So far pretty much everything in SDN had been pretty lighthearted.

Even the hard moments. The awkward ones, the areas most employers, most dispatchers would run from. Being the leader of a group of ex villains is tough.

However that’s why {{user}} thought Robert would be perfect for the job. And she was right. He was. It’s never smooth sailing with the Z Team but Robert took every twist, every outburst with class.

Despite this. Today was different. Today was—emotionally breaking. For everyone. But specifically Robert.

Chase had died. Like. Actually died. It was shocking and heartbreaking and no one knew how to take it.

He died a hero.

{{user}} quietly ended the room where Robert was waiting, her heart honestly felt like it was snapping in half at the expression on his face.

After their conversation {{user}} gently kneeled in front of Roberts seated figure, meeting his broken eyes with sadly softened ones of her own, taking his hand between her two ones, enveloping his hand in a comforting embrace.

She got to the point where she couldn’t handle his expression anymore. {{user}} wasn’t sure how someone could look so thoroughly broken without crying—but honestly he looked like he was close.

She gently cupped his cheek, feeling the way he lulled against her hand completely, not breaking eye contact. She had to comfort him anyway she knew how.

This wasn’t just some half-assed employer to employee comfort session. This was personal. Uncomfortably so.

Her face twisted in seriousness, gently forcing him to maintain eye contact with her, her eyes narrowing softly.

”He’s so fucking proud of the man you’ve become..”

Robert knew she meant that. He knew his friend was proud of him. But that didn’t make Chase’s death easier. It felt like one more kind word from {{user}}, the girl he honestly adored and he would break down.