BROS B4 HEROES

“N-no, that’s not what I’m saying,” Michael contended earnestly with frustration in his tone. “It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s that I can’t-,” he tried to explain, but his words fell on deaf ears and people only grew angrier. If he could time travel, why can’t he figure out a way to fix this? Why can’t he go back in time to stop Darkseid from ever getting the Pheonix Force? Because it wasn’t that simple, Michael would try to explain, but he was a hero, he was supposed to use his powers to help the people.

But he wasn’t allowed to and it ate him up inside. He was sure Barry felt the same way, on some level, but he wasn’t there to unload on. Michael was on his own to deal with the angry mob that so diligently descended upon him with intent on getting what they want. Thankfully, he had his flight ring and within a mere minute, Michael was perched safely atop the nearest building to catch his breath-

-until the looming presence of someone else came crashing down. Michael shook his head solemnly, his back to his new visitor. “If you’re here about the time travel, Skeets can.. He can explain.”

“Bats doesn’t wait. Neither should Captain America, Scott Summers or like, any of the other people who risked their li-” he yawned again, jaw clicking, “Lives. You included,” Teddy gave him a tired grin, “Ya did good Boos. Lots o’prisoner’s have been freed thanks to you and everyone else.” And Booster deserved that recognition.

Teddy rolled his eyes, “Oh? And what’re you gonna do? Drag me outta here and into the shower?” he asked wryly, only to scoff, “I’m hardly getting anywhere. I got the right data but it’s encrypted to fuck and Kilowog’s translating tech can only get me so far so I’m trying to learn Apokolips via hacking to hack better.”  

Michael sighed. Sure, Teddy had a point - who knows what could happen if they all just slept on the job. (Well, he would know, but that was beside the point.) But if they wasted themselves now, they wouldn’t be super useful in the future. He didn’t want Teddy to burn out too quickly. Michael returned the smile. “Gee, thanks.. It was nothing really. Just good ol’ fashioned teamwork.”

“But yes. That’s exactly what I’m gonna do,” Michael returned and stooped his massive frame to begin Operation: Get Teddy To Shower. “Your hacking can wait,” he hooked an arm under Teddy’s knees, “and you smell really bad, bro,” while the other arm tried to slide around his friend’s torso. “Just do this one thing - for me, dude. And for the team, so you don’t like, pass out in the middle of a battle or something.”

“Shaddap Boos,” Teddy yawned, reaching up to run a hand through his messy hair and starting when he felt the paper attached to his face, “What the-” he peeled it off and sighed. “I was sleeping just then,” he said, turning his bloodshot eyes to Michael, “I’ve just been trying to do this since we got back,” five days ago, “And I’m not getting very far… Apokolips need to employ someone to-” he stopped and yawned, his jaw clicking, “Organize their shit.”

“Boos I just gotta stay a little longer, get some o’this done and I can give it to Bats, y’know.” Prove their hadn’t made a bad choice putting their faith in him… actually try and be useful, “I can’t mess this up bro.”  

“No-o, you needed a break, like, yesterday. Bats can wait-” and frankly, he was going to have to. Teddy didn’t look the greatest right now, and this interpreting thing or whatever it actually was that Teddy was doing was going to kill him if he didn’t stop to smell the roses every once in a while. Or showered, for Pete’s sake. 

“A shower, some grub, and then maybe a nap and you can get back to it. I won’t take no for an answer,” Michael insisted with a quick little finger wag. “And you won’t mess it up, you’re doing a great job!” He had no idea how far along Teddy actually was or if it even was a good job, but anything to get him to step away for a little bit.

When: Post-Libertas Event Where:Genosha - Teddy’s Lab With:Open to all! :D

Teddy had finally fallen asleep. He’d been working six days straight, barely eating to try and make sense of the data he’d manage to hack out of the Apokolips compound; it was encrypted, in an alien language and completely unorganised so needless to say it was slow going and Teddy felt like more of a failure every day. 

“Whazzat!?” He jolted awake when the door to his lab closed, a little drool down his chin, a piece of paper stuck to the side of his head and his curly hair resembling a rats nest; he’d only been asleep two hours. “Sorry, s’ry.” he yawned and lent back, several vertebrae cracking with the movement. “M’working, was just resting my eyes.” His bleary, blood-shot eyes.  

“Oh, dude-” came Michael’s exclamation once he stepped foot inside Teddy’s lab; the stench was potent and it took everything in him to delve further into the technological abyss. He found his friend slumped over in a puddle of his own drool - at least, that’s what he’d tell everyone - and resisted the urge to tickle him awake. Instead, his own entry roused Teddy awake, finally.

“Looks more like sleeping on the job, right pal?” Michael squawked back and rested his knuckles against his hips. “When was the last time you actually slept?” He wrinkled his nose when he drew near. “Or showered, ugh! Dude. You need a break from this - pronto.”