An Archive of Our Own, a project of the
Organization for Transformative Works
Lance practices his etiquette with Pidge’s flirty automaton, gives her a nickname, and has a moment with the adorable little clanker. Then he discovers an important secret that Keith has been keeping.
This chapter’s fanservice features Keith in a towel, Lance in a dressing gown, and Lance singing in the shower.
Lance stared at the clockwork girl who had just handed him the little message container. When he finally accepted it, she did a little curtsey and tilted her head as if she were waiting for him to say something. Lance carefully opened the message cylinder and unfurled scroll from within it. He immediately recognized Pidge’s handwriting.
“Meet The Champion at the foot of the staircase closest to the West Tower at seven o’clock. He is an old friend of The Debutante’s family and will make all of the appropriate introductions. Don’t be nervous, Sharpshooter, just be yourself. Good luck!” Lance read aloud. The note wasn’t signed.
“Oooh! Loverboy has a date tonight!” The clockwork girl teased. She gave him a mechanical wink, then made a clicking sound as she pointed a pair of finger guns at him and grinned.
Lance rolled his eyes as he pocketed Pidge’s message. “If this is considered flirting, your maker needs to work on your personality matrix,” he said with a crooked grin.
The clockwork girl’s mouth formed a little “o” in response. “What a rude boy!” She exclaimed. “Maybe your maker needs to work on yours!”
Lance laughed. “Obviously, Pidge programmed you.” He bowed to the clockwork girl, then gave her his most flirtatious smile. “Good evening, Miss Automaton. It is a pleasure to make the acquaintance of such a lovely contraption.”
“That’s better,” said the clockwork girl. She offered the back of her right hand, and Lance pretended to kiss the back of it. The automaton made a sound like giggling.
“If you think a girl is pretty, you should give her a kiss,” the clockwork girl said sweetly with a toss of her curls. Then she made exaggerated kissing sounds at him as she stood on her tiptoes and leaned toward him.
Lance placed his hands on the automaton’s shoulders, pushing her down so that her feet were flat on the floor once more.
“Sorry, Clanquette. I’m only kissing a girl if I am truly in love with her. I’m not that eager to get my heart broken again.”
The automaton looked at him for a long moment, her wide eyes reflecting the sadness that Lance was currently feeling. “Maybe Pidge can repair your broken heart,” she said finally, placing a small metal hand on Lance’s sternum. “My maker is good at fixing broken things.” She gave his chest a little pat.
Lance’s eyes watered as the clockwork girl awkwardly hugged him. He closed his eyes as he hugged her back, hoping that she was right.
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