2038: Vincent

Fessing Up

When I woke up, it was dark out. I felt my head; it had been cleaned and bandaged up and my eyes weren't about to pop out any minute. I stood up to see I've also been dressed in proper striped pajamas, and felt my face go red. The television blares from the other room, and I go out to see Vincent watching a show. He sees me walking out of the bedroom, and stands up, turning the television off midway.

"Hello, lieutenant." He greets, then stands in front of me in a split second. "Are you hungry?"

"A bit. Thanks for bandaging my head." I rub my eyes gently, careful not to start the throbbing again. Vincent walks to the fridge stocked to the brim with food like the world would end soon.

"Anything?" He stands out of the way for me to see.

"I'll just take that yogurt." Vincent nods, and takes it out, then walking to a drawer and pulling out a spoon. I sit at the table, and he sits across from me, sliding me my snack. I open the lid and take a bite. Strawberry.

"You told me about the houses here, when you were young." He explained, folding his hands in front of his chest.

"Mhm." I say, gulping down another scoop of the yogurt.

"How old were you when you were living here?"

"I was born in 2006." I explained.

"How are you here then? It is 2038."

"I am from the past. I found a time machine in an old lab with my friend and thought it wouldn't work, but here I am." I sighed, and slid the empty yogurt cup to the side.

"The lab." He spoke to himself, as if I just unlocked a memory for him too.

"Yes, the lab." I repeated. Vince's light flickered to a new color: red.

"You okay?" I said, watching a lighter part on his temple go around in a circle. Then it went back to blue.

"Yes. Are you?" He looked back up at me from his hands, his eyebrows stitching together.

"I think so." I lied. I felt bad if I hurt his feelings by mentioning the lab. We sat in a moment of silence after that. Vince's light stayed blue. I copied his hands, folding them together on the table in front of my chest. Finally, he broke the silence again.

"What year were you from, if you were born in 2006?"

"2022, different town though." Vincent stared, trying to process the information I gave him. He got up from his chair and took the yogurt cup from the counter and disposed of it in the garbage can.

"Are you still hungry, lieutenant?" He stopped at the fridge but didn't open it.

"No, that's alright," I smiled. "Don't you need anything?" Vincent sighed, then a smile peaked from his lips.

"No, I am a robot, therefore my body doesn't need food."

"Why do you have all that food stocked in the fridge then?" His smile went down, almost into a frown, then he explained.

"I was saving it all for a human companion, like you," His eyes paced the kitchen tile. "It took many years for me to be stored away waiting for someone to come along, until this day, in this kitchen." My smile was wiped off of my face, but my happiness stayed in my stomach.

"I'm sorry..." I said. Vincent looked back up hastily at me, with a shocked expression.

"No, don't be sorry, lieutenant! This is one of the best things that has ever happened in my... Android life," His shock turned into another smile. "Besides, I'm glad you traveled here." Vincent walked over to my side and put his hand on my shoulder. I stood up from the stool, my height just barely shorter than his, and wrapped my arms around him. He seemed startled by the hug, but then I felt his hands gently rest on my shoulder blades.

"This is nice, lieutenant." I could feel his arms starting to relax, letting me know he would like to be free from the hug. I let go, and he stepped back, turning around to go back to watching the television. I stopped him quickly before he sat down on the leather couch.

"Wait, um, Vince?" I put my hands behind my back.

"Yes, lieutenant?"

"Can I sit with you?"

"Of course you can." He sat, and patted the seat next to him. I sat next to Vincent, and laid my head on his shoulder. His arm wrapped around me, and I felt his cheek raise into another smile. His comfort made my eyes heavy, and I fell back asleep while he kept me safe from the danger of the future.