Null Protocol || Ramattra x Reader

Chapter Twenty-Seven

A chime from the console caught his attention, and Ramattra turned to walk over, tapping a button on the surface to bring up a camera view of Laylani in the command ship's control room. "What is it?" he asked, voice curt and crisp once more.

"You dropped Darius down in the city, right?" Laylani was flipping through screens out of camera shot, head tilting back to Ramattra as she waited for confirmation – which he gave. "Talon was spotted there too, and I have reason to believe they picked him up."

He could feel (Y/n)'s wide eyes on his back but his attention remained glued to Laylani. "Why?"

"They know he was helping you." He could feel the trepidation in her voice increasing as she went on. "And after what happened between the two of you, I'm not so sure he won't tell them everything."

"You think they will extract all the information they can then dispose of him?" He worded it vaguely intentionally, glancing back (Y/n)'s way so Laylani would get the picture, and the other omnic tapped her chin in thought.

"If they kill him at all."

"He is aware I do not hold him in high regard – though it is such a pity this had to happen." He sounded mildly inconvenienced at best, but he never liked any of his people dying, regardless of the type of omnic they were.

"Then perhaps they'll be merciful and grant him rest." Laylani's attention was momentarily stolen by another monitor before she muttered out a hasty goodbye. "I'll see what else I can dig up. A hui hou!" The screen clicked off and Ramattra turned to a concerned (Y/n) as she shifted uneasily in her seat.

"Do you reckon he'll tell Talon I'm with you?"

"I can only hope he gives us a few days before he cracks, but there is no telling what he will divulge once his vow of silence is broken."

With the confirmation all but given that she was with Null Sector's leader, she knew exactly who Talon would target next, and the thought of endangering Ramattra or Laylani made guilt claw at her. "I don't wanna paint a target on your back-"

He let out a loud, boisterous laugh that made her head snap up. "You think the entire world does not wish to hunt me down? I am no more safe than I was before Darius' slip-up, and there is no safer place for you to be than by my side."

His confidence gave her some too, and she unfastened her seat belt so she could join him at the console. "Then that's where I'll be." She planted her feet beside him, smile bright, but it dimmed as he stared at her in silence.

Then, gently, he reached out to rest a hand on her head, petting her with a soft hum. "I expect you to stay beside me at my request, and not to question my instruction – no matter how bizarre it may seem in the moment."

She nodded willingly, (e/c) eyes nervous as she fought to keep her smile confident. "Should I be worried?"

"No. I promised your parents you would be safe at my side, and nothing has changed. Nothing will happen to you while I am around."

"Thanks, Ram." He cocked his head in confusion, not understanding why she felt the need to thank him, but what she did next only shocked him more. She wrapped her arms around him, squeezing him tight in a hug, and he didn't immediately suspect an ulterior motive. It was...odd being hugged by the human – he'd never been hugged before, but it was a feeling he quite enjoyed. He gently resumed petting her head while the other hand drifted to her back, where he rubbed slow circles into her skin.

She buried her face in his metal body, clinging to him tightly, and only then did he feel her shaking. She was scared. Something pushed him to comfort her as another part of him reprimanded himself for getting her involved in this dangerous life of his. He could only shelter her from so much, and part of him would always wonder if he was doing her a disservice by not letting her see just how bad the world truly was. But there was something so soft about her that he couldn't let go of, something he wanted to protect for as long as he could, and perhaps it reminded him of himself and how naïve hope could be yet so powerful. And maybe protecting that proved there was still some good in him, even if, after everything he went through, he wasn't so sure 'good' was a word anybody could use to describe him anymore.

"You're a real good person for helping me out," (Y/n) mumbled into his chest and he stiffened. "I know I'm oftentimes a burden, but you do so much for me and I want you to know-"

"Incorrect." She startled, pulling back to look up at him with a slack jaw. "I am not a good omnic, nor do I deserve thanks for what I am doing."

"Because you're doing all this for your people." She was more reminding herself than telling him, and her gaze fell along with her volume. "I forgot." It was all too easy to forget that he was simply keeping her and the knowledge she carried out of organizations like Talon's hands, not doing her a service, but this time, he didn't take the excuse.

"It is not just for them I suffer, but I have done far too much I can never take back to ever be deemed 'good' again."

"You can't take them back but you can choose to be better now – make up for what you've done, so-to-speak." He didn't deserve such a ray of hope looking up at him like that, shining as bright as the stars he admired so much, yet he didn't step away, instead pulling her closer with the hand on her back so she was flush to his body. He shouldn't enjoy a human's touch this much nor a human gesture of affection, yet even as he thought it, he only wanted to draw her closer.

"There is no turning back the clock, only making what I have done worth it in the end."

"And if you get liberation for your people – actual liberation for your people – will it be worth it?" He didn't correct her, like he truly was beginning to see that his view of liberation was closer to indoctrination, and instead offered a curt nod. "Then we just need to find a better solution to get there, I reckon."

"Would it be fair to assume this 'better solution' includes your defensive warbot designs?" He tilted his head and her eyes lit up at the reminder, excitement brewing at how seriously he was taking her addition to his plans. Their ship closed in on the command ship, and he glanced up at it but stayed close to her as he said, "Get designing. I will deal with Darius' misstep, and the C-455 will watch over you – though, as I said before, you are safe with me. Perhaps, if you are quick enough, we will see how they fare in my upcoming attack."

"On it like white on rice." She was buzzing with the possibilities, the idea that perhaps there wouldn't have to be anymore needless violence spurring her to get it done faster, and she was off the second the ship docked in the hangar.

Ramattra glanced at the food and first-aid kit she left behind with a soft sigh before he walked over to scoop the bags up, shaking his head at his pet human. Yet despite how he acted outwardly, he didn't mind the excuse to follow her to the mechanic bay to spend just a little more time with her and bandage up her hands.

[Hawaiian] A hui hou! = Until we meet again!