[b]- One Year Ago -[/b]

"So uh we got some CDs here, go ahead and pick whatever you like. Got some Wu Tang Clan, NWA, Notorious BIG, Milli Vanilli..."

Luke flipped through the rather interesting group of CDs, all neatly filed into a holder that he flipped through. The original Plastic Man, who he now knew as 'Patrick', was still going through mentally the artists when Luke stopped him with a pat on the shoulder. "Actually hold on... before we do anything else." Luke asked politely.

It'd been about a week since he was 'killed' at the hands of Heartbreaker. Though with the phrasing he was close to death. If it wasn't for his guardian angel in red, the original Plastic Man and his son Offspring. They've nursed him back to normal but Luke felt like he couldn't just go back. A lot of things were becoming difficult to cope with. His dad came back into his life in the worst way possible. Filing a cease and desist on Luke for using the Plastic Man name. Even though the Justice League gave him a top grade team of lawyers to fight it, and eventually win Luke full control of the name. It made an already stressful experience all the worst. Like how the last time he saw his dad he was being chewed out, called 'a little shit'. That stung hard. It was also the team struggling to keep itself together through drama and pain. Everything made going back feel wrong for Luke. He didn't want to quit, he couldn't quit now. It was when Plastic Man suggest Luke join them on their world tour that he had the plan. Though for the plan Luke had one last idea.

Stepping out of the rental car Luke strolled up to the payphone and fiddled with the change in his pocket. Popping in two quarters before dialing a particular number from memory. Sighing as he felt like crap for what he was going to say, but knowing it had to be done.

[b]- Modern day -[/b]

"Can't believe you're actually going through with this..."

"Hey, you act like your end of things is the only reason I am."

Luke carefully applied the wig on using the spirit gum technique he learned. A short wavy blond cut that hid his ginger hair perfectly. Soon after Luke started to use his fingers to stroke and curve his face and neck like putty, suddenly looking twice as old. Plastic Man and his son Offspring watching on as they stayed in the hotel's bathroom.
"There, how does that look?" Luke asked turning around, showing off the ritzy suit disguise in full. Both Plastic Man and Offspring looked him over a bit before turning to one another, and confidently giving him the thumbs up.

Luke slipped into the fancy party for Thomas Chemical Inc, staged in one of Gotham City's finest hotels. Luke didn't so much as have a single wandering eye come onto him between all the empty chit chats, champagne, and hor'dovrs. He knew all about this stuff, had to deal with it as a kid, even then it wasn't very hard to see through it all. Just empty everything, Luke wanted to gag but knew he had bigger fish to fry.

Soon the sound of a dessert fork tapping the side of a wine flute graced the air as Mr. Charles Thomas rose from his seat at the large table on the stage. "Ladies and gentlemen I thank each and every one of you for attending tonight." Mr. Thomas got a friendly applause, quickly brushing it aside in a dopey manner. "Please please, tonight is a special occasion as we celebrate the company's 45th anniversary. Now despite some fairly recent... difficulties." Luke knew instantly what his father was talking about. Losing the legal battle for the Plastic Man name really struck a chord. Causing Luke to let loose a small chuckle. 

"Still, the company is at an all time high, and to each and every one of you who invest in the company... I thASNGGHH!" Suddenly a pair of hands with familiar red bands on the wrists had snaked up and behind Mr. Thomas. Grabbing the pair of tighty whiteys under his fancy suit and proceeded to yank them up high. After his feet left the ground for a moment Mr. Thomas collapsed to the ground holding his groin in hard pain.

"Aw ladies and gentlemen... please no need to thank me yet for shutting him up." Luke Thomas stepped out from where he had hid. No longer in disguise but his full Plastic Man gear. He grabbed the mic off of the table, twirling it by the cord in his hands before pulling the mic up to his face in a sly confidence that beamed off of him. Something completely foreign to anyone who knew Luke before. "How are all of you? I mean first off you all look shocked to see me. Seriously would you rather Two-Face or Penguin showed up? Least I'm only here out of love for my family! Yeah I know I'm suppose to be dead... but I got better." The crowd, though still shocked at what happened, seemingly let a few nervous chuckles out. "But seriously I'm here tonight because indeed my dad loves each of you. Much more than he ever loved me or especially my mom." 

Luke heard his dad from behind the table make a weird groaning noise. A mix between pain and wanting to cuss Luke out. "Don't worry he'll be fine. I'm sure he hasn't used that part of him in years." Luke without missing a beat moved on. "Still I felt like maybe my father could be more honest to you. After all, each and every one of you are the reason this man, this... wonder man who kicks his kids out of his house and pays off divorce court judges. Has all the money and power to do that sort of thing."

Luke playfully scratched his chin, letting it bend and stretch in his hand. "I don't think though, and this is purely an educated guess. So before I run off so security can catch me. Let me ask something... did my dear father ever talk about the Malaysian factory he has undocumented where young laborers work tirelessly with dangerous chemicals? Or the fact his staff is under paid so he can pocket the extra money in offshore bank accounts?" Luke feigned confusion before pulling out of the back of his costume a large rolled up stack of paperwork, arm stretched to put it on the front in front of him. "Well after all of you read this, please feel free to question him about it. Ciao!"

Escaping out with little trouble Luke could barely keep the grin off of his face. All these years, built up and hardened like crusty fungus, suddenly vanished off of his shoulders. Luke could finally rid himself of the man who deserved everything that was about to come his way. As Luke got out of the hotel and to where Plastic Man original and Offspring waited. All three immediately burst out laughing. Plastic Man held up a fifty dollar bill which Luke happily snatched. "That was amazing!" Offspring squeaked out between his belly laughs. "Oh man you didn't see it, but when you pulled out that paperwork. Your dad looked like he was about to crap himself!"

Luke sighed, "Aw I missed that! Hope they get it on the news footage." Luke replied chuckling. The three continued to laugh until finally with collective sighs Plastic Man pulled his younger counterpart aside. "Listen Luke, I know we've talked about it for the last week but... I think it's time."

~~~~~

Luke glanced around Star City as he rode in on the taxi. The driver remarking how hilarious what he just did was. Though Luke was letting it go in one ear and out the other. He was too busy thinking about things. The events before he left, the year traveling the world, all of it leading up to him returning home. Sure enough the apartment and Lamboghini he left behind were still there. That was good, he had figured Ditto would've bent the car around some phone pole by now.

Stepping out of the taxi Luke paid and got his luggage out. Sighing wistfully as he marched confidently back to the base. It was all like he had left it for the most part. Though he had heard and seen that the team had new faces. Which he had to expect after all this time. Suddenly kicking open the doors Luke dropped the luggage from his arms and held them up triumphantly. "Hey guys... I'm bbbbbaaaaacccccckkkkk!"