Gotta Be You

1 Rodney: The Concert

"Hurry up, we're going to be late!" Piper called, standing at the front door.

"We won't be late," Aunt Fanny said soothingly. "The arena doesn't even open for another hour."

Piper groaned and flung herself onto the couch, jostling her carefully-arranged yellow pigtails. Rodney tried to smile reassuringly at her.

"You know Fender. He's probably just changing his outfit for the eighth time," he said.

Piper rolled her eyes. "You'd never guess who's the sister here with how long he takes to get ready."

"You'd never guess how poor he is, either," Crank muttered from the corner of the room. He was sat at the table eating his nuts and bolts dinner, wearing his regular old wheels and orange trunk.

Rodney wished that could have been him—turning in early at the quiet boardinghouse and getting ready for another long day of fixing bots. Instead, he was dressed to the nines (well, for him, at least) having buffed out his cyan paint and even changed out his feet for a nicer pair Piper had scavenged. It felt all wrong. He should be oiling his tools, not going backstage at a dumb concert!

But Rodney had fixed a bot the other day whose brother was working security at the Robot City Arena. Rodney wouldn't have accepted such a useless gift (besides, he didn't trust law enforcement), but he knew Piper and Aunt Fanny were such huge fans, and it was the least he could do to repay them for all their kindness so far.

"Are you sure you don't have a friend who would want my ticket," Rodney said as one last plea. "I just don't think I'll be able to... appreciate this experience as much as—"

Piper cut him off with a, "You're coming and that's final."

Any further protests were halted with Fender's grand entrance. First, a spindly, red leg emerged from the doorway, revealing bright green heels. Next followed a matching skirt, and on top, a metal bra and shiny curls.

Rodney sighed inwardly. Fender always made him feel underdressed.

"Ladies and gentlebots," Fender sang, strutting into the room, "Are you ready for the concert of your lives?"

Piper and Aunt Fanny cheered while Rodney clapped half-heartedly.

Crank frowned. "What does Loretta think when you go out like that?"

"Loretta," Fender said nonchalantly as Piper glared at Crank, "actually gave me the shoes so... Suck it!"

With that, he sprinted out the front door, Piper and Aunt Fanny close behind. Rodney sighed and steeled himself for a long night.

"I knew it didn't look half as rusted as the rest of his scrap," Crank muttered, heading off to bed.