Two Phone Calls
The next day while walking home, John was pondering on how life can go from an extreme situation to a new normal. Two nights ago, he was fighting a real live dragon, today he was going to school like nothing happened. Luckily for him, Layla and John were able to patch things up and find a new normal to move forward together with.
On a side note, listening to a group of young superheroes talk about you was an interesting experience. It also didn't help that Vicky was trying to lighten the mood created by almost dying.
*Flashback Start*
"So, listen we had Lung on the ropes…" (Vicky)
"We were the ones on the ropes, me in particular." (Gwen)
"Then the bubblegum bruiser came out of nowhere and sucker punched lunch…" (Vicky)
"Created a wall made of white and yellow energy" (Gwen)
"He then proceeded to wrestle with him." (Vicky)
"Hung onto his back and proceeded to suffocate Lung" (Gwen)
"Then when Lung lay defeated, the dirty rat tried to stab Bubblegum in the back. Bubblegum luckily spotted it in time and spun in time and dispatched the rapscallion." (Vicky)
"That's actually pretty spot on." (Gwen)
The expression on Layla's face was almost worth the embarrassment John felt.
"I have to repay Bubblegum for saving us sometime." (Vicky)
"I'm thankful more than anyone, besides Gwen of course, but he's a vigilante. He has no accountability to anyone and that makes him dangerous." (Susan)
"All I have to say on the matter is that he saved us and that makes him fine by me. What's on your mind stronghold?" (Warren)
"I'm on Susan's side, all that separates a hero from a corpse, his or another's, is a single mistake. He's untrained and unsupervised." (Will)
*Flashback End*
A red portal opening in front of John snapped him out of his thoughts.
The beautiful Japanese woman coming out of it dressed in a tight dress shirt, thin black tie, and a very form fitting pair of slacks distracted him in a different way.
"Can I help you?" (John)
"…" (Mysterious Woman)
She proceeded to hand him a phone.
*Ring*
'No reason not to answer it.' (John)
"Can I help YOU?" (John)
"Ah, yes. She doesn't talk much does she." (Another Mysterious Woman)
"I'm just happy it's not just me." (John)
"Well, she is not the biggest fan of men, but it's not just you. but anyway, on to business. In a couple of minutes, you will get an offer, I want you to refuse." (Mysterious Woman #2)
"What's the offer? And why would I refuse?" (John)
"You will know the offer when it happens, and I have a job of my own I want you to accept. If you accept the offer coming up, you're not the man for the job I have in mind." (Mysterious Woman #2)
"What's your offer?" (John)
"We'll get there in time. For now, if you don't like the other offer, you might like mine. I'll be in touch." (Mysterious Woman #2)
The phone hung up after that.
"So, want to go bowling?" (John)
'I'll take that eyeroll as a win.' (John)
"…" (Mysterious Woman #1)
She then walked back into her portal.
John waited a couple of minutes for his next phone call while hoping that his new mysterious friend wasn't messing with him.
*Ring*
"Hello. How can I help you today?" (John)
"Hello, this is Whisper the head of the Brockton Bay Elite and I have a deal for you." (Yet Another Mysterious Woman)
"Straight to the point, I appreciate it at the moment." (John)
"I also appreciate brevity." (Whisper)
"So, let's get to the point, what's the offer?" (John)
"I want the man that killed Lung to work for me." (Whisper)
"I'm not interested." (John)
"Can you tell me why?" (Whisper)
"Your methods are a little too bloody for me and your goals a little too dark." (John)
"I can understand your position, but I warn you it's very cold out there alone and you may come to regret this." (Whisper)
"I may regret a lot of things, but I still stay my course even if that way lays storms." (John)
"Be seeing you Bubblegum." (Whisper)
"Not to be rude, but let's not." (John)
After that fun little call, John continued on his way home unaware of the coming storm that would remodel the topography of his life.