Discordant Hormoney. Chapter 5
I don't know how many more chapters this is going to be, I just know what's going to happen.
Oh, and Alba? Don't get your hopes up. I said Question wouldn't show up until the next Mullet-verse story and I meant it. If it helps, I'm sad about the wait too. :(
Beta by lakidaa.
CHAPTERS: { Prologue }{ Chapter One }{ Chapter Two }{ Chapter Three }{ Chapter Four }{ Chapter Five }{ Chapter Six }{ Chapter Seven }{ Chapter Eight }{ Epilogue }
<-{ previous story: Midst Of Rough Earthliness } { next story: Harmonious Discourse }->
~5th Chapter
Cautiously setting down on the roof of a building, Mikey reluctantly let go of Ted once the other boy's feet were on the ground. Ted shook out his legs and wandered over to the edge of the roof to look around.
"Well...it's Chicago," he said slowly. "I mean I recognize it. But...something's...different. ...I don't know what--"
"Hey who do you think kidnapped us?" Mikey suddenly spoke up, frowning in thought. "And why?"
Ted had had plenty of time to think about that very thing during their trip. "Um," he muttered, then bit his lip. He continued to stare out at the city, more so he wouldn't have to look at Mikey than to look for familiar landmarks.
"What?" Mikey asked. He stared at Ted's hunched shoulders and quickly closed the distance between them to grab his arm and turn the boy to face him. Ted looked nervous and Mikey immediately became suspicious. "You know, don't you?"
"No!" Ted blurted, then looked up at him with a reluctant expression. "I...I don't know. Just--"
"An idea?" Mikey demanded. "You have an idea? What?"
Ted yanked his arm away from Mikey's grip and backed away. "I don't know, okay? I-I-I thought they were over it! I mean, they threatened all sorts of stuff, but they dropped it!" He looked at Mikey pleadingly. "It was a year ago! I didn't think--I figured if they were gonna do anything they would've already done it!"
Grabbing Ted's elbows, Mikey looked him in the eye and asked steadily, "Who, Ted?"
"The government." Ted whispered, slumping. "I hacked the U.S. defense server last year. Dad was so pissed when they showed up. I...It didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but they came barging in and everything and it was a huge mess and they talked to me for hours and...and...I think maybe they kidnapped me so they can open up my head and dissect my brain or something!"
Mikey stared at him. "Dissect your brain?"
"I don't know!" Ted groaned, dropping his head into his hands. "I read it somewhere. But whatever they want from me, it's bad." He looked at Mikey earnestly. "I swear I don't know why they took you, though."
"Okay," Mikey said slowly. "I believe you." He shrugged. "Maybe they got me by accident. I mean, if they're harvesting brains, mine isn't exactly genius level."
Ted smiled shyly and Mikey smiled back reassuringly. "Come on," Mikey said, tugging Ted's arm toward the roof-access door. "Let's see where we are."
----------
Raven stayed in the basement, looking for a clue as to the sudden mass of age-regressions. Wonder Girl, Cyborg, and Speedy stayed behind in case she needed any help.
(Being left behind was not, Robin quickly assured Wonder Girl, punishment for the incident with the lasso that morning.)
Everyone else clambered aboard the Bug when it descended to ground level. "Skeets, the Teen Titans. Teen Titans, Skeets." Junior introduced blithely, waving a hand from the hovering gold bug-shaped robot to the group of teens. "And Zombie Max, who isn't a zombie anymore."
"Max?" Skeets asked, startled.
The boy in question raised a hand, then leaned back as the floating AI zipped over to examine him. "Uh? Hello?"
Skeets beeped, bug legs twitching. "It is him!"
"Whatever got Booster and Beetle got him, too," Junior explained, sitting in one of the Bug's seats while Robin took the other. "How do we track them?"
The Bug rose above the clouds once more and started off while Skeets explained the tracking system.
----------
The building they had landed on turned out to be a movie theater and Mikey and Ted snuck into the back row of a movie with lots of explosions. Initially, it had been so they could sit down and discuss strategy, but Ted had quickly gotten distracted.
"The special effects are amazing," he breathed, staring at the screen. His eyes were wide, his mouth was slightly parted, and the lights flickered wildly over his face.
Mikey really kind of wanted to kiss him.
He was still a little new to the whole "people are attractive and should be kissed" concept, but was also fairly enthusiastic about it. He also didn't really have much experience...actually, his past experience was entirely made up of Vixi O'Brian and Seven Monaghan.
Vixi was a meta and intimidatingly strong, but that just made her more appreciative when he sent her a valentine. He'd collected a fair amount of bruises by the end of their relationship, because while Vixi knew her own strength she also forgot if she was distracted enough, but also gained a better understanding of what could be distracting.
Seven was shy and had a ridiculous amount of visible cybernetic implants, but he always smiled sweetly when Mikey glanced at him. It was from Seven that Mikey had developed an appreciation of the use of tongue while kissing. Seven had some sort of hard chip embedded in his and the contrast in texture was fascinating. They hadn't dated as long as he had with Vixi, but they had just as much fun.
So it was with that limited but educational experience under his belt that Mikey determined that he definitely wanted to kiss Ted. Especially when the boy's tongue darted out of his slightly slack mouth to lick his lips.
Turning in his seat, Mikey could see the credits starting up out of the corner of his eye. Leaning toward Ted, he placed his hand over the boy's on the armrest. When Ted faced him, starting to ask what he wanted, Mikey cautiously closed the small distance between them, pressing his lips to Ted's. The trick, he'd learned, was to aim and keep your eyes open until you made contact. Otherwise there was a chance someone might end up with an eyeful of nose, which could kill the mood dead.
Leaving his hand on Ted's, Mikey reached up with his other hand to cup the boy's face. Ted seemed to be having trouble with the whole kissing thing, so Mikey swiped his tongue against Ted's lips. That got a reaction. Ted's hand twitched under Mikey's and he made a soft, breathy "hn?" sound, lips moving slightly.
Finally leaning back, Mikey licked his lips and slowly opened his eyes. Ted looked...gobsmacked. His mouth was still open and he was blinking rapidly.
"Whuh--?" Ted mumbled, then closed his mouth and blinked some more. "Why'd you do that?"
"I like you."
Ted opened his mouth to speak again, but instead flinched in surprise as the lights in the theater came up. Threading his fingers through Ted's, Mikey stood and tugged him up with him. "We should go."
"Um," Ted said, though he didn't protest when Mikey started for the exit, trailing along with his hand caught by the other boy's.
----------
The tracking device indicated Ted and Mikey had escaped to Chicago, and soon had it narrowed down to a movie theater. With a warning from Junior that Booster might have figured out how to use his blasters, they descended on the unsuspecting building.
Skeets and Max stayed behind. Skeets to guard Bug, and Max because "Superheroing isn't managerial."
----------
They were in the restroom. Mikey had caught sight of his reflection, grumbled something about his hair, and dragged Ted in after him. After they checked to make sure it was empty, Mikey had instructed Ted to guard the door.
Leaning back against the door, Ted stared at Mikey as the boy stripped off his black hoodie, the odd gold-colored top underneath, and the gloves. "What are you doing?" he hissed in disbelief.
Mikey turned the water in a sink on as high as it would go and said, "Seeing if this stuff comes out." With that, he plunged his head under the gushing water, tilting it this way and that to completely soak his hair.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Ted watched as Mikey ran his fingers through his hair, tugging and twisting. After a moment he lifted his head to look in the mirror, made a frustrated sound at his hair's stubborn refusal to change color, and ducked his head back under the spray. Mikey reached over to press the soap dispenser a few times, then tried working the handful of slimy pink into his hair. Ted thought the water coming from his hair might look a little grey, but he couldn't be sure.
Still bending over the sink, Mikey tilted his head to look in the mirror again and sighed. "It's not coming out."
Ted didn't know what to say, so he remained silent.
Turning off the water, Mikey squeezed the excess water from his hair and straightened. It was a good thing Mikey had taken his top off beforehand, because his hair was still soaked and it was dripping onto his shoulders and down his chest.
Not that Ted was watching.
Just because Mikey had kissed him in a movie theater like it was no big deal, just because he liked Ted, was no reason for Ted to.... He wasn't. He really, really wasn't. Because he'd never looked at a guy like that before and he definitely wasn't looking at Mikey like that now.
Even if Mikey had a great body, great skin, and actually looked good in the crappy public restroom lighting that no one was supposed to be able to look good in.
Oblivious to Ted's scrutiny, Mikey ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it away from his face and unintentionally causing a small rivulet of water to dribble down his chest. The light shone off the water and before he realized what he was doing, Ted had grabbed a paper towel and started forward.
It was when Mikey looked up at him in surprise that Ted realized he was inches away from the boy. He held up the paper towel and blushed. "You're...um. Wet."
Mikey nodded. And whether it was agreement or permission, Ted reached out and pressed the paper towel to Mikey's chest, slowly moving it away from the rapid heartbeat he could feel under his hand. Setting his other hand on Mikey's shoulder to keep him still, Ted carefully kept his eyes on his progress. The paper towel was really too thin to--
Startled, Ted glanced up at Mikey as the boy inhaled sharply. A flush was working its way down Mikey's cheeks to his throat and when Ted looked down at his hand again he realized he'd swiped the towel over a nipple. It was...really kind of fascinating, Mikey's reaction. So Ted did it again.
Mikey gasped.
Suddenly glad that he'd taken off the strange blue gloves and stuffed them in a coat pocket, Ted gently circled his thumb around the rapidly tightening nub, watching the reaction with interest. Mikey pressed against his hand and Ted let the paper towel fall to the floor as the boy's arms came up to circle his waist and pull him closer.
Mikey was staring at Ted's mouth, so Ted returned the favor, and after a brief moment where their noses nudged against each other as they worked out angles and trajectory...they kissed.
It was different this time. Because Ted was expecting it this time, and also because Mikey's hands were under the coat and holding him close, pressing him against Mikey's bare chest. Ted felt them turning and then felt the counter's edge against his back, and it just made sense to wrap his arms around Mikey's neck, letting a hand slide up into the still dripping hair. The hem of his coat's sleeve was already soaked.
Then came the sound of the restroom door wooshing shut and a horrified cry of, "The goggles do nothing!"
Ted and Mikey sprang apart, eyes wide and breaths wild. They stared at each other for a moment before Mikey grabbed the glove with the flight ring and jammed it onto his hand. Ted snatched up the gold top and other glove while Mikey shoved the hoodie on. There was a sound of rapid footsteps outside and Mikey again grabbed Ted by the waist, this time holding him up so he could shimmy through the small window near the ceiling.
Ted landed in a crouch, then straightened as Mikey shot through the window with the sound of the restroom door banging open behind him. Swooping down to grab Ted, Mikey sped through the alley as the other boy wrapped himself around him. Shouts faded behind them as Mikey turned as many corners as he could find.
----------
"Skeets!" Junior called through the communicator, landing lightly in the alley his parents had escaped through. "They got away. Any idea which way they went?"
It took a moment before Skeets responded, but he quickly indicated which direction to go and Junior related the directions to the Teen Titans. Superboy scooped up Junior while Kid Flash grabbed Robin and then they were off again.
----------
Landing in another alley, Mikey gently set Ted down and took his other glove from the boy. "We really need to find somewhere to go," he said. "You know this place better than I do, any ideas? ...Ted?"
Still standing where he had been set, Ted jerked his head up to stare at him. "I...It seemed like a good idea at the time. But now they've kidnapped me and put me in some sort of...bug costume and-and-and now there's a freaky teen taskforce after me and...they're gonna dissect my BRAIN! I like my brain! I don't want it dissected!!"
Grabbing the boy's shoulders, Mikey pressed his lips to Ted's and held them there until the other boy relaxed somewhat.
"Why'd you do that?" Ted asked quietly.
"You were hysterical."
Ted furrowed his brow. "You're supposed to slap people when they're hysterical."
"If you insist," Mikey sighed, raising a hand.
"No!" Ted yelped, ducking away from him. "I mean...I'm better now. Not...hysterical." He glanced around. "I think...I think my Uncle Jarvis lives in Hub City. That's...not very far from here. My dad doesn't like him, but maybe he'd let us hide out for a while. Help us." He rubbed at the bridge of his nose and sighed. "This is such a mess."
Mikey pulled him into a hug. "We'll get through this."
Ted smiled up at him.
A sudden movement from one end of the alley caught their attention and they turned to see two brightly dressed teens. The one in Christmas colors and a black cape started toward them slowly, as if he were approaching an injured animal. His voice was gentle and could easily have been used in a hostage negotiation. "Ted Kord? Mikey Carter? You need to come with us."
Mikey tightened his arms around Ted and shot straight up into the air. Abruptly stopping above the clouds, they saw in front of them a green bird and a huge guy in a black shirt with a red "S" on it.
Just as the big guy opened his mouth to speak, Mikey whispered, "Hang on," to Ted. The boy quickly wrapped his arms and legs around Mikey, pressing his face against the boy's neck, and they shot off in the opposite direction. Behind them, they could hear the big guy curse, then a whoosh as he flew after them.
Glancing back, Mikey's eyes widened as he saw the guy in the "S" rapidly gaining on him. Narrowing his eyes in determination, mouth thinning into a grim line, Mikey concentrated fastfasterfastest! at the ring and plunged below the clouds.
He was not going to let them get Ted.
-----
[ETA of chapter the sixth: I know what's going to happen, it's just a matter of writing it down.]
Oh, and Alba? Don't get your hopes up. I said Question wouldn't show up until the next Mullet-verse story and I meant it. If it helps, I'm sad about the wait too. :(
Beta by lakidaa.
CHAPTERS: { Prologue }{ Chapter One }{ Chapter Two }{ Chapter Three }{ Chapter Four }{ Chapter Five }{ Chapter Six }{ Chapter Seven }{ Chapter Eight }{ Epilogue }
<-{ previous story: Midst Of Rough Earthliness } { next story: Harmonious Discourse }->
~5th Chapter
Cautiously setting down on the roof of a building, Mikey reluctantly let go of Ted once the other boy's feet were on the ground. Ted shook out his legs and wandered over to the edge of the roof to look around.
"Well...it's Chicago," he said slowly. "I mean I recognize it. But...something's...different. ...I don't know what--"
"Hey who do you think kidnapped us?" Mikey suddenly spoke up, frowning in thought. "And why?"
Ted had had plenty of time to think about that very thing during their trip. "Um," he muttered, then bit his lip. He continued to stare out at the city, more so he wouldn't have to look at Mikey than to look for familiar landmarks.
"What?" Mikey asked. He stared at Ted's hunched shoulders and quickly closed the distance between them to grab his arm and turn the boy to face him. Ted looked nervous and Mikey immediately became suspicious. "You know, don't you?"
"No!" Ted blurted, then looked up at him with a reluctant expression. "I...I don't know. Just--"
"An idea?" Mikey demanded. "You have an idea? What?"
Ted yanked his arm away from Mikey's grip and backed away. "I don't know, okay? I-I-I thought they were over it! I mean, they threatened all sorts of stuff, but they dropped it!" He looked at Mikey pleadingly. "It was a year ago! I didn't think--I figured if they were gonna do anything they would've already done it!"
Grabbing Ted's elbows, Mikey looked him in the eye and asked steadily, "Who, Ted?"
"The government." Ted whispered, slumping. "I hacked the U.S. defense server last year. Dad was so pissed when they showed up. I...It didn't seem like a big deal at the time, but they came barging in and everything and it was a huge mess and they talked to me for hours and...and...I think maybe they kidnapped me so they can open up my head and dissect my brain or something!"
Mikey stared at him. "Dissect your brain?"
"I don't know!" Ted groaned, dropping his head into his hands. "I read it somewhere. But whatever they want from me, it's bad." He looked at Mikey earnestly. "I swear I don't know why they took you, though."
"Okay," Mikey said slowly. "I believe you." He shrugged. "Maybe they got me by accident. I mean, if they're harvesting brains, mine isn't exactly genius level."
Ted smiled shyly and Mikey smiled back reassuringly. "Come on," Mikey said, tugging Ted's arm toward the roof-access door. "Let's see where we are."
----------
Raven stayed in the basement, looking for a clue as to the sudden mass of age-regressions. Wonder Girl, Cyborg, and Speedy stayed behind in case she needed any help.
(Being left behind was not, Robin quickly assured Wonder Girl, punishment for the incident with the lasso that morning.)
Everyone else clambered aboard the Bug when it descended to ground level. "Skeets, the Teen Titans. Teen Titans, Skeets." Junior introduced blithely, waving a hand from the hovering gold bug-shaped robot to the group of teens. "And Zombie Max, who isn't a zombie anymore."
"Max?" Skeets asked, startled.
The boy in question raised a hand, then leaned back as the floating AI zipped over to examine him. "Uh? Hello?"
Skeets beeped, bug legs twitching. "It is him!"
"Whatever got Booster and Beetle got him, too," Junior explained, sitting in one of the Bug's seats while Robin took the other. "How do we track them?"
The Bug rose above the clouds once more and started off while Skeets explained the tracking system.
----------
The building they had landed on turned out to be a movie theater and Mikey and Ted snuck into the back row of a movie with lots of explosions. Initially, it had been so they could sit down and discuss strategy, but Ted had quickly gotten distracted.
"The special effects are amazing," he breathed, staring at the screen. His eyes were wide, his mouth was slightly parted, and the lights flickered wildly over his face.
Mikey really kind of wanted to kiss him.
He was still a little new to the whole "people are attractive and should be kissed" concept, but was also fairly enthusiastic about it. He also didn't really have much experience...actually, his past experience was entirely made up of Vixi O'Brian and Seven Monaghan.
Vixi was a meta and intimidatingly strong, but that just made her more appreciative when he sent her a valentine. He'd collected a fair amount of bruises by the end of their relationship, because while Vixi knew her own strength she also forgot if she was distracted enough, but also gained a better understanding of what could be distracting.
Seven was shy and had a ridiculous amount of visible cybernetic implants, but he always smiled sweetly when Mikey glanced at him. It was from Seven that Mikey had developed an appreciation of the use of tongue while kissing. Seven had some sort of hard chip embedded in his and the contrast in texture was fascinating. They hadn't dated as long as he had with Vixi, but they had just as much fun.
So it was with that limited but educational experience under his belt that Mikey determined that he definitely wanted to kiss Ted. Especially when the boy's tongue darted out of his slightly slack mouth to lick his lips.
Turning in his seat, Mikey could see the credits starting up out of the corner of his eye. Leaning toward Ted, he placed his hand over the boy's on the armrest. When Ted faced him, starting to ask what he wanted, Mikey cautiously closed the small distance between them, pressing his lips to Ted's. The trick, he'd learned, was to aim and keep your eyes open until you made contact. Otherwise there was a chance someone might end up with an eyeful of nose, which could kill the mood dead.
Leaving his hand on Ted's, Mikey reached up with his other hand to cup the boy's face. Ted seemed to be having trouble with the whole kissing thing, so Mikey swiped his tongue against Ted's lips. That got a reaction. Ted's hand twitched under Mikey's and he made a soft, breathy "hn?" sound, lips moving slightly.
Finally leaning back, Mikey licked his lips and slowly opened his eyes. Ted looked...gobsmacked. His mouth was still open and he was blinking rapidly.
"Whuh--?" Ted mumbled, then closed his mouth and blinked some more. "Why'd you do that?"
"I like you."
Ted opened his mouth to speak again, but instead flinched in surprise as the lights in the theater came up. Threading his fingers through Ted's, Mikey stood and tugged him up with him. "We should go."
"Um," Ted said, though he didn't protest when Mikey started for the exit, trailing along with his hand caught by the other boy's.
----------
The tracking device indicated Ted and Mikey had escaped to Chicago, and soon had it narrowed down to a movie theater. With a warning from Junior that Booster might have figured out how to use his blasters, they descended on the unsuspecting building.
Skeets and Max stayed behind. Skeets to guard Bug, and Max because "Superheroing isn't managerial."
----------
They were in the restroom. Mikey had caught sight of his reflection, grumbled something about his hair, and dragged Ted in after him. After they checked to make sure it was empty, Mikey had instructed Ted to guard the door.
Leaning back against the door, Ted stared at Mikey as the boy stripped off his black hoodie, the odd gold-colored top underneath, and the gloves. "What are you doing?" he hissed in disbelief.
Mikey turned the water in a sink on as high as it would go and said, "Seeing if this stuff comes out." With that, he plunged his head under the gushing water, tilting it this way and that to completely soak his hair.
Crossing his arms over his chest, Ted watched as Mikey ran his fingers through his hair, tugging and twisting. After a moment he lifted his head to look in the mirror, made a frustrated sound at his hair's stubborn refusal to change color, and ducked his head back under the spray. Mikey reached over to press the soap dispenser a few times, then tried working the handful of slimy pink into his hair. Ted thought the water coming from his hair might look a little grey, but he couldn't be sure.
Still bending over the sink, Mikey tilted his head to look in the mirror again and sighed. "It's not coming out."
Ted didn't know what to say, so he remained silent.
Turning off the water, Mikey squeezed the excess water from his hair and straightened. It was a good thing Mikey had taken his top off beforehand, because his hair was still soaked and it was dripping onto his shoulders and down his chest.
Not that Ted was watching.
Just because Mikey had kissed him in a movie theater like it was no big deal, just because he liked Ted, was no reason for Ted to.... He wasn't. He really, really wasn't. Because he'd never looked at a guy like that before and he definitely wasn't looking at Mikey like that now.
Even if Mikey had a great body, great skin, and actually looked good in the crappy public restroom lighting that no one was supposed to be able to look good in.
Oblivious to Ted's scrutiny, Mikey ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it away from his face and unintentionally causing a small rivulet of water to dribble down his chest. The light shone off the water and before he realized what he was doing, Ted had grabbed a paper towel and started forward.
It was when Mikey looked up at him in surprise that Ted realized he was inches away from the boy. He held up the paper towel and blushed. "You're...um. Wet."
Mikey nodded. And whether it was agreement or permission, Ted reached out and pressed the paper towel to Mikey's chest, slowly moving it away from the rapid heartbeat he could feel under his hand. Setting his other hand on Mikey's shoulder to keep him still, Ted carefully kept his eyes on his progress. The paper towel was really too thin to--
Startled, Ted glanced up at Mikey as the boy inhaled sharply. A flush was working its way down Mikey's cheeks to his throat and when Ted looked down at his hand again he realized he'd swiped the towel over a nipple. It was...really kind of fascinating, Mikey's reaction. So Ted did it again.
Mikey gasped.
Suddenly glad that he'd taken off the strange blue gloves and stuffed them in a coat pocket, Ted gently circled his thumb around the rapidly tightening nub, watching the reaction with interest. Mikey pressed against his hand and Ted let the paper towel fall to the floor as the boy's arms came up to circle his waist and pull him closer.
Mikey was staring at Ted's mouth, so Ted returned the favor, and after a brief moment where their noses nudged against each other as they worked out angles and trajectory...they kissed.
It was different this time. Because Ted was expecting it this time, and also because Mikey's hands were under the coat and holding him close, pressing him against Mikey's bare chest. Ted felt them turning and then felt the counter's edge against his back, and it just made sense to wrap his arms around Mikey's neck, letting a hand slide up into the still dripping hair. The hem of his coat's sleeve was already soaked.
Then came the sound of the restroom door wooshing shut and a horrified cry of, "The goggles do nothing!"
Ted and Mikey sprang apart, eyes wide and breaths wild. They stared at each other for a moment before Mikey grabbed the glove with the flight ring and jammed it onto his hand. Ted snatched up the gold top and other glove while Mikey shoved the hoodie on. There was a sound of rapid footsteps outside and Mikey again grabbed Ted by the waist, this time holding him up so he could shimmy through the small window near the ceiling.
Ted landed in a crouch, then straightened as Mikey shot through the window with the sound of the restroom door banging open behind him. Swooping down to grab Ted, Mikey sped through the alley as the other boy wrapped himself around him. Shouts faded behind them as Mikey turned as many corners as he could find.
----------
"Skeets!" Junior called through the communicator, landing lightly in the alley his parents had escaped through. "They got away. Any idea which way they went?"
It took a moment before Skeets responded, but he quickly indicated which direction to go and Junior related the directions to the Teen Titans. Superboy scooped up Junior while Kid Flash grabbed Robin and then they were off again.
----------
Landing in another alley, Mikey gently set Ted down and took his other glove from the boy. "We really need to find somewhere to go," he said. "You know this place better than I do, any ideas? ...Ted?"
Still standing where he had been set, Ted jerked his head up to stare at him. "I...It seemed like a good idea at the time. But now they've kidnapped me and put me in some sort of...bug costume and-and-and now there's a freaky teen taskforce after me and...they're gonna dissect my BRAIN! I like my brain! I don't want it dissected!!"
Grabbing the boy's shoulders, Mikey pressed his lips to Ted's and held them there until the other boy relaxed somewhat.
"Why'd you do that?" Ted asked quietly.
"You were hysterical."
Ted furrowed his brow. "You're supposed to slap people when they're hysterical."
"If you insist," Mikey sighed, raising a hand.
"No!" Ted yelped, ducking away from him. "I mean...I'm better now. Not...hysterical." He glanced around. "I think...I think my Uncle Jarvis lives in Hub City. That's...not very far from here. My dad doesn't like him, but maybe he'd let us hide out for a while. Help us." He rubbed at the bridge of his nose and sighed. "This is such a mess."
Mikey pulled him into a hug. "We'll get through this."
Ted smiled up at him.
A sudden movement from one end of the alley caught their attention and they turned to see two brightly dressed teens. The one in Christmas colors and a black cape started toward them slowly, as if he were approaching an injured animal. His voice was gentle and could easily have been used in a hostage negotiation. "Ted Kord? Mikey Carter? You need to come with us."
Mikey tightened his arms around Ted and shot straight up into the air. Abruptly stopping above the clouds, they saw in front of them a green bird and a huge guy in a black shirt with a red "S" on it.
Just as the big guy opened his mouth to speak, Mikey whispered, "Hang on," to Ted. The boy quickly wrapped his arms and legs around Mikey, pressing his face against the boy's neck, and they shot off in the opposite direction. Behind them, they could hear the big guy curse, then a whoosh as he flew after them.
Glancing back, Mikey's eyes widened as he saw the guy in the "S" rapidly gaining on him. Narrowing his eyes in determination, mouth thinning into a grim line, Mikey concentrated fastfasterfastest! at the ring and plunged below the clouds.
He was not going to let them get Ted.
-----
[ETA of chapter the sixth: I know what's going to happen, it's just a matter of writing it down.]