Chapter Text
Rob glowered at the wall ahead, a scowl on his face. How could he, the universe's mistake, get caught so easily? He had no role, no purpose, and now…no home.
And now look at him…a prisoner in the Watterson home! He was practically chained to their couch, struggling to break free! Well, metaphorically, of course. In reality, he was just sitting on their couch. But not by choice.
“Dude,” Gumball said, snapping Rob from his internal monologue. His arms were crossed, annoyance painted across his face. “I just wanna know why you were in my house, but you’re making it weird.” He stated rather bluntly.
Rob’s fingers thrummed against the Wattersons couch, averting his eye from the judgemental gaze of Gumball. He couldn’t really blame the judgment; he had been living in this guy's basement for months on end. If Rob were in the same situation, he’d probably react just about the same, if not worse.
He clenched his fist, staring off into the distance. And by distance, he meant kitchen. This house was not that big.
“Because there is no place for me. Because I have no reason to exist. Because I am…nobody…” Rob monologued, squeezing his eye shut. Gumball scoffed.
“No, I mean, why were you in our house specifically? There's like a million different houses around.” He clarified.
“Your family is really dumb. I’m surprised you didn’t notice me sooner.” Rob admitted with a shrug. Gumball's tail swished with irritation, and he scrunched up his face.
“Oh yeah, well you know what else is dumb?” Gumball huffed. “Your mom's face!”
Rob slowly blinked.
“I don’t have a mom.”
Gumball pursed his lips as if he had been caught in a lie.“Your mom’s butt!”
“I still don’t have a mom.”
“Stop saying mom.” Darwin finally chimed in with a whisper.
“You dad's beard!”
“I don’t have a dad either.”
“Well, you sister-”
“Gumball, please just stop.” Darwin interrupted. He turned to Rob. “So, what happened?”
“I can’t remember. I have nothing left of who I was.” It pained Rob to admit. Who was he before all of this?
“Well, maybe that’s a good thing. Most people want to start over in life!” Gumball suggested.
“Really? Who would I be?”
“How about the chill guy?” Gumball suggested.
“No, Rocky does that.”
“How about the comedian?”
“Banana Joe.”
“The school jock?”
“Tobias.”
“Pizza guy?”
“Larry.”
"Mechanic?”
“Still Larry.”
This back and forth was making Rob want to evaporate into this couch. It didn’t even feel like he was really a part of this conversation! Just a bystander. He didn’t even know the people they were talking about.
“Oh, I know!” Darwin gasped. “You can be our nemesis!”
“Oh yeah! We don’t have one of those.” Gumball chimed in.
Rob perked up at the idea. Nemesis? He had never thought of villainy before. He wouldn’t mind the idea of having a little dramatic flair. In fact, it sounded fun!
“You could be like the worst guy the world has ever made.” Darwin encouraged.
His heart stopped in his chest. The last part echoed through his head. ‘The word guy the world has ever made.’
His memories came back like a tsunami bursting through a dam.
“I remember.”
The harsh, cold static of the void surrounded him. His heart pounded, and his head whirled. He didn’t look like his staticky self. No, he was himself. His skin was blue, just like it should have been.
Rob looked around, anxiety filling his core. He shouldn’t be here. He needed to get out. His head whipped around, looking for any way out.
A blur of blue and orange zoomed past, catching Rob by surprise. Was that…? It was!
Gumball and Darwin! He didn’t really know them, but they went to school with him. Rob's body moved to its own accord, his arms waving wildly.
“Hey guys, over here!” Rob shouted, his throat burning. He was desperate. He couldn’t spend another day in this hellscape.
They ran straight past him, not even caring to give him a glance. Someone followed close, making Rob stop.
Molly Collins.
“You left me for her,” Rob growled, clenching his fist.
Rob wasn’t exactly sure how he remembered her name, but he knew it was her. How could they leave him for her? What did Molly have that he didn’t? Charm? Riches? He had to find out.
“Who?” Gumball asked, leaning on the arm of the couch. Rob looked at Gumball. Screw this guy, he needed to get his revenge on someone who really deserved it. Rob put up a dismissive hand, squeezing his eye shut.
“I mustn’t tell you. This is my task to endure.”
He needed to get to Molly. He needed to make her pay. Rob glanced between Gumball and Darwin. They were guarding him like lions, keeping him trapped on this couch. Rob could take both of them down; he felt it in his core.
“You can’t keep me prisoner here any longer!” Rob screeched, stomping upwards. He was ready to fight these two heathens, no matter what it took!
Gumball and Darwin glanced at each other, their faces riddled with confusion.
“Dude, you’re not a prisoner! You tripped trying to run away and knocked yourself out.” Gumball reminded. Rob thought back, rubbing the lump on his forehead. That would explain how he had no memory of getting on the couch.
If he wasn’t a prisoner, that meant he was free to do whatever he wanted! Rob stomped, holding his head high.
“Farewell, Wattersons. May we never meet again!” Rob swished his arms around as if he were waving a cape. But of course, he had no cape, so to anyone else it looked like he was flailing.
He stomped out the front door, slamming it behind him. Gumball turned to Darwin, a twinge of regret in his eyes.
“Man, I really wanted a nemesis. It would’ve been so cool.”
Rob marched down the streets of Elmore, a newfound motive in his heart. He needed to get back at Molly. Granted, he didn’t know where she was, but he would figure it out.
If he were a dumb, boring dinosaur, where would he be? He paused to think, his mind suddenly running blank. Unfortunately, Rob wasn’t too knowledgeable about dinosaurs.
Never the matter! He would just wander town until he found her. Evil never rested, after all.
Rob continued his evil stride, searching for his mortal enemy.
The cyclops hadn’t been evil for long (less than 20 minutes, in fact), but this felt right. Like it was his destiny.
He could feel the evil brewing inside. Something that he needed to do.
But what would he do after he actually found Molly? Attack her? No, no, that was too intense of a start. They weren’t even in the talking stage yet.
Rob needed to learn about her. He needed to figure out what made her tick. What really got under her skin. And then he could attack! Yeeees, that sounded perfect.
Rob stopped in front of a shop, his legs growing tired. How was he meant to find Molly when this town was so big?
“Evil rests for a few minutes,” Rob mumbled, rubbing his sore knees. He looked through the display window, letting his eye look at something new.
The window was filled with comic books. His eyes landed on a particular comic. On the cover stood a dark, brooding villain. He stood with a stance of power, showing how terrifying he was. Rob liked that.
Rob puffed up his chest, mimicking the pose. Now he looked dark and foreboding, just as he should be. Rob looked back at the window, looking for more inspiration.
Through the reflection, he saw her. Molly. Rob whipped his head around, getting a better look at his newfound nemesis.
Sure enough, there she was, just across the street. She idly chatted with people he vaguely recognized. She giggled through her words, cheerful as ever.
Rage boiled in Rob's chest.
How dare she have the audacity to laugh? How could she laugh knowing she ruined his life?! Rob clenched his teeth, his fist trembling.
He’d make her pay.