"Here we are," Booster said as the trio arrived at an open field with park benches, trees, and open land as far as either of them could see. Jaime sat atop Ted's shoulders, his feet dangling against Ted's chest.
"Uh…Boost? When I said 'Take Jaime to the park' as meant a park park. You know, the kind with slides?"
Jaime rested his little hands against Ted's brown hair, a smile widening across his face.
"Well…that park was destroyed a while back…you know…JLI stuff." Booster rubbed the back of his neck, "They're still pretty mad about that whole Evil Invasion thing and…this is the closest thing we can do right now." Booster shrugged and lifted Jaime off of Ted's shoulders.
"Booster, I don't know…what if-"
"Just look at him!" Booster said as he shoved the smiling toddler in Ted's face.
Jaime's hair fell down to his forehead and Ted could count every one of his little teeth. He had never seen his protégé so happy…not even when he offered to teach him how to drive the bug.
"W-well…if it makes him happy, I-"
"Great." Booster placed Jaime onto the grass and pressed a button on his wrist band. Out popped a glowing football. "I've been waiting to teach him how to use this thing for years."
"W-wait…hold on." Ted felt his face grow red. "Is that a football?"
Booster rolled his eyes, "No, it's a test tube. I'm gonna teach Jaime how to reset his Bunsen burner."
Ted crossed his arms, "No, no freaking way."
"W-what? I'm just going to show him some moves. It'll be good exercise for him."
"It's way too dangerous. He's a kid."
"Yeah…he's a kid that handled The Reach. He'll be fine with a little one on one."
Ted only shook his head harder. "And what if he falls? What if he scratches his knee? We didn't get any Band-Aids, or disinfectant. What if he gets sick, and his cold keeps him from ageing back to normal? What if-"
"Ted." Booster placed his hands on Ted's shoulders, "It's just a game of football. There will be no tackling. No physical contact. I'm just going to show him how to throw it." Booster took a deep breath and smiled. "Okay?"
Booster turned to Jaime, who was busy soaking in every green leaf, buzzing bee, and white cloud he could see.
"Hey, Jaime? You wanna play some football?"
Jaime only turned his head, as if to ask a question he did not know how to phrase.
"Check this out." He held the football up to Jaime's eye level, the way that kid smiled; it was as if Booster was offering him the greatest slice of pizza in the world. "You wanna learn how to throw it?"
Jaime nodded.
"Great!" Booster kneeled down by Jaime's side. "Okay, you hold onto the big end like this…" he moved Jaime's fingers around the ball, and positioned the little boy's feet in the proper stance. "Great. You are the man!"
Ted only crossed his arms and shook his head. "His hands are too small Ted. He'll never be able to throw it properly."
Booster only raised a finger and smiled. "Hey, no heckling from the peanut gallery."
Jaime looked up into the sky, shaking as he held that football with all the might his little arms could gather.
"Now throw it!"
And Jaime did…and it the ball flew a full inch before slamming onto the ground.
And then Booster cheered. "Look at that!" He wrapped his arms around Jaime's legs and lifted him straight up into the sky. "This kid's got a gift! Look at that arm. Ted did you see how far that ball went? Kid's got a future in this sport."
Ted only smiled as Booster hoisted their little protégé up into the air like a Super bowl Champion, chanting "Jaime! Jaime! Jaime!"
And they stayed at the park. Booster taught Jaime had to tackle…while using Ted as the tackle dummy. Jaime rolled around on the grass until his shirt was nearly green.
And then the sun went down.
"Alright," Ted said. "This was great, but I think it's time we went back. The team's probably worried about us."
Booster merely lay on the grass with Jaime on his chest. "Yeah, you're right. I think this little super star is worn out." Booster wrapped his arms around Jaime, and slowly rose to meet Ted.
"So…how exactly are we going to explain Jaime's absence?" Booster asked.
Ted looked to the sky and smiled. "Don't worry. I've got it figured out."
