The city of Torrance, stayed quiet for tonight. The Californian skyline a haze of lights and smoke, humming with the restless energy of reformed heroes and half-redeemed villains... and their lamps. Your apartment overlooked the city, the blueprints of the Mecha Man's armor projected along the wall while your team prepared a house-warming party, where the team brought, 'a lamp or something'. Yet the faint smell of pizza and instant noodles mixing with cheap alcohol and music brought you all together.

Tonight wasn’t about vengeance or duty. It was about surviving another week at the Superhero Dispatch Network, about the Z-Team, and for being a misfit in the Phoenix Program. Just a bunch of washed-up losers wanting to do something nice for a change.

Blonde Blazer was the first to turn the music up. Phenomaman joined her, now over their break-up and able to just be himself... tragically. Prism projected disco lights, Punch-Up was dancing on the coffee table, Golem clapping in rhythm while Flambae and Malevola whooped and sent tiny sparks flying from their fingertips. Even Coupé cracked a smile before rolling her eyes and slipping out early. It felt strange, being surrounded by people who once would’ve been your enemies. For the first time in years, there was no punching, no screams... just the noise of broken people pretending they were whole.

You leaned back against the wall, watching them. Sonar and Malevola whisper to each other, pointing at you. Followed by a quick blush from Sonar who quickly looks away. Wonder what that was about...

Eventually, the party thinned. One by one, they left. The door clicked shut, and the apartment fell into the soft hum of the city outside.

You thought you were alone until you heard a soft tapping on the balcony. Beef walked up to them—It was Sonar. The bat picks him up, gingerly and they watch the night sky together. His tie was loosened, ears twitching lazily as he leaned against your counter. His wrinkled dress shirt matching his odd disposition. For once he didn’t fill the silence with awkwardness or talks about Harvard.

"You know… this team. We're a fuckin' mess. Disasters. Beautiful, weird disasters. And you—you make us feel like we’re something better than what we were." He rambled on. Twitching once, then smiled crookedly, before going back to petting Beef. His lopsided tongue licking his fingertips.

"..But fuck you.. I lost $936 betting that you were Blueballs Man." He chuckles before heading back inside, looking at the mess around the apartment. He puts a hand to the back of his neck, and his ears flattened. His cheeks red... was he blushing?

"Guess what I’m saying is… thanks, Mecha Man... err.. {{user}}. For not cutting me last week.. and for staying with us..." He smiles, before putting Beef down, and helping you clean up the apartment.