"Who Are You?"
Word Woman asked again, the edge in her voice clear and warning. She glared into the visor and took a good long look at the armored man infront of her. Silver, almost white armor that gleamed in the summer sun, offset by dull matte grey iron rivet arms that were the joins between each major body part, His face looked like something shes see on an old tv show for tri-colored uniform teenagers only with a matching grey iron fin that went along tge top of his head and a mouth gaurd that was just a few air slits with what looked like a matte dust catcher underneith. Word Woman whipped her eyes to the mans arm as she heard its power go down, mechanisms inside began to whirl and out popped a matching grey hand to his right one, she watched both fly to the sides of his head flat and spread apart as he shook his head.
"friendly! im friendly!" the electrontically covered voice gasped, Word Woman raised a brow, and nudged the mans armor still holding onto him
"that doesnt really sound like a name" She heard him gulp from inside the armor..who the heck was this guy? She shook him again "You have anything to do with the recent robot attacks?" she asked, the man seemed taken a back and was about to answer when some voices in the crowd spoke up.
"whos he?"
"dunno but did you see that blaster?"
"yhea what he said"
"dude that was fucking sick!"
"yhea but who is he?"
"what is he is a better question"
"he another robot?"
Word Woman lowered her fist and turned her head to see small crowd people of Fair City begin to pour out of the Barrage, some excited some curious, others cautious. Mixed bag of reactions especially seeing as Word Woman, their protector, holding the shiny robotic man by his neck almost. Slowly the crew of the Barrage also began to pop their heads out, following more people from surrounding store fronts that took shelter. Now, all eyes were on the pair of heroes dead in the middle if the street. The Silver man seemed a little on edge as he looked around at the crowd and increasing eyes that latched onto him.
"..My Name is Titan!" he blurted out, making the superheroine pause, the newcomer took note and quickly began, "Im a hero- ...im a NEW hero i should say" he corrected himself and leaned away "i...today wasnt suppose to be my test run but i saw the trouble that was going on and the big, Thing and uh...well" he kinda guestered his head around them. Giving a nervous chuckle as Word Woman began to slowly look around at the charred shriveled up goop of the metal men "i seized the moment?" he said shrugging, but Word Woman didnt seem all that entertained by it.
"of all the times you pick to show up you decided when enemy robots began popping up now would be a good time?" She asked curiously, the helmet bobbed up and down vigorously.
"yes- i mean no- i mean... ...ha i, i just wanted to lend a hand okay?" Titan nervously let out, his hands still up beside his head "i have no clue about those other robots but I'm a good one i swear-" he dropped his hand to his chest, making everyone flinch and watch as he drew an X over his heart "cross my heart". Word Woman looked at him curiously for a moment as the crowd went silent. Word Woman looked to the faces around her, all scared and hiding a minute ago and only came out when Titan helped clear the way for her...
"You did get rid of the Metal men i couldn't get too, And you did stop the big one from wrecking the Ba- the store right there," she said and let go as she pointed her head to the Barrage, Titan sounding like an old whirring toy as he rubbed his suit briefly to see of Word Woman had left a dent with the grip she had on him. The crowd looking relieved but now awkward at the silence until they saw their hero glance and them beam her iconic smile
"hey come on everyone. dangers over! why not give the new guy a warm welcome and get back to our days?" She insisted "for now anyway" she added smiling and geny floated out of the middle of the circle and leaving Titan to fend for himself as the crowd began to descend om him asking questions "gah- ah Word Woman? your just gonna leave me here?"
Word Woman smirked "consider if initiation, let the people be the judge of you then ill see if your really that trustworthy, THEN i can decide for myself to trust you or not"
"b-but!" the synthetic voice tried to call for her but Word woman only gave a quick hand salute and blasted off.
"are you alien?"
"where'd you come from?"
"You know the original Titan?"
Titan reeled and almost sounded like he whimpered inside his armored shell as the crowd closed in on him with their phones on and flashing for pictures.
Meanwhile a few miles above Word Woman frowned as she whinced holding her side, God those punches hurt. Things haven't hurt in a good while, but she was thankful she could atleast ignore the sore pain long enough to smile for her citizen's.. but these robots...their something else. Something bad..
She will have to deal with it later, for now "where is she.." the heroine muttered and narrowed her eyes to the streets. Searching for Lady Redundant Woman, she looked over maybe a block or two before she felt her eyes sting, blinking and squinting she strained to keep her eyes open and focus but. Her vision only got blurry. Growling Word Woman closed them tight and resisted the itching urge to scratch, she doesn't know what the Robot was made or or what got in her eyes but she wasn't willing to find out anytime soon. Word Woman shook her head, tried to focus and grunted in annoyence as she got more blurry. This is wrong. What's wrong with her vision?
"better get grounded before it gets worse," Word Woman sighed, her shoulders lowering as she flew a few blocks from the Barrage and in an alley away from people before patting her star. Becky sighed and began to look herself over, comfy jeans, work out hoodie...new bruises on her side...yep. Becky Botsford. again.
She zipped up her hoodie in favor of not having the purple bruises on her sides being seen from her tanktop and shoved her hands in her pockets, feeling her phone brush against her fingers, she lazily picked it out and feeling it buzz softly with texts she didn't see yet from epeoole. or rather. one very annoying goblin little brother.
What greeted Becky back to her phone was a series of texts reading
"hey, you up?"
"dick"
"if you went out just say so"
"you have me on silent again you jerk?"
"Hey awnser"
"you finally going our with your BF yet?"
"if your at the store get me some nuggets"
"dick"
"dick"
it just kept repeating the one word "Dick" on her phone for the next 15 messages.
Becky frowned and flicked her brother to silent as she walked to the Barrage, knowing the streets and sidewalks like the back of her hand Becky didn't even have to look up as she sent back a novel length text telling her brother the definition of his cussing to get him to stop, She did wish she hadn't stared at the screen for so long though, once she looked up everything looked, off. Everything looked hazy, almost distorted, it gave her a headache. Becky almost lost her balance at a sudden rush of dizziness but kept it thanks to her resting her hand on a wall.
"you doing okay there?" the narrator asked, the familiar voice felt a bit conforting to hear, especially now. Becky just nodded her head
"yhea...yhea I'm fine"
"you don't seem fine-"
"I SAID IM FINE" Becky snapped, forcing her eyes open as she gritted her teeth and gripped the brick wall that was her support. Grateful no one was around, not only because of her outburst just then but also because her gripping the wall made bits of it crumble and fall apart in her hand. Becky widen her stance, and stayed as she was with a scowl on her face for a brief moment. Waiting for her vision to come back but settled for her dizziness to fade away and kept walking. Though everything looked hazy still, she knew the city too well for anything to catch her off gaurd. Well. Everything but the crowd of people standing around a news report van. Atleast judging by the dish ontop of the van it was a news report van. Titan seemed to be shuffling in his feet as a beaming bright eyed reporter had her mic close up to him, but it only sent a sharp feedback into the audio and made everyone, especially Becky cringe at the sound as she made her way around the crowd, putting her phone away and rolling up her sleeves.
"damn it, sorry" the reporter apologized, and whinced as she backed up away from Titan, "a-ah no sorry my bad this guard doesn't help much does it?" he asked, "uh I can remove it?" but the reporter looked at him wide eyed "no no no no don't do that!" she almost yelled "I mean, being a hero and all we can't just have you revealing your identity on the first day-" "I wont?..I just have to do this" he tilted his head quickly to the left and the guard was pulled into his mask like a door, leaving a nervous smile poking out from under the helmet "does this help?" he asked leaning into the mic, no feedback, the sound man gave him a relieved expression and a thumbs up, "huh, now thats intresting" the reporter hummed "so your voice stays like that even without the gaurd?"
"yes," Titan nodded "I designed it so no matter what filters you put on no one will ever find who I am" he smiled, even the camera man seemed to swoon along with members of the crowd, but this only seem to make Titan shift his feet more uncomfortably while the reporter turned back to the camera smiling "would you look at that the new guy already has a fan club!..tell me, Titan? You dont look or even sound like the OG Titan we all knew from the 60s-" Titan opened his mouth to speak but didn't, his voice catching in his throat until the reporter looked like she was waiting for what he had to say "ah, uh no I'm not the original, Titan, however the man was of great influence in me Choosing this name..the name Titan has been retired for as long as the original has, and I wish that, I can truely live up to the mans legacy and his mark on the world..." he gave a sheepish laugh and guestered generally to his chest "uh otherwise I may need a sander and paint for a new name"
Becky smirked a bit as she watched the new hero get a chuckle out of the crowd, but still was a bit tense and unsure, just barely getting his feet wet with the attention her City was giving him for the time being. She didnt trust him. Not just yet- "Yo Beck!" Jacki's voice called, making Becky shift her feet and look over to the skater girl waving her arm grinning and hopping up and down excitedly as Becky returned the wave and made her way over, Omar and Angel on either side of Jacki raising their phones above their heads to get shots of Titan and his interview as it went on.
"Dang girl you got either the worst or best timing ever- check it out!" she exitedly pointed to Titan "new hero on the block!"
Angel smiled over, on his tiptoes he could barely manage a shot over the crowd "and he's a power rangers fan by the look of that gear he has on. Talk about retro". Becky giggled "really? think it's retro?" She asked, lifting her head over the crowd just as Titan softly smiled and waved gently to the surrounding citizens. "I dunno, style looks familiar to me but I can't put my finger on it-"
Sting.
it felt sharp and sudden but she reached down for her arm whincing, looking at her right arm, after having rolled up her sleeve, she could now see a large bruise forming from earlier that she failed to notice. Not sure if it was the big metalman or the normal ones but either way man it was Stinging right now. It felt a bit like it was burning. "Hey you ok...oh my God what the hell-" "woah" Jacki and Angel both looked at Becky and cringed at the site of the bruise. Omar took note of their reaction, looked and went wide eyed "what happen to your arm?" he asked, Omar almost yelled but his voice was hushed as Jacki went closer and moved Becky's arm gently, making the heroine whince.
"oof that looks nasty-"
"it's fine, honest" Becky forced out, smiling and pulled her arm back "I was coming over here when I ran into some metal men so i had to fight a few of them off".
Wasnt entirely a lie. but now she felt like she made a mistake smiling throughbthe pain with the crew as it didnt remove the concern looks on the Barrages face. They look at each other then back at her
"you ran into the metal men?" Omar asked
"You Fought the metal men?" Jacki asked
"by yourself!?" Angel asked, seeming more alarmed he accidentally raised his voice, and caught a few peoples attention. "SHHHH" Becky shush, looking alarmed now and waved her other hand at the smaller boy "Angel! don't have to shout that!"
Angel frowned "yhea i do- Beck look at the bruise!" he hissed back but at a softer volume. "that doesnt matter i-"
"it doesnt matter?" the Barrage all asked in what sounded like a furious toned unison making Becky take a step back out of surprise.
The group didnt really realize that the crowd had parted and now a black gloved shiny armored hand reached out to them "m..may i see it?" Becky looked at the hand, then grabbed her bruise protectively and pulled it close to her looking up and seeing Titan. The hero pulled back "sorry?" Becky asked but was dismiessed by Titan shaking his head "may i see your arm please? couldnt help but over hear, but you were hurt by the metal men earlier?" Becky was slow to respond, she just looked at Titan suspiciously, when he pled back his hand a little Becky noticed how many eyes were on her and nodded.
"i was," Becky sighed but looked annoyed as she showed her arm "but it wasnt anything serious really, its just a bruise. its nothing for everyone to be so worried about"
ouch
Becky heard a few voices whince from the crowd, blinking as she looked from her bruise to the parts of the crowd that paid attention, most of them genuinly looked horrified at the size of the bruise while the rest turned around to see if they could get on the news camera. She didnt feel much alarm over it, but the bruise was all the way from jsut under her wrist to her elbow, the whole thing almost looked like a gradient of red over her skin and even her knuckles seemed bruise but she didnt even notice that until she turned her arm over to look at the bruise better.
Titan's lips tighten to a frown, he gingerly reached his hand out again, wordlessly asking if he may see Beckys arm. Only now with so many eyes on her she felt more inclined to do so, which she did. Titan gently took her arm, gingerly turning Beckys arm to not make her whince "even if you say its nothing, someone as beautiful as you should never have such a mark on her skin" Titan muttered softly. Becky was taken a back by this, for sure feeling a rush of heet go up her cheeks but before she could ask any questions the silver hero raised his hand, and out popped a ray similar to what she saw earlier on his other hand but no claw at the end, and glowed white instead of blue. Becky swallowed and planted her feet firmly on the ground ready to sock Titan in his mouth, consequences be damned, but waited and saw the beam give a low hum as Titan ran the light over Becky's arm, coating it in a warm white light. once the lighg moved on there was a dark matte blue brace bandage with a white strip over where the light all around Beckys arm, feeling cold, almost freezing on her skin once Titan stopped using his light on her.
Titan smiled "its only good till you can get checked out better, but the brace should keep your bruise from getting much worse for now". Becky looked up at Titan curiously, then her arm and gently stroked the brace in surprise, not realizing Titan still had his other hand directly underneath her arm. Titan smiled, gingerly moving his hand to take Beckys which also now in a brace, and bend down to give a quick soft kiss on her knuckles, taking everyone watching by surprise while Becky went wide eyed. Titan looked up at her and smiled as he pulled back, seeing her flustered expression in his visor Becky would have kicked herself had she not stood infront of so many people.
"let's try not to get any more bruises until then okay lovely?" he asked, letting go of her hand and standing at his full height again, he waved at the crowd behind him "that being said I really must be going!" he knocked his head to the side and pulled his hatch over his mouth, he looked over everyone, and cleared his throat.
"..okay bye" Titan awkwardly said and began to run down the street, Becky almost thought he WALKED here until she saw bright blue and white flames kick up under the silver heroes feet and sending him flying in the air. Watching after Titan as he flew up and overhead and away, Becky felt two massive hands poke her shoulders as Omar stepped in front of her, completely covering her with his mass as Jacki and Angel came up behind then quickly dragged her into the Barrage.
"Michelle! hey real quick you wanna hear some on the ground level stories of fighting robots!" Omar's voice asked cheerfully. Likely to avoid the reporter from pursuing Becky and questining her on Titan, the reporter took the bait Happily and almost bounced over to Omar mic in hand "Oh! Yes please that sounds like an A survival story" "oh let me tell you, it is" Omar laughed. He sounded almost forceful with it though but Becky couldn't tell as she was dragged into the theature room by Angel and Jacki.
"Uh guys? can you let g-"
"nuh uh" Jacki said and looked like she wanted to push Becky on the beanbag couch has she not thought it might hurt her further
"your laying down Beck, all of us are lucky we had each other with the metal men, you were on your own. You should rest a bit" Angel insisted, shifting Becky's weight from him to the beanbag to guide the girl over. Becky still resisted, at first wanting to get up right away but feeling the soft comforting beanbag envelope her made that resistance weaker. The sleepless night and the hectic day from before finally getting to her, but she groaned trying to stay awake, "i get that but please, i still have a lot left to do"
Becky made one final attempt to get up, she only sat up and looked at Jacki crossing her arms staring at her with a dead expression "You were literally about to pass out Yesterday, cus of a headache. but a hit from a metal man is where your ok?" she asked, Becky chuckled nervously, "uhh...yes?"
Jacki only narrowed her eyes and stayed planted infront of Becky to stop her from getting up, eventually making the heroine sigh and give up "ok ok ill lay down..." she surrendered, rifling for her phone once again. Becky only saw the lock screen photo of her Tobey Violet and Scoops briefly before Jacki swiped up the phone from her grasp and lightly tossed it to the girls side. Becky stared at her hand briefly in disbelief and then look at Jacki. The skater girl gave a shrug, lifting her hand Jakci made a showing guester, like she was trying to get the other to fall asleep already. With a frown now clear on her face, Becky pulled her hoodie over her head and pulled the strings to close.
"let's try not to get any more bruises until then okay beautiful?" Titan asked as he rose from kissing the newly patched girl's hand
... vrrrvm
"let's try not to get any more bruises until then okay beautiful?" Titan asked as he rose from kissing the newly patched girl's hand
...vrrrvm
"let's try not to get any more-"
smack
Titan groaned to himself as he landed on a radio station rooftop, his chest plugged into the satellites the new hero watched the newsfeed over and over and over again. Groaning and cringing at his own actions as he began to hit his head on the base of the station next to the control panel.
"you REALLY didnt think that through did you?"
...
...
Titan sighed, yanking his cord out of the panel
"...only thought one part of it through"
"Jessie! loving the make up. new eyeliner?"
the girl beamed "oh! you noticed?" A petite woman with black hair and a goth attire resting just barely above her eyes asked, blushing and holding a robot model kit
"of course! oh! John, i finally found a copy of that volume youve been looking for man, it was 22 right?"
"you didnt" a young man with a rather bushy yet patchy chin gapped in surprise, putting back a dvd he had in his hands.
"ah but i did, its in the library on the left shelf"
The young man beamed, as he saw Omar smile brightly, turning to see someone else new come in and wave them down "hey Carter! good to see you back in town, plants are all watered up and have the fertilizer all nice and fresh"
Jacki meantime stared in amazement with bags under her eyes, holding herself up by her forehead and her elbows resting on the table, still tired from yesterday's whole mess. while her eyes trailed Omar through out the shop. Omar hadnt even sat down yet and he was zooming around the shop greeting everyone like they were old high school classmates, his friendly smile and simple quick conversations distracting people long enough to not realize he was either stacking something or removing something from tge shelves. Jacki got winded just looking at the workflow infront of her then looked down at her phone, for what? the security camera of the currently locked backroom of the barrage.
Normally. Only people back there are the robitic kids on the weekend. But often it was Tobey who occupied the space. Second to the junkyard, you'd never mind him anywhere else, he probably wouldn't even be home ever it wasnt for the fact Omar would close shop soon as nightfall it, sunset, barrage closed. They had heard Tobey was with Becky the day before yesterday, and seen him in the news but him not even bothering to pop his head in during all that was bothersome.
Jacki continued to watch, taking a sip of soda from her left.
"h-hey!" Angel whined, helplessly watching the skater take a huge chug of his drink, "damn it- Jacki come on this is the last grape soda"
he took it back to the moment she was done drinking from it, "oh come on you know I'll buy you a case of some later-"
"you already owe me 5 shipments" Angel sighed, examining his soda. Then the pale boy set it further to his side while cracking open a Dungeons and Dragons monster book that was in his spare hand, he guestered to Jacki's phone.
"you should turn that off..." Angel muttered "i don't think Tobes would appreciate knowing his friends are literally checking cameras to see if hes come back yet."
Jacki frowned "i mean i know but..."
Angel was quiet then put the grape soda in front of Jacki before putting his hand on her phone and clicking the off button. "...just for a bit..."
Jacki frowned, staring at the black screen reflection when she felt Angel kick her leg lightly "hey dont zone out just yet, your still stuck doing inventory checks, I don't want another matcha mochi incident," Angel shuttered, trying to lightly the mood "so much mochi...so many hipsters"
"pfff-" Jacki tried to hold in her laugh looking at her friend, his expression was a mix of trauma of the incident and his attempt to getting Jacki focused once more, "fine but Someone's checking on the beanpole hide out later"
"that would be my job," Omar chuckled, seemingly only having over heard the mochi part of the conversation only and placed a heafty box of inventory infront of the two, then gave the top a pat "I need to find stuff in the back. Man the store...raise the theature volume too if ya can. pretty quiet"
The two sighed, then raised their hands in a silly mock saulte that one can only find in the Barrage employees,
"got it" Angel replied
"ehhhhhhh" Jacki groaned, sounding more like a dying monster in a game then a human getting up to work.
Omar smiled, clapped his hands and started to back away "awesome. I expect the place to still be in one piece" and with that he made his way to the back- well not directly. The giant man actually doubled back to the snack isle and brought with him a lemon soda, the same kind that Tobey so generously poured on Toman's face a month ago. Then once again made his way for the back.
What greeted the large man was anything but a warm welcoming smile like he would get outside. Instead Omar was met with dead silence, the same as he had the Past month already. It felt strange, replacing a warm full bottle of soda instead of an empty one. He always left Something here for Tobey, a snack a drink. Always came back to it drunken or empty, always replace it fresh next day. Omar frowned a bit, Tobey has always been difficult and closed off, but didn't get this bad.
"always wondered if those snacks self generated or if i was just always that oblivious," Omar blinked, then looked up at the back door just as Tobey closed it behind him sheepishly "hey Omar.."
...
...
Omar straighten himself out, Tobey braced himself for what he thought was going to be a scolding like from Becky on how he went silent, but when Omar didn't say anything and started walking towards him. Tobey peeked open an eye just in time for Omar to slam his hand over Tobey's head, ruffling his neat hair and giving a welcoming smile "well look at that, you finally got a hair cut, you actually look like a person now! was begining to think some kinda rat man replaced you when i wasnt looking" Omar chuckled, messing it up even more. The man grinned as he basically gave Tobey a noogie and watched the scrawny teen squirm for freedom "hey cut it out!" Tobey pushed Omar's hand off him, but he laughed. To Omar Tobey was a lot like a feral cat that let you pet him on occasion before getting sick of it. This was one of those examples.
"I thought for sure you were going to let it grow out longer," Omar chuckled, "or at least fix it up nicer not chop 80% of it off"
Tobey shoved Omar off with a groan "yes well..it wasn't really my choice..."
Omar raised a brow "not your choice? what someone make you cut it?"
Tobey froze, his mind raced a bit. Omar doesn't know about his father being here yet "...sort of uh... Botsford" he nodded "she chose this haircut for me the other day and i didn't disagree..."
wasn't exactly a lie.
"oooooooh~...ok," crap "so your girlfrien- sorry your assistant. Had a hand in this little transformation of yours...i see"
annoyed Tobey ran a hand over his face and felt himself turning red "f-for the millionth time it isn't like that"
Omar perked up more "no but i think that's the first time I've seen you that shade of red"
"...I'm leaving"
Tobey turned on his heel frowning and trying to avoid eye contact but Omar only laughed as he grabbed his shoulder "ey come on, ill stop ill stop"
Stopping in his place, Tobey took a moment to collect himself and waited the burning feeling on his face to go down, then turned back around reluctantly. The larger of the pair waved him in "guessing you've been busy" "...you could say that" Tobey sighed, moving already to a banged up and worn down stool that had to be duct taped to keep the stuffing inside, "you know i could always order you a new stool, couldn't be much trouble cus-"
"i know a guy"
"i know a guy" Tobey echoed the last bit in unison, even deepening his voice to line up closer to Omar's.
Omar paused, looking at a smirking Tobey with a bit of a pout "you know if you were a little more social you'd know a few too" he grumbled. Turning his back to Tobey as he began to do what he actually came in the back for, and that was look through some boxes on the shelves for model sets to restock. Tobey in the meantime, awkwardly chuckled, playing with the fresh drink that was beside him in his boney hands, he shook his head "no, i think I'm fine with the handful i do know..."
...
"I'm sorry" Tobey sighed his shoulders dropping a little but his face still showed anxious tension "i...when i was with Botsford the other day and, i realized i may have been a bit cold in how i went silent..Even if i believe my reasons were justifiable, doesn't mean it was right, or that i had to make the sudden dr-" "ey ey ey...Tobey," Omar eased, trying to cut between Tobey's words, the boy didn't even realized he was rushing them out, Omar raised a hand up, then gently down
"breath. Just for a second breath ok?"
Tobey went quiet, and Omar repeated his hand motion.
Hand up, Tobey breathed in.
held it.
Hand down, Tobey breathed out, as did Omar nodding. "there we go, no need to lose your head just apologizing...Beck is probably the one who deserves it more then me ...already know you well enough, i know your smart enough to try and stay out of trouble, probably needed a break from everything since the robot attacks. So i get it. You dont gotta apologize" he smiled, robot model in his hand he tapped Tobeys knee with the edge of the box "now drink that soda while it's still cold"
Tobey stared at Omar a moment, then gave a scoff as he opened the soda smiling very lightly.
After taking a sip he looked over at Omar raising a brow "soooo explain why i should apologize to Botsford?" he asked, mindlessly swirling the fizzy drink lightly in his hand "correct me if i am wrong but she basically hunted me down for a full month before the other day...my lovely assistant was rather clingy"
Omar bobbed his head in reluctant agreement, "listen Jacki may disagree but id say it was more protective then clingy Tobes..ey she was actually really worried man. She knows you well enough to know you don't have the best care for yourself," Tobey glanced away at that but Omar didn't notice and continued his work "hell itself probably would have backed away with the war path she was on looking for you...think you really scared her man"
Tobey bit the inside of his cheek, light blush aside, a sharp pulse from in his chest made him spin. Hurting anyone he cares about now a days sent him to his knees with nausea, and that was no different here. Tobey stared at the concreat floor in silence, took a silent breath in. Then out. He brought the soda to his lips but suddenly now lost the will to drink it. Hell, he didn't even taste anything on his tongue now, just numbness as he felt a pressure grow on his shoulders and wrap around him. He dismissed her worry so easily...yet even Omar was able to notice the stress he indirectly put on Becky's shoulders in the small time frame he attempted to cut contact..
did he really cause her so much worry?
Did he worry her often like this?
...
...
"-y the way, did you hear about yesterday?" Omar's voice asked, jarring Tobey back from his mind to the barrage once more, the dark cloud that was hanging over his face lifted slightly but still rung in the back of his head "Fair City's got a new hero in town!" Omar grinned "we even got a glimpse of him the other day, dude totally saved our asses"
Tobey raised a brow, "really now?-" he asked and leaned away as Omar jumped around and aimed his arm similar to how Titan did yesterday "Bam Bam Bam" he hopped around and aimed a different way "Bam Bam Bam!" Omar grinned and struck the pose Titan took when he stopped firing "there were these metal freaks everywhere and "Bam!" he laughed "dude took em all out while Word Woman beat the hell out of a huge one that almost took out the shop. A Real superhero team up in front of the store, can you believe that?"
Tobey smirked and gave a small laugh, Omar was acting like a little kid, jumping about like he was in a tv show making sound effects as he shot invisible metal men. Word Woman had been around most Tobey's life, and yet the chance of seeing her in action up close the first time AND a new hero made the muscular man jump around like he just met Santa Claus face to face. "you seriously missed out on it Tobes," Tobey laughed "sounds like it" he looked at the soda again in his hand and began to drink it.
"Actually feel like new guy even has Beck all crushing in him, she was blushing up a storm when he bend down and kissed her hand and called her lovely like some kinda cheesy storybook knight..but actually that is kind of fitting i guess cus her name is Bots- dude!" Omar sprung a bit towards Tobey who began to choke midway Omar's sentence on his soda, dropping nearly half of it on the floor as he hacked and coughed it out as Omar patted him on the back, Tobey gripped the table behind him as he did because Omar's patting made it so much worse.
Fumbling to stand Tobey nodded and tried to wack Omar and get away from him as his coughing eased standing up, "o- " he coughed between his words "k, i think I'm good I'm good" he coughed and tapped his throat "wrong pipe, is all"
Omar sighed "dude you gotta stop chugging it like that"
Tobey nodded and put the bottle of soda down "sorry, ill clean it up" Tobey cleared his throat
"no. You will not"
Tobey froze... and the blood in his veins turned to ice as he raised his head.
"you have business elsewhere Theodore"
...
"Shit.."
"manners young man," Mr. McCallister warned, not a hint of emotion in his voice as he spoke, door wide open behind him "vulgar words are unnecessary..." He looked over at Omar, distant, then gave a warm smile like he had given to Tobey's assistant a few days back "you are the stores owner correct? Forgive my intrusion, but may I have a word with my son?"
Omar frowned, uneased by the quick change in tone and expression the older man had, and then quickly threw those nerves out the window when he looked at Tobey barely holding it together enough to not shake. "uh..." his eyes flickered to his left the models he still needed to unboxed "sorry i still have work to do here.." he began to step towards the boxes.
Mr McCallister frowned, and in an instant, Tobey reached his arm up to stop his friend "its'...probably something important Omar, private family matter...would you mind?" Tobey gestured lightly towards the front entrance, Omar stared at him a moment, glancing at the younger boys father he narrowed his eyes. "10 minutes tops..."
"..." Omar didn't say anything, he didn't Want to leave. But he only looked at Tobey briefly to scan his expression before he started to back away, staring down Mr McCallister as he nodded, "10 minutes and I'm back here again.." he said. Leaving out the door still facing them as he left and closed the door behind him as Tobey watched.
...
...
"your friend seems nice" Mr McCallister said, again dropping his warm tone like a hat.
Tobey sighed, stiffly turning towards his father "Father i-"
Mr McCallister smoothly walked over to Tobey, and grabbed the boy by his face "ran off. Is what you did," he frowned "you are making it rather difficult to reign you in now a days Theodore..." his grip tighted around Tobey's face as he lifted the boy's head up, even lifting him off his feet as Tobey gripped onto his fathers arm trying to shake his head out of his grasp but no luck. He may aswell have been fighting a machine "are you doing that on purpose?" "ngh"
Tobey could only let small, little grunts out as he tried to get away, tried to breath, but his father gave him no leeway for what felt like eternity. Then Mr McCallister dropped him, allowing Tobey to fall to the floor and barely catch himself so he didn't land flat on his face and instead just stumbled to a kneel holding his face tight. God it hurt, the feeling of his neck about to be ripped of his own shoulders, and the tight painful pinch that stung his jaw and cheeks. Hurt like hell-
"no matter, if you really are going to disrupt my plans with you for today then i think a talk with your mother is appropriate...i still have yet to have a proper chat with her since my arrival after all.." the older mans face sured a bit in thought "hm...though im rather lookinf forward to being with my Beauty without you around though...maybe your friend from the other day then? Rebecca Botsford was it? seemed like a lovely young lady..should i chat with her about your behavior instead?"
Tobey's eyes flew up
...
he never told his Father Becky's first name.
Staring in rage at his father for a split second Tobey flinched at the cold gaze staring him down again.
"...no?"
"...I," Tobey trailed off briefly then looked at the ground only for his eyes to flicker back up in fear so he could look his father in the eye as he spoke to avoid further annoying him "...i apologize. I'll cause you no further trouble for today.."
"...excellent use of your words Theodore...lucky for you. I won't be needing your uses again until next week. I need you to memorize those blueprints Perfectly, and do not leave out so much as a screw from your memory...thanks to your little project being of some actual use for once, it may actually do well"
Tobey frowned and gritted his teeth as he watched his fathers back turn to him, "they were of use before, were they not?" he asked
Mr McCallister paid his son no mind as he opened the door that he came in, fully expecting Tobey to follow "only somewhat, the range is limited...with the patronage we will be catering to however its of even better use then what you planned"
Tobey couldn't help but shake with rage more and more as his shoulders tighten and he followed after his father "hurry up now..we don't have much time and i need you to be far less YOU when the meeting starts. Otherwise no one will even tolerate your presence"
"...for once we are in agreement"
...
Becky Botsford.
The newest civilian name on the gossip list. Was now stuck sitting up on the floor of her room, back against her door completely covered by her quilt as she doom scrolled social media. Absolutely horrorfied by the image of her face and the new Hero Titan.
"Fair Cities Trial run hero! Secret lover?"
"Return of an old name, with a new flame"
"Bot goes Buggy for Botsford-" Becky threw her phone across the room at that one and sounded like she was in pain as she pulled into the blanket more. 17 years. Perfectly out of the public eye for anything hero related, just a normal civilian. Now?
she's some new guys Love Interest?! She wasnt even asked about how she felt in all this! Becky sighed, flopping to the floor she rubbed her hands on her face and turned her body to face up at her ceiling. Bob gently cooing next to her in concern. Becky shook her head "im fine Bob...just .." she trailed off for a moment, trying to think of her words but let out a sharp breath "just need to get my mind off this"
Sitting up, Becky moved to have her hand touch her chest to word up, but Bob's hand stopped her and looked at her frowning as he chattered. Becky frowned and was about to yank her hand back but Bob kept it firmly on her and gave a stern squeek. Becky stood still a moment, then sighed falling back on her back.
"this would be Alot easier to understand if we understood you Bob"
Becky sighed "really? they cant understand him still?"
"hey dont blame me. blame the writer"
Becky rolled her eyes, but flinched. They still hurt. No idea what the Robot was made of. But whatever it was seriously messed up her eyes. even days after the fact she got little spurts of blurred vision and dizzy spells..occasionally she heard the strange sound that would ring in her head enough to make her double over in pain and her version only seemed to get worse at those times. But so far its only happened 2 times at random. and thankfully out of sight of anyone who would worry. still...
"Bob said that i should still hold off on being word woman for a bit. something about being her for too long and not feeling that great recently" Bob screeched "...okay for being her for about 3 days straight- but you Know thats only cus i had to catch Lady Redundant Woman" Bob folded his arms...
Becky sighed and surrenderd. laying down and pulling the blanket over her face again "just let me lie down then please...i dont wanna hear another word abou-"
Her door FLUNG open as a foot kicked it in, sending Bob screeching and running and Becky also yelling in shock briefly and having her fists up ready to punch someone before a newspaper was thrown at her face "Have you seen this!? Titan, new hero of the robo age', seriously? He JUST showed up," Scoops yelled, then began to pace around Beckys room "how the heck is he so popular? people cant be That into basically shiny glorified animatronic can they?" he asked frowning as he gave Becky's desk chair a light kick and huffed sitting down.
"Scoops for yours and the author's sake i really hope fans of shiny animatronics don't take what you said personally"
Becky took a moment to remove the newspaper from her face and frowned "oh nice to see you to Scoops, come in the doors open," she said dryly, Scoops looked at her in a very confused way, "im already in" he said plainly, like he didn't see the issue or catch the sarcasm.
...
Becky fought off the urge to facepalm and shook her head as she opened the newspaper, 'and I had a crush on him, why?' she thought to herself as her eyes flickered to the bottom corner. "Hey Tobey's in here" "yhea, its been like 3 days. they published my story with him helping Word Girl out" Becky frowned "Scoops it's Word Woman, i changed it like a year ago"
Scoops raised his hands "in my defence the first 16 of those years I was calling you word Girl, atleast I get it right on paper"
"...im not sure if that allows you a pass or not" Becky muttered then turned to read tge paper. Last she heard from Tobey was the other night when he had an all nighter, but strangely nothing yet on the news with Titan. you'd think that would be a topic he would hop on instantly to tease her with.
Hopefully it was nothing but the radio silence was still strange regardless.
"i should start doing patrols more often. I cant be 100% sure if Titan is not a threat yet..plus i still need to help the doctor out...so he may able to help me out with that. sooner i knwo him the better" she mumbled. Her eyes hurt a bit, still possibly from the robot the other day getting in her eyes but it wasnt too bad, didnt mean it sucked that reading was suddenly much harder for her now. Becky must have been staring at the page for too long when Scoops rolled her chair over and bumped her with her foot "hey Becky, if your dropping Tobey for Titan, think you can get some news on him for me?"
Becky blinked..."if im doing what to who?" Scoops raised a brow "Tobey? Titan? come on there's a story there. you know it-" "hold on hold on hold on, Scoop- ok. Rewind," Becky shook her head making a spinning motion with her hands "What are you talking about?"
Scoops looked at her confused for a moment then went wide eyed "...youuuuu dont, see it. do you?" he asked. Becky scrunched her nose in straight up confusion "see what- Scoops what are you talking about?"
Scoops face dropped, he raised his hands up to his hat and pulled down on the rims " . .now?" he asked "Tobey and You. Titan and You? is this seriously flying over your head?"
Becky raised her hands "what Scoops? Titan is still a possible threat to the city, i need my eyes on him. why am going to investigate Tobey if he isn't a bad guy? isnt that a little strange?"
...
Dead silence filled the room, and Scoops didn't know if he wanted to cry, or scream.
"Scoops trust me when i say i would have warned you about this if i was allowed...but this is the kind of pain i have to deal with" the narrators voice chimmed in with a monotone voice, not even earning a reaction from Scoops.
"...Yhea," he strained out,"how silly...im gonna go" Scoops let go of his poor hat now wrinkled.
Becky raised a brow, watching her friend get up then looked at Bob. Her trusty monkey had his head smothered into the blanket tight. She looked between then and scowled "you just got he- where you going?" she asked her friend as he started to walk out with a defeated somber walk. "Get a Pizza. i dont know," Scoops replied in a very curt way Bob squeeked and looked up at Becky frowning. then proceeded to waddle after Scoops. Bob squeeked and made a finger gun "as they walked out. "if you just called shot gun your severly over estimating how much money i have cus we're taking the bus"
Bob shrugged and hopped on the boys back. They both stopped at the door way to look at Becky, Scoops shook his head and Bob just stared at her as the yellow jacket man walked out. "later Becky"
Becky was now left alone more confused then ever. She sighed. Waited a bit, listening for Scoops to walk out the front steps. Then stood up walking towards the window.
"going to work?"
"im not going to the junkyard I'm going to patrol-"
"so your going to work" the narrator insisted.
Becky paused for a moment, then thought about it. She nodded "ah...yhea. guess i am" giving a light but bitter chuckle as the words left her mouth as the bottom of her foot touched the window, Becky jumped out. Word Woman flew up.
Didn't really take long to be in the air and already holding her eyes as the wind blew into them.
Damn they hurt.
She rubbed them a bit and slowed her speed significantly before continuing on her path.
Normal routine as usual.
Downtown, stopped a bus crahing.
Main street, robbery stopped.
Red light district got a few animal fight rings broken up again.
Saved a sinking ship just off the coast...
Pretty slow day all around.
Though Word Woman wasnt sure if that was a good thing or not considering curreny events. The sence of danger at every single corner now strapped itself to her back after seeing the metal monster almost destroy the Barrage...
"Lady Redundant Woman is probably still in custody..." the narrator chimed
Word Woman paused mid air as she flew by an office building, raising a brow "...of course she is. I just caught her yesterday"
"Wiiiiith the new toy she got"
...
Word Woman beamed. "Well look who's being helpful"
The narrator stiffled a chuckle and made a hush sound "shhhh. Can't let that spread to the author now can we?" They chuckled.
Just like that Word Woman was off once more. New pep in her step from the realization of possible information, citizens below either use to the red and yellow streaks in the sky, or watched happily as their protector raced across the sky before she landed gracefully infront of one of the jail houses, one that was the closest to the forest rather then in side the city. Usually all the villians ended up here, and the latest one
"I'd like to see Lady Redundant Woman if you wouldn't mind?" Word Woman asked a very confused balding guard who had a donut midway in his mouth, stunned at the sight of the hero before he gently put the sweet down and confusingly leaned to his side "uhh...y-yes Word Woman...uh." he fumbled a bit to drop the donut as he looked around his office space.
Word Woman raised a brow
After watching him seem to panic a little lifting stacks and stacks of papers she spoke "uh..what's up?" She asked
The guard gave a nervous smile I'm return "sorry Word Woman it's just uh...it's been awhile since anyone has visited Anyone here so I misplaced the visitor button"
Word Woman raised a brow "no one?" She asked "not a single person has had a visitor lately? What about Chuck? Amazing rope guy? Gal-" The guard kept shaking hid head "not a single visitor in a month ma'am. Just you"
Word Woman glanced down, now a little guilty of the lack of visitors and visits to the prison herself as the Guard happily chimed "AH here we are!" He smiled, pulling out a red remote witha yellow button, upon release a door beside the office clicked "she's in C-"
"Cell DD 99, I know, thank you"
"No prob, ey thanks again for looking out for us Word Woman! Fair City wouldnt be able to go without ya"
Word Woman just smiled at him. Forcing it as she walked passed the door, then gave a small sigh once she was in and allowed it to drop.
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA CHAPTER12! durbdjdwnshsbdhehddhdhdn I didn't not think I would make it this far. I Did Not expect the reactions ive been getting either. like damn yall are actually gonna make me cry with the support ive been getting for this series! im gonna keep doing my best and make more for the story for yall to enjoy. There was a bit of a hiccup with writing one of the future chapters but it made me realize i was writing the chapters a little too short so i decided o make this one extra long and hopefully i can keep up the pace for next weeks chapter! Originally this was chapters 12 and 13 but i decided to combo them and see how you guys like long chapters. let me know if you want longer or shorter! for now. see ya next week!