Pre-barbeque

[24d_245t_tcdd]

Even aggressively under-socialised heroes with virtually no external hobbies or entertainments have certain chores which they must do, regardless of inclination, time, or other pressing matters. Chores such as the utterly mundane need to go shopping. For food. Plain, ordinary, food.

So, of course, Agent Orange is not dressed as himself, but rather as his secret identity, which is rather more secret than most. He is wallpaper; about as ordinary as it is possible for a man to get with virtually no feature standing out sufficiently to be a starting point for a description should he be witness to or suspect in something.

He was standing in the vegetable section of the store, a Whole Foods because he found the price an equitable trade for the quality of foods, doing meal planning for the week as he judged the benefits of asparagus versus those of bok choy.

Comments

[futures_of_ash]

For a moment, as she turned to slip into the car, her eyes were wild, and sad and full of stars...but she blinked it away and gave a wry smile. "I always have to make sure people know, James. Always." It was an 'ensuring free will thing' kind of.

"Even now?" Hank mused from the front seat."What are we discussing with such statements? Oh dear, you didn't offer to cook did you Rachel?"

[24d_245t_tcdd]

It made him hurt, somewhere deep inside and under the calm that he always expressed emotionally. Nobody should have such sadness in their eyes, and not her. Not Rachel. "Never again." he stated, firmly, "We were discussing our continued association and Rachel was offering to cease speaking to me."

[futures_of_ash]

"Ah, yes, she does do that upon occasion." Hank sighed and got the car moving once James was in as well. "I take it as a sign that she truly cares for me when she says it though, you're welcome to use my assumption as well."

"I do," Rachel pointed out easily. "So it works."

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"I do not like it." he said again, "I would prefer that it be assumed I am happy to speak with you until I state otherwise."

[futures_of_ash]

"Sorry," Rachel shrugged, not precisely sure she should be apologizing but it seemed right? "Anyway, permanent gate to this world."

"So James may come and go as he likes," Hank allowed cheerfully. "Which will be good for him as I believe we may have better access to medical than his world." There, a reason for him to come and go without Rachel! And patently true as well!

"It would be safe to heal here..." Rachel agreed after a moment of thought.

[24d_245t_tcdd]

"And at times I do need to heal." he admitted without shame. It happens when you're a small fish playing in the biggest pond.

[futures_of_ash]

"Everyone does." Rachel agreed easily.

"Precisely, whether they choose toa dmit it or not." That had the air of someone who had threatened patients and teammates with straps and induced comas before. "And here there will be no temptations and distractions for you."

"At least hero wise." Rachel chuckled.