Chapter Text
Foz sat starry eyed, kicking his legs and jittering in anticipation. A chance, for a moment in the spotlight. A chance to get some recognition for the work he does for the team. Xuli and Kyan often took the credit, doing all of the physical work. He usually sat near the scene or in the vroomster (one of many of Xulis handmade aircrafts) warning of danger through earpieces, but the few times he was able to join he got himself burned pretty badly, so never aided them physically much afterwards. He saved their lives a few times for Christ's sake, he deserved some recognition. Just the thought of being broadcasted to live television made him anxious and excited. What kind of questions would they be asking?
"Your work, according to Kyan and Xuli, is amazing. They commend you for your quick thinking and miscellaneous knowledge. How many times have you saved their lives? What are your hobbies? What's your favorite color? Food?" He never got that kind of attention, that care. Not even from his parents.
But enough about that! Fame! At last, his work doesn't go unnoticed. Years of academy training, but not wasted. A smile spread across his face. His legs still didn't quite touch the floor, he scooted a bit to touch it absentmindedly. Brushing his heels on the tile flooring, he imagined more scenarios in his head.
Kyan and Xuli often went alone, again, leaving Foz with Ubercorn and Glitch in jetpad. Which, was insufferable, considering the third wheeled the entire time. 2 idiots in concerningly deep denial about a 40+ year long romance plus Foz was not fun. Or he was home, which was arguably worse despite being alone. He was with them, which of course meant he was going to be interviewed too!
Right?
He heard a faint mention of his name, which made him perk up. Maybe it wasn't, but a man can dream! Hyping up the audience perhaps? His first interview, spotlight, love, attention, care and attention-
Xuli walked out of one of the studio rooms, adjusting her fringe ever so slightly. His chance! God, he couldn't wait to go in.
"How was it?" His stomach was in knots. The anticipation was killing him, his first and with his hopefully amazing stage charisma not his last.
"Pretty average. The usual questions I've answered, it's getting boring at this point." She chuckled as she sat next to Foz in the lounge. He wondered if interviews would get old for him, knowing the answer was no. Maybe, but probably not.
"What's got you all excited?"
He didn't want to reveal to Xuli what it was, so answered with a usual quip of his. "Can't wait to leave this waiting room." Which wasn't exactly wrong, but wasn't quite right either.
"Me too, but we have to go back to Jetpad to check in with everyone. Kyan's is being recorded right now, so after that." He was going to vibrate out of his seat. admittedly the couch he chose to sit at was mildly uncomfortable. He couldn't deny the dopey smile he wore. Foz leaned back, scooting away from the edge of his seat.
"I don't think it's just that. Did you finally get to talk with Tala?" She teased, Foz felt a blush creep up his face before shaking his head hastily.
"Aw, it's alright loverboy."
"For the last time, don't-"
Xuli shrugged. "Whatever helps you sleep at night."
"It does not help me sleep at night! In fact-" He cut himself off before he dug his own grave.
"In fact what, Foz?" He pursed his lips and gave into whatever else Xuli had to say.
She hummed a tune he was unfamiliar with while tapping her foot.
A few minutes later, Kyan joined them in the waiting room. He high-fived Xuli and gestured for Foz to stand.
"Alright, it's go time?"
"Yep!"
He felt near-dizzy, and sprang up. "My first interview!"
...
Silence. Long, deafening silence.
"...I don't think they're asking you anything."
Oh.
Oh.
"Well, uh, that's fine! It's alright. I was just, expecting. Y'know? It's a bit unrealistic thinking about it." Foz blinked back tears and tried keeping up the happy appearance.
"You have next time alright?" Xuli reassured, opening the door and walking through with Kyan.
"Don't feel so down. Just because the media doesn't go super crazy over you doesn't mean you aren't important to us." Kyan ruffled his hair, and he tried immediately fixing it.
Xuli gave him a quick hug as they went down the elevator.
"Foz, you can go back home without checking in today. It's still bright enough for you to be able to get home in time, yeah?"
"Mhm." He tried not to let his voice break.
"Great! Get some sleep, know you were up late last night studying. Sleep is just as important." The elevator dinged and they left as a few other people piled in.
Were they ignoring him? He was trying to put up a happy persona while expecting to be treated like he's upset by it. Ironic.
The orange light of sunset seeped through the massive windows of the building, casting exaggerated shadows. The flowers with the few honeybees still out at this hour in front of the fancy office-like building decorated their path as the trio made their way out of the glass doors.
"See you tomorrow! Don't let it dampen your mood too much!" Kyan shouted and grinned at him. He let up a watery smile but his face immediately fell the second they looked away and continued their banter while walking away from him.
Why?
Do they need me?
Does anyone need me?
His eyes watered as he walked along the opposite side of the sidewalk, kicking an occasional rock out of the way. He let himself get his hopes this high, just for a sliver of recognition. Why did he care so much? He knew Xuli hated the spotlight sometimes, being asked so many questions and such a large number of people caring about her in general. He would give up anything for that. A little bit of love, familial, friendly,
You could argue Kyan and Xuli were his friends, but he learned enough from his parents to keep personal relations out of work.
His parents didn't really pay much attention to him. They really just kept him around for the government benefits, and he swore they'd recognise his report card first over his name. They only cared about grades after they learned he could soak in information quickly, sending him to the training school because they heard it was high-end. He skipped a few grades to be placed with Kyan and Xuli, who grew to be the biggest hero duo in their city. In the end he probably doesn't deserve that attention but he wanted it.
His home life wasn't the greatest. His siblings were all at least 3 years older than him, and didn't really want anything to do with Foz. He was the annoying younger sibling, constantly prodding and pleading for them to do things with him but no one in that house seemed happy to have him. He stayed away as much as he could while he was in the academy, but it was harder now. A teardrop threatened to fall as he wiped it away with his sleeve.
The turn where he normally went left to go home passed his vision. The library was straight forward, a little bit of studying never hurt anyone, right?
He didn't take the turn.
The day's sunlight was dwindling, the gentle ring of the bell echoing through the empty library. Books filled every shelf, not a person was in sight.
How peculiar.
It wasn't past closing, not even close, but it was silent with just his light breathing and footsteps in the atheneum. There wasn't even any kind of villain-spotting warnings sent out to him, or any reason to evacuate.
"Hello? Anyone here?" He called, hoping for an answer. Foz swore he heard the sound of someone quickly retreating but chose to ignore it as just an echo of his own steps.
He hummed contently, happy that maybe if any day to be left at the library alone was today. It was quite small in comparison to the academy library (if that's a comparison at all) but had plenty of books. Enough to keep him busy, but enough to keep him yearning for the academies.
Silently grabbing a book he's reread many a time from the fiction section, he settled at a table to immerse into a universe that wasn't his. He said studying, but a distraction was something he needed right now. Wallowing in self-pity while going over the test material for the 14th time wasn't what Foz was currently interested in.
The gentle hum-buzz of the crappy fluorescent lights and the light outside fading to darkness provided little comfort knowing he'd have to walk home alone in the dark. His parents wouldn't bother picking him up either, knowing them they'd say they "trust him" and hang up. He was the brains of the team, if he gets mugged or worse kidnapped he didn't trust himself to be able to get away.
What did he have to offer them anyways? They'd probably get by just fine without him.
Maybe he should quit.
He read on, realizing he spaced out midway through and reread a bit of it. He may as well have it memorized at this point, but the character's quips and childish manner never got old to him.
Smiling through the tears of being let down, he still couldn't really get his mind off of it. He thought it was his once chance, and it was torn away in seconds.
Just when he thought it all came to a head and he'd finally get a little bit of credit, gone. Why did Xuli and Kyan get all of the attention? Did they keep him away from missions on purpose? Kyan came back bruised often and Xuli had crashed a few times due to malfunctions and he got some second degree burns on his left arm and he's suddenly not allowed on the field again, ever.
He let his mind and thoughts slip away at last, immersing into the story. Only the sounds of pages turning could be heard, soft echo of his feet swaying against the carpet and lights tuned out by Foz. The sound of the pages were oddly comforting despite knowing the time would be gone by the time he looked at the large clock in the center of the library.
Humming in satisfaction with the chapter he was at, he mentally noted it before glancing upwards.
9:34pm.
3 hours, just reading. The library was supposed to close 30 or so minutes ago and nothing. Lights are on, no hint of human activity aside from Foz. He carefully placed the book back into its original placement.
He shuffled up to the counter and peeked over. Back to living, guess. He wandered back out to the glass door in the middle of the library and debated shutting the lights off, but decided against it.
Expecting to be met with the cool night breeze, he swung the doors open and instead of the black and blue starry sky, he was met with a shadowy figure by the streetlight. Whatever, the friendly neighborhood drunk person or drug dealer never hurt anyone.
What didn't expect was for top supervillain Lars to come out of said shadow and put a bag over his head. Also use (most likely stolen police handcuffs) to restrain him. Naturally as anyone would do in this situation, he screamed. He tried using the several methods used to break out of police handcuffs taught in the academy (don't ask) but failed.
"Shh, It's alright. You're safe here, I'll get you home after a bit alright?"
For one, what the hell is happening. Two, Why was he reassuring him that 'he'd be safe"? Lars was well-known for kidnapping kids just because, he never expected to end up as one of them.
"It's not safe for you to be out this late. Where's your house? er- guess nearby would be better if you don't trust me. Y'know, media supervillain stuff."
"Why would I tell you?" Foz hissed, trying to get the supervillains hands off of him.
"It's 9:40. You shouldn't be walking home alone this late."
It was a trap to make him feel safe, and it was working. He tried to keep reminding himself it was a facade.
How does one's day go from sulking in a library to being kidnapped and most likely held hostage in a basement?
"Let me go. I can't see anything and would like to go."
"Just 30 or so minutes, I'll take them off in the Truckster I promise. I have a kidnapping image to keep up." He grabbed Foz's wrist and tried gently to lead him inside of his vehicle.
"I'm not following you anywhere. My parents won't pay my ransom and I'll be as good as dead to you, so just leave me alone."
"I won't hold you for ransom, just feel like fighting some heroes so don't be scared. Why would I hold you for ransom? Even if did, you're innocent, I wouldn't kill you."
"You literally robbed a bank yesterday!"
"I didn't kill anyone, just took the $5 I was short of."
"You threatened to!"
"And when have I followed through with it?"
"You're literally a supervillain! Stop defending your honor or whatever."
"C'mon."
"Take the bag off." He demanded, but shrunk into himself realizing he probably shouldn't be making demands to the taller.
"After you're in here." His arm was yanked into the open truck, guessing by the slope of the ground and its change into metal and plastic. He yelped in surprise at almost tripping over something but was set down into a seat. It was awfully comfortable, and he heard the sound of the handcuffs being unlocked.
"The bag itches my nose." Foz stretched his wrists out and set them onto the seat. It was a couch of some kind based on the width, and quite fluffy.
"I'm sorry! I didn't properly clean it from my last guests here. Just a second..." Lars trailed off and vague noises of things being moved around and what sounded like a trash can being emptied could be heard. The bag was pulled off of his head, and he winced at the sudden light.
"Sorry if it's messy still, feel free to move around if you'd like."
As he let his eyes adjust he realized the room had a disco-aesthetic. Which was weird for a supervillain and oddly similar to Jetpad's.
He chose to stay put thank you very much, and what just happened properly set in.
He was kidnapped by the top supervillain in the city, Lars, put into a disco aesthetic truck and was being hauled off to some weird evil lair.
"Where are we going?"
The truck began moving, based on what he could see from the windows inside they were pulling out of the side of the street.
"Back to the place I usually have the kidnapping victims. It's pretty homey, quite like it. Built some doors and contraptions myself and I'm proud of it."
This was... Very different from how the hero committee reported Lars to be like. Why was he so polite about it? You have an entire child you just took off of the street, at least make it like a proper kidnapping.
If he gets held at gunpoint for inside information, he's giving it to Lars. They never did anything good for him anyways.
Maybe Lars doesn't recognize him at all.
That stung more than a proper bullet through the chest.