|| Still Me ||

Chapter 9: Aching Heart

You two work on the project all day until late at night. Your eyes begin to close slowly, weighed down by the exhaustion you were starting to feel, but the noises of the metal being welded kept you awake. You rub your eyes as you turn to look at Octavius ​​who continued to work unceasingly, driven by his desire to finish the reactor to redeem himself. You sigh slightly. In the end, completing the reactor was all he had left...
Leaning on the table, you get up to walk slowly towards the doctor who had his back to you.  The noise of your chain was muffled by other noises that kept echoing in the facility. You hesitate for a moment before continuing, not wanting to disturb the doctor from his work.

"Do you need something Y/n?"

He asks you without turning around, taking you by surprise. Looking at him you notice that his left actuator was currently watching at you and you understand that it was thanks to it that he had been able to notice you. You slightly step forward and his right mechanical arm approaches, placing itself near you so that you could lean on it, helping you move forward. They had become much more docile towards you, perhaps they understood that you were not really a threat to the Doctor nor to them. Not that you could do actually something to them, but they weren't that aggressive anymore, just suspicious. Especially the left one.

"Doctor it's really late... We can proceed with the project tomorrow"

You tell him in a soft voice, stopping when you are close enough while keep holding on the actuator.

"Yes... yes, I just need to finish this part... You can go to sleep though, dear. You must be exausted."

He answers nodding in a calm tone, without turning around as his right mechanical arm gently guides you to a spot not too far from the workstation, behind a small wall. It was probably the least destroyed part of the entire structure. When you pass the wall, you find yourself in front of a big mattress with some scattered blankets and pillows. You look at the small camp with surprise. You never thought about where the Doctor slept, but reflecting on it, you wonder if he actually ever used this "bed". You sit on the mattress with the help of the tentacle that after a moment retracts and then returns shortly after with the briefcase that contained your clothes, putting it on your right

"Thank you"

You thank the actuator, despite not knowing if it could understand you and you turn around starting to rummage inside the suitcase to see what was there. Looking through the different clothes unfortunately you don't find any pajamas and so you just pull out a large short-sleeved shirt and shorts. Placing the clothing on the mattress you begin to take off the top with difficulty, gritting your teeth again from the pain in your waist. A light breeze passes over your back as you take off your shirt, making you shiver for a moment.  When you turn to take off your pants you notice that the actuator was still there, looking at you. You instinctively cover your chest, blushing at the unexpected onlooker.

"C-Can I have some privacy PLEASE ??"

You tell it in an annoyed tone, squinting your eyes and waving your hand gesturing it to leave, feeling watched. The actuator closes and quickly retreats behind the wall after being reproached, returning to the Doctor to work. After making sure there are no more surprises, you realize that you couldn't change your pants because of the chain, so you decide to put your shorts away and keep yours. Wearing only the long t-shirt you immediately get under the blankets. You curl up in the sheets trying to get warm while looking at the wall beyond which you continue to hear metallic noises and creaks, slowly closing your eyes. Strangely the noise didn't bother you but rather it was as if it was cuddling you, making you fall asleep sweetly as you sink your head deeper into the pillow, catching again the smell of the Doctor's cologne. You blush slightly when you smell his scent, realizing that after all he too had slept on this mattress... even if probably only once. You cover your face with the blanket thinking about it, curling up even more, heat spreading through your body as you squeeze your legs to your chest. You lightly touch the bands at your waist as you think back to when he treated you, blushing even more as your heart starts beating faster. You didn't know if it was because it was night or because of everything that happened today, but you kept thinking about Octavius ​​and what he had said... and of course done.  When he dabbed the ice on your bruises trying to soothen you while caressing your back, whispering sweet words to your ear to calm you... When he touched you with his warm hands to spread the cream on your waist. His flirty words stuck into your head. You shake your head