Colorful Nicknames
Hours of the night burned away with numerous of mechanical duties and long, tedious repairs. Along with the burden of scavenging for useful parts, they could only make do with cheap substitutes. It didn't matter, the customers were rather satisfied with the simplest of spare parts being used. Even though many of the citizens of Robot City were restored from their crumbling state, there a few particular beings who requested an ideal 'upgrade'. Suppose it's more work than anticipated, but at least they'll receive a good reputation.
Piper packed up the remaining tools scattered on the table and placed them in Mr. Hammer's box. She couldn't shield the yawns that constantly escaped from her mouth, "ugh, I so need some beauty sleep." For the past three days she's been helping the crew rebuild broken townspeople by the rise of dawn to twilight.
Thank goodness Mr. Hammer closes on Sundays.
Piper doesn't consider this whole ordeal an obnoxious experience but a good one. She gets to preoccupy herself majority of the time, and then always being beside Rodney… Ugh, just thinking about the guy gives her these mushy chills. Cloth held tightly in her hand, the robot wiped down the oily counters and tables. "Phew! Boy am I tired!" Piper heard Fender exclaim, "I could just drop dead and sleep beneath the ground!"
"Uh, how can you be asleep if you're dead?"
"Dear child, ever heard the meaning eternal sleep? Oops! Sorry, I forgot you're very young." Piper immediately slapped a hand on her hip, "and what's that suppose to mean?" She never understood why everyone treated her like a tween. Sure, she's younger than everyone else but that doesn't exclude her maturity whatsoever! Fender waved casually, "don't look into it too much." He said, "it's adult stuff you won't understand." Piper grumbled underneath her breath as she sprayed cleaner soap on the counters.
Adult her ass.
You know what? Fine, whatever, she doesn't care what Fender nor anyone else thinks about her. "Come on Fender, be nice to your sister. Piper can comprehend many situations, so no need to hide it." Piper glanced at the robot reorganizing the clustered drawers, and sighed. Ever since Rodney came to Robot City, things changed significantly. In the midst of lost and despair, hope has been found through the eyes of Rodney Copperbottom. He brought new insight, skills and being an awesome dude to hang out with…- maybe that's why Piper likes him so much? Nah, everyone knows good looks are the main factor, and then a charismatic personality that Rodney totally carries.
"Pfft, Piper can barely understand adult situations. She's like, the baby in this dysfunctional family. Besides, Fanny would totally have our as- butts if we talk about any of that stuff." Crank explained as he swept the floors.
Piper felt embarrassment seeping through her gears and suddenly wanted to dissemble herself. "Okay, I am not a kid. I experienced many adult things in my teenage years! Just because I'm a girl and young doesn't mean I don't understand anything!" Don't they remember what happened to her all those years previous? They weren't kid friendly, and her school reeks with losers that desperately tries to be wannabe adults. And why did they have to humiliate her in front of Rodney? Now he's going to think of her as some… Some little girl! "Ugh, you know what? I'm so done. I'm out!"
"W-w-what!?" Fender gasped loudly, "a girl like you shouldn't be out at night! Alone and young and innocent!" Great, not this again. "Whatever Fender, I don't care. You keep treating me like a child and I'm sick of it! I'm done here, so I'll see you when I get home." Cloth tossed aside, Piper prepared to leave the store without a second thought- "wait!"
Huh? Piper paused. "I'll go with you…" Honestly, if this whole ordeal about immaturity and kiddishness never happened then Piper would feel incredibly flattered, unfortunately, Rodney just happened to pour water on rusting gears. The girl tsked in annoyance, "save it Rodney. I don't need you or anyone else to baby me."
"No, no, I don't mean it like that. I'm not doing this because you're young." Rodney winced when Piper gave him a tense glare, "I want to walk you home because it's the polite thing to do." He finished with a weak smile.
Is that a backway to imply I'm a kid? She won't look into it much. With a rolling of eyes and a quick snort, Piper motioned Rodney to follow her. Just like a puppy following its master, Rodney gladly complied. "Good night! We will see you when you return home!" Rodney waved at the guys, and Piper tsked. How could someone older than her act so naïve? And these men have the nerve to suggest that she's innocent? Ridiculous. Oh well, no need to become so rusty over it.
The summer air warmed their exoskeletons from the bitter cold inside Mr. Hammer's workshop. Consider Jack Hammer a stingy robot since majority of electricity ranges from rare to completely nonexistent. Hands clasped behind her head, Piper hummed. This is another alone moment with Rodney, which is a total bonus since Thursday. Things racked her brain, begging to question Rodney once more, but Piper withheld it. She didn't need to act like some immature child with a silly crush, "so, uh, do you like it here?"
"Didn't you already ask me that question?" Oh, right, she did. Piper coughed, trying to conceal her second degree embarrassment. "Sorry, I mean, well, I don't really know what I mean. I'm probably repeating myself, but I just wanna know if you really like it here. Seems like you do." Guess it's personal satisfaction? Piper wasn't sure. Maybe she's trying to repeat a sentimental conversation they had previously. Rodney appeared very amused by the question for some weird reason and simply replied, "yeah, I think it's awesome."
Piper nearly choked. Did he say awesome? That's like, teaching a baby new words! "Cool! Glad you like it here. Uh, yeah. Um, do you wanna play 'Twenty One questions' again?" Maybe they can burn time while walking home, and… Possibly become closer? "Okay, but… What will we ask? My questions can be, well, quite boring."
"Eh, it's fine Rodney! Just ask anything and I'll answer it!" What is she saying? Gosh, she's totally sounding like a ridiculous fangirl. They continued to asked the common questions with "how was your day?" and "what's your plan for tomorrow?" Everything seemed casual and Piper knew Rodney liked her questions. Unfortunately, turning around the corner and finding yourself within a sea of darkness could wipe all pleasant emotions. The urge to fawn over Rodney died, soon replaced by inklings of nervousness. Even though Piper's accustomed to the midnight streets, it still bugged her going through dark allies without company. And no, that does not make her a child.
"Piper?"
"What?" She glanced to find Rodney staring at her with his glowing blue eyes. "It's okay," A hand rested firmly on her shoulder, "I'm here with you, and I'll protect you. Trust me." He finished with a grin. Piper wanted to believe him, to reassure herself that she wasn't dumped in a trashcan and left to be scrapped in the pits of darkness. For a split second, she remembered the cold air chilling her gears and stiffening her heater. Alone and uncertain, desperately trying to find her way through the unknown streets.
"… Y-yeah, I guess." The memories Piper shoved within the depths of her subconscious began to whisper, luring the girl in an uncomfortable place she didn't wish to recall. At that moment, she didn't bother for Rodney let alone anything else for that matter.
Cold, abandoned and wasted.
No, let's not focus on that. There's better things to dwell on as of current. "Hey…" Piper blinked back oily tears when Rodney held both of her shoulders and gazed in her dimmed lit eyes. "Are you having flashbacks?" He questioned.
"W-what?"
"Flashbacks. Repressed memories that suddenly appear?" Oh, she understands now. N-not like she didn't previously, but it makes more sense. "Um, yeah, I guess you can say that. It's not that serious, so… No need to baby me." She doesn't need anyone's help in this matter. Besides, why bother? It'll only endorse everyone to treat her like a complete kid and that's the least thing she needs right now. "Piper-"
"Can we get out of this ally? It's freaking me out."
"Oh, um, of course. Sorry." They continued down the dark streets in silence. Suddenly, Piper felt rather ridiculous for responding like a scared little bot, "I'm sorry," She barely says sorry for anything, but it's only her attraction for Rodney and her immatureness is why she even bothered to apologize. Rodney turned to her in a look of surprise, "why? There's no need! I understand your concern. We all have fears… It's nothing to be ashamed of Piper. Oh, look, we're home now." For what seems like eternity, they found rows of tiny houses down the street with bright lights welcoming them instantly. Piper sighed in relief, and then blushed when Rodney smiled at her.
Maybe it's a good thing to bring Rodney with her after all…
"Thanks Rod, really."
"Rod?" Rodney raised an eyebrow at the nickname, almost as if he never heard such thing. "Yeah! Rod, Ro, Roddy. Ever heard of nicknames?" Piper watched Rodney rub the back of his neck in hesitance, "uh, not really. Everyone referred to me by my full name."
"Well then, I'll be the first to bestow you a nickname!" Piper smirked when Rodney blinked in surprise. "I'm going to call you… Rod. Sounds cool, right?" Rodney, or Rod, hummed in thought, and then nodded. "Yes, I seem to like it. But isn't it common to give you a nickname as well?"
"Well, I casually go by Pipe. But you can call me Pip if ya want."
Rod clasped his hands in delight, "then it's settled! I appreciate the nickname, Piper- oh, Pip." He smiled cheekily. Piper returned the haughty gesture, "no problem Rod. Let's go home so we can get Fanny's famous soup! Race you there!" And she took off without warning, receiving a loud "hey!" in return. Laughter jittered her core when Pip glanced over her shoulder, watching Rod catching up to her with speed. Every insecurity Pip felt washed away through the wind and relished the midnight sky that shined above them.
Nighttime isn't so bad after all.