Chapter Text
Chapter 1
I stand out on the open field. "What have I done wrong," I think to myself, "to have deserved such torture?" I have had a feeling of uncertainty about myself ever since I was first built 118 years ago. My boilers hiss as I wander around aimlessly. Not thinking when, or if, I would ever return to the Walter Manor, I stumbled over some old robotic faces of mine. I forgot that when I feel like this I usually get angry and chuck my old faces into the distance, hoping they morph into what I really want, although I don't really know what that is yet. I just hope that someday I will figure it out, and these long years of torture will have washed away.
The blades of grass rustle as I hear my brother call me, with his loud electrical hum buzzing over my shoulder.
"Brother! You should be at home! I know you like wandering these fields, but you have gone too far this time! Turn back NOW!"
"No. Never again will I be bossed around by YOU. So, in other words, I'll turn back when I wanna turn back. " I say flatly and with my arms crossed, hoping to scare my newly-upgraded brother more than he scares me. It seems to work.
"Geez. Fine. I'll go away. See you later, Rabbit! I trust you will be back soon!"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure, whatever. " I HATE how even though I am a year older than him, he acts like HE'S the adult.
He just doesn't understand. No one does. And he should stop calling me brother. He knows I don't like that. Call me sister.
Although I am male on the outside, anyone who really knows me knows that I am a girl on the inside. I have kept my favorite outfit (which I stole from the Walter Girls) locked away in the dark depths of my closet. Oh, the overcoat, the bow, the striped black and white blouse, the slick skirt, I am just gushing over everything. I think about putting it on in my room as soon as I get there. I rush inside, only to almost run into the great Peter Walter.
"Oh, Petey! I mean, umm, hello Petes! Can I ask you something, umm, in, uh, private?" I ask nervously. I am not sure if now is the best time to ask. But, I need to get it over with.
"Sure, Rabbit, but anything you need to ask me, you can ask in front of your brothers and Walter Girls." Peter stated, quite tersely. Of course, as soon as the word gets around Walter Manor, (which is about 3 times faster than a jet,) everyone crowds around Peter and I.
I just stand there waiting for everyone to leave. Stammering with uncertainty, I say, "Umm, Petes, I...uhh, I...have to go to the bathroom!" As soon as I say that, the oil leaks, no, explodes out of me, and I rush to the bathroom, trying to hold back what I can. It is no use. I look back, and I see the trail of the black, sticky goo.
"Sorry!" I scream back, knowing that the Walter Girls were either a) covered in it or b) already trying to clean it up. When I finally reach the bathrooms, I know that I should go into the man's, but I don't. I run into the woman's bathroom, and lock myself into the first stall, the one closest to me. Then, I sit on top of the toilet, and wait. I know the earlier "episode" will happen again, sometime. As soon as I think back to that moment, I start to cry, which I didn't even know was possible.
The tears stream down my face, my oxidation wearing away with every second. I see my reflection in the oh-so shiny stall door. I pick up some of the tears running away from me, and draw hair and boobs on my reflection. That cheers me up a little bit. Then, I suddenly hear a slight rapping on the stall door. I hadn't even heard anyone come in, I guess I was crying so hard.
"Yes?" I ask, tears shaking my every breath.
"Rabbit? It's Paige. I have something to show you. Come on out!"
"No. You don't want to see me. And anyways, how did you know that I was in here, and not the place I am supposed to be, the men's room?" I ask. I wish I could just hide under something, anything!
"Oh, I, uh, just followed the trail of oil, and, uh, I'm sure you don't look THAT bad. Come on out!" Wow, she is persistent! I think.
"Fine. I'll come out. " I slowly turn the lock, and open the door, only to stare Walter Girl Paige in the face. "Thank you, I guess, for coming to try and comfort me. But, what happened to your hair?" The hair that I fell in love with, the hair that I first got my gears tangled in when I first laid eyes on her, the beautiful, long black hair, with the wonderful blue streak, and it was gone! Well, not ALL of it. There was some left. It looked like my darling Paige got a hair cut! But, where was that other hair, and why were her hands behind her back? I suddenly feel the smack of hands against my cold hard metal skull, and my hat back on my head.
"Go look in the mirror," Paige instructs, "and tell me what you think." I do as she instructs, and as I get up, I feel something on my head that I have never felt before. I look in the mirror, and see HAIR! Short, black hair that goes perfect with my eyes.
"Oh, Paige! I LOVE YOU!" I scream, and without thinking, I reach out my hands, grab her face, and kiss her. As I stop, I start to say, "Oh my, I'm sorry Paige, I really didn't mean to..." The last thing I see, before I close my eyes, is her reaching out to me, kissing me again and her falling on top of me. I guess something good did come out of humiliating myself. "Paige?"
"Yes, my dear?"
"Can I sleep with you tonight? I'm worried about what my brothers might think of me."
"Anything your heart desires."
"Thanks."