Chapter Text
“Obviously I love him. He’s my dad,” Brown eyes with flecks of blue narrow when he heard the person he was talking to hum, “What does that hmmm mean? Just say what you wanna say?
The other voice sighs, “Its just, when you add obviously, it feels a little less obvious. So, I’ll ask again, how do you really feel about your father, Robert?” Biting at his lip, Robert thinks on the question while the other went on, “It is as if, maybe its a little more complicated than you feel comfortable admitting. Which is completely understandable.”
“Look, I love my dad, alright. I love my dad. That’s the truth,” Robert sighs closing his eyes, “But I know that he loved being a hero more than me. That he only had me to so the family legacy would continue when he passed on.” he open his eyes, staring at the ceiling above him, focusing on the cracks and that one corner that was always dripping water.
“Loved,”
“That’s what I said,” Robert stated with a hint of annoyance.
“You said love. Your dad is dead, so you don’t love him, you loved him,” Robert shot the man a glare, though the other couldn't see with the blindfold wrapped around his eyes. Though the man grins, even with him bound tightly to the chair, his wrists and ankles tied tightly with rope.
“Just so sensitive,” Robert scoffs before he let out a sigh, “Listen, if I didn’t live him, we wouldn’t be here, right?” he looks up, smiling softly at the quite fat dog that wander over to him.
“We don’t have to get into it,” that made Robert chuckle a bit, and he couldn’t help but grin as the small dog began to lick at his face. “You know the truth on why I’m here. Your papa misses you,” at this, Robert couldn’t help but grimace, “He wants you out of that suit and come home to him. He just wants you safe. How many times had you been burned? How many times have you been cut and stabbed? How many bones have you broken for people who don’t care for you?”
Robert grits his teeth, “If papa had actually cared about me he wouldn’t had killed dad and turn villain!” he snaps before grimacing as the other man chuckles. “I don’t care for him, nor do I love him. I’m hunting him down so I can throw his ass back into jail,”
“And now you your lying to yourself. You still call him papa… that means you still care for him. That you still love him,”
Robert let out a growl, bringing his hand up to push Beef off him before wiping the slobber off his face. He couldn’t help but frown seeing the blood staining the bandages that were wrapped around his hands, “Shit, my nose is bleeding. Thought I was getting emotionally snotty.”
“No… its probably from when I kicked you in the face.”
“Yeah, thanks for reminding me,” Robert pushes himself up, “So here’s what’s going to happen. I’m going to hang you off the side of the building,” he nodded towards his balcony, where the thin but cheap curtains were waving in the night air, “and your going to tell me where Shroud is. Or I’m going to drop you off to your death.”
“Come on,” the man complains with a groan but Robert could hear a hunt of fear in his voice, “Thought we were having a breakthrough!”
“Hey we did!” Robert slowly made his way over, bending his knees to stare at the man with narrowed eyes, “Ya know, for being a real piece of shit, you’re pretty easy to talk to. But the only breakthrough I need right now, is the location of Shroud.”
The man frowns, letting the silence fill Robert’s empty apartment. Suddenly though he lets out a snarl, almost spitting in Robert’s face “I’m not telling you shit! Even if you are Shroud’s little prince, you fucking loser!”
Robert had to bite back the urge to groan, “Now this, is a lot how I thought this would go,” he mumbles before grabbing the back of the chair and begins the process of dragging it towards his balcony. Or at least try to as the man was apparently really heavy, “Shit what do you eat? Rocks?” he grunts feeling his right leg screaming at him. It had been hit really hard recently, by some thug when he had been force to get out of his suit. He knew he should lay off of it, give it some time to heal but his dad’s voice echos in his ear.
“Get up… you can rest when your dead,”
“Hey that’s kinda rude you know!” the goon responded, “Not my fault you hardly eat a thing! Your old man talks about it a lot… how you treat the damn dog better than you treat yourself,” at the mention of Beef, Robert slams the chair into the solid wall that made the railing. The goon grunts before his voices hitches, “Are we outside?”
“Windy up here tonight,” Robert whispers, bringing his head up to feel the wind brush against his face.
“Why are we outside?” the goon asked as Robert stands in front of him.
“No tell where you’ll land,” Robert mocks, grabbing the bottom of the chair’s legs and pushing the guy up, leaning him precariously over the side.
The goon let out a scream, “Fuck! Fuckfuckfuckfuck!” he rambles, his head shaking furiously in denial, “Wait, wait, wait! What the hell are you doing I thought you were a hero!”
“Shroud is my papa, as you so kindly reminded me,” Robert grins, gripping the legs of the chair tightly, “And hey you really should be using your inside voice,” Robert snapped, “I got neighbors and I really don’t need them asking questions,” he lets the goon dangle a bit, before he kept going, “Now tell me where Shroud is,”
The man trembles, gripping the arms of the plastic chair tightly, “Okay okay!” He stammers a bit, fumbling over his words, “Steel mill! The old Llewelyn Steel Works! That’s where Shroud’s hiding okay! Fuck, put me down!”
Robert narrows his eyes, “You sure about that?” He insisted with a growl, “Because if your lying I will hunt you down and make you regret it.”
“I swear it’s the truth! It’s all I know!” The goon swallows nervously before he lets out a big scream, “HELP! HELLLLP-mmmh!” His voice was soon muffled as Robert slaps a hand across his mouth
“Stop screaming, goddamn it!” Robert curses, looking around nervously and sighing in relief when he saw that no one was coming out to check out the commotion. Which didn’t surprise him since this part of Torrence was pretty bad, one of the reasons Robert got such a good deal on this apartment with how broke he was and his history of breaking a lease with how many times he had to quickly move. “Hey, hey I will pull you up if you quiet the fuck down!” He hisses in pain as teeth bit into the flesh of his hand forcing him to release his hold on the goon’s mouth and allowing him to scream loudly once more. With a growl of annoyance, “Sir, if you want something to scream about, I’ll give you something to scream about.”
“Wha-NONONOOOOOOO!” The goon screams as Robert pushes him over the edge. Leaning over, Robert watches with a smug satisfaction as the goon lands in the dumpster, safely on top of his mattress. The goon shakes his head rapidly, throwing off a banana peel, “You piece of shit! I hope Shroud spanks you until you're crying like a little bitch!”
“Well that's a bit disturbing,” Robert remarks, leaning his chin against his hand, “Hey!” He calls out towards the goon, “I ruined a perfectly good mattress to make sure you didn’t die, okay? You're welcome.” Pushing himself off the railing, Robert made his way inside towards his closet. There wasn’t much inside, just his uniform and a picture of him and his dad.
Robert couldn’t help but stare at it. It was when he was eight, his hair cut super short and proudly smiling after being called Robert. He had learn young that the name Robin had never fitted right with him. That the terms, Miss or Little Lady made him scrunch up his nose in disgust. So when he had declared himself a boy and not a girl he had expected a much more… bad reaction from his dad. Because for some reason his dad had always been angry at him, no matter what he did. But no, that day he smiled in joy, scooping Robert under his arms and held him up high, declaring him Robert Robertson the Third… and after getting his hair cut, he finally showed him the Mecha Suit, allowing Robert to sit in his lap, showing what his future would be one day.
Robert also remembers the days after, when his papa asked him quietly is if this is what he wanted. That he was sure he was a boy and not only saying it so he could make his dad happy. When Robert had assured his papa that yes, he was a boy and was happy being a boy then his papa had kneeled down and pulled him into a hug. Telling him that no matter what, papa would always love him.
"Yeah, right," Shaking his head of the memories, Robert pulls his uniform off the hanger and slips it on before grabbing his gloves, pulling them tightly onto his hands. Zipping up the zipper, Robert turns, staring at the soft glowing Astral Pulse. It laid innocently in a bowl that held Robert’s apartment keys and some spare change. Gently picking it up, Robert cradles it in his hand, feeling his palm slowly grow warm as he takes a deep breath, his racing heartbeat slowly calming down. Grabbing his mask, Robert pulls it over his head, his eyes narrowed at the newspaper clipping pinned to his board.
“Lets, do this, Mecha Man,” he whispers, bending down to give Beef a few scratches behind the ear before slipping out of his apartment. Locking behind him, he quietly made his way to the garage. Where the Mecha Suit stood still between to cars, waiting for him. Swallowing, Robert watches as the hatch opens up, allowing Robert to take his seat inside.
He should had known it wouldn’t be easy. He should had known this was far too easy… that it had all been a trap.
Robert grips the controls tightly, grunting as he was punched into the wall by the newly name Toxic. The same goon that he had thrown over his balcony. Bringing his head up, Robert couldn’t help but grimace at one of his screens being cracked, “Shroud’s augments are pretty good when normies like you use them,” Toxic remarks as he flies high above Robert, his dick swaying between his legs, “but when you put them on someone who already has powers,” he kisses his wrist, “fuckin’ chef’s kiss,”
“Yeah… I guess their pretty cool,” Robert remarks, “But you think he would try to make you clothes that wouldn’t melt every time you use your powers. No one wants to see that nasty thing you have between your legs swinging.”
Toxic growls before hurling himself towards Robert, but Mecha Man easily steps to the side, allowing Toxic to slam his fist into the ground. Unfortunately, Robert couldn’t avoid the next few punches Toxic threw at him, but it allowed him to grab Toxic and carrying him up into the air, before kicking him into the ceiling like a soccer ball.
Toxic grunts, but once more tackles into Robert, sending him slamming into the ground. Grabbing Toxic by the ankle, Robert hears the other rapidly curse multiple times as Robert slams him into the concrete floor before throwing him into a set of pipes that burst on impact, steam gushing out rapidly. Toxic leaps out of the cloud, kicking the Mecha in the chest before throwing a punch into the helm. While Robert was trying to regain control, Toxic held out his hands, the acid building up in his palms. Seeing this, Robert quickly activated his thrusters, the blast sending Toxic flying into a wall.
Robert frowns, watching as Toxic flew away instead of going for another attack. Following, he quickly send out multiple blasts towards the other which Toxic quickly avoided before throwing something heavy and metal at him. Turning the blaster into a blade, Robert quickly cuts it in half before it could hit him before he tried to swing it into Toxic. But once again, Toxic evaded the swing and slamming another fist into the mech. But Robert was able to slam another punch into Toxic’s stomach making the other groan.
Suddenly blaster fire was being shoot at the mecha’s back making Robert turn to see a whole bunch of people firing at him. “Ugh, figures,” Robert groans, flying up to swing an arm into a couple of them. Suddenly though a blast of lighting send Robert flying back into a railing, his shield doing nothing to defend him. Another super pops out, sending an x-shaped wave of red energy at him allowing Toxic to attack him from behind. Robert was able to hit him but Toxic got back up immediately grabbing him from behind and somehow lifting the Mecha into the air before letting him go to slam his fists into the chest.
Robert grunts in pain, closing his eyes as he slams into the concrete floor. But years of practice got him up again, only for a villain that seem to be made of pink slime to punch him in the helm. When Robert tried to slam his fist into the guys stomach, the slimer easily covered his hand, trapping it in his goo. Trying to swing him off, Toxic slams into Robert once more, knocking him on his back.
Shaking his head, Robert blinks just as metal was slammed into the mecha, pinning him down, “Come on, come on,” he mutters, cutting the metal into pieces so Robert could get up. Soon more heavy fire was being rained down on him, “I need to get out of here!” Robert thought frantically as he handles Toxic when suddenly he was gang up on the pink slime villain who surrounded him in his slime. It allow Toxic to get back up again and this time to throw a ball of his acid at him.
Robert couldn’t help the gasp of fear escape from his lips before he was crying out in pain as electricity ran through his body. The lights going out scared him even more, even as the mecha slowly started to reboot. Suddenly chains wrapped around his legs, more blaster hitting the metal alongside another ball of acid. Heart racing rapidly, Robert manually put up the shield which thankfully worked. “But it won’t work for long,” Robert mutters to himself, staring at the power level warning him that he was only at 52, “I need more power…”
“Sooo whaddaya got left on them shields, Little Bird?” snapping his head up, Robert glares down at Toxic who grins, “I say 40% but the boss man says your down to 28 and he is not wrong about these things,”
Robert stares, his gaze going towards the man that stood beside Toxic. The man he hadn’t seen face to face in 15 years. No matter how much he hunted down the man when he escaped from prison. Glancing at the screen, Robert grimacing at the fact that once again, Shroud was right. The little power the suit had was lowering even more rapidly.
“Good news for you though, you stop this fussing, get out of the suit and hand yourself and the Astral Pulse over.” Robert was thrown forwards a bit as a rocket slams into the shield, “Come on, it won’t be bad. We got a nice little room all set up for you. Even the best food that will make you feel all warm and fuzzy. You sure do need it, even I could tell that you’re just skin and bones!” Robert grits his teeth, a growl ripping from his throat as he looks up to see Shroud just staring at him through the hole that was burned into the suit by acid. Robert couldn’t help but feel a shiver run down his spine, squirming in his seat. The thought of being kidnap by his papa, trapped away like some… something precious. Like something that needed to be safe.
Panting, heart beating rapidly in his chest, Robert swallows, “System check. Calculate the damage per second hitting shields, then tell me how many seconds I need to divert Astral Pulse energy to rocket boosters,”
“12.89 seconds of damage before critical,”
“Oh hey!” Toxic calls out, “Boss man says if you’re plannin’ on diverting puss pow-” he chuckles shaking his head, “sorry, pulse power to the boosters, it won’t work. Come on don’t be stupid. Either way, you can either come out willingly like a good boy or we will blast the suit apart and rip you out screaming and bitching. I’m just the messenger here, Little Bird,” Robert ignores him, typing away at the keyboard, “Your pops says your not calculating that shit stuck to your leg,”
“Fuck it,” Robert slams the Astral Pulse into the suit, allowing the shield to go down. With a growl, he sent the Mecha suit into full throttle, gritting in teeth as it was fired heavily upon by the goons with guns. With a grin even as the ankle was torn off where the chain piece through it, the Mecha flew high in the sky, breaking through the roof of the warehouse.
“ROBERT!” Jumping in shock at the voice that screams at him in fear in it tone, Robert looks down as the suit flew high in the sky, peering through the hole in hull, staring down at the warehouse in confusion, wondering what had Shroud so afraid.
“Warning; Foreign Device Detected”
“What?” Robert whispered as the screen showed up with a device highlighted in red, attach to the back of the suit. Dread filled him just as his back exploded in pain, ripping a scream from his throat. The last thing he remembers before being swallowed by darkness, was a gentle warmth of blue light covering him.
Robert jerks up, crying out in pain as he slips from his green lawn chair and landed harshly on on his stomach onto the floor. Trembling in pain, Robert just lays there taking deep breaths to calm his racing heart. “Come on… get up,” he whispers to himself. Slowly with trembling arms that screamed at him in protest, Robert slowly pushed himself up onto his legs. Swaying a bit, jabbing pain piercing his legs that made him bite his tongue, Robert limped his way towards the bathroom.
Doing his morning routine of washing his face and shaving the bit if beard that had grown, making it into a more neat but still ruggish stubble. Looking through his closet, he frowns at the sight of the suit but shake his head, grabbing a simple black button up shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Grumbling in annoyance when one side slipped off his shoulder, he buttons the shirt all the way. “Stupid coma making me smaller.”
Hearing some snuffing sounds, Robert smiles as Beef waddles up to him. “Hey buddy… I got to get going,” Robert whispers, softly petting Beef’s head, “Its only for today, the next time you get to come with me,” Robert couldn’t help but laugh when Beef slobber all over his hand. With a smile, he took the prescribe meds that he was given from the hospital, burning his throat with his scolding coffee. Grabbing his keys from their bowl, he slips out of his apartment, locking the door behind him,
It didn’t take him long to get the SDN building. Robert had seen it many times, mostly when he was flying about in the Mecha Suit. But Robert had never actually took a step inside before. When he did, he noticed a lot of people about. Taking another breath he quietly told one of the ladies at the desk that Blonde Blazer ask him to come and after a few minutes to get a confirmation he was told to wait for her in the waiting area.
Robert didn’t want to admit it, but he was thankful to sit down, at least a bit. Rubbing his right leg, Robert winced in pain. The doctors had inform him that the leg had all but completely shatter in the crash and that he was lucky enough that he didn’t have to get it remove. But Robert had been warned that his leg would never be the same again. That some days it would just hurt and be hard to walk on. That some days it would just go out on him and he wouldn’t be able to walk on it at all. Honestly, Robert should be wearing a brace and using the cane he had been given… but he didn’t want to be seen as weak.
Robert glances up at the television watching a commercial that promoted SDN, snorting as he watches Phenonmaman’s eyes flicker to side to side slightly, the hero probably reading his lines from something off screen. Robert couldn’t help but laugh under his breath at how… bad it was. This laugh drew in the attention of a man that was clearly younger than him trying to tie on a tie. Robert couldn’t help but smile at that, seeing the bright eye hopeful look the other had. Waterboy was clearly one of the hopeful heroes who wanted to be a hero to help. Robert hopes that he keeps that hope, that he doesn’t get crush by the burden of trying to do good.
He was helping Waterboy with his tie when a very familiar figure walks inside. Robert had to fight the urge to hide behind Waterboy, reminding himself that he was in civvies and not his hero suit as Flambae walks past. Robert remembers, rather vaguely, of Flambae. The man had been an arsonist that had been going around Torrence for three years, burning everything in his rage. The odd thing was that every place the man had burned down was empty, the villain never killed anyone with his flames. Robert remembers landing in front of a burning mall, the police telling him to not worry about it, that everyone had been evacuated. But the sensors of the suit had warned him that someone remained inside and even if he had been there cause of the fires, he didn’t deserve to die like this. So Robert had entered the flames and tried to reason and calm the other but Flambae wouldn’t hear him out and tried to boil him alive in the suit. Which normally wouldn’t had work at all with the mecha being flame proof but the suit had been damaged a bit from another fight. Damage enough that a pipe broke and hot burning steam had slammed into Robert’s side.
It had only been a year since Robert had taken the mantle of Mecha Man… and he didn’t have his high pain tolerance back then. He had been in so much pain that he had swung his blade, only stopping enough to only cut two of Flambae’s fingers instead of his head that he had blindly been originally aiming for. The shock of losing his two fingers… calmed Flambae down but Robert had felt great guilt for it. So he had anonymously paid for all the damages Flambae had done over the years with some of his inheritance. Which of course cut a lot of the money he could had use to keep the suit going, but Robert figure it was for a good cause, he did disfigured the man because he wasn’t thinking straight.
He watches as Flambae walks past them, keeping his mouth close as if to hide the now missing tooth he had after their last encounter at Crypto the other night. Robert couldn’t help but grimace, thinking there could have been a better way he could handle that encounter… maybe he should have apologized and explained… but honestly he was in a self pity mood and was high drunk from accidentally drinking some of Blazer’s drink, which had been just straight alcohol. Robert guess he could thank his blessings that he hadn’t come here with a hangover.
“Oh, I wasn't sure you showed up!” Robert turns his head over to see Blonde Blazer walking over just as he finished Waterboy’s tie. He smiles slightly as Waterboy stood up, stuttering in amazement at the sight of the hero. Blonde Blazer smiles apologetically at the young boy, grabbing Robert by the arm to slowly help him up, never noticing the grimace of pain that grew on Robert's face as his leg throbbed. “Oh, sorry, but I need him for something. Follow me,”
Waving goodbye and muttering a good luck to the kid, Robert follows Blonde Blazer while she turn a raise eyebrow at him, “Hero hopeful,” he shrugs, “the newbies they always have this light in them… at least the ones who join the profession to help others and not for the fame and glory,”
Blonde Blazer nodded her head in agreement, “Oh definitely. It does make it hard to not root for them doesn’t it?”
“And pray they don’t crumble under the pressure,” Robert mutters before he was lead into what appeared to be a conference room, “So what now?” He asked turning towards her as she closed the blinds.
“Take your clothes off,”
Robert stares at her, startled a bit at the order, “Uh, what’s happening right now?”
Blonde Blazer grimaces, “Sorry if that sounded weird. We have a uniform and it’s a good thing you didn’t come in your hero outfit. We don’t want too many people knowing your Mecha Man. A lot of our dispatchers are former, but it’s better if you keep your identity a secret. We had incidents in the past.” She threw him a light blue button up shirt with SDN printed on the corner, “Here.”
Robert frowns, holding it out and Blonde Blazer hums, “I remember you being bigger…” she chuckles as Robert gives her a glare, “Sorry. You are really tiny,”
“Four month coma can do that to someone,” he places the shirt down onto the table, grabbing a hold of the brown pants she threw at him and doing the same. Before he began to unbutton his shirt. He stops, frowning when he realizes that Blonde Blazer hadn’t made a move to leave.
Blinking, Blond Blazer stares at him before her face grew red, “Sorry. Should I turn around? Turn around… close my eyes?”
“Uh… don’t take this wrong but… can you just give me a minute?” Robert frowns making Blonde Blazer nod her head and she turns around just as Robert slip off his shirt.
“Right right, sorry!” She exclaims, going towards the door when it opens. Robert’s eyes widen as he snaps his head over his shoulder to stare at the hybrid that now stood at the doorframe. He was tall and covered with fluffy gray fur from head to toe though Robert couldn’t see that as he wore a navy blue suit that went well with the red tie wrapped around his neck and the black dress pants. He was clearly a bat hybrid, with the large ears and two sharp fangs that poke out from his pink snout. Robert… couldn’t help but stare. It was clear that the hybrid was fit, his suit was snug around his chest, the muscles of his arms filling the sleeves. He showed signs of having fought before, a scar going down across one of his eyes, both being pure white that went up and down across Robert’s shirtless form.
At least before he slapped a clawed hand across said eye covering them, “Shit!” His raspy voice was dark and low that for some reason sent a shiver down Robert's spine, “I am so sorry! I didn’t mean to… I heard Blazer was here and I needed to have a word with her…”
“No… no it’s okay,” Robert assured with a smile, for some reason feeling his face burn as he quickly snatches up the SDN shirt and slips it on, “I mean who will expect someone changing in a conference room and not somewhere like a locker room?”
He watches as the Hybrid’s ear twitch… a sudden gasp escaping his lips, “Mecha Man?” He whispers making Robert pale, his eyes wide.
“Sonar, please step inside,” Blonde Blazer stated and with an annoyed sigh, the newly name Sonar did so, closing the door behind him, “How did you know?”
“It’s the voice… and my ears,” Sonar pointed up towards his ears while the other hand was still covering his eyes, “I mean I might have doubts if I see his face but hearing his voice here… yeah… you're definitely Mecha Man aren’t you? I saw your conference a couple of nights ago, nice punch! Kingsley was way out of line.”
“Thanks,” Robert mutters before turning to Blonde Blazer.
“Robert, this is Sonar. He’s part of the Phoenix Program. We take formal super villains, such as himself and rehabilitate them to recenter society to use their powers for…”
“Good hopefully,” Sonar chuckles as he uncovers his eyes, holding out his hand towards Robert which Robert took. Sonar grins, shaking it lightly in a firm but gentle grip, “Or that is at least what Blazer here is hoping. Not many of us believe in it but it’s better than rotting in a cell,”
Blonde Blazer sighs, pinching the bridge of her nose, “Sonar, this is Robert. He’s going to be your team’s Dispatcher.”
Sonar perks up at that, grinning, “So your the new idiot that Blazer got to try to reign us in… usually I would join the betting on to see how long you last,” his eyes glance up and down Robert, “But I’m actually hoping you do stick around!” He chuckles before throwing a grin at Blonde Blazer who shot him an annoyed look, “I actually told Mal that I was thinking of quitting this whole thing and told her I wouldn’t really quit if I had a sign like Mecha Man becoming our dispatcher,” he looks over to Robert, “Looks like I’m not quitting,"
“Sonar,” Blonde Blazer warned, her eyes narrow, “Robert’s identity, all of this, that’s staying between us. He’s still Mecha Man but that can’t get out. And if it does, I’ll know who it came from.”
“Geeze,” Sonar whispers, holding his hands up, “I’m not going to spill. I’m no snitch! If Flambae gets word that our new dispatcher is the guy who chop off his fingers, Robbie here will be burn alive to a crisp,” he smirks at Robert which made a warm feel well up in Robert’s stomach, “And we can’t have that, now can we?”
“Yeah, rather not be burn to a crisp,” Robert remarked with a drawl, “And even he or the even the others found out. I’m here to help, its what I do. You and the others being in this...Phoenix Program,” he turns to Blonde Blazer to see if he got the name right. The woman nodded her head with a smile, “its means you all want this chance to turn things around, make something good in your lives and maybe even bring some good into the world. That means, I’ll support you in whatever way possible.”
Sonar blinks at him, pulling his head back. He narrows his eyes at him, as if he didn’t fully believed what Robert was saying, “That a promise?”
Robert looks up at him, gazing at the hybrid with his brown eyes, “It is.”
Sonar hums, “I think I now see why so many like you. As Mecha Man,” he stares down at Robert, before he smirks, “I can’t wait to see how you are as Robert,” he turns to Blonde Blazer who was frowning at Sonar in confusion, “If you’re done threatening about keeping Roberto’s hero name secret I better get back to Mal before she wonders where I am,” he turns on is heel, about to step out before he turns his head over his shoulder, “See you out on the field, Robbie-Boy. Hope your ready for a long shift!”
“Well… that was interesting,” Robert stated as Sonar stepped out of the room, “So… former villain?”
“He’s been part of the program since February,” Blonde Blazer explained, “So he’s been here for five months? We have a weekly ranking list for all the heroes in the company… and while Sonar isn’t on the bottom he still ranks low. In fact all the members of the Phoenix Program rank low,” Blonde Blazer closes the door again, locking it once more, “I’m hoping with you as their dispatcher, it will change things for the better… make improvements that the board will like so that they won’t completely can the program. And while they are a rowdy bunch,” Blonde Blazer’s face softens, “They are trying to do better, they deserve a chance,”
“And I’m guessing the other dispatchers before me didn’t give them that chance,” Robert stated, running his hand through his auburn hair, “Got a lot on my plate it seems,” he smiles before his eyes flicker about, “So don’t take this the wrong way but can you leave now so I can change into these pants?” he holds them.
“Oops!” Blonde Blazer chuckles before nodding her head, “Of course. I’ll let you get on with that. You get dressed and then I have someone else for you to meet.”