Day 9: Under an umbrella
story timeeeee
"Y'know, I never saw you as the type to enjoy…jumping around in puddles in the rain." Shard commented, watching his companion hop into another large pool of rain water. Nicole was practically glowing with joy, a smile extending across her entire muzzle as rain streaked down her soaking wet hair and bright magenta raincoat. It was undoubtedly a very different picture from the normally composed and professional looking lynx, but not an unwelcome sight to the robot. Seeing her happy like this simply recharged his entire being. Her arm was firmly locked in his as she turned to look at him, "You never struck me as the type to not jump in puddles in the rain." She retorted with a small laugh. He couldn't resist a chuckle either, nodding his head slightly in admission that she was right— as usual. "I don't mind it. It's not like I'm gonna rust or that I'm not afraid of it or anything like sir 'can't-breath-in-three-inches-of-water' is..It's just…Inconvenient, I guess." Nicole reached up to her face, brushing her sopping wet hair away from her vibrant and slightly glowing green optics, her eyelids slightly lowered. "You are telling me that you manage to dance through fire, stone, and even somehow dance between the lines that are Director Who and Sir Charles' expectations, but that dancing in the rain is inconvenient for you?" Shard burst out laughing, unable to hold himself together at her very accurate assessment. "W-well, when you put it that way…" The robot conceded, recoiling slightly as Nicole helped herself to some of the free space beneath the umbrella he was using to keep his upper half dry.
"Don't you think that it would be…fun…for you to try it?" She asked, her virtual eyes locked onto his. Shard turned his head slightly, unable to hold her captivating gaze without feeling his body temperature spiking, "I mean, it would take someone pretty special to change my mind, I guess." The robian coughed slightly following his statement, giving the digital lynx several consecutive side glances. "Oh I certainly believe that it would." Nicole agreed, trying and failing to keep the slight red hue off her face, "What with you being so stubborn, of course." Shard shrugged innocently, "What can I say- it's in my wiring." The ex-badnik unintentionally flinched as she rested a hand on the side of his face, pulling him back to face her by the screw on his muzzle. "Your hands are freezing." He shuddered, once again victim to her beautiful optics. "Payback." She replied simply, leaning up on her very toes to match his height. For a moment, silence fell between them, carefully analyzing one another's faces as they had done so many times before- every soaked piece of fur on Nicole's muzzle and every subtle scar on Shard's brow.
"Shard…?" "Yea?" "Do you suppose that I'm special enough to convince you to dance with me?" "…I guess you could find out, huh?"
The smile already present on the lynx's face only grew bigger, leaning closer slightly. Shard voiced no complaints, his pixelated eyes slowly closing as she planted a gentle kiss on his lips. Even despite the cold air and the pouring rain, warmth settled in the cores of the two robots, digital hearts swelling with a contentment they'd grown so addicted to. With the robot sufficiently occupied, Nicole blindly reached for the handle of the umbrella he was still clinging to for 'protection' from the element's inconveniences. Without a single protest, she convinced his hand to follow hers, tilting the striped umbrella down and sideways. And the two of them were dowsed in rain.

—
Headcanon:
Nicole loves water. No rhyme or reason, she just loves it. Perhaps it has something to do with where she first revealed her most recognizable form- at the Lake of Rings- or just the inherent need she has to feel things. Shard, by contrast, isn't a huge fan. He's not afraid of it, but he does sink in large bodies of water and said water tends to get stuck in his hull and so he walks around leaking water for days after. He finds it incredibly annoying and prefers to avoid it if he can. He also doesn't rust thanks to being made of titanium alloy and being waterproof.

Next:
Day10: https://galaxynite.deviantart.com/art/Day10-Take-Me-Dancing-662443213

Previous: Day8: https://www.deviantart.com/deviation/661852710

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