“You know, I hate having to agree with Gary.” Tyrone added with a sigh. “But he's right on this one, Oli.”
Oliver instantly shook his head in denial- while he certainly was eager to go out on more jobs and explore the Multiverse, he definitely didn't agree. “Sorry, guys, but that just doesn't add up. Between the Commissions and Auctions, we could have each of you decently protected in two or three months. Even with the better payouts I can potentially get from loot found on a Bounty, it won't speed things up much- if at all... Mainly because I can't complete these Commissions while I'm gone.”
Tyrone exchanged quick glances with Ed and Gary before shrugging his shoulders. “This is going to sound weird, but hear me out, bro...”
“We kind of expected that response from you.”
Before Oliver could question what he meant, Tyrone pressed on. “Well, it's more like we predicted two possibilities...”
“We know you've been through some shit in the past, and everything between you and Poli kinda left you all torn up and lost- not trying to open those wounds, just establishing your mind set, ok? Anyway... now, suddenly, everything is going good. Better than good, really. You're rich, with a thriving charity in your name, a growing list of connections... plus a group of friends that have your back, and a woman that loves you so much she's willing to travel literally to the ends of every Universe with you.”
“So... One of two things was likely to happen, in our minds.” Tyrone said, a touch awkward at having to confront his friend head on again. “Option one: you start doubting if you even deserve it and turn a little self-destructive, maybe sabotaging your relationships out of some misguided notion that we would be better off without you...”
“We're actually really glad you didn't go that direction.” He added with a smile.
“But, option two... was that you go the complete opposite direction...” Patting Oliver on the shoulder, Tyrone met his eyes with a gaze filled with concern. “You're worried about losing what you've got, so you're starting to go overboard. Obsessing over how you can protect us, and Poli, isn't as bad as trying to drive us off- mainly because we are still here to call you on it.”
“But, seriously bro, we don't want you getting lost down that rabbit hole.”
“I mean, think about it Oli.” Ed chimed in, receiving an encouraging nod from Tyrone. “It'll take two or three months to get the 'minimum' level of protection... But are you really going to think that's enough? Or, after all the crazy shit you've seen, will you want to push for better protection for all of us?”
Oliver opened his mouth, but no argument came to mind. While the 'minimal' protection he had planned out for them would keep them safe from a lot, someone like Eve would blow through it in a heartbeat... Let alone if a worse threat came along.
“Then two months becomes six.” Tyrone said softly. “Then it becomes a year as you try to upgrade things a little more... And then, at some point, you rationalize to yourself that the best way to protect us is if you just stay close.”
“You were already forced to give up on your dream of a music degree and graduating college... Don't give up on your dream of seeing all sorts of cool shit just because you're worried something might happen to us.”
“No one knows what the future holds; you can't leave in fear of the possibilities. That's not really living at all.”
“Plus,” Gary added with a grin. “think of all the cool shit you'll have to tell us about!”
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The room fell silent as Oliver considered their words; Were they right about this? Realistically, the only threats to his friends were gone, unless Eve came back trying to start trouble... And, considering her attitude before she left, it was more likely she would try to seduce him rather than hurt anyone... And all they were really saying was for him not to put his life on pause just to protect them...
“Am I really going overboard?” He asked slowly, turning to face Polina.
Hesitating only for a second, Poli nodded slightly. “Yeah, a bit. I mean, I don't blame you, and neither do your friends. We even agree with you wanting to make sure we have some protection, but you don't have to sacrifice what you want just to keep us safe.”
An impish smile flashed across her face as she tried to lighten the mood. “We're still getting the swords and polearms though.”
A thoughtful look settled across Oliver's features as he considered everything... It was definitely possible to find a decent -and healthier- middle ground...
“So, something like... a month here, a month off on a Bounty... Filling Commissions as we can...” He said slowly, an idea taking form as he spoke. “And we can occasionally look into doing some local Bounties, seeing as two of them will count as a Universal Bounty for the purpose of unlocking the next 'stage'... Though that would also mean taking steps to mask our identities, so I'm not too sure about it-”
“You can always break out your 'Devil' persona.” Poli said, a teasing smile on her lips. “Maybe all of us can have complimentary identities?”
“Oh, hell yeah!” Ed cheered. “That sounds cool as shit! What you got for us, Poli?”
Her lip slowly rose into a mischievous smirk as she shrugged. “Maybe... Since Oli is 'the Devil', we could go along with that? Like... Manifestations of the Seven deadly Sins?”
Pointing at Gary, who was even then pulling out a bag of chips to snack on, she continued with a giggle. “Gary is obviously Gluttony; the man is never far from a snack.”
“Hey! I mean, true, but damn...”
“Ed is... Sloth? Or maybe Greed... It's a tough call... But T is definitely Pride.”
Clutching his chest dramatically, Tyrone gasped in feigned shock. “How can you say that, Poli? I'm a good, humble Christian boy...”
Giggling at his wounded expression, Poli patted his shoulder consolingly. “It's ok, T; I just mean it more as a reference to how proud you are of the work you're doing here... Though I completely meant that Gary is a glutton... And should share some of the snacks he has hidden in the desk over there.”
Grinning at the joke, even if it was at his expense, Gary quickly opened the desk drawer and tossed a bag of gummy frogs her way. “Fair enough... And Ed is definitely Sloth; I practically have to kick him in the ass to get him to do his part around here!”
“Yeah, and I have to lock the snack drawer so that you will actually work!” Ed laughed. “Ok, that sounds cool. But which Sin are you supposed to be?”
“Oh, I'm calling dibs on Wrath-”
“Lust.” Oliver interrupted her, smirking as she blushed brightly before turning a mock glare at his friends. “Definitely Lust... And I'll kick the ass of the first person that makes a crude joke right now.”
All three threw their hands up in surrender, even as they laughed. After a few seconds of humor, Tyrone was quick to add in. “Marty is definitely Envy; that man would kill to be able to do magic or visit other worlds!”
“That's for damn sure.” Ed and Gary nodded in agreement.
Oliver let the humor and jokes carry on for a few minutes before finally weighing in. “Ok, look... I'm not going to promise anything specific at the moment. I mean, you guys made some good points, and I'm definitely going to listen and think about it.”
“I guess... Poli and I will talk about it and make a plan. Then we'll loop you guys in and go from there. Sound good?”
“But... let's try not to go overboard with the whole 'secret identities' thing, ok? It's... a little cringe, honestly... And yes, I'm aware of how dumb playing 'the Devil' was...”