AN: I originally posted this on AO3, but I used this as a chance to revise it a little bit. I'm not super proud of this one. It was a spur of the moment thing when I was listening to Lydia The Bard's cover of "Hellfire", and I feel like it could be better. But on the bright side, somebody decided to make a fanfic based on the original oneshot and so far, it's very good! Anyways, enjoy!
Serial Designation YN was, by all means of the word, a good Disassembly Drone. A strong, efficient leader, powerful fighter, and loyal to JC Jenson no matter what...
So why, WHY must she be tortured with these intrusive thoughts?!!
That boy... Serial Designation N. Ever since she had met him, she couldn't get him out of her head. It was like he lived in there, feeding on her thoughts and tormenting her with his- his... Infuriatingly attractive face!
YN stormed into the stone-brick church that her squad was using for their headquarters. She ignored her teammate L, who immediately stood and saluted upon her arrival. She paused at the doorway to her room, frowning at the floor in deep thought.
"Go check on F." She commanded without looking back. "Make sure he hasn't fallen asleep or gotten distracted playing with the worker corpses again." F was supposed to be guarding the entrance of the colony where the defective Drones N and V, along with many Worker Drones had taken shelter during her squad's attack. They couldn't break in due to the bunker's incredibly sturdy doors, but they knew that the Drones, especially the rogue Disassemblers, couldn't last in there forever, what with their need for oil and all. Which is why her squad took turns guarding it. Waiting for the day the doors would open and they could attack...
"Yes'm!" L said in a Cockney British accent before rushing out to complete the task. YN waited until his wingbeats faded into the distance before sighing and entering her room, which was in the remains of the main worship hall. A grand, ornate room full of graceful statues, rows of benches, stained glass windows that YN had painstakingly repaired (partially out of boredom, but mostly because she liked the aesthetic), and a large alter at the far end where the pope would stand and, perhaps, say his prayers.
YN examined the room, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Yes, she was still thinking about N. His kindness, his adorably awkward kind of grace, the way he tried not harm her even as she fought him with the intention of ending his life. And then the way he gently held her in his arms that day*...
Of course, she was too proud to admit it then, but she had fallen for him. And the feeling only seemed to be getting stronger, developing into something the humans might call obsession. Or even lust.
Standing before the alter, YN clasped her hands and began praying;
"Our Father, who art in Heaven,
Hallowed by Thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done,
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day, our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory.
For ever and ever.
Amen."
She almost swore she could hear organ music playing somewhere in the background. Closing her eyes, she listened to it for a moment before she began to sing.
"Beata, Maria. You know I am a righteous Drone.
Of my virtue, I am justly proud."
"Et tibi Pater" An invisible choir sang in the background.
"Beata, Maria. You know I'm so much purer than
the common, vulgar, weak, licentious crowd."
"Quia peccavi nimis"
The music swelled as YN's face went from calm to irritated and she lifted her hands up, making eye-contact with a statue of the virgin Mary.
"Then tell me, Maria, why I see him standing there!
Why his golden eyes still pierce my core!"
"Cogitatione" The choir sang as YN's hands clenched into fists. She turned to a mirror she had set up in the corner for practical purposes, but instead of her reflection, saw N, smiling and waving like the wholesome boy that he is. She stepped back, digital eyes hollowed out in shock. Was this real?!
"I feel him! I see him!
The stars caught in his silver hair
are blazing in me out of all control!"
"Verbo et opere"
Illusion N stopped waving and tilted his head, seemingly curious as to why YN was upset. YN frowned as she took another step back, still singing;
"Like fire! Hellfire!
This fire in my skin!"
She took a scrap of fabric from her breast pocket. A piece of N's coat that she had torn off in a fight and decided to keep for some reason. Now she knew why. She pressed it to her face, feeling it's softness against her metallic skin, imagining burying her face in N's chest as she continued singing.
"This burning
desire
is turning me
to
sin!"
Shadowy, human figures like the ones from the company appeared, looking down on YN with glowing white eyes narrowed into accusatory glares. YN's eyes hollowed again as her voice became louder and more desperate.
"It's not my fault! I'm not to blame! It is this rebel boy, THE WRETCH who set this flame!" She ran up the length of the hall, pleading desperately to the statues.
"It's not fault
if in God's plan,
He made the devil so much stronger than I am!"
She fell to her knees with her hands clasped in frustration, something like tears streaming down her metallic cheeks.
"Protect me, Maria!
Don't let this siren cast his spell.
Don't let his fire sear my flesh and bone!"**
She stood up again, glowering at the illusion of N in the mirror, who continued to smile innocently.
"Destroy the traitor, N!" Her voice took on a darker tone, sounding extremely bloodthirsty for a moment. "And let him taste the fires of Hell!"
"Or else let him be mine, and mine alone!" She reverted back to her original sweet and melodious voice.
Illusion N stepped out of the mirror to embrace YN, who opened her arms to return it-- The double doors at the entrance to the hall burst open and Illusion N dissipated into nothing. YN whirled around and scowled at the intruders with a faint, glowing blush on her visor as she was embarrassed to be caught in this state.
F and L stood in the doorway, eyes hollow and trembling in fear of YN's anger.
"C-Captain YN, the rebel Drones have escaped." F said; he had a generic American accent.
"What?" YN asked in a low voice, her digital eyes narrowing into slits.
"The bunker doors are open, but nobody's inside! We checked everywhere!" L said before he gulped. "They're all gone."
"But how?! You two were supposed to--!" YN interrupted herself, taking a calming breath before speaking in a more cool, collected tone. "Never mind... Get out, you idiots." She turned around to look out the window at the raging blizzard as her to squadmates left, just thankful to not have to face her wrath this time.
"I'll find him." YN said to himself, her voice darkening again. "I'll find him if I have to burn down all of Copper-9." She lifted her arms as the music swelled again.
"Hellfire! Dark fire!
Now, finally, it's your turn.
Choose me or
your pyre.
Be mine or you will
BUUURN!"
YN covered her face with her hands as she sang in a softer, more vulnerable tone. Some part of her code told her that this was wrong.
"God have mercy on him..."
"God have mercy on me..."
The music swelled one final time as she sang louder again, the wicked part of her programming finally taking over.
"But he will be mine or
Heee
WIIILL
BUUURN!!!"
The choir vocalized in the background as the song came to an end. YN collapsed to her knees, breathing heavily. She was feeling the effects of an overheat, despite having drank some oil only a few hours ago. She stared down at her hands, transforming them into claws. She felt like a new drone, with a new purpose. She grinned and laughed maniacally, standing up and marching to the doors, throwing them open to find F and L playing cards.
"On your feet, boys!" She snapped and they both leaped up, saluting her as she strode past them. She smiled sinisterly. "We have work to do..."
Notes:
*I imagined that for this to happen, they may have been battling and YN almost got herself killed somehow. Maybe a furnace or a magnet. Perhaps V ripped her wings off so she couldn't fly and that was why she couldn't save herself, so N, being the way he is, rescued her (perhaps hoping it would be enough to convince YN to join their side). Either way, that's how it happened.
**Metallic flesh and bone, obviously. I couldn't figure out a good robotic substitute for the original lyrics.