MHA # 2 | Tuesday Afternoon

[knife_bender]

For all of his outward confidence, there was a little part of Diego that was nervous for Annie today. He knew she had everything to be part of a big superhero team, but her universe had some weird ideas of what a superhero should be. So, yes, he might have been doing some anxious pacing around the apartment waiting for her to get back.

At least with this audition over he could stop feeling guilty when he ate something that wasn't kale around her.

[For the girl!]

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[knife_bender]

"You are correct there," he said, putting an arm around Annie's shoulders. "You know, once Klaus stole a pair of Mom's heels to wear, fell down the stairs and his jaw was wired shut for eight weeks. Eight blissful, quiet weeks."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I mean, walking in heels is an art form, and stairs are kind of the trickiest." Along with uneven surfaces. "But eight weeks, holy sh -- wow. I bet he was in like, the height of his form after he got it unwired."

Seriously, no talking and all liquids for two months? Poor Klaus.

[knife_bender]

He smiled. "Have you cursed at all since February?"

[defenderofdesmoines]

"You would've heard if I did." Annie cuddled a little closer, smiling. "All my closest slip-ups happen around you."

For some reason.

[knife_bender]

"I am very sorry about that." Lies.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I don't believe you're remotely sorry," Annie told him, pressing a kiss to his jaw. "For what it's worth, if I had given up sex, I don't think my willpower would have been as strong."

[knife_bender]

"That is good to know," he said. "And I am still very thankful you did not give up sex."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Kinda defeats the purpose of giving up something for Lent if it's something the Bible tells you not to do anyway," Annie pointed out. "Summer keeps trying to get me to swear, too. Different from how you do."

Just, like, to be clear.

[knife_bender]

"That's a relief." There was a knock at the door and Diego got up to grab the pizza. "How excited are you to eat something covered in cheese?"

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Oh my God, I might, like, pass out with joy," Annie told him, not exaggerating at all. "I barely remember cheese."

But no, for reals, she was going to end up in some kind of gleeful pizza-induced coma.

[knife_bender]

"Okay, well, don't pass out before you eat any," he said before getting the pizza and bringing back over. He opened the box towards Annie so she could get a look at the cheesy goodness.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"You're amazing and I love you." Was she talking to Diego or the pizza?

(Both.)

"Remind me to never try out for a super competitive job where I have to diet ever again," Annie sighed happily, because it had been such a long week and it was really starting to sink in that she'd done it. Also the diet thing had been a choice, but you know.

[knife_bender]

"I love you too." He was choosing to believe it was just him he was referring to. "You won't need to try out for another super competitive job, because you're going to get this job."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"But it's okay if I don't," Annie said carefully, trying out that concept aloud even as she was reaching to help herself to some of that pizza. "Like, it's not the end of the world, and I'm still a good hero even if I didn't get it. Plus I wouldn't have to move if they choose someone else, so that would be a benefit."

[knife_bender]

"I mean, I can't say I would hate if you stayed here with me," he said. "And we make a pretty good superhero team of two."

It was everyone else he had trouble working with.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"I mean, even if I get it," Annie decided, not lingering on that hopeful thought for too long, "we're still going patrolling together when I come back to visit. Even if I can't be Starlight for it."

Because it was almost certainly in her contract.

[knife_bender]

"Bold of you to assume we'll have time for that when you come to visit," Diego teased.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Bold of you to assume that that's not part of it," Annie countered with a smile. "I've seen the face you make when I hit someone."

Patrolling as foreplay, duh.

[knife_bender]

He smiled. "Well it is pretty hot."

As if she didn't get the same way when he used his powers.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"And it's not like I don't like seeing you work," Annie said, because while she could not see her own face, she knew she did, indeed, get exactly the same way. "So...like, maybe some patrol date nights when I visit. And I'll definitely come back for, like, the next time giant bears show up or whatever."

Because remember what had happened after the giant bear, Diego? Remember?

[knife_bender]

He did remember what happened after the giant bear. He remembered it very fondly.

"You definitely have to come back for that weird stuff," he said. "It'd be unfair if you missed out."

[defenderofdesmoines]

"And it's not like I'll get to fight stuff like that with The Seven," Annie pointed out. "It'll be, like, drug smugglers and diamond thieves and whatever. Though Homelander has mutants in his movies sometimes, but I think that's just, like, an effort to give Homelander someone on his level to fight."

[knife_bender]

"You saying you're gonna miss fighting things like candy canes?" he asked.

[defenderofdesmoines]

"Remember how they moved like little sharks?" Annie asked nostalgically. "I mean, I'm not gonna miss it, exactly, but it's less depressing than what I usually fight. I'm not going to be disappointed in an attacking candy cane; it's just their nature."

[knife_bender]

Diego laughed. "You're cute. Ridiculous, but cute."