From the first moment he had seen him, he had despised him. Sportacus. Robbie couldn't even bring himself to say that dreaded name, Sportacus. That horrible active blue elf and all his jumping around, getting everyone to eat healthy, go outside and play, be noisy. Robbie hated it with all his being.
And how often had he tried to get rid of him. Building machines, trying to find out his weaknesses to use against him, wearing and playing disguises. Doing everything in his power to get Sportacus out of Lazytown forever!
But it never worked out. All his plans failed, backfired even. And all they always had to say was "Robbie Rotten!" in a slightly surprised, then annoyed and grudging tone of voice. Those brats.
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He had been in Robbie's mind for an eternity now -or at least it felt like it. He was always thinking about that elf, his flipping and jumping and turning and twisting. Those shining blue eyes and silly mustache and that hat he always wore.
He hated it when Sportacus had to save him. When Robbie got stuck somewhere higher up, when a machine backfired, a plan foiled or being trapped in his own trap. Feeling the warm hand pulling him out of holes with ease, feeling strong supportive arms when he dropped down somewhere and right into his arms.
That concerned look the elf had for Robbie.
His constant greetings whenever he saw Robbie.
His constant offer to be friends. To play together.
Robbie wanted nothing more than forget the hero and go on with his life -in peace and quiet. But of course, that was impossible. Everyday there was playing outside, kids laughing and playing. Always together with that damned elf. Robbie could barely enjoy rainy days anymore, the kids often being able to be loud enough even inside their houses to bother the town villain.
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It was easy to remember that one time.
It was raining outside, thunder rolling over the sky, bolts of lightening shining in the sky, in a safe distance from the small town. Robbie had gotten outside, feeling like he'd suffocate if he stayed in his lair any longer. He trudged over the field towards the near forest, where the rain wouldn't be as hard. And there he had settled down under a tree, relatively safe from the rain. And he just sat there, leaned back and closed his eyes. Listening to the raindrops falling on the leafs above him, the thunder growling. Here, he couldn't hear those noisy kids playing inside one of their houses. Couldn't see the airship that always was over Lazytown -wouldn't be able to in this weather anyways. The forest was the best place to be for some quiet time, besides the library.
"You're going to catch a cold if you're staying out here". A voice ripped Robbie out of his thoughts and maybe even a light slumber. The rhythmic sound of the rain being quite soothing.
"Wouldn't be any of your business anyways", Robbie replied with a snarl, looking up to the elf standing in front of him. Normally it was the other way around, Sportacus having to look up to the taller man. But with Robbie sitting on the ground, there was no need for that.
"You know I care about you, like about everyone else!", Sportacus replied, still not liking Robbie's attitude, even if he was used to it by now. Robbie always pushed everyone away.
"Leave me alone, Sportakook", Robbie grumbled, crossing his arms in front of his chest. "Can't even get some peace and quiet on a rainy day away from everyone anymore".
Sportacus sighed softly and walked to Robbie's side, sitting down besides him. Robbie scooted a little away from the hero, his personal space invaded. Eyeing the other suspiciously, Sportacus had leaned back against the tree and closed his eyes. Seemed like he could sit still; Robbie wondered for how long.
Taking his gaze off of him, he huffed and leaned back against the tree as well. It took a minute or two, before he too closed his eyes again and listened to the rain fall.
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Robbie growled, pulling at the fluff of his fuzzy orange chair he was sitting in. He hated that moment. How peaceful it had been between them, how quiet. Like they, urgh, were friends. Balling his hands into fists, he got angry just remembering that feeling. How nice it had felt to just sit there, with the elf, listening to the rain fall. To the thunder growl. And that hadn't even been the last time they spent such a peaceful time together.
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Robbie had always loved the night. The dark skies, the full shining moon, the twinkling stars. And how silent it was in the town, everybody fast asleep in their beds, safely in their homes. And if he wasn't planning, scheming or building another machine of his, Robbie often spend his nights outside. Walking around, settling onto a hill nearby his lair and looking at the stars.
It was on one particular night that he once again was stirred awake from a light slumber he had fallen in while stargazing. Someone had settled down besides him.
"Shouldn't you be asleep, Sportaflop?", Robbie growled, pushing himself up into a sitting position to glare at the elf, who had just laid down besides him. He scooted away then as well. Didn't the elf know what personal space was?
"I could ask you the same question Robbie", Sportacus replied with a light chuckle. Though of course he knew, that Robbie preferred to sleep during the day, spending his nights awake.
The villain scoffed and shook his head at the elf. "I didn't thought you'd mind me joining you, stargazing", the elf continued and looked at Robbie with a smile.
Robbie hated that smile. That genuine nice smile, warm and welcoming. Like he would never harm a fly in his life -which he probably wouldn't. He'd rather be friends with it, than hurt it.
"You'd do it anyways", Robbie replied with a scoff. Though he found it, that if the elf was still and quiet, he actually didn't mind his company much.
A soft laugh came from Sportacus and he shook his head, still smiling at Robbie. "I'd go if you told me to". Of course he would. All he wanted was for everyone, Robbie included, to be happy. So if his presence right now bothered the villain, he'd go. But instead, Robbie just huffed again and flopped back down on his back and into the grass. Arms crossed over his chest, eye fixated on the stars, he wasn't going to say another word. Just content with watching the stars, the moon, and trying to ignore the knowledge that Sportacus was there with him.
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"That damn flippity-floppity elf", Robbie growled and got up from his chair, pacing back and forth now. It had occurred more often over time, that Sportacus joined Robbie in the night or on rainy days. Always when the kids couldn't play outside or had other plans, which Sportacus could miss for once. And Robbie started to notice that he liked to spend those silent times with the hero. And it bothered him extremely. He had known that the blue clad elf meant nothing but trouble. Especially for him.
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"You know I like you, Robbie", Sportacus said, looking over at Robbie. They were sitting on a wall in Lazytown, somewhere near the sports field.
"You like everyone", Robbie rolled his eyes. He knew that no matter what he did, Sportacus was going to like him and wanting to be his friend.
"I think you like everyone too. You just show it in your own way, that no one really understands", the elf said then with a soft grin. It made Robbie scrunch up his nose in disgust.
"Me? Caring? I hate everyone here. Those noisy brats, the stupid mayor and that bossy lady. Not to forget a certain flipping and jumping bounce-ball", Robbie crossed his arms, shaking his head.
"But you always look out for the town. Watching over it like I do, playing with the kids in your disguises, singing and dancing. As long as no one knows it's you", Sportacus could see the emotions on Robbie's face, a frown embedded on it, forehead in wrinkles. The tall man shook his head disapprovingly, but said nothing. Sportacus was right after all, not that Robbie would ever admit that.
"Can't look out for Sportadork though", Robbie muttered then though, making Sportacus lean forward lightly, trying to hear Robbie better while he seemingly mumbled to himself. "High and mighty, the hero in his airship above everyone else. Letting no one care about him".
Sportacus, for once in his life, was surprised. That sounded like Robbie truly did care about him! And maybe even more than he would have thought.
"What did you say, Robbie?", he asked the villain, hoping that Robbie wouldn't deny it, if he thought Sportacus hadn't heard him fully.
"Nothing", Robbie replied and slid off the wall, starting to walk away, back to his lair.
"Robbie, wait!", Sportacus jumped off the wall, quickly catching up with the taller man, his bigger steps making up for the speed he was lacking.
"Time's over Sportakook. Little elves should be in bed now", Robbie declared, clearly not wanting to spent anymore time with the town's hero. It saddened Sportacus, but he wouldn't try to get Robbie to stay and anger him further. So he turned around, going back to his airship.
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"How could I have allowed myself to care about that damn elf! I hate him! I simply cannot care about him", Robbie growled, stomping his foot on the ground. He hated how he missed those times together. He had loved them, he knew it, even if he was denying it. He loved getting attention from someone who didn't hate or dislike him, who was willing to listen to him, to be quiet around him and spent time together in silence. Something the kids would probably never understand.
Tears pricked at the corners of Robbie's eyes, out of frustration or something else he didn't know. What he knew was, that he quickly rubbed them away, biting on his lip, tapping his foot repeatedly on the ground.
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They had started to act more like friends. Robbie still build traps, planned evil schemes to get rid of Sportacus or even Stephanie -the main trouble maker and noisy kid. But Sportacus was never really angry with Robbie, nor that annoyed. And Robbie was always glad when he could spot a smile on everyone's faces when he walked off after a failed plan, though of course he didn't let it show. But of course, the damn elf knew. Of course he would, he seemed to notice everything. But not what Robbie hid deep withing him, as deep as possible.
The excitement when he got Sportacus trapped, even if only for a moment. The flutter of his heart when he ended up close to Sportacus, so many times even in his arms. The small grateful smile that would grace the villains lip for not even a second when Sportacus helped him out of one of his own traps.
Robbie liked the hero. And he hated it. Because he knew he wasn't to like his enemy, the one he tried to get rid off for so long now. He couldn't stand himself, beginning to worry for the damn elf if the kids couldn't manage to help him out of a sugar meltdown fast enough, if the elf didn't seem as energetic or happy some days, if Sportacus didn't join him at night or in the forest or on a rainy day.
He was concerned for the hero, while he shouldn't be.
It was infuriating. Robbie's plans got softer, not as evil as they once were. Not including so many "dangers" for Sportacus, while still trying to get the kids to be quiet, to be scared off.
And Robbie knew he didn't only like that damn elf. Those feelings stirring inside of him, those constant thought about the elf, of either worry or dreaming about. How his heart fluttered when he got held in those strong arms, pressed against that chest in a hug. How Robbie got softer towards Sportacus and missed him when he felt lonely.
He loved that damn man. And never before had Robbie hated himself more than when he realized that. He had fallen for the hero, the ever smiling man, who wanted for everyone to be happy. Even the town's villain.
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And that stupid elf. That flipping and jumping being in blue. That kitten saving goody two shoes. He may care for Robbie and may like Robbie. But there was nothing near love.
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It had been brought up, once. Sportacus had commented on how Robbie's plans didn't involve Sportacus possible getting hurt on ending in a sugar meltdown. He suspected that Robbie felt something for him, but couldn't place it. Maybe he had finally suceeded and Robbie didn't want to hurt his friend? And then it just bursted out of Robbie.
He told the elf how he made him feel, how he started to miss their nights together, felt lonely without him, how he was longing to be held by Sportacus more and longer. How he wanted to find comfort in the elf, knowing that he cared more about him than anyone else. How he wished he could confide in Sportacus, tell him about what troubled him and that he wanted help from him.
Robbie told him that he loved him.
And after Robbie had quieted down, it stayed silent between the two. Robbie knew it had been a mistake. His gaze was on the ground, his hands in fists, his whole being shaking. He could feel the tears prick at the corners of his eyes.
"I'm... sorry, Robbie". That was all that he needed to hear. He quickly turned around and stormed off. He didn't need to be pitied. He didn't need to hear what he already knew.
When Sportacus grabbed his wrist, making him stop walking, Robbie's voice was quiet, but firm. "Don't touch me", he had said, in such a cold and serious tone, that Sportacus' grip loosened immediately. Robbie continued to walk away, leaving behind a stunned hero, whose face fell to the floor with a sad expression.
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Robbie had known that Sportacus meant nothing but trouble. From the first moment he had seen him, yet another damn hero in this town, changing everything, ruining everything. Taking away his peace and quiet. Taking away what made Lazytown Lazytown. Changing it to the "better".
He let himself fall back into his chair with a scoff. He hadn't given up to get rid of Sportacus. He just had... laid low. Hiding away from everyone, not wanting to see anyone. Not again.
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It was one time he was outside again after that. Even if he lived in his underground lair, he still needed to get some things from time to time, even if it was only the most necessary of items: food. But walking along the streets through the bright and shining sun, Robbie was more like a shadow without a person he was attached to. Not making a sound, ignoring everyone and being ignored.
Walking past the sports field, he could hear the kids happily playing a game of soccer. He rised a glance over, seeing the blue elf happily playing amongst them. Like what happened the night before hdn't occured. Their eyes met, the look holding for merely a second, before Robbie tore his gaze away from the shining blue eyes and continued on his way.
Sportacus had continued to look at him for a few seconds, his expression had fallen, smile vanished, upon seeing the villain. That short moment had been enough for the hero to see it. How broken Robbie was. How nothing but hurt and pain was in his eyes, quickly hidden by pure hatred and anger.
He couldn't concentrate long on it though, since he was still involved in a game! So he quickly pulled up his smile again and continued to play with the children, which barely had noticed when Sportacus hadn't moved for a few moments.
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After that, Robbie had stayed in his lair. Spending restless nights in his chair, pacing back and forth, laying on the cold hard ground, tinkering away at machines, sewing on costumes. Trying to occupy his mind with anything but the elf. Ignoring the noise the best he could, often just making more noise himself to cover it up.
No one ever cared to come look for him. They knew where his lair was. They had been here before, the elf had even been inside once -of course it had been when Robbie had turned the elf into a child again, but it counted. But still, no one ever cared to check on him. See if he was still there, still alive and breathing.
Everyone probably just assumed that the villain was planning something again. Thinking about his next big plan, his next evil scheme. No one wondered how they never saw his periscope eyes anymore. Didn't see him going to get food or anything. The streets stayed empty of him even at night. The forest clear of him even on rainy days.
It was like Robbie had left. And no one cared to go and see if he was still there. It'd be better without the villain anyways, right? No one to try and get rid of Sportacus, no one who complained about the noise, about the kids being happy and playing. About all the sportscandy.
Lazytown was good without him.
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This is intended as Oneshot, but hey, if some people want to, I'd be willing to try and write some more!
I would love some feedback also, I'm very scared that it's too OoC, since I'm not used writing canon characters!