Evolved(15)

His hand was warm and felt lovely against mine. “You are cold,” he stated.

“A little. It’s winter, but we weren’t outside for too long.” We got to the lift, and when he swiped his key, the doors opened. “You press the buttons,” I said.

He tapped the 35 button and the doors closed, but his eyes went to the mirror again. He looked at my reflection, then at his own. He tilted his head in that curious way he did, but he didn’t smile.

It occurred to me he was having an existential moment.

I knew he was sentient. I knew he was aware, but I didn’t know just how aware of his existence he was.

When the doors re-opened, I took his hand and walked him to our front door. His key worked just fine, and I suggested he leave it on the hall table near the door so he could grab it when he needed.

He placed the key down gently, then turned to me. I wasn’t exactly sure how to approach this, but I needed to say something.

“Shaun,” I said gently. “Come with me.” I held out my hand again and he took it quickly. He liked holding hands, and I had to admit, I liked it too. I led him to my room and took off my coat, then his. I hung them immediately, as I always did. Everything in its place.

Then I took him into my bathroom. The mirror was bigger in mine, so it made sense we came to mine. I stood, side by side with him, facing the mirror.

“Have you not seen yourself before?” I asked his reflection.

“No.”

My heart sank a little. “I’m sorry. I should’ve thought about that before I took you out. I should have realised. I forgot about the mirror in the lift. To be honest, Shaun, I didn’t even think of you not seeing yourself before or even your view or sense of self, and I feel as your custodian that I’ve let you down.”

“You are not to blame,” he said to my reflection. “It is not anyone’s fault.” Then he looked at himself for a moment. “We are different.”

I smiled ruefully. “On the contrary, Shaun. We are very much alike.”

“You are human, I am not.”

“True. But we are still alike. Someone once told me that I was like an android, that I should date an android because humans don’t meet my standards.”

“Which standards are those?”

“I have… certain tendencies… compulsive tendencies for cleanliness. I like things done with precision and order. Humans tend to be… messy, and loud. I like silence.”

He tilted his head. “If you like silence, would you rather I did not speak?”

“No, goodness no. Speaking is fine. Our conversations are wonderful.” I let out a slow breath. “My ex-boyfriend would… I could hear him breathe and chew his food. It made me… uncomfortable and annoyed.”

“Ex-boyfriend. A man with whom a person was once associated, in a relationship with.”

“Yes. We dated for six months, and it was fine until he moved in with me.” My brow furrowed at the memory. “He would leave his clothes on the floor. He would slurp his coffee, and I could hear him chew and swallow his food. He would snore. I found his cut toenails on the bathroom floor.” I shuddered and took a breath and let it out slowly, trying to calm myself. “We were not compatible.”

“Do all humans make these noises and leave toenail clippings on the floor?”

I cringed. “I hope not.”

“And he told you to date an android?”

I nodded. “He meant it as an insult. That the only person who could possibly live with me would be someone who didn’t need to breathe or eat.” I lifted my chin and smiled at his reflection. “And you know what? He was right. I was hurt at first, but the more I thought about it, the more intrigued I was. It took me two years to find the courage to do it, but I’m very happy I did.”

He did that half-smirk. “I am happy also.”

I squeezed his hand and held our hands up so he could see them in the reflection, making him smile. “So, your sense of self,” I started. “Do you have any questions about anything? Your creation, your design?”

“You chose my physical appearance?”

“Yes.”

“Why is my hair black when yours is blond?”

“I chose your attributes for what I find intriguing. Dark hair and pale skin, blue eyes, have always been appealing to me.”

“And my level of predesigned input on interests similar to your own?”

“Your level of intelligence and the ability to use the internet as a central processing unit, or your brain, is high, even for industry standards. You are an A-Class. There are not many like you. You’re very special. And in regards to my interests, the company that designed and programmed you did so using my psychological and intelligence tests as a parameter, if you will. You were designed to be fully compatible for me, and me alone.”

“And physically? Though I cannot determine visually through clothing, I assume anatomically we are similar. Was this by design also?”

I met his gaze, and as much as it scared me to do so, I refused to look away. “Yes. Would you like to see yourself?” I swallowed hard. “Without the clothing?”

His gaze went back to his reflection. “Yes.”

Oh boy.

“Take off your sweater,” I said, my voice a little shaky.