Chapter Text
Brrrriiingggg
The doorbell rang loudly through the house.
"That must be the playground," Zenko chirped, jumping up and down excitedly. She pranced around the living room, jumped on and off the couch, and twirled toward the front door.
"Slow down, Zen! Ya won't be able ta get the box!" Badd stumbled out of his room, running to the front door before Zenko could get to it. Knowing his little sister, she's going to try proving him wrong, which is going to end up very bad. Good thing Badd is a runner.
Despite the late start, he made it to the front door before Zenko. "Hurry up!" Zenko stomped her foot onto the ground impatiently, crossing her arms with a scowl.
"I'm hurryin', I'm hurryin'," he said with a chuckle. He wrapped his hand around the doorknob and pushed it open. What he saw next made him instinctively reach for his bat. Shit, I left it in my room.
At the door was Garou.
"You-!"
"Got more packages in the truck." The hero hunter —was it ex-hero hunter now?- held out a clipboard. With the speed and direction of which he did it, Badd thought he was going to whack him, so he brought his arms up to dodge, balling his hands into fists. Garou scoffed. "Signature required, dumbass. Insurance for this play-set or whatever." He looked Badd up and down. "Ain't ya a little old for this?"
Zenko peeked out the door frame, beaming. "It's for me-" Her smile instantly turned upside down. "It's you! The old guy who attacked my brother!"
Garou rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, it's me, whatever. " He waved the clipboard in Badd's face. "Sign it. Faster you do, faster I leave."
Badd just stared.
What was he doing here? Delivering Zenko's outdoor playground, obviously. But why him? He picked up a job? Yeah, clearly he did. So that means he straightened out? That's… good? It should be good. It is good.
Badd heard Garou tut and snapped out of it. "Signature." He held the still-waving clipboard still and took the pen into his hand and barely read its content before signing it. Once he was done, Garou snatched the board back and tucked it under his arm before handing over the large package to Badd, barely giving him time to reach out before letting it go.
Garou skipped the three steps down to level ground and walked down the path back out of the house's lawn. Badd watched every single movement his delivery man made. He had to be planning something, but what?
"Badd, those boxes are big," Zenko said, snapping Badd out of his trance. "They have to be heavy."
Badd glanced to his side, seeing how Zenko was also staring at Garou, but it seemed to be in a different way. "Yeah, they prolly are. Why?"
"You should help him."
If Badd had water in his mouth, he would've spit it out comically. Instead, he almost choked on air. "What??"
"What do you mean 'what'? You should help him," Zenko exclaimed, now looking up at Badd.
Another box was placed on top of the first one. "I don't need any help, pipsqueak," Garou said. " 'Preciate the thought, though."
Zenko and Badd looked at him in shock.
"So you have changed," Zenko blurted. Garou blinked at her blankly. "You have a job now, which means you're good!"
Garou scoffed. "Whatever." He slapped the top of the second box. "This was it, so… happy building, I guess." And he walked off.
Badd's head was still stuck in the past. Well, just a few moments ago, but still. Garou had appreciated Zenko's suggestion to help him? He also just wished them 'happy building'? Who was this guy? Definitely not the same guy who picked a fight with Badd and monsterized the shit out of himself. So he actually is good.
Badd watched as Garou got in the driver's seat of the truck, taking off his cap in the process. It was cut short — way shorter. His hair prongs were gone, and all that was left was basically an overgrown buzz cut.
It kind of suited him. Like, a little too well. That scar running across his face too. What would usually make someone keep their distance, Badd wanted to get closer.
"Badd," Zenko shouted. Badd snapped out of his — yet again — trance. She huffed. "Finally, 'bout time you stopped starin' at him. Let's make the playground already!"
Badd's cheeks warmed. I was staring, huh? "Yeah, le's do that." He picked up the first box — damn, this shit was heavy — and put it on his shoulder, holding it steady with his hands. "Open up the back door; we'll make it in tha backyard." Zenko nodded eagerly and zoomed off. Badd let out a light huff, smiling. Before following her, he felt like something was watching him. He looked back to the truck.
It was just leaving.
Huh.
For some reason, he didn't like the sight.
Badd sighed as he began walking into his house.
"See ya around."
***
Down the street, Garou sat in the delivery truck, arm out the window, waiting for three cars to make their turns by the stop sign.
Curse the lasting monster effects. He heard every word those two said.
He groaned, running his hand through his hair then down his flushed face.
"See ya around, musclehead."