Splash Goes the Hydra! (Open: HIVE)

Takeaway run.

Like most teenagers, the H.I.V.E. kids couldn't do without a good meal of fast food. In this respect, the location was not so great. Pooling resources, the majority of them made a group thing of it and took turns in collecting the grub from some run-down abandoned joint at the docks on mainland. The delivery mens couldn't very well be given the address of the actual Academy, after all.

The takeaway run this time was being undertaken by Hugh, who was less enthused by the prospect of pizza when faced with the amount of food he'd have to bring back. Figures that the number of contributors would have doubled from last week. He bet those same people would suddenly feel 'not hungry' when it came to be their turn to collect. The temptation to order Nix to teleport over in his stead was great, but she had made herself scarce, as usual.

He stood on a tetris block now next to the lift exit. Pix began to float out over the ocean when he spotted a head bobbing about the water. Upon closer inspection it appeared to be one of those newer students. Hydra. Yeesh, who'd want to swim on a day like this? Might as well ask. There was no need to rush for the sake of others. He manoeuvred his tetris block down to just above the wave impact surface. Crouching he called out, “Catching a cold?”

Well she wasn't drowning. He'd already saved her hide once being here, he didn't want to make a habit of it. Yet to insinuate she could have been might be taken as an insult. If memory served she controlled water. Oh yeah, and uh, wind. In retrospect this appeared to be a perfect day for her. Definitely one of those outdoor types. Pix would be loathe to even get sand on his shoes, never mind take a dip in the sea.

To his surprise the girl pulled a casual miracle and began to tread waves. Pix couldn't hide his reaction to this ( ) and began to wonder if they'd stepped into an episode of Naruto. Not even Murkro could stand on water. Hugh would have to keep this in mind to taunt the Atlantean with later.

“Me? I'm doing a takeaway run. A couple of us are getting meals delivered to a house on the docks.” If only it was just a 'couple'. Pix could do with some of those meals being sampled before he had to ship the rest back over, “You hungry? I can always tell the guys that they forgot an order of fries. Who's gonna contradict?”

“You're offering help?” (0_0) Well wasn't someone good natured. Pix hadn't heard an offer like that since last he saw Fissure. But that guy had an excuse, being ex-Titan and all. Altruism was inherent for your typical hero. Not easily done away with.

Either way Hydra's reply was highly amusing, “Ha. You must be the class dunce. How about this; I'll let you help me to your heart's content, and won't even tell anybody about it after. Great. Just follow along and try not to save anyone from drowning on the way.”

He turned his back on her and continued to levitate over the ocean surface. They'd hit shore in a few minutes so there was no need to rush. Hugh's pace was almost lackadaisical, “So. Who're you modelling your supervillain career after?”

The implication side-swiped Pix in a way that literally almost made him lose his balance. Hugh caught himself on his Tetris block before sighing, “Fanboyism? Thanks.” () That's what he needed. His peers thinking he was a screaming ninny when it came to some big time villain. When in reality it was really more of a respect thing. Though he should probably keep those newspaper articles of exploits out of Hydra's sight. Kick them under his bed or something.

“The person that I respectfully acknowledge most is probably Black Mask. I mean have you heard how this guy operates? He runs a whole criminal circus in the city protected by the 'World's Greatest Detective', that's gotta take massive doing. This one time he-” (^_^) Pix caught himself before he could get into an entire monologue and prove Hydra correct. Recomposing, he continued, “You get the picture. I also enjoy seeing Killer Frost's work, but for completely different reasons. How can you say you want to be a villain and not at least admire some of these masters' work?”

“Oh come on.” Pix rolled his eyes, “It's a turn of phrase. You didn't have to take it literally.” Damn smart-alecks, she was giving him the run around. Only Hugh was allowed to be obnoxiously impudent based on wording. Unless she invented some super-manure, she wasn't going to be the next Poison Ivy.

Continuing on into the philosophies she admired, Pix tried his best to ignore. He was a rampant defender of H.I.V.E. ideals, perhaps even a little naïve in doing so. It was just too difficult to deal with people when considering their future affiliations, he avoided giving any serious credit to the issue. A result that found him surprisingly trusting.

“I strongly disagree with you there. Short of falling in love with one of those Titan creeps, I don't imagine any of us will turn tail any time soon. That's the mindset we have to have. Didn't Fissure tell you what he was doing before he joined us? He was a Teen Titan, one of their best. We couldn't work with someone like that if we kept his origins in the forefront of our mind.”

They were at the docks now, shortly passing on to land where Pix would slow down and step off his transport. With a less serious sentiment he finished off, “So unless you're crushing on Static, I suggest we drop the subject. You two would make a terrible couple anyway. That kinda relationship could be deadly for the both of you.”

Pix put both hands over his ears as Hydra continued, "I said subject dropped. As touching as that is to hear, I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear it." The sprite-man headed off across cobbled steps to a zone of cottage houses and chain-link fencing. While the establishments were habitable, no activity seemed to take place across the quiet sea-front. Summer homes then, and with Summer on the way, the H.I.V.E. kids would have to find some other way to access their fast-food menu.

Pix took out a key and pointed to the far cottage, "We won't be waiting long now." He mumbled more to himself. Passing a look back over Hydra he relented that he had to continue some form of conversation, "Tell me. What brought you to H.I.V.E.? I can't imagine you hanging out in shadier circles. Present company excluded."

Fiddling with the lock now, Hugh found it tough going. Damp weather had obviously saturated the wood and caused it to expand in its frame. The world needed more sliding doors like H.I.V.E. had. No need for a stubborn lock. Just automatic convenience, and key-code entry. That was the way of the future, not forcing your shoulder into the letterbox to provide leverage.

"A foreigner? Oh, I didn't know they had meta-humans in the 'not here' place. Europistan, right?" At that moment he stumbled into the hallway. Yanking the key out, Pix transformed back into his human form. Feet scraped across the welcome mat before both shoes were thrown into a nearby corner, "Make yourself at home. If you want I can get you a towel to... Ah, you wind-dried. Never mind."

Heading straight over to the television, Pix plugged the wide-screen in and slumped across two sofa seats. They shouldn't be waiting long, but getting comfy was his prerogative here. No one said he had to diligently stand by the doorway, "Oi. Find me the remote. I want to see what's on the news."