“I dunno. That’s what we need SuperWatch for.”
“When you talk to them,” Gus said. “What do they want?”
The Heroes looked at each other, unsure. The clacking of Ward’s typing stilled.
Gus exhaled a huff of air. “On your daily patrols. When you stop and talk to the people, see what they need, what their concerns are.”
“They haven’t done that in a long time,” Perry said.
Mark laughed and said, “They never did that with us.”
Darlene sneered. “What were your concerns? How many banks you could rob in one week?”
“I meant when we were living on the streets, Darlene. Because they couldn’t be bothered to help us.”
She didn’t respond to that. Sadie set a reassuring hand on Joan’s thigh and squeezed.
“If you talked to your citizens, you’d have a better idea of where to focus your energy,” said Gus. “Flapping your gums at one another in here does nothing to help out there.”
The smug look on Perry’s face… Sadie had to cover her mouth so she didn’t laugh out loud. He was very much enjoying this.
Ward held up a finger as he typed with his other hand. “Sorry, should I add that to the meeting notes?”
“No.” Otis crossed his arms. “I’m sure our citizens’ primary concern right now is safety.”
The other Supers gave similar assessments that Ward dutifully recorded. Sadie shifted in her seat.I’m a norm. Ask me how much the claim filing system on SuperWatch sucks.
The meeting languished on with more of the same: Gus telling the Supers everything they were doing wrong, the Supers bumbling to explain, Mark making snide comments. How could anything get done when no one really listened?
Sadie glanced at Perry. This was probably his ultimate revenge fantasy: a former Superhero he was friends with ripping into the current ones.
Gus looked over at the Malone twins from whatever she was writing. “What are you even doing here if you’re not going to contribute?”
“Free tacos,” Mark said, jutting his thumb at the spread of food. “And to meet you.”
“I agree with you, Gus,” Joan said. “They should be out there gathering intel.”
“You’re not going to help?” Gus said.
“I’m not a Superhero.”
“Then you’re happy to let more harm come to the city?”
Joan blinked. “No, I’m just…ah…”
“We run a food truck,” Mark said. “One we’d like to get back to so everything doesn’t spoil while we’re sitting around.”
Indicating the door, Darlene said, “You can leave anytime.”
Perry pushed his chair back like he was about to do just that. Good lord, this meeting was less productive and more snarky than the ones he presided over. How were the Supers so inefficient?
“I need to use the restroom,” Gus said. “Sidekick, don’t put that in your notes.”
Ward raised his hands off the keyboard.
“Ward’s all right.” Mark nodded at him. “Put that in your notes. Along with you need a raise.”
The sidekick stifled a smile.
