Haresa

I was at the Hero and Villain legal and finance centre, ready to submit some forms from my last hero mission.

"Number seven!" A voice called out from the long line of tills.

I looked down at my slip of paper and sighed. Not yet. I was number twenty-two. I don't know why I kept thinking I was up next.

The room was large with blank white walls to surround it. It would've felt spacious if it wasn't packed with other heroes and villains. A person had tried to bring in their metal attack tentacles and security had to fight them. I think I still hear the ruckus going on in the parking lot. I wouldn't be surprised if the person got fined to oblivion.

The person next to me stood from their seat and left for the tills. The spot was quickly replaced and I blinked.

"Took me ages to find you."

I looked up to see Sheldon and some tension left my shoulders.

"I didn't think you would show up and last-minute ditch our planned team up."

"Well, you made a—" Sheldon paused before speaking again "—compelling case."

"You have the papers?" I asked and he raised his hand to show off the documents.

"Obviously," he glanced down at the papers in my hands. "What are those for?"

"Oh, um. Just stuff for Blanc Enterprises since I'm the spokesperson and all," I mumbled.

"Aren't you part of the Power Crew or something?"

"Power Squad," I corrected him, "and yes. Blanc Enterprises is a subsidiary of the Power Squad."

"Why the hell does nobody know of the Power Squad then?"

"Faces are easier to remember than whatever hero group is formed. Hero brands can be bought and swapped apparently."

"Sounds annoying and messy." There was a pause. "Suck to be you, I wouldn't want to be a hero."

"Good thing you aren't then." I shifted in my seat uncomfortably. "Did you get the stuff sorted out with your union?"

Sheldon gave a curt nod before flipping through the pages to show me the papers. "Tattle Tails have always been accommodating to me. They had someone help guide me through the paperwork."

"They probably see you as the baby of the union."

"I am not the baby of the union." Sheldon huffed and riffled through his pocket to take something out.

"So, they didn't pinch your cheeks and gave you some candy when you were younger?"

His fingers stopped fidgeting for a moment and I was able to see he was unwrapping a small chocolate. He mumbled an incoherent sentence before popping the chocolate into his mouth and chewing the treat grumpily.

Minutes passed by and I got antsier the longer we stayed quiet.

"How's being on testosterone?" My voice cracked.

"Acne sucks."

"You're liking it though?"

"Why'd you want to know?"

"I'm just trying to make small talk."

"Well, don't."

"Oookay then." My hand found its way into my hair and I began to twist the strands.

"I'm just... not good with small talk," Sheldon said after a few moments and I felt myself relax a little.

"Oh, I get it. I just thought you didn't like me."

"I don't like you."

"Well then."

"But I can tolerate you."

Before I could think of a decent response, there was a shift in front of us and someone cleared their throat.

"Number twenty-two!" The voice called out and I jumped to my feet.

"That's us," I said to Sheldon and he sighed before slowly standing.

We approached the counter and the worker was furiously typing on the computer, not giving us a second glance.

"What's your business for today?" They asked.

"We would like to do a team up."

"Just put those papers in a basket over there."

My eyes flicked to the metal mesh basket off to the side and I gestured my hand to Sheldon for him to pass me his papers. He stared at it and I tapped his papers with a finger.

"I'll put the papers in for you."

He blinked. "Oh, right. Okay."

"We just need you to answer a few questions and we'll have your papers processed within the week." They cleared their throat and a sheet of paper was printed from their computer. They placed the newly printed sheet into the basket and the contents disappeared.

"Alright, why are you teaming up?"

"We have a common enemy," I said.

"Any history of teaming up before?"

"Nope."

"Any special recording equipment or media channels involved?"

"Nope."

"Do you want to have access to each other's benefits for the duration of the team up?"

"Yes, I would like Sheldon to have hero benefits."

"What about you, sir? Did you want this hero to have any benefits from your villain licence?" They asked him.

"Are you planning to rob any stores?" He asked me and I shook my head. "We should be good."

"Just checking on your ages to make sure I got the right accounts. Haresa, seventeen?"

"Yes."

"And Sheldon, sixteen?"

"Mm," Sheldon grunted.

"You are the youngest hero and villain I've ever seen walk in. I thought you two would be eighteen at least."

"Well, we're special circumstances."

"We've been entertainment monkeys since we were five."

"Five?!"

"We weren't monkeys," I laughed politely and gave Sheldon a look.

"Sorry," Sheldon said. "We were forced into child labour."

I clamped my hand over his mouth and he tensed at the sudden touch. "Sorry, Sheldon has a dry sense of humour."

"Anyways," the worker looked back to their screen. "How long did you want the team up to last? You can have a year-long permit and then you wouldn't have to come here and wait for a permit each time or you can have a week-long permit if it's a smaller mission."

"Is there like an in-between option?" I asked.

"No."

"We'll take the year-long option." I slowly took my hand off Sheldon's mouth and I could see an evil grin on his face.

"So, does that mean I get to use my villain's licence to take my school handcuffs on and off?"

"They're not handcuffs."

"They use the same stuff in prisons."

"It's a weaker version used in schools."

"It's still the same thing."

"I need you two to sign some papers and quiet down," the worker said as they pushed some pens and papers toward us.

I muttered an apology and did as the worker asked of me.

"I still didn't get the answer to my question," Sheldon said.

The worker sighed. "Yes, you will."

"Sweet."

"Ah right," the worker clicked their mouse. "Just one last question."

"Yeah?" I asked.

"Are you two dating?"

The question made me jump and Sheldon let out a very long string of curses.

"No, no we are not," I covered Sheldon's mouth once more.

"Okay, if you were then there will be another set of forms that would have to be done. Villain and hero relations get complicated when dating is involved."

"Yes, understood." The words hissed through my teeth and I did my best to sound happy.

My hand suddenly felt wet and I yanked my hand back to my side. I wiped my hand against my shirt and shot Sheldon a glare. He only stuck his tongue out at me.

This will be a very long team up.