bootyhunter | CALL ME OUT

...Feh.

[He thinks he hears something affectionate, a word that sounded suspiciously like "cute," so his expression sours externally, even if it is primarily an act. Flambae is staying put, and as soon as Robert places an arm around him haphazardly, he leans just a little harder into the other man's shoulder, taking care not to rest too heavily on him, he doesn't want to crush the guy.

Flambae can vaguely remember situations like this with other partners, although the memories are blurry, and even he, a master of (shitty) denial, can't entirely trust any of them since it's been so long. What sticks out the most is a hazy recollection of him attempting to lean on an ex-boyfriend's shoulder in the early 2010s, only to be shrugged off when two women caught sight of them through the car window at a stoplight. They were in the back seats! He wasn't even the one driving, asshole...

Then again, even Flambae has to admit- He does have a tendency to warp reality with his own perspective. It's something he's working on.

Robert is so affectionate. One could say it's because he's a bit starved for it, but even then, most men struggle with as much as speaking to a romantic partner. Flambae makes a mental note that he can't let this connection slip through his fingers, as it's not every day that he gets a chance to be with someone who values loyalty just as fiercely.

Sex is the easy part. That's muscle memory, practice, and a little creativity. Sometimes people just aren't compatible with what they want and what they like, but letting others know you care is that much harder. Flambae has often struggled with it himself, coming on too strongly or doing too much in silence, wearing his own heart and patience thin either way.]

So are you...

[He sounds so pouty and sheepish, it's incredibly silly.]

Down for Chinese takeout, by any chance?

[ That sour expression just makes Robert want to kiss Flambae all the more. Still, he refrains. He doesn't want to push, and he doesn't want to rile either of them up. As just a tiny treat though, he leans in briefly to press a kiss against the firestarter's cheek. Yep, he said it, he said that was cute and he's not sorry about it.

Robert isn't the type who would continuously say things like that though, he's too sincere to lay it on thickly when it actually matters. It was simply that he couldn't help himself in the moment. He really is a bit starved for affection, but he wouldn't want to hear it put like that.

That pouty look that Flambae has shifted toward makes it really difficult for Robert not to crack a smile or even laugh a bit. But he doesn't want to hurt Flambae's feelings or pride or anything like that, so he does his best to contain it. Is he seriously pouting right now though? Maybe Robert would need to compliment him sweetly more often. They're both action-over-words kinds of guys but clearly an exception can be made. ]

I am down, in fact.

[ For just a few long seconds more, he studies Flambae's face before he rolls back a moment and fishes his phone out of his pants. He's still wearing those, after all. ]

What do you like? I'll order it.

[ He can't cook a fantastic meal (that Beef eventually ended up devouring) so he wants to do this, like he said he would. ]

I'll even go answer the door, so you don't have to get dressed again.

[ Why is Robert smiling flirtatiously about this... ]

[When he's kissed, Flambae turns his head over ever so slightly to look at Robert. The expression he dons is one of subtle surprise, those fiery eyes round and curious, the corners of his mouth just barely tilting upwards as his lips part. He considers kissing Robert, only he's too slow. The dispatcher asks him about what he likes to order, and he wonders if he should mention it.

Flambae is fond of a spot that's a walking distance from here, and usually goes in person. The restaurant has always had fairly limited staff, and due to the area, they take orders from behind a clear wall of plastic, one that he's seen with a few bullet holes in it in various iteration. The woman who owns it speaks limited English, but she's always happy to see him, and often gives him a side of free egg rolls or crab and cheese wontons depending on the season, with the first being for the warmer months and the second a treat during winter.

He'll have to take Robert in person when they can go.]

Uh... Chicken kung pao, extra spicy?

[Oh.

At the mention of him staying in his skimpy little getup, he looks down and away again, only the smile that makes its way onto his face is smug, self-satisfied and a little wicked.]

You'd like that wouldn't you, you fucking pervert.

[He says the insult slowly and flirtatiously, rolling the "r" seductively on purpose.]

Thanks.

[Look, the gesture was sweet enough to earn some legitimate gratitude. Robert is being sweet because he's tired, he knows. And he got a little compliment out of it... Flambae needs to reinforce this scientifically. Pavlov-Dog him, or whatever the fuck.]

What are your usual go-tos?

[He's going to commit them to memory.]

[ Damn, Robert will have to slow down next time if it means he gets a kiss out of it. But there's a lot of time for that later, too. He also wants to know what kinds of thing Flambae likes; things that won't or aren't likely to come up during the work day, either in a dispatch assignment or the idle chitchatting the Z-team does. They'd sooner talk about who has the best tiddies than what kind of food they prefer, though you never know ...

He'd like to go places with Flambae too, places that aren't work or the apartment. But they have time for that too. The hero just needs to rest for now.

The seductive r-rolling and sharp, wicked smile get Robert to quirk a brow, his own smirk curling up on his lips. ]

I would, actually.

[ The shrug he gives is like a challenge, daring Flambae to question if Robert is even a little bit sorry for admitting he's gotten a lot of good looks at the g-string while they've been in here like this.

As for the question, he just smiles like this is the easiest, most normal transition of topics ever. ]

Oh, I like that one too, if I'm feeling spicy. But sometimes I'm more of a sweet and sour kind of guy.

[ Is ... is Robert making a joke? It's up to you to decide. He's already looking down on his phone so he can call in an order. ]

Edited 2026-02-09 03:04 (UTC)

[When he isn't being caught off-guard by it, Flambae finds that he likes Robert being forward.

He'll give the other man as much of a once-over as he can in this position, the image of which is quite stilly actually, seeing as he's snuggled up so closely to the other man's shoulder.]

Most of the time, I don't even bother wearing this.

[It's a very... Beautiful but hairy situation. Listen, it's humbling to clean all-white sheets and see all so many dark strands float up in the wash... And then wonder exactly which part of his body those hairs came from.]

I was just trying to be poliiiiiite.

[If it's possible, because what are bodies and positions in a psl yaoi thread, Flambae brushes his fingers and palms over the back of the hand loosely cradling him. He's lying in bed nestled against a man he claims to have hated for years, in a position where he can't even be physically intimate with him, and he's so happy, he can hardly remember this sort of euphoric sensation, even if it is familiar.

The new hero even dignifies Robert's joke with a little chuckle. He may not have a dad bod, but he's definitely got some dad jokes in there. It's alright though, they're kind of charming.]

Sweet and sour, huh?

[Chicken? Shrimp?

Once the order comes in, Flambae will try to study it, even if he isn't planning on eating that much himself. They are going to fight at some point, and he will need all the help he can get to be well-equipped for a big, romantic apology.]

Get whatever you want.

[Flambae silently wonders how hard its been for Robert to do just that.

Get what he wants.

The man seems to have had to self-extinguish all of his desires entirely. How horrible.

Exhaustion from his current state creeps up on him, not slowly but suddenly and all at once at that. To steady himself, Flambae closes his eyes, muttering something he probably wouldn't admit so readily in such a tender way if he were feeling one-hundred percent.]

I'm just so happy you're here.

Alone with me.

[ Being forward with Flambae specifically does have its perks, whether the man is taken off guard by them or not. And yes, Robert's jokes can have a dad edge to them, but how is he to know he has a knack for such humor when his dad probably never told him a joke in his life?

He laughs, not at all surprised that Flambae would just be in the nude most of the time. Thankfully he has yet to be confused over whether a wiry black hair he finds belongs to Beef or to his boyfriend, and he will mourn something deep inside that breaks on the day that does arrive. ]

You know I've already seen you naked at least once. Twice, if you count from my phone?

[ Just saying. But the g-string has its charms. It's also really crazy and only something that Flambae could look good in, he thinks. But he's not going to say that out loud.

He sets to ordering their food for them, getting a side of eggrolls too, and sweet'n'sour chicken for himself with the extra spicy for Flambae. Is Robert going to become the type of boyfriend who steals a little from Flambae's plate? Maybe, eventually.

With the order taken care of, he settles back down more comfortably, nestled against the living space heater's side. Even if the food has to wait and be reheated later, because Flambae needs a bit of rest, he's fine with that. The real dilemma is, does he ask later if the man remembers saying such sweet, soft words to him (without any weird quips or jokes or strange pop culture references), or does he just tuck this away and keep it forever for himself?

He leans to kiss a temple. ]

I'm happy about that too.

[ It something Robert or Mecha Man would never, ever have considered in the past. Yet it's turned into something so precious, the salve to a burn that he never even knew he had. Very ironic when the source of it is an actual walking fireball. But he'll take it. ]

[Flambae himself is surprised by his own reactions to Robert's teasing. Without the added context of the other man's seemingly growing attraction to him, every remark thrown his way had been infuriating. Some of it had really gotten under his skin in an unpleasant way, and brutish as Flambae is, he'd actually been deeply offended by everything up until and including the identity reveal.

Now it all feels so flirtatious, like a fun challenge, but the context of everything really does change once you've had a man's dick in your mouth.]

Don't bullshit me, Robert.

I know you looked at those pictures more than once.

[If he had more energy, he'd probably turn and peer annoyingly at Robert's phone, eyeing all the little boxes he ticked on the web application, chiming in with unnecessarily unhinged quips, but today he simply closes his eyes once again and enjoys the warm sensation of Robert's lips on his temple, not wanting to open them and somehow wake up in an empty apartment again.

He wonders if this is a dream. It's one he often had as a kid, while some of his classmates were out doing god knows what with other horny teenagers their age, he had been sitting in his room listening sadly to a variety of pop divas all by himself, wishing desperately to share all these records with a loving boyfriend.

Thank goodness nobody on the Z team can read minds. Even though it isn't really possible, he one hundred percent would self-immolate if anyone could hear his thoughts at the moment. He's cooing and cawing over how Robert is nice enough to order food for the two of them and check in on him when he's not feeling great, a bottom of the rung, barely there requirement for a potential partner, but it's enough to make Flambae happy.

He's put up with a lot of nonsense over the years. Maybe this time things won't end badly, for once. If anything, it really seems like Robert needs someone in his (private) corner too.]

I might fall asleep before the food gets here.

If I do, I'll make it up to you tomorrow morning.

[ Most things that either of them said to one another before and including the identity reveal were not exactly said with good intentions. So it is a bit weird. Robert does like this better. Even if he scoffs at being called out. ]

What? You can't prove that.

[ And he knows Flambae doesn't have the energy to try, either. Therefore, this victory is safely Mecha Man's for now.

Lately he's also been wondering if any of this is some kind of dream. For all Robert knows, he could be in another coma, and this is what sort of landscape his consciousness has given him. Pretty fucked up if true. But he hopes that it isn't true, that here and now is reality and his life appears to be getting sunnier day by day and now there's even a chance at love and being loved.

There are two very lonely young boys inside of them both. If only they had met sooner and in a different way, huh?

But they've got this now, and that's good.

With Flambae settled down, Robert gets comfortable again too. He won't have to get out of the bed for a good chunk of time anyway, and he really does seem to be drawn to the natural heat that that body gives off. A regular cat left out in the snow until Flambae opened the door. ]

Don't worry. We'll heat it back up when you're hungry.

[ And awake. Robert really doesn't mind waiting. ]

Get some rest, I'll be here.

Hey!

[Flambae has to laugh at that. The sound is short and breathy.

It'd be nice if Robert were disgusting enough to have pleasured himself to any of those photos, as that's kind of what they're for, after all, but he isn't so sure that the dispatcher would be doing any of that, much less admit it out loud if he did.]

You could really stand to stroke my ego a little bit more, you know.

[Robert edges closer to him and Flambae instinctively curls an arm around the other man, somehow making things worse. On the topic of love or falling in it, Flambae is pretty quick to get a little too emotionally attached, no matter how cool he tries to play it initially. That and sooner or later, his weird little Robert fixation is probably going to be uncomfortably revealed, and it is most likely going to happen during sex knowing him!]

You better be, asshole.

[Safety isn't something Flambae takes for granted either.

When it comes to new partners, he often has trouble falling asleep. There's all the self-consciousness, including the harrowing (*to him) possibility of farting in his sleep, god forbid. Maintaining the illusion of perfection is almost as exhausting as his draining healing process, but around someone like Robert who is so ~~scrungly~~ rough around the edges to start, he doesn't think twice about closing his eyes and letting the soothing lull of unconsciousness seep in.]

When I'm awake, I'd like to love you properly.

[Speaking of love, he silently wonders if it's something Robert's ever been in.

It's starting to sound like the answer is no.]

[ Whatever the truth is, it doesn't seem like Robert is going to admit to anything right this moment. He does seem very comfortable in the curl of Flambae's arm, even though it kind of feels like he should be the one doing the big spooning, since he's the one (somehow) in better shape. ]

I'm pretty sure I stroke it plenty.

[ He answers, after just enough time has passed for Flambae to close his eyes and start getting all settled in.

But of course he doesn't plan on disappearing as soon as the other man is asleep (and Robert is also sure now that the food will need to be set aside for a bit). Other than to answer the door, he's going to stay where he is so he can make sure that the healing does happen. Not to mention he has the warmest and safest feeling seat in the house. Chase had already been informed that Beef could be with him overnight, and that's fine. ]

When you're awake, you can.

[ His answer is simple and maybe even coming off a bit cheeky. But inside his chest, Robert's heart flutters at even the mention of that four letter word. Of course Flambae didn't just profess his love, but the thrill and excitement of being intimate with a new flame (haha) is very much alive. And no, he hasn't got much experience with being in love.

He has loved plenty, and sometimes that love has been returned: from Beef, from his dad in some weird way, even from Chase. In love? Maybe not even once. ]

Feel better.

[ It's murmured so quietly it could be missed, but Robert is also almost certain that maybe Flambae has already drifted off. ]

[Somewhere in the back of his tired mind, the words do in fact register.

Flambae comes to some time in the dead of night, those orange eyes of his taking a few seconds to adjust to the lack of light in the room. Robert's sleeping peacefully, and even he is unsure of why he's up, although he is certainly feeling a lot less exhausted than he did when he fell asleep.

His furry brows furrow again, a warm expression finding its way onto features that appear almost permanently strung into a thin-lipped scowl. Robert always comes into work looking so haggard, although he did look better this morning.

Flambae silently thinks about the amount of time that Robert has been strung up, beat down, and even kidnapped in the last few months overall. Every time he wakes up in a hospital bed, does it feel more normal? Flambae is a hater of the harsh overhead lighting, personally... And of course, the food? That is just terrorism. Not only is it tasteless, it's usually unhealthy, so what is the fucking point!

He doesn't have to pee or anything, and he's a little too scared to touch him, so he is just going to creepily observe Robert peacefully snoozing like some kind of serial killing maniac. And yet, he does manage to whisper:]

Ohhhh.

You look like a churro that somebody forgot to dip in cinnamon.

Edited 2026-02-12 02:40 (UTC)

[ For a while, Robert just lays there, listens to Flambae's breathing for a bit before he takes his phone out and scrolls a bit. Normally he might just try to catch some Zzz's right away too, but he's got to wait for that food. When it does eventually arrive, he sneaks out of Flambae's arms as best he can, puts on his shirt again (to spare the delivery guy from questions or asking if he's ok or needs to call the police), and gathers up their meal.

When it's put away in the kitchen - he kind of finds his way around - he heads back to the bedroom, drops his shirt off to the side again, and slides right back up next to Flambae, eventually drifting off once he's sure that the former villain is alright.

It seems that he's not a heavy sleeper though, because Flambae stirring around and then whispering gets the dispatcher to stir and, by chance, flutter his eyes open. ]

...

[ ...................... ]

Hello?

[

cue him straightening out immediately
but he is lying down so he is just

like this "|" ig]

...

[😬]

Hello.

[He flashes Robert an unnerving, toothy smile.]

Edited (merry im so sorry) 2026-02-13 03:24 (UTC)

[ god this is horrific, is he actually awake or is this a nightmare? ]

.......... Flambae.

[ Once he's come to the conclusion that he is, in fact, awake, Robert startles a bit, pushing himself back (almost falling off the edge of the bed in the process). ]

What's— are you alright? Why are you looking at me like— why are you planking?

[ Genuinely it may be that this was all a long con to get to this very moment when he could exact revenge upon Mecha Man in the most terrifying way possible. ]

[Oh, look at him being all scared... He will reach out to catch Robert so that he doesn't fall off the bed! Just to steady his shoulders.]

Why, would you rather I be...

[not this in the accent and with him moving the furry brows up and down]

Arching my back instead?

[This is gaslighting...]

Boo.

[ OF COURSE HE'S SCARED, DOES FLAMBAE REALIZE WHAT THIS LOOKS LIKE- ]

What.

[ Now that he's safe from falling off the bed, Robert gives Flambae the flattest look he can muster in the dark. ]

Were you just watching me in my sleep? And whispering? I swear I heard whispering.

[ If nothing else, this is telling him that Flambae is probably feeling better, so there is that. What time is it even though? Probably doesn't super matter... ]

Look, Robbo-

[What a fucking greasy pony-tailed rat-]

I just had to see if you plugged yourself in while you were sleeping.

[If Robert didn't hear the exact words...]

But I guess...

That is only true for the suit, not you.

[WHAT A FUCKING BULLSHIT ANSWER-]

Edited 2026-02-13 04:02 (UTC)

[ Mr. Wet Ponytail... ]

... I can't tell if you're joking right now.

[ He's joking, right? The accent doesn't help.

Rolling his eyes a little, Robert gives Flambae's shoulder a half-hearted shove. ]

Fine, don't admit you were watching me sleep in the dark like a creeper. You're feeling better now though?

Look, I just wanted to make sure you were breathing!

[....]

You've been through a lot! I don't want to wake up one morning to find out you just kicked the bucket, okay... Come on.

[He lets himself be shoved, although he'll reach back again to... Fluff Robert's hair or whatever.]

Yeah, I... It doesn't hurt to fucking breathe anymore, and my back isn't aching like crazy...

[Sheepishly, finally:]

Did I spook you for real?

Fuck.

[ now he really can't tell if Flambae is being serious. Was he actually worried about something like that or is he deflecting from the fact that he's a freak... ]

Okay. Well. I'm still alive.

[ Obviously. But the hand in his hair is endearing and soft enough to kind of deter him from trying to get real answers from Flambae. And he really is glad to hear it from that tooth-missing mouth of his that he's doing fine. ]

I'm glad.

[ Giving a small huff, he gives Flambae a little push again. This time though, he comes along with it, essentially wanting to lie on top or at least partially on top of him. ]

I was worried about you, if that's what you mean. But whispering at me in the dark isn't enough to scare me away.

[Flambae moves to widen his shoulders a bit so that Robert has more room. Without saying anything first, he'll place a gentle hand on the dispatcher's back. In a way, he's testing the waters too, trying to see what Robert will and won't ignore.]

There's no need to worry, BobBob.

[From the unhinged confidence in his voice, even though he's trying to be quiet, it's clear that he's definitely feeling a lot like himself.]

I am just like the Energizer Bunny. Only my hair is not pink, and I am not banging a fucking drum around everywhere.

[As stupid of an excuse as that was, he does worry about Robert often. The man has sustained a fuckload of stress, and he doesn't seem to look after himself as much as he might need to.]

He is always rocking some pretty cool shades, though.

[hello]

[ It seems Robert is pleased with that, since there's a trace of a smile on his lips and it's not just for being told he doesn't have to worry (he worried anyway, so that's moot). It just genuinely is a relief to hear that Flambae is back to his stupid self, but Robert doesn't feel like telling him that again.

Genuinely though, what does he see in this man who is just rambling on about the Energizer Bunny of all things?

Unfortunately, Robert is very into it. He's slowly accepting this about himself. ]

I think you're more attractive than a pink rabbit with a drum.

[ He quirks his brow at Flambae in a challenge. Maybe he can't see that well in the dark, but he knows that the superpowered guy can. ]

But sure, we can keep talking about him if you'd like.

[Flambae's chin buckles at the genuine compliment.]

I should hope so.

Otherwise you would have fucked Sonar, no?

[He snorts, as it's a joke.]

Do you usually sleep well?

[Maybe he shouldn't be asking this, especially if they have work tomorrow... But he's so curious. Should he be looking into brewing some camomile teas for his new man, because he will?]

I think... And it's not just me, it's the rest of the team too, but maybe... Mostly me...

[Because he is obsessed with you, Robert.]

That you do not really...

Uh, look after yourself? In a way that isn't very fucking concerning, I mean.

Edited 2026-02-13 05:49 (UTC)

[ Not the direction he thought this would take. Robert's mouth pops open briefly before he shakes his head. ]

Would not fuck Sonar.

[ No offense to him, but Robert does like to kiss and he doesn't want to kiss...that.

Anyway, he deflates a little against Flambae, turning his head so his cheek can rest flat against his chest. He isn't sure he wants to get into this in the middle of the night, but if he was alone in his apartment at this exact time, what would he be doing? Either obsessively searching for Shroud (before that all ended of course), drinking, or sleeping in his plastic chair. ]

No, I don't.

[ He begins, sounding a little cautious. It's easy to want to fuss over someone else, to make sure they're alright and healthy and taken care of, but when it's turned on you it's kinda different. ]

Last night was the best sleep I've gotten in a while.

[ Which is a genuine statement, not him trying to butter Flambae up to distract him. Robert keeps his head resting against the man as he talks, like he's content to be there. ]

I don't know. I still shower and go to the gym and brush my teeth? But maybe the rest kind of ... wasn't that important for a while.

[ They've already talked about it a bit, how Robert was just kind of expecting to die in the suit sooner or later. ]

I'm fine though. I'm good now...

Edited 2026-02-13 19:33 (UTC)

[He believes it! Flambae has unfortunately acquired a bizarre fondness for the flying freak, as he has for all of his misfit teammates, but Sonar doesn't quite seem like Robert's type.

Then again, he's often surprised that he is someone Robert would even entertain the idea of dinner with, let alone whatever the hell they're doing right now.

Maybe that's a part of it. Rolling with the punches, ready to take on the unexpected- That much they do have in common.]

Mhm.

[Flambae doesn't boast, and he doesn't let that comment boost his overblown ego. He suspects that Robert may experience night terrors or simply have trouble sleeping, he's cool and collected in front of his peers, but there's probably a hoard of unpleasant thoughts brimming between the injured ear and the normal one. If there's that many scars on his body, it's likely that whatever goes on inside of his head is a lot worse.

He glides a hand slowly over the back of Robert's head, rubbing at the hair and skin up and down in a soothing gesture.

Most of the Z-team isn't great at getting consistent rest.

Golem often needs to take THC gummies to fall asleep, Prism doom scrolls and will pester Flambae if he's awake, which he usually is, and Malevola prefers being awake at night. Sonar's stimulant fueled bursts of productivity can sometimes mean he's awake for 48 hours straight, and Coupe and Punch-Up aren't really the type of people to sleep consistently either, for reasons probably similar to Robert. As for Invisigal, Flambae doesn't know her all that well, but he suspects that her sleep probably worsens when she's feeling badly about herself.

It's either that or she sleeps too much.]

Did you eat before-

[He stops himself before saying, "Coming back to me," because, wow! ~~in the flambae voice:~~ Crazy.]

Eh, crawling back in here?

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wiping my tears

he is being so annoying

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