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Nick took a deep breath as he looked back at Burrito Jerry. “I was in costume because I’m an Extraordinary. I’m telekinetic and I go by the name Guardian. And it scares the hell out of me to tell you this, but if I’m going to ask for your help, you deserve to know who’s asking.”
Burrito Jerry nodded slowly before motioning for Seth and Nick to step back from the van. They did, and he opened the door, climbing out with a groan, wrappers falling onto the ground. He was a big man, legs strong, the slope of his stomach straining against his shirt. Once standing, he looked Nick up and down before holding out his hand.
Confused, Nick stared at it.
“Come on,” Burrito Jerry said, wiggling his fingers. “Always wanted to shake hands with a real live superhero.”
Nick took the hand that dwarfed his own, and Burrito Jerry jerked it up and down. Once done, he let Nick go and said, “Heard about you, Guardian. You hang out with the fire guy, yeah?”
“That’s me,” Seth said. “Pyro Storm.”
“Whoa,” Burrito Jerry breathed. “ThePyro Storm? It was because of you I get free burritos for life! Put ’er there, pal.” He shook Seth’s hand just as hard. “I can’t believe I just met two Extraordinaries. Holy cow, that’s crazy. And you wantmeto help you? Man oh man, when I woke up this morning, I had a feeling today was going to be different. What do you need me to do?”
That… was easier than he expected it to be. “You believe me?”
Burrito Jerry laughed. “Well, yeah. Why wouldn’t I? Doesn’t seem like something you’d lie about.”
Nick blinked against the burn in his eyes. “I…”
“Oh, hey, you’re all right,” Burrito Jerry said as his expression softened. “Thank you for telling me. I can’t imagine howscary that must have been. That takes guts, Guardian. I promise I won’t let you down. You can count on me.”
Nick sniffled as Seth squeezed his hand. “You’re pretty much the best, Burrito Jerry.”
He puffed out his chest. “Yeah? Coming from someone like you, that means something.” He looked beyond them. “They Extraordinaries, too? Oh, shoot. Don’t know if that’s something I can ask. Sorry, friends. Just a little excited. You know how it is.”
“They are,” Nick said. “In their own way. That’s Gibby.” She waved. “And Jazz.” She smiled. “They’re with us. They always have our backs.”
Burrito Jerry nodded in greeting before looking at Owen. “What about that one?” he asked out of the corner of his mouth, going for subtle and missing by a mile. “Don’t know if I like the looks of that one.”
“Screw you, too,” Owen retorted. “I don’t know what you think you’re doing, but—”
“That’s an asshole,” Nick said. “Owen tried to kill me and my friends.”
Burrito Jerry glared at him. “Not cool. Why try and kill people when you could do other things like read a book or go to a museum?”
“Where did youfindthis guy?” Owen groused.
“Need you to give him a tour of Nova City,” Nick said. “As in-depth as possible. You still got the ropes and bungie cords?”
“Yep,” Burrito Jerry said. “Safety first!”
Nick grinned.
Owen, as it turned out, wasnota fan of being tied up and thrown in a windowless van called Matilda. He struggled, but Nick and Seth held him down while Gibby and Jazz hog-tied him, feet attached to his hands, forcing him to lie on his stomach on the bench seat. A few people stopped and asked what they were doing, and Burrito Jerry told them they weremaking a student film about something near and dear to his heart: stranger danger. “It’ll help keep the kids safe from people who want them to get into a windowless van,” Burrito Jerry explained to a group of tourists who said they were from the Midwest. They nodded, took a couple of pictures, then moved on.
“You think this can hold me?” Owen snarled, outraged. “Itwon’t.”
Nick bent over, face inches from Owen’s. “If you doanythingto Burrito Jerry or Matilda, I’ll deal with you myself. You think you know me, Owen. But trust me when I say you haven’t even begun to see what I’m capable of. If you want us to believe you, if you want us to help you, then you will doexactlywhat Burrito Jerry tells you to.”
“I’ll make you pay for this,” Owen muttered darkly. “Don’t think I won’t.”
“Promises, promises.” He stepped back and slid the door shut as hard as he could.
Burrito Jerry climbed back inside the van, looking back at Owen. “I hope you like ASMR and explanations of the history of every city block. No one knows this town better than I do. But before we begin Burrito Jerry’s Magical Tour of Nova City, can I get your pronouns? I use he/him.”
Owen groaned loudly.
“We’ll let you know where to drop him off,” Jazz said. “Charge us whatever you want, and then add another zero. And if he tries anything, feel free to call us. Especially if you see shadows start to move.”
“I have pepper spray, access to multiple marsupials, and snacks,” Burrito Jerry said, patting the door below the open window. “I think we’ll be all right. Later, gator. Oh. Wait. Later,Guardian.”
He gunned the engine and peeled away from the curb, narrowly missing a cab.
