Chapter Text
Dottore’s lab was a fortress of chaos, a place where order and disorder coexisted in a strange harmony. If it looked messy he'd claim that he knew where everything was and then moments later he'd ask if someone had seen his wrench. Typical.
Bright metal instruments lay scattered across every available surface, and the air was thick with the smell of chemicals.
His lab was seperated into three, the area that he immediately walks into was a tame one, more just desks with not-so-dangerous-but-still-dangerous items. The second part was where actual experiments took place, from gory to normal ones. The last area was, well, off limits, thats all.
In the first area was also his work desk, sometimes he proffered to sit there and do his papers instead of in his actual office.
There some machine hummed in the background, a few heaters buzzed, they weren't turned up often due to some things being heat sensitive, along were scattered notes and blueprints, tools, scraps and many other things.
So a little girl looked really out of place in such a spot.
Anastasia, with her wide eyes and dark curly hair sat quietly beside her father, her little hands resting carefully on the edge of his workbench.
So why exactly did Dottore bring his six year old to the laboratory that most grown people shouldn't enter?
Well, simple, a heater at home broke and he didn't want to leave her alone in the cold while workers ran around the estate fixing it.
But why not leave her with Pantalone? The man had a meeting and would be out of his office for awhile. So, Dottore had to make her tag along with him. Not that she minded. Nor did he.
She was calm and never made a mess anyways so she wasn't hard to look after at all. She listened and peacefully sat. She even looked a bit tired, probably because it was barely dawn and she was dragged from home.
She yawned, her small hand rubbing at her eyes in a half-hearted attempt to rub off the fatigue. Though it was hard to do through gloves.
The lab was warm, yes, but she was still thickly dressed. She even had a cute hat on her head.
Dottore paused what he was doing for a moment, glancing up from his work to find her slumped a little in her chair, her expression obviously still sleepy.
"Tired?" he asked, his voice low, though it was more of a gentle observation than a question.
Anastasia nodded in response, her eyes blinking sleepily. She didn’t seem upset or annoyed by the early start, but Dottore could see that she wasn't used to rising early or staying up awake at such an hour.
"You want to sleep?" He asked, there was no space for a child to sleep.
Where would a child sleep in the lab?
He'd probably makeshift something if needed.
Her small hands fidgeted with the edges of her coat, her lips curling into a pout as she considered his question. But she shook her head, as if determined to power through it.
"No" she mumbled, her voice barely audible. "I’ll be okay."
Dottore watches her for a moment longer before averting his gaze.
"If you say so."
She distracted herself by watching her fathers hands move with precision, adjusting strange instruments and scribbling notes in a book before him. She swung her feet under the table while her eyes stayed glued to his fingers. He was so swift with it all.
Truly its impossible to explain how out of place she looked in such a spot.
A little girl with a dark purple coat, orange shirt, and gray pants, along with gray boots and a gray hat, sitting right next to the second Harbinger. Very, out of place.
She sat quietly most of the time but she was a kid, a curious one at that so she found herself looking at things she shouldn't around the lab. Vials, blueprints, and such. Still from her sitting spot.
She was slowly gaining that morning energy kids get at some point after being awake.
"Dad, what is that?" She asked as she tilted her head slightly while staring at a glass container full of shimmering green liquid.
Dottore didn’t look up immediately. His fingers moved over the complex machinery before him. It seemed to be some kinda core he was messing around with.
"Hmm? That?" He asked after following her gaze to the item. "A simple concoction" he murmured absently.
Anastasia’s eyes narrowed just slightly as she continued to stare at the container. Her curiosity, never one to be quelled by mere words, pushed her further. She had already grown used to the cryptic answers from her father. It wasn’t that he didn’t care, it was that he didn’t explain things the way other parents did. His words were always laced with mystery, and she’d learned long ago that she needed to figure things out herself if she was to satisfy her need to know. But she also didn't want to stir trouble so, she sat still.
Until......
Dottore had to leave, he needed to deliver some papers and thats when trouble began.
The moment he stepped out, a couple of the present segments had to look after her.
They thought she would act how she acted around her father all sweet, calm and mature!
But oh were they wrong. So, so wrong.
When Dottore was gone she stood up from her chair and immediately began to wander through the lab, her small feet padding across the floor, echoing in the silence of the vast room. The lab was a place of fascination for her, its strange, mysterious corners and the soft hum of machines working tirelessly in the background. It was where her father’s genius came to life, a place that held the promise of discovery and knowledge, even if she didn’t fully understand it yet.
Her eyes darted from one piece of equipment to the next, captivated by the intricate details of each machine.
Some of them whirred quietly, others buzzed and clicked. But Anastasia wasn’t scared of any of it. Not like most people would be. To her, the machines were fascinating creations, like the dolls she to plays with, except these were real, and their purposes were far greater than mere playthings.
"Miss Anastasia!" a voice called out, sharp and concerned, pulling her attention back to the present. Omega was already on the move. The segment, which had been quietly working on a nearby console was now ripped away from it.
"Please, do not touch that!" Omega warned, his voice calm but insistent. He was given an order to look after her, all of them were. If she ends up missing a single hair, they're done for.
"You could get hurt and your father wouldn't like that!"
She grinned, an expression so much like her father’s, a mix of mischief and determination.
She merely tilted her head, the way a curious animal might when faced with something it couldn’t fully understand. Her red eyes were wide, innocent even, but behind them, there was a glint of defiance.
Instead of stepping back, she leaned forward, pressing her small palm gently on the side of a cylindrical contraption before her.
"It’s just a little... touch" she said, her voice so sweet it almost seemed to make the warning meaningless. She wasn’t even looking at Omega anymore, her focus entirely on the thing before her.
The segment hesitated for a split second, calculating the best way to handle the situation. There were parameters and protocols in place for handling the Doctors daughter, but the truth was, none of them truly accounted for her particular brand of chaos. They had expected her to act like an angel, just how she had when Dottore was present but now, now she was a menace!
The segments voice softened, almost pleading. "Please, you mustn’t play with those. Those devices are not toys."
Anastasia looked up at him, her lips twisting in mock sympathy.
"Dad's not here. He won’t know."
Omega stared, mouth agape.
Oh wow. Okay. She was a hazard!
"Do not... touch that!" Omega said, reaching for her. His limbs were fast, but Anastasia was quicker. She scrambled back, laughing as she shot out from under the machine and bolted across the lab, a blur of movement.
"Catch me if you can!" she shouted over her shoulder, her voice filled with excitement as she ran.
"Do not run in the laboratory!" He gripped his hair, feeling as if his little fake heart was going to cause him to go into cardiac arrest.
No one is insane enough to play tag in the lab! Especially with so many little breakable things around.
"Whats this?" She asked while pointing at some glass containers on one of the counters.
Why did she always go for the glass ones?!
"Please don't touch it.."
"But I just wanted to see it" she said with a small frown, while reaching up to touch it.
"I won’t break it."
"Not the point. It’s not about breaking it. Some things in this lab are too complex. If you touch the wrong thing, you could be hurt." He tried to explain but the girl had already gripped the item in her hands. Her fingers wrapped around it delicately, her eyes fixated on the swirling liquid inside as the soft glow of the mixture reflected off her face. It was an eerie green, almost luminous, and yet, entirely harmless as long as it remained undisturbed.
The segment closed his eyes in defeat.
"Please release the item" Another segment spoke, voice even, but it carried firmness. With a gentle yet quick motion he gently pried the container from Anastasia’s hands, making sure not to startle her too much, and not to injure her in the process.
Anastasia looked up at the segment.
"But I just wanted to look at it" she said, her voice soft and disappointed, a small crease of confusion furrowing her brow.
But, she quickly forgot about it and moved to another thing, something metallic, slightly rusty, it looked like a controler.
And after that was taken from her too, everything should've been better right?
The other segments backed off slowly, returning to their own tasks, though they still kept an eye on her from a distance. They were never far from her, even when she didn’t realize it. They were programmed to protect her.
Anastasia looked back at the machine she had been so eager to touch, but now, the allure had faded. It was just another piece of metal, another creation in a lab full of them. There would be other things to see.
The moment the segments sat down she made them get up again by grabbing something.
It was like that for a solid half hour.
The segments ran after her from one spot to the other, pleading her not to touch and to be careful but she had fun with both the items and tiring out the segments.
She'd go from one corner to the other, grabbing items, asking about them or busy watching and they'd rush after her.
And she wasn't even working up a sweat meanwhile the others looked defeated, almost as if their battery was low.
Kinda a funny sight.
When Dottore returned, the lab was as it was earlier, quiet.
His eyes immediately found Anastasia, perched on her seat, hands idly tracing the edges of some abandoned prototype. Not a harmful one. Her expression was focused, her brow furrowed slightly as she contemplated the mechanism before her. The light above her head cast soft shadows on her face.
For a brief moment, he simply watched her.
Then he glanced over at the others who seemed so, indulged in their work.
How, peculiar.
"Ana" he called as he approached, taking a seat next to her. "Did they treat you well?" He asked and there was a stillness in the room.
No one dared speak up against the little devil, no segment opened their mouth.
When it came to Anastasia, there was always an unspoken understanding. She was, after all, Dottore’s daughter, his princess.
If they did something to harm her or she got hurt under their supervision, not only would they feel the Doctor’s wrath but Regrator’s too. They would install an ability for segments to feel pain just to torture them with a wider smile.
So no one dared to speak up of her or confess what she was doing. Even if they did, Dottore wouldn't believe them because his little girl was an angelic being. They knew how important the little girl was to their creator so they'll let her have it. Its not like she's visit every day anyways
Anastasia, however, didn’t seem fazed by the question. She nodded.
"They were nice." she said.
Dottore watched her closely, the faintest flicker of amusement dancing in his eyes beneath the steel mask. Anastasia had always been able to manipulate the atmosphere around her with such ease, her innocent demeanor disarming even the most calculating of minds. Especially her fathers who trusted her and knew her as a sweetheart who can never do wrong.
Dottore could feel the way the segments kept their distance, offering no comment about what had transpired. None of them dared to challenge the little girl or step out of line.
It was as though there was a mutual understanding that Anastasia was untouchable in her own special way, untouchable not because of any great strength or cunning, but because of the way she held Dottore’s heart in her hands. He was, for better or worse, completely blind to her mischief. In his eyes, she could do no wrong. After all, she was his daughter, and no child, especially not one as young as her, could be capable of causing real harm or mischief, right?
"Papa" she said suddenly, her voice breaking his thoughts. "Can I help you with something?"
Dottore turned his attention back to her. "Help me?" he repeated. "What would you like to help with, Ana?"
Anastasia blinked up at him, considering his question. She glanced around the lab as though choosing her target, her small hands clasped in front of her as if she was about to embark on a serious task. The lab was full of tools, vials, blueprints, and machinery, everything that Dottore had poured his life into, everything he had mastered. Yet, for her, it was just a landscape of curiosity.
"..I suppose there’s something you can help with" Dottore said, picking up a small metal gear that sat on the desk beside him. It was just a tiny, innocuous part from a broken device he had been meaning to repair. It wasn’t much, but it was just the right size for her hands. He turned it over in his fingers, not heavy, not dirty, before holding it out to her. "Here. Hold this for me."
Anastasia’s eyes widened, and she immediately sat up straighter, her small hands reaching out to take the tiny gear from his palm. She gripped it.
"What does this do?"
Dottore leaned over to her, fixing her hat before speaking. "This gear is part of a machine I’m fixing. It helps everything move. A little piece of something big. I'll let you place it later."
If she wanted to be included, she'd be included.
As for the segments, they all felt much calmer now that her father had returned and they didn't have to babysit again. And, she calmed down again, thankfully.
As the day went on, she began to grow tired again. A ten hour shift on a little girl? Now that was impossible. She could once again barely keep her eyes open, but the good part was.
It was over.
Dottore got dressed up and then he fixed her coat before picking her up. It was obvious she could barely sit let alone stand and walk.
She nestled her cheek to the side of his neck, warm breath brushing against the edge of his collar. Her arms wrapped lazily around his neck. One small hand found the strands of his hair at the base of his skull and started playing with it absentmindedly, tiny, gentle fingers twisting and combing through the fine blue locks. She tried her best to stay awake but it was hard.
He didn’t stop her.
"Where’s daddy?" she mumbled.
Dottore’s lips curved in a subtle, knowing grin. It was the kind of question she would ask when she was tired and seeking the comfort of both of them. She wanted both of them to be around before she could doze off. It was rather endearing.
"We’re about to go and meet him, and then we’ll head home. It’s been a long day for both of you. He'll be happy to see you."
Anastasia’s response was little more than a tired, soft murmur, her eyelids fluttering as though the effort of keeping them open was too much. Her small hand continued to twist his hair lazily, the motion gradually slowing.
Dottore stepped out of the lab, flicking the lights before making his way down the long hall. The cold was immediately more obvious. He raised his other hand and rested it on the girls head. "Are you cold?"
There was no immediate response, only the slightest of shifts from her. A lazy shake of her head, signaling she was fine.
The long hallways seemed to stretch before him, the stone walls cold and smooth as he walked, his coat trailing slightly behind him. All that mattered now was the quiet peace of returning home.
They reached the outside doors in time for the final rays of sunlight to retreat behind the horizon, casting the area in a gentle twilight.
As he stepped onto the stone steps that led outside, he exhaled slowly, feeling the crisp air fill his lungs. It wasn’t unbearable, it was usual.
Just as he stepped off the final stair, the doors behind him burst open again, the unmistakable sound of hurried footsteps reaching his ears. He turned, catching sight of Pantalone rushing toward them, his steps quick but graceful, his coat fluttering behind him. The man had clearly just finished his work, his dark hair was slightly tousled, and there was a faint look of exhaustion in his eyes.
"The damned meeting ran longer than I expected. I'd much rather talk to a wall next time!" He said, seemingly irritated from whatever had transpired during the meeting. It wouldn't be the first nor the last time someone wasted his time, it was just annoying to deal with. They're lucky he wasn't in a particularly bad mood, because if he was, then, limbs might have been missing.
Dottore shifted Anastasia carefully in his arms, his movements fluid as he passed her over to Pantalone.
"She kept asking for you."
Pantalone wrapped his arms around her as he held her close, his arms enveloping her with a gentleness that only he seemed to possess. Her tiny face was nestled against his chest, her red eyes now closed in peaceful slumber, her small form completely relaxed in his hold.
"She's asleep" Pantalone said, a hint of surprise in his voice as he adjusted her in his arms, his lips brushing her forehead. "How did you get her to fall asleep? I was sure she'd be running around all curious." His hands were steady, but his gaze softened as he looked down at her.
Dottore tapped his chin.
"Hm, I wonder...she just had a very long day I'd say."