MOONWOLF IS BACK

• Looking up as someone yells woo, you stare. Recognizing your morning jogging buddy as he frowns and starts asking whose house this is. Because apparently one of the neighbors decided the music was too loud. Not surprising since the party has spilled out into into street to become a block party. Moving through the crowd, the bot does a double take when he spots you. Before frowning and looking around. “I left her with my cousin,” you say, guessing he’s looking for your daughter. “Are you shutting us down?” You ask as the music thumps. And he’s frowning, door wings moving restlessly at his back like he didn’t expect to see you. ‘Someone reported a noise disturbance,’ he admits and someone laughs.

• Off balance seeing you here, you smile up at him and his resolve to do his job wavers. “Do you dance?” You ask, small hands grabbing his to tug him toward you into the crowd. Knows you’re trying to distract him. Inviting him to ignore his duty. ‘No,’ he mutters, plating ruffling up slightly. “Never?” You tease, smiling and he’s letting you pull him into the yard and the press of bodies. Can smell strange alien food cooking, hear the thump of the music and the laughter. ‘I’m supposed to be shutting the party down.’

• “Sure,” you agree as he frowns. “But I’m guessing you didn’t say when you’d shut it down,” you say and he hesitates, meeting your eyes. “Dance with me.” Expect him to say no, but his door wings just lift stiffly as he stares down at you. Pressing his big hand against your side and holding it there, you press the palm of your other hand against his, fingers interlacing with his servos. And you’re shocked that he’s allowing this, his optics locked on your face as you stare at his chassis, suddenly self conscious. When you step into his space, he retreats. Reluctantly dancing with you as his jaw works.