("Foxtrot" is used in radio talk to represent the letter "F" but also "fire" - its said by attack pilots just before firing missiles/bullets to warn other pilots to avoid potential friendly fire.)
Semi sequel to this idea of wasian!Robert having a Korean grandma.
I do love AUs of Robert either having powers, or hiding a hybrid state. So as I was writing the idea about his Grandmother, I had a thought' "What if she was a hybrid or another non-human supernatural being?"
Like say, one that's been seen as the default "Villain" in Korean folklore for centuries?
The Kumiho/Gumiho/구미호 (literally "nine-tailed fox") is an extremely powerful fox spirit from Korean mythology. Although similar to the nine-tailed Japanese Kitsune or Chinese Huli Jing, it does not have as great of a reputation. If it appears in a story, it is almost always used as a villainous or tragic character. Some of the earliest depictions had the Gumiho be a manifestation of godly spirits, the black furred Gumiho being especially sacred. The influence of Buddhist and Confucian beliefs slowly warped the fox into a character representing malevolence or trickery.
It should be noted that "Gumiho" is only used for the nine-tailed variant of the spirit; any other are typically referred to as "yeowoo/여우" (fox spirit), "maegu/매구" (fox demon), or "hogwi/호귀" (fox ghost). Though the latter can become the former through either age, energy cultivation, or a pious lifestyle.
(Useful links for info; "video on the different asian fox spirits" + "wikipedia entry")
So what does that mean for the Robertson family?
Bobby Robertson still falls in love with a fiery Korean woman while stationed overseas, and the two marry and have a son. The only major difference being that Su-jin Robertson is a shapeshifting semi-immortal nine-tailed fox spirit that's passed her power onto her lineage.
Robbie, despite being born a fox spirit like his mother, hides this aspect of himself from the public. Using hats, clothes, and bindings to hide whatever "inhuman" part of himself comes loose. In his mind, to be a hero for the common person, he needs to "just" be human and nothing else.
However, there is one aspect of his supernatural heritage that Robbie utilised.
In Korean folklore, fox spirits are able to condense a great deal of power and knowledge into a small marble, not unlike a dragonball. They also can use this marble to steal the lifeforce of men by passing it into their mouths and back - kinda like kissing someone who's chewing gum. Needless to say, a few myths show the result of the human target ingesting the Kumiho's marble - giving them divine knowledge and power at the cost of a tainted soul. The human in question is either the hero of the story being preyed upon by the fox spirit, or her husband who she gives the marble to willingly.
In Robbie's case, he used his marble for something a little more... mechanical.
Robbie: "Hey, I can compress part of my life energy into a marble-sized orb. Wanna see if we can make a unique energy source out of it?"
Elliot, confused: "Uh, ok. Sure!"
Su-jin, elsewhere: "...I think my son just proposed to someone."
It's why the unique energy cell cannot be replicated. Robbie, in a literal sense, put his heart and soul into the Pulse. Sacrificed part of himself to be a hero.
Robert pops into existence completely on accident! Su-jin is just glaring at Robbie and Elliot for, in her mind, eloping and having a baby without consulting her first. Oh well, now she has a grandkit to spoil!
Robert's hold on his powers is a lot more shaky, since whatever his dad discouraged, his grandmother embraced. Should he hide what he is and be treated like an average human? Or does he embrace his mixed heritage and risk being discrimination?
This leads to an anxious "normie"-presenting man that occasionally turns into a half or full fox demon when he's overwhelmed, but presents as fully-human as a Hero.
Very few people know what Mecha Man truly is, besides his grandmother. Trackstar/Chase learned about Robert's hybrid form when the latter was a small child. The human boy crying for his parents, only to shift into a still-crying fox kit. The speedster quickly picked up a book on fox behaviour in order to better understand how the kid felt and expressed himself. Chase always humoured the little guy when he wanted to race him.
Another person who knows that Mecha Man isn't what he claims to be is someone who got a little too close during a fight...
Flambae had managed to breech the suit's cockpit, reaching his hand inside in hopes of tearing the pilot out like a oyster in it's shell. He then remembers feeling distinctly non-human teeth clamping on his right hand - severing two of the fingers.
The fire-starter was ignored when he claimed Mecha Man; "Was just a dog in a man's clothing". After all, he was just a villain talking smack.
But now this "Robert" guy has started working at SDN, and he seems to be putting on an act....
Robert begins to genuinely question how he feels about his identity after the destruction of the Mech Suit, and the loss of the Astral Pulse. Does he continue living as a "normal" human as he's had for the last 15 years? Or does he open his heart to instincts long since buried to people who might understand him better?
He might not have a choice really. His body did not take kindly to an explosion and a coma, in addition to a decade-and-a-half of using unsafe means of hiding his animal side. It's gotta come out somehow.
(*in the breakroom in Ep 2*)
Sonar, echo-locating: "AAHH!"
Robert, at vending machine: "AH!" (*fox ears and tails pop out on reflex*)
Sonar, intrigued: "Whoa. Didn't expect that. I was just looking for my lunchbox."
Robert, trying to hide his fox features like he's fixing his hair: "At least warn somebody when you're about to scream like that, okay?"
Sonar: "My bad... Didn't know our new dispatcher was a hybrid."
Robert (lie): "I have no idea what you're talking about."
Sonar: "You literally have a tail dude."
Robert, looks behind him: "Shit."
Sonar, sly look: "So, are you like... one of those fox spirts that turns into big tittied anime women?"
Robert, tiredly: "No. I'm the kind that eats human livers."
Sonar, disappointed: "Oh well, nobody's perfect."
Yes, Sonar is very much into Robert in this AU. Him wanting to get together with his hot dispatcher and make a flying fox, if you know what I'm saying.
Flambae is into it too, despite being like 50% sure that the bitch-ass fox-man might be the guy who bit two of his fingers off.
No matter who Robert falls for though, they are not prepared for the "fox love scream" that they do when they see their life mate. XD
Wondering what yall think of this AU. It's one part "Robert having an identity crisis over his inherited role as Mecha Man and not being fully human" and another part "adorable fox moments". :3
