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non serious plas doodles

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Oh, yeah, I suppose I should post it here too.

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couple of coloured doodles

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small storyboard from a snippet of power records invasion of the plastic men story

bonus story sketch from another part using a panel from Bartas 1980s plastic man mini as inspiration (issue #2)

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Nice ppl keep giving me notes. So I scraped my camera roll, crawled out from under my rock and blew the dust off this blog to do an art dump :)

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i drew this months ago but I didn't post it out of fear this being too ridiculous

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Phantom Girl and Offspring on a date! Thank you Neil for donating to @dcforgaza !

Masterlist

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Heroes In The City pt10

Daniel’s heart fluttered in his chest like a coked up humming bird. He wiped sweat off from his face as he drove back to New York City. He checked his rearview obsessively, and nearly hit the guard rail when his phone rang through the car's speakers. “ Jesus fucking Christ, Martin!” He shouted.

His brother's voice came through muffled. “Dan, you got away too? Thank God.” If only Daniel could reach through the speakers and strangle him. “ I told you we shouldn’t have done the deal at the school. Did you at least pay them?” Martin hesitated before answering.

“Martin, I have a truck filled with illegal weapons. TELL ME YOU PAID ENTERGANG!”

***

When Luke and Linnya started dating, almost four years ago now, she had asked him if he thought his parents might still love each other. It was during one of those late night video calls when they should have been sleeping.

She could just barely see him in the dim lighting of his room. He grew quiet and she worried she’d hit a nerve.

“ This might sound harsh, but I don’t want them to ever get back together, they’re better off separated, trust me. But, I think some small part of them will always love the other. It’s weird.”

Linnya hadn’t understood until now. When Wonder Woman herself beamed into the living room, informed them that Plastic Man was injured. Angel’s demeanor shifted on a dime.

“What do you mean, hurt?” Her face softened as she spoke.

Luke was floored when she agreed to go up to the Watchtower. She squeezed his hand as they walked down the shiny sleek corridor of the Tower. “She’s never been up here.” He whispered to her, “ I feel like I should take a picture for proof.”

The med bay doors swooshed open.

“ Oh my god, Eel!” Angel gasped her hand covering her mouth in shock. “Dad!” Luke followed her to his fathers bedside. Letting go of Linnya’s hand.

He looked so old, all shrunken and grey. Linnya’s stomach twisted in knots as she wrapped her arms around Luke’s shoulders from behind.

Nightwing was laid out on a bed nearby. “Entergang.” He said. Luke and Linnya both looked at him. “ What is Entergang doing in the Gotham Suburbs?” Luke asked. His mother brushed a wayward curl from Plas’s face like she had a lifetime ago. “What’s Entergang?” She asked, gaze not drifting from his father. “ It’s uh, it’s a complicated mom.”

Nightwing got up with a grunt. “Offspring, Ms. McDunnah, let's talk.” Angel gnawed on her lower lip. “ I’ll stay with him.” Linnya piped up. Angel spared her a brief, blank expression and walked away with her son. Wonder Woman sighed and stayed behind with Linnya. She took the chair where Angel had been. “Why did you put him under?” Linnya pointed at the line attached to his wrists.

“ Whatever hit him it took his powers, but now that he’s organic he’s degenerating. Keeping him asleep slows it down.” Wonder Woman swallows hard, swallowing down memories of Steve. Who withered away in a hospital bed in the last days of his life.

She sat with him. Wiped his body, read to him, spoke with him when he was lucid. He thought she was the nurse. “ Diana.” Linnya whispered softly. The older woman wiped away a tear that had escaped. “Batman is working on something to reverse it.” She composed herself sitting up straight. They were quiet for a long moment.

***

Angel listened in mild confusion as the heroes talked. She never could wrap her head around this stuff. Arms dealers that traded in alien technology, and something about a place called Apocalypse. She just wanted to know if Eel would be okay.

Luke seemed to be taking it all in stride.

“Was this True Human?” He asked and Nightwing smiled briefly, proud that the kid he’d helped train had caught on so quickly. Angel perked up at the familiar name. That was something she knew about, something that kept her up at night.

“Unfortunately, yes. We’ve been keeping tabs on them for the last several years, they’ve been targeting parenting groups with their rhetoric and it’s starting to work.”

Luke pinched the bridge of his nose. “ So there’s PTA members buying Apocalypse weapons. That’s a new one,” he sighed exasperated. “ I want in, Nightwing. They hurt my dad.” Angel dug her nails into her palms, dread curling in her mind.

***

Lin eventually found Luke in his dad’s quarters. Angel had come back and Wonder Woman had excused herself to give them some privacy. Lin left because being alone with Angel sounded like a recipe for disaster.

He was on his back, arms crossed and glaring at the ceiling. “Hey Armstrong.” She said, coming closer. “Nightwing wants me to sit this one out. Can you believe that?”

Lin scootched in next to him and he turned on his side to face her, draping an arm over her waist. “He’s right. Your mom needs you, so does Plas.”

He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her close, resting his head on top of hers. “ Well, I don’t have to like it. What am I supposed to do? Sit around with my thumb up my ass.” He grumbled. Linnya reached up and kissed him at the junction where his neck met his jaw, before pulling away. “He’ll be okay.” She whispered, kissing him on the mouth.

She ran her fingers through his hair. “Now might be a good time to make nice with your mom.” He sighed propping himself up on one arm. “I think there’s something there not telling us,” he traced the curve of her lips with his thumb. “ And until I figure out what it is…maybe I could work on getting my mom to like my girlfriend.” She beamed at him. “ Atta boy.”

Luke detached himself from Lin, with great difficulty, and found his way back to the Med Bay. His mother was holding his fathers hand.

“Do you remember when we took Luke to the petting zoo, for his fourth birthday. He was so afraid of the goats, he wouldn’t let you put him down.” She spoke to Eel in a hushed tone.

Luke cleared his throat, catching his mothers attention. “ Those goats were bloodthirsty.” He said, rubbing the back of his neck as he sat down opposite of his mother. Angel laughed quietly, awkwardly. Luke gestured between her and his father. “I’ll never understand this.”

Luke leaned forward resting his arms on the bed railing.

“One minute he’s calling you the ‘the of fucking bitch of the century’ and your throwing the Encylicpida Birtanica at him. The next you two are sneaking into the house in the dead of night, like I can’t hear you, that apartment has thin walls.”

Angel looked down at her lap mortified. “Is this your way of punishing me?” She asked, avoiding his eyes. “ Maybe, you know I found a girl and we get along just fine. I never thought that would happen to me, and you can barely stand to look at her.”

Angel cut her eyes to Luke. “ Sweetheart…I really don’t think you know what you’re talking about.” A muscle in his jaw feathered. “You are your father’s son. We met a pretty girl who turned your head and now you're ready to give up anything for her, but you’re going to get older and realize it was a mistake. Just like we did.”

Luke got up so fast the chair squeaked against the floor. “ I am nothing like you two. Lin and I have never gotten into a screaming match so bad the neighbors called the cops. I’ve never cursed her out and she’s never smacked me across the face.” The back of his neck was hot.

Angel screwed her mouth tight as her son chewed her, them, out. Neither of them knew about Diana standing outside the door.

“ At least dad has faith in Lin and I, but you? You’re so busy being mad at dad that you can’t let anyone else be happy.” Luke stopped in the middle of his rant when his mother hid her face in her hands. Her shoulder shuddered with tears.

Luke wiped his hand down his face and turned out of the room. Diana and he caught each other, like deer in each other's headlights, before he took off down the hall.

He felt he was on fire as he retreated into one of the men’s locker rooms. Throwing himself into one of the showers he whipped the curtain close and turned the cold water on full blast.

Standing under the spray his body rippled in anger waves hating the stinging chill. Luke reached inside his spasming body and retrieved a small felt ring box. Clutching it in his fist he punched at the tile wall. Cracking several knocking more out of place.

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Heroes In The City PT:9

lol this is part 9 not part 10 ignore the title of the Sneek Peek

Angel, a middle-aged, post menopausal woman, was settled in for the night. A glass of wine perched in her hand, and her most comfortable house dress draped lovingly around her. 

 It would take an act of god to get her off the couch. Or, perhaps, her son catapulting himself through the glass balcony door. 

His body bounced off the opposing wall before landing nearly on top of her. Her wine splashed across the white suede of the couch. “ Mom! Mom! Are you okay!” 

Angel was so startled she didn’t perceive the other young heroes who had followed along. “ Luke, what has gotten into you!” 

Static used his powers to collect the glass that was caught in the carpet. “ We tried to get him to slow down, Ms. McDunnah.” Linnya had flown off down the hallway, phasing through walls to check every room. “ It’s clear.” She announced and Angel pointedly ignored her. 

Luke scooped his mom off the couch. “Dad called and-“ 

Angel wiggled out his hold. “Of course your father put you up to this. I’m not going anywhere.”

***

The parking lot of Todd Memorial High was almost completely empty. The asphalt was shiny under the lights. Question had parked them on a dirt access road at the back of the property by the football field. Plas reclined his seat back as Question kept watch. The man had not been forthcoming on what exactly was going on, but was THe Question. He kept things close to the chest, but Plas couldn’t help but notice how agitated he seemed.

He kept drumming his fingers on the steering wheel, scratching at his neck, and adjusting his collar. “You good over there man?” Plas finally asked. 

The Question sighed. “So you and Wonder Woman. That’s…interesting.” Plas squinted at him. “How is it interesting?” 

The Question was quiet for a moment, his hand stilling before he folded his arms. “It’s just interesting how happy Helena was when she found out.” Plas slowly righted his chair, the electric whirl filled the silence. The weight of a foreboding unsaid truth filled the cab. “ Yeah, well Bertie and I were both MOB kids. She was one of the first people to welcome me when I joined the League.” The Question flicked his head in his direction. If Plas could sweat he would be. 

“I found some very interesting messages on her phone between you and her.” His tone was sharp just below a yell. 

Plas swallowed hard and said the first wrong thing that came to mind. “It’s kinda fucked to invade your girlfriend privacy.” The Question grabbed him by the front of his costume. “You son of a bitch!” Plas furrowed his brow, his goggles going U-shaped. “What the hell are you mad for? It was two years ago and she called it off when she met you! 

The Question pushed him into his seat. Plas coiled around The Question like a snake until they were face to face. “Is this why you brought me out here, Vic? So you could interigate  me about a dead friends with benefits situation. “ Victor struggled to get loose. “No, I’m here because Helena asked to look into it because she was worried.”

Plas wrenched the fleched toned mask off his face. “You're being insane Vic. I used to sleep with Helena, it was fun and now it’s over, there is no conspiracy.” 

The lights in the gymnasium flashed unnaturally bright and both men were caught off guard. Plas slapped the mask back onto Vic’s face. “Let’s check it out,” he said as he slipped out of the car. 

***

Wonder Woman and Batman arrived too late. A crater smoked where the gym had once been. Chunks of debris cluttered the football field. Police and ambulances crowded the parking lot. Batman immediately spotted Nightwing sitting on a gurney. His costume was burned and tattered. Gauze was wrapped around his exposed shoulder. “Nightwing!” Batman called in a distinctly not Batman voice. 

“I'm alright B.” Nightwing smiled reassuringly. “What we're you doing out here?” he asked as he helped him up. “That is a long story,” he pointed at another ambulance. “But first I think you should check on your boyfriend.” Diana turned to see a familiar figure laid up inside an ambulance. “Plas!” 

A sheet was pulled up to his chest and an oxygen mask was over his mouth. He smiled weakly as he removed it. He looked different. His hair was striped with white and grey, his wrinkles were deeper, and his frame thinner wiry. “What happened?” she said worriedly as her friend urged her closer. “Not certain yet.” he replied, still smiling.  She held his hand in hers. His breathing was ragged. 

“Diana, you have to watch out for Luke and Angel. Daniel could be a part of this.” He went into a coughing fit before he could explain further. She reached for the oxygen mask and moved to put it back over his face. “I’ll do everything I can. Just rest now.” His hand came up and cupped her face for a moment, and she paused her action as his thumb stroked her cheek.   

“God, you’re beautiful.”    

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Just for fun. I'm a big fan of Jack Cole and especially his run on Plastic Man. The thing that DC doesn't get about what made Plastic Man great is that he himself wasn't whacky, the world around him was. The same way Bob Newhart was never the weird one on his shows but was surrounded by weirdos that he reacted to. Plastic Man's sidekick Woozy Winks was the comic relief and they always encountered weird Dick Tracy like villains. The situations they were put in were the surreal, funny part of the comics. Plastic Man and the FBI chief he worked for shared a similar relationship to that of the Spirit and HIS chief. Plas's villains were a mix between the grotesque Dick Tracy rogues' gallery and the Spirits' mixed bag of the ordinary (civilians in odd predicaments) and the professional. Of course DC has ruined pretty much every character they stole from other companies by not understanding what made them great in the first place.

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[ID: fanart of Zauriel and Plastic Man from DC Comics. Plastic Man is sitting on Zauriel's shoulder and grinning. End ID]

heaaaven must be missing an angel cause youre here with me right nowww

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Batman: Caped Crusader is so scary… what if they actually use Plas in season 2 and give him a design I don’t like…

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Heroes In The City pt 8

“Someone tried to kill you.” 

The Question flipped on the bedside lamp, forcing Plas awake. He blinked, bewildered at the faceless man. 

“ Question, it's one o'clock in the morning, and how did you get in my room?”Plas rolled over grabbing his goggles that were tangled in the sheets. 

The smooth latex covering The Question’s face rumpled slightly, indicating raised brows. “ Don’t worry about how I got in here. I’m telling you someone set your building on fire.” Plas slipped out of bed sliding across the floor to reform by the door. “ 

“ Did Huntress tell you how to bypass the security code?” 

The Question brushed past him and into the hallway. “ The real question is, who exactly wants to kill Eel O’Brien.” His long overcoat swished behind him and Plas accepted that fact he wouldn’t be getting back to sleep. “More than I care to think about.” Plas replied as he followed him down the hallway. 

The Question mumbled under his breath all the way to the Zeta Beam pad. The League had a word for this scenario: Getting Questioned. It was included in the paperwork when they brought you aboard, and from what Plas remembered it was best to go along with it. Mostly because Question wouldn’t leave you alone until you did. 

“How long have you been divorced from Angel McDunah?” He asked as they teleported down to a storage unit, in what was definitely Gotham if the Joker graffiti was anything to go by. 

“ It’s way too early to talk about my ex-wife.” 

The Question slid the metal door up revealing a dark blue vintage Mustang. “Oh great we can hit a drive through and you can buy me a coffee.” Plas remarked as he slid into the passenger seat through the window. “You seem unbothered that your life is in danger.”  The Question said as he drove out onto the street. 

“I would probably be more upset if there had been casualties. I am upset that I still don’t have a coffee in my hand.”

The Question shifted gears “ You’re rather grumpy for the funny guy.” Plastic Man glared over the rim of his goggles. “ I divorced Angel ten years ago next month. Now please, coffee. Before I hijack this thing and hock it for parts.”

If the drive-thru girl was shocked to see them she didn’t show it. “ Do you think Angel is capable of acts of violence?” 

Plas took a loud sip from his cup. “Absolutely, I saw her make a shiv out of a hairbrush, but she wouldn’t kill me. The worst she’s done is throw a hairdryer at me…and a crock pot… and a fish tank.” 

The Question lifted up the lower half of his mask. Three days worth of red stubble covered jaw. “ Make up sex is always the best.” He said as they waited at a red light. “ But she wouldn’t kill you?” 

Plas shook his head. “ No, she knows all about my powers given that Luke inherited them. She knows heat won’t kill me.” 

The Question put his cup in the holder and stepped on the gas. Plas gripped onto his seat as he blasted through traffic. “ How do you feel about a stake -out?” Question said as they drove onto the bridge leading out of the city into the suburbs. 

“ If we make it there in one piece, I’ll do whatever you want.” 

***

Linnya leaned down and kissed Luke’s forehead. They were laying on the floor of his room in Titans Tower. Luke had his head in her lap as she played with his hair. 

“ I love you.” She said kissing him again. 

Luke smiled up at her dreamily, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, he stroked her cheek with his thumb.  

“ God, you’re pretty.” He gushed. 

“Sweet Jesus, is it June yet?” An exasperated Virgil Hawkins leaned over the railing of the bunk bed disgusted.  Luke stretched an accusing finger at Virgil. “ You’re going to say that to me! the guy who helped you sneak Daisy in here multiple times. Ungrateful.” 

Virgil swatted his finger away. “You have been acting up since Wonder Woman got with your dad.” Linnya pursed her lips to try and hold in her laughter. 

“They are not dating!” Luke argued. Virgil flipped his phone over to show him the newest clip of his father and Diana dancing. “This was them last Saturday. Do you see them? They're glowing.” A small giggle escaped Linnya. “How come you never take me dancing?”

Virgil pointed back at Luke. “Yes Luke, why don't you take Linn dancing and get out of our room.” 

A muffled ringing inturupted Luke. Reaching inside himself for his phone he rolled his eyes. “Speak of the Devil.” His fathers end of the phone crackled. “Luke! I need you to get to your mothers now!” 

Virgil was up and out of bed in an instant. The color draining from Luke’s face was enough to get him moving. 

“Dad, dad!”

Luke called into the receiver. A sharp piercing metallic sound ended the phone call.  

***

Diana was certain that Bruce had fully lost it. His delicate mortal skull had taken too many blows, and now his faculties were slipping. He sat at the Bat-computer, his cowl pulled back, looking at her thoughtfully. “Well, what do you think?”

Diana leaned against the desk.

“You want to throw a celebrity dance competition…for charity, and you want Patrick and I to open  the ceremony.”

Bruce nodded. “It would be to raise funding for Gotham Arts Institute. You're both good dancers.” Diana crossed her arms. “We’er also trending at the moment. I’m sure that has nothing to do with it.”  Bruce shrugged. “I am a business man.”

Diana sighed. “You know we’re not actually dating right?” Bruce turned toward the computer. “Really? Could have fooled me.” he mumbled. “ Diana bumped his chair with her hip ruefully right as the computer lit up with an alert.

Bruce flipped his cowl back on before answering.  

“Hey, B we’ve got a situation in the suburbs.”  

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Heroes In The City: PT 7

It had been such a nice evening. It was so odd to see Eel in civilian clothes, but he looked nice in dark wash jeans and a red corduroy jacket, and he was doing a fine job as a fake boyfriend. He walked with her arm in arm, and insisted on paying for her food at the baseball game, and watching him gush about his son was quite enduring.

Then without much warning she found herself marching off with Linnya who was beginning to cry. Before Diana could do any consoling Luke appeared and just as quickly disappeared with his girlfriend. She had been around long enough to know that arguing with upset teenagers was a bad strategy. Patrick caught up with them as Luke and Linnya made their escape. Diana grabbed his arm, linking hers around it, to keep him from going after them.

“ Let them cool off a bit.” She said gently. Eel let out an exasperated sigh. “ I’m sorry. I know this isn’t a real date but you shouldn’t have to deal with my drama.” Diana shrugged. “ I have been on worse dates, but why don’t you buy me a drink to make it up to me.”

He blinked hard at her then smiled weakly. “ You get whatever you want…don’t you?” She leaned down towards him. “ Only most of the time.”

***

Eel took her back to the jazz club, The Keys, it was quieter tonight and they sequestered themselves to a corner booth. “ How did you meet Angel?” Diana asked as their drinks arrived. A dark hoppy beer for him and a Brandy Alexander for her.

“Juvie, well technically it was a group home for troubled teens, but tomato tamoto.” He took a long dreg. “We got married the second we were both eighteen like a couple of idiots, and spent fifteen years in wedded agony.” He chuckled darkly. “Best thing we ever did for our relationship was get divorced, at least that’s what I thought.”

Eel slumped a bit in his seat.

“ The last serious relationship I had was in World War Two.” Diana said it like she was talking about the weather. “ His name was Steve Trevor and I loved him.” She paused for a moment, gaze far away lost in another time. “ He died a few years ago, he was ninety eight.”

Taking a tentative sip the rich liquor tasted bland as it slid against her tongue. “ He taught me how to swing dance, and took me to my first drag show.” Eel thought she might start crying. “Being an immortal has its drawbacks.” She finished drawing into herself.

Eel gently placed his hand over hers. “I know what you mean.” Their eyes met and after a moment she brightened slightly.

“Patrick…how old are you?” Eel dramatically crossed his arms. “Well I certainly don’t get carded anymore.”

Diana laced her fingers to rest her chin against them, and gazed at him pensively. His normal body, for lack of a better term, had deep set crows feet, flecks of grey in his black curly hair, prominent smile lines.

“A mature thirty five?” She guessed.

Eel pursed his lips and squinted at her. “You’re good, you’re very good,” he leaned forward. “But technically I'm fifty eight, at least I’ve lived fifty eight years, If only the fountain of youth wasn’t an acid bath.” He leaned a little further and whispered conspiratorially. “ Do you want to know a secret about this old man you may, or may not be dating?”

Diana whispered back. “ What ever could you be hiding from me?” Eel nodded his head towards the dance floor. “ I love swing dancing.” He confessed.

***

Diana hummed quietly to herself as she stepped into the dress shop. Canary’s wedding party was deep inside the store, already with piles of gowns in their arms. “Oh my god, there she is!” Vixen exclaimed. Diana froze as everyone looked at her.

Canary shuffled over to her, her legs trapped in a tight mermaid style skirt.

“ Okay, definitely not this one.” She spoke over her shoulder at Power Girl, who pouted. “ Diana! we need to know everything.” She demanded when she finally reached her. “ About what?

Vixen rolled her eyes, dropping dresses on a nearby chair. She retrieved her phone and showed Diana the article from a sleazy gossip blog. She had to admit it was a great picture of them.

The photographer had captured them mid dip. Their cheeks were rosy and their smiles bright. She was barefoot, her heels discarded to make the height difference more manageable. He had offered to make himself taller but she insisted.

His arms were tight around her waist, and she had one hand tangled in the curls at the back of his neck.

“ -and there’s videos all over the place. I don’t know what’s more shocking, you two going out again, or Plas being a good dancer.” Vixen added with genuine surprise.

Diana shrugged nonchalantly. “ He’s a great dancer, we’re going out again next weekend to do just that.” Power Girl helped Canary back to the dressing room. “ Aren't you worried about leading him on?” She asked and Vixen nodded.

Diana casually began looking through dresses. “ Who says I’m leading him on? We enjoy each other’s company.”

Canary called out from behind the curtain. “So you are dating!” Diana shrugged again.

“ She shrugged, Canary.” Power Girl told her as she handed her another dress. “ A shrug is not an answer!” Canary said, poking her head out. Vixen pursed her lips, looking down at her phone. “ You know he’s not bad looking.” She admitted. Power Girl gasped and Canary frowned, her nose scrunched. “ He’s got a gold tooth.” She whispered like it was a horrible secr

“…it’s kind of hot in an old, divorced dad, who’s a washed up gangster, kind of way.” She said tentatively.

Power Girl put her hands on her hips. “ Did you just call Plastic Man…a DILF?” Vixen nearly dropped her phone. “ I did not say that.” Canary pulled the curtain aside sharply. “You strongly implied it.” She chided with a giggle.

“ He is fifty eight, has a son, and you called him hot. Are those not the prerequisites for a DILF.” Diana teased. They all gawked at her. “ He’s fifty eight, that’s nearly a grandpa. He’s a GILF, Vixen you called him a GILF.” Power Girl pointed at Vixen who waved them off with a huff. “ Diana I did not call your man a GILF, and this conversation did not happen.”

Canary shook with laughter and she struggled to compose herself. “ Diana, are you bringing him to the wedding? I need to know the seating chart.” She said, taking a deep breath. “ We’ll be there.” Diana promised.

💕Them💕

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Heroes In The City prt. 6

It didn’t matter how long his father had been on the FBI watch list, or how many times he saved the Earth. Eel was his embarrassing, corny dad, who used to morph into Kermit the Frog to make him laugh. He still did sometimes. 

Luke spotted him from the pitcher's mound. He could see the glint of his gold tooth as he grinned. His dad, with his cheesy gold tooth, was sitting next to Wonder Woman in his School’s dinky old bleachers. He was starting to think the papers were right. 

“Get your head in the game, O’Brien!” His coach called out. Luke scratched at the power dampening collar before whipping the ball forward, the batter biffed it, and the catcher caught it with a grunt. 

Eel whispered something in Diana’s ear, she laughed, and Luke wondered what the Hell his life had become. 

When the game was over, they won fifteen to ten,  Linnya appeared out of the hiding spot she kept to, she didn’t like being crowded. The guys in the dugout did their usual routine of teasing him over his girlfriend. 

He swatted at them with his mitt as gathered up his things. “ Yeah, yeah. Have fun kissing your pillows tonight.” 

Linnya held his hand as they walked to the gate that led out to the parking lot. “ You seemed out of it.” She said, reaching up to flip his hat backwards to see his face better. “ I’m fine, just a lot on my mind.” 

She frowned. “ I’m sorry.” 

Luke stopped and hugged her close. “ You didn’t do anything wrong, I should have told her sooner. Either way she freaked out, it's not your fault.” He kissed her and pulled away when she tugged at the hair on his chin. “ Your face is scratchy.” Linnya crinkled up her nose. “ You love it.” He said back. 

“ I don’t, you feel like steel wool.”

She rubbed her palms over his cheeks. “You’re not mad at me?” Luke placed his hands over hers. “No, I’ll figure it out with my mom. Don’t worry about it.” A sharp whistle disrupted their moment. “Get a room!” his father called out as he and Diana met them at the gate. “How’s my future daughter in law?” he said, hugging Linnya.  

Luke would have complained but Wonder Woman approached him with a hard pointed expression. “Do you have to wear that?” she asked, touching her own neck. “Oh, the collar? Yeah it’s the only way they’ll let me play.” Diana crossed her arms. “You don’t have to wear it during school do you?” His father put a hand on her shoulder. “No, he doesn't. They tried though.” 

Luke groaned and Linnya smirked. “It’s ancient history! Let’s go get food. I'm starving.” He put an arm around Linn and headed out of the gate. “Teenagers.” Eel remarked. “I don't like it.” Diana continued. The younger couple led the way and Diana and Patrick followed behind. “What’s up with them?” Lin whispered to Luke. “I don’t know, but I refuse to believe my dad is dating Wonder Woman.” 

Both teens glanced behind them to see them linked arm and arm. “I think they're cute.” Lin said cheerily. “There is nothing cute about my father.”  She furrowed her brow. “You look exactly like your dad?” 

Diana and Patrick were far enough behind they couldn't hear what was being said. “ I think we’re fooling them.” he said, nudging Diana. “ I hope we didn't embarrass him too much.” he shrugged. “He’s always embarrassed.” 

The restaurant came into view, its bright neon sign hanging over the sidewalk. Angel waited underneath it, Danial standing beside her. Luke Halted along with Lin. Angel and Luke stared each other down, giving Patrick and Diana time to catch up.  “Ah, shit.” Patrick muttered under his breath. 

“So you just don’t call? You leave and you shut me out.” Angel demanded as she stormed over to Luke. Danial kept his hands on her shoulders like he was coaching her. Eel opened his mouth but Angel snapped her fingers at him. “I am talking to my son.” A muscle feathered in Patrick’s jaw, and Diana could feel him tense up. “More like talking at me, but that’s nothing new.” Luke shot back. Diana detached herself from Eel and gently pulled Lin away. “We should let them be alone for a moment.”  

Angel seemed taken aback by Diana stepping in, but she was already walking across the street with Linn before she could object. “I didn’t leave you, you kicked me out.” Luke defended himself. “That is not what your mother said.” Daniel spoke bringing an end to Eel’s thin pacients. “I’m sorry, why are you here?” Luke nodded. “Your mother said that you could live with your girlfriend or with her. You chose to leave.” Daniel said not answering Eel’s question.  “What was I supposed to do? Break up with my girlfriend, the person I've been with for three years?”

Angel rolled her eyes. “I was not telling you to leave Lisa.” Patrick pinched the bridge of his nose. Luke’s mouth fell open in disbelief. “Lisa! Her name is Linnya.” the tips of his ears were going pink. “Alright! I’m sorry. The point still stands. You cannot just go off with your girlfriend to god knows where.” 

Luke clenched his hands into fists. “Fucking watch me.” he spat as he said as he stretched his way across the street. “Luke Earnie O’Brien!” Eel shouted after him. “Is that how you raised your son?” Daniel said as Angel crossed her arms, her anger now locked on Eel. “Listen man, I really need you to mind your business.” 

Angel jabbed a finger in Eel’s chest. “Is he wrong? He gets that from you.” Eel put his hands on his hips. “Oh, because you're such a peach.” Daniel moved so he was standing in front of Angel. “ I can’t say I'm surprised. An ex-convict with the backing of the Justice League. I bet you think your untouchalbe.” 

Daniel crossed his arms and cocked his head to the side. “Okay John Wayne. If you’re trying to get a rise out of me it’s not happening. You're half my size and you look like the toughest thing you've fought is a traffic ticket.” Daniel put his hands up. “Is that all you Meta’s know how to do, hurt people?”

Angel began to pull Daniel away. “Leave it Dan. Let's go.” Eel was rooted to the sidewalk as the pair disappeared into the busy street. “You Meta’s.” he said to himself.   

[plasplasplas]

Heroes In The City Pt 5

“-We are happy to report that all residents from the building collapse last night are accounted for. Most were rescued with only minor injuries thanks to local hero Plastic Man with help from Wonder Woman.” A picture of Plas carrying Wonder Woman, smiling at each other in the middle of their banter. “The couple could not be reached for comment on the nature of their relationship.” The anchor winked at the camera and Eel threw a pillow at the TV.

“ What a bunch of vultures.” He left his room,the metal door swooshing open. It wasn’t the first time he had to move into the Watchtower. That was one of the perks of being in the league. Everybody had a room. A tiny cold room where the closest shower was communal and smelled like urinal cakes.

At least he had access to the canteen. Plas rubbed at his eyes, adjusting his goggles as the machine poured coffee into a waiting cup. He had slept away most of the day and was considering going back to bed, but he wanted to check on Diana.

A second cup of coffee steamed as the machine finished dispensing. “ How does it feel to be the luckiest bastard in the world?” Plas shut his eyes tight, his goggles mimicking the action. He didn’t turn around as Guy Gardner came up behind him. “How did you do it?

Plas put lids on the cups and moved away from Gardner without acknowledging him. “ Hey, come on. Let a guy in on your secret.” He followed Plas out into the hallway. “ Don’t you have something more important to be doing? Maybe, using that ring to make a brain for yourself.” A big green wall appeared, blocking Plas from getting anywhere.

“ What jumped up your ass? You start banging Wonder Woman and now you’re too good for me?”

Gardner leaned against the wall he had made. Plas knew there were two options of dealing with Gardner, ignoring him or fighting him. “ Does she have your dice in a vice already, not that I would put it past Wonder Bi-“

Plas wrapped a hand around Guy’s mouth, breaking his concentration for the wall to dissipate. Plas whipped Guy back into the canteen before hurrying to the medical wing. Where Diana rested on one of the beds. A magazine absorbing her attention. “ I didn’t know what kind of creamer you like so I put a little bit of everything.”

Diana took the cup graciously, the magazine forgotten in her lap. “Thank you, you look flushed. Is everything alright?” Plas sat on the edge of her bed.

“ I’m great, I live in a shoe box and people keep asking me about a relationship that doesn’t exist.” He picked up her magazine, a copy of Bride Monthly, and he held it out to her. “ Don’t tell me we’re in here too?”

Diana pushed his arm down. “No, Dinah is getting married. I’m doing some research for her.” Plas huffed and rubbed the back of his neck. “ Man, is everyone getting married? First Angel and now Canary.” He slowly began to deflate, becoming flatter and flopping forward. “ I thought you were over Angel?”

Diana pulled him upright. “ I am. I don’t know, do you ever feel stuck. Like, you keep moving forward but you never get anywhere?” His body popped back into shape. “ Why were you in New York last night?” He asked as the thought suddenly dawned on him.

“Oh, right I guess I should explain that.” She tucked her hair behind her ears. “ I wanted to see you. I had an idea.” His goggles bunched up in the middle as his curiosity peaked. “ What if we had some fun at everyone’s expense?” Plas scootched closer to her, crossing his legs and arms, his head cocked to the side. “Princess, are you suggesting a prank?”

Diana smiled and leaned forward. “ I’m suggesting that because everyone is so opposed to the idea of us together, because they know better apparently, let’s not deny the allegations.”

Plas’s hair curled up like devil horns. “ Oh, you want to mess with people. So we don’t confirm it or deny it, and have a lot of fun together while everyone tries to figure it out.” Diana nodded.

He pointed at her. “ That’s evil, and I like it.” Diana sipped her coffee with a satisfied little smirk. “ It might get you out of your rut, who knows?”

Plas steepled his hands together. “ What should our first not date be? Hmm, Luke has a game next Friday night.” Diana brightened. “ I haven’t seen him in so long, he’s never around when I pop by Titans Tower.”

The door swooshed open and Offspring stepped inside, as if summoned by the mention of his name. “ I need to talk to you.” He blurted out. “Hello Wonder Woman, thanks for not letting my dad melt last night.” He said as lassoed his arm around his father and began pulling him out of the room. “ It’s no trouble.” She replied as Plas was unceremoniously dragged away.

Plas unlooped himself from his son once they were alone in the corridor. Luke had dropped his original costumed appearance. He ditched the helmet and spandex like body suit, for white coveralls and big puffy white jacket. Eel missed his octagon shaped eye coverings, but no matter how much he changed physically his son always looked the same when he was nervous.

Luke kept his lips in a tight line, and he paced, walking back and forth in front of him like a dog in a kennel. “ I lied a little bit,” he pinched his finger together to show how small. “ I had more to tell you, more than baseball.”

Eel caught his son by the shoulders. “That’s okay, just tell me what’s on your mind.” Luke took a deep breath letting it go slowly.

“ I am…spending the summer with Linnya on Bgztl.”

Eel patted his son on the shoulder. “ Good for you two! That’s a big step, you’re really growing up on me.” He hugged him tight. Luke relaxed against his father. “ So you’re not mad, or disappointed?”

Eel morphed into his normal, none shiny, self. Lifting his goggles up to look his son in the eye. “ I’m going to miss you, a lot, more than a lot, but you’re a man now. You came to me as a man and told me what you were doing, I’m proud.”

Luke could feel himself going misty eyed, and he quickly cleared his throat, rolling his shoulders out to regain his composure.

“ Your mother is going to kill you, unfortunately. Good luck with that.” He patted Luke on the cheek before turning away on his heels, marching off down the hall. “ Wait Dad! You have to help me!”

Luke rushed to keep up with Eel. “ You’re a grown ass man, you have to stand up to your mother eventually.” Luke wrapped around his father. “ Dad, please.” He made his eyes big and wet.

Eel poked him in the forehead. “ Kid, if you can’t tell your mom about your decisions then maybe you’re not ready for a serious relationship.”

Luke slid off Eel and into the floor. “ I hate it when you’re right.” Eel picked him up, putting him on his feet. “ That's my boy, what’s the worst thing that could happen?”

Eel said it with confidence because he genuinely believed it. Angel would be mad at first but she was sensible, that much he was certain of. Luke deep down believed him too. What was the worst thing that could happen?

The worst thing that could happen would be for Eel to wake up later in the evening to his son. Once again standing in his doorway. His arms were unfurled around his feet, weighing his shoulders down.

“ Mom kicked me out.”

[plasplasplas]

Heroes In The City Pt 4

Eel flipped on his TV and uncapped a beer,flicking the cap only to miss the trash can. He groaned, thought about texting Woozy, but knew he was probably asleep despite the early hour. The fleeting idea to message Tammy crossed his mind but he decided he wasn’t that pathetic. He let his head rest back against the couch. Maybe he was pathetic enough to set up one of those dating apps.

He ran his hands down his face pulling until it bounced back. Another Friday night another night in. Boredom swallowed up the sounds buzzing from the tv. He was lost in the white noise and slowly closed his eyes.

Dozing off the beer began to slip from his grip , he jolted awake when it fell, spilling a puddle on the floor. Groaning, he stretched his arm to the tiny kitchen for a towel. He paused mid movement.

The interesting part of powers, other than everything about them, was his sensitivity to temperature. The left side of the apartment was warmer than the right. His eye caught smoke drifting through the vent.

The acrid scent of smoke finally reached him. He stretched through the metal slats. Cobwebs and dust ghosted over his face, but he was too focused on the flames licking through from the adjoining apartment. He knew this neighbor, he knew everyone in this building.

“ Frankie! Frankie!” He shouted in the smoke filled room. It was so hot he had to fully concentrate to keep from melting. He slithered along the floor until he found Franki passed out in a reclining chair.

He gathered him up and crashed his way to the streets below, absorbing the impact with his elastic body. The fire department was beginning to arrive. Plas handed Frankie off to an EMT.

The twinkling sound of windows breaking and the increasing temperature in the air, forced Plas back into the building, because the fire was spreading and the screams of the people inside echoed down to him.

Staying low he’d stretch out feeling around, with dozens of hands, and urge anyone to grab on. His skin grew stringy and sticky. By the time he’d brought another dozen people outside his overheated molecules could barely hold him together.

“You have to cool him off, any hotter and he’ll liquify.” Said a commanding voice. Plas wasn’t certain when he’d laid down on the ground, but Wonder Woman was looking down at him. Only for an instant before she disappeared and two sets of hands began pulling and rolling him away.

Before long things got cold, and got a lot clearer. He rose out of a mound of ice cubes. “ Where’d she go?” He asked two very disturbed Firefighters.

One jerked a thumb behind him at the building. “ She’s finishing up your job, buddy.” Wonder Woman zipped in and out of the building, carrying groups of three and four. Plas got to his still wobbly legs. “ Wonder Woman! toss them down!”

He morphed into a giant cushioned pad.

Water streamed in and over the building, but the fire rushed on until floors began to collapse in on themselves. The pink light of dawn tinted the sky before it finally surrendered and the flames smothered themselves in the rubble.

Wonder Woman and Plastic Man sat on the sidewalk across from the building. Both of them were black with soot, Diana had angry red taunt patches of skin along her arms and legs. “ We should get you to the Tower. We need the medical staff to patch you up.”

Diana winced as she tried to move. Everything was tender and raw. Plas Picked her up gingerly, one arm under her legs and the other behind her back. “ I can handle it.” She tried to argue, brows knitted together. “I know, tough guy. I just want to look important when I get up there.”

A camera flash caught their attention. A few actually. Plas had them beamed up before any of the salivating tabloid journalists could ask any questions.

“ Welp, we definitely made that worse.” Plas said as the light crackled around them.

***

In the hours after Eel’s building caught fire, Luke had a much different problem.

Trying to have a conversation with Daniel was Similar to watching grass die. Personally he wished Daniel would stop trying so hard to get to know him because he wasn’t very good at it. “ So, Titans Tower.” He prompted, not taking his eyes off the road or disrupting his rigid posture. “ Yup, you didn’t have to drive me. I’m sure you have better things to do.”

Daniel made a dismissive sound. “ It’s no trouble at all.” A long painful moment of silence stretched on for so long Luke started to count the number of cars they passed. “ Hey Luke, I actually wanted to have a talk with you. Man to man.” Luke slowly turned to him. This wasn’t the first time Daniel had tried to do something fatherly.

The man had a way of inserting himself into Luke’s business. If Luke was going out at night, even for hero work, Daniel would insist he needed a curfew. He had an opinion on what AP courses Luke should take, and how he should spend his free time.

“ What are your plans, going forward I mean?” Luke had been keeping his mouth shut in the past few months. It would be moving out soon and would only have to worry about Daniel during the holidays. He didn’t see a point in stirring up any drama for his mom’s sake.

“ Well, if I don’t make it to the MLB. I plan on working toward a Phd in Forensic Psychology.” Daniel nodded his head, his eyes darting to him. “ A Doctor that’s ambitious, hoping to make a difference without your powers?

Luke scratched at the stubble growing on chin. “ I was thinking about using it with my powers. Some of the best heroes are detectives and the best way to find a criminal is to know how they think.” Danial braked hard, the car lurched forward and rocked back on its tires.

“Have you considered something a little less dangerous? The life of a superhero isn’t a stable one. You’ll always be worried about the next threat to the earth, the country, yourself.” Luke rested his head on his fist as Daniel talked. This was beginning to sound like a fatherly lecture from a man who barely knew him.

“ There’s police and a military for those kinds of things. Wouldn’t you rather have a simple life where you only have to worry about the day to day.”

Daniel spoke with a certain condescension that told Luke that he genuinely thought he knew better. “ I mean look at your father. He’s never around, couldn’t keep his relationship together, barely makes any kind of a living.”

Luke rolled down the window and slipped outside in a fluid motion. He leaned his head into the car. “Listen Dan, the reason why my mom is interested in you is a mystery to me, but she likes you and I respect that. If you want to get along with me however, you need to understand that you’re not my dad. I have a Dad and he’s not perfect but he’s a good man and a great hero.”

Luke turned away from the car leaving Danial stunned and slack jawed . “ Don’t waste your time picking me up on Sunday night.” He said as he walked off toward the pier.

Heated Luke stormed through the streets until he spotted a familiar face waiting for him by the Titans Ferry. The giant T-shaped building waited behind her on a small island. She flew to him and relaxed as she hovered down enough for him to peck her on the mouth. “ Hey Casper.” She giggled at the familiar nickname. “ Hey Armstrong.” She replied, holding onto his hand as she came to rest her feet on the ground.

“ You could fly us over.” He said. Linnya tucked into his side, trying to get away from the chill coming off the water. “ I like taking the ferry with you. Don’t you like spending a few minutes with me before everyone else?”

He kissed the top of her head. “ I guess I can tolerate you for a few extra minutes.” She poked him hard in the rib, making him jump and laugh, before she hugged him around his middle. “ A few more months and it’ll be just the two of us all summer.”

Luke shifted awkwardly on his feet.

“ Luke, you did tell them right?”

He glanced down at her. “ Well, I told them about school and my scholarship-“ Linnya pulled away from him. “ - and you told them about spending summer break with me on Bgztl, right?”

Luke sucked in a breath. “ No.”

Linnya shot up into the air. “ Then I guess you’ll be having a lonely weekend!” She flew off for the tower. “ Lin! Lin, come on!…I’ll tell them tonight.” His yelling tapered off into a mumble.