Robot Boyfriend: Ares (special preview)

You’re still getting used to things, it was a pretty big move, and this new job is much more different than you expected. Hephaestus Academy is huge, and the mech shop you work in is like a giant mall. The building it’s two stories and open in the center. You have a workshop on the second floor completely dedicated to soldering and tight repair work. You see a lot of students day to day, but mostly your skills have been used on emergency calls. 

You enjoy your job, you enjoyed moving away from your old one, but this place is filled to the brim with people. Heroes, teachers, employees, all sorts of staff, and professional heroes. It’s enough to make your head spin. Luckily, when you’re in your own personal workshop, you don’t have to deal with people as much.

Your co-worker, Heidi, in the shop next to you operates a 3D printer to make replacement parts, and the two of you have formed a pretty good friendship. She’s the one who has shown you around the campus, helped you navigate, and so far has been the only person to your new apartment. You often have lunch with her when you can.

“Ares should be coming back any day now,” she says off handedly one day.

You stop from taking a bite of your food and give her a pinched look. “Who?”

Heidi glances back to you and gasps. “Oh that’s right, he went on a mission before you came.” She leans forward a bit on the table. “He’s a pro hero, also a teacher here at the academy. He runs the Robot Wellness and Being courses.”

“I thought that was Mina’s class?” You say confused.

“Mina helped start it, but it was Ares’s passion project. He’s one of the few robots on staff who still takes on pro hero work. Most of the others have retired or solely focus on teaching.”

You furrow your brow a bit. “Is there a reason for that?”

“Stigma,” she answers bluntly. “Even if Hephaestus is one of the most famous and loved heroes in the game, there is a bias against robot heroes, people feel like that can’t trust them. So, some robots get tired of that, and the academy has allowed them to teach students and hopefully end that.”

“I don’t really keep up with the hero business,” you admit. “This is my first time really being immersed in it. I usually never really paid attention.”

“It’s not something most people are aware of. I wasn’t until I started working closely with them here.” Heidi takes a sip of her drink then sighs. “Ares keeps going at it because he feels if he stops fighting, then he proves them all right.” She leans in close to whisper. “He was made by Dr. Lightening, Hepheastus’ arch enemy, to be the perfect match for Hephaestus and bringing him down.”

I’m a bit surprised. “Then why is he working here?”

Heidi has a spark in her eye when she talks about these things. You’ve noticed she constantly flirts with some of your robot coworkers and is often seen hanging out with them. She’s admitted to be a robot fangirl when she was a teenager.

“I’m not sure of the details, but I think when Dr. Lightening tried to dismantle Ares after failing so many times, Ares turned on him and went to Hephaestus for help. He and Ares consider each other brothers now.”