Chapter Text
"So, are you gonna pop the question tonight, or what?"
Robert would have congratulated his team on their successful shift, if he wouldn't have felt Flambae's shit-eating grin growing wider through the crackling of his headset. Instead, he was desperately trying to not grind his teeth now, brows furrowed so deep they cast dark shadows around his eyes.
Malevola's icon lit up. "I think you made him change his mind just now, mate."
He clawed into his coffee mug, like they would notice somehow.
"Don't worry Boberto," Sonar chimed in, chewing loudly on god-knows-what. "Worst she can say is no."
Prism sighed loudly into her mic, drawing it out longer than necessary. "That's literally the worst outcome, bat-boy."
"Can you guys please shut up?" Robert tried to control his voice. "You know that she could listen in on us at any second?"
For a brief moment the call fell silent. It usually wasn't this easy to tame them once they got themselves riled up about something. A welcome change, he thought.
But still, the tension in his temples didn't fade.
He wouldn't even have told them about his plans tonight. If it was up to him, they would have just gotten a picture of them afterward, where there could leave their predictable little comments, like: "She's way out of your league," or "You could do better, Blazer." and that would be the end of that.
Unfortunately for him though, Visi did what she did best and had followed him around after they were on an on-field shift. She had said that he was "acting suspicious" and that it had just been her "duty as a coworker, friend and hero" to check up on him. That's how she had found out about the ring.
And if Visi knew, the whole team knew.
Speaking of the devil.
"Dude, chill. She's a busy woman, I'm sure she has better things to do than listening in on her fiancé's work calls."
"Not there yet." The air hissed in between his teeth. "Also, what did I just tell you about shutting up?"
He could practically hear her rolling her eyes.
"Come on, she's is so pathetically in love with you, it's basically seeping out of her. You're not seriously expecting her to say anything other than yes tonight, right?"
By now his hands were clamping to the chair, ready to pull both of the armrests out right then and there.
"Can you please just stop talking about what might happen tonight?"
Just then, lightning struck through his bones.
"What will happen tonight?"
It was an innocent question but it made him spin around in his chair, in fact, it almost made him jump out of it.
She was here. Blazer was standing right in front of him now.
"Is this about our dinner plans?"
It took him a split second to catch his composure. He could see a tiny arch forming in her brows.
"No, we were just talking about something else."
Her brows relaxed again. "Oh, good."
She tilted her head to the side, shifting her gaze downward.
Nevermind, there was the arch again.
"Because I might have semi-bad news regarding that."
Of course. Shit.
"Semi-bad news?"
"Yeah..." She leaned against his table, throwing her leg over the corner. "Remember you wanted to leave early today because of our date later – you said you had to make some arrangements?"
He nodded. "That's true."
It really wasn't. He had only said that so he could prepare things around the apartment, get things ready for the actual reason for this whole night.
"What about it?"
"Well," She sighed faintly. "It looks like I can't let you go earlier today, the board wants an official statement regarding the recent crackdown. The press expects it to be ready first thing in the morning."
"But it's the weekend tomorrow?"
"Yes, I'm aware, but they are very… insistent."
Not too thrilling, but hopefully salvageable, he told himself.
"Okay…, 'til when?"
"Well, that's the thing: The meeting will start in about half an hour, but don't expect to get out of it before 7pm."
"What? Our reservation is at 8:00pm. How am I supposed to get back home and change in time? I can't just show up there in work clothes, it's like a real-deal fancy restaurant."
Her lips pressed together in one thin line. "I know it's not ideal, and probably not how you imagined this evening to go, but maybe I can fly us there later?"
He scratched his neck, though it wasn't itching. "I appreciate the gesture, but tonight was meant to be more of a Mandy-Robert thing."
"Right…" her gaze darted around his cubicle. "Then I'll get your clothes and you can change here, how about it?"
His mind was racing into 50 different directions, trying desperately to come up with another solution. He could feel the tension growing more intense in his skull.
"You don't look too pleased."
He almost jumped out of his seat again. "No, it's fine. Yeah, let's do it like that."
The subtlest smile crossed her lips.
"Oh and I can handle the arrangements, if you want."
His mind went blank. She caught on.
"…with the restaurant?"
"Ah, right. Don't worry about it. I've got it."
"You sure?"
He just squeezed her hand firmly. She just nodded. Then her hands squeezed his shoulder back in return. Her touch maybe lingering a bit longer than it should have with them being on the clock and in the office.
"Alright then, I'm really looking forward to tonight."
"Me too." his smile was a bit shaky.
They broke away and she made sure to graze his arm one last time before she walked back into her office. As she turned the corner, she mouthed a quick "I'm sorry." to him.
The table was cold to the touch, when he buried his head in it.
"Oh-oh. Smells like trouble in paradise." Flambae taunted.
Why the fuck did he even put on the headset again?
He sat up in his chair. "I'll find a way to figure this out."
"Yeah, yeah, right. Admit it: You're fucked."
If Flambae was standing in front of him right now he would have made sure to knock out his fake tooth again for this. But he was right, of course: He was indeed fucked. He had planned everything for today, worked it out in detail. It was all about to crumble to pieces.
"Maybe we can help?"
"Very funny, Visi."
"What? I mean it." She sounded earnest, for once.
Robert brought his hands to his face, rubbing his cheeks. No. Absolutely not. Out of question.
"Come on," Visi sneered, almost as if she was reading his thoughts. "You planned this for, what: months now? I'm sure you don't want all this effort to go to waste. Also, I know what restaurant you're going to tonight. I'm willing to bet it won't be easy getting another reservation in the next few months."
"Don't you have anything better to do than following me around all day?"
"I'm just saying."
She had a point, if he couldn't do it today, then all of the work he had put into it would have been for nothing. Why not take a chance?
"Fine. Meet me in the break room."
"Great. I'll be at SDN in 10." she came off a bit too triumphant.
"I'm out. Prism and I are going clubbing." Flambae blurted out, almost like anyone was going to force him to help if he hadn't said it fast enough.
"Coupé and I are busy, too. But we've got our fingers crossed for you, lad."
"Thanks Punch Up, I might need it."
The chair let out a dry screech when he jumped from it, for real this time.
The meeting had gone on for a little longer than scheduled, so it turned out to be a blessing in disguise that he could change clothes here. He peeked at the message on his phone one last time, as if it's contents might have changed in the last 30 seconds. They hadn't of course. Mandy had left his suit in her office and was waiting in the parking lot, just like he had read a minute ago. He quickly entered her office, slipped out of his work clothes and swapped them for a shirt, jacket and tie. Checking his reflection in the big, shiny glass panels had to suffice as a last little resort before he hastily left the building.
As he approached the SDN parking area, he saw Mandy leaning against the front of his car. The light from her phone screen reflecting on her face.
"I finally made it."
Her head shot up in an instant. When he came closer her eyes sparkled brightly under the dim street lights.
"Look at you."
She slid off the hood in one flowing motion, then she caught his tie between her fingers, tugging at it just enough to steal a quick kiss from him.
"You look handsome." She said while tracing his jaw with her thumb.
"You don't look too shabby yourself."
"Too shabby?" She let out a theatrical gasp and chuckled. "We really need to work on your compliments, mister."
He grinned, intentionally making her wait for his answer. "You look gorgeous. Absolutely stunning."
"Mhm. Better."
He took the opportunity to look at her in full. Deep inside he knew gorgeous didn't even cut it when it came to describing her.
"Hey, I don't think I've seen this dress before. Is that new?"
"Maybe." she shrugged, smiling from ear to ear.
"Quite teasing today, aren't we? Is this going to go on for the rest of the evening?"
"I wasn't planning on it, but…" her hands wandered to his neck, fixing his collar. "We'll see how it goes."
The grin on his face was growing wider, almost giving her smile a run for it's money.
Robert took her hand. "Let's go. We have places to be."
He guided her towards the passenger seat, swinging the door open in an exaggerated sweep and motioning her inside.
Before getting in the car himself, he took the time to write one quick message in the Z-Team group chat:
Taking off now. Coast is clear.
It had been a smooth car ride to the restaurant and he hoped that everything was going well on the Z-Team's side as well.
They were sitting at their table now and Robert, ever the gentleman, had made sure to pull up her chair. Mandy had giggled quietly, wondering what had earned her the pleasure to get spoiled like that.
Still, he couldn't help but feel lightheaded. Maybe it was because of the ambience. The restaurant seemed almost too spacious, making room for all the elegance and high status to resonate from the inner walls. Being here was unusual for them. They had been at a couple of fancier establishments as Blonde Blazer and Mecha Man in the past, mostly sponsored events of course, but for Robert and Mandy this way of fine dining was kind of a first.
"Whoa, you weren't kidding, huh? This place is, like, fancy-fancy." Mandy said, flipping through the menu.
"Yeah, real shame I decided against my classy work shirt. I almost feel underdressed."
She chuckled, bumping into his leg with her foot under the table.
"Right, the coffee stains really bring out your eyes a lot more. I don't think the suit can compete."
"Thank you for noticing. I worked really hard for those stains today, you know?"
"I can only imagine."
They hadn't even noticed the waiter before he started speaking.
"Good evening. May I take your orders for the appetizers?"
Robert scanned the menu quickly, trying to find a good enough option. Just then his phone started vibrating in his pocket. His mind went to the Z-Team immediately.
Suddenly the items on the menu all seemed much less interesting to him.
Surely it won't be important, right? There was no way for things to go wrong. It was a simple plan. All they had to do was follow it.
"And what can I get you, sir?"
Why was he kidding himself? Of course things could go wrong. This was the Z-Team after all, following orders was not their sort of thing.
"Sir?"
"Yeah, I'll take the same."
"Very well."
He handed the menu back, barely looking up. His hands immediately wandering to the phone. It was a message from Phenomaman:
Greetings friend. I have been tasked with supplying the roses for your inquiry tonight. I have acquired them just now. I also found some additional decorative items which I think you might be quite fond of. I will update you once everything is set up.
Kindest regards,
Phenomaman
"See? Not so bad." He thought to himself. Everything would be fine.
"Nervous?"
"What?"
"You keep fidgeting with your legs."
He peeked down.
"Oh. Guess I'm just hungry."
A smirk formed on her lips. "You really must be starving."
She leaned in and took his hand between the both of hers. More serious this time.
"Sorry again for the little change of plans."
"Come on, we both know it wasn't your fault."
"I know, but I still feel bad."
He stroked her hand back in return.
"Don't worry about it."
She offered him a smile but he could tell that she was swallowing another thought away.
Before he could ask her, his phone was buzzing again. A message from Malevola:
Hey Robert, you happen to have some paint lying around? Preferably red or white but any color will do.
Turns out listening while typing was a lot harder than it looked, especially if the other person wasn't meant to notice.
"So, how was your meeting, anyway? I hope they didn't push you too much." She rested her chin on her fist.
What would you even need paint for?
He took a bit too long with his response. "Oh, you know, the usual procedure: Were the thousands of dollars of property damage really necessary to the mission? How will this reflect on SDN? What will the shareholders think of this? We went through every little documented claim. I'm not really sure how that's relevant to the press release thing."
Air rushed through her nose "Yeah, that does sound like the usual."
Another text came in without a warning. It was Golem this time. He had sent him a photo, no follow-up message. He felt the pressure settling in his temples again. His lips pursed, a slight furrow twitching between his brows. Did they have to message him for everything?
Robert tried his best to look at the photo discreetly. As he glimpsed through the table cloth, it initially seemed like everything looked great. The rose petals where spread out evenly across the floor, building a path to the living room, just like he had imagined it. But something about the floor rubbed him the wrong way. Maybe it was the light? No. It was the color.
There had been a coat of mud underneath the roses.
"So, what do you say?"
"Huh? Sorry?"
"About the gala?
He moved his thumb carefully under the table.
Hey buddy, great job, but I think it would look a lot better without all the grime and dirt.
Golem dryly attached a thumbs-up emoji to Robert's message.
His focus shifted back on Mandy again.
"I'm sorry. I must have zoned out for a bit."
A crooked smile formed on her lips and she took a second to straighten a non-existent wrinkle on her dress.
"SDN is going to organize a charity event next month," She cleared her throat. "I was curious to see if you'd think Mecha Man would join?"
Just as he was about to put away his phone, Malevola finally answered. It certainly took her long enough.
All good, forget about it.
His forehead relaxed. "Well, I think if Blonde Blazer is going to be there then he'll probably also show up."
"I was hoping you would say that." The smile on her face had evened out again. "I-- she seems much more comfortable with him around. I really wouldn't want to see the rumor mill buzzing like last time. Also given its going to be a huge media event again."
The memory made him snicker. Quite a few months ago they were invited to a highly publicized PR-ceremony. They had announced that they would attend the event together but unfortunately Beef, the single-brain-celled little fur ball, had started throwing up earlier that day and he had to cancel last minute to rush him to the vet. Luckily it turned out to be a simple stomach irritation, caused by Beef munching on everything and anything since they introduced a new diet for him. Apparently the sudden cancellation was enough reason for the media to suspect the worst though, and they had hogged Blazer about it all evening. She had said afterwards that it was worse than the time she had broken up with Phenomaman.
Then it suddenly hit him: If his plan was going to work out today, the media would prey on them like vultures. With so many people in the know, someone was going to spill the news eventually. He winced at the thought alone.
"You okay?"
He shook the emotion off his face "Yeah."
She nodded, her shoulders tensing a bit less.
The chair creaked faintly when he leaned his back against it. "So, I told you about my day, but how was yours?"
Her head drifted to the side. "It was less heroics and more paperwork."
"Why is that?"
"Remember a few weeks ago when Sonar snuck past the security at a Vanderstenk convention, because he wanted to pitch a new crypto-currency to him?"
He nodded. "Let me guess: Vanderstenk wasn't too much of a fan?
"Well, we haven't heard anything from him actually, but apparently the organizers want to press charges."
"Yikes. Sounds finicky."
"I'm sure we can figure out a solution, but until then it's gonna rain a lot of letters."
A hum crept along his thighs, made his heart skip a beat. He took a deep breath, fearing that he was only seconds away from smashing his phone against the floor.
The urge only manifested further once he read the message Visi had left him:
Did you give me the ring earlier?