The child looked up to see Elliot, his face expressing worry. They tapped his metal arm with their free hand. It made a small tink tink, and Elliot turned.

   
    "We're almost there," he said, kindly. But his face grew nervous once more. Tink tink, he turned again. The child gave him a reassuring smile once again. His worry softened a little. "Thank you." The child heard him say this in a low voice.

   
        The child looked ahead to see a small opening. Elliot seemed to have seen this as well because they saw his face forming a smile. His pace quickened and the child stumbled to keep up. The opening grew closer, closer, until they stood in front of it. Hand-in-hand, they looked to see a warm light. Sounds filled in space that had been empty for a time. Though muffled, they sounded loudly within the child's ears.

   
    "Here, come this way," Elliot said, pulling them forward. The sounds grew louder as they moved further into what looked like where someone lived. Clank clank clank. The sound of metal against metal rang in the child's ears. "Stay here for a minute," Elliot said, loud enough for them to hear. He disappeared behind a flap of fabric over an opening. Upon his entering, one last clank went off like a gunshot. Then all went quiet until a booming voice replaced it.

   
    "Elliot!" The voice was loud, but the child could tell it meant no harm.

   
    "Hi, Otto," Elliot said happily. "There's, uh, someone I want you to meet.

   
    "Gladly! Bring 'em in then!" the now identified Otto replied.

    Elliot soon appeared. "Come on," he said, reaching out his hand once more. "Don't worry. He's a big ol' softy." The child grabbed his hand and was pulled into the room behind the curtain.

   
    Otto blinked. "It's a..."

    "Otto, this is... A human I met today. They were in the scrap pile nearby."

    "So you are a..." His expression was hard to read, but it slowly melted into a smile. "Ah. I see. Nice to meet you, my name is Otto." The child smiled in return. "Why don't you make yourselves at home. Elliot can show you around, if you'd like."

    "Yes of course!" Elliot said. "Follow me." He took the child's hand once more and brought them out of the small area. But instead of going forward, they went right, turning into another room, this one a bit larger than the others. When the child had followed Elliot into the room, they sat down on an old, small couch. The room got very quiet. Thump, thump. A noise broke through the silence. The child's own heartbeat. It seemed Elliot had heard it too. The eyes behind his goggles were closed gently and he swayed, ever so slightly, back and forth, as if it were a metronome. They stayed like this for a while, none speaking, for talking seemed meaningless.

   
    When Elliot had returned to reality, he turned to the child. "Ah, forgive me... I was lost in thought." The child shook their head, as if saying it was alright. Elliot looked away for a time, then turned back. "I'm sorry to press this on you, but I really wish to know. Why did you come here? How did you come here?" The child looked troubled. "Do you... Not remember?" Elliot saw their face turn sad. "I see... Well, that's okay." He smiled. The silence reigned once more until a booming voice replaced its throne.

    "What are we actin' shy for now, huh?" Otto walked into the room, laughing metallically. "Now that I'm finished with my work, how's about I get you refreshments?" He walked over to a small kitchen area and brought out a kettle and a match box. He struck the match and let it fall into the old fashioned stove. He filled the kettle with water and placed it over the fire. Elliot watched intently, as if Otto had never done this before.

    The child stared as well, but for a different reason. They remembered this feeling. Hospitality. And very suddenly, they were filled with warmth.

    After this, Otto reached up and opened a cabinet above him. He pulled out a small teacup and some teabags. As he brought them down, he held them close and cradled them as if they were dear to him. But he looked up suddenly to the sound of a scream. He grabbed the kettle and pushed it onto the counter. He fumbled with the teabag and placed it gently into the cup. He poured the steaming water into it and set the kettle down once more. When he had finished doing this, he turned around.

    "It'll take a slight bit of time," he said smiling slightly. "So." He sat down near the two. "You're a human, yes?" he asked. The child nodded kindly. "I see... I don't know if you are aware, but... It's a very rare thing to see a human here."

   
    "Otto..." Elliot said quickly.

    "But I... I suppose I needn't tell you of something so trivial." He laughed quietly. Fidgeting, he turned away. "Suppose I'll check the tea," he muttered. The child looked worriedly at his retreating form.

    The room's silence crept back into its walls once more. The only sound was once again the small beating of a child's heart and the sound of a teabag being shook within the pool beneath it. After what seemed like an eternity of this, Otto turned around, the smile reappearing on his face, though the child thought it seemed forced.

    "Here ya are, kid," he said, handing the child a teacup sitting on a plate, warm liquid filling it to the brim. The heat was welcoming and calming. The child hesitated.

    "Don't worry about us," Elliot said kindly. "Go ahead." Nodding, the child took a small sip and sighed in contentment. They hadn't noticed before, but Otto seemed to be tinkering with some small pieces of metal. After a few moments, a small, humming coo arose and the child saw small wings appear from within Otto's large hands. They began to vibrate, and a small robot rose into the air, struggling to stay afloat. Otto chuckled softly and rubbed the small creature. He held out his hand and allowed it to land there.

    "Let's call you Bee, shall we?" he said quietly. The newly named Bee hummed in response. It took flight once more and spotted the child. It's hums grew louder and its small eyes seemed to be beaming. Much to everyone's surprise, it landed softly on the child's head, snuggling slightly in their hair. "Well would you look at that," Otto said, getting up. "Looks like you've got a new friend there. Hey, kid. Lemme show you somethin'" The child placed down the teacup and stood up, growing worried, for Otto's smile was sad. Bee took flight once more and floated near the child's ear. Elliot seemed about to say something, but then stopped himself. The child stayed watching silently. Elliot nodded at the ground so as to let them know he was alright. The child turned away soon after and began to follow Otto to the outside once again.

        The child welcomed Bee's humming as a pleasant sound, seeming to keep them company in the silence. They followed Otto through many twisting and winding paths. He looked back often to check on them. Each time his smile grew smaller, as if shrinking away. They soon came upon an opening. Holding their breath, the child raced to keep up with Otto whose pace had quickened. For there, in the center, was a small mound upon which a single white tulip arose. The child slowed when they reached where Otto stood. From afar, the mound had already seemed out of place. But as the child got closer, it looked as though the dirt had been shoveled, yet somehow, a small patch of grass had begun to surround the single white blossom. Awestruck, the child stilled and stifled their loud breaths. Bee had nuzzled close to the child's neck and grew silent as well.

    Many moments passed with nothing more than the wind as proof that the place was alive. "This is... Was... My creator." Otto's voice was no more than a whisper. "She... She was brilliant. Elliot, he... Doesn't want me to tell you, but... It's something you should know."

    He turned to the child slowly. "I assume he's at least told you about his experience. The many inventors that made all of us loved us dearly. They were proud of us, proud that they had managed to create beings able to think freely. My creator's name was Emily. She worked for years, keeping a specific design in her head all the while. All of her hard work, all of her effort, all of her love, everything she had, was put into her invention. So when she saw what she had made, well... Her expression of excitement, awe, joy... They were unmatchable. I suppose you've guessed by now what she had made. Yes, that was the very day I was brought into existence."

    Otto's smile once more returned, this time more meaningfully. "But one day," he began once more, his expression changing to one of deep pain and sorrow. "Humans began to ridicule Emily and the other inventors. They feared us. They believed we would turn against them and overpower them. The other inventors backed down soon after, fearing the people after seeing they could not be persuaded. They brought all their inventions far away... But Emily stayed. She never stood down. She was a stubborn lady. People grew angry with her, for they didn't understand why she thought we were a good thing. 'Just throw it away!' They would say. But she would only shake her head saying, 'That's like asking me to abandon my child.' Finally one night, her friend came to tell her it was too dangerous. The people were going to take me by force. Emily took me into her truck and drove to where the other inventors had left their scraps. Emily, she, well, she wasn't very healthy. The doctors had all told her she wouldn't make it past sixteen, and yet there she was, a twenty-seven year old. But this place... You can't imagine someone sickly being able to live comfortably, can you?" He chuckled quietly. "And yet, she spent all of her time here helping us. I had asked her if she was okay, but she simply answered, 'Hey, Otto. I don't have much time left here, anyways. How's about I go out doing something I love, around the things I love?' Soon after that, I would constantly come in on her coughing. And each day... It only got worse. Until finally, one day, I found her lying down, an expression of pain flickering across her face. I rushed over and propped her head up onto my leg, looking down at her. When she saw me... A weak smile spread across her face. But... Within that look... Was something much more. It was all of the feelings she had held when she had first created me. It was the pride she felt for creating me, it was the pride she felt for getting so far."

    Otto's voice quavered. "She held my face in her arms and a tear streaked down her face. 'Otto... I hope the best for you... And everyone. Don't you ever lose that fire in you, y'hear me? I love you, Otto... I hope you know that. Never once did I regret bringing you to life. Never once... Seems I'm about to go... I'm glad I got to meet you. Stay strong for me... 'Kay?' ... She passed away in my arms that day. There was no way for me to express my sorrow. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't exist. She was the reason I'm here. Losing someone like that...? It's not easy."

    Otto closed his eyes and seemed defeated. The child walked towards him slowly. Otto felt a bump and looked down. The child had wrapped their arms around his torso. "... Thanks, kiddo. You, uh, really know how to make a robot feel loved." The child looked up, smiling. Otto returned the smile. "Must be cold for you, huh? I think I've got some old clothing back at the shop. It may not be much, but hey, it's somethin'. What d'ya say?" The child nodded and held out their hand. Otto smirked slightly and grabbed it, holding their hand until they reached the workshop once more.