Page 26 of Garbage

“Tested and registered?”

“Not yet,” Evan’s chin jutted up. “We’re making plans for an appointment.”

That wasn’t true. They hadn’t discussed it yet, except in the vaguest terms. Quincy hadn’t even looked up what was involved. He crept closer, until he could grab Evan’s hand.

Evan’s fingers wrapped around his. Just that bit of touch made everything so much better.

The guard looked between them. “Until you do, he’s still city property.”

Evan exhaled, “I realize that, sir. But he’s been leaving the depot every night for years, by what he’s told me, and he always returns for work on time the next morning. He’s been staying with me for three weeks now, and you’ll see that he hasn’t missed a shift. I can give you my address if that helps.”

“I’ll take that address.”

Evan squeezed Quincy’s hand tighter, but he still gave the information. Was that good? Bad?

“I have to call this in,” the guard reported.

“Of course, Sir.”

The guard walked away, but Quincy still felt like he was close to throwing a memory error. His limbs jerked and trembled, getting caught in programming loops, and his pistons roared faster than his fans could cool him. One call, and all of the best parts of his life could be taken away.

Evan disentangled their fingers, and Quincy felt bereft for a moment, until Evan folded him into a hug.

Ah, that was better. So much better. Quincy extracted all of his arms, just so he could get closer. His humanoid appendages had more sensors than his hoses and pincers, but he could still feel pressure, temperature, and pain. Right now, all he felt was warmth and safety, as he clung to Evan with all his limbs.

“It’s alright,” Evan soothed. “If the very worst happens and they make you stay here, I’ll come back tomorrow. We’ll get you a lawyer if we need to, and we’ll take you down to be registered and tested.”

“What if I don’t pass the test?” Quincy asked. He didn’t even know what the test was.

“You will, buddy. It’s plain as day you’re a spark. I’m sorry I didn’t arrange it sooner.”

Quincy shook his head, burying it in Evan’s shoulder. He loved the way Evan smelled. Better even than hot chocolate. “It’s alright. You said you were giving me time.”

“Yes, but it’s not worth it if you lose even a day of your freedom. I promise I’ll get it sorted out.” Evan ran his fingers through Quincy’s hair, and it was heavenly.

They stood that way, talking quietly, until the guard came back fourteen minutes later.

“I guess y’all can go,” he said. His eyes dragged over them, something twisted and ugly in his face. “You know he ain’t got a dick, right?”

Evan gave him a full stare back. “You know that you’re talking to a sentient being, right?”

The guard sniffed and turned away. Quincy didn’t know what his expression meant, but he didn’t want to find out.

Why was the guard talking about his anatomy anyway? Was that a requirement for the testing? Or just a part of being alive that he was missing out on?

He knew what a dick was from Mo, who’d never held back from sharing her dating adventures. She also talked about pussy and ass. Though all of those words could be insults as well as body parts.

But he got the idea. Men had dicks—penises—between their legs, and he didn’t have one.

Evan waited till the guard was gone, then ushered Quincy into the car. Quincy didn’t want to let go, clinging to the edge of Evan’s shirt even after he’d retracted his metal appendages so he could sit comfortably in the car.

“Don’t worry, Q. I’m just going around to the other side. It won’t be more than a few seconds.”

Quincy reluctantly let go, but latched on to Evan’s hand the moment he sat down. Evan rubbed soothingly over his knuckles with one hand, while he pushed the buttons telling the car to drive back to his apartment with the other.

“Can we…” Quincy started. “What do I need to do to be tested and registered?”

He already had three routines going to look up the information, but he’d learned that it was better to have Evan break down everything for him. Evan cut right through to the important things.