#boxbow

Most of my plans for this AU are attached to when I come back to writing "Gray Goo" but I'm sharing some stuff anyway since I'm debating using it as the setting for a Laserbox one-off. I'm also fine with anyone else playing with/adding their own versions of AU characters, OCs, or whatever else if you want to.

The core premise for this AU is Laserblast had a redemption arc. The how/why that event happened are baked into things I have planned for "Gray Goo," so I'll update that part when that full fic is finished (or after the chapter with that bit goes up).

Highlight Reel:

Laser and Carol retired from POINT after K.O. was born. They also found and adopted Fink not long after. So they're the proud, active parents of two aspiring heroes. They're not married, but they are in a long-term, monogamous relationship.

Carol still transitioned from POINT operative to owning and running the fitness dojo at the Plaza. She doesn't secretly work for Foxtail or have any other affiliation with POINT. It's the Dojo only. Besides the Dojo, Carol and Kaio teach a wellness, mental health, and meditation seminar once a week.

Laser is co-owner and operator of the Dojo. He trains the kid's division of martial arts and hero basics while Carol trains older adults or gives hero refresher courses. Laser is still affiliated with POINT, but he's a reserve or back-up hero. He also teaches a few Charisma related courses at POINT and shares a workload with the dept director Professor Sunshine.

K.O. prefers going by his given name "Kaio," both as a civilian and a hero in training. He wants to follow in Laserblast's footsteps, but he's more interested in becoming a respected professor and teaching at POINT Prep than becoming a great hero. He's impatiently waiting for the opportunity to try on and use Laser's helmet.

He and Fink are very close and Fink is Kaio's best friend after Dendy. She's in training to become Rippy Roo's official sidekick as well as her research partner. Fink is really intrigued by Rippy's research on particle physics, blackholes, and alternate universes.

Kaio and Dendy grew up together, are lifelong friends, and Kaio considers Dendy his closest confidant. There's things Dendy knows that Kaio refuses to tell his parents or anyone else.

Dendy is still a very tech and science oriented person, but she considers both her big hobbies rather than her ultimate life goal. She hopes to become a respected stand-up comedian like Crinkly Wrinkly. Though, no matter how hard she tries, it's a very "keep your day job, kid" effort. Dendy also has a little crush on Fink.

Mr. Gar voluntarily left and retired from POINT. He's still a very prominent and active luchador on the weekends. Otherwise, the Bodega is more of a goal he and his husband Bernie talked about starting for the longest time. Mr. Gar received the "protect the glorb tree" mission but it was secondary and circumstantial. He became an aspirational, manly man more from a desire to grow and better himself alongside his partner than a life-changing journey.

Boxman met Laserblast during one of his early villain ventures. At the time, Laser was single, they hit it off, and Boxman reformed in large part because of Laser. He starts going by the name Bernie, develops a pet interest in gardening, and hopes to open his own retail/convenience store someday. Bernie originally hoped to open this store with his robot creation/business partner Mr. Logic but they had a rough falling out after Bernie and Laser started dating. Mr. Logic wants to be a villain and didn't follow Bernie to the heroes' side.

Certain events play out and Bernie breaks up with Laser over it. While Laser and Bernie were dating, Bernie met Silver and El Bow. Laser was never close with El Bow, but Bernie became fast friends with him and they started growing really close after the Laser break-up. Fast forward to present day and they're happily married with Bernie taking Mr. Gar's last name.

Laser and Silver started as far more casual, friends with benefits. That dynamic was put on hold when Laser started dating Bernie. After their break-up, Silver told Laser she was pregnant and confided that she really wanted her kid to have his dad in his life. They didn't originally plan on getting together but ended up seriously dating with time, mutual interests, and finding that they're a surprisingly good match (in this timeline, not others).

When Kaio starts working at the Bodega, Queenie and Puck are the respective front end cashier and stock boy.

Rad works for Carol part time watching and babysitting kids, running errands, and manning the front desk. He's also been dating Enid since they were 14. He was encouraged to be himself on that pivotal first date by Carol and that's what led to her as Rad's major role model and go-to mentor.

Enid struggles with her desire to be a ninja, but Rad and Carol have been trying to push her to tell her parents what she really wants to do with her life. She only visits the Plaza to hang out with Rad, Puck, or Queenie. Otherwise, she's off doing her own thing elsewhere.