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A scream of help rings through the quiet night air, to anyone else, it would go unnoticed from the top floor of a tower, but to Toby and his supersonic ears, it's defining.
He listens throughout his house, his dad is still in his study, Orrin is waiting patiently for orders beside him. Toby stands, quietly, he creeps over to his closet. Slipping into daytime clothes, he rubs the sleep from his eyes.
It had been a few days since he actually slept, but crime never sleeps either. Taking one last listen through his mostly silent house, he goes to his window. He opens it and carefully slips out.
Stepping onto the ledge, he closes the window before jumping off into the night air.
The adrenaline rush hits him hard, waking him up like a swift kick of caffeine. His chest flutters as the wind whips around his body, the ground pulling nearer.
He waits until he's three stories from the ground before igniting his boosters. It takes a second before he's upright, two inches from colliding with the pavement.
Another scream rips through the quiet night, Toby takes off, "Time to be Astro Boy." He says to himself, smiling.
~Orrin waits beside his master, ready to preform any need. He looks to the window as he hears an odd noise from outside.
Dr. Temna notices the movement and looks up, "something the matter?"
The robot looks back then shakes his metallic head, "it's nothing, sir. Probably just the wind." The robot brushes the noise off for his usual paranoia.
Temna nods, then goes back to his work, finishing up his last bit of paperwork. Hopefully tonight, he'll be able to get some sleep.
~Toby quickly finds where the trouble is, looks like a petty theif trying to steal an old woman's purse. He swoops in, excited to have something to do.
Landing on a roof, he gets a perfect view from above. It's go time.
~Dr. Temna rubs his eyes, tired from a long day. He's in his office, but as he looks around, he knows he needs a change of scenery. Standing, he goes out to the main room, Orrin follows quickly after, offering his services.
"Did Toby like his dinner?" The man Asks, he hadn’t gotten to see much of the boy all day, but he ordered the chef to make them chicken Alfredo, one of the boy’s favorite meals, to make up for his absence.
"I'm not sure, sir..." The robot replies. The man looks up, a dangerous look in his eyes.
"What do you mean 'you aren't sure'?"
"W-well, sir..." The robot stutters, nervous as always, "it seems master Toby didn't eat any of his food tonight, either."
"Either? You mean to say that he hasn't eaten for a few days now?"
The robot gives a tentative nod, unsure of what to say, yet knowing it's probably better to keep his mouth shut.
The doctor pinches the bridge of his nose in frustration, "Alright... give me a minute, reheat his food for me, we'll be out in a few minutes."
"Yes sir, of course sir." The robot says, backing up and trying to not collide with any furniture.
The man sighs then makes his way to his son's room. He's going to get a good talking to before the night is over, that's for sure.
Temna opens the door a bit, allowing the hallway light to flood in, illuminating his son’s bed. But to the man's horror, Toby isn't there.
The man rushes in, tossing the blanket back, searching around the room, no Toby anywhere.
His face pales as he grows more concerned. Running from the room, he finds Orrin in the kitchen preparing to heat up the plate.
"Orrin!"
The robot jumps, startled by the sudden call, he nearly drops the plate but manages to keep it steady, setting it safely on the counter, he turns, "yes, master Temna?"
"Where's Toby? He wasn't in his room."
The robot's expression goes blank, then to shock, "what? I- I don't know! I thought he was sleeping!"
The scientist growls with frustration as he makes his way to his car, before leaving, he calls back, "Orrin, you stay here no matter what! I need you to keep watch incase he comes back, understand?"
"Yes sir! I won't let you down!"
With that, the man is out the door, quickly decending the elevator to the parking garage.
~Toby sighs in satisfaction at a job well done, the old woman is safely back at her house, her belongings returned to her, and the crook is sitting outside of the county jail, tied up with a rope that had been very handy.
Boy, will those cops be happy when they see him in the next five minutes.
He flies around for another minute, searching for anything else to do, when he finds nothing, he sighs, "well, guess it's back home then."
He soars off homeward, still no activity below, finally, he makes it to his window. Silently, he opens it, slipping inside as he disengages his boosters.
Toby yawns, tired from the fly, he's more tired than usual, considering he hasn't eaten for two days straight. His stomach growls, but he ignores it, instead, plopping face first onto his bed.
His door creaks open slightly, and he makes to pretend he's asleep. Unfortunately, it seems it won't work.
"Master Toby! You're back!" Says the high pitched, ever-nervous voice of Orrin. "Your father won't be but a minute once I call him to say you're back."
The boy’s face washes white and he sits up, "what? Wait! Orrin, don't tell my dad! Please!"
"I'm sorry, master Toby, but he’s given me strict orders to watch for you. I can't go against that."
"Orrin! Don't you dare call him, or else I'll shut you down!"
The robot ignores the threat and dials for his master.
"Orrin! is he back?" The scientist asks as soon as he pick up. From the other line the robot responds "yes, sir..." Before something happens, his voice gets further away from the phone as though he turned his head, "Hey! What are you doing? Toby! Get down and leave my wires alooooooonnnnneeee....."
The last word drags out and becomes deeper in pitch as his system shuts down. The man pulls into the parking garage as he yells into the phone, "Toby McAllister Temna! I know you can hear me, you had better have your butt upstairs in bed by the time I get there, otherwise you won't be able to sit for a week!"
Toby freezes, he had heard him loud and clear. The boy just stands there even after the man hangs up. He considers running off, get out of the punishment that way... but then again, if he were to get caught, that would be ten times worse than it already will be.
Temna rides the elevator up, now that the fear is over, he's beyond perturbed. He tries to push the anger down, knowing it won't get him anywhere with the boy.
When the elevator opens, he walks to their living quarters door. Bracing himself, he opens it, but he’s shocked to see the boy still standing in the middle of the main walkway, a shut down robot on the floor beside him.
Toby looks just as surprised, but for some reason, he doesn't move.
"Toby," the man says grimly, trying to keep his voice under control, "I thought I told you to go and wait in your room for me."
The boy just stares at him, like his feet are frozen in place. "D-dad I- I just-" He trips over his words, struggling to find what he needs to say to change the man's mind on his threatend punishment.
"Go to your room, Toby. I need to cool down, I'll be in there in a minute. You're grounded until I say so."
Toby hesitates, but eventually, he moves along, sulking.
Temna watches as he shuts his bedroom door behind him, the man sighs, running a hand through his hair to relieve some stress. He turns to the Orrin, while he waits to calm down, the leat he can do is start up the robot again, always a good thing to keep his mind busy.
~ the doctor has his robotic aide back up in a matter of five minutes, but he’s still feeling off. He paces the floor of his tower, still agitated yet equally relieved.
After the whole AstroBoy-saving-the-world-from-a-giant-evil-robot thing, Temna realized how much of a fool he really was.
He was so scared that he would lose his son for a second time, well, third, technically speaking if you count the aliens. But now, there's this fourth incident to add to the list.
A proud father he is, yes, grateful that the boy had rescued someone yet again, yes, but was he also unimaginably worried? That is also a definite yes.
The man sighs, removing his coat, better to be comfortable while doing this... finally, he makes his way to his son’s room.
~Toby sits in his room, sulking. The situation is so unfair! After he came back from literally saving a helpless citizen of Metro City and his father had the audacity to ground him!
There's a knock on his door, jarring him from his thoughts. After a second, the door opens, Dr. Temna's head poking in.
"Toby?" The man says, his voice thankfully much calmer than it had been, "Ready to talk?"
The boy looks away, suddenly finding the floor to be a very interesting shade of white.
The man steps in all the way, shutting himself inside. He can tell that his son is avoiding eye contact.
Toby listens to the click of the man’s shoes at they walk across the floor, stopping near his bed, they shuffle as he turns on the balls of his feet.
The cushioned bed sinks beneath his weight as he sits. The wooden frame creaking slightly.
"Toby," the man repeats after a slight pause, "are you ready?"
"For what?" The boy asks, not looking at the man.
"To talk. We need to discuss what happened earlier."
"You mean that you need to talk and I need to be quiet and listen." The boy grumbles, still staring a hole into the floor.
"Toby," Dr. Temna says, his voice holding a warning tone, "be good."
Toby scoffs, muttering beneath his breath.
The doctor’s brow knits in frustration, "no more, Toby, it doesn’t help the situation that you're already in."
Toby stays silent, but in his head, he's firing arrow after arrow of words dripping with poisonous contempt.
"Why don't you start, Toby?" The man says, unsure of how to go about this. He doesn't know if it's ok punish the boy like he always had before he... changed.
Toby's face washes white, he knows this question, it was always asked right before a specific punishment, he had hoped after the man calmed down, he would come to his senses and take back the promised punishment. He looks to the man now, eyes wide, breath quickening "y-you can't!"
Temna can tell that his son knows what's coming, better to stick with it, then. "Toby, you don’t get to decide your punishments, only I can do that. But I can give you a choice, do you want to talk before or after the spanking?"
The boy groans at the word, "Don't call it that..."
"What? A spanking? Well, I'm sorry, but that's what it's called and that's what you're going to get."
Toby stands, backing away slightly, his mind is a flurry of emotions, his brain can't decide if he wants to be defensive or nervous. "No..." He whimpers.
Dr. Temna stays in his spot. "Toby, come back here, please, don't make me come and get you..."
"i-it won't work... it's not going to hurt..." The boy tries.
The man sighs, "Toby I know how I made you, we both know that it will hurt. And we both know that you're trying to avoid it. Now come here." The last words hold a sharper warning than before.
Toby shakes his head, sulking, "please... no..."
Temna sighs and stands, he really doesn't like this, but it's something that must be done. Stepping forward, he reaches out and grabs his son by his bicep, pulling him back to the bed.
Toby struggles as the man sits down, pulling him down across his lap with a soft thud. On any other day, he would easily be able to overpower the man and get away, but the strain on his body from lack of food and sleep has made sure that he's not going anywhere.
The first hand lands across his backside, a resounding smack filling the room, Toby's breath hitches as the pain shortly follows. He wiggles, uncomfortable.
The doctor lands a few more slaps before shifting the boy to a better position.
"Toby, I'm very disappointed in you. I know that you're a super hero, but you're also still a boy. Sneaking out of the house just to fight crime... the least you could do is tell me when you go out so I'm not worried." The man's hand continues to fall in an even pattern, lighting up each cheek with two slaps before switching.
Toby squirms, the quick rhythm isn't allowing his rear to rest, the heat building up to an uncomfortable level. "Y-you would've said no..." he protests, trying to keep his breathing down.
"Maybe..." Says the man, slowing his pace slightly "I don't know, but what I do know is how worried I was when I walked into your room, thinking you were safe in bed, just to find you missing."
Toby whimpers, losing some of his strength, but not his fight, "why do you care? I'm just a robot, anyway."
Temna stops altogether, shocked by the response, it takes him a second to gather his thoughts, "Toby..."
"Stop calling me that. I'm not your Toby anymore. I'm Astro." The boy says, his tone becoming flat with lack of emotion.
Temna desperately tries to think of something to say, "Don't say that... you are my Toby still. Just because you're in a different body, that doesn't mean you aren't my son."
Toby scoffs, "Yeah, sure. I heard what you told Dr. Elephant."
Temna pauses, he thought that they had gotten through all of this. There’s something deeper going on here, but what? "Toby, we've talked about this before... I know I made alot of mistakes but you weren't one of them. I know I hurt you... I'm sorry for that."
Toby stays silent, emotions clogging his throat. He shifts his hips again, trying to focus on something else other than the dull ache that still radiates from his rear.
Upon receiving no response, Temna decides to start up the spanking for a second time. His hand moves forward before beginning, taking hold of the rim of the boy’s pants, he pulls them down. A soft red blush peaks out from beneath his underwear.
Toby gasps, throwing a hand back, he twists his head around as far as he can, which in this position, isn't much. He looks into the man’s eyes, desperate. "No..."
The doctor feels like a complete bully for doing this, but he steels himself, grabbing the boy’s wrist, he holds it at the small of his back. "Toby, don't. You know this is what happens when I have to come and get you for a punishment. You've earned it."
Toby let's out a frustrated whine as his hand falls again in rapid succession. He yelps and struggles as the man continues to pepper his rear with firm smacks, they seem harder after the short break.
Temna pauses, then aims for the bare sit spots, swatting hard, he begins to talk again.
"Now, Toby, I want you to tell me why we're here. What are you being punished for?"
Toby grunts, "because you hate me."
Ten especially hard slaps rain down furiously. "Toby, that is not true and you know that. Now, I'll ask you again, why are you here?"
The boy wriggles and hisses, "B-because I-I went out without telling you... and I tried to get out of the punishment... aahhhowwwww!" He unintentionally let's out a whine. Clamping his hand into a fist, he grits his teeth, trying to keep his voice down.
"Close enough," says the doctor, tipping the boy forward, he aims for the tender curve that connects his thighs to his buttox. His hand continues to fall, unrelenting.
"You're being punished for sneaking out, your pants are down because you tried to get away... but we're also going to talk about what you said later..." his hand pauses, resting on the boy’s red, throbbing backside, "I need to make sure you understand that you are loved." Without waiting for a response that most likely won't come, the man continues the process, his heart aching as the boy groans in pain.
Toby grimaces, hissing as he breathes through his teeth.
"Toby, I admire your effort to try and be the hero, but you also need to consider your own wellbeing. You've been taking this 'saving the world' stuff too far, your grades are slipping, which is unimaginable for you, and I can tell you aren't sleeping, otherwise you would still be fighting me right now."
Toby stays silent, unable to argue. The man is correct on all of those points.
"Not only that, but Orrin tells me you aren't eating. Care to explain?"
"I- I haven't been hungry." Toby whimpers, "I'm fine."
"You're not fine." The man scorns, giving the rear a thwack with a little extra sting behind it, "I designed your body to act and grow like any normal boy, your body takes the nutrients from the food you eat, turning it into energy. That's why you're weak right now."
"I'm OK!" Toby says, his voice ashamedly close to a whine, "the blue core gives me energy. That's its purpose!"
"The blue core keeps you alive. Food is what gives you energy, that's its purpose." The man puts a little more emphasis into 'its' making sure the lesson sticks.
"Next time, I want you to eat and do your homework before going anywhere. If something happens on the way to, from, or in school, call the police, if that's not possible, call me, I will answer."
Toby's breath begins to hitch with each slap, the heat in his backside almost unbearable. He mumbles out a quiet 'yessir' before the man continues.
Seeing the boy's bright red skin, Temna knows he can't drag this out too much further, but there’s still the sneaking out he needs to address.
"Alright, Toby. Now about your sneaking out."
Toby groans, he thought they just covered that, though thinking back, he can’t fully remember what the man had said over the pain in his rear.
"I understand your...enthusiasm to save citizens, and that's good. But what isn't good is doing it without my consent. What would've happened if you had gotten hurt, or fainted, or... worse. It's dangerous to go out alone without someone knowing, if something had happened, then I could've come to help immediately."
Toby's resolve to stay silent begins to falter, small whimpers and huffs seeping out. His hips squirm as he tries to wiggle his way out of the line of fire.
The doctor pulls him back, but he continues to resist. The man sighs, balancing his son on one thigh, he traps the boy’s legs with his own.
Toby yips as the smacks continue to fall, he braces himself against the man’s leg, gripping his ankle tightly, completely stuck.
"Toby, you need to be careful, you need to take better care of yourself! I know that I can't keep you from running after crime forever, because that's what it means to be a hero, but I am your father, so I can set boundaries and consequences should you step out of line. Understand?"
Toby nods sorrowfully, "y-yes si-ir."
"A bit more buddy, then we're done..." The doctor says, pausing for a moment to rub his surely aching rear.
Toby wills his breathing to calm as the man’s hand rubs gently, it’s a soothing motion, making him realize how desperately he needs sleep.
Toby goes rigid as he feels the man’s hand raise, his body stiffens, waiting for the next blow, and he doesn’t need to wait long.
The first tears finally break the surface as the last bit goes on, Toby is unable to hold in the sob that escapes his throat.
Dr. Temna stops when the first cry rings out, his spanking hand immediately goes into soothing mode, rubbing the boy’s back and rear. His other hand releases the boy’s wrist, but still holds him steady.
Broken sobs continue to come, the boy going limp over his knee, fully submitted and exhausted.
The doctor waits a moment before finally lifting him up, cradling him on his lap. Toby burries his face into the man’s sweater, sniffling and choking on sobs.
Temna presses his lips to the boy’s hair, closing his eyes, he kisses and shushes him softly, "Shh-hh-h... it's ok, buddy... shhhhh...."
Toby clenches some of the man’s shirt in his fist, holding on tightly. " 'm so-orry dad... I'm so sorry..."
"Shh, it's ok, I know you are..."
Toby hiccups, trying to get his breathing back under control, "I- I promise I'll be good from now on... I won't b-be bad."
The man looks down at his son, for a second, "Toby you're already forgiven... and I don't expect you to be good all of the time, you simply made a bad decision, everyone does, you just need to learn from your mistakes and continue on, that doesn't make you a bad person if you can't get it right away, either. Things take time."
Toby's sniffles subside slightly, "B-but I'm not a person, I'm a robot, I don't make mistakes."
The man gives his son a slight squeeze, "no, Toby, you are much more than a robot... you still have your memories, right?"
The boy nods.
"And you can think for yourself, can't you? And you also have feelings..."
Another nod.
"You also have all of your senses, you can taste, smell, see, hear, and you can also feel... tonight is proof of that."
Toby shifts uncomfortably, yeah, he can feel all right.
"See, having all of these things... that's what makes you who you are, not what body you come in. Besides, look at Orrin, he's fully robot, no half human about it, yet he still makes mistakes."
The boy smiles slightly, yeah, their servant is quite the clutz. He nestles back into his father’s chest, stifling a yawn.
Temna plants another kiss to the boy’s head, a soft hand rubbing up and down his arm. After several moments, he pats his outer leg. "Ok, buddy, why don't we get you something to eat, hm? I know you're hungry."
Toby nods slightly, buy he doesn't want to move. Finally, he stands when the man does, being forced to his own feet, his legs wabble beneath him, but the doctor stays beside him, holding him steady. The man helps his son to replace his pants, careful to not agitate the reddened skin of his rear.
They walk out to the dining room together, the scientist grabs a throw pillow from the couch and places on a seat for his son, Toby sits down, hissing, it might as well've been bare hard wood.
Temna takes his usual seat at the head of the table near his son, he strokes his hair, "I'm sorry that had to happen, buddy..."
Toby blushes slightly, " 's ok... I- I deserved it, anyway..."
The man's hand goes to beneath the boy’s chin, pulling his face towards him so their eyes can meet. "It's alright, buddy... let's just worry about getting you some food, m'kay?"
"Ok..." The boy says, just as Orrin enters the dining room with a plate of food.
When Toby sees what's there, he looks up, surprised. The man was kind enough to consider giving him one of his favorite meals? He's touched.
Toby eats quickly, he'd had truly been starving! The scientist orders their robotic servant to bring his son a second then third plate until he's full, also making him drink at least one cup of water before bringing him back to his room.
Toby gingerly lays on his stomach, wrapping his arms around his pillow. Temna lays the blanket over his son, fixing it to keep him warm. Leaning over, the doctor kisses the boy’s head, "I love you, buddy."
Toby mumbles something unintelligible, burying his face into the soft fabric of his pillow, not much longer and he's out, breathing peacefully.
Temna brushes a hand through his son’s hair before finally retiring to his own room, laying in bed, he sighs, it had been a long night, and something tells him there's going to be more incidents than this, but for now, he can rest, contented that his son is safe.