Phineas got up early the next morning and headed to the workshop. He was gathering supplies to make revelry decorations, and may have been a bit over excited.
"Might want to slow down there, Bobble. Don't want to have another accident, do we?"
He felt his jaw clench. "I'm fine, thank you Dozer." He said flatly. He continued setting up his and Clank's work stations while Dozer lingered close by. Phineas kept having to maneuver around him, getting more and more annoyed. He'd set down the last of the supplies and could still feel Dozer watching him.
He heaved an annoyed sigh and turend to him. "Do you need something?"
"Not really." Dozer said smigly. "I'm just waiting for the new guy. I never got to meet him yesterday."
"Oh." Phineas said, turning back to his table. "Well he's not here yet."
"Of course he's not." Dozer shrugged.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Phineas demanded.
"Look, Bobble, you can't see anything, so I'm not surprised you missed this, but I saw you two working yesterday." Dozer said "And that new guy… Well, he really seemed like he wanted to get away from you. Y'know. Work with someone who can actually DO their job."
"I do my job better than you!" Phineas snapped, slamming his hand on the table.
"So you think." Dozer shrugged. "But don't be surprised if the new guy doesn't show." Phineas scowled at him. "and don't give me that look. I'm only telling you so he won't have to see you cry. Trust me. It's better this way."
"He'll be here" Phineas stated firmly. "I'm not falling for your tricks, Dozer."
"Don't say I didn't warn you." Dozer shrugged, hovering off the ground. As he flew away he called back "Try not to cry too hard, Bobble."
Phineas held back a frustrated scream and grabbed one of his projects. He tilted the large lens and got to work while he waited for Clank.
It got late in the morning and Phineas had constructed five decorative lanterns. Clank still wasn't there, and Phineas grew concerned. He decided to go look for him and headed towards the houses. Along the way, he ran into Fairy Mary.
"Have you seen Clank?" he asked her.
"No dear, I haven't. I thought he would be with you." She replied. "Is everything alright?" She could see the concern written all over Phineas.
"I'm sure it's fine." Phineas sighed, not sure he believed himself. "he probably just overslept."
"Well go wake him up then." Fairy Mary waved him off.
Phineas made his way to Clank's house, but he didn't answer when he knocked. He opened the door. "Clank, are you here?" He looked around, but the house was empty. He ssuddenly felt cold, as if a part of him had dropped out of his chest and replaced with ice. He took a deep breath to calm down. This didn't mean anything. Clank was probably waiting for him at their station. They probably just missed each other in passing.
He flew back to the workshop in a hurry. Best not to keep Clank waiting. He hoped Clank would be waiting. "Stop that, Phineas." He said to himself. "of course he is."
"Does this look alright?" he overheard as he was flying, making him stop in midair. He knew that voice. He took his hand lens from his belt and looked toward the voice and let out a hurt gasp.
"No no no! That's all wrong!" Dozer scolded and took the odd object from Clank.
"Oh. Can you show me again?" Clank asked.
The lens slipped from Phineas's hand. He flew back to his station, feeling twice as heavy. So Clank did want to work with someone else after all. He weakly kicked the table and suddenly felt angry. Well now he was stuck working with the worst Tinker he'd ever met, so it serves him right.
He dropped into his chair and continued on the lanterns. He tried not to think about Clank, but found it difficult. He seemed so happy yesterday. So kind, So eager to work, so eager to learn, so excited to work with him on revelry preparations. How could Phineas have misunderstood? Was he really that blind?
As lunch time drew near, Phineas recrafted his hand lens to go find something to eat. It wasn't as good as the one he'd dropped before, but it would do for now.
"Hey Phin!" Fawn flew up to him as he left Tinker's Nook. "Are you okay? You look upset… Hey, where's Clank?"
"With Dozer." Phineas answered sourly.
"What? Why?" Fawn gasped.
"I guess he wanted to work with a Tinker who can see."
"That's ridiculous!" Fawn said. "I'm so sorry, Phin. You want to come have lunch with me?"
He nodded. "I'd like that a lot."
They flew off to the meadow together where Fawn gathered some berries for them. They sat together in the tall grass and were joined by three chipmunks who Fawn had collected hazel nuts for.
"So Clank's working with Dozer now, huh?" Fawn said.
Phineas nodded. "Aye, seems that way. Would have been nice if he had talked to me first."
"He didn't even say anything to you?"
"No," Phineas said shaking his head. "I just found him working with Dozer even though I got his station all set up for him."
"This all seems so weird. You two were so happy and excited yesterday. Did anything happen after dinner?"
"Not that I can think of." Phineas sighed. "Dozer just told me this morning that Clank didn't look happy to be working with me, and that I was just too blind to see it."
"Wait," Fawn said. "Dozer said that? You sure this isn't just some trick of his?"
Phineas chewed his berry for a moment. "That's probably what's happening." He said. "Ugh, and I said I wouldn't fall for his lies, and yet here I am. I'm such a fool."
"Hey, don't worry about it too much, Phin." Fawn smiled, placing her hand on his shoulder. "At least you and I got to hang out. Just enjoy lunch with me now, and go talk to Clank later. I'll bet he's been wanting to see you all day."
"Thank you Fawn." He smiled.
When they had finished their lunch, Fawn flew with Phineas back to Tinker's Nook. "Good luck with Clank!" she said before flying off. He kept his ears open for Clank's voice as he made his way back to his station, but didn't hear or see him or Dozer anywhere. Assuming they were still on lunch break, he made his way back to his station. He was surprised to find his work pushed back and his hand lens on the table with a note underneath it.
Dear FinyFini Bobble,
Sorry I was such a burden yesterday. I'll leave you alone. I learned a lot from you. Thank you.
-Clank
I found your bubble thingy. I hope I fixed it right.
Phineas dropped the note and picked up the hand lens. The frame had been broken off and reattached to the handle. Phineas tugged it a little bit to make sure it was secured properly and smiled at Clank's handiwork.
"Well done, Clanky." He said quietly and got back to work.
Time got away from him as it tended to when he got focused on Tinkering. He made sixteen lanterns two pollywog tubs and nine acorn buckets. He was about to start another project when Fairy Mary called out to him.
"Phineas, dear. You've missed supper again." She said
He looked up, surprised at how dark it had gotten. "Again?" he sighed. There were plenty of times he had forgotten to go eat supper.
"Yes dear. It's time to stop for the day."
"Aye, alright." He started cleaning up, frowning a little. He had meant to watch for Clank's return. He must have been so absorbed in his work that he'd missed it entirely.
He hurried to Clank's house when his station was clean and knocked on the door. There was no answer, and no one ws inside when he peered through the window. Determined not to miss Clank again, he sat down in front of the house and waited. He was probably having supper somewhere. Phineas's stomach growled. Right, he hadn't eaten yet. He was tempted to go find something to eat, but forced himself to stay put and wait for Clank.
"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow." A tired voice said from nearby. Phineas sat up straighter, recognizing it as Clank. A moment later Clank flew over the hill towards his home and his face lit up when he spotted Phineas.
"Bobble!" he flew up to him and hugged him.
Phineas was surprised by the enthusiastic greeting, but hugged Clank back all the same.
"I'm so sorry!" Clank said. "Can I please work with you again tomorrow? I'll try harder! I promise!"
"Clank, slow down." Phineas laughed, pushing away from him. "Did Dozer tell you I didn't want to work with you?"
Clank nodded. "Yeah, he said I kept messing up and that you'd rather work alone than clean up after me."
"I never said that." Phineas assured him. "Besides, your work was impeccable. No need for me to clean up after you. To tell you the truth, Dozer told me that you didn't want to work with me either. He told me you wanted to get away from me yesterday."
"No! That's not true!" Clank shouted. "I never…"
"I know, Clanky. Don't worry about it." Phineas said, patting Clank on the shoulder. "The thing is, Dozer has never really liked me very much. The girls call him a Sour Grape. He goes out of his way to make things hard for me. Unfortunately that probably means he'll lie to you too."
"Why does he do that?" Clank asked.
"I have no idea." Phineas sighed.
"Okay, Bobble." Clank said. "I'll watch out for him."
Phineas hesitated. "Um. One more thing, Clank."
"What's that?"
"Don't call me Bobble."
