ghosty

Mind you, if there was one person supposed to stand by and abide to company rules, aside from star hero Blond Blazer, it should've been Robert

Since he was, you know, the Mecha Man before being tricked into babysitting grown adults

Coming from a heroic background and being compared to all of the walking HR violations around him, he really should be doing everything but what he was currently doing

Ergo, staring a burning hole into the back of Royd's head while the man kept a firm, steady hand on your shoulder

Massive hand, by the way. Just too big. Almost covering most of your upper back with it.

Which meant he got to feel even more of you with a single touch than Robert ever even–

Okay. He was being ridiculous. He fucking knew that.

But ever since you were introduced into the team a couple of months ago, with that charming laid-back smile of yours sending his stupidly easy heart into competitive break dancing, Robert knew he was in trouble

It's not his fault he's lonely. Real fucking lonely. And the only company he cares to keep around him is Beef. And his hand. Because neither of them can hurt his feelings.

And his love life was disaster after disaster, too, that with Invisigal's sexual harassment disguised as teenage romance and the crushing self esteem hit he got whenever he was around Blazer

So forgive him for falling ten feet deep for you the moment you shook his hand, greeted him, and immediately started working on team schematics and better rotation schedules for everyone

Chill, polite but not awkward, clearly well-adjusted, and so mature he felt his pants tighten when you told Blazer in her face the company needed to fix the AC in the break room stat if they didn't want to deal with OSHA knocking down the door when someone passed out from overheating

Oh, and that they had to check, fix, and install high tech, perhaps thermal, CCTV all over the building the second you heard about privacy infringement and harassment stories

Again, sue him, but Robert was weak for competence

The SDN suits weren't all too happy with your presence and you more than once gave Blazer a migraine with the fuck load of paper work you created out of nowhere, going through years of reports, violations, and shit no one cared to actually read within a week or two, but you definitely helped more than anyone had in years

Job satisfaction levels raised in absurd leaps, hero work done more often and easily by the infamous Z-team, and even their Google Reviews got more stars once the outside of the building got a brand new paint job

All done by one scarily competent person with a serious sense of justice and deep knowledge of worker's rights

You get it, now? The reason Robert just can't seem to take his eyes off you?

Not to mention the easy way you talk to him, lacking the snark and thinly veiled hostility certain idiots in his team (cough, Flambae) still used to talk to him

Or the hero worship from cute idiots. Like Herm.

Or the awkward, polite tension on Blazer's tongue from a failed relationship

You were fresh, like taking a deep breath outside as the rainy clouds made way to morning sunlight, and more steady on your feet than he ever felt inside his father's machine

It really didn't help how you actually went through the trouble of getting Beef real emotional support animal paperwork once someone mentioned how he was technically breaking the rules

Even getting him the cutest little vest Robert's seen

Your work ethics blew everyone out of the water, too

You took interest in his team but never overstepped the already formed customs, mentioning he should definitely train another dispatcher to work with his team if he ever needed a break or got caught up with something but not pushing it when he hesitated

Since, they were all freaks but they were his freaks, you know? He didn't want anyone messing up their dynamics by dispatching them to the wrong jobs or sitting on his chair or taking your praise–

Anyway.

It was his job. He, unfortunately, liked his job a lot. So he asked if he could sit on that for a minute before making a choice.

"Well, sure. It's not exactly something you need to do anytime soon but the team already deals with a random dispatcher during your off days. I thought it'd be better to get it out of the way." You shrugged as you handed him a small stack of files of all different dispatchers already working in the company, with notes, skills, qualifications, and cons scribbled all over each of them.

Shit. He saw why Blazer couldn't bring herself to be annoyed by you even though you took a different issue to her every day. You're the wet dream for any corporate leader.

Well, his wet dream for sure.

Fuck. Not the thought for work hours. "I just don't wanna introduce someone new right now when they're finally working so well. What if it breaks their synergy?" He was stalling. In fact, he was bullshitting, too. Just to get you to talk more.

"Synergy? Really?" You raised an eyebrow, clearly not amused with his weak retort, but still making it easy for him. Because you always do. Moving a little closer but never close enough, you tapped the papers he was holding. "Skim through it. No one needs you to make a decision tomorrow but it's good to have options."

What about you? Were you an option? Because if he could have you in his chair, calling out orders, praising someone's skill–

"Why not you? I think you'd be a good sub." Robert asked with a deeper, slower drawl than he intended to use. There's nothing wrong with what he just said, but it's the way he looked at you, deepened his voice, and tilted his head ever so slightly...

On purpose. All on purpose. Maybe not outright conscious of said purpose, but he was clearly brushing something extremely unprofessional. Teasing you in broad daylight in the middle of the office for a reaction. Just because he wanted to.

"Fuck, no. I can't put somebody's life on the line like you can, Robert." You said it with a punched laugh, like you couldn't believe what you just heard but seemingly not catching onto the tease. And the choice of words were just starting to scratch him when you smiled. Relaxed, sweet, and so good looking he could feel his heart land a triple axel on his ribcage. "The stuff you do takes skill and field practice I don't have. I can't download uTorrent without getting a virus, first of all, let alone hack into shit like you do. And I think I'd throw up the moment I have to actually make a decision involving the safety of someone."

Robert stood there, letting your praise wash over him without looking too excited about it. Because he wasn't. And a coworker's praise shouldn't affect him at all, let alone make him stupidly happy.

Except he made sure to swallow every flirty comment disguised as sarcastic joke to ensure you'd keep talking, afraid you'd realize you had more important things to do.

"Dispatching is scary, dude. You're commanding superpowered people into the field, keeping up with all of them all at once, and also taking into consideration property damage versus efficiency with people's lives on the line." You shuddered, all in good nature, and stepped a little closer to gently bump the back of your hand with his forearm. Surprisingly enough, or maybe not, he didn't flinch. "It's hero stuff. Hero business. And I'm definitely not a part of that sector."

"So, you think I'm a hero?" Robert couldn't help but ask, smirk lopsided, clearly begging for a visit to the HR at this point. Instead, he felt his face burn when you smiled back at him, genuine, and nodded.

"Isn't that obvious?" God, what he wouldn't do to kiss those pretty words right out of your mouth. "Anyway, look these over for me, Mr. Hero."

The for me had him obsessing over those papers for the next three days until he eventually settled on an understand but firm substitute. And he was praised by you again. Score.

Maybe Chase was right and he was a huge simp for you

Whatever. He wasn't hurting anyone.

"Yeah, as long as you don't go all crazy on the next person who tries to give your little crush a monthly report." Chase grumbled into his coffee as he watched Robert's eyes trail after you.

But. Whatever. Robert was keeping it cool. He could handle his own feelings like the mature, grown adult he was.

Until, of course, his heart decided you two were already something six months into your addition to the company

And now he was stuck gripping the stupid little carton of choky milk Sonar got him as a joke while glaring a thousand and one needles into Royd's back

You two weren't even flirting. Rationally, he knew that, because you had a file in your hand and a pinched expression on your charming face

Yet Royd's hand was still on your fucking back. Steady, unmoving, like it belonged there

It pissed him off more than he had any right to feel. But you almost never let anyone touch you like that, always keeping at least two steps of distance between all your coworker

Only Robert got lucky enough to press his thigh to yours when sitting down on the couch.

Only Robert could get away with brushing your shoulders together when walking side by side.

Only ever Robert saw fit to brush food crumbs from the corners of your mouth when eating.

And you let him.

You, the number one reporter for All Violations

The person who threatened Visi so hard with the worst type of lawsuit you could find that it actually pulled her head out of her ass and fixed some of her attitude with the team

So Robert felt a little superior to everyone. Smug, even, in a childish way he never allowed himself to be when you'd lean against his touches

Choky milk kept flowing down his fingers, now, dripping all over the plate of cold food–Twinkies™–on the table.

"Dude, gross." Malevola muttered over her own equally disgusting lunch as she watched.

Royd smiled down at you, nodding in understand, and his hand inched a little lower

Barely reaching your waist, mind you

Yet Robert felt something in his snap like an old pencil, sharp and loud

He got up quickly, shaking his hand from the dripping sweet liquid, and swiftly inserted himself between the two of you

Using all his strength to push Royd's hand off of you

Leaning against you, now, he pressed the entire side of his body to yours, from feet to shoulder, and looked over at the paper in your hand

"What are you guys talking about? Sounds complicated." He mused with a gravely tone, the inquiry in his words falling short with the tight smile on his face.

He heard a scoff behind him followed by a quiet "unbelievable". Making a mental note, he'd send Flambae to the next waterpark in need of saving.

Royd backed off easily, the annoyingly cool guy he was, and you threw Robert a confused glance but explained anyway

Business as usual. No dates. Totes pro-fesh.

So no need for any physical touch. Great. Perfect, even.

Robert nodded along with Royd as you ran a finger down the column of words, imagining it could be the back of his neck, scratching lightly at first before you sunk into the sensitive skin of his shoulders–

"So, could you give this to Blazer? I'll need her to review it before we can do anything else." Robert felt his eye twitch at the sound of your voice saying someone else's name and desperately felt the need to be put down

He was in a mood. Woke up with a worse back pain than usual, nothing in his fridge, and a massive you sized hole in his heart

It really didn't help how every single asshole in this building seemed to keen on getting close to you

Malevola goaded you into touching her horns a week ago, biting down on her lip when you gripped them firmly

Prism, the tease, kept trying to get you to use her different lipsticks when Robert was around

Waterboy, as cute as Robert thought he was sometimes, would follow you around like a puppy while you worked

Flambae outright said he thought your hands would feels great around his–

Again, waterparks. Maybe the ocean could work.

Even though, Robert knew he had to do something about his attitude before it got any worse

Maybe get euthanized. So he would stop acting like a possessive dog with someone he witnessed get multiple people fired for incorrect conduct during work hours

You pressed your shoulder back, relaxing into the contact like he was easing a tense muscle, and the greedy little devil he was trying to snuff out inside him puffed its chest full of pride and glee

"Why don't I walk you back to your office if you're done?" Robert muttered, allowing his hand to trail down your shoulder, brushing a path to your elbow, then finding your wrist. He captured it firmly, pulling you towards the hallway

The physical ease he had with you was almost exhilarating, body tuned to each move, sigh, and brush between each of you

"You know, Robert, maybe you should work a little harder to hide your crush on me."

Robert's steps stuttered, hand snapping away from your wrist. He geared up a hundred and one defenses, body curling within himself defensively as he glared at you

He had to deny, to save the unspoken sweetness between the two of you just for himself, protect it like it's something he'll never have again if he messed this up

Deny. Evade. Escape.

Be mean

"Don't pretend you don't like it." Is what he said instead, cheeks tinted pink, tongue curling around the words like he was holding himself back from taking a bite of you

Your eyes widened for a fraction of a second before you were pulling him into a darkened conference room, throwing an anxious look at the door

"Don't use that tone where people can fucking hear you, Robert!"

"What tone?" He pretended, relishing the way you glared and gripped his hands, all of your focus on him

"The I wanna fuck you tone, dude!" You hissed, shushing him desperately when he chuckled in surprised, never before hearing you say something so explicit before. "Do you know people can report you even for shit like presumed intent?"

He didn't. He also just didn't care.

"So, I could get written up for sounding horny? They wouldn't handle a day listening to our team before you got here, then."

Our team.

His and yours.

The sharing of something he held dear to him didn't escape you. But it also didn't help your beat boxing heart.

"Violations, Robert! Keep your damn voice down!"

Feeling insane, a little giddy, and definitely way more secure of his position in your eyes now that he could hear how breathless you sounded, how flustered you looked, Robert stepped forward

"I don't think anyone can hear us. You're the only one who could write me up." Boldly, he pressed his hands on the door, on each sides of your head, loosely caging you against the only exit. "What? Are you going to report me, sweetheart?"

Definitely cringing at that one later

But the way your face twitched, hand immediately seeking his shoulder for balance...

Maybe you liked praise as much as he did?

"I'll definitely report you for being a jealous, touchy ass."

"Maybe I wouldn't be a 'jealous ass' if everyone here knew how to keep their hands to themselves."

"Did you miss the part where I said 'touchy', too?Or are Sonar's scream getting to you?"

"It wasn't me who kept fixing the collar and the buttons of your shirt all week, was it?"

"I fucking knew you were doing it on purpose! Your shit was all messed up, how could I not–?!"

"And it worked like magic. You couldn't stop touching me, could you? Tsk, tsk. Violations."

He leaned in, slowly, because the two of you never went all in without seeking permission first

Your breath shuttered, lungs seizing, and Robert could see the million and one reasons why you shouldn't be doing this go past behind your eyes

Thank fuck you were just as desperate as he was

You nodded, your own hand moving up to his neck, cradling his jaw gently despite the rough stubble scratching your skin

Robert breathed out in relief, able to finally close the distance between the two of you, the tip of his nose dragging along your cheek as his lips kissed a path to yours

"I won't tell if you don't." He whispered a hair's breadth from your mouth. If he licked his lips like he was tempted to do, he'd lick yours too.

Yeah, his zipper was definitely digging into him now.

"Fuck HR." You growled, dumping a pool of heat deep in his belly, and pulled him to you

Robert melted then and there, keening pathetically into your mouth, around your tongue

Like the barely mentally stable man Robert knew he was, you two go for as many rounds as you could possibly stand

Making a mess of the conference room

"I'm not letting Herm touch this room.." You panted, groaning when blunt teeth with sharp canines sunk into your skin

"Don't say his name when I'm inside you."

In all fairness, Robert had been pent up for a long fucking time

He reasoned with himself, it only made sense he kept going until his legs felt like jelly and you could barely speak, especially after months of heavily crushing on you

And if the two of you left that room on shaky legs, both struggling to keep your tattered clothes together...

Well. Robert did a quick job of deleting all footage while you cleaned any evidence

No one would know

Only, of course, Robert didn't really say a word when all of your usual admirers backed off with flushed faces and annoyed grumbles

Surely you didn't need to know about the big, glaring bite mark placed on your nape

It wasn't his fault he couldn't help but stake his claim like a caveman