4: ANNOYANCE

Astro groaned as he raced down the hall to the cleaning closet. "Orrin?" he called. No response. With another annoyed sigh he sprinted into the cleaning closet, swinging the door open. As he started to grab the sponges and mops, his eyes suddenly widened. "Wait..." he thought, standing. "I have a better idea..."

With a crash of washing liquid, Astro ran into his bedroom instead. He bit his lip, staring out the windows. "Common...common, common..." finally Mr Squeegee and Squeegee Bottle cam into view, sliding soap suds off the glass. Astro leapt over, pulling open the window eagerly. Tenma would be home any second now...

"GUYS, I NEED YOU'RE H-"

"AHHH!" with a startled jolt Squeegee Bottle sprayed right in the robot's eyes.

"OWW!" Astro keeled over, holding his hands over his face. The floating robots gasped and floated over.

"I'm sorry!" the bottle cried, leaning close to his face. Astro rubbed his eyes, straightening up.

"No, it's fine. I just need you guys to clean something up in my kitchen," he asked hopefully.

"We're on it!" with that they left the room, leaving Astro to blindly follow behind. Zoran twirled around and smiled as the two floated in.

"Hey guys!" she laughed. She giggled more as the robot's eyes widened.

"Oh my..." they whimpered at the mess. Astro burst in. They twisted around to him. "You said 'clean something up'..." Mr Squeegee started.

"Not FULLY RE-DECOR A DISASTER SITE!" they both shouted.

"I'm sorry!" Astro scowled at his little sister. "ZORAN, got a little carried away..." she pouted.

"I only wanted to celebrate the new baby sister!" she whimpered. Astro raised an eyebrow.

"You don't even know if it's going to be a girl or boy yet, Zoran."

"It's gonna be a girl!" she yelled.

"Where is Orrin anyway?" Astro asked, changing the subject.

"Charging up." She answered. Astro sighed, looking to the Squeegee pair.

"Guys...could you please give me a hand?" he asked hopefully. The two looked at each other, then nodded.

"Sure."

Thankfully, after about ten minutes, the kitchen was looking clean again. Astro's mind was delightfully put off cleaning by one of Zoran's question wars.

"Why does Orrin have to charge up and not us? Is the Blue Core self sustaining or something? When did it crash to Earth? Why was Dr Elefun so hooked up on something from out of space? Why is EVERY human so hooked up of what's out there? What do you think is out there?" Astro wiped a hand over his face with a groan.

"Make it stop!" Squeegee Bottle screeched.

"Zoran?" Astro asked, looking to her from wiping the counter. She stopped mid question, looking up.

"Hmm?"

"Can't you just let things be as it is?" he asked. She pouted.

"Daddy said great questions equal great answers!" she asked.

"Not when you're asking things that people already know!" he growled. They all froze when they heard the front door open and footsteps enter the house. They gasped.

"Dad's home!" Astro raced out the kitchen.

"Hey!" Zoran ran after, "Wait for me!" as they left Squeegee Bottle huffed.

"Yeah, don't mind us..."

"We're just FINE!"

Astro smiled as he saw Dr Tenma walk down the hall with a smile. "Hey Dad!" he called. Zoran screeched to a stop, bumping into him.

"Hello kids," he said. "Everything alright?" they nodded quickly.

"Yep!"

"Excellent," he said, looking around. "Where's Z?" they both glanced towards the bedroom door.

"Sleeping," Zoran answered. He nodded, pushing past them and walking up to the door. Astro frowned slightly. Doesn't he want to know how the Prom went?

Following his father into the bedroom, Astro smiled with hands behind back. Tenma keeled down to a sleeping Z, softly resting a hand on her head, stroking her hair. "She's been sleeping the whole time?" he nodded.

"Yeah. Dad, she's fine- nothing happened to her..." he mumbled, slightly annoyed at how concerned Tenma was about her when he was the one who almost got blasted out of Metro City that afternoon.

"So are you gonna ask me how the night went?" the man frowned at him, slowly standing.

"Huh?" he said questionably. Astro raised an eyebrow.

"I kinda had a big night tonight," he said, trying not to let the obvious tone seep through. Tenma still stared blankly. "My Prom, dad!"

"Oh!" he realized, stepping out the room with Astro. The boy rolled his eyes.

"Are you kidding me?"

"I never kid, Astro, I just forgot..."

"Forgot one of the biggest nights of my live? And also, I almost got killed!"

"That's nice," the doctor said without thought, walking into the kitchen. Astro scowled, shoving his hands in his pockets and following as the man as he stopped short at the door way. "What are the window cleaning robots doing in our kitchen?" he asked slowly.

"Uhhh, they were cleaning something up," Astro said quickly, stepping into the doorway. He was amazed at how well the kitchen was cleaned. It seemed to sparkle. Tenma glanced to Astro and the floating bottle.

"Could you please...tell them to leave?" he asked awkwardly. Astro looked to Squeegee Bottle.

"Thanks for your help guys! I'm sorry I couldn't help out that much..." Tenma looked to the robots as he heard high beeping in response.

"No, its fine." More beeping. "Sure!" more beeping. "Okay, thanks guys," he finished up, stepping tot he side as they both flew down the hall. With a heavy frown, the man stared at Astro for a long time before turning on his heels and walking back towards the bedroom.

"Well, I'm going to bed now, Astro. Tuck your sister in, will you?" and then he was gone.

Astro frowned, flicking the lights off and walking towards Zoran's room. "Strange..." he mumbled. Reaching the door and hearing the high pitched laughter, Astro entered to see the small robot rolling on the bed with Jump. Smiling, he approached her.
"Okay Zoran, time for bed." The girls face dropped.

"No! I don't wanna!" she pouted, crossing her arms across her chest with a pout. Astro sat on the edge of the spread.

"Common sis, you know you got school tomorrow," he murmured.

"What was up with dad? He seems really...obsessed."

"Dad and Z haven't seen each other for around ten years or so. I can't blame them for being a little attached." Zoran raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not blind, brother. I saw the annoyance in your eyes."

"I'm not annoyed!" Astro said sternly. Zoran snorted.

"Riiigghhht!" Astro pushed her away, causing her to break into a fit of laughter.

"BED," he said, clicking the bedside lamp off and stepping out the room.

Sighing he walked into his own cool bedroom, flinging himself on the bed and pulling out his phone. Flicking through the contacts, he pressed on 'Cora' and sent his text.

ARE U OK?- Astro

He was surprised to have a response almost immediately.

OF COURSE NOT! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO? APPARENTLY I CANT SEE U- Cora

YOU KNOW THATS NOT TRUE- Astro

IS IT?- Cora

Astro took a deep breath.

I'M NOT VERY SURE...WE WILL FIGURE IT OUT TOMORROW AT SCHOOL- Astro

DAMMIT...WE HAVE A SCIENCE TEST, DONT WE?- Cora

I'LL HELP U- Astro

I DONT NEED HELP- Cora

*RAISES EYEBROW*- Astro

SHUT UP- Cora

I MIGHT NEED A LITTLE HELP- Cora

Astro smiled.

JUST AS I THOUGHT- Astro