++++++++chapter 3 : "Hi" said the hero

Rainer hummed joyfully in his walk back to his apartment from the groceries store.

It was a calm (admittedly pointless, for some one who could make any food imaginable just by wishing it) ritual he had grown very found of.

Dr. Yasenia would probably psych-deduce it has something to do with affirming to himself that he is a free self sustaining individual capable of integrating in society.

Rainer just thought it was a nice sane thing to do with his time, considering he has lots of it to spare.

He thought was top risky to try education or employment just yet so the only thing in his life at that moment was his vigilante career and his apartment keeping. Actually buying good and cleaning products was a way to keep his day from being too empty." Idle mind is devil's workshop" his psi would sometimes say ...

Rainer wondered If he thought of the Dr. to much.

Was it weird? Unhealthy? Justifiable considering he was the only sort-off friend Rainer had in his containment?

Rainer were lost in these thoughts, never quite stopping the humming, while he approached his apartment door. So lost in fact, that he almost did not notice the girl standing right next to door.

"Hi." She greeted first, a second after his eyes met hers, averting the gaze right after.

She was a teenager, like him. Wait was he a teen? He certainly felt older after the "Wish-Granter" got into his mind... But he also felt younger than everyone around him, thanks to his lack of life experience -

Identity issues later. Girl now! He shook of his the trail of thought, deciding to focus on the person in front of him.

She must be high-shool age and wore casual clothing which could only be described as meek, and distinctly out of place in the rapidly warming spring weather; A baggy long sleeve windbreaker large enough to cover even the tips of her fingers fought for dominance with an equally baggy set of cargo pants reaching down to smoother her footwear in folds of cloth. Her face was equally hidden behind her black, wavy hair, and the reflective glare of a pair of glasses tried to hide what her hair did not.

Although he could not distinguish her feature pretty well, he took of her as oddly familiar. The hair maybe ?

"Uhm... Hi?" Good start! He searched his rusty social-skills for what one would normally say next. " You...uhh... You are new in the building?" Not smooth, but appropriate he guessed.

"No." The monosyllabic answer was all he got before they resumed the awkward silence.

Should... Should I say something else? He wondered as the silence spread. The only comfort to be found was that the girl seemed to be even more nervous with the interaction than he was

"I…" She started… and apparently forgot the rest of whatever she wanted to say. It looked like she tried to say something again and again, but nothing came out as she stopped before even a syllable was uttered. Her face lowered with each unsuccessful try, and she ended up looking straight down at the floor.

"You... want to talk to me?" He asked, trying to contribute the best that could.

"I ... I wanted to..." She stoped, biting her libs, seeming to ponder what exactly she should say. It took a little while before she finally looked me in the eyes - probably for the first time - and said, loud and clear : " I wanted to thank you for saving my life!" she exclaimed, Rainer stared, more silence "... and maybe ta-talk to you, I guess." she added, eyes returning to the stared more

" Okay... I saved your life how exactly." A bit rude, but he needed to play safe. If he had saved this girl in his many escapades of heroism he could not guess how she knew his real face - He was never unmasked, never worked to close from home, and almost never even spoke to the people he rescued... So, how?

" Apparently... you dropped a gallon of tranquilizer in a dragons' guts? " She offered.

~ 3 Days Before ~

" I dropped a gallon of tranquilizer in a dragons' guts." Rainer answered casually.

"What?" The girl in a dog mask asked, angry.

"He can open portals and drop stuff from them. He even can open them inside solid objects- Can Drop anything straight into a persons stomach, brains, heart, or anywhere... Guess you are the merciful type?" The blond girl asked.

"Well I do not have anything against reading the world of some kinds of monsters... But this guy? I do not think he is there yet."

The girl's expression changed briefly before returning to a sort of smile

" well -" The blond clapped her hands." - It was great meeting you, but we got to go!"

The guy in black leathers moved closer to the her.

"Aren't we going to..." "Not now. I'll explain later. Company is coming soon." They whispered to each other.

" Lets go !" He told his crew, each hopping in one giant-beast thing.

"What about..." Rainer could see the apparent leader pointing to the girl who was controlling the bugs." Neither." The blond complemented, maybe she was the one calling the shots.

Without another world the the quartet left in their monsters.

With the team out of site Rainer and the bug girl contemplated each other.

" You... are you... " The girl fumbled for words before spitting. "Are you a Hero?"

Rainer cocked his head, although she probably could not see it because of the hood and the mask." Well yeah." he stated what he thought as obvious. " You?"

" Yes. But..." She shifted her weight between legs as he saw many girls do when nervous."... Those guys just now-" Before she could finish a armored individual in a cool siffy bike landed a few feet away from them.

"Keterman !" Armsmaster yelled, clearly not very friendly.

" Oh Shit! Got to scram. Bye!" Was the only thing Rainer got a chance to say before calling for a "Out of here, Now!" portal.

~ At the Apartment's Door ~

"Heh heh... so you are the bug girl?" Rainer asked embarrassed. The brunette nodded, still looking nervous. " Hope Discount-Iron man was not to harsh on you because of me."

"Iron man?"

"Comics hero-Forget it. Just... Sorry for not taking you with me."

The girl seemed to access him for a moment before saying : "Mind If I come in... To talk?"

Without skipping a beat he answered : " Not at all! Come in, let's have some coffee."