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“You sure you’re up for this?” He asked.
“For the thousandth time, yeah. It’s sitting at a desk and answering a couple questions.” Visi rolled her eyes. Her left arm hung in a sling and some bandages were poking out beneath her sleeve. “This about you. Are you okay?”
Robert tightened his grip on the steering wheel. The feeling of the leather felt ever-so reminiscent of skin. “That’s what we’re here to figure out, I guess.” His eyes didn’t waver from the road ahead. “If you start to bleed through, just excuse yourself.”
“I said it’s fine. It’s more numb than painful anyway.”
“That would be the nerve damage.” He sighed. “Maybe if you didn’t ditch your ambulance and dive gunshot-wound first into Punch Up, you’d have been officially discharged already.”
“It’s your fault for trying to take a group photo without me.” She rolled her eyes. “Quit giving me shit. Unless Beef learns English, I’m the only one who can back up what happened up there.”
Robert nodded and focused on driving. The city had been quiet since Shroud’s attack. With the Red Ring falling off the map, villain activity seemed to lull. The streets were lined with various clean-up crews, but besides them traffic was light. It was the first time in his life that Los Angeles’ roads felt relatively empty.
The last few days had given him plenty of time to think, though one memory played on repeat. A span of a few seconds. Gunshot, getting knocked to the ground, Visi, Shroud, punching, choking. Then, like a skipping record, it’d repeat. He’d kept it at bay with hospital visits, mostly to make sure Visi wouldn’t get bored and run off… again. It wasn’t like he could escape to work, given his suspension.
As they pulled into the parking garage, he looked up at the office building towering over them. “Fuck off. Is this what it’s like to have a micro-dick?”
“Yeah, just about.” He nodded. SDN’s downtown office put the Torrance branch to shame. It towered high enough that he got vertigo trying to see the top. Flying heroes were coming-and-going from what seemed like a landing pad all the way up.
He pulled into a spot and stepped outside just to feel a hand on his shoulder. “Was expecting you to show up in that mech, mate. Had my eye on the sky for you.”
“Robert said it’s not really suited for more than one person.” Visi popped out the other side. “I would’ve found a way to fit. You don’t mind squeezing in tight, right?”
“I said that, and that being suspended means I can’t just go for a joy ride.”
Malevola scoffed. “And in response, Visi said something like ‘you can take a joy ride any time,’ am I right?”
“Damn that’s good. Fuck, how did I not get that?” She pouted and crossed her arms, or more so rested her good arm in her sling. “Where is everyone?”
Malevola pointed to the elevator. “Mostly upstairs already. Perk of being able to teleport. Golem couldn’t make it, sorry.”
“What? Bullshit. He said he’d be here.”
“Ah nah, he’s here. He couldn’t make it in the elevator. I think he’s making a complaint with corporate.”
“Speaking of corporate, can we get moving so I’m not late?” He said as he started toward the elevator. It took him nearly reaching the door to realize there weren’t footsteps behind him. “Seriously, I need…” Nothing. “Visi…?” Wait, that wasn’t right. Malevola was gone too. “…oh.” His hand rose to clutch the bridge of his nose.
Robert hit the button. “Who needs portals anyway?” Yeah, he was an adult. Adults don’t need their superpowered coworkers to babysit them. He checked his phone. It was somehow already five minutes to eleven, five minutes until…
And this elevator was very much taking too long. He tapped the button a few more times as though that would speed it up. It didn’t even have one of those floor lights to give him any hope it was listening. There wasn’t even a hint of mechanical whirring behind the door. Fuck.
He retraced his steps in his head, trying to figure out where he could’ve saved time. There was leaving at eight, he could have left earlier, but it wouldn’t have made a difference. SDN opened at nine and he had to leave Beef with Chase. Blaz- er, Mandy stopped him for a short conversation. Another theoretical timesave, but cutting her off mid ‘you’ve got this’ would have been a dick move.
After that, he headed to the hospital to pick up Visi. There was a lot of paperwork to get her released temporarily, much to her irritation. It was about ten when they left. He could have sped through the empty streets, but getting pulled over would defeat the point. Maybe he should have just grabbed the mech, consequences be damned. Then he would’ve even had time to stop for breakfast. That was definitely a mistake to acknowledge, since it reminded him that he was actually ravenously hungry.
At least the hunger was a brief distraction from the fact that the elevator had somehow still not come. Fuck. Robert was ready to try and pry open the doors when there finally came a kathunk. The loud sound echoed through the parking garage. He stumbled back a few feet. A gooey green blob held together in a humanoid figure by a latex suit oozed through the gap in the door before it had the chance to open.
“Oh shit, how long you been waitin’?” It gurgled with amusement. “The elevator’s out of order, bro.”
“Just my luck. I’m guessing I’m stuck taking the stairs?” He sighed. “Fifty-two floors in… three minutes…”
The slime thing patted his shoulder with its hand. “Good luck, dude,” it said while sliding away. As it did, a gust of wind came from below him. No, wait, he was falling. The parking garage disappeared and a pale hallway took its place. Robert flew sideways, rolling out in a heap. A raucous bout of laughter followed. As he collected his bearings, Malevola leaned over him.
“You learn your lesson?”
“Call me old fashioned,” Robert said, untangling himself from himself. “When I gotta get somewhere, portal travel doesn’t come to mind.” He got up and brushed himself off, trying to act like he hadn’t just been panicked about missing the meeting.
“Shit, Bob Bob, the fuck’s the point of me showing up early if you’re just gonna be late?” Flambae scoffed. Everyone had gathered in the hall outside a meeting room.
Visi shot him a raised eyebrow. “I leave you alone for a minute and you get yourself covered in alien jizz.”
He followed her gaze to his shoulder, a glob of ooze leftover from the green hero. “You know me,” he said, scrubbing at it, “always getting covered in… shit. It’s not coming out.”
“I-I got this!” Before Robert could say anything, he was doused with water. “Uh, um… no, it’s still…”
“And now I’m soaking wet… Thank you, Waterboy.” He sighed, the clock on the wall giving him just a minute until the meeting. “So much for looking presentable.”
“S-Sorry sir… I, um… sorry.”
“It’s fine… let’s just get this over with.” Robert pushed open the door and took the first seat available. The rest of the Z-Team followed in behind him. Visi sat beside him, giving his hand a soft squeeze.
It seemed like the rush wasn’t worth it after all, seeing as nobody was waiting on them. In fact, there wasn’t really any sign of life. An awkward silence lingered in the room, screaming ‘so do we just wait or what,’ to which the resounding answer was yes. Prism pulled out her phone, occasionally showing Flambae something on her screen. Coupé and Punch Up stuck close, their shared whispers some of the only noise besides the fluorescent lights’ hum. Malevola and Waterboy just kept to themselves. The only one who hadn’t taken a seat was Phenomaman, who watched out the window.
After enough time for Robert’s shirt to start to dry and the slime to coalesce into a solid, a knock finally came. Everyone’s eyes went to the door. A beat passed as he wondered if he was expected to open it, but the newcomer answered for him. “Is this the right…? Oh, hey. Sup.”
“Sonar, hey…” Robert chewed his lip, glancing back at everyone else. “I thought you, uh, couldn’t make it?”
The bat man sheepishly scratched his head. “Right. My interview-terrogation thing is in a couple minutes. For, like, trying to destroy LA.”
“We know, man. We were there.” Malevola sighed. “We kinda kicked your ass.”
“Yeah, uh… about that. This is, uh, kinda hard for me to say, but… fuck, okay, thanks for not letting me get booked.” The words looked difficult to even get out. “I’d be sharing a cell with that whiny t-rex looking guy… or even worse, dick-dude if you didn’t, so… thanks.”
“Just don’t eat anyone else, okay?” Robert checked the time, it was already running ten minutes over schedule. “There’s still room for you on the team, if you get reinstated.”
Sonar nodded. “Focus on yourself, man. Word on the street is you’re in deep–”
“Who are you? You’re not on the list.” A bespectacled man in a suit adorned with the SDN logo shoved past him, his eyes darting around. “Looks like we’re missing a construct as well. You, bat, shoo.” Sonar shot a glare at the adjudicator and let out a huff, but kept himself from turning into a monster. Instead, he gave Robert a discrete thumbs-up and took his exit.
Phenomaman smiled and took his seat. “Jeff, hello, it is good to see you. It has been many a moon since we last spoke.”
“It’s been three months and nine days. We last saw each other at the taping of the holiday commercial. The last one you filmed before your demotion.”
“Ha ha, yes.” He bellowed. Without changing his haughty tone, he locked eyes with Robert. “Be careful. He is bestowed with the power of immense memory, surpassing even my own.”
“Thanks, Phenomaman. Very useful.” He nodded, turning to the newcomer and outstretching a hand. “I’m Robert Robertson.”
Jeff stared it down as though he had been personally insulted. “I’m aware. I am also aware that you murdered an unarmed and subdued enemy.” The word stung. “You are here to provide your own testimony. If it is unsatisfactory, you will be let go and a report will be filed with the police.”
“Bullshit! Unarmed? He’d just shot–” Visi was cut off by Robert grabbing her arm.
“You’ll get your chance, okay?” He pursed his lips and faced his adjudicator. “Where should I begin?”
“How did you know the victim?”
Robert forced himself not to correct the record on Shroud being deemed a ‘victim’. “I can’t remember a time before I knew Shroud. I’ve known him long enough that I knew him before there was even the thought of Shroud.” He paused. “Then he killed my father. Got arrested. Broke out. He was a villain, ran the Red Ring. Basically controlled the criminal underworld.”
“Had you been planning on murdering him as revenge? For how long?”
“I didn’t… plan anything. For the last fifteen years, I’ve asked myself what I’d do, never knew the answer. I guess… I guess I wasn’t really sure until that moment. Then it just… happened.”
“Are you admitting you murdered him on impulse?”
“You’re twisting my words.” Robert furrowed his brow.
“What was it, then? Had you pre-meditated it, or was it a spur of the moment decision?”
“Neither, it just… There was an attack on our office. We, as a team, did what we could to fight him off. It’s… If not for Invisigal, he’d have shot me. Her sacrifice gave me an opening to stop him.”
He finally took a moment to process what was said. If it was a normal interview, this may have been where Jeff would stop to take some notes. Instead, his gaze refocused on Visi. “You were the only other person on that roof, correct?”
“I was.” Her voice was sharp.
“Could you please describe the events from your point of view.”
“Fuck, okay, here I go.” Visi took a deep breath. “I had a chance to slip away, and I got to the roof. Shroud had a gun pointed at him so I got between.” She glanced up at Robert before continuing. “It’s kinda hard to remember clearly after I got shot, but the dude was armed. That’s how he, y’know, shot me.”
“Are you aware only one bullet was chambered?”
“Uh… no? Doesn’t change shit. How the fuck were we supposed to know that? If a guy shoots at me, I’m not waiting to find out if he’s got more ammo.”
“Mr. Robertson, were you aware the victim only chambered a single round?”
Robert looked down. “As of the evening before? Yes.” He could feel the eyes of the room on him. That, or the guilt that he definitely had killed an unarmed man.
“So you knew that he posed no threat?”
“I wouldn’t–”
“Yeah, because he couldn’t have loaded a couple more in the several hours between.” Visi scoffed. “Do you hear how that sounds?”
Jeff cleared his throat. “Regardless, you had the victim disarmed and subdued prior to the murder. You evidently went further than necessary.”
“Somebody needed me. In the time it would have taken me to adequately restrain him, the member of my team actively bleeding out could have sustained serious long-term damage. Not to mention the battle actively taking place right beside her.” Robert felt himself clenching Visi’s hand beneath the table. “Was it impulsive? Sure, call it that if you want. I’m sure every hero in this room could tell you, the difference between life and death is trusting your impulse. The truth is, put me in that situation a hundred times, you’ll get the same outcome.”
He went silent, adjusting his glasses to stall. There was a veritable twitch in his eye. It took a few moments for him to compose that ever so slight betrayal of his mask. “That doesn’t excuse the barbarity of the act.”
A scoff came from further down the table. “Barbarity?” Coupé rolled her eyes. “You haven’t seen much death if you think strangulation is anything but a mercy.”
That seemed to open the floodgates. “And I’ve had my face more bruised after a pub brawl than Robbie laid out, sure.” Punch up added. “Ye keep pushin’ for the answer ye want and think that’ll work, will it?”
Robert eyed his judge. Flambae drummed his fingers along the table, leaving scorch marks with each tap. “He’s right, actually. It’s sounding like you’ve already made up your mind.”
“That’s fucked.” Prism lifted her phone.
“Put the phone down. You aren’t allowed to film in here.”
“I ain’t filming shit. You’re live to the whole world, bitch.”
Waterboy spat up some water, drenching the man’s suit. “This is… wholly unprofessional.” He snapped, backing away from the team.
“I’m no expert,” Robert kept his gaze fixed on Jeff, “but I don’t think they like you very much.” Sure, he could calm them down, but… he remembered a certain journalist who asked leading questions just like this. The difference? Now he had people willing to back him up.
As soon as Jeff gained enough distance, he decided to make a break for the door. It became apparent that he’d have some trouble seeing as the door was gone. In its place a portal flickered that opened to a bright blue sky. “Be careful, babes. That’s about fifty-two stories down.”
“I believe I would be able to catch you at that height, but smashing through the glass would cut it rather close.” Phenomaman kept himself near the window in case he’d have to act on that plan. “Do you wish to learn?”
“F-Fuck, fine. Whatever, you’ve all done worse. He’s reinstated. Congrats. Now let me fucking go.” He huffed, pressing himself back against the wall.
A beat passed, then a cheer broke out. Prism lit off a glittering lightshow. Flambae kicked off a chant of ‘you’re not fired’, which he assumed was meant to be a pun. Robert slumped back in his seat, drawing a deep breath. “Visi, I… Visi?”
Oh fuck. As Malevola’s portal vanished, Jeff dashed for the door and threw it open. By the time he could blink, Invisigal was already in front of him, her fist flying right into his nose with an audible crunch.
“Well… a month's suspension isn’t the worst?” Robert shrugged, holding a slushy to her knuckles. “It’s not like it’s cutting into my vacation days.”
“I still fucked up. Again.”
“Yeah. I know.” He shrugged. “What matters is that you meant well. Again.”
“Sure. I guess. Can I just have the slushy now, the cold is starting to hurt.” She asked, grabbing the drink without an answer.
Unbeknownst to him, the team had another bet going on if he’d get reinstated. Whoever lost had to pay for lunch. Poor Malevola was the unlucky loser this time around, which felt like karma for ditching him at the elevator earlier. Not like he’d complain about shitty fast food after a shitty day like this.
Across the restaurant the rest of the Z-Team had broken into a fight over whether blood could be considered a condiment. It seemed rather heated, likely because Flambae had lit a burger on fire. Punch Up seemed to be rearing up a crotch-shot. Robert decided to look away before a full on food fight broke out. For plausible deniability.
“I kinda admire them.” Visi said with a soft smile. “Coop and Punch Up, I mean. Even when they swear they’re ‘totally done for real this time,’ they got each other’s backs.”
“You make it sound like a common occurrence.”
“Dude, they’ve broken up, like, twice and I’ve only known them for a couple months.”
Robert drew a slow breath in. “Speaking of, uh… breaking up, do you…” He paused, carefully studying her face, which carried a mix of confusion and fear. “…want to split these fries?”
“What, uh… fuck you.” She swung a punch right at his shoulder, almost knocking him right out of his seat. The fries flew out of his hand and scattered onto the floor. “Ugh… not even funny.”
“Ah, yep… yeah, I probably deserved that.” He chuckled, rotating his arm to ease the pain. A quiet sniffle came from beside him. “Are… Are you… crying?” At that acknowledgement, she turned her head from his view. Her continued sniffles didn’t convince him she wasn’t. “Baby…”
“D-Don’t call me baby…” She mustered, slouching in her seat. “Can’t stand that pet name.”
“Oh, no. It’s not a pet name. I’m calling you a baby.” He placed his hand gently on her shoulder. “I’m bullying you.”
A quiet, resigned laugh escaped her. “Dick,” was all she muttered.
“Alright. I’m done messing around. What’s up, what’s wrong?” No reply. “Was it the joke? I was just fucking around.”
“Just… shut up and let me compose myself…” The sentence would have come across as rude if he didn’t know her as well as he did. “Fuck… crying sucks ass…” She mumbled while pulling out her inhaler. He let her puff in peace and began snacking on a second pack of fries. Knowing the Z-Team, he had the foresight to order a backup, just in case. Visi finished and wiped her eyes. “…can’t even go invisible cuz my breath’s all shaky. I need a smoke…”
“Don’t look at me, I didn’t bring any.”
“Fuck. First the fuckin’ hospital won’t let me have ‘em, now you.”
“I do have a supplement, though.” He smirked, dragging a fry through some ketchup and holding it out for her. She rolled her still-puffy eyes and took it, pretending to take a drag. “You feeling any better?”
Her chest rose and fell with heavy breaths. “Just haven’t been sleeping well. Been having shitty dreams.” He gave her a soft tilt of his head, the kind that gave her leave to continue. “Last time they got this bad was when I… with the bomb. Can’t even remember the details, just… just the feeling.”
“Courtney, none of this is your fault–”
“It’s not that.” She glanced up at the team, who all seemed too preoccupied to notice. “I guess, I dunno… I get to the roof too late, and I can’t stop Shroud. Or maybe I fuck up and the bullet hits you anyway. That’s the gist of it. Not worth… It’s just not an issue.”
Robert tightened his lips, forcing himself to consider his next words. “I’ve been doing this a long time. I know what it’s like to get caught up on things not going how you planned. I still remember the face… the first person I failed to save.”
“I don’t need a motivational speech, Robert.”
“I also know that stopping a bullet isn’t an art. Sometimes you misjudge and you don’t stop shit. Sometimes you do. But you can’t act with precision.” He drew a deep breath. “I know that when you step in the line of fire, you aren’t exactly planning on getting back up.”
“Jesus, just say what you wanna say.” She pressed her lips together, but was still balancing the fry between them.
He nodded through terse lips. “I know you couldn’t have expected it to hit your shoulder. I can’t speak to what you were thinking, but… I don’t think you expected to walk out of there.”
Visi kept her eyes focused on the ground. “Maybe… fuck if I know what I was thinking… Sure, fuck, maybe you’re right… just another thing I fucked up.” He reached down to take her hand, pulling her into a sort of side-hug. She nestled her head under his chin, mumbling under her breath. “Would’ve been so much simpler… just do one thing right… not stick around…”
“I’m glad you’re here. I’m happy I get to thank you for saving my life.” He let his hand rise up to the back of her head, holding her in a gentle embrace. “You being here right now makes it worth it.”
“It…?”
“Shroud. Z-Team. All of it. You’re how I know it’s worth it.” He tightened his hold as though to back up the words. “For a long time, all I had was fighting villains. I used to think that was all there was. Like I was alone. But… then I met you and I figured out that maybe, just maybe… I wasn’t the only fucked up idiot trying to do good.”
Visi went quiet, her only sounds were soft breaths. She kept tight against him, steady in the comfort he brought. Ever so slowly, she pulled her hand out of his grasp, then quick enough that he couldn’t react, threw a punch right into his gut. Robert doubled over immediately, knocking them both out of their seats.
“Gah, fuck…” He wheezed as he untangled himself.
“Just… don’t be like that. Dick.” She pulled away and bowed her head. It seemed for the slightest moment that a faint blush dusted her cheeks. “Fuck… that hurt.”
“Yeah. Not a good idea to punch with your fucked up arm.”
“Are you two planning on getting a room or are you just going to fuck under the table?” Flambae asked, approaching after the commotion. As soon as he appeared, Visi vanished and he could hear her scurry away.
Robert rolled his eyes. “Yeah, we wanted to fuck on the floor of this greasy fast food place. Shame you had to ruin the mood.” He extracted himself from beneath the table and tried to wipe the spilt ketchup off his pants. “You see where she went?”
“Fuck if I know, door flung open.” He shrugged. “You look like shit by the way.”
“Thanks, Flambae. Always appreciate constructive criticism.” Robert stretched and headed outside, hoping she hadn’t gotten too far. Fuck. It had started raining out and she wasn’t in sight, which should have been expected, but still had him worried. He went for his phone, just to notice it wasn’t there. “Shit.” Had he really forgotten it? Fuck, maybe. “Visi? If you’re gonna appear, can you do it already?”
…
Nothing. God dammit. Pinching the bridge of his nose, he turned back to the restaurant. One of them would have to have her number. Probably. “Sup.”
“Golem?” The construct was leaning against the wall listening to some tunes. “When’d you get here?”
“Got lost. Only been here a few minutes.” He shrugged. “Downtown buildings are too damn tall. Make me dizzy.”
“Right.” Robert took a breath. “Did you see Visi come through here?” Golem raised his… well, not quite a finger. He raised his appendage, pointing. “Thanks.” He nodded and followed the lead, right to his own car. Figures. “Are you in here?”
Silence.
He opened the door, poking his head inside. “If you’re in here, Visi–”
“Yeah, yeah. I know.” She reappeared, inches from his face. He felt his cheeks grow warm as he took a step back. “You ready to get out of here?”
Robert sighed, heading for the driver’s side. “Yeah. Should probably get you back to the hospital anyway.”
“Oh, fuck that! They let me out.”
“They let you out under my supervision, just for your account.”
“Well, can’t you supervise me a little longer? Hell, you could supervise me all night.” She leaned into him as he started the engine.
“Visi, either they let you out in a couple more days, or you tear your stitches under all-night, in massive air quotes, supervision and get stuck another week.”
She frowned, crossing her arms… well, placing her good arm into her sling. “Fine. You owe me a supervision-sesh then.”
“Right.” Robert drummed his fingers along the steering wheel. “But… you’re probably not expected back for another couple hours? We could swing by SDN, I gotta pick up Beef anyway.”
Her pouty expression fell away. “Thanks for the extra hour of fresh air, Mr. Prison Guard. I can probably pocket some smokes from my locker.”
“Fresh air and smoking don’t really go together.”
“Don’t be a dick. I’ve gone without for like a week.” She huffed. “I’ve earned one.” He gave her a scornful side-eye as they pulled out of the parking lot. From the window it looked like the Z-Team had begun to disperse. “You think they… heard?”
He shook his head. “You’re one to complain about eavesdropping.”
Visi slumped her shoulders, her eyes once again on her shoes. “About earlier…”
“You don’t have to explain yourself to me. I understand.”
“I just… I don’t feel like that. Not really. I’m…” She took a deep breath. “I’m happy how things played out. I’m happy I still get to share shitty fast food and bad weather with you.”
Robert smiled. “I’m happy you’re still here too.”