#android summer

Roman hadn't seen any flaws to his logic, but Janus had refused, smiling in their teasing way while stating there would never be a need for Roman to fight anybody. They'd protect him and everything would be under their control soon enough.

The words didn't seem entirely realistic given the little he'd known at that point was pretty dangerous for even one wrong move to be made.

It was simply annoying that Remy also agreed with Janus but he did still teach Roman some fighting techniques. Mostly though Remy's method of teaching him to fight focused on weapons, specifically being able to shoot at people trying to attack him, or at worst stab them.

Roman did get given a relatively decorated knife before Remy stopped training him though.

“Such violence, Roman. I still don't believe there was a cause for you to learn these skills. Perhaps you intend to include stage fights within the plays you're writing?” Janus observed when they saw his knife. “Would you prefer to assist instead in our schemes?”

That was the offer that caught Roman's attention. The most he'd learnt since being pulled into the entire thing was that his brother, Janus and Virgil were in danger of the mafia attacking them, and that Remy was as well, but intentionally so having infiltrated the mafia in order to spy on them. “I thought that for my protection, you weren't telling me anything.” He countered still, sheathing the knife.

Janus nodded a little at that. “Well it is safer for you to know less until we are able to remove the threat from the mafia, but the androids we've been speaking with still need help that doesn't include you being shown everything that's occurring, darling.”

“How so? Is Remus not confusing them to sentience well enough?” Roman blinked, sure that he'd heard something regarding that get mentioned.

“Gaining sentience doesn't necessarily mean they know who they are. The androids that Virgil or Remus have been speaking to are essentially reacting to the traumas or still trying to carry on with their previous roles since they don't quite know how to figure out their identity beyond doing things and learning what they hate or enjoy.” Janus mused, describing the situation as a curiosity but Roman could see some concern beneath the words. “As an actor and writer, I thought perhaps you could try helping one or two of them to figure out what they might like. Or maybe just introduce them into some different names as every android who's now sentient is against using the mafia names they were assigned.”

Roman frowned, gesturing to himself for a moment. “You want me to teach the androids acting?”

“Not as such. Really I just want you to spend time with a few of them. We're all going to do so if the androids wish to do so. But one that Virgil managed to bring sentience to via programming has shown some interest in make-up. He's asking if there's anything more he can learn about it and I thought he'd be ideal to ask as a sort of bodyguard for you.” Janus explained, gesturing behind him for someone to come over.

At the description of what the android had liked so far, Roman was already accepting the ploy to give him a bodyguard. He'd have someone to do makeovers with, and possibly even help with costuming if that took his interest. “Well I'm always willing to demonstrate make-up and costuming. Do you have a name in mind already, or shall we focus on your interests first?”

“Colour names possibly? He/him pronouns if you need to refer to me, but I'd prefer to focus on make-up or fashion. That was what Janus said you and he bonded over.” He stated.

“Shopping trip then.” Roman grinned. “Come with us, Janus. Let's get coffee on the way.”

“Of course, Darling. Let's go.”

/\/\

Summer ended up deciding his name based on the mentions of dressing for the season or people being suited to summer colours that he found in the fashion magazines he'd read with Roman. He'd been the one to return to the other sentient androids with the suggestion that they theme their names together also. He'd thought it would be a fashionable way to build a family as well as help the others struggling to figure out their names.

He also loved the discovery of stilettos, both the small knife and the shoe. It quickly became the shoe of choice for Summer and Roman if they weren't doing anything to strenuous, or for Summer even if they were. The idea of wearing weapons on his feet that could either be taken off to stab and whack or just kicked in to do more pointed damage was to his mind the greatest invention ever.

Roman also liked the idea when that was pointed out, but found his balance wasn't the best to try fighting in stilettos. Instead he spent hours with Summer learning the best ways they could harm assailants wielding the shoe in his hand.

Summer took that beginning and ran with it, figuring out the different ways fashion had concealed weapons in history, as well as the ways femininity could be either oppressive or attacking the status quo. He uncovered so many ways self defence could be built into dress, hand bags, shoes, and given Roman was his charge as a bodyguard, everything was shared and taught to him as well.

“Is there a specific way to punch someone which prevents most harm to yourself?” Roman muttered after one run through the latest way an accessory could be used as a weapon. “Other than stage punches where no contact should be made, I mean.”

“How do you not know that when you're one of the leaders of us all?” Summer had exclaimed, staring at him. “Put the accessories down, we are learning proper fighting techniques for hand to hand combat right now, Roman.”

Things hadn't been put away so fast since Roman's childhood as the space was cleared. “Do you mean sparring or just demonstrating techniques?” He checked but stood ready for either.

“Both. We'll start with demonstrations though. How about we schedule some time to teach you this everyday until you decide something else needs your attention?” Summer offered.

“Sounds good to me, so long as I'm not going to be breaking my hand hitting an android.” The concern wasn't a serious one. He knew Summer wouldn't intentionally let him get hurt, even if that meant moving back from his punches if he got a strong enough force behind them.

/\/\

“Well well well, Babes. It seems I've been missing out on tons of fun and all our morning coffee breaks too.” Remy drawled from the doorway just as Roman managed the first throw Summer had decided he should learn.

“Hi Starlight. Do you need us?” Roman didn't pause in getting up to kiss Remy hello.

Remy looked him over, glancing at Summer for a fraction of a second too. “Not at all, though I have been bereft of the time you'd usually spend with me recently. I thought I'd come learn what's been consuming your mornings.”

“I did say I wanted to learn how to fight.” Roman nodded, gesturing over to Summer. “And he got insulted when I questioned the best way to punch someone. We're going to practise sword-fighting some more after I'm able to hold my own in hand-to-hand fighting.”

“Janus won't know what to do with himself. Actually, neither will I. You're too hot to touch already and that was before I saw you throw Summer.” Remy half admitted, half teased.

Roman just smiled. “Well when my husbands have taken over a mafia, I need to be prepared to fight.” He agreed. “If it helps me put you where I want you, all the better.”

With those words he twisted them while going to his knees and ending up with Remy pinned to the floor. He knew it hadn't been fought at all but was still happy to have managed the move without falling or dropping Remy.

“I can't argue with this.”

And none of them left him very happy when Roman kept offering him hugs from the first time they met. They were at least slowly getting more comfortable that he was accepting their refusals easily each time.

Except then Roman mentioned he didn't know how to safely throw a punch, and the conversations about stilettos and how to make fashion include weapons took a detour into getting this person he was responsible for guarding more prepared for the situations Summer was meant to keep him out of.

Those lessons had to change, with Roman's skills growing, from simply showing and having him repeating the actions to taking hits. Then to showing how to throw others. Summer never minded it at all. It made sense for what he was teaching and he didn't register it as changing his boundaries, even when he accepted a hug that Roman offered.

/\/\

“I hear you've been teaching Roman hand to hand combat.” Janus stated from the doorway.

Summer and October had been spending some time together, sharing the new things they'd been learning and how they were enjoying their new roles in the mafia. He shrugged at the statement, seeing no reason to deny but also wondering why it was being brought up, why Remy had spoken about it as if Roman was doing something they had tried to avoid.

October laughed however, “How long did it take for you to hear, and why interrupt my time with my sibling for this?”

“I'm just curious. So far as Virgil knew Summer had resolved never to let another human lay a hand on him and now he's encouraging Roman to practise violent throws and actions on him. It's unexpected.” Janus moved further into the room, but sat down at one of the tables.

Now Summer nodded. “If I ask him not to do something for a while he won't. Why would I be concerned when the man I guard respects and actively watches to ensure no boundary is crossed and for some reason didn't know the best way to punch a person?” His tone remained neutral, calm as the awareness that Janus was basically the head of their organisation was hardwired into him still, no matter how he'd have made a sarcastic comment if it was Roman, or possibly Remy as the humans he knew best of the new mafia.

“He doesn't need to defend himself. He has you, me, Remy, Remus and Virgil. Roman has no need to fight.” Janus stated.

“Are you ordering me to stop the lessons?” He checked. He would change the lessons if they agreed but preferred to ask bluntly rather than running any analysis over the possible meanings behind the conversation.

October snickered at that, head already shaking. “We all know Roman will make guarding him the worst thing for months if you did that, Summer. I don't think Janus wants to risk their lover from taking any tips from Remus.”

“He's already asked for explanations of some of the fights and nonsense Remus has done.” Summer replied, adding on at Janus's concerned look, “Actually about fights any of our management have been in but he knows Remus enough to ask about specific incidents while you avoid giving him many details and Roman isn't sure if Virgil has actually been in any fights at all. Remy has apparently already tod him about some of his assignments from his secondary employers.”

That phrasing made Janus blink before smiling, “You mean the people who actually employ him, rather than the partners who made him leader of a mafia he was meant to bring down? Nice to know Roman and I take precedence over them.”

/\/\

For some reason that conversation, and October's following praise of Janus made Summer want to check his memory processors and see if it was logical that he was helping Roman in such a way. After all, there was no lie spoken when Janus mentioned his aversion to touch, even from the other androids at first and many others felt the same.

He'd had many roles in the mafia since being activated and very little down time. Even when the businesses were closed the androids were meant to please various members of the previous human workers, or act as arm candy and body guards in one. If Summer had been in other departments, or perhaps built with another body structure he'd have had to continue the drug productions over night and ensure no products were stolen or discovered by the police.

He hadn't had that fortune, although the androids who had claimed it wasn't a fortune. Summer doubted that since none of those had aversions to touch quite as strong as his and others who'd had similar roles to him.

But Roman was, well, Roman. He didn't want to learn to fight to hurt people, only because he'd realised his brother and lovers were now taking over, practically in charge of a mafia which made them all need to know how to fight. Plus when Summer thought about the things that had been said, Roman was actually more likely to be attacked now they were exploring the world of fashion and weaponising it than he was. He had the body type thanks to his manufacturing that people expected to wear almost all types of outfit, but Roman didn't.

Perhaps it was an unusual form of logic that made Summer go through his memories implanting his perception of Roman into the places he'd worked, but it made it abundantly clear that he'd never have made Summer uncomfortable on purpose. Before he was sentient or not.

Among the humans working in the businesses they'd taken over there were few Summer found he'd actually avoid if taking those jobs again in this computed simulation. Remus or Janus would have fired anyone for treating any android the way the customers used to treat him when in the strip club. Virgil would discover anyone likely to be violent in background checks and had extensive questions and tests in place to measure how much therapy would be needed to help ensure that violence remained directed away from others. Those who refused it were refused the job, and referred to places more suited to them.

Summer might not understand how the management talk about processing trauma, and he might still be reading through the chapter on boundaries in Remus and Roman's manuscript for 'So You've Become Sentient' but he knew this was a safe place and he was helping Roman whether that was by guarding him, teaching him to fight, or simply going shopping and trying out new make up looks with him.