Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was almost midnight when Felony Carl arrived home from work to find the lights were on, although he suspected it was because his boyfriend had waited up to tell him some news.

He was hired part-time as a bouncer at a club called “2-to-Tango,” and while there were a couple of people that were stubborn and demanded/begged to be let in, that night for the most part was uneventful; at least it would have been if not for the news alerts he received on his phone. The husky biker had missed the first one, but when he heard the second notification “ding,” he checked it out as soon as the club was at capacity. His eyes went wide when he saw “Globby Stops Rampaging Monster. City Saved.” He then scrolled down to see the first message to find “Unknown Monster Destroying Everything.” Felony Carl couldn’t help but smile, feeling happy and proud that Dibs found his true self as a shapeshifting hero. Admittedly, he didn’t know how there came to be two gelatinous monsters in San Fransokyo, but he decided to chalk it up a weird and improbable event (although those tended to happen a lot when it came to Globby).

When he got home and stepped into the living room, he called out, “I’m home.” Felony Carl could hear movement in the kitchen, but before he could venture in there, the voice of Globby excitedly said, “Hey Carl, I have a surprise for you! Want to guess?”

The motorcyclist let a knowing smile appear on his face as he moved to sit on the couch, fully ready for Globby’s reveal. “I believe I know what it is, but if you really want to show me, I will not spoil your fun,” he considerately responded.

It was silent for a moment before a more deflated sounding voice replied, “You know what the surprise is, don’t you?”

“If you mean the fact that you have returned to your gelatinous form, then yes I know,” Felony Carl answered honestly.

The aforementioned pink and purple mutant proceeded to step out of the kitchen, slightly disappointed. “How’d you find out?”

“I was notified of your heroic act by the news sending my phone an alert,” the bandana-clad man explained.

“Darn it. Leave it to the news to spoil my news,” Globby remarked as he shook his head. He then looked sheepishly at Felony Carl as he rubbed the back of his neck. “So uh, I guess sorry for being in such a funk the past couple days. I had a real ‘the grass is greener on the other side’ thing huh?”

Felony Carl nodded and said, “I am still perplexed why you wanted to switch back to your nonmutant self in the first place?”

“Well…” Globby started as he moved to sit on the couch with Carl. “There hadn’t been much need for me as a superhero lately, so I thought I could try to help out in some other way like with a real job or something.” He then let out a deep sigh. “But nobody wanted me, either because they were still wary of me since I spent some time as a villain or because of how I looked or I’d sometimes come on too strong in the interview. When my chemist friend offered to turn me back to normal, I guess I let that failure get into my head and thought maybe they’d then give me a chance if I wasn’t so different,” he continued in a sadder tone. “You saw how depressed I was about not feeling special, but when I couldn’t help my friends tonight and was actually a liability to them, I felt a thousand times worse than I did before,” he lamented.

The gelatinous mutant then wore a look of determination on his transparent face. “So I decided I would do something about that. Luckily, I remembered how I turned into Globby the last time and got it to work again; albeit with a lot of frustration and pain, but that happened the first time too,” he added with a wince at feeling the phantom pains of his transformation. “Anyway, I came back and saved one of my friends from being crushed by that Globby-wannabe. I was so worried when I left her defenseless against that monstrosity, but there weren’t a lot of options unfortunately. Then, the two of us started battling it out and it was probably the craziest fight I’ve ever been in, which is saying something,” Globby remarked while Felony Carl listened attentively.

“So, right when I get all tangled up with Nega-Globby, as Fred decided to aptly call him, Honey Lemon started blasting him with her new chem purse and weakening him; this gave me the upper hand and I attacked one final time, taking him down before he got her. The other people that were still around started cheering, which was really nice, but my favorite part had to be the hug Honey Lemon gave me a moment later,” the gelatinous mutant recalled with a smile on his face. He then let out a small chuckle as the weight of the day’s events began to really hit him. Turning to Felony Carl, he proceeded to politely ask, “Now you know how my day was, so how was yours?”

The husky biker now gave a small chuckle at the notion that his day was even remotely as interesting as Globby’s, but he still wanted to know anyway. “If you insist Globs. The main event of my day was my dad’s birthday if you recall. I delivered the cake I made last night for the celebration, which was followed by a fair amount of inquiry into how everything was going,” Felony Carl answered.

“Did they like the cake?” Globby wondered.

“They enjoyed the chocolate caramel espresso immensely as it provided a balance of sweet and bitter without being too dense for consumption,” the goateed man replied with a nod.

“Guess I’ll have to request that for my birthday next year,” the shapeshifter remarked with a cheeky grin. “So, what else happened with your day?”

Felony Carl shrugged and stated, “The rest of my day was uneventful except for the surprise that awaited me on my phone, which as a bouncer, is generally preferred to confronting a patron who will not take ‘no’ for an answer.”

“Fair enough,” Globby simply commented.

A few seconds later, the white cat Felony Carl adopted after Globby mistakenly grabbed her proceeded to walk into the living room, looking for attention. She leapt up onto the back of the couch between the two reformed criminals and let out a loud “Mreow.”

“I see Jasmine wants some more pets before bed,” Globby coyly said as he morphed his right hand into a brush; Jasmine may have grown to like Globby after the incident, but she was not particularly fond of having slime on herself. A few strokes later, the blue and green-eyed cat was purring with contentment. A few more strokes later, Globby couldn’t help but let out an audible yawn. “Sorry about that Carl. It’s just been a long day,” the resident shapeshifter apologized as he looked at his boyfriend with sleepy eyes.

“Nothing to apologize for. I too feel the call of needing a good night’s rest,” he told Globby as he punctuated his statement with a yawn. Felony Carl then got a few scratches in along Jasmine, causing her to lift her backend up in response.

The two former felons proceeded to stand up and walk towards their bedroom, but not before Globby paused in the doorway and turned around. He just gazed into the living room, taking in all the details like it was his first time seeing it. I’m so lucky to have all of this, he blissfully thought with a grateful smile. Then, for the fun of it, he stretched his arm to switch off the light across the room. With there being nothing but darkness and a sleeping cat left, Globby finally turned to go to bed.

Once on the top bunk, the gelatinous mutant snuggled his head onto his pillow and wished Felony Carl a good night, who was currently brushing his teeth. Wonder if tomorrow will be as crazy as today? That was all he was able to briefly think of before he was fast asleep and snoring softly.

Felony Carl turned off the bathroom light and upon seeing his sleeping boyfriend, smiled affectionately. As he crawled into the bed below, the husky biker whispered, “Good night Globs. Glad you found your happy place,” before letting the sleep take him too.

Chapter Text

AWAKENING SEQUENCE BEGINNING

That was the first thing the blonde, naked woman heard before slowly opening her eyes. Before her, she could make out she was in a dark lab with computers, test vials and refrigerators lined with various chemicals. While peering out, she realized she herself was in a massive pod filled with yellow amnionic fluid and had wires attached along her spine. Anyone else would undoubtedly find this condition horrifying and panic-inducing; in the unnamed woman’s case however, she had been prepped in advanced by the wires that fed information to her brain.

During her short creation period, her neural network had been modeled after her creator’s, giving her advanced knowledge of everything biotech related without ever having studying it. The unnamed woman could feel herself frowning, as if there was something in her mind demanding her attention; memories perhaps, that flitted through her mind of another woman working by herself in a lab like this. A moment later, another announcement was heard from the outside.

DRAINING AND STERILZATION IN PROCESS

The cloned woman could feel the liquid moving around her and pulling her down as it drained. Once the liquid was below her mouth, she started to cough profusely as she felt her lungs purging the remaining fluid. Her torso ached and her sinuses burned as she experienced her first breath of air. Twenty seconds later, she stood dripping with slick goo as one by one the wires connected to her spine detached, causing a pinching sensation when they did. After the wires retracted out of the tank, warm water sprinkled out of the top; this sensation was much more pleasant to the blonde woman as she worked to remove all traces of slime from her body and hair.

A few minutes later, the shower stopped and the capsule opened up, creating a loud hissing sound as the front end receded below the platform. With the slightest hesitancy, the still naked woman took her first shaky steps onto the cold metal before her. To her left, she spied a table with towels, undergarments and a red dress. She managed to dry off rather quickly, but when she went to grab the clothes, there was a blinking yellow light under them. She finished getting dressed and then pushed the button, causing a monitor to rise out of the table. The screen then flickered on and revealed another blonde woman, struggling to stand and in pain. The clone’s mind drew up the name “Liv Amara,” even though she had never actually heard that name before.

“Hello, I am Liv Amara,” the woman said with shaky breath. “If all went as planned, this message should be reaching you two weeks after I put myself in stasis.” Suddenly, lights clicked on overhead, leading a path 50ft in front of the freshly dressed woman; at the end of the lights, another capsule stood silently waiting. Inside, there was Liv Amara in a white jumpsuit, looking peacefully asleep as her body was bathed in yellow green light. Her clone then turned her attention back to the recording.

“You should already have this information stored inside your mind, but I made this video to be sure,” Liv continued. “I made a mistake a few weeks ago when I created these organisms called ‘parasynths’ to help protect the human body from within; however, they have in fact done the opposite and started attacking everything else instead,” she confessed. The dying woman then steeled her nerves as she stared into the camera. “Treatment so far has failed and I have very little time to spare, so that is why I made…” This caused the other blonde woman to take another step closer to the monitor.

“I made… you because I need you to save me. There is still so much life I know I am meant to live and so much more I can do to help this world. I believe that you will succeed,” Liv elaborated with a weak smile. “All my research and resources are at your disposal for finding a cure.” She then paused, almost looking guilty when she said, “The last thing I will leave you with is this: I want you to have the freedom to choose your own name. You may be my clone with my knowledge, looks and skills, but you are still a living being that I’m giving a monumental task to; the least I can do for you is let you have your own identity and life when this is over.” Liv then grabbed her chest and winced in pain. She looked at the camera one last time and on the verge of tears pleaded, “Please. Please save me,” before the screen went dark.

The red clad woman drew her first breath in what felt like minutes, letting the enormity of the task wash over her. She then steadied herself as she began her brief walk to where Liv Amara now rested. The sleeping woman at least seemed at peace and free of pain, despite the readings on the outside monitor providing a different story. Her clone placed a hand on the stasis chamber, feeling an innate sense of connection between Liv.

“If this was what I was made for, then succeed I shall. I swear, I will do everything in my power to bring you back Liv, no matter the cost or risk. Failure is not an option,” she told her twin with complete conviction.

With what she believed to be her sole purpose established, the unnamed clone then turned to face the advanced lab behind her, contemplating only for a moment. “Let’s get to work…Diane.”

Chapter Text

It was a sunny day in June when Mini-Max awoke from his charging station. He blinked a few times as he scanned the comic book and pop-culture memorabilia packed space that was Fred’s room.

“How peculiar,” he wondered out loud. He then jumped onto Fred’s bed to confirm it was unoccupied as he searched for clues to Fred’s location. His scanners fell upon the red and white circular table in front of the tv, where a piece of paper laid waiting. After a few quick flips, the small robot landed on the table and read the letter.

Hey Mini-Max, I didn’t get a chance to tell you last night, mainly because I forgot until Heathcliff reminded me this morning, but my mom scheduled me for my dentist appointment today. Bummer for sure and I don’t know when I’ll be home, so hope you have a fun day without me. We’ll try to do something later I promise.

XOXO,

Fred

Mini-Max blinked a few more times as he gazed around the room and contemplated his new found free time. “Let us see what human things I can excel at today,” he proclaimed loudly as he returned to Fred’s bed. The tiny defender of justice then laid down flat on his back and closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep. After 10 seconds of faux-sleep, he opened his eyes and rose from the bed. “Another glorious day to be lived to the fullest,” Min-Max cheerfully declared while striking a confident pose. “Now, I must put on today’s garb!”

The small robot then moved to Fred’s clothes drawer, where inside he found Fred’s standard cargo shorts and red kaiju shirt, both of which were far too big. “Hmmm. Perhaps I should start a little more my size,” he pondered while beginning to search other drawers. After a few seconds, he found the socks and exclaimed, “Aha! Victory!”

Mini-Max proceeded to pull a pair of white socks out and put one on each leg like long stockings, followed by rolling them down to fit tighter. He then fished a hat out of the top drawer and placed it on top of his large, round head; it was still a little big for him and kept trying to slip in front of his visual sensors. With a quick adjustment, the blue-green monster hat was secured on his head. He paused to admire his minimalist outfit and stated, “This works for someone who is not modest. Now for sustenance.” The miniature robot then crossed the carpeted room as he headed for the kitchen. Once past the sliding doors and over the freshly cleaned floors, Mini-Max slid into his destination to prepare his “breakfast.”

In the kitchen, the miniature robot found the place empty and bathed in morning sunlight. He then made a quick jump onto the counter by the stove and opened the cupboard to find a bowl. After removing a blue china bowl, Mini-Max took a few steps to a cabinet with food and grabbed the box of “Sugar Punch” cereal. He proceeded to pour the cereal into the bowl and put the box up before fishing a spoon out of the pull-out drawer below him. With a small, controlled jump, Mini-Max managed to land on the kitchen island without sliding around and sat down with his dry meal. (He did not see the purpose in adding milk to the cereal just for it to get soggy).

“Now for a fortified breakfast as proclaimed on the colorful box,” he announced out loud to no one. Mini-Max then began to lift his spoon and put it to his nonexistent mouth as he pretended to eat, causing cereal dust/crumbs to stick to his white head. After a couple minutes of dipping his spoon into his bowl and making the occasional “crunch” sound, the small robot stood up and declared, “The most important meal of the day has been conquered.” He then made a series of calculated jumps to gently place his bowl of (somewhat) intact cereal in the sink before wiping his face clean.

“What to do now?” he pondered to himself as he placed a hand where his chin would be. “If I were an ordinary human, frivolity would be the next course of action,” he deduced while raising a finger for effect. Mini-Max proceeded to jump onto the floor and decided to put his new sock-stockings to use as he gathered speed and started sliding across the polished, tiled floor.

“Weeeee,” he exclaimed as he skated along. He did zig-zags, figure 8s and spinning rapidly in place, which made him need to fix his procured hat every few minutes. For his last stunt, the tiny robot decided to try for longest slide. After making a brief run, Mini-Max then did a small jump and began his journey across the floor, letting his momentum carry him as he sailed 15 ft away from where he started. Once he stopped moving, he remarked, “This low level of friction is fun!”

Now finished with his indoor skating activity, Mini-Max moved on to what his best friend would likely do next: play video games. Before going back to his room however, the defender of justice went to the kitchen to microwave popcorn as that was often paired with gaming. After making a hot bowl of butter lovers’ popcorn, he finally returned to Fred’s room and prepared for his gaming experience. Once the tiny robot found the remote control for turning the TV on and the controller for playing the game, he proceeded to load in “Kaiju Slam Royale.” He had seen both Fred and Hiro play it before, so he had some knowledge of the fighting moves and combo attacks.

“My virtual enemy shall taste bitter defeat,” he proclaimed while balling a hand into a fist in determination. Mini-Max then cycled through the avatars and selected “Monstyr,” a red frog-looking monster with yellow blotches on his back and green eyes. A moment later, Monstyr was faced with his opponent Manster, a light blue-colored monster with four arms and purple spikes on his back.

START!!!

Next thing he knew, Mini-Max’s opponent charged at his character and delivered a double upper cut, causing Monstyr to lose several health points. “Well played fictitious foe, but have a dose of my 8-bit fury!” The tiny robot then made his move by jumping into the air and delivering a body slam, followed by some rapid kicks. Despite his small hands on the full-sized controller, Mini-Max was able to perform attacks by keeping his left hand on the joystick and his right hand over the other buttons. He also had the controller right on his lap so he could use his robotic reflexes more efficiently. With a swift swivel of the joystick and some button pushing, Mini-Max was delivering a 10-hit combo, causing his opponent to lose 20% of his health.

Manster roared in returned and started firing spikes from his back like missiles. Mini-Max then pressed the jump button to dodge the attacks one by one before retaliating. The miniature robot proceeded to make Monstyr launch his frog tongue at Manster and slap him several time with it. “This is effective and unhygienic,” he noted to himself. After a few more minutes of back and forth attacking, Monstyr emerged victorious with still 72% of his health intact.

“VICTORY IS MINE!” the small robot shouted as he got up and did a small victory “Cabbage Patch” dance. He then stopped and turned towards the screen as it was flashing a message: Replay or New Battle? “Hmmm…while the prospect of redoing a battle to perfection is tempting, daringly facing the unknown is what I live for!” A split second later, Mini-Max was seated again and eagerly hitting the “New Battle” option. He decided to keep Monstyr as his avatar as the next challenge was setup. For the new opponent, he would be fighting Mosster, a plant monster with tree trunk-like legs and arms as well as green tendrils hanging from every other part of his body.

START!!!

Taking what he learned in his first fight, Mini-Max was better equipped to deliver swifter attacks and avoid the vines that Mosster launched at him like whips. Within a couple minutes, Monstyr emerged the victor again and only having lost 12% health this time. “A splendid fight and once again, I have proved my superior hand-eye coordination skills,” the diminutive hero stated. He proceeded to face the TV screen again to select “New Battle” for the second time.

Mini-Max continued to play the game using “Monstyr” and was winning every battle; however, by the time he got to his 18^th fight, he found himself starting to feel off. “Hey, why does my chest want to glow angrily at me?” he slurred in confusion as he saw the low battery symbol appear on his chest. “Why don’t humans have to deal with their bodies interrupting their fun time,” he incoherently grumbled. “I guess I got to go get some zap-zap,” he sighed. Mini-Max then saw the bowl of neglected popcorn to his left.

“Gasp! I need to finish my crunchy buttered popcorn stuff before nappity-nap sleepity-boop,” he exclaimed as he reached for the bowl. In an effort to “eat” it, he leaned back and poured the popcorn all at once where his mouth would have been, causing it to spill all over the couch and making his hat fall off. “Empty bowl means I did good,” he told himself as he started to wobbly stand up. “I go get charged now,” he loudly proclaimed again to no one.

The miniature robot jumped onto the floor and began to haphazardly walk to his charging station by Fred’s bed. As he went, he would start leaning himself off course, leading him to overcompensate in the opposite direction. “Who made the ground so uneasy? Am I on a boat?” he groggily wondered as he continued to lose power.

Just as he was almost to his charging station, he noticed Fred’s bed again. “There’s a place to take a nap,” he commented as he forgot his true destination and clumsily jumped on top. “Snuggly,” Mini-Max quietly remarked as he closed his eyes to sleep. Everything was quiet in the room for almost 10 minutes until the doors whooshed open for the return of Fred.

“Hey Mini-Max, I’m back! Good news, I only had 2 cavities this time and the dentist gave me these stickers with my new toothbrush,” the comic book fan announced as he entered. When he was met with silence, Fred looked around the room and noticed the TV on as well as the popcorn strewn about the couch. “Mini-Max,” he called as he walked further inward. He then spotted his robotic best friend, asleep on his bed and went “Awww.”

He proceeded to scoop Mini-Max up and place him on his charger, followed by removing his socks once he was propped up. “Looks like someone had a fun day,” Fred remarked as he tossed his socks back in the drawer. The young man then went to his couch and swept away some of the popcorn so he could sit down.

“Since Mini-Max got the game all warmed up for me…” Fred trailed off as he grabbed the controller and hit “New Battle” option. He briefly turned his head back to his robotic friend and gave him a warm smile. “Get charged up soon buddy. I want to hear all about your…Hey!” Fred said as he quickly focused back on the game, where smacking sounds could be heard. “No fair! I wasn’t ready yet!”

Until Mini-Max would wake up, the only sounds to come from the room would be “Kaiju Slam Royale,” Fred’s excessive grunts while playing and the occasional crunch from him eating the definitely unsanitary popcorn.

Chapter Text

Globby was sitting alone in the abandoned Frederickson’s Candy Factory, wondering what on Earth he was going to do about his current situation. Sure, he was free from Nega-Globby’s control and they managed to contain him, but he and his friends were now labeled fugitives thanks to Chief Cruz. Big Hero 6 and him had returned to the disheveled place after they fled the police on Akuma Island, mainly because it was familiar and far away from prying eyes.

After they had landed, Globby apologized profusely as he thought some blame laid with him as his friends were only fugitives now because they helped him, but Big Hero 6 didn’t see it that way. While Honey Lemon was giving him a comforting hug, Hiro explained that Chief Cruz already wasn’t a fan of superheroes before this incident; he even joked that all they did was probably bump up their wanted status by a week. This did ease some of Globby’s worry, although it still left the question of what to do next unanswered.

A short time later, it was time for Big Hero 6 to go to their homes and they offered Globby a lift. Sadly, the gelatinous mutant shook his head no as he feared that if he went home to Felony Carl, he’d be arrested for aiding and abetting; instead, he told them that he’d have to figure out a way to live as a fugitive for the time being. Fred had kindly proposed that Globby could stay at his place, but the shapeshifter refused as he felt they had done so much for him already and didn’t want to feel like a freeloader. Globby did promise he’d keep in touch and would let them know if he needed anything. They all then gave a sad goodbye group hug before flying off on Baymax, leaving Globby alone with his thoughts.

“At least with my powers I’m taken care of for the bare necessities, but I can’t stay here forever,” he sullenly said to himself. “What if someone needs help and I’m not there to lend it or what happens if I get spotted and they end up pursuing me half the night?” Globby let out a deep sigh before continuing. “I really don’t want to live in fear. I already tried that earlier with being afraid of hurting those I love and it was horrible.” The reformed mutant proceeded to sit himself against a giant vat of some kind and hugged himself. “Ugh It’s just crazy that now I can’t be seen in public because of criminal charges and not because I’m a puddle of slime. There’s got to be something I can do.”

At a lost for ideas, Globby gazed up through the broken glass in the ceiling to find the stars twinkling above. The view’s not bad out here at least, he thought as he admired their beauty. “If I ever…no, when I get back to Felony Carl, we’ll have to do this stargazing together as a nice little activity. He probably knows more about the constellations and stars than I do anyway,” the shapeshifter started to fantasize as a small smile appeared on his face. “He’d point and say, ‘That’s the Big Dipper’ or ‘There are the Zodiac formations,’ and I’d then be like, ‘I don’t see how they got that design from so few stars,’” Globby continued with a small laugh to himself.

“But the best would be if we both saw a meteor shower and we’d have to go back and forth on whose turn it was to make a wish.” Globby sighed before feeling his sadness start to return. “Admittedly, there’s not much I’d have to wish for since I get a lot of what I need from Felony Carl; if he were here right now, I’m sure he’d be pulling me in close for a tight hug and take away all this worry,” he said as he closed his eyes and imagined the feeling.

A few seconds into his fantasy, Globby realized something felt off with himself. He opened his eyes to find his normally purplish-pink arms were no longer there, but instead replaced with big, beefy limbs that could only be replicas of Felony Carl’s. “What the…” he said in confusion and shock as he rapidly stood up. A moment later, his arms changed back to their original gelatinous form, as if it never happened.

“Did I just…was I really…oh my gosh! I’ve got to try again,” he exclaimed before closing his eyes in concentration. Now, I know what Felony Carl looks like. I just need to envision that for me, Globby told himself as he began to feel the shifting sensation from before. Once again, the gelatinous mutant opened his eyes to find he was no longer transparent; in fact, this time his transformation included his boyfriend’s whole body and wardrobe. “Well, how about that,” he remarked as he examined his new shape. He then stopped when he realized something. “Wait a minute. I still sound like me. Guess I’ll have to practice that, but I’ll take a win where I can get one,” Globby noted. The disguised shapeshifter proceeded to relax as his form returned to normal.

He turned to the vat he had been laying against and got an idea. “If I’ve got to practice this new ability, seeing myself would be a good place to start,” he slyly said as he put his hands on the rusty, metal wall. In a single pass, Globby formed a brand-new mirror that stuck to the side of the old container. The gelatinous shapeshifter then took a couple steps back and tried again.

“Okay. I’ve done Carl. Let’s try the old me.” With a thought, Globby shrank down in size as he found himself staring at his original human form, including his signature green jacket and black pants. “Ha! It wasn’t just a fluke. Plus, I’d certainly be disappointed if I couldn’t get this look right,” he joked to himself; what satisfied Globby even more was the fact he didn’t have to close his eye in concentration this time. “Who’s next?”

After a few seconds of pondering, the reformed mutant of course decided on one of his favorite people: Honey Lemon. Within a second, he transformed into the chemistry major, complete with high heels, long hair and glasses. He tried to get a 360° look, but wound up getting smacked in the face by the long locks when he stopped spinning. “Wow this is a lot of hair, and yet still so light and bouncy,” Globby remarked with a small laugh. “Well, that was fun. How about…”

In the next moment, Fred was the image captured in the mirror. “Under different circumstance, I can just imagine Fred asking me to prank the others as his double and see if anyone notices. Okay, now…” Globby proceeded to shrink again as he took the form of Go Go. “Hmmm. Something tells me Go Go would not be flattered if I impersonated her,” he thought out loud while he put a gloved hand to his faux chin. He quickly stretched and shifted to Wasabi’s shape, hoping he got all the details right. “I’m not one for sweaters, but the fact Wasabi can actually knit one is definitely impressive,” Globby complimented.

With only two forms out of the six left, the gelatinous man shrank down yet again to look like Hiro, including his messy hair and hoody. “Man, hard to believe someone so young is so incredibly smart; granted, they’re all pretty amazing in a lot of ways,” Globby sighed as he already missed their company. He then finally decided to try looking like Baymax, causing his body to turn white and balloon up to the tall, inflatable robot. “Well, he’s certainly cute and huggable, but this isn’t really going to help me blend in though,” he noted as he returned to his original pink and purple self. “Okay, now for some others that’ll probably fit in better.”

Globby decided to do this by having a lightning round of sorts, becoming people he could remember seeing when he was out and about. He turned into an old woman wearing a pink kimono and yellow jacket followed by a buff, young man in a tank top and jeans. He also turned into a young woman with braids, a middle-aged man in a business suit and an old man in casual garb. Globby continued with this process for a few more minutes until he let out an audible yawn while looking like Joe from Joe’s Diner.

“Wow, that was a long one. If I had a watch, it’d probably say it was way too late to be up. Looks like I’m sleeping here for the night,” Globby tiredly stated as he reverted to normal. He proceeded to fabricate a plushy mattress and pillow from his own hands, followed by topping it with a misty blue comforter. He positioned the bed so that he could still view the stars as he laid down under the blanket. “It’ll have to do for now. Tomorrow, I guess I’ll practice with seeing how long I can keep these new forms; at least now I’ll be able to go places during this crummy time. I can’t wait to show the guys,” Globby happily remarked as he drifted off to sleep. Although he was still sad about having to stay away from Felony Carl, he had found his silver lining out of this trying event and would refuse to let that sadness keep him from making a difference; after all, someone has to help.

Chapter Text

“Okay. Is everyone ready?” Hiro asked the four eager and newly reprogrammed mascot robots.

“Yes sir!” the always energetic Noodle Burger Boy answered as he gave a thumbs up.

“I am so excited!” responded the peppy Hyperpotamus as she twirled in midair.

“Crushroom ready to do this!” the strong, fun-gal robot known as Crushroom shouted.

“We’re ready. Quit making us wait and just get on with it!” the impatient Hangry Panda barked at Hiro.

“Don’t worry. She’ll be here any moment,” he reassured them. Currently, the five of them were in the garage, waiting for Aunt Cass so Hiro could introduce them to her. Hiro had spent the last week or so making the Mascots’ new programming and checking that everything was working. Once he was done, he came to Aunt Cass with the pitch that she could use help around the café. He also mentioned how these robots were in need of a good home since their original owners didn’t want them anymore; being ever the compassionate person, Aunt Cass agreed to see them.

The sound of approaching footsteps caused a wave of excitement to ripple through the four robots, making them squirm or giggle with glee. “Okay Hiro, I’m ready to see these special robots you were telling me about,” Aunt Cass’s voice could be heard saying as she came to the garage. The café owner was wearing her usual jeans, red shoes and black shirt when she saw the five occupants. Hiro stepped forward to make the introductions.

“Hey Aunt Cass. I’d like to present to you: Noodle Burger Boy, Hyperpotamus, Crushroom, and Hangry Panda!” he announced as he gestured to the aforementioned robots.

“Howdy and hello!”

“Hi-ya!”

“Crushroom says hi!”

“Hey.”

Aunt Cass didn’t say anything at first, but just stared at them pensively. She then clasped her hands together and exclaimed, “Aww, you all look so adorable and sweet too. So Hiro, where did you find them?”

The teen prodigy scratched the back of his head nervously, still astounded that his aunt didn’t know these robots from the news. “Well, sadly these bots wound up not being exactly what their original owners were expecting, so they put an adoption offer of sorts up for them. So, I figured you could use the help and they could use a home,” Hiro explained, trying his best to bring up plenty of sentiment.

“Ahhh, the poor dears. Well, what do each of you do?” the café owner asked as she faced the Mascots.

Noodle Burger Boy stepped forward to be the first to answer. “I spread happiness and cheer with full flavor!” the titanium robot declared.

“I do fun and deliver it super-fast!” the hovering hippo told her next.

“Crushroom is strong and durable!” the buff fun-gal loudly stated as she flexed.

“I’m used to taking people’s orders and making sure they are snappy about it,” Hangry Panda bluntly informed Hiro’s aunt.

The brunette woman smiled kindly as she said, “It sounds like you are very capable robots to me.” She then turned towards her nephew. “Are there any other quirks or past issues I should know about?”

Hiro kept face as his mind quickly raced through all the battles they had with these robots before answering, “I don’t think so. I even went through all of their programming myself to be safe. They’re just eager to get started and as long as they are kept charged, should be functioning properly.” Hiro did secretly hope though Noodle Burger Boy wouldn’t still spew pickles if he got upset or Hangry Panda wouldn’t eat everything if she got stressed.

Aunt Cass nodded and turned back to the Mascots. “If that’s all, then I don’t see any reason why you can’t have a try helping at the Lucky Cat.”

Upon hearing her say that, all four robots went “Yay” as they came together for a group hug. A few seconds later, they turned towards Aunt Cass and Hiro, where they proceeded to make them part of the group hug. Both of the humans smiled, although taken slightly aback and wincing a little at how strong their embrace was.

“Thank you so much! We’ll be the best family the food service world has ever seen! Love you mother,” Noodle Burger Boy sincerely told the café owner. The other three robots then followed up with saying “Love you mother” too. Aunt Cass admittedly looked surprised at being called “mother,” but she didn’t say anything and instead patted the tops of their heads to show affection.

Once the mechanical fast-food workers stopped hugging, Aunt Cass started to lead them back to the restaurant with Hiro bringing up the rear. As Hiro watched the reformed Mascots excitedly walk to their new home, he took pride in helping to make this happen and above all, he was glad that he didn’t give up on them.

Chapter Text

Mochi, the beloved calico cat, had just taken the opportunity to leave the Lucky Cat Café when someone left the front door open a little too long. The outside world was noisier than the home he was so accustomed to, but he so rarely got out he didn’t care. The fluffy cat stuck to the sidewalk for a while and was hugging the buildings to avoid being trampled by all the people. He did enjoy the attention he got from a few kids who saw and petted him.

After walking a couple of blocks, he saw some rats go down an alley and caused his hunting instincts to kick in. Mochi lunged to swipe at them before they ran under a dumpster. He then saw another one move between some trash on the ground, so he pounced to catch them and making the debris fly up. The calico looked at his paws to find he had caught nothing, so he decided to resume his exploration, if a little bit disappointed.

He kept walking as he looked into shop windows like a pet store, where he found himself face to face with Beagle puppies barking at him. With a hiss and growl, Mochi ducked back down and continued on his way. As he journeyed further away from his home, the fluffy cat peered into an antique shop, where several grandfather clocks were ticking away and hypnotized him with their rhythmic swaying. He stood there for a minute until the clocks struck 4pm, and the sound of them chiming scared Mochi away.

When he was a little bit further away, he smelled something appetizing and followed his nose to the source. Once he rounded the corner and weaved through some people, Mochi could see it was a Benito's food stand. The smell of fish and seasoned rice made the orange, black and white cat lick his lips. There was a line of about 14 people waiting to order, but Mochi walked to where people who already got their food were eating. He went up to this mother-daughter pair that were each enjoying a signature Benito meal. “Mreow,” he begged while giving his cutest face and big eyes. The two of them turned and looked down before going “aww.” The little girl, who looked to be about 9 years old, reached onto her plate to grab some fish that had fallen out while she ate.

“Here you go,” she offered with her hand extended to Mochi. He took the piece of fish and after a few chews, went to lick the young girl’s palm. “It tickles!” she giggled as the calico continued. The mother decided to give him a piece of her meal too, where Mochi accepted and licked the woman’s hand as well. He got a couple of pets from the two ladies before he decided to head out again.

It was starting to get late as Mochi licked himself clean while sitting on a trash can. He was so focused on his task that he failed to see Fred, Baymax and Mini-Max were nearby. When the small robot went to lunge at him, the fluffy cat managed to sense him in time and jump out of the way onto an awning, then a street lamp; he was definitely having a fun time out and didn’t want to stop yet. Although Mochi heard the others’ calls to jump down to them, he decided to go a different direction (namely onto a moving bus). As the vehicle moved, he felt pleasure at the wind blowing through his fur and tickling his whiskers. The speed was just right to keep him from falling off and he got to see more of the city from up high. Since it was after sundown, so many things were lit up to become part of San Fransokyo’s night life.

After 15 minutes on board, Mochi decided he wanted an even better view. When the bus was beginning to turn back to begin its route again, the calamitous cat spotted a moving truck heading for Torii Gate Bridge and made an expert jump to get on top of it. The truck drove a little bit faster than the bus had, but the ridges along its frame helped Mochi stay on; the evening traffic helped to slow the truck down too as well as increase the amount of noise he heard due to more honks and loud whooshing sounds from the bigger semis driving by. When the truck made it about halfway across the bridge, it slowed down enough for Mochi to jump off again, except this time onto the cables of the large structure. Being a cat, the water portion of the view made him nervous, but his mainly carefree attitude allowed him to enjoy the rest. He could see the twinkling city and floating turbines painted like fish; also, the rippling waves of the bay made the lights from the city’s reflection move like swarming fireflies in the darkness.

As the calico groomed himself, he suddenly heard something like a jet, so he turned to see Baymax all armored up with Fred and Mini-Max. He knew it was them, but so rarely did he get to see them like this that he let out a curious “Mreow.” Mochi was also thinking this would mean his fun time was over; however, instead of going for him, Baymax and the other two flew over him onto the bridge traffic where the sound of howling and cars swerving could be heard. The fluffy cat turned to find a monster with yellow glowing eyes, razor sharp claws and covered in fur going for some people. He saw the three heroes start to fight the beast, although the smallest got tossed over the side of the bridge rather quickly; the next thing he knew, Fred was going flying and Mochi followed him with his gaze as the mighty Mini-Max saved him from plummeting into the water below.

With all the excitement, he turned back towards the creature and the people cowering. Suddenly, Mochi could see they weren’t just any people, but were Hiro, Go Go and the guy that went out with his beloved owner once. He could see his favorite robot fighting the beast, only to wind up getting hit with his own rocket fist and getting knocked down; clearly, it was time for the calico to do something.

Using all his strength, Mochi jumped as far as he could onto the hairy monster. He scratched everywhere he could, unleashing a fury of swipes not typically found in a housecat. After getting in some painful moves, the heroic cat managed to claw off a purplish-blue patch on the creature’s neck. He then jumped off to avoid being hit with razor sharp claws and wanting to seek comfort from his inflatable friend. From a safe distance, Mochi could see the monster change in size, growing smaller and less hairy as he turned back into the human known as Ned Ludd. The fluffy cat then jumped onto Baymax’s shoulder as it seemed the excitement was over and he was finally ready to call it a day.

While Hiro and Go Go went to take Ned back to the woods, Baymax, Mini-Max and Fred flew back with Mochi to the Lucky Cat Café (or at least a couple of blocks away so they could change out of their suits). The ride was faster than he would have liked, but the calico was safely stored inside Fred’s costume so he didn’t have to worry about holding on; however, the comic book fan wound up getting smacked with the fluffy cat’s tail as a result of this arrangement.

They had landed just in time because after Skymax came to take their suits away, Baymax and Mini-Max’s chests started to light up as their low battery warning came on. “Uh oh,” came Fred’s voice as he took Mochi out of Baymax’s arm for obvious reasons.

The inflatable robot then started to get tipsy as he exclaimed, “Hey! That’s my hairy baby!”

Mini-Max joined in with, “Thievery is not 9/10 of the law!” The small robot proceeded to fall over as he tried to make a heroic stance.

Fred groaned while Mochi just meowed as he wasn’t really bothered by the current predicament. “I know, but you want to see this fluffy guy get home, right?” he asked while he propped Mini-Max back up with one hand. The two robots shared a look between each other before glumly replying “Yes.”

“Good. Now, Mini-Max. Stay on top of Baymax. Pretend you’re climbing a mountain and looking around while you’re at the tippy-top,” Fred urged as he set his best friend on the other robot’s head. “Now Baymax, we’re taking Mochi home and I’ll lead. Do you want to play follow the leader?” the comic book fan said to the large bot like he was a small child.

Baymax wobbled slightly and slurred, “I…uh…okay.” Fred, still holding Mochi, led Baymax and Mini-Max out of the alley and going “Here Baymax. Follow the kitty!” The calico even stretched a paw to playfully swipe as the robot walked behind them. Although Baymax would veer to the right or left, Fred made sure they were staying close by.

“How are you guys moving so fast?” Baymax asked confused, to which Mini-Max answered, “They probably learned some tricks from Go Go.”

For what felt like an hour (but was really only ~5 minutes), the three heroes and a cat walked back to the Lucky Cat Café, where the last customer of the night was just leaving. After they came through the front door, Mochi jumped out of Fred’s arms and into those of Honey Lemon’s. The chemist proceeded to gently pet him and make him purr with happiness while he listened to the banter between Baymax and Mini-Max.

The fluffy cat was back home where he belonged and sure, he technically wasn’t supposed to be out, but considering the amount of fun he had and how he ended up saving the day, he felt it was all worth it. Mochi now couldn’t wait for when he’d be able to go out exploring again. (Although he did hope there wouldn’t be any monsters next time).

Chapter Text

It was a mid-August morning at the Lucky Cat Café and all the Big Hero 6 members were enjoying their breakfast. Hiro’s aunt was in the back cooking while the reformed robot Mascots were attending to the customers.

“Howdy and hello! Welcome to the Lucky Cat,” Noodle Burger Boy greeted the two new customers, although one of them had actually been there before.

“Uh…hi.”

“Salutations.”

The first one looked over and saw six familiar faces and gestured for the second one to follow.

“Hi guys.”

The six heroes turned to see Dibs (Globby in his human form) and Felony Carl heading over to their table.

“Hey ‘Dibs,’” Honey Lemon greeted with a wink, “And Felony Carl. What brings you here? I’d ask what the disguise is for, but I know,” she said with a touch of sympathy for the last part.

Dibs scratched the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed. “Yeah, I didn’t know if I was banned from this place or not and I promised to bring Felony Carl here since he had never been,” the disguised shapeshifter explained.

“Why the urge to come now?” Hiro curiously asked.

“You see, after seeing your aunt’s performance at the Krei-oke night event, which was a lot of fun until well…you know,” Dibs said while pointing a thumb at the fast-food robot standing at the door. Felony Carl nodded in agreement and added, “It was a melodically entertaining night until the robotic upstaging and subsequent destruction of the facility.”

“Anyway, I mentioned that she’s the one who gave me a job back in February; albeit only really for one day, but it was still nice,” the reformed criminal continued.

“So, I informed Globs here that I had a previous interaction with her in the unsanctioned food-fighting arena, where I provided security and was enthralled by her ability to dominate the competition,” the husky biker proceeded to recall.

“Then, I told him that makes a lot of sense because she runs a café, which was cat-themed and had lots of great food there,” Dibs remarked as he finished the story. The other heroes nodded in agreement over Aunt Cass’s amazing cooking ability and love of cats. A moment later, their conversation was interrupted by Hangry Panda coming over to take their order.

“Do you know what you want to eat or are you just going to stand there all day?” she sassily inquired.

The two former felons looked at each other and then took their seats next to Big Hero 6. “We’ll be ready in a minute,” Dibs informed the waiting robot as he grabbed the menus.

“Fine, but you better be ready when I come back. You got 60 seconds,” the panda-bot responded and looking noticeably irritated as she walked away.

Instead of browsing though, the disguised shapeshifter leaned over to his friends and asked, “Are you sure you got all the Obake stuff out of them?”

Hiro gave a small laugh and answered, “Yep. They’ve been scrubbed of all of it and are back to being dedicated food service robots. She’s just crankier than the others.”

Dibs let out a sigh of relief. “Good riddance to bad programming I say.” He then turned to his menu with 40 seconds to spare. His eyes immediately landed on the double chocolate muffin and thought that would be good. “Hey Carl, got something picked out yet? I’m going for this muffin right here if you want to share it?” Dibs offered as he pointed to his food choice.

The husky biker nodded and answered, “After browsing through the options, I believe I will select a cranberry-orange scone and iced tea to satisfy my thirst.”

“Oh, so you want something sweet and tart,” Dibs cheekily commented just as Hangry Panda returned to their table as promised.

“You made up your minds yet?”

“Uh yes, we’ll have a double chocolate muffin, a cranberry-orange scone, a glass of iced tea, and a glass of water please,” the blonde man ordered promptly.

“Good. It’ll be here shortly,” the robotic waitress quickly wrote down before shuffling off again. A few seconds later, Hyperpotamus was seen hovering over another customer’s table to drop off their coffee and pancakes. Afterwards, Crushroom came by carrying a stack of dishes into the back kitchen to get washed.

“Wow, it sure is weird seeing so many robots at the café,” the reformed mutant remarked.

“Any weirder than our shapeshifting friend coming here in disguised because he’s worried he’ll get kicked out by Hiro’s aunt?” Go Go flatly inquired before sipping her boba tea.

“That’s fair,” Dibs agreed as he leaned back in his chair. He then looked over to Felony Carl and asked, “Liking the place so far?”

The bandana-clad man nodded. “It does have a delightful ambience that differs from the Joe’s we’ve been accustomed to.”

Just as Dibs was about to ask his friends another question, Hyperpotamus came by balancing a tray with their order on her head. “Here you go! Enjoy and have a super day,” the hovering hippo cheerfully exclaimed as she set the food down.

“Thanks,” Dibs said before she rushed off to get the next order. The two former felons stared momentarily at their treats before Dibs once again offered, “I’m up for sharing mine if you are.” Felony Carl nodded again as the disguised shapeshifter formed a simple butter knife in his hand and cut both of the pastries in half. After swapping each other’s breakfast and absorbing the knife, Dibs leaned over again to quietly asked Hiro, “Hey, feel free to say no, but if you know where Mochi is, Felony Carl’s a huge fan of Slow-Clap Cat and he’d get a kick out of seeing him.”

Although slightly off putted because no one had popped that question on him before, Hiro said, “Sure, if we can find him. Hey guys, anyone seen Mochi lately?”

The other five members were pondering until Go Go pointed out, “Just have Baymax scan for him.”

The inflatable robot lifted his head to briefly scan the place. “Mochi is on the upstairs couch. He is currently asleep.”

“Ooh, I’ll go get him once I finish my latte. I’m always up for petting that fluffy kitty,” Honey Lemon offered before sipping some of her aforementioned drink.

Now Hiro leaned over to Dibs and jokingly said, “This way it won’t take 20 minutes for Baymax to get up and down the steps.”

“Thanks guys,” Dibs sincerely told them as he returned to his meal. The gelatinous mutant decided to try his double chocolate muffin first. He took a bite and immediately loved how soft, light and extremely chocolatey it was. He then took another bite to savor the flavor once more before taking a sip of water. He turned to his boyfriend and wondered, “Your scone good?”

“It is a delicate balance of tart and sweetness while bountiful in fruit flavor; the ice tea is also quite refreshing,” the husky biker answered.

“Oh really? Well, don’t mind if I do,” Dibs said to himself as he tasted the pastry. It was as Felony Carl said and yet was somehow more delicious than that. He was definitely happy they shared their meals and he doubted he could even create one as yummy. “You have great taste Carl and it’s no wonder Cass kicked so many people’s butt in those food fights,” the disguised shapeshifter praised.

Felony Carl took a drink of his tea and responded, “Undoubtedly. Her culinary skills were so exemplary that she defeated the black and blue haired owner.”

“Wait. Black and blue hair? You mean Momakase?”

“I do believe that was her name.”

“Dang! She beat Momakase?! Wow. Man, I wished I could have seen it. Did you know that Momakase repeatedly cut me in half? Not nice.”

“I did not. It is most fortunate you can regenerate though.”

The two just stared at each other for a second before sharing a genuine laugh at their own banter. They then went back to finishing their food, which only took a few more bites. As Dibs took another sip of water, he peeked out of the corner of his eye to see Honey Lemon leave the table and made a small wave. “So Carl, if you wait a minute, there’s something else I’d like to show you,” he informed his boyfriend. Felony Carl then raised part of his unibrow up, clearly intrigued.

The moment was interrupted by Crushroom coming by to remove their dishes. “You were done, right?”

“Uh…yep. I think we’re good.”

“Then Crushroom take these now.” After she grabbed the dishes, Hangry Panda came back to drop off the bill. “Here you go. It all comes to $7.82 with tax, tip not included. You can pay here or at the register. Have a nice day,” the mechanical panda promptly told them as she handed them a slip of paper.

The two guys looked at the bill, then at each other. “I got the bill if you got the tip,” Dibs suggested.

“That is an agreeable arrangement,” Felony Carl replied as he pulled out his wallet for a buck or two. He set the money on the table for the tip while Dibs formed a gold coin about the size of a nickel in his hand (which obviously was worth more than their meal). The disguised mutant then turned to the other table and cleared his throat to at least get Hiro’s attention.

“Here,” he said as he handed the coin to the teenager. “Your aunt might not believe it’s real otherwise.”

Hiro looked a bit reluctant to accepting it. “Are you sure? You don’t have to you know?”

“Yeah, it’s fine. I figure I still owe her for the mess I caused last time and besides…it’s just another benefit of being a mutant,” Dibs remarked as he gave a playful jab to Felony Carl, who smiled in response. The teen genius gave a shrug as he put the coin in his pocket for now. They all then turned their heads to the sound of Honey Lemon coming down the stairs with her furry surprise.

Dibs now turned to his boyfriend and asked, “Now Carl, remember when you told me how much you love that hit video ‘Slow-Clap Cat?’”

Felony Carl nodded and answered, “Yes, it would have been mid-October of last year. It may have been a Tuesday.”

“Well, ta-da!” The blonde man proceeded to gesture behind him as Honey Lemon stepped out with Mochi in her arms. She was petting him gently and making him purr loudly.

The husky biker just stared for a few seconds, unsure of what to ask next. He finally settled on saying “Do I have your permission to hold him?”

The chemist smiled and replied, “Sure, if he’ll let you.” Felony Carl held out a large hand first, allowing the calico to sniff him and decide whether he liked him. A moment later, Mochi went “mreow” and wiggled out of Honey Lemon’s arms to jump into those of the former felon. Mochi meowed again as he began to be petted, making Dibs and Big Hero 6 go “aww.”

The disguised shapeshifter grinned as he turned towards his friends and commented, “Yeah, Carl’s been great with animals for as long as I’ve known him. He just has a way of putting them at ease. Heck, he managed to calm our cat Jasmine down when she was first a stray and trying to rip my face off.”

The other heroes proceeded to give varying degrees of “What?!” expressions at him in response to hearing that last part. He noticed their stares and with a sheepish smile, elaborated. “I was fine. It was after I first got mutated and couldn’t work anything on this body, so she was understandably ticked that I plucked her off the street. Anyway, good thing Carl was there to help."

The aforementioned man was enjoying the purring, fluffy cat in his arms when he looked up and asked, “Would you perchance want to pet this sensational feline?”

Looking a touch nervous, Dibs briefly looked at the others before answering. “I uh, guess I can try…if he’ll let me of course." The reformed mutant took a few steps forward and held out his hand just as Felony Carl had. Mochi turned to the reformed criminal and proceeded to sniff his hand, then tilting his head in confusion as he didn’t know quite what to make of the shapeshifter. Finally, he let out a meow of approval and didn’t hiss when Dibs went to scratch his head.

Upon petting, Mochi immediately started to purr louder and snuggled deeper into the motorcyclist’s large arms; this caused everyone to go “aww” even louder too. “Animals like this cat truly bring joy to life through the simplest of actions,” Felony Carl poetically remarked.

“Yeah, he is just so soft. What a good kitty,” Dibs added as he continued to pet the contented cat.

“Well, he can sometimes get into trouble, but for the most part he’s a good cat,” Hiro commented with a small smile.

“What’s going on here?”

Everyone but Baymax essential was startled and rapidly turned their heads to see Aunt Cass, who they had all missed coming out of the kitchen. Hiro glanced briefly at the two former felons, where one was doing his best to look inconspicuous. “Oh, hey Aunt Cass. They’re just some friends of ours that came here to eat and…being avid animal lovers, hoped they could see Mochi, the Slow-Clap Cat,” her nephew informed her while trying to give a convincing smile.

The café owner looked Dibs and Felony Carl up and down, unsure of what to make of them petting her beloved cat. “So Hiro, how did you come to meet these two?” she inquired, still wary of the situation.

“They, uh…,” Hiro stammered before Honey Lemon interjected.

“We met when I was moving in with Go Go. I was exploring the area, we struck up a conversation and have been in touch ever since. Very nice guys I must say,” she explained while vouching for them.

Felony Carl stepped forward now to hand Mochi back to his owner as he formally introduced himself. “The name is Carl, but everyone typically refers to me as ‘Felony Carl’ on account of my past infractions against the law. I have been an admirer of your culinary work since you battled in the food-fighting arena.”

Cass’s eyes lit up at him mentioning that. “Oh…you were one of the bouncers at the event. I thought you looked familiar and hey, weren’t you at the Krei-oke night debacle a couple of weeks ago?” she asked and visibly looking more relaxed.

“Indeed I was. Your performance was a major highlight of our evening.”

“Our?” Cass wondered.

Taking that as his cue, Dibs stepped forward and tried not to look nervous. “That would uh, be me. Hi. Name’s Dibs and I agree with Carl here that you have a lovely singing voice,” the disguised shapeshifter complimented her.

Cass blushed and replied, “Aww, thanks. My mother was a talented singer and she would sometimes joke that’s where I got it from.”

“I’m betting the cooking though is all you. We tried the cranberry-orange scone and double chocolate muffin; they were delicious,” Dibs said and garnering a nod from Felony Carl.

“Well, I’m glad you enjoyed them. Sorry if I came off as overprotective of Mochi. He’s part of the family you know, and I don’t know what I’d do without him,” the café owner explained.

“We completely understand. We took in a stray cat last year and can’t imagine life without her now. Just hope this awkward encounter won’t prevent us from being allowed back in the future,” the blonde man responded a bit apologetically.

Cass looked briefly to the calico, who only tilted his head and meowed. “I’d say there’s no problem here and Mochi didn’t seem to mind the attention; next time though, a little heads up so I’m not so surprised to see someone holding him,” she requested with a smile.

“I think we can do that,” Dibs replied while self-consciously scratching the back of his head. He looked to Felony Carl and then to Cass again. “Well, we’re sure you're busy and we’ve taken enough of your time, but thank you for being so forgiving of us holding your cat and the excellent food. We’ll sure to be repeat customers. Ready to go Carl?” the former felon asked.

Felony Carl nodded and added, “It was an amicable time and a pleasure to have held your delightful cat. Thank you.”

Dibs then gave a small wave to his six friends (who were watching intensely to see how this interaction would go) and said with a smile, “Bye guys. Thanks for the favor and if you ever need anything, just let me know.” The two men proceeded to head for the door, coming across Noodle Burger Boy once again as he held the door open.

“Have a tasty day!”

“Uh, thanks and you too, I guess.”

Right as they were exiting, Cass couldn’t help but go “hmmm.”

“Something bothering you Aunt Cass?” Hiro wondered.

“It’s probably nothing, but I can’t help but feel I’ve met that Dibs person before,” she answered. The cat lover then turned to their table, only to find the $2 tip there. “Hey, they didn’t pay their bill. I thought you said they were nice guys?” Cass inquired, clearly looking confused and a little bit angry.

Hiro quickly responded, “They are, they are. They, or rather one of them, just was a little nervous about the payment method.” The teen prodigy proceeded to reach into his hoodie and pull out the gold coin Globby made before giving it to his aunt.

She stared at it for a moment before asking, “Is that…?”

“Yep.”

“Why would he pay like this?”

“Probably because he doesn’t really carry cash around and it’d be counterfeit if he made the bills himself,” Hiro casually informed her as he gave a nod to the window across the café.

Cass turned to where Hiro was gesturing to find Felony Carl and Dibs curiously watching with the smaller one waving sheepishly when spotted. Hiro gave the disguised shapeshifter a “go ahead” look, garnering an apprehensive look from Dibs. He then sighed before letting his body relax and proceeded to transform back into his usual pink and purple gelatinous self. Cass’s eyes went wide-open when she saw this happen and simply said, “Oh.”

Globby again waved sheepishly with a small nervous smile to match as the café owner continued to stare. Honey Lemon tried to help as she gave an encouraging smile and waved back, making the shapeshifter feel a little better and smile a little bit more. He then took Felony Carl’s hand and turned to leave. “How much do you want to bet this hurt my chances of being allowed back?” Globby anxiously wondered.

“Unsure, but at least there are no false pretenses between you two now should you return to this establishment,” Felony Carl wisely responded.

“Yeah, you’re right. Still was a nice place. Now, how do you want to spend the rest of the day?” the reformed mutant asked a bit more joyfully.

“I believe our current leisurely walk will suffice for the time being,” the husky biker answered. They both smiled in silent agreement and leaving the rest of the day’s plans up in the air.

After the two former felons were out of sight, Aunt Cass shook her head out of her stunned state and asked, “Could he uh, always do that?”

“Uh no. He just learned that a few months ago,” Hiro honestly answered.

“Well, that would have made things easier when he worked here,” she quietly noted with a touch of irritation.

“Yeah, it would have. Oh, and since he’s probably going to ask us eventually, is he allowed back?” the teen inquired on behalf of his friend. “He was telling the truth about everything else.”

“I uh…well…,” Aunt Cass stammered in her indecisiveness, not sure what the right answer was. She then saw Hiro and his friends’ looks of concern or intrigue (depending on the person) and sighed. “Okay. He can come back, but he has to promise not to make a mess in here…or help out with anything since that led to some less than desirable results last time.”

“Yay!” Honey Lemon exclaimed as she hugged the older woman, who was still holding Mochi.

“Yes Honey Lemon, ‘yay.’ Now, if you’ll excuse me, I do still have a café to run. Here. You can take care of him while I go in back,” Aunt Cass quickly said as she handed the calico to the chemist before heading to the kitchen to wash up.

“Well, that was interesting,” Go Go flatly remarked as Honey Lemon sat down next to her and petted Mochi.

“At this point though, can we expect anything less?” Wasabi added as he gazed at the various reformed robots now working in the café.

Then with a small smile, Hiro said, “Yeah. Really hard to imagine life being any other way now.”

Chapter Text

It was a perfect July morning in San Fransokyo with the cloud cover above providing enough shade for those below. Scattered throughout Torii Gate Park, they were having the annual Mid-Summer Festival and providing various games, food and special live entertainment.

For food, they had popular eateries like Benito’s and Yaki Taco set up, but they also had many local food businesses like Kielpasta, Blintz Burgers and Lassoothies. For games, they had events like paddle boat races around Ichigo Hill, inflatable obstacle courses for the kids and a scavenger hunt for those willing to walk all over the park. For live entertainment, it was setup in Kendo Stadium for all to enjoy and they had five acts for each of the three days, ending with a fireworks display. The organization committee had lined up two indie bands (Take It All and Warp Drive), a trained-dog act, and a motorcycle stunt performance; for the fifth act, to many people’s delight, was the mother-daughter duo High Voltage doing their dance routine as part of their community service. The two women had previously been working their prison sentence off as instructors in various dance studios and were both giddy at this opportunity.

For obvious reasons, they weren’t allowed to use their electricity technology for the dance, so they needed another name to perform under instead of “High Voltage;” after a brief brainstorming session, the two went with “Life Line.” Also, although their original outfits were ‘80s fabulous, they were given the chance to wear new ones to go with their new name and decided to try them out.

They wanted the design to have similar colors to their old ones (purple, blue, pink, and black), but have the key difference be they’d have stacked heartbeat signals instead of lightning bolts. Juniper’s uniform had her wearing calf-high black pants with a pink, blue and purple stripe along the outside of the legs. She also had a V-shaped violet skirt with a pink belt. For the top, it was black with the tri-colored stripe making the characteristic heartbeat shape across the chest and pink sleeves that went from her forearms to her biceps. As for Barb’s design, she had the same style of pants as her daughter’s, but instead of a skirt, she had a large pink sash that was tied to the side of her waist; her top was like Juniper’s too, but with violet for the midsection and sleeves. They felt this look would be a mix of old and new to signify their transition from bad to good all while still being awesome at what they do. Now the moment was here and the two dancers were both backstage getting ready while the motorcycle stunt was just about over.

“Mama, do you think my hair’s okay?” Juniper asked her mom and hoping it wasn’t too messy. Barb was getting ready herself, but she still turned around to ease her daughter’s worry.

“You look absolutely lovely sweetie. Here. Let me put one final touch and I think you’re ready,” the dancing mom answered as she pulled out a small makeup kit. She then applied some rouge to her daughter’s cheeks and gave her a hug. “There. That’ll help everyone see the sweetest smile that ever did cross a face.”

Juniper smiled upon hearing her mom’s words and turned back towards the mirror. “Are you sure I don’t need to fix my hair?” she asked again while trying to make sure it was in place.

Barb gave a small chuckle and responded, “It’s perfect; besides, the way we’ll be moving out there tonight, they won’t even notice a little hairdo problem. Ooo, I almost forgot.” The big-haired mom then opened one of the drawers in the vanity dresser and pulled out a small, dark blue box. She opened it up and there were two pairs of red heart-shaped earrings.

“Wow Mama, they’re beautiful!”

“Well, don’t wait for permission from me. Try them on.” Both women proceeded to take their earrings and put them on before admiring them in the mirror; now they were ready for the show. They could hear the rev of the motorcycle engines and the cheering from the crowd begin to die down as they performed the last of the flips and jumps.

About 20 minutes later, a young woman in a green blouse, black pants and wearing a headset came into their dressing room. “They’re getting setup now if you’ll just follow me,” the stagehand informed them. Barb and Juniper obeyed and shared an excited expression between themselves. After walking through the long corridors filled with props from the previous acts, the former crime dancers were greeted to bright stadium lights as they made their way to the platform at the center of the field.

The sky was fairly dark now, but that made it all the better for the fireworks to come. The murmur of the crowd on the other side of the curtain was loud as they waited in anticipation for the final performance. Barb and Juniper made their way up the steps and stood behind the black curtain, waiting for their cue. The two then turned towards each other and nodded in acknowledgement that they were both ready.

Suddenly, a loud speaker came on and announced: LADIES AND GENTLEMAN! NOW, FOR YOUR LAST BUT CERTAINLY NOT LEAST PERFORMANCE. YOU LOVED THEM WHEN THEY DANCED THEIR WAY INTO YOUR HEART AS “HIGH VOLTAGE,” WELL THEY’RE BACK AND HERE TO GIVE YOUR HEARTS A NEW BEAT AS “LIFE LINE!” The crowd cheered as purple and pink smoke clouds then sprang forth on stage and the two dancers walked out to greet them.

“ARE YOU READY SAN FRANSOKYO?” Barb shouted to the audience and getting a resounding “YES” in response.

“THEN HIT IT!” Juniper called out as she pointed to the operators off stage.

The characteristic sound of electric and bass guitars with a drum backing loudly began to play as the duo synchronized: Both arms out, pump forward, right side dip, and spin.

Here at the start

I felt this spark glow

Juniper proceeded to back flip away to stage left as Barb continued to spin, until it became a leg sweeping motion with her right leg extended as she lowered herself to the floor. She then tucked her leg in and quickly leaned back as she performed a kip-up to be standing upright again. The younger dancer was now working her way back to Barb as she’d slide to one side, spin, and slide to the other side until she was only 15 ft away.

Gave you my heart

Safe now from below

When Juniper was almost to Barb, she then slid in a long streak right past her, where her mom grabbed her arms to pull her back up. She gently swung her daughter around three times as they both smiled happily at each other. After the third spin, Barb set her daughter down to her right with their backs towards the audience.

What’s this I feel

Not your normal groove

The two women clapped their hands together overhead before turning their backs to one another. They then began to shuffle their arms like they did when they were powering up as High Voltage. They also synchronized with hip swings as they started to take a couple steps away in opposite directions. Once they were 20 ft away again, Juniper and Barb spun into the air and landed into a split as they faced each other.

Our rhythm’s real

Together we move

They then quickly picked themselves up as they both flipped back to center stage as they were beside each other again. While rocking their shoulders to the beat, the duo proceeded to lean back and forth opposite of the other’s actions, creating a smooth rippling motion between the two of them. Afterwards, Barb rapidly moved to be facing away from the audience before lying down and positioning her legs with her feet flat up. Taking the cue, Juniper jumped onto her mom’s feet and laid flat on her stomach as she was raised into the air. Once on top, she crossed her legs, winked, made a heart with her hands, and finally, blew several kisses to the crowd; this garnered a wave of cheers for the dancing ladies.

Got to make it

For our job’s not done

The daughter then took her mom’s hands and with a little extra push, flipped over her to land standing upright. Barb quickly did another kip-up to get up before joining with Juniper. Together, the two of them synchronized again as they shuffled left and right, all while their arms were pop & locking up-down-left-right (pretty much every direction at some point or another). They also managed to get in a couple stomps to help emphasize the loud beat.

We can take it

Until all is won

Barb then took Juniper’s hand as they simultaneously backflipped three times. The two dancers turned to face each other as they proceeded to cartwheel together until they were back where they started. The mom then began spinning her daughter rapidly in place and moving her from one side to the other. They proceeded to swap positions as Juniper now spun Barb around just like she had been spinning a moment prior. Once this move was complete, they smoothly danced away from each other again while rocking their hips and shoulders to the beat.

Won’t quit on you

Though life can be tough

As Juniper was beginning her series of sideways flips and a final pirouette back to her mom, Barb was quickly removing her sash and securing it on her wrist. Once her daughter was in front of her, the reformed dancing mom looped the thick pink ribbon over Juniper’s arm and swiveled themselves back to center stage. The younger dancer then took the reins as she took hold of the sash and like a yo-yo, maneuvered her mom left, right and in front. When the sash was taut during the moves, Barb would do a swinging kick, followed by skillfully spinning/sliding to her next position without getting tangled by her own accessory.

That may be true

But you’re strong enough

After the last yo-yo move, Juniper pulled her mom back in close as together, after dramatically tossing the sash out of the way, they started to synchronize one last set of moves. They shuffled their arms and rocked their hips hard left to right as they stepped closer to the edge of the stage. Then, they clasped their adjoining hands, carried a wave from Barb to Juniper and back again, and did three back flips before gracefully landing into a split. In their final pose, they each made half of a heart with their clasped hands and each blew a kiss to the audience. With the perfectly timed ending of the song, the stadium lights dimmed and overhead the fireworks started to shower their rainbow of colors; their explosions were almost inaudible because of the roar of applause for the mother-daughter duo.

As everywhere was bathed in shades of orange, blue, purple, and white, Barb and Juniper hugged each other tightly and squealed with glee, still full of adrenaline despite the workout they just had.

“That was so much fun Mama!” Juniper exclaimed with a big smile across her face.

“It sure was, and didn’t I tell you the audience would be too into our moves to care about anything else,” Barb replied with a wink. The dancers then turned towards the sky, letting this sense of accomplishment and pride wash over them like the burst of gold and red lights that now stretched across the festival.

“I can’t wait for our next performance,” Juniper excitedly remarked.

Barb gave a tender smile and simply said, “Neither can I sweetie. Neither can I.”

Chapter Text

“I wanted to thank you for seeing me Mr. Knox, or do you mind if I call you Orso?”

Sitting in an orange and white high back chair, a balding man in his mid 50s and wearing a blue-grey suit answered, “’Orso’ is fine Miss Amara.”

Across from him in a large white chair, a young blonde woman in a red top and skirt with a black belt sat at her office desk. She smiled sweetly and replied, “Please, call me ‘Liv’ Orso. There’s no need for such formalities. Afterall, we do more than look for investors here at Sycorax, we see that their futures are cared for as well.”

Orso Knox laughed slightly in agreement as he gazed around the fancy office of the advanced biotech company. He stared at the white carpeted floor before glancing at the shelves of humanitarian awards the 23-year-old had impressively managed to accrue. The lime-green windows that lined the room were distractingly bright, but the tank filled with coral, seaweed and exotic fish was the biggest eyecatcher. “It was a bit unorthodox inviting me on such short notice, but I had an availability and I have been looking to invest or give back as it were. I know Sycorax has an impressive résumé, but I haven’t quite decided yet if I’m being honest; I have a meeting scheduled with Krei Tech tomorrow actually and who knows, I may see stock potential in both,” the middle-aged man admitted.

A flash of anger, and perhaps ferocity, came over Liv’s eyes but Orso didn’t seem to notice. “I understand. This is a big decision and you don’t want to rush into it. So, what have you hear about my little company?” she inquired strategically.

"I had read about the vaccine work you’ve done as well as some gene therapies you’ve managed to patent and the donations to schools like SFIT; your involvement in producing better drought-resistant crops was also impressive. Sycorax truly has done some next level research,” Orso informed her.

Hearing him say that, the blonde woman saw an opening to potentially get her hooks in him more and at a more lucrative price. “Thank you Orso. We do try to make a better world for all.” She then paused as she switched to a more alluring tone. “Now tell me, what would make things better for you? Everyone needs something and we believe in doing everything we can to get it for them.”

The balding man blinked and fell silent for a moment as he was caught off guard by the question. “Uh, well…what exactly do you have in mind?” he asked, feeling slightly apprehensive and curious at the same time.

Liv maintained a pleasant smile and answered, “It varies from person to person. Some may want a little help restoring vitality while others desire something they never had. I personally feel we can always work towards a better version of ourselves, and doing it through Sycorax can help bring real change for others too.” Orso was still silent as he contemplated if there was anything he really wanted of this nature; after all, he could just make a donation to their charity work.

Seeing him in debate, the CEO knew he still needed more convincing. She also knew that he’d give more if he had a bigger stake in it or even better, if he was dependent on her. Liv proceeded to try and entice him some more into her web. “I can see you’re still hesitant on what we offer here, so would a demonstration perhaps help?” she suggested innocently.

The suited man snapped out of his thoughts upon hearing Liv speak. “A demonstration?”

She nodded yes as she pushed a button on her desk. “Chris, would you mind coming in here please?” Five seconds later, the doors behind them slid open as a fit man in his mid 20s entered and wearing a seafoam-green shirt with jeans.

“What may I help you with Liv?” he questioned with undying loyalty.

“I was hoping you could show Orso here some of the work we’ve done to improve the lives of those that invest with us,” the blonde woman requested as she gave a subtle nod.

“Gladly,” Chris replied with a charming smile. He proceeded to do a series of flips and spins throughout the office, calculating each point to avoid hitting anything. The young man then landed into a single-handstand before doing a few pushups in that position. Once he was upright again, Liv tossed an empty cup and several pens his direction where he caught each item with lightning-fast reflexes. For his final act, he freed up his hands as he held onto a chair and managed to punch a hole clear through the back of it.

Orso stared wide-eyed at the display that had transpired, astonished (and off putted) as such almost unnatural prowess. “Well, that certainly was impressive, and you said this was your doing?” he questioned, admittedly starting to feel more apprehensive.

Liv smiled confidently and smoothly said, “I can do more than that if you want something different, and all it takes…is this.” She proceeded to pull an envelope out of her desk and handed it to the wealthy man. He took it and his eyes went wide again as he saw the price she was asking as well as the procedure itself.

That’s a lot of zeroes, and what’s this about an implant? he warily thought. “You uh…certainly have an interesting process here. I thought it would be something a little less…invasive. This also seems rather…out there in terms of augmentation. I’m just not sure this sort of thing is right for me,” he cautiously stated before giving a small, nervous laugh.

Looks like he’s not going to bite. Damn. I came on too strong or he clearly lacks the ambition to go for it. I’ll have to adjust my plan of attack next time. This could also be a problem if he spreads this around to the other elites; their money would help immensely or worse yet, he’ll report this to someone. So, I guess I’ll need to keep him from talking, Liv strategically plotted while showing nothing on the surface. She then made a saddened expression before replying, “I understand Orso. It’s up to the individual on what they want and should never feel pressured to make a decision. Would you still be interested in helping when it comes time for charity work?”

“Yes. I uh, believe in that aspect I can help. I might be able to have something for you in time for the gala in a few days. I’m sorry, but I can’t invest more I’m afraid,” he apologetically answered as he got up to leave.

“Please. Any help is always appreciated. Let me at least give you the briefest of tours as I walk you out,” the blonde woman offered as she discretely got her phone out. She typed a quick command for Chris that read: Get GES #8+DMSO patch. Make contact with Knox.

Her assistant proceeded swiftly with her plan although he didn’t know to what goal Liv was going for; after all, the item she wanted was one of the prototype modification experiments before they finalized it in implant form. Taking the express route to Sub-Level 9 yielded a dark, foreboding lab full of expensive equipment, live experiments and containment cells for if something dangerous was made. Chris ran up and around some of the specimen pods as he found the right freezer marked “Biohazard.” Inside, he found the appropriate petri dish containing a thin membrane-like patch. He took it out of the freezer along with a pair of tweezers lying on the adjacent table before rushing back upstairs as fast as he could.

During this time, Liv escorted Orso through Sycorax as slowly as possible without arousing suspicion. She knew he was unlikely to change his mind, but she needed to buy time for Chris. To do this, she mainly focused on pointing out the building’s advanced labs and integration of nature into the design. They finally managed to make it to the set of steps leading to the front doors when Chris smoothly appeared next to them, showing no signs that he had been running.

“I’m sorry we couldn’t sell you on Sycorax today, but it was a pleasure to meet you Mr. Knox,” the handsome young man told the older man as he extended his hand to shake. Orso was slightly apprehensive (for fear his hand might be crushed), but still shook Chris’s hand out of politeness. It felt a little cold, but he disregarded it as nothing important. He then turned back to Liv and said, “I’ll uh, I guess see you at the SFIT gala then. Take care.” The balding man still looked nervous as he proceeded to leave down through the sliding doors and walk to his car; he was completely unaware that after he left, Chris removed a circular film from his palm with the tweezers he grabbed and placing it back in the petri dish. He then turned to Liv and inquired, “You know I live to serve you, but why did you want me to infect him with this? Without an interface program, it’ll…”

“It’ll spread unchecked and do whatever it wants to the host’s cells. This could be very interesting to see, especially since #8 works fast,” the blonde woman interrupted with a cold smile. She then gestured for Chris to follow her back to the office for some privacy. Once secured inside, she finally continued her justification. “It appears that I’ll have to rethink my tactics. Not every rich person wants what I’m selling. I’ll still scrape what I can from them, but to make the real cash flow, I need a different focus group,” she said with a devilish look as an idea formed in her head.

“Like who?” Chris asked as he stepped closer to her.

“Someone who doesn’t care about the cost, only the benefits; someone who will want the power I can offer them,” she answered with a smirk.

“Already have some people in mind?”

“Yes, I do. But first, we’ll have to wait and see how the Orso problem turns out. He’ll either be dead from the results or he’ll be unable to tell what I can do here; either way, we keep on working,” she finished as she sat down at her desk to plan her next move. She also had to prepare for her visit to SFIT tomorrow.

Once he left Sycorax, Orso Knox managed to drive home without any trouble, although his right hand did admittedly feel a little itchy. Throughout his drive, his mind was still puzzling over the meeting. The fact that she’s able to do something like this is unsettling; something tells me this sort of thing hasn’t gotten medical clearance either. Should I tell this to someone? But aside from the portfolio she gave me, what proof do I really have and how much do I really want to be involved? All these questions and thoughts were going through his head as he got to his place and tried to decompress before he’d have to get ready for dinner at the Frederickson’s.

The middle-aged man was starting to feel hot, so he removed his jacket and turned on the A/C. He then went into his study so as to be present for his office hours in case a student had some questions for him. Inside, the room had an elegant rug on the floor, various books on the shelves, a portrait of Shakespeare, and a mirror as the standout features. He took a seat at his oval-shaped desk and flipped through some paper before he started to feel a headache coming on. Orso blinked a few times and put his hand to his forehead in an effort to make it go away. When he removed his hand, he stared at it in confusion as he saw it had a dark, circular mark on the palm. As he was about to touch it, a searing pain emanated from it as the sensation began to spread up his arm and throughout his body. Orso knocked over his chair as he doubled over on the floor in pain. He felt as if every bone was breaking as the pain continued to intensify and his mind felt like it was on fire.

The wealthy man was overcome with impulses of confusion, anger and hunger, making him want to lash out and causing him to knock over everything in his study as he attempted to stand. He then caught a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror and horrified, instinctively smashed it with a fist he no longer recognized. Even as his eyes throbbed in pain, he could see his hands had become larger, darker and had claws. Another wave of pain coursing through his head made him fall to the floor again and by grabbing it in an effort to make it stop, only served to frighten him more as he felt its shape and confirming what he saw in the mirror. His shirt and pants began to stretch and rip while his body mutated further. Though all the change and pain were making it extremely difficult, he was still able to maintain some fleeting lucid thoughts. Help. Must get help.

He barely managed to drag himself on all fours out of his study as his body struggled to fit through. Orso then pulled himself along the hallway, knocking over the petite table and potted plant as he entered the kitchen. He tried to focus on leaving, but his still changing form demanded sustenance and his mind wasn’t strong enough to resist; like an animal, he ripped the refrigerator door off and began devouring everything he could from the sliced meat, raw eggs, vegetables, and fruit. When he was done, his now savage maw dripped with saliva and bits of food as another wave of pain signaled he had given his mutation renewed strength. He roared as his body writhed and his clothes became tattered shreds that fell to the floor. Orso grabbed his now monstrous, dinosaur-like head again as the increased stimuli overwhelmed his mind and he felt no rhythm or reason but to just charge straight through the back door, leaving a noticeable hole. He panted as he laid on the freshly cut grass before finally succumbing to exhaustion and losing consciousness. Since his small yard was fenced in and he had a few trees planted, he went about unseen despite the loud snoring he gave off.

The mutated man slept there for several hours until it was twilight, covering the area in dark, elongated shadows. He was still reeling with the ache in his head as he tried to hold on to his humanity, which was a struggle as his thoughts were a jumble and each was fighting for attention.

Sycorax. Responsible. Dinner. Frederickson. Help.

Orso’s mind in its new state fixated on these threads of lucidity, but was unable to connect every aspect of relevance to these thoughts. He snorted as he finally opened his eyes, which were now gigantic and yellow. Every sense was heightened as he heard the cars driving by, smelled the cooking food in his neighbor’s house and could see his mutated hand extremely well despite the growing darkness; however, none of this was pleasurable to him as all he desired was to be normal again. Orso tried to get up, but collapsed almost immediately from his altered limbs still being sore and uncoordinated. He tried a few more times as he persevered to move again. After the fifth try, he finally managed to walk on all fours and once he took a look at himself, growled in disgust at his new body. He saw his transmogrified form was dark brown with darker patches dotted throughout and a decent sized tail to go with his clawed, jointed extremities. The mutant’s mouth had become quite large with sharp, menacing teeth inside as well as he had a stubby snout and patches of hair to add to the big bulbous shape that was his head.

Orso’s mind returned its attention to the task at hand as he tried to focus on leaving. He backed himself up and after getting a running start, leaped over the fence to the sidewalk on the other side. No one was standing there, but the car driving by startled him from both the noise and light, causing him to jump again across the street and into the bushes. He gripped his head again in pain as he attempted to pull his thoughts to some semblance of order.

Sycorax. Bad. Tell. Plans. Frederickson.

With his target held in his mind, he proceeded to run as best as he could through bushes, shadowy areas and backyards in an effort to avoid all the stimuli that caused him trouble; unfortunately, his jumble of thoughts still couldn’t maintain the correct details of what he needed to convey, so he would draw upon his other experience with Sycorax instead of his most recent one.

                  _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chris had arrived less than an hour after Orso Knox left as he was ordered to see how their “experiment” had gone. He knocked first and after getting no answer, used his strength to push the door open, breaking the lock in the process. Once inside, he could see the knocked over items in the hallway as he walked further inward, peering into the destroyed study and letting out a small “hmmm.” He then went into the kitchen to find the place littered with food remnants and a messed-up refrigerator. The most noticeable feature was the giant hole leading outside, where bits of rubble were leading to a large impression in the grass. Chris curiously stared at it as he pulled out his phone to make a call.

“Hello Di. I just thought you’d want to know the GES#8 appears to have produced some…interesting results to say the least.”

                    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After the events at the SFIT gala, Orso Knox groggily awoke to find himself in a large, metal containment cell. He snorted as he wobbly got up on all fours to gauge his body’s condition.

“Awake are we?”

He rapidly turned his head to find Liv Amara standing 10ft away. The mutated man roared as he charged at her, only to hit the cell’s secured door and making Liv smirk in her feeling of superiority.

“Oh calm down Orso. I may have done this to you, but we’re going to fix you too…or you’ll die trying,” she coldly told him.

“Witch,” Orso growled with considerable effort.

“Come now, there’s no need for name calling,” Liv calmly retorted as she turned away to see Chris over by the central computer. Her assistant stood faithfully, waiting for her to return before asking, “So, are we really going to cure him? Won’t he talk?”

The woman going by Liv smiled deviously and replied, “The way I see it, this is an opportunity. Although trying to cure him may dip into our research fund, if we succeed, just imagine the influx of investors we’ll get wanting to see what other miracles we can perform; in any case, we have the alternative of we did the best we could to save him but he succumbed to his mutation and it proved fatal. We can continue to work on selecting investors for the exclusive project while we’re at it too.” Chris now smiled in satisfaction as the two continued to work in the creepy, dark lab.

All the while, Orso settled back down as he leered at the two outside his cage and growled again. Seeing the blonde woman had helped him to focus his mind and collect some of his thoughts, but he still didn’t feel 100% there. He didn’t know how long he’d be trapped here or what other horrible things he’d be subjected too, but he refused to let himself sink into madness. He’d do everything he could to at least keep his humanity and not let the outside reflect what was inside.

Chapter Text

It was late one night at the end of March as the sound of police sirens filled the air. They were pursuing an armored car loaded with money that had been hijacked by three thieves. All of them were dressed in black and wearing ski masks with two in the front and one in the back. The chase had been going for about 10 minutes now as the driver swerved around the evening traffic and not caring about the cars he bumped into along the way.

“Jake! Make those cops give us some room!” the leader in the passenger seat ordered.

The man in back (Jake) nodded in acknowledgement before opening up the dark grey doors. He pulled out the revolver he had brought and began shooting at the closest police car. The officer swerved a little but was able to continue driving until a shot managed to pierce under the hood, rupturing the radiator. Steam burst out in front of the police’s field of view, causing him to break and making a brief blockage for the other cars.

“Ha-ha! Nice shooting Jake! We should be able to completely lose them after a few more turns,” the driver called back to his partner as he continued to floor it. Jake shut the door now and moved towards the front window for a more secured position.

“No problem Yuri,” the gunman replied and making the other man briefly glance back at him. In this short moment, the third man spotted a sidewalk forty feet away where an elderly woman appeared to be crossing the street.

“Yuri!” he shouted and making the driver panic as he snapped his attention back to the front. There wasn’t enough time or room to move out of the way, but an instant later, the old woman disappeared from view as if she had been run over or had never been there at all.

Everyone stared wide-eyed in shock for a few seconds before Yuri turned to his partner to his right in panic and confusion. “What was that Vic? I don’t think I ran over her. There wasn’t a bump or anything.”

The man named Vic shook his head in an effort to focus again. “She must have fell back out of the way or been sprier than we thought.”

As the trio continued to speed down the street away from the cops, they were unaware of their new gelatinous passenger hanging onto the vehicle’s undercarriage. Hearing the police sirens nearby had drawn the fugitive Globby to the stolen car’s relative location and not wanting to be noticed, used one of his most unassuming disguises. While the thieves were driving, the wind was intense as Globby clung to the bottom and began to snake his way to the armored doors. When he managed to get his torso up around the bumper, he could see the police cars were no longer following.

That’s bad. I better get these guys pulled over fast before they completely get away, he rapidly thought before taking a tiny peek through the back window. He could see there was one man blocking his view of the front, meaning there were at least two thieves inside. Fortunately, having Jake in his current position kept any of them from seeing the reformed mutant that was peering in.

Globby proceeded to slowly and quietly slide under the door in order to enter the vehicle. While the thieves made another turn, he kept himself in puddle form as he weaved around the cash strewn in the back, getting in an optimal position. Once he was ready, Globby shot pink arms at Jake’s mouth, torso and legs as he pulled him back, much to his surprise. After the shapeshifter snagged the thief, he placed duct tape over his mouth before changing his bindings to rope with no ends and placed him off to the side. The man started to grunt and struggle, but the high-speed driving and mouth gag rendered his efforts useless.

Up front, the other criminals were easing into excitement over their assured victory. “Woo! We lost them. Once we make it back to base and empty this car, we get the hell out of this town! Where do you want to go first?” Vic enthusiastically asked.

“I hear Bahimia is nice this time of year,” casually came an unfamiliar voice in back. The two up front basically froze in bewilderment, causing Yuri to hit a parked car as he quickly slowed down and turned down an alley.

Once they stopped, the both looked in back and yelled, “Who’s back there? Show yourself!” When they peered through the window, they only saw Jake tied up (as he aggressively tried to tell them something) and the large amount of cash; what they didn’t see was Globby had formed himself along the front wall, preventing them from seeing him unless they stuck their heads in.

Yuri and Vic then got out of the armored vehicle and with their guns cocked and loaded, opened the back doors and still only finding what they saw before. Although they tried not to show it, this disappearing act and finding Jake tied up was rattling their nerves. Vic ordered one last time, “Show yourself or we will open fire!”

“…If you insist.”

Vic and Yuri were both startled at this invisible response and started firing a couple shots into the back, making Jake roll over for cover. After they stopped, the back wall rippled and melted as Globby reformed into his pink and purple self, letting a confident smile cross his face.

The two criminals yelped from the surprise reveal and fired off a couple more shots to no avail as the bullets just passed through him. Globby merely raised a gelatinous eyebrow and responded, “Are you finished?”

Yuri and Vic didn’t care to answer as they turned and started to run away. They got only 5ft away before they both got grabbed by giant pink, slimy hands as Globby captured them with ease. He pulled them back to him and proceeded to give the two thieves the same rope binding he gave Jake, but he didn’t duct tape their mouths shut…yet.

“Now, I’m going to take you running away from me to mean ‘Yes, you are finished.’ So, either one of you got a cell phone I can use? And please give me a real answer this time,” Globby asked as he put his hands to his hips.

Panic stricken, Yuri started to shout for help, but only got it out once before the shapeshifter shot a piece of tape over his mouth. “With this much cash here, you can bet I only want cops to come to your aid. So, again I'll ask, do either of you have a cell phone?” Globby inquired again and crossing his arms to show he meant business.

Vic looked both left and right, but seeming to find no way out of this, sighed in defeat and begrudgingly said, “Left pocket.”

“There. That wasn’t so hard,” Globby remarked with a smile as he fished the phone out of the criminal’s pocket as quickly (and hopefully least awkwardly) as he could. Afterwards, he created blindfolds for each of the thieves so they couldn’t see his mimicry in action, which was much to their displeasure. He proceeded to step over the captured criminals as he shifted into a young man in his 20s wearing blue jeans and a yellow T-shirt. The disguised mutant stuck his head out of the alley so he could find a street sign fast before he dialed 911.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“Hello, I live in an apartment off Sycamore and Needle Rd. I was looking out of my window and I saw an armored car go down an alleyway; it seemed suspicious for this time of night and I haven’t seen them come out yet. Please, send police as soon as you can because I’m pretty sure I heard gunshots,” Globby informed the operator, being sure to add a scared tone to his voice.

“Confirmed. Police are in route.”

“Thank you so much! Bye!” He quickly hanged up in case there were any follow up questions. The gelatinous mutant then went back to the criminals, where he placed the phone back on top of Vic, who felt the need to growl in anger before he got a patch of duct tape applied to his mouth.

“Tsk, tsk. There’s no shame in losing, but there is in being a sore loser. Now, if you’ll excuse me…” Globby said as he walked over the thieves again, past the vehicle and towards the back of the alley before briefly reverting back to normal. “I’ve got to get going. Cops aren’t just looking for you.” The reformed shapeshifter then changed himself into the bricks of the wall, allowing him to ascend to the top without drawing a lot of attention.

A moment later, the police could be heard approaching, making Globby lay down low and reminding him to look like a normal human again so his eyes wouldn’t give him away if he was spotted. The sirens were still loudly wailing as four cop cars screeched to a stop outside of the alleyway, several of whom were automatically shouting for them to stick their hands up and surrender. Within seconds, the officers were lowering the weapons they had drawn and scratching their heads in confusion at the scene before them, making Globby silently chuckle.

A couple of the officers then approached the criminals as they removed their blindfolds and tape, causing them to give small “ows.”

“Well, looks like someone made a citizen’s arrest. Who did this?” one of the taller cops inquired.

“It was that freak Globby! Ambushed us and tied us up! He was just here we swear,” Yuri rapidly answered as he tried to seem like the victim.

The same cop pulled his radio out and said, “Please be advised, the fugitive Globby has been spotted in the area. Be on the lookout and report anything suspicious. Radio in a helicopter ASAP.”

Guess that’s my cue to actually get going, Globby remarked to himself as he crawled backwards out of the line of sight before getting up. He let out a small sigh at the sad state of the situation, but quickly went back to the task at hand as he began running to the rooftop’s edge. The shapeshifter then gave his legs some extra strength as he jumped up and over to the next building, continuing to do so until he was over 10 blocks away. Once sure he was free from prying eyes, he landed onto the roof of an abandoned warehouse before proceeding to slide down it, grabbing the roof’s edge when he slid off and swinging himself through the open window. Inside the dark place, Globby could finally relax back into his pink and purple self as he gave a sleepy yawn. “Time for bed,” he said to himself as he quickly fabricated a pillow and blanket to lay on. The gelatinous mutant then laid down for a well-deserved sleep; albeit, not in the most ideal location, but Globby was capable of making do.

That was definitely more excitement than my usual day, but it always fluctuates. Hopefully there will be something I can help with during my patrol tomorrow, the fugitive mutant contently thought as he lost consciousness and fell into a peaceful sleep.

                  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

On another day in early April, it was bright and sunny outside, which was a contrast to the rain the city of San Fransokyo got the day before. The streets were packed with cars caught in lunch traffic and contributing a fair amount of noise. It was along one of these streets the shapeshifter Globby (currently disguised as a man in his early 30s with a green T-shirt and khakis) found himself walking along. Every day he could, the gelatinous mutant would be out seeing if anything was happening and try to help. Admittedly, at the end of the day he was still one guy and couldn’t be everywhere at once, but he’d usually find something he could contribute to.

As he was walking down Natto St., he glanced down the sidewalk and saw an older man who appeared to be struggling with getting his groceries out of his car. He quickly reached him and asked, “You uh, need any help?”

The man who looked to be in his mid 70s and wearing a teal shirt, tan pants and glasses turned his head and answered, “Why yes, thank you.” The disguised mutant then took the lead as he grabbed the three heavy bags with ease and shut the door with his foot.

“I usually have my grandson help me, but he’s been sick with mono and I ran low on essentials,” the elder man explained as he slowly walked up the steps to his apartment. Globby followed suit and was waiting at the door as it was being unlocked. A moment later, the other man gestured him in and said, “Kitchen’s to your left.”

It was a modest place with pine-green walls, wood floors and a staircase with an electric chair going to the second floor. Globby passed by framed photos of family members hanging on the walls as he lifted the bags onto the granite countertop in the kitchen.

“I say, you must work out or something because they didn’t give you any trouble like they did me; either that or I’m just getting old,” the elderly man commented with a small laugh.

“It’s probably the working out one,” the shapeshifter kindly replied as he briefly looked to his right in nervousness. “So, need anything else before I leave Mr.…” he trailed off on not getting his name.

“Neil’s fine. I think I can handle it from here. Thanks all the same,” the older man called Neil said with a smile. “Not many people take the time out of their day now to pay attention to someone needing help like me.”

Globby smiled right back and told him, “Well, lucky for you I’ve got nothing but time to do that. So, I guess if you’re okay, I’m going to head out. Take care Neil and glad I could help. Oh, and hope your grandson gets better.” The reformed mutant then waved goodbye as he walked back through the door to the outside, leaving Globby with a sense of accomplishment over his small deed and Neil feeling relieved it didn’t take three trips to get his groceries in.

So, I did that. What’s next? Globby pondered. As with any of his regular days as a fugitive, he journeyed on down the street and always kept an eye out for trouble. There were a few instances where he got to stealthily stop some crimes in progress, but most days it was just being a good Samaritan.

When it got to be around noon, Globby took a brief break from walking as he sat down on a bus stop bench. He mainly just relaxed and watched the cars drive by, as well as occasionally say “hi” if some else came to wait on the bus. Sadly, his breaks could not include naps unless he was somewhere isolated to prevent people seeing him change back to normal. If he did get tired, he’d discretely synthesized a cup of coffee to help or get back to walking; today however, the gelatinous shapeshifter was feeling good and got back to moving about 15 minutes later. He soon found himself walking near Miru Park, where the bike paths had a few riders on them and all the leaves in the trees were swaying in the breeze. Globby continued down the path he was on until he made it to the dog park where there were about a dozen pet owners playing with their fluffy fidos, ranging from a black and white-spotted Great Dane to a tan Pomeranian. “Aww,” Globby couldn’t help but audibly remark.

He stuck by the margins of the area, just watching them catch a ball or playing tug-o-war with a thick rope. The disguised mutant almost made it to the edge of the park when he noticed a Labrador was barking up a tree while his owner tried to pull him away from it. As Globby got closer, he could see on a branch about 12ft up there was an orange tabby gripping the tree limb while it hissed at the dog below.

A cat stuck in a tree: the original hero test. I absolutely have to do this, the former purse thief thought with determination. Just before he approached the barking dog, he closed his hand and made a tiny treat in hopes it would get the dog to back off. Globby then nonchalantly walked past the tree and tossed the food near enough for the Labrador to sniff it and completely forget about the cat, which gave his owner the chance to lead him away.

After a few seconds, Globby moved to the other side of the tree to find the tabby still was afraid to come down; upon closer inspection, he could see the cat had a collar with a little bell on it. Poor kitty. Probably missing his owner.

He first tried the usual “Here kitty” gesture for a minute, but was met with nothing. Next, he secretively made a mouse toy he pretended to pull out of his pocket and started to swing it near the orange cat, who did try to bat at it, but still didn’t want to come down. For his third attempt, he looked around first to be sure no one was too close before he proceeded to climb the tree. With a little concentration, he briefly changed the palm of his hands back to their natural, sticky form and began quickly ascending the tree trunk to the branch with the cat on it.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. I just want to get you home,” Globby calmly and gently talked to the tabby, who still warily stared at him. Fortunately, his experience with his own cat gave him an advantage as he then pulled out the toy he made back out and started to swing it to entice the orange kitty in. The cat fixated on the fake mouse, laying low and creeping closer as its hunting instincts kicked in. Finally, he lunged at the toy and pinned it down with its little tangerine paws. The reformed mutant proceeded to slowly reach over, and when he wasn’t met with a hiss, began to scratch along the cat’s back. The feline relaxed a bit and even started to purr, giving Globby enough confidence to pick the furry bundle up. “Mreow,” went the cat, but he didn’t struggle as the disguised shapeshifter went to read his collar and put the toy up.

“Well…Mango, let’s get down from here,” he simply said as he steadied the tabby with one arm while changing his other hand to safely climb back down. A moment later, the two were safely on the ground as Globby looked around to be sure no dogs were coming after them.

“It says here you live at 573 Hyacinth Pkwy. I think that’s only a few blocks over. You’ll be back home in no time,” he told the cat as he kept petting him to keep him calm. The disguised fugitive proceeded to head north, being sure to avoid bumping into the afternoon commuters on the sidewalk. For the most part, the people didn’t give him a second thought as he walked along carrying Mango, but there were a couple young kids (a boy and a girl) with their parents who noticed the cat and wanted to pet him. Globby briefly looked to the tabby for an answer before replying, “If he'll let you, you can.”

They both got excited as they each stuck a hand out and after the orange kitty sniffed them, allowed the hands to gently pet his head and back. After about twenty seconds, the two kids decided that was enough as they then took their parents hands and continued to walk down the way. Something tells me they’re going to be asking for a cat of their own really soon if they haven’t already, Globby internally remarked as he continued his journey.

When he got to the next street corner, he saw that he was finally on Hyacinth Pkwy, so after examining the building numbers, took a right to find their destination. The reformed mutant walked past a flower shop advertising corsages and boutonnieres for prom, followed by a pizzeria that had a line out the door. I’ll have to grab lunch soon. I don’t think I’ve had anything all day, Globby silently noted. He then looked up at the numbers displayed on the buildings he passed.

569. 571. Yes! 573!

The shapeshifter stopped at the apartment with the appropriate number to find it was a blue-grey place that was two-stories tall. He could also make out some white curtains that were drawn, possibly the living room, and a small set of stairs leading to a dark brown door.

Globby looked down at the orange cat and simply stated, “Well, we made it.” He proceeded to walk up to the front door and rang the door bell as he patiently waited outside. There was a sound of movement from within before the lock disengaged and the door opened, revealing a woman in her mid 50s wearing a pink blouse and dark navy pants.

“Hello?” she started off asking until she spotted Mango in the disguised mutant’s arms.

“I uh, believe this is yours. Found him stuck up a tree in Miru Park,” he explained as he handed the tabby over.

“Oh, we were wondering where he ran off to. He got out two days ago and we’ve been worried since,” the woman said as she took the cat and proceeded to snuggle him. “Thank you for bringing him back Mr….”

For a split second, the reformed monster had a surprised expression on his borrowed face before he came up with a fake name to use. “Just call me Jerry and it was no problem. I couldn’t stand to see him up that tree. Poor guy got chased up by a dog,” Globby informed Mango’s owner in a heartfelt tone.

“Poor buddy indeed,” she reiterated as she gave the tabby more pets. “Please, let me give you something for your trouble,” the woman offered as she turned head back in, but the disguised mutant put up a hand in protest.

“You don’t have to ma’am. I’m just glad this had a happy ending for you and little Mango here,” he said as he went to give the orange cat one last scratch under his chin. “And I’m sorry, but I didn’t get your name,” Globby inquired with a sheepish smile.

“It’s Sonya,” she answered promptly as she gave a little smile of her own.

“Well Sonya, I wish you both a good day. Oh, and here.” He stopped as he quickly fished the mouse toy out of his makeshift pocket. “He really seemed to enjoy this,” Globby told Sonya as he handed the item over to her, making Mango instinctively reached for it.

“I guess I have to thank you again. Lucky you had it on you when you did.”

Yeah. Luck, he nervously thought. “I just figured if it works on my cat, it’d probably work on yours,” he quickly explained. “Speaking of which, I had better head to the pet store and get a replacement for her. Stay out of trouble Mango,” he added with a wink before waving goodbye and walking back down the steps.

Once the door was shut, Globby let out a sigh of relief. At least I can now add “cat saver” to my hero résumé, he jokingly said to himself as he started down the street. Man, I really should have started doing stuff like this a long time ago, he quietly reflected. Oh well. Glad I can still enjoy the satisfaction of helping even if they don’t know it’s me. Guess I’ll just have to take it one day at a time like I’ve always done. Now, what’s next?

Chapter Text

“Okay Fred, you got this,” the comic book nerd pep talked to himself. It was just after 5pm on Friday in late June and Fred was standing outside Olivia’s modestly-sized mansion as he anxiously hoped to have a perfect first official date. After she had decided to finally give him a chance, they planned on going to the Retro-Plex to see the classic movie “Super Tall Fire-Breathing Hurricane Centaur” together. They had exchanged numbers last week when they left the “Save the Sloths” benefit and had been texting each other almost every day in preparation for tonight. The plan was to first get dinner at Monster Pizza before making it to the showing at 6:15pm. Of course, they also talked about who their favorite kaiju was, what their first comic book was and whether or not the reboot of “The Plant Bipeds from Planet Y” was any good.

It was a difficult decision, but he had decided to leave Mini-Max at home since he wanted it to just be the two of them and not make it weird by adding a tiny (often loud) robot. The self-proclaimed “Defender of Justice” did wish him luck this evening though and provided a selection of candies they could sneak into the theater, of which Fred selected the jelly beans and crispy chocolate bites.

Now the moment was here as he finally rang the doorbell and waited in anticipation for Olivia. The kaiju-fanatic decided to wear his usual monster hat, red shirt and cargo pants for the date because it was true to who he was and not the snobby socialite he pretended to be last week.

After about 15 seconds, the large, carved door opened to reveal his date standing there with a small smile on her face. Olivia’s pale-blue hair was covered by her favorite grey-wolf hat, complete with ears and pink pom-poms. She had also swapped her usual stud out for a dark blue one, but still decided to wear her pink-lens glasses. As for her outfit, she had on a grape-purple shirt under her black jacket, white pants, an ocean blue skirt, and a black belt to pull it all together. Fred stared for a moment before he shook his head clear and said, “Are you ready for a night of pizza and classic obscure anime?”

Olivia gave a little snort of laughter and answered, “Only if we both get to cite the influence this movie had on ‘Mississippi Mud-Man’ and ‘Psychotic Starfish from Dimension 9.’” Fred smiled at the reference and proceeded to take her hand as they walked down the steps to the pizzeria.

The comic book fans were silent for about 20 seconds before Fred inquired, “So, have you ever been to the Retro-Plex? It’s got good seats, but not ideal for 3D movies as you can’t get the ideal angle for maximum effect.”

Olivia nodded and replied, “Yeah, I’ve been there a few times. Their popcorn’s pretty good. Want to split a bucket?”

“Sure, and just so you know, these pockets of mine come fully loaded,” he responded as he pulled his treats out.

The blue-haired woman gave another little laugh and smiled. “Why Fred, I had no idea you were such a bad boy,” she teased.

“Yep, that’s me. I’m bad to the bone and mysterious too. It’ll take you years to crack my impenetrable shell,” the kaiju-superhero humored her.

“If that’s the case, I’d better get my ion diffuser so I can get through to your center in a matter of seconds,” she jokingly retorted.

Fred paused as he stared at her in nerd awe. “Are you telling me you have a replica of the ion diffuser used by Lord Magli in ‘Space Hike: Crisis of Cosmic Proportions?’”

“I sure do. Picked it up at a convention in San Misago a couple years ago,” she eagerly informed him.

“Olivia, I swear, you are one of the coolest people ever to have existed,” Fred said in a sincere tone.

Olivia blushed a little and pulled her hat down to cover it up. “Thanks. You’re pretty cool too.”

Now it was the other comic book lover’s turn to blush as the two kept walking. There were a few people on the sidewalk with them for the journey, so occasionally they had to sidestep past them or briefly let go of each other’s hand. The duo continued with their pop culture talk for another 10 minutes or so until they came to the entrance of Monster Pizza.

The front entrance façade below the window consisted of a wrecked cityscape while the other sides were a murky ocean, a creepy swamp and a radioactive wasteland. On the windows themselves and above, each had monsters tailored to the environment, including a towering red-reptile, a giant serpent, a creature made of vines, and a glowing-green zombie mutant. Fred stared for a moment before internally remarking, Eh. When you’ve seen real monsters, inanimate ones just don’t have the same effect.

The two then crossed the threshold to the inside, where there were only a few people waiting in line. All in all, there were about a dozen people eating at the pizzeria, with two separate families and a group of four teenagers sitting in the booths. The interior design had black and white-tiled floors, but the tables were rectangular and more in theme with the restaurant by them having old monster movie posters encased in resin; the booths themselves varied in color and were patterned like scales on a giant snake.

They got in line for the register and started to look at the menu for ordering. “So, what sound good to you? Personally, I love the cheeseburger pizza because you get two foods in one and it comes with pickles,” Fred casually said to Olivia.

The blue-haired woman put her hand to her chin and she briefly pondered the menu options. “That does sound good. I usually get the sweet and spicy BBQ chicken,” she answered.

“It sounds to me like we’ve got a halfsies night. Want to each get a mini-pizza and split them?” Fred suggested.

Olivia gave a little giggle and smile before simply saying, “Sure. Let’s do halfsies.”

Less than a minute later, they were at the counter being asked by a young man wearing a horned hat, “Welcome to Monster Pizza. What can I get for you?”

The kaiju-loving man replied, “I’ll get a mini-cheeseburger pizza with extra pickles and a root beer.”

The employee rang it up quickly and informed him, “$8.42 sir.” Fred promptly pulled out his money, paid and then stepped aside for Olivia. “What would you like to order ma’am?”

“I’ll take a mini-sweet and spicy BBQ chicken pizza and a fruit punch.”

“That’ll be $7.89.”

Olivia copied Fred’s moves and got out of the way. The cashier handed them some numbered tags for the server to find them and drop off the pizza at the right table. He then got their drink orders filled and handed them their cups. They quickly took both items and found a table with dark red colored seats and a poster of “The Crimson Cyclops.”

“So Olivia, I know we’ve really only talked about the awesome kaiju and comic book stuff, but I probably should at least ask you about your family; clearly you are not the image of “Mole” I’ve come to know,” Fred inquired a little apprehensively and scratching his arm.

Olivia looked a little surprised for a second, but quickly regained face as she said, “Well, my dad’s name is Philip and is Beverly’s brother while my mom’s name is Stephanie, who married into the rich life. It did cause a little bit of tension between the grandparents and my dad, but having grandkids seems to have soften them, even though I’m sure they wished my hair wasn’t this color.” She then took off her hat as if to make a point.

“Well, if you ask me, I like your hair this way,” the comic book loving man kindly remarked, making Olivia blush a little.

“I’m just glad my parents are cool with my whole pop culture obsession. It’d be tough to be me if I couldn’t be allowed to like what I like.”

Fred gave her a sympathetic look before saying, “Yeah. Family pressure and all that can make you feel crummy if you think you’re letting them down, especially if you’ve got a family image to keep up. There’s been several times I felt a distance with my parents, but I know they still love me and as it turns out, they’ve actually been pretty proud of me; it sounds like your parents care about you too.” The comic book loving woman let a small smile appear on her face, impressed and surprised Fred had been that open with her. They both stared at each other for a few more seconds before they were interrupted by the server arriving with their pizzas.

“Thanks.”

“Thank you.”

The server said “You’re welcome,” took the numbered tags and hurried back to the kitchen. Fred then moved the food so they were next to each other and easier to sample. They proceeded to take a slice from the other’s pizza and with a small giggle, touched the two pieces together and went “Cheers.” Both of the monster movie fans bit into the hot meal, savoring the flavor and deciding if they like it.

“This is really good Fred. It really does taste like a cheeseburger. Maybe I’ll have to get it next time and have them add extra onions,” Olivia informed him as she took another bite.

Fred finished swallowing his bite of food and replied, “Thanks and good idea with the onions. I may have to try it with the BBQ chicken pizza here and basically turn it into a sandwich. Innovation at its finest.” This got another giggle out of the blue-haired girl before she went to sip her fruit punch. They each took another slice of pizza before moving their conversation back towards comic books and monster movies. Back and forth they went for the next 20 minutes or so until all the pizza was gone, where they then got up and walked out of the fast-food restaurant.

Fred stifled a burp and said, “Excuse me,” making Olivia reply, “You’re excused” before she too needed to stifle a burp. The two shared a small laugh as they continued down the sidewalk. “So, are you for a seat up close, in back or in the middle?” Fred inquired as he moved to avoid a mailbox.

“I’m for usually dead center, if not a little back from there. Just hope there isn’t some tall guy in front of us,” Olivia answered after a couple seconds of delay.

“Yeah, my robot friend Baymax has been that tall guy before,” the comic book nerd casually added.

The other comic book lover’s eyes lit up in admiration as she said, “It is so cool you have a robot friend!”

“Actually, I have two. I thought it may have been weird to bring Mini-Max on our date, but I’m sure he’d like to meet you; just as a warning, he can be a little intense at times,” Fred replied as he scratched the back of his head.

Olivia eagerly smiled and said, “I look forward to it.” This made Fred grin in return. They then turned their eyes forwards as the glow of the Retro-Plex’s display lights could be seen down the way.

The two pop-culture fans felt a new wave of excitement ripple through them as they got closer, casting off-white and red illumination over them. Above them read the name of the classic kaiju movie they wanted to see, along with a couple other classic movie titles like “The Mammoth Beetle” and “It Came from the Bottom of the Trench.” The duo then walked up to the ticket counter, where there was one person ahead of them. After a brief 20 second wait, they were up and ready to talk with the operator.

“Good evening my good man. I’d like two tickets to ‘Super Tall Fire-Breathing Hurricane Centaur’ if you’d please,” Fred smoothly requested.

The teenager inside the booth punched in a couple buttons before saying, “$17.56 sir.”

Fred fished around his pocket for a $20 bill and handed it through the slit in the window. “Keep the change,” the kaiju loving man told him as the tickets were fed through the slot in front of them.

“Thanks!”

“You’re welcome.” Fred then took Olivia’s hand as he grabbed the tickets and together, they pushed open the doors and walked into the theater. They proceeded to walk to the usher waiting by the entrance before giving him their tickets. The man ripped the tickets in half, returned the other half and allowed them to pass. Inside the classic building, there was a red diamond carpet on the floor and movie posters that spanned decades lining the walls. The center of the lobby had a small chandelier for decoration as the main lighting system was the modern, circular lights all along the ceiling. At the end of the area, the concession stand stood with one person working behind the counter popping popcorn.

“Let’s go get a bucket,” Olivia stated with a smile as she now led the way.

A moment later, they walked up to the counter and waited to be served. The young woman working there turned towards them shortly after they arrived and greeted them. “Welcome to the Retro-Plex. What can I get for you?”

“We’ll take a medium popcorn bucket and ah…what do you want to drink Fred?” Olivia asked as she turned to the monster-movie lover.

Fred put his hand to his chin as he browsed the selection of beverages. His eyes then fell upon the bright colored slushies behind the theater worker. “Ooo, how about a cherry slushie or a blue raspberry one?” Fred suggested.

“Hmmm. Blue raspberry sounds good; it is my favorite color after all,” she said with a wink and making Fred give a little smile.

“So, you want me to add the slushie?” the young woman whose name tag read “Tara” inquired, interrupting their little moment.

“Uh, yes. In a large-size if you please,” Olivia replied as she quickly recovered.

“Okay, that’ll be $16.41,” Tara informed the couple. The blue-haired woman now fished some money from her pocket and gave it to the cashier.

“Keep the change.”

“Thanks!”

Olivia then gave another wink to Fred as Tara went ahead and began fixing their order. In under a minute, fresh popcorn was scooped into a bucket and a large cup was filled with the light blue frozen concoction before being placed in front of them.

“Have a nice night.”

“Thanks.”

“Thank you.”

The two of them each grabbed an item along with some straws and napkins, then proceeded to head to the correct theater. Once inside, they found it dimly lit with a dark purple interior and about 70 seats filling the place up. There were only about a dozen people scattered throughout, but fortunately for them, the middle rows were vacant.

“Sweet!” Fred remarked as they walked to their target and scooched into place. Olivia then put the napkins in the cup holder to her right while placing the slushie in between them. The normally costumed superhero proceeded to pull out his boxes of candy with one hand as he held on tight to the popcorn bucket with the other.

“Now, we are at the maximum movie-going experience,” Fred declared as he laid back in his seat a little and grabbed a bite of popcorn.

“Yep. All that’s left is making sure we both go to the bathroom before it starts. Nothing worse than a troublesome bladder. I’ll go first,” the nose-studded woman replied as she quickly got up and moved past Fred to take the same path they used to enter the theater.

Fred waited patiently as he took a sip of the slushie before opening his box of jelly beans. A few minutes later, Olivia returned and the comic book nerd took the cue by handing the popcorn over to her before going to the bathroom himself; now the other comic book nerd sat while munching on the crunchy buttery treat.

Just as Fred returned to his seat, the previews began playing as the lights along the wall dimmed a little. The couple then eagerly looked at each other as they wondered what would appear on the screen. The first trailer was for “Road Rage 5: Hot Streets,” which featured a lot of fire and explosions; then, they played one for “Impossible to Unstoppable,” a spy-themed movie where the main character was trying to stop a nuclear disaster; lastly, they showed one for “Captain Fancy Vs. the Unruly Union,” which got Fred extra-excited as he squealed with happiness. The lights then completely went dark as the feature film finally began, making both of them shift in their seats.

The title appeared in blazing letters, followed by listing all the credits for creating this picture as the background changed to a forest. It was evidently about nature and the encroaching development from the modern city threatening it. Fred went for his box of crispy chocolate bites, causing Olivia to quietly asked, “Can I have some?”

“Sure,” he whispered as he passed the candy to her, where she shook a few pieces into her other hand before giving it back to him. As the movie continued, the two of them periodically ate some popcorn and took a sip of their drink. They then inevitable touched hands inside the bucket, making both blush as they quickly pulled their hands out. The two proceeded to look at each other for a moment, smiled and returned to watching the screen. It was at the scene where the giant centaur had been awakened and sought retribution by unleashing destruction on the city.

Fred pulled out some jelly beans now and offered them to Olivia, who took a few and quietly went, “Mmm. Bubblegum and watermelon. Nice.”

“Uh-huh. Got nothing but sweet flavors in this box,” Fred said as he ate a couple pieces of candy.

“I love the symbolism here,” the blue-haired woman casually remarked in a low voice.

The kaiju-loving superhero nodded and replied, “Yeah, you can really see it in Shoto Studio’s other film, ‘Valley of Beasts.’”

“Shh!” went someone from behind.

“Sorry,” Fred apologized in a hushed tone, although Olivia found it amusing and giggled a little. The two then returned to their film, but still finding themselves making quiet remarks every once in a while. When the final battle came with the towering kaiju billowing his fire breath as the military attacked, Olivia found herself leaning on Fred, which wound up being something they both enjoyed. As the screen displayed a setting sunset over the forest, it faded to black to indicate the end of the movie. Both of the movie lovers stood up and did a little stretch from sitting for an hour and a half.

“That was so much fun Fred! My other friends Genevieve and Ada have seen some of these movies with me, but they don’t have your level of knowledge,” Olivia informed him as they gathered their trash and started to exit.

“Thanks. The same goes for my friends. I know I can annoy them at times with how much I talk about comics and monsters and stuff, but it gets me so excited and I want to share it,” Fred responded as they tossed the popcorn bucket and empty slushie cup in the garbage. A minute later, they were at the Retro-Plex’s exit, walking out into the night air as they headed home.

Fred took Olivia’s hand again before asking, “So, I think I know what the answer is, but just to be sure…” he started as he anxiously scratched the back of his head. “…would you be up for doing this again? You can pick the movie if you want or if you’d rather, I’ve got a home movie theater setup at my place as an option. You can meet Mini-Max and we could do some classic reading of ‘Duck, Duck, Moose,’” Fred suggested as he briefly looked away while nervously waiting for an answer.

He didn’t have to wait long as his date smiled and said, “I’d love to. You’ll have to come by my place sometime too; I have more memorabilia than just the ion diffuser you know.”

Fred let out a small squeal of glee at being told yes, then proceeded to follow up with, “Okay, now if we stay in and watch a movie, the options are almost limitless. There’re all the ‘Kentucky Kaiju’ movies, the ‘Captain Fancy’ collection or…”

The couple continued going back and forth for the rest of their time together, finding joy and intrigue in what the other had to stay; things looked promising for these kindred spirits of pop culture and monster movie love to say the least.

Chapter Text

“Insolent brat!” Yama growled to himself while surrounded by several other criminals. He was watching Hiro and his brother Tadashi being released from incarceration after they all had been arrested for illegal bot fighting. The cell he was in was cramped well beyond normal capacity and he was absolutely seething in anger, causing those around him to inch away as best as they could. He made his phone call to his lawyer to get him released and pay whatever or whoever he needed.

A couple hours had eventually gone by and Yama wasn’t any less enraged. If I ever see that kid again, I’ll give him more than a beating, I’ll…the gangster’s train of thought was interrupted by one of the officers approaching with a set of keys. The cop appeared to be in his 40s with golden brown hair that was streaked with grey.

“Well, it seems as though our system has you slated for release. Your lawyer must get paid immensely,” he commented, looking at the larger man with a touch of suspicion at wondering how did this happen so fast. Admittedly, even Yama was surprised at the response time and expected he would be getting an invoice soon. The mobster went through the process of being released and being sure to grab his personal effects: a white burner phone, some keys and a rolled-up wad of cash that hadn’t been seized in the bust. Yama found that the upside of having minions do his dirty work meant he typically didn't need to have a weapon on his person; being well over 6ft tall and stacked like a sumo wrestler helped to deter confrontation too.

With a smug grin, Yama walked out into the cool San Fransokyo night as the time was after midnight. He then used his phone to call his limo driver Rourke to pick him up. The large man didn’t care what time it was, his driver was on retainer no matter the hour and expected to provide prompt service. While he waited for his pickup, Yama paced back and forth impatiently and thinking about his next course of action. I’ll have to stage the next bot-fight with a little more security and a more isolated spot, but first, I’ll need a new Little Yama. The gangster growled again at remembering how that teenager dismantled his prize bot like it was nothing. His mind briefly wondered if his lawyer Travis was going to take the initiative and get his men out too. If he does, they better be flipping the bill. Yama does not do charity.

Yama waited for another 15 minutes before his ride finally arrived, with the driver quickly stepping out to get the door for him and looking extremely nervous. “’Bout time,” the mobster complained as he stepped inside his car and waited for Rourke to resume driving. The interior was decorated with a tan hue and included a mini-fridge, TV and a controller for the front window to the driver’s area. Yama rolled the tinted window down and ordered, “Take me back to my place!” His driver rapidly obeyed as he put the limo into gear and proceeded to head towards Yama’s Tower.

The tracksuit wearing man then raised the window backup and reached into his little fridge to pull out a weakness of his: a can of ice-cold lychee cream soda. After it hissed upon opening, he took a few swigs from it, unaware that some red had flashed across his TV screen. When he sat the can into the cup holder, he let out a satisfied sigh before an unfamiliar voice said, “Enjoying your freedom?”

This startled Yama as he feverishly looked all over for the source. For a moment, he was about to chalk it up to it was all in his head when it appeared again, this time snidely saying, “I’d look at the monitor if I were you.” The large man snapped his head to the TV screen, where a red demon symbol flicked to life on the otherwise dark image.

“Good. I finally have your attention,” the male voice said condescendingly and making Yama growl in anger.

“Listen here! I don’t know who you are, but no one talks to Yama like that!” he shouted at the disembodied voice.

There was a slight scoff heard before the man on the other side replied, “If you had an ounce of patience, you’d let me introduce myself. You may call me Obake, and your rapid release was only possible because of my intervention.”

A puzzled expression appeared on the gangster’s face as curiosity also worked its way into his mind. “You? Yama didn’t ask you to do that! If you expect me to pay you back, forget it,” he angrily told the intelligent man.

“You mistake your position here,” Obake coldly informed him with an underlying threat.

“Huh?” was all Yama managed to say before he felt himself lurch forward from the brakes suddenly slamming on the limo. Fortunately, the late hour meant minimal traffic and they avoided an accident. As Yama recovered himself, the vehicle was brought back to life as it surged forward and pressing the gangster against the seat; he remained there a couple seconds until it stopped, leaving him and the driver properly rattled. A moment later, all the lights in the interior burned brightly before exploding from the surge of power. Then, the monitor flashed the demon emblem again and making it clear who was behind this incident.

“Now, have we learned our lesson?” Obake said almost mockingly.

The large man grumbled and finally replied, “What do you want?”

“That’s better. As you just saw, I can get you anywhere, at any time, but there are circumstances that require a physical presence,” he cryptically answered.

“So, what? You want me to be your muscle or something? Is that it?” Yama inquired with a scoff. Once again, the brakes on the limo slammed as Yama lurched forward from the sudden movement.

“Clearly, it’s going to take some work to break you. That attitude is not going to be tolerated while I’m calling the shots. Now, to answer your question, I am in need of someone who can deliver items I myself cannot gather; an errand boy if you will,” Obake explained as a small evil smile crossed his face, unseen by the gangster. Yama growled at his forced title, but he didn’t snap back this time as he waited for the villainous character to finish. “Your position won’t be without its perks. My expertise can help get you top technology that will undoubtedly be worth a fortune; provided, those will only be given for success,” the enigmatic man bluntly told him.

“What if something goes wrong and I fail?”

With yet another cold, unseen grin, the voice simply said, “Use your imagination.”

Yama gave an audible gulp as that sort of line never had a positive meaning in his line of work. He then let out an angry sigh as he repositioned himself in his seat. "Alright. I'll do it,” the gangster resigned with a look of malice aimed at the TV.

“Like you even have a choice,” Obake smirked as he severed the connection.

With control of the vehicle returned to normal, Yama shook his head as the reality of what just happened set in. Great. I’ve been reduced to a lackey for someone who clearly can make good on his threats. No pressure, he internally complained and worried.

While the crime boss was being driven back to his tower, the scheming intellectual stood staring at his monitors inside his massive lair. He had begun construction of his mostly underwater fortress almost a year ago in secret with the aid of robots; he had since dismantled them to be repurposed elsewhere. Unless he was somewhere else inside, the structure was mostly kept dark except for the eerie green glow of his computer screens, which often would be Obake’s only view of the outside world. Using his advance intellect and programming capabilities, he was able to hack almost anything to get the materials he needed or else get the money to buy them.

The pale man once known as Bob Aken had not gone through all this trouble just on a whim; ever since he suffered a terrible accident when he was a teenager, he had always felt changed. They had said the incident had affected his brain and that he was lucky to be alive, but the way he had come to see it was this was a sign he was destined for greatness; he had survived, he was stronger, he was smarter, and that meant he was superior. From this belief, he knew he’d need the accolades to prove it and that it must be for something undeniably worthy. Overtime, he began working from the shadows as he knew his ambitions would undoubtedly be blocked by those that thought he was crazy. When he wasn’t inventing/building something, Obake was researching on notable figures and how they achieved their greatness; this interest had yielded its most promising results when he got to Lenore Shimamoto.

The determined man knew of her immense influence she wielded as evident by the many things named after her as well as her being on their money. Obake became fixated on the famous painter, looking up every archived story, picture or art she had ever made. From his obsession, he discovered something of great magnitude that pertained to her “City Rising” painting. Although currently lost, the old notes and pictures of it marked a very small, but curious detail: It was the only painting she didn’t sign. How odd, he had wondered and continued to further explore this abnormality. He found that Lenore’s contributions to society were sporadic, even in the art community, for several years with her appearances also being few and far between; then, almost out of nowhere, there was a surge of charity and dedications from her that for practically everyone appeared completely selfless. Almost as if she felt guilty about something, Obake countered the belief with a lingering suspicion.

Going back to the “City Rising” painting, which depicted San Fransokyo rebuilding itself after the Great Catastrophe, he noted that event marked the turning point for Shimamoto’s campaign of good will. That can’t be a coincidence, the pale man with increasing glee had thought and the fact that he alone had managed to connect these dots only reinforced his belief of superiority. Even over a hundred years later, no one truly knew what happened that day, with the only consistent report being a loud, rumbling boom was heard during the disaster. People had assumed it was a large earthquake, and given that it happened in 1906, when a lack of structurally-sound buildings and not really having any method to disprove this theory at the time made this the general consensus.

As Obake continued in his quest, he believed whole-heartedly Lenore Shimamoto was responsible for the city’s destruction and her painting was the key to recreating it himself. Although most would surely call him mad, the way he saw it was tragedy often leads to innovation and progress, so his act of genocide would be for the betterment of future generations. He had poured through his research to find where the painting could have been lost and managed to locate some possible locations. The spots pertained to evidence that “City Rising” had been kept in a doomsday vault of sorts for safe-keeping along with other historical artifacts during the Unbridled War of 1916. Several of these spots fell victim to tunnel collapse when an actual earthquake struck San Fransokyo the same year.

Obake was planning to look for these burial places himself and gave a smirk when he saw reports of excavation teams working on a similar plan. Even a simpleton can sometimes put two and two together, he condescendingly thought. I’ll keep an eye on them, but leave them alone until they retrieve my prize. He also knew that at some point, he’d have to investigate Lenore’s house at SFAI as that was clearly where she spent a good deal of her time cooped up; they were currently renovating it and it would undoubtedly reveal more into her research once he could look around undisturbed. With the wheels for his plan finally turning, this became the reason he had reached out and forced Yama to do his bidding. He returned again to his life’s obsession and gave a sinister smile before quietly saying, “Almost time now.”

                                    _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Failure. Absolute failure,” Obake coldly remarked to himself as he assessed his current situation. Yama had not only failed in retrieving his energy amplifier, he had led to it being completely destroyed. I’ll have to find a way to make another; the plan will need it to necessitate a larger performance. The scheming man returned to his monitors, gazing at the six superheroes that led to his blunder. “Big Hero 6,” he said aloud as he pondered. “Well, it seems my work will have some new opposition,” he noted as he put a hand to his chin.

“They may have to be dealt with if they hinder progress beyond a mild irritation.” Obake in this moment, suddenly found himself inspired as an idea occurred to him. If these do-gooders become a nuisance, I may need more than a conditioned mobster in a tracksuit to deal with them. A devious smile now crossed his pale face as the left side suddenly started to glow purple, clearly excited at the prospect of having more powerful/skilled lackeys at his disposal.

“It seems my good work will require some adjustments. Better get started on potential candidates,” he said to himself as he began using his computer, leaving him to spend another night in his vast, dark lair alone, ever focused on achieving his dream.

Chapter Text

“Darn it!”

These were the first words Dibs uttered as he remained suspended in midair by his now sticky, gelatinous limbs. Ever cell in his body still tingled with residual pain as a result of his mutation. He tried pulling on his arms to free himself, but to no avail as he grunted with effort. The altered man then let out a long groan as he resigned to being stuck in his current position. You were finally going to make something of yourself Dibs, but you just had to fumble it didn’t you? he criticized himself with a scowl. You should have just grabbed your loot and left, but now… He paused to look at himself in the dark light, seeing his new shiny, transparent body.

"Maybe it’s not too bad. Maybe I just conked my head really good and this is a dream; I mean, what are the odds of this whole thing actually being real?” Dibs tried to convince himself and believing it for a brief moment. His hope was shattered though by his limbs finally detaching from the boxes and pipes, making him land on the floor in a wet slap and saying, “Ow.” He then glared at his malleable mitts and simply said, “Now you let go.”

The pink and purple man proceeded to try and stand, which took a couple of attempts as he unstuck himself from the floor. When he was upright once again, he looked himself up and down as the reality of the situation took hold, making him stare at whatever constituted as hands again. “I don’t know what was in that purse, but clearly it wasn’t filled with the usual phone or money. Oh man. How am I gonna fix this? I can’t stay like this,” he worried aloud as he put his hand to the sides of his head in panic. Dibs even tried to pace back and forth only to trip again, landing flat on his face. “I can’t even walk now? My skill set has officially hit a new low,” he complained as he worked to get up again.

“I’ve got to do something. This is not the way to live. Either to undo this or at least make it bearable, just anything. I am not going to reduce myself and make being a freak all that I’m known for,” the gelatinous man told himself, although the feeling of worry and desperation were still very much present. He then looked around at the many boxes that filled the seemingly abandoned warehouse and contemplated. “Guess I might as well crash here for the night; it’s not like I’d make it back home in a decent amount of time anyway,” Dibs grumbled as he went to find a nice clear space to lay down; he did not want anything near him as it was likely to stick to him. On the upside, he found that his mutated form didn’t seem so bothered by the cooler temperature of the vacant building.

As he stared up at the ceiling, his mind briefly wondered, Felony Carl’s probably going to have a field day with this mess, won’t he? The mutated man then closed his eyes as he attempted to fall asleep, which came only after a long period of tossing and turning on the bare floor.

               ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After a long night of sleeping alone in the warehouse (save for a few rats that cautiously kept their distance), Dibs groggily awoke late in the morning as he gave a brief stretch on the floor. He slowly opened his now luminescent eyes to find himself looking up at the unfamiliar surroundings as a few beams of sunlight pierced the dusty air.

“What the…” he started before glancing down towards his body and giving a brief yelp as he tried to scoot away from his legs. When they moved with him, the memory of last night came back to him and he let out a defeated “Oh.” The gelatinous mutant proceeded to get up off the ground as he tried to figure out what he was going to do. He looked down for a moment and saw the large puddle of slime he had left behind during the sleep. “Eh. I’m sure no one will notice,” he told himself before sighing. I guess nothing to do now but get out there and see if there’s anyone that I can talk to about this, he tried optimistically to think. Though Carl probably would be best if I’m being honest.

He started for the warehouse door by taking one slow step, and when he managed to lift his other gelatinous foot up, took another. There. Getting better at this already, Dibs internally praised. He was able to make it to the entrance where he grabbed the handle with a squishy mitt and gave a little pull to open it up. When he went to let go though, his hand was still stuck, so he grunted as he pulled himself free and inadvertently ripped the handle off. “Ugh,” he groaned while trying to fling it off and causing it to go flying against a nearby dumpster. The loud clang made him wince as this was not a good start to the day. “Okay. No more of that,” he stated, irritated and glaring at his hand once more.

The mutated man proceeded to leave the desolate lot as he went on his half-thought through plan to find help. When he reached the public sidewalk, he took a deep breath and let it out before saying, “You got this. Just act natural and don’t get stuck on anything. You’re just going down the street. No reason for people to think you’re up to something.” He then began his stroll down the way, trying to keep his walk-in rhythm and making sure the puddles that were his feet weren’t adhering to the ground. Dibs was only able to make it past two stores before he heard the first scream. He turned to his right to find a young man in his mid 20s baring a shock face and shakily pulling out his phone to take a picture of him.

Rude. Doesn’t he need my permission to use my image anyway? the pink and purple man internally complained as he tried to keep moving. A few seconds later, a middle-aged woman could be heard screaming “Monster!” so he searched and found her behind him running away. “Seriously?! I’m just walking here,” he remarked out loud as he turned back around to continue his journey. Sadly (and predictably), the more he went down the way, the more people screamed, called him a freak/monster or just stared horrified; a few cars even swerved and crashed themselves as they became distracted by Dibs’s appearance.

All the while, the gelatinous mutant did his best to be positive for he at least could hold out hope as long as he kept moving; surely not everyone would react to him this way. Admittedly, the insults started to get more creative and he couldn’t help but offer some sassy retorts because monster or not, he was not going to let those remarks stand. It did hurt and make him feel alone though the more this went on, no matter how much he tried to deny it; this feeling did not improve his typically unpleasant demeanor. He thought he was getting into a good rhythm until once again, he found himself tripping over his own feet as one got stuck to the road. Dibs grunted as he tried to free himself, only to fall onto his back with an audible squish. As he laid there for a moment, the sound of rocket engines made him reform upright in order to try and find the source of it; what he saw was a set of four superheroes all posed together and ready to fight.

“What?” he asked, confused and clearly oblivious to their reason for being there.

The pink and purple man saw the green one point at him and say, “Baymax, can you scan it?”

“It!?” Dibs uttered in disbelief. Of all the things! “I’m still a person in here! I think,” he added while saying the last part more for himself than anyone else.

The robot in red looked at him while he was trying to unstick his leg and stated, “Scan complete. The monster…”

“Hey!” All I’ve done today is walk down the street, but apparently my existence is so disgusting, everyone feels the need to tell me so! No one has even bothered to ask how I’m doing or if I might need help. Bunch of judgmental jerks, the mutated man internally complained.

“…consists of a mix of human DNA and an unknown chemical compound, which is controlled by an electronic device.”

Huh? Dibs wondered as he heard Baymax’s assessment of him, even looking up where his forehead used to be and looking at the rest of his goopy body.

The inflatable robot continued by adding, “It also contains fragments of Honey Lemon’s purse.”

Wait, what? the gelatinous mutant wondered as he found and plucked an orange bit of material out of his body.

Meanwhile, the tall girl in pink looked at him and said, “Oh, no, did my purse do this to you?”

“Purse?” Oh shoot, that was hers?! “Purse! Ha! Yeah, I don’t know anything about a purse,” Dibs denied as he tried to walk away, but found himself cut off by the one in yellow.

She pointed a finger at him and accusingly inquired, “You stole her purse, didn’t you?”

Bad guy one-o-one, never admit to anything unless you’re bragging to your friends who are also criminals. “Oh, I see how it is. Something goes missing and the first thing you do is blame the monster!” Good deflection and use of the profiling card.

Clearly Go Go didn’t buy it though as she crossed her arms and stated, “Oh, yeah. He stole it. You should have listened to me.”

Dibs turned back around as he heard Wasabi exclaim, “Oh, thank goodness. It wasn’t a labeling error.” This caused Honey Lemon’s shoulders to sink in guilt, making the plasma wielder add, “I know this is terrible for you, but for a few minutes, I didn’t know who I was anymore.”

Well, this seems like the perfect time to get out of here while they’re distracted. “You guys seem like you have some issues to work out. So I’ll just…” the mostly transparent man started to say as he went to leave, but once again was cut off by the speedster.

“You’re not going anywhere thief,” she told him.

I’m not taking orders from the likes of them, he angrily thought. “Yes I am,” Dibs retorted as he stretched his mutated limbs at Go Go and swung her into Baymax, hitting Honey Lemon in the process. A little bit of his slime also came off onto Wasabi, causing him to freak out. This display incited a panic in all those that were near, causing them to run and scream even more than before. The mutated purse snatcher didn’t know how he managed to do all of that but right now, he was just steaming mad at the treatment he was being given (although the people’s reactions were more justified now). Dibs was so focused on the four heroes in front of him that he didn’t even notice the two behind him until the lizard-monster one called out, “Mind if we call you Globby?”

It just never ends, he bitterly thought. “Of course I mind!” the pink and purple man shouted before groaning, “Could this day get any worse?” As if on cue from fate itself, a city bus drove through the intersection and rammed into the shapeshifter, carrying him away from the superheroes while he screamed in surprise and pain. Seriously?! Ow! I will need to get the license plate of this bus, he internally complained as he remained stuck to the windshield.

The bus driver looked at the giant, slimy mark on the front with curiosity as he continued to move along the street. It wasn’t until he was several blocks away from where he started that Dibs managed to orient his body so he was looking in and sassily yelled, “Hey! Do you need your eyes checked or something? You drove into me!”

This caused the driver to of course scream in shock at seeing the mutant actually talk as well as slam on the brakes. The momentum of the sudden stop caused Dibs to fling forward onto the street, but he wasn’t completely removed from the window as some goopy tendrils still adhered to the glass. The bus then sped around him and causing his still attached parts to stretch a good deal until finally, they snapped off and whipped back to his body.

“Ow,” he grunted as he righted himself up. “Jerk,” the pink and purple man added aloud to no one in particular. He had fortunately been let off at a spot free of people, and in light of just encountering Big Hero 6, decided to move to the alley before he figured out what to do next. Hmm. If it was a normal day, I’d either be attempting another robbery or seeing what Felony Carl is up to, Dibs pondered before letting out a sigh. Would he even want to see me like this? Carl’s a pretty accepting guy, but I don’t want to scare him off. Guess I better ease him into it. Yeah, that’ll work. Now I just need to find him, the mutated thief thought as he tried to figure out his friend’s whereabouts. He put a gelatinous hand to his chin before remembering, If he’s got that bouncing job in Good Luck Alley tonight, he'll probably stop off at Joe’s before it starts, unless he wanted to mix it up, in which case I’ve got nothing. Dibs decided to wait in the alleyway for another 20 minutes or so, both to figure out what he was going to say as well as make sure he wasn’t followed. Okay, moment of truth, he said to himself.

After poking his head out and checking that the coast was clear, he started to head for Joe’s Diner (or rather the alley next to it). The mutated man went as fast as he could, although he still stumbled from his foot getting stuck every now and again. Unfortunately, the screaming and names came predictably once people saw him, so he did his best to brush it off as he continued his journey.

As he walked down the sidewalk, Dibs did have time to process what all happened during the fight and afterward. To think, I actually managed to dish out something instead of taking it. Don’t know how it happened, but that doesn’t really matter. And I can’t believe I survived being hit by a bus! It still hurt but if I was normal, I’d still be splattered over the window and couldn’t live to tell it.

When the pink and purple thief finally found his target was within range, he heard the characteristic sound of a motorcycle nearby. Darn it! That’s probably him, Dibs rapidly thought as he quickly ducked into the alley. As he peeked out from behind the dumpster he was hiding behind, the gelatinous mutant found Felony Carl driving by in his newly painted bike, complete with glitter. He soon found the sound stopped, indicating his friend had turned off his ride. Well, now or never. “Hey Carl!” Dibs called out before ducking back behind his hiding space.

The motorcyclist heard his friend’s shout, although he was perplexed as to why he was down an alley instead of just coming out to greet him. He took a few steps down the one-way strip when Dibs yelled out, “That’s close enough! I uh, need you to stay right there for a moment.”

Felony Carl raised part of his unibrow up in curiosity and asked, “Are you in precarious situation again or does this pertain to something else like an injury?”

The mutated man let out a small nervous laugh before replying, “It’s a definitely…unique problem. I wanted to I guess show/tell you some things, but I’ve had a heck of a time just getting here and people have been absolutely horrible to me today!” He paused as he took a deep breath (how that was possible he didn’t know). “With the way I’ve been treated today, I was…anxious to see your reaction to some news I have since if you act like a jerk too, then what hope do I have of someone actually being decent to me ever again,” Dibs admitted rather sullenly as he leaned against the dumpster; had he looked up, he would have seen Felony Carl leaning against the same dumpster with one arm as he stared down at the pink and purple being.

The reformed criminal gave a small cough to get Dibs’s attention, who turned his head and eyes went wide with shock as he rapidly stood; he still found himself trailing some slime on the giant trash bin despite hoping he would cleanly come off it. “How long were you there?” he inquired in a genuine panic tone.

“Not long, but I continued approaching for fear something was wrong,” Felony Carl answered before pointing to the small globs that were speckled along the path. “Those also seemed like an interesting clue I should follow.”

The shapeshifter slapped his forehead in frustration and feeling stupid for not noticing those. He then bore a worried expression as he gave another nervous laugh, scratched to back of his head and said, “Well uh, I guess surprise. Heh, yeah.”

Felony Carl gave sly smile as he crossed his arms. “’Surprise’ is a massive understatement. Clearly an extensive explanation is needed. You want to come inside and enlighten me?” he asked while pointing a thumb at Joe’s.

The mutant’s face went from being a little more relaxed (from seeing Carl’s reaction to him) to “Are you insane?” in a split second. “What?! I told you people have been rude to me all day! Calling me ‘monster’ and ‘freak,’ then running away screaming,” he exasperatedly informed Carl. “These people won’t be any different,” he added with a scowl and crossing his arms.

His friend offered him a look of sympathy before stroking his goatee in thought. When he came up with a clever idea, he stopped and said, “It sounds to me like only a brave person would be willing to go up against such adversity as societal ridicule. I hope you change your mind because I am quite interested to hear about your physical transformation. I will be inside waiting.” The motorcyclist then turned back to the alleyway’s entrance and gave Dibs a reassuring nod before walking out of sight.

The pink and purple man just stood there for a moment and blinked at what just happened, both on what Felony Carl said and whether he was actually going to go in. I do want to tell him everything, with some spiced up details, and he doesn’t seem bothered by me, Dibs pondered. He then gave a little smirk as he thought, May just be one person, but I guess I’m officially not alone now. Ehh, I’ll go inside in a minute; besides, I’m not going to let him think I’m a coward or let these judgmental jerks ruin Joe’s for me.

The gelatinous mutant waited as planned before walking confidently out of the alley, turning the corner and pushing the door open to Joe’s. He gave a quick glance to find Felony Carl in their usual spot (already with a blueberry scone) and proceeded to stroll across the floor to his seat, doing his best to ignore the wide-eyed stares he was getting.

Once seated, he started to tell Felony Carl his story, but only got “You see…” out before everyone’s panic reflex finally kicked in. There was a fair amount of screaming coming from the diner patrons as they scrambled to get out of their booths and ran for the door. The wait staff opted for hiding in back and cower for the time being until they were sure it was safe to leave. Dibs proceeded to turn back towards the motorcyclist and raised a gelatinous eyebrow in an “I told you so” expression.

Felony Carl shrugged and simply said, “Am I not still here? Please continue with your story.”

The mutated man gave a small scoff and started again. “Fine. So, after you left yesterday, I saw another primo purse to steal. It was out in the open, but there were a few people moving around it, so I expertly snuck up to my target and stealthily stole it right out from under them,” he excitedly informed the husky biker as he leaned on one arm and nodded.

“I then made my escape as I quickly got out of sight and went to hideout in a warehouse off Toho Blvd to check my loot; I of course did a lengthy process of making sure I wasn't followed first. As I’m about to get to the good stuff, I hear something and hide close by so I can eavesdrop and who do I see? That rich guy Krei who makes all those phones and what not there along with some woman doing something weird and shady,” Dibs continued as he got an annoyed face. Felony Carl merely went with “Uh-huh” as he listened attentively.

“The rich guy then pushed a button and boom, super-secret invention revealed and it’s worth a fortune! Once he’s done going over it, he and his girl Friday leave, giving me the chance to steal it and thus prove my amazing thievery skills,” he regaled as he got a smug expression.

The unibrowed man proceeded to raise part of said unibrow up as he knowingly asked, “This is where something went wrong, am I right?”

Dibs’s face fell a little as he looked to his left and replied, “Well, you see…through no fault of my own, remember that purse I stole?” Felony Carl nodded in response. “Yeah, I don’t know what was in that thing, but it was not cash or a phone; instead, this gooey gunk came out of it when it broke, all on its own mind you, and got all over me.” He then let out a sigh as he gestured to his mutated body, “And this is the result.”

The husky biker crossed his arms now as he contemplated all that his friend said. “Truly, the most improbable of circumstances have befallen on you and you should count yourself lucky to have survived such an ordeal,” Felony Carl remarked to the mutated man.

Right, lucky, Dibs internally scoffed before continuing. “Anyway, despite the situation, I took it in stride as I went out into the world, just being me as I walked down the street. Sure, the general public seems to find my appearance on the horrifying side, but what do they know?” he downplayed while trying to appear unfazed by the ridicule. “It was going well until those new colorful superheroes showed up and thought that I was the one bothering people,” he annoyingly remarked and making the buff man across from him lean forward on his left arm.

“They were looking to start something, but I showed them I’m no pushover as I taught them a lesson. Soon, their backup arrived because I was clearly too much to handle. Those do-gooders then called me names like ‘Globby.’ Rude. And then I made a totally preplanned escape by getting hit by a bus,” Dibs finished his story as he leaned back in his booth.

Felony Carl now stared at him with part of his unibrow raised in skepticism as he sarcastically said, “Yeah, that’s smooth.”

While the wait staff finally felt brave enough to try and leave, the pink and purple man leaned forward again as he added, “So, things are goin’ pretty great. Ah, but the one little hiccup is I can’t really control my mutated body. Here, watch me try to grab that spoon.” He then demonstrated by taking his right arm and accidently stretching it out the window for a few seconds before reeling it back in. In his possession, he did not have a spoon, but a white cat with one blue eye and one green eye, who then began to screech and claw at his face.

“Nice kitty! Nice kitty!” he exclaimed as it attacked him. Dibs’s salvation came as Felony Carl plucked the feline off of him, making the cat immediately calm down and begin to snuggle the motorcyclist.

With a smirk, Felony Carl bluntly told the man across from him, “You’re even worse at being a monster than you were a thief.”

Seriously! I’m already in a bad spot. Why do you got to rub salt in the wound? You are so lucky you mean a lot to me or so help me…, Dibs angrily thought as he glared at Carl, causing the stolen neurotransmitter to become active.

“What’s that thing with the blinking lights where your forehead should be?” the reformed man asked all perplexed while he petted the white cat.

“Oh, that? It’s a billion-dollar invention that’s supposed to control stuff,” the gelatinous mutant answered. Was he not paying attention to my story? I thought it was obvious, Dibs pondered.

“Could it control your amorphous and yet still repulsive body?” Felony Carl wondered as he continued to stroke the feline.

Ignoring the last part of his friend’s statement, Dibs looked at himself and unsurely said, “Maybe, I don’t know how it works.” He then rested his head on his malleable mitt, making an audible squish as he tried to figure out what to do next. An idea came to him when he peered outside the window to see Alistair Krei’s face on the side of a bus advertising the new Krei-book. “But he does,” Dibs pointed out and feeling an inkling of hope return.

Felony Carl was admittedly more interested in the new cat he was feeding and who he was definitely going to adopt, but he still paid enough attention to his mutated friend to cheerfully say, “Cool. You wanna split a scone?”

“Tempting, but no. Sorry Carl, but I’ve got no time for that now. I’ve got to go see a guy about this darn thing on my head. Raincheck,” the shapeshifter replied with determination as he tried to get out of the booth. He pushed against the table with increasing strength as he found his stuck backside stretching more and more off his seat with more effort. After a few seconds, he was free, but he still managed to face-plant it on the diner floor. Dibs quickly righted himself up and tried to stay face by saying, “Meant to do that.”

Felony Carl just responded with a small, teasing smile, “Sure you did.”

Dibs made another scowl at him as he went for the door to leave, ready to commit to his desperate, impulsive plan. Felony Carl stared down at his new cat before simply stating, “This will not end well.”

             ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It’s almost over, it’s almost over. Then, you’ll be able to go back to some semblance of control, Dibs anxiously thought to himself as he tried to climb the San Fransokyo Broadcast Tower with his hostage. In his barely laid-out plan to figure out how to work the neurotransmitter, he kidnapped Alistair Krei and was going to get him to reveal what he knew; as for climbing the tower, he wanted to be somewhere that they wouldn’t be interrupted either by the heroes or the screaming townsfolk.

The further he got up, the more Krei obviously complained and was in fear for his life. “I can’t believe this is happening. This is unacceptable. I’m rich! I’m connected,” the rich man whined until he looked down and switched to panic mode. “This is high. This is very high! Are you crazy?”

I wouldn’t say crazy. Maybe desperate, forceful or unconventional, Dibs grumbled internally as he concentrated on climbing and actually glad his stickiness was working to his advantage. “Just tell me how your fancy headband thing works and I’ll let you go,” the mutated man told him as he plucked Krei off his back and dropped him on top of the tower.

Once he too was up there, Krei saw the outline of his prototype and realized that must have been what his kidnapper was talking about. “Hey! That’s my neurotransmitter! It’s worth billions! Give it back,” he exclaimed as he reached for it through Dibs’s gelatinous head, unaware that it was now part of him.

“Hey! Get outta my head,” Dibs yelled at him. Seriously rude! Just because I inconvenienced you with this abduction and stole your device, does not mean you can cross this boundary! A moment later, the wind rushed by them as the Channel 7 News helicopter flew by, clearly finding them and covering the report.

Darn it! I thought I chose someplace where I’d have some privacy, the gelatinous man silently cursed. The rush of air and Krei pulling on his head momentarily caused Dibs to fall back, dangling the rich man and most of his body off the side of the tower before he focused and pulled both of them back onto the flat ledge. “I might drop you if I can’t control my body with your invention!” the mutated man informed Krei as he tried to shake him off.

“There’s nothing to learn, just think - can you think? - And it will naturally work,” the tech CEO told him right back.

“Yeah, but nothing comes naturally to me,” Dibs sullenly admitted as he realized this meant there was no one who could help him learn how to work his new body. His depressed thought was interrupted as the sound of rocket engines alerted him to Big Hero 6’s arrival. Is it so much to ask for one thing to go my way today? he grumbled.

The next moment, Wasabi stepped up with his plasma blades ready with a vengeance and yelled, “Your disgusting reign of terror stops now, Globby!”

Dibs, who was still seething, managed to fire off some slime balls (and to his surprise no less). Wasabi was able to cut them down or block them, but his actions resulted in Baymax’s helmet getting covered with purplish goo. After the physicist turned back to the shapeshifter, he pointed at him and declared, “Nobody does that to Baymax and gets away with it!”

Is there anything I’m not going to get blamed for today! The gelatinous man let rage take him over as he stretched and swung his arms in Wasabi’s direction, making the hero get dangerously close to the edge of the tower.

“So high,” the plasma wielder whimpered as he backed away and proceeded to hug the tower’s giant antenna in fear. As Honey Lemon attempted to get her anti-sticky ball out, the Channel 7 helicopter swooped in again, causing the heroes to be knocked around by the wind.

When the chemist finally got it out, she stepped forward as she presented it and said, “Globby, this’ll make you not sticky.”

What’s she thinking? That won’t solve anything. I’ll still be this freak that everyone yells and screams at, Dibs bitterly thought as the situation spiraled further out of control. He then grabbed Krei as he moved the blonde man to the platform’s edge and yelled, “Stay back! You’re upsetting the monster!”

Hiro stepped forward now and ordered, “Let Krei go!”

“Wording people!” Krei chimed in as his life was very close to possibly ending.

“Everyone just be quiet!” the transparent mutant barked out as his panic and desperation were peaking.

Wasabi, still holding firm to the antenna, then uttered, “Can we just do this? Some of us don’t want to splatter all over the ground!”

“Oh, I’ve been making a lot of bad decisions lately,” Dibs finally admitted in despair as he saw no way out of this. Darn it! Darn it! Darn it! I just had to keep making things worse. I couldn’t just leave well enough alone; I just had to keep escalating thing. Oh, I wish I’d never seen that stupid purse or that stupid device! I’m stuck like this and I can’t get this goopy body to listen to me. I couldn’t steal anything right, I couldn’t avoid attention, I couldn’t get this kidnapping thing right, and I can’t get out of this. I’m just a failure no matter what I do, Dibs lamented internally as he failed to see two heroes talking to each other.

His attention snapped back to them when Honey Lemon addressed him by sunnily saying, “Listen, Globby, I know things look bad now, but there’s always a silver lining. You can make this work!”

Why would she say something like this? Has she not seen me today? She’s got to be pulling my leg. “Oh, come on. Nobody believes in me! Why would you? You don’t even know me,” he sadly retorted.

But the optimistic chemist told him, “Before, you were just a common purse thief. Now, if you dedicate yourself to making the best out of this situation, you can truly be special.”

“Hmmm?” Could she actually be right? I could actually be special and good at something?

“Nobody else has your…abilities,” she added with a sincere smile.

“You think?” Dibs asked as this new hope and ambition began to fill him.

“I know,” she answered right back.

All day, I’ve really only been thinking about the negatives that came from this incident and listening to the hateful things people have been saying, not on what I could actually become because of it; plus, it has only been a day, so who knows what all I’ll discover about my powers if I keep at it and keep getting better, the mutated man thought as he pulled Krei back to safety. “You’re right. This is a new beginning for me,” he said out loud, looking noticeable happier as he released the billionaire.

Krei on the other hand, still had unfinished business as he stated, “It’s very touching, but I want my prototype back.” He proceeded to try and grab the anti-sticky ball Honey Lemon made, but was knocked off-balance when the news helicopter swung in for a closer shot. The blonde man stumbled until he finally fell off the tower’s ledge, screaming as he rapidly approached the ground.

Without a second thought, the mutated man attempted to catch Krei, stretching the upper half of his body while emphatically shouting, “I am special!” Within a couple seconds, he managed to grab his former hostage and stop his descent a matter of inches off the ground. “Gotcha,” Dibs exclaimed right before he began reeling Krei and the rest of his body back up to the top of the tower. Once the shapeshifter was back in his standard form and cradling the rich man, they both were silent for a moment. How’d I even do that?! That was insane! Wow, I guess belief did play a factor in using these powers.

Krei then broke the silence by stating, “This is a little awkward. Thanks…I guess.”

Dibs set him down and with a grateful smile, pointed to Honey Lemon and said, “Thank her. She believed in me.” The chemist gave a sweet smile at her accomplishment at making him feel better. Looks like I really can do something right with this body. This means there’s no going back to the old me. Time to make something of myself and I guess I’ll start with Krei here. The gelatinous mutant proceeded to step forward and declared, “My days of being a loser, small-time purse snatcher are behind me.”

Honey Lemon smiled brightly at his epiphany and told him, “That’s right! You’re better than that!”

“I am! And that’s why I’m going to be a supervillain,” the mutant who no longer would go by “Dibs” announced to the others’ dismay, especially Honey Lemon who tried to tell him, “No! That’s really not-”

“The world will come to fear the name ‘Globby,’” the shapeshifter boldly shouted as he proceeded to jump off the broadcast tower and swing away in victory. He laughed evilly out loud as he went, for he had sneakily gotten away with Krei’s wallet and was reveling in the fact he had succeeded, both at that and learning to stretch his arms on command; however, Globby’s moment of villainous joy ended when he failed to see the office window he slammed into.

“Ow. Darn it!”

         _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile

A red light was blinking inside a dark, foreboding lair, where its sole occupant approached the alarm and casted it onto the giant green monitor before him.

“Unknown Monster Sighted in San Fransokyo!”

“‘Globby’ Kidnaps Krei Tech CEO Alistair Krei!”

“Hmmm,” the pale man pondered as he raised an eyebrow in curiosity. “How interesting,” he remarked as the left side of his face glowed purple.

“Looks like I may have some potential help after all.”

Chapter Text

Fred was still hugging his dad as so many thoughts and feelings swirled inside his head. Oh my gosh! My dad’s a superhero! Maybe I can get to try his gadgets. Is that why I didn’t see him too much growing up? Oh! Am I destined to inherit the mantle one day? I probably need to get more heroic deeds under my belt first before I earn it though, Fred rapidly pondered as his dad finally released him.

The billionaire was definitely on the older side, with wrinkles and creases earned from years of experience. He also wore a freshly-pressed grey-blue suit, rose-colored button-up shirt, red ascot and several gold rings on his fingers; lastly, he had gold-rimmed glasses with amber lenses to frame his sharp eyes and white-grey hair that went all the way around the lower half of his head, leaving him with a dark grey receding hairline on top.

“So, I assume you have many questions son,” Mr. Frederickson said to Fred with a touch of melancholy, as if this knowledge was a great burden on him.

“Uh, yeah! First off, this is your secret headquarters, right?” Fred excitedly asked as a gleeful smile crossed his face.

His dad gave a smirk and answered, “Why yes son, it is, complete with gadgets, suits and up-to-date villain database; just because I’m out of the game, doesn’t mean there aren’t criminals to look out for.” He then gestured to the aforementioned items that hung on the wall and the giant computer monitor.

“Whoa…so uh, is there a chance I can get to use some of these bad or should I say good boys?” the comic book lover inquired as he slowly reached for one of the grappling-hook devices.

The retired superhero raised an eyebrow and slyly said, “Maybe, but shouldn’t you be focused on mastering your own toys before handling mine?”

Fred then stopped and slowly turned towards his dad with a wince on his face. “So, you know about that then huh?”

With a proud smile, Mr. Frederickson put a hand on his son’s shoulder and replied, “Son, when this city got saved by a bunch of young superheroes, I tend to take notice and investigate; plus, Heathcliff keeps very detailed notes on how you’re doing.”

“Oh,” Fred simply stated as he realized the obvious answer.

“Now, back to my story or rather, to actually start my story,” the older man continued as his son stared at him in anticipation. “You see, a long time ago in the ‘70s, things had begun to spiral downhill for the city; criminals of all kind from the super to the average were running rampant and the police couldn’t answer every call. Now, my rich upbringing would have many think I was unskilled in everything except signing papers and delegating blame, but I had spent years perfecting various fighting styles to ensure I would never be defenseless in an uncertain world.” He paused as he couldn’t help but demonstrate a couple high kicks and flips, even while wearing his suit; this made his kaiju-loving son go wide-eye in awe at his dad’s prowess.

“The family has had generations of wealth behind it to try and help however it could with charities and benefits, but I saw the chance to do more for this city than just sign checks; and since I had the power, that meant I had the responsibility. There are some problems in this world that require action and that’s what I did,” Mr. Frederickson continued.

The older man then gestured for Fred to follow him as he went to his big computer monitor. He pushed a big yellow button and the screen came to life; with a few more button pushes, dozens and dozens of articles appeared before them. “I went by the name of ‘Boss Awesome.’ I know it can come off as arrogant, but I figured if I’ve got to make a name for myself, it should be something that gets the point across.”

The comic book lover now gasped as he heard his dad’s superhero name. He had come across many a superhero on his weekly checks on Heropedia, but Boss Awesome was in a category all to himself. No one knew who he was or where he went when he retired, but his actions were well documented and still had a lasting impression on this city even decades later. “Dad, you mean to tell me you were one of the greatest heroes ever to grace not just this city, but the world? The thrilling exploits, the countless villains, the amazing feats of heroism?” Fred excitedly inquired as he edged closer to his dad.

The shipping magnate gave a small, fond laugh at this reaction, as now he could tell his son his long-kept secret. “Yeah, the accolades are always nice, but what really matters is the good you do. Never forget that as you undoubtedly gain fame as time goes by,” Mr. Frederickson informed him.

Fred nodded in understanding all while thinking, Wow, I’m getting some serious top-notch hero lessons right now. The kaiju fan then looked noticeably apprehensive as he asked, “So, is superheroing why we haven’t gotten to spend as much time together as I would have wanted?”

His father’s face fell some as a sad, almost regretful look replaced his smile while he put a hand on Fred’s shoulder. “You matter to me more than I could ever show you. Admittedly, my superhero days are long since over, but that doesn’t mean I gave up helping. The family shipping company often doesn’t need me on a day-to-day basis, so I go where I can to be of greater service. I’m just sorry that meant sacrificing the time to see you become the young man you are now. I’m not saying I’d take back those past actions, but I sure wish I had found a better way to balance everything,” he honestly told Fred as he took his hand off and gave him another hug.

The comic book lover let out a deep sigh and hugged him right back. Well, it doesn’t make up for lost time, but I feel better knowing it wasn’t because he didn’t want to. Plus, now we can try to make up for it, Fred internally hoped. The embrace lasted for a few more seconds, then the beanie-wearing man proceeded with his next question. “Okay, so after you decided to become a superhero, how’d you manage to get to all of this,” he inquired while gesturing around the room.

Mr. Frederickson gave a little chuckle and replied, “Well, the truckloads of cash at my disposal was a big help; as for the rest, I know a guy who supplied me with all manner of stuff for crime-fighting and another one who’s great at building lairs. I can give you his contact if you and your friends ever need one.”

“Ooo. I’ll have to run that by the team first, but I better make sure everyone’s one the same page since I don’t think we’ve finalized any long-term plans. They seem…hesitant to say the least about making this a full-time thing,” Fred informed him with a shrug.

His father gave a smile and remarked, “With the way you youngsters saved the city, there’s no denying you all got something special.”

Fred beamed with pride at what the superhero legend in front of him said. “You’re right. Thanks dad. Clearly, we are meant to be more than one-time city savers.” The novice hero then curiously asked, “So, what was it like to fight crime for all those years? I mean, we’ve got the one revenge seeking supervillain under our belt and all, but not nearly the level you’ve dealt with.”

“Truth be told, it wasn’t always easy. There were plenty of villains I had to outwit and out brawl in order to save the day. I’d say when it comes to big-bads, you’ve got to try and keep your eyes and ears open to any underground chatter; you never know who they’ve bragged to or who they tried to hire as henchmen,” Mr. Frederickson informed his son, who was nodding and doing his best to mentally retain this advice. “For the small-time folks, they may come up more often, but so long as you got the training and an arsenal of strategies at your disposal, I doubt they’ll be able to succeed. Now, don’t you forget that the real goal of a superhero is to save those in danger. So, you’ll need to be ready for all kinds of emergencies from car crashes to rescue operations. That also doesn’t mean you should ignore first responders since they will most likely have more experience than you and can offer help, or rather you can offer them help,” the retired hero added in a more serious tone.

“Uh-huh, uh-huh.” Fred kept affirming what his dad said with more nods. “Just so you know, you may have to repeat this in the future because I may not get all the words right if I repeat this to my friends,” the kaiju fan admitted while scratching the back of his head.

Mr. Frederickson gave a small smirk and replied, “Not a problem. It’s virtually impossible to condense everything I’ve learned in one heart-to-heart session.”

Fred smiled for a moment before another thought popped into his head, making his grin dip as he felt the need to ask, “So dad, given that you were so good at being a hero, why’d you step down as Boss Awesome?”

The older man then bore a tired, weighted expression, one that knew this question would come and the answer wasn’t all happy. “Well, over time, my actions did a lot to deter supervillain scum and criminal underlings, so the police were able to get a better grip on the safety of the city.” He then paused as he let out a deep sigh at what he had to say next. “But the sad reality is Fred, no matter how hard you try, you can’t save everyone. There were times I was too late or things were too intense to handle alone. I’d get some help from fellow do-gooders every now and again, but not every time.” The hero formally known as Boss Awesome then put a hand on his shoulder as he continued to impart his wisdom. “But that’s why I kept at it for so long too because to do nothing would be so much worse. You can’t save everyone, so you have to save the ones you can. Do you understand?”

Fred definitely appeared to be a little more shaken at his dad being so upfront about the toll superheroing can take. Wow. I guess I didn’t think about it much myself since it was originally about Tadashi, but stopping Callaghan saved a lot of lives. The rush of fighting a bad guy was awesome, scary at times, but awesome; I don’t want to lose that feeling, but dad’s right, it should be about doing the right thing for the people of this city, not just for the thrill of being a hero. He finally nodded and said, “I do padre, and I’ll do my best to not let living out my lifelong dream cloud your lesson.”

Mr. Frederickson gave a soft laugh and responded, “That’s what having your friends are for; they can remind you if you ever forget, but I’m sure you’ll do fine son.” The older man with a softer smile added, “I know what I just said may seem a bit harsh and I’m not saying it to discourage you, in fact, quite the opposite. You need to know that no matter how dire the situation, you can’t give up because just the slightest more will to get back up can mean all the difference. You just need to believe that you can do something, then find a way to make it happen; that’s the other benefit you have of being part of team as you’ve got each other’s back when things get tough."

His descendent smiled again before his dad looked a bit apologetic and said, “Sorry to get a bit off track there, but to answer your question, I did feel like it was time to retire once I felt the city didn’t need me anymore, or at least not physically. That was when I decided to focus my efforts on rescue and relief missions wherever I could since the world’s a lot bigger than San Fransokyo.” He then said with a wink, “You know, I got some additional adventures during these expeditions.”

Hearing this, Fred’s eyes lit up with wonder again as he inquired, “Ooo ooo, did you get to see some crazy supernatural stuff that my sciency friends would say wasn’t real?”

“You could say that,” his dad answered with a knowing smile. “Plenty of crazy things have come my way over the years from lost temples, legends come to life and booby traps that look like they’re out of those old ‘Plundering Mark’ movies.” The grey-haired man then switched gears by saying, “But enough about me. I’m betting you’re just dying to tell me how you and your friends saved the city from that portal disaster.”

Fred was barely able to hold in a squeal of delight as a large grin appeared on his face. “It was so cool dad! We followed our friends Hiro and Baymax to the docks one night and witnessed some shady supervillain stuff, and to make matters worse, he was doing it with my friend’s stolen ESP-microbots thingy. Then, we had a high-speed chase, making my adrenaline go through the roof as we avoided capture, but we narrowly escaped the car as it went plunging into the bay!” The comic book fan felt the need to demonstrate this moment of the story by using his hand and making it plummet downward.

Mr. Frederickson nodded and went “Uh-huh” before interjecting with, “Sounds to me like we have a villain forging the heroes situation. Pretty understandable reaction if you ask me. I’m glad you kids were okay.”

Fred scratched the back of his head as he responded, “Yeah, it was thanks to Baymax we got out of there. Anyway, so I got to bring everyone over to see the mansion, meet Heathcliff and show my room as we dried off. Then, the best news of all happened when Hiro said we’d need some upgrades to catch the bad guy, but I knew that was code for we get to be superheroes.” He got all giddy again as he brought up that memory and had to internally remind himself to calm down. “Next, we got all suited up and I got the amazing fire-breathing 'Fredzilla' for my theme. We then found the bad guy was out on Akuma Island, and if I’m being honest, it’s a decent place to do villainy after abandon warehouses and subterranean lairs.”

He paused for a moment to catch his breath before continuing. “So, we snuck in like total professionals, and after we found the main office with a bunch of security tapes, started to go through all this old footage; it showed Alistair Krei doing a teleportation experiment and not as I originally thought, a magic hat trick. They then did the main test with this young pilot, but of course, something went wrong and she wound up being lost to the portal.” Fred’s expression turned a bit sadder as he recollected witnessing that part of the video. “Unfortunately for us, while we had our backs turned, the bad guy goes ahead and tried to crush us; unfortunately for him now, we had Baymax and he saved us. Next thing we know, we’re fighting the microbot-wielding villain on all sides and I even tried a 'Gravity Crush' body slam, but he saw it coming. By the way, with the mask he wore, I was thinking of calling him ‘Yokai’ since he certainly was mysterious and troublesome,” he added as he got a bit off track.

His dad then gave a short laugh as he proudly replied, “Well, what do you know? First villain and you already got to name him. I say it’s fair game if they don’t announce what you’re supposed to call them; makes potential future battles awkward that’s for sure. Be sure to keep me in the loop so I can add them to my database.”

Fred’s eyes got wide again as he repeated, “Database?”

“Yep.” The older man proceeded to type a few button commands on the large computer console. A moment later, a large panel opened to their right as a giant, bulky machine with lights sticking out of it emerged along with boxes of punch cards. “It may be old school, but you can’t hack it and I keep it up to date,” Mr. Frederickson explained.

“Ooo,” the comic book lover remarked as he briefly went over to look at the reader and cards. He then came back to where he was and continued to recollect. “Where was I…oh yeah! So, we tried to fight him, but none of us were making any progress until Hiro managed to topple on top of him, which knocked his mask off and saved our lives quite frankly. Then, in a surprise turn of events, the bad guy was Professor Callaghan who we all thought died in the fire! We all were surprised and were just like, 'What?! We know this guy and he doesn’t have a problem with attacking us?!'” Fred exclaimed as he seemed to still be grappling with the shock. Mr. Frederickson just nodded again as his expression got sadder as he had experience in seeing how low people could sink.

“It seemed like we actually had won, but then Hiro got down the path of revenge as he ordered Baymax to destroy him. I mean, I know he’s hurting and Tadashi was his brother, but killing someone is not something we were cool with. Next thing we know, we’re all trying to stop this rampaging robot, letting Callaghan get away in the process and clearly indicating we need to have a talk with Hiro, but what does he do? He takes our ride and leaves us stranded in this creepy, wrecked place,” Fred informed his dad as he crossed his arms. “For a good few minutes, we went back and forth on what to do with Wasabi doing most of the panicking. Then, I fortunately remembered how we have a chopper and it could totally pick us up; so, after I called home, we figured we’d do some exploring in the control room again while we waited and managed to salvage some security footage before Heathcliff arrived not too long afterward."

The new superhero in training proceeded to let a small smile appear on his face as he remarked, “Heathcliff sure is amazing, isn’t he dad?”

Mr. Frederickson got a grin on his face too as he said, “Yeah, him and me go way back. Definitely one of the finest people I know.”

Fred nodded before he continued his story. “Anyway, we’re flying back and poor Wasabi’s got his eyes closed since we’re so high up and Go Go was giving directions to Heathcliff on where to fly; we all kind of figured that Hiro went home and we were right. So, there was some emotional hugging and talking before Honey Lemon pulled out the flash drive with the old video. We got to see it on the island, but it was Hiro’s first time and it showed the pilot was Callaghan’s daughter! I was like ‘This is a revenge story,’ and it made his actions way less random. Next, we all head down to Krei Tech campus where Callaghan was obviously going to be.” Fred once again paused to catch his breath as his father waited patiently, determined to hear the whole story. “Unfortunately though, he had already activated his machine by the time we got there, so everything was getting sucked up into it. Hiro tried to talk him down using the old shared pain method, but he wasn’t having it. All of us are then fighting a crazy number of microbots as they’re trying to crush us, stab us or pull us apart. My adrenaline was through the roof on thinking this may be it, but fortune smiled on us as we got out of our individual trouble. Not to brag, but mine was pretty cool and involved using my sign-spinning skills to slice through those tiny terrors,” the comic book fan informed his dad with a satisfied smile.

“If I wasn’t out of the game, I may have to ask you for a lesson or two then,” Mr. Frederickson commented politely as he gave his son a wink.

Fred scratched the back of his head as he looked away bashfully before asking, “So, uh, do you think you could teach me some of your moves one day?”

The older man gave a small, warm smile and answered, “In due time, but remember to be the best you first rather than completely copy someone else’s style.”

The young hero’s face fell a little at realizing he’d have to wait, but he understood and continued with his tale. “So, we all started smacking microbots left and right and I even got flaming signs to deal out some Fredzilla justice, but Honey Lemon’s was probably the coolest since it involved a giant explosion! Then, as Hiro predicted, the bots got sucked up into the portal, leaving Callaghan with nothing to fight with and allowing Baymax the chance to grab the headband and smash it. Next thing we know, everything’s falling to the ground and the giant machine’s still on as it kept pulling everything in. Man, it was crazy,” Fred recalled as he looked more in disbelief at how insane his first mission was. “We then tried to get to a safe distance, but Baymax says there’s someone in the portal and that can only mean it’s Callaghan’s daughter; it quite frankly was a miracle if you ask me. So, Hiro and Baymax do the ultimate hero move and flew into the machine to save her; for us on the outside, it was definitely scary as the wind and debris kept flying past us while we hunkered behind some rubble.”

The comic book fan then paused as he looked sad once again as he remembered what came next. “It wasn’t until after the portal imploded that we realized the cost of saving the pilot was our friend Baymax, who sacrificed himself to whatever void that hole led to.”

Mr. Frederickson looked sympathetic as he put a hand on Fred’s shoulder yet again. “It seems as though you’ve already learned the losing someone lesson after all, but it was your companion instead of a civilian. You doing okay son?” he asked concern.

Fred nodded and sadly replied, “Yeah, but I’m sure Hiro’s feeling worse about it. I was actually going to see him later and talk to him about getting back out into the superhero world since it might help him.”

“Not necessarily a bad idea, but things can’t be rushed when it comes to healing son. Just make sure you all are there for each other and you’ll overcome this hurdle of grief in time,” his dad wisely advised as he pulled Fred in for another hug, to which he reciprocated. The comic book lover closed his eyes as he let the tight embrace help alleviate some of the pain.

“Thanks dad.”

“You’re welcome son.”

They continued to hug for a few more seconds before they released each other. Mr. Frederickson then looked at Fred again as he said, “Now, I may know about you being a fledgling superhero, but this is still my secret headquarters and there are still those that harbor ill will towards the Boss Awesome name. For your own safety and mine, it might be best to keep this secret between us, okay?”

Fred looked a little hesitant before he gave a look of determination and honestly replied, “I’ll do my best.”

“Well, I guess I can’t ask for more than that,” his dad responded with a smirk. He then went to get his briefcase before putting his arm around Fred’s back and began leading him out.

“I’m really glad we got to talk dad,” the kaiju fan informed the older man.

His dad smiled warmly again as they both went through the secret door and shut it. “Me too son. Now, how about we go see if Heathcliff has lunch ready. I requested pasta primavera,” he responded with a touch of eagerness.

“Ooo, ooo! Let’s go. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

The retired superhero gave a short laugh as the two of them headed for the kitchen, both feeling a little more connect to one another and both hoping to continue strengthening their bond from there.

Chapter Text

“What do you think the warden wants Mama?” Juniper asked her mother, who was sitting next to her in an identical grey-brown chair.

“I don’t know sweetie. Last time I checked we didn’t do anything wrong…you know except for the stealing and jail breaking,” Barb answered with a touch of concern since this wasn’t an ideal situation. Both of the former crime dancers were in warden Bishop’s office in their orange prison jumpsuits as they waited for him to arrive. They weren’t alone as there were two guards standing a few feet behind them in tan colored uniforms, one being in his mid 30s with short black hair while the other was a woman in her 40s with tied-up chestnut hair that was streaked with grey. The warden’s office wasn’t too big and was lined with a bookcase and several file cabinets (prison records most likely) as well as his dark brown desk with a few picture frames and some paperwork on it; the name plate at the front of the desk read “Gary Bishop.”

The two women hoped they weren’t summoned for anything bad, as since they returned to jail from their eel monster fiasco, they had been on their best behavior. When they got arrested, Juniper and Barb got to tell their side of the story, from Liv (Di) breaking them out of jail to their implant altering their minds and bodies to being forced to run errands for her; they were adamant though to let the officers know that they had given up their criminal ways. Their statements were taken and they were returned to prison shortly after their stay in the hospital, where they had their chips removed and had their vitals checked for long term damage as a result of their transformations. After their return to jail, their hope that their side of the story would be enough to help them started to wane when the news that Big Hero 6 had been branded fugitives hit the prison, implying a new age of policing had arrived and anyone who went against them was in trouble. While the information about the heroes caused elation in the more hardened prisoners wanting petty revenge on them, the mother-daughter duo took it a bit differently.

“If the guys that stop criminals are considered bad, what does that mean for those that actually committed crimes, Mama?” disheartened Juniper asked Barb not too long after the news broke out.

Her mom patted her on the back as she tried to muster up a smile for her daughter. “I know it seems bad dear, but just because times get tough, it doesn’t mean we should go and quit what we started. They can’t keep us locked up in here forever, and if we don’t make trouble, they won’t have any reason to give us any.” She then pulled Juniper in for a tight hug to help ease her worry. Once she released her daughter, she added, “Hey, it’s just like they sang in one of my favorite songs, ‘I’m gonna stay strong.’” Barb then ended her sentence with a wink and making the younger woman give a small laugh.

“I’ll try Mama, but only because it’s a classic.” Her mom smiled at the light banter as the two let their hope for a normal life burn bright again.

Two months had gone by since the news broke about Big Hero 6 and although the duo’s dream wavered a little, they had each other to help when that happened; once the police (mainly Chief Cruz) backtracked on the heroes’ fugitive status however, it made Juniper and Barb breathed a sigh of relief that change had come. A week and a half had gone by and now, here they were anxiously waiting to see what was going to happen to them.

The former crime dancers didn’t have to wait long as warden Bishop finally entered his office five minutes after they had been escorted there. “Sorry ladies. There was an issue with a repeat offender not liking the accommodations,” he apologized while not divulging too much information.

Juniper and Barb nodded in acknowledgement as the short-statured man sat across from them in his own chair. He pulled one of the files that was off to his right and laid it before him before resting his clasped hands-on top of it.

“Now, I’m guessing you two are wondering why I brought you up here,” Bishop remarked, stating the obvious.

“Yes sir,” both women answered politely in unison.

“Well, as you know, you were incarcerated here pending review of your statements and subsequent time left to serve; there was also the matter of a rehabilitation freeze in favor of going with the Buddy Guardian program,” the dark-haired man informed them in a slightly apologetic tone.

Although they barely managed to avoid glancing at each other, Juniper and Barb were certainly thinking the same thing: Oh, that explains a lot. Not a wise investment if you ask me.

The warden continued to talk, snapping them out of their thoughts. “Anyway, because ample time has passed into your sentencing as well as you two have been model prisoners, it has been decided to reduce your remaining time down to community service."

Both women audibly gasped as they received the news that they’d been hoping for, turning to each other as smiles began to form across both of their faces. “This is for real?” Barb asked as she faced the warden again, still in shock and wanting conformation as she gently grabbed her daughter’s hand.

Bishop nodded his head and answering, “Yes, it is Ms. McClaire. Your good behaviors combined with the evidence for your…I’ll say "coerced” actions has helped your case. The parole board would be more inclined to give your cell to one more deserving of it.” He then punctuated his statement with a small grin for good measure.

Juniper and Barb turned towards each other again, both sharing the joy that their hard work and dedication had led them there. The younger woman proceeded to turn towards the warden as she innocently inquired, “So, what happens now sir?”

He then straightened up a little as he opened up their files to make sure he’d get the details right. “We understand that given your past, there may be some difficulties with getting a place to stay while you perform your community service. So, we currently have two options available: Option 1 is a halfway house that is for released prisoners, due to either their sentencing being over or them having community service as reduced punishment, or Option 2 where you will be set up in a small apartment controlled by the board, where the rent will be taken care of until your time is completed; food and care of the place falls on the occupants however. Both options require at least one member to find employment before the end of their service; we can provide help with that as well,” he informed them at length.

The duo exchanged a look as a question formed, to which Barb asked, “What happens after we finish our work?”

The mustached man took a pause in order to take a deep breath as his last explanation was long. A moment later, he replied, “Then you will have to find a new living space. Sad as it is, we have other released people to think about too; fortunately for you, we can help with the apartment problem as well, but I’d recommend starting as soon as you get settled in as there’s not much that we can do once you’ve officially repaid your debt to society.”

Barb and Juniper had a feeling that would be the case causing a wave of worry to run through them at the new challenges; looking at each other once again, their resolve returned along with their smiles as they refused to quit now. The older woman then asked her daughter, “So, which sounds better sweetie?”

With only the slightest delay, the younger dancer passionately replied, “I like the place we get all to ourselves. I know we’d have to do more to maintain it Mama, but it’ll be nice to be together like it was before we took up crime-dancing. I’ll try to get a job too, even if it’s just making deliveries or cleaning up floors or waiting tables. Just as long as we get to be happy and don’t have to worry anymore.”

Barb looked at the young woman her daughter was becoming as she took her free hand and cradled Juniper’s face. With the glint of tears forming in her eyes, the mother proudly said, “Oh darling, there will always be things to worry about, but together, those troubles can’t stop us from being happy.” Now Juniper had misty eyes at what her mother told her and smiled warmly. The duo turned back towards the warden, who was tapping his fingers together as he waited.

“Well sir, I guess you’ve got your answer. So, what happens now?” Barb asked politely.

Bishop stopped fidgeting with his fingers as he answered, “The paperwork is currently being processed. All that was left was the living situation; as long as bureaucracy doesn’t grind it to a halt, you two are set for release in five days’ time.”

The former crime dancers gave a small squeal of delight before quieting back down when the warden raised an eyebrow up at their reaction. Barb gave a small cough before inquiring, “Do you have any idea where we’ll be performing our community service sir?”

With a small smirk, Bishop replied, “Funny you should say ‘performing.’ As it turns out, your dancing skills have not gone unnoticed. Despite previously using it to commit crimes, it is certainly a talent that the board feels could be used to help others. There are several community centers in San Fransokyo with dancing programs for both various ages and levels of proficiency. So, until your hours are completed, you two will be instructors for these classes. The hours are not set in stone yet, but you’ll probably be there three to four of them a week.”

As soon as they heard this news, their elation rose again and they were barely able to sit still as the two felt a giddy rush of energy, clearly not expecting this outcome.

“So, just keep up the good behavior and you’ll both be out of here by Wednesday. Understood?” the short-statured man informed them, feeling the need to put a little authority in his voice. Juniper and Barb nodded their heads quickly in unison before the warden raised his hand and made the “You may leave” gesture. The two women then stood up as the guards, who had been patiently and silently waiting, opened the office door and escorted the prisoners out. As they walked back to their cell, the dancing duo couldn’t help but keep their smiles as they started conversing.

“Isn’t it great Mama? A place to ourselves and we get to dance as community service,” the younger dancer gleefully remarked.

“I know sweetheart. It’s just nice that it’s finally happening. A second chance can be so rare for people like us and we’re going to make the most of it,” Barb commented as she took her daughter’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze.

A moment later, they were passing through the high-tech security doors, standing still as the codes were being inputted. The loud click that followed indicated it was now unlocked, allowing all four people to pass through. After two more similar pauses, they found themselves back out in the general population, where multiple cells lined with purple and black security bars were.

Before they were within ear shot of the other prisoners, Barb quickly whispered to Juniper, “Now dear, I understand it will be tough, but we’d better keep our news on the down low. Bragging about our good fortune may not sit well with some of these folks and the last thing we need is to be involved in a fight.” Her daughter let her smile die down a bit as she nodded in agreement. The duo proceeded to walk past a few occupied cells on the way to theirs. They saw a couple guys with rolled up sleeves, showing the tattoos that ran all along their arms. They then came across one containing Mr. Sparkles, who was laying down on his cot and appeared to be missing his toupee. The last cell they passed before making it to their own cell had a buff wrestler-type guy who somehow managed to hold onto his luchador mask. He growled at the guards as they walked by, obviously mad that he was back in jail so soon.

Finally, they came to the right cell, where the two waited for the door to be open before obediently walking inside. Once it was locked back up, the two women looked at each other before silently expressing their joy by sharing a good, strong hug. “We’re almost there baby. Just a few more days and our new lives begin,” Barb whispered into her daughter’s ear as they maintained their embrace for just a little while longer.

          ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Over the next five days, the former crime dancers had done as planned and remained silent about their early release. They already were used to spending their time either by themselves or on and off with some of the non-supervillain prisoners; things were already awkward enough whenever they saw Mr. Sparkles. Barb and Juniper just kept to their schedule of eating, exercise and other recreation, all while sharing a smile each morning and each night in the cell when no one else could see.

Finally, in what felt like weeks, the fifth day came without incident and as the warden promised, the guards came to fetch them for processing around 10am.

“Time to go you two,” a tall officer named Allen urged them as he opened the door. The two women shared a brief squeal as they eagerly got from their cots and walked to the bars of their cell.

Upon hearing the guard say this, as High Voltage walked by, El Fuego angrily exclaimed, “Hey! Why are you letting them out? I haven’t done nearly as much as they have!”

Once they were out of earshot, Barb said with a wink to Juniper, “Maybe it’s because we currently have cooler heads on our shoulders.” This got the younger one to give a small snicker as they continued for the exit. After going through a few security doors, they made it to the processing station, where a female guard named Helga stood behind bullet-proof glass.

“Ah, Juniper and Barb McClaire. Let’s see…” the woman trailed off as she turned around and headed in back for their personal effects.

A minute later, Helga returned with a couple blue bins and proceeded to unload them; it didn’t take long as there were only their High Voltage outfits inside. They briefly looked at each other afterwards and thinking, We might need to get some different outfits for outside of work. The duo was then given permission to change in the gowning area and taking them only a couple minutes (although to them, they couldn’t get their '80s-style uniforms on fast enough as the excitement started to rise again within the pair). When they were finished, they looked like they were ready to crime dance again as High Voltage (minus the energy orb, makeup and attitude to steal of course).

The guards proceeded to escort them out of the processing area and to the main prison lobby, where a man in his 30s wearing a black suit greeted them. “Juniper. Barb. I’m Clarence Foster. I’m here to go over your community service rules and obligations as we drive to your temporary housing,” he informed them as he extended his right hand. The aforementioned women politely shook it as they then followed the man outside with the guards behind them just in case. They pushed open the front doors and the full burst of late morning sunlight was blinding, causing them to briefly shield their eyes. After spending so long locked up, the free world truly felt brighter to them, like it was meant to be enjoyed and lived to the fullest; they could even hear the birds tweeting as they flew in the sky. Ahead of them was a brown 4-door car with a driver (a young woman with short blonde hair) already behind the wheel.

Clarence opened the door to the backseat and asked, “Ready?”

Juniper and Barb glanced over their shoulders to find the guards were finally turning around, indicating that they were no longer bound to the mother-daughter duo. Barb then looked at Juniper, giving her a warm comforting smile despite the uncertainty that still laid ahead. Her daughter returned it as she took her mother’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

“Ready,” they said in unison as they proceeded to get into the back seat and buckled up. As they were being driving away, they briefly looked back as the dismal place they had resided in for the past few months, watching it get smaller and smaller until it was finally out of sight. They breathed a sigh of relief as they turned back around and leaned on each other, knowing that they’d overcome the obstacles to earn their second chance and would keep working to prove they deserved it.

Afterall, “We’re Gonna Go Good” wasn’t just for show.

Chapter Text

It was late one evening during the last week of February as two reformed criminals sat in their living room, watching the local news before bed. Felony Carl and Globby had met at Joe’s Diner earlier for dinner, where Globby talked about his meeting with Krei in the afternoon while Felony Carl went over his latest security gig. Going anywhere nowadays with the gelatinous hero meant being swarmed by countless fans wanting autographs or photos; fortunately, the people would typically be polite enough to leave him alone if he was eating or talking to Carl. It was a different experience for both of them, but neither one let it stop them from enjoying the other’s company; besides, the two could always find time in the morning or evening to catchup if necessary. Now here they were a couple hours later, getting some last-minute TV programming.

When the news went on a break, Globby couldn’t help but bring up his conversation with the tech CEO again. “I know I’ve already said it, but it’s still crazy that Krei wants me to be in his new commercial and to pay me no less,” the shapeshifter remarked as he turned towards Carl.

“As I said before, he is using your newfound popularity to boost sales for his flashy, expensive product,” the motorcyclist pointed out as he gave a small smirk.

“Well, I know that; it’s the fact that he even offered it at all despite kidnapping him and all the times I stole his stuff. It’s nice to know that he’s not holding a grudge about it anymore,” Globby said rather optimistically.

“I think you making an exuberant amount of money for him helped squelch any past grievances towards you,” Felony Carl noted.

“Fair enough.”

The two then starts to share a brief chuckle at how things had worked out in regard to Alistair Krei when the news flashed back on.

“Breaking news! Reports are coming in all over the city of various monster menaces! The attack earlier on Torii Gate Bridge was evidently a preamble to the rampage we’re seeing now! Police and emergency vehicles are halted due to the destruction these villains have caused and no sign of Big Hero 6’s arrival as of yet,” Bluff Dunder urgently informed his viewers as images of mutant High Voltage, Mr. Sparkles and others appeared on the screen.

Not even a second after the newscaster finished his last sentence, Globby was already getting up and rushing to leave through the fire escape window. Before he left, he quickly turned around and gave Felony Carl a confident, determined look and said, “I’ll be back before you know it. Love ya.” He then slid himself under the window as Felony Carl waved goodbye and responded with a brief “Love you too,” knowing the shapeshifter had a job to do and would give it his all.

Once outside of his apartment, Globby proceeded to stretch his arm to the building’s rooftop as fast as he could. In the cool night air, he then began to transform into his pterodactyl form in order to get a faster, more efficient view of the city. The gelatinous mutant’s limb grew as they became transparent wings and clawed feet while he developed a pointy head and a stubby tail. After he had completed his change, he beat his arms to keep himself aloft as he launched off the apartment to begin helping. The wind rushed past him in a constant whistle while the late-night traffic honked and drove below. Globby continued to gain altitude as some of the buildings increased in height, hoping to gauge where the trouble was.

Something must be wrong if Big Hero 6 hasn’t shown yet, and with so many bad guys on the rampage, who knows how much damage they’ve already caused, the shapeshifter anxiously wondered as he searched through the lit streets and giant clustered structures. Despite the late hour, Globby could see some pedestrians walking on the sidewalk as cars of various sizes and shapes drove by in opposite directions; it also appeared that his elevated position kept those below him from seeing the flying pterodactyl. He continued to look for a few minutes or so until he heard recurring crashing metal, car honking and what he thought was a roar coming to his left, making the pink and purple dinosaur do a sharp turn to the source of the sound. After weaving up and over a few buildings and dodging a clothesline, he gazed upon a street with several cars piled up. Oh, that’s bad, Globby internally worried as he landed.

During his decent, the gelatinous mutant could now hear many people screaming too as they ran away in one direction, undoubtedly fleeing the rampaging monsters; their fear was so great that the citizens didn’t even stop to try and get a photo or autograph from Globby. “Well, if they’re all running that way, then those destructive guys must be the opposite way,” he deduced. The shapeshifter heard another roar and started to turn in the monsters’ direction, but glanced over at all the stuck cars, some with people still inside and completely blocking the road. No, they come first. I can’t leave those people stranded for what could be hours. Police and emergency vehicles can’t get through right now anyway to help and they’ll be sitting ducks for whatever may be coming this way, Globby silently decided with determination as he already began rushing towards the nearest car.

The first vehicle he had set his sights on was a blue 4-door where in the panic driving state, had unfortunately wedged itself between a parked car and a green truck that crashed into it. Globby could see the driver of the small car trying to get out by feverishly pushing on the doors to no avail. He looked at the three cars before he got an idea. The shapeshifter quickly got around to the front of the parked car and turned into a bull, complete with horns and a sturdy build. He then lowered his head and using his increased strength, began pushing the car out of the way. “Come on, just a little further,” he grunted as he dug into the ground and made some dents in the front grill. Less than 30 seconds later, the doors on the passenger side were free and the young woman driver, who looked to be in her late 20s with short dark brown hair, got out. The woman then leaned back inside to grab her purse, gave a quick “Thanks” and ran off.

Globby changed back to normal and sighed at thinking this might take too long if he kept doing it like this. There’s got to be a better way. I’d normally go T-Rex, but that might be overkill; the people probably don’t want to see those giant jaws snapping at them from above right now anyway, he rapidly thought as he looked around. The pink and purple man’s eyes then popped open wide as he found inspiration and cunningly remark to himself, If I can’t do it fast from above…I’ll grab them from below.

Globby proceeded to melt his form into a large puddle and slithered under the stopped green truck. He worked and expanded his body until he was beneath all four tires before he began to move the vehicle. The shapeshifter was able to slide it by using himself as both a smooth, frictionless surface and the force pushing it along, much like someone using a polished floor or ice to move things easier. He felt and manipulated the truck until it was no longer in the center of the road. Phew. One down. Several to go, Globby thought as he was already moving to the car the young woman was in. He moved the small blue vehicle into the parking space he had previously freed up to let her out. While he was moving this car, he was unable to see Fred and Mini-Max overhead rushing towards the rampaging Orso Knox and Bessie.

After moving the 4-door, he formed himself up to gauge how many more cars to go; there were at least another dozen and a half, but he did note that the people on the sidewalks were gone, leaving him alone to complete his tasks in peace. Globby then heard a long set of loud, angry roars followed by cars smashing as he turned around and could swear there was a faint yellow-green and orange glow at the end of a long adjacent road. Oh man, that sounds nasty. Better hurry to see if I can help, but I guess if they’re riled up again, that hopefully means the guys finally got here, he worriedly thought as he began to move the next car without delay.

The gelatinous mutant proceeded to spend the next 8-10 minutes working as diligently and quickly as he could to clear the road. Globby admittedly had to place a few up on the sidewalk and he wasn’t going to get any awards for his parallel parking, but he managed to free the street up; he also managed to get a few more people out who had the bad luck of either being pinned in or were stuck in a position where they couldn’t reach the door. All while he was working, he kept hearing the roaring and fighting continue, making him more anxious to finish and hoping dearly the others were okay. Once done, he looked down the way at his work and gave a tired smile. Okay, now I can…, Waaa. Waaa.

He stopped his train of thought and proceeded to turn back into a pterodactyl so he could see where the fire engine and ambulance sounds were coming from. Globby did a quick midair swivel and was able to find them by the flashing red and blue lights emanating from a couple blocks south. The gelatinous dinosaur glanced briefly to the faint monster roars behind him and gave a sad sigh before flying towards the emergency vehicles. Sorry guys. They may need help too, but I’ll try to be back as fast as I can. I know you’ll still find a way if I don’t though, Globby remarked to himself with a touch of guilt as he followed the flashing cars below.

He could hear the wailing vehicles get louder as he managed to fly in closer, eventually settling into a gentle glide. The first responders below caught sight of the pink and purple pterodactyl in their side view mirrors and initially went wide-eyed when they saw him; they quickly calmed down though a second later after they realized it was Globby. The shapeshifter continued to follow them as they made their way up Acacia St., all while the streets themselves remained devoid of people. The emergency team proceeded to turn left onto Machi Rd and from his elevated position, he could see that there was another set of cars blocking the way; there weren’t as many cars as last time, but several had been tossed off onto the sidewalk and into nearby buildings.

Yeesh. This is going to be a nightmare to clean up, Globby commented internally as he flapped harder to get ahead of the fire engines and ambulances. The wind whooshed by him as did the bright streetlights as he landed himself in front of the blockage, doing so just a few seconds before the vehicles pulled up. Now that he was on the ground, the shapeshifter could better see the scope of the damage the monsters had caused; broken glass, light posts bent or out of power, holes in the nearby businesses, and some busted cars strewn about. He also saw that there were still a few people on the sidewalk, clearly trying to recover and unable to get very far due to their cuts, bruises and possibly worse injuries.

Looks like I’m just behind where these rampaging hulks went yet again, but dang, according to what I saw on the news this was just what two of them did? Granted, Nega-Globby and I did a lot of damage too, Globby worriedly noted as he mentally traced the route he had followed. Globby quickly turned around as the uniformed men and women got out.

“Where do you need me?” he asked with concern and determination.

There was a second or so of glances shared between them as interacting with the gelatinous mutant was still not an everyday thing, but they recovered shortly as a woman whose name tag read “Haru” spoke first. “Clearing the streets and sidewalks of debris would reduce risk of injury, then removing the cars so we could get through would be a big help.”

“Done,” was all Globby said before he melted back down to a large puddle of slime before swiftly gliding along the road like a fuchsia wave. Some of the ambulance crew followed him as he rapidly went along the sidewalk using his body’s stickiness to pick up the broken glass, metal, wood, and brick strewn about, then dissolving it away. If there were people present, he expertly split himself to avoid them as the paramedics could safely tend to the injured and get them out. After he made it down one section of wrecked pavement, Globby shot himself to the other side and began to work his way back to the emergency vehicles, where some victims could be seen being loaded on board.

His task was completed in just a couple minutes, but he knew he was far from done as he started towards the crashed cars. Okay. Just like before, he pep-talked himself as he slid under them and began shuffling them around, from the upside-down truck to the T-boned taxis. The pink and purple mutant heard some noises coming from inside a red convertible and formed himself upright to open the door, to find it stuck shut. With a gelatinous finger, he then put it along the door’s lining and used himself to fill the crevice and force it to pop open. Inside, he found a grey and white Schnauzer jumping from the backseat into the front, panting and pacing back and forth on the cushion.

“Aww, poor guy. I hope your owner is nearby. Long night for you too I bet,” Globby remarked as he looked around for someone and catching sight of a fireman 20ft away. “Hey! I got a dog here needing to find his owner,” the shapeshifter called out before flattening back into a puddle to finish clearing the street.

In less than 10 minutes, Globby was able to find himself at the opposite end of the road, staring at the emergency vehicles as they drove by and stopped at the section with a few cars lodged 15-25ft up off the ground. He then rushed over to the firemen as he asked, “Need some assistance? Looks like you’d need a crane or something to move those.”

The uniformed personnel looked at each other before one with a bald head replied, “We were actually just going to search inside for any injured and leave the cars to some construction crew or other special services, but you’re welcome to try though.”

“Okay, just a moment,” Globby informed them as he backed away. He could see that the tossed vehicles were jutting out from their respective structures, much like candles on a cake. Globby then let a sly smile cross his face as he knew what form he wanted next. With a thought, the slimy mutant was stretching and changing his body into that of his favorite form, a Tyrannosaurus Rex. He grew ridges on his back as he created a long tail and a giant head with sharp teeth. When Globby was done, he stood standing half on the sidewalk and half on the street, towering over everything but the buildings themselves (admittedly, he was close though).

The giant dinosaur proceeded to bite down onto the closest car, a black 4-door, making it groan and screech as he pulled it as delicately as he could; his actions did cause more glass and rubble to fall to the ground below. Eh. I’ll get that in a second, he casually thought. “Where do you want this?” Globby asked out the side of his massive mouth.

“Uhh…” came a general consensus from the firemen below as they looked at one another in uncertainty, obviously not used to this situation.

“I’m just gonna set it over here,” he informed them after a few seconds, setting the car on the street next to the last car parked along the sidewalk and being careful to take a giant step back without hitting anything with his tail. After it made an audible clang upon being put down, Globby swept a giant foot over the freshly fallen debris as he absorbed it to make it safe again. He proceeded in this fashion as quickly as he could, getting three more vehicles plucked from the buildings and clearing one side of the cleanup.

Globby began moving to the other side of the road when he heard an insanely loud roar in the distance, like an animal in pain. The gelatinous dinosaur turned toward the sound and looked visibly worried as he thought, Oh, that did not sound anywhere close to good. What are they doing over there? I need to wrap this up now. He eyeballed the remaining cars left embedded in the side of the structures and counted three. Okay, over half done. Just a few more minutes. Please be okay guys, he dearly hoped as he focused on finishing his task.

All while he was removing the cars, the emergency crew had gone inside the damaged buildings to search for people. Of the offices they went through, they had been fortunate enough to have only found five in need so far as they were close to the windows when the cars struck the glass. There were two being carried out on stretchers and had neck braces to prevent spinal cord damage; the other three mainly suffered lacerations and some possible broken bones, but were being taken to the hospital for further evaluation. When they were being escorted/carried outside, Globby couldn’t help but remark to himself, Too bad Baymax isn’t here. Injured folks are definitely his area of expertise. He then noticed he was on the last car, a yellow Kaiju truck. Yes! Finally!

The shapeshifter snagged onto the vehicle, gave it a good pull, and freed it from its elevated position. He set it down next to the other damaged cars except this time, when he righted himself back up, he saw inside the fresh hole that opened up and found a middle-aged man coughing among the rubble. He appeared to be wearing khakis and a once white shirt now covered in dust and bits of pulverized plaster. The man was on his knees as if he had been trying to get up as well as had some small cuts on his hands from shielding his face. He was rubbing his eyes with the back of his wrists and upon seeing the pink and purple dinosaur, gave out an initial yelp.

“It’s okay, it’s okay! Not a real T-Rex,” Globby rapidly tried to calm him down as he quickly began to shrink and surged himself through the hole forming back into his standard humanoid shape. He then leaned out the hole and yelled, “Hey! Got someone here!” The reformed mutant saw them already starting to move one of the other fire engines to their position as he turned back towards the injured man.

“Help’s coming to get you down in no time,” he informed the still coughing gentleman as he approached him. The room appeared to be in an office of some kind, but was half dark now from some broken lights overhead and had some scattered desks and chairs throughout. “Got a name?” Globby politely asked as he stood next to the dusty individual.

“Liam,” he answered after he briefly managed to stop his fit.

“Well Liam, need some water, food, anything?” the gelatinous man inquired as he formed water, chocolate and some tissues in his left hand. Liam, who did want some water, admittedly was off putted by the source of it, so he decided to just request a tissue. “Here you go,” Globby said as he created a small stack and set them next to him. While the injured man began delicately trying to blow his nose and clean himself a little with his lacerated hands, the shapeshifter heard some noise behind him and turned to find the firemen’s ladder coming into view from the outside.

Better clean some of this up, Globby thought to himself as he proceeded to enlarge his hand and began wiping it along the floor, collecting glass, plaster and bits of metal as he went. Done, he contently remarked as he absorbed the material just as two uniformed people entered the room through the hole, one man and one woman.

“He’s got some cuts and doing a bit of coughing. Can’t diagnosis more than that because I’m clearly not a doctor,” the gelatinous mutant stated as he put his hands to his hips and while the emergency personnel inspected Liam. The woman, who had short blonde hair and appeared to be in her 30s bent down, examined his hands and face, then checked his heart rate before speaking.

“Yeah, he’ll probably need some stitches and we’ll have to see if the coughing is an asthma attack or allergic reaction to the dust. We’ll need to get a stretcher just to be safe on bringing him down.”

“Hold on,” Globby interjected as he held his hands out and in a matter of seconds, fabricated a carrier like the ones he saw outside. “This works?”

“Wow. Uh, yeah. Got anything for getting him out of here without taking the stairs?” the male fireman asked jokingly.

Globby on the other hand, gave it a couple seconds of thought before walking over to the large hole, pointing with a gelatinous thumb outside and saying, “How about an express elevator? I will need the ladder out of the way though to make it big enough."

The EMTs then looked at each other in both bewilderment and a touch of excitement at the prospect of this impromptu ride. The female officer proceeded to pull out her radio and call in with, “Hey Dante, were going to need you to bring the ladder in and pull forward about 20ft. Don’t argue, just do it. Thanks.”

They all turned as the sound of hissing and metal creaking indicated the request was being met. The two professionals then gently loaded Liam onto the stretcher and moving him to where Globby stood. The gelatinous mutant looked outside again as he saw the fire engine was completely out of the way as planned. Okay. Let’s do this good and quick, he told himself before starting. He then stuck out his left hand, creating a large pink slime trail that dripped and stretched all the way to the ground. Once it touched the sidewalk, he let it pool until it made a 12ft across circle. With a thought, Globby then changed its composition to stone as the pillar rose, eventually gaining enough height to meet them 20ft up. He then gave it a secure lip against the building so there would be no gap to worry about. “All aboard,” the shapeshifter said with a smile as he gestured to the EMTs, still being sure to maintain his connection to his creation.

The man and the woman, feeling a mix of excitement and nervousness, began cautiously carrying Liam onto Globby’s pillar until they were all in the center.

“Going down,” the reformed man informed the others as he focused on reducing the structure’s height. The few people left on the street couldn’t help but watch at the spectacle before them with a couple even pulling out their phones. Everyone’s ride was only for about 30 seconds as Globby didn’t want it to be too fast that it scared his passengers, but not too slow that they’d have to handle Liam for too long.

Once on the ground and the pillar completely reabsorbed, the EMTs started moving towards the nearest ambulance, but not before looking at the gelatinous mutant and both enthusiastically going, “Thanks.”

Globby smiled and replied, “No problem at all.” He was looking around to see if he had gotten everything when another round of roars made him cringe in worry and surprise. Darn it! That still sounds like it came from a couple streets over. I’ve got to see what’s happening now! I’ve got to at least try and help them, Globby anxiously thought as he was already making a running start for takeoff. When the shapeshifter got a little speed and the pavement was clear of vehicles, he turned back into his pterodactyl form and began rapidly beating his wings. He proceeded to fly in an arching circle as he gained altitude so he could survey that everything was alright below.

Okay, looks like the cars are out of the way and nothing’s close to falling, so here I come guys, Globby internally declared as he turned in the direction of the sound. Immediately catching his eye when he headed out was the plaza in Night Market Square as it was heavily lit despite the late hour. That’s got to be it, he assessed as he kept flapping over a couple sets of corporate offices and alleyways. The gelatinous dinosaur managed to make it to his destination in record time at less than 30 seconds from when he left the accident scene. He proceeded to circle high up so he could briefly scope what was happening. Globby saw his friends’ brightly colored outfits with Go Go standing near a couple retro-fashionable women with high volume hair while Wasabi, Honey Lemon and Fred stood on the sidewalk nearby. He could also make out a man in a grey-blue suit trying to get up, a small man in a purple outfit surrounded by little green things and finally…Wait, is that Momakase?! Maybe I should have watched more of that report because I clearly missed something, the flying mutant thought in bewilderment and hindsight as he began his descent.

He was only halfway to the ground before he was already changing back to normal. Globby’s arrival did not go unnoticed as everyone present (except for the passed out Mayoi) turned their heads to him making a squishy landing less than 20ft away from his friends. “Oh, don’t tell me I missed it! Darn it,” he groaned as he slumped his shoulders, looking depressed and disappointed in himself; not two seconds later, he was already launching into his explanation/apology. “I’m really sorry guys. I swear I was on my way as soon as I saw the news, but there were a bunch of car crashes along the roads, so I helped cleaned that up along with getting some people out. Then, I heard some fire engines and ambulances, so I think ‘Well, they may need help too,’ and decided to follow them to where there was more damage and hurt people, but all the time I kept hearing all that horrible roaring and going ‘That sounds bad and I should be there;’ I couldn’t just leave while clearing the ambulances' route though, and I-”

His rambling was stopped by Honey Lemon as she rushed over and hugged him tight, making him relax a little as he let out a sigh. “Sorry,” he apologized again, but this time less guilt-ridden.

The chemist released him a few seconds later as she looked at him with a sweet smile and said, “There’s nothing to be sorry for Globby. It sounds like you were plenty busy and we’re all okay; besides, we didn’t tell you where we were or what was going on, but thank you for still trying to get here.”

Globby gave a small, appreciative smile in return before Wasabi then decided to blatantly add, “Well, for the most part we’re okay. The psychological trauma is still very much present.”

“Yeah, I only saw them briefly on the news, but what was up with this whole monster bit? Don’t they know…” the gelatinous mutant stopped as due to his arrival, the other heroes weren’t looking at the two criminals, Mr. Sparkles and Momakase, as they were trying to sneak away. He quickly raised his left arm and shot two pinkish, sticky globs at them with pinpoint accuracy. They both let out surprise grunts once the slime hit them and they found themselves to be stuck, with Momakase sounding more frustrated than Mr. Sparkles by the fact she was growling louder and struggling more.

“Rude to leave without saying goodbye. There. Now I can say I contributed something. Anyway, don’t they know that I’ve got the monster part in this city covered? It’s certainly not very original,” Globby remarked with a cheeky grin on the last part.

Honey Lemon gave a little giggle as Go Go now approached while the mother-daughter duo of High Voltage and Orso Knox slowly walked over to where the other former monsters were waiting against their will. “Well, I just called the police and told them they’ve got a pickup. I also told those three not to run if they knew what was good for them, but I don’t think they’ll resist; they’re even claiming they weren’t in control of their actions and given all the crazy that’s happened lately, even I’m not ready to dismiss that possibility,” the speedster admitted with a shrug.

The gelatinous man nodded and said, “Yeah, it’s a brand-new world it seems. Oh, and going back to the monster talk, I recognize the balding guy over there and it’s hard not to know who High Voltage is, and I remember that’s the Sparkles guy you were asking Felony Carl about a few weeks ago; now, I’ve seen them in their souped-up mutant state on the TV or news at some point, but I didn’t get to see Momakase getup. Got any pics because seriously, I need to see.”

“Hang on,” Honey Lemon spoke up as she fished out her phone. (Fortunately, her phone like everyone else’s, had been spared due to their super suits taking the damage from Bessie). The other heroes in the meantime were being more diligent and watching the former monsters either standing quietly or still struggling to break free with audible strain. The pink-clad hero then stopped her search, did a little browsing and a few seconds later told him, “Here you go. Got it from my suit’s body-camera.”

Globby took her cute fox phone and examined the image: Momakase’s wild mane of hair, her yellowish cat-like eyes and her long graphene nails ready to slash. “Yeesh,” the shapeshifter exclaimed as he visibly cringed. “And she thought I looked bad. She took the “crazy cat lady” term in a totally different direction; probably could have kept her at bay with a squirt bottle,” he added as he leaned to the left slightly just to catch sight of Momakase again. He proceeded to shudder at just thinking about what it must have taken for her to get that way. Globby then viewed the picture a second time and realized something. “Wait. If this was from your suit, that means you had to deal with “Killer Claws” over there Honey Lemon?” he inquired with a look of deep concern as he pointed a thumb to the black and blue assailant.

The chemist nodded and put on a brave face as she commented she was fine, but the gelatinous mutant could tell it had shaken her up. “Well, I’m glad you’re oaky,” he said with complete sincerity as it was his turn now to give her a comforting hug. It’s a good thing she’s so smart and tough. I don’t know what I’d do if she or any of them got hurt. He continued the embrace for a few seconds until he felt the need to ask, “So, how did you defeat them?"

Fred then stepped forward as he made a dramatic pose, indicating he had a recap to tell. “We all were facing the monsters in different parts of the city and they were all really tough and scary. We needed a plan to get rid of them and I was stuck in a vicious cycle of needing a plan but not having one; then, after repeatedly landing on my head, an idea came to me, and while Mini-Max carried it out, everyone else lured the villains here in what was supposed to be a rousing defeat of the bad guys. Unfortunately, all of our Ultra-Armor wound up getting “Bessied” and we were practically powerless,” the comic book fan regaled while the others’ expression ranged from annoyed to patient.

“‘Bessied?’” Globby questioned as he raised a gelatinous eyebrow.

“Oh, Bessie’s this meteorite-bear monster that blasts technology-frying lasers out of her mouth,” Fred simply answered and causing the shapeshifter to just stare wide-eyed.

“It was her you probably hear roaring a couple roads over, in addition to Orso Knox that is,” Honey Lemon added as she put a hand on Globby’s shoulder.

“Oh, okay. That admittedly sounds strange/crazy even for me, but whatever. Well, she definitely doesn’t sound like a pleasant monster to be around,” he commented as he put a hand on his hip.

“Actually, she was key to defeating the villains. Fred’s plan involved getting Bessie back in control using Ned Ludd, the guy who looked after her when she was just a meteorite. I’ll spare you the weird details, but Bessie then hit everyone with her beam and disabled the chips that were keeping them as mutants and after that, you showed up,” Wasabi informed him, finishing the story.

Honey Lemon’s eyes then popped open as she turned to Globby in realization. “It may have actually been a good thing you weren’t here Globby. If you got hit with that beam, your neurotransmitter would probably shut down and…” she trailed off as what she was implying was too horrible to say out loud.

The pink and purple man gulp and let an understandable nervous expression cross his face before replying, “Well, I guess I’ll add that to the list of things I should avoid, but who am I kidding? I’d still show up anyway if you needed me as no one’s ever accused me of making smart decisions with my life, but I’m still glad the plan worked out.” He proceeded to punctuate his statement with a wink as he removed all trace of worry from his face. Then, a realization came to Globby as he asked, “Hey, speaking of plans, where’s Baymax and Hiro in all of this? Aren’t they usually here with the plan?”

Upon hearing his question, the other four froze for a brief moment before gasping, looking at each other and switching to panic mode.

“They’re still at Sycorax!”

“We’ve got to go save them!”

“Globby, can you please stay here until the police arrive?” Honey Lemon rapidly requested as she turned to the aforementioned hero.

“Uh, yeah of course,” he answered, taken slightly aback at how this situation had turned so quickly. The Big Hero 6 (or 4 as it were) members were already starting to run off in search of their friends when Globby called out, “I’ll be sure to tell the cops to come to you if they have any more questions.” He received a thumbs up (or rather a claws up) from Fred as he turned around for a moment before facing forward again and super jumping away.

The gelatinous mutant gave a small chuckle as he walked over to the former mutants still waiting for the police to show up; he stepped around and over the numerous Mayoi on his way to them. When he got there, all but one was quiet, either having given up or just wanting their monster nightmare to be over.

“Well, I’m certainly feeling a sense of déjà vu here, aren’t you Momakase?” Globby couldn’t help but inquire with a satisfied grin.

The sushi chef snarled as she struggled in her sticky prison. “You think that just because you bested me once you idiotic slime that makes you better? Oh, if I still had my claws, I’d cut you to ribbons and show you what it means to really wield power,” she threatened with a scowl.

Globby proceeded to cross his arms, clearly unfazed. “First, I’m not a math major, but trapping you here seems like I’ve got you beat twice; secondly, I’m sure you would try to make a dent in me, but I’d just keep coming back since it’s something I’m pretty good at; and lastly, don’t tell me about wielding power when you clearly think that means it should only be used to benefit yourself; that, if anything, is what makes me better than you,” he spouted as he glared at her. Momakase stared right back until she noticed they were being watched by the other four.

“Enjoying the show?” she snapped as she turned to Mr. Sparkles.

“Why yes actually. I take my drama where I can get it and whatever you two got going on is just ooo, too hard to resist,” the pink haired man answered with a look of wild glee.

“Oh, she’s just always hated me and is just mad because she’s a sore loser who lost to someone she thinks is stupid,” Globby casually replied as he uncrossed his arms.

Mr. Sparkles nodded and added, “Yeah, she did angrily call me a ‘fool.’ Got to say Momakase, insulting people is not a good way to make friends.”

The blue and black ninja then growled before she barked, “I’m not in it to make friends you dolt! Ugh. I can’t believe I’m stuck with this irritating company. The other heroes were at least kind enough to mostly stay quiet except for when they were screaming in fear.”

The shapeshifter’s eyes narrowed as he proceeded to lean closer to Momakase and tell her, “Just so you know, I saw the picture of you in the alleyway monster. I hope you have a nice, long stay in prison for what you did, preferably in the coldest cell they got.”

She grimaced and said, “Your breath still smells like garbage, and if you’re referring to the peppy girl in pink, well…consider it as I was playing with my food.” She then finished her sentence with a smug smile of her own.

Globby frowned at her words, knowing full and well she was trying to mess with him, but still not liking what she was saying. The master thief smirked as she realized she struck a nerve. “Oh, don’t like that I went after your dear friend, do you? She was right to be scared of me, and it’s no wonder she had to have help from her other friends to try and stop me. If she were truly brave, she would have taken me on all on-” Momakase’s taunting was stopped by Globby shooting a bit of glob over her mouth, further adding to the recreation of their previous encounter.

“Nobody talks about my friends like that,” he stated in a steady, even tone as she looked disgusted by the slime over her mouth again. Suddenly, the air was filled with the sound of police sirens as they were finally making their way to pick up the perpetrators. ‘Bout time. Maybe they took one of the streets I didn’t get a chance to clear up, the gelatinous mutant wondered as he turned to his left to peer down the pavement.

Momakase continued to seethe in anger, scowling at her former teammate until she spotted something that made her lift an eyebrow in confusion. It looked like there was a small, blue swirl on his right shoulder and what she thought was a flash of red and black. But as soon as it appeared, it was gone and Globby seemed not to have noticed.

The moment was interrupted by the sound of a deep sigh and a small whimper, making everyone turn to the mother-daughter duo of High Voltage. “Oh Mama, what if they don’t believe we were forced into helping that awful woman? We were so close to starting over,” Juniper worried as she buried her head into her hands.

Barb patted her on the back before leaning over to gently hug her. “It’ll be okay sweetie. Even if they don’t believe us, we’ll make our way in time.”

Orso Knox then gave a small cough in order to interject with his two cents. “If it’s any consolation to you two, I know I was a prisoner of Liv's too, forcing me to pay her so I wouldn’t get changed back into a monster. I don’t want to be charged either for being a part of her plan,” the balding man told them as he gave a sympathetic smile.

Despite the wailing sirens growing louder, Globby overheard their conversation and decided to step towards the three people to hopefully help ease their worry. “Hey, if you’re talking about that Sycorax place, Big Hero 6 is heading there now to save some other folks that are trapped there. Whatever happened to you all, I’m sure they’ll help the truth come out; they’re really good at their jobs,” he informed them with a bright smile, which garnered some small ones from the trio.

A few seconds later, the red and blue flashing lights could be seen approaching, indicating the situation was almost over. The shapeshifter let out a deep sigh as the half dozen police cars screeched to a stop 15ft away from the lot and the officers came out. Okay, time for explanations, Globby said to himself as he waved and approached the cops, bracing for the long conversation to come.

                    ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Over the next 30 minutes, Globby talked to law enforcement, telling them it was Big Hero 6 that fought them and how he only was watching them while they went to Sycorax to get the mastermind behind this whole ordeal. He also mentioned Bessie, although he was short on details and that they should talk with his superhero friends if they needed to know more. In addition, the gelatinous man mentioned the car crash filled roads outside of Night Market Square that may still need help. He remained with the former mutants until they were in police custody being interviewed before going to the hospital for surgery and examinations; he did have to help release Mr. Sparkles and Momakase from their sticky prisons, making the sushi chef glare in hatred (and pain) as he freed her mouth; as for the Mayoi problem, they started to finally wake up and began to scatter, leaving everyone to just shrug as they weren’t seen as a priority given all the damage.

Once he was sure the cops had everything under control, Globby finally felt guiltfree about heading home. He proceeded to stretch his arms to the nearest building and began to swing home in the late, late night. While most everything above him was dark, the streetlights below still glowed brightly as he made his way through the city, helping to keep him awake as he yawned loudly.

Man, it’s been a while since I’ve stayed up this late. I’m gonna crash so hard when I get to bed, Globby remarked internally as he navigated his way onto Ichiba St. Still, the fact that they, or at least some of them, were wanting to turn themselves into monsters is crazy. I doubt the idea started because of me, but it does makes you wonder; besides, if they really wanted powers so bad, they should have gone the route I took and be in a freaky, painful accident initially due to poor life decisions and bad timing, the pink and purple man thought as he gave another yawn. A moment later, he could see their apartment come into view despite the less-than-ideal lighting. Globby proceeded to swing into the alleyway, where he found the right fire escape window and quietly squeezed through to the inside.

The interior was usually dark except for a plugin night light in the kitchen, but this time, Globby saw a glow coming from the living room. He walked in as silently as he could to find the TV on with Jasmine sleeping in her bed over by the wall and Felony Carl snoring on the couch. The gelatinous mutant shook his head as he gave a small loving smile before approaching his sleeping boyfriend. He then felt the need to fabricate a big, red blanket to drape over him so he would be warm. Globby smiled again as he walked past the couch and into the bedroom to get a well-deserved rest.

“Night Carl,” he whispered as he left the living room, just barely hearing Felony Carl utter, “Night Globs” to him right after. The shapeshifter smiled again, knowing the two of them would catch up in the morning; for now though, sleep was the only thing that couldn’t wait.

Chapter Text

“Okay. You can do this,” Hiro said to himself as he tried to muster up some courage. It was a little after 8pm in the first week of August and the teen genius was currently in his bedroom sitting in front of his computer. He had already been debating internally about making this leap for a while now, but he decided tonight was going to be the night he’d talk to Karmi about how they felt about each other. Hiro already knew that she cared about him from her confession she made to his superhero persona dubbed “Captain Cutie,” but after the Hardlight Chibi incident a few weeks ago, neither of them acted on it from there.

Baymax was aware of the issue by his scans revealing increased blushing, dopamine and norepinephrine levels whenever he brought up their last encounter as well as increased anxiety over the subject. He had also given his best advice be suggesting open, honest communication with Karmi, talking about things they liked and complimenting her; Baymax provided a list of relaxation/coping techniques to help in the event things went south. Hiro knew that he had to face it eventually as being stuck in this perpetual state was agonizing, but this was something new, uncertain and he wanted to get it right.

Now Hiro just stared at his blank, dark monitor as he let out a deep sigh. He turned in his chair to see Baymax sleeping at his charging station, hoping that he wouldn’t wake up from the call he about to make; Hiro loved that robot, but his interjections might derail the conversation or cause him to inadvertently get embarrassed.

The robotics expert swiveled back around to see his reflection on the empty screen before logging in and opening up his Vid-2-U messaging app. He searched for a few seconds until he found the number Karmi gave him a while ago. He looked at it for almost a minute until he thought, Just do it, and clicked call immediately so he would stop waffling over it.

Hiro could hear the characteristic “ring, ring” as a little animated phone shook in the window. It rang once, twice, three times and with each ring, the anxiety grew within the teen genius. By the fifth ring, he decided he’d hang up and try again tomorrow, but as he was reaching for the mouse, the call chimed and Karmi’s face appeared in the window.

“Hello?”

“Oh! Uh, hey Karmi! Hope it’s not too late to call. I uh, well, how have you been?” Hiro flustered as him going from backing out to being right back caused him to forget his whole conversation plan in two seconds flat. He could see Karmi was in her bedroom where she was wearing her pjs, which looked to be pumpkin orange in color and got progressively darker as it descended to the sleeves and bottom. Her hair was down and looked to be almost dry, like she took a shower an hour or so earlier.

She initially seemed surprised when she saw it was Hiro’s face appear when she accepted the call, making her go wide-eye for a moment before she recovered. “Hey Hiro! It’s uh, going well, I guess. And it’s not too late. I still had some work I needed to finish up,” the biotech genius answered as she self-consciously tucked her dark brown hair behind her ear.

“Whatcha working on?” he politely inquired as he scooted his chair a little closer.

“Well, I sort of have a bunch of projects and I try to get a little bit done each day, unless I’m in the zone and I end up spending hours on it,” she replied with a small nervous laugh before realizing she didn’t answer the question. “Sorry. I meant to say I was doing some editing on my new Big Hero 6 Chibi episode.”

“Really? Care to give me a little hint as to what it’s about?” Hiro questioned, trying not to show the slight worry he had whenever she brought up his team.

Karmi gave a happier laugh this time and then said, “Maybe just this once. I was going to have it be about some villain-hero team up that has to happen to keep the city safe from an OC character of mine I call ‘The Harbinger.’”

“Ooo, that sounds really cool for like a season finale or something,” the robotist complimented as she continued to listen.

Karmi blushed a little and self-consciously scratched the back of her head. “Yeah, the problem is thinking of a few more shorts that help connect it all together,” she responded with a small chuckle.

“I’m sure you’ll come up with it in no time. You’ve got a lot of great ideas,” Hiro told her with sincerity.

She blushed harder and realizing he had said a flattering statement, made Hiro blush too; he was really glad Baymax was asleep for this.

Karmi gave a small cough a moment later as she tried to appear more relaxed and started to converse again. “So, uh, did you call just to get spoilers for Fred or…” she trailed off as she hoped to hear the words she had been wanting to say herself. Like Hiro, the past few weeks had her in a state of whether to act or not. Karmi didn’t know for sure if he cared for as more than just a friend and wanted to get it right too. The duo was both entering new territory and although Hiro got a preview of her feelings for him, it didn’t make it any easier, as evident by the teen genius taking a few seconds to compose his next sentence.

“I uh, actually wanted to talk, like really talk with you since we didn’t get the chance at the comic book store. For one thing, I’m sorry I didn’t see you in action, but I heard you were amazing at stopping Hardlight,” he said to her with a look of admiration.

The 17yr-old was on a blushing streak as her cheeks turned red again. “Well, thanks Hiro, but I did take some inspiration from you on realizing the value of robotics and technology,” she confessed with a smile.

“Heh, yeah, but even if I was the inspiration, you’re the one who put it together and got it to work. So, I heard you made a hologram device? It sounded so cool and how did you manage to pull it off?” the 15yr-old inquired with genuine interest.

Karmi’s grin continued to shine as she leaned a little closer to the camera and answered, “Truth be told, since my parents moved me back to Carsienora, I haven’t gotten to do my biotech research really at all; my parents’ place apparently is not coded for biohazardous material. Anyway, what I could do is look into this brand-new world of robotics and I was able to even do it without much objection from mom and dad; they did ask that I’d not do any testing in my room and that I wouldn’t do anything dangerous.”

Hiro gave a small nervous laugh as he scratched the back of his head. “Yeah, my Aunt Cass feels the same way. I have snuck a project or two up here when I wanted a change of pace from the garage. Please don’t tell her I have.”

“Your secret’s safe with me,” she replied with a laugh before continuing. “I fiddled together some small robots, just cute ones meant as practice until I felt confident enough to try my gauntlet. You may not have known, but I was a big fan of the anime “Weapon IX: Forged by Fire” growing up and I wanted to make a functioning holo-display glove. Fortunately, I had taken an optics class as an elective before leaving SFIT, so I at least knew the principles of how holograms are constructed.”

The teen genius nodded in understanding and asked, “I heard you were able to turn Hardlight’s own army against him, so did your holo-gauntlet have a virus embedded in its projections?”

Karmi looked a little wide-eyed in surprise for a second before remembering he was a genius too. She then responded with, “Actually yeah. Now, mine weren’t as fancy as Hardlight’s army of Captain Cuties, but I made my glove have variable wavelength capability and a focusing aperture so it could make any shape or color I wanted as well as be able to project it a good distance. I just programmed in a simple controller switch command into the hologram pattern that made the army respond to the signal in my glove when it made contact with them; I even had it be capable of picking up other signal frequencies and match them for replication purposes.”

As Karmi stopped to catch her breath, Hiro just stared in amazement as he processed how far she had come these past five months. “That’s truly incredible Karmi. You really can do anything you set your mind to,” he told her with a smile and a look of pride on his face.

The biotech prodigy gave a bashful grin as she rubbed her arm. “Thanks. That means a lot coming from you. So, uh, what was the other thing you wanted to tell me?” she questioned hopefully.

Hiro looked briefly to his left before taking a deep breath in and then letting it out. “The other thing, or rather the main thing, I called you Karmi is because well, I’ve had a lot of time to think about…stuff…between you and me. I know we had our differences in the past and that we were both too stuck in our ways to want to admit we had a lot in common,” he started saying as he forced himself to continue. He then stared directly at the young woman, who was hanging onto every word he said, and smiled at her. “But when we were able to work together and save Liv, I realized I was wrong to think of you as my enemy and that we could do so much more as a team than separately. And then when you were gone…,” Hiro trailed off as his shoulders slumped and he noticeably got sadder. “…it just didn’t feel right not getting to see you every day. I really missed you and I felt bad that we spent so little time as actual friends, and maybe if I tried sooner…” Hiro trailed off again as the months of guilt he didn’t even know he was carrying appeared, making him give a deep, long sigh.

Karmi took this moment to interject with, “Hey, it’s like you said, we were both stuck in our ways; we may not be able to fix the past, but we’re here now so, let’s make the most of it okay?”

Hiro’s spirits lifted a little as a small smile returned and he sat more upright again. “Yeah, you’re right. Has anyone every told you that you’re a genius before?” he remarked coyly with an eyebrow raised.

“Not since yesterday when I helped my dad find where he lost his glasses,” Karmi joked with a touch of gratitude for the compliment.

Hiro laughed a little before he made a small cough to bring the conversation back to his words of emotional honesty. “Anyway, I came to realize how much you amaze me and because you’re so smart and brave, and how well…thinking about you made me feel…happy; and I’m sorry if this sounds corny, I believe my life if better when you’re in it.” He then began scratching the back of his head as he said, “So, if you want to that is, maybe we could do more of these video chats as some sort of long-distance relationship or something. It would definitely be something I’d look forward to. What do you say?” Hiro proceeded to flinch in anxious anticipation as he waited for Karmi’s answer.

The aforementioned young woman didn’t take but a few seconds as she went from listening attentively to smiling warmly, admiring him more for how sweet and respectful he was. Karmi then tucked a few more strands of hair behind her ear as she replied, “That sounds like a great idea. I actually was going to try and tell you pretty much the same thing, but I wasn’t sure if you felt the same way. The indecision was practically killing me on whether to just call you up and get it over with, but then I thought maybe in person would be better, and it was just ugh.” She finished her statement by burying her head into her hands to demonstrate the level of exhaustion this issue had created within her.

“Yeah, I can relate,” the robotist noted in agreement. The two then looked at each other in silence, both smiling and feeling glad that the initial wave of fear had passed. “So, what now?” Hiro inquired as he readjusted in his seat.

“Well, we could try to do this a couple times a week and see where it goes from there. Oh, and just so you know, I still keep pestering my parents to let me return to SFIT. No luck so far but maybe one day they will; I can out wait them,” Karmi suggested with a slight pout at the end of her statement.

“Well, I can keep hoping they change their minds and I’ll wait along with you,” the boy genius replied as he flashed a determined look.

The fan fiction writer’s smiled returned upon hearing his words. She then leaned forward before asking, “Okay, you’ve heard what’s been happening with me, so, what about you?”

Hiro gave a small laugh and replied, “Where to begin? This summer has been crazy, but not necessarily bad. It’ll be interesting being a mentor in the coming weeks since there’s a new kid taking my title away for youngest student.”

“What? Really?”

“Yeah, his name’s Rishi and he’s only 11! Definitely doesn’t feel good I must admit,” Hiro confessed with a headshake in disbelief.

Karmi now smirked and said, “No, it doesn’t. So, what all do you have to do?”

“Oh, I’ve got to make sure he stays out of trouble, namely making sure he keeps the hacking to a minimum; there will also be the adjustment to college life. Granville just wants me to be there for him mainly so he’ll see how developing his gift and using it to better the world is the way to go,” Hiro answered with a tired sigh.

“Well, I don’t envy the challenge you’ll probably have to face. So, what else has been happening with your ‘crazy’ summer?” the biotech expert inquired as she crossed her arms and laid them on the desk.

“Let’s see, there was the dog sitting incident, 4-2 Sing showing up, the Krei-oke Night disaster, oh and Fred has a girlfriend now,” the teenage boy started listing off.

“Awww, good for him. Now, you’ve got to tell me what the heck is ‘Krei-oke.’”

“Okay, well you know how Krei is generally a self-centered, not long-term planning type person right?”

“Yep, that much I was aware of.”

“Yeah, so he…”

The two young geniuses continued their conversation for the next half hour or so, laughing, going back and forth with questions and just enjoying how good it felt to talk to each other. They’d agree to do it all over again in three days’ time, but over the course of this call, they were never aware that a supposedly sleeping Baymax had one eye peeked open to observe their interaction; if this inflatable robot had a mouth, he surely would be smiling with satisfaction.

Chapter Text

“Are we there yet?” Wasabi anxiously squeaked from his seat in back. He, along with his other friends (human and robotic) were situated in the Frederickson’s chopper, on their way to the family island Fred had offered as a visit for them. It was a bright sunny day in early June and after the debacle that was panicking over his friends leaving, Fred thought it would be a good idea to finally do this.

Wasabi was currently seated in a middle spot, wearing a blindfold along with his required headset, trying his best not to think about where he was currently. Fred was to his right with Mini-Max in his lap asleep and Hiro was to his left, eagerly looking out the window as the ocean glistened below.

Honey Lemon and Go Go sat opposite of them with a deflated and packed Baymax between them while Heathcliff was doing the piloting up front; each member (except the robots) had brought a bag filled with their beach-going essentials. The family island they were going to was located about 25 miles west of San Fransokyo, far away from prying eyes. The rich young man had told them they could do all kinds of fun things from swimming in the ocean (or the pool) to playing volleyball on the beach to jet-skiing near the shore. As they traveled, conversation was surprisingly minimal with the main sound being the deep, pulsating thumping of the helicopter blades spinning on top.

“Almost Wasabi,” Fred finally answered as he continued to stare out the window.

“Good.”

Not 5 minutes after the physicist asked his question, Heathcliff announced over the radio, “To all passengers on this flight today, we have a visual on our destination. Landing procedures will begin shortly.”

Fred pressed his face closer to the glass as he cradled his robotic friend before he went, “Ooo! Ooo! I see it!”

His remark was enough to wake Mini-Max up, making him sit up in Fred’s arm and mimic his moves. “He is correct. Proverbial isolated mansion is fast approaching.” Honey Lemon, Go Go and Hiro now looked to see out of the corner of the glass and found the island about 8 acres in size. At the center of it stood a 30ft tall beach house that was surrounded by lush foliage on the sides and along the front. The building was cream in color with dark grey tiles on the roof, covered in large windows that faced north and south and had a center balcony on the second floor.

As the helicopter did a lap around to get to the helipad in back, the heroes could see the large pool, the volleyball net on the tan sand below and even a tennis court that Fred had neglected to inform them about. The down draft from the rotating blades while it swooped created a noticeable rippling movement on everything below it, making the plants swish rapidly in all directions. Heathcliff proceeded to expertly position the flying machine over the giant H landing spot and descended slowly all the way to the ground. Once the loud whirring sound dissipated, the family butler announced, “It is safe to disembark.”

“Finally,” Wasabi uttered, breathing a sigh of relief as he removed his headset and blindfold while everyone else was just taking off the headset. Next, Fred was working to open the door and with a grunt of effort, managed to slide it open. Hiro proceeded to set Baymax’s charger on the floor to make inflation easier. The gang then filed out as they stepped onto the concrete slab and admired the view before them. The backside of the beach house was cream too with 10 windows for each floor along with a pair of large, decorative ones in the center of each level.

Heathcliff came around the front side of the helicopter and inquired, “Shall I bring the bags inside Master Frederickson?”

“Nah, we can get them, but thanks my man,” Fred answered with a dismissive hand gesture.

“Very good sir. I will go inside to be sure everything is in working order then,” the gentleman butler replied before bustling off as he said he would do.

“Come on guys. I’ve got to give you a tour before we go down to the beach,” the comic book fan urged everyone as he turned to grab his red duffel bag. The rest of the gang followed suit as they leaned into the cabin to grab their things.

“Hey Baymax, you can inflate now,” Hiro informed the aforementioned robot.

With a whir and the squeaky sound of vinyl rubbing together, Baymax was now scrunched inside the helicopter, stating “Oh no” and leaving Wasabi and Fred to pull him free before situating him on the ground.

“Thank you,” he told them.

“No problem,” they both said and turning to face the expensive-looking building.

From their short walk, essentially everyone gasped as they stepped through the large carved door into the spacious foyer. There was an octagon-shaped wood and glass table in the center with fake flowers, a large decorative blue and cream rug underneath it and hanging lights along the ceiling that were currently off. In addition, along the back wall they had come in from there were two sets of staircases that met in the middle, leading to the second floor and creating a triangle pattern.

“This place looks amazing Freddie,” Honey Lemon complimented as she spun around to try and see everything.

“Yeah, now let me show you around,” Fred offered as he set his bag down, prompting everyone to mimic his actions and following him off to the left.

With Mini-Max sitting on his shoulder, the young Frederickson stepped through another doorway and went “Ta-da!” He proceeded to gesture at the large fully-loaded kitchen, which included a stove, fridge, oven, and microwave along with a long dining table that had a white cloth cover dangling over it.

The gang was examining the marble countertop when they turned right to the sound of rustling as Heathcliff emerged from a closet, looking particularly pleased.

“Good news sir. Everything from the electrical system to the plumbing appears to be fine despite the rainstorm from three days ago, so just inform me of when you would like lunch and I will get started,” he politely told the others.

Fred turned towards his friends and asked, “What do you guys think? 12-12:30 sound good?” There was then a general consensus of nods and murmuring “Yeah, sounds good,” as the young heroes looked between themselves and back to the comic book fan.

“Very good. I’ll be in here if you need anything. By all means, continue with your tour followed by the recreational fun,” the well-dressed butler eloquently said before heading to the pantry on the other side of the kitchen.

Fred proceeded to clasped his hands together and stated, “Okay guys, let’s make this quick so we can get swimming.” He then escorted the other five back into the main foyer, creating an audible sound of footsteps and squeaky noises from Baymax’s vinyl legs rubbing together.

Once they were back where they started, Fred continued with showing them around and gestured to the dark wooden doors that were the front entrance. "So, that’s where we’ll leave to go down to the water. There’s a stone-laid path all the way down and the equipment for if we want to play volleyball is off to the side here,” he informed them as he pointed to another carved wood door.

They all then resumed walking as the kaiju-loving man led them to the next room, being sure to mention that one of the fancy doors off to the left was a bathroom, complete with a giant mirror and toiletries along the black-speckled countertop. A moment later, they found themselves staring at a large TV with giant speakers in what was clearly the living room. There were some cushioned chairs and a large sofa with vintage floral designs along with a dark brown coffee table that appeared to be an antique. The heroes gazed around at the walls lined with paintings of various seascapes as well as some portraits of the Frederickson family. In addition to the illustrations, the whole room boasted some of the large windows they had seen from the outside, but with long dark green curtains shown hanging since they were inside now.

“Ta-da! Probably my favorite room in the house. This TV gets all the channels back home despite being on a literal island,” Fred told the others as they wandered around.

“Do you come here often?” Wasabi inquired as he went to gaze out a window.

Fred shrugged a little (to keep Mini-Max balanced) and replied, “Not really, which is why my room here doesn’t have much comic book stuff; only about 300 issues or so for light reading.”

The physicist now shrugged in a “Whatever works” response before everyone went back to following the beanie-clad man through the second archway back to where they came from. When they got back to the octagon table, Fred began leading them upstairs, causing a creaking sound in the floor boards as they climbed; this also resulted in Baymax having to slowly go up one step at a time and making the others wait for a minute. Once he was up top, they resumed the tour as they passed the bedrooms and bathrooms one by one, but only opening up his and the guest ones.

“Now, I know we’re not staying the night here, but you've got to try one of these beds. They are so soft!” Fred exclaimed as he rushed into the spacious room lined with more seascape paintings and a few windows. The inside had a dark hardwood floor covered by a large diamond-patterned rug with a king-sized bed against the wall. It had an extremely puffy jade-colored comforter on top along with 4 matching throw pillows neatly made; Fred acted to ruin it though by jumping onto the mattress with a gleeful smile on his face and making Mini-Max fall on it next to him.

“This blanket is attempting to swallow me with its fluffiness,” the diminutive bot declared as he sank into the bed.

The others didn’t jump on, but opted to still feel it per Fred’s wishes. “Ooo, that’s nice,” Honey Lemon commented as she laid a hand on the silky top.

Go Go just poked it with one finger and remarked, “Eh, too soft for me. Now, better wrap this tour fast Fred or we’ll be going back without even hitting the beach.”

The aforementioned comic book fan sat up quickly, slightly worried about what might happen if he didn’t, grabbed Mini-Max and went back out to the hallway. With his friends in tow, he stopped a moment later at his door and opened it with joy as he showcased his home away from home (more or less). Inside he had posters along the wall featuring “The Kentucky Kaiju,” “Captain Fancy,” “The Annihilator,” and other favorites of his. Fred also had a large bed with monster movie-themed sheets and a dozen or so action figures lined on a shelf, which hung over a filing cabinet (filled with comic books no doubt).

“And this is my room,” he announced, stating the obvious as he walked onto the UFO-printed rug that covered the floor.

“Clearly,” Hiro stated with a small smirk as he crossed his arms.

“Okay, okay. Almost done, almost done,” the flame-throwing hero quickly told everyone as he rushed out of his room in eagerness to go to the beach. With his footsteps echoing along the floor, Fred took the gang to a set of double doors that had the same carvings as the one they entered through.

“Okay, and…ta-da!” he shouted with showmanship as he opened the doors to reveal the gorgeous view before them. His friends stepped through to the outside world, and once they walked out from under the protective roof that covered half the balcony, practically everyone marveled at what they saw. Stretching far beyond the horizon was the ocean of sparkling dark blue as clouds floated in the bright sky above. The waves endlessly lapped and foamed on the sand along with the path leading up to the house being paved with large granite steps. Even Wasabi didn’t seem to mind his elevated position as everyone (except Baymax and Mini-Max) breathed a collective deep breath out at how peaceful everything seemed, with the only sounds being the waves and the plants rustling in the breeze.

All of them stood there for around a minute until Fred spoke up with, “Enough of just watching the beach. Let’s hit it!” before turning rapidly back towards the door and running inside, with Mini-Max barely hanging on.

Baymax then tilted his head and stated, “Hitting water at an extreme velocity will result in bruising and pain.” The other heroes gave a small chuckle before they followed the eager young man inside and closed the balcony entrance shut. They all shuffled downstairs to collect their bags and rush to the nearest restroom, leaving Baymax to wait by the table in the foyer.

After about 5 minutes, everyone was dressed in appropriate swim attire from their swimsuits to their footwear of either sandals or water shoes; Honey Lemon was dressed in a fuchsia-pink bikini imprinted with orchids, had her hair tied up and a pair of sunglasses on her face; Wasabi wore light blue swim trunks, a white T-shirt and a visor to shield his eyes from the sun; Go Go put on a black one-piece swimsuit with purple lines along the hips to the arms as well as a pair of sunglasses; Fred was wearing red and black swim trunks with a pair of blue goggles dangling around his neck and his characteristic beanie (Mini-Max had opted for just wearing nothing); lastly, Hiro wore a pair of black swim trunks, a white short-sleeve T-shirt and some yellow goggles on his head. Everyone convened at the table, each carrying a towel and ready to swim.

“Has everyone applied sunblock to all areas?” Baymax asked them, concerned about their UV exposure.

“All good Baymax. Mini-Max got me covered,” Fred answered and giving the aforementioned robot a thumbs up.

“I got Go Go,” Honey Lemon chimed in.

“Same, but for Honey Lemon,” Go Go added.

“I took care of myself. One of the many benefits of yoga,” Wasabi informed the others and garnering a brief eye-roll from the speedster.

“I guess I still need a little help. Do you mind?” Hiro admitted as he pulled his shirt forward so someone could get his back.

The physicist volunteered as he pulled a bottle of sunscreen from his bag and squeezed some of it onto Hiro, with the cold sensation making him shiver for a moment. Before he knew it, the process was done and Hiro put his attire back on.

“It is recommended that you wait 30 minutes now before going outside for extended outdoor activities,” the inflatable robot told everyone while raising a finger.

Everyone exchanged glances before Fred leaned on Baymax and said, “Yeah Baymax, pretty much no one does that. They either put more sunscreen on or just accept the sunburn as payment for the fun time.”

The large mechanical man blinked and stated, “Oh. I will bring more sunblock then,” before picking up a bag to take to the beach.

The kaiju fan proceeded to rush over to a closet by the front door he had yet to open. “And if you’re worried so much, we’ve got some umbrellas and beach chairs in here to help too.”

“Sweet,” Hiro commented as he grabbed a foldup chair.

“That’ll do nicely while I’m taking a break from working on my sandcastle,” Wasabi added as he grabbed both items.

Once the accessories were grabbed and everyone had their bags of essentials (phone, water bottles, sunscreen, and some buckets with sand sculpting tools), they finally made it to the large carved doors. Fred took the liberty of opening it, causing a gust of salty wind to hit them as well as the bright sunlight. The heroes made it across the front patio, which was devoid of table and chairs for safety concerns while it was vacant, but it did have some potted plants near the house itself to add some color to the outside façade. Next, they were onto the stone steps, making their short walk down to the expanse of sand leading to the water. As they got closer, Go Go noticed something slightly large and bulky propped on top of some planks with a red cover over it sitting 30ft from the shore.

“Hey Fred, that the jet ski you were talking about?” she inquired as she pointed her head at it.

The young man smiled and replied, “Yeah, it is. Want to give it a try?”

“Sure,” she simply answered with a shrug.

Honey Lemon’s eyes then lit up as she got an exciting idea. “Ooo, I’ve never been on one. Could I ride with you? I promise not to scream too loudly,” she asked with clasped hands as she turned towards the speedster.

Go Go stared for a moment, clearly flustered at Honey Lemon’s request since she had never even asked her to ride her motorcycle. She then blinked and shook her head, followed by answering, “Uh, yeah. Just make sure you don’t have anything on you’re not prepared to lose.”

“Yay!” the chemist exclaimed before attempting a hug, only to realize both her arms and Go Go’s were currently carrying stuff, causing her to back off.

They proceeded to walk down the last couple of steps onto the hot, shifting sand, where they breathed a sigh of relief as they let their possessions drop. For the next couple of minutes, the gang set up the chairs, laid their towels out and propped up a couple umbrellas as they set everything else under them (except for Honey Lemon who still had her phone out and was taking some scenic pictures). The gang then got out their water bottles and took a few swigs, preventing Baymax from informing them on the importance of hydration.

Once satisfied and feeling refreshed from the drink, Fred and Hiro went towards the water with their goggles on, clearly ready to free swim. Wasabi with Mini-Max tailing him, grabbed some buckets to collect the damp sand near the wave’s edge for beginning his construction. Honey Lemon, Go Go and Baymax meanwhile headed for the jet ski as they would need the robot’s strength to get it into the water.

The bikini-clad woman pulled the protective cloth off of the machine to find two orange life jackets resting on the top of the seat. The jet ski itself was mostly white with a deep violet-colored seat and handles while a black lightning bolt ran along the sides of it.

“Okay Baymax, do your thing,” Go Go stated as the inflatable robot positioned his arms and lifted the desired object with ease. He then shuffled towards the ocean, sinking some into the sand as he went while the young women put on their life jackets. Less than 30 seconds later, Baymax managed to make it to his destination as he gently sat the jet ski down into the shallow rippling water. The absence of the extra weight now caused the robot to float and fall over with a splash. Honey Lemon and Go Go proceeded to walk down to the ocean as both kicked their sandals off onto the sand before the shorter one waded in to fetch Baymax.

“Thank you,” he robotically said once he was upright again.

“No problem. Come on. Let’s ride,” the speedster urged as she climbed on. The chemist then handed her phone to the large white being and asked sweetly, “Can you please get some pictures Baymax? I don’t want to lose my phone out there.”

The healthcare companion accepted the fox-themed item and replied, “I will do my best as I watch over everyone.”

“Thanks!” She then excitedly stomped through the water as she hopped on board behind Go Go, being sure to grab her shoulders to hang on better.

The engineer now gave the throttle a good rev, making a load roar and a jet of water stream behind it. She then turned to her roommate and with a small smirk, said “Hang on.” With a good turn of the handle, the two leaned back as they were propelled forward, making Honey Lemon gave a brief yelp in surprise.

The salty wind whipped their hair into a frenzy as Go Go drove the jet ski into deeper water for some more space. She then turned to the left so they were passing by the shore, followed by steering it right and doing this action a few times in order to create a serpentine effect. As the waves and the jet ski itself bobbed up and down during this time, the chemist excitedly giggled from this new experience and eagerly waited to see what Go Go would try next. The purple hair-streaked woman, upon hearing the fit of joy, smiled and decided to break out of the maneuver by just keeping the handle locked to the right, making them go in a perpetual circle. This action created a crown of water around them and sprinkling them with a cool mist. Honey Lemon oooed and awed at the spectacle and was hoping Baymax was getting some quality shots.

Go Go then broke out of the loop and drove the jet ski back closer to the shore as she was about to attempt the next stunt. “Okay, now really hold on,” the engineer prompted her best friend, making Honey Lemon wrap her arms around her waist for added security. Go Go gave the throttle a full turn and leaned back to create enough weight displacement for the wave rider to propel itself into a flip. The long-haired lass gave a scream in surprise and excitement as the world briefly was upside down, until it was back upright as their ride landed with a splash.

“Oh, sorry for the scream, but that was amazing Go Go,” Honey Lemon complimented as a big smile was plastered on her face, heart still pumping from all the adrenaline.

Go Go blushed slightly (hoping the chemist wouldn’t notice) and gave a small smile as she turned to face her. “Thanks. You uh, want to keep going?” she inquired, trying to seem nonchalant.

“Yes please!” Honey Lemon emphatically answered as she wrapped her arms around Go Go again, making the speedster feel flustered again.

Before she could actually rev the engine, her best friend curiously asked, “Hey, maybe I can try a ride on you motorcycle too, I mean, if that’s alright with you?”

“Oh, uh yeah. Sure. We’ll just need to get you a non-superhero helmet to wear,” the engineer answered as best as she could from the shock the question caused her. Go Go then returned to the task at hand as she focused on moving the jet ski into some more fun and fast maneuvers.

While the two women were having their fun, Wasabi was constructing his multi-tiered sandcastle as Mini-Max offered what assistance he could when he wasn’t observing the process. “To think, something known for being notoriously unstable could yield such structures,” the tiny defender of justice noticed as he handed Wasabi a shovel to smooth a new layer.

“It’s all about balance and order to keep it upright. That’s at least what my dad taught me when I was little,” the physicist imparted on his robotic friend as he eyeballed another piece to scrape. He proceeded to wipe his forehead with the back of his hand as the sun’s heat beat down on the two. “I’m going to get some more water. Mini-Max, you cool with filling those two buckets with more damp sand?” he asked politely.

“Consider it done, my good chum. Ha! Fish humor,” Mini-Max replied as he quickly stood up and grabbed the blue and orange plastic buckets. Despite his small legs, the little bot swiftly moved across the hot plain to the cooler, wet one and began scooping into his totes. He then packed them good and carried them back one at a time (since they were much heavier and he didn’t want to spill any). After he finished with his task, Mini-Max looked up to find Wasabi still refreshing himself under the parasol. He gazed around the surrounding area until his mechanical eyes spotted something poking out of the sand. The blue-eyed robot did a quick jump over and plucked his hidden treasure to find he was holding a flat, pink shell that had grooves on one side and was smooth on the other. He turned it over several times, just fascinated at it for some reason and finding himself unable to stop staring at it until his much taller friend finally came back.

“Whatcha got there Mini-Max?” Wasabi inquired as he bent down to examine it.

The superhero bot held it up and answered, “It appears to be the remnants of an ocean dwelling creature that has washed up on shore. I must admit it is quite fun to look at.”

The physicist gave a warm smile before getting an idea and saying, “You know, this castle could use a little something to brighten it up. How about you go find some more and we can use them to really make this sandcastle stand out?”

Mini-Max’s eyes conveyed a look of excitement as he took a bold stance and declared, “I will not let you down! This diminutive castle shall be rendered a masterpiece.” He then went about scurrying along the sands as Wasabi briefly watched while smiling before he returned to the sand structure; he did look away from his task every now and again to track Mini-Max’s progress and to see he was alright.

As the two heroes were staying dry on the beach, Hiro and Fred were completely wet as they kept looking below the surface of the water. Fortunately, the time of the year meant the ocean was refreshingly cool instead of chilly as they swam into deeper territory. They could see the pale sand patterned into a seemingly endless stretch of ripples from the current and waves repeatedly shaping it. Hiro took a big breath as he put in some effort to swim to the sea floor as it was about 12ft deep where they were currently floating. Fred followed suit as a small school of silvery fish hurried on by, making the hero instinctively point to catch Hiro’s attention. He then made his way to his friend’s spot as he appeared to slowly be gliding over everything by gently kicking. There were some scattered rocks of all sizes they could see everywhere, mostly covered in barnacles, algae or small bits of colorful coral growing (and undoubtedly were home to some little creatures). Luckily, they didn’t have any drifting algae patches or giant kelp stalks to obscure their vision of the ocean floor nor to entice the imagination to think a large predator was nearby.

The robotist continued his non-specific search for anything that looked cool when he felt the burning sensation of his lung needing fresh air, so he used his arms and legs to reach the surface in a couple seconds. He burst out of the water and inhaled deeply a few times before Fred came up 10 seconds later.

“Hey Hiro, find anything awesome yet?” the comic book fan inquired as he treaded water next to him.

The teen genius shook his head, wiped the wet hair off of his face and replied, “Nothing worth keeping yet. I think I saw a sand dollar though right before I came up so I’m gonna try again.”

“Ooo. It’s too bad that they don’t throw too well and they’re so fragile because they seriously were made to be frisbees,” Fred noted as it seemed he had past experience in this department.

Hiro gave a soft chuckle as he turned to the sound of an incoming jet ski, watching Honey Lemon and Go Go have a blast while they raced across the waves. He then glanced towards the shore, where Wasabi and Mini-Max were working on one of the towers, making sure it was stable as the physicist put another bucket of sand on top. He also managed to see Baymax standing at the water’s edge, shuffling across the beach in an effort to capture the two women with the phone’s camera.

Hiro let out a deep sigh, making Fred ask in concern, “You okay buddy? Thinking about them too huh?”

The teen hero nodded with a small smile and a touch of sadness in his eyes that the goggles didn’t manage to hide from his friend. “Yeah Fred, but I’m glad you brought us here. This will definitely be a day we’ll all remember.” Hiro then gave a brighter look as he said, “Now come on, I want to see which one of us can find the craziest shell before lunchtime.”

With another breath of fresh air, Hiro dove back down, leaving Fred to say, “Oh no you don’t” before following him to the ocean floor. The two proceeded to spend the rest of their time surveying the sand, occasionally finding something and putting it in their spot on shore when they needed a break. At one point, there was a little red crab that got washed up on the beach, where Mini-Max spotted it and gently tossed it back into the water, fulfilling his heroic duties. As for Honey Lemon and Go Go, the jet ski eventually became low on gas, but not before they swapped positions so the chemist could try steering it. She managed to get the controls figured out after a couple bumpy starts, although she didn’t feel comfortable enough going as fast as Go Go or trying as many tricks. They still had fun though as they brought it to land a second time (the first being when they swapped places) for Baymax to lift it back to its resting spot. The female duo had since gone onto sitting in the shade where Go Go read her magazine and Honey Lemon was sorting through the photos Baymax took.

Time ticked by until before they knew it, it was already 1pm, meaning they were definitely late for the anticipated lunch. Honey Lemon noticed it when she checked her phone’s clock after she took a break from taking pictures of Wasabi’s sandcastle; it boasted 4 tall, carved fortresses, a moat surrounding the shell-decorated wall and a center tower with a flat courtyard and balcony on top that could hold a tiny clam (if they had one).

“Hey everyone, it’s way past lunchtime. We better get back before it gets cold,” the bikini-clad woman informed the others, making them start to gather around her current location.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine Honey Lemon. Heathcliff is like psychic when it comes to meal prep,” Fred dismissively remarked.

The seven of them were about to dismantle everything and head back up when Hiro spoke up. “Hey guys, before we go eat, let’s get a group picture huh?” he suggested, making his fellow heroes that could smile at the idea. They all then moved back to the front of the castle, where Honey Lemon prepped her phone and said, “Everyone say ‘Beach day!’”

“Beach day!”

A moment later, they examined the photo and were pleasantly pleased, meaning they could head inside now. Fred scooped up Mini-Max and told him, “Okay buddy, I didn’t bring your charger and it is definitely time for your nappity-nap sleepity-boop.” Before the diminutive robot could object, Fred was cradling him and going, “Hush little Mini-Max. Go to sleep. Boop.” The defender of justice now closed his eyes and proceeded to rest, making the other humans go “aww.” They all then grabbed what they could and started back up the steps, leaving their shells behind for later as they went for a well-deserved lunch.

                        ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The rest of the day was rather relaxing for the heroes. Heathcliff had made lasagna that was paired with 5-cheese garlic bread and Caesar salad along with some raspberry sherbet for dessert. Everyone agreed it was delicious and thanked him while they enjoyed some refreshing ice tea he made too. They helped him clean up and from there, got some bags so they could collect the shells they had left down by the beach and finally decide who found the best one. Although he hadn’t officially been participating and was still asleep, the group decided Mini-Max won for his spiral cone shell that was cream with black and orange flecks on it and had a pink interior; second place was given to Fred for his giant cowrie shell and third was for Hiro’s baby sand dollar.

The two competitors then went to clean their shells while everyone laid down and relaxed in the living room. Fred unfortunately started to show signs of having minor sunburn damage and got some cool treatment from Baymax to help. The heroes proceeded to browse the TV channels until they found a movie to watch on channel 296 called “They Lurk in the Depths” and seemed to enjoy that (although the jump scares got to Wasabi more than the others). When it was finally over after its 2 hour run time, it was clearly time to go as the afternoon sun was starting to dip.

All of them (except Baymax and Mini-Max) made the necessary stop to the bathroom and checked that they had all their belongings before they assembled in the main foyer, waiting on their pilot. Heathcliff came from upstairs about 5 minutes after their group huddle and said, “Sincerest apologies for making you wait. I had to make sure everything was well secured and prepped in case of future storms; it also is best to keep a place clean even after minor use.” The gentleman butler then went to the front door, confirmed it was locked and gestured for them to follow him. Once outside, he waited until everyone was out before locking the back door they came out of and indicated for them to board the helicopter.

Before they loaded up, Baymax deflated some (much to the amusement of those hearing him do so) in order to fit back on his charger. After he was packed, everyone else hopped aboard with Fred needing a little help since he was cradling the still asleep Mini-Max.

The gang proceeded to buckle up and Wasabi putting his blindfold on before the radio headset. Within a couple minutes, they could hear and feel the helicopter blades start to whir to life as Heathcliff announced, “Please ensure everything is stowed away and you are all fasten properly. I am beginning our ascent.”

Sure enough, as the heroes looked outside the windows, the ground was starting to get farther away while the down draft from the blades made all the plants sway. When they finally got enough altitude, their pilot then moved them up and around the house, giving the gang one last look as they left the island behind to go home.

After a few minutes out in the open, sparkling water, a thought occurred to Hiro as he asked, “Hey Fred, since this place belongs to your family, did your dad make any hidden rooms for superhero stuff like at the mansion?”

The comic book lover just stared blankly for a good 5 seconds as the idea had never occurred to him, prompting Hiro to wave a hand in front of him. Fred then slumped in his seat, looking mad at himself and disappointed he didn’t know. “Ah man! Heathcliff, are there any cool stuff like that on the island you didn’t tell me about?”

“Why yes Master Frederickson.”

“Well, why didn’t you?”

“It was your father’s business after all, but more importantly, you didn’t ask.”

Fred grumbled at the answer before switching to eagerness as he informed everyone, “Okay guys, next time, we are going to do more than just the beach. We are going to see what other cool superhero things my dad left there. This could lead to a whole training montage or some ancient sage wisdom he left for me to find or…”

His friends let him continue to speculate for a little while longer, knowing his excitement was hard to contain; so, they just let him wear himself out before those that could resigned to looking out the windows, enjoying the vast ocean sweeping by below them. Today was certainly different, but that’s probably what helped make it so great to everyone there and they definitely couldn’t wait to do it again.

Chapter Text

It was well past 4am in the morning that things in San Fransokyo started to wind down after the latest villain disaster. Big Hero 6, Globby and the police department had finally finished clearing the last of the corrupted Buddy Guardians, either by removing their Trina/Obake chip or in some cases, destroying them if they tried to escaped. The heroes had also sought to quickly dismantle the altered Krei-Tech garbage trucks before they could be used again, lest the dangerous machines possibly end up in the wrong hands.

While Mini-Max and Roddy were taking Mega-Max back to their base, the other seven had gathered downtown as there was still the matter of dealing with Trina, the robotic mastermind who was still confined by extremely powerful magnets. Chief Cruz had arrived once the worst of the danger was over and he had coordinated emergency services to the proper areas. He proceeded to call in a flatbed to pick her up since she was too big for a transport, and was to be taken to the maximum-security prison where proper sentencing and containment could be achieved; he of course was taking great delight that his daughter’s kidnaper had been apprehended.

Despite not having most of her face covering anymore, the growl and single eye were plenty to show the extreme contempt she had for the heroes, especially Hiro for defeating her yet again. Baymax was fortunately there to provide help in loading her onto the truck and Globby was able to create extra-strength restraints, all while Trina stared menacingly at the teen prodigy standing a safe distance across the street with the rest of his friends. True, they had won and the city was saved, but the young genius still felt the victory was tainted by the fact Noodle Burger Boy got away, but that was for another day. Hiro continued to stare back at the vengeful robot as they secured her tight before bringing the flatbed to life and finally pulling away with an 8 police car escort for added assurance.

Once she was finally out of sight, the weight and stress of the evening’s events finally began to lift, leaving everyone to realize how exhausted they were as fatigue wore on their muscles and minds.

“Phew, what a night,” Globby tiredly stated with a sigh of relief as he and Baymax walked over to join the others.

“Yeah,” Hiro weakly responded before he gave out a loud yawn, which was soon mirrored by the other heroes except for Baymax.

“Emergency services and the road repair group are going to be busy for a while,” Wasabi added as he surveyed the area.

“They’ve already been called and aren’t too happy about it either,” Chief Cruz informed the team, appearing to them not long after Globby and Baymax came over.

The teen genius then looked worried as he remembered something and proceeded to tell him, “Hey, you should know that Trina’s body can separate from her head, so you’ll have to be careful when she makes it to jail.”

The police officer nodded and told him, “Don’t worry. She’s not going to be doing anything for a long time. We plan to dismantle and destroy everything except her head. Trina may be smart, but she can’t accomplish much if she can’t get around.” Chief Cruz then turned in the direction the aforementioned robot had been taken and scowled in contempt. His expression was quickly replaced with one of guilt as the memory of his role in this ordeal flashed across his mind. He proceeded to face the seven heroes yet again as he scratched the back of his head and said in an apologetic tone, “Look, I uh, never actually said ‘sorry’ for my part in making this mess, or at the very least not listening to you when you tried to warn me. I was wrong, plain and simple, but I won’t let that way of thinking guide me anymore.”

He gave a small cough as he put on a straighter posture and continued. “But I know words don’t mean much without action. So, as of this moment, I am officially revoking your fugitive status and ending all further pursuits. I hope you’ll find that satisfactory for now until I feel I’ve done enough to repay you,” he humbly informed them. There was a round of smiling from the group with Fred doing a double-arm pumping and cheering “Yes,” which then resulted in a little chuckling from everyone but Baymax.

Globby was doing some joyful laughing when he stopped all of a sudden and just appeared to freeze. “So wait, this is for reals with no backsies?” the pink and purple man asked in all seriousness to the chief.

“Uh, yes,” the blue-uniformed officer slowly answered, confused as to why Globby questioned him.

The gelatinous mutant then bore a large grin as he squealed with happiness while this information erased all trace of weariness. Without further explanation, Globby proceeded to surge from one friend to another, giving them the briefest hugs and unintentionally leaving a little bit of slime behind as he went. “Bye guys! If you need me, you know how to find me. Talk to you later. See ya,” he rapidly spoke before launching an arm at the nearest building and swiftly began swinging away.

While Big Hero 6 was casually shaking off the goo, Chief Cruz raised an eyebrow and wondered, “Well, that was weird. Where’d he go off to in such a hurry?”

All the human heroes more or less gave a small smile at being happy for their friend, with Honey Lemon simply telling him, “Home.”

“Oh,” the lawman responded as the obvious answer set in, followed by him looking down and avoiding eye contact out of guilt. The other heroes just looked in the direction Globby had went when Fred yawned, starting another round of it between them.

Hiro then gave a small, tired laugh and said, “Come on guys. Let’s try to get some sleep before you guys graduate and I have to give a speech.” There was a wave of agreement from the crime fighters as they went with Hiro’s idea, climbing onto Baymax and flying off into the dark early morning.

While his friends were heading back home, Globby was doing the same thing, only he hadn’t been there in over two months. He had thought about maybe sneaking in or even just to go to the front door where he’d leave something behind to let Felony Carl know he was alright, but decided against it since hurting those he cared about was still a very strong fear for the gelatinous mutant. He swiftly went from building to building, ignoring the wind rushing around him and making the lights below streak by as he searched for the right street; his mind was racing too at what to do and say when he got there.

Finally! I knew it wasn’t going to be forever, but darn if it wasn’t tough to stay away. Wonder if he’s even up. Should I make something really quick as a gift for coming back? Oh, I hope he hasn’t been suffering too much. I’ll just feel awful even though it was for his own safety, Globby anxiously wondered from one thought to the next.

After about 10 minutes of swinging, his luminescent eyes recognized the area and with one more stretch across the way, he found himself on Ichiba St. Almost there. Almost there. When at last he came upon the apartment building, he lowered himself to the entrance before he let out a long sigh, both at how tired he realized he was again and at hoping this reunion would go well.

The shapeshifter promptly entered the lobby (feeling grateful that it was empty) and rushed up the staircase to the second floor. Once there, he again surged over to the end of the hall to be standing in front of apartment 8. He could see there was a light coming from under the door. Good, he must be up, he thought. Without even bothering to unlock it, Globby slid under the wooden panel and reformed on the other side. He looked around to see he was right and the light was on in the hallway with nothing seeming out of place. He could smell (somehow) that coffee had been brewed and thought he heard something in the living room. Oh, please let him be in there, Globby hoped internally. Instead of taking the hallway to his left however, he decided to go straight towards the closest entrance that opened to the side of the living room. He slid the doors open and sure enough, Felony Carl was laying on the couch, sadly looking at his phone until the gelatinous mutant revealed himself.

Globby smiled with immense joy at the sight before him as he simply started with a “Hey” and a small wave; evidently, just seeing his boyfriend was enough to make Felony Carl instantly perk up, making him get off the furniture while Globby slinked over and reformed next to him as fast as he could. Once together, they embraced each other with a tight, warm hug and not caring to let go anytime soon.

“I’ve missed you so much! It was just awful not getting to see or talk to you every day,” the shapeshifter emotionally confessed as it sounded like he was on the verge of tears; whether it was from sadness or newfound joy, it was hard to tell.

Felony Carl nuzzled into Globby more and honestly replied, “I too have missed your joyful company. This place has truly felt empty and devoid of the real meaning of home without you to brighten my world. I love you Globs.”

The reformed mutant gave a weak smile upon hearing this as he still was caught between his two extreme emotional states, but he still managed to utter, “I love you too Carl. And I’m so sorry I left you alone for so long. I just didn’t want you to get arrested or hurt because of me and-”

“Shh,” Felony Carl interrupted as he pulled apart a little in order to look Globby in the eyes.

“Do not go blaming yourself for what happened. Your hero friends already informed me of the highly unusual and improbable circumstances you found yourself in. It would also be accurate to say you are not responsible for the Chief maintaining the false notion that you are guilty, which if you are here now means he has finally reversed course,” the buff man imparted onto him while deducing Globby’s reason for coming home.

“Uh, yeah actually. He finally stopped his hunt on Big Hero 6 and me, but only after we helped saved the day. Don’t worry, I made sure to double check that he meant it and wasn’t going to go back or “renege” on the deal as you would say,” the shapeshifter enlightened Felony Carl, making them both feel at ease as the anxiety over the past 2 months began to lift.

The husky biker then raised part of his unibrow as he coyly asked, “So, you helped save the city again? I got an alert from the news about it, but I have a feeling you will be able to provide a more in-depth account.”

Globby responded with a cheeky grin and said, “If you insist.” They then let go of their embrace for the first time as they sat down side by side on the couch. “Well, I was out doing my patrol to see if anyone needed help when the kid genius Hiro flew in and said those new robots the police got were evil. Big surprise there,” Globby started with the last sentence being in a sarcastic tone. “So, I was on my way to their base to see what was going on, but I then saw them flying overhead and was like ‘Okay I’ll follow them instead.’ That led to a creepy warehouse filled with boxes and an inner chamber with evil glowing computers and lots of robots hanging up; and let me say, I’m not surprised it was in a warehouse because seriously,” the shapeshifter smirked as he tapped his transparent head, making a squishy sound.

This got a small laugh from Felony Carl as he genuinely smiled at hearing his boyfriend’s remarks. “Anyway, I sneaked in and managed to infiltrate one of the robots that was trying to crush my friend, so I saved him and took out a few more of them while Baymax handled the rest. Then, I get a hug, which was awesome, but that twisted mascot Noodle Burger Boy got away,” Globby grumbled while crossing his arms. He then let out a sigh before continuing. “Oh well, we had bigger things to worry about. Since Baymax was a no-go for flying, I carried everyone back in pterodactyl form to their base. While he was getting a fast recharge, Hiro went over his plan to take down Trina and her minions, which quite frankly, looked cool but crazy; so, we got to work making this giant robot and I got to help with manufacturing and assembly,” the gelatinous mutant excitedly proclaimed as he uncrossed his arms and proudly pointed to himself.

Felony Carl nodded in acknowledgement and inquired, “What pray tell happened next?”

Globby then got a sly smile on his face and replied, “After we put most of it together, Hiro says we need the rest of the team, so I thought, 'Maybe I can get them out of jail.'”

The goateed man raised part of his unibrow up again in curiosity, taking the bait and asking, “How did you manage to pull that off?”

The pink and purple man proceeded to stand up while keeping eye contact with his boyfriend. One second, he looked like his normal self; a second later, a Chief Cruz lookalike stood before Felony Carl, making his eyes go wide in surprise as Globby changed back. “I know! So cool right? It’s how I managed to avoid being caught while I was out and about. Took some practice, but it beats dark alleys, sneaking and only being able to come out at night. Only downside is my voice is the same but somehow, I fooled everyone at the police station and even my friends…until the real Chief Cruz showed up; admittedly, I was concerned that Fred still didn’t realize it was me when that happened,” Globby informed the husky biker while scratching the back of his head as he sat down again. “Chief Cruz then is begging us for help because his kid got kidnapped by Trina, so it’s like, ‘Of course we’ll help. We’re not the bad guys here.’ Next thing we know, we’re racing to find her and have to take on a bunch of Buddy Guardians in order to save her, so there was a fair amount of punching and lasers; but we did save her and went back to the police station afterwards to go over the final plan, which was split up and take down the last of the robots.”

The shapeshifter then looked noticeably more scared as he recalled what came next. “Unfortunately, they started their final plan too, which was to reduce everything to ashes, and let me say, not a fun time to learn that all of this don’t like high temps,” he anxiously told Felony Carl while gesturing to his whole body.

His boyfriend bore a worried expression now too as he asked, “Were you in any pain or could you not turn into something else?”

Globby nervously rubbed the back of his neck as he answered, “Well, it didn’t necessarily hurt, but my body just didn’t want to listen to me, so maybe I could have still been fine but just be a puddle for a little; as for turning into something else, I guess I sort of blanked on thinking up any other options. I mean, I’m melting while everything else is being burnt to a crisp and there’s Honey Lemon right next to me about to meet the same fate, so I wasn’t just going to leave her there alone; I guess if anything I would have tried to shield her, even though admittedly I didn’t know if it would work.” The gelatinous man then looked more pensive as he thought out loud, “Now that I’ve had some time, if I hadn’t drawn a blank, probably some kind of rock or brick maybe would have worked at least better than most of the stuff I can turn into.” He proceeded to shrug it off as it was in the past and nothing could be done about it, although Felony Carl still looked worried at how dire the situation sounded.

Globby then smiled again as he recalled, “Anyway, things turned around for us once that giant robot I told you about finally arrived and stopped Trina from powering those robo-hot spots. So, I quickly reformed and helped Honey Lemon stop the Buddy Guardians from getting away, followed by me stomping the machine they used to bits. The rest of the time was filled with cleaning up some and making sure Trina was restrained good and tight before they took her to jail.” The shapeshifter proceeded to let out a long sigh as he collapsed onto the couch and tiredly said with a smile, “It has just been such a long night Carl, but I couldn’t wait until later to come home and see you. So, enough about me. How have you been and what are you even doing up this early?”

The unibrowed man gave a small chuckle at the endearing action of Globby fighting his need for sleep just to hear how he was fairing. “Life has unfortunately been in a perpetual dreary state since you were labeled a criminal once again, but I endured as best as I could. Things were following a predictable cycle of part-time work as a bouncer or security depending on the day; there was however the inconvenience of being arrested back in early April,” Felony Carl told his boyfriend, making his luminescent eyes grow wide in surprise and concern.

“What?! Did you get into a fight or something?” he asked quickly.

“There was admittedly an altercation outside a club I was working, but even though I did not initiate it, they decided to bring me in for questioning on an unrelated matter for which the fight provided the police with a legal loophole,” the husky biker answered, now looking to avoid eye contact as he knew what question was coming next.

“What ‘matter’ would they want to interrogate you about?” Globby predictable inquired despite a small lingering notion he already knew the answer.

Felony Carl let out a sigh of defeat and replied, “Apparently, they were among the many folks who knew of our relationship and were hoping I would have been in contact with you.”

“Darn it! I knew it. Ugh,” Globby groaned as he leaned forward and buried his face into his propped-up hands. “Man, I’m sorry they did that to you Carl. It’s not right and you didn’t even know anything. I stayed away and they still went after you,” the shapeshifter lamented and failing to see Felony Carl lean over to pat his back in an effort to comfort him.

“Hey, as a reformed criminal, it can still come with the territory and just know, I never blamed you for that. It did get interesting when your hero friends arrived to save their reptilian companion,” the bandana-clad man consoled him.

Globby lifted his head up in curiosity and asked, “Reptilian? You mean Fred? He got arrested?”

Felony Carl nodded and added, “Yes, but he was quickly rescued by the others and I sadly was unable to accompany them as the tall one in pink encased me in a frozen cocoon.”

“What?!” Globby exclaimed as his jaw dropped. “While I’ll admit that the ice may have been a bit much, I’ve got to agree that it would have been a bad idea to follow them. I mean, no doubt a high-speed chase and you without any protection; plus, wouldn’t that prove you knew Big Hero 6? That prejudiced chief would have never let you go after that,” the gelatinous mutant pointed out. He then looked noticeably sadder as something dawned on him. “You were hoping they could lead you to me, didn’t you?” he questioned in a softer tone.

Felony Carl nodded with a sad smile and replied, “It was a spur of the moment notion attempted after sharing a poignant life lesson with the one you called Fred. There was a positive outcome however as they no longer felt the need to question me at length, presumably due to the long night the cops had chasing your friends.”

Globby visibly relaxed a little upon hearing that he got off easy, leading the husky biker to finish his piece. “So, except for the egregious misunderstanding, I have been patiently and wistfully waiting for your return, occupying my time any way I could whether work, tuning my bike or keeping the apartment orderly.” Felony Carl then leaned back on the couch as he was still a bit tired from waking up at this early hour, reminding him to check the time on his phone. He proceeded to let out an audible whistle as he read it was now nearing 6am.

“What is it?” Globby curiously asked.

“Well, you inquired why I was up so early and I had yet to answer it until now; the reason for my whistle of realization is that I have a new security gig at a convenience store that I should be getting to soon,” the reformed criminal informed him.

“Oh, well, that would explain you being such an early bird today,” the gelatinous mutant remarked with a small tired laugh. “Don’t let me hold you up. I’m using most of my willpower right now just to keep my eyes open.” He then punctuated his statement with a big yawn and to which Felony Carl reciprocated with a small one. “Oh, there I go. Better not make you tired too,” Globby said with another tired laugh. “You go do your thing and we can make up for lost time when you get back; besides, I’m about to collapse on this sofa, so I won’t be any good to you anyway.”

Felony Carl gave a small chuckle as he stood up to leave for work. “Alright, but I expect you to be properly rested when I return. Being tired truly does not make for a good time,” he replied while Globby mustered up enough strength to stand too. They both met in the middle to hug each other close and finding it hard to let go once more.

“It really is good to see you Carl. Thinking about coming home again helped me through so many nights in those dark warehouses,” the shapeshifter openly confessed as he rested his head on the biker’s shoulder.

Felony Carl did the same as he smiled and told Globby, “The same thought crossed my mind many an evening as I worried about you all this time. I knew you could survive, but surviving and living are two different things. Love you Globs.”

“Love you too Carl, and this time, I’ll be here waiting for you to come home,” Globby softly replied back, making both men smiled contently. They proceeded to make their embrace a little bit tighter to indicate it was time to leave. After they separated and Felony Carl headed for the door, he turned around and said, "And just so you know, I am making dinner tonight, but I could use some help if you are not too busy.” He then gave a wink and slid the door close.

Globby gave a small grin as he heard the sound of the front door open and close before a moment later, he surged himself over to the couch Felony Carl had previously been occupying and let out a long sigh. “Oh, does it feel good to be back,” he mumbled as he let himself finally drift off to sleep, feeling an immense wave of relaxation and leaving the sound of soft snoring as the only thing to be heard in the apartment.

Chapter Text

“Okay dad, I think we found a great spot,” Megan told her father as she examined the flat patch of grass before them. It was the last week of May and in light of the city almost being destroyed (as well as almost losing his daughter), Chief Cruz had made the decision to spend some quality time with her. He had put in a leave of absence to take a month off from police work as the Buddy Guardian incident gave him serious cause to think about his actions. Megan was looking forward to this trip too as she hoped this time could provide a fun break from the daily reminders the city gave her of that night.

Currently, the two of them were going to spend a few days in Kinado forest, a two-hour drive from San Fransokyo where’d they get to do camping, kayaking, hiking, the works. (They would have probably done Muirahara Woods if not for Bessie). So, after they packed and purchased the necessary supplies, they drove north in the family SUV to their destination; Diego even let his daughter have control of the radio, meaning a lot of pop songs he never heard of got played.

From there, the Cruzes had simply pulled up to the campsite, checked in with the registration desk and drove to one of the available spots. They parked on a site about 400ft away from the entrance, where it was mostly grass with virtually no rocks and five towering maples off to the right. It also already had a fire pit built from the previous campers as evident by the large ring filled with ashes and lined with chunks of granite, limestone and discarded bricks. What made their choice most appealing to Megan though was that it was about 200ft away from the river that laid along a rocky beach. The winding stream was fortunately located about 7ft below their elevated campsite, meaning they had a little safety net should the water level rise.

Megan took in a deep breath of the fresh air when he heard a clatter behind her and turned to see her dad struggle to get their bags out. “Don’t worry. I’m coming,” the young reporter informed the older one as she reached up to grab the tackle box that would have fallen to the ground if not for Diego’s face keeping it back.

“Thanks sweetie. I can pack like a champ, but pull the wrong thing and it comes tumbling down,” he said with a small chuckle.

“Yeah, maybe start with the lighter stuff on top first, then work your way down,” Megan lightheartedly teased as she proceeded to grab the floaties and the tent bag that were also trying to fall out. Once they were removed, her dad was able to pull their duffel bags filled with clothes and toiletries out, followed by setting them on the ground. He then turned towards his daughter, smiled and leaned over to give her a big hug.

“I’m so glad that we get to do this. It’s been so long since we’ve taken a trip,” Diego stated as he embraced Megan a little tighter.

She simply said “Yeah” and returned the hug too, but she couldn’t help but wonder, It has been a long time, like two years. This trip honestly seemed a bit sudden, but I can’t really complain. I need to take a breather from everything; he’s probably still feeling a bit overprotective. I just hope he didn’t bring me out here because he doesn’t want me to feel neglected since him and Cass have started going out again. Both thoughts made her wince for different reasons, but her dad couldn’t see it.

A few seconds later, Diego released his daughter and gave a cough before saying, “Well uh, how about we get everything set up? Don’t want to put the tent up in the dark.” He then punctuated his sentence with a small nervous laugh like he had been attempting a joke that clearly didn’t land. Megan just gave a headshake and a sly smile as she reached for the tent bag and replied, “Yeah dad.”

Although it was around 4pm now and was low 80s at the moment, there was periodic cloud cover and trees to provide shade. They pulled out the various rods and the rolled-up blue and grey rectangular tent as well as a large silver tarp to set the tent on top of. The chief then went back to the car to fetch the hammer for putting the stakes in while Megan got their temporary housing laid out on the giant plastic canvas. The young reporter proceeded to feed the rods through the designated holes and was getting ready to prop it up from behind.

“Don’t worry about that Megan. I got it. Just go put the two other poles in and I’ll get these pesky stakes put in,” he urged as he was already bending down to hammer them in.

Megan raised an eyebrow and merely replied, “Okay.” She did as she was told and within 30 seconds was done, which was quickly followed by Diego pounding the bent metal pieces in. His daughter went around to the other side to help get the long rods upwards and bend them so their tent would get the necessary elevation it needed. With some effort and a small grunt, she managed to get one up, with her dad getting there a minute later. She then worked to hole the second one down towards the ground so it could be secured.

“Careful now,” Diego warned her as he began to use the old tool again, clearly not wanting her to get hurt by it.

“Dad, my hands are a foot away,” she pointed out to him in a flat tone and to which he replied, “Oh, uh sorry. Just wanted to be sure.” He then took a few swings with the hammer and when done, wiped the small bit of sweat off his forehead. “Okay. How about collecting some kindling while I finish unpacking the car? Sound good?” he suggested with a smile.

“Can do,” Megan answered promptly, feeling glad to actually have a tasked. She only was able to get 10 steps away when her dad added, “Make sure to stay where I can see you.”

“Yes dad,” she answered with a slightly irritated sigh before walking off again. The 15yr old started scouring the grass patch for loose sticks that had fallen, preferably older and drier ones. Megan was tempted a few times to slide down to walk along the greenish-blue babbling river just for fun, but decided against it. We’ll be going down there soon enough anyway; besides, dad seems to be in overprotective mode again, even though I thought the point of coming out was to get away from it all. But… She trailed off as she found herself realizing that she couldn’t totally get away from her problem, not really. I mean, he said he was sorry and I know he meant it, but can I really say I’ve forgiven him completely? I love him and all, but Trina only got that far because of my dad’s blind determination; but then, doesn’t that mean I’m doing what he did with blaming superheroes for supervillains being around? It still wasn’t that long ago and ugh…that hard, cold grip of Trina’s around my chest. Megan shook her head to try and dispel the memories and anxiety in her mind, but being the intelligent young woman that she was, she knew deep down it wouldn’t go away, not unless she actually confronted her dad instead of acting like it was okay (which she had been doing up to this point).

It’s tough when you know what to do, but don’t want to do it. Ugh. She then shook her head with a tired smile as she thought, I’m sure if Baymax were here, he would have told me not to avoid talking to my dad in the first place. I just, well, this isn’t a normal thing a teen should have to talk about, so maybe that’s why it’s hard? She proceeded to sigh in defeat at having no other way but through in order to resolve this. I’ll talk to him when I get done. Maybe then I’ll find the right words. Megan then returned to her task, grateful that she had been facing the water so it looked like she was just gazing at it. The supersleuth proceeded to walk over to the other vacant campsites, collecting twigs and decent sized branches as she went; Megan even got lucky and found a thick one left by one of the firepits, clearly being used to stoke the burning wood.

Once she had her arms full (with the big stick balanced on top), she headed back towards their place to find Diego searching through the cooler. Her dad then fished around for a couple water bottles and placed one in the cup holder of her purple propped-up camping chair.

While he took a swig from his bottle, Megan dumped her kindling next to the fire circle (where her dad had unloaded some fire wood they already bought). “Mission accomplished,” she proclaimed before walking over to get a drink as her dad said with a proud smile, “That’s my girl. I’ll get started on the fire and you can find our stuff for cooking dinner. What sounds good? Hot dogs, burgers, just skip to eating the s’mores?”

The young reporter gave a small laugh, then drank from her water bottle; 10 seconds later, she answered, “Umm, hot dogs sound yummy.”

Diego proceeded to set his water into his dark green camping chair and rubbed his hands together. “Great! Buns should be in the blue bin with all the other dry things, but don’t take the dogs out until I get the fire going.”

Megan rolled her eyes as she smiled again at her dad needing to tell her stuff when she helped pack. His daughter then went to open up the bin and quickly found the buns on top next to the graham crackers and marshmallows. She closed the lid after retrieving the desired item and sighed. Come on. Now or never. It may be uncomfortable, but you’ve done braver things than this, Megan reminded herself. The 15yr old then turned towards her dad, who had his back to her as he laid the kindling down and began dousing it with lighter fluid. She set the buns on top of the bin and slowly walked to her dad, making herself so quiet that she could hear him striking some matches and tossing them into the pit, causing a whoosh as the flames spread to everything inside. Diego started to place some chunks of wood on top/over to the side of the smoldering twigs when Megan spoke up.

“Hey dad,” she simply said as she self-consciously gripped her arm.

“Oh!” the chief gasped in surprise as he let the log fall and turned around. “You scared me. You find the stuff okay?”

“Yeah, I did, or at least the buns; I didn’t bother looking for the hot dogs. Anyway, dad…I know you don’t want to talk about it and I know I’ve been avoiding it too, but things are not fine for you or me,” she admitted as she stared him down with all her willpower.

Her dad’s face fell as he closed his eyes in guilt and looked away with the fire starting to crackle behind him. “I know you said you were sorry and I believe you, but trying to cater to me or being overprotective isn’t going to erase the past and I can’t really enjoy this trip while this is nagging on my mind. Now, here,” she bluntly told him as she took his hands and helped him up before leading him to his chair, both ignoring the hearth they started.

Once they both sat down, she gently stated, “Let’s talk.” Diego was still silent as he faced Megan while on the verge of tears, clearly replaying almost losing her so many times in his head.

After 10 seconds of no speaking, the young reporter realized she’d have to go first. She took in a deep breath and sighed before telling him, “Dad, I was so scared when I got captured; I can still feel Trina’s cold grip as she carried me away like I was nothing. I struggled and tried to get free but couldn’t, no matter how hard I fought and refused to give up. What made things worse though dad, was the fact I could see the fear in other people too as her robotic army marched along.” She paused as the echoes of the people’s screams and thudding of all the Buddy Guardians’ feet traveling down the streets entered her mind, making her briefly shudder.

Megan let out another deep sigh and continued. “I’m sorry dad for the loss you felt when Grandpa Gabriel died, but I almost lost you because you let that pain and prejudice towards superheroes allow a supervillain like Trina to get as far as she did. Now, I’m not going to blame you for her choices, but I just wish you would have listened to me or my friends when we told you the Buddy Guardians were dangerous,” she confessed with a mix of anger and sadness as tears now started to form.

“Yes, superheroes can’t save everyone, but getting in their way and hunting them down like you did was reckless and cruel. My friends went into hiding with the constant fear of being arrested and couldn’t stop some of the criminals because of it. You were so focused on the danger you thought they posed that you didn’t bother to consider all the good they’ve done,” Megan passionately spoke, making her dad look more somber as the weight of the words hit him uninterrupted.

“Dad, look. There will always be someone trying to get a leg up in this world through illegal means and some don’t care who they hurt to get what they want. So please dad, promise me you’ll never do something like this again. I don’t want you to be the villain of this story because you didn’t bother to see what damage your actions could cause. I love you and I know you’re better than that,” the brave 15yr old requested as some hot tears started to stream down her cheeks while she reached out to touch his arm in an effort to make her father say something.

Diego lowered his head and was silent for a few seconds after Megan finished her piece, but tears started to roll off his face and onto his lap as the quiet sobbing began. He wiped them as best as he could with his arm and stifled a sniffle as he looked at his daughter with red eyes. “I’m so sorry Megan. I know no amount of words will make up for what I’ve done, especially to you. I thought I would be keeping you safe, but you’re right. I almost made you feel the pain of losing a parent or worse because I refused to admit I could be wrong.” He then wiped away some more tears while Megan did the same, both unable to contain the emotional pain.

“I keep replaying the moment you were taken over and over in my head because I can’t escape the reality that I helped create the robotic horror that almost got you and everyone else killed. God, I should have just listened to Hiro when he came to warn me; it wouldn’t have done any harm and it would have saved the nightmare and destruction,” the chief scolded himself as he lowered his head again and shook it.

The young reporter twisted her lip as she thought of the next thing to say. After a few seconds, she interrupted her dad’s downward spiral by telling him, “Dad, I can’t change the past any more than you can. You, me and however many people affected by this have to work through it as best as we can. I’ll still probably be seeing Trina’s sneering face for weeks and you may be living with the guilt for who knows how long, but we’ve got to rise above those feeling in the end.” She proceeded to take a deep breath as she wiped her own tears away and informed him, “For now though, we’ve at least done the first step by acknowledging things aren’t alright. I’m sorry if you weren’t ready to hear it dad, but I want us to work our way back to a healthy place; maybe it’ll never be the same as it was before, but just because it’s different, doesn’t make it bad or dysfunctional.” She then mustered up a small smile as she placed a hand on his shoulder, making him face her again. “And you know, I’m still here if you do need to talk it out again; there’s also no shame in admitting you need help. I’m for sure using my support network when we get back. I love you dad, and I hope one day we both can enjoy things again without the pain getting in the way.”

Diego stifled another sniffle as he greeted her with a small smile too before reaching over and pulling her in for a big hug. They both closed their eyes as they felt the strong embrace of the other. “I’m so proud of you Megan and I love you too. I can never say enough times how truly sorry I am, but I promise to never put you or anyone in that position again. You clearly have good judgement when it comes to friends and doing what’s right.” Her father then let her go so he could look at her with his still tear-streaked face. “Megan, I was wrong. No way around it. You mean the world to me and I will spend every day if I have to in order to earn your faith and trust in me again.” He proceeded to pull her in again for a comforting hug as another round of tears streamed down their cheeks, both of them already feeling better despite the sorrow that remained within.

After about 10 seconds of awkward embracing in their camping chairs, they let go and stared at one another for a moment before the sound of burning wood crackling caused them to turn towards the fire. While they were talking, the logs had managed to make some decent flames as the hot orange embers along the bottom glowed; they had also failed to notice the sky changing to pink and orange hues as twilight began. Megan then looked at her dad again as she wiped her face clear with her sleeve and said, “Well, it seems you did a good job with the fire dad. You still good with hot dogs?”

The Chief let out a small chuckle as he stood up and answered, “Of course. I’ll go get the roasting sticks if you want to get them and the condiments out.”

“No problem,” she replied before standing up herself. The two then got to work on their tasks, each smiling to themselves as they felt the relief that can come from confession; true, things weren’t 100%, but it was at least the beginning of something. Now, they could begin to actually enjoy their trip, starting with cooking dinner.

Chapter Text

Breathe in. Breathe out.

This was the meditation recitation Momakase was currently doing from within her prison cell. It currently had been a little over a month now since she had lost her mutant powers and was reincarcerated in the San Fransokyo prison, much to her displeasure. The sushi chef liked to keep to herself as she found the other inmates either annoying or too brutish for her taste. She usually did her own exercises in her highly secured cell when the guards weren’t looking, then spent her free time either watching the other prisoners or instigating fights between them; seeing them brawl over something as trivial as a spilled drink or a missing item did bring her some pleasure. If someone did find out it was her, she would smile or act indifferent before giving her accuser a fast beating, which would then land Momakase in solitary for a few days. Beats being out there with those insufferable criminals, was typically her thought whenever she got tossed in to her self-imposed isolation.

The worst part of prison though had to be her run-ins with her former monster teammates from working for Diane Amara. After a brief stint in the hospital, Mr. Sparkles, Juniper and Barb had been sent to jail along with the black and blue ninja, although the mother-daughter duo protested their innocence and was pending a review. The High Voltage pair were friendly enough, but mainly kept to themselves after Momakase made it clear they weren’t friends. Mr. Sparkles was another matter as she was well aware of the former game-show host and how he constantly annoyed her while they were in Diane Amara’s facility; Momakase was actually sent to solitary the first time for punching him after he refused to stop asking questions/talking about himself.

There was however some common ground between them when they learned that Yama, the big-time crime boss, was also incarcerated in jail. With Yama’s temper, anytime he saw either of them, he’d immediately growl and if given the chance, make a threat towards the two about the amount of pain he’d inflict on them. While Mr. Sparkles would be dismissive and say something about toxic masculinity, Momakase would smirk and hurl a sly insult at him, thus further fueling the large man’s rage and subsequently leading to him being tased by the guards before he could attack her. This cycle kept things interesting for the master thief at least as she bided her time, plotting what next she was going to do.

Something that had given her immense joy (and hope as it were) during this time was when news that the police labeled Big Hero 6 and Globby as fugitives reached the prison; Momakase was grinning for days at this turn of events, mainly because of the petty revenge she felt, but also how things would be different once she was on the outside again.

Breathe in. Breath out, the deadly woman internally chanted again when she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Within a couple seconds, her door screeched slightly as it was being unlocked, causing her to open her eyes and see a buff man with short black hair wearing a tan uniform and whose name read “Seiji” stood before her.

“Time to mingle with the other prisoners,” he gruffly told Momakase.

“Oh, make sure you’re around today. There may be a show later,” she slyly taunted as she walked past him and garnering a scowl from the officer.

The blue and black-haired ninja calmly walked past the other cells, all either empty or containing some thugs she’d never bothered to get to know. She was escorted through a couple sets of security doors, making her pause for a minute each time until she finally stepped out into the sunlit courtyard of the prison, surrounded by tall cinder walls. In the large area, there was a workout section for lifting weights as well as a basketball court where a dozen guys were currently playing on; they also had several tables and chairs set up for those that just wanted to enjoy the fresh air without working up a sweat. Of course, the inmates were always being watched by the guards in the tower and those on the other side of the protective fence, ready to storm in should a fight break out.

Today, Momakase was feeling antsy as she walked over to an empty wooden table, fantasizing about her escape. Easy enough to incapacitate a guard, steal their keys and make a quick run, but those doors would cost me precious time without my knives. Maybe if I did it from here, I could scale the walls and avoid the barb wire on top; problem is they’d see me and it’d be hard to maneuver without a lot of material to grab onto. There’s always the tried-and-true method of an injury, but...oh no. Not this idiot again. She stopped her plotting and switched to irritated mode as she caught sight of Mr. Sparkles.  I swear the guards arranged it so I’d have to endure this annoying fool, she internally complained as the diminutive man started to walk over.

Normally, she’d easily beat him up with a good punch, but he still kept coming back despite her previous physical and verbal threats she made; there was just no sport in it at a certain point, which meant she now was resigned to avoid him as much as possible.

“Another glorious day in incarceration wouldn’t you say?” Mr. Sparkles cheerfully greeted her as he sat down across from the chef, making her grimace.

“How many times do I have to tell you that I want nothing to do with you idiot?” she bitterly snapped at him.

“Probably more than the dozen or so other times you told me. Come on, I want to pick your brain, see what’s going on with you. There’s not much else to do around here,” he simply replied, brushing off her insult.

“Then go read a book or crawl in a hole and die, either option is fine by me,” Momakase snarkily told him as she got up to walk away.

The pink-haired man quickly followed after her as she began to traverse along the outer wall. “Actually, I’ve been doing plenty of reading thank you very much. I’m a big believer in continuous learning. Now, seriously, I know you’ve got to be “cooking” something up on the outside. With no heroes around, the scores are limitless,” he eagerly stated, revealing more than he should have to the irritated woman.

Momakase stopped walking then and raised an eyebrow up in intrigue as the former gameshow host showed some of his true colors. “Oh, so you were hoping that if you tried to pump me for information or annoy me enough times, I’d tell you a potential escape plan/job?” she deduced as she crossed her arms, clearly not giving into his request.

He stared blankly for a second before quickly recovering and saying, “So, is that a "yes?"”

The sushi chef just gave an annoyed look and replied, “You really are a fool,” as she began walking again.

Mr. Sparkles caught up to her a moment later and got ahead as he cautiously walked backwards. “Hey now, everyone knows you’re the proverbial expert when it comes to breaking in and out of places. Plus, doesn’t our time as teammates count for anything?” the short man beseeched her while constantly looking behind him to make sure he didn’t trip over anything.

Momakase gave an incredulous laugh and told him, “I told you, our time working for that devious blonde does not constitute you receiving any favors from me; besides, everyone knows you’re a conniving backstabber, or does Yama want to crush you for a different reason?”

Mr. Sparkles did look to his right for a second in an attempt to think up of a way to deny the accusation before replying, “But that was for the money. I’d be more of an accomplice than a partner in this scenario. Come on, I know I can get you to change your mind. I managed to convince Yama, didn’t I?”

The ninja woman now stopped walking as she scowled at the insinuation. She then bent down to Mr. Sparkles’s level and grabbed his orange outfit before angrily stating, “Listen here has-been, don’t you ever compare me to that tracksuit-wearing odious thug ever again. We are not the same.”

Despite initially being scared when Momakase grabbed him, the gleeful man replied, “Well, you at least have some similarities; you’re criminals, you steal things, blue is a big part of your outfits, oh and you’re both a big fan of swords. He even told me he planned on using his half of the racing money to get a pair of ancient Kyoto katanas to go with his blue koi ones.”

“What?” the black and blue-haired woman asked with a look of disbelief.

“Yama collect old weapons and stuff, and one of them is a set of blades with some koi on them,” he answered again with a shrug.

Upon hearing his words, Momakase released Mr. Sparkles, dropping him to the ground with a thud as a sort of numbing feeling began to wash over her. It can’t be. Did this idiot just tell me something I’ve wanted to know for over 30 years? How? the professional thief puzzled and not yet allowing herself to believe his story could be true. She proceeded to pick the former gameshow host back up, making him give a slight yelp at this turn of events. “The koi swords. Tell me, what all did Yama say?” she ordered in her most authoritative tone.

“Not much I swear! Just he got them from this other gang leader he forced out, a Nagakura I think,” he frantically answered.

Momakase’s eyes grew wide at hearing the old criminal’s name as she softly whispered, “The Kin’iro no Koi. It must be them.” She then dropped the small man again, who was still confused as she slowly walked away practically in a daze.

“So, I guess that’s a "no" for today then?” he called out before dismissively going, “Eh, I can try again tomorrow.”

Everything around the agile woman started to drift away from her focus as this new information guided her towards her new mission. He has them! That giant bully’s been holding onto my family swords for years and I never knew. Ugh, she groaned internally. To think, all this time I thought they were destroyed when that old gangster’s hideout burnt to the ground. Well, I guess I have Yama to thank for that. She then altered course as she realized what she’d have to do.  I must strike his place soon while he’s still in jail. He may be running things from the inside, but there’s no way he can relay orders quickly enough. Now, how do I get out?

Momakase journeyed to the edge of the yard and leaned against the wall as she began to commit to an escape plan. The guards. The walls. Security doors. Without the help of her graphene blades to cut her way out of prison, she knew there was only one way that would give her the best chance. She stared down at her left arm before clenching her fist in determination. Tonight. That’s when I’ll go.

                                     __________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Light’s out!” the guards announced as they began doing their rounds through the prison. Mr. Sparkles was present and already on his bed, Juniper and Barb were still talking but stopped when the uniformed man knocked on their bars. The tall officer with short brown hair named “Ivan” walked past a few more cells until he heard the sound of coughing. He quickly rushed past the next 5 cells, finally stopping on the one containing Momakase. He could see she was having a violent fit and had blood coming out of her mouth.

Ivan proceeded to frantically reach for his walkie talkie and call out, “Emergency! Code 4! I’ve got a prisoner profusely coughing up blood. Call ambulance immediately.” At that point, Momakase collapsed onto the ground, where she continued to heave.

The security guard unlocked the cell to examine her, trying his best to avoid the blood spatter as he went to check her pulse; had he not been in such a panic, he would have observed the sushi chef covertly keeping her left forearm out of his view. About a minute and a half later, two other officers arrived with a gurney to load Momakase up onto and then proceeding to handcuff her right arm to the bars to keep her from escaping. The overhead lights rapidly washed over the seemingly ailing woman as they wheeled her to the loading bay to be transported to the nearest hospital. Outside, it was dark and the lights from the city kept most of the stars from being seen, but it was at least in the mild upper 60s, so it prevented anyone there from feeling chilly.

Upon receiving the call from the guards, the ambulance that was kept on standby came to life, already flashing its beams and turning its sirens on; all the while, Momakase still was coughing, although the blood amount that came out was decreasing.

Damn. Almost out. Just need to keep at it a little longer, she plotted as they finally hoisted her in and shut the doors with a slam. Once the driver began to pull away, the two EMTs in back started getting to work on their diagnosis. At this point, the professional thief appeared to be passed out and only giving a weak cough. They were taking her temperature, heart rate and blood pressure, all coming back normal. It wasn’t until one of them, a short woman with black hair in her late 30s went to insert an IV line in Momakase’s left arm that she noticed the cloth wrapping around it, like it was from bandaging a wound.

“What the-” was all she managed to get out before the black and blue ninja gave her an uppercut, knocking her back against the cabinet-lined wall. Faster than the other EMT, a medium build man with brown hair in his 40s could react, Momakase righted herself up and punched him too. She then leaned and spun on her right hip so she could kick the medical attendee against the other wall, making him lose consciousness for good measure. The young woman was still awake but in a daze, so the chef finished the job by giving her a swift kick in the temple to incapacitate her.

Good thing they’re on the way to the hospital, Momakase thought with a smirk. She then used her left sleeve to wipe the blood and saliva off her face before working to free herself from the handcuff.

“What’s going on back there?” the driver called in back.

Gotta hurry, her mind raced. Fortunately for Momakase, she was well-versed in escaping such feeble handcuffs; in a few seconds, she was upright as she went to open the doors, causing the backdraft from the driving to start blowing everything around. She proceeded to grab the top edge of the frame as she swung herself onto the roof, where the wind was trying its best to knock her off as it whistled every which way. At this point, the lack of an answer from his partners in back and the sound of the back doors swinging caused the driver to pull over.

Fate seems to be smiling on me tonight, Momakase internally remarked as this was her cue to quickly jump off into the adjacent alley. She could hear the emergency crew attempt to chase after her, but she was already too far ahead and crafter than they were. The sushi chef ran past dumpsters, dodged over broken pallets and turned sharply around corners for about 10 minutes until she found a ladder to climb. She swiftly took the rungs and worked her way to the rooftop so she could get her bearings. Her heart was pumping in her chest as she took several breaths, overall satisfied with her escape.

Now, I just need to find Good Luck Alley, she plotted as she looked around. While she had been running, Momakase could see she was on the outskirts of the city and knew she’d need to head east. After another minute of rest, she proceeded to leap from one rooftop to the next in an effort to avoid detection. At one point, the expert thief heard the sound of police sirens and laid low until she was sure they were gone. Once she stood up, she decided to remove her prison jacket to both look less suspicious and to keep herself from being too hot. Momakase then resumed her journey for another four blocks until she noticed the characteristically eerie green neon signs of the seedy alley in the distance. She smirked in triumph as she neared closer to her old base; true, she had a few other locations where she stashed some of her knives and encrypted copies of invaluable information, but her cooking arena was the one with the best safes and security system.

The agile woman jumped through the cool night air one last time as she came upon the familiar alleyway and descended to the ground via fire escape. It was dark with trash strewn about and a couple rats were running along the wall, but the ninja smiled as she opened the door to her lair. She walked through the long, dark hallway while her footsteps echoed along until she came to the main arena. She flipped a massive switch and lit the place up, noticing it was still ruined from the time she sprouted graphene nails. She had thought about coming back a few times while she was under the employment of Diane Amara, but never acted on it as it might have increased the chances of her being spotted as well as there was really no reason to believe it wouldn’t all still be here when she finished her job.

I’ll get to cleaning that…eventually. For now though… She then continued to follow the passage to the left until she found the set of stairs that led to her office. With a brief 20 second walk, she was at the smooth purple doors and let herself in. Momakase gazed around the room, from the sleek brown tiles to the red-paneled desk near the giant vermilion windows with gold koi imprinted on them that overlooked the cooking stage.

She then stepped over to the wall on her right and began running a finger along the edge of one of the decorative mauve and gold abstract paintings until she felt a divot, where she proceeded to push in and prompting a hand scanner to slide out on the floor. She placed her left palm on the machine and after 5 seconds of keeping it there, another panel opened up a few feet to her left. Inside, a safe laid waiting as she hit the combination 7-2-8-3-0 to disengage the lock.

“At last,” she said aloud while retrieving her black and blue spare outfit as well as her rolled-up pouch of spare knives and two scabbards. After a couple minutes, she was gowned up in her ninja best. Now, for the plan. If memory serves, Yama’s no slouch when it comes to high-tech security. Who could help me crack it? Momakase then smiled wickedly as she pushed a button inside the safe and a flash drive popped out. In it, there was countless bits of information Obake had provided her with to complete her mission (along with some intel she obtained on her own).

“I think you’ll do rather nicely in helping to persuaded a reluctant partner,” she smirked before walking over to the window to look down at her cooking arena. Momakase then looked at the small device in her hand and gripped it tight. “I promise you mother and father, I will be reunited with my birthright; of that, you can be sure.”

Chapter Text

Oh, come on. I need to finish before he wakes up, Globby worriedly thought as he worked about in the kitchen. He currently was in his Dibs form so he could make breakfast without making a mess. It was a mild morning on Saturday, June 7^th and it was a special day as it was Felony Carl’s 43^rd birthday, so Globby wanted to get a head start on the day and make their morning meal a surprise; he had already made coffee, set some bananas and syrup on the table and gotten out the plates and silverware without much racket. The gelatinous mutant did have to stop briefly when Jasmine came in, meaning he had to feed and water her before getting to the main dish: pancakes.

Globby managed to get the batter mixed and was about to get it into a large pan when he heard the shuffling of footsteps. Darn it. So much for it being ready. Oh wait! The shapeshifter then fabricated a small bouquet of rainbow-colored balloons tied to a weight so they wouldn’t fly away. He also stretched an arm up to one corner of the kitchen (opposite of the main entrance) and swiped it along to the other end, creating a long pink banner that read “Happy Birthday Carl” in red letters as it went. There. That ought to do it until I give him his present later, Globby contently thought before changing back into his Dibs form. He now poured the batter into two circles, followed by creating a large handful of chocolate chips to sprinkle on top. (Globby had already checked with the motorcyclist a while ago and he said he was fine with this sort of thing, especially after pointing out where honey comes from).

As the pancakes were cooking, Felony Carl came through the living room and into the kitchen, which prompted Globby to shed his disguise and exclaimed, “Surprise! Happy birthday Carl!” once he was in view.

The unibrowed man gave a warm smile and replied, “I thought I heard you get up early, but this is a wonderful display none the less. Thank you.” He then sniffed the air and added, “The pancakes are smelling delectable too.”

“Thanks. I was just about to flip them. I already got coffee made so help yourself,” the pink and purple man responded as he changed his left hand into a spatula to complete his task. After Felony Carl poured himself some creamer into his mug and some coffee, he set the mug on the counter and proceeded to give Globby a big hug, to which the other turned around to reciprocate it.

“You know you do not have to do this for me,” the husky biker stated with a coy smile.

Globby gave a small snort and told him, “Oh please, I want to do this and you were so sweet back in January with my birthday. It’s the least I can do.” He then looked at Felony Carl as a softer expression crossed his face. “Besides, what kind of person would I be if didn’t celebrate your birthday?”

“More than likely an inconsiderate one. Now, you might want to check that breakfast is not burning,” Felony Carl informed him with a smirk as he released his boyfriend. The gelatinous mutant then quickly smiled and shifted back to face the stove, where he was fortunate that they were almost done.

A couple minutes later, he expertly removed the pancakes with a spatula hand, set each on a plate and brought them over to the table for eating. “There you go. Enjoy,” Globby cheerfully said before sitting down.

“Thank you for the impeccable meal,” Felony Carl told him as he reached for the syrup. Globby went ahead and just made his own butter pecan syrup to put on his pancakes before he turned his left hand into a fork and began eating.

It was a couple minutes of quiet chewing and sipping of coffee when Felony Carl decided to ask, “So, what did you have planned for the day? I do not have to work today or this evening, so I am tentatively free as of this moment.”

The shapeshifter finished his bite of banana and answered, “Well, I mainly wanted to just spend the day with you doing the things you like; you’re either working or I’m out doing what I can to help people, so it’s been a while since we’ve spent a full day having fun. Plus, we do have two months of quality time to make up for.” He then looked to his left for a second before adding, “I also planned on making your cake tonight so it would be a surprise. I already got the ice cream though.” Globby proceeded to point a gelatinous thumb at the freezer.

“Ah. That would explain the Neapolitan container that suddenly found its way in there,” Felony Carl cheekily remarked.

“Yeah,” the pink and purple man simply said with a smile while scratching the back of his head. The two then finished their meals in peace, enjoying the light conversation and feeling the building of anticipation at what else the day would hold.

                    ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After breakfast, Globby and Felony Carl spent the next two hours watching TV on the couch, discussing what the former had in mind and of course, giving some pets to Jasmine. The shapeshifter relayed that he thought they could maybe go to the movies (Globby’s treat), followed by eating at Joe’s for lunch and lastly, going to the Botanical Garden in Torii Gate Park. This proposal sounded good to the motorcyclist as despite his rough exterior, he enjoyed leisurely activities, had a love of plants and hadn’t been to the park in a while; it also was a place Globby had visited so rarely, so it would be nice for him too. Felony Carl eventually pulled out his phone and pulled up the movie listings. The duo searched through what was in the area and decided on “Turn of the Screw,” a murder-mystery movie that they both were interested in. They decided that since the movie theater was less than a half mile away, they could walk and enjoy the outdoors. Once they got done watching the news and verified that it was going to be a nice low to mid 70s today, they headed out of the apartment and made their way off Ichiba St.

“Man, it does look like it’s going to be a gorgeous day. Good thing too since we got a little bit of walking before we hit the theater,” Globby casually remarked as he and Felony Carl turned left onto Hatchi Blvd.

The motorcyclist nodded and added, “Ample conditions make for optimal days.” The two continued north for several blocks, sidestepping past other people on the sidewalk, waving hi to those that recognized the shapeshifter and making idle chat about stores they went by. After almost 20 minutes of walking, they finally made it to the Toshi Eiga Theater, where it was a 3-story building that was light peach in color with dark brown trim. Out front, it had posters lined along the wall of what they were showing like “Kentucky Kaiju Vs. Seismic Sloth” and “For the Win;” there was also a large white display above the ticket both with all the movie titles listed. It may have been Saturday, but since they were going to the first showing at 10:45am, there was only two other people in front of Globby and Felony Carl in line.

The gelatinous mutant then gave Carl a wary look as he said, “Do you think I should be less…this before we go in?” gesturing to himself.

Felony Carl looked Globby up and down, followed by shrugging and telling him, “You do whatever feels most comfortable. If making a mess is your main concern, you can always make a cover for your seat.”

Globby pondered the idea for a couple seconds before smiling and nodding in agreement. A moment later, they stepped up to the ticket counter and were greeted by an employee with short brown hair, wearing glasses and was named “Rene.”

“Hi. Welcome to the TET. How may I help you?” he professionally asked, not acting surprised or off putted by Globby’s arrival.

“We’d like two tickets to the 10:45am showing of ‘Turn of the Screw' please,” the shapeshifter answered right back.

“One moment,” Rene responded while typing into his computer. “That’ll be $12.50 sir.”

“Coming up.” Globby then produced a pure silver coin the size of a nickel, making the ticket booth operator stare at it in confusion. “Sorry. It’s this guy’s B-day, so I want to treat him, but as you can see, no wallet,” Globby apologized as he patted the sides of his hips for emphasis.

“It’s uh, okay sir. I’m sure you’re fine to pay this way. Here.” Rene proceeded to print out two tickets and slid them under the protective glass. “I’ll check with my manager in the meantime; we’ll know where to find you anyway if there’s an issue. Enjoy the show,” he courteously said as the pink and purple man took them.

“Thanks,” Globby told him before he and Felony Carl pushed the double doors to go inside. The interior was covered in forest green wallpaper with gold trefoils imprinted on it. There was also a black and white tiled floor for the lobby that turned to a purple carpet with bright blue diamonds as the theme. In front of the two diverging hallways that led to the actual theaters, a concession stand stood with all manner of candy, drinks and popcorn that was being made behind the counter. “Hope there’s not a problem. People usually just accept it and move on,” the gelatinous being nervously wondered.

“I am sure it will be fine. The young worker is merely being on the cautionary side rather than face scrutiny later,” the motorcyclist speculated as they approached the ticket taker, who appeared to be a young man less than 20yrs old wearing a black shirt and khakis. The young man took their tickets and after giving them a little shake to remove a tiny bit of slime, tore it in half and gave the rest back.

“Thanks.”

Felony Carl and Globby then walked further into the theater where the reformed mutant asked with a wink, “Need anything cuz you know I’m covered on snacks?”

The unibrowed man gave a soft chuckle and answered, “I am fine for now. We will have lunch after the movie anyway.”

“Okay, but say the word and instant water bottle at your disposal. Once we’re in there, I don’t want you or me to miss any of the movie on account of a little thirst,” Globby cheekily informed him.

Felony Carl nodded and said, “Alright. Now, which theater are we in?”

“Uh…#3 to the left,” the shapeshifter replied after checking the tickets.

The duo then headed in and found the small place to have about 60 seats, with most of them being available. They spied some free ones in the middle with no other people around, so they made their way up to the grey cushioned spots. Before Globby sat down though, he fabricated a soft black mat that he formed over the seat and arm rest so as to not risk making a mess for whoever was responsible for cleaning up.

“There, now I don’t have to worry about anything except you and the movie,” the gelatinous mutant stated, satisfied and now sitting in his chair. Felony Carl proceeded to take the one to his left, where they sat quietly for a few seconds until the motorcyclist remembered, “I better get my visit to the bathroom out of the way. Be right back.”

“Okay,” Globby simply said as he followed his boyfriend with his eyes until he was gone. I hope the movie’s good. I’d hate it if he had a bad time, the pink and purple man anxiously thought as he leaned on his right elbow. He gazed around the theater to occupy his time, noticing the soft maroon walls with a few lamps along them as well as the 10 or so brighter lights overhead. Globby also looked to find about a dozen other people in there too, mostly couples and a handful of others by themselves. Before he knew it, Felony Carl returned and took his seat next to him just as the lights started to dim.

“Perfect timing,” Globby remarked, garnering a small smile from the bandana-clad man that was barely visible. The previews then started to play, giving everyone a sneak peek at “Outstanding Warrants” (a cowboy-themed movie), “Nightlife” (a thriller set in Nueva York) and “One Way Left” (a suspense picture involving a man on death row).

“Not a lot of happy or funny moments in those movies I bet,” Globby commented quietly to which Felony Carl replied, “Family-friendly trailers would probably be seen if we went to the showing of ‘Beyond the Rainbow.’” This made the shapeshifter snicker a little before he silenced himself for fear of being too loud.

A couple minutes later, the movie finally started. The duo had seen that it was about a young woman who had been slain in a resort where there was a family reunion happening, but beyond that they were in the dark. As the movie progressed, they leaned on each other for comfort and occasionally made remarks about who they thought the killer was. There were a few jokes thrown in every now and again, making each individual laugh stand out among the low attendance. Twists and turns abounded with each suspect being crossed off or added as new clues were found; it also led to some gasps and “Oh, that makes sense” from the reform criminals.

After an hour and 50-minute runtime, the credits started to roll, leading everyone to stand up and get a stretch in before gathering their things; in Globby’s case, he merely reabsorbed his protective mat and scooted along with Felony Carl down the seats to the exit aisle. “So, what’d you think?” the gelatinous mutant asked as they made their way to the front entrance.

“I found it intriguing and suspenseful. It certainly was wrought with mystery,” the biker answered with a nod of approval.

“Yeah, I seriously thought it was going to be the woman’s brother since that would be super dark, but I was pretty close with it being his wife; she too just gave me creepy vibes,” Globby added before they walked up to the front set of doors and opened them.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Truly, the allure of a good mystery comes from not knowing who is innocent or guilty, making for considerable shock and drama. Also, it was most fortunate they did not refund your unorthodox payment,” Felony Carl analyzed as they now headed back south towards Joe’s.

“You said it,” Globby simply stated with a small chuckle. They continued their journey for another five minutes before proceeding to turn left on Naga Ln and only needing to take that course for a few blocks. Along the way, they noticed more people on the sidewalk as well as traffic picked up too. The sun was now overhead and would have made things hotter if not for the comfortable breeze. Finally, the pair spied their favorite dining place as the giant red “Joe’s” sign stuck out the side of it. From their current position, they could see there wasn’t a line out the door, but plenty of people filled the inside booths.

“Hopefully we won’t have to wait for a table,” Globby anxiously wondered.

“I am sure it will be fine,” Felony Carl reassured him as he now held the door open for him.

“Thanks.”

“My pleasure.”

Their eyes surveyed the small establishment and found that while mostly full, their usual spot was vacant. Felony Carl smiled slyly and said, “Told you it would work out.”

The shapeshifter nodded as they slid into the seats and replied, “Yeah, yeah. I wouldn’t be surprised if Joe keeps it empty just for us.”

“That is a probable possibility,” the bandana-clad man conceded as he handed a menu for Globby to browse.

Not 20 seconds after they arrived, their waitress Andrea, a woman in her mid 30s with long blonde hair tied up in a ponytail, came over to get their drink orders. “Afternoon Globby. Afternoon Carl. Anything to start you off with?” she politely inquired.

“Ice tea for me. Thanks,” Globby requested.

“Lemonade for me today, Andrea. Thank you,” Felony Carl informed her.

She jotted their drinks down and told them, “Alright. Be right back,” before quickly heading to check her other tables.

The two reformed criminals then returned to their menus as the gelatinous mutant wondered, “Find something yet? I was leaning towards the chicken salad sandwich.”

Felony Carl looked up and answered, “The BLT sounds rather appetizing.”

“Ooo. Well, I guess we’re good once Andrea gets back,” Globby remarked, followed by placing his menu off to the side. He then self-consciously asked, “So, enjoying your B-day so far?”

The husky biker smiled warmly and replied, “It has been a delight, and I have no doubt the trek through the gardens and subsequent cake enjoyment will be wonderful too.”

Before he could say anything else, Andrea returned to set the ice tea and lemonade down before questioning, “Got your meals picked out for me?”

“Yep. I’d like the chicken salad sandwich with chips. Thanks.”

“And I will have the BLT with fries. Much appreciated.”

“Okay. I’ll put these in and get back with you soon,” the blonde woman said as she now headed to the kitchen.

Watching her walk away and looking about the crowded restaurant while hearing the murmur of conversation, Globby now contently sighed, prompting Felony Carl to inquire, “You good?”

“Yeah, all good. Just getting that glad/relieved feeling again from not having to hide anymore,” the pink and purple man answered with a grin.

Piquing the unibrowed man’s curiosity, he followed up with, “I do not believe I have asked you before, but was it hard to maintain your non-standard form for so long?”

Globby shrugged with a more-or-less hand gesture and replied, “At first it was. Definitely spent a good bit of practice to get it set in, but eventually it got stuck in my mind to always keep part of my focus on my disguise. It certainly made for an exhausting time when I came here because you just know I couldn’t stay away from this place for two months.” He added a wink to his last statement, garnering a smile from Felony Carl before they both decided to take a sip of their drinks.

Once satisfied, the shapeshifter then questioned the biker, “So, we going back home to get your bike and drive up to the garden?”

Felony Carl nodded and responded, “It might take a while to make it there on foot and would be subsequently too tired to enjoy the beauty.”

“Fair enough. With how fast you drive, I’m sure it’d be faster than if I swinged there anyway,” Globby teased as he gave a cheeky grin. The cat loving man now chuckled, making the other laugh a little too. Any day I can get him to smile is a good day, the gelatinous mutant happily thought. All we’ve got left is the park, cake and of course, a little surprise present. Now, I wonder where he wants to go first once we get there?

                                 _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Wow Carl! Just look at them all,” Globby remarked as he fawned over the multitude of flowers they walked past. Once they had finished lunch and returned to their apartment to fetch Carl’s bike, they drove northeast to Torii Gate Park. It had been months since Globby (or rather Dibs) rode on Felony Carl’s bike (there wasn’t much need when he could swing or fly and until he learned mimicry, would have made a mess of it), so he shifted his form into his smaller old self and even made a helmet for the drive. They proceeded to speed through the city, only stopping for red lights, stop signs and when an ambulance came blaring its sirens behind them. After 15 minutes of weaving through all the streets and hills of the city, their eyes gazed upon their destination. Both gentlemen had been to the park before, but Globby had rarely gone to the gardens as most of his previous visits to the place were when he was a criminal looking for an easy score.

The husky biker parked along the south entrance, where an archway served as the gate inside. They had already been in there 30 minutes and had strolled through the bamboo forest, where the shapeshifter joked about turning into a panda for a cute photo; afterward, the former criminals took the path past some hills where the magnolia trees were starting to bloom, showing off their large pinkish-white flowers; there were also some mimosa trees too but were not yet in season.

Now, Globby and Felony Carl had worked their way to all the perennials plots, where a variety of blossoms were on display. They saw vibrant orange day lilies as well as bushes of red, pink, white, and yellow roses off to their left while the right had rows of purple, red and pink anemones and snapdragons.

The gelatinous mutant saw the display card that said what each plant was along with its scientific name, where he gave a small laugh at the anemone one and said, “I guess they couldn’t come up with a more original name.”

Felony Carl chuckled and replied, “You uttered the same thing before when I told you about all the nouns that are called 'Kiwi.'”

“So true,” the mostly transparent man stated as they now walked past a giant lilac bush. On the purple flowers, countless butterflies, bees and other manners of insects were going from one blossom to the next, sipping the nectar as the sweet, calming scent permeated the air.

Globby sighed as he briefly put his head on Felony Carl’s shoulder. “I hope you’re having a nice time.”

The motorcyclist nodded and told him, “It is a proverbial utopia for plant enthusiasts such as myself. It is most fortunate we have come on a day like this.”

The shapeshifter smiled contently as they continued on, walking past a few other park visitors, one being an elderly woman and another being a small family of two women with their son in a stroller. The duo then saw a small pond, decorated with white and pink water lilies while a couple ducks swam peacefully on top.

Seeing the birds, Globby nudged Felony Carl and asked, “Hey, want to make some fluffy birds happy?” He proceeded to fabricate some pellet food in his left hand before flashing a cheeky grin, to which his boyfriend reciprocated. They walked onto the bridge that crossed the water, where the husky man took a handful of the synthesized food and tossed it into the pond, getting the birds' attention. Before they made it though, some orange, white and black koi came to the surface and ate it up.

“Umm Globs, it appears there are more mouths to feed than anticipated,” Felony Carl informed him.

“Don’t worry. Plenty more where that came from,” he quipped as he simply formed more food for the hungry animals. They stayed there for a couple minutes, being sure that everyone got some and then turning to explore more of the park.

The path they were on lead them near the edge of the gardens, allowing them to hear some cars drive by as they passed some open meadows, with well-kept grass and a few people enjoying a late-afternoon picnic. Eventually, they came to where several rows of tulips had been planted, displaying their prominent colors of pink, white and yellow; there were also some that were purple, red and black, and pink and white, but not as many as the others. Once they awed over their pretty petals, they noticed another of the areas that was shrouded by some small trees.

“Do you know what’s over there Carl?” Globby inquired as he pointed a gelatinous thumb.

“I believe that is the Tsuki Pavilion, a small dock of sorts that extends over the accompanying pond,” Felony Carl answered, already knowing what Globby was going to say next.

“Ooo, sounds pretty. Let’s go see,” he enthusiastically said, taking the husky biker’s large hand and leading him down the way.

The area became more shaded as the branches above them extended over the path. The duo gazed up every now and then to see the afternoon sun glint down on them. A few minutes later, they saw the pavilion, where the trees opened up to the sky overhead and currently a dozen visitors were idling around, looking out over the small body of water. The dock itself was made of dark, stained wood with a 4ft tall rail around the edge of it. There were also a few tables and chairs laid out so late-night visitors could possibly see the moon if the time was right. In addition, there were a couple metal posts on the beginning of the pavilion, sporting hanging baskets where some small pitcher plants were growing out of them.

“Dang. Those are some funky-looking plants,” the shapeshifter commented, noticing their red and green color, tube-shaped bodies and the leaf over their mouths.

“Yeah, and they are carnivorous too,” Felony Carl informed him, making the gelatinous mutant take a step back from them. The bandana-clad man chuckled and elaborated with, “They are only dangerous if you are an insect.”

“Oh,” Globby simply said as the duo moved onto the dock. They moved along the center with the shapeshifter trying not to bump into people; fortunately, the visitors were leaving him alone too with only a few actually staring at him for a few seconds before returning to their sightseeing. Once they reached the end of the structure, Felony Carl and Globby could see more lily pads and blossoms on the surface as well as a good covering of green duckweed.

The pink and purple man gazed up and went, “Hey,” making the other look up too. Above them was the bright blue sky again, but with the sun in the center of the viewing area, giving the appearance of the glowing orb being surrounded by a ring of blue followed by a ring of green. “Looks like we came at the right time,” Globby remarked with a small smile.

“It is a pleasant sight, but I have a feeling it would be enjoyable at any hour,” Felony Carl coyly replied as he looked back over the water. They both let a deep sigh escape as they continued to examine the area. It was a couple minutes later by the time the chocolate-loving mutant asked, “So, ready to get going?”

His boyfriend nodded and said, “Sure. We will have to finish soon so as to give you ample time to make this surprise celebratory cake.”

“Oh, it won’t take that long. This is your day. If you want to walk a little slower or stop along the way, no problem for me,” Globby told him while making a dismissive gesture.

Felony Carl chuckled softly and replied with a smile, “Alright. We can stay just a little bit longer then.”

                            _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Okay, keep your eyes closed. Almost done,” Globby instructed his boyfriend as he sat down at their kitchen table. It was twilight outside their apartment now as they had arrived home only 45 minutes ago. Being that they had a late lunch, they stopped off at a Benito’s to pick up some of their signature wraps to go and just eat them when they got back; there of course was the matter of taking care of Jasmine when they were done and giving her a few pets before they could go back to the celebration.

After his order to have Felony Carl close his eyes, Globby began focusing on the cake and its flavor. Let’s see, I already settled on dark chocolate raspberry to give it an extra special taste, so for the design, I’m thinking… A few seconds later, the birthday cake started to form from the bottom up, starting with a plate to set it on, followed by the dessert itself. The gelatinous mutant’s vision had the outside be a soft pink frosting with green swirls and red roses spiraling along the exterior. For the final touch, he spelled out “Happy Birthday Carl” in sparkly gel icing that went from yellow to orange to red in color for the bottom of the letters to the top, making each look like a glowing flame. Feeling a sense of accomplishment, he then set the cake down on the table and said, “No peeking. Still got to get the present.”

“As you wish Globs,” Felony Carl cheekily replied as he kept his eyes shut.

The shapeshifter proceeded to go into the hallway closet outside of their bedroom, where he had hidden the gift he made yesterday under some spare blankets; the box had black and hot pink stripes along with a silverly bow on top and was only 1ft x 1ft in size. A moment later, Globby was back in the kitchen and finally told his boyfriend, “Okay. You can open them now.”

Felony Carl did as the gelatinous mutant said and saw him holding the present along with the beautiful cake he made. “This all looks incredible. Thank you for all the thought and detail you put into today,” the cat loving man complimented the other.

Globby blushed slightly and smiled before replying, “Hey, you’re worth it and I’d gladly do it every day. Now, go ahead and open it up so we can see how the cake turned out.” He then handed the striped box over and waited eagerly to see if he liked it.

Felony Carl took the box and gingerly took the lid off to peek inside. As it turns out, there was more than one item within, so the large man first pulled out a small black sack, prompting Globby to explain.

“What you’ve got there is something I asked Honey Lemon to help me with. They’re more of those special pink paint balls for your motorcycle, so anytime you want it to be glittery and pink again, just toss a couple at it. Plus, I know how to make them now so it won’t just be for a limited time.”

The goateed gentleman smiled and said, “Truly a delightful gift. I will certainly use them. Thank you.” He then pulled the second gift out to reveal a large, tightly folded pink shirt that read “No more Mr. Nice Guy” in sparkly dark magenta letters.

Globby self-consciously scratched the back of his head as his boyfriend examined it and told him, “I thought it might be funny like in an ironic way or something since it might be hard to peg down whether you’re really being serious or not about the whole ‘Nice Guy’ thing.”

Felony Carl chuckled softly and responded, “It looks greats and I will be sure to wear it in the future. No need to worry.” This made the shapeshifter give a quiet “Phew” at the gift being well received. The last thing Felony Carl pulled out was a white mug that read “World’s Greatest Cat Dad” in black letters and had a picture of Jasmine inside a red heart.

“I uh, figured it’d been a while since you got a new mug and I just had to put the truth on there,” Globby explained a bit cheekily this time. Then, as if to emphasize the point, their white cat came in and began rubbing against Felony Carl, prompting him to lean over and pet her. “And Jasmine agrees with me,” the pink and purple man smirked while crossing his arms.

Once he was done petting his feline, the vest-wearing man set his gifts aside and stood up in order to give Globby a heartfelt hug, to which the gelatinous man reciprocated. “These are all such wonderful treasures I am sure to enjoy for a long time. Thank you for an extra special celebratory day,” Felony Carl conveyed to his boyfriend.

Globby smiled and replied, “Anything for you Carl. Happy birthday.” He then released the other from his sticky hug before forming another plate in his right hand and a small knife in the left. “Now, come on. Let’s try the cake and feel free to give me notes so I can make it better next time.”

The motorcyclist simply smiled and told him, “Sure,” as nothing more needed to be said as they enjoyed the final treat to such a fun day.

Chapter Text

“I wanted to thank you again Mr. Krei for this opportunity to meet with you. It’s truly an honor.”

The rich blonde man named Alistair Krei chuckled immensely at the flattering remark. “Why thank you, Miss…” he awkwardly paused as he fleeted his eyes to the application on his desk. “Miss Keoba. My time is valuable, but I can always spare 10 minutes here or there for promising researchers.” He then flashed one of his signature smiles to let the young woman across from him know he saw value in her (or rather something valuable from her).

The person being interviewed appeared to be in her early 20s, wearing an all-black suit and a black half-cut fold over hair cut with a streak of red in it. She grinned right back at the CEO, not letting her true identity of Trina Obake shine through.

“All the same, thank you. Now, I’m sure you’ve seen from my résumé the contributions I’ve made to the next generation of automated drones for the Nile delivery program,” the well-dressed woman highlighted as she maintained a confident posture.

Krei nodded and replied, “Yes, impressive robotics and it’s always nice whenever they can reduce the hassle of everyday things.” He then glanced over the papers on his desk again, causing him to miss the small twitch of anger that crept across Trina’s face, caused by the notion that robots were meant to serve humans. She quickly recovered as the blonde man returned his attention to her.

“And I see that you graduated from the University of Austinpol with honors, quite a feat,” he complimented while interlacing his fingers.

“Why, I’m glad you think so. It certainly took a lot of time and effort to achieve it, but I believe in getting things done right the first time; just a lesson my father taught me,” Trina smoothly replied. In order to better ensure she got the job, the scheming robot hacked into all the necessary databases and falsified their records. She knew of Krei’s spotty record with employees and figured they wouldn’t dig too deep into her past as long as she could be of service to them; if they did call any fake previous employees, she too had a plan in place where they’d reach a sophisticated voice recording system that should answer all their questions (if she didn’t pick up the phone herself that is).

“Well, it sounds like your father was a hard worker who believed in success, and that’s something I can get behind. Now, it also said you’ve done some work for the government. Anything you’d care to share or was it all NDA stuff?” Krei casually asked.

“No problem sir. While I can’t go into the exact schematics or purpose, I did have a 6-month contract with the Department of Defense for improving their propulsion systems and enhanced durable materials they could use for manufacturing purposes,” the robot in disguise answered as she put her hands on her lap.

Upon hearing Trina’s additional work, the rich man’s eyebrows lifted up, both out of excitement and being impressed. “Wow Miss Keoba, I must say you seem to have a very wide net of expertise, and coming from one so young makes it all the more incredible; I should know given that my own intern is a teenager,” he tried to compliment her, but not quite hitting the mark. His statement made her give a slight scowl for the briefest of moments, but she quickly recovered and played it off by lightheartedly saying, “It’s amazing how bright some stars can shine.”

Krei gave a small chuckle and added, “So true.” He then straightened up and inquired, “Now, I believe I know why you chose to apply to Krei Tech, but just for the novelty of it, why don’t you tell me yourself?”

Trina grinned charmingly and replied, “It’s a fair question to ask Mr. Krei. You see, I tend to go for the best and if it doesn’t exist, then I make it so. Admittedly, some people may be deterred by the bad press that your company unfairly gets, but I know there are great things happening here and I would love to become a part of it.”

Her words held a sway over Alistair as they were about stroking his ego, praising him and his company despite previous incidents. The blonde man put on a pleased smile and said, “My my, you certainly know how to win people over. Are you sure you’re not in sales?” He then punctuated his sentence with a small joking laugh, prompting Trina to go along with one of her own.

The stupid things I do to get what I want, she angrily thought as she hid these emotions from her potential employer. “That’s flattering, but no Mr. Krei,” the young robot told him while balling her fist below the eye-line of the CEO.

“Okay, I’ve been asking you the questions for the most part, so do you have any for me?” Krei asked enthusiastically.

Good. This’ll give me a chance to get a feel for where I can enact my own work, Trina plotted and involuntarily making herself smile again. “Well, I suppose the first thing I would like to know is where I’d be working if you hire me,” she politely inquired.

“Good question. Now, we have several areas of R&D, from the commercial phone and laptop area to the weapons division to advanced robotics to the various other contracts we hold, so your options are fairly broad,” Krei explained in the simplest of terms as he leaned back in his chair.

Ooo, weapons or robots would be a perfect fit for my newest design. Perhaps he won’t say no to what I propose, Trina plotted evilly. “Those all sound like amazing opportunities and I’m sure I’d be able to contribute to any of those sectors…although, I must confess I’d probably go with the robotics because you see, I already had some ideas drawn up for a machine of revolutionary proportions,” she pitched to the blonde man, doing her best to come off as excited and guileless.

Krei’s eyebrows immediately lifted up in intrigue, clearly taking the bait. “Well, when you say something like that, I have to see it,” he requested as he now leaned eagerly over his desk.

The robotic teen looked a bit aloof before she replied, “I’d be happy to, but I would hope this means that I am a part of the Krei Tech team? I’d hate to give you a taste of this only to leave you high and dry if I must take them somewhere else.”

“Of course, of course. Don’t want any legality trouble. I may love my lawyer, but it doesn’t mean I should call him in every day,” Krei said with a small chuckle and making Trina give a genuine smile when he added, “Anyway, let me officially welcome you to Krei Tech.” He then stood up to walk around his desk, prompting the interviewee to stand too as the older man extended his right hand to shake. Trina took it and gave it a good squeeze, restraining herself from crushing the other’s appendage with her true strength.

Krei winced slightly from the gesture, giving a small grunt and remarking, “Wow, that’s some grip.”

The black-suit wearing woman merely flashed a confident grin and said, “I was taught a good strong handshake demonstrates the commitment one has to the agreement.”

He gave a short, slightly nervous laugh and replied, “Well, if that’s the case, I’d say this is going to be a very beneficial relationship.” Krei then seemed to forget about his hand pain as he rubbed both of them together eagerly and asked, “Okay, now how about those designs you promised me?”

Trina gave a sly look as she gazed at her brown portfolio leaning against her chair and which she had already brought as a precaution to help reel the CEO in. “Why, I just so happen to have them right here,” she informed him before bending over to collect the desired item. Trina opened up the unassuming carrier to reveal she had a tablet inside, complete with elaborate security features lest someone else got their hands on it. She went to open it using her thumb, making it look like it was a simple fingerprint scanner, but was actually a code reader that required a specific command. The robotic teenager placed her digit on the pad and flashed the encryption key from her internal system to it. A moment later, the screen unlocked and she proceeded to click through the folders on it until she found the design she was looking for.

“Here you go,” she simply said as a satisfied smile crept onto her face.

Krei accepted the tablet and together they gazed at the machine diagrams. He let out an audible whistle as he read the keywords like “thrusters,” “heat resistant” and “laser emitter” before remarking, “My my, these are impressive, and so intimidating too.” The blonde man then raised an eyebrow in curiosity and asked, “So, can you really deliver on all of this?”

“I believe I can Mr. Krei. I’ve done some tinkering in between jobs and have had success with the individual components. Now, it just needs the additional resources to complete assembly; but think, if it works like I know it will, mass production could start practically overnight and you have a robot worth clamoring for,” Trina answered while luring him further into her plans.

The rich man stroked his chin in intrigue at the sound of this. “Good, very good. I’ll see that we get you set up with your own team and facility to begin right away,” he informed her.

Trina internally winced at hearing this, anxiously thinking, But I already have everything ready to start at my warehouse; plus, those stupid humans being around means I’ll have to be careful about how much I show or they might actually put two and two together. “Uh Mr. Krei,” she interjected, making him turn to her as he slipped out of his own thoughts. “Far be it from me to question you, but I’d like to enlighten you with the fact that I have the facility problem well at hand. You see, I wanted to hedge my bets before going into this interview and figured if I couldn’t convince you with the designs and my impressive résumé, I’d find my own way to bring my creation to life. So, with your permission of course, could my perfectly available building serve as the production plant? I’d hate to think of all that time and money invested into a property that no longer has a purpose,” the scheming android sweetly proposed to Krei, trying to coerce him into letting her at least have this.

He paused for a few seconds as he debated what to do. “Alright, it’ll save me a step anyway, but I need to know the location so I can check-in…and in case something goes awry,” Krei answered, whispering the last part more to himself.

Trina nodded in acceptance of this arrangement, although she still wanted there to be no humans there. I’ve already voiced my opinion about the factory and too many requests will likely shut him down. Ugh. Just one more hurdle I’ll have to deal with I guess. She then felt a jolt as a new thought occurred to her, keeping all her focus on not showing her new boss. When my plans come to fruition, that know-it-all brat Hamada will likely catch onto it, so I guess I better be ready for that visit. But in the meantime…, she plotted as she gave a small cough to get Krei’s attention. “I’d say we’ve got ourselves a beneficial arrangement here and I look forward to seeing this through. I feel I must say though that it might be in everyone’s best interest that this project is kept on a need-to-know basis; you don’t want some peon to blab about this and tip off your competitors or if in the unlikely event something goes wrong and Krei Tech gets bad publicity again?” she imparted onto the older man.

The color practically drained from his face as Krei heard her suggestion, making him quickly nod and reply with, “Good call. Yes! This will be the next big thing for Krei Tech and I won’t let anyone spoil that.” He then flashed a charming smile and said, “See, you’re brilliant! I knew there was a reason I liked you. Now, how soon do you think you can start?”

Trina merely grinned and answered, “Why, immediately Mr. Krei.”

That appeared to be the response he was looking for as the blonde man rubbed his hands together in satisfaction. “Great! Now my assistant will have the necessary paperwork you need to fill out. So, go right on ahead Miss Keoba,” Krei told her, making a small shooing gesture that the calculating robot was only too happy to obey.

As she stepped through Krei’s office doors, she finally let herself revel in her victory as a devious look crossed her face. One step closer father. Just a little bit longer and then this city will finally know your greatness.

Chapter Text

“Okay Honey Lemon, are you still sure you want to do this?” Go Go inquired, obviously still wary about her best friend’s decision. It was a late sunny June day and now was the time that the two heroines planned to make good on trying to ride the speedster’s motorcycle together.

The bubbly chemist emphatically nodded her head as she put on her new motorcycle helmet and fastened the strap; it was standard headgear until Honey Lemon hit it with a pink glitter ball and adorned it with pictures of angel wings, cute birds and smiling clouds. “I said I wanted to try riding your motorcycle and I meant it. You worried about something?” the taller woman asked with a touch of concern.

Go Go shook her head and replied, “No, it’s just I…don’t want you to have a bad time.” That was more than she intended to admit, but the speedster didn’t want Honey Lemon to think she’d rather not have her along.

Upon hearing this, the yellow-clad woman gave a reassuring smile and sincerely said, “Oh, it’s okay Go Go. I think this will be a lot of fun and you’re like the best driver I know.

The engineer subtly blushed, hoping it wasn’t too visible as she now gave a small cough and slipped on her own purple and black helmet. “Alright then. Let’s get started.”

Honey Lemon nodded again as she followed Go Go’s lead and hopped onto the sleek, black motorcycle behind her best friend.

Before she started the engine, the shorter woman turned her head and asked, “Got everything stowed away?”

The chemist pondered for a moment and answered, “Yep. Everything’s stashed in my purse and it’s secured under my sweater.”

Satisfied, Go Go faced the front again and flipped her visor down as she turned the motorcycle on. The loud rumble it made became the dominant sound to the two sets of ears and the vibrations coursed through them, just as it had when they rode the jet skis earlier that month. The chemist couldn’t help but smile as the motorcyclist told her to hang on, to which she wrapped her arms around the other’s waist. This made Go Go feel flustered for a moment before she soon recovered and checked that she was free to pull into traffic. Once clear, she steered their ride to the left as they crossed to the right side of the road leaving their apartment and heading up Bonsai St to go further north.

They soon drove by Joe’s Diner where a line was running out the door. Honey Lemon did her best to peek through the window, but couldn’t see any sign of their reformed friends inside. Oh well, she simply shrugged it off as the wind began wiping her hair into a frenzy. The other buildings briefly passed by rapidly for a few seconds until suddenly Go Go had to brake for stopped traffic ahead, making her lurch forward and almost hit her friend’s helmet. “Oh, sorry,” Honey Lemon felt the need to apologize.

“What for?” the engineer asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked behind her.

Now it was the sticker fanatic’s turn to blush slightly before bashfully replying, “I uh, guess nothing. Sorry.”

Go Go gave a small smirk as she returned her attention back up front and revved the engine some to move forward. The duo proceeded to drive down the street for a couple blocks, passing by dozens of people walking along the store fronts, many of whom were probably heading to lunch right now. With the speedster’s focus on driving, Honey Lemon’s gaze fell on some of the businesses like “Scently Divine,” “Asado Butchers” and “Paper Hearts Book Store,” reminding the young woman to stop by later and see if they had her newest art book in. She then leaned to the right as the purple-streaked haired driver maneuvered them into the left turning lane. They remained there for all of 10 seconds when their light became a green arrow and Go Go took off down Piccolo Dr.

Now heading west, the duo was faced with more stop lights and making the ride considerably longer, but for once the speedster wasn’t particularly worried or irritated as she was enjoying the comforting embrace of the other. Go Go still tried to pass around as many cars as she could though in an effort to give a little more of a show for her passenger. After their fourth stop in traffic, the two women could discern they were coming up on the pass between the Two Siblings Hills and Aoshima Park.

While swerving around a green 4-door car as they entered the more secluded road, Honey Lemon quickly looked from side to side so she could at least see some of each geological feature as they drove by. The chemist caught sight of the tall sage and green slopes that were the hills on her right, where no doubt people were getting some hiking in; on her left, the flatter area of the park gave way to sporadic trees and the campus for the Aizawa School of Fine Arts, which was marked by the large cement building. Behind the Learning Center, another batch of hiking trails that serpentined through the denser forest were given only a second of a view before they were gone, hidden behind the building once again. Honey Lemon left out a brief sigh at thinking it would be fun to go there, but quickly returned to viewing all the other surrounding sights.

Go Go revved the motorcycle again, causing them to lurch back momentarily and making the bubbly woman grab a little tighter out of reflex. The engineer smiled for a moment at this embrace as she weaved through the other cars, clearly not sightseeing as much as her best friend.

Coming up on their left was Mt. Freeman covered by dark green foliage and rising above the road they traveled on. They then came across another cluster of businesses, ranging from a pizzeria to a flower store to a pond shop. The taller female proceeded to spot a school coming up on her right and could decern some kids playing basketball in the open court they had. In a matter of minutes, Go Go then spotted their next turning point as she got in the right turning lane and shouted, “Hang on.” Honey Lemon obeyed and they shortly found themselves on Soba Blvd.

The wind continued to blow on them while they journeyed down their new path, but with this change of direction, it reminded the chemist that she could look more than just left and right. She proceeded to tilt her head up and smiled at the view above, consisting of a bright sun poking out behind a few fluffy, slow-moving clouds; there was even a flock of seagulls overhead that was heading west too. Hey! We must be heading all the way to see the ocean, Honey Lemon excitedly thought. She then resumed her sight tour at ground level as she saw Son Naka Park and Recreation on her right. Despite their speed and distance, the bright young woman could see dozens of people dotted throughout the area; some were playing frisbee golf at one end, playing a few matches of tennis in another and several people were even having a big picnic in the open meadow section too.

They then approached the dog park, where many pairs of humans and their canine pals were enjoying the start of summer. The light auburn-haired woman’s eyes followed some of the people on the flat patch of grass and saw a handful of people were flying kites, some in the traditional diamond shape with long tails while others were spread out like the wings of bats. She gave a small giggle at the thought of how long it had been since she had done that and how much fun that was.

Go Go managed to hear the little exclamation and glanced over to where Honey Lemon was watching. Well, looks like that’s something new I learned about her, the engineer internally noted as a smile appeared on her face. She then returned to driving on through traffic, continuing to pass local businesses, weaving around slower cars and trying to constantly sense whether her best friend was still doing okay, which she seemed to be doing.

The duo soon hit a section of residential 2-story structures, more or less looking the same except for their colors. They saw several littered with toys from the children that lived there, where a few of them were even playing outside in their wacky sprinklers and slip-n-slides. Seeing them got another joyful giggle out of the artist as she went “Awww” before returning her eyes forward.

Now was time to take the right turn to continue on Soba Blvd, so Go Go swerved and maneuvered both of them off the busy section as they found another exciting feature coming up.

“Eeee!” the chemist audibly squealed. “The San Fransokyo Zoo! Oh, they have the cutest penguins there and it makes for an amazing day of photos,” she informed Go Go.

What a surprise. Honey Lemon loves cute animals, Go Go lightheartedly thought as she smiled again. The road proceeded to curve around the aforementioned place, giving the view of various shades of greens and browns to denote the different areas/animals that resided there.

The chemist continued to stare, eventually letting out a sad sigh that did not go unnoticed by the other, but their trip wasn’t over yet so she kept moving forward. Finally, once the curve straightened out, the majestic view of the sparkling blue ocean laid before them. The breeze became stronger with the scent of salt water as they neared the end of the road; as the traffic grew too, Go Go had to slow down before they made it to the Sugio Kaiyō Hwy, which traveled all along the beach.

When it came time to turn, the shorter woman shouted back, “Now here comes one of the best things about being on a motorcycle.” She then put them in the right turning lane and the duo found themselves with the endless ocean on their left while dozens of businesses began to pass by on their right. 

Honey Lemon was completely transfixed as she couldn’t stopped looking out over the tan sand to the lapping waves that crashed along it. There were countless people that they passed, either in the water, playing on the hot beach or just walking along the paved sidewalk. Several could be seen surfing while others were just relaxing in inflatable rings. Seeing everyone reminded both of the women of their own beach day a few weeks ago, making the two smiled fondly although neither could see the other’s face at the moment.

From those building sand castles to those working on soaking up the sun, the whole stretch of sand was alive and busy today. Eventually, they found a line of food trucks parked on the opposite side of the road with names like “Naan Mah Naan,” “Creamy Confections,” “Vixen’s Fixins,” and “Smorgasbord Bus.” These and so many others managed to waft their delicious aromas through the air as they drove passed, garnering some involuntary “Mms” out of the superheroes.

“We should stop by on the way back,” Honey Lemon suggested and receiving a thumbs up a moment later from Go Go before she throttled the engine again. On and on the two women travelled along the highway, with the ocean on their left and the developed city on the right, both enjoying the view on either side; there were coffee shops, antique stores and even a giant soccer field as part of the fixtures they saw. They traversed all along the border of San Fransokyo, only stopping briefly when traffic got thick until they reached the end. At the northern point of their journey, the duo came across Kage Heights, a relic of the old city that was mostly a tourist spot but was still pretty to look at with its dense tree cover. It was at this point that the road turned to the left, giving Go Go the perfect spot to get off. She slowed down and when clear, pulled into the Umi Point Viewing Spot, which rested on the edge of the cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. When the engine was finally turned off, the sound of crashing waves thundering below was ever present; in addition, there were a handful of chattering tourists that stood by getting scenic pictures and looking through the binoculars at Sentry Rocks.

Honey Lemon was the first to remove her helmet as she stood up, positively beaming from the whole experience. Once Go Go was standing alongside her, the chemist embraced the other in a tight hug. “Oh, that was so much fun! Thank you, thank you, thank you for letting me ride. No wonder you love that bike so much,” she told her best friend, who welcomed the hug and in fact had been expecting it.

The speedster gave a small pat on the other’s back and replied, “Yeah, well, I’m glad you had a nice time. Maybe you’ll think about getting one of your own,” Go Go said with the last sentence meant to be in a slightly teasing manner.

Honey Lemon quickly shook her head and informed her, “I’d be so worried about driving that I wouldn’t get to enjoy everything around me. I mean, that’s part of the reason I don’t like to drive anyway; it saves on car maintenance too.”

Go Go gave a small smirk before it turned into a sincere smile and stated, “Alright, but if you ever change your mind, you know I’m available to give you some pointers.”

The long-haired woman grinned upon hearing the offer and said, “Aww, really?”

“Yes really,” the engineer simply answered, which prompted another hug. During this show of affection, Go Go then looked a little more apprehensive as she quietly asked, “Hey, Honey Lemon?”

The other scientist made a “Huh?” sound before she released her and gave the shorter one her undivided attention.

“I just wanted to let you know that I, well…I enjoyed this whole trip with you too, and this sort of thing, motorcycle or otherwise, it doesn’t just have to be today,” she slowly told her best friend, trying hard to actually get the words out.

Honey Lemon let the words sink in at what Go Go was really saying before smiling warmly. Not wishing to come off as teasing and actually happy at what her best friend had to say, she then clasped her hands together and simply replied, “I’d love to Go Go.”

The motorcyclist’s expression went from nervousness into relief over her words, knowing that she had taken the first hard step and was met with success. The yellow sweater-wearing woman then proceeded to pull out her phone and requested, “I know you’re not big on photos and all, but maybe just because?”

Go Go’s face softened as she sighed, followed by saying, “For you, I can.”

The duo then went to the viewing deck’s wall as they turned their backs to the ocean. Honey Lemon raised the phone up to take a picture of them, but not before Go Go put her arms around the taller one as she knew she wanted to. The camera clicked and now there was a brand-new moment of them captured, complete with dual smiles, bright sunshine and sparkling blue water in the background.

It was now Honey Lemon’s turn to be a bit nervous as they walked back to the motorcycle and she asked, “So, uh, you ready to get lunch? My treat.”

The engineer gave an affectionate smirk and answered, “Sure, but only if we find a spot that’s not overrun with seagulls. I don’t want to have to fight for my food.”

Honey Lemon giggled as she reached for her helmet and fastened it. “Agreed.”

Go Go then mimicked her actions and they both hopped on with the chemist putting her arms around the other. This was a good idea, is all that flitted through their minds simultaneously as the former pulled out into traffic, ready to make the journey for the food they were both hungry for.

Chapter Text

Dark. Everything’s so dark, and why do I feel like I can’t move? I’m trap. Oh, I’m trap! Maybe if I keep trying I can…no, it’s not working! I can’t get out and what’s that sound? Is someone there? Help! Help! I don’t belong here! Please I-

“Globs, Globs!”

“Wha-what-huh?”

Globby’s eyes finally popped open at the feeling of being nudged as Felony Carl called his pet name in an effort to wake him up. The gelatinous mutant then sat up slowly as he ran a hand over his face, still extremely exhausted from the ordeal that played out in his mind. He gave a yawn as he removed his mitt from his face and said, “I’m so sorry if I woke you Felony Carl. I just had a…” He didn’t finish is sentence as even in the mostly dark room, he saw that not only did his boyfriend have some of his slime on him, but there was also some that got shot onto the wall and ceiling.

Globby flinched in realization and immediately told the other, “Oh no no no no no. Are you okay? Here, let me get that.” The shapeshifter proceeded to swipe his left hand over Felony Carl’s torso, shoulders and face followed by cleaning up the wall next to this bed and ceiling. He then looked extremely apologetic as he asked again, “There. Now, are you alright?”

Instead of anger or annoyance as many people might have, the motorcyclist offered a sympathetic smile and replied, “I am tired but otherwise fine. The real question should be are you alright?”

Globby pondered for a moment as he still looked wary of what just happened before he answered, “I guess I’m okay now, but I just had an awful nightmare of being trapped in a small, dark space and couldn’t get out. I must have lashed out in my panic. Again, I’m really sorry Felony Carl.” The mutant then hugged himself as he let his head sink, prompting his boyfriend to extend a large arm and pat the other as he gave a one-arm hug in an effort to soothe him.

“Dreams are not always in our control and I am sorry it was so awful. Just be glad that it was not real,” the unibrowed man consoled Globby, making him smile just a little at Felony Carl’s words.

His attitude did fall back down again a moment later when he sullenly stated, “Real or not, it was still scary and look what I did because of it. It’ll be tough to get back to sleep no matter how tired I am.”

The husky biker only needed a second to think before he got an idea, and with a sly smile, he said, “If that is the case, then perhaps I will stay awake and inquire you about some things that I have been curious about.”

Upon hearing his statement, Globby blinked and stared blankly at his boyfriend as he debated on what to do. He eventually sighed and replied, “Well, if you’re sure you’re okay with losing your sleep over it, then I guess it's okay.”

With that confirmation, Felony Carl went back to the bunk bed below and got himself comfortable while the other waited patiently.

“Alright, what’s something you wanted to know that I haven’t answered before?” the shapeshifter casually asked as he resumed lying down and put his hands behind his head.

Felony Carl merely smirked and inquired, “For all your talk this past year, I believe I never got an answer to what it truly felt like to be transmogrified. I know you said it was painful, but how?”

Globby didn’t need long to dwell on that one since it was easy enough to respond with, “Oh, it was probably about the most painful thing I have ever experienced, but honestly just barely edging out over stepping on all those Iago block toys when I was younger.” He then looked for the right words to actually describe it, ranging from weird to horrific before adding, “I’d say it felt like every little bit of me was pricked by needles followed by that stinging sensation you get when you rip off a bandage. I definitely would not recommend the experience.”

This made Felony Carl give a small chuckle before he replied, “Well, you went through that process twice, so I will trust your word.”

The shapeshifter couldn’t help but giggle a little too and told him, “I know, I know. It would have been easier if I just stayed Globby, but at least the second time was by choice and it was to do something good.”

Felony Carl smirked in response, acknowledging that his boyfriend made a valid point. He then proceeded to ask his next distracting question. “Considering you informed me of the transformation process, how does it really feel in this mutated state, given that it is unlikely to occur to me?”

For this inquiry, Globby had to take a minute in silence as he contemplated the nature of his being; so much so that his boyfriend wondered if he had actually fallen asleep. He then soon heard a soft sigh as the reformed mutant quietly spoke.

“It’s truly hard to describe it exactly, but it’s sort of like I feel everything all at once. There’s just this kind of energy or buzzing through every bit of me and with a thought…” Globby proceeded to pull his right hand out and turned it from ice to wood to chocolate and back to his normal glob-material. “…it’s something else,” he finished with a small smile as he found joy in what he could do. “When I first transformed as you remember, nothing seemed to work in getting my body to listen, and not just with the stickiness. I think it was only after I started to accept this whole messy deal and figure out how to do things a new way that I could begin to get control and be the new me.” Globby then paused as he pulled his other hand out and stared at them for a moment before he clinched them.

“Now, it doesn’t feel foreign anymore and it’s just me, no matter what shape or substance I turn into. I will admit that it takes more effort to focus and maintain my larger forms, but that’s just because there’s more to work with,” the shapeshifter added with a little laugh, followed by a brief yawn.

His yawning made Felony Carl reflexively yawn too, although the larger man also felt a sense of accomplishment that his plan appeared to be working. “Speaking of your larger transformations, did you ever find out how that process works to achieve a greater mass so quickly?”

“Well, I didn’t really care to know and just ran with it, but I eventually talked with the guys about that one actually and they figured it’s because my body can convert matter, so it just takes in the surrounding air or something to do it. Honey Lemon also thought that’s what my body does when it needs to regenerate or return back to this good old form, although that’s mostly subconscious and is fine by me; I don’t want to have to put in extra effort to get a limb back or heal a cut if I don’t have to,” Globby answered, using a more joking tone with his last statement.

The avid cat lover on the lower bunk couldn’t help but chuckle a little at this being the norm and loving his boyfriend more for his happiness. “If that is the case, then you do not even really need the traditional sustenance to stay alive,” Felony Carl chimed in with his observation.

Globby snorted at the notion and replied, “Yeah, but who wants to go through life like that? I’d just be a filter feeder, wouldn’t I? Just take a big breath and be like ‘I’m good. No reason to enjoy one of your cookies or a BLT at Joe’s!’ Plus, what’s the point of turning into chocolate if I can’t eat it? Now that sounds crazy.”

Both he and Felony Carl proceeded to get a good laugh in while nonverbally agreeing that would be weird or at the very least a waste. After they finished their bit of jubilation, the reformed motorcyclist gave a small cough and inquired, “So, is there any other subconscious or automatic actions your body seems to perform?”

The gelatinous shapeshifter rolled onto his left side as he pondered for a moment, pensively putting a finger to his chin. “Well, it does have this handy habit of pulling me back together after I get split apart. I mean, I can feel each piece if it’s nearby, but it’s sort of fuzzy and all I really know is that I want to get those parts back; then, each little bit seems to connect with the closest one and gets stronger from there, almost kind of like a magnetic attraction except in this case, it’s my thoughts and the headband thing doing the pulling.” He let out another yawn and turned onto his right side now, feeling a worrying thought creep into his mind. “Hey Carl,” he anxiously asked, looking up as if his boyfriend was right on the bed’s edge.

“Hmm?” Felony Carl grunted as he sleepily opened his eyes, wondering what was troubling Globby enough to speak up.

“Do you think…I mean…could what just happened be another one of those subconscious things, like that’s just how it’s going to be now?” The superhero proceeded to move onto his back again and stare at the ceiling before bring his hands up and looking at them. “I know I’m probably worrying too much, but since the whole Nega-Globby incident, losing control again has really been weighing on me,” Globby confessed, making Felony Carl give an unseen worried expression at his boyfriend returning to his funk. He then heard the bed above creak as Globby shifted sides again and continued. “It’s just that since I learned how to use my powers, I knew they could be dangerous, but it was all up to me whether that would be the case; losing control like that, I never wanted to be responsible for hurting my friends or anyone like that and it was unbearable. What do I do?” he anxiously inquired with a lace of panic at the fleeting thought of needing to be isolated.

The husky biker gave a tired sigh and rubbed his eyes with his fingers, thinking of the right thing to say. About 10 seconds later, he finally said, “I am sorry for what you are going through. It was my hope that this discussion of other topics would have alleviated some of your worry, but I should have accounted for your rationale behind it.” He paused again to let out another exhausted bit of breath as he heard Globby roll over again, then added, “To answer your question, this seemed to only be triggered this evening, so who’s to say whether this will be a recurring issue or not? I do not believe the sliming is something you should blame yourself for though as it was unintentional; and if it does become a problem, then we will see what can be done or how to manage it.”

Felony Carl waited patiently as he was sure his boyfriend contemplated his words, trying his best to keep his eyes open as he did so. After what felt like an hour (but was really only a minute and a half) he saw a pink and purple hand come down on his left side and stretch itself until it found its way to the reformed criminal’s cheek. The touch was delicate and Globby took great care to not leave any bit of himself as he gently patted his boyfriend, making Felony Carl smile warmly as he brought his own left hand up to touch his and let the gelatinous mutant know he appreciated the gesture.

“Thanks…for everything,” Globby quietly told him as he pulled his arm back up to the top bunk with the rest of his body. “I’ll try to keep all that in mind. Love you and good night,” he softly added as he went to lay on his back again.

“Good night, Globs,” Felony Carl reciprocated while he snuggled his head into his pillow, easing himself into a peaceful sleep.

While the burly man became mostly silent (save for his slow breathing), Globby still remained awake despite the tiredness he felt. I know he’s right about not needing to worry excessively, and it’s true I wouldn’t intentionally do this, but something still feels off. I’ve never had that happen before and there must be a reason; and why can’t I shake the idea that I although I was alone, I could still hear someone. He then shuddered at the memory before letting out a big yawn. Guess there really is nothing I can do now. If I’m tired, I won’t be much good to anyone, even me. He proceeded to fluff his pillow up and rest his head as he started to close his eyes. Anyway, if it does occur again, maybe it won’t be as bad or we’ll figure out the trigger for it. I just hope I don’t make such a big mess next time if it doesn’t go away. With that, the gelatinous mutant finally allowed himself to slip into unconsciousness, sadly not knowing why this happened and not learning until his suffering would peak.

Chapter Text

“Ack!” Orso Knox screamed as he rapidly thrusted himself upright on his king-sized bed, panting heavily and in a cold-sweat from the nightmare he just had; flashes of teeth, needles stuck in him, her cruel voice coming from somewhere just out of reach, and him doing horrible things against his will. He put a hand to his face to rub his temples as he told himself, “It’s just a dream,” although the words lost most of their meaning as he had been in this routine most nights. It had been almost two months now since he was free of his monstrous microchip and the woman responsible for doing this to him, but things from that time still lingered; the nightmares, the soreness in his muscles (mainly in his jaws and limbs) and reflexively jumping/twitching whenever his stimulus was too high. The rich man had already been to several doctors who gave him a complete workup each time and was prescribed different sleeping pills and pain meds, but he refused to take any more than a couple a day; he even saw a therapist a few times to get their take on the matter.

She offered what she could, but given the uniqueness of the case, the best she told him was he had post-traumatic stress disorder, which quite frankly he found as a reasonable diagnosis. He knew matters of the mind were often harder to treat short term, but he found his current situation rather unbearable. Orso continued to stare into the inky black void that was his room, with only the city light seeping in through the window blinds to provide any illumination. He then massaged his jaw as it had been aching too, although it was hard to peg if it was somehow residual effects from his mutation or if he had clenched it in his sleep.

Tiredly sighing, the balding man took stock of the situation as he thought, I can’t keep doing this. Maybe I can’t get everything fixed right away, but there’s got to be something more I can do. I’ve tried going back to work to get some semblance of normal, but even that feels ineffective given how I’m often too tired to engage properly.

Orso laid back on the bed and rolled over onto his left side before he found himself absentmindedly stroking his right arm, feeling the scar on his forearm, a permanent reminder of his imprisonment at the hands of Diane and he couldn’t help but wince as he traced the mark. Maybe if I talked to someone that understood, but who? he found himself pondering. The others seemed to be willing enough for the most part, and even then, they’re all in jail except for that one lady. Would a visit work or would they ask too many questions again? He continued to wonder as he briefly remembered the police interrogation he got while recovering at the hospital; had it not been for having no prior criminal record, he was sure he would have received worse treatment and more skepticism. Probably wouldn’t want to talk about it with me anyway, although I bet they got some mental scars too; maybe different from mine, but still, he glumly told himself as he moved onto his back and stared at the dark ceiling.

The balding man winced again as he felt a spasm in his legs that felt like a hot grip on his calves and they stiffened for 10 seconds before the sensation disappeared. He let out an exhaustive sigh and thought, I may never be 100% again, but I’ll do what I can do. Perhaps…Orso then shuddered as a fleeting idea crossed his mind, but it was something he so far avoided giving any weight to. But maybe avoiding it is part of the problem, he found himself wondering as his eyelids finally started to droop. The former mutant proceeded to let out a defeated sigh as he quietly stated, “Okay. Tomorrow I’ll talk to her. She may actually know more about what happened than the others and I don’t imagine she’s been fairing particularly well in light of the atrocities committed under her name. I just hope I’ll be able to look at Liv and not crumble under the memories of her twin.”

With that, he considered the matter decided (although he was still extremely wary to follow through) and attempted to fall back into an uneasy sleep, tossing and turning for another night.

                                  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________

Just do it. You can’t keep this up much longer and continue stalling. Just ring the door bell, Orso scolded himself as he stood outside Liv Amara’s modest apartment. It was a two-story place that was dark blue in color with a white trim that had a set of windows on each side of the caramel-brown colored door and an additional pair on the top floor, presumably the bedrooms. Outside there were some perfectly pruned, dark green bushes hugging the wall along with freshly mowed grass, indicating that someone was at least taking care of this place.

For the William Shakespeare expert currently waiting outside the biotech genius’s house, he found himself nervously massaging he hands as he paced a little, still trying his best to move forward with his resolution. Finally, he ignored his internal conflict and rapidly pushed the button, knowing he couldn’t take it back once he did. He waited anxiously as the seconds creeped by until he heard the shuffling of footsteps inside.

A moment later, Orso heard the click of the door being unlocked to have it then open up to the face of Liv Amara. She had her blonde hair tied up into a ponytail today as well as wore a sapphire blue blouse and a dark grey skirt to go with her heels. Upon seeing the duplicate face of Diane, fleeting memories involuntarily came to the surface in the rich man’s mind of evil smiles, cold words and various devices prodding him. No, it’s not her, he reminded himself. He quickly shook his head to dispel these visions and with a little more focus, could see Liv too appeared unsettled by the sight of him, looking like a mixture of shock and guilt clearly written on her face.

"O-Orso Knox," was all the blonde woman was able to stammer out before dropping her hand from the door and staring in silence.

The aforementioned man rubbed the back of his neck and warily responded, “I’m sorry if I caught you at a bad time. I've uh, been having some trouble about…you know and thought maybe you’d have some answers or advice.”

Liv now shook her head as she processed his words and hastily replied, “Oh! Yes, yes. I’ll do what I can. Come in won’t you.” She then stepped out of the entry way and allowed Orso to walk through, albeit after a little hesitance on his part.

Once inside, he could see the living room on his left, which was painted a soft sage color had various framed photographs of nature hanging on the wall. There was also a giant flat screen TV along with black couches and a small malachite coffee table, which rested on top of a white rug. In front of him, the former mutant saw the staircase leading upstairs to the second floor that was dimly lit from the sunlight pouring in. Lastly to his right, it appeared to be a sitting room with a bookcase along the back wall, an antique clock and a wooded table flanked by two jade green high-back chairs all on top of another white rug.

Liv led him off to the right as she gestured for him to take a seat before telling him, “I’ll go get us something to drink.”

She started to turn to head to the kitchen when Orso Knox spoke up, urging her, “Please Miss Amara. You don’t have to. Come. Let’s get this over with.” The young woman stopped in her tracks as her face turned to one of hesitance and resign. She sighed and did as the other requested, where they both sat down and caused the chairs to squeak slightly. After a few moments of silence, the balding man gave a small cough and started. “Again, I’m sorry for the random visit, but…things haven’t exactly been better since the last time we spoke.”

Liv nodded politely as she grew more concerned, remembering the time she was referring to being almost two months ago. He along with the other former mutants had been taken to the hospital to have their monstrous implants removed as well as observe their conditions. The biotech major herself was taken too as her time in stasis and the damage from the parasynths had caused atrophy throughout her body. In a few days’ time, the doctors evaluated her and made sure Liv was on a recovery regimen of exercise and nutrition; during those days, the police had already seen that the criminals were returned to jail while Orso was sent home on his own recognizance. Once cleared for release, there was also the young intern Karmi that was seen, but her parents had come demanded she be brought home immediately.

As soon as the doctors allowed them, Liv was informed by the cops of everything her clone and former assistant had been charged with; had she not seen some of the atrocities with her own eyes, she would not have believed it. For those days in the hospital where she was questioned, she had been cooperative with them, even though she thought they may arrest her as well for triggering this cascade of events. Although they eventually absolved her of Diane’s actions, they warned her of further investigations possibly arising to ascertain the legality of her own practices. The recovering woman accepted that she had a job to do, and once she was free to access her files again, made sure other abhorrent and illegal experiments weren’t laying around.

In addition to returning Sycorax back into a research center for actually benefiting people, Liv had attempted to reach out to those given implants to see how they were faring, mainly from guilt that they essentially were guinea pigs. As she found out, two had done it willingly, two were blackmailed into it and two more were forced to get the chips to become essentially hostages; this knowledge certainly made the biotech CEO shudder with horror at all of the scenarios she heard and had taken its toll on her conscience. The criminals found it odd that Liv wanted to know, but they answered all the same with just some occasional soreness every now and then but nothing severe. She had attempted to reach out to Karmi to offer her sincerest apologies and any reparations she could, but her parents refused to let Liv speak with her given all that happened; as for Orso Knox, he accepted her call of apology, yet claimed nothing was wrong beyond the slight pain, so clearly something had changed or he lied.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of said wealthy man when he gave a small gasp in pain before he proceeded to massage his right hand to alleviate it. Seeing the older gentleman in distress, Liv quickly got up to go to the bathroom adjacent to the sitting room, reach into the medicine cabinet for some over the counter meds and fetch a glass of water to hopefully help him. He accepted the light pain medication and took a swig of water to swallow the pill, followed by telling her, “Thanks. It comes and goes, but I don’t want anything too strong; I’ve got enough problems as you can see.” He gave a tired laugh as an attempt to lighten the mood, only to create more concern within Liv.

“So, what all is bothering you?” the young woman inquired as she took her seat again.

There was another moment of hesitancy from Orso as he avoided looking at Liv, then finally steeling his nerves to stare at the duplicate face that delivered so much trauma. “Aside from the lingering pain, some things just seem to trigger my body more to fight or flight mode, like when something makes a loud sound and I jump or too many lights and I shut down.” He proceeded to let out a loud sigh and rubbing his hand across his face before continuing. “Things like that, I can accept as potentially never going away and if they don’t, well it won’t be any different from the other people who have had to deal with these conditions on a daily basis; I’ll just have to find the best way to not let it dictate my life, I guess. The thing that I can’t seem to get passed or what’s really been giving me grief are these nightmares. So many nights lost to them,” he sullenly informed her, making Liv give him a look of sympathy and empathy at the lack of sleep part.

“Have you seen anyone about these dreams?” she asked politely.

Orso nodded slowly with a pained look on his face and replied, “Yes, I have. Every week, I go and talk about what I see when I try and fall asleep. The doctor was thinking it’s PTSD given the symptoms as well as the let’s say “unique” experience I had in receiving the trauma.” He paused again as to let out a shaky sigh, clearly bringing the memories to the surface once more. “It was like my mind was a tangled web of pulsating feelings that were so strong, I could barely string a coherent thought together or restrain myself from attacking.” Orso then gave an incredulous laugh, making Liv tilt her head at why he did that, only to get the answer a few seconds later.

“But then, after I survived all the poking, prodding and experimentation, I get cured and am finally free, or so I thought.” He proceeded to look at the young woman as he stated, “The level of fear I lived with every day for over a month was insurmountable. Never knowing if today was going to be the day I’d change back into that monster except this time, I wouldn’t be in charge of my own actions. It just ate me up inside that I couldn’t even trust myself not to hurt anyone.” Orso’s voice cracked as he said, “And talk about dehumanizing when I was trapped in a cage for months on end and fed slop that I had no choice but to eat off the floor; it wasn’t like I’d refuse it either because as disgusting as it was, there were some things like hunger that I couldn’t even fight with all my might.”

He paused again as he took another drink of water, his throat feeling dry from confessing these feelings to someone other than Dr. Marque. “I fought like hell to maintain my humanity while I was being held prisoner by both Diane and my own body.” The balding man noticed Liv wince at the mention of her twin’s name, but continued anyway. “So much anger, fear and hate I felt and I guess still feel. I just…” Orso now paused as he felt himself getting worked up on the verge of tears, rubbing his eyes with one hand while trying to control his breathing and calm down.

Seeing him in this state, the blonde woman couldn’t help but look down in guilt and interject, “No doubt some of which is directed at me.”

This caused Orso to stop and stare at Liv again, noticing her trouble looking at him. He also saw some details he had missed when he arrived such as the small bags under her eyes and the start of tears forming; she clearly had been suffering physically and mentally. Seeing her in this distressed state, the well-dressed man asked considerately, “What was it like?” prompting the 24yr old to lift her head and look at him in confusion, so he clarified, “What was it like, being asleep all those months?” 

Liv blinked and looked surprised by the question, followed by wiping her eyes with her hand and replying, “Uh, I well…I really don’t remember anything. There was just darkness and…numbness. I don’t think I even had many dreams.” She now looked hollow as she confessed this information, as if now realizing that a huge chunk of her life was lost to nothingness. But if you didn’t then you wouldn’t have survived, she found herself fleeting thinking. Liv then frowned as her mind countered with, But by doing so, you created a monster instead of just your saving grace. Catching Orso staring, she removed her scowl from her face, avoiding his gaze again for a moment as she let out a deep sigh.

The Sycorax CEO found herself unable to contain it anymore as she lamented, “I’m so sorry Orso. While I may not have been the one to hurt you, I played a part.” The tears began to form again as the other looked at her in mild shock as she continued. “If I had just listened and shown restraint, I wouldn’t have needed to create Diane in the first place. I thought her essentially being me would have been enough to make her want to be good and help, but the ambitious purpose I gave her left little room for a conscience and she did all those heinous acts in order to save me.” Liv now forced herself to look directly at the balding man as she choked out, “I just wish I could have stopped her because one life shouldn’t be placed above another and no matter what I do, the damage is done. You must truly hate me.” She now covered her face with her left hand and quietly sobbed, letting the guilt she had been bearing visible.

Orso stared at the young woman, unsure of what to say next and feeling a mix of regret and concern from the reaction his words caused in her. He waited a few seconds more before quietly admitting, “The thought had crossed my mind.”

This caused Liv to lift her head and stare at the rich man and seeing he got her attention, continued with, “But I never held that notion for long. Now I feel I must apologize as although I knew this visit might upset you, I was hoping if you couldn’t at least help with the pain or dreams, maybe confronting the face of the person who did this to me would give me some sense of relief.” He then closed his eye momentarily as he let out a deep sigh, shook his head and added, “I can truly see though that you aren’t the same person and if I ever muster up the nerve to face Diane, who’s to say she would actually feel any remorse or regret for what she did, and I don’t think I’d ever forgive her even if she did.” Orso frowned for a moment in thought before he proceeded to lean forward in his chair and inquire, “So, I’ve yet to ask you if you are seeing someone for your troubles?”

The biotech CEO nodded slowly as she wiped her tears away and answered, “Yeah, a little. I unfortunately have had a lot to catch up on from my sleep as well as combing through everything to make sure all of Diane’s diabolical experiments are gone.”

The older man gave an understanding nod and replied, “Well, I’m glad you’re doing something. I can only imagine how much worse it’d be without help.” There was silence for a few seconds before Orso spoke again and slowly asked, “What do we do now then?”

Liv sighed and tiredly replied, “I don’t know. Medication can help with the pain, but anything fast for the mind will probably do more harm than good, and from what you told me, you don’t want to become numb to the world to make it go away. Time and working through it may be the only thing. I’m sorry and I wish I could do more. That’s all I want.”

Orso listened to her words, frowning in realization at what she said and considerately asked, “And what about your health? Is there some treatment to help you out?” He then gave a sympathetic smile and added, “It won’t make me feel better if you neglect yourself for me.” The balding man paused again as a thought occurred to him and he said, “Would doing something like this more often be a good idea, as sort of a group therapy? If memory serves, I wasn’t the only one dealt a bad hand by Diane, so maybe it wouldn’t hurt to reach out to them too.” He proceeded to briefly look away and admit, “I don’t know whether this will really help, but I want to try. I can’t go on like this.” Orso then let his head fall and shake it to emphasize his fatigue, garnering a look of concern from Liv.

Her expression softened to one of the consideration as she worked through the possibility. He was right in there was no guarantee it would be a success, and she may not get any responses from the others (although she hoped to reach the young girl Karmi at the very least due to her circumstances), but to do nothing would likely achieve nothing. Liv sighed once more and gave a small smile as she reached her hand over and put it on top of Orso’s knee to get his attention. After he looked up, she finally told him with complete sincerity, “I promise to see this through and do whatever I can.”

The balding man returned the small smile now and simply said, “Thanks.”

The two then sat in silence for a few more moments before Orso cleared his throat and slowly stood up out of his chair, causing the other to do the same. “Well, I’m sure I’ve taken enough of your time and again, I’m sorry if stirring all this up was a bit too much.”

Liv shook her head and dryly replied, “It’s all part of the process, isn’t it?” She proceeded to put on another small smile as she began escorting Knox to the front door and added, “I just hope it works too. I’ll let you know soon what happens and please let me know if anything changes; I still can’t let myself off the hook so easily for everything that’s happened.”

Once at the entrance, the 24yr old opened the carved door again and let her unexpected guest leave to return home. He flashed a weak grin, indicating how physically and mentally draining the experience was and walked away. With the door close, Liv just rested her head on the wooden panel in front of her and let out a few shaky breaths, clearly still burdened by her guilt. She stood like that for 30 seconds before she steadied herself and began her work, adamant to keep the promise she just made and was already heading for her phone to make the uncomfortable but necessary calls; she would do her best to remain hopeful that now some real healing could finally start for those most in pain.

Chapter Text

Knock. Knock.

“She’s here! Oh man, Olivia’s here,” Fred rapidly exclaimed as he stopped the pacing he had been doing for the past 5 minutes in front of the door. After the success of their movie date, the couple had decided on Olivia visiting his place to both see his massive collection of pop-culture memorabilia as well as meet Mini-Max before watching a movie. Now date night had come and while Fred was going back and forth, Heathcliff had arrived a minute before Olivia made her presence known and was quietly watching the comic book fan.

Once she was there however, Fred beat the family butler to the door handle and opened it up with a big smile on his face. “Olivia, hey,” he greeted her and making the other give a bashful blush. She currently was wearing her signature wolf hat with pompom balls and pink-lens glasses as well as sky-blue leggings, a white skirt and a pink shirt with some abstract art on it. Fred for his attire was wearing his usual cargo short and kaiju beanie, but decided to switch up his standard red shirt to a green one with a silver flying saucer in the center.

After realizing that they had just been standing there looking at each other, the lizard-based superhero gave a quick cough and with the gesture of his hand said, “Come on it. Let’s get tonight started.”

She nodded and promptly came inside before Fred shut the door, allowing her to see Heathcliff for the first time. “Oh, who’s this?” Olivia politely asked as she extended a hand to shake.

The loyal butler reciprocated and professionally answered, “Heathcliff Winshire at your service ma’am. I am the Frederickson house manager.”

Fred proceeded to come over and give him a one-armed hug and added, “Aw, Heathcliff’s more than that! He’s family and one of the coolest persons you could ever meet. He’s totally awesome!”

The eloquent gentleman maintained his composure, but a small smile tugged at the side of his mouth as he responded, “Very good Master Frederickson. Do you or your lady guest require anything else sir?”

“Nah, we’re good for now, but we’ll keep you in mind if we do,” the beanie-clad man replied as he released the other, causing Heathcliff to quickly bow to Olivia before walking off to attend to his household affairs. The two stood there awkwardly for a few seconds until Fred rubbed his arm and said, “So uh, let’s head into my room, okay?”

The stud-wearing woman smiled again and nodded as she let her new boyfriend lead her off to the left. Inside the large mansion, their footsteps echoed on the shiny tiled floor as the master staircase rose to her right, splitting off in two directions to the second floor. Although Olivia also came from money as part of being in the Mole legacy family, she still marveled at the chandeliers, old architecture and dozens of portraits on the wall. Fred eventually had them enter the hallway to their destination when Olivia spotted a particular family painting on her right.

“Hey Fred, this is you, isn’t it?” the blue-haired woman called to him, making the second one stop and turn towards what she had found. It was a painting from when he was 12yrs old with his mom and dad looking so dignified, although he always felt he looked a little off with having his hair neatly groomed; he also admittedly became a little nervous as he knew the secret that lied behind the picture.

“Oh yeah, that’s me. It’s nice, but man were we standing for hours to get that done,” he remarked with a tone of annoyance as the memory resurfaced.

Olivia gave a little giggle and told him, “Well, I think you look cute. The last time we did photos was like four years ago and we all had to wear dark blue dresses and suits; it wouldn’t have been too bad if Richardson hadn’t put up a fuss on putting the outfit on.”

Fred groaned and replied, “Ugh. Does not surprise me.” He then bore a happier expression and urged her to keep following him to his room with a “Come on.” She turned back to her left and continued along the now carpeted floor, making the young superhero relax a little as they were walking away from his dad’s secret headquarters.

Once in front of the sliding doors to Fred’s abode, he gave a cheeky grin and clapped his hands together and made them open with a whoosh. “Ta-da!” The comic book fan couldn’t help but announce as he spread his arms out in a grandiose manner.

The duo stepped through the entryway as Olivia’s mouth hung agape while scanning the room. She saw the bookshelves filled with comic books, the action figures lining the wall around a giant flat screen TV, the replica suit from “Hero’s Duty,” and the… “Wait,” she suddenly said out loud as her eyes spotted a really…interesting painting over the bed. The blue-haired woman then couldn’t help but give a light-hearted snicker at the wall hanging of an overly buff Fred riding a white tiger like some barbarian conqueror.

“What?” Fred asked in confusion with an eyebrow raised until he saw what she was looking at, now blushing a little in embarrassment. “Yeah, I know, but I just couldn’t pass up the chance to get a picture of myself drawn and painted by the comic book artist Raul Campos,” he tried to explain while he self-consciously rubbed the back of his neck.

Olivia let another giggle out and replied, “It’s fine Fred. I just didn’t expect to see you like that.”

The kaiju fan smiled a little bit more and joked, “I’ll have you know that I’ve been getting my workout on. I’m sure I’ll hit my target level of buffness real soon.” He proceeded to flex some to demonstrate, making his girlfriend laugh again.

“Now, don’t be spending all of your time working out or else you won’t have any left for comics or me,” she slyly responded with a wink.

Fred made a little excited noise before he coughed, remembering still the biggest surprise to reveal. “Okay, without further ado, I’d like you to meet a special friend of mine.”

The glasses-wearing woman proceeded to search around the room in eagerness and curiosity as she didn’t see anyone else in the room.

“Introducing…” Dramatic pause. “Mini-Max!” the beanie-clad hero announced with his arms spread again for effect. Nothing seemed to happen after the declaration however as both now gazed around the area, looking for the aforementioned robot. Fred then whispered, “That’s your cue buddy.”

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a miniature white robot with a big head and large blue eyes landed on top of Fred, making the other two jump a little in surprise.

With a sweeping right arm wave, the tiny superhero shouted, “Greetings! I am Mini-Max! Defender of Justice and best friend to the one and only Frederick Frederickson the Fourth!” He then said slightly quieter, “I must designate the Fourth or else one might assume I’m speaking of his father.” The diminutive robot proceeded to extend a hand for shaking, which Olivia slowly reached up to take as she stared at him in awe.

“Wow! He’s so amazing and adorable too,” the blue-haired lady complimented before pulling her hand back to her side.

“Thank you for your kind words. This is not the first time I have been told I am adorable and it will likely not be the last,” Mini-Max replied as he hopped off Fred’s head and sat on his shoulder.

Olivia gave another small laugh at his words and playfully inquired Fred, “So tell me, what exactly is a ‘Defender of Justice?’ Did you teach him to say that or is he being an ambitious robot and going to go fight crime?”

A flash of nervousness flashed across Fred’s face as Mini-Max just blinked, both knowing the importance of secret identities. “Oh, I taught him a few things on the values superheroes instill and have read him many a comic book. He can be pretty impressionable and wants to do as they do; he even has some serious fighting skills,” the rich young man answered with a small laugh that he hoped wouldn’t come off as suspicious.

Fortunately, Mini-Max caught on to what Fred was doing as he stood up and boldly added, “Indeed! He has shown me the ways of The Human Fist, Captain Fancy and Danger Face to name a few. I aspire to deliver justice to those that wish to do evil’s bidding and I can do so with my swift kicks!” He then leaped into the air as he flipped a couple times to land perfectly on the back of the cream-colored couch. The robotic hero proceeded to do a few rapid high kicks and mid-air sweeps of his legs. He soon felt the need to mention, “I also have my fists to punch butt,” before he delivered some speedy jabs and uppercuts much to the delight of Olivia.

“He’s so precious! How lucky are you that he’s your friend?” she gleefully told Fred, who was smiling at his girlfriend’s joy.

Fred then changed his expression to a sly grin and replied, “Very lucky, especially considering I’ve got you in my life too.” This elicited a loud “Aww” from Mini-Max while the other monster movie fan looked a bit bashful at his corny comment.

“Keep talking like that and we won’t be able to focus on the movie,” she cheekily retorted, making for a very endearing sight as the young superhero became flustered and blushed.

Fred let out a cough to try and get things back on track, only to have his diminutive best friend ask, “Do you require a throat lozenge? Baymax is not here but surely there must be some elsewhere in the house.”

The two humans each gave a small chuckle and Fred clarified with, “No, I’m good buddy, but Olivia’s right. Let’s go pick us a movie.” While the couple went to sit on the couch now, his robotic companion declared, “I shall ready a bowl of the butter popcorn” before hopping to the ground and rapidly running through the sliding doors.

The stud-wearing woman let out a little snort and gleefully said, “That was awesome! I’ve never met a robot so sophisticated and bombastic.”

Fred nodded and replied, “Yeah, he’s the best when it comes to enthusiasm. Oh! That reminds me.” The comic book fan then fished his phone out of his pocket, flipped through the photos and landed on a video to show Olivia. They both looked at the screen together as a kaiju-dressed Mini-Max “stomped” through the cheesy, ill drawn picture of the city going “Roar,” followed by it falling over onto the tiny bot with Heathcliff appearing in the background.

“That was so cute! Did you make that?” the wolf-hat woman inquired while still giggling.

Looking pretty proud of himself, Fred answered, “Why, yes, I did. It was my attempt at making my friends think a monster was attacking the city.”

She followed up with, “Oh, why did you do that?”

“Uh…it was an April Fool’s Day prank,” the comic book fan responded after quickly thinking up a good cover for the video’s true purpose of getting his friend to suit up.

“Well, I certainly enjoyed it, but if you’re open to criticism, maybe have some stronger tape for the scenery,” Olivia pointed out.

Fred proceeded to scratch the back of his neck and said, “Yeah, it was sort of a last-minute thing, but I’m sure if I do it again, I’ll put more effort into it.”

His girlfriend smiled and then added with a wink, “Just so you know, I wouldn’t mind helping you with that if you want.”

Her boyfriend looked flustered again for the briefest moment before blushing and said with a big grin, “That sounds like an amazing idea! We've both watched enough monster movies to get the basics: A giant creature must be present every 5 minutes, humans will both try to protect and fight the monster, they’re typically reptilian, massive amounts of city destruction, and the periodic clash of two or more titans. It’ll be great.” He then put his hand on Olivia’s and told her, “You are a certifiably cool person.”

The blue-haired woman proceeded to blush before leaning over and planting a kiss on Fred’s cheek. “You’re pretty cool yourself,” she simply informed him as she pulled back. The duo just stared at each other for a few more seconds before the sound of whooshing doors meant someone was entering the room. They turned and found Heathcliff standing there was a tray containing two glasses of root beer.

“I was told you were to begin the theatrical portion of your date soon, so I brought refreshments,” the butler eloquently stated as he walked over to them. A moment later, Mini-Mix was seen hopping up onto the couch again, carrying a large blue bowl overflowing with popcorn, which meant some kernels fell onto the cushions when he did so.

“Thanks Heathcliff. Thanks Mini-Max,” Fred said to the both of them as the former set the drinks on the red and white table in front of them while the latter shuffled over towards the couple.

Once he was done delivering their beverages, the professional gentleman stood straight again and asked, “Would you be needing more of my services sir?”

“Nah, I think we’re good. You go have fun or do whatever you gotta do,” the youngest Frederickson answered while the spy in disguise collected the popcorn strewn about by Mini-Max.

“Very good sir. Enjoy your time together. I’ll only be a call away if you need anything,” Heathcliff stated before turning and leaving the room.

After he was gone, the Defender of Justice jumped over Olivia’s lap and settled himself between the two with the bowl balanced on his legs. “I have brought popped corn with its delightful crunchy noise!” he declared as he looked from one to the other in hopes they would take a few pieces. Fred and Olivia obliged and grabbed a few kernels, followed by looking at the diminutive robot and smiling at his adorable antic.

Gazing at one kaiju-movie fan to the other, Mini-Max inquired, “Has a movie been selected or is there a shuffle feature you planned on using?”

“Oh right,” Fred remembered as he went to grab the remote off the table and began scrolling through the vast library of films.

“Ooo! I haven’t seen ‘GianTick’ in so long, but then there’s ‘The Howling Elites.’ Man, it’s so hard to pick,” Olivia remarked with an indecisive groan as the titles went by.

Her boyfriend nodded and went, “Yeah, I’m sure I’ve seen each a dozen times or more, but there are some you just can’t get enough of.” He clicked down on the remote a few more times until a movie came up that made the two nerds gasp.

 “Inferaur vs. GargantuAnt,” they said in unison, making Mini-Max look between the duo again and state, “This shared exclamation must indicate that you have found something to watch.”

Fred chuckled and replied, “Yes, it is buddy. Sound good to you?”

“The thought of me saying no to your monster movie selection makes me laugh,” the robotic companion proceeded to give a few loud “Ha ha has” before the couple stared at each other, grinned and finally selected the film.

As the title credits began appearing on the screen, Olivia opted to lean on Fred while he put his arm around her. The superhero then remembered something and whispered, “Hey Olivia.”

“Hmm?”

“Would you do me the honor of doing some comic book reading after this? I just got the new ‘Dr. Slaughter, MD’ and ‘The Changling’ in.”

The blue-haired girl turned away from the screen now to look at the other as a small smile appeared again on her face and she sincerely said, “I’d love to.”

Fred reciprocated the sentiment and was about to return to the movie when another thing occurred to him. “Oh, and Olivia.”

“Yeah?”

“As a heads up, Mini-Max is a messy eater, so sorry if your outfit gets movie butter on it,” he warned her.

She lifted an eyebrow up in confusion and asked, “How does he eat without a mouth?”

“He doesn’t.”

“Oh,” she simply replied in realization as she just accepted what may happen as they sat there. So the trio remained on the couch, enjoying the classic movie and each other’s company, finding Olivia’s visit to be a very nice one and making the other two hope these would become more frequent. 

Chapter Text

“I just can’t be trusted,” Globby sullenly sighed to himself, avoiding the gaze of his friends. The immense guilt he felt that his actions caused Nega-Globby to start controlling his body was something he was unable to shake, no matter how much the others tried to comfort him.

They’re risking so much trying to help me and here I am just causing nothing but problems. Some hero I am if I can’t even save myself, the pink and purple mutant lamented internally. This is worse than when I was a bad guy because at least I could truly stop whenever I wanted to, but this gelatinous jerk clearly ain’t going to and doesn’t listen to anyone. 

Globby lifted his head upward to see 5 of the 6 people he’d come to care for dearly as they’d shown him genuine kindness, valuing him as a friend and not a tool to use; those who forgave him for his past misdeed and never held it against him, but instead further supported him and showing he could be good at something. The superheroes currently seemed to be consoling Wasabi about his broken vacuum, ranging from telling him “They can just get a new one” to “There, there” with a pat from Baymax. He let out another sigh as he kept a safe distance from them, unsure when the unstable monster inside of him would flare up again.

“So, any objections to Baymax and I going?” Hiro asked, pulling Globby out of his thoughts as he listened more intensely to the conversation.

“Nah, I think we’re good here, or as good as we can be all things considered,” Fred casually answered with a clawed “So-so” gesture.

“Yeah, we’ll manage,” Go Go added as she kept her arms crossed, still looking pretty peeved off.

“Alright. Hey Globby,” the tech genius called out to the reformed mutant, making him raise his head more and go, “Huh?”

“We’re gonna go check in with Honey Lemon. Okay?” Hiro informed him pointing towards the door with a gloved thumb.

“Oh, uh, yeah. Safe flying. Tell her I said hi and give her a hug for me,” Globby requested as he gave a weak smile and waved goodbye.

“I am programmed for hugs. I can give it to her,” Baymax answered, turning now to let Hiro onto his back and preparing his rockets.

A deafening roar came as purplish flames shot out of the armored robot’s thrusters and the duo soared through one of the giant holes in the roof. Everyone’s eyes followed them as they took their exit, leaving the other three to start a new conversation about what else they wanted to try while on guard duty.

The troubled shapeshifter’s head sank again as he slipped back into his downtrodden thoughts, unsure of what fate awaited him. Honey Lemon is like the smartest person I know, but what if she doesn’t get done in time or if this is something that doesn’t have a solution? It was hard enough to stop Nega-Globby last time and if I’m gone, would he just go on an unstoppable rampage again? Globby anxiously wondered. I can’t do nothing and leave them here to deal with my screw up. Ugh. Why do I have to get carried away every time I’m a T-Rex? he chastised himself.

“Globby, you good?”

“Huh? Wha-” Confused and snapping out of his own cycle, the slime monster frantically looked up to see his friends staring at him with concerned looks on their faces.

“Oh, sorry. I guess I’m just tired you know. Been a crazy couple days,” he quickly volunteered an explanation, not willing to provide all that was really going through his mind. It occurred to him that he was still sitting down and may have been the reason for the question. He stood back up a moment later and wiped the nonexistent dust off himself and gazed warily at his friends. “If it’s alright with you guys, I was just gonna look around this place by myself. We’ve been here all day and there’s a lot of space for me to keep my distance from you,” the shapeshifter glumly told them as he self-consciously grabbed his left arm.

“Come on man. There’s plenty of stuff we could try, like we could play catch or watch a movie or order some dinner because I am always down for some pizza,” Fred objected as he started listing activities off.

“Fred, the catch one is liable to wind up with there being another hole in the wall if Nega-Globby gets his ugly mitt on a ball, and we’ve seen what he does to food too,” Go Go pointed out as she gestured to the broken vacuum cleaner.

“So, what I’m hearing is you’re cool with a movie?” the reptilian hero eagerly deduced as he looked at her expectantly.

The engineer sighed irritably and gruffly said, “Fine, but it better be one we can all agree on; I’m not in the mood for a monster movie,” making Globby wince at guessing the reason why.

Wasabi then piped in with, “But we should order something to eat soon since you burn a lot of calories running and screaming.”

The reformed mutant’s head still hanged low as he avoided their eyes and said, "You guys don’t have to do any of that for me. I really don’t deserve it right now.”

Fred gave a dismissive gesture and sincerely told him, “Please, we want to, and besides, guard duty will fly by if we’re actually having fun while doing it.”

Go Go raised an eyebrow and flatly replied, “I don’t think of fun when I picturing guarding somebody.”

“But Go Go, don’t you know a lot of quality bonding time can happen between the guard and the person they’re guarding when they open themselves up to finding common activities together?” the rich young man countered, only to be met with an unamused expression.

“You got that from some movie, didn’t you?” she deadpanned.

“Several actually, and I know Wasabi will back me up on this,” Fred admitted as he now gestured to the physicist.

Wasabi then put up his hand placatingly and insisted, “Don’t drag me into what you should or shouldn’t do debate. I just care about the objective and adhering to the best way possible to achieve it.”

Globby couldn’t help but put a small smile on his face as their conversation went back and forth, glad at least they could stay in high spirits; this moment was ruined however when he felt his left arm start to go numb. Oh no!

“Guys!” Globby tried to warn his friends, but was too late as it turned blue and shot out to go after Wasabi.

The green and black-armored hero just barely managed to avoid getting hit as he fell onto his back with a grunt. Panic appeared on everyone’s face as the possessed arm then swung left to hit Go Go, who spun and swiped low under it. Unfortunately, Fred trying to jump over the appendage wound up getting him smacked against the nearest wall, making him give a weak “Ow” after he made contact with it.

The gelatinous mutant let out a gasp as he began trying to punch his arm back into submission. “Stop it! Stop it!” he pleaded as it made another swipe at the speedster, only to get struck by her discs, causing an angry hissing sound to be heard as the vile culprit popped out to get a better view of everything.

By now, Wasabi had righted himself up and activated his plasma blade to deal some damage to the foul-tempered slime, slicing off good-sized chunks of goo that fell to the floor with an audible squish. Nega-Globby continued to put his energy into regenerating as the onslaught of attacks came, which meant Globby was still left with his right arm to use, but so far wasn’t able to stop him either. The possessed hero repeatedly kept hitting the blue one in different forms such as a hammer, rock and even acid, which made the parasite laugh maliciously. The sound he made combined with him moving just enough into Globby’s line of sight caused the reformed mutant to impulsively aim his malleable fist and punch Nega-Globby square in the eye; this disoriented the menace long enough to make the left arm go limp and allow Wasabi to rush over and cut off the infected limb at the base. As soon as the appendage hit the ground with a wet slap, the one-eyed monster retreated back from whence he came.

Everyone but Fred was panting as Go Go helped him onto his feet, still feeling some lingering pain and needing to bend over slightly as they moved back to the front doors. The physicist turned his blades off and was about to comment on how fast they took Nega-Globby down when he saw Globby already starting to back away with a look of absolute guilt and fear.

“I told you to stay away from me! It just keeps getting worse,” the shapeshifter said as his voice started to break. His left arm quickly grew back and was returned to its normal pinkish-purple color, but that was the furthest thing from Globby’s mind at the moment. “I’m sorry, but I…I need to be alone,” he sullenly added as he now turned to go further into the desolate factory, unable to bear the pained stares of sympathy from his friends.

“Wait-” Fred started to say only for Go Go to place a hand on his shoulder and shake her head.

“He wants a moment alone. We can give him a few minutes, then let him know we’re not going anywhere.” The engineer turned to look at Wasabi now as he gave a nod in agreement before they all faced the direction their fellow hero went.

The distressed mutant didn’t stop walking until he was well within the large structure, where it was dark and away from everyone. Above him was more decayed roof with beams of late afternoon sun barely trickling in while on the ground, he could make out patches of weeds that had grown inside; in addition, there appeared to be a row of giant rusted vats, a few broken tables and cracks along the walls.

Now they’re safe, he sadly remarked to himself as he proceeded to collapse back into a huddled, sitting position and burying his face into his legs. But are they though? he found himself asking after a minute or so of quiet sulking. As long as I’m here, everyone’s in danger and they’re all too kind to actually give up on me, regardless of what might happen because of it, he anxiously deduced, panic rising in him once again. If they can’t save me, maybe I can at least save them while I still have some control, he grimly thought as he realized there was only one course of action he could take.

Globby stood back up, knowing the longer he waited the more likely his friends would find him and try to stop him. Using his fabrication powers, he produced a letter in his left hand to leave behind, looking over it to see that it had everything he wanted to tell them. In his depressed state of not really wanting to go and wishing there was a better option, the mostly transparent man couldn’t stop himself from letting a few gelatinous tears fall onto the paper.

“Ugh,” he groaned before he wiped his face and attempted to clean the sheet, only to hear the sound of footsteps a second later. Darn it. They’re coming, Globby quickly thought as he stopped what he was doing and just stuck the letter on the ground. He then shot his right arm up towards the ceiling and snuck out through one of the holes. The pink and purple man spared one last look and whispered, “Bye guys,” followed by snaking off the roof using the water spout and taking it all the way to the nearest storm drain.

Meanwhile, three of the intrepid friends were searching the candy factory to see where their fourth went.

“Hey Globby, you in here?” Fred called as he took a big leap into another section of the building.

“I thought he came this way,” Wasabi commented, looking all around the area and wearing a grimace expression when he saw the state of this place.

“Yeah, me too,” Go Go added as she skated over to one of the broken tables.

“Could he be hiding? You know as something so we can’t find him. Should I start poking some things?” the reptilian hero inquired before proceeding to do just that.

The engineer went a little further in when something caught her eye in the failing light. She picked up the sticky paper that could only have been left by Globby and looked it over, followed by informing the other two, “Oh, he’s hiding alright, just not here.” Her statement made Wasabi and Fred come to her position as she handed the note over to the blue and black-armored hero so they could read it too.

“Well, this isn’t good,” Wasabi simply said as he shook his head in dismay.

Go Go sighed tiredly as she pulled out her phone and told the young men, “I’ll make the call.”

Snaking through the drain, the gelatinous mutant was led to the outflow pipe to the ocean, where he dropped in as covertly as he could into the water, still unsure of where to go. I don’t think being adrift in the Pacific would do me any good and I might accidently hurt the sea life if Nega-Globby shows up, Globby anxiously thought as he barely kept his head above the waves. Clearly anywhere in the city is out, since I’m doing this to keep people safe from me. Could I go to the woods? Nah. I wouldn’t be surprised if this one-eyed jerk starts a forest fire just because he can; plus, that bear monster creature is there. The pink and purple man then shuddered at thinking of how terrible that fate would be too. He caught sight of the Torii Gate Bridge off to his left in the distance as he looked for other ideas, but aware that he didn’t know of many places to go. I need to be someplace alone with nothing that can get ruined or hurt, somewhere no one can find me. Maybe an island or something.

It was then that a spark of a memory popped up. Wait a minute. There was that Akuma Island Obake used for one of his plans and it got totally wrecked if I’m remembering right, he recollected as a splash of salty water washed over him. Yeah, there’d be no reason for anyone to visit there and it’s a pile of rubble now, he worked out as he started a new plan. Well, I better get going.

Globby proceeded to dip below the surface and began traversing along the rocky coast underwater, peeking out every minute or so to make sure he was going the right direction and wasn’t seen. Although he had luminescent eyes, the sky was not completely dark yet, so he was able to remain undetected.

After what felt like forever, the shapeshifter finally saw the desolate place come into view as night finally fell. “I guess I’m swimming for real the rest of the way,” he said to himself as he gave the surrounding area a once over to be sure he still wasn’t found. Globby proceeded to dive underwater again and kicked his legs faster than humanly possible, making it to the island about a minute later. He then looked up the tall cliff and stretched his arms from each rocky protrusion to the next until he made it to the top, collapsing on all fours once he was on solid ground.

The reformed mutant laid on the ground before rolling over to somberly look at the full moon rising as a few clouds floated on by. He was letting out a depressed sigh when it occurred to him Nega-Globby hadn’t bothered him since he left the abandoned factory. Why would he be quiet now? the shapeshifter puzzled over for a half minute when the answer came to him. Frowning in anger, he couldn’t help but growl, “Unbelievable petty jerk! You only really wanted to come out in order to ruin things for my friends and I, huh? Not just take me over!”

He then sat up as his heated moment quickly passes to be replaced with sorrow. “Well, now I know I made the right decision as I’m going to be far away from my friends for a long time. Happy?” Globby thankfully didn’t get a response from the blue parasite, but that did little to bring him any joy as he scrunched his legs up and hugged himself. Guess this is my new life, he sullenly thought as he now stared at the city that was once called home, convinced there was no going back and he truly was a monster that should be left alone at all cost.

Chapter Text

It was early evening in the last week of January that the mother-daughter duo of High Voltage found themselves laying on their cots inside the San Fransokyo prison. The two women had been back in the system for about 2-1/2 months now since they last broke out of jail and had gotten back into the rhythm of being incarcerated: wake up, meal, recreation, meal, time in the yard, meal, and bed. Although the schedule was mostly monotonous, save for the occasional fight or new prisoner being brought in, the two had found solace in their time together and truly reconciling after their terrible fight.

It was actually thanks to their argument and realizing how much they disliked going to jail that an idea formed in Juniper and Barb’s heads about criminal life not being for them. They knew they were both amazingly talented dancers with grace and not too shabby in the brains department since Barb had created their energy orb and suits for channeling the energy; the duo even passed around the notion of auditioning for “Top Feet” as the pink superhero suggested since they knew they’d win, but decided to put it on the back burner in favor of something more fulfilling/wouldn’t have to actually audition for. Once the mother-daughter pair started fantasize about going back to a normal, non-thieving lifestyle, they began to really want it and felt a determination to make it happen. So now, Juniper and Barb found themselves talking to each other a few weeks after they made their decision, just like they did every night since then.

“Hey Mama, do you think when we get our own place that we could get one of those big bean bag chairs? I heard they’re hard to get out of, but they look so fun and squishy,” Juniper asked as she turned her head to look at her mom.

Barb gave a soft chuckle and replied, “Maybe, but I think getting us each our own bed and some new clothes would come first darling.”

Looking a little deflated for a moment, the young woman perked up and inquired, “Oh, if we can get a nice kitchen, we can get to do family dinners again. I always loved that chicken soup you made when I was sick.”

Her mom now sighed in sweet reverie at those memories, glad for the good times before life got harder than they expected and they turned to thieving to support their needs. It had started as a way of using their skills to survive, but the more they did it and the more people actually admired them for their talent, the more addictive it became and it began to be a major aspect of their life.

“That would be nice Juni, and I could even try my hand at improving my baking skills since I know I had a habit of things winding up on the burnt side,” Barb fantasized with a touch of self-deprecation.

“You weren’t a bad baker Mama. You never heard me complain about them, did you?” the plucky teenager told her mom with a warm smile.

With a small chuckle, the older woman turned her head towards her daughter and answered, “No, I guess you didn’t. You were always my sweet little angel who would just sometimes refuse to make her bed.” She then gave a small teasing smile to show her daughter she meant nothing by it.

Juniper put on a faux pouting face and replied, “Oh Mother, why must you be so mean to me?”

The two stared at each other for a moment before proceeding to share a good-natured laugh and letting out a sigh of contentment.

Unbeknownst to the dancers, as they talked about their future plans, someone they never met before was arriving at the prison and approaching the security station. He wore the standard beige uniform, complete with a brimmed hat, same as the other guards, and was both tall and fit enough to pass the look of it too; however, he was there on orders not to guard, but to release a couple inmates. The rather fetching blonde with tan skin named Chris opted for a few changes before he entered the building that night, thus minimizing the chance of being recognized should someone realize what he was about to attempt. He wore brown contact lenses to cover up his blue ones as well as marked himself with a few scars on his arms that would be healed up by morning; Chris also allowed some of his muscle enhancements to be activated so he was a little bulkier than his usual physique; lastly, he was sure to wear a pair of black gloves not just to prevent leaving fingerprints behind, but to also keep himself safe from a method he had for helping him to incapacitate the guards. He had a layout of the prison in advance and was able to memorize the key areas, routes and exits.

The augmented man quickly found the right door and was grateful he didn’t need to use his strength to get to it. He merely entered the room where he saw two other men sitting and watching the monitors that covered the prison. One was tall and lean with slightly long black hair tied into a tiny ponytail named Kai while the other looked a bit bulkier and older with sandy-brown hair named Vance. They appeared to be in discussion about one of their kids wanting to learn to drive, but stopped when the hinges creaked on the door, making Chris’s presence known.

“Uh, good evening,” Vance greeted first, but was bewildered due to not expecting another guard to show up until the shift changed at 10pm.

“Yes, good evening indeed,” Chris smoothly replied as he flashed a charming smile, but unable to hide the determined look in his eyes.

This gesture was not lost on Kai, who narrowed his own eyes in suspicion and slowly stood up as he kept his focus on the new arrival. “I don’t believe we’ve met. Did you just start working here?” the younger officer inquired with a hint of distrust and curiosity in his voice.

“Oh, quite recently in fact and tonight is my first nightshift too, so I figured what better time to get really familiar with the security systems; this is the most likely time for someone to break out, is it not?” the scheming assistant answered without missing a beat.

Hearing the words “Break out” now caused Vance’s internal alarm to go off since the statement was not said in jest, making him stand up too as he began maneuvering around the counter that separated them. “Well, you must have had a poor instructor not to already know the kind of setup we have here Mr.…” The older officer trailed off to glance at the intruder’s name tag before slowly adding, “Mr. Mira.”

They certainly are catching on quicker that I would have expected, Chris thought in annoyance, sniffing signs of raising stress and fear using his heightened olfactory senses. He then smirked as he glared at the two men steadily getting closer, followed by cooling replying, “Really the only logical reason, isn’t it?”

Faster than Kai or Vance could react, Chris jumped over both of their heads and gracefully landed onto the polished countertop as he spun to face their backs. Rather than incapacitate them by force in such a small space, the enhanced human pulled out two indigo discs (transdermal patches) and placed them on their necks. The two guards yelped for only a moment before their eyes glazed over and they fell to the ground unconscious.

“Those little things sure do pack a big punch,” Chris smugly quipped as he made his way over to the control center for the cameras. Humming to himself as he began typing away, he eventually finished inputting the right command that would rewind the security footage from 10 minutes ago and put it on a loop for about 20 minutes; plenty of time to get his targets and essentially be a ghost to anyone else in the facility. He then found the right cell for where High Voltage was being held and used the proper shutoff switch to the more powerful portion of the containment bars. 

Better take care of these two sleeping beauties quickly. Good thing Di laced these with amnesia properties too so they’ll think they just fell asleep, the augmented blonde said to himself, with the thought making a wicked grin cross his face. Chris promptly lifted Vance and placed him in his rolling chair with ease followed by doing the same to Kai. He positioned them in front of the security system before removing the patches and pocketing them. He briefly thought about taking a security pass to make opening doors easier, but nixed the idea as he knew he was plenty strong and it would only increase the chance of his presence being noticed; besides, since he was breaking two prisoners out, law enforcement might think all the damage was done by them. Giving one last look at the passed-out guards, Chris couldn’t help but snidely go, “Now there’s no need to get up on my account.” With a final smirk, he left and made his way to the personal affects room, which was only one corridor over.

Now walking a little more briskly because of the time limit, he quickly made it to his target, where a window protected by bulletproof glass and a tough security door served as his only entrance. Child’s play, he remarked internally as he took hold of the handle and with a steady amount of force, managed to free the locking mechanism after it groaned in protest for a moment. Turning the lights on, he swiftly browsed the shelves looking for the names “Juniper” and “Barb.” Chris located the bins when he went up the second aisle and took the black containers off the top rack, followed by promptly opening them, grabbing the contents and placing the empties back where he found them.

The fast-working man left and shut the door behind him (although it was rather pointless since the latch was askew now), before taking a left to make his way deeper into the prison. Chris came face to face with another locked door, where he didn’t hesitate to repeat his actions with the only difference being him needing to balance the garments he gathered in his left arm. The groaning sound came again as his enhanced strength aided in his mission and he found himself smirking yet again when he broke the mechanical obstacle. On to the next one.

As the agent for Sycorax worked his way to the main prison cells, the mother-daughter duo still found themselves talking about their future. “Hey Mama, you know what would be really great?” Juniper said with a touch of wistfulness as she turned her head back towards the ceiling.

“What sweetie?” Barb quickly responded before laying on her side to face her child.

“Since the people of the city seem to really like it when we dance, maybe we could become dance instructors. Everyone already knows who we are, so advertising would be easy, plus we could get to spend time together and do what we love legally,” the young woman answered, letting out a sigh at the idea becoming true.

Her mom smiled affectionately and her eyes got a little misty as this was not the first time Juniper brought this up, making her wish desperately she could give it to her, but was unsure at the moment how it would be possible. She was about to say something when her gaze fell on the security bars and noticed they weren’t glowing with energy like they usually do. “Huh?” she said out loud as she sat up and really focused on the cell gate.

“What is it, Mama?” Juniper inquired, sitting up too in curiosity.

“I’m not sure darling,” Barb responded with a slight head tilt, now sliding off her mattress to stand up. It was then that she heard something like a gasp and a low thud, making her and her daughter stay still as they waited and stared outside their cell to see what happened next. A moment later, the sound of shuffling and footsteps came as an unknown figure came into view.

“Oh good, you’re still awake. I was worried I’d have to be rude and wake you,” the intruder in disguised charmingly spoke, flashing a pleased smile. The two women looked at each other, then back at the man just outside their cell; they continued to watch as they saw him grab the bars and easily swing it open, much to their amazement. Chris then stepped in and quietly showed that he had their outfits before informing the dancers, “These will be returned to you shortly once we’re free of this place. Congratulations ladies. I’ve been tasked by my boss to present you with an extraordinary opportunity at freedom and potential employment, but we must move on now or else their will be…undesired consequences.” His tone was polite and enticing enough, but the underlying threat of trouble, either from the guards or this man’s boss they weren’t sure and that was enough to make them go with him.

Sharing an uneasy look before Barb gave Juniper an “It’ll be okay” smile, they soon listened as Chris turned around and instructed, “Follow me if you would be so kind,” then leaving through the shutoff security doors and taking a left.

So far, their actions had not been noticed by the other inmates or guards, most likely because of their cell’s placement near the exit door, their quietness and general apathy the prisoners got if the action wasn’t right in front of them. Juniper did get wide-eyed and grabbed onto her mom’s hand when a guard came into view shortly after they walked past the first cell; however, her fear was soon replaced with confusion as she saw his eyes were closed and was propped against the wall.

“Don’t worry,” Chris reassured her in a quiet voice, sensing the initial thought going through the young girl’s mind. “They’re just napping. My employer’s just so excited to meet you both that we didn’t have time to make a nice deal with the guards here,” he coolly added as the trio found themselves coming across a set of stairs. They ascended them steadily with a metallic ping softly ringing with each step until they reached the top, where a slightly ajar door was waiting.

High Voltage and Chris made it through the first two security doors without issue as their footsteps echoed in the corridors; things changed however when they came to the last door, where an officer turned down the hallway, presumably making his rounds.

The blonde-haired guard quickly pulled out his taser and yelled “Stop,” but not nearly fast enough to halt Chris, who swiftly jumped to the left wall followed by the right and then maneuvering around to the backside of the now flustered man (and all with one arm occupied with his stolen load). The augmented assistant once again placed a transdermal patch on his target, managing to knock him out before he had a chance to fire his weapon. Falling to the floor unceremoniously, High Voltage stood in awe at what they witnessed as they watched Chris proceed to remove the indigo disk and adjust the other uniformed individual against the wall.

“See, nothing to worry about. It’ll be like we were never here,” the disguised intruder matter-of-factly stated before gesturing for the mother-daughter pair to follow him again.

The duo was silent for a few seconds as they tip-toed passed their obstacle, and only after they all made it through the last broken door did Barb compliment Chris with, “That was some mighty fine moves you used back there.”

"Why thank you Ms. McClaire. I do try to keep myself limber,” Chris replied with a flattering smile, turning his head slightly to tell her so. “My boss only employs the best and clearly she sees something very special in you both; in fact, she may even help make you better than you are now, provided you at least hear her offer,” their liberator informed them, facing forward again so as to not show his knowing smile at what that truly meant.

His words did bring a ripple of excitement through the dancers, making them whisper to one another as they still walked down the hallway. “Mama, he’s talking about us getting a job! We might actually be starting that life on the outside we were talking about,” Juniper told her mom in a hushed but happy tone.

“I know sweetie. May not know who he’s talking about, but I’m eager to find out none the less. This man did say we just had to hear his boss out, and if they think we’re worth all this trouble, she must have a lot she can offer us,” Barb replied with a small smile, still holding her daughter’s hand and giving it a reassuring grip. A moment later, the main foyer of the prison’s entrance opened up before them, making their footsteps echo all the more in the larger space. The trio promptly made their way to the front door, although the two women gazed around the room before they crossed the threshold to the outside. The cool night air that greeted the small group caused a shiver to run through the two women as they continued behind Chris, who seemed unbothered despite his exposed arms. The outside lights of the jail were on, so they all casted long shadows that stretched to the inky blackness of the road.

“Where’s our ride?” the older dancer couldn’t help but ask as she looked left and right in the sea of darkness.

Giving a soft chuckle, the disguised assistant replied, “It’s just down the road Ma’am. I couldn’t very well risk having it be picked up on security cameras now, could I?”

Barb nodded in understanding before she and her child were urged to walk just a little further. They turned left once they reached the pavement with the dancers sparing one last look at the place they’d resided in for the past several months, hoping dearly this excursion would be their ticket to a better life.

The trio had traversed along the edge of the street for about 200ft, grateful for the streetlamps providing some very necessary light, when Chris pulled a remote from his uniform pocket shirt. With a smirk, he pushed the big button on it, causing a nearby rumble sound to be heard a moment later. The high-strength beam of headlights soon fell on the people, although only Juniper and Barb needed to shield their eyes from it as Chris already knew it was coming and squinted in advance.

He then turned around and proceeded to finally hand the women their outfits before courteously ordering, “You can change over there behind that bush in privacy, but please be swift. We are on a tight schedule after all.”

High Voltage took their uniforms and did as they were told, warily searching around them as they shed their orange prison suits to be sure no one was coming or watching them. In less than three minutes, they were both in their ‘80s-fabulous clothes and were being ushered into the backseat of the still running car. Chris shut the door as soon as they were in and got into the driver’s seat, removing his hat and shifting the vehicle into gear. Now the escapees’ driver, he turned the wheel hard left so they wouldn’t be going passed the prison again.

The gentle hum of the engine was all that was heard for the first few minutes before Chris said in an apologetic tone, “How inconsiderate of me. Would you two like some music on?”

They both nodded and Juniper quietly replied, “Anything with a nice beat would be great.”

The handsome assistant obeyed and turned on the radio, changing it to a pop-rock station, giving the car a little more levity as it got closer to its destination. Although the two women tapped their feet in rhythm to the songs, they mainly stared out the window into the dark night and noted that they were traversing along the edge of San Fransokyo, which shone like a giant beacon.

Chris continued to drive without speaking a word as Juniper and Barb remained silent as well until they finally came upon a lone building. After what felt like forever (but was only around 20 minutes), the car approached an ominous green, glowing building with what resembled a double-helix esthetic. It was tall, rectangular and sleek with its diamond-shaped glass windows allowing for an almost 360° view of the interior.

Both women leaned against one another as they went to get a better look of the looming building, which proved unnecessary as Chris drove all the way up to the front entrance. Once there, he immediately shut the engine off and got out to hold the door open for the mother-daughter pair. They slid out as gracefully as they could, followed by casting their gaze from the lobby and moving their heads back to look all the way up to the top.

“And now that you’ve seen the outside, why don’t we venture in? I’m sure my boss just can’t wait to meet you both in person,” the loyal Sycorax employee slyly said as he began to walk up the set of stairs, who was soon joined by the two prisoner escapees. They continued to stare as they made it to the sliding glass doors, where the inside was cast in dimly lit light as an orange set of steps led further up and inward.

“Such a fancy place,” Juniper couldn’t help but comment as she looked on in awe at the giant tree living inside the structure.

“Must do a lot of important work for sure to need all this,” Barb added while nodding in agreement.

Chris smirked with his back to them as they complimented their surroundings until the trio made it to the elevators. He pushed a button to open it up before all of them promptly stepped inside. He then pushed for the top floor, leaving an air of awkward silence and anticipation as they all waited for their vertical ride to stop.

Barb, in wanting to fill the time, cautiously inquired Chris, “So, what is it you all do for this boss woman, sir?”

The blonde man merely smiled charmingly and simply answered, “Why, anything she asks me to do. Someone in charge always needs a righthand man.”

The dancer returned a polite smile and nodded, getting the message. She then looked at Juniper, who seemed to be feeling just as excited/anxious for this meeting, so she took her daughter’s hand yet again and gave it a comforting squeeze. The younger woman smiled as she looked at her mom, knowing that whatever came next, the most important person to her was right there.

Ding.

The sound snapped the duo out of their moment as Chris ushered them out, leaving an eerie green light down the hall as the obvious destination. The inhumanly strong gentleman escorted them the remaining short distance, only to stand guard to the side of the office doors.

“Aren’t you coming in?” Barb asked with an eyebrow quirk.

With a small chuckle, Chris replied, “Nope. My job is done…until she needs me again that is. Hope all goes well.”

As he finished talking, the glass panels slid open with a whoosh, where an impressive-looking office laid before them complete with awards, a large desk and a beautiful coral fish tank with fish and eels swimming about. Standing between the two orange high back chairs meant for High Voltage was a tall, young blonde woman in a red dress with a black belt. She eyed both of the dancers expectantly before cordially saying, “Ladies. Thank you so much for willing to see me. Please come in. I was hoping we could have a nice chat.”

Without more than a half-second delay, Juniper and Barb stepped inside the office of Liv Amara with the doors closing shortly afterward, representing the new prison this place soon would become to them.

Chapter Text

“Please Aunt Cass, I’m sure everything is fine,” Hiro pleaded to his guardian, who was currently fetching her purse.

She shook her head and chidingly told him, “No arguing Hiro. I already closed the café for the rest of the day to take you to the dentist; and don’t think I haven’t heard you these last couple weeks going “Ow” whenever you go to bite something.”

“Oh no,” the teen genius slowly remarked with a wince as the sound of a certain robot inflating overhead pierced their ears. The sound of vinyl scraping together and whirring gears became louder as the healthcare companion Baymax made his way downstairs to fulfill his program.

Beginning with a wave when he entered the now empty café, Baymax said, “Hello, I am-”

“It’s alright Baymax, we know it’s you,” Hiro informed the huggable bot with a small chuckle, patting his friend on the back.

“Oh,” the other simply responded as he lowered his arm.

Aunt Cass flashed a smile at the sight before putting her serious face on again. “Okay, that’s enough chitchat. Come on Hiro. You’re not going to miss your appointment,” she sternly told him while pointing to the door.

The robotics major looked to his friend in desperation and pleaded, “Baymax, just tell Aunt Cass that everything is fine and I don’t have to go.”

Baymax tilted his head and replied, “But that would not be true Hiro. My scans indicate there is a cavity on your bottom left molar that has caused you pain and irritation for several weeks now, potentially brought on by your regular consumption of gummy bears and poor brushing techniques. I am sadly not equipped with proper equipment to correctly administer treatment for you.”

Hiro merely sighed and deadpanned, “Thanks Baymax.”

“You are welcome.”

Aunt Cass took this statement as proving her point and exclaimed, “There, you see. Now backed by science.”

The teen genius sighed in defeat as he hung his head down low and slowly shuffled to the café door. Just as the owner was about to exit however, she turned back to Baymax and said, “Make sure to look after Mochi while I’m gone and see that he doesn’t get into any trouble. Thanks. Bye.” With that last word, Aunt Cass finally left, making the sound of jingling echo through the empty business.

Baymax blinked and stood there for a moment before turning his scanner on the locate the family cat. His sensors told him that Mochi was upstairs on the couch, giving off vital signs that he was napping. Baymax assessed his options and deduced he could watch the calico best if he was physically doing it, which meant he’d have to venture back up the stairs. He then started shuffling his short legs in the direction he came from and when he got to the steps, took them one at a time, making gears and vinyl rubbing together present for almost 30seconds.

Baymax eventually made it to the kitchen, where he turned his head to the left and spotted the feline contently resting on the olive-green furniture. The inflatable robot proceeded to walk over as quietly as possible and began his observation of Mochi, mainly by staring at him from a few feet away.

The fluffy cat twitched his ears when he heard Baymax approaching, but didn’t open his eyes and went back to peacefully sleeping. It remained quiet in the apartment for about 20minutes, save for when the healthcare companion blinked every now and then or Mochi’s slow, steady breathing; this changed when the family pet decided he had enough sleep for now and began a series of yawns and stretches. Baymax tilted his head as he let Mochi finish his wakeup routine before saying, “Hello Mochi. Are you currently in need of care?”

“Mreow” was the response he got, which was soon followed by the calico jumping onto the floor and heading to the kitchen. The marshmallow bot was close behind him as he began drinking some water and eating some soft food Aunt Cass had already set out for him.

Baymax patiently waited for Mochi to finish his meal, then proceeded to ask, “Would you like to play with some toys? Stimulation is important for a healthy living.”

Now the calico tilted his head, gave a “Mreow” and strutted right past Baymax to go downstairs.

“Oh,” the inflatable robot simply remarked as he realized he’d have to go down the steps again. He first moved back to the living room to retrieve a ball to use for later, followed by taking the stairs. Baymax took each movements a little slower this time so as not to fall or slide all the way to the front door, potentially damaging his vinyl cover. Once he made it to the bottom, he scanned for the family cat and began shuffling into the café, where he found Mochi on the front counter perfectly perched in his typical cat pose.

Baymax walked past the empty tables as carefully as he could to prevent his squishy body from knocking the condiments off. After he made it through the obstacles, he approached Mochi, who greeted him with another “Mreow,” followed by looking around the café. The robotic being did a 360°C spin with his top to see what the cat was searching for before deducing, “If you are looking for Aunt Cass, she will be gone for a little while, but should be home before it gets too late.” He then blinked, held up the jingly yellow and pink ball and inquired, “Would you like to play now?” The calico tilted his fluffy head and let out an audible purr, prompting Baymax to lean his arm back and gently roll the toy along the floor.

Like a switch being flipped, Mochi leapt off the counter with lightning-fast speed, sliding on the slick surface as he began chasing after it. He hit the toy under a table and had to go around to bat it back out, where he continued to attack it and causing the room to be filled with its ringing sound. The healthcare companion in the meantime went ahead and sprayed the area the cat was resting on with disinfecting solution, understanding it was not sanitary for his paws to be on there. He gave a quick wipe with some napkins, followed by shuffling around to the other side of the food display to throw it in the trash. Baymax continued to hear the noisy ball and Mochi’s claws racing along the ground while he finished his minor chore, coming back out to the dining area shortly afterwards.

This display went on for a couple more minutes as the inflatable robot watched in a stationary position; this fun abruptly stopped when the jingling sound no longer came and was replaced by a combination of meowing and growling. Stepping around the tables once again, Baymax found the calico aggressively trying with his paws and teeth to free the toy from under the bench it was wedged under.

“Oh no,” the huggable machine remarked as he analyzed the correct course of action. Tilting his head for a moment, he proceeded to grab both sides of the table that was in his way and gently pushed it a couple feet away. As he did this, a horrible screeching sound came as it was dragged along the floor, making Mochi meow irritably and take off in the opposite direction. Baymax then bent over and with a little effort, got the ball free and grabbed it before standing up right again. He soon moved the piece of dining furniture back where it belonged, causing another round of painful noise. Baymax peered around the area to find no sign of the fluffy cat, so he called out, “Mochi” as he shuffled away from the tables and into the open area again.

When he received no response, he fired up his sensor again and after a few seconds, located the feline now behind the food display the mechanical man previously ventured to. Baymax poked his head into the narrow walkway and found Mochi to be curled up into a ball at the end of the area, letting out a low growl and clearly knowing who was responsible for the fright.

“It is okay. I am sorry to have scared you,” the squishy marshmallow man calmly told the other as he maintained his distance. He then bent down, presented the toy and gave it a little shake, making the calico perk up his ears and stare at the robot’s hand.

“Good kitty,” Baymax said as he took a step back while still working to make the bell jingle prominently. The fluffy cat maintained his focus as he started to get on all fours and creep low on the floor, just like an animal stalking its prey. The healthcare companion slowly managed to coerce Mochi back into the main dining area, but unfortunately, did not pay enough attention to his backside as it bumped up against a table and caused everything on it to fall over.

“Oh no,” Baymax simply stated as he rotated around to begin cleaning up the bits of salt and pepper that spilled, forgetting that he still had the ball in his possession. Placing it on the table to free up his hand, it turned out to be a mistake however as once it rang out when it was set down, Mochi wiggled his tail and leapt onto the now dirty surface.

Once his paws made contact with the spilled seasonings, he meowed in surprise and disgust as he forgot his target and jumped onto Baymax, much to the robot’s bewilderment. This action caused him to stumble and fall backwards onto the floor, while he cradled the cat to keep him from being tossed as he fell.

“Mreow,” Mochi said again as he found himself on top of the plushie bot.

Baymax blinked before asking, “Are you alright, Mochi?”

The calico tilted his head as Baymax lifted his arms to release his fluffy bundle, but rather than leave the other’s presence however, Mochi began pawing at the soft vinyl and kneading it, evidently enjoying it. He then proceeded to spin in a circle on the bouncy structure a few times before settling down into a snuggling/napping position.

Baymax blinked again and lifted his head up to stare at the feline, followed by gazing at the messy table that was now out of reach. He laid himself back fully on the floor and remarked, “This is not ideal.” The inflatable robot looked from left to right to see if there was a way to clean up without disturbing Mochi, but came up empty as he fell into the classic dilemma of what to do when a cat lays on you.

Baymax assessed that Mochi’s comfort was top priority, so he simply began petting the hairy baby from head to tail, causing a satisfied purr to escape the small mammal. Although he lacked traditional senses, Baymax’s tactile sensors allowed him to receive some positive feedback for both how soft Mochi was as well as the knowledge he was making the cat happy. So the duo laid on the ground for roughly another 45minutes while the healthcare companion periodically petted Mochi and quietly said things like “Good kitty” and “There there;” surely anyone looking in on the pair through the café window would find them both adorable and weird.

Eventually, Mochi began to stir again with him letting out a big yawn as he stretched his front legs out and spread his little paws. Baymax lifted his head up again and asked, “Was you nap satisfactory?”

The calico responded with another yawn and slowly blinking his eyes before testing the squishy robot’s tummy to get the right footing to jump off onto the café floor. Once he was back on the ground, Mochi rubbed up against Baymax’s face while he still laid on his back. He reached over and petted the hairy baby again and replied, “Good kitty,” followed by looking at the ceiling and realizing he’d need to get upright.

Baymax first lifted his arms up and bent his frame to try and get on his stubby feet to no avail. He then lowered his head towards the floor and began to rock himself from side to side while Mochi watched him with curiosity. After a few times and getting enough momentum built up, Baymax finally rolled over onto his front and was able to better support himself until he was standing back on his own two legs.

“Mreow,” Mochi called as he now rubbed against the superhero, still wanting more attention despite the previous amount. Baymax looked from the still messy table to the fluffy cat staring at him with big, begging eyes. He then noticed that ball still there out of the feline’s line of sight and decided to grab it.

“Mochi,” Baymax flatly stated as he shook the toy, snapping the cat’s attention off his leg and onto the jingling toy. The mechanical marshmallow man then gently rolled the toy again, making Mochi dash off like a rocket. While the kitty fiercely played, Baymax shuffled behind the displays to find a rag tucked away under the counter with cleaning supplies. He then came back out to complete his task as ringing filled the small establishment once more.

It was when the inflatable robot went to dispose of the trash and put the dirty rag in the appropriate laundry pile in back that he noticed the sound in the café had stopped. He glanced around and found the ball resting under a high stool near the window but no Mochi.

Baymax saw that the front door remained closed, meaning he hadn’t left, so he scanned for the hairy baby with a turn of his head. He located him back upstairs (but not in the living room or kitchen this time), so he began his slow trek up the steps to the second floor and moved past the dining room towards Aunt Cass’s bedroom, which was open ajar. Baymax pushed the door further open to find Mochi laying on the colorful, checkerboard quilt-covered bed, and who didn’t appear to be asleep; he seemed to be feeling a little sadder as he was used to both his owner’s constant presence as well as dozens of customers.

The healthcare companion shuffled over to the cat and gave him an affectionate pet, making the fluffy animal purr a little. “I know you miss Aunt Cass, but she is needed elsewhere with Hiro. I will provide whatever I can to alleviate your mood until she arrives home. She should be back before too long,” Baymax consoled Mochi. Much like when they were on the floor downstairs, the mechanical superhero provided the loving attention the calico craved and received progressively louder purring as it continued. No doubt being in his owner’s room helped Mochi feel closer to her, so the duo remained there for a long time. It wasn’t until a beeping sound came from Baymax that their peaceful state was interrupted.

On the white robot’s chest, a red low battery warning was flashing and making Baymax inform Mochi, “I am sorry, but I must go before this becomes a problem.” He then started for the door, causing the calico to tilt his head in curiosity and meow as the other got further and further away. Mochi remained on the bed for another minute until he heard some noise from upstairs, prompting him to investigate.

Once he was off the quilted mattress, he strutted past the kitchen and began climbing the steps with two paws at a time. At the top, the fluffy cat paused as he saw the bizarre sight of a partially deflated Baymax laying on Hiro’s bed with his arms around the pillow.

“It’s just so soft. I’m gonna hug it so good,” the low-energy bot slurred as he squeezed the desired object tighter.

“Mreow,” came Mochi at feeling a bit off putted at the sight.

Even in his disoriented state, Baymax managed to put two and two together and realized it had come from the family pet. “Hey! Hairy baby! You’re just sooo fluffy you good kitty. I wanna pet you now,” the healthcare companion exclaimed as he tried to push himself off the bed, only to land on the floor as his body dragged the comforter with him. Baymax pushed himself up off the ground after he got his legs free of the blanket and wobbly made his way over to Mochi, who was moving to the left side of the bed.

“Wait, I can’t -I can’t move that fast,” he said frantically as he maneuvered around the mattress to the other side, only for the feline to jump onto the now messy bed.

“Yay! Hairy baby came back. I was worried you’d get so far away,” Baymax incoherently admitted as he held his arms out to grab Mochi.

His target was faster than him however as he jumped into the robot’s vinyl-covered arms, making him stumble backwards yet again; unlike last time though, Baymax had a wall to fall against with his charger below him. Once he hit the surface, one of his stubby legs made it into the charge port followed by the other. The surge of electricity through his system focused his senses and reasoning capabilities, understanding to keep hold of his fluffy bundle. He then blinked and looked down at Mochi, who stared up at him and meowed happily.

“Thank you Mochi. I think I will rest now if that is alright with you,” the mechanical man informed/requested to the calico, and receiving an approving “Mreow” in response.

Baymax nodded before finally closing his eyes to attend to his own needs and recharge his battery. The hairy baby purred loudly as he snuggled into the other’s slowly inflating arms, nonverbally showing his love for the robot.

They remained in this position even when Aunt Cass and a groggy Hiro returned in the midafternoon to find the café extremely quiet.

“Huh? Must be upstairs,” the chef deduced as she led her nephew upstairs, who was not happy about having a cavity filled. They slowly made their way to the top floor, which wasn’t easy with Hiro wobbling and needing a guiding hand to keep him moving.

When the duo made it to the teen genius’s bedroom, Baymax and Mochi were still sleeping together, prompting an “Aww” from Aunt Cass, while Hiro slurred, “Hey, who messed up my bed?” He then walked over to it and said, “Eh, I don’t care,” before falling onto the mattress and groaning in tiredness.

His aunt shook her head with a small amused smile on her face, followed by walking over to Baymax and picking up Mochi, who meowed in excitement as seeing his owner’s return. The fluffy cat purred noisily as he leaned into the pets she gave him as she started making her way back downstairs to start prepping for dinner.

“Aww, someone missed me. I missed you too my precious little kitty. Now, how about I get you a treat and we let these two rest a little more?” Aunt Cass asked Mochi with a slight baby tone. The calico meowed in approval, leaving the superheroes undisturbed while he himself continued to be showered with the attention he’d so happily accept.

Chapter Text

“And this is my monitoring center. I ask that you not enter unless I call for you; a lot of sensitive material is in here and I’d hate to blame you should something get damaged.”

“Oh, uh sure! No problem. Totally can do that.”

“Good.” The tall, slender man who spoke first forced a smile and turned away to roll his eyes as he gave a tour to his newest underling, a gelatinous mutant named “Globby,” who seemed more than happy to work for him at a fairly cheap rate (all things considered). His employer Obake, was currently leading him through his mostly underwater lair, which he informed the shapeshifter would be his new place of residency for the duration of their agreement.

Despite the cold, metallic base for the structure, Globby couldn’t help but have his mouth agape as he saw the grandiose scale of everything. There were many long corridors lined with sleek security doors that when he peered into one, seemed to house a grey-looking toilet, sink, bed, desk, chair, and cabinet. Huh? Seems like a fancy sort of jail ce-

“We mustn’t doddle if we wish to see everything Globby,” Obake lightly scolded with a tsk, interrupting the mutant’s train of thought.

“Sorry. Yes. Coming,” Globby rapidly fired off as he quickly got back behind the scheming genius.

The duo had already entered through the cliffside entrance, meaning that the pink and purple man already saw the modest kitchen that looked untouched; they also passed a workshop area where a bench was sprawled with a few robotic parts, wires and a large collection of various tools. Good thing none of those bits moved on their own because darn it, that is classic sci-fi horror right there, Globby had internally remarked once they moved on.

The transmogrified thief was soon escorted down a hallway filled with much larger rooms that contained giant machinery, blue glowing lights and a rectangular box with some weird arm dangling inside. All around as they walked, a low hum was always present along with an occasional metallic groan, only ever interrupted by Obake’s rhythmic footsteps and Globby’s squishy ones.

Once they passed another open area containing multiple cells on different levels, the shapeshifter couldn’t help but comment, “Sure got a lot of empty rooms here. You plan on eventually renting this place out or something because with a little friendlier décor, people would love to pay for a night at an underwater hotel."

The well-dressed man’s face let a sly smile slip as he turned away from the mutant and replied, “An interesting notion, but this place is a special project of mine. I like to think of it as an ark actually rather than a potential business venture.”

Globby shrugged and merely said, “Eh, whatever floats your boat.”

Obake managed to keep himself from laughing at the expression the other one used, wondering if Globby had used it because of his “ark” remark or if it was unintentional, but eventually decided it was most likely the latter.

About 20seconds later, the scheming genius stopped in front of one of the cells, turned around and informed the criminal with authority, “Here is where you’ll be staying. Decorate it however you feel. I don’t care. While you are staying here, anytime I request your presence, you are to meet in the monitor room unless I say otherwise. Understood?”

Globby nodded enthusiastically before watching Obake calmly walk away to attend to other matters, leaving the shapeshifter to explore his new living space. Inside, it was lit by a single dim source in the center and contained everything the previous cells had except the added space and a small closet next to the bed. The aesthetic was sadly the same dull grey design as the other rooms as well, prompting Globby to add a little color to the place. He first fabricated a thicker blanket for the bed and made it purple in color. He soon followed it up with some fluffy pillows in the same shade as well as a red lamp to stick on the desk since the overhead light wasn’t bright enough to his liking. The gelatinous mutant then looked left and right, checking for no one watching out of habit before he made a small photo of Felony Carl to place next to the lamp. I’m sure I can chat up Carl later and tell him about how much I’m crushing it as a villain, but just in case I can’t do it right away, the gelatinous mutant thought to himself as he defended his actions.

Globby then went to lie down on his modest-sized cot and put his arms behind his head, letting out a contented sigh as he stared at the metal ceiling. It’s official. I’m finally in the big-time villain league.

                                    ____________________________________________________________________________________________

“Globby. Report to the monitor room. Now,” Obake’s commanding voice ordered over the loudspeakers in his lair.

The gelatinous mutant was currently playing solitaire in the hangout section near the kitchen when he heard the order. Oh well. I’ll finish this up later, he neutrally thought as he got up from his chair and made his way into the heart of his current living place. Globby passed through a few sets of security doors that went whoosh as they opened, followed by glancing at the numerous cells he found surrounding him as he reached his destination. Finally, he stood in front of the double doors that slid apart automatically, revealing his slender, well-dressed boss standing there as he waited for the shapeshifter to arrive.

Obake maintained an unreadable expression as he stated, “Ah, good. You’re here. Come forward if you would. I need to introduce you to someone.”

Globby’s eyes got wide in surprise as he took a few steps closer, looking from side to side in search of this mystery arrival. Once he was 12ft away, his boss held a hand up to indicate for him to stop. “That’s good. Now, I’ve summoned you here so you could greet your new teammate,” Obake informed the other.

The pink and purple man couldn’t help but quirk a gelatinous eyebrow and excitedly ask, “Wait, really? Who?”

Restraining himself from rolling his eyes, the calculating genius reprimanded with, “Patience Globby, patience.” He then turned to his left and ordered, “You may come out now.”

A moment later, the former purse thief heard the sound of metal footsteps echoing on the floor and mechanical whirring as they approached. What emerged from the shadows was certainly not what he expected as a cute robot, who had a noodle burger for a head and was dressed as an old-timey boy, walked out and extended a hand to shake.

“Howdy and hello burger buddy. I’m Noodle Burger Boy and I’m a new addition to this tasty combo meal,” the peppy robot greeted the criminal, who held a confused expression on his face.

The shapeshifter stared at the hand for a few seconds before saying, “Uh, I’m Globby,” finally taking a hold of it to give a decent handshake. When he stopped a couple seconds later, Globby found a bit of something stuck to his hand instead of the other way around and noticing it was red, he hazarded a guess with, “Ketchup?”

“Yep!” the food mascot exclaimed, followed by emphatically telling the other, “I am capable of delivering a variety of flavorful moves to serve up against those heroes!”

The gelatinous mutant was bewildered again, prompting Obake to step forward and explain, “This robot here was in the food service industry, but has been repurposed to suit my needs. He has a variety of functions such as predicting his opponents moves as well as is fairly durable to boot; sadly, his overly peppy demeanor and enthusiasm for food remains intact as part of his core programing, but rest assured, I’ll be adding to his skill set to make him even more valuable.”

Globby nodded slowly and went, “Uh-huh,” followed by inquiring, “So, do I need to share my bedroom with him or…”

The slim man condescendingly chuckled as he shook his head and told the slime monster, “Of course not. He’ll stay in one of my labs connected to his charge port.”

“Right, right. I was just joking,” Globby quickly corrected himself with a small nervous laugh.

Obake quirked an eyebrow skeptically and replied, “I’m sure. Now go show him around or whatever to keep him occupied until I need either of you again.” He gave a shooing gesture to both of his henchman, who looked at each other before doing as they were told and left through the sliding doors.

Once they were shut, Noodle Burger Boy proceeded to happily declare, “It sure is swell that Mr. New Boss Man is going to help me become even more super-duper to fulfill my new purpose.”

“Ooo. Any idea what those are going to be?” Globby asked in curiosity as they walked.

“I have no idea,” the metal man replied with a can-do attitude and not elaborating further.

The shapeshifter just blinked in response before shrugging and confidently informing the other, “Well NBB, in case Obake there didn’t tell you about me, I can turn into just about anything.” He then stopped moving so he could show the titanium being his powers. Globby simply lifted up his left hand and changed it from his normal gelatinous self into ice, acid, wood, and finally chocolate, prompting him to take a bite out of himself.

Although his expression remained unchanged, Noodle Burger Boy put his hands to his mouth and gave a gasp. “Golly Mister. If I could do that, then I would be able to dish out all kinds of flavorful condiments, mainly to squirt in the faces of those do-gooders!”

Globby smirked as he and his new teammate resumed their stroll through the giant base and remarked, “Sure learned to not like those heroes really quick, didn’t you?”

NBB nodded and angrily replied, “They already messed with my order before and I’m supposed to provide excellent customer service!”

The taller of the two nodded, pointed to himself and smugly stated, “Yeah, they gave me some trouble too, but I sure showed them not to underestimate me.” He proceeded to look at NBB as they passed through another set of metal doors, finding himself getting an idea at the fact he now had some company in this mostly empty place. Globby then extended his left arm and patted the former food mascot’s head as he realized they were back in the semi-living room area and innocently asked, “So, you’re a smart robot, right? Capable of learning new things, not just meant to destroy all heroes?”

Noodle Burger Boy gave a salute and cheerfully answered, “Yes sir Mister Globby! Whatever I can to do swell well!”

A large smile now appeared on the mutant’s face as he nonchalantly inquired, “I was just wondering then if you ever heard of a little game called…poker?”

The smaller one tilted his burger-shaped head and replied, “No I haven’t. Is it a fun game?”

Globby smirked and slyly thought to himself, Well, I am supposed to keep him occupied.

“Yep. It’s loads of fun. Want me to teach it to you?” he enthusiastically asked.

“Sure! This will be better than a fresh hot noodle pie,” NBB responded with a small clap.

“If you say so,” Globby simply told him as he guided the robot to the table of cards, where the two certainly had a lot to go over.

                                       ______________________________________________________________________________________

Globby knew it was risky to bother Obake, but he really had to ask him about being allowed out in the city more; sure, he wanted to see Felony Carl more (despite not actually having permission to see him), but he also needed to get more successful crimes under his metaphorical belt to help beef up his villain résumé since he still didn’t have many in his mutated form. As he searched a few labs and found no one, he approached the monitor room as his last hope of finding him.

The shapeshifter was almost to the door when he heard two muffled voices: A man who he only could assume was Obake, and a woman one that he couldn’t place. He then found the metal panels sliding open despite thinking he wasn’t close enough, taking him be surprise. Inside the green, ominous room, Globby saw his boss standing next to a slender woman in an orange jumpsuit with black and blue hair. The duo was now staring at him with the man merely quirking a brow at his arrival while the sushi chef next to him looked visibly more disturbed by his presence.

“Good. I won’t have to fetch you. Momakase, meet one of your new teammates, Globby,” Obake stated unemotionally as he gestured towards the aforementioned mutant. “Globby, this is Momakase. Professional chef, thief and ninja.”

The pink and purple man shook his head to free himself from his still position and stepped forward upon realizing he was being introduced. He gave a small wave and nervously said, “Uh, hi Momakase. That’s cool you can do all those things and stuff. I’m Globby, the longest serving member on this team and resident monster. So yeah, welcome.” The shapeshifter offered his malleable mitt to shake in politeness only to see the ninja stare at it with noticeable disgust.

“I’m not big on handshakes,” Momakase snidely remarked, making the other retract his hand almost sheepishly.

Okay, ouch. Tell me how you really feel, Globby thought to himself, now feeling a little anger at being dismissed so quickly.

Obake let out a rare chuckle of amusement as he slyly chimed in with, “Consider yourself lucky she didn’t say that with her knives; not that it would have caused any permanent damage.”

Lifting a gelatinous eyebrow, the purse thief finally noticed one of the monitors glitching and had cracks on the screen, followed by glancing at the holster on Momakase’s leg. Globby then gave a small cough in trying to change the subject and asked, “So, do I need to give her a tour or go fetch NBB for ya to meet her or…”

“That won’t be necessary. Now, whatever it was you actually came here to talk to me about, I’m afraid it’ll have to wait. Very busy you know and I need to go over some things with Momakase,” his boss flatly but firmly told him, leaving Globby little choice but to leave.

“Alright then. I’ll catch ya later,” he replied disheartenedly, believing their chat would be a long time from now. He then turned to exit as he retreated through the sliding doors once more and walked back into the hallway.

The gelatinous mutant proceeded to slump his shoulders for a moment as he let out a loud sigh at being shut down, but soon straightened up and refocused on what he could do next. Well, I’ve got a new teammate and sure, she’s giving me the whole “Come near me and you die” vibes right now, but we’re on the same side so we’ll probably get along eventually, he thought optimistically. Globby then furrowed his brow as he planned further, something he admittedly wasn’t used to doing. Obake certainly doesn’t seem interested in my request and it was going to be a gamble on him saying yes anyway; but then again, if I do go out, it’s not like he’s gonna fire me after all the work I’ve done for him. I can handle myself too on the off chance I run into those heroes and I seriously doubt they can capture me, so Obake won’t have anything to really be angry about, Globby smugly worked out as he made his way back to his room, already deciding to go ahead and risk being scolded at later so he could have a little fun outside of this metal base.

While the slime monster was walking down the corridor however, the other two criminals were engaged in their conversation. “You certainly like to keep interesting company, don’t you?” Momakase snarkily replied as she turned to face her new boss.

The tall man scoffed, “Physically yes, but intellectually no. He’s a simple-minded fool who wishes to prove himself a real villain, so I tell him what I want and he does it without realizing the greater game at play.”

Momakase smirked and told him, “You should consider yourself lucky then to have such a useful tool as him at your disposal.”

“Quite. Now, let’s get back to business, shall we?” Obake all but ordered to the professional chef, both of them turning to the illuminated screen as images of Big Hero 6 and a young girl were sorted through.

                                         _______________________________________________________________________________________

Globby yawned and gave himself a good stretch as he woke up in his room (or rather cell) in Obake’s lair. It had more in it now than when he first started as his petty thefts of purses and small trinkets he’d impulsively grab were displayed on the desk or hanging in the closet. He proceeded to get out of bed as he rubbed some sleep out of his eyes and began making his way to the base’s kitchen. True, he could make whatever he wanted to eat out of his own hand, but this gave a greater chance of interacting with some of his coworker since this place was mostly empty; admittedly, Momakase still hadn’t warmed up to him, but she at least didn’t insult him now every time he was in the same room.

The shapeshifter took his usual route through several long, vacant corridors and passed a few labs filled with various robotic experiments that eventually led to his destination. Once he came to the metallic sliding doors and stepped through to the other side, he stopped in his tracks as there was an unfamiliar young girl sitting at the table he’d normally use off to his left. She had long dark brown hair that was kept under a purple hat as well as wore black fingerless gloves, a pink shirt and jeans to complete the ensemble. This possible intruder was currently leaning on her propped up left arm while she used her right to scroll through her phone and had yet to notice his arrival; it was only after Globby actually took a few squishy steps in her direction that his presence was registered.

They both gave surprise expressions once their eyes locked before the teen exclaimed, “Oh, you must be Globby.”

“Uh, yes?” the gelatinous being uneasily replied with a wince as he looked left and right. “Are you…lost or something because I don’t think just anyone’s allowed in here,” he added.

The smaller of the two gave a smirk as she set her phone down and stood up to get closer to Globby. “Oh, I’m not lost. This is my home now too. The name’s Trina,” she informed him while offering her hand.

Globby stared at it warily for a moment before sticking his own out to shake hers. “Well, I guess you already know who I am.”

Trina gave a small shrug as she pulled her hand away and told him, “Eh, for the most part. I know you can shapeshift and work for my dad.”

The pink and purple man stared blankly, followed by blinking in bewilderment at what she just said. “Wait. I only work for Obake, so that would mean…” Globby slowly stated as he couldn’t believe what he just heard.

The teenager nodded and slyly said, “Yep, he’s my dad…only not in the traditional sense.” With a knowing smile, she proceeded to hold out her right hand again, only to use her left one to expertly remove the other and reveal the mechanical insides she kept hidden.

Globby couldn’t help but take a step back as he exclaimed in surprise and horror. Trina simply put her hand back on and gave an amused expression to his reaction. The mutant quickly regained composure and let out a small, clearing cough before he responded with, “Sorry for that. Not really used to robotic kids around here…unless you count Noodle Burger Boy…although he’s really more noodle burger than boy.”

The beanie-clad android gave a snort at his statement and replied, “True enough.”

With a touch of nervousness, Globby then felt the need to ask, “So, I’m guessing you’re what I saw Obake working on in one of his labs, right?”

Trina shrugged her shoulders again and replied, “Among other things. He said something about needing me as both his progeny and because I’d play a critical role in his plans.”

“Oh, okay,” the shapeshifter slowly nodded, unsure really what plans she was talking about or rather why they would require a robotic girl.

Scratching the back of his transparent head, Globby inquired, “Trina, do you uh, have any interests yet or was everything predetermined by your dad? I ask because you seem very different from the ones I’ve seen; granted, they’ve mainly been drones, Noodle Burger Boy and that Big Red from Big Hero 6.”

With a small chuckle sounding eerily similar to Obake’s, the teenager smoothly answered, “There are somethings I know I was made to do, but I’m an advance AI system with my own preferences that’ll develop the more I explore and exist. I’ve already added all kinds of data to my system from just browsing the internet.”

Globby proceeded to get an uneasy look on his face as he cautioned, “Yeah, just be careful on there. Not everything on the internet is true; I learned the hard way when trying to buy something online and let’s just say, the picture did not match what I received.”

Trina nodded politely, but didn’t ask any more details and instead said, “Well, I guess this means we’ll be working together.”

“Yeah, I guess so,” he agreed with a small nervous laugh, unsure of what to say next. He then caught sight of the teenager’s phone and an idea popped into his head. “Hey Trina,” Globby started with an optimistic smile.

“Huh?” she replied, quirking a brow.

“Well, I was just thinking, since there’s so many of us now and we’re all on the same team, maybe we should get a group photo to make it official; us vs the heroes you know, just something to showcase to everyone and what they bring to the table,” he suggested with his hands now clasped in anticipation.

Trina’s expression went from curiosity to enthusiasm as she slowly nodded, getting more and more behind it with each second. “Yeah, that actually might be pretty cool.”

Hearing her say that, Globby excitedly said, “Sweet! I have a feeling NBB will be onboard too, which means even if Obake and Momakase say no, they’re outvoted.”

The young android smirked at his statement and replied, “That would be true. Want me to go get them? They may be more willing to listening if it comes from me.”

“Why would you say that?” he inquired with the tilt of his head.

Trina was silent for a second, but quickly covered up her previous sentence by telling him, “Why, because I’m the newest member and it’d only be polite; plus, Obake’s my dad, so he’ll at least hear me out.” She didn’t actually believe what she really said since her duty as daughter was to obey and serve out her creator’s orders, but it was best not to make enemies so soon after activating.

Globby seemed to buy it though as he said, “Oh, that makes sense,” making Trina feel a wave of relief at the other’s acceptance of her logic.

She proceeded to put on a charming grin and informed the purse thief, “I’ll just go find them then and we can get the ball rolling on this.”

“Oh! Okay. Best of luck. I’ll uh, just be waiting here if you need to find me,” Globby responded with a bit of shock that this was actually happening. He gave a small wave of good bye as he watched the teenage robot go pick up her phone and head for one of the other exit doors, briefly turning around to acknowledge his gesture was received.

The gelatinous mutant let out a contented sigh once she was gone, followed by happily thinking, Wow. A new teammate and she seemed nice enough. Things sure can get exciting on a dime. Now, where was I? Oh yeah! Breakfast. He then went to the fridge to begin working on making the most important meal of the day, eagerly waiting for the group photo or at least for something else to transpire as nothing stayed boring for long in this villain lair.

Chapter Text

“Good night Aunt Cass. I’m just gonna call Karmi and go to bed,” Hiro informed his guardian as he saw her sitting in the living room on his way upstairs.

She smiled and waved while petting Mochi on her lap and told him, “Have fun and don’t stay up too late.”

The teen genius merely replied, “I won’t,” and continued up the steps to his room. At the top of the staircase, his beloved robotic companions already stood asleep on his charger, making Hiro smile affectionately as he moved to the computer and opened up his video chat app. Currently, it was the middle of September and the two teens had been keeping their regular calls to each other for about a month now. Hiro proceeded to tap the desk as he waited for the call to go through, which ended up only taking 10seconds this time for a familiar teenage face to pop onto the screen.

“Hey Karmi.”

“Hey Hiro. What’s going on?”

The robotist’s noted that the young biotech woman was in her pjs again, except they were dark blue and covered with white stars that had the constellations marked; he on the other hand, was still in his navy hoodie and had a purple shirt on with his SFIT emblem stitched in.

Hiro smiled warmly at seeing her and answered, “Oh, not too much. I got a break today from mentoring Rishi though since he started his seismic project for Granville, so I’m only on as a standby unless he does something dangerous.”

Karmi gave a small giggle at remembering what happened with his design before stopping and looking a little embarrassed for doing so.

The teenage boy quirked a brow at her reaction for a moment until it clicked why she did so, making him flash a knowing look as he said, “You were thinking about the disaster of a tower I submitted, weren’t you?”

The ponytailed genius avoided his gaze and bashfully replied, “Maybe.”

Hiro smirked in amusement, followed by consoling her with, “It’s okay. It was my own fault for pushing it to the last minute. I’m just glad people stopped giving me death stares for wrecking their buildings too.” He gave a short, nervous laugh on the last part as that had certainly been a tough time for him.

He then shook his head quickly to get back on track and more cheerfully added, “Anyway, it’s been mainly mentoring, working on my own projects and relaxing when I can, which is few and far between if you ask me.”

Karmi’s smile returned as she listened and asked, “So, how’s the city holding up? I know there are still reports of trouble coming out.”

Hiro sighed at knowing what she meant as he experienced said trouble firsthand, but he still found himself unable to reveal his and his friends’ secret though he did want to; instead, the robotics expert gave a shrug and told her, “Yeah, there’s still the occasional bad guy, but thankfully they’re ones Big Hero 6 usually faces like Steamer and El Fuego.” He then popped his eyes open wider as he realized something and wondered, “Oh hey, how’s the chibi stuff coming along?”

Karmi took on a surprised expression with the shift in the conversation, but recovered as she replied, “It’s going pretty good actually. I’ve added a few new villains into the chibi roster that’ll lead up to that team up I told you about. Oh, and I’ve made more Lab Lady appearances in it as well as two with Globby for the first time.”

The messy-haired teen gave a small, genuine laugh of excitement for her, followed by commenting with a wink, “Wow, sounds like you’ve been busy. I’m sure they’ll be great and that Globby will be flattered too.”

Karmi proceeded to scratch the back of her head with a touch of uncertainty showing as she replied, “Yeah, I hope so. I typically try to do the characters justice.” She then sat up straighter at remembering something and remarked, “It’s still really cool and crazy you knew him before he made it big as a superhero.”

Hiro avoided her gaze for a moment as he began to reiterate the cover-story they came up with for how they knew Globby. “It’s crazy alright, but since he loves Joe’s Diner and it’s so close to Honey Lemon and Go Go’s place, they were bound to run into each other; you know as well as I that Honey Lemon is just such a bubbly, nice person who can make friends at the drop off a hat,” he said in his best convincing voice.

The other teen let out a giggle in agreement and simply added, “Yeah.”

They were then silent for a few seconds as they felt the comforting presence of one another before Hiro gave a small cough and went, “So uh, anything else happening back home you want to talk about?”

Karmi gazed off in thought as she tried to recollect recent events, making her hum briefly until she answered, “Let’s see, my mom is out for a few days on a business trip in Nova Mexilia, so I’ll be helping my dad with meals. There was also…oh.”

It was then that the younger of the two couldn’t help but notice her shifting in her seat, looking a mix of eager and apprehension. “What’s up?” he now asked with noticeable concern and confusion.

“It’s just…” Karmi started off only to stop almost immediately. She sighed loudly and scratched the back of her head again until she managed to put on a small smile as she found the right words. “I just want to tell you something, but I don’t want to worry you because rest assured, everything is fine,” she vaguely informed him as she finally looked at the tech wiz again.

“Oh…I see,” Hiro slowly stated, nodding in understanding. He then pointed out, “Well, if it’s about some big news from Carseñora, I can probably find out from the internet, but getting your take on it may help ease those fears.”

The biotech major listened to her crush’s logic and uttered “Okay” while feeling a bit more confident in what she could reveal. She quickly looked behind her to make sure the door was shut, then leaned in closer to her monitor, much like if she was sharing a secret. “The thing that’s been happening for several weeks now is that a string of robberies has been going on, and it wasn’t until a couple days ago that the suspects were caught,” she quietly told him, but with excitement evident in her voice.

“Oh wow. I didn’t hear about that. What were they stealing?” Hiro inquired as he honestly didn’t know; he sometimes forgot that other cities got plagued with crime too, although supervillains were a rarity in those places.

“It was mostly a lot of high value items like jewelry and ATMs; luckily, no one seemed to get hurt, but the police didn’t seem to have any leads or weren’t 100% certain they were being committed by the same people,” Karmi continued, building suspense and intrigue.

The robotist’s took the bait though as he questioned her again with, “So, what changed? Did they leave some evidence behind or switch up their MO?”

Karmi then shifted her eyes to the right before lowering her voice again and answered, “The report released said they eventually figured it out that the robberies coincided with when new shipments or deliveries were coming into the places, meaning they knew when the stores and ATMs would be filled to the brim.”

Hiro nodded again and hazarded a guess. “So, they were all inside jobs?”

The young woman returned the gesture enthusiastically and told him, “Yep! Apparently, the group had like a dozen people in it, spreading themselves across all the locations so that each inside man would have an alibi for the thefts.”

Hiro leaned back in his chair as he crossed his arms and admitted, “Not too bad a plan actually. Different body types, voices and optimal robbing times.” He proceeded to bear an uneasy expression as he leaned forward again and warily asked, “Hey Karmi, you don’t have to answer me if you don’t want to, but why do you seem so nervous telling me this?”

The aforementioned 17yr old avoided his gaze as if she felt guilty for some reason. She then sadly sighed before she managed to focus on Hiro and softly replied, “I’m worried if my dad overhears me, he’ll start thinking I’m trying to insert myself into the action to help and all that; he and my mom are proud of all the good I’ve done, but they’ve already reprimanded me when they learned I stopped Hardlight and even watched me while I've worked a few times. They’re stuck in a narrow window of supporting my interests and protecting me. I just want to help you know, and problems won’t solve themselves without getting a good look at them first.”

Karmi’s words stuck into the teen genius like an arrow, aching from how much she sounded like Tadashi right now and wanting to assure her what she believed in wasn’t wrong. “If it makes you feel better, I think it’s the same way with my Aunt Cass. I know she loves me and I know I can get into trouble because there’s stuff I didn’t account for, but I want to make a difference for the better too.” He then gave her a warm, supportive smile, which she reciprocated with a small, appreciative one.

“Thanks. It’s kind of actually because of all the stuff that’s happened this past year that I realized I could do more; your speech was also pretty inspiring.”

“My speech? Oh,” Hiro said in confusion before he realized what she meant. “I didn’t know you saw that,” he nervously stated as he subtlety blushed. “What’d you think?”

Karmi’s smile widened as she sincerely answered, “It was really great! It was sweet, you put your heart into it and I think a lot of people got the message. I know I did.”

Hiro’s cheeks turned redder at her comment as he averted his eyes and he simply replied, “Thanks,” making the other give a tiny chuckle at his reaction. After a few seconds, the robotics expert returned his attention to Karmi with a small cough and stammered, “So, u-uh, anything else you uh, want to talk about?”

The 17yr old once again looked off in thought again for a few seconds before half-jokingly telling him, “No, I think that’s it, but try me in a couple days and we’ll see just how exciting it’s been.”

This got the other to laugh a little and informed her, “I’ll do the same if things get even crazier here.”

“So, chat again on Sunday?” Karmi suggested.

“Sounds good to me. Hope everything goes well with your mom’s trip and that you have a fun time with your dad,” Hiro said as he gave a warm smile and a brief wave.

“Thanks, and good luck with classes,” Karmi told him as she grinned and mirrored his actions, followed by severing the connection.

The teen genius laid back in his chair and sighed contently, absentmindedly swiveling in his seat while his mind continued to wander. I sure hope Karmi succeeds in whatever she’s working on. It’s so amazing how much she’s done already and, in all honesty, I can’t blame her for getting interested in the local crime happenings. He then smirked and remarked to himself, I guess I’m one to talk given what I do in my spare time. Although…darn. Now she’s got me curious to learn more.

Hiro proceeded to sit back up and began typing on his computer to search the internet for the story his friend told him about. In a matter of seconds, various pages appeared to display the multiple robberies, including locations, values of their hauls and where they were apprehended. It was after he was halfway through one of the articles that a statement from the police was inserted, which mentioned they had received a tip as to the bad guys’ lair. Huh? the messy-haired teen wondered as a funny inkling began to nag at him. He read a little further where it was discussing the raid on the place and his eyebrows shot up in intrigue and surprise; here, the report described how they found the suspects inside unconscious with no trace of a third party being present. Based on the scenario they discovered, the cops had to admit that at this time, they could neither confirm nor deny whether outside help came to incapacitate the criminals or if it could have just been a gas leak; the bad guys themselves also claimed they didn’t know what happened to wind up like that.

“Well, isn’t this interesting?” Hiro quietly said to himself in disbelief as he recalled Karmi’s nervousness earlier, comparing it to his own when a particular topic came up. It could just be a coincidence, or she got part of the story wrong. If it is true though…her going out and doing what we do is a whole other level above what she’s previously done, the young superhero thought with a touch of denial before transitioning to admiration and respect. I’ll let her tell me then when she’s ready if my hunch is right. I guess that would mean we have something else in common too, he fondly remarked to himself. I’m sure she’ll do great, was the last thing Hiro thought before he let out a loud yawn, reminding him that he had to go to bed. Eh, I can figure it out later. I might be making a big deal out of nothing and correlation doesn’t equal causation, he reminded himself as he began to change into his pjs, doing his best not to dwell on something he had no control over.

At the same time in Carseñora

Once she hung up on Hiro, Karmi’s smile dipped as she let out a tired sigh. She continued to stare at the black screen of her monitor as she internally debated, I hope I made the right decision. I’ll tell him eventually…once I’m sure it’s safe to do so and it’s what I really want to do. A little bit of her smile returned as she fleetingly thought, At least I made a difference this time.

Karmi proceeded to pull open her desk drawer and remove a pile of papers to reveal her holo-gauntlet along with a few spare tranquilizer patches hiding underneath. The biotech genius then smirked while she stared at her creations and silently told herself, It was also a lot of fun if I’m being honest. She delicately placed the cover back over her things before she let out a big yawn and smacked her mouth a couple times. “Man, I’m tired. Guess I better get some sleep or else my cognitive abilities will be severely impaired,” she muttered to herself, making her give a small snort. 

With that said, Karmi began the process of getting ready for bed, unaware of what the next day would bring, but still willing to face it confidently nonetheless.

Chapter Text

“Argh! No! That won’t work either,” Yama growled as he worked from his office at the top of his tower. He was once again free from police custody and like any seasoned criminal, was working on his next big money maker. Currently, he was fuming about how his bot-fights (which were very profitable) kept being broken up by the cops and despite his best effort, couldn’t find a solution to salvage them.

“Hell! Until the fuzz let’s up, my normal operations will end up costing me men and money,” the crime boss growled, practically grinding his teeth in frustration. He looked through his papers on potential locations a third time in hopes that he missed one, but the results came up the same as all were either sold recently or high traffic areas.

“Useless!” Yama shouted, slamming a fist on his desk, miraculously not spilling his coffee when he did so. He then rubbed the bridge of his nose as he slumped back into his chair, making it creak in the process. It was a nightmare working for Obake, but now that he’s dead, the valuable high-tech tidbits he did share with me have dried up, he reflected internally with a scowl. Setting something new up will take time and money I can’t afford to spare, but what cho-

Whoosh

The sliding of his office door snapped him out of his thoughts, briefly returning the focus of his anger on whoever opened the panel instead. At the entrance stood two muscular men, one wearing a black button-up shirt, tan pants and a gold chain while the other wore a white tank top and dark green pants.

“What is so important that you had to interrupt me Ethan and Jay?” the large man snarled.

The two exchanged looks of nervousness for a short moment until Jay, the tank top one, answered, “We, uh spotted an intruder out back while on duty and thought to bring him here so you can decide what to do.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me all that over the phone instead of coming into my office?” Yama inquired in frustration.

The second one Ethan warily replied, “You uh, said not to disturb you unless it was important, so we figured bringing the trespasser up here would only be one disturbance not two.”

The mob boss gave an audible growl at not having a counter argument, so he relented. “Fine. Bring whatever idiot who was skulking around outside in here,” he barked to his men.

The duo retreated for a moment as they stepped back into the hallway to retrieve the intruder, who they left with their other coworker Val. Before they returned, Yama could hear a new, yet somewhat familiar voice complaining about common decency and being manhandled. Once his henchmen came back, Jay pushed a short man through the entrance, where he stumbled and fell down onto the carpet.

The tracksuit-wearing man replaced his scowl with an eyebrow quirk of confusion at the sight, clearly not expecting this to be what the intruder would look like. As the much smaller being stood back up, he proceeded to dust off his purple suit and straighten his pink wig as he grumbled something that sounded like “Neanderthal,” followed by gazing up at Yama.

There was a brief flash of nervousness across the face of this oddly dressed person, but was quickly replaced with one of confidence as he started to schmooze. “Well hey, if it isn’t that big time crime boss I’ve heard so much about. I must say Yama, love what you’ve done with the place; a very nice blend of modern with traditional, and you even have some gorgeous pieces. Is that sword from the Ming Dynasty?” the man known as Mr. Sparkles rapidly tried to charm the other, but resulting in even more bewilderment. 

Yama turned his head to look at his henchmen still by the door and incredulously asked, “Is this the trouble or a joke?”

Ethan and Jay shrugged in uncertainty before the first one slowly replied, “It’s the guy we found outside boss, and he didn’t give us a good answer as to why he was loitering around as well as wasn’t smart enough to get lost.”

The boots-wearing man scoffed, clearly offended and interrupted with, “Uh, excuse me. First off, while I may be able to tell jokes, I am not one and secondly, I am well educated or else I wouldn’t have been able to host a very popular game show, as if you guys didn’t already know.”

All three bad guys now stared blankly at the former host, not really sure what he was talking about and resulting in the short man growling with irritation. “I’m Mr. Sparkles of “Maximum Insane Obstacle Challenge!” Do you all live under a rock or something?” the pink-haired criminal snarkily informed them as he put his hands on his hips.

With that reminder from the narcissistic internet personality, it sparked some memory in Yama as he nodded slowly and remarked, “Wait, I think I know you.”

“It’s about time,” Mr. Sparkles snidely stated.

“Yeah, this guy was wanted by the cops a few months back. Ha! Now he’s wandered into my turf and I’m sure there’s still a reward for his capture,” the crime boss said out loud with a scheming grin, causing the short man to panic at this turn of events.

Mr. Sparkles gave a nervous laugh as he was being hungrily stared at by the larger man, followed by informing the other, “While yes, it is true that I am technically still wanted, I did not merely wander into your territory.” He then quickly put on a more confident façade while the trio of criminals quirked their eyebrows in confusion at this man’s claim.

The man with the pink toupee stood straight and convincingly stated, “You see Yama, I came here this evening in hopes of proposing a partnership. As you pointed out, I’m currently on the lamb and need to find ways to make a profitable living that will no doubt have to be illegal; and so, I thought why not go to one of the biggest crime bosses this city’s ever seen and get him to go along with my ideas?” He proceeded to flash his best charming smile and extended a hand as if this was already a done deal, but was soon met with a fit of laughter from Ethan, Jay and Yama at how ridiculous this sounded.

“Preposterous! Partnerships are supposed to be beneficial, not a loss, and Yama doubts you have anything of value to me,” the tracksuit clad felon scoffed while he gave a few more loud laughs.

Mr. Sparkles dropped his grin to scowl for a moment at being rebuked before transitioning to a sly expression and withdrawing his hand. He then aloofly turned his head, nonchalantly looking like he was checking his nails as if the large man wasn’t worth his time. The former gameshow host waited until they finally stopped laughing to speak up again with, “No, you’re right Yama. I don’t seem to possess anything of value or importance…unless you count my studio.”

“Huh?” Yama uttered as his attention snapped him out of his jovial state.

Mr. Sparkles didn’t respond right away until he simply turned his head back to the crime boss and snarkily replied, “Oh, you’re talking to me now? Well my dubious deviant, I was just going to say that the studio where I filmed my show has all manner of props and devices available for use.”

After processing the shorter man’s word, Yama gave an incredulous laugh and replied, “Ha! Nice try, but that was months ago. Surely everything’s been repossessed and sold.”

Mr. Sparkles now smirked as he informed the other with a wink, “You might think that, but the place was boobytrapped so well, the authorities have let it be, making it a great place to hide out in if you know where all the triggers are as well as how to disarm them.”

“Then why haven’t you sold your own stuff off if you’re so desperate for more cash? Why come to me?” the mob boss inquired, feeling irritated that this conversation hadn’t concluded yet.

With a gleeful smile, the purple-suited man happily said, “Because that’s no fun! Why not make money, be entertained and gain civilian admiration all at the same time?”

Yama growled in response and straight up told Mr. Sparkles, “Because being in the spotlight only increases the chances of being caught or recognized.”

“Fine, I can remain the face. I’d prefer that anyway, and it doesn’t even have to be something we broadcast if you’re that worried Boy-o, just as long as it’s a show,” the other criminal cheekily shot back.

“Don’t call me ‘Boy-o,’” Yama ordered angrily, still confused by his counterpart’s insistent need for attention. “You still haven’t told me what you can actually offer me,” he pointed out in annoyance.

Mr. Sparkles gave a small gasp as if he’d been insulted and offered up, “Aside from me giving you access to my custom-made equipment and props that I won’t even charge you for? Well, how about a scheme then to sweeten the deal so to speak.”

Hearing this actually gave the crime boss cause to pause as he had not forgotten the trouble he was having not even 15minutes ago. “Alright, what did you have in mind?” he gruffly asked as he crossed his arms.

The pink-haired man promptly wagged a finger and went, “Tsk, tsk, tsk. That’s not how this works,” before extending his hand again to shake. “I wouldn’t expect you to tell me your plans for free. So, what’ll it be Yama?” he cunningly inquired, knowing he had the other hooked now if he was curious about this plan.

The large man stared at the offered appendage for a few seconds, debating if he was really that desperate for the resources and willing to take the chance on this unconventional criminal’s idea. With a brief groan, Yama finally relented and grumbled, “Fine” and begrudgingly took Mr. Sparkles's hand, much to the shorter man’s delight.

“Wonderful! You won’t be sorry,” he assured Yama, who still held a look of disdain.

The tall man then snapped, “Enough! Now tell me what you have or you’ll be dragged back out of here with some painful reminders of why you don’t waste Yama’s time!”

The eccentric felon put his hands up placatingly and told the other, “Okay, okay. No need to get so hostile. Maybe you should try yoga or maybe some soothing tea; stress is definitely a major contributor in causing health issues.” Yama only growled more intensely, indicating Mr. Sparkles only had a few seconds to save his own skin. “Right. Now for the plan.” He then stood more confidently as he began to pace back and forth with purpose. “Okay, first question: What kind of people have lots of money? Rich people, that’s who; and what are they always after? Something new, something thrilling and something that’s exclusive to only someone with their wealth,” Mr. Sparkles excitedly pitched with a high level of crazed gleam appearing in his eyes.

“So, what I’m proposing Yama is a daring racing game where these rich elites pay us handsomely to violate city traffic laws. Those socialites already live by a different set of rules from the common folk, so they’re less wary about breaking the minor ones.”

Yama listened attentively, nodding a little as he pondered the idea. Huh? Getting snobby rich folks to actually pay us to do something illegal instead of merely stealing it from them. Interesting concept, but wait, the burly man thought as something occurred to him. “But will they really want to do this if it’s so risky? They’ll flaunt their money so shamelessly, but if they actually might get hurt or killed, they won’t bite,” the mobster pointed out with a huff.

Mr. Sparkles proceeded to flash a sly grin and countered with, “They will if they actually aren’t in any danger.”

The crime boss raised an eyebrow in confusion, so the other quickly elaborated. “For these suckers, it’ll be a real-life race, but they get to control the vehicle remotely; this way, they’ll feel like they won’t face any consequences, both legally or mortally.”

Yama nodded slowly again as he couldn’t argue with this approach as it would play to their benefit and prey off the tendencies at least some wealthy folk exhibit. “Alright, that’s not too bad, but I doubt we can keep this racket going for long; sooner or later, they’ll stop coming back or the cops might catch on,” he voiced his concerns with a judging look cast towards Mr. Sparkles.

The peppy short man didn’t miss a beat though as he continued his scheming sales pitch, quirking his brow and informing the other, “What if this is a two-prong plan? Once where we run a second operation that takes advantage of the chaos the race will cause?”

“Huh?” Yama uttered as he paused again, actually shocked that there was a follow up to the first part as well as it coming from one he dismissed as merely being weird and foolish.

“I said that this plan has two prongs, which will maximize profits and make it harder to be caught. You see, these cars will be noticed relatively quickly and with how fast they are, draw most of the police away with them; so, if we time it right, we can commit robberies, getting in and out before the fuzz ever have enough time to catch us, let alone stop us,” the eccentric Mr. Sparkles skillfully explained, unable to hide his ecstatic smile at the prospect of his plan coming to fruition.

The crime lord could only blink in stunned silence at how everything he was trying to figure out on his own had found its way to him, practically served up on a silver platter. He looked down at the small, eager man who was waiting on his word, and after letting out a resigning sigh, he finally said, “Alright. I like the sound of this.” Yama then swiftly leaned down as he put on his authoritative scowl once more, making Mr. Sparkles give a brief flinch at this sudden movement. “But know that this deal only exists as long as it’s profitable. Don’t mistake my approval of your plan as generosity.”

The pink-haired man seemed to get the message, but bolstered his confidently smooth persona as he replied, “No problem Big Guy, totally understandable. Why do you think I spent so much time working on this pitch? But between my ideas and your man power, I wouldn’t be surprised if this criminal empire receives a major boost in its collective gains.” He soon followed up with nudging Yama’s leg while giving a smirk, causing the large man to grunt in annoyance as he pushed the other away.

“Enough! You got your deal. Now, unless you have something else to offer, I suggest you deliver on your part of this scheme while I get my men to set up a suitable base,” the tracksuit-wearing criminal barked at him.

Mr. Sparkles put up his hand placatingly again and defensively said, “Okay, no need to be so harsh or impatient. I was just trying to show a little comradery. Yeesh. Anyway, I got you covered and I’ll reach out to you with the parts so we can get this thing rolling.”

“Good. Now go,” Yama ordered as he snapped his fingers, indicating for Ethan and Jay, who had been standing patiently (and a bit awkwardly) by the door to escort his new partner out.

The short-statured man gave a wink while he made finger-guns and simply said, “You got it,” while he was flanked by those that dragged him up there in the first place.

With the sound of the sliding panel whooshing shut, Yama allowed himself to sit back down in his large chair, letting out a tired sigh and pinching the bridge of his nose. This nutzo’s plan better work or so help me, he internally grumbled as the swirling feelings of frustration, hope and giddiness fought within him a few moments longer until he finally managed to focus up and start making this scheme a reality.

Chapter Text

“Hmm-hmmm, hmm hmm hmm,” Globby nonchalantly hummed to himself as he walked along the sidewalk. He currently was disguised as a man in his mid-20s wearing a pair of jeans, a black and white-striped shirt and had short, dirty-blonde hair. It had been almost three weeks since he along with his Big Hero 6 friends were labeled fugitives and frankly, he wanted to see them again since he had only visited them once in that time. 

The shapeshifter had been journeying for a while now, traversing along a graffitied brick wall to the other heroes’ secret headquarters, where it would be considered safe for them to meet up. It’s still crazy that the guys have their own hideout; I can only guess how excited Fred was that his presentation wasn’t for nothing, although I still don’t know why he showed it to me when I don’t think my vote would have counted, Globby wondered.

After another minute of walking along the desolate pavement, the mutant in disguise could spy the giant iron gates leading to the not so abandoned candy factory. “Sweet,” he exclaimed out loud before he gazed around the area to see if anyone was around; when he found himself alone, he went ahead and pushed the gate open, followed by stepping through and shutting it with a loud creak. Wincing from the sound it made, Globby then turned to hurry along the courtyard towards the decrepit building. He still remained in disguise in case he was wrong about any onlookers, but eventually he made it to the large doors and pushed them open enough to discretely slip in.

“Hello?” the gelatinous man called out once he shut the giant wooden panel. There was at first no answer as he stepped further in and saw the broken vats and conveyor belts. Huh? Would have thought they’d be furth-

“INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!” came the blaring voice of Base-Max as loud alarms began to ring.

“Ow! Wait. What?” the reformed criminal shouted as he reflexively covered his ears to block the warning sounds from up above.

About five seconds later, a panel on one of the vats opened up to reveal Hiro, Honey Lemon, Fred, and lastly Baymax rushing out to see what was wrong. Once Globby saw them, he raised a hand and shouted, “Hey guys,” causing three of them to reflect confused expressions. Huh? Oh yeah, the disguised hero remembered as he finally shed his current form to change into his normal pink and purple one.

His friends’ faces then changed to realization as Hiro proceeded to rush past the others as he typed something into a panel he failed to notice upon entering. A moment later, the teen prodigy pressed a few buttons, the alarm stopped and everyone but Baymax was left with a lingering ringing sensation.

“Sorry about that Globby. The security system’s currently set to facial recognition for determining friend or foe, but I’ll talk with Roddy about letting me switch it to biometric so this doesn’t happen again,” Hiro apologized as he scratched the back of his neck.

The gelatinous man made a dismissive gesture and told him, “It’s all good. Better safe than sorry when trying to keep a place secure.” He then put his hands on his hips and remarked, “That’s cool though you’ve got a new security system. Hopefully you haven’t had much trouble from outsiders.”

Hiro shrugged and replied, “Yeah, it’s been fairly quiet, which is a good thing after all.”

“Agreed,” Globby simply said as he then felt a tight embrace from Honey Lemon. Right on time, he happily thought as he returned the hug. “Glad to see you too.” They held this position for a few seconds and pulled away just as Baymax and Fred made it to where they were standing. “Hi Fred. Hi Baymax.”

“Hello.”

“What’s up Globby?”

The shapeshifter gave a casual shrug and answered, “Eh, keeping hidden, helping wherever I can, trying new disguises out, not much different from the last time. Say, is there a place to sit down or do I need to make some chairs because I want to ask you guys the same thing.”

All the human members of the superhero team exchanged knowing looks, followed by more mischievous grins as Fred slyly said, “Well, we may have something like that. Come with us.”

Globby’s hand was then taken by Honey Lemon as she led him with the others in tow over to the rusty vat they came out of. The chemist proceeded to press her hand on a light blue scanner, causing the metal section to open up and reveal a bright, futuristic interior.

“Wow,” the pink and purple man simply remarked, only to be met with another round of smirks at the show not being over yet. The five heroes all squished themselves inside the entrance, where they were met with a second set of sliding doors as the first ones closed behind them.

When the large aqua panel in front of them parted with a whoosh, Globby’s mouth stood agape at the grandness of everything as they stepped into the conference room. He gazed around the area as they journeyed in, seeing their classic suits suspended in tubes off to his left, a larger fancy table surrounded by floating chairs in front of him and a giant computer hanging on the wall to his right. They slowly walked along the tiled floor so the shapeshifter in the group could spin around and take it all in.

“Seriously guys, this is amazing! And you’ve gotten all this done since the last time I was here,” Globby gushed as he admired everything, even touching one of the chairs and making it rotate.

Hiro, Fred and Honey Lemon all nodded, followed by Fred excitedly telling him, “Yeah, I got us a professional lair builder to deck this place out. He’s a little abrasive, but darn it I’m so happy with how it turned out!”

The teenager and chemist exchanged a knowing look before Honey Lemon gestured towards the floating chairs and said, “You can take a seat Globby. It’s alright.”

“Oh yeah,” the gelatinous mutant simply stated with a short nervous laugh as he sat down along with the three of the other heroes while Baymax still stood next to Hiro.

Once seated, Globby then turned his chair to the right to face his yellow-clad friend and politely asked, “Okay, what’s going on with you Honey Lemon?”

The bright young woman leaned forward and with a smile answered, “Well, we were given our final project guidelines for school, so I started working on making a universal pollutant test kit and neutralizer that hopefully can be used in dirty, contaminated water.”

Globby stared in amazement at the other as he told her, “Wow, if I had even half your brains, I doubt I would have ever thought of become a thief.”

Honey Lemon smiled warmly at the compliment before kindly telling him, “Oh, you give yourself too little credit Globby. I think you’re very creative and a fast-thinker.”

The shapeshifter blushed a little at the remark, but still made another dismissive gesture with his hand as he offered a rebuttal of, “Yeah, but still nowhere near any of your guys’ level. How about you Hiro? I take it you’re working on something too. You always seem to be busy.”

The teen prodigy looked to Fred and Honey Lemon briefly before he said with a touch of eagerness, “Actually, I’ve been helping Roddy, the guy who’s been making our headquarters, with something special, so I don’t want to spoil the surprise on that.”

“Ooo! Mysterious and exciting,” the reformed criminal commented as he leaned forward now and wiggled his gelatinous brow in intrigue.

Hiro gave a small laugh as he scratched the back of his head and added, “But in regards to school, I’ve been working on my final project too with wearable robotic devices to help you do things while healing faster. I kind of got the idea from when my aunt twisted her ankle.”

Hearing about his aunt, Globby appeared a little more nervous and apprehensively asked, “How’s uh, how’s you aunt doing by the way?”

“She’s doing fine, although I think it’s still weird whenever Chief Cruz comes into the café and flirts with her,” Hiro replied and looking a little uncomfortable with it.

Globby could only blink as he stared blankly for a couple seconds before flatly telling him, “Yeah, I don’t envy you.” His smile returned though and said, “Still glad to know everything else is going well, and I’m sure those machines are going to be great; not that I’ll really use them on myself.” The superhero gave a wink on the last part, followed by twirling his malleable hand in a 360° direction to demonstrate, earning him a few chuckles.

He then looked over to Fred, who was practically wiggling in his seat as he restrained himself from interrupting the conversation. Globby proceeded to ask, “What’s up with you Fr-”

“Oh, I have been just coming up with all sorts of ideas to make this place even cooler! Anti-gravity rooms in case we ever need to fight in space and need to practice, a lazy river so we can relax in the water during downtime, a giant kitchen for cooking, and of course a doomsday vault in case of an apocalyptic scenario; just so many things have been popping into my head!” He then folded his arms as a scowl appeared on his face and pouted, “But none so far have gotten passed the oh-so-brilliant Roddy Blair. He obviously can’t see my genius in making the coolest headquarters even better.”

Globby remained silent as he tried to process those rapid-fire statements, eventually settling on saying, “Wow…that’s a lot of stuff Fred. You uh…doing okay?”

The comic book fan proceeded to lean back in his chair and grumbled, “I’m just going stir-crazy because we haven’t been able to do night patrol in like a month! It just stinks and I can’t convince anyone else here to do it even one time.”

Hiro and Honey Lemon gave Fred sympathetic looks before the chemist gently said, “Freddy, I know it’s been hard, but you really need to accept that we can’t right now. I’ll admit it was fun making that video with you, but there’s nothing more we can do until things change."

Baymax then decided to give his advice on the subject by suggesting, “Perhaps another extracurricular activity could alleviate your excessive energy such as sports, crafting or nature walking.”

Fred just let out a sad sigh as he sunk lower in his chair and replied, “Thanks Baymax, but the heart wants what it wants and I really want night patrol.”

Globby offered the reptilian superhero an encouraging smile and told him, “I’m sure you’ll be back out on the streets in no time buddy, and besides, I’m sorry to say this, but I think everyone’s right about not going out. I literally can’t show my face or body for that matter in public, so be thankful the threat of jail isn’t nearly as present for you.” The shapeshifter then slumped a little as he sighed, causing the others to now share worried expressions.

“Are you sure you’re doing okay?” Honey Lemon asked as she extended a hand to pat his malleable mitt.

Globby looked at her then the rest of his friends as they stared at him with concern, soon finding himself smiling in appreciation. “Yeah, I’m good. Understandably not as great as I’d like to be you know, but it’s certainly better than what it could be,” he finally answered as he patted the chemist’s hand to let her know he was alright. He proceeded to turn towards the healthcare companion and inquired, “So uh, anything new with you Baymax or has it just been more of making sure everyone stays safe and healthy?”

The inflatable bot tilted his head before he blinked and responded with, “I have been monitoring everyone’s physical and emotional needs as well as establishing a more in-depth communication system with Base-Max.”

“Base-Max?” Globby repeated with a quirked eyebrow.

Suddenly, the giant monitor in front of them came to life as two hexagonal eyes appeared before stating in a female voice, “Hello. I am Base-Max.”

Taken by surprise, Globby involuntarily yelped for a moment until he quickly realized there was no danger. He then let out a deep, anxious breath to finish calming himself, followed by facing Hiro and sassily telling him, “And just when were you going to tell me about her?”

The teenager gave a small nervous laugh and replied, “Yeah, sorry. She’s the AI that handles the base, scanning for people, monitoring criminal activity, and other sorts of things since we can’t go out on patrol and all that.”

“Hmph. Seems like a real handy-dandy thing to have,” the reformed mutant casually remarked. He proceeded to cheekily callout to the giant screen, “So Base-Max, do you think I can comeback next time and not automatically set off the intruder alarms?”

The other human heroes gave a small set of snickers as the advanced computer system informed him, “I will add your biometric data to the approved entry list.”

“Wow. Okay. That was fast,” Globby said in slight disbelief and told her, “Thank you Base-Max.”

“You are welcome Globby,” she simply stated as she blinked herself back to sleep mode.

The pink and purple man then gave a small whistle and commented, “Dang, this place is just incredible. I don’t think I could get used to having a giant on-demand Felicia though, seeing as I don’t even have a normal-sized one.”

Hiro shrugged, not really finding an issue with it himself, but Fred chimed in with, “Yep, this place is really coming together. Soon, we’ll be able to say our headquarters is legendary and maybe even get it featured in a magazine.”

“Uh, isn’t this supposed to be a secret base though?” Globby asked with a puzzled look.

“Yeah, the location is secret, but showcasing how awesome it is will only make the villains fear us more,” the comic book fan explained as he confidently sat up.

The other heroes could only respond with a “Whatever you say” headshake as admittedly they had nothing to counter with. Honey Lemon then sadly smiled and kindly offered to her friend, “Hey, you know you can stay here in the meantime if you want. We know you can’t go home and all, but you don’t have to be out there alone either.”

Globby was stunned by such a proposition and even looked to find Hiro and Fred mirroring the same expression. He then couldn’t help himself as he leaned over and wrapped the long-haired woman in a tight hug, which was quickly reciprocated. The shapeshifter held this position for a few seconds, but eventually let go as he exhaled a sad sigh. “Thanks for such a sweet offer, but I think for now though I have to say no. It’s nothing against you guys of course, it’s just that it wouldn’t necessarily feel right to take a place here, not when I’m likely to get in the way and make a mess while you’re still building it. I’d hate to potentially ruin something even on accident or have some of my tendencies grate you guys the wrong way,” he tried to explain in a bittersweet tone.

Globby briefly looked to his side and added with a small smile, “Plus, being in the city means I can be able to help at a moment’s notice if there’s trouble, but still thank you so much for being such great friends; if I change my mind though, I’ll be sure to let you know.”

His fellow heroes all nodded as they heard his reasoning and Honey Lemon told him, “Okay, but still keep in touch, okay? We want to know how you’re doing handling all this too.”

“I will,” he simply said back as he gave her another brief hug before relaxing in his chair again.

With the slight somber atmosphere hanging over them, Fred then piped up with, “Hey, before anyone even thinks of calling it a day here, how about we have us some brunch? Nothing like having breakfast and lunch at the same time.”

“Sure, I could eat.”

“Great idea Freddie.”

“I’m in.”

“I do not eat.”

“Sweet! I’ll call Heathcliff,” the beanie-clad hero announced as he went to pull out his phone to make the arrangements.

Globby now looked around once more as they all waited for their meals, letting out a long, contented sigh as another conversation started up. It’s nice to know I’m truly not alone in this. I’m so lucky.

Chapter Text

It was another mundane day in the San Fransokyo prison for Yokai, better known as Robert Callaghan, who sat in his jail cell reading classic literature; one of the very few amenities he was allowed to possess. The weight of immense guilt in his heart and mind never left him despite these many months of imprisonment, and admittedly, he refused to let himself feel much else. He knew this was the price he’d have to pay for taking the life of one of his most gifted students, Tadashi Hamada, which ate at his conscience almost infinitely more than the attempt he made to kill Alistair Krei.

Callaghan let out a long, tired sigh as he waited for lunch to be served, occasionally looking up from his book to check out the time or gaze at the picture of his daughter Abigail; this was another item he was fortunately allowed to keep with him.

He eventually closed his book and rubbed his fatigued eyes as he got up from his chair in favor of laying down on the bed and staring at the cell’s ceiling. Perhaps I can ask for a few new books, maybe even some that pertain to more scientific subjects, the former professor wondered.  I’m fairly certain I’ve already read “The Odyssey” three times now. The relative quiet of his prison chamber mixed with the low hum the lights gave off had the robotist start to doze off until a static crackle from the intercom made him snap back awake.

“Callaghan. You’ve got a visitor,” came the gruff voice of a security guard as he informed the other man before clicking back off.

“Huh?” the middle-age man said as he rapidly sat up, unsure if he had actually heard correctly. Do the police need me again? I thought Big Hero 6 was in the clear and anything else criminal-related I’m useless to them, Callaghan started to work out in his head. His eyes went wide as he thought, Could…could Hiro be back? It would be nice to hear how he’s fairing, but he only ever came here for information too. The imprisoned man lowered his head in shame and guilt at that possibility since it meant somehow, something else that was connected to his past was causing problems.

The former professor wasn’t able to dwell in his uncertainty much longer as a hissing sound came from the doors, followed by a whoosh as the metal panels slid open. He swiftly got out of bed and stood at the front of his isolation cell where he got sight of his visitor. Callaghan’s breath then instantly stilled in his throat as his eyes went wide once more in recognition. Slowly, the young adult walked into the room, each step filled with conflict between whether to just leave and the determination to see this task through. Her chocolate-brown hair was shorter than he remembered, yet she still kept it up in a ponytail. She wore a blue blouse under a black jacket and white pants, so although she was dressed differently from the last time he saw her, there was no mistaken this woman. Abigail.

He was frozen as a thousand things he had wanted to say were wiped clean from his mind, rendering him basically lifeless as he continued to stare. As she got closer, he could see her face held mixed feelings of anger, sadness and uncertainty, but she still soldiered on nonetheless. His daughter finally stopped 5ft from the containment unit, letting out a long-held breath as she closed her eyes for a moment and looked at her father.

“Dad,” she simply uttered, but in a tone that indicated disbelief and confusion at the scenario before her.

Callaghan blinked and shook his head out of his shock as he shakily stammered, “Ab-Abigail.” He then let out a small cough as he stated, “It’s uh, it’s been a long time,” to which the other continued to stare in silence. Wishing to fill the uncomfortable void, her father soon added, “I-I thought about calling you…”

The brown-haired pilot looked to the right as she grabbed her own arm and quietly replied, “Yeah…me too.”

The older man now avoided his daughter’s gaze, scratching the back of his neck as both sides procrastinated to actually say anything meaningful.

Abigail relented first though, sighing at how this state of things couldn’t continue and inquired, “So…how are you holding up?”

“It’s been…challenging, but I’ve been treated well all things considered,” the robotics expert answered, noting the glint of sadness in Abigail’s eyes, wondering how much of the truth she knew.

“May I ask…what all do you know about what I’ve done?” he apprehensively questioned with worry and guilt clearly written on his face.

She lowered and turned her head away from her father, but he could still see the beginning of tears form as she slowly replied, “They said you caused a lot of destruction and attempted to murder Krei for his part in me disappearing, and umm…” She cut herself off as she took in a deep breath while fiddling with her fingers before she continued. “They umm, said you actually did get someone killed, a Tadashi Hamada.”

The young woman then found the strength to look her dad in the eyes as she waited to see if he’d deny it; Abigail was instead shown a guilt-ridden Callaghan, who could only let his head sink as he hollowly told her, “It’s true I’m afraid.”

Shaking her own head for a moment as she closed her eyes in sorrow, Abigail stared back at him again as the floodgates opened on everything she’d been holding in before she came here. With a voice filled with heartbreak and anger, she asked, “Why dad? That’s what I’ve been wanting to know most. Why? This goes against everything you’ve taught me and what you’ve instilled in your students. You’ve done so much good for the world and there’s so much you could have done, but now it’s all been thrown away.”

The tears were streaming down her cheeks now as her father silently waited for the other to finish. She took another breath in as she informed him, “When I woke up in that hospital bed, I was so disoriented by the fact I was gone for so many months, I considered it almost a blessing that I couldn’t remember anything while I was in the void, but to hear all the things you did shook me so much worse.” The young woman then gave a short, incredulous laugh and said, “I actually wondered if I was somehow in an alternate dimension or maybe stuck in a coma,” to which her dad smiled sadly for a second at her sentence.

Abigail got serious again as she confessed, “It took me so long to find the strength to come here and to come to terms that you’re a criminal now. I also had to work through not blaming myself for what happened because believe it or not, I held some of that guilt for months, but my therapist helped me shed that weight over time since he was right, it’s not my fault you made your choices while I was gone.”

Her father’s expression changed to one of concern as he obviously hadn’t heard of this, and even attempted to interject only to be cut off by his daughter sighing loudly as she put a hand to her head. “And yet…through all the anger, guilt and disappointment I’ve had to deal with because of you…I still missed you so much.” Hearing that, Callaghan somehow managed to look visibly surprised, relieved, loving towards his child, and being undeserving of her love in the span of a few seconds.

“It’s just…so complicated dad. I love you, but I’m also horrified and disappointed, and all I wish is that I could have had you there to give me a hug when I woke up. But I didn’t come here to fight dad, I just need to tell you what I’ve been feeling, but I feel bad that I know I’m guilt tripping with all this and not necessarily resolving anything. I don’t know,” Abigail openly told him as her voice started to crack, somehow keeping herself from sobbing completely.

Her dad could sadly only watch as he tried to think of what he could possibly do, absolutely heartbroken as the sight she was in and wanting nothing more than to embrace her and take away her pain. The former professor let out a long sigh as his vision began to become blurry from tears, followed by placing a hand on the protective glass and getting his daughter to look at him again. “I’m so sorry Abigail. I’m so sorry,” he started as he stared at the young woman. He let out another sigh before he continued to lament with, “When I lost you, I felt I lost my whole world. My wonderful, smart, brave daughter was gone and in the worst way I could possibly imagine.” He then lowered his gaze to tell her, “So, in the aftermath of believing you were dead, I was left to wallow in my grief and even with my teaching to keep me going, I always carried that hole in my heart, and it couldn’t be filled by all the bright, young students I helped. So, when I saw an opportunity to get my revenge on Krei and make him suffer as I did…it was just too much for me to resist.”

Callaghan took in another breath as the tears threatened to fall, followed by promptly continuing what he needed to say. “So yes, I stole, attacked, terrified countless people, destroyed many things, and attempted to kill Krei and others; perhaps the worse of it all though is that at the time I meant every single one of those actions.” The former professor now let his cheeks become wet with his guilt and lamented further with, “I know I can’t make up for all the horrible things I’ve done, least of all to Tadashi and his family, who I’m most ashamed to have hurt. I have no excuses for the pain I’ve caused and I will spend the rest of my life regretting everything that landed me here; but seeing you again and knowing that you’re alive, I can’t help but feel that not everything that’s come from my intentions has ended badly.”

The older man let out a deep sigh as he let his hand rest at his side and added, “I don’t blame you if you never want to see me again and I understand I’ve let you down in the worst way possible. I’ve missed you terribly Abigail, but rest assured, I won’t beg for you to give me anything, whether it’s time or forgiveness.”

His daughter remained silent as she processed all her father’s words, still crying after all this time. Abigail now gulped as she found herself unable to keep her gaze on the man who raised her as she internally waffled.

Sensing uncertainty in his child, Robert furrowed his brow in concern and gently added, “You don’t have to decide today pumpkin, and don’t feel guilty about the choice if it’s for your own wellbeing.” He then smiled warmly while sadness was evident in his eyes as he inquired, “Is there anything else you wanted to talk about in case we don’t see each other again? I don’t know really all that’s happened to you, but I do hope you’ve managed to find a place where your talents are appreciated.”

Abigail gave a sniffle and admittedly felt a small tug of nostalgia at her father calling her “Pumpkin,” calling back to all the times she’d scrap her knee or get a cut, he’d be there to patch her up and say, “All better now pumpkin.” She unexpectantly cried out a few more tears at those sweet memories, leading her to wipe them away before she managed to calm herself a little. “Well, since you brought it up, after I was discharged medically and psychologically, I actually got a job as a pilot again; I’m contracted through the government though rather than a purely private institution. I’ve even been getting to assist the engineering team.”

The former teacher nodded in acknowledgement, both scared like any parent would be and proud that his daughter wasn’t hindered too badly by her previous experience. “Are you enjoying flying again?” he politely asked.

The brown-haired woman wiped her cheek again and firmly replied, “Yeah, I think I am. It did take some work to overcome that initial fear of a repeat incident, but I eventually got through to myself that I love flying, I love the speed and I know I’m capable.”

“I know you are too,” Robert couldn’t help but add with a small smile, which wrenched at Abigail’s heart some more.

His daughter then gave a little cough and volunteered some more information. “So, yeah, with my job I live out in Houstiero. It’s a little far away I know, but the group I work with has a lot of nice people; they’ve even invited me out a few times to play laser tag or come over to watch a game.”

The imprisoned man let out a short chuckle and quipped, “I thought you’d always be a hardcore Ninjas fan.”

Abigail smirked at his comment and told him, “Their team haven’t won me over yet, but it’s nice to have company and share a laugh with someone.”

Robert raised his eyebrows in interest as he hesitantly inquired, “They sound like good people…so, anyone there tried to ask you out yet?"

The young pilot was thrown through the loop on that question as she blushed slightly and was grateful she wasn’t a teenager being asked this. “Well…no, not yet, and I’m not sure I’m ready for them if they do, so for now I’m fine with platonic,” she honestly answered, still surprised the conversation got steered this direction.

Her father quickly avoided her gaze upon seeing her reaction and apologized with, “Oh, I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable. I didn’t need to ask that.”

“It’s okay dad. It’s just one of those topics that’s hard to not make awkward at any age,” Abigail genuinely consoled him, admittedly glad that at least one thing stayed the same between them. She let out a long sigh, causing her father’s attention to return to her. The brown-haired woman shoulder’s slumped as she briefly avoided looking at Robert, trying to come up with the right words as her internal conflict still raged. Tried as she might, she still hadn’t made her decision to visit him again because both sides had emotional and logical arguments to them, meaning she’d need even more time to sort through everything (which she had expected, but wished it wasn’t the case); at least her dad had said he understood if she chose to stay away though, making there be a touch less weight on her conscience.

Abigail proceeded to take in a deep breath as she clenched her fist in determination and stared back into the sad, tired face of her father. “Dad, it took a lot of effort to come here today and confront you, but you’re right, I don’t have to make my choice right now and I don’t think I even can.” Robert perked up ever so slightly at those words of maybes, feeling a small spark of hope for the first time in practically forever.

“The point is though, I need a little while longer to think about it; when I do dad, I’ll be sure to let you know. It was at least good to get this one done, even if it was going to obviously be emotional. I’m sorry if this was a lot for you too,” she told the other as tears stung her eyes again.

The imprisoned man smiled sadly and shook his head, “Don’t apologize Abigail. I have to face what I’ve done every day, so if it helps you in your own recovery, I’m more than happy to go through this. Getting to see you certainly beats isolation.” He then mustered up as sincere of a look as he could and wholeheartedly added, “In case I don’t get to see you again, just know I love you Abigail and I’ll accept whatever decision you make. Just please be safe out there.”

The young woman nodded slowly and quietly replied, “Okay dad. I will.” After a few seconds of delay, she then turned to leave, only making it a couple feet away before she stopped in feeling regret at leaving something unsaid. She drew in a concentrated breath, unsure if it was really appropriate or true to say given her conflicted feelings but finally uttered, “I love you too,” followed by heading to the exit. As the door open and closed, the pilot stole one last look inside, seeing her father offer a small smile to wish her luck.

When Abigail was truly gone, Robert’s expression fell once more as he returned to his solitude and his meager possessions. He went back to his position on the bed and laid down, knowing there was no way he could rest now but still feeling drained from everything that happened. The imprisoned man could now only let out a deep breath as he was left with his thoughts. I’m so sorry Abigail. I’m so sorry. Please be okay.

Chapter Text

“Ugh, another Friday night alone without an ounce of excitement. How did things get this was Sue?” an elderly woman grumbled to herself as she poured some hot water into her mug for making tea.

Sue Brooks, as was her legal name, was alone in her modest apartment in late January and currently bored in her old age. She had neighbors who used to invite her over for gin rummy, but eventually stopped going because it made her feel like she really was her age; plus, she could get very competitive and that grated them the wrong way. Good riddance to them, Sue bitterly thought as she shuffled into her living room, wearing a plush red robe over her white silk nightgown and black slippers, ready to watch some evening game shows before the Sumahamita news. Her walls were adorned with family photos of her son Hue, his wife Maria and her grandson Stu at various stages of their lives. She also had a carved wooden table, a red floral-patterned sofa chair, a plush white rug, and even a rocking chair for when she felt like knitting something. The main thing that meant real sentimental value to her though were the newspaper clippings, framed and all about a supervillain named Supersonic Sue, her old villain identity.

The former criminal stared at the old printed records of her daring acts, from robbing banks in under a minute to her action-packed face-offs with Boss Awesome. She let out a sad sigh and gave a shake of her head at times long passed. Sue’s gaze then fell on a more recent picture of her family, who rarely visited her except for her grandson, mainly because her son refused to follow in her footsteps; she still loved him, but clearly felt he was a disappointment and was wasting his time becoming a mechanical engineer instead of a thief. At least Stu has enough sense to know what it means to respect his elders, even if he’s only a low watt bulb, she remarked with a small scoff before taking a sip of her tea and moving into her chair.

After fishing the TV remote out of the cushion, she sat down and turned the device on. When the screen lit up, the first thing playing was “Beat the Odds,” where contestants had a 50/50 chance of a 30second shopping spree in the store they set up or be dropped into a vat of whatever they felt like; it could be whipped cream, mud, gelatin, wet sponges, or just about anything that was likely to make an inconvenient mess. Sue watched with mild interest as she continued to sip her drink, occasionally making snide remarks or bursting into fits of laughter when someone landed in the yucky pit.

“Ha! That’s what you get for not wearing a swimsuit you idiot,” the retired skater yelled out to the TV with a cackle. Oh, seeing these kinds of acts reminds me of the time Boss Awesome thought he could stop me in my tracks with a slick trap, Sue thought in sweet reverie before returning to her program. Eventually, that game ended to have a quiz show called “IQ Smashers” play on after it, giving the grey-haired woman the chance to mock the players once again since she fancied herself as fairly sharp.

“Alright, let’s see which one of these smart-alecks has that best stupid answer,” Sue gleefully said out loud as she sat up in her chair. She did know the answers to some of the questions, smirking and yelling the occasional “I knew it;” if there was a question she got wrong however, her demeanor switched to a dismissive one or she'd say something along the lines of “What a load.” Near the end of the program’s run time, she admittedly started to drift in her thoughts again as she gazed around the room, feeling a sense of déjà vu and monotony she just couldn’t seem to escape. Hopefully Stu remembers to call tomorrow. I swear it’s a coin flip with that kid on whether he does as he’s told or not. Maybe I can bribe him into visiting me if he does call and tell him I’ll make cookies for him. It’d at least be something different, she plotted as the contestants got to the final question, which had to deal with who was the president of Argenya.

“What the heck?” the elderly woman scoffed, clearly unable to answer it. She decided then that since she had a couple minutes before the news came on, she would take care of her now empty cup and fill it with water to help take her nightly medicine. Sue got up and walked back into the kitchen, tossed her tea bag out and rinsed the ceramic vessel, followed by pouring in some fresh water and reaching for her pill case.

“Bunch of nonsense, giving me all these different pills. Just put it all in one and spare people the hassle,” she complained as she took out her Friday dosage. The ornery senior quickly swallowed her medication with a grimace and headed back to the living room for the news update. Once she sat back down, the TV flashed the title card, “Channel 9 News at 10pm.”

“’Bout time,” Sue said out loud to no one as the program began zooming in on a man in his mid 30s with brown hair, wearing a new blue suit.

“Good evening, everyone. I’m Dave Chancellor and these are tonight’s top stories. Earlier today, a water main burst off of Freemont Blvd, resulting in traffic delays and some minor flooding to some residential homes.” Some footage of a flooded street was then shown as indeed cars tried to drive through the dangerous area and even had some shots of people standing outside their homes in distress.

“Well, sucks to be them,” Sue coldly remarked. The screen then changed back to the newscaster as he read the next report. “The Sumahumita police are still looking for answers tonight after a convenience store was robbed today. Security footage shows the perpetrators holding the store clerk at gun point until all the cash was handed over. The cameras for the parking lot were unfortunately disabled prior to the incident, so all that is known about the suspect’s vehicle is that it was a red Kaiju truck. If you have any information, please contact the local authorities,” Dave calmly spoke to the viewers.

The former criminal gave a loud “Ha!” and a snort at such nonsense and snarkily said, “Yeah right. I ain’t no snitch. Why don’t the police just do their own dang jobs better if they want to catch them so badly.” Sue then took a quick sip from her cup before the main story graphic appeared, which showcased a picture of the superhero team, Big Hero 6. Quirking an eyebrow, her attention intensified as the footage began showing a various assortment of sleek black vehicles with blue, pink, orange, or green accents.

“And finally, coming out of San Fransokyo, a string of high-speed car chases and robberies appears to have finally been foiled thanks to Big Hero 6. Authorities report the crime boss Yama in conjunction with former gameshow host Mr. Sparkles were the orchestrators of these events. Yama was apprehended while Mr. Sparkles has yet to be arrested. He was last-”

By this point, Sue had long stopped paying attention to what the newscaster said; all she was focused on was footage of the superheroes, or rather on just one: the yellow speedster. She skated with such agility, grace and determination as she maneuvered around the cars that Sue couldn’t look away, and that wasn’t even mentioning how well she handled that fancy bike of hers. Seeing Go Go show herself as an unwavering speed demon on two wheels triggered something in the older woman, like she was looking at her former self.

Hot mama. That young one’s got that fire in her just like I had. No barriers, no rules, just the sweet rush of acceleration and pure freedom, Sue remarked in admiration. She then gazed around her living room, seeing all the domestic, quiet and relatively boring setting she had been living in; she even looked down at her nighttime outfit, finding herself filled with disgust at what she was now but never finding the motivation before to break her cycle. The grey-haired woman then shook her head as she gave a crazed laugh that only grew in volume until she needed to breathe.

“What the heck have I been doing this whole time? I may be old, but I ain’t dead yet. I’ve let these years of retirement trick me into thinking I still can’t do what I love; besides, these hero newbies haven’t faced the likes of someone like me before. They really could use a lesson then for their own good,” Sue told herself with a smirk, defying her own acceptance of the mediocre lifestyle. She then stood up, completely ignoring the TV as she ran a hand over her head as a growing excitement began to take her.

The pj-clad lady proceeded to march with purpose towards her apartment’s sitting room (or rather trophy room), which had several pairs of bronze skates from her roller derby days on shelves along each wall. There were also a few trophies that she won by cheating, although a couple were legitimately earned, as well as framed photos of her younger self wearing her outfit in various poses and more newspaper clippings.

Sue headed to one of the roller blades on the opposite wall from where she entered and pulled on the laces, causing a clicking sound to be heard. A moment later, the wall in front of her split into two panels and pulled apart, revealing her old supervillain gear including her red helmet, rocket skates, black, blue and red attire, and her powerful electric elbow pads.

“Thank you, Roddy Blair,” she slyly quipped out loud, glad that she had gotten him to build this secret compartment for her years ago. The former derby gal reached in and grabbed her hanging suit, inspecting it for any wear or tear as it had been a while since she last looked at it and even putting it against her body to check the size.

“Eh, I bet it still fits. Good thing I still believe in exercising regularly. No way am I going to be restricted to a wheelchair,” she said to no one. She then gave a small snort as she added, “Now a cane or a walker, that’d certainly be practical to keep for offensive capabilities.” She placed the outfit back up as she grabbed her blades, seeing if the thrusters and wheels were still in working order.

“Not bad, but I’ll need to see about fuel and giving these a fresh oil job,” she remarked, followed by bearing a devious, satisfied smile. “Oh, how I’ve missed theses. Don’t worry babies. Mama’s gonna let you out for some fun real soon.”

The last thing Sue felt needed a once over was her elbow pads, courtesy of fellow villain Dark Volt, who had passed away a few years ago in prison. She let out a sad sigh as she remembered that fact, but still was grateful he was able to make these for her before retiring. “I really should have come to see him once I knew he got jailed for that kidnapping and armed robbery stunt; heck, I should have broken him out. At least my rocket schematics were useful in giving his own suit a boost while he was free.”

Upon hearing herself utter this, the snarky skater suddenly got an idea. Still holding her electrified gear, Sue turned it in her hands a couple times, giving a thoughtful hum as she did so. “You know, maybe my return to villainy could include some much-deserved revenge, especially since there’s no guarantee I’ll get a chance like this again, but for the novelty of it, maybe this time I won’t be going at it alone,” she schemed with a malicious grin.

She proceeded to put her equipment back in its hiding spot and pulled the shoe lace again, causing the panels to slide back together seamlessly. Well, I’m not going to be able to get much more done tonight, but tomorrow…oh boy, have I got a lot of prepping to do, Sue plotted with glee as she made her way back to the living room to turn everything off before going to bed.

Rest assured, I’ll show these goody two-shoe newbies what a real speed demon looks like. Wow does it feel good just to think about the next score again, she thought with a smirk. Oh, I can only imagine the rush I’ll get when I actually get back out there.

Chapter Text

“Ooo, I’m so excited Carl! I think they’re gonna love what we brought,” Globby remarked with a big smile.

Felony Carl, who was walking next to his boyfriend, nodded and replied, “I am inclined to agree. Most people do enjoy when guests bring a delectable treat when they visit.”

The couple were currently making their way up the steps to Honey Lemon and Go Go’s apartment as they were invited over for dinner for the first time. In Felony Carl’s hands, he was carrying a blue container filled with sea salt caramel and chocolate chip cookies that they made the day before; admittedly, Globby mainly just did as he was told when baking since the motorcyclist was the better baker of the two, but he was happy to contribute nonetheless. After only a short trek up to the third floor, they believed they found the right door, prompting Globby to knock three times.

“Coming,” rang a sweet, female voice as the sound of footsteps could be heard coming towards them.

“Yep, that’s Honey Lemon,” the shapeshifter chirped in confirmation just as said woman opened the door.

The chemist greeted them with a bright smile, wearing a pink and yellow-striped blouse, a pink floral-patterned skirt and her yellow high heels. “Hey! We’re so glad you two could make it! You’re just in time. Dinner’s almost ready,” she sweetly said before she turned and gestured them inside. The couple quickly shuffled in, followed by Honey Lemon shutting the door and giving both men a hug.

After the young woman let them go, Globby kindly told her, “It’s great to see you too, and guess what? We brought dessert!”

Felony Carl took this as his cue and held up the container of cookies and added, “These should be able to provide a delicious flavor experience.”

“Aww, you guys are so sweet! Now, I hope you don’t mind lasagna for dinner,” Honey Lemon cheerfully responded as she headed into the kitchen to finish up.

“Sounds good to me,” Globby replied.

“I am always satisfied with savory pasta goodness, but had I known, I would have possibly prepared tiramisu to go with it,” Felony Carl chimed in.

Facing his boyfriend, the gelatinous mutant looked at him in surprise and asked, “Wait, you know how to make that?”

“No, but I am a fast learner,” Felony Carl slyly answered with a wink. Globby gave a soft chuckle and gently nudged the motorcyclist before the two of them went further into the apartment.

Inside the modest space, the reformed criminals looked around, noting the two-bed setup, not dissimilar to their own, as well as a nice kitchen, various art projects laid out and some boxing gear in the corner. They both then deeply inhaled the fragrant scent given off from the lasagna cooking in the oven along the wall, which was almost complete at this point. There was also a table set for four people just off center of the room with a giant bowl of Caesar salad, a basket of garlic bread, and a pitcher of water placed on top.

Seeing this, Globby proceeded to inquire, “Hey, where’s Go Go?”

Honey Lemon moved away from the oven, and with a gesture towards the bathroom responded, “She’s just freshening up. She wanted to get a quick workout in after she helped me prep.”

As if on cue, the speedster of BH6 came out with slightly damp hair, wearing black capris, a yellow short-sleeved top and a pair of grey socks. Go Go then gave a small stretch before seeing the two guys in front of her and simply said, “Hey.”

“Hey Go Go.”

“Hello.”

Both of the former criminals gave their brief waves, followed by watching Go Go walk over to the pitcher and pouring herself a glass of water. “You guys want some?”

“Sure,” Globby and Felony Carl said in unison, making the couple smile at their synchronization. A moment later, they both got their drinks and took a quick sip before placing them next to their plates on the table.

Globby was about to tell his friend about dessert when a buzzing timer came from the stovetop and they all faced the same direction to find Honey Lemon turning the oven off. She then slipped on some rainbow-colored oven mitts, pulled the door down and grabbed the heavy baking dish resting on a cookie sheet out.

“Need any help?” the shapeshifter asked as he already took a step forward, only to be told by the chemist, “It’s all good. Just really hot.” She set the food on the stove, followed by turning off the oven and closing its door.

“Phew. If it gets too hot in here, please let us know. Don’t want anyone to be uncomfortable or go melting on us,” she informed their guests with a small nervous laugh.

Go Go then leaned over to Globby and quietly whispered, “Don’t come to one of her sticker parties unless you want to stay here when it’s over 85°F.”

The pink and purple man raised an eyebrow in confusion before he heard Honey Lemon coming over to set the hot lasagna on some potholders in the center of the table. She promptly removed her oven mitts and cheerfully told everyone, “There we go. Now let’s dig in!”

“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Globby remarked as he pulled Felony Carl’s chair out and pushed it back in for him.

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

The mutant hero then sat down as he waited for the salad bowl, which was currently in Go Go’s hands. “This all looks and smells amazing, and thanks again for having us over,” Globby graciously said to their hosts.

With a dismissive gesture, Honey Lemon replied, “Anytime you two. It’s just a shame it took so long to have this little get together.”

“Yeah, being branded fugitives and the life of being a superhero in general can throw a wrench into your plans,” Go Go flatly commented, making things a touch awkward for a moment.

Fortunately, Felony Carl chimed in and inquired, “So, I could not help but notice the motorcycle outside and the helmet in the corner. Is that by chance your ride?”

As the purple and black-haired woman reached for some bread, she nodded and said, “It’s a special design of mine. I started with the standard frame of a Yamamoto bike, then replaced it with lightweight parts and added a more efficient fuel compression system; from there, it was all about the aerodynamic façade.”

“Well, it is certainly a gorgeous bike,” Felony Carl complimented as he scooped out some lasagna.

Honey Lemon and Globby, who were sitting next to each other, shared a quick look and smiled at their loves' comradery. By the time the two motorcyclists finished their conversation about their vehicles, everyone had managed to get some of everything served. They all proceeded to take a few bites before talking again, momentarily filling the apartment with silverware clicking and chewing sounds.

The shapeshifter among them spoke up first as he sincerely told his chemist friend, “This is just amazing Honey Lemon! I mean, it’s so cheesy, warm, savory, and I can’t help but go “Mmm” when I taste it.”

Felony Carl then chimed in with, “I would certainly love the recipe if you do not mind. It is indeed delicious.”

Go Go’s compliment came last as she simply said, “Great job Honey Lemon. It’s really good.”

The young scientist blushed from the other three’s words and bashfully replied, “Aww, you guys are so sweet and sure Felony Carl, I can get you the recipe later. I found it online, but tweaked it a little by adding more oregano, a touch of chili flakes and doing parmesan and mozzarella for the top layer.” She then made an “Oh” face in realization as she reached over to the speedster on her right and said, “But I can’t take all the credit. Go Go here helped getting the hamburger cooked, made the garlic bread and got the salad all chopped.”

The engineer merely shrugged and flatly stated, “It’s no big deal.”

Globby shook his head and told her, “No no. Don’t sell yourself short. You deserve some praise too. Thanks for helping make such a yummy meal.”

Felony Carl nodded and added, “I thank you as well.”

Go Go acknowledged them with a nod of her own before taking another bite of salad, followed by bearing a small smile of appreciation that she tried to hide from her friends.

Honey Lemon then decided to start a new conversation and asked, “So, what did you guys do today?”

The shapeshifter gestured to his boyfriend to speak first out of politeness, prompting the bandana-clad man to answer with, “It was not particularly eventful as I do not have to work until 9pm tonight, but I did have to make a stop at the Watanabe Market for groceries.”

“Ooo, where are you working tonight?” the young hero eagerly inquired before taking a sip of water.

“I have a gig at the club on Freemont called “Vibes.” I am pretty active on the bouncer scenes,” Felony Carl casually replied, going for another piece of bread.

Globby then cheerfully chimed in by saying, “Yeah, and now I can sometimes stop by in disguise to say hi without causing any trouble. I’ll make sure he’s doing okay, get him a coffee or whatever you know, just to check in and get a little more time in with guy since we can be on such different schedules.” He gave Felony Carl a warm smile as he patted his leg, earning him an equally affectionate one in return.

Honey Lemon couldn’t help but let out an aww while Go Go rolled her eyes, but still flashed another small smile as she looked at her girlfriend. The chemist shortly afterwards turned to her mutant friend and asked, “So, what happened with you today Globby?”

The aforementioned superhero faced the other and sheepishly grinned before answering with, “Oh right. Well, as for me, I just did my usual patrol around the city, looking for anyone needing help. I did find a car crash and was able to assist in getting it off the street to ease up traffic, but a slow day is a good thing.” He then made an “Oh” face of his own as he remembered something else. “Almost forgot. Since it was a slow day, I took a break out over the bay to get in a little flying practice; you never know when I may need to rush off somewhere in a hurry or have to make a daring dive to catch something. I know I’ll never be as fast as Go Go over here, but hey, I can try,” he added with a short lighthearted chuckle at the end as he complimented his friend.

The speedster smirked as the acknowledgement before taking another sip of water and telling her friend, “I’m not opposed to sharing a few tricks if you ever need help with those sharp turns of yours.”

“Oh, that’d be cool to try and you’re the expert, so I’m up for it,” Globby replied with a wide grin.

Honey Lemon proceeded to clasp her hands together and let out an excited squeal. “A group training day with Globby! That sounds like so much fun,” she happily exclaimed.

“I didn’t say group…but sure, if the rest want to come watch, it’ll be fine as long as everyone stays focus and doesn’t interrupt me,” Go Go said firmly, clearly thinking about who might be problematic. A small round of chuckles went through the group as the implication that there most likely would be several interruptions now because the engineer probably just jinxed herself.

The four of them proceeded to halt their conversation for another couple minutes in favor of eating some more of their cheesy, garlicky meal. Eventually, Globby politely inquired, “Well, we told you about our day. What happened with you two?”

Honey Lemon eyed Go Go and after seeing she was in the middle of chewing, spoke up with, “I was mostly getting things prepped for dinner tonight, but I managed to get a little online shopping in. There was this new pack of cute animal stickers I just had to get.” The bright smile she soon wore gave way to her adding, “I also got started on a new painting. I was going for another still-life, but used a mix of books, fruit and candles for a blended effect/challenge instead of just flowers. I should be able to finish it tomorrow.” The chemist then gestured to a small, wooden table behind her, where there was in fact the setup as she described it.

“Wow. I’m betting it’ll be really pretty when it’s done. You’ll have to show me a picture,” the shapeshifter kindly complimented.

“Or you could just come back over here and see for yourself,” the female motorcyclist across from him slyly chimed in.

“Fair point,” Globby conceded with a smile, followed by taking another bite of lasagna.

Go Go wiped her mouth with a napkin before she finally answered her gelatinous friend’s question. “You already know from Honey Lemon that I got a quick boxing session in prior to dinner, but the rest of the day was spent at the base working on my hyper-bike.” She shrugged nonchalantly and then remarked, “Just feels good to get work done. I’m honestly surprised it was such a slow day with how things have been so crazy lately.”

Everyone else nodded their heads in agreement as Felony Carl said, “There has been a statistically high number of criminal events lately. Maybe it is the vacuum effect created from the removal of all current major supervillains.”

“That’s one way to look at it,” Go Go commented, causing her girlfriend to chuckle softly.

“I guess it’s better to have a bunch of tiny fires instead of a raging inferno in this case, even if it means more frequent fights,” Globby chimed in before drinking some water.

“Yeah, makes sense, but the upside of there being more than six of us means they can get put out more quickly,” Honey Lemon added, quickly casting a genuine smile to Globby and making him blush slightly.

Go Go smirked and wittedly replied, “Don’t give Fred any ideas though or he may have us change the whole hexagon theme we have going on.”

They all shared a short laugh at the remark and continued with their meal, with the four of them rotating between talking about hobbies, how things were going overall and anything fun they had recently partaken in. Eventually, the conversation wound down as the food cooled off and everyone had enough to eat.

“Well, that was certainly a yummy dinner. Thanks for making it and having us over,” Globby kindly told the two again.

Now it was Honey Lemon’s turn to blush as she made a dismissive gesture and responded, “Oh please, it was a pleasure to have you over. Right, Go Go?”

The aforementioned woman was pushing back her chair at the moment, but still managed to tell their guests, “Yeah, this was fun.” As she pushed her chair back in, this seemed to signal to the other three that it was time to start cleaning up and they all followed suit. Each carried their own dishes to the sink, but Globby proceeded to offer to wash the dishes and joked he was quite experienced having to clean up messes.

As the gelatinous mutant did that, Felony Carl told their host that he could help put leftovers away, prompting the chemist to get the aluminum foil out to cover the lasagna dish; meanwhile, the remaining two heroes got to cleaning the table and taking care of the rest of the food.

Globby was still working on the dishes by the time everyone else was done, but insisted Honey Lemon and Go Go try Felony Carl’s cookies in the meantime.

“Thanks,” the couple said in unison as they each pulled a cookie out from the container. The taller of the two women then reached for some napkins to hand to her roommate and Felony Carl for when they were done.

“Anyone want some milk to go with these? I’m getting a glass,” Honey Lemon informed the others as she set her dessert on the table to fetch some cups.

“Sure,” came three separate times as she proceeded to get four short tumblers out, followed by grabbing the milk out and pouring some into each. By the time she was done and putting the jug away, her shapeshifting friend had gotten everything washed, rinsed and set in the strainer. “Here you go,” she offered to him, which he accepted with a short “Thanks.”

Globby then headed over to his boyfriend, who held the container out for him to take a treat. They both smiled at each other as Honey Lemon walked towards the other three with all their glasses and passed them out.

“I guess cheers,” the gelatinous mutant said with a bright smile before he was joined by a trio of “Cheers” shortly afterwards. All of them bit into their cookies with a satisfying crispy crunch as the buttery caramel and chocolate flavors filled their mouths.

“Mmm, these are fantastic! Was this a recipe or did you create this yourself, Felony Carl?” the chemist asked, followed by taking a sip of milk.

The unibrowed man flashed a warm grin of appreciation and told her, “I have made my fair share of confectionary goodness, so this is a result of years of experience and tinkering.”

Go Go took another bite and complimented him too with, “I think you nailed it on every level.”

Felony Carl appeared flattered as he informed them, “Thanks, but Globs here helped too, so this was not a solo act.”

Globby already had finished his cookie and went to put an arm around his boyfriend. “Yeah, I helped, but Carl here’s the real mastermind; I was just listening to what he said. I keep telling him to one day open a bakery or something. It doesn’t have to be big and I’ll be there as his rock if he needs support,” the pink and purple man sincerely proclaimed. He soon felt the need to add, “But I’ll settle for just the two of us doing it together for right now.” Felony Carl set his glass down so he could reciprocate the gesture, causing Honey Lemon to go “Awww” all over again.

She then put her hand on her girlfriend’s shoulder and said, “Maybe we should find something together we can both enjoy Go Go.”

The shorter woman smirked before quipping, “We do. It’s called being superheroes.”

This got the other two to snicker a little as the long-haired scientist playfully nudged her roommate. “You got me there, but seriously, there might be some activity that will give us both so much fun and joy that it’ll be our thing,” she imparted onto Go Go with a gentle smile.

The speedster let out a sigh in defeat, but still showed she cared by nudging her best friend right back with a small grin of her own. “Alright, but nothing too crazy, okay? I know how overboard you can get,” she told Honey Lemon with an air of warning.

“Okay, okay…but yay,” the artist replied placatingly before giving a little excited exclamation.

“Good luck,” Globby supportively said to the couple as he went for another cookie.

“My sentiments exactly,” Felony Carl added.

The four of them all basked and conversed in the warm atmosphere as they finished their dessert until it was 15minutes later and it was time to depart. “Thank you so much for coming over guys! This was really great and we just have to do it again sometime,” Honey Lemon graciously and sincerely relayed to her guests as they all ventured toward the door.

Globby nodded emphatically in agreement and suggested, “Absolutely! We have to host you too at some point if you both want.”

Honey Lemon and Go Go shared a look of silent discussion, followed by the latter shrugging and replying with, “Sure, we can come over. Just tell us when and what to bring.”

The taller of the two then noticed the others had left their container with several cookies inside and went, “Wait. Don’t you need this back?”

Felony Carl flashed a sly grin and faced his boyfriend, who knew what he was thinking. Globby then fabricated a duplicate container and cheekily said, “I think we’re good.” He also created a cookie in his free hand and added, “On demand dessert, remember?” Everyone gave a small chuckle at that before the gelatinous mutant reabsorbed both into his body. 

His motorcyclist roommate proceeded to open the door, each giving a wave, saying “Goodbye” and lastly heading down the steps as Go Go shut it behind them.

“So, did you have a nice time, Carl?” Globby inquired as they made their way out the front door, walking side by side now.

“It was a delight. You are very lucky to have found such kind-hearted people to have as friends,” Felony Carl replied with a genuine smile.

“Don’t I know it,” the gelatinous mutant promptly responded before he gave a cheeky grin and added, “But you were still there first.”

At the flattering remark, the husky biker chuckled softly before putting his arm around his boyfriend, who proceeded to lean on him. They continued their journey home in relative peace, unknowingly mirroring the other couple’s actions as the two women spent the rest of the night relaxing in each other’s close company.

Chapter Text

“Okay. One, two, three,” Hiro counted just before he jumped into the San Fransokyo Bay with Baymax and Go Go. The rush of bubbles and a cold sensation greeted the three heroes as they entered the water, taking a moment to get their bearings. Once they could see each other again, Hiro announced, “Switching on suit warmers,” followed by pressing a button on his gauntlet. Almost instantly, their suits felt like a nice warm blanket had covered every part of their bodies, keeping them from shivering and allowing them to focus on finding their target: Wasabi’s car.

Sadly, the physicist’s upgraded car had been knocked into the bay again during the fight on the cargo ship against the Buddy Guardians, meaning it was even further away from the shore than before. Since Wasabi along with Go Go and Honey Lemon were actively looking for new careers that likely would take them away from the city, getting their friend’s wheels back would save him a lot of money and trouble. The task of retrieving the car had been simple enough when it was just Hiro and Baymax, but now that Go Go had an underwater suit too, it just made sense to have the extra help.

“Doing okay Go Go?” Hiro asked as he surveyed the greenish-blue water, thankful it was still daylight out and that he wasn’t doing this alone as he remembered what happened the first time.

“I’m fine,” the engineer answered, checking over her suit before swimming closer to the other heroes.

“I am fine as well,” Baymax remarked, giving his two friends a thumbs up.

“Alright, let’s do this,” the teen prodigy declared as he flapped his flippers through the water, leading the way as they dove deeper down. Hiro held his gauntlet up to his face, projecting an underwater map of where they were relative to the car, which had a tracking feature installed when they upgraded it. “Okay, it says we’ve got about 1900ft to go. Man, this is going to take a while. We better only use Baymax’s jets in small, steady amounts or we won’t have enough to haul the car back, even with the extra battery I added,” Hiro informed with a touch of worry.

Go Go swiftly pulled up along beside him and offered a simple shrug. “Eh, whatever. If we don’t get it done today, we can always come back. Maybe next time we though we can talk to Fred about lending us one of the family yachts to conserve energy. But for now though…” The young woman trailed off so she could swim briefly into a horizontal spin and cheekily finished with, “…you won’t hear me complain.”

The robotics major nodded begrudgingly before returning his gaze briefly to the map. All around them, various schools of fishes wove in and around the tall stalks of kelp, skittishly avoiding the heroes. They mostly appeared silver and shiny, but some bigger ones were darker or even bore black stripes as they glided through the water; even the bay floor held its own beauty by being scattered with multi-colored seashells, rocks and shifting sand, blending shades of white, tan, black, and brown as its main color palette.

Baymax’s propulsion system became a constant whirring sound for the other two as they paddled onward with Go Go refraining from using her high-speed function since she didn’t know their final destination anyway. When a dark shadow fell upon them, Hiro quickly looked up on instinct to find they had swum under a drifting boat.

“Hey Baymax, you’re scanning for sharks and other big animals, right?” the teen prodigy asked, a touch of uneasiness in his voice.

Looking to Hiro, the inflatable robot answered, “Yes. The largest animal in the vicinity I have detected is the great white sturgeon, which is currently residing on the bay floor, 72ft away from us."

Hiro let out a sigh of relief, only for his speedster friend to swim over and give him a playful punch in the arm. “Hey, quit worrying so much. You’re wearing an advance suit remember,” Go Go bluntly told him before appearing to smile in amusement (although it was hard to be sure with the mask on). She then casually added, “Besides, for a genius you seem to be forgetting the odds when it comes to animal attacks.”

“Well, you’ve never had a shark come at you before,” the young man retorted with a huff.

Go Go quirked an eyebrow and mischievously replied, “You sure about that?” followed by propelling herself a little bit ahead of him, leaving Hiro to ponder is she was telling the truth or not.

The three then continued through the cool water, periodically checking their location as they inched closer to their submerged target. Time seemed to pass slowly as they went even though there was always something to see, from the swaying kelp stretching towards the sun to the sea creatures poking out of the rocks to the rippling waves above making the bay floor appear to move along with it; Baymax was of course cataloging all that he saw in case any relative information was needed from it later. The further they went though, the more they noticed the water starting to get deeper and the darker hue it took on as a result.

When they were finally only about 400ft away, the robotics expert decided to ask, “Hey Baymax, what’s your battery status?”

The white robot in black armor paused for a moment, then flatly answered, “I am still at 62% power and have the extra battery reserve at our disposal.”

“Okay, good. When we get there, divert 17% to your internal battery and we’ll use the remaining charge of the reserve for the hauling portion for as long as possible. Go Go, we may need you to help some with dragging the car by the end of it just in case,” Hiro instructed his fellow heroes.

“No problem. Got to get some use out of these things today,” the speedster remarked as she lifted her arms up in demonstration.

“Thanks. We should have a visual soon,” Hiro informed them, checking his gauntlet again, followed by scanning through the tealish water for the car; while it was still another 10minutes or so of swimming, the young teen was right as like a curtain of fog being lifted when the sun comes out, something squarish and grey-green slowly materialized into existence.

“There it is,” Hiro couldn’t help but exclaim as he and Go Go paddled a little faster and downward while Baymax maintained the same pace. Wasabi’s vehicle had found itself resting on the bottom of the bay floor about 60ft below the surface; it had apparently been spared from sinking into further depths due to some algae and barnacle encrusted rocks creating a barrier for it.

“Phew. Looks like it’s still pretty intact,” the robotist remarked as he got in for a closer look.

“We built that thing like an armored tank, so I think it can handle a small tumble into the water,” Go Go told the other with a smirk.

Hiro rolled his eyes, then stopped swimming and turned to Baymax in order to ask, “Wait. Can you see if there’s anything inside it this time Baymax?”

The healthcare companion obeyed as his sensors moved up and down the sunken machine, soon proceeding to answer with, “There are no major predators in the vehicle currently, but I do detect some scavenging crabs and small snails if that is of concern to you.”

“Nah, that’s all-good buddy. Just glad it’s not a shark or something, but still keep an eye out for them please,” Hiro responded as he moved toward the car now.

“I can do that,” Baymax informed with a thumbs up. The engineer merely shook her head as she followed behind the shorter one.

Baymax, in addition to following through with Hiro’s earlier instruction for his battery, also proceeded to turn on a light from his armor to better illuminate the wreck despite the slight amount of sunlight already provided. His actions then caused a few fish that were hanging around it to scatter as the remaining swimmers inspected the algae and particulate-covered car.

“Well, considering it’s been down here for a couple months, it doesn’t look too bad. It sucks though all the hardware is going to have to be replaced, but luckily, we have the tools and the talent to do so,” the teen prodigy noted with a sly tone at the end.

“Yeah, yeah. Now let’s get the harness and get this thing back to shore before we run out of oxygen or have an incoherent Baymax on our hands,” Go Go reminded him before gesturing up towards the aforementioned robot.

The healthcare companion proceeded to maneuver himself above the submerged car and lowered his large frame a couple feet. A panel then disengaged from the back of his suit with a hiss and a small release of bubbles, revealing a spool of high strength carbon fiber cable. Hiro began pulling on the clamp at the end, gathering about 25ft of line and swimming down to Wasabi’s ride. He secured the rope by attaching it to the chasey near the bumper end, followed by giving it a little tug to make sure it was locked.

“Okay Baymax, Go Go and I will try to give it an initial push, then that’ll be your cue to fire up those jets,” Hiro communicated to his fellow hero.

“Understood. Please be advised though that you should refrain from being below it as a loss of connection could result in the vehicle falling on you, potentially breaking bones or preventing you from receiving oxygen from your tanks,” Baymax informed his friends, which was met with a pair of thumbs up.

Go Go proceeded to activate her hydrogliders, causing the forearm pieces to protrude out as she placed her hands on the back door. Hiro came prepared too as he made some modifications to his underwater suit since last time. The side of the plates that surrounded his ribcage lifted with a hiss and turned slightly, revealing a collapsed propulsion system like Baymax’s, but was meant for short evasive bursts rather than continuous use.

“On three. One…two…three!”

With dual grunts of effort and the rising whirring sounds coming from their machinery, the two humans could feel the force they were giving the submerged vehicle. There came a groaning noise as it shifted on the rock, releasing a small cascading wave of sand off the boulder as it moved. The young heroes maintained their position and kept pushing for another 15seconds or so as they worked to build the heavy car’s momentum, which resulted in it starting to roll on its back tires.

“Now Baymax!” Hiro ordered as he and Go Go exerted themselves some more in their final act.

Above them, the lights on the scuba armor’s engines whirred and glowed as they receiving increased power, making the whooshing water leaving them stir the surrounding liquid into turbulent eddies. The cable groaned now from the strain and became taut as the vehicle soon was able to disconnect from the bay floor, sprinkling debris that once was attached to it.

Once Hiro and Go Go felt the heavy presence of the car lift, they soon moved to opposite sides of it and inspected it for any issues.

“Looks good.”

“Same over here.”

The two heroes proceeded to quickly swam up to be alongside the inflatable robot, peeking down below and behind them to check the status of the car again.

“How are your systems Baymax?” the teen prodigy inquired, causing the other to turn his head towards him.

“Everything is operational with 79% to my primary battery and I am down to 68% on the extra one. Maintaining this speed should get us back to shore in an estimated 24.7 minutes,” the healthcare companion answered before looking forward again.

“Great,” Hiro simply remarked. He then turned back to the suspended vehicle and couldn’t help but give a short laugh at the sight. Due to the car hitting the counterflow of the water, it was being pushed upwards slightly like a kite against the wind, making it bob and rock slightly.

“Hey,” the young robotist called out to Go Go over the comms, causing the speedster to look at him curiously. He pointed to Wasabi’s car and joked, “Baymax-drawn carriage,” earning him a smirk from the other before she focused back on swimming.

The trio was met with relative silence once again as they journeyed back, save for the high-tech jets constantly working that it. Despite the skittish nature of most of the surrounding fish, the gliding vehicle attracted a few of them, possibly mistaking it for a shark or another large fish they could get scraps from; some even went to take a nibble off the algae that was still attached to it.

As they traveled through the water, Hiro periodically checked their bearings on his gauntlet and making sure everything was alright with Baymax. Currently, the heroes were about only 20ft below the surface with their package still 25ft or so from the bay floor, so they had some leeway for the most part. When they came to a large jagged rock that protruded above that though, the inflatable robot took the initiative and ramped his propellers even more, resulting in the car getting an extra lift before sinking back down when Baymax lowered the throttle.

“Hmmm,” the teen prodigy thoughtfully hummed at what happened before commenting, “Water’s getting shallower. We’ll have to keep an eye out when we get closer to shore, but nice job Baymax.”

“Thank you,” the mechanical man simply replied.

Go Go merely shrugged, telling the two, “Still beats taking it back via the deeper route. I do not want to go fishing for this thing down there.”

Nodding in agreement, Hiro did some typing with his navigation system, producing an optimal exit location. “Okay, it’ll be easier if we can get this to a boat loading ramp since it should have a lower number of debris and plant life.”

“Isn’t that what you did last time?” the speedster inquired.

Shaking his head, Hiro replied, “Baymax and I had the cargo docks to work with remember, which were still fairly deep and mostly just sand beds.”

His friend gave him a nod now in understanding before the 15yr old instructed, “Okay buddy, I’ll need you to reel the lines in about 7ft, take us about 30° to the right and lower your depth by 2ft.

The marshmallow bot dutifully obeyed as a metallic grinding sound came as the cable was wound onto its spool. He then veered right, causing a momentary bend in the line and further adding to the “Drawn carriage” comparison made by Hiro. Go Go was about to ask why they needed to be closer to the ocean floor when a low rattling thumping came from above and to her left; 10seconds later, a speed boat came rushing by, scaring away the remaining fish that had grown fond of Wasabi’s car. Right. At least this means we must be getting near, she deduced as she looked over to Hiro.

Not 20seconds after that, the young Hamada announced, “Okay, just about 650ft from there to the loading area, but we should have avoided the patch of rocks we saw coming in.” He then gave an exhaustive sigh before remarking, “Man, am I going to be sore tomorrow. I’ve never had to swim this long in my life.”

“Yeah, me too,” Go Go commented only to slyly add, “I mean, I didn’t have to. I could have left at any time thanks to this suit and leave you two all alone…but that wouldn’t have been very nice.”

Hiro let out a short snort in response, knowing it was actually true. “Well, thank you Go Go for suffering on our behalf,” he joked and was greeted with a smirk.

Baymax, who had been quiet, finally spoke up as he moved his head from one to the other. “I can provide you two with water and electrolytes when we reach land to help with exhaustion, dehydration and potential lactic acid that may be causing muscle soreness. I recommend a nap to alleviate your tiredness as well,” he helpfully informed the humans.

“Thanks, Baymax,” was all Hiro said as he moved next to the armored robot and patted him in appreciation.

“You are welcome.”

Engrossed in their exchange, they almost failed to notice they were coming up on a tall, swaying batch of kelp, no doubt containing some wildlife and other possible hazards. Grumbling to himself, the robotics expert quickly ordered to Baymax, “Looks like we’ll briefly change plans. Turn your jets to get as much lift as possible until we clear this, then reel the line in another 5ft.”

Processing everything at lightning speed, the turbines on the mechanical bot’s back tilted and buzzed louder first, prompting the other two to follow him closer to the surface as the metal groaning came again from the wench taking in the cable. The young teen looked back and saw the car tilted upward toward them, making him hold his breath as the vehicle managed to just graze the top of the seaweed.

“Phew,” he quietly said, although he did feel a jolt of surprise when a octopus launched itself out of the green growth, disturbed by their presence. In addition, a few shimmering silverly fish hiding in the same patch also came out as they found the car as appealing as their fellow brethren earlier had. Admittedly, Hiro wanted to keep watching the giant kelp both for its mesmerizing effect and for fear something else may come out despite Baymax being told to warn them, but the healthcare companion had a different message to convey a moment later.

“We are approaching an active sail boat. I will make the directional changes now or a collision is imminent at this level,” he announced a second before he started to move to the left.

Hiro and Go Go quickly mimicked his actions and sure enough, 70ft ahead of them was an incoming sail boat. It wasn’t moving incredibly fast, but it was on a direct path with them if they continued going forward the estimated distance; the resulting countercurrent could also potentially hit them, causing them to lose momentum and disorient them. The arcing car managed to avoid being in the line of fire, but still wobbled uneasily as it was brought closer to the surface. The whirring of metal came once they straightened out as Baymax proceeded to go ahead and reel the cable in some more.

“Well, it figures all the trouble is at the end, but looking on the bright side, we’re almost there,” Hiro remarked shortly before the slicing sound of the boat cutting through the water could be heard; this disruption caused the remaining fish to disperse, fleeing to the relative safety of the kelp.

They weren’t here long this time, Hiro joked internally. He saw down below that the greenery was disappearing and being replaced by grooved, sandy stretches littered with small rocks and some trash left by less environmentally conscientious citizens. The teen genius checked his monitor, showing they had only about 350ft left to go. “I’m going to check up topside,” he informed the other two, only for Go Go to follow after him.

The duo quickly broke the surface of the water with a pop, still swimming forward as they surveyed the remaining distance. Aside from the long stretch of road that hugged the area and several trees growing from the adjacent hill, there was a whitish-grey slab of concrete that led from the water to land. There were also about seven or eight wooden docks jutting out to the left of the ramp, where a handful of people were milling about either on their vessels or swimming in the shallows.

With one look at each other, Hiro nodded for Go Go to venture on ahead to get the space cleared for them, which the speedster willing obliged. Extending her arms out now, the yellow fins on her armor emerged and she zipped through the water like a mako after its prey.

The blue and black-armored teen promptly dove back down about 10ft to meet back with his beloved bot. “Okay Baymax, follow where Go Go went and there should be enough length on the line to gain traction on the ramp so you can pull it to shore.” The healthcare companion gave a thumbs up, then proceeded to increase speed again and adjust his angle until he was only 3ft below the surface.

The engineer meanwhile had made it to her destination in no time, although she almost leapt out of the water with how fast she was going. Shortly after, she shouted, “Clear the way everyone! We’ve got major cargo being hauled and you don’t want to be in its way.”

At first the swimmers just stared at Go Go, obviously still in shock from her arrival, so she gave a short huff and yelled, “Superhero business people! Move!” This got them out of their paralysis as the civilians swam left and right of the loading ramp, filling the air briefly with splashing and excited yammering.

“That’s better,” the engineer smirked as she peered out over the bay, searching for her friends; after about 30seconds or so, she could finally make out something moving beneath the water about 90ft out past the docks. Go Go next saw Hiro break the surface of the water and waved at her, prompting her to give the same response.

With the various onlookers observing from the sidelines, the teen genius made it to the concrete slab a couple minutes later, his fins hitting against the ground with a wet slap as salt water dripped off him. Hiro let himself slump a little as he was tired from the journey, but he couldn’t dwell on it for long as Baymax appeared behind him. His heavy, armored body thudded with each step and the wire attached to his suit gave a metallic rattle as the strain of the car caused it to vibrate.

Like a monster emerging from the sea, the olive-green vehicle rose from the bay and creaked as its weight returned upon being on dry land once again. Go Go and Hiro merely waited and followed their friend with their eyes as he slowly made his way to the flattened street and hauled Wasabi’s soaked car all the way up.

When the healthcare companion stopped moving, Hiro was quick to get under the car and disconnect the carbon fiber tether, taking Baymax a moment to wind the cable back up once the other was done. Afterward, the three heroes turned and stared at the fruits of their labor, both humans sighing with satisfaction as several of the bystanders still gazed at them.

“Well, we did it,” Hiro said as he gave the car a light pat, causing his inflatable friend to look at his own metal hand and repeat the action; unfortunately, his pat was significantly heavier, jostling the closed front door of the vehicle open and causing a small torrent of sea water to come out. They all took a couple steps back as the large pool formed, thankfully not having any fish or crustaceans in need of rescuing.

After it was mostly drained, Hiro gave a tired laugh before finally letting his exhaustion hit him as he sat down on the ground, leaning against the wet, slightly slimy surface of the car. He then went ahead and activated his comm in his helmet and radioed Fred, simply saying, “Fred, we’re back. Can you please pick us and the car up?”

10seconds later, his comic book friend answered with, “On it! Heathcliff and I are inbound. See you guys soon.”

“Thanks Fred.”

“No problem, buddy!”

Hiro rested the back of his head against the vehicle and closed his eyes, only to open them again when he heard Go Go sitting next to him.

She gave him a tired smile, to which the teen mirrored and said to him, “Hey, I know you’re wiped out, but at least Wasabi is going to love the surprise.”

“I know, but we are going to be sore tomorrow. Speaking of…hey Baymax,” Hiro called out, prompting the large robot to look over at them.

“Yes?”

“Can we get that water please?”

“Of course.” With that, Baymax performed his healthcare duties and tended to his friends’ needs until their ride arrived, giving them time to rest before they had to begin the even more arduous task of cleaning and replacing so much of the car; it wasn’t really an issue though since some people are worth that kind of effort.

Chapter Text

Execute//command-activate

“Awake my dear.”

Voice pattern accepted.

Authority figure recognized. Designation: Father or “Obake.”

ID Confirmation: Unit 941.6 or “Trina.”

Diagnostics complete: 0 errors detected.

Execute startup sequences.

Trina, as she was called by her creator/father, slowly blinked her eyes open, adjusting to the bright white light overhead. As an undesirable situation, she logically held her left arm up to shield her optical sensors from the illumination, but the action caused her to pause, both at the fact she knew what to do and that this was her first time seeing her body. Trina examined her hand, turning it over to see both sides before raising her right arm too in order to feel the other. Many things were stored in the sophisticated AI that made up her mind, from the knowledge of robotics to speech capabilities to recognition of facial expressions, but experiencing something for herself was an urge she found irresistible; a trait no doubt given to Trina by her father, who saw it as hypocritical if he didn’t teach her to see things the same way. Her fingertips grazed the soft polymer coating meant to make her look and feel human, perceiving the touch with her tactile sensors and storing the sensation in her memory banks.

“Having fun are we?”

The sudden voice made her cease her actions, reassigning priority of what she was doing to listen to the one who just spoke. Before she could sit up and determine where her creator was, he saved her the trouble by appearing over her a few seconds later, although the harsh lighting made it hard to pick out every feature. She knew what he should look like: sharp features, pale blue eyes, tall, slender, and had black hair with a red streak, but to see him in person cemented the knowledge as truth rather than something programmed into her; so strange a sensation to know so many things but never having done it before served to further fuel her curiosity.

“Time to get up and properly see yourself…Trina,” Obake told her with a sly, satisfied smile as he backed away from the table she resided on.

That name. Yes. Of course. I should do as Father says. “Yes Father,” the android spoke, surprised at hearing her own voice and how it felt to say her first words. She proceeded to obey as she bent her torso, allowing her to see the shiny, cold, metal slab she rested on along with her completed body and a couple scattered tools around her.

Trina saw her two legs were in a pair of grey jeans that ended with a pair of black and white sneakers. She looked further down her chest to find a pink baggy shirt, which she now understood was the soft feeling that was different from how her skin felt. The young robot looked forward now to see she was in a mostly dark room with a couple glowing blue tanks, some robotic arms situated to the floor and a large box with a clear dome that she registered as a 3D printer. She placed her arms on her lap as she finally turned her head to the right, where a pale, well-dressed man stood smiling approvingly at her.

“Good. The obedience setting seems to be functioning properly, but then again, why wouldn’t it since I made it?” Obake arrogantly remarked. He then shifted to a gentler, but still superior tone as he said, “You truly are an amazing feat of ingenuity Trina. Come and let’s see if everything is working.”

His daughter nodded before she carefully turned herself as she avoided hitting a small screwdriver with her legs and sat on the edge of the slab. She then cautiously slid off as her feet landed on the hard floor, followed by letting go of the metal bench entirely. With Obake’s eyes never off her, Trina took her first steps in small, intended motions, which her system quickly accepted the feedback and adjusted, allowing her more confidence with each movement.

Once she stood in front of her creator, he gazed at her appraisingly and soon asked, “Do you know where you are right now?”

It took her less than a second to find the appropriate answer, prompting her to nod and respond with, “Yes Father. We’re in one of your labs in your base, which is located in the San Fransokyo Bay.”

“Good,” the tall man said with a mildly pleased grin. He then walked around her as he inspected his handiwork for potential errors. “Does everything seem to be working correctly?” Obake inquired, wanting to hear her reply despite already knowing the truth thanks to having access to her systems.

Trina understood and dutifully responded with, “All my diagnostics came back fine and if there ever is an issue, I’ll be sure to let you know, even if I can repair the malfunction myself; you had the foresight to see that I should be self-sufficient in my own care, but that I can turn to you too for emergencies.”

“Excellent my child,” the calculating genius complimented and even looked a touch proud, although it was hard to say who it was directed at.

Child, the teenage robot’s mind lingered on knowing the word’s meaning but still unable to stop herself from playing the moment her father said it, like it was validation for how he saw her. She then stood at attention again as she saw the slender genius looking serious once more and firmly said, “Now you should already have some inkling as to why you were created, but I want to make it crystal clear so there’s no misunderstanding.” He then leaned forward and placed his left hand on Trina’s shoulder, feeling the pressure and establishing she should pay the utmost attention.

“The beauty of intelligence is seeing what others cannot and knowing what’s for the betterment of all in the grand scheme of things,” Obake cryptically started in an even tone. “For everyone that dreams to achieve greatness, such as myself, the end goal is pointless if there’s no one left to carry that drive and vision beyond that single moment of creation.” At that statement, the long-haired android blinked and if she could breathe, would have stilled her breath in anticipation.

Obake now gave a small encouraging smile as he gripped her shoulder again in reassurance. “So you see, my plans for the future hinges on someone understanding what I’m trying to do and why it must be done; unfortunately, people are quite imbecilic or cowardly when it comes to actually doing it, but I know you’re different. You’re smart, clever, resourceful, and capable of learning far beyond mortals such as I, which is why I need you.”

Trina blinked in surprise as she had barely been functioning for more than a few minutes, and yet was met with such flattery and endowed purpose. Wow, he really feels that way about me? I mean, he created me, but to receive such praise from Father…he must really see potential in me, the robotic teenager thought in wonder before her father continued.

“My plans for you Trina actually involves a fair bit of manipulation and subterfuge; however, in order to get what you want, it often needs to be done. I also know that I don’t need to tell you how important my magnum opus is to me, but as long as you place success of that mission above all else, I grant you your freedom to find…hobbies that may interest you,” Obake informed the other with a glint in his eye.

Tilting her head, Trina inquired, “You mean other than robotics?”

“I’d hope so my child, although I must admit that one’s skillsets tend to overlap with their passions, so maybe you’ll find some fun in using your abilities; either way, I want you to be able to explore without fear of judgement for wherever your drives take you,” her creator answered almost firmly, like it was an order rather than advice.

His daughter nodded after a few seconds, bearing the same determined look Obake was giving her as she took everything he said to heart. “So, what do I need to do Father?” she asked in earnest.

The taller one smirked as he finally let go of the android’s shoulder and stood straight once again. He then reached into his back pocket as he pulled a black phone out and placed it into the other’s hand. She stared at the small device, pushing the power button and instinctively pulled the code from her data banks: 6-1-4-7-7-0-8-5-6-3. The screen unlocked, showing her the standard apps and features such as messaging, U-Watch and the internet, but there was one with a demon logo that stood out, so she pressed it.

Once it was opened, a slew of files began to scroll across the electronic panel that Trina was quickly able to scan and process; they mainly pertained to the group known as “Big Hero 6” with a special emphasis on their leader, Hiro Hamada. After the information finished its course, she looked to her father again, who held a satisfied smile as he awaited her inevitable questions.

“You’ve done a lot of research on this superhero team. I’m guessing they’re the enemy then and they keep stopping you?” the android inquired shortly afterwards, putting the phone in her front pocket.

“For the moment they are a nuisance, but I believe at least one of them can be persuaded from such altruistic endeavors,” Obake remarked with a devious smile.

“Hiro Hamada?” Trina deduced as she gave her guess.

“Precisely, my dear. He’s an intellectual rarity but still can fall prey to temptation like anyone else; even more so when you consider the addictive rush that comes from proving your superiority over others or when you overcome the seemingly impossible,” the slender genius replied as his grin grew from recollecting such victories.

His daughter now stood tentatively before him, briefly avoiding his gaze before she finally asked the question that was plaguing her. “What do you need me to do Father?”

A look of pure delight came to Obake’s face as they arrived at the most crucial part of their discussing, putting his hands behind his back as he held an air of authority. “Why, you have the vital task of trying to persuade Hiro Hamada into seeing things my way. He refuses to free himself from the chains of societal rules and ethics, so he fails to harness his gifts to its full potential. I want you to show him you should never deny yourself what you desire and that such notions are only there to keep geniuses like us back,” Obake explained emphatically, fire practically burning in his eyes now as he conveyed this order.

This Hiro must be special if he’s willing to do all of this just to get him. Admittedly…he does look kind of cute, Trina’s mind briefly thought to herself before wondering why she felt that and blinked herself back into focus. “Do you have a plan to ready to follow or will this be a test for me?” she inquired with a touch of apprehension.

Obake smirked and simply replied, “Both actually.”

“Oh,” was all the teenage robot uttered as she nodded, clasping her hands together in wait.

Seeing the display of potential agitation, the eloquent individual leaned forward and offered a comforting smile. “Fear not Trina. You may be a highly advanced creation, but you won’t be summoned just yet for the mission. I’d like for you to have a little more time to fit into your role and adjust to this world. There’s still much to teach you such as who your fellow residents are and proper utilization of those manipulative techniques I mentioned,” Obake informed her. He then added with a touch of excitement, “I think once you hear what I have in mind to lure Hiro Hamada in, you’ll find it to be a lot of fun; it involves robots and constantly one-upping some simpleminded fools.”

Trina opened her mouth to ask for more details but was promptly shushed by her father. “That’s enough for now. When the time is right, I’ll let you know. All I want from you now is to educate yourself on how to put on a proper teenager façade and mannerism. I did the best I could with programming you, but some things just have to be learned,” Obake ordered, giving a small huff at the inconvenience of it. “You can stay here for a little while longer, but I suggest you mingle with the other occupants soon; the last thing I need is for one of them to sound the alarm that a missing child got in,” he grumbled, obviously thinking of someone in particular before standing up straight again and slowly walking to the doorway.

As the young android watched him leave, he then stopped and turned back towards her to say one finale thing. “Consider yourself quite lucky Trina. You’re about to take part in a glorious new age of innovation and enlightenment,” Obake told her, an ambitious gleam in his eye pairing with his modest smile.

As his footsteps echoed away from her, Trina finally snapped out of her transfixed state and gazed around the room once more, tentatively taking a few steps towards a few pieces of machinery. She saw the 3D printer, feeling a spark of eagerness to try it as well as ran her hand along the robotic claw in front of her. When she found herself eventually standing in front of a larger, empty chamber, the newly awakened robot caught her reflection for the first time.

Slowly, Trina reached out and touched the smooth glass, noticing every mirrored action shown opposite of herself. “Wow. I really do look human,” she quietly said before tracing her fingers along her face and hair, experiencing how both felt and making her smile. She proceeded to look at her outfit, admittedly liking it but not loving it as if it wasn’t complete. Yes. Maybe I’ll get inspired with a little more time and find a look that’s right for me, she internally remarked. Her mind then wandered to the phone in her pocket, pulling it out and gripping it with determination as she stared at the blank screen. I guess I better get started on following Father’s orders. I’ll do my best to make him proud and have his dream come true. She then couldn’t help but smirk as she faced her reflection again and thought, And hopefully this will be a lot of fun too.

Chapter Text

“Okay, so what’s on the agenda today?” Globby said out loud to himself as he paced around the vacant warehouse he currently resided in. It had only been a couple weeks since he had been mutated and proclaimed he would become a supervillain, but so far, the results were less than desirable. He had yet to really gain control of his body as he still found himself sticking to things, namely the ground, and could only say his malleable mitts had been able to grab their target five times out of dozens of tries. It was rough trying to go about the city unseen while committing crimes, but he managed mainly through using alleyways, drains and sticking to rooftops; he at least was fortunate enough that he got to sneak into Felony Carl’s place and say hi while embellishing his recent success.

So now it was another day and another chance for thievery as he hadn’t figured out a grander scheme yet to get his name out there beside being a monster. “Let’s see, there’s always trying to rob an armored car. Haven’t done that yet. Then again, an easier score would be somewhere that’s easily accessible like a fountain or something. I guess I could try the car one first and if it’s a bust, move to the simpler one,” Globby debated as his feet made squishy sounds along the dirty floor. “Hmmm, maybe if I took some kind of statue of expensive figurine of some kind, I’d get more recognition. People would definitely notice that sort of thing missing.” He then groaned as he said in realization, “Oh, but where would I put it? There’s already so much junk in here and I can’t just leave it outside for everyone to find it. I mean, what if it doesn’t even fit through the door? I’m busted and I’ve got to find a new place to hide. Darn it.”

The gelatinous mutant kept walking back and forth along the warehouse floor as he dealt with this problem, avoiding the pile of boxes, pallets and various metal rods laying around.

EEEEK!

Huh? What was that?!

The sound of a door closing then came, indicating that the thief had company. Globby’s current issue came to an end as his fight or flight response kicked in, prompting him to swiftly hide himself up in the rafters to avoid whoever just came in.

What the heck is someone doing in here?! I already called finders keepers, losers weepers on this place and at the very least, it’s rude to not even knock first, Globby internally complained as he held onto the metal girder, scanning for the intruder and silently hoping he didn’t drip any to give away his location.

Hearing calm, slow footsteps echo throughout the structure made the pink and purple being’s eyes look around for the source; then, stepping into a sunbeam that illuminated the inside, a well-dressed figure emerged a few seconds later.

Globby tilted his head in curiosity as he inspected the man. He was tall and slender with sharp features, wearing a black vest, dark slacks and had a streak of red through his patch of black hair. The mysterious person appeared to be gazing around the cluttered building too until his eyes fell on a puddle of slime left from Globby’s previous time on the floor, making him smirk in satisfaction. Darn it, the transparent monster silently cursed as the man briefly bent down to look at the goo before standing straight again.

“I know you’re in here,” the unknown gentleman calmly announced, causing the aforementioned mutant to wince as nervousness seeped more into his body.

The man took a couple steps away for the other’s hiding spot and called out again with, “If you fear being arrested, rest assured, I’m not with the police; quite the opposite in fact.”

Huh? immediately came to Globby’s mind as confusion displaced some of his nervousness. He’s a bad guy too…or is he just saying that to lure me out? Hmph. Well, it’ll take more than that to trick me into revealing myself!

SPLAT!

Darn it.

As the shapeshifter feared, his body decided to betray his location by dripping onto the floor and made the tall figure turn around. The mysterious man easily spotted the other now thanks to the mutant’s luminescent eyes, making him smirk and shout, “I can see you up there. Why don’t you come down so we may have a more civilized conversation?”

Globby scoffed as he glared at the unknown human and sassily replied, “Why? So you can try to trick me into getting captured or making me leave so you can take my hideout? Yeah right.”

The well-dressed being looked around at the dusty, dirty surroundings, briefly letting a grimace cross his face before putting on a more charming demeanor. “Oh there’s no need to fret about that. I actually found you because I wish to hire you for your services.”

“What?” the thief couldn’t help but say out loud in bewilderment, almost losing his grip on the metal beam he was hanging onto.

“I’ll tell you more, but only if you come down…Globby was it?” the unnamed gentleman told the other as he quirked an eyebrow.

Well, it’s not like anyone asked me how I felt about the name, but it does sound more menacing than “Dibs” I guess, Globby silently grumbled to himself as he looked this second person up and down. If this guy is telling the truth though…having a potentially high-paying and illegal job would be good for my supervillain résumé.

The pink and purple man maintained his gaze on the other as he cautiously held the bar and stretched himself all the way to the floor. Yes! he thought with pride at this accomplishment. He then let go and his arms returned to him, which resulted in accidently hitting himself with them as they retracted. Darn it! He quickly recovered to save face as he crossed his arms and casted a stern look at the man opposite of him. “Okay. You mentioned needing me for my services,” Globby bluntly said, still being wary of this individual and keeping his distance.

Flashing a devious smile, the unknown man nodded and flatteringly replied, “I am. I saw you on the news and I must say, I was rather impressed you managed to kidnap Alastair Krei and avoid being captured by those new heroes. You truly showed you’re a cut above the rest in terms of villainy.”

Really? I mean uh…of course I am! Yeah, Globby thought, going from flustered to self-reassurance. His gruff façade proceeded to crumble at such remarks, replacing it with a smug grin and saying, “Well, that’s very kind of you to notice.” He then uncrossed his arms and put them on his hips instead before he inquired, “So, who are you anyway? I’m guessing you’re not a good guy if you’re wanting me to do something for you. Also, what was it you wanted me to do again?”

The other being gave a slight condescending chuckle as he answered, “I haven’t told you yet Globby.”

“Oh, right,” the shapeshifter said with a small nervous laugh as he tried to play it off.

Once Globby stopped, the slender man continued and informed him, “As for my identity, you may call me “Obake.””

Obake huh? Well, I guess when you go by “Globby,” you can’t be one to judge names. He’s definitely got to be a villain though if he’s only going by one name; either that or he’s some celebrity I’ve never heard of, the gelatinous mutant pondered.

The one called “Obake” proceeded to take a step closer, breaking Globby’s train of thought and making him focus on the well-dressed man. “As for your future employment, I need someone who can steal a certain valuable artifact for me as alas, I can’t be seen committing such an act,” he explained, giving an air of importance to his problem.

Wow. Ain’t that the best, most perfect stroke of luck I’ve had in like…ever! Stealing something priceless and expensive is just the sort of thing I need to give me some real street cred, and I’d be getting paid for it too, the purse thief thought in growing excitement. I may not know what it is yet or how I’m going to do it, but darn it, I will make this work! Better not seem too eager or desperate though if I want this guy to think I’m legit.

Globby proceeded to nod and casually say, “I am interested. What is the object I’d be grabbing for you?”

“It’s a recently unearth painting from the revered artist Lenore Shimamoto. It’s called “City Rising” and I must have it in my possession,” Obake answered with a hungry determined look in his eye.

“Alright, alright,” the thief nodded again in acknowledgement. He had heard of Shimamoto before as so many things in San Fransokyo were named after her, but the exact reasons as to why were currently fuzzy to him. “So, if I take the job, what would be my cut?” Globby inquired, hoping he wasn’t being too forward asking about money.

Obake smirked in satisfaction at knowing he had his hooks in the other, but he didn’t show any more enthusiasm beyond that. He then shrugged and nonchalantly replied, “I was thinking along the lines of $10,000 for your troubles; although, if you succeed, there may be more opportunities for you to earn a more lucrative pay day from me.”

Globby’s eyes became huge when he heard the figure as he internally exclaimed, 10Gs!!! I’ve never had that much in my life! I mean, there was a lot in Krei’s wallet, but not that amount. He proceeded to pause and wonder, Wait. Is $10,000 enough for a priceless painting? Should I haggle or will that just tick this Obake guy off? …I mean, I guess it’s fine since this is mostly about getting my name out there, and besides, it’s not like I’d actually do anything with the art. I can’t think of anyone that’d be willing to buy a stolen painting from a mutant like me anyway. The intelligent man across from the shapeshifter waited with dwindling patience as the latter debated the issue, but fortunately the other finally caught on to the staring.

Globby grinned sheepishly before he gave a small cough and composed himself once again. “Well, after careful consideration, I believe you are on the up and up, so I will take the job,” he firmly said, offering his right hand to shake so he could make it official.

While Obake seemed pleased at the acceptance of the job, he stared at the pink and purple appendage with intrigue but refused to take it as he no doubt knew it would be sticky. “Perhaps another time Globby. Let’s just stick to a verbal agreement for now,” he coolly told the other.

The gelatinous mutant pulled his hand back to his side, anxiously flitting his eyes before he inquired, “So uh, where is this painting being held?”

“There will be an unveiling ceremony at the San Fransokyo Art Museum in two days, so that is when you’ll best have access to it,” Obake simply replied.

“Oh yeah, of course. That’s what I figured too, but wanted to be sure, you know?” Globby overcompensatingly said with a couple nods.

“Yes, quite,” Obake finally remarked before becoming serious again. “Once you have the painting in your possession, I’d like for you to bring it to this address,” he informed the shapeshifter as he slipped a card out of his pocket and simply placed it on one of the boxes piled up next to him. “Destroy this after you memorize the location,” the gentleman sternly added as he tapped the piece of paper hard.

Globby was left to stare as he the saw the other turn to walk away and quickly asked in a slightly panic tone, “Wait! What if I have more questions or I run into trouble?”

Obake stopped to look over his shoulder before he smiled wickedly and said, “Then you either have to try again or else you’ve utterly failed me. Simple as that.” He then faced forward again as his footsteps echoed in the warehouse until the door creaked open and closed, rendering Globby alone in his hideout once more.

After he waited a couple seconds to be sure Obake was truly gone, he went for the card the other had left behind and read it aloud. “673 Kiwano Dr, huh?” the shapeshifter puzzled over as he tried to remember if he knew where that was. “Eh. I’ll find it eventually. I’ll keep it another day or so just in case,” he said to himself as he set the addressed paper down, albeit with a few attempts since it stuck to him. Once that frustration was over, the weight of the situation finally kicked in and he let himself give a loud, giddy cheer. “Woo! Yes! Yes! This is amazing! I probably should have asked how he found me in all honesty, but who cares? Committing such a high-class crime and getting beaucoup bucks for it! Oh, I can’t wait to tell Felony Carl about this! Oooor…maybe I’ll let him catch it on the evening news first. That’d really surprise him,” Globby excitedly plotted as he now paced back and forth.

“I guess I’ll first need to case this museum out, find all the entrances and exits, locate where it’s actually being held, and what the heck it even looks like. Ooo, just so much to do! I’d better get started then. Can’t mess up my first big score,” the thief told himself in urgency, already heading for the main door. With a quick push, he was outside in the bright daylight, where he promptly stretched his gelatinous arms up towards the nearest building and began making his way to the art museum; unbeknownst to Globby however, his employer stood in the shadows of a nearby alley, watching him leave the warehouse on his mission and smirking maliciously.

“Such a curious yet simpleminded creature. Let’s see how valuable he really is to me.”

Chapter Text

The sound of lights clicking on pierced the mutated Orso Knox’s sensitive hearing, waking him up and instinctively making him growl as he knew who had come to see him. The poor man turned monster currently resided in a sleek containment cell with high-level security door and walls so strong even he couldn’t break out. He didn’t know how long he had been there, but it was certainly several weeks if not months as this point; Knox didn’t need to guess where he was however as he knew the perpetrator of his transformation was Liv Amara, meaning he had to be at Sycorax.

At even thinking her name, the rich man could feel his anger rising with his emotional and mental states still being in a fragile place, his impulses and bodily needs overriding most of his logical thinking. During his imprisonment though, the long hours of solitude left him little to do but work on focusing his mind again by trying to untangle his thoughts and remind himself he was human. It fortunately seemed to be working as although Orso’s senses could still overload when there were bright lights or sounds, he at least was able to keep himself calm at lower levels and have more deliberate control of his actions. The only thing that constantly tormented the mutated being though was his ravenous appetite. Orso could only conclude that his transformation amped his body’s metabolism beyond that of most creatures, requiring him to eat the disgusting slop they served him like an animal five times a day; he was powerless to refuse too, lest the pain in his stomach or else fatigue would overtake him.

Now here he laid on the cold, hard floor of his cell, lifting his larger head to see who had come to see him, but they were still in the elevator. Orso then lifted himself onto all fours, slinking back some as he prepped his body into a pouncing position. The green and silver doors of the lift opened up a few seconds later to reveal a tall blonde woman in a red dress and high heels followed by a tall dark-blonde man in a mint-green shirt and jeans, who currently was carrying a coffee and a lemon blueberry muffin.

Liv and Chris were people he was very well acquainted with by now, which is why as soon as they got within 15ft of his cell, he leaped at them with such amazing strength; sadly, like every attempt, he wound up hitting against the orange security doors and falling to the floor in pain. He did this almost every time either of them came by, but they were smart enough to know what he was doing and never opened his cell without fully sedating him first. The mutated man huffed as he slowly got back on his feet, glaring at his captors as Liv and Chris both smirked in response.

“Aren’t you getting tired of that old trick Orso?” Liv snidely remarked as she logged into her giant computer.

Chris proceeded to chime in with, “Maybe he hasn’t heard about the definition of insanity,” earning him a vicious growl from the monster he just insulted. “Sensitive, isn’t he?” the young man quickly said before he smugly added, “I bet I could take him if we had to duke it out.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I’m the one in charge and I say no fighting. I’m not having you damage our valuable test subject,” Liv replied with an air of irritability.

“Any more so than him hitting the door several times a day?” Chris sassily inquired, only to receive a death stare from his employer, which shut him up.

The four-legged mutant scowled as he tried with considerable effort to speak, resulting in a lot of gruff, almost coughing-like noises as he choked out, “Freee…meee!”

Turning her head away from her monitor, the young woman in a faux sweet tone told the other, “That’s what we’re trying to do Orso. We’ll have to get you cured first before any of that happens though. Lucky for you, we have another new sample to try on you.” She then casually walked over to the cell as she unsettlingly said, “Of course that means we’ll have to sedate you, restrain you and take a fresh blood and tissue sample from you, so I’m afraid you’re going to lose another day to sleep and feel some pain, but it takes sacrifice to make progress.” The mutant admittedly lowered his head some as the dreadful situation played out in his mind, leading Liv to flash a wicked grin. “So that means you better behave today when Chris gives you your meal because it’s likely the only one you’ll get until this evening,” she warned menacingly. She proceeded to snap her fingers, prompting her assistant to set the food down as he went toward the large fridge kept along the far-off wall. Inside it contained giant blocks of a sludge-like meat mixture meant to give Orso a good high calorie diet that sadly was not made with taste being a factor. Chris got two packages out instead of one this time and thanks to his enhanced strength, carried them with ease back to the containment cell.

The tailed-mutant let out a primal growl on instinct, only to be met with a “Tsk” sound from Liv, making him stop as he slowly backed away from the security door, never taking his eyes off of his captors.

“Good boy,” the young CEO darkly said, stepping out of the way so Chris could open the door just enough to slide the disgusting meal through. As soon as it was shut again, Orso lashed out as he rapidly ate the meat and made loud chomping and chewing sounds as he went. He had gotten used to the salty taste and slimy texture at this point, but what he truly hated was the degradingness of it all, especially as Liv and Chris watched like people do the elephants at the zoo. The duo eventually turned and went back to the computer console, where Liv took a bite of her muffin and a sip of her coffee before she began typing again.

She hummed to herself as she searched through the Orso Knox file, opening the “Trials” folder and scrolled all the way down to the bottom entry that was labeled “Test #36.” The blonde woman double clicked the file and briefly read through to verify its current location in freezer #3. “Chris,” Liv simply said, to which her loyal assistant gazed at the screen, nodded and went to the appropriate destination.

The transmogrified man could still be heard munching away as the cold-storage container came into view, prompting Chris to put on a pair of gloves and begin rifling through the various vials. Eventually, he found the #36 labeled one and pulled it out before closing the freezer and heading back. Once he made it to his boss, Liv smiled wickedly in satisfaction as Chris placed the experimental drug safely in a vial port to keep it from being knocked over.

“Time to incapacitate out patient,” the young blonde then ordered with a smirk. Although she had said it in a low voice, Orso’s sensitive hearing managed to pick up what she said despite his loud chewing. He stopped eating as he backed away from the door, releasing a threatening growl as Chris came to the cell.

“Don’t worry. This will be quick and easy,” the genetically-perfect assistant told him in an eerily calm voice before he typed a few buttons on the control console.

A small hiss from above alerted Orso to the other’s actions, making him look up at the tiny vents he’d never be able to escape through as ether gas seeped in to try and knock him out. The mutant roared as best as he could, but that soon turned into a half-hearted snarl as his body began to feel heavy and he fought to keep his eyes open; if he were a normal human, such a chemical would have been easy to overdose on, but fortunately his current form required a greater saturation to achieve that. After about 30seconds, he slumped on the floor in a haphazard pile with his last view before he lost consciousness being of Chris and Liv watching him in anticipation.

Once Orso was half snoring/half growling in his sleep, the cell was purged of the noxious fumes, followed by the woman in red telling the other, “Get the muzzle on him quick and give him a few sedative patches for good measure, then load him up for surgery.”

“I live to serve,” the handsome man chirped as he went to the secured storage room 20ft away and opened it. Inside it contained all manner of items pertaining to Knox from the requested muzzle and transdermal patched to a heavy-piercing dart gun and even a large gurney. While Chris was doing this task, the young CEO went to put on a pair of her own gloves as she retrieved the test vial and made her way to a larger secondary elevator, one that went exclusively up to their operating room that was fitted for Orso.

“I’ll be back,” was all she said as she pressed the up arrow and stepped inside once the silver doors parted for her, allowing her to bring the second to last thing the scientists needed for this procedure.

Chris on the other hand had circled back to the cell with the desired items on the gurney and released the lock on the security door, where he then went ahead and placed four patches on their prisoner as instructed. Orso’s back leg twitched a tiny bit when the indigo disks were placed on him, but gave no other signs of waking up. Next swiftly came putting the muzzle over the mutant’s massive, powerful jaws, of which Chris had no issues being so dangerously close to. He managed to fasten it with ease and tugged it for good measure to check it wasn’t going to slip off.

The inhumanely strong man then got to work on his last task of loading the mutant onto the available rolling bed, which he was able to do once he activated his own enhancements. With a sickening, cracking noise, the young man’s form went from well-toned to beyond body-builder levels of bulk as all his muscles grew significantly. Chris soon held the sleeping being in his arms as he hefted the other off the ground and placed him on the gurney, making Orso land with a dull thud on the mattress. The assistant proceeded to return to normal with another round of painful sounds echoing in the lab as he did so, followed shortly by him going for the high-strength straps along the bed. He then fastened all three of them before giving a smirk of satisfaction as he began wheeling Orso to the very elevator his boss had used a few minutes prior.

“Don’t worry Mr. Knox. With any luck, this will all be over soon,” Chris told the other with an off-putting cheery tone and a big smile. With an audible whoosh, the metal panels opened and the two beings entered the elevator before they were inevitably lifted to another foreboding part of Sycorax.

                ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Everything was dark and numb in Orso’s mind until a slice of white stretched across his vision as he attempted to open his eyes when he heard people talking.

“How are his vials?”

“Currently holding steady Miss Amara.”

“Any change in his samples?”

“I’m sorry ma’am, but we’ve tried #36 on his blood and tissue samples already at five different dosages and everything is still the same.”

A disgruntled huff came before the familiar female voice growled, “This project is draining us. We need either results or more donors because finding a cure is currently more trouble than it’s worth.”

There was a brief awkward silence before a male voice piped up with, “But we will keep trying, right Miss Amara?”

“Of course we will. It’d be cruel to give up on a fellow human being with a terrible affliction,” Liv kindly answered, not missing a beat.

At that last remark, Orso managed to finally open his eyes, only to shut them again from the blinding white lights above him. The mutant was still strapped to the gurney, which didn’t matter much since he couldn’t feel his body, but he was able to gaze some once his vision became a little clearer. The walls seemed to be shades of green along with what he thought were silver cabinets and a few medical instruments positioned near him. He then could make out a distinctive beeping of a heart monitor as well as feet walking along the linoleum floor. Orso squinted in his groggy state and could make out five figures along the edge of the room with two of them sitting at a table and all of them had white lab coats on.

“Miss Amara, I think he’s waking up,” came a female scientist and as if to prove it, the beeping noise got a little louder as the mutated man realized they were talking about him and panic started to seep in.

“Then put him under before he becomes a problem,” the young CEO firmly ordered, followed by the sound of rapid footsteps coming towards him. A high-pitched whirring sound came and before Orso had a chance to even try and wriggle free, he found himself succumbing to the tranquilizer, slipping into unconsciousness once again as his world went black.

                _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It was several hours later by the time all the drugs wore off, leaving the rich man fatigued and famished from the whole ordeal. When he finally opened his eyes, he huffed in realization at where he was again, another wave of anger and sadness washing over him in the process. The transformed rich man gritted his jaw as he forced himself to stand again, which took a few times due to the weakness in his limbs and lingering effects from the transdermal patches. By the time he rose on shaky legs, his nostrils flared as he smelled a fresh chunk of meat slop that had been left by the security door.

Orso plodded over and started to ravenously bite into it. It was now that he started to register a dull pain from his right arm, but he didn’t need to look to know that’s where they must have gotten their sample for his DNA. The yellow-eyed monster continued to eat until he finally noticed he wasn’t alone in the lab. Once again, his captors stood at the main computer with Liv typing while Chris stood at her side reading over all that she was doing; this sight had unfortunately become part of Orso Knox’s cycle of treatment at Sycorax.

After a couple minutes of ignoring him, the CEO eventually stopped her work and walked over to the containment cell, her heels clicking loudly on the floor. “Sorry Orso, but it seems this new serum didn’t work as we’d hoped. Maybe we can try again next week,” Liv casually said, earning her a growl from the aforementioned mutant. She then scowled at him as she put her face right next to the orange panel and coldly added, “You have no idea how much I’ve sunk into curing you. Try to show a little gratitude.” Orso snarled at her remark as he forced himself onto two legs and slammed his fists onto the security door.

The young woman remained unfazed despite the scary display and merely uttered, “That’s clearly not appreciation.” Chris promptly came up beside her as the dark brown mutant glared down at them.

“Leeeet…Lee…L…” Orso tried to articulate, only to lower himself onto all fours as he coughed and growled for a few seconds. “Lee…L…” He strained his throat as he concentrated to speak, only to be met with frustration and failure as what came out were more roars and growls.

A thoughtful hum came from the other side of the cell, making the struggling monster snap his head in their direction to gauge what Liv was thinking. “It seems these experimental failings are detrimental not just financially, but are costing you your once human attributes as well. Guess this means you really are getting worse Orso,” the biotech specialist informed him with a hint of pity. She then switched to petty before she snidely said, “Looks like we’re both in trouble if a cure can’t be found, although you definitely got the short end of the straw on this one.”

The mutated rich man snarled again, but his intimidation efforts weren’t able to have any effect as the CEO and her assistant simply walked away. “Sleep well Orso. We’ll be back in the morning,” Liv nonchalantly called out to him with an unseen smirk, obviously not concerned enough about the other’s fate to show genuine care. They made it to the main elevator, where it opened with a ding and they entered inside, both flashing a look of repugnance at their problem still being unresolved after all this time.

As the doors closed and Orso was left on his own once more, he slowly stopped seething in anger as realization washed over him and allowed an icy grip of fear to flow through him. He laid himself back on the cold, hard floor, both in despair and because he was still weak from today’s experiment. The eerie, dark atmosphere of the secret lab only continued to increase his dread at never being normal again and he couldn’t help but let out a small whimper at this notion. Orso proceeded to take a few deep breaths in and out to try and calm himself so he could rest; it was when he did this though that it came to him that while he may have just lost the ability to speak, he could still do this simple act of thinking and focusing. So long as he had his mind, he wasn’t fully foregone and that he could still say he was human.

Must endure, he kept silently telling himself as he tried to keep a spark of hope lit within him as he fell into an uneasy sleep, which unfortunately were more common than not.

Chapter Text

It was a bright day in midsummer for the city of San Fransokyo, where Wasabi found himself whistling as he walked down the busy sidewalk. He weaved around the various people on his journey to one of his favorite stores: The Kurieitibu Yarn Shop. Although he admittedly didn’t get the chance to do as much knitting lately thanks to his heroic activities and the time-consuming factor that was college life, he still tried to do it when he could; now that he graduated, there was the chance to do more of the hobby he loved.

The physics major’s favorite thing to make was of course sweaters, but he also made booties for any newborns in the family as well as scarves, socks and blankets. Something though he had recently picked up was learning to crochet so he could try amigurumi, and so far, had mostly made a few cute dessert pieces that resembled cakes and pies; one that Wasabi was particularly proud of was when he created a set of balls in the color of the rainbow and gave them to Honey Lemon since they resembled her chem balls. She had accepted them with immense joy and gave him a big hug in return, followed by offering to make a portrait of him, to which Wasabi accepted so long as it wasn’t a surprise one; now he had come to get some more supplies and possibly see if there were any new patterns that caught his eye.

He eventually made it to his destination, admiring the dark red hues of the bricks that when paired with the forest green trim and door gave it a homey, small-town feel. Wasabi pushed the door open, making the bell above it go off as he let it close behind him. Inside the store, there were four 8ft tall aisles in the center dedicated to yarn while the left side was reserved for different needle sizes and patterns for the customers to browse through; the right side held a hallway for the bathroom along with the cashier station, which currently had one employee standing with short black hair and whose name tag read “Peyton.”

“Afternoon,” Wasabi greeted them with a smile.

“Afternoon,” they automatically replied, briefly looking up from their phone.

The sweater hero didn’t need any further prompting as he went off to the left first, browsing the books, pamphlets and cards available. He saw one for various argyle socks, but they didn’t pique his interest today. Wasabi also saw one for baby blankets, which had a teddy bear holding balloons on the cover; unfortunately, while it was full of cute patterns, none of his friends or family were currently expecting so he decided against it. He went through swatches for doilies, scarves, hats, and even some mittens, which he decided to take one of those. Wasabi proceeded to flip through a couple of books they had on sweaters and admittedly found some of the vest patterns rather pretty; instead of buying it though, he opted to note into his phone what the title of the book was in case he changed his mind and couldn’t find it again.

The physicist started to hum to himself as he made it to the end of the rack where all the needles and hooks were hung on the wall. While scanning over them, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly at how big some of them were with one hook he swore looked like it could be used as a harpoon while another set could have been used to joust with.

Alright! Time to get the supplies I actually need, Wasabi thought to himself as he finally started to browse the yarn selection. He started up the first aisle, which contained primarily thinner yarn used to make socks. Hmmm, I think I need something with a bit more weight, he remarked internally as he walked along, unable to resist picking up a few yarn balls as he went to see how soft they were with the baby alpaca wool being exceptionally silky. Aside from the variety of option this store had, Wasabi also appreciated that each brand/type was sorted by color as well, making the shelves appear to have a rainbow-like waterfall of string occur over and over again.

He then rounded the aisle and turned to his left to go down the second one, where he proceeded to stop as he looked ahead because instead of it just being massive spools of plush pastel baby yarn, he saw another young man browsing through the store’s wares. The stranger appeared to be in his mid 20s with black hair that was long enough to tie into a small ponytail and brown eyes. For this man’s attire, he was wearing a navy-blue shirt with some Kanji symbols on the chest, white shorts that went just below the knees and a pair of sneakers.

Wasabi stood there for a moment, honestly surprised that he wasn’t alone in the store as well as the other being a man since it was rare to encounter another in such a place. His delay in saying anything was just long enough for the unknown individual to spot him and give a small “Hey,” to which Wasabi promptly shook out of his daze and replied with a “Hi.”

The sweater-clad man took a few steps down the aisle, casting a curious glance at the poofy yarn to both sides of him until he inevitably was next to this stranger. Wasabi was anxiously rubbing his hands together during that time, trying to think of a proper ice breaker with this other guy because he was admittedly curious to see a fellow crafter and meeting new people could be fun if it wasn’t a force situation. Maybe a joke would be good or should I ask what he’s looking for? Nah. Too forward for a first question. I guess I could just do the tried-and-true method. Hopefully it won’t come off as corny though, he plotted internally as his chance to introduce himself quickly approached. Okay. Now or never.

“So…you like to work with yarn too, huh? Do you come here often?” Wasabi blurted out, getting the unknown individual’s attention as he set down a ball of powder-blue wool.

“Oh, uh yeah, I’d say so. A couple times a month maybe. And you?” the ponytailed man asked with a kind smile, looking a little unsure of the situation but willing to see where it went.

“Me? I’d say only about once or twice a month too, but it might be more now that I picked up amigurumi,” the tall physicist answered as he mirrored the other’s actions, already feeling some nervousness ebb away.

The other man’s eyes went wide for a moment in surprise as he soon remarked, “Amigurumi? Wow. I’ve always felt kind of intimidated by all the complex shapes they can get with those, but the ones I’ve seen are pretty cute.”

“Yeah, they can be, but I’m still a beginner with it, although I’ve mainly done knitting my whole life. Then one day I just thought to myself, ‘Why not give it a try?’ My name’s Isiah by the way, but most people call me “Wasabi,”” the aforementioned scientist informed his fellow crafter, extending a hand to shake.

Quirking an eyebrow, the second individual firmly took it and properly shook Wasabi’s before saying, ““Wasabi” huh? I bet there’s an interesting story behind that, aside from liking green, I’m sure. As for me, I’m Brandon.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Brandon. I hope I’m not being too forward in asking you about what you’re working on? I’m just curious since I’m usually a sweater maker myself,” the physicist asked as he gestured to the jade-colored one he was wearing, flashing a small smile.

Looking a tad surprised, the other man quickly recovered as he returned the smile and answered, “I actually was looking into making a baby blanket. I’ve got a cousin who’s expecting and wanted me to make a star-shaped one for them.”

“Ooo. That sounds nice. Making baby stuff is usually my job in the family too,” Wasabi told him.

“Well, someone has to I guess, either that or buy it, but when you know how to make them, it kind of feels like taking the easy way out,” Brandon commented as he put a hand to his hip, enjoying the casual conversation now too as his task was sidelined. He then proceeded to inquire, “So, you working on anything in particular or just doing it for fun?”

“Eh, nothing special. Figured I’d use some of the free time I’ve got now to get better at crocheting since I’m still pretty much a novice,” the physicist casually responded.

Brandon nodded in understanding, followed by tilting his head in intrigue at the wording the other used. “Got some free time, huh? Did you finish school or just taking a break from work or…” the ponytailed man trailed off, making Wasabi get a tad flustered a few seconds later when he finally realized he was supposed to answer.

“Oh, sorry. It’s kind of both of them. Just graduated from SFIT and are currently looking for a job,” the superhero quickly replied, scratching the back of his head as he sheepishly grinned.

“Wow, that’s incredible! Only geniuses are supposed to go there. I’ve taken some classes at SFAI myself,” Brandon said before he gave a short laugh. “I guess that means we’re enemies then.”

Wasabi briefly chuckled as he made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “It doesn’t matter anymore and besides, it was supposed to only really be serious during rivalry week,” he assured the other, who let out a small snort and conceded with, “That’s fair.”

Wasabi copied Brandon’s action and asked, “It’s all good. I’ve got a friend who’s gone to SFAI as well and she loved it there. So, what did you study?”

The blue-shirted young man shrugged and replied, “I wouldn’t say studied so much as just went to learn more about sculpting. I think it’s really cool how intricate they can get and being able to create something from literally a block of clay or wood or whatever.” Brandon got visibly more excited as he spoke, smile brightening and Wasabi found it infectious.

“That’s great you got to do something you love. For me it’s physics, lasers, photons, all that sciency stuff, but it’s still nice to have things outside of school to enjoy like my knitting and yoga,” the superhero told the other, giving off the same energy and enthusiasm.

“Yeah,” Brandon simply said, almost quietly as he found himself briefly avoiding the taller man’s gaze. They then both stood in the quiet, mostly vacant store as silence hung between them, neither sure what else to ask. After a few seconds of mixed giddiness and wariness, the moment was broken by a vibrating ringing coming from Wasabi’s front pocket.

“Oh, excuse me. One sec,” he said as he quickly reached into his pants and nearly fumbled the phone as he pulled it out.

“Hello?”

“Wasabi! We’ve got Noodle Burger Boy and fam trouble in downtown! Get here as soon as you can,” came the frantic voice of Fred.

“Alright. I’ll be there as soon as I can,” Wasabi replied in a serious tone before he hung up. He then turned to see Brandon staring as him with a puzzled expression, causing the scientist to give a sheepish grin.

“I’m really sorry Brandon, but that was my friend and he needs me to help with an urgent matter,” Wasabi explained/apologized. He proceeded to briefly flit his eyes to the door as his sense of urgency fought with wanting to stay; with resolve though, he smiled more genuinely and said, “But I had a nice time talking with you, so…would it be okay if I got your number?” He immediately switched gears a moment later as he added in a more flustered manner, “If it’s too forward or too soon, I’m sorry and I understand completely. I just thought it’d be fun to see what you’re working on and I can show you what I’m doing; it’s rare to find people that actually care about what I makes and I’d hate to end this so soon, and-” Wasabi stopped his ramble when he noticed Brandon holding back as a snicker, followed by him holding out his hand to have the other give him his phone. The sweater-wearing man gave a short “Oh” as he opened the device up and created a new account for his fellow crafter. Brandon smirked as he took the cell phone and inputted the 10-digit number before giving it back to Wasabi.

“There. Now go help your friend with whatever and text me later whenever you’re ready to chat,” the ponytailed man stated with an almost teasing smile.

Wasabi let the corner of his mouth tug up again as he gave a quick “Thanks,” followed by turning and briskly walking out the door, making the bell above it fill the store with its ringing.

“He seems nice.”

Chapter Text

“I don’t know why I’m so nervous. It’s just a little interview. I’ve done them before and it was no big deal. Are you nervous at all Carl?” Globby anxiously inquired as he turned to his boyfriend on his right. Currently the couple was sitting in their favorite booth at Joe’s Diner, waiting on Megan Cruz, who said she wanted to interview them for her school paper. The reporter had only said that she wanted to ask them about their transition to good and living honest lives no longer as criminals, but the gelatinous mutant found himself more worried about being questioned by a teenager than Bluff Dunder or some other adult.

At hearing Globby’s question and concerns, Felony Carl smiled sympathetically at the other as he put a large arm around him, making his love grin a little as well. “I am doing alright Globs. It is possible that it stems from being interviewed by one so young and impressionable that you do not wish to change the perceived image that they have of you, but I am sorry your nerves are currently bothering you. Maybe you will feel better once the young reporter arrives and we get started. Is there anything I can do to alleviate your anxiety in the meantime?” the reformed man offered, his expression never waning.

The superhero could only softly chuckle before he replied, “Just doing this is helping plenty.”

“Then I shall continue with my embrace,” Felony Carl said as he smirked in satisfaction and used his free hand to sip his iced tea. Globby himself proceeded to turn to his own coffee and drank from it, glad the beverage wasn’t too hot and that he got the sugar to creamer ratio right. He then gazed around at the lunch rush crowd that were occupying the other booths, filling the small establishment with random conversation and the sound of eating.

Ding.

The ringing of the front door brought the shapeshifter’s attention back to his right and he saw Megan enter. Globby then gently nudged Felony Carl as he gave a brief wave to say hi and for the young reporter to come over (even though she had already seen the couple the instant she stepped into the diner).

“Hi Globby. It’s good to see you again,” Megan politely greeted before she faced the other man. “And you must be Felony Carl. Nice to meet you,” she said as he extended a hand to shake. The former felon took the young girl’s smaller mitt into his much larger one and gave it a brief but welcoming shake.

“It is a delight to be properly introduced to you too. I have only heard about you from Globby and it was in regards to both this interview as well as him helping to save you some months ago from those robotic menaces,” Felony Carl replied back before turning towards the aforementioned hero, who appeared to be blushing bashfully.

Megan nodded as she slid into the seat opposite of them and told them with a smile, “Yeah, he definitely helped out a lot in that fight, so thanks again Globby.”

The pink and purple man definitely seemed noticeably redder from the kind words and attention, but he still managed to say, “You’re welcome, Megan and I’m glad I was able to do what I could to help. I’m mainly just happy it didn’t end so, well…not happy.” He gave a small, nervous chuckle on the last part, but before anyone else could say anything, their waiter came over to get the teenager’s order.

“Good morning, ma’am. Is there anything I can get for you to drink or eat?” the blonde woman in her mid-30s with the blue uniform inquired.

“Sure, uh, I guess I’ll take a lemonade,” she answered to which Felony Carl quickly added, “Be sure to put it on our bill.” The waiter nodded and took off towards the counter, followed by Megan looking at the duo in front of her and seeing them smile kindly at her.

“Thanks, you didn’t have to do that,” the supersleuth told them.

Globby made a dismissive gesture and replied, “It’s no big deal, and thank you for giving us this interview. I don’t think I was ever in my school paper growing up. Were you Carl?”

The aforementioned man pondered for a moment and said, “Not to my recollection, but it has been a while, so who knows?”

“That’s fair,” his boyfriend responded with a short laugh. Although no questions had been asked yet, the casual conversation already seemed to ease Globby’s nerves some more.

It was only a few seconds later when their waitress (named Stephanie) returned with Megan’s drink, making her give another “Thanks” before she took a swig. “So, ready to start then?” Megan inquired once she had some lemonade and fished her pen and notebook out of her jacket.

“Yeah, I think we are. So uh, I guess fire away,” Globby replied as he looked at Felony Carl and got a confirming head nod.

Putting pen to paper, the reported got more serious and said, “Alright, question 1: You both are former criminals, so would you care to share what you did to break the law?”

The unibrowed man was first to answer as he informed Megan, “I have had a strained relationship with the law ever since I was a teenager, but it usually consisted of minor infractions such as jay walking and speeding tickets.”

“Hence the name “Misdemeanor Carl,”” Globby chimed in with a teasing expression that quickly dissolved into an affectionate chuckle.

His boyfriend smiled and nodded before continuing with, “That is correct. My mother is very creative like that. I had committed various minor thefts for a certain period of time, but the crime that got my status officially changed to “Felony Carl” was getting into a fight at an event I was bouncing and being charged with assault, even though I was not the one who instigated it.”

Megan quickly scribbled everything down as fast as she could while intermittently looking at the interviewee. “Uh-huh,” she uttered in understanding once the burly man was finished, followed by turning to Globby and making his eyes go wide for a moment. “And you?”

With a mix of regret and apprehension, the superhero let out a deep breath as he remembered it was behind him now and told her, “Well, I’m sure you know about all my activities from when I was a villain, so I’ll save you some time mentioning those, but before then, it really was only petty theft.” He then turned to Felony Carl and let a small smile cross his face as he gave a playful nudge. “This guy here knows all about just how great a thief I was. How many times did I stumble or lose whatever I stole like three seconds later?” Globby cheekily asked Felony Carl with his self-deprecating question, obviously feeling more comfortable now.

A short laugh escaped from the motorcyclist and honestly replied, “Too many to possibly give an accurate count.” They both chuckled and although Megan was still writing, she managed to grin back like one does when they see others being happy.

Once they stopped their jovial fit, they both sighed contently before Globby added, “Yeah Megan, I can really only say petty theft as my peak criminal level for years and I refused to consider any other career options up to last year.”

“Okay,” the young interviewer said as she flipped the page over on her notebook. She then inquired, “So, what was your reasoning for becoming criminals/committing your crimes?” The two former felons blinked in unison as they processed her question, prompting Megan to elaborate. “I’m only asking because I know some people are criminals because they get put into a bad position and don’t have a way out but that. You don’t have to answer it it’s uncomfortable.”

A moment of silence passed between the trio as Megan went to take another sip of lemonade; it was eventually broken by Globby scratching the back of his head and answering her question with a touch of apprehension. “Well…sadly for me, while I did steal to make money, I also did it because there were people that said I couldn’t once I started fumbling my heists.” He gave a small shrug as he continued with, “Sure, I started off thinking being a thief was my calling and that I could work to be the best one, but at a certain point, I think it became pettiness with a need to prove my doubters wrong rather than just make a big score; my stubbornness as I said before played a part too.” The gelatinous mutant then smiled a little as he gazed at his own pink and purple hand, knowing some good had at least came out of his illegal mistakes. “But I must admit, without being a thief and having inexplicable things conspire against me, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now with a great guy by my side and feeling so good about myself.” He put an arm around Felony Carl now to emphasize the point, making the other return the gesture.

Their interviewer nodded in understanding, although she herself didn’t know the full details of Globby’s mutation and who he once was, but those questions didn’t seem appropriate to ask. She scribbled another sentence down on her notepad, followed by looking at the other reformed criminal and said, “Do you want to say something or skip this one?”

It was Felony Carl’s turn to shrug as he replied, “Eh, I can tell you. Really except for the assault, which was motivated through my egregious acts of retaliation, my minor infraction were merely myself disregarding the law because I did not find them particularly just. Truth be told, some people break the law because they do not care or it is due to ignorance, while the other times it is a push from unfortunate circumstances; everyone’s case is different and that should factor into rehabilitation moving forward, but it does not mean redemption should be based solely on previous mistakes.”

Megan now blinked at how much Felony Carl said, and after a couple seconds, prompted Globby to lightheartedly tell her, “He’s so profound, am I right?” That seemed to snap her out of her state while earning the slimy being an affectionate chuckle from his partner. The young reporter kept writing during this time and was almost done until she got interrupted by their waitress Stephanie coming back.

“Do you three need anything else? Refill or some food maybe?” she inquired, looking at each occupant as she did so.

They all stared at each other with Megan giving a shrug in response, followed by Globby answering, “I think we’re good for now. Thanks Stephanie.”

“No problem and just flag me down if you change your minds,” the young blonde said before turning away, making the former criminals turn their focus back to Megan.

“You got another question ready?” the superhero politely asked as he reached for his drink.

“One second,” she replied as she resumed jotting down the last sentence. She proceeded to flip the page right after and continued. “Okay. So, was it easy to decide on reforming and when did you decided to do it?”

“Oh, that one’s easy for me to rant about, although it really is a specific case, so you may want to disclose that Megan: Individual experience may vary,” Globby spoke first, putting his hands up to emphasize the end of his sentence.

“I think that is a recurring theme here today,” Felony Carl slyly added before they all chuckled for a moment at the comment.

When the gelatinous mutant stopped his soft laughter, he gave a clearing cough and said, “Anyway, you probably already know this too, but for the sake of being sure, I did become a good guy when the whole star incident happened.” He then couldn’t help but look down in guilt, avoiding even his boyfriend’s gaze as he continued with, “I should have asked questions instead of blindly following orders, but it felt good to be part of a team that actually needed me and to win at something for once. It wasn’t always great with some rude comments and gestures thrown my way, but I was treated bad and called a monster when I became Globby right off the bat even when I didn’t do anything; so, in a way, I felt that was my only option.” The shapeshifter let out a small scoff as a grin returned to his face and told Megan, “Granted, if I had actually listened to what Honey Lemon said, I could have been reformed a lot sooner.”

He then paused to take a sip of his now lukewarm coffee before he answered the other part of the inquiry. “As for it being easy, it certainly was pretty simple to choose saving the city. It may not have been particularly good to me up to that point, but I couldn’t let everyone die because seriously, that’s evil!” Globby went wide-eyed at the horror of just thinking about if they had failed. Shortly afterwards, he felt a reassuring pat on his back, making him relax and look at his partner, smile wider and say, “Thanks.”

“No problem, Globs.”

Globby remained silent for a few more seconds until he thought of something else relevant. “Oh Megan, another thing I should mention is that while I did stick out and, in my opinion, have gotten pretty good at being good, there were plenty of times where it felt like I was a failure at it too. I mean, it’s pretty obvious why such things as finding a job were difficult, and the one I did get was only for about a day; granted, it was a justifiable firing as I made a pretty big mess,” he informed the brown-haired teen as he scratched the back of his neck. “I’m glad that I didn’t let the challenge of adjusting stop me from helping and keep me from doing what I love in the end, but they did make it so I thought that I was really the problem and I needed to change to fit in better,” he added with noticeable melancholy.

Felony Carl gave a solemn nod in agreement before he voiced his own experience to Megan, telling her, “That part is rather common unfortunately. Often times I have had little choice other than to accept positions that play to my muscular physique and gruff demeanor; not to say I did not enjoy those employment opportunities, but more options would be preferable.”

“Uh-huh,” the supersleuth slowly said with a touch of sympathy as she jotted everything down and even flipping another page to write some more, followed by letting the other two know, “Well, interestingly enough, my next question was about the difficulties you two faces, so we got that one answered.” She then turned to the motorcyclist and inquired, “Did you have anything to say about your decision to turn over a new leaf Felony Carl?”

Both Globby and Megan looked at him while he contemplated for a moment, only to give a shrug once more as he replied, “There really is not much to tell. I did not enjoy my time in incarceration and wished to spend my efforts contributing more to society so I would not be a repeat offender. I am thankful my transition was not as challenging as Globby’s was, but it did take longer to achieve a broader level of acceptance since I did not save the city like he did.” He gave a wink once he was done to his boyfriend, earning him a small smile of gratitude. Internally, the 15yr old went aww at their continued affection towards each other as she wrote down Felony Carl’s response. She took another drink of her lemonade as she flipped the page with her free hand, noticing it was already the last question.

“Okay. It looks like I’ve got one more left. What do you do to keep from falling back into your previous illegal habits and what are your goals as a law-abiding citizen?” she asked as she prepped and looked back at the former felons.

Both of them first smiled at the inquiry, followed by the couple facing each other as the gelatinous mutant gave a nod to signal for his boyfriend to go first, to which he silently returned the gesture. “Since my partner wants to save his answer for last, let me inform you that at least for me it got easier with time. Prejudice and first impressions can still happen, and I admittedly do frequent some disreputable places in Good Luck Alley since I have other felonious friends, but I mainly just keep remembering that the life I have is good and I do what I can to not repeat my past mistakes.” He then paused for a few seconds to sip his tea, giving a satisfied “Mmm” before he finished with, “As for the second part of your question, I really do not have much ambition beyond keeping what I have with Globs here and to maintain my work ethic so I can paint myself as a reliable, upstanding man.”

Megan smiled in admiration as she wrote down the unibrowed man’s response while Globby found himself leaning on the other’s shoulder for a moment, then telling him, “That was so sweet Carl.”

“The young investigative reporter wanted the truth after all, so that is what I told. Now, I believe it is you turn to shed the proverbial light on your rehabilitation initiatives,” Felony Carl replied with a sly grin that transitioned to an encouraging one almost immediately after.

“Oh right,” the gelatinous mutant quickly said before facing Megan again, who still had her head down towards her notepad. He only had to wait a moment though as the teenager quickly stated, “Okay, I’m ready,” followed by looking at him expectantly.

Globby smiled right back at Megan as he promptly told her, “In a lot of ways, my answers are very similar to Felony Carl’s; I have a good life now that I really can appreciate because there are genuine people in it that care about me and want me to succeed.” He flashed a knowing, appreciative glance to his boyfriend as he added, “For me, I just remember all the love and hugs I get that I never received as a villain as well as doing good actually makes me feel good, and the fact that I’ve done pretty well at it makes me feel like I’ve finally found what I’m meant to do with my life; sure, the fame that’s come with being a superhero has its perks, but it never compares to having someone thank me for helping them or knowing that I’m making a difference. So, I’m basically going to keep doing what I’ve been doing since turning over a new leaf because villain life certainly doesn’t hold a candle to what I have now.” By the end of his speech, he felt like he was positively beaming with vigor and happiness the truth of it all gave him; it seemed to rub off on the others too as his boyfriend mirrored the same bright smile while Megan had barely taken her eyes off the reformed criminal as she wrote every word down.

The couple gave the reporter their patience as she finished up before Globby inquired, “So, was that good enough or is there anything else you need?”

Megan closed her notebook and emphatically replied, “No, this is perfect! I still plan on interviewing some other people to get that wider net of experiences, but you guys were great and I’m glad things have been going well for the two of you. Thanks again for taking time out of your day for me.”

“No trouble at all. It was a pleasure to have formally met you and seeing one so young this enthusiastic about reducing stigmatism towards individuals like us certainly warms my heart,” Felony Carl eloquently said with a sincere grin, to which his love quickly copies with a nod of his own.

“Yeah, thank you for doing this and that can’t be overstated,” Globby added, making Megan feel a slight blush come to her cheeks from the positive attention.

The brown-haired teen then gave a clearing cough and inquired, “So, is there anything you need from me now?”

The couple looked at each other as they had a silent conversation, smiling and turning to Megan again before Felony Carl responded with, “If you are not too busy, perhaps you can stay for lunch, our treat and way of saying thanks for everything as well as just general courteousness.”

“Maybe we can even keep the talking going, but us asking you some questions this time because we’re just a couple of curious guys and know you’ve probably got things going on that you’d like to talk about,” Globby cheekily chimed in with a wink.

With a surprised blink at the two men and a few seconds to make her decision, Megan eventually nodded and answered, “Alright…I don’t have to be anywhere for another hour, so there’s still some time to eat and chat.” She then peered around as she searched for Stephanie, finding her and waving the waitress over. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“No trouble at all.”

With that said, they all managed to smile at each other before Stephanie returned, prompting them to all finally order something to eat and turning their meeting from a mere interview into a more equal opportunity to learn about one another.

Chapter Text

“Are you sure you wish to proceed Master Mini-Max? This whole thing seems trivial given your advance programming and previous experiences,” the gentleman butler Heathcliff asked as he straightened his jacket and cufflinks. He stared across the circular pavilion where the diminutive superhero Mini-Max stood in his blue armor, attempting to stretch his nonexistent muscles.

 “On the contrary my immaculately-dressed chum. You are still a quite capable and highly skilled former secret agent, trained in all manner of offensive and defensive moves that has possibly escaped my database, not to mention the techniques and combos you have honed throughout the years,” the robotic being countered, reaching his short arms up to the sky.

“If you insist my fellow acquaintance,” the older human replied, giving a shrug as he braced for the other to go first. Since learning of Heathcliff’s spy history, Mini-Max had become rather fascinated in wanting to know more about him, even observing him while he performed his daily tasks around the mansion; eventually though, he decided to ask for this sparring session, both out of vital superhero training and because he did think it’d be fun.

Once Mini-Max gave a satisfied sigh after his stretch, he then prepared his attack stance with his arms held up and loudly asked, “Ready to do battle with someone much smaller than yourself, righteous friend?”

“Always ready good sir,” Heathcliff responded with a smirk as he stood waiting on the robot.

Nobody so much as twitched for almost 10seconds when Mini-Max let out his battle cry and activated his tiny thrusters, charging straight first at the butler. When he was within inches of his target, Heathcliff suddenly sidestepped to safety, leaving the surprised hero punching nothing but air as he quickly turned back to try again. Mini-Max attempted three more times to at least make contact with the other, but the retired spy’s only concern was swiftly dodging rather make any offensive attacks.

“This is quite the frustrating quandary you are putting me in. I was single-handedly able to subdue five member of Big Hero 6, and yet you prove vastly more elusive; then again, I did have mechanical and chemical assistance in their capture,” Mini-Max wondered out loud as he put a hand to his nonexistent chin, apparently now realizing that key fact.

Heathcliff faced his opponent again and tucked his hand behind his back before informing the superhero, “A good fighter makes use of what’s around them, both objects and the terrain. You are certainly no less a worthy adversary just because the situation is different from then.” He briefly paused due to Mini-Max moving his hand from his face and tilting it like one does when processing something, then continued as few seconds later. “A lot of energy can be wasted on offensive moves, which is why I prefer evasive techniques; they also have the added benefit of allowing me to get in close and strike with impeccable precision,” he added with a suspicious glint in his eye. The instant he finished speaking, he swiftly pinched Mini-Max’s wing, demonstrating the lesson he was trying to instill into the other.

While still in midair, the robotic companion turned his head, looked at the held wing and faced Heathcliff once again to utter, “Oh.”

The gentleman butler released Mini-Max afterward, taking a step back and offering, “If you wish for me to be more confrontational and less dodgy, merely say so sir. I’m very well capable of performing both.”

“Hmmm,” Mini-Max debated while his opponent waited patiently until he finally raised a finger and declared, “Offensive would be beneficial to my training, but I wish for the genuine world-traveling spy treatment, so if that means I have to calculate a way to land a hit, then so be it!”

Heathcliff nodded in acknowledgement before telling him, “Very well. Ready for round 2 as they say?”

“Indeed, righteous chum,” the smaller robot answered before he quickly moved his thrusters and flew towards his target, trying to get the element of surprise on his side; the well-trained human anticipated as much however and avoided being hit. Mini-Max did not repeat the same tactic as before though as once he failed to punch Heathcliff, he fired one of his rocket fists at the other, loudly proclaiming, “Mini-Maximum Rocket Fist!” Despite the rocket’s fast speed, it was still small enough that his opponent managed to knock it away with a backhanded motion, leaving it to return to its owner without dealing any damage. The flying hero only had to contemplate his next move for a second as he aimed his other gauntlet at the butler’s legs now, shouting his battle cry again as the little weapon whizzed through the air.

With a smirk on his face, Heathcliff rapidly jumped and backflipped on the spot, leaving the blue fist to collide with the stoned surface he was standing on. He landed perfectly on his two feet and promptly looked at his sparring partner as he attempted to charge without waiting for his weapon to come back. “I’m sorry Master Mini-Max…” Heathcliff matter-of-factly started, only to pause as he leaned forward and with an outstretched hand, placed it on top of the flying robot in time to leap over him while deflecting the other downward.

“Huh?” Mini-Max uttered in confusion as he was left flying through the air.

“…but you did request I give you proper treatment for when I face a challenger,” the polite man then finished his sentence as he stood straight and dusted his jacket. “I believe this means victory is mine for a second time,” he added with a small smile.

The energetic robot reoriented himself so as to face Heathcliff once again, giving a thoughtful hum before he loudly said, “Clearly, it’s my own tactics that need adjusting loyal butler of the Fredericksons! Villainy will likely not hold back when I do battle with them and neither should you! Allow me a moment to determine an optimal attack though if you would be so kind.”

“I will of course oblige Master Mini-Max, but I fear we may only have a short time left to which to duel as there are other matters to attend to,” the retired spy informed his opponent with a nod.

Mini-Max returned the gesture and replied, “Very well! Thinking on your feet is shall be then until you must depart for your inside affairs. Round 3 in one, two, three!”

Without further delay, the armored robot used his rockets to fly towards Heathcliff, except this time, he rapidly circled the human, staying far enough away to avoid being kicked or swatted; unfortunately, this meant the movements around his opponent were not as fast as they could be if he was closer. Heathcliff maintained his composure as he followed Mini-Max with his eyes, waiting for the inevitable attack.

The first blow came from behind as the robot managed to actually land a rocket punch on the back of the butler’s leg, resulting in him reflexively turning his head to where Mini-Max would be coming into view. “Ah ha!” the diminutive superhero exclaimed at his small victory as he continued to fly and have his gauntlet return to his arm; his win was short-lived though as the former spy proceeded to get down low and swiftly rolled out of Mini-Max’s loop, popping out onto the other side.

“Gasp,” the tiny robot stated as he ceased his flying and switched gears to close combat while Heathcliff initially tried to right himself up, resulting in him tumbling to the left to avoid being hit.

“Excellent change of tactic sir,” the eloquent man complimented once he was on one knee again, flashing a genuine impressed smile while maintaining his focus.

“I am merely taking your advice to my metaphorical heart,” Mini-Max shot back as he arced and swooped in low to the ground.

Rather than standing up, the former spy proceeded to deliver a sweeping kick in hopes of hitting the other, but the latter had enough space and time to aim his wings so he lifted himself safely above Heathcliff’s foot. The taller of the two then leaned back to avoid Mini-Max punching him in the chest, getting close enough though to feel the hot air of the thrusters brush his face and taking this opportunity to finally get back onto his feet while the small robot made a 180° turn.

“That was the proverbial close shave I must say,” the gentleman quipped before he heard the call of “Mini-Maximum Rocket Punch” once more. The blue blaster came and although he swiftly turned his torso, Heathcliff didn’t avoid the attack this time as it struck him in the sternum; fortunately, the force felt barely stronger than a shove, so he was able to still stay up right. Mini-Max came straight for him again as the butler regained his focus on the other and rather than dodge this time, switched to offensive. When the robotic superhero was an arm’s length, Heathcliff held his limb out with his palm open as he used his hand to take hold of the flying one’s helmet as he struck him and quickly swung his arm upward.

“Aaaahhh!” Mini-Max couldn’t help but scream as he found himself shooting through the air against his will and needing a moment to get reoriented. “Well played smartly dressed chum,” he said with excitement and let out a hearty chuckle. He proceeded to dive bomb back towards the ground as his opponent braced himself for another attack; just before the diminutive bot was about to reach the other however, he veered off course to come in from the side as he gave his battle cry and launched another gauntlet this time, managing to hit Heathcliff’s shoulder.

“Nice move on your part too sir,” the mustached man slyly complimented before turning himself to keep his eyes on Mini-Max as he circled him yet again.

“I say let’s end this final round,” the blue-clad superhero loudly proclaimed, soon increasing the power to his jets and preparing for his last attack. Up to this point in the fight, Heathcliff was left at the mercy of the other and forced to react rather than take the offensive; so, as Mini-Max came in a final time, he switched roles and took the initiative, running away from his incoming attacker.

“How unexpected,” the mechanical one remarked, leveling himself out about 8ft off the ground as he was left to chase after the butler, who seemed to be making his way towards the hedges. The well-dressed gentleman then leapt over the green shrubs and quickly got down before tucking himself under the branches.

Mini-Max flew a couple feet lower now as he prepared to surprise his counterpart, inching closer and closer until he eventually passed over the plants and yelled with his arms out ready to attack, “Ah-ha!” Instead of being greeted to the sight of a crouching human however, there was nothing but some well-kept greenery. He cocked his head in confusion and uttered, “Well, this is confounding.” He was just starting to scan for Heathcliff when he suddenly found both of his suit’s wings being firmly held, making him quickly turn his head completely around to find his desired target keeping him in place.

“I believe that is game, set and match Master Mini-Max,” Heathcliff told the aforementioned robot with a satisfied smile, followed by releasing him and brushing off his suit.

After he felt the former spy free him, Mini-Max rotated the rest of his body towards the other before emphatically commenting, “Defeated once again! Here I thought I had gotten the drop on you, but it was you who got the drop on me! I was correct to say this would be good for my training!”

Heathcliff gave a small, genuine grin and nodded at the other before he humbly said, “I’m glad I was able to provide you with a different experience sir, although I’m sure you’ve had your share of more riveting fights.”

The flying hero spread his arms and legs wide in exclamation as he informed the butler, “Nonsense! True I have faced mutants and monsters alike, but one should never discount the trained fighter or covert agent!”

The taller of the two made a dismissive gesture now as he replied, “It’s all part of the spy game. No big deal really. I wouldn’t have been nearly as successful if I weren’t so well-versed in stealth, but if it was beneficial to you, I’ll once again say I’m happy to be of service.”

“And I thank you good chum for being so accommodating! We really must do it again in the future,” Mini-Max suggested, offering a hand to shake like one does to make a deal.

Heathcliff merely stared at the small appendage for a moment before smiling warmly at the idea and politely shaking it like the gentleman he was. “It would be a pleasure.” The duo continued this action for a couple seconds and would have probably started conversing again had they not heard a voice cry out in disbelief, “What?!” They both rapidly turned their heads to find Fred, who had somehow managed to sneak up on both of them, staring at the pair with a look of hurt and frustration.

“You two were doing some sort of superhero training and didn’t tell me about it?! Do you have any idea how cool that would have been to see?” Fred huffed with arms stretched out in exasperation.

Mini-Max and Heathcliff glanced at each other, realizing they weren’t going to get off easy for this slight against the comic book fan, which prompted the former to start with, “We can explain.”

Chapter Text

It was 7am on Monday, April 19^th that Megan Cruz awoke from her sleep thanks to the chiming of her phone alarm and immediately gave an excited squeal as today was her 15^thbirthday; sure, most people weren’t too happy about a Monday birthday, but she made red velvet cupcakes to bring to class today as well as was going to have a special dinner at the Lucky Cat Café, courtesy of Cass. Things were admittedly a bit awkward between Hiro’s aunt and her dad since he left in the middle of their date to go after Fred, but they were still talking at least; him coming home covered in leaves and mud was definitely not how Megan saw that night ending, but she was just glad he was safe after the fiasco that unfolded thanks to his pursuit of BH6.

Megan soon got out of bed and immediately went to get dressed. She put on her favorite green and white-striped shirt, jeans and black jacket, but she decided to add something extra to her ensemble today by putting a rainbow pin on as well. Once satisfied, she pocketed her cellphone and swiftly headed to the bathroom, where she inspected herself in the mirror and began brushing her teeth, humming along to “Keep It” as she went. After she got all fresh and clean, she went back into the hallway and realized she smelled something cooking.

“Mmm, chocolate chip pancakes,” the young reporter said out loud in bliss before she quickened her pace and went down the stairs in two seconds flat.

“I think I hear a certain birthday girl coming this way,” came the voice of her father from the kitchen, who Megan saw standing next to the stove once she made it to the other room. Her dad had a spatula in his hand and two plates resting on the counter next to him with one already having a pancake on it. The supersleuth also noted that the kitchen table had been set with a glass of milk for her, a cup of orange juice for her dad and both had a banana next to the silverware to go with breakfast.

“Hey kiddo. I was beginning to wonder if you were awake yet, but here you are. Anyway, happy birthday Megan,” Diego greeted his daughter as he lifted the completed pancake onto the second plate.

“Thanks dad,” she replied with a bright grin as she walked over and gave him a hug. He returned the gesture after he sat the spatula down and turned off the burner.

“Love you dad,” Megan said as she looked up at him and made the embrace a little tighter.

“Love you too,” he quickly told her as he did the same. They then pulled apart as her father proceeded to grab the two plates and gestured towards the table.

The duo was sitting a couple seconds later with Megan reaching for the syrup first, applying a generous amount and lastly passing it off to her dad. “Thanks again for breakfast. They’re delicious,” she complimented him once she had a couple bites, already savoring the semisweet chocolate chips in the pancakes.

“You’re welcome. I know they’re not as good as Cass’s or Joe’s Diner, but I’m glad the box mix did the job,” Diego remarked as he started to dig into his meal.

The daughter and father pair were silent for a couple minutes afterwards, save for the sounds of chewing, sipping and clinking of the fork on the plate, but was eventually broken by the chief of police. “So, you excited for this evening?” he tried to casually ask.

Megan nodded and answered with a grin, “Uh-huh. It’ll be nice to have just a little get together with friends and I can’t wait to see what Cass made me for my cake.”

Diego smiled warmly at his daughter’s reaction and followed up with, “You still just planning Hiro and his other college friends to attend or did you want some from your own class too?”

The supersleuth playfully rolled her eyes at her father’s question and with slight admonishment said, “Dad, I already told you that Jessie has swim practice tonight, Ava has a project due this week and Michelle has to babysit her little brother. I know this happens when you have a birthday party on a Monday, but since you’re treating everyone to a day at the Pizza-Party-torium on Saturday, I thought having something less hectic and stressful tonight would be nice.”

Her dad quirked an eyebrow and retorted with, “Are you sure it’s not because you want to have two parties instead of one?”

Megan gave him a deadpanned look until her dad finally raised his hands up placatingly and said, “Alright, alright. My mistake.” She smiled at that and the two returned to eating, finishing less than 10minutes later. Once they were done, the 15yr old gathered up the dishes and put them in the dishwasher, earning her an affectionate head shake from her dad. “You know I could have taken care of that.”

Megan smiled, shrugged and slyly replied, “It’s not exactly a hard thing to do.”

“You’ve got me there kiddo,” the older man conceded with a smirk. He then looked around and told her, “Better get your bag for school. I’ll drive you today so you don’t have to juggle those cupcakes.”

His daughter nodded in understanding and chirped, “Thanks dad,” followed by giving him another brief hug and leaving the kitchen.

The young teen did as she was ordered and went back upstairs to fetch her backpack, which she had the foresight to pack the night before, but still checked to she had everything nonetheless. “Okay,” she stated to herself after she zipped the bag back up, checked her phone for any missed messages and quickly made her way downstairs. “Ready,” Megan announced, where she then grinned widely at the sight of her dad coming down the hallway with 2-1/2 dozen cupcakes in their plastic containers.

“And I’m ready too,” Diego cheekily informed her as he got closer, prompting Megan to open the door for him. “Well, thank you kindly little lady,” he told her with an inflection as he stepped outside.

“Dad,” the supersleuth lightheartedly groaned as she soon followed and locked the door behind her, helping her dad get the treats into the police car and officially ready to start the school day.

                  _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Man, I was not expecting that pop quiz in math today. I’m glad it wasn’t too hard, but giving it to us on a Monday is just cruel,” Megan grumbled to her friends Ava and Jessie as she ate lunch with them. The young reporter’s day up to this point had gone over pretty well, save for the surprise in math class. She had gotten to school with plenty of time to spare thanks to her dad, so she was already able to give several of her cupcakes away to various other students before her first class started in the morning, which was chemistry; the teacher Ms. Turner also accepted one and appreciated how the baked treat happened to apply to her subject matter.

Once that class was done and she received some homework on stoichiometric balancing of a chemical reaction, Megan had her fated math class, which was getting easier to understand thanks to Hiro helping her sometimes, but it still wasn’t her favorite subject. The 15yr old teen proceeded to share her sweets yet again with her classmates there, which only left four of them by the time they were hit with the quiz. Now that she was halfway through her school day, she got to enjoy her lunch of ravioli, salad, pudding, and milk that the cafeteria provided. Her two friends Ava and Jessie were in the same block as her for eating, but were in biology before coming to join her.

Ava was taller than Megan with long, black hair tied into a ponytail, wearing purple-rimmed glasses, white pants, a yellow shirt with a rose on it and a jean jacket. Her other friend Jessie was the same height as Megan, but was more muscular due to being on the swim team as well as had a really short haircut to go with his chosen sport; as for his attire today, it consisted of black pants, a green T-shirt and a San Fransokyo Ninjas wind breaker.

“Yeah, I feel for you, but be thankful you didn’t have to give a report on the difference between plant and animal cells. Boring,” Jessie huffed as he took a bite of his peanut butter sandwich.

Ava nodded in agreement, but waited until she finished sipping her apple juice to kindly add, “Well, it’s over and I think you did a good job.”

“Thanks,” the young man replied with a smile. He then turned back to Megan and politely asked, “So, besides math, how’s your birthday been going?”

The aforementioned teen set her fork down and gave a small shrug as she said, “Not too bad actually. I’ve gotten tons of birthday wishes and the cupcakes are popular, so I’m sure I’ve made several people’s day as well.”

“Speaking of which,” Ava suddenly chimed in before she reached across the table to open up the container and take one of the desserts. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” Megan cheerfully told her before she went for a bite of salad.

The trio were then silent for a few minutes as they made a dent in their meals while the noisy chatter of all the other students provided the ambiance. Jessie spoke up again though once he finished his bag of chip and inquired, “You still going to the Lucky Cat tonight and the party's this weekend, right?”

“Uh-huh, and I’m glad you can make the one on Saturday. My dad promised he would get the pizza and game package, so we should be covered for a couple hours of fun at least,” Megan promptly answered, followed by taking another sip of milk. “He also said he’d get a chocolate chip cookie pizza for dessert since it’ll be yummy and way easier to deal with leftovers than a regular cake,” she added a moment later, earning her some head nods in confirmation.

Letting out a brief sigh and looking a touch guilty, Ava felt the need to tell her, “Again, I’m sorry I couldn’t make it tonight, but I promise to be there on Saturday.”

“Oh, you don’t need to apologize Ava. It’s all good. I know you’re finishing up that presentation for English class on Wednesday. I’m just glad that I got mine done on Saturday, which isn’t super ideal for a weekend activity, but I’ll take it over it messing with my plans tonight,” Megan reassured her, even gently patting the other’s arm.

The black-haired teen smiled at the gesture and replied, “Thanks. So…do you want me to give you your present today or at the party? I brought it and put it in my locker just in case.”

“Ummm…is it okay if we open it before lunch ends?” the supersleuth asked with a touch of hesitancy.

Ava gave a small, lighthearted scoff and told her, “Of course it is!”

“Can I see what it is too?”

The two women then turned to Jessie, who looked between them and quirked an eyebrow before he stated, “What? I’m curious.” They all shared a chuckle, but the young man was quick to add, “I was just going to bring you your present on Saturday so you had something to open then.”

“That’s fine Jessie. I can’t wait to see what it is,” Megan chirped with a big smile. Afterwards, the teenagers returned to their meals for another 10minutes with an occasional question about classes or the next story for the school paper, but they eventually finished their lunches.

“Ready?” Ava proceeded to ask as she picked up her belongings and mostly empty tray, followed by gesturing to the cafeteria exit.

“Yep,” the birthday girl simply said as she copied the other’s actions and stood up alongside her, which was promptly mirrored by Jessie too. The trio then walked over to the trash cans, where they dumped their garbage, set the trays on the available holder and left to see what was in Ava’s locker.

Shimamoto High was one of the biggest schools in the city with two floors, around forty classrooms, a large gym, and even a training field out back, so the crew had to go up a flight of stairs to the second floor. Jessie started to absentmindedly whistle a little tune as they made the trek, echoing down the vacant halls and providing a reprieve from the usually eerie setting schools could create when they got like this.

“Here we are,” Ava announced as they stood in front of locker 275. “One moment,” she then added before she turned to input her combination, mumbling to herself as she did so with each correct number. When she put in the last one and the lock clicked open, she pulled it off, lifted the handle and made a grand gesture as she opened it. “Ta-da!”

Megan and Jessie looked inside to find a pretty full locker with books, papers, some folders, and binders stacked or placed next to each other on the various shelves and a clarinet case lying on the bottom; on the very top however, there was a wrapped package patterned with balloons, which Ava proceeded to grab before shutting her locker once again.

“Happy birthday Megan,” the young woman cheerfully told the other as she held out the present that bent in her hands. Megan then passed her remaining cupcakes over to Jessie as she took the gift and thanked her.

With the other two staring expectantly, the 15yr old began gently ripping off the wrapping paper until a black T-shirt was revealed. “Oh sweet!” she remarked as she unfolded the clothing to see what was written on it and couldn’t help but smile and give a scoff in disbelief; on the front of the shirt, in edgy-looking white letters, it read: Supersleuth Megan Cruz.

“Seriously Ava?! Wow! Thank you! This is incredible and it also makes it official,” the birthday teen happily exclaimed as she then went in for a one arm hug with her friend.

“Aww, you’re welcome,” Ava said as she returned the gesture.

“I better get a hug next,” Jessie chimed in once again with a faux pout, prompting the other two teens to giggle for a moment.

“Alright, alright,” the reporter placatingly told him with a touch of amusement still in her voice as she let go of Ava and hugged the taller teen, who had to maneuver his arms so he didn’t hit Megan with her own cupcakes. When they pulled apart, the black-haired high schooler took the opportunity to get in a quick embrace of her own, but Jessie didn’t refuse it.

Megan proceeded to fold her new shirt back up in the meantime and tuck it into her backpack, followed by taking the desserts from her friend. Before anyone could say anything more though, the alarm bell sounded from overhead, causing the trio to flinch in surprise. Once it stopped ringing, they stared at each other sheepishly until students started filing out of the multiple classrooms.

The birthday teen then gave a clearing cough, making sure she had their attention prior to loudly telling them, “Well, I’ve got to head to Social Studies guys, but I can’t wait for Saturday and thanks again Ava! I’ll wear it as soon as it gets washed.” She earned a couple thumbs up from the other two, followed by the group going their separate ways and waving a short goodbye to each other.

Eeee! This gift is so cool, Megan internally remarked on her trek to her next class, weaving around the swarming masses of students. She then found herself thinking, Okay. Just two more subjects to go and I’m free to celebrate tonight. Oh! I hope everyone shows up.

             ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Okay! Coming through! Got cake incoming,” Cass announced as she came through carrying a medium-sized rectangular cake, expertly decorated with Megan’s name, multi-colored candles and blue rosettes.

Currently, it was a little after 6pm and the aforementioned supersleuth was at the Lucky Cat with her friends and father as planned, all having just finished eating a simple but yummy dinner of burgers and fries (with a couple of veggie ones for Wasabi and Honey Lemon) that the café owner was kind enough to make; granted, Hiro had helped some with prep while Baymax checked to make sure everyone’s meal had safely been cooked to above the 165°F mark.

Once everyone had finished the main course, that only left cake and presents, which Cass was seeing to at the moment. As she walked towards the group, everyone started to slowly sing “Happy Birthday” to Megan so that by the time the dessert was set in front of her, the song was complete; Fred tried to keep it going with some added lyrics, but Go Go was quick to nudge him to indicate that was enough.

The 15yr old giggled and told the brunette woman, “Thank you. It’s very pretty and I can only imagine what it tastes like.”

“Pfft. It’s no big deal at all Megan, and forget imagining it. Just blow out the candles and find out,” Cass excitedly insisted as she, Diego and Honey Lemon all pulled out their phones to record or take pictures.

Without further delay, the young reporter took a big breath and blew out all the candles in one go, followed by everyone giving a round of applause. Cass then moved over to where the knife, forks and plates were on the table and began cutting pieces out for everyone, revealing the inside of the dessert to be almost black in color with white, speckled filling between the two layers of cake. “Here you go dear. One slice of my cookies and cream cake for you,” the café owner informed her before handing her the plate.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it dear,” Cass dismissively said, but still wore a big, proud smile on her face nonetheless. She then turned to Wasabi and told him, “Don’t worry Wasabi. I made a couple cupcake versions and stashed them behind the counter for you. I remembered your preference from your own birthday.”

The physicist smiled and offered a sincere, “Thank you,” followed by grabbing a plate of his own and headed off to grab himself a treat. For another minute or so afterwards, Cass cut out decent-sized pieces of cake for everyone, receiving their gratitude in return and prompting them to start eating once they got it.

“Mmm. Aunt Cass, you are my absolute favorite baker of all time, but please don’t tell Heathcliff that,” Fred complimented/earnestly requested to the café owner, making her give an awkward smile at what the other said before replying, “Okay, I won’t.”

There were several more “Mmms” from the group as they continued eating, along with “This is delicious” and “I love it” from Hiro and Honey Lemon.

“Aww! You all are too sweet,” Cass bashfully responded when her nephew and his friends gave their words of praise, leaving Diego last to remark.

Suddenly put on the spot, he grinned nervously and briefly flitted his eyes from the social pressure, but he eventually focused and told her, “You did a splendid job. Probably one of the best cakes I’ve ever had. I may have to ask you to cater whenever we have an officer’s birthday or retirement party at work.”

Cass smiled warmly in return, giving him a gentle nudge before she joked, “That’d be fine with me. I’ll see if I can get you the friends and family discount.” The two proceeded to chuckle lightly while everyone else just stared uncomfortably at their mild attempt at flirting.

Hiro gave a clearing cough in hopes that they’d transition to a different conversation, but it ended up resulting in Baymax asking, “Are you alright Hiro? Do you require water to prevent any further obstruction from bothering you?”

This got the others out of their funk as they lightheartedly laughed before Hiro answered him with, “I’m good buddy. I’ve still got my drink from dinner.” The healthcare companion seemed satisfied with the answer as he held a thumbs up a few seconds later, prompting all the humans to resume eating the rest of their dessert in relative peace for roughly another five minutes. Once done and all the dishes were collected, this meant there was only one activity left: opening presents.

“Woo! Presents,” Fred cheered, bringing his gift over from one of the empty café tables while Cass moved the leftover cake off to the side.

Megan rested her head on her hand and told him with a laugh, “Geez Fred. You act like it’s your birthday, not mine.”

“Can’t be helped. Giving, getting, it’s still the surprise of it all and I think you’re gonna love what I got ya,” the comic book lover said with confidence as he set a red and blue-striped bag in front of the teenager.

“Wait,” came a call from the other room as the Lucky Cat owner returned with her phone out, followed by Diego doing the same.

Megan lifted her head and started to blush from embarrassment now as she whined, “Dad, you don’t need to take any pictures. I’m not five anymore. I’ll remember these moments and what I opened.”

With a smirk, her father slyly replied, “You sure are sounding like a five-year-old right now.”

The young reporter rolled her eyes and huffed, “Fine,” seeing she had no way out of this. She then returned her attention to the present she was meant to open and began pulling out the white tissue paper inside to reveal a brand-new camera. Megan instantly perked up in astonishment at receiving such an expensive gift, but she quickly remembered that Fred was rich and it made sense he would likely spend more than the others.

“Holy cow Fred! This is insane! Thank you,” she emphatically told the other as she inspected the device.

The flame-throwing superhero shrugged with a wide smile of satisfaction on his face at the comment and responded, “It’s no biggie. I know it’d help you with your journalism stuff and it’s not like you can’t use if for fun too.”

“Okay, now smile,” Cass suddenly chirped as she and Diego took pictures with Megan doing her best to smile, but quickly dropping it when their flashes made her blink her eyes rapidly.

“Ugh,” she simply uttered as she rubbed her eyes with one hand. Once her vision cleared, she placed the camera back in the bag and moved it off to the side as Honey Lemon soon came over with a pink-wrapped box with a big yellow bow on top.

“I hope you like it,” the chemist chirped as she stepped back beside her other friends.

While Megan was working to remove the paper, Wasabi couldn’t help but lean over to Go Go and sassily say, “Thanks to Fred, all four of our gifts are going to look like we went to the dollar store by comparison,” making the other smirk in agreement.

Soon a plain box was revealed by the birthday teen, who promptly pulled the tape off the tabs and opened it up. “Oh my gosh Honey Lemon! It’s gorgeous,” Megan remarked in awe as she pulled out a glass bowl with rippling, wavy edges that had multicolored confetti speckled throughout it.

The group gathered around to admire the object, followed by the chemist informing everyone, “I got lucky one day when I went to this craft fair they had a few weeks ago as the Marianas Market, so I thought, ‘What the heck? I’ll get it.’ So, I take it you like it?”

The15yr old nodded and replied, “Uh-huh! I love the random burst of color, but I’m not sure what I’ll use it for yet though. Maybe I can keep some pins in it or hey, even car keys once I’m old enough.”

Megan then turned to her dad with a cheeky expression, who proceeded to give a fake laugh before getting serious and bluntly telling her, “Not likely. No driving for you young lady, not for a long time.”

His daughter playfully rolled her eyes, followed by posing for the next photo, blinking once again after they were done. Megan turned to find Go Go walk up next and simply hand her an envelope.

“Here you go. Enjoy,” the speedster said as they all watched the other open it, revealing $50 inside.

“Wow Go Go! This is so generous. Thank you,” Megan told her as she folded the envelope and put it in her back pocket.

The motorcyclist shrugged with a small smile and replied, “Eh, it’s no big deal. Get yourself a new video game, treat yourself to lunch, save it, whatever you want to do. I don’t care.” Megan nodded, clearly fine with the gift, but that meant no photo needed from Cass or Diego, much to her relief.

“Alright. I guess I’ll go next,” Wasabi spoke up as he reached over to the other table to grab a glittery silver gift bag and placed it before the teenager.

“Ooo! Let’s seeee, it’s aaaa…” Megan suspensefully narrated to everyone else as the green tissue paper inside was removed until she finally found the contents. “Whoa Wasabi! Did you make these?” she inquired as she pulled out two pairs of socks, one with green and white stripes and the other was pink and blue.

As she felt and examined them, the physicist smiled proudly and answered, “Yep. It’s baby alpaca wool and I did my best with the sizes since I’m used to making sweaters and baby booties for nieces and nephews, but you can always roll them up if anything else.”

“Well, you did a good job Wasabi. I love them! I mean, I have no idea how to make something so cute, but I’ll know who to ask if I try,” Megan politely replied with a wink.

“Okay, now hold them both up please,” Diego requested, interrupting the moment and prompting his daughter to huff before the inevitable pictures came. She proceeded to place the socks back in the bag when done and set it off to the side just as she noticed Cass leave to pull something from behind the counter.

“Here’s just a little something from Hiro and myself. I hope you like it,” the café owner told her as she and Hiro looked at Megan expectantly.

Smiling, she turned towards the present, which was a rectangular box and wrapped in sparkly gold paper and began effortlessly ripping it off; instead of it being a plain, unmarked package with a mysterious gift inside though, it was a clearly labeled one that advertised a custom pin making set, complete with 20 designs and multicolored packs that allowed for thousands of combinations.

“Wow! It’s so pretty! I haven’t seen anything like this, even when I went into that giant craft place Jicama’s. This is just perfect. I was in need of a little more variety, but this’ll be way cooler. Thanks,” Megan sincerely said, turning to face the others as she did so and earning a couple of proud grins because of it. The young reporter proceeded to inspect her gift again, noting there were arches for rainbow-esque pins, 5-pointed stars, circles, squares, and even a couple animals like cat-heads and fish.

A clearing cough then drew her attention away as she forgot about photos, but she was still able to give a big grin from receiving such a gift. When Cass and Diego were done, Megan was fully prepared for that to mean they would need to start packing up everything and go home, but her dad surprised her by pulling a slightly bent birthday card from his pant pocket.

Grinning sheepishly, he said, “Here you go kiddo. Sorry it’s a little warped, but I wanted to keep it a surprise,” as he handed it over to her.

The 15yr old eyed the card before she took it and told him, “Thanks dad,” followed by opening the blue envelope. It took a little effort and a slight rip did happen, but she managed to remove the card inside, revealing a picture of a glittery, square present surrounded with ribbon and confetti patterned throughout like an explosion of color. She then opened it up and found a message written inside by her dad, which read:

Although it’s your special day with lots of gifts and cake, never forget that none will ever compare to the gift that is you, given to me fifteen years ago today.

Happy birthday Megan,

Love Dad.

The young teen didn’t read it aloud, but the sincere, appreciative smile she carried upon finishing the short inscription was telling enough to the others as she soon stood up and gave her father a big hug. Diego quickly returned the tight embrace, making Cass, Honey Lemon and Wasabi all go aww at the action, followed by the café owner snapping several pictures of the hugging pair. They held their position for a few seconds before pulling apart and just stared at each until Megan finally said, “Thanks Dad. Love you too.”

The police chief patted his daughter’s shoulder as he continued to proudly smile and replied, “I know and I’ll always love you no matter how old you get.” He then affectionately tussled her hair, making her give a soft giggle before noticing all the attention was on her. She blushed slightly but managed to regain her composure as she scratched the back of her neck and rather awkwardly said, “Well, should we get going or can we stay a little while longer?”

Diego blinked in realization and simply uttered, “Oh,” followed by checking the time on his watch. “6:36. Hmmm. Yeah, it is getting up there kiddo.” He then turned to Cass and in an apologetic tone told her, “I’m sorry to leave so soon, but it is a school night after all and I’m sure Megan has some homework she neglected to tell me about so we could still do this little party. Thanks again for having us. It was a really swell time.”

The brunette smiled kindly and with a dismissive gesture replied, “No worries, Diego. I know what it’s like thanks to raising Hiro and Tadashi, so it’s fine. I’m glad you and everyone seemed to have a nice time.” There was a murmur of “Yeps” and Yeahs” from the collection of superheroes off to the sides as they shared the sentiment until Cass chirped in a moment later with, “Oh, before you go, let me get you some cake for the road.” She proceeded to head back to kitchen and returned 20seconds later with a clear, rectangular container, setting it down onto the table and cutting out a huge chunk of dessert to place inside.

“Here you go,” she cheerfully said as she passed it to the police chief. Cass then asked, “Do you need help taking everything out to the car?”

Megan and her dad looked over to the pile of presents she amounted, seeing that although it wouldn’t be as light as a feather, it wasn’t super heavy either. “Thanks, but I think I can handle it…so long as Megan here doesn’t mind getting the door for me,” the older man replied with a wink aimed at his daughter, who gave a short laugh.

“Sure dad. I’ll take care of it,” the young reporter stated in a sarcastic tone, but she smiled too so she made it clear she was just kidding.

Diego smirked and proceeded to start collecting the presents, stacking them with the boxes on the bottom and everything on top with Wasabi’s gift being set inside Fred’s bag to save some space. Once he lifted everything and Megan grabbed the cake, the two of them turned to Cass with the older one saying, “Thanks, and uh…I guess I’ll see you tomorrow then.”

“Until tomorrow,” the café owner replied, giving a small smile before Megan chimed in too and told her, “Yep. Thank you and everything tasted amazing.” The 15yr old then faced Hiro to begin hugging the rest of the partygoers goodbye. “Great getting to see you all and thanks for all the gifts.”

“No problem.”

“Of course.”

“Have a good rest of your week.”

“Goodbye.”

“Always good to see you too.”

“Stay out of trouble.”

The embraces were done one by one with Go Go admittedly passing on the hug, but that wasn’t wholly unexpected given the speedster’s preferences and she still managed to give Megan a small shoulder punch. After the farewells were completed, Diego smiled warmly at the sight before heading towards the door, prompting the other to hastily get pass him to open it for him.

“Thank you kindly, young lady,” her dad said with an air of amusement making Megan playfully role her eyes again. She stole one last look inside and waved to everyone, receiving the same gesture from all seven of them and then shutting the café door.

The supersleuth quickly caught up to her dad, walking side by side with him until they got to his police car, where she was then handed the gifts for a moment as he unlocked the car and opened the door for her. “And thank you, kind sir,” she now said to with a lofty tone as Diego took the presents off her hands and let her slide into her seat.

Once she was buckled in, the stack of presents was given back to be set next to her. The police chief then shut the door and soon got in on his side, swiftly fastening himself in and starting the car. Before he put it into gear though, he turned to his daughter and with a smile asked, “So, you think Saturday’s party will top this one?”

Megan didn’t need longer than a moment to think about it as she could only reciprocate the grin and simply answer, “It’ll be different and fun I’m sure, but this was a lot nicer.”

With that said and a comforting atmosphere set, her dad carefully pulled out into traffic and headed for home, cementing this evening as a pretty good way to end such a special day.

Chapter Text

Globby was sleeping peacefully on his top bunk when he was stirred awake by the sound of coughing. Huh? the gelatinous mutant groggily thought as he slowly opened his eyes. He then heard a sound akin to a trumpet, but he could deduce it was someone blowing their nose. Lifting himself up onto his arms now, Globby yawned before he peeked out over the bed and looked under, finding the culprit was none other than Felony Carl, who was currently reaching for a tissue from a box on the floor and groaning slightly in the process.

“Oh no, Carl. What’s wrong?” Globby asked with immediate concern as he shifted himself onto the floor so he could be right next to his boyfriend.

Felony Carl weakly turned his head to look at the other, letting out another cough and hoarsely answered, “I feel what I had hoped to be merely allergies or a response to the changing weather, appears to in actuality be a cold.” He continued to blow his nose, filling the bedroom with his loud noise as Globby look on in worry.

The superhero proceeded to put a hand on his roommate’s head, furrowing his brow when even he was able to really feel the other’s heat. “Man, you’re really hot, Carl and yes, I’m referring to you having a fever this time,” Globby informed the other with a small smirk that quickly morphed to a gentle, caring smile.

His remark was enough to make Felony Carl give a weak laugh that soon became a cough, but he managed to cheekily say, “Well, I know how you feel about me, so it is not wrong to assume what you were implying with your statement.”

“That’s fair,” Globby conceded as his grin broadened slightly. He then blinked as he finally took notice of their bedroom being slightly illuminated by daylight, making him curious as to what time it was, stretching his arm over to the nightstand, he grabbed his phone and quickly saw it was about a quarter to 6am. Eh, it’s not that early. Any who, back to Felony Carl, the pink and purple man quickly thought as he returned his attention back on his top priority.

“Have you taken any medicine yet?” Globby gently asked as he placed a comforting hand on his boyfriend’s shoulder.

The motorcyclist slowly blinked, letting out another groan out and repling with, “I took a small dose of it before bed last night.”

“I’ll go ahead and get you some more then along with a big glass of water,” Globby informed his ailing love with a small smile, followed by standing up and swiftly heading to the bathroom, where right across from the doorway as he entered held the sink with the medicine cabinet hidden behind the mirror above it. He proceeded to open it and squint his eyes as he scanned the various contents, ranging from allergy pills, bandages, rubbing alcohol, and finally...Cold medicine! Got it, the gelatinous man smiled proudly at his find as he reached for it, closing the cabinet and setting the box of pills off to the side as he filled the glass resting next to the faucet with water. When done, he grabbed his items, returned to the bedroom and bent down next to Felony Carl, who appeared on the verge of falling asleep again.

“Hey, I’m back. Come on now. I need you to lean up for me,” Globby softly but insistently told the other as he moved his right arm to slide under Felony Carl’s back and slowly lift him up.

Groaning once more, the husky biker took a couple pills from the offered box and popped them into his mouth, followed by accepting the water Globby also held and drinking half of it. He handed it back to his boyfriend before he was gingerly laid back down onto the bed.

Giving a tender smile now as he gazed at Felony Carl, the pink and purple superhero cupped the other’s cheek and quietly told him, “I’ll go get started on breakfast, okay? I’ll bring you a little something to eat, some hot tea for your throat and I’ll check in shortly, but just call me and I’ll be right here.” The sleepy man nodded in understanding before letting out another cough and turning onto his right side in an attempt to rest for a little while longer.

Globby stood back up, careful not to make much noise as he left the bedroom and made his way to the kitchen. He passed by the living room on his journey there, finding it a bit dim and silent save for the soft breathing of their cat Jasmine on the couch. The shapeshifter gave a small smile as he bent over and petted the white animal, making her give a “Mrrr” and a yawn before she cracked her eyes open. “Morning Jasmine,” Globby greeted her as she stretched and got up from her resting position. He gave another gentle pat on the cat’s head, earning him a soft meow as he eventually stopped and resumed his task.

“Okay, okay, let’s see,” Globby said to himself once he entered the kitchen, scanning and thinking about what to do first. He then spotted the tea kettle on the stove, remarking “Perfect” before he promptly went to grab it and fill it with water. After he got it placed back on the burner, he turned it on and let it heat up while he focused on making himself some coffee; Globby could of course instantly fabricate a cup of joe for himself, but fresh-brewed the old-fashioned way brought an added layer of enjoyment to him.

Got those going now, so that just leaves breakfast. Hmmm, he thought as he opened the fridge, finding the usual items of milk, creamer, OJ, eggs, cheese, veggies, and condiments in there along with the leftover alfredo pasta from last night. Maybe just some cheesy scrambled eggs and some toast would be good. He doesn’t even have to eat the toast if it hurts his throat, the superhero plotted as he got the carton of eggs out and the shredded Colby Jack cheese.

Once the items were on the counter, Globby changed himself into his human Dibs form to minimize mess making, followed by getting out the necessary bowl, plates, utensils, and pan for cooking. He turned a second burner on the stove and got to work cracking five eggs into the available bowl, easily finishing it in under a minute.

“Hmmm, hmm, hmmmm,” Globby started humming to himself as he worked, meanwhile the kitchen began to fill with the smell of fresh coffee. “Ahh,” he sighed contently before he began to whisk the egg into a yellow mixture, thinking it was good enough after 10seconds of doing so.

Glug. Glug. Glug.

Globby turned his head to find the brewing machine almost done with its job as the water was almost completely gone from the tank. “Oh yeah.” He then went about getting creamer from the fridge and two mugs from the overhead cabinet, one red with the San Fransokyo Ninjas on it and another one that was white with a picture of Jasmine in a heart on it. The gelatinous mutant proceeded to put some creamer into the first one, followed by fishing out a lemon lavender tea bag out of the adjacent cupboard and putting it in the second mug. Globby now quickly poured his coffee to the brim, took a sip and remarked, “Mmm” before he put the creamer up and checked the pan. He formed a bit of water in his hand and let it drop onto the hot surface, where it bubbled and danced as it hissed from evaporating.

“Good,” the normally pink and purple man chirped as he went for the bowl of eggs. Oh wait! He stopped himself as he almost forgot the toast. Globby then found the loaf of bread on the counter and swiftly grabbed two slices that got placed into the toaster a moment later.

“Now the eggs,” he said to no one in particular as he grabbed the bowl and smoothly poured it into the hot pan. He quickly went for the salt and pepper shaker after he set the bowl in the sink, sprinkling a little on the yellow mixture for taste. The shapeshifter then promptly found a spatula amongst their plethora of cooking instruments and started scraping it around. “Man, am I glad I paid attention to Felony Carl all this time,” he remarked with a fond smile. Globby proceeded to take another sip of coffee before he grabbed the bag of shredded cheese and briefly set the spatula off to the side. He sprinkled a generous amount of the Colby Jack on top, sealed the pouch back up and incorporated the ingredient into the eggs, resulting in long, stringy trails of cheese sticking to the utensil with every movement.

“Mmm, mmmmm,” Globby went as he now stretched his arm over to the toaster and pulled the tab down to start the process of crisping it up. Next, he turned off the burner to the eggs to let them rest so they could finish cooking without being overdone, followed by checking the tea kettle. Furrowing his brow, he held his hand over the spout and could feel the heat coming off it, luckily not being enough to melt the mutant.

“Eh, good enough.” Globby proceeded to get the honey out of the same cabinet from earlier and placed it next to Carl’s mug. Pouring in the hot water in a few seconds later, the gelatinous hero returned the pot to the stove, where he promptly turned it off too and went for the pan of eggs. He divided the food in half and scooped it onto the plates, finishing up just in time to hear the toaster go off.

“Perfect,” the superhero happily said as he set the pan back down. Globby grabbed the two slices and gave one to him and Felony Carl. Staring at the bottle of honey, he smiled and squeezed the golden liquid into the mug, followed by drizzling it on both of their toasts.

The shapeshifter changed back to normal, feeling satisfied with his work and was getting ready to take breakfast into the bedroom when Jasmine entered the kitchen and meowed at him. “Oh right,” he quickly stated, pivoting towards Jasmine’s food and water bowls. He scooped out a small cup of the kibble, which she promptly started to eat while Globby refilled the other dishware with water from the sink faucet. “Hungry, huh?” he said with delight as he heard her crunch away and gently set the water in the available holder spot. He gave Jasmine another affectionate pet on the head, then returned to the task at hand and grabbed his and Felony Carl’s meals. The reformed criminal fabricated an extra set of arms to grab the mugs so he’d be less likely to spill anything, and finally left the room. It was only about 15seconds later that Globby quietly poked his head onto their bedroom, where his boyfriend was snoozing just how he left him. With a thought, he fabricated a small wooden table next to the bunk bed and a chair as well, followed by placing all their food on it and made it look rather neat too.

“Hey Carl,” Globby softly said as he gently nudged the other’s shoulder.

Felony carl groaned and gave another cough in return before he slowly rolled onto his left side to look at the shapeshifter. “Hmm?”

“I’ve got breakfast right here and some tea; it’s your favorite. You need a little something to keep up your strength,” his love tenderly told him as he reached an arm around to help him sit up again.

Uttering a groan, it took the motorcyclist a few seconds to get upright, rubbing his eyes as he looked to his boyfriend and then the meal in front of him. He blinked as his cognition returned and he was able to full comprehended what Globby was saying, making him give a tired smile and groggily tell his partner, “Thank you for doing this. I am sure it would smell delicious if my nose was not currently obstructed, but I imagine it will taste good all the same."

With that said, Globby returned the gesture and quickly pecked Felony Carl on the cheek. “Anytime.” He soon took his seat across from his ill roommate and began to eat his food.

Felony Carl smiled and grabbed his mug of tea, blowing on it and taking a sip. Globby then piped up and mentioned, “Oh, you might want to stir that; the honey is on the bottom.”

The motorcyclist nodded in understanding and did as suggested, clinking his spoon inside the cup for a few seconds before pulling it out. He then went ahead and blew his nose to try and clear it some more, followed by tossing the used tissue next to the small pile of other ones and started eating his eggs. Despite his sickened state, Felony Carl was able to still taste the meal and savor the hard work his boyfriend put into it.

“I think you did a great job Globs. Thank you for seeing that I keep up my strength,” the husky biker complimented with a gruff voice and a sincere smile.

“It’s not problem babe. I know it’s nothing fancy or anything, but I’m glad you like it,” Globby replied as he blushed slightly from the praise, followed by taking a crunchy bite of toast.

Felony Carl smiled before he raised his arm to cover up a sudden cough, lowering it a couple seconds later and simply saying, “Sorry about that.”

“Hey, no need to apologize. You okay?” the gelatinous mutant inquired, reaching a reassuring hand onto the other’s arm.

Felony Carl proceeded to place his hand on top of Globby’s in a mutually comforting gesture and answered, “All good.”

The couple then resumed their eating once they pulled their arms back, remaining in relative silence save for their chewing, sipping and some sniffling from the unibrowed one. Once they finished their meals five minutes later, Globby decided to go ahead and grab the dishes except for Felony Carl’s tea and stood up. “You go ahead and get a little more rest. I’ll take care of these,” he informed his boyfriend before he gave his cheek another peck and left the bedroom.

Never figured I’d be the domestic type, Globby thought to himself with a contented smirk as he made his way to the kitchen. He quickly passed the couch, which he still argued was a sofa, to find Jasmine settled back into her usual spot on the cushion, clearly having had enough of her own breakfast. The shapeshifter smiled as he walked by, finally crossing the threshold to his destination and where he promptly got to work cleaning the dishes after he set his cup of coffee off to the side.

Giving a little whistle while he worked, he drizzled some dish soap on everything and plugged up the sink. He turned on the water now as he stretched his arm over to the stovetop to fetch the dirty pan and gently placed it in as well. Globby then turned his arms into water as he stopped the faucet and began to wash everything. When each item was thoroughly free of food bits, he doused it with his mitts and set it over on the drying rack. At one point when he was almost done, he thought he heard the floor creak, but shrugged it off just as quick when he didn’t hear it again.

After only a few minutes, the superhero was done with his chore, making him let out a sigh as he went to fill his mug up. Once he took a sip, he headed back to the living room and was surprised to find his boyfriend on the couch with his blanket wrapped around him and petting their cat. Globby gave a small scoff in shock before he sassily inquired, “And just what do you think you’re doing out of bed mister?”

Felony Carl managed a short chuckle until he had to give a cough instead and slyly answered, “I believe I can recuperate just as effectively on the couch as I can in the bedroom.”

“Uh-huh,” the shapeshifter skeptically replied with an eyebrow quirk, but still couldn’t help smile a little at seeing the other. Globby then put a hand on his hip and slightly scolded his boyfriend with, “You really should be resting though babe. Sleeping away the sickness sound a lot better than suffering through it awake.” The husky biker took a sip of his tea as his roommate walked over and picked up Jasmine with one hand to place her near the edge so as to sit closer to Carl; she didn’t seem to mind however as she promptly jumped onto her favorite spot on the back of the couch and settled back down to nap.

Globby sighed and reached for the remote on the table to turn on the TV, which popped up the local Channel 7 news. As Bluff Dunder scrolled off upcoming events in San Fransokyo, the superhero faced Felony Carl and told him, “If you start getting tired again, just let me know, okay? Also, need me to get you some more tea?”

The unibrowed man stared at his mug for a moment before he replied, “If you are offering, then I will graciously accept.”

The other reformed criminal nodded and without even getting up, stretched his arm into the kitchen to fetch the pot of still hot water, reeling them in a few seconds later. “For you my good man,” Globbby chirped as he poured from the kettle into Felony Carl’s cup, followed by sending it back to the stovetop when he was done. “Oh, before I forget,” he quickly added as he held out his right hand, where he soon proceeded to form a pink box of tissues that he set on the table next to the mug. Smiling proudly, Globby said, “There we go. Now you’re all good to go save for a bathroom emergency.”

With a raspy chuckle, Felony Carl slyly responded, “I hope we do not need to prepare countermeasures for something of that nature.”

The couple shared a laugh at their banter before settling back down and watching the news once more. They covered a recent theft at a gas station and the weather forecast, which said it was going to be mid 50s today with rain later in the week. After it went on break for commercials, a thought crossed Globby’s mind. He soon wore a mischievous expression before he switched to a coyer one as he looked over at Felony Carl and in a singsong voice said, “Oh Carl?” The motorcyclist faced him and quirked his unibrow, followed by the other adding, “Since you’re sick, you know what that means, right?”

“No, what?”

“It means that I’ve got to make soup for you for at least one meal; it’s practically against the law for someone to be ill and not get chicken noodle, tomato or whatever the heck kind of soup while they’re bedridden,” the shapeshifter pointedly answered with a small elbow nudge and an eyebrow wiggle.

Smirking in response, Felony Carl promptly replied, “Well, I would hate to see you arrested for such a minor infraction.” They chuckled for a moment until the ill biker inquired, “Do we actually have any soup in our pantry or do we need to make it from scratch?”

“Huh? I don’t know. One sec,” Globby admitted before he stood up and grabbed his mug, taking the opportunity to finish the coffee off while he was in the kitchen.

Felony Carl meanwhile waited patiently as he focused on the news once more, hearing the sound of cabinet doors opening and closing for about a minute straight. His boyfriend eventually returned with his cup, but otherwise was emptyhanded and gave a shrug. “I couldn’t find any, but I don’t have enough confidence in my cooking skills to make you even a bowl of hot broth, so I don’t know what to do besides either make it out of myself or the more practical/less weird option of just going to the store and buying some, but…do you think you’ll be okay if I leave? I don’t want you to be alone in case you relapse or something,” he informed Carl, scratching the back of his neck and looking at him with noticeable concern.

His boyfriend smiled warmly before he sniffled and reached for a few tissues, blowing into them and crumpling the used item onto the table. He then finally said, “You do not need to worry about me being unattended for a short period of time. I would also feel rather guilty if you spent all your efforts trying to nurse me back to health instead of performing your heroic duties. I am sure I will be fine for a while as I have everything but said soup at my disposal Globs.”

Still appearing a bit unsure, Globby hesitantly asked, “You sure you’ll be okay?”

Felony Carl nodded and patted the seat next to him before replying, “I am. Now, let us finish up the news. We still have several hours until lunch and I highly doubt I will do anything too strenuous in the meantime.”

The shapeshifter smirked as he sat down and teased, “So, doting on Jasmine isn’t a full-time job then?”

“Sadly no, but I am sure I would be extremely wealthy if it was,” his love slyly told him, followed by reaching over to give said white cat a small scratch along her back, earning a “Mrrr” in return.

They soon settled down and drank from their cups as the news resumed, occasionally marred by Felony Carl’s coughing or sneezing and to which Globby provided comforting backrubs in response until the latter finally left as planned.

            ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Carl?”

The pink and purple mutant stuck his head into the living room as he quietly called to his boyfriend, the TV now playing some gameshow. He had just gotten back from patrol with the canned soup from the grocery store as promised. Although he felt guilty for leaving the other alone for a while, he at least had managed to do some good while he was out as there was a car crash, so he was able assist by getting it out of traffic and cleaning up the mess. The rest of the time was just flying, swinging and surveying the city from high up, but a slow day was actually a good thing, even if boring.

“Carl?” Globby repeated as he took a couple steps further in and froze when a cough came from the couch. He let out a small sigh, relieved that Felony Carl was still here, but a bit worried because it likely meant that the other had been tired when he came out to be with him. He made his way around the couch, still holding the bag of food and finding that his boyfriend had indeed fallen asleep on the couch as did Jasmine on the back of it.

Globby smiled tenderly as he moved the blanket all the way up to cover Felony Carl’s body, making him shift a little as he did so. He then quietly made his way to the kitchen to gently set his cans of soup on the countertop, followed by fabricating a glass to fill with water. Once it was near the top, he stretched his arm back out to the living room and placed it on the table before retracting in, leaving the gelatinous mutant to prep as silently as possible. With the TV playing, it thankfully covered up the sound of him pulling a pot out from one of the lower cabinets and an involuntary “Darn it” when it clanged on the stove a little.

Okay, which one? Which one? he pondered as he gazed at the options he bought. Globby had gotten five different flavors just to be safe and if anything, they’d be covered for a few future meals. Let’s do the classic chicken noodle, he internally told himself after a few seconds, already taking the liberty of opening the can and carefully pouring it into the pot. For his own meal today, he was going to have a simple turkey sandwich and some chips since he wanted the soup to just be exclusively for his boyfriend.

Spotting the kettle, the shapeshifter then thought, I better get some more water going too. That tea has got to be cold and over steeped at this point. Quickly starting his new task, Globby was able to get it filled, put on the second burner and turned it to medium heat so it’d be good and ready when his sick roommate woke up.

Should I start the soup too? he wondered as he turned to check the clock on the wall. Hmm. 11:23. I guess that’s late enough. It’s not like breakfast was super big anyway, he worked out with a shrug as he set the other occupied burner to low-medium. Pulling a ladle out, he set it on the stove before he put his hands on his hips in satisfaction, surveying and checking he had everything good to go.

“And now, let’s get all the dishes out,” he quietly remarked to himself with determination, chuckling a little as he said it as if it were a heroic mission. Globby proceeded to get out a plate, bowl, spoon, and a clean glass that he’d fill with milk. He checked the living room real quick to see if Felony Carl was still asleep, which he was, although his breathing sounded raspy from his sore throat and drainage he no doubt had.

Poor Carl, the shapeshifter sadly sighed at the sight before turning around to go ahead and make his small lunch. Globby got out the package of sliced turkey, some Swisserstan cheese and the bottle of mustard, setting them next to his plate as he fished out a couple slices of bread. I wonder if Felony Carl will still want to watch the game show or maybe I can talk him into a movie. I can think of the perfect one to go with his sick day, he pondered as he constructed his sandwich in no time at all. Globby proceeded to get the jug of milk out and fill his glass up, not daring to get the chips out yet until his boyfriend was awake because he knew it’d be basically impossible to be quiet about it.

With his meal almost completed, he finally remembered the drained mug he was supposed to refill, so he looked out again and stretched his arm over to fetch the cup. Now, let’s seeeeee. Maybe a nice peppermint could help further soothe his throat, Globby thought as he browsed the selection at his disposal. He set the box down on the counter in order to dump the old tea bag out into the trash and popped the new one in. He got some sweetener out next since he wasn’t sure how the honey and peppermint would blend together, but the smell of the soup heating up reminded Globby that he still needed to stir the pot; how he was able to smell without a nose he didn’t know or question it, but he was glad he kept all his senses after the transformation. The gelatinous mutant gave the savory mixture a quick swirl and went “Mmm” involuntarily before he put the ladle back down and checked the kettle.

I think it’s about done, he assessed as he stretched his left arm over to retrieve the mug, followed by pouring the hot water into it and turning the burner off. Now the scent of mint permeated the air in front of Globby’s face as he went ahead and ripped a sweetener packet open and added it to the tea, giving it a quick stir and hoping the clinging of the spoon wasn’t too much noise.

Shoot! I better get some crackers to go with it or it won’t be as filling, Globby suddenly thought, deciding to just go ahead and grab the opened package of saltines they had on the second shelf in the pantry; it crinkled a little as expected, but not as bad as he feared it would be when he set it by the empty bowl. The pink and purple man then looked at the spread before him and thoughtfully hummed at how many items there were. With a simple bit of will, he proceeded to form two thick, blue TV trays for the both of them. “That ought to work,” he proudly said to himself as he set up each meal.

Great! Almost done! He then faced the stove again to find the soup was starting to steam along with a couple tiny bubbles making their way up. Globby gave the pot one more stir before he lit it rest another few minutes, leaving him to fiddle his transparent thumbs as he waited. What was that saying again about a watched pot never boiling? Heh. I bet if I had laser eyes it’d be a different story, he couldn’t help but joke to himself with a small chuckle. Eventually, the gurgling sound of the hot broth managed to reach him, prompting him to turn off the burner and carefully ladle the soup into the bowl at last.

Perfect, Globby almost sang out loud as he set the last item on the tray and carried the whole thing into the other room. He hadn’t heard much from Felony Carl beyond the occasional cough or sneeze, so he continued to see that as a sign the other was feeling better.

Once in the living room, Globby saw his roommate had succeeded in rolling onto his side, which likely aided in his breathing too. He smiled affectionately as he quietly made his way over, setting the tray onto the coffee table and gently pushing against Carl’s shoulder.

“Hey babe,” the shapeshifter softly said as he watched his boyfriend’s face briefly scrunch up before he slowly blinked his eyes.

“Hey,” Felony Carl tiredly replied in hoarse voice, followed by grunting as he sat up and stretched his arms up. He then gave a short sniff despite his nose still being a bit clogged and noticed the meal in front of him. “I am feeling a strange sense of déjà vu right now,” the motorcyclist remarked with a smirk as he turned to Globby.

The gelatinous mutant snorted and admitted, “It is pretty similar to breakfast this morning, but it’s even better since you get to have TV too! You go ahead and get started. I’ve got to go grab my stuff,” Globby turned and left for only 30seconds, leaving Felony Carl to open up the sleeve of available crackers next to the bowl. He could vaguely hear his boyfriend opening a cabinet, but the sound he made crushing up his soup mix-in drowned out some of the noise.

“Mreow.”

The reformed criminal turned around to find Jasmine had been awoken by all these disturbances, but that didn’t stop Felony Carl from reaching over with his left hand and petting along her back. He managed to dump his crumpled crackers into his bowl with the other hand and gave the soup a stir by the time Globby returned with a bag of chips to complete his lunch.

“Oh, looks like our precious little princess up,” Globby remarked as he sat down on the couch, the couple reunited and able to relax with one another once more.

Felony Carl sniffled for a moment and simply said, “She sure is,” followed by taking a spoonful of his soup.

“Sooo, how’s it tastes? Just know I spent hours making it and will be absolutely devastated if you hate it,” the shapeshifter inquired with a mostly joking, overdramatic tone.

“It tastes fine Globs. You will not hear any complaints from me. Now you better eat your meal too. Got to keep up your strength to save the city, right?” the husky biker responded as he quirked his unibrow meaningfully.

Globby snorted before he gently nudged the other and sarcastically said, “Oh no! It’s not like I can literally eat myself if I do get hungry.”

The two chuckled for a moment before Globby did as he was told and opened the bag of chips to eat a few of them. After a couple minutes of enjoying their food, the superhero asked, “You feeling better Carl?”

His roommate gave a short cough, but still smiled all the same and answered, “I do feel some slight alleviation from my symptoms, likely due to your care and medication.”

Globby blushed and dismissively replied, “It’s probably the medicine more than anything. I’ll get you another dose in a few hours. Oh! Before I forget, you don’t have to work tonight, right?”

Felony Carl shook his head and set his soup bowl down so as to grab his tea, followed by telling him, “I fortunately do not have a shift this evening, so I am free to ride this illness out for now.”

“Good, because I didn’t want to have to lay down boyfriend law with you and say you need to stay home until you’re not sick anymore,” Globby informed him with a firm head nod, then taking a bite out of his sandwich.

Smiling warmly in appreciation and amusement, his love sniffled (admittedly mostly thanks to his cold) and told him, “I am elated to have someone looking out for me should I do something as foolish as suffering through work while sick and potentially infecting people.”

“Anytime and of course! You’d do the same for me,” the pink and purple man reciprocated with a sincere smile of his own. The moment passed between them as another daytime gameshow played in the background, both not really paying attention as they mildly blushed.

Globby eventually gave a clearing cough and scratched the back of his neck as he said, “Hey, I almost forgot. I’ve got the perfect thing we need to watch before your sick day is over…if you want to that is since I doubt Jasmine will voice any complaints.” He gave a small laugh as the end, which made Felony Carl smirk before he cheekily asked, “And pray tell what is this film titled?”

“"The Prince’s Fiancé,"” Globby slyly answered, adding an eyebrow wiggle for good measure now that his boyfriend was intrigued.

The goateed man chuckled softly once he heard the title before it morphed into a small cough, then told him after he regained composure, “I have no issue with that and as they say, ‘There is no time like the present.’”

“Yes,” his shapeshifting roommate exclaimed in victory as he went to fish for the remote while Carl returned to his soup.

A few button clicks later, the film of choice was selected from their demand options and began to play, prompting Globby to work on eating more of his barely-touched food. “So, I guess all that leaves is figuring out what to do for dinner tonight since so far the main thing is soup, soup or soup, although breakfast for dinner doesn’t sound too bad,” the reformed mutant spouted off as he faced the other.

With the quirk of his unibrow and a couple seconds to ponder, the motorcyclist suggested, “How do you feel about some Joe’s Diner to go? I would not mind a BLT or a couple Joe Dogs.”

Globby nodded his head before he grinned and exaggeratedly said with a small bow, “As you wish.”

The two of them couldn’t help but share a laugh at the hero’s quip, one which Felony Carl was able to hold it this time with little issue and making Globby smile at his love’s improvement. They then settled back down as the film rolled on and savored the rest of their meals, for although today was different from the normal woes they faced, the time and care spent together throughout its course still brought a certain level of comfort and peace to make this whole ordeal better.

Chapter Text

“Okay Mochi, ready to try again?” Cass giddily said to the aforementioned calico, who merely sat on the olive-green couch and tilted his head.

“Mreow?”

“Awww. That’s adorable Mochi, buuut, not exactly what I was hoping for,” the café owner told the feline before she snapped a picture of him and gave him a little scratch under the chin, making him purr in response.

To say Cass loved her cat would be the understatement of the century. He was the family pet and had been part of said family for almost a decade now, but she had bonded with him from the moment she laid eyes on him at the animal shelter. From there, she spoiled him practically rotten with treats, toys and attention; Mochi was always grateful to be in the Hamada home and would return the love (except when it came time to go to the V-E-T). Of course, Cass also took the liberty of dressing him up in cute costumes like that one little blue alien or in a tuxedo to make him look fancy; the other aspect she enjoyed too about having Mochi beyond all the affectionate purring and head bonks was teaching him tricks, which is what she currently was doing.

When Cass pulled her hand away, she got the cat’s attention again and calmly but firmly told him, “Now Mochi, listen to me. I want you to go like this.” She proceeded to slowly clap her hands together four times while the other watched her actions. “Now you try it, and remember: Treat for a trick,” Cass added once she was done, followed by shaking the small yellow bag of bento treats; this got her pet far more excited than her demonstration as his eyes got wide and he hopped off the couch to get on his owner’s lap and beg.

“Mreow.”

“No sweetie. These are your award for doing a good job. Every time I have to go through this with you. Oh, you’re lucky you’re so cute,” the brunette lightheartedly scolded before she caved and petted Mochi again. She then picked him up and set him on the furniture before going back to her sitting position, but this time a little closer to him. The feline watched as Cass reached for his front paws, causing him to rest on his back ones and leaving him a tad confused as she moved them together to show how it should look.

“Come on Mochi. I know you can do it my adorable, smart kitty. We’ve been working on it all week, so you’ve got to have retained some of it,” Cass said with a sigh to the aforementioned cat as she let the other have his limbs back.

“Okay…clap Mochi, clap,” she repeated, expectantly watching the other as he blinked and tilted his head again. He then leveled it out again as to the café owner’s amazement, he lifted his fluffy arms up a little, almost looking like a begging dog. Cass was barely able to contain her squeal as she waited to see if he’d do anything else.

“Mreow.”

The food warrior let out a held breath as the calico put his paws back onto the couch, now looking at Cass in anticipation of a treat.

“Alright, you made some progress. Here you go,” she said with a supportive, if slightly tired smile as she opened the bag and gave him his fishy reward.

Mochi noisily chewed on it, not caring that his owner whipped her phone out again to film him as he focused on eating. He made a couple low growls in satisfaction at tasting it, finishing it about twenty seconds later and licking his paws before wiping them over his face to clean himself.

“So precious,” she commented to no one in particular once she turned her camera off. Cass then checked the time displayed on the screen and gave a small sigh. “Sorry Mochi. I’ve got to cut our session short. I need to get started on dinner. You up for trying again tomorrow?” the chef asked, not really expecting an answer but still felt her heart practically melt from her cat looking at her and meowing as if to say, “Okay.”

“Good boy,” she sweetly chirped before she gave him a kiss on the forehead and stood up, making the short trek into the kitchen to get out a pot and a pan to make pasta primavera, leaving Mochi to his own devices until he wanted attention again.

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The Next Day

“Mreow,” Mochi went as he found himself being picked up and placed gently on the couch by his owner, who finally finished taking care of her customers for the day.

“I know, I know, but you won’t learn if we don’t keep at it,” Cass placatingly told him as she rubbed his head and sat down in front of him. “Okay Mochi. We’ve got a little time before grocery shipping, so how about you show me those paws sweetie,” she brightly said as she held up her own hands again.

The calico blinked and proceeded to clean his face with his paws instead of doing what he was asked, making the other give a small exhale before she clapped her hands just like yesterday to get his attention. Once he looked back at her, he tilted his head for a moment and let out a little “Mrep” that Cass had to restrain herself from audibly going “Aww” to. Mochi did seem to eventually take the hint as he sat more on his hind legs and straightened his posture.

“Good,” she uttered, watching in anticipation as he began to lift his front limbs up, so she promptly added, “That’s it! You can do it,” to keep him going. Cass waited as she saw Mochi bring his mitts up just a little bit higher and…use them to rub his face some more.

“Ohhh,” the café owner couldn’t help but groan as she looked on at the cute display. “You were so close,” Cass softly chastised before she repeated the desired motion three more times. She then took Mochi’s own paws and briefly did the action for herself as she said, “Clap Mochi, clap.” Afterwards, the brunette woman pulled her hands away, fortunately seeing her fluffy kitty still remain in his sitting position with his arms held out front of him when she did so.

“You can do it. Come on,” she encouragingly told him with a smile to help the positive reinforcement.

Mochi looked at his caretake, then his extended limbs as if the gears in his head were turning at what he was supposed to do. He slowly inched his mitts closer to one another, staring intensely at the appendages as after what seemed like forever to Cass, he finally brought his wrist together. He let out an audible “Mreow” when he was done, almost as if to inquire, “Like this?” when he lifted his head back up to look at the human in front of him.

“Oh, almost baby but no. It needs to look like this,” she gently told him as she took his paws again and turned them so that the pads were touching. “You did so good though sweetie. Here,” Cass lovingly said as she reached for the bag of treats and gave one to Mochi, instantly perking him up as he sat forward to take it. Crunching and pleased purrs were the main sounds as the fluffy cat enjoyed his treat until he was done a minute later, already looking to Cass to give him another. “Mreow.”

“Nuh-uh Mochi. You’ve got to show me you can do it for me first. Now, please clap, okay?” she softly commanded, doing her best to keep her resolve on not giving him another bento bite just yet.

Mochi seemed to get the point though as the repeated training this week let him deduce he needed to sit back on his hind legs, which is what he did after 10seconds of no food.

“Good,” Cass chirped as she inched forward ever so slightly and waited. Her cat then gazed down and with ample focus, lifted his front paws up just a few inches just like before.

“Yes, that’s it. Almost there sweetie,” she added, anticipation building at their hard work paying off. “You can-”

~When you try to say my name~

“Eep!” Cass instantly exclaimed at the same time that Mochi meowed in bewilderment, forgetting his task and dashing off the couch in his startled state.

~You choke up on the phone~

“Nooo,” the café owner groaned at the calico’s departure. She then reached for her phone in her back pocket, the source of the disruption as someone was calling her. Cass’s irritation dropped though when she saw the caller ID read “Hiro,” so she promptly picked the call up.

“Hey Hiro. Everything alright?” she inquired in her cheery demeanor.

“Oh, uh yeah, it’s all good. I was just wanting to let you know that I may be an hour late for dinner tonight. I’ve been trying to fix a bug in one of my projects that’s due soon,” her nephew answered, sounding a touch guilty for springing it on her last minute.

“I understand Hiro. You just be safe getting home, okay? Oh! How’s your leg holding up? Still doing fine today?”

“Yep. It’s still doing good. Baymax’s constant monitoring helps. Anyway, I’ll be sure to get home by six and I’ll let you know if something comes up. Love you Aunt Cass,” Hiro replied with a bit more energy.

“Love you too Hiro and thanks for keeping me posted. See you soon.” She then ended the call and let out a small sigh at the change in plans before looking around to see where Mochi went. Cass noticed the door to her bedroom was cracked, prompting her to stand up and check inside. Poking her head in, she saw the desired feline already curled up on her bed and clearly trying to work in another nap. With a tender expression, Cass made her way to the kitty and sat down next to him, giving him some comforting pets and receiving a loud purr in return.

“You’re okay Mochi, but I’ll take this to mean you want to call it quits from today, don’t ya,” the brunette knowingly asked.

“Mreow.”

She chuckled and shortly added, “I thought so. Don’t worry though. I just know you’ll nail it.” Cass then bent down and kissed Mochi on his head, appearing like he was smiling from all the affection.

“I’ll be back soon you little cutie. Enjoy your nap,” Cass simply said as she got back up and left the room, turning around to steal one last look at the other’s contented state before leaving the door ajar and heading off to complete her errand, leaving her goal to hopefully be achieved later in the week.

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Two Days Later

Due to her workload with the café, both with her usual amount as well as having Beat Poetry Night yesterday evening, Cass didn’t have the time or energy to devote to training until now.

“Ready Mochi? Today’s the day! I can feel it,” the chef told the fluffy feline that she held out in front of her with determination.

“Mreow,” was all the calico said as he tilted his head, wishing mainly to just be set down right now instead of being in his current position.

“That’s the spirit,” Cass chirped with a big smile, granting the cat’s wish as she placed Mochi on the living room floor and sat cross-legged in front of him. Once she scooched in a hair closer and got comfortable, she looked at him with a steeled expression and said, “Okay Mochi, now please clap for me! Come on, you can do it. Clap!” The cafe owner slowly demonstrated the action as she did in her previous attempts, watching her cat as he looked at her attentively, giving her a spark of hope at the reinforcement taking.

The calico let her finish showing him what to do and ever the smart kitty, he resumed the position of leaning back and lifting his front paws. He could hear Cass give him an encouraging, “Good Mochi,” but still remained focus on his furry mitts as he soon remembered how she wanted them to look. Turning his little feet inward on each other, he then slowly inched them closer together as his owner did her best not to squeal with excitement at the change from the other day, and instead settled for telling him in a hushed voice, “That’s it. Good.”

In incrementally slow movements, Mochi brought his paws closer together while the other’s intense gaze of anticipation bore into him until at long last, they touched to make a single clap.

“Yes!” Cass victoriously exclaimed as if she had just won a food fighting match, causing her cat to look up from his accomplishment with surprise, but not enough to make him skitter away. She then gently but rapidly scooped up Mochi and gave him several kisses on the head while hugging him in the process. “Oh! You’re such a smart kitty, aren’t you? You did it sweetie,” Cass emphatically pressed onto the feline, who just let the affectionate action happen.

It took a full 15seconds of lovingly gushing over the other, but the excited woman eventually sat her cat back down so she could fish him out a couple treats. “There you go Mochi. You’ve earned them!” An excited half-trill/half-meow escaped from Mochi as his ears perked up and he dove to eat the bites before anyone else could possibly take them.

“Good huh?” Cass chirped, still brimming with joy as she gave him a nice rub between his ears. When Mochi finished the treat and licked himself clean, Cass got his attention again with a finger snap and said, “Okay honey, now I need you to do it again. Can you do that for me?”

She received a cute head tilt and a meow in response, but as soon as she began to clap and relayed her previous command, the calico sat back, raised his arms again and slowly mimicked her once more, save for his need to look at his paws as if to be sure he was coordinating his limbs properly.

The café owner honestly didn’t know what to say as she watched with wide eyes in disbelief that he had done it twice now. Cass was about to squeal in delight and fetch Mochi another treat when her breath stilled at her cat not even waiting for the fishy food to clap his furry mitts a second time in the same round. She could only remain there like a statue as she waited to see how many times Mochi would continue before demanding compensation in the form of bento bites.

20seconds scrolled by at an impossibly slow pace, but that was the duration of the slow clap session, possibly lasting that long due to Mochi either seeing Cass do it so many times, hoping it would mean more treats or both; whatever the case, it was done and now he looked expectantly at his owner as he swished his tail.

“Oh my gosh! That was incredible Mochi,” the master chef proudly told him as she scooped him up again and pelted him with kisses. “You’re just so amazing sweetie! I mean, does it mean I’m amazing too for apparently teaching you so well? I don’t know and it doesn’t matter because this is about you and you did wonderfully! I am just so proud of you,” she rambled in between smooches until Mochi eventually started to give a little bit of resistance by pushing into her arm, indicating he had enough.

“Sorry baby. I bet you’re looking for these,” Cass apologized as she loosened her embrace on him and proceeded to pour several fishy bites onto the floor. He gave an excited meow and hopped out of her hold to noisily chew on his well-earned treats.

The young woman smiled affectionately as she petted along her cat’s body, even getting his back to rise up into the air when she touched there. “Well, I think that’s enough for today. Don’t want you to get an upset tummy or spoil your dinner, but I’m just so happy you did it,” Cass continued to dote on Mochi as she showered him with attention. Her smile then widened as she eagerly said out loud, “Ooo! I can’t wait to show Hiro and his friends! They are going to be so surprised! Do you want to show them what you learned my fluffy, little cutie?”

“Mreow,” he answered, looking at the owner with a cute smile before he started to lick himself clean.

“Atta boy,” Cass said before she gave him one last kiss on his head and stood up to head downstairs for work, barely able to contain her excitement at the prospects of sharing something new about her most favorite cat with the world.

Chapter Text

Karmi’s head and body felt completely and utterly exhausted as a dull pain radiated throughout it despite currently being on morphine; this was the lingering sensation in her mind as she saw nothing but blackness, confusion and grogginess arising as she started to come to. As the seconds ticked on by, she also registered the sensation of feeling like her nose was stuffed as well as she was laying something soft, only adding to her perplexed state while she tried to deduce her location. The biotech major’s curiosity and determination eventually beat out her weariness as she forced her eyelids open, first as barely a slit and then slowly wider as her vision started to return.

After a couple blinks, her world came back into focus as she saw she was in a moderately-sized room with blue wallpaper and a large window to her right with a cream-colored curtain over it. Opposite of her, a TV hung up on the wall and a small wooden table with several flower vases on it resided below. There also was a drawn white curtain around the bed she was in, tucked under a seat of teal sheets.

A hospital? was the first deduction the young teen made as her face scrunched up in confusion. She then gingerly turned her stiff neck to the left to find a heart monitor placed next to the mattress along with a stand holding four IV bags; from her supine position, she could make out one as saline, which was normal, but the others looked like they could be various antibiotics and electrolytes.

What happened? Karmi wondered while her mind still felt like a muddled mess. Tentatively, she raised her left arm to confirm she had a line going into her vein, followed by moving the stiff limb to her face. She felt the oxygen tube in her nose first, explaining why something felt off there, then traced along the rest of her head, not finding anything particularly painful like stitches or a bruise.

Nothing wrong there, she internally noted as she moved her arm to her neck and suddenly froze. On the left side of her neck, she felt a square gauze patch taped to her skin, which she knew for a fact was not originally there.

When did I-As her fingers grazed the injury, her mind rapidly conjured images of Chris restraining her as Liv came at her with some type of gun, somehow making it to SFIT, Hiro finding her under her desk, and searing pain as things cascaded into a jumbled mess of claws and an overwhelming sense of anger. Karmi’s heart rate increased almost instantly as her breathing became fast and erratic too. A sheen of sweat quickly began to form as her heart monitor beeped in alarm, which was soon followed by a nurse with red hair entering to see what was going on.

Not wasting any time, the older woman was by the teenager’s side and proceeded to prep a sedative into the IV line, but the effects were not immediate as Karmi managed to frantically and desperately get out, “What-ha-happened?”

The nurse just looked at her sympathetically and patted her arm, trying to keep her still and calm her down as she said, “You went through an unfortunate ordeal honey, but they’ve got you almost all better now and your parents are on their way. Now, just focus on taking deep, slow breaths.”

Karmi’s systems in fact went on high alert as she heard the word “Parents,” causing her panic to still persist as she gasped, “No! They can’t! I mean-I don’t want them to see-I-I just no! They’ll just-”

She continued to hyperventilate and incoherently speech for a few more seconds, but thanks to her elevated heart rate, the sedative coursed through her veins at an accelerated rate and slowly started to pull her back into unconsciousness. “They won’t understand. They’ll be…so…mad…I still…have things…I…want…to…”Karmi petered off into a mumble as the medicine did its job, eventually rendering her breathing back to a slow, stable level and the teenager herself asleep for the next few hours.  

              _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Karmi.”

“Karmi, you can fight this.”

“You’re the smartest person I know.”

“I care about you.”

Hiro?

“Karmi.”

Is that you?

Suddenly, the 14yr old appeared before her, distorted with her vision tinged in red and looking at her with concern and possibly pain.

Why do I feel so mad at you? Like I want to hurt you?

“Karmi, you can fight this.”

Fight what? I don’t…all this just seems so wrong and…ugh, my head.

“You’re the smartest person I know.”

What? You…you mean that? I…always thought you were amazing too…you know that, right? We…we’re friends now, aren’t we?

“I care about you.”

I…yeah…I care about you too. What…what am I doing? What's going on? I-I don’t want this! Whatever’s happening, I’ve got to stop it and get Hiro out of danger!

...aaah! It hurts so much, but I-I can’t give up! I need-

“…think she’s going to be okay?”

Who said that?

“…almost fully recovered. She was fortunate that it was only for a short period of time.”

Are they talking about me?

“How long will she be asleep?”

Wait. I know that voice.

“She should be coming around soon. I imagine you have a lot to discuss.”

Karmi groaned softly as she slowly cracked her eyes open once more, not saying a word as she regained her vision. She saw she was in the same hospital room as before, but this did little to calm the anxious feeling growing in her as she turned her head towards the door. It was left open just ajar with someone’s shadow bleeding in, so Karmi concentrated to listen in on them.

“Yes, we certainly have,” came a female voice that made the biotech’s eyes go wide in shock.

“Mom?” she croaked out, unable to control her surprise despite being informed earlier about them coming. A moment later, the door was swiftly swung open as Karmi’s mom, dad and her doctor stood at the threshold. Her mom Sophia had slightly lighter skin that Karmi with her dark chocolate-colored hair flowing down to her shoulders while her dad Ramy had a tad darker complexion with several freckles dotting his face, short black hair and he wore glasses; as for the doctor coming in behind them, her nametag read “Ida” and had curly auburn hair tied up into a pony tail, fairer skin and wore glasses as well. The three adults seemed rather caught off-guard to see Karmi awake as they all approached the bed, with her parents moving to her right side and Karmi’s mom taking her hand while the doctor remained on her left.

“Hi there Karmi. How is everything? Any pain or stiffness?” Ida gently inquired with her bedside manner training on full effect as she gave a warm smile.

Feeling overwhelmed for a moment as she looked between the three people, the teenager swallowed thickly before she faced her physician and slowly answered, “I guess…I am a little stiff…and thirsty too.”

“Of course,” Ida replied with a nod as she pushed the call nurse button and instructed, “We’ll need some water brought in to Room 372 please. Thank you,” followed by hanging up.

Karmi then turned to her parents again as they both has misty eyes of worry while they smiled with relief. “Hey sweetie. We came as soon as the hospital called. Everything’s going to be okay,” Sophia reassured her daughter as she rubbed her thumb over the back of her daughter’s hand.

Do…do they know what happened to me? the 16yr old anxiously wondered as she remained silent. A few seconds later, a red-headed nurse came in with a glass of water and a straw, which was passed to Karmi’s father as he held it up to her so she could get some relief for her throat.

Once Karmi finished her drink, Ida picked her inquiry back up with, “So, do you remember what we brought you in for dear? It’s okay if you don’t, but if there’s something important we missed, it’d be best to correct our oversight.”

The biotech prodigy smacked her lips as she briefly furrowed her brow in thought. “I…I was…at school and then…there were claws. My friend Hiro…” Karmi suddenly gasped and rapidly sat up, momentarily hissing with pain as she pushed through it to frantically ask, “Is Hiro okay? He was with me and-and did something horrible happen to him too? I need-”

“Shh. There’s no need to fret. I believe the one you’re referring to was there at Sycorax, but he appeared fine when the EMTs came to take you to the hospital,” her doctor informed her, causing the other to just sit there as she processed what she was told and gradually slowed her breathing back to a more stable rhythm.

He's okay. He’s okay.

Ida let relative silence hang for another minute before looking at her patient sympathetically and continued with, “I’m afraid that while you do seem to be recovering well, your body was found having an implant and from what we could tell, left you drained of vital electrolytes, muscles shocked with minute signs of the start of atrophy and strain on all your ligaments. It was most fortunate that the device was disabled in case it might have caused permanent damage.”

As soon as her doctor said “Implant,” Karmi’s hand felt for the bandaged neck, eyes wide in terror as her mind briefly flashed the memory of Chris and Liv (although she didn't know it was actually Di).

“Sycorax?” Sophia repeated in confusion, then quickly morphed into horror as realization set in and she turned to her husband, who mirrored her expression.

“Karmi, the place you worked at did this to you?! What kind of unethical, cruel monster does this to someone, let alone a child?” Ramy uttered in anger and shook as he looked at his daughter, but before the young woman could voice out that she wasn’t a child, her dad continued with his dissention. “It was bad enough hearing about the increase in villain activity and all the attacks on campus, not to mention the star incident, but this…I-I just don’t think we can handle this anymore,” Ramy initially vented out in fury, only to transition into a tone of exhaustion and resolve as he faced Sohpia. Karmi’s mom bit her lip while the tears she had held back finally streamed down her cheeks, giving a slow nod a moment later.

The teenager initially watched dumbfoundedly as she pieced together what they were talking about, but a cold wave of panic overcame her once she figured it out. “No, please don’t,” Karmi begged, gripping her mom’s hand tighter as her eyes flitted between her parents.

They remained firm though as Sophia let out a tired sigh and frankly told the other, “I’m sorry sweetie, but you can’t expect us to be okay with this. There has been so much danger this past year and how many times did we have to hear about it secondhand from the news, only for us to spiral and need to call you to confirm you were alright?”

Karmi cast her eyes away for a moment in guilt at the truth those words held, not intending to make her folks worry but it simply was that the incidents slipped her mind most of the time; she did remember the parts with Captain Cutie very well however as good or bad, it felt amazing to be so close to someone she thought was so cool and handsome. She returned her gaze back to her mom and argued, “I know you’re worried, but my life is here with all my research and even my friends. You can’t just uproot me and take me back to Carseñora! I’m involved in some groundbreaking work that could help save a lot of people. Isn’t that important?”

Despite Karmi’s own points of protest, the response she got was another exhale, but from her father this time before he countered with, “Yes Karmi, it's important, but it shouldn’t be put above your life. You are the most important thing in the world to us and what kind of parents would we be if we didn’t intervene when you keep being subjected to such dangerous situations?”

The teenager’s lip quivered for a moment in fear of losing this fight, followed by swallow dryly and steeling herself to emphatically tell them, “Plenty of people put their lives on the line every day to do the right thing and help others. I want to be someone who can do that! I helped save Orso Knox, I found a cure for someone suffering a horrible affliction and even aided in stopping the Mayoi that took over the city! That mattered mom and dad, and I made through it okay.”

Now she seemed to earn her parents’ ire as they frowned with stern looks and Sophia beseeched, “But that is exactly what we’re talking about! You shouldn't have to face things like Mayoi or whatever happened at Sycorax! You are so intelligent Karmi and we’re so proud of what you accomplished, but you are still only sixteen and should be thinking about actually having a future instead of potentially losing your life and us our daughter.” She then sighed as a few more tears were shed and glanced away from Karmi as Ramy wrapped an arm around her.

Her father turned to her a moment later and with a heavy expression, firmly stated, “I’m sorry Karmi, but this discussion is over. You’re moving back home with us once you’re out of the hospital. Maybe we can find another school to go to, one that’s safer and doesn’t have to deal with this chaos.” He along with Sophia proceeded to stand up as their daughter was left stunned and wide-eyed, struggling to find the right words to help her case, but they just kept getting further away.

“Please…I don’t want to leave here,” Karmi managed to quietly beg and actually getting her parents to pause; any hope she had though was dashed as the pair looked at each other for a moment and bowed their heads before Sophia faced her again to bluntly say, “We can’t always get what we want sweetie. We love you though and hope one day you’ll understand why we’re doing this, but we promise it’ll all work out in the end.” And with that said, they turned and left the room, still visibly upset as they held each other close.

The teen prodigy just stared in utter shock as any stiffness or residual pain was washed away with cold despair. Her eyes then found their way to Ida, who had the unfortunate pleasure of witnessing all of this transpire, and appeared to hold regret that she hadn’t stopped it.

“Isn’t there anything you can do?” she couldn’t help but desperately ask despite knowing the answer.

Her doctor proceeded to sadly sigh as she clasped her hands together and gazed at Karmi with great sympathy. “I’m sorry, but unless there’s a case for abuse or it’s a matter of life and death for you to stay here, I can’t override their legal authority as your guardians.” Ida exhaled again as she put a comforting hand on the other’s shoulder and gently eased her back into bed. “You should try to rest some more. I know it won’t be easy, given what’s just happened, but there’s nothing else that can be done until you’re dismissed in a day or so. Again, I’m so sorry for all of this hitting you at once. Is there anything else you need from me?”

It took Karmi several seconds to even acknowledge that she had heard the doctor as she let her head listlessly turn towards the window, tears already welling up as she eventually replied in a hollow tone, “No.” Her physician still waited a couple seconds in case Karmi changed her mind, but when no follow-up answer came, she quietly made her exit, leaving the young woman to her swirling thoughts and strong emotions.

I can’t believe they’re taking me away…there’s so much I didn’t get to do, and…I may not know all that happened to me, but uprooting my life here? I just…Karmi thought as she reflexively closed her eyes tight in pain and guilt. I’m so sorry Hiro. I never got to thank you or tell you how grateful I am to have you for a friend. To know you care about me and were there when I was in trouble is probably the nicest, bravest thing anyone has ever done for me…besides Captain Cutie of course.

As she opened her eyes once more and gazed at the window, she felt her own resolve return as she told herself, I promise, I’ll do my best to try and tell you all this one day; you at least deserve that, and I won’t let this setback keep me from helping people like I know we did the other day. I just hope you’ll be alright too while I’m gone.

Karmi turned to face the ceiling again, still full of unrest at what the future was going to hold now thanks to this massive derailment, but she proved multiple times already that she could overcome unimaginable odds, so it truly was just a matter of time and determination until this too would pass.

Chapter Text

Okay, you can do this! It’s no big deal, I’m sure! All you did was attack them multiple times and helped aide in Obake’s master plan to destroy the city. Nothing that can’t be easily forgiven, Globby tried to convince himself, holding onto the belief for all of three seconds before his expression fell and he mentally forehead slapped himself. Oh, don’t be stupid Globby! Even if you did save the kid and that tall girl sounded happy for you switching sides, there are still the others to worry about and you know you deserve their hate. Ugh, why did you have to wait until now to see working for Obake was a bad decision? the gelatinous mutant scolded himself as he felt a pang of guilt.

Currently, the shapeshifter was flying as fast as he could as a pterodactyl to meet the four other members of BH6, who he was told were on top of the broadcast tower in the heart of the city. They all were in a race against time to try and stop his former boss’s plan, but the fact he was just on standby with them only added to his anxiety and regrets. I just hope the kid, Hiro or whatever, can stop him before this gets to the point of no return. I mean, I’ll probably be fine if I get caught in the blast, not that I’m particularly psyched to test that out, but Felony Carl and everyone else won’t be so lucky, Globby fretted as he flew through the city. He then shook his head before he rounded the corner of an apartment building, no doubt surprising those that were looking out of their window at the time, and chastised himself with, No, stop that! Being all negative ain’t gonna help anyone and nobody likes a Gloomy Gus…or I guess in this case a Gloomy Globby. Just focus on what you can do or at the very least on whatever the heck they tell you to do with the 110% you usually give.

Without another thought, Globby beat his wings a little bit harder to help give him some extra lift over a fancy office building covered in glass and narrowly missed their exhaust system. Okay, c’mon! C’mon! Got to get there ASAP, the shapeshifter ordered internally, pushing himself to rise another 50ft into the air until low and behold, his target appeared amongst the plethora of buildings he had been weaving through.

Huh? Rather ironic that we’re all meeting back here given that this is sorta my origin spot, Globby couldn’t help but remark as he continued to flap his transparent wings to focus on gaining speed now.

After he passed by a few dozen businesses and apartments to reach the base of the tower, he then angled himself to begin spiraling up and around the tall structure, using his momentum he built and the warm rising air to swiftly ascend. Looking at the multiple windows he passed as he flew, Globby’s mind couldn’t help but drift to, I wonder if seeing a giant flying dinosuar counts as a good sign or a bad one to someone’s day? I know there’s plenty of bad ones that involve birds and I was a villain, but personally, I think it’d be an awesome to say you saw one, and- The shapeshifter shook his head and internally scolded himself once more with, No! Stop that! It’s save the city time, so you need to focus! His expression then became anxious as he saw he was about to reach the top of the tower and remembered, But first…it’s apology time. Oh, I hope this works.

When he was 20ft from the platform, he tilted his wings to propel his body straight up and gave them one final, strong beat, letting him crest over the edge of the broadcasting tower to see the whole city and bay before him. While the view was beautiful, his attention was quickly drawn to the four colorful outliers standing on the building below, all of whom were gazing at him with surprise and wariness; although for the yellow and blue ones, they appeared to Globby as if they were getting into attack stances.

Well, no time like the present as they say, especially when there’s a ticking clock on everyone, the gelatinous being anxiously thought as he slowly landed on the other side of the structure, which still caused enough of a gust of wind to tussle their hair. Once on solid ground, he simply stared at them as they did the same, both parties unsure of what to do. After about 10seconds, Globby was about to initiate the conversation when he realized he still looked like a pterodactyl, making him give a weak, nervous laugh instead as he returned to his normal humanoid form.

“Heh-heh, I guess while cool, a dinosaur doesn’t do a good job of diffusing tension,” he tried to casually tell them with a crooked smile as he scratched the back of his neck.

There came no response from the other four, although the one in pink he had heard was called “Honey Lemon” at least managed to show some joy at his arrival.

Globby’s expression then fell as he began twiddling his mitts, castings his gaze away before he let out a long sigh. He proceeded to grab his right arm with his left and using all his sheer willpower, slowly told them, “Look, I know I’ve screwed up in the past and did a lot of terrible things to you all with no real excuse or justification…” The shapeshifter exhaled again before he took in a deep breath, looked at the heroes and heartfeltly added, “Anyway…I’m sorry I was a real monster to everyone and above all, I’m sorry I helped Obake make his stupid star thing or whatever. I didn’t set out to try and get everyone killed, but I’ve had my hand in it and now I want to do everything in my power to stop it. What can I do to help you guys?”

The group was silent with GoGo and Wasabi blinking before sharing an uncertain expression and shrugging, Fred holding an ever-growing smile (at least that's what it looked like to Globby since he only could really see his face through the opened eye of his costume) and Honey Lemon having her hands clasped together as her eyes became misty. The chemist then began stepping towards Globby, making the gelatinous man quirk an eyebrow in confusion as he looked side to side for a moment as if hoping the explanation would come. When she finally was standing in front of the other, her smile widened as she threw her arms around him in a strong embrace, causing two of her companions to involuntarily flinch and make Globby just plain shocked with his mouth even agape in surprise.

Uh, what?! Why-why is she doing this? Is this just a thing heroes do on a daily basis? Give hugs to people? Even those that don’t deserve it like me? he wondered in disbelief. It took a few seconds to come out of his state, but he incrementally moved his pink and purple arms to return the gesture, which seemed to make both of them feel more relaxed and comforted despite the dire situation happening.

“It’s okay Globby and thank you for saving Hiro. We were so worried about him and we’re so glad he’s okay,” Honey Lemon told him with complete sincerity at long last, pulling apart so she could look at his still puzzled face. “Everyone slips up at times, but the fact you feel bad about it and are here now to help shows you’ve got more good in you than you thought and now is your chance to prove it. I said that you were special, didn’t I?” she imparted onto Globby with a wink.

The shapeshifter opened his mouth and closed it again, furrowing his brow as he tried to figure out the right words and not send himself back to square one. A moment later, his expression turned gentle as he replied, “Thank you so much for being so kind to me, even when I’ve been a villain. I know I mentioned it earlier, but thank you again for believing in me. It’s nice to have someone that’s trying to build me up instead of tearing me down.” He widened his smile, and to which Honey Lemon returned it, followed by placing his arms back to his side as the two gazed over at the remaining heroes.

Wasabi scratched the back of his neck while avoiding eye contact as GoGo still had her arms crossed, scrutinizing Globby but with a less harsh demeanor now, which was in contrast to Fred, who looked actually quite happy as he gave his suited arms a giddy little shake.

Eventually, the physicist decided to weigh in with his verdict and admitted, “It uh, may take some time to be 100% cool with everything since I know I spent many a night cleaning your globs off my armor, not to mention all the fighting, but I’m so glad that you managed to get Hiro away from Obake; Honey Lemon’s right too about it meaning a lot that you came here, so, I guess we’re just…okay for now?”

“Yeah, yeah. I get it. Thanks for at least being honest,” the pink and purple mutant told him, briefly scratching his neck again as he glanced away.

They then all turned to the engineer, who looked at each of them and said with a hint of annoyance, “What? I didn’t attack him when he first got here, right? Should be enough to tell you where I stand so long as he doesn’t do anything shady, then all bets are off.”

Globby blinked at the mild threat he heard in those words, but facing Honey Lemon and seeing her smile was enough to know he at least wasn’t branded the enemy. “That’s fair and I appreciate not being hit with one of your discs; believe it or not, they do still hurt if I’m not ready for them and they don’t go right through me,” he informed them as he gave a weak laugh. Looking at Fred a moment later, he was honestly surprised at being greeted with such an enthusiastic expression, so he slowly inquired, “And uh…how do you feel about all this?”

Fred let out a delighted scoff at the question and emphatically replied, “Are you kidding? This is totally awesome! I’m an absolute sucker for a villain redemption story, and getting to hear your speech instead of just the “I’m a good guy now,” line adds to this turning point and makes it feel that much realer!”

Globby was silent for a few seconds as he processed the other’s response, but eventually his thoughts came together as he replied with an unsure grin, “Oh…well, I’m glad that I didn’t disappoint you I guess.” He then gave a clearing cough before pointing to chemist of the group and hesitantly saying, “Okay, just so I get it right and make things a little less awkward, you’re Honey Lemon, yes?”

“Uh-huh,” she chirped with an affirming nod.

“Alright,” Globby uttered, smiling a little bit with confidence now at being right. He proceeded to gaze over at Wasabi next and guessed, “Now, I know it’s not really “Chop-Chop” like in that fan fiction I saw…soooo, was it Ginger, Soba or-no wait. It started with a “W.””

“Wasabi,” the aforementioned hero offered.

Globby still had his thinking face on as he muttered,” Wasabi, Wasabi, Wa-yep! That was it!”

“I’d certainly hope so after all the times my friends called me that,” Wasabi slyly remarked as he crossed his arms now.

The attention was once again on GoGo as she gave Globby an unamused look, so he winced as he pondered out loud, “Well, although “Speed Queen” is an apt name for you, it was actually something similar to that, I think. Ummm…” He tried for a few seconds to recollect the other’s name, but after he came up empty, rather than guess he cautiously asked her, “Could you just…maybe please tell me what it is? I’ll try to do a better job in the future at remembering it.”

Globby’s simple request and act of humility managed to impress the engineer a bit given the other’s usual flare to deny/cover-up whenever he made a mistake, so she obliged with a shrug and told him, “It’s GoGo.”

““GoGo,” okay. Thanks,” the shapeshifter said as a grin returned to his face. Lastly, he turned to the blue lizard individual again, who looked like he could barely contain his excitement as the mutant furrowed his brow in thought. “I know you’re the one who called me “Globby” first, and…I want to say your name is fairly common, but I-”

“It’s Fred,” the comic book fan blurted out, practically bouncing in place and not unphased by the fact he interrupted Globby.

The former purse thief blinked but quickly recovered from the outburst as he flashed a smile and told him, “Alright Fred. Thanks for letting me know.”

“No problem, and let me just say, your dinosaur forms are so flipping cool! You fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine the other day, so even though we were on opposite sides, it was awesome,” Fred gushed to the gelatinous shapeshifter, a wide smile still plastered on his face despite the current circumstances.

Globby felt warm in his cheeks at the mostly flattering comment, unsure as to how it was possible he could blush, but he was still appreciative nonetheless. “Really? Well, I’m glad you liked them, even though I’m sorry it went down that way.”

With official introductions all done, Globby’s mind then drifted back to his purpose for being here, making him shift his focus out over the bay where Obake’s magnum opus resided. “So, uh, since I don’t have any of your fancy superhero helmets, has there been any word from Hiro on if he’s made it to the lighthouse yet?” he hesitantly asked as he held his own hands as part of his nervous habit.

The four young adults exchanged uncertain, worried expressions with each other before Wasabi informed him, “We haven’t heard anything, but last we checked he was on his way there. Skymax is pretty fast though, so he should be at the device soon enough; how long it’ll take to disarm it is another matter, but for all we know he’s made it and that’s what he’s working on now.”

Well, that’s not 100% reassuring, but that kid’s pretty tough and like insanely smart, so I guess I’ve just got to hope that he’s got this, Globby internally remarked with a sigh, but still gave a nod in understanding. As they waited in relative silence for another few moments, it occurred to him that they had yet to ask him any questions and well, since they were currently on standby…

“Hey uh, while we’re all here with a little time on our hands, is there anything you want to know about me? Seems only fair and I’m not too good at standing around doing nothing, ya know?”

While GoGo and Wasabi looked at each other in their own silent conversation, Honey Lemon jumped at the chance with an eager squeal and inquired, “Ooh! I’ve always wanted to know who you were before we met you?” She then appeared to regret the question as she went from wide-eyed to wincing over the course of a second and rapidly added, “I mean, it's not super important and obviously it’s who you are now that matters. Of course, you also don’t have to answer if it’s uncomfortable or traumatic for you to do so. I just was curious, that’s all, and totally get it if we’re not at that level of trust yet.”

The gelatinous mutant stood there silently as he was hit with the barrage of words, but a genuine smile spread across his face before he let out a soft chuckle. “You’re all good Honey Lemon, and you know, beside Felony Carl, I don’t think I’ve ever met someone so empathetic to others, so thank you for giving me those outs. Anyway, to answer your question, you already know some of it as I was formally the worse purse snatcher San Fransokyo has probably like ever seen.” He gave an awkward laugh at the self-deprecating comment, but it was true and he could own up to it now even if he didn’t like it. Globby soon added, “But as for my name…it was Dibs before I got all mutated and junk, and yes, I’ve already been told how funny it is to be a thief called “Dibs,” but I’m honestly surprised I haven’t heard someone point out how I have “Sticky fingers” now.”

A forehead slap was then heard as everyone turned to Fred, seeing him with a clawed hand to his head and bearing an incredulous expression. “Ah man! That would have been a great quip for when we were fighting! I could have been like, ‘Your sticky fingers won’t be stealing anything today!’ or ‘Stop right there, sticky fingers!’ Ugh. So many missed opportunities!”

His words got GoGo to roll her eyes, Wasabi to lightheartedly shake his head, Globby to quietly laugh, and prompting Honey Lemon to approach her grumbling friend and pat him on the back.

“Don’t worry Freddie. You’ll come up with some new quips that are sure to get the bad guys' attention,” she said with sincerity.

The lizard-themed superhero turned to her, his mood already appearing slightly elevated and replied, “Really?”

“Defnitely,” Honey Lemon told him without hesitation and a warm smile, which was enough to make Fred grin again.

Globby watched the scene unfold, amazed at the chemist’s ability to cheer people up and be genuine about it. Wow. No wonder she’s a hero. Quite frankly though, the lack of hurtful or snide remarks is actually pretty refreshing. Huh? Probably should have figured the good guys would be good to each other, he internally reflected.

He was about to chime in and agree with the pink-clad heroine when the sound of rocket engines instantly killed any words he thought of saying. Everyone turned west back out over the bay to faintly see something purple and black with a plume of blue and white fire behind it. They all watched and waited with baited breath as the robotic vessel Skymax flew by the edge of the tower, releasing the teen prodigy from its hold onto the platform.

“Guys! I did it,” Hiro exclaimed in delight as he waved the energy amplifier he built in the air. All five of them quickly made their way over to him with Fred getting there first to tackle the other.

“Oh yay! Up high Hiro,” the comic book fan shouted, raising his clawed hand up and getting an immediate reciprocation. “Wow!” he added as he examined the powerful device his friend brought back.

“Great job Hiro,” Honey Lemon congratulated next as she gave him a proud hug, the joy palpable at this victory.

GoGo attempted tussling Hiro’s hair but only managed to achieve rubbing his helmet, but the action was still well-received. “Now, we get Obake,” she then told him with firm determination.

This is incredible! The kid actually did it! He saved the city from being wiped out and…Globby’s mind trailed off amidst the celebration as far off in the distance past Torii Gate Bridge, the Kiriena Point Lighthouse was glowing an ominous purple and white. He dropped his smile as a cold, sinking feeling came over him and he couldn’t help but asked, “Umm, what’s that?”

Chapter Text

Ha! Of all the humorous things I’ve heard in my life, they think they can keep Ian McCormick locked up in this jail! I am Hardlight! The master of games, a genius beyond comprehension, the champion of champions in countless fields, and I will not be contained, you can count on that, the recently incarcerated villain known as Hardlight aka Ian proclaimed internally as he sat in his cell. He had only been in jail a week and already vowed to himself every day that he would escape, but so far had yet to do it; he reasoned it would be best to know all the ins and outs before he attempted anything to ensure maximum success. Ian’s plan would also probably be further along with more certainty if he had his hologram gauntlet and suit, but they had been withheld into his personal effects upon his arrest.

Hmmm, maybe I should look into seeing if one of the prisoners here has any fighting moves they’d be willing to teach me; either that or I need to fashion myself a new sword or some other kind of weapon, but then my problem becomes where to put it, Ian pondered, anxiously tapping his foot and feeling eternally grateful that he didn’t have to deal with a cellmate who might make him stop his habit.

A loud alarm blared overhead for a moment, which quickly snapped him out of his thoughts as he swiftly lifted his head in panic before he remembered it was for alerting the inmates it was yard time. Does it need to be at that ear-shattering volume when they blast that thing?! Someone’s going to have a heart attack because of it one of these days, I swear, the supervillain internally grumbled as he stood up and crossed his arms, waiting for his cell to be open. It was only thirty seconds after his little complaint that a 6ft tall man with black hair and wearing a beige security suit arrived at the fortified bars. He then unlocked the door for Ian and gestured for him to exit, making the incarcerated man huff but still obeyed nonetheless.

I was going to leave if you just gave me a moment. I’m not a child or dog needing constant guidance, he thought as he practically bit his tongue so as not to say anything. Ian was out of his cell in a matter of steps and turned to the right to start making his trek to the yard, all while being constantly supervised. There were already a handful of prisoners in front of him in a line, spotting a bald, muscular man with tattoos on his arms, a silver-haired woman who gracefully walked ahead and a skinny man with a dark-brown goatee and hair up in a ponytail.

Such an eclectic bunch, Ian remarked to himself while he kept marching forward. When the first prisoner reached the main security gate, there was a brief buzz and a light overhead turned green as it unlocked and slid open, revealing the bright, sunlit courtyard. The group of prisoners then continued single-file through the entryway with Hardlight needing to shield his eyes upon stepping outside. They still traversed through a fenced-in pathway until it ended on the opposite side of the wall, where another door buzzed and granted them access to the wide array of exercise equipment; there were also some benches for sitting on and a basketball court too that currently had a couple people venturing towards it.

Ian didn’t follow them though as he opted for walking over to the west wall and stood in the shade, deciding it was a better use of his time to watch the others and decide where to go from there. Those simpletons can work up a sweat if they want, but I prefer not to smell all rank for hours; I may be a noob in their eyes, but let it not be said I don’t care about my hygiene. Now, let’s see who can help me and my plans, he plotted as his gaze fell upon a group around the weight lifting station. There were two men hanging off to the side of the workout bench with another behind the bar to spot the fourth currently laying down. He then watched as roughly 200lbs were lifted up and down by the forty-something individual a total of three times before he felt the need to stop, earning him a couple high-fives when he sat back up.

Hmmm. Something tells me even getting to talk with them will involve some sort of initiation ritual that’s based on physical abilities, which will likely result at best in ridicule and at worse severe injury…yeah, it’s not worth it, the former Krei-Tech employee worked out in his head, giving it a small shake before he honed in on a pair of tall prisoners on the opposite end of the grounds. The pair were racing each other between the walls and managing to garner a handful of onlookers who moved a couple benches so they could cheer on their favorite.

Well, they certainly are entertaining and don’t seem like they’re muscle-headed berserkers like the other group is, so that’s a plus; I may even get a few pointers for my agility skills in the process…but would they be receptive to me and my aspirations of escape? They seem to have found contentment within these walls and might question any plan I come up with…maybe I’ll wait before approaching them so I have something more concrete that they can’t criticize, the tech genius plotted, giving a small head nod to himself. He scanned the area, observing the various clicks that existed from some laying against the wall like him and talking with each other to the basketball players that were deep into their game of three-on-three. When his gaze went past the runners again, Ian had to do a double-take at who was on the outskirts of the spectators; although this person wasn’t fully facing him, Ian saw he wore glass, was of a leaner build, medium height, and had wavy dark-brown hair that seemed longer than when he last laid eyes on him.

“Mel?” he said in utter disbelief as he continued to stare, unaware he was getting some funny looks from the people who passed him. Is this where he’s been this whole time? Man, I thought he just quit and went to Braggs Tech to be part of a think tank or something. Well, that’s…unfortunate, Ian internally remarked.

After staring and pondering for a few moments, it occurred to him he was looking at someone that he finally had a half-decent shot of connecting with. Hmm…Even if I can’t convince him to help me personally, he might be able to serve as a middle man since he’s been here long enough to know the basic ins and out, the villain worked out, nodding his head as he got more and more excited by this idea. He then began walking across the courtyard, going past a couple guys arm wrestling at a table and being extra careful not to get hit by the basketball that bounced out of bounds when he neared it.

In no time at all, Ian was within range of the cheering inmates, able to hear them more clearly shout things like, “Faster Kenji!” and “Come on Reva!” He spied his target giving a loud whistle and going, “You got this K,” as his gaze followed the runners. Now or never, Ian told himself with determination as he extended his arm and tapped the other’s shoulder.

The wavy-haired man gave a bit of a startled jump at the sudden touch, but he quickly turned around and uttered, “Oh,” with a puzzled face, followed by asking, “Is…is there something I can help you with? I’m not standing in your way, am I?”

The incarcerated supervillain blinked for a moment before he shook his head and replied, “No no, you’re good…but um, you wouldn’t happen to be named Mel, would you?”

Mel looked taken aback at being addressed by his name, followed by squinting his eyes as he scrutinized the other; a few seconds later, he opened them back up nice and wide as recognition washed over his face.

“Ian?” he half-asked/half-gasped.

“Yep,” the other simply said with a satisfied grin and a shrug. Before he realized what was happening though, the gamer found himself being brought into a hug by Mel, temporarily short-circuiting his brain from the sudden action.

“Man, I’ve got to tell ya, it’s so good to see a familiar face around here. I mean, some of these guys like Mike and Raul are pretty nice, but there are definitely plenty of prisoners that just want to kick you in the face,” Mel rambled as he finally pulled away, keeping his hands still on Ian’s shoulders and smiling brightly when he said so. Before the other could find his voice again, the crowd of cheering prisoners erupted as one of the runners Kenji apparently fell, signaling Reva as the winner and time to start a new round with two new competitors.

“Come on, let’s catch up,” the eager man urged as he now led Ian over to one of the available benches. The newer inmate shook his head as he found himself sitting at a worn, wooden table opposite of Mel as he chided/reminded himself, Remember, try to cozy up to him and maybe this will all work out; he already seems interested in getting chummy. He then tried to appear relaxed, putting on his best smile and beating his fellow scientist to the punch as he inquired, “So, how have you been Mel? I honestly had no idea you were in here. All we were told is that you were let go.” He leaned in closer a moment later like he was sharing a dark secret and added, “There were quite a few rumors though, with the craziest being that you got recruited to help build a spaceship to fight aliens.”

The incarcerated inventor’s eyes initially went wide before they returned to normal, but an awkward air between them came as he scratched the back of his neck and avoided the other’s gaze. “Heh heh. Well, I’m sure if that project exists, Krei will find a way to get a bid on it; he’d probably use my flexible display cloth for it too, which is actually why I’m in here,” Mel admitted with a nervous laugh, giving Ian a sideways glance and a sheepish grin.

“Hmm. How so?” the other asked, genuinely curious now thanks to the puzzling response.

Transitioning from scratching his neck to nervously fiddling with his hands, Mel took a moment to collect himself before he apprehensively replied, “Well, I’m not exactly proud of what I did, but you remember those Buddy Guards right?”

“Oh yeah, I know all about thoses. Krei had me working overtime trying to fill this massive order for the police before I got locked up in here; they were counting on them being formidable, but even when in large numbers, they’re still no match for a bad guy that has basic evading skills and weapons,” Ian groaned, not even attempting to hide his disdain in his voice.

“Really? Well, that sucks given all the work that went into making them; they certainly were a hassle when I had to deal with them. I’m glad though that I haven’t heard anymore news about them glitching and attacking people, not that that’s much of a consolation,” the other former Krei-Tech employee sighed with a small shrug.

“Oh yeah, we got those bugs fixed and had everything insulated with triple non-conductive coating layers just to be safe,” the goateed inmate half-bragged as he chimed in. That made Mel give a tiny smile in satisfaction, but it soon dropped when he continued his story a moment later.

“Anyway, it’s because my flexible display cloth was being used to make those flying assault bots that I tried to get Krei to remove my material, which maaaay have involved impersonating him and hijacking his date in order to get into the office.”

Ian merely blinked as he processed what he just heard, followed by giving an unexpected snort and laughed for a moment, making Mel look perplexed and a tad embarrassed. Eventually, the former stopped though and shook his head as he remarked, “Wow. That is somehow even crazier than the actual rumors flying around; I was partial to the one about you getting an offer from GITT and couldn’t wait to leave, so you didn’t even bother with a two weeks’ notice and instead did a two seconds’ notice.”

Scratching the back of his neck, Hardlight’s former colleague gave a short, nervous laugh and replied, “Yeeeaaah, it certainly felt like it was that quick of a process, but as you can see, my whole plot resulted in me being imprisoned after Big Hero 6 came in to save his date and I from those metal menaces; I’ve written to his date a few times since then, but by the fifth one, I figured it was time to accept she didn’t want to visit.” Mel sighed sadly at the end of his statement while Ian looked to be in utter disbelief.

“Wait wait. What?! You wrote to his date after that fiasco? I…I honestly don’t know whether that’s just insane or bold and insane,” the incarcerated villain commented as he rested his head in his hand.

“I would say probably bold and insane, but I figured I’d give it a shot since we were in a high-adrenaline situation and she seemed both tough and attractive, so you know…” Mel trailed off as he avoided the other’s gaze, a small blush appearing now.

The sound of the nearby crowd cheering briefly pulled the two out of their conversation, but once they saw it was just the second race ending and not a brawl starting, they faced each other again. Mel then put on a friendly grin and inquired, “Sooo, you heard my story, now I want to know what got you landed in here.”

Well, I knew this was coming, but based on what he just told me, being a willing participant is basically out of the question. I guess it’s time to use some good old-fashion lying and manipulation and just hope he doesn’t know I’m Hardlight, Ian plotted with a smirk.

“What’s so funny?”

The supervillain blinked at the inquiry, only realizing now that he let that expression of smugness cross his face. He quickly recovered a minute later though as he shifted in his seat and smoothly replied, “Oh nothing. Just thinking about how I was fired too and thrown into this dump.”

“Oh! Was it anything like how I got imprisoned?” the other scientist asked with genuine intrigue, scooching a little closer and looking on expectantly.

“A little yeah, but it definitely didn’t involve being chased by rogue Buddy Guards,” Ian replied with a small laugh at the end. He then paused for a couple more seconds before he let out a long sigh and tantalizing added, “But it does involve Buddy Guardians.”

Mel’s eyes went wide as he gripped the table and exclaimed, “Buddy Guardians?! Those things that tried to destroy the city in a robotic uprising?!”

“Yep,” the goateed man simply replied, unable to suppress a small grin at having Mel hooked to hear more.

Gesturing exasperatedly, the other inventor stammered out, “So, wh-what happened? Don’t leave me hanging!”

Shifting in his seat a little more, Ian inched closer to his former colleague and began with, “Well, way back in March, Krei started going around the offices, picking a few of us seemingly at random until we were assembled and we finally got briefed on his unknown project, but we weren’t allowed to tell anyone even within the company. We were then each given a part of the whole robot to build; I was in charge of building the bot’s laser arsenal, Chu was the propulsion system, Wicks was shielding, and so on and so forth.”

Mel stared with his mouth slightly agape at this information, rather horrified thanks to the fact he had only heard sparse reports about the attack. He then felt compelled to ask with evident concern, “And these were going to be used by the cops?!”

Ian nodded and casually replied, “Uh-huh, but on the Brightside, they didn’t use your flexible display cloth, so you don’t have to worry about your material contributing to the attempted destruction of the city.”

The clean-shaven prisoner blinked at the statement before admitting five seconds later, “I mean, I only feel slightly better, but it’s still crazy to think how dangerous those things were and how they were going to be used against people to boot.”

“Ain’t that the truth,” the other man flatly remarked, internally pleased at Mel’s investment in his fabricated story. He then shrugged as he continued with, “Anyway, it was only after the Buddy Guardians went on a rampage and were defeated by Big Hero 6 that we learned the plans for them came from that dang robot…or android if you want to get technical.”

“I always do,” Mel chirped, causing Ian to pause as he stared ahead liked a deer in headlights before he finally processed the remark and smirked.

“Cheeky, but as I was saying, we were all duped into contributing to the robotic uprising, and even though the Buddy Guardians are fine now since they got some new friendlier programming, the police and understandably the public wanted some accountability,” the incarcerated supervillain told his former colleague, letting his head sink in solemnness as he insinuated what came next.

The man opposite of him scoffed in disbelief, looking rather enraged as he fumed, “That sounds so wrong! I mean, it’s one thing to fire you, which is still completely unfair since you were just doing your job, but to get you arrested too?! What the heck?”

“Hold your horses, Mel. Yes, I did get fired, buuut, the thing that landed me in jail was basically threatening him with the usual ‘You can’t do this to me!’ and trying to go after him only to be stopped by security,” Ian added with a raised hand in a slow-down gesture. He then watched his fellow inmate’s anger fizzle out as he slacked in his seat and uttered, “Oh.”

Mel folded his arms a moment later as he still looked rather miffed and remarked, “It’s still a really crummy thing they did to you.”

Ian internally smirked at the sympathy he got over multiple lies, but the fact that the other showed interest in what he had to say was a welcomed change, even if on false premises. He couldn’t help but smile as he responded, “Well, thank you Mel for being the first person since I got here who actually fancies a chat with me. Everyone else has been giving me, “I want to punch you” vibes or sees the brainiac that I am and just ignores me; granted, the latter is preferable in that situation.”

Mel gave a sympathetic look and shrugged as he informed the other, “Yeah, that’s pretty standard treatment for a lot of newcomers; unless you’re an absolute brute or you’ve got a massive rap sheet, it’s usually about hazing and persevering through it. They at least were nice enough to just do some shoving and take a few of my meals when I first arrived, so basic high school-levels of bullying. I wonder though if it’s because of the “Hitting a guy with glasses” thing or they’re just worried the guards will react if they do too much.”

“Probably the second one,” Ian commented in a flat tone. He then let out a long sigh before he asked, “So, how much longer do you have to stay in this pit?”

Looking off to the side, the second man hummed thoughtful for a moment before he answered, “I think I only have another six months or so left. I guess I should count myself lucky it wasn’t longer or that my criminal record won’t have a big red flag of something like embezzling on there, so hopefully I can find employment at another tech firm; maybe Austinbul or Nueva York or heck, just try something on my own to avoid another Krei Tech situation.” The supervillain merely stared blankly now before he blinked, clearly not expecting that long of a response. He’s got a pretty bright disposition for someone that’s been stuck with a bunch of low-life since last year, he internally commented.

“So, how long do you have to stay in here?”

“Huh?” Ian gave a small start as he was caught off-guard by the question, but he quickly recovered and replied, “Oh, yeah. Uh, I got fifteen months, so not ideal, but I could have gotten worse too.” It was in fact ten years that Ian was sentenced to, but that was to remain his secret for now.

Mel seemed to believe him though as he gave a supportive smile and chirped, “That’s good to hear.” He then let out a long exhale of his own as he turned his gaze to the rest of the courtyard and said to Ian, “Still though, this place certainly isn’t the Ritz and a lot of inmates definitely aren’t into making friends with people like us, but…it’s been manageable once you learn who to avoid and how to keep your nose clean.”

And there’s my opening, Hardlight thought with glee. Putting on an unassuming front, Ian innocently inquired, “Well hey, if it’s not too much to ask, maybe you can tell me all that you’ve learned from being here? It’d be nice to know everything so I can hopefully stay in one piece while I’m stuck here.”

His fellow inmate’s eyes lit up as the feeling of being needed filled him with joy and appreciation after so long of mostly just getting by. “Yeah! Sure, I mean, anything to make prison a little easier for someone, especially if that person’s someone I’ve worked with,” Mel replied all flustered, now looking a tad self-conscious for answering too quickly.

“Why thank you, Mel. I really don’t know how I’ll ever make it up to you. Quite frankly, you might wind up being my life-saver with the help you’re giving me,” Ian told the other, laying on the praise nice and thick.

The optics expert’s smile returned at hearing the statement, letting a beat of silence fall between them as they were unsure of what to say next; the decision was taken from them though as a brief but loud alarm blared from the top of the guard’s station, signaling the end of their outdoor break. A fair amount of groaning rang out as the scattered inmates had their games and relaxation interrupted, but they all shuffled at varying speeds back to the entryway nonetheless.

Mel stood up first and let out a sigh, but his grin only dipped slightly as he said, “I guess this means any advice is going to have to wait until tomorrow, unless…you want to sit together during dinner; you must have been at the opposite end of the mess hall for me to have never spotted you before.”

“Yeah, that and just not expecting to find me here probably played a factor,” Ian responded with a shrug as he got out of his seat to begin making his way to join the other prisoners in the proper order.

“See you later then,” Mel chirped, albeit a little anxiously, before he broke away to go to his spot in line.

“Until we meet again,” his cohort called out to him, turning away just as he let a satisfied grin slip across his face. Ian found himself once again sandwiched between the same felons as earlier, but the supervillain ignored them in favor of reveling in this turn of events. Well, it won’t be a cake-walk to keep Mel in the dark, but I can at least enjoy his company in the meantime; I’d prefer to be free of this cinderblock sooner rather than later though, so hopefully I can get him to divulge what I need in a timely manner, he plotted.

As the line finally started to move, Ian smirked as he marched forward and thought, If it winds up taking a little longer than I plan though, I guess it won’t be the end of the world now that I have an ally in Mel, and after all, it’s not like the city’s going anywhere, right? Eventually, they’ll all have to bear witness to my greatness. It's only a matter of time.

Chapter Text

It was well after 2am as Momakase sat on a wooden beam. She was back at her base, wearing her black and blue stealth suit that aided in her in evading the San Fransokyo police (not that she felt like she actually needed it to escape law enforcement). As she sat there in the mostly dark arena, save for the light pouring in through the skylight, her hands held the prize she'd sought after for years: The Kin’iro no Koi swords that were her birthright and that which she had been seeking for over twenty years.

After all this time…Please…please let this not be a dream, Momakase internally prayed as the sheaths gleamed like a diamond even in the dim light. Her thumb kept brushing over the dual koi emblems on top, branding it as belonging to the Musashi family and signaling a history going back 300yrs. She then clutched the blades and held them close to her chest as she let herself have a moment of sad, quiet reverie as the memory of how they were taken came flooding back.

I wish you were here to see this…

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Marie (Momakase) Musashi had immigrated with her mother and father to San Fransokyo when she was only 9yrs old. They had told her they were going to a new land to build a new life, to rebuild their future after the destruction of their homestead due to a flood back in Bripan. Her mother Helen was of average height with shoulder-length black hair, blue eyes and often had a warm smile on her face. She was a brilliant chef, who even let the young girl help in the kitchen sometimes in minor ways like stirring the pot or adding veggies to the skillet; she was most proud of Momakase though when she’d taste the meal just before it was ready and just seemed to know what it needed to make it perfect.

As for her father Jiro, he was tall with a decent amount of muscles, along with green eyes, a shaved head and a sharp jaw. He was originally a blacksmith, carrying with him the combined knowledge of the generations that came before him; from weapons to armor to artisan work, he was a master of his craft. Sadly, in more recent years, such traditional, ancient-themed items didn’t hold as much appeal as it used except for a few niche areas, so he educated himself in mechanical engineering as a substitute profession.

They didn’t take much for the journey across the Pacific for what was to be their new home, but they at least had the good fortune of having some of their family heirlooms surviving the disaster, including the priceless Kin’iro no Koi swords; her parents had to bribe one of the officials to sneak it past customs, but they otherwise made it to the states without much trouble. Although Momakase was sad about leaving the only home she had ever known, her excitement for the journey replaced her melancholic feeling over time. She had never flown in a plane before, so she kept to her window seat and watched the clouds float on by above an endless ocean.

Stepping off the airplane treated the young girl and her family to a massive surge of bustling people that rivalled her experience visiting Kyodon; she was fortunate enough that her parents kept ahold of her at all times or else she likely would have been lost amongst the crowd. Their passports and visas took some time to process, which left the young girl more bored than scared, but when they finally were cleared, Jiro and Helen sighed in relief and were able to put on more genuine smiles for their daughter.

When they left the airport, a taxi soon was found, where Momokase was once again pressed up against the window in her desire to see everything in this new place. Clusters of buildings from giant glass skyscrapers to modest offices dotted the horizon along with the colorful floating turbines suspended in the air just like kites. She went “Ooo” and “Aw” at the beautiful bay before they were driven into the heart of San Fransokyo and the view was swapped for one of countless people and various businesses comprising this city. Every time their taxi had to stop, the young girl was able to better make out some of the stores like “Tanuki Books,” “Al Fresco Foods” and “Bakana Toys;” in her enthusiasm, she even waved at a few people on the sidewalk, not caring if they would wave back or not.

After what felt like hours, the small family was brought in to a packed neighborhood of cheap apartments along with some family-owned stores no doubt existing there for several generations. From there, the Musashi clan retrieved their meager possessions and went to the entrance of one of the older-looking buildings merely labeled 1872 Nori Drive, where there was a vacant storefront on the ground level with the apartment residing up above it. Once there, Jiro spoke with their new landlord for a few minutes until the older gentleman finally led them to their living quarters.

Inside the two-bedroom space, they were greeted to grey carpets, sage-colored walls and the basic appliances, and while sadly lacking the warmth Momakase felt with her old house, it was still exciting to finally make it. She was then gently nudged and gazed up at her dad’s encouraging, smiling face. “Come on my little flower. Let’s take a look around.”

        ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Hey dear, can you give me a hand finishing the onigiri?”

“Sure, be right there.”

It had been five years since Momakase and her parents came to San Fransokyo and while it was indeed an arduous period since they arrived, their time and effort was well spent as they buzzed about their newly opened restaurant. Prior to the restaurant, Momakase’s dad had gotten a manufacturing job for a tech firm while her mom performed odd jobs whenever her daughter was in school, but both found those routes exhausting with little satisfaction, so the endeavor to have a business of their own became the goal.

While the now teenage girl still had to attend school during the week, her parents were eternally grateful for her help when she got home as they had yet to hire any employees; they were a small operation just starting up after all, so saving a little money for the meantime was worth the extra work.

“Here you go mother. Oh, and I was wondering, could I do some experimenting tonight and make ponzu pork dumplings for us? I really think it would pair well with the watercress salad,” Momakase asked as she handed her mother a small container of seaweed flakes and sesame seeds.

“Thanks dear, and yes you can, so long as you get most of your homework done,” Helen informed her with a faux serious expression.

The young teen affectionately rolled her eyes and looked off to her left, seeing a pile of dirty dishes so far untouched off by the sink. She let out a small sigh, but not in irritation as she was happy to make things easier for her parents who sacrificed so much to get this place running and to give her a fairly decent life. Momakase soon put on a pair of yellow gloves and got to work, the sink filling up with billowy white suds as the hot water rose, carrying with it the scent of apple from the soap. The miscellaneous plates, bowls, cups, and utensils were set gently in the metal tub, the items bumping and clanging against each other as she began scrubbing away. Not long afterwards, she found herself starting to hum a random tune, unsure of where she’d actually heard it, but it was clearly catchy enough to stick inside her head; it was dominating enough she didn’t notice her dad coming towards her on her right side.

“Thanks for taking care of that,” Jiro sincerely told her as he places another couple plates and bowls on the counter, making her jump a little when he spoke. Her dad smiled apologetically and tucked a strand of her hair that had come loose, finding himself just gazing proudly at his daughter for a few seconds before the loud clang of a bell came, indicating more customers had arrived.

Jiro looked in the direction of the door, where the family swords proudly hung high up out of reach in a protective case to find a muscular bald man in a black sleeveless top and jeans along with his shorter companion, who was leaner and wore a navy-blue hoodie. He turned back towards his kid and gave her a quick one-armed hug, making Momakase smile as he said, “Love you my little flower.” Her father then promptly left afterwards to attend to the new customers, but the sentiment and sincerity were understood and well-received as new determination coursed through the young woman. For the next five minutes, the various dishware was thoroughly scrubbed, washed and placed on the drying rack; during that time, her mother added a few more dishes to the pile along with her father returning to fetch some sake and got the gentlemen’s orders started, which was a couple orders of shrimp teppanyaki and a spider crab roll to split, which Jiro announced to his wife and child.

“I’ll go work on the shrimp,” the black-haired teen promptly offered, heading to the fridge before either of her parents could say anything. The couple in fact merely exchanged knowing, appreciative looks and proceeded to get back to their individual tasks.

Getting the shrimp was easy enough for the young chef, so next she got out a bowl and added soy sauce, garlic, ginger, chili flakes, green onions, and sesame seeds, followed by dumping her shrimp in there and letting them marinade. While they were soaking, she went over to their flat-iron grill and checked it was set at medium, follow by placing some carrots, zucchini and onions that had been soaking in sugar water into another bowl and mixing in some teriyaki sauce to give them a little more flavor. Once done, she then laid everything out on the grill and watched it cook until it was time to flip the food.

While she was doing that, her mother was laying out seaweed strip and packing down a layer of rice on top. She then created a bottom stripe along it that consisted of cream cheese, carrot strips, cucumber, and crab meat, which was soon rolled up into a tight, expertly-made tube. Several slices later and a topping of misago rendered the sushi roll complete and was promptly plated with a side of wasabi and pickled ginger.

Jiro during this time was making the rounds to the other occupied tables, either refilling their drinks or collecting their payments before venturing back behind the counter to ring up the credit card and give them their receipt. Not long after, he collected the finished sushi roll and took it to the proper table, admittedly a little miffed at not receiving even a thank you. It was when he went to get the two men some rice to go with the teppanyaki that he noticed their eyes following him.

“Something wrong father?”

“Hmm?” Jiro turned just in time to see his daughter pause from turning the grilled food over, staring at him with a puzzled and slightly concerned look. He glanced back at the two customers again before giving his head a shake and putting on a reassuring smile. “Nothing sweetheart. Just a little overworked; either that or I’m getting old,” the engineer replied with a short laugh, receiving a soft chuckle from his daughter in return.

“You’re not that old,” Momakase told him as she finally got back to cooking.

“If you say so,” Jiro playfully retorted as he went back to the task at hand, fishing out a couple clean bowls and opening up the large rice cooker. As he closed the machine up, he couldn’t help but gaze at the pair of customers once more as he ventured towards their table, finding their piercing eyes unnerving despite his best efforts to shake it off. Jiro still served them and acted like nothing was wrong, lest things be made awkward or worse a scene unfolded, but the whole time they were there, things felt…off.

Eventually though, the two men finished eating and paid for their meals, never uttering a single word to him beyond a grunt or two since they ordered. When they finally were gone, the older man breathed a sigh of relief, but him being on edge did not go unnoticed as Helen halted him before he could head in back for some more napkins.

“Hey you alright honey?” she simply inquired, concern evident in her voice as she gripped his hand tighter. Jiro didn’t answer her right away, but casted a glance towards the door, prompting Helen to look that way too and turn right back. “It was those customers, right?” she quickly deduced as she used her free hand to reach up and cup her husband’s cheek. Jiro gazed at his wife, internally debating how to reply for a moment before sighing in defeat and giving a small nod.

“Did they say anything to you?”

“No, that’s the thing. They were quiet the whole time with me but kept eyeing me like they thought I was going to spit in their food or I was a wanted criminal,” he told her with a confused huff.

A beat of silence passed between them before they remembered they still had jobs to do, so she put on a comforting smile before pulling her hand away and kissing her husband. “Let’s just not dwell on this right now. Maybe they weren’t sure if they knew you from somewhere or not. Just let Marie know about them in case they are looking for trouble. I don’t want her going anywhere near them if they do come back.”

The former swordsmith returned the loving expression before he nodded, followed by resting his forehead on hers and whispering, “Thank you.”

Helen couldn’t help but give a small bubbly giggle from the tender moment and to which her husband started to reciprocate until a familiar sounding groan reached their ears, causing them to stop and face their daughter.

Holding an unopened bag of rice with one hand and putting the other on her hip, Momakase lightheartedly chided, “Could you not do that while there’s things to do? You both make a pretty effective blockage and I don’t think we want angry customers wondering why their sushi is missing half its filling.”

Her parents grinned sheepishly and pulled apart, only for the chef to plant another kiss on Jiro’s cheek and headed back to her station.

The teenage girl rolled her eyes, but her face bore a happy expression to show no real ill will at them being lovey-dovey. She then turned towards her dad and asked, “So, what were you just talking about?”

       ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Thank you! Have a nice night!” Momakase called to a young pair of women as they exited the restaurant, earning a wave and a “You too!” from both of them. Smiling with pride despite feeling a bit weary from a long day, but it was now 7pm and it was time for the adolescent chef to begin her nightly task of wiping down the tables and restocking them.

Her mother and father meanwhile were putting all the leftover fish, vegetables and rice away, which thankfully wasn’t much, to become their meals for the next day or so; they typically prepped food for the restaurant in the morning after they got their delivery of fish and produce to keep things fresh and to allow them a nice dinner and breakfast together.

When she was finally done with the last table, Momakase rounded the counter and locked the register as she made her way in back towards the staircase that led to their apartment. “I’ll go get started on the buns,” she informed her mom as she went by, giving her a quick side hug while Helen was getting the last of the dishware taken care of.

“Alright, just call if you need anything. We’ll be up shortly, and it goes without saying, but…” she replied only to pause and smile before pecking her daughter on the cheek. “Love you,” her mom affectionately chirped, making her daughter giggle from the surprise action.

“Yeah, yeah. Love you too and all that,” Momakase sarcastically said with a smirk to let Helen know how she actually felt. She then rushed off past the kitchen and turned right, disappearing out of sight and letting her dull footsteps ring out as she ascended the stairs.

Helen continued to gaze where her daughter went for a few more seconds before facing the warm, soapy water again, watching it slosh around while she scrubbed. The chef made quick work of the empty buckets that held her sushi ingredients and was about to set the last one of them in the drying rack when…

CLING-CLING

“Hmm?” She snapped her head to the front door where the bell had just rung out and was given a start to find the two unsettling men from earlier. Swiftly recovering from their arrival, Helen steeled her nerves as she slowly and deliberately removed her gloves, followed by firmly telling them, “I’m sorry gentlemen, but we’re closed for the night. You can come back tomorrow if you choose to, but please leave.”

Their response was a pair of menacing smirks as they then stepped aside to let the door open again, revealing a tall, bulky man in his 60s with mostly silver hair with a few black strands throughout. He was wearing a fancy black suit so sleek it almost shined, along with several gold chains and half a dozen rings on his hands. The stranger smiled evilly at Helen, causing her to instinctively take a step back now.

“Hey, there’s no need to be scared little missy. We won’t be here long, but now that you’ve got something good going on here, there’s some business that we need to discuss,” the unknown man cordially said, all while using an underlying tone that this wasn’t negotiable. The young woman was about to repeat what she told the other two when the sound of footsteps approaching drew everyone to the homestead entrance.

“Helen, is someone-” Jiro started only to abruptly fall silent, eyeing first the three men then his wife and back again. At the top of the staircase, Momakase stopped with evident confusion and curiosity that quickly turned to worry when her father silently gestured for her to stay back, followed by crossing the threshold into the restaurant.

“Gentlemen, as I’m sure my wife has already told you, we’re closed for the night,” he finally relayed to them as he walked to stand by Helen and protectively rest his hand on her shoulder.

The leader of the operation shifted his gaze between the couple before he put on a charming smile. “Come now, we won’t be long, but it’s most fortuitous that you’re both here so I won’t have to repeat myself.” He then gestured to himself and his two associates as he informed the pair, “For the introductions, I already know who you are Mr. and Mrs. Musashi; as for me, I go by Nagakura, and these are Rocky and Tenji respectively.” His grin turned threatening as he finished his statement before he cut to the chase and said, “What you may not be aware of is that this part of San Fransokyo falls under the jurisdiction of my business operations, and whenever something in it is profitable like say this restaurant of yours, it often becomes necessary to pay for protection or else…”

Without uttering a single word or command, Rocky proceeded to effortlessly flip a table over, sending all its contents on the floor in a jarringly loud bang and making the owners involuntarily wince while Momakase stared on in horror as she peeked out ever so slightly from the staircase. As the broken soy sauce bottles emptied their contents in haphazard pools, Mr. Nagakura’s attention returned to the Musashis and simply added, “Need I say more?”

Jiro pulled Helen closer despite doing his best to maintain a brave façade and bluntly told the mobster, “We owe you nothing. This is our restaurant and we will not pay for protection money for such a threat.”

Mr. Nagakura seemed unamused by that answer and remained silent as Tenji and Rocky proceeded to knock over half a dozen more tables, each one littering the ground more and more with glass, condiments and sweetener packets. When the goons returned to their boss’s side, he finally spoke again with controlled malice, “Destruction such as this and so much worse can so easily be avoided if you’re willing to pay; consider it insurance from a how you say…less than legal source, except it covers you before something gets broken. You do have to think about your future after all and…the safety of your daughter, right?” Momakase was barely able to cover her gasp in time as fear flashed across her parents’ faces; they clenched their jaws right afterward, but their initial reactions were enough for the mobster to smirk in satisfaction. He then nonchalantly added, “Accidents happen in places like this all the time, so it’s best for your peace of mind to see the reasoning in saying yes to this generous offer I’m giving you.”

The engineer dryly swallowed while his wife rested her hand over his, both doing their best to not lash out because yes, they were furious criminals were threatening their livelihood, but they could already tell this man meant every word he said. “But…but we’re just starting! We can’t even afford any employees yet. How do you expect us to pay if you bleed us dry already and we close down in a matter of months?” Jiro calmly argued back, hoping logic would help this confrontation.

Mr. Nagakura merely smiled icily as he smoothly countered with, “No worries. We can always have your restaurant help with a little laundering here or there until you can either pay me full time or we could just make the change permanent.”

Both parents felt cold horror course through their bodies at the thought of more criminals entering their place, inviting more trouble for them and their daughter as well as corrupt what they worked so hard on. Jiro’s eyes darted in panic as he struggled to find a way out of this.

“Well, that’s it gonna be?” the mob boss inquired, his words laced with a threatening insinuation.

Helen and Jiro gazed at each other as fear and a sense of helplessness only grew stronger with each passing moment. They faced Mr. Nagakura again and slowly the engineer started to reply, “We…we have to say that…uh…” His sentence was left incomplete though as he found his focus drift upward above the thugs’ heads, and as if it was a sign from fate itself, the Kin’iro no Koi swords hung over them, stuck as a fixture of their precious establishment.

“You’ll what Mr. Musashi? I don’t like to be kept waiting,” the mobster darkly stated, eyes narrowing as his henchmen stood ready to pounce at a moment’s notice.

Jiro then felt his wife shift around to look at him, now confused as to what he was thinking. He looked down and sadly smiled as he realized what may be their best shot at peace from Mr. Nagakura; at least…that’s what he hoped.

The former swordsmith lifted his head back towards the three men, and with as much resolve as he could muster, he stared them down as he proposed, “What if I can offer you something priceless instead? Something one of a kind that you can laud over any of your associates and its beautiful on top of it all? If we give it to you in exchange for not telling anyone, especially the authorities, would you leave us alone?”

Mr. Nagakura cocked hir brow in confusion and intrigue as he looked between the two restaurant owners and inquired, “What are you talking about?”

Jiro let a small smile cross his face and smoothly replied, “I have an antique of immense value in my possession and I feel that it would be more than fair compensation for what you seek from our business. We don’t wish to invite trouble here and I’m sure you don’t want to risk putting your operations in jeopardy, so, even though I understand you still hold a great deal of power over us in this situation, which do you want more: A singular opportunity to have a priceless collectable on the condition we won’t speak a word of this or you try to expand your reach going after a business that’s only just begun and has the potential of being busted anytime a cop stops by for lunch?”

Helen's eyes went wide as they darted to the swords, knowing what her husband had planned now while the mob boss’s goons looked to their leader with puzzled expressions, not knowing what to do next as the large man himself seemed to be mulling things over. Mr. Nagakura furrowed his brow for a few seconds before smirking, admittedly impressed by the rare display of bravery mixed with bargaining. “Why can’t I have both? You’re right that I’m the one in power here,” he countered evilly.

“Because if you do, you might as well destroy this place because we’re offering you a treasured family heirloom that’s been passed down for generations in order to protect our livelihood and our daughter, so if that’s not enough to satiate your greed, I’d rather we all lose just to spite you,” suddenly came the biting words of Helen as she found her voice and glared daggers at the three men before her; Momakase couldn’t help but look on with pride at her mother’s ferocity.

No one said anything for a few moments as they stared at the woman in sheer shock until a scoff in disbelief came from the head criminal. “Well damn. Can’t say I didn’t enjoy that little surprise,” he coolly confessed. His expression appeared almost amused as he smugly added, “Alright, I’ll humor you for now. Show me this prize that’s worth my time and money.”

It's right above you,” Jiro firmly said as he stared down the thugs.

The three men across from him quirked their brows before craning their necks to see the aforementioned item, followed by another scoff from Mr. Nagakura. “Awfully irresponsible to keep them up there, isn’t it?”

“We thought this was a safe neighborhood. Our mistake,” Helen bitterly shot back.

The large man then snapped his fingers, prompting Tenji and Rocky to move one of the overturned tables below the swords. Tenji got on top of it right afterwards, getting eye-level with the antique before he pulled a knife from his belt to pry the case open. The side came off after about 10seconds of hard effort and it fell to the floor, sounding particularly deafening as it crashed thanks to the tense, quiet atmosphere. Finally, the henchman reached in and pulled the blades out as best as he could given their length before handing them over to his boss.

Mr. Nagakura laid them flat in both of his palms, the sheaths gleaming brightly thanks to the light of the restaurant. He quirked an eyebrow again and gave an appraising hum as he turned them over, inspecting the koi seals as Tenji got down from the table, followed by him and Rocky leaning over to sneak a peek.

The large man then grabbed the handles and sheaths to pull the swords out with a satisfying shing, making the mobster’s face drop in genuine surprise at the quality and craftmanship. Mr. Nagakura, Rocky and Tenji stared in awe as one of the swords was completely unsheathed, the mob boss now unwilling to touch the blade lest he ruin the polished sheen. As he turned the antique in his hand and finished examining it, Jiro spoke up with a cautious, “Well?” breaking the others’ fascination with the heirloom.

The leader cast a glance at the younger man, then back at the blade in his grip before he smirked and properly sheathed the sword. He still didn’t say anything for a few seconds as he lightly bounced the blades in his hands as if doing a final test to see if it was authentic. “I have to say, this is a first for me, but I must admit…these are a work of beauty and I do want them,” Mr. Nagakura finally replied with an insidious, hungry grin.

“So, you’ll leave us alone?” Helen slowly inquired, trying to remain firm despite the precarious situation they still were in.

Everyone’s attention remained on the mob boss for a few more seconds as he contemplated, examining the antique one more time and gave a thoughtful “Hmmm.” Their wait finally ended about 10seconds later as he nonchalantly replied, “Alright…it’s a deal,” causing the two owners’ shoulders to visibly relax; the reprieve was short-lived though as Mr. Nagakura then hardened his gaze as he glared at the couple and warned, “But know this…” He then bridged the gap between Jiro and Helen, his feet crunching under the broken glass as he stepped across the floor. The couple protectively held each other closer as Momakase watched in pure terror, barely able to stop herself from rushing out there to stand in front of her parents.

When the large man was barely two feet away from them, he leered menacingly as he finished his threat and growled, “If the cops ever show up on my doorstep and I hear even a whisper that you tipped them off, this place will be reduced to ashes and I won’t give a damn whether it’s empty or not. Understood?”

“Yes,” the two immediately answered, neither blinking in anticipation that the other might try something now that he was so close.

Mr. Nagakura eyed them skeptically to let them simmer in their fear, but he let a cruel smile return to his face before turning back around to leave. Rocky and Tenji didn’t wait for an order again as the former opened the door for his boss while the latter got out of the way. At the threshold however, Mr. Nagakura stopped and took the time to turn around one last time, showed the Kin’iro no Koi blades and smugly told the pair, “Pleasure doing business with you.” And with that, he left the restaurant, followed by his goons flashing the same expressions and slamming the door shut once they were gone, making the bell overhead violently ring amongst the quiet establishment.

No one moved for almost 20seconds, too afraid that the criminals would return or were still watching, but finally Jiro and Helen released their long-held breath, doing their best not to collapse onto the hazard-strewn ground. Helen then rotated in her husband’s arms to look him in the face, where they both could then see the true devastation of what just happened written on the other. Tears were already coming to their eyes as they tightly embraced their partner with Helen beginning to sob into Jiro’s chest while he remained silent as he rested his head on hers.

“Mother. Father.”

The pair immediately ceased their crying and turned towards the kitchen entrance to find Momakase cautiously entering the restaurant, hands clasped to as if praying that it was over. Her parents opened their arms up and to which Momakase wasted no time rushing into their loving embrace, fresh tears streaming down everyone’s cheeks as they stayed huddled together. They didn’t know how long they stood there in the establishment, but eventually the small family released each other and surveyed the damage as they stood there in silence, still unable to fully believe all that just happened.

Helen spoke first in the end as she wearily suggested, “I…I guess we better get this cleaned up.” She then faced her daughter and cupped her face to wipe away her tears and gently added, “Your father and I can handle this sweetie. Just worry about getting dinner ready and we can talk upstairs.”

Momakase wanted to argue and even opened her mouth to protest, but the tired looks from her parents made her close it, followed by lowering her head and nodding. She slowly turned around and walked back towards the stairs, hearing the sound of shuffling glass as her mom and dad went to get a broom and dust pan next to the fridge. The teenager managed to make it halfway up the staircase, feeling almost like she was on autopilot as she moved, but the sound of her parents whispering snapped her out of it and made her stop in her tracks, curiosity getting the better of her as she went down a couple steps and proceeded to quietly eavesdrop.

“Do you think he’ll keep his word?” came the worried voice of Helen.

There was a pause as more debris was swept clear, but Jiro sullenly said a few seconds later, “I don’t know Helen. I…I just don’t know. We can hope he will, but…we need to be prepared in case he doesn’t.”

“Like getting security...or saving our money and valuables in case he does the unthinkable? I already feel so bad our daughter does too much work as it is when she should just get to enjoy being a teenager…and oh, oh honey, I’m so sorry about the swords. I know how much they meant to you and to all of us,” she continued as she gave her husband a sympathetic, almost apologetic look despite it not actually being her fault. “It’s just…it’s just…what did we do to deserve this?! We’ve done nothing but try to carve out a living for ourselves, and now we’re…I…I just don’t want to live our lives always looking over our shoulders or fearing our child won’t come home one day because these thugs change their minds and fancy using her as a bargaining chip. I never thought that this…I just…” The young woman trailed off as she continued to spiral, her voice cracking from the emotions now that she believed it was just the two of them again.

The sound of footsteps then came as did muffled crying mixed with soothing shushes before Jiro spoke again. “Things we’ll be okay. They’ll be okay. We did all we could, and yes, it hurts deeply to know they’re gone, but…they’re a small price to pay if it means I get to still hold both of you tonight. We’ll survive this.”

As Momakase listened to her parents grieve and worry, she began to feel something alight within her, replacing her anguish and fear with resolve and anger the longer they went on. Those thugs, those…vile brutes dare to come into our home, steal from us and threaten to take everything else away if we don’t play nice?!...No…no no no no no,” she internally seethed as she ground her jaw. Father’s right, we will survive this, but being in constant fear and being pushed around isn’t how I want to live; and I swear, if Nagakura or anyone else for the matter thinks they can try such a stunt on us again and get away with it, well…I guess I better properly prepare myself to teach them a lesson should the time come, maybe even have to return the favor to make sure my message gets across; either way, let them be at my mercy instead me being at theirs, then we'll see how they like it. With that unwavering thought, she wiped away any trace of emotion from her face except pure determination and fury as she retreated upstairs to get started on dinner like she was told.

Her parents would eventually come upstairs once everything was more or less cleaned up, but even after they talked to her about what happened and promised that things would be alright in the end, Momakase’s adamant stance to life remained and she made sure from then on out to always show strength, to never let anyone push her around and to always fight to win, no matter the cost.

Chapter Text

Okay, I’ve just got to remember to not make a mess and be as courteous as possible…oh! I need to make sure I apologize about the kidnapping/wallet fiasco…and breaking into his warehouse…and stealing that briefcase from him while causing massive property damage…Ugh, that’s the real reason he wants to see me, isn’t it? Globby worriedly spiraled as he sat in the waiting area outside Alistair Krei’s office.

The gelatinous mutant had received a phone call from the rich CEO three days prior about seeing him and although Felony Carl gave his two cents about it likely being okay if he’s actually invited to the office, the anxious thoughts returned once the meeting finally arrived. Globby sat in one of the available dark blue chairs, absentmindedly tapping his fingers while Judy busily typed away to his right, not really seeming too concerned that a former villain was 15ft away.

Maybe I should have brought a paper to read. Do they have any magazines or is it weird to ask? Ugh. I just want to get this over with, Globby internally groaned as he stared at the automatic doors separating him from Krei. He gazed around the room, trying to appear as relaxed as possible, but failing as he was unable to find something to keep his attention for longer than a few seconds.

His glowing eyes drifted back on Judy and he uneasily furrowed his brow as he pondered, Should I ask her if she knows how much longer it’ll be? No, that’ll just make it seem like I’m impatient and it’s rude to boot. How would I like it if some weirdo interrupted my job? I’m sure she’s working on important stuff. Globby bit his non-existent lip in an effort to keep his questioning under control, now tapping his puddle of a foot on the floor along with his hands, making a soft squishing sound as he did so.

“Can I help you with something?” came a strained female voice about 10seconds later, making Globby snap his head to find Krei’s assistant Judy staring at him with an annoyed glare. Catching the look, the gelatinous mutant quickly put two and two together and ceased moving his limbs, followed by scratching the back of his neck and going, “Sorry.”

Judy still continued to stare at him with an unamused expression, leaving Globby to continue talking with, “So, uh…any idea when Mr. Krei will be out? I know the appointment is at 2, but I thought he’d at least be done with his other appointment by now.”

The black-haired woman shot a glance at the clock on her computer and flatly answered, “Mr. Krei takes a wellness break for an hour and unless it’s an emergency, he’s not to be interrupted during that time.”

“Oh, yeah. Those are important. Can’t fault him for needing to make sure he’s centered or whatever the term is,” Globby replied, albeit a bit nervously as he dared to check the time again.

1:58. Okay. Almost time then, he thought to himself as he mentally prepared himself again, taking a deep breath in and out; Judy meanwhile had resumed busily typing away on her computer, her expression appearing neutral once more.

Okay, just be your friendly self, Globby and prove you’re not the same guy you were when you last met. No matter what happens, you’ve got-

WHOOSH

The shapeshifter’s last minute pep talk was halted as he quickly looked towards the sliding doors he had just been staring at not long ago to find they were finally open where the one and only Alistair Krei stood in his expensive, wrinkle-free suit. He looked just how Globby remembered him from their last encounter, albeit with a happier expression.

Krei’s smile widened as his gaze fell onto the other, spreading his arms out and cheerfully going, “Ah, Globby! Glob-Man! The Pink and Purple Wonder! Just the guy I was hoping to see.”

The superhero stared dumbfoundedly at receiving such a greeting, unmoving as his mind puzzled, Huh…never had a former mugging victim of mine be that happy to see me; granted, I don’t have a lot of them, but still. Oh shoot! I’m just sitting here like an idiot! He then quickly shook his head and rapidly stood up, momentarily making Krei flinch at the unexpected movement, but he returned to normal and ecstatic a second later.

“O-oh, uh, thank you Mr. Krei for inviting me here today! Looking sharp as ever by the way,” Globby hastily complemented as he plastered a grin on as best as he could.

The CEO’s smile somehow grew before it turned proud and he gave his suit a small tug and said, “Why thank you for noticing.” He then glanced over as Judy with an annoyed expression as he huffed, “At least someone did.”

The aforementioned woman spared him a deadpan look and flatly told him, “I already gave you the required three affirmations I’m contractually supposed to give you today.”

“Alright, but I expect one tomorrow about my outfit,” he pointedly retorted. He then turned his attention back to Globby, who so far was standing there unsurely, looking back and forth between the two but straightened his form up again once Krei focused on him.

“Now my good man, come inside! Let’s get down to business as they say,” he urged as he gestured to his office, taking a step back to usher him in.

“Yeah-yeah, of course,” the shapeshifter replied after a half-second, followed by doing as he was told and walked inside the sleek room, being careful not to leave any gooey footprints behind. As soon as he was a few feet into the office, the blonde man swiftly stepped inside behind him, prompting the metal door to finally close with another audible whoosh. Globby turned his head to the left then to the right, taking in the large glass windows for the back wall, shelves filled with books and awards and Krei’s big desk with a couple chairs in front of it.

“Have a seat. I know I will,” the rich man said with a small laugh at the end as if he had made a joke, followed by moving past the other to get into his large recliner.

“Okay Mr. Krei,” Globby politely but still a tad too rapidly told him as he quickly walked to one of the available chairs and sat down.

Once Krei was in his own seat, he leaned back a little as he interlocked his fingers before he offered, “Can I get you a drink or a snack perhaps? I tell ya, we’ve got some of the most amazing craft services here just for meetings like this…or for me whenever I don’t feel like dining out.”

“Uhhhh…” the gelatinous man uttered dumbfoundedly, caught off-guard again by such an amicable display. Sooooo, what do I do here? Is it rude to accept when I’ve taken so much already or is it worse if I refuse because then that makes me a jerk? Ugh. Why is this so much harder to figure out than fighting criminals?

He then gave a small cough as he finally answered, “I uh, appreciate it Mr. Krei…and thank you really, but I think I’m okay for now. I usually just make what I need anyway if I’m out and about anyway.” Globby proceeded to demonstrate by fabricating a glass of water in his left hand, followed by making it disappear back where it came from a couple seconds later and flashing an awkward, sheepish smile.

Despite the refusal, the CEO seems delighted by the action and enthusiastically went, “Wow! Something like that would be great to have, especially when I don’t feel like waiting for my coffee order or if they mess it up.”

“Uh yep. It sure is convenient,” Globby added without being prompted, trying to maintain a smile despite a part of him still worrying that the shoe was about to drop for his past crimes; it was this realization that made his grin disappear completely not long afterward, that he knew deep down this feeling wasn’t going to go away on its own no matter how friendly Krei was being. Well, better just rip the band-aid off and hope I don’t shoot myself in the foot reminding him of what I’ve done, the superhero defeatedly thought to himself. He took in a deep breath as he scratched the back of his head and apprehensively said, “Um Mr. Krei…before we get to whatever you wanted to talk about, I just uh really need to get this off my chest, and if interrupting you right now means it’s a deal breaker for whatever you invited me here for, so be it, but…I gotta tell ya that I’m so terribly sorry for everything I’ve done to you; whether it was the kidnapping, the various thefts, the massive property damage, or heck, I wouldn’t be here like this without your fancy headband thing, but I’m still sorry about all of it…and here.”

As the blonde man silently stared ahead in confusion, the gelatinous man held out his left hand and formed a blue leather wallet, complete with the Krei Tech logo on it. He gently set it down on the desk and finished his apology with, “I don’t remember what it looked like exactly and I’m well aware it doesn’t come close to making up for what I’ve done, but I don’t want to just say ‘I’m sorry’ and not even try to make things right.”

Alistair blinked and didn’t stir for a couple seconds before daring to pick up the gift; from there, he turned it over a few times and even opened it up to see how many pouches it had, giving an appraising hum. After what felt like an eternity to the superhero, Krei finally smiled and told him frankly, “Well, it ain’t the original, but a free gift is a free gift; plus, how can I not want something that does the all-important job of holding my money, and it has the company logo on it to boot, not to mention it’s so sleek and I get to say that no one else gets one.” He proceeded to tuck it into his pant pocket as Globby let out a quiet sigh of relief, alleviating a large portion of the anxiety that made him wired and heavy with guilt. The shapeshifter then stiffened back up however when he remembered the wallet wasn’t the only thing to atone for.

“Oh, and here! This too,” Globby quickly added as he held out his hand again and with a thought, formed a silver briefcase with a blue Krei-Tech logo on it. Flashing a sheepish grin, he rested in front of Alistair and pulled his malleable mitt back as the other looked surprised to elated as he picked up the item.

“Simply marvelous! Oh, how I missed being able to hold my documents in something as fancy as this,” Krei gushed as he turned the briefcase over a couple times, followed by placing it off to the side. Before the pink and purple man could revel in his sense of joy at paying some of his penance, Krei returned his attention to him and curtly said, “Alright, now down to business.”

“Uh-huh,” Globby uttered with a swift nod as he made sure his posture was perfect and was only looking at the other.

Krei smiled at the response as he interlaced his fingers again and began his pitch with, “You see Globby, I called you here because despite our past encounters with each other, I must admit that like the rest of this city, I found your heroic actions simply delightful and thrilling to watch. Everyone loves a redeemed villain, especially one as personable as you, and because of that, I was hoping you’d be willing to help me with an upcoming launch of a new product.”

The shapeshifter blinked and tilted his head, followed by inquiring, “What new product?”

Widening his grin, Krei flashed his pearly-white teeth with how excited he was by the response as he went full salesman mode and fished a remote control out of his blazer. “I’m glad you asked! You see, most people are stuck with the standard, boring rectangular phones and lord help you if you’ve got a flip-phone, but we at Krei-Tech came up with the model for the future.” He pushed a red button on the handheld device and instantly, a rotating image of an oval phone with a K-shaped touchscreen and a blue Krei-Tech logo on the backside materialized on a virtual display behind the CEO.

Globby remained silent as he stared at the odd device, but Krei soon resumed his talking with, “This is the latest Krei-Tech K-Phone and we already have thousands of them being delivered to stores across this land, buuuut in lieu of it being so different and pricey potentially deterring people from buying one, having a celebrity endorsement from someone like say, I don’t know, a local superhero such as yourself, the sales will almost certainly meet our projection if not surpass them.”

The gelatinous man blinked again in disbelief as he processed this new information, but wishing rather to be safe than sorry, cautiously asked, “Sooo…you’re wanting me to be a spokesman?”

“Exact-o-mundo my good man! You will be the hook that convinces everyone that these are a good buy! People buy new cellphones all the time, so why not ours? And to sweeten the deal, you can see a pretty pay check in it for you if you say yes; we want to make sure we incentivize you to stay after all, even if there’s been some rough patches in the past.”

Globby was taken aback and his luminescent eyes grew wide as he couldn’t help but say, “R-Really?! You’re actually going to pay me?!”

“Yep.”

“But-but, is it even right to do that? I-I mean, don’t get me wrong, it sounds like a sweet gig and I’m all for helping Felony Carl out more with the bills, but I caused so much destruction here, so I…I just…(sigh)…I just don’t know if I can accept the money without feeling guilty,” the superhero honestly told Krei as he wrung his hands and gave a downcast look.

The CEO seemed taken aback himself now for a moment, whether it was due to someone refusing money or just being told no was anyone’s guess. He put his hand to his chin and contemplated for all of two seconds when he countered with, “Well, we don’t have to pay you if you don’t want to and you can call it “volunteering your time” if anything. Personally, I’m all for saving some money if I can, but if I’m not paying you, then the optics might make it seem like I must have leverage over you so I can use you for good PR/sell my phone, so we’d have to release a statement which you would have to corroborate that you agreed to do this of your own free will and people may still stir up trouble saying I need to pay you; trust me, I’ve dealt with enough bad press and media blitzes to know you can’t satisfy some people with the truth about why you made certain choices."

The pink and purple man shifted in his seat uncomfortably as he cautiously inquired, “But um…aren’t you just using me to promote your phone?”

Alistair shrugged and casually responded, “Pretty much, yeah, but at least you being paid a decent-but not exuberant-amount with a contract makes it legally a job rather than me bribing you or trying to guilt you into giving me restitutions.” His smile then returned as he added with a bit more energy, “Besides, you may come to find you enjoy working here, especially since it’s not like I’m asking you to deliver complex contraptions with impossible deadlines; for what it’s worth too, I think you’re a great fit for our needs.”

Globby remained silent as he contemplated the other’s words, furrowing his brow while he still more or less looked uncertain and guilt-ridden. Mr. Krei does make a good case about the money, although I’m a bit disturbed that apparently scenarios like this have come up before…I must admit though, after so many rejections from all those other places, to actually have a job would be nice, especially since I doubt it’ll take up my whole day so I can still be out there helping people…I guess…it wouldn’t hurt to merely ask for the pay to be reduced so it makes me feel a little better about all the damages. Plus, I doubt he’s worse than Obake when it comes to overall treatment. Although…He then realized Krei was still staring at him with a quizzical look as if trying to read his mind, which admittedly he found a bit funny of a concept given he had a mostly transparent body with only his thoughts to truly be left as that which couldn’t be seen. Globby gave a clearing cough and a sheepish grin from the attention, followed by straightening up in his chair once again. “Well Mr. Krei, I won’t lie and say that I’m not tempted and I get what you’re saying, but uh…before I say yes or no…would it be okay to you know, just lower my pay to maybe half or even a quarter? I know it’s unconventional, but I’d rather not be bogged down with guilt over my previous actions while I work.”

Globby winced at the end as he waited for Krei’s response, watching the other hum thoughtfully for all of five seconds as he tapped his fingertips together before he smiled and chirped, “I’d say that's doable. I’ll just have the contract reworked for a reduced salary and you can come by next week to sign it, but we’ll be needing to start filming the commercial immediately afterwards to stay on schedule. So...does that mean I can count on a yes from you now?”

The gelatinous mutant blinked in stunned surprise that his terms were met and so easily too, but the moment it clicked, a wide grin crossed his face and he quickly said, “Oh, oh yeah! Sure! It's a yes, and I’m up for starting on filming ASAP as they say; pending any criminal activity that calls for my help mind you, but I’ll be here bright and early to get to work on being the best spokesman you’ve ever had.”

Pleased at the enthusiasm and getting what he wanted, the CEO stood up and held out his hand as he smoothly replied, “That’s the kind of attitude we like to see when it comes to making Krei-Tech great!”

Globby’s smile grew even bigger at the gesture as he stood up too and grasped the other’s hand to shake, an audible squishing sound being made as he did so. “You won’t regret this Mr. Krei! Thank you for considering me.”

“I’m sure I won’t,” the rich man simply responded in a cheery tone, doing his best not to remark about the warm, sticky sensation he was currently experiencing, but he internally sighed with relief when there were no residual globs left on his hand when Globby released his own. Krei then gestured towards the door and informed the superhero, “Well, I’ve got other business to attend to, but be sure to see my assistant out front so she can pencil you in for next week.”

“Oh, sure Mr. Krei. I’ll just leave you to all your big important stuff and uh, have a great day,” Globby hastily bid his goodbye at the other’s words, retreating to the sliding doors while doing his best to be cordial; with a whoosh just like before, the metal panels opened up and promptly closed as soon as he was through. After staring for a moment at where he just came from, the superhero’s eyes then landed on Judy, still typing behind her desk and uninterested in his return. His giddiness was halted as he stepped cautiously toward her for fear of upsetting her again, but he eventually gave a small clearing cough and apprehensively went, “Uh, excuse me. I um need to schedule an appointment for next week. Mr. Krei said to talk to you about it.”

The black-haired woman stopped typing for a moment to glance up at him, followed by resuming her work. Globby was about to interrupt again when she flatly asked him, “I have next Tuesday at 10am open. That work for you?”

“Uhhhhhhhh, yep. Should be good,” Globby answered after taking a moment to mentally recall if he was doing anything. The sound of a pen scratching paper drew his attention a second later as he was then handed an appointment card with the mentioned time and date on it.

“Call us if there’s any issue, but rescheduling is typically frowned on by Mr. Krei, at least when it’s done by someone other than him. Enjoy the rest of your day,” Judy monotonically told the pink and purple man, clearly checked out for the day already. Globby looked silently at her for a moment before snapping out of it and quickly replying, “Thanks and you too. See you in a week I guess heh heh.” Judy eyed him one more time but didn’t give any response as the shapeshifter then made his way to the elevator.

As he made his slow journey down, his gaze drifted towards the card in his hand and he couldn’t help but smile, unable to believe how everything turned out. Well, this is going to be one heck of a story to tell Felony Carl when I get home. It’ll definitely be good though to get his opinion on this before I sign anything since he’s so smart. In all honesty though, it seemed like a decent deal to me, even if it winds up benefiting Mr. Krei more than me. His expression then softened as he brushed his thumb over the small item and thought, That’s okay though…it still just feels so good to be wanted.