Chapter Text
Waking up on a Thursday morning was an interesting thing for Scar. He and Jellie were very much not early risers, preferring to laze in bed until they actually needed to be up. So he wasn't entirely thrilled that today was one of the days he was scheduled to go into the office early in the morning.
Scar lay in bed contemplating everything and nothing, procrastinating getting up really. His mind wasn’t on anything in particular, he was just enjoying sitting with his cat while the sun barely filtered in the room, clearing his mind.
His peaceful moment was so rudely interrupted by a quick knock before his roommate and best friend, Grian bursts in without waiting for an answer.
"Come on, Scar. I can see you're awake. Don't make me come jump on you," Grian joked. "I've got breakfast on the stove. Some simple eggs and toast to get moving?" He said the words in a singsong tone, trying to entice Scar into getting up.
Unfortunately it was working, because Scar could never turn down a good breakfast. Rather reluctantly, he gathered himself and willed his body to start moving. He shifted along the bed and maneuvered down into his wheelchair, scaring Jellie who ran off at the first sign of movement much to his disappointment. As soon as he saw that Scar was moving, Grian disappeared back to the kitchen too. Scar figured he might as well follow to get the breakfast he was promised. Breakfast first, getting ready for the day afterwards.
The sound of sizzling at the stove and some quiet humming from Grian was pleasantly calming to Scar even on a morning where he'd rather be in bed. Rolling into the room, Scar enjoyed the atmosphere as he approached his roommate.
"Well good morning, Grian. And good morning to you too, Jellie!" He leaned down and picked her up to give some morning pets. "G! Did you say good morning to Jellie too?" Scar asked, turning her around to face the other, who was still focused on the stove. Grian fondly rolled his eyes before turning to Jellie, who was sitting very politely in Scar's lap.
"Good morning Jellie," He said while petting the cat who purred from the attention. Satisfied with Grian’s actions, Scar left the kitchen while he waited for breakfast to be done.
Times like these were always strange. They were together and feeling each other's company with a peaceful air. It was so different from their relationship at work. The contrast hurt sometimes, but Scar found it best to just sit with whatever was happening. If he paid too much attention to the consistency of their relationship, he would never get to enjoy the comfortable moments like this.
Well, Scar did mean to get breakfast before getting ready for the day. But Grian had lied and it wasn’t ready, so he figured he’d at least get dressed now. He gently set Jellie on the bed and made sure she was comfortable before turning to his wardrobe. They don't put on hero suits until it's time to go out on duty, so in the morning it's some simple pants and a decent shirt. Nothing fancy but some simple office clothes.
Seriously, why did they need him in the office to do paperwork? He could easily do it from home with his laptop and a cup of coffee and most importantly his cat. Send Grian, Scar laughed. He can do it for me.
“You’d do paperwork with me, right Jellie?” Scar asked as he stuffed his hero jacket into his bag. Jellie said nothing, on the account of being a cat, but she did sneeze very cutely so Scar would talk that as a yes. “Aww, thank you Jellie!” he fawned. “You’re the best!” He scooped her up and deposited her back on his lap. Then he slung his backpack onto the back of his wheelchair and rolled back to the kitchen to see if breakfast was finally ready.
“Did you pack my bag too?” Grian asked eagerly when he saw Scar enter the room.
“No…” Scar said. “You can do that yourself, I’m going to eat breakfast.” Grian scoffed, but set a plate down at Scar’s spot at the table despite it. Grian’s chair scraped as he pulled it out and sat down, he was still wearing his pajamas and his hair was unbrushed.
“Do you think Timmy figured out how to make Gem spill her coffee yet?” Grian asked conversationally as they started to eat.
“Aww, don’t be mean to Gem!” Scar complained. “What has she ever done to you or Jimmy?”
Grian chuckled. “It’s funny because he can’t do it! He’s been trying for weeks and he still can’t make her do more than accidentally leave something at her desk!”
Scar shook his head, “Gem’s just so strong that Jimmy can’t hurt a hair on her head.” Jimmy’s ability involved controlling his own luck and “influencing” (his words, not Scar’s) others' luck. As of late he has been trying to make another one of their coworkers, Gem, spill her coffee, which Scar thought was very rude. But he hadn’t succeeded yet so Gem was safe for now.
As the two of them finished eating, Grian left to get himself changed and grab his own work bag. The pair said their goodbyes to Jellie for the day before heading out to catch the train. The walk to the station was relatively easy, but once they were there they had to do a bit of weaving around to get onto the platform. There were just not enough wheelchair accessible locations, Scar sighed. The one ramp up to the platform was– annoyingly– on the complete opposite side that they needed to get on.
Despite the annoying path though, Grian walked with him. He claimed that they had been doing this for so long that it would be weird for him to use the stairs. When they were out together he automatically went for ramps instead of steps just because he knew Scar was behind him. It was sweet, but it also meant that they both had to rush to get on the train before it left.
But they made it on, and wormed their way to a wheelchair spot. Grian plopped himself down in the seat next to Scar’s little alcove and leaned over to him so they could chat at a quiet volume during the ride. Oh routine, routine. Walk, train, walk again, then work. Scar couldn’t wait.
– –
Their building for their section of the Official Heroes Guild wasn’t anything huge or flashy. Stepping into the lobby felt like any other office building for a big city, some open space, seating arrangements, and a front desk to check in with. They took the elevator up to the 12th floor, where the standard office spaces were for groups of heroes. On the other floors were things like workshops for equipment, training areas, communal spaces, and medical facilities. Their office floor wasn’t special but the more modern design and open space wasn’t anything to scoff at either.
The main room held a table big enough to seat everyone in their group as well as some simple kitchen appliances and a couch in the corner. From that room were small separate offices for most of them, except Grian and Scar were given a big room to share as partners. Windows allowed view into these side spaces, they had blinds but those were often pulled up.
Upon arriving at the office, Grian immediately felt the distinct urge to cause some mischief. Especially when he saw the friend they were talking about that morning, Jimmy. Oh perfect, a classic.
Grian sprinted ahead of Scar to get in the office quietly. He moved into position, hopping up on the desk chair behind his friend and coworker, The Sheriff. Grian waited for the perfect moment before striking. Jimmy let out a screech as Grian tackled his shoulders, wings flapping behind him.
“Grian!” He yelled with no real anger.
The man in question giggled, “Good morning, Tim!”
“You know you're not supposed to flap your wings that much around the office! You're going to blow the papers away,” The other avian hero reminded him.
“It's fine, it was just a small bit!” Grian said with a smug look still plastered to his face.
Scar entered just in time to see the taller man get jumped and rolled up to the two friends. “Morning Jimmy! Wonderful day isn’t it?”
“No! Scar, it’s not! Nine in the morning and I’ve already gotten tackled!”
The famed hero Hotguy simply shook his head with a smile, “ah well, live and lie, as they say.”
“Are you sure that’s the phrase–” Grian was cut off as Scar wheeled past them to greet his other co-workers.
“Well hello Mr. B-Double-Oh! How are you this morning?” Scar called out with a big grin. How the man with this much energy was the same one who was dragging his way out of bed to slump at the table earlier that morning, Grian will never know. His hero partner moved through the office each time they came in with a bright laugh and plans to make his friends and colleagues smile. No one complained about his lively conversation, even first thing in the morning. Scar makes the office air lighter effortlessly.
“SCAR!” Bdubs bounded over to meet Scar. Their friend, known by many as the hero Scout, was similar to Scar in how he eased the tension in the office. Though, Grian wasn’t sure it was as intentional as Scar’s jovial attitude was. “Scar, listen, Gem is going to come in and say I messed up the papers on her desk. DON’T BELIEVE HER!” The shorter man was frantically waving his arms in front of the other man.
Unfortunately for Bdubs, Grian and Scar saw Gem enter the room as he was yelling for Scar to believe him. The hero known as Fantasia looked none too pleased with her colleague, and if the papers scattered in the room behind her were anything to go by, it was for good reason.
“Bdubs. I was in the room when you did it.” She leveled him with a look, “Even if he believed you, Scar couldn’t save you.”
Bdubs let out what he likely claims was a very manly squeal, in fear of the wrath of Gem. He darted out into the hallway, but everyone else stepped out of Gem’s way, understanding that Bdubs fleeing was futile.
“Well I don’t know when we’ll be seeing him again.” Grian turned back to the table and saw another of their colleagues smirking at the early morning shenanigans.
Martyn, the hero Sentinel, stood over the table already wearing his hero suit. Dark green armor plating with red and gold accents build up his brand of being a guard for the people. He uses the bulk to his advantage, building his intimidating presence while not letting it slow down his movement. Actually, how Martyn managed to stay so swift and agile with that armor is a mystery to Grian. The CuteGuy hero suit is both loose and fitted to be light and maneuverable, trying to fly and fight with anything slightly bulky makes the avian feel weighed down.
“Martyn!” Jimmy called out, “Could you help get this bird off my back?!” Grian had once again attached himself to Jimmy’s back.
“Come on, Tim,” Grian responded from his position around the other’s shoulders, “you say that like your own wings aren't getting squished at this exact moment.”
“Grian’s right, Jim,” Martyn responded teasingly, “Awful rude to insult your fellow bird like that.”
Jimmy let out a groan of frustration before wiggling free of Grian’s grasp. He stepped out of the man’s reach, “Okay, now really, I need to get ready to go out. I bet Lizzie is already frustrated and waiting for me outside.”
Grian teased Jim, childishly dragging out his words, “Ooooooh Tim’s in trouble with the boss!”
“No! I’m not in trouble and also she isn’t my boss!”
Martyn hummed in response, “I don’t know Jim, she might as well be sometimes.” Scar nodded along in sage agreement. Jimmy didn’t seem like putting up with it anymore, the hero huffed and walked out to the lockers.
“So The Sheriff and Bright Star are first to go out this morning?” Grian asked Martyn. Sentinel was in charge of communication with the higher ups, they dished out assignments for who did what routes and when.
“Yep,” he replied. “If all goes smoothly, Bdubs and Gem will follow up, then us three separate to cover the evening and night routes.” Their times were planned out but every hero in their group stayed on call as backup for their sector.
Scar hummed in thought. He spared a glance at his desk, scattered with papers, before turning back towards the door they entered from. “Is Cub in his laboratory?”
“It's just a separate office, why do you always call it a lab–” Martyn cut himself off with a sigh. “Yeah he's back there. Don't bother him too much. You know they had him in here much earlier than necessary.”
“I would never bother!” Scar replied with a smile and full intent to bother his close friend. “I just need to greet my fellow colleagues this morning!”
Before Grian or Martyn could try to save Cub, Scar was already out the door. Grian turned back to Martyn, noting how the man looked tired this morning. More tired than any full time hero typically is, at least. He wasn’t exactly working only full time since he took over a lot of responsibilities from their former colleague, Xisuma. The whole office would jump at the opportunity to help him in even the smallest way because of it. “Looks like it's just us for the moment.” Grian said.
The two sat in relative silence for a while, doing their individual work. At some point Gem returned with Bdubs in tow, ready to make the responsible party clean up his mess. Scar didn't return to complete his work for an hour, at which point it was obvious he only returned because their resident healer, Cub, simply known as Agent, kicked him out.
It was a little while before anything happened. Jimmy and Lizzie's patrol was almost over meaning it was almost time for Scout and Fantasia to get ready. Martyn must have jinxed it when he said ‘if all goes smoothly’ earlier, Grian thought to himself as an explosion rang out. Every hero stood quickly, trying to see if it was visible from their windows.
Not too far, there was smoke rising out from a level of a smaller office building. The hero duo of Hotguy and CuteGuy shot towards the locker room to go assist Sheriff and Bright Star.
Martyn called out after them both, “Don't get hurt! Think of Cub!” After that very helpful note he tacked on, “Also I'll get any details I can for you!”
They both changed quickly into their suits. A fitted black, orange and blue piece with knee high boots and archery gloves that matched was the iconic suit everyone knew for HotGuy. CuteGuy wore a fitted pink and white shirt with an open back, loose black pants, and long black gloves. Once they were ready, Scar got on his braces and Grian stretched his wings to fly, they ran outside. Preparing themselves to face whoever decided to blow out the floor of an office building.