[Accidental Video]

[k2so]

[The android body that Kay had been using when the Circus was in town stopped working the moment it disappeared. Kay had tried to find a battery that could suit the body but nothing seemed to work. And so, he kept it stored in the closet of the bedroom he never used -his recharge station was in the living room- and went on with his life.

In retrospect, it would have been a good idea to mention that to Cassian.

When the video starts, there's a 'thud' and all that can be seen is white. The camera shifts as if it is dropped and the face of a cat can be seen. Fest has been playing with Kay's device an accidentally turned it on. While the camera keeps showing the cat sniffing at it, there is the surprised yelp of a man somewhere off-screen, followed by a growl, and then the bang of a closet door being slammed shut.

Someone is very unhappy to have opened a should-have-been-empty wardrobe to put away pokemon toys, only to have a corpse fall into his arms. Deactivated android body. Still not fun.]

Kay! What did I tell you about stuffing bodies into closets?!

Comments

[Action for Cassian]

[k2so]

[That's not the sort of question he hears often. Kay stops what he's doing in the living room, which is trying to teach Hoth how to read, and moves to the bedroom.]

Nothing? You never said anything like tha before.

[captain_by_the_book]

[ He looks pointedly down at the lifeless android body on the feet, and back to Kay. ]

There we have the problem. I should have given you that talk.

[ He crosses his arms in front of his chest and glares with full disapproval. ]

[k2so]

Oh...

[Kay's optics follow and then he looks as guilty as a droid with no real face can look. He also drops to one knee to gather the android body from the floor and then hold it up bridal style. At least the eyes are closed, it just looks like it's sleeping.]

Do I still need that talk if the body is technically mine?

[captain_by_the_book]

[ That... is the body he has kissed.

Cassian grits his teeth, reminding himself that he is not going to say something uncharitable, for that part of the circus has never happened. Thus, there is no getting annoyed at reminders. ]

Just. No dead bodies in the closets. Not ever.

[ He rubs a hand over his face and sighs ].

Or warn me, at least.

audio;

[orlokbutterfly]

[Have an unexpected third party voice calling out.]

Careful, you might find some extra skeletons in that closet!

Cute cat, by the way.

[k2so]

Sorry. [And this time, Kay has the decency to mean it. He's not sure what prompts him to explain himself, all would be easier if he just shut up, but he wants Cassian to understand.]

I wanted to see if I could get it working again, it only needs to be powered up. It's not damaged or anything but I can't find a battery that works.

Video

[k2so]

[Kay and Cassian's had been arguing but the droid has yet to realize it was being recorded. When he heard the voice and finally spots his communicators he grabs it without a second thought.]

Is this thing on? And no we don't keep corpses around the house, Cassian's was exaggerating. [Well...only a little bit. The man has all the right to be angry.] Thanks, her name is Fest. She's grown a lot lately.

[captain_by_the_book]

Oh.

[And that... His eyes flicker to the android body.]

I see. I didn't realize you're working on it.

[He'd thought Kay had all but forgotten his time at the circus, or chosen to forget.]

Why didn't you ask me?

Video

[orlokbutterfly]

[The cyborg will appear on screen with a smile and a wave.]

Yep, been on since "what did I tell you about stuffing bodies into closets." And I sure hope ya don't, 'cuz I think that'd be grounds for Guardians to investigate.

Not to mention it's totally unsanitary.

[Video]

[aurabble]

...Should we be worried?

[Video]

[k2so]

No, not at all. he's talking about my other body.

[Sure context would help a little with that answer.]

Video

[k2so]

[Kay can't smile back but he can return the wave. And the white cat is not jumping on his shoulders and looking down at the camera too.]

He's only exaggerating, this is the first time it happened. Besides, it's my own body.

It's not rotting or anything.

[k2so]

[Kay moves to leave the body on the bed, if only because it's somewhat less awkward that standing there cradling it to his chest. Fest immediately curls on the android body's side, ready to sleep.]

I was until I realized it was useless. [Frustration is laced with unhappiness in Kay's voice.] I didn't want to bother you, I...wanted to give you a surprise. But it doesn't matter now.

[captain_by_the_book]

It would sure have been a surprise if I shot you.

[But Kay doesn't deserve his annoyance, not when it's not even aimed at him, but at circumstances that had been outside both their control. He heaves a disgruntled sigh.]

Okay. Okay. We can keep it. There's no point to getting rid off it. Just... find someplace more appropriate for it. We won't be living alone, and not everybody likes that kind of surprise.

[k2so]

Not a very good one, at that. [Cassian has a good point, if they're going to living with Sonico they can't have random corpses -made of metal or not- lying around.] I'll find it a proper case and a place to store it. With a lock.

[Kay stands there in silence for a few seconds, head lowered.] Would you...would you have liked it, if it had worked again?

[captain_by_the_book]

[So much for avoiding that.

It had been a good plan. In theory. Too bad no battle plan ever survives the first encounter with the enemy.

Cassian looks away, too, finding the inert android body suddenly very fascinating. His jaw is clenched, he tries to ignore how loud his heartbeat suddenly sounds in his own ears.]

I would have liked it for you. It would have given you... options outside the range of your normal frame.

[k2so]

[Navigating friendship and awkward situations do not require a battle plan, Cassian.

Most of the time.

Fine, it really could come in handy now.]

I like some of the perks it had but I like being myself more. [That was one of the things Kay hasn't managed to stop thinking about. If what happened was only because how he looked or if there was any real interest form Cassian's part.] I admit that those perks were really, really good, though.

[What is subtlety and where can you buy some????.]

[captain_by_the_book]

[Navigating friendship totally requires a battle plan, with plenty of contingency plans.

Navigating undefined-more-than-friendship thing? Needs like a whole book full of battle plans.]

Oh... yes. Those perks.

[He gulps, still refusing to look at Kay. Even if looking at the android body is worse now for he remembers kissing these lips and all but melting against that body... It's kind of creepy, actually, that the same body he has such memories of now lays on the bed like a lifeless doll. Fortunately - fortunately? really?! this is the silver lining? - he is too caught up in his mortification to be overly creeped out.]

They were... [He coughs. Rubs a hand over his beard. His face is burning. Of course it is. This day just has to get worse.] There were perks. Yes.

[k2so]

[Kay sights internally. Yes, a book about relationships would have been perfect. Unfortunately, they have to work with what they have, and that's nothing but themselves.

The droid has to spent enough years around Cassian to know his body language, not like the blush alone isn't noticeable, and he can tell his partner is uncomfortable. Slowly and much in the same way he did in the Mirror tent, Kay's hand reaches up to Cassian's hair and massages his scalps slightly.]

It's all right. We don't have to ever mention it again. It was...nice. While it lasted. Whatever the Circus did to us, I don't expect you to consider it.

[captain_by_the_book]

[He sees the hand coming and briefly considers stepping out of Kay's reach, but Cassian simply can't bring himself to do it. Much like in that tent, the caress helps him relax, he feels a little bit more grounded, more himself for it. But now there's no magical circus clouding his mind, and the very calming effect Kay has on him with a single touch leaves him all the more alarmed.

And then of course he has to go and break their unspoken pact, too.

His nostrils flare as he inhales sharply.] Kay... [He cuts himself off, his voice is too rough, it betrays too much emotion.]

It shouldn't have happened.

[He shouldn't have lost control over himself like that. Shouldn't have tried to chase something... Something like this, like Kay's hand in his hair being enough to make him feel more complete. He shouldn't need that.]

[k2so]

[The hand stills for a brief moment as Kay considers pulling away. He rejects the notion in a matter of milliseconds, it would only make Cassian feel worse.

There was less than a 2.5% of chance that Cassian would have given him a different answer. He knew, he knew. It makes no sense to feel so disappointed now. Kay tries his best not to show it. His optics dim but he manages to keep his shoulders from slouching too much.]

Understood. I won't bring it up again.

[captain_by_the_book]

[They know another far too well for Kay to hide his disappointment. That he tries to hide it only adds to Cassian's guilt. Even now Kay is trying to protect him.

Is it truly so terrible to want more of that? He just wants the safety and comfort being with Kay gives him. Things had been good. They had been fine. He could have been content with what they had. And then the circus had happened and made everything too complicated too fast.]

It was nice.

[He's just whispering now, not trusting his voice to be louder, and remain firm.

It had been nice, for a little while, before he remembered who he is, and what Kay is, and he remembered that he couldn't take it if they failed.]

[k2so]

It was. I never expected that we could have anything like that for real.

[Not for real, not something tangible that existed outside his fantasies and dreams, and yet...it did happen. Maybe Kay could have a memory wipe, it could help.

He shakes his head, not believing his own lies. No, that wouldn't really fix anything. His hand gives Cassians' nape one last squeeze and then he drops it to his side.]

I'll get rid of the android body. [Suddenly it hurts too much to see it there.]

[captain_by_the_book]

Yes. Please. [It hurts both of them too much. Some things are better put out of mind.] Just... put it somewhere it'll be safe. Don't throw it away. But.

[But he doesn't want to see it either, and be mocked with an illusion of things being easier than they were. Not that being with a human would be easier, strictly speaking, his track record with humans is even worse. He can't even keep friends, or keep them alive. Cassian shakes his head to get rid off these thoughts.

He looks at Kay, just at his chest, isn't brave enough to meet his optics. He already misses the large droid hand that had been cradling his neck. But it's safer this way. Better a little bit of hurt now, than a whole lot of hurt that won't go away anymore.]

Kay? I. I never expected it either. But it was... Thank you. [For letting him believe, for just a few hours, in impossible things.]

[k2so]

[After everything, they are still going to keep it. Kay isn't sure if it makes things a little better or much worse. Cassian can't even look at him right now, he might have ruined their friendship for something that can not be.]

It will be easier once we move, we will have more space. [Kay might be talking about storage or something else but the point still remains. The last thing he wants to be is moody but he's not feeling too well and when Cassian thanks him it takes him a second to understand why. If he's really honest with himself, he doesn't' fully get it.]

Please, don't. There's nothing to thank me for.