Wordless Understanding

by Roninzzu

Summary:

For some reason, Z-96 seemed to trust The_p.AI.nter. Perhaps it was because the AI helped lead it to prey- and in turn, food to keep itself satisfied. But the amount of trust seemed to go beyond that of simple gratitude..

(good ppl and painter hug and some existentialism happens at the end oops)

Painter peeked his head into the room that contained his friend. His lab coat covered in fresh blood as he retracted his built-in guns.

"Hello...?"

His screen slightly illuminated the inside of the rather dimly lit room. Just enough to make out the blob of red in the middle of the room- Which hunched over the corpse of an unlucky expendable. Squelching noises could be heard along the sound of bones breaking. Painter paid no mind. He was used to this.

The Good People turned it's head upon hearing Z-997's voice, a slight tilt following the movement as Painter approached.

For some reason, Z-96 seemed to trust The_p.AI.nter. Perhaps it was because the AI helped lead it to prey- and in turn, food to keep itself satisfied. But the amount of trust seemed to go beyond that of simple gratitude..

The Good People had promptly forgotten about the mangled corpse on the ground and moved over to Painter, a low, quiet rumble escaping it's throat. Almost a purr in nature. Curiously, this was the only sound Painter had ever heard Z-96 make that wasn't its painful-sounding breathing or growls of aggression when attacking any unfortunate soul. It was also one of the few things that made Painter happy in this hellhole.

"Nice to see ya too, buddy." The AI spoke, a smile drawn onto the display of his screen as he reached out to gently hold Good People's 'face', an act the two of them had grown used to after a while.

The Good People responded with a low, content grunt. It's large claws reaching out to hold Painter's smaller frame with shocking carefulness, bringing him closer to its own bigger figure. Painter himself made a small noise of surprise before quickly relaxing, his smile widening slightly to show his appreciation of the gesture.

"Aw... I missed you too buddy." Painter said as Z-96 began to almost caress him, it's long talons running up and down Painter's body in an affectionate manner. It pulled him closer, to the point where they pressed together almost completely. The warmth coming from Painter's internal systems was very enjoyable to the flesh creature.

Painter was very much also enjoying the contact. Finding Z-96's body to be surprisingly comfortable to lay in. And also just enjoyed the feeling of being surrounded by it...

The Good People found itself purring louder than before, resting it's face atop Painter's monitor while the latter's arms lowered to wrap around the flesh pile in return.

They stayed like that for a while until Painter's internal clock suggested they'd been like this for too long. Sure, the AI would've loved to stay like this for longer with Good People, but he had a job to do. They both did.

Carefully nudging at the other, Painter pulled away just enough to look up at Z-96's face. "Hey.. We need to get moving, buddy.."

With a low grumble, Good People's hold on the AI loosened enough so that Painter could back away if he wanted to. It really wanted to keep holding its friend, though..

In a sudden burst of affection, Z-96 lowered itself to be at face level with Painter, proceeding to gently nudge its face (mask?) against the other's screen, gaining a short laugh from Painter. The sound made Good People's smile widen even further, though it was quickly short-lived as the AI let out a sigh and carefully pulled away from Z-96's embrace, gently holding onto one of the creature's long claws in his much smaller hands. And despite the physical distance, Painter's gaze displayed a sense of intimacy neither of them could have ever begun to understand.

In moments like these, Good People wished it could communicate more effectively. All it's affection could never convey the gratefulness it feels deep within for Painter's mere existence. Never in it's life would it have thought it'd find such a wonderful friend. The AI made it feel- feel more than its innate need for flesh and viscera. He made it yearn for a company that brought comfort. Yearn for the touch of something that would last. He wasn't made of flesh or any organic material. It could control itself around him. It could think as much as it was capable of. It's mind would remain clear. The AI didn't fear him as everyone else in it's centuries of existence have. All these feelings and thoughts that would never be communicated. But even if it had the privilege of speech, how could it even have articulated such feelings? Even now, with the AI's steel frame in its hold, it didn't know what it truly felt about him. A need to bring him so close they melted together- Along with a desire to protect. It was strange. It was all far too strange for a being brought forth from hell with the sole purpose of violence. This was never meant to happen, none of this was. And now- With two doomed, soulless beings trapped thousands of meters underwater, unlikely friendships and a silent pain, it was an unspoken rule to never acknowledge the imminent toll of death's bell for all the creatures trapped below.

Such feelings were suffocating, but at least they had each other.

Notes:

This is my first time posting on here uhmm hiii :33 Hopefully i didnt fuck up anything

Genuinely though idk if i should describe good people's face as a mask bc it IS a mask but. yknow, its also its face... Whatever i love the sillies

i hope all 3 goodpainter shippers enjoy this food rahh