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Robert reflects on many things that have happened in his life.
He often thinks about his dad and the few memories he has of him before his death. It slowly wanders into his late teens to early adult years, where he stepped into the role of Mecha Man and became the new face of it all. Then it circles away to his retirement, meeting the Z-Team, and everything else that shattered in-between. Sometimes it doesn't bother him, other times it keeps him up at night. Would he do it all again?
Unfortunately.
Life was cruel, and things were always thrown his way. Like becoming part of a team full of former villains. It wasn't an easy couple of months, that's for sure, but he eventually grew fond of them. He and Visi were quite close, as the tomboy always came and shit-talked about whatever, and he would give her bullshit advice that sometimes didn't help in the long run. Malevola and Sonar always came by to say hi, with one or both of them then spurring his ear with random things for an hour or more. Coupé was eventually allowed back on the team after a fight from Robert's end, and it did take a while for her to trust him again, which he didn't exactly blame her for. However, after some time, she grew fond of him again, and it led to Punch Up not hating his guts anymore.
Prism recommended his music, usually her own, and told him all the “gossip” she picked up during missions, and one time told him to try out blue and pink hair because “his aesthetic would be more friendly”, marked by her words. Golem tried his best to not knock into Robert as much anymore, which was greatly appreciated, and even made little figurines made of mud to make up for it.
But the most surprising? Flambae. The two didn't get along in the slightest at the very start. Flambae had a habit of being a dick, and that would lead to Robert doing the same but in a less giving-a-shit way. Unknown to Flambae at the time, Robert scorched off his eyebrows by dashing him in pure alcohol at a bar, which fueled his hate for Mecha Man even more. Then he ended up throwing a milkshake at him for being a jackass to Waterboy, almost getting the burn of a lifetime. There are more examples, but Robert can't think of them all tonight.
Which is funny and ironic. Despite being a P.O.S., Robert grew fond of him over time. He noticed he would laugh at the man's jokes, sometimes sit close to him when Flambae was actually being friendly, and even compliment and praise his successful missions, which motivated the flame hero to do it more and more. After some time, the two were really getting along. The tanner brunette did notice the others snickering behind their backs, but he didn't think much of it at the time. Flambae was actually being decent, so why would he complain?
Then he kissed him. It was stupid; they were both drunk at Blonde Blazer’s party. But Robert remembers Flambae’s half-lidded eyes staring down at him with a flint of adornment. He didn't have time to question him before he took Robert's chin in his hand and connected their lips. It was surprising, and for a moment he didn't know what to do until he kissed back, his body light as a feather as suddenly the world became brighter.
Then it was odd. Because it was Flambae. He was trying to be romantic and ask Robert out on an actual date, but it always aligned with Robert's work schedule, so the ex-villain took Robert's lunch break as his only option, and they had exactly a thirty-minute date that consisted of them arguing over what to actually do on said date and if it would work. Flambae said something about Robert's ass, and Robert saying something about Flambae’s giant chest he just had to show off to everyone. It was dumb, quick and most people wouldn't even have gone on a second date.
Then Flambae suggested his house, entirely, and Robert couldn't say no. Chase was babysitting Beef that day (and practically had to fight him to get him back), and he didn't have any afternoon plans. So, he agreed.
They hit it off, and Robert fell in love.
Which leads him to now. Lying on a soft mattress, the black and orange blanket draped over his shoulders, he stared longingly at Flambae’s sleeping face. His eyebrows finally grew back, thankfully, so he looks like his normal self again. His face was soft as he slept, face pressed into his pillow, his right hand planted on top of the sheet. Flambae’s body was naturally warm, a good side effect of having flame powers, his upper torso was exposed to the cold air, while anything past his hips tucked nicely into the remaining half of the fuzzy blanket. He looked peaceful. It made Robert's heart beat every time he looked at him.
Yet, those thoughts came back to him in an instant, and guilt basically devoured him from the inside out.
A few weeks ago, Robert told him he was Mecha Man. It was during a cold night, after they had left an office party, and Robert just… told him. They had been together nearly all the time at that point, and some of it was due to the tipsiness from alcohol, but he remembers doing it ever so clearly. He remembers Flambae’s face shifting from confusion to anger to conflict in a matter of seconds. He didn't say anything for a long time, which honestly surprised Robert.
I thought you should know.
You are actually Mecha Man?
… Yeah, I didn't know how to tell you. Or the fact he may leave.
They talked it out eventually. Flambae accepted it and even made a joke about “capturing his enemy” in a completely different way. Everything was fine. Nothing seemed to change.
And yet…
Robert's hand slides from under the covers and gracefully tenders to Flambae's exposed hand. His brown eyes trail to his ring and pinkie fingers. Well, stubs would be a better way to describe them. During their first encounter, way before Robert's retirement, the couple had fought, and the brunette ended up putting Flambae in jail. Unknown to Robert at the time, he had completely blown off two of his now partner's fingers. It was why Flambae hated Mecha Man at the time. He told Robert it's no big deal he's Mecha Man, even if he could use it against him in an argument. But always looking at Flambae's hand, knowing that he was the one to cause it… it left something weird and lingering in Robert's stomach.
Gently, Robert took Flambae's hand and ran his thumb between the two stubs. They healed pretty well, in all honesty. If one didn't look hard enough, they would be pretty hard to miss overall. But ever since Robert learned of this, he can't help but always look at them. Did Flambae secretly resent him still? He wouldn't blame him, but that would require couple counseling, and neither of them exactly has time for that. Even so, Robert pulls his lover’s hand closer and sighs.
Robert knew he had hurt people, it's no secret. Being a hero doesn't free anyone of that, but it doesn't mean it doesn't stay with him. He always thinks about what-ifs and stuff. Unfortunately, this wasn't any different. Flambae was a villain and being a massive douche when they first met, but now? Jesus, maybe they did need couple's counseling.
Suddenly, the hand lightly jerks away. Robert freezes, eyes widening, as they trace back to Flambae's face, who was now staring at Robert with one eye. Oops.
“I didn't think you'd wake up.” Robert blurts out, red rushing over his face. “You were sleeping deeply. Like, a coma, you know?”
That got a snicker out of the tired man. “Are you admiring me, Bob-Bob?”
He almost felt less guilty about waking him up. “You could say that. That, or I'm planning how to kill you and get away with it. I've figured out several different ways, actually. I even made a top three.”
Flambae rolls his eyes, but his snicker doesn't falter. “I can be a light sleeper.”
Robert fixes his position, now resting on his elbow as he lifts his head in the air. “Bullshit. You always slept through everything.”
“Or maybe I pretend so I can admire your ass before you head in the shower. It's an easy show for me.”
The dispatcher's face turns red with that. “You know, I wouldn't put that past you. Fucking perv.”
Even so, Robert's lips did turn into a smile. The bigger hero’s hand snakes up and gracefully touches Robert's cheek, pulling him down, their lips barely inches apart. Robert pauses and pulls his head back, which immediately catches the flame hero's attention.
“What's wrong?” He questions, his brows furrowing. Robert always felt bad when he made Flambae worry, because it wasn't often that he would let his guard down so easily, and then it puts Flambae in a weird mood since he's still learning to properly show his empathetic side.
“Uhh,” Robert reached up and took Flambae's hand, feeling the severed fingers against his palm, “I've been thinking about stuff recently.”
That's one way to be ultra specific, Robert. “I mean, you know, between us. Me. You. Uh, other bullshit that couples do when they're having some doubting issues.”
He was always great at words, can anyone tell? Chase always let him know of that (by telling him to tighten up and pick out “better fucking sentences”).
Flambae lifts his head. “You're not making sense, babe.”
Robert swallows. “Are you… actually okay with the fact I am—was—Mecha Man? Even though I blew off your fingers because, well, we were fighting, and everything.”
At this point, the dispatcher should move to Hawaii, change his name, and dye his hair blonde so no one recognizes him ever again with the way he's wording and asking these questions.
Flambae tiredly blinked, taking in the question with some time to process. “Well, I can't say I'm still not pissed about it.”
Well, that confirmed Robert's suspicions. “I can't say I—”
“It sucks, but I think I like my hand like this because it's a weird, fucked-up reminder I have of you.”
Robert pauses, his mouth slamming shut as red spreads across his face and ears. Flambae was terrible at words, and this wasn't exactly a different case, as it was still odd in a way.
“Sooooo, you like the fact I blew off your fingers because it reminds you of me?” Robert chuckled, a little dumbfounded by the man's words. “I wouldn't consider that romantic. Or reassuring.”
The flame hero thinks, his hand falling on Robert's thigh. “No, it's not. Back then, I hated you and wanted revenge—”
“And that led to your eyebrows getting burned off.”
He shuts up when Flambae squeezes his thigh. “And! Even meeting the actual you, I thought you were a jackass and needed to burn your hair off.”
Robert shifts so he's lying down again as his partner continues.
“And even sometimes, I still want to do that.” Flambae smirks, his eyes slightly glowing. “But, you know, getting to know the real you, inside and out, was pretty refreshing. I did have moments where I just thought I wanted your flat ass to myself—”
“How endearing.”
“Then there was the night at the party. Well, even before the party, I was thinking many things about you. But the party did it for me. And that's when I was… uh, very attached to Robert Robertson.”
Flambae isn't the type to say ‘I love you’, though Robert doesn't exactly hate it. Because he can tell when he wants to, but his ego doesn't allow him, and it's honestly funnier that way. However, he has heard him say ‘I love you’ to his niece over the phone, and it was very cute. He had to hide his snicker over it for at least an hour.
“Attached enough that you didn't want to kill me, or?” Robert scoots closer, pulling the blanket over his shoulders entirely.
Flambae shrugs. “I was debating at the time. Honestly, I hate feeling conflicted, and you did just that. I was impressed, though.”
Robert attempts to look away, but Flambae's hand tenderly touches his cheek and moves his gaze back to him.
“I'm okay, hm?” Flambae smirks. “I don't care anymore, and I don't hold it against you. My fingers are gone, but I can die in peace knowing it was you who blew them off. It's exactly like how you blow me every night.” He winks with that.
Robert stares at him for a solid second, unmoving as his dark gaze bores into Flambae. Then he bursts out laughing, closing his eyes and tucking his face into the pillow.
“That's the worst way to comfort someone.” His muffled voice breaks through. “‘Oh yeah, I met my boyfriend through a fight that ended with me losing two of my fingers.’ You're so shit at—”
Robert's head is pulled up, and soft lips connect to his. He freezes for a moment before returning the kiss, pressing against Flambae, wrapping his arm around him.
“Happy now?” Flambae asks as he pulls away. “I was trying to get you to laugh.”
“Was that it? It was shit.”
But he couldn't help but appreciate it.
They ended up cuddling for the rest of the night. Robert still had some doubts and obviously didn't completely forgive himself for basically blowing off his then-future boyfriend’s fingers clean off, but Flambae seems to have lightened up about it and told Robert to not worry about it. It was cute, it got a smile out of Robert, but it was nearly ruined when Flambae “jokingly” tried to shove his thumb in his mouth, saying, “I still have all the right fingers, babe.”
Even so, Robert allowed himself to be wrapped up in Flambae's arms and sleep the rest of the night away. Hopefully, soon, he can sign up for his own therapy sessions so he'd feel less guilt—
“Go to bed.” Flambae muffles in his hair.
“I am.”
“Your body moving says otherwise.”
Robert chuckles and closes his eyes, stuffing his face into the chest of the man he loved.