Work Text:
The day had been rough. As rough as it could get, really, for the robot currently sitting and festering with his jumbled, messed up thoughts. It started fine, waking up with his boyfriend, OJ, something that was mostly normal, as long as OJ didn’t spend the night in his office, or MePhone didn’t fall asleep elsewhere on the island, or hotel. It was even nice, waking up being held close, but of course, like most days, it only ever went downhill from there once the two had to actually get out of bed.
Some spilled coffee to start this downward spiral, several judgemental looks from things he had said in the day, and constantly missing social cues landed him embarrassed, and unhappy enough to have spent most of the day in his and OJ’s shared room, only barely after noon rolled around. Of course, he didn’t want to bother OJ with his terrible start to the day-- he was a busy guy after all, so… Back to the room he went, and stayed.
It was evening. He had only just recently willed himself to change his shirt after the coffee thing hours ago, feeling too unhappy to do it earlier, but the uncomfortable feeling of it against his synthetic skin had really started getting to him. He sighed to himself as he flopped down onto the bed, rolling onto his side as he kept his gaze towards the window in the shared room. The curtain was shuttered, but cracks of the sunset shone through. It only just really added to the constant orange of the room, something MePhone was still getting used to, even after all this time. OJ definitely had some obnoxious, and questionable design choices. But that wasn’t what MePhone was currently stuck thinking about. It wasn’t even anything specific, but beyond just today, it was a lot of different things. His mechanical mind zoning in on so many things he’s done to embarrass himself, and look like a fool. So many instances of him doing something he was sure made other people just dislike him more.
And that’s where he laid for several hours, not budging from laying on his side, and certainly not making any movement at all, lest he set himself off emotionally. The last thing he needed to do was cry over feeling pathetic. That only ever proved the point. He hated that.
By the time he phased out of his thoughts, the sun was no longer peeking through the curtains. It was fully dark in the room. Surely he missed dinner by now.
He wondered if anyone would even notice, really. After a few moments, he willed himself enough strength to just curl up further in the bed, lowering the brightness on his screen face as he did so. He’d talk to OJ in the morning. Maybe.
OJ had definitely noticed the lack of his boyfriend at dinner. He asked around, nobody having heard or seen from him since noon. So for once, the ginger decided to put off his work, heading back to the shared room after finishing his dinner. The room was completely dark, and quiet. He didn’t want to turn on the light, not wanting to disturb his partner if he were asleep or something, but once his eyes adjusted to the light level, he could see his partner lying curled up in the middle of the two’s bed, a loose, long sleeved purple sweater over his frame, sleeves long enough to hide his hands. OJ also noticed the rise and fall of his chest, breathing, something that he didn’t technically have to do--, being a robot and all, but OJ did remember him saying something about it helping him feel more real at times, and who was he to judge. Though, this also meant that MePhone was active, and not in sleep mode, or shut off completely. He was always usually deathly still when in sleep mode. OJ let out a small hum, shutting the door to the room behind him as he stepped over to the bed, sitting on his side, though making sure to sit somewhere where he wouldn’t disturb the spot MePhone currently lay in.
“MePhone?” His tone was soft, and careful.
MePhone knew he wasn’t going to fool his boyfriend. He knew the other knew he was still awake, but he still didn’t have the heart to respond. Not verbally at least. Barely even physically either, feeling stuck in his spot currently, but he managed to move one of his hands out of the sleeve of his sweater. This was enough of a sign. MePhone listened, the slight sound of the clock set up on the wall, and his boyfriends quiet breathing helping to ground him a bit more, while OJ worked on forming a response. MePhone really appreciated how he would take his time to say the right thing. How he would barely ask ‘are you okay’ anymore, knowing how it always set him off more than anything else, rather asking;
“Is there anything I can do?” His tone was still quiet, as if not wanting to disturb the air in the room much, but still helping to make it less upsetting for the robot. MePhone thought for a moment, trying to figure out how to get a message across without having to speak, resulting in him making a slight ‘grabby hands’ motion with his visible hand. OJ gave a small, purely lighthearted chuckle at this gesture. MePhone felt the bed shift a little, before a pause;
“I’m going to move you a bit, is that okay?”
He gave a small nod, the best he could do, before OJ slowly, and carefully moved, sitting fully on the bed now, and moving MePhone a bit to where his head was in the ginger’s lap. MePhone upped the brightness on his screen a bit, not enough to be too bright, but definitely bright enough for OJ to see his face now. OJ looked down at his partner, a soft, calm, and loving smile on his face as MePhone slowly moved his head to look up at him, too. He couldn’t help but blush, hearing another chuckle from OJ as he was sure it was visible to the man.
“Bad day?”
MePhone gave a slight nod, glancing away again. He was at least, thankfully feeling more physically capable of moving a bit more, as he adjusted his position to something more comfortable, still keeping his head in OJ’s lap, as the other wordlessly moved to run his fingers through the robot’s synthetic hair. MePhone shuddered a bit at the feeling, but immediately melted into the comfort it provided. Despite the shitty day, he felt safe right now. It was silent for a while between the two, MePhone mostly just keeping his eyes closed, trying to relax the best he could. This was… Nice. After a while, MePhone shifted again, OJ moving his hand away as MePhone sat up, only half sitting, but mostly leaning into the other still, as he wrapped his arms around him, nuzzling into his chest. OJ still smiled, even though MePhone wasn’t looking at him anymore, resting his chin on the top of the other’s head, while wrapping his arms around the other, holding him in a safe, shared embrace. After another bout of silence, MePhone’s breath hitched. He couldn’t help it. All this quiet, though safe, was still enough for his thoughts to conflict. He felt so safe, sure, but he also still just felt so sad. Which felt stupid in itself. He shouldn’t be feeling like this right now. But he was. He shuddered as OJ started moving his hand, rubbing circles in the robot’s back. MePhone couldn’t help but cling closer to his boyfriend.
“It’s okay. You’re okay.” OJ let out softly, of course noticing this shift in the robot’s mood. This was what hit the robot the hardest. He couldn’t hold his feelings in anymore as he quietly sobbed into his boyfriend's chest, gripping onto the back of his shirt as the two still hugged, like he’d lose everything if he let go. OJ sat there, patient as ever as MePhone let it out, though he wasn’t expecting the robot to finally start talking, the tears just being the start to his emotional vulnerability for the night.
“‘m sorry. I-- I’m so sorry.” MePhone sobbed out, feeling so overwhelmingly ashamed, and sad. All of this over spilled coffee, and some weird looks. Totally not over all of this building up over time. Of course it wasn’t that. Just a pathetic instance of having one single bad day. Of course, that was only what MePhone let himself believe about the situation.
“You don’t need to be sorry, dear.” OJ shifted in his spot a bit, not moving enough to disturb MePhone’s current position, but giving him enough space to try to move the robot away to try to look at him, though he immediately stopped as he only clung on harder to the other, letting out a frankly pathetic whimper.
“Okay, you don’t have to look at me then, but please listen, you have nothing to be sorry for. I promise.”
“I-- I do, I really do,” MePhone was nearly in hysterics at this point, almost glad he didn’t actually have to breathe, knowing he’d probably be hyperventilating by now if he did. OJ frowned a bit. Of course he was feeling sad for his partner. He was silent for a moment, both trying to think of something to say, and or waiting for the robot to continue. MePhone continued.
“I-- I’m so pathetic. I- I’m th.. I’m sure I’m the laughing stock of the hotel. Y-y-you-- I-- I don’t-- I don’t deserve you. All I--”
“MePhone.” OJ called out, shushing him, his tone not harsh, but firm enough to get him to stop verbally spiraling.
“Don’t finish that sentence. MePhone,” OJ moved his position, moving one hand to the robot’s cheek as he guided the robot’s gaze up to his. It took MePhone a minute, but eventually he gained the courage to open his eyes, though his gaze darted elsewhere as OJ just stared at him, soft compassion on his face.
“First of all, you aren’t pathetic. Nobody is laughing at you. Second, what’s making you think you aren’t worthy? We chose each other. We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for each other, and I know I wouldn’t choose anyone else, chance or not.”
MePhone sniffled again, his grip on the other’s shirt lessening as he slowly sunk back down to where his head was in the other’s lap again. OJ moved his hand, wordlessly offering it to the other. MePhone hesitated, but slowly moved to hold the ginger’s hand. He still couldn’t meet the other’s gaze though. He just felt mostly silly now.
“I love you, MePhone. I really do.”
MePhone gave a small, tired nod, losing his words again. His cheeks were flushed again, but more so with embarrassment at his emotional outburst now. OJ, of course, didn't mind. This was still progress.
“Do you mind if I move us around again?” OJ asked softly. MePhone gave a nod, using most of his remaining strength to sit up to make it easier, as OJ adjusted the pillows on the bed, before getting up.
“I’ll put on my sleepwear and we can get some rest, okay?”
MePhone gave a hum of acknowledgement, as OJ stepped over to the dresser in the room, taking his usual sleepwear out before heading into the room's bathroom to get ready for bed. Hotel work could wait until morning.
MePhone just stared numbly at the covers on the bed, most of his crying, and emotions let out by now, leaving him just tired, and sleepy. He at least knew he’d feel better in the morning. He sniffled again, though of course it didn’t really mean much considering his lack of real breathing, but… It really did help him feel at least slightly more real when he did, so there was no mind to it. His tired gaze moved over to the bathroom door, to the crack of light under the door, the only light in the room really, other than the faint moonlight through the window, and his dimmed screen. He looked away as OJ opened the door, the light from there briefly invading the room, before OJ flicked the switch off. The ginger yawned as he stepped over to his side of the bed, a tired smile on his face as he slipped back into bed. MePhone hesitated in moving, still sitting up straight, though as he moved his gaze to the ginger, he watched the other make the same ‘grabby hands’ motion from earlier, as if inviting him into a hold. MePhone let out a small chuckle at that. It really did look silly. Who was he to deny a request to cuddle.
At least with a poor start to the day, he was able to have a nice night. There was still hope that tomorrow would be better.