atomic_legacy (atomic_legacy) wrote,
@ 2011-05-23 01:53:00

Old Friends
Jacob had just got out of shop and he was bushed. They had been working on an old car engine for most of the day. While not hard, it was long. He was ready to head back to his apartment and take a nap. However on his way he saw his favorite hot dog vendor and figured he'd get a bite first. He turned to look at the sk for any sign of figures flying. Assured there wasn't, he made for the cart.

"Hey Manny, the usual please."

"Sure kid, coming up."

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	littleladylord 2011-05-23 03:42 am UTC (link)
	Cindy waltzed over to get a hot dog. Or, rather, to not get a hot dog. "Can I just have a bun stuffed with sauerkraut?" She asked, omitting the please. Wait, was that...? (Reply to this)(Thread)

atomic_legacy
2011-05-23 03:51 am UTC (link)

Jacob glanced down at the girl who had walked up, she looked familiar.

'Was that..no, no, it couldn't be. Just an old memory attaching to a similar face. No big.' Instinctively he looked behind him as if expecting some kind of monster to burst through the building.

The vendor returned with the hot-dog. Jacob paid the man and said: "Thanks, Manny. See you tomorrow." He turned to leave.

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	littleladylord 2011-05-23 03:55 am UTC (link)
	"...Jacob?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	atomic_legacy 2011-05-23 03:59 am UTC (link)
	He halted at the sound of his name and audibly gulped. 'Son of a...' He slowly turned around, getting a good look. 'Yep, she's older, but the the similarity's unmistakable.' "...Cindy?" Part of him would be hppy to see an old friend, but another... (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2011-05-23 04:02 am UTC (link)
	From her round little smile to her stubby little hands, Cindy's looking her most non-threatening at the moment. "Hi! Good to see you! How's it going?" She hurries a bit closer. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

atomic_legacy
2011-05-23 04:06 am UTC (link)

Jacob managed to smile, it was partially genuine. He feared the day he'd run into old friends from his childhood who he'd have to face and explain why he ditched them. Frankly he was amazed he'd maintained a low profile for as long as he did. Jacob manages not to flinch at the much smaller girl's increased proximity. It wasn't her he feared...

"You too, Cindy. I've been okay. Yourself?" He tried o be subtle as he looked to see if anyone else he'd known were nearby.

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	littleladylord 2011-05-23 04:11 am UTC (link)
	"Doing well, thanks. School's gone well -- I'm at St. Elias -- and I have a terrific girlfriend, so I'm pretty sure there's a law against complaining for me." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

atomic_legacy
2011-05-23 04:20 am UTC (link)

"I've heard that's a good place. I'm down at NYU Tech., work on my mechanic skills." Jacob didn't comment on 'girlfriend' or his own lack of a significant other. They just reunited, she didn't need to hear his baggage. 'God I feel like a giant,' he thought looking down to face. At 6'6, he always stood out in a crowd..he hated it. "I remember you were a very stubborn complainer when we were kids. I can understand if they did make a law." He smiled a fully genuine smile. He had few friends and it was truly nice to see an old one.

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	littleladylord 2011-05-23 04:23 am UTC (link)
	Cindy giggles at that, then, "That's great about the mechanical stuff. I bet you'll be good; you can kick the back tires and work under the front bits of the car at the same time." She didn't mind the crick in her neck. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	atomic_legacy 2011-05-23 04:30 am UTC (link)
	Jacob's debonair visibly changed at the mention of his powers. He tried to reign it in by forcing a smile. "Yeah..I suppose I could." He quickly attempted to switch gears so Cindy wouldn't pick up his change in mood. "So what have you been doing with yourself, outside of college I mean?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2011-05-23 04:35 am UTC (link)
	Smile or not, Cindy's still got the feeling that her crack wasn't taken as innocently as she'd intended. "Getting in shape -- been at it almost a year now -- dealing with crazy family issues involving my girlfriend, running a few charity marketing campaigns, dealing with random chaos, yelling at boys who deal improperly with random chaos -- I've been busy!" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	atomic_legacy 2011-05-23 04:40 am UTC (link)
	"You always were one to take charge of things." Random chaos? He hoped that wasn't what he thought it was. Again he looked to the sky, a compulsion to make sure no human-shaped forms were flying around. It wasn't a subtle transition, Cindy would no doubt notice it. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2011-05-23 04:44 am UTC (link)
	She notices. Her voices slows and softens a little. "Yeah. I'm glad thing have quieted down a lot. I've been working hard, but I'm not ready to really deal with that stuff yet.... Jacob, I promise if random chaos suddenly happens right now, I'll break out the Judith Martin until you and the other civilians can get away. Honest." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	atomic_legacy 2011-05-23 04:48 am UTC (link)
	Jacob turned back down to face Cindy, feeling ashamed at his paranoid actions. "Ah God, sorry about that Cindy. It's just..." He'd have to tell somebody sometime. Maybe it would help. "You were probably too young to remember. Anyone ever tell you about the big Mordru attack ten years ago?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2011-05-23 04:54 am UTC (link)
	Cindy shakes her head slowly. "Stuff as big and creepy as Mordru tended to fall into the stuff people didn't want to talk about." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

atomic_legacy
2011-05-23 05:02 am UTC (link)

"I don't know the specifics, but it was a big battle, right here in New York. The JSA and JLA had teamed up to fight him. What's more, this was on the news live as they had cameramen recording it." Jacob walked over to a park bench and sat down, hands clenched together. "Mordru was in some kind of giant-form and Dad grew to match him. He was supposed to keep him still while Dr. Fate cast a spell. Well..Mordru hit him with some kind of magic that left my dad a screaming wreck from the pain. Worse part was they got a close up of him yelling in pain." Jacob was quiet for a moment before continuing. "I was in the living room..I saw the whole thing."

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	littleladylord 2011-05-23 05:15 am UTC (link)
	"Oh gosh, Jacob, I'm so sorry. That must have been awful! Is he okay these days?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

atomic_legacy
2011-05-23 05:22 am UTC (link)

"He eventually recovered mentally from the assault, but..he couldn't use his powers anymore without bringing that pain back. Nothing could be done. Mordru basically forced my dad into retirement." He hung his head. "Seeing..that, I knew I couldn't do it. I couldn't handle being a superhero. The pain, the violence..there was no way. AFter that I..purposely avoided you guys. I..I couldn't handle being around anything 'super'." There, he admitted it. Now he just hoped she wouldn't be too mad at him.

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	littleladylord 2011-05-23 05:25 am UTC (link)
	"Aw, Jacob, you didn't have to go that far. No one's going to make you get into the biz." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

atomic_legacy
2011-05-23 05:33 am UTC (link)

"Maybe, I just didn't know how to handle it. Mom said it was because I was a 'gentle soul' and seeing Dad like that..." He sighs as he sits back. "I think Dad was a little disappointed when I said I din't want to be a hero. The whole legacy going back to Al Pratt is a big deal to him. He never said so out loud though." He gives a small smile to Cindy. "Sorry to unload on you like that, Cindy. And sorry for being a douche and dropping off the planet..so to speak."

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	littleladylord 2011-05-23 05:35 am UTC (link)
	"Hey, it's okay. We all do what seems like the best idea to get by. But it's really good to see you again." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	atomic_legacy 2011-05-23 05:39 am UTC (link)
	"You too," he thought about it a minute before answering. "If you see any of the old gang, tell them I said 'hi'..and that 'I'm sorry'." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	littleladylord 2011-05-23 07:26 pm UTC (link)
	"Will do. And if there's anything you need these days..." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	atomic_legacy 2011-05-23 08:03 pm UTC (link)
	"I'll keep that in mind, Cindy. You already helped by listening. Heck, who knows? Maybe I'll get the guts to face the others someday. Regardless, thanks." (Reply to this)(Parent)

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