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The suit in the shed was the final straw. Robert was like Elliot’s own son. He acted like it more than the kid’s father, too.
Elliot had found the kid in the upstairs hallway with a chunk out of his ear trying not to cry. It had been wrapped, but it had bloody patches on the bandage. He just sat next to Robert, who pulled his knees to his chest as he only took shallow gasps for breath and frantically wiped his eyes.
He had put his hand on Robert’s shoulder, trying to offer some comfort. But the kid just shouted in pain and held his arm. Elliot just carefully moved his hand to rub circles into Robert’s upper back.
“Hey, kiddo. What happened?”
Robert shook his head and buried his snotty and tear-covered face in his arms. Elliot kept talking.
“Wheres your dad?”
Robert shook his head again. Wiping his eyes roughly again, his face red and ruddy.
Why was nobody with the kid? What happened? Shouldn’t they have gone to a hospital?
Robert chokes on another sob, Elliot just rubs his back more. Then Robert is holding onto him for dear life, muffling his sobs into Elliot’s side. The kid is getting snot all over his clothes, but he doesn’t really care right now.
Finally, Robert speaks. Gasping and sniffling in silences. “I… I messed up.”
Did… did Robbie do this to him? His own son? Tough love? This… this wasn’t tough love. Elliot let Robert cry into his shirt until the kid had no more tears to give.
Now Robert was just leaning against him, eyes red and tired. Elliot just carefully picked the exhausted kid up, and tucked him into bed. At least the room was just down the hall. Then it was time to get some answers.
Robbie was still tending to the barbecue, though it seemed everything was starting to finish up. He doesn’t try to hide his anger as he approaches. Robbie looks unfazed.
“Hey, Eli! You were gone for a while. What, that stoplight on your head busted for good?”
Elliot doesn't even acknowledge it. “Why does Robert have a chunk out of his ear?”
Robbie rolls his eyes. “The automated defense system just acted up. He’s fine.”
“He’s not fine. What are you talking about?”
“He’ll have to deal with way worse when he takes over the suit. He has to toughen up.”
“He’s just a kid.”
“That’s not an excuse.”
Elliot never really liked Robbie that much. Come to think of it. He got the actual story from Chase. Even got a few doubts about Robbie. ‘Get up’, what a joke. Monsters can disguise themselves as men easily enough.
Which leads them here.
The red glow of the fire means nothing to Elliot. As he stands between Robbie and his mech. He’s nothing without it. But Elliot already has everything he needs. His grip tightens on the piece of rebar in his hand. He’s been waiting for this moment ever since that day.
Elliot steps forward, Robbie steps back. He won’t be able to run for long. The rubble and the fire block any exit. It’s a coliseum, and Robbie is the newbie just thrown in.
Robbie takes his eyes off Elliot for just a second, but that’s enough to close the distance. He brings the warped and rusted metal down on Robbie’s shoulder, watching as he crumples and falls to his elbows. Elliot relishes in the crunch of bone and the cry of pain from the monster.
Elliot steps back, circling, dragging the bar against the ground.
“Get up. Isn’t that what you said? Do as you preach.”
He smashes the rebar down the back of one of Robbie’s knees as he starts to get them under himself. It makes him fall again.
Elliot kicks him in the side. “Come on! Get up!”
Robbie tries to crawl forward, in the direction of his suit standing by past the smoke. He opens his mouth, tries to call to it. Probably another protocol. Elliot just smashes one of his arms next, watching the flesh warp and bones shatter. Words morph into another cry of pain.
Robbie has his face on the ground. Can’t even lift it. It’s pathetic. Shroud digs his foot into Robbie’s ribs, kicking and pushing him over to face upwards. Elliot removes the handgun from his side, slowly loading it.
“Don’t worry, Robbie. I’ll take care of him. I’ll raise him better than you ever did. He won’t even have to think about being Mecha Man.”
He pushes the magazine the rest of the way in, flicking off the safety. He crouches, placing the barrel against Robbie’s stomach, angled upwards.
He fires.
It tears through Robbie’s insides. The only sound he can manage is a broken rattle. The suit around Robbie’s legs darkens, and it spreads. Shroud watches as Robbie’s eyes focus on him a last time, then they go blank.
Shroud sees a flash of light to his side, a camera. He’ll deal with it. He always does.