Murder Drones | The Library

Vitamin C

I kid you not when I say I got a brain blast after I just posted about having trouble writing.

I hate it when my body can't make up it's damn mind!

《~》

A pair of automatic doors slide open, revealing an irate (Y/N). He watches as humans and drones bustle about, pushing carts filled with food and various supplies.

"Welcome to JcMart, where human and machine bond with every purchase..."

He completely ignores the greeter, a young man who continues reciting the dull and cheesy slogan, oblivious to (Y/N) as he passes by. Grumbling, (Y/N) reaches into his pocket and pulls out a shopping list, the top of which was underlined to indicate just how much he can afford.

"$37.19..." He mumbles bitterly.

Work was shitty, and the pay even shittier, often leaving (Y/N) with a meager menu of options. He hadn’t planned on being here today; it was supposed to be an off day for gaming with his friends. They made plans to que up on Armored Core 6 and bully people in 3v3 tournaments with Dual Zimmermans.

But alas, his cupboard was barren and he was a responsible adult with lives to care for - namely, himself and the little drone maid buzzing excitedly at his side.

"Abble juice, abble juice, abble juice!"

She chirped incessantly about her desired treat, uncaring for the onlookers looking in their direction as they passed by. Some found it cute, while others thought it was downright annoying, and he couldn't blame them. Imagine trying to sleep while she jabbered in your ear about her juice cravings.

They reached their designated aisle and made a turn, the human moving on ahead and ignoring his exhausted eyes as he scans the shelves for the big containers of liquid vitamin C. As he approached the end of the aisle, his heart began to sunk - there was no sign of any apple juice.

'No, no, no...!'

This was the last thing he needed right now. If he didn’t give Cyn any treats, she would start tweaking and staring at him around the house. He had to barricade himself in his room after the last time he failed to satisfy her sweet tooth.

Cyn, blissfully unaware of her master’s growing anxiety, skipped around him.

They reached the end of the aisle, and still no apple juice in sight. Just as (Y/N) began to contemplate purchasing a firearm, he spotted the blessed 2-liter bottle pushed to the back. He eagerly reached for it, only for it to be snatched away in the blink of an eye.

"What the-'

He turned to see a guy walking off with the juice. How the hell did he grab it so quickly?

"Hey!"

The guy turned around. "What do you want?" he asked in a nasally voice.

"I was just about to grab that apple juice! You can’t just snatch it out of my hands like that!"

The guy laughed, his glasses bouncing with each 'ha.' "First come, first serve, bro!" He turns to leave, only to stop when a drone blocked his path.

"Abble juice?" she asks, tilting her head as she eyed the juice in his arms.

"No, this is mine."

"Abble juice!" she cries as she reaches for it, only for him to hold it above his head where she couldn’t get it. Frustrated, she activated her Solver and lifted him off the ground by his foot.

"Control your drone, bro!" he begged, clutching the juice to his chest while the rest of his free limbs flail about.

(Y/N) smirked, feeling the tides turn in his favor. "Sorry, 'bro.' Once she acts up, the only way to get her to stop is to give her what she wants."

"I want abble juice!" Cyn demands, shaking the guy in the air to make him drop her coveted treat.

"You heard her; my hands are tied."

"Nrggh! Fine!"

Satisfied, (Y/N) nods to Cyn, whom understood the silent command, released the guy mid-air. He landed with a thud, the 2-liter rolling from his grasp.

Just as Cyn was about to grab it, it was snatched once more - this time by a woman who quickly places it in her cart and starts walking away.

(Y/N) felt himself nearly pop a vein. Sleep was sacred, and he had lost too much of it because of this damn drink - he wasn't about to let anyone deprive him of his beloved 'z's without a fight.

"Drop it, bitch!"

(Y/N)'s anger evaporated as soon as the woman turned around. He felt a chill run down his spine as he realizes he was dealing with a Karen.

"Excuse me?!"

She was about to mouth him off, but stops as she suddenly looks afraid. He follows her gaze and sees Cyn twitching.

Oh shit, she was about to blow!

In an instant, she reaches out with her Solver, twisting her hand and painfully twisting the Karen's hands behind her back. The apple juice, now released, rolls to Cyn’s feet, but she didn’t stop. She continued to torment the poor woman, even as security rushed in, unable to intervene against the chaos unfolding as they two suffered her wrath.

The store echoed with agonizing screams, bringing a gleeful smile to Cyn’s polymer lips. "Giggle. This is better than CBT!"

(Y/N) stared at her, horrified - not just because of her horrific actions, but because she apparently knew what 'CBT' was.

He makes a mental note to hide his laptop and change his password as the sounds of distant police sirens draw near.