Chapter Text
It wasn’t unusual to wake up before Otto, what was unusual was for Otto’s actuators to start chittering loudly and pulling at Otto’s hair the second I sat up.
“Ngh, huh? Wha?” Otto blinked blearily at his fussy actuators, swatting at Larry who pinched his arm.
“Guys, you know he’s barely coherent before his coffee.” Getting up, I stretched before leaving the room to go downstairs to start the coffeemaker for Otto. Halfway down the stairs, though, Otto hurriedly left the bedroom and clambered over the railing to get downstairs before me. “What is even happening?”
As soon as Otto entered the break room that we had renovated into a kitchen, he slammed the door closed behind him and I heard it lock behind him. Knocking, I heard the clatter of pots and pans being moved about.
“Just go back to bed, Sky! Damnit, Harry, not that hot!” Otto called out to me from behind the locked door cryptically.
Sighing, I shrugged and climbed back up the stairs. Sitting on the bed, I grabbed a sketchbook and started doodling, waiting for inspiration to hit. After some time, the smell of bacon began to waft up into the bedroom and I hummed eagerly.
When Otto finally appeared, he was holding a tray in his hands as Flo held a small bouquet, Moe and Larry holding another tray as Harry got to the door. Otto was grinning nervously at my stunned expression. “I made you breakfast in bed!”
Blinking, I set my sketchbook aside and smiled at Otto, a bit confused. “Thank you, but, Otto, what is this about?”
Otto’s smile faltered, stepping closer to lay the tray on my lap. “It’s Valentine’s Day, my dear.”
Looking down at the tray, I saw he had made French toast cut into the shape of hearts, strawberry slices littering the plate. Bacon was placed on a smaller plate beside the French toast, and a mug of hot chocolate was sitting on the tray as well. “Oh. I forgot what today was. Thank you, Otto, this is really sweet.” Forcing a smile on my face, I couldn’t quite meet his eyes.
Otto’s shoulders dropped, even the actuators seemed to droop. “You don’t like it?”
Realizing my mistake, I shook my head quickly. “No! No, that’s not it at all! It’s just… I don’t like Valentine’s Day.”
“Oh.” Sitting next to me on the bed, Otto rubbed at my back tenderly, Flo placing the bouquet on the nightstand. “I didn’t know, I’m sorry.”
Smiling up at him, I kissed his cheek. “It’s alright, you didn’t mean anything by it. It looks delicious.” Appeased for now, Otto joined me in eating breakfast. When we were done, Otto took the trays and kissed my forehead. When he left the room to cleanup, I fell back on the bed and groaned.
~~~~
“How should I know why she doesn’t like Valentine’s Day?” I muttered back to Moe, cleaning the dishes I had used.
‘ Have you ever seen her on Valentine’s Day before ?’
Thinking back, I realized I hadn’t. “No, I guess I always assumed she had a date.” Pursing my lips, I realized she always seemed distant this time of year when she would deliver food from Al’s.
‘ Ask her, she must have a reason .’
Nodding at Flo, I finished up with the dishes before climbing back up to the bedroom. She was laying on her side, facing away from me. Frowning, I sat on the side of the bed, resting my hand on her arm. “Feel like talking?”
Turning to her other side so she could face me, she took my hand, still not meeting my gaze. “I just never really liked this holiday. It’s dumb.”
Raising my eyebrow, I ignored Harry’s insistence that we make her tell us what was wrong. “Most people who say that have had their heart broken on this day.” I frowned when she shrugged, pulling her hands from mine. “Who broke yours?”
Skylar just bit at her lip, not even looking in my direction anymore and it clicked.
“Sky, when you told Parker how we met, you said it took six months to learn I had been married. What day was it when you realized?” Bingo. Sky looked me in the eyes finally, pain and guilt filling her wide eyes. “Why don’t you tell me about it?”
Sighing heavily, Sky sat up and I pulled her into my lap, holding her close. “I got all dressed up, I even put on makeup, hoping we would get an order from you. So when you ordered the gnocchi and fettuccini Alfredo, I got excited.” Wiping her eyes, Sky buried her face in my chest. “I remembered you had asked what my favorite meal was from them. But then Rosie opened the door and explained she was your wife. I, I just, I felt so stupid !” At her sniffling, Flo grabbed a tissue box and handed it to you. “I never wanted to work on Valentine’s Day again because I didn’t want to see you guys so happy together. I know it’s selfish but I felt so cheated out of a happy ending.”
Pulling her closer, I couldn’t help but feel guilty.
‘ You led her on. You should feel guilty .’
Looking at Harry in shock, I was surprised to see that he had turned on me, but I couldn’t find it in me to disagree. “I’m sorry, my dear, I hadn’t realized.”
“It’s ok. It’s just, it’s stupid to still be upset, I guess. I mean, I do have you now.”
Smiling, I kissed her forehead. “You’re pretty much stuck with me, now. You know where my evil lair is, I can’t have you telling anyone.”
Finally Sky laughed, shaking her head. “Oh whatever will I do, trapped in notorious super villain Doc Ock’s evil lair where he makes me breakfast in bed.”
“Poor thing, you really do have the worst luck, huh?”
“You total sap.”
~~~~
Otto and I spent the day being lazy in bed, watching comedies from the VHS tapes we rented from Blockbuster. We had watched most of the Mel Brooks films when the power cut out halfway through Blazing Saddles. The only illumination we had was the red lights of Otto’s actuators, but other than that, we were blanketed in inky darkness.
Getting up, I shuffled to the small window and pushed the curtain aside to look outside. “Looks like everyone within a four block radius lost power.”
Groaning, Otto muttered back and forth to his chattering actuators, upset. “No, because that requires a stove. Larry, you are not helping. Because everything you’re suggesting needs to be heated up!” Letting out an exasperated sigh, Otto turned to me. “Looks like dinner is cancelled.”
Looking back outside, I got an idea. “Not necessarily.”
——
Al had pestered me with questions the minute I walked in but I just smiled and shook my head as I waited for my order to be ready.
“I thought you hated Valentine’s Day, Sky, what changed?” Al leaned on the counter, his bald head reflecting the ceiling lights. “Did’ja finally get over that married guy?”
“Al, for someone who claims to hate gossip, you sure are snooping a bit.” Crossing my arms over my chest, I narrowed my eyes goodnaturedly.
Holding his hands up in defeat, Al turned to get me my food. “I’m just lookin’ out for you, Sky. So, when do I meet this boy? Gotta make sure he’s good enough for you.”
“Maybe soon. He has a bit of a back condition that makes getting around difficult.” Biting back a grin, I tried to keep my face neutral.
“Ah, poor guy. Well, I hope to meet him soon.” Handing me my food, Al waved off my payment. “On me. It’s good to see you so happy, Sky. Oh, and here, can’t have a blackout Valentine’s Day dinner without candles.” Winking, Al grabbed some candles that he had stored away for god knows how long under the counter and handed them over.
“You’re a lifesaver, Al.”
——
“So, when do I get to meet him?” Otto grabbed the silverware as I set up the table, the candles already lit.
“Oh, not you too!” Laughing, I shook my head as we sat down to our meal of gnocchi and fettuccine Alfredo.
“Maybe next time.” Kissing my forehead, Otto poured some wine he had gotten for the occasion. “Happy Valentine’s Day, my dear.”
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Otto.”