by MlLash
"R.C.!" She stopped dead in her tracks. He hadn't seen her.
"What the hell is he DOING, anyway? Spying on me? He isn't close enough to see in my window...Wellsy, well, well!" The skinny, blonde-haired frame of Boy 54 trotted up to R.C.
"How SWEET. They're checking UP on me." She smiled despite herself. "I'll show 'em that I'm doing JUST FINE without the LMB Experience!"
Roller Queen began skating towards her 2 former teammates confidently.
Boy 54 stiffened as he saw Roller Queen in the distance. Rhinestone Cowboy noticed his change in body language immeditely. "Boy? She's behind me, isn't she?"
>>>BASH!<<<
The Cowboy and Boy 54 sprawled together on the pavement as Roller Queen laughed hysterically.
"You two wouldn't last 10 seconds in the Derby! Hahaha...! The looks on your faces...Hahaha...!!!"
Boy 54, about to panic, felt a rush of sweet relief as the Cowboy's face melted from fury to a smile. Queenie's laughter was infectious.
"SO", Roller Queen stated matter-of-factly, "Who does a girl have to f#ck to get dinner around here?"
Acid Lad actually enjoyed the walk home. The night breeze blowing through his long, brown hair felt divine. He always felt better after talking with Dr. Butz, but this time had been a revelation in every sense of the word.
It had really helped to talk of the other LMBEers. Dr. Butz helped him to understand that it WASN'T his fault the group was falling apart.
The group had been shaky from the start, shaky for almost 10 years. The loss of such pivotol members as Belle Bottom, Peace-Taker, The Living Afro, Bong Boy and Frisbee Frank hadn't helped either.
What the LMBE had been reduced to was a group of couples. And THAT began to crack with the resignation of Platform King.
"Damn it, I don't care WHO she's screwing. The LMBE is my priority, and I wanna know if she's in or OUT!"
Acid Lad placed a pill on his tongue and changed directions, heading for Sundown's apartment.
Acid Lad knocked on Sundown's door. Silence.
He knocked again, more insistently. He heard the faintest sound of a whimper coming from inside. He tried the doorknob but it was locked. Determined, he raised his foot from the floor and a well-placed kick sent the door crashing open.
"Sundown..?" He entered the apartment. He again heard what sounded like a pitiful whimper coming from the bedroom and he pushed the door open.
The sight was almost more than he could bear. His beautiful Sundown was lying on the floor amidst a pool of vomit, mucus and blood. Her arms were black and blue from heroin injections. Her bed and floor were littered with needles. She looked like she hadn't eaten in a week. He knew in an instant why she had been so distant the past couple of months and had finally disappeared from him and the LMBE.
He bent down and cradled her in his arms. Sundown's eyes fluttered open just slightly and she saw that her final prayer had been answered. "Acid...I love you...so much...I'm a junkie, baby...a loser..."
"SSSssshh, baby, rest." Acid Lad activated his power and sent illusions of the heroic past of Sundown into her mind's eye. She had saved lives. She had defeated world-beater wannabees. She had been anything BUT a loser! Included in the panorama were visions of the two of them at their happiest.
Sundown managed to form a smile. Acid Lad's tears fell on her face as she squeezed his hand hard and breathed her last.....
Roller Queen couldn't believe she was sitting here at FAT AL's about to scarf out with Boy and the Cowboy. The truth of the matter was, she HAD missed him...THEM.
"R.C., you're looking a mite peaked. Have you been out partying too much?"
The Cowboy stiffened noticeably. "Relax, Rhinestone..." Boy 54 interjected. "...we're all FRIENDS here, right? Having dinner together like friends do, right?"
">Phsssaw!< I noticed your skinny butt didn't even order anything. I don't think I've EVER seen you eat, Boy!"
Boy 54 turned from Roller Queen and glanced around the crowded diner. Several customers there met his eye contact. He turned back to the Queen and said, "I've...already eaten once tonight. And I'm always...snacking here and there."
Roller Queen giggled, "Yeah I just BET you are..."
"Queenie, I've...MISSED you. Terribly."
Roller Queen stared at the Cowboy. After a moment of awkward silence she sighed and said, "Same old SERIOUS Cowboy. That rugged face would crack and fall off if you was to SMILE once in while, wouldn't it?"
R.C. hung down his head and didn't reply. Roller Queen reached over and touched his chin. "Cowboy, I was MAD AS HELL when I first spotted you tonight. But if you recall, coming here was MY idea. Let's enjoy it, okay, babydoll?"
Rhinestone Cowboy looked up, shook his head "yes" and offered a half-smile half-grimace that made Roller Queen giggle again. "I HAVE missed you fellas. How the hell are Acid & Sundown doing? You guys gone up against Ruff Trade or the Boogie Squad lately?"
Before either could reply, the unmistakeable buzz of the LMBE signal alert went off. Boy 54's peace-sign belt buckle and R.C.'s bolo tie were signalling for the first time in weeks. The Cowboy noticed Roller Queen's skates were also buzzing. "So, you DO still wear the signal."
"Of course, honey-britches. I was curious to see if you would signal for me."
Boy 54 interrupted them, taking a serious tone. "Uuh, this signal is coming from Sundown's pad. I can't even REMEMBER the last time SHE sent out an alert."
Rhinestone Cowboy stood and threw a twenty on the table. "Something's awry here, Boy. Dinner's on me, now let's GO!" He turned to Roller Queen. "You coming?"
She thought about telling him to f#ck off. She thought about how tired she was from the Derby. She thought about how she had never wanted to see him again.
She stood and said "Just try and stop me."
The 3 LMBEers left Fat Al's, making the familiar walk to Sundown's apartment.
Acid Lad met them at the door. He was a little shocked that they all arrived together...and a little glad, too. Calling the police and ambulance for Sundown was the hardest thing he had ever had to do. He didn't want to be alone right now. He wanted to be surrounded by her things and those that had been her teammates.
He had cleaned her up as best as he had been able, but he knew when word leaked out, the press would massacre her. The LMB Experience would NEVER match the greatness of the Justice Society of Message Board Posters in THEIR eyes. And maybe they were RIGHT.
"She's gone, guys. She's...singing in the sky, now..." He broke down in tears and Roller Queen hugged him close.
"What happened, Acid? Was it one of our enemies?"
"Suicide" he lied through his tears.
Roller Queen's tears started to flow. Boy 54 looked down, almost ashamed, the concept of death foreign to him. Rhinestone Cowboy stared straight ahead, his face showing no emotion. Finally he asked Acid Lad, "Where do we go from here?"
Acid Lad wiped the tears from his face and replied, "I think it's time we made it official. I think it's time for the LMBE to end. We've all started to move on anyway, right? The world doesn't need us. WE don't need us...."
Rhinestone Cowboy turned and walked out of the apartment without a single word. His thoughts raced as his boots pounded the pavement. Acid Lad had gotten too weak to lead the LMBE, but HE had only gotten stronger. He would banish it ALL from his mind, the LMBE, Queenie, EVERYTHING but his mission...
...SOMEBODY had to help keep the streets safe....RIGHT?
--------ONE WEEK LATER-----------
Dr. Butz stared at Acid Lad. Acid Lad met his gaze until he could bear it no longer. "WHAT?!" he half-asked, half-yelled.
"I was merely contemplating the progess you have made, Lad. When you first came to me for assistance weeks ago, you were on the verge of a breakdown. You are now on the verge of a breakTHROUGH."
Acid Lad scoffed.
"Do NOT sell your accomplishments SHORT, Lad. The young man that first came in my office that was wallowing in despair over his girlfriend's alleged affair and the instability of his group has triumphed over the loss of BOTH of them."
"I just believe that things happen for a REASON. Sundown, the LMBE, everything...for a reason."
"As do I, Acid Lad. As do I." Dr. Butz let out a slight chuckle and suddenly Acid Lad wanted nothing more than to be away from him.....