Omega Kid
Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Kick-Ass comic or film written by Mark Millar, or any guest characters from other Kick-Ass fanfic's they are owned by their own writers and creators. However, original characters in Omega Kid belong to me.
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Chapter 12: Slumber Party
Saturday 10th July 2010
I was out of the hospital two weeks sooner than the doctors originally predicted. Surprising, considering the severe beating I took not too long ago from Toxin. While I wasn't 100% yet, at least my arm was feeling much better and I could move it about decently enough.
Sophie wasn't as lucky. She was going to remain in the hospital a little longer in the hopes that the damage wasn't going to be permanent. She was most definitely not going to be back in school in time before we finished for the summer holidays. I never got to meet up with her again, because, after my stunt with escaping and locking Alex and Steph in my room, I was under constant supervision. Not that I was going to do anything. I was wary about going out as Omega Kid, afraid that I would be ambushed the moment I set foot out the door.
It was stupid to feel this way. But I had more reason to fear Toxin because after the leader's hostage video on the news went viral, the mystery behind his identity had been solved.
Douglas Carbone was his name.
Apparently, he was merely a U.S citizen that had left the states a few years ago for unknown reasons. Not much else has been figured out at this time. He was a nobody. He wasn't associated with any cult or fanatical terrorist group. He just came out of nowhere and planned to single handily destroy every gang in London, no matter who tried to get in his way. That's as much as we know. Luckily, there haven't been any more Toxin attacks since Harrison's Bank.
I'm starting to think that other gangs were getting the message, especially after they broke apart Creekside's and revealed that the bank was handing them money. Anyone who they might consider a target was in the middle of retiring or disappearing off the edge of the earth. Everything was going exactly as they planned…except for the appearance of No-One.
He hasn't shown himself again either. Though news of his rescue quickly spread once the hostages started to talk. Once I'm back patrolling, I hope that I meet up with him again. Unlike the situation with Lea, this guy seemed like he knew what he was doing. Hell, he did a better job of being a superhero than I did.
So, I sat in my bedroom alone. Jenna was back to work at Comic-City. The way she yelled at me at the hospital continued to haunt me. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was…I don't know. It just felt awful to think about her because all I could get from her were those words she said to me…
''I didn't need your help…''
KNOCK! KNOCK!
A faint knock at the front door grabbed my attention. It was probably Alex and Steph coming over to visit. They had been unusually quiet this morning and hadn't called me, so they probably settled on visiting me instead. I got up and headed for the door, looking out of the eyehole, I felt my heart flip when I saw it was Rachael standing outside.
I quickly fumbled at the lock and opened it. ''Hey.''
She waved and offered a warm smile. ''Hi. How are you feeling?''
''Getting there. I'm better than I was, so that's a start.''
''Yeah,'' She nodded. ''Sorry, I know you just got out of the hospital, but I wanted to visit. If you're busy or need to be alone I…''
''No, no,'' I quickly cut her off. ''Sorry, I mean I'm not busy. You can come in if you're not busy with anything.''
She laughed radiantly. It was only as she stepped in and walked past me, the faint scent of perfume coming from her, that I realised she'd never been to my house before. All of a sudden, I felt a little mediocre in her presence. I hadn't had a chance to clean my room in weeks. Oh God, my costume was still in my rucksack upstairs and I haven't had a chance to wash it yet. It was probably going to stink worse than a sewer full of skunks.
''You have a nice house.'' She said.
''Thanks. Uh…can I get you a tea or something?''
''I'm fine, thank you,'' With a shrug of her shoulder, the strap of her bag slipped off and she reached inside to pull out some supplies and notebooks. ''I'm not working today and I needed something to do, so I thought that maybe we could study together. You've been off school for a while, so I could help you catch up on what you missed. If that's okay with you?''
''That's more than okay.'' I beamed, a little too enthusiastically. ''I mean…I really appreciate it. You don't have to…''
Rachael shook her head to stop me. ''You would do the same for me.''
''That would require me being smarter than you at something.''
''Well, you trump me at sports.''
I stuttered when trying to find a reply and she grinned smugly seeing me stammer. ''Okay, I guess I have one thing. Though, with this arm, it might be a while before I can get back into the full swing of this.''
There was a slight wince in her face when I mentioned my arm as if it hurt her to imagine the pain that I had gone through. It might still be a little early to joke about being shot. Hopefully, it'll be the only time it happens. ''Does it still hurt?'' She finally asked.
''No…well, only if there's pressure. Like if I stretch my arm out for too long, or bend my elbow and scratch the mark.'' My body moved before my brain could scold it as I extended my arm to reveal a bit of my scar, half-hidden by the sleeve of my shirt.
''I'm so sorry that happened to you.''
''You don't have anything to be sorry about,'' I assured her, not wanting to see that panicked look stay on her face. ''It's really that not that bad. Not as bad as it could have been.''
''Still,'' She hushed. Her eyes were fixed over the outline of my scar, it had gradually healed over time and would hopefully be gone within a couple of months. Even if Alex constantly says how awesome it would look to have a scar, it's not something I'm particularly proud of carrying. ''Do you remember what happened?''
Her question caught me off guard. ''What do you mean?''
''After you left to go help other people that were hurt. What happened after that? Do you remember the moment you were shot?''
''Um…'' I remembered the story I had officially given when admitted the first time. ''It's kind of a blur. I was running around to see who else I could help. The next thing I know, I felt something tear through my arm.''
A visible shudder came from her. ''I've never personally known anyone to have been shot. It must be so difficult to describe how it felt.''
''That's the perfect way to phrase it. It's hard to describe.''
She stared deeply into my eyes and I saw the edge of her lip twitch before averted her gaze back towards my scar. It's weird. She wasn't doing or saying anything to me, and yet, I had this intense feeling of being so focused on. I did my best not to flinch when she reached her arm out and cupped the side of my elbow, careful not to graze her fingers over the scar, even though it wouldn't have hurt with her tender touch. ''I'm just glad you're okay.''
I gulped heavily. ''I'm…I'm glad that you're glad…''
She giggled at slightly but didn't move her hand or look away. ''I suppose now that we know you're going to be fine, I can say that I think it looks cool,''
It was taking all of my willpower to stop my face from blushing as red as a tomato. ''Thanks…'' I flustered.
I couldn't tell if she was aware of the effect she was having on me as she still kept her hand close to my arm, and I slowly felt it trail upwards slight. My body burnt when I saw her gawk a bit more upwards over my elbow. At first, I considered that she was just trying to see the rest of my scar, but there wasn't much else to see, so the only other thing of note was the slight bump of my bicep. Being a superhero for a few months does have its perks and I've noticed that more and more that my muscle has become more defined…
Wait a bloody second! Was Rachael checking me out? No way, it had to be something else.
''Rachael…''
Faster than lightning, she withdrew her arm and turned sharply to stare at me. ''Nothing, um…did you want to get started on the work?'' She asked in a flash.
An air of disappointment hung over me after losing contact. The way she got all rattled and with how quickly she changed the topic, it had a small part of me convinced that she might have been looking at my bicep. I wanted to feel happy, but there was another larger part of my being that told me I was reading too deeply into her actions.
Thinking it was best to drop the subject, I nodded. ''Yeah, let's get started.''
One Hour Later…
''Okay, I think I got it now.'' I sighed with relief as I jotted down the final sentence needed to complete this hellish task.
''See, put your mind to it and all becomes clear.''
''I still think Mr Davis is trying to torture everyone with the work he sets,'' I joked, earning a small chuckle from Rachael as she stretched her arms outwards before rubbing the back of her stiff neck. We were both currently sat on the edge of my bed with a stack of books lying about everywhere on the mattress. ''I'm amazed that I managed to get a 'B' in my last test.''
Next to me, I saw that Rachael hesitated and stared at me confusedly. ''Thomas, you got a 'D'.''
''What?'' I gasped. ''No, I remember…''
''You're thinking of the chemistry test. I'm talking about biology.''
I rattled my brain, trying to piece together the pieces I needed to remember my previous tests. I was certain that I was remembering my grade correctly, but the genuine concern displayed on Rachael's face told me otherwise. ''But…'' I hesitated. ''That can't be. I thought I was in the hospital during the last biology test?''
''You were, but I'm talking about the one before hand. The one that you did do because I remember you being late for that class.''
I wanted to comment on her impeccable memory skills that were strong enough to remember my own tests better than I could, but I couldn't shake away the fear that my grades were sinking deeper down the drain without me realising. It suddenly came to me in that moment that I did do another biology test beforehand. ''Now I remember,'' I groaned. ''I never saw my grade though.''
She nodded drearily. ''I was handing out the tests and I saw your grade, but you were in hospital at the time.''
''Great, I'm sure Jenna would love to hear that when we go to parent's evening,'' I mumbled with a mixture of sarcasm and cynicism.
Catching my unusually mocking tone, Rachael stared at me and shuffled closer. ''Thomas, I'm the last person who wants to go prying into other people's personal lives, but I can't hide my worry.''
''I'm just…not doing so well in a few tests, it's not that bad,'' I stammered.
She shook her head. ''It's not just that. You're constantly late, sometimes falling asleep in classes…''
''It's not that bad!'' I defended, although my frustration couldn't be contained and that resulted in my tone becoming more aggressive than I wanted. Rachael didn't flinch, but I could see a change in her expression as she glared at me. My shoulders slumped and I looked away from her, afraid that if I tried to be apologetic, I would someone go off at her again.
''And I'm starting to notice a change in your attitude.'' She continued in a soft but affirmative tone. ''I'm just warning you because I don't want you to get into any more trouble. Especially with parent's evening right around the corner.''
I shrugged my shoulders. ''It doesn't matter too much. It's not like Jenna cares.''
''Of course, she cares!''
''After the way she talked to me before, I think I just frustrate her more than anything.''
''She went through a traumatic expression…''
''And I wanted to help!'' I barked before I could properly think my words through. ''I wanted to help, but every time I…every time I do something she scolds me for it and I constantly second guess myself. I'm not sure if what I say or do is helpful or if I'm just annoyance to the people around me. I'm trying to help and she throws it back in my face. I hate it! I hate…''
My anger was rising with every word and it was only when Rachael spoke up through my rant that I was finally stopped. ''Will you let me finish?''
We sat together in silence for a brief moment and I realised that I was panting and almost on the verge of tears. The last thing I needed was to start crying in front of Rachael so I turned my head to the side and stared down at the floor, trying to calm myself. I knew that I was bothered by what Jenna said to me, but I didn't think I let it get to me this much. ''Sorry,'' I finally mumbled.
Rachael's expression softened a touch, but she still had a fierce look in her eye. ''I know that it must feel like the world is against you at the moment. And it's worse when the people closest to you seem distant. Trust me, I've experienced something like that. I don't know the full situation between you and Jenna, and I also don't want to defend her actions if she's making you feel this way. But, you have to understand how things can be taken further than original intent when people are upset or scared. She was scared, and also scared for you. I know that you tried to help, but sometimes there's nothing you can do, and that's okay. If you put too much weight on your shoulders eventually the pressure is going to give. Do you understand?''
I nodded sincerely. She just unloaded a lot onto me, but all with the intention of making me feel better. She could have just told me to suck it up and move on, but she'd given me really helpful advice. I don't agree with her on being able to help as I still feel that if I was back to full-strength and better prepared, I could have better handled my encounter with Douglas and Marcus. Next time, I'll do better to not make that same mistake again. I finally turned to face her and smiled. ''Thanks. That really helped.''
''You're welcome,'' Her lips curved into a small grin. ''If you feel that pressure building, it's never wrong to talk with someone.''
''I know, I've just got a lot on my mind right now.''
Catching me off guard, she grabbed my homework and moved it to the side. ''Well, let's fill that mind with something else for the time being.''
''Like what?'' I asked curiously.
My heart did a summersault when I saw her twitch her nose and think of another topic to discuss. You could fill an entire comic book series with hundreds of pages of cute faces she could pull off. There was a glint in her eyes as she looked back at me. ''What shows did you use to watch when you were little?''
''Shows I grew up with?'' I questioned and she gave me an eager nod. ''Uh…promise not to laugh?''
''Cross my heart!'' She promised and even did the gesture, running her finger over her chest.
''Thomas the Tank Engine.''
''Really?'' She beamed.
''Yeah, I thought it was cool that a train had my name and was also painted my favourite colour…'' Holy smokes, is that where I got the idea to make my costume blue? I never thought of it like that. I pushed away that concept and continued. ''But, uh…after that, typical Saturday morning cartoons.''
''So…Dragon Ball Z?''
''Obviously!''
''Batman?''
''Of course!''
''Spiderman?''
''Who didn't watch Spiderman in the 90's?'' I teased and we shared another laugh. It was amazing to think that Rachael and I had a similar taste in cartoons. Now, I was curious about what she watched. ''What about you? What did you watch?''
''Oh, I was in love with Kim Possible and Recess.''
''Classics!'' I stated.
She winked, making me go all flustered for a split-second. ''Damn straight,'' She scratched her chin and a smirk began to grow. ''Okay, what about The Lemonade Kid?''
I couldn't hide the puzzled look on my face as I was absolutely stumped. That name didn't even ring a bell, let alone remind me of watching it. I couldn't even get a glimpse of it in my head. ''Uh…'' I droned out.
Rachael's jaw dropped and her eyes widened in amusement. ''You've never seen The Lemonade Kid?''
''Sorry…'' I shrugged.
''Oh my God, I was obsessed with that show growing up,'' She squealed with delight, waving her hands about enthusiastically. The bed shook beneath us because of her excitement. ''How could you not have seen it?''
''Do I get a pass if I keep saying sorry?''
She let out a quick laugh before fully facing me. ''The show was amazing. Okay, so apparently it was this old cartoon from the 1970's that they re-ran. My dad used to watch it then and when he saw that it was airing late at nights, he would get me into it and I've been hooked ever since. It's…'' She trailed off and her smile started to fade. There was something that seemed to scramble her emotions, ranging from fondness to gloom. ''I use to watch it all the time with him. But…things happened, so I would watch it myself.''
I didn't want to see her sad like this, especially when she wanted to talk about something dear to her. There was clearly a range of feelings this brought up, and for now, I wanted to help bring out the positive ones, like she's tried to do for me. ''What was the show about?'' I asked.
Her smile slowly returned. ''Right, so it was about this young cowboy called Charlie. But he never carried guns, instead, his weapon of choice were two bottles of lemonade…''
''What?''
''It's silly, I know, but it had a charm to it. Anyway, that was the bare bones of the show. He would just go off on these different adventures. It also turns out the creator of the show was a historian, so it was quite accurate with how it depicted the old west.''
''A show about a cowboy who used bottles of lemonade as weapons was historically accurate?'' I laughed.
She rolled her eyes affectionately. ''I know, I know. But I can verify that I've learned more about American history from that show than I ever did throughout school.''
''I've learned quite a lot from comics too. Sometimes we learn better when learning from the things we love.'' I blurted out, not realising until after those words passed my lips that there could be a certain way to interpret what I said. Here was Rachael tutoring me, and I just expressed that I learned better from things I love.
Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice and continued her story with a heavy sigh of disappointment. ''However, the show ended on a cliff-hanger.''
''Oh no, that's the worst,'' I said sympathetically.
''Tell me about it. The last episode had Charlie caught and held at gunpoint in the middle of a bank robbery by…'' She stopped and froze, her eyes gradually shifting towards me. As much as I tried to hide it, I felt my skin crawl as the thoughts of Toxin's recent attack returned. From Rachael's point of view, she must have thought I was thinking of Jenna being held captive, and that was part of it. She winced and held her hands together. ''I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up.''
I cleared my throat and brushed away the scary memories of Marcus and the other Toxins thrashing me like I was nothing and about to kill me. ''It's…it's okay,'' I didn't want to dawdle on this for too long, so I played tough and forced a smile at Rachael. ''So…the show ended like that?''
Seeing that I was okay talking about this, Rachael nervously nodded. ''It did. Charlie is caught, and to make matters worse, he was out of lemonade. I remember constantly checking the TV every week for the next episode, but it never aired. It was only a few months later I would check the show online and find that it never got another season and that was the end of it.''
''That sucks.''
''Indeed.'' She huffed.
''Well…at least you get to imagine a happy ending for him.''
''Oh, trust me, I've done that. I always imagined that his future husband and crime-fighting partner, Christopher the Cola-Comrade, would swoop in and save him.''
I raised my eyebrows. ''Wow, that's pretty progressive for the 70's.''
Another small laugh escaped her. ''Oh, they weren't actually a thing in the show. But the subtext was there. Everyone who watched the show knows it. You could cut the sexual tension between them with a knife.''
I don't know if it was because of the subject we were talking about, or the fact that she turned and was staring into my eyes when she finished speaking, or perhaps both, but suddenly things were quiet between us. I felt sweat pouring down my back and I gulped as I tried to find my voice. ''So…you think those two got together in the end.''
''I like to think so.'' She whispered.
I smiled back at her and then, almost against my will, I felt myself leaning closer towards her little by little. Surprisingly and unbelievably, she seemed to be doing the exact same thing. Our faces were inching closer and closer. What was happening?
Before anything could happen, we stopped, realisation sinking in. We both appeared to be shocked by what was suggested, but I think we shared a silent, mutual agreement that it was nothing more than…than…I'm not even sure. I couldn't read her mind or know what she was thinking, and I was confused as hell so I wasn't going to get the answers myself. With a heartfelt smile, Rachael broke the silence with a quiet voice. ''You have blue eyes.''
''So do you,'' I replied.
We both pulled away and I was finally able to breathe again. Out of her sight, I was clutching the sheet of my bed tightly, trying to stop my heart from pounding out of my chest. Rachael brushed away some hair that had fumbled over her face and turned to me. ''I should…I should probably head home. My mum might have dinner waiting.''
''Right, it's fine.''
She gathered her belongings and stood up to leave. I quickly followed until we were both at the front door. There wasn't any rush or urgency from her to leave and I wasn't forcing her out. Things were slow and unsure between us, and I'm not sure if that made this situation easier or harder. When she stepped outside, she turned to me. ''This was nice.''
''It was. And thank you for helping me, not just with school work but…just talking.''
''Don't worry about it,'' She responded nonchalantly. ''Although, now that I've seen your place, it's only fair that next time you visit my house.''
That almost sounded like an invitation. Dummy, that was an invitation! I prayed that my cheeks weren't flushing red as I smiled. ''That would be cool.'' With only a smile that rendered me breathless, Rachael turned and began walking away. I was sad to watch her leave. I haven't enjoyed a talk like this with someone who wasn't Alex or Stephen in…probably forever. It was a shame I didn't know more about the things she liked. That's when an idea struck me. ''Hey, Rachael?''
''Yes?'' She turned around.
''The Lemonade Kid…the episodes wouldn't happen to be on YouTube, would they?''
She stared at me bewildered momentarily. Then it seemed to sink in. Realising what I was hinting at, she giggled. ''I'm not forcing you to watch it.''
''I know. But it sounds like my type of show. I want to give it a try, and that way I won't feel like a lost puppy when you gush about it.''
A louder laugh escaped her, so strongly that she actually snorted. She clasped a hand over her mouth but it was too late. She broke into another fit of laughter at her own expense while I was rooted to the spot, wondering how it was possible for me to fall for her every single day. When she was finally able to control herself, she nodded. ''Yeah, it might be. It's quite old so I'm sure someone's uploaded the episodes on there.''
I licked my dry lips and offered a reassuring smile. ''I promise to catch up next time we talk.''
''There are two hundred episodes!''
I hesitated. ''I promise to catch up eventually.''
Literally the moment I closed the door behind me, I bolted up into my room, grabbed my laptop and searched for the show. Luckily for me, I found the episodes were in fact on YouTube. As I gathered from Rachael's description, the show was corny and silly, but in that fun and charming way that had me sucked in immediately. Maybe I'm biased when it comes to the story about a young man who wants to do right and everyone underestimates him to fight the bad guys and save the day. It was nice to know that Rachael also quite liked these stories too.
Jenna would be working late tonight, making up her hours from before, so I managed an impressive ten episodes before I felt my eyes begin to tire. I did consider going out on patrol tonight and finally get myself back on the streets after a long hiatus. Though there was still the matter of my costume…my dirty, bloody, almost-ripped-to-shreds costume. If I were going to go out, I would have to wash and stitch it back to suitability first.
Still debating whether I should go out or not, I found myself on my Facebook page, catching up on anything I missed. Nothing but spams filled with links to websites that weren't suspicious in the slightest. Note the sarcasm. That being said, I did get one friend request. Admittedly from someone I didn't know, clearly using a penname and with a profile picture shaded entirely in black. Still, I accepted just to tick the friend count upwards.
Nearby, I noticed that someone had shared a news video circulating the site talking about the hostage situation and the new superhero who stepped in to save the day. I never seemed to have any luck with news videos talking about events I'm involved with, so I thought about ignoring it. However, I had a feeling I was going to see this later on anyway, plus, I noticed the speaker and became intrigued.
Isabel Ciara was a long-time political rival of Milo White, and she was the closest to becoming Prime Minister in the last election after him. They rarely agreed on anything and rarely missed an opportunity to take stabs at the other person. I shrugged and clicked play.
Isabel was standing on an empty street, looking calm and poised as she waited for an off-screen interviewer to ask their question. ''We've heard from Milo White already on the subject of the Toxin gang and Omega Kid, and him calling it a domino effect with one influencing the other to strike, do you believe there is some truth to this? Especially when you now factor in this new superhero who stepped in to save the hostages?''
''I do think there is a domino effect, yes. I think that this is something that has been building under the surface for a long time now. The Prime Minister has ignored it ever since his first election victory. Now, it's gotten to a point where it's not broken but shattered. Things have spiralled out of control, not only for us but for Omega Kid as well.''
''Are you suggesting that Omega Kid is at fault for this gang war? Or that the Prime Minister is?''
Great, I'm getting attacked from both sides of parliament. This was all I needed to end the day. I felt like turning the video off, knowing exactly where it was going, but I wondered if she would surprise me, so I kept watching.
Isabel shook her head. ''I wouldn't say that Omega Kid is at fault…''
''You have mentioned your support for the vigilante before and…''
The interview was cut off as the MP sternly rebounded. ''I have never been quoted to say I support vigilantism. I have wanted to make it known that I do think Omega Kid has good intentions, but I was always afraid that he would find himself overwhelmed. If one man takes the law into his own hands, then he will soon find himself thrust into a lawless world. I do wish Omega Kid the best, and that's why I hope that wherever he is, he is alive and well and will decide to leave this situation in more capable hands.''
''In the Prime Minister's hands?'' The interviewer questioned.
Isabel paused. ''If he's finally willing to step in and answer the call for the people of this city! Until then, frankly, I trust this new hero with a mask of black. And you can quote me on that.''
That's where the video clip ends. While I certainly wasn't the only one targeted in that video, and it wasn't as harsh towards me as others had been, the message was still clear. I was wanted out. I lost one fight and people were turning on me. I tried to think back to what Rachael said earlier, about people getting scared. However, she was making that statement regarding Jenna. This was about the whole city. Lives were at risk. I knew for a fact that if it wasn't for No-One, not only would I be dead, but dozens more could have been too.
I set my laptop aside and lay on my bed, unable to succumb to sleep with a hundred thoughts drifting over my head. How am I supposed to continue if everyone wants me to quit? How can I fight back against Toxin? Who is No-One and how do I meet with him to know what he's trying to accomplish?
I was dragged out of my thoughts by the sound of my phone ringing. I crawled over to the desk next to my bed where my phone rested and answered it. ''Yeah?'' I huffed.
Alex's aggravated voice almost burst my eardrums. ''Hey Thomas, can you please tell Stephen that Spiderman isn't related to Bruce Banner!''
''Guys, I'm busy!'' I lied, not feeling in the mood for talking anymore.
''Are you going on patrol?'' He asked eagerly.
''No!''
''Hey, while you're out, can you get me a pizza? Cheese, pepperoni, no tomatoes…''
''And extra crust for me.'' I heard Step call out.
''Yeah, extra crust for fatty here. And also I'll have…''
''Guys!'' I shouted, causing him to stop talking. ''I'm serious. I'm not on patrol. I still don't feel ready yet. I'll call you tomorrow, okay?''
''No, no wait,'' Alex yelped in the nick of time before I hung-up on him. I sighed and waited for what he had to say. ''Okay, serious talk now. We want to hang out and talk to you.''
''If this is about being my partners or sidekicks or…''
''It isn't that this time…'' I heard him moan. ''We got kicked out of the house again.''
I suddenly felt more perked up. It wasn't often this happened, but when it did, it only meant one thing. ''Crystal throwing a girl's night-out party again?''
''Not really a girl's night-out when it's in a house. Our house! Please, I'm going mad being here by myself all night.''
''You've got Steph!'' I stated.
''Hey, don't even joke about this.''
Somehow he had gotten me to laugh when I thought I was too exhausted to do such a thing. Like I said, this wasn't an often occurrence, but whenever Crystal would visit and Alex's parents would be out, the girl would command the place. And her first decree would always be inviting her friends over and kicking Alex and Steph out into the street. If this happened, I would always be the first they would cool for a hangout until dawn when they were allowed back in.
On second thought, this might help me out of my temporary slump. If talking with Rachael helped earlier, maybe hanging out with the two brothers would help too. Okay, it's a very different experience, but it's the thought that counts.
I rubbed the bridge of my nose and released an exasperated sigh. ''Okay, give me a minute and we'll meet at Clock-Tower Park. Cool?''
''You are the man, my man!'' He praised before hanging up.
It didn't take me long to reach my destination, and as I predicted, I found Alex and Steph sitting out on a patch of green. Steph was having his own little bit of fun with a handheld game console, clearly invested in whatever he was playing while Alex was drowning away his troubles by listening to an iPod that looked way too expensive for him to afford. I had a feeling if I asked his mum to describe her iPod, its description would be very similar to the one in his hand.
I approached them quietly. Even when I was just a step behind, they failed to notice me. ''So, you invite me out and then ignore me? Harsh!'' I called out, surprising them both.
They looked up at me, smiling and then holding out their hands to high-five me. ''Glad you could make it, buddy,'' Alex commented, turning off the iPod and fumbling it into his pocket. Meanwhile, Steph was too far deep into his game to quit anytime soon, not that I minded. I knew he was still listening and would have a say if he felt it was needed, all without breaking concentration from the game in his hand.
I took a seat in between them. ''Yeah, well, I had a feeling you would annoy me all night if I didn't come, so I figured to come first time asked.''
''Hey, you have no right to feel annoyed,'' Alex scowled. ''At least you have a nice, warm house to go home to. Me and Steph don't have that luxury with the Queen of the States visiting. I'm certain that if I called the police, I would have a case against her.''
''Let's ask the real question, would you actually want to call the police on Crystal?''
''No, I'm not suicidal.'' He remarked.
''That's good to know,'' I rested my hands on the back of my head and tilted back so that I was lying on the grass. The air was warm and a gentle night breeze wafted over us, making things feel so peaceful. For a moment, I had forgotten about all my worries over the past few weeks and just enjoyed the scenery around me. From the trees that overlooked us, to the grand clock tower in the distance that rose high in the air.
Before long, Alex spoke up. ''Also, I had something else to discuss with you. Who is No-One?''
All those good, serene thoughts I had evaporated instantly. To compensate, I played his question for laughs. ''You know, out of context, that may be the most confusing thing you have ever asked!''
''But you know the context!'' He growled with the intensity of a pissed-off pug.
''I'm just as in the dark as you are!'' I admitted and sat up so that I was facing them. Even Steph was now focused on the conversation, meaning I had two pairs of eyes staring at me, waiting for my answer. ''Look, I don't know who this guy is or where he came from. All I know is that if he didn't show up…I would have been in trouble.''
Alex nodded. ''Yeah, and I believe we warned you first.''
''I know.'' I groaned.
Steph rubbed his nose. ''Is it like Lea again?''
I shook my head. ''No, he's different. You should have seen this guy. He made it look easy. He is clearly trained for combat and he's not afraid to kill.''
''But, he's cool right?'' Steph questioned.
With a nod, Alex followed up. ''Yeah, did you get a chance to talk with him? I know things must have been intense at the time, but did he seem like he was right in the head?''
''Did you miss the part where I said he wasn't afraid to kill?''
''You know what I mean,'' Alex stressed. ''Like…he knows who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, right?''
I thought back to my brief conversation with him. He was helping to save the hostages, as well as tear apart any Toxin that stood in his way, and he wasn't shy about praising my actions, despite the lack of help I offered. However, something about the fact that he just came out of nowhere and I didn't have anything to work from made me hesitant. ''I hope so.''
They figured that was all they were going to get out of me and didn't ask me anything else. Steph turned back towards his game before he blurted out a distressed moan. ''No, no…''
''What's up with you?'' Alex questioned.
''It died on me!'' He stated showing us a black screen that wouldn't turn back on.
''Did you charge it before you left?'' I asked.
Alex turned to me sharply. ''We didn't exactly have time to grab our stuff. We literally have whatever we didn't take out of our pockets. Crystal doesn't care, just as long as we're out of the house and out of the way of her girl time with friends. They're probably talking about all the girly trademarks like boys and clothes and makeup and…boys and nails and…clothes and…boys…''
''Okay, okay, I see what you mean.''
With a panicked look upon him, Alex rubbed his face. ''The worst part is that I can never tell the next morning if she's been through my stuff. What if she's been in my room? Or been on my computer?''
''I don't know,'' I teased. ''The chance of her possibly seeing your Internet browser history might scare her off.''
''Oh, ha-ha, you're a real comedic genius. The life of the party!'' He mocked and folded his arms over his chest while I tried to contain my laughter.
I was about to comment on how glad I was they decided to call me out here when Alex started smirking and glanced over towards me. My anxiety rose steadily as he continued to look at me like I was prey caught in one of his traps. ''What?'' I inquired.
''You can sneak into their party for us.''
I actually did a double take and rubbed my ears, hoping that I might have misheard him. ''Sorry, I think I had something in my ear.''
''Hear me out,'' He said. ''She doesn't hate you as much as us…''
''That's not a meaningful comparison!''
''You can sneak in and find out what they're up to!''
I didn't know whether to break out in laughter or continue staring at him until he would admit that he was pulling my leg and he was just joking this whole time. However, his determined look never faltered, and even Steph seemed on board with the idea as once again, I had both sets of eyes staring pleadingly at me. I rubbed my temple. ''Give me one good reason why they would even let me in!''
''That's the beauty of it. It won't actually be you sneaking in.''
''Okay, you half-lost me before, now you've lost me in another continent.''
''Well, turns out our cousin has a bit of a thing for Omega Kid.''
Now it all became clear. My head was lifted out of the fog with that statement alone, however, I now wished I was still lost in the fog. ''You want me to sneak in as Omega Kid?''
''Yeah!'' They said together as if it was no big deal.
Once again, I wasn't sure to laugh or stare in disbelief. I think I did a combination of the two as I shook my head violently. ''No, no, no. No way! I'm not becoming Omega Kid just to sneak into a slumber party.''
''How else are you going to sneak in?'' Alex inquired.
''Who even said I was going to sneak in? I still haven't agreed to anything!''
''Thomas, please, we're begging you!'' Alex then proceeded to actually get on his knees and clapped his hands together persuasively, but not before slapping his brother on the head to get him to mimic his actions.
I have to admit, the sight of seeing them both on their knees begging me was fun to see. I knew that they weren't going to stop until they found some way for me to say yes, and now that I thought about it, it's not like we had much else to do anyway. The night was still young. After my recent experiences, this wouldn't even come close to the most life-threatening thing I've ever done, even if Crystal was involved. Plus, it might help get my mind off Toxin and everything else that's going on. I needed a distraction, and this might be the one I was looking for.
''Okay, fine.'' I sighed. The brothers pumped their fists and cried out in joy, about to high-five one another before I stopped them by grabbing their arms and forcing them to look at me. ''But, I'm sneaking in as myself. Not Omega Kid!''
Alex sighed but he accepted my condition. ''Fine, so what's the plan then?''
''First, we make a stop at my house first.''
No more than an hour later, we found ourselves across the street from their house. I'm surprised that the neighbours hadn't already called the police by this point, considering I could hear music playing from over the road. The curtains to each of the windows were shut, although light illuminated through them and silhouettes would occasionally pass. Their slumber party was truly in full swing and I had to find a way inside.
Alex and Steph were hiding behind one car, while I was concealed behind another, about to put my plan into motion.
''So, let me ask you this,'' Alex called out to me. ''If you're not going to get into your Omega Kid costume, why are you bothering with other costumes?''
''Because I'm not dressing up as a superhero just to sneak into a house. This is less suspicious.'' I answered as I put on a pizza delivery boy hat. It took a bit of fidgeting due to its small size. It'd been at least five years since I wore this costume that Jenna helped me make for Halloween. Over the years, I had learned to stitch and make a few costumes. Of course, Omega Kid was my masterpiece, but I still kept my old works for nostalgia sakes. I reached into my costume box to retrieve a fake moustache and an empty box of pizza to complete my look.
Behind me, I could hear a stomach growling. I turned and saw Alex rubbing his belly. ''You could have at least gotten real pizza.''
''Like I'm going to waste money on pizza for you.''
I walked over to the house and knocked on the door. The music quietened and I could hear people walking and talking inside. ''Who is it?'' Crystal shouted. At least I had gotten a reaction from her, so this plan was already going better than I expected.
''Pizza Delivery!'' I called.
I flinched when the door was pulled open forceful and Crystal emerged, staring me down with an aggravated expression written all over her. The first thing that caught my eye was her simple wear. All she had on was a vest and pair of short jeans. Usually when I saw her, she would always doll herself up, making her exterior as pampered as her interior, if that makes any sense. It's not that I've ever thought Crystal was bad looking. This look just caught me off guard. And only now have I thought of the bad logic in Alex and Steph sending someone who is terrible talking to girls to a girl's slumber party.
''We didn't order any pizza!'' She spat.
''Right…uh…but I got a call from this house, from an Alex and Stephen Columbus. Perhaps they...''
I didn't get very far with my poor lie as Crystal scoffed loudly. ''Ha! I would believe aliens coming down from space before believing my cousins would order pizza for me.''
''M-maybe…well, they said they would be leaving for a bit and pick it up later…for themselves! I could drop it off and…''
Before I could blink, Crystal swiped the pizza box from my hands and opened it to reveal the empty box. She glanced up at me and narrowed her eyes while I wished that a sinkhole would appear underneath me and swallow me whole. From inside the house, I heard one of her friends call out. ''Crystal, who is it?''
Without taking her eyes off me, she responded humourlessly. ''It's just my cousin's friend,'' She used the pizza box to push my hat off my head. ''Thomas!''
''Oh, so you do remember me!''
I was unable to do anything as she slammed the pizza box on my head, causing it to wrap around my neck and cardboard to get stuck in my head. There was a slight smirk growing over her face before she closed the door behind her, and the music kicked back up a notch or two.
I walked back over to Alex and Steph. The pizza box nestled around my head gave them a good idea on what happened. ''Good thing it didn't actually have pizza in it.'' I joked.
Alex's mood didn't lighten one bit. ''That was your dumbest plan ever.''
''Don't worry, I've got plenty more ideas!''
KNOCK! KNOCK!
''Who is it?'' Crystal called out.
The music turned down, giving me a chance to shout in my best Italian accent while dressed in a plumber's outfit. ''Mario's Plumbing Repairs! We got a call a couple of days ago about an apparent leak. I've come to have a look.''
Things were quiet for a few seconds. ''Okay, hang on.'' Crystal's tone was more polite.
I glanced over my shoulder towards Alex and Steph, giving them a thumb up. It actually seemed like she was going to answer the door and let me in.
SPLASH!
Next thing I know, everything went dark and a slight pain slammed on top of my head, as I was suddenly drenched and coughing up water. I quickly pushed the bucket off my head and looked up to see Crystal and a few other girls I couldn't recognise laughing from the upstairs window. ''We do have had a bit of a leakage problem. Thanks for having a look.'' They giggled and closed the window.
At least they had used a kid's bucket because, after a moment, the only thing hurting me was my pride. Thankfully, I didn't have much of that so it wasn't too much of a loss. I blindly walked back over to the guys while trying to get water out of my ears. As the party continued, Alex and Steph emerged from their hiding spots. ''Nice try,'' Alex mumbled sarcastically. ''Here's an idea, you put on a costume that's more superhero-like and…''
''No!'' I tossed the bucket aside and walked over to my costume box. ''I'm not finished yet.'' At this point, I no longer wanted to get into the house for them, but because I now wanted to get back at Crystal.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
''What?'' Crystal screamed.
''Crystal, this is your papa speaking!'' I yelled in what I hoped wasn't a stereotypical Texan accent, while I wore what was without a doubt stereotypical Texan attire. ''Young lady, I order you to step out of your cousin's house this instant!''
All I heard from inside was a frustrated groan from Crystal. ''Oh my God, my dad isn't even from Texas!''
''That is no way to speak to me,'' I continued, hoping to convince her.
SPLAT!
Suddenly, I'm hopping about and clutching my sore leg. I looked down to a splodge of red paint splattered over my hand-stitched, ripped jeans. The paint was bad enough, but the sharp pain I felt was what caused me to panic. I turned to the closest window by the door and saw Crystal with two of her friends holding paintball guns, aiming them right at me.
SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT!
They fired away while I took off hobbling as fast as I could down the street.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
This time, there was no reply from anyone in the house and the music kept playing. Undeterred, I ranted while dressed as an elder woman with a walking cane. At least the cane was actually needed considering my legs were throbbing with pain because of the paintball onslaught earlier. ''Crystal, I've warned you before about the racket you make. You need to turn down the music right now.''
The music didn't stop as the door slowly opened, revealing Crystal with a small remote in her hand and a huge stereo system that had been moved in front of the door. ''We prefer to turn it up,'' She grinned wickedly.
I whimpered and could only accept my fate as she blasted the music up to full volume. The shockwaves of the sudden boom sent me flying back onto the ground.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
Immediately after the second knock, Crystal opened the door, expecting me to arrive at this point. Her angered look disappeared instantly when she saw me standing at the door wearing a green, big-headed alien costume. ''Fear me, I am Darth Neo from the planet Morpheus. I have come to abduct you!'' I droned robotically.
She stared blankly at me. For a second, I thought that I might have broken her before she slowly shut the door without a word. I waited to see if anything else would happen, however, I remained silent and rooted to the spot for five minutes with no events. Was that attempt really so embarrassing she didn't even bother reacting?
Irritably, I tore my mask off my head and stormed back over to the brothers. I mumbled venomously under my breath, not wanting anyone to hear the language I was using to describe my vexation. Hearing me stomp over, Alex and Steph glanced over at me while stuffing their faces with pizza. Wait, what?
''When did you two order pizza?'' I questioned.
Alex chewed on a gooey bit of melted cheese, savouring every bit as he stared at me. ''Well, you were taking so long to get inside and you weren't going to order any, so we took matters into our own hands.''
Steph nodded and swallowed a bit of pizza crust. ''Plus, you've smelt like pizza ever since you had that box around your head. It made us more hungry.''
''Smell?'' I muttered to myself as a light bulb shown over my head. ''That's it! A perfume seller! That'll get me inside.'' I took off my extra-terrestrial suit and hurried over to my box.
''How many costumes do you have?'' Steph asked me.
Finishing his pizza, Alex slapped his hands together until they were crumb-free and marched over to me before I could get changed into my new costume. ''Now are you going to change into Omega Kid?''
''No, I can get in myself...''
''Yeah, I can see.'' He interrupted sarcastically. I glared at him, but he didn't back down. ''Why don't you want to be Omega Kid? Normally you're all for getting in the costume.''
Now that I thought about it, something about getting into my Omega Kid costume tonight felt…unappealing. It felt like I was actively doing everything I could to stay as far away from the costume as I could. I usually jump at the chance of being Omega Kid. Tonight, I felt different. ''I don't know, I just want to do something without Omega Kid being involved.''
He stared at me curiously. ''Why? What's wrong with Omega Kid getting involved?''
''I just...I don't know...I just…want to do this myself,'' I stammered. ''Besides, it's not like you guys are offering any help.''
Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Steph offering me a slice of pizza.
Alex wasn't satisfied with my answer. ''What do you mean do it yourself? You're Omega Kid. So, you will be doing it yourself.''
I kept my mouth shut. I didn't know how to answer him. My head was a mess, and the longer the night dragged on, the worse I felt. I just wanted this ordeal over with, and I could see that my costumes weren't doing me any good. I shrugged and walked back over to the house, ignoring Alex and Steph's calls.
KNOCK! KNOCK!
''Who could it be now?'' Crystal yelled sarcastically.
''It's Thomas!'' I called tiredly. ''Can we talk? No costumes, no tricks. I promise.''
A few seconds later, the music stopped completely and things were unusually tranquil. It was nice to have a bit of peace, although, it left me worried that Crystal was planning her next attack. I was surprised to see Crystal casually open the door, arms folded over her chest as she leant against the frame. ''It's a shame. We were one call away from throwing boiling water over you.''
''Seriously?''
''No, of course not,'' She snarled. ''And I'm only listening so you'll finally go away and leave us alone!''
''Fine, that'll only take a moment.'' I agreed. ''Look, the only reason I'm here is because of Alex and Steph. They were just worried that you might get in trouble, or probably destroy the house. So I'm just here to make sure everything is okay.''
She rolled her eyes and stood up straight, backing inside the house slightly. I was wondering what she was doing until she stared harder at me. ''Well, are you coming in or not?''
''Huh?'' I gasped. Okay, this was the last thing I expected. ''You want me to come in?''
''That is what I just said!'' She scowled. ''The only way I can convince you, and convince my cousins, is if you see for yourself that everything is fine. Now hurry up so we can get this over with.''
I shuffled my feet nervously. However, after a few seconds of weighing my options, I knew that I would much rather be flustered in front of a bunch of girls I don't know than test Crystal's patience any further. I stumbled inside while she closed the door behind me. Everything seemed to be in order. No broken vases. All windows were fine. The television was still working without any problems. Not a thing was out of place. The only noteworthy thing was the sleeping bags piled on the floor, and the table nearby stacked with all kinds of snacks and drinks. Nothing too strong. Despite my initial thoughts and the noise that had been booming all night, it was one of the most controlled sleepover parties I had ever seen. Although, I didn't have much to compare with.
I couldn't stare at the surroundings for much longer though, as I suddenly found myself in the presence of three other girls staring interestedly at me. They wouldn't need to turn the music back on because my heart was beating fast enough to make its own rhythm. I even flinched when Crystal walked into the room and started talking loudly. ''Everyone, this is my cousin's friend! The one who has been bothering us all night! He just wanted to come and check that everything was fine.''
One of the girls sitting on the sofa giggled amusedly. ''That is adorable. He's adorable.''
I felt like I was going to melt into a puddle at any moment. I tried to speak up, but my voice wouldn't emerge from its hiding spot. One of the other girls walked over to me and patted me on the arm assuredly, probably sensing my nerves. ''Hey, relax. My mum is with the police. I know first and foremost about keeping a party fun but under control.''
''O-oh,'' I said weakly. ''Okay, th-that's good.'' I stuttered.
The first girl cooed once again. ''Oh my gosh, he is the cutest thing ever.'' I wasn't sure if she was teasing me or being genuine. I liked to think the latter, but after the night I've had, I couldn't be too sure.
Following another gulp, I licked my dry lips and tried to speak up. ''So, everything's okay here?''
The second girl nodded affirmatively. ''All good.''
Finally, the third girl raised her voice while smirking at Crystal. ''Besides, this isn't actually Crystal's house, so she can't go too wild.''
Crystal gave the girl a mocking look. ''For a year, this is just as much my house as it is my cousins. Isn't that right, Thomas?'' She threw a stare at me unexpectedly.
''I guess,'' I squeaked. ''Uh…but, if everything is okay, I can leave now.''
Crystal smirked. ''We promise not to hit you with more paintballs on the way out.''
Before I could even turn heel to leave, the first girl sighed loudly, earning everyone's attention. ''Oh no, let him stay.''
''What?'' Crystal and I gasped in unison.
''Yeah, stay for a bit. I reckon you'll be fun to have.''
It probably wouldn't be often you would hear a teenage boy decline the change to attend an all-girls slumber party, but I was too afraid that I'd do something to embarrass myself more than I already had done and shook my head erratically. ''I don't…I mean, t-thank you. But, I'm not a party person…''
The third girl raised her arm. ''Neither am I. I'm just here for the snacks.''
I was about to make another comment when police daughter girl turned to me with an affectionate smile. ''Actually, that sounds nice. You can think of it as an apology from us for all you went through tonight. What do you say?''
My nerves threatened to get the better of me and reject their offer until I really gave it some thought. Maybe I do deserve this? I have been through the crapper recently, and this might be good for me. These girls seemed fun and weren't rushing to kick me out, which is more than I ever thought achievable. As long as we don't get into any games of truth or dare, I think I can manage.
Police girl looked over my shoulder towards Crystal. ''How about it? Are we going to let him stay?''
Scrunching her face, Crystal waved her hands in the air. ''Fine. I know I'm outvoted. If he wants to stay, let him.''
''Welcome aboard,'' The girl greeted.
Even though this wasn't what I was expected or originally wanted, I couldn't help but smile a little at this sudden development. ''Cool, thanks.''
''Question,'' The third girl called out. ''How many costumes do you have? I was wondering if you were going keep this up all night.''
''Uh…a few,'' I mumbled, afraid to reveal the true number of costumes I had. ''I learnt how to stitch when I was little, so…yeah, I just made a lot.''
I flinched when the first girl clapped her hands together and continued gazing at me like I was a puppy she spotted on sale through the window. ''Can I keep him? I swear I want one.''
I was kidding about the puppy comparison.
While the girls all shared a giggle around me, except for a disappointed Crystal who slouched on the sofa near her friends, a curious thought suddenly came to me. ''Hey…I was wondering, if I dressed as Omega Kid, would you have let me in?''
After their momentary surprise at my out-of-nowhere question, they all burst into laughter and left me very confused. ''No, we still would have kicked you out,'' Crystal cackled. ''In fact, we would have done it faster.''
My heart sank. ''What?''
''Did you see what happened to him the other week? I always knew he would get the crap kicked out of him one day.''
I've had Crystal throw a mean comment or two my way before, but I would usually shrug them off, however, those words felt like an arrow ripping right through me. I hid my shaking hands behind my back as they continued laughing. ''But…I…I thought you liked Omega Kid?''
She raised her brows and released a breathless laugh. ''What? Who said that?''
The third girl sitting next to Crystal nudged her playfully. ''Oh, you have a costume kink?''
''Shut up!'' Crystal barked at her before turning back to me. ''Alex and Stephen said that, didn't they? Look, I don't care about Omega Kid. I always knew he was going to get himself hurt or even killed if he kept this up. He's a guy who took his love of comic books to the extreme. Unlike him, you're not stupid enough to try something like that.''
I remained silent. My hand was clutching my shirt as I desperately tried to hold back the tears. Just when I thought I got away from it all, everything comes crashing back down to reality and I'm reminded of my failures. I didn't want to act suspicious and show how much these taunts were affecting me, but it was difficult with how deep they were digging the knife.
The third girl slowly nodded. ''Yeah, got to admit it, I saw this coming. It's just what happens when you go to a gun fight with only your fists.''
''But…'' The first girl stressed sympathetically. ''Guns aren't supposed to be common over here.''
Crystal rolled her eyes. ''You think that'll stop people? If they find a way in America, they'll find a way here.''
''What about that other superhero? The one who saved Omega Kid and that bank?''
Crystal mused. ''I don't know. He shows up once and suddenly everyone's fawning over him? I don't buy it.''
''What's there to buy? He did better than Omega Kid, that's for sure!''
I was all but forgotten by now. All I could do was listen as each passing second I felt more and more like I was a mirror cracking into a million pieces. When they finished their little laugh, their eyes shifted towards the police daughter. ''Natalie, what do you think of this?''
''It's fair to say my family isn't fond of either Omega Kid or this new hero.'' She answered.
''Could they get arrested?'' The first girl asked.
I was curious to hear this as well, even if my body was beginning to feel too numb to comprehend anything. Natalie shrugged her shoulders. ''I'm not sure. What they're doing isn't right, but they haven't done anything wrong either. Except for the gangsters that were killed.''
''I think that might have been the other hero, not Omega Kid.'' Crystal stated.
''True. At first, my mum did mention the police were wary of Omega Kid. But now, after recent events, he's not considered a priority anymore. They said…'' She paused, trying to recollect the words she heard. ''Something like…he's more of a burden than a help.''
''I didn't need your help…''
Jenna's words suddenly echoed in my head and I couldn't take this anymore. ''I have to go!'' I bolted out of the room and towards the front door, ignoring the confused calls from the girls behind me.
Once I got to the door, I fumbled with the knob to try and open it. My body was trembling and this made it difficult for me to grab anything. Before I could leave, Crystal hurried next to me. ''What's wrong with you?'' She snapped.
''I remember I need to be somewhere else.'' I whimpered, trying to keep myself as poised as possible.
''You spend all night trying to get inside, and once you do, you want to leave?'' She questioned. The longer it took for me to get the door open, the clearer it was to her how upset I had become. I was actually shocked to see Crystal's expression soften a tad. ''Hey, if it's what we said about Omega Kid, it was a joke. We don't actually want the guy dead.''
''A joke?'' I barked, startling her. ''He risks his life every time he tries to help people, and you want to joke about that?''
''What's wrong with you?''
''Maybe I know what it's like to be treated like a joke. It hurts! It really hurts! Not that you would ever know anything about that because you're treated like a Queen wherever you go.'' I finally turned the knob and opened the door to leave, not even waiting for the inevitable response from Crystal as I slammed the door shut behind.
I marched down the street, away from the house and away from Alex and Steph. I couldn't handle all of this and needed a place to relax. I don't know what that's like to have a panic attack, but with my thundering heartbeat in my chest, the heavy panting and the throbbing headache, I imagine this close. It seemed that no matter where I go, I'm going to carry this weight on my shoulders forever. Rachael's soothing words from earlier no longer helped, as much as I wanted them to.
I didn't get very far before I noticed Alex and Steph run up beside me. Alex opened his mouth to say something, but when he saw my red, puffy face he hesitated. ''What happened?''
''The house is fine,'' I said weakly. ''Can I be alone for a moment?''
''But…''
I walked on, leaving them to stand in the middle of the street and stare at each other in confusion. As I got further and further away, it didn't dawn on me until I rounded the corner that the girls never turned the music back on.
I sat on the grass in the middle of Clock-Tower Park with my knees bent upwards and my arms wrapped around them and my chin resting on top. I was exhausted, but not sleepy. My confidence was shattered. At this point, I was afraid of doing anything anymore, fearing that it would only make things worse. I no longer knew if what I was doing was the right thing and I was hesitant with every thought running through my head. What if I was making this gang war worse by interfering? Maybe No-One is better suited to handle this? The next time I get into a fight with Toxin I might not come back alive. The thought left me shuddering not helped by the cold breeze that swept over the park.
Not long afterwards, I heard someone approaching. I glanced over my shoulder to see Alex and Steph tread next to me before silently taking a seat. ''I said I needed to be alone.''
Alex shook his head. ''No, you asked if you could be alone for a moment. You've had your moment, so we're now here for you. What happened in there?''
Even if I had the energy to be mad, I couldn't be mad at them. They waited patiently for me to say something, staring up towards the cloud night-sky. I wanted to say something, but I wasn't sure where to start. It was becoming more apparent by the day that I might have overestimated my chances. That's when I knew what to say. ''You remember what I said before about Lea not being ready?''
They turned to me. ''Yeah?''
''I'm starting to think that I wasn't ready for this either.''
Alex patted me on the shoulder. ''Hey, if you're going to listen to what a few people who don't…''
''It's not a few!'' I snapped. ''It feels like everyone hates me.''
''Thomas, London is a big city, not everyone is going to hate you. Ain't that right, Steph?''
His brother nodded. ''He's right. Even if 90% of the city hates you, there are still thousands of people that like you.''
Alex threw him a glare and slapped the back of his head. ''This is why you don't talk much.''
I sighed. ''Either way, people doubt me and those be honest, I'm starting to doubt myself.''
''Things may seem scary right now,'' Alex said. ''But that doesn't mean you don't have the courage to fight back. If Toxin strike, then you strike harder.''
''How? I'm out-numbered and out-matched!''
''How many times have you read a comic and seen a superhero go through similar…''
''This isn't a comic book!'' I silenced him. ''This isn't all some story that a writer has planned out where everything will turn out for the best and the hero gets a happily ever after with people adoring him for all the good they've done. Look what's happened since I became Omega Kid. I got Lea arrested. I'm failing all my classes. My sister doesn't want anything to do with me, and I'm getting my ass kicked by a gang that I can't fight back against. The city is turning against me. I've been shot, blown out of a window and almost had my secret identity exposed. I've gone into this only thinking about myself, without thinking how this will affect others and as a result, others are getting hurt!''
''You're really going to pin everything that's happened on yourself?''
''Because that's what it feels like. I thought that I could handle it, but every day I'm losing my grip. The way I see it, people don't want Omega Kid's help. What if no one wants me to be Omega Kid?''
''We do!'' Steph spoke up. Alex and I turned to him as he looked determinedly at me.
Things were quiet between the three of us after my heated explosion. They never tore their eyes away from me while I looked back and forth between them, feeling overwhelmed by how much they cared. In just those simple two words uttered by Stephen, I felt the pieces of my broken self-esteem move back together. Not fixed entirely, but it was a start.
Finally, Alex patted his hand on my shoulder. ''You know what I've seen since you became Omega Kid? I've seen old ladies feel safer walking home late at night. I've seen more little kids play superhero on the street than I've ever seen before. London isn't the best place to live for a lot of reasons, and before you came, one of those reasons was we felt unsafe. But because one kid decided to dress up and fight back, it's given everyone else the courage to do the same.''
''You think so?''
''Well, look at us,'' He gestured to himself and Steph. ''We weren't convinced at first. But seeing all that you've done, you've won us over. You can win more people over too.''
My gaze shifted upwards and I was staring up at the sky, seeing clouds part just enough for me to catch a glimpse of a few glimmering stars. My body no longer felt like it was trembling or under any pressure. Things were peaceful once again. I could breathe properly. ''Thanks, guys.''
''No problem, bud.'' He patted me on the back, as did Steph. ''So, can we be your partners?''
''Nope!''
''Worth a shot,'' He said indifferently. We sat together for a bit before Alex then groaned. ''We're still locked out of our house for the night. Any ideas on what to do?''
Like a bolt of lightning, an idea came to me. ''Actually, I've got something. It's a show that Rachael recommended me,'' I brought out my phone and tried to find YouTube. ''It's called The Lemonade Kid.''
''The what?''
''Trust me, you'll be won over.''
To Be Continued...
If you'd like, you can follow my original stories on Wattpad. My penname is Thomas-LF. Thank you for your time, if you do read them, I hope you enjoy them.