Thinking of an AU where Robert sustains a spine injury that leaves him paralyzed.
To remedy this, Royd installs basically a robot spine into Robert’s back that receives signals from his brain that allow him to move, y’know like regular bones or whatever.
The robotic spine has a shit ton of technology wore through it, and it’s kinda like a spine version of his vambraces. What I mean is that he can control the mech suit just by thinking about it, as the robotic parts receive signals from his mind.
Think Sombra from Overwatch, except he can’t turn invisible.
I just like the possibilities that come from this AU.
First of all, whose idea was it? I think Robert was so desperate to be able to move again (to be able to HELP people again) that the asked Royd to help him come up with something, like how amputees will have robotic limbs.
Once he’s living with it, he realizes how reminiscent it is of something Shroud would do. It makes him sick to his stomach, but he pushes it down. He did what he had to do in order to keep living, not gain more power.
Unfortunately though, he kind of became a walking computer. I mean, he can’t like, browse the internet, but he can remotely connect to servers.
On an even worse note, as we know, computer processors need to stay cool in order to function. You don’t want an overheated robot.
This to say, he has to keep his distance from Flambae, his boyfriend, who unlike everyone else (minus Chase) isn’t happy about the whole more-mecha-than-man-thing. Of course, he wants Robert to be able to move and be happy, but at the same time? Flambae would have taken care of him. He would have rather spent everyday caring for his disabled boyfriend than have to sleep on opposite sides of the bed from him.
