Chapter 1

Julian stared hard at the bold lettering on the box in front of him, occasionally shifting his narrowed green eyes to the man standing beside it, who was himself lit up in an oblivious smile. He didn’t know what Paul had been thinking, bringing him something like this. And on his birthday, for God’s sake!

He’d torn the sparkling blue and silver paper from the box with fervor, lips split into the widest of grins. Huge packages like these usually meant some kind of gadget; something that came with instructions and bags of screws, and would take him hours of uninterrupted concentration to put together. But when Julian finally ripped his way into the cardboard monstrosity, it wasn’t a telescope or 10-in-1 exercise machine that greeted him.

“It’s the latest model CompAnIon from CyberNexus!” Paul exclaimed excitedly, hands nearly a blur of motion as he attempted to sign while he spoke. “Happy Birthday, Jules. I hope you like it.”

He thought the look on his face probably said it all but, just in case his friend really was in doubt as to his feelings concerning the AI, Julian shook his head and flung his arms out in front of him.

Why would you buy me something like this? The blond griped, fingers crooking angrily as he signed his frustration at and to Paul. These are for invalids and losers.

The expression on Paul’s face went from elation to devastation so quickly Julian was nearly tempted to accept the damn thing just so he’d smile again. Then he remembered Cybernetic Artificial Intelligences, or CompAnIons, were made for the disabled, the elderly, and people who refused any real human contact. Misers and misanthropes. At twenty-six, Julian wasn’t ready to think of himself that way. Even if it was true.

I don’t want it. Take it back.

Julian wadded up the wrapping paper he’d been so eagerly tearing into just minutes ago, stuffed it under his arm, and shot Paul a disgusted look.

I’m not so lonely I need a fucking robot friend.

He walked away, dead set on throwing out the paper and the AI if Paul refused to take it with him when he left. Strong fingers gripped his shoulder, stopping him mid-step. With a roll of his eyes, Julian looked back at his best friend. His only friend.

“Yes, you are,” Paul stated, dark hair nearly obscuring his bright brown eyes. “And I’m leaving next week,” he reminded Julian, signing as he spoke, “so you’re going to keep him until then. If you still don’t like him after this weekend, I’ll take him back.”

Him? It’s a him now? Julian asked, fingers flying as the wrapping paper fell to the floor, his jaw nearly joining it in incredulity. What happened to it?

Paul dropped his hand from Julian’s shoulder, seemingly satisfied the man wasn’t going to try to fight him on keeping the AI. He sank to his knees on the hardwood and tugged at the box, which he’d had to wheel into his friend’s house on a dolly, and gestured at Julian to come help. They’d laid it down earlier so it wouldn’t topple over and crush them, but now that they’d gotten the thing open, Julian wished they’d left it upright.

Inside was a man who appeared to be sleeping. His face was smooth and flawless, and the fringe of his curly, sand-colored hair swept over his forehead like foam on a breaking wave. In Julian’s mind’s eye, the box became a coffin, the person inside it dead rather than asleep. He felt a surge of panic rise high in his chest at the image. With an intensity that startled Paul beside him, Julian knelt down and ripped at the cardboard until it gave way. The CompAnIon, not to mention thousands of packing peanuts, came rolling out.

The android landed partly in his lap, but mostly sprawled on the floor beneath them. Julian cringed when the AI’s head met the wood with a solid thunk. He half expected the other’s eyes to pop open and his face to scrunch up in pain, but then he remembered that the man in his lap, no matter how life-like, was not a man, but a robot, and they’d yet to boot him up. Bewildered at his own actions and more than a little disturbed by the strong emotion pulled from him over his concern for a thing he ostensibly despised, Julian turned his attention to a once-more smiling Paul.

“They make them look so real, don’t they?” His friend asked. Julian scowled at him in response.

Paul reached out and slid the android’s eyelids open, fingers disturbing his long, dark brown lashes. Startlingly clear hazel eyes came into view. The AI’s pupils were pinpoints, even in the dim lighting of the living room. Something about that distressed Julian. He swept Paul’s hand away and closed the hazel eyes, then gently rolled the CompAnIon off his lap, dusted the packing peanuts from his pants, and stood.

Okay, he gesticulated slowly, reluctantly. Let’s start him up.

Half an hour later, the android was charged enough for his initial boot. They’d plugged him into a power outlet via the external port in his lower back. The tall brunette hadn’t come with any clothing to speak of other than a rather revealing pair of white brief underwear -to preserve modesty, the Owner’s Guide had said. His or the android’s, Julian wondered absently as his gaze traveled over the nearly naked, well-built form of the robot.

It was stupid, but he caught himself blushing as he and Paul maneuvered the AI into a sitting position against the wall. As if it weren’t embarrassing enough to own a CompAnIon, Paul had gone out and gotten him the most attractive model they carried. Julian wanted to curse himself for a pervert, but this was really all Paul’s fault.

His friend didn’t say anything while they were positioning the CompAnIon, but Julian caught the knowing looks the dark haired man sent his way.

You’re an asshole, Julian signed after they’d gotten the AI propped upright.

“Why do you say that?” Paul rejoined, grinning.

You know why.

“How about you boot him up, and we’ll see how much of an asshole I am?”

Julian drummed his short nails on the floor and chewed his lower lip. Okay. But if he goes nuts and kills both of us, I want you to understand this was entirely your idea.

He reached out fingers he swore weren’t trembling slightly, and felt for the power button at the back of the AI’s neck; it was just a little bump, hidden under a layer of smooth, synthetic skin. Before he could depress it, Paul tapped him on the shoulder to gain his attention. Julian almost sighed in relief as he pulled his hand away.

“Maybe you should give him a name, first?” Paul suggested. “You’re going to want to call him something.”

I’ll just call him ‘robot’, Julian quipped, only half serious. He was already having trouble remembering that the man in front of him was no such thing. If he gave him a name, that mental line in the sand would be completely erased. Practically speaking, however, he knew Paul was right.

What about Finn? he asked. It’s a nice Irish name.

“It sounds like something you’d name one of your kids. You know, if you ever stopped being a misanthrope long enough to have and raise one.”

I like it, Julian insisted, running his eyes over the prone form in front of him. I think it suits him.

Paul shrugged his shoulders noncommittally. “Kind of old-fashioned.”

And Julian isn’t? the blond shot back, snickering as his fingers formed the words. Paul didn’t even have the decency to look abashed. Okay. It’s time to meet Finn.

Once again, Julian slid his fingers over the bump at the base of Finn’s neck. He gripped his Owner’s Guide tightly in his other hand, crossed himself with it, then pushed down on the fleshy lump. There were no beeps or boops, no whirring of gears or mechanical parts like Julian was expecting. As the seconds continued to tick by without a twitch from the android, his new owner sat back on his heels to wait for movement.

Do you think we should have put some clothes on him? He asked Paul. Isn’t it weird that he’s pretty much naked? Do these things get embarrassed?

“Whose clothes would we have put on him? Yours?” Paul snorted, raising an eyebrow at the blond. “You’re like a head shorter and at least thirty pounds lighter.”

Why’d you buy me this one, anyway?

“You mean, why did I buy you a CompAnIon, or why did I buy this particular CompAnIon?”

Julian glared. I know you think I’m lonely and pathetic enough to need a robot to talk to while you’re in France, he huffed, blowing his long hair out of his face as his hands were occupied berating Paul. I mean why did you buy me an AI that looks like it just stepped off a catwalk?

Paul, who couldn’t seem to stop chuckling long enough to take his scolding seriously, patted Julian on the shoulder, and looked fondly at the still-motionless AI.

“I wanted to make it a little harder on you. Building a friendship, I mean. I thought about just getting you a kitten, but you do need someone to talk to, Jules. It’s been almost eight years. Time to come out of your shell.”

So you picked him because it’s going to be harder for me to talk to him? You’re a good friend.

The sarcasm, so difficult to detect when using American Sign Language to communicate, was not lost on Paul.

“Yeah, I didn’t think you’d buy that. Look, you need someone to talk to, someone to spend your time with while I’m away. Who better to do that with than a beautiful man? Choosing the most handsome CompAnIon I could find was a very shallow decision on my part.”

Shallow is better than mean. And if I have to be stuck with a robot for company, at least it’s one that’s nice to look at.

Julian’s eyes shifted from Paul to Finn. He poked a finger into the AI’s shoulder, noting how warm his skin was. Had it been that way earlier? Finn didn’t react to his prodding, so Julian tapped his finger against the android’s pronounced cheekbone.

I just wish he’d wake up already.

As if he’d somehow heard the thought that accompanied the signage, Finn’s hazel eyes fluttered open. He squinted in the dim lighting, head turning back and forth slightly as he peered at both of the gaping men in front of him.

Once he’d shaken himself from his stupor, Paul nudged Julian and pointed at the Owner’s Guide.

“He understands sign language, so tell him what you need to have him imprint.”

Julian knew he should do what Paul said. He knew he should open the guide to page 3, lay it out in front of him, and sign the statement of ownership. Instead, he found himself unable to do anything other than stare at Finn. The CompAnIon blinked up at Julian as though he’d just woken from a deep slumber, his long, dark eyelashes sweeping against his pale cheeks. He looked at Paul momentarily, but then his eyes focused back on the blond, and his lips quirked up in the barest hint of a smile.

Thoughts of anything else Julian might or should have done, any hard feelings he had about more or less being labeled a loser by his best friend fled his brain at that moment. He leaned forward, swept a loose lock of Finn’s hair behind his ear, and smiled gently back at him.

Morning, beautiful.