Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

SDN Headquarters

Robert Robertson The Third was tapping his feet as he looks at the lobby door. Dammit, everyone had a shift and was waiting on Flambae for it to start. No doubt all their pay and calls would effect their ratings.

Dammit, and just after the scare with Sonar and Coupe?! Flambae better have a good explanation about it. He then jumps at the feeling of something not there land on his shoulder, before the sound of a bubblegum being blown was in his ear and then Invisigal was in his face as it popped.

"Why don't we start without the flaming flamo? He no called, no showed?" He raised an eyebrow. "You have a point, but Flambae, as much rude he is, he does have a good thing for when he calls, even if it's last minute."

Invisigal nods. "Fair. Prism is pissed at this point." Fair. He signs as his hands go to his face. "Alright, let's-" The door flung open. He turned to see a very frazzled Flambae.

"Oh, you're here for your. . . . " That's when he took in the situation. Flambae's costume was covered in more sparkles, and he doesn't think that's sweat. And his hair was undone, instead in a ponytail unlike it's usual man bun Flambae called fashionable. And . . . His eyes froze as he saw someone at Flambae's feet.

A young girl, given by the Tutu on top of regular garb, wearing a tiara, and it seems she was the cause of the glitter. Her tiara was also hold up by two horns on their head, and he could see a tail wrapping around her leg, matching the bright red ballet shoes she wore. He rose a brow as Flambae looked directly at him. "I. . . I need a favor." The words came out of Flambae's mouth like he looked like he was regretting everything.

Robert frowned. "I'm guessing it involves this little one?" Flambae walked up, the kid right behind him, almost a bit too quiet. He tilts his head to stare at her, as Flambae spoke. "Her usual babysitter cancelled, and I agreed last minute. But I can't take her out onto the field. So. . . Can you watch my little Carmen over here?"

Okay so the kid's name was Carmen. He nods. "I have her coloring books, crayons, stickers, and other things to keep her occupied in here." Flambae holds up his bag, before throwing it to me. "Please make sure she's alright?"

Flambae looked soft almost. And Robert nods as Flambae kneels down to be eye level with the kid. He looks around for a moment, realizing Invisigal is already gone, possibly to tell the others. "Alright,Mi princesa. . ." Flambae got up and walked over to Robert, passing by him, probably to clock in. And he really should get back to his desk too.

But he turns to the little girl, Carmen, whose staring up at him with the same orange Flambae has. "So. . . you're Carmen?" She nods, and He soon also kneels. "I am Mr. Robert Robertson-" That got a snort outta her. Of course. But hey at the very least she's smiling and not giving a blank look at him. "Yeah that's my name. I'll be watching over you if that's alright?"

She nods, a small giggle coming out of her. Probably thinks his name is still funny. He gestures to the inside of the building. "You wanna come on, and see how your uncle works?" She nods, trailing behind him. The bag Flambae gave him was kinda heavy but not by much. He soon had to grab her hand as to not let her wander off.

She was looking at the place in wonder. Has she ever been in here before? "It's so. . . cool." Her voice was small, but audiable over the sound of the printer, footsteps, and various other sounds. He raised a brow. He wouldn't call it cool, but it is interesting to look at. Probably the idea of a kid's perspective. "That it is, kid."

He soon got to his desk, and he sees Beef in Chase's arms. He huffs. "Rough day?" Chase looked up. "Boy you- uh." Chase's eyes locked onto little Carmen, who then hid behind his legs, before looking at him with a WTF expression. "She's Flambae's niece. Can't take kids onto the field." Chase nodded. "At least he's being responsible. Who let him be in charge of a kid?"

He stared, as Carmen began to pet Beef when he was on the ground, holding out her hand for him to sniff, and giggling when the small dog immediately licked her.

This was gonna be a long shift, wasn't it?

Chapter Text

The screen booted up like normal, each of the profiles of each hero immediately lighting up. He looks over at Carmen. "You wanna see what your Uncle Flambae does for his work?"

He knows he probably shouldn't as Carmen blinks up at him, a hopeful expression on her face. Was she. . . not used to stuff like this? Probably not but he knows the basics of being around kids, going around in the suit to sign autographs, and knows they're fragile as hell.

But Little Carmen nods, and he picks her up, knowing that from the days he had to pick them up from burning buildings and placed her on his knee. "You okay?" She took a bit to stabilize, and he felt the tiny tail of hers wrap around his leg before she nods as she holds onto the table, careful not to touch the monitor.

He points at it. "This is the monitor. I'm able to send heroes all over a specific jurisidiction-"

"HAH, why are you repeating stuff we already know?!" Prism's voice was loud, and he whinced, as he clicks the blue button on his headset. He's not going branch again. "Prism, I have a tiny child on my lap. Carmen, would you like to say hi?" He looks at her, and it's hesitant before a small "H-Hi?" was heard. He nods as he smiles, as the chatter went quiet.

"A child." Coop. "Oh it's a little one!" Punch up. "Oh that' just adorable, where did you find em?" Malevola. "I didn't find them, her name is Carmen, and she's Flambae's niece, and she's watching all of you do heroic stuff."

Carmen then looked at the monitor and then back at him with wide glittering eyes. "A hell-spawn can be a hero? People at school told me they couldn't. . . " He goes quiet before he responded to that, and he nods.

"They can. That hero over there is Malevola, and she's ba-" Nope. Child. ". . . Amazing as the rest of them." She then smiled a big grin and oh. Oh. "You treating her well, and if not I will burn you to a crisp, Robart." Flambae's voice cut through the silence. Oh yup right shift. "Okay." That means most likely a break for them to get her a snack.

"You want anything or, anything from the bag?" Carmen shook her head, her tiara moving a bit. "I'm fine." Okay. "Okay team, let's get moving."

And so weirdly enough, Flambae when he sent him out, didn't miss a beat this time around. Doing more work into it. It was a bit. . . outta character? But either way, Carmen watched the screen as the heroes danced across the monitor, saving people, helping people, all over.

Time flew by, as they responded to calls. Eventually, he himself had to take a break to rest from doing some hacking, and made sure Carmen got off his leg, and she looked at him like something was wrong. "Was it something I did?" He shook his head. "No, kid, just. Bit of a break from helping people. As good as it is, it can get tiring."

She nods. "Would you like a snack?" She looked up and nodded. He reached out his hand, and she took it as they went to the break room. Some of the others were here, resting from the calls too. Malevola was there too, and Carmen gasped.

"It's you!" Malevola looked over, before Malevola smiled. "Oh shittt-" She said looking at Robert who looked back at her with a "Really?" Face. That's a whole ass kid. "It's you, little one! The one on the call!" She kneeled down to Carmen's level, who was looking at her with amazement, as Malevola smirked. "We have matching horns!"

". . .You look so badass." Okay that was a bad time to take a sip of coffee because he just spit it out. Malevola started before she started to laugh a bit. "Oh man you're a riot kid." Carmen smirked, and-

"Carmalita Forja Ardiente." Flambae. Carmen froze. Flambae looked at Robert and held up his hands. "Hey, no, I didn't, Chase can vouche for me." Flambae signed before turning to little Carmen who was giving him this innocent little look on her face. "Carmalita. Can you tell Uncle Chad-" His name was Chad. What. What timeline was he living in. That's his name??? "-who taught you to swear?"

Malevola was smiling now, leaning back with a smile. "Uuuuh. Mr. Steve." Flambae's face softened. "Ah. Right. Your mom did mention she was dating again. Did he burn for teaching you that?" Carmen looked around all secretive before she nodded. "I don't know why, it's a good word to describe. . . er. I didn't get your name, Miss. Or I forgot it. Whoops."

Malevola softened too as she smiled, towering over Carmen with a soft smile. "I'm Malevola, ya little bugger. Hell yeah." Carmen beamed and giggled as Flambae softly groaned as his face went to his nose. "Just don't tell your mom? I won't tell your mom if you won't." Carmen nodded at Flambae. "I know, Uncle Chad!"

"Chad? Like the ultimate Chad?" Sonar came in before looking down. "Oh. Tiny Niblet. Okay." And promptly walked outta the room. Malevola started to cackle at that. Prism then came in, tired. "I need a pick me up- Oh! Why hello there!" Carmen looked at Prism, with also an amazed expression.

"We match. . . " Carmen pointed to her sparkly tutu, and Prism melted with a gloved hand on her face, her powers making her sparkle a bit. "Why look at you, you little Glitter Queen!" Carmen smiled and twirled a bit. "Ooh, kill em, Girl!" Robert was pouring some coffee for all of them, beyond the kid, before seeing Flambae smiling and recording on his phone. "Check up for her mom?"

Flambae nodded. "And also for memories down the line." He whispered to Robert. Pff. Chase has been doing that too with Beef. He swears that old man has gotten attatched to Beef, not that he'd minds. It's good for all three of them.

Eventually Carmen was smiling as she ate some Snickers and frowned when she tried Flambae's coffee. "Careful. I know it isn't spicy like you usually like it, Uncle likes his sweet." Carmen stuck out her tounge. "Nasty. Crime for uncle." Flambae huffed as he rolled his eyes, and wiped off some of the carmel stuck to her face, while the other two women aww'd and coo'd as they drank their own coffees.

Robert sipped his, a plain and black as his soul coffee, and now he wants a glazed donut too. Dammit. He then grabbed some twinks. "Alright, possibly that's enough break time." He heard groans from the other two, but Carmen lit up. "Oh, can I help with the dispatching? Please?" He gave it a thought. "Okay, how bout you give suggestions, because sometimes this stuff seems obvious but is really hard?"

Carmen paused then nodded. "Okay!" Robert smiled as they went back to his desk, Flambae giving him a look before he went out to go out. He then found another headset in his desk, this one a wired one, and plugged it in. Possibly a way for two people at one district. He wonders how many the Phoniex program went through. He made sure it was set on blue and that she knew which colors meant which.

She nodded determininly. "Okay!"

Robert then turned it on. "Okay, It seems we have a helper today." Possibly against regulations, but then again, he didn't see the papers earlier. Did he sign up for this? He's not sure. He'll ask Blazer later.

"Oh shit-" Invisigal began.

"There's a kid on the line, Visi! Listen up!" Thank fuck for Prism.

"Hi!" Overall, Carmen pointing to the screen and gave actually kinda helpful advice?? What. The entire Z-team was quiet beyond banter with "LANGUAGE" being shouted at whoever said the bad word. Carmen giggling afterwards. "I know them all." She'd whispered, and he held back the idea to snort. Her eyes went wide as he hacked into the security of various places.

"Holy shit. . . " She'd said. "Robert." He smiled. "Not me again, Flambae. Stay on route." Carmen's eyes were sparkling through the whole thing, and then he heard munching and he looked over to see Beef being fed some Twinkies. . . . He's not sure if that's safe for dogs, but Beef looks happy.

Overall it went. Shockingly well. He gave her a high five as the report came back that it was overwhemingly positive. Flambae kneeled down and picked up Carmen when she went to him, saying all the things that went right because of her. "That's so good, Carmalita!" She beamed, the glitter in the sunset made her beam more.

But it wasn't long afterwards, when the other parts of the team talked to her, She looked up at Gollum and said "You look cool as fuck." Making everyone short circult, but then she yawned, and he handed Flambae the bag he gave him.

"Good shift?" Flambae looked away, blushing, before nodding. "It was. . .adequet." Robert looked at her. "I'd say for her birthday, or Christmas, I'd get her some stragety games. Final Frenzy seems to be a good one." Flambae nods. "I have enough saved up. I'll make a note of it."

Robert walked away smiling. Good shift, and even better as Beef smiled back at him.

Good day overall.