Zdenka Zarazoza was rooting through her bag when she heard someone knock on her doorframe. She turned to see Amber St Clare standing in the doorway.
“It is good to see you again Ms St Clare,” greeted Zdenka. She left her baggage and went to shake Amber’s hand. The government liaison accepted Zdenka’s proffered hand.
“Likewise with you, Ms Zarazoza,” agreed Amber. “I just wanted to thank you again for agreeing to come, and to apologize for what happened with Anvil Man.”
“It was not your fault,” said Zdenka. “You do not need to apologize for something you could not possibly control. What will become of Anvil Man?”
Amber grinned. “We sent the Shoggoth to have a talk with him.”
“Ah.” Zdenka recalled some of the things that the Manga Shoggoth could do. She was very glad she was not Anvil Man. “Please, sit.” Zdenka motioned for Amber to seat herself on the edge of the bed. “What can I be doing for you?
“Well, I would like to go over your itinerary for the next few days with you at some point, but I’m actually not here on business,” Amber admitted. “Comrade Borin told me of your divorce from Captain Mud.”
“Yes. I have spoken with Dimitri, and we are in agreement. If the Party will allow it, I am more than happy to allow him to return to his former family,” said Zdenka.
“I’m sure you are. It opens up, possibilities, with a certain Capped Crusader, does it not?”
“Yes, though I am happy for Dimitri as well. I know how hard it was on him to leave his wife behind.” Zdenka paused for a moment. “I will miss him, in a way. But is for the best.”
“And speaking of for the best, I just wanted to talk to you about Hatman. I took a lot of heat here for allowing him to be named your Legion liaison. The message I got from everyone was basically ‘He better not get hurt or else’. Just, don’t break his heart, okay?” asked Amber.
Zdenka smiled. “I have no intention of doing so, I assure you. But if I may, I do require some advice.”
“I’ll do my best,” said Amber.
“Well, I am going to dinner tonight with Jay, and I do not know what to wear,” she admitted.
Amber smiled a wolf-like grin. “That’s what expense accounts are for. Come on, I’m buying.”
“Thank you, but I cannot accept such a gift,” Zdenka said, even though the thought of an outfit from Parodiopolis appealed to her.
“Sure you can. I have a budget to entertain visiting delegates, and do you think I really want to spend it on Borin? Come on!”
Zdenka smiled. “Well, in that case, I accept. Thank you very much.”
* * * * *
“You Borin?”
Vladimir Borin turned on his heel to face the speaker. “That I am. And you are?”
“Name’s Trickshot. You may have heard of me,” bragged the Arrogant Archer.
“I’m afraid not,” dismissed Borin. “Is there something I can do for you?”
“Yeah,” said Trickshot, pulling up a chair, spinning it around and straddling it, “you can. I hear that Captain Mud has filed for divorce with Rabid Wolf.”
“Yes, that is true,” admitted Borin.
“Seems a little convenient, don’t it?” prodded the bowman.
“I’m afraid not. Are you insinuating something?”
“Nope. I’m flat out accusing. I have some experience in governments interfering with personal relationships, and I’ve learned never t’look a gift horse in the mouth. This whole divorce had better be on the up and up, Comrade,” Trickshot threatened.
“And what if it were not?” growled Borin.
“Then I’d have to get unprofessional. You wouldn’t like me when I’m unprofessional.”
Borin snorted indignantly. “And this is professional?”
“Yup. Makes you wonder what I’m like when I’m rude, huh?”
“I assure you, Mr. Trickshot, that I am not one to be pushed about. The Glorious People’s Republic of Candia does not broke such insolence. So I will serve warning to you sir. You would not like me when I am unprofessional.”
Trickshot almost fell out of his chair laughing. “Oh man, that’s good! Thanks for making my day Comrade.” Trickshot then turned serious again, and rose to leave. “Just remember what I said. Unprofessional.” The bowman turned and left the room.
“Imbecile,” muttered Borin beneath his breath.
* * * * *
Hatman ducked the punch aimed for his head and answered back with a few quick jabs of his own. His opponent deflected them with her forearms, then delivered a shot to his solar plexus. He doubled over as she swept his feet out from under him and then placed her foot triumphantly on his chest.
“You…don’t need to…rub it…in,” he panted from his position on the ground.
Yuki Shiro beamed down at him. “Hey, I bested the great Hatman in one-on-one combat, I think that calls for a little celebration.”
“Fine. Next time we do sparring practice I’m using my powers,” Hatman grinned.
“Bring it on cowboy,” Yuki accepted the challenge. “But don’t expect me to spare your face next time.”
“I appreciate you not taking any shots there,” he admitted.
“Hey, it’s big date night. I’ve been there.” She reached down to pull him back to his feet. He gratefully clasped her hand and hauled himself up.
“It’s been awhile for me, actually,” said Hatman as he rubbed his newest bruise on his chest.
“As I recall didn’t you go on a dating frenzy a little while back?” she asked mischievously.
“No, everyone set me up on multiple dates and none of them worked out.” He thought about that comment for a moment. “Okay, one of them almost worked out, but the rest were total bunk.”
“So you haven’t had a serious date since you broke up with Sorceress?” Yuki checked.
“Yeah, that sounds about right,” conceded Hatman. “That feels like such a long time ago.”
“I’m sure you’ll be fine. Just remember to compliment her on whatever she’s wearing, open the door, pull out the chair, and pick up the tab. Nothing to it,” Yuki advised.
“You make it sound like there’s some sort of formula or procedure to it,” Hatman laughed.
“Well, yeah. We just don’t tell the men about it.”
“You do realize the total illogic of that statement, right?” checked Hatman.
“Yeah, but as the woman I’m holding all the cards, so it doesn’t matter.” Yuki glanced at her wristwatch. “I gotta get going. Have fun tonight.”
“Thanks Yuki. See ya later,” Hatman waved. He headed for the showers. He didn’t want to reek of sweat when he showed up for his date. His date. He rolled the phrase around in his head, and for the first in a long time the thought didn’t send a feeling of dread through him.
After he stepped out of the shower he found CrazySugarFreakBoy! waiting for him. “I’m surprised you’re up and around all ready,” said Hatman.
“Like I said, Josh pumped up my metabolism. I still feel like crap, but all the broken stuff has healed,” said Dream with a painful grin.
“I really appreciate you doing that for us Dream,” Hatman thanked him.
“Think nothing of it. I know you’d do it for me in a heartbeat.” Suddenly CSFB! turned deadly serious. “I am here on business though.”
Hatman’s heart sank. He supposed it had been too much to ask that a Legion emergency wouldn’t crop up tonight. “What’s up?”
“I need your Communicard,” said CSFB!.
“What for?”
“Just give it to me, okay?”
Puzzled, Hatman handed it over to him. Dream then smiled and pocketed it. “Okay, business over.”
“Hey, give that back!” demanded Hatman. “What if there’s an emergency?”
“Then we, your able comrades-in-arms, will deal with it. The world will get by without Hatman for one night. And if you get in trouble, just pull out the old Flames cap and Human Torch us a signal flare,” Dream grinned.
Hatman was about to argue some more, but Dream stopped him. “You wouldn’t argue with the guy who is healing your injuries at his own expense would you?” Dream fixed him with his best puppy dog face.
Hatman had to admit defeat. “Fine, just this once. Thanks Dream.”
“Hey, what’re friends for? Now you get ready. I’m gonna go find April to play nursemaid,” he said with a wicked grin.
“Umm, okay. Later,” said Hatman. He headed back to his room to try and figure out what he should wear on a first date. He then corrected himself. The first first date in a long while he actually cared about.
Continued
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