Defining Factors

Chapter 11: Bonding Through Backstories

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Thanks to @salcan01 for helping me come up with an idea to get this chapter going.

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Shit I forgot the warnings. Warnings yo! Parental abuse mentions kinda. Mourning. Sad backstories, stuff like that.

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Turns out, their new target was a racer or a speedster or whatever you wanted to call it. Either way, they were hunting down someone who could run really fast. Problem with that was, it was hard to pin down someone who could run really fast. It's almost like trying to catch a teleporter. You don't. They come to you.

However, this particular runner seemed to spend most of their time in one town so it was a bit easier.

They left about two weeks after Fredericks gave them their debriefing so James had a chance to heal up. Of course, everyone knows two weeks isn't quite enough for broken bones. Why James wouldn't just take off his glove and let Kinloch heal him was a mystery. Everyone kept pushing him to do so they could be on their way faster. The sooner they caught their target, the more points they'd be awarded. Hamilton was bent on having the team be the top team. So, after enough pestering, Kinloch just started giving Madison some tonics that would help him heal faster. They worked and he willingly drank them.

When it was time to leave, Madison's hand was mostly healed up and his face was completely back to normal. Thank goodness for John, he felt bad every time he looked at the damage he had done. He still didn't completely understand why James had suddenly decided to pick a fight and he wasn't saying anything about it. Wouldn't even let John apologize. He just pretended it never happened.

Kinloch was not so easy to let it go. They managed to work it out in the two weeks they spent waiting. Everyone continued their training, including James. Francis demanded that he didn't and rest, but James insisted his hand didn't bother him and all he did was dodge Burr's attacks anyway. Francis eventually relented. Burr asked if he was up for it and didn't ask again. He took James' word and trusted him to speak, or at least, sign something to say he needed a break.

Alex had grown a bit of respect for him. James' determination to just work through the pain of a broken hand impressed him, but unlike John, he hadn't seen James just snap his fingers back in place with nothing more than gritting his teeth.

The group had grown to accept him. Not completely and as fully as one would hope, but enough.

They all gathered in the entrance hall to leave for Iowa and waited. James hadn't arrived yet.

"We can drive in Kansas City and catch a plane for Iowa," Alex was saying. James appeared without him really noticing. "And then catch a train where we need to go."

"Sounds good," Thomas replied.

Burr grabbed Hamilton while Kinloch grabbed Thomas and Laurens. "What are-" Alex began but got cut off when James grabbed Burr's and Kinloch's shoulders and dropped them all in the dead center of the town they needed to be in.

They looked around. "You know, having a teleporter isn't going to be that bad. Even if you are pretty much worthless in a fight," Hamilton said.

Thanks. Kinloch could feel the sarcasm.

"I hate planes," Laurens grumbled.

"How exactly are we supposed to find a racer?" Thomas asked.

"Hey! Do you think he has all the abilities of the Flash?" Hamilton asked excitedly.

"This is the real world, Alex darlin', the speed force isn't real," Thomas replied.

"Lame."

"Oh? Then I'd like you to try and catch a man who can run over Mach 3, time travel, throw lightning, and form tornados. To list a few."