Generation Antihero - Shorts

You're a mean one, Mister Grinch

Two days later, the night was unusually quiet - no jobs lined up. Henry glanced out the window: "Could it be the networks are down because of the blizzard?". Zigz was nearly certified in frustration as he jabbed at his phone screen: "Phone lines are dead for sure! I can't even talk to my daughters!". Ilus offered again, calm and collected: "You have my full approval to take the next few days off and visit them". But Zigz shook his head right away: "No way. My little one's supposed to be born in the next few weeks. I'm not missing that!". "There are still four weeks left", Henry pointed out. "Listen. In my family, we've always been born earlier than the doctors predicted. I'm not taking that risk", Zigz stressed. Right then, the phone crackled with an awful burst of static: "Da-...ad?". "Yes, Rachel, my honey bee. I'm here. The connection's terrible", Zigz answered, pacing nervously across the room.

Dexter spoke up: "I'm not trying to cut into your income, but how about we call it a night? It's too dangerous to be out driving in this weather anyway. We were thinking of baking cookies and starting a snowball fight, no?". "Guess you're right", Ilus mumbled, "It's not the most comforting thought to just stop working, but-". Koi cut him off, loud and sharp: "Work is extremely important, Chef". Henry countered by wrapping his arms around Ilus: "Cuddling up together sounds way better tho...". With an annoyed huff, Koi slammed his fist on the table: "That's not fair!". Ilus stayed calm: "If you really want to, you can keep trying to score missions. Seattle's climate is nothing like Los Angeles, we're all still adjusting. Nobody's forcing you to do anything. But the rest of us? We're heading to the kitchen. Baking time, boys!". And with that, they carefully squeezed past the mistletoe hanging in the doorway.

The main hall fell almost completely silent. Koi was the only one still sitting there. From the staircase, Lucky watched him quietly. In a sour tone, Koi growled: "I know you're there. I'm fine. Just go join the others". Instead of addressing the mood directly, Lucky called down: "How about we throw snow at each other's faces instead of fists for once?". "I'll pass", Koi muttered. Lucky descended the stairs and walked over to the bare pine tree. He pulled an ornament from the box next to the tree and hung it on one of the branches.

Then Lucky turned to Koi, holding up another ornament: "Isn't it boring like this? How about something homemade instead of store-bought?". "Knock yourself out", Koi replied, staring nonchalantly at his laptop screen. After a quick trip to the kitchen, Lucky came back with a spool of thread, a needle, popcorn and cranberries. "When I first saw this in the U.S., I thought it was pretty ridiculous", he admitted, grinning, "Instead of tinsels and angel figurines, families decorated their trees with popcorn-cranberry strings and candy canes. But I get the fun behind it. You snack while you craft". He sat down beside Koi, threading the popcorn and cranberries together while tossing the occasional popcorn kernel into his mouth: "Wanna help? This could take a while". With a quiet sigh, Koi gave in and joined him.

After a while, their homemade garland was finally long enough to drape around the tree. Koi picked up an ornament and tossed it into the air a few times: "You trying to convince me to finish decorating this thing with you now?". "No", Lucky grinned, "I want to convince you to face me in a merciless snowball fight". "Fine", Koi groaned. They headed outside, and Lucky didn't waste a second before launching the first attack at his best friend. The fight escalated quickly - they built actual snow forts and started using real battle strategies. About an hour later, Henry glanced out the window and took in the snowy battlefield outside. The cookies had yet to cool down anyway. So Henry called out: "How about a cooling break?"

Heads from all across the gang lifted, smirks spreading as they spotted the intense one-on-one duel outside. Without hesitation, the guys threw on their jackets and charged out to join the freezing war. Soon, different teams began to form, each battling for dominance. The smallest squad was "Wildcat", made up of just Ilus and Henry. Not far behind in numbers was "Disney's Gummi Bears", a team consisting of Shark, Zigz, Dexter and Vanilla. Koi and Lucky remained sworn enemies, each leading their own troops of second- and third-rank gang members. Koi's team, the "Battlecookies", had an advantage thanks to Arrow's skills, but also a handicap in the form of Shota's complete inexperience. As snowballs flew through the air like bombs, Lucky called out: "Battlecookies, ready to form an alliance with the Striker Squad yet?". For the fourth time, Koi shouted back without missing a beat: "For now and forevermore, I will yeet a snowball full of rocks straight into your nuts!"

Dexter, leader of Disney's Gummi Bears, came up with a plan: "Vanilla's gonna take down both Wildcats. Those two barely go on the offense, they're basically hiding like cowards. Either they leave their spot or they surrender". Shark worried: "What if she gets taken out on field?". "She's fast, trust me", Dexter said confidently, sending his dog charging straight toward Henry and Ilus. The two of them crouched behind a car, their stash of snowballs running dangerously low in the cramped space. Spotting Vanilla approaching, Henry thought fast and pulled a trick on her. The poor dog, not really understanding the rules of battle, didn't resist when he offered some belly rubs and "good girl" affirmations. Ilus burst out laughing, scooped Vanilla up, and triumphantly held her above the car roof: "We've captured the dog! Thanks, Dexter~". Defeated, Dexter sighed: "It was worth a try". But Shark cracked his knuckles: "I don't think so". He squared his shoulders and charged straight at the Wildcats' hideout. Seconds later, screams echoed across the battlefield, and Henry shouted in defeat: "We've fallen!".

But Shark didn't return either, he'd been taken out by another team. Zigz placed a hand on Dexter's shoulder: "Now it's just the two of us against the rest. We need a smart plan". Suddenly, a shadow fell over them. Kiki appeared, smiling, holding a bucket full of snow: "Looks like you could use a refill. Start with this". From the Striker Squad came protests: "That's rigged! Pregnant women aren't allowed to join a war!". Zigz jumped up, defending Kiki: "Go get yourself a wife first, then-". Before he could finish, a snowball hit him square in the face, knocking him out of the game. Dexter shot him a sarcastic glare: "Thanks for the long-lasting support".

In the chaos, Shota decided to risk it all, sprinting down the Striker Squad's rampart with a handful of snowballs. After Shota was taken out at the last second, only Lucky and T-Bone remained. Koi pointed at Lucky, accusing: "Dude, you killed my brother!". Lucky popped out of hiding, stuck his tongue out, and teased: "Suck it up!". Just in time, he ducked under an incoming snowball attack. T-Bone looked at Lucky with trust: "Now it's all or nothing. I'm gonna have to pull the same move Primer did. You can count on me, Commander". Lucky placed a hand over his chest, nodding with pride: "We don't often get men like you on our side". They saluted each other.

The Battlecookies looked around, visibly tense. Arrow slapped his knees: "They're definitely plotting something evil right now, darn it!". Koi clenched his fists: "Then we'll just have to see through it. Improvise. Adapt. Overcome". Those who had fallen in the battle retreated inside to finish decorating the cookies. Suddenly, Teddy heard T-Bone shout from outside: "Attaaaaaaack!". T-Bone tore down the Battlecookies' rampart, taking out most of their fighters. Arrow barely dodged the assault and managed to run - only to collide head-on with another attacker. They knocked each other out simultaneously.

Actually, that was exactly how it was supposed to go - almost. Koi quietly slipped away in the opposite direction, convinced that Arrow had taken down Lucky as planned. When the battlefield finally fell silent, Koi jumped up in victory. But just then, Lucky struck him square in the chest with a snowball. Overdramatically, Koi clutched his heart, dropping to his knees before collapsing onto his back. Grinning, hands on his hips, Lucky loomed over him: "You really thought you could beat someone who's served in the military? You might be smart, but at the end of the day, experience wins".

Weakly, Koi reached out his hand: "You're right. I can't beat you, my dear friend". In honor, Lucky clasped it: "I pray the snow-goddesses of Valhalla embrace you kindly". But Koi smirked mischievously: "I may not be able to defeat you, but someone else can". Right then, Dexter hopped onto a car roof and launched a snowball at Lucky's back of the head, shouting out his warcry: "A true soldier never forgets the last enemy on the field! Revenge for Disney's Gummi Bears!".

Defeated, Lucky closed his eyes and let out a huff. At least it made Koi laugh. Lucky offered a truce: "Wanna go eat some cookies now?". He helped Koi up from the snow, and Koi brushed the flakes off his clothes: "Alright".