A Meeting of Maniacs

This story has characters from my comics, including Daniel alias Devotee from my Houseguest series. I should also explain that Super Creature, in order to stay humble, has a quirk in which he says "Your servant" and "Your servant's" instead of "I" and "My", and that this takes place after Renegade has helped him with a problem he had.
As he and Renegade walked to their destination, Super Creature mused that things were about to get interesting. They arrived to where Devotee was waiting. Renegade stayed back so Super Creature and Devotee could have a moment. Devotee had started feeling anxiety when he watched The Mega Madman arrive, but he was also glad to see Super Creature back.  He held out his hand, which The Creature of Steel shook.  “It’s good to have you back!”
“Thank you; it’s good to be back.  How have you been?”
“I’ve been doing well, thank you.”
Renegade commented, “It’s good to see you’re respectful.” 
Devotee looked at him.  “Hm?  Well, sure!  Why wouldn’t I be?” 
“He’s been sick.” 
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Good.  If you had been disrespectful…”  He raised his right hand to emphasize his claws.  “…I would have felt like doing something harsh.”
“If I had, I would have deserved it.”
Renegade nodded in agreement.  “Nice self-awareness, Devotee.”  He rested his hand on his hip. “Super Creature has told me all about you, and I’m sure he’s told you all about me.” 
“Definitely!”
Renegade laughed before stating, “I’d love to fill your lungs with laughing gas.”
 
Devotee gaped at Renegade, looked at Super Creature, and looked back at Renegade.  “I thought I was brash, but you’re on a whole ‘nother level!”
“Well, I’m glad that has sunken in!”
“I’ll have you know I’ve been gassed unconscious by a better class of people than you, so yeah- go ahead and try it and see what happens!”
“Thanks for the thumbs up.”  He nodded to Devotee’s utility belt.  “You got a pencil or pen in that thing?”  Devotee looked baffled.  “Hey, you’re living out that part of ‘Never Bet the Devil Your Head’ where it says you need to look stern when perplexed or you’ll look foolish!”
“Oh, well, thanks for that.”  Without taking his eyes off The Mega Madman, he retrieved a pencil from a pouch.  As he started to hold it out to Renegade, a tremor ran through him.  He brushed it off & let him take the pencil.
“Thanks; I’ll return it to you.”  He looked it over.  “That’s a nice one.”  He smoothly set it on his shoulder, then excitedly motioned with his hand and called, “Knock it off!  Come on!”
Devotee likewise grinned in excitement.  “I was waiting for it!”
The armored fanatic took a swing at Renegade’s shoulder, but the insane alien grabbed his wrist and gripped it tightly. Both took a second to admire the other’s speed & strength before continuing.  Devotee grabbed Renegade’s wrist in turn and used his strength to push him back.  Renegade resisted at first, then changed strategy.  He raised his free hand, but instead of counterattacking, he pinned down the pencil on his shoulder.  As Devotee pushed him, he took advantage of the momentum and leaned back, then went to the side and swept Devotee’s legs with an agile kick.  The result was that the costumed hero fell to the ground.  However, he kept his grip on Renegade, preventing him from escaping and nearly bringing him down too.  He quickly regained his footing.
Renegade looked miffed, but then his excited grin returned.  “This is what makes it exciting, isn’t it?  Everyone knows the thrill I get when I’m able to topple foes like card castles, but this is something else!”
 
Devotee was grinning as well.  “Yeah…it sure is!”  He tightened his grip.  “I’ve got you in a bad position right now!”
Renegade raised a hand, claws glowing with energy, to Devotee’s face.  “I could say the same thing!”
The two fighters stood trembling.  Before anything else could happen, however, there was a quiet sound of something hitting the floor.  Renegade had a realization and interjected, “Dang it!”  Devotee looked and saw the pencil where it had fallen from Renegade’s shoulder. He involuntarily started chuckling.
Super Creature went over to separate the fighters.  “It’s over.”
“Yeah, yeah!” Renegade replied, his cheeks showing extra color.  He pulled his wrist free from Devotee’s loosened grip. “I got caught up in the moment is all.  He didn’t technically knock it off.”  He picked up the pencil and tossed it to Devotee, who caught it and returned it to the belt pouch.  “Don’t get too cocky.  After all…”  His eyes seemed to gleam red.  “…I’m a maniac! HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!”
Blades of dread seemed to stab into Devotee, paralyzing him and making his legs feel like taffy.  Later he realized it was Renegade exuding what the Japanese called “sakki”, meaning thirst for blood or killing intent.  In that moment, however, all he could do was stand breathlessly.
“So, are you still willing to play?”
It took a moment, but Devotee came out of his state. “Yeah… Yeah, you bet I am!” He managed to crack a smile.  “You’re wrong if you think I’m backing down that easily!”
“Glad to hear it!”
Devotee was trembling, but Renegade was too.  The patriot started, “Is something going on in my head, or-”
“I’m sure a bunch of stuff is going on in your head, but no, I really am quivering too.  You got your grit back before you noticed that, though.”  Devotee grinned in pride.  “So, what do you think of The Flying Fox?”
“Hm?  He’s cool.  He’s a great guy.”
“I’m glad you think so.  A strong will, a damaged psyche, a determination to be a hero, and now here’s a fourth thing you’ll have in common with him: from now on, you and I are rivals!”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way!”
Renegade nodded and then turned to Super Creature.  “I’ll let you attend to your ward & my playmate.”
Super Creature nodded back.  “Your servant will be there shortly.”  As Renegade left, Super Creature fetched a chair.  He brought it to Devotee and stated, “There’s no shame in needing to rest.”
“Thank you.”  He didn’t sit down, but he did lean against it.  He sighed.  “It’s still affecting me.”
“Renegade can be very intimidating.”
“You didn’t seem to be affected, though.”
“That’s probably a combination of your servant’s invulnerability and your servant’s willpower, to say nothing of experience.  Also, your servant cared for Renegade when he was sick and vulnerable.”
 
Devotee thought about how members of Basilisk had cared for him, being patient during his outbursts.  “Yeah… I get that.” Though his legs were feeling better, he sat down.  “I’m going to keep improving.”
“Your servant knows you will.”
“Good.  I’m fine; go on ahead.”
Super Creature went to check on Renegade, who told him, “I’m okay to fly back.”
“That’s good.  Your servant is glad you both rebounded so quickly.”
“‘Both’?  Yes, that is good.  Did you expect anything less?”
“Nope, not at all.”
“Well, I’m going to head out.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, thank you again for your help.”
“I was just working on a debt is all.”
Super Creature noted he said “working on a debt” and not “repaying a debt”, but he graciously overlooked it.  “Still, your servant appreciates it.”
“That’s good of you.  Good luck and God bless.”
“Thank you; you too.”
Renegade entered his spaceship and took off.  He turned on the auto-pilot and stretched out.
Next- Two lunatics talking about Power Rangers
By Raidra
==Narration==
thumb|left|275 px|Narration done by me and posted to my channel
Category:Stories
Category:Raidra