Work Text:
On a cool, clear day, the Monastery was a sparsely-occupied place. Most of the members of the team were out on their own adventures, whether climbing mountains (like Cole, who had picked up his old hobby once again) or going to an arcade (Jay and Nya, once again playing Dance Dance Revolution together). As such, it was a quiet place: a comfortable place.
On this cool, clear day, Zane wandered throughout the Monastery's halls. He had not yet found another person, but he was unworried: he was simply lonely. He'd watched many a film in his spare time in the past, but today he was not interested in watching films. He would rather have a conversation– he wanted company, not entertainment.
After searching his brothers' rooms and coming up empty, Zane turned his gaze upon the most captivating inhabitant of the Monastery. Usually Pixal was in the garage at this time, but he would still search for her. Perhaps she would have time to spare for a conversation! If not, she would certainly have the good temper to allow him to remain near her. She entertained him in such a way rather often, and he always enjoyed the time spent with her.
"Pixal? Pixal?" Zane called out as he walked through the halls, approaching the living room. "Pixal, my dear. Are you here?"
A ping in the corner of his vision caught his attention, and Zane stopped walking. A message from Pixal had come in over their private chat. Hello, dear. I am in the living room.
He smiled as he sent a response. Thank you! I was just about to enter.
By all means, then. Come in.
Zane smiled a little wider as he reached the room in question, opening the door quietly. "Pixal?"
"I am in the corner, Zane," came her gentle reply. "What do you need?"
"I was simply looking for you." He entered the room softly, as all ninja tended to do, following the sound of her voice. "Do you have time for a conversation?"
"I suppose so." She laughed softly. "Upgrading the electrical system in here can wait."
"Well, perhaps I can help you." Zane found himself grinning as he approached the main area, coming around the couch. "I have had a few ideas for…"
Zane stopped walking, stunned.
Pixal looked up at him from where she knelt on the floor, bearing an attentive smile. That in itself was not the stunning part, though he had always known she was beautiful: rather, it was her attire. Pixal usually wore her Samurai X suit, usually under the reasoning that she needed to be ready to fight at a moment's notice. Such a reasoning was often true, but today it seemed she had forsaken it.
Today, Pixal had dressed differently, and his visual sensors immediately took in the details. She wore a sleeveless turtleneck sweater in a pale shade of blue– #A4E1FC– tucked into a pair of high-waisted jeans. Her hair hung loose, free of its usual ponytail and cascading down like a silver curtain. Her eyes shone a bright green– #60FF6A– and highlighted her face plates. Her exposed arms showed their immaculate construction, detailed and delicate.
In that moment, Zane was once more struck by her beauty. He had always known it, but again he was reminded that she was a magnificent creation. How could anyone mistake her for less?
After a moment of silence between them, Pixal tilted her head in confusion. Her silver hair shifted, shining in the light as she moved, glinting like tinsel. "...Zane? Is something the matter?"
A warning light came on in Zane's periphery, signaling a minor system crashing in the background of his OS, but he ignored it. "I… believe I may have lost my train of thought." His heatsink fans were running at a high rate now that he considered them: they were almost deafening. Could she hear them?
Pixal's smile faltered somewhat, as he'd feared. "That is unlike you. I can hear your fans working, Zane." Her beautiful face creased in concern. "Are you alright?"
Zane laughed awkwardly, his internal temperature spiking. "Um... yes. I am. I was simply… captivated by your beauty, it seems."
Pixal paused, seemingly caught off-guard. "I beg your pardon?"
"You look beautiful today. I am quite distracted," he clarified, managing a smile. "Please forgive me for staring."
She remained quiet for a moment as she watched him, concern shifting into suspicion. "Have you been watching romantic comedies again?"
"Ah… perhaps. I have not had much to do recently." Zane took a few steps forward and knelt in front of her, now grinning. "Either way, you are distracting."
"I suppose so…" She laughed softly, ducking her head. "I look the same as always, Zane."
"That is a falsehood, dear Pixal." Zane reached out and touched her hair, reveling in the way it fell across his fingertips. "You rarely dress this way. It is quite fetching."
Pixal watched him with wide eyes, her fans kicking on to the point where Zane could hear them at his proximity. "I… thank you. I was not aware that you like it when I dress this way."
Zane smiled, caressing her cheek ever so gently before letting his hand fall. He let it brush against the length of her arm, taking into account every detail and the smoothness of her paneling before he reached her hand and took it in his own. "I do. Do you enjoy it?"
As she reciprocated the gesture, delicate and strong fingers weaving between his, Pixal began to smile. "Yes, I do. Now that I know you like it, I must confess that I enjoy it more."
Zane chuckled. "You enjoy seeing me bewitched by you. Is that not so?"
"Perhaps it is so." She reached out with her free hand to touch his cheek, still smiling. "It's true that I enjoy seeing your reaction. I did not know something so minimal would elicit such a response from you."
"It is only minimal because you like to be subtle, my dear."
"Indeed, that is true." She laughed softly. "This is oddly human of us, is it not?"
Zane paused, watching her. "Oddly human? I do not understand."
"We are nindroids by nature of our creation," she clarified, cupping his face in her hand. "I have never been under the impression that we are human, but today I have been wondering about the difference between us and humanity. What separates us from nature?"
"I see. I have often wondered that," he commented, her touch distracting him again. "I do not know what truly separates us from the organic, save for our construction. Are we truly so inhuman?"
"Perhaps it is a very small difference." She smiled, seeming mischievous. "Zane, would you like to run a test with me to determine the difference?"
"What sort of test would that be?"
"I would like to try a certain social interaction." Pixal's smile grew, and her gaze fell slightly. "Would you consent to try it with me?"
Zane smiled with her, mildly amused. "If you would tell me what it is, I would."
Pixal closed her eyes, still smiling as she spoke. "Here's a hint: it is something that humans often enjoy with their partners. However, we have never tried it."
Zane's smile grew, and he chuckled as realization dawned. "Are you asking if you may kiss me, Pixal?"
"...Yes." She opened her eyes, gazing at him with no small amount of affection hidden within her expression. "That is what I am asking."
Zane chuckled, reaching out to cup her cheek the way she touched his. "I consent."
In return, Pixal gave him a beaming smile. If there was any way for her to blush, Zane was certain she would: she was delicate in that way. "Thank you, Zane."
"You are most welcome," he returned, waiting for her to make a move in lieu of rushing her. "By all means, make your test."
Pixal held his gaze for a moment longer, but eventually her focus fell to his lips. She was not slow by any means, but she took her time in contemplation. She clearly wanted to do it the 'right' way, but Zane knew from the media he'd consumed on the matter that there was no such thing. There was only the way which the involved parties enjoyed most, and so far, they did not know what that would be. To preemptively judge such a thing would be foolish.
After a time of contemplation, Pixal leaned close to him, and he leaned in as well. Slowly and surely, she adjusted how she held his face in her hand. He could hardly blame her for her attention detail: she did not know how much she fascinated him. No matter how he expressed his love for her, she would never know how deeply it ran: she would never know how much he truly adored her.
When she was finished looking at him, she smiled faintly and leaned in the rest of the way. Zane closed his eyes in the moment, knowing it was better not to look: it was better to enjoy the moment.
Pixal's kiss was more careful than he'd expected, somewhat gentle, somewhat warm. It was odd and unfamiliar, certainly, but hardly something that he disliked. Even so, she seemed to be satisfied, as she pulled away within seconds.
Zane was quiet as he looked at him, smiling. She seemed to struggle for words, which was rather unlike her: in everything, Pixal was deliberate, and her speech was no exception.
"I…" She paused, arresting her statement after only a syllable. "That was… not what I expected."
Zane chuckled softly. "Neither was it what I expected. I did enjoy it."
"I suppose I did too…" She watched him with gentle awe. "It was not unpleasant…"
"Perhaps… it may be worth investigating again." Zane reached for her again. "Then you may know whether you enjoy it with more certainty."
"That is… a good plan." She hesitated to smile and reach for him. "It cannot hurt."
"Indeed." Zane smiled as she let him touch her, finding that she did not shy away. "May I kiss you, Pixal?"
Pixal closed her eyes, making him smile. "Of course."
With her consent obtained, Zane leaned close again. The moment was hard to describe– more so than other things, in his supposition. Putting life into the written word was a strange art.
When their lips met a second time, it was nothing like what humans described, far better than the first. Zane had never kissed a human, but he knew it would not be quite like this. Of the millions of words he knew, 'solace' was the best: coolness and comfort, combined to create a precious moment. There were no nerves, there was no strangeness: only the familiarity of the one he loved most. In that truth was comfort.
The kiss ended softly and without fanfare. Even so, when Pixal looked at him again, there was a bright curiosity in her happy gaze.
"You seem to understand this gesture better than I do, Zane."
"Perhaps I do." He smiled at her anew. "Do you enjoy it now?"
"I do." She raised her arms in clear invitation. "There is only one thing I can certainly say I enjoy more."
Zane chuckled as he reached out, taking the opportunity to embrace her warmly. "We are compatible, my Pixal."
She sighed softly, perfectly fitting in his arms. "Yes, we are… we are built for each other."
"I am glad of that fact." He closed his eyes, holding her tightly to him and feeling the soft ribbing of her sweater under his fingertips. "I love you."
She sighed again. "I love you too, Zane. Ever since I knew what love is, I have loved you."
"What a happy time it has been since then," he murmured.
She hesitated. "Many bad things have happened, Zane."
He adjusted his grip on her, holding her in a more comfortable manner. "Yes, but none of them have ever truly separated us. Therefore, I am happy."
Pixal was quiet for a long moment, refraining from laying her head down for a long minute.
Slowly, Pixal laid her head back down on his shoulder, comfortable once more. "...Yes. When you put it that way, it has been a happy time."
With all words exchanged and all moments ended, silence prevailed over them. It was a comfortable silence, gently shrouding them as they sat in each other's arms. They were content, and no matter how life would change, they knew their love would only change for the better. Not even tragedy could separate them.
In later days, in later years, the two would look back at their past selves. They would look back and wonder at themselves, at why they were the way they were. Zane would smile at their stiffness and still-blossoming love, remembering the days before he and Pixal wore engravings upon their ring fingers in lieu of rings. Pixal would smile at their hope and habits, when a small thing such as clothing would inspire such tender words.
Later, they would be uniquely themselves, as they were already becoming. They would not be human, but they would not mind their inhumanity. They would be as they were; they would be good, and they would be enough.