A/N: when i started writing fics, i was like "i do an umbrella fic for this series and this series and this series," and also "that's too many umbrella fics." But also "you live where it rains all the time, it makes sense that you write umbrella fics." And then never got around to doing ANY of them.

I managed to get through the first part w feminine pronouns, but writing the second part was really hard to do with that for some reason, so this is gonna be the first one where i swap pronouns partway through!

TW/CW: rain, umbrella, worry, friendship, crushes, gifting, anxiety, radio weather forecast, telephone (mentioned), planning, dodging tasks, insisting, arguing, carrying, fangirling]

Robot Jones was prepared for the weather. He had on a raincoat and a hat and even a pair of rainboots that he wore on his big, clunky legs. Of course, he also had an umbrella to make absolutely certain that he wouldn't get wet from precipitation. He always made sure to bring these things along if the chances were above 35%, and he kept a spare umbrella in his school locker just in case. Right now he was out just to be out and experience what things were like when they were wet. But he himself didn't need to be, obviously.

He just finished observing a small puddle on the side of the road when he saw somebody nearby that wasn't wearing any gear and didn't even have an umbrella. The thing was that he recognized them, so he was even more concerned. He called out, "Auto!!!"

She turned her head, surprised to see her best friend out in this weather and running up to her. "What are you doing out here in the rain??!!" He covered her with his umbrella.

She blinked. "Oh, uh. I was just getting some groceries for my parents. They're working today, so they asked me to do it for them." She motioned to her plastic bags that were all tied up so water wouldn't get inside of them.

"Why don't you have any rain gear, Auto?! It is too dangerous for robots to get wet like this! You'll rust!!!" He was very worried about her.

Auto pointed to herself. "I'm waterproof! I don't have to worry about rusting because of the rain."

He shook his head. "That doesn't mean you have to get wet! You should at least be using an umbrella!" He lifted it up to emphasize it.

For some reason, it took this long for Robot's concern to hit her. She smiled with appreciation. "Aww, RJ. You don't have to worry about me! You should worry about getting somewhere dry yourself! I know that you're not waterproof. Why are you out here, anyway???"

He huffed. "Oh. I was out here studying stuff. You know how i get about natural things. I don't usually do it during the rain, but i have all of this gear and thought it would be okay to be out here for just a little while." He looked at her. "And now i'm glad that i was! How else would i have found you out here without your own rain gear?"

It struck her chest. She glanced away. "Aaww. Th-there's really n-nothing to worry about RJ." She looked him in the eye. "I'm gonna be okay. But you should definitely get out of the rain. I don't want your components messing up because i'm keeping you out here."

He reached for her wrist. "Then we are in agreement! We need to get out of this weather!"

Auto's chassis wirred. She blushed and grinned at all of it. She thought that his concern for her was a little bit silly because of how she was built to withstand this stuff, but she greatly appreciated that he cared that much about her. She wanted to make him happy. "O-o-okay. Wh-where do you want to go???"

Robot thought for a moment. "Hmm. Well, we are a little closer to my house than to yours. Let's go there."

Auto couldn't object. "Okay RJ."

He hooked their arms together so that he could hold the umbrella up between them to make sure that they were both covered as they walked. He glanced down at her baggage, not noticing her big grin and twinkling eyes. "Do you want me to help you with your bags?? I can hold on to some of them for you."

Auto almost squealed because of how she was feeling right now. "Th-that's o-okay, RJ. I'm fine, i can carry it."

He nodded and touched her arm with his other hand. She made a high pitched squeak at it. "Okay, Auto. If you say so."

Auto was incredibly happy the entire way there. Robot cared enough about her to stop her and share his cover to make sure that she was okay. He was concerned for her even though she said that he didn't have to be, and he made her get out of this 'dangerous' situation to keep her safe. And he was holding her arm tightly as they walked back to his house. It was times like these that made her love for him so much deeper.

"I also think that the plants must like the rain, too. They seem to expand their chloroplast more than when watering with a hose: they look greener in the rain." They entered the cubic household and stood at the entrance. Either moved their body about quickly to shake off the droplets of water, giggling when a couple hit them from the other being too aggressive with it. They laughed about how it seemed like it was raining inside the house because of it.

"So. Do you want to stay here until the rain stops???" Robot smiled and blinked cutely.

Auto was still infatuated. She fluttered her eyes. "Sure, RJ." She shuffled her bags. "Um, but can i put this stuff in the fridge first? Some of it has to be refrigerated."

"A fridge??? We… do not have a fridge. We don't really need one." He felt awkward.

She felt stupid. "Oh, yeah, i forgot about that…" She thought for a moment and became concerned. "I don't really think this stuff will keep until the weather lets up. It seems like it's going to rain for a few more hours, and it's not really safe to keep cold food out that long…" She wanted to find a way to stay, but she really couldn't allow the food to go bad and get her parents sick. "I-i'm sorry, RJ. I-i think i have to go home."

Robot beeped disappointedly. "That's okay, Auto. I'm sorry that we don't have a fridge! I should get a small one in case this ever happens again." He tapped his cheek.

Auto shook her head quickly. "Oh, no, don't do that! I'm sure this is gonna be the only time something like this happens, haha." They smiled awkwardly at each other. "Thank you for helping me, RJ. I really appreciate how much you care about me." She glanced away.

"Of course, Auto! I wouldn't be able to live with myself if i let you rust in the rain!!!"

Auto's chassis wirred again. She desperately wished that she could make him all hers. She sighed and smiled. "Goodbye, RJ. I'll see you later." She turned to exit.

"Wait!" Robot touched her arm so that she would look at him again. "You can't go back out in the rain like that! Here, take this." He offered her his blue polka dot umbrella.

Auto squeaked. She shook her head again. "Oh, no, i couldn't take your umbrella! You need that! I'm waterproof, i'll be fine out there." She smiled to try to convince him.

Robot shook his head and insisted. "No, please take it!! I don't want you to get wet. I have other umbrellas here, and i can always pick up another one at the store tomorrow." He put it in her hand. "Please, just take it, okay?"

Auto felt butterflies in her chassis. It was so sweet and kind of Robot to loan her this important tool of his. She grinned wide and blushed. "O-o-o-okay, R-R-RJ. I-i'll r-return it to you t-tomorrow."

He smiled with relief. "Oh, don't worry about it. You keep that one for yourself for when it rains again." He looked at her in a motherly way. "You need to take care of yourself and make sure you don't rust, okay??"

Auto made a quiet, ecstatic tone and grinned really wide. She ducked her head shyly and blushed even more. "A-alright. Thank you so much, RJ. I-i'm always gonna keep th-this on me now." She felt all flustered. "I'll see you later!"

Robot smiled and nodded. "You're very welcome, Auto! Please get home safe and dry, alright???" He waved her goodbye as she left.

"I will, R-RJ! Thanks again!" She smiled for the rest of the day, relishing in that beautiful crushy feeling.

553 6b 69 70

The crew was wasting their usual time at the arcade, spending quarters and racking up scores. It seemed like it was going to be a great afternoon.

Out of nowhere, it sounded like the ac turned on beyond full blast. The kids in the place all looked around at each other with confusion until they glanced outside and saw that it was pouring rain on the other side of the doorway. They all started moaning and complaining about it.

"Oh dear!" Robot touched his claws to his face. "There was only an 18% chance of rain today! I don't have any of my gear with me!!!"

"Th-that's okay, Robot! We can all just wait here until it lets up!" Socks was trying to be less anxious about things he couldn't control, like the weather.

Mitch looked outside. It looked like the world was behind a screen of heavy tv static. There was a drip outside of the door that sounded like a thin waterfall that would absolutely soak you if you got anywhere near it. "It looks like it's raining pretty heavily. When do you think that'll be???" Kids were already crowding around the payphones to call their parents for rides home.

Auto chimed. "I-i could check the radio report." Her friends nodded and she twisted the dial at the base of her antenna. She played the audio out loud.

"-ll have some isolated showers expected to last until 7 or 8 o'clock this evening. Some areas are going to be stronger than others, so make sure you bring your umbrellas if you have to go out this afternoon. Polk and Highland Counties don't have to worry about these showers until about 6pm when this storm system mo–" Auto clicked it off after realizing that their counties were part of that first forecast. She looked sorry, and kids that overheard the report also shuffled to wait for the payphones.

"7 o'clock?! It's not even 4:30 right now!!!" Cubey threw his hands in the air.

Mitch glanced at the long lines for the phones and shook his head. "At this rate, it might take that long to even call our folks."

"Oh no, that bites!!! What are we gonna do?!" Socks would never be able to FULLY shake the anxiety.

Auto glanced at all of them. She didn't think they would take the suggestion. "Why doesn't one of us go down the street to the convenience store to call our parents with that phone???"

"Are you kidding?! We'll drown before we get there!"

"It is raining too hard for even you to get there safely, Auto." Robot hoped he wouldn't go.

"There isn't an umbrella big enough to keep us dry from THAT rain." Mitch shook his head.

"I do have an umbrella, though." Auto pulled the collapsed thing out of her body compartment. It was blue with polka dots on it.

Socks recognized it. "Hey, that looks just like Robot's umbrella!"

"Correct, Socks. I gave it to Auto when we got caught in the rain once."

"Wow, and you just keep it on you???"

Auto glanced at all of them, and then made an exasperated face because they all knew the answer. The boys kind of huffed out smirks and glanced at one another. "So we've got an umbrella. Two of us can go, if you want. Or i could go by myself to call our parents because i'm waterproof anyway."

A pause. "That sounds like a good idea."

"Yeah, Auto, would you mind doing it?? None of us are really dressed for this."

"You can call my mom to come get us. I think her car has enough room, right???" Socks glanced at the others to get their opinions on that.

Auto imagined that it was a regular sedan or a wagon, and those were always a bit cramped in the back with just three people. There were five of them altogether, with two having bodies that couldn't compress. He thought they would need another ride in addition. "I think we should get at least two of our parents to come get us. I don't know if we'll all fit in one car." He cringed. "I, uh… don't really want to ride in the trunk again."

"Hmm… i think my mom should be home by now…" Mitch mentioned. Cubey's parents were both at work, and Robot's dad had their only car at work right now too. Auto's own parents probably wouldn't come help them out.

Auto felt like that was a 'no.' She sighed. "Alright, i'll try to call her too." She looked at them all again. "Do you guys need anything else before i go???"

They looked at one another. "No? No, i think we're good."

Robot had been upset since they suggested she go alone. He was disappointed with his friends. "Are you guys serious?! You're just gonna have Auto go alone?!"

They were surprised by the outburst. Auto turned her head. "It's alright, RJ. I'm waterproof, i was built to handle this. I'll be fine."

"No, Auto! Someone should go with you!" He turned to him. "Socks, please go with Auto. We are going to call your mom anyway."

He held up his hands. "O-oh no. It's too wet out there. I'm gonna slip and land in a puddle!" Robot beeped in frustration.

"Really, it's fine, RJ. I'll be back in just a minute." Auto walked to the doorway before anyone could argue further.

"Autooo!!!" Robot turned to Socks again. "Socks, loan me your sweatshirt. I will go with him since none of you want to."

Socks and Auto were shocked by the request. "RJ, please, i'll be fine! You're too delicate to go out in this weather."

Robot went ahead and took it off of Socks and started putting it on himself. "I'm going with you, Auto. I need to make sure you're safe out there."

Auto had to be firm with him. "No, RJ! You can't go out there, i'm not gonna let you! This umbrella isn't going to be enough to cover you!"

"Well that's too bad, because i am going with you whether you want me to or not!" Robot stepped outside with only Socks' jacket on.

Auto ran out frantically, opening the umbrella as he did. She held it over Robot as he marched down to the convenience store. "Robot, you really need to stay inside!!! You're gonna rust out here, your circuits will get soaked! Come on, go back to the arcade, please!!!" She paused to try and wave him to return to dry land.

"Nope." He didn't break stride. Auto stumbled to keep him covered. "If you're gonna be out in the rain, then so will i."

She was very frustrated that Robot was putting himself in danger like this, but she did appreciate that he was doing it for her sake. She knew the intentions were good and kind, but she was far too concerned about Robot's fragility to feel good about it right now. She watched his bare metal boots splash up the water on the sidewalk.

"Here, hold this." Auto handed Robot the umbrella, and he took it because he was given no choice. He incredulously watched as Auto stooped down in front of him. She faced forward and reached back to pull Robot's boots up. He yelped and swung his arm forward around her neck to catch himself, which is exactly what she wanted. Auto lifted Robot up onto her back so that he didn't have to touch the water at all. Robot wrapped his other arm around her shoulders as well for a better grip.

He looked around, still surprised by this. He never had a piggyback ride before, so it was a little strange to him. "Auto, what the–"

"Just because you're out here doesn't mean you have to get wet, RJ! Please, just use the umbrella for me."

Robot considered it. Auto loved him enough to strongly object his accompanying her in this danger and force him to hold the umbrella so that he'd be best covered. She endured him coming along even though she didn't want him to, and she lifted him up to be out of this dangerous situation to keep him safe. He thought her method was a little bit silly, but he deeply appreciated when she would do these things for his safety. He grinned wide like an idiot at how much she cared about him, and he snuggled his head against hers. "Thank you, Auto. I know I can be so stubborn sometimes."

Auto smiled. "That's okay, RJ. You just worry about me too much. But I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let you get hurt in the rain!"

He beeped and grinned wide and hugged her tighter. He didn't really know how to contain how this all made him feel. "You're too good to me, Auto."

-

Back at the arcade, Socks had poked his head out when the two androids left. He was still shocked that Robot just stole his sweatshirt like that, but he was also concerned about him getting wet. He held his hands over his head to prevent it for himself.

"Woah! Auto's carrying Robot on his back!!" He ducked back in and looked over at his friends. They all kind of stared blankly, trying to piece together how a cube and a cylinder could fit together for something like that.

Cubey spoke without thinking too much. "They're kind of cute together…"

"OMIGOSH, THEY ARE SO CUTE TOGETHER!!!!" Socks freaked out like a fangirl and covered his mouth with excitement and embarrassment.

Mitch chuckled at it. "They would be a good couple. Did you see how Robot just left like that?"

"I was gonna scream."

"They're totally meant to be together!"

"They so are!!!!"

[Post a/n: Oopsie, did I get too cringe at the end there??? Too bad! They're cutesy dootsey and I'm tired of trying so hard to keep them not. And their friends think so too lmao.]