Universal Headaches

Chapter 1

Author's Note: I am transferring this over from my ffn account. It's a few years old and I don't have time to edit it right now as I'm in the middle of it's sequel. I promise it gets better.

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Sutton did not approve of her friend's drinking habits. She tended not to hang out with him at large gatherings because of it, but he'd needed a ride this time. And they were going to the same place. And if there was one thing she was, darn it, it was environmentally friendly! At the moment, he was leaving against her window and giggling like an idiot. And, really, while he was wearing his zombie Batman costume, was starting to freak her out a little.

"Chase, shut up will you?"

They were getting close to his house and Sutton couldn't wait to shove him into his house and then get home to download her Comic Con pictures. Nerdy? Sure. But it was her thing and she wasn't sorry.

"I can't," Chase slurred in reply. "I am the dead of knight!"

And he burst into another round of drunken giggles. A grown man. Giggling. Sutton rolled her eyes and sighed.

"Whatever."

Chase's porch light came into view and she smiled widely.

"You're almost home, weirdo. Have your house key?"

She was uncertain, but it sounded like he was trying to sing some boy band song while he slapped at his pockets.

A bright light suddenly burst before them and Sutton swerved slightly while squinting from the burning her retinas were doing.

"Freaking people with their brights on."

She stopped in front of Chase's house and told him to get out of her car. The light from before had disappeared, but no car had passed. She shook it off as she stepped out of her car with only a blazer on to protect her from the cold. Then began the process of trying to drag Chase back into his house. Sutton swore she'd never give him a ride anywhere again. Who needed friends anyway? Not like this! Before entering the house, she gave a quick sweep of the street and noticed the silhouette of a group of, costumed?, people. She rolled her eyes for the umpteenth time that day and made sure Chase collapsed on his couch.

More comic con hoodlums.

Bidding her friend a goodnight, and good riddance, she made her way back to her car. She quickened her pace when she noticed that the group was still in the middle of the street, and right in front of her car. In the direction she needed to go home. A couple of the guys were freakishly tall, and she didn't have her mace. With locked doors she pulled forward as far as she could and then honked her horn lightly. The group was finally able to be identified as some people cosplaying as the Avengers. While she appreciated their taste, she didn't really have time for role playing; or whatever they were doing at the moment. Errands were still waiting bright and early tomorrow.

"Hey!" She rolled down her window marginally and poked some of her head out. "Can you guys get out of the way? I'd like to get home tonight."

The entire group turned to face her, but didn't seem too intent on moving.

"Ma'am," one man spoke up. "You really need to leave the area. It's not a safe-"

"Yeah, yeah. You've got big bad Loki to battle, but listen. Take it somewhere else. You can't play in the middle of the street."

"Excuse me?"

For the first time, Sutton noticed a glowing blue orb and she blinked. Finally focusing on the faces around her car visible with the headlights, she couldn't tell if she should be impressed or extremely concerned.