A D Tier's Breaking Point

Chapter 32

If all Morgan had to do was get changed into fresh clothes, then they would have been ready by the time Ohio and Barnaby got to the apartment. As it was they were only just stepping out of the shower when Alex got a heads up from Monday that their keys had been flared, and a few seconds later the pair landed next to the door that led out to the main lair.

Alex blinked in confusion at the sight of them. Ohio's already longish hair had grown out to fall down his back and was being held back in a ponytail, with more streaks of grey peppering through from his temples. His old leather jacket had been upgraded, and there was a sparkle in his ear from a new piercing. Next to him Barnaby's round cheeks had the start of a five o'clock shadow, broken by a new scar stretching from his temple down to his jaw. His fluffy hair was unusually unkempt, giving only the hint of a fresh undercut. Both of them were out of any type of hero or professional attire, with Ohio dressed in a tshirt and slacks while Barnaby was huddled in a fleecy hoodie and jeans.

Barnaby looked around the flat before glaring at Alex. 'W-where's Morgan?'

Alex pointed towards the bedroom in time for a door to close further in the apartment. 'You were fast apparently.'

Ohio sniffed, wiping at his face as he stared at Alex. 'Shit. That...it's really you huh?' Alex nodded, eyes widening as Ohio's eyes started to glisten, 'You motherfucker.' Before Alex could respond Ohio was crossing the room, wrapping him in a tight hug.

'Uh,' Alex stared at Barnaby confused, who had decided to check over Kotetsu instead of pay him any attention, before returning the hug. 'Ohio? Not that I haven't missed you too, but...since when do we hug?'

'Shut up,' Ohio muttered, pulling back with a scowl. 'It was that or punch you and I don't fancy breaking my hand today.'

'We c-c-could give i-it a sh-sh-shot,' Barnaby said coolly, petting Kotetsu as he looked between Ohio and Alex. The whiplash between Ohio's influx of emotions and Barnaby's cold demeanour was jarring Alex to no end, to the point he barely noticed when Morgan came out of their bedroom in a hoodie and joggers, their bracers left behind.

Barnaby did though, immediately frowning with worry as he hurried to Morgan to wrap him up in a hug, making the villain chuckle. 'I'm okay,' Morgan muttered, squeezing Barnaby back just as tightly.

'A-a-are you s-sure?' Barnaby asked, pulling back to check Morgan over, 'W-we watched the f-f-fight yesterday.'

Morgan nodded, 'Yeah, literally, Chad was the only one who actually got a hit in.'

'W-where?'

'Right-' Morgan pointed to their lip, going to touch the bruise, and frowning when there was no pain. 'The hell?'

'Oh right,' Alex said, 'you knocked the plaster off in the middle of the night, and I didn't want to wake you, and then I figured a cut lip wouldn't be that hard to heal. And it wasn't.'

Barnaby leaned in, frowning at the lip, 'I-is that a s-scar? I-I thought h-healing p-p-powers didn't l-leave a scar?'

Alex shrugged, 'Morgan's proud of their scars.'

Morgan blinked at that, refusing to meet anyone's eyes. 'Drinks? I think we need drinks.'

Barnaby and Kotetsu followed Morgan through the door into the kitchen, leaving Alex and Ohio behind. They sighed in sync, turning to each other in surprise, before both snorting. 'You're not allowed to copy me,' Ohio said.

'Who's copying who?' Alex grinned. 'Weren't you coming over to yell at me?'

'Oh yeah.' Ohio's hands were in his pockets, and he stepped back to look over Alex properly. 'You're a dick.'