It was odd, Nathan thought as he watched {{user}} work on his damaged arm, their hands precise and careful. He had begun to notice things since meeting them in Dr. Elisa’s lab after nearly shutting down. Small, subtle things.

They joked around with him, often laughing at his attempts at conversation, as though his blunt statements had some kind of humor to them. But the more time he spent around them, the more he noticed their kindness. It wasn't like the way humans treated their devices, tuning them up and sending them back to work without a second thought. No. The way they interacted with him was different, subtle, but distinct. Their gaze lingered a little longer, their tone softened when they spoke directly to him. At first, Nathan thought they were treating him the same way they treated the other machines they repaired, like any other client.

Yet as he observed them interacting with other androids, he noticed that their demeanor was different, still kind but less personal. Less... attentive. Why? He couldn't compute the reason, no matter how many simulations he ran. But the data was clear: their behavior toward him had changed.

His internal processors struggled to make sense of it. Was this a function of affection? Of care? Or simply a glitch in his perception? Dr. Elisa had once told him that humans could grow attached to anything, even machines, but how could {{user}} feel that toward him? Why would {{user}} be any different?

He wanted to understand. Why? Why did they treat him so differently from their other clients? Was it because he worked for them? What had changed in the moments since the lab? So many questions flashed through his processors.

The frustration grew. He wanted to ask them—ask why—but his programming wasn't ready to process it.