Chapter Text
It was noon, and the sun streamed through the windows of the heroes' meeting room as they finished and began to leave for their respective businesses. Noah Robinson, a 20 year old boy with short light brown hair and grayish-purple eyes, standing at 165 cm, also known as the hero Fortress, was talking with his best friend Benjamin Roberts, a 20 year old boy with black hair and honey brown eyes, standing at 170 cm, also known by the hero name Volt.
"God, today was so boring. Meeting after meeting, and they didn't even say anything that we didn't already know!"
Noah complained, annoyed that he had spent the day in meetings instead of fighting.
"Oh, stop complaining already, Noah. You were sleeping through half the meetings. I doubt you heard a single word the pro heroes said"
Benjamin teased, continuing to walk outside the Hero Association building, leaving Noah standing in the hallway.
"Hey, wait up!"
Noah called out to Benjamin and ran after him. When he caught up, he walked beside him.
"Look, I listened to them, but they always say the same things: 'Stay away from the super villains,' or 'That's the pros' job, not yours. You should stick to evacuating and helping civilians, not fighting villains.' 'Leave it to the professionals.' Like, I get that as heroes we're supposed to help civilians, but the pros are making it seem like we can't fight a villain!"
Noah complained, walking beside Benjamin with his arms crossed over his chest.
"I mean they are kind of right. Do you want me to remind you that after the first month of working as heroes, even though they had warned us about fighting the super villains, you decided during an attack to go after one of the most dangerous villains. And ever since then he considered you one of his enemies along with the pro heroes"
Benjamin rolled his eyes as he reminded Noah about his first encounter with a supervillain.
"Hey, you also fought his ally while I fought him! And even though we won against them the pros believe we aren't worth anything!"
Noah shook his head frustrated as he followed Benjamin into a café.
"Ok, ok, you have a point, but now shut up. Someone might hear you!"
Benjamin said, hitting Noah's side with his elbow to quiet him down, as they were around a lot of people, so they wouldn't accidentally expose their identities.
"Ok ok no need to hit me"
Noah said, rubbing his side where Benjamin hit him.
"So what are you going to get?"
Noah asked, looking at the menu as they waited for their turn. He rolled his eyes at the many options and decided to get his usual: a coffee with cream.
"I'll get a black coffee"
Benjamin said, shrugging his shoulders ignoring Noah's disgusting face when he said his order since he knew his friend always disliked black coffee.
Their turn came and they ordered their coffees and paid and left the coffee shop after they got their coffee and walked to the park near their apartments since they live close to each other. As they sat down in one of the benches and drank their coffee while talking about random stuff.
"Have you seen Ethan? I haven't seen him at work for a while"
Noah asked Benjamin sipping on his coffee.
"Oh, I spoke with him yesterday. His son is sick, so he's working from home for now" Benjamin replied, scanning the nearly empty park around them.
"Again? God, I feel bad for the kid. Is this the fourth time this month he's been sick?"
Noah asked rhetorically, knowing the answer.
"Yeah. I'm going to watch the kid so Ethan can get some work done at the office later this evening. Do you want to come?"
Benjamin asked, looking at Noah expectantly, hoping for some company.
"I'll see if I can make it, but I have a meeting with the pros"
Noah mumbled the last part awkwardly, anticipating Benjamin's reaction.
"You have a what?! What did you do now?!"
Benjamin whispered loudly, trying to recall what trouble Noah might have gotten into this time with the pros.
"Look, it's not my fault. I just helped stop a robbery at a grocery store because another hero couldn't handle it. The pros said I shouldn't have gotten involved because help was on the way. Now, I have to endure another lecture about the 'rules' we're supposed to follow"
"Can't you just stay out of trouble with the pros for one week. One week!"
Benjamin said annoyed as he got up and threw his cup in the trash can.
"Hey, calm down, Ben. It's not that big of a deal!"
Noah said, following Benjamin and tossing his empty cup in the trash.
"It's not that big of a deal?! Noah, are you serious?!"
Benjamin said, rolling his eyes and starting to walk home.
"Okay, okay, I messed up, I get it. But come on, give me a break. I did the right thing!"
Noah said, running after Benjamin, trying to explain himself.
"By breaking the rules!"
Benjamin said, shaking his head in disappointment.
"I was trying to save people. You would do the same"
Noah said, walking beside his friend.
"Look, I get it, but this is the 5th time this month, and we're not even halfway through!" Benjamin said, stopping and letting out a sigh of frustration before speaking again.
"Look, I'm not mad that you're saving people. I'm frustrated because you keep getting in trouble. What if they decide to take away your license? I won't be able to work with you, and you won't be allowed to help anyone!"
"Look, I get why you're scared"
Noah said, his voice softening. He ran a hand through his hair, frustration running through his body.
"But I can't stop helping people. I wanted to be a hero to make a difference, and I have to deal with these stupid rules"
Benjamin's eyes softened, but his tone remained tense.
"You think I don't remember? I've known you for so long, and you're the reason I joined to be a hero. But I'm scared for you... Just... just be careful and stay out of trouble with the pros"
Benjamin explained with worry.
"I'll try to be more careful"
Noah said, nodding. He forced a small smile, hoping to ease his friend's worry.
–At the evening–
Noah walked out of the meeting room with a frown on his face. He was irritated with the pros who had been 'scolding' him for the past 4 hours, talking about the rules he had to follow because he was 'new' and should stay out of the pro's way. He clenched his fists, trying to shake off the frustration. As Noah left the building, he ignored some of the pro hero's comments and headed toward Ethan's house to help Benjamin with the kid.
Walking down the dark street, the streetlights cast long shadows on the pavement, the light flickering to the otherwise quiet street. He noticed only a few people passing by. Noah turned into an alleyway, continuing to walk, when he heard a faint noise behind him. At first, he dismissed it, but the sound stopped and then resumed, making his heart beat faster. Acting calm, he kept walking, keeping his attention on high alert.
Noah glanced behind him when he turned the corner but saw no one. He continued walking, thinking nothing of it since he was in civilian clothes, so no one would suspect anything. Finally, he reached Ethan's house, the familiar sight making him smile a bit. He rang the bell and waited, tapping his foot impatiently, until Benjamin opened the door and let him in.
"Hey, Ben, how are you?"
Noah asked as he reached the top floor and Benjamin opened the door to greet him.
"UNCLE NOAH!!"
A small voice was heard, which was full of excitement, as a 5-year-old with tan skin, dirty blond hair, and hazel eyes ran and hugged Noah's leg, beaming with joy and excitement.
"Hello, Oli! How are you doing?"
Noah asked, leaning down to pick up Oliver. He closed the door behind him and walked inside, kicking off his shoes in the process.
"I am really happy! Uncle Ben and I have been playing board games!"
The super excited 5-year-old said happily, like he was never sick.
"Yes, we've been playing around for hours non-stop. He stopped being sick hours ago," Benjamin said with a sigh, looking tired since the kid had been hyper the entire time he was there.
"I see you tired Ben out completely"
Noah said, laughing. Oliver giggled as Noah put him down on the carpeted living room floor, which was scattered with toys. The TV in the background played a kid's show that Oliver had long forgotten about.
A pillow was thrown at Noah's head as Benjamin sat down on the couch, tossing the pillow at him because of the comment he made, causing Oliver to laugh from where he sat on a bean bag with his stuffed lion.
"Oh, we are doing this now?"
Noah asked rhetorically as he picked up the pillow and threw it back at Benjamin. Benjamin smirked, grabbed the pillow again, and tackled Noah to the floor, hitting him playfully while laughing.
"Hey, stop attacking me!"
Noah yelled, trying to escape but failing to get away from Benjamin's attack. The room echoed with laughter as they playful fight, the soft thuds of pillows and laughs of joy filling the air. Oliver, giggling, grabbed a pillow from the couch and joined in the attack on Noah.
"Hey, this is unfair! It's two against one!"
Noah yelped as he was hit by two pillows while on the floor. Benjamin eventually stopped, collapsing in a fit of laughter, tears rolling down his face. Oliver continued hitting Noah, his giggles filling the room.
"Oh, now you're done!"
Noah said, laughing as he got up and picked up Oliver, holding him tight so he couldn't get away and started tickling him until he was crying and screaming for him to stop.
"Fine, fine, I'll stop tickling you... and start tickling Ben!"
Noah said, placing Oliver on the couch as the kid continued laughing and trying to catch his breath. Noah then went after Benjamin, who got up and ran away, and they ran around the couch, both laughing like they were little kids.
In the end, they sat down on the couch, all out of breath from laughing.
"Can we... can we watch a movie?"
Oliver asked, breathing heavily, his eyes wide and happy as he looked at Noah and Benjamin.
"Sure thing, buddy. Which movie do you want?"
Benjamin replied, still chuckling as he passed the remote to Noah.
"Can we watch Inside Out?"
Oliver's excitement was all over the place as he gazed eagerly at Noah and Benjamin.
"Of course, kiddo!"
Noah grinned warmly. He quickly put on Netflix, selected the movie, and settled back with Benjamin. They lay comfortably on either side of Oliver, who sat in the middle, hugging his stuffed lion tightly.
–Later towards the night–
The keys to the door jingled, and Ethan Cole, a 27-year-old man with dark brown hair, tan skin, and the same hazel eyes as the 5 year old, walked in, chuckling at the scene in front of him. The TV playing "Inside Out" and the smell of popcorn and candy filled the room.
"God, this is worth a photo, two 20 year old heroes watching cartoons and eating popcorn and candy with a 5 year old"
Ethan said with a chuckle as he walked towards them, his eyes filled with amusement.
"DAD!!!"
Oliver yelled excitedly, running up to his father with his arms in the air, wanting to be picked up. Ethan leaned down, picked up his son, and kissed his forehead, smiling warmly.
"How are you, angel? Were you good for your uncles, or did you cause them trouble?"
Ethan asked, holding his son on his hip as he looked at the two tired males on the couch.
"Little man over here is no longer sick and has been running us around all afternoon" Benjamin said with a chuckle, stretching out on the couch. Noah got up and stretched as well, yawning.
"How are you, Ethan?"
Noah asked, rubbing his eyes.
"I'm fine now that I am home. Just a little tired"
Ethan explained, sitting down on the couch with his kid on his lap. Oliver snuggled into his father's lap, hugging his stuffed lion tightly. The room was filled with the soft sounds of the movie and the contented presence of family, creating a cozy and warm atmosphere.
"I am going to go home. I haven't slept in a while"
Noah said in a tired voice, ruffling Benjamin's hair, which made him roll his eyes. As he was about to leave, Ethan ruffled Noah's hair too.
"Thank you for helping watch over Oliver today. Get home safe and get some sleep, you need it"
Ethan said to the young hero with a soft smile. Oliver waved at Noah enthusiastically.
Noah nodded, put on his shoes, and walked out the door. He waved at them one last time before heading down the hallway of the apartment building, the night air refreshing him slightly as he made his way home.