(homophobia/violence/suicide tw)

Taps looked terribly nervous. It was because he brought Riff and didn't know about the extent of his and Polly's past. The room was silent.

"...well," Taps eventually said, "I'm gonna leave for a bit… please, please try to work this out."

As he turned to leave he squeezed his husband's hand, who in turn kissed his cheek. They were silent until he left.

"So," Riff muttered, "...nice to meet you again."

"I guess," she answered, "We couldn't have met again at a lower point in my life," she chuckled half-heartedly.

"Yeah," he said, softly, before going silent again. "...Taps was really torn up when he came home. Lewis… means alot to him. I just… hope you know that."

"You think so, huh? Well… this isn't what he wanted us to talk about," a wave of nervousness seemed to spread over Riff's face as Polly spoke, "I want to know what the fuck is wrong with you."

He sighed, heavily, "...god, where do I even start?" he chuckled softly to try and break the tension, but it ended in more of a whimper.

Polly didn't say anything, just stared, recounting everything he'd ever done, everything to her, everything to Underdog.

"...so uh," he tried starting, "I just… I don't know, I-I wanted to eat and I wanted to have somewhere to live where I wouldn't be harassed or assaulted everyday. And Underdog… Underdog… I mean, I love him but… at that point I couldn't find a way to survive and obey the law and… you were the only way to distract him for long enough I could. And I'm so so sorry I ever did all that."

Polly felt a pang of sympathy for him.

"Wait, what do you mean?"

"Well uh," Riff smiled, still anxious, "1996 and I was openly gay, that was the first reason. And I… couldn't hold a job because of that. You know, the actual employers can't discriminate but the employees can. And I got called all kinds of slurs and got beat up sometimes and… the employers couldn't say anything but they agreed with them and I couldn't stay at any job. And a place to live… ugh a place to live."

Polly felt her face heat up, starting to forgive him for everything. That sounded awful, how could she not?

"Before turning to crime I lived in a shelter, and of course I got assaulted and harassed there too and it was much more frequent, and the people in charge did it too so I… couldn't stay there. So I gathered a gang with about the same story and robbed some banks and bought an apartment. And then I… met Taps in '03 and made a one-eighty and… I punch people if they try to do anything to me," he laughed.

"He is… pretty neat, huh?" Polly felt herself smile despite herself, "So, how'd you two meet, how'd he help you?"

He smiled, happily, "Well, I was trying to rob the Typanni's he worked at and made eye contact and… well he's hot," which made them both laugh, before Riff went on, "...so I went back a few months later after the gang fell apart and I was unable to survive and apologized profusely and asked him out and… rest is history, y'know?"

Polly smiled, softly.

"And I mean… tons and tons of therapy, of course."

They both laughed.

"What about you and Taps, how did Lewis happen?" Riff went on.

She felt her heart drop to her stomach. That.

Riff's expression dropped as soon as he saw hers. "...you don't have to say-"

"It's only fair," she said, quietly. "...so, it was a bit after Underdog… did that… and I was torn up over it, still, and he just… was so nice to me and he… he looks so much like him. Not that… I never felt anything for him, of course but… things happen sometimes and I was upset and he said he was gay and it… wasn't a relationship that ever could've worked out." she felt tears starting to roll down her cheeks.

Riff looked surprised, stepping closer and shushing her, opening his arms. Polly gladly accepting.

"I just want my son back…" she whimpered.

"I know," said Riff, softly, "We'll find him. I promise."

"So, what's in the bag?"

"You know," muttered Lewis, still curled up comfortably in Underdog's arm, "Snacks. Clothes. I used to have money but I blew it all on bus rides."

"...how long do you plan to stay here?"

"Long as it takes for you to be convinced to come back. You're my only way of transport." he smiled, cheekily.

"Clever. Where am I returning to?"

"Manhattan."

"Manhattan…" he repeated softly, nervously. He looked horrified. He murmured something Lewis couldn't hear. "I can't go back to Manhattan…"

"...because you faked your death?" asked Lewis, softly.

"You know about that?" he asked, nervously.

"Yeah it was only the most consistent thing in all articles about you! And you're here so you faked it!"

Underdog was silent.

"Well if you put it so bluntly…"

Lewis jumped back, waving his arms in front of him, "No-no I didn't mean it like-!"

"Lewis," he said softly, choking up slightly, "I didn't fake my death. I failed dying."

Lewis felt his heart sink.

"Guess I had my powers too intact then." he sighed, then laughed, a tear falling down his face, "Lost em enough to knock me out for ten hours."

Lewis felt awful. What did he say to console him? Oh it's alright, suicide's bad? Would that set him off more?

So he didn't say anything, just snuggled up next to him as Underdog cried more, cursing at himself.