#objective complete

Quick info: Rowan (human, she/her) and Aurelio (android, they/them) are working as special agents in a futuristic space era. Rowan is a young prodigy who is less expressive than people want her to be. Aurelio is her partner who was nearly scrapped for being too emotional (more than that of the average human).

Raymond is a notorious bounty hunter who is enemies with several agencies (including Rowan and Aurelio's). He hates androids with a deep, deep passion. He hates the very blood they're made of.

Moving along-

During a mission not too far into their relationship, Aurelio and Rowan get overwhelmed and separated- Rowan managing to escape, but not go back. Aurelio is just barely saved by a handsome stranger. Oh god.

Having hacked and slashed through so many androids, Raymond fails to recognize Aurelio is an android themself (despite them also bleeding that traditional black blood). He takes them in as a much-needed pair of hands until he can get them to the nearest station.

Their relationship starts that way, at least.

When- at the nearest station- Raymond gets himself into a tight space, Aurelio reacts with kneejerk compassion. They keep him safe until his helmsman can come down with the usual ship. And... there goes Aurelio's ticket home. For a man they already knew was dangerous.

Raymond sees them as an important asset now (though his companion disagrees) and starts dedicating more and more time to them. He'd always been kind to them, but now he's downright soft.

They go on missions together for a while, getting closer despite everything. Even the helmsman warms up to them! Raymond starts thinking he could truly get used to this (and Aurelio's shame wells inside their chest).

Raymond takes a few missions on his own- letting out his violent and cruel feelings away from his newfound love interest- and comes home soaked in the blood of androids. He speaks about them nonstop- inefficient, repugnant machines. Aurelio disagrees, just as a (former?) agent of course, and Raymond writes it off as them being sentimental.

Of course, eventually, the facade wears down. Raymond spots his beloved shipmates' eyes flickering and flashing. At first he doesn't believe it; surely he must've seen wrong. Aurelio was smart, compassionate, quick, and strong. He's consumed with rage, but his heartbreak shines through. In a last choice of mercy, he simply sends Aurelio out and instructs them to never return.

Because this all happens before the main setting of the story, Raymond is a recurring name throughout. Whenever the malicious bounty hunter Raymond is brought up, Aurelio shies away from conversation. They didn't tell anyone what had happened in those months they'd been away.

When Raymond reappears in the story, Rowan is the main one doing the confronting. Now seeing him as he's always been- malicious, violent, and cruel- Aurelio manages to aid Rowan in the fight against him.