One-Shots [Boboiboy]

Conflicts [Pt. 2]

There's something in the air that they just can't ignore. Other than the buttery sweetness of the raspberry scones, the surreal fragrance of the chamomile tea, and the striking scent of the chocolate cake that was in the oven, something was definitely out of place.

The chairs were comfy, the wooden table that was before them had treats and tea on it, the laced table cloth worn but beached, the edges of strings loose. Porcelain cups of tea were set in front of them, padded by drink coasters. Steam emitted from the beverage, but they were untouched as tense stares were exchanged.

Tanah and Cahaya glanced at one another uncomfortably, with the light manipulator's hand holding his cup, unsure whether to consume it or place it on the table. The four of them avoided eye contact, postures stiff and movements tense.

Eventually, Yaya broke the silence. "I wonder why our friends haven't arrived yet."

A false cough rumbled in Cahaya's throat. The cup in his hand clinked s he set it down, his free hand cupping his mouth. "Perhaps. It's relatively simple to get lost in this neighborhood." He turned towards Yaya and Boboiboy. "They'll be here soon. If not, worst we could do is search for them."

The two bopped their heads simultaneously, jostling their cap and goggles. They quickly readjusted their accessories as the two older elemental equivalents spectated in silence.

For someone who started conversations and the life of the party, Tanah was utterly speechless, considering what they had accomplished earlier. Bora-ra had been defeated, sure, but these kids had witnessed the gruesome act and they had powers themselves, and if he's not mistaken, they'd defeated Bora-ra once? Was that possible that Bora-ra had encountered more superpowered individuals?

"Hey..." Tanah trailed, attracting their immediate attention. Their hazel eyes shot towards him, the childhood innocence still lingered in their gazes.

It hurt. It hit too close to home. How long has it been since he saw that same gaze from Petir and himself?

"How did you get your powers?" he asked, cringing mentally. "What event triggered it?"

"Event?" Boboiboy and Yaya chorused, craning their heads in curiosity.

"Well, you see," Tanah started, glancing at his best friend, "we got our powers by accessing key moments in our life that relate to our base aspects. I remember your element was Wind, right?"

"Not just Wind," Boboiboy confessed. "I have seven elements in total. I have second tiers—and first tiers that share the same name as you."

Cahaya frowned, his silver-rimmed glasses glinting. "But how did you get your powers?"

Boboiboy and Yaya turned to each other before nodding, deciding to trust these elemental duplicates. They explained everything to them—their journeys, adventures and the origins of their abilities, including the existence of TAPOPS—all of it.

It took mere seconds to unpack, because they had had their own share of dramatic experiences themselves. The name Ochobot didn't ring any bells, but they were certain that it wasn't how they obtained their powers.

Boboiboy's watch beeped, but he wasn't done. He would read it after they were finished with this conversation.

The tea had cooled, and the scones untouched, but their story hadn't ended. With their elbows resting on the table and fingers laced in focus and contemplation, their minds' gears worked as they attempted to relate incidents.

None of them connected, all but one.

"The floating island," Tanah mentioned. "There was a power sphere named Klamkabot, but he looks nothing like this Ochobot you described."