Running On Caffeine Not Adrenaline

Chapter 6

Pov Devil...

I notice a sound behind me. It can't be an animal, the footsteps are too cautious, to light, to quiet. I make out the figure behind me off a window. Its Ichor, lucky me, the number one Hero is tailing my ass. I turn around with false excitement. His cape was still, there wasn't wind today. Or not enough to lift the cape. The Hero looked displeased. "Devil." The tone isn't welcoming me in open arms. I could care less about it as I approach. He didn't move a muscle. "Look, m'bout to pass out mate. So, if ya' could do me a favor and call over Spitfire and Traveler that would be quite kind of you sir." I can't tell what he's thinking. "A fanboy?" "No, I just know their identities." I smile and Ichor's slightest shift in his still stance made it obvious that the information shocked him. I can start to make out his face through the mesh concealing his identity. I can see a scar on his face, it starts at his eyebrow and goes down across his nose. I felt like I'd seen him before, like Target. My job. I have seen him before, not many people have ruby red eyes and a scar like that. Nor are they six feet. He helped me through a panic attack. He mentioned his name. "Techno?" I spoke quietly as to not expose him. "How the heck?" Ichor picked up a tiny radio. "Spitfire, Traveler, got scattered criminals." He sets it down.

I smile, sadly not seen through the mask. I sit down on the cold ass roof and await their arrival. I see Spitfire and Traveler in the distance. Watching the disappointment grow. "Let me guess, no criminals?" Spitfire said as he stood by me. "He knew my name." Traveler looked over to Ichor in a strained confusion. "I don't know either! The kid also said that he was about to pass out." I listen to Sapnap sigh and sit down beside me. He pulls me close to add warmth to my cold skin. "How do you know his name Devil?" The man asked so kindly, and I didn't have the energy to bite back a snarky remark. "He helped me during a panic attack at my job. He had this scar, ruby red eyes. I remember telling my therapist about the scar." Karl sits on the other side of me. "Wait? Thomas?" Ichor says my name without a care in the world and now I don't have a care either. "Your name is Thomas?" Spitfire looked like he was about to burst out laughing. "Tommy. Thomas isn't me anymore." The Heroes nod. I lean into Traveler's ear, whispering quietly, "Can Q get me? I can't get myself home." He nods. "He'll get the car- "I cut him off, "No. No fucking car. I rather roll off this damn roof and get impaled then be in a car." He seemed taken back from what I said. "Got it, no car nor truck I take it." I hummed as a yes. He went off to make that call and I looked back to Techno and Sapnap. "So, wanna be my friend?" Spitfire busted out laughing at Ichor's confused noise. Once the fire Hero calmed down, he said to the lost ass Ichor, "He's serious too. No getting around it." I nod to agree, and Traveler came back. "He'll be here soon." I didn't have the energy to verbally respond. I nod a lot. I lean against Sapnap more, the warmth is comforting. "No witty remark?" I shake my head. "Damn you're out of it, are you okay? No fever or anything?" Karl felt my forehead before I could say anything. I can't be sick. "Lack of sleep, exhaustion, working at Target with ADHD and insomnia, two days of like no sleep. No fidget toys." The three just stare at me, listening. Even if it was all I had to say.

I perk up when I hear a motorcycle and scramble to my feet to see it. "Woah- "Traveler jumped up; a tiny bit startled that I had casually jumped to my feet. It's Quackity. He has a badass motorcycle. I jump down with hesitation. I land without fail and rush to him. "You have a motorcycle?!" I buzzed with excitement, the perfect jolt of dopamine to wake me up for a second of two. "I thought you were about to pass out?" He gave me a sassy tone. "Oh, I am." We look at each other for a second. "It's just. Motorcycle turns the gears." I casually say as if it wasn't concerning. "You mean adrenaline?" I pause at his words and tilt my head. "I don't get adrenaline bitch I run on caffeine. Like, all the time. Except it isn't working now. He gave me a helmet and I put it on. "Where's your place kid?" He had a side car. My. Dream. Come. Fucking. True. Not fully but close enough for me. "SMP Apartments'. Apartment seventy." I get into the side car and Quackity revs the engine.

It's official. Quackity is my favorite.

We arrive at the apartments, and I am somehow staying awake. We get to a stop, and he walks me to my door. I open my door and black dots cloud my vision. I take a step and-

...To Be Continued