This time, she was backed up by two of the most dangerous supervillains in St. Canard who would easily lay down their lives for her. Or so she desperately hoped. In any other situation she would have been glad to have the backup. However, the strange introduction of romantic tensions among the group made them only marginally helpful if push came to shove. Knowing Steelbeak, it would probably come to shove, and then surpass it.

As far as Tegwen was concerned, Megavolt and Bushroot would start arguing amongst each other before even throwing a punch at the target she would be aiming for -- Steelbeak. The cocky rooster stood where he was, a startled expression on his face very much like he'd just seen a ghost. Apparently, he was caught as off guard as Tegwen had been, finding one another browsing the same mundane toy store.

So, in the end, it was the least likely voice to break the silence, in the most unusual way.

"Tegs! Great to see you! Hey, can you shut this thing up?" Gabriel cheerfully asked. "Or are you technologically challenged, too?"

"What?" Tegwen stuttered, awkwardly taking the brightly colored box from her enemy. "What are you . . .?"

"Will you give me a hug?" A recorded voice implored from the doll within.

"Hug this," Tegwen snapped, throwing the box toward a display of Pretty Ponies and spilling a few into the floor. Her eyes never once left Steelbeak nor Gabriel. "Fancy meeting you here." She growled, primarily at the taller of the two.

"Hey, Tegwen?" Megavolt prodded her from behind. "Hello? Why don't we just, ah . . ."

"Go on our merry way?" Bushroot finished the statement. It was obvious to him that there was more going on than an accidental confrontation, and there was a lot of Tegwen's history he hadn't been graced with over that morning's breakfast with her.

Gabriel shot a quick sneer toward both villains before plastering another wide grin on her face. "It's great to see you here, Tegwen! But I wouldn't have expected to see you out shopping in the midst of this mess. Looking for Hanukkah gifts?"

Steelbeak cocked his head. "What're you talkin' bout?" He blinked. "She don't look Jewish!"

Gabriel elbowed him sharply. "I knew you were dim, but this dim?"

He looked at her, wounded. "It's not like she's wearin' a tag wit' her religion on it! How would you know somet'in' like dat?"

"Ixnay on the Ewishjay!" Gabriel hissed, her glare at him growing more furious.

go back | return to table of contents | continue