Important texts and friendship

He entered data, picked up phone calls, and put his whole being into working. The time flew by faster than he anticipated. Nearly three people weren't here today due to concerns over the pipe leak last week, which the company understood and was lenient over.

A buzz suddenly came from the table. His phone, which had been resting for the past six hours, vibrated to life.

< Riko: Hey. Are u busy

It was Riko. The twenty-one year old vigilante who he had accidentally led on. He hesitated to type a response.

< Aaron: no. what's up?

< Riko: Do you have a place for us to hide?

Aaron stared at the message. A terrible ache sank into his stomach.

< Aaron: give me a second

< Riko: Assassins found us. We are on the run rn

< Aaron: ok

'Think, think, think. A place to hide, a place to hide. A location that won't compromise me or them…'

His memories flashed to Tanya Fox's charity event. He talked to a certain someone. Someone who possessed knowledge of the Bat Family and who worked with them.

'Yeah, maybe that would work…'

< Aaron: are Dax and Dre still stable?

< Riko: Yes. They can walk and move.

> Aaron: do you know Thompkins clinic?

> Riko: Down in Crime Alley? y

< Aaron: go there. Dr. Jada Thompkins will help you.

< Riko: Are u sure it's safe?

< Aaron: I can guarantee complete anonymity

It was a gamble in reality. He couldn't say with absolute certainty that the Thompkins were involved with Bruce Wayne, but he was confident enough to send the Robins off. His deductions were rarely ever wrong.

Moreover, he could tell that Jada and her mother were truly kind individuals. They would accept a patient irregardless of their status or wealth. If their patient couldn't afford to pay, it still wouldn't matter. If they were a criminal or an illegal immigrant, they would still continue to supply healthcare.

That was the kind of family the Thompkins were. They extended their generosity to everyone, even strangers.

He heard the rumours during No Man's Land. How there was a single clinic every criminal swore to protect and spare. He hadn't put it together when he first met her but the Dr. Thompkins of West Mercy and the Dr. Thompkins of No Man's Land were the same. A woman of dedication and compassion. Her daughter was the same. Her daughter would do the same. Aaron was confident in that much.

< Aaron: they can also patch up Dax and Dre better than I ever could. I'm guessing they can't run or do crazy moves? They need to see someone ASAP and regardless of the assassins chasing after you

< Riko: Yes. You're right.

< Riko: Thank you.

< Riko: From the bottom of my heart ♡

Aaron reddened from the heartfelt gratitude. He wasn't able to muster up a response and simply sent a thumbs-up emoji.

He spent the remaining hours at the Wayne Tech building working diligently. He followed orders to the letter, actually engaged with his peers, and overall just started to do things better. Admittedly, it was difficult becoming social and less emo, particularly with individuals whom he had never talked to.

The third lunch break arrived and rather than sit by himself and quietly eat his lunch, he decided to join Noah and Todd. The two were patrolling security guards, a duo welcomed and recognizable on every floor of the building. Before, he hadn't spared them a glance. He simply didn't care. However, with what happened three weeks ago, he couldn't help but notice them. There was always a wave or a nod or an acknowledgement of some kind between him and the duo.

Aaron thought he might as well pursue a friendship with them.

"Hey guys," Aaron greeted. The two sat on the staircase of his floor. Close enough that his coworkers would talk about them and let him know that they were indeed here.

Noah was the serious one and he watched Aaron sit next to him curiously. The security guard outfit gave him a stronger image.

"Something up?" Todd asked.

"Not really. I'm just bored." Aaron realized just how awkward and bad he was at this. "Er, what do you guys do here? Sit and talk?"

Todd and Noah exchanged glances.

"Pretty much nothing," Todd responded, shrugging.

"Don't tell me you got a life epiphany after the attack," Noah said, smiling slightly. His deep, buttery voice put Aaron at ease and he was able to respond in a similarly joking manner.

"Sort of. I know a lot of the security team have been doing that. I thought I might as well join in."

"A lot of us?" Noah snorted. "More like everyone, including Todd over here," he joked, jabbing a thumb at him.

"Hey, that's mean." The geeky security man pouted. "If it wasn't for all that, I wouldn't have worked the courage to call my brother again."

"They got into a bad fight. Todd lost, of course."

"Hey!"

He caught them several times at the charity event and knew they were a funny pair from the amount of laughter that followed them. Even so, Aaron didn't expect to laugh alongside them so quickly. No wonder they were so popular.

"Speaking of, you see what was on the news?" Todd said, switching subjects like an excited child. His companion rolled his eyes.

"It's superhero related, not politics, by the way," Noah informed him.

"Superhero news is way better than politics. No offence if you're into that," Noah said, offering a non-apologetic smile. "But! It's about the new Justice League!"

"The one Harley Quinn was rumoured to be in?" Noah asked, brows scrunched in annoyance. "I can't believe the new Superman even considered her. That's why I like the old one better. He was smarter about things."

The strong response to the new Superman threw Aaron off. He assumed Noah to be more tactful than that.

"I think so," Todd replied, pushing his glasses. "Apparently, the team consists of Doctor Light, Frost, Frankenstein, Booster Gold, the new and third Aquaman, and Robin! Oh, and the two Blue Beetles!"

"There's two Blue Beetles?" Noah remarked, brow raised.

"Yep! And–drum roll please–Supergirl!" Todd nearly leaped in his seat. "Kara-Zor-El!"

"He's her biggest fan," Noah told Aaron, sighing. "He has seven different posters of her in his room."

"Wait, wait, wait, that makes me sound like a weirdo." Todd waved his hands in front of him as he tried deflecting the accusations. "She saved my younger sister once. She lives in Metropolis, see, and like…ever since then, I've admired her. Purely platonically."

"If he met her, he'd definitely faint," Noah mocked.

His ears turned red from mortification but Todd didn't give up. "So what? She's Supergirl! She's an icon! Literally the fifth most famous superhero in the world! Her name is synonymous with hip and cool!"

Noah chuckled and turned to Aaron. "What about you? Do you have a favourite?"