freak blizzard hits los angeles and one by one the z-team and friends show up at literal space heater flambae's apartment. prism shows up first, of course, decked in the poppiest ski-fit imaginable. malevola and sonar show up a bit later with sooo much booze, golem and invisigal show up completely covered in snow but with loads of snacks, phenomaman, despite not being affected by basically anything, brings waterboy who's basically an icicle, coupé and punch up immediately hog the tv, chase, blonde blazer, and royd show up with so many (sdn branded) scarves and blankets. and then there's robert with the goodest boy beef under his jacket who immediately curls up to flambae's side
Some critique I see for Chase's character is that his dislike for invisigal comes seemingly out of nowhere and doesn't make sense. I could not disagree with this more and here is my reasoning: he's re-appointing himself as a protective figure. Robert lost his dad at a young age and likely never experienced having someone shielding him like that, especially since his dad was also never around either when he was alive. So the advice and direction probably came from Chase the most growing up.
Knowing this it seems natural that Chase would fill in the spot left open by Robert's dad as his big brother. And even when Robert leaves and then re-enters his life, Chase just goes back to that same place like he never left. In a sense he's relieving those years again even if Robert is grown and doesn't need that much guidance anymore.
So, if you look at it in that light it makes a bit more sense why Chase is extremely wary of invisigal and is trying to protect Robert from the perceived threat.
In a nutshell Robert is still a little guy and he feels like it's his duty take care of him
Inspired by this post by @7-inches-of-satanic-panic and tags I left under it… Chase role with Robert being parentified because Robbie can’t father.
Robbie never being around because of work, the only times he’s around he’s just preparing Robert to be the future Mecha man. So Chase has to step in to teach him basic life skills. Like in canon Chase is the one to give Robert his first drink/smoke, and he pretty clearly gives him the worst shit he can (or worst advice for it) so Robert doesn’t like it in hopes he won’t drink or smoke in the future.
Chase teaching Robert how to shave when he starts to grow facial hair. Chase teaches Robert how to actually drive. Not just drive like it would be useful as a superhero, not just piloting a mech, but road rules. How to parallel park and what to do at a four-way stop.
Chase teaching Robert how to tie a tie. Chase taking Robert out somewhere and Robert sees a pretty girl (or boy) and Chase hyped him up to ask them out. Chase preparing Robert for his first ever date. Giving him some money for the movies or something… because let’s be real Robbie is NOT going to encourage his son to have relationships bsffr. Chase being the one Robert comes to when he gets broken up with because he doesn’t want to tell his dad, because Robbie will probably say something about how he just has to move on.
Chase being the one Robert clings to when his ear gets shot. Sure, Robbie is there telling Robert to get up. Sure, Robbie is the one who told the mech to stand down. But Chase is the one who Robert finds comfort in. Chase is the one Robert listens to.
Robbie was his father, Chase raised him. Mecha Man was a superhero, but Trackstar was Robert’s hero.
Been thinking a lot about Chase visiting Robert while he was in his coma…
Obviously he would know that Robert was in A hospital, but like. How would he have found him?? While I absolutely wouldn’t put it past him to just. Go through every possible hospital in the area. I think there’s a more fun option here.
Chase was still Robert’s emergency contact.
I mean, it’s not like he was rolling in other options. In my mind, a hospital asked him for one after he’s forced to come in for a wound that got severe enough to require medical intervention, and he panicked and stated the last person he felt safe with (even if he can’t look him in the eyes anymore)
He tells them that it's only for real emergencies, and while his hospital of choice doesn't exactly know everything, they know enough not to contradict him on that.
It’s not like he expects it to ever actually be used. For the most part, he can avoid hospitals all together. After all, Robert has years of experience in treating his wounds starting from before his father’s death even! Usually he deals with the brunt of the recovery himself, and only goes in if something isn’t healing or he needs an antibiotic for an infection or something.
Statistically speaking, if it’s an injury that leaves him incapacitated, it’s an injury he’s gonna have to find a way to quickly treat himself, usually while still in the field. So, he doesn’t think about it.
Until he can't think much about anything.
Until he doesn't wake up.
I wonder how Chase would hear about it first, from the news or from the hushed and hurried call from a hospital, only a short drive away but still too far. Too, too far. If he still had his powers he could be there NOW.
So he waits in the LA traffic, still backed up in the wee hours of the morning. And he sits not just with the knowledge that the kid he practically raised is now sitting half dead and comatose, and will be for God KNOWS how long-
But also with the knowledge. That after all these years. After all the never answered phone calls, and all the ignored texts and emails and LETTERS (when he was getting truly desperate for a response, any response, any proof of life at all.). Robert still wanted HIM there when he was hurt. Just like before, with skinned knees and twisted ankles.
And not only did he want Chase there, but…listen. He loved the kid. He knew he would drop everything to go help, every single fucking time. But being an emergency contact means some sense of urgency. Robert had NO clue if Chase even stayed in the city. God only knows why he hadn’t moved away, would have saved him a hell of a lot of trouble.
But if after all that dodging, and with zero information on Chase’s current situation, Robert still chose him as his emergency contact? It meant, that after FIFTEEN YEARS of throwing himself into danger again and again and again-
Robert still had no one else looking after him.
So Chase pushed back the tiredness of his mind and body, and honked his horn again, and prayed to whoever was listening to get there faster.
obsessed and fascinated with your sugar baby robert au, gnawing on it like a piece of raw pasta and pondering the flavor profile (it’s daddy issues, the flavor is daddy issues)
how does the rest of the flamily feel about this development? what do you think cirus would do for work? i assume robert wouldn’t wind up at sdn (because like hell are they letting robert work for a living ever again), but do you think he might reconnect with chase eventually?
much to consider…
(huge fan btw)
Awww! Thank you for you love and support! I appreciate the interest and questions!
Daddy issues is THE flavor here, yes.
The rest of the flamily is fine with Robert being married to Cirus. His daughter was the one who suggested that the old man explore what the world has to offer after all, and don't get sad sitting at the huge home alone for much longer. When he brings in a young, hot, slightly traumatised twunk, she and the rest of the cousins look at each other, shrug, and say, 'As long as he makes you happy, Cirus, we're gonna love him too'.
In my head, Cirus heads a very large and successful architecture firm. He started out as a villain, fighting the Brave Brigade as SunSpire, the Scorch of Los Angeles. Robbie, Shroud, and even Trackstar never could defeat the man; he was just too powerful. But, then he got married, had kids, and settled down, stepping into the shadows and away from the villainy business.
Now that he bagged himself Robert, there no way Cirus is letting him work at SDN. Hell, he is not letting Robert work at all, besides an occasional Mecha Man mission and organizations for charity.
Robert, who has met Cirus a little earlier on in his career and is yet to spend all the millions of inheritance, is actually pretty well off. Now that he's not sinking money into the suit, he can afford to relax, let his banker invest, concentrate on spending time with the men he loves.
At some point, I do imagine that Chase tries to reconnect. Again, now that Robert is no longer Mecha Man'ing full time, he's got less reasons to dodge his calls too. Though I can see the reuninon being a little frosty when Chase realizes that his little brother is married to THE Big Bad of the Brave Brigade.
Little 11 year old Robert dragging his father's corpse out the mech to clean out the blood.
Little coupe doing the same thing but with a mentor she was sent after to prove herself.
Two child soldiers with matching wounds.
Every time they look at each other they recognise that look of a child who never got to be safe. Slowly the Z-team notices the way the look at each other. Small nods and movements (which punch-up noticed first) that help the other relax. Poison checking each others food, covering the other door so they don't have to watch both doors, being slightly louder to notify the other of their presents when their back is turned.
Punch-up is the first to ask what Roberts upbringing was like. He hates how it's just like coupe's. Hates how a parent meant to love and protect not just failed to do so but pushed his son in danger. Chase hate how he can now look back & realise Robbie wasn't hiding the fact he was raising his child to be a soldier not a son. How much he now feels like he failed Robert again.
Both Chase & Colm hates how much both of them don't show how much they wanted to grow up normal. How the act like the way they did grow up normal and was ok but just because it was them if it happened to another child it would wrong. (They think its fine cause they are stronger than most because living through it and part of them thinks they deserve it because they did so well for so long)
I still want to see Robert in that amulet. Let me have Blazer! Robert. Or is it MechaBlazer? Yeah that fits better.
I’m not too sure he’s good as a blond, might make him look too chipper (“blondes have more fun”) but then again you couldn’t pry that cold dead inside depressed look from his eyes even if you wanted to.
Still interesting though.
I can see Chase and Robert hanging out and talking about his new abilities and then he’s like ‘wanna try it?’ And Robert’s like ‘sure’ and then it’s his turn to fly around and carry Chase (gently because Chase is still at risk of a heart attack)
and he takes a picture to show Mandy who’s phone is unlocked by Invisigal who sends the photo to herself so she can send it to the group chat.
