Chapter 3: (B) No One Left Behind
It wasn't soon after that I called my friends. They were pretty worried about me before my folks pulled up and took me away. We didn't really have a chance to talk about what happened. And I probably have some explaining to do. Which is fine, because they arrived pretty quickly, and I could barely keep Sam off of me before we headed up to my room.
'Oh my goodness Danny! Are you alright? Why did you stop us from trying to help? We could have helped get him off of you!" she cries out, almost literally, while hugging me tightly. Too tightly. I have to actively resist my flinch when she rams into my stomach. I don't want her feeling any worse. I think I managed to stop the flinch but my face scrunched up on its own. Tucker saw, but I can trust him to stay quiet. At least I think I can.
"I'm fine. I'm fine. Just some light bruises here and there." I reply with a laugh that I have to cancel very quickly when a shot of pain rises from my stomach. "Anyway, don't worry about Dash or his goons, I'll handle them. Today isn't about that, it's about our future hero team! Guys, forget me getting beat up, I have powers! I think that overshadows bully trouble just a bit."
"The fact that you got beat up in the first place is what's worrying me." Tucker says seriously. Which worries me, I was depending on him to help me lighten the mood. Sam lets me go at this and nods in agreement. "I get that you might need to know how to fight to do what we're trying to do, but I've never seen you that angry. Or willing to choose violence so quickly. Normally I would be all for standing up to that asshole, but considering all of this just so happened to happen after yesterday…"
Sam doesn't say anything, but she doesn't need to. I can see the color drain from her, and she begins to shake after realizing what her friend is implying. That whatever happened yesterday, the thing she blames herself for, changed me. In more ways than one. She starts to shake as she moves a couple steps back from me, and before this can get any further, I speak up.
"Look, you're right. I am acting a bit differently. But I just can't take his crap anymore. There was always this part of me that was scared of confrontation. Of actually standing up for myself. Fear of not only the violence but of also getting hurt. So yeah, there were the snarky comments and the jokes, but it's really just an odd defense mechanism I have to distract myself from the actual situation at hand. If we're going to do this, really do this, then I had to get over it. I can't be scared to fight whatever's out there, yet alone Dash."
"So...you're okay?" Sam asks. Her eyes looked into my eyes with such hope, that even if I was dying I would have given the same answer. "I'm okay." Or I was at least. Until a fist came crashing into my jaw, sending my ass onto my bed in confusion. It took me a moment to realise who had done it. And considering Sam's shocked expression and I didn't hit myself...I look up at Tucker who has an enraged expression.
"I can get it when we are both scrambling to keep our heads down and avoid trouble. I can even get when one of us would get caught and the other would save themself. Not because we're cowards, but because there's no reason for both of us to get beaten up. But this...this is different! We weren't avoiding trouble, we-, no you were running headfirst into it. And you left me!? Do you think I'm some fucking Damsel In Destress Fenton!? Someone you need to protect just because you apparently have some fancy fucking powers now? Fuck you!"
Wow…damn. I guess I am kind of an idiot. It's only been a day and I've already gotten into the mindset that I'm the 'Main Character' that needs to fight the biggest bads and protect the group. But although my reality may still look cartoonish, this is all real now. I should have known that Tucker or Sam would be content with the title of 'Side Character' and I hurt his pride pretending otherwise. I can't help the smile and chuckle that slowly form together.
"You're right. I'm sorry, these powers don't mean shit but another tool to help us reach our goal." I say standing. I clench my fists and look into his eyes and he smirks back at me. "You don't need coddling. You won't be behind me throughout it all, will you?!" I yell out as I swing right into his cheek. Impressively, the man doesn't flinch or blink. Sam starts to freak out for a bit to help my friend up. "You'll be right beside me."
"Damn right!" he exclaims with a smile and laugh before raising his hands up to coddle his cheek. "Ow ow ow! You got a mean right hook dude. Nice~." I can see Sam looking between me and Tuck confusingly, not able to decide if we're angry at each other or just joshing around. Of course, I'm not surprised the Peace Loving girl won't understand the therapeutic feeling of punching people in the face.
"You talking about me? What about you? That leftie was phenomenal! Nice~." I compliment while rubbing my jaw with a small wince. Taking another quick look at Sam, I notice her eye twitching in what I assume is annoyance. A glance at Tuck shows that he's also watching for her reaction while trying to hold back his laughs.
"Ugh. Boys! What is wrong with you!? Who hits each other in an effort to make up? That doesn't even make any sense!" she finally cracks. And with that, the flood gates slam open and we both can no longer contain our laughter. It gets even worse when she rolls her eyes and plops onto the bed with a pout.