futurology | text; un: saitama

[He glances aside at him as he lays down next to him, but eyes averting back up at the question. He's not trying to sound too serious, his voice trying to remain blasé. It wasn't like he was close to tears or feeling too heavy about it, anyway, thanks to tapping down depression forcefully for years.]

Something like that...

Animals are more intune with certain aspects about humans, than even humans are aware of. These cats here, I am certain, are the same to a certain degree. They are highly sensitive to nervousness in a human, and can interpret it as a threat. At the same time, I believe they can also sense strength, and also interpret that as a threat.

[ He turns his head to "face" Saitama. ]

Maybe it is your strength. Maybe it is your tension.

But whichever it is, not an abnormal reaction.

I don't know. Maybe.

[He would like to think it was as simple as that, but, as he's speculated silently before, it may be more than that. He shrugs, turning his head to finally look at him for longer than a second.]

I was pretty much the same before.

[So Zenyatta's tension excuse doesn't make that much sense. Sure, Saitama is harrassed by issues he didn't have before the strength gain, most notably baldness, but it wasn't like he was a relaxed dude before then, either.]

Then what do you think is the cause?

[Since clearly, Saitama has his own idea on what's causing it, even if he isn't saying it. But anyone who shoots down ideas often times it's because they think they already know the answer.]

[Silent for the moment, he looks back up into the tree. The cat left... now he just watches the rustling of leaves in a breeze.

Finally, he asks a question he wouldnt be surprised if someone like Zenyatta had thought many times before:]

You ever wonder if you're even a robot anymore?

[ Ah. He gets it now.

But he doesn't give an answer yet. ]

What about me makes me a robot? Is it my body? My mind? My past?

Ah, I don't know . . .

[He tilts his head back in his arms, contemplating this question literally, which Zenyatta probably hadn't intended.]

Your electronics? I don't know, I was never good at stuff like that . . .

Too literal.

[ Zenyatta replies, and would shake his head if he was lying down. Instead he holds up his hand, flexing the fingers, and curling them into a fist back and forth. The center of his palm has a thin ring of a circle, and behind the metal is a light that illuminates that thin circle. ]

This form I have now, and the form I had taken a month ago, as a human, have proven something I always knew. True self is without form. I am myself, and it does not matter what I look like on the outside, or what might even change on the inside. I could have organs, like you do, or I could have processors and motivators, but regardless, the only me is me.

Are you still you?

[The glow attracts him from out the corner of his eyes and he looks at Zenyatta midway through his speech. It was pretty admirable how confident he always seems to be, even after what he went through while as a human.

But can going from robot to a human, even if infected but still weak by normal standards, compare to what worries him?

He stares at him for a moment, then rolls over onto his side, propping his head up on one hand to look down at Zenyatta, pushing a half-smile to his face.]

Did you like eating? When you were a human?

Oh, yes. I did. Too much...

[ It's embarrassing, actually, when he thinks about how much he liked food. He quashes the feeling of nostalgia for it right away. ]

[Sweet, Zenyatta didn't call him out on obviously changing the subject. He must have been sneakier at it than he thought. He grins widely, genuinely pleased to hear that.]

Good. Eating's one of the best things to do as a human.

[ Joke's on you Saitama for thinking he forgot. ]

I was excessive...

[Dunno, seems pretty certain Zenyatta's clearly forgotten...!!]

That's okay, that's why our stomach's expand!

[NOPE, because the more he talks about how much he overindulged, the more he wants to change the subject himself.]

You did not answer my question, on purpose.

[Two can play at this game.]

And you're changing the subject, too.

The subject is just about me eating food, it is not a meaningful discussion.

[He looks so scandalized.]

You're wrong! There's so much about eating food!

It does not interest me in the way our other subject did.

[He says like a disappointed kid, leaning his cheek heavily in his hand, squishing up half his face.]

Of course it doesn't.

[But still, Zenyatta "sighs" and turns to look at the sky again.]

I feel that I have disappointed you in being unable to answer a question you have not yet posed.

[He furrows his brows, bemused, then reaches out to poke him in the shoulder.]

Then you're reading me wrong, dude, I wasn't asking you anything. Just . . . letting you know something.

[He finishes with an awkward scratch to his neck. He's never hinted this worry outloud to anyone before, and he definitely wasn't coming to Zenyatta for an answer to anything. He just figured Zenyatta wouldn't judge and not be too eager to praise like Genos.]

Getting it off my chest.

Oh.

[That's... better than he was expecting.

He always wants to help people. That's never going to change. And usually, when people seek him out to talk, it's to get advice or guidance. Just telling him something for the sake of it is a lot more uncommon.]

I see. ...Thank you, for sharing this with me, then.

Hn.

[He nods, giving him a small smile seeing Zenyatta is getting it. Part of him would like to tell him more, but just revealing that little part of his worry was far bigger than it may seem. Maybe some other rime...

So, after a moment of silence as he picks some grass with his free hand, he dares to ask:]

So....what was your favorite food...?

Pizza.

[ There was absolutely no delay had, like he had to think about it. Pizza was the best. ]

I did have a lot of others I enjoyed. But I can say with full confidence, I enjoyed pizza the most.

[ It was also like the most greasy thing ever. ]

[He flops back onto his back, like a dramatic man daydreaming suddenly of his lover.]

Oh, man, pizza is so good. Especially with sweet potato on it.

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