Disclaimer: Don't own DC. Is that clear?
Mayor Need sat at his desk holding his head in his hands. That damn clown Flotsam had practically broken him when he first turned up and now…now he was chasing Max through the sewers, intent on doing God-alone knows what to him. And when he finally caught up with him, he wouldn't need Palm Brinks anymore and if that happened then God knows what he'd do next.
Mayor Need's head pounded and his stomach churned at the thought. He so very badly wanted to sit down and talk about it with Cedric like he used to be able to do, or even his wife and daughter, but he couldn't risk it, it would only take the slightest slip of the tongue and there'd be a panic through the town. He was elected Mayor of this town to lead and protect it and by God he was determined to do whatever it took to protect the people of this town. He just wished he knew how to protect them from this.
Bang, bang, bang!
There was a firm knocking sound on the door that he couldn't ignore and he gave a mental growl. Probably some insignificant issue about some insignificant fuss. Maybe they'd give up if he didn't say anything.
Bang!
The door slammed open and Need started as he recognised the grim-faced, grey bearded man with a fierce expression on his face.
"Cedric!" Need exclaimed, shooting up to his feet.
"Alright Need, what exactly are you hiding from me? Tell me everything you know!" he demanded and Need suppressed a mental groan. Cedric was nothing if not persistent and he could read Need like a book.
"…Hmm…I see. So you've realised too, have you?" he asked rhetorically, before continuing. "Damn! But sometimes it's better not to know."
'If he knew how much strain it puts on you, having to keep a secret like this hidden, having to constantly meet Flotsam's demands for more and more searches, desperately trying to find a way out of this nightmare, HE wouldn't WANT to know either,' Need thought to himself privately.
Cedric gave him a hard glare, the one that made it clear he wasn't going to be fobbed off.
"Hrrph. Why are you hiding things from me? I thought we were friends, Need. What's going on!? Spit it out, will ya?!" he demanded and Need felt a familiar light feeling in his chest. Cedric was one of his oldest friends, one who helped him become Mayor in the first place. If he couldn't turn to Cedric in his time of need, who could he? And maybe, just maybe, Cedric might have an idea that could help even.
"Okay, okay. I can't go on hiding it anymore," he paused and looked Cedric in the eye, a gesture he hadn't done in far too long and a strong sense of relief cane across his chest as he took the plunge and revealed everything. "I'll tell you what's going on in this town, in this world…
And as Need told Cedric everything, he felt slow burning sensation of relief as he finally shared the burden. Amazing what talking to an old friend could do.