Chapter 9
Third Person:
"Dude, nice threads," Gear said as he headed out the door to help the twins in a battle against the Gryphon. He thanked her and ran out the door, directly behind the twins.
The twins had helped him pick out a new outfit. He was wearing something a lot similar than them, and it was way more comfy than the pinchy HAZMAT suit he used to wear. Now he wore a white shirt and belt with black cargo jeans and black combat boots that had white laces. He also had a black cloak with an elaborate white design that the twins made themselves. Since Axel was better at sewing than Alex, he made the cloak itself. Alex made the green DP that held it together. Somehow she even got it to glow.
"Gryphon," Animal/Alex said, "Has strength, speed, agility, flight, and teeth and claws that can tear you to shreds. Think you're up for it?"
"That sounds like a walk in the park compared to the training we did yesterday," he said.
They laughed, and Animal jumped up. Phantom caught her and launched her at the beast. She was like a human bullet.
She knocked the beast to his side and landed gracefully next to Phantom, who was shooting ice at him. Creature/Axel dodged the ice as he ran towards the hybrid and clasped his head in between his legs, forcing his face into the ground.
"Ice the wings!" Animal said as she went for the head.
He nodded and did as he was told. After that, the twins held the paws together so he could freeze them, making a make shift gryphon-cuffs. She high fived Phantom and Creature as she picked up the upper half while Creature picked up the lower half.
"Why do I always get the ass?" He said. Animal rolled her eyes and spread her wings.
"Who cares. Let's just get him to the Baxter Building."
"What's at the Baxter Building?" Phantom asked. The twins smirked.
"You'll see."
"Nice uh...Prison," Phantom said as they walked through the halls of 42 after putting Gryphon away.
"I know right," Animal said. "We've designed half of the cells in here, depending on which villain or skill set. That way there's less of a chance of them breaking free."
"Sweet."
"You wouldn't be saying that if you were in one of the cells."
He whirled around to find a green lady that was dressed like a Ringmaster in a circus, complete with black hair, yellow eyes, and a black mask. Animal and Creature growled in response.
"Can it, Ringleader," Creature said. Phantom's eyes widened.
So this is the person...er...Thing...that made them. Weird.
"Exactly why you're in there," Animal spat, her growl getting deeper.
It was a weird and extremely threatening sound. It sounded like a bunch of wild animals that were really pissed off and about to attack. At that thought it suddenly made sense.
"You killed hundreds, and tried to kill the Avengers and us. You deserve worse than that,"she continued.
"It's to good for you," Creature agreed.
"You filthy brats," Ringleader said, "If it wasn't for me you wouldn't be alive, and all of those worthless people you've saved would be dead as well."
"That doesn't make you a hero or a saint. And fyi, people are the least worthless specimens in the entire world. If anyone is worthless it's you," they said in unison.
Axel turned to Phantom as Alex stalked off.
"Come on. This trip just took a turn for the worse."
He nodded and they ran and floated to catch up with Alex.
"It takes a lot to piss me off but when it comes to her," Alex said, "I want to rip her throat out the second I see her. With extreme prejudice."
Phantom gulped, and mentally reminded himself not to get on her bad side. Or Axel's for that matter.
"What's got you in a weird mood?" Gear asked when he returned.
He shrugged and glanced over at the twins. Alex was bent over a piece of tech, muttering to herself, while Axel was occupying himself with a book.
"We went to 42," he said.
Gear paled slightly, knowing exactly why they were so pissed.
"Just let them be. They'll cool down soon enough. Besides, I'm coming to school with you tomorrow, so maybe that'll brighten things up a little bit "
He nodded, still unsure if he should try and comfort them or take Gear's advice and just leave them be.
"I'm gonna go get some food," he decided, and flew off at one of his fastest speeds, making Axel's pages whirl around and Alex's screws and bolts go everywhere. They didn't even flinch, and Gear whistled.
"Wow, they must really be pissed if they didn't even react to that," she said under her breath.
Shaking her head, Gear went over to sit beside Axel as she worked on her bracelet. She tinkered with it as her thoughts tended to drift towards the mutant beside her. Dang his nickname is Wanna Tap That for a reason, Gear thought as she bit her lip.
Axel looked up briefly and Gear coughed nervously as she lightly blushed. Alex looked up and gave a small smirk before she returned to her work. Man it's only a matter of time before those two get together.
The next day was a school day. As a result, Gear found herself being the subject to many stares as she walked through the halls. At least the twins have yet to see me. Danny didn't really wish to go to school because he was being ass about not getting enough sleep. Normally, Gear would agree and even ditch with him, however today was the one day the school cafeteria served some really good food. Not just food- steaks. For that, she didn't want to ditch and she wanted Danny to appreciate the steaks so she dragged him along. However, he only agreed to it if he got to choose her outfit for the day- a decision that she would regret if not for the fact that food was involved.
Under normal circumstances, there would no way she would be caught dead in a dress, but again- steaks are involved. The dress was the only one that she even owned so she was stuck with it. It was black and sleeveless, but the back of it was revealed. The back was only covered by small purple ribbons that criss-crossed across her back. It went mid-thigh and if the school wasn't so laid back about clothing, she would have been sent home. Her normal metallic belt laid loose on her hips. Somehow, Danny convinced her to go all the way- going as far as curling her hair, but she refused makeup (there was an accident with the mascara brush that ended in a poked eye- ironically enough, it wasn't her eye). On her feet were her normal combat boots- she drew the line at heels.
Every step she took, she was aware of lustful gazes along with glares of jealously. Occasionally, she heard a slap along with a girlfriend's remark about not staring. Screw this, dresses make me feel empowered, Gear realized, can't fight at all but I can feel the power...
During lunch, Danny was still laughing his butt off at her. She put her hand on her hip.
"Haha," she said sarcastically, "You think you're hot shit, Danny dude."
"Why yes, yes I do," Danny smirked before laughing again, "you in a dress! Never thought I'd see the day!"
She stuck out her tongue only to hear a sharp intake of breath from behind her. She turned only to see the twins. Alex was laughing her butt off as Axel was just staring at her- more so, he was staring at the different parts of her. She smirked,
"Like what you see? Better take a picture or shut your jaw."
Alex raised her hand to stop Axel from reaching for his phone to indeed take a picture.
"I swear," Alex grumbled, "I'm getting way too many images from you enough as it is."
Axel still continued to stare, willing himself to relax and more so, willing his nose to not bleed. It didn't help that Gear was being her usual slightly flirtatious self, which sent another wave of very inappropriate images through his head. He willed the blood flow to go back to his brain.
For crying out loud, Alex thought, Just ask her out already! I don't know how much more I can take of this!
Alex groaned and rubbed her temple.
"What's wrong," Danny asked.
"The images going through this pervert's head," she said, jabbing a thumb at Axel.
At his confused look she sighed.
"We have this little mental link up and I swear, that's all you're really gonna know."
Gear laughed and took a huge bite of steak, a bit of her ego swelled with pride. Hell yeah this dress is powerful. When Axel looked towards her, she winked, which sent yet another wave of images through his head.
"Gear, stop encouraging him," Alex snapped.
"Hey, it's his mind," Gear defended herself.
Alex just sighed, a part of her knowing that Gear wasn't just doing it because it was her nature to flirt. She was doing it because Gear liked Axel therefore she felt pride that he was getting such images of her. Though poor Axel would never live it down.
"So do you have anything planned for me later today?" Danny asked, more than eager to change the subject. Alex and Axel snorted.
"Please, we only do stuff like that if we're bored. But us two are on patrol tonight. If you wanna tag along feel free to do so. It always gets kind of irritating with the images that are in his head."
"I can't help it, I'm a dude!" Axel whined in protest which made Gear just laugh.
Alex ignored him.
"Think you're up to it?"
Danny shrugged.
"Sure, I'm in."
"Good, because J Jonah Loudmouth caught wind of you and is trying to convince the populace you're a menace like Spidey. We're going to...Persuade them otherwise."
"Sounds like a plan."
"Sweet," Gear said as she licked her lips.
She continued to lick her lips, eager to get any of the food off, however since her lips were clean (to her disappointment), she was just there licking her pink subtle lips which sent Axel into another wave of hormones. Alex snapped,
"Get that mind under control!"
"Why don't you just ask her out already!?" Animal screamed.
It was almost midnight so the twins and Phantom were on patrol, and Axel couldn't get Gear off of his mind. He was sure his sister screamed the question so loud a few people on the ground could hear her.
"If you like Gear then just do it," Phantom said. Alex nodded in agreement.
"Seriously, dude. It's kinda obvious she likes you too."
"Do you have any proof? She's flirty with everyone," Axel protested.
Alex rolled her eyes.
"That's true, but she's more flirty with you than anyone else."
"She's got a good point, man," Phantom said. Axel huffed.
"Fine, just...Not tonight or tomorrow."
Alex smirked.
"The great Creature. Able to fly, kick ass, and spars with the Hulk, still can't ask a girl out."
Axel shoved her off of their ledge and she laughed the entire way down. She spread her wings about twenty feet above the populace of New York and pulled up sharply so she didn't run into any people or cars or street lamps. When she returned to the boys she was still laughing slightly.
"Relax, it's your confession to make, not mine," she said, "My lips are sealed."
When they got he around two in the morning they found Hulk watching Godzilla. Alex hopped over the back of the couch and landed on one of Hulk's shoulders, leaning down to grab some popcorn. Luckily, Hulk was to into the movie. Axel quickly took the other shoulder, while Phantom just sat on the floor.
"Shouldn't you sleep?" Axel asked Phantom. He shrugged.
"You guys aren't going to bed."
"Yeah, well, we don't really like sleeping. Alex more than me, but still."
Alex nodded and crossed one leg over the other, using Hulk's head as an arm rest.
"Why not?"
"Dude, we told you our origin story. Try living through that and then sleeping. It's not fun, healthy, or refreshing."
"Yeah," Axel agreed, "It's like getting stabbed in the face over and over-"
"-Or losing a limb-"
"-Or basically anything just bad and extremely painful."
Phantom nodded, taking that into consideration.
"Well okay then. Is this on DVD or DVR?"
"DVR, we can watch it tomorrow if we have a chance," the twins said.
"Shut your mouths, the movie is getting good," Hulk huffed.
The twins shrugged and stole more popcorn while Phantom dragged his feet to bed.