Somewhere Else In 2006
Mortimer groaned as he landed on his back. He stared up at the cloudy but bright sky, squinting.
“Ow.” Todd stumbled to his feet, accidentally stepping on older him’s stomach. He took a few steps away from the man, covering his eyes with webbed hands. “‘S really bright.”
“Yeah, it is.” Mortimer pushed himself up, hand holding his stomach. “You’ve got sunglasses.” He reminded younger him. He took a look around. They were in an empty alleyway, looking out at a busy street. No one on the sidewalk seemed to notice the two in the alley.
“Oh, yeah, right.” Todd smiled, grabbing them from his pocket. They were a pair he'd snatched from a gas station they'd visited a week ago. They were black with flames on the side. He thought they were cool, and Mortimer never disagreed about it.
Mortimer pushed up his sleeve to look at his watch. December 30th, 2006, New York City, Earth 11052.
“Kid, where’d you put your jacket?” Mortimer stood up, zipping up his coat. He pulled the goggles off the top of his head, using them to block the brightness of the world.
“Uhm… my backpack?” He looked up at Mortimer, playing with the end of his shirt.
“Check. Otherwise we need to go get you a new one.” He patted himself down, checking for any cash.
“Why?” Todd’s teeth chattered, rubbing his arms.
“It’s December.” He found a crumpled twenty and three cents, plus a receipt for a hamburger and a coke from 1973.
“But it was just July!” He complained, dropping his backpack on the ground.
Mortimer took Todd’s bag, finding his jacket and hat. “And now it’s December.” He handed Todd the jacket, putting the hat on his head.
Todd huffed, putting the jacket on. “I don’t like winter.”
“Neither do I but I can’t exactly control when in time we go.” Mortimer walked to the mouth of the alley, looking around. He found a sign. West 45th Street.
“I know.” Todd sighed, fixing the hat on his head. “Where to?” He looked up at Mortimer.
Mortimer sighed, putting a gloved hand to his head. He had a growing headache already. Time traveling always did that to him. Annoyingly enough it never seemed to affect kid him. Maybe it was all the times he’d gotten hit in the head as he got older. This kid version of him was innocent, untouched by being a mutant and being in the system. He had no idea what was coming for him in just a few months.
“I don’t know, yet.”
“Can we go get food? I’m starving.” Todd took a step out of the alley, onto the sidewalk.
“I don’t see why not.” Mortimer followed him. As he walked, his left leg felt off. A screw must’ve been knocked loose upon entry. That leg was always wonky, the screw never wanting to stay put. It really needed a new screw. “What do you want?” He looked down at him.
“Is Dim Sum Palace still here?”
He thought about it. “I’m pretty sure it is, yeah.”
“Sweet!” Todd skipped ahead. He glanced at the road signs. “We’re only a street away!” He cheered.
“Awesome.” Mortimer chuckled, following him. He moved slower than normal, trying to keep his leg in place where it was attached at the knee.
Years previous, he had been in an…accident. Now he was down two legs past the knee but he’d gained cool metal legs Forge had helped him make.
Todd bounced ahead, rambling on about the restaurant. He paused every once in awhile, waiting for Mortimer to catch up.
Down the street from their destination, a lady with a big hat shoulder checked Mortimer. He couldn't tell if it was on purpose or accident. Either way, he did not appreciate it.
"Watch it." He growled, sending a glare to the lady.
The lady looked over her shoulder at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't see you there...?"
He huffed. "Mortimer."
The lady nodded. "Mortimer. I am very sorry. Have a good day." She gave a smile, blue eyes shifting yellow before blue again.
Mortimer froze, staring at the lady.
The lady tilted her head. "Something wrong?"
Todd tugged at Mortimer's pant leg.
Mortimer shook himself out of it, his heart pounding in his ears. "No. Have a nice day." He reached down, grabbing Todd's hand. He quickly started moving to the restaurant.
"Mortimer?" Todd questioned.
"What." They entered the restaurant.
"Who was that?"
"No one."
Todd frowned but didn't call him out for the obvious lie.