Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Embarrassing

“What is?” Robert asked, wincing at the effort of holding up a tray overladen with crunchy tacos. It hurt to hold his own arms up, and he half-placed, half-dropped the burden onto the table where Visi sat raising an eyebrow.

“You getting my food for me. I can carry it. I’m a big girl.” She eyed the nearby No Smoking sign, and nodded to herself with satisfaction before taking out a cigarette and lighting it. “Makes me feel like you’re twelve and trying to do what your mom told you girls like.” She took a long drag off of the cigarette and let it go in tiny puffs that snuck out as she cracked a smile. “I guess I do like it, though, fuck.”

“Oh good, ‘cause I actually never knew my mom so I was taking blind guesses here.” Robert unwrapped his first of three well-deserved tacos. He bit into it with a heroic crunch, and continued with his mouth full. “Dick.”

A brief look of panic flashed over Visi’s eyes. She sat up abruptly, then groaned as the motion pulled at the bandages covering her shoulder wound.

“Fuck. I’m sorry, I - ,” Robert held up a hand.

“Court, it’s fine. Really. One day I’ll probably cry and tell you all about it and we’ll pity fuck, but I’m saving that delightful time for us to get to later.” He grinned at her as he unwrapped a second taco, planting it right onto the vanquished remains of its predecessor. Visi chuckled at the motion; it had a conviction to it that she had come to recognize in how Robert did everything.

“Good to know. Pity fucks are hot,” she replied, emancipating her own taco from its wrappings. She looked at it without taking a bite. When she spoke her voice softened. “I could probably use one of those too. Today has been a lot.” She leaned back to look across the tiny dining area, empty except for the two of them.

All around, Torrance showed the signs of the war zone it had been just hours before, and not in the “ha ha, socal is so shitty” kind of way that brought the locals an odd sort of comfort. Smoke still clouded the sky, the sunset striking every pollutant released by exploding industry to create a dazzlingly beautiful shade of orange. And in the middle of it all, reassuring and steadfast was the Taco Bell. Somehow, as nearly every building on the block was struck by debris, this place had managed to remain completely untouched and exactly as shitty as it had always been.

Invisigal tried not to let that last part fester, but as always the hateful inner voices clung to it. Just like you. Untouched but just as shitty. It won’t be long before he sees that. She cringed and bit into her taco. It took every ounce of effort not to just vanish. The shame felt so heavy all of a sudden. Five familiar ingredients tasted like ash, even remixed. She felt the self loathing rise like bile and took another drag off her cigarette to mask one nausea with another.

It had always made her dizzy, from the moment she first tried it. But nothing else really gave off the exact misunderstood rebel punk aesthetic, so she stuck with it. It became easy to reach for one to fill the growing emptiness over the years. The familiar burn was like a childhood favorite treat dipped in an oil slick. It hurt, which felt right in her lowest moments. She blinked away a half formed tear and met Robert’s gaze as her vision cleared.

He was obviously exhausted but her wandering thoughts hadn’t slipped his notice. He had finished his third taco, leading Visi to notice that not only had she barely touched her first, but that her cigarette was a burnt out filter between her fingers. She sighed and looked for an ashtray in vain before flicking the butt over her shoulder.

“Whoa there. Littering is a bad look for a hero.” He smiled at her as he spoke. “What kind of example is that setting?”

“Fuck the system.” Visi murmured.

“Ah yeah of course. Silly me.” Robert leaned over the table and took Visi’s hand in his gently. He stroked the back of her hand cautiously, like comforting a stray cat. “Today has been a lot, yeah. It’s okay to be tired. It’s okay to want to be done, at least for now.”

Visi cringed under his touch, which Robert mindfully ignored even as it filled him with a deep and familiar sadness. She didn’t know how to accept affection, which was unfortunate because he didn’t exactly know how to give it. He had dated before, fucked, even loved for a brief moment. But none of it survived the cold shadow of his father’s ghost, mocking him for effort spent outside of the Mecha suit. He had felt like a traitor for ever wanting more, and any pursuit crumbled under the weight of his shame.

It wasn’t gone, of course. It still hung there in the recess of his thoughts, wearing his dead father’s face as it looked down on him with derision. But for the first time, Robert felt like he could choose to look at something else.

He stood and walked around the table to sit next to Visi, putting his arm around her waist and drawing her close. He felt the warmth of her skin and the shift of her body in response to his presence.

“Smooth move, Robbie. We going steady now?” Visi teased, but leaned fully into him. Robert could feel her heart beating against his chest. “Where’d you learn that one, SchoolHouse Rock?”.

“Did… did Schoolhouse Rock ever do an episode about how to put the moves on somebody.” He paused. “No way, right?” Robert asked, suddenly less certain.

“Fuck if I know, I skipped too much class growing up and haven’t ever actually seen it.” Visi shrugged, wincing again at the pain. “Today kids, we’ll be learning about finding the g spot!” She said in a corny voice. “Is that what the show sounded like? Fuck, I don’t know.”

“It’s… definitely not what it sounded like, no. For several reasons.” Robert choked back a snort of laughter. He leaned into Visi’s hair and planted a quick peck on the top of her head, eliciting a chirp of surprise. “You uh, you good?” He asked a reddening Invisigal.

“Why did. That was…” she started and stopped herself several times before finally speaking. “That was nice,” She managed.

“You know, for someone who talks such a big game about how many assholes you’re going to finger and in what order, you’re surprisingly bashful.” Robert said with a smile. “It’s cute.”

“Hey, Fuck you,” Visi tapped his chest with a fist, not-so-gently. Her eyes softened, and her voice dropped to a near murmur. “Fucking is easy. It’s just being a body. Worst thing you can fuck up is some other loser’s orgasm. This? This feels… “ she trailed off, unsure of how to finish. Robert held her tighter.

“Like we’re going steady?” He offered, retreating to familiar, sarcastic ground. He knew she felt safer that way, and wanted to offer an out after multiple consecutive genuine emotions. He wasn’t ready for her to simply look at him and nod. Robert had no follow up thought prepared, and gaped at her like a fish trying to comprehend existence beyond the aquarium glass. “Umm well I. Uh.”

“Kind of thought we already were?” Visi chuckled at her own cleverness. “Remember, like when you said that to me at the movi-“

“Yeah. I do. Thanks. Thanks for that.” Robert cut her off. “Smartass.”

“You’re into it.” Visi’s face was smug and her tone contained an invitation for further verbal sparring, but her smile left Robert too flustered to meet the challenge.

“You are …not wrong.” Robert admitted. “And I would… I would like that. For the record. Going steady I mean. Or. Fuck, dating? What does that even translate to…” he mumbled into his own shirt collar. A gentle but firm touch on his chin drew his gaze to meet Visi’s as she moved closer and pulled his lips to hers.

The kiss was electric, as the first two had been. Robert couldn’t help but drink her in - the feel of her lips, the warmth of her skin, her gentle breathing catching in whispered excitement. He breathed her in and held her there within his chest, where it felt right.

Visi was dizzy again, but she didn’t care. It wasn’t nausea this time, but sheer giddiness. It felt dangerous and uncertain, and a lifetime of instinct screamed at her to bolt for safety. She held herself in place out of pure spite for those instincts, born of fear and desperation as they were. Instead, she let herself focus on Robert, on the rise and fall of his chest moving faster as their kiss intensified.

She felt his hands on her, strong but gentle in a way that felt unusual, unfamiliar. Ah. Safe, that was it. She felt safe, which was alien and wonderful and almost too much to handle. Visi broke the kiss and stared into Robert’s eyes, her own full of adoration.

“What?” He asked, smiling but a little uncertain at what was driving this sudden torrent of what appeared to be earnest feeling. He was pretty sure it was a good thing, but what if… he was interrupted before he could finish that thought. Visi’s expression had taken on a rather hungry aspect that he couldn’t quite place.

“Oh nothing, Robert.” She answered coyly. “Just that this is our third date and you just bought me dinner, so…” she trailed off, raising an eyebrow suggestively.

“Oh fuck,” Robert choked out. “I mean, you’re hurt I wasn’t trying to-“

“Robert. Shut the fuck up and let’s go.”

It was Robert’s turn to simply nod.

Chapter Text

The door slammed shut behind Visi and Robert as they tumbled into his apartment in a tangle of grasping limbs. Visi had kicked it shut with one foot while hooking the other around Robert’s waist, and was fully straddling him by the time they had made it properly past the kitchen.

Beef would normally come scurrying up and demanding his nightly tithe of affection and food anytime Robert came home, but Chase had texted offering to watch him for the night and had picked him up before Robert had finished typing out “Yeah, sure.” Robert now wondered if this was strategic on Chase’s part as a partway apology for ruining the housewarming party, but Courtney moaning with anticipation snapped him back to far more pressing concerns.

He took a moment to look at her, lit from seven angles by the seven mismatched lamps that made up the decor of his apartment. She was just so beautiful, it almost hurt. She wore a wry little smile across her face and had the softest, most gentle warmth in her eyes. Robert had seen a glimmer of it when they danced together just a few nights before, but that ember was now fully ablaze and he felt its heat radiate across his skin in waves.

Visi took a second to catch her breath, her asthma and nerves mixing into a perfect airway-impairing blend that almost left her gasping. She couldn’t help but feel a little flustered; normally it took an orgasm or two to get her to this degree of breathlessness. She couldn’t help it though. She felt Robert looking at her, through and into her. It was hard to think straight.

Fuck. She wanted him to keep looking at her exactly like that and never stop. It was moments later when she realized she had actually said so aloud. Any doubt or hesitation she felt melted away when she saw what her words had done to him.

Clothes became a burden; a barrier. Something unnecessary and deeply confining and unwelcome. She needed to feel his skin against hers, and she needed to feel it everywhere. Now.

As she slipped off her top (wait, her jacket was already gone? And her pants? When did…) she felt a sharp pang of halting panic. As she had lifted her shirt, a slight reddish glow had emerged from her implant to illuminate Robert’s face. He was gorgeous as ever, but the light. That color.

Shame tore into Visi like knives, the reminder of her past piercing the haze of joy that she had let herself settle into. Traitor. Liar. Invisibitch. Fucking monster.

She had needed the implant. Or had thought she did. That wasn’t the issue. It was what she had been willing to do to keep it. Planting a bomb on someone’s mech suit wasn’t exactly standard cause in the list of guilt complexes, but she had known the whole time that she was planting someone’s death. That it had turned out to be Robert was something she still wrestled with daily. Maybe hourly.

He had survived because… he just did. Visi wasn’t entirely convinced he didn’t have powers. But he shouldn’t have, and it was close. She had almost robbed the world of Robert, and the thought ate away at her. Especially now.

Robert had noticed, of course. “Not an idiot” was one of the first things she learned about him. She had frozen, and he had placed his hands over hers where they gripped her shirt. Gently, he shifted them down and around to feel her skin underneath. Courtney winced as his fingers traced the edges of her implant.

“Does it hurt?” Robert’s voice was gentle.

“Yeah, a bit.” She confessed. “It’s a back alley implant and it doesn’t even work anymore so it’s just… there. I’m mostly used to it, it’s just…” she trailed off. She didn’t want to finish the thought.

“A reminder?” Robert offered, annoyingly insightful as always.

“Yeah.” The word hung in the air, and Visi knew she didn’t need to elaborate further. Of the time(s) I betrayed you, she thought. Built into my fucking skin and on me forever.

Robert wished he knew what to say. He was still holding Visi up, her legs wrapped around his waist and his hands resting underneath her (perfect) ass. Stop, asshole, he snapped at himself in his head. This isn’t about your fucking dick. Her ass being perfect is neither here nor there right now.

“Well, that makes sense.” He managed. “Does it help at all if I tell you that I think they’re kind of hot?” He mumbled the last part.

“Fucking what?” Visi didn’t know what to do aside from laugh. She let out a cackle. “Oh my god Robert, is that your kink? Do you want to fuck a Villain? I can’t. It’s too perfect. Do you want me to monologue?”

“No.” Robert said, almost a little too quickly. His cheeks flushed red. “That’s not it exactly, it’s more that I was really into cyberpunk chicks growing up… but that’s not really it either.” He didn’t really know how to navigate this shit. These were the kind of embarrassing thoughts teenagers had and hopefully never told anyone about. “It’s more just. I don’t think you showed anyone else that, did you?”

“No.” Visi hadn’t really thought about that in particular. There was a lot she hadn’t ever shown anyone other than Robert.

“Well, I think I like that.” Robert wasn’t meeting her gaze. She could hear raw fear in his voice, and realized he was pushing through terror to keep talking. “The idea that I’m special or something. That it’s just for me.” He couldn’t keep the quiver from his words.

He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. It was funny. They were just words, and saying them was as easy as saying any other words. In theory. But he was more scared of those words than he had been charging an entire warehouse of armed thugs, or staring down Shroud’s gun barrel.

It felt like something forbidden, to want to be important. His entire life he had chewed on the knowledge that there were other people out there who came first. His dad had to be out saving them, and Robert had to make do with whatever was left. Usually that meant Chase, which Robert had always been happy with. But even so, Chase was a babysitter. He was paid. He was helping a friend by watching his kid. It wasn’t the same. It wasn’t enough.

Robert had wept many bitter, secret tears into his pillow over the aching hole in his chest that he felt his entire life. Growing up, and as recently as just last week. Not even Beef noticed that. Robert had perfected completely stealthy crying by the time he was thirteen.

Except he was crying now, or rather, there was a sudden presence of a stream of tears down his cheeks where there were none before. He hadn’t even noticed. He felt his ears reddening. “I hope crying is one of your turn ons.” He managed to say finally.

Courtney had been silent for an uncharacteristically long time, her face an unreadable mask. When she spoke, it was the gentlest thing Robert had ever heard.

“You are so fucking special,” she breathed. She kissed the rivulets of his tears away, soothing the shuddering sobs that flowed involuntarily from Robert upon hearing her words. “You deserve it. Whatever it is. I don’t care. You deserve it.” Visi held him close and kept planting kisses across his entire face, along his forehead and eyes. She let out a breathy laugh. “Of course you’d find a way to enjoy the fucking piece of blatantly evil-looking metal jammed under my tits. Of course you fucking would.”

“Yeah? It’s not like it’s a part of you that you can just take off, so…” Robert began, confused. Visi cut him off.

“Don’t say that like it’s nothing. Don’t.” She kissed him again. “Nothing you do is… nothing. Fuck, that doesn’t sound smart.”

“No it doesn’t. I get it, though.” Robert was grinning wider than he could ever remember. He leaned into Visi’s neck, kissing underneath her ear and down to her collarbone. Her shudders filled him with something urgent, and he gripped her tighter.

“Good,” she moaned into his ear. “Because I don’t want to wait any longer to fuck you.” Robert nearly dropped her.

“Fuck,” he said. “I still don’t have a bed.” Visi stared at him blankly.

“I knew you were vanilla Robert, but come on use your imagin- mmmf!” The last word vanished into a fervent kiss as Robert pressed her against the wall.

He figured he was on the right track.

Chapter Text

“Ohmyfuckinggod, fucking fuck,” gasped Courtney. It was so much, so good. So perfect. Robert. So Robert. She tried to say so. “Rob-ah! Fuck. Yes. YES. Please. Fuck!” She practically screamed instead. Eh. Close enough.

Robert felt her body begin to tense up in his arms. Her legs wrapped around him even tighter, drawing him against and into her and locking together to keep him there. He was floating, or at least felt like it. He could feel her warmth all around him, taking him in with an eagerness that he could taste.

It was surreal. He still couldn’t believe it. He was actually there. With Courtney. Who seemed to really, really want him there. That took getting used to, even now in the face of overwhelming evidence. Their clothes in a messy pile on the floor. Her tongue currently massaging his, while the rest of her body quivered. The furrows she had raked down both of his shoulder blades when he first entered her. How long ago was that? What was time? Who cares, actually.

“Court…ney,” he rasped in between breaths. He wanted to say something hot, like… well, the problem was he didn’t really know. But her moans were fucking music, and he wanted to give her some of that same encouragement. “You feel so fucking good.” A classic, at least.

“Yeah?” Her composure snapped back without warning, her eyes suddenly piercing and lucid. “Tell me.” Her tone said now.

“So good,” he said again. His vision felt like a blur of colors, and all of them were Visi. “You’re so fucking good. I can’t get enough of you, give me more.” She squirmed with delight. She seemed to like that. “Please.” Oh fuck she seemed to really like that. “Please Courtney, I want you so fucking badly.” He groaned out. It was getting almost impossible to stay focused. His legs were shaking and afire with pain but he wasn’t about to care.

Courtney needed this. She wanted to hear that Robert wanted her, and she wanted to hear it over and over again. She felt herself melt when he said she was good. She wanted to be good, especially for him. She needed to be good for him.

The thought lingered in her mind, and it became a pulse that grew suddenly louder and louder. It drowned out everything else. Visi felt her legs cramp and her back ache from where Robert had been fucking her into the wall, but none of that mattered. She was so, so fucking close.

She hung there for an infinite moment. She couldn’t remember feeling this good, this happy. Ever. She savored it. And let the oncoming wave of mind numbing pleasure take her completely. She screamed. She was pretty sure. Probably. Fuck it. It was a torrent of gasping, ecstatic lightning that ran through her entire body and crackled out in every ragged breath.

Wait. It wasn’t just her making the noise. Robert’s moans had become deeper, louder, more urgent. He let out a shuddering gasp and his entire body tensed as whatever remaining restraint vanished completely. Courtney drank it in greedily. She did that. And he wanted her to. Fuck. Yes. She fumbled for his mouth with hers, kissing whatever she could reach until she found it.

She could feel the sweat running down Robert’s back, and the slight shaking of his muscles at holding her up. She buried her face in his shoulder, gently biting at his collarbone. It felt good to sink her teeth into him. Slowly she untangled her legs from around him, and slumped down from the wall she had been bracing against. The two of them melted to the floor in exhaustion and for a time there was only their slowing breathing and the soft lap of the rain against the windows.

“I can’t believe you say please even when you’re topping,” Visi said finally, tracing little circles into Robert’s chest with her fingertips. “It’s so fucking you.” The words were mocking but the tone was pure warmth.

“Who said that was topping?” Robert asked with feigned indignation. “We were mostly sideways.” He smiled into Courtney’s hair and took a deep breath. He wanted her scent as deep into his lungs as he could get it. She snorted in response.

“You had my arms pinned up above my head by the end there.”

“So?”

“So that was fucking hot. Do it again?”

“Can I get a couple of minutes?” Robert laughed. “But yes. A lot. Yes.” His grin became wolfish. “Please.” Visi grabbed his entire face and playfully pushed it away.

“If you’re going to make fun of the shit I say in bed you don’t get to make me say it,” she metered out with carefully fabricated sternness.

“We weren’t in bed.”

“Oh shit you’re right. Go ahead then.” Courtney pulled his face back and into another kiss.

“Heh.” Robert’s satisfied little chuckle filled her with more gratification than she thought possible. “Hey, that was… “ his voice slid from teasing to tender. “… everything. This is going to sound weird, but… thanks. I think I needed this. Needed you.” He trailed off, unsure of how to continue without going in circles. Courtney’s eyes caught him before he spun out too far into anxiety over what he had just said. They were shimmering.

“I needed you too.” She whispered to him. “I needed you so fucking much too.”

Chapter Text

Light sounds of rain tapped against the glass, waking Robert. He sat up in confusion, not remembering having fallen asleep. It was dark outside, darker than he remembered it being just a moment ago. He glanced around for Courtney the room seemed empty. The bathroom light wasn’t on either.

Worried thoughts bubbled up to the surface of Robert’s mind. Had something happened? Had she just… left? Did he do something wrong? No, she wouldn’t have left her pants and shoes. Insecurity turned to dread.

Had something happened? One of shrouds men, could they have come to take her? Could they have drugged him? How long was he out? He began to frantically pull on his pants. His phone, where was his phone? He could call SDN, maybe her tracker was still active. Maybe she was still alive.

His fingers lost their grip on the waistband of his pants, dropping them back to his ankles and pulling him to a dead stop from where he had tried to bolt across the room. His own momentum caught him off balance and he came tumbling back to the floor. He took a breath. Stop. Panic is useless. You can’t help anyone like this. Get. The Fuck. Up. Now.

“Uh, you okay?” Courtney’s voice shattered his entire train of thought and every station it had ever stopped in. She was leaning into the apartment having slid open the glass door, wearing his shirt over nothing and holding a flickering cigarette. She was still flickering a bit herself, fading back into view from where she had been standing invisible on the balcony. “It seemed kinda rude to smoke in the living room.”

Robert let out all of his breath at once. Fuck. Of course, she was just outside. Just smoking like she does all the fucking time. Just being Visi, lurking unseen. She probably just took a deep breath and held it, and the invisibility was an afterthought. He felt embarrassment redden his face and was glad for the darkened apartment to use as cover.

“Oh. Yeah, thanks.” He managed to say, trying to calm down and still the pounding in his ears. Adrenaline still surged within his limbs and made his fingertips tingle. The panic had risen so quickly, like a cut from a knife so sharp that it takes a minute to start bleeding. Robert forced his hands to stop trembling. It didn’t really take. He felt pathetic. Did he really just lose his shit because he lost sight of Visi for one entire second? What kind of clingy shit even was that?

Courtney had put out the cigarette and stepped back inside. Her body peeked out from underneath the folds of his shirt. She hadn’t bothered buttoning it up before stepping outside, and it swung fully open as she came back in. See, that was better. He could definitely focus on that. Unfortunately her eyes were sharp, like they always were when she noticed something was off.

“So.” Visi let the word hang between them in the dark. “You gonna let me in on this fight or flight mystique you’ve got going on here?” She had started approaching him, but paused. “Did something happen?” Her voice was soft, full of care and concern.

“No,” huffed Robert, “No nothing. I’m sorry. It’s nothing.” Her flat expression pulled out a bit more of an explanation. “I just woke up and I couldn’t see you and I thought….” He bit off the rest as he saw Courtney jerk in the darkness, the glow of her implant giving her movements away. Her posture sagged as if she had been punched in the gut.

“That I was gone.” She said in a small, broken voice. “That I lied to you again.” Courtney felt her self hatred burn within her chest. This was her fault. Robert was never going to get to fully relax, never be able to rest easy without having to check on whether she was fucking him over again. She couldn’t blame him. It was basic pattern recognition, some fundamental vertebrate shit. She couldn’t blame anything with a pulse for putting two and two together.

It made her guts churn. The knowledge that she can’t unfuck this particular tangle no matter what she does. She can’t un-betray Robert. She can’t turn back time. She deserved to feel like this over what she did.

“That something had happened to you.” Robert cut in. “Jesus Court. No, I told you I forgave you.” His tone came out sharper than he intended. He softened it. “I was worried someone got to you. Shroud’s men, or those mole people we pissed off, or who even fucking knows. I’ve spent way too many years looking over my shoulder. This is one hundred percent my bullshit.” He said emphatically. “I’m sorry.”

It made Visi want to cry, and she couldn’t be entirely sure she wasn’t already. Fortunately the room was dark. Robert was worried about her? Was that really it? She was so accustomed to people jumping to conclusions about her, this was unfamiliar territory. How could he not even suspect that she had just fucked off? Was he stupid?

No, she told herself. He just trusts you even when it doesn’t make sense. It was hard not see that for the truth that it was. When literally no one else could even conceive of her doing something good, Robert had been there assuming she already was. In the face of overwhelming, obvious evidence… even then, Robert had chosen to trust her anyway. Even though it meant leaving himself open. At the time she remembered wondering if it was just that; stupidity. Maybe naïveté? A lack of experience? Surely only someone who has never been burned could act like that.

What was maybe most surprising about Robert was that he had been burned, over and over again, and he still chose to stay vulnerable by trusting others. Visi couldn’t really fathom the sort of strength it took to continuously make that choice. But she didn’t need to; she just needed to recognize that it was who Robert was, and that he would keep doing it. In the end, that’s what had made her decide once and for all to leave her past behind. She couldn’t betray the trust Robert chose to keep showing her in the face of every reason why she didn’t deserve it.

It almost hurt, having someone so casually assume you meant well. To just set that out as a given, and give you the benefit of a doubt you didn’t know existed. But every day since meeting Robert, she had acquired more and more of a taste for it.

“Don’t apologize. Please.” Visi couldn’t bring herself to tease him. Not right now, not about this. Definitely soon, but this wasn’t something she wanted to risk getting lost in banter. “I’m sorry I made you worry.” She whispered to him. Sincerity was agonizing. She had to even it out somehow. “It’s okay that you’re clingy as fuck.” She crossed the room to hug him tightly, to make sure it was beyond obvious how unserious the last part was. “Is that better?” She muttered against Robert’s chest. To her satisfaction, she could already feel his heart rate slowing and returning to a normal, steady pulse. He nodded in response to her, but still stood stiff and awkward underneath her touch. That wouldn’t do.

Courtney grasped a handful of Robert’s hair and used it to plunge his nose into the top of her head. He seemed to like smelling her hair, she had noticed. Maybe it would calm him down a bit. To her delight, it seemed to work almost immediately. It wasn’t long before he spoke up again.

“Yeah, that’s actually fair. I’m really fucking needy. Always was. Just ask Chase,” Robert gave a mirthless chuckle. He was trying to bury the shame in self deprecation, hoping that saying it aloud would rob the thing of its power. Not a bad tactic honestly, but not one that can stand on its own. “I couldn’t see you for ten entire actual seconds, which is fucking unacceptable by the way.” He laughed at the fact that part of him almost meant it. “Another ten and I would have called SDN, put out a missing persons report…”

“Hey. I’m not leaving, okay?” Visi whispered suddenly. “I don’t want to be anywhere other than here.” Her voice took on a desperate tone. “I need you to know that I want to be right here and nowhere else.” She wanted to promise she’d never vanish again. To say she’d stay anywhere he needed her to if it meant could feel okay again. But she also knew that was no way to live for either of them, so she left it at that.

“Okay.” Robert’s breathing had slowed back down to normal. Finally. Even if he wasn’t going to acknowledge it, Courtney knew a panic attack when she saw one. She kicked herself for not thinking about how it might feel for him to wake up alone, for prioritizing wanting a cigarette over his comfort. At the same time though, she heard another inner voice (surprisingly enough, Robert’s voice) reminding her that actually no. That was crazy. He wouldn’t want to hold her hostage like that. He’d hate it. So she let it go. Kicking and screaming though it was.

“I can’t promise I’ll always be within view,” Visi began, preparing for a heartfelt but sappy outpouring.

“Of course not,” Robert interjected. “That’s insane.” He hugged her tight. “It just means a lot that you want to help.” Courtney could understand that, at least. She guided him back down to where they had been curled up before, and made a point of guiding his head to rest on her chest. She stroked his hair and whispered soft reassurances. They held each other in the dark for a time, listening to the rain against the windows.

Robert had almost fallen asleep again in Courtney’s arms when he heard both of their phones go off at the same time. Courtney’s was closer, she reached over sleepily to grab at it.

“Z-team is having drinks at Crypto Night, and they’ve threatened the bartender into unbanning you.” She read. “What do you think? Up for another bar brawl?” She asked all too sweetly. Robert groaned at the prospect.

“That wasn’t my fault.”

“One might consider your tendency to tear out implants as an escalation, Robert.”

“An escalation, not an instigation. Critical difference.” Visi shrugged. Fair point.

“Wanna go?” She asked Robert. Part of her could happily stay right here and sleep curled up against Robert. Another part of her wanted to brag to the entire world about who she had just fucked, starting with Z-team. It was hard to gloat with no one else around.

“Ugh. It’s late, right?” Robert strained to see a clock around the room before remembering he didn’t have any. “What time is it?”

“It’s seven pm, Robert. Are you actually a fucking boomer because I thought I was joking before.” Visi chuckled. “Is it your bedtime?” The challenge hung between them.

Robert met her gaze in the dark, and through it shone a familiar intensity that she had come to associate with feeling weak in the knees and wet a bit further up. Tired or no, Robert lit up in the face of a challenge. It was hot as fuck.

“Let’s fucking go then,” he half-growled. Visi suppressed a gleeful cackle. This was going to be so much fucking fun.

Chapter Text

“I’m a biiiitch, my name’s Robert such a bitch whose name is Robert…!”

Flambae’s crooning was the first thing Robert heard before he had even gotten to Crypto Night. The bar had gotten the full brunt of the previous nights attack on the city, and wasn’t so much a proper building anymore as it was a burnt out husk with three standing walls and a hole in the roof. Mismatched chairs and tables gathered from nearby rubble had replaced the classic bar decor. Patrons now sat on wicker, lawn chairs, ottomans or anything else that was even vaguely seat-adjacent gathered from piles of nearby debris.

Miraculously, the bar itself was intact as were most of the bottles along the back shelves. All in all, Crypto Night had skated by the destruction only a little bit worse for wear. Eventually someone with kinetic powers would come along and fix the walls and improvised skylight. For the time being, it maintained a liminal mystique normally reserved for backroom corridors and abandoned parking garages. Except packed full of increasingly drunken superheroes.

“I have no hooopes, I have no dreams. And a tiiiiny little peen, and it doesn’t even function anywayyyyyy….
becauseihaveerectiledysfunction.” Flambae was adding more embellishments with every loop of the chorus. Robert rolled his eyes as he approached the bar door, which had largely been reduced to a formality considering the gaping hole in the side of the building. He strolled past the bouncer who gave him a tiny, almost imperceptible nod. Shit, he was in plainclothes. Did everyone know who he was?

He didn’t have too much time to obsess over this idea, as he spotted z-team pretty much immediately. They had taken over a corner booth, and the table was already cluttered with empties. Prism was sitting up and filming Flambae’s performance on her phone, while Punch Up and Coupé made out sloppily in one corner. Guess they were back on again, Robert thought. Good for them. Coupé rejoining the team after working for Shroud wasn’t on anyone’s bingo card, but he was glad that she didn’t seem to be wasting any time rebuilding those bridges.

Sonar was enraptured in a deep, intense conversation with Phenomaman. An assortment of cards lay out between the two of them. Robert recognized the Magic The Gathering logo from his teen years. He hadn’t bet on those two becoming buddies, but they seemed to be bonding over how many specific weird rules there were. Or maybe Sonar was trying to convince Phenomaman to buy NFT’s of his cards. It could go either way.

Waterboy was standing nearby, looking uncharacteristically pleased with himself. A drink in one hand, he waved to Robert with the other as he noticed him enter the establishment. Almost immediately, a drunken hand clapped waterboy over the shoulder and drew his attention - Robert didn’t recognize the hero it belonged to, but he felt a swelling of pride over his friend getting recognition and praise for once.

Golem sat on the floor just behind the booth nodding his head along to the music and taking swigs from a bottle of whiskey that he had procured somewhere. For shame, Crypto Night. Serving alcohol to someone underage. Robert chuckled to himself. Even the villain bar turned him away. There was some irony to be found here, but mostly Robert was just glad he wouldn’t have to poke his head outside just to keep Golem in the conversation.

Malevola was waving to Robert with her tail, swinging it back and forth above the crowd. He held up a hand in greeting and made his way over after procuring a drink for himself. Just a light beer to start. He was still worn out from his evening with Courtney.

“Heya babes. Where’s the other half?” Malevola slid over to make room for Robert. He knew she was teasing, but he couldn’t help but grin wide at the acknowledgement that he and Courtney were together.

“She said she wanted to swing by her apartment first to grab something. She’s meeting us here in a few.” Robert took a swig of his drink. It was alright. Come to think of it he wanted something stronger. Ah well. He looked over to where Flambae was still caterwauling.

“Hey look it’s Robert you guys all know what that means, ONE MORE TIME! I’m a biiiitch, my name’s Robert, I’m a biiiitch whose name is Robert…” Annoyingly, the practice was paying off and Flambae was actually starting to hit a few of the notes. A couple of heads were bobbing along amongst the crowd. Christ.

“Is he going to sing that every time?” Robert asked.

“Oh, no. No no. Not every time.” Malevola replied. “Like another four times probably. Six tops.”

“This shit is engagement gold,” offered Prism, still filming. “My followers love it. I get double the traction whenever I post it, easy…. YEAH MY BOY FUCKIN ATE!” She cheered suddenly. Flambae had unexpectedly wrapped up and was heading back over. He slid into the booth beside prism and grabbed his drink from where he had left it.

“Just like every fucking day,” he boasted. “Eating all the fucking time, never hungry.” He nodded over his drink at Robert. “Bob bob.”

“Flambae.” Robert returned the same half-mocking tone. “I didn’t know Crypto Night had a karaoke machine.”

“It does now. I went over to the Sardine to … make sure it was okay. Big shame about the place. Burned down completely but I’m so fucking good I saved the only thing that mattered from that shithole.” Flambae caught his own reflection in his glass and flexed.

“You’re like a parrot.” Robert shook his head, laughing.

“The fuck you mean a parrot. Do I look like I want a fucking cracker?”

“Kind of, actually.” Malevola chimed in. “You can have one if it’ll shut you up.” Flambae gave her a two finger salute in return. She blew him a kiss.

“Where is Visi?” Flambae turned his attention back to Robert. “Did she already get sick of your shit and dump your flat ass?“ Robert felt a touch of bemusement. If he didn’t know better, he might start thinking than Flambae was actually asking as well as making fun.

“Uh, no.” Malevola offered again. “I swung by Robert’s apartment when we were first on our way over, but you two sounded busy so I figured I’d text you a bit later.” She winked at Robert. He felt his cheeks redden.

“Shit. You were there? Did you hear us when you were out in the hallway?” He felt a bit mortified, but also a little proud in an immature kind of way.

“Uh again no,” Malevola was holding back laughter. She was enjoying this entirely too much. “I got up to your block. You guys left a window open.” Her tail swished back and forth above her head to punctuate her implication. “Sounded like a good time. I didn’t want to interrupt.” Robert felt the entire tables eyes on him. Everyone was drunk and distracted but retained the uncanny ability to snap to attention when there was something juicy to overhear. Actually wait, Punch Up and Coupé weren’t paying attention to him still. At least there was that.

Robert shifted in his seat. At least he didn’t really know his neighbors, he supposed. Though now they certainly knew him. He sighed. Guess he’d cross that mortifying bridge if and when he came to it.

“Right. Um. Thanks.” He mumbled out to Malevola, who was actively cackling now. “It was really nice.” He stared into his beer.

“Just nice? Wow Robert. That’s how you talk about me when I’m not here?” Robert whipped his head around at suddenly hearing Courtney, who had appeared out of nowhere and was already sitting at their table. That was never going to be easy to get used to, he supposed. “I fuck your brains out and it’s just nice?” She teased him, her voice lilting like music. “Songs bullshit by the way, Flambae.”

“What?”

“He’s got executive dysfunction, not erectile dysfunction. Confirmed that one myself.” She grinned across the table. Robert felt himself get redder.

“From the looks of it you want to confirm it a few more times before the night is out,” Malevola prodded Visi. Robert wasn’t sure what she meant. Then he looked at what Courtney was wearing. Apparently she had gone home to change, which now that he thought about it was probably something he should have done. He hasn’t really thought about it, just pulled on a jacket over his SDN uniform on his way out of the door. He had been lightheaded at the time.

Courtney had swapped her signature cropped shirt with pink jacket and pants for a black leather bomber over a short black dress that ended abruptly at her upper thigh. Her legs were extended out beneath the table, fishnets snaking their way down to her signature combat boots. Robert gawked. How had he not noticed that? Right now it was all he could notice. She looked so fucking hot he thought he might keel over and die on the spot.

“Robert, I am sorry to interrupt your arousal but I did not notice you enter and wish to greet you now that I have noticed your presence.” Phenomaman looked up from his card game with Sonar, his eyes full of intensity. “My apologies, I was distracted by planning my next turn in response to Sonar’s dishonorable tactics.” Sonar rolled his eyes.

“Whatever man. Hey Robbie,” the batboy quipped. “Be right back, gotta hit up the bathroom.”

“Sonar.” Malevola’s normally playful tone had shifted into something harder, but still had a vein of care to it. “Come on man. You can get to a week this time, I know you can.” The manbat’s ear twitched in response. He sighed.

“Fine.” He said, reaching into his pocket and handing Malevola a small vial full of powder. “But I do actually have to piss, too. So…. “ he wandered off, clearly agitated. “Fuckin can’t do anything fun anymore.” Malevola sighed.

“We’ll getcha there.” She said to Sonar’s retreating back. She conjured a small portal in the center of the table, and gingerly dropped the vial inside. No one could see into the space, but a quiet tink of glass glass could be heard. Clearly wherever it led contained a veritable treasure trove of confiscated narcotics.

Robert turned his attention back to Courtney, slightly annoyed with himself for having gotten distracted. He slid his gaze up and down her, taking in every detail he could notice. It was like she had reached into his teenage fantasies and pulled out a combination of all of them. Fuck, that dress was tight.

Courtney noticed Robert staring at her, and it filled her with warm, validating satisfaction. He hadn’t shared much of what he was into, but she had picked up on a few hints here and there. His childhood crush on Wednesday Adams, his surprisingly detailed memory of the time he saw Hailey Williams getting groceries. It was a little predictable of course. Straight-laced boys falling for goth and punk girls was a tale as old as time.

There was something wholesome about it though, something so mundane and normal. Visi wanted to tease him about it mercilessly, and she would … with time. For now, she was going to feed Robert every fantasy he had starved for his entire life. It filled her with joy to know that she could do that for him. The way he was looking at her now made any amount of effort worth it. Besides. She looked really good slutted up like this. She shifted closer to him, leaning against his shoulder and sneakily grasping his hand and leading it it to rest on her upper thigh under the table. She made sure that one of his fingers slipped barely beneath the fold of her dress. Just a little.

Robert was fighting for his life to keep his face cool. Visi knew what she was doing. She always did. He tried to nonchalantly take a drink, only to be met with his empty glass. Shit. It was hard to pay attention to stuff like that when Visi was slowly guiding his hand higher and higher up her leg.

If the others at the table noticed what was going on, they were being surprisingly chill and letting it go on without commentary. Robert figured this was some sort of small mercy. Malevola winked at him and he felt himself go red again. Definitely not flying under the radar. Then again, Punch Up and Coupé still hadn’t come up for air from their corner of the booth so there was precedent for getting a bit into each other….

Feeling a rush of spontaneity, Robert leaned in to plant a kiss on Courtney’s neck while he squeezed her thigh under the table. Her skin was soft and warm, broken up by the crisscrossing threads of her fishnets. He felt his heart backflip when she quivered a bit against him in response to his touch. Malevola generously fixated on the karaoke, opening another set of beers at the table with the bottle opener held aloft in her tail.

Robert sighed blissfully. He couldn’t believe he was here. He had friends now? That he could spend time with? He looked around the table. Even Flambae gave him a little nod but said nothing about the obvious shenanigans he and Visi were up to. Behind him, Golem and Visi had high fived over something he hadn’t quite heard.

“… yeah, finally popped his cherry,” he heard her say. Robert grumbled under his breath. It’s not like he had been a virgin, come on. But he let Visi have her fun exaggerating. He could make her pay for it later, he thought to himself with a widening grin.

“I am glad that you seem happy, Robert Robertson.” Phenomaman interrupted Robert’s rapidly unfolding imagination. “This is the first time I have not been somewhat concerned that you would commit suicide overnight.” The table’s energy flickered a bit at the prospect. “It would have made our shifts considerably more difficult and I thank you for “hanging in there”, if I’m using the expression right.” Phenomaman held his gaze earnestly. Alien and tactless though he might be, he did mean what he was saying.

Robert squeezed Visi’s hand under the table.

“Yeah,” he said. “Im glad I hung in there, too.”

Chapter Text

“Here you go Robbie,” Punch Up slid another shot across the table. “Don’t go lettin’ me down.” Robert caught it blearily.

“What is this? It smells weird.” He couldn’t place it.

“Bartender called them ‘Green Tea Shots.’ Fuck if I know, they were free.” Punch Up quaffed his in a quick gulp, and made a sour face. “S’not bad. Actually. Might be more your style than mine, Love.” He said to Coupé, who was eyeing her shot with hawkish interest.

“I am… curious.” She held up the shot, eyeing the layers that had rapidly settled. She made piercing eye contact with Robert, lifting her glass in challenge. He sniffed at his shot glass. It smelled remarkably like green tea, actually. Super fucking weird.

Robert tipped the glass to his lips and downed the mixture. It tasted like… well, green tea. Shit. Huh. A drink that tasted exactly as advertised. It barely burned, only just a little tinge of alcohol coming in on the aftertaste. Not bad. All things considered. Coupé was nodding thoughtfully, contemplating the drink. “I do like it.” She declared.

“Yeah, it’s got its charm.” Robert agreed. The first words exchanged between them since he had welcomed Coupé back into Z-team were amicable at least. He figured that was fantastic as far as reconciliations went with her. She was still looking at him, though. “Um.” He said. “Yeah?”

“Thank you, Robert.” Coupé watched him like a bird of prey, her tone intense but not quite as sharp as usual. “I appreciate you giving me another chance to be here. I am glad.”

“Oh.” Robert hadn’t expected this. “You’re welcome, Coupé. I’m actually sorry that we cut you at all.” He figured one turn of sincerity deserved another. “We were weaker for it.” Her expression was unreadable as always. She leaned forward, her face a graven mask.

“If anyone attempts to harm you I will kill them for free.”

Robert shrunk back a bit. He reminded himself that this was a great compliment coming from the former assassin. He had no idea how to gauge it but he was reasonably sure it was a big deal.

“I’ll uh. I’ll let you know. You’ll be the first.” He offered uncertainly. That seemed to satisfy her, and he relaxed finally when she nodded. Punch Up let out a belly laugh and grabbed a fresh beer off of the table.

“You did me a solid here too Rob, I won’t forget it.” He said with a wink. Almost imperceptibly, Coupé blushed next to him. Robert decided not to notice.

“That’s our Robert,” Courtney leaned over the back of the booth, back from the bathroom. “Always doing people solidly.” She planted a wet kiss on Robert’s cheek. He rolled his eyes, but leaned into it.

“That was just low effort, Visi.” Robert side-eyed her. “Like a three out of ten at best, you can do better.”

“Ooh,” she purred in response. “Yes, sir...”Robert went crimson. “Oh my god, really?” Courtney laughed in his ear. “Okay. Filing it away for later.” Robert murmured something unintelligible in response. Across the table, Coupé was repaying his earlier grace by declining to comment. Robert reached for his drink only to find it tragically empty.

“I’m gonna get another,” he said into the table before standing up. He wandered over to the bar and ordered another pitcher of beer for the table. It was cheap stuff that tasted of nothing in particular, but it was great at making you drunk after you had enough of it. He felt a touch on his back, and turned to see Visi standing there.

“Hey.” Her voice lacked its usual edge. She even stood differently, somehow looking smaller than he knew her to be. “Too much?” She asked. Her eyes locked onto his, full of concern.

“Oh, no, Visi. That’s not it.” Robert kicked himself. It was too easy to get overwhelmed and retreat into silence, and he needed to remember how it looked and felt to be on the receiving end of that. “Well actually maybe a bit, but not in a bad way… I didn’t actually know I was into that,” he finished sheepishly. Courtney blinked in surprise.

“Oh.” She said. “Really?” A smile broke out across her face. “So you’re not upset, just -“

“Called the fuck out and couldn’t take the heat, yeah.” Robert interjected. He felt silly, but she didn’t seem to be laughing at him as much as… enjoying? Fucking weird. Nice, though. Courtney was suddenly in his arms, planting a kiss on him before he could react. That was also really fucking nice. She looked so perfect tonight. And by perfect, he meant staggeringly, mind-meltingly hot. He grasped her around the waist instinctively and imagined hiking that dress up and just -

Their pitcher of beer had been sitting pointedly on the bar behind them, and the bartender tapped the back of Robert’s shoulder with diminishing patience. After turning around and fumbling a few bills out of his wallet, Robert grabbed the pitcher and made his way back to the table. On a whim, he reached down to hold Courtney’s hand on the way. She grasped it back firmly.

“Dork,” he said, beating her to the punch and making her mouth flap open and closed in surprise. “You’re getting predictable, Visi.”

“Fuck you,” She laughed over her words. “Fuck you so much.”

“Would you? That’d be great.” Robert winked at her as he dropped off the pitcher at the table. The sight of the two of them holding hands elicited a chorus of Ooohs and Aaahs and one Get a Fucking Room Robert from Flambae. He waved away the commentary and picked the pitcher back up to begin pouring. That shut them up at least. He sat back down at the booth and Courtney slid up beside him, practically in his lap.

She leaned in to whisper into his ear, her voice like honeyed silk.

“I want to suck your dick in the bathroom, Robert.” She breathed. Robert nearly choked. “May I?” She brushed her lips down underneath his ear. “Please?” Robert had never been so turned on in his life.

He shot up just as his drink was getting poured, prompting confused noises from the rest of the table. Wordlessly, he took Visi’s hand and began to lead her from the booth, her giggles of excitement driving him to urgency. Out of corner of his eye, he saw Sonar give him not one but two thumbs ups before whispering to the rest of the team, who also then all looked over all at once.

Robert sighed. Fucking supersonic hearing.

Chapter Text

Bar bathrooms came in a wide variety, and not all of them were particularly conducive to what Courtney had in mind. Fortunately, the Crypto Night had the best and most deluxe option- single rooms, locking doors, and a hallway that bent around the main room to hide the finer details of bathroom comings and goings from view.

Courtney eyed the furthest room, at the end of the hallway. She and Robert passed a handful of drunk idlers and a couple that might have been fucking against the wall, but their powers made it hard to tell exactly what was going on. No one paid them any mind.

One thing Courtney had come to appreciate about heroes was their appreciation for discretion. It sounded backwards, in that one would think that villains would be better acquainted with the fine art of keeping their mouths shut and eyes on the floor. But villains were a messy bunch.

Being a hero was a stressful job. More so than being a villain, she had learned over last few weeks. Planning heists and fucking around the city doing crime took energy, sure, but it was nothing compared to having to actually try and clean up the messes it would leave behind. Everyone should have to spend a shift cleaning up broken glass from a break-in. Once you do that you’ll take that extra thirty seconds to find the fucking door.

One benefit of all that stress though, was by and large a community that minded its own business, particularly in matters of stress relief. Heroes had to maintain an image publicly, but here amongst themselves they could relax and get a little sloppy. If anyone could tell that they weren’t going to the bathroom for a tandem shit, they kept it to themselves. Funnily enough, Z-team was by far the nosiest when it came to stuff like that. Courtney guessed it made sense though. Former villains and all.

Robert was still all breathless, leading her by the hand. She leaned in to whisper into his ear.

“Last one. End of the hall.” Visi had meant to say something clever or sexy, but all that came out was a breathy sense of urgency. She wanted to make him feel good, and she needed to do it right fucking now. Robert didn’t argue. Visi grinned. She tended to prefer taking orders to giving them while fucking, but… he just did it so well. The idea of being able to tell Robert fucking Robertson the fucking third what to do made her feel powerful in a way she didn’t know what to do with. Well actually never mind, she knew exactly what to do.

The two of them slipped into the bathroom and slid the deadbolt over then door, locking it. It was cramped and dimly lit, the already small room doubling as storage and piled on one side with stacks of napkins, extra TP, and cleaning supplies. At least it was pretty clean, she supposed. No puddles, smells of air freshener. Still a nasty bar bathroom, but luckily Courtney was feeling pretty nasty herself. She leaned onto Robert, pushing him against the bathroom wall. His breathing was ragged and his eyes wide. Perfect.

“Courtney…” he groaned, but didn’t continue. Visi felt like she could backflip. She loved making him lose his words like that. She leaned in to whisper into his ear.

“Yes baby?” She coo’d, not a tone of voice she tended to use under normal circumstances, but what the fuck about the last month had been normal? She leaned into it. “Do you want me?” She knew the answer but wanted him to tell her anyway. Ideally a few times.

“Yes. Oh my god yes.” Robert managed. Courtney curled herself up against his chest and began undoing his shirt buttons. Part of her had wanted to slip straight to the belt, but it was too much fun to take her time and savor Robert’s reactions. He suddenly seemed drunk, despite the functioning alcoholism that usually kept his demeanor neutral even after a dozen libations of all kinds. “I want you to…” he trailed off. Courtney paused, feigning confusion.

“What?” She asked innocently, looking at him with wide, earnest eyes. “Ask for what you want, Robert.” Her voice was considerably firmer as she gave the command. Robert felt something inside of him click off, and he was obeying before he knew what was happening.

“I want you to suck my cock, Courtney.” He gasped as she planted her lips on his neck and sucked a fresh welt onto his skin. She leaned back, admiring her handi… mouthiwork, technically. It faded instantly into the mosaic of bruises that covered Robert from head to toe. But still; that one was hers. She grinned wide.

“Good boy.” She reached his belt, and spread his shirt open, planting kisses down from where she had just left her mark. She traced a line from his collarbone down to his belly, dropping to her knees as she did so. He had put out an arm to steady himself against the wall. Courtney giggled. He seemed to like that.

It made sense, after all. Robert was always responsible for everything, he was making sure things went right and was used to being in charge of the situation. But as she had guessed, there was a part of him that wanted to let go and let someone else drive for once. From what she knew about his life to this point, having someone just tell him he’s good was probably a massive kink trigger. At the moment she was rapidly becoming more certain in her theories.

Courtney unbuckled Robert’s belt, and he let out another groan of anticipation. Courtney ate it up and wanted more, feeling her own body react to Robert’s little gasps. Her mouth was watering for him. She licked her lips in anticipation, immensely satisfied by then little “fuck” that snuck out of Robert at the sight.

Robert couldn’t entirely believe what was happening. On the one hand, it was obvious. On the other hand, how? What? How.

Courtney was kneeling in front of him, eyes ablaze with desire as she unwrapped his pants and underwear with glee. She was so fucking hot, her dress hiked up where she was squatting and one of her hands had come to rest between her own thighs as she explored him. Every so often, her eyes would pierce his and the smolder in them would challenge him not to fall the fuck over.

Courtney had removed her jacket and tossed it over a coathook on the wall, and he could admire her bare shoulders as her dress hung off of her body. From this angle he could see her breasts rising and falling with exertion as she breathed. He noted with immense satisfaction that she seemed to be out of breath too. Well, maybe that was the asthma. Still.

She had paused and was watching him look her over. Robert snaked a hand around the back of her head, grasping a handful of her hair with need. The anticipation was too fucking much.

Courtney seemed to pause watching him bristle under the imminent hope of pleasure, and Robert wondered if she was having doubts. This was all a lot. They could just make out if she suddenly felt off. He opened his mouth to reassure her. And then closed it again.

She had just been waiting for him to try and move again, and as soon as he did she pinned him back to the wall by his hips. In a flash she had reached into the tangle of fabric and taken out his dick, grasping it firmly in one hand while the other kept Robert in place. She locked eyes with him, and planted a kiss on the tip of his cock.

Her wet lips set off an avalanche of sensation. Robert nearly fell over, but maintained his balance. His hand gripped Courtney’s hair even tighter. More. She obliged almost immediately. He thrust himself into her mouth, unable to control the involuntary motion. It felt too fucking good. Her hot tongue was cradling him from underneath while her lips applied gentle pressure. She was really fucking good at this. Holy shit. He moaned as he felt spikes of intense pleasure shoot through his core. She was already timing the strokes of her tongue to catch and amplify them. Robert’s vision was hazy. Was this a superpower of hers that she kept private?

Courtney kept her eyes on Robert’s face as she bobbed her head up and down in his lap. It was hard to maintain the angle where she could both see him and what she was doing, but she was nothing if not determined. He had begun making little thrusts to meet her as she took him deeper, and she found them profoundly effective in encouraging her own enjoyment. Her other hand was working overtime, driven to near frenzy by Robert’s responses to her. She wanted him to keep going.

“Yes. Fuck my fucking face, Robert.” Courtney managed as she came up for air. She loved it fucking filthy like this. She loved telling Robert what to do. She loved that he listened so well. His other hand had come to rest in her hair, and now he had a grip on either side of her head as she worked him in deeper. She could feel him start to tense up in all the right ways. She could taste the buildup in him.

Robert wasn’t really on Earth anymore. He was in some higher plane comprised entirely of Courtney. Nothing else existed and he didn’t have the bandwidth for it right now anyway, so it worked out. He was dizzy but couldn’t stop. He needed to keep going, to give Courtney the gift of success. He refocused on her. The no-longer-gentle movement of her against him, the soft sounds of her moaning in pleasure to help coax him to completion, the feeling of her pulling at him with so much fucking need…

When it came, it was sudden and all at once. Robert tried not to make noise but soon abandoned that plan as he found it impossible. A half growl, half groan escaped from him, and he was tilting his head back from the intensity of the release as he pulled Courtney as deep onto him as she could go. He spent himself into her, his entire body trembling with effort and pleasure.

He almost fell the fuck over when she flickered out of sight suddenly, leaving him looking down at his own dick. He could still feel her there, still working her mouth against him to massage his orgasm to a gentle finish. Not being able to see it was… strange. He tried not to overthink things.

Visi snapped back into reality, coming up for air. She coughed a few times before swallowing and shooting him a grin.

“Bet that was a first for you.” Her voice dripped in satisfaction. She was so damn pleased with herself. Robert could only nod.

“Multiple firsts actually.” He panted out between ragged breaths. “First time in public, first time in a bar bathroom, first time seeing my cum float disembodied like that.” He was still very thrown off by the sight. Courtney burst out laughing.

“Oh did you like that? I call it the Ghosthead.” She wiped a tear of mirth from her eye. “Get it? Like head, but-“

“Genius, Visi. Super fucking subtle.” Robert shook his head but couldn’t keep from laughing.

“I know. I’m all about subtlety,” she planted a gentle peck on Robert’s now-exhausted dick. Courtney wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, and then stood up to lock Robert into a deep kiss.

A knock on the door interrupted the moment. “Excuse the interruption to your intercourse, Robert and Invisigal. The other bathrooms are occupied and I must defecate most urgently.” Phenomaman’s voice boomed through the closed door. “I waited until you appeared to take a pause, and hope that now is an acceptable time to request use of the room.”

Robert’s palm had smacked his forehead, cringing. Courtney looked startled and unsure of how to react. Taking a second to make sure everything was put away, they opened the door to Phenomaman standing entirely too close. “Phenomenal. Thank you.” He brushed past them. “I hope your fellatio was satisfactory,” he added before closing the door.

Courtney was still laughing. Robert would once the heat in his ears died down.

Chapter Text

Robert stumbled to the bar and ordered a pair of whiskeys for himself and Courtney. He leaned against it, grateful for the support as both of his legs were still cramping. The bartender eyed him warily, initially taking his flushed demeanor and difficulty standing for drunkenness. The Doppler split in two, inspecting Robert from either side in order to gauge whether to cut him off or not.

“Um, please and thank you?” Robert added uncertainly, sliding a bill over to the Doppler on the right. He must have sounded sober enough, as he heard an acknowledging grunt in stereo on either side of him before a brief flash of light signaled the Bartender’s return to singularity. “Thank you.” He said again, making sure it wasn’t a question this time. He took a sip of his drink, handing the other to Courtney.

“My fucking hero,” she said. “What a gentleman, buying me a drink after you’ve gotten what you wanted.” She tasted the whiskey, savoring the blend of peat and moss and caramel and smoke. “I was almost worried I put out too early.” She took his hand as they walked back to the booth where Z-team was sitting. Except Phenomaman, who had not yet returned from his urgent defecation.

“Who said that was all I wanted?” Robert teased while they were still not quite within earshot of the peanut gallery. His tone was low; hungry. Not as urgent as it had been just a few minutes ago, but Courtney believed him immediately just the same. She wondered if she’d ever get tired of that intensity.

“Mmm. Yes sir,” she breathed into his ear, barely audible and just for him. She barely held in a cackle as he stumbled over his own feet. She gave him a wink and turned her attention back to the booth as they approached to sit down.

Golem held out a muddy fist to Visi, which she bumped triumphantly. Robert cocked his head.

“You guys have a weird friendship, you know that?” He quipped, drawing obvious conclusions about what they were celebrating. Golem turned to face him, the stone and debris of his body clattering into place. He held out his fist to Robert in the same way.

“Yup,” Golem rumbled. “Good shit.” Robert returned the bro fist, even though it sort of felt like punching a cinderblock. Oh. There was a cinderblock in Golem’s hand. Or rather, was his hand. Robert withdrew his own appendage but nodded his appreciation to Golem for the gesture.

“That was like two minutes Robert. I knew you were sad but that’s like super fucking sad, you know?” Flambae leaned back, the taunt coming as naturally as breathing. Robert shrugged at him.

“What can I say, maybe Visi is just that good.” To his surprise, Courtney blushed crimson. He cocked his head at her, puzzled. She was that good. He was drastically selling her short by including the maybe, it felt borderline criminal. She seemed flustered at his praise. He made a mental note of that and kissed her on the cheek to punctuate his point further. She seemed to melt a bit into herself.

“Gross. I’m sitting right fucking here do you mind?” Flambae made a spectacle of averting his eyes.

“It was twelve minutes.” Coupé cut in. Robert stared at her. She stared back, unconcerned. He found that very unsettling.

“That’s weird, Coop.” Malevola’s tail slunk lazily towards an opened beer bottle on the table. Robert wasn’t sure how it had escaped her until now. “It’s weird to time people when they leave to do things and it’s extra weird when you know they’re fucking.” She popped the bottlecap with a tiny hiss and took a swig. Coupé bristled.

“Do you know how many assassinations take place on the way to or from the bathroom?” She demanded. Malevola sighed.

“Is it most?”

“Yes.” Coupé held her ground. “It is.”

“Fine, fine.” Malevola smirked. “Tetchy, aintcha?” Coupé nodded solemnly, prompting the devil to laugh.

“Of course she tetchy, she was on the wrong motherfuckin’ side til a couple of hours ago.” Prism was on her phone, and spoke without looking up. “It’s gonna take at least a day for all that residual bullshit to come off. Give her a break.” Coupé shot her a surprised look, clearly confused. Malevola laughed again.

“You’re right, you’re right. My bad Coop, cheers,” she said, raising her bottle in a toast. “You time all the bathroom breaks you like. It’s just your way of saying you care.” Punch Up leaned over and patted Coupés hand, and more surprising to the whole table, she smiled at him.

“Just glad you’re back, love.” He said. “Once the rest of these jokers get to know you better they’ll appreciate your stalking for the friendship it is.” Coupé said nothing.

Robert was at least grateful that the conversation had shifted away from how long it took for him to finish. He turned to Visi, taking the opportunity to pull back from the ongoing discussion lest he find himself targeted again. She was staring directly into her drink, her cheeks still red. Damn, had he actually embarrassed her with that?

“I think it’s still whiskey but I’m not sure.” He observed. “What do you think?”

“Too early to tell, need more data.” She muttered back.

“Well now it’s my turn to ask… too much?” Robert whispered to her. She shook her head.

“No, at least not in a bad way.” Courtney wracked her brain for the right words to explain what she was feeling. She wasn’t used to being praised at all, and being… shown off… like that, even as banter… it made her vision go fuzzy and her heart stutter. Robert didn’t just seem happy that she had sucked him off, he seemed happy that it was her who had done it. Proud, even. She found herself fixating on that.

She had never had anyone want to brag about her before. Robert had sounded like he was grateful, like he felt lucky that they were together. It was how she felt about him, but seeing it reflected like that was incredible. “I think I just love you or something.” she mumbled out. Her blood instantly ran cold. Oh fucking no.

They had been together less than twenty four hours. Closer to twelve, now that she counted. How could she fuck this up like a lovesick teenager and blurt out the L word this fucking early? Robert was going to run for the hills any second now. Admittedly, he was approaching it in a weird way, getting closer to her like that. He drew her into a hug, gently at first but tighter and tighter as he wrapped more of his arms around her. His lips brushed against her ear and Courtney felt her heart skip six or seven beats.

“I love you too.” He whispered. And that was it. He just let it hang there, open and vulnerable and terrifying. It took her several seconds to register what he had said.

“What.” She had no snark locked and loaded for this.

“I love you.” He said again, like it was just a phrase and not a miracle.

Chapter Text

The Crypto Night was still absolutely packed hours later. The whiskeys had become more whiskeys, and then someone had ordered … something? It had tasted good, whatever. Courtney stepped out into the alleyway and relished how she felt at this very moment. How she had been feeling all day, but particularly now.

It was a rare thing for her to feel like this. She approached it carefully, like it was liable to startle and run away if she looked at it too directly. She took a deep drag from her cigarette. Ah, that was better. She could face it now.

Comfortable. Safe. Happy. Courtney couldn’t remember the last time any of these applied to her at all, never mind all at once like this. She had put a lot of energy into convincing herself it wasn’t actually possible. But here it was, found in a busted up bar with the weirdest fucking people she had ever met in her life.

There was even more to it, which was actually harder to admit. It just felt greedy. Okay fuck, here goes. Loved. Courtney felt loved.

It was stupid and crazy and immature. She had taken Robert into the bathroom, sucked him off, and then blurted out that she loved him. What the fuck. He was supposed to be the one to do that. It would have made sense. Instead, she gushed even more than he did.

She didn’t know how to feel about that. But what she did know was that Robert had told her he loved her too. And Robert was not particularly capable of lying. He hadn’t even lied to Shroud when he had the chance to switch out the Astral Pulse for the Prototype. He had just given him both.

Visi still got a chuckle out of that. Shroud. That stupid fucking asshole was so smug and a solid ten minutes into his stupid fucking supervillain monologue, and Robert just hands him both. She remembered the stunned silence and enraged snarl that followed it. Chefs kiss.

It had been really, really satisfying when Robert beat the shit out of that lying, manipulative fuck. They wheeled him off in a stretcher looking like a cut of raw meat that groaned and spit teeth. Courtney still felt like it wasn’t enough suffering for what that shitstain did. She wished she could forget about him completely, but as long as he was still alive that petty man would take any opportunity to fuck her over.

She sighed. At least he wasn’t going to be able to move more than an inch in any direction until his bones healed. Or talk with his jaw wired shut. That was comforting. She turned her attention to present matters. Fuck Shroud. He wouldn’t poison tonight.

Courtney put out her cigarette and flicked the butt away. A sign across the rubble-strewn street read No Littering. Yes. Rebellion. She chuckled at herself and stepped back into the bar.

She spied the Z-team’s booth and quickly crossed the room to take her place next to Robert. Ah yes, she was happy, comfortable, safe and loved. Among friends. With Robert. Who was sitting and patiently listening to Sonar explain his memecoin.

“So here’s the secret sauce Robbie, are you ready? Each Sonarcoin is also a limited edition NFT. So not only does the overall market share go up, but we can sell individual coins themselves as one of a kind collectors items, with variable pricing to match.” Sonar mimed a mic drop. “It prints money, Rob.”

“You know, dropping the mic works best if you don’t add anything afterwards.” Robert pointed out.

“Huh? Oh I’m not done, that’s just phase 1. Now, once we’ve minted the first ten thousand Sonarcoin…” The manbat continued, seemingly oblivious to everyone around him openly laughing.

“Sonar, what does it do?” Malevola asked, cutting him off. “I’ve asked you before and I still don’t really understand.”

“Do?” Sonar cocked his head quizzically. The table erupted in laughter. “It makes money, Mal.” He said smoothly.

“Is this not counterfeiting?” Phenomaman asked. “Printing unsanctioned currency is a crime.” Sonar turned to him in exasperation.

“Dude. It’s not a literal money printer.” Sonar had had enough. “Fine but don’t any of you dare bitch to me about how I made all this money and didn’t try to share any of it with you.”

“Sonar, I promise.” Robert emphasized the word. “We won’t.” Prism and Coupé snickered from across the table. Sonar crossed his arms sullenly while Malevola patted him on the back sympathetically. Robert shook his head before turning to look at Visi. “Welcome back,” he said pleasantly. “Did you corrupt any future leaders of tomorrow with the evils of nicotine?”

“Nah, they’re all asleep or something,” Courtney replied. “It wasn’t for lack of trying though.” Robert’s soft chuckle felt like home. He stifled a yawn, which had caught him off guard. Courtney thought he looked a bit like Beef trying not to fart. “Aw, are you sleepy because you’re forty?”

“I’m not forty.” Robert rolled his eyes. “Fuck off.” He swayed a little in his seat. “But I am sleepy. It was a big day.”

“What, you mean getting your father’s killer after fifteen years?” Flambae sneered. “Pussy.” Robert gave him an affirmative finger-gun.

“I thought he was talking about getting blown up.” Prism chimed in. “Didn’t he get blown up at one point?” Golem shook his head.

“Nah I don’t think so, that was yesterday.” He rumbled out. “But he got punched by a spider mech a lot.”

“O-oh you also did a double shift with no sleep going into today,” Waterboy added to Robert. “And Mr. Whiskey spiked your coffee.”

“Leave Mr. Whiskey out of this, Mr. Whiskey is a saint and I won’t hear a word against him.” Robert demanded.

“You snagged yourself a girlfriend too, what a busy little beaver you are Robert.” Malevola tutted, cackling as she watched him and Visi blush scarlet. “Oh you haven’t had the talk! Ooops.” Her grin was devilish.

Visi flipped her off, eliciting howls of laughter from the table. She reached over and confiscated Malevola’s beer. Well, in truth the demoness had let it go immediately and picked up another, cackling the entire time. Visi drained the remaining beer sullenly. Robert stood up and pulled on his jacket.

“Well as everyone so helpfully pointed out, I’ve got a lot of reasons to be tired and at least one more heartfelt conversation to go tonight before I sleep.” He dropped a handful of bills onto the table. “I’ll see you all later.” Visi flipped them all off again, particularly Malevola, who blew her kisses in return.

“Night assholes.” She smiled as she said it, and they smiled back. She closed her jacket and stepped outside with Robert, leaving the crowded and noisy bar behind.

“Ah, that’s better.” Robert sighed in relief. “I had a great time, don’t get me wrong. But I can only take so many hours of bar. Too many people.”

“Yeah, I know exactly what you mean.” Courtney grasped his hand. She shuffled along in silence for a few steps. “So.”

“So.” Robert said. “This usually comes up before the mouth-fucking or the confessions of love, but we’re doing things in a weird order today….” Courtney laughed aloud, deep from her belly. That was definitely true. “I love you, Courtney.” Robert continued. “I want to be with you.” He was actually nervous, hilariously enough. Adorably enough. “So you want to be my girlfriend?”

“Absofuckinglutely.” She beamed. “I love you too. I want to be with you too. So… that’s it?” She whispered the last part. “We’re actually together?”

“To be fair, I kind of thought we already were.” Robert was smiling wider than she had ever seen before. “But yeah.”

“Can I stay over tonight?” Courtney practically purred. “I’d like to sleep with my boyfriend.” She tried the word out. It felt a bit silly, a bit childish perhaps. But she loved how it felt to say and have it mean Robert.

“I uh. Still don’t have a bed.” Robert sounded sheepish. Courtney snorted in response.

“That couch is a futon, it folds out.”

“Holy shit it does? I’ve been sleeping on the floor.” Robert smacked his forehead with his palm.

“Hot. Spartan. Rugged.”

“Shut up. I love you.”

“Love you too, stupid.”

Chapter Text

Inside his Mech suit, Robert was screaming.

Alarms flashed at him from every display, red warnings and buzzers filling the cockpit. WARNING THERMAL CONTROL UNIT CRITICAL FAILURE scrolled across every screen in gigantic letters as an automated voice screeched the same message into his ear.

The suit was beginning to cook from the inside out. Heat haze filled the tiny cockpit, and Robert couldn’t take a breath without erupting into a violent coughing fit as his lungs burned from the superheated air. He felt blisters start to form across his skin, bubbling up and bursting in agonizing explosions.

There was only pain. Robert thrashed against his harness only to have it melt onto his skin when he strained against it. Desperately, he flailed his arms to the eject button only to find that his fingers had curled inward from the heat, and that he was unable to unfurl them. The button was melting in its casing anyway.

Robert could no longer scream as his body curled into the fetal position involuntarily, his muscles and sinew contracting violently in the inferno. He felt his eyes turn to liquid and dribble down the front of his face. He pleaded to anything that could hear for death, but it never came. There was only pain and darkness forever.

“FUCK No NO no!” Robert bolted upright on the futon in his apartment, his entire body soaked in cold, panicked sweat. He shook violently, unable to shake the lingering sensations that had moments ago felt so real. He grasped around for anything he could reach, anything real that could help ground him in the present.

Pillow. Well, couch cushion repurposed. That was real. It was lumpy and had buttons on it that irritated his face when he lay on it.

Blanket. Thin and entirely too small for even the modest futon, he couldn’t remember where he had gotten it from but it was warm enough. That was real.

“Robert?” Courtney’s voice broke into his reflexive grounding ritual. She sounded groggy, but there was a rapidly stirring concern waking up. “Are you alright? What happened?” Robert listened to her voice, and reached for her in the dark. He felt her warm skin, the rise and fall of her breathing. Courtney. She was real. He took a few deep breaths before responding.

“Yeah.” He lied, knowing how frail and unconvincing his voice sounded. As expected, she didn’t buy it.

“Bullshit.” She said flatly. Not unkindly, but in a tone that said she was too sleepy to beat around the bush. That was fair.

“Okay, no.” Robert admitted. “Just a bad dream.” He was embarrassed. Children have nightmares. He was an entire grown ass adult sharing his bed for the first time in what felt like years (oh shit, it had actually been years) and here he was, needing a hug after a scary dream. He felt pathetic.

“I’ve had bad dreams. That was something else entirely.” Courtney pressed. “You were moaning in your sleep and thrashing for the past half hour. I tried to wake you but you wouldn’t come out of it.” Robert slumped in shame. He had hoped he could pretend to be normal for at least the first night or two he and Visi spent together. But nope.

“Yeah, it’s got like an actual name. Got diagnosed a few years back.” He hated talking about it, but felt as if he owed her an explanation. “Dissociative Nightmare Disorder,” he recited. “Resulting from PTSD.” It felt stupid. What superhero didn’t have PTSD? Firefighters got it, paramedics. Anyone who had to confront mortality knew the cost. He didn’t get to bitch about the job he chose to do and keep doing.

“I’ve heard of something like that,” Courtney acknowledged. “I thought it was called Night Terrors or something?”

“That’s another name for it, but it makes me feel like a little kid so I prefer DND-PTSD. At least that one sounds like I played a really brutal tabletop campaign. Maybe something Jumanji-style where it sucked me into the hellscape for a couple of decades.” He chuckled over the nostalgia he felt over that movie. It was one of the ones he watched on repeat as a little kid when his dad was away.

“You know I’ve never actually seen that.” Robert was aghast.

“And you call yourself a movie fan?” Courtney rolled her eyes at him, the motion visible even in the dark.

“No. No one calls themselves a movie fan, Robert. That’s like being a food fan. Or a music fan.” The gentle ribbing calmed Robert down further, funnily enough. Maybe just because made the interaction feel like something normal. “That doesn’t even make sense.”

“No, it doesn’t.” Robert ceded. “Not my best work.”

“Well it’s three in the morning, I guess you can get a pass this time.” Courtney kissed his forehead gently. “Are you feeling better?”Robert realized he had been clinging to her with both hands, clutching her tight and had buried his face into her chest. He rested his cheek against her breastbone, feeling her heartbeat calm his. He did feel better, actually.

“Yeah.” He mumbled into Courtney’s skin. “Yeah that helped a lot.” He still felt ashamed, still felt weak but… maybe that was okay for now.

“What can I do to help? For next time.” She didn’t want to push him too much, but Courtney hated feeling like all she could do for Robert was just… hug him like some sort of idiot. Maybe there was something more productive, something that actually took his pain away rather than just trying to soothe it with all the efficacy of fighting a wildfire with a squirtgun. To her disappointment, Robert just shook his head.

“No, this was perfect actually. I just need to remember where I am. What’s real. You brought me back when I heard your voice.” Robert tried to will the tears away but they still slid down his face.

“Shhh. It’s okay. I’m here. I love you.” Courtney fired off all the emotional support weapons she had ever heard of. Seeing him like this made her feel sick. He deserved so much better. He clung to her in the dark as gentle sobs wracked his body. Courtney squeezed him tighter and just let it happen.

Surprisingly, within just a few minutes Robert’s breathing had slowed to an even rhythm and he was asleep, still resting against Courtney.

She would stay here forever if it meant he could rest.

Chapter Text

Sunrise came quietly, with Courtney still cradling Robert’s head as he slept. She had drifted off here and there, but for the past hour or so she had lay there awake listening to Robert’s breathing and feeling his chest rise and fall against hers.

He seemed restful for now, but it was hard to shake the image of just a few hours before. He had looked manic, like a cornered animal ready to fight and die. His eyes were wider than she’d ever seen them before, and his hands had been contorted into fists so tight they left bloody crescents in his palms when he finally opened them later. Seeing him suffer like that made Courtney sick.

She ran her fingers through his hair, stroking gently with the grain. Robert rustled beneath her touch, but didn’t wake. Courtney rested her other hand on the nape of his neck and took a whiff of his scalp. She hadn’t slept much, and fatigue tugged at the edges of her eyelids.

She knew it was impractical for her to stay awake to keep watch over Robert. It was absurd, and entirely too much. But throughout the night he had begun to stir again, and she had been able to head off anything like the earlier episode. Robert had made these miserably pained noises in the back of his throat as he slept, sounding like he was screaming through a gag or through water.

It came suddenly out of an otherwise restful state, and she had thought that Robert had woken up again. She had held him closer and spoken to him, and he had even murmured in response. But then just as quickly as it had onset, he relaxed again into sleep.

The second time was an hour or so later, and when she heard that drowning groan again Courtney reflexively hugged Robert and kissed his forehead, and that seemed to cut it off at the source. Something to ground him, he had said. It seemed to help if she said something or held him tighter at least, so maybe it had to do with direct sensation interrupting the panic trigger. Wild that it didn’t seem to actually wake him up.

By all accounts, Robert seemed to have been still asleep and probably wouldn’t remember these aftershocks. Courtney felt some gratitude for that, at least. He had minimized how much it had rattled him, but she had seen through it. Sparing him more of that was worth the lost sleep, at least for it was this time.

What she couldn’t get over was that she seemed to be helping so much. She had no idea what she was doing. Courtney’s previous relationships hadn’t really involved things like comforting each other. One of her old boyfriends would pick her up her a pack of cigarettes when she was feeling shitty, which was sort of sweet in its own twisted way. Unfortunately he tended to pair it with telling her to shut the fuck up now, leading her to recognize that it was more about avoiding irritation than caring for her. She had thought it sweet anyway, like that was the best she could hope for.

Courtney had believed that, too. That maybe someone could occasionally remember that she exists and have an opportunistically pleasant encounter with her, but that any deeper interaction would result in disaster. That if she actually cared about anyone, she’d end things before that disaster came to keep the memories mostly positive overall. It didn’t seem like an opinion or a perspective, but rather a fact of the universe like gravity or time. Gravity attracts. Time passes. Visi’s unlovable. The sky is blue. Just a list of things everyone knows.

But the thing was, that couldn’t be true though, could it? She wasn’t unlovable if Robert fucking loved her. Fucking checkmate, Courtney gloated to the hateful voices in her head that tried to keep her believing she was worthless. Get destroyed, idiot, she thought at her tormentors.

“Hmm…? Morning babe…” Robert slurred sleepily. He had roused while she was talking shit to her demons. She smiled at him and planted a light kiss on his lips. “Mm.” He mumbled in response.

“Morning. Babe is new,” Courtney softly teased.

“Y’don’like it?” He was still half-unconscious, murmuring.

“I didn’t say that.” Courtney kissed him again, more deeply this time. Robert sighed happily, making her heart race.

“Good.” Robert was sounding more lucid now. He yawned. “Fuuck me, can’t remember the last time I slept so well.” He opened an his eyes and was met with Courtney’s baffled expression. “What?”

“You don’t remember flipping the fuck out, bolting awake screaming?” Courtney regretted her choice of words immediately. She had meant to be more sensitive, but the idea that he might be trying to hide or deny it worried her. Robert grimaced.

“Oh, that. Yeah, that…” he looked away. “That happens sometimes. I’m sorry.” Robert seemed quiet. Uncertain. Ashamed.

“It’s okay, I just want to help.” Courtney offered. “And give you shit,” she reassured. She didn’t want to overload on sincerity this early. Robert smiled weakly.

“Fantastic, I’d love some shit.”

“Cool, start the coffee then would you?” She kissed his cheek and lingered there. “Babe.” He grinned back.

“You got it.” Robert stood up and stretched. The room was slowly brightening, and he crossed into the kitchen to fumble with the coffeemaker. He filled it and pushed the button, then grabbed a skillet out of the cabinet. His food stocks were meager, but he could figure out something.

Cracking three eggs into his only bowl, he whisked them with a fork and added in a handful of shredded cheese that managed to pass the sniff test. Emptying the mixture into his skillet with the last little bit of canola oil at the bottom of his ancient plastic bottle he’d had since college, he let it simmer before adding a little salt, a little pepper… he let the heat solidify the blend as the cheese the melted and the eggs cooked.

Robert liked doing things to help recover from his night time bullshit. Something tactile like making coffee or cooking breakfast made him feel more real somehow. That was the hardest part by far anyway- that sense of nonreality that followed him all day after he had a vivid nightmare. It wasn’t every nightmare, it seemed like a certain type. But it happened often enough.

Robert coaxed the cheesy scrambled eggs onto his only plate, then furrowed his brows. Right. He could use more plates. With a burst of inspiration, he opened the fridge and pulled out a bag of stale but edible tortillas and a tub of salsa from a previous nights takeout. He mcgyver’d together something like a breakfast burrito, and then made another.

Turning back to the finished coffee pot, he poured two cups. This he had anticipated, at least. Both of his mugs were out and in use.

As he looked up to ask Visi if she was hungry he noticed her dozing off where the two of them had been laying. He chuckled softly, but felt a pang of guilt as he suspected why she was so sleepy still. He tried to put the feeling out of his mind.

He fixed Courtney’s coffee and left her burrito on the plate next to where she slept, balancing both the mug onto the plate. A little dangerous sure, but… he needed a table. Fuck. She stirred at the smell of the coffee.

“Mm… breakfast too.” She practically purred like a cat. “You must really love me or something.” Robert kissed the top of her head.

“Sure do, dipshit.” She made a sleepy, happy noise in response. “But I also love breakfast, so eat yours while it’s still warm or I will.” Her laugh made his morning.

Robert slathered his burrito in salsa and took a bite. He chewed and swallowed, savoring the familiar taste. He used to make this all the time. It had seemed pointless lately, but today he had a reason. He smiled at Courtney his heart full near to bursting. He took another bite and savored another sip of coffee.

Yeah. Best night and morning in years.

Chapter Text

“So, are you gonna tell me about it?”

The question hung in the air. Courtney was sitting up on the unfolded futon, finishing her coffee. Robert sighed. He didn’t really want to get into it, but he owed her that much at least.

“Alright. What do you wanna know?” He asked, uncertain of where to begin. Courtney shot him a bemused look.

“Okay,” she said slowly. “Question one. What the fuck?” Robert laughed.

“Yeah okay fair, that’s fair,” he conceded. “Like I said though, nightmare disorder. I got it diagnosed a few years ago after a … particularly … close call in the suit.”

“How close are we talking?” Courtney was curious. Mecha Man had been nearly impossible to take down back when she only knew of him as the guy who would occasionally obliterate two dozen of her criminal colleagues. There was a reason Shroud had needed such a convoluted plan to finally get to him.

“Very. Very close.” Robert tensed, then relaxed his hands with the release of a breath. “It was something like six years in. This part in the thermal regulator shorts out while I’m out on a call. No big deal usually, it can get a bit annoying but it’s like losing the ac. It’s livable. Absolute fucking bitch to fix though. So I didn’t.”

“What do you mean?”

“I just didn’t.” Robert shrugged. “The cockpit got a little toastier when I spent more than a half hour in the suit at a time, but I didn’t need to spend four hours untangling the fucking thermocouple from the … doesn’t matter. Point is it fucking sucked.”

“Okay. So what, that part ended up being super important or something?” Courtney wasn’t entirely sure where this was going.

“Something like that, yeah.” Robert continued. “The regulator is part of a network of parts that monitors the insulation between the suits thrusters and weaponry and the interior. By itself, it controls the air conditioning more or less but as part of the bigger system it basically stops the mech from being an oven.” He grimaced at the memories. Courtney cringed.

“Okay, fuck. That sounds pretty bad,” She agreed. “Did you get stuck inside?” She shuddered at the thought of being trapped in a metal box that slowly roasted you alive. “Sounds like brass bullshit.” Robert snorted at her joke.

“No,” he said reluctantly. “I got too hot and emergency ejected in the middle of a fight. One of the guys I was fighting saw an opportunity and climbed in while I was busy fighting off the others.” Courtney whistled.

“I mean, the balls on that guy … but isn’t your suit like, hard to use?” The cockpit on that thing looked more like an old timey switchboard than anything familiar. The joysticks made intuitive sense, but everything else looked like it needed a manual on how to effectively read its manual.

“Yeah it’s, it’s kinda like driving stick when you get carjacked. Fucker sits down all proud of himself, but then what?” Robert laughed darkly. “He got in, but he couldn’t really do anything. He did however, find a button for one of the thrusters, which he tried to use to… I’m not actually sure what he was trying to accomplish. What did happen though, was the suit started heating up. He tried to get out, but the hatch had shorted and he didn’t know where the release was.” Robert cleared his throat, trying to delay the obvious conclusion.

“Fuck.” Courtney was horrified. “What a way to go.” Robert shuddered at the memory.

“Yeah. It uh, it took a while. I was there the whole time.” He could still remember the sounds the poor fucker had made. The sudden silence was worse. “Also guess who cleaned the suit after.”

“Jesus, Robert.”

“Yeah it was gross.” He wrinkled his nose at the remembered smell. “The thing that got to me though-“

“The charred corpse in your mech suit didn’t get to you?” Courtney quipped.

“-the thing that got to me though,” continued Robert, ignoring the question. “Was that it was my fault, and it easily could have been me.” Courtney shot him a confused look.

“You made that guy steal your malfunctioning mech suit and cook himself?” Robert shook his head.

“No, that was all him. But it was my job to keep the suit maintained. I didn’t really understand it all because my dad died before he really explained much of it to me. I had to muddle my way through.” Courtney hadn’t known that. She had assumed he has gotten mech suit lessons or something at some point. Robert had just… figured it out? When he was a teenager? That was crazy. He must have never done anything else, she thought to herself. That actually checked out.

“So you think it’s your fault it broke?” She asked. “Cause you fixed it wrong or something?” Robert shook his head.

“At first I kept everything pristine, but that got tiring and I got cocky because things until then had gone pretty well.” He explained. “So I began to cut corners, even though I didn’t know what the effect would be. If I hadn’t done that, the suit wouldn’t have been overheating in the first place. I wouldn’t have had to expose myself in a fight like that. And that guy might still be alive.”

“There’s no way that’s your fault,” Courtney protested. “He was trying to kill you anyway, right?” Robert shrugged.

“Maybe. Doesn’t really matter. I just remember thinking…. Fuck. That didn’t have to happen.” He shook his head in defiance of old guilt bubbling up like sludge. “And yeah, hearing the guy scream and beg for help and then having to remove what was left him from the suit…” Robert trailed off for a moment before continuing. “All of that was really fucked up, and ever since then I sometimes dream about it, but like a twisted version of it where I’m the one in the suit? But also watching it happen to myself at the same time. It’s… it’s very disorienting.”

“Yeah, I bet.” Courtney wasn’t sure what to say. She might have nightmares now just hearing about it, fuck. To be fair, it was mostly the thought of Robert burning alive in the mech suit that was currently filling her with dread, but even so. “I’m so sorry you carry that around.” She meant it. She didn’t even feel like making a joke.

“Thanks, it’s bullshit and it fucking sucks.”Robert chuckled dryly. “I’m sure it’s all symbolic or some shit.”

“Oh, obviously. Your suit consuming yourself and others in a fiery blaze? Fuckin’ baby’s first metaphor over here.”

“Right?” Robert laughed. “It’s not subtle.” He felt lighter just having talked about it with someone. He was glad it was with Courtney. “Thanks again, by the way. For helping.”

“I’m just glad I did.” Her voice was small but full of pride.

“You really really did. You did it perfectly.” Robert really enjoyed showering her with praise. The way she lit up from head to toe was like distilled joy. “I’m just sorry I don’t think it’s going anywhere, and you may have to do that again.” He felt pathetic even implying that he wanted her to comfort him again, but he did. More than anything. Fortunately, Courtney seemed more than willing to oblige.

“Well, if you make me breakfast the next morning every time we might just find ourselves in a very functional arrangement here.” She grinned at him. For a moment her eyes grew softer and her tone more serious. “Thanks for telling me. I like knowing what’s going on so I can be there for you.”

“You’re welcome, but I’m going to throw that line right back in your face the next time you go all aloof and quiet.” Robert did actually make a mental note to file that one away.

“Fuck you,” Courtney flipped him off over the last sips of her coffee, her expression playful. Robert leaned over to her and drew her in for a kiss which she returned enthusiastically, her hands wrapping around his neck. “Love you,” she amended.

“That’s better,” Robert laughed. “Now come on, join me in the shower? I know where you’ve been. You’re filthy.”

“Don’t say that like you don’t fucking love it.” Shit, Robert thought. She had him there. Courtney seemed to be deep in thought instead of savoring her ideological victory, however.

“What is it?” He asked. She glanced back at him, a mischievous glimmer in her eye.

“On a scale of one to ten, how sturdy is your shower?”

Chapter Text

The shower proved sturdy enough, though Robert felt even more drained after instead of refreshed or more awake. That had been Courtney’s fault. He grinned. Worth it. So fucking worth it. He did need another coffee now, though.

He was alone in his apartment as the afternoon trickled in. Courtney had gone home to grab fresh clothes and tell her roommate that she wasn’t dead. He missed her already. How sad was that? He shook his head as he poured his afternoon coffee. Maybe it wasn’t sad, actually. Maybe it was the opposite?

She said she’d come back in the evening, which gave Robert a few hours to himself. It was Saturday, and thanks to the SDN office still being a smoldering ruin as of last night it looked like he and the Z-team would be enjoying an impromptu long weekend. It sounded so … normal. This was the kind of shit normal people thought about right? What to do on a weekend?

Robert sipped his coffee and furrowed his brow. He looked around his barren apartment, and then it hit him. Of course. He should actually fucking furnish this place. Just a few days ago it seemed fine. Not fancy, nothing special, but fine. After the last 24hours though, he suddenly saw it as for the dystopian prison cell that it was.

He started taking stock. Okay first, an actual bed, he thought. The futon was nice but the bar down the center where it folded had pulverized his back overnight. Then… a side table or two, so he could put Courtney’s breakfast down without risking her knocking it over. That made sense.

Movies, she likes movies, he remembered. It had been a decade and a half since he had owned a TV, he could get one on that wall across from where the couch was. Let’s see, Robert thought, what else….

Plates. Another bowl. Maybe two more bowls, as a treat. Robert wrote out a list for himself. Luckily he had just been paid, and he was no longer throwing all of his money into infinite financial void that was the mech suit. He doubted he could get it all up here by himself by the time Courtney got home, however… that was the bottleneck here. Shit.

He pulled out his phone and opened the Z-team group chat. He copied the group, dropping Courtney before creating another. He liked the idea of surprising her when she came back.

Hey Z-team, he wrote. Need some help this afternoon if anyone is free. Not work related. Surprise for Visi. I’m getting furniture.

It was brand new and deeply uncomfortable territory for Robert. He barely asked for help when it came to serious shit like saving lives. The act of announcing that he wanted help, and for something so personal… the sense of vulnerability made him feel naked. But this was the only way to pull off what he had in mind, and for Courtney he’d gladly get over himself and make it happen. Maybe with one or two helpers he could manage it.

To his surprise, his phone began to vibrate uncontrollably as the messages rolled in.

Flambae: That’s so fucking sad, Robert it’s the weekend can you fucking wait until Monday before making me depressed

Malevola: Sure. I know a good consignment store, I’ll share the address. I can meet you there if you need something portal’d

Sonar: Robbie you can use my crate & barrel rewards# I get points

Golem: I can lift some stuff.

Punch Up: 👍

Coupé: I will conduct surveillance. I carried out six assassinations while my target was furniture shopping.

Waterboy: Of course!!!!

Prism: I’ve got a show sorry. Robert I emailed you a gift card for a rug to cover your nasty ass floor

Phenomaman: Will we be able to play Magic: The Gathering once we are finished?
;

Robert reeled at the sudden influx of responses. He had thought that maybe one or two of them might reply within the next few hours. Not whatever this was.

Thanks guys. Means the world.

It did.

Chapter Text

Courtney turned the key and entered her apartment. She was still wearing last night’s clothes, rumpled from their time strewn across Robert’s floor.

“I’m back,” she called out. “I’m not dead.”

“It was one night, do you really think I couldn’t figure out where you were?” Mandy stood in the kitchen, making lunch. She was just Mandy for a while, having loaned her amulet to Chase. She was still getting used to it. “How was your first night with Robert?” She asked. Courtney answered with a devious grin.

“So fucking good.” She had considered making some sort of stupid joke, but no. She had just meant that. It was so so fucking good. “We’re dating now.” It still felt unreal.

“What? No fucking way, no one saw that coming,” Mandy teased, stumbling over the obscenity. It still didn’t feel right, but it did feel a bit… freeing. Fuck, she thought to herself. Fuck fuck fuck. It was kind of nice to just be able to use the fucking word. Courtney’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Holy shit you’re becoming less of a dork in real time, before my very eyes.” She was actually impressed. “Keep it up and you’ll be normal in a few years at this rate.”

“Courtney, you are not anything near an authority on normal.” Mandy laughed at the concept. It almost felt like Courtney was coaching her on how to relax. “Are you hungry? I made some pasta.”

“Oh?” Courtney inspected the pot simmering on the stove. “Actually yeah, I could really go for some lunch. I’m drained as fuck, Robert fucks like a - oh.” She stopped, catching herself. “Sorry.” Mandy gave her a small smile.

“It’s okay,” she told Courtney. “It’s not like I wasn’t expecting to hear about it. I know who you are.”

“Okay fuck you but fair enough,” Courtney replied. “I dunno. I know you like him. I’m excited but I wasn’t trying to be a dick.” She felt bad. Part of her was wracked with guilt that she had seemingly won Robert’s heart despite him meeting and obviously falling for Mandy first. Not that she could blame him. Mandy had told her about their first “meeting” shortly after it happened. She had literally swept him off of his fucking feet after saving his life and buying him drinks. Who wouldn’t be smitten?

“You’re not a dick,” Mandy reassured her. “And it’s fine, really. I think I needed to like Robert at first, like it helped me realize that I really didn’t like Phenomaman at all. Not romantically anyway, he’s fine as a coworker now that he’s found those cards.”

“Dude it’s so weird that he likes them right?”

“Super fucking weird,” Mandy agreed, stumbling a little less this time. Courtney gave her an enthusiastic thumbs up. “But he seems actually happy and has stopped sending me edible arrangements and moping around the office, so as far I’m concerned those cards are magic.”

“They.. they are.” Courtney couldn’t contain her laughter. “That’s the name of the game.”

“Oh.” Mandy paused a moment. “Right. Anyway, I did have a crush on Robert for a while but I don’t think I do anymore. He’s attractive and all-“

“Fuck yeah he is.” Courtney whooped. “That dad bod refuses to fucking quit.” Mandy stared at her flatly.

“Do you not know what a dad bod is?” She asked. “I went along with it because it was funny but now I’m beginning to wonder.”

“Yeah, yeah, I just said that back then because I couldn’t bring myself to admit he was hot.” Courtney admitted.

“No, what? Really? No way.” Mandy’s sarcastic incredulity was unexpected but scathingly incisive and accurate. “You covered that so well!”

“Eat a dick,” Courtney replied. “You were saying?”

“I was saying,” Mandy continued, “that being into him helped me snap out of a rut I was in. But I can’t say I ever felt the same kind of reaction he gives to you, and while I was a little disappointed at first… I also like seeing you happy, and him too. He’s a good man, and a good friend.” She held Courtney’s gaze, earnest. “And so are you.”
Courtney scoffed, uncomfortable.

“I’m literally a fucking trash-tier friend and you know it.” She shifted uncomfortably. She wished she was joking, but she struggled not to believe it. “I don’t deserve you being so fucking nice to me.” She said quietly and sighed.

“You’re not, and you do. You don’t actually get to decide those things, your friends do. In case you haven’t noticed there’s a few of us now and we actually agree on this so you’re outvoted.” Mandy spoke gently. “Now come on, have some lunch before you vanish back to Robert’s for the evening.”

“How did you know I was -“

“Lucky guess.”

Chapter Text

Robert took stock of what was suddenly a very furnished apartment. It had never occurred to him that he had a small space - it had always seemed plenty large when he had a single plastic lawn chair. A sentence that he now realized was absolutely ridiculous, possibly hilarious if it only it wasn’t also so sad.

Just like that though, he had put out the call and within the hour the Z team had shown up at his place ready to help. Even Flambae was there, though he insisted that it was purely to make fun of Robert over how shitty his apartment was. Despite that, he ended up flying the coffee table up through the balcony door without being asked. It now sat between his new bed and the wall-mounted TV that Malevola had sourced.

He had wondered how she had managed to put it up so quickly, and upon further inspection noticed that rather than being actually mounted it had simply been phased through the wall and left partway there via demonic portal. Robert pulled on it but it didn’t budge. Malevola knew a thing or two about applying her powers to decor, it seemed. It was the same trick she had pulled with the chandelier which now hung from his ceiling, but this time he hadn’t been too flustered by the surprise party to notice.

Waterboy had brought a handful of dog safe house plants, presumably already watered. They were placed at the corners of his apartment, suddenly bringing a sense of life into the room.

His futon now sat off to the side of the room, folded up in couch position. He didn’t really have the space for it anymore, but hadn’t figured that into things when planning. Running out of space had seemed impossible then. As it was, Robert’s new apartment was suddenly rather crowded but at least looked like an actual living space now.

He had thanked the team profusely. He now owed them the next two rounds next time they went to Crypto. It definitely didn’t feel like enough of a thank you, but they had all cheered like it he was announcing bonuses. Robert relished the feeling that it had been that easy. A text message was all it took and they had all just shown up… Even fucking Flambae. That one was still confusing to Robert, but at the same time… he hadn’t thought to exclude Flambae from the text chain, either. So maybe he was in fact, becoming less of a bitch in the eyes of that narcissistic hothead. Small victories. Robert preferred not to butt heads daily if he could help it.

They had all hung around for a half hour or so after finally finished the setup, but had split off for various evening plans. Prism hadn’t been there in person, but had shown up in the form of a mirror-image that brought iced coffee for everyone unprompted before fading into nothing. Robert was surprised at that one too. It was just a few weeks ago she was overtly calling him incompetent in front of his boss. Robert thought it was sweet that she bothered while preparing for her show later tonight.

He sat back and took in his new space all at once. The walls were still bare, he’d have to think of something to put up to balance out the room. But it was home, instead of just somewhere he slept in between days. A smile broke out across his face, tiny and furtive at first but eventually grew into a grin that reached from one ear to the other. He couldn’t wait to show Courtney.

Like it had been fated, he heard a knock at his door. He opened it to see her standing there, freshly changed and with a small duffel bag over one shoulder. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smothered him with a kiss.

“I missed you too,” he told her. She wrinkled her nose at him but didn’t deny it. “What’s in the bag?”

“Just some things for another overnight.” Courtney replied matter-of-factly. “Assuming you want me to stay over again, of course….” Her eyes suggested that she in fact, was not as uncertain as her words made it seem.

“Nah, one night was enough I think.” Robert tried to keep his face straight. He did not succeed and Courtney brushed past him, triumphant. She stopped in her tracks as soon as she entered the apartment.

“Robert, when did you do this?” She was incredulous. “How the fuck…?” Robert enjoyed impressing her.

“Earlier today, obviously.” He said nonchalantly. “And as for how the fuck… well let’s just say I owe our favorite shitheads a lot of drinks now.”

“Oh god, you’re going to go broke.” Courtney was only half-joking. Z-team did not have cheap taste, whether they racked up the bill by quality or volume. “But they just all came over and… and helped?” She was agog at the gesture, but people did do that sort of thing for each other after all. And it had been for Robert, so… yeah that checked out.

“Yep. They did. I told them it was a surprise for you and they were all here inside of an hour. Carrying shit, mounting shit on the wall… I didn’t actually do anything except point.” Robert said. He paused at a look he couldn’t quite read on Courtney’s face.

“For me?” She asked in a tiny voice that barely sounded like herself. Robert took the cue to get close and wrap his arms around her. He felt teardrops speckle his arms as Courtney sank to the floor, overcome with feeling. He held her close and kissed her cheeks, the top of her head, anything he could reach.

“Yeah. For you.” Robert held Courtney as she cried. Subdued sniffles gave way to sobs that shook her whole body involuntarily. Robert let her get it out.

Courtney was a mess. She was vaguely aware of Robert holding her, but it seemed far away somehow. She didn’t know how to navigate this avalanche of conflicting emotion. Why were they all so kind to her? Why did they all go out of their way to help? Why did they care so much?

Part of her wanted to drink it in greedily and demand more. She starved for this all her life, and she knew it. She would have killed to have this sort of support network, and did kill a few times thinking it might help her get one. It never had. But now that it was here’s in front of her, seeingly hers for the taking without any hidden price… she hesitated. It felt wrong accepting this from people she had come to respect and care about. They were friends, not marks. She couldn’t take advantage of them.

On some level part of her knew that this was precisely why she was now being given for free something she only tried to earn or steal before. It was too much to just accept. But she would at least try, because that was in fact what everyone else actually wanted.

“Thank you.” Courtney whispered when she finally found the breath. Robert shifted where he sat holding her.

“You’re welcome and all but it’s not like I didn’t also need furniture,” he pointed out. “It being a surprise for you was just sort of opportunistic. I figured you might enjoy having some actual furniture sooner rather than later if you were going to stay over.” Courtney giggled in response.

“Yeah, that’s making a pretty big difference right now I can’t lie. I was gonna prop up my phone on a shoe so we could watch a movie or something.” She beamed at him. It was hard to explain to him that what made this such a big deal was that he had cared so much about what it was like for her to be there, not just about how her being there made him feel. He cared about her, not what she could do for him. And he showed it so openly. It was beautiful.

“Well, even more good news.” Robert turned on the TV, showing the paused opening titles for Typecast . He had followed the sequel easily enough when he and Courtney had gone to see it on their first date, but part of him still regretted missing her recap when he had made the journey over. He made his way over to the bed and sat down against the wall, propping himself on pillows and pulling out a pair of beers from the microfridge that Punch Up had brought over and then installed unprompted by Robert’s bedside. “How about it?” He asked Courtney

He grunted at the sudden impact of her tackling him, raining kisses down on whatever she could reach. He weathered her onslaught stoically until she reached his neck, at which point he let out an involuntary groan at the building sensation. Courtney was staring at him with eyes ablaze.

“Later.” Her voice was low and urgent.

“Later is perfect,” Robert agreed as the two of them intertwined in joy.

Perfect.

Chapter Text

“Holy fuckin’ shit kid, you really spruced the hell out of this place.” Chase floated in the doorway, holding Beef under one arm. “See Beef? He doesn’t put all this out for you but soon as he’s gettin’ laid it’s furniture o’fuckin clock.” He squinted at the multiple pillows that adorned the bed. “Those cushions, as in cushions plural? Fuck I thought I’d never live to see the day.” Robert laughed guiltily. Chase had a point.

“Sorry Beef,” he said, patting his dog on the head. “I know Chase spoiled you a lot for me though. Missed you buddy.” Beef yapped and licked at Robert’s fingers. Missed you too, Robert presumed that meant.

“Holy fuckin’ shit there’s a TV in here.” Chase was continuing his tirade as he came in properly. “Visi did you fuckin’ move in already cause I know for a fact none of this was here last week. Where did all this shit come from?”

“Nice to see you too Chase,” Courtney replied. “No, I haven’t moved in… yet,” she added the last part after a tiny dramatic pause and laughed aloud at the way Robert jolted his head up from playing with Beef. “He did set all of this up for me though. Said he felt lame bringing me back here to fu-“

“Visi I didn’t need to hear about your fuckin’ sex life before and I don’t need to hear about it now just because it’s Robert you’re fuckin.” Chase cut her off grumpily. He waited a moment and then added “I’m glad he’s finally taking care of himself. I suppose I have you to thank for that, huh?” Robert was quiet. He didn’t disagree.

“Oh definitely. All me.” Courtney said. She felt awkward taking credit for any of it, but was an grandmaster at masking it. From everybody except Robert anyway, the insightful prick. She changed the subject. “How’s the mystical amulet blazer lent you?”

“So fuckin’ great.” Chase grinned wide as he floated a little further off the ground and… was he fucking glowing? He was. He was glowing. “I am never giving this back. I can move without it hurting like a motherfucker. I can fuckin’ fly. I am strong as hell. My shits are-”

“Jesus fucking Christ Chase, I didn’t hear about your shits before and I don’t need to hear about them now just because I’m fucking Robert.” Courtney couldn’t pass up the chance to volley his own words back at him. To her shock he actually laughed.

“You know what? Fuckin’ touché.” Chase conceded. “Point is, I feel better than I have in years. Even if I know it’s only temporary… good fucking god does it feel good.” Courtney hadn’t ever seen Chase when he wasn’t pissed off. She found this version of him extremely tolerable. It was possible she even liked him.

“I’m glad you’re doing okay.” A realization struck her like a brick. “I never said thank you. Fuck. I’m so sorry I never-“

“You think I expected a thank you from a shifty-ass criminal like you?” The words were familiar, but his tone lacked the usual venom. It almost sounded like it did when he insulted Robert. She had to have imagined that. “But you’re fuckin’ welcome.” Chase continued. “I’d do it again,” he added, almost too quietly to hear. Visi didn’t know how to explain what that meant.

“Thank you,” she ended up repeating. “Really.” Chase waved her away.

“Yeah yeah. We both know if anything happened to you Robert would be a worthless blubbery fuckin’ mess. What was I supposed to do? I heard enough of his bitch-ass crying for one lifetime I’m not gonna sit around listening to anymore of it while I’m this fuckin’ old.”

“That sounds like my cue to change the subject,” Robert cut in, nearly dying of laughter. “What are we supposed to call you in public now? Are you still Trackstar?” He thought he had heard Chase give a different name to the reporter.

“Ah, yeah. No, I talked to blazer about it. Since I’ll have to give the amulet back there’s no use announcing that Trackstar’s back if he’s just gonna disappear in a couple of weeks. So we came up with a different name to use in the meantime.”

“Which is?” Robert was curious.

“Starblazer.” Chase replied dramatically, striking his signature pose while floating a foot off of the ground. “Sounds cool as fuck huh?” Robert laughed and nodded. It was cool as fuck.

“I think I named my bong Starblazer in high school,” offered Courtney. Chase snorted.

“Explains a lot about you, don’t it.” He chuckled, removing any bite the words had. “But I bet it was dope as fuck.” Courtney laughed in agreement.

“It was. It’s so weird seeing an old person say dope as fuck. And are you… are fucking dabbing?” She blurted the last part. Ever since she had seen Trackstar’s signature pose, she had to know. Chase looked offended.

“Fuck no I’m not fuckin’ dabbing. I was doing this shit motherfuckin’ decades before you punk ass fuckin kids started calling it that.” He seemed a little genuinely bothered, which was genuinely hilarious.

“That’s fair but you have to realize how old that makes you sound when you say shit like that right?” Robert held Beef aloft and fed him a dog treat, recently acquired as he had filled in his pantry. “Thanks for watching this little guy.”

“Fuck you. Don’t mention it. I love my boy ten times more than you.” Chase reached out to pat Beef’s head. Robert raised an eyebrow.

“Does that mean you love beef ten times more than you love me, or that you love beef ten times as much as I do?” He teased.

“Shut the fuck up is what it means,” Chase retorted. Courtney laughed. “You can shut the fuck up too,” he added at her.

“Well, now that you’ve dropped off your only son, what’re you going to get up to Chase? Do you wanna stick around and really third wheel it?” Courtney asked, ignoring his command with another laugh.

“No, fuck no,” Chase shook his head at the prospect. “I’m actually gonna hit up the Crypto Night. Have a drink. Hang out.” Courtney narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

“You’re going to try and get laid, aren’t you?” She called him out and he flinched as if she popped a balloon next to his ear. He suddenly seemed flustered.

“I mean well I … the powers aren’t stickin’ around and one of the things I found was that they help with certain age-related…”

“Chase I will pay you actual real American money not to finish that sentence.” Robert interrupted. “But I get it and just so you know: I’m stoked for you. Go fucking get it.”

“Fuck yeah,” Courtney added in support. “You also just saved the fuckin’ city. If that’s not good for some action, what is?” She was glad that he was going to get some. She was reasonably confident it would make him less irritable at work even if it was a one-time injection. Heh. She cracked herself up.

“Thanks guys,” Chase mumbled, clearly unsure of how to respond to the sudden sincerity. Courtney couldn’t blame him, considering the extent to which the three of them trafficked in sarcasm.

“Go get your dick wet, Starblazer.” Courtney said, gently elbowing the floating man in the ribs. Beef barked his agreement, like the wingman he was. Chase let out a chuckle.

“Well shit, don’t have to tell me twice. I’ll see you kids later.” And just like that, he was a streak of color that left a shining trail of starlight in its wake. It took a few seconds to fade completely. Robert and Courtney burst out laughing at the same time, and then settled back down onto the bed to continue their evening as Beef nestled between them happily and fell asleep.