Null Protocol || Ramattra x Reader

Chapter Ten

"Well, I'd hate to see you go so soon." She patted his knee affectionately, and he seemed to startle at the adoration dripping from her voice.

"Yes, well, I do not have any plans to leave until my goal is accomplished." He almost sounded awkward, like he was caught off guard by her for once, and she nodded.

"I hope you get the happy ending you deserve. You're a good person, Ramattra."

"Hardly," he scoffed. Then, after a moment, he added quietly, "Well wishes mean nothing but it is indicative of a person's good will, so...I appreciate it, (Y/n)."

Her eyes widened. "I figured I'd never hear you say my name." It rolled off his metaphorical tongue smooth as butter, and the deep rumble of his voice made her shiver for a reason other than the cold.

He chuckled, the soft glow of his eyes giving her red cheeks a purple hue. "It is a show of respect to use one's name, and you have proven yourself worthy of that respect."

"You must be as tired as me," she muttered under her breath, earning a sharp look from the omnic as she flashed a grin. "Kidding – kinda. I ain't never thought I'd get any respect from you on account of my species."

"I was wrong to assume all humans were as evil as those I have primarily met." He had spent a lot of time simply thinking when (Y/n) was passed out, and during his earlier meditation, he'd come to the conclusion that perhaps what she said held some merit. "It was rather hypocritical to assume all of you to be the same, and treating you with hostility – while for the right reasons – was premature. So, for what it is worth, I am sorry." At her silence, he gazed down at her, amused to find her shocked into silence. He let out a soft chuckle and adjusted his scarf around her neck, his metal fingers brushing her cheek in the process. "Did I fry one of your circuits, human?" That playful tone was back, and she found herself smiling unconsciously at him.

"You short-circuited my whole brain, actually." She laughed, raising her chin to meet his gaze as his hand lingered lightly against her cheek. "I reckon I've said it before, but you're a mighty fine person, Ram. I know we mighta got off on the wrong foot there but you're not as bad of a person as you pretend to be – I mean, I ain't awares of any 'evil' people that apologize when they're in the wrong." To admit when you're wrong takes a certain amount of humility and to see Ramattra of all people demonstrate it just confirmed what she already knew.

"'Ram'?" He feigned raising an eyebrow by tilting his head.

She corrected herself with an awkward smile. "Ramattra."

"I did not realize you knew me so well as to give me a nickname like my brother," he mused, watching her scramble for something to say.

"Well we're pretty darn close, ain't we?" She gestured to their current position as proof, and he considered it carefully.

"Keeping my pet human alive entails closeness?"

"'Pet'?" Her cheeks reddened, his intense look forcing her eyes away in an effort to hide how flustered she was, but nothing escapes a Ravager's notice.

"Do pets not lay across your lap?" His voice dropped to a deep thrum as he leaned down, watching her face flush brighter as she tried to avoid his smoldering gaze.

She hid her face in his scarf, peeking up at him over the tan fabric. "I figure this is closer to what couples do."

"I would never date a human." He sounded playfully insulted. "They are beneath me."

"I mean, I definitely am physically." She thought they were on rather equal footing when it came to who was above or below the other, but then, she'd never seen omnics nor humans as inferior to the other.