Chapter 4 – A Much-Appreciated Offer

Now we get down to the long-overdue meeting of the three! I can't wait to get started – how about the rest of you?

Anyways, thank you to 20232023 for this story's first favourite! And of course, for the follow; I can't begin to say how much I appreciate it!

Hmm, so do I have any warnings for this particular chapter…?

Oh well, you'll just have to read and find out what happens next.

Zombieman got to his feet.

He was surprised by how quickly – and efficiently – the two girls had taken care of the rock monster that had had the potential to give him too much trouble. Not that he couldn't have handled it, of course.

Who were they supposed to be, anyway? New heroes? If they were, he would have appreciated a heads-up from the Hero Association.

He walked towards them, curious as to what their explanation would be. The smaller one (was she a kid or was she just small like Tornado?) was scowling furiously at the remains of the monster that lay on the road while the taller one brushed some rock dust from her coat.

"Rock is not supposed to be able to do that." The smaller one stated.

"Well, I wouldn't call what we can do normal, either," responded the one with the coat.

"Maybe it's normal where you two are from," Zombieman admitted, "but I have to admit, I've never seen anything like that before."

The girls turned to look at him, some degree of surprise registered on their faces.

"Ha! That's rich coming from the guy who grew back his arm!" Snorted the shorter one.

"How'd you see that?" Asked the older one.

"Just because I'm blind doesn't mean that I can't see," she shot back.

"Hey," Zombieman said, getting their attention again. "I appreciate the help – really – but before you two get caught up in an argument or something, could I just ask; who are you guys?"

The older girl answered first, hesitating a moment before she did.

"Valkyrie Cain," she said.

"Uh-huh," he acknowledged her response before turning to the younger girl who had a finger in her ear as she rummaged around in it. "And what about you?"

"Toph." She stated plainly.

Zombieman made note of the surprised half-glance the girl in black – Valkyrie – cast towards Toph, a slight frown on her face.

"So, who're you?" Quizzed Toph, looking in Zombieman's general direction.

"I'm the Class-S hero Zombieman," he responded. "One more question – where'd you two learn to do those things? I've seen a heroes throw fire-balls, but what you did was different. And what was that – rock manipulation?"

"It's called Earth-Bending," Toph informed him with a snort of amusement.

"Sorry, my mistake." He inclined his head towards the girl.

She folded her arms, but didn't say anything, seemingly satisfied with the apology. Zombieman looked back to Valkyrie; the girl couldn't have been more than sixteen which made the hero wonder how she had come by her powers. The same applied to Toph, too – and she was even younger than Valkyrie.

"So, where are you two from, huh?" He asked as he returned his axe to its original position on his back.

Valkyrie started in surprise as if she had been caught doing something she'd been explicitly told not to do. Toph didn't move, except for a tilt of her head in a way that made it seem like she was curious or thoughtful.

"Huh. Is it that obvious that we're not from here?" She asked with a frown.

Zombieman raised an eyebrow at that statement. 'Here?' he thought.

"Well, maybe not from this exact city," he shrugged. "So, thanks for the assist and, well, I guess I'll see you two around, then."

But as he turned to leave, he had only gone a few steps before he heard the younger girl's voice again.

"Hey, Zombieman!" She said.

He stopped and looked back to them, arching a quizzical eyebrow as he did.

"Would you believe me if I said we're from a… what was it, again? Oh, right," she snapped her fingers, "a dimension!"

He blinked.

"What?" Was his reaction.

Beside Toph, Valkyrie slapped her forehead. Her companion simply grinned, seemingly unaware of Zombieman's confusion and Valkyrie's disbelief. He wasn't sure if she was just asking or whether there was… something else to it. And, judging by the older girl's reaction, he began to suspect that there just may have been some truth to what she was saying.

"So," he began slowly, having turned around completely, "you're saying that you two are from different dimensions?"

"Yup."

"No." Valkyrie interjected. "We never said that. My friend here just likes to joke around; right Toph?"

"I don't know what's so funny about it," Toph frowned, looking genuinely confused.

Zombieman could see Cain suppressing her urge to groan.

Dimensions, huh? He thought. Did stuff like that really exist? So, if what they were saying was true, then they were from a different world… Maybe even an entirely different universe… That sounded pretty serious, all things considered. Well, who'd have thought? – parallel dimensions weren't just science fiction – not something you'd find out on just any day.

It was rather impulsively that Zombieman found himself asking:

"So do you two need help?"

Both girls had been talking while Zombieman had been thinking. And now they looked at him somewhat dumbly, as if they had forgotten he was there. Personally, he didn't blame them – he was used to getting around unnoticed by people. Sometimes, at least.

"You can help us?" Valkyrie asked cautiously, but Zombieman could hear the undertone of hope in her voice.

"Maybe." Zombieman admitted. "Or I might know someone who can. I'm no expert, not when it comes to these things, at least."

"Oh…"

"Some help is better than none." Toph observed.

Valkyrie was looking a little doubtful.

"It's up to you to decide," the hero shrugged, "either way works just fine for me. If you want to, you can come with me. Or you could stay here. Find your own way back."

Saying so, he turned and set off down the road, past the remains of both monsters and away from Toph and Valkyrie. He hadn't gone far, though, when both girls caught up with him. He glanced at them both; Toph's expression was as inscrutable as ever, while Valkyrie looked a bit more weary.

"Taking me up on my offer, then?" He smiled.

"Well," Valkyrie shrugged, "it's not like we have much of a choice."

"You don't need to say that twice," Toph snorted.

And that brings an end to Chapter 4!

Thoughts, anyone? I'm always happy to hear from any readers! It doesn't matter if it's criticism (so long as it's constructive!) or complementary.

So what say you?!