The Continuing Adventures of Barry Ween

Even if it wasn't her old rainbows and repurposed gymnastics equipment, Kathy felt distinctly odd about picking up the old Banzai mantle again. It was one thing in Limbo City, when it was mostly her and Dante kicking demon ass and she just happened to be wearing a suit that Barry had made for her.

But here...this was real hero shit again. Superhero shit. And she was definitely feeling some kinda way about it.

Was it happy, with a hard chaser of anxiety? Or anxious with undertones of joy again? Hard to say for sure.

Either way, she was leaning against Dante, letting him ground her as she waiting for marching orders.

Edited Date: 2020-10-02 03:24 pm (UTC)

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"Shit. There's a costume I haven't seen in a while," Barry said as he started unpacking his drones and sending them aloft to scan the city. "Pockets still good enough for you?"

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"Could be bigger," ~~Kathy~~ Banzai said, giving him a crooked smile that didn't quite meet her eyes. She'd foregone the mask; protecting her identity wasn't much of a concern these days. "But I wasn't gonna bring that up. Someone gets touchy."

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"Well maybe it's time to give the old uniform a fucking upgrade," Barry said with a headtilt. "Bigger pockets. Maybe a new look just in case you want to take on a gig or two?"

He paused hesitantly for a moment. "Uh. And when this is all over I have a student I want you to meet. He could use... your experience in the hero area."

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Kathy's brows quirked together a moment and then she nodded. "Yeah," she said quietly, giving him a smile. "Anytime. Just let me know when you wanna meet up."

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"You'll like him. He's a sweet kid," Barry said putting on a headset and launching a few more drones. "He got a good dose of reality this week but I think some time with you would give him a definite point of view he needs."

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Kathy's smile went a little sad. "You know it's not gonna be all rainbow and sunshine from me these days, right?" she checked. "My outlook on heroing had, uh. Changed a bit. From when we were kids."

Yes, Kathy. Which is why Barry had specified needs.

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Barry turned to give Kathy a sympathetic look. "I know," he said, part of him feeling bad to ask it of her. "He's gone through the trauma of getting powers and watching two people die this week. One of them was his uncle. I can't think of anyone better to help him through that."

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"Fuck," Kathy said, softly. "That poor kid. Yeah, seriously, Barry. Anytime, day or night. Gimme a call and I'll be in the next portal."

She nodded around. "This his Brooklyn?"

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"Yeah," Barry said, with a look on his face that Kathy might recognize. It was the same look of worry when she had come back on patrol and was hurt during the process. It was plain and simple worrying.

He switched the display he had set up to monitor Kathy at one point. She might notice another name was added there. "His name is Miles. He and a bunch of other heroes are trying to end the source of this. Our job is to hold Brooklyn together until they do."

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Kathy's lips twitched into a wry smile at that.

"Sounds familiar," she said. "Don't worry. You called the right people."

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"You cool with this?" Dante asked her quietly.

His arm had wound up around her waist at some point.

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"Barry asked for help," Banzai said softly. "I'd feel worse about leaving him to twist in the air. It's just--" She looks up at him, giving him a small smile. "Brings back memories, you know?"

Feelings were dumb.

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"I know," Dante said, mouth curving into a half-smile. "That's why I'm checkin' in, babe."

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Now she was sticking her tongue out at him. "I'm good," she said. "It's kinda nice. There was a reason I loved doing this, back in the day." She shrugged and shook her head. "Besides, it's gremlins and some reality glitching. That's, like, a Tuesday in Fandom."

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"Definitely gonna be less dangerous than demons," Dante allowed. His grin broadened. "You got this."

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At least until she stepped into the hospital.

Ugh. Stupid zombocalypse PTSD.

"I was more worried about you, honestly," she said, offering him up a dimpled smile. "We'll have this cleaned up in just a little while and still enough time to catch an evening Broadway show."

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"Can't we just go for pizza?" Dante asked, pouting. "We're in New York."

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"We could do both?" Kathy suggested. "Dante, you're wearing a shirt. Can't let that rare occasion go to waste."

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"If I knew the shirt was gonna get me Broadway instead of like three pizzas," Dante sighed, "I wouldn't have worn it."

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"Thank you for not being a distraction to the rest of us," Kathy told him. "I'll find some way to make it up to you."

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"I'm not wearing a shirt next time we go demon-hunting," Dante announced. "Just so you know."

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