Work Text:
“Dad, where are we going?”
In the backseat of a sedan, there sat a six year old on a booster seat. He held his long, fluffy tail in his arms while meeting Robbie's eyes through the rear window.
“Remember how you were supposed to keep those things hidden, kid? The way mom taught you to?”
Robert Robertson the Third frowned at the mention of his mother, still sensitive even after a year since her passing. Robbie sighed at the tears pooling at the edge of his son's eyes. There wasn't a day where he didn't wish Yuna was still here with them. Yet at the same time, he couldn't help but blame her for their current predicament. A toddler sized, feline-related predicament that's currently trying to look calm and is clearly failing.
Once this was over, he would teach Robert how to properly handle that.
“Yeah? Are you finding me a new teacher or something?”
“No,” He tapped his fingers on the driving wheel as he kept driving down the highway. The sun slowly set as Robbie kept driving northbound, “We're going to find somebody to help you hide it a bit more permanently since Yuna can't help anymore. That way, you can focus on being Mecha Man.”
“No more practice time?”
That's what Yuna used to call her ‘sessions’ with Robert when his powers first appeared. He would come home to her hugging their son like there was no tomorrow, only to say that it's vital to his growth as somebody from a demon cat heritage. Robbie let her get away with that reasoning so many times, if only to see her smile full of teeth and glee. Once, he was able to catch a glimpse of them mid-practice in the yard. Something about sharpening Robert's instincts…
“Where could my little kitten be?” A small woman of asian descent scanned the yard. Instead of normal ears, she had cat ears in their place if not a bit higher than where they should be. The black fur of her ears and tail simmered in the sunlight as little Robert giggled from somewhere out of sight.
Robbie looked around as well before spotting his son hiding on a tree branch. His wife dramatically looked around, her brown eyes twinkling with mischief.
“Is he over there?” Yuna looked behind the tree, “Or under the bench?”
She crouched to check before rising up, back still turned away from Robert.
“Hmm, I think this villain will give up now,” The slight curl of her tail gave away the fact that she already knew where the toddler was. He watched his son flattened his ears and tail, waiting for the right moment, “I guess the Cat Lady will have to eat all the seafood pancakes in the kitchen since she can't find Mecha Man.”
With a dramatic sigh, Yuna turned around and walked under the branch Robert was ‘hiding’ in.
It gave the perfect opportunity to pounce on her, landing right in his mother's arms, “Rawr! Mecha Man caught the bad guy!”
The small, Korean woman softly flopped to the floor, the grass serving as the perfect cushion as she landed with a small twirl. Robert's own tail curls around her wrist, “You're now under arrest for trying to steal all the seafood pancakes!”
“Oh no! I'm sorry, Mecha Man. Is there any way for a villain like me to make it up to the people?”
Robbie held back a snort at his wife's ‘wonderful’ acting while Little Robert tried to think of a suitable punishment.
“The people say,” His son paused, “more dalgona!”
“Mecha Man, you're not having more than one dalgona a week. Otherwise, you'll get cavities.”
“She's right, son,” Robbie finally stepped into the yard proper, “Heroes don't punish the villains by taking advantage of them. We make sure that they stay in jail so they can learn from their actions.”
Not that Robbie believed that. Personally, villains are villains for a reason. They lash out at society for their own personal failings and blame everything except themselves. If they did have the occasional epiphany, then they either keep their head down or they forget it in exchange for more sex and drugs.
But he can't tell his son that, yet. He's pretty sure Yuna would hang his corpse somewhere if he tried to voice his actual thoughts right now.
“Oh! Alright, then…Cat Lady can stay in Cuddle Jail. Starting now!” Robert clung to Yuna, ‘trapping’ her with all his limbs as Yuna tried not to laugh.
He could hear his father's voice admonishing him. That his wife is making Robbie too soft, that little Robert needed to be more careful because ‘People with powers could never grasp the harm they could do to others.’ The same paranoia that haunted his childhood even beyond the grave. But looking at the two most important people in the world, bathed in golden sunlight and kitten dreams…
“Robbie, come join us!” Yuna said as she held Robert closer, her ears turning back to normal human ones, “The weather feels so good. You should relax once in a while.”
Robert looked at her with sparkling eyes, following her example. His ears and tail flickered back and forth before finally settling on his human ears as well. She cooed praises at Robert before bringing their attention back to Robbie.
Two pairs of eyes looked at him expectantly, curved with mirth and so much hope as he got closer and closer.
One more step and-
The alarm on his watch went off, signaling another meeting he had to get to. Right, he and the Brave Brigade were looking for new recruits to join. The voice of his father echoed again, “Get out there.”
He shook his head, “Maybe next time.”
Robbie blinked back from the memory. There was never a next time because Yuna was gone two months later. A heart defect that she never told anybody except Vitalia, who couldn't cure congenital heart conditions no matter how hard she tried. Yuna would always blame it on her yin-heavy constitution, being weak and having more than a few coughing fits.
She always assured Robbie that her insurance would cover it, even if she retired from being a hospital receptionist to care for Robert full-time. He never understood how the hospital she worked at would provide such benefits, especially with this economy. Still, he always gave her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe it was some mysticism thing that he could never understand no matter how many times she would pull him to the side to explain things.
Myths and legends belonged to books and people willing to indulge. Like his father before him, he was a man of practicality. Maybe that’s why he found Yuna so fascinating, full of optimism and fantastical opinions. She was the water to his shore, free and vast despite her circumstances. It was this exact trait that allowed her to hide such a serious condition from him. Plus some cover ups on Vitalia’s part, playing the concerned best friend even as they marched to Yuna’s death bed. He should’ve never introduced the two women to each other. Not if her passive suicide was going to be the result of their companionship. He should’ve encouraged Yuna to have civilian friends and relationships, not get tangled up with the Brave Brigade.
Before he knew it, he was holding her ashes and staring at the shared grave they planned together, his son's loud wails distant to Robbie's ears despite being right next to each other.
“Robbie, I'm sorr-”
“Don't tell me that, Priscilla. Just don't.”
He took a deep breath as he sat on the couch. His hands are trembling after holding onto Yuna's urn for so long. Not from exhaustion, but from sheer anger that made him want to punch somebody. Anybody.
Unfortunately, that somebody was Vitalia. Or Priscilla in her civilian form. She was dressed in a modest black suit, her eyes as blue as her uniform.
They were in the living room, where he took down Yuna's photos because Robbie couldn't handle seeing her liar face. Especially not when her equally lying best friend was standing behind him like some lost pigeon while he sat in the darkness of his own home. Robbie couldn't even bother turning anything except a single lamp on. One he hastily grabbed from a second hand shop to replace the one Yuna broke when she doubled over and…
The memory of today's funeral was still fresh in his mind as the clock ticked closer to midnight.
It was unfair for Robbie to blame Vitalia, but she's the only one who knew his wife was dying and did fuck all to try. That's what people with powers do. When the going gets tough and their powers fucking fail, they never try to fix it.
They never try to solve the problem outside of the box. It just festers until suddenly exploding on their faces. This was why Robbie's the leader and nobody else. Because everyone else was too stuck in their heads about what they can't do that he has to clean up after them. Except he can't clean anything up because the problem was his wife and her ability to play off everything like it's nothing.
Did Yuna think he wouldn't care that she died? Why they hell would he marry somebody he didn't care about.
What about Robert? Couldn't she just fight for him? If not for their marriage, couldn't she just try and fight this thing for their son? His son now that she's ash and dust, no longer the wildfire she once was. He clenched his fist as he tried to restrain himself from doing anything drastic. His son was sleeping and he shouldn't lose his godmother because Robbie was too fucking pissed to think straight.
“Just leave already.”
Priscilla blinked like an idiot, as if she didn't hear him the first time, “Robbie-”
“It's Mecha Man. Leave, Vitalia, and never ever come back to my home. We can be coworkers and we can be heroes. But you lost all rights to be my friend while you sat there watching my wife kill herself.”
He looked back at Robert as he stopped during a small traffic jam,“No more practice time. Not the kind you guys do, at least. Mecha Man won't have time for that.”
“Really?” Robert wilted at the answer, his brown ears drooping down, “Oh, okay…I guess that makes sense.”
Silence preceded that, with Robert fiddling with his tail like it was no tomorrow. Robbie pursed his lips while thinking of something Yuna would say.
“But Mecha Man does train. So if you want, we could start after we're done with this,” It won't be as soft as what Yuna did, but at least Robert could still learn some skills. Besides, he could train Robert how to deal with things the normie way.
The Robertson Way.
When he saw the light go back in his son's eyes, a small warmth bubbled inside his chest.
The rest of the drive to Napa County was otherwise unremarkable. In place of palm beaches and coastlines, there were pine trees and rolling hills full of cattle and sheep. Robert could only watch as they passed the fifth retired horse ranch on the way to their destination. What Robbie didn't realize was how bad the smell got between North and South California.
Luckily for Robbie, he smelled worse at work and built up a tolerance against odors like cow manure.
Unlike Robbie, Robert was twitching his nose and covering it like the smell personally punched him in the nose. Another thing that will be gone once the trip is done. Once they were out of the ‘danger zone’, Robbie held Robert as he threw up in the 7/11 bathroom. Holding his tiny body, Robbie couldn't help but feel the weight of what's to come. Of what little he had left of Yuna. The tail batted his face, as if reading his thoughts while Robert finished puking. He patted his son's back in a feeble attempt to comfort him.
He prayed Yuna could forgive him for his actions.
Mecha Man was always meant to be a normie. It was the way his father taught him and the tradition will continue. He hoped that Yuna would teach him control, but she kept playing with him while knowing she was on a timer. Now he has to fix her mess because she was so stubborn enough to die in a corner while nobody was watching. Why couldn't she just say something? Maybe he and Elliot could've figured something out, or at least been given the chance. Maybe then he wouldn't be stuck alone trying to raise their son while having to deal with Robert not controlling himself or his powers.
“Robbie! Come down here!” Hearing his wife yell put Robbie on high alert. It took him five seconds too late that it wasn't a yell of anger or panic, but of pure joy. He had his old baseball bat ready as he sprinted towards the nursery.
“Where's the danger?”
A laugh came from Yuna as he slowly lowered his weapon, “Why do you look like you’re getting ready to fight zombies? Come look at our boy!”
He could hear the soft babbles of Robert Robertson the Third, one year old. He fussed in her arms to reach out to Robbie, noticing that their son had a completely different look. Gone were the too large ears that he had gotten from the Robertson side. In their place were a pair of cat ears. Everything else about their baby was human except for the noticeable tail curling around Yuna’s wrist. There was a feeling of both uncertainty and happiness.
“Doesn’t he look so handsome?” She handed the grab-happy toddler to him, letting Robbie take in all of his son’s inhuman features. There was a slight difference in his pupil if he looked close enough and he could feel a rumbling coming from his tiny chest, “Definitely my genes. No doubt about it.”
Robbie was too stunned to even correct her, “Yuna, love...Is Robert purring?” He felt so confused as to how it could be possible for such a small thing to create a big noise. A few thoughts of what Robert’s new, cat-like traits could do to the Mecha Man legacy. Should he adjust the costume to better cup his ears? Will his tail be an obstacle for the suit’s pilot seat? Are his eyes more sensitive to light, needing to tone down the brightness of the display? Will they even be useful or will his new limbs just be an obstacle they need to overcome?
“That’s yagwanggwi blood right there,” She pressed herself beside him to look at Robert, “We better hide our shoes once he starts walking around or else Mecha Man might get his foot stuck in more potholes.”
“We both know that didn’t happen.”
“I know, I just think it’s funny that you used that excuse when we first met. Who would say that they broke their foot falling into a pothole rather than admit they got pushed down the stairs by some robber?”
“Me. I would because that would reveal my secret identity as a hero.”
Yuna snorted, “I thought you were a cop, Robbie. A really stick-in-the-mud cop who skipped the donuts.”
Robert protested in being left out, as his babbles turned quiet and his face grew stern. Although he tried to claw Robbie, his nails stayed soft and human. “Robert, no. That’s not how you deal with wanting our attention. Is there anything you need?”
“Ah, don’t be so strict with him. He’s only a baby once in his life,” Although he wasn’t sure, he could’ve sworn that Yuna’s ever-present smile faltered oh-so slightly as he admonished their child, “But you’re right. Once he gets older, I promise to teach him control. After all, there’s not much of us left.”
He took a deep breath.
After cleaning up Robert, he straps him back into the booster seat before he floors it towards their destination.
The sooner they do this, the sooner he could move on. This will be a distant memory and he could go back to being normal. Mecha Man doesn't grieve excessively. He'd go out there and keep changing the world, no matter what. When his father died, he was ready to carry on the legacy of a normie who chose to fight back against whatever the world threw at them. Sure, his mother outlived her husband, but surely his dad would be doing the same thing he's doing right now if he were in Robbie's shoes.
Robert was fast asleep by the time they pulled up to a small side road off the freeway, asphalt turning to dirt as their car became more distant from the lights of the main city. Groves of cherry and mulberry trees line the property as he pulled up to a rickety farm house. The sole street lamp was on as there stood a figure in a dark cloak. It wasn’t the kind that novice cultists wore, no. This one had an unknown, rune-based language written on the hems of the sleeve. Underneath it was a bare, metal chest plate that glowed a bright orange underneath the chassis.
Robbie parked by the lamp, getting out of the car to meet the man himself. Gravel crunched under his feet as he walked up to the figure.
“Iron Vault,” He put his hand out to shake hands. A cold, metal grip matched his. The bronze hand had runes of unknown origin etched onto them.
The figure gave him a brief, firm shake before letting go, “I go by Atticus now, Mecha Man. I've retired as you can see.”
He looked around the farm, not seeing much except his produce of choice. He personally never got retirement, but he supposed that Atticus’ retirement was better than golf and swim clubs. It looked productive, at the very least. However, that wasn't why he came to visit.
“Robbie, then. Thank you for letting me do this.”
The magical automaton gave him a cold laugh, “Let you? You've practically leveraged the favor I owed your father. Once this is over, I'll wash my hands of you.”
Iron Vault was one of the first inter-dimensional travelers that dated back to his father’s era. He couldn’t remember much of their collaboration, but it ended with them butting heads more often than once. A man of science like Bobbie couldn’t sit still knowing a fully sentient robot existed outside the boundaries of AI and whatnot. Once Mecha Man Prime passed on the mantle, Iron Vault all but disappeared from the face of the earth. Who knew that such a talented mage ended up cloistered away in Napa County, running an orchard of all things?
“I'm thankful, nonetheless,” Robbie went to grab Robert, who just woke up after the car stopped moving.
“Dad,” His son rubbed his sleepy eyes, uncoordinated, “Why are we in the middle of nowhere?”
“Because this is where we'll meet the man who will help you.” He lifted his child off of the seat before letting his child stand next to him, “Why don't you say hi to Atticus?”
“Hello, Mister Atticus,” Robert wobbled before clutching onto Robbie's pants leg. It looked like Robert also needed training in uneven terrain. Another thing to add to the growing list. Atticus did not have any way to express his emotions, his face being made of plaster and marble not unlike Greek or Roman statues. Yet his body language spoke for himself, the way his joints locked and stiffened.
If Robbie were to guess what kind of face Atticus could’ve made if he had the capability to, it would be one of shock.
“Mecha Man, I was made aware that you needed my help to seal something that couldn't control its power. All I see is a young demonic spirit who's barely old enough to do anything drastic.”
“Watch,” He gestured to Robert to get closer, “Robert, try making your ears and tail disappear.”
His son blinked and tried to do so, but all it did was have his son move his feline features. No disappearing act in sight. Atticus tilted his head in Robbie's direction, as if to ask for an explanation, “Robert here used to be able to hide his features just like his mother. However, ever since her passing, I hadn't had any luck finding a good teacher or a way to continue his lessons. Since his powers are purely cosmetic, I figured sealing them would be the best route.”
Robbie wasn't lying. He couldn't find a teacher good enough because all most known animal shifters are of the mutant type. If wanted to find one related to demonic spirits, he would have to either go to his wife's homeland or lower his standards by recruiting people like sex workers. The latter being nigh impossible since Robert was just six years old. He doesn't need that kind of exposure to the world just yet.
As for continuing on, he did try to let Robert figure out how to control his powers. However it led to an unfortunate situation that had Robbie do damage control on.
Robbie opened the door to his home, only to be met with wild sparrows flying into his face. He batted them away, looking for the villain that dared attack him in his own home. It wasn't until he saw his son, holding a mouse in his hand, did he realize the source of all the unwanted house guests.
Near the backyard door sat the culprit. Right by his side was a storage bin with a small school of goldfish that no doubt belonged to their next door neighbor’s goldfish pond. They swam as if they had never encountered a predator before, leisurely and relaxed. When Robert heard him approach, he bounded towards him without the grace of his mother.
“Happy Birthday!!” Robert showed him the mouse with a big smile, the gap in his teeth making Robbie oh so aware of what age his son was. He can’t snap, no. This was a child, HIS child that created a mess.
“In what universe-” Robbie took a deep breath before continuing, “Robert, what made you think this was a good idea?”
“Mom liked it a lot. You’re never here for your birthday, so I didn’t know what to get you,” Robert lowered his hand with the mouse on it. The rodent looked terrified, yet uninjured. Perhaps Yuna’s lessons were actually productive if not for the fact that Robert misused those lessons.
Robbie did agree that Yuna loved creating random bouts of chaos. When they were newly-weds, she would always hide a fake cockroach in his garage. She would always laugh at his face before kissing his cheek. He could never stay mad at her gloating expression. Not when her smile was so infectious and she was so cutely smug about it. However, the tradition slowly died off when Robert was born and the Brave Brigade started to become bigger than Robbie ever imagined. They just never had the time to keep going, not with Robbie’s long hours.
It looked like she continued that tradition with Robert instead, having him catch little critters to show her. He can’t claim to know what his wife was thinking, letting his son bring a potential house infestation inside.
“And you thought that bringing in wild animals and stealing from our neighbor would make me happy? Robert, that’s not what heroes do. Not what Mecha Man would do.” His disappointment made the six year old wilt, “Did anybody see you like this? Acting like a wild animal?”
Robert’s eyes widened, “I wasn’t- Mom said that it’s part of our instincts. Our powers.”
“Son, animals are the ones who follow their instincts,” The comparison left a sour taste in his mouth, yet he couldn’t pinpoint why, “You need to remember that you’re a person too. People don’t just bring animals home or take things from others. You’re better than that. We’re better than that.”
Robbie went to euthanize the invasive mouse away from Robert’s eyes and bring back the goldfish to his neighbors. Even when they said that it was all in good fun, he couldn’t help but see the judgement in their eyes when he explained the situation. Even after a few more lectures and enough chores to last a year, his son couldn’t understand why his actions were wrong. Maybe he repeated his words back to him and could state why it’s wrong, but something in Robert’s eyes still showed confusion and a distance that said ‘but I’m still right.’ It was that kind of thinking that led people with powers to believe that their actions don’t have consequences.
A slippery slope that can lead to villainy if Robert kept trying to justify himself.
Robbie needed to nip that development in the bud.
“It's hard to believe that the great Mecha Man can't guide his own son properly. Then again, you wouldn't be the first.”
“Shut your mouth about my father. He tried his best and made me the man I am,” Robbie can't lose control. Discipline. That's what his father taught him. Don't let anybody get a rise out of him, “And I can't exactly guide him without knowing what to do. I don't trust anybody to help Robert, either. His specific needs aren't common.”
“Mm, and the other family? Whoever helped produce him and your wife must have an idea.”
Another deep breath, “Gone. If my wife had any living relatives, we wouldn't be here.”
“Condolences,” Atticus’ robotic tone rang hollow, “However, she wouldn't have told you anything about how their powers work? Anything at all?”
“Not enough time,” at least on Robbie's part. He always believed that Yuna had it under control, willing to take Robert under his wing once he reached a better age. But Yuna wasn't here.
And Robert didn't know control.
“Change back, Robert. Now,” He closed the door behind him. Robert stayed on the couch as his little face flushed red in concentration. His ears were flattened to the side as the neighbor's broken speaker system kept disturbing the neighborhood. Robbie tried to think of what Yuna told him of her powers, but nothing came to mind as he watched his son struggle.
“I'm trying! Dad, it hurts!” He stayed curled up in a pathetic ball. Robbie calmed himself and looked around for anything to dampen the sound. It wasn't helped by the forming crowd going on outside, trying to fix something so mundane and stupid while adding to the cacophony.
Looking at his son, so vulnerable, filled him with a sense of foreboding. The limbs were now a liability. Without anybody to help Robert hide them- No, this happened because Robert wasn't prepared enough. How can he become Mecha Man if a faulty speaker could incapacitate him?
What if it wasn't just a speaker but a full on villain with sonic blasts for powers? Or if he couldn't retract his tail and it ended up as just another thing to slice off?
He carried his son to the car, Robbie's blood boiling at each whimper.
“Dad, help me…”
“No worries,” He took out his phone and started dialing a number he never thought of calling, “You'll get the help you need.”
“Sealing his magical half just because you refuse to deal with your own child-rearing deficiencies? Typical Robertsons. This is beneath me,” Atticus folded his arms.
“Listen, I would love to talk about how you don’t like me after my dad died or about my so-called bad parenting,” Robbie felt Robert grip his clothes even more, “But can you do it or not? Otherwise, I’ll keep that favor until you’re needed again.”
“Tch, you really are a fool. Your father saved my life and I offered my favor as a boon, yet you wield it like a toddler wields his rattle,” Atticus paused to think it over for a few more moments, “But if it truly means that you and your kin will forget about me, then so be it. I will do the ritual despite my many warnings of the side-effects.”
“That’s all I needed to hear from you.”
Atticus crouched down to Robert’s height, “And you, child, are willing to go along with this?”
Robert looked back and forth between Robbie and Atticus, suddenly put on the spot by the question. Robbie gave him a small nod, “You are sure. Right, buddy?”
His son nodded back before looking Atticus in the eye, “If it makes my dad happy, then okay.” That sureness in his voice made Robbie so, so proud of his son. That was Robertson blood at work.
Atticus’ stance softened for a margin of a second, “If you were to go through this, there will be an unimaginable sacrifice. Do not go into this sealing blindly. Your father mentioned this, yes?”
“I'm ready, Mister Atticus,” He straightened his back, “A Robertson always moves ahead.”
“Very well,” The magical automaton rose up and dusted his black cloak, “Then follow me, Robertsons. Let this heresy be done and our ties no more.”
Robbie walked towards the cabin, making sure Robert was inside before closing the door. He could smell the scent of wax and esoteric herbs coming from the home. This was it, the final hurdle Robert will have to face as somebody with powers. After this, he’ll be normal just like the rest of them. Like the rest of his line.
As he takes one final look at the rising moon, he hoped that Yuna could find it in herself to forgive him. Hoped that she could forgive them.
After all, no powers meant no memory of her.
.
.
.
Later, while they were driving home, Robbie looked at the rear view mirror. His son sat still in his booster seat as the sun rose in the horizon.
“So, Robert, how do you feel about your mom?”
“I dunno, I still miss her,” Robert fiddled with his fingers, no tail or ears in sight to give him away, “Even if she was away at the hospital for a long time.”
A small part of Robbie wanted to correct his son. That his mother spent every day by Robert’s side until the day she passed, for better or for worse. Instead, he turned his attention back on the road.
“Just keep remembering her. That's all we can do.”