Tony walked through his personal lab. He looked over the file that Phil Coulson had left for him, as he had done several times. Everything was just so mind boggling. The New Mexico incident, the Mutant Riot, Superman, Supergirl, and this project AVENGERS. He took a sip of his drink, then leaned over his holodesk, combing through the recent news coverage of a man with a glowing green aura stopping a car in mid air as it crashed through a barricade on a bridge.
"These guys keep popping up, but no one can explain it. Where are they getting their powers from?" Tony muttered. "Why do they keep disappearing?"
"Perhaps that is the purpose of the secret identity?" JARVIS replied.
"I don't need any lip from you, JARVIS. I need to understand all of this," Tony groaned. "How can I be a ring leader for a gang of freaks that could potentially bring an end to the human population with the flick of their wrists?"
"I believe the word you're looking for is: Consultant," JARVIS corrected. "And I believe Director Fury's exact words were quite clear. Advise for corrections, not lead the team."
"What better way to make corrections than to take control?" Tony asked as he pulled up specs for upgrades to his Iron Man armor.
"And if your request is denied, Sir?" JARVIS asked, met by the chagrin of Tony.
"No one tells me no," Tony stated with a devious grin.
"That's actually insane," Jenn looked at Steph in disbelief. "You are legally insane."
"I know," Steph said with a grin.
"You know when Batman finds out you're texting Robin," Jenn started.
"If," Steph interjected as Jenn rolled her eyes.
"When Batman finds out he's going to kill you, and Mick for letting you text him," Jenn finished.
"Oh ye of little confidence," Steph spun around as she looked at her phone. "When has the threat of death ever concerned anything I do? If anything, it makes it that much hotter! It's like Romeo and Juliet, the forbidden lovers." She added more sass to her words than a person should be allowed.
"You do know they both kill themselves, right?" Jake grunted from the couch, Alex chuckling and nodding.
"Spoilers, jerk," Steph grunted then threw a pillow at Jake. "Besides, we're just friends, for now," she winked.
"Yeah, he's going to be so smitten by your crazy he won't know what to do," Alex scoffed. "Except run." Jake burst out laughing, high-fiving Alex.
"Keep joking hotshot," Steph glared. "They're about as sad as your love life." Jenn and Steph then high-fived as they walked toward Steph's room.
Mick sat on the balcony with Spencer while she sipped her coffee. It was rare that he ever sat alone with her. Typically when she got involved with him, it was for an intervention, but he wasn't sure what he could've done that would cause her to intervene. Thankfully she still had a full cup, so he had time to contemplate.
"I have a favor," Spencer surprised him, breaking the silence between them.
"You don't ask me for favors," Mick said hesitantly. "Where's the body, and how big of a profile?"
"Shut up Bellouve," Spencer rolled her eyes. "It's too early for your man-child banter."
"Man-child?" Mick folded his arms and pouted, goading her even more.
"Do you remember my friend Samantha Lane?" Mick perked up hearing that name. "She's coming in tonight. She's fresh off a break up, and she makes terrible decisions when left to her own devices."
"And you want me to be her terrible decision?" Mick smirked, acting suave and brushing his hair from his face.
"Oh, no," Spencer gagged. "I want you to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid."
"So you want me to babysit Samantha like she's one of the kids?" Mick raised his brow. "And if she says no?"
"Then be that usual annoying thorn in my side," Spencer said with a sweet smile.
"You know, I really don't appreciate being used like this," Mick grumbled as he slumped back in the chair, looking out at the horizon. "Especially not when we have history."
"Mick that was twelve years ago," Spencer sat down looking at him sternly. "She didn't even recognize you at my wedding. Whatever history you think you had, clearly wasn't that big of a deal to her."
Mick clenched his fist and his jaw. Those words stung. It didn't make it any less true. He kicked up from the chair, jumping from the balcony just to escape. The wind rushed through his hair, tee, and gym shorts, the scenery blurred around him, then he slung his arms out to slow his momentum, then a web line, swinging away from the building. He'd come back once he'd calmed down. He'd had enough reality for one morning.
"That must've gone really well," Patten said as he slid open the balcony door.
"I know he's your friend, but he has to grow up," Spencer sighed as she picked up her coffee cup.
"Surprisingly, he has," Patten fixed in the chair Mick had been in before sitting down.
Mick slid down the fire escape, down to the streets. He slipped into the crowd, ignoring the chill of fall in the air. The crowds were surprisingly thin for a Saturday morning, probably because of everyone traveling for College Game Day featuring the Volunteers and the Crimson Tide. It worked, because he didn't want to speak to anyone, he didn't want to rescue anyone. All he wanted was to hit something.
His phone buzzed, it was the itinerary from Spencer, showing that Samantha would be in around 5pm. He shook his head then shoved the phone back in his pocket. He bumped into a rather muscular man wearing a pair of slacks and a button down. "Sorry, I didn't see you," Mick paused when he noticed the face of the man. "Ward?"
"Bellouve?" Ward looked him over. "What, did you sleep in a web hammock or something?"
"Huh?" He looked down at himself, then frowned. "Let me guess, you have an assignment for me or something?"
"Or something," Ward said plainly. "Not here for you at all. Tripp grabbed tickets for the Vols game, there's no hotels in 25 miles of Knoxville."
"Why are you so dressed up then?" Mick looked at Ward skeptically.
"Classified," Tripp walked out of the door behind Ward, wearing a playful expression. "Or at least that's what I'm calling her."
"Wow," Mick said as Tripp laughed. "Same old Tripp."
"Nah, it wasn't really anything special. Few drinks, couple steaks. Much needed night off."
"I wish I knew what that was like," Mick huffed.
"No one said you have to be a vigilante," Ward said bluntly.
"But the city is a better place for it," Tripp added.
"I wish everyone felt that way," Mick said as Tripp patted his shoulders.
"Can't please 'em all. Just gotta do what you can," he said as Mick nodded. "Oh, not sure how close you special people are, but Daisy Johnson's on leave."
"Really?" Mick looked at Ward, questioning without words.
"She's not talking to me, hasn't been for months since she broke things off," Ward said as Mick ran his hands over his face. Everything was changing without him. No one was telling him anything. Was that because he was so stuck in the past?
"We should catch up again," Tripp said as Mick nodded. "But we've gotta get on the other side of Nashville before traffic gets crazy."
"Good luck," Mick said with a half baked smile.
He walked down the streets of Eagle Crest, his phone in hand. He scrolled down looking at Daisy's contact. Davis always teased they were more, but they were friends back at the S.H.I.E.L.D. Academy. Back when it was Jemma, Fitz, Patten, Jerren, Davis, and himself. The memories washed over him…
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
August 2007
Mick walked up to the picnic table where his friends sat outside the cafeteria. Fitz had a notebook full of scribbles, most of it looked to be gibberish, outside of a few pictures. One looked like a motherboard, one looked like some kind of atom structure, and one looked indecipherable. Jemma on the other hand was reading a hefty book, with a word Mick couldn't comprehend other than the -ology on the end. The two were picking at the snacks on their plates, Davis was beside the table kicking his hacky sack back and forth with Pat. Jerren was comparing his notes with Fitz and the two were talking in such a high degree of techno jargon Mick didn't even try to follow.
It was then a new girl walked up, her hair medium length dark brown hair matching her brown eyes, she looked to be asian decent. She had inhibitor bands on both wrists, which was oddly the first thing that caught Mick's eyes. As she walked past them, both Mick and Davis watched her. Each one for different reasons.
"Dang she's hot," Davis gawked as the hacky sack fell to the ground.
"She's Meta," Mick stated.
"How do you figure?" Davis broke his gaze from the girl as she entered the building.
"Those bands on her wrists," Mick said as Davis shook his head.
"You were looking at her wrists?" Davis seemed taken back. "Dude, she's absolutely gorgeous! I'm gonna get her number."
"You won't," Jemma stated bluntly.
"Watch me," he scoffed as he stalked off after the girl…
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 2007
"Daisy, that's a pretty name," Mick said as the two sat down on a hill overlooking the training facility. "Like the flower, or the duck if you prefer."
"Yeah," she said with a grin. "I really appreciate you being so nice to me about all of this."
"Unwanted powers suck. People who treat you like you're a freak because of them suck worse," Mick looked off in the distance. "It's not like you asked for this life."
"Actually, I kind of expected it," Daisy said softly. "My mom was an open inhuman. She had powers that would let her heal herself, which was all good and great until her murderer snapped her neck and shot my dad in cold blood. I wore my mom's old terrigen crystal necklace. I guess you can say I was very surprised when it broke as the monster tried to steal it. Woke up with a killer headache and the power to send vibrations from my body."
"That's pretty rough," Mick said as Daisy leaned her head on her knees. "I'm really sorry."
"Agent May and Agent Coulson suggested you could help me, said you had some experience with this," Daisy said as she looked over at Mick.
"More than I like to admit," Mick grumbled…
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 2008
Daisy swung her arm forward, a powerful blast slammed into the wood target in the training facility. The center splintered then the pulse stopped. "Not bad Agent Johnson," Agent Coulson clapped as he stepped down from the viewing area. "And you're getting top marks in your training as well."
"Thanks," Daisy said as Coulson smiled.
"I think you're as ready as you're going to get. We have a special mission for you, we can talk more about it in my office," Coulson stated softly as Mick walked down the stairs.
"Good job," he said as Daisy smiled and hugged him. "I knew you could control it."
"Thanks to you helping me," she kept a hand on his shoulder.
"Nah, that's all raw talent. All I did was just encourage you," Mick said warmly.
"Agent Johnson," May called as Daisy looked between May and Mick.
"Go, it's not often we get to hang out with them," Mick said as Daisy nodded…
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 2008
"So you don't want to join the Secret Warriors?" Coulson asked as Mick sulked in the chair across from him in his office.
"I can't control my powers," Mick said somberly. He lifted his hands, showing the sparks flickering across his fingertips.
"I don't think it's that," Coulson said with a frown. "I think you're just terrified of growing up. It's something we all do one day. You can't run from this forever."
"I can't-" Mick started to repeat as a tear fell down his cheek.
"I know," Coulson said with remorse. "I'll let you stay in the Academy a little longer, but this is it. You can't keep hiding from the real world, especially not here. You signed up to protect the world, not hide from it."
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present day…
The blaring car horns, sounds of the city coming to life, tore Mick from his memories. He looked across the city, of course it was someone playing on their phone at a light. His eyes darted back to his own phone. Coulson's words still echoing in his ears. "You signed up to protect the world, not hide from it."
It was true, and that's what he'd been striving for since being pushed from the nest. That's why Coulson encouraged him to start the Outcasts, continue working with his team, even if they weren't always together. Then Jamie Jones' untimely passing put Jake in with Pat, Mick rescued Steph and Alex, then Sally and her family moved to town revealing that she's Mick's cousin and forging a weak family bond between him and her family, bringing Jenn into the Outcasts.
This whole being an adult, a hero, a broken human being, it was hard. Harder than anyone ever prepared him for. Everything in him wanted to run and hide, escape from all of this. Sit in his apartment and drink his problems away, play games until something comes up. Be one of the teenagers again. Was that really the reason he valued them over everyone else? Because he was living through them? Still stuck in the past, terrified to move forward and see what could be?
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jerren parked his car, looking up at the sprawling LuthorCorp building. Today was going to be a long day. While most undercover missions with S.H.I.E.L.D. had you in fun places, like Dubai or Tahiti, his specific line of work had him in places like this. He'd been on this mission for the last few months, working to uncover the underhanded lab work that Lex had been involved in. Sure it was slow, it made him feel gross, but that was part of being undercover. He had to live the part to gain access to the bigger things.
So far, he hadn't seen anything illegal. Sketchy at best, but nothing that could pin Luthor like the intel suggested. What Jerren couldn't figure out was LuthorCorp's obsession with gathering the kryptonite crystals. Sure, they made big leafy crops, but they wilted quickly as well. Thankfully there hadn't been any consumption, yet. The big project he was working toward, the one that S.H.I.E.L.D. sent him after Project Deep Blue. Whoever leaked it to S.H.I.E.L.D., mentioned a blue glowing energy device that had devastating effects. Maybe it was a type of kryptonite, but as of now, he was very much in the dark.
"Hey, Bennet!" Jason Teiger, a dark skinned man, rather buff stature called out as Jerren looked over and nodded. He was a colleague, another lab tech. He was the one mentoring Jerren when he started this whole thing.
"How's it going Jason?" Jerren asked.
"I had a guy quit on me," Jason started. "So I have an opening on my team, if you're interested. Not that agricultural crap, but more fun tech. More experimental."
"Really?" Jerren smirked, raising his brow as Jason nodded. "What kind of tech?"
"Flight suits, weapons, you know, changing the game for the boots on the ground," Jason said to Jerren's intrigue. That would be much closer to the kind of things they were looking for.
"Count me in," Jerren said.
"I knew I could," Jason fist bumped Jerren. "Got some papers to fill out, then I'll come get you. Just make sure your stuff is ready to move."
"Will do," Jerren nodded as they walked into the building.
Mick walked into the apartment, pizza boxes strewn across the counter. He laughed to himself, then shook his head. Of course they forgot to clean up last night before they met him out on patrol. He started bagging up the trash, then took a shower and shaved. With his shorts on, he stood at the window, looking out over the city. His phone buzzed.
Kids went to crash at Sally's, Spence and I went to pick up Samantha. If you can, meet us back at our place and be ready to go to dinner. I hope you're ok. Mick turned back towards his room. He looked at his closet, there hung his black, more tactical, Recluse gear with the silver spider emblem and trim. Beside it was a few button downs, a few graphic tees, and four pairs of blue jeans.
Once dressed, a blue button down, light blue ripped jeans, he turned to his hair. A quick brush, and his bangs dropped over his right eye. Showtime, Mick groaned.
Mick sat at the bar, having already fixed a shot for himself while waiting for the Brents' return. The door opened, Spencer looking quite displeased to see Mick lifting his glass to her. He drank as soon as he laid eyes on Samantha. Something had to put these memories to rest, she didn't remember him, but that didn't make any sense…
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 2005
Thunder clapped as a frantic family burst through the oaken front doors. Mick found himself peeking down at the family along with several other students; Bobby, John, Anna, and Jubi. The franticness in the mother's voice, clearly meant the powers were very new. The calmness in Professor Xavier's voice did little to quell the panic though.
"Inhuman or Mutant?" John asked, looking back at the crowd on the balcony.
"If you'd hush we could hear," John muttered.
"It's just a friendly bet," John said with a playful grin. "We've had a good mix of both here lately."
"Poor girl," Anna said in her thick southern manner. "I bet she's terrified right now."
"I wonder where she's from," Jubi asked as Mick kept looking down, it was then she looked up at him, her green eyes, her highlighted light brown hair. The connection was made. He smiled, the thunder roared, and the girl looked away.
"I just hope her family doesn't abandon her like ours have with us," Mick said as they all agreed.
—-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 4 2005
Mick sat with Sam laid on the roof of the sprawling mansion. Fireworks lighting up the sky above them, yet Mick never took his eyes off her. Something about her kept his attention, she drew him in. This inhuman girl, her powers much like Iceman, she made him feel like he was at home.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Sam asked as Mick tilted his head, smiling dumbly.
"Like what?" He played dumb. He knew exactly why. He was smitten by her.
"Like your whole world revolves around me," Sam said with a slight grin.
"Would it bother you if it did?" Mick asked, their eyes locked. Every muscle in him screamed kiss her.
"I don't know," Sam's hair fell in her face, he could see she was nervous. He quickly took the hint, laying back on his arms and looking at the sky.
"I like you," Mick said plainly.
"I know," Sam said, laying on his chest. "I like you too, and that's what scares me."
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 2005
Mick and Sam stood together in the doorway, her father standing just outside. He couldn't believe this. She was leaving. No one ever left this place, why was she leaving now?
"Please just tell them no," Mick pleaded.
"I can't," her voice was hoarse, tears streaming down her face. "They said they found a way to make it work. I can live my normal life."
"What about us?" Mick asked as Sam clutched his hands.
"I'll never forget you," she said, then turned toward the door.
—---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Present day
The words hung in his mind as he stared at her. The way she looked at him, she clearly had no idea who he was, just like Spencer said. Ten years passed, and those words didn't mean nearly as much to her as they did him. But watching her on Youtube, following her career into the Daily Planet, the one thing that never made sense to him was what exactly happened to her powers? He searched SHIELD's database for anyone in Metropolis with ice powers, yet nothing came up. Just what happened to her in those ten years?
"So you must be Mick," Samantha walked across the room, extending her hand to Mick who nodded as he reluctantly shook her hand. No inhibitor bracelet, normal looking earrings, Mick felt himself analyzing everything.
"Can't believe everything Spencer might have told you about me," he said, keeping eye contact with her, searching for anything that might give him a sign on why she forgot him like this.
"She said you're a fairly nice guy," Sam said, looking at him with a skeptical smile. "Your voice sounds familiar. Have we spoken before?"
"I was at their wedding," Mick said as Sam nodded.
"I don't remember much from that night," Sam said, biting her lip.
"I remember you dancing on the bar, and then you fell in the pool and jumping in to pull you back out," Mick said before taking another sip of his drink.
"That was you?" Sam asked as she looked at Spencer and Pat who both shrugged. "I just remember being so mad my boyfriend at the time bailed on me."
Mick nodded. He remembered that. Davis had an army assignment, he was only allowed to be at the wedding. "Who's ready for sushi?" Spencer interrupted the reminiscing.
"I'm starving," Sam said as Mick stood up from the barstool, stretching.
"We talked about this," Spencer softly warned Mick as he walked to the door.
"I'm just being nice," Mick hissed.
"Can you believe he's ditching us for that Samantha girl?" Steph barked as she paced around Jenn's room.
"He's been pining over her for how long now?" Jenn rolled her eyes, as Jake pulled his feet from Steph's warpath.
"What about that Cat-lady he was all secretive about?" Alex asked, knowing that would send Steph over the edge. She froze in place, her eyes narrowed, then her gaze shot to her brother.
"We don't talk about that jezebelle," Steph growled. "Even Barbara doesn't like that Mick spent time with her."
"I don't think I'm ever getting over the fact that you talk about these people like you know them," Jake shook his head.
"He might try and make a move on her," Alex snickered. "They do supposedly have history."
"Oh no! No-no-no!" Steph winced. "No more of that in our house. We have to break this up."
"What?" Jake and Jenn both looked horrified. Alex on the other hand seemed quite intrigued by this change of pace.
"How do you plan on doing that?" Alex pried, as if he was the taunting little demon on her shoulder against the direction of Jake and Jenn.
"Bad idea, we'll be in so much trouble!" Jake tried to argue, only for Alex to shove him backwards on Jenn's bed.
"We crash their little date," Steph said, clapping a fist in her hand. "We can say it was an emergency. Someone got hurt?" Her eyes then turned to Jake who looked mortified. A devilish grin spread ear to ear.
"How about we not," Jake slumped backwards as Jenn stepped between the two.
"Let's just start by spying on them, surely we can put this training to good use without causing too much of a scene," she said to Steph and Alex's dismay.
"Killjoy," Steph grunted as Jenn shook her head and laughed.
"We can cause a scene if the date looks like it's going too well," Jenn whispered, causing Steph to fist pump.
Mick held the door, watching as Sam passed by with a playful smile, Spencer more weary. He laughed internally every time he caught her glare. She was sure he was up to something. He sat next to Pat, that way Spencer wouldn't be so suspicious of his actions. The small talk led to Mick revealing he watched Sam's show, which surprised her. Then things took a sharper turn when Spencer tried to take the wind from Mick's sails by asking Sam's opinion on the superheroes.
"It's both amazing and terrifying that people have those kinds of powers," Sam said as Mick looked at her curiously "I mean, can you imagine what it would be like to be able to do some of those things?"
"Saving people, doing what you can to make the world a better place, that's got to be good, right?" Mick asked, glaring at Spencer who seemed to smirk as if she checkmated him. "It can't be all that bad, you and Lois interviewed a few guys with powers, like Superman and Recluse to name a few."
"Superman," Sam took a deep breath and smiled. "That guy is something else. Alien who fights for the American ideals; truth, justice and happiness. It's just surreal, considering we don't even fight for that ourselves. We let people like Lex Luthor and Tony Stark divide us."
Mick wasn't surprised she didn't say a thing about Recluse, after all, Superman does things around Metropolis all the time. "What would you do if you had powers?" he asked as Spencer's eyes widened.
"I don't know," Sam said, she seemed to think about it for a few minutes then shrugged. "I used to dream that I had ice powers, that I could skate around all the time, keep myself cool in the summer, make it snow when I wanted, you know, silly things. I don't know how I'd use that to help people though," she explained as Spencer looked quite surprised.
Mick's heart sank. So the memories were there, she just believed they were dreams? His mind reeled. Something had to have happened that suppressed all of her powers as well as her memories of them. A swift kick to his shin pulled him from his wonders.
"I think we need more drinks," Patten said as he looked between Mick and Spencer.
Jenn pulled out the scope, doing her best to skim through all the faces in the restaurant until she saw where Mick and the others were sitting. She used her gymnastic skills to skirt across two rooftops, then used the grapple lines to shimmy across the road side to have a better view.
"Falcon in view of prey," she said into the comms. "Fourth floor, southwest side of the building."
"Southwest? How does that help when I'm the one in the building?" Alex grumbled.
"You don't know your directions, Hawk?" Jake teased as he and Steph slowly made their way to Jenn's location.
"I don't walk around with a compass in my hand all the time, no," Alex snorted. "Left, right, by the wall, by the window, by the elevator. Those things make sense when you're inside."
"Oh, I didn't realize I needed to pull up a schematic of the building so I could give you simple directions, SuperSpy," Jenn said deadpan.
"Look, Princess, you try getting your hands dirty a time or two rather than just sitting behind a screen and we'll talk about simple things," Alex said bitterly.
"I just tightroped across Cedar Avenue, what more do you want from me?" Jenn fussed.
"Oh I could think of a few things," Alex's tone made all three, Jenn, Jake, and Steph grimace.
"Dude she's my sister," Jake replied as Alex chuckled.
"Guys focus," Steph leaned on the edge of the roof, staring into the restaurant watching as Mick and Sam seemed to be getting along too well. "How long before you get into position. They look way too happy. And they're drinking out of wine glasses."
"Oh great, so he'll be drunk too?" Alex groaned. "He just gets to have all the fun tonight doesn't he?"
"Not on my watch he doesn't," Steph snapped.
"Would it really be so bad if he and Sam started dating?" Jake asked, only to back down quickly due to the fierce glare given by Steph. "Got it, change bad."
"Alright, that was the slowest elevator I've ever been on," Alex's voice caught them by surprise, breaking off Steph's glare and turning her focus back to the date.
"Don't see you, Hawk," Steph stated.
"That's because I'm working, duh. If you saw me, so would the Old Man," Alex's smugness clearly annoyed Steph.
Jenn and Steph watched as a waitress almost ran into someone, was dipped down and caught, then pulled back up with gusto. Then the two set drinks on the table. "Stop showing off and flirting with her," Jenn barked.
"Green isn't your color Birdie," Alex teased as he waved a peace sign before tapping his right ear.
"Oh, your brother makes me so mad with that Birdie and Princess crap," Jenn huffed.
"Could be worse," Jake looked at Steph timidly.
"Shut up, you my punches are good for the soul," Steph snarked, then punched Jake in the shoulder, causing him to groan. "Jenn appreciates them," she then tapped Jenn's shoulder with her fist causing Jenn to laugh softly.
"We've got signal now," Jenn said as Steph smiled mischievously.
"What do you do for work?" Sam's eyes were locked on Mick, something about a woman drinking really pushed him to keep his own composure. Sure, he wanted her, but not like this.
"Oh you know, boring stuff," Mick started. "I train kids, do loads of paper work, dress up like a hero, sometimes I travel."
"Oh, so you're a teacher?" she asked as Mick tried to hold back his laughter, despite the snickers from Spencer.
"Sure, we can call it that," Mick shook his head.
"That's really sweet, you don't see a lot of guys doing that now," Sam said, smiling fondly. "What age?"
"Teenagers," Mick blurted out as Patten nudged him, then motioned his eyes to the window behind him. Mick then turned and looked out, unable to see out the window thanks to the glare. He discreetly put two fingers under his eyes, then motioned outwardly, knowing that if Pat's signal was correct, they would get the hint.
"Do you like it?" Sam asked as Mick adjusted the chair trying to make as much noise as he could, realizing they probably tried to plant a bug.
"Sometimes they can be quite the handful," Mick said grumpily.
The table shook, the lights flickered, and Mick's focus went straight to the window. "What was that?" Sam asked as Spencer grabbed her by the arm.
"Not sure," Spencer said looking at Pat and Mick.
"I'll go check it out," Mick said cautiously, as Spencer and Patten nodded.
"Wouldn't it be safer inside?" Sam reached for him, moments too late.
Steph, Jenn, and Jake all spun around looking at the giant plume of smoke rising on the horizon. No one knew what to do. Jenn's phone rang, she scrambled to pull it from her pocket. "Do you have eyes on what caused that?" Mick's calm demeanor brought a great calm to her.
She pulled the scope out, looking outward. "No, looks like a building just went up in flames."
"Where's the rest of the team?"
"I've got BlueJay and Eclipse with me, KnightHawk is somewhere in your vicinity," Jenn replied, not quite sure where Mick was at the moment.
"Radio Hawk, get him to meet up with you on the rooftop. I've got my backup gear in Pat's car. We'll move in together and start trying to rescue the civi's," Jenn then relayed Mick's message to the others.
You could feel the flames two blocks away. Mick halted Jenn, having her set up a makeshift command station. "If you get too hot, get the heck out of there. Yes, saving lives is important, but I'm not willing to lose any of you. Got that?" His eyes shot straight to Stephanie.
"You act like I'm the only reckless one," Steph said with a grin before pulling before tapping her ear. The metallic filter mask wrapped around her face.
"Only one, no? Ringleader, yes. And don't think this takes us away from having a discussion about you four spying on my date with Samantha," Mick said sternly.
"Sorry, can't hear you over the roaring flames!" Steph called back as she sprinted to the edge of the building, then jumped, firing her grapple line from the underside of her wrist.
"Must be static interference or something," Alex motioned as if he couldn't hear, then leaping off the building.
"It was Steph's idea," Jake grunted then his mask slid across his face. He and Mick then sprinted together, leaping off the building to provide support.