This prompt was suggested by asta-may for "Backtober to the past" for the prompt "first day at school", and she is credited with the plot. It was a pleasure to write this for you, asta-may. She has Tumblr and DeviantArt accounts under the same username, so go check out her amazing IG and other fanart!

I'm still working on Whumptober2021 prompts so hopefully I can get more stories posted soon, and also continue my WIPs. Happy Whumptober2021!

First Steps

Penny watched the buildings go by as her uncle drove them through the busy morning traffic. She didn't want to go to school - she wanted to stay with her uncle, where she felt safe - but didn't want to worry him. She knew, with the keen intuition that only a child could possess, that he was trying so hard to be perfect. Penny didn't want to worry her Uncle Gadget anymore than he already was. He was already concerned with her lack of sleep and reluctance to be out of his sight. But she couldn't help it. It had been scarcely two years since she had lost her parents and she was already starting to forget things. Penny felt her eyes fill with tears and blinked them away, not wanting to cry on her first day of school.

Gadget cast a worried glance to his five year-old niece before returning his eyes to the road. Penny sat up straight in the passenger seat, her fingers holding on a bit too tightly to the satchel in her lap. She stared out the window as they drove towards her new school, her face grave. He sighed.

Not for the first time that week he silently wondered if this was such a good idea. Penny had been going through a bad patch lately, her sleep plagued by nightmares and suddenly desperately afraid of being left alone, even if only for a few moments. She had been trying to hide the lack of sleep, but the shadows under her eyes were proof enough that she wasn't sleeping.

But still...she was five now, and Gadget couldn't keep her from school no more than he could bring her parents back. He was hoping that starting school would bring Penny out of her shell, make her smile again, but now Gadget wasn't so sure. His coworkers had all said the same thing when he had hesitantly asked for advice on the matter.

"Don't spoil her, no matter what - otherwise she'll walk all over you in a few years!"

"Yeah...it's a shame about her parents, but don't give in every time she cries. She'll get over it."

"And don't let her sleep in your bed every time she has a nightmare...she's five. She's old enough to be on her own."

He had tried to follow the well-meaning advice and had reluctantly left Penny to fall asleep after yet another nightmare. But when his sharp hearing woke him one night and led him out into the hallway outside his bedroom, Gadget had found Penny curled up against the wall, knees pulled up to her chest and her face wet with tears. She had clearly been on her way towards her uncle's room but had stopped halfway, uncertain of her welcome.

Gadget had scooped his shaking niece into his arms without a word, carrying her back to his own bedroom and into his bed. Acting on pure instinct he had pulled Penny as close as he could, wrapping his arms around her and silently rocking her back and forth as she cried herself to sleep.

He hadn't asked for any more advice from anyone since then.

"Uncle Gadget?"

Penny's soft voice brought him back to the present. He shook himself and gave her another smile.

"Here we are, Penny! Your new school," he said brightly as they pulled into the parking lot. He stepped out of the car and walked around to the passenger side to open the door, resisting the urge to help his niece as she hopped down. Even at five Penny was already self-sufficient in so many ways. He watched with fondness as Penny carefully smoothed the folds of her dark skirt, ensuring there were no wrinkles in her uniform.

Gadget closed and locked the door before leading them across the parking lot. When they reached the flight of stone steps that led up to the entrance Penny stopped suddenly. Her fingers tightened on the satchel that she held in front of her almost like a shield. She knew she was being a baby, but she was suddenly so scared and she didn't know why. She told herself to move, to go up the steps, but her feet didn't seem to want to obey her brain.

Gadget caught the eye of the principal whom he had met last week. The elderly woman nodded politely to him before turning to greet another parent. The school's tuition was expensive but worth it, he decided. Penny was so very bright and he wanted only the best for her. He could afford it and considered it money well-spent.

His own school days were a vague memory but Gadget remembered enough. He had enjoyed learning but not school. He had been an awkward youth, too tall and gangly and not quite fitting in with anyone. He wanted something better for his niece.

Gadget suddenly realized that Penny was standing next to him, unmoving. He frowned and placed a large hand on her shoulder. "Penny?"

She didn't answer and a rush of concern filled him. "Are you alright, Penny?" he asked again, kneeling down on one knee so that he didn't tower over her. The cool breeze flapped the sides of his tan jacket open slightly as he knelt. He had asked for the day off and hadn't seen the need to wear his distinctive grey trench coat, instead choosing a more casual (and less recognizable) outfit of a jacket, slacks, and tie. His hat remained firmly on his head despite the gusty wind and he reached out to smooth Penny's hair.

Penny didn't answer, biting her bottom lip in a gesture that Gadget had quickly come to recognize as a sign of anxiety. Her eyes darted from the school doors to her uncle and back again. It didn't take an inspector to figure out the reason for her hesitation.

"It'll be just fine, Penny," Gadget said, carefully smoothing the strands that he had helped brush just that morning. He had even managed to find some white ribbons to put in Penny's hair to match with her blouse. Penny had looked surprised when he had tentatively offered to help her with her hair but had given him a smile that was brighter than he had seen in weeks once he was done.

"I know, Uncle," mumbled Penny, glancing down at her bag before looking up at him. "M'sorry," she said again, suddenly looking miserable. "I'm being a baby."

"No, you're not," said Gadget firmly. He moved his hand from her shoulder to her chin, very gently tilting her face up so she could meet his gaze. "You're very brave, and I'll be right here as soon as that bell rings. Not a second later."

Penny smiled at him through shimmering eyes. "Promise?"

"I promise, and you know Inspector Gadget is never late!" he added. That made her smile widen and he stood, squeezing her shoulder before giving her the slightest of nudges forward.

He watched her go up the steps and when she paused and turned to look back at him Gadget gave what he hoped was an encouraging smile. He watched with pride as she took a deep breath, straightened her back, and walked into the building.

Gadget sighed and turned to walk back towards the car, determined to bury himself in paperwork to make the time go by faster.

To Gadget's immense relief Penny seemed in better spirits when he picked her up from school later that day.

"So, how was your first day, Penny?" he asked once they were home and settled in the kitchen. He didn't want to press her but was anxious to know her thoughts.

"It was okay, Uncle," said Penny, hopping onto a chair. Gadget sat down next to her and set a plate of fresh fruit, cheese, and crackers on the table. Penny's appetite had been off for several days - likely due to nerves about starting school - and he felt a surge of relief as she dug into the snack with gusto.

"But…" she trailed off, looking up at him.

Gadget felt his chest lurch. Had something happened at school? "What?" he said, trying not to sound too anxious.

"I missed you, Uncle."

The tightness in his chest increased momentarily, but for a completely different reason this time. "I missed you too," he said softly. He very much wanted to pull her into his arms but hesitated, still uncertain of both himself and this wonderful, amazing, terrifying new role that he was expected to play as parent.

To his surprise Penny made the first move, hopping down from her chair again to embrace him tightly. Gadget smiled and pulled her into his arms.

That night Penny didn't have any nightmares, but she still stole her way down the hall and into her uncle's bedroom. She curled up against his chest with a contented sigh, smiling as she felt those strong arms wrap around her. Even in sleep Gadget was aware of his niece's presence.

"Love you, Uncle Gadget," she murmured. It was the first time she had said it out loud even though she had loved her uncle from the very first night that he held her in his arms, comforting her as she had wept over the loss of her parents. She just wasn't sure if it was okay to say it to him yet.

Penny felt the slight brush of stubble as he rested his chin on top of her head, caught the warm smell of his soap, and heard him murmur something against her hair.

Smiling, Penny slept soundly that night.