“Sounds right. You’re fully charged though, so you can last a few days until I figure out how to replace those parts?”
“My current power supply will last seven days, nineteen hours, twenty-one minutes—”
“Understood. Keep me posted of any changes. The power fluxes could have latent effects.”
“Yes, Master.”
Rowan allowed himself to survey the damage to the room again. If it had been someone breaking in through the window, the security system would have gone off. “The lightning must have fried the window sensors too. I woke up from the crash instead of an alarm.”
“I will attend to the mess immediately and schedule maintenance to repair the damage.” Milo stood and turned toward the window.
“Wait.” Rowan stopped the bot with a grip on its elbow. “You’re barefoot and practically naked. I don’t want you anywhere near that glass without protection. You’re lucky you don’t have tears as it is.”
“Then I will attire myself appropriately and—”
“Milo.”
“Yes, Master?”
Rowan wasn’t used to the bot rushing on without listening. It could predict what he wanted, make suggestions and plans of its own, but this behavior seemed off. “I think all that voltage has you on edge. Take a breath, okay?”
“I do not breathe.”
Sometimes Rowan forgot how literal Milo understood things. “I meant slow down. It’s late. Or… early. Is your internal clock reset?”
“Yes, Master.”
“Make sure my alarm is okay, and we’ll take care of the rest after I’m supposed to be up. I want to go back to bed, so we can calm our pulses in peace.”
“Master, I do not—”
“Have a pulse, feel agitated, express anything other than calm, I know!” Rowan said in exasperation, grasping Milo’s hand to pull the bot from the room and away from the cold wind cycling inside. “Come on.”
“Master… have I displeased you?” Milo asked, sounding almost timid.
“Of course not. I’m just on edge too. I was afraid you weren’t going to wake up.”
“Despite my previously listed malfunctions, I am operating normally.”
“Good.” Rowan felt better once they reached the bedroom. His carpet in the living room was getting drenched from the rain, but the damage was already done. “I want you in bed with me.”
“Yes, Master.”
Since Rowan gave no further instructions, Milo lay on its side waiting for how Rowan would arrange them. Usually, Rowan had Milo spoon him from behind, but now, he wanted to look at Milo to confirm everything was okay.
Milowasokay. Rowan wouldn’t have to replace it. He couldn’t imagine ever replacing Milo, no matter what the warranty said.
Hugging Milo close and feeling those willowy but strong arms encircle him, Rowan let his hands drift down over the lightning scars on Milo’s back. When his fingers skimmed where the port had been fried, Milo gasped—a sound Rowan had never heard from it before.
“Does that hurt?”
“I… cannot experience pain, Master.”
The hesitation made Rowan frown, but he kept his head tucked beneath Milo’s chin. “You still have sensors similar to pain receptors to know if something is wrong, so… are you hurt?” He didn’t know how else to word it.
“In regards to what my sensors are transmitting… yes, Master.”
Rowan brought his hands back up between Milo’s shoulder blades. “I won’t touch you there then until we get everything fixed. Don’t worry.”
