Part 19
Jane's hand rubbed Alex's shoulder through the rubber as they sat in the back of the EV, the five-point harness keeping Alex secure, and Jane buckled into the middle seat next to her. Alex leaned into the touch, craving the connection, the reassurance that she wasn't alone.
"We're here," Jane whispered as they pulled into the parking lot of their loft.
The words penetrated through Alex's haze. Home. They were home. Something in her chest loosened at the thought.
Jane undid her buckle first, the click of the release the only sound in the quiet EV, and then she gently undid Alex's buckle and lifted the harness off her. Jay came around and opened Alex's door, the cool evening air washing over Alex as he offered a hand. Alex took it, still dazed and following their lead, his strong grip steadying her as she stepped down onto solid ground. Her legs wobbled slightly. She'd been in service the whole day, her body controlled and puppeteered and used in ways that still made her head spin to think about.
As she felt Jane approach from behind, something instinctual took over. Her hand reached out blindly, seeking, and found Jane's rubber-covered fingers. She laced their gloved hands together and pulled Jane close, not wanting even an inch of distance between them.
"I've got you, little drone," Jane said softly, squeezing her hand. "Let's get you inside."
The words made Alex's knees weak. Little drone. Even the phrase sent a shiver through her, a reminder of everything she'd become, everything she'd done.
They led Alex in through the loft's entrance. She barely registered passing Jane's room, her mind still foggy and distant. Jay split off somewhere, leaving the two of them alone as Jane guided her into the shower area.
Jane started the warm shower, and Alex could hear the water hitting the tile as it came up to temperature. Then Jane's hands were on her shoulders, gently steering her forward, both of them stepping under the spray still in their full suits.
"Okay, that's all right," Jane said, her voice taking on that soothing, caretaker tone. "Just let it all wash off. We're gonna get you totally cleaned up, perfect, shiny and good as new, okay?"
The warm water cascaded over Alex's hooded head, running in rivulets down the gleaming black rubber that still encased her completely. She nodded, unable to form words yet, and let Jane take over.
Jane's hands were everywhere, lovingly and carefully washing each part of her. She used soap and soft rags, detailing the smaller elements, around the seams, over the mask's eye lenses, down each finger of her gloves. Working methodically from top to bottom, Jane cleaned away the grime and sweat of the day until Alex could feel the water running clean and cool over the slick rubber surface.
Alex closed her eyes behind her mask and just let herself feel it. The warm water washing over her. Jane's careful, tender touches. The way she was being cared for, tended to, like something precious.
"There… Just a perfect, shiny drone," Jane said gently, and Alex heard the smile in her voice. "Now, your shift is over and it's time to get you out of there. You ready?"
Alex hesitated.
Was she ready? It felt strange to even think about leaving her drone shell. For the past day, she'd been safe inside the rubber, protected, her identity subsumed into something simpler. Just a drone. Just a thing to be used and stored and controlled. And she'd… god, she'd been made to do things and loved it. She'd begged to be trapped and kept that way, as something dirty and less than even a drone.
And now Jane was going to see her. Not the drone. Alex. The person inside who'd wanted all those terrible, degrading, beautiful things.
The fear hit her suddenly. What if Jane thought differently of her? What if she was disgusted? What if…
"Hey," Jane said, and Alex realized she'd gone still, rigid under the water. "You haven't done anything that I haven't done. What you want, what you do with the AI's guidance and as a drone, everybody here understands. Okay?"
Jane's hands found Alex's shoulders, squeezing gently through the rubber.
"Let me get you out of there. I want to see Alex again."
Hearing her name made her chest flutter. Not drone. Not toy. Not thing. Alex.
"That's right, just Jane and Alex here," Jane continued, reaching up to undo the clasps on her own mask. "I'll start."
Alex watched through her visor as Jane removed her mask, then carefully peeled back her hood, shaking out her damp hair. Water droplets clung to her face, and she smiled—warm, genuine, beautiful. She placed the mask and hood gently on the shelf outside the shower, then turned back to Alex.
"See now, where's my pretty Alex?"
Jane's fingers found the release on Alex's mask, and Alex let her head tilt forward, surrendering to Jane's care. The mask came away and Jane set it aside, then her fingers were at the back of Alex's hood, finding the zipper.
"Just breathe," Jane murmured. "I've got you."
The hood peeled back slowly, and suddenly the air hit Alex's face, cool and sharp and real. Her skin felt raw where the rubber had been pressed tight for so many hours. The water felt almost scalding hot against her exposed cheeks and forehead.
"There we are. Oh, baby, see, just the two of us again. Alex and Jane."
Alex couldn't quite find words yet. Her throat felt tight, her eyes stinging. She realized tears were streaming down her face, mixing with the hot shower water. She raised her gloved hands, still encased in rubber, and ran them clumsily over her face, over her hair, trying to wipe away the tears but only succeeding in spreading the water around.
"There we go. Come on back to me," Jane said, stepping closer.
Jane cupped Alex's face in both hands, thumbs gently wiping at the tears. Her touch was so tender it made Alex want to cry harder.
"Alex the human and Jane the human, just two people that have had some wild adventures. Okay?" Jane's eyes searched hers, warm and understanding. "You're real. You're the one I care about. You're gonna be okay. You haven't done anything wrong."
Alex's breath hitched. The words hit something deep inside her, something that had been coiled tight with fear.
"In fact, baby," Jane continued, her voice soft but firm, "you've done so good. So good that no one can believe it. You're just a natural at all this. We all just want to make sure we're taking care of you, that you're not going too fast. Okay?"
Jane pulled her into a hug, and Alex sagged against her, feeling the rubber of their suits press together under the warm spray.
"So let me just wrap you up in care," Jane whispered into her ear. "I've got you."
Alex nodded against Jane's shoulder, feeling her breath finally start to steady. She was okay. She was here in the shower with Jane. Safe.
Jane's hands found the zipper at the back of Alex's suit and slowly, carefully, began to peel it open. Alex felt the cool air hit her spine as the suit parted, then Jane's hands easing it down over her shoulders. Her skin prickled and smarted at the hot water, she'd been sealed in rubber for so long that even the shower felt intense. But then her body adjusted, the sting fading into warmth, into the simple pleasure of water on bare skin.
Jane worked the suit down over Alex's arms, her hips, helping her step out of it until it lay in a lifeless black puddle on the shower floor. Alex stood there naked, vulnerable, steam rising around her.
It all felt a bit like a dream. Like she was watching herself from outside her body.
Jane was already working on her own suit, pulling the zipper down and shimmying out of the gleaming black rubber. It pooled at her feet, and she stepped out of it, fully naked now too, water streaming down her curves.
"See," Jane said, gesturing at their bare bodies, "you and me, back to our base forms. Beautiful as ever."
Jane smiled at her, that warm, mischievous smile that always made Alex's stomach flip. Then she reached for the soap dispenser and pumped a generous amount into her palm.
"Come here," Jane said, and Alex stepped closer.
Jane moved behind her, and Alex felt those soapy hands slide into her hair, massaging gently. Working the soap through from roots to tips, Jane's fingers rubbed at Alex's scalp in slow, firm circles that made Alex want to purr. Then down over her shoulders, kneading at the tight muscles there.
Alex began to respond, her body relaxing degree by degree. She closed her eyes and let her head fall back, trusting Jane to support her. She smiled as Jane's strong hands worked down her arms, washing away the sweat and stress of the day.
Jane, seeing that Alex was beginning to return to herself, smiled and began to be a little more playful. Her soapy hands slid over Alex's back, down to the curve of her bum, squeezing gently before reaching around to soap up Alex's tummy and then her breasts.
Alex leaned back fully into her now, her back pressed against Jane's front, feeling the slickness of their wet skin sliding together.
"Hmm, does that feel nice?" Jane murmured, as Alex's head drifted back to rest on her shoulder, exposing the soft line of her neck.
Jane pressed a gentle kiss there, and Alex smiled and swooned, her eyes still closed, lost in the sensation.
Jane continued working, her hands sliding back down over the front of Alex's body. Working from behind, she wrapped Alex in a loving hug, pressing their bodies flush together. Her hands wound back down over Alex's tummy and then lower, between her legs, washing gently but thoroughly. The water washed over them both, rinsing away the soap, and Alex felt herself becoming putty in Jane's hands, pliant and trusting and so, so grateful.
Jane squatted down behind her, and Alex felt those hands roam all the way down her thighs, strong fingers massaging the tired muscles, then down to her calves, washing every bit of her with that same careful attention.
Then Jane swung around to Alex's front, still kneeling, and worked her way back up. Gently and caring, her hands gliding over Alex's legs, her hips. She let her hands linger at Alex's most sensitive spots, between her thighs, over her hip bones, but only toyed with her a little, still being gentle, still focused on care rather than arousal.
Alex moaned softly, her eyes still closed, biting her lip. Jane's hands roamed up again, once more over her breasts, teasing but not demanding, then over the front of her shoulders and down her arms. Jane stood as she did, bringing them face to face, and she pressed herself against Alex, chest to chest, thighs against thighs. Their hands found each other, fingers intertwining.
Alex's eyes fluttered open, and she found Jane looking at her with such warmth, such affection. Without thinking, Alex leaned in and kissed her.
Jane made a soft, pleased sound and kissed her back, then pressed her hips forward and to the side, turning them slightly under the spray. There she was. Alex's spark was back.
"Hello," Jane said against her lips, smiling. "How are you feeling? Better now?"
"Yeah," Alex breathed. "Thank you."
"Of course, baby." Jane kissed her again, softer this time. "We're not done yet. We're gonna take care of you."
She kissed her once more, then reached past Alex to turn off the water. The sudden quiet was startling, just the sound of water dripping and their breathing. Jane stepped out first and grabbed two of the large, fluffy towels from the rack, handing one to Alex and wrapping one around herself.
They emerged from the shower together, and Alex caught sight of them in the mirror, two women wrapped in towels, hair damp, faces flushed from the heat. They looked like two girls at the day spa, relaxed and happy.
Alex smiled at the reflection.
"See, I told you," Jane said, catching her gaze in the mirror. "Just two people."
Alex stayed close though, not quite ready to be separate. She snaked her arm around Jane's, taking her hand again. Jane pulled her close and held her hand tight, reassuring.
"Come on," Jane said gently. "Let's go get you dressed."
***
They went back to Jane's room, and Alex felt herself relaxing further as they entered the familiar space. Jane sat her down on the edge of the rubber-covered bed, then went to the drawers and began pulling out garments.
She kept things simple, selecting items quickly. She knelt in front of Alex with a pair of rubber panties and held them open. "Lift your feet, one at a time."
Alex obeyed, lifting her right foot, then her left, stepping into the panties. Jane slid them up over her ankles, her calves, and then stood, guiding them up over Alex's thighs.
"Stand for me," Jane said, and Alex stood.
Jane pulled the panties home, settling them into place with a gentle tug. Her hands lingered for just a moment on Alex's hips, thumbs tracing small circles on the rubber.
Alex stood there, luxuriating in the feeling of being cared for, dressed like a doll. Her mind drifted, fantasy images flickering through her thoughts, being attached to a conveyor belt while mechanical arms pulled parts of her suit on, turning her back into a drone. Being dressed and posed and molded into exactly what someone else wanted her to be. She moaned softly before she could stop herself.
Jane looked up at her, pausing mid-reach toward the drawer, and smiled wickedly.
"Already getting back into it," Jane said, her voice warm with amusement. "That's my girl."
Alex felt her cheeks flush.
"Arms up," Jane commanded, and Alex's arms went up automatically, that lovely wave of submission washing through her just from following the simple order.
Jane slid the rubber sports bra down over Alex's raised arms, over her shoulders, then adjusted it into place. The rubber settled around Alex's breasts, holding them firmly, compressing them just enough to be a constant, pleasant pressure. The coolness of the material felt good against her tender, sensitive nipples.
Jane presented the rubber gauntlets next, and Alex slid her hands down inside them without being asked. She popped her thumbs through the holes and felt Jane's hands smooth the rubber up her forearms to just below her elbows, molding the material to her skin.
"Sit," Jane said, and Alex sat on the edge of the bed once more.
That wave of submission hit again, stronger this time. So good to follow. So good to obey. The thought made her breath catch.
"So cute," Jane said, kneeling in front of her again. "Foot."
Alex presented her right foot, toes pointed, and let Jane slide the rubber thigh high over it. The stirrup caught against the bottom of her foot, securing it in place, and then Jane was pulling and smoothing the rubber up her calf, over her knee, up her thigh. Her hands moved slowly, sensually, making sure every inch was smooth and perfect.
God, Alex just wanted her to keep moving up further. Keep touching. But Jane stopped at mid-thigh and turned to the other leg.
"Other foot," Jane said, and Alex presented her left.
Once again, Jane slid the rubber tube up Alex's leg, snugged the stirrup under the arch of her foot, and then gently and lovingly smoothed and slid the thigh high up. This time, her fingers brushed up just a little closer to Alex's center, and Alex's breath hitched.
Jane looked up at her with a knowing smile, then stood.
"There's nothing quite so comfy as a big fluffy hoodie on top of rubber," Jane said, pulling an oversized black hoodie from the drawer. "Trust me on this."
She helped Alex put it on, holding it open so Alex could slide her gauntlet-covered arms through the sleeves. The soft, fuzzy fabric inside felt absolutely delicious against Alex's skin, warm and comforting. As Jane pulled it down over her chest, the hoodie glided perfectly over the smooth rubber bra, creating this incredible contrast of textures, fuzzy soft on the outside, slick smooth underneath. It settled gently down over the skin of her tummy, ending just at her navel.
All cute and cozy.
Jane smiled gently at Alex, a soft, knowing expression that made Alex's chest warm. Then she turned to her own clothes, and Alex watched, transfixed, as Jane began to dress herself.
Jane reached for her rubber leggings, sitting on the edge of the bed to slide them on. Alex watched as the sleek black material stretched over Jane's toes, her feet, then up over her calves. Jane stood and pulled them higher, the rubber gliding smoothly up her thighs, over her hips. She made a little show of it, pulling them up over her bum slowly, then smoothing the material with both hands, making it gleam under the soft light. Her hands traced over the curves, polishing the rubber to a mirror shine.
She glanced back at Alex with a knowing smile, catching the hunger in Alex's eyes.
Alex bit her lip, feeling that familiar pull of desire. God, she's beautiful. Even after everything today, after being pushed to her absolute limits, somehow Jane could still make her want more.
Jane pulled on a rubber tank top next, the material molding to her curves, and then grabbed an oversized black hoodie like the one Alex wore. She pulled it on, the soft fabric settling over the gleaming rubber underneath, creating that same delicious contrast of textures.
"All right," Jane said, taking Alex's hand and giving it a gentle squeeze. "I think the two of us are overdue for some cuddle time."
She tugged Alex toward the door, but Alex hesitated. Her hand drifted up to her neck almost unconsciously, fingers brushing over the bare skin there. It felt cold. Empty. Wrong, somehow.
The absence of the collar felt like missing a piece of herself.
"Could…" Alex started, her voice small and uncertain. She almost couldn't trust herself to say it out loud. "Could I wear your collar again?"
Jane turned back to her, and the smile that spread across her face was radiant, delighted.
"Of course, baby," she said warmly. "Come here."
Alex stepped toward her, feeling suddenly shy, vulnerable in a way that had nothing to do with being naked. This felt more exposing somehow, asking for this, admitting how much she needed it.
Jane went to the drawer and pulled out the collar, that beautiful black rubber collar with the D-ring at the front. She stepped close, and Alex tilted her head back slightly, exposing her throat.
Jane's fingers were gentle as she wrapped the collar around Alex's neck, the thick but soft rubber settling against her skin like it belonged there. Like it had always belonged there. Jane buckled it behind her neck with practiced ease, adjusting it until it sat perfectly, not too tight, not too loose.
"You want it locked?" Jane asked softly, her voice dropping into that low, intimate register that made Alex melt. "You want to be mine again for your time off?"
Alex nodded, heat flooding her cheeks. She couldn't find words, so she just nodded again, more emphatically.
She felt her breath slow and deepen as Jane pulled the small padlock from her dresser, threading it through the buckle at the back of the collar. Jane took her time with it, drawing out each moment, the soft clink of metal on metal, the slight tug as Jane positioned the lock just right.
Alex felt herself sway slightly, leaning back against Jane's body. The anticipation was exquisite, each second stretched like taffy.
And then… click.
The lock closed.
Alex let herself swoon back into Jane, and Jane's arms were there immediately, wrapping around her from behind, holding her tight. Alex sagged into the embrace, feeling owned, claimed, kept.
"There," Jane murmured against her ear, her voice thick with satisfaction and affection. "All mine. Even as a human, you're still my little rubber thing to play with, aren't you?"
Alex could only nod weakly, her whole body singing with the rightness of it. The collar sat snug around her throat, a constant, comforting pressure. A reminder. Jane's. I'm Jane's.
As Jane led her out of the room, Alex stayed close, practically clinging to her side. She felt more like herself now… human, grounded, present, but she still craved Jane's protection, Jane's closeness. Still needed to feel that tether between them.
***
Jane led her up to the great room. The space opened up before them, high ceilings, exposed brick, those massive industrial windows that let in the last glow of evening light. Sam stood waiting in full drone gear, posture perfect, a tray of snacks arranged neatly on the side table beside the massive sectional couch.
Alex felt a flutter of warmth seeing Sam there, ready to serve. Always taking care of them.
Jane guided Alex to the couch, and Alex immediately pulled her feet up onto the plush cushions, tucking herself into the corner. Jane grabbed a tablet from the side table and tapped at the screen, bringing the massive wall-mounted TV to life.
"All right," Jane said, dropping onto the couch next to Alex and pulling her close. "What are you feeling? Cozy, comfy, sci-fi, fun?"
Alex snuggled into Jane's side, resting her head on Jane's shoulder. The hoodie was so soft, and underneath she could feel the slick rubber of Jane's tank top, that delicious combination of textures.
"You pick," Alex murmured. "I just want to be here with you."
Jane pressed a kiss to the top of Alex's head, and Alex felt her chest tighten with affection.
"Bee and Puppycat it is then," Jane said, scrolling through the menu and selecting the show. "You'll see. It's super cute."
The show was weird, and silly, and Alex found herself smiling almost immediately. It was cute. Absurdly, delightfully cute. There was a grumpy cat, and a talking cicada and characters that felt somehow familiar.
They cuddled on the couch, Jane's arm around Alex's shoulders, Alex's hand resting on Jane's thigh. The characters on screen got into ridiculous adventures, and Alex found herself laughing, really laughing, for the first time since she'd gone into drone mode almost two days ago. The sound surprised her, bubbling up from somewhere deep in her chest.
A few minutes into the second episode, Sam appeared, gliding silently into the room. She carried a tray with two plates of food, each one arranged like a work of art. Sam set the tray on the coffee table and stepped back slightly, her posture formal even in the relaxed environment.
Then, from behind her mask, Sam's slightly amplified voice rang out like a chef at a fancy restaurant:
"Thin-sliced seared chicken breast, sous vide, in a lovely green chili cream sauce. Delicate roasted baby vegetables, with a banana pepper and smoky chipotle emulsion."
Alex's eyes went wide. The presentation was beautiful, the chicken fanned out perfectly, the vegetables arranged with geometric precision, the sauce drizzled artfully across the plate.
"Thank you, Sam," Jane said warmly, reaching for the plates and handing one to Alex.
Alex pulled the plate onto her lap, still staring at it. "This looks incredible."
She picked up her fork and took a bite of the chicken. The flavor exploded across her tongue, rich, savory, with just the right amount of heat from the chili cream sauce. The chicken was perfectly tender, melting in her mouth. She took another bite, then a piece of the roasted vegetables. They were caramelized just right, sweet and smoky.
"Oh, my God," Alex breathed, melting back into Jane's side. "This is… no joke, literally one of the best meals I've ever had in my life."
Jane smiled, taking a bite of her own. "Isn't Sam great? Something as simple as dinner can be an art when you really put a lot of love into it."
Alex took another bite, and the flavors were so perfectly balanced, so good, that she almost laughed with the sheer pleasure of it.
"Oh, my God, Sam!" she called out toward the kitchen, her voice full of genuine enthusiasm. "You are a very good drone!"
A distant, muffled moan echoed from somewhere back in the kitchen area.
Jane burst out laughing beside her. "Oh, careful! You'll make her drop a plate."
"Oh, my God," Alex said again, grinning as she took another bite.
They sat there, eating slowly, savoring every bite, watching the show and just… existing together. It felt so normal. So wonderfully, beautifully normal. Just two people on a couch, eating dinner and watching TV. Except for the fact that they were both wearing rubber under their hoodies, and Alex had a locked collar around her neck, and Sam was serving them while encased in a full drone suit.
But somehow, that made it even better.
After they finished their main course, Sam returned silently collecting their plates. A moment later, she returned with two dessert plates topped with rich chocolate tarts, dark and glossy, drizzled with a bright red raspberry sauce.
Alex took a bite and nearly moaned. The chocolate was decadent and sweet, perfectly balanced by the sharp, almost bitter tartness of the raspberry sauce. The flavors danced on her tongue, playing off each other in the most delicious way.
She licked her spoon, trying to capture every last bit of sauce and chocolate, savoring every possible taste.
"Oh, my God," she sighed, setting down her empty plate. "I just don't want this to end."
"There's something…" Jane said, finishing her own tart. "about the eating window when we're in human mode. We come up for air like this… it just makes everything taste that much more intense, more delicious."
Alex rested her head back against Jane's shoulder, feeling full and content and so, so grateful. Jane's fingers found Alex's hair, combing through the short strands in slow, soothing strokes. Alex's eyes drifted closed, a soft moan escaping her lips.
"Mmm."
They stayed like that for another episode, maybe two. Alex lost track of time, drifting in that warm, comfortable space between waking and sleep. The show played on, the characters moved and talked, but Alex was only half-aware of it. Mostly she was aware of Jane's warmth beside her, the gentle touch of Jane's fingers in her hair, the soft fabric of the hoodie against her skin.
Eventually, Jane shifted slightly, and Alex felt her take a breath, the kind of breath that meant she was about to say something important.
"Now then," Jane said softly, during a pause between episodes. "Fed and rested. You seem like you're feeling a little bit more like yourself. You doing okay?"
Alex took a deep breath, trying to find the words. "Yeah," she said slowly. "Yeah, yeah, I think I'm okay. I'm better here with you."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Jane asked gently, her fingers still moving through Alex's hair in those slow, comforting strokes.
Alex was quiet for a moment, thinking. "Maybe… It already feels like a different lifetime. Somehow."
Like it happened to someone else. Or like she'd been split into two different people, the Alex who'd begged to be sealed in the bag as a discarded thing, and the Alex sitting here on the couch in a soft hoodie, eating chocolate tart.
Jane nodded slowly, understanding. "The mode switching can be a little hard. You've got a real knack for diving right into the deep end, so coming back up to the surface can take a little while." She paused, her voice softening even more. "I was awfully glad to see you smile again."
Alex turned to look at her, really look at her. Jane's expression was so open, so caring. There was no judgment there. No disgust. Just… love.
"It wasn't…" Alex began, trying to make sense of the tangled feelings inside her. "It wasn't that it was bad or traumatic or anything like that. It's…" She struggled for the right words. "I think I scared myself."
"Tell me," Jane said, shifting slightly so they were facing each other more directly, her hand coming up to cup Alex's cheek.
Alex leaned into the touch, gathering her courage. "I felt this… heat of embarrassment when you and Jay were pulling me out. Like you'd seen me that way." She swallowed hard. "Seen what I really was, what I really wanted. And the human part of me was scared that there was no coming back from that."
She paused, her voice dropping to almost a whisper.
"But there was also this other voice in my head just yelling, 'No! Put me back. Let me stay. Seal me back in.'"
Heat flooded Alex's cheeks as she said it out loud. Admitting it made it real, made it undeniable. Part of her had wanted to stay in that trash pile. Had wanted to be kept sealed in, stored away and forgotten.
Jane smiled at her, and there was nothing but sweetness and understanding in her expression.
"Oh, it's addictive, isn't it?" she said softly.
"Oh, God," Alex breathed, closing her eyes. "I really don't know sometimes. If I wasn't with you all, if I didn't trust you, and the AI and the other drones, to take care of me…" She opened her eyes again, meeting Jane's gaze. "I could fall real deep."
The truth of it sat heavy in her chest. Without the safety net, without people who actually cared about her wellbeing, she could lose herself completely. Disappear into being nothing but a drone, a thing, a toy to be used and stored.
And part of her wanted that.
Jane nodded, her expression thoughtful. "I think…" she said, looking up toward the ceiling as if gathering her thoughts. "I think the safety makes some of that possible. If you thought you were really in danger, a different part of your brain would kick in. Your survival instincts would override everything else. But when you know you're safe, you can play with the edge. You can push further and faster."
She looked back at Alex, her eyes serious.
"It's good to be aware of it, because we all push those boundaries sometimes, and it can be tough to know how far we'll go. But the truth of it is, you are safe with us. From any of us truly hurting you, from the AI ever bringing you harm, and in some ways, from yourself."
Alex opened her mouth to respond, but found she didn't have words. So she just closed her mouth and nodded, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes. Not sad tears. Just… overwhelmed tears. Grateful tears.
She put her head back on Jane's shoulder and leaned in close, breathing in the faint scent of rubber and Jane's shampoo.
"I'm just so glad I found you," Alex whispered.
"Me too, Alex."
At the sound of her name again, her real name, not a pet name or "little drone" or "baby", Alex felt an unexpected pang in her chest. She knew why Jane said it. Jane was reminding her that she was real, that she was still a person. But somehow, hearing her name felt… distant. Like being called back from somewhere she wanted to stay.
She turned her head up to look at Jane, unable to hide the slight hurt in her eyes.
Jane caught the expression immediately, and her face softened. "That's who you are," she said gently, brushing a strand of hair back from Alex's forehead. "You're real, you're human, and I see you. You're my Alex, even if you are my pet and my little drone. Does that make you happier?"
Alex's eyes went wide, and she felt her whole face light up. Warmth flooded through her chest.
My Alex. Not just Alex. Jane's Alex. And her pet and little drone.
She smiled and nodded enthusiastically, unable to contain the joy that washed over her.
"All right, then," Jane said, giving Alex's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Now, I imagine you're starting to get a little tired, but before bed there's some things we want to show you." Her voice took on a note of excitement. "Jay, Ani and Sam have been hard at work today. We all have. Come see."
Jane stood, pulling Alex up with her, and led her by the hand back down the hallway. They passed Jane's room, and Alex assumed they were heading toward the bathroom or maybe the kitchen, but Jane stopped halfway down the hall.
Right in front of a door Alex had never really noticed before.
"This…" Jane said, turning to face Alex with a smile that was equal parts warm and mischievous, "is your room."
Alex's breath caught. Her room?
Jane pushed open the door, and Alex's eyes went wide. Jay and Ani stood inside in their full drone suits, postures perfect, and Sam slipped in just behind them. All three drones turned toward the door as Alex entered, and even through their masks, Alex could feel their attention, their excitement.
"Welcome home, drone," Jane said softly, squeezing Alex's hand and leading her inside.
The room was beautiful. Dark walls, painted a deep charcoal gray that made the space feel intimate and cozy. A bed in the center with gleaming black rubber sheets, perfectly made. And against the far wall, an armoire, tall, stately, painted in matte black.
Alex stared at the armoire. It looked… familiar.
"Recognize it?" Jay said, the lilt in his voice warm and amused even through the amplification of his mask. "You helped shift that, loaded it into the truck yourself at the estate sale."
Alex's mouth fell open slightly as the realization hit her.
"So that day," Jay continued, "we were already getting stuff for you and others, but we had a feeling we might be making room for you specifically." He gestured around the space. "Hope you like it. Just put the finishing touches on today."
"It's amazing," Alex breathed, her eyes roaming over every detail. "You did all this for me?"
She stepped toward the armoire, running her gauntlet-covered hand over the smooth matte surface. The paint job was perfect, no drips, no uneven patches. Whoever had done this had taken their time, had cared about getting it right.
She pulled open one of the drawers and found it filled with neatly folded rubber gear, sports bras, panties, shorts, leggings, all in gleaming black. Another drawer held gauntlets and stockings. A third had hoods and accessories.
"Ani here is our best rubber crafter. We brought some stuff in from other houses, but they made some personal bits for you. You can have a good old explore later. There's more," Jay said, pressing a button next to the armoire.
Just like Jane's, another compartment slid open and the sleeping pod was revealed.
"Just like mine," Jane said with a smile, gesturing toward the revealed compartment.
Alex stepped closer and peered inside. The sleeping pod was identical to Jane's, inner cage bars, soft padding, dim lighting. A cocoon. A safe place to surrender completely.
Her shoulders dropped, tension she hadn't realized she was carrying releasing all at once. Her own place to stay. Her own pod to sleep in, safe in the AI's care. Her own space.
A thought struck her suddenly, a flash of worry. Would she still get to sleep with Jane sometimes?
Jane must have read the expression on her face, because she immediately stepped closer, wrapping an arm around Alex's waist.
"You can still sleep in mine whenever you like," Jane said warmly. "But we want you to have a place of your own too. Our shifts won't always line up exactly, sometimes I'll be out on assignment and you'll need a little time to collect yourself, work on your own things too."
Alex looked at her and nodded, the worry easing. She could have both. Her own space and time with Jane. The best of both worlds.
"Some other little special bits," Jay said, and Alex turned to see him walking to the other corner of the room. He pressed something, and a panel on a tall rectangular wardrobe slid open, revealing a compartment inside.
"Since you were so keen on it at the market," Jay continued, his voice warm with amusement, "I thought you might like your own personal drone storage."
Alex's breath caught as she stared at the revealed space. It was just big enough for one drone to fit, standing upright. Armpit rests on either side padded with that quilted leather, designed to hold a drone suspended and immobilized, and another between the legs. The rest of the interior was like a cutout of a drone. Once inside with the panel closed, there would be no getting out and very little movement.
Her knees went weak. Oh god. The image flashed through her mind immediately, herself, suited and hooded, mounted on those bars, arms held in place, mask and suit stuck on, completely helpless. Stored away like equipment. Like a thing.
"When you need a little time to recharge, so to speak," Jay said, and even through the mask she could hear the smile in his voice.
Alex realized she was breathing hard, her heart racing. Jay must have been watching her biometrics, because he gave a soft chuckle.
"And this one was my specialty," Ani said, their short frame practically bouncing over to what looked like a heap of rubber with straps leading up from it to the ceiling. "Since you seem to have a particular thing for being all bagged up, this is your own little storage bag. Just climb in here," Ani said, stepping over the edges of the thick rubber bag. "Slap that button or ask the AI and up you go."
Ani smacked the button on the wall, and Alex watched, transfixed, as the motor hummed to life. The straps began reeling upward, pulling taut. Ani crouched down inside the thick rubber bag, sitting with their knees pulled up against their chest, arms wrapped around their legs.
The bag lifted up around them, the rubber cinching tight as it rose, forming a cocoon, no, a teardrop shape. The straps pulled the gathered rubber closed at the top, and then Ani was rising off the floor entirely, suspended in mid-air like a pendulum.
Ani was clearly having fun with it, wiggling and pushing against the rubber from the inside, making the whole thing sway and twist. Alex could swear she heard muffled giggles coming from inside the bag.
The sight hit Alex like a physical blow. Her knees went weak, and she grabbed onto Jane's arm for support, her breathing suddenly ragged.
That could be me, she thought, her mind spinning. Sealed up, suspended, helpless, stored away.
"Just lovely," Jay said, laughing, "we thought you'd like that." He tapped the side of his visor. "it doesn't take much to send you right into the deep arousal, does it?"
Alex flushed, suddenly aware that they could all see her biometrics. Could see exactly how turned on she was by the thought of being bagged and hung like… like cargo, anytime she wanted.
The winch reversed, lowering Ani back down to the floor. The motor slowed, and the bag settled onto the ground with the soft rustling of thick rubber. It loosened and draped down around Ani as they stood up, reaching up to push the opening wider and step out. They were still giggling, clearly delighted with themselves.
"I think it's fun," Ani said, brushing off their suit. "Might have to make one for myself."
"There are one or two other bits," Jay said, walking toward the far corner of the room and gesturing for Alex to follow. "A little desk for working, all made by yours truly."
Alex tore her eyes away from the suspension bag and looked where Jay was pointing. There was indeed a desk, simple, beautiful craftsmanship, made from reclaimed wood and painted matte black to match the armoire. A comfortable chair sat in front of it, and a small lamp on the corner.
"And a little something," Jay continued, "that the director of acquisitions picked up for you." He gestured to Ani with a flourish. "A little birdie said you like to play guitar."
Ani bounced over to a stand next to the desk, Alex hadn't even noticed it before, and carefully lifted the guitar from its stand. It was beautiful. Sleek and black with chrome hardware that gleamed in the soft light.
Ani carried it over and held it out to Alex.
"Oh my god," Alex breathed, taking it reverently. "It's…"
She threw the strap over her shoulder, the weight of it familiar and comforting. Her fingers found the frets automatically, muscle memory kicking in from years of practice. She strummed once, and the strings rang out clear and rich, if unamplified.
"Oh, this is really nice," she said, adjusting her grip and playing a quick riff. Her fingers moved over the strings, testing the action, the intonation. "Definitely nicer than my old one. I haven't played in…"
She trailed off, realizing she couldn't remember the last time she'd actually even seen her guitar.
"I'd ask how you know," Alex said, looking up at Ani, "but as always, not many secrets here."
Ani just grinned at her, that playful, bratty energy radiating even through their mask.
Ani reached out, and Alex carefully handed the guitar back to them, watching as they returned it to its stand.
"I picked out your initial wardrobe," Sam said, her voice quiet and gentle from back near the door. She'd been hanging back, letting Jay and Ani have their moments, but now she stepped forward slightly. "Got your bed all set, made sure you had your other basics. You'll have your own bin and basket in the bathroom now as well."
Her voice was so sweet, even filtered through the mask's amplification. Alex felt a rush of affection for her.
"If you ever need creature comforts," Sam continued, "you just come right to me. Okay?"
Alex looked at her and nodded, her throat suddenly tight. These people, these drones, her housemates, her family had spent days preparing this space for her. Making her feel welcome. Making her feel home.
"And any wardrobe changes you want, just ask me," Sam added. "I tried to pick things that I thought were on theme, but your self-expression in human mode is always up to you."
"That's all amazing," Alex said, and she could hear her voice wavering with emotion. "I'm sure it's great. Thank you." She looked around at all of them—Jay, Ani, Sam, Jane. "Thank all of you. For making me feel so at home here, for taking such good care of me."
Jane smiled at her, that warm, proud smile that made Alex's chest ache.
"That's what we do for any member of the collective," Jay said brightly. "And you're one of us now."
One of us. The words settled into Alex's bones. She wasn't a visitor anymore. She wasn't a guest or a trainee. She was one of them.
They could see that Alex was feeling a lot of emotions, hell, they could probably see her heart rate spiking on their HUDs, and they seemed to collectively decide to give her some space. They started moving toward the door, their movements coordinated in that way drones had when they were in sync.
"And with that," Jay said, "we'll let you have your peace and quiet. Have a good night, drone."
But Alex didn't let him leave just like that. She practically launched herself across the room and threw her arms around his midsection, hugging him tight.
"Thank you," she said against his chest, feeling the smooth rubber under her cheek.
"You're very welcome," Jay said, and she could hear the smile in his voice. His hand came up to hold her back gently.
When Alex finally released him, Ani was there, bouncing on their toes.
"Don't have too much fun with all this," Ani said, giving Alex's shoulder a playful punch. "Maybe sometime I could give them a try." They gestured back at the suspension bag with obvious enthusiasm.
Alex laughed, wiping at her eyes. "Anytime."
Then Sam. Alex held onto Sam for a long moment, just breathing, trying to convey everything she was feeling through the hug. Sam's arms came around her, gentle but firm, and they stood there together for several heartbeats.
Finally, Sam pulled away slowly, gave Alex a little nod through her mask, and walked down the hall after the others.
And then it was just the two of them. Alex and Jane.
The door was still open, and for a moment Alex was terrified that Jane would be next to leave. That she'd be left alone in this beautiful new room with all its equipment designed specifically for her darkest fantasies, with nothing but her own spiraling thoughts for company.
"Could…" Alex started, her voice small. "Could you stay with me?"
Jane's face softened immediately, all traces of playfulness replaced by pure affection.
"Of course, baby," she said, stepping forward and taking both of Alex's hands in hers. "I'm not going anywhere unless you want me to."
Alex sagged with relief. "I don't. Want you to go, I mean."
Jane smiled and turned to gently close the door, the soft click of the latch sealing them into Alex's new space together.