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You were having a bad day. A really, really bad day. Little things kept setting you off, and it was just too fucking much.
You holed yourself up in your home. If anyone saw how weak you were right now, they’d probably either shoot you or rob you, if not both, as that was just the way it was on Pandora. The weak die and the strong thrive. What was the point in being strong if you could never have your weak moments? You were still strong, weren’t you?
Unfortunately for you, there was one person who didn’t take no for an answer, and he was outside banging on your door like a maniac.
“Minion!! I have something to show you!! Get out here right now and come praise my hard work!! Please??”
Claptrap. Sanctuary’s very own, very unneeded little guy. You appreciated his crude sense of humor and his effort to be kind, but you normally tried to stay away from him. He was too much sometimes, and you simply didn’t have time to deal with that.
You tried not to answer, tried to bite down on your lip to keep yourself from saying something very mean to him. You wondered if he would go away if you stayed quiet enough.
The banging ceased for just a moment before it continued, even louder this time and it was grating on your ears. “Miniooonn!! Don’t think I don’t know you’re in there! I may be super busy all the time, signing autographs and selling my body for my adoring fans, but I make time for my friends!! And, my friend, I’ve made time for you!! So don’t screw up my schedule just because you wanted to ignore me!!” There was a pause in his banging and in his speech before he spoke again, quieter this time. “Please?”
You scratch at your skin, biting your lip even harder. You curl up into a ball and bury your face into your knees. Claptrap’s efforts eventually quiet down, but just as you thought he left for good, he comes flying through your window. You scream as he screams and lands on your floor with a heavy thud. He quickly picks himself back up and laughs triumphantly.
“Hahaha!! When you’re someone like me, you learn your way around locked doors!!” He dusts himself off and turns towards you and gasps. His eye, big and unblinking, focuses on your tear stained cheeks and the bloodied gauze around your arm.
In your surprise, you hadn’t thought to try and roll down your sleeve to hide it from him. Now, you had no idea what to do. You were frozen as he slowly wheeled forward and gently grabbed your arm with his claws. He ran one claw over the bloodied cloth.
His voice was strangely soft, as soft as it could be despite his programming. “You… You didn’t tell me you got attacked by a stalker? Why didn’t you go to Dr. Zed?”
You knew he didn’t believe himself. You knew you couldn’t follow up on that excuse he so generously provided for you. You take a breath in.
“It’s not from a stalker.”
“A skag, then? A bullymong?”
“Not those either.”
“Did you get picked up by a rakk? Or-or maybe a psycho-“
“Stop. Please.” You pull your arm away from him and roll down your sleeve. You wanted to be mean, defensive as you always are. You wanted to appear strong, but you just didn’t have the heart for it. You were so tired. “I’ve just been… Going through a lot lately. Please leave.”
Claptrap seemed conflicted. His programming must be at war with itself. Follow an order or follow his metaphorical robot heart? After a moment of lagging, he decided he would defy the order.
“I’m- I’m not really good at comforting people. I’m usually the one being comforted, haha!” He fakes a cough and rubs his claw over his arm. “By-by myself, because no one else will. But, maybe I can listen?”
Despite shaking your head and opening your mouth to tell him off, nothing comes out, and you start to cry again. It’s a blur as you reach forward and pull him close for a hug. You vaguely feel his metal arms reach around your back as you uncontrollably spill your guts.
You never thought the day would come where you would break down in someone’s arms, let alone a Claptrap. In some weird way, it felt nice? Like a heavy, heavy stone was being lifted off your back. You still cling to him even as you finish babbling away your feelings. He started to rub your back, you don’t know when he started, but you just know that it was really, really nice. You almost melted into the touch, almost. You catch yourself before you can.
“Yeah, it-it never does get easier, huh?” Claptrap finally says, and you realize that was the longest you’ve ever heard him be silent. You honestly didn’t think it was even possible.
“No. Never.” You respond, slowly peeling away from him. You went to wipe your tears, but Claptrap gently pulls your hand away to wipe your tears himself.
Your heart panged at the gesture. This is the guy that everyone hates? This is the guy you’ve been avoiding?
You wonder if it’s the vulnerability that made you this weak, but you felt genuine remorse for him in this moment.
“I would… Try to give you advice, but I’m not really good at that. You’ve, seen me.” He gestures to himself as if you would understand what he was talking about.
You let your legs relax, and you lean slightly back against your bed. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, I’m a total mess! I can’t give advice, I don’t do anything to help myself!”
You hum softly, trying to think of a response to make him feel better about himself now that he’s helped you, but you were so tired, and you could feel your brain shutting down. “I don’t think you’re a mess.”
He seemed genuinely taken aback. His antenna straightened out, and he rubbed his eye, cartoonishly turning the light off and on as if he was blinking. “You think so?”
You nod, and he jumps for joy and starts spinning around and flapping his hands. You smile slightly. It felt even nicer to make him feel better. You were starting to snap out of this depressive episode of yours.
“No one’s ever said that to me before!! Usually they’re all like, ‘you suck Claptrap, go die!’ Or ‘I’d sell your parts for money, but you’re not worth the effort or even the gum off the bottom of my shoe!’” Claptrap mimicked the accents of the people who have said this to him, and you grab his antenna before he spins himself into a coma. He stops immediately and turns to you.
“Please calm down. I’m really tired.” You say softly, and he lets his arms go slack at his sides. “I’m going to take a nap now.” You go silent for a moment as a thought crosses your mind. “Why don’t you join me?”
Claptrap’s antenna started to blink rapidly, and he wheeled backwards a few steps with his claws beside his eye as if he was gasping. It occurred to you in your emotionally exhausted mind that his mimicking of human behavior was absolutely adorable, and you didn’t know how to feel about this.
“Wait, really?!”
You nod, and he spins around for another few rounds before stopping after remembering your request, but he still vibrated rapidly.
“Yes!!! Of course I want to sleep with you!!!” His eye flushes pink and so does the light on his antenna. “I-I mean, this is usually where I’d make a sex joke, but I’m too excited to even think of one!!”
You laugh a little, and he wheels closer to you, wrapping his arms around your non-damaged arm. Your chest was so much lighter now, thanks to this little yellow robot. It was the least you could do to offer him somewhere to sleep.
He helps you to your feet, and you sit back on your bed. He stands right in front of you, his claws tremble at either side of your knees as if he was suddenly scared to touch you. You gently grab his wrists, and his antenna wiggles like a sandworm in delight, giving him enough confidence to wrap his arms around your legs and hug you tight.
“I’ll sleep down here on the floor!! I won’t wake up until you do, and if I do, I’ll wait for you!!”
“No way. Get up here.” You pat your mattress, and you swear he almost short circuited. Comfort probably didn’t matter much to a robot, but it would make you feel better if he hopped up here anyway. Your mattress would certainly be soiled from the dirt and grime on his body, but you were too tired to even care about that right now.
Claptrap hesitantly started to climb up and you help him up the rest of the way. He fell forward on the bed despite his best efforts to balance on his wheel.
“I wasn’t really made to traverse this texture.” Claptrap shook in embarrassment. “I’ll-I’ll sleep on the end of your bed.”
“You’re not an animal.” You crawl over to your pillows and adjust them so he could lay on one. You pull him up, and he squeaks in surprise as you lay him down. “I’m too tired to deal with any protests, so just accept this, okay?”
Claptrap really did short circuit at that. You couldn’t tell if it was your soft tone of voice that did this or the fact that you were offering him a bed to sleep in for probably the first ever time. You wouldn’t be surprised by either option. You adjust your blankets, deciding the thought could wait until after you woke up, and you lay down next to him and turn away.
As you were falling asleep, you felt two metal arms wrap around your waist and a soft, almost inaudible, “thank you.”
You melt into his touch with a smile on your warm face.