Tell-Tale Tail

It was nearing sundown on Copper-9, she only knew from the time on her internal clock. The corridors were growing quieter by the hour, her dad would soon be up and adding his footsteps to the dwindling sounds within. She frowned as she looked up at the ceiling of her room. In a bit, she'd soon leave the bunker for the outside, but calculating the right time for that was tricky.

When N told her of how her hand burned in the sun's rays, she almost didn't believe him. Not because of him, she knew him well enough that he wouldn't pull some prank like that on her. No, she was stunned by the idea. Paralyzed in disbelief that it happened. A single moment in the sun's rays was all it took to convince her. It was a whole new level of discomfort as she watched herself fizzle and glitch as the rays hit that same arm. N dragged her back into the shade being hit by the rays in the process and consoled her. He hurt himself for her again, she wished he hadn't. Damn him. Damn that kind and gentle Disassembler...

And damn him again for cropping up in her thoughts so much lately. N was allowed in on rare instances, but right now they'd opted to spend the day apart. Something about school on her end and resources on his. She wished that wasn't the case -that they could take every step together- but that's unrealistic. She sighed in frustration. Soon. She'd see him soon. Just needed to pass away a little more time.

She crawled off her bed and stretched, her attention lazily drifting over the room. She had half a mind to take a large jacket with her in case the sun wasn't down yet when she finally made it to the doors out. Probably best to leave it to avoid weird glances from the other residents. Besides, she could just hang out in the shade near the door if the sun wasn't fully down yet.

As she entered the shared living space of her family's home, she was aware that her father, unfortunately, was up. Oh jeez, how is she going to talk him into letting her go outside tonight? Should she lie? It felt... wrong to do that, especially after how he was opening up to her now.

"Uzi?", he asked, "are you going somewhere?".

Like a deer caught in the headlights, she fumbled, "uh, well... I-". Silence set in as she tried to figure out what to say.

"...It's him again, isn't it?", Khan asked. She nodded, words leaving her. A heavy look came over his eyes, "you can go, it's alright".

"Dad...", Uzi spoke in disbelief.

Some sort of weary smile crossed his face, "you need him more than anyone right now. Just let me meet his parents at some point, ok?".

"I- Uh- Sure", Uzi floundered. She was pretty sure that request was impossible. Her eyes glanced at the door, "I guess I'll be, uh, going now". As she placed her hand on the door, she regarded him again, "and dad? Thanks... for telling me about mom". Her eyes cautiously met his and she was relieved to see him smiling back.

Khan chuckled, "she was such a babe. Maybe you learned some things about her that'd be great to use on your little murder boyfriend!".

"Dad".

"Have fun~!", he waved at her, apparently done with the topic. Her teeth bared in her embarrassment as she turned back to the door and opened it, walking out.

Now out in the corridor, she paused. She didn't want to tell Khan that he wasn't right about that, it brought up a confusing feeling in her. The truth was that she and N weren't close like that, but one she found herself unable to admit. The same hand that had burned in the sun suddenly felt the phantom presence of his hand in hers. She couldn't remember why that was the case. Something about the bus ride home? She'd been too tired to remember most of it. Diagonal lines of blush graced her screen, and she shook her head of these thoughts.