Chapter 27: Theft

The stairwell door slammed shut behind them as they burst into the underground parking lot. The cold, damp air hit Dave’s face, and the dim fluorescent lights flickered overhead, casting long shadows across the rows of cars. His heart was still pounding from running down six flights of stairs, but Liki’s hand in his kept him grounded. She moved with purpose, her sharp eyes scanning the area as if she were calculating their next move.

“Now, how are we gonna get out of here?” Dave said, his voice low but urgent. "We don't have a car..."

"Follow me" said Liki, her small frame already darting toward a sedan parked a few rows away. Dave followed, his muscles tense, his senses on high alert. He half-expected more of the men from the hotel to burst through the stairwell door at any moment. But Liki seemed calm, focused, her movements precise as she crouched beside the car’s door.

She reached out, pulling on the door and pressing the lock button in a rapid series that seemed random to Dave. She released and waited for a few tense seconds. Then there was a soft click, and the door unlocked. Dave blinked, impressed but not entirely surprised. “Military programming?” he asked, half-joking.

Liki glanced up at him, her green eyes flecked with gold gleaming in the dim light. “Yes,” she said simply, and then she slipped into the car sliding across to the passenger seat. Dave got into the driver's seat, sliding in behind the wheel. The interior smelled faintly of leather and stale air, but it was clean, and looked to be well taken care of.

“Do you know how to start this thing?” Dave asked, his voice tinged with nervous humor. He fumbled with the wheel, his hands shaking slightly as he adjusted the seat and fastened his seat belt.

Liki leaned forward and reached under the center console. She looked serious for a moment as she felt around for something unseen. She glanced at Dave and smiled. "I found it!" she said. Straightening, she pressed and held a button on the dashboard, opening what looked like a diagnostic menu on the screen. Her small fingers danced across the dashboard screen. There was a soft hum, and suddenly the car’s engine roared to life. The dashboard lit up, casting a soft glow on her face. She turned to him, a small, almost mischievous smile playing on her lips. “The answer to your question is yes." she stated.

Dave reached over and gently tickled her ribs making her giggle. “You’re amazing... How did you do that?"

"The 2064 has a vulnerability purposely installed by the manufacturer for governmental security use, because when foreign dignitaries..." she paused, "It's actually pretty long and boring... we should finish escaping first."

"Good idea. Do you know how to put on a seat belt?"

Liki hesitated, her fingers fumbling with the seat belt strap. She tugged at it awkwardly, her brows furrowing in confusion. “I… I don’t know how this works,” she admitted quietly, her voice tinged with embarrassment.

Dave stifled a laugh, though his eyes sparkled with amusement. “You know how to hotwire a car in seconds, but don't know about seat belts?” he teased, his tone gentle but playful.

Liki’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she glanced away. “It’s different,” she muttered, her small hands still struggling with the strap.

“Here, let me help,” Dave said, leaning over. He reached across her lap, his fingers brushing her hip as he pulled the seat belt across her. He clicked it into place, securing her snugly. “There. Now you’re safe.”

Liki looked down at the belt, her expression a mix of curiosity and appreciation. “Thank you,” she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dave leaned back, a smirk playing on his lips. We each have our own jobs still, he thought, just glad that he wasn't obsolete yet. Despite that, Liki’s aptitude was starting to make him feel redundant. He wondered if her skills and incredible intelligence would lead to her no longer needing him someday. He pushed that thought aside for now to focus on the situation.

Liki was smiling at him, a small hesitant smile. “I’m still learning,” she said simply, her green eyes meeting his. “About… everything.”

Dave’s smile softened. “Well, I guess that makes two of us,” he said, his voice warm. “But don’t worry, I’ve got your back. And your seat belt.”

Liki’s smile widened, and she reached over to squeeze his hand. “Let’s go,” she said softly.

He didn’t need to be told twice. Shifting into gear, Dave pulled out of the parking spot, the tires squealing slightly as he sped toward the exit. The car’s headlights illuminated the narrow ramp leading up to the street, and for a moment, Dave felt a rush of adrenaline. They were out. They were free.

But the relief was short-lived. As they merged onto the main road, Dave’s phone buzzed loudly, the sound cutting through the tension in the car. He glanced down at the screen, his heart skipping a beat when he saw the caller ID: PrivateAI, LLC.

“Hands-free,” Dave said to the car, his voice calm but firm. He leaned over and tapped the car’s display, and the call connected.

“Dave,” the AI Detective’s smooth, neutral voice filled the car. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”

Dave’s grip on the wheel tightened. “Yeah, I’ve been… busy.” His mind raced. How had the AI Detective known to call him? Had it been tracking him this whole time?

“Busy indeed. Busy being tracked,” the AI replied, as if reading his thoughts. “The men chasing you have access to your old phone. They stole your device and hacked it when they broke into your home. When you activated your new device, they were able to pinpoint your location immediately.”

Dave’s stomach dropped. He glanced at Liki, who was watching him with wide eyes. “So, they’ve been following us since this morning? They're still following us?” he asked, his voice tight with anger and fear.

“Yes,” the AI Detective confirmed. “But I can help. Because you downloaded my app on your old phone, I am still present on that device. When you clicked agree on the terms of service agreement you gave PrivateAI limited access to various portions of your phone's operating system. I can deactivate your old phone remotely, cutting off their access to your signal. However, this service requires a PrivateAI premium account.”

Dave let out a frustrated sigh. He glanced at Liki again, his mind racing. “You’re a brilliant detective, you know that? But you’re an even better salesman.”

The AI Detective’s tone didn’t change. “The choice is yours, Dave. But time is of the essence. They are still tracking you.”

Dave hesitated for just a moment before nodding. “Do it. Sign me up. Just make sure they can’t track us anymore.”

“Done,” the AI Detective replied. There was a brief pause before it added, "Welcome to PrivateAI Premium. As another service of your premium membership, I can also confirm that I did not detect any copy or clone of your old device being made. It is my conclusion that they now have no way of tracking you through your phone account, unless they were to somehow breach the phone company itself. It seems that your pursuers are rather sloppy, which leads me to theorize that they are not affiliated with any military or government agency. It stands to reason that they are perhaps private security contractors or members of a criminal organization."

There was another brief pause, and the AI said, "Before I deactivate your old device would you perhaps like me to send a dramatic, taunting message to them?"

"No, no... just deactivate it," Dave said.

"Your old phone has now been deactivated. They can no longer track your location." the AI stated calmly. Liki clapped and grinned.

Dave let out a long breath, his shoulders sagging with relief. “Thank you,” he said sincerely.

“No, Thank YOU for purchasing a PrivateAI premium account. Please download the PrivateAI app on your newly enabled device if you would like to review the fees, services, or terms and conditions for your new premium account, or if you need my help in the future. Goodbye,” said the AI Detective, and the call ended.

The car was silent for a moment, the only sound the hum of the engine and the faint rush of air outside the windows. Dave glanced at Liki, who was staring at him with an unreadable expression.

Finally Dave broke the silence. “Well... I guess we now know for sure that those guys aren't after me. It's you they are trying to get." He paused, unsure what to say next. He felt like an idiot. It was his fault that those men had almost taken Liki back at the hotel. He should have realized that they could be tracked through his phone.

"I’m just... I'm sorry,” he continued, his voice soft but heavy with guilt. “Sorry for putting you in danger over and over. Sorry for being so stupid. Sorry for losing my phone, and sorry for leading them right to us.”

Liki was quiet for a long moment, her eyes searching his face. Then, suddenly, she reached over and placed her small hand on his arm. Her touch was warm, comforting.

“Don't be sorry,” she said, her voice steady and sure. “You’re the only reason the bad guys don’t already have me. If you didn’t take me home from the Wimil store, they would have taken me. If you didn’t help me escape from them—twice—I’d be lost and alone. I don't have money... I can't buy things and I can't drive a car... So there's no reason to be sorry,” she paused, her gaze locking with his, “as long as you’re with me.”

Dave’s throat tightened, his sudden feelings making it tough to get out the words he wanted to say. He reached over, covering her hand with his own. “I’m not going anywhere,” he promised, his voice thick with emotion. “Not without you.”

Liki smiled a small, tender smile, and for a moment, the tension in the car seemed to melt away. But then she glanced out the window, her expression shifting as she scanned the passing streets. “We’re not safe yet,” she said softly. “We need to keep moving. They were probably still tracking us as we drove away, so let's change direction to throw them off.”

Dave nodded, his grip on the wheel tightening once again. “Where to?” he asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him.

Liki turned to him, her gaze unwavering. “We were going to go eat when they attacked us. Are there any Chungo's still open?”

Chapter 28: Villain

Dave and Liki drove for hours, the sprawling cityscape gradually giving way to the open countryside. They stopped at a little nameless restaurant along the way to eat and use the bathroom. The sign outside just said "Food". Liki was disappointed to learn that all the Chungo's had shut down last year, but she was still pleased when the waitress brought her a plate of Wimil pellets, and a glass of milk. She'd only ever drank water before, and Dave was glad that she seemed to enjoy milk, since all other human foods were genetically distasteful to her.

The sun was low on the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the fields as they pulled into the parking lot of a cheap motel. The sign read "The Magic Trappers Motel". What a strange name, Dave thought. The sign's old neon tubes flickered weakly, barely illuminating the cracked pavement below. Dave parked the car and glanced over at Liki, who was already unbuckling her seatbelt.

“This place isn’t exactly five-star,” he said, raising an eyebrow. "Barely even a two-star..."

Liki shrugged, her tail swishing playfully. “It’s far away from the bad guys. That’s all that matters.”

Dave couldn’t argue with that. He grabbed their only possessions, still stuffed into Big Shop shopping bags, and they headed inside. The motel lobby was dimly lit, the air thick with the scent of bubblegum vape juice and cheap cleaning products. A bored-looking clerk handed them a key-card without much conversation, and they made their way to their room.

The room was small but clean, with a queen-sized bed dominating the space. Liki immediately flopped down onto the mattress, stretching out like a cat basking in the sun. Dave set their bags down and locked the door, his shoulders sagging with relief.

“Finally, somewhere to breathe,” he muttered as he laid down on the bed beside Liki. They stayed there in the silence, enjoying the peace until the sun sunk below the horizon.

The room was dark.

Finally Dave got up and flipped a light on. Liki propped herself up on her elbows, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “Dave,” she said, her voice low and teasing, “Now we're safe, so can we play the Pretend Bad Guy game again?”

Dave blinked, caught off guard. “What? Now? Are you sure you’re up for something like that after everything that’s happened?”

Liki nodded eagerly, her tail flicking back and forth. “I’m sure. It’ll be fun. You can be the bad guy, and I’ll be me. Don't tear my clothes off though. We just bought them!”

Dave hesitated, his brow furrowing. She was right though. They were safe for now. Having some fun together could help them both relax, and maybe take their minds off the days of chaos they'd been through. He'd been intimate with Liki several times now, and he wasn't forcing anything on her, so what did he have to feel guilty about?

“Alright,” he said slowly, “We can play for a little while, but if you feel scared or uncomfortable at any point, you say the safeword, okay? I’ll stop immediately.”

Liki tilted her head, curious. “What’s the safeword?”

“Celerefol,” Dave said firmly, remembering the gross brand of artificial celery he had given to Mia as a code word. “Can you remember that?”

“Celerefol,” Liki repeated, rolling the word around on her tongue. “Now come on, let’s play!”

Dave exhaled, trying to get into the right mindset. He walked over to the bed, his expression shifting as he adopted the role of the villain. “Play? You think this is a game? You’ve been naive, Liki,” he said, his voice taking on a cold, calculating edge. His face was an emotionless mask of menace. “I’ve been one of the bad guys this whole time. I’ve been tricking you, getting you to trust me. And now… now I’m going to make you pay for being such a fool.”

Liki’s eyes widened, and she sat up on the bed. For a moment, she looked genuinely startled, but then she remembered it was just pretend, and a playful smile tugged at her lips. “No… you’re lying!”

Dave smirked, picking up the TV remote from the nightstand. “Oh, I’m not lying. See this? It’s a... a laser..." He tried to think of some word other than gun, so as not to remind Liki of the real threat they'd just faced earlier in the day. "It's a laser... cannon." Good enough. "And if you don’t do exactly what I say, I’ll use it.”

Liki’s tail twitched, her body tensing as if she were truly in danger. But her expression betrayed her excitement, her cheeks flushing with color. “What… what are you going to do to me?”

“Lie down on the bed, and you'll find out,” Dave commanded, his voice firm and authoritative.

Liki obeyed, stretching out on the mattress with a soft sigh. Dave loomed over her, his eyes raking over her body with a predatory gleam. “Here's my evil plan... First, I’m going to strip you down to your panties. And there’s nothing you can do to stop me.”

Liki swallowed hard and her eyes widened. Dave reached down and grabbed an ankle. He pulled off her small sneakers, holding a tiny foot to his face. "I'm going to enjoy tormenting these little toes in ways you've never even imagined!" he gloated.

Liki gasped in terror. "Please, not my toes! They're my only weakness!" she whispered.

Next he reached for the hem of her hoodie, pulling it up slowly, revealing the smooth expanse of her stomach. His hands brushed against her skin as he tugged the garment over her head, tossing it aside. Liki shivered, her breath caught in her throat as Dave’s gaze lingered on her bare breasts.

“You’ve got a nice body. I'm going to enjoy this,” he said, his tone dark and appreciative. He reached out and lightly pinched a nipple, causing Liki’s hands to instinctively grasp his wrist. “Don't try to resist. You are powerless to stop me.”

Liki’s cheeks burned, but she didn’t resist. She watched as Dave’s hands moved to the waistband of her sweatpants, his fingers hooking under the fabric. He pulled them down inch by inch, revealing the thin lavender cotton of her panties followed by her slender legs. Dave tossed the sweatpants aside, leaving her clad only in her underwear.

Dave paused, his hands lingering at the waistband of her panties. He leaned back slightly, studying her face with a mixture of concern and curiosity. “Are you still okay?” he asked, his voice soft, the edge of the bad guy act slipping just for a moment. “You’re not scared, are you?”

Liki blinked up at him, her playful smirk returning as she shook her head. “No, it's fun!” she said, her tail flicking lazily against the bed. “You’re doing a good job being the bad guy, but I know it’s still you.” She reached up, brushing her fingers along his jawline. “Keep going!"

Her words reassured him a little, though he still couldn’t help but feel slightly wrong about looming and gloating over her small form. “Just making sure,” he murmured, leaning down to press a quick, gentle kiss to her forehead. “You’d tell me if you stopped having fun, right? You remember the word?”

“Celerefol,” Liki said immediately, her tone teasing but firm. “I remember. Become Bad Guy Dave again! Go!" She waved her hands across his face and wiggled her hips on the mattress.

Dave chuckled, then straightening up, his expression shifting back into the cold, calculating mask of the villain. “You’re lucky I’m in a good mood,” he said, his voice dark and teasing. “Otherwise, I might have to punish you for distracting me.”

Liki gasped dramatically, her eyes widening in mock fear. “Oh no, please don’t! I’ll be good, I promise! But if you do punish me, my only weakness is my bottom... I hate to be slapped on my butt!” She giggled, her body wriggling playfully under his hands.

Trying not to burst out laughing, Dave smirked. Didn't she say her toes were her only weakness? I guess she has two only weaknesses. His fingers tightened slightly on her panties as he recovered his poise. “We’ll see about that,” he said, his tone dripping with menace. "Now for the final piece. In just seconds you'll be completely naked, and totally helpless...”

His hands slid fully under the waistband of her panties, and Liki’s heart raced as he began to pull them down. She felt a thrill of mock helplessness, her body reacting to the sensation of being exposed. Dave stripped her panties off completely, his eyes drinking in the sight of her smooth, naked form.

“You’re mine now,” he whispered, leaning in close. “And I’m going to enjoy every inch of you.”

Dave leaned back slightly, his eyes gleaming as he looked down at Liki’s exposed form. She's still so perfect. His voice dropped to a dark, teasing tone. “Here’s how I’m going to torment you, Liki. Uh... lemme think... Okay first, I’m going to kiss every inch of your body… slowly. I’ll make you squirm, make you beg for more.”

Liki gasped, her tail flicking excitedly. “No, please Bad Guy Dave!” she said sobbing, but her eyes betrayed her enjoyment.

“Second,” Dave continued, his voice low and silky, “I’m going to tease you so badly that you’ll ache for me. I’ll use my hands, my mouth, my tongue… I’ll drive you wild, but I won’t let you come until I say so. You’ll be desperate, completely at my mercy.”

Liki whined softly, her body already trembling in anticipation. “So evil... How can you do this to me? I'm just a little Wimil,” she sniffled, wiping away imaginary tears.

Dave smirked, his fingers grazing her breasts and brushing lightly over her hardened nipples, making her gasp. “And third,” he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, “The most evil torture of all, I'll make your body mine completely with my secret weapon. I’ll use my giant robotic penis to claim your body, pushing deep into the most secret parts of you, until you scream for mercy. I’m going to stretch you wide, Liki, until your insides are molded perfectly to fit me. And then, um… I’ll... I'll blast you with my top-secret pleasure beam, directly into your core. No matter how much you scream, cry, or beg, there will be no escape from the pleasure… or the pain.”

Liki’s cheeks flushed, her body arching toward him in a mix of anticipation and mock terror. “No! It's too horrible! Please,” she breathed, her voice trembling with excitement. “Not the robot penis!"

He chuckled darkly, leaning down to capture her lips in a heated kiss. “Sorry little Wimil. There's nothing you can do to stop me!”

But then he paused, his expression softening as he hesitated. “Liki,” he said quietly, brushing a strand of hair from her face, “you're still okay, right? It is kind of fun... but it's not too silly for you, is it? And, uh, for the record, I don’t actually have a giant robotic penis. It’s just a normal human one. I wanted to make sure you remembered that.”

Liki giggled, her tail swishing lazily against the bed. “I remember. It’s just pretend. I’m still having fun. Bad Guy Dave is so scary!” She reached out, grabbing his forearms, and squeezing them excitedly. “Keep playing!”

Dave smiled, the tension easing from his shoulders. “Alright,” he murmured, his voice returning to that dark, teasing tone. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.” He leaned back in, his hands and mouth ready to deliver on his promises, his playful villainy fully restored. "Now we begin..."

Liki’s breath came in shallow gasps as Dave’s hands roamed her body, his touch sending shivers down her spine. He sucked the toes on one dainty foot, while he interlaced his fingers between the toes of her other foot, causing her to thrash with glee on the bed. "No! My weakness," she screamed.

He kissed her thigh, his lips trailing up to her stomach and then to her breasts. He spent a good amount of time there, for his own enjoyment. Liki giggled softly, her fingers tangling in his hair.

“I knew I should never have trusted you, Dave the bad guy,” she teased, her voice trembling with excitement.

Dave chuckled, the sound low and wicked. “You should’ve listened to your instincts.”

He continued to kiss and caress her, his movements slow and deliberate. Liki’s body arched against his, her tail curling around his leg as she pulled him closer. The room was filled with the sound of their breath, the tension building with every touch.

“You’re mine,” Dave murmured against her lips, his voice a low growl. "I've seduced you so completely that you couldn't escape now, even if you wanted to."

Liki’s response was a breathless laugh, her eyes half-lidded with pleasure. “I’m yours completely,” she agreed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dave’s expression shifted into a devilish grin as he stood to take off his clothes, his voice dripping with mock menace. “Yes, and it was so foolish of you to ever think that you could resist me. Now, the final torture, my little Wimil slave. Prepare to feel the full force of my giant robo-penis.” Naked as well, Dave spread her legs and playfully positioned himself between them, his hips pressing forward. Liki gasped dramatically, her tail flicking in mock protest. “No, no, no! Please, have mercy!” she pleaded, her voice trembling with pretend fear.

But Dave wasn’t having it. “Mercy? There’s no mercy for you,” he growled, his giant robotic penis pushing into her, inch by agonizing inch. Liki winced, unprepared for the true scale of Bad Guy Dave's massive cybernetic cock. Her body arched as she pretended to struggle against him. “Your robo-penis is too big!” she whimpered, her hands clutching the sheets. “I can’t take it!”

Dave chuckled darkly, his tone gleeful as he thrust deeper, trying his best to find her most sensitive spots. “Oh, but you’ll take it,” he whispered, his voice a low purr. “And just when you think you can't take anymore I’m going to blast your womb with a pleasure ray from the tip of my robo-penis. You’ll never be the same after this.”

Liki tilted her head in confusion and Dave paused, his villainous smirk faltering for a moment. “Dave,” she asked innocently, her tail flicking curiously, “what’s a womb?”

He blinked, caught off guard by the question. For a moment, the bad guy persona slipped, and he was just Dave again. “Oh, uh… it’s a part of human anatomy,” he explained, his voice softening. “It’s called a uterus. It’s like… a special pouch inside a woman’s body where a baby grows.”

Liki’s eyes widened in fascination. “Humans grow babies inside them? That’s so weird!” She giggled, her tail swishing playfully. “Do Wimils have that too?”

Dave hesitated, scratching the back of his head. “I don’t... actually know,” he admitted. “I’ve never really thought about it. Maybe it says in the user manual." He was almost completely certain that Wimils couldn't get pregnant, but maybe they had some kind of similar vestigial organ...

Dave chuckled, shaking his head. “Well, I guess we’ll figure it out someday,” He leaned in closer, his voice dropping back into that dark, teasing tone. "And don’t think this little distraction has saved you from my huge robotic cock.”

Liki let out a dramatic gasp, her tail flicking in mock protest. “Oh no! I was so close to escaping!” She giggled, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She flung her arms over her head. "No! The robot bed is holding my arms!"

Wow, she really loves this.

“Yes, and now, my little Wimil… it’s time for you to face the consequences.”

Dave began to thrust into her, slowly at first, but increasing his speed as he felt her body respond to him. He looked down into the gasping face below him, at once both angelic and devilish, and for a moment he saw all the different Likis she'd been; mute and curious, calm and deadly, coy and seductive, friendly and adorable... and he loved all of them. What has this beautiful creature done to me? he thought. He'd bought her in an attempt to stave off the specters of modern life; monotony, loneliness, futility... and in a week she'd changed his life completely, evolving into so much more than a pastime or a toy. She was something... someone he couldn't live without.

Liki squirmed below him as the rhythm within her increased its intensity. Dave felt his own body reaching the edge and he hoped that Liki was almost there as well because he wasn't sure how much longer he could last within the hot, wet confines of her insides.

"Time to... activate the pleasure beam," he grunted. "It's all over for you... Wimil!"

Liki let out a loud, exaggerated cry, her body tensing, no longer just pretending to writhe under the overwhelming sensation. “Dave, stop! It’s too much!” she mock-begged, her voice breaking with mock-desperation. But Dave only smirked, his villainous persona fully in control.

The combination of the roleplay and the stimulation was indeed too much for her. Liki’s pretend protests turned into a soft moan, her body shuddering as she finally gave in to the pleasure, her climax hitting her like a wave.

Bad Guy Dave wasn't able to hold back anymore either, and his pleasure beam activated full force into Liki's helpless body. It blasted her in the womb that she may or may not have had, melting her insides with a blazing light and sending her mind into pleasure overload mode, from which there was no escape. Bad Guy Dave's pleasure beam had trapped her body and soul in an endless torment of eternal pleasure and agony.

Their bodies remained fused together for a few overwhelming moments, until they collapsed onto the bed, satisfied and tired. Dave rolled to his side, cuddling Liki close, his lips brushing against her ear. Not wanting to disappoint her, he kept up his Bad Guy Dave persona for a little longer. “There it is. I’ve broken you. Now your body and mind belong to me, Liki. There’s no escape from the endless pain and pleasure that I have planned for you."

Liki giggled, still breathing heavily, her tail swishing up and down along his still semi-hard giant robotic penis. "I'm your Wimil pleasure slave forever, Bad Guy Dave."

Chapter 29: Accident

Dave’s heart began to slow, his chest rising and falling as he caught his breath. He looked down at Liki, her petite body curled up against his side, her tail flicking lazily. She looked so peaceful, so content, and it made him smile despite the lingering chaos of their situation. He gently brushed a strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek. "You okay?" he asked softly, his voice still a little hoarse.

Liki purred softly, nuzzling into his touch. "Mmhmm," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked up at him with those big, adoring eyes, her small mouth closed tightly in a sleepy smile. "That was... fun, huh?"

Dave chuckled, his chest rumbling with the sound. "Yeah, it was." He paused, then added, "Do you want me to clean you up a little? With a tissue?"

Liki closed her eyes smiling, her tail still slightly swishing. "Yes, please."

Dave smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead before he carefully sat up. He grabbed his boxers from the floor and slipped them on, then padded to the bathroom. He grabbed a handful of tissues and returned to the bed, sitting beside her. He gently wiped her, his touch tender as he thought how glad he was that he could still be useful to Liki, even if it was such a small gesture.

"Thank you," she said, enjoying his touch.

"No, thank you," he said quietly, his voice warm. "For the fun idea. The pretend bad guy thing. I wasn't sure if I'd like it at first, but seeing you having so much fun changed my mind."

Liki giggled, her tail curling around his wrist. "You’re welcome," she said, her voice soft but full of pride, eyes still closed. "It was fun to feel a little bit scared and feel safe at the same time."

Dave finished cleaning her up and tossed the tissues into the trash. He looked down at her, his smile fading slightly as he noticed how pale she looked. She was always pretty pale, but she looked even more so than usual. He held a hand to her forehead. She didn't seem to have a fever. "You feeling okay?" he asked, a hint of concern in his voice.

Liki nodded, opening her eyes halfway. "Just really tired," she admitted, her voice barely audible.

"Okay," Dave said gently, brushing her hair back again. "Let’s get some sleep then." He started to pull the blanket up over her naked form, but she stopped him with a soft touch on his arm.

"Can I... wear your shirt?" she asked shyly, her big eyes pleading with him. "With the picture of the strong heart guy?"

Dave chuckled, reaching over to grab the shirt from where it lay crumpled on the floor. He held it out to her, but she groggily sat up and held her arms in the air. Dave knew that she could put a shirt on by herself, but she seemed to love having him do it for her. Dave put the shirt over her arms and helped her find the collar, her head and messy hair popping into view. It hung loosely on her small frame, but She looked adorable in it as usual. It made his chest ache in the best way. "You look cute," he said, his voice fond.

Liki flopped against the pillow. "Thank you," she said, snuggling into the shirt. "It smells like you. It makes me feel safe." She yawned, her eyes fluttering shut. "Goodnight, Good Guy Dave."

"Goodnight, Liki," he replied, brushing a kiss against her forehead. He took a moment to check the door lock, making sure it was secure before he finally switched off the light and lay down beside her. He stared up at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of their precarious situation. They had nothing—no home, no resources, just a stolen car and the clothes on their backs. And with the bad men, gangsters, security thugs, whatever, knowing everything from the Wimil store, he couldn’t risk going back to his old life.

His chest tightened with anxiety as he tried to think of a way out, a plan that would keep them safe. But his thoughts were interrupted by Liki’s soft, rhythmic breathing. He turned his head to look at her, her peaceful face illuminated by the dim light from the window. She was already fast asleep, curled up under the blanket, his shirt swallowing her whole.

Dave’s heart swelled with affection, and he placed a hand softly on her back, feeling her lungs expand and contract. "We’ll figure it out," he whispered. He lay back down, his worries still heavy on his mind, but eventually, exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted into a fitful sleep.

*

Dave woke up to sunlight streaming through the thin motel curtains. He blinked, disoriented, and reached for his phone. It was past 10:30 in the morning. He sat up with a start, shocked that Liki was still asleep next to him. He glanced down at her, her small form still wrapped in his shirt, and he was briefly surprised that her hair was now greenish instead of blue with purple highlights. The hair color changes they'd made with the mod-rod were starting to take effect. She looked so peaceful, and he couldn’t help but smile. She must’ve been really tired, he thought, mentally congratulating himself on tiring out the rambunctious Wimil with his epic love-making.

But his smile faded as he remembered the situation they were in. He needed to call his work, let them know where he’d been for the past three and a half days. He slipped out of bed as quietly as he could, grabbing his phone and heading into the bathroom. He closed the door gently, not wanting to wake Liki, and dialed his boss’s number.

"Hey, it’s Dave," he said when the call connected, his voice low. "Listen, I’m really sorry, but I had to take off on Tuesday. I was feeling sick, and when I woke up, I was in the hospital. They had me under for three days. I’m... I’m not doing great. I’m gonna need to take some sick leave. I’ll let you know when I’m coming back."

His boss was understanding and told him to get well. He said he'd have Chul, a guy from his department, cover for him. Dave thanked his boss and hung up quickly, not giving his boss a chance to ask too many questions. Phew, one tough call down. Next, he called Savitha, his coworker and closest friend at the office. When she answered, he hesitated for a moment before launching into the truth. "Savitha, I need to tell you something. I’m in trouble. Really bad trouble." He began to tell Savitha everything that had happened for the past four days. The dead man at the Wimil store, the men breaking into his home, all the mysteries surrounding Liki. Running. The hotel fight. Stealing a car. Everything. "I had to tell someone the truth, just in case."

Savitha’s voice was filled with shock. "Dave, what the hell? Are you serious? What’s going on? I heard about that fire but I had no idea that was your house. Can I help? Let me help."

Dave shook his head, even though she couldn’t see him. "You can’t. Not right now. Just... don’t tell anyone you know anything. If they find out you talked to me, they might come after you too. Don't call me. It's not likely but they could still be spying on me somehow. I’ll... I’ll figure something out. If I can't... then I might have no choice but to call you for help."

Savitha seemed even more concerned than before, but she understood. "Okay, please, please, please just stay safe. And keep little bachi Liki safe too. If you need anything, anything, just call, okay?"

"I promise Savi. Please, don't worry. We'll make it through this." he said, not sure he was telling the truth.

He ended the call, his chest tight with guilt and fear. He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, then finally stepped out of the bathroom. Liki was still asleep, her green hair the only part of her visible in the pile of blankets and pillows. Dave smiled down at her, brushing a hand through her hair. "Morning, sleepyhead. Your hair’s changing. Looks like the mod-rod’s doing its thing. Its green now, halfway to blonde."

Liki looked up groggily and stretched. "Really?" she asked, her voice thick with sleep. She reached up to touch her hair, her eyes blinked sleepily. "I wanna see..."

"Okay, but first get up and pick which outfit you want to wear today, and get dressed because we need to get moving soon, okay?"

Liki yawned and nodded, scooting to the edge of the bed. Dave gave her a reassuring smile before heading back into the bathroom. He'd been holding it in all morning and he really needed to go. As he pulled the door mostly shut behind him, Liki sat on the bed for a moment, staring at the pile of clothes. Unable to focus or remember what clothes she even had, she looked around the room wondering what room this was. She slowly climbed out of the bed, but then remembered her new hair color and how she had told Dave she wanted to see it. Where was Dave? She stood up and shuffled to the bathroom door, pushing it open slightly. "Dave?" she asked quietly.

What she saw jolted her awake. Dave was standing in front of the toilet, a stream of water inexplicably arcing out of him and into the bowl. She stared at him, her mouth hanging open in awe. "Dave! You’re... peeing... standing up!" Her voice was filled with amazement, as if she’d just witnessed some miraculous feat. "How are you doing that?" she asked, moving closer to inspect his urinary sorcery.

Dave’s face turned bright red, and he quickly turned away, trying to finish up as fast as he could. "Liki, could you... Don't..."

She laughed, peeking around him, her tail swishing with delight. "I didn’t know you could do that! That’s so cool!"

Dave groaned, shaking his head as he zipped up and washed his hands. "Yeah, well, it’s... just normal. It's how human guys do it. Anyway, get dressed. We need to get moving."

Liki giggled as she turned to the mirror to examine her new hair color. "Okay, I will. But really, Dave, that’s amazing. I thought I was good at using the toilet... but I’m definitely gonna have to practice more to be as good as you."

Dave couldn’t help but laugh despite himself. "Yeah, you do that," he said, shaking his head. Even in the middle of all this chaos, she could still make him smile. He wandered into the bedroom to gather up their things and make sure they didn't leave anything behind. Then he came to the sudden realization of what she meant by "practice more", and he envisioned the mess she'd make while trying to use the bathroom like him without the proper equipment downstairs.

"Wait, Liki!" he called out, but it was too late. He heard the patter of water as it splashed against a surface that wasn't water, and he smacked his forehead with a palm.

Listening around the corner from the open bathroom door, he was relieved to hear water hitting water at least part of the time. When the sound stopped he peeked into the bathroom, assuming she was finished. He found her still standing tiptoed in front of the toilet, holding the front of her shirt (his shirt) above her belly-button, legs slightly apart. Her bluish-green eyes were wide, her mouth open in shock. She saw Dave’s head appear in the door and turned to look at him, shimmering tears appearing in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Dave! I'm so sorrrryyy!" she cried looking down at the water on the floor. Liki rushed to Dave, her whole body trembling as she buried her face in his stomach. "I didn’t mean to make a mess," she sobbed, her voice muffled against his skin. "I just... I thought... I’m sorry!"

Dave dropped to her level and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly. "It’s okay," he said gently, stroking her hair and trying harder than he'd ever tried before to not laugh. "It’s not a big deal, really. You didn’t know. I'll help clean it up, okay?" Was this the same girl who'd killed three men without blinking just yesterday, getting this emotional over a little accident?

Liki sniffled, pulling back to look at him with tearful eyes. "You’re not mad?"

"Of course not," he said, giving her a warm smile. "I’m not mad. You’re still learning, and that’s okay. Next time just be more careful... and sit down, I guess. How about you go pick out your outfit and get dressed and I'll clean up, alright?"

She nodded hesitantly, wiping her tears with the back of her hand. "Okay," she whispered, her voice still shaky.

"Good," Dave said, brushing a strand of her green hair from her face.

Liki managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Dave," she said softly before turning and heading back to the pile of clothes.

Dave watched her for a moment, his heart swelling with affection for her despite the mess. He grabbed a towel from the bathroom and got to work cleaning up, shaking his head with a quiet chuckle.