Lia T. Palace of Obsessions

“Well…I haven’t been here for years. And you know…” His eyes dart from you to the door.

“Oh, I forgot, you cut us off,” you say, matter-of-factly.

“And they’re gonna call me Bob Bob.” His entire face turns red.

“You don’t like Bob Bob?”

“During times like this, Bobbie sounds a bit better.”

The door finally opens and you’re greeted immediately by your mom and the tune of ‘Real Love’ by Mary J. Blige. Your mother ushers you inside. “Put that down so I can give you a hug-”

She looks over at Robert and gasps. “Is that Bob Bob?” And suddenly you’re not the main attraction anymore.

Your mother yanks Robert inside, with no regard for the food in his hands. You slip ahead and straight into the kitchen, where you see your brother lifting the lids off each tin foil tray. You poke his back and he yelps.

“No peaking,” you warn, placing your dish wherever you can find space. You can hear the commotion pass by and you and Chase share a knowing look.

He sighs. “There goes Bob Bob.” There’s a slight annoyance in his voice and it isn’t because of the attention Bob Bob gets. When the concept of you and Robert getting together became more than a concept, your brother wasn’t too happy. You were well aware that he entertained the idea and jokingly threatened to do the unthinkable to your brother whether it was twisting his ass into a pretzel or shoving his foot so far down his throat. But when he caught Robert lounging shirtless in your apartment, he knew his nightmare had come true.

“He’s broke, doesn’t even fucking furniture. He clearly has some issues up here,” Chase taps his forehead, “He is always frowning when you’re not looking and you know he’s juggling two ladies at work? Always touching his shoulders and giving him googly eyes and shit.”

You did your best to defend Robert and to help Chase understand that you knew what you were getting into but he still thought Robert couldn’t be the man for you. It didn’t help that Robert had heard the whole thing while he was looking for his shirt in your bedroom.

It’s made their work dynamic weird. They went from best buddies to Robert making sure he wasn’t stepping on any eggshells. Chase obviously wants the best for you as an older brother, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and you? You want Robert.

“Be kind to him. For my sake…please,” you beg your brother. You lower yourself to his level and kiss his cheek. Chase huffs and mutters something under his breath. “I assume that’s you agreeing to keep your promise.”

You make the decision to go check on Robert and the dish he was holding as he got whisked away. Most of the conversation takes place in the living room. Cousins, aunties, and uncles, and family friends sprinkled all over the living room, drinking and socializing. Frames of family photos, baby you and baby Chase in ridiculous old-timey costumes, and awards decorated all over the room. Oh, and your mom’s collections of mini giraffe statues can be found by the fireplace, coffee table, and side tables.

Robert’s stiffly seated in the middle of the couch with someone’s baby planted in his arms. How cute. Your dad’s seated next to him, a photo album in his hands, with some interested family members. You watch them talk through the doorframe.

“He used to come by all the time. I’m sure he was at every family reunion and Thanksgiving. His daddy was never home because…” your dad pauses, remembering that not everyone knows Robert’s connection to Mecha Man. “…because he was working all day or some bullshit. Poor boy was alone all the time.”

Robert locks eyes with you from across the room, ‘HELP ME’ written in his eyes.

“Oh, see,” your dad lifts the photo album, proudly showing off another photo of Robert like he was his son, “He is in the group photo - he even got a shirt on and everything. And here he is on the dance floor - I’d argue he was a better dancer than my daughter.”

Your mom walks up to you, with the missing dish and a guilty smile. “Sorry, I should have let him put this down before getting him swept up in there. Help me set up? It won’t take long.”

You agree to help her out. Before leaving, you look at Robert one more time, and he seems more comfortable now.

Chase is notably missing from the kitchen but you think nothing of it. The first thing you look for is the food warmers. “Hey Mom, did you buy-”

“Was Robert so cute with the baby? It was so kind of him to hold her for your cousin,” your mom starts. “It would be so nice to see you in that position…preferably soon.”

You purse your lips as you open a cabinet and find the stored-away food warmers. “I told you Mom, I want to get settled first. Establish myself and buy my first home. Maybe go somewhere far from Torrance or LA in general.”

“Well, you’re already established. You got your bachelor's and your master's. Everyone talks about the soccer player you were in college. We see you on your TVs all the time,” your mom tries to reason. “If there’s a time to get settled down, it’s now. Let that boy propose to you and give me some grandkids.”

How do you tell her that Robert’s broke? And that the idea of having a child makes him so nervous that you’re on the pill and he still wears a condom? That you also aren’t ready yourself and often wonder if you should stop broadcasting and go back to writing articles?

You felt slightly horrible, selfish really, because you knew this was because Chase would never be able to have or raise any kids of his own.

You simply smile. “I’ll think about it.” Immediately, you grab all of the food warmers and take them to the dining room, avoiding any other requests your mother had. In 30 minutes, you and your mom have all the food set up. You’re adding finishing touches to the table setup when your mom lets you know she’s letting everyone in.

As your family members walk in, you properly get to greet everyone - grandparents, cousins, favorite cousins, little nieces and nephews.

Finally, Robert walks into the kitchen. You pull him close and kiss him on the nose. You feel how his body relaxes.

“Plating coy?” he asks. “I’m sure they all know.”

You shake your head. “I don’t want to do too much around…” Your brother walks in on cue and scoffs at the sight of you two together.

Robert rolls his eyes. “He needs to grow up.” You smack his arm. He’s confused but he then realized how that sounded. “You know what I meant.”

You lead him over the table. You look back at him and whisper, “But maybe I’ll show you some affection to make up for everything.”

Robert smiles knowingly as you two settle in a spot. “Looking forward to earning said affection.”

Standing across the table from you is your brother, who refuses to look at you. Robert lets out a frustrated sigh and you hold his hand, showing him that you stand with him.

Your father asks everyone to hold hands, close their eyes, and bow their heads for grace. You do so but after four minutes of him praying, you decide to take a peek and see who actually has their eyes closed.. Normally you’d make a funny face at one of your nephews and either get them or yourself in trouble but you couldn’t as Chase’s eyes remained open, eyes daggering at Robert, who opens one eye but immediately shuts it when he’s been caught. You mouth, already fed up with this bullshit, to your brother to close his eyes and, eventually he does.

Grace wraps up and everyone starts to line up for food - kids first, then the elderly, and finally everyone first. You stand in front of Robert with your dish in hand, ready to scoop some mashed potatoes onto it once it’s your turn when an annoying uncle from your childhood comes up to stop you.

“Is that plate for Bob Bob?” he asks.

“No,” you reply, taking hold of the serving spoon. Your uncle immediately takes it from your hand and your chest pangs, not believing that this was actually happening to you.

“Ah, ah, you know, the man gets served first right? You young ladies now-”

Your uncle stops talking when Robert grabs the serving spoon from him. “Bob Bob gets his own food and so does his lady. Whenever they want,” he answers, defensively.

Your uncle grumbles something before walking away defeated. Robert scoops some mashed potatoes onto your plate and his.

“Thank you, Bob Bob,” you thank him, a sliver of sensuality in your voice. “You’ve definitely earned your…affection for tonight.”

“You don’t have to thank me for doing the bare min, babe,” he replies with a slight smirk on his face, “But I won't say no to a good time.”

You and Robert move through the line. You guys get back to your seats and by then your father has cut the turkey up. Robert grabs a piece for you and himself.

Everyone’s settled and focused on their own individual conversations. Robert takes a bite of his food - collard greens, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and turkey somehow balanced and secure on his fork. The minute he puts it in his mouth, he tries his best to control him but he can’t. His fist rests on the table and his eyes scrunch closed.

“I’m assuming you love it?” you asked, amused by how cute he is.

Once he swallows, he nods. “I just missed this. It’s better than I imagined. Brings back tons of memories,” he admits, gaining him a few laughs.

“So, are you guys boyfriend, girlfriend?” an auntie asks.

Aaand moments over.

You could honestly shit a hundred bricks right now.

You look at Robert but he’s already opening his mouth. “No, but we’re working towards something.” He looks over at you and you look down at your hands.

You knew this was the case but it’s been months and you were patiently waiting for him to ask you to properly be his girlfriend. Okay, you gave up on the dream of him showing up at your doorstep with a corny poster as you were a little too old for that now. But a dinner would be nice. Or him just waking up and calling you his girlfriend.

“See, this is exactly what the fuck I’m talking about,” Chase then says. He gets up from the table and points at you. “He’s not serious about you. You’ve been together how long?”

You shrink in your seat and Robert hangs his head, hesitant and unsure of what to say.

“And you’re just something? It’s Thanksgiving and he isn’t your boyfriend by now? Even he’s ashamed,” Chase continues.

Robert raises his head up and one hand in defense. “We’re taking it slow, Chase. There’s so much going on-”

Chase snaps his fingers. “Exactly! Ding! Ding! Ding! Always something going on with your bitch ass. One day you have loads of money, next week you are sleeping in a shitty studio apartment with one white plastic armchair that’s ready to collapse under your skinny ass! With the way you’re moving, I won't ever get to see my sister get married.”

So, that’s why.

There’s a mixture of gasps and ‘what’s when your brother says the last line.

Robert purses his lips as he has nothing to say. You place your hand on top of his, trying to hold onto some composure, but he forces it away from you, clearly embarrassed. Something in you shatters.

You really tried your best not to cry but Robert pulling away from you was the last straw. The minute your eyes start to water, you get up. “Excuse me.”

You bolt. Robert throws his napkin from his lap onto the table and mutters an expletive under his breath before following after you.

You head upstairs and take a turn to your old bedroom. You slip in and slam the door right in Robert’s face. Then you remember that years ago, when you were kids, Chase got the bigger room with the lock and you got what was supposed to be the office space - you were so angry. Robert comes right in and takes in your space - lightly colored walls, canopy bed, fluffy carpet.

Robert walks in and closes the door softly behind him.

“Not sure I’ve ever been up here,” he says. He walks up to your dresser against the wall where photos and awards sit. He looks up at some sashes hung up above your dresser. “Miss Teen Torrance USA…and Miss Teen California USA…? How did I not hear about this?” he asks, almost offended.

You sit on the edge of your bed and sniffle. “It wasn’t important. Not for you - you were out of my life at the time.”

“It is important. You are important to me. For the first time, I care about someone who isn’t Beef and he’s a dog!” He walks over to you and gets on his knees. He takes your hands. “I.” He kisses the right. “Love.” Then the left. “You.” He brings them together and kisses the crevices. “I’m crazy about you.”

“Then why won’t you call me your girlfriend? I kiss you, I sometimes pick your sorry ass up from work, and I let you fuck me and play in my kitchen afterwards.” You pull your hands away from his grasp as your brother’s words start to bring you some perspective.

“Because I’m scared. I want you to be my girlfriend but I’m scared I’ll be able to become Mecha Man again,” he confesses, “We get in too deep, then I’ll have to marry you-”

“Do you want to marry me?” you cut him off. Marrying you almost sounds like a chore.

Robert lets out a weak noise as he’s trying to string his words together.

“Robert,” you say sternly, “Answer my question-”

“I want to protect you!” he spits out. “You have a good going - your own place, a degree, a job where all of Torrance knows your name. And I don’t want to take any of that away from you.”

You get up from the bed, pushing past Robert, and stand on the other side of the room in front of your mirror. You bring your hands up to your face and start sobbing again.

“Fuck.” Robert gets off his knees and comes up behind you. He wraps his arms around you and rests his head on your shoulder. “Please stop crying,” he begs.

The warmth of his body against you calms you down. “They’ve been asking about the next step?”

“All the time,” you answer. Instinctively, you place your hands on top of his hands and press your head against your forehead. He brings one hand up to your face and wipes your tears on each side before placing it back on your stomach.

“I think you’d make a beautiful wife,” Robert whispers. He kisses your ear before moving down to your neck. “If I could, I’d take you down to the courthouse and make you Mrs. Robertson right now.”

“Robert.” He stops kissing you and straightens up. “I don’t mind,” you start, “but you have to promise me that we will have a serious conversation after.”

“Yes ma’am.” Robert tugs at your ear with his teeth and you moan his name. His hands find your chest, fondling it. “Did you put on a little cute bra today? Is that what I got a glimpse of when you were getting ready?”

“Why don’t you find out for yourself?” you whisper.

He pulls your top up from the bottom and helps you take the shirt off your head and tosses it to the side. In the mirror, you both admire your white lace balconette bra decorated with flowers. “What a gorgeous, gorgeous girl,” he tells you before kissing your shoulder.

His hands play with the waistband of your bottoms. “Don’t tell me your panties look exactly the same,” he teases. You slip them off and take off your shoes.

When you stand up straight again. “Luckily for you, I do.” You turn around and place your hand on his clothed chest.

“What did I do to get so lucky?” Robert’s hands find your waist and you're kissing again. Your hands move from his chest down to his belt buckle, playing with it. Once it’s unbuckled, you pull away from the kiss and lower yourself to your knees. You proceed to tug his dress pants down and palm his erection.

“You don’t have to do this. I don’t deserve it,” he tells you. You pull at the waistband and let go, letting it slap his lower belly. “I want to do it,” you insist.

You pull his boxers down and take hold of him. You kiss his head before dragging your tongue down the base.

“Stop playing,” he hissed. You placed a hand on his hip and realized how tense he is. “Get on the bed,” you tell him. Robert doesn’t hesitate; he pulls his feet out of his pants and out of his shoes. You head to your closet and take out a folded towel. You walk over to the edge of the bed and lay it out. You get on your knees in front of the bed and snap at him. “Sit.”

When he does, you put his length in your mouth. You take him in halfway a few times and when you want to go lower, you gag and immediately pull away. “Come on, babe. You can do it,” he encourages.

You let out a small ‘okay’ before trying again. You press your tongue against his head before completely enveloping him. Halfway, halfway, halfway until Robert gently yet firmly places a hand on your head guiding you almost to the bottom of his base. He lets go when you start to sputter.

“We’ll work on that,” he promises, caressing your face. With his other hand, Robert jerks off. He curses under his breath when he’s close. Moments later, he ejaculates, leaving the evidence on your chin and chest.

You wipe your chin and lick your finger - he’s bitter. Salty.

Robert lets out a deep breath and flops on the bed. When he gains some composure, he pats the bed next to him. “Get up here, girl.”

He ultimately helps you up and you lie next to him, the towel completely disregarded now.

Robert slips his hands under your pretty panties and lazily circles around your clit while bringing your face close to his and sucking the bottom of your lip. You pull away, annoyed with the game he’s playing. “Robert, stop fucking playing with me,” you demand through gritted teeth.

“So needy. So sensitive, you,” he teases. He finally slips two fingers into you, making you moan into his shoulder. You hated that he was right. He starts slow, then picks up the pace dramatically. You’re crying as you become a puddle in his arms. When you’re sure you’re about to come, you grab his wrist and instinctively he pulls out. He kisses your nose before he starts getting up.

“Wait!” you call out.

“Just getting a condom, babe,” he explains, standing by the edge of the bed.

“I’m on the pill, you know,” you say. “You can use it if you want - I won’t stop you but…”

Robert considers what you're saying. He twirls his finger around. “On your knees.”

You do so immediately. Ass up, chest down, waiting for him to do whatever his heart desired. Robert takes hold of your butt and moves your panties to the side and soon you feel his tongue drag across your core. Your body quivers as he sucks on your clit. Robert pulls away for a moment and rubs you until his fingers are replaced by his dick.

You gasp and let out a jumble of words. Robert starts at a moderate rate. His hips thrust into you at a rhythm. You reach behind yourself to hold his hands but he smacks them away. “Keep your hands to yourself,” he tells you.

There’s a knock on your door and Robert slows down. “Are you two alright? Everyone’s growing worried.” You’re not sure what family member’s at the door and you don’t particularly care either as long as they move on.

“Everything’s…” you bite your knuckles and take a breath before trying again, “Everything’s fine!” You bunch up your sheets and bite down, doing your best to suppress a cry as he continues to sink into you.

“Still talking,” Robert says, trying to make you both sound credible. When you hear a distant “okay”, Robert picks up his pace. You continue biting your sheets but end up opting to cup your mouth instead.

Your body starts to pulse and you come. You collapse into the bed. Robert pulls out slowly but he doesn’t let you rest. He flips you over and pulls you closer to him. He slips into you again, hungrier than before. You wrap your legs around his back and he buries his face in your neck. Your fingers trace his scars as he slams his hips into you.

Your thoughts flicker between how good he’s making you feel and how serious your situation was starting to seem. Robert lacked stability, avoided clarity, and he fucked you so damn good.

You bite his shoulder, doing your best to stay quiet. The knot in your stomach loosens and you start to notice his weight on your body.

He starts to kiss your shoulder. “I love you. I love you. I love you,” he says over and over. “I’d pick you every time.”

You unwrap your limbs and Robert pulls out and rolls off of you. Letting out a deep sigh, you turn to face him and decide to scooch in next to him and lie on his chest.

Robert stares up at the ceiling, breathing in and out. “Ever done that in here?”

You bring your hand up to your face, embarrassed by the thought. “Gosh no, my parents would have killed me.” Then it hits you. They were all waiting for you. “Get up.” You slap his clothed chest and he furrows his eyebrows at you. “The bathroom’s next to this room, in the corner. I think there are baby wipes in there or something. Just…just clean yourself up.”

Robert whines about not wanting to go back but he still gets out of bed regardless. He rushes to put his pants and shoes on and slips out of the room.

You sit on the bed, not so quick to get ready yourself. As your mind clears, the thought of Robert being a suitable partner rolls back. He was good on paper: attentive, motivated, and great in bed. But you worried about the long term; how many shifts will he need at SDN to buy a TV and internet service? Would you have to start taking care of him? What if Mecha Man becomes possible again…and he decides to start crime-fighting again?

Are you ready to be a superhero’s wife?

Were you allowed to be Robert’s wife?

Robert comes back into your bedroom with the pack of wipes. “Figured it’d be easier to help you get ready here instead.” He presents to you like it’s an apology.

You hum, mostly to keep your mouth shut. Tonight would not be that night. Robert kneels in front of you with the pack of wipes. “What are you doing?” you ask.

“Just taking care of my girl,” he says quietly. He takes one wipe and he gestures for you to open your legs. He wipes your inner thighs and then your center. As he finishes, you both share a long.

“I’m sorry-” “I can finish-”

Robert pulls his hand away from your body. “I can finish on my own,” you say, “I have to pee anyway. Go ahead of me.”

You wait for him to say what he is going to say but he ends up not saying anything but “okay”. You purse your lips as you slip off the bed. He picks up your clothes and presents them to you.

“I love you.” It comes out as a question from his lips.

“Sure, Robert,” you reply. He takes one more look at you, clearly hoping you’ll say it back. He leaves when you realize he won’t.

You continue to wipe yourself down and proceed to put on your clothes and make sure you still look presentable before heading downstairs.

When you head back into the living room the first thing you see is Chase offering Robert a drink.. They talk, Chase mostly, seriousness displayed on his face; Robert simply nods along. Then, they shake hands. You let out a sigh, neither frustrated nor relaxed, as you hoped they’re as amicable as they look. Maybe they’d really try to make things worse.

You feel someone tap your shoulder and you turn around. It’s your mom, disappointment printed on her face and confirmed by how her hands sit on her hips.

“I know what you did,” she says, disgusted. “Both of you are cleaning all of the dishes tonight. I’m telling everyone to leave food on their dishes just as an extra punishment.”