#chat:dash

The way Sharpay prepared for one of Sadie’s visits was not at all the same as the way she prepped for Dash, which involved none at all. The great thing about their not-relationship, sort-of friendship was that it involved zero expectations whatsoever. All she had were seltzers (and a six pack of beer, not that she was going to drink it) and a singular candle lit, only because she liked the scent, not because she wanted to impress him. And as they sat on her sofa with their respective drinks, half-watching whatever movie was first recommended on her streaming service, the only thing Sharpay expected was that this would end in Dash staying over, because that’s what he did every time. “So, what’s with the girl in the bathroom, and the other one you went home with?” she asked, a smirk forming as she posed the question. Sharpay didn’t give a shit about who he went home with, or who he hung around, either, but it was fun to tease him like she did. “At least tell me they were good, especially bathroom girl. That couldn’t have been comfortable for either of you.”

Part of his personal, self-inflicted penance for lying to both his wife and his children for so long was remaining unmoving besides Dash during the night shift, letting Helen take both Jack Jack and herself home to have the night off. It was the least he could do, he figured. Trying to stay nocturnal, though, wasn't as easy as he thought it might be: Bob found himself drifting off every so often, until he found his inner conscience reminding him of his son's condition, or the look on his wife's face when she'd discovered his long-term secret, and he was jolted awake again.

It was the rustling coming from Dash's bed that kept him up this time. It was the most movement he'd seen from that side of the room in a while--he would probably be waking up soon. Suddenly, Bob was wide awake: he hadn't spoken to his son since he'd returned from the emergency room. He moved his chair beside Dash's bed, waiting until he could see the blue of his eyes to speak. "Hey, kid," he whispered, giving his leg a light shake. "How're you feeling? Do you need me to call a nurse? You've been out for hours."

"Oh, come on!" Bob shouted at the television, physically standing from the sectional sofa to somehow rile the men all the way on the mainland to get their shit together. He rolled his eyes to himself, turning to grab another beer from the fridge for himself before he heard footsteps coming down. He'd assumed it was just his wife coming to tell him to tone it down, especially since Jack-Jack was supposed to be putting some science project together in the kitchen, but instead, he saw another blond head of hair belonging to none other than his eldest son. It was strange to see him at home on a weekend, but before questioning it, Bob simply doubled the bottle in his hand before tossing one to his son.

"What have we done to be graced with the presence of the elusive Dash?" he teased, approaching him to clap a hug onto his back before the two sat down. It was right before he could embrace his son that he noticed a ring of a bruise around his eye. "Holy--what the hell happened to you?" Bob put his hands on his son's shoulders, taking a good look at him in lieu of the greeting he'd intended to give. "Who did this? Do I need to go give someone a fist of my own?" he asked, completely serious. If there was anyone in the world Bob was certain could knock a guy out on the first blow, it was himself. But, knowing Dash, there was probably a story behind this one that kept him from running upstairs to grab the keys and take care of it.

The only training partner Hercules had ever had wasn’t even really a partner at all--it was just Phil sitting around and barking orders at him. Even though he hadn’t meant to find one in the younger boy, it sort of happened when they’d accidentally confided each other about their enhanced abilities. Thankfully, Phil didn’t have enough staff (more like he didn’t want to pay for it) to keep the gym open 24 hours, so there were certain hours of the day that Dash and Hercules could train in peace together, either late at night or early in the morning. It wasn’t ideal, by any means, but at least they didn’t have to pretend or stunt their workout to appease the public. He looked at his watch and sighed as he opened the door for the two of them, a few minutes after their usual time in the morning. “You know I have to open this place up in an hour, right?” he reminded him. The people who wanted to fit in a work-out before heading off to their office jobs were always punctual and at the door the moment the clock struck seven. “You get the lights, and I’ll turn the machines on? What are we even doing today, again?”

Though Scamp knew exactly what the younger boy was asking him, he couldn't give him an answer. There were still visible bruises on his knuckles, but he was used to telling people now that it was the result of something happening at work. He shrugged it off, hiding his hands as he wrapped them around the other side of a beer can instead. He could easily divert to his girl troubles: that seemed to keep people occupied for the time being. "Oh, bro, it's complicated," he started, rolling his eyes dramatically as he began. "You see that blonde over there? Yeah, I dated her before I left, and then we both happened to be at that big engagement party. But, like, I came back because of this other girl, Angel, right? So, I have no idea what to do. They're both amazing, both stunning, but ... I don't know, man. Angel just doesn't seem like she's into me, and Angelica was the one who broke up with me." @speedash