Null Protocol || Ramattra x Reader

Chapter Twenty-Nine

It was silent as they walked, and after digesting what Laylani said, (Y/n) cleared her throat. Ramattra's head twitched the smallest bit like she had his attention so she asked, "Why can't you release them omnics?"

"It would forgo the rest of my plans to do so," was his curt reply.

"But like Lay said, you have bigger fish to fry. Ain't your attention better focused elsewhere?"

"My people still need liberation, human." He rested a gentle hand on her lower back, pushing her partially in front of him to get her curious gaze off of him.

"Indoctrination ain't liberation. They need to want it, you can't force it on 'em – that would take away their rights, the very thing you're fighting for." He tch'd, but the retort she thought was coming never did. She glanced back at him, seeing his sights set firmly in front of him so as not to give her an inkling into what he was thinking. Seeing as he wasn't planning on using his voicebox anytime soon, she tried to change that. "How exactly does the headgear work? You had to make sure they latched on mighty tight without hurting nobody, and I figure that might help me fix Omme."

He finally grumbled out, "I will provide you a blueprint of their design," earning an excited glow on her face in response. "And I will start production on your defensive bots when I am able. Perhaps some of their ranks may join me for my raid."

"I'm awfully glad to hear that." He hmm'd in response, the sound almost mimicking a deep, meditative hum. It reminded her of her earlier thought, and she tilted her head, falling into stride beside him. "Ram, do you trust me?"

His silence stretched on long enough she didn't think he was going to answer, but then he slowly formed a reply, each word delivered like he was still digesting them. "As much as any human."

"So not a daggum bit?"

He dipped his head like he was embarrassed to admit it. "Perhaps more than the rest of your kind."

"So do you trust me when I tell you you're hurting omnics more than you're helping 'em?" Her words were met with silence, but this time, she didn't break it.

She let him guide her all the way back to her room while stewing on what she said, and when she pushed open the door, he finally uttered his response. "There is perhaps some truth to your sentiment, but I do not trust a human to tell me what is best for my people." Despite his words, they didn't hold the signature distaste for her species, and she found herself eyeing him as she searched for something to wear to bed. It was about time she turned in for the night, and he was seeing her off before he returned to whatever duties required his attention. "The attack on the sweatshop is tomorrow. You may join Laylani in the control room, but you will only be allowed to watch."

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" (Y/n) unwrapped her scarf and folded it before setting it on a bedside table, then tugged off her shirt, inspected it for stains, and tossed it onto a dirty pile on the floor.

"It is not me you should worry for, it is the humans that stand in my way." His gaze was cold and calculated on her, and she flushed under it, wrapping her arms around her stomach. Despite knowing he 'doesn't find appeal' in her physical appearance, she still felt self-conscious, and she caught something sensual in his eye lights as they ran over her curves.

She stripped out of her pants, wiping her hands on the fabric before tossing them too onto the pile. The bandages around her fingers were thoroughly soiled, and she unwrapped them to throw in the trash bin. Metal hands came into view and her head snapped up in surprise as the Ravager inspected her fingers, turning them over in his much bigger ones tenderly.

"Do they hurt?" he asked, an uncharacteristic amount of softness in his voice. She had to swallow before forcing a 'no' out, her stomach fluttering as her skin tingled where his metal brushed against her. "Stay here." He released her to step out of her room, and the minute or so he was gone, she stayed frozen in place. Her heart was pounding in her chest at such brief contact, like knowing how warm he was being now compared to the chill that accompanied his every action back in the cave made her feel some type of way and, in turn, made her face burn uncomfortably hot. But before she could delve any deeper into his actions, Ramattra returned with more bandages.