[Yep, there it is. For now, he'll just set the box on the ground in front of them until Wally's ready for it, and instead nudge shoulders before putting an arm around him.]
Glad I'm here too. [He hates the idea of Wally being alone right now, even just until he got his bearings. Nah, Tadashi's glad he made it here so quick.]
[It doesn't really take a lot; a little hiccup and then Wally is twisting over onto his hip, his knee so he can swing his arm around Tadashi's other side in a hug. His gloved fingers clutch at the back of Tadashi's shirt as he just drops his face on the guy's shoulder and lets himself tremble for just a little bit. Tadashi, he's always been such a nice person, reminded Wally a lot of Barry; that unassuming need to just be kind, to just be there for others, regardless of anything else.
Barry had screamed for him before he disappeared to- to wherever he went.
Wally clutches tighter; he probably smells a bit like ozone, like that runoff from the MFD, probably is still humming a bit like a livewire, that curiously warm buzz that speedsters put off after just barreling their way across a continent. Hopefully it doesn't bug Tadashi because Wally's going to cling for a minute and let Tadashi just shield him from everything, for just a second, if that's all right.]
[He doesn't even say a word; Tadashi moves to hold Wally and hug him close, giving a little squeeze. It must've just happened. He's not going to bother thinking about Hey this is the first time he's seen Wally in this costume, are you Kid Flash? because there's no point right now. Tadashi has a vague memory, of blood and fear and screaming, and someone in a yellow costume carrying him to the EMTs and telling him he'd be okay.
Of course it was Wally back then.
It's only right that Tadashi does the same back for him.]
[If it was Barry, or his parents, or Artemis, Wally would probably be there for the better part of an hour. He doesn't want to move but he's not going to make Tadashi cradle him gently while he has a mental breakdown, so after a few moments he scrabbles for his composure, collects himself and pulls back with a loud,] Oh-kay, [and rubs at his eyes again, sitting back on his heels.
He tries on a smile. It's not the same as when he was younger; that devil-may-care cocky grin, bursting with self-confidence and righteousness. It's older, and not as comfortable, but it's there.
Wally thumps a hand on Tadashi's shoulder before turning and sitting back down beside him, sniffling just a bit and pulling the box back into his lap.] Wow, I'm barely back for five minutes and you're already trying to woo me? You should know I'm taken, probably. [Despite, y'know. Death.
He does hold out the open box for Tadashi to take the first one, though. May not seem like much a gesture, but anybody who knows Wally knows that it's as good as throwing himself in front of a train for someone.]
[Tadashi would sit out here half a day to be that shoulder if Wally needed it. But then again, Wally's never been the overly emotional type, at least not with him. Maybe others he's closer to. He won't call attention to the change in his smile, or the suit, or any of it.
But the offering has him floored. And he's not about to be rude as hell and say no, so he grabs one, with that bright pink Homer Simpson frosting.]
Yeah, you were married to quite a number of restaurants here last time if I remember right. [Takes a bite of that donut.]
Do you want deets, or just sit and eat for a while?
Wally sighs and takes his own, crossing his legs to rest the box on his thigh and knee, leaning his head back against the brick after scrubbing a hand through his hair. It must have been a while; Tadashi looks older, and Wally knows he definitely looks older. There's probably a lot to catch up on.] Lay it on me. What you been up to?
[He's taking his time with that donut. Unlike some people next to him, he doesn't have a speedster metabolism.]
Well - Got back about six months ago. Stark's gone, his company was liquidated about two weeks before I got here. Managed to sneak into the building and get a bunch of our lab's hardware out before they turned it into whatever it is now. [He had a lot of research, and he wanted Wally's too, for all the good it would do him.] They've got me working as a youth counselor now.
Jaime's still here, he remembers everything. I don't think he's left, actually? Uh, he's engaged. I'm the only one from my home here. Most... everyone else we knew is gone. At least our mutual friends, I dunno who else you knew before. Crane's still here but... seems like he's laying low. I've only seen him around once and I can't tell if he remembers anything or not.
[He rubs the back of his head. Wally wants to know what he's been up to but...]
Honestly, I... haven't been up to much of anything. It's... felt weird, being back and barely knowing anyone anymore.
[He sure did just slide right by all that important shit like it was nothing huh.]
1. Stark is gone? Jesus 2. Jaime is ENGAGED? Double Jesus. Good for him though. 3. All their mutual friends are gone? Sounds...lonely.
Wally's on his third donut despite the brevity of the account, but honestly this was the best way to go. Wally's head is still reeling from kinetic output and magnetic disruption physics and the quantum mechanics of existing and not existing simultaneously and then also maybe death, so a short recap is...nice. Digestible.
Starts fourth donut. He's not even sniffling anymore.]
So everything's different... [Tadashi went back, too. Wally never really got the details from Tadashi about how long he had until curtains, but Wally doesn't really want to ask now. He's also 'gone back' only to reappear back in this world, weeks having passed when he'd only experienced a few hours. Comparing the passage of time between these worlds is pointless.] That crazy stuff with the submarines and the Soviet Union still going on?
No. [He finishes his donut and rests elbows on his knees, kinda linking his fingers idly.]
Haven't heard anything about it since I got here. Worst that's happened was a bunch of imPorts went to... some other alternate world and came back a few weeks later.
[Holds box out again. -wait, is that Tadashi's favorite type of donut sitting untouched in the corner, despite the systematic decimation of the others around it?]
So more of the same.
[Tadashi's always been calm but he seems...different. Less calm, more muted. Focusing on someone else is helping Wally pay less attention to the shitshow that is his current emotional health so he's gonna zero in on that.] Jaime's still here? Did he end up...y'know, forgetting anything?
[Wally may as well have proposed right there with that offering. Tad gives a little lopsided smile and takes it.]
No, he remembers everything. He found me first when I got back. [And sobbed on him a second time. Right, he should. Probably take care of that. He slips his free hand into his pocket and shoots off a text before returning to that delicious, delicious donut.]
[Right, calling himself taken and everything...he's a hussy goin' after that bussy]
Wait- [Ah, Tadashi already did before Wally noticed. Not that he doesn't want to see Jaime again- he absolutely, desperately wants to see one of his best friends again- but he just doesn't want to end up collapsing into tears again because he's not sure if he can pull himself together a second time and he doesn't really want to subject Jaime to that despite both he and Tadashi being 100938420348% better equipped to handle emotions than Wally is.
Oh well. It's probably like, really fucking rude to not tell your best friend that you're back after five years...or however long it's been here.]
Okay. [His hair is well and truly fucked up, not just from the hood and him pulling at it, but he's pretty sure there's a combination of sweat and like, alien energy particles making it stick out everywhere so Wally just drags a hand through it again.] -hey, uh, why don't we go somewhere? Bowling? How d'you feel about bowling?
[Wally you literally have told him nothing of your life in the past five years. -wait, does Tadashi even know that he- was Kid Flash? Shit, he does now, doesn't he?]
[Hey he could've been texting anyone!! You don't know, Wally! But at the 'wait', Tadashi looks at him, worried, and then that kind of rambling about bowling and--
Man.]
You sure you wanna go bowling in that? We can probably stop by my place so you can change or something. [He definitely didn't know but he does now. If Wally doesn't bring it up, then he won't.
He gets the donut in his mouth and pushes up to his feet, holding one hand out to Wally.]
[There's maybe a donut and a half left in the box but Wally still tucks it under his arm as he takes Tadashi's hand. Climbing to his feet, even with Tadashi's help, feels monumental, and as he looks down at his uniform he feels exhausted beyond measure.]
...yeah. Uh, yeah, I should...probably go to my government issued barracks, or whatever the hell.
[Maybe just find a hole and bury himself in it.] Hey, did you know Dick Grayson? Is, um, is he still here? [Wally has no idea what he's going to do if fourteen- (sixteen?) year-old Dick Grayson is still cackling around the imPort cities. The last words he said to him back home weren't anything special, and they haven't been good for a long time, but it seemed like maybe they could get back there with some work. Wally wanted to work for it, but now-] Or, um, a girl named Artemis? [Wally could check on his own comm but he's kind of scared to.]
[He keeps a steadying hand on Wally's arm until he's sure the guy's stable. And god, Wally's grown. How long has it been for him? He's seeing a few more of the changes that come with age but he won't comment.
Instead he shakes his head and takes the donut out of his mouth now.]
No. Neither names, I don't recognize them. And who said anything about the house they assigned you? You're coming to mine, I just moved into a private apartment.
Nice, kidnapping time. Love to see it. [Brings back those good sidekick memories. Honest to god, Tadashi, make all his decisions for him, please. He might be flippant right now but the way his dummy big shoulders suddenly sink shows exactly how relieved he is that he doesn't have to navigate any social interactions with strangers, at least for the time being.]
[Yeah, Tadashi remembers how it was when he ported back in right after dying. He didn't want to see anyone he wasn't familiar with, he didn't want to make any decisions... At least not for a solid week. He'd never asked the circumstances of what was going to happen to Wally before. He sort of wishes he had now.
He just motions for Wally to follow him to the porter, and to Nonah.]
Don't, uh. Mind the boxes, I'm still unpacking. [The place is organized mess. A few boxes here and there, but most of the living room is taken up by a single couch, coffee table, and boxes of hardware and tech; some of it from Stark Labs, some of it from the old De Chima house, some of it from what Hiro left at Aunt Cass'.]
Wow gross, ew, [Wally says flatly, playful just by rote. He's looking around but not quite taking it in, though his eyes do hold for a moment on a photo of Tadashi, Hiro, and Cass. Right, Tadashi said he was the only one here from his world, so...Auntie C would've gone, too.
The donuts are long finished so Wally breaks the box down and tucks it into the trash, starts stripping off the various accouterments of his uniform while Tadashi disappears into his room to retrieve some clothes for him to borrow. They're around the same size; Tadashi is taller but Wally is broader, so hopefully it won't be too much work.
And then Wally just stands there in his bright yellow and red spandex, clutching his gloves and his goggles, looking as lost as he feels as he gazes blankly around at the little life Tadashi is piecing together for himself here, not quite from scratch but damn close.
...he'll be doing this, too. Maybe he should be grateful, that there's something like this for guys like them. The ones not ready to go just yet.]
Hey Tasha? [Wally calls, still looking around listlessly.] Are you religious? Believe in heaven and all that?
[He's taking a few minutes longer than he really needs. Give him a minute, he's got some wet in his eyes that he has to let out, uses a tissue to muffle a sniffle while he shuffles a box around at the same time. While he was never one to cling to the past, he's so relieved that someone who knew him before came back and remembered him.
He's coming out of his room when Wally calls for him, red t-shirt and some jeans in hand.]
...I don't know, really. I sort of did before, but... After years of this place... I don't know.
Yeah, I get it. [Wally's starting from the opposite direction: scientist stereotype, aggressively atheist, but what else could this be but an afterlife if people who die come here?
He takes the clothes, shifts his weight before nodding over to the bathroom to change out of sight. ...doesn't close the door. Starts to, but then what if he does, and then he opens it, and he's somewhere else? Or if Tadashi just vanishes back home while he's not looking, and then Wally is alone in Tadashi's half-completed apartment, with his half-completed life, and all Tadashi's clothes and photos like it's some kind of memorial?
When Wally emerges, his folded uniform, gloves and goggles wrapped up in a bundle under his arm, he pauses.] You, uh...you didn't know, right? [Lifts the bundle a bit.] It's not a big deal, not anymore, but...you can ask, if you want. [It was a big deal, once upon a time. Hell, just a few hours ago, it had felt like a big deal again.]
[He'll take the few minutes Wally's in there changing to let a few tears squeeze out. Just sit on his couch with his face in his hands and breathe while he feels his fingers get wet. And just as soon as he starts, he takes a quick inhale, uses the collar of his shirt to dry his face when Wally comes back out.]
...No, I didn't know before. Makes sense. I didn't know about Jaime either, until a few months ago. Starting to suspect everyone I know is a superhero.
Technically, I think everybody here is. [Unless they're a supervillain. Fucking Crane.
Wally tosses his uniform onto Tadashi's couch, though he does pause for a minute after their eyes meet and he notices Tadashi's are a little bit red at the corners.] Runs in the family, carried over here, more or less. I quit a while back to go to college, but certain circumstances meant I picked it back up again. [And it's a good thing he did, too; that's the only thing keeping his bitterness at bay, that he contributed to Earth's survival. Or...he thinks he did. He'll never know for sure, will he?] Anyway, I know I suggested bowling, but how about takeout and never going outside ever again?
I'm fine not being a superhero. Already had that talk with Hiro, I'll leave that to him and his team. [Had he ever talked about that with anyone else? That Hiro and all his friends back home are superheroes now?
He scoots to make room on the couch.]
Sounds like a solid plan to me. Your choice, my treat.
Dangerous, [Wally warns, but honestly he'll get Tadashi back. It takes a second to remember how to use the comm's interface but he's scrolling for nearby places that do delivery, sitting on the arm of Tadashi's sofa.]
...y'know, the superhero thing- someone being a hero doesn't make them a good person. [He glances up at Tadashi before returning his attention to his comm, checking out the menu of a highly-rated pho restaurant.] And there's tons of good people, great people, who aren't superheroes. It's just- it's different. From how it always sounded before.
[From somewhere in the other bedroom, there's a tiny squeak of a noise. And then a small, long haired cat plodding through quickly carrying a teaser toy in its mouth. It drops the toy on the floor in front of them, then jumps onto the couch meowing at Tadashi.]
I know. [He just. Starts petting what is basically an oversized kitten. He thinks back to his parents, medical experts and doing anything they could to help. To his friends being ears to listen and shoulders to lean on when things got hard. His aunt raising them both when no one else would.]
...I don't remember if I thanked you for saving me that night. So... Thanks.
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runningstart) wrote2020-04-05 07:22 pm
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Glad I'm here too. [He hates the idea of Wally being alone right now, even just until he got his bearings. Nah, Tadashi's glad he made it here so quick.]
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Barry had screamed for him before he disappeared to- to wherever he went.
Wally clutches tighter; he probably smells a bit like ozone, like that runoff from the MFD, probably is still humming a bit like a livewire, that curiously warm buzz that speedsters put off after just barreling their way across a continent. Hopefully it doesn't bug Tadashi because Wally's going to cling for a minute and let Tadashi just shield him from everything, for just a second, if that's all right.]
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Of course it was Wally back then.
It's only right that Tadashi does the same back for him.]
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He tries on a smile. It's not the same as when he was younger; that devil-may-care cocky grin, bursting with self-confidence and righteousness. It's older, and not as comfortable, but it's there.
Wally thumps a hand on Tadashi's shoulder before turning and sitting back down beside him, sniffling just a bit and pulling the box back into his lap.] Wow, I'm barely back for five minutes and you're already trying to woo me? You should know I'm taken, probably. [Despite, y'know. Death.
He does hold out the open box for Tadashi to take the first one, though. May not seem like much a gesture, but anybody who knows Wally knows that it's as good as throwing himself in front of a train for someone.]
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But the offering has him floored. And he's not about to be rude as hell and say no, so he grabs one, with that bright pink Homer Simpson frosting.]
Yeah, you were married to quite a number of restaurants here last time if I remember right. [Takes a bite of that donut.]
Do you want deets, or just sit and eat for a while?
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Wally sighs and takes his own, crossing his legs to rest the box on his thigh and knee, leaning his head back against the brick after scrubbing a hand through his hair. It must have been a while; Tadashi looks older, and Wally knows he definitely looks older. There's probably a lot to catch up on.] Lay it on me. What you been up to?
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Well - Got back about six months ago. Stark's gone, his company was liquidated about two weeks before I got here. Managed to sneak into the building and get a bunch of our lab's hardware out before they turned it into whatever it is now. [He had a lot of research, and he wanted Wally's too, for all the good it would do him.] They've got me working as a youth counselor now.
Jaime's still here, he remembers everything. I don't think he's left, actually? Uh, he's engaged. I'm the only one from my home here. Most... everyone else we knew is gone. At least our mutual friends, I dunno who else you knew before. Crane's still here but... seems like he's laying low. I've only seen him around once and I can't tell if he remembers anything or not.
[He rubs the back of his head. Wally wants to know what he's been up to but...]
Honestly, I... haven't been up to much of anything. It's... felt weird, being back and barely knowing anyone anymore.
[He sure did just slide right by all that important shit like it was nothing huh.]
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1. Stark is gone? Jesus
2. Jaime is ENGAGED? Double Jesus. Good for him though.
3. All their mutual friends are gone? Sounds...lonely.
Wally's on his third donut despite the brevity of the account, but honestly this was the best way to go. Wally's head is still reeling from kinetic output and magnetic disruption physics and the quantum mechanics of existing and not existing simultaneously and then also maybe death, so a short recap is...nice. Digestible.
Starts fourth donut. He's not even sniffling anymore.]
So everything's different... [Tadashi went back, too. Wally never really got the details from Tadashi about how long he had until curtains, but Wally doesn't really want to ask now. He's also 'gone back' only to reappear back in this world, weeks having passed when he'd only experienced a few hours. Comparing the passage of time between these worlds is pointless.] That crazy stuff with the submarines and the Soviet Union still going on?
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Haven't heard anything about it since I got here. Worst that's happened was a bunch of imPorts went to... some other alternate world and came back a few weeks later.
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So more of the same.
[Tadashi's always been calm but he seems...different. Less calm, more muted. Focusing on someone else is helping Wally pay less attention to the shitshow that is his current emotional health so he's gonna zero in on that.] Jaime's still here? Did he end up...y'know, forgetting anything?
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[Wally may as well have proposed right there with that offering. Tad gives a little lopsided smile and takes it.]
No, he remembers everything. He found me first when I got back. [And sobbed on him a second time. Right, he should. Probably take care of that. He slips his free hand into his pocket and shoots off a text before returning to that delicious, delicious donut.]
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Wait- [Ah, Tadashi already did before Wally noticed. Not that he doesn't want to see Jaime again- he absolutely, desperately wants to see one of his best friends again- but he just doesn't want to end up collapsing into tears again because he's not sure if he can pull himself together a second time and he doesn't really want to subject Jaime to that despite both he and Tadashi being 100938420348% better equipped to handle emotions than Wally is.
Oh well. It's probably like, really fucking rude to not tell your best friend that you're back after five years...or however long it's been here.]
Okay. [His hair is well and truly fucked up, not just from the hood and him pulling at it, but he's pretty sure there's a combination of sweat and like, alien energy particles making it stick out everywhere so Wally just drags a hand through it again.] -hey, uh, why don't we go somewhere? Bowling? How d'you feel about bowling?
[Wally you literally have told him nothing of your life in the past five years. -wait, does Tadashi even know that he- was Kid Flash? Shit, he does now, doesn't he?]
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Man.]
You sure you wanna go bowling in that? We can probably stop by my place so you can change or something. [He definitely didn't know but he does now. If Wally doesn't bring it up, then he won't.
He gets the donut in his mouth and pushes up to his feet, holding one hand out to Wally.]
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...yeah. Uh, yeah, I should...probably go to my government issued barracks, or whatever the hell.
[Maybe just find a hole and bury himself in it.] Hey, did you know Dick Grayson? Is, um, is he still here? [Wally has no idea what he's going to do if fourteen- (sixteen?) year-old Dick Grayson is still cackling around the imPort cities. The last words he said to him back home weren't anything special, and they haven't been good for a long time, but it seemed like maybe they could get back there with some work. Wally wanted to work for it, but now-] Or, um, a girl named Artemis? [Wally could check on his own comm but he's kind of scared to.]
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Instead he shakes his head and takes the donut out of his mouth now.]
No. Neither names, I don't recognize them. And who said anything about the house they assigned you? You're coming to mine, I just moved into a private apartment.
[BOSSY.]
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Nice, kidnapping time. Love to see it. [Brings back those good sidekick memories. Honest to god, Tadashi, make all his decisions for him, please. He might be flippant right now but the way his dummy big shoulders suddenly sink shows exactly how relieved he is that he doesn't have to navigate any social interactions with strangers, at least for the time being.]
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He just motions for Wally to follow him to the porter, and to Nonah.]
Don't, uh. Mind the boxes, I'm still unpacking. [The place is organized mess. A few boxes here and there, but most of the living room is taken up by a single couch, coffee table, and boxes of hardware and tech; some of it from Stark Labs, some of it from the old De Chima house, some of it from what Hiro left at Aunt Cass'.]
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The donuts are long finished so Wally breaks the box down and tucks it into the trash, starts stripping off the various accouterments of his uniform while Tadashi disappears into his room to retrieve some clothes for him to borrow. They're around the same size; Tadashi is taller but Wally is broader, so hopefully it won't be too much work.
And then Wally just stands there in his bright yellow and red spandex, clutching his gloves and his goggles, looking as lost as he feels as he gazes blankly around at the little life Tadashi is piecing together for himself here, not quite from scratch but damn close.
...he'll be doing this, too. Maybe he should be grateful, that there's something like this for guys like them. The ones not ready to go just yet.]
Hey Tasha? [Wally calls, still looking around listlessly.] Are you religious? Believe in heaven and all that?
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He's coming out of his room when Wally calls for him, red t-shirt and some jeans in hand.]
...I don't know, really. I sort of did before, but... After years of this place... I don't know.
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He takes the clothes, shifts his weight before nodding over to the bathroom to change out of sight. ...doesn't close the door. Starts to, but then what if he does, and then he opens it, and he's somewhere else? Or if Tadashi just vanishes back home while he's not looking, and then Wally is alone in Tadashi's half-completed apartment, with his half-completed life, and all Tadashi's clothes and photos like it's some kind of memorial?
When Wally emerges, his folded uniform, gloves and goggles wrapped up in a bundle under his arm, he pauses.] You, uh...you didn't know, right? [Lifts the bundle a bit.] It's not a big deal, not anymore, but...you can ask, if you want. [It was a big deal, once upon a time. Hell, just a few hours ago, it had felt like a big deal again.]
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...No, I didn't know before. Makes sense. I didn't know about Jaime either, until a few months ago. Starting to suspect everyone I know is a superhero.
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Fucking Crane.Wally tosses his uniform onto Tadashi's couch, though he does pause for a minute after their eyes meet and he notices Tadashi's are a little bit red at the corners.] Runs in the family, carried over here, more or less. I quit a while back to go to college, but certain circumstances meant I picked it back up again. [And it's a good thing he did, too; that's the only thing keeping his bitterness at bay, that he contributed to Earth's survival. Or...he thinks he did. He'll never know for sure, will he?] Anyway, I know I suggested bowling, but how about takeout and never going outside ever again?
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He scoots to make room on the couch.]
Sounds like a solid plan to me. Your choice, my treat.
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...y'know, the superhero thing- someone being a hero doesn't make them a good person. [He glances up at Tadashi before returning his attention to his comm, checking out the menu of a highly-rated pho restaurant.] And there's tons of good people, great people, who aren't superheroes. It's just- it's different. From how it always sounded before.
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I know. [He just. Starts petting what is basically an oversized kitten. He thinks back to his parents, medical experts and doing anything they could to help. To his friends being ears to listen and shoulders to lean on when things got hard. His aunt raising them both when no one else would.]
...I don't remember if I thanked you for saving me that night. So... Thanks.
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MY HTML THO
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