forum @metaphoricallyella

Started August 21, 2020 by @Calanthe

tune

Poseidon was basically moping around on the street, looking for crime. He looked up at Saiko. "What?" he asked softly. "Saiko, you know you ruined my life, right? I know you don't care, and you hate me and whatever, but you did ruin my life. The city thinks I'm incompetant now, and I had to sell my guitar - the one thing that brought me joy in this life - to pay for a new bike. So really, I have nothing left but a dead-end job cleaning up poop. So what could possibly make this all better, Saiko?" he asked. This was extremely out of character for Asher, as usually he was happy-go-lucky and pretty carefree and laidback. Life had gotten to him, apparently.

Graham motioned for the other man to move back into the alleyway behind him, not wanting anyone to see that they were talking, "Well, I'm really sorry about that, but I swear to you, on my mother and father's graves, that I had diffused that bomb. I know it must seem like I didn't, and that I tricked you, but I didn't." He sighed softly, looking down at the ground out of embarrassment. His normal bravado, and over the top exterior had faded a little bit, "Well, I did want to formally apologize to you, so I made you this." He moved over to where he had hid the bike he had created, and wheeled it over to Poseidon, "Hopefully you'll use it in good health. And I promise you, I didn't rig it or anything. Hopefully, you believe me when I say that." He looked down at Asher his mask covering up the emotion on his face, "Look, I may not like you, but I do have morals, and a conscience, although they are lacking a bit, but I do know when I need to make something right, or do something nice for someone else. Which is normally once a year, but that's beside the point, do know that I want to make it up to you. So uhm, you have the right to defeat me right now and bring me into the authorities, if you'd like."

Asher stared at the bike, not knowing what to say. There was a small stretch of silence, and then he looked at Saiko again. "I'm not going to beat you up. I feel like we could've been friends, in different circumstances," he smiled softly. "I know you didn't have to do this, so I'm really grateful. I am…" he trailed off softly, not sure what to say anymore besides that. Ash just shook his head slowly and hopped on the bike, turning it on and revving the engine. He glanced around, to make sure no one was watching. Quickly, Ash pulled up his mask, revealing his face. He smiled. "Call me Asher, when we're not beating each other up?" he requested gently, then pulled his mask back down and sped back off to his house. He parked the bike in the garage and flopped on his couch.

What did I just do?

Graham shrugged, "I never said you had to beat me up, I said you could take me to the authorities and make yourself look good again. I'd be able to escape from them, tops an hour." But it didn't seem like the other man cared about that. He opened up another portal and started to step into it when he heard the other boy speak again. Then he looked at the other man in disbelief, Why in the world is he showing me his. . .Good Lord, this boy's an idiot, I just gave one of my greatest vehicles to an idiot. But instead of chewing out the other guy, he just forced a smile, "Alright, Asher." He mumbled as he watched the other boy leave, "Welp, it's time to create some mayhem!" He said calling into the portal, Now that I got that covered, let's go have some fun. His two frie-minions-came out from the portal and stood behind him, "So, what would you like to do today boys?" The two guys groaned, "We're not doing anything today, we want to sleeeeep." Clark said, giving Graham the stink eye, "Fine you guys can go back home then, but I'm." He didn't even get to finish his sentence before the other two boys rushed back into the portal, closing it behind them. "Well, then I'll go out to lunch." He pressed a button on his suit that caused it to go into a bracelet on his wrist. Then, ever so casually, he strolled out onto the streets of the city, towards his favorite restaurant.

((Yeah…. Asher is NOT very smart))

Asher shook his head quickly and hopped on his slightly older bike, racing to the dealership without his mask on. He sold his bike, then pocketed the money and bought his guitar back. Asher ran home, threw the guitar onto his couch, then raced off to the hospital for his job. He washed his hands, pulled on his gloves, and started to change the bedpans again that everyone had decided to leave just for him. Eventually, he had enough time to slip out for a quick break. Asher took off his gloves and threw them away, then trotted out of the hospital towards the nearest restaurant, which happened to be the same one Saiko was going to.

((I can tell, but I have Graham who thinks he's a genius, but really isn't, just a big conceited nerd))

After enjoying a peaceful lunch, Graham started to walk back towards him home when he got a bright idea. And when I say bright, I mean a dumbed idea, but to him, it seemed like a good one at the moment. He headed into another alley way, trying to use a shortcut when he heard a familiar voice behind him, OH SHIT. . . He turned around and found himself facing one of the city's other villains, Storm. _I can't even do anything, or I might get caught. But, she seemed to recognize him, probably due to having seen him either in the hospital or in custody of the authorities. Either or, she really didn't like him, at all to be frank. Without even saying a word, anger flashing in her eyes, she attacked Graham. About forty minutes later, Graham found himself in a hospital room, lying on a bed, "Oh gods, where am I?" He pushed himself to a sitting position, or tried to, looking around trying to pinpoint his location so he could get out as quickly as possible. But he winced, feeling a sharp pain on his back, "Shit." He mumbled, lying back down.

Asher finished his meal, just narrowly avoiding Graham. He snuck back into the hospital and washed his hands again, throwing on some gloves after he had dried his hands. A nurse stopped him just before he was about to go to another room. "Graham is back again," she rolled her eyes.
"Really? Again? What kind of trouble does that man get into?" he muttered, going to Graham's room. Asher walked in, smiling at Graham. "Hey, Graham. Long time no see, what was it, a week ago?" he laughed, beginning to do a regular vitals check. They had met in the hospital before, since Graham was there so often and Asher worked there. However, Asher had never given Graham his name, and was just used to being referred to as "nurse" by all of the patients. "What was it this time?" he laughed.

Graham looked up in confusion, That's. . .no it couldn't be, after all his voice is normally muffled by his mask. But that. . .that's face, good God. . . He smirked a little bit, trying to sit up again, "Nothing really Asher, just a bit of an accident with a friend of mine." He said, wincing yet again, and then just gave up on trying to sit up. "And I was here on Tuesday." He mumbled rather sheepishly. Oh god, I need to pay those hospital bills too now, great. He sighed a little bit, "How's your new bike?" It might be interesting to see him react to this, and see if he'll know who I am, although I doubt it. But then again, how many people does he know with a British accent?

Asher had just picked up a tray of bandages and old sterile wipe wrappers. He dropped the tray, his eyes wide and his mouth open. "Okay, I'm stupid. But you're-you're…." he trailed off. Asher's eyes widened more, if that was possible. "This is…. not good…" he trailed off again. Ash stared at his face, taking in all the details. He wasn't bad looking. Not at all. "Graham?" he whispered. "T-This isn't good, we can't know about each other! Oh, I was stupid, I was so stupid, you gave me the bike and I didn't know how to thank you, and my gay side was like, 'Well, just show him your face and he'll fall in love with you and stop doing crime!' and my other gay side said 'Thanks gay side,' and then I did it but it didn't work like that and now you know who I am and where I work and everything is bad!"

Graham chuckled a little bit, "I don't think you can fix a criminal that easily Asher, at least as far as I know." He said with a slight shrug, trying to not mess up his shoulder anymore than it already was, "And uhm, with the way I am, I'm probably not going to remember any of this, I'm pretty high on pain meds right now, I think." He said looking around the room, "If there isn't actually a unicorn in the corner of the room, I think you'll be fine." He said with a bit of a smirk on his face, "And, I hate to crush you dreams sweetheart, but." But he decided to not continue and the crush the boy anymore, "Like I said, you'll be fine, I'll forget and then I won't know where you work or anything, but if I do, I could always end you flowers or something." He said with a playful smile on his face.

"No," Asher said sternly. "No, no, no no no, this is not happening, this is not happening!" Asher exclaimed, beginning to pace the room. "There's no unicorn, but I could definitely say there's an elephant. Oh man…." he sighed, knowing what he needed to do. "Listen, I don't want to do this, but sometimes a hero has to make hard desicions, alright? So I'm just going to do this until I figure out a better plan, and then everything will be fixed!" he smiled. Asher got out a face mask and pressed it over Graham's face. "Nighty night!" he smiled, putting him to sleep. Quickly, Asher ran out and grabbed a body bag, stuffing Graham into it. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry…" he mumbled, carrying Graham as gently as he could to his house. Asher unzipped the body bag and laid Graham in his bed, briefly considering tying him down. He shook his head, realizing this was a horrible idea, and just sat in a nearby chair waiting for Graham to wake up.

Graham woke up after what seemed to him like good night's sleep but was really maybe an hour or so, "WHERE THE HELL AM I!" Was the first thing he said, when he realised that he was no longer in the hospital room, or anywhere he could recognize, then, he saw Asher sitting there too, "Oh my dear Lord," he said glaring at the guy, "I swear, you are an idiot sandwich! You don't just kidnap people because they know your secret identity, and do you know how much trouble you'll be in for using equipment like that on me?" His voice was nearly a screech and his eyes narrowed into mere slits at the other man, "I'm leaving." He said trying to sit up, but failing, "When I feel good enough to." He said turning over onto the side where he had no broken ribs, "Look, had you not kidnapped me, I wouldn't have remembered any of it, and if I had, I would've just wiped my memory of it. But now, I swear, you're gay brain better come up with some way to get yourself out of this situation."

Asher frowned, deep in thought, then suddenly smiled. "I know!" he laughed. Ash quickly left the room then came back in, fully suited up. "I'll just reveal your secret identity to the whole city, and have you locked up for the rest of your life!" he smiled brightly, like it was the best idea in the world. "Oh, but you know my identity?" he asked innocently. "Well, who's going to believe a villain like you?" Asher laughed, fully certain he had gotten himself out of this situation. "Sorry for kidnapping you, by the way. Heros have to make some tough decisions sometimes. It's nothing personal." Ash sat back down in the chair and crossed his legs, smiling at Graham from under his mask.

Graham's eyes widened when he heard that idea, "Hex no, I'm getting out of here." Pushing through the pain, he stood up and started to walk shakily towards the door, "Also, I don't think I'll be in there for too long." He said through gritted teeth, "You dimwit." He added, as he stopped at the nightstand near the door trying to regain his balance but failing as he toppled over onto his rear. He let out a yelp, before muttering under his breath, "And don't even try to apologize, no hero would do something as cruel as this. I wouldn't. . .actually, I'm not a hero, so that doesn't really apply to me. But still. You better let me free, or my buddi-minions- will come after you, and make your life hell."

Asher paused, then slowly took his mask off. He handed it to Graham. "The police station is two blocks to the left. My name is Asher Jason Higgins, and I am sorry," he said softly. Ash sat back down in the chair, defeated. He knew that Graham would go to the police and turn him in. He knew that the police would arrest him, especially since he hadn't been able to save the bank. There was no more running for him. For once, Ash didn't have anything more to say, besides: "You can use my bike, if you can't walk that far. It's in the garage."

Graham shook his head, "I don't think you realize the extent of my injuries, I had a bit of a run in with Storm, you know the crazy villain lady, who frankly hates my guts, so uhm I won't be going anywhere soon." He just glared down at the mask in his hands and sighed, "Look, I'm not going to turn you in, at least, if you won't turn me in, alright?" He tried to stand up again, but couldn't, and groaned out of pain, "I can't go anywhere at the moment, since she knows what I look like, and now has a decent idea of where I live, so uhm Asher, why don't we just call it a truce for now." He sighed again, and looked up at the other guy, " I just need to find a place to lay low for a bit, so then when I'm better I could do something, then you save the day. But could you uhm, maybe return me to the hospital or something though? Or take me to a hotel or something so I won't bother you while I heal up?"

Asher picked him up gently and laid him back in his bed. He nodded, looking at him with pure concern written all over his face. "I'll take you back to the hospital in the morning. It isn't safe to travel at night, with Storm knowing what you look like. You can stay here for the time being, you won't bother me, I'm sure." He paused. "I mean, unless you think it's better for me to take you back now. I wouldn't know, I'm not very smart," he said blantantly, with not a hint of sarcasm. "I might bother you if you stay here. We both know how annoying I can be," he said blatantly again. Apparantely Ash was really good at negative self talk. "One of my favorite things to do is play my guitar, so that probably won't help with any head injuries you might have."

"I think I'll be fine, I don't have any head injuries, as far as I can tell, just a few broken ribs and a few leg injuries, I'll be fine." He said with yawn, "And you won't bother me, I mean, you will if you keep on talking bad about yourself, but other than that. . ." He trailed off a bit, loosing his train of thought, "Be nice to yourself, alright?" And with that he fell asleep.

Asher shook his head and laughed softly. "What's the difference between you calling me an idiot and me calling myself one?" he asked soflty. Ash walked out of the room and gently shut the door, careful not to wake Graham. He picked up his guitar but left it unplugged, going through the motions of playing but not actually making any noise. He hummed softly to himself, that morphing into a soft singing. "'Cause I'm a creep…" he sang softly. "I'm a weirdo. What the hell am I doing here? I don't belong here…." Eventually, Ash trailed off to sleep as well.