Chapter 02: A Matter of Time
"There's no chance Bob Bob could father a child with his little penis and erectile dysfunct- Ow!"
Fortunately, Punch-Up showed a bitof subtlety and delivered a strike to Flambae’s shin to silence him.
The initial shock faded quickly. Chase was the first to recover. He glanced at the boy with Robert and motioned down the hallway with his thumb. "Alright, everyone. Quit gawking. There’s only one way to settle this." He pulled Robert and Mandy closer for a moment to whisper. "We need to get him to the medical wing. A DNA test should clear this shit up."
Robert and Mandy look back at Robin, who was pulled into a conversation with Golem. "And if it only makes things more complicated?"
Chase sighed. "We’ll deal with it, okay?"
The boy pouted. "I don’t want to visit the doctors again. I feel alright."
"Listen here, kid, you shouldn't be whining to your elders like a little bi..."
"Chase!" "Language!" Mandy and Robert said on reflex. Chase had done the same to him growing up.
Chase caught himself at the last possible second, decades of habit dealing with Robert, and now his look-alike. "Like that." Chase shot him a look before gesturing toward the elevators. "Come on, kid. It's just a checkup."
Robin walked ahead of Robert and Mandy, completely comfortable in SDN headquarters. He stepped onto the elevator first, and once they reached the floor, he took the left turn toward the medical bay without needing directions.
Robert and Mandy trailed behind, looking back at the Z-Team, who were still whispering near the elevators.
"So how old are you, kid?" Sonar asked, keeping pace.
"Don’t you guys remember, I’m ten," Robin said. "Well, ten and a half. My birthday was in February. You were all there."
"Right…"
"So, kid, since you seem to know us so well, who's your favorite uncle?" Prism asked, phone already out and recording.
"Or Aunt," Coupé corrected. "That’s also possible."
"Auntie Prism, right?" the influencer chided.
Robin didn't hesitate and laughed. "Uncle Chase. Obviously."
Chase stumbled slightly... "Hmpf." He straightened his jacket, hiding a smirk. " finally, someone with taste."
"That's totally biased," Flambae muttered. "Kid clearly was not raised right."
Robert huffed. "There's nothing wrong with the kid liking Chase more."
"We can see where the bias comes from, then."
"Alright, then, who is your favorite hero?" asked Punch-Up.
"My dad, of course! I can't wait till I get to learn how to be a hero too! We'll be the best dynamic duo ever! The Mecha Men!"
Robert felt several knots in his stomach as he heard his alleged son say that. He rubbed the boy's shoulder. "That's… great, kid." Now that Robert thought about it, could he go into the suit knowing he had family at home? That was what his dad did, but did Robert want to do the same?
They had stopped just outside the infirmary doors when Robin’s stomach audibly growled. "I’m hungry."
"I’m sure we can get you something from the vending machines." Mandy put a hand on his shoulder and glanced down the hall.
Robert shifted beside her. "What do you want?"
Robin thought about it for half a second. His eyes went straight up to Robert’s face. "Can I have Twinkies?"
Every single person in the hallway turned to stare at Robert.
"What?" Robert asked.
Golem chuckled. "The kid wants Twinkies. Not surprised."
"So?"
"Dude, you’re basically addicted to them," Invisigal said.
"Lots of people eat Twinkies," Robert said. "They’re popular."
Mandy tilted her head. "You are kinda the reason I’ve had to order restocks of them more often."
Sonar nudged Malevola. "Watch this." He turned to the boy. "Hey, kid. You love twinks, right?"
"Don't ask him like that," chastised Chase.
The little wordplay went over the boy's head. "Yeah, Dad and I love Twinks." That got a few laughs. "But Mom says that Dad has to eat healthier. Lower his blood sugar or something.”
This time, Robert turned to Mandy and raised a brow. "Oh? Do you think that?"
"Well,” she said, "you could do with more protein in your diet if you’re trying to get muscle back."
Robin looked up at all the adults. "So… can I have Twinkies?”
Mandy patted the boy's head. "You can have some after seeing the doctor."
"Okay…"
Chase herded Z-Team down the hallway and told them to wait, yet Robert still saw all of them pressed against the infirmary window.
Robert followed Mandy and Chase into the medical bay. Robin climbed onto the exam bed without anyone prompting him.
A medic checked his vitals while Robert, Mandy, and Chase stood a few steps away. Robert was in his own world. How is this happening? Did someone clone me? Am I in a coma again?
Beside him, Mandy spiraled in her own way. A bright, nervous smile stayed fixed on her face, and her eyes kept drifting back to Robin’s features. "We need to make sure he's comfortable. Maybe we should get him something to drink. Is the room too cold? The infirmary is always freezing."
"Mandy," Robert said quietly.
"He has your hair," Mandy still didn’t look away from Robin. "And my eyes."
"That doesn't mean..."
"I know." Her voice suggested she was already wondering.
They reached the far side of the room, and Robert tried to redirect. "Look, we don't even know if…"
"Should I call my mom," Mandy said, talking over him. "Wait, no, I can't call my mom. What would I even say?"
Chase stepped in front of both of them and held his hands up. "Both of you. Breathe. You're making a scene."
On the other side of the room, Robin laughed at something a nurse said while the medic finished the last of the vitals check.
Dr. Reyes joined them soon after. "He looks like a healthy nine-year-old." She stepped aside. The nurse offered Robin a sticker, but he just politely declined and looked around the room, clearly bored now.
Robert and Mandy moved back to the edge of the bay with Chase. Their voices dropped to a whisper as they debated.
"Mandy, this is crazy. "We've only been on a few dates." Robert lowered his voice further.
"We need to know what we're dealing with. I need to know."
Robert wanted to push back. He wanted to say they were getting ahead of themselves and that there had to be an explanation that didn’t involve time travel or reality distortions or the hundred other impossible scenarios running through his head. Mandy was still right. They needed information.
"Okay," Robert said. "Okay. Let's do the test."
Dr. Reyes listened to the explanation and nodded. "Paternity test," she repeated. "For both of you?"
"Yes," Mandy said.
Dr. Reyes pulled out her tablet and made a few notes. "Standard paternity test takes two to five days. I can put a rush on it, but that'll still be forty-eight hours minimum."
"Do it," Robert and Mandy said at the same time.
The three of them submitted to the blood draw without comment. Robin didn’t fuss when the nurse explained that they needed more samples to check his health. He held out his arm, answered questions, and kept chatting about how "Dr. Martinez usually does this" and how "the new medical bay is different than the old one."
Dr. Reyes confirmed the turnaround time again while she labeled the vials. Robin sat on the exam bed. Robert watched him and felt the questions in his head multiply. Mandy stood beside him with her hands clasped tight, trying to appear calm. Neither of them said anything as the samples left the room for testing.
"Can we go home soon?" Robin asked as Dr. Reyes finished up.
Robert and Mandy exchanged looks.
"We're still at work, kiddo," Robert said carefully. "It's the middle of the day."
"Oh." Robin looked disappointed. "How long?"
"A few more hours at least." Mandy crouched down to Robin's eye level, and Robert saw that maternal instinct flickering again. "We'll figure something out, okay?"
Robin nodded, apparently satisfied.
They left the medical bay to find Z-Team still clustered in the hallway. Beyond them, Robert could see other SDN staff members slowing down as they passed, staring at the strange child with obvious curiosity. Word was already spreading.
Of course, the entire building would find out before he understood it himself.
Chase fell in step beside them. "Conference room," he said quietly. "Get the kid somewhere private before the whole building gossips."
They left the infirmary together and headed for the meeting room. Robert and Mandy walked on either side of Robin while Chase took point. Z-Team followed and filled the space with quiet speculation. Robin climbed into a chair near the middle of the table and swung his legs. Z-Team spread out around him.
Robert dropped into the chair across from Robin. Mandy took the seat at his elbow, posture too straight to be casual. Chase claimed the chair closest to the door. Robin looked at everyone with curiosity.
Mandy reached into her bag and brought out two packs of twinkies. One for Robin, and one for Robert. She handed them the snacks and received their thanks.
While Robin and Robert took a minute to breathe, everyone was watching the son and presumed father eating the same food the same way. It was quite the sight.
Robert tried to start simple. "Sorry… Robin. It seems that I don't have my head straight today. Can you tell us more about yourself? What do you like to do?"
Robin tilted his head. "Oh… Are you getting forgetful like Uncle Chase was lately?"
Chase seemed to take offense to that, but forced it down since this was still just a kid compared to Invisigal. He was not getting dementia!
"Let's just say we could all use a reminder of how special you are."
Robin brightened. "Okay! Well, I like building stuff with you in the lab. We made this awesome robot to help clean the yard. I like playing Magic the Gathering with Uncle Katon. What I love is that you, me, and Mom snuggle on the couch for movie night every Saturday."
Mandy seemed to get a bit emotional, clearing her throat. "Saturday nights on the couch…"
"Yeah! It's the best!" Robin kicked his feet against the chair. "You always make popcorn with extra butter, and Dad pretends he doesn't like the mushy movies but he totally does."
Prism leaned in from her spot at the table. "What kind of movies, baby? You got taste or nah?"
"We watch all kinds. Last Saturday we watched The Iron Giant. Dad tears up like always."
Robert felt heat creep up his neck while Flambae snorted. "Of course you did."
"It's a touching film," Robert muttered, granted he didn't remember watching it with Robin.
"Getting feels from a robot guy who losing his robot. Checks out," added Punch-up.
Chase leaned forward. "Say, Robin, what is the last thing you remember before coming here?"
Robin thought about it. "Mom dropped me off at school. Dad was supposed to pick me up later. I finished math, went outside, and the sky looked weird. It turned white, then everything shook. When I opened my eyes, I was standing outside SDN." He looked around the table. "Why are you all looking at me funny?
Coupé had read enough fantasy romcoms to recognize the setup. She leaned forward and posed a question to the boy. "Robin, what day do you believe it is?"
"Can't you check your phone?"
"Humor me."
Robin blinked. "August seventeenth."
It was September 12th.
Coupé tilted her head. "And what year?"
Confusion crossed his face. The question clearly felt strange to him, but he answered anyway. "2037."
Conversation died. Nobody wanted to be the first to say it out loud. That was fourteen years in the future.
"Oh," Mandy whispered softly. "Oh dear."
"What?" Robin glanced from one to the other, anxiety seeping in. "What’s the matter?"
Invisigal inhaled sharply as Flambae instantly began whispering to Golem.
Robert dropped down into the chair.
Chase was the first to speak up. "Well, that sheds light on things."
Robert buried his face in his hands. "What, on earth is going on?"
Robin looked confused about why everyone was suddenly acting so weird. "Did I say something wrong again?"
"No, sweetheart," Mandy said automatically. "You didn't."
Robert suspected they were all thinking the same thing: everything had just gotten infinitely more complicated.