#cc's fics

AN: an: I'm planning on applying to a flambert zine so expect some flambert/Dispatch fics in the future! Unfortunately this one probably won't make my personal cut of what to submit bc it's a bit short so :/

The morning rays of sunshine filtered through the blinds and hit Robert square in the face.

He woke up with a light groan, shifting to move away from the light that blinded him even through his eyelids.

He didn't get far, though, as a heavy weight around his waist kept him exactly where he was.

Looking down, he was greeted by a mess of dark hair that fanned out around the shared pillow.

"Right," he thought, "I stayed at Zahir's house last night."

Robert smiled as he brushed the hair away from Zahir's face, gently combing his fingers through the dark strands as he looked at his lover.

Zahir was still asleep, and completely dead to the world. Robert took the time to admire the man as he laid there completely relaxed. The way the light hit the side of his face, highlighting his cheekbones and the curve of his nose. The faint beauty marks that dusted his face, the ones that Robert would kiss time and time again.

Robert just sat there and admired Zahir, committing every detail of his face to memory.

Unfortunately, Robert's admiration was cut to a halt as his stomach growled.

He groaned as he was brought back to reality, a reality in which he really needed to get up to go to the bathroom and forage for food in Zahir's house.

Robert slowly eased himself out of Zahir's hold, greatful that the firey hero slept like a rock, and silently crept out of the room to do his business.

After washing his hands and stepping out of the bathroom, Robert made his way over to Zahir's kitchen. Opening up the fridge, he looked through everything that Zahir had stocked up and thought through a plan of what to eat.

His stomach growled as he looked at the lack of easy foods to heat up. He groaned as he stared longingly at the package of uncooked bacon and the egg carton.

He almost gave up, resigning himself to try and wake up Zahir for the other to make him breakfast when an idea popped into his head:

"I should make breakfast for him."

Memories of when the other man would make Robert food flickered through his head as he started gathering some basic ingredients from the fridge and pantry.

Robert smiled as he began to prepare the breakfast, putting the bacon in the oven, the bread in the toaster and cracking the eggs to throw in the pan. Nothing too hard and nothing too messy.

An easy breakfast.

----

Flambae woke up to the smell of smoke.

Not an unusual occurrence considering his powers, but still alarming nonetheless.

He shot up from where he laid to look around to see where he might have burned his sheets.

Only to find... Nothing burnt.

Not his clothes, not his sheets, not his pillows. Nothing.

That only calmed him slightly, since that meant he didn't have to worry about replacing his bedsheets. Again.

But that of course raised a question:

What the fuck was burning?

Slipping out of bed, he padded out into the hallway and followed the scent of smoke as it led him to his living room. Once he rounded the corner to enter the living room, though, he stopped.

Robert was moving around the kitchen with a look of panic on his face, grabbing things before ducking to where Zahir couldn't see him. A plume of smoke wafted into the air a few moments after, leading to a coughing fit as Robert popped back up to slam something down on the stove.

Zahir slowly walked towards the kitchen, a light smirk on his face as he bent down to lean on the island separating the kitchen from the living room.

"Good morning Bobert," he snickered as Robert's attention shot to him, "a little early for making a mess, no?"

Robert sighed as he threw the towels he'd been using as oven mitts down on the counter.

"I was trying to make you breakfast," he grumbled.

Zahir's eyes widened in surprise for a split second before a chuckle left his lips. He straightened up from where he leaned against the counter and moved towards Robert.

Zahir wrapped his arm around the other man as the two of them looked at the burnt mess that was the bacon Robert tried to make.

"...the eggs are still good," Robert mumbled as he pointed towards the plate of eggs.

"Ah," Zahir smiled, "so you can cook. Even if it's as simple as eggs."

The taller man chuckled as Robert smacked him in the chest. He just pulled Robert in for a proper hug setting his chin on the top of the other's head.

"You don't have to be great at everything Bob Bob," Zahir mused, "it's ok to suck at some things."

"You're just saying that," Robert sighed as he relaxed into the hug.

"...yeah. I am. Because unlike your normie ass I'm amazing at everything," Robert groaned at Zahir's comment and fought his way out of the hug.

"Oh shut up you ass," he sighed.

"Hey, you like this ass," Zahir chuckled, "now get your ass out of my fucking kitchen. You're banned."

Robert nodded in surrender as he moved over to plop himself on the couch.

Zahir sighed as he chucked the burnt bacon in the trash and left the pan to soak in the sink. Moving around the kitchen, he gathered the ingredients to make a proper breakfast.

Throwing the few pieces of uncooked bacon in a pan alongside some sausage patties, Zahir made quick work of the meats as he grabbed a plate to put the (now room temperature) eggs and toast on that Robert had made.

Once the bacon and patties were sufficiently cooked, Zahir put the meat on the plates and made his way to the living room, joining Robert on the couch.

"Eat up bitch," Zahir said with a smile as he handed Robert a plate before sitting next to him on the plush couch.

Robert took the plate with a quick 'thank you' and dug in, humming as he enjoyed the food.

"By the way," Robert made quiet conversation as the two ate, "the smoke detectors didn't go off, do we need to change the batteries, or..?"

"No need, I took the smoke detectors out when I moved in," Zahir mentioned in between bites of breakfast, "they're always so annoying and loud, and I've gotten the fire department called on me because of them before."

"That's... Not safe." Robert had a look of concern on his face that Zahir just waved off.

"I have fire extinguishers and carbon monoxide detectors, it's fine," Zahir finished off his plate before pointing his fork at Robert, "you're the person that almost caused a fire here, not me."

"Rude," Robert bumped Zahir's shoulder before grabbing both of their plates, getting up to place them both in the sink.

He decided to start the dishes, focusing on the pan that he had ruined with the burnt bacon.

He was halfway through scrubbing the burnt gunk off the pan when he felt warm, strong arms circle his middle.

"Thank you," the praise was muffed, Zahir having buried his face in Robert's shoulder.

"For?" The other asked as he continued to scrub, "almost burning your kitchen down?"

He felt more than heard the chuckle that reverberated from Zahir's chest.

"For thinking of making breakfast," the other supplied, "for putting in effort."

Robert smiled as he leaned into the hold.

"I mean... It only felt right," he hummed, "you're always making food for me, it only felt right for me to at least try to make some for you."

Zahir nodded and gave no further verbal response, simply placing a kiss on the side of Robert's neck.

-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-•-

"You're still banned from ever stepping foot into my kitchen Bobert."

"Damn."

And finally - last but not least - the Hollow Knight themself! Saved them for last :)) note transcript below the cut (also, all notes refer to their adult self!)

Would you mind doing a Robert x Flambae fluff pic if they both had dogs?

AN: Omg I would love to!! Thank you for the request!

So as I was writing this it kinda just took me in a whole other direction than what I was first thinking of and what you were probably looking for, so I hope that's ok!

It's less flambert both having dogs and more Flambae getting picked by the puppy distribution system

Also, I saw a few pieces of art of Flambae with an Italian Greyhound (this one by @livingnon-living , and this one by @wreegis ) so that'll be the dog he gets in the fic!

It was once again another lazy day at Chad's house. Robert was laying on the plush couch that took up half the living room, watching whatever random show Chad had put on the TV.

This has become a common occurrence at this point. The two would get off of work, hop into Chad's firebird, and drive over to the maximalist apartment.

The routine was... Comforting. Robert's apartment was empty and cold, something that he had gotten used to through the years of spending all of his money on the suit. But after just one night spent over at Chad's cozy and comfortable home, it was hard for Robert to go back to the sad, blank apartment. After a bit of coaxing from Chad, he'd moved all of his (very few) belongings into the nicer apartment, and was simply waiting out his lease.

Robert chuckled as he watched Beef try to hop onto the couch by himself, barely getting a few inches off the ground with every jump. Eventually the chunky dog gave up and instead pattered over to Chad and begged for him to pick the poor dog up.

"Come to join the party?" Chad chuckled as he picked up Beef with one hand and plopped him down between the two men.

Beef made quick work of snuggling between the two and, with a huff, plopped down and started to snore.

The two just watched Beef as he slept soundly, Robert bringing his hand up to pet the dog behind his ears.

When he looked up at Chad, though, he noticed a thoughtful look on his face.

"Penny for your thoughts?" He asked, continuing to scratch Beef behind his ear.

"Mmm," Chad grunted, his eyes flicking up to Robert's small smile before looking back down at Beef.

It took the taller man a moment to consider his thoughts, before he began to voice them.

"You know how the vet mentioned different ways to help Beefaroni lose weight?" Chad looked at Robert as he asked the confusing question.

"...yes?" Robert chuckled, "I've been trying to do that yeah. What, you saying I'm not trying hard enough?"

"No, no that's not what I'm saying," Chad rolled his eyes with a soft 'bitch' before going on, "no I mean, when they mentioned getting him a buddy to play with, another dog."

Robert raised his eyebrow as he looked at Chad, who continued to look down at Beef.

"Are you.. talking about us getting another dog?" He asked.

"I guess us but, I was mostly talking about me," Chad rubbed the back of his neck, stretching to get some of the soreness out of his muscles that had settled there after a long day of work.

Robert chuckled, "you're asking me if I think you should get a dog?"

"I guess that's what I'm saying, yeah."

Robert smiled as he stretched up to place a kiss on the flame hero's cheek, "I think you should. Beef has helped me a lot through some rough moments in my life, and I think maybe a dog would help you too."

Chad nodded before placing a responding peck on Robert's cheek. The two spent the rest of the day in comfortable silence, enjoying the weekend and the company it brought with it.

-----

The short conversation with Robert had helped Chad put his thoughts in order, conversations with the other usually did.

But there was still a piece missing to the puzzle.

I should get a dog.

...but when? And how?

Chad knew he wanted to get a dog, but the actual "go out and get a dog" part was where he was stuck. He could go to an animal shelter sure, or he could find a dog breeder and go that route. There were so many options and Flambae didn't know which path to take.

Turns out, Flambae's problems would soon find themselves an answer.

"Flambae, Prism we have a villain in the park, some weird plant-type power. Prism I need you to evacuate the area, Flambae I'll have you apprehend the perp."

The call rang through Flambae's earpiece, and the hero diverted his path in the air to make his way towards the park.

"You put me on normie dutie? Seriously Bobert?" Prism groaned in his ear and Flambae just chuckled.

"Did I put you in charge of ensuring no civilians are harmed? Yes, yes I did Prism" Robert's dry response followed after, "now hurry up, I don't want anyone getting hurt"

Flambae made it to the park soon after Prism, and watched as she made light barriers to keep civvies away from the fight.

"Please leave the park immediately! Take shelter in a car or in nearby buildings!" Prism called out as she secured the perimeter. "No one left bae, on you!"

Flambae gave a light smirk as he squared up to the villain. As described by Robert, the guy had some sort of plant power, if the vines whipping around him had anything to do with it.

"Easy enough," Flambae said before shooting fire out towards the vines, watching the villain panic as the vines burned.

"No no no! My arms my beautiful arms!" The perp yelled, sounding almost like he was crying.

Flambae shot a confused look towards Prism as the perp began to babble, the darker woman returning the look as she shrunk the light barrier.

"Please no, not my arms!" The man cried out as he made the vines smack themselves against the ground, trying to put out the fire.

"What the hell is wrong with this guy?" Prism asked as the two heroes carefully made their way to the panicked man.

It was then that Flambae noticed something about the man, and he raised his hand to press a button on the comm to speak to Robert.

"Uh Bob Bob, I think this guy might be high," he noted, squinting as he noticed the red tint of the man's eyes.

"Ohhhh yeah. He's totally baked right now," Prism chuckled next to him.

After realizing that the man was, in fact, high out of his mind and having an awful trip, Flambae and Prism were able to calm him down enough to ride the rest out.

"Can't believe we just had to trip sit a fucking normie," Flambae complained as he walked with Prism back towards SDN.

"Yeah, this would have been a better mission for Mal or something. She's probably trip sat Sonar, like, a hundred times," Prism sighed as she tapped something out on her phone.

The two were about to leave the park before a soft sound stopped Chad in his tracks.

He listened closely and heard it again.

A soft whine.

"Bitch what are you doing?" Prism asked before Flambae shushed her, pinpointing the sound to a bush nearby.

Flambae stood on guard as he parted the bushes, and he wasn't ready for what he found.

Laying there, hunched over and scared, was the tiniest puppy Flambae had ever seen. The small thing looked up at him with its black eyes and gave out a scared little yip at the sight of Flambae.

The hero felt his heart melt as he looked at the small creature, and he smiled as he reached into the bush to gently pick up the puppy.

Bringing the grey puppy close to his chest, he carefully pat the top of their head, smile widening as the puppy let out another yip before snuggling into his hand.

Flambae turned around to show the baby to Prism, who instantly started to coo at the small dog curled up in Flambae's hands.

"Aww! Where did you come from little guy?" She smiled as she baby talked the puppy.

Suddenly, the comms crackled to life with the sound of Robert's voice.

"Prism and Flambae, is everything ok over there? You two haven't moved in a bit."

"Yeah, we're fine Bob Bob," Chad chuckled lightly as the puppy let out a whine from Flambae moving his hand from her, "found a little runt in the bushes."

"Holy shit you guys found a puppy?" Malevola asked, "sick."

The comms buzzed as Prism and Flambae made their way back to SDN, everyone excited to see and pet the puppy.

~~

"So you just found her in a bush?" Invisigal asked as she gently pet the puppy in Flambae's arms.

"Yeah, poor thing must have gotten scared from the stoner," Prism said as she also gave the puppy attention.

"Soo... What are we going to do with it?" Sonar asked as he peered over Flambae's shoulder.

Everyone talked as the wondered what they should do with the new puppy in their care, before Flambae spoke up.

"I'll take care of her," that stopped the conversations that were happening around him.

"Really? Are you sure you can take care of a puppy bae?" Prism asked, skeptical.

"I mean, if Bob Bob can, it can't be that hard right?" Flambae shrugged.

"What am I being ragged on now?" Robert asked as he came into the break room, empty coffee cup in hand.

"Speak of the devil and he shall appear," Malevola chuckled, "we're talking about the pup Flambae picked up, he said he wants to take care of it."

"Oh, really?" Robert asked as he too gave in and pet the puppy behind her ears, "he did mention wanting to get one."

"Puppy distribution or something," Malevola joked.

"Ok but here's the read question," Sonar asked, fake serious, "what's the dog's name?"

Flambae thought for a moment about the question. He wasn't the best at names, so he turned it over to the rest of the team to figure out a name for the puppy.

"All of Bobert's suggestions get an automatic veto," he added.

"What? What the hell did I do?" Robert glared at Flambae as he filled his cup with more coffee.

"Gave your own dog the dumbest name ever," Flambae glared back as he sat down on the break room couch, letting the puppy wander a bit from his lap.

The z-team members began to chatter and fire off different name ideas. All of which, unfortunately, were shot down by Flambae.

"Fern?"

"No."

"Coco"

"Eh, no"

"Fido"

"Too cliche"

"Ali?"

"Trying to name the dog after yourself? No."

"Cosmo"

"Nah"

"Hamburger!"

"What? Fuck no."

One after another, almost all of the names were rejected by Flambae. It was to a point where Prism had a list of dog names pulled up and was going down the list.

Robert had come by once again to play with the puppy, and laughed as she tried to bite at his finger.

"Hm, what about-"

"I already said automatic veto Bobert," Flambae leaned back on the couch to look at Robert, who gave him a blank stare in return.

"Ass," he sighed, "not gonna let me even say my idea?"

Flambae thought for a moment," hm, fine. Still gonna veto it."

"How about... Ruby?" He asked.

At this, the puppy gave a small bark, jumping to paw at Robert's hand.

"Well, it looks like she's vetoing your veto bae," Prism laughed.

"That's not fair!" Flambae grumbled as he picked the puppy up, "she can't veto over me."

"I think she just did," Robert chuckled.

Flambae looked at the wiggly puppy in his arms and let a smile crack across his face as she licked at him.

"Alright then Ruby," the puppy in question let out another yip before licking his face again, "I see how it is."

First Dispatch fic kinda nervous /ref

Length: 2k

CW: N/A

Stripes and Engines

Sonar is leaning against the side wall of Robert's cubicle, radiating so much confidence that it could almost convince someone to say yes to whatever he asked of them.

Except-

"No." Robert looked just as tired and dead faced as ever, barely giving Sonar a glace as he sips on his completely black coffee.

"What?!" A frown pulls at Sonar's face as he loses his confident posture, "but I'll give you half the pot! You're never gonna get a better offer from anyone, like, ever."

"Which is why I don't bet, and why I don't do street racing," Robert stood from his chair, his joints complaining as he stretches slightly.

He picks up his almost empty coffee cup and walks towards the break room, a complaining Sonar in tow.

"Please? I've been trying to bet against this guy Phillip for months now but he plays dirty and I haven't won a single cent! Alice told us about your car and I'm sure it'll win," Sonar stood next to Robert as the dispatcher was filling his cup.

"What about me?" Prism perked up at hearing her name.

"I'm trying to get Robert to race his car for me, but he's being an ass about it," Sonar sulks as he grabs his lunch, a PB&rat, from the fridge.

"That load of fucking junk?" Flambae piped up from his spot next to Prism, "I'm surprised it even runs. That piece of shit looks like a 5-year-old built it."

"19-year-old, actually," Robert takes a sip from his coffee.

"Oh honey," Prism shakes her head with a laugh as she looks at Flambae, "that thing does more than run, it fucking sprints."

Robert sighed lightly as he goes over to the vending machine, putting in a few dollars and waiting for the Twinkies to dispense.

"What's this about you racing for Victor?" Robert jumps as Invisigal appears next to him.

"He's trying to convince me to race my car in some back alley street race," he sighs before raising his voice, "which I am not doing, by the way."

"Come on man!" Sonar was whining like a lost puppy at that point, "just once, I swear! I just need to win one race against that jackass and then I'll leave you alone."

"Victor, I have a hard time believing that," Robert pinched the top of his nose. Trying to reason with the man bat was near impossible.

"60%! I'll give you 60% of the pool, and never ask you for anything again," Sonar was all but on his knees begging for Robert's help.

"How much even is it?" Invisigal asked from beside Robert.

"3k," Sonar answered, looking expectantly at Robert.

The amount did make Robert pause. 60% of $3,000 was a lot of money, and a lot of money that Robert definitely needed.

He let out a long sigh as he genuinely considered it for the first time. Sure, he'd be able to win against any asshole and their designer car, but he'd been testing how nice the local police are for the past couple of years with his car. He didn't want one street race to be the breaking point of finally getting charged with the hundreds of road violations he most definitely owed.

After a moments thought, he made up his mind.

"Fine," he groaned, Sonar cheering before being quieted by Robert's raised hand, "but. You owe me, and you're not allowed to ask me any favors for the next few months."

"Deal!" Sonar grinned as he shook Robert's hand, sealing the deal.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Robert regretted agreeing to this the moment he pulled up to the meet point.

He had accompanied the z-team to many places that stretched the law, but this was just downright illegal.

Sonar led him to the road that was designated as the track, and Robert parked next to the most expensive race car he'd ever seen.

"So this is the car you've been losing against huh?" Robert asked as he hopped out his own.

"Yeah, guy's got it illegally modded or something," Sonar grumbled as he pulled out his phone and turned it towards Robert, explaining and mapping out the race to him.

Robert heard a sharp whistle come from the hood of the other car, and looked up to see Flambae and Punch-up admiring the expensive piece of machinery.

"Damn, no wonder you've been losing Victor, look at this beauty," Flambae admired the car as he made his way to the other two.

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Robert sighed as the z-team slowly joined them around the two cars.

"You sure we shouldn't bet against this piece of junk?" Malevola laughed as she looked between the two cars.

"Bet however you want guys, either way Robert is going to win," Sonar beamed as he pat the other on the shoulder.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." A voice called out from the sideline of the street.

Robert looked up to see a guy approaching the group, flanked on either side by a couple of women. This must be this Philip that Sonar had mentioned.

His suspicion was confirmed as Sonar greeted him with a tight-lipped smile.

"Philip. Good to see you man," Sonar tried to seem nice, but Robert could tell from the twitch of his ear how much he disliked the other's presence.

"I thought you said you'd bring someone to beat me Victor," Philip laughed as peeked over his sunglasses at Robert's car, "and this piece of shit is all you got? You're seriously betting 3k on this?"

Sonar huffs as he turns back to Robert, ignoring the laughing stemming from the onlookers of the race.

"You better leave this asshole in the dust, or I'm never talking to you ever again," he gives Robert a firm squeeze on his shoulder as he gives him his 'pep talk'.

"No worries Victor," Robert chuckles as he pushed Sonar's punishing grip off of his shoulder, "I got this."

After a few more minutes of Philip gloating and flaunting his car to the slowly growing crowd, the race is set to start.

"Oh wait," Sonar is leaning against Robert's car and talking to him through the open driver's seat window, "we need to get a hot babe in your car."

"...a what now?" Robert questioned the man.

"You know, a hot chick! Every racer has some girl riding along with him," Sonar explains to him, looking around for someone to ride with Robert, "they aren't going to take you seriously without one."

"Victor, they already don't take me seriously-" Robert tries but he's silenced by Sonar calling out to their friends.

"Hey, Alice! You wanna ride with Robert?" Sonar calls over to the two toned woman who was waiting at the sidelines with Flambae.

"Hell no!" She called out to him, "last time I was in that car I saw God! I'm not going anywhere near that thing."

"Please?" Sonar pleaded, "we need a hot babe to ride with Robert."

"Again, no we don't Victor, this is honestly a ridiculou-"

"I'll ride with Bob Bob."

Robert turns his attention from Sonar to the now approaching Flambae, confusion all over his face as Flambae opens the door and climbs into the passenger seat.

"Girl, it's your funeral if you ride in that thing," Prism follows Flambae and stops a foot short from the frame of the car, watching Flambae struggle with the harness seatbelt.

"...and you're riding along... Why?" Robert asked Flambae, a ghost of a smile gracing his face as he watched him struggle with the seat.

"Alice won't shut up about how fast your shit car is, so I want to know for myself mechafuck," Flambae says matter-of-factly as he finally gets the buckles in place.

"Alright by me," Robert shrugs, watching the flag girl grab a handkerchief and stand in front of the two cars.

The people previously swarming the cars (or more, car, no one was interested to take a closer look at Robert's vehicle) moved to the sidelines, cheering as the two men got ready to race.

Robert put his key in, turning it to bring the engine to life.

Click click click

Robert looked at the key in confusion, pausing before trying again.

Click click click

"Shit," Robert groaned as he popped the hood and got out of the car.

"What the fuck?" Flambae called out from the passenger seat, "you're kidding. Is the battery dead or something?"

"No, I replaced it last month," Robert called back to the other, looking through the mess that was under the front hood, trying to find the issue.

"Oh what's wrong? Got car issues?" Philip had rolled his window down and was calling out to Robert, laughing at his dismay.

Robert ignored the other man, reaching into the mess of wires to fiddle with different pieces and connections.

"What a shame, especially since the race is starting," Philip cackled as he signaled the flag girl, who raised the handkerchief in her hand with a smile.

"Ready?" She called out, smirking as Robert panicked, trying to find the problem.

"asshole," he groaned, searching desperately for the problem.

"Set!"

"Next time, bring a better car," Philip gloated before rolling his window up.

"Go!"

The second the arm with the handkerchief fell, Philip's car screeched and was off, roaring down the course.

"Robert what the hell!" Sonar called from the sidelines, panick in his voice.

"I got it!" He called back, finding the connection that had been pulled and fixing it before slamming the hood down and jumping into the car.

"Great, now I look like a loser, thanks a lot Bobert," Flambae complained from the passenger seat.

"Shut up Chad," Robert hissed as his hand reached for the gear shift, moving it as the engine roared louder.

"I'm never going with you anywhere aga-" the rest of the words caught in Flambae's throat as Robert slammed his foot on the gas and the car rocketed off.

"You were saying?" Robert called out to Flambae, giving the hero a quick glance and chuckling lightly at the look of pure fear in his eyes.

Robert raced the course that Sonar had plotted out to him, taking every turn expertly as the back of Philip's car came into view, growing closer and closer.

"Holy shit, you're actually going to pass him," Flambae laughed, his hands braced on the dash.

Robert just nodded as he moved the shift again, gaining more momentum and rocketing past Philip's shiny car.

Flambae cheered as he looked back at the now very surprised Philip.

"Hell yeah, that's what I'm talking about!" He whooped before patting Robert on the shoulder.

Robert smiled as the car raced through the rest of the course. Taking a few tight turns with the precision of a surgeon, the finish line appeared and was quickly approaching.

A quick glace back through the rear view mirror, Robert could see a small flash of Philip's car, yards away from him and even further from the quickly approaching finish line.

Robert slowly pressed down on the breaks as the finish line came closer and closer, holding the wheel steady as the breaks squeaked from how fast the wheels were turning.

The car skidded to a stop, cheers and murmurs of surprise arose around him. The z-team and a few onlookers swarmed Robert's car.

"That was crazy!" Invisigal laughed as Robert stepped out of the car.

"I told you that thing is fast," Prism said from the other side, laughing as Flambae stumbled out of the passenger side.

Robert turned as he watched Philip's car come into view, skidding to a stop before a pissed Philip stepped out.

"What the hell?!" He called out, watching with hate and jealousy as the girls he'd originally had in his car went over to Robert's car instead, "where the fuck did you buy a car like that?"

"I didn't buy it," Robert called back to him, holding his hand out for Sonar to count the money into, "I made it."

Everyone was chattering around Robert, either congratulating him or questioning what he did to make the car that fast.

The little party was quickly put to a halt as police lights and sirens roared to life and quickly zeroed in on the meet.

"Fuck," Robert groaned, watching as the people around him scattered, running in any direction they could.

"Party's over!" Invisigal called to Robert, hopping into the passenger seat as a few other members of z-team piled into the back.

Robert huffed as he stepped into the car, turning it on without any problem and moved it into drive.

"Oi lad, aren't ya forgetting 'yer seat b-" Punch-up began to speak up about Robert's lack of safety, but was caught off guard as the other slammed on the gas once more, and the car rocketed off, taking them away from the meet.

Fic inspired by this art and the trans!Penelope AU by @bigidiotenergytm , go check it out!!

(in the AU, Penelope's preferred name is Vasileios, just so you know!)

Could you love me again?

"Penelope..."

Odysseus said to himself, scared to open the oh so familiar doors in front of him.

He didn't know how she would react to him, to what he had become. Last she saw of him, he was simply a man going off to war, to help his brotherin, but now... He was caked in blood, and looked like he hadn't seen a bath in years.

He took a deep breath, gathering as much courage as he could, and he pushed the doors open.

His eyes were stuck to the floor, unable to look up at his wife that he knew was standing there.

"Is it you?"

Odysseus was expecting a soft voice to greet him, not knowing if it was going to be filled with hurt, anger, or love.

"Have my prayers been answered?"

But as he heard who was speaking to him, his eyes widened, not expecting the voice he was greeted with.

"Is it really you standing there? Or am I dreaming once more?"

Odysseus began to look up as the deeper voice registered in his mind.

"You look different. Your eyes look tired, your frame is lighter, your smile torn."

Finally, as his eyes landed on the person that was speaking, he felt his heart drop.

"Is it really you my love?"

It wasn't her.

Where was she?

"Who... Who are you?" Odysseus asked the person, the man, in front of him, his anger growing as he continued to speak, "what have you done to my wife?"

"Ody," the man began to take a step towards Odysseus, but he was quick to draw the sword at his hip.

"Where is Penelope?!" He all but yelled, staring down the man in front of him, threatening him with his sword.

"Odysseus, it's me," the man in front of him stepped back, figuring it best to reason with the angered king at a distance.

Odysseus stared for a moment at the man, his face seeming familiar yet not at the same time, his voice, deep but still light as he talked, and his eyes...

The eyes he saw every time he closed his own to sleep. Eyes that both haunted and eased him any time he thought of them during his 20 year long journey.

Her eyes.

His eyes?

Odysseus lowered his sword as these thoughts raced through his mind.

"....Penny?" His voice was quiet, confused and curious as the pieces started to click into place in his head.

The man nodded, still uncertain as he brought his hands to his chest in comfort, something she- he? Would always do when upset.

"Vasileios," he corrected quietly, scared at how Odysseus would react to the name. "I... I know I am different," Vasileios continued, "I am not the woman you fell in love with, the woman you were looking to be with when you returned."

Odysseus' shoulders began to lower as Penelope- Vasileios? talked. He took the other in, everything that was the same and everything that was different.

"...neither am I" Odysseus stated, "I am not the man you fell for under the olive tree all those years ago. I've done so much..."

As the two lovers looked at each other, at what they had become, fear struck them both that all this waiting was for nothing, that they couldn't love each other as they had 20 years ago.

"... What have you done?" Vasileios asked, curious.

"So much," Odysseus breathed, like the weight of his actions suffocated him, "killed, betrayed, hurt, crossed, everyone I saw. Gods, mortals, giants and monsters, none escaped the bloodshed."

Vasileios looked at him with sympathy in his eyes, listening as Odysseus laid his sins out for the other to see.

"Would... Would you ever fall in love with me again?" Odysseus braced himself as he asked the question that rattled around in his brain. After everything he'd done, after the monster he had become, would he love him the same?

"...I knew that those years at war and years disappeared would leave you with blood on your hands. I was prepared to see you with horrors of war painted across your thoughts and dreams." Vasileios' face softened as he spilled his own heart out for Odysseus, "You are still the man I fell for, the man I married, even if you have crossed those that once trusted you, I still love you. I never stopped."

Odysseus was shocked at his words, his eyes filling with tears and his heart filling with love knowing that even after the horrors he had committed, they didn't matter to him.

"But..." Vasileios looked down as he fidgeted with his hands, "could you ever love me again?"

Odysseus felt his heart break, hearing the sadness and fear in the other's voice.

"Pen- Vasileios," Odysseus corrected himself as he slowly walked towards the other, letting his sword drop onto a nearby table, "my love. No matter how you change, no matter if your voice deepens, if you grow hair on your chin and cheeks, if your muscles tone, if anything, you are still you. You are still the mind that interested and intrigued me, the soul I connected with, the person I love and married. No matter how your physical body changes, you are still you; the person I love."

Odysseus' vision blurred with tears as Vasileios ran to embrace him, feeling tears on his shoulder as he wrapped his arms around his lover, never wanting to let go ever again.

They stood there in a tight embrace, scared that if they let go that the other would disappear.

Vasileios slowly pulled away to look up at Odysseus, cupping his cheek in his hand.

"How long has it been?" Vasileios asked, tears still falling.

"20 years..." Odysseus sighed, bringing his forehead to rest on Vasileios'.

"I love you"

Jean x Arrigo ch 2

You can read ch 1 right here

Jean had never contemplated murder before.

Sure, he'd wanted to bash someone's head in, but not thoroughly planning how to murder someone and what method to use when disposing of their body.

Then again, he'd never had to share an apartment with Arrigo fucking Belardi.

The second the two made it into the apartment, it was a constant string of complaints from the younger man. Anything that wasn't up to his perfect posh fucking standards was criticized; from the ceiling to the sink to the carpet, he had a complaint about everything.

"You think I'm gonna sleep on this piece of shit?" Arrigo huffed as he looked at the fold out couch like it had called his mother a slur (actually, Jean thinks Arrigo would have looked at someone with less hate if they had said something about his mom).

"For the tenth time, yes," Jean popped a Tylenol and a melatonin gummy one after the other, "it's a one bath one bedroom apartment, I don't have anywhere else for you to sleep."

"I'm not sleeping on this ratty ass couch. Where's your bed?"

"You are not sleeping in my bed-!"

Jean laid there at night glaring at the ceiling of his living room, a headache continuing to throb behind his eyes with every loud snore that rang from his bedroom.

"Fuckn-" Jean cursed into the empty air of the night, letting out a sigh as he closed his eyes.

How did the boss expect Jean to do anything to improve Arrigo's behavior? In a month no less? He'd done some pretty impossible things within a short time frame, but those involved getting money cleaned up or transferred without an audit, not trying to instill work ethic in a nepo baby that had never had to lift a finger to even bathe himself.

Jean let out a long breath as he looked at this from another perspective: how could he get Arrigo to listen to him in the first place? He and the younger man had always felt equal hatred towards each other, and just as less respect for one another. If he was going to instill some morals and ethic in him, he needed Arrigo to respect him first.

But how would he do that?

"The fuck did you just say?" Arrigo was sitting in one of the few chairs in the fake office space that Jean's operation was rooted in.

"Are you suddenly deaf? I said give me your phone, I'm keeping it till the end of the month," Jean kept his hand held out for the phone that was being clutched in Arrigo's grasp.

After losing the battle with insomnia the previous night, Jean decided to go to Google for answers. It wasn't giving him much at first. After all, what result would best answer the question, "boss's kid needs to listen to me or else I'm fired"?

However, after messing around with the keywords a bit, he found his goldmine:

"Get your teen to listen in a few short steps"

Bingo.

First step: take his phone away.

"Teens these days are always glued to their phones texting or snapchatting with their friends. If you find your teen is spending most of their time on their device and not listening to you, try taking it away for a bit."

"What are you my mom? I'm not giving you my fucking phone," Arrigo hissed.

"Actually, I kind of am. Tricky Rickey left you in my care, so that means that you have to do what I say, so give me your phone," Jean laid out all the facts to the other, before quickly swiping the device from Arrigo's grip.

"Hey!" Arrigo shrieked like a toddler as Jean quietly closed out of all of the apps on his phone and shut it off.

"You can have it back at the end of the month, but until then," Jean dropped the phone in the empty safe that came with the office space and locked it, "you'll have to survive without it."

"The hell! I have some hot dates waiting for me, hows 'm I supposed to let them know where to meet me at?" Arrigo argued.

"Easy: you don't. You're not going out clubbing or on any dates either," Jean crossed his arms and stood in front of the safe.

"Attitude and disrespect shouldn't be tolerated, teens should learn not just to listen to you, but also to be respectful when speaking to you. If you are having attitude problems, consider-"

"You're fucking grounding me?!" Arrigo's jaw was to the floor, "aw hell nah!"

"I am. You're only allowed to be here, my apartment, or accompanying wherever we need to be for a job."

"This is some fresh bullshit!" Arrigo flopped back onto the chair he was previously sitting in and crossed his arms, beginning to sulk like a child.

"Well whatever it is, you have to listen to me. I called Tricky Rickey and he said I can use any punishment I feel is necessary," Jean let himself flop down into his own desk chair.

Arrigo didn't answer him this time, just sat there staring at the floor, the corners of his lips pulled down into a comedic frown.

Jean sighed as he pressed the start button of his computer.

"Whatever happens remember: stay strong. When punishing teens you'll get a lot of push back. Yelling, cursing, silence, anything. Remember to stay firm in your decision, it's the only thing that will lead to respect in your house."

'yeah,' Jean thought to himself as he put the password in, 'easy for you to say'

"By the way, I grabbed you some stuff to keep you company."

"What is this, a fucking coloring book??"

"No, a notebook. For whenever I start making you copy sentences."

"Mannn what the hell!"

Also I'm gonna start putting some of my fics/writing on AO3! Especially this and my last Dispatch fic

When the Stars Collide (Ch 1)

Stardust.

They say that everything in the world, everything in space is made of stardust.

Dust and debris floating in space, sent forth by the last dying breath of a star.

That's what they say.

...that's what Dad said.

When I was younger and asked him about what the Astral Pulse really was, he said it was the heart of a star that had come to earth and aided humanity, that it had been a hero that fought for good.

I believed him, in that childlike way that one would believe in Santa or the Easter Bunny. I believed him.

As time and my life went on, I believed that story less and less. I thought it was man made, something that Royd and I could recreate.

Yet...

Yet it was something much, much more.

Life after Shroud was defeated was... Slow. Most of the calls that SDN used to get were Red Ring related, so with the leader dead and almost all their members jailed, the crime had lessened in Torrence.

Make no mistake, Robert was glad that there was less crime, but it just made his job more boring.

"Flambae we got a call from a school, can you go and give a talk on fire safety?" Robert let himself lean back as he rubbed his eyes.

"Fire safety? Bob Bob you think I'm the right guy for a fire safety talk?" Chad tsk'd at the task, but the tracker on the screen still showed him heading towards the school.

"Actually, after seeing the precautions and fire safety gear in your apartment, I'd say you're the perfect person to give this talk," Robert chuckled.

"He let you into his apartment? With how annoying he was about your date I thought he just fucked you in the doorway," Invisigal teased, a chorus of laughs eruping from the other members of the team.

"What can I say? I'm a gentleman when I need to be," Flambae chuckled as he fed into the fire that was the z-team talking about his and Robert's relationship.

"Please don't bring up personal relationships on the recorded comms, both of you," Robert warned as he glared at the screen.

"Oooooh he mad, did you blue ball him bae?" Prism cackled, everyone putting their two cents in on Robert and Chad's relationship.

"I'm going to mute and write all of you up," Robert groaned as he let his face fall into his hands, a chorus of laughs in his ears.

Robert was happy that everyone was getting along again. After defeating Shroud, he was scared that there would be tension and fighting within the team, especially towards Coupe and Invisigal. Thankfully, no one really held a grudge, and they all went back to joking around and having fun, with no remorse for their poor dispatcher.

"Such a slow day," Flambae groaned as he flew back from the successful mission, "I haven't gotten to beat the shit out of someone in days, this job sucks."

"Y-yeah I'm- I've barely been sen-dispatched to-today," Waterboy let out a little huff, having decided to start cleaning around the office even though he hadn't been a janitor for months now.

"Well on the bright side of things, it's because the crime rate has dropped," Robert tried to brighten the mood.

"I don't care about crime rates being down, I care about beating up perps," Invisigal groaned, "Robert, I'm bored!"

"Hm, well if you're bored, I have some paperwork that needs to be fi-"

"Actually you know what, my boredom has suddenly vanished!"

A few chuckles from the line rang out in the call, Robert laughing along with them for once.

Robert groaned as he stretched, hearing his back pop. He was happy to head out after the lackluster work day he'd had. Both shifts had been boring and slow, with only one major crime bust to deal with a small group of Red Ring members that were trying to pop back up.

As Robert was packing up, Chad came to his desk, having since changed into his "casual" clothes (Robert doesn't understand how a man can have enough designer clothes to wear something different every day).

"So, where are we going for dinner tonight Bob Bob?" He asked, leaning against the side of Robert's cubicle.

"I thought you were picking dinner tonight?" Robert glanced at Chad for a moment before looking back over to finish packing up.

"Eh, don't feel like it," Chad shrugged, automatically taking Robert's bag from his hands and slinging it across his own shoulder.

"You know I've been cleared to carry things for a week now, right?" Robert chuckled as he grabbed his cane.

"Shut up Bob Bob, don't make it weird," Chad sighed as he walked alongside Robert, holding doors open for him.

"Chinese?" Robert asked as they made their way to Chad's firebird.

"Sounds good to me, I think Alice mentioned a good all you can eat place nearby," Chad hummed as he threw Robert's bag in the back before sitting down in the driver's seat.

The car ride there was quiet for the most part. Not an uncomfortable quiet, but one that was calm and comfortable. Occasionally broken up by comments about what was on the radio, both men were able to use the silence to decompress after the shift.

The two made it to the sushi place that Alice had mentioned and sat down for dinner. All was well until Robert finished writing down his sushi order.

"You don't think I'll be able to eat all of them?" Robert smirked at Chad as the other read over what he planned to order. 3 different rolls, some pork dumplings, and some crab rangoon, all of it for himself.

"The fuck you can!" Chad exclaimed, "I know I'm trying to put some meat on your skinny ass bones but you can't eat this much."

"You wanna bet?"

"Fuck yeah. Loser pays for dinner."

And he did, to Chad's absolute amazement he ate it all.

After he finished complaining about paying, Chad and Robert's conversation moved to work.

"I hate how slow it's been," Chad picked at the mochi the two had ordered for desert, "it's so boring."

"Yeah..." Robert sighed, "although..."

"Hm?" Chad paused in his picking to look at Robert.

"It feels... Weird," Robert stared down at his dessert, as if it had personally offended him, "it feels like something's going to happen. That we're just in limbo and waiting for the other shoe to drop."

Chad took a moment to look at him, to take in Robert's posture and expression. He silently let his hand fall onto the table to hold Robert's, a rare tender moment.

"Bobert," Robert chuckled lightly at the use of the nickname with the serious tone the other used, "We'll be fine. Shroud is dead, the Red Ring is just a few small groups of shits that cause trouble, there isn't any second shoe."

Chad then lifted his hand to flick at Robert's forehead.

"And you need to stop overthinking things, just enjoy yourself for once. You have a good job, a good team and friends, and an absolutely smoking hot boyfriend," Chad leaned back in his chair and smirked as he referred to himself.

Robert nodded as he listened to the other. "Yeah..." He nodded, "I guess I'm just not used to things being "normal" is all."

The two finished out the date night at Robert's door, Chad having walked him there from his car.

"Thank you for dinner again," Robert turned to face Chad.

"You don't need to thank me, it's a public service to the team to make sure you don't eat just Twinkes and die of malnutrition or whatever," his smile is still genuine as he looks down at Robert.

"Well, thank you for your public service then," Robert reached up to hook an arm around Chad's neck, "I assume you expect payment?"

"No, but I do take tips," Chad smirked, "in more ways than one."

Robert just shook his head before leaning up and kissing Chad, smiling into the kiss.

After the two finished saying their goodbyes, Robert let himself into his apartment and was instantly greeted by Beef.

"Hey Beefy, how are you?" He smiled as he bent down slightly to pet the chunky dog on the head. Beef gave out a little 'yip!' before running off towards his food bowl in the apartment.

Robert went through the motions of getting ready for bed: feeding Beef, taking a shower, putting on his pajamas, taking his pills and melatonin, and finally getting into bed.

Robert slowly drifted off as he thought back on the past few weeks. He'd had moments of anxiety here and there on when something would change, when something would go wrong, but his talk with Chad had eased his worries a bit.

It was true, he'd never lived a 'normal' life, or at least a life in which he didn't have to have eyes in the back of his head. He never truly thought that he'd be able to defeat Shroud and the Red Ring, and now that he had, he didn't know what to do with himself.

Maybe he would continue being a dispatcher. Maybe he would go into the field again and be Mechaman, this time under SDN and with the help of his team. Maybe... Maybe... Maybe...

These were the thoughts that luled him to sleep, dreaming of the endless possibilities of the future that were now possible.

Truly

Endless

Possibilities.

.

.

.

"...ɦɛʟʟօ?"

Shout out to @bananarama12 for this idea!!

Oblivious masc!reader x Hermes

You couldn't remember how it all started, these meetings with the trickster god. All you knew is that one moment your life was dull and boring, and the next it was filled with the giddy laughter of the god as the two of you ran around the market pranking the townspeople.

Having Hermes as a friend was exhilarating, as you never knew what was going through the god's mind. There was never a dull moment when he was around.

"psst... Darling!" You had been sitting underneath a tree reading when the god had come to you once more.

"Hermes!" You smiled as you looked up at the floating god, giggling as you noticed he was upside down, "what plan do you have in store today?"

"oh, nothing much," he chuckled as he threw an apple to you, "i thought that you might want to pick what we do today."

"really?" You gave him a sly smile as you bit into the apple, "no plans for today? You must be off your game Hermes."

He scoffed as the wings on his heels flapped, moving him into an upright position, but still floating off the ground. "You have some nerve saying that to a god, mortal."

You chuckled as you continued to eat the apple, "you say that, but just last week I was helping you steal a tapestry from Apollo's temple. Which was your plan may I remind you."

Hermes tried to keep a pissed face, but he couldn't help the giant grin that grew from your statement, laughing as his feet finally touched the ground.

"haha! You really are my favorite mortal," he mused as he bent down to lay on the grass beside you.

You chuckled as well, a warm feeling spreading at his statement. As the two of you sat there, you noticed that even with the sun shining down on the both of you, his eyes were still shaded.

"say, Hermes," the god perked up from where he was relaxing, "even with the light shining down, your eyes are still shaded. Why is that?"

He gives you a small smile as he sits up, "well darling, you know the saying 'the eyes are the gateway to the soul'?"

You nodded, confused as to where he was going.

"well, the eyes can give a lot away, so when you're a trickster god like me, you need to keep yourself unreadable so you can keep people on their toes, hence my eyes always being shaded or covered," he finished his explanation, and you nodded in understanding.

"has anyone seen your eyes before?" You asked.

"my my, full of questions today aren't you?" Hermes let out a laugh before facing towards you, "only my father and mother have. And some special select people as well."

"oh? And how do I become one of those special people that get to see your eyes?" You teased with a grin.

Hermes pretended to think for a moment, a smile on his face, "well, that can be arranged, but it will cost you!"

You chuckled, your smile that never seemed to falter while with Hermes grew wider, "and what might that cost be?"

Hermes moved closer to you, with barely a few inches between your faces. "A kiss," a wicked grin spread across his face as he named his price.

"a... Kiss?" So many questions were flying through your head as the request processed, "why on Gaia would you want a kiss?"

Hermes laughed before tapping your nose, "oh, you still don't know, do you my little trickster?"

"know what?" You were confused now, wondering what it was you could have possibly missed.

"no god spends this much time with a mortal on the regular darling," Hermes mused, "they'd have to be infatuated with them to spend almost every day down here with them."

Infatuated? Every... Day...

Oh.

Oh.

You felt a heat rise to your cheeks as the realization dawned on you. Hermes began to laugh as you tried to say something, but couldn't because of your flustered state.

"now do you understand darling?" He had a sing-song tone as he teased you.

"I-" the more you thought, the more pieces started to click into place and the stupider you felt for not noticing sooner.

Hermes laughed harder at the emotional gymnastics that were painted all over your face. Slight anger started to grow as he continued to giggle on about your reactions.

"why you-" it was a split second decision. You wanted him to stop the giggling over your flustered state, so why not make him the same? You grabbed the front of his chiton, and dragged him forward before smashing your face against his and kissing him.

When you parted, you giggled slightly as you saw that his face was as red as a tomato, and that the wings on either side of his head were flapping wildly. The god quickly regained his composure and pouted.

"no fair!" He whined, "that was a dirty trick!"

"and you're complaining?" You giggled again, "admit it, you're proud of me."

A small smile came across his face, "I am, but it's still not fair!"

You laughed as you leaned back to rest against the tree once more, Hermes doing the same as he laid down in the grass. As you sat there, gathering your bearings, a thought crossed your mind.

"I paid the fine, shouldn't I be allowed to see your eyes?" You looked down at where Hermes was relaxing.

"well, I did say it could be arranged, not that it would," a shit eating grin was plastered on Hermes' face as he spoke.

"what!" You complained as Hermes giggled.

The two of you argued over the matter till the sun began to set, signifying the end of the crazy and eventful day you shared with the messenger god.

A while ago I saw someone wanting more masc!reader fics in the fandom, and I decided I wanted to dust off my second person pov skills and write some! This doesn't really have anything masc reader related, but it's a good start!