[Pre A/N: So it looks like i can never help myself. Welcome to another dumpster. This one is for the WALL-E fanfics that don't fit the criteria for the other two, but happen in the same 'universe' (as in i talk about the other fics sometimes). So we'll have random combinations of characters interacting, maybe even some theory type shit, i'm not too sure. You probably already know that this is gonna be bad.
A/N: GO-4 Unit 2 is my fancharacter and i love him to bits. It sucks that he's just a different GO-4 (because i don't really like that design out of all of the robots) but that's just how it is. Cheap, not creative, but it's what we're dealing with here. And you know what we do to things we're dealing with.
Not too sure how this sits in with "Reunion," but whatever. Also "the scene" took me forever to get through bc i fell asleep literally every chance i got to write it. Sorrysorrysorry!!!
TW/CW: sunset, workaholic, spending time alone, taking a break, loneliness, watching others make friends, little bit of sadness??? Tiniest bit of jealousy, uncertainty about self, oh my god i need a therapist, anxiety, stress, insecurity, exhaustion, chit chat, friendship, spending time together, explaining concepts, nerves, crushes, little apologies, confessions, hugging, robot kisses]
GO-4 Unit 2 always had a lot of work to do here on Earth. From the basic maintenance for the robotic things that were stuck on the Axiom, to full on reprogramming of the robots that were fitted to work in various parts of the colony, there was always something that needed to be done. As the overseer of all of the technological systems maintenance for the robots, he didn't always have to be present for things to actually happen; but as a dedicated and passionate robot, he always made sure that he was. There were only two times that he would allow one of the mechanic robots to take charge: when it was a repeat of a simple repair, and a few minutes each day at sunset.
He only allowed himself a maximum of ten minutes to watch the sun go down. Usually he would settle for less, as he was really only interested in watching it fall below the horizon. And sometimes he wouldn't even bother, like when it was wet outside or when he just had too much work to get done before he ran out of energy for the day. These times didn't usually upset him too much, but when the repairs in a day would leave him running on fumes, he would get rather sad about not being able to watch the sunset.
He couldn't even place what it was about it that he liked. It was a common occurrence: something that happened every single day here on Earth; and yet it was fascinating to him. Maybe it was that it meant that the humans were returning home to the Axiom for the night and that he would be able to recharge soon. Maybe it was that it left the sky with various shades and shapes that he rarely saw out in space, even when the sun itself was gone out of view. Maybe it was that the Earth was spinning away from the big white orb of gas that had once been the whole reason why life ever started on this planet to begin with. Or maybe it was just neat to see the thing fall away beyond a place that he couldn't see. Whatever it was, Unit 2 liked watching the sunset.
He preferred watching alone when he could. It was fine: not too many other robots found the event all that interesting. Some did, and some were becoming more interested in the natural world the longer they had to participate in it. But for the most part, they would all go about in their own cliques and groups of friends to bear witness if they wanted to. There were barely any robots that disliked Unit 2 as he was essentially a doctor to them, and a good one at that. But not many would actually consider him somebody that they would want to hang around with, and so they rarely did. He was too busy to worry about making friends, and when it came down to it, the constant work was a very good distraction for how lonely he would sometimes feel. He was around robots all day: ones that liked him; but deep down, GO-4 longed for companionship.
Maybe it was that he was too picky about who he would want as a friend. Maybe it was that he wanted somebody with autonomy that didn't HAVE to rely on him to make sure they were functioning properly. Maybe it was that he always played a shoulder to cry on while he was repairing the robots, and never actually got a chance to share his own feelings and thoughts about things. Maybe it was that he wanted companionship with somebody that appreciated him for more than just the things that he did to fix them. Or maybe, just maybe, it was because none of them really liked him at all to begin with.
He was a service robot, the same as all of them. He had a purpose, and he fulfilled it, and he wasn't upset about doing it. But he knew he would be glitchy if he thought he deserved some kind of reward for doing it. Companionship of any kind was something that came with being trapped on the same space vessel for 700 years, and anything more than a working relationship was theoretically never really supposed to happen.
In space, the robots didn't have downtime besides when they would recharge, and even if they did, they had nowhere of their own to mingle and talk with one another while they were on the ship. That wasn't quite the case anymore, as there was a whole planet that they could use in order to meet each other and make friends with robots they would rarely ever cross paths with during the heavy traffic moments in the corridors. Robots had new jobs, and they were meeting other robots with new jobs, and they were becoming friends with those robots, and they were reuniting with robots that they had worked with their entire activation, and they were spending time together when they couldn't work.
The modifications were what really changed that. Some robots remained the same as they were on the ship, as they were still required to take care of the humans. But the ones that were fitted with new parts and new directives could only do so much with what they had. A PR-T that was fitted with tools to help build structures could no longer do a person's hair and makeup, and she would have to wait until daylight to complete her directive. She had "free time" now, and so did many other robots like her. They had no work to do, and being built to work meant that they would get restless. The friends that they would make helped distract them from the downtime, and they all enjoyed that they had the opportunity after so many years of constantly NEEDING to do things.
Unit 2 didn't have any of those things. He was still a GO-4, and he still had to complete his first directive, and he never had free time of his own. And he didn't have any friends. He did have loneliness. And he even had some jealousy in him that he couldn't experience these things for himself. But despite everything, he had a quiet few moments every day to be alone with the most important star in the sky.
01000111 01101111
The first day was nerve wracking. AUTO was getting better at using his new body: on the ship. Out here on Earth was a different story. There was dust and dirt and wind and precipitation that he was not at all prepared for when he floated off the Axiom. He would run into things, or be tipped over with a strong breeze, or accidentally rip up something with his new hands because he didn't know how delicate these relics were. He was jittery and nervous, and he was anxious that he would never get any better than what he was now. There were slips and trips and bumps and such, but Unit 2 was beside him the entire time. Needless to say, it left GO-4 and Captain McCrea and especially AUTO very drained by the end of it.
Unit 2 knew what would cheer himself up, and he offered it to his partners. "What is that?" AUTO looked at him, and spoke in a human language because he was too discombobulated to remember to switch to their robotic tongue.
"(It is as it sounds. The sun seems to move below the horizon. I enjoy watching the illusion.)" GO-4 could only speak in these beeps and tones.
"You enjoy watching the sunset?" GO-4 beeped in the affirmative.
"GO-4, you like watching the sunset???! That's so crazy! I never expected that out of you, little guy!!" Captain McCrea seemed to think it was amusing. He patted his back. "What do ya say, AUTO??? Do you want to watch your first sunset in 700 years???"
He turned to McCrea. "If that is what you want to do, Captain."
"Okay, sure! We'll all go and watch the sunset. Then, we can get back to the Axiom and wrap up the day. I am so bushed, i need this break."
Captain McCrea and AUTO followed GO-4 to the place where he usually preferred to admire the view. The three of them sat together silently and rested for a few minutes as they all peacefully watched the sun hide itself beyond what they were able to see.
It was such a normal occurrence, but sharing it with others made GO-4 a tad nervous about their opinions. He turned to AUTO to ask, but found himself distracted for a moment as he absorbed the way the sunlight reflected off of his new curves and angles. He shook himself awake and beeped sheepishly, "(what do you think of this???)"
He continued looking at the sky. "(It has been a long while since i have seen this. It is the first time i have seen it outside of the Axiom. It was interesting back then, but i did not expect it to be the same today. It is nice seeing it from this angle.)"
"(Is it completely similar???)"
He beeped quietly. "(No. My optic was different then. All colors were red. This lense is not red, so i can now see the colors that the light produces in conjunction with the atmosphere. The shapes are similar. There are no other starliners in view.)"
"(What do you think of color?)" GO-4's optic was still behind a red dome, so he only had the one as a reference.
AUTO remained silent for a while. GO-4 was unsure whether he was trying to process the question or his answer, or if he had decided to stop talking to enjoy the view, as the event was almost half over. In an instant, the star fell beyond the horizon, and GO-4 immediately felt the need to turn back to his superior for instruction.
AUTO was still looking at the sky. "(Colors are very nice. They make me feel ways that i would not normally. The sunset produces a very wide spectrum of natural color. I like seeing so many in one place.)" He glanced down at GO-4. "Thank you for showing me this. I deeply enjoyed it."
"I liked it too!" They turned to Captain McCrea, who was sitting on the ground beside them, still looking at the sky. "It's crazy that the sky can just DO that!!! It's so pretty, and the sun was gone so quickly!!! This was really amazing to see! Thanks for suggesting it, GO-4!!"
AUTO glanced at him again. "Yes, thank you for suggesting it. I hope to experience it again sometime." He looked back at McCrea. "What do you wish to do now, Captain???"
"Hmm… i guess we can get back to the ship now. I know that if i stay any longer, i'm not going to want to leave, and we still have some things to do today." He looked at AUTO. "That was a pretty nice cap to your first day out here on Earth, huh buddy???"
"Affirmative Captain." He offered him his hands to try and assist him off the ground, but he was still unused to shifting weight like that. He began to tip when McCrea applied some force, but GO-4 caught AUTO in his stasis beam before they fell over. He used the opportunity to pull McCrea up, using AUTO as leverage to do so. He gently placed him down again in his original position once McCrea was standing. AUTO turned around to look at him. "Thank you, GO-4."
"Thanks GO-4!" McCrea chuckled and started waddling towards the ship. "Alright, guys. Let's get back and finish off the day completely."
AUTO and GO-4 stayed staring at one another for a few moments longer. GO-4 stayed alert and wondered what it was that AUTO had wanted, but he wasn't saying anything. "(Thank you, GO-4.)" He moved to follow McCrea back home without another word or beep, and GO-4 followed him after only a short pause to accept it.
01000111 01101111
GO-4 still took the opportunities he had to watch the sunset, even after being here for this long. Things had settled completely: crops were growing regularly, people were building homes, more starliners had returned to Earth. But robots still needed maintenance and repairs, so GO-4 still had work to do. Even so, he would appreciate the days when he had the chance to rest with his favorite natural event.
The only difference now was that it wasn't always lonely. He finally had a few friends: real friends that liked him for who he was rather than what he did for them. They would accompany him sometimes to watch the sunset because they knew he liked it so much. Most of them liked it too, which made him feel better about having them be there with him. He appreciated them all, and he appreciated that they would indulge his silly interest.
There was one snag that he encountered: he found that he appreciated one friend more than the others. It was a complex thing for him, but not a feeling that he was unused to about this companion. He had been intrigued since the day they had first met, and he always took an extraordinary amount of care when he had them in the repair bay. He would be certain to be there when they were, and he took hours to assure that they were working properly every time they needed maintenance. GO-4 imagined that they interpreted this as him simply doing his job, but he desperately hoped that they thought he was at least adequate in what he did. It would mean worlds to him if that were the case, and he had been told several times that it was not only true, but that his work always exceeded expectations. This only ever made the butterflies in his chassis worse, but he wanted to keep feeling the fluttering.
The two sat beside one another, silently watching as the sun went down for the day. But GO-4 was distracted, as he usually was when his friend was next to him. He would try to turn his optics to watch them coyly, hoping that he wouldn't be noticed gazing at them instead of the sunset.
They spoke without moving their vision. "(GO-4…)"
He felt embarrassed because he thought he had been caught. He turned his whole body. "(Y-yes AUTO?)"
"(What do you think of human relationships???)"
GO-4 had never really considered them. He only recently began really interacting with humans, and he hadn't yet formed strong opinions about them in most capacities. "(Inconclusive. I do not know much about human relationships. Why do you ask???)"
AUTO paused, but GO-4 was unsure why. "(There are things that humans had been known to do when they are in… romantic relationships. Companions that are bonded through love that transcends standard friendship.)" He looked over. "(A common activity for couples to do together is idly study natural phenomena. They enjoy walking along beaches or rivers or through meadows and forests together, and they enjoy experiencing different terrains, such as mountains and canyons.)" He turned to watch the sun again.
GO-4 didn't know that humans could enjoy the world so much. "(Is that true???)" He considered. "(I suppose i have seen some pairs walk through the more floral areas of the colony…)"
"(It is nice that they now have an opportunity to. Very many had gone without such a natural luxury. I wonder how these humans interpret such a concept, having known both experiences.)"
GO-4 thought about his own opinions of those kinds of things and how much he liked the little bit he had seen of the planet. "(I am certain they enjoy it here. If nothing else, there is variety that the starliners never had.)"
AUTO nodded. "(I like to imagine so as well. It is nice to see them in such spirits again.)" He thought. "(I like to imagine that the robots also enjoy it. It is such an interesting concept to have artificial beings enjoy the natural world.)" He looked at him again. "(It makes me happy that you enjoy watching the sunset, GO-4.)"
He glanced away nervously. "(I do enjoy it a great deal…)" He looked up again. "(You do not think it is silly of me???)"
AUTO shook his head. "(Not at all, GO-4. You take so few moments for yourself: any that you do are highly important to you, and that prevents them from being 'silly.')" GO-4 became slightly less tense. "(Besides, you are not the only robot that does enjoy it. WALL-E has said that he would watch the sunset often while he was here alone, and had even enjoyed it with Probe 1 while she was in hibernation mode.)"
GO-4 knew that WALL-E liked the sunset and other things about the world, even after being here alone for centuries, but he did not know that he tried to show his companion these things. "(Why did he do that while she was in hibernation mode???)"
AUTO beeped a couple times and turned toward the sun quickly. "(I-it is as i mentioned: humans enjoy experiencing natural phenomena with their romantic-c partners. I believe such habits have transfered over to some robots. H-he did have prior experience with humans; and he has studied their media as well, which usually depicts idealized scenarios. He is sentimental. Appreciative. R-romantic…)"
GO-4 processed, never having a word to apply to those kinds of ideas. "(I suppose he is romantic. I do not understand the concept well yet, but if it is as you describe, then i believe he is very romantic. Is that why he showed Probe 1 the sunset? Are they romantic partners???)"
He hesitated. "(Affirmative. He believed that she would enjoy it. He has said that she enjoys it more while she is conscious…)" He chuckled nervously a couple times.
GO-4 wasn't too certain what to make of the knowledge. He was glad that his friends liked his pastime independently of him: it made him a bit less self conscious about asking them to join him. He turned to continue watching the sky, also relieved that AUTO didn't think it was something silly of him to do in the first place.
A few minutes passed before AUTO spoke again, very quietly. "(I enjoy watching the sunset with you, GO-4…)"
He turned to AUTO, who was still watching the sky. He quickly admired the reflection of the light on his surfaces again and felt his hard drive speed up. "(I deeply appreciate when you are here with me, AUTO. I…)" He glanced away, anxious to speak the words that he wanted to say. "(Greatly enjoy all of the time that you and i have together.)" AUTO looked over at him. "(From the days we spent calibrating you to your new body, to simple routine diagnostics, and even interactions as immediate as a transferred request, i… intensely value your presence and your company. I feel complete when i am with you, and deeply… miss you when i am not.)" It was a heavy confession for him to make, as it was how he had truly felt for hundreds of years by this point; but he hoped that AUTO would not be upset with it.
He made a few stifled beeps. GO-4 had never heard him react like this, so he turned to look at him. AUTO had his fingers on his face underneath his eye, as if covering where his mouth would be. They looked at one another for a moment, and AUTO moved his hands away to speak sheepishly. "(I gr-greatly enjoy your-r company as well, GO-4. Uh, i-i intensely appre-eciate and e-enjoy your companionsh-ship.)"
GO-4 took in what he said and felt his hard drive flutter. He still wasn't confident enough to interpret it as a full truth, so he forced himself to accepted it as a confirmation of friendship. He made a sighing tone. "(I am very happy that we are friends. I would want nothing more.)"
"(I would.)" AUTO blurted out, and then quickly brought his hands to cover his imaginary mouth again. He beeped rapidly and shot his face away and glanced around, twitching as he tried to compose himself to respond properly.
GO-4 was becoming concerned about his stuttering and his behavior, and his directive overrode his current distraction. "(AUTO, are you feeling alright?? You seem to be having some minor glitches. Would you like me to–)"
"(I would like to be your romantic partner, GO-4…)" AUTO took a moment to turn his eye back to him.
GO-4 was stunned. His hard drive pounded in his chassis, and he could only spit out a few choppy, coughing beeps. "(You…)" He couldn't really believe it. "(Y-you want to be romantic partners??? W-w-w-with me???!)" He couldn't tell that his body was quivering in place, but he stayed as still as he could.
AUTO fidgetted his fingers together and glanced shyly at the ground. "(Y-y-yes, GO-4… i… i…)" He glanced up and locked optics. "(I desperately wish to be your romantic partner. I greatly appreciate and admire all that you have done for us, and all of the dedication that you continually show. You are an incredibly magnificent machine, and your work always leaves me completely amazed. I have had an interest in you for quite a long time now, and i feel our friendship has grown stronger since…)" He paused, and shook his head to turn away sadly. "(I am sorry. This environment, this time with you here now has lowered my inhibitions below an acceptable measure. I did not mean to make this time uncomfortable. I should not have said that. I… i apologize, GO-4.)"
GO-4 was almost unable to control himself. He would not have been able to force the words out of himself, but they managed to escape on their own. "(I want to be your romantic partner, too!)" He became stiff when he heard himself.
AUTO looked at him with shock. The two stared at one another for what felt like a decade, but GO-4 finally ripped out all of the courage he had inside of himself. "(I have wanted to be closer to you for as long as we have known one another. I know that i am only a GO-4, and not the primary unit at that, but i have always wished i could have been if it meant being able to interact with you more frequently. I cannot place what it is about you that makes me feel this way, or why being around you simultaneously excites and calms me; but i have always desperately longed to have times like this with you. I still do not understand what romance is, but if it is anything like this, then it is all i have ever wanted. With you, AUTO.)"
He held his hands on his face and beeped out what sounded like a weep. He twitched again a few times as they continued to stare at one another, seemingly wanting to say something that he wasn't able to articulate. GO-4 leaned forward to look at him better in case there really was something about him that was glitching. The movement made AUTO tense up and he reeled, but it made him realize that he needed to speak. "(G-GO-4… y-you…)" He lowered his hands and fiddled his fingers together. "(You are v-very romantic. This is very romantic-ic. I-i-i am o-over-whelmed b-by this. I apolo-logize.)"
GO-4 backed up shamefully. He beeped quietly. "(I apologize. I sincerely did not mean to o–)"
"(It is no issue. I-i j-just…)" He glanced away for a moment. "(I-i-i am s-so in love with you, GO-4. I love you a gr-great deal, and hearing all of these sweet sentiments: all of genuine feelings that you have had for me for so long… i cannot describe… m-my hard-d drive aches so badly, but i am incredibly happy right now. I love you, GO-4! I love you so much GO-4!!!)"
AUTO quickly scooped GO-4 up into his arms and held him as close to himself as he could. He zapped electricity all throughout him, almost completely forgetting that he could hurt GO-4 by doing this. He snuggled him close, beeping and sighing with relief. "(I love you GO-4. I love you GO-4. I love you…)"
GO-4 wasn't expecting this display. He had been hugged and even kissed before, but never with this intensity or this intention. It was odd, but invigorating in a way he didn't know was possible. He tried to turn his optic to AUTO, but they were too close for him to see anything. He buzzed nervously, not entirely sure what to do.
AUTO sighed. "(I love you, GO-4.)"
GO-4 twitched. He suddenly felt compelled to give AUTO some electricity in return, but was too shy to do it on his own. He decided to ask for permission. "(M-may i g-give you some electricity in return?)"
AUTO beeped. "(Yes. Please, please kiss me GO-4.)" He lowered the intensity of what he was giving.
GO-4 became incredibly nervous when he was given instruction, and could feel his hard drive pound aggressively his chassis. He sheepishly flowed a tiny stream of electricity to his partner, wanting neither to hurt nor disappoint him. This was one of the only times that GO-4 had ever given like this; and he considered that it might be the recipient that made it feel this way: but he found it to be very relieving and enjoyable. He sighed, "(thank you. I… i-i love you, AUTO.)"
AUTO snuggled him close. "(Oh GO-4. You make me so, so happy…)"
GO-4 flowed a steady stream to AUTO for a few seconds. He admitted, "(i am only happiest with you.)" He surged a bit more energy and tried to push himself closer. "(I love you, AUTO. I love you more than anything i've ever known.)"
AUTO sounded like he was trying to cry again. He made beeps and tones and gave a small surge that made GO-4 sigh. He held him flush as long as he could, but was caught off guard by an incoming signal. He beeped to let it be known, and he loosened his hold on his partner. "(We must return to the Axiom now. We must finish our duties for the evening. I apologize for the interruption, GO-4…)"
He beeped out a sigh. "(It is no issue, AUTO. Our duties must always come first. I apologize for keeping you out here for this extended duration.)"
"(You do not need to. I enjoyed every moment of my time here with you today. I would not trade it for anything. I only wish that it could have lasted even longer.)" He released him and eased off, and the two gazed at one another.
GO-4 glanced away. "(W-well… perhaps when you have completed the day's duties…)" He looked back up shyly. "(You could visit the repair ward. I-i would like to make certain that there are no issues with any systems of yours.)" He beeped sweetly.
AUTO reeled with a hand on his face and giggled nervously. "(A-a syst-tem check, of course. That is a marvelous idea, GO-4. I-i look forward to it.)" He giggled again, and GO-4 found it absolutely enchanting. "(Then we must not delay.)" He woke up when he saw AUTO move. "(We must return to the ship post haste. There is no time to delay.)" He hurried off in the direction of the Axiom.
GO-4 watched him for short a moment, only just beginning to reflect on what had happened. There were very many new things for GO-4 from this alone, but he knew that AUTO would be there to teach him all kinds of other things. He was greatly anticipating the next time they agreed to meet, and all of the time they would be able to spend together now that they were a romantic couple. He scampered after AUTO as they quickly made their way back to the Axiom, overjoyed that he found what it was that would satiate his loneliness. He felt happier now than even a few minutes ago, and he knew he found something that he liked much more than the sunset.