That Meddling Meddler

[on_repeat]

WHO: Echo et AL
WHERE: Various about The Hero City
WHAT: Normal moments, action moments, normal action? Whatever happens in between the bigger events.
WHEN: May?
WARNINGS: N/A?

-----

Every morning, Echo woke up. Every morning, he answered his door, leaning against the frame before looking down.

"We need to stop doing this."

The orange tabby meowed, pressing against the man's legs to slink past him and the threshold. And after watching the cat take over his apartment yet again, he sighed, bending forward to grab the newspaper that came with it.

* * *

Place An Order

Because even in a city full of Superheroes, folks still needed saving...

...From exaggerated hunger pangs.

Ramen, hero sandwiches, pad thai – whatever it was, Echo was out there, picking up orders and delivering them to the awaiting customers in need of feeding.

"GrubDash!"


On The Way

There were plenty of times he was there outside of making an online food delivery.

Not every single event could be taken care of within twenty-four hours by one person, of course. That would be ridiculous. Echo chose what was realistically doable with the constraints he had to work with, which included being mostly normal as opposed to being someone with actual superpowers.

Anything within the lower to middle tier, really, scripted and unscripted. The latter at least didn't involve reading tomorrow's newspaper articles ahead of schedule.

He knew some things weren't fixable. But if he could change an outcome for the better, he took the risk.


Wildcard

[Other ideas/suggestions/scenarios/what have you go hereeeee]

Comments

[on_repeat]

"These sure are some specifics," Echo accidentally blurts out while simultaneously wondering if finding a new space and moving out in less than six months was even realistic. It was probably better he didn't think too deeply about the factors going into the hypothetical, but it still managed to slip in. A notification on his phone chimed, giving him a break from the tank to fish the device out of his jacket pocket. "Seriously, Mr. Stark, I have other deliveries I have to get to– "

He barely read the 'spicy ramen' note when Tony carried on, bringing them back to the return trip to fetch Mr. Bubbles. His gaze followed where the man pointed, not liking the implication at all. "When you say 'walked' away," Echo began, "do you mean someone else got to him first? Or are you possibly saying Mr. Bubbles...evolved?"

Sure, it was a stretch, but. That couldn't be ruled out. Not here in This City.

[in_extremis]

That was the question they were here to answer, but Tony's fellow scientist didn't seem particularly convinced or focused. "You don't think so?" Tony pressed, but gently, taking the questioning alone as answer enough that this hypothesis was not workable. That would change Tony's focus to the less scientific exploration, and more detective work of figuring out who might have the fish in their possession, so maybe it was about time to relieve Echo and close the lab.

Tony raised a finger for Echo to wait while he took another long drink, wandering away as he did to deposit the bottle on the kitchen counter with his donuts. This freed his hands to fish out his wallet, and a thick stack of bills that he evidently didn't count before he was handing them over. "Illuminating discussion, Mr. Echo. Mr. Bubbles would be grateful for your service, I'm sure."

[on_repeat]

"I wish I could say yes," Echo sighed, "but we can't completely rule out any other outcomes. So Mr. Bubbles growing legs and stepping out on his own is still in play..."

His voice trailed off as one hand let go of the ninja turtle mug, automatically accepting the stack while his mind played catch-up. "What– "

Clearly this was a lot more than he made in a single day.

Echo worked his jaw, mouth opening, closing, then opening again. Much like what Mr. Bubbles would have done. "Mr. Stark?"

[in_extremis]

Tony's compulsion to correct the title was already half formed, tongue against his teeth before he was smiling wickedly and saying instead, "I liked 'dear' much better." Before Echo was under any impression that this was some kind of negotiation or he had to make humble overtures that would just make them both feel awkward, Tony was tucking his hands away in his pockets, not open for exchange, and backing a few steps away like he was wandering back for a donut. "I owe you, for the tips you could have been collecting, and for your help," he explained, letting Echo decide which of those he felt better about accepting. "But it looks like this project is changing directions, so I'm going to have to explore my options. I'll let you know if the evolution angle pans out."

[on_repeat]

The deliveryman's nose wrinkled, but he relented when Tony physically withdrew and explained as much, the hefty tip remaining a solid weight in his hand. "...Well. Thank you," Echo said with a slight laugh. "Glad I could help. And to be honest, I'm gonna expect some updates now."

He then raised his mug, drinking the rest of it down before setting it onto the counter. Maybe it was a mistake, but he did it. He saved himself any more trouble by waving a hand at Tony, turning on a heel to pick his way back out of the apartment unit.