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Fink stormed inside the conference meeting room red-faced, burying herself in her father’s lap.
Professor Venomous gave an awkward smile. He had been talking to Eugene and Carol about their new regulations and guidelines of what Venomous could and couldn’t do with K.O. (since his only daughter had been Fink, and though the box-bots do technically count, they weren’t the best examples…) Strange how late they had been having this conversation, I mean, K.O. and Fink have grown to be 13-18! It’s crazy! I guess printing these papers and preparing this cob-to-death boring slideshow took the couple a while…
Eugene sighed, “make it quick.” He grunted.
“Thanks, Sparks.” Venomous helped his daughter up and escorted her to her room, despite her protests. This was gonna be a long day…
“Boss-Daddy, I’ve had an awful day today!” Fink complained, “I need to rant— more than anything!”
Venomous couldn’t help but give in. Despite his ongoing meeting with Eugene and Carol, he could always make time for his favorite littlest rat daughter. (though he’d never tell poor Shannon)
“Of course, Fink- here, I’ll get you a box of ti-“ Fink tugged at his lab coat.
“Mama’s boy’s stupid kappa friend kept bugging me today! I was just starting to get used to one idiot, now I have two!” She plopped herself on her fairly-sized bed, kicking her legs.
“Oh? What’d she say?” Venomous crossed his legs, ignoring the knocking of the door from outside.
“She kept saying things like— like—“ she stammered, “she called me.. pretty.”
Venomous chuckled, “now, why are you upset about that? She’s complimenting you.” He squinted, trying to recall who K.O.’s kappa friend could be. Occasionally, K.O. would bring along a close friend— oh that kappa in the yellow jumpsuit with the really cute goggles! He remembers her.
“Well, she’s really annoying! She keeps smiling at me even though she knows that annoys me! A-and that’s not all! I get super sweaty when she hugs me and she ignores me whenever I tell her to stop!” Fink continued listing out reasons.
“Erm- Fink, would you mind describing… a bit more in depth, how this kappa makes you feel?”
Fink pondered, and for some strange reason the two could sense the aura of a piano playing. And it wasn’t just them. Eugene and Carol gave each other a scared glance.
“I hear singing and there’s no one there.” Fink replied. Venomous opened his mouth to respond, but Fink cut him off.
“I smell blossoms and the trees are bear.”
“All day long I seem to walk on air.”
“I wonder why…” Fink looked into her father’s eyes with such innocence that could make him burst into laughter.
“I keep tossing in my sleep at night… and what’s more I lost my appetite!” She waved her arms, “Stars that seemed to twinkle in the sky are twinkling in my eyes, I wonder why…”
Finally, Fink silenced herself. Venomous could speak. He pat her shoulder adoringly, oblivious to Carol and Eugene’s snooping.
“You don’t need analyzing. It’s not so surprising- that you feel very strange but… nice.”
Fink gave him a shocked expression, as if she witnessed him kill someone.
“Your heart goes pitter-patter,” Venomous described, playing with Fink’s hair, “I know just what’s the matter.”
His face flushed as he daydreamed of Boxman while explaining thoughts of love to Fink. Oh, cob, he could gush about that Boxman for hours. It’s what made him such a vulnerable, delicate villain. He hated it, but he loved him.
“‘Cause I’ve been there once or twice…” Fink’s pupils dialated at the softness of Venomous’ voice.
She wrapped her arms around her dad, laying her head on his shoulder. He ruffled her hair.
“With your head in my shoulder, you need someone who’s older”, He chuckled, recalling when he first found Fink, “a rubdowh with a velvet glove…” his voice became sweeter.
“There is nothing you can take to relieve that pleasant ache. You’re not sick, you’re just in love.”
Fink’s eyebrows furrowed at Venomous’ non-chalant sentence. And Carol and Eugene swore what they heard was… friendly arguing? Either way, it was funny and adorable to them. Fun-dorable.
The conversation ended with Fink giving in, confessing her feelings for Dendy to her dad.
“Stop your analyzing cause you’re-“
“Just in love!” The two hugged Venomous scrunching Fink’s head before leaving her room to give her some alone time and to get back to his meeting.
He was surprised to find Carol and Eugene outside.
Carol laughed, “so who’s this kappa friend again?”
Venomous nudged his ex-girlfriend playfully. “Look, I’m sorry I left so adruptly. It’s just- Fink’s getting older, y’know. But… so is K.O. and I’m going to try to change. Just for him.” His smile was weak, but meaningful to the couple.
The things we do for love.