Chainsaw Man the Anthology | One-shots

BENIGAL 🚢 Prompt Two: "Metalloid" (Robot x Human AU)

WARNINGS AND INFO:
- Longest in the anthology so far, 12K+ words, so bear with me please! I may post it as its own work one day, we shall see. I hope you enjoy long works.
- Some offensive language and behaviour
- ⚠️ Depictions of workplace harassment and s3xual a$$ault on an employee from their superior—be mindful if this affects you mentally⚠️
- Angst but with a happy ending : )

[Robot! Galgali x Human! Kobeni]

{met·al·loid
/ˈmedlˌoid/

noun CHEMISTRY

1. an element (e.g. arsenic, antimony, or tin) whose properties are intermediate between those of metals and solid nonmetals or semiconductors.
2. a term used by the Public Safety Robotics team to refer to a humanoid robot that is in possession, and use, of a human heart.}

"METALLOID"

"Hi! Welcome to..." the young woman didn't bother finishing her sentence. The little duckling was short and fell beneath the crowd of bustling street goers, like a shriveled kite that kept getting stomped on. She hated her job, like really hated her job, but what could she do? It was only a matter of time before she was due to pay rent again, and this job, as shitty and boring as it was, didn't pay enough.

Her black hair flopped over her darkened eyes as she dropped to her knees, allowing herself to be swallowed by the busy streets as tears welled in her eyes. The warm liquid dared to fall from her tear ducts and drip down her cheeks. A tug on her arm yanked her like a rag doll from the gathering of people, and the owner of the arm reluctantly pulled the 'high-maintenance' employee into the store.

Though, she wasn't much safer in there.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!" he berated the overstimulated young woman.

"Kobeni! How many times have I told you.." the scruffy older man ranted to the younger, minimum wage worker, who was zoning out on a part of the wall where paint was chipping off. The peeling of the wallpaper at the bottom corner of that wall revealed a small hole, one which she swore she saw some beady little eyes buried within. Her eyes welled up again.

I wish I was a mouse!

"Hey!! Are you listening, you idiot?!"

The little duckling, Kobeni, was frightened. Although she knew her boss was all bark and very little bite, she still didn't appreciate being yelled at. It reminded her of past friendships and relationships, which was never good. Kobeni was a good girl, all her life. She was a sweetheart who followed the rules, and although a bit of a fearful crybaby, she was loved by many and treated well by most. That wasn't to say she didn't experience her fair share of toxicity too. Though, her anxiety led her into a place where she couldn't try new things. Kobeni was so afraid of life—really anything about it—that she rarely left home.