He wasn't sure how much time had passed. Beef had whined a little earlier, and guilt spurred Robert to try and sit up. White lights flashed in front of his eyes, his stomach sprang to his throat, and with a whine of his own, Robert settled back on the couch. He hadn't tried to move since.

Sometimes, he saw his phone light up with an incoming text through his eyelashes, but Robert didn't want to test looking at the phone, nonetheless responding to whatever drama came up. Whatever happened, it was fine. Mandy and Chase could handle whatever disaster came up.

His phone flashed on several more times in succession. Robert completely closed his eyes. When his brain wasn't trying to exit through his ears and nose, he would look through his settings so it wouldn't do that.

The occasional migraine was just another leftover from his coma, right up there with the metal in his spine and his new ability to tell when rain was coming. Robert had no clue what triggered this one. Trying to remember only made his skull pulse more.

Robert focused on his breathing. Like they taught him at the hospital before he made his escape. Focused on the ebb and flow of it, the feel of it in his nose, the temperature of his breath. Focused on it and tried to relax, let his headache become background noise.

Yeah, it didn't work. Sometimes, he regretted leaving so early. Maybe they would have taught him more tricks.

Except it also would have meant putting up with the staring.

Breathing exercises failing, Robert fell back on his default: staying still. Unmoving and forcing himself to relax whenever he started tensing up. It only made the headache worse, but the pain made him tense, which strengthened the headache, which...

When Robert heard his balcony door open, his first thought wasn't that he forgot to lock it last night: it was that if it was a villain, he hoped they made it quick.

"This place still looks awful! Damn, bitch, haven't you done a thing with it since the party?"

Ah. Flambae. Normally Robert enjoyed his voice, even if admitting it would be asking for months of torture. Right now, he wanted to punch Flambae in the throat if it would make him shut up.

He tried to tell him that, but only a groan escaped. Robert slitted his eyes open enough to see a shadow fall over him.

"...shit. Are you alive?"

Robert's hand was still by his phone. He shifted it just enough to give Flambae the finger. Flambae scoffed. "And here I was coming over on my lunch to check on you. I brought food and everything."

Immediately, Robert's stomach threatened to revolt. Robert coughed into the couch cushion and shifted his hand to a thumbs-down.

"Okay, okay. Yeesh." Robert heard Flambae walk around the couch and tracked him through his eyelashes. "You look like shit. I mean, you usually look like shit, but now you look like something Sonar threw up."

And back to the middle finger.

Flambae huffed, but thankfully, he lowered his voice. "Whatever. No delicious food for you then." Robert saw him do something with the bag in his hand but couldn't figure out what. Flambae knelt beside the couch. Robert guessed he paused to pet Beef based on the odd movement of his arm and Beef's sudden, excited panting. At least, he hoped Flambae was petting him and not feeding him any of that lunch. Robert had splurged and bought Beef some nice, vet-recommended food, and it was hard enough keeping him on his diet with Chase around.

"Look, we need you back tomorrow so we don't have to deal with that old fart again. This isn't personal or anything. Just... My sister used to get migraines, right? Some post-pregnancy bullshit. She said heat helped. Since I'm such an amazing hero, I'm offering my services to -- huh?"

Robert hadn't even let him finish before giving a thumb's up. He was desperate... and a little worried that he would throw up on Beef. He wished his dog hadn't settled directly under him.

"...fuck, you must really feel like shit." Robert was finally becoming delirious with pain. Flambae actually sounded worried. Flambae's voice grew softer with every word. "You don't... you don't do this shit, Bob Bob..." His voice strengthened again, although it remained thankfully quiet. Maybe he really was familiar with migraines. "Don't worry, bitch. Flambae is here to save the day."

Of course Flambae was the type of hero to do speeches. If he would just --

Ooooooh.

Robert exhaled slowly as Flambae's hot palm settled on the back of his neck, relaxing the muscles there. His eyes fluttered shut again as the heat slowly spread, Flambae's other hand starting to rub his back. His hands were large, fingers occasionally digging into muscle or scratching his scalp. At last, Robert felt himself relax.

"I can feel your spine, bitch. If you can't eat now, fine, but it's going to be in the fridge and you're going to fucking eat it. Then tomorrow you can tell me how it was the best food you've ever eaten, because we both know it will be."

Robert hummed incoherently. The pain was still there, filling up his skull, but it was weakening its hold on him, leaving only exhaustion in its wake. He felt like he was rocking on a boat, the pain a relentless ebb and flow, surrounded by Flambae's heat.

"Who knew Mecha Bitch could look so sweet like this?" Flambae rubbed his neck again, easing out the last of the tension. Some of the pain flowed out with it, like poison from a wound, and Robert melted into the couch. "It's weird. Like this, you look... you look..."

Flambae and him argue just as much as they flirt. Sometimes they flirt well arguing, and vise versa.

Flambae knows Roberts straight, they're both aware that this is just some friendly back and forth between buddies.

That doesn't stop Flambae from shooting his shot every now and again, especially on drunken nights when the team goes drinking.

It's always a no, and it always ends with them laughing about it and eye fucking each other for a bit.

It was very rare that Flambae ever got salty about the rejection.

There were only a handful of times where Flambae got bitter about it, made some kind of snide comment about getting led on, or just grumbled and sulked off for the rest of the night.

On one occasion Flambae just let out a loud "What the fuck!" Followed by a confrontation about Robert always flirting with him but not doing anything.

He's more than positive that all of those negative instances happened during Flambaes dry spells. And the WTF one Flambae had been very wasted.

Still, Robert was HR perfect after that instance for a month. It got to the point where Flambae actually apologized for it, admitted that he hadn't gotten laid in a while, and begged Robert to just go back to acting normal.

It was just part of their weird little friendship.

Robert isn't exactly phased about a Z-team member trying to get in his pants, getting rejected and still being friends and flirty.

It's this groups weird fucked up love language.

Tonight was different though.

The team was at the bar, getting wasted on a Friday night.

Robert looked around the room and couldn't spot a single person that he wasn't comfortable with or fond of. Except of course the few strangers that were also in the bar but they were unimportant.

Robert was drinking, probably more than he should of. As the years went on the team slowed down on getting shitfaced, now going to the bar was more for quality bonding time.

But tonight Robert just wanted to enjoy himself, and Flambae was matching his pace so it's not like he was the only one getting wasted.

The two of them were beyond buzzed.

They had to lean against the bar to prevent themselves from swaying on their feet.

Flambae wrapped a warm arm around Roberts waist, and Robert leaned into his side, already knowing where this was going.

Flambae leaned down to talk in Roberts ear, his scruff catching against Roberts skin anytime he accidentally lost his balance and leaned more into Robert. The two were holding each other up at this point more than the bar was.

"You should come home with me. I got like, the best food, and we can share the bed. God knows your back could use a better mattress.."

Flambae slurred. His free hand coming up to play with Roberts hair.

Usually Robert would get annoyed and push his hand away, but he didn't overly mind it right now.

"Yooou're tryin' to fuck me."

Roberts words were equally as slurred. He didn't even try to defend his mattress that he was bullied into buying.

"No. No.. ... Okay maybe a little bit."

Flambae rested his chin on top of Roberts head, eyes barely open.

"But we could also like, just watch a movie and cuddle. And maybe touch your dick a bit."

Robert laughed and just nodded.

"Okay."

Flambae started laughing too for a minute. But then he slowed to a stop. For a few seconds it felt like he was buffering.

"What?"

"I said okay."

Robert repeated without much thought.

"Okay?"

Flambae still seemed confused, and Robert just repeated himself again, nodding along, causing Flambaes chin to slip off

"Yeah, okay."

They just stood there, leaning against each other. Robert was just enjoying Flambaes warmth, well Flambae seemed to still be buffering.

Suddenly he was grabbing Roberts arm and urgently leading him out the bar, then Robert was practically being dragged with how fast Flambae was trying to get back to his own apartment.

The cool night air and all the jogging helped sober them both up some.

"Almost there. Still okay?"

Flambae was acting like this was a life or death emergency with how fast he was trying to get back to his apartment.

Robert could only laugh.

"Yeah. Still okay."

Flambae started laughing too.

Once they made it inside the apartment building is when reality of what he agreed to really struck Robert.

But he couldn't really find a reason to turn Flambae down tonight.

Why say no? Because he's straight? Sure he's not into dudes but it's not like he's repulsed by them. They have all the same parts that he has after all.

And you only live once right?

He could do a lot worse than Flambae, if he's gonna do it with a dude he might as well do it with a hot one.

He was comfortable with Flambae.

He doesn't even think this will actually effect their friendship.

They probably won't even go all the way, share a handy at most. Which isn't even that gay if you think about it.

When they got in the apartment, Flambae froze up again. Robert waited a moment but Flambae just wasn't loading.

Maybe he didn't actually want this? Maybe Flambae just like flirting and chasing, and is just realizing he doesn't actually want to screw Robert.

Fair enough.

"Hey, we don't have to do this if you don't want to. We can just watch Tv, or I could leave-"

Robert was looking away, rubbing the back of his head when suddenly Flambae came back to the land of the living.

"Are you kidding me?? I'm just trying to figure out where to start!"

Okay. Maybe they did end up going all the way.

Robert woke up, wrapped in a warm pair of arms with soft muscles cushioning him. It's probably the most comfortable he's ever been.

Flambae lulled him back to sleep.

Robert could sleep in. It's the weekend after all.

When he woke up the second time it was to a beautifully made breakfast in bed.

Flambae ate next to him. And anytime Robert tried to bring up last night, Flambae would just boast about how great it was.

And Robert couldn't really disagree.. it surprisingly was great? Which just confused him because.. Robert doesn't like guys? He's never liked guys before? Or at least, he didn't think he did.

Then Flambae insisted on rubbing oil on him and massaging him. Claiming it as aftercare, Flambae boasting about how he's a caring lover so of course the aftercare was necessary, especially considering it was Roberts first time with a guy.

Robert ended up letting him. His body felt like jello afterwards. He just laid in bed for what felt like a few hours before trying to get up.

When Robert said he should go home, Flambae mentioned that they hadn't tried a few things, and if this is just a one time thing for Robert then he really should get his money's worth.

Which.. yeah.. that made sense to Robert.

So they went at it again.

Roberts legs felt like rubber. He was leaned up against Flambaes chest, completely limp.

Flambae had put some mind numbing tv on. Robert just stared at the screen. He doesn't even remember when he fell asleep.

When he woke up again, Flambae had made a mouth watering dinner.

Robert really should go pick up Beef from Chase but.. he could have dinner first.

Flambae offered to drive him to get beef and drop him off at home.

But it was late.. Beef and Chase were probably asleep by now anyways.. maybe he could just sleep over one more night.

Flambae didn't seem to mind.

He leant Robert clothes and snuggled up in bed with him.

Reality struck.

1.) he's not as straight as he thought he was

2.) if he had actually wanted to leave he would've done so by now. No amount of food or body massages would have actually stopped him.

3.) he kind of doesn't want this to just be a one time thing..

Since when did he fall for Flambae..?

Author: This was just supposed to be a fic prompt/idea but I feel like I've wrote a whole fic T~T

I might do a more detailed version on AO3 eventually.

Also I love writing Flambae trying to lock Robert down. But I'm pretty sure Flambae would probably want to be the one getting locked down.

Getting Sharjeela from daycare had a sort of tenseness. His daughter hadn’t picked up on it, but Robert was sorting through what to even say to his daughter.

Her papa had ‘gone away’. And now he was back.

How do you explain that to a four year old?

Then there was the added issue of Chase, who never met his husband and had no idea about anything except that he had been locked up.

All the photos and remnants of their time together were in a locked box or a storage unit.

With his daughter skipping beside him, he made his way back to his workstation to get Chase. He had washed his face, so hopefully it wasn’t too red and blotchy. And he had grabbed a spare uniform shirt, given that Zahir had snotted all over the shirt he came in with.

Despite Sharjeela’s rambling, Chase looked suspiciously at Robert who was silent. His eyes traced down his strained arm which held his baby’s hand.

Chase opened his mouth to speak, but Blazer whipped around the corner.

“We should all talk.” She paused for a moment. “Conference room A is open.”

Robert followed, his daughter trotting happily behind him.

When they got into the conference room they sat Robert down, who quickly hoisted his daughter into his lap.

“I’d like to say that was the best shift the Z-Team has ever had.” She smiled shyly, a way completely unbecoming of her image as Blond Blazer.

“Even with Invisigal and other members trying to go rogue?” Robert probes.

“Yes. That’s a problem they have.” Blazer tapped her lip.

“I want to meet them all, on Monday. They think I’m disposable so they’re going to keep ignoring me.” Robert pauses. “If you want me to fix the Z-Team, I need to be in charge.”

“Well, this is different then I expected.” Blazer chewed on her lip slightly.

“We were going to have you cut someone.” Chase laughed out. “I was hoping to cut them all, but unfortunately Blazer has the same amount of hope as Lenny with George’s gun to the back of his head.” Robert rolled his eyes and Blazer pursed her lips at the reference.

“Just give me some time to actually get to know the team.” Robert rubbed the bridge of his nose, his daughter tugging on his arm. “We were lucky that Za— Flambae stopped Invisigal. She was banned from Granny’s and really shouldn’t have been there in the first place.”

“I really have a lot of hope for Invisigal.” Blazer says plainly, her strangely placed faith in the lowest ranking member of the Z Team mildly irritating Robert the more she affirmed it.

“But what about everyone else? Don’t they matter too? The heros that do their job with minimal screwing around.” Robert ran his fingers through his daughter’s ponytail. “Flambae, Malevola, Punch Up. They do their jobs. Why should I spend all my energy babying Invisigal?” Robert took a second to breathe. “I’ll evaluate them all, set standards and those that fall behind get cut.”

“Okay, we hired you to help the Z Team, I’ll step back.” Blazer nodded, standing up. She put out her hands placatingly, then left. The door thudding closed quietly after slowly drifting shut. Leaving Robert and Chase with Sharjeela.

“What’s the minimum number of points the employed heroes get?” Robert asked blankly.

“100” Chase recited easily.

“Okay, so a minimum of 100 or else they get cut. I’ll give them some adjustment time, maybe see if I can have some of the employed heroes talk about how to increase scores.” Robert moved Shar over to his hip, bouncing her slightly as he walked to the door.

“Also, while we’re here.” Robert moved back to the table, setting Sharjeela down on it.

“Shar’s other father is back in the picture. I agreed to let him meet her.” Robert said quietly, leaning towards Chase so his daughter wouldn’t hear.

“I thought he was in prison.”

“He was.” Robert paused. “He’s out.”

“The only felons we have working here are on the Z Team.” Robert nodded, affirming Chase’s suspicion.

“And only one is from Afghanistan.” Chase seethed slightly. “You telling me that smarmy f—“ His eyes slide over to Shar, whose attention is fully occupied clicking a pen. “Is my grandbaby’s father?”

“Yes.” Robert nodded.

“And you married him?” Chase leaned in as he spoke.

“Yes.” Robert nodded, again.

“Sober?” Chase asked with a raised brow.

“Yes.” Robert rolled his eyes at Chase’s implication.

“Why?” Chase waved his hands around, looking mildly scatterbrained at the news.

“He was the love of my life.” Robert replied solemnly with a sigh.

“Whose fingers you cut off.” Chase folded the two fingers Flambae had lost.

“He doesn’t know that.” Robert shook his head slightly, glancing at his daughter who had taken out her clips, dark strands falling into her face.

“You married him, and didn’t tell him you were Mecha Man?”

“Well to be fair, he didn’t tell me he was moonlighting as an arsonist after his shifts at the bar.” Robbery shrugged.

“At least it isn’t thumbilina or bat face.” Chase shrugged.

“When am I going to have to deal with him?” Chase rubbed his hand over his face in fatigue. “You said he was meeting her.” He clarifies, gesturing vaguely in Sharjeela’s direction.

“I’m coming in early on Monday to see him, is it possible we could come in like an hour earlier?” Robert asked slowly, watching as Chase huffed.

“Fine, but I want to be there.”

“Why?”

“Adult supervision. Also if he gets too hotheaded, you don’t have powers.” Chase ducked his head slightly, almost reminiscent of his Track Star pose.

“Zahir is not abusive.” Robert snarled slightly at the accusation.

“Yea, but I remember those times after you visited him. You’d get shitfaced and cry, babbling about how angry he was and how he didn’t care about your baby.” Chase stated evenly. “I don’t trust someone who did that to you. I don’t trust someone who didn’t spare a thought for their newborn.”

Robert’s jaw tightened. No matter how much his concerns angered him, he wasn’t wrong.

“Okay.”

The drive home was tense, Sharjeela’s rambling the only thing to break up the silence.

When they got home, Robert started to cook. Lazily starting on Hamburger Helper as his daughter crashed on the couch, laying belly up like a beached whale, with her hair loosely falling around her head.

Robert couldn't resist taking a photo.

When the smell of Hamburger Helper woke her, Robert was near elbow deep in the pan, dutifully scraping the bottom because he didn’t want to burn it.

She padded towards the kitchen, sitting in the dining room and looking over the counter behind her at her father.

“Daddy, is it ready yet?” Robert shook his head before answering.

“No, it's not ready yet.”

“Daddy, do I get powers too?” Robert startled a bit at the question.

“What do you mean?”

“Those other kids, this morning. They had powers.” She fumbled a little. “Do I get too?”

“Maybe, your other dad had powers. You could be like me or like him. Or something else entirely.” Robert shrugged.

“I want blondie powers.” Robert finished scraping, he turned down the heat and covered it before washing his hands and walking to his daughter.

“Blonde Blazer?” Robert questioned, making Sharjeela nod furiously. “Why?”

“She’s pretty.” Shar traced the wood grain on the chair.

“She thinks you’re pretty too.” Robert watched her eyes light up.

“Really?” She nodded to herself. “I am very pretty.”

“Yes, you are.”

She was quiet for a bit. And then Robert watched as she tottered off, hearing the zip of her bag opening and rustling for a significant amount of time.

Then she bubbled back around the corner.

“See my drawing?” Shar questioned, already pushing her artwork towards him. It was slightly crumpled from her little hands.

“Oh sweetie, that’s amazing.” Shar jumped a bit in her seat.

“It’s you daddy.” She pointed at the abstract stick figure on the page.

“You made daddy look so good.” Robert nodded, grabbing a magnet and placing it on the fridge.

“Humburger Helper now?” Shar smiled deviously.

“No, you need to do your words first.” He walked the few paces to the table, pulling a stack of flashcards.

She groaned. “Then? After?” She buried her face into her arms, muffling her words.

“Yes.”

Robert flicked through the flashcards, allowing her to read the short words.

“She doesn’t need to know how to read yet.” Chase remarked dryly.

“My dad did it with me, it helps her get ahead in reading.” Robert justified, watching his daughter struggle through making the right vocal inflections to say cat.

When she finished, it was conveniently only a few seconds before he was even supposed to take the food off the stove.

He took it off the burner, using a wooden spoon to divvy it up into three bowls. He stuck an ice pack in Shar’s to help cool it down, mixing it in before removing it, leaving it warm to eat. He quickly rinsed off the ice pack.

He balanced the hot bowls, serving Chase and Sharjeela first before going back to get his own.

His daughter immediately dug in.

Robert hesitated, letting out a half breath, half interruption.

“Sharjeela?”

His daughter’s head perked up.

“Do you know how you have another dad?” Chase stopped moving, watching as Sharjeela nodded.

“Yea, papa. He's not here now.” She shrugged.

“That’s right, but he’s gonna come back soon.” Robert nodded slightly as he spoke.

“I can see him?” She smiled, flashing her pearly white teeth at her father.

“He’s going to come see you on Monday.” Robert paused. “We’ll need to get up early and then we can go see him.

“PAPAAA!” Sharjeela cheered, before redevoting all her attention to the Hamburger Helper.

“Well, she doesn’t seem to be concerned about it.” Chase replied dryly.

“I hope it stays that way.”

…..

It did not stay that way.

In fact, it was the exact opposite of not concerned.

It was 6 am and his daughter was demanding that she try on half her dresses to pick out the one her papa would love the most.

He had to veto that princess dress because he knew Sharjeela would start itching uncontrollably if she tried to play at daycare with it on.

It had been half an hour of zipping up dresses and a lot of frustration on both Robert and Sharjeela’s behalf.

Finally they had settled on something comfortable, a little pale green dress covered in foliage designs. Daisies bloomed all over her dress and the neckline featured cloth butterflies climbing around her collarbones.

Robert zipped and buttoned the dress and Shar twirled and didn’t screech about it looking bad.

She turned around, looking up at her father.

“Braid?” She traced her hairline, and wow did he regret letting Veronica (Vitality) come over and braid her hair.

Robert brought his daughter to the sink of the bathroom, brushing through her hair with a wet hairbrush. The wet hair at least made it easier as he made a mini waterfall braid, gradually adding more hair as he moved across her scalp, making what was essentially a small braided headband across her hairline. Thankfully this style also kept her hair conveniently out of her face.

He wiped her face with a wet towel, then gave her a toothbrush, allowing her to scrub her teeth while he buttoned his shirt up.

His daughter smiled brightly at him. And Robert opened the drawer, pulling out a butterfly clip, attaching it to the end of the braid, covering the elastic.

Sharjeela leaned over to the drawer, picking out a sparkly chapstick. Quickly uncapping it and moving her uncoordinated hand to attempt to put it on.

Robert quickly caught her, taking the chapstick and applying it carefully. Sharjeela turned to look at herself in the mirror.

“Perfect.”

Her mouth screwed up a bit, eyes darting over her appearance.

“Will papa like?” She turned back, her glowing brown eyes peering up at him.

“Papa will love you.” Robert kissed her forehead.

“You’re perfect.” Robbery parroted back to her, his face stretching into an affectionate smile.

Sharjeela nodded, an overly serious expression on her face and determination twinkling in her eyes.

Robert picked his daughter up and placed her gently on the floor.

She skipped around, way too awake this morning. Meaning she’d likely crash and fall asleep by midday.

She ate breakfast very quickly, gulping down her orange juice before running and grabbing her bag.

Robert quickly cleared the table, grabbing two containers of Hamburger Helper from the fridge for himself and Chase.

By the time they had packed themselves into the car, the sun was finally peeking out, but a majority of the sky was shrouded in darkness.

Sharjeela was uncharacteristically silent, choosing to pensively stare out the window during the entire ride to work.

When they were about halfway there, Robert’s phone buzzed.

Zahir: I’m here.

Robert nervously gulped in anticipation for what was bound to happen in just a few minutes.

When they pulled in, Robert had to pull himself up from his seat. He went on autopilot, unfastening Sharjeela from her seat and instead of putting her on the ground, propped her up on his hip and headed towards the doors of the desolate SDN building.

Robert followed the few lights that were on, leading an unsettling trail to the employee break room next to his cubicle.

Robert felt Sharjeela push her face into his shoulder, peeking out slightly when they entered the bright break room.

Zahir sat in one of the seats, black hair cascading down his shoulders and wearing another one of his silken button ups.

Chase shut the door, locking it and taking his position like a gargoyle. Back pressed to the door as he glared at Zahir.

Sharjeela peeked out again, looking at Zahir.

The second they made eye contact, Zahir’s face softened and his eyes sparkled with tears.

“Joon-am.” Zahir whispered to himself in disbelief. He blinked rapidly to dispel the tears clouding the vision of his baby girl.

Robert crept over slowly, placing her gently in front of her Papa.

Her dress unscrunched and swung slightly back and forth. She peeked up at Zahir, her gaze dropping down to her own hair and then back up at his.

“Papa?” Sharjeela reached out towards his hair and Zahir bowed his head, allowing her to run her fingers through his hair.

With his head down, Robert saw as teardrops fell on the floor, hidden from his daughter’s view.

Zahir wiped the tears off his face, peering up at his daughter from under his hair which partially shielded his face.

“Yes?” Zahir whispered back to his daughter.

“You’re back.” She smiled at him, putting a hand on his knee and attempting to climb up to him.

Zahir glanced at Robert, fingers twitching towards his daughter. Robert nodded, and Zahir’s fingers slowly wrapped around their daughter’s waist, tugging her up to sit on his lap.

“You’re staying now, right?” Sharjeela’s feet stretch across his thighs, fingers clutched in his soft shirt.

“Yes, I’m staying. Forever.” Zahir nodded furiously, the arm supporting her back tightening.

After a few moments of basking in each other’s presence, Zahir readjusted his daughter. Moving her to face him.

He cupped her face, eyes flickering over every feature. He committed each small detail to his memory reverently.

“Spark pretty?” She questioned, eyes boring into her Papa’s.

“You are the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen.” Zahir smiled, tears carving paths freely down his cheeks.

“Why sad?” Sharjeela’s face twisted in distress at recognition of his tears. She shifted, wrapping her Papa in her arms and furiously squeezing.

“No, Joon-am. I’m just so happy. I love you so much.” Zahir’s arms bundled his daughter tighter. He focused on imprinting her into his memory, holding her as close as possible, hearing her heartbeat and breaths.

A scuff drew Zahir’s attention for a moment. Looking up in time to see Robert wiping tears from his eyes.

Chase glared at Zahir suspiciously, eyes lingering slightly above his head.

Sharjeela burrowed closer into her Papa, folding her body into his chest, cheek resting on his shoulder. Her fingers moved, slithering her small palm into Zahir’s and intertwining their fingers.

Zahir felt her small body relax, melting on top of him as her breath evened out. He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

“Wa’rm” she muttered, eyes flickering closed.

Zahir’s expression morphed minutely, he looked star struck, face glowing with joy and wonder as he cradled his baby.

He looked up at Robert, a blindingly tender smile stretching his cheeks.

Robert looked at them, momentarily seeing a much younger Zahir with a swaddle in his arms looking proudly at his husband as if to say ‘look what we made’.

What should have been. The cool grief of it all rolling over Robert momentarily.

They stood there in silence. Chase eventually ambled over and sat at the table, Robert did so as well, but pulled up a chair next to Zahir.

Robert leaned slightly on his husband. Heat radiating from Zahir’s body and flickers of sparks flying off his hair.

The heat retreated for a second, Robert looked up at Zahir and gave him a stink eye.

But Zahir’s soft smile just twitched and he tilted his head towards his shoulder.

Robert took the indication, scooting himself closer and burrowing into Zahir’s side. Once Robert settled, Zahir warmed himself back up again. Robert’s body relaxed on reflex and he found himself similarly drifting to a murky place between wakefulness and sleep.

The faint jingle of the door brought Robert slowly back into wakefulness. Stirring him only for a second.

He glanced around the room, but found nobody and the door still firmly shut.

Zahir found himself reluctant to move, his husband at his side and his daughter cradled in his arms. A profound sense of rightness warmed his heart, he just didn’t know how he could ever let go.

Zahir felt both their heartbeats, drumming peacefully against him.

Robert’s was familiar, the strong beats played a soothing song against his arm.

Zahir’s fingers pressed gently into his daughter’s wrist, feeling her blood thrum rhythmically under his fingers. The life flowing through her veins, because she was here. His baby.

In this moment he had everything.

He glanced out and, watching as the shaded windows gradually grew lighter as people began to arrive.

And now, he’d have to part with it. Temporarily, he prayed.

Because if he did enough, instead of going back to his apartment alone, he’d have this every night.

He felt the weight of his world in his arms, and didn’t know how to disturb her. Instead, he nudged Robert gently, whose eyes quickly flicked open.

He groaned, but quickly took note of the increased brightness.

Then he looked at Zahir who wore a pained expression. Arms slightly tightening around his daughter.

Work was starting.

“You can carry her down to daycare with me.” Robert whispered, a soft smile dancing on the edges of his lips. He stood, guiding Zahir to do so slowly as well.

He readjusted his arms, catching where her weight shifted. He dutifully followed Robert, who led them through the winding halls of SDN before finally arriving at the daycare.

Zahir stayed, staring at Robert, pleading etched into his eyes.

“Stop by at my desk for lunch, we can go eat with her.” Robert offers.

Zahir nodded firmly, then he leaned down and peppered his daughter's face with kisses. Her nose scrunched and her big brown eyes opened drowsily.

She stretched like a cat, her back, legs, and arms all pushing away from herself dramatically.

“Papa?” She muttered, eyes focused solely on Zahir.

“It’s time to go to daycare.” Robert reminded her. Her face scrunched up in annoyance.

“What about Papa?” She mumbled in a slightly accusatory tone.

“He’s coming to see you at lunch too.” Robert reassures her.

Sharjeela looked up at Zahir, arching a brow at him.

Zahir confirmed it with a nod. “I’ll be there Joon-am.”

A smile spread across her cheeks, wiggling a little to hug her Papa tighter. “I love you, Papa.” She whispered to Zahir before loosening her grip and fidgeting until Zahir set her feet carefully on the ground.

Robert glanced at Zahir, stifling a giggle at the fact that flames flickered around his ears.

Zahir didn’t notice, his total focus on Sharjeela as she hugged Robert’s leg.

“Love you, Daddy.” She smiled up at Robert, slowly creeping towards the door but struggling to turn away from them.

Finally the door opened and shut. The sound of it closing echoing through the hall.

Robert turned to head back to his desk, but a hand wrapping around his bicep stopped him.

Robert glanced back, eyes meeting with Zahir’s teary ones. Zahir moved slowly, telegraphing his movements as he moved Robert against the wall, arms wrapping firmly around him and Zahir’s face ducked into Robert’s shoulder.

“Thank you, just thank you so much. This is the best day of my life.” Zahir choked slightly on his words, fingers curling into the fabric of Robert’s shirt. Zahir’s quick breaths blew unnaturally warm on Robert’s shoulder.

‘The best day of his life…’ Robert mulled over his words. ‘And it’s only 8:30.’

Robert squeezed him back gently.

Zahir reluctantly pulled himself away, quickly wiping any salty dryness from his face.

“We have to get back, I have to get the Z Team together for a meeting.” Robert said with forced professionalism.

Zahir nodded, trailing behind Robert until he picked up his headset, automatically connecting to all available members of the Z Team.

“Hello, it is Robert Robertson, your dispatcher. Please meet in Conference room B by 8:50. Don’t be late.” Robert looked back up at Zahir who wasn’t dressed in his hero attire.

Robert clicked off his headset and set it down.

“Don’t worry about changing, I’ll give you 20 minutes after the meeting to get ready.” Robert stated before walking to Conference room B, giving Zahir a moment to collect himself.

The Z team slowly filtered in, they looked exactly like their photos, which was helpful as he reflected on the information he had regarding each of them.

Malevola appeared seconds before it hit 8:50. Robert glanced at the door, Flambae still wasn’t here yet.

Robert sighed, rearing himself up to speak when the door was pushed open and Flambae entered. Still in his casual clothes but looking less puffy eyed and red then before.

He dropped into the closest open seat next to Prism who had been eyeing Robert suspiciously the entire time.

“Okay.” Robert started. “Blonde Blazer and Chase were planning on having me cutting one of you.”

A ripple of discomfort surged through the room.

“But, unfortunately, Chase and Blazer are no longer in charge of you all. I am.”

“What fucking super hero group did you come from? The fucking geek squad?” Prism laughed, her eyes holding a sharpness that wasn’t in the slightest humorous.

Flambae perked up, eyes widening in shock at Prism’s jab. His husband was never a hero…

but he was here, meaning he was.

“It doesn’t matter where I’m from Cardi-C. I’m here to see who can make this program work.” Robert paused. “So I’m not just cutting one of you, I’m cutting everybody who doesn’t start making a hundred point average in the next three weeks.”

Discontent ripples through the room. Mumbled objections and sarcastic comments buzz around the room for a moment.

“Most people when they look around this room would see a bunch of villains, not even the super kind, just regular ass vanilla fucking villains.” Robert paused scanning over the faces of each person sitting at the table.

“Luckily for all of you, I’m not most people. When I look around this room, I see…”

His gaze landed on Flambae.

“Fear.” Robert begins to move around the table. “You’re afraid that you’re going to fuck it up again. Like the last time someone gave you a shot, and the time before that, and the time before that.” He punctuated each repetition.

“You’re afraid of letting people down again, you’re afraid of letting yourself down.” Robert took a steadying breath. “If you want this time to be different then those other times, I’m here to help.”

“I’m not just going to leave you by yourselves. If any of you feel you’re struggling to meet the minimum number of points, I’ll arrange a meeting with a higher ranking hero of your skill set. That way they can advise you on how to increase your performance.”

“Any physical issues, we’ll design a device tailored to your disability to help you succeed.” He stared at Invisigal.

“And if any of you have issues with other team members, come to me. Anyone caught sabotaging another member will have an automatic 20 point deduction from their score for each offense.”

“Play by the rules and work hard. Then none of you will be shoved back in your cells and left to rot.” Robert turned to leave, glancing back at the room to deliver one last thought.

“You’re phoenixes, so show me what redemption looks like.” Then Robert leaves, ignoring the chatter perking up behind him.

Flambae leaves seconds later, looking at Robert’s back for a moment before darting to the locker room.

His mind raced. ‘His husband was a hero? How could he have not known?’

‘Why hadn’t Robert told him?’

His mind hopped back and forth from different possibilities. Unfortunately all riding a one way track to the fact that a confrontation with Robert could lead to Sharjeela’s removal from his life.

So they had both been lying.

At least Robert’s reasoning had been admirable, a hero. Making the world a better place for their daughter. Flambae struggled to breathe, splashing his face with water to force mental clarity.

‘Whatever is going on, he has to be careful.’

He didn’t want the strand of hope, which had pulled him out from that prison, to snap, leaving his husband and daughter out of reach.

AN: Joon-am translates to my life btw <3

So, Zahir is going to have some fun •~• I’m already halfway through the next chapter and I’m probably going to post it tomorrow, maybe today if I get enough motivation.

So, if you can’t tell, I don’t really like Invisigal? She’s a traitor who rides the line and waits for a strong wind to sway her one way or the other. I also don’t like blazer going ‘lol cut someone’ while having him give special attention to Invisigal. So I fixed the bits that annoyed me.

Invisigal has a pretty important scene next chapter which confirms some of ya’lls suspicions on when she’s there or not. Feel free to guess which ones, I did leave clues.