Waking up in the early hours of the morning, Slady realized what had happened that day: He had spent the entire day with Faller and Victoria. Normally, the day was very slow for him, always busy with Elisa and Shaphira, his work as a librarian... and as a criminal killer.
Looking around, Slady saw Shaphira beside him, as always. Remembering that he was in the couple's apartment, he realized he had slept there.
He didn't know why he had woken up that morning; he was someone who would go days without sleep, but he would never wake up in the middle of the night without a specific reason. Hearing a sound coming from the kitchen, he came to a conclusion.
'Did someone break into this apartment in the early hours of the morning?!'
Slady thought, his bionic hand sharpening its nails... or claws, preparing to defend the place. As he entered the kitchen, his eyes were drawn to... Elisa?
She was drinking milk from a cup while wearing women's pajamas. She looked a little... sad, perhaps one of the reasons why, despite still being attentive, she was distant.
"Slady?"
She was slightly startled, putting the glass in the sink.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."
She lowered her head, still depressed. Slady didn't know how to help her, but she couldn't bear to see the state of mind Elisa was in at that moment.
"Don't apologize. But you seem a little melancholic, do you want to talk about it?"
Slady asked, speaking softly and walking toward Elisa.
"I'd appreciate it, but I don't want to wake anyone."
"We can walk outside for a bit; I won't let anyone hurt you."
Elisa looked at Slady with a bit of surprise, but saw he was serious.
"Okay... I'm going to change."
***
Walking through Libretãnhya, Slady and Elisa walked side by side. The girl observes the lights that make up part of the city with a calmer, but still sad, look. Slady remained expressionless, not wanting to pressure Elisa to express her feelings.
"Slady..."
"Yes?"
"Can I hold your hand?"
She extends her hand to Slady, a gesture of trust, intimacy, and comfort...
"Of course."
Slady places his mechanical hand over hers, and Elisa observes his prototype curiously.
"I never asked you about this, but how did you lose your arm?"
Her voice was soft, not wanting to be disrespectful. Slady nodded understandingly, answering her as she intertwined her fingers with hers.
"I lost my arm a long time ago, there's no need to remind yourself..."
"I can't imagine how painful it must have been."
"It wasn't just painful, it was... excruciating."
Elisa was surprised by his somber tone, but nodded.
"I understand..."
She intertwined her fingers with Slady's so tightly, as if she didn't want to let go of him for a while.
"I... I still haven't gotten over my father's death."
She finally declared, Slady listening attentively and carefully.
"Humans create connections that make them fear their loss. When the loss of a person happens, it must be overwhelming."
"Yes."
The young woman's lips trembled, as if she wanted to control her tears.
"Elisa, I beg you not to control your tears."
Then Elisa clung to Slady, beginning to cry into his chest.
"I... I want my father..."
Seeing someone so young go through so much made Slady's heart ache, his desire for revenge growing even stronger.
"..."
Not knowing what to say, Slady places his hand on Elisa's back, caressing it very gently. He discreetly pulls her onto a swing at a park, sitting on it and pulling Elisa into his lap. She doesn't hesitate once and continues to cry.
"I don't want to lose anyone else... my mom and dad are gone... I don't want to lose you, Slady,"
Elisa says, clinging to him. In an attempt to calm her down, he begins to gently pat her behind, just like he used to when she was just a little girl.
Despite her surprise, Elisa feels like a child again. The memory of being in Slady's lap as a little girl, cuddled up to him and feeling his hand gently patting her bottom makes her calm down so quickly...
"Hmmm..."
She begins to calm down, falling asleep in Slady's arms, the memories of her childhood flowing through her mind clearly.
***
It was a sunny day. Raizer had gone out to run some errands in Libretãnhya, asking Slady to look after Elisa. He trusted him to do so.
Upon entering the house, Elisa, who was playing with some dolls, wearing a baby outfit and a diaper, jumped up excitedly upon seeing the familiar figure.
"Uncle Slady!"
She hugs his leg, wanting to climb on top of him. Slady looks at Elisa with a naturally cold look, but it's not mean.
"Excited, child?"
He picks her up, resting her against his chest.
"Yes, Daddy told you to make me food, bathe me, and play with me,"
Elisa says in a bossy, childish voice. Slady rolls his eyes. He doesn't like being bossed around, especially by a child, but he can't bring himself to be angry at something so adorable.
"Your daddy is a mean man to me."
He sets her down, giving her hair a quick, clumsy pat.
"No, he's not a mean man. Daddy is good!"
Elisa says, cupping her hands in fists and resting them on his waist, pouting childishly.
"I know..."
He places his hand on his forehead, massaging his temple.
"Anyway, what do you like to eat, girl?"
"I like... hmmmm... burgers!"
"No way."
"Why not? I like burgers!"
"I know you like them, I'll make you something healthier."
Elisa crosses her arms in annoyance, turning around and sitting back on the floor to play with her dolls.
"You're evil, Slady!"
"If being evil is good for you, I'll be happy to do it."
Slady puts her hand on Elisa's short hair, and Elisa couldn't stay mad for long.
"I hope the food is good!"
"Of course it will be. It's my food."
A few minutes later...
After making lunch, Slady crouches down to Elisa's small height, who looks at the plate of food.
"That doesn't look—"
"Shut up and eat."
He placed the spoon in Elisa's mouth, and she obediently ate the food. Her eyes sparkled with pleasure.
"Oh! How delicious! Uncle Slady, the best cook in the world!"
"Thank you."
Slady placed the plate of food on Elisa's lap, and she began to eat with relish.
"Hmmmmm..."
Slady walked away to eat. Even with the coldness in her expression, there was great affection for the girl in her eyes.
A few minutes later, the man had given Elisa a bath, and she behaved properly and felt comfortable being bathed by him.
After all this, Slady found Elisa in his arms, asleep and salivating through her rest, with him slapping Elisa's bottom almost automatically.
Those memories were like a pleasant image in the young woman's mind. Despite knowing almost nothing about Slady's past or who he *really* was, she held only one certainty in her mind.
He was someone Elisa could trust with everything she had.
***
In a distant laboratory...
The machines were turned off, the scientists were asleep in their dormitories. But there was a single light on.
In a containment room, there was a human-sized capsule containing a woman. She had beautiful red hair and was completely naked in that capsule, showing off a very strong and muscular body. What humans could easily call a "perfect physique."
Her head was connected to some wires, as if her mind were somewhere else... her body was tense and twitched from time to time, as if something unseen was happening.
Suddenly, her eyes opened, revealing a piercing red gaze...