Chapter Text
“Fucking Santa Ana winds bullshit!” Robert swore, crouching down against a cinderblock wall hoping it would block some of the wind and grit that had been flying across southern California for the last three days. “It’s too early in the year for this shit, Beef,” he lamented, tucking him and the chihuahua into a small ball low to the ground. “It’s February, and we’re going to dry out and turn into raisins.”
It had been about eight months since Robert and Beef had lived on the streets. Eight months of heat waves, inclement rain fall, and now the hot, dry winds from the east. Robert dared not use his raincoat as a wind breaker - he’d sweat like crazy and then he and his jacket would need to be washed… and washing his prized coat in a public park sink would be a headache and a half, even if it would dry relatively quickly in the current weather.
His daily solicitation circuit had him at his favorite 7-11 earlier in the day, but the winds were too much. Anyone that passed him had no interest in helping him and his small furry son when the winds were just as likely to blow whatever cash away at any given second. As much as it sucked, Robert didn’t blame them. Even at his height within the Mecha Man legacy, Santa Anas were risky weather. The chances of downed power lines and increased chances of wild fires were always an active concern.
So instead, he called it early and pushed against the wind as he headed towards Torrance’s industrial-and-warehouse hub off of Western Avenue. If he could find a good corner with higher walls, they could wait out the wind for a bit without getting caught in a wind tunnel.
- - - - -
An acrid smell jolted Robert from his sleep. The former hero sat up and carefully slid Beef off his legs and onto the pink yoga mat they slept on, and sniffed the air around them. A warm light flickered against the building he was resting near. It took his sleep fogged mind a moment to connect the dots. FIre.
“Fuck!” Robert swore, quickly shaking Beef awake and rolling up the yoga mat. “We need to-”
Glass shattered from the burning building on the other side of the wall the pair had been resting against. The Santa Ana winds were still coming intermittently over the last few weeks, and it looks like Torrance had a fire in the warehouse district Robert had been hiding in when the winds got rough.
He could see the tongues of flame creeping above the wall, and Robert quickly shoved everything into his bag and secured his yoga mat to his backpack with his ratty green bungee cord. As he bent down to pick up his dog, a voice from behind caused him to jump.
“Oh Babes, we should get you out of here.”
Robert cautiously turned, holding Beef close to his chest as he leaned on his crutch for support. Behind him stood a tall, red, demon woman in heels that could take his eye out. Was she a hero? Shit.
“Wha-”
“I’m with SDN,” she explained quickly. “Let’s get you somewhere safe.”
The red demoness ripped a portal into the air, and ushered them through quickly. She followed after them, just to make sure they were safe. When she crossed the threshold, she chuckled when she saw the man on his knees puking.
“Sorry babes, the nausea will go away soon. No burns, yeah?”
Robert heaved one more time before wiping his mouth with his arm. “Yeah, no we’re good. Thank-No you don’t! Don’t eat that!” The homeless man practically screeched, picking up Beef… who was about to start licking at the fresh vomit on the ground. When he turned back to the red demoness, she was holding back laughter behind her hand.
“Sorry,” he said. “Thank you for helping us, Ms…”
“Malevola.”
“Thank you Ms. Malevola,” Robert finished. “Are you okay?” He found himself asking out of habit. Over a decade of hero work was not easily snuffed by less than a year on the streets.
Malevola was now looking at him with a curious expression. Her brows were furrowed and even though her eyes were pure yellow-gold, they seemed to pierce through the homeless man before her. She took a step closer, and grabbed his chin with one hand turning his head back and forth. Using her other hand, she pulled out her cell phone.
“Is your name Robert?”
“Uh-”
She held up the picture that Chase had sent to the whole Torrance SDN branch. It was a picture of Robert when he was still a teenager, but the scarred ear was a dead giveaway. Malevola could see the resemblance immediately.
“You’re coming with me,” Malevola stated with absolute certainty. “SDN has been looking for you.”
“WHAT?!”
Robert took a step back, and felt his foot slip on the vomit. The red demoness grabbed his arm and crutch before he could slip.
“Oh yeah, you’re coming with me,” she laughed, not letting the smaller man go.
Malevola pressed the communication button on her ear piece. “Hey Chase, I found your boy. I’m breaking away from the warehouse fire mission.”
“YOU WHAT?”