Tloj: I got a reviewer! My goodness, it's been such a long time since I've gotten one on my personal account... Sorry Exo, you don't count because I know you. :/
I'm not entirely sure if I'll update this every week... but since me and HTKWolfe777 finish a chapter pretty much every few days, it wouldn't be difficult. It's just that I'm a lazy jackal who, whenever I promise to update weekly, I eventually stop. Like Muse of Dragons. Or Lance of Hearts on DeviantArt. Or Lightspeed Heroes on DeviantArt. Or The Singer's Shadow. Then again, for these, I'm not RPing to make the story. I wish... but I digress. Enjoy this chapter!
I bolt upright to a blood-curdling scream. I sit up fast ready to fight...
It's just Millie trying to rip off Spike's arms. I spot Reave comforting Sarah on one of the beds, she seems a bit shook up.
"Uh..." I clear my throat, causing everyone to pause what they're doing to look at me. I check my watch with a yawn. "It's three in the morning. Why are we witness to attempted homicide?"
"I'm a helpless victim of circumstance," Spike whimpers.
"He was feeling us up in our sleep," Millie growls.
"I was asleep too," Spike whines. "I swear I was dreaming of marshmallows and milkshakes one second, the next I've got a Bad Hare Day!"
"Ugh, I wake up in two hours normally. Spike, take the open bed, Sarah and Millie take my bed. I'll get us some breakfast." I slide out of bed and scratch my back with a yawn.
I look down to see Spike hugging my leg, "Get me out of this madhouse! I swear I make an art out of dumpster-diving, I'll help find some good stuff!"
Millie crosses her arms as she sits on Sarah's other side. The mongoose looks up at me, and holds her arms out like she wants a hug. "Master..."
I'm too tired to argue, so I walk over and give her a hug.
She purrs, "Come back safe."
"No worries, he's with me," Spike says smugly from the doorway, and then runs out like a little girl when Millie hisses at him.
"I'll watch over them," Reave says in a promising tone.
I give Reave a salute and walk out and into the crisp cool air. It wakes me up immediately, and I turn to Spike. "See if you can find a wallet in the dumpster, then find me in the breakfast shop across the street."
Spike nods, and hops on the edge of the dumpster. He poses like someone at a pool about to dive, and then jumps in with a backflip.
"Okay... old milk... banana... banana peeling... old shoe... rat (can cook that later, let me put it in my pocket)... pocket watch... Hey I found a leather purse with... BINGO!"
He comes back up with some cash, and tosses me the purse. "Probably some purse-snatcher panicked, and ditched it. It's got everything your lady-friends in there need... I think. Who can fathom the mind of a woman?"
"My mother." I turn and start walking. "Now, grab the pair of clean clothes I keep underneath the garbage pails and put them on so you look like you're a hobo for a living."
"I am a hobo for a living," he replies as he hops out of the dumpster with more coordination than last time. "By the way, I never got your name. I never bothered to ask because I figured you were gonna try to kill me in the night, and then I'd add one more face to my un-alived list."
"Hero. Un-alive me? Heh, glad you didn't, otherwise you'd be missing your limbs to an angry rabbit right now."
Spike rubs his head, "Yeah, I'm trying to cut back on that. Kind of a hard habit to break when you grow up slaughtering people."
He folds his hands behind his head, and follows me out of the alley.
"You really like doing that, don't you? Killing people?" I adjust my clothes and run a hand through my hair, making sure I looked like a civilized person.
"Eh... not really, but it's what I do best. Kinda like those people who hate viedoe-games, but really know how to make them. Damn, I'm now realizing I've never played a video-game..."
"We're going to my house after breakfast, so I'm sure we'll have time to go a few rounds." I look at him. "Are you going to put those on? Because if not, you're going to have to wait out here."
"The hell I am," he says, and summons a red-bladed katana in a flash of black smoke. He slices open a fire-hydrant with it, and the water blasts him backwards. When he catches up to me he says, "See? All clean."
Why does that sword seem familiar somehow? I know I've never seen it, or him before...
"Clean, yes. How about presentable to society?" I snicker.
"You're talking to the wrong dude, Dude," Spike smirks, and slaps me on the back. "No society would take ME in, why do you think I live out HERE?"
"And yet here you are with me. Put the clothes on, please. You can change back once we leave."
Spike eyes them, "...You know my mom always had me dressed for Sunday School. Well... my first mom, my second one taught me the neat ways to kill a guy."
"You know what my mom taught me? That the world needs a hero, and that I would be him. That's why she named me Hero. And then my dad left us and my brother became you."
"She named you Hero so you'd be a hero?" He raises his eyebrows as he swaps his white shirt for the green one. "Better than mine I guess. My mom originally called me Thorn, which sucked because our last name was Rose... Ugh, Thorn Rose, can you say "corny" at all?"
"My mom's name is Payback, if that makes you feel any better." I smile.
"That's so frickn' cool," Spike says with anime tears pouring down his cheeks.
"Not to her. Imagine having that name in grade school. Everyone would mistake her being a guy. I guess it was good that she finally found my dad. You'll like his name, guess what it is."
"I'll never guess," he says, stuffing the jeans I gave him into his quills.
"Fear."
He looks thoughtful, "Payback, and Fear... Hot damn they must have been awesome folks!"
"They were. Well, my mom is. My dad was always scary." I shudder. "I had Jack the Ripper as a father, basically. I'm not sure if it was a curse or a blessing when he left, although it feels like a curse." I sigh, holding my hand out for the wallet and purse.
He drops them into my hand, pocketing one handful of copper rings, "Well I grew up with no dad, and a homicidal drill-sergeant for a mom. She runs a dojo on the other side of downtown, just fair warning. She hates men, though she'll put up with me, and my brother... And Reave, she respects him."
"Well then, I'll watch my step. I'm not really interested in having a relationship." Anymore, at least.
"Good call," he shudders. "So where are we headed again?"
"This breakfast shop. I'll let you pick your own breakfast, but make sure whatever you pick fits in the closed to go tray, please. I really don't care how much you stuff into it, as long as it's closed and not ready to come open again." We walk in, and I hand him a tray, grabbing a few more.
He eyes the food like a starving wolf... which I suppose he would be if he were a wolf.
"None of it can go in your mouth until we leave the building." I state, handing him a second tray. "Get something for Reave too. You know what he eats." I grab a few donuts for myself and place them in a tray.
He folds his ears down dejectedly, and loads his trays with pancakes, eggs, sausages, and bacon. "Why not get your girls something too?"
"Way ahead of you." I place some eggs and bacon in a tray, and pancakes with syrup cups in the other.
he takes a handful of the syrup packages into his quills, and follows me.
I load some waffles and some bread before grabbing a few pints of orange juice and milk. I also take some cereal and some ham.
He smiles, "Well I'm good, you?"
I grab a bit more food for myself before closing the trays. "Yep, let's pay."
We walk to the cashier, and he rings up our total. I count out the rings from the wallet, and he gives me my change before we walk out. "There, now you can eat your food." I say, glancing over at him.
Half of his share is already gone.
Him, and Reave are two different kinds of ninja...
"Huh, I thought you would've been done and chewing on the tray. You've disappointed me!" I smirk at him.
"Hey don't knock it till you've tried it," he says, and takes a bite out of the tray.
I laugh and put the trays in my hair, crawling into the cardboard box. When we're back inside, I take accountability.
Reave is meditating in a corner while Millie is doing the best she can to fix Sarah's hair. Reave opens one eye, and nods to me before going back about his business.
I walk over to Sarah and Millie and offer them each a tray. "Enjoy." I sit on the floor in front of them and open my tray, chomping into a doughnut.
They nod thanks, and begin to eat. Spike looks a little scared to get too close to Reave so he puts his tray on the ground, and slides it over. Reave deftly catches it, and smiles. "Thank you."
I nod. "So after breakfast, I'm going to see someone. You guys can stay here, or you can come with me."
Sarah looks up, "I'd like to come."
"That's what she said," Spike chortles.
I flick a plastic fork at him, and it stabs into the wall next to his neck. "That's plastic. The wall is concrete. Do the math." I state with a guarded smirk.
Spike stares at it. "...That is one tough fork."
"Yep." I take a sip of coffee before popping the lid, catching it, and handing the drink to the girls. I stand and brush the crumbs off my pants.
Reave smiles, "You were gracious enough to let us stay here. I wish there were some way to repay the favor."
"It's okay. You're welcome to live here, as long as you keep the place clean and are okay with the fact that I will drop in at random times. So don't do anything illegal, questionable, or something you wouldn't want me to catch you doing. Oh, and if a red fox comes in, he's my bro." I give him an informal salute before crawling out of the room.
"Later dude," I hear Spike call as the girls follow me out. They've eaten quickly, and toss their trays in the dumpster.
"All right... So where is this guy's place?" I hail a cab as I look at them.
They glance at each other. Millie says, "They say he squats in the condemned part of town, in the old hotel there."
"Ah, the place that Antonio says is haunted. Well, no taxi-driver's going there... Um... I'll drop us off close by." I open the back door for them.
They crawl in, and Sarah waits for me to enter before leaning on me again.
I shift uncomfortably before giving the driver an address.
She looks up at me sadly before pulling back, "I'm sorry..."
"It's not you, it's the seat... My back quills are stuck." I wince, sitting forwards and pulling my back spines from the chair.
She smiles, and smoothes them out so they lay flat between me, and the seat. "Better Master?"
"Yeah. Thanks." I let her lean against me again, and can't help but note that it feels hot in here. I say nothing though.
Millie cracks a window open as we cruise towards the streets of downtown.
Oh good, it's not just me.
"So I assume you two only have the very little clothes on your backs?" I ask, looking out the window to make sure we're going the right way.
They nod, and Sarah looks down in shame.
Millie growls, "Apparently it's up to the owner if you're allowed to have pocket money."
"We're going to have to change that then. I doubt my mom will like you if you come in dressed like hookers." I reach into my hair and pull out the purse that Spike gave me. "Here, there should be some cash in there. Go shopping for comfortable clothes when we stop."
Millie smiles, "Thanks... Hey, sorry for the harsh treatment earlier. Force of habit, I'll try to rein it in."
"It's okay. You love your sister, and you'll do anything to protect her. My brother's the same, even though I'm older." I hand her the purse. "I'm not sure how much clothes are nowadays, so be sure you have enough cash before you buy it. And don't use any cards. I'm not letting you go to jail."
Millie ruffles through the purse, and tosses the cards out the window. "There are still a few hundred rings in here, that should be enough for us to get a few extra changes of clothes at least."
"Just make sure I can carry it. I hear girls gain super-strength whenever they go shopping, and I don't have that power anymore." I chuckle.
Sarah giggles, and Millie rolls her eyes with a smile. "Riiight... So where are we going to be going? It'd be nice to know so I can get the stuff that will last us the longest."
"Oh, my brother's house is in the suburbs. We'll bunk there, and then I'll be able to figure out what I can do with you two. I really have no plans after that at the moment."
The cab stops, and I pay the driver before stepping out.
We stand in a part of the city more rubble than building. The place has been such a warzone for gangs since so long ago the cops are afraid to come here. I can't say I'm too surprised Smoke would base himself here, considering what I've heard about Poisoned Rose.
I turn to the girls. "Go ahead and shop. If you run into trouble... kick it where it hurts, then run."
"Don't have to tell me twice," Millie chuckles, and leads Sarah off.
I make my way towards one of the more intact buildings, and look it over. My eyes are drawn downwards as i see many old sets of tracks, and a few new ones headed for the entrance to an underground parking garage. I run and skip onto the rails, grinding on it up to the entrance before stepping off and walking inside.
Hm, spacious.
I see light shining from around the corner, and follow it. The sight before me makes me pause.
Smoke must do very well for himself. I see a couch and two armchairs in a corner with a TV, and computer beside them. A boxing ring sits in the middle of the space lit by several lamps, and a Jacuzzi behind it with a shower curtain. A few punching bags hang from the ceiling, thoroughly used judging by the amount of duct-tape wrapped around them.
Movement catches my attention as I see the cat in question doing flips while holding two rings hanging from the ceiling. As he does he kicks tennis balls against the wall that rebound back to him in a steady stream.
"Huh, and I thought you'd have to find me in this place." I walk over.
He drops to the floor, and kicks the balls into a bucket one by one before turning to face me.
"Nice of you to drop in, so when do you want to start looking for mommy?"
I freeze.
"...What?" I blink, making sure I heard him correctly.
He raises an eyebrow, and walks around me towards his boxing ring, "Oh come on, surely you don't think I'd ask you over before doing my homework. I thought the bitch would like to know his lineage."
He hops up, landing nimbly on one of the posts on one foot. "What did you think I called you here for?"
"Watch who you're calling what." I hiss. "I thought you'd give me some good news, like maybe being able to revive my dead girlfriend or something, not tell me you happen to stalk my mom on Facebook. My mom is at home with my brother." I pause, realization hitting me. "Wait... Do you mean my birth mother?"
"Yeah, that's what I meant by 'Bitch,'" he says with a roll of his eyes, and casual tightrope walks to the post on his left. "I'm not a fan of insulting people who don't deserve it."
"My mom is still alive? How? Where is she?" My mind is swirling with millions of questions.
Ugh, shouldn't have eaten all those donuts.
Smoke turns, and starts backflipping end over end until he gets to the next pole, "You sure you wanna buy that information? Knowledge can be a terrible thing."
Ugh, right, prices. Hm, think logically. If I DO get this information, how will my life change? I just got placed in charge of two girls, do I really need to complicate things even further? ARGH! Chrys, where are you when I need you?!
Smoke stretches into a back-flip, and starts walking down the next rope on his hands, "No pressure dude. You can walk right out that door, and pretend this meeting never happened, or you can stay, and do more good for the world like you did for those girls."
"...I'll think it over. How much is this info, if I want to pay for it?" I watch him.
"I don't have a set rate," he says honestly. "But this is info on your mommy so I'll give you what you pay for, and even give you a discount for helping me out last night."
"Then I'll come back with a silver ring if I want this info. I'll find you here if I want it?"
He nods, "Alright. Want a tidbit on the house?"
"Why not?"
"She's an Echidna."
Glass shatters around me as I hear that.
"A-What?"
"Echidna, E-C-H-I-D-N-A," Smoke says slowly. "You know, had the strongest empire a thousand years ago, still one of the strongest Mobians on the planet? But I'll let you in on one more secret... I haven't even gotten to the juicy part yet."
"I know what an echidna is!" I snap at him. "My adopted father is an echidna. Are you going to drop this juicy bit, or am I paying for it?"
So... this means I'm part echidna. How come I don't have super-strength naturally then?
Smoke hops off the rope, and lands in front of me, hands on his hips. "Nope, just giving you a reason to come back. Just a thing though, my policy is complete honesty. I was honestly surprised to find a living hybrid, most die before they're born. You must take after your dad."
"I wish... My adoptive father shares no DNA with me, which means my real father is a hedgehog, or a hedge-hybrid." I look up thoughtfully. That explains my abnormal powers... kind of. I'm not really supposed to be alive, according to what he just said, so I adjusted.
Smoke pats my shoulder, "Well, I guess you've got to be someplace right? Or can you stick around for a cup of cowboy coffee?"
I check my watch. It's only been a few minutes; the girls shouldn't be done shopping yet. "I can stay for a few minutes."
"Cool," he walks over to a table with a coffee machine boiling water. He scoops some mix, and dumps it in the pot, stirring it. "Reason it's cowboy coffee is because I ran out of filters a while back."
"It never occurred to you to use a clean rag or something?" I suggest.
"Where do you expect me to find that on the streets?" He hands me a mug of the stuff, "If soap was so easy to find you think everyone out here would smell so bad? Hell, I'm just lucky my Jacuzzi rig over there recycles water so I can wash up in clean water."
"Like you just said, it recycles water. Whenever you get soap, take a small bit and put it in a bucket to wash stuff, and rinse the rag out using the water. After that, all you're using the rag for is filtering coffee, so you can use that soap bucket to wash your hands instead of wasting power on your Jacuzzi."
Smoke pauses as he thinks that over, "...Good advice, for that I'll throw in a bonus. When you come back I'll have a team put together to help you find mommy-dearest."
"Thanks?" I reach into my hair and pull out an unopened pint of milk from breakfast.
He pulls down the bottom half of his hood-mask, and I glimpse heavy layers of scars on his chin as he drinks.
"Well this was a fun bonding chat... hey, where are those girls at?" He looks around as he replaces his hood.
"Shopping. I'd prefer if they look like normal people so we don't attract unwanted attention." I pour some milk into my coffee and take a sip. "Where'd you get the scars?"
"Poisoned Rose, remember?" He sits on the couch, "Well... not entirely true I guess. I was born, and raised on the streets. Let's just say every bit of me you can't see is scar tissue."
"Ouch. From foes, I hope. It's harder to explain scars you get from friends."
"No friends out here," he says. "Just those you can trust not to stab you in the back just yet, and those you gotta kill."
"Dark." I mutter. "Even if the world turns on me, I know my bro will have my back."
"Yeah that's your family," he says. "Well I guess you'd better get going."
I can't help but note that as soon as I mention my brother, he goes cold on me.
I finish my cup and stand, saying, "Thanks for the info and the coffee. I'll see you around."
"Yup," he says in a bored voice, and turns on his TV.
I walk out and walk to the nearest store, which happens to be *shudder* a big mall. I walk to the map directory, and study it.
Let's see... by trial and error, they wouldn't go to the expensive clothing stores. That takes out Dillard's and JCPenny... They're at Steven's Clothes.
I turn and start walking.
I find them walking out of the store with a few bags. Millie is dressed in a tan t-shirt with jeans, and Sarah is wearing a light pink dress.
I must say, they look even more attractive than I imagined they would.
I walk over and whistle. "What, only a few bags? Did you only start shopping or something?"
Millies shakes her head, "No point blowing all our cash, we'll probably need it later. We spent about half on two changes of clothes each, and kept the rest."
Sarah smiles at me, "How was your meeting with Smoke?"
"Interesting, to say the least." I offer to take the bags.
They both politely decline.
"So where to?" Millie slings her bag over her shoulder.
"My house. Do you two want a snack first?" I check my watch. It's about time for a normal person's breakfast.
They nod, and follow me down to the food court.
I order us each a vanilla ice cream cone, and we sit down to enjoy them.
I pointedly have to ignore Sarah licking hers due to very dirty thoughts... I can't help but glance over every once in a while, though. I turn away and finish my cone, throwing away my napkin. "Ready to go?" I ask.
They nod, Sarah daintily using a napkin to wipe her lips. Millie seems very much less refined in everything she does.
I offer my arms and say, "Then shall we go?"
Sarah laces her arm through his with a smile, and Millie takes the other with a smirk.
We walk outside, and I hail a cab. I open the door for them, and once they're inside I step in and say, "Waldo Drive, please."
The cab driver nods, and pulls out. Sarah yawns, and rubs her eyes, threatening to fall asleep where she is.
"Once we get to my house, be calm. My mom and brother are a bit... weird in different ways." I say.
They nod, and their eyelids droop.
I yawn. Man, what DID they put in that ice cream, anyways?
Sarah catches herself as she almost slips into my lap, "Oh... sorry..."
"We're almost there," The driver calls back.
"Okay." I roll down a window and let the breeze in.
We soon arrive, and I pay the driver. "We're here!" I say, opening the door and stepping out.
Sarah has to be dragged out, not much of a morning person after all. Millie is wobbly on her feet, and puts a hand on me for support.
Thankfully, Sarah is light. I grab her bags and lift her bridal style, carefully leading Millie to the door. I gently adjust her over my shoulder, and fish my keys out of my pocket, unlocking the door and letting us in. I lay Sarah on the couch, and set her bags down. I point to a second couch and say, "Make yourself comfortable, I'll go find my family and let them know to not disturb you two."
Millie nods, and lies down on the second couch, lying on a pillow with her ears flopping about.
I wander around and look for Antonio, checking the kitchen.
Hello, a note on the fridge.
"Dear Hero, the office called me up. I've got to solve something that's got them stumped, so I'll be around for dinner. Mom's gone out to look for jobs again, so don't look for her. She should be back to fix dinner. From, Antonio."
Okay, mystery solved.
I open the fridge and pour myself a glass of fruit juice and walk back to the living room, adjusting the two girls' bags to not be in the way before sitting in a recliner.
They look so peaceful lying there...
I guess they haven't felt this safe in a long while.
I sigh and recline back. I don't want them, and yet, I do. They respect me, and they like me. I may never have another chance like this to get a girl... but it's just so close to me losing Chrys! I... I don't think I'm ready for another relationship...
I gaze at Sarah.
Her mouth slowly opens, and closes with her quiet breathing, holding one pillow to her chest while putting her head on another one.
I can't push them away... That would be mean.
I look over at Millie.
She's sprawled over the couch, one ear covering her eyes as she breathes through her nose.
But if one of them wants to have a relationship... I guess I'll give it a go.
I swivel my chair to face the TV, setting my juice on the coffee table and picking up my Xbox controller, turning the system on. I load up the game, and join a lobby, immersing myself in the world of COD:BO2 Zombies.
I'm into the game for an hour when i hear whimpering. I look over to see Sarah shaking, hugging her pillow tightly to her chest.
"Hey guys, watch the crawler." I say into my microphone before pausing my screen and pulling off my headset. I walk over and gently shake her. "Sarah? You okay?"
Her eyes snap open, and she goes rigid. Her eyes focus on me, and slowly she untenses.
"Are you okay? It sounds like you had a bad dream." I say seriously.
She nods, and sits up. "Yeah... but it was just a dream..."
"You can keep me company, if you want." I walk back to my chair and sit down, putting on my headset and saying, "Okay guys, I'm back. You can kill the zombie."
She nods, and scoots over to the side of the couch closest to me. She stares at the TV, ears folded back.
"This game tests your survival and luck. It's set during an apocalypse." I explain to her as I kill a zombie.
She nods, "Okay..."
I'm getting the impression it's not the game that scares her.
"Do you want to talk about your dream?" I ask, glancing at her between kills.
She shakes her head, "Not really no... Is there a second controller?"
"Hey guys, I need to go. See you later!" I quit and go into a private match, pulling a wireless controller from my hair and handing it to her.
She smiles as I show her the controls, and explain the game play. We entertain ourselves for an hour and a half before I hear something outside.
I throw a grenade before standing and saying, "Watch the crawler and make sure it doesn't get me, okay?"
She nods, and zeroes her camera on it.
I walk over to the door, and open it just as my mom walks up to the door.
"Hero, there you are! I was concerned when you didn't come home last night!" She says, hugging me.
"Hi Mom. I got to tell you something important..." I say, pausing to think about how I was going to say this...
"What is it?" She asks seriously.
"We... Ugh, I'll show you." I walk into the house, and lead her to the living room.
My mom pauses. "Oh, hello! Are you Hero's girlfriend?"
"MOM!" I shout, horrified.
"What? She's in our house, playing your video games, and you're just introducing her now." She places her hands on her hips suspiciously.
Sarah looks up, pausing the game with a blush. "N-n-no ma'am... I'm..."
From behind my mom's back I'm sending Sarah scared looks. She smiles thinly, and continues, "I'm Sarah, and Hero saved me. My sister too." She points at the still-passed-out rabbit.
"From what?" My mom raises an eyebrow.
"Slavery, Mom."
She turns to me.
"They were being treated badly at a bar that Antonio took me to-"
"Antonio took you to a bar?!" She screeches.
I wince.
"He took me there because he wanted me to stop grieving over Chrys." I explain.
"Continue." She says, crossing her arms.
"The manager was treating them badly, so I politely told him to stop. He got violent, so I showed him a few of Antonio's moves. He begged me to leave him alone and gave me the papers for the girls."
I watch her process this silently before I finish, "They're slaves, Mom. And I own them." I sigh, hating the word "slave".
Sarah shows her the tattoo in her elbow, "It's true... but I like Hero. He offered to take out Millie's chip if she wants."
"So you saved them from a horrible life?" Mom sums up, smiling. "I'm proud of you, Hero. You're proving that I named you correctly." She hugs me and walks into the kitchen, saying, "Just be sure next time you bring girls into the house, you introduce them to me properly BEFORE they enter the house."
I give Sarah an exasperated look.
Just then, the front door opened, and my brother called, "I'm home!"
"ANTONIO!" My mother screamed.
"I'm not home!" He calls again, closing the door.
Sarah giggles as Millie sits up groggily, "What's going on, and it better be World War 3 or someone's getting hurt."
"Just about. Antonio forgot to tell Mom that he took me to a bar last night. Go back to sleep." I smile, walking back to the recliner.
"Yes sir," she groans, and lays back down.
Sarah stands, "She's never been much of a morning person."
"Well, it's almost lunch... so it won't be morning in thirty minutes." I check my watch. "Do you want to keep playing?"
"Whatever you like," she says with a wide smile.
"I have a feeling Antonio'll be back for lunch, and I know he'll want to play. So, I'd better warm up a four player game." I turn off the Xbox and unplug it, switching to a Wii. "He enjoys Super Mario Bros." I pause, tilting my head. "Huh. Every time I mention Mario, I swear I hear someone scream. Weird." I shrug and boot up the system.
Sarah shrugs, and accepts the controller I hand her. Now that she's recovered from her nightmare my mind starts to wander towards my conversation with Smoke earlier.
I can make a difference... a small one, but just as big as helping Sarah and Millie. But will my real mother want me? What if I meet her, and she tells me she got rid of me? To lose my best friend, and then my mother? I can't live with that stress!
"So, this game is much simpler. The 2 button is jump, the D-pad is to move, and the 1 button is to run and extra actions." I say.
She nods, and plays around a bit on the first course to get a hang of the controls.
Smoke seemed to be saying I could be doing even better good than I did for these two...
"If things get hectic, press the A button to go into a bubble. Then, I'll get us both by." I say.
How would I? It's not like I'm going on some epic quest...
She nods, and perks her ears when it works.
So does that mean Smoke's information would send me on one? Just who is my mother that I'd have to go through an Informant, and former street fighter just to find her?
"Now, just watch and trust me to get us through." I smile.
I need to talk to Antonio when he gets home.
She nods, "Always."
I breeze through the stage, collecting all of the collectibles. "There, easy. Now it's your turn. I'll go in the bubble, and trust you to get to the end of the stage."
She nods, and carefully tries to copy my movements.
"Doing good. Keep going." I encourage.
She nods... and cheers when we get to the end of the stage.
"Great job!" I give her a hug without realizing it.
She purrs, and hugs me back, and that's when I realize what happened.
I gradually let go so she isn't disappointed, and turn back to the game. "Now that you've grasped the basics, I can explain the power-ups, and what they do."
She nods, and starts hanging on my every word.
"Using any of the abilities changes your look, and what you can do. Fire Flowers turn you into Fire Mario, and you can shoot fireballs. Ice Flowers turn you into Ice Mario, and you shoot ice-balls. A Star makes you shiny and invincible for a brief time." I run through all of the powers and demonstrate onscreen, using the power-ups I've collected. "Personally, I love Fire form. It's the coolest to me. Occasionally, I wish that I could use it myself... but I'd have to see it in person in order to use it." I look at my hands and imagine shooting fire from them.
She tilts her head, "I see... Sounds like fun!"
I jump to my feet and pretend to shoot fire from my hands at Millie.
Millie jerks at the sudden movement, and Sarah laughs.
I smile and say, "Sorry. Did I wake you?"
"Yes," she yawns. "But it was going to happen anyways, so whatever."
"Well, you're up now. This game is more fun with more players, wanna join?" I offer a controller.
She shakes her head, "No... Where's the shower?"
"Second door in the hallway on the left." I point down the hall.
She gets up with one of her bags, and starts walking, "Can I borrow a towel?"
Sarah looks herself over, "I should wash up too..."
"Sure, towels are in the cupboard." I say. I hand Sarah one of her bags and say, "Here you go."
She smiles, and follows her sister, leaving me to my thoughts.
Tloj: R&R would be great. Please, don't fave and run. Give us suggestions and stuff! I love roleplaying with Sonic characters.
I own Hero.
HTKWolfe777 owns Sarah, Millie, Spike, Reave, and Smoke.
Legsboy Team owns Antonio, used with permission.
Hero and Antonio's mom, or Payback Fox, is owned by Sega. As is Lien-Da.
Treyarch owns COD: Zombies.
Nintendo owns Mario.