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It was later in the day, after the carnival was mostly finished. Leah had gathered up some ingredients for food and did a lot of staring at various websites before sending Percy a few texts to be sure the list she compiled was acceptable. That list happened to include at least ten different varieties of food she knew she could cook before they all disappeared, just in case the school’s Home Ec room didn’t have much. But, thankfully, it was the same school that Excelsior and the Young Avengers attended, so [i]someone[/i] made sure this place was stocked enough that the entire gaggle of chaotic kids had something to ground them in reality. 

She made it her responsibility to ensure the whole team was well-prepared for a journey that could very well take them through miles of forest or mountains. Something she was familiar with, herself. Some of her friends were city people at heart, and didn’t have the experience she did. The ability to freeze food would surely be impossible there unless April got creative.

So Leah piled up raw ingredients on a counter and started grabbing pans.

[color=42A9FF]“Sorry I’m late!!”[/color] April hurried into the kitchen, tossing their tote back down on one counter and several shopping bags down next to it. [color=42A9FF]“Showing Millie and Ben around took longer than I thought, then I had my visit slot with August - he’s doing well, def a little stir crazy, he asked if I would bring him back a souvenir from Otherworld so please remind me if you see anything that a lovable nymphomaniac would like - and [i]then[/i] the only store near CAGE that had a good selection was Target, I’ve never shopped in a Target before - well if I did it was when I was like seven and I don’t remember it - BUT mission accomplished - I got things that won’t go bad!”[/color] April preened, pulling out a full bag of jolly ranchers, a box of granola bars, two boxes of Twinkies, a bag of gummy sharks, some trail mix, and two cases of blue Gatorade. [color=42A9FF]“Girl dinner!”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Absolutely not.”[/color] Leah side-eyed the trove of teeth-rotting nonsense that April brought in. She would’ve looked terrified if she didn’t know that April was, well, April. [color=ffcb00]”I’m making you some real food before we’re done here, I [i]hope[/i] you weren’t just going to eat those before we left. We’ll bring them with us, though. Save the boxes.”[/color] 

[color=42A9FF]“I mean, we [i]could[/i] eat them now. But I think they’ll be better for snacks when we’re in Otherworld. Except I did have a Twinkie already. Maybe two. But def not more than that, I promise, scout’s honor,”[/color] April giggled, beaming at Leah. [color=42A9FF]“What are we making? I can be your sous chef, it’ll be fun!”[/color] They didn’t get much of a chance to cook at home - Danni and Appa did most of it, with the rest of the family banished from the kitchen while it was occupied. Not that Pops knew how to do much more than putting ingredients for a protein shake into a blender. 

[color=ffcb00]”Steak and fish, I’ll show you how to season it right so it stays good for whole days. I think I’ll see if Percy’s willing to teleport around and get some bread. Not the bagged kind, the fancy kind. We’re making stuff that won’t need to be kept cold, give someone an allergy attack, or make Percy and Andy feel bad for eating.”[/color] She pointed at some packaged slabs of meat from different animals. [color=ffcb00]”We’re gonna overprepare so no one starves.”[/color]

April stared at the slabs of meat for a moment. It didn’t gross them out or anything - they’d thought about going vegetarian a few years back, but had never really been able to put the follow through on it. Cheeseburgers just tasted too good. [color=42A9FF]“How long is all that meat going to last?”[/color] It wasn’t the food going bad that April was concerned about. They doubted they’d be in Otherworld for more than a few days, really. No, it was the quantity that concerned them. [color=42A9FF]“You’ve seen the way Dori can inhale meat - there’s, what, fourteen of us? Well thirteen, Vicky doesn’t eat. Do we need to go get more?”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”I’m going to make sure everyone packs their own. This is just extra. I’ve never been to Otherworld, but you’d be surprised how hungry you get walking. Danni can fly, Percy and Dorian can teleport, but you get hungry [i]fast[/i] walking through hills and mountains. Speaking from experience, you really don’t know what being hungry feels like until you’re sleeping on a volcano in the middle of winter.”[/color]

April nodded, making a mental note to have some food thrown into their dorm room. They were planning on using the magic transportation tote to carry most of their things, so that way they didn’t have to drag around food or blankets in the fae realm. Their meds and other more transportable items would go in their school bag. [color=42A9FF]“Sick, okay. Not the volcano part, but, you know. It’s super cool of you to be stepping up and leading this - I bet your meat is gonna taste great, too. Did you want me to text everyone to tell them to have their meat ready?”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”You can tell them to pack food. Maybe don’t phrase it like that.”[/color] She facepalmed. [color=ffcb00]”Okay. Food. You know how to cook any of this? If not, I’ll show you how while we go.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“You just throw it in a pan with some, like, oil and seasonings and turn the heat on, right? And shake it every now and then and push it around with a wooden spoon?”[/color] they asked, as April quickly shot off a text message in the new group chat with the Excelsior kids and the newcomers -

[hider=@Otherworld Trip 2039 🧚‍♀️][color=42A9FF]make sure to pack your meat everyone!!![/color][/hider]

[color=ffcb00]”Right, but there’s more to it than that.”[/color] Leah stuck some oil in a pan and turned on the heat, then grabbed a cutting board and a knife while it got warm.

[color=ffcb00]”When you can’t store food in a fridge, you dry it out so there’s no water for anything alive to live off of.”[/color] [i]Thunk. Thunk. Thunk.[/i] [color=ffcb00]”Especially in places that are warm and humid. That’s where spice comes in, dried meat that’s got plenty of that on it will stay good to eat for days, maybe [i]weeks[/i] if you do it right. And I doubt we’ll be there that long, but you never know. There might be deserts in Otherworld… Knives are over there, grab a board. We do the fish after.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“Do you pull the water out before or after you cook it? I’ve never pulled all the water out of meat before, but I could give it a shot,”[/color] April volunteered, before doing as directed. They grabbed a board of the same size and shape as Leah’s, before staring at the knife block. The first one they pulled out was long with a serrated edge to it - almost like a saw. [color=42A9FF]“Uhhhh is this one okay?”[/color] They held the knife up for Leah to see, pointing it right at the giant. 

[color=ffcb00]”Nope. Straight one.”[/color] She held her knife up, the blade was straight and smooth. [color=ffcb00]”Cut through it the way I am, try to cut it into thirds, don’t worry about making them perfect.”[/color]

Leah was chopping off bits of fat around the edges as she did so. The big pieces would be thrown into pans soon.

[color=ffcb00]”It’ll be pretty dry after it’s finished cooking, but we’ll dry it out after. We can try it with your powers if you want, but don’t worry about it if you can’t.”[/color]

April put their knife back, pulling options out of the block until they produced one about the same size as Leah’s with the same edge and finish. They set the knife down on top of the cutting board and carried them both back on over to Leah, setting them down next to her. [color=42A9FF]“Yes, chef.”[/color] They washed their hands quickly at the sink, before heading back to their station and picking up one of the slabs of meat - [color=42A9FF]“what kind of meat is this?”[/color] - before they started to mimic the cuts Leah had made in hers. 

[color=ffcb00]”Steak. The good kind. Had to make sure it was something Percy and Andy could eat, and I’ve made it before.”[/color] Leah slid some bits of fat to the side of the board. [color=ffcb00]”Once you’ve got yours cut up, stick them over here with mine, the pan’s almost hot enough.”[/color]

She reached for a bowl and a measuring cup, then started collecting some of the dry ingredients. [color=ffcb00]”We’re gonna mix some of these and throw that on, then it goes into the pan.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“What cut did you get?”[/color] They’d never cut up steaks before, but they loved ordering a ribeye from a restaurant. Still, they weren’t familiar enough to identify the different cuts by eye - a few of them, for sure, but not all of them. It didn’t take them too long until they’d butchered their steak as requested, and April grabbed the pieces, tossing them over with Leah’s. The fat pieces they left on their board, their hands stained red. [color=42A9FF]“D’you like cooking? Or is this just sort of a - you do what you gotta do activity?”[/color] They then paused as Leah was throwing together a dry mix. [color=42A9FF]“And at what point do I get to wash the blood and stuff off my hands?”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Flank steaks, they’re big and don’t have much fat to cut away. You can wash your hands right now, if you want,”[/color] She said, cracking open a tube of garlic powder. [color=ffcb00]”I used to cook all the time back before my mom died. She couldn’t do it herself, and dad was usually out of sight by the time we ate anyway. I got pretty good at it by feeding her, so… Yeah. I like it.”[/color]

April frowned sympathetically, about to put a hand on Leah’s shoulder and give her a squeeze - only to stop themself. The blood was still there. [color=42A9FF]“What was your favorite thing to make for her?”[/color] They scrubbed their hands in the sink thoroughly, washing away the minor bits of gore. [color=42A9FF]“My nan liked to show me how to bake things - she was a shitty cook, but she could follow the recipe on the chocolate chips bag without too much trouble. Came out different every time, though.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”pozole, easily.”[/color] She turned around and flashed a smile at the tiny waterbender. [color=ffcb00]”That was her favorite, too. She never ate a lot, but any time I wanted to [i]really[/i] make sure she actually took care of herself? Pozole. Have you ever had it? It’s basically a meat soup with a lot of stuff in it like garlic and chili peppers.” [/color]

[color=42A9FF]“pozole,”[/color] they repeated. They shook their head. [color=42A9FF]“No, but that sounds incredible. Do you have plans for what you’re eating tonight for dinner? Hm, we should text Danni and see if he wanted to make something special for Percy’s birthday - but if not, wanna make pozole together? I’m guessing we can’t really bring soup with us although hm - maybe if we grab a thermos?”[/color] They’d missed this, spending time with Leah. It was strange, they’d dated most of the semester last fall and it still somehow felt like it’d been years since the two of them had been able to just hang out. 

[color=ffcb00]”Pozole takes a few hours to make, so we can’t take any to Otherworld. And it’s got pork in it so I’m pretty sure Percy can’t eat it.”[/color] Unless… [color=ffcb00]”Hm. Actually. I could try some different meats, something that’ll soften enough. It would still take a while, you need you prepare some hominy- that’s corn- and then there's still the time it takes and-“[/color]

She stopped herself. [color=ffcb00]”I’m rambling. Sorry. Anyway… Don’t have plans for what I’m eating tonight. It would be pretty nice to make something for Percy, if he’d even want that.”[/color] Or if they were back in time.

[color=42A9FF]“Damn, that’s too bad. But! Maybe we can make it when we get back, then? Ooo what if we planned something like a Friendsgiving, just in January? Everyone makes something, we all bring the food, we just chill and vibe without an existential threat breathing down our necks. Maybe we make it into a friendly competition for the best dish, obvi it would come down to you and Danni but I bet the others would wanna give it a try. I saw a Snikt for making fried jolly ranchers and tbh I would be super down to try it with whatever we have leftover - or I can buy more, that works too. We should probably avoid any Cajun food, no one seemed thrilled in New Orleans about that,”[/color] April shook their head, giggling slightly. The way some of their friends’ eyes went wide when they saw the menu at the cafe they’d eaten at had been pretty funny - if not surprising. [color=42A9FF]“As for Percy, I think if Danni or Dee threatens to put on the waterworks, he’ll fall in line and accept a birthday feast. So! What can we make that he can eat and that we have time for? After we finish this stuff, obvi. We could make him a cake out of twinkies? A twink cake for the twink boy?”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”I think that would just kill him, actually,”[/color] Leah joked, mixing stuff in a bowl. [color=ffcb00]”You could just breathe on Percy wrong and he’d be scattered over the timeline like a dead person’s ashes. I don’t understand how you can eat that stuff either.”[/color]

April snorted, but they were grinning like mad. [color=42A9FF]“Everyone knows all the Snikt recipes are good for you, Leah,”[/color] they teased, sticking out their tongue at her. [color=42A9FF]“It has all the nutrients you need. Like sugar, more sugar, extra sugar… But you’re probably right about Percy. Should we bring him some, like, pre-workout stuff? Protein shakes maybe? He’s so smol.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Maybe. We should ask first, though. I’m sure Dorian makes him actually take care of himself.”[/color] The bowl Leah was working with now had a mixed assortment of stuff that smelled pretty strong. [color=ffcb00]”Try not to sneeze.”[/color]

She shook some of the mix onto the slabs of meat they prepared, using her hands to really work it in on both sides and the edges until it was completely covered. Then the pieces went into the pan with a loud hiss.

[color=42A9FF]“Pfft, I think Dorian’s maybe got a bit of a feeding kink, tbh. I’ve only ever seen him giving Percy coffee and sweets.”[/color] They inhaled deeply through their nose, letting the aromas wash over them. The garlic and spices together smelled [i]fantastic[/i] and their mouth started to water. It was important to taste food as they went, right? So the minute it wasn’t raw, it was totally acceptable for April to try some, right? [color=42A9FF]“But tbh, can’t suuuuper blame him. I don’t think even you managed to keep me away from my gummy sharks. And Percy is way more stubborn than I am.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”And that’s why every guy in our friend group is built like a toothpick.”[/color] She was amused, though. It was funny. [color=ffcb00]”Speaking of sugar and sweet stuff, maybe I’ll make something nice like that when we’re back. Maybe we save Nemo and Danni and I make a huge cake to celebrate it. Maybe I’ll ask Percy if he’d eat it if we’re home in time for that. I swiped a book about Otherworld from the library, but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet. You think time works different in there?”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“No idea tbh. Ben was going on earlier about how maybe it would be like Captain America and we’d all wake up frozen in a hundred years? Idk, it didn’t make a tooooon of sense. Like I guess maybe it could be like Narnia? Oh god, what if Nemo is only really old because he spent a lot of time there and we all come back with wrinkles and beards and limps??? No, absolutely not. That can’t be it. If we’re lucky, we just show up, kick some fae ass, grab Old Man Percy, and run back here and it’s 1 to 1 on time here and time there. And it shouldn’t take too long - like we defeated Arcade in an evening and the Young Avengers in an hour, so at that rate it should be like… so easy. And if it’s not, maybe we make that gestalt thing again but as all of us - did you know Danni and Dori used that to bring back freaking Genosha??? Not even Doctor Strange or Pa was strong enough to do that! So we should be able to steamroll the fae.”[/color]

Leah turned around and looked at April like they just grew a second head.

[color=ffcb00]”They did fucking [i]what?’[/i][/color]

[color=42A9FF]“They brought back Genosha! When Danni and Dori went inside Billy, and they turned into that huge entity thing? Tbh I’m still a little sad I was left out, or replaced really - and they didn’t tell me they did this until they told the parents on Christmas and they were all like [i]omg we are so proud of you three![/i] and that made me feel even worse bc I didn’t do shit??? Like I made everyone stupid little crochet things and they gave them an island??? But anyway, they used the, like, magical powers in that state to fix Genosha. We went there on Christmas. It was fucking wild. So so cool. It’s not all, like, healed yet but it’s getting better. It’s like all the magic radiation is starting to recede. So maybe in a bit people will, like, be able to live there again and stuff? I overheard my Auntie S talking to Pops about it, how she’s gonna start gathering up supplies and stuff.”[/color] 

That sounded insane to her. Genosha, in 2039… Damn.

[color=ffcb00]”That’s… Holy shit, April. Danni, Dorian and Billy Maximoff undid all of [i]that?[/i] I- I’ve heard about what they did to Genosha, I didn’t think anyone [i]could[/i] fix that. Fuck me.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“I don’t think Sabine would like it if I did.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”You- What? Come on, you know what I meant…”[/color] She turned back to the pan. [color=ffcb00]”You’ve been hanging around [i]lovable nymphomaniacss[/i] too much.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“That’s, like, every boy in our friend group,”[/color] April giggled. [color=42A9FF]“But yeah, it’s a fucking incredible feat they pulled off. Fucking insane shit. Def not street level heroes anymore. That’s, like, planet wide stuff - honestly cosmic level tbh.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Yeah. That- Yeah. Magic’s fucking crazy, apparently. I wonder if I could do something like that, I can already make plants grow.”[/color] Leah shook the pan a little while the meat began to cook. [color=ffcb00]”Been learning a lot about that lately, it’s actually a lot easier than all the other magic I learned so far.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“Love a plant lesbian era,”[/color] April hummed. [color=42A9FF]“I’ve been wanting to learn some magic - wanted to ask Pa to teach me some over break but the timing didn’t end up working out. Like so much magic is about being attuned to the elements - it makes sense you can do plant stuff, since that’s all earthy. But imagine what I can do with my affinity for water - or Danni’s for fire? Kinda wish Nimue had stuck around a little longer to teach me more than she ended up doing.”[/color] 

[color=ffcb00]”What about blood magic? Think about it, most of a person is water, usually.”[/color]

They grimaced a bit. [color=42A9FF]“What if I accidentally make them pop though? Plus that feels like crossing a line… taking control of another person like that… when I have other ways that I can help people.”[/color] It was different when Dorian did it - he usually had consent, and if he didn’t, it was a last resort situation. They didn’t know exactly where Sabine had landed on feeling about it. But they weren’t like those with psychic powers - they had other options, other tools. Blood magic felt… icky. And if it wasn’t about taking control of people, it was about curses - just about hurting them. April wasn’t here to learn how to hurt people. 

[color=ffcb00]”Who said anything about controlling someone? What if you just took the blood that was coming out of somebody, and put it back in them so they lived longer? Or what if you were in a desert and couldn’t get your hands on water, but you could use your own blood?”[/color]  Leah asked. [color=ffcb00]”It’s [i]magic,[/i] April. You can get creative with it.”[/color]

April twisted their face up as they considered it. Using their own blood in a desert scenario seemed risky - especially when there’d be an abundance of sweat on hand. But the idea of using their control to effectively keep pressure on a wound, to stop someone from bleeding out… [color=42A9FF]“I can dig the healing angle. Like healing magic would be cool - our group definitely needs it and… well it’s a stupid idea, but I was thinking some about what I’m going to do after school, and like… Like when we aren’t going around being superheroes, there’s other ways to be a hero, and I think I could - I think I want to be a firefighter, maybe. And being able to help heal would be super useful there. Just as useful as being a human fire hydrant.”[/color] Their face was light pink. It was an idea they’d had for less than a day. But they really liked it all the same.

[color=ffcb00]”That sounds like. I worked out a healing spell with my runes, but I’m not great at it yet. I dunno what I’d be doing if I’m not beating the sense out of supervillains and other assholes.”[/color] The whole room began to fill with the smell of cooked meat. Leah flipped the steak in the pan over. [color=ffcb00]”I’ve been thinking about doing something like this school, though. Something where people with powers are shitty parents can go to. But different, somehow. Like if the school didn’t expect you to go and be a hero one day.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“I think Andy had a similar idea - but more oriented around a gym,”[/color] April smiled softly. It was incredible seeing Leah now and remembering the paranoid girl who had showed up on a rock a few years ago. She’d really blossomed, the contrast night and day. [color=42A9FF]“I think that sounds rad. Like obvi I love that this school prepares you to be a hero - but every superpower school has its own agenda or exclusions. A place for kids who need to be safe and just wanna be people - I think that’s incredible. Leah’s School for Super Kids. We can workshop the name. Maybe it’s a place where kids don’t have to scramble to find somewhere to stay over breaks - more of a home than just a school.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00][i]”Exactly.[/i] No burrowing underground when it starts to snow like I used to before they started kicking me out, no need to fuck off of to Mt. Rainier for a month. If somebody wanted to be a hero they could, I wouldn’t make them. They could learn other things. Like how to cook. Because a lot of people our age are actually pretty shit at it.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“Maybe instead of a group potluck after, you run a cooking class for all of us.”[/color] It sounded pretty fun - and Valentine’s Day was coming up so someone had to help the nymphomaniacs out when it came to wooing their partners. [color=42A9FF]“Speaking of people our age - what did Chase want to talk with you about?”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”We talked about everyone giving him shit. You know Dorian keeps looking at him like he’s about to murder him? Turns out it sucks for him so far.”[/color]

April nodded. The siblings had talked about Chase prior to the start of the school year - a conversation that had included Dorian begging for no one to cause Chase drama on Percy’s birthday, but… that ship had already set sail and been set on fire. [color=42A9FF]“Yeah, Dori kinda hates him for what he did to Percy - but Danni really likes him and wants him to have a second chance. None of this stuff was supposed to come up today - like Dori even asked me to not come out to our friends today so that way things would be peaceful. I dunno if Dori would be [i]happy[/i] to know that Chase is having a rough time but… it’s not super my place to meddle with it all. If Percy’s okay with Chase being around, then him being around is chill with me, y’know?”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Dorian had damn well better [i]not[/i] be happy he’s having a rough time. That’d be shitty of him.”[/color] Leah considered telling them about what Chase had mentioned, about how her dad tortured him too. [color=ffcb00]”He, uh. Don’t tell anyone I said this, but Chase knew my dad for a while. And not in a good way.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“Oh. [i]Oh[/i],”[/color] April bit their lip. [color=42A9FF]“Is that how he… how he got his powers and the…”[/color] they gestured up at their eyes. Chase looked like a walking advertisement for sleep medication. They hadn’t known what the source of his powers was, but if he knew Leah’s dad in the way April thought she meant, then it wasn’t good. [color=42A9FF]“Did you recognize him, back at the contest?”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Nope, never met him until he came up to me and Sabine after we won. We got to talking about stuff, and he got antsy. Then I told him I used to look human, and when I showed him the difference? Surprise, [i]he[/i] recognized [i]me[/i] from a picture on a desk.”[/color] There was an unhappy look on her face, to put it lightly. [color=ffcb00]”So it’s pretty much official that he survived getting a mountain dropped on him. Don’t know why I was surprised.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“And he’s still hurting people,”[/color] April said quietly. They put a hand on Leah’s, hoping it would be comforting and reassuring. They’d known that this was a possibility, but still. They didn’t want Leah to have to face this demon from her past. Not alone, at least. [color=42A9FF]“So that’s what we are going to work on after Otherworld then. We’ll make sure he doesn’t get away this time. And that he can’t hurt any other kids.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”That, and other stuff. That vision was a lot. A lot of things keep adding up in small ways, and I do [i]not[/i] like it.”[/color] The thought crossed her mind, for a brief moment, that he might be there in Otherworld. Just for the love of the game, fucking with whoever that witch was. Leah wiggled her hand and curled it around April’s. [color=ffcb00]”Everything’s getting more intense lately, after the Contest. People watching our every move, Chase, the TVA, we’ve got plenty of shit to worry about.”[/color]

April gave Leah’s hand a squeeze. She was warm - not hot like Danni, more like the heat the ground radiated on a summer’s day. [color=42A9FF]“D’you think it’ll ever calm down - that we’ll have days where we can just go to the beach and chill without some new threat looming over us? I miss those - miss the things we used to do.”[/color] Missed the people they used to be. Even though things were better now. They were harder, too. 

[color=ffcb00]”I’m sure we will. It’s gotten better before. It’ll get better again. And…”[/color] Leah removed her hand from April and wrapped her whole arm around the small mutant’s shoulder. [color=ffcb00]”If nothing gets better, we’ll make it better somehow. We’re getting way more powerful lately, we’ve got more friends, and we’re only going to get more of both the more we do things. Things are gonna work out, somehow and someday.”[/color]

April curled into Leah with practiced ease, throwing their arms around her into a hug - food and cooking be damned. It was one of the safest feelings in the world, having Leah’s arm slung around her shoulder. A bit of tension they hadn’t known they were carrying left them. [color=42A9FF]“Careful, you’re beginning to sound like an optimist,”[/color] they teased. The Leah of a few months ago would have shut down at the idea of the group going after her father. Once more, they couldn’t help but marvel at how far their friend had come. [color=42A9FF]“I’m so fucking proud of you, btw. You’re incredible. I’m so lucky you’re in my life.”[/color]

She grinned, and felt her face heat up. [color=ffcb00]”Yeah, and I’m glad we’re still friends. We’ve both come a long way, huh? We’re both getting better at a lot of things.”[/color] It felt so great being friends with April, still. Leah could remember the day they first met, and she was just all piss and vinegar when April tried to make nice with her. The first real friend she ever made, only a week after her whole life had been upended. The deepest rivers on Earth were once unchanging, unflinching stone, and all it took to make something beautiful in them was time.

There was a fluttering feeling in her chest. She squeezed them tighter. [color=ffcb00]”Okay, now we flip the food over. Let me show you how to get the scales off that fish…”[/color]

[hr]

It took about an hour and a half for the two to finish preparing all the food. The steak and fish were seasoned properly, cooked on oil, and April got a few free lessons in how to not burn a kitchen down in the process. The result of their work was a stack of square meat rations that had been chopped down further after they were off the pan. To dry them fully, Leah dug a counter-sized smoker out of the storage closet, and spent several minutes infodumping in April’s general direction about why it helped food stay edible for longer.

Seasoned, spiced steak and more mild cuts of salmon with significantly less seasoning. Enough to feed over a dozen superhero kids.

The last step was to wrap it all up in containers that someone, most likely Leah, would be carrying into Otherworld with them.

[color=ffcb00]”And that’s how you feed fourteen people.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“Nice!! Can I try some? I’ve been wanting to try some so bad, it smells [i]amazing[/i].”[/color] April’s stomach growled in agreement. They hadn’t had time to eat much since breakfast that morning and being around all of this meat, they were absolutely starving. [color=42A9FF]“And how do you feel about me trying to pull the water out of some of these, well, whatever water remains?”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Go ahead, shouldn’t be much left but you want this stuff dry as possible.”[/color] Leah swung around and pulled stuff out of a fridge. [color=ffcb00]”And don’t eat any of it, because I’m going to feed you something better than expedition rations. Whatever you’re feeling. Then we’ll eat dinne and I’ll do some research for Otherworld after, you can come if you want.”[/color]

April thought about it for a moment. They’d been eating Danni’s cooking for the last few weeks and it was fantastic, but it was very much Southern comfort food. They were Cajun, gumbos and whatnot were a staple. [color=42A9FF]“I’m feeling something spicy - and I haven’t had good Mexican food since December, so I’m deprived… What about enchiladas? Do you know how to make those?”[/color] They turned their gaze to the food again and focused, trying to feel the water inside of it, but it was dry as a bone. If any lingered, they couldn’t grasp it.

[color=ffcb00]”Of course I do.”[/color] The Mexican Giant damn near scoffed. [color=ffcb00]”I’ll make some, red pepper and chili flakes and everything. While that cooks, I’m gonna talk to Jen about what we’re up to… Any luck over there?”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“I think it’s dry, chef,”[/color] April did a mock salute. [color=42A9FF]“If there’s any water in them, I can’t feel it.”[/color] They beamed though. Enchiladas were [i]exactly[/i] what they wanted. [color=42A9FF]“After you talk to Jen, there is something I wanted to talk to you about, by the by. Something else.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Sure, what’s up?”[/color]

Leah started grabbing things, and got a new pan, and some chicken for protein. She moved around the school’s educational kitchen like she owned the damn place. It seemed that making food for someone other than herself had a way of lighting her up inside.

When the pan began to sizzle, she pulled out her phone.

[hider=@Shulk]
[color=ffcb00]
Earthbender: hey

Earthbender: todasy been weird. We leanred nemo is stikl alive and aboit to br exrecuted.

Earthbender: xcels planning tp savr him from otghreworld before then.

Earthbender: never sern percu frint before. or so distrahgt

Earthbender: if youer free im a while gonna eay dinner with team. Talk in persom if yuo want.
[/color]
[/hider]

For a brief second, time stood still - as if the universe itself was attempting to decipher Leah’s message. In her Los Angeles apartment, She-Hulk glanced up from a container of leftover Chinese food and stared directly at the reader in confusion, before resuming eating.  

And then, back in the kitchen at the Margaret Carter Institute, Leah’s phone buzzed. 

[i]Message not delivered. Tap to send again.[/i]

[color=ffcb00]”…Huh. Okay, I guess I’ll talk to her later.”[/color] Leah stuffed her phone back in her pocket, and got back to cooking up enchilladas.

[color=42A9FF]“So! Obvi I had a lot of time to think end of last semester, with the hospital and then being grounded. And um. Well. I think I figured something out about me, something that’s important to me that you know, since you’re one of my closest friends. Aaaand I am sorry in advance at how, like, weird and awkward this sounds but… I think I figured it out. I’m not a girl.”[/color] April clasped their hands together and rocked back on their heels. It shouldn’t have been scary to say, they’d told Millie and Ben earlier, their siblings already knew, Andy knew… but they still found themself craving approval from Leah, craving acceptance. [color=42A9FF]“I don’t think I’m a guy, either, but I’m not sure yet.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Good to know, do I still call you April, or…”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“I like April.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”I like April too, and the person it’s attached to. So… They-them? I’ll try to remember. I don’t think that’s weird, is it supposed to be weird?”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“Yeah! They/them,”[/color] April’s face brightened, their cheeks flushing. Had this been a few months ago, they would have kissed Leah right now. The urge to do so was strong and compelling. [color=42A9FF]“Um, it mostly just feels weird telling people but like - I think it’s a good weird. Because I want you to know who I am. I’m glad you like April - and me. I like you, too.”[/color]

Leah smirked. [color=ffcb00]”Weird because it’s new? It’s a change? I know how that feels, kind of. A lot of things were weird for a last… Two, two and a half months. But that’s good, things changing can be good.”[/color]

She tossed some chives into the pan with the chicken, along with some butter. 

[color=42A9FF]“We’ve gone through a lot of change lately - but I think it’s been good. Maybe the next change will be you letting me play with your hair,”[/color] April joked. [color=42A9FF]“Pa gave me a comb that dyes hair whatever color you want for Christmas - we could give it a test, put in some fun colors. Maybe a yellow that matches your eyes? Or pink, I bet Sabine would love a pink on you.”[/color] They leaned up against the counter. 

[color=ffcb00]”You do know my hair can turn Vibranium into sand, right? What’s that magic comb of yours made from?”[/color] She asked. God, how would her wild hair look if it was bright, neon pink?

April shrugged. [color=42A9FF]“I dunno, magic?”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”I’m sure a lot of things are made of magic. But… Sure, why not? Do you have it with you? Just don’t [i]touch[/i] my hair, you’ll bleed all over yourself and I don’t want all four of your dads asking me about that.”[/color]

The kitchen began to smell like chicken.

April squealed, their eyes lighting up with delight. Never in a million years had they guessed that Leah would be ready for this [i]now[/i]! The comb happened to be in the pocket of their denim jumpsuit, kept just in case of a fashion emergency - but mostly because they had put it there and forgotten to remove it earlier. April pulled it out and offered it triumphantly to Leah. [color=42A9FF]“Pfft, it’d be Pops you’d have to contend with. Pa would understand. Papa just does what Pops wants. And Appa… hm, I think he’d get it. Pops is the one with the temper. Anyway, just imagine the color you want and pull it through the strands and it’ll dye, super easy! I can even put some color in my hair to match if you want!”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”Hmm…”[/color] Leah plucked the comb out of April’s hand and stared at it for a moment. She had so much hair it would take at least half an hour to comb this thing through [i]all[/i] of it. But she was curious.

So she held it up to her head and pulled it backwards. The top portion of her dark curls changed, and the color of sunflowers cascaded down until she pulled the comb away. Then she looked at the comb again, and was pleasantly surprised that it was still in one piece.

[color=ffcb00]”Did it work?”[/color]

April tilted their head, considering the result for a moment. They walked around Leah, taking her in at different angles. The color was really pretty - and it did remind her of Leah’s eyes, a little streak of sunshine. [color=42A9FF]“It worked! And it works, I think,”[/color] they appraised. [color=42A9FF]“It really pops and like - this is a good way, btw - it’s giving Umbreon. Which love!”[/color]

Leah looked at a few of the strands that fell down to her field of vision. It was weird seeing her hair resemble April’s in color. This could be useful though. What if she could go back to looking human for an emergency situation and change her hair to look a different color? That little comb could be used to completely disguise herself, or someone else. It was cool. She wondered if it was permanent.

Leah hummed, grabbing some tortillas from a cabinet. [color=ffcb00]”Who’s Umbreon?”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“Umbreon’s a Pokémon. They’re little magical monsters that you catch and battle. Umbreon’s really cute, it’s an eeveeolution and has black fur with yellow rings.”[/color] April took the comb back and studied it. [color=42A9FF]“What color do you think I should do?”[/color] They had pink mixed in with the blonde right now. 

[color=ffcb00]”Hmm.”[/color] That was a good question, actually. Blue was the obvious one, but there were at least a hundred colors, right? Leah pondered that for a moment, and came to a rather genius conclusion. [color=ffcb00]”All of them. Every single one.”[/color]

April’s eyes widened, before they giggled with glee. [color=42A9FF]“Pride special it is!!!”[/color] Their hands were shaking with excitement as they imagined every color, a rainbow soup of shimmering swirls, and they pulled the comb through their hair. The blonde and pink locks changed into vibrant reds and oranges, yellows and greens, blues and purples - an explosion of pure artistic creativity. They pulled out their phone and immediately snapped a selfie. [color=42A9FF]“Ahhh I look so gay!!!!”[/color]]

Leah stared at their super gay hair.

And stared. And stared. And stared.

It wasn’t until she realized she was staring that she blinked, and focused her attention all the way back onto the food she was making for April, face feeling hot. She repeated the words [i]Be normal[/i] in her head a few times.

[color=ffcb00]”...Looks nice on you.”[/color]

April put the phone down. They caught Leah’s eye and their breath hitched in their chest. Their ex-girlfriend had been staring at them. Their ridiculously hot ex-girlfriend. The ex-girlfriend they were still in love with. As a friend, they thought. But their body felt hot and a blush spread across their face. 

[color=42A9FF]“Th-thanks, yours looks nice on you too,”[/color] they couldn’t pull their eyes away. 

[color=ffcb00]”Yeah…”[/color]

The pan full of enchilladas-to-be was suddenly fascinating.

Leah liked to think she was pretty hard to read. But then again, April was the oldest friend she had. Of course they’d pick up on it. Why did Leah have to have so many issues with emotional stuff like this? Why did it have to be? Couldn’t the universe have given literally anyone else the absolutely dysfunctional ability to separate attraction from friendship?

She cleared her throat.

[color=ffcb00][i]¿Quécarajolepasaamiestúpidocerebro?[/i] I mean-”[/color] Leah grabbed a bowl and a fork and began stuffing the enchiladas down into it. [color=ffcb00]”Food’s done! Okay take your pick, red or green?”[/color] 

[color=42A9FF]“Um…”[/color] April’s eyes darted to the red of Leah’s Excelsior jacket. [color=42A9FF]“Red would be great! Red sounds super good. You look super good, btw. Really accentuates your shoulders. Have you - have you thought about what you’re going to wear in Otherworld? I don’t… I haven’t thought too much yet about what I’m going to bring, I’ll probably raid Dorian’s closet again, he’s really nice, doesn’t seem to mind…”[/color]

Leah grabbed some sauce off a rack and tossed a solid chunk of it onto the food, then stuck a fork in it.

[color=ffcb00]”Uh- Not particularly. I know I’m bringing some rocks just in case my powers are weird there. I’ll probably just pack whatever I usually wear, nothing fancy that I’d miss if I get set on fire in there.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“Any rocks in particular or just some rocks? I was thinking about bringing a canteen or something full of water, Katara style - like there should def be water in Otherworld, but just in case there isn’t… and hydration is important, tbh. Hydrate or die straight, y’know. And as fun as that trick with the Mountain Dew was, it feels weird to manipulate - like I can feel all the other stuff and it’s kinda gross,”[/color] April shuddered at the memory of the texture. 

[color=ffcb00]”Remember that box of rocks I have in my room? I’m cracking that open and bringing several. Aegirine, kanoite, that chunk of basalt I brought back from the ocean floor… As many as I can pack, I might just bring them all.”[/color] She sat the bowl of ready-to-eat enchiladas on the counter beside April. [color=ffcb00]”And something tells me fae probably don’t take human money. Just in case.”[/color]

[color=42A9FF]“Ooo, yeah. Love the basalt - not as shiny as the others, but the texture is so nice, and I like the almost blue hint to the color,”[/color] April knelt down and took a big sniff of the enchiladas, before letting out a happy sigh. [color=42A9FF]“They smell so good!! Did you wanna eat them here? Or we can go to one of our rooms or maybe the roof or something? If we go to my room, we can put on a movie while we eat - see if we can catch Percy and the others for birthday food.”[/color]

[color=ffcb00]”I’m good to watch a movie.”[/color] Leah smiled. It’d be nice to sit down with the whole group and chill the fuck out, actually.

Then, a thought jumped into her head.

[color=ffcb00]”Hey, pass me that comb before we go. I just had an idea, ‘Bine’s gonna love it…”[/color]