Trapped in Time

Chapter 7: The Lair

Robbie is curled into a ball down in his layer. He's holding onto a purple blanket as if his life depends on it, and everything around him is left in a pile of mess. It almost seems as if an animal was let loose within the living quarters. Robbie's eyes are puffy and a deep shade of red. His hair is all over the place. Papers are fluttered around him in distress. He was attempting to write a letter to Sportacus, but his pride won't let him. He lets out a soft, yet agitated noise before leaning back into his orange chair. Nothing is good enough to send.

Won't Sportacus think less of him? He knows that it's a dumb thought as the blue elf was always willing to give the shirt off of his back for anyone - including Robbie. The villain can't even go outside without having a flashback erupt, and he surely doesn't want to relive any of it. Pure hell.

He isn't quite sure what to do now. Wouldn't Sportacus' crystal go off? Robbie begins to frantically think to himself. Wait, why isn't it going off? Is it because the elf knows he can't help? Knowing his luck Sportacus would see him in this state - or him having a flashback... wait.

Robbie quickly notices something different within the atmosphere. His eyes widen, and now he realizes that he was knocked out earlier. Who brought him back to the lair? There is only one option, truly. Beginning to panic, Robbie curls further into the soft blanket. Why was he yelli9ng earlier? Is it true that he threw stuff... at the hero? Sportacus must be mad at him, he thinks. Maybe he hates Robbie. After all, Robbie did push the poor guy away...

Robbie snaps out of his thoughts at the sound of the lair's hatch opening. Glenn slides down and lands rather roughly on the ground. "Little cous! I'm here to help you!" he exclaims, standing up and brushing himself off.

By this point, the panicking villain is in immediate distress. He yells, "Leave!"

Glenn rushes over to his cousin, "No, I'm here because I know you need help! Your dumb blue elf sent a letter to my hubby of course, and- GOD. YOU REEK!"

Robbie frowns at this comment, but refuses to make eye contact with the older man in front of him. "I don't care. Leave." Glenn looks around the place, noticing the crumpled up papers on the floor. Picking one up, he eagerly begins to read.

"A letter to Sportacus. How cute." Glenn inaudibly speaks under his breath. A lot of the words were scratched out. Glenn picks a few more of the papers up... all of them are letters to the hero. Glenn can't help but think: 

He wasn't even going to ask me for help.

"... Robbie? Were you not going to tell me about all of this? Were you going to keep this from me?" Robbie remains silent, and Glenn's questions were answered. He couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness overload him. Glenn began questioning the man more, "Why? I-I thought... how much have you kept from me?" 

Robbie rolls his eyes, "I don't want to talk about it. But if it makes you get that stupid yet sad look off your face. Just tell me. What's the plan to help me?"

Glenn frantically thinks, "I - first lets get you cleaned up. Go get yourself cleaned up. Now." He pulls Robbie up and out of the chair before wiping his hands onto his coat in disgust.

Robbie sighs dramatically before trudging off towards the bathroom. He had seen enough of Glenn's sad facial expressions. 

The older cousin begins picking up papers off of the ground, holding his nose.

Robbie emerges from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around his waist. Glenn wolf whistles at his cousin, and Robbie gives him a disturbed facial expression in return. "Eww." he says. Glenn shrugs with a sly smirk on his face and continues cleaning. Robbie shakes his head, "You're such a weirdo." Glenn likes this side of Robbie - it reminds him of the cousin that he grew up with. 

The villain walks into his room and changes into clean clothes. When he returns Glenn gasps because his cousin is not wearing his regular, everyday outfit. Instead, Robbie is dressed wearing a lilac turtleneck and slim-fitting, black pants. 

"What do you think you're wearing?!" he exclaims. Robbie, not thinking anything of this, simply replies, "Clothes. What are YOU wearing, Glenni?" Glenn scoffs and gestures towards his soft pink-colored coat. "My signature coat, of course." And that's when he realizes that he never changed into anything other than his coat. Robbie's eyes widen at the realization. "Wait, what ARE you wearing?" he cries out. Glenn wraps an arm around his younger friend and walks them both towards the exit. "Don't worry about that now. L-let's get you help."

"And how are you planning to help me?" Robbie dreadfully adds. Glenn thinks for a few moments, not exactly sure how to answer the man. "Uhh, starting with one of your trauma-creators... that gold-digger."