Chapter Text
“No, you hang up first,” Chase giggled.
“I love seeing your pretty face, I can’t bear it!” Reese dramatically gasped, hand to her forehead.
Chase blushed.
Reese snickered as he rebooted. “You’re so cute.”
Another reboot necessary.
Chase’s watch beeped. “Ah, crap, I have to go,” he straightened his tie.
“We still on for Capital Grille, babe?” she checked her nails. Chase blushed again. She laughed. “I’m gonna give you a heart attack one of these days.”
“Uh- yes- I- yeah.” Chase stammered. He found it hard not to at her beautiful green-gold eyes.
“Cool,” she smiled, waving. The screen flickered off.
~*~
“Damn it,” Oliver swore.
“It’s okay,” Skylar rubbed his shoulder. “It takes time.”
“Does it?” Oliver glared at the perfect score of Kaz hitting the targets.
He missed every one, if he even managed to summon any water. His body was sore from that damn unidentifiable pain that refused to quit, his mouth dry, and his head spinning. He was hungry and tired and largely over it.
Kaz and Bree were laughing on the other side of the training room. That made Oliver angrier. He didn’t know which one at.
Kaz burped a tongue of flame out, making them laugh again and high-five.
“Some people are faster learners,” Skylar shrugged, drawing his attention. “You aren’t the first to be a late-bloomer.”
Oliver sighed a huffy childish noise.
“Why don’t we try some combat reps?”
“I’m no good at those either,” Oliver muttered, folding his arms. “Ask Kaz.”
“Alright Negative Nelly,” Skylar put her hands on her hips. “If you keep complaining, I’ll relinquish my teaching responsibilities to Chase instead. You know his methods.”
Oliver rolled his eyes. He hated the guy anyway, why care? It only took him trying to kill his best friends twice, while also being an insufferable arrogant asshole. That on top of the fact that it felt like Oliver never saw Kaz or Skylar anymore outside of training. They were always with one or both of the siblings doing something that didn’t involve him
A shrill whistle interrupted the pairs.
Speak of the devil and he shall arrive to ruin your day further.
Skylar caught the bottled coffee and waters tossed their way, managing to not burst or blast them with her newly reacquired powers. Even she was adjusting better than Oliver. And it was Chase who fixed it for her. Bree caught her and Kaz’s juices with their own waters.
Light cream, two sugars. He knew Oliver’s coffee order. That annoyed him.
Chase was wearing a button-up and tie, meaning he’d finished being involved in The Call, whatever that meant.
“How’s it coming?”
“Dude, he’s a natural,” Bree and Kaz walked over to him. Kaz and Chase did something resembling a secret handshake. The annoyance grew. “Show him.”
Kaz winked at Chase as obnoxiously as he could muster. Chase rolled his eyes.
A holographic dummy appeared.
Kaz struck it in the neck and side, roundhouse kicking the head off.
Chase smiled. “Impressive. In such little time.”
Kaz grinned, flexing and waggling his eyebrows. Chase rolled his eyes again. Skylar narrowed hers at Kaz specifically. Bree simply snorted. Chase shoved Kaz’s face away as he started being insufferable on purpose.
“What about Oliver, Sky?”
Sky. Skylar didn’t let Oliver call her that for years.
“Uh,” she chewed her cheek, probably trying to find a way to say Oliver was a total flop in a way that wouldn’t hurt his feelings. “We’re working on it.”
Chase nodded. Oliver had the irrational urge to punch his smug face. He might listen to it. “Okay. I should be able to come back down and help soon. I have a few company obligations for the next few days.”
“It’s your dad’s company, why are you practically running it?” Kaz pointed out, resting his elbow on Chase’s shoulder as he downed the orange juice. Chase brushed him off, physically and figuratively. He wasn’t wrong. Chase was gone ninety percent of the time either working on machines or dealing with corporate calls. Oliver wouldn’t complain about that.
“Douglas made crepes upstairs. You’ve made quite a bit of progress. Why don’t you take a break?”
“You too,” Kaz decided, dragging him with them.
~*~
“Hey there, shitheads,” Douglas greeted, untying his “world’s evilest cook” apron. “Oh, ew, Chase.”
“What?” Chase asked, already so unnecessarily offended that Kaz, Skylar, and Bree snickered.
“I hate cologne.”
“Boo hoo,” Chase rolled his eyes. Douglas sat on the side Chase was with a seat in between them. “Smell like a trash heap, then.”
“You’ve always been so empathetic,” Douglas said sarcastically, setting the plate of crepes down while Bree gathered smaller ones.
Chase batted his lashes at his uncle, making him laugh.
Skylar moved to sit in the empty spot. Bree sped by, making it first.
Skylar shrugged, going to the side with the other boys.
Oliver held his stomach, feeling too sick to engage in the conversations: Chase and Douglas discussing The Call over their sister/niece’s head and the girls bantering with slightly uncomfortable passive-aggression.
Kaz picked at his food too, face screwed up in discomfort. That was alarming. Kaz would scarf down anything placed in front of him most days.
“You know what we could do?” Bree pointed her fork at Skylar.
“Hm?”
“A friendly competition. We take a rookie each. Whoever can train him well enough to knock Chase over wins.”
Skylar swallowed her food, lightly nudging the ankle across from her. Chase shrugged. “Sure. Gives me more time for uploading the hero list and working on the publicity website.”
She grinned to Bree. “You’re on.”
Kaz stood, punching at Chase. Chase caught his fist without glancing up from his phone and fork hanging from his mouth, bending his arm and tossing him over the table. Douglas barely saved his breakfast from the sudden violence.
“Oh noooo, Kaz, don’t try it yet,” Bree warned, cackling. He popped up, flipping her the bird.
“What hero list?” Douglas asked, setting his food back down.
“Chew with your mouth shut,” Chase cringed. “Dr. Diaz compiled a list of heroes’ identities, powers, and weaknesses. So I can have allies on file.”
“I’ve also been teaching him about our law structure and such,” Skylar added, fork clinking as she set it on her empty plate. She stood to gather the dishes. “Fun fact, kiddos, you can get away with everything.”
“Huh?” the two youngest asked in unison.
“Minor heroes slide under the radar like crazy.”
“I am a major hero, excuse you-”
“Under eighteen, Kazimieras.”
“Kazi-whatus?” Bree asked.
“Kaz is a nickname,” Chase waved.
Kaz didn’t tell Oliver that until they were fifteen.
“All of you are annoying,” Douglas lovingly pointed out. “Go to the store at some point today. I’ll put a list in your chips.”
“Why can’t you?” Bree pouted.
“Because I slave over the stove to make homecooked meals three times a day for all the good little boys and girls who don’t get on my fucking nerves.”
They saluted.
~*~
“The buffoon finally sent it,” a deep voice rumbled, a large figure shadowed by a golden throne and low-light torches. “You know what you must do.”
Reese raised her head from where she knelt. A smirk played on her lips. “Of course, father.”