Work Text:
Robert wasn't one to ignore his work.
So when they asked him to appear at a superhero convention and represent SDN as Mecha-Man? He didn't think twice about saying okay.
Though, it wasn't in town, no no no no. It just had to be out of state. The good news was it was only going to be a couple days maybe hours if he went fast enough in the Mech suit. Bad news was they didn't want him flying there in the suit, since they were going to have it shipped in a truck to get there safely.
Fuck.
Which meant he was going to be driving there.
Slowly, Robert groans and runs a hand down his face, hanging the phone up.
He hated this. It would have been so much easier... Whatever.
Silently he catches sight of Chase eyeing him from over the partition between their cubicles and he spins his chair to face his long time friend. "Chase." He greets, the older man only grunts.
"What's got your goddamn panties in a twist?" Chase observed with his usual snark, Robert lets a small grin tug the edges of his lips. "Nothing. Just need to drive out of state in my crap piece of shit car, while they ship my mech suit out in a truck." Robert explains as he looks to his blocky monitor, watching the blackened screen tiredly.
He really didn't want to have to drive, but there's not much choice. Whatever.
"Sounds annoying. Would hate to be you." Chase replies, walking around to lightly bump his friend on the shoulder, Robert only nods. "Yeah."
A silence fills the space between them for a long moment before Chase snorts. "Alright you've convinced me. I'll come with you, you fucking idiot." He declares and Robert turns an eyebrow upwards to him. "But I didn't—?" He doesn't get to finish his sentence as Chase begins walking away, grabbing Beef from his pillow as he goes back to his own desk. "Yeah you did, your dumb sad face said all it had to you pathetic shit. Besides, Beef needs me around? Don't you boy! Huh! Don't you? You cute fat meatball!"
Chase coos to the chubby Chihuahua who whines and squirms comfortably in Chase's arms. Tongue out the side of his mouth, panting. Tail whacking against Chase's arm to wag.
Robert sighs and shakes his head, smiling to his friend and his dog.
"Whatever. Some company might keep me from going insane anyway. Welcome aboard." Robert utters beneath his breath, giving a large (very loud, cracking) stretch before he gets back to work. Starting their after-lunch shift.
Robert never minded being on the road. He rather enjoyed it actually. Especially when it gave him a chance to nap in the backseat. Beef was taking up the passenger's seat anyway, Chase behind the wheel.
"Don't crash anything old man." Robert teases, Chase sneers into the rearview mirror, catching Robert's smirk. "I'm not that old you motherfucker." Chase retorts and Robert chuckles. "Whatever, point still stands. Don't crash us."
The quiet fills the space again quickly. After a minute, Chase decides it's irritating and turns the radio on. Through a haze of static a channel finally picks up and upbeat music fills the car, Robert lets a soft feeling wash over him.
Between Beef's soft snores in the front seat, and Chase's fingers tapping the wheel to the best of the music, Robert lets himself relax completely for the first time in forever. Content, comfortable, safe even.
The music gives him the feeling that this really is a road trip.
The good kind.
Robert is asleep in a matter of minutes, letting Chase's hums lull him into a nice dream.