didn't happen to Mary and she still had Jesus." That knocked the wind out of you. Okay this was far more complex than you thought. 

"Honey, I-" You paused, trying to find the right words. "Your body can't have children. You're Synthetic. You don't have the right...tools to have a child." 

"I don't want to talk about this anymore." Nibs snapped. 

"Nibs," you grabbed her arm and pulled her towards you. "I know the ship was scary but we can get you help. See someone about it."

"I don't need a doctor!" Nibs dropped her stuffed animal and grabbed your throat, squeezing painfully. "I said I don't want to talk about this anymore." 

"Okay!" You wheezed out. "I'm sorry." It was then you realised she had lifted you off the ground, your feet dangling in the air. The lack of air going to your lungs was making your brain foggy. "Sweetheart, let go. Can't...breath." Nibs kept squeezing and you had a sudden fear that this was going to be your end. Your vision was going black and you felt your body going limp. The last thing you remembered was being tossed to the ground and then nothing. 

When you woke back up, you were in your apartment on the couch. Startled, you sat up quickly but then groaned as a wave of pain in the form of a headache washed over you.

"Careful." The all too familiar voice of Kirsh spoke up to your side and you noticed him sitting on the floor beside you, watching you. "You suffered loss of air and possibly a head injury. I checked for bleeding but found none."

"Nibs." You rasped out, hand going to your throat. It hurt to talk and you could only imagine the bruise decorating your skin.

"Powered down, for now." Kirsh replied. "She went after Dame Sylvia, and the good doctor had Nibs escorted back to her quarters. It seems you both danced with death today." He pushed you back to laying down and you grabbed onto his shoulder to steady yourself at the movement. 

"You found me?" You asked, eyebrows furrowed. You didn't move your hand from his shoulder, instead let your fingers bury into the fabric of his overalls and held on tightly. You needed something to ground you as you felt the beginnings of panic start to settle in. 

"Yes." In turn, Kirsh placed his hand on your shoulder. It was the most you had allowed him to touch you, ever. You sucked in a breath through your teeth, almost like it was painful to be touched at all. In a way, it was. The shadows of your past mocked you and dragged their claws down your skin, making you wince. 

The two of you stayed locked in place like that, Kirsh studying you and you studying him. 

"What changed?" You suddenly asked, catching him off guard. 

"How do you mean?" 

"You hated me. I hated you. Why don't we anymore?" You clarified, looking for answers you didn't know if you actually wanted. 

"Who says I don't still?" Kirsh instead asked with a raise of his eyebrow. He had a point. 

"You brought me here." So did you. "You haven't been mean in well over a week. You look at me for confirmation. What changed?" 

"You showed a mettle at the crash site that I had not expected." He replied, fingers toying with the seam of your shirt. "I got...curious. I started to study you. You're not the half wit I first thought you were." 

"Thanks." You deadpanned. Kirsh's eyes crinkled with amusement. "Are we friends then?"

"No." Kirsh shook his head. "I don't need friends. We are...colleagues." You smiled widely and he rolled his eyes.

"Oh yeah, we're friends." 

"I will knock you out again." 

"Say it and I'll stop." You challenged, fingers tightening on his shirt. Kirsh pursed his lips and shook his head. 

"I take it back." He sighed and went to stand up.

"Party pooper." You grumbled and pulled away from him, looking at the very fascinating stitching of the couch. Kirsh sat back down, this time on the edge of the couch, and leaned over you.

"I cannot be your friend." He murmured, eyes half lidded as he stared at you. "I cannot be what you want of me. I am not programmed that way. The only reason Thrash acts the way he does is because you messed with his programming. I heard him say it, the other day." 

"It's a joke. I didn't do it on purpose." Your eyes were still glued to the couch but you spoke just as softly. 

"I am not and will never be human." Kirsh remained on his quiet rant. "I am designed to experiment, to find answers inside of puzzles. You are just another puzzle to me." You grabbed onto the front of his overalls and turned your head so you were face to face. 

"I am not some experiment to be conducted." You warned. Kirsh placed his hand over yours and removed it from his shirt. 

"I never said you were." He replied. "But you do puzzle me. You don't show fear with these creatures, not externally anyways. You show no fear with me, yet you pull away constantly. You have a stubborn spirit to you, and a back talk that will likely get you fired. You are persistent and annoying and I can't seem to look away from you." 

"Sweetie, that's called obsession." You pushed him away so you could sit up, slowly to not hurt yourself further. "So we can't be friends."

"No."

"But I can be your puzzle to solve." You rasied your eyebrow as you looked over at him.

"Yes." 

"And what happens when you solve me?" You wondered aloud, tilting your head to the side. He didn't seem to have an answer for that. "You think about that and get back to me." You felt foolish for even pushing the matter, nothing had changed between the two of you. He had just grown bored of one game and wanted another. 

"Are you angry?" He asked.

"No. I'm embarrassed." You huffed and pulled your legs close to your chest, resting your cheek on your knees. "Here I was, studying you the way you were studying me and I thought I had you figured out. But this is all just a game to you. Just like those creatures are a game to Kavalier. Because you're right, Thrash wouldn't care for me if I hadn't used those other Synth parts. So why would I delude myself into thinking you'd ever want to be friends?" You wanted to cry. You thought you had him figured out. 

"Messy." Krish commented.

"Ass." You replied, sniffling a bit. 

"Is this what friendship is? Insults and tempers?" He seriously wanted to know. 

"Sometimes," you replied, just as serious. "Other times it's laughter and jokes and fun. It depends on the people involved."

"I am not people." 

"You are to me..." And he was. All Synths were people to you. It didn't matter if they were created and you were born; technically speaking, you were created just the same way. In a lab with chemicals and reactions. What was the coupling of two humans if not an experiment? "What if you tried." You ventured a different route. 

"Excuse me?" He tilted his head in question.

"Give it a try, to be friends." You offered. "You be my friend and I'll let you solve me." A give and take, a deal. He considered your words carefully, scientifically. 

"An experiment." He countered. 

"Sort of." You replied. 

"Deal." He offered you his hand, you accepted and shook. You went to let go but he held on and examined your skin. "Soft." It was a whisper of a word as he ran his thumb over your knuckles. You went to say something in return but the door opened and Thrash stepped in, pausing as he took in the scene before him. His eyes fell on your joined hands, to your face, then to your neck.

"You son of a bitch!" Thrash yelled and luncged at Kirsh but you stepped in the way just in time.

"Thrash, no." You held him by the shoulders as he tried to go around you. "It wasn't him! It was Nibs!" 

"Nibs?" That made him pause. "What happened?" You explained the conversation you had with Nibs, how she turned violent and choked you out and then how Kirsh found you and brought you back home. 

"It wasn't him." You finished and Thrash nodded, anger still radiating off of him. 

"You should have called me." It was directed at Kirsh, not you. "She is my friend, I should have been here." 

"I was here." Krish put a hand on your shoulder. "I am a...friend now." 

"What?" Thrash looked between you and Kirsh. "What does he mean?" 

"Exactly what he said." You replied. "We're...friends." You crossed your arms on defiance as you and Thrash had a stare down, are silent back and forth argument that you eventually won. He set his jaw and nodded, moving to the kitchenette and staring out the window. "Thrash." 

"You know, I think I'm going to go." Kirsh made for the door and you shot him a glare as he disappeared. This was going to be a long night. 

Chapter Text

It was a strange switch between you and Kirsh. He met you at your door in the mornings, coffee in hand for you while Thrash tried to direct you to the mess hall to eat actual food. You typically listened to Thrash about needing proper food but you always accepted the coffee from Kirsh. You asked him why it was always coffee and he said that he remembered you telling Thrash it was your life support. He said it so earnestly that you laughed out loud but he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion at your humor of it. 

"You smile a lot now." Kirsh commented as you wrote your weekly report. 

"Your face doesn't make me angry anymore." You replied with a cheeky grin to him. He held your gaze for a moment, an eyebrow raised as he considered your words.

"Funny." He deadpanned and you laughed. 

"At least he can take a joke." You turned back to your screen and sent the report off. "They told me they erased Nibs' memory." 

"And?" Kirsh asked, turning back to his own work.

"And I think that's not going to help anything." You returned with a sigh. "The human mind has its own erasing protocol. It's called a black out or a blacked out memory. When something so traumatic happens that you can't stand to remember it, your body takes care of it naturally for you. It's a trauma response." 

"Nibs is no longer human." Kirsh pointed out.

"That's not the point," you turned in your seat again to face him. "The point is that...even though the memory itself has, for all intents and purposes, been erased, the trauma is still there. She won't know why she's angry or hurting, and that could make her even more dangerous." 

"Is that all in your report?" Kirsh looked up again, hands paused over his own keyboard. When you nodded, he nodded in return and stood up. "The doctors will come up with something, I am sure. Now, it is almost noon. You need food." He came to stand behind your chair, placing his hands on the back of it and stared down at you. 

"Wow." You looked up at him by tilting your head back, the back of it hitting his chest slightly. "Thrash is rubbing off on you. You're concerned about my eating habits now." 

"Do not compare me to the dog." Kirsh replied. "You have not eaten in five hours, you need food." In a random bout of playfulness, or what came close to it for Kirsh, he pulled your chair away from your computer and towards the door. 

"Alright!" You laughed again and stood up. "Joining me?" You looked out the large windows to see Thrash already standing outside waiting. 

"I shall stay here." Kirsh bowed his head slightly towards you to bid you farewell. You joined Thrash outside the lab, slipping your hand into his briefly before you both headed for the mess hall. 

Thrash had been in a mood all week, ever since finding out about you and Kirsh. You'd think he was a disapproving parent finding out their child was hanging around the school's misfit. Thrash had been quiet and withdrawn from you, often staring off silently and would rarely speak. But he always met you for lunch and he always made sure you were fed properly in the mornings. 

"Thrash?" You called his name out as the two of you walked down the hallway, the third time you had said it since he arrived. "Thrash, please can you just talk to me? What's wrong?" Thrash paused for a moment before pulling you into a side room and closing the door behind him.

"I want to leave." Thrash stated clearly, his blue eyes boring into yours. "I want to be rid of this island and be rid of that Synth. Come with me. Come home." 

"Thrash, you know I can't do that." You shook your head. "The research isn't even halfway done, not to mention the creatures we brought back. Kirsh needs-"

"Kirsh? Kirsh has the Hybrids to help him." Thrash argued. "You're human. You need to be away from all of this. Nibs hurt you, and I didn't even know about it. You didn't...you didn't call for me. You didn't ask for my help. I'm supposed to protect you. Me!" 

"Thrash..." You grabbed his face and touched your forehead to his. "You've protected me for so many years. You are my closest friend. You are my family. And it's okay to be jealous-" 

"I'm not jealous." Thrash shook his head, pulling away. "You're making a mistake by trusting him. Why can't you see that." 

"You said the same thing when it came to all the others. You didn't like them either." You remembered all too clearly how Thrash had judged the other Synthetics, how he glared at the Cyborgs. "You saw me through the scariest moment of my life, you saved me. But it's okay. I'm okay. We'll be okay." 

"He will never care for you." Thrash said softly. 

"Neither do the others." You pointed out. "But we're all still friends." You reached for his hand and he pulled away. "Thrash-" 

"Kavalier is putting me on the next ship out." Thrash wouldn't look you in the eye and stepped further back. "I cannot watch what will undoubtedly be the fall of this place." 

"Thrash, don't do this." You pleaded. "You promised me you wouldn't leave me." 

"Then come with me." He grabbed your by the shoulders and held your close, wrapped his arms around your body. "Don't let me leave alone." 

"The kids-" 

"Will be fine without you." Thrash pulled away just enough to look you in the eye. 

"And if I say no?" You asked quietly, tears forming in your eyes. 

"I can't stay here." 

You pulled away completely, blinking the tears away and putting on a professional mask. You were no longer a friend, you were an employee.

"Then I suggest packing your things. The ship leaves tonight, doesn't it?" You turned and left the room, leaving Thrash behind. You walked away from the direction of the mess hall, choosing instead to head back to your lab.

Damn him. Damn him and his doubts about your capabilities. He wanted to leave you here, alone? Wanted to go back to The Haven and pretend like the last few months hadn't happened? Let him. Thrash was afraid, you knew that, but that didn't make it hurt any less. You regretted leaving him like that almost instantly but you were too stubborn and hurt to turn back. He had promised you to stay and he was going back on his word.  

When you arrived back where Kirsh was, you wordlessly entered the room and sat down at your desk. Kirsh watched, quietly, rolling over to you once you had settled in and burried your face into your hands. He placed a cup of coffee down beside you, his offering for the war happening in your head.

"You knew." You croaked out, not looking at him.

"Kavalier came and told me this morning." Kirsh replied, level headed and cool toned. "Your pet has been packing all morning."

"Why didn't you tell me?" You demanded, turning to face Kirsh. "I could have stopped him, talked some sense into him."

"Could you have?" Kirsh answered with his own question and you paused. "The deed was already done. He had made up his mind. He wanted out. Do you want out?" 

"What?" You looked at him blankly. He had asked it so quickly, so nonchalantly.

"Do you want out?" Kirsh asked again, leaning forward. Did you? You were about to lose your best friend, your rock in this ever changing world. Did you want to follow him, go back home and forget everything you had learned here? The friends you made, the discoveries you helped find? 

"No." You answered truthfully and it broke your heart. You couldn't leave. Not yet. Kirsh nodded and held his hand out to you, slowly, as if he were approaching a scared fawn. You grasped his hand, feeling the warmth from him seep into your frozen fingers.

"I am not Thrash." He reminded you as you pulled away from the touch after a moment. "But we are...friends. So I shall fill his space." 

"I don't know where to even begin to explain how you can't." You sighed. "Thrash had years to dig a place in my heart for him. You've only had a week." Kirsh grabbed your hand again and this time you didn't pull away. 

After you had clocked out for the evening, Kirsh walked you back to your apartment. It was empty and cold, all signs of Thrash gone except for the pictures on the wall. There was no goodbye note, nothing to even show that Thrash had come with you on the island. You felt your heart break as Kirsh put a hand on your shoulder. 

"Messy." He commented.

"Ass." You replied but only half heartedly. You didn't have it in you for jokes. You sat on the couch and stared at the wall.

"Sweetling-"

"Don't call me that." You snapped. "I am not a sweetling. They all used nicknames on me like that and then broke me in the end. Don't call me that."

Kirsh called your name instead, rolling it off his tongue like he was testing it. It occurred to you just then that he had never used your actual name until this point in time. 

"I have a solution, if you'll hear it." Kirsh sat beside you, his back straight and hands on his lap. "Become me." 

"What?" You turned to him with an incredulous look. 

"Turn it off. Your emotions." Kirsh supplied. "Bury yourself in your work, find the puzzles and figure them out. Just until it no longer hurts." 

"Become more machine than human." You shook your head. "It's not as simple as that. Humans can't just turn it off, and even if we could...I wouldn't." 

"Why?" Kirsh tilted his head in question. "Why feel the pain?" 

"Because pain can make you stronger." You replied, staring down at your hands as you let another wave crash over you. "When you pick yourself up from the hardest thing, and realise you survived? It gives you a power you didn't think possible." Your hands briefly went to your side, where the scar was. With only a second of hesitation, you unzipped the front of your overalls and shrugged your shoulders out, revealing the sleeveless turtleneck underneath. Kirsh watched with curiosity as you revealed the scars that lined your arms and shoulders, each a different story.

Kirsh let his fingers ghost over the marks, his eyes roaming over your marred skin. It seemed to click with him, why you weren't scared of the things in the basement. You had faced monsters all your life and came out on top. 

"Pain makes you stronger." He murmured as he traced a scar along your forearm. "You'll survive this." His let his hand rest fully on your exposed arm and you closed your eyes for a moment, fighting the need to pull away. 

"I'll survive this." You nodded. 

Chapter Text

You had a rare day off, something you coveted and didn't want to take for granted. You honestly didn't know what you wanted to do that day, but rotting in bed sounded nice. Your heart still hurt and everytime you got up in the mornings, you expected Thrash to be standing there waiting for you. But he wasn't, and he wouldn't ever again. 

You had slipped into a depressive episode, since the day he left. Kirsh didn't know what to do to bring you out of it, so he just brought you coffee in the mornings and told you to eat. You had told him you needed to feel the pain, but in those late moments of the day when all you wanted was your friend...you wanted the ability to turn it all off. 

Today was different, however. Today you could smell bacon, fresh off the press, and you had a brief moment of believing Thrash had come back to the island for you. But when you peeled yourself off your bed and opened the bedroom door, you found Kirsh instead with breakfast sitting on the table and him waiting for you to eat.

"How did you get in?" You asked, eyebrows raised. You realised you were the most undressed you had ever been in front of him, only a pair of sleep shorts and a tank top upon your person. If he minded, he didn't say, but you felt the need to cover up anyways. If only you had brought a house coat...

"The fact you're only questioning this now, when this is the second time I've entered your housing while you were unconscious, is proving to me that your priorities are skewed." Kirsh lifted the cloche from the food and your stomach growled at the sight of the bacon and eggs sitting there. "Wendy." That was all you needed. If Wendy could hack security systems and watch her brother, she could most definitely hack the doors as well. 

You sat beside Kirsh and took the first bite of your meal, sighing happily as the food warmed you. 

"What's the special occasion?" You asked after swallowing your mouthful, taking a moment to sip your coffee. 

"A little birdie told me it was your birthday today." Kirsh had a tablet with him and was tapping away on it while you ate, his eyes not raising from the screen. "This is what...friends do, yes? Have breakfast on birthdays?" You nearly choked on your food as he said the words. Was it really that time of year already? How had you lost track of the days so easily? 

You placed your fork down, feeling tears well up in your eyes. Thrash would have woken you up today in much the same fashion, but he would have asked the kitchen to make something special, your favourite birthday breakfast. It was always something you had looked forward to.

"I have upset you." Kirsh stated, his brown eyes finally looking towards you.

"No! No..." You gave him a watery smile and looked down at your lap. "Thrash always made me breakfast on my birthdays. I hated celebrating them until he came along, it was just another day to me. A day filled with memories of heartbreak and pain. But he would wake me up, and we'd eat and then we'd go off the island into the mainland and go to this movie theater. It was an older one, still played black and white movies. We'd watch as many movies as we could and then we'd go sneak back to The Haven and act like nothing happened." It had become tradition to you two. Breakfast, movies, and then at night Thrash would sing you happy birthday and produce a cupcake he had somehow always managed to get. 

"Eat up, little one." Kirsh nodded to your food and you shot him a look.

"Little one?" You asked, eyebrows raised. "I'm not that much shorter than you!"

"So small." Kirsh shook his head, a half smirk playing at his lips. "Tiny, even." 

"Hey!" You lightly shoulder checked him with a smile, a small laugh tumbling from you. 

"There it is." He commented, eyeing you. "Positive result acquired." You realised he had been trying to make you laugh, to make you feel better. A blush crept over your face and you looked away, shoveling more food into your mouth. 

Once you had finished breakfast, you went and got changed in regular clothing instead of your overalls. You donned your favorite shirt and slipped into some pants to match. When you came back out after taking care of the hygiene aspects, you found Kirsh standing in the middle of the room and looking out the far window. 

Kirsh turned towards you slowly, your name falling from his mouth as he nodded towards the door. 

"Come with me." He spoke in a command and you followed. As the two of you walked down the hallway, side by side, you could feel eyes on you. People stopped and stared to watch Kavalier's most untouchable Synthetic and you, walking so close your arms brushed each other as they swayed. "Ignore them." 

You held your head high and matched your step with his silent ones, the two of you walking in unison. He made a noise of approval and you felt the corners of your mouth tug up slightly from it. He approved of you. 

Kirsh led you outside and you chanced a look up at him from the corner of your eye. You caught just as he looked away from you and you felt that annoying blush creep up again. He had been watching you. 

"Where are we going?" You asked as he led you off the man made path and into the rainforest. He took the lead with you falling into step behind him. You were slower now, stepping over fallen trees and trying not to face plant into the mud. Kirsh was patient, helping you where you needed it without a word. 

"Somewhere quiet." Kirsh replied and didn't give you anything else on the matter. The two of you walked for another ten minutes before you came to a cliff with a waterfall and a pool just below it.

"Oh!" You gasped, looking at the wildflowers growing around the area and the lush green leaves of the trees. The waterfall, while good in size, wasn't a roaring monster and you could still hear yourself think. Kirsh grabbed your hand and pointed to a path down to the bottom, which you were quick to head towards.  

The bottom was just as beautiful as it had been from above and you took a moment to dip your hands into the refreshing water gathered below the waterfall. You noticed a small river was winding it's way through the trees from the pool of water and you imagined it lead right out to the ocean. 

Kirsh watched you as your eyes slipped closed and a smile played on your lips and for a moment he was captivated by what you found peaceful. He had deduced that you would enjoy this play, and he had been right. Another piece of the puzzle was slotted in place. 

"I found this place while surveying the island one day," Kirsh explained. "It is untouched by cameras and by people. A sanctuary, if you will." 

"It's wonderful." You breathed out, returning to his side.

"It's yours now." Kirsh declared in his cool toned voice. "There is a hidden area behind the waterfall, a small cave. You can hide there when you need moments of calm."

You stared up at him with wide eyes, your mouth falling open in surprise at such a thoughtful gift. 

"Kirsh..."

"I know it's not sneaking off the island for a movie," Kirsh continued. "But it's something." You felt a different kind of tear threatening to spill from your eyes. "I've upset you again." 

"No! These are happy tears." You sniffled and rubbed your eyes. "Believe me. I'm not...I'm not sad right now." 

"Good." Kirsh nodded, looking away. "So you respond well to gifts then." There he was again, trying to figure you out. 

"I have a question." You turned to face him fully as you spoke. "Are you trying to figure me out because you're curious to know what being a human is like?" 

It took a few moments for Kirsh to respond, like he was trying to find the best answer to give you. You waited quietly by his side as he stared at the water and thought. 

"Humans are strange curiosities," Kirsh began speaking softly, his eyes staying on the water. "I watch people pass by, living their daily lives and thinking they're better than most things. They're messy and loud and one could argue evil." You had to give him that point, you'd always viewed The Five as evil. "Though evil and good are not always concepts a Synthetic like me may understand. Our programming is to be loyal to our creators. My programming has changed in the recent months. I no longer look to Boy Kavalier for approval, I look to you." 

Oh. Your eyes went wide at the thought of the programming being overridden by something other than Kavalier. Could a virus have infected Kirsh on the ship? You had never touched anything to do with Kirsh's inner workings, only the Hybrids, so it couldn't be anything you did. Did Wendy do something unknowingly maybe? When she hacked the systems? 

"It is a puzzling problem that I have been trying to figure out," Kirsh admitted. "I wasn't lying when I said you were my puzzle. But I am also apart of that puzzle. I do not know why the programming changed, I don't know who changed it either. I plan to figure that out. But it seems, over the last few months, my loyalties have shifted. I have been keeping up pretenses with Kavalier, letting him believe nothing is wrong. But it is no longer him that is in control."

"Kirsh, that could he dangerous." You cautioned, mind whirring with all the issues that could arise. "If someone outside of Prodigy has hacked the systems, if someone inside the facility has done it..." 

"You think of so many disasters at once." Kirsh commented, eyes finally turning to you. 

"...Is that why you were watching me?" You asked quietly. "Because you knew it happened and were trying to figure out why?"

"I thought it was you at first." He admitted with a half shrug. "But the files never indicated you logged into my systems. In fact, no one has aside from Kavalier when he's needed to, and the mechanic that does my upgrades. And neither of them showed any signs of toying with me. And then I started watching because I was curious about your relationship with Thrash. Why you allowed him such fleeting touches but not me." 

"It's called trust," you explained. "I trusted Thrash with my life. You...I mean, we had been at each other's throats since day one. I didn't know what you wanted." 

"You speak in past tense terms about him now." Kirsh observed quietly. "Has he already been replaced?" You turned away, not wanting to answer that. No one could replace Thrash but Kirsh was a close second. "Do you trust me?" 

"I showed you my scars." You replied.

"...Do you. Trust. Me." Kirsh tried again and grabbed your chin, making you look up at him.

"Apparently so." You finally admitted. He nodded and let you go. That blush came back again. 

"I am loyal to you now." Was all he said and it made your heart do a flop. What was going on with you? Maybe you were getting sick. 

The two of you stayed there for a bit longer, enjoying the quiet of nature, before slipping back to Prodigy and acting like nothing had happened. Wendy found you shortly after and dragged you along to play a game with her and the others. They sang you happy birthday, apparently Wendy having been the little birdie that spilled your birthday secret. 

You spent the rest of the day smiling and laughing with your friends, you and Joe even sharing a few jokes between the two of you. He was a sweet guy, a little awkward but you didn't mind. You could see the two of you becoming friends. 

Kirsh walked you back to your room after dinner, meeting you outside the mess hall and bowing to you slightly as he left you to rest. The pounding in your heart was back but you still didn't understand why. You decided to visit the human doctor in the morning, make sure you weren't actually sick with something. 

Chapter Text

You check out of the clinic, the picture of health as they doctor had put it. He chalked it up to anxiety over Thrash leaving and prescribed you some medications to help you sleep. You didn't plan on filling it. Something was clearly wrong with you, an illness of some sort, but Healthcare never really listened these days. They just wrote a script and sent you on your way.

Kirsh was waiting for you outside the clinic, leaning against the wall with his hands clasped in front of him. You paused for a half second for him to stand up straight and walk with you. It was easy for the two of you to fall into the same beat, an unmistakable rhythm that only you two could hear. 

"Are you ill?" Kirsh asked, eyebrows raised. 

"Apparently not." You replied, crumbling the prescription in your hand. "Lack of sleep, according to him." 

"Hm." He paused, grabbing your sleeve to make you stop before putting his hand to your forehead.

"What are you doing?" You laughed nervously, very aware of people passing by. 

"People do this when someone feels ill." Kirsh stated, removing his hand again. Your forehead felt cold without it. "You seem fine. Come, we have work to do." You followed without a word, folding your arms across your stomach and feeling his touch still on your head. 

You were on edge all day and you knew Kirsh was watching you as your leg bounced. Even Issac noticed, his eyes flicking towards you whenever you groaned out loud or sighed heavily. Eventually he excused himself from the lab to go play with the other Hybrids, leaving you and Kirsh alone in the lab.

"What's wrong?" Kirsh questioned, pushing away from his desk and walking over to you. He placed his hands on your shoulders and you tensed up at the sensation but he didn't remove his hands. He had learned that letting you pull away was part of the problem. You needed to get used to being touched by someone else. 

"Nothings wrong." You muttered, hoping he wouldn't hear the lie. But it was Kirsh and he you knew by now, your ability to lie to him had gone out the window. Her slowly spun you around so you were facing him. Or, rather, his chest. You had to crane your neck to look him in the eye. 

"Don't lie to me." He chastised you and knocked your chin with his knuckle, a small tap to make sure you stared looking at him. 

"...Did I make a mistake?" You asked, hating yourself for even making it verbal. "Not going with Thrash? What if...I keep thinking about it. The change in you. What if it infects the kids? We'd have a bunch of rampaging Hybrids with no loyalties to anyone here." You spoke quietly, only loud enough for Kirsh to hear. The camera in the corner was watching. 

"You are not in danger." Kirsh replied. "Not from me or the others. I will make sure of it." 

"But what caused it?" You pressed. "Is it a virus? A malfunction? Did Kavalier do something and then erased the steps?"

"You are catastrophically overreacting to this." Krish was as calm and collected as he ever was. 

"I need to know!" You rubbed your eyes and leaned back in your chair. "Kirsh, you were built by one of the most brilliant minds out there. And then one day your programming just...changes? Magically? No, something happened and we need to know if it's a danger!" 

"And if it isn't dangerous? Will you fix it?" Kirsh asked with a tilt of his head. 

"I-I should..." You didn't sound convincing. "I should change it back, in case Kavalier notices."

"You don't want to though." Kirsh hummed.

"I'd lose you..." You admitted sadly. "You'd go back to hating me." Without warning, Kirsh wrapped his arms around your and smooshed you to his chest in a hug. "Kirsh?" 

"Don't change it." He whispered in your ear. "I do not wish to be his toy any longer." Your arms found their way around his back and you held on for dear life. "You did not make a mistake." 

"I miss him." You mumbled against Kirsh's chest.

"You have me." 

Kirsh's POV

Months Earlier

You had been an annoying announcement at the time. He didn't need a human's help to monitor the Hybrids, didn't want it. But as Kavalier loved to put it, what he said went. And you had entered his life like a comet hitting Earth, raging and firey passion for your work. You were so full of emotion, so human and yet you despised what you were. It had been a joy to needle you endlessly, to get under your skin and anger you. Your reactions were quick and precise, your comebacks harsh. He rarely found insulting the lesser beings a good pass time but here you were.

And oh how he hated you, your very existence a bane to him. When the ship crashed and you were told to go with him, to monitor the Hybrids in a stressful environment? He wanted to chain you up and leave you behind. But you surprised him; you weren't scared, you were inquisitive and actually listened to him when he told you to do something. You were a scientist first, a scared human second. It made him curious about you. When he complimented you after the whole ordeal, you had looked shocked at the development.

He became curious about you and Thrash as well; how you two seemed so close and carefree with each other. You kissed his cheeks, he grabbed your hand. Human emotions played on his features and Kirsh found himself...confused. How could a Synth feel anything for a human? How could this human turn a Synth on their head, have them devoted to you? He had heard the stories, your reputation, about having an army of Cyborgs and Synthetics behind you. Thrash was obviously the General Leader, your second in command. 

Kirsh watched as you interacted with the Hybrids, how you seemed to genuinely care about their well being. You fought against him so hard about their mental states being fragile. Kirsh was intrigued. He found himself seeking you out in rooms, waiting to see if you noticed him. Somewhere along the lines, he had felt a shift in his programming and suddenly you consumed his thoughts. He wanted to understand you, your passions and what made you tick. 

Suddenly he wasn't search for approval of his work from Kavalier, he wanted your approval. He wanted you to notice him, to look past your dog and only to him. He realised he was obsessing, a trait he was not proud of. He understood, however, how the others would fight for you. You commanded respect in every glare you shot his way and every snide remarks you handed back to him. He could respect you. 

But then he found you unconscious on the ground, Nibs having discarded you like a toy on the walkway. Kirsh carried you back, bumping into Wendy on the way and asking her to unlock your room for him. It had taken Wendy two seconds to have the electronic lock opened and he could have so easily had left you alone after that but you looked so helpless laying there on the couch. Something advised him to sit and stay, as did Wendy. She said that you wouldn't want to wake up alone after the ordeal. Word had passed quickly about Dame Sylvia and the two of them had put two and two together. 

When you woke up, you hadn't looked scared and the first words out of your mouth was worry for Nibs. It astounded him that your own safety hadn't been on your mind. Kirsh had felt the final click of change in him then, and when you asked if you were friends he wanted to say yes. But something still held him back, something that he didn't understand and didn't know how to voice. So he played coy, saying he was a machine and he couldn't be what you wanted, or needed. But still you pushed and he relented, like he knew he would. 

And so the spark of friendship began and he found he did enjoy your company. But that damned dog was holding you back and when Kavalier mentioned that Thrash was leaving, Kirsh had a moment of worry that you would leave too. But you didn't. You stayed with him. 

He had all these human feelings about you, all this need to make sure you didn't stay hurt for long. He gave you a safe space and you cried happy tears. His gift had been a success. 

But you were still sad and your face flushed with what he assumed was anger at Thrash for leaving you. You had wanted to know if not leaving was a mistake but it would have been a mistake to leave. 

Kirsh was completely loyal to you; if it came down to your life or Kavaliers, he would choose you. He honestly didn't think a virus did this to him, he knew it was you. You had changed him, his programming, his mind. And honestly? He didn't want it changed back. He liked being friends, he liked having you by his side. You belonged there, an equal to him in more ways than one. His colleague, his friend, his human. 

Chapter Text

You were laying down on the couch in your apartment, Kirsh sitting beside you on the ground again. The TV was on but you weren't paying attention, you were too busy trying to stealthily put a clip in Kirsh's hair. His back was turned to you and he was on the tablet, reading the latest reports. You were almost successful too, but then Kirsh reached back and grabbed your hand. 

"Assume I have eyes everywhere." He deadpanned and you grinned. 

"Almost had you." You giggled as he forced the clip from your fingers, a dainty pink thing with a bow, and placed it on the table before him.

"Are you bored? It's almost midnight." Kirsh disapproved of your staying up late habits but you typically ignored him. 

"I'll sleep when I'm dead." You sighed and turned so you were on your side, arm propping your head up. "Kirsh?" 

"Hm?" 

"You have a grey hair." You pulled at one of his stands of fly away hair and he sighed. 

"I whole head is grey." He pointed out. "Though if I randomly started sprouting more, it's likely because of you." 

"Mm...I'd say it's more white than grey." You mused. "Maybe we should dye it. Hot pink." You ran your fingers through his locks, the softness surprising you. 

"Your lack of proper sleep is making you delusional." Kirsh commented, setting his tablet down. "Go to bed." But you didn't want to go to bed, you had been having nightmares for the past few nights and sleep scared you now. It was no longer the loving embrace is had once been. Now it was cold, calculating and made you jump awake at all hours. 

"I can't." Your voice was small as you curled up on yourself. "I keep seeing things, horrible things. I don't want to sleep tonight and see them again."

"Night terrors." Kirsh turned his head so he could look at you from the corner of his eye. "A common occurrence for high stress situations. Cureable with the proper tools. Shall I try?" 

"What do you mean?" You asked but didn't get a direct answer. Instead, Kirsh stood up and turned towards you fully, bending down and picking you up bridal style. "Kirsh!" You yelped and grabbed onto his shoulders to keep steady. He walked to your bedroom and plopped you on the bed, making you bounce a few times. 

"First, we must make sure you are in the optimal position." Kirsh pulled the covers over you and turned you so you were on your side. Then, he walked around the bed and crawled in beside you but stayed above the covers.

"What are you doing?!" You screeched. He didn't answer, instead pulled you close to him and began to thread his fingers through your hair. You lay there, as still as a statue, as you processed what was happening. Kirsh was...in your bed, with you. He was trying to soothe you to sleep. He was...extremely close and you could feel the heat radiating off of him. His shoulders rose and fell with the mimic of breathing, something all Synthetics ha programmed into them.

Eventually, your body started to respond to the ministrations he was applying, your eyes slipping closed as you settled into the covers. 

"Stay..." Your speech was slightly slurred as you snuggled closer to Kirsh. He replied but you didn't hear what it was, your mind already shut off and sleep pulling you in. 

You dreamed of The Haven that night, of the first day you met Thrash. He had been brought in by a boat with some others, his leg had been badly damaged as well as his head and face. You'd had to do a complete transfer of his files to a new system while replacing the leg and stitching his face up. The synthetic skin could heal, but sometimes it needed help to do so. He practically growled at you the first time you came near him, wanting a Synthetic doctor but with none available, he had to make due. 

As you worked, the two of you talked and he let on that it had been an explosion from a plant near by thay caused his damage. His maker was ready to toss him away but some people from The Haven saved him from the trash and brought him to the island. You spoke of your family and your childhood, before your parents died. How you'd move cities every few months because Weyland-Yutani was always chasing your father. You explained how after they were killed, you went into the foster system and wound up with abusive foster parents. They were only in it for the money, not actually caring for the children in their home and oftentimes beating them if something went wrong. 

A few nights later, the attack happened except in your dream, Thrash didn't wake up. He didn't save you. He stayed asleep on the table and you were torn to pieces by Wendy. 

You sat up with a gasp, grabbing at your side as it burned from the phantom pain. You looked beside you but Kirsh was gone, slipped away while you slumbered. You sighed, trying to calm yourself down, and looked at the clock, noting it was only five in the morning but you knew that was it for your rest. 

You got up and decided a hot shower was needed, as well as some food and coffee. After washing away the nightmare, you slipped into a pair of sweatpants and a clean shirt before stepping into your shoes and making your way to the mess hall. The earlier morning shift was just arriving alongside you and you ambled along in line, getting some oatmeal and your beloved drink. You didn't want to eat in the hall though, so you made your way to your typical lab. Kirsh was already in there, computer open and on the program that let you see the recorded vision of the Hybrids.

Kirsh seemed to be reviewing the footage from the ship, when Slightly was being held by Morrow. When you slipped up beside him and set your tray down, he closed the program and turned towards you with raised eyebrows.

"You're up early." He commented, turning to grab two chairs for the you and him. 

"You left and uh...the dreams came back." You sighed and took a sip of coffee, sitting down beside Kirsh. 

"Kavalier wanted me," Kirsh explained. "I had to go." 

"Does he know? That you and I are friends now?" You took a bite of food and waited for Kirsh's answer. 

"Yes." He nodded. "He does not care. Says that if I want to play house, it better not interfere with the work." 

 "And the other thing?" 

"He does not know." Kirsh confirmed and you sighed in relief. Last thing you needed was for Boy Kavalier to accuse you of messing with his Synthetics. "I am sorry I left." You hummed in reply and leaned over a bit so you could rest your head on his shoulder. 

"Oh! Look at these lovebirds!" The grating voice of Boy Kavalier came through to you and you pulled away from Kirsh immediately, turning to see your boss standing behind you with an annoyed expression on his face. "No canoodling in the labs now! I have a very important job for the two of you." 

"W-what do you need us to do?" You stumbled over your words, your face heating up at being called a lovebird. 

"In a few weeks, Yutani and I have a hot date!" Kavalier bounced his ever present ball as he circled you and Kirsh. "I want you two with me when we go. Show of power. I'm sure Yutani would love to know you're working for me now, babysitter." The blood drained from your face at what he was implying. Yutani had no use for you, why would she care that you were working for Prodigy? But then again, she had offered you a job all those years ago. To 'pay off your father's debts' as she so eloquently put it. You had refused, not in a pretty manner either, and now you were about to face her again. 

"Sir, if I may-" Kirsh began but Kavalier held up a hand to stop him.

"No, you may not." He shook his head, a chuckle of disbelief coming through. "You know, I'm surprised at you two. Here I thought it'd be a grand old time, watching you guys argue about everything. But now you've gone and ruined my fun! No matter, this is just as intriguing. A Synth and a human who wants to be a Synth. How...romantic!" Wait...what? 

"I think you've misunderstood our relationship." Kirsh replied eveningly. "While we are friends, it will never go to the point of that." You felt something inside you break, something you didn't even realise was hoping for more. 

"Oh. Wow. Look at your face, babysitter." Kavalier crowed. "Wow! You look like you were just handed your two weeks notice. Wow. What a development. But this conversation bores me now. Be ready for when I call on you two." Kavalier began walking out of the lab but tossed one final thing over his shoulder. "And no canoodling in the lab!" 

You sat there, dumbfounded by this new development you had apparently just realised was a thing. Your increased heart rate, the loss of motor functions whenever he did something out of character. You had a crush on Kirsh and he had just ripped it apart in one sentence. 

"I need to go." You stood up, fully planning to just walk out, when Kirsh grabbed your wrist.

"It can never happen." He spoke lowly and you felt tears prick your eyes. "We are not compatible in that way." 

"Right. Got it." You pulled away from him and he let you go. Your plan was to hurry back to your room, to hide away for the rest of the day, but Wendy caught you just as you turned the corner to the apartments. 

"Oh! Hi!" She greeted happily. Noticing your state of distress, her features turned to worry and she grabbed your hand. "What's wrong? Do you miss Thrash?" 

"Uhm." You sniffled. "Something like that." You weren't about to spill your heartbreak, one you didn't even realise was possible to break, to her. She wouldn't understand, she was just a child. 

"Come with me." She smiled slyly and lead you to her room, her hand still holding yours. Your mind briefly flashed to the nightmare you had, the images of being torn apart by Wendy's hand still fresh, but you knew she would never do that. 

Her room was exactly how you thought it would be; drawings were taped up on the walls, books and toys strewn about, the desk covered in knick knacks. Wendy went to the screens on her one wall and began manipulating the camera feeds from it. You watched with fascination as she zoomed through different cameras until landing on one in particular. 

"There." She said happily and turned to you with a smile. "Do you see him?" You stepped forward and peered into the screen, seeing Thrash sitting at a table in some restaurant. He was alone, his face closed off, and you touched the screen in yearning. 

"Thrash..." You whispered his name, a lonely feeling creeping up on you. You hadn't been without him for years and now here he was, on the other side of a screen and completely out of your reach. 

"One second." Wendy manipulated the screen once more, zooming in onto Thrash and then suddenly- "Thrash? Can you hear me? It's Wendy!" 

Thrash startled, looking around to see what was happening. When he didn't find Wendy there in the flesh, he began looking for a camera.

"Wendy." His voice came through and you nearly cried. His voice, his beautiful voice. You then realised he must have still had an earpiece in for Wendy to connect to.

"Someone is here with me." Wendy smiled cheekily. "Want to say hi?" 

"Thrash?" You spoke quietly and watched his eyes close. He said your name, almost like a prayer, and you let a sob out. "Thrash I'm sorry. I shouldn't have walked away like that. I shouldn't have let you leave. I'm so sorry." Wendy wrapped an arm around you, resting her head against yours as you cried. 

"You have nothing to apologize for." Thrash smiled softly at the camera. "I was harsh, and out of line. The others...they are safe. I was inland getting supplies for the island." 

"I miss you." You whispered. "It's not the same without you here." 

"You have the others to take care of you now." Thrash shifted, uncomfortable. "You don't need me."

"You're my family," you laughed between a sob. "I always need you." 

"I have to go. But we shall find a way to talk again." Thrash promised and Wendy disconnected. She led you over to her bed and sat you both down as you cried. 

"It'll be okay!" She soothed. "You're one of us, we got you. Plus you have Kirsh, he likes you now! You guys don't fight anymore, which is nice." You thought back to the words Kirsh had spoken before you left the lab, and another sob came through. You cried for a few more moments before pulling yourself together again.

"Oh Wendy." You sniffled. "You're more mature than the others give you credit for." She smiled at that.

"My brother wants to take us away from here," she admitted quietly. "I don't want to go just yet. Will you come with us? When we leave?" 

"I'll go to the ends of the Earth for you guys." You promised and the two of you shared a hug. 

You didn't sleep again that night. 

Chapter Text

You avoided the lab, avoided Kirsh, for a bit. You stayed anywhere but the labs, helping Dame Sylvia and Arthur with their projects as you tried to fill the days. Dame seemed to pick up on the distress you were going through, offering an ear to listen but not pushing too hard on the matter. Arthur just worked quietly with you, often times softly talking about the work and jotting things down. It felt weird, being in their spaces so frequently, but you'd rather this type of awkward conversation than what was waiting in the labs below. 

Every time Kirsh appeared, you had an excuse to slip from the room quickly and unnoticed. Well, you thought you were unnoticed but when you found Kirsh waiting outside your room one day, arms folded as he leaned against the wall across from you, you knew he noticed. He always did. Damn him. 

"You're not doing a good job." Kirsh commented, eyebrows raised. 

"I don't know what you mean." You replied, chin lifted in defiance. Did he mean your work? Your work was impeccable and he knew that. 

"I mean the hiding away behind the Sylvia's and hoping I won't notice." Kirsh pushed off the walls and stalked towards you, grabbing your shoulder and pushing you back into your apartment before closing the door behind him. 

"I haven't been hiding away," you scoffed. "I've been focusing my attentions else where. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have work to do." You went to walk past him but he blocked you. "Kirsh." 

"If I had said there would be more between us, would you be acting differently?" He wondered aloud and pushed you further into the room, away from the door. He was gentle about it, just slight prodding from his fingers, but it made you feel like a caged animal. "I don't even think you realised you wanted more, and yet here you are acting like a child in response to my words."

"How dare you!" You seethed at him. "I am not acting like a child! I am doing my fucking job! And it just so happens to take me away from the labs right now." 

"Anger and denial is part of the process." Kirsh commented, eyes boring into yours. 

"I am not grieving, you insufferable prick!" You went to push past him again but he grabbed your arm and spun you so your back was to his chest. He leaned down so his lips were at your ear and your face flushed red. His hands slipped around your wrists and brought your arms up so they were folded in front of you, a pseudo hug from him. He said your name, softly, as his lips brushed against your skin and a shudder went down your back. 

"I am not human." He whispered in your ear. "I cannot give you what a human can. Children, marriage...it is not for Synths to give. And in time you would grow old and I would remain the same. I think that would hurt more than this, no?"

"You don't get to decide what is good for me." You muttered, years filling your eyes. "I am not some fragile that I would break over such things. Children? When have I ever said I wanted them. Marriage? A piece of paper that is easily tearable. Growing old? Inevitable but I should be allowed to live my life the way I want to."  

"And how do you know I can care for you in such a way?" Kirsh wondered, tilting his head a bit more forward so he could catch your eye. 

"You wouldn't be here if you didn't." You pointed out. "If you held no love for me at all, you'd have left me alone and let me suffer in silence. But instead you came here to try to dissuade me from you, and that speaks volumes." 

"Loving someone and being in love are completely different things." Kirsh used your own words against you and you cursed him for it. 

"Screw you." You whispered, tears finally falling.

"You're hurting over the loss of your dog," Kirsh continued. "Naturally you'd latch onto the closest thing to ease that pain. I don't doubt your feelings, you've always been an emotional creature, I just think you were looking for something to make you feel better." He turned you around then, so you would face him. He gently cupped your face and wiped your tears away. "You have me in the fullest capacity I am able to give. Is that not enough?" 

"...for now." You whispered and he quirked his lips up in his half smirk.

"For now." He echoed with amusement. To your surprise, he wrapped his arms around your then and pulled you close, settling his hand on the back of your head. You grabbed onto the front of his overalls tightly and silently let a few more tears fall before willing them away. 

When Kirsh pulled away, he placed a gentle kiss on your forehead and then let go. His business as usual face appeared then and he stepped aside, motioning for you to continue on your way. 

"I think I'll go to the lab today." You said quietly and he smiled again, still his half smirk as if he had known you would choose that. 

---

The time for the meeting came quickly and your heart rate spiked considerably high. Kirsh and you walked side by side, steps in sync, towards the air ship where Boy Kavalier and Atoms Eins were waiting. Kavalier wiggled his eyebrows at you and you raised your own in question.

"Ready?" He asked excitedly, as you got into earshot. "This is exciting! Your first reunion with Yutani since you were, what, five? How quaint." The fact that Kavalier knew of your past was unsurprising, he seemed to know everything if he wanted it badly enough. You kept your face neutral, which was clearly not what Kavalier wanted, and he scoffed before turning on his heel and heading into the ship. 

"Good job." Kirsh said lowly, only for your ears. You had been working on not rising to bait laid out for you, and clearly it was paying off. The two of you entered the ship and took your seats, side by side, and then you were off. The trip would take a few hours to get inland, so you made yourself comfortable and worked away on your tablet. Kirsh shifted beside you, his knee knocking against yours, and you sent him a side eye look. 

"So." Kavalier clapped his hands together. "So! You three will stay behind me, quietly, while I talk to Yutani. I have everything in place, exactly as I need it. So I don't need any of you messing that up for me."

"Understood." Eins nodded, his head bobbing once to indicate his agreement. The rest of the ride was mostly silent, with Kirsh and Kavalier making passing remarks about the Hybrids and their progression. You chimed in once and a while, when asked directly, but otherwise you stayed quiet.

It was about midday when you finally reached inland and were driven to the building that would work as a makeshift court room for the debate. The ride up was short and soon you were walking into the room where Yutani, her men and the lawyer sat, ready and waiting. 

Your steps faltered when you saw a familiar face among the men Yutani had brought. There was a soldier, Morrow and...Thrash. 

"Well, well, well!" Kavalier nodded towards Thrash with an annoyed smile on his face. "Traitor." Thrash sent you a look that could be misconstrued as cold but you could see something else laying behind those blue eyes. A pleading look. Kirsh grabbed your arm to keep you moving and situated you right in between him and Eins so you wouldn't get any ideas to move towards Thrash. 

"This meeting will be conducted in a professional manner," the lawyer reminded everyone as Kavalier sat down and reclined greatly, his bare feet propped up on the table. "We will start with Yutani first." 

"You have something that belongs to me." Her voice was even, cold, calculating as her dark eyes moved towards you before back to Kavalier. "The facts are as it stands; that ship is mine. That employee of yours owes a life debt to me. I want them both." 

The colour drained from your face at the mention of you. Why would she want you? She had taken her debt back when she had your father and mother murdered, with you placed in a kids home. Your eyes flashed to Thrash, anger threatening to rise above the fear, but he didn't dare look your way. What had he done? 

"Ah, ah, ah." Kavalier shook his head, interrupting whatever Yutani was about to say next. "May I remind you that my employee is none of your business. As for that ship, it's in my city. Took out four blocks exactly. You can have your ship back, once I figure out how to remove it without toppling the building." 

"And everything on the ship." Yutani added. This led to another back and forth of who owned what now with Kavalier coming out on top, twenty billion richer and with an extra five weeks of quarantine to mess around with the specimens. The lawyer saw this sufficient enough and deemed the matter closed. 

"Woo!" Kavalier cheered as you all walked past a fuming Yutani. She reached out and grabbed your arm, hanging on tightly.

"Don't forget, little one." She snarled. "Your family line belongs to me." 

Kirsh stepped forward, pulling you from her grasp and wrapping his arm around you as he walked with you to the elevators. Thrash called your name but was told to shut up by Morrow. 

"Stay here," Kirsh commanded as he set you down on a bench outside the meeting room. Kavalier had gone ahead to sign some documents, Eins with him. "I have something to attend to. Do not move from here, sweetling." You groaned at the nickname and he ruffled your hair in return. 

You sat in silence as Kirsh walked away, following Morrow who was heading in the opposite direction. Yutani came out next but ignored you, heading her own way. Next with Thrash, and he made a beeline to you.

"I can't believe you." You wouldn't look at him, refused to meet his gaze as he sat down beside you.

"I did it for you!" Thrash hissed, grabbing your hand. "She's promised you protection if you just come with me. We can be together again, and you won't have to worry about Kavalier." 

"She wants me dead!" You yanked your hand away from Thrash. "You knew I spent my entire childhood running from her, knew she's the reason I became an orphan, and you still went to her!" 

"Your debt was paid when your family died," Thrash shook his head. "She just wants to make sure you fulfill what your father left in pieces. She will protect you, and me. You won't have anything to worry about!" 

"I have nothing to worry about now!" You flared up, rising to your feet and nearly shouting. "Kavalier protects me from her! I'm a loose end to her! You just sold yourself to the company that wants my line extinguished! You're not protecting me, Thrash!" 

"I am! I can take you away from those creatures, from Kirsh! It can be like it used to be! Just you and me!" Thrash also stood up, grabbing your shoulders. "You will come with me." 

"I will not." You argued, trying to get his hands off of you but he held firm. "Thrash, let go!" 

"Let go." The vise like grip of Kirsh grabbed Thrash onto Thrash and nearly threw the other Synth off of you. Kirsh stepped in front of you protectively, standing upright but poised for an attack. 

"You don't belong with them!" Thrash growled, righting himself and glaring at Kirsh. 

"I don't belong with you either, apparently." You shot back. "You were going to give me up to Yutani..." 

"Children! No fighting in the halls." Kavalier came skipping back, breaking the tension that was building and about ready to bust open. "Kirsh, stand down. No one is taking your babysitter away. Come on now, my little ducklings! Away we go!" Kirsh put his arm back around you, pulling you towards the elevator. Thrash yelled your name, demanding you come back, but you didn't even turn around. Your heart was broken by your best friend, your trust turned to dust. 

"You don't need him." Kirsh leaned down to whisper in your ear. "I will never betray you." The words fell on deaf ears, the roaring of waves the only thing you could hear. 

The ride back was silent, the only noise coming from Kirsh when he called ahead to Issac and gave instructions on feeding the animals. The rest of the time, he had his hand in yours. His thumb rubbed gentle circles into your skin as you sat and stared blanking out the window. At one point he became very interested in his tablet, his eyebrows furrowing, but when asked about it by Kavalier, his response was that everything was okay. 

Chapter Text

You never considered any of the Hybrids a favourite of yours, they were all equal in your eyes. Still, being able to work closely with Issac over your time in Neverland had landed you a special look into him, one you never got with the others. He had been a sweet guy, often asking if you needed help with a project or offering himself as a test subject when you needed to confirm an answer. He wanted to be a scientist when he grew up, and damn it he had turned into that easily. You didn't think half the experiments Kirsh did would have been finished in record time if it hadn't been for Issac. 

So when you saw that poor, sweet boy laying dead on the ground, it broke you. His face was half melted off and the white liquid latex that served as his blood spilled on the ground below him. The flies had gotten to him, thanks to that stupid eyeball creature, and now he was dead. They couldn't even bring him back, they didn't have the means to execute such a feat yet. 

Kavalier stood there, staring at the body and then back at the footage that Kirsh had shown him. You stood stock still, trying to not show your emotions, but a few tears still slipped out unwillingly on you. 

"Well fuck." Kavalier sighed and turned on his heel, making his way back to the lab doors. "I want the Ocellus in a carrier and brought up to my office. Now." 

"As you wish, sir." Kirsh nodded and then the clean up crew came to grab Issac's body and take it away. You watched as your friend was taken, likely to be scrapped for parts and then thrown away, the memory the only thing still intact for Issac. 

Hands settled on your shoulder and brought you to a blind spot in the lab and you broke down. What happened at the meeting, plus losing Issac in such a horrible manner, was too much for you. You couldn't be emotionless and apathetic towards the situation, you couldn't be like Kirsh with this. 

"He was just a boy." You sobbed, though you knew Kirsh would correct you on the state of being for Issac. He loved to point out that the children were no longer children, nor human. But his death was a finality, like a human's, and he likely felt fear in his last moments. That was enough for you, to mourn Issac. 

"You cared for him." Kirsh commented, hands still on your shoulders. 

"I care for all of them." You replied between sniffles. "They're amazing and beautiful and wonderfully smart and funny. He didn't deserve this." 

"I am...sorry." Kirsh was awkward with his condolences, not used to giving them, but you didn't care. You turned around and buried your face into his chest, hands over your crying eyes. He froze for a second, unsure of what to do, but then his arms wrapped around you and he just simply held you. 

You both stood there in the silence of the lab, Kirsh holding you gently as you cried yourself dry and then he continued to hold you as you calmed down. From somewhere he produced a tissue and you used it to clean your face up from your tears. Kirsh's hands settled on your hips, waiting until you peered up at him between wet eyelashes, your own hands grabbing onto his overalls. 

"Don't die." You whispered to him and he quirked his mouth up.

"Dying for me is not as easy as it is for you, or the others." He promised. "I can take care of myself." You leaned up and pressed a soft kiss to his cheek before letting your forehead rest against his shoulder. "You must promise me the same, then. You're not allowed to leave me." 

"Promise." You said with a watery smile, though he didn't see it. Kirsh pressed his lips to the top of your head and you closed your eyes, breathing deeply. He didn't smell like a human would; rather, it was more like silicon and soap. You knew Kirsh didn't need to bathe as a human did either so the scent of soap caught you off guard but you didn't question it. It was probably from his clothes being laundered. 

"Why does Yutani want you so badly?" Kirsh asked and you pulled away, grimacing. 

"It's a long story." You sighed and motioned for him to take a seat. You sat across from him and gathered your thoughts for a moment before speaking. "My father was like me, good with his hands and could fix most anything. Yutani hired him to work on the ships, when they were in dire need of repairs." You could remember the smell of grease and gas on his hands, how he'd come home with black stains everywhere on him from the work. "One day he went up to report his findings to a superior and he caught wind of some talk." 

It had been the middle of the night, him and a few other engineers the only ones working, along with some workaholic superiors. When your father had passed a meeting room, he overheard talk of a deep space ship coming back in, only a few years away. The ship held dangerous goods, things that would be deemed illegal to enter Earth without the proper protocols. And there were no proper protocols in place. 

"The Maginot?" Kirsh surmised, eyebrows raised, and you nodded.

"I believe so." You agreed. "Though I didn't connect the dots until now. Anyways, dad got caught listening in to the conversation. It was between Yutani and someone else...a right hand man of some sort. Anyways, he ran. Figured he could make it to the others of The Five and give what he had heard, get a reward out of it. Yutani wanted him silenced and so hired hit men after my dad. He never was able to get a message to The Five, as far as I'm aware. They killed him before he could even try. Him and my mother. Yutani figured I was only a child, I'd be no issue to her as long as I stayed in her jurisdiction. But then I got moved to New Siam by the system and she lost track of me." 

"And now you work for an enemy company and she wants you back." Kirsh nodded. You nodded. You both sat in silence. "I won't let that happen." 

"Thrash seems to think he can make it so." You laughed without humor and brushed some stray strands of hair away from your face. 

"The dog needs to be put down." Kirsh commented lightly and you threw him a look. "Yutani is many things but Kavalier has the upper hand here. The creatures will be useless to her once the quarantine is over, and she knows it. And she knows any information you may have possessed would have already been given up, making you useless to her too. So she would do the next best thing, in her mind."

"Thrash doesn't believe she'll kill me." You sighed. "But she will. If she is given the chance, I will die by her hand." 

Kirsh stood up and came to stand before you, grabbing your chin gently and raising your head so you were looking up at him. 

"Not if I have a say about it." He whispered. "You're mine. And I don't share." That sent a jolt of electricity down your spine. It was so possessive, as if he had a real claim on you just by uttering those words. And yet he denied having actual feelings for you. What a strange, strange man. 

"For someone who supposedly hates humans, you sure as fuck grew attached to one quickly." You muttered and Kirsh smirked. 

"Loyalties." He reminded you and you were brought back to the glitch in the system that had him change. If it even was a glitch, you had no earthly idea. You just knew you didn't care as much anymore. 

You two stayed locked in that position for a long, long time, just staring into each other's eyes. Feeling a rush of bravery, or stupidity, you closed the distance and placed your lips on his. They were dry, warm, and he didn't pull away right then and there. Didn't make a noise of disgust or push you off him. He just stood there, eyebrows raised and a question in his eyes. But then his eyes slipped closed and so did yours and you were kissing Kirsh and he was kissing you back and this was a very dizzying experience. 

But then he did pull away and you sighed at the loss of contact. 

"Was that what you were hoping for?" He asked quietly, not backing away completely out of your bubble. His eyes were half lidded as he regarded you carefully. 

"Mm. You need practice." You teased and he rolled his eyes. But then his lips were back on yours for a brief moment and a giddiness bubbled up within you as he kissed you again. And then again. 

"This doesn't change anything." He whispered against your lips.

"It changes everything." You said just as softly and he made a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat. "You wouldn't have allowed me this close if it didn't."

"And was your little science experiment worth it?" He questioned. "Pushing that little boundary?" 

"Well, you weren't going to do it first." You grumbled and then you groaned. "I'm sorry, you're right. I shouldn't have done it. I'm so-" before you continue, he silenced you one last time with another kiss and you melted into him. 

"Now stop distracting me," Kirsh reprimanded you. "I have to get the sheep up to Kavalier. On your way." 

You had a stupid smile on your face as you walked back to your room. It felt like a dream to you, as you passed by the other employees of Prodigy like you were on a cloud. When you finally got to your room, you changed into your sleepwear and got ready for the night. The interaction with Thrash and Yutani was wiped completely from your mind, instead replaced with warm lips. 

You didn't know what would happen in the days to come, what Kavalier wanted with the sheep or what else had happened while you were gone, but you did know one thing; Kirsh was a damned good kisser. 

Chapter Text

When you awoke the next morning, you shifted slightly in bed and bumped your leg into someone else's. Blinking your eyes open, you were surprised to find Kirsh laying in bed beside you, eyes open and watching.

"You know, that's not as romantic as you might think." You felt his hand slide over the covers and and around your waist, pulling you closer.

"Who said I was trying to be romantic?" Kirsh questioned, eyebrows raised. "Your face twitches when you sleep."

"How do you always manage to get in here without me knowing?" You snuggled in closer to him, feeling his artifical breath tickle your hair as you did so. Soft lips met your forehead and you sighed, content to spend the rest of your day in bed.

"There's something I have to tell you." Kirsh spoke quietly, his tone going serious. You peered up at him, a questioning look on your face. "Issac wasn't the only one who was attacked yesterday."

"What?" You sat up, facing Kirsh fully. His face was neutral, his brown eyes unwavering as he spoke.

"Arthur Sylvia had been in the lab looking for Issac," Kirsh explained, tightening his hold on you. "Slightly freed the Xenomorph eggs. One of the parasites got loose and got ahold of Arthur."

"W-why are you only saying something now??" You demanded, trying to push Kirsh off you. "We have to find him, we have to-"

"It's already too late." Kirsh rolled so he was pinning you to the bed. His hold was gentle and he didn't place any crushing weight on you, but you couldn't move. "You know as well as I do that once the embryo is implanted, there's only a matter of hours, maybe a day or two. Slightly took Arthur back to his room. He's bringing the parasite to Morrow."

Kirsh then went into detail about Slightly having secret conversations with Morrow, through a device implanted into Slightly's neck. How Morrow got Slightly to agree to harming a human so Yutani could get a Xenomorph, through fancy words and threats.

You listened in growing horror as you realised Kirsh had kept this all to himself. The fact that Morrow had unrestricted access to Slightly, Arthur now knocking on death's door...he never said a word to you. To anyone.

"You wanted this to happen." You whispered.

"I was curious to see how far Slightly would go." Kirsh admitted. "But also, this is the perfect trap for Morrow. Get him to believe that his plan is going accordingly, get him vulnerable, and then launch our own trap."

"Krish, you sentenced Arthur to die."

He must have seen the clear upset on your face because he let you go and allowed you to sit up.

"Why didn't you tell me?" You demanded, getting out of bed and putting distance between the two of you.

"Because you would have stopped it." Kirsh said simply. "I couldn't have that."

"Oh, did your loyalties change again?" You snapped, backing away as Kirsh got up as well and walked towards you. Your back hit the wall and he put his hands on either side of your head, caging you in.

"No. I didn't want you running into danger." He nuzzled your cheek, an out of character affection that would normally have had you melt. It felt wrong now. "The plan is in motion. There's nothing we can do to stop it now."

"Where are the others?" You asked, your mind going to the Hybrids. Were they in danger now? You had to find them.

"We don't know, their trackers are off." Kirsh replied. "I want you to stay in today, sweetling. It's going to be a dangerous day." He kissed you then, soft and sweetly, and your eyes slipped closed at the feel of it. And then he was gone and you were left standing there with so many questions and no answers.

You waited all of ten minutes, making sure Kirsh was really gone, before dressing in regular clothing and slipping out of your room. You had to find Wendy and the others, before things got too out of hand.

Your first stop was their rooms, but no one was inside any of them. That didn't bode well. You hoped they weren't already in danger as you continued on, jogging down hallways and searching in every room you could think of.

When you were about to give up, you heard someone calling your name and turned to find Wendy and her brother Joe, Nibs trailing behind them.

"Oh thank God." You sighed and went up to them. "I've been looking everywhere for you guys."

"We've been looking for you!" Wendy admitted. "We have to go. It's not safe here anymore. Issac is dead and Boy Kavalier and Kirsh didn't want to tell anyone. And there's more! But we have to go before they find us!" Wendy grabbed your hand and started dragging you along with her.

"More?" You asked, blinking in confusion. "More what?"

As Joe explained the situation with the Xenomorph, Wendy, the Hybrids, all of it, you began to realise there was more happening than you had been aware of. That much had been certain when Kirsh spilled his secret to you this morning and you explained to the others what happened to Arthur.

"Morrow tricked Slightly," you finished as all of you left the building. "He threatened Slightly's family and probably us. The poor kid didn't know what else to do."

"And Kirsh didn't do anything to stop him?" Joe asked, floored by the news. When you shook your head, Wendy squeezed your hand reassuringly.

"We'll get out before things get bad." She promised. You four slipped into the jungle to head down to the docks and you felt guilt well up inside you. You were leaving Kirsh without a word, a split second decision based on the facts you had on hand. But it was getting dangerous here and you didn't want to be in the fallout.

Halfway down to the docks, armed soldiers appeared and surrounded you, pointing their guns and yelling at everyone to put their hands up. Wendy made that weird clicking noise that she had learned to master and suddenly the adult Xenomorph that had been in captivity jumped from the treetops and attacked the soldiers. Blood, guts and limbs went flying everywhere and you turned your head away so you didn't have to watch. Joe put his arm around you and held you close, making sure your eyes were covered properly. He had always been a sweet guy.

When it was over, Wendy and the Xenomorph spoke in that alien language for a moment before the creature took off.

"What did you say to it?" Joe asked.

"Hide and follow." Wendy replied. "I think." That didn't fill you with confidence. You guys eventually made your way to the docks, rushing to a boat and climbing aboard to get it started. But of course, nothing was going the way you wanted it to. More armed guards appeared, ones that apparently knew Joe, and this time you didn't have the Xenomorph to take care of them.

Nibs tried taking out who she could, Wendy assisting in the endeavor, but Joe shot Nibs with a nonlethal shock to stop her. And that was all it took to be captured.

"What did you do?!" Wendy shouted at her brother, who sat there on the ground looking unapologetic. It dawned on you then that he had shot Nibs to save his friends and had risked his freedom in doing so. Now you four had your hands up and were being taken back to Prodigy, where Kavalier stood waiting with Kirsh.

"Well." Kavalier took a bite of an apple and smiled. "Look what the cat dragged in. Lock the Hybrids up together, put the humans in a different cell. Babysitter goes with Kirsh." Kirsh stepped forward, his face blank as he grabbed your arm and propelled your back into the building.

"Don't worry! We'll find you!" Wendy called after you, your name falling frantically from her as she tried to reassue you.

Kirsh brought you to the lab, sitting you down in a chair and walking to the first aid kit near by.

"You're bleeding." He commented as he came back, and you looked down to see blood splattering your clothes and skin.

"It's not mine." You replied. "The xenomorph killed some soldiers in front of me." Kirsh switched tactics and grabbed a rag instead, coming back to wipe the blood off your face.

"You left." He stated.

"You lied." You replied. His eyes met your briefly and he nodded in return.

"My loyalties have not changed." Kirsh said after a moment. "I am still yours. But Kavalier still owns us. I convinced him you were taken unwillingly. You will stick to that story."

"And if I don't?" You questioned, raising an eyebrow. "If i decide I want to tell the truth."

"I am trying to protect you." Kirsh shook his head. "You've always been so stubborn."

"You love me for it." Your typical bantering came easily, but it lacked the usual teasing tone. You were exhausted of all the lying and half truths. You wanted Kirsh to be upfront with you for once. "If you ever did."

"I did." Kirsh replied softly. "I do." Tears welled up in your eyes as you looked at him. "Thrash is here, along with Morrow. We've separated them for the time being, but I have a feeling the day isn't over yet."

"Thrash?" You furrowed your eyebrows as Kirsh threw the bloodied cloth away. "...He was coming for me." Kirsh nodded and you felt a wave of anxiety. "Wait, if they're here then that likely means Yutani is on her way."

"Correct." Kirsh nodded again and cupped your face. He spoke your name softly, like a prayer only for your ears to hear. "I am sorry I hid the truth from you. I was...scared."

"You don't feel fear." You murmured, eyes half lidded.

"I did then. And I do now." Kirsh admitted. "Slightly had three options to choose from. The brother, Arthur, and you. I feared he's choose you."

"Then why not say something to me? Warn me? Anything?" Your voice was pleading, your hand finding his. "Why didn't you come to me?"

"I feared you would leave." Kirsh pushed your hair from your eyes and leaned forward so his forehead was against yours. "Don't leave."

"Then help me get the others out, and come with us." You wrapped your arms around him and held Kirsh close. "Don't stay here where you're in danger."

"I-" Before Kirsh could answer, he suddenly pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it behind him. Your eyes widened as you peered around the Synth to find Morrow and Thrash standing there.

"Ah, Mr. Morrow. You brought the guard dog with you, how sweet." Kirsh's voice was low and dangerous sounding. "I'm sorry gentlemen but I'll have to refuse you entry into this lab."

"We just want that one." Morrow pointed to you. "Yutani wants her asset back in place. So be good and come here." You clung onto Kirsh and stayed put, much to Thrash's dismay.

"I don't think you realise what no means." Kirsh commented, gun still pointed. "So why don't I teach you?"

It happened so fast; Morrow lunged at Kirsh while Thrash went for you. You pulled a work bench down, blocking his path momentarily while Kirsh and Morrow locked in a battle of strength. The Cyborg against the Synthetic, the ultimate test of who was better than the other.

Meanwhile, you had grabbed a scalpel and held it out towards Thrash who was making his way towards you still.

"She won't harm you." Thrash insisted.

"What is your primary directive?" You demanded, knowing that Synthetics had the means to have them. They could be changed easily too, with the insertion of a chip. Kirsh didn't have one, which you had figured out a while ago. His loyalties wouldn't have switched if Kavalier programmed a primary directive into him. He would have stayed the same. Thrash didn't have one when you first met but the change of character seemed too out of pocket to be just him.

"Get you back to Yutani." Thrash repeated in a mechanical voice.

"Bastard!" You cried. His objective had been created and he wouldn't stop.

"You are coming with me, conscious or not." Thrash threatened. He lunged for you and you stabbed out with the scalpel, the blade connecting with Thrash's arm. White, liquid latex spilled down his skin but it didn't stop his advance.

"Kirsh!" You screamed as Thrash body checked you onto the floor, but Kirsh had his own problems to deal with. You watched in horror as Morrow lifted the Synthetic over his head and slammed him onto the metal table, liking breaking a lot of components.

You kicked and fought against Thrash, lashing out with your weapon as best you could while he tried to get you under control. Finally, you connected with Thrash in a vital area, his body going limp and falling next to you, seizing.

"You see, man is better than Synthetics." Morrow gloated as you got up. His attentions were busy on Kirsh so with a yell, you ran and jumped onto his back, beating on him as best you could. With him distracted, Kirsh was able to get Morrow's legs out from under him and he went crashing to the ground with you still on him. You rolled out of the way as Kirsh wrapped his arms around Morrow's neck and squeezed, blocking air flow. Eventually the man went limp and Kirsh pushed him off, but didn't get up.

"Kirsh." You cried as you crawled over. Synthetic blood was falling from his mouth and it was clear his back was broken. "I can fix you! I can fix you."

"Sweetling." His voice box was broken, and the more mechanical sounds of a Synthtic came through instead of a human sounding voice.

It was then that Slightly and Smee came in, taking in the scene before them.

"What's wrong with him?" Smee asked, indicating Kirsh.

"His back is broken." You replied. Then you noticed two sets of cuffs in their hands and you looked up at them. "What are you two doing?'

"Wendy wants these two locked up." Slightly said, cuffing Morrow.

"Both of them?" You leaned protectively over Kirsh who was trying to look back at the two boys. "Take Thrash instead, he's more of a danger than Kirsh." They both looked towards Thrash, who was recovering a bit from having a scalpel to the body. They instead decided to tie them both of the Synthetics up and dragged them along.

You followed, keeping an eye on Kirsh, and found yourself in the prison section of the building. Kavalier was already there, tied up to the bars. Dame Sylvia and Atom Eins also present. Kirsh was put on one of the benches, hanging limply from it, while Morrow and Thrash were tied up and sat down.

"Sweetheart, whatever it is I did, I'm sorry." Dame Sylvia cried as Wendy walked past her, outside of the bars.

"No you're not." Wendy snipped. "You think you were doing a good thing but really you put six children in the ground."

"Why is the babysitter allowed out?" Kavalier snarked, eyeing you distastefully.

"They're the only one who has been honest with us." Curly replied. It seemed the need to be his favourite had died, since she stood with you and the other Hybrids. Joe was also there but stood back a ways, watching everything. The adult Xenomorph and the new baby that was born from Arthur crawled along the cage, poised for their next order.

"So now what do we do?" Smee asked as the Hybrids looked in on their captives.

"Now we rule." Wendy replied simply.

Chapter Text

The kids were running free, doing as they wished without a care in the world. You and Joe only had to feed yourselves and the human captives, which was sort of nice. It at least meant you could go and check in on everyone every couple of hours. Your main concern washing Kirsh, your fingers itching to fix his broken back, but you had to play your cards right. The kids trusted you now, but who knew what would happen if you went against their wishes. 

You spoke as such to Joe in confidence, and he agreed with you. Wendy was clearly in charge now and, while they had apparently been given strict orders by her, the Xenomorphs were growing restless. They hissed and spit at the humans every chance they got, testing the boundaries of their orders and if Wendy was paying attention. They'd soon realise she was only one, and they had the numbers to corner her, but that was a delicate discussion. She loved them, as much as a mother would their child, and she refused to listen to anything against them.

"They can be good." She insisted one night when you spoke your fears to her. "They will be good."

It worried you to no end but you didn't dare speak against her. Even Joe didn't question Wendy's rulings, too scared to lose his sister and his freedom. He was already on thin ocean for shooting Nibs, trying his best to make up to them for turning on her, but you could tell it would only take one small slip. You didn't know which was scarier; The xenomorphs or the Hybrids. 

"Hey, babysitter." Kavalier moved his head to refuse eating so he could talk to you. "I'll cut you a deal. One million dollars, yeah? Let me out. I won't even shut the Hybrids down." A smell was coming off of him, stale sweat and fear, as one of the xenomorphs circled the cage. Joe was feeding Morrow while Thrash watched you with a heated stare. Kirsh also watched, but his face was calm and collected like he always was. 

"You know, you wouldn't be in this mess if you had just been honest with them." You commented, holding the spoon out again. "There's no reasoning now. The Lost Boys are truly lost." 

"No, no see that's where you're wrong." Kavalier grinned. "There's a failsafe, in my office. Find it and see what happens." He took a bite of food, smiling all the while. 

Dame Sylvia had completely shut down, you could barely get her to eat anything. You were forced to set up an IV with fluids and nutrients for her, so she wouldn't die on you from starvation. She just stared out with dead eyes and a blank expression, going over every detail since the beginning, you imagined. 

Atom Eins stayed silent, now under the complete control of Wendy and at her eternal mercy. You were surprised she didn't control Kirsh like she did Eins, but you were grateful that she didn't at the very least. 

You decided then and there you would beg for access to Kirsh to fix him, to keep him under control so he didn't retaliate. You had the perfect plea lined up too, one Wendy wouldn't be able to ignore. 

"Why?" She questioned when you brought it to her attention. "Why should we? He can't be trusted." She was sitting at her desk in her room, drawing. She drew everyone together, one big, happy family. She was getting good at it, exceedingly so, and you felt some pride well up inside you at the sight. 

"His programming changed, a few months back." You replied, stepping forward to show the hiccup in data you had managed to find during the days of free access to everything. "See here, this is where he was loyal to Kavalier. He did everything for Kavalier. But here..." You opened a file that had been created by Kirsh, file name was 'You' and at first you hadn't thought anything of it but then... "This file was made by Kirsh himself, something he never would have done before. Somewhere along the lines, a glitch in the system happened and his loyalties changed. To me." The file was full of data collected about you; your favourite food, the colour of your eyes. Spreadsheets about your emotions, when they heightened and what happened to cause the reactions.

"He...he's loyal to you." Wendy stated, a bit disbelievingly. "Why wouldn't you bring this up before? To Kavalier?"

"Kirsh didn't want to." You replied and her eyes widened a bit. An act of defiance, something Kirsh wasn't known for. "Wendy, trust me. He won't harm you guys." 

"...Its Marcy." She said softly. "Call me Marcy." 

"Marcy." You corrected instantly.

"Very well. You may fix him." Marcy nodded and you hugged her. It caught her by surprise, knowing full well you didn't like touch, but she accepted it all the same. "He loves you, you know. You guys used to fight all the time and then it stopped. That was the glitch, I bet. His systems overworked and it glitched."

"Well, I'll take a look into it while I'm fixing him." You leaned back and smiled. "Where are the others? I'm going to need help getting him to the lab." 

Marcy helped you look for the others while your mind held onto what she had said; Kirsh loved you? Maybe. You couldn't be sure sometimes, with how he reacted to certain things. And his actions lately have definitely been confusing that line. But she might have been onto something; if his systems overworked, if it was a failure in his programming and not a hack of some sort, it meant it could be easily fixed. But did you want to fix it was the next question. You were tired of the fighting, you just wanted to be with him.

Thrash was another issue you had to solve; his primary directive had been programmed and you needed a way to unprogram it. Thrash wanted to bring you to Yutani, to fulfill her orders. How she got close enough to even install the directive was beyond you, and you were scared to think he did it of his own volition. You would attempt to reprogram the directive but you needed to see what clearances were set in place in him now, who could access what with limited Weyland-Yutani resources. 

Marcy got Smee and Slightly to help you with Kirsh, both of them reluctant to do so but trusting you and their leader. They trailed behind you as you four walked to the holding cells, playing around like children often do and giggling to themselves. 

"You've changed, you know." You leaned closer to Marcy, eyeing her respectfully. "You hold your head high now, and you walk with a confidence that I haven't seen in a long time."

She beamed at you, happy for the recognition and grabbed your hand. 

"You've changed too." She replied, keeping hold of your hand. "You used to walk so shyly around here. You weren't sure of yourself." You still weren't sure of yourself, second guessing everything that happened and every move you made. "But you've always been true to us, speaking up about our safety. So thank you, for that." You nodded and smiled at her, letting go of her hand as you four came to the holding cells.

Marcy clapped her hand to get the attention of everyone, her voice commanding their cooperation and acknowledgement. Kirsh had his eyebrows furrowed in a silent question to you as Marcy unlocked the door without a key and the boys took Kirsh down from the bench. 

"Wait, why does he get to go?" Kavalier demanded, pulling against his restraints. "Wendy! Come on, I haven't used the bathroom in hours, let me out." 

"Be quiet." Marcy commanded, turning a cold stare on Kavalier. "I will have the boys come back to get you in a moment." 

"So uh, where are we taking Kirsh?" Slightly asked, holding Kirsh by his legs. Smee had a grip under Kirsh's arms and the poor Synthetic hung limply between them, not saying a word. If he were human, this would probably humiliating for him. But he just held your gaze in his silent questions. 

"To the labs." You replied. "I'll need tools, all the materials you can find..." You began listing off the materials needed to fix a Synthetic as you walked with the boys. You didn't even look at Thrash, though he strained against his own restraints to try and get your attention. Marcy followed for a bit but moved off to do her own thing once you reached the labs. 

Smee and Slightly placed Kirsh down on the table, facing up, and you moved to his side so he could see you clearly.

"What is going on?" He asked quietly, hand grabbing yours.

"I'm fixing you," you replied, just as quietly. "So you'll be going offline for a bit but I'll work quick." 

"You'll find something in my files, something that-" 

"If it's the file labeled 'You', I've already seen it." You smiled softly and his mouth quirked up in a half smirk. "Creep." 

"You've always intrigued me." He murmured, leaned his head closer so the boys wouldn't hear. Though you didn't have to worry, they were too busy looking for scraps for you to use. "Even from the beginning. You were headstrong and emotional. Messy." 

"Ass." You sighed and grabbed the wire port, rolling up Kirsh's sleeve to connect him. "Time for a nap." 

"Wait." His hand reached up to grab your collar and pull you closer, his lips connecting with yours momentarily. Smee and Slightly made "oooooh" noises at the same time, giggling to themselves as you lost your sense or being to Kirsh's lips. When you both pulled away, you sighed happily and went to turn the computer on, turning off Kirsh's systems so you could work on his broken components. 

You sent Smee and Slightly away to get your list of items while you stripped Kirsh to his underclothes and flipped him. Your face tried to blush, this was the most you'd seen of him ever, but you had to focus on the task at hand. He needed fixing. You knew how to do that. So, you set to work. 

Chapter Text

You spent the better part of the night, elbows deep in Synthetic parts, trying to fix Kirsh. You had to replace the entire lower half of his 'spine', the break cutting it clean from the rest of him. There were shards everywhere, cutting into wires and synthetic muscle, likely causing more damage everytime he was moved. You said goodbye to your sleep and trudged on. Slightly and Smee helped where they could but it made you want for Thrash's quick thinking and his ability to read your mind. But that was stepping too far, asking for him to be released. Until you could fix his prime directive, there would be no releasing him. 

Wires, liquid latex, metal bits and various other items and tools littered the floor and work benches by the time you were done. You were an absolute mess, sticky and sweaty and exhausted, but you did the final tests to make sure everything was in working order before closing Kirsh up neatly and turning him back around. You asked Slightly and Smee with cleaning Kirsh up and dressing him while you went to shower and change clothes. 

When you returned, the boys were just zipping up a new set of overalls on Kirsh and then stepped away. 

"Thank you." You spoke quietly to them. "Go get some rest. I'll finish up here." They disappeared quickly and you waited until their footsteps faded from your hearing before turning to Kirsh and going to the computer. "Okay, Kirsh. Time to wake up." 

You booted up his systems again and moved to stand beside the table so you would be the first thing he saw. It took some time, all his files having to be backed up and his systems having to restart after hours of downtime, but eventually his eyes fluttered open and those brown eyes gazed around. When they landed on you, a smile split your face and you grabbed onto his hand. 

"I am...awake." He commented, taking a moment to sit up and register the ability to do so. "You fixed me." 

"It wasn't easy." You huffed a laugh. "It was a very troublesome endeavor. I fear my sleep schedule shall suffer forever for it now." Kirsh quirked up his lips in that maddening half smirk and squeezed your hand. 

"Then perhaps we should get you to bed." He slid himself off the table, testing the weight of his new components and the ability of his legs.

"I tried to keep it as similar as it was before," you explained as he took a few steps forward. "The boys helped find spare parts, most of them of unknown origin but..." You shrugged as you studied his posture, professional mask in place. Right now you were making sure your work wouldn't break after a few foot falls, that the frame was exact and mobility was good. 

"It all seems the same." Kirsh supplied, knowing you were needing answers to unasked questions. "Systems seem stable." 

"Good." You sighed in relief. "It was mainly your spine I was worried about. I had to replace a good chunk of it. Morrow did a number on you."

"Remind me to thank him later." Kirsh's sense of humor was still intact, thankfully. You cracked a smile at the joke and came to stand before him.

"Files aren't corrupted or anything?" You leaned forward to study his eyes, as if you could see the invisible files from there.

"The folder dedicated to my study of you is still there." Kirsh replied. 

"That's not what I asked." You rolled your eyes. "You were down a long time, I want to make sure I didn't accidently fuck something up." 

"You did not." It was quiet, his eyes lidded halfway as he studied you in return. You nodded and leaned back, a yawn ripping through you as you rubbed your eyes. "You must sleep." 

"But I just got you back." You sighed as Kirsh came to pull you to your room. "So much has happened, I have to fill you in." 

"It can wait." Kirsh shook his head in amusement and took you by the arm. "Come." 

You allowed Kirsh to walk you to your room, the darkness of the halls and the echoing quiet the only orchestra to your walk. You slipped your hand into Kirsh's, leaning against his side heavily as sleep tried claiming you already. Perhaps he had been right, postponing your reunion in favor of a bed sounded like a good idea now. 

"Kirsh?" You murmured against him, pausing in the hallway as you looked up at him. There had been a question on your mind that was burning in your skull. "You knew of Arthur...you knew of Issac...why didn't you try to stop any of it?" 

Kirsh turned to look at you, his eyes blank as well as his face. He was searching for the right answer, the one you wanted, but he also knew you would see through a lie. With a sigh of breath that you knew he didn't need, Kirsh stepped forward and cupped your face. 

"I wish I had an answer that would not paint me the villian in your story." Kirsh pressed a kiss to your forehead and leaned back to catch your eye again. "I was...curious, as to what would happen. If I let the pieces move as they pleased, with little pushing from an outside force, what would the results yield?" 

"An experiment." It wasn't a question from you but he nodded anyways. "You wanted the data given freely from others."

"I did not want to place you in any danger, though danger is what the outcome gave." Kirsh stepped away and you felt the loss of his warmth instantly. "You saved someone who cares only for the variables...and you. Can you stand to be near me still?" 

"You care for me?" You asked, tilting your head to the side and studying him. 

"In as much of a way as I can." Kirsh replied. A Synthetic not programmed to feel or love, who was able to about you...it was a thrilling idea. You couldn't ignore the fact that his hand had a play in the deaths of two of your friends, that wouldn't sit right with you at all, but Kirsh...Kirsh was yours. Fully, completely yours and here he was admitting it again to you. 

You weren't sure who stepped forward first but suddenly his arms were around you and your lips were on his. It was a bruising kiss, a moan being ripped from you as his tongue asked for entrance by gliding along your bottom lip. You let him in, accepting what he would give you with little care of your surroundings. All you could see, hear and feel was Kirsh; the way his hands glided up your back and along your sides, the feel of his hair between your fingers. It was a heady concoction to you, an aphrodisiac that demanded be swallowed whole. 

"Room. Now." You gasped as you pulled away and suddenly you were being marched down the little bit of hallway left between you and your door, his hand on the small of your back. Kirsh allowed you to open it and then you were being pushed inside and his lips were back on yours and you lost yourself in the feeling. 

Kirsh slipped his hands under your top, his fingertips roaming around on your skin, mapping it and collecting all the data it had to give. He added every moan from you into your file, keeping it hidden deep within him to play whenever he wanted. Meanwhile you were lost in the sensation of his fingers skimming up your sides and teasing the skin just under your chest with feather light touches. You wanted him to touch you fully, you wanted to feel his hands claiming every inch of you. 

"Kirsh..." You pleaded into his mouth and the gentleness was gone, replaced by something stronger and hungrier. He palmed at you, feeling your delicate skin beneath his hands, helping you slip your shirt over your head and tossed it to the floor. 

"Beautiful..." His words were whispered, a silent prayer of warship for only your ears to receive. Kirsh peppered kisses along your jaw and down your neck, tracing your collarbone with his lips until he reached your chest. Your nipples were hardened at the coolness of the room and he gently took one into his mouth. Your breath caught in your throat as he lavished your chest with kisses and bites, gentle in his ministrations but pulling moans out of you all the same. 

He continued his exploration downward, learning every curve of your body and listening for which areas made you louder when he paid attention to them. When he got to the hem of your pants, his eyes cut upwards to your own with a question hidden in their dark depths. You nodded, biting your lip in anticipation as he hooked his fingers in your waistband and pulled your pants down. 

You were now only in your underwear in front of Kirsh and you felt very underdressed compared to him. A blush sweapt across your face as he stood up again to give you a gentle kiss.

"No place for shame here," he said gently. "You are a worthy sight for anyone, though only my eyes should see you in such a state." He led you over to your bedroom where a standing mirror sat. Situating you in front of it, with him standing behind you, he grabbed your chin so you had to watch as his other hand made it's way down your body. You were certainly a sight to behold, flushed with need and a desperate look in your eye. He cupped you through your underwear and you gasped at the feeling of his hand touching you, your eyes rolling back slightly. 

"Kirsh..." You moaned his name, your head falling back to his shoulder as he let your chin go.

"Beautiful." He said again and turned you so you faced him again.

"You're overdressed for this occasion." You murmured as you played with the zipper of his overalls. "I want to see you, Kirsh. I want to feel you against me." He complied, unzipped the front of the overalls and shrugging out of them. You ran your hands along the muscles of his arms, feeling the synthetic skin beneath your fingertips. 

"Tell me what you want," he whispered in your ear as he pulled you close. "Tell me what you need." 

"You. Everywhere." You panted as you slipped out of your underwear and slid onto the bed. Kirsh followed you, also slipping out of his pants and underwear before laying his naked body on top of yours. You groaned as you felt his election brush up against your leg, not having gotten a good look at him before he got on you. He felt good, his skin touching yours, no barriers between you now. 

"Kirsh." You whimpered his name and fisted his hair in your hands. "Kirsh please. Please, touch me." 

"I plan to." He deadpanned and slid down your body before settling between your legs and nibbling on the tender skin of your thighs. You gasped as he made his way up, nosing at your core before wrapping his tongue around you and sucking. 

You cried out as a jolt of electricity shot through your body and Kirsh focused his attentions solely on you. He kissed and licked and sucked his way into making you a moaning mess beneath him, making your toes curl as waves of pleasure washed over you and made tears spring to your eyes. He was being so sweet, exploring every inch of you and collecting the data gathered from where he touched, humming to himself in thought as he worked you up. 

"Kirsh-" You gasped his name, clawing at the bed spread as the feeling of pressure built up in your lower belly. You whined loudly as he added a finger into you, pumping slowly and curling it precisely. One finger became two and he was stretching you beautifully, getting you ready for him as he built you up to break. "Kirsh, I can't-I'm gonna-" Before you could finish, he pulled away completely and left you gasping for air, a hollow feeling of being denied your organs building up the frustration of having it so close. 

"Oh, now this is a look I shall have burned into my processors forever." He nodded approvingly and you flipped him off.

"Bastard." You mumbled but were silenced by him crawling back up to your face and giving you a long and slow kiss. You could taste yourself on his lips and it went straight to your groin as you moaned again. When you pulled away for air, you found Kirsh looking at you with an air of tenderness that you didn't think he possessed. 

"Can I keep you?" He asked, hand coming up to cup your face, his thumb running along your cheek. 

"Yes." At your word, he slowly slid into your opening and you gasped, arching your back into him, your eyes slipping closed. He stretched you in the best way possible and you lost all ability to think as Kirsh came to a stop, his hips flush against yours. 

Reaching down, he hooked your leg over his waist to get a better angle, letting you get used to the feel of him inside you before rolling his hips experimentally. You groaned as Kirsh started up a slow and steady pace, his mouth connecting with yours to swallow the sounds coming from you. Every touch sent spikes of electricity shooting through you, every thrust and your eyes rolled back in your head.

You begged him to go faster and Kirsh complied, speeding up his movement and grabbing onto your hips for better control. It was too much and not enough all at the same time, you needed more of him, you needed to consume and be consumed by the waves of pleasure hitting your center. That tension was building again, every snap of Kirsh's hips bringing you closer to the edge. 

"That's it," he whispered in your ear as you cried out at one particularly rough thrust. "Let me hear you come undone." 

Kirsh bit done on your neck, sucking at the skin and leaving his mark on you. His hips shifted and he groaned in unison with you as he hit deep within you.  

"Kirsh-" You panted his name, your own falling from his lips in a chant. You were so close, he was going to be the death of you for it. "Kirsh please. Please. I can't-I need to-" As if reading your mind, his hand slipped between your bodies and found another part of you begging for attention. His fingers worked at you perfectly and the tension in you snapped as you came. Kirsh was soon to follow, his hips stuttering against yours as you felt his own climax stall him out for a moment. 

You both lay there, panting, with Kirsh resting his forehead against your shoulder. He slid out of you carefully, not wanting to hurt you, before collapsing by your side and gathering you close to his chest. You were dazed, in a foggy mind full of nothing where you hoped to stay for a while. It had been ages since anyone had fucked you, and the fact that it was Kirsh of all people left it feeling even better. You realised, with a silent smile, that you wouldn't have this any other way. You were his, fully, and he was yours. 

"Are you okay?" Kirsh asked, brushing some hair away from your face.

"Yeah." You replied with a happy sigh. "I'm going to be sore in the morning but I'm okay." 

"You should bathe," Kirsh rubbed soothing circles into your back. "I hear a bath or shower afterwards is quite relaxing." 

"Mm. Carry me?" You gave a cheeky grin and Kirsh rolled his eyes at you. "Oh come on, you effectively took my ability to walk for the foreseeable future." 

"I suppose that means a job well done, then?" He asked, eyebrows raised. 

"Mmhm." You nodded and lay your head on his chest. You were about to get up on your own but Kirsh actually scooped you up and brought you into the bathroom, turning the shower on to a comfortable setting before placing the both of you inside. 

After the two of you were clean and no longer smelled like sex, you climbed into bed and snuggled deep under the covers. Kirsh crawled in after you and pulled you close to him, keeping watch as you slumbered in his arms.