"Emmy?"
Emmy paused in the middle of reading Madeline a bedtime story to look at her charge.
"Yes?"
"Are there any stories about robots like you?"
"Why yes, there's a wide range of robots featured in stories throughout the science fiction genre-" Emmy began only for Madeline to stop her.
"No, I mean nanny robots like you. I've already seen all those crazy robot movies with Red...Mom and Dad were pretty peeved at him for letting me watch Terminator 2: Judgement Day."
Emmy herself was a little disappointed in him too, but she pushed that aside for now.
"Oh! Well, there are no stories that I know of. I can't imagine they would be terribly exciting to read about." Emmy awkwardly said.
"But why not?" Madeline asked.
"Well, people typically enjoy stories with compelling conflict. I'm afraid the daily life of a Nandroid would be too domestic for modern readers."
"They make books about boring people all the time! And then they make us read them in school." Madeline pointed out. "What's the point of reading at an adult level if all the good books are for kids?!"
Emmy giggled as she p0ut the book away. "Maybe you have an argument there."
"You know what I'd like to read?"
"What, Madeline."
"A story like Beauty and the Beast…but with you and Red."
Emmy stumbled at that.
Right outside, Red, who'd come in from a later patrol and made himself a glass of warm milk, spat out some of his drink when he heard.
"M-M-me and Red?! Oh my heavens, Maddie. Has Red been showing you those…fan stories?"
'It was ONE time and I didn't know she was there!' Red mentally groaned. 'And it was more a twisted Fairy tale, not a fanfic.'
"No, but I know you like him." Madeline noted.
"Well of course I like him, sweetie." Emmy smiled. "We work together after all."
"No, not like that!" Madeline giggled. "You look at him the way mommy and daddy do each other. And he does the same to you."
Red and Emmy both tensed from, their respective
"W-what do you mean?" Emmy asked, Red sneakily putting an ear to the door to hear.
"You always smile when you see each other, you worry about each others and when he comes home a little banged up, you fix him up and then tell him not to do it again only to praise him for saving people." Madeline smiled, proud of herself
'…I love and hate her so much right now.' The Nanoid and cyborg thought.
Emmy tried to come up with some answer that denied what Madeline thought; she was best equipped to handle Red's repair, it was best the declairs never saw…But she was always rpoud of Red; going out to protect Oldsville, being wonderful with the children and helping wherever he could…
"…Maybe one day you can write a story like that." Emmy smiled as she tucked Madeline in before s he nuzzled her charge's nose and headed out the door.
. "But for now? You need rest. Goodnight, Maddie, dear."
"Good night, Emmy." The little girl smiled as she went to sleep.
Emmy then went about her duties, missing Red on the ceiling as he processed what he'd just heard, his mind in a flux: part of it reminded him of how he and his parents ahd loived in poverty thanks to robots, but he then recalled that was a company's decision. Then when his brain said Emmy wasn't a real person., no Nanoid was, he felt enraged and remarked they treated him better than some people he could name..!
His warm milk now cold and his mind still a mess, Red decided to just head to his room and force himself to sleep. He'd deal with this later.
EMMY
A few nights later, Emmy stood at the mirror of her room, staring at her reflection.
"Tonight is the night. The big night." She reminded herself. "You've got this. Remember your training. They're all counting on you."
The Delaires were hosting a charity event at their home that evening; the first 'classy' event since Emmy and Red had become part of their family.
"Hey, hey. No one woman or Nanoid is an army." Red said as he passed by, trying in vain to straighten up his tie. "I'll be there to help…as soon as I get this stupid thing figured out!"
Stifling a chuckle, Emmy did the tie for Red and dusted off his jacket,
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
The two raced to the door and opened in, revealing two familiar faces,
"Welcome, Mr. and Mrs, Meyer. Please, come in." Emmy said, giving a ladylike bow as they so.
"If you need anything, let us know." Red smirked, taking off a fedora he'd been gifted and then motioning inwards after he took their coats. "Everyone is the living room."
"Drawing room." Emmy corrected
"No drawing goes on in there, though…" Red noted.
"Thank you all so much for coming. This year's fundraiser has been one of our most well-attended!" Angela said, getting everyone's attention. "With your help, I am confident we will reach our relief goal for the children in Indonesia affected by the tragic tsunami last summer."
Red sighed, he appreciated Angela's genuine desire to help others but he wasn't exactly trusting of the other rich folks. Then again, that was the former street rat in him talking.
"Tragic orphans..." Emmy said, bowing her head as Red snorted.
"In the meantime, please help yourself to the refreshments, all prepared by Melrose Catering with desserts made by our very own Emmy and Red! They're far better cooks than me, don't worry!"
The attendees all laughed as Emmy giggled sheepishly, waving Angela off while Red just smirked proudly.
"Ha ha! Oh, you're too kind! It's nothing really." Emmy waved off the applause, spying Red helping himself to a brownie, savoring the flavor.
"My mom made some amazing brownies when I was a kid." Red mused as nostalgia and happy memories filled his head. "When she could afford to make 'em, she made the best damn ones!"
Angela walked over to Emmy and Red as the party-goers enjoyed the refreshments.
"Emmy, Red, go check on Madeline and make sure she's dressed."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Red and Emmy made their way up to Madeline's room, which had the lights turned off as they peeked inside.
"Madeline, are you coming downstairs?"
"No! I don't want to wear this stupid dress and go to the boring grownup party!"
"Madeline, believe me, I'd rather be ANYWHERE else right now, but this is still a family thing," Red said. "Come on, I'll take you to that go-kart track you were looking at earlier!"
The little girl poked her head out of the door to her room.
"Pinky promise?" Madeline asked.
"Pinky promise." Red smiled, kneeling down and offering a pinky.
"And besides, there are hundreds of Indonesian orphans right now who would love a dress like this," Emmy said, giving Madeline her dress. "Please put it on and maybe you'll see it won't be so bad."
Madeline groaned. "Fine, I'll do it for the orphans."
"You're a good kid, Madeline. Better than I was at your age." Red smiled.
Smiling at this, Madeline gave Red the pinky swear and then readied for he party.
It turned out to be a fun night for all, once Madeline saw her friends had joined in.
And Emmy'c carrot cajke was
To be continued…
Mrotrax A/N: This chapter was initially a little longer, with the shipping between Red and Emmy truly beginning with a beautiful moment that Knightmare Lord came up with.
Sadly, a prespective potential new employer asked for me to come in for an interview and I need to get going. So, here's Maddeline being a Shipper on deck for the two crazy contraption….creatures?
I dunno why I did that.
YOU SHALL THE LOVE BEGIN NO LATER THAN WEDNESDAY!
So get excited!