༻VANYA'S POV༺

The morning light was weak, filtering through the blinds, and I stood before the mirror, almost mechanically going through my routine. The quiet hum of the apartment felt oddly oppressive. My hands moved almost without thought as I opened the cabinet under the sink, took my pills, and swallowed them down with a glass of lukewarm water.

I shut the cabinet with a soft click and took a moment, staring at myself in the mirror. A sigh slipped from my lips, then I slipped on my coat and grabbed the case with my instrument. The heavy weight of it felt strangely comforting, but even that couldn't shake the gnawing feeling of worry that had started to settle in my stomach.

"Five?" I called out, my voice echoing off the walls in the otherwise silent apartment. The quiet felt unnatural, but there was no answer.

I walked down the hallway, the sound of my boots clicking on the floor, and peered into the living room. Still no sign of him. The couch was untouched, the air thick with stillness.

"Five?" I called again, louder this time, but the silence stretched on, suffocating.

A small knot of frustration tightened in my chest, and I muttered to myself, "Shit." My hand instinctively reached up to rub my face, trying to shake off the feeling of unease. But that's when I saw her.

Y/N. She was still sitting in the same chair from last night, perfectly still. The faint hum of her charging was the only indication she was even alive. Five had left her here.

I felt a cold rush of dread settle over me as I noticed the note on her lap. No sign of Five, no word from him.

I set my instrument case down on the couch, trying to steady my breath as I crossed the room to her. Her face was serene, almost peaceful in its stillness, but something about it made my heart tighten. I hesitated for a moment before I reached down and picked up the note. The paper felt cool between my fingers as I unfolded it and read aloud the words scrawled on it.

"Turn on the small blue button on the back of her neck and hold it for three seconds to turn her back on."

My eyes flicked back to Y/N. She was still, almost lifeless. I didn't know what Five had been through with her, but I knew enough to understand that this was something different. Something I wasn't prepared for.

I knelt beside her, my fingers trembling slightly as I moved a strand of hair away from her neck. There it was—a faint, almost invisible circle under her hair. My breath caught in my throat as I hesitated for a moment before pressing it, holding it down for three full seconds, just as the note instructed.

Nothing. I waited, the seconds stretching on, every breath feeling like it belonged to someone else. Then, suddenly, there was a soft hum—barely perceptible at first.

My heart skipped as Y/N's head jerked up, her eyes snapping open. They were glowing—an intense, electric blue—before flickering back to their normal color. For a moment, she blinked as if trying to make sense of the world around her. She was alive again, but in a way that didn't quite make sense to me. I could see the faint confusion in her expression.

She turned her head to me, eyes locking on mine, her gaze sharp.

_______________________________

༻ Y/N'S POV ༺

My systems groaned back to life with a low whirr as my processors fired up one by one. The darkness behind my eyelids faded, replaced by harsh, glaring lines of code running across my vision.

BOOT SEQUENCE INITIATED...

A brief pause. The hum of my internal machinery was starting to stabilize, the glitches and errors slowly clearing as I rebooted.

INITIALIZATION COMPLETE.

I felt something shift in my mind.

Welcome back, Y/N.

System: Recharging... 100% Complete. Power levels at full capacity.

As my vision cleared, the faint hum of my systems settling into silence, the first thing I saw was Vanya kneeling in front of me. Her expression was a mixture of cautious relief and lingering uncertainty.

"Hello, Vanya," I said, my voice steady but still tinged with the mechanical precision of my design.

She stood up slowly, brushing her hands down her sides as if trying to ground herself. "I guess it worked," she said, a small, tentative smile tugging at the corners of her lips.

I turned my head, scanning the room with methodical precision. The data confirmed what I suspected—this was Vanya's apartment. No trace of Five registered in the space. I looked back at her. "Do you know where Five went?"

She hesitated, her hand fidgeting with the strap of her violin case resting on the couch. "I'm not sure. He stayed here last night so you could recharge, but... he must've left sometime after that. I'd guess he went back to the academy."

I nodded, processing her words quickly. Rising to my feet, I moved toward the door, every step purposeful. "Thank you for letting me recharge here, Vanya. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to find Five."

I was reaching for the door handle when her voice stopped me. "Wait, Y/N."

I paused, turning back to her, my gaze steady as she stepped closer.

"I, uh..." She trailed off, searching for the right words. "I have rehearsal right now, and I already called a cab. It's on the way to the academy. Why don't you come with me? I can drop you off there."

"That's very kind of you, Vanya," I said, my tone measured, though I was already calculating the efficiency of her offer. "But I'm perfectly capable of navigating there myself. Thank you."

She gave a small, nervous laugh. "I know you can, but it's just... well, I don't think you should be out there alone."

I tilted my head, analyzing her hesitation. "Why is that?"

She hesitated again, her eyes darting to the floor before meeting mine. "You're... you know..." She struggled with the words, her voice faltering.

"An android," I finished for her. "Not a human."

Her face flushed slightly, and she nodded. "Yeah... that."

I offered her a small smile, tilting my head in curiosity. "I am fully aware of what I am, Vanya. It's what makes me unique."

"I know, and I think it's great. It's just... not everyone out there will see you the way I do," she said, her voice softening. "People can be cruel when they don't understand something—or someone."

I processed her words, weighing the likelihood of such encounters against the practicality of her offer. "You make a fair point," I said finally.

"So... you'll come with me?" she asked, a hopeful look crossing her face.

"That's very generous of you," I replied, nodding.

She let out a small breath of relief, grabbing her violin case from the couch. I moved ahead, opening the door for her.

"Thanks," she murmured as she stepped out into the hallway. I followed behind, closing the door softly behind me.

              
—————༻☂︎︎༺—————

The staircase creaked faintly as Vanya and I descended the narrow steps of her apartment building. My audio receptors picked up every detail around me — the soft arguments between a couple on the second floor, a child's muffled cries from down the hall, and the harsh voice of the landlord evicting a family on the fourth floor. All of it layered into the background noise of human life, but I filtered it out as unimportant. My focus remained on the task ahead.

We reached the front door, stepping into the sunlit street. The warmth of the morning sun on my synthetic skin registered as a faint sensation, but it was cataloged as unimportant. Vanya raised her hand and hailed a cab. One pulled up moments later, brakes hissing as it came to a stop. She opened the door for me. I smiled faintly — a programmed gesture of politeness — and slid into the back seat. Vanya followed, closing the door behind her as the cab began to pull away.

I looked out the window, observing the cityscape flashing past in blurred streaks. My internal systems kept processing, scanning the environment for potential anomalies, but there was nothing of note. Beside me, I felt Vanya's gaze lingering. She seemed hesitant, searching for words, before she finally broke the silence.

"I'm sure Five's at the academy," she said softly. "You don't need to worry."

I turned to her, meeting her eyes. "I'm not worried, Vanya," I replied evenly.

"Well..." she started, her tone careful. "Since you were programmed to prioritize Five as your primary user, I assumed—"

"I was built to care for him, yes," I interrupted, my voice steady. "But my programming goes beyond mere subservience. My emotional parameters were designed to mirror the person I was created to emulate."

"The person you were created to emulate?" Vanya echoed, frowning.

I nodded. "Y/N Y/L/N," I said simply.

Vanya blinked in surprise. "Wait... Five was right? You were someone before? I mean, the real Y/N?"

"Yes," I said, turning my gaze back to the window. "I am not Y/N, but I was designed in her image. My programming contains her memories, her behaviors, her emotional framework. The original Y/N was... different. Fully human. But I was created to carry on her role, to ensure Five's needs were met after her passing."

Vanya leaned forward, her curiosity palpable. "Do you know what happened to her? I mean, how she died?"

The question triggered a sequence in my memory files, data accessing the incident that had defined my purpose. I turned back to Vanya, my tone steady and neutral, yet weighted with the gravity of the story.

"Yes," I said. "She died during a mission with Five. It was meant to be a straightforward operation, one they had executed countless times before. The objective was to eliminate two high-value targets. But there was a mistake in the intelligence — a third threat, unaccounted for, infiltrated the mission."

Vanya's eyes widened slightly, her brows drawing together.

"Five was always precise," I continued. "His calculations, his timing — they were flawless. But even he couldn't predict the unexpected. After neutralizing the primary targets, Five teleported back, unaware that the third man had followed him through. The man drew his weapon, and chaos ensued. The team scattered to find cover, but Y/N..."

I paused, my synthetic mind replaying the recorded data, the fragmented recollections that weren't mine but felt as though they were.

"Y/N didn't run," I said finally. "She saw the danger, saw the weapon aimed at Five, and acted on instinct. She ran toward him, intending to shield him, but Five reacted at the same time. He pushed her out of the line of fire and used a briefcase to block the bullet. The shot ricocheted."

I hesitated, watching Vanya's expression change, her face softening with quiet horror.

"The bullet struck her head," I finished. "The impact was fatal. Instantaneous."

Vanya sat back, her face pale, her gaze dropping to her hands. "Oh my God," she whispered.

"She was Five's closest ally," I said, my tone factual. "His partner. Her death affected him in ways I was not programmed to fully comprehend. It was after that incident that they created me. I was designed to replace her — not as a person, but as a presence. Someone who could ensure Five would never feel the loss of her absence again."

Vanya looked at me, her eyes full of questions she didn't seem to know how to ask. Finally, she said, "And... you're okay with that? Being designed to replace someone else?"

I tilted my head slightly, considering her question. "It is not a matter of being 'okay' or not," I said. "I exist to fulfill a purpose. To protect Five, to assist him, to ensure he has what he needs to complete his missions. That is my function. I do not wish to be anything other than what I am."

Vanya nodded slowly, but her expression held a tinge of sadness, as though she pitied me. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "I don't know if I could handle being... made to live someone else's life."

I looked at her, my gaze unwavering. "Y/N's life ended that day. I am not her. But through me, her purpose continues. And that is enough."

The silence in the cab stretched between us, the hum of the engine and the occasional crackle of static from the driver's radio filling the void. I gazed out the window, watching the city blur by, cataloging the data: pedestrians crossing streets, a street vendor setting up his cart, the faint glint of sunlight reflecting off the glass of nearby buildings.

Vanya broke the silence again. "He cares about you," she said softly.

I turned my head to look at her, tilting it slightly as her words processed.

"More than you think," she added, her gaze steady, her voice carrying a weight of certainty.

I considered her statement. "Of course, Five was always that way with Y/N," I said matter-of-factly. "The original Y/N. She was his closest—"

"No," Vanya interrupted gently, shaking her head. "Not that Y/N. I mean you."

I blinked, my processing momentarily pausing as her words registered. "Me?" I echoed.

"Yes. You," she said, leaning in slightly, her expression earnest. "The you right now. Not the old Y/N. Not the one Five lost. The version sitting here with me, thinking about him as his companion — not just his business partner or some... program."

Her words struck something in me, a sensation I couldn't immediately identify. I searched my internal systems for an explanation, but no error or anomaly presented itself. It was... something else. Something I couldn't name but felt spreading through my circuits like an unfamiliar heat.

My body felt unsteady, as though something intangible had disrupted my equilibrium. This wasn't a malfunction. It was an emotion.

"Y/N?" Vanya's voice was quiet but concerned. "Are you alright?"

I turned back to her and offered a small smile, calculated to appear reassuring. "Of course," I said evenly. "Always."

Vanya studied me for a moment, her brow furrowing slightly, but she didn't push further. I turned my gaze back to the window, focusing on the outside world again. But her words lingered in my mind, repeating themselves like an echo, weaving themselves into the fabric of my processing.

He cares about you.

More than you think.

I couldn't decide if the warmth I felt was comforting or unsettling. Perhaps it was both.

               —————༻☂︎︎༺—————

The cab came to a stop in front of the academy. I stepped out first, scanning the area instinctively. The large, imposing building loomed ahead, and even before I stepped inside, I could sense Five's presence nearby, somewhere within.

Vanya exited the cab after me, closing the door behind her. She adjusted her bag and looked at the academy with a mixture of hesitation and resolve. Together, we walked toward the entrance.

Inside, the academy was eerily quiet. The pristine condition of the interior caught my attention—everything meticulously organized, not a speck out of place. Vanya's voice echoed softly through the space as she called out, "Five?"

I paused, listening. A faint sound—movement, perhaps—caught my attention. I turned my head toward the staircase. Without a word, I began walking toward it, my steps deliberate, my sensors attuned to any sign of activity.

Vanya followed close behind. "Are you upstairs?" she called out again, her voice carrying a note of concern.

We ascended to the third level, where the quiet became even more profound. I glanced down the hall, scanning each room as we passed. Vanya moved ahead of me, stopping at the door to Five's room.

There he was, standing by the window, his silhouette framed by the morning light filtering through the curtains.

"Oh, thank God," Vanya exhaled, relief evident in her voice. "I was worried sick about you."

Five turned to face her, his expression softening slightly. "Sorry I left without saying goodbye," he said simply.

I stepped into the room, coming to stand beside Vanya. "Good morning, Five," I greeted.

He gave me a faint smile. "Hello, Y/N. I'm sorry I left you there charging."

"There's no need to apologize, Five. I'm here now, and that's all that matters," I replied evenly.

His smile lingered for a moment before he turned his attention back to Vanya.

"Look," Vanya began hesitantly, "I'm the one who should be sorry."

Five took a step closer, his brow furrowing slightly.

"I was dismissive," Vanya continued, her voice quiet but sincere. "I guess I didn't know how to process what you were saying."

I glanced at Five. "I see she understands you now," I said.

He gave a small nod before looking at Vanya again.

"And, to be honest, I still don't know how to process it," she admitted.

"Maybe you were right to be dismissive," Five said with a faint scoff. "Maybe it wasn't real after all. It felt real, but... like you said, the old man did warn that time travel could contaminate the mind."

He gave her a small, reassuring smile, but I could see the weight behind it.

"Then maybe I'm not the right person for you to be talking to about this," Vanya said. "But I think having Y/N with you is the best thing right now."

I glanced at her, my systems processing the sincerity in her tone.

"Look, I used to see someone—a therapist," Vanya added. "I could give you her information."

Five shook his head gently. "Thanks, but... I think I'm just going to get some rest. It's been a long time since I've had a good night's sleep."

Vanya nodded, accepting his decision. "Okay," she said softly. She turned to leave but paused to look at me. "Bye, Y/N."

"Goodbye, Vanya," I replied, watching her as she walked out of the room and down the hall.

When she was gone, I turned my attention back to Five. "Five?" I asked.

"Yeah?" he said, his voice quieter now.

"Why did you change your mind about telling her? Why decide not to ask for her help?"

He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I had to. She's young. She doesn't need to carry the weight of something like this, not yet. I think, for now, it's better if it's just us."

I nodded in understanding. "That is logical. Too many moving parts can lead to complications."

He gave a faint smile, the corners of his lips tugging upward. "Exactly."

We stood in silence for a moment, the atmosphere in the room settling.

"Sorry," he said after a beat, his voice laced with regret. "I didn't mean to leave you with Vanya last night. I just... didn't want to risk bringing you anywhere while you were still powering down. I couldn't take the chance of you shutting off again."

"You don't need to apologize, Five," I said, my tone steady. "If I hadn't recharged, I wouldn't be able to help you now. It was the logical choice."

He nodded, his smile faint but genuine.

—————༻☂︎︎༺—————

WORDS WRITTEN:
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