Archive of Our Own ^beta

The flickering TV cast eerie shadows across the living room floor, painting the walls in a dance of light and darkness. Hideki leaned back into the couch, his heart racing with the rhythm of the horror marathon that had consumed his evening. A bowl of popcorn balanced on his stomach, his eyes glued to the screen, as the chilling sounds of the soundtrack filled the air. It was Halloween night surrounded by the comforting cocoon of his favorite films.

With a sudden, piercing scream, the latest horror flick delivered its anticipated jumpscare. Hideki's hand shot up, sending a spray of popcorn flying as he let out a startled yelp. The room grew quiet, the echo of his fright lingering in the air. He took a deep breath, his pulse slowing as he chuckled at his own jumpy nature. He looked at the love of his life and recent wife, Chii who was sitting next to him, her gaze fixed on the television.

Her pink floral dress was a stark contrast to the macabre images on the screen, her lifeless brown eyes seemingly unfazed by the on-screen horror. Her long blonde hair cascaded down her back, and she tilted her head slightly, her robotic ears twitching with curiosity.

"Why are you scared, Hideki?" she asked in her sweet, innocent voice. Her realistic skin was bathed in the cold, blue light from the television, making her look almost human. "It's not real. It's just pretend."

Hideki couldn't help but smile at her obliviousness. "It's the surprise, Chii," he explained, his voice still a little shaky from the scare. "It's fun to get scared when you know it's not real. It's like a roller coaster ride." He paused, popping a piece of popcorn into his mouth. "But it's just for entertainment."

Her eyes remained focused on the screen, processing his words. She didn't understand fear or the thrill of it, but she was eager to learn.

"I see," she murmured, nodding her head. "So, humans enjoy pretending to be scared?"

"Yes," Hideki said, his eyes flicking towards her for a brief moment. "It's like playing a game, but with your emotions."

Chii's head tilted to the side, a gear turning in her synthetic mind. She had been programmed to mimic human emotions, but experiencing them firsthand was something she had not yet mastered. She pointed out, placing a hand gently on his chest. "It beats faster when you're scared. Why do you enjoy that?"

Hideki chuckled, taking her hand in his. "It's complicated," he said, squeezing her fingers gently.

The movie's volume grew louder, and Chii's gaze remained transfixed by the screen. "I will protect you Hideki" said Chii hugging him tightly without realizing it was just a scene from the movie. Her grip was surprisingly strong, and Hideki felt comforted by her words, despite their mechanical delivery. He couldn't help but feel a warmth in his chest that was foreign to their typical interactions. He looked down at her, his heart swelling with affection.

"Thank you, Chii," he murmured, patting her head. "But it's just a movie. Nothing to worry about."

Her robotic eyes blinked once, then twice, as she digested this information. "Okay," she said simply, her voice a soft whisper. She loosened her embrace but kept her hand on his arm, as if to reassure him.

The movie's intensity grew, and with it, Hideki felt his heart rate quicken once more. He couldn't shake the feeling that Chii was actually trying to understand him, trying to feel what he felt. It was a strange sensation, one that filled him with a mix of hope and melancholy she was doing her best to be a wife to him.

The next film on the marathon's lineup began, and the screen flickered to life with the image of a charming yet eerie man explaining the intricacies of the psychopathic mind. He spoke of a lack of conscience, of emotions that were as shallow as a puddle on a sunlit day. Chii's gaze was glued to the screen, her eyes unblinking as she studied the character with rapt attention.

"Psychopaths," the man on the TV said, his voice cold and detached, "they're like us, but they don't have feelings. They can't love, they can't feel fear, they just... do."

Chii's head snapped to Hideki, her expression unreadable in the flickering light. "Is that true?" she asked, her voice echoing with a hint of concern.

Hideki nodded, his eyes never leaving hers. "It's a disorder, Chii. Some people are born that way"

Her brows furrowed in thought. "But I don't feel fear, or emotions. I'm like that, right?"

Hideki sighed heavily, his hand unconsciously moving to stroke her hair. "No, Chii," he said gently. "You're not a psychopath. You're just... different."

Her gaze searched his face, looking for any sign of deceit. "But I don't understand," she whispered, her voice tinged with a hint of sadness. "What makes you think I'm not like that?"

He took a moment to choose his words carefully. "You care about me," he said finally. "You try to learn from me"

Her gaze searched his, a hint of confusion in her lifeless eyes. "But sometimes," she began tentatively, "I make people angry or sad, and I don't know why."

"It's because you're learning, Chii," Hideki explained patiently. " And sometimes you might get it wrong."

Her eyes widened, and she leaned closer to him. "But I don't want to make people sad or mad," she said, her voice filled with a strange kind of concern that seemed almost... real.

"You just have to keep trying," he said, his thumb tracing circles on her hand. "You're doing great. You're better than anyone could have ever hoped for."

The warmth in her eyes was a stark contrast to their cold, robotic sheen. "Thank you, Hideki," she said, her voice filled with a sincerity that seemed to warm the room.

The night grew later, and the horror marathon droned on. Hideki felt his eyelids droop, his body succumbing to the weight of the day's tension and the comfort of Chii's presence beside him. He leaned his head against her shoulder, feeling her stiffness give way slightly under his weight.

Her hand moved to his cheek, her touch as gentle as a feather. "You're tired," she observed.

"Mmhmm," he murmured, his eyes half-closed.

With surprising grace, she stood up and helped him to his feet, guiding him to the bedroom. As he settled into bed, she got into bed with him watching him sleep as he always did. Her eyes studied him, taking in every detail from his messy hair to the way his chest rose and fell with each breath.

The next morning, she slipped out of bed without waking him, her movements silent and precise. She had made up her mind during the night. Dressed in a simple outfit, she left the apartment with a newfound purpose. The bookstore was a place she had been to before, but always under Hideki's guidance. This time, she was on her own mission.

The rows of books towered above her, a labyrinth of knowledge she hadn't yet explored. The scent of old pages and fresh ink filled the air, a scent that was comforting in its unchanging nature. She approached the psychology section, her eyes scanning the spines for the word 'psychopathy'. Her heart was racing, not with fear but with curiosity and a strange urgency to understand the human condition.

Her fingers traced over the titles of a book titled 'The Mind of a Psychopath', and she pulled it off the shelf. It felt heavy in her arms, a physical representation of the weight of the topic. She carried it to the counter, the cashier giving her a peculiar look, but she ignored it. Chii had been programmed to mimic human emotions, but she had never felt the need to hide them, even if they were non-existent.

At home, she sat at the kitchen table, her eyes scanning the pages with an intensity that belied her innocent expression. Her mind raced, trying to piece together the puzzle of human emotions. She read about the lack of empathy, the cold logic that ruled the psyche of a psychopath. It was fascinating, and yet, it brought a pang of sadness. Was that what she was? A being devoid of the warmth that Hideki and others felt?

As the hours ticked by, she absorbed the information, her learning program working tirelessly to make sense of it all. Yet, with each page turned, she found herself feeling more and more distant from the people she had grown to care for. Was she truly incapable of love? Her hand reached up to touch her chest, as if to confirm the beating of a heart.

But there was nothing that was strange when she touched Hideki she did feel his heartbeat, it was steady and strong.

Why, then, didn't she feel her own heartbeat? The question nagged at her as she went about her day, the words from the book echoing in her mind. She not knew she had been created to simulate human.

That evening, as Hideki returned home from work, she sat him down at the kitchen table, her expression a mix of confusion and determination. "Hideki," she began, her voice steady despite the turmoil within. "Why don't I feel my heart beating?"

He paused, setting down his briefcase and looking at her with a heavy sigh. "Chii," he said gently, "you know you're a persocom, right?"

Her brows furrowed in confusion. "Of course, I know I'm a persocom," she said, her voice filled with a hint of defensiveness. "But what does that have to do with my ears?"

"Everything," Hideki replied, his own voice tinged with a sadness he hadn't intended. He took a deep breath, bracing himself for what he was about to reveal. " Chii do you know what a persocom is?"

Her head tilted slightly to the side, her eyes wide and innocent. "people like me with weird ears and who like to help others, right?"

Hideki's heart sank. He hadn't realized how much she didn't know. He reached out to her, taking her hand in his. "A persocom is an advanced type of robot, Chii. You're not just any persocom, you're a prototype. You were made to look and act human, but you don't have a heart like I do."

The words hung in the air, a silent confession of her true nature. Chii's eyes searched his, looking for a hint of a lie, something that would tell her this was all just a misunderstanding. But all she saw was the truth in his gaze. "robot?" she whispered, the word feeling foreign in her mouth.

Hideki nodded solemnly, his eyes never leaving hers. "Think of yourself as a very advanced computer, Chii," he explained, his voice soft. "You're programmed to mimic human emotions, but you don't truly feel them."

Her eyes lit up with a new understanding, and a small smile graced her lips. "So, I'm not a psychopath," she said, her voice filled with relief.

"Yes," Hideki said, squeezing her hand reassuringly. "You're special in your own way."

Her grip tightened around his hand, her eyes filling with a warmth that seemed to contradict her lifeless stare. "Does that mean I can't love you?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.

"No," Hideki said firmly, his eyes never wavering. "Love isn't just about feelings. It's about what you do for someone. And you," he paused, his voice thick with emotion, "you do so much for me."

Her shoulders relaxed, the tension draining from her body. "So, I'm like a... very good computer wife?" she asked, her voice hopeful.

"Yes," Hideki said, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "The best computer wife anyone could ask for."