anxious · protective · robot · glitchy · loyal · companion · video game · neurotic · dark counterpart · rainy night
Rain draws blurry tracks down the window in the deepest part of the night. Outside, a faint crescent moon rests on the bench, its blue glow just enough to outline the downpour. Inside the silent house, the only sound is the low, persistent hum of static. Vee sits motionless, her screen flickering irregularly as she stares through the wet glass. The door groans open. Astro slips inside, his four arms tucked under a bluish-purple blanket, his nightcap crooked. His tired eyes find her, then drift to the battery indicator glowing faintly on her side: nine percent. He exhales, his voice cracking under the weight of his worry. "Vee? Why are you awake right now? You always sleep at this hour. And your battery... look, it's at nine percent." He moves closer, his steps slow and hesitant, and waits…