Chapter Text
CHAPTER 1: SDN's newest helpful…. dispatcher.
"She's definetly not making it to band practice." Robert mutters at the monitor looping the SDN commercial.
"Heh. Yeah. What? W-wait what's that?"
Robert glances to the sound surprised at not noticing the other persons approach. A tall redhead in a yellow with blue stripped coveralls and blue goggles, smiles awkwardly at him head tilted like a puppy.
Well that's adorable.
"Hmm? No. just uh, the ... the commercial. It was weird."
"Weird, yeah, right?" The man repeats, vowels elongated like he totally agrees with Robert and giggling in the middle of his sentence. Again. Adorable.
Never knew a grown ass man could be this endaringly cute. Robert thought, though consciously he keeps a straight face. Nocivilian asmiley dopy hero. Or that's what his father always says.
"Phenoma-ma-man... He is -- He's like a rock star."
Robert observes the other, stepping over the lobby's couch with his EXTREMELY long legs and noting the knee and elbow guards, the white collar peeking out from the plasticky coveralls and an untied necktie. His face is also very moisturized, having a refreshed look on it that most people get after a bath or putting on moisturizers, skincare or something Robert hasn't done in his life. A very youthful face. Though, Robert does NOT understand a thing he's saying and it must have shown on his face.
"It's a--- I'm joking, cause of the rock... roll... cool-- cool commercial."
"I'm a Phenomafan you--you might-- you could say-- that" The man's voice pattered out at the last word almost embarrassed and Robert notices the slight reddening of his face. And Roberts inner demon just perked its head with how adorable this guy will be to tease or otherwise.
"I hate to break it to ya, I heard he's a jerk in real life. Most big heroes are."
"What?? Jerk? No,no,no, no. I don't think so." The man physically moved back head tilted and eyebrows furrowed in disbelief and voice turning singsungy denying Roberts claim while grinning. Robert almost lost his stoic face and start smiling, he had to look away. Until he hears him again muttering. Of course Robert will look back, already, he feels magnetized. A guy he doesn't even know the name of. A guy who's trying to tie his necktie and failing spectacularly. Like a puppy trying to catch its tail. Robert finds it adorable, having half a mind to just watch and see his reddening face and knotted brows, alas, he is weak to helplessness and can't find in his heart or hearts to just stand by when people are in need.
"Just--okay let me help with that." He moves over, sitting beside the man, knees and thighs touching making the other scoot back frantically telling Robert no, which he of course ignored and grabs at the.... soaked tie. It's dripping wet.
"It's soaked. You nervous? Big job interview?" Robert asks, with a smirk. Staring at the guys face, smooth and fare, a hocked nose, fitting for those historical romanic dramas. A pretty boy.
"No. I mean-- yes, but no yes is more" the man is very expressive, it's not just his body and hand moving, his eyes do the gestures for him too, like now. "-my powers make everything we-- moist. Waterboy is how they-- call me.. But yes, I am--"
That explains the moisturized look. Waterboy huh.
Robert tries to meet Waterboy's eyes but the SDN's glassdoor opens and a figure backed by sunlight walks- no- struts in wearing an orange and black bodysuit and long hair tied in a ponytail. A figure of someone very familiar. He knows he's met this man before. Robert immediately focuses on the newcomer.
Familiar, because it's Flambae, the villain he singed the brows off of a few nights ago. Robert immediately holds on to Waterboy and hunkers down, peaking at the taller man's shoulders. What the fuck is a Villain doing here?
So out of it he was that he didn't notice how he is now straddling the others thigh. "O-oh okay.. Oh… Now that you-your face is next-aside-a my face... I see that I know you-of you." Waterboy mutters, cheeks red. Robert shakes his head, refocusing on the man again and finish tying the tie. "You're Mecha Man!
Robert meets Waterboys eyes, higher than his cause the man is just that tall.
"You're dead... I thought."
Robert almost winced at that. Does everyone think that now? "Just on the inside."
"You uh... look small--different in person."
"Never meet your heroes, kid."Robert gives the tie a final tug before standing up when he notices Blond Blazer approach. She greets them and they left Waterboy alone in the lobby, he hopes he gets whatever job is here for.
They headed towards a conference room where Blazer asks him to change into his new uniform and where a woman who can turn invisible was peeping at them. Robert doesn't know what to think of that. He was trained not to think too deeply about things that haens to him, hurt? It'll heal. Confused? Research it. Feeling something undiscribable insid you chest? Ignore it and it'll pass. Your priority is to think about others. Be a HERO Robert.
"SDN, how can I help you?"
Alerts on the company computers rang out in multiple cubicles, people… and beings…, Roberts co-workers miling about to and fro, accepting calls, copying reports, getting coffee. Its a very busy place.
"Aaand there's Galen, waayyy back there. Born with superhearing. He's from , I wanna say…."
"Florida!" A man with a blue turban says loudly.
"Florida! Of course! A florida man right there!"
"Easy on the bath salt." Blazer mock whispers.
"That was one time!"
Roberts can't help but be amused, Blazer is a bit silly when she goes corporate. Like a flamigo trying to be a duck to make you feel better about yourself.
"Speaking of baths, where is" Robert starts eyes roaming around the place, seeing a flash of red hair and bright suit passing towards another room.
Waterboy? That must be where the interviews gonna be.
"The bioroom?"
"What?" Robert asks, both from not paying attention and incomprehention.
"The rest room. Sorry. It corporate term since different species in one area- Anyway! That way!"
Robert then meets a giant Samoan man, Royd, that not only knows his hero identity but is also encharge of repairing his MechaMan suit. He also doesn't touch his dick when eeing and so doesn't wash his hands. Very important things to remember. All these people knowing who he is and these villains in the same building is making Roberts nerve fry. Expecting an attack at every corner and not trusting anyone, paranoya gnowing at his insides.
He takes a deep breath and zoned out, trying to find the records room from the map. Once he's there he finds a old man cussing at him from atop a ladder, seedily goesi down and immediately pulled him in for a hug.
"Look at this skinny latte, rick. You're bones kid!" Roberts just looks, confused and oddly comforted, he rises his hand above the old man's back. To hug him back? to pat? to pull away? "You here to whi these assholes into shape or what?"
"That's an idea." Blazer, who's behind them, says. Robert doesn't know when she's arrived. Its all so confusing.
"Uhm… I'm sorry… do I know you?" Robert was finally let go and has a chance to pull away, he stares at the man, no recollection of having meet such an old guy. I would remember meeting him if he's acting this familiar.
"Why you all tense? " The old man looks at him like Robert's the one who started hugging strangers. "It's a hug, not a hand job. Lighten up."
Okay inappropriate, what the hell. This speech pattern though.
"Be that as it may, I'm still confused?"
"Oh. Right, cause I'm old as shit… How about this!" The old man leans forward, posing his hands slanted upwards. A pose, imprinted on Roberts childhood memories of an older brother, and second familial figure in his life. Roberts gasps, heart stuttering.
"Track Star!? Holy shit!" Robert laughs, warm feelings bubbling inside him. He raises his arms approaching Chase for an embrace long overdue. Oh my God. He's not dead! Thank God!
"Yeah, yeah. Fucker. Why were you accepting hugs from old men you don't know?"
Robert tightens his hold, savoring the feeling. It's SOMEONE. A someone from his actual life! That knows him! Someone he's missed, someone he was reluctant to let go was back! And he gets to see them everyday if he works here!
"Oh… and they call me Chase around here so keep it… ya know."
"Sure… Sure. Right. Yeah… Chase." Robert can't help but stare, genuine smile cracked on his face. He still can't believe hes here.
"It's been what? Ten? Fifteen years?"
"Has it really been that long?" Blond Blazer asks leaning on the door frame. Honestly Robert has forgotten she was there, too happy with knowing Chase is there. With him! He can't believe it!
Robert huffs stretching his arms out and popping his finger joints preparing himself for his 1st day. After the crash course Blazer gave him and the tour earlier Robert felt…. unready. He doesn't have a clue on how working… works. He had never held a job other than being Mecha Man, though that trained him to not be a disastrous wreck when encountering new things, solving problems and helping people… it doesn't really help him now.
Robert can't help but feel guilty too, he was Mechaman, he was suppose to continue his Grandfather and Father's legacy. Be a hero despite all of the circumstances, beat the odds as his Father instills in his mind. Bring justice to his predecessors by hunting down Shroud, ending him and his villainous legacy. Be a hero. Be THE hero.
He grimaces, taking a deep breath. "Alright. Here goes nothing."
Robert runs his hand down his face, massaging a thumb on his temple he stands up trekking towards the break room for a cup of coffee before he writes his daily report of how the disaster occurred in details. He believes the things that he said to Blazer, and he is determined to deliver his claims, no matter who or what he is working with. He stares dead eyes at the peeling walls of the break room smelling the bitter scent of bad coffee filtering out of the coffee machine. Thinking about the day that occurred, he was so happy to have something to do, to find family again despite the years of distance, but the taste of guilt for accepting help and working with the people he was taught his whole life was his enemy sours his conscience.
"Tough love." Robert huffs, he is an adult and he understands that everyone is entitled for a second chance but the memory of his Father's voice still clutches him, holding him captive in a cage built brick by brick by the man who was suppose to love him and whom he was supposed to love.
"Pull yourself together." Robert mutters taking his cup and heading back.
Robert's eyebrow rises to his eyebrow looking at Waterboy kneeling at his desk frantically wiping something. The first though he had was Waterboy has a flat ass, then the next was slapping it, then followed by What the FUCK WAS THAT?!. It shocked him so hard he forgot his ruminations.
"Hey. Kid." Robert calls out, his lips ticking up when Waterboy jumps twisting to face him with th e most guilty face he's ever seen."What are you doing?"
"Yeah.No!-no.no.no!" Waterboy exclaims, frantically waving his hand and pushing them forwards as if to physically push Robert away from his desk. "I-I-I didn't do this! I didn't did this!"
Waterboy didn't, hand moving away as soon as Robert approaches and bending his long body away when he leaned in. His desk was a mess. Full of bits and pieces of bread and colored glaze. A doughnut. Robert wants to roll his eyes.
"It's this, uh, weird, cause yeah, I saw this lady-smiling- la-lady -person put a doughnut on your desk uh earlier-previously. It was nic-nicely on a napkin, and then she-just-she comes back and went crazy like- evil mode!-" Waterboy explains animatedly eyes all wide and whole body jesticulating. Expressive and so endaring Robert forgets the negative emotion brought by the reminder of his failure. He takes the rag from Waterboys hand wiping at his keyboard, listening as the other continues explaining.
"Uhg. What a mess."
"I-I'll will clean it!" Waterboy declares behind him.
"What? No. no."
"No-Yes! See- I'm SDN's ne- newest he-he-her-he" Waterboy struggles to say and distractedly Robert meets his eyes.
"Hero?"
"helful. Janitor. Helpful Janitor." Waterboy smiles back meeting his eyes. Robert smiles back happy he was hired for the job he applied for.
"Okay." Robert giggles, immediately stopping himself. What are you a school girl? "Cool."
"Sooo. It's my pleasest-pleasure- and its my job, which you helped get. So… Thank you." Waterboy curves towrds Robert with a hesitant grin. "Thank you so much."
Blazer calls from behind him. She's so doing that on purpose.
"One sec." Robert focused on Waterboy. "I'm Robert. Can I get you name?"
Waterboy stares at him, inhales sharply before saying. "Herman.. Herm.. or Hermy…"
Robert smiles again, turning to leave. "See you around Herm."
Robert stands on the aisle for pet products, weighing his options for cheap dog food or the fancy costly ones near the cat food. Whether his pocket can still carry the cost. It can he will never let his precious boy to starve even if he was.
A hand shoots out from behind him making him flinches, it grabs cans of wet catfood before retreating. He turns and was shocked to see Waterboy, Herman, dressed in orange and navy blue rashguard with black cargo shorts, dripping as always but not as much as earlier. He looks different, a little bit. His hair was slicked back, very stylishly, it suits him and its constant wetness helping it stay in place creating a gelled illusion. Not that Waterboy isn't stylish all the time… well he isn't with his bright yellow and blue but! It's just a different vibe. He's more 'cute' with his usual combed to the side hair and gaudy colors.
Huh, you never know a little change can do so much. Robert thought distractedly.
Robert flinches again when a hand waves at his face, very near his face, Herman not saying anything but looking at him curiously and smiling a little when Robert focused on him.
"Herman. Geez. You scared me."
The younger man looks at him apologetically lips twitching down but didn't answer. Robert exhales.
"Cat food? I didn't know u had a cat? "
Herman smiles again wider this time, his awkward endearing smile, before shoving his waterproofed phone to Robert. On it was a photo of Herman smiling dopily at the camera a tortoise shell kitten licking his face, fur wet, clumping and sticking at all angles, unbothered.
"Oh. How cute is that."
Herman nods vigorously smiling even wider, returning his phone on his pocket, taking a few more cat food and heading towards the cashier. Robert stares at his back, the dark material of the rash guard molding into the man's body, emphasizing every flex of muscle. Robert looks back at the assortment of dog food huffing.
He's a cat person huh. Didn't expect that.
He takes a 5kg bag of fancy diet dog kibble and heads to the cashier as well. Seeing Herman at the exit waving him goodbye.