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It has been a stressful day, they're so extremely tired to the point Bot has to basically drag their feet across the ground to get where they need to. They promissed Bow they would pay a visit at the mansion but they're not sure they can even get there, it's like the weight of the world is on their shoulders and it sort of is.
Bot has been helping Test Tube out the best they could; hosting and putting Fan's challeges into motion, studying the Game Bible, being emotional support not only for her but to everyone else that was feeling anxious about what was happening. Bot was overwhelmed, to say the least, the OSC was helping sure, also hosting when they could, and Bow always offered a place to stay if they needed a drink of hot oil. And of course, there was Poppy.
Bot trips and falls face to the ground, they grumble under their breath, maybe that's a sign they need to rest for a few minutes, because the robot does not feel like getting up. They spot a small lonely flower on the middle of the grass patch, sitting up, they yank it from the ground and spin it on their hand, it was a poppy, how fitting. Their mind goes back to the corn again, Poppy has also been helping, not in the same way as the others however.
To make a relative long story short, they've been dating for a while now, Bot confessed, Poppy accepted, and they love each other very much; Poppy gives them a shoulder to lean on when Bot can't take the pressure, their kisses calm them down like magic, and there's no better feeling than to make the corn smile. Bot loves Poppy very much, and Poppy loves them back.
Bot pulls one of the petals and lets it fall, they mutter “Loves Me” under their breath, not paying too much attention, they're still thinking about their partner. They haven't told Test Tube about it yet, or anyone for that matter, the robot being the one who asked for things to be that way, mostly for TT's sake. She doesn't trust Poppy, something Bot has been trying to help her fix even before the dating, it's a slow road, and taking such a huge step will only set them back.
Poppy agreed to keep it a secret, they are always understanding and complient with Bot's wishes, but they couldn't help but notice the disappointment in the corn's eyes, on how their smile seemed to die for a split second before coming back, Bot knows they don't like the idea of keeping it a secret, but it's necessary. Bot makes sure to kiss them a lot to make sure they feel loved.
“Loves me not”
Poppy has been getting new friends Bot has noticed, which is amazing! They're so happy they're finaly being seen as the amazing and smart person they are! Being friends with Paper led him to introduce them to his friends, that then turned into their friends. Bot has never seen Poppy more happy, they always have a new story or new joke to tell when they cuddle about their day now, something that isn't negative. That is, when they get time to cuddle.
“Loves me”
Bot is always busy with setting up season 4, and Poppy is always busy competing, so they don't exactly get much time together, when they do, they are all over each other and stay glued like magnets, but those calm moments are getting more rare by the day. Bot can count on one hand how many times the corn denied their invites, choosing to hang out with their friends instead, it's a small number, but it still worries Bot. They know it's selfish to want Poppy so much, greedy, they're allowed to have friends and be with them, but Bot can't help but feel left out a lot.
“Loves me not”
The friend that worries Bot the most is MeTag, yes, Poppy's first friend, the one that has been there for them even before Bot themselves. They can't explain if it's the fact that MeTag's bold move was what snowballed into Fan getting in the hospital or if it's the fact they're a Meeple product that has a direct contact with the outside world; this isn't fair to think, because MePhone was also from Meeple, and Bot misses him every day; but every time they catch Poppy wispering something to MeTag, plotting, planning, they can't help but feel a wave of anxiety hit.
“Loves me”
Poppy loves them, but Poppy also wants answers, more than anything, Poppy wants to know about themselves, feel like they belong to somewhere. Bot knows they want to know more about that corn from that night, that Poppy wants to see the outside of this island, Bot warned that it's too dangerous, that the whole island would be in danger if their location was known; Poppy wasn't happy, far from that, and the small robot knows it's unfair, that they don't deserve to be left on the dark about their own origins, that they can't even learn about their own father, but the other side of Bot also says that dozens of object lives should be more valuable than someone's curiosity.
But what can that curiosity lead to? What if Poppy and MeTag ARE planning, what they'll try to escape, what if they tell everyone where the island is, what if Bot loses Test Tube, or Goo, or Clover? They don't want to think that will happened, because they trust Poppy, they know the corn would never hurt anyone, but how far are they willing to go for answers? Bot wants to be enough for them to be happy but what if they never are? What if Bot isn't enough-
“Loves me not.”
There's no more petals on the flower. Bot is holding the last one.
They stare at the now bald flower, if Bot didn't take it out of the ground, it would've survived for a long time, but now it doesn't even have a shadow of it's former glory, Bot destroyed it.
They let the petal and the stem fall to the ground, their hands are slightly shaky but they don't pay it much attention, getting up in a flash and walking away.
Bot has places to be.