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Yells and shouts echoed around the testing ground as the guardian husk crashed to the ground. A large cloud of dust enveloped the area, preventing the other researchers from seeing anything.
As soon as it cleared, they closed in, calling for the two people that were seemingly missing.
"Champion Revali?? Dr. Robbie?"
To their great relief, they spotted the navy-feathered rito champion untangling himself from the Sheikah scientist. But their relief turned to alarm when Revali shoved Robbie away, causing him to fall down, and shouted some very rude words at him. Robbie flinched as the rito bore down on him, but his goggles hid his expression otherwise.
"Are you INSANE?!" Revali shouted. "We could've been, and almost were, KILLED! Pardon me, Dr. Robbie, but I have a lot of problems with your safety and security at this laboratory!"
Robbie recoiled with every word, the insults replaying over and over in his mind. Could've been killed. Insane. "Dr." Robbie. Problems with your safety.
Your safety. As in the safety you organized.
He felt tears beginning to form, and Revali wasn't even done yet.
"You are almost completely useless! You run this place like a circus! What are you, a bunch of freaks pretending to have talent?!"
With that the rito used his signature gale to take to the skies, quickly flying out of sight. All of the researchers were silent, watching Robbie, who was still on the ground.
He didn't move for so long that one of the braver souls stepped forward, cautiously asking, "Sir, are you alright?"
Robbie was quiet for a second longer. Then, quite abruptly, he burst out, "I'm good, thanks!" Jumping to his feet, he rushed into the lab, his cheery voice once again hiding his true emotions.
As soon as he had entered the building and shut the door, he took off this goggles, releasing the torrent of tears falling from his eyes. Knees trembling, he slowly sank down to the floor, feeling utterly miserable.
Did I eat today?? He thought, suddenly feeling the gnawing hunger that usually meant he hadn't. Tears fell faster. Great. Add that to the long, long list of things that are freaky about me....
Revali was right.
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Finally, Purah arrived back at the lab, a large bag of food in her hand as she strode towards the door. She wouldn't be surprised if Robbie had forgotten to eat again...which is why she got extra food, as always.
"WOW," She called as she walked in the door. "THEY GAVE ME SO MUCH FOOD! I THINK I'LL NEED YOUR HELP TO EA-"
She cut herself off when she saw the love of her life and lab partner crying on the floor.
"Hey, hey, what happened?!" She asked, rushing over and kneeling next to him.
Robbie didn't want to tell her, but he also had little to no resistance when it came to her "Please" face. He forced out every vile word Revali had spat at him. After he had finished, she wrapped her arms around him and held him as best as she could with their size difference.
"Don't let what that cucco says get to you," She said gently. "Our uniqueness is what makes us special! Don't let anyone take that away from you. I've been there, and it's not fun, to say the least."
He nodded. Damn, how was it so easy for her to console him?
Meanwhile, Purah got up and ran over to the abandoned bag of food. She picked it up, then came over to Robbie and offered him her hand, which he accepted gratefully.
"C'mon, Robbo, let's get some food in that hunk of a body you have."
He gave a watery smile and sat down at the table with her.
As long as she was there for him, he'd be okay.
They could help each other out when they needed it. They were partners, after all.