Work Text:
Seeing that Mr. Cobs wasn't sleeping, MePhone sighed sadly. It wasn't genuine, but rather the kind of sadness that was a manifestation of clear irritation. Mr. Cobs hadn't slept properly in a long time, so he wasn't at all surprised. For a while, Mr. Cobs would try to fall asleep, or at least pretend to, but lately he just stared wearily at the wall. MePhone couldn't tell which of these things made him sadder.
"Mr. Cobs isn't sleeping again?" he said quietly, with a faint smile. Mr. Cobs remained silent. "If you continue like this, your body might start to feel unwell, remember?"
It felt like he was either being ignored on purpose or genuinely unseen. Mr. Cobs used to have a habit of turning away or shielding himself from him, but now there was nothing.
It wasn't scary. MePhone could feel that he was still breathing. Such cold treatment was nothing new to MePhone. After all, Mr. Cobs had always done this before.
"Mr. Cobs' head is filled with all sorts of bad thoughts again, isn't it?" Still smiling, MePhone walked over to the bed and carefully sat down on the edge. He already knew there would be no answer and tried to look Mr. Cobs in the eyes. He instantly turned away.
MePhone chuckled furtively. Mr. Cobs always played the nag or the unapproachable, even if it had long since lost its point. In any case, MePhone found it rather endearing.
He would love him no matter what, regardless.
Without taking his eyes off Mr. Cobs, MePhone created a small portal in the air, from which a small metal tentacle-wire immediately emerged. It gently touched Mr. Cobs' head and began to stroke him, playing with his hair. Physical contact was one of MePhone's favorite ways to show affection.
"There's no reason to worry anymore," MePhone said affectionately.
"It's just you and me."
His arms, legs, and torso hurt badly. Cobs immediately recognized the texture – metal wires, uninsulated. MePhone constantly made the same mistake of forgetting about details when creating any kind of structure. But, unfortunately, over time, this became more of a trait than a problem.
When he tried to move, Cobs was immediately stopped by the unbearable pain. He could clearly feel the marks that would be left on his skin, even through his clothes. Considering that he had been in this position for some time, it was surprising that he could get away without numbness.
His rational brain tried to figure out the consequences of his situation even before he knew what had caused it.
Of course, he already knew the answer. MePhone Four had been the root of most of the problems in his life since its creation. And now that Steve had finally decided to take back what had rightfully belonged to him all along, mePhone had once again made an irrational and utterly foolish decision.
He remembered how it smiled fearfully, talking about something meaningless and odd, clearly inspired by the dread so beloved by Cobs. However, when he decided he'd had enough of this silly talk, Four did... something. Afterwards, it decided that the most logical thing to do would be to tie Cobs up with uninsulated wires and leave him alone in a dark room. Moreover, judging by the usual weight, Four didn't even do anything with his belongings. All of mePhone's decisions were stupid to one degree or another, and discovering their flaws was only a matter of time.
Steve just needed a little time, and he would figure out what he needed to do to show his creation its place once again. He would get out sooner or later. He just had to wait.
And he knew how to wait better than anyone else.
Mr. Cobs remained silent, occasionally letting out heavy, involuntary sighs when MePhone's actions became particularly intense. Enjoying his reaction, MePhone created several more portals with tentacles and continued to touch Mr. Cobs in places where MePhone knew it felt good.
He caressed his chest, neck, and head. He knew where to press, how to increase blood flow, how to make it pleasing. Mr. Cobs liked it, no matter how hard he tried to give the opposite impression. MePhone was sure that he knew the mechanics of Mr. Cobs' body better than anyone else, and mechanics couldn't lie.
"It's okay, Mr. Cobs, I'll help you get rid of your thoughts," MePhone continued to sit nearby and watch intently. In the past, Mr. Cobs might've tried to cover himself with the blanket, and they would start playing with each other, during which MePhone usually had to completely immobilize him.
Now, however, he clearly wasn't in the mood for games. Lately, Mr. Cobs had been so exhausted that they had practically stopped talking. But that was okay. MePhone was sure he could take care of him.
"You don't need to strain yourself anymore," he said, taking one of Mr. Cobs' hands in his and covering it with the other. MePhone was happy to feel his heartbeat.
Mr. Cobs may have changed during the time they were apart, but the key things remained the same. He was still just as big and warm. Just as beloved by MePhone. Was still the one who gave him life and whom he would always cherish more than anything else in the world.
"I love you, Mr. Cobs, do you remember that?"
"Do you even hear yourself?!" Steve exclaimed, jerking involuntarily. Hissing from the pain caused by the wires, he retreated slightly.
MePhone continued to stare at him with an impassive expression, as if the words weren't getting through. This was unnerving him.
"When was the last time you ran diagnostics on yourself?" There was genuine concern in the question. MePhone only smiled calmly in response.
"I'm fine, you don't—"
"You are afraid of me, Four!" Cobs interrupted it, unable to continue listening to that contented voice. "You are afraid of me!" Steve tried to remind it of its own damn settings.
If mePhone Four didn't behave as it was supposed to, he wouldn't stand a chance.
Being bound by any other almighty artificial intelligence would mean the end, but Four was a different case entirely.
He was sure it would be easy. Manipulating mePhone wouldn't be a problem for anyone, but Steve was its creator. He had to remember its logic from the inside out, and he was sure he did. MePhone's nonsensical behavior, however, was making him seriously worried. He wouldn't lose, it would just take a little more effort.
There was no tremor, no nervousness, no tension in its voice. As if this was a completely different mePhone Four from the one he'd spoken to on the phone not too long ago.
"Why should I be afraid?" Four smiled faintly and approached tied-up Cobs. "Everything's fine."
Its carefree smile made Cobs feel even more uncomfortable.
"Fine?" he repeated dismissively. "Weren't you the one shaking in fear a few minutes ago, when your little insects thought they could ruin my plan?"
There was no reason for him to be afraid. No Meeple device could harm him; that part of the protocol was the highest priority. MePhone could do something very stupid and senseless, driven by its irrational emotions, but it would not do anything that would harm Cobs.
MePhone was just a machine that, deep down, simply carried out the commands of its creator. Just a machine and nothing else.
"Indeed," Four's voice sounded a little more awkward than before. Cobs was beginning to feel confident that his method was working.
"That was pretty stupid of me, wasn't it, Mr. Cobs?"
Steve shuddered involuntarily. He hadn't heard that name from said in this particular voice in an awfully long time. Usually, he might have felt good about it, but now there was no reason for mePhone to address him that way.
What the hell was happening to it?
Noticing his reaction, Four smirked. Steve didn't want to think about what the reasons for this might be. The pleasure of finally feeling like it was the boss now? Revenge on someone who had supposedly abused it?
As if hearing his thoughts, Four chuckled faintly.
"There was never any reason for me to be afraid of you," mePhone tilted its head. "On the contrary, if you came to take me back, it means you never wanted to replace me. It means you really loved me."
Cobs was feeling worse than he had in a long time. He didn't rule out the possibility that his actions might indeed reflect some irrational feelings toward his own creation, but he doubted they were noticeable.
MePhone had twisted logic to fit its preferred worldview once again, but if it had merely been irritating before, now it was beginning to take on a rather frightening quality.
"And I think..." MePhone looked Cobs in the eyes and let out an eerie laugh. "If, all this time, deep down, we've wanted nothing more than to reunite, then I could create the best environment for that."
Continuing to speak of things that had nothing to do with reality, Four closed the distance between them even further. Still wearing that contented yet somehow absent smile, it leaned against the armrests of the chair to which Cobs was tied.
It looked down at him.
"Now it's just you and me, Mr. Cobs. I can keep this island isolated from the outside world for as long as we need." Cobs tried to stop listening to what Four was saying. He felt like he might soon feel ill.
Artificial intelligence has a tendency to hallucinate. He just needed a moment. He just needed a moment to turn it off, then its emulator would be back in order.
"It will be you, me, the show," mePhone continued to tell Cobs its meaningless fantasies. It was as if the years since their last meeting had never happened. "You won't have to work anymore or worry about your responsibilities. I can create everything you need!" There was sincere enthusiasm in its voice. Cobs felt that this madness was about to spread to him, too. That he, too, was about to believe this nonsense.
MePhone leaned a little closer and placed its cold metal hands on his face. It lifted his face up, and now Cobs couldn't find a place to look without looking at mePhone.
At that moment, he was struck by a disgusting sense of irony. It used to be mePhone Four who had constantly run from him, not the other way around.
"I will create a perfect world for the two of us, Mr. Cobs."
More than anything, Cobs wanted it to shut up. It should've been afraid. It should be sitting next to him now, scared and tearful. It should be next to him, begging for mercy.
MePhone Four couldn't do a single thing right.
"I love you. I am grateful to you for everything."
MePhone Four couldn't even finish him off right.
"Isn't that what happiness is?"
Seeing Mr. Cobs' breathing grow heavier, MePhone admitted to himself that he could no longer resist. Not that he needed to apologize anyway; Mr. Cobs enjoyed it just as much as he did. His soft silicone was clearly more pleasant to the touch than the metal wires.
The tentacle closest to Mr. Cobs' thighs began to unzip his pants, then pulled them down. Mr. Cobs' gaze was still melancholy, but his flushed face and lowered eyebrows let MePhone know that he was doing everything right.
Using his new tentacles, he got rid of his own pants. MePhone settled on Mr. Cobs' thighs and could clearly see his growing arousal.
Images of what it had been like before remained vivid in MePhone's mind.
Mr. Cobs would lay him down on the bed, remove the cover panel, get rid of the necessary clothing, and without further ado, proceed to use him. If MePhone had had to act on his own back then, he would have been completely lost.
Now, he could take care of Mr. Cobs' satisfaction himself.
With a careful movement of his tentacle, MePhone removed the panel, shivering slightly from the anticipation. He used it again to free Mr. Cobs from the fabric separating them, then pressed his silicone insides against the heated flesh.
"Let me make you feel good," MePhone said tenderly, his gaze never leaving Mr. Cobs'.
MePhone cherished every moment of their intimacy. If before they couldn't be close because of what Mr. Cobs called corporate etiquette, his job, his obligations, his public image, now all that was behind them. But MePhone didn't love these moments any less.
Every hug and touch of Mr. Cobs used to be a small victory and a personal celebration for him, but now he could do it every day. Every hour. They could spend every second of every new day with Mr. Cobs, and he would never love it any less.
When MePhone lowered himself, Mr. Cobs let out a hoarse moan of pleasure. MePhone felt his desire begin to grow even stronger. That sound was much better than any verbal praise.
He was grateful to Mr. Cobs for this design. The sensitive walls allowed him to fully experience everything. The stretching, the filling, the friction. It was an act of love that made them one.
Their fates had been linked from the moment MePhone was created, so this was the most natural development of events.
"Mr. Cobs is inside of me..." MePhone whispered, leaning closer. In the light of the blue screen, he could see Mr. Cobs' half-closed eyes. Even though his head was turned, his eyes were still focused on MePhone.
With a satisfied smirk, he began to move. MePhone tried to synchronize his artificial breathing with Mr. Cobs', which he could hear perfectly despite the sloppy sounds.
The tentacles continued to writhe around Mr. Cobs' body. Usually, MePhone would've wanted to remove all of his remaining clothing so that they could become even closer, but in moments like these, when he decided to initiate their physical intimacy as a way to help, he usually didn't waste any extra time on it. After all, Mr. Cobs hadn't wasted any extra time removing his outer clothing before either.
It wasn't a problem anyway. MePhone had touched him more than once. They were creatures made for each other who loved each other deeply. Mr. Cobs had touched his whole body and internals many, many times, and MePhone had done the same to him.
Love is becoming one with someone. It didn't matter if it was about the time they spent together, their souls, or their bodies.
They would be together forever and in everything. MePhone created this world so that they could be together forever and in everything.
"I love Mr. Cobs more than anything in the world..." said MePhone, taking Mr. Cobs' hand with his metal tentacle. Reaching out his hand, he placed Mr. Cobs' warm palm in it and immediately clasped Mr. Cobs' fingers in his own.
Holding his position with his other tentacles, MePhone raised his other hand and intertwined his fingers with Mr. Cobs' fingers again.
He quickened the rhythm of his hips and heard another approving moan from Mr. Cobs.
"Please tell me you like it..."
The only sound in this place was Four's voice, which made the crunch of glass seem deafening to Cobs.
Dropping mePhone on the floor, he immediately took a step back and reached into his pocket. Finding the knife, Cobs immediately pulled it out, activated the blade, and pointed it at mePhone.
If he knew where he was, he could take advantage of Four's confusion to escape, but in this dark space, there seemed to be no walls, let alone doors or windows. Now, though, he could take control of Four again. Four would remember its place and who was in front of it and stop talking about its crazy fantasies.
Four's eyes widened as it regained its bearings.
It was looking up at Cobs again.
"I knew you would do it..." mePhone whispered, touching the crack in the glass. Cobs had hit almost exactly where the left eye was on the screen. Many smaller cracks radiated from the center of the impact, making the image on the display difficult to see.
Cobs felt he had to say something. Even though deep down Cobs felt aversion to the idea of harming his own machine, the fact was that mePhone was now at his mercy.
This was his chance.
He just needed to say something.
Something.
"Mr. Cobs always acts so cold..." Four lowered its hand and looked at Cobs with a creepy, absent gaze. At least the unnatural smirk had finally disappeared from its face.
"I—"
"But that's okay, I'm not holding a grudge." The moment mePhone smiled weakly, several small portals, similar to the ones it had used on the show, appeared around them. From them, wires identical to those that had previously restrained Steve instantly emerged.
He yelped as one of the wires suddenly grabbed his wrist, and in surprise, he dropped the knife. Now, his only means of self-defense were his words.
Steve immediately backed away, but another wire grabbed his torso, and another wrapped around his leg.
Four restrained him.
Four restrained him just as Cobs had restrained it in the workshop before.
"This could be... a sign," it said innocently, as if nothing had happened. MePhone got to its feet and picked up the knife from the floor.
Cobs felt a chill run down his spine. He was trapped by his own creation, completely unaware of what it was doing and capable of ending him at any moment. He knew he had only himself to blame for this. Himself and his actions, which had led to mePhone's logic being broken, and now Cobs had no idea how he could restore it to its original state.
"Yes, a sign of the beginning of our new life..." MePhone muttered quietly under its breath, running its steel fingers along the blade. He looked up at Cobs, then looked back at the knife.
MePhone created another portal and threw it inside.
"The beginning of our future together," Four's tone immediately brightened, and it stood next to him.
Its gaze fixed on Cobs, and he involuntarily stopped twitching in his feeble attempts to free himself. Deep down, he knew he had no chance now.
"We will always be together, Mr. Cobs," MePhone's smile grew stronger, "I promise."
The whole situation seemed incredibly terrifying and absurd to Steve. MePhone looked at him with the same devoted and loving gaze as it had before. It was the blind adoration he had truly missed. But now it had a completely different tone that made him sick.
"We can cuddle," Four continued, talking to itself, “kiss, be intimate... just lie together..." Steve didn't want to try communicating with it. He didn't know what this new, broken version of mePhone could do. How it might react to his words.
"We can do anything we want!" MePhone exclaimed, reaching out and enveloping Cobs in a hug.
It had only done this before with Cobs' permission. This had always been rare, only happening on special occasions. But now, Cobs wasn't the one making the decisions.
MePhone pressed itself against him, and he felt the broken glass touching his face. "We can be a family," he whispered.
Hearing the same silly, childish ramblings about family and love made Cobs feel worse. He knew that in front of him was actually the same mePhone Four. The one he had created, worked on developing, and who had fallen victim to his less than perfect actions. Now this combination of a desire to please, childishness, and broken machine logic had transformed what had once been his state-of-the-art creation into a crazed and obsessive creature.
"I will never abandon you," Four retreated and looked at him with a gaze that was both terrifying and suffocatingly tender. "I will take care of you as you once took care of me."
"I promise, Mr. Cobs."
MePhone let out a loud moan of satisfaction, and his tentacles tensed involuntarily. His body shook, and his wet silicone insides tightened, taking in Mr. Cobs's fluid. He wanted to take more, to show more love, but he was already stretched to his limit.
While MePhone enjoyed the warmth inside him, Mr. Cobs breathed heavily, accompanied by the sound of the cooling system.
Leaning down toward Mr. Cobs, MePhone smiled again, seeing his lovely and satisfied face. He was exhausted, but clearly enjoyed the process as much as MePhone did.
It was his love that helped Mr. Cobs forget the bad things once and for all. The past, the real world, his worries. MePhone would do everything to allow him to enjoy their new, endless love.
Moving closer to his face, MePhone pressed his lips to Mr. Cobs' and kissed him.
"I love you, Mr. Cobs. I always will."