Guilty By Association

3

The day of The Wombats concert eventually arrived with them returning to Hobie's dimension, finally having a go at the go-home button. But both assured this didn't mean the trip was over. And both agreed for Hobie to be a total idiot when he begged Captain Anarchy to get them tickets back at base. See, apparently, Hobie did not think for one second that the ticketing period had ended months prior. It was an 'honest mistake' he told Pavitr, and had brought him to see if his other friends could do anything about it.

"You have friends. You actually have friends."
Hobie did not know why it looked like Pavitr was about to cry at the idea of him having a less than pitiful social life than initially thought, but he'd smacked his back for it, seemingly offended. "Just what do you take me for?"

"So." Captain Anarchy went, putting his hands together. "You disappear without a note, and I don't hear from you for a month. And here you've come back with another Spider-man from a different dimension after having gone on 'vacation' with him, and him alone. And now you want me to get you both concert tickets to The Wombats for a show happening later today??"

Hobie brought his hands together in prayer position. "Please, Karl. Pretty please, with sugar on top. Use your influence and reach to the advantage of this poor arachnid who's only been by your side for nearly a decade. Have I ever asked you for anything before?"

Captain Anarchy smiled completely amused at the extremely rare sight, his fingers rubbing his chin. "You've changed."
Hobie cocked his head for him to elaborate.

"You're less...tense. No trying to be cool and acting closed off. It's because of him isn't it?"

Hobie raised his finger, ready to dispute,

"Or is it just because you're trying to curry favors using status and fame to get what you want?"

Hobie's lips thinned into a line. "It's him. It's the other Spider-man. He's softened me. Blasted thing." He deadpanned and Captain Anarchy shoved him by the arm with an unbelieving grin.

"Where'd you even meet him?"

"Here. He was looking for another Spider-man to befriend."

"And you just let him?"

Hobie folded his lips in, licking them in thought. "It wasn't as easy as that, a'ight? I had my reservations at first. But he won me over."

"Won you over? What are you, a conflicted maiden?"

"Karl, please." Hobie elbowed him, getting a tad impatient as the concert was going to start a mere few hours. Captain Anarchy sighed, tinkering with something on his phone. "There. I sent a message to the band's agent using my official hero account. I asked for two in exchange for a private interview with me, looking as they're fans. I'll send you a link to the tickets when they give the code."

Hobie cheered loudly, wrapping his arm around his shoulder and shaking him. "I owe you a solid. This means a lot to me." He sang like it was a footnote in one of those poetry books.

"Just try to be even a little bit cautious about who you decide to travel the multiverse with. You literally just met him." Captain Anarchy placed a hand on the arm around his neck in concern, and Hobie snorted. "What, you mean Pav? He's the best. You'll love 'im once you get to know 'im."

Captain Anarchy nodded his anxieties away with a smile, knowing Hobie would never say those words lightly about anyone.
"It's nice seeing you so happy like this. He must really be something to have this effect on you."
A dash of red made his cheeks, and he'd pulled away, but didn't fight the comment, giving Captain Anarchy everything he needed to know what this all meant to Hobie. He patted him goodluck, and it was received with the snarkiest eye roll, just like he did when he told him he didn't want to be his friend all those years ago. But here they were now.