“I cannot believe you just said that,” she said. “Are you forgetting my real age? Compared to me, Savior is still a young man.”
“Oh, come on.” Malcolm rolled his eyes. “That’s a technicality, and you know it.”
“Do you think he’d like chicken for dinner?” asked Tapestry. “I also have some breaded fish, but it’s frozen.”
Malcolm sighed and massaged his temples.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get moving.”
He listened to his music on the bus ride back, letting the guitar solos and easy lyrics of 90s alt rock massage his powers into a better state of efficiency. Malcolm found himself wondering what Savior’s focus activity was, and then about his weakness.
I’d be surprised if anyone knows that. I can’t imagine the most powerful man alive lets it slip very often.
There was a bus stop close to their destination, and it only took them a couple of minutes from there. Tapestry’s house was clean and cozy, with a coordinated color scheme from another era.
“I’m going to get started on dinner,” said Tapestry. “Do you mind entertaining Savior when he gets here? I want to concentrate on dinner.”
Malcolm rolled his eyes, taking off his shoes off as he came inside.
“Sure,” he said. “But I think all the fuss is a little unwarranted.”
“It’s not a fuss,” said Tapestry. “I just… like to cook.”
Malcolm shrugged, walking through the foyer and into the living room. He grinned when he saw Melanie, Tapestry’s great granddaughter, sitting on the couch across from the TV with a controller in her hand.
“So you did get a PS4,” he said.
“Yeah,” said Melanie.
“I didn’t realize you played video games,” said Malcolm.
“Yeah,” said Melanie.
Malcolm blinked. Melanie was one of the chattiest people he’d ever met. All of her attention, currently, was focused on the game, her pale, freckled face and brown hair illuminated by the glow of the TV.
“Will you be my slave for a month?” he asked.
“Yeah,” said Melanie.
Is this what I’m like when I’m gaming?
Malcolm found a second controller, nestled in the entertainment center near the console. He plugged it in, sat down on the couch next to her, and snapped his fingers in front of her face.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go. One on one, something we both can play.”
Melanie frowned, as though coming out of a trance.
“Uh, right,” she said. “Sorry. I never played video games much when I was younger. I always thought they were for boys, but I tried out one of the kiosks at the mall and just got sucked in. It cost me almost all my savings, but I think it was worth it. I’m not a big competitive player though. I prefer games with a good story.”
“Well then,” said Malcolm. “Why don’t we ease into something simple?”
They played a couple of matches in a fighting game. Malcolm went easy on her, but Melanie learned the controls quickly enough to give him a run for his money. He actually started to get a little irritated, and in the deciding round of their second match, had to resort to the ancient technique of pressing random buttons on Melanie’s controller to mess her up.
“Hey!” she cried, pushing him away. “No fair.”
“The first rule of video games is that anything goes,” said Malcolm.
“What about this, then?” Melanie reached her hand down and set it on his thigh. Malcolm dropped his controller in surprise.
“You’re playing dirty!” he said.
“You started it.”
“Children, please,” called Tapestry, from the kitchen. “Savior just called, asking which house it was. Can one of you go outside and wait on the lawn for him.”
“Children?” asked Malcolm, incredulous. “Really, Tapestry? Do you really want to go there?”
CHAPTER 6
Malcolm paused the game and headed outside onto the lawn. Melanie followed him. It was still cloudy overhead, but the rain seemed content to hold off, at least until the sun had finished setting.
“So what’s Savior like in person, anyway?” asked Melanie. “Aubrey seemed really thrilled to have him coming to our area. I think it goes beyond just the help he can offer.”
Unfortunately, so do I.
“He’s… a character,” said Malcolm.
A pedestrian was approaching from down the street. It took Malcolm a minute to recognize the man as Wax, one of the other local champions. He was dressed in dirty clothes, with his head shaved and a slightly ragged red beard. He was a short man, a little pudgy, but very intelligent.
Wax was a clone of Malcolm’s former boss, Multi. During the attack on their headquarters, Multi had been kidnapped, and most of his copies had been killed. Wax was the only one to make it out alive. He had helped keep tabs on the pulse of the area during the time afterward by disguising himself as a homeless person.
It’s a dirty job, but someone has got to do it.
“Wax,” said Malcolm. “Good timing. Savior just got into town.”
“I know,” said Wax. “He called me already. He said he was already inside the house, though.”
“No, we’re still waiting for him,” said Malcolm. He frowned, and a second later, a high pitched female scream came from the house across the street.
Malcolm watched in disbelief as a woman with wet hair, wearing nothing but a towel, ran out onto the street. She was followed shortly after by a very apologetic looking Savior.
“Sincerely, sorry, madam,” said Savior. “The window was open, and I was trying to make a stealthy entrance. Mistakes were made, clearly. The Champion Authority will send you a formal apology.”
Melanie frowned and crossed her arms.
“He should be more careful,” she said.
“Hey,” said Malcolm, chuckling. “It happens to the best of us.”
The woman seemed to relax a little after Savior’s explanation, and unsurprisingly, insisted on getting a photo with him before heading back inside. Savior grinned when he saw Wax, walking over and clapping him solidly on the back.
“Waxie!” said Savior, voice booming. “I’ve missed you so! Good to see that you’re still in fine form.”
“I’m not sure I would describe it with those words, exactly,” said Wax. “I’ve got a lot to fill you in on.”
“In due time,” said Savior, leading the group back inside. “But first, I need a shower.”
Tapestry had finished with the food and was waiting in the living room. She immediately headed to the linen closet, returning with a towel and offering it to Savior. He shook his head, gesturing to Wax.
“Wax will hold onto that for me,” said Savior. “We’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”
“Uh…” Malcolm raised an eyebrow. “Is he taking a shower… with you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” said Savior. “He’s my attendant. He’ll stand directly outside the shower and pass me what I need.”
Wax looked like an employee about to do his least favorite job.
“He insists,” said Wax. “He claims that his most brilliant ideas come to him in the bath. It’s my responsibility… to record them.”
“Exactly!” said Savior. “Tapestry, might you have any mouthwash? I took a couple of bugs to the teeth on the flight over.”
Tapestry blinked, looking a little bewildered.
“Sure…” she said. “It’s… in the bathroom.”
Savior nodded to her and headed off in the direction she’d indicated, Wax following close behind. The door to the bathroom shut, and Malcolm burst out laughing.
“He’s just eccentric,” said Tapestry.
“Of course,” said Malcolm. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. He can shower however, or with whomever, he wants.”
Malcolm heard the shower turn on, followed by the sound of Savior singing as he bathed. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he sat down on the couch next to Melanie for another round of video games.