Alternate batty daddy au where robert contacts victor after the coma
Sonar *happiest the team (other than malevola) have ever seen him: good news everyone! I didn't get ghosted he was in a coma
Just realised I forgot to give these two a meet cute first introduction. I feel like they met over something super simple; like one of Victor's trading accounts got hacked, and he found Robert doing freelance hacking jobs. Then Victor asked him out, and Robert was like "Yeah, sure." and boom.
Prior to Robert's fateful night at the steel mill, him and Victor had an argument. Victor had planned a fantastically elaborate date night for them both, and Robert blew it off for "work reasons". The verbal fight got a little heated; Victor demanded to know why Robert was so closed off about his personal life, while Robert accused Victor of wasting his potential on a petty criminal lifestyle.
Both thought they'd sleep the anger off. Maybe have some make-up whoopie.
But then Robert went silent.
Robert knew the moment he woke up in the hospital post-explosion, that he needed to call Victor. Poor dude probably thought he got dumped.
At SDN; Sonar just buzzing/purring all day like a cat on the nip.
Eventually the Z Team's dispatcher gets so annoyed that they ask why Sonar is blowing out his mic.
Sonar: "You know that guy I told y'all ghosted me just before Valentine's Day?"
Malevola: "You mean Robert?"
Flambae: "Is he dead? Or dating a loser?"
Sonar: "Better! He's in the hospital."
Invisigal: "Lol."
Z Team Dispatcher: "Being excited for someone getting hurt isn't very heroic of you."
Sonar: "No! You don't get it! He was in a coma. Legit, verifiable, medical COMA. Since before Valentines!"
Malevola, realising: "Oh shit! So he didn't dump you?"
Sonar: "He didn't! He contacted me from the hospital, he woke up like a few hours ago."
Coupe: "Why aren't you at his side right this moment?"
Sonar, thoughtful pause: "You're right! I should be there for him! We got a lot of catching up to do!"
Prism: "Send me receipts from the hospital, ok? I wanna see if this real or he pulling a master-class con on you."
Z Team Dispatcher: "Sonar, if you leave early, you'll be deducted points-"
Z Team: "BOO!!" "Booo!" "Bitch!"
Punch Up: "Let the man go! He had his heart broken by that lad's disappearance!"
Malevola: "He was literally so sad during our last bender, he couldn't even do a rebound at the club. Bro just went megabat mode and started crying. He's going."
Robert gives Chase the heads up that his boyfriend will be visiting soon, and said boyfriend is a hybrid so non't be too surprised.
Chase: "Robert, as long as he treats you right, I'm fine with any motherfucker willing to put up with you."
Robert, in hospital bed: "Thanks unc."
(*recovery room door bursts open to reveal Victor, dishevelled and covered in romantic gifts*)
Victor, nervously: "Hi...?" :D
Chase, aghast: "HIM!?"
Robert: "Wait, you've met?"
Chase: "I work with this cokehead! He's one of the fuck ups with the Phoenix Programme!"
Robert: "Holy shit. Vic, you actually joined the programme?"
Victor, proud: "I did!"
Robert: "Did it... have anything to do with my unexplained disappearance?"
Victor, makes so-so gesture with hand: "Mmm... Kinda?"
Robert: (*raised brow*)
Victor, sucks in nervous breath: "And I... I remembered that fight we had. That one about me using my smarts for good and shit. How I have so much potential And I thought since you disappeared before the most romantic night of the year, that it was the thing that made you... not want to be with me... anymore." (*getting choked up*)
Robert, realising: "Oh my g- Victor! I had no intention of leaving you that night. You really put so much effort into our date but... shit, how am I supposed to explain this without blowing my cover?"
Victor, ears perking: "Cover? What are you talking about?"
Chase, curt glare: "Don't you dare."
Robert, whispering: "I'm a superhero."
Victor, ear twitches: "...Okay. That kinda explains the weird work hours and taking off in the middle of the night. But why- wait!" (*calculating, snaps fingers at the answer*) "Wait wait wait... you're fucking Mecha Man."
Robert: (*quiet nod*)
Victor, blinks in thought: "You got blown up."
Robert: "Yeah..."
Victor, worried: "Are you... super hurt?"
Robert: "Eh, about as much as a midair explosion, and falling about a mile out of the sky does to a turtle. The corrective surgeries were the real bitch."
Victor: (*walks over and places his head on Robert's lap*) "I swear, I'm not letting you out of ear-sight for like... until you get sick of me."
Robert, petting Victor's head: "That'll be a while."
(*Victor and Robert share a quiet moment together. Chase decides to "leave the lovebirds alone", despite his disapproval of the man-bat. The only sounds audible are Victor's purring, and the beep of the machines plugged into Robert.*)
Victor: (*his ear against Robert's stomach twitches*)
Victor: "You got a pacemaker or something, Bobby?"
Robert: "Not to my knowledge. Why?"
Victor: "Cus' I'm hearing more than one heartbeat..."
(*both look at each other with shock and slight excitement*)
The ensuing update to the rest of the Z Team is legendary.