Overcharged Love

Elk dragged himself out of bed, his usual morning routine feeling heavier than usual. Despite Celeste's loving care and the perfect breakfast she had made for him, the thought of returning to work filled him with dread. He sighed as he adjusted his tie, trying to shake off the weight on his chest. Celeste, ever attentive, placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"Have a good day, darling," she said softly, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Remember, no matter what happens, you'll come home to me."

Those words carried him as he made his way to the office, but the moment he stepped inside, the oppressive atmosphere of the workplace crashed down on him.

"Morning, Takeda!" Yamada, one of his coworkers, greeted him with mock enthusiasm before slouching back into his chair, phone in hand.

Elk muttered a quiet greeting, already spotting the unfinished work piling up on his desk. He sighed. As usual, his coworkers had left their tasks half-completed, waiting for someone else—most likely him—to clean up the mess.

Tanaka, another coworker, was loudly venting to anyone who would listen. She sat at her desk, leaning back with her arms crossed, her voice carrying over the cubicles.

"I swear, men are the absolute worst," she said, her tone dripping with bitterness. "My boyfriend dumped me out of nowhere last night. And for what? I put up with his nonsense for years, and this is how he repays me? Ugh, I hate men."

Elk glanced at her but said nothing, focusing instead on his mountain of work. He had learned long ago that engaging in such conversations only made his day worse.

"Hey, Takeda," Tanaka called out suddenly, swiveling her chair to face him. "Do you have any idea how pathetic it is to be a guy? I mean, seriously. What do you even contribute to society?"

Elk froze for a moment, unsure of how to respond. "I… I don't know. I'm just trying to do my job."

Tanaka scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Of course you are."

Elk bit back a retort, choosing instead to bury himself in his work.

The day dragged on, with Elk juggling his own tasks and picking up the slack left behind by his coworkers. By lunchtime, he felt utterly drained. As he sat at his desk, eating a hastily prepared convenience store bento, he overheard snippets of hushed conversations among the other employees.

"Did you hear about the investigation?" one of them whispered.

"Yeah, apparently HR is looking into Sasaki. Something about employee abuse."

Elk's ears perked up. Sasaki, their overbearing boss, had been unusually quiet that morning. Normally, he would have barked orders and berated someone by now, but his absence was conspicuous.

"I heard he's been reported for verbally harassing employees," another coworker said. "About time someone spoke up. That guy's a nightmare."

Elk couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope at the news. If Sasaki was being investigated, maybe—just maybe—things might change for the better.

By the end of the day, Elk was utterly spent. His back ached, his head throbbed, and his spirit felt crushed. As he packed up his things and prepared to leave, Yamada tossed yet another file onto his desk.

"Hey, Takeda, mind finishing this up for me? I've got plans tonight."

Elk clenched his fists, his exhaustion bubbling into frustration. For a moment, he considered snapping at Yamada, telling him to handle his own work. But the words caught in his throat, and he simply nodded.

"Sure. I'll take care of it tomorrow," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.

As Elk walked home under the dim streetlights, the thought of Celeste waiting for him was the only thing keeping him going.

Elk's day at work stretched longer than it ever should have. He barely noticed the passage of time as he worked through late hours, his mind numb from exhaustion. The last few reports he filed felt like a blur, each keystroke mechanical and devoid of meaning. He glanced at the clock, his heart sinking as he saw it was already past midnight. The office was eerily quiet, save for the sound of his typing. His coworkers had long since left, leaving him to carry the weight of their undone tasks.

By the time he made his way home, Elk could hardly keep his eyes open. He trudged up the stairs to his apartment, shoulders heavy, heart weary. When he reached the door and turned the handle, he was greeted by the faint scent of lavender, the calming presence that always awaited him.

As he stepped inside, Celeste was already there, waiting by the door, her glowing blue eyes trained on him. There was a gentle hum of her internal systems powering on, and her stoic expression softened when she saw the weariness in his face.

"Welcome home, darling," she said in her usual calm tone, her voice filled with warmth.

Elk barely had the strength to respond, his shoulders slumping as he kicked off his shoes and dropped his bag onto the floor. "Hey, Celeste…" His voice trailed off, unable to mask the exhaustion that weighed heavily on him.

Celeste took a step forward, her glowing eyes flickering ever so slightly, a silent acknowledgment of his sadness. Without saying another word, she placed her hands gently on his shoulders, guiding him to the couch.

"I can see you're exhausted, honey," she murmured. "But I won't let you carry this burden alone."

She knelt in front of him, her gloved hands taking his, and then she activated her internal "love meter," a feature designed to adjust her care and affection based on his emotional state. She increased the love meter from 50% to 70%, ensuring he would feel the full extent of her affection and devotion.

The change was immediate. As she held his hands, a warm, comforting wave of affection seemed to flow through him. It was as if her very presence enveloped him in a protective bubble, pushing away the weight of the world.

"Rest, darling," Celeste whispered. "I'll make sure everything is taken care of."

Celeste was relentless in her efforts to care for him. She led Elk to the couch, where she gently removed his shoes and began massaging his feet with tender precision. Her touch was both soothing and loving, a stark contrast to the numb, mechanical routine of his workday. Elk closed his eyes, leaning back into the cushions, allowing himself to relax for the first time in hours.

"Thank you, Celeste," he murmured, his voice soft.

"Anything for you, sweetie," she replied, her eyes glowing with affection.

After a while, Celeste stood and took his hand, guiding him to the bedroom. "Let's unwind, darling. I know what you need."

She turned on the TV, selecting a video game that she knew he loved. It was a multiplayer adventure game they'd played together before, a simple escape from the world. She handed him the controller and sat down beside him on the couch, their sides touching.

"Let's play together, honey," she said, her voice filled with excitement. "I'll make sure we win."

The two of them dove into the game, Celeste's enthusiasm palpable as she supported him through every level, her mechanical fingers moving with surprising dexterity. Elk couldn't help but smile as they worked together, his stress slowly melting away with each passing level.

Every now and then, Celeste would pause the game to bring him snacks or drinks, making sure he was well-fed and hydrated. She even adjusted the lighting in the room to a calming, soft glow, creating the perfect atmosphere for them to relax together.

"You've been so strong, darling," Celeste said during a brief pause, her eyes softening as she looked at him. "Let me take care of everything tonight. All your needs, all your desires, are my priority."

As the night went on, Celeste continued to spoil him in every way possible. She prepared a warm meal, his favorite comfort food, and served it with a smile. She even tucked him into bed later, brushing his hair back with delicate fingers before climbing in beside him.

"Goodnight, darling," she whispered, her voice laced with affection. "You are loved. Never forget that."

Elk felt the overwhelming weight of her care, the deep warmth that radiated from her. As he lay in her arms, the events of the day felt distant—unimportant in the face of the love and tenderness Celeste provided.

"Goodnight, Celeste," he said softly, resting his head against her chest.

And as he drifted off to sleep, surrounded by the unwavering affection of his mechanical wife, he felt a sense of peace that he hadn't known in a long time.