Henchmen prompt for The Flame
“What colour tie do you think I should wear? The blue seems sensible but is it too sensible? I don’t want to come over as overly austere - I’m offering to help her after all. I have to look friendly so maybe the green? It’s cheerful. Maybe it’s too cheerful though. We aren’t exactly on daisy-picking terms so that’s probably not the best one. Pink is nice, it’s friendly but not totally cheerful. Then again, she can be a nasty piece of work who has made insinuations before - would this tie not give her more fuel to embarrass me? Yes I think it would. Maybe I could go for the-“
“Go for the red tie, Sam.” Jeff sighed, looking up at his friend and leader as he straightened his own sombre black tie.
The hero and his sidekick were dressing to go and visit the villainous Caped Catpaw in her cell at Mintlaw County Prison. Samuel Powers, also known as Captain Power Punch, was supposed to be her ‘buddy’ for the R-TEIV programme (Reforming Those with Evil Intentions, and Villains). The usually calm and composed superhero had spent two hours trying to get himself dressed suitably. Then Jeff had come through from his room and had been forced to take over the decision-making process or they would never leave the house.
“Isn’t the red too serious though? She could be like a bull - it might make her mad. Well, madder than she is already.”
“You and I both know it’s her favourite colour. It has been since we were at school together. Now put on the tie and let’s go.”
Jeff rolled his eyes as his friend blushed. His secret was not as well kept as he had thought. The smaller man pushed the hero out of the door.
The high security prison was a tall, dull building on an island just off the coast of Mintlaw City. Before it was made into the county prison, the building had been a great, impenetrable fortress. Here, they kept anyone who broke the rules and expectations of the government. Here was also where they were keeping Catherine “Caped Catpaw” Hindgard, the nemesis of Samuel Powers. The guards were happy to let the hero and his sidekick in, congratulating them on their recent rescue of three government officials from a collapsing building and smiling all the way. Then they reached her cell.
She stood next to the thick metal bars as the group approached, watching them with her emerald eyes blazing. Her hair was uncombed and the prison clothes she had been forced into at the start of her stay hung from her slim frame. Jeff glanced at his best friend and slyly kicked him. Staring like a hungry puppy at the woman you are supposed to be rehabilitating was not the best way to start.
“That’s not very nice, is it Cat?” he exclaimed suddenly, The angry woman had spat at the hero's face demanding he let her out.
“Neither is being in here, Jeff, I assure you. Perhaps you’d like a try?” she suggested, her eyes still not moving from Samuel’s face.
“I’ll sit out here while you try and talk to her,” He said to Sam, ignoring her.
She growled. Sam was still frozen in place when the guards opened the cell so Jeff gave him another swift kick to get him going. Then he leaned back in his seat to listen.
“Erm, well, I am your R-TEIV buddy and for these sessions you can call me Samuel and I’ll call you Cath--"
“No. If I have to go through this stupid programme then I want someone else. You are the most arrogant, bullying toe-rag I’ve ever met and always have been. I want someone else,” Catpaw demanded, and Jeff smirked. Always a fiery one, she was.
“Well, that’s not the way this works. The government feels your skill is too good to be wasted away in jail so you have been given this opportunity to learn from the best, that’s me. And for your information, you’re not exactly a bundle of joy either.”
Jeff sighed from outside the cell. Sam just sounded rather like a hurt child.
“So you’re supposed to teach me what’s right and wrong according to our government? I’d rather learn from your henchman out there to be honest. At least he isn’t a git!”
“Wh-what? Jeff's not - he’s not a henchman! Jeff is my sidekick - only villains have henchmen. You, evil witch that you are, you have henchmen. I have my sidekick.”
“It all depends on your point of view, you pickled tomfrog! According to the government I am a villain and you are a hero. That’s only because you save their ass before anybody else’s and then you boast about it. I save whoever needs it most and humbly take whatever I get in return. Usually a whole lot of problems for helping someone in need!”
“Whatever, you interfering sheep carcass!”
“Conceited potbelly!”
Jeff stood, shaking his head, fed up of listening to the verbal tennis match between the two. It seemed that he would have to go through with his plan after all. It was a shame; he loved Sam dearly and had actually grown quite fond of the Catpaw. However, it was necessary. The guards opened the doors for him and he walked away from the prison. After driving his boat a little way from the island, he pushed the little red button that had been sitting in his pocket all morning. Behind him, the entire island and it’s prison exploded.