A Heart in the Machine (Serial Designation V x Reader)

The Elliott household ran on the steady hum of drones, with V as one of the many Worker Drones assigned to domestic tasks. You'd been hired to handle their upkeep, living on-site to keep everything running smoothly. It wasn't glamorous work, but you found satisfaction in it, especially in the steady routine and the small interactions that came with each maintenance day.

This morning, you entered the quiet maintenance bay to find V tidying up the counters, humming softly to herself. She was always here early, working efficiently and quietly, but she stood out to you—maybe because of the care she took in her tasks or the way she moved with a little more precision than the others. You couldn't quite explain it, but you'd found yourself paying attention to her more than the other Worker Drones.

"Morning, V," you called, giving her a friendly nod.

She looked up, her white eyes meeting yours as she paused in her work. "Good morning, Technician," she replied with the polite, almost rehearsed tone typical of her programming.

Despite the impersonal response, you gave her a warm smile. "I'll be doing rounds on all the drones this morning. Let me know if anything's off—I'll make sure you're all in good shape."

She nodded, though you knew she was programmed to keep everything running smoothly without complaints. "Thank you," she said automatically, turning back to her cleaning.

You continued your work at the bench but kept an eye on her as you adjusted the tools and arranged the parts. Something about V's presence in the quiet moments—her steady hum of activity, her constant attention to detail—felt oddly reassuring. Maybe it was because she reminded you of someone, or maybe it was just that the longer you worked around her, the more you appreciated the little quirks she brought to even the simplest tasks.

After a while, you cleared your throat, hoping to keep the conversation going. "You do good work, V. The place wouldn't be half as nice without you."

V looked up, momentarily surprised by the comment. "Thank you," she said again, though this time it was softer, almost as if the words held a bit of genuine appreciation rather than mere routine.

It was a small moment, but it brightened your day. The house was big, and the work could be repetitive, but V's quiet presence and steady work were small comforts, and you were glad for them.

The morning passed peacefully as you worked through your usual checks on the household drones. Most were fairly routine fixes– a touch up on V's fellow workers, a few small repairs here and there, and a quick run-through of basic diagnostics.

Every so often, V would pass by with a stack of linens or a tray of supplies, glancing in your direction. You weren't sure why you noticed her so much; she looked just like the other drones in most ways, and yet something drew you to her, like she had a spark that you couldn't quite put your finger on. Maybe it was just the long hours of work that made her quiet presence a small comfort.

A little later in the day, you noticed V struggling slightly as she tried to reach a stack of heavy boxes on one of the high shelves. Without thinking, you stepped over to lend a hand.

"Here, let me get that for you," you said, carefully pulling the boxes down and handing one to her.

She accepted it with a faint nod of thanks. "I could have managed," she replied, not quite defensive, but with a tone that suggested she was accustomed to working alone.

"I'm sure you could have," you replied easily, handing over the second box. "But I figured there's no harm in helping out when I can."

V seemed to consider this, looking at you thoughtfully for a moment before responding. "Humans normally just...let me handle things myself."