Donnie is practically bouncing on his feet as he waits. The school bell has rung and people are starting to pile out from the building. He keeps his eyes peeled, looking through the clusters until he stops two, solemn looking students walking down.
“Minji! Ray!” Donnie calls, waving his hand high above his head so they spot him. The pair look up, confused until their eyes lock onto his excited figure.
“Donnie!” Minji gasps, grin splitting her face as she races toward him. If not for recent events, her leaping hug would have thrown him to the ground. Now Donnie catches her, returning her tight hug.
“It’s good to see you too.” He laughs, spinning Minji around for good measure.
“Where the hell have you been?!” Ray demands as he approaches, not nearly so happy. Donnie frowns, looking over to see Ray in an even worse state than he remembers. His friend’s eyes are red-rimmed and bruised, his face is paler than usual, and his hands are clenched tightly at his sides.
“It’s a really cool story.” Donnie assures. “You’re both going to be so psyched when you hear it.”
“Donnie this is serious!” Ray snaps. “No one’s heard from you in a week!”
“A week?” Donnie repeats, surprised. “I didn’t realize it had been that long.”
“You didn’t realize?!” Ray shouts, starting to draw eyes and whispers from the students around them.
“Ray.” Minji says softly, resting her hand on his shoulder before turning back to Donnie. “Let’s go somewhere quieter, and you can tell us everything.” She suggests, smile looking a little tight.
“Right!” Donnie grins. “It’ll all make sense soon, I swear.”
--
When Minji said ‘somewhere quieter’ she probably meant a cafe or a restaurant, a place they usually sit down to talk.
Instead Donnie leads them deep into the wooded park, where they won’t be overheard or seen.
“I’m starting to think you’re going to kill us Donnie.” Minji comments. “Or get us lost.”
“I’m starting to think you’re stalling.” Ray mutters under his breath.
“Just a little further.” Donnie tells them. He sticks to it, stopping only a few minutes later. “There! No one’s going to hear us.”
“Definietly leaning towards murder now.” Minji frowns.
“I’m not going to murder you.” Donnie says, rolling his eyes. “Superheroes don’t murder, and I’m going to become a superhero.” He claims, grinning and puffing out his chest.
“That’s what this is about?!” Ray glares. “You ran off for what? Bootcamp?”
“Something like that.” Donnie says, unbothered by his friends growing frustrations. He pauses a minute before holding out his hand and shutting his eyes.
“Donnie, what are you doing?” Minji asks, growing nervous.
“Just watch.” Donnie shushes. He shuts his eyes tighter, focusing as hard as he can. When Minji gasps, he opens them. A small tree has sprouted beneath his hand, it’s leay top almost touching his palm.
“You have superpowers.” Minji whispers.
“Isn’t it great?” Donnie asks, frowning when he sees none of his excitement reflected in his friends.
“How did you get those?” Ray asks, tone quiet and cold.
“The same way Wave did!” Donnie claims. “That’s what the guys selling the needle said.”
“You… you bought superpowers like they were drugs?” Minji rephrases.
“Well yeah! I mean, with the Elites MIA someone needs to step up.” Donnie says.
“You could have died.” Ray claims, shouting.
“Now you’re just being extreme.” Donnie says, rolling his eyes. “It was perfectly safe.”
“You bought superpowers off of shady people and went missing for a week.” Minji reminds. “None of that screams perfectly safe to me.”
“Come on guys.” Donnie pouts. “I thought you’d be happy for me. I’ve always wanted to be a superhero, and now I can be! Isn’t that great?”
“No!” Ray snaps. “This isn’t some game Donnie, it’s dangerous!”
“I know that!” Donnie snaps back, excitement quickly turning into his own frustration.
“Clearly, you don’t.” Ray huffs.
“Ray, what the hell?” Donnie says. “I know what I’m getting myself into, and I know it’s dangerous. That’s why I’m telling you! I want your help.”
“No.” Ray says. “No I’m having no part of this. And you shouldn’t either.”
“You aren’t going to stop me.” Donnie claims. For a moment the boys stare each other down, waiting to see who breaks first.
Ray.
“Have fun getting yourself killed.” He mutters, turning away from Donnie and back the way they came. Donnie sticks his tongue out at Ray’s back, glaring, before he turns to Minji.
“You see why I’m doing this, don’t you Minji?” He asks. His words make Ray pause too, waiting for the girl’s response.
“Well…” She mumbles, hesitating as she looks between them. “Well I don’t agree with it, not exactly. We were really worried about you Donnie.”
“I didn’t mean to be gone a week.” Donnie swears. “I was recovering.” Minji frowns, hesitating another moment before sighing.
“You’re going to do this with or without us, so of course I’ll help.” She decides. “At the very least I’ll help you make your suit. You’re terrible at sewing.” Ray’s scoff is hidden under Donnie’s cheer. Minji looks back as the shorter teen walks away, but she doesn’t have time to call out to him before Donnie is talking her ears off with costume ideas.
--
The hero community has been in disarray since the Elite’s went through that portal six months ago. It’s no surprise that the news jumps on every new hero that steps up. Bloom is not the first, but he’s clearly the most powerful.
Ray glares at the article on his phone, pointedly ignoring Donnie and Minji on the other side of the canteen.
Donnie ignores him right back, gushing to Minji about how awesome the article is. “That’s me! Right there!” He whispers, grinning.
Minji smiles encouragingly, giving him two thumbs up, before sighing and wondering how the heck they’re going to fix this.
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