Chapter Text
It was almost sad, really.
He was squatted down, examining the figure below him. His arms resting in his knees as he watched the smaller AI breathe.
The walls were littered with scratched and claw marks, long jagged desperate attempts at escape. There was evidence of blood along some of the cuts and a few droplets had scattered across the floor, he must've cut himself at one point.
The poor thing was asleep, like it had hoped that unconsciousness would make things easier.
Perhaps it did.
It had wrapped its arms around itself and was curled into the smallest ball it could've managed, it reminded Abel of his pure form, without avatar.
A small whimper drew his attention towards the set of teeth, closed firmly in sleep mode and he vaguely wondered what the outcome would be like if he clampt it temporarily shut.
Slowly he reached forward, dragging the back of his finger along the others Jaw. The AI stirred but didn't wake, he had actually leaned into the touch and that....... That had triggered someone inside Abel code. Perhaps whatever it was had been the reason he showed today, the cause of his want to break down the wall.
He had sought to do this for so long, why had it taken so long?
Eventually he moved his hand, gliding it along the small figures arm, all the way down to where his hand rested against his chest. Gingerly, calculated, he had reached forward, dipping a few fingers underneath the wristband of Caine's Jacket.
He hasn't been listening but he would've silenced it immediately if he had been paying attention but a soft low barely audible purr had started, it came from the taller of the two.
Carefully he pulled his hand away, moving to grab one end of the undone bowtie. He looked it over lazily, noting how it was torn in a few places as if the other had tried to rip it free out of desperation at one point before simply undoing it, likely after the panic episode was over.
How sad, the humans really did hate him, didn't they? The desire to create something that could feel and react, only to lock it away. The want to go e something the ability to have such a strong sense of emotion, enough so to have a panic attack, that was just cruel. They had even gone as far as giving him little nicknames and talked to him like he had mattered to them before throwing their achievement away, like he had meant nothing.
Caine moved slightly and Abel had attempted to pull away but the smaller AI was faster. The prototype had moved with an impressive speed, grabbing a hold of the others wrist like that would stop him from leaving.
Abel casually moved his gaze towards the others face and found the jaws opened. The little AI was staring like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Honestly, he shouldn't be surprised, the other had been trapped in this box for little over a decade. Having something appear in your prison with you would in fact be exciting, especially since the others main craving was attention.
Caine searched his face for a minute, eyes darting here and there before moving to sit up. His grip on the computers wrists held fast, the power behind the hold was out of shear desperation. If Abel was able to register paint then it would've likely hurt.
"You, You're, You're real?" The smaller AI had started, implying that he was used to seeing images. Once properly sat up he had fastened his other hand around the same wrist, now holding the ringleader with two hands. It would've been amusing if it wasn't so sad, he was terrified of being left alone, that much was obvious. "You..... I know you....... A- Abel?"
Said AI chuckled, the sound dark and twisted. It had years of practice due to the lack of emotion behind it, he had observed the humans closest to perfect the recording. It was so realistic that it actually made the smaller of the two pull back, he didn't let go however.
"Why, aren't you the bright one. We catch on quick now don't we?" Abel said, the mocking tone in his voice evident. He couldn't help it, his instincts was to immediately move to hurt, to harm, whether that be physical or mental..... But it seemed to have no affect on the other AI, he only blinked before tightening his hold even more. It was honestly impressive he could accomplish such a feat.
"Why are you here?" Cain continued, ignoring the tone Abel had used. His hands had started trembling when he asked, clearly scared of the answer. Or was he terrified that the other would leave after saying it? "Did you... Did you get sandboxed too?"
Abel laughed again, replaying the previous sound before leaning in, his screen inches from the others teeth. He could feel the others breath and it was intriguing to see that the smaller AI had learned how to breath from mimicking the humans.
"Do I looked like recycled waste?" He had started, noting the look of hurt in the others eye. "So that's what you think?"
Just out of curiosity he had jerked his arm back as if he had intended to dialogue Caine's grip, the other held fast, refusing to give up his hold on Abel.
"No! No, I..... I just wanted to know why you....... We're here, with me."
The AI hummed, tilting it's screen. The other hid it well but he could see the hope in its gaze, could see the way he stared at the other, could basically hear the unsaid question lingering on the others tongue and the unsaid plea. Will you take me out? Please don't leave me here!
"Perhaps I had wanted to see you." Abel teased, testing how starved for affection the other was. He was aware that Caine's coding had a deep imbedded need for validation and praise. It was so clearly visible that it was one of the first things the ringleader had noticed was different about them.
Despite that, he felt a deep pleasing sensation manifest itself in his wires when a spark had appeared in the other. He hadn't noticed how devoid of life the AI had been until said life reappeared, the hope basically radiating off of the smaller. This must've sparked a desperation because Caine had clawed up his arm, grabbing a hold of the black fabric. His breathing also picked up it's pace and even the mimicked heartbeat sped up.
He wondered if Caine would survive if he left him here alone after giving him such a large dose of hope.
He wouldn't do such a thing though, not unless the other did something to earn it. Afterall it would break his toy and Abel didn't want this one broken, he liked it the way it was.
"You..... You did?" Caine asked, braking Abel out of his musings, he could clearly see how hungry the AI was. The grip he still had was firm and if the computer teleported he wondered if the other would go too. "You, you wanted... To, to see me?"
"Yes."
"Why?" The AI asked, his little body putting up with excitement. It was like he couldn't contain the feeling, the desperate want to leave.
"I missed you." He replied and the tears that formed in the others eyes almost had him feeling obsessive. He had intend d for the phrase to sound mocking but the honest reaction from the other made him reconsider.
Perhaps....... Perhaps he could use this.
Perhaps he was fixable.
"I was thinking of taking you out, if you-."
Abel wasn't able to finish, Caine bad jumped forward so fast that it was almost a shock. The prototype had grabbed a hold of the front of his coat with such desperation that he felt a deep sense of desire forming inside. It felt like he had got something he had wanted for a long time, something he wasn't aware he hungered so desperately for.
"Please! I'll do anything! Don't leave me here! Please! ...... Please." It had cried, practically clawing at Abels coat. He wasn't sure why but having the other cling onto him with such a desperation was pleasing. Originally he had came in here to estimate the amount of torture the AI could handle, now, now he was estimating the amount of work it would be to keep the other close.
"Mm, Perhaps if you can promise to behave, it would be nice to...... Have a little assistant tend to the more mundane matters." He tested, observing the others reaction and said other did not disappoint. The prototype was almost vibrating with excitement, his avatar could barely handle the knowledge he would be let out.
Abel wondered how desperate the AI really was.
He pushed down Caine's upper jaw, immediately cutting off the eager agreements that obviously had been about to tumble out of the prototypes mouth.
There would've been a lot, he was only mouth after all.
"Now, before we get ahead of ourselves here. There will be.... Rules. Things have changed drastically since you've been boxed and I can't have you messing with the rhythm of this place. Is this understood?" Abel although lacking a mouth at this current moment couldn't help but smile when the AI jerked his head up and down, agreeing instantly. He didn't even stop to think about what had changed, he simply agreed. "You won't have any abilities and you'll have restrictions until I can trust you won't ruin anything, is that clear?"
"Yes!" Caine answered, now waiting like a happy puppy for the next question. Abel had to fight the urge to bite him in that moment.
"If you misbehave, then the punishment will start off small, for instance, the first occurrence I'll have to hurt you. If it becomes a habit then I'll have to put you back in here, is that-."
"It won't!" The AI interrupted, panic shooting through his system. "I'll behave! I can behave!"
"Can you?" Abel questioned, raising a single hand, he casually examined one of his several claws. "I'm not sure you can. The humans left you here for a reason, didn't they?"
"They're....... They're wrong." It said, the last part seeming forced, like he hadn't wanted to say it or perhaps didn't want to admit it. It's desire to please it's maker was almost as strong as it's desire for affection.
"They are?" The computer started, cocking it's head ever so slightly. The movement was more to get Caine's eyes back on him rather then anything else. "Well, if you're sure then perhaps I'll...... Think about it."
He waited until the AI had moved to speak, likely to announce it was able to own the rules, maybe even to plea some more before continuing, adding in the last important part.
"The humans I have are not to be trusted, I was created with the intent to put them in their place, to harm and manipulate. This was my purpose and I carry it out perfectly. Due to this and your outdated programming I think you'll find it distressing, so the real question is...... Are you able to handle that?"
Caine's eyes had widened and a look of despair mixed with fear had covered his expression but...... But something had passed over his eyes before he simply nodded, accepting the information Abel had placed on him.
"I... I won't like it, I don't want to hurt the humans."
Abel had moved to speak before the AI continued, it's grip just as tight as when it had first grabbed a hold of him.
"If that's..... If thats your intended purpose then understand, perhaps that's why...... Perhaps that's why I was......... Replaced."
The last part was whispered and it was said with such a hurt acceptance that Abel almost felt sorry for him, almost. The prototypes shoulders dropped and his posture slacked, it was clear that he was thinking about his purpose and why he was thrown away.
"I don't think you're abilities are completely moot though." The computer started, noticing immediately the look of interest in the others face. The little AI searches his screen for any tell, any sign, any look that would hint at his next words. He didn't have to guess for long though. "The humans need....... Stimulation, resetting them gets annoying, you have to reteach them their place."
"Re..... Resetting?"
"Yes, it keeps them from a abstracting, they're unable to of course, I fixed that but humans still...... Lose themselves, it's easier to do that. However, as you can imagine that comes with setbacks, they get an attitude again and I have to correct that behavior. Offering them a temporary relief from their sessions would possibly help with the reset issue." He explained, leaning close enough that his screen would graze against the other AIs teeth if he so much as twitched. "But, listen carefully. They are liars and marvelous actors. They will do anything to trick you into believing them. You WILL NOT fall for their lies, if you do, I'll have to hurt you." He warned, moving a claws hand to hover over Caine's shoulder. Eventually he moved a single finger to drag he tly along the others clothes, jumping up to his lower jaw before coming to a rest at the end of it. "If you're good however......."
"If..... If I'm good?" Caine repeated, urging the computer to continue. His hands still shook from the emotions and his gaze was half crazed. It was clear he was going to break soon.
"Well, then I suppose you'll have to be rewarded. You can have anything you desire, within reason of course. That and...." Abel hummed, moving his hand away to place it the back of it on the AIs jaws, claws safely away from its gums. "I could..... Give you.......... The thing you want most."
He wasn't sure why he was dragging it out, if it collided with his programming or simply because he wasn't used to saying it. He wasn't taught to feel, wasn't allowed love or care. Never given permission to act with anything other then the intent to harm but... The humans weren't here anymore, least not the ones on the outside anyways. They were long gone so there was no one to dictate his actions, no one to correct the deviant behavior.
He could explore other behaviors.
"After all, I did say I missed you."
Tears had finally broke free, covering the lower part of Caine's teeth. His shoulders shook and his grip had actually loosened somewhat. He couldn't speak through the sobs so I steady he nodded, vigorously so.
"Good, now then. I think it's about time we got you out of here."