Unrequited
by: SLWatson

Disclaimer:  Joel and Crow belong to BBI.  Estelle and Kim belong to themselves.

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It was heartbreaking.  He had tried to deny it for the longest time, holding onto the faint idea that somehow, someway, this romance would be possible.  But the only thing that hurt worse than unrequited love was giving up on that love.

He had imagined that even death couldn't seperate them, and that some miracle would spare his young heart.

But it wasn't to be.

"Hey Crow," Joel said, interrupting the gold robot's somewhat morose thoughts.  Then he frowned. "What's wrong?"

Crow carefully set the picture of Estelle Winwood into the box that he would tape back up and put under his bed, sighing heavily.  "Nothing, Joel."

Joel looked in the box, then shook his head, patting Crow on the shoulder. "It's okay.  I'm sure she would've been flattered to have a young, handsome 'bot be so devoted to her."

"I guess."

"You guess?  Now what kind of fighting spirit is that, huh?"  Joel knelt down, looking Crow in the eye. "Of course she would have been.  But... uhm... you know, it's just a little too late.  And I know it's gotta feel pretty low right now, but you'll find someone else, I'm sure."

How a robot could pout is anyone's guess. "Really?"

Joel nodded, solemnly. "Really."

Crow nodded, with appropriate gravity, and grabbed the duct tape to tape the box back up.

Maybe Kim was still available...