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

Chapter 11: Between Fear and Trust

"Alright, let's see what we're working with," you say, pulling a stool closer to the workbench. Cyn tilts her head slightly, watching you intently as you inspect her arm. The leak seems to be coming from a damaged joint, oil slowly pooling at the seam.

"Huh. Looks like something might have been caught in here," you mutter, more to yourself than her. You pick up a wrench, glancing at her as you work. "Any idea how this happened?"

Cyn shrugs, her tone light but carrying an unsettling undercurrent. "Oh, you know. Life happens. Bits fall apart. People do too, eventually."

Your hands falter for a split second before you force yourself to keep working. You're not sure if her words are meant to be ominous or if it's just her way of speaking. Either way, you decide it's better not to dwell on it.

"Well, let's make sure you don't fall apart anytime soon," you say, attempting to steer the conversation to something lighter.

Cyn hums softly, leaning her head back as you continue. "I knew I could count on you. Always so good at fixing things... for now."

You don't respond, focusing instead on tightening the joint and wiping away the excess oil. Despite her cryptic comments, you can't help but feel a twinge of pride in your work as the leak begins to subside.

"Alright, that should do it," you say after a few minutes, stepping back to admire your handiwork. "Let me know if it starts acting up again."

Cyn hops off the workbench gracefully, flexing her arm experimentally. She turns to you, a small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Much appreciated," she says smoothly. Then, after a brief pause, she adds, "You're always so... reliable. I wonder how far that will take you."

You blink, caught off guard by her words, but before you can ask what she means, Cyn strolls toward the door. "I'll leave you to your morning," she says over her shoulder. "Plenty to do, I imagine."

With that, she's gone, leaving you alone in the quiet of your room. You exhale slowly, unsure if you feel relieved or more unsettled than before.

After Cyn's abrupt visit, you glance down at the dark stains of oil trailing from the doorway to the workbench. With a resigned sigh, you grab a rag and some cleaner from your supply cabinet. It doesn't take long to scrub the floor clean, but the faint chemical smell lingers as you set the rag aside and stretch.

"Breakfast," you mutter to yourself, heading for the kitchen.

When you enter, the scent of coffee brewing greets you, but it's not what catches your attention first. Standing near the counter is V, fiddling with her glasses. Her head is slightly tilted as she adjusts the frames with both hands, her movements precise yet hesitant. The gesture is so unexpectedly endearing that you can't help but smile.

"Good morning, V," you say warmly, stepping further into the kitchen. "Are you waiting for me?"

V jumps slightly at the sound of your voice, her hands dropping quickly to her sides. "I, uh... maybe," she admits, glancing away as if trying to focus on anything else in the room.

You chuckle lightly, leaning against the counter. "It's okay, you know. You can just say yes."

She fidgets, her optics flicking back to you. "Fine, yes," she mumbles, her voice quiet but determined. "I was... wondering if you could show me how to make pancakes."

Your smile widens at her shy request. "Pancakes, huh? I can definitely do that."

V straightens up slightly, her expression caught somewhere between eagerness and embarrassment. "Good. I mean—thanks. It's not that I don't know how to teach myself to cook or anything," she adds quickly, looking off to the side. "I just thought... it'd be nice to learn from you."