Adam | June 11 2015
- Crimson -
Crimson and Teddy sat on camping chairs in the small cave containing Crimson's home. Snowflake lied asleep in Crimson's bed as the two old friends shared stories over coffee poured from a flask. After the painfully lengthy encounter, Crimson had opted to change into some more comfortable clothes, now wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans with a red, canvas-material jacket.
"So who is she?" Teddy asked.
"Snow? Met her in the business. Something of a rival-turned-nemesis."
"Nemesis?!" Teddy joked, "You say you're not a hero, only heroes rescue their nemeses."
"Aw, cram it!" Crimson laughed, "Do you see me running around saving civvies in tight-fitting spandex?"
"Nah," Teddy took a big gulp of his coffee, "I guess not..."
Teddy put his feet up on a rock to relax. He was completely carefree; he always had been. As Crimson remembered Teddy took losing his powers pretty well, plus he never lost touch with the team even if he couldn't fight with them. In truth Crimson always kind of missed the comic relief that Teddy had provided. He was skinny and pale, covered in freckles to match his ginger hair but simply emanated happiness.
"Besides," Crimson responded defensively, "It's complicated. One minute I realise that she was even alive, next we're getting all nostalgic about old times and the next she's trying to but a shard of ice through my heart. Then all of a sudden the next day she's knocking on my door saying that she's lost her powers and's fearing for brother's life."
"Damn, man..."
"So I get roped into this whole fuckfest of bullets only to find the kid don't even want rescuing from this Broker bastard her tortured her."
Teddy laughed awkwardly, "Wait, who's Broker? Slow down, I'm confused."
Crimson shook his head chuckling, "It's fine, I.. I struggle keeping up myself."
A silence rang out for a good minute, but not an awkward silence. It was a good silence. Neither of them had anything to say but neither of them needed to say anything to be comfortable with the other.
"I missed this." Crimson said plainly, "I'm sorry... for not getting in touch sooner."
"Dude." Teddy responded, "All that matters is you told me eventually. You're my best friend, I'm just happy you're alive, even if you are some crazy hitman assassin or whatever. We missed you."
"'We?'"
Teddy was smiling from ear to ear as he got up from his chair and set his drink down. "Yeah, speaking of that; I'm sorry but I can't stay."
"What?" Crimson asked, almost disappointed but laughing to hide it, "But... what else is there that beats hanging with your best friend? And who's 'We'?"
"Dude." Teddy replied quickly, "Dude, I'm married. We have a little girl, she's three." Teddy seemed almost insulted being Crimson's selfishness but at the same time realised he hadn't previously informed his friend and awaited a response.
Crimson's face lit up, "You what?" he chuckled, "You forgot to mention that..."
"Dude! You were dead. Me and Jen we -"
"You and Jen!?" Crimson seemed truly surprised and thrilled, "As in Jen; Jennifer Fae? Mystigirl?"
"Well she went by Mystic Mage after she left Don's wing but... as I was saying..."
Teddy calmed down, now speaking completely sincerely, "You were dead. Me mourned you. Me and Jen... we... we named our little girl after you, in your memory; Tamara; Little Tammy..."
"Teddy..." Crimson breathed, his heart feeling heavy. He was lost for words. He approached Teddy; standing at the doorway, and pulled him close into a hug.
Into his ear, Crimson whispered "Love her, Teddy. Keep her safe and out of this whole business. Make it so if anything happens to you or Jen she knows she's loved. And..." the next part was hard to say, "And perhaps keep Uncle Tommy in the past; as just a memory. Let me stay dead, because the memory of me'll do her a whole lot less harm than the thing I am today."
Crimson freed Teddy from the embrace and as Teddy backed away a tear brimmed in Teddy's eye. "You're a good man, Red. ... Tommy."
Teddy made his way out of the dwelling wiping his eyes. As he walked out of sight he produced a small photograph that he examined caringly. The whole team while they were still in their teens, before they started departing... or worse; Red Wonder, Jet, Quiver, Mystigirl and finally Crash Bang; the somewhat bullish sidekick of bruiser; Bedrock.
Little did Teddy know though that Crimson had the exact same photo in the pocket of his iconic leather jacket.