Gotta Be You

14 Harry: Food for Thought

AN: Sorry I haven't updated for like six months. I care deeply about Rodney and Harry and their story. I want to be able to give them the journey and happy ending that they deserve. Thank you for bearing with me through the crazy ups and downs of life, comrades.

The conversation died down soon after the contract was laid out. Harry knew that all the boys, like him, didn't sleep well the night before big travel. Normally they would pull down the blackout curtains and let the grumble of the bus lull them into slumber until they arrived at their destination. Harry, feeling as restless as he had the night before, peeked out from underneath his sleeping mask and cringed at the unexpected brightness.

Liam, Niall, and Zayn were all knocked out, snoring softly. But Rodney had moved from the table to the window nook. He was cross-legged, leaning back so he could peer through a crack in the curtain. Harry knew Rodney had come from a small village and only arrived in Robot City a year ago. He knew only of towns and cities – not of these mirrored lakes, cragged mountains in the distance, the erotic curves of a winding river, rolling fields of alfalfa.

"Beautiful, isn't She?" Harry said. "Mother Nature."

Rodney jolted slightly but didn't turn. "It's certainly different. I suppose you've seen it all before."

"There's always more to see."

"Like what?" Rodney asked, finally turning. Even in the dark, his eyes shone like gems.

"Forests, for one. There's nothing quite like tromping through a foggy wood hunting for truffles." Harry blushed. "Or so I've heard."

Rodney raised an eyebrow. "You don't strike me as the woodsman type, Styles."

"Well, maybe we can try risotto carnaroli à la truffe Fraîche du Périgord in Paris and that will change your mind."

"Try a risotto blah blah in Paris...what?" Rodney sputtered. "You realize I don't eat human food, right?"

Harry opened his mouth, then closed it. He hadn't realized that. His understanding of the Robot race was as nebulous as his understanding of hyperinflation in Zimbabwe – he could dabble in a casual conversation of the topic, but the nuances were entirely lost on him.

Though there was no particular animosity between humans and robots, per se (no historical wars, border disputes, or trade embargoes to speak of), the Robot nation tended to keep to itself. The small population of a few million was concentrated in Robot City and gradually became less and less dense in the surrounding towns until the land gave way to human territory.

This was the first year the boys' tour had brought them to this part of the world and as the tour bus sped steadily towards the border, Harry felt a sudden tang of regret that he couldn't stay and learn more about this marvelous race.

Rodney had turned again to look out the window.

"What do you eat then?" Harry asked.

"Nuts and bolts, mostly. Sometimes grease as a treat."

"Oh," said Harry. He paused for a moment. "But aren't you made of nuts and bolts?"

Rodney scratched his head. "Er, I don't..."

Harry was beginning to regret the foray into eating conversation (which never tended to end well) but was thankfully saved by the sudden appearance of Niall at his shoulder, two mimosas in tow.

"Fancy a wee drinky?"

Before Harry could say that yes, in fact, he did fancy a wee drinky, Niall handed one of the glasses to Rodney and downed the other.

"What are we chatting about, lads?" Niall said, reclining in the seat next to Harry and throwing an arm around him.

Harry's eyes flicked between the rich marigold mimosa and Rodney's limpid, Artic eyes. But the bot simply tipped his glass towards Niall and took a deep sip.

"Nothing of consequence," he said with a smile.