Chapter Text
The Torrance branch of the Superhero Dispatch Network had finally settled into something resembling normalcy. After the chaos of the Shroud incident, the building had been repaired, and the day-to-day rhythm of hero work had resumed.
Robert sat at his station, listening to Sonar. "Bobby, the situation at the pharmacy is resolved. Suspect is secured, and I'm awaiting the cops to pick up."
"Copy that, Sonar." Robert updated the incident log.
"I can also assure you that all of the stolen drugs are accounted for. No need to double-check the amount or anything."
"Right… Good work. Return when you're clear."
"Yeah, just, uh, give me a few minutes…"
Next, Golem was gently extracting a cat from a collapsed storm drain.
"Golem, you're clear." Robert's voice stayed even and professional. "Animal control's two minutes out. Nice work."
"That's the gravy, baby." Golem's rumbling voice came through. "Little guy was scared, but he's good now."
Elsewhere, Prism and Flambae were wrapping up a jewelry store robbery. The suspects were already webbed to the sidewalk by a borrowed gadget from the Downtown branch.
Robert allowed himself the ghost of a smile before switching channels. "Prism, Flambae, LAPD is on scene. You're free to RTB."
"Copy that, Roberto." Prism sang back. He could practically hear her checking her phone already. "Tell my public I'll be signing autographs in twenty."
"No one asked for your autograph," Flambae muttered in the background.
Robert muted the channel before the bickering could escalate. Chase's voice came through on a private line. "Bobby, I've got a 10-34 near the pier. Sending me out?"
Robert glanced at his screen, confirming the disturbance report. "Yeah, go ahead."
"Copy that."
Robert switched to the open channel. "Track Star, you're green-lit for the pier disturbance. Standard patrol protocols apply."
"On my way," Chase said.
Robert watched the tracking monitor as Chase's signal began moving toward the location. The old speedster looked significantly less ancient than he had a few weeks ago, thanks to Blazer's crystal. His face still carried lines and gray, but he'd regained some color and energy. More importantly, he could actually respond to calls again without worrying about aging himself into a hospital bed.
Robert then focused on the next dispatch request. Things had been like this for the past few weeks. Routine calls and the occasional PR event. The Z-Team had been performing well and rising in the leaderboards, no longer in last place. For the first time since he'd started this job, Robert felt like he could actually breathe.
Mandy made her rounds through the building, checking in with various teams before stopping at his desk. "How's the board looking?"
"Fine so far," Robert said. "Sonar just wrapped up a pharmacy robbery. Coupé and Punch Up are finishing a noise complaint in Redondo Beach. Nothing major. Waterboy and Phenomaman are still on PTO."
"Good." Mandy smiled. "You've been doing great work, Robert. The team's really come together."
"Thanks. I'm sure they'll be happy to hear that."
She gave him a brief nod before moving on. "Keep it up."
Robert watched her go, then returned his attention to the screens. Things had been different between them since HR came back from vacation. It turned out that the person in charge of HR had been on vacation during the Shroud incident. When HR returned and caught up on recent paperwork, previous relationships in the chain of command were put on hold.
Robert didn't blame Mandy for following protocol. It made sense in the long run. That didn't make it any less frustrating.
At the same time, both of them were aware of Visi’s affection toward Robert and vice versa. Robert didn’t outright reject her since everything was going so fast at the time. Still, Robert and Mandy promised to talk about it when the time was right.
Later That Day
Prism lounged on one of the break room couches, scrolling through her phone. "I'm just saying, if they wanted me to do a meet-and-greet at the mall, they should've given me more than two hours' notice. I have a brand to maintain."
"Your brand is literally being a hero now." Flambae poured himself coffee from the kitchen area. "That's the whole point of the Z-Team."
"Exactly. And heroes need proper promotion." Prism didn't look up from her screen. "It's called professionalism, Chad."
Golem sat by the table, listening to an audiobook. "You did fine. Those kids loved you."
"Of course they did. I'm adorable." Prism finally glanced up, flashing a smile. "But next time, I want a good camera crew."
#
In the locker room, Sonar was checking his portfolio.
Invisigal sat on the bench below him, scrolling through her phone with one hand while tossing a small rubber ball against the wall with the other.
"You know that's annoying, right?" Sonar muttered.
"You know you're annoying, right?" Invisigal shot back and caught the ball mid-bounce.
"Children." Malevola drawled from the far corner as she sharpened her broadsword. "If I have to separate you two, I'm portaling one of you to the Pacific."
"Joke's on you, Mal," Invisigal smirked. "I could use a beach day."
Coupé leaned against her locker with her arms crossed and said nothing. She just watched the blade work with professional appreciation.
Punch Up entered from the showers and toweled off his hair. "Anyone else starving, or is it just me?"
"It's always you, Colm." Coupé didn't look at him.
"Fair."
#
Robert's headset crackled to life with Dana's voice from the front desk. "Robert, you've got a visitor in the lobby. A kid. He's asking for you by name."
Robert frowned, glancing at his screens. He wasn't expecting anyone, and kids didn't just show up at SDN asking for dispatchers. "A kid? What's his name?"
There was a pause. "He won't say. But Robert..." Dana's voice dropped, uncertain. "He kinda looks like you. I mean, really looks like you. Is he a cousin or something?"
Robert frowned didn't have any cousins in LA. He didn't have any family period, not anymore. "I'll be right there."
He pulled off his headset and stood, already heading toward the lobby.
#
Invisigal's voice from the locker room area. "Did she just say there's a kid asking for Robert?"
Malevola sheathed her sword with a smooth shhhhink. "Well, I'm bored. Let's go see what's up."
"Should we..." Punch Up started.
"When has that ever stopped us?" Prism's voice came from the doorway as she sauntered in. Her phone was already recording. "Come on, people. If it's drama, I want front-row seats."
"This I gotta see." Invisigal smirked as she leaned against the doorframe.
Within seconds, the Z-Team and Chase began filtering into the hallway.
"Ten bucks says it's a lawsuit," Flambae muttered.
"Twenty says it's a crazy ex." Prism countered.
"Does Robert even have exes?" Invisigal whispered.
"Good point."
Robert ignored them and walked toward the lobby. His mind raced through possibilities. A prank? Some kind of setup? A lost kid who got his name confused with someone else's?
Robert pushed through the double doors into the lobby. Darla looked up from her desk with obvious relief. "Oh, thank god." She gestured helplessly toward the waiting area. "Robert, there's a, um... Well, you should just see."
Robert turned toward the waiting area, and that's when he saw him.
A small boy, no older than ten, was sitting in one of the lobby chairs. He had auburn hair, the same shade as Robert's, and blue eyes that were achingly familiar. His facial structure was like looking into a mirror from years ago. However, there was a mix of something else in there, features Robert couldn't quite place.
"Holy shit." Chase floated behind Robert. It was like babysitting the little bastard all over again.
The boy's face lit up the moment he saw Robert. Without hesitation, he ran straight toward him. "Dad!" The boy wrapped his arms around his waist and squeezed tightly. "I found you! I found you!"
Robert struggled to process what was happening.
Behind him, the Z-Team had crowded into the lobby doorway.
"Holy shit," Invisigal breathed.
"Language," Punch Up hissed automatically.
"Is that... did he just..." Sonar trailed off, confused.
"Dad?" Invisigal found her voice again. "I knew you had a dad-bod!"
"Oh my God! ROBERTO ROBERTSON!" Prism shrieked. Her phone was already out and recording. "You have a CHILD?"
"Did he have a one-night stand or something?" Flambae muttered.
"Maybe he's a deadbeat," Sonar said. "That would explain why we're just hearing about this now."
"Secret baby daddy arc was not on my bingo card," Malevola said. Her eyebrows climbed toward her horns.
Golem lumbered in last and took one look at the scene. "Aw, man. That's heavy."
Chase floated closer, studying the boy's face with an intensity that made Robert's chest tighten. "Bobby..."
Robert's brain finally rebooted enough to form a sentence. "I... no. I don't..." He looked down at the boy still clinging to him. "Kid, I think you've got the wrong person."
The boy pulled back and looked up at him with confusion. "What? No, I don't. By the way, did you dye your hair?"
"I don't have any kids."
"That’s not funny. You do. Me!" The boy pulled back just enough to look up at him. Robert's stomach dropped at the hurt in those eyes. The boy's voice turned small and confused. "It's me. Don't you..."
He turned to see Chase and the Z-Team with similar gobsmacked expressions. His face brightened again. "Uncle Chase! Z-Team! I missed you guys!"
Chase's jaw worked soundlessly. He looked between Robert and the boy, then back again. "Bobby, this is..."
"I know what it looks like," Robert said. "I don't know what's going on."
"Missed us?" Invisigal's voice pitched higher. "Kid, we've never met you before."
"What do you mean?" The boy's smile faltered. "We... you were all at my birthday party last month. Aunt Courtney, you brought me that invisibility cloak toy. It didn't actually work, but I loved it anyway."
Invisigal's mouth fell open. "I... what?"
"And Uncle Victor helped me with my science project about bats." The boy turned to Sonar. "Remember?"
Sonar's white eyes widened. "I did?"
"Flambae cooked s'mores with his fire powers," the boy continued, looking at Flambae. "And Aunt Mal let me ride through one of her portals. Uncle Colm showed me boxing techniques.”
Robert couldn’t help but imagine this kid just punching a guy in the dick.
“Aunt Alice did a whole concert just for me. Aunt Janelle taught me how to throw knives, but Mom got really mad about that one." He looked at Golem. "And Uncle Bruno, you read me poetry every night before bed when you stayed over."
The Z-Team stood in stunned silence. This kid knew their names, too.
"This… kid knows too much," Malevola said finally. "Is he…"
Robert opened his mouth to respond, but footsteps cut him off.
"I heard the page." Mandy entered the lobby with mild curiosity, which turned to outright confusion as she took in the scene. "Robert, what's going on?" She glanced between Robert and the boy.
The boy turned toward her, and his entire face lit up again. "Mom!"
He released Robert and ran to Mandy, throwing his arms around her waist just as he had with Robert. "Mom, I missed you so much! I was so scared, I didn't know where I was, but I remembered the address and I..."
Mandy froze, looking down at the boy, then up at Robert.
Robert stared back at her, equally stunned.
The Z-Team erupted.
"MOM?!" Prism shrieked.
"When did this happen?" Invisigal demanded. "How did we not know about this?" There was a hint of jealousy in her voice.
"Oh, this is too good." Flambae grinned. "Did you two have a secret love child years ago?"
"Maybe they didn't know," Golem offered. "Could be one of those surprise baby situations, baby."
“That’s not a fucking thing.”
Chase floated forward, his expression grave. "Mandy, do you..."
"No," Mandy said quickly. "I've never... Robert and I haven't..." She thought about having a family, but that was irrelevant to the situation at hand. She looked down at the boy again, her voice softening. "Sweetheart, I think there's been a mistake. I'm not your mother."
"Yes, you are." The boy's tone was so certain it left no room for argument. "You're Blonde Blazer."
How did this random kid know that? Only people at the Shroud incident knew that. Mandy looked at Robert again. He could see the same questions running through her mind as through his. This didn't make sense. None of it made sense.
"Did you two actually know each other before..." Sonar pointed a clawed finger back and forth between Robert and Mandy.
"I have never seen this child before in my life," Mandy answered honestly.
The boy looked between them as tears started to well up in his eyes. "Why... why are you both looking at me like that?"
Chase drifted closer. "Kid, what's your name?"
The boy hesitated, glancing between Robert and Mandy. Then he smiled, a small, hopeful smile. "I'm Robin. Robin Robertson."
It felt like a gut punch to the duo.
"Robertson," Chase repeated quietly. He looked at Robert with something between shock and understanding.
Robert's throat felt tight. "That's..."
Confusion and hurt warred on his young face. "Did I... did I do something wrong? Why don't you recognize me? Was it a villain?"
Mandy and Robert shared the same question.
What the hell is happening?