Chapter Text
Robert laid on his wooden floor, cold and hard under him. He was tired, hungry, and broke. Not only that but finally having someone to talk to was making him both worse and better at the same time, granted that person was someone Robert kidnapped.
“Obviously I love him, he’s my dad.” Robert said, facing the ceiling as blood slowly trickled from his nose; though he didn’t know it was blood. He smiled ever so softly as his dog, Beef, came over and licked his face, Robert's hand finding the soft fur and gently brushing it.
A soft hum came from the man in the shitty chair, a voice that Robert found oddly soothing, “what’s ‘hummm’ mean? Just say what you wanna.”
“Well, it’s just when you say ‘obviously’, it makes it a whole lot less obvious.” The man said, his wrists rubbing painfully against the bindings that held him to the chair but the man found them tolerable at the moment, “so I’ll ask again; how do you really feel ‘bout your dad?”
The question was a loaded one, one Robert wasn’t sure he could truly answer; not as Robert that is, “..I never really got to know him..he was rarely around.” Robert answered, his eyebrows furrowing.
“Well you see him even less now because he’s dead.” the other man said without care or pity but still in that same soothing tone.
Robert looked at the man, staring up at him, “..yeah..so nothing changes..but it does at the same time.” Robert didn’t know why he was spilling his guts out to some villain he kidnapped, maybe it’s because the man can’t see him. Maybe it’s because Robert is so alone in his life that he can feel the loneliness draining him of what little life he has left.
Robert sighed, letting out a breathless chuckle as he gently pushed Beef away and stood up, “just so sensitive, mhm?” His voice low with a tone of mock humor, “but I didn’t bring you here to be a therapist.”
“You sound like you need one, unpack all those daddy issues.” The man said, Robert still enjoying his tone even if it was more snarky.
“Oh no, I’m far too broke for that,” Robert replied, standing in front of the man, “but if you weren’t a complete asshole, you’d make a really good therapist.” Robert was being truthful, the conversation was one of the most deep things he’s had in a while and he rather enjoyed it; but he didn’t feel like having a mid life crisis in his twenties.
“Now, back to what I brought you here for,” Robert continued, leaning down to get into the man's face, “where’s Shroud?”
The man stiffened, “Oh fuck you! I don’t have to tell you shit!” The man's voice was less appealing now, but never mind that; Robert had other shit to focus on. He grabbed the back of the plastic chair and began to drag it across the floor.
“There we go, this is how I saw all this going.” Robert grunted as he used one hand to open the balcony door, sliding it open.
“I hope Shroud kills you just like he killed your father!” The man screamed, grating against Roberts' ears. So loud, especially in his empty ass apartment, “I hope he spanks your daddy issue bitch ass to death!”
The man grunted as the chair’s back was slammed against the back of the balcony, Robert pausing to look over the ledge and make sure the mattress was still at the bottom. The man started to get nervous, wiggling slightly in the chair.
“Where are we? Are we outside? Why are there outside smells?” Question after question, Robert was finding the man annoying now. Maybe that was the exhaustion talking, or maybe was it the exhaustion that liked the man's voice in the first place?
“Here’s how this is going to work,” Robert said, bending down and grabbing the legs of the chair and slowly sliding the chair up till the man hung over the edge, “you tell me where shroud is, or i fucking drop you off my balcony and you become a stain on the side walk.”
The man panics, struggling slightly in the chair and making Robert thank whatever things is above that he keeps a good work-out for his arms, “what?! Wait- hold on now, you an’t gotta drop me!”
“Hey, be quiet,” Robert hissed, leaning close, “I have neighbors.” Robert really didn't feel like dealing with the cops, though they rarely came out to these parts as it was a bad neighborhood. Cheap though!
“Look, just tell me where Shroud is and I won’t drop you.” The tired man continued, not in the mood for games but also really wanting to mess with the man he kidnapped.
“Fine! Fine my god!” The man hissed in a panicked tone through his teeth, “the mill! He’s at the Steel Mill!”
Robert hummed, the answer seeming too easy; maybe he was just paranoid though, “there we go, not so hard huh.” Robert said, feeling satisfied with the answer.
He lowered the chair down to the ground, deciding to not drop the man which was a shame; he ruined his mattress for nothing. Oh well, not like he really needs it anyways. He doesn’t deserve it.
“Oh thank god.” The guy breathed out, thanking whatever he believed in that Robert didn’t fucking drop him from a balcony.
“Now I will have to knock you out again, I’ll drop you off in an alley for you to be found in.” Robert said, dragging the man back inside the apartment.
“Cool man, Just don’t literally drop me.” The guy said, wanting to be knocked out instead of dropped and killed. He’ll heal of course, but that didn’t mean he couldn’t feel pain.
Robert snorted, “yeah no worries man,” He contemplated using his leg or arm, a quick chop to the side of the head would be suffice enough to knock the man out, “seriously, if you weren’t a complete asshole you’d make a great therapist.”
Robert didn’t really give the man time to reply, swinging and letting his fist connect with the man's temple. Then Robert went about the boringly long process of getting the body out of his apartment without looking like some killer, it was a bit easy seeing as the only person in his apartment with a somewhat normal-ish attitude was an old man a few doors down from Robert. Robert didn’t have a car or anything so he just dumped the man in some back alley a few blocks away, thanking everything that it was night time.
He got back to his apartment and slumped down into the same chair, not wanting to do anything but sleep. Was it bad that he's been tired more and more lately? Maybe. He wasn’t sure. He didn’t care either.
—————
“Uncle Eli!”
“Hello Little Blue,” arms wrapping around his torso and holding him close like always as he happily sat in the man's lap, “come to learn some more?”
—————
When he woke up a bit later he put on his suit, giving Beef some pats and kissing his head. Robert hated leaving Beef alone, he hated knowing his little fur baby might be hurt or scared and he wouldn’t be there for him. He didn’t even have a pet sitter! Couldn't afford one.
Robert sighed softly, walking into the kitchenette and filling two bowls with food and water. Just in case. Robert left the apartment, pausing slightly before going to the old man's apartment; not worried about the older man knowing his identity. ‘I’m too old to care, kiddo.’ The man had rasped out once when he saw Robert returning home.
“Mr. Lorie?” Robert called as he knocked on the door, gloved hands moving back to anxiously fold and fiddle with one another. He didn’t know why he was so stressed, he knew he’d probably be back early tomorrow morning.
Unless that curse of a legacy comes for him.
The door opened, “..Kiddo?” The older man rasped, cane in hand and hunched slightly, “what you doin’ up so late?” He knew Robert was a hero but even then he fussed over Robert often. Dravid Lorie was a seventy year old man who was pushing it, he had refused to let his son put him in a home and broke off from his family. They were vultures anyways.
“Sorry, Mr. Lorie,” Robert felt like he was talking to his grandpa, though Robert himself never knew the man, “I have a mission and don’t know when I’ll be back,” if he’ll be back, “so i was wondering if you could keep an eye out on Beef for me?”
The older man sighed, tired, but he gave a sweet smile to the boy who reminded so much of his own son when he was little, “of course I will, hand me the keys,” Robert let out a breath and gave his apartment keys to the older man, “now you be safe, you hear?”
Robert smiled softly, his doe eyes looking down at the older man, “of course I will be,” Robert made the false promise, “I’ll be back by the morning if not a bit later.” The older man patted Robert on the back, giving a gentle push to get the man going on his way.
Robert walks to where he’s holding the Mech Suit, the last thing he truly owned for his own. Even though it was worse for wear, he never knew how his father did it; kept so much money while being a hero.
Never-mind that, Robert had more important things to focus on.