Lee shifted uncomfortably, finding a seat on his couch. Brawn, however, remained standing. Standing a little close to Lee. Near contact. The Squid Sisters sat next to Lee, putting themselves in front of him.
"Your plans of defense are pitiful. If I desired entity Lee's death, I would have achieved it by now. For the time being, I will make peace with the human. You are not required to enjoy my presence, but understand that your fear, though reasonable, is unnecessary. My purpose is to keep entity Lee safe. If you are lucky enough to fall under that category via entity Lee's actions, you have approximately no worries." Brawn told Callie and Marie.
It would seem Brawn is trying to create a truce. A terrible one at that.
Marie responded, "Gee, thanks. Made me feel a whole lot better." Callie's response, however, was more childish than sarcastic.
"Listen, Butt-Bot-"
"Brawn-Bot." Brawn corrected.
"Butt-Bot," Callie restated, "We don't care about your plans, your missions, or whatever. You may think you're protecting Lee, but all you've done is endanger him. Keep the protection duties to the profreshionals."
"...Professionals."
"Meh. Tomato, Splatato."
"Look, inkling," Brawn impatiently demanded, "Your quarrels with me and my actions of late do not concern me. Just know that I'm here to do what I need to do. No living creature will stop me."
"And just why are you protecting me? And why now? Coulda used some help 3 years back." Lee told Brawn.
"As I have stated previously, entity Lee, I was not activated until this very day. I know not who or what activated me, but I do know I have been activated. Activated to fulfill my duty to Mr. Commons. I was created to protect you and that is what I shall complete to our last, dying breaths."
"But...you're a robot...you don't breathe."
"Exactly." Brawn whispered to Lee.
"Tch! Fine. 'Protect me' then. As long as you don't interfere with my daily life or hobbies, I couldn't care less." Lee said.
"Unfortunately for you, any and all 'hobbies' you perform will be under my supervision as to ensure no injuries are sustained. Your daily life as of late is in no need of extra guarding. The lifestyle you live is nearly optimal according to my standards."
Lee ignored Brawn's unintentional burn and asked, "Oh yeah? ALL my hobbies?"
Brawn approached Lee, shoved both hands beside Lee's head, and clarified, "ALL. A, L, L, PERIOD."
"...No. No! No, no, no! A thousand times no! You aren't thinking of watching me use the bathroom, are you?!"
"It is all in the name of protection, entity Lee."
"And when privately talk to-"
"Affirmative."
"Or when I wash-"
"Affirmative."
"...Even when I."
"Oh ho ho ho...Affirmative."
"That's crossing the line!" Callie exclaimed.
"You can't just force yourself into everything he does!" Marie added.
"On the contrary, inklings, I can and will force myself into everything he does. This is the only way to ensure maximum protection." Brawn explained.
"You're nuts! You're not gonna-"
Just then, Callie's phone rung throughout the room. She pulled out her phone and saw Sheldon calling her.
"Sheldon? Now?! What does he want?" She asked.
Answering, she put the phone up to her ear.
"Callie! You need to get to the set now! A robot landed in the plaza not too long-"
"Sheldon. We know. We were there."
"R-Really? Did you at least get any footage? Please tell me you got footage!"
"No, Sheldon. I didn't even take pictures."
"GOD...DAMNIT Callie! You were there but didn't get shit?! What kind of reporter witnesses groundbreaking history in the making without any sort of proof?!"
"Calm down, pipsqueak. I can get photos. No biggie."
"You'd better. Get the photos, get Marie, and get your tasty asses to the studio, please!"
Callie sighed and took a couple quick photos of Brawn.
"Alright, Marie. Duty calls. We've got to go give an emergency news update."
Marie groaned, "Of course. On our off day, too. Thanks a lot, Brawn-Bastard."
"You are welcome, inkling."
"Stay strong, Lee. We'll be right back." Callie said.
With that, the Squid Sisters rushed out of the door, leaving Lee and Brawn behind. Not the best situation, but definitely not the worst situation.
"Brawn...I gotta..go."
It is now the worst situation.
"Then let us go."
"No, Brawn. Can't you just...wait outside the bathroom door instead? I gotta piss and I don't want you looking." Lee said.
"Negative, entity-"
"Stop saying 'entity' before addressing me or anyone else. It's getting annoying."
"Very well. It matters not anyways. Lee. I will not let you out of my visual, mechanical receptors. At any given moment, you could be attacked or become ill or make a fatal miscalculation or even-"
"You can't baby me you metal bastard! I've been in the greatest war this nation has ever witnessed, fought and won in. I can take care of myself. Whether or not my adoptive father thinks so."
"Your adoptive father was the greatest, most cognitive human in existence, Lee. Do not disrespect nor disobey these broad, yet obvious orders handed down from him to I."
Lee tenses in his seat.
"It's not like he'd want my free will taken from me." He muttered.
"I conclude that, to Mr. Commons, your life is worth far more than your opinion. Even if said life has shown little merit." Brawn coldly stated.
The silence, nearly as thick as steel, kept Lee from prattling on.
"I can hold your genitalia while you go if it pleases you."
"Oh shut up."
Lee stood from his seat and walked towards the downstairs bathroom. Followed by Brawn, he entered the bathroom, lifted the toilet seat, but could not pee.
"Is there something amiss, Lee?" Brawn asked.
"Yeah, you. Can you back up?" Lee answered.
"Negative. This distance is optimal for preventing potential injury and would provide the best angle of defense against any threats. This angle is also optimal for viewing your meat appendage."
"What?! You better not be looking at my dick!"
"It's all in the name of protection."
"From what?! What, am i gonna jerk myself to death out of spite?"
"...Possibly."
"Stop looking!"
Brawn placed a cold hand on Lee's shoulder and said, "This would go faster if you complied."
Lee heavily sighed and focused back on trying to pee. Feeling Brawn staring intently at his junk, he uncomfortably stood still as nothing came out.
"Your flesh cylinder is rather...petite." Brawn snickered.
"OK THAT'S IT! I CAN HOLD IT!" Lee yelled as he ran out the bathroom.
"Come now, Lee. Withholding urine is dangerous to one's health."
"You stay the fuck away from me!"
Lee ran upstairs as Brawn raced up after him. Brawn easily slipped by and beat him up the stairs.
"Excreting or not, you will remain under my supervision. I thought I was very clear with that. Please do not try to run from me in such a manner again. The consequences would make you wish it were fatal."
Brawn's violet, digital eyes pierced through Lee's soul. Lee regretfully shuddered as Brawn grabbed him by his collar so fast, it was singed almost completely through. Burn marks and hole peppered his collar as he was dragged back down the stairs. Brawn set Lee back on the couch.
"No more games. This is going nowhere. You will do as you are told or you will suffer repercussions." Brawn told Lee.
"Lighten up. What do you have to protect me from? No one in Inkopolis is a threat to me except for you. Who's gonna kill me?" Lee questioned Brawn.
"You certainly haven't forgotten about the threats in the past, have you? From what I've gathered, both threats you've faced have escaped and are far more deadlier than you are. At any given moment, they could strike and kill you. Personally, you give me nothing to care for nor respect as of late. I am more or less babysitting for my creator. Whether you get stronger or not, you aren't invincible and should these threats come back, no one but me will be able to save you."
Brawn's explanation reminded Lee he couldn't possibly face Xavier nor Octavio without his powers. He realized he really needs Brawn. Even if Brawn is the Führer of all Fun Nazis, he'd be the only thing keeping Xavier and Octavio from destroying him. Lee sagged his head downwards pathetically.
"...Fine." He whispered.
"What was that, Lee?" Brawn asked.
"Fine! I hate to admit it...but I don't stand a chance without my Dark Powers. I'm just like any other human that's lived before me...If you can help me against Xavier and Octavio, then I can deal with you...for now. As long as you don't stop me from training."
"I see no reason in preventing you from training as long as this training does not cause concerning injury."
"Ok...maybe this can work."
"It'll have to, Lee. As long as we understand that you cannot be put in harm's way, we can begin to work together."
Lee scoffed and said, "I don't know about working together, but something similar."
"This is sufficient enough."