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Rob sat in Penny’s living room, not daring to look at Penny. He anxiously tapped his fingers on the armrest of the couch. Penny sat on the other side of the couch, happily watching the tv in front of her. She occasionally glanced over at Rob with a content smile on her face.
Once again, Gumball had gotten them together just to leave them alone for hours. Rob knew that this was Gumball's way of getting them to bond. Gumball had left with another one of his dumb excuses. He had said something about ‘going to feed his pet brother.’ Rob wasn’t exactly sure what that meant.
Rob glanced at Penny for the thousandth time in the past ten minutes. He clasped his hands together.
Now Rob loved Gumball and Rob loved Penny too, but he couldn’t help but to feel a bit…awkward around her. Rob and Gumball had been through it all! He couldn’t help to fall for Gumball. But with Penny…
He didn’t hate Penny; he just didn’t really know her. Sure, he knew plenty about her. How couldn’t Rob? He was Gumball’s nemesis for months. Rob was bound to know a thing or two about Gumball's personal life.
But Rob and Penny had only been dating for about a month. Sure he had been on dates with her, but never by himself. Gumball was always there to get conversations going.
“You doing okay? You’re awfully quiet.” Penny asked, breaking the silence. Rob quickly turned his head before adverting his gaze again.
“Oh, yeah yeah, I’m fine.” He stuttered out. Rob could feel Penny’s eyes on him. He glanced over at her, noticing a loving smile on her face. Rob’s static crackled a bit louder.
“You know, we’re never usually alone.” Penny pointed out. Rob hummed in response, looking at the TV.
“I’ve noticed that too.” He muttered. It was a comment that was more meant for himself instead of Penny.
“Anything you wanna talk about?” Penny asked. Rob was dreading that question. He knows Penny was just trying to make him feel included, but he’d rather sit in silence.
Rob’s eye quickly scanned the living room, trying to find anything to talk about. As much as he liked talking about evil schemes, he was sure Penny wouldn’t find that interesting.
His eye landed on a family portrait hanging on the wall. It looked like a traditional family photo. Mr. and Mrs. Fitzgerald, Polly, and…someone else. Someone Rob didn’t recognize. The person blended in with the rest of the family with the same brown shell and antlers.
Rob looked at every photo in the room. Penny was replaced by this mystery person in every single one.
“Who’s that?” Rob asked, pointing to the picture hanging on the wall. Penny looked back at the photo, a sentimental smile growing on her face.
“That’s me before I came out of my shell,” Penny said happily, eyeing the picture. “I forgot to tell you about it. It must’ve slipped my mind.” She chuckled.
“Oh,” Rob responded. That would explain why Penny wasn’t in any pictures. A long pause came between the two.
“How did it happen?” Rob suddenly blurted. He quickly pursed his lips, staring at Penny with a wide eye. It was rude to ask a question like that.
To Rob’s surprise, Penny giggled.
“Oh, it’s silly.” She chuckled. “Gumball cracked my shell during a school play. He helped me break out. I’m glad it happened; I feel so free now.”
He didn’t know about all of that. He nervously picked at his hand.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Does it ever hurt?”
“Huh?”
“After you changed. Does it…hurt?”
Penny paused for a moment, thinking. “Not usually. Why do you ask?” Penny inquired. Rob paused, looking down at his hands.
“I changed too. And sometimes it hurts.” Rob confessed. He looked at Penny, who wore a look of concern. “It’s fine now! I’ve gotten used to it, and it isn’t that bad! The static doesn’t even bother me anymore.” He quickly backpedaled, dismissively waving his hand.
Penny eyed Rob, seemingly staring at his static. There was a glint of curiosity in her eyes.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how did you change?” Penny asked, leaning a little closer. Rob sharply inhaled. What is he supposed to say? That he used to be trapped in a different realm meant for mistakes? That would make him sound crazy!
“It’s fine if you don’t want to answer; I don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” Penny reassured. Rob shook his head.
“No, it’s fine,” Rob reassured. He swallowed, tapping the armrest. He needed to phrase this as vaguely as possible.
“I was…a mistake,” Rob started. He gestured to himself. “That’s what happened. I was a mistake, and it destroyed me. In a way…Gumball helped me break out too.” He explained. A long silence filled the room; the only thing filling it was the tv.
“...You think you’re a mistake?” Penny asked, her voice cracking a bit. Rob looked over at his girlfriend. She stared back at Rob with sadness in her eyes.
“No, no, I don’t mean it like that! I’m a literal mistake!” Rob quickly explained. This seemed to make Penny more upset.
“I was boring. Just a background character. I didn’t have any parents or character arc. I didn’t even have a name for a while. It’s no surprise I was erased from existence!” He rambled with a laugh. His static crackled loudly. So loudly that it drowned out the tv.
Penny’s brows furrowed. Rob slapped his hand over his mouth. He had said too much. Now she was going to yell and call him a freak; he was sure of it.
“Do…you wanna talk about it?” Penny asked. Rob blinked in surprise. Her reaction was surprisingly calm. Why wouldn’t it be? She was a relaxed person. Rob doesn’t know how his imagination drifted off like that.
Rob hesitated for a moment. Penny didn’t need to know about all of his problems. But he had already said a lot. And he knew Penny would never judge him. What would a few more words do?
“I miss the way I used to look,” Rob confessed. “I used to have hair and skin that didn’t hurt.” He balled up his fist and closed his eye. “I miss who I used to be. I know I wasn’t much, but…I miss when my life was simple.”
Penny inched closer to Rob. She pulled him into a tight hug. Rob rubbed his eye, attempting to hold back tears.
“I just want to go back.” Rob squeaked out.
“Change can take some getting used to. It took me a while too.” She mumbled. Rob leaned into Penny, holding her closer. Penny was warm and comforting. She was warmer than anything he had felt in a long while. Rob wiped his eye and sniffled.
“Do you ever wish you could go back? Rob asked. Penny hummed.
“Sometimes. I get hurt more often. It’s drafty without a shell.” Penny responded. Rob smiled a bit, finding comfort in Penny’s struggles. It made him feel like he wasn’t alone.
“Thanks for letting me talk. I know it’s childish, but I’ve never had anyone to talk to.”
Penny raised an eyebrow.
“Rob, you’re thirteen. You’re supposed to be childish.” She partially joked. Rob let out a dry chuckle. She was right, and he knew it.
Rob looked back at the tv. They had been talking for so long that he didn’t know what they were watching. Penny lightly squeezed Rob’s arm.
“I’m not sure who called you a mistake, but they’re wrong.” Penny gushed. Rob’s breath hitched.
“You’re not a mistake. You’re wonderful, and don’t let anyone tell you anything different.” Penny complimented. Rob’s face felt warm, and his static swirled into beautiful hues of pink and yellow. Colors Rob had never seen on himself.
Is this really happening? Compliments from Gumball were one thing but from Penny? This felt special. Rob’s heart pounded in his chest. He wanted to stay like this forever.
“Your static is pretty.” Penny sighed, leaning her head on Rob's. Rob couldn’t help but smile. He felt so loved.
The combination of Penny’s warmth and the tv whirring nonsense made Rob drift off. He leaned into Penny more, putting all of his weight on her. He was so tired.
“You okay?” Penny asked.
“Yeah, I’m just tired. The static makes it hard to sleep. Too loud.” Rob mumbled.
“You can sleep if you want. I don’t mind,” Penny suggested. Rob smiled and nuzzled his face into Penny’s arm. For the first time in a while, Rob felt secure.