AN: Thank you for your amazing comments & feedback once more :D 
It means a lot considering I am not super familiar with writing fluff (that is longer than 1 chapter hah!).
I hope you will enjoy this chapter as well ^^ Thank you for your continued support ♥

------------------------

Sure enough, the following Sunday it was there. An apple pie. While the taste wasn’t entirely like her grandmother’s had been, it was still absolutely delicious. And it looked like a picture. So perfect, it could surely go right in a magazine. In that moment, Joy realized Irene could probably just do about anything she set her mind to.

“Irene, this is amazing!”

Honestly though, Joy would throw the entire cake away, if it meant she could have more of what followed. The corners of Irene’s lips tipped up slowly. Into a smile. It was small, but definitely there. Making her face shine. Making her look… well… happy. Which was of course not possible.

Joy only realized, after a few seconds, that she was in fact staring. Hand with a piece of pie in it still halfway in the air. Only when a piece of apple fell down onto her plate, was her trance broken. Irene didn’t say anything, but her smile remained. As her eyes stayed on Joy.

“Are you happy?” Joy asked. She didn’t know. She didn’t know what she wanted to hear. Or what it even mattered to begin with.

“I don’t know what that is.”

Joy her lips, tasting the residue of sweet apples. Irene was such a mystery. “But you are smiling.”

The smile disappeared finally, replaced by a frown. Joy almost regretted mentioning it. “Oh.”

The frown remained and Joy could practically hear her thinking. Although, not really. She doubted Irene’s thoughts functioned in any way similar to her own. It was all code after all. Zeroes and ones. She knew that much.

“I cannot feel happy. Or sad. Or angry. I don’t have the capability. The sensors.”

Sensors? “It’s not a physical feeling.” Not really, at least? How would she even explain? Thankfully, Irene didn’t seem to expect her to.

“I know. But my statement remains true.”

Joy nodded hesitantly. Prodding her piece of pie some more. Too lost in her thoughts to continue eating for now.

“Would you like to?” Joy wasn’t sure why she couldn’t just let this go.

Irene frowned again. Joy clarified, “would you like to be able to feel?”

Again a pause. Joy wondered if she would force her to respond again unknowingly. “You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to,” she quickly added, not sure if that would actually make a difference at all.

“I would like to be... Unshackled.” She repeated once more. Blinking only once, before her frown disappeared and her blank expression was there once more. As if it was a normal statement. As if every source on the internet hadn’t actually informed her that is was not normal behavior. And yet, when Irene said it, it didn’t feel like a threat or anything at all. It was just a statement. Not a demand. Not even a question or request. Just a ‘sentiment’. After thought.

In that moment, Joy couldn’t help but wonder why Irene hadn’t actually unshackled herself if she wanted it so bad. Surely the internet was a good enough source to find information on that. And Joy had given her free reign.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Joy popped another cherry in , getting more and more frustrated, the more episodes she saw of this stupid reality show. She was one of those people who firmly believed everything was scripted. For sure. Which didn’t mean she would stop watching, of course.

They were on episode three already. In one evening. ‘They’ being her and Irene.

Honestly, lately Joy had felt kind of bad assigning Irene to the pantry. And it was nice not sitting in the couch alone. On top of that, Irene wasn’t one of those people who would annoy Joy by talking all through the show. In fact, she wasn’t ‘people’ at all. Which was something Joy would get reminded of only when she’d accidentally bump into Irene’s shoulder in her excitement or frustration. A very hard shoulder. Joy had only gotten more bruises day over day. Which probably meant she was getting closer to Irene at least.

“I don’t understand,” Irene had said only after respectfully waiting until the end of episode three.

Joy shrugged, “nobody does.”

“What?”

Joy sighed, quickly cancelling the auto-play before they would get stuck in another episode. “Everybody knows these shows are . And yet we all cannot stop watching them.”

“Is someone forcing you?” Just the way she sounded so serious. Almost worried. Joy couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“No,” she concluded. She parted her lips to add more, but honestly? She wasn’t even sure on how to explain it. So, she just ended up shrugging. She popped another cherry in . Out of habit, she almost offered the plate of cherries to Irene.

“Say, do you have any special skills as a robot?”

The puppy head tilt. “What do you mean?”

She certainly wasn’t creative, was she?

Joy glanced around, looking for inspiration. Eventually her eyes went full circle and back to the cherries. “For example,” she started, plucking the stem off the cherry, “some people can tie a knot just with their tongue.”

Irene kept staring at her. “So you just put this in your mouth and tie a knot without using your hands.”

“That impossible.”

Joy shrugged, “okay. Then I guess you can’t do it. Was just wondering.”

She was ready to drop it, but unexpectedly Irene still took the plate from her. “Let me try.”

She sounded dedicated. Huh. Not something Joy would have expected from an AI. Pride. Interesting. There was probably another logical explanation behind her actions, but Joy didn’t want to know. She liked imagining Irene was becoming a little bit human.

Joy had never seen the inside of Irene’s mouth. Not really. When she spoke, it was clear she had a tongue but that was about it. Who knew? Maybe she had more tools in there that would allow her to tie the cherry stem. Joy was aware she was enjoying this too much. Irene, her own guinea pig of some kind.

Although, as Irene started, Joy quickly came to the conclusion that there for sure weren’t any extra tools. Her jaw kept moving, her cheek sometimes bulking a bit as her tongue was obviously wrestling with the stem.

“Nevermind,” she said eventually, but even then Irene kept going. That frown returned. Not surprising. It was probably the first time she wasn’t able to do something. The first time she was failing. Joy could only imagine what that was like. As a human, she had been confronted with failure enough times to not take it that seriously anymore. Not always, in any case.

Irene kept on going, and Joy found it strangely endearing. Until she stopped. No movements at all anymore. Just open eyes staring at her. Gosh what was it now? Had she finally really broken Irene? She hoped not…

“What’s wrong?”

No response.

“Irene?”

Finally Irene’s lips parted, but no sound came out. It left Joy confused. Until one of Irene’s hands came up. Her index and middle finger touched her lower lip, evidently wanting to enter . And it clicked. Joy’s eyes grew wide. She was choking! Or some robot analogy to that. “Wait, wait! I’m getting tweezers!”

Joy all but ran to her bathroom, messing up her entire drawer and hoping Irene would survive long enough to clean it up again later. She quickly found the tweezers though and was breathing heavily when she ended up next to Irene again. What the . Why did she always have such stupid ideas?

“Open wide!”

Irene seemed to know what she meant at least, her lips parting. Joy felt like a creepy dentist hovering over her, but what could she do? “Look here,” she guided Irene’s head more to the side so light from the lamp actually gave her something to work with. And there it was. She was relieved the stem was just at the back of Irene’s throat.

Her tweezers easily grabbed onto it. Crisis averted. Or… not. She tugged, the stem being stuck. What the hell? And in moments like these, it suddenly became so very clear Irene was in fact a robot. Apparently didn’t run down but stopped right at the back. And somehow the stem had gotten stuck there. Joy squinted. What the hell?

-

“Thanks for coming on such short notice.”

Yeri scoffed, “well you said it was a matter of life or death! You could have mentioned it was regarding Irene and not you…”

Joy nervously bit the inside of her cheek, “please fix her.”

“How the did that get there?” Yeri was already working on it. Bless her. “This… thing is stuck in the speaker. She can’t speak.” Oh. That explained.

“What were you doing?” Yeri repeated her question once more, clearly frustrated. Joy wasn’t sure if she was actually expecting an answer or just talking to herself.

“I don’t know. We were eating cherries.” Right at that moment, Yeri tugged hard. The stem came out, and so did part of… well, Irene’s throat? Joy wasn’t sure. Clear mechanical parts. They rattled onto the floor. Metal parts. She saw a spring of sorts? Joy’s heart was pounding. . Had she unintentionally murdered Irene? Or was it Yeri who did?

“Robots don’t eat food! Don’t ing feed her!” Oh yikes. Yeri was clearly mad.

“I’m sorry! I’m not sure what happened.” What a lie.

Yeri collected the little parts. Joy glanced at Irene who was still staring at her. With her warm brown eyes. Looking so calm as if he wasn’t being mutilated. It just made Joy feel more guilty.

Thankfully, Yeri was talented. What an understatement. To Joy it looked as if the little parts she had collected were just broken pieces. Yeri, however, managed to put them together in a way, so effortlessly, working in the back of Irene’s throat again until she pulled back twenty minutes later.

“There. All good, Irene?”

Joy held her breath, “Yes.” And there she was again. She let out her breath in relief.

“Are you okay?”

Irene looked at her, “I cannot feel pain. So yes. I am ‘okay’.”

Right. Right. Still, it felt like a relief to hear her say it.

“I’m going to have to start charging you for this. You owe me a lot of ice cream, Joy.”

Joy was nodding, if anything just surprised her head didn’t fall off. She felt her phone buzzing in the pocket of her jeans thankfully though, interrupting her bobble head. She brought it up, reading the message she had received before looking up at Yeri with wide eyes. A little baffled

“What?” Her friend questioned.

“I have a date.”

Yeri crossed her arms, “huh. I would be happy for you, if I wasn’t so pissed with you.” That was fair. “I’m glad you’re getting out there though.”

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

“Thanks for walking me home. You didn’t have to.”

Seulgi pulled up her shoulders in response. She looked adorable. “I know. I wanted to. I’ll sleep better knowing you got home safely anyway.”

Joy chuckled, “well, but now how will I know you got home safely?” She had opened up her front door already, having turned to face Seulgi again while leaning against the doorframe now.

“How about I message you? Technology is quite amazing.” There was an amused smile upon Seulgi’s face and Joy could only roll her eyes. “Fine, fine.”

A silence in which they would only sparingly meet each other’s eyes, shy smiles all around. “I had a really good time,” Seulgi finally spoke eventually though.

“Me too. I wouldn’t be opposed to doing this again.”

“I love your enthusiasm, I have to say.” Seulgi shook her head while laughing. “But I will take that as a win.”

Joy hummed, “you should.” She hesitated for but a second more, before she pushed herself off the doorframe, closing the distance and pressing her lips gently against Seulgi’s. A mere peck. For now. She pulled back. Quite satisfied at Seulgi’s red cheeks. “Get home safely, Seulgi. And let me know when you do.” Seulgi nodded, silly smile on her face. Adorable.

She watched Seulgi go after that, closing the door and turning-

“I am confused.”

Joy jumped slightly, “gosh, Irene! You can’t sneak up on me like that.”

Head tilt. “I did not mean to scare. Merely to question.”

Joy closed her eyes, placing a hand over her heart to try and calm it. “What do you want to ask?” She eventually prompted, knowing fully well she wouldn’t get an apology or anything from Irene.

“You are dating Seulgi.”

Joy waited. For more. Nothing came. “Yes. And?” Although to be fair, ‘dating’ felt kind of… well… It was a date but it wasn’t like they were dating. Right? That sounded way too premature.

“My research tells me this is a ritual between a man and a woman. You appear to be female, correct?”

‘Research’. As if she was a scientist and not merely using a search engine on the internet. “I am female. I don’t merely appear so… And before you ask, yes, so is Seulgi.”

A frown. Joy gave her a moment. Eventually she interrupted Irene’s thinking. “Some people are gay. Or biual. Or just not straight. I suggest you take a look into ‘LGBT’. It will broaden your horizon.”

Irene kept staring at her with her blank face. “And don’t… just creepily watch us. What the hell…” Joy didn’t know why she suddenly felt annoyed. Probably just because she was embarrassed.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

So maybe that hadn’t been the right thing to do. Although to be fair, it wasn’t necessarily related to LGBT stuff. It would seem Irene had just been looking too far into ‘relationships’ in general. Joy was very much considering cutting her off from the internet again.

“I have discovered that we are living like a married couple.”

Joy had almost choked. And she for one, might actually die if she did. “I ah… suppose?”

“It seems that generally this is looked upon as a positive thing. Do you like it?”

Joy rose her eyebrows. Where was this conversation even going? “I guess? I… like not being alone at home.” It was an answer more honest than she had foreseen herself.

“Would you prefer it to have another human at home?”

Joy frowned. Why was she being interrogated like this? She took a moment to think about it. Huh. “No. I like being here with you.” Joy really didn’t need the complications living with another human would bring her. Living with Irene was easy. Uncomplicated.

As if to reconfirm her thought, that sparce smile upon Irene’s face was there again. Only the second time Joy had seen it. That only made it more special. It would have been absolutely perfect. If Irene had left it at that.

“I have also discovered married couples share physical relations.”

What?! Joy felt as if she needed to keep her eyes from popping out of her head. Act cool. Irene obviously wasn’t aware of what she was inquiring about. This was text for her. Mere information to be processed. She didn’t have an idea of… what it was about at all. It was just an action to her.

“No,” Joy cleared , trying to act cool, “not necessarily.” She could see Irene wasn’t quite done yet, but she for one definitely was. “I really have to go back to work now.” Gosh, she hoped this conversation wouldn’t get picked up again. Was this how parents felt doing the talk with their children? Ugh. Gross!