#webttore x reader

incredibly high stamina, but rarely puts in the work. he prefers you on your knees, where he can shove you around to his liking. the first time you gave him a blowjob, he came so fast! you didn't expect the sudden mouthful of his seed filling up your throat, making you cough and get some of it on him as well. he tried to keep going, but he was too sensitive, eyes teary as he slammed his fists against the mattress in humiliation. he threatened to kill you if you ever told anyone else...

everyone and their mom knows when you two are fucking. he doesn't even care, being as loud and obnoxious as he wants, laughing the more he got into it. most segments shared this trait, wanting everyone to hear how loud they can make you scream. webby's hold on you was bruising, trying to regain control he felt he never had over his own life.

he loves to put on a confident front, and no matter what you do, he'll mock you like you mean nothing. pay too much attention to any other segment, and he might just show you his newest ruin guard modifications, and how slowly they can melt people while keeping them alive.

but once he gets attached, he starts singing a different tune. the aggression persists, but it turns almost pathetic in a way. he keeps dismissing you without a care in the world, he didn't want you near if you were boring him. but if you dared to do the same, he might just blow up both of instantly.

after a particularly stressful day, webby enjoys taking naps with his head resting on your lap. he didn't understand why the feeling calmed him down so much, causing him to doze off within a few minutes. his hair is soft to the touch, surprisingly well groomed for someone as erratic as him. he took great pride in his appearance, wanting to be different from everyone else.

A few weeks after establishing a relationship with Zandik, he knew he had to do something about his segments.

I mean, they’re part of himself. Obviously if Zandik finds you attractive, so would the others.

Boundaries had to be set.

Most segments nodded along with Zandik’s set of rules: they could lightly touch, grope, and stare all they wanted, but under no circumstance were they to fuck you. Clear enough, right?

Only if Webttore was as compliant as the other segments.

The guy was stunned, cause what do you mean he could do all the things leading to fucking you, but not fuck you? It was absurd!

But Zandik wasn’t having it, he wasn’t going to let them just use you whenever! That was his job.

After a lot of back-and-forth with his creator, Webttore managed to get every right of touching you entirely taken, as punishment for not “appreciating what he had”.

Webttore’s eye twitched.

“THIS IS SO UNFAIR!!!” Webttore exclaimed, making a scene in the middle of the lab as he desperately tried to regain some sort of benefit from you. However, Zandik wasn’t yielding under his loud pleas.

He stormed out the lab, slamming the doors loudly behind him, and began striding toward where you might be so he can sob into your warm chest about how cruel your lover can be!

You knew of Zandik’s rule as you were the first to hear about it.

And now as you lounged around in your comfy shared room, you heard angry and fast footsteps rapidly approaching, snapping the quiet peace you were experiencing buried in the sheets of your double bed.

“Nameeee~!”

The sound of the young man’s whine was heard from right outside your door, giving you no time to react and try to cover yourself up from the lingerie set you were wearing, as Webttore swiftly turned the door handle and let himself in. (The audacity!)

He didn’t wait for an answer from you, closing the door behind him and walking straight into the bed before climbing under the covers with you.

“He’s so mean!”

Webttore grumbled as he wrapped his arms around your waist, turning you on your side as he buried his face in your neck.

“Can’t believe you chose him over me…”

His voice purred, teal strands tickling your cheek as his teeth began playfully nicking at your skin.

You opened your mouth to defend your lover when you felt Webttore’s hands wandering over your skin, one hand pushing your leg forward as he caressed the back of your thigh, his other hand cupping your tit and squeezing to get a reaction from you.

Oh, how you wanted to remind Webttore of Zandik’s rule before his advances led any further! But fuck, you would be lying to yourself if you didn’t want your dearest Webbie to take you right then and there…

Not before toying with him a little.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

You spoke, grabbing his wrist away from your soft chest, and reaching your other hand to tug on his pretty teal locks.

“Ngh..”

Oh. Oh.

Your hand froze in his hair. You did NOT expect that soft little moan from pulling on his hair like that. The sound so small yet needy and desperate, sending warmth in between your legs.

“Come on… he’s not here… he won’t know…”

Webttore mumbled in your shoulder, your back pressed to his chest before feeling something hard grinding against your ass. You felt his hand tugging down on your skimpy bottoms, while his other busied himself with undoing his belt.

“Won’t take long… please, name, please..” he whined, his pretty red eyes turning glassy, as his hand palmed his hard-on through the thin fabric of his pants. Could you be so heartless and leave him with a painful boner?

“…make it quick.”

Webttore didn’t need to be told twice, his kicked-puppy expression crumbling with a sharp smirk as he successfully (and quickly) pulled his pants and boxers down to his knees, before practically ripping off what little fabric you wore.

“Thankyouthankyouthankyou..” He mumbled against your neck as he took out his hardened cock and stroked it slowly with his pre as lube, before shuffling a little closer to you and lining himself up with your already wet entrance.

Your breath hitched, your leg getting lifted by Webttore’s arm as he gave small and weak thrusts to get you used to his length. His head was still lowered in the crook of your neck, whining and whimpering about how wet and warm you felt, about how your pussy was made for him, his thrusts picking up the pace and growing much needier with every mumbled word.

You couldn’t help but moan softly, biting your lower lip to keep quiet, though the headboard of your bed hitting the wall with every inch Webttore pounded into you did the job of letting anyone passing by your room know of your current activity.

You never knew Webttore could be so vocal, his whines and the way his cock pressed against your g-spot so deliciously working efficiently in making you forget entirely about whatever damned ruled Zandik had made!

“P-Please lemme cum… please I need it s’bad name…”

He pathetically whimpered, his thrusts growing sloppier and desperate for release. You could only answer in a moan, your hands gripping the sheets underneath you, before feeling sharp teeth sink into your shoulder and the stillness of Webttore’s hips as he shot his seed into you without any other warning.

“Haah… there we go..”

You felt Webttore smirk against your skin before slipping out of your hole and letting go of your leg to place back your underwear.

“Now don’t go telling anyone, ‘kay?” Webttore said breathlessly as he dressed himself back on.

You nod, and open your mouth to speak before getting cut off by the sound of the door opening, and an angry-looking Zandik standing in the doorway.

“What are YOU doing here.” Zandik spoke, his eyes burning holes into Webttore with a knowing look.

“Just cuddling my fav’ girl. What? Can’t I show any affection anymore?” Webttore smirked and gripped your waist closer, both your clothes rumpled and filled with wrinkles but efficiently covering you both.

At that moment you were completely annoyed at the situation and your seemingly failed mission, but right now you couldn't help but miss it. Miss sumeru. Miss your akademiya days... well not necessarily the akademiya itself but the memories that you created attending it. Nowadays you have to stay cuddled up to preserve warmth, not that you're complaining about being in the arms of your beloved, but when he isn't there even the third layer of your blanket isn't helping.

Unfortunately Zandik typically isn't there, being busy with studying eleazar in the hospital along with the ley lines and the political stuff that were inevitable with being a harbinger. Especially the second of the eleven fatui harbingers.

"What is troubling you?" Zandik asked, clearly pretty patient with you even though you could tell he was more than annoyed with all the paperwork laying upon his desk, however less annoyed than he typically would. Recently, he successfully created his first segment after multiple failures. Of course he would never admit they were failures, more so miscalculated, unexpected results.

"It's nothing. I just lost the page i was on." You replied looking down on the closed book on your lap. "You know with all the noises outside its nearly impossible to focus, how do you do it so effortlessly?"

"Flattery will get you nowhere." You could feel his eyes burning at the back of your head. However its true, it was very noisy outside: previously you were wondering if the heavy glass will survive and not break under the pressure of the storm. You mindlessly flipped through the pages of the book you carefully have chosen two hours ago, wait...what book were you reading again?

"as much as i. . . tolerate your company. I do know that your brain is pretty much turned off by this hour and you might start talking gibberish soon." By the sounds of a pen scratching against Zandiks desk you could tell he continued with his work. "I am willing to call Beta for him to accompany you on your way to our chambers. It might be an useful opportunity for him to learn the terrain more."

You giggled slightly as you remembered how last week Beta got lost in the zapolyarny palace, stepping into the marionettes territory instead of delivering a letter to Crucabena, who was and still is the head of the house the hearth orphanage. You giggled even more stupidly as you remembered how pissed Zandik was. Turns out Beta is not as perfect as his creator wanted him to be, yet.

"Confirms my observation." He murmured to himself watching you giggle to yourself, despite everything he couldn't help but crack a small smile. You looked so worried earlier, looks like your mood changed.

"I heard that you know!" You finally turned around to look at him from your seat. "Okay, but... I do have a question"

"What kind of a question?" He spared you a glance, clearly amused as you made your way to his desk, then next to him, then onto his lap.

"A very important one! If i were to leave you-" "-Doubtful."

"Let me finish!" You grunted, starting to lightly play with his tie. "If i were to leave you, how would you react? What would you do?"

Silence. The room suddenly got quiet or perhaps a certain someone got silenced for once. It was not the good kind of silence too, it was the one that made you want to rip your hair out. You cringed at your question just as soon those words slipped your mouth. You tried to help, to loosen the atmosphere but clearly you just made it even more tense.

"You know like . . . Would you send every single fatui soldier to look for me? Like in those fantasy, fairytale childhood stories that were read to almost every child in sumeru? Would you search every nation, every nook just for me? Just to find me? Just like those knights when they lost their princess?" You stopped abruptly when you couldn't read Zandiks expression anymore. He was staring at you with a blankless expression that made you question every sound that come out of your mouth, until he suddently bursts out laughing. A laugh that you knew a little to well, a laugh that signaled that you just made a fool out of yourself. You hid your head into his shoulder, embarrased.

"oh! I shall call Beta immediately, you don't know what you're saying anymore. You never fail to entertain me!" He stood up, carefully sitting you on his chair that he just sat a second ago. Just as he was about to leave the room he stopped right in the doorway when you started talking.

"Don't you remember the gibberish you were saying when you had that high fever in second year? Or when you begged me to not look at you when you almost threw up all over yourself from the dizziness when we were investigating that one ruin guard in the desert? Mind you we weren't inside even like 5 minutes." You looked up at him as he silently fixed his glasses with his thumb.

"First you're asking dumb questions and now you're making me remember some of my least proudest moments? Truly, i didn't expect you to stoop so low. You won't change my mind, Beta shall accompany you tonight."

"Beta is such a boring name. . . Why don't we call him webttore?" He rolled your eyes at your request. You continued "webttore suits him! he acts like a webtoon character! dottore, webttore, dottore, webttore . . ."

"That's enough." He pinched the top of his nose.

The banter between you ended faster than expected, Zandik lost it when you practically fell asleep on his lap. As your beloved said webttore walked you to your chambers, suprisingly you didn't get lost. As he opened the door with a key and gestured that you make your way inside, you immediately jumped onto the bed exhausted, not bothering to change your clothes nor take your shoes off.

Your eyes fluttered open to see where Beta went, to your surprise he didn't move an inch from the doorway. He stared at you, blankly, just like Zandik did earlier. It was creepier now though, Beta had this mask of his and the shadows of the bedroom certainly weren't helping your imagination. He didn't even react when your eyes met, he still just stood there. Watching. Observing.

"um. . . are you going to come in?" You said so quietly that you weren't even sure he heard it. Like he just snapped out of something he quickly closed the door behind him, leaving you all alone.

Strange, you thought, but endearing. You have yet to grow accustom to this clone of your lover, truth to be told you didn't find him that bad, actually you find him pretty cute. Of course no one could ever replace your lover if he mysteriously disappeared, not a clone, not a segment. Zandik is Zandik and a segment is a segment. Nothing is ever going to change that.

Being on the brink of death is a funny thing. Especially for someone like you, who once sipped the thought — chasing after it. The hasty film flashing into the back of your eyes isn’t a memento of the life you lost — no. It’s desperation, your brain trying to connect bits and pieces of anything that can bring you back from this. You tried to kick your legs, but you weren’t sure if your body was responding accordingly or not, all external senses long gone.

You feel so… so cold…

Would anybody hold your hand?

You’re scared…

Everything goes dark, and you give in to the unstoppable, impetuous pull of oblivion.

You wake up — painfully so — and are immediately exposed to a gathering so full of people (it might as well be a blight, you sneer inwardly) you can’t pinpoint exactly who they are. The clothes and textures feel familiar, the scents and sounds close to what you once called known, yet very different at the same time. They probe and poke at you, but strangely, you don’t feel much of anything. One of them takes your arm, bending it into a V-shape, and— Wait. That is yours!

“Give it back!” You try to syllable the words, but no sound comes forth. One of the oldest turns their attention to your face, squeezing the arm of another man wearing long vests to point at you. Just as hope starts to grow — maybe they’ve noticed your predicament — the man steps forward and covers your eyes. You panic immediately.

No, no, no! …Shit.

How do you interact with the world if the only means you had are gone? What can you do? Can you do anything? Anything at all? Is this it —again?

You’re so lost and confused, and everything feels so much bigger when you're trapped in such a small body and an insurmountably vaster darkness—

can anybody hug you?

You feel — feel — a pair of hands delicately placing your shoulders into position. A pop resounds throughout the void, making the darkness feel a little less constraining. Your hands come next, fingers flexing into existence, joints humming alive, until you’re granted the blessing of sight again. Too deeply engrossed in your surroundings, you fail to notice the young man smiling at you, face half-covered, eyes a deep, scarlet unhinged madness.

That changes when he cups your cheek, bringing your attention back to him. “You, my dear, are beautiful.”

And in that moment — when everything narrows to him, to the softness with which he holds you — you believe yourself to be.

He polishes you for days on end, wiping a dry cloth over your joints to rid them of excess dirt and soot stuck between the clefts. He talks to you about various things. Wars. Knowledge. Gods. Humans — or “fools,” as he gently nicknames humanity. The stars, and everything in between. There isn’t a single moment where silence fills the air between the two of you, not even as your still image keeps blankly staring at him.

“What are you doing?” you ask once, catching him alone — as you often do — while he fixes the electrical cords behind his eyes. “Recalibrating,” he answers simply, forcing you — for the sake of curiosity (such an infuriating trait is better forgotten) — to inquire further.

“There’s something wrong, either with my running parts or my operational software. Of course, I’m already perfect, but nuisances like this may happen from time to time… I need to keep crushing them, yes? Menial business, my dear.”

You find it hard to believe. Dottore is always perfect, from beginning to end. The perfect machine. The perfect mind. The perfect scientist. How could there be anything wrong with him?

“What exactly is the problem?” You search for a chair, sitting… and he flings an arm out to draw you closer.

“My dear,” he begins.

“The world revolves around humans. For those able to understand true power — those with insight. Power derives from knowing how to draw it from its sheath and use it for yourself. Power doesn’t allow distractions; it demands much more than passing, pressing passions. Do you think you can keep up?” The question is… odd. You’re not sure where he’s going with it, but under that mad eye, you get the impression the question itself is more important than the answer.

Finishing his rant, he goes still, waiting. You feel undeniably tense, the scales of this strange interaction tipping over your circuits and sending you into a mental drive of information. It feels… urgent. “Keep up? Are you asking if I’d go after power itself?”

He tuts, apparently unamused by your Socratic semantics. He’s never one to go in circles — not when he’s on the other end, at least. You stare into that black socket — waiting — the hollow pit not quite empty thanks to the faint red light pulsing behind it, insistent, like a warning sign.

“You do not go after power, my dear,” he says. “Power comes to you… with the right means and resources.” You hardly understand, but he seems unperturbed by your silence.

“However, you are not meant for power. Not like I am.”

“Asshole,” you quip, crossing your arms. He clears his throat, snapping back curtly. “Shut up.” His hold tightens, and you get the sense he isn’t fond of your teasing right now.

“Ahem, as I was saying…” He tightens his hold on you enough to make you scrape the chair against the ground until you’re glued to him. “Power is the most important thing. Control. Reason. You might not be able to acquire it, but you will benefit from supporting it.” Supporting him, he means. He hasn’t quite learned the art of subtlety yet, leaving his intentions obvious. He stares at you intently, speaking with confidence, and every beep or clank of machinery around you feels like an extension of his words — of what he’s proposing.

You swallow. “So… not to keep up — but to go with?” you ask, tentative. He assesses the statement with calculated silence. “To… stay with?” you add quietly, gauging his true intent. He seems amused by the nervousness spreading across your face.

“Of course, my dear,” he replies — not giving you a definitive answer. Not enough to satisfy the growing pile of questions in your mind, at least. The supplied affirmation feels… incomplete.

Ignoring the fragile momentum he’s built inside your fragmented thoughts, he removes his arm and stands. With a few practiced twists, slotting screws into place — screws that will never be as tight inside his own mind — he replaces his mask. The absence of his arm is immediate. A hollowness where pressure used to be. Balance falters quietly. You don’t sway — not quite — but he notices.

“Still,” he murmurs, already moving again, “your stabilization needs work.”

You open your mouth to respond, but no words come. Thoughts still arrive fully formed, yet speech takes an extra moment — like reaching for something just out of frame. By the time you find the sound, he’s already behind you. You feel the table before you see it. Cold. Smooth. Familiar.

“Sit,” he says, not unkindly. Never unkindly — at least not to you. You do, restless, your hands fidgeting—palms up formigating in a way you haven’t felt in a long time. Not since you stopped being and started simply existing.

Metal meets metal beneath your spine — a soft click, then a deeper one. Something aligns. The hum in your chest evens out, settling into a lower register. You exhale, once, sharply— surprised by the relief.

“There,” Dottore says. “Better.” You nod. It’s true. Whatever was drifting inside you snaps back into place — obedient, quiet. You hadn’t realized it was wrong until it stopped being so. He circles you slowly, like a man inspecting a sculpture mid-restoration. You follow him with your eyes, then stop when your neck resists the turn. Not stiff — just… limited. He notices.

“We’ll widen your range later,” he says flatly. “There’s no need to strain.”

“I wasn’t—” Something unsettled deep in your mind makes you stop, reconsider. Words are optional — they always are when he’s near. And if you stop yourself, it’s your choice… but he’s offering more. And who are you to deny it?

You pause. Then turn back to him. “All right.” That earns a pleased sound. Not quite a laugh — something softer. “See? You’re learning.”

He kneels before you, close enough that you feel his warmth through the thin layer of your casing. His gloved hands rest on your articulated joints, tracing where juncture meets juncture — a sealed path only the one who concealed it could follow. His thumb makes small circles where your knees are—would be. They’re articulated, properly oiled, cared for with the devotion only a madman with obsession could muster. Despite the gloves, his touch still registers as intimate.

“Do you know why you survived?” he asks.

You hesitate. Another question that isn’t really a question.

“Because you—”

“Yes,” he cuts in immediately, eyes wide. “But more than that.”

His thumb glides along the seam of your thigh, testing how far it moves — as though hoping skin might break into goosebumps beneath it. It doesn’t. He isn’t disappointed.

“Because you were useful,” he continues, calm — eerily so — and unapologetic.

This time, you cut him off. Not with words, but with a look — blatant despite the absence of lesser muscles, as if not even fire and steel could carve out what it means to be human.

“Not in the crude sense — don’t look at me like that,” he says, amused, a smirk tugging at his cheek. “I don’t mean expendable. I mean capable of becoming more.”

The ball joints in your limbs crackle.“I didn’t ask for this,” you snap, affected.

“No,” he agrees. “You couldn’t have.” There’s no defensiveness. No irritation. No hard glare to give you room for righteous anger, to challenge what he thinks of you. Just certainty — spoken like a man stating the weather.

“But you would have died without it.” Silence stretches. Not heavy, just… present.

Utterly defeating.

“I know,” you admit, lowering your head. His hands tighten — possessive, but not painful. Grounding, when they shouldn’t be. You cave too easily. Your old self would call it salt in the wound, but this self… this self yields. Sometimes even craves it. And it is you.

“That’s all that matters,” he says, savoring your surrender. He rises and steps behind you. One hand cups your jaw, fingers firm but careful, tilting your head back just enough to limit movement. “Relax,” he murmurs.

You do — or something inside you does on your behalf.

His grip adjusts minutely. Measures. Leathered fingers drape across your throat as he angles your head side to side, watching where resistance sets in. You feel it — the invisible line where motion simply stops. “Ah. I see.” His thumb presses beneath your ear. A reference point. "So that’s where it locks.” he murmurs. “Interesting.” He presses further. Harder.

“Does it hurt?”

“No.” It’s true. There’s no pain, only absence — a missing stretch, an itch you can’t reach. He releases you only to reposition, hands sliding to the base of your skull, supporting rather than forcing. Lifting. Lowering. Rotating. Careful. Reverent. Like a man learning the limits of something precious. “Your range is narrower than it should be.”

You don’t know how to feel about that.

“We’ll widen it later,” he says calmly. “Once I understand how you compensate.” His hands linger longer than necessary before withdrawing.

You’re limited. You don’t need to force yourself to remember — everything he does circles back to that truth, to someone you once were and can never be again. You close your eyes. When you open them, he’s closer, one gloved hand tilting your face up. You let him. You always do.

“You mourn yourself,” he says softly. Not accusing. Observant. “I see it in the way you hesitate.”

Your mouth opens. Closes. You don’t deny it.

“That’s acceptable,” he continues. “Grief is a transitional state. It means you’re still calibrating.” His thumb brushes beneath your eye, wiping away nothing. “You don’t need to be what you were,” he says. “You only need to continue.”

Continue. The word settles neatly between systems.

“What if I can’t?” He smiles — small, sincere, rare. “Then I’ll make it so you can.” He rests his forehead against yours, murmuring so sweetly you almost believe the promise isn’t as dark as it sounds. Your sensors adjust automatically. Your body accommodates him without being asked.

“There is nowhere else for you,” he whispers — not a warning, but an odd type of reassurance. “And there doesn’t need to be.”

You close your eyes again. You miss yourself. You miss things you can no longer name. But his hands are steady. And the hum inside you is quiet.

So you stay.

"Yes." You mumble.

"Hm?"

"The answer for your first question." He pauses, then smirks as if that was the only achievable result he was trying to find for a particularly elusive equation.

@rivkadreamer on Tumblr: Do not steal my works, or feed it to AI for that matter. My garbage shall remain mine.

The segment wasn't exactly amazing at dealing with people, but he still knew basic manners and etiquette. Attending social events wasn't exactly foreign to him either, and although they were a complete drag, they usually went off without a hitch. When Prime was his age and a younger Harbinger, he was more frequently invited to social affairs. Perhaps that's why Beta was a target, much to the segment's dismay. (After all, just imagine if Dottore were to send someone like Alpha or Zeta into the public's eye. It probably wouldn't end well.)

And so, that was how the scholar found himself in his current predicament, glaring at the paper that so kindly invited 'Lord Il Dottore' to a social gathering, naturally one where only those of high status, both within and outside of the Fatui, attended. It was a way to maintain relationships and also make new ones for the sake of the organization, though Beta had no interest in such things. And it was no use asking another one of his fellow segments, seeing as they didn't take pleasure in such an activity either. The idea of mingling among pompous fools had put the segment in a bad mood that would probably last for days - until the creak of his door immediately caught his attention.

"Have I not told you all not to bother me when-" Beta's annoyance rang out as he raised his head to scowl at the offending intruder, but he quickly stopped himself when he realized who this invader was.

It was none other than you - the person he was trying to earn the favor (more specifically, love) of. The beloved of Prime Dottore, the one whom the original held above all, and by extension, so did the segments, although they unfortunately did not have the privilege you afforded to Prime (the privilege being unreserved affection, love, cuddles, kisses, even intimacy…)

"[Name]." Beta's mood bolstered at the sight of you, straightening up in his seat. He couldn't help but secretly get excited whenever you came to visit him. It was still early in his relationship with you, and he was still determining how you felt about him. In the beginning, you seemed to be nervous and scuttled away from him… but now, seeing as you're coming here of your own free will, he must be doing something right, even if "courting" wasn't something that came naturally to him, especially compared to some of the other segments.

"Hello… is now a good time?" You peeked from beyond the door, looking in with slight concern as you had caught a glimpse of his glowering expression. "I can go if-"

"Nonsense," Beta interrupted you. "Come here," he beckoned, with a bit more excitement than he probably should have shown. You quickly made your way to him, glancing at the desk to see what could have gotten him in a bad mood this time. Beta tried not to react when you placed your hands on his shoulder, resting your head on him as well.

"Did something happen? You seemed pretty grumpy when I came in," you laughed, nudging him affectionately. The scholar's discontent immediately returned once you brought up the matter of his annoyance.

"It is nothing I can do much about," Beta grumbled, crossing his arms, already imagining the scenarios he might have to deal with. You perked up in interest and stretched your hands out to read what could possibly have such a man at a loss, and he passed it to you. Once you read it, you completely understood what the fuss was about now. The poor scholar continued to air his grievances, now that he actually had someone who would listen wholeheartedly, and perhaps offer him some comfort.

"It is a complete and utter waste of time. Does The Jester not know how busy all of us are? And yet I am still forced to entertain the company of these dolts." Beta's hands began to wave around, reinforcing his irritation. He had a tendency to do that when emotions were high.

"It is only for a day or two, isn't it? And it doesn't even start until the evening," you tried to comfort your lover, stroking his fluffy hair. He stiffened, pausing the movement of his twitching hands at your softness. The gentleness of your fingers managed to make his exasperation dissipate for a few seconds, but it still bubbled up again, though to a lesser degree.

"It doesn't matter. Much can be accomplished within the time I am forced to be there. And I do not appreciate being interrupted in the middle of an experiment. In fact, the new parts that I had requested have just come in and-" True to Beta's nature, he got sidetracked and began to go on about his latest endeavors with his machines, but you patiently listened as his excitement once more turned downcast as reality hit him.

"Aww… I'm sorry, Beta. I guess it is a drag," you patted him in comfort. Although social interaction came naturally to some people, you easily knew this was one of Beta's - or rather all of the Dottores' - least favorite things. You didn't really notice, but the segment had actually simmered down, thanks to having you around.

"I've done it before," he waved off your worries, ignoring the soft concern in your eyes. "Perhaps this time I'll be able to leave early without being stopped." You let out a soft noise of amusement, before a brilliant idea came to you - one that could maybe make this whole thing much more tolerable for Beta!

"Can I come with you?" You proposed the question innocently enough, but Beta's eyes widened as he blankly stared at you, a sure sign that your question was crazy enough to make even him have to process it.

"…You?" He repeated slowly, as if needing to confirm what you said.

"Yeah! I mean, the invitation does say you can bring a partner," you said, scanning the contents of the letter again. "If Dottore says I can go, then I could keep you company. And then instead of interacting with others, you can talk to me! Isn't that genius?" You giggled, pleased by your idea. You weren't exactly the best in social environments either, but it'd be easier with the segment at least. And with your fragile state, Dottore was always very cautious about sending you out into certain situations. But you began to imagine it anyway while the scholar ran through his own calculations in his mind.

It did not take much time for him to come to the conclusion that if you were to come with him to the event, it would be so much more bearable. Hours spent dawdling with boring people could suddenly be transformed into long-awaited, uninterrupted time with his partner. The segment could picture it perfectly: nearly being pulled into a group for meaningless prattle, before you quickly whisked him away to a corner instead.

However, bringing you as his guest would surely draw plenty of attention. After all, the invite to bring a plus one was just formalities - no one expected a Harbinger, much less the Second, to bring a guest. And as much as he did not like the idea of strangers intently gazing at you… it was something he was willing to bear if he could be with you. The more he pieced together, the more Beta began to grin with glee, previous demeanor nearly forgotten. You immediately noticed, too, because he began to release short chuckles before it turned into full-on laughter. That was sort of Beta's signature trait, but you always thought it was cute.

"So.. does that mean that you-" Before you could finish, the segment abruptly grabbed your hands and pulled you rather close to him, where your nose was nearly brushing his mask. He didn't seem to care about the snug proximity between you two, although you were certainly warming up at the contact. You could see the excitement in his eyes, the kind of craze he got when he was making progress in his research, and that wasn't even considering how wide he smiled, countless pointy teeth making an appearance, and difficult to count.

"That would be excellent! Why, you even deserve to be rewarded for willingly throwing yourself into this garbage!" His grip on you grew tighter as he seemed to be thinking of possible… rewards(?) to gift you in exchange for your simple suggestion.

"Well, that's awfully kind of you but-" You laughed shyly before Beta shot up from his seat, glinting smile still on his face.

"A week from today. I will remind you the day before. Be ready. I look forward to you accompanying me." The segment said everything so quickly with such delight, you hardly had the chance to speak.

"Beta, I still need to ask Prime-" But before you could even get that through to him, he was off and heading back into the depths of his lab. Maybe you gave him some motivation to power through the next few days…?

—

Most people could only guess as to how you managed to make the Second bend to your wishes. But with you constantly latching onto him and presenting your best pleading eyes, Dottore let you attend the gathering with his segment. Though his segments were headache-inducing at times, at the very least, he could generally trust them with your safety - after all, he was once them, and he took no chances when it came to you.

Meanwhile, the agents seemed a bit unsettled by Beta's unusual demeanor, but decided to go along with it, seeing as the segment being in a good mood was a blessing. As for you, you'd seen the scholar a few times since that day, and his face would always go from neutral or annoyed to beaming with dangerously sharp teeth.

You had only recently begun to get touchy with Beta. Even though you knew the segments were all once Zandik, they were all so unique and different in their own way. So naturally, it took time for you to get close to them and eventually pursue romance. As for Beta, so far, you two have indulged in quick kisses and some cuddles here and there. Nothing too extreme, but it warmed your heart nonetheless. You could see, despite how bold and eccentric he could be, he'd trail behind you at times like a lost and needy kitty, hands stuffed in his pockets as he mumbled under his breath (probably him rationalizing his silly actions to himself). And so, you were delighted to spend more time with Beta.

As for what you were going to wear, you didn't have that many formal clothes. But Columbina occasionally gifted you fancy clothing, which you really didn't have much use for, until now. And so, you had carefully picked out something suitable for the occasion - you hoped so at least, feeling a bit uneasy about needing to live up to expectations, since you were going to be walking in with none other than The Doctor. More importantly, you wondered what Beta would think. You hoped he would like it.

And of course, anything relating to you usually spreads quickly among the segments, so they knew of your outing with Beta - most of them being slightly jealous that the other segment was the first to take you out on this sort of thing.

"If I had known you were interested in these kinds of things, I would have asked you to accompany me from the start," Omega had mentioned, not long after he found out, kissing the palm of your hand in regret. Being one of the most well-spoken segments, he too, was sometimes forced into going to events, but seeing as his work was quite important, he got out of the duty often.

"As I would," Sigma added. "Speaking of, why don't I give you some lessons in dancing? All of us Harbingers are required to be skilled in it, you know. I'm sure it would be of great use to you while you're away," the segment said as he slyly looped his arm around you.

"Well, for one… I'm not necessarily interested… I just wanted to make Beta feel better! And secondly, that's not a bad idea. I guess that-" Before you could finish, a displeased voice interrupted you.

"-Would not be necessary," Beta said, an obvious scowl on his face. Although the segment knew that your interactions with his other selves were more than common, it didn't mean he was fond of them, especially when they were trying to steal his time with you away. "I can teach them the basics myself." Sigma let out a sigh of disappointment at being disrupted, while Omega remained neutral as he always did.

"Aren't you already losing time from your experiments by going to that event? It would be more efficient for one of us to teach them instead," Sigma countered, reluctant to let you go, but Beta already had a sufficient answer.

"I am more than capable of completing my work on time. Furthermore, if you want to speak of efficiency, it would make the most sense for them to practice with the person they will actually be dancing with. Not you," Beta emphasized the last word before swiftly grabbing your hand and pulling you to him. Omega remained silent. He had no reason to fight over you, not when his claim over you was known to all. You'd make your way back to him in due time.

Later, you were pleasantly surprised that the segment was actually… fairly good at teaching you.

"You know, I'm surprised you taught me so well. I thought I'd be a lost cause by now." You don't know why, but you thought Beta wouldn't be very good, perhaps from the way he impatiently spoke to others, but with you, he was… gentle, even when you stepped on his feet. With enough time, you had grown to be at least decent.

"Did you think I would be unable to teach you something as simple as this?" Beta would have been offended if anyone besides you said that, considering all of the complicated topics he dealt with on a daily basis.

"No, no… I just thought you'd be more like…" You adjusted your tone to try to match the segment's, "'You're wasting my time and my patience! Go and figure it out yourself!' … Or something like that," you teased him, giggling at his unamused expression.

"Putting aside the fact that I do not sound like that, I would never say something like that to you," he scoffed, although adjusting his collar a bit bashfully. Even though he was in love with you, he couldn't let himself turn any more of a bumbling fool than he had already become. But he paused when he saw you smile even more, before you suddenly hugged him.

"Why, thank you! Now I know who to come to when I need a good explanation!" You couldn't help but beam at the thought of being special to him. Beta, on the other hand, ignored the blush that was conveniently hidden by his mask.

"As long as you're aware," was what he settled on, as he stiffly yet softly patted your head.

—

Seeing as the gathering wasn't until the evening, you had more than enough time to get dressed. Some segments tried to "help you" get ready, but they really just wanted to get a glimpse of you all fancy. You had to chase them away and leave it as a surprise instead.

In the end, there was only one segment you'd open the door for (excluding Zandy, the child was the first to hype you up), and that was none other than your partner for the night.

"It's me," came from behind your door, a knock accompanying it.

"I'm coming!" You finished panicking over your appearance and rushed to open the door. And there Beta was, fitted in an actual suit instead of his usual clothes (though his pink bow tie remained). Naturally, you found yourself at a loss for words at the sight, similarly to when he would roll up his sleeves, revealing his bare arms, which may or may not have made your mind go to other places.

Regardless, as handsome as he looked, he didn't seem to be that much of a fan, from the way he was pulling at the buttoned jacket. It wasn't hard to guess that such stuffy attire wasn't his thing, and within moments, your suspicions were confirmed.

"The dress code is always so-" The scholar pulled his attention away from his clothes to glance at you, before he too was left speechless. You scratched your head, a bit embarrassed.

"I don't really wear stuff like this, but I had to dress for the occasion, you know?" You laughed, although Beta's wide eyes didn't move, once again a sign he was studying you closely. He had never seen you in it, but your outfit suited you perfectly. It was always obvious that you were pretty, but this solidified things. He just had to ignore the fact that others would be looking at you too.

"You look," the words nearly died on his tongue, not being the best with compliments, "exceptional." That probably wasn't the best word he could have used, but his mind was focused on something else rather than what was coming out of his mouth. However, you brightened and smiled wider, seemingly appreciating his words. Beta had to change the subject before his mind went to… not so appropriate places.

"Are you ready to go?" You looked yourself over one more time before nodding. "Good." Without warning, Beta grabbed your hand and began to pull you away, pacing faster than you anticipated. Not to mention, you noticed that you two weren't going the usual way.

"Shouldn't we leave through the main entrance?"

"If we did that, we'd be late with the amount of time the others would spend trying to keep you there," Beta protested, slight jealousy creeping into his voice.

"Oh, okay…" You didn't know what to say to that, especially when he was holding your hand so protectively.

—

It wasn't until you both made it outside, the snowfall less brutal than normal, that your partner finally let go of your hand. The sight of the Fatui guards, waiting at the carriage, immediately turned things awkward for the segment. The poor things stared straight ahead and pretended like they hadn't seen anything when their Lord Harbinger carefully helped you up and into the vehicle.

The ride to where the event was being held was oddly quieter than you thought. You thought that Beta would be more talkative - whether it was ranting about his research, his agents, or this pointless gathering - but nope, he remained silent, save for a few fleeting glances at you. It made you a bit nervous, admittedly, and so you tried to do something about it.

Getting up from your seat across from your lover, you sat next to him instead, gently wrapping your arms around his. He clearly didn't expect that, judging from the way he stiffened, but his expression seemed relaxed enough.

"Are you alright? You haven't said much," you trailed off in worry as you tilted your head, trying to get a better read on him. It was then that he realized what he had done.

See, Beta didn't plan to be all quiet and lost in his own thoughts. In fact, he had a multitude of topics to discuss with you, to see your eyes glint with anticipation, or your cute little gasps, or when you'd clap with excitement. But that was lost when he'd set eyes on you, coherent sentences disappearing at how lovely you looked. And so, not wanting to look more like a fool, he resigned himself to silence and to push himself to grow accustomed to your beauty first. But in his efforts to compose himself, he may or may not have made you slightly concerned, and he had to rectify that.

"Of course," he reassured you. "I simply was… preparing myself for what I'll have to deal with in a bit, as I always have to do." The response seemed good enough for you as you loosened your grip on him, and he instantly missed your warmth.

"By the way, is there anything I should know? I don't want to do anything dumb while I'm there…" you admitted a bit anxiously, drooping your head. To that, Beta had one answer.

"Stay by my side at all times," he said. "You don't need to worry about anything."

"But do I need to act a certain way? Or eat? Or drink? Will the others like me? Can I sit when I want or-" Before you could finish, he firmly tilted your chin, lifting it up to meet his gaze. Even now, he still wore his mask, but you could still see the emotion in his eyes. Putting a name to it would make your heart race too much.

"Don't waste your time worrying about insignificant things," he demanded. His words were gruff, but well-intentioned. "I only want you to focus on enjoying yourself." Otherwise, this whole thing would be even more unbearable, he thought, but he didn't mention that part. Quietly, you nodded, some tension leaving your body as you snuggled into his shoulder. He seemed to have been able to dispel some of your concerns, Beta observed, but he knew just what else to do.

"Regardless, I have excellent news on the progress on RG-271!"

—

Although Beta had reminded you again just to ignore all the other "dull morons" and stick close by, you were still having a hard time dismissing all the attentive eyes on you. From the moment you stepped off the carriage, the eyes of many other guests were on you, some masking their shock well, while others… not so much. Beta didn't pay mind to them, though, only linking his arms with yours and walking straight ahead, occasionally acknowledging some people.

… Well, you hadn't expected him to be this touchy in public, but you supposed that this was the way people entered with their partners in a high-class gathering like this one. In a way, although this was a bit scary, it felt… kind of nice for it to be known that even Dottore had a partner - and it was you.

Although Beta's attention seemed focused on his surroundings, he was actually only interested in watching you. You looked to be taking things well, which in turn made him feel better about this whole thing. Perhaps if you liked it, you could come with him to his next gathering. Then these headaches wouldn't be so bad anymore.

Zapolyarny Palace was just as luxurious as he remembered. He recognized the room where everyone was, large and grand enough to host a substantial number of people. But judging from your expression, you were blown away by it all. At that moment, one of the many agents around the room scurried up to greet him.

"Welcome, my distinguished Lord Harbinger, Il Dottore. We are delighted to have you here. As well as…?" It was a sincere, practiced greeting, but Beta could hear the laced fear in the man's voice. Not that he cared.

"[Name], my partner. I expect them to be treated with the utmost respect," he ordered. The implication of what would happen if anything happened to you was easily conveyed to the agent.

"Understood, my lord. I hope you and your partner enjoy yourselves tonight." If the agent was surprised, he did well to hide it too, which was rather impressive.

"So… what do we do now?" You piped up, his arm still intertwined with yours. Truthfully, he should have probably let go by now… but it wouldn't hurt to keep your warmth close by. He definitely would need it to keep him sane for the rest of the night.

"Normally," he huffed, pulling at his jacket again, "I'd find a corner and hope no one would try to converse with me. But that rarely ever-" As if on cue, a voice called out to him, shattering the segment's hopes of spending more alone time with you. His split-second irritation was quickly wiped away as he prepared himself for mind-numbing small talk.

"Lord Dottore, it's a pleasant surprise to see you here!" It was a small group of investors that worked with the banker, and so, the scholar was forced to be civil with them too, lest something happened to his funding.

"… As with you." The segment nodded his head in (false) agreement.

"We haven't seen each other since the last meeting. I suspect your… research has been going well. But more importantly… I believe we haven't been introduced to the person by your side." The group's gaze was attracted to you from the start. After all, who wouldn't be nosy about someone the Harbinger felt worthy enough to bring here? Instinctively, Beta tightened his grip around you.

"This is my partner, [Name]," Beta repeated again. Nothing more, nothing less. Only those few words were what was needed. A few seconds passed by with no response, before you decided to speak too.

"It's nice to meet you all!" It was an odd sight, your bright face compared to his, calculating eyes narrowed as if he was carefully watching their reaction.

"… It's delightful to meet you as well. We would all love to speak with you further if-" Beta quickly put a stop to that.

"You must forgive us, but my lover and I have other matters to attend to." Such cordial language felt unpleasant on his tongue, but there was no way he was going to let you get caught up in their probing. Business people like them knew just exactly what to ask to get an uncomfortable amount of information while plastering a smile on their face, and he was not going to let you get hurt. Within seconds, the scholar was nudging you elsewhere.

"Beta, I wouldn't have minded talking, you know."

"They are not suitable for the kind of conversation you'd want. Besides, would you not prefer to talk to me?" He baited for your attention almost pathetically, but of course, you indulged him.

"You're absolutely right. But it's also funny to see you speak so nicely," you couldn't help but chuckle at his etiquette. Of course, you knew he was faking it all, but it was still interesting to see.

"Though Prime does not care how the public perceives him, it's easier for all of us if things go smoothly," Beta grumbled. "I, personally, don't care for it either, but I'd rather not have him lecturing me. But furthermore," Beta finally untangled his arm from yours, and began to reach for your hand, "it would be best for us to find a more suitable location and-"

"Oh, Lord Dottore, I didn't expect to see you here!" Beta tried not to deflate at the sound of another voice. Much to his dismay, a conversation similar to the previous one occurred again, and he swiftly swept you away.

"Lord Dottore, it is an honor to meet you again."

And again.

"Would you do us the privilege of introducing us to your guest, Lord Dottore?"

And again.

"Lord Dottore, if I may, I'd love to chat with your dear guest."

Basically, you two were getting ambushed at every turn. (And Beta was snatching you away the moment you finished basic greetings, not fond of the others getting too close to you, despite expecting this to some degree. As anyone could see, he wasn't fond of sharing, if the way he hovered over you said anything.) Thankfully, after a little while, the traffic died down, and others resorted to quick glances and quiet gossip. Beta was unfortunately used to it, but he could see you were a bit winded from all that interaction.

"… Are you alright?" The segment questioned, finally being able to pull you away from the center.

"Yeah! I mean, I knew a lot of people would talk to you, but phew!" You breathed a sigh of relief at the swarm being over. Technically, Beta knew you were right, but he also knew many of those people were trying to be a thorn in his side by trying to learn a bit too much about you. Even though you were with Dottore for years, he'd always try to keep the relationship as secret as possible for numerous reasons, like safety for one. But of course, no matter how much he tried, things would slip out eventually, so his iron grip let up more than he originally intended. And even now, he'd done well to make sure it didn't spread throughout the entire organization.

"Next time, I'll make sure that things will be different," he promised. He'd had a word with whoever he needed to, if he had to. For one, he didn't appreciate having your attention stolen away from him. It was like the times when Krupp would randomly interrupt him while he was trying to court you. It left him feeling slightly murderous. Unfortunately, he couldn't take his anger out on these people, unlike Krupp.

"Oh, already thinking about the next one? What makes you think I'll join you again?" You teased, but the segment took your joke seriously as his face set into a blank stare, as if trying to think of valid reasons as to why you'd accompany him again. "… Okay, I was just joking. Don't worry about that."

And with that, you two were finally set to enjoy a more relaxing evening together.

—

Even though you could see why Beta hated gatherings like these, it actually wasn't that bad. Despite the crowd, the room was big enough so you still had space. The food was yummy. Beta was able to avoid any more conversations thanks to being completely absorbed in a discussion with you, making people too scared to interrupt him. You two even danced together!

But with all that excitement, after a while, you were pretty tired. Beta noticed it too, and you were impressed he could keep up such an unbothered demeanor for so long. Still, he led you to an empty table for you to rest, your feet dragging behind. You wore comfy shoes, and your feet were still hurting. You almost didn't notice when your chair was warm and moving around on you. Blinking the tiredness out of your eyes, you suddenly very much noticed that your chair was, in fact, Beta's lap.

Alright, forget what you said about Beta's etiquette. Sitting on your lover's lap in front of all these people was certainly not proper.

"B-Beta!" You half-yelled, half-whispered. "I can't just be in your lap!" Your immediate response was to try and get up, but the segment held you down.

"Why not?" He asked, as if he found your question debatable. "You were the one who wanted to."

Alright, you may or may not have wandered into your partner's lap instead of an actual chair in your haze of tiredness, but that didn't invalidate your previous statement as you awkwardly fumbled around.

"People are around…" Many, many, many people, you wanted to add as you hid your face in embarrassment.

"But no one is looking," he pointed out. Because they knew better than to stare. You were surprised to see he was right. In fact, they seemed to be moving away from you two.

"Well, I guess you are right," you admitted. Plus, the segment was all warm and cozy, arms snugly holding you in place. It was a much better place to rest than having your head on a table. As for Beta, he didn't seem to care about others' opinions anyway.

Despite Beta's confidence in keeping you here, in truth, he was having difficulty adjusting. You had been on his lap only one or two times before, and his inexperience was beginning to be irritating. Were you comfortable like this? Did you like where he placed his hands? Should he move around or stay like this? He wondered if you noticed his hands twitching indecisively, but you looked quite content, cuddled into him. Perhaps he was better at this than he thought?

It was then that you noticed the table was filled with finger food for people to snack on, but more specifically, with sweets! And although the Dottores hated to admit it, they all had a secret sweet tooth.

You had noticed Beta didn't eat much throughout the gathering, and that was probably due to the fact that he didn't need to eat anyway. But surely he wouldn't be able to refuse this. You reached for the small cake, and called out for Beta, who seemed to be in his own thoughts from the way he blankly gazed at you.

"Beta," you murmured. "Try this," you lifted the tiny sweet to his lips with a smile, before he narrowed his eyes and grabbed your hand.

"A cake? You know I do not need food."

"But it's tasty, and you love sweets! Come on, I think you deserve it after how hard you worked tonight," you grinned, being able to push it closer to his mouth, as his grip on you was by no means tight. It was gentle. Gentleness with another was something he was still learning, but with you, it was coming more naturally than he anticipated.

Beta wondered if you could see the hunger most definitely glimmering in his eyes. Weren't you the one concerned with others seeing you in this position? And yet now you were doing something so tender for all to see? Sometimes he wondered what went through that mind of yours. But he couldn't bring himself to stop you. And so, you slipped the treat into his mouth, fingers just barely brushing his lips.

"Is it good?" You ignored how his tongue glided across his razor-sharp teeth; otherwise, your mind would go to the wrong places.

"It is," he confirmed. It was to be expected, to be honest, nothing less than delectable would be served in Her Highness' palace. But it was even better since you were the one feeding him.

"Oh, good! Here, I'll get you another-"

"It's always such a pleasure to see you, Doctor." The sound of that familiar, smooth voice had caught both of you off guard.

"Regrator." Beta was wholly unamused by the sight of his co-worker, while you were floundering for words, embarrassment going from zero to one hundred.

"P-Pantalone! What brings you here?!" The suave banker cocked his head, that teasing smile on his face saying everything.

"Why, I too received an invitation. I figured it'd be a good opportunity to maintain some connections. But I was unaware that you, too, were invited, Doctor. Even more surprising, you brought your dear [Name] along. How sweet," the Ninth cooed deliberately to get under Beta's skin. You, on the other hand, wanted to evaporate. Beta didn't give him a reaction, much to the banker's disappointment.

"Since you happen to be here, you should know that Alpha happens to be rather exasperated by the amount of funding you've given him. It would be helpful if you spoke to him before we have to hear his griping any longer." Beta easily changed the topic, hands still secure around you, although you couldn't bear to meet Pantalone's gaze. The banker only laughed in response, clearly enjoying this.

"Is that so? I'll keep that in mind and be off now," he hummed. "And [Name], do take care of the Doctor tonight. I'm sure he needs it." You didn't even know what he was suggesting, as your face was set aflame, while Beta muttered something incoherent under his breath, clearly not appreciating his remarks.

… You didn't say it out loud, but you had a feeling Pantalone was never going to let Beta, or even any of the other segments, live that down.

Despite that slightly mortifying meeting, from then on, it was mostly uneventful. No one came to bother the segment, just as he planned, and therefore, he was able to talk to you as much as he wanted. How wonderful that was, not having to deal with his fellow segments bothering you either. After a while, though, you got tired of talking and opted for quietly resting on his chest instead, eyes closed but not asleep. That was fine with him, too.

As the night went on, people began to leave little by little, and naturally, Beta was now looking for an opportunity to leave as well. He's already stayed longer than he liked, but that was in part due to not wanting to interrupt your rest too quickly. He always had little patience for things that bored him… but he endured more than he usually would, just for you.

It was then that he overheard the exchange between… two agents, it seemed. Even though they were a distance away, the segment did have enhanced senses, but it didn't help that their ramblings were intensified by intoxication. Drinking on the job? Well, it wasn't any of his concerns.

"That's Lord Dottore over there, right?" One of them said. Gossiping about him? Well, it wasn't anything he or the other Harbingers were unaccustomed to rumors, and he himself rarely ever found the desire to address them.

"Yup," another hiccuped. "But who is that on his… erm, lap?"

"You didn't hear? That is, apparently," the agent's voice lowered, "his lover." The word made the other nearly choke in shock.

"Alright, is that a joke? They hardly look capable of anything, much less worthy of the Lord Harbinger's attention," he laughed.

"Were you not paying attention to the higher-ups? They clearly said Lord Dottore brought a guest, his partner. But I can't blame you. It is still unbelievable. They hardly seem to be anything special."

"He must just be keeping them around for entertainment. I heard he gets bored easily and moves on quickly to more interesting things. I bet this is the same," the agents chuckled in agreement before wandering off to slack off again, unaware of Beta's gaze that could kill if possible.

Yes, Dottore and the segments were mostly uninterested in what others had to say, but that was discarded when they had the gall to badmouth you. It wasn't the first time, as it happened in the lab a few times, but it was quickly stopped thanks to, well, the segments' unique way of making an example (and that wasn't even counting the time an uninformed agent made you cry).

But before he could think too far ahead, his fingers twitched, and he remembered you were still with him, soft flesh calming him down some. Beta studied you, wondering if you heard their crass assumptions, but you seemed to be recovering in your own world. That was a good thing; otherwise, he'd be far more upset.

Glancing again at the retreating agents, he knew that he could wait. For now, his priority was you.

—

Being a Harbinger, he was afforded a lavish room right in the palace instead of finding another residence. Normally, Beta would have just headed right back to the lab, even if the moon had settled in the sky, but he knew you needed to rest. (He totally didn't want your attention solely on him for a while longer, either!) But judging from the way you flopped on the bed, his suspicions were correct. He searched for the right words as you relished the softness of the sheets.

"How do you feel?" Beta asked, and you flipped around to face him properly, red eyes searching every part of you for an answer.

"I'm good! Just a bit tired… but nothing some rest can't fix. What about you? Was my company beneficial to you? I hope so." You sat up properly, already back to teasing him.

"Of course it was. You were a great help," he said honestly, which was some of the highest praise you could receive from him. You appeared to be pleased with his answer. The segment itched to tell you more, tell you the actual depth of how delighted he was with your company, but unlike his other selves, sweet words never came naturally. Instead, he was left gawking at you while you smiled.

"Well… I'll go take a bath before bed. It's been a long day, and I want to clean up." You got up, retrieving some clean clothes that the staff were so kind to provide you with. "What about you?"

"I'll wait for you." Before you could protest, not wanting to waste your partner's time, he stopped you. "You know I don't need sleep anyway."

"Okay… I'll try to be quick!" You rushed into the bathroom before he could reassure you to take your time. With a sigh, Beta sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the ceiling.

Was he able to get closer to you today? Without a doubt, yes. But did your feelings toward him change, even a bit? He believed so, at least based on what he had observed. You were shy, but didn't seem put off in the slightest when he held you tight, not rejecting the curl of his arm around your waist. It was slow progress, but progress nonetheless. It wasn't a different process for any of his fellow segments, not even for the most selfish one. You got close to them, little by little, on a basis you felt comfortable with. Were all of them eager and impatient for you to trust them? Of course, but they all waited for you.

But the Omega segment, in particular, was never one to shy away from encounters with you. He was unapologetically bold, uncaring of what the other segments had to say, and clearly, that had paid off for him. It was very obvious that he'd managed to get you… especially close with him, considering the marks on your neck that appeared one day. They were certainly not left by Prime, seeing as the original was wrapped up in a particularly engrossing experiment - so there was only one other who could have possibly left his claim on you. Omega donned a smirk whenever he noticed the jealous stares directed at you, prideful of the fact that you were in his bed and not theirs.

Was he, Beta, jealous? No, of course not. He was just… aggravated at the swift advances of that most condescending segment. Why, he too could have been able to woo you quicker, but that snake held little regard for anything but his own goals. That segment may think himself superior, but Beta already knows how to please you, too. In fact, you were comfortable enough to share a bed with him! So no, Beta was not jealous. In time, he would have you to himself, too, he convinced himself despite the grumblings under his breath.

It was then that you had tossed your clothes out of the bathroom, bunching them up together, before shutting the door once more. The segment too had discarded his stifling suit jacket and tie to the side, and loosened up his own shirt, glad to finally be more comfortable. But his attention was drawn by your movement, eyes interestedly observing the mess of clothes dumped on the floor, before he quickly noticed something that probably wasn't meant for his eyes.

Your underwear was slightly peeking out from under the pile, making him pause all thought instantly. In reality, it was just a piece of cloth, but it was different when it came to you. His hand twitched at the thought of the soft fabric, wondering how it would feel, if it would carry your scent.

Before those thoughts could become more detailed, the segment shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair. This line of thinking had only come along when you finally started spending time with him. In the beginning, he had only focused on impressing you, getting you to look at him with the same fondness you gave to Prime, and more recently, Omega. It was enjoyable and exhilarating as he'd expected, but the closer he got to you, the more these kinds of… erotic thoughts occurred.

Beta full well knew what this meant, even since the first time he found himself hard after thinking about you for too long. However, the feeling was still unfamiliar to the man, who practically lived and breathed his beloved machines and research with nothing else to interest him. Every time he came because of you, he was left uncharacteristically in a daze, staring at the ceiling, and admittedly slightly grumpy, being left to deal with such a drastic change by himself.

But now, things were a bit different. In a way, you could help him. But then again, even he knew this wasn't exactly… right. And so he tried to put those thoughts away. His research, yes, oh, he had much work to do when he got back. Yes, experiments, machines, research… very important things… and you.

… The segment was smart enough to realize that distracting himself was not useful.

Glancing at the bathroom door again, he was sure that you'd probably relish the warm water and take some time for yourself. Not to mention, he was sure the ripples of the water would be loud enough to mask whatever… noises might come about as a result of what he was going to do. Still, he was hesitant, a trait not belonging to a proper, reasonable scholar, but instead one belonging to just a simple man, driven by desire.

And this time, all Beta's dear logic was cast away in favor of his yearning for you. He'd already come up with a flimsy excuse, too; he'd just tell you he packed it away along with your clothes already if you asked. Swallowing away any other reservations, he reached for your underwear, the holes slipping through his gloved fingers. Wanting to feel the fabric fully, the gloves soon fell at his feet.

Some of Beta's scholarly senses still remained, carefully examining the cloth and rolling it through his hand, imagining how it looked on you. There was no going back now. Slowly, he brought your underwear closer to his face, immediately taking note of your scent, as well as the strain in his pants.

… There was no harm in taking care of that while continuing his research. With haste, he tugged his pants down barely enough so that his cock could spring free, and then returned his attention to your underwear. Instinctively, he opened his mouth as the fabric tickled his mouth, imagining it was your pussy he was tasting instead. Completely unrestrained, Beta's sharp teeth accidentally pierced the cloth, tearing it, but he didn't even realize it, far too caught up in his fantasy as he stroked himself.

But as his gaze refocused, he knew it wasn't enough. Without hesitation, this time, he wrapped your underwear around his cock, using it to pump his cock.

Beta wondered how it would feel to sink into you instead. Would it feel more pleasurable? It must be. Just the simple thought of you had him moving erratically, searching for release. If he could even just rub against you, he'd knew the feeling would be immensely amplified, much less your cunt. And he would make you feel good, too, of course. He may not have all the experience, but he'd pursue pleasure for you, too. Oh, but he could only imagine how pretty your nude body was. It was a shame you were just a few feet away, your perfect body right there, but he was unable to see. Beta wasn't sure how much longer he could last with only his imagination to keep him company. It wasn't fair that you were so-

"… Beta?" Your voice was quiet enough for him to nearly mistake it for something his mind had created. But when he cracked open his eyes, you were standing by the bathroom door, staring at him wide-eyed in shock.

It was clear neither of you knew what to say. Beta's lust was momentarily forgotten as he looked at your dumbfounded expression. What could he say to you when the evidence was clear as day? There was no need for you to hypothesize; you could make the conclusion in seconds. A part of him felt shame - he had done this knowing full well it was wrong - but his silly emotions had pushed him into this situation. Ah, how foolish it was for him to seek pleasure. He couldn't even imagine how you'd feel about him now.

"I-" Beta could not come up with any words to make the situation better, only dropping your underwear and hurriedly pulling his pants back up.

"P-Please, you don't need to say anything." You fumbled over your words as you clasped your hands together, trying to calm your warm face and beating heart. So you just walked in on your lover masturbating and calling out your name. Okay. Cool. As much as this was a bombshell for you, what helped was that you were also having your own fantasies about Beta.

"You… could have just asked me," you confessed. "I'm your lover, you know. I like you too." Swallowing your nervousness, you walked over and sat next to him, where he was as still as a statue. You could tell that you managed to fluster the Beta, goggling at you as if you were the crazy one.

"I mean, I want you too. I need you," you took his hand in yours, squeezing it, but he still looked to be caught up in his thoughts.

"… Do you still need to keep this on?" You asked, fingers tracing the edge of his mask. That managed to bring him back to reality.

"I suppose not…" With that, you took off the mask and let it clatter to the floor, revealing Beta's pretty face, red tinging his cheeks. The segment looked away from you at being exposed.

"I like this view better," you said softly, reaching to tilt his face back to you. "I want to see you like this… for the rest of the night. Please, Beta?" As if you weren't doing enough to his scrambled mind, you took his hand and guided it to your needy, clothed pussy. After that, the segment didn't need any more confirmation. His hands grabbed your waist, lifted you up, and placed you fully on the bed, a coy smile on your face as your back hit the mattress.

"Now, come here. I can take care of you-"

"No."

"N-No?"

"I want to observe you first," Beta said, playing with the buttons of your top, looking at you for permission. You warmed at how cute he was being, and nodded in consent. With quick precision, he unbuttoned your shirt and threw it to the side (resisting the urge to tear the thing off of you, but he figured someone like you deserved the thing called gentleness here, too).

Your chest was revealed to the segment, and he had to bite back a contented sigh. How long has he waited for this, to indulge in you? Beta had been so patient, but now… hopefully you wouldn't mind that he was a bit selfish and lost some of that self-restraint.

He placed his hand near your collarbones, dragging it down from your chest to your tummy, eliciting a noise from you. Beta was so used to touching the hard coldness of machines that squeezing your soft flesh was a feeling to relish. His other hand cupped your arm, as if fascinated by something so common. He was examining you in such an odd way, but it was endearing.

You grabbed him by his collar and pulled him closer, wanting him to kiss you already. Beta got the message and finally pressed his lips against yours. It was a different sensation, with his mask not getting in the way this time. At least kissing was something Beta had built up experience in, knowing full well how to make you dizzy without needing to stimulate your body. But of course, this time he was going to join those two pleasures together, slipping his hand down the band of your shorts and grazing your clothed pussy. Your response was immediate, arms flying to wrap around him as you cried out. It was a semi-expected reaction, but he still scanned you for anything else.

"Please, continue. I'm okay." With that, the scholar pulled your shorts off, leaving you only in your slightly damp underwear. Experimentally, he pressed a finger through the fabric, watching as you bucked your hips for more. Increasing his pace, he savored the unfamiliar moans that escaped you, accompanied by more of your essence leaking through your garment. It was obvious you couldn't wait much longer, and neither could he. In a matter of moments, Beta pulled your underwear down just enough to plunge a finger into your hole.

"B-Beta!" You half-screamed, half-squealed his name when he curled his finger in your cunt, not letting you adjust yet. "You've got to be more g-gentle," your fingers dug into his wrist. Beta looked apologetic, probably forgetting that it was his goal, caught up in the excitement.

"Understood," he agreed, before slowly easing his finger out and back in your pussy, stretching you out while you shuddered but relaxed once more around him. It didn't take long for him to grow restless and want to taste you, slipping his drenched finger out and sucked it. It was a foreign taste, certainly not one he's ever tasted anything close to, but it was a delicacy nonetheless. This… needed more testing.

While you were still recovering, Beta hooked your legs over his shoulder and lifted you slightly. His tongue pressed against your hole, not wasting a drop of your juices, but also pondering how to proceed. He would prefer not to ask you for advice. He wanted to impress you and make you come so hard you'd forget about anyone else. Gripping your thighs with confidence, he refused to wait around any longer.

Beta's tongue dragged along your folds, teasing your entrance before he finally pushed himself in. He made a sound of surprise when you bucked into his mouth, smearing his face with your juices, but he was not complaining. He must be doing well, judging from the way your hands locked onto his hair.

In reality, he was sloppy and messy, clearly just trying what he assumed would be pleasurable for you, from the way his eyes flickered to yours to see your reaction. Luckily for him, you were very much into it, especially how eager he was to please. You wondered if it spiraled from how much people were trying to talk to you, while he hovered by your shoulder.

"Were you jealous of the others taking my attention away from you? Poor thing," you managed to get out, despite your mind being a dizzy haze.

"Quiet," Beta growled in response, not enjoying being called out.

"You could have told me before all of this, cutie. I would have said yes without a-" You cried out as he thrust a finger in, along with his tongue, moving them in tandem.

"Such noises suit you better. I'll make it so you can think of coming, poor thing," he taunted you as well, baring his sharp teeth as a tool to show you what he'd do later. "You're close, aren't you? I believe I can feel it. And don't you dare hold back. I must feel all of this," he demanded. You sniffed, the added pressure in your pussy making it hard to retort. You could only gush all over your lover, finally coming hard. What you didn't notice was that Beta stiffened himself, letting out his own pitiful noise and having to steady himself by gripping your thighs tightly.

As a few seconds went by, you weren't the only one recovering from orgasm, but the segment found his bearings first, getting back to work. Beta took everything you had to give, lapping your cum up, from your cunt to nibbling your thighs where it dripped down. You were practically limp at this point, and you were grateful he was holding you up.

But you needed more.

You sat up, getting a good look at your lover, who was disheveled in his own way - stained mouth, messy hair… wet spot on his pants... Oh. Did he just come from that? Beta didn't look like he'd admit it if you asked him, so you opted for finding out yourself. You crawled closer to him and tugged down his already slipping pants to reveal the base of his cock when he grabbed your hand with a hiss.

"What? You know I want more, and so do you, Beta…" you coaxed, still moving through hand through his grip to wrap around his cock. "Come closer already," you blinked at him with pleading eyes that he could never say no to. But for you to want him so desperately, just as much as he longed for you, allowed him to move with little worry. Soon, all of his clothes were on the floor with yours, and you sighed in relief.

"Finally. You're so handsome, you know. And pretty," you placed your hands on his shoulders, gazing into his red pools. Speaking of, it was at this moment that the poor segment realized he never really complimented your beauty. Oh, that was just another thing that didn't go to plan.

"And you," he blurted out. "You are… perfect." It was a word that he only ever afforded to machines of his creation, but you went beyond that. Your loveliness was more than that word could summarize, and the tender smile you gave him only reinforced that belief.

"Hurry," you urged him, wrapping your legs around him as best as you could, when Beta pushed himself into you. The effect was immediate - the digging of your nails into his skin, the way you tightened around him was a different sensation from when his fingers and tongue were in you. The pleasure… was something not even a scholar such as himself could accurately put into words, or even transcribe to paper. You looked to be feeling the same as him, clutching him for dear life, as he thrust into you as deep as he could go.

He was lucky that you were the one babbling - it hid the noises that he was making, too. Grunting as he plunged into your heat, he made an impressive, conscious effort not to slam into you too mercilessly. Guess your words of being gentle remained with him, at least for now, though the way he rubbed your clit made you think he was still being vengeful.

"Beta, I-" you managed to choke out half of a coherent sentence, "I l-love you!" It was at those words that the segment snapped and pounded into you properly. It was a pace you could hardly keep up with, but it had you coming on his cock with a hoarse throat. Beta wasn't sure if he'd handle any more sweet words from you, and promptly sank his teeth between your throat and neck as well.

It was a good plan of his, really. This way, you wouldn't hear his words of reciprocation. As much as he treated you with fondness, bearing such sappy words to you was… not something he'd get accustomed to anytime soon. He could only use his body, snapping into you with his thrust and rubbing your folds with scarily quick acquired knowledge to make you come one last time, as he pumped you full of his cum. You twitched hard around him, but he grounded you easily with his weight, stroking your back while you came down from your high.

After a few sniffs, he realized that some tears were rolling down your cheeks, and suddenly, the pleasure rolling over his body turned to disquieting. Was he too rough? Did he hurt you? Could he not be gentle?

"I'm not hurt," you reassured the taken aback segment who had cupped your cheek and began rubbing away the liquid, with rough but awkward care. "It just felt really good. You felt amazing," you clarified, nuzzling into his palm and kissing it. Ah. Beta would keep that in mind for the future, then, his guard lowering once again.

A few minutes went by, and he had intended to pull out of you, but you seemed keen on holding him like this. The position had swapped, and now you were lying all comfortable on his chest, softening cock keeping you warm as you pressed kisses all over him. Your excuse was that you didn't get to do it enough before, but he certainly wasn't complaining.

Again, his usually talkative nature had taken a backseat, more interested in watching how you played with his fingers and tuft of his hair, examining him just like how he did to you. And then that was when you asked the most crucial question.

"So… when do you think another invitation is going to come?"

—

After you two were finished making love, Beta tried his best to take care of you. It was once again clear he wasn't actually sure, but used his knowledge of the human body. He gently cleaned you up and fetched you some water, eyes boring into you, as if trying to silently ask if you needed anything else. It was cute, and he was attached to your side. It was then that you noticed the state of your clothes on the floor.

"Beta, what…" You couldn't even finish your sentence as you examined what used to be your underwear. Despite his gentleness with you, he definitely wasn't as nice to your poor garment. You gave him an accusatory look, and he only shrugged his shoulders.

"These were expensive! But I am not even surprised…" After all, Prime and Omega, when in an impatient mood, practically tore your clothes off your body. Of course, Beta would have the same disregard for yours… but this case was a little different.

"You do know that Prime got me these, right?" You sighed as you poked his chest, asking him to make up for his mistake. Beta paused, scrutinizing you to see if you were telling the truth.

You were.

"… Though I have other pairs at home. But don't do it again!"

He was saved.

—

As of late, Krupp had noticed a change in his master's behavior. Instead of glares and not-so-subtle threats, his lord had been in a rather good mood, even towards him! The menial had noticed it a week or so ago, which was surprising, considering the Harbinger had just returned from one of those dread gatherings. But there was no time to think about that, not when his Lord Harbinger was in front of him, inquiring for quality answers.

"Krupp, what gifts are popular among people nowadays?" The servant's heart was racing painfully quickly despite the simple question. If his lord was talking about gifts, then he must be referring to none other than you. He had to make this answer perfect.

"W-Well, Lord Dottore, I'd say things like flowers, chocolates, plushies-" Sadly for the agent, his response was sharply cut off by Beta's fed-up voice.

"Those are all things that anyone could give them. Entirely unimpressive," the segment spat. "I've done many things right so far, Krupp. I don't intend for this to be the first wrong one," Beta snapped, pacing back and forth. Poor Krupp had to think fast before his life was forfeit.

"My Lord Dottore, w-why not make something yourself? There is no one with more skill than you, a-and, you have all of this machinery! If you make it yourself, it'll be entirely unique!" The minion rubbed his hands together, probably praying to the Tsaritsa for protection. At his suggestion, Beta stopped in his tracks and stared at the floor, perhaps seriously pondering his servant's words. After a pause of silence, the Harbinger broke out into laughter, as if the answer was clear to him now.

"You live to see another day, Krupp," Beta turned to acknowledge Krupp with a grin. He now had quite a few ideas as to what would be suitable to gift you, his darling lover. After that intimate night, he had only gotten more needy for you. But before that, he had something to take care of.

"Have what I asked for arrived yet?" Krupp nodded, a bit fearful.

"Good. Take them to Zeta. He's been needing new people to test medication on. But when he's done with them, I expect you to bring them back to me, yes?" Krupp nodded again before scurrying off to another room where two former agents were tied up, unconscious.