Chapter Three

"It's Psychological, Dexter Douglas"

"My! You have such a…healthy appetite…"

Freakazoid choked the food in his mouth down his throat. Without a moment's pause he grinned, his teeth littered with bits of food. Steff giggled hesitantly and offered him his drink, which he accepted and partook of. Gurgling the carbonated drink Freakazoid cleansed his teeth of the bitty chunks of food. The drink sputtered everywhere as Steff startled him; she had tried to lean in and steal a kiss on his cheek.

Steff smiled shyly as Freakazoid turned to her with a crooked boyish grin; he gingerly sipped on his soda while a red hue brushed across his features. A little Dexter came out as he looked away, ducking his head into his shoulders and fumbling his feet over one another. But when she tilted her head for another attempt the blue teen shied away from her, stuffing his mouth with another burger.

A year later and they had learned to share most things, exist in a physical and mental sense on equal grounds. As long as they received equal treatment there were no hard feelings. This included to some extent spending time with Steff.

Of course Steff was oblivious to the arrangement, which only Dexter understood to be unfair and a little creepy. Here they were sharing her and she didn't even know it, but as Freak often pointed out she seemed quite happy. Dexter provided her with friendship and support while Freakazoid offered protection and an object for her to affectionate over. It wasn't as good a deal for Dexter as it was for Freakazoid, but he wasn't going to blame him for that- really, he couldn't help being muscular and blue, which apparently girls liked…a lot.

Steff swooned over Freakazoid, coddled him and told him her secrets. They weren't going out or anything, but most of the boys at school figured they shouldn't bother if she was spending all her time with an actual superhero. She leaned back in her chair, wondering briefly if in the future, if they happened to maybe get married if their children would come out blue. Her thought bubble popped as Freakazoid suddenly shook her.

"Hey Steff, you okay?"

"Oh…uh, yeah Freak", she muttered timidly as her face lost that dreamy look. "I was just thinking"

"Bout what?" he asked her so innocently, his eyes lit up with pure curiosity and interest.

"Oh…" she really didn't want to tell him, but he was leaning in closer and starring with those wide blue eyes of his, smiling with hopes of hearing something interesting. "Nothing we need to worry about quite yet", she offered knowing how ridiculous it was to assume, but a girl can dream can't she?

"Hm…weird, but okay…" he muttered; and just as he was about to engage in further conversation an alarm sounded in his head- it shook back and forth violently as he realized he was running late. "Oh it's 3:10! I'm supposed to meet Roddy in five minutes"

Steff lowered her gaze to the floor, trying not to look disappointed. But, heroes had their responsibilities and she understood that whatever he had to do was more important than her. Besides she did have homework to do and wanted to have something for Dexter to look over tomorrow during lunch. She offered Freak a smile and leaned in to kiss him.

"Bye Steff!" he shouted, already at the diner's door. "Be careful walking home okay?"

"Okay…" she put on a smile and waved goodbye; as soon as the door shut and Freakazoid was out of sight she let her head fall into her hands. "Is he playing hard to get or is he just not interested? No, he's interested", a thought popped into her head, simple and vague but it made sense; something or someone was holding him back. "I should talk to him about it…maybe he doesn't know what a girl wants in life?"

…

"Lad!" Roddy scolded as Freakazoid came into the park, pink in the face and breathing like a sputtering engine. "What's kept yew, messn round with that lass again?"

Freakazoid collapsed onto the grass and caught his breath. He ignored the pricking of the blades through his costume as he greedily sucked air into his shriveled lungs. Roddy looked down at him, giving him the look.

"Oh", Freakazoid chuckled, suddenly quite fine. "Is it time for us to begin OUR TRAINNING?"

The blue youth leapt off his back and landed on his feet where he hopped up and down punching about the air like a boxer warming up for a match, then dropped to the ground and proceeded to do some push-ups. His mentor patiently waited for him to get all the crazy out of his system or as much as possible before attempting to begin their scheduled training.

"Okay lad, it's time to begin", he said in a soothing toned, which halted Freakazoid's antics. "Be still and breath, have a seat and try to clear your mind"

Freakazoid collapsed to the ground like a noodle into an Indian style sitting position. He closed his eyes and tried to concentrate, tried to think of waves on the beach, flowers blowing in the wind and the soothing quiet that was tranquility. But his mind was too chaotic. Every time he began to feel peace a pop up add would remind him that the ice cream store down the street was having a buy one cone get one free deal or that he could get %20 off his next purchase at Bubba's Coat Emporium if he signed up for a membership.

"Yew will never achieve full potential if yew cannot concentrate lad", Roddy commented softly as he noticed the frustration forming between the blue youth's kneaded brow. "Yew said yew wanted to hone telekinesis, but here we are a year later an yew still cannot move a brick"

"I moved it"

'Yeah, into your face'

Freakazoid stiffened at Dexter's comment, embarrassed all the same as if Roddy actually had heard him. He hunched over and grumbled something back, but Dexter retorted with shrew wit and won as Freakazoid stammered about incoherent clumps of assorted words. Roddy knowingly turned his back to the two teens and tried his best not to feel discouraged. Freakazoid would hopefully mature with Dexter…someday. Truth was he knew that someday he wouldn't be around to guide the two boys.

"Okay lads, that's enough", he intervened as Freakazoid was screaming gibberish. "Freak…you won't ever be able to hone this gift if yew cannot focus properly!"

Freakazoid gave him a confused look, like perhaps he hadn't even been listening all the way. Roddy smacked the boy upside the head as he walked past him; near a tree he stopped and folded his arms behind his back in thought. Every other power came so easily to the lad, but it would make sense that he would have trouble with something that required so much control. Still, Dexter has managed to use it…

He recalled his earlier theories of the power actually belonging to Dexter. They had tested it thoroughly enough but he was never able to move even a hair. Maybe the problem wasn't Dexter being able, but unwilling to accept that he had abilities. He never had a good sense of self. Telekinesis was a mentally based ability and wouldn't manifest itself again unless Dexter believed.

"Go jump in that bush", Roddy shook his head at the awkward glance Freak threw him and added. "I want to talk to Dexter"

"Oh", he commented, shying away a little. "Ok"

Freakazoid leapt into a bush, being sure that no one around was watching as he shouted 'Freak In!' and in a flash of lightning transformed. A moment later Dexter stumbled out of the brush, struggling to pull his foot free as it tangled in the finer branches. As he caught his breath, adjusted his clothes and glasses Dexter allowed his eyes to adjust to the sun before seeking Roddy.

"It's, uh…pretty bright out here", Dexter commented as he did his best to shield his eyes from the afternoon sun. "I'm curious though, what would you need to talk to me about?"

"C'mere lad", the Scotsman reached out and wrapped his arm around the boy, patting his closest shoulder with his other hand as he lead him towards a path in the park; they began to walk as he tried his best to help Dexter understand his opportunity. "Yew ave been cutting yourself short for far too long laddie. It's time that you accepted the fact that yew are special"

"Roddy, we've been over this", Dexter sighed as he pulled free of his mentor's grasp. "…several times I might add…that I'm just not really the hero type. I'm small. I'm frail. I'm cowardly", he paused and thought for a moment, nibbling at his lower lip. "Freakazoid is the Hulk and I'm Bruce Banner"

"But that's just it Dexter!" Roddy exclaimed. "You could be more! So much more lad!"

Dexter shied away. He didn't want to believe that was an option; all his life everyone told him what a plain boy he was, how a wallflower like him would never amount to much. He'd heard it so often that he had grown to believe it all. Freakazoid was a different category however as he associated the alter ego with everything he felt he couldn't be and encouraged him.

Like a flickering light that day a year ago started coming back to him. Freakazoid had been in trouble, Gutierrez was creeping up behind him with something sharp and he tried to scream for him to turn around. Whatever it was actually penetrated the super teens skin, brought him into a state of disbelief as the pain took over. Gutierrez tried to bring the object down again, but Dexter wouldn't let him; not when Freak was trying so hard to save him. Just as the link had been repaired and the tip of the weapon nearly struck him Dexter called out for Gutierrez to stop.

It was such a freeing feeling. For the first time in his life, even if it were for just a moment Dexter knew what it was like to be in control. The feeling was wonderful and frightful, something too extraordinary for someone like him.

'Woah. Woah. Woah. Remember Dex, YOU saved me that day'

"It was all happenstance", he mumbled with a modest smile.

"What's going on through that head of yours lad?" Roddy intervene as he noticed the melancholy way in which Dexter smiled. "If we're going to complete your training then I need to know what's really troubling yew"

A breeze blew by and seemed to snatch the words out of Dexter's mouth when he parted his mute lips. Looking away he rubbed his arm in a common tick of his that surfaced when the boy became nervous. His mentor eyed him with a tilt of his head, but no matter how hard he thought he would be unable to know exactly what was on the teenager's mind unless he told him.

But Dexter seemed distracted, reaching down for a few rocks in the road. He tossed them idly at a tree, missing each time because he couldn't hit a mark to save his life. It seemed that he was mulling the whole thing over and after a few minutes he knew how to put his feelings into words.

"It's just…even if I did manage to unlock these abilities, Roddy…" Dexter ran his hand through his hair in a rushed fevered motion. "I wouldn't know what to do with them. What am I going to do, go out and fight crime? Nuh-uh. I'm perfectly fine coaching Freakazoid through situations because he's designed to be a superhero"

"What about everything else?" his mentor continued to push the subject. "Yew can't live through him lad, it ain't healthy. There needs to aspirations of yer own to strive for or you'll just be…"

"Nothing", Dexter finished for him, a glazed over look in his eye. "But, Roddy…I'm not a super hero"

"Yew dun have ta be", Roddy exclaimed with a smile. "Yew just have ta learn to live"

'He's right Huggbee' Freakazoid chimed softly. 'whatever makes you happy'

Dexter thought about what would make him happy. He wanted a job he didn't hate, someone to share his life with other than Freak and to help Freakazoid protect the city. That was it really. Simple.

'But it might be cool to have telekinesis'

"Yeah…" Dexter looked down at his last little rock with a smile. "Maybe it would be cool"

He threw the rock and missed. Roddy held out another to him, but as Dexter reached out the Scotsman retracted his hand. Dexter caught the mischief in his mentor's eyes as he timidly reached out again. This time Roddy let him have it.

"You could do it if you wanted to", he told him, begging for him to try without saying it.

'C'mon Dexxy" Freak chimed in. 'Give it a shot'

Dexter did try. He focused on the rock, telling it to rise up from his hand, but it didn't budge. But something inside him was pulling, trying to break free; perhaps this feeling was his inner restraint still telling him this was impossible. All too easily Dexter gave up.

"I think I need a break", he said flatly as he headed for the shade of a tree.

Roddy nodded and wandered off.

Dexter leaned against the cool trunk of the tree, holding the rock Roddy had gave him loosely in his hand. It wasn't much more than a pebble and yet Dexter felt inclined to believe this was something special.

'Go on Dex' he encouraged. 'Give it another go'

"You just want it to fly up and hit me in the face", Dexter jested.

'Only a little…cause it'll be funny'

"I can't do it", he pouted as he tossed the rock up and down in his hand. "Can't even throw it properly, what makes you think I can get it to levitate?"

'Cause you're using your big beautiful nerd brain!'

Dexter thought about it, and then focused those thoughts on the rock. Nothing happened as it went up and down and up and down by the flicking of his thin wrist. Then as he was focusing on it floating he felt something strange. It was akin to foresight.

He caught the object flying towards him when it was too late to do anything about it. In a moment of mental prowess Dexter loudly wished for it to stop. Raising his hands defensively he prepared for impact but oddly it did not come. The soft sound that followed made Dexter peek through his spindly fingers; on the floor he saw the object settle into the grass. Looking up he saw a very satisfied smirking Scotsman.

'Holy cow!' Freakazoid screamed, making Dexter flinch. 'That was awesome!'

((Author's note))

So i'm trying to humanize Steff a little more, because well...there wasn't much to her in the show. In my mind she should be physically attracted to Freak, but frustrated by his antics and emotionally attached to Dexter but put off by his, um, wimpiness.

Also...telekinesis! I have to use spell check every time I use the word!

YAY!