"Captain America would destroy Tony stark In a one, on one," I snapped.

"Pppffft as if! Tony would wreck that little boy scout. What kind of loser uses a shield as a weapon!? You don't even do that!" Zack snapped back.

"His shield has adamantium in it! Plus it's the best weapon for protecting people. Something Tony could never break!"

"Right, cuz the great Knight of the Alley uses a shield to fight." He huffed.

"You two really haven't changed have you?" Annual giggled.

We both stopped arguing and looked down to her. She was grinning ear to ear. I was surprised. I figured she'd fight us and try to force herself to walk. But she seemed rather content to have me pushing her around in her wheelchair.

Me and Zack both skipped school to take her to the mall. We couldn't manage to get a weekend free from the doctors to take her out. So we just agreed to do it the next day.

"Changing would imply that I could get awesomer than what I already was. And I'm already the Chad king Zack."

Chad king?

"Are you implying your gift wasn't an upgrade?"

"It's like adding diamonds on top of gold."

"More like adding a crown on a garbage bin." I muttered.

"Or adding whipped cream to a burnt brownie." Annual added.

And we both laughed at that.

"Oh great, the duo is back..." Zack huffed.

"It's not our fault you're so full of hot hair." I countered.

"Or that you're so roastable. I mean come on your head looks like a shih tzu!" Annual chuckled.

"You're one to talk when you look like Francine from Arthur!"

"Says the seventeen year old who can't even grow facial hair!!"

And suddenly we became a tourist attraction in the middle of the mall. We got all sorts of stares, and random workers laughing at the roasts they were throwing back and forth. It was odd, I never thought we'd get a chance to be like this again. It didn't feel real, none of it. Even though I was holding the wheelchair in my own hands. I was sure I'd wake up at any moment.

"Gnome!" Zack yelled.

"Gremlin!" Annual snapped back.

"Gnome!"

"Gremlin!"

"Gnome!"

Geez! I haven't heard these nicknames in forever! I think the last time I heard them was when I visited her at home the first time she got sick. I couldn't help it. I just started laughing. I stopped rolling the chair and leaned against it. Letting the waves of nostalgia fill me with this joyous warmth.

"The hell's your problem shield boy!?"

"It's nothing really. I just haven't heard you being called a gremlin in forever." I sighed as I took a breath.

"Whatever, I'm out. You two are too much nerd for me. Scaring off all the babes."

"....It's an early Thursday, what babes?"

"Wouldn't expect a shield boy to understand. I'm off." Zack moved his hands in his pocket and started walking off toward a churro stand. "Oh yeah, and no tongue you two!"

I felt the heat rise to my cheeks as he said that. Why did he have to yell that outloud!?

"Such a gremlin.." Annual sighed, I could tell her cheeks were a rosey shade as well.

"Anyways, you said you'd help with my style right?" I asked.

"Mmmhhmm, speed off my knight!" She cheered.

I chuckled and started to push her again, going at a jogging pace toward the nearest clothing store.

"High ho silver!" She cheered with a giggle.

Soon I started to slow down and came to a complete stop. I could hear the pop music secreting from the place. The store was all white and looked pretty retro. It was like a store for Ken and barbie dolls. I’d never step foot in a place like this...

"Alright my Knight, it's time to get you some new threads." She hummed.

"Do I really need to…"

"Considering you've been wearing the same style since I've known you. I think it's time for an upgrade." She reached up and patted my hand. "First of all, I don't think this place suits you. You're very active, I think a skater look would suit you better."

"But I don't even skate.." I mumbled.

"Don't whine, come on! Getty up Silver!"

I sighed and turned from the shop.

“Whatever you say Princess!” I cheered as I rode off.

…

"See, doesn't that feel great!"

"I mean, it's better then the pink bunny shirt you had me wear."

I walked out and stood in front of her, slowly turning around for her.

"I just wanted to see you in a tight cute shirt. Show off those guns!" She replied as she looked me over.

I blushed and looked away. First Elizabeth and now her..

"What's with you girls always teasing me?"

"It's because you're so cute when you're flustered." She chuckled.

"So not fair.."

I was wearing an open dark blue and yellow checkered flannel that was a bit long. And under that was a white T-shirt. Over all of that was a new dark blue zip hoodie. Then below the deck I had ripped light blue jeans and dark blue and white Van's.

The pants were loose, I could run and kick in them all I like. Plus the shoes were actually pretty comfortable. No holes lining the bottom of them like my old sneakers.

"I kinda like this, but I could do without the flannel underneath. It feels a bit extra."

"What! No way! It pulls the whole thing together!" Annual huffed. "Don't forget I'm in charge of the style choices here."

I groaned.

"Well this is the last outfit I need. I've gotten plenty of joggers, shoes and shirts. Plus two new hoodies. I think we're good here."

"Not yet, one last thing before we go get the Gremlin."She held up her hands as if she wanted me to pick her up. "Wheel me off silver!"

"You promise we can hit the comic book store after?" I asked as I walked over to her and wheeled her to the front.

"I suppose the generous princess Annual will allow her handsome Knight to soil his brain for a little." She teased.

I took the clothes from her lap and bowed.

"Why thank you my princess." I joked as I set the clothes on the counter and paid.

Then I gave her the bags and wheeled her off, toward wherever she was directing me. And it soon became clear where she was taking me. Some kind of hippie store. It had the yin yang symbol on the front and on the inside I could see buddha statues, fans, questionable jars and rolling mats. And there was a strong sweet aroma coming from inside. I was guessing it was incense burning in there. Totally a hippie store...

"Oh my gosh it's still here! I haven't seen this place since I was little!"

"I'm surprised you remembered. Didn't my mom take us all here?" I asked.

"Yes! This place has some Interesting plants last I remember." She chirped.

I smiled some and shook my head.

"Always such a flower head." I chuckled.

"Hey, plants are awesome! They can be beautiful and delicate. Yet have the strength to break through concrete. The Pyrophyte plants have even adapted to fire. The Banksia, have serotinous cones that are completely sealed with resin. The cones can only be opened after the heat of the fire has physically melted the resin away, releasing the seeds.”

“Wow, it’s like you were reading that straight from a book.”

I said as I started to wheel her into the shop, keeping my eyes peeled for anything green.

“Considering all I could do all day was read books, I’d imagine I have a good grasp of things by now.” She chuckled.

“Well go on Professor, tell me some more cool plant facts.”

“Hhhmm, there’s a tree called the Hura crepitans or as the people Native to the region call it, the Sandbox tree. It has the amazing superpower to shoot seeds out like bullets, at least forty feet away.”

“Wow, that’s pretty metal.” As we made our way to the back, where I spotted some leaves, she pointed me away from them.

“Princess? I think the bonsai thing is back there.”

She just shook her head and continued to point, and I followed her lead.

“I’ve got one last thing I want you to get for your new look.”

What could she want me to get from here..

“Up! Up there!” She cheered as she pointed to a twin necklace.

It was black and white, with this leathery type of necklace attached to them. I reached up and grabbed it. It was two halves of the yin yang symbol. One-half black with a white dot, the other half white with a black dot.

“What’s this for?”

“A reminder, I heard about how close you’ve been getting with Valentina.”

I blushed some, but I also felt my heart begin to race as she mentioned that.

“Well, it’s not like were-”

“Let me finish, I heard you were getting closer to her. And I wanted to let you know that I’m perfectly okay with that. Stryder, I know you better than anyone. And I can only imagine how much you’ve been beating yourself up over something like that. And Zack was rather furious you would even look at someone else. So I wanted you to know that it’s okay if you’ve moved on. I love you, and I mean that sincerely. And love isn’t jealous, of course it hurts a little. But I’ll be happy as long as you are. So don’t feel like you have to hold yourself back because of me.”

It felt like I got the wind knocked out of me. I was hit, but I had no idea if I was okay with this or not. A part of me felt relief hearing that, but another side of me. It hurt, it felt like someone close to me just died.

“Annual, what we had back then. It isn’t dead, but I won’t lie and say I feel the exact same way still. Things are...complicated. If I’m being honest with myself, I have no idea how I really feel about you, or Valentina right now.” I moved from behind the chair and got infront of her. I kneeled down on one knee and looked her in the eyes. “But still, even if I can’t decide yet. I know I still love you, and I am so grateful for you caring about me, even when I was too scared to see you. You’ve been my hero, even now you have been. So no matter what I can promise you this, from now on. I’ll always have your back, knights honor.”

I gave her a big grin, and her eyes grew wide. I could see remnants of tears appearing from the corner of her eyes.

“You're so cheesy, you know that?” She sniffled as she whipped her eyes.

“I thought you liked cheesy?” I chuckled.

“I want you and Zack to wear this.” She said as she held it up to me. “I think it’s just the right type of cheesy for you two. Plus after hearing Zacks bitterness toward you before, and you fighting Stone alone. I just wanted a reminder that you two need to stick together. I really do think you two can do anything, as long as you have each other.”

“Well, in that case, the leather cord holding us together, that must be you then right?”

She blushed a little and looked away.

“I haven’t done much.”

“Annual, if it wasn’t for you. I wouldn’t have a reason to face my fears, without you Zack wouldn’t have been able to see past his own bitterness.”

I leaned forward and rested my forehead against hers.

“Your life is just as precious,” I said softly

She slowly turned back to me, and I felt her lean in.

“Stryder, is it okay that I cry?” She mumbled.

I moved some and pulled her into my chest.

“I got you, just let it out,” I whispered to her.

She leaned into my chest and slowly started to cry. Her hands gripped my shirt tightly, and her gentle whimpers turned into loud cries. And I just pulled her right into me.