The car ride was uneventful. Twee ran her mouth for what felt like an eternity, and she did reveal embarrassing secrets about me, amongst other people, some I’d not heard of. I hardly listened though, and I doubt Star Breaker did either. My full attention went to the window.

I peered at the mesmerizing trees zipping past for eight minutes or so. It was quite entrancing. As we neared the town, the deforestation began and the rural area became clearer with each second. We drove slowly now through a neighborhood near the heart of the small town, and soon enough we arrived at a small gas station.

“I’ll need to hop out here, I’m out of gas coming all the way up to Canada.” Star Breaker said, pulling off and into an open pump spot.

“Just… keep it on the DL.” I replied as he exited the vehicle. I just really didn’t want to get caught at a Rococo of all places.

My eyes darted around like a lunatic, a paranoid lunatic too. There weren’t many people at the place, luckily. Just two mildly delinquent dudes in the shop, and a rotund woman at the pumps. As well as someone at the register I assumed. The sense that someone watched us at every moment had only become more apparent now, the years of villainy had whittled me down for this fun experience I suppose.

“Is that your paranoia again?” Selene asked fearfully, putting a hand on my shoulder.

“Yes… this is the exact situation for it to return in and fester. I dunno if I’m cut out for this…” I said back. “What do you think is going to happen?”

“You’re asking me? I… don’t know. I’m probably more scared than you are…” she frowned, filled with despair.

“You guys need to be a little more brave. Man up.” Twee demanded from the front seat ironically, as I was the only man she spoke to.

“You’re right, I’ll try to keep it together.” I agreed. I was naturally a scaredy-cat and extremely careful, and right now my paranoia was firing on all cylinders. Everyone seemed suspicious.

Star Breaker stepped back around the car, watching behind him. We were ready to leave, except, I wasn’t. I saw someone at the moment.

“Sal is in the gas station.” I spoke softly.

“Yeah?” Twee said, turning to look. “And?”

“Who is Sal?” Star Breaker asked, looking as well.

“We should just drive, Quincy.” Twee told me. However, I couldn’t accept that, my mind told me the logical decision was to leave him and never see him again. But I had too much of a heart for that. That would only fill me with guilt.

“Hey, if he’s in trouble too, I’ll take him, if you want.” Star Breaker offered, and if he were speaking about anyone else, I’d have gladly said ‘Yes’ right away, but… I felt too much conflict, the weight was on me now though.

The more I looked through the window at him though, the more I felt sorry for him. He was getting shooed out of the gas station by the owner with an exhausted look on his face. When he thought nobody was looking, he looked as if he was about to cry.

“Alright, let’s take him.” I said.

“Really Quincy? He punched you, and told you he didn’t need our help. It’s about time he gets his comeuppance.” Twee reminded me. I knew this, but I honestly wanted to take him and make things better. I was a bit of a jerk with him too back at the cabin, I’d instigate his rage. I’m sure he came up to Canada just to make this all right with me, but now that I imagined myself in his shoes, I couldn’t say no.

“Who is that?” Star Breaker pointed out. A man dressed in white and red spandex was walking toward Sal, rather menacingly too.

I knew who it was. One of Canada’s most famous superheroes, Captain Canadia. You heard me right, Canadia. What the fuck was he doing here in this generally small township?

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“He’s a hero, we need to go. We do not want to get in a fight with him.” Twee warned. I was hesitant.

“We need to help Sal out. Selene, you can go invisible and walk up to Sal. Maybe just tell him we’re here?” I requested of her, but she didn’t seem very willing.

I had to do it, I flashed the baby cat eyes.

She sighed a long, arduous sigh. “Fine.” she grumbled, opening her door on the opposite side, shifting into invisibility. Meanwhile, the man had made his way right in front of Sal. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but… it looked rather tame.

No fighting, no insults. Captain Canadia just held out a paper, they talked for a bit, a couple of nods and shaken heads. Selene obviously saw this and didn’t intervene until the hero left, hopping on his motorcycle I didn’t notice until now. Probably because it didn’t have any logos or heroic emblems on it.

Then, after another ten seconds, Sal walked over to the car, his face showing no emotion. I just hoped he’d not punch me again.

I rolled the window down, giving the fire super a nice big smile. “Hey bud. S-S-Sorry...” it fluttered out of my mouth like an injured butterfly, but the apology had rung with weight, and I knew he felt it, albeit not really showing it.

He huffed and opened the door, hopping in the car without a word.

“Just drive.” he mumbled. Star Breaker acknowledged and stepped on the gas pedal.

“I… messed up with my temper back at the cabin… and I think we really do need your help here.”

“Yeah, alright Quincy. Whatever. Just give me some time.” he frowned, it was mature, a step up for him at least. I could understand it’d not get better instantly. Our past ran deep, and it’d not change so simply. Not even with one of us reaching out across miles to make up for their past mistakes.

----------------------------------------

Three and a half years ago…

“Quincy, you okay?” Sal asked me. The sun was low, setting after a hard day for me…

“Everything… it… everything hurts…” I spoke, my voice stuttering. I had bruised my whole left side after being launched at twenty miles an hour into a wall. I was lucky to have not sustained anything major, but… there was so much pain overwhelming my being.

“Shit happens man, you really do need to man up and learn to take it. I can’t baby you forever.” he told me, I knew with every fiber of my being that it was true, but I knew too that I couldn’t move past my old scars.

“Sal. I never wanted to do this.”

“You think I wanted to be a superhero either?” Sal asked rhetorically, pulling up a chair and sitting in it backwards. “My mom, bless her heart, tried to keep me out of it, but they got to her. I wanted to be a chef, and do something more with my life. You know all of that in fact. Point is, life shits on your dreams. You just gotta learn to accept it. But here, at least I’m enjoying myself. You should too.”

“I’m just not that good at being a man.” my eyes welled up, I sniffled a little.

“Being a man is fun though! Better than being a girl.”

“If my sister heard you say that… hahaha…” I softly chuckled through the pain.

“Yeah, no offence, but I think wimpiness runs in your family. Not saying I’d kick her ass, because I respect women, but if she challenged me, yeah…”

“Hahaha… yeah…” I agreed. There was a pause. Neither of us said anything.

“Get out of the medical bay and go to your room. You’ll sleep better in your bed. Tomorrow, I’m gonna come in and check on ya.” Sal finally said, pulling me up from the hospital bed and to my feet. I was really glad to have a friend like him on my side.

At that time, at least.