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Robert knew when he first became Mecha Man that eventually the money would run out, and he'd have no choice but to keep fighting in a suit that was falling apart with the hopes that it fell apart with him inside.
He did everything he could to make the money last. Anything that wasn't a basic necessity, no matter how large the inconvenience of not having it would be, was sold. When he had no more dinner table and chairs he bought a cheap, ratty lawn chair to use instead. When he sold his dresser and had no room for the rest of his clothes, he donated all of the excess ones, leaving him with a week's worth to survive off of. He did his best to quit drinking and smoking, but on particularly rough days he'd find himself at the liquor store with his card in hand before he could realize what was happening. But at least by then he had nicotine and whiskey to drown himself in and forget his troubles.
One could argue that the way he lived was depressing, but Robert deemed all of it a worthy sacrifice when he'd get home after a patrol and see the news articles written about all the people he saved.
Then suddenly, he had a dog.
An apartment had burned down on the other side of the city while he was on patrol one night. It resulted in two casualties, and they'd asked for Mecha Man's help in clearing the debris afterwards. Robert agreed, and that was when he met Beef. A small, small chihuahua puppy who was scared out of his mind. At first he tried finding the dog's owner, but soon realized they were one of the lives taken in the fire.
Robert knew he couldn't afford to keep a dog. He couldn't. But when he looked at Beef all he could think about was his previous owner, and how if Robert had gotten there just a few minutes earlier he could've saved them. So to make up for it, the least he could do was take care of the dog now. He always wanted a dog anyways, but his dad never let him have one.
He loved Beef more than anything. He spoiled him, buying him a bed and plenty of toys and treats. Beef improved Robert's life in so many ways, and if Robert was honest then that dog was the only reason he was still alive outside of needing to be Mecha Man.
But he was expensive, much as Robert hated to acknowledge it. This was something that became obvious to him after Beef managed to eat something he shouldn't have and needed an emergency vet visit. Luckily he turned out fine, but while they were there they found out he was allergic to the brand of food Robert had been buying him, and the only alternatives were way more expensive than what he'd been buying.
Robert didn't want Beef to suffer, so he made some more financial choices.
Gone were the days of grocery shopping and nights of takeout. It wouldn't be enjoyable to survive off whatever 'food' the convenience store nearby sold, but if it meant Beef could be happy and he could be Mecha Man for just one more day, it was a needed sacrifice.
And when eating only junk food made him sick he stopped. He'd buy it again when he got really hungry and needed food, but really, this was better for his finances. Less money was being spent. And while it resulted in him feeling more sluggish than normal, his stomach cramping throughout patrol, and feeling like he'd swallowed a ton of saliva, it meant more money could go to keeping Beef happy, warm, and fed.
Soon, fasting became a solution for all his money related issues. The mech suit got damaged in a fight? He'd skip out on dinner for awhile so more money could go into repairs. He needed a hospital visit? He's sure that breakfast being the most important meal of the day is just a myth. He caved and bought another pack of cigarettes? He hasn't been eating three meals a day for awhile now, he can reduce that to just one.
Robert could admit: It wasn't a situation he wanted to be in. He wasn't giddy to go without eating anything for the day. But what else could he have done? What alternative was there? Beef needed him and the people needed Mecha Man. The only person who's at fault here is Robert for not being this careful at the start of his career and anytime he takes on more than he can chew in a fight.
But it still, still wasn't enough.
Robert had been dreading it since he bought the bag of food. A pit formed in his stomach every time he scooped a cup out into the chihuahua's bowl until one day there was nothing left in it to scoop.
"Fuck..." Robert sniffled.
He sat on the cold floor of his apartment, clutching his sides for comfort and trying to ignore the feeling of his ribs poking out. Beef looked up at him with his head tilted, eyes wide as he dragged his paw over Robert's knee again and again, his food bowl empty where it sat next to him.
"We... we ran out, buddy. I'm sorry."
Robert had been too old to cry when he was twelve, and he's still too old to cry at twenty-nine.
Yet he was doing it anyway.
The only warmth provided to him in his cold, sad apartment came from the tears that streamed down his face.
Beef whined as he looked up at Robert, tapping him with his paw over and over again, waiting for his food. All it did was pull a choked back sob from Robert.
"I'll... I'll find you something tomorrow, I promise. I don't... there's nothing here," he explained.
Beef crawled into Robert's lap, and he wasted no time in scooping the dog up to hold onto him tightly.
He rubbed the tears from his eyes so they didn't get on Beef's fur. "I don't have any money."
Robert laid on his back with Beef clutched to his chest. The dog continued to let out sad, hungry whines.
"I'm sorry, Beef. Fuck, I'm sorry," he said between shaky breaths and quiet sobs.
Beef continued to stare at Robert with those eyes, concerned for his owner and also waiting for something that would never come.
"God, I'm such a fuck up. I won't let you go hungry after this, Beef, I promise. I... I'll..." He trailed off, lost at what to do.
He already sold everything. The only things he had to his name were the mech suit, the corkboard containing his investigation into the Red Ring, his lawn chair, bed, and all of Beef's things. What could he possibly have to give?
"I'll think of something, I promise. Just... hang in there, alright? You're a good boy, Beef, I know you can. Just for tonight."
And the two fell asleep in the cold of Robert's apartment, their stomachs growling against one another.