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The alarm blared through Robert’s headset, a familiar cacophony that was slowly driving him insane with each time it rung out. Still nursing a coffee in his Mecha Man mug that Chase got him as a secret Santa gift, he leaned back in his chair and analysed the call.
"Alright, team. We've got a Code 3 in the downtown sector. Red Ring causing a ruckus at the old warehouse district. Flooding from busted pipes, structural instability, and a few low-level idiots throwing fireballs. I need a duo for this one. Golem, Waterboy, you're up."
Golem cracked a lazy smile, his rocky features grinding like gravel that could be heard over his mic.
"Sounds like a splash, boss. I'm in."
Flambae’s laugh could be heard during Golem’s response, a slight chuckle followed by,
“Get it Robert, a splash? HA! Because Waterboy? Water? This man’s a genius!”
The line was silent before an influx of sighs from the majority of Z-Team could be heard.
Meanwhile, Waterboy fidgeted with his gloves, which were already leaking water from
the seams from his perpetual sweat. He'd come a long way from mopping floors as the branch janitor, but confidence was still a work in progress.
"M-me too, Mister Robertson s-sir! I m-mean, Robert. I won't let you down."
He glanced at Golem, his friend and fellow Z-Teamer that was sitting across from him in the break room with a grateful nod and lopsided smile. They'd bonded over late-night shifts and shared tacos after dispatches, Bruno’s chill vibe a perfect counter to Herman's nerves.
Robert nodded approvingly.
"Good. Synergy should be solid, Golem's earth mimicry for containment, Waterboy's hydro expulsion for the floods and fire suppression. Gear up and roll out. Keep it clean, no collateral if you can help it."
The two heroes piled into the SDN van, Golem squeezing his bulky frame into the passenger seat while Herman drove. The city blurred past, neon lights reflecting off puddles from a recent rain. Golem stretched, his arm casually draping over the back of Herman's seat.
“You know, Herm, you handle that wheel like a pro. Smooth, steady... makes a guy feel safe."
Herman chuckled, eyes on the road.
"Thanks, Bruno. My Gram taught m-me how to drive w-when, before! When I was younger! Gotta be reliable, right? Reliable l-like you! Y-You’ve always got my back on these dispatches!”
Golem's eyes, glowing faintly like embedded quartz, lingered on Herman a beat too long.
"Yeah, well, I'd cover more than your back if you'd let me."
He winked, but Herman just nodded enthusiastically, missing the flirt entirely.
"Appreciate it! Teamwork m-makes the dream work, as the.. The p-people, they say, that!"
They arrived at the warehouse district, a maze of crumbling buildings where Red Ring thugs had set up shop. Water gushed from ruptured mains, mixing with flames. Several goons spotted them immediately, one hurling a fireball that sizzled through the air.
Golem morphed his arm into a massive shield of compacted dirt, blocking the blast.
“Stay close, Droplet. Wouldn't want you getting all steamed up without me."
He charged forward, his body absorbing impacts like a living battering ram, projecting chunks of debris back at the attackers.
Herman blinked, tilting his head.
"Droplet? Uh, thanks? I think?"
He focused, expelling a high-pressure stream from his mouth that doused the flames and knocked two thugs off their feet. His strength kicked in as he lifted a fallen beam, clearing a path. But his nerves flared, water dripped from his palms, a telltale sign of anxiety.
Golem noticed, sidling up during a lull. He placed a massive hand on Herman's shoulder, the touch lingering, warm despite the clay.
"Hey, you're doing great. Look at you, all powerful and wet. It's… intoxicating."
Herman wiped his brow, more water beading up.
"I-Intoxicating? Like, the fumes from the f-fire? Yeah, we should ventilate this place. Good call!"
He blasted another jet, extinguishing a spreading blaze.
Golem chuckled, a deep, earthy sound.
"You're something else, Herm. Pure, unfiltered charm. Makes me want to scoop you up and never let go."
"Scoop m-me up? Oh, like if I s-s-slip in the water! Yeah, these floors are slick. Thanks for watching out, buddy!"
Herman grinned, clueless as ever, and they pressed on.
Deeper in, they found the source, a Red Ring lieutenant rigging explosives near a main water line, aiming to flood the entire block. The villain sneered, conjuring earthen spikes, ironic, given Golem's powers.
"You fuckers think you can stop me?"
Golem growled, his body swelling as he mimicked the spikes, turning them against their maker.
"We've got more heart than you ever did."
He glanced at Herman.
“Especially this one. He's got a flow that could sweep anyone off their feet."
Waterboy, mid-spit of water that healed a minor scrape on Golem's arm, paused.
“Sweep? Like mopping? I u-used to be great at that! Hold on! incoming!"
He swiveled around at a goon sneaking up, his blast of water sending the man flying into a wall.
The fight intensified. Golem absorbed rubble like cannonballs, his regenerative healing shrugging off hits. Waterboy using his water to turn Golems blasts of rocks and sand into mud to stick the enemy down. Together, they were unstoppable, Golem containing the chaos with walls of mud, Waterboy quenching fires and washing away threats.
At one point, pinned behind crates, Golem leaned in close to Waterboy. "Herm, if we make it out, we should grab tacos again. Just us. Candlelight, maybe. Romantic floodlights?"
His eyes widened.
"Tacos? Awesome! But r-r-romantic? Like, for team dating? N-N-not dating! No! Bonding!”
Golem sighed, amused. "Yeah... team bonding."
They cornered the lieutenant. Herman unleashed a torrent, soaking the explosives into useless mush, while Golem enveloped the villain in a mud cocoon, neutralizing him. As SDN cleanup crews arrived, the duo stood amid the wreckage, victorious.
Back at the branch, debriefing with Robert, Golem couldn't resist one more try. He pulled Herman aside in the break room, the vending machine still dented from Herman's outburst over Chase's coma.
"Listen, Herm. You're not just a teammate. You're... special. The way you move, that spark? it's driving me wild."
Herman stared, processing. The compliments, the touches, the lingering looks, it all clicked. His face flushed, water trickling from his ears in embarrassment.
"Wait... were you f-f-flirting? All this time? The.. The stuff you.. You were saying things.. To me!! And!! Oh man, I thought you w-were just being nice!"
Golem laughed, pulling him into a gentle hug, careful not to crush.
"Yeah, flirting. Clueless as a dry sponge, but that's part of the charm."
Herman hugged back, a shy smile breaking through. "Well... I like the sound o-o-of those t-tacos some time!! I’d like to g-get tacos! Together, with you. Doing th-that together.”
As they shared a quiet moment, the Z-Team's bond grew stronger, one dispatch at a time.