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

Chapter 20: Preparing for Prom

It's almost automatic. You've fixed countless things before, whether it's machinery at the bunker or making sure the disassembly drones' equipment is working properly. Something about it just feels... right.

As you work, you can't help but let your mind wander. This ship, a small, clunky thing that's seen better days, is a reminder of how much you've had to adapt since you arrived on Copper-9. What once felt like a strange, isolated life has slowly morphed into something more complex. The nightmares, the strange voices, the unsettling and more so confusing encounters with the disassembly drones... you're not sure what to make of any of it.

But for now, you fix things. It's something you can control.

The soft whir of a tool tightening a screw, the satisfying click of a piece snapping into place—it grounds you in a way nothing else does right now. It's a small comfort in the middle of the chaos.

After about an hour of working, lost in the rhythm of tightening bolts and fixing minor issues on the control panel, you hear a thud—followed by the sound of the hatch opening. You're so focused on your work that you barely react, and then another thud as someone lands on the pod, the footsteps echoing in the quiet space. Your concentration doesn't break, though. You continue to adjust the components, keeping your hands busy, trying to focus on the task at hand.

Then, a voice cuts through the stillness.

"Well, well. What are you doing?"

You glance up to see V standing there, her presence familiar yet unpredictable.

"Welcome back," you say with a small smile, easing up slightly. "I was bored, a little stressed. Fixing things is relaxing for me, so that's what I've been doing."

V's gaze shifts for a brief moment, her sharp demeanor flickering as she watches you work. There's a subtle change in her expression, one you can't quite place.

She quickly brushes it off, her usual tone returning. "I didn't kill anyone. You should be happy about that."

You chuckle, shaking your head lightly as you reply with an appropriate amount of sarcasm, "I am. You're being such a good Disassembly Drone today, aren't you?"

V scoffs sharply, turning her head to the side, but not before you catch the faint flicker of a pixelated blush on her cheeks.

She watches as you return to your work, arms crossed as though she's trying to maintain her usual edge. For a moment, the room feels lighter, the tension you've grown used to not as heavy.

For now, at least, things seem... manageable.

As you continue to work, tightening bolts and carefully inspecting the control panel, V speaks up, her voice casual but carrying a hint of curiosity.

"So... you really like fixing things, huh? Being a technician or whatever?"

You glance at her briefly before returning to your task, a small smile tugging at your lips. "Yeah, I do. There's something... satisfying about it. Taking something broken, figuring out what's wrong, and making it work again. It's like solving a puzzle, except when you're done, you actually have something useful to show for it."

V lets out a soft chuckle, sitting in her usual seat. "Sounds dull. But you don't look like you think so."

You chuckle softly, setting a tool down and picking up another. "I wouldn't expect you to get it. But for me, it's relaxing. It's straightforward—machines don't lie, they just need someone to care enough to put them back together. And I like feeling like I've accomplished something, you know? That I've made things better, even just a little."