'All in the Name' (KR, PG)
I'm not entirely happy with this one. It started off in one direction and then took off in another, weaving all over the road like Kitt would if he mistook a power socket for a network connection. In summary, I don't know whether it works, I don't know whether it is in character, but I gotta go cook dinner now, so it is what it is.
And it is for Shady :D It was sparked from a little conversation we had in reaction to my last little fic (well, that's where it started, not sure where it ended up). She'll know exactly what I mean after reading the first line :D ::ducks, runs away and hides::
All in the Name
Definitely for Shady
By Gumnut
11-16 Aug 2004
“Thanks for the ride, Kitten sugah.” A pair of highly polished nails met with an equally lacquered pair of lips before a smudge of that bright red lipstick was smeared on the Trans Am’s dash.
Kitt cringed. Ugh. Some people.
He didn’t dare say anything until he and Michael were halfway down the street.
“Michael, that woman-“
“Yes, Kitt, she is.”
He stared at his driver, attempting to ascertain his reaction. Michael had been known to find some of the oddest women alluring, and there was no way he was going to let this one through any of his doors again.
Michael was smiling. Oh, no.
“Michael, what is she?”
“Oh, uh, I was just thinking that perhaps now that the case is over, we might have a little free time. I wonder if Darlene is busy tonight.”
Definitely not good.
“Michael, you can not be serious.”
His driver frowned. “Why not?”
“That woman…she…I have lipstick all over my dashboard!”
Michael chuckled. “Yeah, she sure took a shine to you, buddy.”
“A shine? She tried to polish me off. If I hear the name ‘Kitten’ one more time, I declare I will not be responsible for my actions.”
“Kitten? I thought it was kinda cute.”
“Cute! Michael, I am the Knight Industries Two Thousand. I’m sleek, I’m black, and I’m fast. I am NOT cute!”
His driver was laughing again.
“What is so funny?”
He continued to chuckle.
“Michael?” Kitt forced warning into his tone.
“I’m sorry, Kitten. I was just wondering if you could purr.” The grin on Michael’s face was sickening.
So that’s the way you want to play it, huh? Well, two can play that game. “That’s okay, I’m sure I can work out an approximation just for you, Mickey.”
The grin disappeared.
“Mickey?”
“Or would you prefer ‘Mikey’?” Kitt put just the right amount of snide innocence into his tone.
“Kitt, you know I prefer Michael.”
“Hmm, how about ‘Michaela’ or ‘Michelle’? Those two sound particularly pleasant.”
“Kitt-“
“Mike?”
“Kitt-“
“I think I prefer ‘Mickey’. As you know, I have a fondness for mouse jokes.” Michael’s face was just a nice shade of pink.
“Kitt, I think I get the message.”
“You sure, Mickey? Because if I happen to hear one more instance of the nickname ‘Kitten’ I might just slip and delete any other reference to your name from my memory, and then where would we be?”
“Kitt, can it.”
“Anything you say, Mike.” Ooh, that glare had some serious wattage.
“Okay, okay, Kitt. That’s a big ‘no’ on nicknames for the both of us.”
Score one for the AI today.
The two of them stewed over that conversation for the next couple of blocks, Kitt eyeing Michael, wondering when his driver was going to turn the conversation back to its original direction, namely Darlene of the glow-in-the-dark-pink fingernail polish.
He could almost have counted down. “Kitt, would you mind if I invited Darlene out tonight?”
Kitt blinked. You’re asking me?
“Michael, it is not my place to tell you who you can and can not date.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Well, that’s a first. What? No snarky comments about my choice in women? No dry snipe about the number of lovely ladies I entertain?”
“Michael, please remember I am only here for your benefit.”
The blue eyes widened, darting across his dashboard to fix on his voice modulator. Kitt picked up on the fact that Michael had suddenly lost interest in driving and smoothly took over before the Trans Am took off up the footpath.
“Don’t you think your opinion matters to me?”
“I-“
“Buddy, you’re my best friend. Of course your opinion is important.”
His voice subroutine suddenly found a hitch and froze.
“Kitt?” Michael frowned. “What do you think of Darlene?”
“Michael, it is your choice.”
“Kitt, please.”
“I-“ Was this fair? Was it right?
“I am not the only one who has to share the company in this passenger seat, pal. You have the right to object if you want.”
Kitt didn’t answer.
“C’mon, buddy, please.”
Okay. “I-I don’t like her.” He was surprised at how tentative his voice sounded.
Michael’s expression didn’t change. “Thankyou for your honesty, Kitt.”
“I’m sure she is a nice enough woman, Michael. Please don’t hesitate on my behalf. I doubt there are many people out there who ask their car whether they like their date or not.”
“But you are not my car, and we are in a rather unique situation, pal.” Michael’s tone was still light, but the underlying sobriety of his words touched Kitt deeply.
“Thankyou, Michael.”
He frowned. “For what?”
“Your respect.”
“Couldn’t give you anything but.” He put his hands back on the steering wheel, and Kitt complied with the unspoken request, releasing control of the Trans Am. “So feel like a cruise down the coast? I’m sure Devon can be persuaded to give us the night off.” Michael smiled. “If not, there is always the option of ‘hooky’.”
Kitt projected a smile into his voice. “Devon still hasn’t forgiven us for the last time we played that game.”
“In that case, he won’t have to go to the effort of getting angry all over again. He can just maintain a pleasant simmer.” The smile became a grin.
“Michael, you are incorrigible.”
“Yep, I believe I am. So coast or country?”
“Coast.”
“Then coast it is. Find us a highway, buddy, I feel the need for speed.”
Kitt grinned to himself, flicking through electronic maps before throwing one at his display. Michael fiddled with the stereo, and the cabin was suddenly filled with the one piece of music the two of them had managed to agree upon.
The AI was abruptly reminded of a conversation he had had with his brand new driver in the parking lot of a service station in Silicon Valley, that first mission, that first time. He had asked for some simple consideration from the man he had been made for.
And now…
He had received so much more.
He grinned to himself, the image of Michael wearing black mouse ears springing from an errant memory cluster. He did so ask for it.
He stared up at his driver, now singing along merrily to the music.
What would he do without his Mickey?
---------------------
FIN.
Hope you like it. Cos I'm not sure I do.
Nutty
(bent out of shape by a fic that refused to behave itself)
And it is for Shady :D It was sparked from a little conversation we had in reaction to my last little fic (well, that's where it started, not sure where it ended up). She'll know exactly what I mean after reading the first line :D ::ducks, runs away and hides::
All in the Name
Definitely for Shady
By Gumnut
11-16 Aug 2004
“Thanks for the ride, Kitten sugah.” A pair of highly polished nails met with an equally lacquered pair of lips before a smudge of that bright red lipstick was smeared on the Trans Am’s dash.
Kitt cringed. Ugh. Some people.
He didn’t dare say anything until he and Michael were halfway down the street.
“Michael, that woman-“
“Yes, Kitt, she is.”
He stared at his driver, attempting to ascertain his reaction. Michael had been known to find some of the oddest women alluring, and there was no way he was going to let this one through any of his doors again.
Michael was smiling. Oh, no.
“Michael, what is she?”
“Oh, uh, I was just thinking that perhaps now that the case is over, we might have a little free time. I wonder if Darlene is busy tonight.”
Definitely not good.
“Michael, you can not be serious.”
His driver frowned. “Why not?”
“That woman…she…I have lipstick all over my dashboard!”
Michael chuckled. “Yeah, she sure took a shine to you, buddy.”
“A shine? She tried to polish me off. If I hear the name ‘Kitten’ one more time, I declare I will not be responsible for my actions.”
“Kitten? I thought it was kinda cute.”
“Cute! Michael, I am the Knight Industries Two Thousand. I’m sleek, I’m black, and I’m fast. I am NOT cute!”
His driver was laughing again.
“What is so funny?”
He continued to chuckle.
“Michael?” Kitt forced warning into his tone.
“I’m sorry, Kitten. I was just wondering if you could purr.” The grin on Michael’s face was sickening.
So that’s the way you want to play it, huh? Well, two can play that game. “That’s okay, I’m sure I can work out an approximation just for you, Mickey.”
The grin disappeared.
“Mickey?”
“Or would you prefer ‘Mikey’?” Kitt put just the right amount of snide innocence into his tone.
“Kitt, you know I prefer Michael.”
“Hmm, how about ‘Michaela’ or ‘Michelle’? Those two sound particularly pleasant.”
“Kitt-“
“Mike?”
“Kitt-“
“I think I prefer ‘Mickey’. As you know, I have a fondness for mouse jokes.” Michael’s face was just a nice shade of pink.
“Kitt, I think I get the message.”
“You sure, Mickey? Because if I happen to hear one more instance of the nickname ‘Kitten’ I might just slip and delete any other reference to your name from my memory, and then where would we be?”
“Kitt, can it.”
“Anything you say, Mike.” Ooh, that glare had some serious wattage.
“Okay, okay, Kitt. That’s a big ‘no’ on nicknames for the both of us.”
Score one for the AI today.
The two of them stewed over that conversation for the next couple of blocks, Kitt eyeing Michael, wondering when his driver was going to turn the conversation back to its original direction, namely Darlene of the glow-in-the-dark-pink fingernail polish.
He could almost have counted down. “Kitt, would you mind if I invited Darlene out tonight?”
Kitt blinked. You’re asking me?
“Michael, it is not my place to tell you who you can and can not date.”
He cocked an eyebrow. “Well, that’s a first. What? No snarky comments about my choice in women? No dry snipe about the number of lovely ladies I entertain?”
“Michael, please remember I am only here for your benefit.”
The blue eyes widened, darting across his dashboard to fix on his voice modulator. Kitt picked up on the fact that Michael had suddenly lost interest in driving and smoothly took over before the Trans Am took off up the footpath.
“Don’t you think your opinion matters to me?”
“I-“
“Buddy, you’re my best friend. Of course your opinion is important.”
His voice subroutine suddenly found a hitch and froze.
“Kitt?” Michael frowned. “What do you think of Darlene?”
“Michael, it is your choice.”
“Kitt, please.”
“I-“ Was this fair? Was it right?
“I am not the only one who has to share the company in this passenger seat, pal. You have the right to object if you want.”
Kitt didn’t answer.
“C’mon, buddy, please.”
Okay. “I-I don’t like her.” He was surprised at how tentative his voice sounded.
Michael’s expression didn’t change. “Thankyou for your honesty, Kitt.”
“I’m sure she is a nice enough woman, Michael. Please don’t hesitate on my behalf. I doubt there are many people out there who ask their car whether they like their date or not.”
“But you are not my car, and we are in a rather unique situation, pal.” Michael’s tone was still light, but the underlying sobriety of his words touched Kitt deeply.
“Thankyou, Michael.”
He frowned. “For what?”
“Your respect.”
“Couldn’t give you anything but.” He put his hands back on the steering wheel, and Kitt complied with the unspoken request, releasing control of the Trans Am. “So feel like a cruise down the coast? I’m sure Devon can be persuaded to give us the night off.” Michael smiled. “If not, there is always the option of ‘hooky’.”
Kitt projected a smile into his voice. “Devon still hasn’t forgiven us for the last time we played that game.”
“In that case, he won’t have to go to the effort of getting angry all over again. He can just maintain a pleasant simmer.” The smile became a grin.
“Michael, you are incorrigible.”
“Yep, I believe I am. So coast or country?”
“Coast.”
“Then coast it is. Find us a highway, buddy, I feel the need for speed.”
Kitt grinned to himself, flicking through electronic maps before throwing one at his display. Michael fiddled with the stereo, and the cabin was suddenly filled with the one piece of music the two of them had managed to agree upon.
The AI was abruptly reminded of a conversation he had had with his brand new driver in the parking lot of a service station in Silicon Valley, that first mission, that first time. He had asked for some simple consideration from the man he had been made for.
And now…
He had received so much more.
He grinned to himself, the image of Michael wearing black mouse ears springing from an errant memory cluster. He did so ask for it.
He stared up at his driver, now singing along merrily to the music.
What would he do without his Mickey?
---------------------
FIN.
Hope you like it. Cos I'm not sure I do.
Nutty
(bent out of shape by a fic that refused to behave itself)