Chapter Two: Introductions
"So, why d'you wear a mask?"
They had been walking for about ten minutes, Wally lost in the scenery. Lots of waterfalls. It looked like something out of a commercial.
"I told you. It keeps my identity secret."
"And why do you wanna do that?"
"It's part of the whole 'Superhero' gig. Keeps relatives safe, that kind of thing. And stops people accusing us of being glory hoggers."
Wakka frowned. "Superheroes?"
"Yeah. We fight crime an' stuff. It's a good gig."
Wakka started. "A fighter, huh? Well, here's your chance to prove it." With that he pointed at a small wolf-like creature that Wally could have sworn had just sprung up from the ground.
"What in the name of Superman is that?"
"A fiend. They're some kinda monster. Real pests here, a serious danger other places, ya know?"
Wally rolled his eyes, a pointless gesture behind white eyeplates. "Great. The Mighty Flash, Pest Exterminator Extraordinaire. Watch and learn, Captain Quiff."
"He-"
Wally dashed forwards and scooped up the animal. Before the monster knew what was happening, Wally span on his axis a few times and let go, sending the creature tumbling into the sea. A sparkle of coloured lights drifted up, unnoticed by Wally as he zipped back to Wakka.
"-ey, don't…what just happened?"
Wally treated him to a patented Flash Grin.
"I'm The Flash. The Fastest Man Alive."
Wakka seemed slightly dazed. "No kidding, ya?"
--
Tidus stretched and yawned, sitting up from his bed. He smiled. He'd been doing that a lot lately.
He walked out into the morning sunshine, and made a mental checklist of where everyone would be. Lulu would be looking after her son, a growing toddler. Wakka would probably have gone to the beach for exercise, as was his routine. Yuna would be spending time with her cousin, who had arrived for an unannounced visit. Not as if she ever made any other kind of visit. But that was just Rikku's way, Tidus supposed.
He saw Yuna and Rikku sitting on the grass a little way away, and walked over to join them. Yuna looked up at him and beamed.
Oh yeah. Life was good.
"Hey, guys!" Wakka's voice sounded out. Strange. He shouldn't be done yet. "Look what the sea brought us!" Amusement sparkled in his voice as he shoved forwards the most strangely dressed man Tidus had ever seen. He was clad all over in a tight red material, with yellow embellishments, including little thunderbolts at the ears. He looked ridiculous.
"Err…hi." He said, as he scratched the back of his head. He quickly found himself at the centre of a small crowd of interested and sympathetic villagers. "I'm the Flash."
Tidus frowned. That couldn't be a name, could it? He ambled over, and Wakka took the red man by the arm and pointed out Tidus.
"This guy here, he came from the sea too, ya know. You'll like him." With that, Wakka shooed away the villagers, giving the two men a little space. The stranger extended his hand.
"Flash."
"Tidus."
Flash couldn't suppress a grin. "So, were they having a fifty per cent off sale for leather dungarees?"
Tidus pretended to be offended. "Oh, I am not taking fashion advice from a man wearing red spandex."
"I'll have you know I'm a superhero. I need my costume to protect my secret identity."
Tidus raised an eyebrow at that, the way he had learned from Auron.
"It's true!" His raised voice was attracting attention, and Lulu passed custody of their son to Wakka temporarily as she, Yuna and Rikku walked over to see who this new visitor was.
--
Wally was about to explain how he actually was a superhero, but was distracted by three arrivals to the conversation. Tidus grinned, and introduced them.
"Flash, this is Lulu-"
Aka Cleavage Woman.
"-Wakka's wife."
Damn. "Charmed." He said, and stuck out his hand. She shook it demurely.
"This is my girlfriend, Yuna."
Does she have a tail? No, wait, that's her hair. How boring.
"And this is her cousin, Rikku."
Okaay…birdsnest hair, semi-dressed, clearly a partier…well alright.
"I'm the Flash. The Fastest Man Alive." He said, with obvious pride, but he noticed Lulu's mouth twitch upwards at the corners.
"You probably have trouble getting dates, if that's how you introduce yourself to women."
Wally scowled. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, ha ha ha." At this, the Unkempt Blonde cracked up, but the brunette with the enormous braid simply looked confused.
"Err…"
"Tid'll explain later, Yunie." The blonde said, patting the young woman on the arm. Wally felt a demonstration was required.
"I'll prove it. Anything you want me to do to prove my superhero credentials?"
Tidus raised an eyebrow. "Anything?"
"Sure. I got a reputation to protect- or make."
"Lu? Any ideas?"
Lil' Miss Cleavage smirked. Wally was momentarily nervous, until she pointed at the mountain that dominated the background scenery. "On that mountain, above the snowline, grows a blue flow-"
Wow. Collect a flower on the side of a mountain. Where's the originality? Sounds like a plot device from a cheap Samurai movie. Not that there's anything wrong with cheap Samurai movies.
Wally was gone in a red blur. Before anyone had really adjusted to his sudden disappearance, he was back, with a veritable bouquet.
"Sorry it took so long. There were about five different types of blue flower I could see. Didn't know which one you meant." With that he tried to present the bouquet to Lulu, but she seemed in too much of a daze. Wakka simply chuckled, having been slightly better prepared for Wally's showing off.
"Hey, brudda, there any way you could do that more often? Only Lu's hard to shut up sometimes and –ow!"
Lulu had recovered enough to cuff Wakka around the head. Wally handed the flowers to Rikku instead, with an archaic bow and a flourish, which sent the girl into a fit of giggles. He would regret it later, as she took this as licence to question him incessantly about everything from the nature of his powers to what kind of ice cream he liked.