For Your Protection: Chapter Five

Shane didn’t believe her.  Surprise wasn’t something Assists felt very often but even if they could, Lux knew she wouldn’t be when Shane blew off her answer about why she was so important to Lotus.  He couldn’t even consider it.  Despite his temper tantrum in the men’s clothing store, he still thought Lux could be nothing more than a machine – a collection of scrap, wires, and metals.  It was hard to face but not surprising.
She remembered how Garrett first reacted to her in general.  Come to remember it, Garrett had also been reluctant to see her as a machine when he was brought in to be Lotus’ personal bodyguard but he still didn’t like to think that Lux was Lotus’ voice.  He basically laughed the whole thing off until he heard Lotus sing acapella without assistance.
But he said from the beginning that he was never going to see her as a machine.
Lux supposed that Shane wasn’t that much different than Garrett and just needed some time to come around to the idea.  Though she didn’t like the idea of him refusing to acknowledge the fact that Assists could sing, she let it go so they could finish up the rest of their first day together.  A trip to the shoe store, and the electronics store and even a haircut hadn’t been so terrible.  Now at least he looked like someone Davis and Lotus would approve of.  Now that his shaggy dark hair was a little more styled he looked better and though Lux couldn’t quite understand the feeling, she approved of his new look.  She wondered what the suit would look like on him.
“Do I really ned all this crap?” Shane huffed once he was seated in a booth where he wanted to eat.  It was one of his favorite places to eat and the ambiance was nice.  The driver had complained about the neighborhood being a bit ‘seedy’ but Shane assured him he and Lux would be fine.  He liked this place and he knew a few friends from high school who were working here so he usually got a pretty sweet discount.
“What is wrong with your devices?” Lux asked as she walked around the booth table countertop and looked around the diner.  “You could have picked up an Assist—”
“One Assist is enough for me, thanks,” Shane said with a smile.  When Lux merely stared up at him with blank eyes he wondered if Assists were capable of understanding humor of if Lux was particularly trying to make him uncomfortable.  “It’s a joke, Lux.”
“How so?” she asked with a tilt of her head.
He rolled his eyes with a sigh.  “It’s just that…I don’t need another Assist.  I think you’re plenty helpful.”
“I suppose I am rather well functioning.”
“Well functioning?” Shane repeated.  “I just meant that…” he trailed off.  It was weird.  The idea of having another little humanoid with him made him nervous.  Lux was already hard enough to work with because her size constantly reminded him how big and freakish he was, but another one?  Even a full-sized one?  It wasn’t worth it and he had absolutely no idea how to take care of one or what their upkeep even was.
“Are you going to finish your thought?” Lux piped up.
Shane glanced down, silencing his thoughts.  “Yeah…I was just going to say I’ll learn how to use all of these things somehow.  At least some of them look familiar.”  He picked up the cell phone Lux insisted he use at the electronics store.  It had a touch screen and could talk but he was still reluctant.  “…this is just all so much for one person.”
“Davis can afford it,” Lux said.  “By the way, he will be picking up the tab for this lunch.”
“But you’re not even eating.”
“It does not matter.  Trust me…let me bill it to him.”  She smiled slightly which caught Shane off guard.
“So you can smile.”
The facial expression faded before she spoke up again.  “I am perfectly capable of displaying the facial features which convey human happiness.”
“It’s pretty,” Shane noted.  He tilted his head to get a closer look at her but she was already facing another direction.  He wondered if Assists could get embarrassed.  “Say, Lux?” he asked.
“What is it?”
“About what you said earlier…about Lotus…”
“You mean when I said that I was her voice?”
“Yeah.  About that…”
“Afternoon folks,” a new voice chimed in, interrupting their conversation.  Shane looked up to see an unfamiliar waitress beaming down at the two of them.  She was pretty with her sleek lavender hair with amethyst highlights and a ring pierced through the center of her lower lip.  She definitely belonged in this area.  “How are you guys doing today?”
“Fine,” Shane said, forgetting what he was talking about with Lux for the moment.  “Is Airyn working today?”
“Airyn…” the girl mused as she sucked the ring into her mouth.  “Ahh…the short girl…micro braids?”
“That’s her,” Shane said as he brightened.  “Is she here?”
The girl nodded.  “You want me to send her over?”
“If that’s okay with you,” Shane said.  “I don’t want you to…”
“Don’t worry about it, guy.  I’ll send Airyn over and just steal one of her tables in return, okay?”
“Thanks…uh…”
“Shaw,” the girl said with a bright smile.
“Shane.”  He glanced down at Lux expecting her to introduce herself as well but she was busy looking around the diner still.  Taking a major risk he leaned forward and gently tapped her shoulder with the tip of his finger, rocking her forward slightly.
“Yes?” she asked.
“Your name?” Shane asked.  “This is Shaw.”
“Nice to meet you, Shaw,” Lux said before turning around to look out the window.
“Aren’t you going to introduce yourself?” Shane asked, half teasing her now.  What was she looking at?  He lifted his chin and noticed a small gathering in front of the windows but didn’t think much of it.  “Lux?”
“It’s alright,” Shaw said with a genuine smile.  “My feelings aren’t hurt.  Besides, I’m not surprised that she’s interested.”
“Interested in what?”
“Couple times a week we have a performance right outside the diner,” Shaw explained as she jutted her soft chin towards the window.  “Normally we don’t allow people to just hang out … but damn…well…you’ll see.  I’ll send Airyn over.”
“Thanks,” Shane said watching as the lavender hair girl floated away, almost like an overly pierced fairy.  As he waited for his friend, Shane rested his elbow on the counter and set his chin in his palm so he could watch Lux more closely.  He hadn’t seen her this interested in anything before but she seemed absolutely transfixed by whatever was being set up outside.  It was odd to see her look so focused.  “Didn’t know that something could hold your attention like this,” he mused.
“Is there something wrong with that?”
Shane blinked.  “Heh…no.  It’s just interesting to watch.”
“I am interesting to you?” she asked.
“Well you certainly weren’t interested when that waitress was introducing herself.  You were basically shut down.”
“I heard everything she was saying and everything that you were saying.  I simply chose not to take part in the conversation.”
“But you’re answering me?” he asked in a teasing tone.  “Should I be honored?”
“You can be whatever you like.  You are human, after all,” Lux said, never once turning around to face him.  She caught the faint sounds of Shane shifting around behind him and decided to make nice and try some conversation.  “So who is Airyn?”
“She’s a friend of mine from high school.”
“A girlfriend?”
“No,” Shane said, slightly surprised to hear her asking something so personal.  “It was never like that with Airyn and me.  We were always kinda like brother and sister.”  He waited patiently for Lux to answer but she had grown quiet.  “You’re really interested in what’s out there, aren’t you?”
“I suppose I am interested.  It looks as though they are setting up for a musical performance.”
“So you like music, huh?”
“I do.”
“Well then I suppose you’re with the right companion,” Shane offered carefully.
When the tiny Assist turned around she already losing that blissful look in her eye.  “What are you implying?” Lux asked.
“Lotus?” Shane said.  “Lotus Fields?  The great pop star who’s your companion?  I mean for someone who likes music, it must be really cool to have someone like her be your owner.”
“Are you saying that because of her voice?”
“Well…yeah.  I mean she does have an amazing set of pipes.  I wouldn’t say she’s my style, but some of her not-so-popular stuff is really good.  The stuff where she really gets to showcase her voice.”
“So I am the lucky one?”
Shane tilted his head, not quite understanding why Lux was getting so weird – if an Assist could get weird in the first place.  “I mean, yeah.  Aren’t you?”
“I guess I would be considered lucky if such a thing were true,” she said softly, turning back to the window.  Several more people had shown up now and Shane and Lux watched as a small group of people set up a saxophone, a cello, a violin and a small drum set.
“Damn, they’re really going all out, aren’t they?” Shane mused.
“Wait till you actually hear them,” a new voice said.  Shane lifted up his head and smiled at the caramel skinned girl standing in front of the booth.  Shane was almost as tall as she was standing as he was sitting in the booth so rather than get up from his seat; he slid to the edge and wrapped the girl up in a hug.
“Airyn,” Shane said warmly as he squeezed her a bit tighter.  “I hoped you were working today.”
“I’m always here,” the girl said as she returned the hug.  “Shaw said you were here but she didn’t mention that you brought a friend…”
“Assist,” Lux clarified.  “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“Same,” Airyn said as Shane released her from his hug.  She looked friendly enough with light brown eyes and red braids cascading all around her face and shoulder and back.  “It’s been awhile, Shane.  I was starting to worry that you wouldn’t come to visit me anymore.”
“More like I couldn’t afford to visit,” Shane said.  “I’m sorry.  Money’s been tight.”
“Yeah…” Airyn said as she sucked in a breath between her slightly gapped two front teeth.  “How’s your mom doing?”
“Better,” Shane said with a worried glance down at Lux.  He hadn’t talked to her about his family situation.  He assumed she wasn’t interested.  “She still probably won’t be able to work for another few months.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Airyn said seriously.  “What happened—”
“We don’t need to talk about it,” Shane said.  “Besides, things are looking up.”
“Oh?  And how’s that?”
“I got a job this morning.”
“Really?  That’s fantastic!” Airyn said as she stepped forward to give Shane another hug.  Over his shoulder she saw the Assist watching them embrace with what could have only been curiosity.  As their eyes met each other’s, Lux was the first to turn away and took her attention back to the window.  “Is she…part of the job?” Airyn asked in a hushed tone.
“Well…sort of,” Shane said, not really sure how to explain it.  “Lux?  You mind helping me out here?  What’s the protocol?”
She kept her back to the both of them.  “There is no protocol.  Do not say anything.”
“Isn’t that a protocol?” Airyn asked with a smirk.  When Lux didn’t answer she turned her attention to Shane.  “Nothing?  Not even a smile?”
“She’s not really a smiler,” Shane said.
Airyn shrugged.  “Just as well.  I guess it really wasn’t funny in the first place.  So what can I get you, Shane?  You in the mood for something new or the classic?”
“Can I get a naked burger?”
“Naked?” Lux asked with her back still to Shane.  “How does one order a naked burger?”
“Your boy here only likes the meat and the bun,” Airyn explained.  “Maybe some ketchup or a pickle slice but nothing more than that.”
“I don’t want any of it.  I want it plain ol’ naked,” Shane said.  “You know how I like it cooked.  With a pop, too.”
“Can do,” Airyn said as she pushed some of her braids away from her face to scribble down the order.  “And…correct me if I’m wrong, I haven’t been following the news lately…”
“I do not eat,” Lux said.
“She speaks again!  And directly to me this time!” Airyn said with a wide smile.  She shrugged again.  “I’ll tell the cook to get your order ready but you’ve gotta tell me about this job, Shane.”  She gave a secretive glance down towards Lux as though asking ‘what’s up with the Assist?’ and walked away after Shane shrugged at her.
Once she was gone he leaned forward.  “Okay, Lux.  You’ve gotta tell me what I can say and what’s okay or not.  I don’t want you to get into any trouble and Davis didn’t really give me a lot to go on.”
“That is because he did not think you would take me to an establishment like this one.”
“Oh, come on.  It’s not so bad, is it?  You seem like you’re having an okay time.”
“And how did you reach this conclusion?”
“You keep looking out the window.  There’s obviously something out there making you smile.”
“I…” she grew hesitant again, “…I happen to enjoy music.  I thought we went through this already.”
“Do you get to listen to Lotus sing often?” he mused.
“No.  I do not think that would be as enjoyable as you think.”
“Damn.  And here I was hoping to listen to her next hit before it was ruined by radio play.”
“Can we not talk about her?” Lux said.  “I simply mean…there is no reason to.  You will meet her soon enough and then you can decide how much you enjoy her voice.”
“Why do you get so upset when I mention her?”
“I am not getting upset.  I am merely explaining—”
“Is this about what you said earlier?” Shane asked.  “About what you said in the car?”
“No.”
He waved her off.  “It was, wasn’t it?  You were serious earlier, weren’t you?  You really believe you’re the voice of Lotus Fields.”
“I do not believe it.  I know it to be true.”
Shane couldn’t stop himself from smirking again.  “Heh…listen Lux, I don’t know how to break this to you but that sound coming from you isn’t your actual voice.  It’s a recording of her voice.”
“You do not know what you are talking about,” she snapped back.  “Do you think I do not know the difference?”
“I’m not sure,” he said as he continued to smile.  “I would normally say yes but this whole claiming you’re the voice of Lotus—”
“I am her voice,” Lux insisted.
“Oh yeah?” Shane asked as he leaned forward again, not caring how much of her personal space she was taking up.  “Why would someone as talented as Lotus Fields need an Assist to sing for her?  It doesn’t make sense.”
“It makes perfect sense.  But you do not know the story.”
“So enlighten me.”
“I will not.  I told you what you need to know.”
“So then what if I told Airyn?” he said with a smug grin.  “What would you say to that?”
“You cannot!” Lux said, her voice rising to a level Shane hadn’t heard before.  Instead of backing away, she ran up to him and grabbed his forearm which was resting on the countertop and looked up at him with wide eyes.  Shane instinctively wanted to pull back but the look was pleading.  He had never seen her look like this.  Everything was so new to him at this point.  “You cannot tell anyone.  You are…” she trailed off as she tried to remember what Davis told her, “…under contract.  You are under contract so you cannot tell anyone this secret.”
“It’s not a secret,” Shane said, lowering his voice nonetheless.  “Do you…do you actually believe yourself?  I mean, aren’t you supposed to be reasonable and logical or whatever?”
“I am an Assist, not some character in a science fiction movie,” Lux said.  “Just…you cannot say anything to that girl.  No one can know.  You do not understand the trouble you will get into—”
“Fine, fine,” Shane said.  “I’ll keep your little secret, but only because I need this job.  I still can’t believe someone like Lotus would need…well…you.”
“Someone like me,” Lux said, her voice cracking slightly.  “I suppose that you think humans do not need Assists in general.”
“Honestly, I’m not sure…” he glanced down and noticed that Lux looked surprised and he felt bad.  “Look, I didn’t mean for it to come out that way, Lux—”
“Of course not,” she said, surprisingly huffy.  She took her hands off his arm and took a seat on the edge of the table.  “Who could possibly ever need me?  Certainly not someone as great and talented as Lotus Fields.  What could she possibly need from an Assist-Mini?”
“I didn’t mean it like that,” Shane said.  If he didn’t know better he would think that Lux’s feelings were hurt.  But that wasn’t possible, was it?  Assists didn’t feel human emotions, did they?  Was it only her programming telling her to feel offended?  “Look, Lux…I—”
“Shh…they are about to start,” Lux said.  “Even Assists can appreciate human music, you know.”
“I’m sure you can—” he cut himself short when the band outside started to play.  Airyn wasn’t kidding.  They were…
“They’re great, aren’t they?” Airyn said as she came up to their table and set down a tall cup of pop next to Shane’s arm.  “I told you…if it was anyone else it wouldn’t be worth it, but that Piper…she can really sing.”
“Piper?” Lux asked, turning her attention to Airyn.  “Did you say Piper?”
“Sure did.  That’s the singer’s name.  The one with the dark hair.”  She pointed to the girl swaying her hips to the beat of the drums.  Her voice crooned and captivated all those in the diner and those who walked past.
Including Lux.  That voice.  It sounded so…she wasn’t quite sure.  She rubbed her head like she had seen Lotus or Davis do when they were trying to think of something.
“You okay there, sweets?” Airyn asked kindly.
“I am fine.  I just…” she trailed off and looked out the window.
The music.
The sound.
Piper’s voice.
“I want to go outside,” Lux declared.
“But I just got my pop,” Shane said in a pouty voice.
“Go…take the girl outside,” Airyn said teasingly.  “Your naked burger only takes a few minutes so I’ll tell them to take their time.  Trust me, Shane.  You want to hear this girl sing.  She’s seriously amazing.”
“Well…I guess,” Shane mused.  He had to admit that he was curious about something which held Lux’s attention.  Even only knowing her a day he could tell that there were few things which got her excited.  And whoever was singing outside certainly caught her eye.  Maybe she really did love music as much as she said.  Maybe she really was Lotus’— no.  That wouldn’t make sense. There was no way an Assist was singing for a human.  “Come on,” he said in a gentler tone down to Lux.  “We’ll go check it out since you obviously want to.”
To both of their surprises Lux didn’t fight him or question but rather crawled into his hand and sat down in his palm.  She was almost antsy to go as Shane stood up.
“I’ll knock on the window when your food’s ready,” Airyn called.  “Enjoy the show.”
As the two ventured outside Airyn wiped down a few of the tables around Shane’s and Shaw went to join her.
“They’re an odd pair,” Shaw mused.  “Is that tall guy your boyfriend?”
“I wish,” Airyn said.  She followed Shane with her eyes as he stepped outside with the Assist in his palm and stood in front of the performers.
“He’s cute,” Shaw said.
“I know.  But Shane…he’s just never been into anyone like that.”
“Gay?”
“I don’t think so.  He’s just always…he’s always had a lot on his mind.  He’s never had time to fall for anyone – let alone me.”
“You should ask him out,” Shaw said.  “I would if I didn’t know he was your friend.”
“He wouldn’t say yes to either of us,” Airyn mused.  “That’s just how he is.”
“I heard you guys talking about him getting a job.  Do you know what it is?”
“He wouldn’t say but I think that Assist has something to do with it.”
“Huh.  Damn.  You can get a job doing anything these days, it seems.”
“Agreed,” Airyn said with a laugh as she tossed the cloth over her shoulder once the tables were clean.  “I’m sure he’ll tell me what he’s up to eventually.  Though it wouldn’t kill me to see him tonight or stop by his place this week.”
“Nope,” Shaw clucked.  “No harm in that.  Since it’s obvious, I mean.”
“What’s obvious?”
“That you liiiiiiiiiike him.”
“No I don’t,” Airyn said as she still watched Shane from inside.  “Don’t be stupid,” she said in a softer voice.