Chapter Text
“Blazer, you wanted to see me?”
Robert stepped into Blonde Blazer’s office. Blazer was sitting behind her desk, organizing some paperwork.
“Yes, I need to ask you something.”
“Why? Did my team fuck up? I’ve been trying to keep them in check.”
Blazer snorted. “No, nothing like that. Anyways, listen.” She leaned forward. “I know you’re not going to like to hear this, but… you’ve got way too much overtime.”
“What? No i don’t.” Robert furrowed his brow.
“Robert.” Blazer said, sternly. “You’ve worked a full shift almost every day this month. The only day you’ve had off was when Chase forced you to go home when you were literally on the brink of death.” She got up. “I need you to take some time off.”
“Now, that’s really not necessary.” Robert interjected.
“Robert, this is non-negotiable. I’m only asking you to take a week off. Go do something, get out of town.” She walked around her desk and placed a hand on Robert’s shoulder. “Look, I’m only asking this because I’m being forced to. I know how much you love your work.” She patted his shoulder before exiting.
Robert sighed in annoyance.
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“Hey, guys. I need advice.”
Robert sat at his computer, watching for any calls to SDN. It had been a pretty slow day, hardly any calls. And the one’s they did get were very minor. Walking dogs, helping unload groceries, taking old ladies to appointments…
“What? Need a good medicine to take for your broken dick?” Flambae’s voice cackled through the comms. Robert rolled his eyes. He knew he was going to regret his decision to ask his team for help.
“No. Come on, this is serious. Blazer’s forcing me to take a vacation, and I need something to do for a week.” He really didn’t want to just hang out at his apartment. It was only a matter of time before he got stir-crazy and started tearing the place apart. And he actually had semi-nice things in there now, so he definitely didn’t want that happening.
“Vacation? I didn’t even know SDN offered that.” Malevola said.
“I think you have to apply to take vacation.” Punch up stated.
“Yeah, unless you’re me, and they force you to take it.” Robert sighed. “Come on, I need ideas.”
The team was silent for a few moments. Finally, Prism spoke up.
“There’s a week-long music festival at the end of the month.”
“Yeah, because being outside sweating my ass off for a week seems like a good idea.” Robert answered.
“You could go to Vegas. That could be fun.” Invisigal entered.
Robert thought on it for a minute. “Nah. If I’m anything like my dad, I definitely don’t need to gamble.” He thought back to a story Chase told him about how his dad gambled only once, and it ended with the entrance to the casino wrecked. How his dad was ever considered a hero, Robert had no idea.
“You could just stay at a swanky hotel for the week? Rent a room just to get out.” Golem’s rough voice entered.
“No. That’s lame.” Robert listened as the bell signaling the end of the day rang.
“Perfect. Fits your personality.” Flambae said, laughing. Robert rolled his eyes.
“Thanks, guys.” Robert said dryly. “That’s the end of the day. Have a nice weekend.” Robert turned his headset off and ran his hands over his face. So much for asking the team for help.
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Robert sat at his desk, wincing at the bright computer screen. He was half focusing on his end-of-day work, and half figuring out what to do for his vacation. It wasn’t like he didn’t have any money. SDN had finally started paying him, since they weren’t working on the Mech suit anymore.
He was so lost in thought that he didn’t even notice the sound of wet footsteps making their way towards him.
“Robert?”
The dispatcher looked up and saw Waterboy looking down at him. He stood by, wringing his hands together.
“Hey, Waterboy. What’s up?”
“Um, I heard-listened to the comms when you were talking-saying you were taking vacation. I just was wondering when it is?” Waterboy put his gloved hand behind his neck.
Robert raised an eyebrow. “The last week of the month. Why?”
“Cool. Um,” He paused for a moment. “I was going to ask-since you’re looking for something to do, I was going to ask…”
“Yeah?” Robert smiled.
“Um,” Waterboy continued. “My family is having a meet-reunion that week, and I want to go. But I need to find someone to go with me.”
“And you want me to go?” Robert asked, slightly interested.
“I mean, you don’t have to. I just… I don’t want to go-travel by myself in case something-an emergency happens.”
“I see. Your grandmother can’t go?”
Waterboy brought his hand down, flinging water onto the floor below. “No, she’s getting too old-frail to travel like that…” He looked a little sad to say that. “Can’t stay in a car that long…”
Robert thought on it. He hadn’t really traveled outside of Los Angeles that much. The furthest he had been was when he went to Pasadena for a convention appearance like… ten-ish years ago.
“Where’s the reunion?”
“Well, that’s the other problem-issue. It’s in south Arkansas…”
“Oh.” Robert began to gather his things. He paused. “Wait, that’s really far.”
“Hehe, yeah. It’s a day-twenty four hour drive.” Waterboy threw his hands up. “Again, not forcing-making you go. Just thought… you needed something to do that week.”
Robert pondered for a moment. The idea of being crammed in a car with someone for that long didn’t seem like much fun.
On the other hand, the idea of spending a week with Waterboy sent Robert’s heart racing. You see, over time, Robert had begun to really care about the redhead. He began to admire his dedication to being a hero, the way he always tried to do the right thing. How, even if he failed, he still took it in strides.
Even outside of the work environment, Robert had come to enjoy hanging out with the hero. They seemed to always gravitate towards each other when the team would go out. They would just meaninglessly talk about whatever was on their minds, whether it be the workday, TV shows they both had watched recently, or Waterboy telling seemingly endless stories of his Grandma’s many cats.
It didn’t take a super long time for Robert to develop romantic feelings. He saw it coming from a mile away. Of course, he would never in a million years act on them. Too afraid of rejection. And he didn’t even know if Waterboy liked guys. But, even if he didn’t act on his feelings, he still like being around him, and if they stayed friends, Robert would be okay with that.
“Sure. Sounds fun.”
Waterboy perked up. “Really?”
“Yeah. I’ve never traveled out of state before. Could be fun.”
“O-okay. I’ll text-send you the details later.” Waterboy waved as he walked out. Robert smiled as he left.
As Robert finished gathering his things and left the SDN building, he found himself actually looking forward to this trip.