Chapter Text
Robert was a hard nut to crack, Flambae had to admit. When he had first met the smaller man he thought nothing of him. Plain, boring, background noise. But with a nice voice, he had to admit.
But over the months Robert had actually followed through. He hadn’t fled with his tail between his legs. He stayed and took every insult and every jab and gave back as good as he got. And most importantly of all he was probably the sole reason the Z-Team was where it was now, higher up on the leaderboard. The glue that kept the group together. Had brought them closer together.
Flambae wasn’t sure when he caught feelings for Robert. And reeling the man in was a whole different can of worms.
The worst part, Flambae discovered, was how little Robert seemed to think of himself, even in a romantic relationship. Hell. They were already working on the whole ‘Robert is allowed to be a person outside of Mecha Man’ thing before the two had gotten into a relationship.
He knew that the reason Robert thought of himself more as Mecha Man than human was because of the man’s father. A situation like that, obviously, did not leave one with a healthy understanding of a family. But it didn’t exactly explain why Robert had such an unhealthy understanding of relationships.
The running theory was that Shroud was technically Robert’s other father. Considering how that ended it would be obvious why Robert thought so little of himself in a relationship. But Robert had shot that idea down as soon as it was said in his vicinity. So Flambae was back to square one.
Back to wondering why Robert was fine with the bare minimum of attention. Why when the jokes of other men grinding up against Flambae in the club happened Robert didn’t look bothered. Why when the jokes started to push about Flambae getting action from other men - something that pissed Flambae off so badly he almost burned off Sonar’s fur - Robert had been more concerned that he was at least in Flambae’s top five.
Top Five. As if Robert wasn’t Flambae’s boyfriend, but a side piece who just happen to get attention. As if being his partner didn’t automatically mean he shouldn’t just be his number one, but his only. They were fucking monogamous. They hadn’t talked about an open relationship, or being poly, or any of that. So why did Robert think that.
Wondering why Robert looked at him like he hung the sun when Flambae wasn’t pressed about Robert working late. Why Robert was always asking if things were alright. Why Robert clung to Flambae, like if Robert blinked he would be single again.
Flambae wanted to take every single one of Robert’s past relationships. Past partners, past dates, even his past flings, and burn them to a crisp for what they’ve done to someone as wonderful as Robert.
And yet Robert didn’t think he was worth the effort. Thought he was being too clingy when he showed the basic public affection. Also something they were working on.
He had to dial up his own clinginess just to show Robert how it was done. Like a dog teaching another how to howl.
“Could you at least bitch about your past relationships?” Flambae asked one day, while the two were laid out on the couch.
Or more specifically, Robert had laid across Flambae’s lap without a shirt, nearly demanding attention. Operation ‘teach Robert to be clingy’ was so far a roaring success. So Flambae had rewarded Robert by scratching his back while he watched TV.
“There’s nothing to talk about. They just ended. It happens.”
“That’s bullshit. What about the one I heard about from Phenomaman? What happened that was so bad that you drank yourself to blackout in a urinal?”
“We broke up? That was the reason for the drinking.”
“Okay but like. How did it happen?”
“We were engaged, but I wasn’t present enough, with being Mecha Man and all that. Obviously she broke it off. I couldn’t really blame her. But we were engaged. So. Ya’know. It hurt.”
“Did she not know?”
“No? Kind of dangerous to tell people you’re Mecha Man. All things considered. Really it’s my fault.”
Flambae continued to scratch, but his head fall back against the couch. One of these days he would get answers.
“I swear if I ever meet and of your exes I’m going to roast them.”
Robert flipped over and his hand patted Chad’s chest. “No you won’t. Because you’re better than that.”
Flambae sighed, “Yea. You’re right. But I can and will be a massive bitch.”
“That’s fine. I kind of would be worried if you weren’t a possessive beast.”
“Oh I’ll show you beast-” Flambae laughed as he stood, scooping Robert up and throwing the man over his shoulder to bring him to the bedroom.