“You seem tense babe…” She said, sliding down from her perch atop him, and snuggling up to his body.
“It’s been a long couple of weeks.” Matt replied, still panting.
“The Gauss thing? Still?”
“Yeah… It was kind of a big deal… Captain Awesome had to come save us… I thought we were untouchable. I mean, we saved the Teen Dream Team from Arachnophobia that time… We kind of had it in our heads that we were above the whole ‘teen hero’ thing.”
“It’s not like you died or anything.”
“Well, Pixel was pretty beat up… She’s still recovering.”
“Didn’t Iaso heal her?”
“That’s not what I meant… It’s a psychological thing. She got tortured physically and mentally… I’m really worried about her.”
“She’ll get over it…” She snuggled closer.
“Yeah, I’m sure she will.” Matt replied, not sure he believed his own words.
<><><>
“Seriously, black!?” Mac shouted.
“I don’t see what the big deal is…” Dylan replied.
“Dude, my sister’s hair hasn’t been black since the day mom decided she was old enough to dye it.” Tom explained.
“So she went natural, what’s the big deal?” Dylan asked.
“And the songs she’s added to our setlist? Evanescence? Simple Plan?” Travis asked. “I can’t sing this crap!”
“Look, she’s got some stuff going on right now, so she’s a little dark… But she’ll bounce back. She’s a tough kid.” Tom said.
“What’s the deal with her anyway?” Jacob asked.
“It’s kind of personal.” Mac shot Tom a glare. “So we’d rather not share.”
“Oh, ok…” Travis said, a confused look on his, and the rest of the band’s, face.
<><><>
“They could have been the next Air Jordans!” Kevin complained.
“But they were called ‘Picture Perfect’… They wouldn’t have sold.” Katie replied.
“They’re being called ‘Awe-mazing’ now, because they gave the deal to Captain Awesome instead. And besides, you want to talk to me about bad merchandising names? What about ‘Belle-Bottoms’?”
“They didn’t want to renew the deal… Apparently we’re not relevant anymore.”
“I know. It’s like, one loss and we’re nobody again.”
“Yeah, we’re out of the Top 20 on HeroRater. Nobody cares about us.”
“HeroRater?”
“It’s some website Matt told me about. It gives a weekly ranking chart for all the heroes, based on their power, and what they’ve accomplished that week. There’s a Top 20 Teams chart, a Top 50 Individual chart, and a Top 20 combined chart. Before the thing at the school, the team was ranked seventh on the Team chart, and thirteenth on the combined chart. You and Matt were ranked at twenty and twenty-one individually, and Mosley was thirty-eighth. Now we’re off all the charts.”
“Wait, Matt beat me?”
“He is more powerful than you…”
“But I’m the leader.”
“Let it go honey.”
“Fine… Hey, have you heard from Mosley or Fisher lately?”
<><><>
“Three approaching your four o’clock.” Fissure warned.
“Thanks.” Firestorm replied, as he pivoted to face his targets.
He unleashed a massive fireball, engulfing all three men, burning their flesh and drawing screams from within the inferno. Moments lately, the flames disappeared as quickly as they materialised, and the three men collapsed.
“One more behind you.” Firestorm said.
“I know.” Fissure said, melting into the ground beneath him, and springing up behind the final thug, who he clubbed across the back of the head with his fist, crumpling the enemy to the ground.
“That’s a lot of men for just a bank robbery.” Fissure commented, looking at the pile of unconscious bodies they had left on the lobby floor.
“In this town, you need this many guys to make the heroes even pause. They don’t stand a chance.” Firestorm explained.
“Makes sense.”
“Besides, gave us some extra cannon fodder, to work out all the rage.”
“Rage?”
“After the whole Gauss thing. When I’m angry, I like to take it out on the bad guys, you know?”
“Of course. Makes sense.”
“And really, it was these guys, or Perfect.”
“Mr Perfect? Why?”
“He gave the order to leave Pixel at the school. It’s his fault.”
“But surely, he didn’t know what we were up against… He couldn’t have.”
“He still knew it was something big. We shouldn’t have left.”
<><><>
Ally skulked into the room.
“Wow… New outfit?” Dylan asked.
“… Huh?” Ally said, and looked down at her clothes. Black Chuck Taylors, black stockings, a black skirt, and a black t-shirt. “Oh… Yeah, I guess.”
“Are you ok?” Tom asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” Ally replied.
“You sure?” Mac asked.
“I’m fine!” Ally shouted.
“Ok…” Tom said.
“Look, are we going to jam or what?” Ally asked.
“Sure…” Jacob said.
“Ok, My Immortal, from the top.” Ally ordered.
“On guitar?” Dylan asked.
“Just do it.”
<><><>
“So is Ally any better?” Kevin asked.
“I spoke to her yesterday… She’s still not her usual self.” Katie replied.
“Oh?”
“She’s sullen and moody. And she snaps. I don’t like it.”
“She went through so much… I can’t believe I let her stay behind.”
“Don’t go through this again. You can’t keep blaming yourself.”
“I was the only one who agreed with her. Everyone else insisted she either come with us, or we all stay. I gave the order.”
“No-one blames you for what happened.”
“Mosley does. Matt probably does, but has enough of his own issues to deal with. And Fisher probably just doesn’t want to question me, he’s weird like that.”
“Mosley’s an idiot. And Matt and Fisher don’t blame you, they’re reasonable people. They know you made the decision you thought was right, and they don’t blame you.”
“And what does Ally think?”
“What? She pushed you to the decision. She doesn’t blame anyone but herself. You need to get over it.”
“You don’t get it, do you?” Kevin stood up. “I got Ally into that whole mess. I let Gauss and Helix almost kill you. I led us into the most one-sided battle we’ve ever been in. I should have had a plan. I should have got us out of there. It’s my fault. I failed.”
Kevin stormed out of the room.
“Wait…” Katie said, half-heartedly, but only heard the slamming of her front door.
She sighed, as she found the key to her father’s liquor cabinet. She had finished her bottle of vodka the night before, and hadn’t had a chance to buy another. She’d have to settle for scotch today.
<><><>
“Did I tell you EB wanted me to be their spokesperson?” Matt asked.
“No you didn’t. What happened?” His lover asked.
“They gave it to Aperture. Apparently I’m not cool enough anymore. Aperture’s the new ‘cool geek hero’. Their words, not mine.” Matt replied.
“Oh, that sucks. There will be more campaigns, I’m sure. You guys will be back on top of the world in no time.”
“I’m not sure we will. It’s hit the team pretty hard.”
“You guys will bounce back, you always do.”
Matt was silent.
“I’m going to get a drink. Want anything?” She asked.
“No, I’m fine thanks.” He replied.
She shrugged, before climbing out of bed, and strolling across the room, completely naked.
Matt stared at the open doorway for a moment, before his phone rang. He picked it up, and read the caller ID before answering.
“Hi Hannah… How are you?” He asked.
“How am I? We haven’t spoken in days. How do you think I am? I’m worried about you.” His girlfriend replied, from across the country.
“Oh… Sorry… Just haven’t felt much like talking.” He said. “It’s been a rough couple of weeks.”
His lover stepped back into the doorway, the sultry smile on her face turning to a frown, as Matt turned away from her, giving all his attention to Hannah. She turned back around and left the room in silence. Of course he didn’t love her, he still loved his girlfriend, he just needed someone right now. That was the best she could hope for.