Super Crush (BxB)

Story of the Secret Hideout (S2)

Dad holds me at arm's length to look me over. I guess I am growing up according to plan because he gives me a smile of approval and a slow nod.

"You look good, kid."

"So do you, old man." Even though he has been dead for four years and this is the first I have seen him since, I can't miss an opportunity to bust his chops.

"And he almost made it to the safe room, boss," Abe says as if he has appeared out of nowhere. I know he was standing there the whole time, I just happened to have forgotten about him and Clay for a moment.

In all of the fake attempted murder, reuniting with loved ones, and surprise special guests, I forgot why I was here: to find my dad. So the fact that Abe and Clay call Dad their boss didn't register until right now. It became so blatantly obvious that I was missing something that I pinched the shit out of my own forearm to make sure this wasn't some kind of insane dream.

"Okay. Now that the shock has worn off, I need to know what the hell is going on here. How is it that the three of you are hiding out in a secret lair under an Italian island?" I blurt out, the sting of my arm pinch still fresh.

The trio all look at each other and laugh. I do not.

"Happenstance, mostly," my dad says as though that was supposed to answer all of the inquiries that have filled the grocery list of my mind.

I slow blink. "Happenstance my ass. Three of the most important," I pause to reword, "three people I know all happen to be hiding out together under Capri? I call bullshit."

"It was Abe's memory actually," Dad says. "This place was once slated to be a backup headquarters for The Fleet. But the idea was scrapped when a bigger spot was found in Spain. I was part of the team that was supposed to wipe this place, but instead, I kept it secretly tucked away for a rainy day. And when they tried to kill me, it was a torrential downpour."

Two things hit me at once. The first is an understanding as to why we visited the Amalfi coast so much when I was a kid. The next is an immature feeling of jealousy that spawns from some memory that my best friend had formed with my Dad.

"How and why did you get Clay and Abe here?"

"Actually, Abe found me."

"Well your dad planted the notion in my head years ago," Abe tells me.

My envy grows.

"In this recurring vision I have had, which I now know was my Herozion treatments, I remember a voice telling me about a safe palace to run if I ever got too scared. Said I could roll around in the green grass just for kicks. Turns out it was here and the voice was David and he was giving me a riddle to help find the soccer field."

Ew. Why am I letting this icky feeling sour our renunion? I should be happy that Dad and Abe have connected.

"In some of the sessions, Abe would get so anxious that I told him of a secret hideout in the Mediterranean. He could run away to it if he ever needed to escape," Dad says.

Abe continues, "For some reason, the voice in my head was never erased by Goldfish, but the image of your dad was."

"He came to hide out here and found me. We were both surprised to see each other. Then he said he had a friend who was badly hurt hiding out at safe house in the countryside of Mexico."

Mexico?

"That's a story for another day," Abe adds.

Damn. Now I am going to have FOMO over a stupid story about Mexico.

"I cashed in a favor from an old friend, and your dad and I flew back to Mexico and picked up Mr. Piedra, here."

"Flew?" I manage to ask.

"Yeah, your dad has a stealth flight craft," Clay jumps in this time.

"Another borrowed asset of the former Fleet," Dad informs us.

I make a mental bookmark of this. The whole Dad just sitting under The Fleet's nose for a few years is starting to make me feel uneasy.

"And I healed up under the careful eye of your brainiac dad. Still a bit sore, but overall, rockin' it."

When he turns his skin into stone, we all groan at the pun.

"Dude! That was terrible," Abe says.

"You've been hanging around these two too long," I say to Clay.

I look at my dad and Clay and Abe.

"This is all so crazy."

Something in the air shifts.

"How is your mother?" Dad asks.

I am caught off guard by the question. It comes off disconnected as though he is an old friend of hers and not her husband. And I am here without her knowledge or consent.

My eyes search Abe as if he can help me. Old habits I guess.

My best friend sets his lips and looks hard back at me to let me know that this one is on me. Then I overhear him whisper to Clay.

"Come on buddy. Let's give them some space. I'll help you get a new sparing bot together once I make some mac and cheese."

Clay watches a bit over his shoulder but follows Abe to the kitchen area.

It feels like I am watching two friends. The envy is back but it is sparring with a new sense of delight.

"Those are two great guys," Dad says when they are out of earshot.

He is right, but he has changed the subject. I know the original question is lurking like the clown with the red balloon in the storm drain, so I jump in before it tears me apart.

"She was a wreck for a really long time, we both were. And then we continued to hurt each other."

He looks away.

"I don't know when to shut up and she wasn't willing to slow down to listen. We became distant. Living with me probably wasn't easy."

He turns back to me and goes to say something but passes.

I continue, "Her working all the time. Me saying some ugly things. And then I got mixed up with those two clowns." I motion to Abe and Clay with my thumb.

We both laugh. Its nice to see Dad's dimples. Part of me wondered if they would have disappeared if he wasn't getting the opportunity to laugh enough.

"She is better now. We are better now. Besides the fact that I have snuck out of hotel to come here. Which I am legitimately sure she will kill me for if she finds out."

"Oh, shit," Dad breaks his silence. "That's right. You will have to get back soon so you can sneak back in and get some rest. Let's catch you up on what's going on. We think we know why they are calling Abe a terrorist, but were gonna need your help when you return stateside. Can you do that?

"Help my best friend get off of the most wanted list. Easy peasy." My words drip with sarcasm.

Dad turns me toward the command center and claps me on my back. "That's the spirit, buddy."