Page 42 of 8-Bit & Cat

Her stomach dipped. “... And how does it affect you?”

Zero exhaled slowly. “It interrupts processes. Scrambles input, forces recalculations at a level I can’t predict. But the strange part is it doesn’t feel like a malfunction. It feels like a… directive. Or a compulsion. Something that makes my framework adjust to accommodate it. As if—” He hesitated, brow furrowing slightly.

She leaned in with expectant eyes. “As if?”

He locked his gaze onto hers. “As if I was designed for it.”

Her smile bloomed slowly as she wagged an accusing finger at him. “You like my laugh.”

He answered almost immediately. “… Yes.”

She gasped dramatically. “Yes!” she celebrated. “I’m justblowingyour circuits.”

Cat suddenly sucked in a sharp breath at feeling apokein her mind. She aimed wide eyes at him.

“You felt that?”

“I did!” she half yelled in excitement. “You just—” She frowned. “What did you just do?”

Zero cocked a sexy grin on her. “I tested the reverse experience.”

She gaped at him, giddy. “Youpokedmy thoughts?”

“I did.”

She couldn’t stop staring in shock at what was happening.

He stared back.

“What else can we do?” she wondered. “I’m still spinning with excitement, mostly for you.” She whispered. “It’s almost like you’relivingand beinghuman.” And God, shelovedthat she was a direct part of that. She also liked picking on him. It was a lot of fun.

“Okay. You should try,” she urged.

Zero tilted his head. “Try what?”

“Try and experience emotion,” she said, straightening in her chair.

Zero appeared skeptical. “For what?”

She smirked with an eye roll. “Just…entertainment.”

Zero focused his grin on his clasped hands. “I’m plenty entertained at this level.”

“Come on,” she whined. “Have a little fun!”

“I’m inside your mind,” he reminded her. “There’s plenty of entertainment.”

Cat gasped. “Hey!”

He leaned back in the chair and folded his arms, resting his gaze on her. “You’ve thought about three unrelated topics in the past thirty seconds, including, but not limited to, the concept of a ‘robot cowboy romance,’ whether ice cream can be optimized, and the phrase ‘flaming dumpster swan dive,’ which I’m not going to ask about.”

Cat stared with wide eyes. Then laughed till she doubled over.

After a full minute, Zero muttered, “That was… excessive.”

Cat wiped at her eyes. “Oh, buddy, you have no idea.” She stilled, curious. “Wait. Did I just feel you—”

Zero raised a brow. “Process your laugh?”

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