Chapter 3

Present Day

Roger awoke in the morning, rather early than his normal time. He laid in bed, thinking about the previous night with Dorothy.

Dorothy talked last night. Her voice, still sounded the same, but not as robotic. It was full of warmth, emotion. It was nice to have dinner with her. She seemed unsure of herself, on what to say. I guess that's only natural, since she's still figuring out who she is. Either way, talking to her seemed to take a weight off of me. This is the first time I've slept decent in a while.

He took a deep breath. The smell of sausage and eggs greeted him. Roger yawned and stretched, then sat up, putting his feet in his slippers. He reached for his robe on his bed post and got up, putting it on. He yawned once again and shuffled his way out of his room.

He made his way through the living room to the main dining hall. Norman was pouring a cup of coffee.

"Morning Norman," said Roger, sitting down in his chair.

"Master Roger! Why, you are up early! Are you feeling well, sir?"

Roger shrugged and started cutting up his sausage. "I don't feel ill. Just got some decent sleep last night."

"I did too, sir. It seems our anxiety about Miss Dorothy abated with last night's events, if I do say so myself."

"Agreed. Hopefully, last night is a sign of a positive trend," replied Roger, raising his fork to his mouth and taking a bite of his breakfast.

I'm not gonna lie, this sausage and eggs hot hits the spot.

Roger closed his eyes, smiling, enjoying the taste of his food. He took another bite, savoring the salty and spiciness of the eggs and sausage together. He took sip of his coffee and was about to pull the paper to him, when he noticed Dorothy walk into the room. Roger choked on his coffee, coughing, surprised to see her. He stood up from his chair.

"Dorothy! Good Morning!" he sputtered in between coughs.

Norman looked from Roger to Dorothy. Roger never stood for Dorothy before at breakfast. Dorothy did not notice as she was rubbing her eyes, Roger's lounge pajamas covering her left arm while she rubbed her eyes with her right hand.

"Morning," she said, sleepily as she wobbled into the dining hall, taking her seat at the opposite end from Roger, "Norman, I'm feeling a bit nauseous. There's no pain, but I feel…bloated, queasy, and somehow, I'm hungry."

Roger sat back down, wiping his mouth with his napkin. Norman went over to the food cart and pulled out a covered dish and walked over to Dorothy.

"Good Morning, Miss Dorothy," Norman said as he sat her dish in front of her and gave a short bow, "I wasn't sure if you would be joining us for breakfast, but I am so glad I made this."

He uncovered the dish. It was oatmeal with strawberries and cream with a small bowl with some pain relievers. Norman went back to the food cart, and produced two glasses on a tray and with two small pitchers. Roger cringed and held his breath.

Trying too hard Norman, slow down.

Norman set the glasses on the table, and poured ice water in glass and orange juice in another.

"I made some oatmeal for you this morning, with strawberries and cream. There's also some pain relievers, and water and orange juice."

Dorothy was still waking up. Her brain felt fuzzy. Nothing like when she was android when she booted up to speed. She grabbed her spoon, dipping it into the oatmeal, then moved it to her mouth. She savored the flavor for a moment, the flash of sweet and tart of the strawberry melding into the cream, and gave a small smile.

"This is nice, Norman. Thank you for thinking of me."

"You're welcome, dear." Norman moved back towards Roger.

Okay, I stand corrected. Nice move, Norman.

Dorothy quietly ate her breakfast, slowly waking up. Roger realized he was staring at her and busied himself eating his food. The sound of utensils hitting plates could only be heard. When Dorothy, started feeling more awake, she noticed Roger eating, but not reading his paper.

"Roger, you're not reading your paper at the table." Roger swallowed his food before speaking.

"Well, you've chastised me enough on how rude it is, so it can wait until later."

"Oh... okay." Dorothy went back to eating.

Norman looked at Roger. Roger saw him out his peripheral vision. Norman coughed ever so slightly, and Roger got the hint.

Say something to her.

Roger searched for conversation starter and then found one. He had made a request to Norman to get her some clothes and other supplies for her. However…

"Um, Dorothy, if you're feeling up to it, I know we need get you some clothes and some supplies. As it so happens, I need to get some things for my office and Norman needs to get some groceries. Would you like coming with us into town? I'll need to make a phone call before I go, but then I'll be ready."

Dorothy wiped her mouth on her napkin, took her pain relievers in one hand and her glass of water, and put the pills in her mouth, followed by the water. She swallowed, tilting her head back, then looked at Roger and Norman.

"Roger…. Mornings reek."

Roger was taken aback by the comment. He looked quickly at Norman, who also had a bewildered look on his face. Roger looked back at Dorothy, smiling. Norman chuckled.

"I think we both can agree on that Dorothy. Mornings do reek."

"I never understood why you got so angry every time I woke you up with the piano, but now I understand the importance of waking up in the right atmosphere. I wouldn't recommend this pain for anyone."

"Dorothy, I'll admit, it has been quiet in the house. I've actually been missing that infamous tune of yours."

Dorothy gave a wry smile. "I'll be sure to give it an additional forte then, since you've missed it so much."

"Well, let's hold on a second. Let's not get carried away…"

As they continued their conversation, going back and forth with their teasing, Norman smiled and silently chuckled to himself.

What a lovely morning.

**************************************************

Angel was looking over Paradigm City from Grand Central Dome from her desk. Her office was slowly rotating, overviewing the city's main hub. She rested her head on one hand, her other hand fiddling with a pen absentmindedly.

I gave myself a promotion and I'm still doing the same work as I did when I worked for Alex.

On her desk rested a bunch of papers delivered to her from her secretary. The council had passed the budget for city operations, with the expansion project being taken out due to the committee and contracting company not agreeing to a budget until a second survey was conducted. Twelve packets, one for each dome. Now, all she had to do was sign them. So far, she had only worked her way through four packets.

This is ridiculous. For being a corporation, they sure like to operate independently from one another.

She looked over her notes from the previous packets she had reviewed. Most of the domes were similar in size, yet the first packet she reviewed requested $500,000 for lightbulbs to keep the dome lit. The second packet requested $1,000,000.

And it's not even the resort dome. Where does all this money come from?

She pulled the fifth packet and began reviewing the budget list for it.

Public works section, road maintenance, giant robot clean up fund? Okay then, um… education sanitation, military police sanitation funding, lights… they're requesting the same as the previous one and they wonder why the people outside the domes hate the dome dwellers… Paradigm Science Foundation… Paradigm Science Foundation?

Angel stopped what she was doing. She pulled a notepad from her blazer pocket and flipped it open. She grabbed the previous four packets she had signed off and begin flipping through each one, looking to see if funding from each dome would be going to this foundation. All four packets she had signed off on had the same category for the same amount. $3,000,000. But the Paradigm Science Foundation operated under the central council's control and was part of the main budget. So, why were the domes giving them money?

Angel began doing math.

$3,000,000 times twelve. That's an annual amount of $36,000,000. Where is that money going to?

Angel tapped her pen on her notepad, thinking. It was a lot of money to exchange hands and not go unnoticed. But each of the packets she had reviewed listed the same amount. She rarely dealt with the Paradigm Science teams in the previous reset, as Alex would normally dismiss her when he received a phone call or visit with an actual representative.

She organized the budget packets neatly into a pile and opened her filing cabinet, putting them in her "TO BE SIGNED" folder, locking the cabinet afterwards. She grabbed her notepad and pen and got up from her desk and waited for the rotunda to circle around to the next set of stairs. If she stopped the rotunda, it would make a loud racket and call attention to herself.

No, best to be quiet. Never know who might be watching.

She stepped off onto the stairs, going down quickly. Alex kept maps of each dome in this office, and she knew where they were. She found a large set of filing cabinets off to her left and began searching.

Sewer lines, electrical grid, gas lines… here, dome maps.

The dome maps had mapped every street, landmark, and important building inside the domes. Angel pulled open the drawer, looking for the maps of the domes she had reviewed so far. She found them and pulled each of them onto a nearby table, reviewing each one until she found what she was looking for and wrote the address down. The Paradigm Science Foundation had a research property in each dome. She could understand one, two, or three even. But five? She pulled the remaining maps, locating the facilities on each one. Once she had completed her tasks, she put the maps back the way she found them.

She walked quickly back up the stairs and waited for her desk to come around on the rotunda. She didn't have to wait long. As her desk aligned with the platform, Angel stepped on to it and sat at her desk.

Surely, these politicians can't be this stupid with this amount of money for their budgets. It doesn't add up. But what if… there was a hidden fund I don't know about? Being disguised under daily expenses? Roger said once if you wanted to hide something, best to hide it in plain sight. But the way they are spending these numbers, it's like… they have a large slush fund hidden off the books. Like they are saving up for something big, maybe something to live off of, building something?

Then Angel remembered there had been two resets. She took the $36,000,000 and multiplied by two. She then added the 36 million one more time. $108,000,000.

But who could need that much money and for what? And if it did exist, where was it?

Angel then remember Dastun telling her about the eviction notices the military police were "accidentally" serving to those outside the domes, only to be recalled when receipts were produced showing the property tax had been paid. However, some had been successfully seized. Angel looked at her notepad with the locations of the facilities. Somehow, this was connected. She just needed to follow the money.

Angel unlocked her filing cabinet and pulled out the packets from their folder. Perhaps, the best thing to do now was to sign off on each one to not raise alarm on the council or anyone else who could be watching. She was already encountering resistance from a select group on the council and she had an important bill she needed to get passed. Aggravating them would put the bill in jeopardy. She would continue reviewing each packet and make note on anything else that stood out.

I need to call Dastun and pay a trip to the assessor's office.

************************************************************

Roger and Dorothy were out walking in the east dome shopping district. Roger called the survey company Big Ear had recommended prior to leaving. The company was busy for the next few days, but he made a meeting for the morning at the starting point of the construction project in a few days' time. Unless if any cases came up, Roger had free time to spend how he wished.

Norman had ducked out early, stating that the meat district had sales he needed to check on and it would take a while. Roger shook his head, slightly annoyed at Norman's behavior.

Norman left me on purpose, alone with Dorothy. It's not like I'm afraid of her or anything. But, was that all really necessary? Then again, I'm just afraid I might run my mouth and Norman won't be able to bail me out.

While Roger looked slightly disgruntled, Dorothy, wearing her normal maid dress attire, looked quite content with herself. The shops were brightly lit in different colors, much different to the black, grey, white color palette that was Roger's mansion. This had helped her sullen mood from the pain she was in.

At least she's enjoying herself.

Roger smiled at this thought.

"Roger?"

"Yes, Dorothy?"

"Do I still have to wear black?"

Roger raised an eyebrow.

"Those are the rules when living in the house, however…"

Roger scratched his head, trying to find his words carefully. They happened upon a food court.

"Why don't we sit down for a minute? There've been some things I've been meaning to discuss with you."

"Okay."

They entered the food court area. The different aromas hit Dorothy. She breathed deeply, smiling at the complex aromas.

"What's good here, Roger? It smells delicious."

"Uh… this is a food truck courtyard. So, I think the selection changes often. They have a crepe truck. Wanna check them out?"

"Sure. Hasn't Norman made you crepes before?"

"Not often. I like them more as a dessert than as a breakfast item. But let's get some while we talk some things over."

They made their way over to the truck. Roger placed two orders. Dorothy got a crepe with peaches and fresh cream, Roger got bananas and hazelnut spread, along with two bottled waters. He paid for the items and sat down at a nearby table. Dorothy took a bite of her crepe and her eyes lit up at the flavor. Roger took a small bite, observing Dorothy enjoying her food. He swallowed and cleared his mouth with some water.

"You seem to like fruit and cream together," Roger observed.

"It's nice to be able to taste things. There's something about mixing juicy fruit with cream that makes it very good. And for some reason, it makes me happy." She smiled, taking another bite.

Roger took another bite, thinking over his words. He cleared his throat.

"So, Dorothy, I've been thinking… you did well as an apprentice negotiator. With all the changes going on, I wanted to ask if you would…" He took a deep breath, "...I want you to be a partner in my negotiating firm. If you were to accept, all I would ask is that you wear black while you are conducting business, but you can wear what you want around the mansion during your off time. Since you would be contributing to the bills, it's only fair you have a say in the rules of the mansion, if you wish to stay."

Dorothy set down her crepe and wiped her mouth. "But I thought I was helping Norman maintain the mansion. And yes, I would like to continue staying at the mansion."

"Well, some of those duties will continue, mainly that we ask of you to keep your living area clean and pick up after yourself, or help out Norman if he is running behind with household maintenance on certain areas of the household in lieu of rent. But, you did prove yourself a capable negotiator while rescuing me. A bit assertive, but with time and finesse, you might give me a run for title of top negotiator."

Out in public, if Roger had to talk about Big O, he would always call it "household maintenance."

Dorothy looked confused. "I thought I still owe you a debt for the services rendered, for you to protect me."

Roger contemplated these words. "Yes… and no. You have saved my life more than once, which I think has repaid the debt. However, there's also issue of your present safety as well, which technically makes your contracted service unfulfilled, though I'll say that it's not a bother to me. Norman and I enjoy your company and it's our personal wish that you remain at the mansion. And Norman has also told me you are great with numbers when it comes to balancing the budget. In the times I have brought you along with me, you also have a way with people that's very unique, in getting them to open up and making keen observations about them and their environment. I guess, what I'm saying is…"

Roger scratched the back of his head.

"It would be an honor if you would work with me, Dorothy."

Dorothy crossed her arms for a moment, before grabbing her crepe, taking two large bites out of it, surprising Roger.

"Um, Dorothy?"

She swallowed, hitting her chest to force the food down, her eyes squinting with frustration until the food worked its way down. She drank some of her water. This request was… strange. Very strange. But Roger, trusted her enough with his reputation and reputation for his business to become a partner. Something told her, that this was not related to her being android or human. He respected her skills and wanted her on onboard.

"Sorry, it feels like you're promoting me because I'm a human now and not an android, so there's no point in keeping me a maid. But at the same time, I know that's not it. Yet, all the skills you have talked about…"

She looked away from him. "It was when I was still an android," she whispered, "I don't know if I still have those skills, Roger. I'm human now, so I have human fallacy."

"But you're just proving my point that you would make a great negotiator. You're aware of your human fallacy and that's something important to keep in mind when remaining cool headed as a negotiator. Do you… do you miss being an android?" Roger took a bite of his food.

"I'm not sure. I miss the super athleticism I had with my android body, but being human… it's nice to feel things, taste them, experience them by using all of my senses. But now I have limits."

"Limits can be overcome, Dorothy. It'll take discipline and commitment. You'll have to set rules for yourself on what is acceptable and what isn't, but I think you'll figure that out in time."

Dorothy shrugged. "I guess, what I'll miss the most…it seems so childish… is running at top speed. It felt amazing, the wind in my hair, and being able to travel long distances in a short amount of time."

Dorothy closed her eyes, reminiscing of the times she ran fast, decoying fire for Roger (even thought he had been a louse), running to keep up with the Griffon, running Laura to Oliver on Heaven's Day. There was something about running, running with a purpose that made her feel invincible.

Roger took a few more bites of his crepe.

It seems Dorothy misses the superhuman abilities that came with being an android. Yet ironically, it's those same abilities that would have put her in danger with this enemy Angel was talking about. However, Dorothy's now flesh and blood, and feels vulnerable. And there's still a possibility that they might still be after her. Combined with everything else, the uncertainty of not knowing when she may be target is probably not helping her anxiety.

"There might be a way to overcome this feeling. Why don't you take up running as hobby? The exercise will be great, and it will help with the stress that will come with the job, should you choose to accept it. And if you choose not to, it'll still be a great hobby because it can help you discover your limits and push yourself higher."

Roger finished his crepe and wiped his mouth with a napkin. Dorothy sighed. Roger had made a very compelling argument to be his business partner. But Dorothy not only felt vulnerable physically, but also mentally. She was still dealing with the flashbacks of previous memories and the uncertainty of the threat they were facing. She felt afraid. What if these memories and situation clouded her judgement? And of course, there was her feelings towards him, if there were actually her own, and not from the flashbacks.

"Roger, I don't know if you remember, but that night, with Angel was here, I told you I was experiencing some sort of flashbacks from my previous human days. I'm not sure if right now would be a good time to take on this opportunity, but…." Dorothy breathed slowly, "I have been pursuing writing to help me cope with them. It seems if I transfer them to paper, it steadies my mind, like they are leaving me and becoming a part of the paper."

Dorothy looked at Roger in the eye. "I guess what I'm trying to say is, I have some… requirements that will need to be met if I were to accept."

Roger nodded. "Name them."

"On cases we get assigned, I receive half of the pay if we work together on cases, all of it if I manage it on my own and vice versa with you, if you manage a case on your own, minus expenses to the house and Norman's pay. In exchange for accepting today, I get some nice clothes for work and for my days off. I'll also need a desk of my own and an office, as well as supplies for the office. This would include another journal as the one Norman gave me is nearly full. I would like to keep work separate from my living quarters. And, I'll ask for time, time to get over these memories, especially, if they become overwhelming. I won't slack off, I'll work hard, but just understand if they come up… I may need a day or two to process them. I don't think it'll come to that, but just in case. If that's okay."

Roger folded his arms and crossed his legs, thinking.

I hadn't even mentioned pay and she went right in for the kill on that one. I guess I'm gonna have to cut my spending back on collecting liquor for a while. As for the desk, I suppose she could use my office, though we'll need to arrange a few things around, as long she doesn't touch my desk. Then there's also transportation to visit clients. Today, I could front the supplies and clothes as a onetime investment, welcome gift from me, but then she would be on her own after that… maybe… The time off though… these memories of hers must be powerful. The writing is apparently helping her… and hopefully the work over time, will help her clear her mind.

"The money is a fair negotiation. As for the supplies and clothes, consider them a onetime gift from me for joining my firm. You will also need some transportation, but I can work with Norman on that. However, you'll need to manage your wardrobe and business supplies on your own after this. The terms for the time off are also acceptable. Do we have a deal?"

He offered his hand to shake. Dorothy looked at his hand, then looked back at Roger. She then took her hand and met Roger's, confidently shaking his.

"Deal."

Roger smiled.

"Well, if you're going to be a negotiator, then you're going to need something else besides supplies and a new wardrobe."

Roger pulled out a small box wrapped neatly in paper and presented it to Dorothy.

"What's this?"

"You need to open it to find out."

Dorothy unwrapped the box and opened it. Inside, was a watch, exactly like Roger's.

"This watch… this is for you and you alone. If you ever have a question, if you're ever in trouble, you can summon me, Norman, or our other friend. We'll always be close and ready to help you, if you ever run into trouble concluding negotiations."

Dorothy held the watch in her hand and then put it on her wrist, admiring how it fit her wrist perfectly.

"Roger, this is…"

"You need to have a communication line to me… and Norman. And, I asked Norman to link your comms to our big friend, in case you ever find yourself facing a threat that's…well bigger than you can handle. In the chance he ever gets summoned, I'll know and come to your aid."

Roger moved his coat sleeve back, showing his watch.

"Roger…. Thank you."

Dorothy was at a loss for words. The gesture itself was grand and endearing, she smiled warmly at Roger.

"There's also another reason and I hope you're not mad at me for it."

"What is it?"

"I gave Dastun and Angel a similar watch as well, just to maintain comms about the case Angel asked me to take."

Dorothy's warm smile disappeared in an instant. "Why?" she asked, coldly.

Roger sense the temperature of the conversation changing quickly. He tried to do damage control.

"I thought it would be best… to maintain comms about this case on a private line. However, their comms are also linked to yours, so when we're having a conversation, you're privy to all of its knowledge."

Roger felt himself squirm. The look Dorothy was giving him was so cold and distant. Roger wished Norman was nearby, to bail him out of the trouble.

Dorothy stood from the table.

"You're a louse, Roger Smith. Let's continue the shopping."

Roger got up, berating himself silently, following Dorothy out of the food court.

Way to go Roger. Way. To. Go.

*****************************************************

Dorothy was in her bedroom, trying out her new outfit. A black blazer with single button on the side with a minor partition opening, a white blouse underneath, and black slacks and black heels. She twirled around in it, admiring herself. Roger indeed had not spared no expense, getting the outfit custom tailored at the shop he normally went to for all of his clothing needs. If you want to be the best, you have to feel your best, Roger had said. She also had requested a black skirt, for more formal events and meetings. As she admired herself in the mirror, she felt like she was lacking something. She saw her emerald topaz brooch that she wore with her maid uniform. She took it off and pinned it to the top of her collar on her blouse.

There, now it has a bit of me on it.

She gave a small smile. Upon their return, Norman had laundered her new clothes and had return them a while ago. She began putting them in her closet, but stopped when something caught her eye. It was the long coat that Dorothy had received from Roger on Heaven's Day, two years ago. She hung up what she had in her hand, then pulled the coat out to admire it.

She ran her hands down the coat, feeling the heavy wool material. As she undid the buttons, she admired the silk lining. It was the first gift from Roger and was very special. She smiled, remembering how she had twirled around in it as it began to snow, the look Roger had given her. She felt her heart grow warm, remembering his smile.

"So, this is what it's like, to feel sentimental," she said softly.

As she went to put on the coat, she felt her heart grow warm at the thought of Roger, giving her something so elegant, yet simple, to protect her from the cold. He could be a sweet and kind gentleman towards her, when he wanted to be. She smirked at the thought and then looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes then fell her left wrist, where the watch he had given her rested.

She frowned slightly. She felt… guilty. Perhaps it was the hormones, but she actually felt jealousy when Roger had told her that Angel had a watch. Roger had later assured her it did not have the same features as her watch, but she felt jealous all the same. Then, on the way back to the car, Roger had told her something that made her stop in her tracks.

"I know, you're not happy with what I told you about the watch and Angel. But… if I have one request, one that I hope you understand my intentions, please… don't ever forget your watch. I just… I just want you to be safe."

Roger trusted her, despite everything that happened, to be his business partner, to be a fellow negotiator alongside him. Her annoyance toward Roger disappeared.

He trusts me. Even after everything, he still trusts me. He's been acting a bit different around me, but… I don't know. I can't figure out why though.

Dorothy took off the long coat and put it back in her closet. She began to finish putting away her clothes, changing out of her business attire in more comfortable workout clothes. Roger made no objections to the colors she selected, which consisted of scarlett, purple, and gray shirts and sweats. She thought the red would be too much for him, but he merely handed over his card for payment. Perhaps it was his way of making up for the conversation at the food court?

Dorothy finished getting dressed, deciding to go for a run. As she exited her bedroom and walked to the lift to go out through the hangar, she had noticed something about herself during the trip with Roger into town. No memories had come back. Nothing was triggered. It was a calm and pleasant trip. It was almost as if Roger's presence had ward them off, allowing her to focus on the present and what needed to be done.

The lift began to descend. No, that was complete nonsense. How could being in someone's presence alone do such a thing? Then again, Roger always had a sense of presence about him. He could command a room during negotiations. Confidence forged with professionalism achieves better results than confidence forged with arrogance, he had told her once during a case. But this felt… entirely different.

The lift gave a ring, reaching its destination. She stepped out onto the platform. Norman was looking over results on his clipboard from Big O's maintenance at his desk. Roger's grunts and yells echoed throughout the hangar. She walked over and peered over the railing.

Roger was working out hard in an area he had set up with Norman. She shook her head, surprised to see him in a pair of grey jersey shorts and black t-shirt. Why would he be in his business attire doing physical activity, but then again, she only had ever seen him in business attire and one other outfit. He was… fighting? He seemed to be punching and kicking the air with all the effort he could mustered, repeating certain motions over and over, until he launched a kick in the air, holding it for a moment, then setting down his leg.

Roger was in his own world and didn't notice Dorothy looking at him. He walked over to a table, pouring himself a glass of water from a pitcher Norman had set out for him. He took a towel from the table, wiping his sweat off his forehead as he drank the water. Then, he moved onto the next station, a bar with some leg weights. Roger fastened the leg weights together to his legs and jumped to catch the bar, now beginning a rep of pull ups, his counts and grunts echoing throughout the chamber. When he got to seven, he slipped from the bar, fall onto the mat below which cushioned his fall. Roger laid there for a moment, then got back up, and jumped, catching the bar. He started over his reps.

Dorothy felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and turned to see Norman, smiling at her.

"Everything okay, Miss Dorothy?"

"Um… yes. Sorry. I was just…." Dorothy felt startled, her face turning red. She was embarrassed that Norman had caught her watching Roger.

"It's quite alright dear. Master Roger has implemented a workout routine to keep in top physical form, so that when he does summon Big O, his piloting abilities will remain in shape. I've been helping Master Roger when I can, but it seems this old body of mine can't take the hits like I used to, so now he shadow fights to keep up technique. It seems that he has moved on to his pull ups."

"Oh, I see. That makes sense."

"Indeed. I see that you're wearing workout clothes yourself. Are you wanting to partake in working out with Master Roger?"

"Oh! No, no… perhaps I ought to leave him be. I don't think I'm nowhere near his level yet. I was actually wanting to run outside."

"With time, you could probably take on Master Roger. Do not doubt yourself and your abilities, Miss Dorothy. Come then, I'll escort you to the garage entrance."

Norman gestured into the direction of the entrance and Dorothy began walking down the stairs to the path that led out of the garage, with Norman right alongside her. Dorothy turned her head, looking at Big O. He definitely had not changed. Perhaps Roger got his commanding presence from him. Big O certainly commanded the room with just his size alone. Maybe it was the trick of the light, or perhaps her being silly, but it seemed like Big O was happy to see her. She could have sworn she saw his feelings reflecting of the lens of his eyes.

"Norman, I'm curious. It seems, Roger has changed. He's not… um…" Dorothy took her eyes off Big O, her words failing her.

"Ah, I see. I believe you would have said he's not a louse?" Dorothy held her mouth, trying to stifle her giggle. "Well, yes, things have changed. When you experience something traumatic enough, a part of you will remain the same, but some part of you will change. It's the natural process of evolution. If you're suggesting this traumatic event was related to you, I would say yes… and no. You see, and mind you, I'm only guessing, I think Master Roger was very upset when you were kidnapped by Alex Rosewater and stripped of your memories. I think… well, we both felt we had lost you for good. And, whether you like it or not, Miss Dorothy, we are very fond of you. But, I think you gave Master Roger a genuine scare."

"I don't understand, Norman. Why? Why would he be scared?"

"Well, and again, this is just a hunch, but I think he was devastated, finding you with your memories stripped. To never talk to you again, to never hear your piano playing, all the things he adored about you, he believed to be gone. I believe he would've accepted his fate at the bottom of the sea, had you not called out to him. You saved him from his fate, Miss Dorothy. I think at times, he's out of his element when he's around you and he stumbles from time to time, but I can guarantee that Master Roger has always been honest towards you and in his relationship with you."

Dorothy looked at the floor. "But Norman… I don't have that kind of power. That seems so… I don't know, ridiculous. Roger is a man who can control his emotions very well."

"But, even he has his limits, Miss Dorothy. He's indeed human. I think at times, Master Roger doesn't know what to quite do with you and like I said before, he stumbles with his words and actions. Since you've been here, I believe he's changing for the better, even though that change has been slow. I think even he acknowledges himself, a bit stubbornly, I might add. However, and this may be something you need to ask him for yourself, I think the relationship between you two is changing."

"It's… changing?"

"Well, dear, there are somethings in life you don't go through without forming a strong bond. And, if I were a betting man, I think saving him from drowning and fighting alongside him in Big O against Big Fau and Big Venus is one of those things. I believe that's one of his motivators for working out as hard as he has been lately. He wants not only to remain strong for Big O, but he wants to be strong to protect you. Technically, the contract you took in agreement for his services will never be filled, yet I don't think he views it as a contract, but as more of a duty. I would go as far to say that it's a matter of pride and reputation, as he has built one of the best in the city. But, as I've said, these are only my hunches. If you wish to have more solid answers, it would be best to go the source and ask him yourself."

They had reached the garage entrance. Norman opened the door. As the door began to rise, the light hit Dorothy's face, lost in thought at Norman's words.

Roger is giving it his all… to be his best self for himself, Big O, and… for me?

The cool air hit Dorothy's lungs. She breathed in and out slowly, a fog releasing from her and floating away.

"Then, I guess I need to start training. I can't have him outdoing me, especially now I'm a negotiator in his business."

"Indeed! That's the spirit, Miss Dorothy! Do you require anything when you return?"

"Some water perhaps."

"Understood, Miss Dorothy. I'll start preparing dinner. Please expect dinner in an hour."

Dorothy bend down to check her shoelaces were tight. She then looked out into the street.

"Thanks Norman," and she took off, starting off with a slow jog.

"Please be careful Miss Dorothy!" Norman called after to her. Dorothy waved to acknowledge him.

Our relationship is changing. The way Norman made it sound like, it seemed like it was a positive change. I hope he's right.

Dorothy smiled, feeling at peace with herself. She quickened her pace, now in a full run.

I guess the fun lies in the journey.

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