Portal ONE-SHOTZ \\ READER INSERT

004 :: TUNES | Glados

THIS IS UNFINISHED!
Or atleast what I would consider unfinished, some parts of this story is in the draft stage but it's probably not too noticable. I just got unmotivated with this one. Oh well!

This also doesn't have an ending either so I may come back to it, but for now I want to work on more stories I had in mind cuz this is taking too long lmfao

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1.1k Words | 29-08-21 | — 004
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A familiar tune played among all the other strange sounds within the facility, a short and repeating melody that would drown out any of the chilling noises that could be heard outside the chambers.

You found it as a small source of comfort too. When momentarily resting you would often find and sit by the radios that were scattered about the facility. Sometimes you would even go as far as to carry them around with you. Until you had to go to the next area since, of course, GLaDOS didn't like when things were snuck around to different chambers.

If you attempted to take anything she would stop you from going into the next room, and wouldn't let you through until you put back what you stole.

Other than that, there wasn't much to really speak of. Everyday you would just simply test the tens of thousands of chambers waiting for you each morning when you woke up.

You would also occasionally eat if you were lucky enough, given a mere can of rotting beans when GLaDOS remembered.

Before you knew it the day was over and you would be forced to return to a dark and gritty room containing nothing but a desk and a single, thin sheet that laid atop it, barely resembling a bed. There was dirty paneling on the walls along with a few cameras that hung loosely.

It was difficult to guess the time you've spent down here, nearly a month if you had to guess. You had predicted it was a rather short amount of time, atleast for the other, previous, now gone, subjects. Although, you were already physically and emotionally tired from the averagely heightened expectations.

Still, you did your best, even though GLADOS actively reminded you it wasn't enough.

Speaking of that, you were currently inside your room after just finished for the day. You felt more drained then usual and had tumbled more than once this time around. Due to this you had bruises along your knees and elbows.

You started feeling less motivated than before almost completely loosing your emotional grasp while out during testing. This started happening more frequently, as you became easily irritable, often frustrated at smaller things. You even felt like you were loosing your mind at times.

You sat atop the desk, your knees held close. It was more often than not you'd hide any negative emotion, only barely showing these forms of pain. Although this specific night proved to be difficult as you lost hope in ever escaping this cruel facility. It wasn't being pessimistic, but merely accepting the truth.

You let out an unsteady sigh, nestling your head in between your arms. Only the sound of quiet sniffling could be heard, until it escalated into rattling hiccups.

Oh, how alone you felt in this. There was nothing you could do in this situation, you were considerably hopeless in the hands of someone else.

You shifted in your spot for a minute, attempting to shake yourself free from these thoughts, until you heard a sudden veering from beneath the wall.
You instantly brought your head up, shivering from the sound of moving panels, what seemed to be a controlled robotic arm emerging from them. It held nothing but a radio, one of the many radios within the facility. It was carelessly dropped on the ground.

You slowly got up to grab it, remembering it was quite literally one of the few things that brought you comfort, now in your hands.

"I do not know a lot about humans, not like I'd want to anyway. However, I do know one thing, and it's that you like that stupid little object. So stop crying. Go to bed." The intercom from above clicked off.

You silently wiped the tears along your face, sitting along the wall. The only light emitting was from the radio and you gazed into it.

"Why did you give this to me?" You asked in a dejected tone, not expecting an answer, as it was more a whisper than anything.

It had went completely silent until you heard another click, "Ah, I do not know. Maybe because I thought it would get you to shut up? But I guess that didn't work, Oh well."

You had been fidgeting with the dials of the small device. At this point you were tired and confused, perhaps it was a misunderstanding but did it seem like GLaDOS cared for the fact you were showing signs of despair? Wasn't that expected?

This was technically the only time you broke down as such. Maybe it worried her. It likely wasn't the soundly compassion you wished it was but the thought of you dropping dead would mean chambers weren't getting completed.

It sounded grim but it wasn't like she knew alot about humans, as previously stated. For all she knows, you could be dying.

Nonetheless, It would be her own personal dilemma, but would eventually find another subject to replace you, although, why go through the trouble when you can just try and keep the current one alive? That's what you presumed, still, you wanted to hear it from her. You wanted to believe she was capable of showing empathy, even a little.

"I don't understand. Why do you care?" You questioned again, this time with an uncontrollable sign of frustration.

She must've picked up on it quickly, "You really think I care? Really? I'd laugh but that's just sad. If you aren't grateful, I'll gladly take it back though."

You held the radio closer, "No!-Please don't take it. I'm sorry. I appreciate it, I do."

You thought on it for a moment before speaking again, "I guess I just... -I just didn't expect you to be so kind as to give it to me in the first place, you know?"

It was unbearably silent again, for quite a while too. She must have ultimately gotten bored with you. So you got up off the floor to go lay atop the desk again, setting the radio underneath it, allowing it to play a gentle tune.

Before you knew it you heard another click.
"Don't look too much into it, humans will mistaken anything for kindness. One day that will probably kill you. Goodnight."