Null Protocol || Ramattra x Reader

Chapter Six

"Quiet." He tapped her head again and she winced. "Your words are meant to 'rile me up', as you put it, even if you claim they are only in jest." He was taking her seriously, in other words.

She twisted some wires around her fingers, still working at the last instruction he gave her before she took her break to grab snow. "I know you hold all the power in this situation. I've accepted my fate, I'm just trying to enjoy my last days on earth."

"At my detriment."

"Because you're letting my words hurt. They're just the quips of a human so they should be like ants beneath your feet." He didn't like the smugness creeping into her tone and he gripped his staff tighter.

"Ants are inspirational, your 'quips' are nothing but hubris."

She tilted her head curiously, glancing up at him through her hair in her face. "You like ants?"

"They build marvelous structures and cooperate when threatened even when against much bigger foes." He spoke with a veiled bit of respect, and she leaned closer, fascinated. He glared down at her. "What?"

"I ain't never met anyone with ants as their favorite animal." He was about to fire off a retort before realizing the look in her eyes wasn't mocking but instead curious. She sounded genuinely intrigued, like she wanted to know more about him.

He shifted almost uncomfortably. "As I said, they are inspirational."

"I can see the resemblance." Her smile was warm, again stopping him from making a rude comment. He was pretty sure that was meant to be a compliment. "Though I reckon you'd be the ant queen in this comparison. Do you have loyal ant followers?" This was a trivial exchange, like a conversation one might have with someone on a first date, but for whatever reason, he answered.

"Many, omnic and warbot alike."

"Are those not one in the same?"

"My forces include warbots made in an Omnica factory." Omnica factories, called omniums, were shut down back before the Crisis so he must have started one of them back up to produce more robots for his army. "They are expendable soldiers so my fellow omnics do not have to pay such a price for liberation." It was both sweet of him to look out for his kind but equally confusing how he didn't consider those made in the same factory like him.

"How are they not omnics?"

He gave an annoyed scoff at the question but answered anyways. "They are not sentient, human." She made an 'O' face, nodding with fresh understanding.

"But ain't you treating them the same way us humans did?" She felt the chilly intensity of his gaze so quickly prattled on, "I mean, you're just using them to further your own agenda, right? They're your servants." Cold metal pressed against her throat, and he gripped the shaft of his staff tightly as the curve tilted her chin up. "I'm sorry?" She held up her hands in surrender, smile awkward as she backed off.

"You are just like them." He released a loud sigh, staff relaxing in his grip. She wanted to assume he meant other humans but the way he said 'them' almost sounded bittersweet, like he was talking about old friends he hadn't seen in ages. At her curious gaze, he stayed silent, unwilling to delve into the past even if she wasn't going to live to tell anyone.

"You might as well tell me. You're going to kill me anyways." When he didn't respond, she leaned back, her smile coming a little easier. Unless he wasn't going to kill her. Some small part of her clung to the slim chance she could walk out of this cave one day, Zenyatta's hopeful words in the back of her mind encouraging her optimistic hope for a miracle – and if even Ramattra's brother knew there was good in him, then clearly there was a chance.