Work Text:
Today was stressful. The higher-ups were asking so much from him. Every hour there was a new request. Look into this, design that. It was so much. Of course Subspace being the stubborn inphernal we was, he wouldn't dare ask for help. He ran around his lab grabbing different papers or viles only to run back to his desk to continue whatever it was that was needed of him at the time.
Gammagraft approached him after observing Subspace's erratic movements. "Sir, I believe a break would serve you well. You are obviously stressed and need to step away." Gamma observed.
"No!" Subspace snapped. "I don't- I cant take a break! They all expect this before I leave for the night." He gripped his pencil, seething "Just back off Gamma!" *He turned to the robot who stood there staring back at him* "Sir, as your personal care bot I-" He cut them off.
"I said back off. I will be fine." He then turned back to his work.
It started with the small things, biting on his pencil, pulling his sleeves past his hand, handwriting getting a bit messy. He refused to let it stop him.
Unconsciously he put his idle thumb into his mouth and he started to bite on his skin. Gamma took notice and approached him once more.
"Subspace. You need a break you are overworking yourself." The robot said sternly.
Subspace shook his head and continued to write as he nibbled on his fingers. He soon tucked his legs up to his chest, hiding them under his shirt so they'd stay up.
Gamma gently removed his fingers from his mouth and handed him something safer to chew on.
Subspace looked at them in disgust. "Is this some baby toy?! I don't need this!" His voice was slightly higher pitched and pouty. He threw the chew to the floor and went back to biting his pencil.
"Subspace. Your fingers and pencils are not appropriate chew toys. You could hurt yourself." Gamma said sternly, pulling the pencil away from his mouth.
"We are going to take a break, I do not believe you are big enough to be working right now." They reached for Subspace who ducked away from their grasp.
"What do you mean big?! I am plenty big!" He argued.
"Subspace, you are regressing right now, and I believe its best to take this moment as a break from your work." They placed their hands under Subspace's arms and lifted him.
"Put me down! I need to work! I am not regressing!" He whined out, but the whines fell on deaf ears as he was hauled away to a quiet room.
Once there Gamma placed him on a soft couch and closed the door. Their chest compartment opened to reveal a pink pacifier, pink sippy cup, and some grey toys such as blocks and a rattle.
Gamma took a blanket from the couch and laid it on the floor. They then sat.
"Come here little one, how about we play something." They said softly, patting the spot beside them and gathering the toys they had on hand.
"We can color or play with blocks. I can also read you a story while you rest. Come sit beside me and I can give you your pacifier and sippy cup." They coaxed.
Reluctantly, Subspace made his way to the floor, silently reaching for the pacifier and sippy cup. He placed the pacifier in his mouth and leaned against Gamma.
"I wanna color." He grumbled out, muffled by the pacifier.
Gamma grabbed the markers and coloring sheets and put away the rest of the toys in their compartment. "Here you go sweetheart, what do you wish to color?"
Subspace flipped through the pages searching for something before landing on a picture of a Midnight Crow, a native species of bird in Blackrock. He laid on his stomach and began coloring.
Gamma watched, gently patting the little on the head before getting up and filling the sippy cup with water. When they returned Subspace was proudly standing with the drawing in his hands all colored in.
"Amma!! Look!" He excitedly said, shoving the paper at the robot.
"Oh wow thats lovely my dear, shall we hang it on the fridge?" Gamma asked setting the cup on the table. Subspace nodded and ran to the fridge where he chose a bright blue circle magnet to hold up his drawing.
Quickly after that he ran back to the blanket and grabbed a blank sheet of paper ready to draw again.
Gamma sat beside him watching to make sure he didn't do anything dangerous. They rubbed his back and complimented his work until he was done once more.
Subspace revealed his work to Gamma, it was a picture of the two holding hands. Gammagraft held the photo and pat Subspace on the head. "This is lovely my little scientist, go put it on the fridge with your other one." They said, pointing at the fridge.
Subspace once again eagerly put his work up with a pink magnet, he grabbed his sippy cup from the table then ran back to Gamma, crashing into their lap.
"Im tired! I want a story!" He ordered, grabbing the blanket and covering himself. He sucked on his pacifier and held the sippy cup in his hands looking up at Gamma for a story.
He closed his eyes as Gamma read him something, soon drifting off to sleep. Gamma rubbed his hair and held him while he slept peacefully throughout the night. Whatever happened tomorrow could wait, right now all the big problems were obsolete.