Just a little scene that popped into my head while listening to my 80s playlist and doing some cleaning over the weekend.^^ The songs 'Invisible Touch' and 'Man in Motion' are the respective property of Genesis/Phil Collins and John Parr. I own nothing and have no money, so please don't sue me. ;)


A Man in Motion

Brain was an exceptional dog and over the years had learned many things about human nature, especially considering the two remarkable humans he lived with.

But he was also still a dog, and sometimes he just didn't understand the things some humans did.

Like his fifteen year-old mistress, for example.

The dog titled his head to the side as he watched Penny spin and twirl around the kitchen floor, still holding the mop in her hands as she danced along to Genesis' Invisible Touch. She had moved the chairs and table into the living room earlier so that she could sweep and mop the floor. At some point Penny had turned on the radio to help pass the time while she cleaned the kitchen. Once the floor was dry Penny hadn't immediately put the furniture back, instead choosing to use the kitchen as an impromptu dance studio as she danced along to the music.

Penny laughed at Brain's confused expression, pushing a few strands of dark gold hair away from her face where it had escaped from the loose bun she had put it in earlier. It was a sunny day in early July and even though it wasn't quite noon yet it was already hot and humid outside. Penny had opened the windows earlier so that the house could air out while she and her uncle cleaned and it was hot and bright in the sunlit kitchen.

"C'mon, Brain, it's fun!" she said before closing her eyes, spinning across the smooth floor with all the abandon and joy of a fifteen year-old who was enjoying a summer day.

"Wowsers, it's hot out there!" Brain turned his head and wuffed in greeting as Gadget came into the kitchen, wiping at his face. For once he was without his ever-present trenchcoat and hat, instead dressed in jeans and a t-shirt that was damp with sweat. Brain caught the sharp, sweet smell of grass and deduced his master had just finished mowing the lawn.

Penny turned down the music and poured her uncle a glass of water. She handed it to Gadget who thanked her before taking several long gulps.

"The kitchen looks great, Penny," he said, draining the glass before setting it aside. "We'll have the entire house cleaned in no time!"

Penny was about to respond when the next song caught her attention. She quickly hurried to the radio and turned the music back up before turning towards Gadget who was watching her with a bemused expression.

"I love this song! Come on Uncle, dance with me!" she said, beaming up at him as she took his gloved hands in her own slender ones.

Gadget resisted half-heartedly as Penny tugged him towards the middle of the kitchen floor. A sudden push against the back of his knees had him stumbling forward and he turned to shoot Brain a glare over his shoulder.

The dog merely sniffed and raised a brow (or at least the canine version of a brow) as if to say, "Well, what are you waiting for? Get out there!"

Gadget shuffled awkwardly as Penny twirled them around. He had never been comfortable with dancing, even when he had still been just an ordinary man. His limbs felt heavy and clumsy next to his niece and he was very careful not to accidentally step on her small feet.

Penny felt her earlier joy fade a bit when she realized the uncomfortable expression on her uncle's face. Her heart sank - she never wanted to make him feel embarrassed or clumsy and was worried she had done just that. She had only wanted him to enjoy himself and not worry about always being the perfect "Inspector Gadget" for once. He was enough as just her Uncle Gadget.

"Uncle Gadget?"

Gadget blinked and looked down at his niece, realizing they had stopped moving. Penny was gazing up at him with a worried expression. "Uncle, I'm sorry," she said, starting to pull away from him, her expression downcast. "You don't have to if you don't want to…"

'...just once in his life a man has his time…'

The song's words struck Gadget with unexpected emotion as he gazed down at his niece. She was fifteen now and he wouldn't have many more years of these precious moments left.

'And my time is now, I'm coming alive…'

He didn't want to lose one moment with Penny.

Gadget smiled and carefully tightened his arms around her waist when she tried to pull away. "Nonsense, Penny. A gentleman never refuses a lady's request to dance!" he said, eliciting a beaming smile and laugh from his niece.

He let Penny spin them around the floor and as they danced Gadget felt his earlier hesitation fade. It really was a catchy song, he thought, and couldn't help playfully repeat a verse as he twirled Penny around.

'...gonna be your man in motion, all I need's this pair of wheels…'

No sooner had the words "pair of wheels" left his mouth then his Gadget skates emerged under his feet.

"Wowsers!" Gadget exclaimed in surprise, limbs flailing as he struggled to keep them both upright. Penny gasped in surprise and wrapped her arms around his neck even though she knew with absolute certainty that her uncle wouldn't let her fall. She felt those powerful arms wrap around her waist as their momentum propelled them forward across the smooth floor.

Brain yelped and hastily scampered out of the way as they zoomed past him. Gadget gave up trying to recall his skates and threw his weight to the side seconds before they would have crashed into the wall. They careened back down the middle of the floor and Gadget used one extended arm to grab onto the counter, checking their speed, his other arm never leaving Penny's waist.

"Stupid skates," he muttered as they finally slowed to a stop. Just when he thought he could share a special moment with his niece, something normal and human, his gadgets had to remind him that he wasn't a man.

"Are you alright?" he asked, looking back up at Penny. She was still holding onto his neck, her feet dangling off of the floor and her weight supported effortlessly by his arms.

"Yes, just a bit dizzy," she said breathlessly. "This wasn't exactly what I meant by dancing, Uncle!" she added with a laugh.

Gadget winced and looked away. "Penny, I'm sorry, I…"

Penny's expression softened and she gave him a reassuring squeeze with her arms. "This is even better," she added with a gentle smile.

Gadget blinked and stared at Penny in surprise. He glanced towards the radio and realized the song was still playing. He then looked back down at his niece who was watching him with concerned eyes full of warmth and sincerity. She wasn't just trying to spare his feelings, he realized. She truly meant it.

"Well, in that case," he murmured, securing Penny in his arms. "Go go Gadget skates!" he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face as his niece's eyes widened.

Penny gasped as Gadget suddenly pushed off again, spinning them around the floor with the speed (if perhaps not the grace) of an ice skater.

'...feel like you're back again, and hope ridin' high…'

'...gonna be your man in motion, all I need's this pair of wheels…'

Penny closed her eyes, laughing as they spun and twirled up and down the floor with abandon, Gadget wearing an equally joyful expression.

Brain watched from the entryway. Had he been able to smile, the dog would have sported a large grin on his face. He barked happily as Gadget and Penny zoomed by him again.

Yes, his humans were indeed strange, Brain would be the first to admit. But they were also the two best people he knew and Brain wouldn't trade them for anything or anyone.