Monster March: Hug the Robot

You’ve been working as a mechanic in the Ares Repair and Maintenance  since you were sixteen years old. You had been a friend of the owner’s  daughter, Mina, and after some altercations with your family they took  you in under their roof. This also meant you shared your roof with the  robot hero, Hephaestus. You honed your skills as a mechanic repairing  Heff and the other robots that tagged along with him.

When Heff  and Mina became a couple it wasn’t exactly a shock to you. The tension  the two had always held was always obvious to everyone but them. What  did shock you was how much Heff changed. The once brazen, hot-headed,  and arrogant leader was now taking a backseat. He seemed wiser and  somewhat calmer. He and Mina had started a sort of oasis for others like  Heff, heroes, and saviors who needed a place to call home and heal.  This place doubled as a school, teaching future world savers how to do  the job but go about it safe.

It shocked you when you were hired  to serve on the staff. People from all over the world had been vying for  positions in this school. You were given a lead mechanic job, something  that nearly caused you to break down crying about. Not only that, you  were giving lodgings on campus and you had the option to teach classes  if you so wished. You were just happy to have what you did.

Most  of your days were spent repairing and seeing to the health of the robot  staff, student body, and even some of Heff’s friends and crew. It was a  nice change of pace, and you were excited about the challenges you faced  each day.

One day, a robot came in with a smashed hand. He was  tall, but not nearly the same height as Heff. he had silvery white  plating and a sleek with one great big lens in the center and two rabbit  ear-like antenna jutting from the sides. His mouth was a cute little  ‘W’ shape and two rows of blinking colored lights on his cheeks. There  was a dome along his back and shoulders like reminded you a little of a  turtle-shell.

“I was told you were the best mechanic on campus.”  He says as you approach him. He holds his injured hand to his chest and  you notice he’s holding a crate in his other hand.

“Maybe not the  best,” you lower down your work goggles, but certainly the hardest  working.” You hold your hand out. “What happened here?”

“I was  trying to save a cat from getting hit by one of my students,” he  replied. “The poor thing wandered onto the track.” He sets the crate  down and inside you see the cat.

“Oh goodness,” you gasp.

“I  hate to make it wait, but I’m afraid I’m experiencing a bit of  trouble.” His voice is smooth and clear. It’s very relaxing to hear him.

You offer him a seat and you ease up beside him. “What sort of trouble.”

“I could move my arm earlier, now I’m afraid I’m not able to. It’s starting to move into my shoulder as well.”

You  sigh and reach out, easily able to move his arm away from his chest.  The lights on his cheeks flash yellow and pink. “Let me see here,” you  murmur as you look him over. His circuitry is much different from  Heff’s. Heff’s always resembled human anatomy to you in your mind. This  new robot’s inner workings reminded you of a toy you had as a little  girl.

“I’m Hug,” he says.

Your eyes flick up to him. “Hug?” You repeat slowly to make sure you heard him correctly.

“That’s correct,” he says.

You  lay his arm and hand out on your workstation and you begin to assess  the damage. “Does that stand for anything?” You ask, taking your micro  welder to his fingertips.

“Hardwired Utilitarian Golem,” he replies. “Hug.”

“Golem?” You ask.

“I  was modeled after the Jewish lore, or at least, that’s what my father.”  He replies, the lights on his cheeks flashing blue and green.

“So, you aren’t an alien like Heff is?” You ask, taking to his wrist.

“Not  exactly. Some of my biometrics and mechanics are alien based and even  derived from debris from alien robot battles. But I was born here on  earth.” His fingers flex and twitch. “Remarkable. That took you less  than five minutes.”

“I’m not done yet, Hug.” You smile up at him.

His  cheeks flash pink. “Ms. Mina mentioned you lived with her family for  quite some time. Does that mean you spent a lot of time with Mr.  Hepheastus?”

You chuckle. “Not really. Heff was a little bit of a  loner. I worked on him a lot. I used to be a mechanic in Mina’s father’s  shop.”

“Heff mentioned that he wanted you here some time ago but  wasn’t sure you’d leave the family shop.” He tilts his head and the  antenna on his head stick straight up. “Have you been settling in well  so far?”

“Oh, I guess so.” You lift up your goggles and wipe away some sweat. “I’m enjoying the job very much.”

“Have you explored the campus yet?”

You shake your head. “To be honest, I’ve barely left the garage or my quarters since I got here.”

“Shame. The campus is really remarkable.” His ears smooth back flat. “I could show you around if you’d like.”

Your eyes flick up to him and his cheeks have started flashing red lights. “Uhm… sure. If you’d like.”

You  make a date with Hug once you finish repairing him. He waves to you  with the hand you repaired as he leaves, his cheek lights still bright  red. You wave back to him, feeling your own cheek lights turned on.

He  comes and picks you up on the day agreed upon. “Ready?” he asks,  tilting his head slightly. His antenna flick back and forth and his  cheeks flash between yellow and pink.

“I suppose so,” you reply. “Show me around.”

He  holds his hand and you place your palm into his. Your heart is  hammering and you wonder if he intended that sort of reaction. He takes  you around campus, showing you the training halls, gymnasium, the track,  and field. Students are walking about and using the facilities. You see  so many new faces and people, it’s a bit overwhelming.

“Are you hungry?” Hug asks.

“Hmm?” You glance up at him.

“It’s  a little later than I intended to end the tour,” he replies. A clock  appears in the lens on his face. “I assume you must be hungry right  now?”

“Well, I wouldn’t mind grabbing a bite.”

“Then perhaps we should go off campus,” Hug replies. “Get away from the students for a bit.”

You had no problem with the students, but then again Hug was a teacher. “Sure,” you shrug.

Hug takes your hand again and you both walk together outside. He then takes his hand back. “Do you mind if I pick you up?”

You feel your face burn. “What?”

The  shell on his back opens up, splitting and then expanding outwards.  Wings appear on his back and start glowing bright white and hum. You  feel a heat radiate from them as he begins to hover off the ground. You  reach up, taking hold of his arms as he lifts you off the ground.

He  flies you into the city, which usually would be a couple of hours to  drive. It took him less than thirty minutes. He lands in the park and  nearby there is a food bus.

“A friend of mine operates that,” he replies. “I thought you might enjoy it.”

You  smooth back your hair and fix your clothes. “Oh, cool,” you’re still a  bit breathless from the flight. It’s not every day someone whisks you  off your feet like that.

Hug seems to do that often. After that  first little hangout, he stops by the garage often. He invites you to  lunch and takes you into the city. Your coworkers tease and giggle over  how enamored Professor Hug is with you. You try and brush it off, but  you find yourself excited to see Hug walk through the door.

One evening, you go to Hug’s quarters. He still has the cat he saved from the track and has built him an elaborate cathouse.

“I have something I’d like to ask you,” Hug replies suddenly after a long silence.

“Oh?” You look up from the cat in your lap. “Do you want to kiss me?”

His  cheeks flash pink and red extremely fast. His antenna shift and flick  and twitch. “I was-well you should- I wasn’t going to force anything!”

You  smile as you set the cat in its house and close the gap between you and  Hug. You kiss his cute W shaped mouth and place yourself in his lap. “I  like you, Hug,” you reply. “Quite a bit.”

“I’m glad,” his cheeks  glow soft pink. “I’ve been meaning to voice my affections for you for a  very long time. But I am not always certain.”

“What made you hesitate?” You ask.

“You’re  human and I am machine,” he replies. “It may not work out in the long  run. I am not like Mr. Hephaestus. I do not have ways of making myself  compatible with humans.”

“You don’t need to worry about making yourself anything to suit me. I already like you as is.” You reply.

“Yes well, humans have certain urges that I do not quite understand,” his cheeks go purple for a flash.

“Well, I don’t understand certain human urges either,” you lean your head on his shoulder.

“What do you mean?” Hug asks. His hand pets your back slowly.

You  chuckle. “I’m not exactly well…I don’t have normal human urges. Or  well, they’re normal to me but everyone else seems to think it’s weird.”  You sit up so you can look him in his face. “You don’t need to worry  about doing anything for me like Heff does for Mina. I much more prefer  being with you like this than anything else.”

“Well, if what you’re saying is true, we both do not experience sexual desire.”

You  shrug. “Not exactly the same way, but pretty much.” You smile at him  and lean in, kissing him again. “This more than makes me happy.”

He  wraps his arms around you and tucks his head into the curve of your  neck and shoulder. You hug him back, kissing the top of his head.

“I  do not know how to explain my feelings for you,” Hug murmurs. “All I  know is that the feelings are there. I was drawn to you and I could not  stop my trajectory.”

You chuckle. “That’s sweet.”

He lifts his head and bumps his forehead against yours. “I am very relieved my fondness is enough for you.”

“To  be honest,” you sigh. “I am actually very relieved,” you curl back into  his lap and the cat joins you. “Being with you, I don’t feel afraid.”

“Afraid?” Hug asks.

“Part  of the reason Mina’s family took me in was because my family life was a  little…scary.” You mutter. You glance up, seeing his cheeks are blue.  “I had an older brother and he didn’t understand my feelings or  anything. He thought that I just hadn’t experienced it right so-” you  frown and feel the heaviness in your chest. “Mina took me in right away.  She believed every word I had to say even when my parents didn’t.”

Hug’s arms tighten around you and he nuzzles to the top of your head. “I am so sorry you had to deal with such a thing.”

“I’m  fine now,” you murmur. “He never got to do anything too horrible. It  was still bad, but-” you sigh and relax in his arms. “You make me feel  safe.” You smile and close your eyes. “You’re warm and solid. I like  that.”

“I’ll try my hardest to keep you feeling this way,” he whispers. “If there ever comes a day that I fail you-”

“Hush,” you press your finger to his mouth. “You don’t need to worry about such things.”

The two of you start spending more and more time together. You even make the relationship official, going to Heff and Mina.

“Is that right?” Heff smirks. “Guess we aren’t the hot couple on campus anymore,” he says as he palms Mina’s rear.

She slaps his hand back and rolls her eyes before smiling back at  you. “I think that’s amazing,” she replies. “I’m very happy for the both  of you.”

“I didn’t know you had it in your Hug,” Heff says.  “What made your wiring sizzle over this one?” He pets the top of your  head and ruffles your hair.

You sigh and push his hand away.

“It wasn’t wires,” Hug replies cooly. “It was more like I had  discovered an application I really enjoyed. Something turned on that had  been shut off. If that makes sense.”

“I wish Heff would that,” Mina growls back at him.

“I always wanted to find someone to stand by my side,” Hug murmurs.  “I never knew what to look for or even if I would find one. But when I  met her-” he takes your hand and squeezes it. “I knew exactly the answer  to each and every question.”

Mina beams happily and hugs you  both, squeezing extra tight. “That’s amazing. You have Heff and me fully  behind you. If the board as any issues-”

“I’ll see them on fire,” Heff says.

Mina shoots him a dirty look.

He laughs loudly. “What? You expected me to say something actually helpful? That’s your fault. Boo on you.”

After  another few months, you move in together. You both decide moving off  campus would be best and find a house nearby. It’s small but it’s big  enough for just you and Hug. Well, and the cat as well. There was even a  small backyard with a fence already built in.

The first few  nights you stay in the house you don’t have everything ready yet and  some things have yet to be delivered. Hug makes a fort out of the  blankets you do have and places your sleeping bag inside. The cat seems  to enjoy it and has been having a ball making the place his own.

“Have you had enough to eat?” Hug asks as you tuck in for bed.

“Yes,” you chuckle. “I’m fine.” You reach out for him and he lays  down beside you. You curl against him, laying your pillow over his arm.

“The bed should come tomorrow,” he says as he tugs a blanket up over your bare shoulder.

“I’m kind of getting used to this,” you chuckle.

“You’ll get better sleep on a bed. Sleeping on the floor like this can’t be comfortable for you.”

“You worry too much about me,” you kiss him and place your hand over  his chest. His cheeks flash pink and red. “I’m not as vulnerable as I  seem.”

“Much more so than me,” he huffs.

“I worry about you too,” you say.

“Why?” he seems genuinely shocked.

You giggle and snort. “You got your hand crushed trying to save a  cat! I worry you’re going to get seriously hurt trying to save a  ladybug.”

He huffs, his cheeks flashing pink and purple. “I  would survive such a feat. I have a very apt mechanic I put my full  faith into.”

You kiss his neck and chest. “Yeah but…what if one day I couldn’t?”

“Hush,” he presses his finger to your lips. “Do not think such things.”

You kiss his fingertip and look up at him. “You have to promise me you won’t get hurt to a point I can’t save you.”

“Only if you promise me the same,” he dips down, pressing a kiss to your lips.

“I love you,” You whisper. “I would promise you anything.”

He runs his fingers through your hair and kisses you again. “I will love you always,” he murmurs into your ear.

“Hug?” You ask in a low, quiet voice.

“Yes, love?”

“I think we should get a dog,” you reply.

Hug squeezes you tight. “A dog and maybe a hamster or two?”

You chuckle, kissing him again and pushing him down into the blankets. “So you agree? Lots of pets.”

He reaches up, touching your face. “All you can eat.”

You bust out laughing and dip down, kissing him. He moves, trying to  sit up to meet your lips properly. He moves a little wrong and the  blankets shift, tumbling and crashing down over top of both of you.

You’re laughing and Hug is trying to make sure nothing has hit your  head or back. He moves away the blankets as you catch your breath from  laughing too hard.

“Well,” he sighs. “Should I rebuild?”

“No,” you shake your head as you fold the blankets. “Like you said,  the new bed is coming tomorrow. We’ll be fine exposed to the elements  just one night.”

Hug sits down and pulls you into his lap. “Happy?” He asks.

“Very.”

/////

You stare into the glassy, green eyes of the cat that Hug is holding  in his outstretched hands. The cat is a deep orange with white and the  pinkest nose you’ve ever seen. This is also the second cat Hug has  brought home this month, making it cat number three.

“Hug,” you sigh.

“I know, I know,” Hug replies. “But this one was wandering around  behind the cafeteria and begging for scraps. They asked me if I could  give him a home and-”

You hold up your palm to stop him. “They?”

“The cafeteria staff.”

You sigh. “I don’t want it getting around the school that we’re  going to take in all the strays!” You take the cat into your arms,  realizing it is still rather small.

“I’ll put my foot down,” his antenna flick back and go flat, “next time, I promise.”

You sigh, taking the cat inside and finding another bowl so you can  feed it a little bit. “You better. I have the conference coming up with  Mina and I don’t want to come home and find five more cats.”

“Not five more,” Hug says and flinches when you give him a warning  glare. His lights flash purple and red and then settle to green. “I  promise, no more strays.”

“Good,” you kiss his cheek and his lights turn pink. “I have to go finish packing.”

“Have you had anything to eat today?” Hug asks, following after you  as you go into the bedroom. The cats start congregating on the bed as  you open up the suitcase and they make themselves at home inside. The  two other cats start sniffing and beating the new cat into submission by  sitting on him and bathing him.

“Not yet,” you answer and Hug beeps and squeaks in frustration. “I was busy today!” You turn to him as you open the closet.

“I packed you a lunch today, there is no excuse for skipping a meal!” His lights are flashing red and blue.

“Then order me some takeout,” you say. “I just lost track of time  today.” You take out the few dress clothes you have and fold them up.

Hug goes in behind you, folding them properly so you have much more  room in the suitcase. “How are you and Mina going to survive during this  conference?”

“Mina will make sure I eat,” you chuckle.

Hug’s light so baby blue as he folds your t-shirts.

“What?” You tilt your head. “Are you going to miss me?” You reach out, touching his face and he nuzzles to it.

“Of course I am,” Hug huffs. He takes your hand and traces his  fingertip along the lines of your palm. “I’ve grown used to your  company. Going back to living all alone is going to seem so strange.”

You smile at him. “I’m not too fond of it either. I’m not going to fall asleep easy without you there.”

His lights go soft pink and he dips his head down, wanting his  forehead kissed. You plant a kiss there and take his hand, squeezing it.  “It is the quiet that will bother me,” Hug murmurs and the doorbell  rings.

“That was fast,” you say as you answer the door and  take the food Hug ordered while you were talking. You grunt when you see  he ordered from the health food place. You were hoping for pizza or  something like that.

“You didn’t eat today, so we need to get  you balanced back out,” Hug takes the food and takes it to the kitchen  where he opens the cartons and boxes to plate it for you.

You  grumble under your breath but you smile, knowing you’re going to miss  him so much while you are gone. His cute little ‘W’ mouth and his bright  lights. Also, the way he checks on you at night. You don’t let on that  you know, but sometimes at night, he checks you. He touches your cheek  and brushes your hair from your face and makes sure your back isn’t  knotted.

Mina picks you up in the morning and you kiss Hug as  he stands in the doorway. “I’ll be back this weekend,” you tell him.  “Don’t worry about me too much.”

“No promises there,” he squeezes your hand. “Just be as safe as possible.”

You kiss him again then climb into the car with Mina. You sigh and  slouch, yawning loudly as Mina places a cup of coffee in your hand.

“You two still seem rather happy,” Mina teases.

“Not all of us can be blissfully argumentative as you and Heff are,” you rib back before taking a gulp of coffee.

Mina grins and giggles. “Yeah. Heff is wonderful isn’t it?”

“Is he worried about you leaving for the week?” You ask.

“He’s been extra attentive the past couple of days,” Mina replies.  “He won’t say so, but he shows it. He was pouty when I left, but he  still helped me load the car and everything. He also fussed at me not to  forget to get gas.”

“Oh my god, he actually did?” You chuckle.

“He asked me if I needed money for gas and I just said I’d fart in  my wallet to get it,” she grinned. “He glared at me until I kissed him.”

“Is that why you were late?” You smirk knowingly at her. “Because you were saying goodbye to him?”

Her cheeks flush a little. “I said goodbye only once, I wasn’t even  that late!” She smiles dreamily. “But yeah, his angry little glare is my  favorite so I gave him one last ride before I left.”

“That’s your gas money,” you yawn.

“True!” Mina laughs.

The conference is as boring as you would expect. It’s all mainly  meetings and boring conversations. You and Mina give presentations and  demonstrations only during one day. That was the only reason you had  allowed Mina to talk you into going. You had expected to get your hands  dirty on some top-notch equipment and gear. Instead, you were sitting at  long tables listening to long-winded men go on and on about the  industry rather than the school, which was the whole point of this trip.

Mina was great though, she was able to knock some of these  long-winded suits off their high horses. She explained the school wasn’t  a charity case and that it wasn’t there to be a giant billboard for  advertising. The school was an important fixture, honing and training  and taking care of the heroes of today and tomorrow. It was a place  where relationships could make or break companies. If word got out that  they were only using to school to line their pockets, rather than the  world’s most beloved icon, it could be a foul odor on their reputation  they couldn’t fan away. Eventually, Mina was able to beat them at their  own game and a few had agreed to donate new equipment as well as money  to the school.

On the last day, you and Mina go out for victory drinks, celebrating in style before the long drive home in the morning.

Mina whimpers at one point during the evening. She looks out the  wide window of the restaurant that towers above the city and she has a  forlorn look.

“Missing your giant asshole?” You ask.

“So fucking much,” she takes out her phone. “He sent the cutest text  this morning and it just made the homesickness so much worse.” She hands  you her phone and while you expect the cute Hug sends you, you’re  shocked when you see what Mina and Heff consider cute. It’s a photo of  Heff hurling what looks like a bathtub into the distance.

“Uh,” you try to make sense of it.

“He’s remodeling the bathroom!” Mina takes the phone back and hugs  it to her chest. “The one in the house we bought was so out of date. I  have been bitching about it since we moved in! He’s just the dearest.”

You smile and shrug, to each his own. You glance at your phone,  realizing Hug has been rather quiet the past couple of days. He usually  sends an hourly update or reminds you to eat or drink water. You send  him a message telling him you miss him and would see him tomorrow around  lunch.

“Very excited, but please, don’t rush! I don’t want  you getting excited to come home and do something silly. I know you and  Mina.”

You smile.

“Is he fussing at you?” Mina winks.

“Yeah,” you smile happily as you tuck your phone away. You’re still a  little concerned why he’s been a little absent but you’re glad he  fussed.

You head home in the morning, arriving back home just  after lunch as planned. You’re retrieving your things from the car when  Hug comes out of the house.

“Welcome home,” he takes your luggage and dips his head for a kiss.

“I’m so glad to be back,” you sigh, wrapping him up in a hug. “How  many new cats do we have?” You tease. He flinches and your eyes widen.  “Is there actually a new cat?” You snap.

“No,” he gasps. “Not a cat, exactly. Not a cat at all!”

“Hug,” you stomp your foot.

“Listen, when you understand the situation-” he puts his hand on the  doorknob. “Please, don’t go in mad. They’re still very timid. It took  me a long time for them to agree to come out of the closet.”

You frown at him, crossing your arms tight as you wait for the excuse.

Hug’s lights flash yellow and green. “There was an accident a few  days ago,” he starts. “A couple of Heff’s students were out on a mission  on their own and it got in over their heads. They were severely  overwhelmed and one of them got left behind. Heff went in and did all he  could, but he wasn’t able to save them.” Hug sighs and glances back at  the door. “I was able to get the student rebooted, but they’re starting  over from scratch. It’s like they’re brand new again.”

“So one of Heff’s robot students,” you murmur. “Not a cat?”

Hug shakes his head. “Not a cat.” He sighs and his shoulders slouch.  “I offered because I knew we had extra room and the both of us together  are more equipped to take care of them. Heff feels horrible enough, I  didn’t want to burden him and Mina.”

“I understand,” you murmur. “I…I would have done the same, Hug.”

Hug’s lights turn pink. “I’m glad you see what I saw at the time.  Now, like I said, they’re still very sensitive, you have to be gentle.”

You nod. “Ok, I’ll try.”

Hug opens the door and walks inside. You see something lurch and  hide, slamming the closet door shut that contains all your sweaters and  coats for winter.

“Poke?” Hug knocks on the closet door. “It’s just me and my friend I told you about. It’s ok, come on out.”

“Poke?” You asked.

“Serial number P-O-1000-Esper,” Hug replies. “I thought Poke was  cuter.” He knocks on the closet door again. “Poke, it’s ok, no need to  be scared.”

“Why are they so timid?” You whisper.

“I  think when I rebooted memories of the failed mission were still  hardwired in. They woke a bit traumatized, that’s why I’ve been working  with them so closely.”

The closet door squeaks open and you  see pink lights glowing from inside. A small silver hand holds the door  as Poke inspects who is outside. They glance at Hug then at you. You  hear a series of squeaks and beep.

“It’s ok, Poke, this is the one I was telling you about. She’s going to help take care of you and fix you.”

The door opens a little more and you’re surprised to see a rather  small bot emerges. They come up to your waist and they look like they’re  made from bubbles. Their outer shell is transparent, but inside you can  see the wires and gears and flashing lights that make them up. They’re  segmented, looking like an artist’s dummy almost. Their head is round  and they have a white faceplate that is cracked and bandaged over. The  back of their head is cracked open as well, covered by a baseball cap.

You kneel down and extend your hand to Poke. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

Poke looks up at you and with a timid hand they touch your  fingertips before pulling back and they cling to Hug. Hug pets them. “As  you can see, they need some extensive repairs to their cranium and  face.” He holds up one hand. “Poke told me this hand doesn’t work well  and their left leg is stiff.”

You nod. “I can start making plans for repairs if Poke will let me examine them.”

Poke peeks up at you and then tugs Hug down, whispering to him  something you can’t hear. Hug glances at you then whispers back to Poke.  Poke whispers back to him then hides behind his leg.

“Poke said they want me in the examination room.”

“I figured that was the case,” you smile at Poke who continues to  peek out at Hug. “But Poke, I’ll need you to talk to me too so I can  make sure I get all the repairs you need. Can you do that?”

Poke looks up at you, their faceplate unable to move from all the damages. “Ok,” it whispers, their voice small and weak.

You and Hug take Poke to the garage where you have your personal  workstation set up. You prefer the one at the school, but considering  the situation this would have to do. Hug sets Poke on the table and  looking at them, you wonder why such a small bot would be allowed to go  on such dangerous missions. Hug removes the bandages around Poke’s face  and their tiny hands try to cover the damage.

“It’s ok,” you coax. “I need to see what I can do to make it better.”

Poke slowly drops their hands and you see it was some sort of blast  that caused the damage to their face as well as the top and back of  their cranium. As you inspect more, you conclude that most of the damage  was done by something that caused extremely heavy vibrations which  caused Poke to shatter as well as crash and fail.

“I can  repair the cranium and faceplate,” you tell them. “But I’ll have to  order them and it could take awhile for them to get made and shipped.”

“It will?” Poke squeaks.

“I’m sorry about that,” you coax. “But this gives you the chance to personalize them if you’d like.”

The pink lights inside Poke dance around and the nod. “I want to  look like a cat.” They hold their palms up like cat ears above their  head.

You look up at Hug and she shakes his head.

“Why a cat?” You ask.

“They’re my best friends beside Hug,” Poke replies. “I want to look like a cat.”

You glance to Hug again sigh. “Ok, we’ll get the specs up for that  soon. Until then, I’m going to work on your hand and leg if that’s ok?”

Poke nods and you lay them back so you can start to work.

You continue to work with Poke over the next few days. They help  design their new faceplate and ask for cat ears for their cranium piece.  You find it hilarious that you had told Hug that you wanted no more  strays and then you get Poke.

Poke is mainly solar based, so  at night Poke goes into sleep mode to conserve power. They usually go  into the closet to do this, but you and Hug have given Poke the guest  bedroom, telling them the cats will be more comfortable with them in a  bigger room.

One night, after getting Poke settled you and Hug  go to bed as well. As you lay there, you notice Hug’s lights are going  crazy. They flash every color and are erratic and fast like a rave light  show.

“Do you have something you want to say?” You roll over to face him.

“Oh,” Hug gasps. “I mean I do,” he glances at you and you squint at his light show. “It deals with Poke.”

You smile. “You want us to take them in right?”

“Oh! Yes, you knew?” Hug gasps.

You touch Hug’s cheek. “I know you. I’m fond of Poke too, they’re  very precious. And if we are to take in another stray, it may as well be  Poke.”

Hug’s lights flash bright and fast and he wraps you up in his arms. “I’m so happy! I cannot wait to tell them!”

You chuckle and squeeze Hug back. “Their faceplate and cranium  replacements will be here tomorrow. We’ll let Poke know then.”

The next day, Hug can barely contain himself. He excitedly waits as you  and Poke unpack their new faceplate and cranium piece. Poke excitedly  giggles and squeals as they look at the cat ears on the cranium piece.  Their new faceplate is white like the old one, but now features cat eyes  and a cute ‘W’ mouth like Hug.

The installation of the  faceplate takes a while, but the rest is easy. One Poke opens their eyes  and is able to pass the few inspection tests they’re smiling and  beaming happily.

“Much better,” Poke sighs. “Now what? I’m all fixed, what will happen now?”

“That is what Hug and I wanted to talk to you about,” you sit down  beside Poke. “Hug and I decided, if you want, that we would like you to  stay with us.”

Poke gasps. “Really?” They look up at Hug then back at you. “I’m not going to be a problem?”

“Not at all,” Hug explains. “We both love having you here and you’re  still not ready to go back to the school. We want you to stay with us.”

Poke nods and smiles, their cheeks flashing with pink lights. “You’ll be my family?” They ask.

You beam. “For as long as you want us.”