This is a snippet from a longer fic I'm working on, in which Gadget and 14 year-old Penny return to Transylvania to investigate mysterious disappearances. In this scene they're waiting for Brain to come back with help after being trapped in a cave-in. Enjoy!
It was getting darker, and colder.
Penny shivered and Gadget attempted to shift a bit closer without putting any weight on her.
"Don't worry, Penny," said Gadget, trying to sound cheerful but Penny caught the worry in his voice. "We'll get out of here soon. Brain will be back in no time with help, you'll see."
Penny wasn't sure she believed that but she nodded, not wanting to add any more stress and worry.
They were silent for a while, the only sounds the steady dripping of water, rock and dust shifting, and their breathing.
"I love you, Uncle Gadget," said Penny softly. She felt it was important that she say it out loud, just in case.
It was too dark for her to see her uncle's expression but she felt his nose against her hair and then a gentle kiss against her temple. "It'll be alright, Penny. I promise."
The thoughtful gesture brought tears to her eyes, a few slipping down her cheeks that she couldn't wipe away.
"Don't cry," Gadget whispered against her ear, "we'll be fine, you'll see."
Penny nodded, trying to wipe her face against Gadget's arm as more tears slipped down her face.
"Oh, Penny," said Gadget, easily able to see the tears despite the darkness surrounding them. He wanted to pull her into his arms but didn't dare move too much less he caused the shifting rock above them to collapse. But that didn't stop him from comforting his niece, something no amount of machinery could suppress.
"Don't cry," he repeated softly, kissing the tears away despite the dirt streaked across her cheeks.
Penny felt Gadget rest his forehead against her own for a moment, the closest thing he could manage to an embrace given their current positions. The bridge of his long, Roman nose pressed against her cheekbone and she leaned into the touch.
"Uncle Gadget...there's something...I-I need to tell you…"
"Don't talk, Penny. Save your breath."
"But it's important," she mumbled. It was getting harder to breathe and Penny vaguely realized that she was slowly becoming less lucid with the growing lack of oxygen.
The enormous amount of rock Gadget was keeping from caving in on them was slowly crushing them. She had to tell her uncle the truth about his missions.
"Uncle Gadget, I..."
"Stop, Penny," her uncle said, his voice tight with worry. She fell silent - it was too dark to see anyway - and swallowed back a sob. She couldn't believe after everything they had been through together this was how it was going to end. At least Brain was safe, she thought, more tears slipping down her face and streaking down her throat.
"Shh, it'll be alright," Gadget murmured, following the tear tracks with more gentle kisses and caresses as he did his best to comfort his niece. Where was Brain? If they didn't get out of here soon...
No, he wouldn't think about that. He would make sure Penny got out of here no matter what, he silently vowed.
Ever the optimist, Gadget pressed closer to Penny as much as he could given the enormous weight he was struggling to keep from crushing them. He murmured quiet assurances in her ear, echoing his words with gentle kisses and nuzzles against her tear-dampened cheek and throat.
"We're not finished yet, Penny."
And somehow, she believed him.