“Do you ever think we’ve lost something?” Yixing poses the question as Jongdae tinkers with his eyes, dropping in a solution that’s supposed to make robo-eyes pop!, as the packaging says. Yixing doesn’t know why; Jongdae’s eyes are striking enough anyway. They make him look like a newer model – something exotic, because that’s the fashion nowadays – and people comment on them enough as it is.

“Like what?” Jongdae replies, eyes blinking rapidly; when he opens them, Yixing can see no change, but he gives Jongdae the thumbs up anyway. Anything to boost his confidence – this singing gig could be enough to get them both fully charged by the end of the night.

“I don’t know.” Yixing shrugs helplessly, the movement sending a sparking surge of electricity though him; he rolls his neck – neither of them are completely adjusted to the new circuits yet. “Like, I don’t know – a worthy human life?”

Jongdae looks at him, pupils contracting into something a little more animalistic than robotic; Yixing shivers. He kind of likes it when Jongdae does that. “No. I wanted to be robotic.”

Yixing can only nod, hands resting on Jongdae’s shoulders. He wants to know if Jongdae means that – wants to know if he truly chose an electric life, or if he went along with it because everyone else was. Yixing didn’t; Yixing was more of an experiment because he needed money – not that he minds it, of course. There are a lot of plus sides to being a droid, it’s just – sometimes he wonders.

Could he have more than this?

His grip tightens on Jongdae’s shoulders; the other man clears his throat, as if there’s actually anything blocking it. “Nah, I’m pretty sure the only thing I’ve lost is my mind.” The words are a little glum, but he smiles back at Yixing in the mirror.

The corner of his mouth twitches spasmodically.