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Being a hero was like second nature to Robert. Even without the Mechaman suit, he would jump in and help in any way he could, which led him into more trouble than he liked. This instant was no different.
Earbuds on, he walked down the street in a hoodie, worn-out jeans, and sneakers, just finishing running errands, when he heard the sounds of meowing and hissing. He then stumbled upon a gaggle of cats spilling out into the road.
“Holy shit,” He yelped when one of them was rubbing against his pant legs. He paused his music and scooped out one cat after another. He didn’t want cars coming in and running them over. He had about five cats in his arms before someone came looking for them.
“Mr Mittens, Luna, come inside! Oh, Duchess, please stop eating the roses!” A sweet little old lady came barreling out of the house and into the street, a walking cane in hand. She tried to pick up what cats she could, but her back prevented her from bending down. Visibly stressed, she scanned the area for her missing babies but sighed when she saw Robert holding them.
“Oh, thank you, young man!” She said.
“These little ones are yours, I assume.” Robert held up the cats, some of them squirming in his arms.
“I’m sorry, my grandson usually handles them, but he’s out at the moment.” She then adjusted her glasses, taking in Robert’s appearance. It wasn’t a subtle up-down either.
“Ma’am?” Robert coughed.
“Are you single?”
“What?” He blinked at the little old lady, unsure if he had heard her right.
She chuckled. “No, no, it’s just you look very handsome, and my grandson is not far from your age,”
Robert smiled awkwardly, seeing where this conversation was going.
“He is a very kind boy, takes care of me and everything. Has a good job down at SDN. I’m sure you’d like him too.” Her sales pitch screamed desperation. It’s either that her grandson was a loser or a genuinely sweet person.
“He sounds like a catch, but I am seeing someone at the moment, a very nice man,” Robert said, trying to be polite.
“But, he isn’t your boyfriend yet?”
For the second time today, the elderly woman left him bamboozled. “Uh, well, no,”
“So, there’s a chance.” The grandmother murmured.
“Uhh…” Third time today.
“Come inside for some cookies, let me thank you,” She said sweetly.
This sounded like the beginning of a fairytale where things go wrong in the end. Robert tried to excuse himself. “I don’t really–”
“Please, these old bones can’t herd all of my babies inside,” She gestured at the dozens of cats in her yard, and Robert felt defeated. Mechaman being bested by a frail old lady with her brigade of cats does wonders for his ego.
With cats in his arms, she led Robert into her home and sat him down on the couch, cushions covered in cling wrap, which was an odd choice. Robert let the cats go and watch them scamper around the house while the old lady went into the kitchen and grabbed a plate of cookies and a cup of coffee.
“Help yourself, dear.” She said.
He smelled them out of habit and took a tentative bite. It turned out the cookies were heavenly, not poisoned. They were chewy, not too sweet, and had just the right amount of buttery saltiness.
“How are they?” She asked.
“These are even better than Granny’s.”
“Oh, that old croon, can’t hold a handle to my baked goods. He was a lot nicer when we were teens.” The old woman placed the cup of coffee on the table and sat next to Robert. “My grandson knows all my recipes, taught him myself.”
“Are his cookies as good as yours?” He asked.
She hesitated. “His batch tends to be a little more moist than mine.”
Ah, so the grandson is a terrible baker, then.
Robert didn’t really want to break the old lady’s heart, but he didn’t want to be coerced into a date with her grandson, not when he’s dating a sweet man, Waterboy. As he thought about an excuse, there was a sound of the front door opening and closing, and the hissing of cats.
A voice called out. “Grandma, I’m home, I got your medication.”
“That’s my grandson. Herm, come meet someone! This handsome young man was just helping me with the cats.”
Herm? What were the odds that it’s…
Then, A tall figure clad in yellow and blue strolled into the living room with plastic bags in each hand.
“Grandma, you can’t just invite stra–” Once he made eye contact with Robert, the grandson froze, dropping the plastic bags of groceries and medicine. “S-Strangers…”
Robert stared at the grandson, his tall and lanky body and bright yellow and blue jumpsuit were unmistakable. Oh god, he was at Waterboy’s house, and he just met his grandmother! He’s mentioned her before during their date nights, and how he couldn’t stay out too late because Waterboy had to take care of her.
Now, Robert wished he had dressed better. He didn’t picture himself meeting the grandmother of the guy he is seeing in a hoodie and worn-out jeans.
“Hey, Herm,” Robert sheepishly greeted.
“R-R-Robert, what are–are you doing here–in my house?”
Herman’s grandmother looked between the two of them, slowly connecting the dots. “Do you know him, Herm?”
Being put on the spot, he answered slowly. “Y-Yes, Grandma, Robert, he is…my boss,”
Robert cringed. He wasn’t technically wrong; he does manage the Z-Team, but after going on dates with him and kissing behind closed office doors, Robert thought they had moved past that.
“I am his dispatcher at SDN, Robert Robertson the Third.” Robert introduced.
“What an unfortunate name,” His grandmother blurted.
“Grandma!” Waterboy gasped.
Robert laughed, not offended at all. He admired the candor. “And I agree with you, Ma’am.”
Waterboy picked up the plastic bags and placed them on the table. Before making his way to the vacant armchair, the one wrapped in clingwrap. It made more sense now.
“Do you want to see Herm’s baby picture?” His grandmother asked.
“Grandma, please!” Waterboy blushed.
The conversations lasted for hours. Robert and she swapped stories about Herman, while Waterboy mostly stayed quiet, but interjected when his grandmother exaggerated the story. Robert admired how domestic it all seemed. It reminded him of the family reunions he used to have, back when everything was simpler.
“Then, she slipped and fell on Herm’s puddles! Goodness, I had to apologize to the poor waitress. We never went back to that diner,” She recalled.
“The same thing happened on a mission. He took down a robber with a single puddle! The store owner wasn’t happy his floors were wet, but he was grateful we stopped the perp. Herman is a beast in the field,” Robert laughed, well aware Waterboy’s face was bright red from embarrassment.
The chime of the grand clock indicated that it was passed noon. Robert checked his own watch and cursed. “Sorry, I should be heading back. My dog gets lonely. Thank you for the cookies, Ma’am.”
“Oh, it’s nothing, you’re a wonderful guest,” She then turned to her grandson. “Herm, please get the fresh batch of cookies out of the oven for Robert to take home; these are no good.”
“These are the best cookies I've had in my entire life.” Robert shoved another cookie into his mouth.
“The fresh ones are better, please take them home, I’ve baked too much.”
Waterboy, who still stood dumbfounded, looked between Robert and his grandmother, like he was witnessing a miracle.
“Herm, dear, the cookies?”
“Ah, yeah, yeah, sorry, be right back!”
Once Waterboy left the room, the Grandmother took Rober’s hand, holding it tight. Her wrinkly hands were shaking.
“I’m sorry about today. If I had known you were my grandson’s handler, I would never have offered to set you up with Herm.”
“Do you set him up often with random strangers?” Robert’s words had a little more bite than he meant to; jealousy wasn’t a good look on him.
“I used to, but ever since he worked at SDN, he says he’s too busy.” The old woman then goes quiet, her eyes growing distant. “May I ask you something, Robert?”
“Sure,”
“Is my son happy being a hero?”
“As far as I could tell, he is,” Robert answered honestly.
“I can tell being a hero changed his life; he’s more confident, sure of himself, but I can’t help but worry. I am his grandmother, and he is my only grandson. We only have each other. If something were to happen to him, I don’t think I can…” She stopped before her thoughts got too dark. “I am just glad he has you at SDN to keep him safe. Now, I don’t have to worry as much.”
“It’s a pleasure, Ma’am. He’s an amazing kid. The world is a lot brighter with Herman in it,” Rober said sincerely.
She smiled, her eyes crinkling, all knowing. “I can see why my Herm likes you,”
Robert’s cheeks turned red, and before he could say anything in his defence, she called to her grandson from the other room. “Herm, be a gentleman and walk Robert home. Make sure he’s safe,”
“Y-Yes, Ma’am,” Waterboy came out of the kitchen with a plastic bag of fresh cookies.
“That won’t be necessary,” Robert explained.
“Now, hush, don’t make these old bones worry,” She dismissed, practically pushing both him and Waterboy out the door. For someone with old bones, she was strong.
“You’re welcome anytime, Robert! ” The grandmother called out as she watched them go.
They waved her goodbye and proceeded down the block through the peaceful neighborhood. It was all picket-fences, big front yards, and medium-sized houses, the typical suburban homes, a good place to settle down.
“S-Sorry, my grandma can be much,” Waterboy apologized.
“She’s a firecracker for her age,” Robert chuckled. “So, did I make a good first impression?”
“I-I think so. S-She offered you cookies, fresh ones too.” He gestured at the plastic bag in his hand.
“Good, good,” Robert looked at Waterboy, who couldn’t meet his gaze. “Did you tell her about us?”
Waterboy froze, back straight like he was waiting to be scolded. “N-No, should I have?”
“Only if you’re comfortable, I don’t mind keeping it a secret. I mean, it’s not exactly a well-guarded secret down at SDN. We aren’t subtle,” Robert tried to joke, but Waterboy’s eyes started to brim with tears, lips wobbling.
They stopped walking, and the moment became tense. Robert waited patiently for him to speak.
“I-I wasn’t sure i-if you wanted to m-meet her–our relationship–it’s–we’re just–” Waterboy started to ramble, and if Robert didn’t stop him, he’ll continue to spiral.
“Hey, hey, big guy,” Robert cupped Waterboy’s cheeks, and he leaned into them instantly, water pooling into his palms. “Take your time, breathe, and use your words. It’s just me,”
“I don’t bring anyone home u-unless they’re serious about m-me,” Waterboy said slowly. “The d-dates–they’re amazing, I like–like going on them with you, but I wondered if that’s all there is,”
Oh, this poor, nervous man. Robert should have communicated with him properly. But then again, they haven’t had the time to talk about the seriousness of their relationship. The dates, nonsensical sweet conversation, the touches, and kisses occupied their time. A slice of heaven that neither of them wanted to break.
“Are we serious, Herm? Do you want to be?” Robert asked carefully, staring into his eyes to convey his sincerity.
Waterboy’s mind always went a million miles a minute when he was nervous and, to no surprise, jumped to a conclusion, the worst kind. “B-But y-you’re Mechaman and–I am just Waterboy, it will get c-complicated if–”
“This isn’t about Mechaman and Waterboy. This is about us, Robert and Herman. Two people who care the hell out of each other.” Robert asked once more. “So, do you want to be serious, Herman?”
“Y-Yes, I want to be,” Herman sobbed, tears finally breaking through.
“Okay, big guy.” Robert went on his tiptoes and kissed away his tears, then his lips until he reciprocated it. “Let’s tell your Grandmother properly, next time, over dinner, and preferably when I am wearing decent clothes.”
“Y-You look perfect,” Herman said, his eyes looking over Robert’s body.
“Always the charmer,” Robert chuckled.
“No, just honest,”
They shared a sweet kiss blocks away from Herm’s house, knowing the next time they stepped into that house, he would introduce Robert as his boyfriend.
Their relationship is leaping forward. It was a thrilling and scary jump.