An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Valentine stood in a carefully casual stance, but it was obvious he was shaken. He looked so out of place and uncomfortable in his ratty detective's outfit, face to face with a naked and distorted version of his own body. Cecily could hardly blame him for his confusion. Neither, it seemed, could his 'brother'.
"I understand if you need time to process this," DiMA added in the same placid tone.
"Yeah. Well. Thanks for that." Nick's overcoat rustled as he turned sharply to Cecily. “I think that's just about enough. Shall we?”
"Wait." Milky mechanical eyes followed Nick and drifted back to Cecily. "Before you go… will you indulge one final question?"
Cecily lifted a brow. "What is it?"
"Are you a synth?"
Her pulse leapt, but she kept her voice level. "Why would you think that?”
"Many who find their way to Acadia—"
“I’m in the Brotherhood of Steel."
DiMA’s clouded eyes moved over her glowing holotags to the insignia stamped on her combat armor. Then his gaze slid slowly to Nick and back again. “You have surprising taste in companions, Sister of Steel.”
“Well, you're right about one thing," muttered Nick.
Read the rest on AO3.
