++++++++ Chapter 6 : Honesty
Morty served himself a dose of what Taylor was guessing was Whiskey. She wanted to comment on it but refrained from nagging thanks to the tension in her friend's posture.
"Jack Slash, Heartbreaker, String Theory... those guys are angry kids yelling uninspired shit on Twitter. " His gaze was distant, as If remembering something from decades ago while still just being 15. " It was not just a matter of power... He was so casual about it all. Killing 1000 was the equivalent of running over a cat with your car for him."
. " And hurting those around him... To cut my arm off and regrow it again for the sake of a poker bet was supposed to be brushed off as one brushes off taking 100 bucks from a friend's wallet without asking." He took a large portion of the cup in one gulp. " And for the longed time I did. I brushed it of and forgave."
Taylor did not know what to say... that was... unbelievable. Yet those eyes did not betray any lie.
" It was all so... What was the fucking word... Routine? The point was that this was my life and I knew nothing else. It was normal for me
It was just me and him since I was 5. Until this day I am not sure If he killed my parents and sister or If their death was a normal accident like he told me."
Reaching out he took the bottle and drink straight out of it. " I was 12 when I ran away from it. 14 when I managed to actually run from it for good. Run to beyond the territory he and his kind built. "
Morty served another one on the cup he had used and offered it to Taylor. She just took it.
" I have been in this Earth for less than a year. Mostly I do Scientific research and Odd Jobs for a community of Multiversal Capes. They are the kind that are involved and both hero- society and a bunch of Fedora wearing secrecy. Not villains If you are wondering."
He stopped talking for a few instants, looking at nothing, before reaching into his pocket. Out of it he took his eyepatch and threw it to Taylor. " The other, more meaningful side of this new life is trying to experience what it is to have a normal adolescence."
"The guy that sent Lisa..."
" Oh, he is just a local Brockton Bay dickhead that thinks his the next Lex Luthor. Kidnapping and blackmailing people who he thinks will be useful is his second most preferred hobby after lying his ass out and using his powers to torture people in alternative quantum simulations."
She froze dead still for a second." He..."
" Hmn? Wha- no he is not doing it with us right now! I - argh... Look he is not a treat I got his magic trick solved 2 day a after learning what it was, and I got 4 workaround plans to make sure he will not do anything ... so just - just chill."
He put a hand on her shoulder and he relaxed a bit" So... Are we safe ? You, me, my dad?"
" Yeah ... I will talk with the group I have been working with, they will deal with him." He lied, not that she would ever find it. " I mean, I can stay with you and Danny for a few days If you want. To make sure, but I am sure they will deal with
him in 2 or 3 days tops."
Taylor remained silent after this staring at her hands pressed tensely at her lap. For a minute or two they just stay silent loke that. He drinking, slouched over the couch, and she tensely ruminated all the new info.
Her next question far from what her Genius friend was expecting.
" What is it like?" When he did not answer she elaborated. " Having powers I mean... You seem to just... have lived so much, know so much, be able to do so much ... What is it like?"
He smiled one of his calm smiles and looked he straight in the eyes. She always wondered what he was thinking when he smiled like that. It was such a normal thing yet felt so out of place in his young dorkish face. Sometimes it makes her feel like she was a child being looked down by an old man.
" It feels like being a functional junkie...
... It feels like having something that makes reality feel amazing at first but after a while, it becomes more of a necessity than a power. The greatness of the extraordinary becomes something you use to scape yourself ... and yeah it still feels good, like, once every 6 times, but others it just feels like something o do to feel ok and 2 every 6 it feels like shit..."He took one more gulp of his bottle, slouching again.
She ... That... she would have to think about that. Probably sleep on it too. She took a gulp at the cup she had in her hand for the first time.
"But hey !" He got up fast, startling her. " There is no need to feel bad today. In fact, today I am feeling quite good... " He said walking at the direction of his lab's elevator.
She cocked her head at him and he looked back at her over his shoulder, " Because today I actually managed to have a drink and cry on the shoulder of my best friend. "
She stared for bit before chuckling and following him. " I only drank because you would look bad killing a bottle on your own..."
