Dr. Kahl stared at the ceiling with his blurred vision, just as he had been doing for the past several hours. Why bother getting out of bed? No one would miss him; isolated in the junkyard, he barely had a presence on Inkwell Isle anyway. What had he ever contributed to the community, to the world? Absolutely nothing. The alarm clock on the bedside table started shrieking in his ear. Having never fallen asleep to begin with, the noise made his head ache. Kahl swatted clumsily in its general direction and heard it hit the floor with a sickening crack. He couldn't do anything right, could he?
A call came from the junkyard outside: "Papa, are you well? I heard a crash!"
The concern in his robot's voice made Kahl feel sick. What kind of father was he, worrying his child like that? A lousy one, that's what.
Giant mechanical eyes peered through Kahl's open window as the robot asked, "Papa, are you having a 'bad day?'"
Kahl needed to get out of bed and tell Junior he was fine. Just a simple movement and a simple sentence, surely even he could handle that. As Kahl swung his legs over the side of the bed, every part of his body seemed to weigh a ton. Finally, he managed to pull himself upright and put his feet on the floor.
Only to step right on a piece of glass.
"Ow!"
Kahl collapsed back onto the bed, blood oozing from his foot. Outside, he saw the robot's stiff expression shift to fear. Junior started running off, yelling, "Do not worry, Papa, I will get help!"
Kahl wanted to shout to Junior not to bother, he wasn't worth it, but all he could manage was a strangled sob. Moses, he was such an idiot! Even worse, he was a terrible father, always messing up and setting a bad example, making his child have to take care of him.
Driving his child to make a deal with the devil.
Intrusive thoughts clouded his mind. He didn't deserve Junior's love, he couldn't do anything right, why even bother trying, he's worthless—
"Doctor?"
An accented voice broke through Kahl's spiral of misery. He squinted and managed to make out Werner, standing on the cat-bot's head to be able to peer into his window.
Great, now his only friend was going to see him looking absolutely pathetic.
Werner climbed into his bedroom, glass from the shattered clock face crunching under his boots. He looked at Kahl for a moment, then turned away. Kahl felt shame flood through him and dropped his head. Werner must think he's pitiful.
Suddenly, he felt a hand on his chin. Kahl allowed his head to be raised, and felt his glasses being slid onto his face. In front of him, Werner came into focus. The soldier wore a gentle expression, softer than Kahl had ever seen him look.
"Doctor, let me help."
Before he could stop himself, Kahl launched forward and grabbed his friend tightly around the middle. He felt Werner's strong arms wrap around his shoulders, and a hand start running through his hair. Distantly, Kahl heard the soldier reassuring Junior and sending them away, but all he could think about was that Werner hadn't left him, that Werner wanted to help him, and he knew he didn't deserve his friend but he was so grateful anyway.
By the time the two separated, Kahl's foot had begun to throb with pain, causing him to grimace. Werner quickly brushed the remaining glass out of the way and knelt on the floor in front of Kahl, first aid kit in hand. With great care, he examined the injury.
"The foot, he is not so bad. I can fix. But there is another problem, ja?"
Kahl winced, but nodded.
"Yes, I suppose there is."
"I know not, if that I can fix. But if you speak, I will listen."
After a moment's hesitation, Kahl let the dam break. He whispered, "I just feel like I can't do anything well enough. I want to be the father Junior deserves, but I mess up so much..." He trailed off.
"I think, that this way all parents feel."
"Really?"
Werner chuckled and said, "My mother and father had eight children. Many mistakes happened. Effort, it is the important thing."
"But Junior sold their soul to the devil! They told me they wanted to make me happy by becoming more human. If I had only told them how proud I was of their progress already, or said 'I love you' more, or was just a better father—" Kahl broke off, too upset to speak.
"They made a bad choice, but that only because of the devil happened. You, not guilty."
"Then why do I feel so awful about myself?" Kahl asked, his voice so quiet it was almost inaudible. Werner gave a sympathetic hum.
"Doctor, sometimes the mind, it tells us we are bad. Sometimes we agree. But you are not bad—come and look."
At that point, Werner finished bandaging Kahl's foot. He took the doctor's arm and led him over to the window. Outside, they could see Junior playing with the cat-bot, a smile on their metal face.
"Junior loves you" said Werner. "You built a robot that thinks and feels, and they chose to love you. That is something very wonderful, and I say it makes you wonderful also."
Junior caught sight of the two in the window and waved excitedly. Kahl waved back, his heart beginning to feel lighter. Next to him, Werner murmured, "I also say, you are important to me. If that helps."
Kahl turned and looked at Werner for a moment, then pulled him into an embrace.
"It does. Thank you, Werner. Thank you for everything."