It had been a strange day when Gary got the call from Papa V. It was unexpected, he had long written off being ripped off by the super scientist. So Gary had focused himself on getting into shape to protect the other henchmen so no one else would suffer 24's fate.
The call changed a lot though, one moment he was a depressed nerd trying to pull himself together, the next... he was the father of his best friend. And he vowed to be so much better than Doug had ever been to his best friend.
"Alright, so you need to fill these out to make it legal, and you never got any of this from me." The scientist was explaining as Gary held the tiny baby Paul in one arm. "Just in case, I have a spare brewing. I know how this life is, call me if you break him."
Gary glared, insulted that the man thought he'd get the new 24 killed, but he didn't speak against it. No, a back-up was a good idea, as much as he hated it. Making his way out, he was stopped by Hank and Dean who both wanted to see the baby, and Hank asking all about the mother and what Gary had done to bulk up so fast. Neither question was answered, but he did hang out with them awhile before heading back home.
The first month or two was miserable, Paulie cried a lot and Gary had no idea how to make it stop. His mother constantly screaming for him to quiet the baby didn't help either.
At about 6 months old, Gary and Paulie returned to the cocoon, the small baby was in a car seat and Gary had a bag at his side. Of course, some of the newer scrubs tried to stop him, but he knew where he belonged. Within the hour he was standing before The Monarch and his wife, Paul up resting against his shoulder in a butterfly onesie.
"I know it might seem dangerous, but he won't be a problem!" "When did you knock someone up?!" The Monarch was still stuck on that. "I didn't, this is 24." "You had him cloned?" Sheila asked, a touch of worry in her tone.
The boy from a year ago gone, and the 21 before them now was in shape, had some unnecessary side burns and his hair in a long ponytail. His hench suit was modified and had him looking formidable, all except for the dark haired child snuggled against his shoulder.
"Yeah, kinda. But he couldn't be brought back as an adult, so this was the only real choice." He offered with a shrug, patting the baby on the back, trying to burp him lest Paulie gets fussy later. "He won't be a problem, and I am committed to not only working but helping get everything in order."
"I guess, but don't expect any help!" The Monarch pointed and called out in his always dramatic way. "Can I hold him?" Sheila asked, making his way across the room to take the child from 21. It was so weird to realize she was looking down at baby 24... but that unibrow really sold it.
Gary stood before the house he'd only been to one other time. 24 had insisted he stay in the car and not turn the music up. He had to go inside and didn't want 21 involved in the drama. He had seen 24 storms back out with an older looking man whose hair was peppered but not receding like his friends, but just as tall, following him out yelling about him being a lazy disappointment. Gary had started to open the door, but Paul had pulled open the other door. "Don't even think about it."
Paul knew Gary could have a temper and be scary when pushed. It was rare, but he'd seen it before. He didn't have to look to know his friend was fuming. They went to iHop and Paul crashed on his moms couch that night. It was one of the few times he spent the night.
This time, Gary was by himself, a bag over his shoulder and in his usual Kevin Smith look. His trench coat and cargo shorts. Ringing the doorbell, a middle-aged brunette answered. "Ain't I see you around, chubs?"
He narrowed his eyes. "You must be, Ann." He only knew Paul's ex's name due to a drunken night's ranting.
"And, you are?" "A friend of Paul's. I'm here to talk to Doug." "Paul's dead. The guild's already been here." She spoke it without a care and Gary felt his temper spiking but he took a deep breath to steady himself.
"I would like to speak to Doug." "You better not be here to say he was gay too. He's already got a gay brother." "I know dude. And no. I brought some of his stuff, you know in case he wanted it." "We don't want that junk." He heard the same voice from awhile ago. Doug pushing Ann aside sizing up the chubby young man haunting his doorstep.
"You're his little friend he always hung out with." "Gary." He introduced himself and even held a hand out. "Right, what do you want." Opening the bag he held up the few items of Paul's he had. a tshirt, a few books and a post card from Cancun. "These were his, I thought you'd want them." "Keep that junk. My son's dead, I don't want to think about it." "What about the 500 he owed you for the Stanza?" Gary spoke as he looked up making eye contact with Doug. That got some intrest.
"You're gonna pay me for the car he totalled?" "He didn't total it, that was an accident outside his control. And yes, if it gets you to be less bitter with my dead best friend. I have the cash right now." He hadn't sold anything, it was just his paycheck from the Atomic Comic Collection Connection. Holding out the envolope the man took it and counted the money.
"Don't beleive me?" "You're one of that villian's crew. I have a right." "Cool. Now leave." Doug slammed the door in his face as Gary stood there shocked. He didn't know what he expected, but it wasn't that. He could totally see why Paul hated this man.
He walked home dejected best friendless, and now 500 bucks broker. Paul would have laughed at him for trying, but he had too. His mom was waiting at the door for his younger brother to get off the bus as Gary walked up the drive. She didn't have to ask, she could see it on his face. Grabbing her oldest around the shoulders, he pulled him in for a hug and held him close.
"It's okay, sweetie, just let it out." How lame was he, crying into his mom's shoulder while his brother got off the bus.
---
It had been nearly a year since he had last darked this door. This time he wasn't the heartbroken kid he felt he was a year ago. Now he was in shape, he was mad and he knew what he wanted.
He had left Paulie with his mom, who was still unsure how she felt about being a grandmother. She believed the story that Gary had knocked someone up and they abandoned the baby. It was better than admitting to his mom that his son was a clone of his dead best friend. Even if his mom did look at him differently now.
Gary knew he needed to be back in an hour at the latest, but this shouldn't take long. Cop knocking hard on the door. This time Doug answered. "The fuck do you want!" He yelled out, stopping when he saw the person on his doorstep.
"Who the hell are you?" The guy didn't even recognize him. Even better. Gary pulled back and swung as hard as he could into the guy's jaw. Sending him reeling back into and over the couch inside the door.
"I'm nobody. But you, your worse. How the hell could you treat him that way!" Gary's voice rose. He saw the brunette already dialing the phone. He could not afford an assault charge with Paulie with his mom. "You're so fucking lucky, dude. You had the best son in the world, and you treated him like shit. How do you get to keep going and he's dead? You stole his girlfriend!" He yelled at him, Doug already getting up, blood oozing down his face, nose very broken. He rushed at Gary, but a second swing sent him flying back again, and this time. "I hate you!" Gary yelled inside as he took off running.
He had mapped his route home before he left. Jumping a few fences and running through the small bit of woods that was between Doug's house and the suburb Gary lived in. He had to get home before news got out and get back to the cocoon before night fall. Coming in through the sliding glass door, he picked up the daiper bag and hurried up to his moms room.
"Sorry to cut this short, I gotta go, mom." She just nodded, putting Paulie in his car seat as Gary picked it up. "You take care of him, baby, and remember to love him as much as I love you." That got Gary to smile softly at his mom. "I love you too mom, even when I've been a pain in the neck, and I always will." A kiss placed on her cheek as he hurried out to the cheap car he had borrowed from another hench for the day. Time to get home before the cops got to Doug's house, since he'd have to drive past it.
It had been a simple mission, a quick gets in, fuck something up and get out. Doc Venture, Brock, and the boys weren't even home. It was like taking candy from a baby, it went off without a hitch, well mostly. Henchman 72 didn't take a sick day for fear of losing pay and tried to hide his flu until it was too late. Everyone on that mission was sick as hell within a day or two. And everyone knew when an illness went through the cocoon, it was only a matter of time until everyone got sick.
This was how 37 and 41 ended up getting to chill in the house away from the other henchmen with the baby. 37 was always in the engine room or on baby duty. He didn't mind baby duty, since 21 always came and got him quickly. But, the big guy was clearly in a bad way. Much like the original plague bringer, he kept working until it was clear he wasn't well and nearly passed out on his control panel. He didn't have a cough, but every other symptom.
37 was sitting out in the backyard while Paulie was playing in the grass. Just watching the barely walking baby moving around plucking weeds. He was playing on his phone but knew that 21 would lose his mind if he got out of bed AGAIN and found Paulie not being watched. 21 did not trust Paulie being unwatched in the yard so close to Hatred and the road.
Luckily, he was down for the count, but 37 wanted his lunch break. So he slipped into the house, quietly setting a fussy Paulie by the bedroom door, so he'd crawl in there and quickly bailed. Paulie kept trying to walk and crawl himself to places he thought his dad or Titi might be. 41 would be pissed, but better him than 21. Which would only be an issue if the Monarch was alone in there. He'd march the baby back up to the cocoon or scream and demand to know why they're in his house if he's stuck with the kid. Sheila, he figured, would take the baby for a while.
It was another day that ended in y, which meant their #2 in all but name was out leading a storm on the venture compound again. The Monarch and Sheila on their thrones watching the chaos below on the big screens. Gary was going toe to toe against Hatred and it was getting pretty serious.
The Scarianette had Doc all twisted up while the battle raged below.
The babysitter of the night, had fallen asleep, ignoring Gary's very clear orders to watch Paul closely since he was starting to get closer to real crawling and knew where to crawl too to make the auto door open. Still, the henchman passed out on Gary's bunk and didn't see Paulie pulling himself from his crib beside the bunk. Pulling himself past the man and onto the pillow on the floor, Gary had put there the first time Paulie throw himself into the floor. The baby didn't cry when he landed on the pillow. Nope, he was ready to go exploring.
His dad was gone again, and he never liked that. The determined baby was pulling himself as he seemed to realize he could use his legs more. Crawling quickly out the door in his Jedi onesie, and a diaper that should have been changed awhile ago. The room the two shared wasn't far from the control room and that was where he was crawling too without really realizing it. The henchmen who ran past paid no mind too the baby as they rushed to their stations. It was the evil laugh of the Monarch that caught his attention.
As the Monarch snapped a little later at his henchmen for bitching about a night off. He took a sniff of the air. "Honey bun, what is that?"
Sheila making a face, before hearing a noise and looking down to see Paulie sitting between their thrones, chewing on his own toes through the onesie. She facepalmed. "Page 21, and we have got to take 37 off baby duty. This is getting ridiculous."
Instead of paging 21, he blasted it off the intercom, so even Venture heard it. "21! Your child smells terrible, come get him! RIGHT NOW!"
Hatred was laughing as Gary rushed across the lawn, a threat yelled back at Hatred. Oh, he was going to rip 27 a new one this time. At least he knew Sheila would be there to keep Monarch from complaining too much. She was the best titi a baby could ask for after all. And it would buy Gary some time to get back on the Cocoon and deal with getting his child cleaned and probably a bath again. He never should have left him in a white onesie.
Once Gary was back aboard the Cocoon and had collected Paulie from his bosses, he'd apologized for the hassle and carried the boy back towards his room. He'd been irritated before, but feeling the fact that Paulie had not only leaked through his diaper but through his clothes too? He wasn't gone more than a few hours!
"Get up!" He yelled as he flipped on the light and saw 37 asleep on his bed. The other hench jumping away, as Paulie buried his face in his father's chest. He was used to hearing him yell orders, it was not a scary inflection anymore. "What the HELL do you think you're doing!"
He carried Paulie over to the changing table and laid him down after getting his little hands to let go of his bulletproof vest. "I trusted you, dude! And fucking fell asleep!" 37 was stammering apologies and trying to make excuses. "No! Fuck that, you were out with 45 playing Tekken half the night! You KNEW we had a job to do today! Your apology is worthless! What if he had been trampled by people running? What if he had escaped to the fight? OR worse, fallen out of the hatch? Huh? Sorry, wouldn't cut it, dude!" The dirty diaper removed and tossed in the bin. Cleaning the baby up, he didn't bother with a new diaper, just wrapping him up in one of his swaddling blankets, and grabbing the bag that held his bath toys and a change of clothes.
"You're off this detail. You're back on the engine room and field duty for the next month!" Gary screamed at him as he picked up the baby and held him again. 37 stammering still, this had been a pretty sweet gig, he hated the engine room. "You could have killed him, dude, I don't give a fuck. Now get out. The Monarchs are waiting to see you." That was scarier than two ton 21 yelling at him, and that was scary enough.
He turned, leaving the henchman in his room as he carried Paulie down to the house. He'd gotten permission from both awhile ago. The communal bathrooms on each housing floor just were too busy and probably stressful for Paulie to be washed in. So, he soon was sitting on the floor of one of the bathrooms of the house, Paulie in his little bath floaties his many toys around him, and his dark hair spiked up like a fauxhawk with the shampoo.
"You scared me so much today, little dude. You can't be wandering like that. I'm going to have to get a gate to put on the door." He grumbled as he let the baby play in the water for now. He knew it wouldn't work, not with the ways the doors were tapered.
"How's our little man doing?" He heard Sheila's deep voice and looked up from where he was sitting on his knees before the tub.
"He's doing fine, boss. Totally needed the bath though, he was smelling ripe. That idiot didn't change him at all, he was asleep in my bunk." He grumbled, as he took up a cup to start pouring water over Paulie's head. He had a little crown shaped water hat to protect his eyes from the bubbles so it was just happy times for the little guy.
"I told him he's off the detail. I know Paulie lies to explore, but that was scary, what if he had crawled out of the hatch?"
"21, that would have taken hours for him to get down there. Relax, but I do agree, he's done on that. We'll find someone else."
"Thanks, boss. I appreciate it." He responded as Paulie lifted his squeaky frog out of the water and shook it towards Sheila. "I don't know what I would do without you guys."
"You'd do just fine, Gary. Just like you're doing now."
When Sheila said that he had to take a moment to scrub his eyes, trying to pretend that didn't make him almost want to cry. "Bubbles got in my eyes." He quickly covered, which was half true now that he got it in his own eyes.
Paulie had been playing more and more with Crayons and after a trip to visit Gary's mom a box of finger paints and some paper had come back with him. Gary had laid some newspaper down on the floor, and sat in the chair watching the toddler and his many colors. a few slapped handprints of purple and yellow over other smeared colors.
"Trying to make a picture of home?" He asked, watching the boy working on his colorful image.
"Titi." It was all Paulie said, he was very slow with his speaking. He knew words, but it was clear he was going to be shy, just like Paul himself had been. He would babble at Gary and sometimes Malcolm and Sheila, but most got baby noises still. Or upset demands for 'Da.'
"Oh, it's for you're Titi, huh? What about uncle Monarch?" He asked patiently as another yellow handprint was slapped in the middle. The child looking proud. "That's for him, huh? I see." He nodded as Paulie smiled.
A while after Paulie was bathed and put to bed, Gary checked to see if the paints were still wet, before taking the painting and signing the back with Paulie's name and the date. Leaving it on his desk to dry more overnight, but tomorrow he would give it to Sheila before training began. She deserved to see what Paulie made for her.
"Come on, I need some Cheetos and a mountain dew! You promised, dude!" "Dude! I have a migraine! I'm not driving you to the gas station!" "I'd drive if I knew how!" The sixteen-year-old snapped back at his mentor and friend. "FINE! Tomorrow I'll teach you how to drive, and you can take the Stanza!"
There were no Cheetos that night, but the night after, Gary found himself sitting nervously in the front seat of the Stanza, moving slowly down the highway. 24 sitting next to him looking nervous. 21's hands set at 10 and 2. "Alright, dude, you're doing fine. Give'er some gas already before we get pulled over for going too slow!" "DUDE! I am unlicensed, uninsured and flipping terrified! Ease off!" "Chill, bro, you have a permit, right? Licensed adult, owner of the car. It's fine."
He probably should have admitted he didn't ACTUALLY have a permit, but that was fine, they were professional bad guys. Duh. By the time they reached the nearest 7/11, Gary had been white knuckling so long that he thought he might break the wheel. Twenty four laughing as he patted him on the back. "Come on, Kid. Let's go get some muchies!"
Stepping out and following his friend closely as it truly hit him. "Oh my god, DUDE! I drove, and didn't hit anything!" "You did pretty good, 21." "Dude!" It was all he could yell again as he grabbed the case of Mt Dew, and a few bags of chips. 24 had his own snacks picked out, but they knew they'd share, they always do. "Can I drive back?" "Duh. You're getting as much experience as possible, then we're getting your license." "About that.... Uh, my mom wouldn't sign for it last year... so I don't, actually." "No problem, dude, just ask Dr. Girlfriend to file it with the guild. They can bypass that." "Seriously?" "Probably, just ask her." "I SO will! Should we get her a snack for payment?" "Dude, you don't even know what she likes! And you're gonna, have to get more confident behind the wheel before you bother her. Let's just pay and go!.. You're also paying for gas for these lessons too."
"Sweet, deal!" He called back as he paid for his snacks, heading back to the Stanza. Slipping back in the driver seat, hands back at 10 and 2 he looked too 24 as he got in. "Maybe I can learn to drive a manual soon!" "Dude, I have to ask..." A concerned tone in his voice. "What?" "If your mom wouldn't sign for your permit, how did you get her to sign you out of school?" "Uhhh..." a guilty look crossed his face as 21 started the car and looked back to back the car up to take them home. "Never mind that, just know it was handled."
It was not in fact handled. He was just lucky he had slipped through the cracks, and that for some reason his teachers never reported him missing.
He couldn't believe he got away with it. Dragging Professor Vibration's body down the hill, he heard 24's voice before anyone elses. "Holy shit, it's the kid! Oh my god!" One of the other's started chanting "Wings" with the other. Normally, they might lift the newest official henchman to get their wings, but all of them knew the kid was heavy and none of them wanted to do that again.
He got a lot of pats to the back and congratulations. The other henches taking picture's of little 21 and the body. He had been smart enough to mess his suit up a little, and at least the fear rolling off him was real. He expected to be caught and tortured for lying.
"Hey Boss! The kid killed the douche-hat! Want us to bring the body? Nah? Cool, we'll be there soon! The bot's dropped as soon as he died." He heard 24 speaking into the communicator. He couldn't tell what the Monarch was saying as 24 placed a hand on his shoulder. "Boss says leave the body, let's head back!" It was rare for 24 to take any kind of lead, but he knew if anyone else did, they'd probably try to steal credit from the youngest.
The six months he had been in the fluttering horde, he had never been this close to the Monarch, at least since he was supposed to be gotten rid of anyway. He tried not to look frightened as their leader walked up. "Well, I hear you've earned your wings, henchman 21! Congraduations! We will have the ceremony tomorrow. Dr. Girlfriend is at her mother's tonight." He was patted on the head as the Monarch was walking away with Henchman 44.
"That guy killed Professor Vibrations? He looked like he was scared shitless." "Kid's got the instinct." "If you say so." He sounded skeptical, but went with it.
"Come on, 21, let's go get something to eat." 24 was back by his side, playfully twacking his shoulder as he led him to the lunchroom.
Most of the other Henchmen went off to their rooms or to hang out in the lounge, but 24 and 21 sat at one of the tables, 21 just idly picking at the food on his plate. "I know something's wrong when you don't eat, Staypuft. Spill it." "First off, bite me. Second... nothing's wrong." "Sure, sure, and I'm the Mona Lisa." "Totally knew you were a girl." "Anyone ever tell you that you have a smart mouth, kid?" "Just you, everyday, old man." "Ouch. Like seriously, ouch. I'm not that old!"
21 started to laugh a little then as 24 worked on a fruit roll up he had snagged earlier. "You get used to the killing. I've been at this a long time, dude. First blood's never easy. You have got to remember it's just orders. It's not really your blood on your hands when it's orders."
"That... yeah, I guess that makes sense." "How old are you again?" "Old enough." "So, a kid." "Fucking bite me, dude." "Nah, don't need the cholesterol. Seriously though, dude, you're all nerves. I'll give you a cigarette to take off the edge."
21 looked up surprised, he hadn't considered smoking cool until he joined the Horde, but the coolest henchmen all seemed to smoke. "Cool." "Not cool. It's expensive, and the boss hates it. So, we gotta go outside. If he catches us. I'm leaving you behind and bolting." "Let's go." "You didn't finish eating." "Who care, I'm watching my figure." "Sure, you are. Come on, let's go."
21 felt like he really belonged now, sitting outside the cocoon, where some of the other's hid when they smoked. 24 was playing a game on his flip phone, while 21 coughed a little around his first cigarette. This time tomorrow, he'd have his wings, and everything was looking up. Maybe this was what growing up really felt like.
Gary hadn't let himself worry about what Malcolm or Sheila thought when he had shut his phone off after calling Manolo and Monarch to say he was taking the day off. He had left more than once and been gone for months each time. Of course, there were reasons for his bosses to worry. One more than the other. It was while he was on the train on his way back to Newark that he realized that Malcolm was going to be royally pissed off at him.
He didn't regret the choice, and refused to regret it, nope. He would deal with whatever was waiting at home.
Stepping off the bus, and he saw the drapes in the office shift as he pushed open the recently added butterfly gate, making his way up the steps. Monarch standing at the top of the steps, his arms crossed over his chest, trying to look menacing in his maroon bathrobe and leopard print speedos. "DUDE! What. The. Fuck!"
"Dude, chill. I took a day off." Gary grumbled back, coming to stand before his boss, a step between them, Malcolm's height really on display as he stepped aside. "Go fucking change, Dr. My wife is home! Then we're talking about this shit!" Smacking him hard against the back of his head. Gary was a little hung over again after the second night, but he just grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. Making his way inside.
"Welcome home, Gary!" He heard the deep voice call from somewhere in the living spaces. "Thanks, Dr. Mrs. Monarch!"
He was already hurrying up the stairs before she could see him.
---
Returning downstairs after a shower, a trim of his stubble and a change of clothes, he went into the kitchen. Monarch was grumbling under his breath as Sheila looked up. Her eyes zeroing in on the chipper mood of their singular henchman. Just like that, she knew. Not all the details, but she knew. It made everything make sense.
"Dude, what the fuck, where were you?" Monarch, however, was not so quick on the uptake, just tracking Gary as he made himself a bowl of cereal and sat at the island. Who cared that it was nearly 2pm already?
"Trenton, nice little hotel. You guys didn't even have any work for me, chill dude." He spoke with the wave of his spoon. Sheila had to take the salt from Monarch, who was about to throw it at him for that laid back attitude over it all.
"What he means to say, 21, is we were worried. It's not like you to go radio silent, not unless you were planning to not come back awhile." "YES! That!" Monarch all but yelled. "Perhaps crawling back to the enemy! In TRENTON! Trenton sucks, Newark is so much better!"
Gary shook his head, letting go of the spoon and looking at his best friend. "Dude. I was with a girl. Of course, I shut my phone off, you called like 15 times in two hours after I said I was taking the day off."
Sheila looked a little smug to had guessed so quickly, but Malcolm's jaw dropped like he didn't believe what he was hearing.
"Good for you, sweetie. Is she at least a nice girl?" "Oh yeah, the best." "Are you two together now?" "Nah, we're just friends."
That was not what either of them expected.
"THAT is more like it! Did you spend that long playing your Dungeons and Gremlins!" "Dungeons and Dragons, dingus, and no. That's on every third Thursday of the month. It's on the calendar. I'm too tired for this, call me if we need to arch or if you need something serious."
Taking his bowl, he went to leave the kitchen as Monarch yelled after him. "Don't you DARE leave that in your room again!" "Honey, calm down." Sheila sighed.
---
Later that night, Sheila was off with the council and the two of them were in the Morphocave. The silence was annoying them both, but male stubbornness made neither want to be the loser. However, the Monarch would always claim victory even in the eye of loss.
"TWENTY ONE!" Gary nearly dropped his laptop as he jumped to his feet. An impulse when called for. "As your leader, I DEMAND to know what happened and why you ignored me!" "Dude, I got laid! Why are you making this a big deal!" "...Wait, really? You?" "Thanks dude... really." "Wait, wait. I don't mean it like that!" Monarch's irritation melting away as he leaned on the control panel of the Crime Computer. "You said she's just a friend, you don't strike me as the...." "One-night stand type?" Gary offered. "THAT's the one. So what's the deal?"
It was almost like the night monarch confronted him for torturing the Venture boys all over again. The two talked away, Monarch more shocked the more he heard, though after snatching his phone and seeing the pictures. He did give Gary a high five and a muttering of 'Nice.' It seemed like everything would be good.
"Just don't let this little diligence distract you, my lone Henchman. And DO remember, women can be fickle. Pay attention and don't mess it up." "We're just friends, dude. She can do better than me any day of the week. I'm just happy to talk to her." "DUDE, what the fuck!" Monarch yelled again. Sometimes he just couldn't believe the things that 21 said. "This is why you're single! This RIGHT here!" "YOU wouldn't let me bring anyone home if I wanted too!" "OF COURSE NOT! They could be an OSI Mole! Or worse, this one could bring the Joker in to steal our secrets!" "THEY BROKE UP! And don't talk about her like that, oh my god."
It was a stupid idea. SO stupid. Like, if Malcolm had done it, he would have yelled or hit something, but no. HE did this stupid thing. Gary had promised himself after Paul died that he was done doing stupid shit, and yet, time and time again, here he was.
Pulling the Morphomobile into the cave, and parking it on the platform, he saw that he was already in trouble.
The chair at the Crime Computer turned towards the formerly empty platform. Arms crossed, still in the nice clothes he wore out with Sheila. Opening the doors, Gary stepped out, with the keys and his leftovers. "Hey boss. Shouldn't you be upstairs?"
"Shouldn't you be... maybe... NOT DOWN HERE! What the fuck dude! Did you go Morphoing without me! I'm STILL your leader!" "Dude, chill. Please, I did something stupid, but I didn't kill anyone on the list... or kill anyone for that matter. And I didn't get seen or followed back." "Where did you go 21!" "... To Gotham." He muttered as he looked down.
"DUDE! What the fuck! You keep telling me I can't even take my own costume to Enzo's, and you take our VERY IDENTIFIABLE car to GOTHAM to see that clown again!" "Dude, she's not a clown, and I already said I fucked up okay!" "A Harlequin is a clown! BASICALLY A CLOWN! I'm not insulting her, I'm insulting you dude!" "Don't insult me either! I already apologized! You were on date night and I made a stupid offer! I'm sorry man."
Malcolm sighed heavily, looking at his sidekick. "Not too long ago I would have replaced your blood with acid for less then what you did tonight." "Dude, I know. I remember!" "Don't do it again. If you want to show off to your little friend, you TEXT me and tell me. Don't ever do this again, 21. I mean it. I trust you and you better not break it. I'm really happy you're seeing someone. Even if you keep insisting otherwise. But that car? That was my dads. You only take it with MY permission, dude, this is so fucked."
Gary rubbed at the back of his head and noded. "I promise, dude. Wont happen again." "If it does, you'll text so my wife doesnt see?" "I'll text you some kind of code. We can figure it out. Are we good?" "Yeah now come on. I've been waiting for nearly two hours to watch Game of Thrones."
Gary looked over at him as he was starting to put the Kano suit up. His shorts and tshirt still under the suit from where he rushed. "Wait, what?"
"Oh yeah, you were gone. Dr. My Wife got called away as soon as we reached the restaurant. I've been back since nearly eight thirty dude."
Oh fuck, he should have listened to Harley and waited. "Come on! I gotta see what happened, and unlike you I don't watch without you."
Following Monarch up the stairs he tossed his arms up. "ONE episode! I watched ONE without you dude. Come on let it go!" "You stole my car to get laid! I refuse." "I didn't get laid, dude. We hung out. I told you were friends." "TWENTY ONE! Are you serious! You risked getting caught for some Chinese food? Also, what is it? Smells amazing?"
"Yes I did, and yes it is. Want the rest?" "Hell yes, I do. Let's go, I already got it loaded up." "Thanks, dude, for being understanding." "Yeah, yeah, that's me. So forgiving and understanding. Next time you do something stupid like this, make sure you at least do it for a good reason." "Then let's buy a car already!" Gary whined. "Not in this city, hell no. You want a car to see your 'friend' buy it yourself, scrub." "Wow, that's like majorly hurtful, dude." "I'm a bad guy, you big crybaby. Come on already, it's Khalessi time!"
It really was a charming little brownstone, that Gary Fischer found himself standing before. He had to make a good impression, so he was in his brown suit and knocked upon the big oak door. Waiting patiently.
"Horace! Can you get the door!" He heard the sweet sounding voice call out before the door opened. His eyes widened some. Sure, he'd seen Colonial Gentlemen in passing before, but he had never been this close to the man. It was always so cool to meet old team Venture, not that he could admit that to Malcolm. Ever.
"Hello Coloniel Gentlemen, sir. My name's Gary, I'm here to speak to Billy if he is home."
The old man chuckled still standing in the door, blocking Gary's path. "You're the Monarch's boy, aren't'cha?"
"That's right, but, I'm not here on business, I promise I am not here to start problems. I give my word."
"The word of a known villain's henchman isn't worth much, boy."
Gary wanted to argue that he wasn't a kid, but compared to this old man, he was practically a baby. It was then that the kindly looking old woman stepped up and put a hand on the old man's arm. "Oh, leave the boy alone, Horace. You're here to see my Billy?"
"Yes, Ma'am. I wanted to inquire about some of his skills to help someone dear to me."
"Not the Monarch?" Gentlemen cut in.
"No, not the Monarch, sir."
The old man grinned and looked at the woman. "Look at that Rose, manners on a Henchman. What do you think, dear?"
She reached around him and grabbed Gary's arm, pulling him inside. "Don't pay him any mind, sweetheart, come on and sit down. Would you like some tea?"
"Oh, thank you, ma'am only if it's no problem."
"If you feed them, they will never go away, Rose!" Gentleman called back as Rose lead Gary to the table to take a seat.
"I wouldn't ask if it was a issue, sweetie, now sit down. My little Water baby is out right now with that handsome beau of his."
"Pete?" Gary asked, a little shocked, he didn't know they were gay, but that made sense when he thought about it.
Gentlemen took a seat next to Gary as Rose set the water going. Looking at the Henchman with an arched brow, Gary finally spoke up. "Is it true that team Venture fought L. Ron Hubbard?"
"Read the comics, did you boy?" "I collect them all. Those and the Blue Morpho comics." He spoke with pride as Gentleman laughed and started to recount the story. Rose coming out with the tray of tea and some cookies.
Gary should have known that Sheila would be right, he didn't even know why he was shocked each time she was right. At least when it came to things about him. He had every faith in her in every other area. But the moment Billy and Pete came in, Rose called out. "Billy! You have company, sweetie."
Billy looked exhusted, as Pete spoke first. "21? What are you doin' here, Pally?"
They hadn't seen a lot of each other since he left living on the Ventures yard, but his planning had saved them from Zeus.
"I wanted to ask a favor of Billy, one I can totally pay for." "With actual cash money?" Billy asked as he walked over to sit at the table, Pete heading on upstairs as Rose, shushed Horace from the dinning room.
"Dinner will be in an hour boys. You're staying, right, Gary?" "Uhh, if you want, ma'am." "Of course!" And away she went as Billy looked less than impressed.
"Money, 21. Do you have it?" "Look, I don't, well I do, but I have something you want more." Taking out his phone he slid it over.
"Wait! Is that an original Rusty Venture alarm clock?" "It is, it has some minor smoke damage but otherwise it's mint." "What do you want for it?" Billy now willing to play ball as he pushed the phone back.
"You're the best doctor I know, and someone real important to me has a bomb in the back of her head." "You know actual girls?" "Bite me, and yes, I do." He grumbled as Billy arched a brow. "Would I offer a collectable that rare if it wasn't real?" "Fair point, keep going." "I'm told you specialize in brains and, well, it's basically in her brain. I respect you enough to come ask in person and not just shove you in a bag and kidnap you. How often does that happen?" "Also, a fair point. This isn't Dr. Girlfriend is it?" "No, it's not Dr. Mrs. The Monarch. She's fine, but she did tell me I should talk to you first." "Smart woman."
Gary nodded as they talked over the details, finally Billy asking just who the mystery woman was.
"Uhh, no. Harley Quinn? She's like an actual scary villain!" "I'm a villain!" "Hardly! How many times have you come to everyone's rescue?" "Shut up." "My point. You'd be in the OSI if they hadn't rejected you." "You don't know that." "Either way, I'm not having her boyfriend on my ass." "Dude, I'm already here."
Billy started to laugh as Gary glared. Pulling open his texts instead of speaking and sliding them over. Billys eyes going wide as he rolled through them. A few pictures Harley had sent were seen before he blushed and pushed it back.
"I don't even want to know how you pulled that off. Or if you have a death wish... actually, you have to, to work for the Monarch." "Bite me, dude, she's been a friend for years, and I won't have you talking shit about her or my boss. Talk shit about me all you want, I don't care, but will you help her?" "Duh, no problem. I got you, I want the clock first." "Absolutely not, Venture already fucked me like that once. I gave him Marvel #1 to clone 24, and he ruined it."
Billy almost looked sick to his stomach, hearing that. He may not be a comic nerd, but he knew the value of that book. "Fine, once it's out. We can't do it here, though. I'll call you with a place and time." "Let me talk to her first." "Wait, you came all the way here, before you asked her?" "I didnt want to get her hopes up if you said no." "And you weren't going to just kidnap me?"
Gary laughed, a real deep from the gut laugh. "Dude, I saw what your mom did to St. Cloud. No, thanks." Billy looked confused, looking back into the kitchen as Gentlemen watched the both and his mom waved.
"Fair enough. Alright, I have to change. Have fun with the old people. If you try to leave before dinner after telling her yes, she'll drag you back by your ear." "That's cool, dude. I'm fine here."
As Billy walked away, Gentlemen sat back down, looking amused. "Doing this for a girl, huh? A dangerous one I take it?" "Aren't they the best kind, sir?" "That they are laddy, now tell me about your lady. I want to hear this."
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twoton_twentyone) wrote2023-08-17 11:25 pm
The Baby and the Henchman (Paulie-verse)
Back to the Start
The call changed a lot though, one moment he was a depressed nerd trying to pull himself together, the next... he was the father of his best friend. And he vowed to be so much better than Doug had ever been to his best friend.
"Alright, so you need to fill these out to make it legal, and you never got any of this from me." The scientist was explaining as Gary held the tiny baby Paul in one arm. "Just in case, I have a spare brewing. I know how this life is, call me if you break him."
Gary glared, insulted that the man thought he'd get the new 24 killed, but he didn't speak against it. No, a back-up was a good idea, as much as he hated it. Making his way out, he was stopped by Hank and Dean who both wanted to see the baby, and Hank asking all about the mother and what Gary had done to bulk up so fast. Neither question was answered, but he did hang out with them awhile before heading back home.
The first month or two was miserable, Paulie cried a lot and Gary had no idea how to make it stop. His mother constantly screaming for him to quiet the baby didn't help either.
At about 6 months old, Gary and Paulie returned to the cocoon, the small baby was in a car seat and Gary had a bag at his side. Of course, some of the newer scrubs tried to stop him, but he knew where he belonged. Within the hour he was standing before The Monarch and his wife, Paul up resting against his shoulder in a butterfly onesie.
"I know it might seem dangerous, but he won't be a problem!"
"When did you knock someone up?!" The Monarch was still stuck on that.
"I didn't, this is 24."
"You had him cloned?" Sheila asked, a touch of worry in her tone.
The boy from a year ago gone, and the 21 before them now was in shape, had some unnecessary side burns and his hair in a long ponytail. His hench suit was modified and had him looking formidable, all except for the dark haired child snuggled against his shoulder.
"Yeah, kinda. But he couldn't be brought back as an adult, so this was the only real choice." He offered with a shrug, patting the baby on the back, trying to burp him lest Paulie gets fussy later. "He won't be a problem, and I am committed to not only working but helping get everything in order."
"I guess, but don't expect any help!" The Monarch pointed and called out in his always dramatic way.
"Can I hold him?" Sheila asked, making his way across the room to take the child from 21. It was so weird to realize she was looking down at baby 24... but that unibrow really sold it.
Two times Gary Fischer met Doug.
Paul knew Gary could have a temper and be scary when pushed. It was rare, but he'd seen it before. He didn't have to look to know his friend was fuming. They went to iHop and Paul crashed on his moms couch that night. It was one of the few times he spent the night.
This time, Gary was by himself, a bag over his shoulder and in his usual Kevin Smith look. His trench coat and cargo shorts. Ringing the doorbell, a middle-aged brunette answered. "Ain't I see you around, chubs?"
He narrowed his eyes. "You must be, Ann." He only knew Paul's ex's name due to a drunken night's ranting.
"And, you are?"
"A friend of Paul's. I'm here to talk to Doug."
"Paul's dead. The guild's already been here." She spoke it without a care and Gary felt his temper spiking but he took a deep breath to steady himself.
"I would like to speak to Doug."
"You better not be here to say he was gay too. He's already got a gay brother."
"I know dude. And no. I brought some of his stuff, you know in case he wanted it."
"We don't want that junk." He heard the same voice from awhile ago. Doug pushing Ann aside sizing up the chubby young man haunting his doorstep.
"You're his little friend he always hung out with."
"Gary." He introduced himself and even held a hand out.
"Right, what do you want." Opening the bag he held up the few items of Paul's he had. a tshirt, a few books and a post card from Cancun.
"These were his, I thought you'd want them."
"Keep that junk. My son's dead, I don't want to think about it."
"What about the 500 he owed you for the Stanza?" Gary spoke as he looked up making eye contact with Doug. That got some intrest.
"You're gonna pay me for the car he totalled?"
"He didn't total it, that was an accident outside his control. And yes, if it gets you to be less bitter with my dead best friend. I have the cash right now." He hadn't sold anything, it was just his paycheck from the Atomic Comic Collection Connection. Holding out the envolope the man took it and counted the money.
"Don't beleive me?"
"You're one of that villian's crew. I have a right."
"Cool. Now leave." Doug slammed the door in his face as Gary stood there shocked. He didn't know what he expected, but it wasn't that. He could totally see why Paul hated this man.
He walked home dejected best friendless, and now 500 bucks broker. Paul would have laughed at him for trying, but he had too. His mom was waiting at the door for his younger brother to get off the bus as Gary walked up the drive. She didn't have to ask, she could see it on his face. Grabbing her oldest around the shoulders, he pulled him in for a hug and held him close.
"It's okay, sweetie, just let it out." How lame was he, crying into his mom's shoulder while his brother got off the bus.
---
It had been nearly a year since he had last darked this door. This time he wasn't the heartbroken kid he felt he was a year ago. Now he was in shape, he was mad and he knew what he wanted.
He had left Paulie with his mom, who was still unsure how she felt about being a grandmother. She believed the story that Gary had knocked someone up and they abandoned the baby. It was better than admitting to his mom that his son was a clone of his dead best friend. Even if his mom did look at him differently now.
Gary knew he needed to be back in an hour at the latest, but this shouldn't take long. Cop knocking hard on the door. This time Doug answered. "The fuck do you want!" He yelled out, stopping when he saw the person on his doorstep.
"Who the hell are you?" The guy didn't even recognize him. Even better. Gary pulled back and swung as hard as he could into the guy's jaw. Sending him reeling back into and over the couch inside the door.
"I'm nobody. But you, your worse. How the hell could you treat him that way!" Gary's voice rose. He saw the brunette already dialing the phone. He could not afford an assault charge with Paulie with his mom. "You're so fucking lucky, dude. You had the best son in the world, and you treated him like shit. How do you get to keep going and he's dead? You stole his girlfriend!" He yelled at him, Doug already getting up, blood oozing down his face, nose very broken. He rushed at Gary, but a second swing sent him flying back again, and this time. "I hate you!" Gary yelled inside as he took off running.
He had mapped his route home before he left. Jumping a few fences and running through the small bit of woods that was between Doug's house and the suburb Gary lived in. He had to get home before news got out and get back to the cocoon before night fall. Coming in through the sliding glass door, he picked up the daiper bag and hurried up to his moms room.
"Sorry to cut this short, I gotta go, mom." She just nodded, putting Paulie in his car seat as Gary picked it up.
"You take care of him, baby, and remember to love him as much as I love you." That got Gary to smile softly at his mom.
"I love you too mom, even when I've been a pain in the neck, and I always will." A kiss placed on her cheek as he hurried out to the cheap car he had borrowed from another hench for the day. Time to get home before the cops got to Doug's house, since he'd have to drive past it.
Dropping the baby on the Monarchs
This was how 37 and 41 ended up getting to chill in the house away from the other henchmen with the baby. 37 was always in the engine room or on baby duty. He didn't mind baby duty, since 21 always came and got him quickly. But, the big guy was clearly in a bad way. Much like the original plague bringer, he kept working until it was clear he wasn't well and nearly passed out on his control panel. He didn't have a cough, but every other symptom.
37 was sitting out in the backyard while Paulie was playing in the grass. Just watching the barely walking baby moving around plucking weeds. He was playing on his phone but knew that 21 would lose his mind if he got out of bed AGAIN and found Paulie not being watched. 21 did not trust Paulie being unwatched in the yard so close to Hatred and the road.
Luckily, he was down for the count, but 37 wanted his lunch break. So he slipped into the house, quietly setting a fussy Paulie by the bedroom door, so he'd crawl in there and quickly bailed. Paulie kept trying to walk and crawl himself to places he thought his dad or Titi might be. 41 would be pissed, but better him than 21. Which would only be an issue if the Monarch was alone in there. He'd march the baby back up to the cocoon or scream and demand to know why they're in his house if he's stuck with the kid. Sheila, he figured, would take the baby for a while.
Paulie crawlin'
The Scarianette had Doc all twisted up while the battle raged below.
The babysitter of the night, had fallen asleep, ignoring Gary's very clear orders to watch Paul closely since he was starting to get closer to real crawling and knew where to crawl too to make the auto door open. Still, the henchman passed out on Gary's bunk and didn't see Paulie pulling himself from his crib beside the bunk. Pulling himself past the man and onto the pillow on the floor, Gary had put there the first time Paulie throw himself into the floor. The baby didn't cry when he landed on the pillow. Nope, he was ready to go exploring.
His dad was gone again, and he never liked that. The determined baby was pulling himself as he seemed to realize he could use his legs more. Crawling quickly out the door in his Jedi onesie, and a diaper that should have been changed awhile ago. The room the two shared wasn't far from the control room and that was where he was crawling too without really realizing it. The henchmen who ran past paid no mind too the baby as they rushed to their stations. It was the evil laugh of the Monarch that caught his attention.
As the Monarch snapped a little later at his henchmen for bitching about a night off. He took a sniff of the air. "Honey bun, what is that?"
Sheila making a face, before hearing a noise and looking down to see Paulie sitting between their thrones, chewing on his own toes through the onesie. She facepalmed. "Page 21, and we have got to take 37 off baby duty. This is getting ridiculous."
Instead of paging 21, he blasted it off the intercom, so even Venture heard it. "21! Your child smells terrible, come get him! RIGHT NOW!"
Hatred was laughing as Gary rushed across the lawn, a threat yelled back at Hatred. Oh, he was going to rip 27 a new one this time. At least he knew Sheila would be there to keep Monarch from complaining too much. She was the best titi a baby could ask for after all. And it would buy Gary some time to get back on the Cocoon and deal with getting his child cleaned and probably a bath again. He never should have left him in a white onesie.
Aftermath
"Get up!" He yelled as he flipped on the light and saw 37 asleep on his bed. The other hench jumping away, as Paulie buried his face in his father's chest. He was used to hearing him yell orders, it was not a scary inflection anymore. "What the HELL do you think you're doing!"
He carried Paulie over to the changing table and laid him down after getting his little hands to let go of his bulletproof vest. "I trusted you, dude! And fucking fell asleep!" 37 was stammering apologies and trying to make excuses. "No! Fuck that, you were out with 45 playing Tekken half the night! You KNEW we had a job to do today! Your apology is worthless! What if he had been trampled by people running? What if he had escaped to the fight? OR worse, fallen out of the hatch? Huh? Sorry, wouldn't cut it, dude!" The dirty diaper removed and tossed in the bin. Cleaning the baby up, he didn't bother with a new diaper, just wrapping him up in one of his swaddling blankets, and grabbing the bag that held his bath toys and a change of clothes.
"You're off this detail. You're back on the engine room and field duty for the next month!" Gary screamed at him as he picked up the baby and held him again. 37 stammering still, this had been a pretty sweet gig, he hated the engine room. "You could have killed him, dude, I don't give a fuck. Now get out. The Monarchs are waiting to see you." That was scarier than two ton 21 yelling at him, and that was scary enough.
He turned, leaving the henchman in his room as he carried Paulie down to the house. He'd gotten permission from both awhile ago. The communal bathrooms on each housing floor just were too busy and probably stressful for Paulie to be washed in. So, he soon was sitting on the floor of one of the bathrooms of the house, Paulie in his little bath floaties his many toys around him, and his dark hair spiked up like a fauxhawk with the shampoo.
"You scared me so much today, little dude. You can't be wandering like that. I'm going to have to get a gate to put on the door." He grumbled as he let the baby play in the water for now. He knew it wouldn't work, not with the ways the doors were tapered.
"How's our little man doing?" He heard Sheila's deep voice and looked up from where he was sitting on his knees before the tub.
"He's doing fine, boss. Totally needed the bath though, he was smelling ripe. That idiot didn't change him at all, he was asleep in my bunk." He grumbled, as he took up a cup to start pouring water over Paulie's head. He had a little crown shaped water hat to protect his eyes from the bubbles so it was just happy times for the little guy.
"I told him he's off the detail. I know Paulie lies to explore, but that was scary, what if he had crawled out of the hatch?"
"21, that would have taken hours for him to get down there. Relax, but I do agree, he's done on that. We'll find someone else."
"Thanks, boss. I appreciate it." He responded as Paulie lifted his squeaky frog out of the water and shook it towards Sheila. "I don't know what I would do without you guys."
"You'd do just fine, Gary. Just like you're doing now."
When Sheila said that he had to take a moment to scrub his eyes, trying to pretend that didn't make him almost want to cry. "Bubbles got in my eyes." He quickly covered, which was half true now that he got it in his own eyes.
Finger Paints for Sheila
"Trying to make a picture of home?" He asked, watching the boy working on his colorful image.
"Titi." It was all Paulie said, he was very slow with his speaking. He knew words, but it was clear he was going to be shy, just like Paul himself had been. He would babble at Gary and sometimes Malcolm and Sheila, but most got baby noises still. Or upset demands for 'Da.'
"Oh, it's for you're Titi, huh? What about uncle Monarch?" He asked patiently as another yellow handprint was slapped in the middle. The child looking proud. "That's for him, huh? I see." He nodded as Paulie smiled.
A while after Paulie was bathed and put to bed, Gary checked to see if the paints were still wet, before taking the painting and signing the back with Paulie's name and the date. Leaving it on his desk to dry more overnight, but tomorrow he would give it to Sheila before training began. She deserved to see what Paulie made for her.
Driving Lessons with 24
"Dude! I have a migraine! I'm not driving you to the gas station!"
"I'd drive if I knew how!" The sixteen-year-old snapped back at his mentor and friend.
"FINE! Tomorrow I'll teach you how to drive, and you can take the Stanza!"
There were no Cheetos that night, but the night after, Gary found himself sitting nervously in the front seat of the Stanza, moving slowly down the highway. 24 sitting next to him looking nervous. 21's hands set at 10 and 2. "Alright, dude, you're doing fine. Give'er some gas already before we get pulled over for going too slow!"
"DUDE! I am unlicensed, uninsured and flipping terrified! Ease off!"
"Chill, bro, you have a permit, right? Licensed adult, owner of the car. It's fine."
He probably should have admitted he didn't ACTUALLY have a permit, but that was fine, they were professional bad guys. Duh. By the time they reached the nearest 7/11, Gary had been white knuckling so long that he thought he might break the wheel. Twenty four laughing as he patted him on the back. "Come on, Kid. Let's go get some muchies!"
Stepping out and following his friend closely as it truly hit him. "Oh my god, DUDE! I drove, and didn't hit anything!"
"You did pretty good, 21."
"Dude!" It was all he could yell again as he grabbed the case of Mt Dew, and a few bags of chips. 24 had his own snacks picked out, but they knew they'd share, they always do. "Can I drive back?"
"Duh. You're getting as much experience as possible, then we're getting your license."
"About that.... Uh, my mom wouldn't sign for it last year... so I don't, actually."
"No problem, dude, just ask Dr. Girlfriend to file it with the guild. They can bypass that."
"Seriously?"
"Probably, just ask her."
"I SO will! Should we get her a snack for payment?"
"Dude, you don't even know what she likes! And you're gonna, have to get more confident behind the wheel before you bother her. Let's just pay and go!.. You're also paying for gas for these lessons too."
"Sweet, deal!" He called back as he paid for his snacks, heading back to the Stanza. Slipping back in the driver seat, hands back at 10 and 2 he looked too 24 as he got in. "Maybe I can learn to drive a manual soon!"
"Dude, I have to ask..." A concerned tone in his voice.
"What?"
"If your mom wouldn't sign for your permit, how did you get her to sign you out of school?"
"Uhhh..." a guilty look crossed his face as 21 started the car and looked back to back the car up to take them home. "Never mind that, just know it was handled."
It was not in fact handled. He was just lucky he had slipped through the cracks, and that for some reason his teachers never reported him missing.
Earning the wings.
He got a lot of pats to the back and congratulations. The other henches taking picture's of little 21 and the body. He had been smart enough to mess his suit up a little, and at least the fear rolling off him was real. He expected to be caught and tortured for lying.
"Hey Boss! The kid killed the douche-hat! Want us to bring the body? Nah? Cool, we'll be there soon! The bot's dropped as soon as he died." He heard 24 speaking into the communicator. He couldn't tell what the Monarch was saying as 24 placed a hand on his shoulder. "Boss says leave the body, let's head back!" It was rare for 24 to take any kind of lead, but he knew if anyone else did, they'd probably try to steal credit from the youngest.
The six months he had been in the fluttering horde, he had never been this close to the Monarch, at least since he was supposed to be gotten rid of anyway. He tried not to look frightened as their leader walked up. "Well, I hear you've earned your wings, henchman 21! Congraduations! We will have the ceremony tomorrow. Dr. Girlfriend is at her mother's tonight." He was patted on the head as the Monarch was walking away with Henchman 44.
"That guy killed Professor Vibrations? He looked like he was scared shitless."
"Kid's got the instinct."
"If you say so." He sounded skeptical, but went with it.
"Come on, 21, let's go get something to eat." 24 was back by his side, playfully twacking his shoulder as he led him to the lunchroom.
Most of the other Henchmen went off to their rooms or to hang out in the lounge, but 24 and 21 sat at one of the tables, 21 just idly picking at the food on his plate. "I know something's wrong when you don't eat, Staypuft. Spill it."
"First off, bite me. Second... nothing's wrong."
"Sure, sure, and I'm the Mona Lisa."
"Totally knew you were a girl."
"Anyone ever tell you that you have a smart mouth, kid?"
"Just you, everyday, old man."
"Ouch. Like seriously, ouch. I'm not that old!"
21 started to laugh a little then as 24 worked on a fruit roll up he had snagged earlier. "You get used to the killing. I've been at this a long time, dude. First blood's never easy. You have got to remember it's just orders. It's not really your blood on your hands when it's orders."
"That... yeah, I guess that makes sense."
"How old are you again?"
"Old enough."
"So, a kid."
"Fucking bite me, dude."
"Nah, don't need the cholesterol. Seriously though, dude, you're all nerves. I'll give you a cigarette to take off the edge."
21 looked up surprised, he hadn't considered smoking cool until he joined the Horde, but the coolest henchmen all seemed to smoke. "Cool."
"Not cool. It's expensive, and the boss hates it. So, we gotta go outside. If he catches us. I'm leaving you behind and bolting."
"Let's go."
"You didn't finish eating."
"Who care, I'm watching my figure."
"Sure, you are. Come on, let's go."
21 felt like he really belonged now, sitting outside the cocoon, where some of the other's hid when they smoked. 24 was playing a game on his flip phone, while 21 coughed a little around his first cigarette. This time tomorrow, he'd have his wings, and everything was looking up. Maybe this was what growing up really felt like.
Going back to Newark (For Jess)
He didn't regret the choice, and refused to regret it, nope. He would deal with whatever was waiting at home.
Stepping off the bus, and he saw the drapes in the office shift as he pushed open the recently added butterfly gate, making his way up the steps. Monarch standing at the top of the steps, his arms crossed over his chest, trying to look menacing in his maroon bathrobe and leopard print speedos. "DUDE! What. The. Fuck!"
"Dude, chill. I took a day off." Gary grumbled back, coming to stand before his boss, a step between them, Malcolm's height really on display as he stepped aside. "Go fucking change, Dr. My wife is home! Then we're talking about this shit!" Smacking him hard against the back of his head. Gary was a little hung over again after the second night, but he just grumbled, rubbing the back of his head. Making his way inside.
"Welcome home, Gary!" He heard the deep voice call from somewhere in the living spaces.
"Thanks, Dr. Mrs. Monarch!"
He was already hurrying up the stairs before she could see him.
---
Returning downstairs after a shower, a trim of his stubble and a change of clothes, he went into the kitchen. Monarch was grumbling under his breath as Sheila looked up. Her eyes zeroing in on the chipper mood of their singular henchman. Just like that, she knew. Not all the details, but she knew. It made everything make sense.
"Dude, what the fuck, where were you?" Monarch, however, was not so quick on the uptake, just tracking Gary as he made himself a bowl of cereal and sat at the island. Who cared that it was nearly 2pm already?
"Trenton, nice little hotel. You guys didn't even have any work for me, chill dude." He spoke with the wave of his spoon. Sheila had to take the salt from Monarch, who was about to throw it at him for that laid back attitude over it all.
"What he means to say, 21, is we were worried. It's not like you to go radio silent, not unless you were planning to not come back awhile."
"YES! That!" Monarch all but yelled. "Perhaps crawling back to the enemy! In TRENTON! Trenton sucks, Newark is so much better!"
Gary shook his head, letting go of the spoon and looking at his best friend. "Dude. I was with a girl. Of course, I shut my phone off, you called like 15 times in two hours after I said I was taking the day off."
Sheila looked a little smug to had guessed so quickly, but Malcolm's jaw dropped like he didn't believe what he was hearing.
"Good for you, sweetie. Is she at least a nice girl?"
"Oh yeah, the best."
"Are you two together now?"
"Nah, we're just friends."
That was not what either of them expected.
"THAT is more like it! Did you spend that long playing your Dungeons and Gremlins!"
"Dungeons and Dragons, dingus, and no. That's on every third Thursday of the month. It's on the calendar. I'm too tired for this, call me if we need to arch or if you need something serious."
Taking his bowl, he went to leave the kitchen as Monarch yelled after him. "Don't you DARE leave that in your room again!"
"Honey, calm down." Sheila sighed.
---
Later that night, Sheila was off with the council and the two of them were in the Morphocave. The silence was annoying them both, but male stubbornness made neither want to be the loser. However, the Monarch would always claim victory even in the eye of loss.
"TWENTY ONE!" Gary nearly dropped his laptop as he jumped to his feet. An impulse when called for. "As your leader, I DEMAND to know what happened and why you ignored me!"
"Dude, I got laid! Why are you making this a big deal!"
"...Wait, really? You?"
"Thanks dude... really."
"Wait, wait. I don't mean it like that!" Monarch's irritation melting away as he leaned on the control panel of the Crime Computer. "You said she's just a friend, you don't strike me as the...."
"One-night stand type?" Gary offered.
"THAT's the one. So what's the deal?"
It was almost like the night monarch confronted him for torturing the Venture boys all over again. The two talked away, Monarch more shocked the more he heard, though after snatching his phone and seeing the pictures. He did give Gary a high five and a muttering of 'Nice.' It seemed like everything would be good.
"Just don't let this little diligence distract you, my lone Henchman. And DO remember, women can be fickle. Pay attention and don't mess it up."
"We're just friends, dude. She can do better than me any day of the week. I'm just happy to talk to her."
"DUDE, what the fuck!" Monarch yelled again. Sometimes he just couldn't believe the things that 21 said. "This is why you're single! This RIGHT here!"
"YOU wouldn't let me bring anyone home if I wanted too!"
"OF COURSE NOT! They could be an OSI Mole! Or worse, this one could bring the Joker in to steal our secrets!"
"THEY BROKE UP! And don't talk about her like that, oh my god."
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Stealing the Mercades
Pulling the Morphomobile into the cave, and parking it on the platform, he saw that he was already in trouble.
The chair at the Crime Computer turned towards the formerly empty platform. Arms crossed, still in the nice clothes he wore out with Sheila. Opening the doors, Gary stepped out, with the keys and his leftovers. "Hey boss. Shouldn't you be upstairs?"
"Shouldn't you be... maybe... NOT DOWN HERE! What the fuck dude! Did you go Morphoing without me! I'm STILL your leader!"
"Dude, chill. Please, I did something stupid, but I didn't kill anyone on the list... or kill anyone for that matter. And I didn't get seen or followed back."
"Where did you go 21!"
"... To Gotham." He muttered as he looked down.
"DUDE! What the fuck! You keep telling me I can't even take my own costume to Enzo's, and you take our VERY IDENTIFIABLE car to GOTHAM to see that clown again!"
"Dude, she's not a clown, and I already said I fucked up okay!"
"A Harlequin is a clown! BASICALLY A CLOWN! I'm not insulting her, I'm insulting you dude!"
"Don't insult me either! I already apologized! You were on date night and I made a stupid offer! I'm sorry man."
Malcolm sighed heavily, looking at his sidekick. "Not too long ago I would have replaced your blood with acid for less then what you did tonight."
"Dude, I know. I remember!"
"Don't do it again. If you want to show off to your little friend, you TEXT me and tell me. Don't ever do this again, 21. I mean it. I trust you and you better not break it. I'm really happy you're seeing someone. Even if you keep insisting otherwise. But that car? That was my dads. You only take it with MY permission, dude, this is so fucked."
Gary rubbed at the back of his head and noded. "I promise, dude. Wont happen again."
"If it does, you'll text so my wife doesnt see?"
"I'll text you some kind of code. We can figure it out. Are we good?"
"Yeah now come on. I've been waiting for nearly two hours to watch Game of Thrones."
Gary looked over at him as he was starting to put the Kano suit up. His shorts and tshirt still under the suit from where he rushed. "Wait, what?"
"Oh yeah, you were gone. Dr. My Wife got called away as soon as we reached the restaurant. I've been back since nearly eight thirty dude."
Oh fuck, he should have listened to Harley and waited. "Come on! I gotta see what happened, and unlike you I don't watch without you."
Following Monarch up the stairs he tossed his arms up. "ONE episode! I watched ONE without you dude. Come on let it go!"
"You stole my car to get laid! I refuse."
"I didn't get laid, dude. We hung out. I told you were friends."
"TWENTY ONE! Are you serious! You risked getting caught for some Chinese food? Also, what is it? Smells amazing?"
"Yes I did, and yes it is. Want the rest?"
"Hell yes, I do. Let's go, I already got it loaded up."
"Thanks, dude, for being understanding."
"Yeah, yeah, that's me. So forgiving and understanding. Next time you do something stupid like this, make sure you at least do it for a good reason."
"Then let's buy a car already!" Gary whined.
"Not in this city, hell no. You want a car to see your 'friend' buy it yourself, scrub."
"Wow, that's like majorly hurtful, dude."
"I'm a bad guy, you big crybaby. Come on already, it's Khalessi time!"
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Not kidnapping Billy.
"Horace! Can you get the door!" He heard the sweet sounding voice call out before the door opened. His eyes widened some. Sure, he'd seen Colonial Gentlemen in passing before, but he had never been this close to the man. It was always so cool to meet old team Venture, not that he could admit that to Malcolm. Ever.
"Hello Coloniel Gentlemen, sir. My name's Gary, I'm here to speak to Billy if he is home."
The old man chuckled still standing in the door, blocking Gary's path. "You're the Monarch's boy, aren't'cha?"
"That's right, but, I'm not here on business, I promise I am not here to start problems. I give my word."
"The word of a known villain's henchman isn't worth much, boy."
Gary wanted to argue that he wasn't a kid, but compared to this old man, he was practically a baby. It was then that the kindly looking old woman stepped up and put a hand on the old man's arm. "Oh, leave the boy alone, Horace. You're here to see my Billy?"
"Yes, Ma'am. I wanted to inquire about some of his skills to help someone dear to me."
"Not the Monarch?" Gentlemen cut in.
"No, not the Monarch, sir."
The old man grinned and looked at the woman. "Look at that Rose, manners on a Henchman. What do you think, dear?"
She reached around him and grabbed Gary's arm, pulling him inside. "Don't pay him any mind, sweetheart, come on and sit down. Would you like some tea?"
"Oh, thank you, ma'am only if it's no problem."
"If you feed them, they will never go away, Rose!" Gentleman called back as Rose lead Gary to the table to take a seat.
"I wouldn't ask if it was a issue, sweetie, now sit down. My little Water baby is out right now with that handsome beau of his."
"Pete?" Gary asked, a little shocked, he didn't know they were gay, but that made sense when he thought about it.
Gentlemen took a seat next to Gary as Rose set the water going. Looking at the Henchman with an arched brow, Gary finally spoke up. "Is it true that team Venture fought L. Ron Hubbard?"
"Read the comics, did you boy?"
"I collect them all. Those and the Blue Morpho comics." He spoke with pride as Gentleman laughed and started to recount the story. Rose coming out with the tray of tea and some cookies.
Gary should have known that Sheila would be right, he didn't even know why he was shocked each time she was right. At least when it came to things about him. He had every faith in her in every other area. But the moment Billy and Pete came in, Rose called out. "Billy! You have company, sweetie."
Billy looked exhusted, as Pete spoke first. "21? What are you doin' here, Pally?"
They hadn't seen a lot of each other since he left living on the Ventures yard, but his planning had saved them from Zeus.
"I wanted to ask a favor of Billy, one I can totally pay for."
"With actual cash money?" Billy asked as he walked over to sit at the table, Pete heading on upstairs as Rose, shushed Horace from the dinning room.
"Dinner will be in an hour boys. You're staying, right, Gary?"
"Uhh, if you want, ma'am."
"Of course!" And away she went as Billy looked less than impressed.
"Money, 21. Do you have it?"
"Look, I don't, well I do, but I have something you want more." Taking out his phone he slid it over.
"Wait! Is that an original Rusty Venture alarm clock?"
"It is, it has some minor smoke damage but otherwise it's mint."
"What do you want for it?" Billy now willing to play ball as he pushed the phone back.
"You're the best doctor I know, and someone real important to me has a bomb in the back of her head."
"You know actual girls?"
"Bite me, and yes, I do." He grumbled as Billy arched a brow. "Would I offer a collectable that rare if it wasn't real?"
"Fair point, keep going."
"I'm told you specialize in brains and, well, it's basically in her brain. I respect you enough to come ask in person and not just shove you in a bag and kidnap you. How often does that happen?"
"Also, a fair point. This isn't Dr. Girlfriend is it?"
"No, it's not Dr. Mrs. The Monarch. She's fine, but she did tell me I should talk to you first."
"Smart woman."
Gary nodded as they talked over the details, finally Billy asking just who the mystery woman was.
"Uhh, no. Harley Quinn? She's like an actual scary villain!"
"I'm a villain!"
"Hardly! How many times have you come to everyone's rescue?"
"Shut up."
"My point. You'd be in the OSI if they hadn't rejected you."
"You don't know that."
"Either way, I'm not having her boyfriend on my ass."
"Dude, I'm already here."
Billy started to laugh as Gary glared. Pulling open his texts instead of speaking and sliding them over. Billys eyes going wide as he rolled through them. A few pictures Harley had sent were seen before he blushed and pushed it back.
"I don't even want to know how you pulled that off. Or if you have a death wish... actually, you have to, to work for the Monarch."
"Bite me, dude, she's been a friend for years, and I won't have you talking shit about her or my boss. Talk shit about me all you want, I don't care, but will you help her?"
"Duh, no problem. I got you, I want the clock first."
"Absolutely not, Venture already fucked me like that once. I gave him Marvel #1 to clone 24, and he ruined it."
Billy almost looked sick to his stomach, hearing that. He may not be a comic nerd, but he knew the value of that book. "Fine, once it's out. We can't do it here, though. I'll call you with a place and time."
"Let me talk to her first."
"Wait, you came all the way here, before you asked her?"
"I didnt want to get her hopes up if you said no."
"And you weren't going to just kidnap me?"
Gary laughed, a real deep from the gut laugh. "Dude, I saw what your mom did to St. Cloud. No, thanks." Billy looked confused, looking back into the kitchen as Gentlemen watched the both and his mom waved.
"Fair enough. Alright, I have to change. Have fun with the old people. If you try to leave before dinner after telling her yes, she'll drag you back by your ear."
"That's cool, dude. I'm fine here."
As Billy walked away, Gentlemen sat back down, looking amused. "Doing this for a girl, huh? A dangerous one I take it?"
"Aren't they the best kind, sir?"
"That they are laddy, now tell me about your lady. I want to hear this."