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[SCA] Nerds of a Feather
Title: Nerds of a Feather
Fandom: DC Comics + High School Musical crossover
Universe: Sharpay's Crossover Adventure
Relationships: platonic friendship between Kyle Rayner (Green Lantern), Jaime Reyes (Blue Beetle), Billy Batson (Captain Marvel), Jason Todd (Red Hood), Tom Bronson (Wildcat), and Peyton Leverett
Summary: Tom asked Peyton to hang out with his friends on a Thursday afternoon. Peyton has every right to be suspicious... but strangely enough, they turn out to be normal. As normal as Tom's friends could be, anyways.
When Tom invited you to hang out with some of his friends, you couldn't help feeling a little suspicious. No matter how many mutual friends you and Tom had in common, Tom also didn't normally invite you to spend a Thursday afternoon with him. Didn't these people have things to do that didn't involve eating and buying various things in Midtown Manhattan?
His last-minute text had arrived the minute you finished Scriptwriting. Honestly, you weren't expecting it. Plus, wasn't Tom busy with some last-minute thing that always conveniently came up when you were least expecting it? If you weren't such a patient person, you would've given up on him by now. Part of you knew you liked watching a trainwreck; but, as cool as Tom was, his alcohol addiction worried you. If you didn't stick around to watch how his battle would end, you'd end up regretting it for the rest of your life.
So you reluctantly agreed to meet him in half an hour. These friends should be interesting, provided that they didn't mysteriously bail on him whenever the check arrived; that they weren't potheads who were tripping balls every five seconds; or that they weren't tourists who proclaimed "I LOVE NEW YORK" every five seconds. Surprisingly, Tom had asked you to meet him at one of the smaller restaurants, a hole-in-the-wall Thai place that was pretty close to your last class of the day.
You found the place relatively easily, despite the storefront being neatly tucked right next to a larger boutique, and walked inside. The silver bell alerted the waiter to your presence, but you didn't need him; you noticed Tom's table in an instant. He was laughing and swishing his mug of beer as if he hadn't a care in the world. Typical Tom. Grinning, Tom motioned for you to come over to their large round table and take a seat.
"Hey!" Tom said as you took off your messenger bag and slung it across the back of the chair. "Guys, this is Peyton."
He stood up straighter and motioned to each member of the table. "That's Jason," Tom said, pointing to a tall, heavily muscular, black-haired guy with a mug of foaming beer. You cringed inwardly; if you pissed this guy off, he could kick your ass to Kingdom Come without breaking a sweat.
"Jaime," Tom said, pointing to a normal-looking Hispanic guy who was clearly consulting his cell phone. The moment Jaime heard his name, he smiled up at you and said 'hi' with way too much pep for this hour of the day. He looked strangely familiar, as if you'd seen him around somewhere, but you had no idea why.
Then Tom motioned to the last present member of their group, "and that's Billy."
Wait, was Tom hanging out with high schoolers? Billy, dressed in a simple red hoodie, flash logo t-shirt, and jeans, not only looked the part of a high schooler but also clearly acted like it as he bowed his head and said, "It's nice to meet you, sir---Peyton."
Awkward. You attempted a smile for his sake. "Nice to meet you too." First Tom's friends with a body-builder, now he's friends with a high school kid? And they're willingly hanging out? God, you really wanted to know how this motley crew came together. There had to be a story here - and knowing Tom, it was probably a hell of a good one.
"Kyle's in the bathroom," Tom helpfully explains when you feel confused at the empty chair at the end of the table. "But he'll come back. He always does, considering we usually threaten to skip Midtown if he doesn't."
Ah. That must've been it: despite their different appearances, they were all huge nerds just like Tom. If you weren't so sure that Jason would crush you into the ground afterwards, you would've made some snarky comment about nerds of a feather flocking together. Instead, you scoot your chair as far away from Jason as you possibly can.
Jason shoots a raised eyebrow at you. "Not a fan of pad thai?"
"N-not really," You manage to stammer.
Both Billy and Jaime exchange incredibly confused looks before they both shrug and resume eating. You inhale sharply before you stare down at the food before you and start piling it on your plate. Thankfully, the delicious food at Yum Yum's kept everyone else preoccupied until it was time to split the check. Surprisingly, Jason and Tom split it between them; neither you, Billy, Jaime, nor Kyle had to offer anything. You cast Tom a curious glance to ask without actually verbalizing your question.
"We're the only ones with jobs," Tom says, knowing you perfectly well enough to answer by now. "Kyle's cool, but he's still working for hire for a couple of comic book companies, so I'm not sure if those even have decent benefits..."
"Kind of," Jason remarks. His voice's slightly higher than you expected, but not by much. "I keep telling him that he should head into advertising. At least those people get insurance."
Ah, the life of people in the creative industries. You certainly weren't looking forward to paying your dues, but you also knew it was a necessary step if you wanted to get your foot in the door. Kyle slips into his chair when you're not looking. It takes you a moment, but you eventually notice him. He's around Tom's and Jason's age - he has to be, considering he's graduated art school and all - and shares their same mischievous grin. Unlike them, though, his skin's slightly darker (about Jaime's skin tone) and he preferred wearing more earthy tones than either Tom or Jason. If you didn't know better, you would've pinned him as a tree hugger.
"Hey," Kyle says when he's got your attention. "You must be Peyton. I have to say, I've heard a lot about you."
You try not to look as nervous as you feel. "Yeah? Good things, I hope."
The waitress comes back with change for Tom and Jason, so everyone rises to their feet and heads out towards Midtown Comics. You follow them, hanging back a little so that you can talk to Kyle better. He's taller than you, weirdly enough, so you actually have to look up at him as he speaks. It's not bad... just different.
"Pretty good things." Kyle's tone is incredibly reassuring. Despite his easy posture and laidback smile, he feels reliable. Kind of like Tom, if Tom were actually reliable. "Tom doesn't like being filmed, but I get that you're a film student, so it's conflicting interests..."
Of course Tom would've complained about your movies! You couldn't help that Tom was a pretty interesting subject. He was rooming with your mom's best friend's daughter; he worked for Karen Starr, one of Manhattan's up-and-coming CEOs; he was simultaneously a hipster and a video game nerd; and he introduced you to a pretty cute Maxine Hunkel. (She was nowhere near as fascinating as Cyclone, but Tom wasn't a miracle worker.)
You let laughter escape your lips as you glance ahead at the other four members of Tom's motley crew. Jaime and Billy were swapping high school horror stories while Jason and Tom were discussing... Dungeons and Dragons? You give them a dubious look before you give Kyle your full attention. How were you even friends with these people again? "Yeah. I usually try not to film Tom if he says no, but..."
"But?"
"If he's being pretty interesting, I can't help it. He's a pretty natural target for stories."
Kyle looks at you curiously. So you sigh and explain, "I don't know what it is about him, but he's got this natural quality where stories seem to flock to him. Half the crazy things I hear about are all whatever Mr. Bronson did on the weekend."
How often can someone get drunk and text you ridiculous things? Tom certainly wouldn't cease to be a source of amusement. "Drunken stories, huh? I know Mr. Grant - Tom's dad - is probably responsible for at least half of them."
That doesn't surprise you. Something this ridiculous must run in the family.
"Probably. I think my favorite was when Tom thought I was the Red Hood..." You snort. As much as you wish you were a superhero, being Gotham's most notorious crime lord wasn't exactly your ideal fantasy. "I got so many drunken texts about it."
For some reason, Kyle starts to look uneasy, kind of like Aunt Elena and Maxine whenever you start to mention the world of caped crusaders. You knew that most people liked to pretend they didn't exist, but just how many people avoided the subject? It was starting to get a little ridiculous. And by little, you meant a lot.
"The Red Hood? You're sure?" Kyle whispers as you guys cross the street and head down another road.
You nod with the utmost seriousness. "Absolutely. I can't say which is worse: him thinking I'm the Red Hood... or that he seriously believes he's got a crime lord on his speed dial."
"Crime lord on his speed dial?" Jason lingers back, allowing Tom to talk to Billy about even nerdier things as he casually slings an arm over your shoulders. You wince. You normally don't mind it if people invade your personal space, but Jason just reeked like grievous and bloody harm. "Our Tommy?"
You shrug. "I guess. I got drunken texts to the Red Hood a while back."
Jason and Kyle exchange amused glances above your head - which you don't appreciate! - before Jason laughs and pulls you in even closer. "Tom tends to do that," Jason admits, as if he's letting you in on a family secret. "I think your superhero obsession's rubbing off on him."
Was it really? You roll your eyes. "Maybe."
"Speaking of heroes..." Kyle's lips curl upwards with amusement, as if he can't quite believe he's considering this question. "Which one's your favorite? Personally, I think the Green Lanterns are fantastic."
"What about the Red Hood himself? I'd say he's more of an anti-hero," Jay retorts. "Don't you like him, Peypey?"
Oh.
My.
GOD. Did he just give you an even more irritating nickname than your mom did? You're not sure if you want to punch him or make him miserable with some well-placed sarcasm. Slightly seething, you merely plaster on a neutral-looking face as you stomp on ahead. Tom catches your arm just before you can escape---
"I thought you were a JSA fan, man!" Tom teases, pulling you back into the circle. "Wildcat's your favorite, right?"
Billy grins. "But what if he likes Captain Marvel?"
"Or the Blue Beetle, amigo?" Jaime chimes in.
Wait. Blue Beetle... Jaime Reyes... Hispanic... It's all coming back to you. Jaime's familiar because he's dating Justin's little sister! You grin, not because you've determined your favorite superhero, but because you've finally figured out the mysterious "stupid boyfriend" Justin's been whining about for weeks. It'd been bothering you for a while now, and to finally have this guy within reach? It felt fantastic.
"Guys?" Billy looks concerned as he leans forward to press his hand against your forehead. "Is Peyton sick?"
You shake your head and casually reach for Billy's wrist. Gently letting it down, you manage to say, "I'm fine. I just... figured out something."
"You mean which guy you like best?" Tom asks a little too eagerly for your tastes. For someone who sure didn't care for these heroes, he's too invested in your personal opinion on your favorite superhero ever.
If you answer now, you'll have four other people who won't appreciate your answer. Not knowing what else to do, you pray to God. Please, if you manage to get out of this situation alive and without any broken bones, you promise you'll tell people that Superman or whatever hero God likes best is your favorite!
That's when a sudden chill runs down your spine, and a gust of wind blows through town. Immediately, the others stare at the source of the commotion before they give you nervous (and guilty) looks.
You recognize that look on Tom's face the most. It's that look of "I really don't want to bail on you, but I have to because of last-minute things." So you sigh and gesture towards the door to the comic book store.
"Go ahead," You say with resigned defeat. "Do whatever it is you people have to do. I'll just hang out here until you get back."
A torrent of water crashes at your feet. You run. You don't care that you're leaving the others behind; they can deal with the supervillain of the week on their own! You run past the comic book store, past the tuxedo store on the third floor, and make your way towards the rooftop. If there's a villain on the loose, there'll be heroes to stop them in their tracks.
Eagerly, you fish out your phone and tune it to the local radio stations---
"And here you have it, folks! There's a battle right outside Midtown Comics! Wildcat's got the first one, but--
Oh! Green Lantern's on the scene! And Captain Marvel!"
You expected Wildcat; he was oddly early to all of these battles, but you certainly hadn't expected either Captain or GL. You lean forward and grin, watching them fly right past your window. Green Lantern even salutes you with his fist before he dives down to meet the enemy - and Captain? Well, he seemed concerned for a split second before he joined his teammate.
"Well, will you look at that? We've got a visitor today: El Paso's very own Blue Beetle!"
Whoa. You've seen him on the news once or twice, but you'd never expected to see him in person! You figured you'd just travel down to Texas and see his battles first-hand that way or something. So of course, you have to bring your camera out and sit there, filming the entire thing as usual.
There's the occasional debris and stray supervillain flying your way, but you've long since learned to dodge their battles by now. Right now, you've got a duty to Kyle, Jaime, Billy, Tom, and Jason to film their favorite superheroes (and anti-hero) and you won't let them down. Once, some mysterious stranger even saves you - and it takes you a split-second to realize it was the Red Hood.
Even crime lords had soft spots, it seemed, and for reasons you couldn't figure out, you were one of them today. If you'd learned anything, it was this: thanks to your promise to God, Superman outwardly became your favorite hero. If you really had to tell people why, you'll claim it was because of his dedication to helping people out... but really, you're just grateful you didn't have to answer on the spot.
In reality, you know that the Justice Society of America (plus the Blue Beetle and the Red Hood) forever hold a place in your heart. Maybe you'll have a favorite that rises above the rest some day, but you've always liked ensembles better. Like the five heroes you're filming and observing, they work well together. They always strive to save each other as well as innocent civilians, and their dedication never ceases to impress you.
For a split second, you compare these heroes to Tom's friends. They were certainly "interesting." They weren't potheads or hipsters or even future CEOs, but they shared his tendency to ditch you last-minute for unforeseen reasons. (At least they didn't leave you with the check this time! Just the emotional pain of being in a comic book store after the battle ended... and not knowing what to buy while the clerks asked you if everything was alright.)
Maybe that's why these nerds of a feather flocked together. No one else could share their pain - and honestly, if that's what it took to be a member of this club, you didn't want in. It just wasn't worth it.
Fandom: DC Comics + High School Musical crossover
Universe: Sharpay's Crossover Adventure
Relationships: platonic friendship between Kyle Rayner (Green Lantern), Jaime Reyes (Blue Beetle), Billy Batson (Captain Marvel), Jason Todd (Red Hood), Tom Bronson (Wildcat), and Peyton Leverett
Summary: Tom asked Peyton to hang out with his friends on a Thursday afternoon. Peyton has every right to be suspicious... but strangely enough, they turn out to be normal. As normal as Tom's friends could be, anyways.
When Tom invited you to hang out with some of his friends, you couldn't help feeling a little suspicious. No matter how many mutual friends you and Tom had in common, Tom also didn't normally invite you to spend a Thursday afternoon with him. Didn't these people have things to do that didn't involve eating and buying various things in Midtown Manhattan?
His last-minute text had arrived the minute you finished Scriptwriting. Honestly, you weren't expecting it. Plus, wasn't Tom busy with some last-minute thing that always conveniently came up when you were least expecting it? If you weren't such a patient person, you would've given up on him by now. Part of you knew you liked watching a trainwreck; but, as cool as Tom was, his alcohol addiction worried you. If you didn't stick around to watch how his battle would end, you'd end up regretting it for the rest of your life.
So you reluctantly agreed to meet him in half an hour. These friends should be interesting, provided that they didn't mysteriously bail on him whenever the check arrived; that they weren't potheads who were tripping balls every five seconds; or that they weren't tourists who proclaimed "I LOVE NEW YORK" every five seconds. Surprisingly, Tom had asked you to meet him at one of the smaller restaurants, a hole-in-the-wall Thai place that was pretty close to your last class of the day.
You found the place relatively easily, despite the storefront being neatly tucked right next to a larger boutique, and walked inside. The silver bell alerted the waiter to your presence, but you didn't need him; you noticed Tom's table in an instant. He was laughing and swishing his mug of beer as if he hadn't a care in the world. Typical Tom. Grinning, Tom motioned for you to come over to their large round table and take a seat.
"Hey!" Tom said as you took off your messenger bag and slung it across the back of the chair. "Guys, this is Peyton."
He stood up straighter and motioned to each member of the table. "That's Jason," Tom said, pointing to a tall, heavily muscular, black-haired guy with a mug of foaming beer. You cringed inwardly; if you pissed this guy off, he could kick your ass to Kingdom Come without breaking a sweat.
"Jaime," Tom said, pointing to a normal-looking Hispanic guy who was clearly consulting his cell phone. The moment Jaime heard his name, he smiled up at you and said 'hi' with way too much pep for this hour of the day. He looked strangely familiar, as if you'd seen him around somewhere, but you had no idea why.
Then Tom motioned to the last present member of their group, "and that's Billy."
Wait, was Tom hanging out with high schoolers? Billy, dressed in a simple red hoodie, flash logo t-shirt, and jeans, not only looked the part of a high schooler but also clearly acted like it as he bowed his head and said, "It's nice to meet you, sir---Peyton."
Awkward. You attempted a smile for his sake. "Nice to meet you too." First Tom's friends with a body-builder, now he's friends with a high school kid? And they're willingly hanging out? God, you really wanted to know how this motley crew came together. There had to be a story here - and knowing Tom, it was probably a hell of a good one.
"Kyle's in the bathroom," Tom helpfully explains when you feel confused at the empty chair at the end of the table. "But he'll come back. He always does, considering we usually threaten to skip Midtown if he doesn't."
Ah. That must've been it: despite their different appearances, they were all huge nerds just like Tom. If you weren't so sure that Jason would crush you into the ground afterwards, you would've made some snarky comment about nerds of a feather flocking together. Instead, you scoot your chair as far away from Jason as you possibly can.
Jason shoots a raised eyebrow at you. "Not a fan of pad thai?"
"N-not really," You manage to stammer.
Both Billy and Jaime exchange incredibly confused looks before they both shrug and resume eating. You inhale sharply before you stare down at the food before you and start piling it on your plate. Thankfully, the delicious food at Yum Yum's kept everyone else preoccupied until it was time to split the check. Surprisingly, Jason and Tom split it between them; neither you, Billy, Jaime, nor Kyle had to offer anything. You cast Tom a curious glance to ask without actually verbalizing your question.
"We're the only ones with jobs," Tom says, knowing you perfectly well enough to answer by now. "Kyle's cool, but he's still working for hire for a couple of comic book companies, so I'm not sure if those even have decent benefits..."
"Kind of," Jason remarks. His voice's slightly higher than you expected, but not by much. "I keep telling him that he should head into advertising. At least those people get insurance."
Ah, the life of people in the creative industries. You certainly weren't looking forward to paying your dues, but you also knew it was a necessary step if you wanted to get your foot in the door. Kyle slips into his chair when you're not looking. It takes you a moment, but you eventually notice him. He's around Tom's and Jason's age - he has to be, considering he's graduated art school and all - and shares their same mischievous grin. Unlike them, though, his skin's slightly darker (about Jaime's skin tone) and he preferred wearing more earthy tones than either Tom or Jason. If you didn't know better, you would've pinned him as a tree hugger.
"Hey," Kyle says when he's got your attention. "You must be Peyton. I have to say, I've heard a lot about you."
You try not to look as nervous as you feel. "Yeah? Good things, I hope."
The waitress comes back with change for Tom and Jason, so everyone rises to their feet and heads out towards Midtown Comics. You follow them, hanging back a little so that you can talk to Kyle better. He's taller than you, weirdly enough, so you actually have to look up at him as he speaks. It's not bad... just different.
"Pretty good things." Kyle's tone is incredibly reassuring. Despite his easy posture and laidback smile, he feels reliable. Kind of like Tom, if Tom were actually reliable. "Tom doesn't like being filmed, but I get that you're a film student, so it's conflicting interests..."
Of course Tom would've complained about your movies! You couldn't help that Tom was a pretty interesting subject. He was rooming with your mom's best friend's daughter; he worked for Karen Starr, one of Manhattan's up-and-coming CEOs; he was simultaneously a hipster and a video game nerd; and he introduced you to a pretty cute Maxine Hunkel. (She was nowhere near as fascinating as Cyclone, but Tom wasn't a miracle worker.)
You let laughter escape your lips as you glance ahead at the other four members of Tom's motley crew. Jaime and Billy were swapping high school horror stories while Jason and Tom were discussing... Dungeons and Dragons? You give them a dubious look before you give Kyle your full attention. How were you even friends with these people again? "Yeah. I usually try not to film Tom if he says no, but..."
"But?"
"If he's being pretty interesting, I can't help it. He's a pretty natural target for stories."
Kyle looks at you curiously. So you sigh and explain, "I don't know what it is about him, but he's got this natural quality where stories seem to flock to him. Half the crazy things I hear about are all whatever Mr. Bronson did on the weekend."
How often can someone get drunk and text you ridiculous things? Tom certainly wouldn't cease to be a source of amusement. "Drunken stories, huh? I know Mr. Grant - Tom's dad - is probably responsible for at least half of them."
That doesn't surprise you. Something this ridiculous must run in the family.
"Probably. I think my favorite was when Tom thought I was the Red Hood..." You snort. As much as you wish you were a superhero, being Gotham's most notorious crime lord wasn't exactly your ideal fantasy. "I got so many drunken texts about it."
For some reason, Kyle starts to look uneasy, kind of like Aunt Elena and Maxine whenever you start to mention the world of caped crusaders. You knew that most people liked to pretend they didn't exist, but just how many people avoided the subject? It was starting to get a little ridiculous. And by little, you meant a lot.
"The Red Hood? You're sure?" Kyle whispers as you guys cross the street and head down another road.
You nod with the utmost seriousness. "Absolutely. I can't say which is worse: him thinking I'm the Red Hood... or that he seriously believes he's got a crime lord on his speed dial."
"Crime lord on his speed dial?" Jason lingers back, allowing Tom to talk to Billy about even nerdier things as he casually slings an arm over your shoulders. You wince. You normally don't mind it if people invade your personal space, but Jason just reeked like grievous and bloody harm. "Our Tommy?"
You shrug. "I guess. I got drunken texts to the Red Hood a while back."
Jason and Kyle exchange amused glances above your head - which you don't appreciate! - before Jason laughs and pulls you in even closer. "Tom tends to do that," Jason admits, as if he's letting you in on a family secret. "I think your superhero obsession's rubbing off on him."
Was it really? You roll your eyes. "Maybe."
"Speaking of heroes..." Kyle's lips curl upwards with amusement, as if he can't quite believe he's considering this question. "Which one's your favorite? Personally, I think the Green Lanterns are fantastic."
"What about the Red Hood himself? I'd say he's more of an anti-hero," Jay retorts. "Don't you like him, Peypey?"
Oh.
My.
GOD. Did he just give you an even more irritating nickname than your mom did? You're not sure if you want to punch him or make him miserable with some well-placed sarcasm. Slightly seething, you merely plaster on a neutral-looking face as you stomp on ahead. Tom catches your arm just before you can escape---
"I thought you were a JSA fan, man!" Tom teases, pulling you back into the circle. "Wildcat's your favorite, right?"
Billy grins. "But what if he likes Captain Marvel?"
"Or the Blue Beetle, amigo?" Jaime chimes in.
Wait. Blue Beetle... Jaime Reyes... Hispanic... It's all coming back to you. Jaime's familiar because he's dating Justin's little sister! You grin, not because you've determined your favorite superhero, but because you've finally figured out the mysterious "stupid boyfriend" Justin's been whining about for weeks. It'd been bothering you for a while now, and to finally have this guy within reach? It felt fantastic.
"Guys?" Billy looks concerned as he leans forward to press his hand against your forehead. "Is Peyton sick?"
You shake your head and casually reach for Billy's wrist. Gently letting it down, you manage to say, "I'm fine. I just... figured out something."
"You mean which guy you like best?" Tom asks a little too eagerly for your tastes. For someone who sure didn't care for these heroes, he's too invested in your personal opinion on your favorite superhero ever.
If you answer now, you'll have four other people who won't appreciate your answer. Not knowing what else to do, you pray to God. Please, if you manage to get out of this situation alive and without any broken bones, you promise you'll tell people that Superman or whatever hero God likes best is your favorite!
That's when a sudden chill runs down your spine, and a gust of wind blows through town. Immediately, the others stare at the source of the commotion before they give you nervous (and guilty) looks.
You recognize that look on Tom's face the most. It's that look of "I really don't want to bail on you, but I have to because of last-minute things." So you sigh and gesture towards the door to the comic book store.
"Go ahead," You say with resigned defeat. "Do whatever it is you people have to do. I'll just hang out here until you get back."
A torrent of water crashes at your feet. You run. You don't care that you're leaving the others behind; they can deal with the supervillain of the week on their own! You run past the comic book store, past the tuxedo store on the third floor, and make your way towards the rooftop. If there's a villain on the loose, there'll be heroes to stop them in their tracks.
Eagerly, you fish out your phone and tune it to the local radio stations---
"And here you have it, folks! There's a battle right outside Midtown Comics! Wildcat's got the first one, but--
Oh! Green Lantern's on the scene! And Captain Marvel!"
You expected Wildcat; he was oddly early to all of these battles, but you certainly hadn't expected either Captain or GL. You lean forward and grin, watching them fly right past your window. Green Lantern even salutes you with his fist before he dives down to meet the enemy - and Captain? Well, he seemed concerned for a split second before he joined his teammate.
"Well, will you look at that? We've got a visitor today: El Paso's very own Blue Beetle!"
Whoa. You've seen him on the news once or twice, but you'd never expected to see him in person! You figured you'd just travel down to Texas and see his battles first-hand that way or something. So of course, you have to bring your camera out and sit there, filming the entire thing as usual.
There's the occasional debris and stray supervillain flying your way, but you've long since learned to dodge their battles by now. Right now, you've got a duty to Kyle, Jaime, Billy, Tom, and Jason to film their favorite superheroes (and anti-hero) and you won't let them down. Once, some mysterious stranger even saves you - and it takes you a split-second to realize it was the Red Hood.
Even crime lords had soft spots, it seemed, and for reasons you couldn't figure out, you were one of them today. If you'd learned anything, it was this: thanks to your promise to God, Superman outwardly became your favorite hero. If you really had to tell people why, you'll claim it was because of his dedication to helping people out... but really, you're just grateful you didn't have to answer on the spot.
In reality, you know that the Justice Society of America (plus the Blue Beetle and the Red Hood) forever hold a place in your heart. Maybe you'll have a favorite that rises above the rest some day, but you've always liked ensembles better. Like the five heroes you're filming and observing, they work well together. They always strive to save each other as well as innocent civilians, and their dedication never ceases to impress you.
For a split second, you compare these heroes to Tom's friends. They were certainly "interesting." They weren't potheads or hipsters or even future CEOs, but they shared his tendency to ditch you last-minute for unforeseen reasons. (At least they didn't leave you with the check this time! Just the emotional pain of being in a comic book store after the battle ended... and not knowing what to buy while the clerks asked you if everything was alright.)
Maybe that's why these nerds of a feather flocked together. No one else could share their pain - and honestly, if that's what it took to be a member of this club, you didn't want in. It just wasn't worth it.
no subject
Tom is definitely a worry 8( idek when he quits drinking, but that day will be SUCH a relief to Peyton and Sharpay, I feel. (He quits smoking the day Sharpay announces she's pregnant with Liv.)
and yeah, it's an unfortunate truth :( I hear a lot of comic book artists don't get good job benefits, so they make most of their cash through conventions and the like (which is DEPRESSING, since most other jobs at least have dental insurance).
re: Tom's not reliability, that's more because I figured Peyton's tired of picking up checks. (little does he know...)
HAHAHA yeah, I figure Jason's the only one that a) has the personality for it and b) can actually get away with it. Unfortunately for Peyton, Jason and Tom go waaaay back - think elementary and middle school - so they kind of have even more of a history than Mimi and Tom do.
(Hence why Jason saved Peyton: he's apathetic towards Peypey, but Tom is also Jason's best friend, so Peyton is automatically a friend as a result.)
YES, it is the best thing that Peyton has all of the clues but just doesn't attempt to fit the pieces together ;A; part of me thinks he doesn't want to, because if he does... then the mystery goes away...