Chapter Text
Mach sat at her desk, drumming her fingers against the dark oak and staring at the paperwork before herself. She couldn't think about the paperwork, though. Who cared about the expedition? Well... her superiors sure did. But she had another problem at hand.
Pilbert.
Pilbert - Better known as Pilby - Had appeared a few weeks ago. Mach hadn't even been able to concentrate on the expedition she had two days ago. Pilby was incredibly anxious since appearing here. And Mach didn't blame them. She didn't entirely know how they got here, nor what their backstory was, but that didn't matter. What mattered was the fact Pilby had barely gotten any sleep, even after being provided with sleeping quarters and some teas with special herbs that often helped one fall asleep easier. They had barely eaten, and each time Mach walked past their room, she could hear them crying. It made her heart shatter.
So that was why she called them to her office. Maybe she could work something out, to help them settle in a bit better while she figured out how to travel across literal galaxies to get to their mother. And Pilby was pretty quick, so she soon heard a soft, timid knock, of which she would've missed if she didn't have heightened hearing.
She contemplated opening the door herself, but decided against it. Pilby was tiny, almost half her height. She didn't want to frighten her.
"Come in" she called, trying to keep her voice soft but loud enough for Pilby to hear. She often had a monotone voice, but she was able to use a gentler tone with Pilby, thankfully.
The door cracked open, and in came Pilby, their lower two arms fidgeting and the other two being used to open the large door. They closed it gently behind themselves, but still jumped at the soft click, whining slightly. Mach tried to keep her gaze soft.
"Hello, Pilby. How are you feeling?" Mach tried, keeping her tone soft.
"A-am I in trouble?" Pilby asked instead of answering that. Mach felt her heart break.
"No, Pilby. I just want to ask you a few things, alright?" she reassured softly. She gestured toward a chair across from her. "Come sit, if you'd like"
Pilby immediately waddled over to a chair, sitting down on the edge of it. Their feet dangled in front of them, their gaze to the floor. Mach paused, before taking a deep breath.
"Pilby, have you eaten today?" she asked slowly.
Pilby didn't respond verbally, then shook their head, letting out a soft whine, as if they expected to be scolded. Mach nodded slowly.
"I guessed as such. How about sleep, how much sleep did you get last night?" she asked slowly.
"... 3... hours... I think" Pilby said timidly.
Mach nodded slowly. Mach saw them mumble a soft apology.
"It's alright" Mach replied quietly, leaning back in her chair. "I want to make your stay here as comfortable as possible, Pilby. I don't want you feeling anxious all the time.
"I-I'm sorry, Miss Mach..." Pilby apologised again. "I-I don't mean to be so anxious... I-I'm trying to stay as calm as possible, but I can't stop thinking about momma..."
Mach nodded. "It's alright, I promise" Mach continued. "Alright, let's see..."
Mach shifted the paperwork aside. She would complete that later. She then opened a drawer and pulled out a notebook. She placed it on the desk and grabbed a pen, clicking the button on the end of it before beginning to write.
"Pilby, can you tell me about some things that may bring you some comfort? Anything at all?" Mach asked gently.
Pilby remained silent, whining softly. Mach realised the question may be too broad.
"Alright... How about this. Your favourite food?" Mach asked.
Pilby remained silent, yet again. Mach waited patiently, and just when she thought Pilby wouldn't respond, they spoke up timidly.
"A... Apples" they replied softly.
Mach hummed, writing that down. "Alright, apples. Any specific kind?"
"... A-any... Just not green apples. They're too sour" Pilby mumbled, shuddering at the thought. Mach nodded slowly, writing that down.
"I'm quite partial for red lady apples" Mach hummed.
"Th-those are my favourite" Pilby stammered, perking up just slightly.
Mach looked over, noting that down without looking at her notebook. "Red lady apples are your favourite? A good choice, if I do say so myself"
Pilby nodded, shifting a bit in their seat and training their gaze downward again.
"Alright... Apples. Any other foods you like?"
Pilby paused again. "Sweets... J-just not sour ones. Any others are good" Pilby stammered.
Mach nodded, noting that down. "You do seem to have a sweet tooth. How about savoury foods? Do you like any savoury foods?"
"N-not really... Fruits and vegetables are nice... I can't eat meat" Pilby mumbled.
"Ah-" Mach paused. "No meat, got it. Anything else you can't eat?"
Pilby paused, then shook their head. "N-not really, I don't think?"
"Alright, got it" Mach replied, jotting all of that down. Once done, she looked up again.
"Alright, my next question. Your favourite colour? I have an idea that may help you sleep"
Pilby paused, fidgeting with all four of their arms this time.
"Red... It's the same colour as an apple"
Mach nodded, writing that down.
"How many pillows do you usually use? Do you like a lot of blankets? Would you like some plush toys?" Mach asked.
Pilby stuttered a bit. Mach realised she probably asked too many questions at once. But Pilby replied eventually.
"... I-I usually sleep in a nest kind of thing... Like a big hug" Pilby stammered.
"Ah, a blanket nest? We can get that arranged" Mach replied. "And the plush toys?"
Pilby paused, fidgeting. They then nodded slowly. "J-just one..."
"Any toy in particular you'd like?"
Pilby shook their head. Mach nodded, writing a few more things down.
"Is there anything else you'd like? Anything at all that could help you settle in a bit more?"
Pilby shook their head. "M-Mach, please don't go out of your way to cater to me... I don't even belong here, I'm just- Some intruder. I don't deserve this hospitality"
Mach watched them, letting out a soft, gentle sigh. "Pilby. I am your friend. I want to make sure you're feeling safe and welcomed here"
Pilby whined a little. "B-but it's a waste of resources..."
Mach shook their head, but before she could counter that, she noticed Pilby was about to cry again. Mach watched for a moment, deciding not to continue. She slowly got to her feet, causing Pilby to jump slightly.
"It's okay... Let's get you back to your room, alright?... I may have something for you in about an hour" Mach said softly, offering her hand to Pilby.
Pilby looked at the hand, flinching slightly. Mach retracted her hand, and Pilby got to their feet, shuffling toward the door.
"Y-you don't have to waste your time taking me there..." Pilby said softly.
"I won't be wasting my time. I need to stretch my legs, anyway" Mach reassured gently.
Pilby whined a little, but allowed Mach to follow, pushing the door open with their top two hands and holding it open for Mach. Mach grabbed her hammer, slinging it over her should before following, giving a gentle thank you to Pilby before she started heading down the hall. Pilby hurried to catch up. The door to Mach's office closed with another soft click, but Pilby still jumped.
They walked there in silence. Once there, Mach held Pilby's door open for them. Pilby thanked her, shuffling in and sniffling a little.
"It's alright. Please take care, alright? I'll be back soon" Mach said softly.
Pilby nodded, and Mach closed the door. Mach almost immediately heard them crying. Mach felt her heart break a little, but she ignored it, grabbing her phone and heading back down the hall. She made a few calls, then waited in her office, hurrying over her paperwork to get it out of the way.
----
About an hour later, Pilby heard a knock on their door. They jumped off their bed, shoving the used tissues into the already overflowing wastebin. They then hurried to the door and opened it up.
"S-sorry I took so long-" Pilby stammered.
"You took 7 seconds exactly" Mach said gently, standing about two feet from the door, holding a bundle of blankets and a brown paper bag. "May I come in?"
Pilby stammered a bit, but stepped back. Mach made her way in and gently placed the bundle of blankets on the bed. She then turned to Pilby and handed them the brown paper bag.
"Here you are. 4 apples, and a couple of bags of sweets. There's also some strawberries, two pears and an apple pastry in there"
Pilby timidly grabbed the bag, peering inside. Almost immediately, they burst into tears. Mach looked alarmed, kneeling down to meet their gaze.
"Hey... It's alright. Did I miss something? Did I get something wrong?"
Pilby's words were warbled, but they shook their head. Mach gently took the bag from them and placed it on the ground, before reaching in and grabbing an apple. She gently passed it to Pilby, and Pilby took it while sobbing. They took a bite out of it and sobbed harder.
"It's okay... deep breaths, Pilby. I'm here" Mach said softly.
Mach didn't really get much time to react. Pilby immediately hugged her tightly, sobbing into her now dampening shoulder and whimpering out soft "thank you" after "thank you" and an apology thrown in every now and then. Mach hugged back, being as gentle as she could. She rubbed their back gently.
"It's okay..." Mach repeated. "I want to make sure you're comfortable here" she said softly.
Pilby nodded, thanking her about 20 more times before Mach gently pulled away.
"Let's get that nest set up. It's getting late"
Pilby nodded, and they soon set to work, carefully crafting the perfect blanket nest. Pilby gave her another big hug, still sniffling and occasionally grabbing a tissue to clean their face. Mach smiled once Pilby was in the nest, giving them a soft pat on the head before picking up the paper back and placing it on Pilby's desk. She put a few of the items in the mini fridge before moving toward the door again. Pilby spoke up before she could close the door.
"M-Mach?" Pilby stammered.
Mach turned to face them. "Yes, Pilby?"
Pilby paused, then spoke, this time trying to be as clear with their words as they could.
"Thank you-"
Mach watched, then gave Pilby the smallest smile known the human, humanoid and robot kind.
"It's alright. Get some rest, alright?-"
Before Mach could finish her sentences, Pilby was out like a light. Mach noticed they had eaten every part of the apple, core and all. Mach gently closed the door, then moved back toward her office. Now, she could concentrate.
