Chapter Text
Robert was pissed. He was on his way to work with Beef when he got taken hostage by some shithead trying to rob a 7/11. That alone wasn't an issue, Robert was a hero after all so he managed to elbow the guy in the stomach and flip him on his ass with no issue. It didn't take long to tie him up and the manager of the 7/11 even gave him a box of twinkies as thanks. No the thing that had Robert pissed was that while he was waiting for the police to arrive tall dark and stupid started chanting in some bullshit demon language. Before he could finish Robert knocked him out. The guy was pretty weak so it only took one well aimed punch to the jaw. Apparently he didn't knock him out fast enough though because the next thing he knew he was lying on the ground in excruciating pain.
When the police arrived the manager frantically explained the situation to them and Robert was rushed to a hospital. He managed to give them chases number before he passed out from the pain.
When he came too the old man was resting at his bedside, passed out in what Robert was certain was a very uncomfortable chair. He was relieved to see his old (as shit) baby sitter all the same.
He was confused when the next second he heard a soft thumping nearby. Before he could investigate further though he spotted Beef. The butterball was on his hind legs trying to get a better look at Robert. "Hey buddy" he smiled and the thumping got faster.
Robert was just about to look around for the source of the sound when Chase woke up. He turned his attention to his oldest friend instead. "Hey unc" and again the thumping got faster and maybe a little louder too.
"Hey kid" his smile seemed a little too wide but Robert chalked it up to him being relieved "how you feeling?"
"Not too bad, my head kind of itches though" he tried to be casual about it as he reached up to scratch his scalp. He didn't want Chase to- what? What is that? The thumping stopped but Robert didn't notice because he was too busy feeling the top of his head. There was something up there. Robert flinched when he felt it move.
Chases smile grew even wider and if he were paying attention Robert would have seen the mischief in his eyes when it did "I see you've finally noticed your new ears, pup."
The Robber was apparently a sorcerer and before Robert knocked him out he was trying to cast a spell that would turn him into I giant man eating beast. Key word 'trying'. Robert fucked up the spell when he punched him. When Chase arrived at the hospital and saw Robert he called Blazer, who sent an SDN affiliated sorceress to exam him.
Long story short Robert would be part dog for the next two to three weeks. A fluffy brown tail protruding from his rear at the base of his spine and a pair of big floppy dog ears rested atop his head. His teeth had grown sharper and just a bit longer meaning his lips didn't fully cover his new canines. Little pointed teeth peeked out just beyond the boundary of his mouth. And worst of all was the sounds. Little whimpers and wines that sounded too much like Beef for Robert to be comfortable with occasionally escaped his throat.
His senses felt sharper too. Especially his nose. He was sneezing every few minutes from the harsh scent of antiseptic and medicine in the air. He rubbed his nose in frustration a few times, not being a fan of the light burning sensation that came with it.
Which brings him to the Present. He was standing outside of conference room c getting ready to explain in person to his team why he wasn't at work yesterday. He tried tucking his new tail into his pants a few times but it was like it had a mind of its own always managing to wiggle free without his notice. After the fifth attempt Robert gave up and shifted his slacks the rest lower on his hips to accommodate his new appendage. His ears twitched as he caught snippets of chatter from inside the room. Not being one to ease drop he did his best to ignore it.
With a need breath he opens the doors to the conference room.
---
The z-team had been worried when Robert didn't show up to his shift yesterday. When they found out he was been hospitalized they may have stormed Blazers office for answers. Leaning that Robert was curse and looked like a dog now was not what Flambae had expected. He didn't fully believe it either, not until Robert walked into the conference room.
His demeanor was the same as always. Deadpan stare, tight posture, and a hint of a frown teasing the corners of his pretty pink lips. That being said his brand new features seemed to betray his normal attitude. His floppy brown ears stood at attention and his tail was tucked close to his inner thigh it would be easy to miss if you weren't paying attention. When it come to Robert lately though Flambae was always paying attention. Nervous. That's the feeling got from his dispatcher in this moment.
Robert made his way to the front of the room and began to speak. He explained the curse and how he came to be affiliated with it while the rest of the team threw in a few jokes about his new appearance. Flambae wasn't paying much attention to any of this though, he was too distracted by how fucking cute it was. It was very clear right off the bat that Robert had no idea that his new features were forcing him to show his true emotions. When the team didn't have anything harsh to say about him Roberts ears relaxed and his tail began to gently sway back and forth behind him. It would occasionally pick up speed at something someone said. His ears swiveling to point more towards whoever happens to be speaking and peeking up when something of interest came up.
To his right he felt Prism nudge him "careful bae, your gonna make me wonder who the dog really is if you keep drooling like that" she whispered
Flambae shushed her when he noticed Roberts ears point in there direction.
"Did you want to add something to the conversation Alice?" His expression was exasperated but his tail and ears both perked up in curiosity
She smirked "yeah actually. You know you can't fool any of us right now right Mr hard ass dispatcher?"
Roberts ears pulled back and his tail tucked up by his thigh again as a low whine bubbled up from his chest. His entire face went red in seconds. Flambae wanted to hold him close and pet him until his tail started wagging again
"The tails giving you away Roberto." Prisms smirk only grew
Roberts tail swished in agitation and flambae did his best not to stare. The smaller man's cheeks grew even redder. He grabs the offending appendage and scurries out of the room with a grumbled "shift starts in ten"
The room exploded with laughter and Alice received multiple high fives for her work.
The shift was busy with a lot of jobs coming in big and small so there wasn't much room for chatter aside from invisigal saying something to Robert about getting a collar. And sonar congratulating him on becoming a 'fellow furry'.
Flambae still noticed a slight thumping sound whenever a job went particularly well. The sound brought a smile to his face.