You accidentally kept a souvenir

The advent of your powers nearly derailed the celebration for you and your friends, but somehow, you managed to jump the train back on the track.

Smart, beautiful Yu, who usually blends into the background next to your more vibrant friends, has become the life of the part when she gets back on her feet. But whoever’s fawning over her, whenever you catch Yutong's eye, she flashes you a small, genuine smile. The liberties you took earlier while she was in robot mode seem washed away.

And Pearl, who you’d snubbed at the party’s start by experimenting on her, is in record high spirits now; she laughs at your every joke, even the dumb ones (especially the dumb ones). She even volunteers herself to fetch drinks for you when yours run out.

“Forget video games, tomorrow we’ll figure out what to do with your powers,” she tells you gleefully, tugging on your sleeve like a little kid to get your attention. “Think about what you want to do.”

When the party winds down and people start filing out, you’re brimming with pride. Everybody’s happy, nothing bad happened, and you didn’t even have to get rid of your powers.

You and your friends leave for the night. The warm night air seems to carry a sense of possibility with it. Jane takes off with some of her friend. Sully and Indy head off for the black girl’s car. With the way they’re making eyes at each other, arms around each others’ waists, their party’s just getting started.

By process of elimination, transporting Yutong and Pearl home falls to you.

Pearl’s house is closest, so you drop her off first.

“Yu, Chase’s house, tomorrow morning. Be there. Experiments are done, it’s time we make this power our bitch.”

“What time?” asks Yu. “7:00? 8:00?”

Pearl, climbing out of the car, is disgusted by her suggestions. “Try 11:00.” She leaves with a wave as she heads up her driveway. “Don’t drink and drive!”

Then it's just you and Yutong in your truck. Yu upgrades to front seat, and you hit the road once more.

As you make your way to Yutong’s place, she seems to be working up the courage to say something.

Stopping at a red light on an empty street, you turn aside to your companion. “Something on your mind?”

“I mean. Yes. Tonight was crazy, in every sense,” says Yutong, sounding a little shellshocked. “But I wanted to say thank you. For getting me to dance. I always felt like I missed out by not trying to b more outgoing during high school. It didn’t turn out how ether of us expected - the robot dancing, I mean - but being the center of attention for once… was nice.”

“That’s why I did it,” you say, nodding seriously. “You deserved to go out with a bang.”

Yu tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear, lost in thought. “You do all these silly things to try and make people smile. I’ve always liked that about you, Chase.”

The comment coming from Yu fills you with a pleasant, happy feeling. The light turns green again. You g.

“By the way.” Yutong’s expression turns curious, and she cocks her head, as if hearing a sound barely out of ear's reach. “I think we missed a claim.”

Missed a claim? The words don’t fully register with your brain. “But I gave everything back.”

“That’s what I thought too.” Yutong frowns, looking thoughtful and drumming her fingers on the door panel. “When you returned Pearl’s claims, you returned 'Everything you'd taken from her'. But when you returned my claims before that, you listed them all item by item.”

Your mind remains blank. "So what?”

“You returned my ability to do the robot dance, but…” Yutong screws up her face, like she's trying to lick her back teeth. “Yep. There it is. You still own the robot impression part of my 'robot dance'. Remember? There was a distinction when you accidentally claimed it in the first place.”

Fresh memories of Yu standing straight, her voice monotone, servicing your every command, come unbidden to mind.

“Oh.” Your heart beats harder. Hotter. This is bad.

“We should take care of this right away,” says Yutong, sliding her phone out from her jean pocket and opening up her conctacs. “It'd upset Pearl if she finds out we waited to fix this for tomorrow.”

You're seeing Yutong removing her clothes, and placing them folded on the bed.

“Initialize.”

The word escapes you, without conscious thought.

Yu halts mid text, her expression briefly confused before the emotion vanishes entirely. He sits upright and faces forward, eyes on the road. “Beep boop. Entering robot mode.”

A magical, dangerous silence pervades the cabin, replacing the meaningful conversation you'd been sharing with Yu seconds prior.

Your grip tightens on the steering wheel. You take your foot off the gas, the truck slowing on the road that leads to her neighborhood.

Your heart pounds in your ears. Your mind buzzes with possibilities. With the overwhelming sense of power and control. The sensation leaves you almost dizzy. It's headier than ****, or porn.

You swore you were done with this. You did. You promised Pearl and Yutong you were done with this. So what are you doing?

The spell is broken by Yu. "Awaiting instructions," she reminds you. Like a siren steering you toward a jagged, rocky coast.

You pull over on the side of the road, engine idling. The dim glow of the dashboard lights casts an eerie atmosphere. You turn and look beside you.

Yu sits rigidly, gaze fixed forward, waiting. Her impassive expression, in the half light, seems to promise everything. And nothing. All at once.

The right thing to do would be to stop this. To terminate Yu's robotic trance. Every heartbeat you delay tests your resolve. But having your resolve tested like this... by Yutong? A delightful shiver races across your chest.

Again you're atop the precipice, dark waters below. You feel yourself slipping. And this time, you're not certain you can stop it.