#xplodes

once your break ended, more people filed into the office, and you instinctively put your headphones on, bidding robert goodbye to go and work.

that went well, you think.

robert watches you walk away and almost bump into waterboy. the hero stammers a few apologies that you dont hear, merely raising your hands up to say sorry before continuing to walk. robert lets out a snort despite himself, getting up to walk back to his desk.

the next day, he walks into work and immediately finds you in the break room. headphones on, mixing sugar into your tea again. he taps you on the shoulder. you startle, take your headphones off, and turn around. a smile graces your features when you see his face. you lean against the counter. "funny seeing you here."

"at my job? yeah, pretty funny." he pauses, wondering how to go about this conversation. "so.. i listened to the songs you recommended."

"ah, really?" your grin brightens at that. "how'd you like 'em?"

"they're great. really." for once, he wasnt lying about having listened to someone's recommendations.

and clearly, you weren't used to someone showing interest in your recommendations, because robert saw your skin darken around your ears.

"do you like sadder songs?" he asks after swallowing the weight in his throat. you nod. "well– i think you'd really like 'the smallest church in sussex' by sea power."

"I'll give it a listen." you brush your hair behind your ears, something he's seen you do a million times. this time it feels more endearing. "ah, listen to cherry-coloured funk by the cocteau twins."

he hums to show his acknowledgment. "well, get back to your tea." you give him a small, awkward wave to bid him adieu and he chuckles, walking back to his desk.

you suck in a sharp breath, rubbing your hand along your face as if to wipe away the heat in your cheeks and turn back to your tea.

the next day when you rolled into work, you saw a note on your desk.

in case you want to send me any more songs, heres my number.

-robert

and a phone number underneath. you smile to yourself, pulling your phone out to write his number into your phone.

that was the start of your tradition of exchanging music with robert. it was nice. you even made a playlist with all the songs he told you to listen to, and he did the same.

you were working late, filling out paperwork for a new batch of heroes that had to be allocated to different teams. the sun had already set, and no one but the night-shift janitors were in the office, sweeping floors. you yawned, signing the last sheet. bundling up the papers in your arms, you stood up, tucked your chair in with one hand and made your way to blonde blazers office to drop off the papers. on your way back, you saw robert coming out of the gym, carrying a dog carrier containing his dog, beef.

"hey!" you called out to him, he ignored you. you tilt your head and furrow your brows, deciding to walk up to him.

"robert?" you tap his shoulder. he startles, and his hand goes up to pull out his earbuds.

"oh, hey." you could faintly hear the last shadow puppets playing through his earbuds.

"hey." you glance down at his chest where his earbud was dangling. he raised an eyebrow. "the last shadow puppets?" he relaxes his features, realizing you weren't just checking him out.

"oh, yeah." he chuckles. "thanks for putting me onto them."

"no problem. heading home?" you extend your hand out towards beefs carrier.

"pretty much." beef begins licking your hand, and you give him a few neck scritches. "you go by the bus, right? you could go with me, it's not safe at this time anyways."

"sure." you were planning on taking an uber anyways, but you'd rather go with robert. because it's safer. you don't have any ulterior motives.

The two of you make it to the bus stop in comfortable silence, occasionally chatting about work and your respective teams. the bus was pretty much empty, even the bus driver seemed pretty zooted. you wouldn't have it any other way. crowded buses sucked. you sat by the window. the glass was fogged up and cold under your fingertips as you traced stars and hearts on the glass. beef was sandwiched in between your seats, sleeping peacefully. robert tried to keep his eyes glued to the back of the seat ahead of him, but kept sneaking glances at you.

as the bus crossed more stations, more people began to file in. he saw your expression sour, one hand going up to cover your right ear as you pretended like you were just resting your arm against the bumpy windowsill.

"what happened to your headphones?" he asked, gentler than he meant to.

"they died. left my charger at home." his brows furrowed with worry. he paused for a moment.

you looked at him. he held out his hand to you, holding one of his earbuds out. you smile softly, taking it in your hand and putting it in your ear. it kept falling out though, because the wire was too short.

Robert picked up beefs carrier and placed it in his lap, scooching closer to your seat to close some of the distance. the earbud fit perfectly in your ear. Robert took his phone out to switch the song.

you looked at him, mouth slightly open in shock as the familiar guitar riffs played. robert grinned. "guilty as charged."

he's pining for her,

in a people carrier

there might be buildings and pretty things to see like that

but architecture wont do

although it might say a lot about the city or town

i dont care what they've got, keep on turning 'em down

it dont say the funny things she does

...

Robert closed his eyes, sinking deeper into the fuzzy bus seats as the driver called out station names and the opened bus doors let in a gush of cold air that would sink down to his skin.

and the thought of it

you kept your eyes open, watching him for a moment, before getting lulled to sleep by the music, closing your eyes and resting your head against his shoulder.

...

makes you feel a bit ill

Despair in the departure Lounge

is one and they'll still be around at three

no signal and low battery