Chapter Text
Tango gazed out from the balcony of white marble and stone, into the universe of stars, moons and planets. The small shining specs sparkled all around and the planets and moons shone in the suns light, showing their many colours. Throughout the thousands of years seeing this view, he never tired of it. From the first time he had seen it as a young Nether born mortal, unsure of the universe around him.
An arm came around his waist. Tango tore his gaze away from the universe, to find himself looking at his universe. Jimmy. He stood a little taller than he did, blond hair and light brown eyes. “Hey.” Tango smiled, turning so he could face him better. He took Jimmy’s Sherrif hat off and put it on himself.
“Oi!” Jimmy grinned. “You know there’s laws around here about stealing another man’s hat.” There was no annoyance in his voice. Instead, Jimmy put his other arm around Tango’s waist and pulled him closer. “I might have to steal something in return.”
“Oh, and what would that be?” Tango kept his smile on his face.
Jimmy leant down. “A kiss, my firefly?"
Tango met him half way there.
-
(Around 3000 years ago. Or for us, present day.)
It was raining in the city, something no one was surprised about. Raining and cold. Far colder and wetter than anything Tango was used to; being a Nether born, he was used to hot temperatures and dry air, being surrounded by lava lakes and volcanic activity. People said the Nether used to be a lot like the Overworld before they got access to the portals and scorched everything.
A lot of rubbish used to scare the Overworld people into being more environmentally friendly. Tango supposed it helped a little bit.
He looked up at the tower blocks and the general city around him. The power they used to power up the city was from ‘safe’ sources, using energy from other planets apparently. Apparently, that was safe.
The people seemed to believe it anyway.
Tango kept walking down the high street, hands in his coat pockets and generally ignoring everyone on the way.
The wind had started to get up and a lost newspaper flew past his head, causing him to turn to look at it and not seeing the person he was about to bump into. “Uhh.”
“Sorry!” The person… an Avian, ran past him.
For some reason, and Tango really didn’t know why, he followed him. “Hey, watch where you’re going.”
The Avian was a young man. Blond hair and some really odd clothes. He had caught up with the newspaper that Tango figured was his. The Paper was soggy by now, the words bled into each other. Still, the strange man held into it like a life line… though he was probably trying to stop the wind from stealing it again.
Tango didn’t know why he stayed, but something about him seemed strangely familliar. “I think you might need another paper.”
The man kept looking at his falling to pieces newspaper. “What?” It was a few moments before he spoke, as if he only just realised Tango was there.
He should go, he really should. Tango didn’t know why, but this man was giving him some sort of… vibe. Not bad. Just strange. “What are you looking for?”
“The date.” The man said.
Tango blinked. Yes, sometimes he got confused with what day it was sometimes, but still. This was a lot of trouble to go to for the date. “It’s Friday.”
The Avian put the paper down, like he had finally given up on it. “Friday the what?”
He really should go. Make up an important meeting or something. “Friday the 19th. Of September. 2025.” Tango looked at his Watch. “About five in the evening.”
“Ah thanks.” The man smiled. It was a full genuine smile. “Sorry to bother you any longer, but could you tell me the way to the Hero agency?”
Oh, now that was… “Down that road, then down the first alley. I mean you can’t miss it. Just follow the skyscraper that has a massive purple glowey sign that says ‘Hero Agency.’”
Instead of being annoyed at his snappy tone, he smiled again. Tango assumed he lived out of town. “Thanks. I’m Jimmy by the way.”
Who on Earth smiled this much in this grimy city where it nothing but rained. “Tango.”
Jimmy walked in the direction of the massive skyscraper that had a massive purple glowey sign. Tango in turn walked the other way. He just wanted to go back to his flat and dry off in front of the fire. This place was miserable… but there weren’t any jobs in the Nether anymore. Just crime. Lots of people came to this world, and this city was one of the best… abet soggiest. It was also one of the safest, having their own Superhero department.
But do you know what came with Superhero’s?
Super Villain’s.
This is the part of the story where you expect me to tell you that Tango was one of them, but that is where you’re mistaken.
Tango actually couldn’t give a shit about all that.
Oh, he had certainly thought about it. Just because Nether borns came to this world, didn’t mean they were necessarily accepted. Just because he could get a job here, doesn’t mean he wasn’t rejected by ninety other’s he applied to just because he came from the Nether.
But Tango wasn’t like that. He just wanted to keep his head down and live his life. Probably alone. Most likely soggy and cold.
-
“Pearl? Pearl!” Jimmy ran into a room. There were many in the Hero building. “Pearl!”
Pearl poked her head around the corner of a bookcase. “Jimmy? I thought I left you back home.”
“G told me to come on the mission.” He told her. “It’s just… it’s progressing faster now.” His Canary yellow wings fluttered behind him. Others might’ve mistaken it as excitement.
She made a face. “Right… well I don’t know what you want me to do about it.”
Jimmy’s wings stilled. “I don’t know. It’s just…”
Pearl got a book down from the bookshelf. “I’m working on it as hard as I can. All of us are. Maybe you should talk with Scar, he’s in charge of Earth.”
He sighed. “He doesn’t know. Just said to try and plant some sun flowers or something. I thought with you being the moon and everything…” Jimmy stepped back towards the door. “Well, if you don’t want me to help…”
Pearl took a breath and put the book on the table. “Come and see this, Jim.”
Jimmy jumped to the chance at helping in any way he could. He went over quick.
She opened the book and pointed at the chapter title. “The elements. Your homework is to read this. If you can figure out the problem, I might let you help.”
“Why can’t I help now?” Jimmy asked.
“You’re centuries younger than all of us Jimmy.” Pearl put a kind hand on his shoulder. “In some cases, millions and billions of years younger. You’re not experienced in trying to fix these kinds of things but… maybe it’s time you learnt.”
Jimmy beamed. “Thanks Pearl.” He took the book and went somewhere quiet to study it. There was no better place to study than the 24-hour library a few streets away, which conveniently was close to where Tango lived. Three doors down in fact. Jimmy looked at his book and read every word in the chapter about the elements. He even wrote notes.
There were four of them.
Earth
Fire
Water
Air
The history was interesting.
-
At nine o’clock the next morning, the history on the elements weren’t quite so interesting anymore.
“It’s you again.”
Jimmy looked up from reading about fire could symbolise and saw the man he had bumped into yesterday. “Hi.” What was his name. “Oh Tango.”
Tango looked at the book he was reading. “You’re looking at that like it had poured a bucket of lava on your mother.”
He tilted his head. “Is that a... Nether saying?”
“Uh yes.” Tango said, a little hesitantly.
Jimmy shrugged. “Fun.” He looked at the book. “My sister gave me this book. Trying to figure out a puzzle but I can’t find out what it is, and I really want to join her and the others on this big… adventure, but I can’t if I don’t figure out this Puzzle.”
Tango picked up the book. “I’m good at Puzzles.”
Jimmy lit up. “Really? Could you help?”
“Maybe. What’s the context? At the moment this is just a science book.” Tango skimmed the passages.
He deflated. “Right… just… I can’t tell you everything.”
Tango kept reading. “Right. Well, it could be something with the number four, or meanings or something like that. Something Sciency? If your sister gave this to you then these four things must have a familial meaning. The answer could be looking you right in the face.” He put the book down.
“Yeah, most likely.” Jimmy sighed.
“What’s your sister’s name?” Tango sat down in the chair opposite him.
Jimmy closed the book. “Pearlescent Moon. Pearl for short.”
Tango nodded in thought. “Any other siblings?”
“Two older sisters and two older brothers.” Jimmy shifted in his seat. “It would be a lot if I went into my family and, I don’t really know you.”
He thought that was fair. “So, are you a Superhero?”
Jimmy leant forward. “Maybe. Are you?”
“In my dreams.” Tango laughed.
Jimmy’s face turned serious. “Hey, don’t think like that. Xisuma would let you have a fair trial.”
Tango stood up. “Maybe. It’s the people of the city who might have something to say about it.”
Not wanting to lose this conversation, Jimmy stood too, standing noticeably taller than the Nether born. “Are you a Criminal?”
“No.”
“Do you ever intend to be?” Jimmy crossed his arms.
Tango shook his head.
“Then there we go.” Jimmy nodded once to seal that fact.
Tango opened his mouth to argue but shut it. He scrunched his nose and looked away for a moment to think. Then he looked back at Jimmy. “I’m going to apply just to prove you wrong.”
“And when I’m right?” Jimmy smiled a little, because he had won.
He took a breath. “When you’re wrong, I’ll continue working here.”
Jimmy’s smile turned into a grin. “And when I’m right.”
Tango shrugged. “Looks like I’ll have less free time on my hands.”
Jimmy stuck his hand out. “Good working with you Tango.”
He really was strange. Tango shook his hand, anyway, not wanting to be impolite. As strange as this whole thing was, Tango wanted to keep to his word.
What’s the worse that could happen? They could only say no.
Jimmy left with his book and Tango’s Day continued as normal as normal. Later that afternoon, he went to a café to catch up with his friend Skizz. That man was the kindest person anyone could know. A literal Angel.
Skizz always laughed him off when he said that.
Tango told him about his day.
“I think you should go for it Top.” Skizz sipped his drink. “Might do you some good.”
Tango downed the rest of his. “Sounds exhausting. But I owe it to Jimmy.”
Skizz put his cup down. “Hey at least you’re talking to new people. That’s a good thing you know.”
Tango shook his head. “Running into each other twice was a coincidence. It’s a big city Skizz. The chances of seeing each other again are small.”
Skizz smiled with a knowing smile. His look was soft. “The Universe is big, but things often have a way of working its way out. Sometimes there are imbalances.”
The Nether born went to drink more coffee but remembered it was empty. “You oddly speak a lot of sense, but I have no clue what you’re on about.”
Skizz laughed. “It happens like that sometimes. Have a little more trust in yourself Top. You’re brilliant. Use your brilliance for something amazing.”
Tango just wanted more coffee and a good night’s sleep, but maybe tomorrow he would use his ‘Brilliance’ as Skizz said. He paid and got up. “I’ll see you next week?”
Skizz nodded and waited for Tango to leave before muttering; “Probably a lot sooner than that Tango.” He looked at his Watch. “This planet only has so much time left.”