Two days ago I lectured Will about why one shouldn't go around punching people in costumes, but even I would never have guessed that I'd be proven right so quickly. I'd rub it in, only I got all trigger-happy because Larry had the nerve to try to calm me down, so I don't exactly have the high ground on this one.
Compounding our mistakes was the fact that when we went back to the scene of the crime, Frozen Dead Guy had vanished. The police really didn't like that discovery, holding it against me in particular since I told them to clear the area. They're speculating that the guy up and walked away, while I'm figuring that somebody else swooped in and took the body away while we were distracted. For their part, our two new allies basically laughed it off. I get the feeling that theories of walking cadavers aren't too farfetched in their experience.
The four of us decided to bury the hatchet at this '50s nostalgia café in the area. Will told me once before that he needs to eat an extraordinary amount of food on account of his differing metabolism, but seeing him and TC(he told us to call him that, though Will seems to get a kick out of saying "Tobias") throw down hamburger after hamburger puts me off my appetite.
We're kind of just shooting the shit, me and Will talking about our training and TC and Larry talking about their life in the business. It's refreshing to talk to a couple people in our line of work that aren't constantly hitting on me, or just plain bizarre. TC's got a bit of an edge to him, but is charismatic enough, while Larry is so lighthearted it's hard to believe he can handle himself so well in a fight. Even if I wanted to hold it against him for decking me, he's so likeable that I couldn't.
The topic of teamwork comes up. "Me and Larry ran with a couple groups for awhile," TC says in between bites. "It can get pretty hectic if you don't have a base, you know, some sort of home to get back to where things calm down."
"It's even worse when your home is more chaotic than your job," Larry chimes in, and he and TC share a chuckle over an obvious inside reference of some sort.
"That's why I had to settle in a place like Thunder," TC explains. "I had too much to sort out, and people to look up, I couldn't take the grind anymore. I missed my friends, of course, but then Larry came along so that's one familiar face, at least."
"Somebody had to make sure you didn't get yourself into more trouble," Larry says. "The other great thing about Thunder is that we can get a free drink anywhere in this town."
"Why's that?" Will asks, either forgetting or not caring that his mouth is full and spitting a bit on the table.
"Because we destroyed a government building and a giant sea lizard the first time we swung through here," TC answers. "That's how me and Larry met, actually."
It doesn't register at first, but when it does my eyes go wide. "The Christmas Day Massacre?! That was you guys?!!" My voice embarassingly raises an octave.
TC smiles. "You know it. We went there to free the son of one of our friends, but unfortunately we found Larry instead." Larry playfully goes to swat TC on the head, who naturally ducks and swings back to hit absolutely nothing.
This is unbelievable. "I remember when that happened, and reading it, I totally worshipped you guys as a kid," I'm starting to ramble. Gah, I can't believe I turned into a starry-eyed fangirl so quickly. Like, omg!
"Yeah, that was the original group at that point," TC says. "Me and Euro, and Mick...we lost Jason that night, rest his soul." He lowers his head and solemnly makes the sign of the cross. Larry bows his head in respect, too.
"My dad said you guys were just a bunch of troublemaking maniacs," Will says.
"Hey, we were not maniacs," Larry responds. "Well, except for Nowhereman."
"It was before the media started to turn against you..." I say. I remember clipping the article and tacking it to my bedroom wall, refusing to take it down even after the superiors told me to. They'd hate to see me now, I bet.
"Thunder never turned against us, though," Tobias says.
"It's true, I got baptised in seven different churches because of that," Larry says. "And the women...whew..." Larry and TC both laugh over that one.
"Even today, Campbell and the governor aren't forcing me to register, which is good because that way nobody could possibly track down me and my kid." TC checks his watch. "Which reminds me, he's home by now so I should get back there to hang out with him." He scarfs down the remainder of the most recent bacon cheeseburger.
The four of us walk outside together, Will still eating. TC grabs a paper and pencil(where from, I don't know, they just suddenly appeared in his hands) and scribbles something down to hand to me. "In case you kids ever get in over your heads, which if you're at all like us you will, just call me at this number. I put down Larry's number, too, in case you get desperate." Larry opens his mouth to protest but TC has already disappeared.
"You can call us if you just want to hang out, too," Larry says. "I'll get out of your way now. Got a date in an hour, and I've still got to figure out what the heck she meant when she said 'dress appropriately.'" He gets a bit of a mischevious grin on his face. "Wanna see something cool? When I get to the curb, say 'watch out for that first step!' Okay?" We nod.
Larry takes a couple steps toward the street, and when he gets to the curb Will shouts, "Hey! Watch out for that first step!" Larry lets out a long, drawn out yell as he uses his phasing power to disappear through the street.
As the echo of his voice gets quieter, Will can't stop laughing. I found it funny, too, but I'm too awe-struck to laugh. I'm just staring where he walked off and eventually say, just above a whisper, "How...fucking...cool."
Will looks over at me. "Hey, don't tell the Big Boys those guys picked up the tab, alright? I need to save all the meal money I can."
