Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/Holidays! Here's chapter 2! This chapter is a little bit shorter than the first one, but currently fits my requirements of a minimum 2.3 to 2.5k words. Hopefully you enjoy the chapter!

Shout out to my beta, sarasanddollar!

Chapter 2. Intruders and Sleep

As the Observants floated in, Clockwork quickly masked their glare into a neutral frown and subtly switched out the scythe for the staff. Leaning against said staff, they quirked an eyebrow waiting for the Observants to convert their thoughts into speech.

"Must you look like that every time we swing by your tower?" One asked. Of course, the eyeballs just had to comment about they looked. How predictable.

Clockwork's frown deepened"Well I deeply apologize if I don't look all that prim and proper, running around on dozens of missions from your thankless employers can do that to you. Then again, I didn't think you would know," they snapped out, smirking when one of Observants narrowed its eye in annoyance, "In fact, I was just about to take a nap when you unexpectedly rang. Have you heard of scheduling meetings beforehand, or is that a revolutionary idea that's too modern for my favorite employers to grasp?"

Clockwork smirk grew when both Observants narrowed their eyes. "Is this what we have to deal with every time we come here? Disrespect from an overgrown child who doesn't know how to respect his elders?" One of them asked the other. "I wonder if it's just too much to ask for a shred of respect from someone who claims to be the all powerful Time Master?"

"The boy has grown too rebellious, that I know." Observant number two stated, "Perhaps it's time for him to learn his role again."

Their smirk fell upon hearing the he reach their ears. Shifting into their child form, Clockwork hovered in front of the two ghosts. "If you ever paid attention to anything pertaining to my overall being, I have a child form, so expect some childishness. Also consider perhaps if you had done what your responsibilities had entailed, then I wouldn't be as such an 'overgrown child who can't be bother to respect their elders. Besides, I never gave myself that pompous title, you did." The Time Master lowered their hands, "I'm not a he, I'm a they." Floating away from the two, Clockwork swung their staff in a bored, irritated manner. "You came in my tower for a reason. What is it?"

"Straight to the point, are we?"

'The quicker I can give you what you want, then the quicker you can leave. The quicker you leave, the quicker I can deal with this intruder, and the quicker I can take a nap. This is something you fail to understand.'

"I just love to give my employers whatever they need," came the acidic reply. "It absolutely gives me immense joy seeing their needs are fulfilled instead of my needs that allow me to barely keep functioning."

"We need the reports of your mission by tomorrow morning."

"That quick?" Deadpanned Clockwork. "I don't think you understand how long it takes me to write a single report, and that's when I'm not procrastinating or fulfilling basic needs like eating or sleeping. Five hours, and that's just for the draft! Because my fabulous employers take nothing less than perfection, it takes another three to write the whole damn thing. Twelve missions multiplied by the eight hours it takes to write it is ninety-six hours. Four entire days to write twelve bloody reports."

"Tomorrow morning."

"I don't think you understand so I'll repeat myself in more layman terms. I can not and will not make myself finish twelve reports. By tomorrow morning you can have two and a half, but not twelve," Clockwork asserted firmly, "Knowing you and the Council, you all might decide it would be a fantastic idea to send me out on yet another mission."

The two Observants widened their eyes hearing their employee's disrespect and blatant lying. Surely, Clockwork couldn't have thought this was true?

"Name one time we've done such things."

Clockwork was silent.

"Are you unable to think of such moments?" Number 2 had asked, a smug, haughty smirk taking over its face.

"Do you want that list alphabetically or chronologically?" Clockwork spat out suddenly, "Would you also like a list of the resulting side effects because of these actions? If you really want to know, then you should take a seat, it'll take a while to explain every single one of them."

A purple couch was summoned as Clockwork sarcastically gestured to it.

'Clockwork what in the hell are you doing? Shut up, at this rate, they'll never leave, it'll take longer to deal with this intruder and less sleep for you.'

"I don't think any person would want to be in the same room as you with such a disrespectful attitude coming from you, young man."

"I didn't want to be in the same room as my employers who consistently overlook my needs for their own ridiculous and petty ones, but what do you know? No one gets what they want!"

"Clockwork."

"No!" They snapped, "I don't care! I honestly don't care what you think! I just came home from those godforsaken missions, my body hurts and I want to rest! Get out!"

"CLOCKWORK!"

They're using that voice against them but the Time Master is too blinded by their rage to pay too much attention. "I don't care if you want to shout my name like the guardians you should have been. Don't come by my tower until I get these reports done, now get out."

Despite the generalized idea that the Observants were idiotic eyeballs who couldn't do a thing to help themselves, they were smart enough to know when Clockwork was too emotional to speak rationally.

"Fine," one of them said, "We'll leave you alone."

"I won't be satisfied until you observe my door," Clockwork spat out.

Clockwork watched as the two Observants floated out the tower, relief washing over them as they used their telekinesis to shut the door. Ready to deal with their intruder, they turned around only to see that the girl had found her way to them.

"Have those green Unowns left?" She asked uncertainly, looking around them to see the door was closed. The girl had let out a deep breath before looking up at the Time Master, "They have. Thank god! Their voices were really grating on my ears."

"Their voice would grate any person with common sense," Their deep voice rumbled out, still bleeding with irritation.

The girl gave a cheeky grin. "Good thing I have common sense right?" Sobering up, yet still wearing that grin, she extended her hand out towards Clockwork. "I think we got off on the wrong foot earlier. My name is Star Lewinski."

Clockwork hesitantly shook Star's hand. "As you've already guess, I'm Clockwork, all powerful Master of Time."

"Why are you using a title you're obviously uncomfortable with?" Star asked, tilting her head in curiousity.

They shrugged, "I hate the title, but what can I do? Been doing it for a while," 'Ever since I was created,' "so it becomes habitual. Don't think for a second that this is going to get you out of trespassing in my tower."

"In my defense, I knocked on the door. I may or may not have have messed with the doorknob, but I am telling you the truth when I said that the door opened on its own."

Clockwork folded theirs arms, not impressed by the girl's lies. "Doors don't magically open for anyone."

Oh. So they decided to fold their arms, two can play at that game. "Doors aren't supposed to floating, the sky should be blue not green. Life doesn't really live by our expectations. Do I need to go on?" Seeing Clockwork stunned into silence, she smirked. 'Star: one, Clockwork: zero.' "Anyways like I was saying, I really wasn't trying to break into the Citadel. I was messing around with the door to see if it was locked, and voila, door opens."

She manages to get an annoyed eye roll from the Time-Master. "Yes, and I'm the Queen of England," came the dry reply.

"Are you really that caught up to the point you haven't bothered to wonder why there's a human in the Ghost Zone? Or how I made it all the way to your tower? When I obviously don't have ghost powers?"

As much as they hate to admit it, the girl- Star - does make a good point. Raising an eyebrow in interest, they spoke, "I must admit and I am impressed that a human such as yourself has made it all the way to my tower. How did you do that?"

Now the conversation was starting to go in Star's favor, "I shall tell you a tale of woe-"

"I'm exhausted, just tell me the damn story."

"Sheesh, excuse me. I was just trying to lift the mood."

"Well do it next time when I haven't just come home from twelve missions and haven't seen a bed in weeks. Now, tell me the story."

Star averted her gaze from the Time Master. "Grouchy," she muttered.

"I heard that."

"If you heard it, then you should quit being a grouch. Simple as that," said Star, who then looked at Clockwork and grinned like a madman. "You asked for a story? A story you shall get!"

Clockwork groaned, "By the Ancients, I just want to sleep."

It takes less than 10 minutes for Star to tell her story. It would have been five if it wasn't for Clockwork needlessly interrupting the teen. She finishes, placing her hands in front of her with a pleased grin. "And that, my dear Dialga, is how I found my way here to your tower."

Clockwork raised a finger, then lowered it, apparently lost on what to say next. "What's a Dialga?"

"You don't know Dialga?" Star hissed out, "What's next? You'll say you don't know who Pikachu or Charmander are!"

"I'd hate to upset you but I have no idea who or what any of those things are."

Clockwork could only watch as the teenager twitched; tilting their head to the side in confusion, "Star?" They poked her, beginning to grow worried when she hadn't responded. They poked her second time, hiding a chuckle when Star swatted their hand away.

"Question: do you think you can help me get home?" Star had asked suddenly.

"Unless you want to go home with half of you in your room, the other half floating around in the Ghost Zone, waiting to be devoured by some of the less sentient beings, then no not tonight. Tomorrow morning," Clockwork answered, twirling their staff and sending it away, a small sign that they felt comfortable in the girl's presence.

They hid a smirk seeing Star recoil back in disgust. "Merlin no, I'd rather not get splinched by a sleep deprived Time Master. Tomorrow morning, that sounds doable," Star hummed in agreement. "Wait! You have those reports to do!"

"..."

"Please tell me you haven't forgotten that quickly Clockwork."

"..."

'They have.' "Oh my god you have."

"No? I haven't?" protested Clockwork.

"I have a strong feeling you're like Kwan: a hot mess."

"In my defense, I'm exhausted."

Star shook her head in shock. Just how exactly is this ghost functioning? "Clockwork, how in the hell are you able to form any coherent sentence?"

"Spite. Lots of spite."

Star eyed the Time Master oddly as they shifted into their child and elderly forms. "I think you've been filled with too much spite."

"What makes you say that?"

"You're changing forms." Star explained, grabbing hold of Clockwork when they shifted into their child form again. "By the way, you look absolutely adorable when you're like this," she poked the tiny Time Master's cheeks, suppressing a laugh when they puffed their cheeks in irritation, shooting her their most deadly glare but ultimately failing since Star only laughed at Clockwork's attempts to be threatening. "You aren't really that threatening in this form. Now that I think about it, you aren't a threat to me at all." Clockwork's adorable glare deepened, causing Star to squeal even more. She felt their tail wrap itself around her arm, her grin growing even larger. Defeated, the Time Master yawned, tiny hands stretching out to cover their mouth and rubbing tired red eyes. Instinctually, Star laid their head against her chest, softly humming one of her favorite songs, and rocked the small Time Master until she heard their breathing still.

"No one shall make them afraid, they'll be safe in the nation we've made." She hadn't meant to sing aloud. Looking down, she saw that Clockwork was still sleeping, their hands wrapped around her waist, head resting on her chest and a miniscule smile gracing their features. Checking to see if they were still holding onto her, she snaked her one of her arms from around Clockwork and ran her hand through their hair from under their hood. Seeing that the Time Master hadn't budged, she continued to stroke their hair, her own content smile coming about.

A knock at the door brought her out of her Clockwork-induced trance. "Clockwork? Clockwork?"

'Not again.' she thought irritably, briskly walking from the center of the tower as fast as she can while safely carrying the sleeping Time Master. Star sharply turns down an empty hallway, her blond hair swinging around her shoulders, accidentally swatting Clockwork in the face. Clockwork shifted around before going still once again.

"Clockwork?"

She- they - still aren't safe. Her pace quickens, she's determined to keep walking until she can't hear those mutated Unowns shrill, obnoxious voices stinging her ears. She turns down another hallway, remaining oblivious to the decay eating away at the walls, dried ectoplasm splattered across the hall. Clockwork stirs, their face scrunching up in pain, a small groan coming out.

"It'll be fine Clockwork, just bear with me," she mumbled out in an attempt to comfort them.

She continues twisting and turning down the halls until finally she finds a wooden door. Opening it, she quickly stepped inside and gently closed the door behind her. A quick sigh of relief escapes as she slid down the wall; still holding Clockwork to her chest, she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to take over.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! I am a little worried about the pacing of Kinetic Potential, more so if I was going too fast or too slow. Also, I'm currently trying to work on sorting out kinks with ffn since they wont post my actual cover for the fic. :| Chapter 3 is in progress and it's pretty likely I won't get the next chapter out before New Year's so have a Happy New Year's.

Please read and review! Feedback is greatly appreciated!