Overnight
An Astro/Atlas boy fan fiction
By Dan Rush
Foreword: After staying the night over at Atlas's hide-a-way in the industrial district. Astro comes home to talk to Doctor O'Shay so he can invite Atlas to stay over at the Doctor's house with Astro and the tree house gang.
Saturday afternoon
Doctor O'Shay's house
"Hey everyone, I'm home!" Astro said as he came through the front door and dropped his school bag by the coat rack.
"About time." Nora the nanny bot said as she came floating out of the kitchen. "You said you would be home by noon at the earliest. It's 1pm."
"I'm sorry Nora." Astro replied. "I was kept a little busy." Astro walked to the edge of the stairs. "Is Doctor O'Shay home?"
"He's in his study." Nora replied. "Don't be too long now. I estimate it will take you three hours to get all the chores done."
Astro replied smiling. "Is that a rough estimate or did you use a calculator?"
"Just be quick you little smart mouth?" Nora snorted.
Astro bounded up the steps and met Zoran coming the other way. "Hey big brother. Did you see Atlas?"
Astro grabbed Zoran by the arm and pulled her into the nearby bathroom. "I did...thought you knew by now?"
"Well I know he did some things which are way out of his character...saving humans? Did Reno?" Zoran asked.
"Shhhhh...keep it quiet about all that ok?" Astro yelped. "Let me guess? Reno told you?"
"No..." Zoran replied. "Reno told Kenichi and then Kenichi told Alegio and then Alegio told Abercrombie then Abercrombie told me to tell that you're stupid."
Astro smirked. "That's crombie. Look Sis...do me a favor and don't say anything yet. I might be able to get Atlas to come over our house tonight for a sleepover...our secret ok?"
Zoran almost wet herself, which would be from drool, as she giggled and jumped gleefully at the thought..."ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod...sigh...my big dream...mmmmm...he's such a hunk."
"Ok there Joany Cunningham...chill." Astro replied as he bopped Zoran lightly off the head and pushed her out of the bath room. "I have to talk to Doctor O'Shay. So don't say anything to Nora till I come out."
Astro walked up to the study room doorway and knocked lightly on the door. "Doctor? I'm home." Astro said as he looked at the old man sitting at his desk and reviewing files on his laptop.
"Well..." Doctor O'Shay said as he turned in his chair. "Were you able to find Atlas?"
Astro walked in and slipped into a chair..."Well...that's what I have to talk about. But first? I'm sorry...I lied to you last night."
"How so?" Doctor O'Shay replied.
"I was actually part of the lie." Astro said as he rubbed his head. "You see? I didn't stay over Kenichi's house...I stayed over Atlas's hide-a-way."
Doctor O'Shay cupped his hands on his lap. "I trust you can give me a reason? That was...unorthadox."
"Yeah..." Astro replied. "Actually...you don't know the whole story behind it but... well I think I finally made a breakthrough with Atlas."
Doctor O'Shay looked less than positive. "And I should not be concerned given Atlas's ability to lie and deceive? And by the way? How long did you and Reno believe you could keep things about Atlas a secret?"
"Huh?" Astro replied in shock. "You...know?"
"Astro? I'm the ministry director? It eventually comes my way somehow? Giving Atlas a modification I would never approve of was dangerous...and you violated my trust."
Astro sat almost sniffling..."I'm sorry..."
Doctor O'Shay smiled. "How long do you think I can ever stay mad at you my boy? After all...you seem to have a good winning streak going with your logic functions. A little dangerous and concerning move on your part but..."
"So...you're not angry?" Astro asked.
"Well...I wouldn't say I'm somewhat still concerned about the choice but you seem to do things for good reasons that turn out ok so..." Doctor O'Shay said as Astro got up from his chair and rested his hands on O'Shay's chair arms...
"Ok...then I'm going to ask to do one dangerous and foolish thing...can...can Atlas come over here for a sleep over tonight? I wanna invite Kenichi, Abercrombie and Alegio too." Astro asked..."Please?"
"Now that might be stretching things Astro." Doctor O'Shay replied waving a finger. "There's still plenty of things Atlas would have to do..."
"But I'm real close to turning him around Doctor? If he could realize that he's not alone any more and that he's got real friends? He might stop all the crazy things he does against humans." Astro said with a begging face..."Please Doctor?"
"I need to do something about your devious little face." Doctor O'Shay said as he bumped Astro's nose..."You extortionist."
Astro jumped up and wrapped his arms around the Doctor's shoulders..."I love you Doctor..." Astro said as he snuggled. "I promise We won't destroy the house...well...not too badly."
Astro pulled back and pointed to the door. "I got chores too do so..."
"Astro?" Doctor O'Shay asked.
"Yes Sir?" Astro replied.
"Make sure Zoran doesn't try making a cake for Atlas?" Doctor O'Shay giggled.
Astro shook his head. "Nah...I have to keep her from raping Atlas...that's enough trouble."
"Astro!" Doctor O'Shay replied startled.
"Well come on Doctor...I'm the one to blame for letting her become infatuated with him...then again she did toss him out the picture window so...he might be safe... I dunno." Astro said as he looked at the Doctor and then they broke out in laughter...
"He might not come tonight." Doctor O'Shay laughed.
"If he refuses? I'll drug him." Astro replied.
"Oh...then he'll be really vulnerable." Doctor O'Shay laughed. "Sigh"..."Just be careful Astro...that's all I ask."
"Always." Astro replied as he walked out of the room waving.
An hour later...
It didn't take Astro long to finish his chores for the day. Now he was lying on his bed, playing with his toes as he set his internal radio to call Kenichi...
"Hey Ken?" Astro said as he studied his feet..."I really should have Reno re-design my feet...ugh...they're so tiny..."
"So's your brain." Ken snickered back. "What's up?"
"Hey...can you, Abercrombie and Alegio come over for a sleep over tonight?" Astro asked as he sat up.
"Yeah..." Ken replied. "I'll call everyone else. I just got my allowance so I'll buy the pizza and Alegio can bring some movies."
"Sweet." Astro replied. "Oh? By the way?...Atlas is coming over."
A pause ensued..."Get out of here?"
"Yeah!" Astro yelped. "Isn't that great?! I stayed over his place last night...big breakthrough!"
Ken snorted back..."I'd still watch him like a hawk. Really Astro, He's still capable of being a sneaky little dorkus."
Astro giggled..."Dorkus."
"Astro! I'm being honest here! He really hasn't earned anyone's trust." Ken huffed. "So he saved some firefighters...one thing doesn't make a wolf a puppy in my book."
Astro sighed..."Ken? Please? I need you to be the warm Ken who accepted me in school...it's important...Finding out he has friends is the big push he really needs to come out of his shell...please?"
"Ugh..." Ken replied. "You throw in that cutsie voice and I loose my mind and end up regretting it...but...ok...I'll tell Abercrombie and Alegio to be..."accepting" and "open minded." ok?"
Astro smiled warmly. "You realize how super duper awesome you are Ken?"
"Stop it you con artist." Kenichi giggled back. "We can be there around 6pm?"
"Cool!" Astro replied as he look at his bedside clock. "Gives me time to go and pick up Atlas. We'll see you guys tonight."
Astro slipped on his moon boots and for a moment he thought of what to do before he would go to Atlas's hide-a-way. Grabbing some yen out of a near by kiddy bank, Astro shoved the balled up wad of bills into a pocket and climbed out of his bedroom window.
4:30pm
The Old Nissan Car Factory
Astro popped through the trap door of the loft hide-a-way causing Bender Rodreguez to almost fall of the nearby couch..."Ugh! Don't do that so quickly you little meat-bag tenderizer!"
"Do you always have to be so insulting?" Astro yelped back. "Atlas is here isn't he?"
"Up in his bedroom." Bender snorted. "And keep the prattles down low you hear me?"
Astro chirped back..."Yes Uncle Bender." Before he climbed the stairs up to Atlas's bedroom where he found the red boy bot laying in bed engrossed in a book...
"Hey!" Astro said with a hand wave. "I have good news Atlas. Doctor O'Shay says you're welcome to come over our house for tonight."
Astro then pulled a present from his book bag..."This is for you."
Atlas put his book down and sat up on his bed..."I...don't know if I can go."
"What?" Astro replied. "Of course you can, What do you want to do, stay here all night listening to Bender snort and belch? It's just going to be me, my little sister, Kenichi, Alegio and Abercrombie...you know them? And the Doctor won't call the police. No one's going to hurt you, I swear."
Atlas fidgeted..."You know me? One wrong word and I'll fly right off the handle. I just don't feel comfortable you know?"
"And sitting here by yourself isn't exactly over coming fears." Astro said softly. "Where's the fearlessness? Since when have you ever let anyone scare you into a corner?"
"Hey! I'm not a coward!" Atlas huffed back strongly.
"Then come over to my house?" Astro replied. "This is for you."
Atlas took the small box and unwrapped it to pull out a challenge coin..."How many are in here?" He asked as he started pulling the decorated metal disks out and looking at them...
"Around twenty five." Astro replied. "From Sapporo and Kami-saya. I didn't know if you have those yet in your collection."
Atlas fought to keep from sobbing..."This is too much..."
"No..." Astro replied. "What's too much is you sitting here all alone. I promise nothing bad will happen at my house, the earth's not going to split in half, robots are not going to be enslaved and no one will call you stupid...trust me?"
Atlas put the box down and wrapped his arms around Astro's neck...
"Oh here we go again..." Astro snickered. "Where's the soap? Man you are such a puss bot."
Astro pulled back and took hold of Atlas's hands..."So are you coming or do I have to resort to ropes and chains?"
"Shut up?" Atlas replied as he got up to get a duffle bag."I want to take Pookie if that's ok?"
"Like I'm gonna say no?" Astro replied. "And you don't have to worry about anyone making fun of you. My friends aren't like that."
Half an hour later...
Over Metro City
"Should we stop and order some food?" Atlas asked.
"Covered." Astro replied. "I told Ken to order Uber-Jinos."
Atlas flew a little bit ahead of Astro and turned around so he was flying backwards. "I want the honest truth...you've never had any bad thoughts about me?"
"Not from the beginning." Astro replied. "I mean of course there were times when I was stomping around calling you all kinds of wicked names. Our nanny bot made me eat Dove soap one time because I swore like a machine gun after we had one of those really knock down fist fights."
"So why didn't you ever hate me?" Atlas asked. "The Cocoro? Because seriously? I hated you so bad; I trashed inanimate objects with your name in vain."
"Nope." Astro said as he flew close to Atlas's head. "The Cocoro program had nothing to do with it. I'd say I was highly empathic towards you...I thought you must have been so lonely and beaten to be so angry. I always felt you had good programs inside you...just had to coax them out with the right amount of patience...boy I never knew I had that much."
Atlas smiled..."Did we ever have some serious fights."
"The old woman at the bank?" Astro giggled.
"Oh! Don't even remind me of that silliness!" Atlas yelped.
3 Years earlier
2nd National Bank of Tokyo
Metro City
Astro bounced off the hood of one car, smashing it into a crumpled mess, and slammed the side door of another car so violently that it shot to door through the interior.
Atlas came down to a sliding stop and snatched Astro by an arm as he tried to climb out!
"Don't make me have to destroy you!" Atlas screamed as he flipped Astro over his shoulder and slammed him into the concrete!..
"GET UP!" Atlas screamed..."GET UP YOU LITTLE HUMAN HUGGING BITCH!"
Just as Atlas tried to grab him again, Astro caught him by the arm and punched him quick in the face..."You're not going to destroy me that easily Atlas!" Astro yelped as he pushed himself to his feet and clocked Atlas in the side of the head!
"You're a little slow." Astro snickered.
"I'm just starting." Atlas snorted back.
Just as they were about to lock arms again...someone forced themselves between them..."
"That's enough of this holliganism!" An old woman snapped as she swung a purse on both of the robot boys...
"What the?" Astro yelped.
"Oh what the hell?!" Atlas snapped.
"Little punks! Look at the damage you have caused!" The old woman snapped. "I will tell your parents about this!"
"Miss?" Astro pleaded. "You need to get out of here...seriously!"
"Shut your mouth when your elders speak to you, you little miscreant!" The elderly woman snapped back.
Atlas jumped in front of the old woman and shook a finger at her..."LOOK HERE YOU STUPID FLESH BAG! THIS IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!"
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT!" The old woman yelled back . "YOU NEED TO BE TAUGHT MANORS YOU LITTLE SMART MOUTH!"
Grabbing Atlas by his wrist...the old woman dragged him to a low stone wall, took him over her knees and began to beat his butt!"
"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" Atlas yelped out. He stretched a hand towards Astro "GNAH! DON'T JUST STAND THERE LAUGHING DUMB ASS!"
"I thought you were more powerful than me Atlas?!" Astro said between giggles. "Stop her!"
"What do you think I'm gonna do? Kill her?!" Atlas yelped back. "Old woman! Seriously?! You're spanking me? Like this is gonna solve anything! UGH! People are watching this! Astro?! STOP HER!"
Present time
Atlas was giggling like crazy and slapping his leg as he flying backwards. "That was so stupid! She actually thought she'd turn my butt red!"
"Giggles"..."After a while you looked so un-impressed...I thought you'd fall asleep."
"You egged her on too you creep!" Atlas snapped with an accusing finger.
"Remember that the cops showed up too?" Astro said giggling. "They were laughing so hard they forgot to arrest you."
"That was one of our stupid fights." Atlas said giggling."Then there was the mud bath brawl after Typhoon Shiki two years ago?"
Astro thought..."How many police cars did we trash?
"It gave towashi an excuse to get funding for new cars from the Science Institute too." Atlas huffed. "No one's ever thanked me for the appropriation reason. I thought it was hilarious...we were so caked with mud."
Astro snickered. "I swear some of the police force have a shota fetish. What possessed you to do that sick little dance in front of Inspector Towashi..."Like what you see? I'm so hot covered in mud."...that was sick."
"I didn't say I wouldn't take over Metro City without a sense of humor did I?" Atlas replied smiling. "I got away though."
6PM
Doctor O'Shay's home
Astro came through the front door with Atlas looking wary behind him...
"Relax Atlas...no one's going to jump you..." Astro said calmly...till Zoran came flying down the stairs from the second floor...
"Did you bring him!Did you bring him!Did you bring him!Did you bring him!" She squeeled as she came running up and Atlas almost bolted!
"Squeel!" Zoran scrunched herself into a sort of tight body giggle dance. "He's just so gorgeous!"
Atlas tapped Astro on the head..."Is she having a seizure or what?"
Astro smirked back. "I don't know...I think it's a programming error?"
Suddenly...Zoran reached out, grabbed Atlas's hand and pulled him behind her! "Come on! Come see my room!"
Atlas looked back at Astro with a worry face..."She threw me out a window the last time! What do I do now?!"
"Humor her and you'll be ok!" Astro replied as Kenichi, Alegio and Abercrombie came walking up from the living room...
"Where's Atlas?" Kenichi asked.
Astro smiled. "He just got sucked into the Bermuda Triangle. I don't know if we'll see him again."
end of part 1