Chapter Text
Everyone was already back by the time Robert was back at his desk, everybody having turned or taken off their ear pieces at some point upon return, probably, and Robert put everything properly into the computer system, setting his status to 'on break' just so the incoming calls would be redirected.
He probably should've done that before leaving for 15 minutes to carry some boxes but oh well, it didn't look like he missed any calls, luckily, it was probably Galen who already organised the redirect already, the Floridian being the true MVP of the office, truely.
With the Dollar of the morning still in his pocket and Coupé's book under his arm, Robert finally made way to the break room, most of the team being in there for once, suprisingly actually, usually half of them or more were out getting some take-out or another during the hour of break.
Missing right now were only Waterboy, Sonar and Phenomaman and Robert hoped truely that the Bat wasn't actively trying to pull the other missing members into a scheme of his. A problem for later Robert if he was, though it was more likely for Waterboy sitting in his Janitors closet again because the young Hero found it suprisingly comforting as he had admitted once and Phen was probably giving him some company, the two getting along rather well.
Sonar, probably, was getting some lunch done outside of the break room, hopefully. Robert wished very hard, not really excited about the aspect of Rat Guts in the microwave, again.
This time around the culprits sat around in their usual set-up groups, though all of them were typing and throwing glances around the room every once in a while and Robert figures they were all chatting to each other, for whatever reasons. The youth of today and all that, despite a lot of his team actually being a bit older than Robert himself.
Quietly shaking his head the dispatcher steps up to the Vending machine proper, finally getting his sweet treat for the day after being interrupted on the first try earlier this morning and rolling his shoulders while waiting for the snack to drop, feeling his teams eyes snapping towards the machine as it oh so suddenly started up. They must've been really into their conversation to not have noticed him any earlier, apparently, causing Robert to actually be a little bit curious what caught their attention like that. Oh well, he'll never know. Probably, hopefully, just another silly bet of theirs.
Leaning down and wincing when coming back up, Robert got his beloved Twinkie, a small content hum escaping him, Sonar being the only one who could've had a chance to hear that if he was there, but like this Robert's happiness for his snack was kept for himself as the worst kept secret.
Rolling his shoulder again he turned towards the others, his eyes scanning for Coupé because he agreed to talk about her book during break and he was a man of his words like that, easily ignoring Flambae's and Mal's frowns that are aimed at him and everybody else's exasperated expressions. For Ex-villains all of them have a terrible pokerface, really.
He was about to join the former assassin and the strong man at their table but he got roughly shoved towards the breakrooms sofa by a warm hand and a "Move, bitch", which sounded as charming as ever Robert thought sarcastically, seeing his Goal getting up and join him on his stumbling way towards the couch.
"Couldn't really get started earlier", he apologised preemptively, but he was sure Coupé didn't really mind and he got proven right instantly when she simply took her book back, shaking her head gently and starts reading outloud.
While that was a change of the usual Robert couldn't say he minded that either, Coupé's even voice sounding comforting, the intro being read as smoothly as if being an audio book narrator was her actual job, if the handful of audiobooks Robert had listened to while workshopping in the past were a good point or reference.
Robert was about to get comfortable on the cushions but got shoved at once again, a foot rather roughly pushing at his shins, the orange decals from the corner of his eyes telling the retired Hero exactly who was nudging him, once again.
"Move over, Mecha-Dick", he got ordered, being manhandled over by Coupé pulling at him and Flambae's warm hand pushing against his shoulder before he could even react, both hands resting on him for moments longer after moving him, Coupé's hand only moving away once she needed to turn the page.
Robert was about to make a snide comment about Chad still holding onto him, but the others hand moved onto the back of his neck and heating up a bit more, his thumb pressed to one side of his neck while his pointer and middlefinger cage his nape from the other side. Not dangerously so, not really, only comfortingly, Coupé leaning into Robert more herself, her body not as warm but still pleasantly warm pressed against Robert with 3 adults squeezing atop the sofa.
Without even noticing Punch-Up had joined them, somewhat, the small man pressing a warm bowl of something into Robert's hands while stealing his twinkie and then joins the sofa via sitting on the arm rest, Robert blinking down at the food, not moving for a moment.
"What, is Microwave doing a good enough job for you or what are you waiting for?", Flambae scoffs, reaching over with his free hand, his five fingers holding onto the side of the glass bowl which slowly heated up, Chad kindly making sure the food was good to eat with the warmth while Robert was simply only confused and a bit stunned of all the affection he was suddenly getting on the spot.
"It's good, thanks", he says stupidly at some point, the glass actually hurting his hands a bit was what got him out of his stupor, grabbing the fork while still processing, listening to Coupé reading to him and Flambae starting to gently knead the back of Robert's neck suprisingly gently, the heat working it's way into his skin and muscles slowsly.
"Wait, pause,", Robert says after a forkful of food, turning his head towards the Reader, the hand on his neck stopping, Punch-Up and Coupé both tilting their heads when he looked towards them, ",so the guy has met her never, demanded to marry her and is already of her as his one true love?", he asked confused, irritated for the Main Character of the book because dear lord, if he was in her place he would've punched the guy 5 times over already, probably, maybe.
Coupé's just nods, recounting the entire situation for Robert's sake again while also looking a bit displeased at the supposed Love Interests' behaviour but she assures him he won't be an issue for long. It was a bit of a spoiler but the guy genuinely, suprisingly, pissed Robert of actually so he was somewhat glad to know he'll be gone, or mentioned less, soon enough.
With the warm food in his stomach and the cooling bowl on his lap, Coupé reading steadily, her amusement of the Leads sassy behaviour audible in her voice and the hand kneading from his neck over his shoulder back over the neck to his other shoulder, it all lead to Robert mentally checking out sooner or later.
His body settled heavily into the cushions, his back hanging forwards all lax to keep leaving Flambae's hand enough space to move and his eyes droop at some point all without Robert even noticing.
A pair of hands steal the steady weight of the glass bowl from his lap and somehow replace it with Beef, truely bless whoever did that, the dog immediately settling into Robert's lap.
His shoulder tilts to the right, his head softly meeting Coupé's shoulder and her voice somehow grows softer, somehow keeping the steady volume as before despite Robert being closer now and a warm hand gently wraps around his left wrist, squeezing it in nonsense patterns.
Distanly Robert realised the patters were not nonsensical, rather moving with the same squeezing and kneading as the hand on his shoulders but by the time the realisation did set in Robert was well on the way of a nap, his body all putty-like and the drone of the vending machine and fridge a soft support to Coupé's voice and Robert's body all warm and settled with Beefs weight atop of him and the other bodies surrounding him and the Z-teams even quieter chatter and screen tapping happening in the distance.
Just as distantly Robert noticed his phone vibrating once in his pocket but in all honestly he was far too comfortable for once in his life so he easily gave up on even wanting to see what the device wanted.
He simply slipped off into some light slumber, sitting safely and oh so cosy with his team.