#writereenis

“Hangin’ ouuuttt….” The bittybot’s screen lit up in a toothy grin, “It’s comfy under here,”

Blazer rested his fists on his hips, raising an eyebrow at his roommate’s daughter.

“Comfy? Without any blankets? That’s like, the whole point of a blanket fort!”

She dimmed slightly, her head tilted just a tad to the right,

“Blanket… fort?”

“...Holy sh— shoot,” Blazer blinked, leaning back slightly,

“You’ve never made a blanket fort, huh?”

Dolly shook her head, shrinking into herself,

“N..no,”

The bot in front of her grinned, reaching a rust-red hand out to them,

“Doll, you’re ‘bout to learn a little something from your old pal Blazer,” he glowed, standing with her as she crawled out from under the table,

“Do me a favor— run upstairs, grab every big blanket your lil’ arms can carry, ‘kay?”

Dolly nodded, dashing off to the second floor as Blazer eyed the wooden chairs around him.

“Theo won’t mind,” he shrugged, picking two of them up under his arms and moving them to the living room carpet, setting them with their backs facing each other at a reasonable distance. He did the same with two more sets of chairs, ending up with a large hexagon in the center of the room.

“Biiiig blankets…” Dolly fumbled through her room, folding her violet duvet and stuffing it under their right arm, then stepped out, glancing to Theo’s room.

“Big blanket!” She dashed inside, giggling at her Dad’s king size, light pink duvet made neatly for when xe returned.

She ran her hand across it, only hesitating for a second before pulling it up with both hands, crumpling it in her arms.

“Heck yeah…” she grinned, reaching haphazardly for her blanket before walking to the stairs,

“Hm,” she could barely see over the pink and purple fluff in her arms— so logically, they chose to launch the bundles down first, a rather satisfying fomp sounding as they hit the ground.

Blazer jumped, turning towards the staircase,

“Ope- you good kid??” He called, a wave of relief washing over him when he heard them giggling, still standing at the top.

“Yeah! I got the stuff,” Dolly bragged, walking down carefully as Blazer collected what she’d gathered.

“Perfect— C’mere, lemme show you what I’ve got,”

He presented the hexagon with pride, pointing a finger to the air,

“This’ll be your base— next stop, covering it with blankets,” He unfolded the violet duvet, spreading it over two adjacent chairs with enough draping over the side to create a wall across them.

“Ooh…” the child watched in awe, stepping closer as Blazer reached to hand her part of Theo’s blanket,

“Here, help me get this over these other ones,” he pointed to the remaining four chairs, and Dolly nodded, holding on one end over her head as he dragged the rest to the other.

It draped across all four chairs nicely, but couldn’t quite get to the other blanket— leaving a massive hole in the roof.

“Damn...” Blazer muttered, crossing his arms. The two went silent for a moment, then the child’s screen lit up—

“Oh!! Ideaaaa…“ she ran to the sewing room, audibly rifling through a drawer before returning with a handful of safety pins,

“Tada!”

“Why didn’t I think a’ that?” The rust-colored bot chuckled, then took a few, the two of them working to fasten the blankets together and form a roof.

With the two attached, they cheered, and Dolly knelt at the opening they’d deemed the entrance.

“Woah…” she crawled inside, impressed at how roomy the fort turned out to be. Blazer knelt down on the outside, grinning,

“Hold on Doll, ya gotta get this thing furnished,” he stood, taking a few cushions off the couch and tossing them gently through the door. Dolly caught them and placed each deliberately; on the floor and against the chairs like a real sofa.

“Wow… it’s like a house in a houuuse!” The bittybot sat on a cushion, looking out the door to see her roommate smiling widely.

“Ain’t it? I’m glad you like it, kid,” he smiled, moving to stand, “You have fun in there, yeah?”

“Waaiiit—“ her blurple hand gripped his arm, their screen illuminated by only a green blip— indicating an attempt at puppy-dog eyes,

“you can come in too,”

“Ah, heh- I don’t know if I’ll even—“ before he could protest, Dolly yanked him inside, scooting over to allow him room to sit.

“Lookit! We both fit!” She beamed, still holding his arm. Blazer sat a bit straighter, pushing the roof up slightly with the top of his head.

“Well, mostly,” he said, then felt the child lean into him.

“Thank youuu,” she yawned, nuzzling his arm.

“Anytime, babydoll,” he wrapped it around her, patting her back before yawning himself,

“Hey- those’re contagious ya know,” he teased, and Dolly giggled, closing her eyes.

//

“I’m home!” Theo entered the house, pausing on the welcome mat and raising a metaphorical eyebrow when he spotted the hexagonal structure in the middle of xir living room.

“What on earth did you two get up to?” Xe teased, approaching it and finding the doorway. He knelt down, looking in to see his roommate and daughter fast asleep inside, the child wrapped comfortably in Blazer’s arm.

Theo smiled, standing before dusting his hands off,

“Though at least this time most of the bots were friendly. And they had far better catering…”

The fuschia bot paused, finally taking in his partner’s attire,

“You’re awfully fancy as well, what’s the occasion?”

Blazer grinned, running his free hand down his black pinstripe suit and adjusting his popped off-white shirt collar,

“I figured I’d at least try and look good even if I’m just here to pick you up— ‘sides, Dolly said you’d like it,”

“She was very correct,” Theo’s eye glowed, inspecting the poppy pinned to the taller bot’s jacket before giving a short gasp,

“Oh, something rather strange happened to me today,”

“Strange?” The slightly taller companion tilted his head, locking elbows with his partner as they left the venue.

“Someone approached me- no camera, clearly not an invitee— white head, just in a black hoodie with a smirk on his cyan screen,” xe began, glancing back at the building before continuing,

“I didn’t recognize him, so I introduced myself, but— he only pointed at my jewelry and said, ‘how much’d that cost?’”

“You didn’t tell him, right?” Blazer slowed, looking Theo in the eye.

“Of course not,” The tailor put a hand to his chest,

“One I have no idea— and two; his entire demeanor put me off almost immediately. I’d like to think I’ve gotten better at telling when someone shouldn’t be trusted,”

“Mm,” xir partner nodded, glancing back at the venue before continuing to walk, listening to Theo’s story.

“So I said I didn’t know exactly, just that I’ve had the earrings my entire sentience and that you’d gotten the necklace for our first anniversary, but he just… grinned, glanced around, and walked off. Quite frankly I hate to think what he was planning. Do you-“

Xe were interrupted by Blazer shifting his arm in front of xir chest, glancing around the area in silence.

“Love?”

“Stay here,” he pointed to the ground, walking a distance ahead and glancing down a dark alley,

“Thought I heard something,” he spoke lowly, returning to take the tailor’s hand.

“We should hurry back,” Theo whispered, met with Blazer shaking his head,

“Nah, not with this kinda thing… he wants us to go home- to find our address and come back around later.”

“What do we do then?”

“I know these streets, we’ll take the long way— see if we can lose him,” the rusty bot turned, glancing at his partner’s outfit,

“Can you run in that dress?”

Theo recoiled, before grabbing his fit and flare skirt at the knee and attempting to hike it up a bit,

“Not… very well, but I can try,”

Blazer muttered a light tease, “I guess we’ll find out,” taking his black pinstripe jacket off and handing it to xem,

“Speaking of that dress, it’s real pretty but you’re kinda like a damn beacon in all these lights,”

“That happens to be the point of it,” Theo retorted teasingly as he took the garment, hanging it on xir shoulders, “as is my job,”

“I’m just sayin’- it’s a little counterproductive when you’re trynna lay low,”

“…Right,” the tailor nodded, choosing to slip xir arms fully through the sleeves and retake Blazer’s hand,

“Let’s go then,”

Theo let xir partner guide him through a handful of unfamiliar twists and turns, lit only by the distant stars. Xe’d always loved watching Blazer take charge— it was rare xe got to see the way his eyes narrowed as he thought, the way his hands guided him, the surety of every move he made…

They were about to turn another corner when both companions came to a freezing halt— a phone’s ringing echoing behind them.

The two bots exchanged a worried glance, the taller pointing to the ground once again before cautiously walking towards the source of the noise on his own.

Theo watched him be swallowed by the darkness, clutching the jacket closed over his chest as a light wind swept through, a tingle trickling down the back of xir neck.

The noise stopped, the tailor taking a small step towards where his partner had disappeared,

“…Bla-“

CLUNK!

His knees buckled, xir hands hitting the concrete— his speaker fallen silent.

“You’re muted,” a voice moved in front of xem, the white-headed bot’s sneer practically burned into his screen,

“Now gimme the damn jewelry ‘fore you get hurt.”

Completely still, the tailor glared knives through the stranger’s eyes.

“What, ‘re you deaf too?” He muttered, kneeling to xir level,

“Hand em over.”

Theo continued glaring, refusing his demand by shuffling a few inches backwards.

“I’ll do it myself then,” his hand extended to the tailor’s chest, pulling at the gems around his-

CLACK! A hearty backhanded slap left a dent in his right cheek— shards of glass scattering across the alley to his left. He grasped his screen, black liquid seeping between his fingers,

“..Yyou little-“

“Hey jackass!” Blazer called, chucking the bait phone back at the mugger, though it clunked against the wall behind him,

“Back off.”

“Goddammit.” On his feet, he pulled a pocket knife from his hoodie— pointing the end of it directly at the tailor’s eye,

“Try anything and the pretty boy gets hurt.”

Theo’s screen flickered with offense to that— easing himself away from the blade’s edge. Blazer continued pushing forward, rolling up his sleeves as he growled,

“I’m gonna turn you into a fuckin scrapyard.”

“What did I just say, tin can?” He backed towards the grounded tailor, waving the knife,

“Your little hissy kitten here won’t like what’s-“

CLACK!

Another slap, and all three silently watched as his knife skittered across the alley, eventually clunking against a wall.

Blazer snorted.

“…You ain’t the brightest tool in the shed, are you?”

“Shut your GODDAMN MOUTH-“ the mugger bolted towards him, fists reeled back-

“Aight, let’s go then,” Blazer shifted his stance— at the ready when the assailant tried to swing, he ducked under and returned fire by punching him square in the chest.

“OUGH— you piece of-“ he growled, regaining his bearings before attempting to kick the retired mercenary’s legs. Blazer’s stance remained entirely unmoved, causing him to chuckle,

“Nice try— not so easy when your victim can fight back, ain’t it?” He reeled back and sent another punch, this time landing in the middle of his opponent’s already cracked screen.

“ACH-“

“That’s for pissing me off,” Blazer growled as the assailant recoiled, then kicked him to the ground,

“And this is for trynna rob my wife.” He stomped into his chest, leaving a crater-like dent in his chassis— and finally clicked the power button on the companion’s face.

He stood straight with a huff, then rushed to his partner still kneeling on the ground, reaching out a hand to pull xem up,

“Babe, I’m sorry- did he hurt you?”

Theo shook his head, simply beginning to fiddle with something on the back of xir neck.

“Ah- here, lemme,” the taller companion gently took a loose wire in his rust-colored hand and plugged it back in, sighing in relief when his partner beeped.

“Thank you, that’s all I needed,” Theo’s eye glowed softly,

“He managed to sneak up and mute me as he kicked me to the ground.. Can you believe the audacity?”

“Cheh,” he glared at the bot on the concrete for a moment, then back at Theo,

“Talk shit get hit. …You sure you’re not hurt?”

Xe dusted off the side of his skirt, inspecting the floor for a moment,

“Mm, I don’t think the dress ripped.. oh-“ xe crouched at the knee, turning something over in xir hand for a moment before handing it to his partner,

“My apologies, your poppy seems to have been a casualty,”

“Theo-“ Blazer pinched his screen, smiling,

“I’m not talking about the outfit, I’m talking about you,”

“Oh. Well,” bright, xe stood and gave xemself a hurried once-over.

“I’m alright, as far as I can tell,”

“Which ain’t a very good measure,”

“Just because I can’t feel pain doesn’t mean I can’t tell if I’m leaking,”

“Theo the back a’ your hand is scratched.”

The tailor’s left hand, the one xe’d cracked his assailant’s screen with, had revealed a thin strip of grey-blue undercoat.

“..ah.” Xe glanced to the other end of the alley, tucking the hand into xir chest,

“It’s… been a while since I’ve seen that,”

“Babe,” Blazer took it, pressing the mark to his speaker in a short kiss,

“It’s alright, we got an extra thing of paint at home, we’ll get it patched up in no time,”

Theo’s fans audibly whirred, xir eye at full brightness.

“As for the rest of you,” Blazer reached down and lifted the tailor under his thighs, earning a distraught “eEP-“ in protest as he carried xem bridal style,

“I ain’t taking any chances,”

“Love, I’m alright-“

“Nope, I’m gonna call Eddie soon as we get home- I’m sorry babe, I wasn’t thinking,”

Xe laughed, “You came back and took care of it- and he didn’t manage to steal anything, thankfully,” Theo clutched the necklace in his hand, then shifted to wrap xir arms around Blazer’s neck,

“Oh— I didn’t even check if your poor jacket had any damage,”

“Dolly? Of course, you’re always welcome,”

The purple bittybot tip-toed through the door with her hands behind her back, her screen marked with a dim expression,

“S-sorry, I didn’t mean to bother you,”

“It’s alright honey, I’m just hemming the end of this skirt at the moment,” Theo scooted back over to his desk, focusing back on xir work as he picked a pin off of his magnetic arm,

“Did you need something?”

“I… wanted to ask you,” her view glued to the floor, Dolly stepped slightly closer,

“When… are you gonna punish me?”

The tailor’s eye shot upwards, tilting xir head as xe turned towards her,

“…pardon?”

“I… I lied to you, I got dirt all over the floor, I b-broke a glass, I didn’t get up in time this morning,”

Theo only blinked, still genuinely confused,

“And?”

She swayed.

“an— and I took food, I-I ate too much without asking and now I’m sick and it’s my fault,”

“you’re sick?”

“Yes!” She cried, then stepped back- continuing in a carefully hushed manner,

“A-and it’s my fault, ‘cause I didn’t ask or listen and I lied to you and please-“ revealing the item behind her back, the bittybot handed Theo a leather belt they must have gotten from his room,

“j-just, do it quickly,”

The tailor’s eye shrank, setting his project to the side before gently taking the belt out of her hands— which turned to clenched fists kept at her sides as she prepared for the blow.

“Oh, good gods— sweetheart, I—“ glancing between the belt and the child, Theo stood- rolling his desk chair towards them,

“Could you sit down please?”

Still stiff as a board, Dolly obeyed, sitting with her hands pinned beneath her legs.

“You said you’re sick?”

After a short nod, Dolly spoke,

“m..my tummy hurts, really badly,”

“Oh, honey it’s alright- you must have eaten too quickly, be gentle with yourself,”

She nodded.

“As for.. the other things,” the tailor walked to an empty shelf, placing the belt above where she could grab it,

“Why did you feel it necessary to lie to me?”

With a quiet whimper, the bittybot took a deep breath,

“C-cause… I love you,, and I don’t want you,, to hurt me,”

Theo squinted, tilting his head slightly.

“So… you came to me, with a belt, asking me to whip you?”

Sucking in another breath, Dolly folded in her seat— her arms shot to cover her screen as she heaved sobs,

“I-I’M SORRY,, I’m so s-sorry please, PLEASE I-I don’t—“

“Oh sweetheart—“ the tailor rushed to her side, realizing xir mistake in phrasing-

“I apologize, I’m just a bit confused,”

“No, no no please no, I— p-please,” Her babbling was practically incoherent, rocking themself back and forth in a desperate attempt to self-soothe,

“Honey, here- could you look at me?” Theo knelt down on the floor and into her field of view, bringing the child’s attention back to him,

“You’re not in trouble, sweetheart. And even if you were- getting lashings isn’t ever what you deserve— that’s not what anyone deserves,” xe spoke calmly as she watched, tears streaming down her screen,

“What you need.. is some rest. That tummy ache will feel a lot better later, and then we can talk,” Theo held a pink hand out, xir palm facing the ceiling,

“Do you want to go up to your room, or take a nap on the couch?”

With a slight whimper and a sniffle, the bittybot glanced at the sewing room door before giving her answer in a whisper,

“…t-the couch,”

“Then that’s where we’ll go,” her hand in his, Theo stood- guiding her out to the living room where she climbed onto the sofa. With her laying curled tightly on her side— the tailor covered her in a soft throw blanket, patting her head gently with a smile,

“Once you’re feeling better, I’ll explain my process with a bit more clarity for you,” He spoke with the same kind and soft tone she knew from the day she ran away— the same tone she knew from the very day they met, the day she felt she could trust xem,

“Don’t rush yourself, be gentle… if you still feel bad in an hour or two, let me know and we can find another way to help you, alright?”

After another sniffle, the child nodded, burying her face in between her arms.

//

“Yo Big T! I’m ho—“ Blazer stopped in his tracks, spotting the purple bittybot sleeping soundly on the couch— tiptoeing around her to find his roommate in the kitchen.

“Hey… what’s with the kid?” He whispered, tilting his head in concern. Theo sighed, glancing at the sleeping child before responding,

“She… came to me earlier, through a fit of sobs— and asked me to whip her with a belt,”

Blazer blinked.

“…The fuck?” Screen bright, the taller bot tried his best to keep his voice down-

“That’s… evidently just what she’s used to,” his roommate shrugged, leaning back against the counter,

“As deplorable as that is,”

“I’m gonna fuckin’ kill him.” Blazer crossed his arms, earning a half-chuckle from the shorter bot,

“Believe me, I understand the sentiment— but we have to work on improving Dolly’s life before worrying about him.”

The rusty bot gave a single nod.

“Mm… y’need me to do anything?”

“Nothing more than what you’re already doing,” Theo set his tea kettle on the stove before turning it on,

“You still need to earn her trust— though your standing with her must have improved if they’ve chosen to sleep in the open,”

“I was gonna say— out on the couch like that? Thought I was scarier,” Blazer joked.

“Take it in stride, you’re gaining a serious amount of favor,” Theo patted his roommate’s shoulder, turning to rummage through a cabinet for a moment before muttering something to xemself.

“What’d you forget?” Blazer teased.

The tailor sighed, “They’re taking a nap right now because she’s had some stomach problems— if you could run to-“

“Get some ginger, right? Got it,” he gave a thumbs up, already halfway to the front door,

“Keep your eye on ‘er. I’ll be back soon as I can,”

“What would I do without you?” Theo smiled.

//

“How are you feeling?” Theo sat on the couch adjacent to the now groggy child.

“…mmm, better,” they nodded, though still refusing to look xem in the eye.

“Here, I made you some ginger tea,” The tailor slid a pink mug towards her with a smile, leaning back in his seat.

“..ginger… tea?”

“It’s something they say the ancestors used to help with stomach issues. Most bots tend to agree it works for us as well—albeit with debates on whether or not it’s just a placebo.”

She swayed her legs off the edge of the couch, tilting her head at the mug on the table.

“I wouldn’t drink it immediately— I have no idea how hot that would be for you,” Theo chuckled, taking a careful sip of his own tea.

Dolly picked up the cup, silently staring at it long enough for the steam to condense on her screen.

“So, let’s talk about… punishments,” Theo watched her wince at that, her black hand instinctively grasping at the blanket still covering her lap.

“Dolly, I want you to fully understand me when I say this— because it was true of me before you moved in, and will remain true after,”

The bittybot’s gaze searched the tailor for any mal intent— the pink bot sitting comfortably cross-legged with xir cup held by both hands, his eye radiating a softness she just couldn’t place as malicious… he continued to speak,

“I am never going to use corporal punishment—physical violence—against you, in any capacity. I view that as assault, and therefore not befitting of reprimanding a child.”

She… didn’t seem to react to that, at least not in a way that conveyed she understood— so xe decided to take a different approach,

“In.. simpler terms,” Theo gestured vaguely,

“I am never going to hurt you, sweetheart. I don’t think whipping, or spanking, or anything of the sort has or ever will work properly as a form of correction.”

“B-but— what about.. i-if I’ve been really bad? Like, I stole something, o-or lied,”

“The first thing I would do, is simply ask you why,” Xe set xir mug on the coffee table between them,

“What thought process led you to think stealing or lying was necessary?”

Her gaze fell back to her tea, stirring it slightly,

“Cuz…I don’t want you to hurt me,”

“Exactly—“ Theo nodded, “Above all else, I don’t want you to be scared of me. Clearly, physical punishments only reinforce that you should be,”

The tailor crossed his legs, leaning back in his seat once again,

“I understand that trust is earned, so I can’t ask you to automatically just— flip the switch, so to speak,” Theo chuckled,

“But I hope this gives you a better understanding of how you can expect to be treated,”

Dolly took a sip of her tea, thinking for a moment… before giving a short smile,