Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was a quiet night in the Battletram. Everyone was asleep soundly in their beds, except for Jimmy. He woke up early from his recharge in his lab and now stood in the kitchen, a cup of water in his hands.

He sighs and looks down at his cup. He hates nights like this. Hates the quiet. He may not need it, but a part of him wishes he could fall asleep just so he could be with everyone else. He hates being alone...

His thoughts are interrupted by the sounds of heavy footfalls behind him. He turns to meet a sleepy Crash, still hugging tight to his little aquabear. Crash stops dead in his tracks, clearly not expecting Jimmy.

"Crash? What are you doing up so late?" Jimmy inquiries. Crash looks down at his feet.

"Bad dream" he mumbles. The way he's speaking is different, Jimmy notes. It sounds much smaller and weaker than his normal loud gruff. Before he can analyze further, Crash walks up and lightly grabs the hem of Jimmy's sleeve, still gripping onto his bear in the other.

"C'n I sleep with you?" He mumbles again. The robot's quizzical expression is replaced by a sad smile.

"I'm sorry Crash, I don't have a bed. Not one you can lay in anyway." Crashes brows furrow and his lip quivers. Jimmy panics slightly at the sight. "Ah, but I can tuck you in your bed and stay with you if that works" he gives a nervous smile. Crash presses his head against Jimmy's chest and gives a small nod. The robot lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding and quietly starts leading Crash back to the sleeping quarters by the hand.

He carefully tucks crash into his warm bed. "Will that be all?" He whispers. Crash shakes his head, "lull'by"

Jimmy smiles "of course" he starts humming a quiet lullaby as Crash's eyelids get heavier and his breathing slows. He continued to hold onto Jimmy's and even as he drifted off. True to his word, he stayed with Crash the whole night, a soft smile warmed his face the entire time.

He loved taking care of his friends.

Chapter Text

The Aquabats were driving all to their next gig when the Battle Tram gave a lurch and sputtered.

"Uh oh" Commander muttered.

"What's the matter" Jimmy asks from the passenger seat.

"Well.." a guilty look spreads on his face, "Remember when we stopped for gas an hour or so ago and you told me not to get distracted buying snacks instead?"

Jimmy shot him with a disappointment look and sighed "well not much we can do now. Just have to pull over and make a plan."

The Battle Tram rolled to a stop on the side of the road a minute later. Everyone assembled in the lounge room to figure out what the commotion was.

"It appears we are completely out of gas" Jimmy pauses as everyone groans. "Ricky, do you think you could get us a little more? Just a bit to last us until we can make a proper stop?"

"Why do I have to get it?" Ricky shot back.

Jimmy came prepared, "I know it sucks but you are the fastest one here. The nearest gas station isn't too far. It should just be a ten minute run there for you. Unless you'd like to wait longer for one of us to be gone over an hour... maybe even two."

"Ok ok!" Ricky interups and goes to grab the gas can. "Needed to get out and stretch my legs anyway." He heads outside and uses his super speed to run into the distance.

"He left before I could tell him what direction it's in..." Jimmy turns to the rest of the Aquabats. "Well not sure how long it will take for Ricky to get back but it should be under an hour, so I guess just go back to what you were doing before." Everyone begins to file out except for Crash who kicks the ground shyly, "Jimmy can you play with me?" He brings his hands and sways a bit back and forth.

Jimmy looks at the direction the commander left in before turning back to Crash who is now giving him puppy eyes. He smiles, "Sure, why not. Show me what you were playing." Crash gives an enthusiastic "yes!" And pumps his fists.

Crash leads him into one of the many miscellaneous rooms and sits down on the colorful rug. Jimmy mimicks his actions.

"So this is the princess," crash holds up the pink smiley face sponge they use for dishes before putting it back on a tall pan bearing a post it labeled 'tower', "and this is the super hero." He picks up his Aquabear. "But I don't have anything to be the monster" he adds with a whine in his voice.

Jimmy assess the situation before running through solutions. He looks around the room a bit before spotting something from a previous battle. It's the petrified statue of a lizard monster they fought a while back. Luckily it shrunk in the process and wasn't much bigger than Crash's bear. "How about this?"

Crash's eyes light up in delight. "It's perfect!" He yells and aggressively pats the spot next to him for Jimmy to sit. After he does, Crash immediately slips into character.

"Stop right there, evil doer!" He says in his best brave voice before looking up at Jimmy expectantly.

Jimmy gets the hint that it's his turn. "Uh," he hesitates before lowering his voice in an attempt to sound mean, "It's no use, Aquabear! The princess is mine! Mwahaha!" He moves the statue around as he talks.

Crash giggles in response before getting back into character, "Ahem, if you do not yield, then face the wrath of my laser vision! Pchoo!"

It was Jimmy's turn to snicker, "Wait, he's got Lazer vision?"

Crash looks up, beaming. "Of course! He has all the powers! He can fly and shoot lasers and breath fire!"

"Oh my I think the monster sure is in for it then, huh?" He puts on his mean voice again and moves the lizard around "Aaa! You got me Aquabear! I'll be back for my revenge! Rawr!" He lies the statue on its side before pitching his voice high and grabbing the sponge "Oh, my hero!" Crash has a giggle fit as Jimmy does a very dramatic "Mwah" and presses the sponge to the bear's cheek.

"What is going on in here?" They both look up to see the Commander staring down at them with a very confused look in his face.

"Uhh, playing pretend?" Jimmy shrugs and smiles.

The Commander looks between him and Crash a few more seconds before letting out a slow "ok..." He notices crash looks a bit nervous and is trying to hide behind Jimmy. The gears in his head turn a little faster.

"You are free to join us next time, Commander. I'm sure you are great at voices" Jimmy offers.

"Great?" The Commander snaps with mock insult, "I'll have you know I'm the best at it! I'll take you up on that offer Jimmy. Just let me know next time you guys decide to play with dishware." He turns to leave before looking back at a still poorly hiding crash, "Have fun, lil homie!" He adds offhandedly before leaving. Crash kicks his legs and hugs his bear close at the comment.

In the distance Ricky calls out from another room "guys I'm back! You wouldn't believe this but it was in the other direction!"

Jimmy hums to himself "I should be getting back to the cockpit with the Commander..." He looks at Crash who now wears a worried expression. "But then again...how will Dr Monsterscales get his revenge?" He smiles as Crash cheers in excitement. He picks up the statue again and, as he plays, thinks to himself: He should get crash some proper toys.