Cor shrugged a little, somewhat relieved that she didn't seem too upset. “It's just not something I talk about. It wasn't even my idea to start with.” he explained. “Tetra wanted me to help her with helping the ISO’s. She even came up with the name for both of us. But I was… a little reluctant to get involved at first. It wasn't until after she… disappeared that I started being more active with the “role” of Hermes. Getting the Recognizer was the last thing I did using that name.” he explained.
Nora nodded. The vigilante part of her understood that. Was that why she wasn't mad? Because part of her recognised part of him?
Cor watched her for any kind of reaction. The nod seemed like a good sign so far… “I almost wanted to tell you earlier but I just didn't know how.” he admitted.
Nora understood that, more than she would ever admit out loud. Eventually, she said, "That makes sense."
“So, you're not going turn me in for this?” he asked hopefully. If he got caught for this… Well, then his identity as Black Light would also come out and he felt he had done more as Black Light than as Hermes.
"Why would I turn you in?" Nora said softly. As far as she knew, being a vigilante wasn't illegal… dangerous, but not illegal, at least now that Clu was gone.
“I… I don't know.” he shrugged. “I guess it's just a normal fear for programs who do things that would get them in trouble with the Black Guard, or Clu. Getting caught. It's still on my mind. That someone will find out and turn me in.” he admitted, his voice going soft as he found himself thinking of Aroura. Cor had had this anxiety since the first time he started using an alias. Of course, back then, it was fueled by the consequences. Such as being sent to the games or being forcibly repurposed to be a mindless drone in the Black Guard.
Nora nodded. She fully understood what he was saying. She felt that way too, as Aurora.
"It's just you and me out here," she said.
No, Bit said, whizzing indignantly around Nora's head, and she smiled. "All right. You and me and Bit. I swear I won't turn you in. Bit?"
Bit bobbed up and down in the air a few times before admitting, Yes.
Cor let out a shaky breath and gave a small grateful smile at the both of them. “Thank you.” he said sincerely, leaning in slowly towards Nora and lightly kissing her cheek. He really did care about her and was so relieved that she had agreed to keep his secret. “If you ever need or want anything, this place is open to you. I can show you the code when we leave.” he offered.
Nora, whose light lines had flashed pink at the kiss, blinked a few times and nodded. She doubted she would ever need anything - or even remember where it was - but it was nice to know he trusted her.
"That would be nice," she said vaguely, her code still buzzing from the feel of his lips on her cheek.
Cor couldn't help but give a small brief smirk when he saw her lines flash as he straightened up. Honestly, it felt nice telling her that secret and he did trust her but… There were still a few secrets he wasn't ready to share yet. “Alright. Well, let's get started on fixing your helmet, then I can show you the best part of this place.” he smiled.
Nora's curiosity was piqued at that, for certain. She nodded. "I'll just… watch you, then?" She had no idea if or how she could help.
“If you want.” he nodded. “There’s a stool just over there.” Cor pointed out before picking up the tools. “Oh, is there anything special I need to watch out for? You know, like your lightcycle did.” he asked quickly, wondering if her friend had made any modifications here as well.
Nora shook her head, taking a seat cautiously on the stool. "No. Not that I know of."
“Alright.” Cor nodded as he started using the tools to try to fix her helmet.
Nora watched him work with a casual amount of interest; mostly, she was remembering Kaira, who would have loved this.
Cor had meant it when he said he wasn't a repair program. But if he was able to heal Nora after her crash… How hard could it be to fix a helmet? He didn't expect it to be easy since he knew that programs and helmets were two entirely different things.
"Do you know what you're doing?" Nora asked curiously, noting his hesitation.
“Umm, sort of. I mean, I know the basics of repairing stuff but… It's not what I was made for, you know?” he smiled faintly, giving a small shrug.
Nora nodded, thinking about how Kaira hadn't been made for repairing things either, and yet she had been good at it.
“What about you?” he asked as he started working. “Other than being repurposed, have you ever done something that you weren't programmed for?”
Nora shook her head. If you leave Aurora out of the equation, I've done everything I was programmed for, she thought, and then something occurred to her. "I do like lightcycles. Most Sirens don't."
Cor chuckled softly at that and nodded. “I noticed that about you. I just… didn't know that about other Sirens.” he admitted, not taking his eyes off his current task. “Probably because I, personally, don't know many. Other than you and my brief encounter with Astra.”
"Astra," Nora said delicately, "is more of a… typical Siren."
Cor held back a derisive chuckle at Nora’s choice of words. “So… All Sirens are trouble and a bit demeaning to other programs?” he asked, almost teasingly as he glanced up a her with a raised a brow.
