Kurt had spent the last week helping his dad in the shop and spending the evening with him and Carole, or up in his room reading or watching too much Netflix. He was settling into a rhythm, and even though his summer was turning out to be less full of friends and fun than he expected, Kurt wasnt complaining.

Every morning hed wake up and lie in bed for a moment as a smile spread across his face, because that day would be another day he got to spend with B.

B was becoming more and more confident in the workshop. He had started answering phones and making appointments, cleaning up for the technicians, and of course helping in the back room. Customers were still sometimes wary of him, and he had to be sent out of sight now and again so as not to scare people away. It made Kurt angry every time. B was harmless. More than that, he was sweet and funny and eager to please.

He could do this impression of Grace that spot on but not mean. He was always careful around Steve, who was still nervous about him. Kurt would sometimes walk in on him swaying his hips and listening to music while working in the back, and when he had tasted ice cream for the first time hed just closed his eyes and let out an adorable humming noise. How could anyone be afraid of him?

It was the eye, Kurt decided, lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling. If he just didnt have a mechanical empty eye-socket in his face, people wouldnt even know he was a machine. Kurt could get him an eye-patch. Actually, he could make some, and then B could have eye-patches in different colors and fabrics to match with outfits. Except... B only wore the dark gray pants and white t-shirt all the droids being repaired in Burts shop wore.

Kurt smiled brightly and sat up in bed, an idea forming in his head. He got ready for the day quickly, showering and doing his moisturizing routine and fixing his hair before pulling on an outfit that he felt extenuated the right parts of him. He wouldnt admit it to anyone - he barely admitted it to himself - but he found that he often dressed with B in mind, hoping the android would appreciate how he looked.

Kurt brought his idea up to his dad over breakfast. "Do you think youll be really busy at the shop today? I was hoping to do some shopping."

"Kurt, it's your summer break. You dont have to work in the shop at all if you dont want to."

"I know," Kurt said, playing with the food on his plate. "But I like it there, I always have, and it gives me something to do. I was just thinking, if you can spare us…" Kurt looked at his dad hopefully. "Maybe I could take B to get some clothes today?"

Burt lifted an eyebrow and finished chewing his bite before answering. "Why does he need clothes? He has clothes."

"Yeah… but theyre androids' clothes."

"Hes an android."

Kurt let out a frustrated breath. "Okay, sure, but people are scared of him sometimes because he looks too human, but also like a machine and I thought if I got him a patch for his eye and some regular clothes, then he would just look like an employee or something." Kurt chewed on his lip and watched his dads expression as he thought it over.

Burt leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "You like him, dont you?"

Kurts eyes widened. "I… I…"

"I like him too," Burt finished.

"He is a very well-mannered droid," Carole added.

"Oh." Kurt cleared his throat. "Yes. Of course. I mean, he's likeable."

"I was thinking of selling him. Hed fetch a high price," Burt said, thinking out loud.

"What?" Kurts voice came out small, his heart beating heavily in his chest.

"But if I can train him to work in the shop even more, and if customers arent afraid of him… well, I could just keep him as an employee. I was thinking I needed to hire someone else anyway, and keeping him on would save money. He could do a great job."

"Yes!" Kurt said quickly. "Thats a great idea! Besides, I think he likes it here."

"Well, I guess you should take him shopping then."

Kurt smiled in relief. "Thank you!"

After helping clean up breakfast, Kurt rushed to the shop and to the back room where B spent his nights now. B was lying on a table, and Kurt smiled looking down at his sleeping form. Kurt had fixed it so that he shut his empty eye when he was in sleep mode now, and he looked so sweet and peaceful and human. Kurt pressed against his neck and B blinked his eyes open and then smiled when he saw Kurt.

He sat up and scooted on the table until his legs were hanging off and swinging a little. "Good morning, Kurt," he said, his smile bright and his voice a little sleepy.

"Good morning, B," Kurt said, unable to keep the excitement out of his voice. "I have a surprise for you."

"Chocolate?" B asked eagerly, sitting up straighter. Ever since hed tried ice cream, Kurt had been bringing him little treats now and then. Jelly beans and orange slices, which he had liked. Coffee, which he hadnt liked at all. A candy bar, which had made B a little obsessed with chocolate.

Droids didnt need to eat and in fact most of them couldnt, but a top of the line android like B could eat small amounts of food and convert the food into energy. He also seemed to have a sense of taste. Why anyone would spend the time programming an android to taste things was beyond Kurt, but he was adorably excited anytime he got to try something new, and Kurt loved that.

"No, not that kind of surprise," Kurt said with a smile. "We get to go shopping today."

Bs smile morphed into a look of utter surprise, his bushy brows raised and his mouth open. "Shopping? You mean together? Outside of the workshop?"

"Only if you want to."

B quickly hopped down from the table. "I want to! Ive only ever been in the shop and your house. I want to go!"

Kurt laughed at his excitement and then watched as he rushed to pull on the old pair of tennis shoes he wore. Most droids didnt wear shoes, but apparently B had asked if he could and these were an old pair of Dans that fit him. Kurt was going to be able to get him something better now, and he couldnt wait.

"You have been out of the shop though," Kurt said. "I mean, you werent always with us."

"I know," B replied, "but here is all I remember."

Theyd discussed this before. Kurt was curious to know where B had come from. Who had owned him previously? How had he ended up in The Heap? But B didnt remember anything before he woke up to Burt working on him in the shop.

"What are you shopping for?" B asked as he followed Kurt out to the car.

"Clothes," Kurt said, turning his head to smile at him.

"You have clothes," B said, walking past him and opening the drivers door for him. "All of your clothes are gorgeous."

Kurt stopped in surprise, not only at the compliment but at the fact that B had just opened the car door for him. He smiled and blushed a little before getting into the car. "Thank you."

B hurried around to the other side and slid in, putting on his seatbelt as Kurt started the car.

"The clothes arent for me, though," Kurt said as they pulled out. "Theyre for you."

Kurt grinned as B stared at him. "I dont understand."

"Would you like something besides the droid clothes youve been wearing?"

"I… Kurt… Is it really okay? Can I get some clothes?"

"Yes," Kurt said, glancing at him while still keeping an eye on the road.

Bs eyes shone as a huge grin spread over his face. "Thank you, Kurt. Thank you so much."

Kurt had to force himself to look where he was driving. B wasnt crying exactly, but he looked like he could, and never had Kurt seen a droid show that kind of emotion. He knew Smythe androids were special and expertly crafted, and maybe they were all like this, but this was… B was just so human.

Kurt cleared his throat. "You dont have to thank me. This is going to be fun."

They arrived at the mall and B was a ball of excited energy, looking at everything and pointing and asking questions. Kurt reached out and grabbed his hand, thinking he needed to anchor him a little bit or hed lose him in the mall. Kurt wanted to bring him to the expensive stores, but even though Burt had given Kurt a company credit card to use, saying it was a work expense anyway, he still didnt want to go overboard spending money. He was grateful his dad was letting him do this for a droid to begin with.

“The first thing you need are some nice jeans," Kurt said when they got to the first store; he looked B up and down and grabbed a couple of different sizes. “And a few shirts, a jacket or two.” He walked around the store, grabbing different items, holding things up to B and moving on. B followed him like a puppy. Loving everything that Kurt picked up.

"What about this?" Kurt said, holding a skull and crossbones patterned scarf. "You need accessories too."

"What would I do with that?"

"Tie it around your neck. Do you like it?"

"Of course," B smiled happily.

Kurt looked down at the pile of clothes he was carrying and the pile B was carrying. Kurt had picked it all out, and it was all very fashionable and looked like things Kurt would wear himself. Kurt wanted to test something out though. "You know you dont have to like something just because I suggest it."

"But you look amazing in everything you wear," B answered with a little color blooming on his cheeks. "I trust you."

"But if you could pick something out for yourself, what would you pick?"

B looked around the store and shrugged. "I dont know."

Kurt was a little disappointed; B seemed to have opinions on all kinds of things when most droids wouldnt, and Kurt really enjoyed that about B. "Thats okay," Kurt said. "These will look good on you. I guess we should start trying them on."

B nodded, but hesitated.

"What is it?"

"We did pass one thing I think I might like."

Kurt smiled. "Show me."

B maneuvered through the accessory stands until they got to a table with a display of bowties. A few rows of them, all in different colors and patterns. "If it's okay to get something just as an accessory, what about one of these?"

Kurt looked down at the ties and then back at B. "I love that idea."

"Really?" B grinned.

"Listen, you pick a few out, okay? And let me have those." Kurt nodded to the clothes in Bs hand. "Were starting over."

Half an hour later, B was walking out of a dressing room with his first outfit on. A pair of light gray slacks, a white and green plaid shirt, a short-sleeved button-up that fit him perfectly and showed off his broad shoulders, and a green bowtie with matching suspenders. His hands were in his pockets as he bounced up and down on his toes wearing a pair of oxfords. "What do you think?" he asked shyly.

"Wow, B." Kurt said, looking him up and down. "You look..." Hot, Kurts mind supplied, but he stopped himself from letting that slip out. "Handsome," he landed on.

B laughed. "Thank you." He looked up to meet Kurts eyes and Kurt didnt even mind the empty socket. "I really like it, Kurt."

They ended up getting him a few different pieces he could mix and match, all of them fashionable but not really the kind of thing Kurt wore, they all had an old-fashioned, boyish vibe to them that suited B perfectly. Kurt also made sure to buy him several bowties.

They had been getting weird looks all day. Kurt knew B noticed them because he would flinch away sometimes when people looked scared, but he never said anything, so Kurt didnt either. They had lunch at the food court. B ended up loving French fries, and they were talking and enjoying themselves when someone nearby gasped loudly.

Kurt looked up to see a young mother with her child. The little boy, probably only seven or eight, was moving towards B with a delighted look on his face, but the mother pulled him back quickly. "You stay away from him!" she said loudly, sending both B and Kurt a glare. "That machine is an abomination!" She tugged the child along and moved away quickly.

Kurt sat stunned for a moment, watching them leave. When he looked back at B, he was staring down at his lap.

"B… Dont listen to people like her. She… She doesnt even know you."

"Am I an abomination?" he asked.

Kurts eyes widened and he leaned across the table to grab both of Bs hands in his own. "No, of course you arent."

"Then why do I scare people?"

"Youre just... new and different, and people are scared of things they dont understand."

B nodded.

"But B, you're also sweet and kind and if people cant see that, then it is their loss. Really, B, I'm so glad my dad found you."

B smiled, and when Kurt let go of his hands he reached for another French fry, seeming to feel better. "Im glad too, Kurt."

After the mall, Kurt made sure to swing by a fabric store, picking out fabrics that would coordinate with Bs new clothes so he could make him a bunch of eye patches.

"I think this is the best day Ive ever had," B said afterwards, as they pulled into the driveway back at home.

"The best day youve ever had?" Kurt said, smiling. "Because you got to go shopping?"

"Because I got to go shopping with you, Kurt." B answered, and Kurts heart did a little flip-flop in his chest.

They went to the workshop and found Steve and Grace closing up. Grace whistled when she saw them. "Well B, dont you look sharp?"

"Thank you," B beamed, looking down at his new clothes happily.

"Your dad took Carole out on a date," Grace told Kurt. "Wanted you to know theyd be out late."

"Okay. Thanks, Grace!" Kurt said as he and B headed to the back room. Kurt emptied out the coat closet to make room for Bs new things.

"So…" Kurt asked teasingly "What are your plans for this evening, B?"

"If Grace doesnt have any jobs for me, I guess Ill shut down like usual until the morning."

"You could come and have dinner. Or if you dont need any more food today, I can have dinner and you can just come over to watch a movie with me. We could keep the best day youve ever had going."

"Kurt," B breathed out. "I would love that."

Later that evening found Kurt and B sitting on the couch together watching The Sound of Music. Kurt close to B and leaning against his side as he worked on stitching the first eye patch. B had an arm around Kurts shoulder and was entranced by Julie Andrews. Kurt wasnt sure how theyd ended up sitting so close, but it felt comfortable and easy. Being with B always felt easy.

"Thank you," B whispered out of the blue, and Kurt glanced at him, raising an eyebrow in question. "For today. It was perfect. Do you think I can add shopping with Kurt to my list of things I want to do even though we already did it?"

"Just so you can check it off?"

"Yes."

God, B is adorable. "I dont see why not."

B smiled, and Kurt watched his eyes crinkle, looking at the brown eye on his good side and wondering what color his eyes were originally. He leaned his head on Bs shoulder, unable to stop the smile spreading on his own lips. "I agree, today was perfect."