"Come on Cradle." Izime scratched at the black beak that was nipping at him accusingly, "She's way out of our league both of ours, that's Miss Psyis."

  Izime still refused to release the bird as Miss Psyis' little tantrum had riled it up once more. The bundle of black metal feathers looked all the more puffed and chicken-like the longer it wiggled about attempting to escape.

  Sighing with his own frustrations Izime glanced around the alley they'd ducked into, a few cans and papers still settling. Disturbed by the psychic pulse that had no doubt been looking for him.

  "Fight good." Cradle croaked back not quite convinced the two couldn't hold their own against the alien. Squirming still, it was cooling off a bit though. The ruffling of Cradles struggles its own form of self-inflicted punishment, all that careful preening ruined.

  No longer so agitated at the alien that had tried to invade its bond that it was willing to directly disobey, though that massive blast had certainly been one loud call it still didn't get through their bond. The shielding nanites still absorbing and wasting away the thessian's energy.

  Now it just wanted down so it could fix all the plumage that had been mussed about during Izime's cradling of it.

  "You sure do but not her," Izime nodded sitting down the bag of food so he could give the raven's crop a good rub, sill stern in his refusal but proud of his bond's fierce nature. Ordering Cradle to burn off that angry energy quickly, "Now stay down here and get all that fight out of your system."

  Izime gave a slight toss of the balled raven, forcing Cradle to take to wing.

  Watching as the bird cut an impossibly tight circle in the narrow alley and landed back near him. Hopping around for a moment before fluttering over to the bag of take-out he had just placed down.

  Izime's slight irritation at Cradle's disobeying disappeared as soon as the raven opened its beak, the bird equally worried about him.

  "Eat." Cradle ordered back happy to share in the cycle of care. With a hop towards the bags of noodles, Izime had sat down; Cradle gave them a few cursory pecks. Finally managing to pop one of the boxes open, it nodded at Izime with pride, "Eat"

  Giving a few flaps Cradle took off a little ways, landing on the edge of the dumpster for a moment before taking off once again. This time doing a tiny loop in the narrow alley, making sure it listened to Izime's orders to fly low and play about.

  Cradle kept itself well down inside the alley and performed a little aerial display for Izime.

  "I will," Izime clapped his hands to get the raven's attention as it picked up speed. Not wanting Cradle to get too excited and decide to fly off, picking a fight with a certain alien. "But you play down low and no scanning, you two were fighting over that shit, and. We. Don't. Start. Fights. Cradle is a good bird."

  Izime ignored the taunting Cradle was doing as the raven was indeed playing low, directly near his head. Instead reaching out and grabbing the box Cradle had opened out of the plastic bag.

  Looking around for a moment inside he found the wrapped chopsticks beside a chilled bottle of water. Sitting the box on the edge of the nearby dumpster Izime tore the sticks apart and tossed the paper in, before sitting down against the dark green steel to eat. Smells be damned he was probably a few days away from passing out from not malnutrition again. Actual nutrients and not just calories of some kind were a necessity right now for him.

  Glancing up Izime stopped during his second bite, Cradle's voice bringing his attention to the bird. Who was currently doing a surprisingly accurate impression of a woodchipper combined with a blender, all while still flying.

  "Fight good," Cradle called back passing its bond as it slowed its flight, letting the various feathered blades twirl about just to prove its point.

  "If we get hit, we hit back, but no starting fights not even name-calling," Izime shook his head denying the raven again, carefully standing so he didn't spill his box of noodles. "Cradle is a good birdie not a mean birdie."

  With zero thought to the feathers of death, Izime walked over blocking the bird physically mid-flight. Smiling as Cradle halted midair, Izime gave it an admonishing with his chopsticks. First a tap on the head before giving the hovering mech-raven a poke in the midsection before it hovered higher to escape.

  Izime paused for a moment eyes leaving Cradle as he looked at the shadows that stretched along the bricks.

  Ignoring the happy wiggles Cradle was giving at the title of good birdie, eyes drawn to the part of the shadow that wasn't straight-lined.

  Fuck I just needed to eat.

  Izime thought to himself as he tried to shove the noodles in just that tiny bit faster. At least wanted to make the most of the now familiar-looking hooded silhouette staying above them in the alley, not just dropping in to harass them again.

  "Cradle, go play far!" Izime waved his hand trying to conceal his anger as he quickly finished his first box of noodles. Hoping the bird would simply take the chance to roam around Voltham freely.

  The bond was closed tight enough that Cradle wouldn't be able to sense his thoughts about their company, but this needed to be settled without the bird around for now. Apparently, she wanted it settled as well, so Izme tried to send his more aggravated half away. Cradle was obviously still looking for a fight something Izime couldn't have happening.

  Izime wiped the sauce off his mouth and took a few swigs from the bottle of water in the bag before tossing it back into the bag. Giving an expectant look at the still-waiting raven, Izime gestured again to take the opportunity with a bit softer tone this time. "Go play, go eat Cradle."

  "Play low?" Cradle landed on the nearby dumpster tilting its head in confusion. Izime had definitely told it to stay low because he knew Stupid Purple was searching. Even Izime had felt the pulse earlier and now he said Cradle could go high?

  "Not anymore, this is important so listen. Go play somewhere for 1 hour and actually play, no scanning none! You can even go eat at the snack on some radio towers or something, I'll be fine," Izime said as he waggled his fingers, hoping Cradle still trusted his snaps despite the time it had failed them.

  Giving a pause Izime considered who he was about to talk to he instructed Cradle further, "If I'm not here call me."

  Cradle hopped down to the street, pausing for a moment not sure it had been that good and almost positive something else was going on; all the same, it didn't want to waste the opportunity.

  Eating items off the forbidden menu was reserved for special occasions like its hatching day, so it was best to take to the air now while Izime was still being really generous. With a final hop, Cradle decided to depart giving a tilting look back before bolting away.

  "Eat!" A black streak cried joyfully as it rocketed out of the alley.

  Psyis heard the bird go flying off, a bit shocked at the sudden speed the black streak left the alley with. Ducking from the current of air that followed before risking a glance back down into the alley, only to see another face looking back up at her.

  Izime breathed out of his nose in frustration, ignoring the warmth of Thai chilies as they worked their way out his nose.

  The hood of his coat crinkled slightly as his neck was tilted, eyes watching that bit of white that had made their eavesdropped so easily identifiable. The long mohawk waving gently in the unshielded winds of the roof, Izime had figured she'd be by quickly but not immediately.

  At least figuring he'd had time to eat before... well he was working on super-hero time here so maybe it should have been expected.

  "Do I need to talk you down too?" Izime called up loudly, glaring at the purple face that was looking down at him, "If you can be nice, I'll talk for a bit."

  Izime's eyes went wide as the thessian jumped from the roof and just fell, that crazy woman! White mohawk standing properly as she descended from the air rushing past. Even her hoodie billowing and giving Izime a rather embarrassing view under her shirt.

  Teal eyes quickly glanced away from a toned and two-toned midsection towards the more comfortable bricks.

  "I." Psyis started to yell back down, giving a cautious glance towards the sky before simply shaking her head and hopping off the roof. The bird had disappeared already and certainly hadn't heard her, probably hadn't even seen her if it'd left at that speed.

  Looking down to see the ground as it came whistling towards her, trying to stifle a laugh as the man quickly backpedaled away from her landing spot as she had just let gravity take her. Halting just a hair's breadth from the pavement Psyis caught herself and brushed at the wrinkles her fall had caused.

  "I'm sorry about the thing at the noodle shop." Psyis offered her own attempt at a conversational truce at least, brushing her hair out of the way as she led in with an apology. Pulling her hoodie a bit straighter before finally releasing her grip and allowing her feet to touch the street below her.

  Brows holding steady but tensely as Psyis tried a proper introduction this time, an attempt at keeping her cool instead of just coming in capes drawn. She wasn't going to offer some excuse, that Steven had upset her or she had been looking for a fight.

  Those were both childish and one the man had no reason to hear, the other was an even worse excuse for involving him.

  Still, she had to get something to show for the trouble she'd caused Dark Night without causing more trouble now.

  "I can promise you Cradle is not so don't poke my bird and don't poke me." Izime shook his head at the psychic's shallow apology gesturing with one hand while reaching for more noodles with his other.

  "Really, can't even say I'm OK with the concept of you kicking in a door to just kick in someone's mental doors without a valii...i"Izime trailed off his hand stopping, giving a sideways look at the alien's empty arms.

  The alien had ordered the same as him, a triple bowl of Thai pepper beef lo mein. Izime knew how fast he could eat and for once found himself hoping someone could eat faster than him, though he knew what the more likely option was.

  Psyis was at first upset that he'd tossed aside her apology, again the man was just dead set on being rude. That flicker of anger lasted only a second as Psyis finally got the first real response out of him, the brown eyes furrowing as his teal eyes ran over her arms and to her hands before returning.

  Giving her an accusatory glare that had tripped her irritation mid-slide; she hadn't done anything this time!

  "Where are your noodles?" Izime asked after taking a steadying breath, doubt slowing his words as he already knew what the answer was, she didn't even smell like chilies.

  Anger seeping into Izime's bones, not even wanting to look at the hero anymore. Everyone here was so damned wasteful towards damned near everything, with no respect for the cards luck had handed them with this reality.

  "I um..." Psyis looked back down the alley, it wasn't far, but that sidewalk trashcan had looked, well wet was probably the best description. Shame crept in as she decided to finish answering him honestly, "threw them away."

  Holding her head a bit lower in shame as she saw the expected reaction come; she had fucked up once again.

  Psyis watched as the homeless man's shoulders dropped with nothing but absolute disappointment in her.

  The noise she had waited for didn't, however. Instead of cursing or yelling he immediately closed his bag back with a hard twist. Glancing at the street and the trash around them as he took a deep breath, obviously trying to calm himself.

  Casting her the occasional quick glance before rubbing at his face and ordering her to remain. Though with a much softer tone that carried the heavy weight of helplessness with that disappointment.

  "I..you just," Izime shook his head running a hand through his hair in sheer agitation as he considered his options. Seeing as Stupid Purple had decided to earn her name solidly this time and waste food. Izime stomped past her pointing at the alien and then at the ground as he made a decision. "You stay here."

  Izime recalled the front of the shop and snapped his fingers. It wasn't a thing he usually did, using magic so openly and appearing at a busy intersection but it'd only take a minute, and honestly?

  The thessian had pissed him off well and good now. The first alien he'd met living any sort of decent life one earth, and she was no better than the Lux Winthor; wasteful and ignorant of all they'd been blessed with.

  Psyis kept looking at the bag of perfectly good food the man had just left behind with a snap, his intentions obvious.

  Harassing him had been forgivable, probably usual considering how he dressed. Maybe the who and why behind the harassment was a bit unexpected but that hadn't crossed his line. Pitching an entire bag of food certainly had.

  A few minutes passed, the noodles sitting in the bag reaching out with their beefy goodness and cursing her with a twinge of hunger. The order had looked good, and she'd trashed it for the stupidest reasons. Dark Night and Dark Squire could have waited.

  It wasn't like it had even ran and if she'd been a bit more reasonable, she could have just taken the bag with her; if she hadn't wanted it she could have given it away.

  A still unfamiliar crackle behind Psyis giving her a start though she wasn't really surprised when she turned to see a very judgmental pair of teal eyes passing her.

  The bits of dirt drew darker lines in his frown as he stormed past her, a familiar bag in his hands with bits of other refuse still stuck to it. A bit of something dark and thick pooling in a corner of the clear plastic, whatever it was it certainly was cola.

  Walking over to the dumpster he looked between the two bags as if deciding something. Psyis swallowed dryly as she considered what she might do in such a situation.

  Punishments should fit the crime after all, so it would be deserved to make her finish the meal she had bought.

  "I don't care if you aren't hungry." Izime sat the trashed bag down, pulling out a half-crushed paper box. He wasn't that cruel, though being a bit of a demon gave an advantage to psychological warfare. Izime intending to take the psychic on an entire guilt cruise let alone a simple trip, complete with multiple stops and a dinner show.

  It was at least the better looking out of the three; nodding Izime looked at one of his own un-trashed containers and threatened the psychic, "You ordered it you're gonna eat it."

  Taking his chopsticks and pouring a bit of water over them Izime gave them a hard shake before wiping them on his pants. Popping the the top of the nicer box he stuffed them inside.

  Finally taking both he walked back over to the Miss Psyis with every intention of making her eat crow. Psyis avoided even looking as he approached, the weight in those eyes feeling like a headman's ax. Izime stopped raising a brow, just a foot away and she still hadn't spared him a glance. That was fine the psychic didn't need to look, she was the hero after all; she could handle a bit of crow.

  The stupid alien had pushed his buttons since they'd met, so this seemed fair after all the trouble she'd caused.

  Izime looked at the boxes of food as he tried to recall the entire speech he had prepared in the meantime, wanting to play the proper villain at this exact moment.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  "I know a little girl in Centropolis that would fight her dad and me before she'd ever believe The Miss Psyis would be anything less than perfect. Her hero would never waste a bite let alone three meals. We've been using you to convince her to eat onions for years, you can't finish a box of noodles?" Izime gave the noodles a few shakes of guilt before shoving the untrashed box of noodles into the alien's chest.

  Ignoring the soft cushion Izime applied a bit of force, not asking as he ordered the heroine. "Eat it."

  "I... uh" Psyis looked down at the box she was being 'punished' with as the soft paper box folded slightly, the force pushing against her hoodie and into the valley of her chest. The unwrapped and already used chopsticks were a bit uncomfortable but he had cleaned them as best he could.

  That was the worst of it, however; the box in Izime's hand was actually exposed to everything in that trashcan.

  The paper already holding a dark stain from that liquid goop in the bag.

  Though that opposite hand was currently driving a box of noodles into her cleavage; Psyis briefly thought about chastising him for thinking he was slick. Red brows furrowing only to relax, finding a face that had none of her discomforts. She didn't need to read the man's mind to know he wasn't using this as an excuse to get close to her, this was an entirely noodle-focused situation.

  The man's gentle push built as the box crinkled further, his gaze on her not faltering in the slightest.

  "That man cooked two orders, and we scared the shit out of him so someone's eating them and you were half the problem if not the whole damned thing. I don't care about the trash, not one bit," Izime pinched a clump of noodles between his fingers nodding towards the good carton, "and I'm not getting my ass kicked by Shya because I made her hero eat trash like us, even if that would be the better lesson. Eat the damned noodles Psyis."

  Izime quickly pulled his hand free as two purple and blue striped hands reached up to take the box, a bit surprised to not hear any more arguments.

  Even more surprised to see the alien actually take the chopsticks in her delicate-looking hands, watching as she carefully swirled a clump of noodles. Giving a curious sniff as she eyed the thin strips of beef mixed in with the lo-mein and herbs, all coated in a heavy reddish oil. The tones on her lips swirling, Izime watching as Psyis opened them to take a bite.

  Psyis wondered for a moment who was the hero here, not that Izime had saved the day but where exactly had he learned that level of attitude that could talk down to someone like her?

  No, he wasn't a hero but what kind of monster would she be if she went against him now that he'd made such good points?

  Wasting food that she knew very well others on her planet were dying for quite literally. She wasn't going to refute him, the argument he'd made was solid if personally based and besides, the noodles smelled really good. Psyis glanced at the spicy-smelling noodles before finally stuffing the entire clump in her mouth and chewing thoughtfully.

  Her eyes roamed about the alley idly before risking a look for half a second, covering her mouth in embarrassment as she caught an eager nod from her side. The peppers were the perfect touch of heat and something she'd have ordered herself, though it seemed her pleased look had only inflated his ego further.

  The man's next words were still irritating, somehow, even when he was being nice.

  "Told you I had good tastes." Izime felt his smirk widen as the Thai chilis the cook had added extra f started to kick in. The psychic's purple and blue cheeks blurred in with a mix of magenta as the heat from the chili filled her body.

  Izime finished filling his mouth before sucking his fingers clean of the delicious oils that had dripped over them. Noodles weren't exactly finger food but that hardly stopped a dedicated individual. He quickly stuffed in two more finger fulls before he even attempted to chew.

  Not ashamed in the least after the few years of being in this world. If someone wanted to get judgy they could go a round with the strangelettes and get back to him, see how much they cared about table manners after that very table changed its state of matter.

  Until then he'd just keep eating and mind his own business just like they should.

  Watching the man literally stuff his face full, at first Psyis was a bit disgusted at the clash between his attitude and behavior, then a bit of worry crossed her mind.

  Placing the chopsticks back in her own box she went ahead an asked, thoughts of getting information falling second to that uncomfortable worry. "When was the last time you ate?"

  "Dun'member" Izime shrugged while trying to talk through a mouth full of noodles, not really concerned about satisfying a sensation he didn't feel anymore.

  It had been annoying the years he'd dealt with it, now living a bit in between for both form and function was certainly more comfortable. Sometimes it became an issue when he needed to do delicate work and had the shakes or started having difficulty thinking.

  Beyond that, Izime knew his own efficiency had increased. Much less time worried about eating to devote to other things. Izime was thankful he was avoiding a good portion of the massive time sink that most carbon-based forms dealt with.

  Sure, there were some problems, but the drawbacks were minor in comparison to the abilities Cradle had given him. What was hunger compared to thermal imaging and the always active access they shared to the internet, galactic info-web, and the thousands of other cool tricks he could now do again?

  For a natural-born human, the flood of information might be a bit daunting, or the loss of naturally felt instincts disturbing. Izime was different, he'd been closer to Cradle than a human at first, and that slice of familiarity was a comforting feeling in this wild-ass world.

  "At least a month unless you're counting Jovian Caloric-cubes." Izime searched his mind for the last actual human meal he had eaten, figuring the beans he had lost didn't count anymore.

  The caloric-cubes were almost a comfort food considering the mold blocks he'd been raised on, as for human food... maybe when he had first gotten back in Centropolis as celebrated with Wesson and Shya?

  "McRonalds." Izime explained while his hand chased that talking mouth with a pinch of noodles, finally stuffing them in after he'd finished.

  Yeah, that was it!

  Izime nodded still chewing for a moment longer, then he paused before gesturing with sauce dripping from his fingers to continue, "Wesson and Shya wanted ice cream, so I snapped to five or six different McRonalds to check their ice cream machines. There was only one on the far side of Gateway, that was a hell of a walk with a nine-year-old."

  "Gateway Bridge in Centropolis?" Psyis cocked her head finally picking her chopsticks back up to work on her own box as well. Brows raised as she realized she wasn't the only person from Centropolis here at work, the man hadn't been following her like Dark Night had tried to lead her to believe.

  "Yep" Izime put a little pop on the 'p' as he tossed the now empty box into the dumpster, hoping humanizing himself for the hero would at least get her to pull her claws back.

  There was probably little point in lying to the psychic anyway, if she ever did meet Wesson the man would be an open book. Finally deciding the information, he had shared was safe enough he sat the box on the dumpster and prepared himself.

  The flip side of not feeling hungry was not feeling full as well and this would be his third box. Izime raised his arms and stretched, letting his stomach adjust as he physically prepared to tackle the end of his meal. Grabbing another box Izime kept his ears trained to the noises behind him.

  Psyis quickly pulled out her phone, not wanting the Dark Duo to interrupt her conversation by bursting in all Dark-a-Rangs and Dark-fu on the poor guy. Feeling a bit sorry she'd blown her lid after Steven's little show, though this idiot certainly hadn't done anything to help himself. They were still having a decent conversation right now and there was no reason to let the Dark Duo come in capes blazing.

  Clicking through her messages she tensed as she read Steven's many replies and Stan's one. It was too late as it seemed Stan was already back from the Caulder Corp Tower and apparently done suiting up. Probably finished prepping a vehicle that could touch the clouds to rocket out of the underground even as she read the message.

  "I, or we. Wesson, Shya, and I play in the shopping districts, you should stop by there but only on a weekend. Shya would flip, quite literally." Izime prattled on pretending to be unaware of the psychic using her phone behind him.

  Was it just a thing in this world, the odd ticks that the comic authors had worked in? Were some heroes just ironically not self-aware or... no, that wasn't it. Izime recalled, there had been a few that typed loudly back then as well. Those advanced monitors on that station trapped in time had silent options too, Izime tasting a bit of similarity between worlds in human nature.

  Or rather the nature of all sentient life to goof occasionally, the alien behind him seemingly unaware the device in her hand had a very clicky keypad.

  "We busk, that's uh... we play for change from the shoppers. Just some easy cover songs, but I think we're better than Jamie Torch. Dudes a hack honestly, but still" Izime kept going trying to find enough words to fill the seconds it was taking Psyis to message who he could only assume was one of the Caulders.

  Pretending to pick a few things out of the bag in the meantime, just tearing some bits of a napkin as he continued, "Usually scores us enough to keep Shya in decent clothes and both of them out of shelters."

  "Wesson and you are?" Psyis sent a few quick texts that she hoped would at least delay the two. If Psyis could keep him opening up then all she needed to do was take that info back and she could keep both sides happy. Dark Night would have his answers and Izime could just go on about his day. However, that still left the question of how satisfied Dark Night would be with those answers.

  "Family, he's my brother." Izime nodded happy to explain the relationship, it was a good enough topic to waste the time on. Finally taking the bottle of water and finishing it, now that the phone was safely pocketed, he could get back to eating as annoying as it was.

  "You'll tell me all this but not your name?" Psyis tried again, seeing as the man was willing to talk about family. Once again pressing him for a name, something more tangible than the idle small talk she was getting, the few leads basically nothing really. Certainly not enough to give Dark Night an excuse for abusing her powers earlier.

  "I don't do the whole name thing, or the villain hero gimmick stuff." Izime tried to explain why he wasn't giving a name. He really didn't have a title or anything like that, and certainly wasn't involved in that particular scene, at least directly.

  Maybe the salesman or something would have a good ring to it, but that just made it sound like he needed to be in a suit and that was not happening. There were a few names that had been thrown around back in the day when he'd made a bit of a stir around the galaxy. Here though he'd rather just stick to being called the nickname he'd chosen.

  Bell liked to say he was one, so he'd bastardized the word 'bully' for his own purposes.

  "My actual name is just Psyis." The alien hoped the useless tidbit would even the field between them. The response she got was what she expected, a laughable no.

  "You are also easily identifiable as the five foot eleven lightning patterned Smurf, everyone knows your information thanks to Joey Jamestone." Izime cocked his head and explained while wiping away a bit of noodle and oil, "Kinda sucks you had to do all that publicity stuff just to get the 'razzi of your back though. At least web-boy took the heat for you after a while..."

  Thinking back to what he knew Izime recalled all the headlines about the brain-corrupting alien on the streets of Centropolis, Joey stacking towers of those tabloid releases about the thessian mind invader from N.Y.C to San Diego.

  The man had probably felt so recognized and affirmed when he'd had something actually real to point at and throw his fits about. Though it hadn't been focused on her heroics but the possible misuse of her powers. Then he'd wound up with a hero on his front doorstep leaving piles of web everywhere so, of course, his focus had shifted.

  The grumpy old bastard couldn't stand having a teen super on his 'lawn'. Izime's thoughts about his more tech-creative business partner faded as Psyis asked a question he should have expected.

  "What's a smurf?" Psyis tilted her head unsure if she was being insulted, never having heard the term, decidedly passing over Izime's knowledge of her less proud history when she had still been earning her place as a human.

  Jamestone was a complete hack and an asshole, not a person she'd like to casually discuss over noodles.Those angry memories easily heated Psyis more than any number of peppers.

  "Don't worry about it, just know you'd be the tallest one." Izime waved his hand dismissively not bothering to explain in the slightest; God damned nerds had saved the absolute stupidest things, now who could he talk to about it all? Izime held back his sigh, he had helped them and read it all too; even bothered with remembering that trash.

  Counting the bricks Izime tried to think of who he could blame the finger he was pointing always spun back. Maybe this was all still his fault, if he'd been better, they'd never needed to save anything.

  Now he kept catching himself, bringing things like Smurfs up casually; little stupid pop culture references that just didn't translate to here. It was an oddly painful punishment for failure. Wesson had taken at least two years to stop asking pointlessly complicated questions like Psyis just had.

  What's a Smurf, what's a Yeet, what's an aura, an Uber, and so on ad nauseum.

  Don't even get him started on the whole amazon prime talk when there were actual Amazon warriors here; an entire universe of human culture and it was all fifteen degrees of fucked from this one.

  "So can I get your actual name?" Psyis held out her hands helplessly, exasperated as it dawned on her. She was not exactly the best at interrogation when she couldn't mentally crack her targets.

  "Isshumae" Izime murmured his mind elsewhere before glancing at Psyis, then down at the tail of noodles in his mouth. Slurping them down quickly he beat his chest trying not to choke, ignoring the blush as he reminded himself that talking and eating at the same time wasn't so easy.

  "Sorry," Izime quickly finished chewing and swallowed, pronouncing the favored nickname properly this time. "My name is Izime, eye'zi'may."

  "No last name?" Psyis already knew she'd need more to go off of, she'd been half-banking on the human disposition to give full names as a greeting.

  "Where's yours?" Izime shot back without missing a beat, though he already knew the answer; perks of being a comic aficionado outside of this reality from beforehand. Though the fact he had to die to make that knowledge useful was a bit sad.

  "Thessian's typically don't gain a second name for a good while, until they're well into their maturity." Psyis crossed her arms not wanting to explain the intricacies of her species culture to some random homeless magician.

  Psyis mouth dropped a bit as the random homeless magician threw a very personal insult at her, not quite knowing what to say or how to refute the absolutely ignorant words.

  "Oh, so no Psyis Caulder yet?" Izime waggled his eyebrows and gave a shit-eating grin, clamping his mouth immediately as he saw the Thessian's brows furrow to new depths. Quickly apologizing, apparently having direly misjudged the situation "Sorry that was a bit out of line."

  It was common knowledge to Izime at least, Thessians wouldn't take a second name until they bonded; much like the one he shared with Cradle.

  Just not technologically but naturally through their own species' psychic means. When they had existed in any number greater than one, the second name had signified the Thessian was fully bonded, the two psychics having individual bodies but essentially one mind.

  Addressing a bonded Thessian by the names of both individuals was proper, the two shared their thoughts constantly so you were talking to both anyway.

  "I..." Psyis' eyes narrowed as she felt like Izime knew more than he was letting on. The question loaded even by Thessian standards as if the man knew about her intimate life, "that is none of your business."

  Psyis stood quietly, chopsticks working at half-speed while her mind whirled away. Just what did this Izime actually know about her? He'd just dropped Steven's name as casually as if he'd been the one double dating with them and not Jack Kerzen and his Martian girlfriend. Her opinions on the homeless man were all a wash as he seemed to honestly apologize for the overstep.

  Though it didn't explain how he'd known about her and Steven once being in a relationship in the first place.

  "True enough, I crossed a line there..." Izime bowed his head a bit in apology, letting the silence carry for a moment before attempting to recover the topic, "But I really only have the first name."

  Maybe before he could have seen if one of the crew could adopt him, but the decision hadn't been his to make and time had slipped away before he could ask. Izime was not sure if the food had suddenly gotten tastier or if the memory had actually roused his dead sense of hunger. Simply eating away at his feelings as his mind wandered away from the lost moment in time.

  The two munched for a bit in silence, the chill pulling the steam from the noodles wafting away as cars passed outside the alley. Psyis giving a slight chuckle as she watched the human give a long look at her bottle of water, opening it and handing it over. Psyis raised her own brow towards the peppered beef, the snark not being completely silenced by the question she asked instead of poking fun.

  "So, what do you do with the traps you take?" Psyis finally finished her box of noodles, asking another question as she threw the box away. Walking closer, a bit surprised to find that Izime's clothes while dirty weren't badly maintained.

  The visible grime looked like things that couldn't be easily removed from the tightly woven odd fabric the patch coat was made of. The man himself looked a mess of noodles and flushed face as he looked at the box he had tried to eat with a bit of regret. Psyis tried to find all the boxes in the dumpster discreetly before walking back.

  It was already his fourth. That was a bit of heat but a lot of food, the psychic wondering again about Izime's health.

  "The ones from last night? Probably sell the tanks of fear toxin to Constanople, the stuff's a hit in the nine hells and great for dealing. A lot of those cable throwers I'll sell as is to some bounty hunters off-world." Izime considered some of the more acceptable options he had considered, "The Quiz is actually somewhat famous for having some of the best criminal capture devices this side of Orion's arm."

  It was a bit regretful to name-drop the exorcist, but he was reputable at least with the Caulder's to some degree and the words were honest enough. The slang-slinging British exorcist paid good money, sometimes. Usually just dropped a bunch of gems on him though before running back to smoke out the demons of hell in yellow fumes.

  Izime was close enough after a few run-ins to mention the anti-hero without too much hesitation.

  "Off-world?" Psyis raised her eyebrows, not quite believing Izime was as widely traveled as he was bragging about. The man got around sure but... off planet was a bit of a milestone for earth-based heroes. If it was true someone besides Constantinople should have been aware of the man, right?

  "Mmm, the Vidan security consulate will probably give me a few thousand in sol credit for the lot but selling them individually lets me price gouge accordingly," Izime explained as he dug around for a pinch with a bit more beef, finally getting a good scoop he continued, "I'll be in Voltham for a few more weeks so don't be surprised if you see me around, after that who knows. Maybe hocking some power crystals to the Ring Bearers on Zythomia, in N.Y.C. trading some doohickey for some custom work. Maybe in Centropolis singing that's my family's home so..."

  "I'm planning on leaving once we track down FearForm," Psyis explained her own plans, ignoring the vibrating from her pocket for a second time. Appreciating Izime being candid about his activity in her hometown. Not completely willing to call his words a lie, she'd still double check but he seemed to be telling the truth.

  At least as far as a psychic whose powers couldn't work on him could tell.

  There were some names there she'd recognized. Hell, working with a Green Ring who had to report to Zythomia, it was a planet she had visited before herself. She could easily see the galactic police force from Viidan purchasing a batch of high-end non-lethal detainment devices. Let alone all the individual bounty hunters who were out catching minor criminals.

  They would certainly pay a hefty sum for a high-end toy that made their job easier. Exactly like The Quiz's classic cable throwers.

  "At least use a personal shield this time." Izime tapped his chin while he considered the psychic's predicament last night, trying to wrap up their talk with the issues he had, "Stressing your powers with secondary charges is probably going to be FearForm's move now that he knows you're in Voltham."

  "I can handle myself." Psyis rolled her eyes giving the struggling not-hero a loaded look from head to toe, considering Izime's advice with a hint of disdain, "What about you and Crusher?"

  The man seemed to be a low-level magician with some decent skills and a very high-end pet. Sure, he had an opinion but was it really useful to someone who could just stop the bullets he needed to dodge? If Crusher got a hold of Izime and all the protection he had was a low-end spell and no Cradle?

  Psyis could at least hit back harder than the wrestler could hit her, Izime was just a punching bag.

  "I'll be fine I accepted the risk but remember it's not your funeral if you get dosed or going to be just yours." Izime tried to adjust the edge of his point, giving the alien a sideways look while tossing the third empty box. Glancing upwards in explanation he continued, "Anyone you get a hold of until Dark Night or Radiation Man shows up to bring you down is at risk."

  Psyis was about to respond until she saw Izime look up, turning to see a somewhat familiar bird flying in small circles above them. The alien tensing, the hour certainly wasn't up so there was no reason for Izime's bond to return unless there was a problem.

  There was one, Psyis realizing why the topic had suddenly changed. She had messaged for back-up earlier and it was getting close enough that Izime was calling a close to this impromptu meet.

  Psyis turned wanting to explain that she hadn't intended to try and play for time, the entire talk was just an attempt at reconciling her earlier actions. At least to get that in and not end on another sour note, a bit self-conscious as she had no clue how he currently felt. Coughing slightly Psyis saw Izime giving her a knowing look as the alien tried to take the floor as steadily as she could.

  "I contacted them before, when I didn't know we were just going to talk and... I'm sorry again." Psyis let her head fall to the side a bit knowing she couldn't undo what she had done. Dark Night was already enroute and with Cradle around there was no missing his approach. Brushing her hair out of her eyes as Izime gave her a thoughtful frown.

  "Well, it was a talk, one of the talks of all time but I think the Dark Duo is coming to do more than just chat, so I've got to get going." Izime gave Psyis' apology a bit of consideration before pointing at her with a finger-gun, guitar case already back over his shoulder and holding what remained of his dinner,

  "Thanks for the little chat, next time let's do this without the whole set-up OK?" Pulling his hand back up Izime snapped away while reaching out to Cradle through their bond. Directing the raven to completely avoid the area and return to the sealed underground safe house, before adding an addition not wanting to give Cradle an excuse.

  Go straight to the sewers.

  Leave her alone.

  Stupid Purple.

  Izime couldn't help but laugh and agree as he reached for the light switch in the dark. Cradle obviously still on guard against the thessian that had snuck under its detection and riled it up. Personal Izime was more concerned with the contents of his sealed box, was it safe to keep the food in the same box as the questionable nanites?

  Was it even temperature controlled, probably not but a vacuum was still decent storage, right?

  Izime decided that worrying about his fresh food stockpile was more productive than wasting his thoughts on the purple alien.