Making his way through the crowd to find the line, Drew knocked away prying hands, both those looking to pickpocket him and even one who just had twisted intentions.

This particular daring scum-bag Drew had to break a finger because the swatting wasn’t being enough it seemed.

“Yo fellows of the tough life, this guy’s hands a bit more touchy than those looking for a wallet.”

Looking to show him a lesson, he brought prison rules into the courtyard.

Catching the crowd's attention around him, the thugs spotted the creep who was currently nursing his finger.

Violence easily rose in their eyes, dozens of men shifted out of Drews's way, making a bee-line towards the molester who looked like they were about to cry. Even hardened criminals usually wouldn't be ok pedo’s so there was little to the imagination as to what would happen to him.

Still, he should be glad it was me who caught him; at least he has the slimmest chance of surviving. On the other hand, had it been Greasefire, he would disappear from the city, ash in the wind, and no way to trace him back to the shack.

The man disappeared in a wave of thugs; his screams stopped before they could exit his mouth.

Drew soon found himself near the front with the line having been drastically reduced, his mouth salivating, and the man he had condemned to a potential death already forgotten.

‘Man, I hope he still has crazy fries. Those sell like, well, crazy fries!’

Having, at last, reached the counter, Drew finally caught sight of Greasefire. His thin but absurdly tall figure hunched over, grabbing a new bag of patties from the freezer he kept beneath the shack. His long dark hair was tied up into a bun because as long as his place was a legal spot to dine, health code inspectors were bound to stop by, and even an ex-villain like him would rather not deal with all the crap that comes with failing an inspection.

“Hey, Greasy, what’s cooking.” Of course, Drew knew what was cooking, but his impish nature just loved antagonizing the ex-convict.

“Bloody hell, it’s you again, ya little shit. Didn’t I tell you I’d spit in your food the next time you show up here? Or better yet, didn’t I tell you, someone your age shouldn’t be here in the first place, you’re likely to get shivved and stuffed into a dumpster if you keep coming around.” The man, despite his dirty attire of apron and grease stains all over, was relatively handsome. A nice shower and some decent clothes, and you’d consider him a respectable man of society.

“Why yes, the weather is indeed lovely today. It was a rough winter, but you know us citizens of Dawn City, tough as nails we are, aren’t we.” As always, Drew just diverted the man’s words, knowing it would just annoy him more.

“Grrrr, just order your meal and leave me be. I got customers to serve, you pasty brat.”

“Hahaha, you’re too easy sometimes, Greasy. Three orders of Crazy Fries, two grease burgers, and two vanilla shakes. Oh, and please, hold the spit. I’m watching my figure.”

Greasefire only grunted in displeasure, moving to get Drew his order so he could get the kid out of his sight.

Just as he was putting the finishing touches on the order, the back door of the shack opened and considering Greasefire had no employees, that didn’t leave much to the imagination as to who it might be.

Wearing a somewhat oversized hoodie and an androgynous boy around the same age as Drew stormed in, haste evident in their movement.

“Pops, did Drew stop by yet!”

Greasefire’s frowned deepened, the sour look on his face bringing up lines that weren’t spottable before.

“Of course, don’t see your ole Pops for four days, and the first thing out of your lips is where that brat is. Well, if your in such a rush, look no further your ‘friend’ is right there probably wearing that horrid smile of his.” Greasefire was not pleased, to say the least, and even Drew felt his grin falter somewhat.

‘Is there any wonder your dad doesn’t like me, Eliot? Well, besides my jokes that is.’

“Drew! I did my best to get here quickly but some asshole held me up longer than expected.” The frustration in Eliot’s words was plain to see, but Drew was a bit annoyed so he just snorted in response.

“We can talk about stuff later. I’m pretty hungry right now, and your dad looks ready to kick me out before I can even pay for my food.”

“The brats right, give me the money and git.”

“Wait! I’ll pay for it, no discount either, Pops.” Eliot dug into her pockets, pulling out a fifty.

“And the usual for me too.” She added, remembering how hungry she was.

Greasefire could already melt stone with his abilities, but it looked like his glare was reaching similar potential.

Flinching under his glare, Eliot’s turned her face downwards, finding her shoes to be very interesting at that very moment.

“I’ll make my own food.” She mumbled

“Good. Now get out of here, brat; otherwise, I’ll look away when those customers decide to pay you back for all the shit you give them.”

Drew, knowing what little goodwill he had was long spent, scooped up the tray and disappeared back into the crowd. Leaving Eliot to deal with their father. They'd talk later when under better conditions.

------------------------

The grill sizzled as Yue angrily pressed the patty. She wished she could have just left with Drew, but she needed to eat, her caloric intake not having reached even half of her recommended daily amount. Plus, her stomach was practically gurgling a storm, and she didn’t need Drew laughing at her about it.

‘Well, that could have gone better.’ Teva announced, as though it wasn’t apparent enough.

‘You really should have said hello to Dad first. He might have cooked us the meal if you had.’ Added Eli, who was feeling bad for her father.

“Oh, shut it. Just let me grill in peace.” It honestly felt to Yue that every time it was her turn, things always went wrong.

“I hope that’s not me you’re talking to Yue.” Responded Greasefire, who somehow always knew which of the girls was in control.

“Pops, it’s Eli and Teva. They’re just so annoying. First, I don’t get to fight today, and then I’m late to hang out with Drew, and now I’m cooking and wasting even more of my free time.”

“Maybe if you had at least told me hello, I’d have gotten you something and let you go eat with the brat,” Greasefire responded the tinge of hurt in his voice well hidden.

‘Told you.’ Thought Eli, who was feeling quite smug about her accurate prediction.

“Sorry, Pops.” Yue could feel the guilt starting to gnaw at her insides.

Greasefire sigh. He pulled something from below the counter and put it up for all to see.

‘Closed for 15.’ The sign came with a multitude of grumbles and discontented customer complaints, but they knew better than to push Greasefire.

Lowering the screen, so the inside of the shack was no longer visible, Greasefire moved over to help Yue prepare her meal. Yue, though surprised, remained quiet, just enjoying the moment with her father.

“There, that should be enough for that ridiculous appetite of yours. Now sit and eat with your old man for once. That brat won’t be leaving that soon.” Pulling out two foldable chairs from seemingly nowhere, Yue didn’t make a peep and did as her father asked.

“Sorry, Pops.” She repeated once more. The short time stuck in the shack, allowing her guilt to ferment, making her feel horrible.

“Sigh, it's fine, baby doll. I’ve been where you have, stupidly in love. I just wish it wasn’t that brat.” The annoyance in his voice, unable to be hidden.

“WHAT! No, me and Drew are just friends, plus he has a girlfriend! Just good friends, that's all!” Three voices came out of Yue’s mouth, she and her sisters entirely in sync.

“Bullshit, maybe if you three didn’t hide that fact that you were a girl, you might have seized the brat already. Still confounds me to this day that you would continue pretending to be a boy, even going as far as using Teva shapeshifting ability to keep the guise up.”

‘Were we that easy to read! What if Drew already noticed!’ Embarrassed to the point of death, if Eli had been in control, her face would have been crimson red in shame.

‘If it noticed, it was because you two don’t know how to act for shit!’ Deflecting the blame, Teva held out confidant that it wasn’t at all her fault. Otherwise, she would be no better off than Eli at that moment.

“You two are just making this worse!” Yue has officially decided that today is the worse turn day for her.

Greasefire watches as his daughters had an internal meltdown, the childish reaction reminding him that his daughters were still only just barely older than 14. They were due for a growth spurt soon as most meta’s got once they hit 15, but that would only change their outer appearance. In his head, they were still children just entering the world at large.

“So you accept that this is just a crush? The boy has a girlfriend. Not much you can do unless you plan on stealing him from her or being like some of those new heroes who are having polyamorous relationships because they can’t keep their pants on.” Greasefire spits at the word. He wasn’t lying about the recent surge of said relationships in the last decade. Meta’s especially powerful ones tended to have high libido problems. The labcoats had come to the conclusion that the need of passing on the metahuman gene made them all like that. He dealt with his own on the weekends visiting the cities redlight district, but he was worried about the future of his daughters. It was still some time off, but when the urge started gnawing, he hoped she won't fall into the depravity he kept seeing on the news.

Yue had gone still as well as the voices in her mind.

“Oh, no, you don’t, girl. I’d rather you steal the boy than see you as second best to him, or so god help me, I’ll kill him myself.”

“You wouldn't do that! Plus, it's impossible, Drews loyal to a fault, both as a friend and I'm sure as a lover.” She blushed at the last bit.

“Well, there’s your answer, so get those dirty thoughts out of your head, and finish up, I have hungry thugs to feed.”

Yue nodded before quickly gulping down her food. The scalding temperature barely an issue to her. She then finished it off with some water straight from the sink.

Greasefire watched on, shaking his head, knowing that he had done nothing to change the girl's mind and was likely to have planted a new seed instead.

“Thanks, Pops!” She shouted from the sink. Though he was soon surprised by a kiss on the cheek and hug strong enough to feel his bones start to complain, not that he himself would. Returning the hug, he kissed her on the forehead and sent her on her way.

A ghost named Yue moved through the crowd with ease, her sisters and her already plotting on how to achieve their new goals.

They wouldn’t be able to convince Drew they knew that much, but what about his girlfriend?

Three of them in the same body meant they would have already been sharing. What issue would there be with one more?

-------------------------------------

In an abandoned apartment building, a man raged. Broken furniture and glass littering the floor. A weak effort on the man to not throttle the two boys who were his brother's companions.

“I don’t care how much that fucker is charging. We’re paying for it. No one fucks with my brother or the Banditos! Now get the fuck out of my face before I shatter your sternum like my brothers was!

“Yes!” Mark and Joe scrambled out of the room, too afraid of the very real threat Edds's brother 'The Bandito' had given them.

“Just you wait, you little punk, I’m gonna leave crawling like the ant you are.”