Trapped in Time

Chapter 8: "Ship, Baseball!"

Robbie and Glenn arrive at the ship shortly after. Robbie nervously scratches at his arms, "I don't think that I'm ready for this. Maybe I could just call her instead? Do I have to see her ag-" Robbie begins anxiously, but the older cousin cuts him off. "You are ready to see that tramp." 

As they approach the doorway, the door suddenly opens. The inside of the modern airship is exposed. Robbie is snapped out of his calm thoughts by loud Glenn, "HONEY! I'M HOME!" 

Number 9 runs up to his partner like a dog would to its owner. Robbie flinches and quickly steps away from Glenn and Ipro. Sportacus notices his friend's change in demeanor. The villain was seconds away from a panic attack, and the hero immediately jumped to the rescue. Without thinking he slowly walks up and envelopes Robbie in a comforting hug. He didn't want to freak the villain out, but he wanted to help in some way.

"It's okay, Robbie," Sportacus begins. "You're safe. Number 8 isn't here to hurt you. Penny's just here to talk, I promise,": he finishes, rubbing small circles on the man's back in order to ease his nerves. He gently pecks Robbie's forehead.

Glenn's mouth is immediately covered by Number 9 to keep the older cousin from screeching like a little kid at a candy store. Penny feels a sense of guilt overcome her at the sight of Robbie - only if she had known how he was affected by his childhood town.

After Sportacus calms down the villain, he gently lets go. Robbie sniffles and wipes away a small tear with his sweater. He turns to Penny and starts talking, "I'll be honest. I don't know how this would help - to talk to you, I mean..." 

He continues, "I guess I should start off with: what is there to say? You lied, stole from me, cheated on me, betrayed me in more ways than I could ever imagine, should I go on?" he questions, feeling a sense of confidence. He quickly shuts his mouth, but something slips out before he could do so:

"Glenn was right. You were nothing but a gold digger. I don't think that there is anything to be said that can make any of it okay."

Penny stiffens and anxiously glances at the hardwood floors, "You're right, there is nothing that I can say to make any of it excused... because it wasn't okay. I don't deserve your forgiveness." 

"I realized, not too long after you left, how bad Number 8 was. I can't blame him for all of my actions because some of them started a long time before he even showed up. I used you when I should've just valued you. You weren't trying to hold anyone back, Robbie. All you wanted was the town to be safe and to be left alone. I didn't see what a great guy you were. This means nothing to you, obviously..." she lets out a soft breath of relief, almost as if a weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. 

Robbie refuses to make eye contact with her. "But after you left, Number 8's true colors began to show. Jives started speaking out, and that so-called "hero" tried doing the same thing to him. Jives was more social... than you... and he quickly realized that the things Number 8 had been doing and saying mimicked exactly what he did to you. The town became divided on their thoughts. You were warning us the entire time." She finishes her speech quietly. 

Robbie finally glances up at her, "I'm glad that the waste-of-a-space town is now understanding. I can't forgive you, but I'm not angry either. I learned a long time ago that to keep hating you would mean that I cared, and I don't want to care. Hell, I don't want to have any type of feelings towards you if I'm being truthful."

Penny nods at this statement, "I can understand that, and respect it. I'm happy to see that you go yourself a supportive boyfri-"

"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!" Robbie yells without thinking. Penny looks taken aback, and Sportacus turns a bright shade of crimson. He covers his eyes as if it'd help the situation. Meanwhile, Glenn is practically falling over himself at this. Number 9 cannot help but chime in, "Sure. He's not, but you both sure act like it!"