A Cliche Killjoy FanFic Chapter 1

ZERO HERO'S P.O.V.

It's almost been a year out here in the desert. A year since I pulled the IV line out of Negative Grenade and wheeled his gurney out of the hospital, boxes and boxes of medication beside him. A year since the second trip back to retrieve the carts of oxygen tanks needed for Neg's survival. Two years since Neg himself was diagnosed with lung cancer - the specific name unknown.
    Neg and I haven't even met the Fabulous Killjoys yet. At least, not the main four. We've definitely met several out here in the zones, people like House Rules and Atomic Nucleus(she really liked science, by the way). Mostly I've been keeping myself away from them, though, hiding myself and Negative Grenade in an abandoned shed along the road. We meet the 'Joys to stock up on food and catch up on news around the zones. But still, most of our information comes from Dr. Death Defying's radio station.    
    Today was oxygen day. Oxygen day meant the day of driving out towards Battery City dressed as a drac, and stealing more oxygen tanks for Neg. I squatted next to the door - or rather, it was more of just a piece of wood leaning against where the door should be - tying the laces to my newly shined drac boots. Negative Grenade lay on his mattress across the room, curled up in a tiny ball. His breathing was heavy, as usual, as his lungs tried to suck in the oxygen seeping in from the tank standing up next to the bed. My hand pushed away the door just as one eye of his shot open.
    "Zero," he coughed. "Zero, I wanna come with you."
    I rolled my eyes and turned to my brother. "Neg, I can't have you come with. You know that's dangerous."
    "You just don't want me to come with because I'd slow you down!"
    "Well, a little bit yeah."
    "I swear I wouldn't! I'd just stay in the car outside, and I'm faster than any regular cancer kid. I'm a Killjoy, Zero Hero. I hate staying inside like this. I wanna be out there, defeating some draculoids!"
    "I'm sorry, bro. I can't let you. Cancer still slows you down."
    Negative took great effort to prop himself on one elbow. "Just this once?"
    I took a deep breath, pondering. Just once couldn't hurt, right? Besides, he was stuck inside all day. It wasn't fair. "Someone could steal the medication," I finally said, searching for some reason to stop him from coming.
    "They'd steal it anyway if I was still here."
    Pursing my lips, I gave in. "Fine, but just this once. Stay in the car when I go, don't move a muscle in there. Don't get out of the car, don't make any stupid moves. Got it? You listen to me." Negative rolled his eyes.
    "Yes sir."
    "Hey, just be glad I'm letting you come in the first place!" I scolded, walking over to Negative Grenade. Pulling him up from the mattress, he safely secured his oxygen tank in the little tow cart whatever. I brushed my fingers through his bright blue hair. "You need a shower."
    "That would get rid of the dye."
    "The blue's stupid anyway."
    "No, it's not. Party Poison has red hair, can't I have blue?"
    "Well, Party Poison is stupid."
    Neg gasped. "Don't you ever say that! You know he's my idol. I don't insult the head of BL/ind, do I?"
    "Yes, you do. All the time."
    He pouted, but wheeled the oxygen tank out to the spray-painted car that sat in front of the shed. I popped into the driver's seat as Neg slowly sat down on the passenger's side, concentrating hard. As soon as the door slammed shut, I pressed on the gas pedal, the old car shooting forward.
    "How do we even get there?"
    "Highways. I've memorized from looking at the map so much. Don't need it anymore."
    "Do you ever meet anyone on the way?"
    "Nah, not really. Sometimes another 'Joy on a motorcycle. Once a dude with blonde hair and a red jacket."
    "Oh my god, really?! That's Kobra Kid! You've seen Kobra Kid!"
    "And who's he again?"
    "Oh come on, don't kid Zero Hero. You know who Kobra Kid is."
    "Yeah, right, he's red haired fag's brother."
    "Poison's not a fag. I wish you would stop hating on the main four so much," Negative Grenade growled, crossing his arms.
    "They're the reason you're out here," I muttered angrily.
    "What?"
    "Nothing."
    Negative rolled his eyes and turned to stare out the window.


NEGATIVE GRENADE'S P.O.V.

We arrived at Battery City in one piece. I was still rolling over in my mind how on earth Zero's never come across any dracs on the way over. It would be wicked cool if he did. I'd love him to come home with stories of how he's defeated them with some bad-ass moves.
    The car rolled to a stop around the corner from any known surveillance cameras. Zero pulled his drac mask over his face and pushed open the car door.
    "Stay safe," I said, smiling at him.
    "It'll probably be an hour. Remember, if anyone comes radio Dr. D. I've shown you before, right? We've never done it before, but I'm hoping he'd still send help. A 'Joy is a 'Joy, right? That's the philosophy, right?"
    I giggled. "Yeah, it is. Mkay, go get me some breathing tubes. I'll stay right here."

    I under-estimated how boring being stuck in a car would be. It was just sitting here, weighed down by my stupid oxygen tank, staring out across the desert scene behind Battery City. Nobody else was around, apparently draculoids were scarce today, and rebellious Killjoys even scarcer. The only one I could see was myself, bedhead and all. I ran my fingers through my hair; maybe I did need a shower.
    It was half an hour later when the thought crossed my mind maybe sneak out of the car and take a peek inside Battery City. No... I wouldn't betray my brother, would I?
    Ha, stupid question. Of course I would. All my life I've thirsted for adventure - it was part of the reason I became a Killjoy in the first place. But then when I finally DID become a Killjoy, this fucking cancer had to come along with me. The adventure was gone right after the escape. We found a shack, parked me in it, and I slept like a baby for three days. Adventure? Nada.
    But this would be my chance. I could finally do what I've always wanted to do. Party Poison didn't have cancer, he could go out and do whatever he wanted. Maybe if I forgot if I had cancer and all and tried not to notice the oxygen tank at my heels... my hand reached for the door handle before I even knew what I was doing. I would say it was an accident that the door opened and I stepped outside, lugging the tank with me.
    And it wasn't. My feet had planted on the desert floor right outside Battery City, waiting to be taken towards the city itself. I shut the car door, and a smile crept across my face. This was definitely what I was doing. Exploring!
    The journey to the actual road towards the city was slow and rather boring. I could hear the crunch crunch of sand beneath my black boots, guiding me there. Even so, before I knew it I was looking down the grey, industrious streets of Battery City.
    The first street was really plain, just a few concrete grey houses lining it. The blinds were shut and the curtains drawn, preventing anyone from looking inside. I felt the smooth, even pavement beneath my feet, assurance that it was safe here. Or at least, encouraged the feeling of safeness. I knew in my heart though, as any proud Killjoy would, that it was truly not. BL/ind was a corrupting corporation feeding lies and medication into people's minds. I was taking meds too, but a completely different kind. I took meds to live. They because they were forced to.
    I tried a door to a house to find it locked. Shaking the handle hard, I didn't realize for a second the large crash inside. Was there someone actually in there?
    Crap. Now the dracs would surround me. I estimated about a minute before they would get here... I mean, whoever was in there had to call them first, and then they had to drive over and... A minute to walk painfully slow towards the car. Couldn't run, duh, because of my shitty-ass lungs. Just walk.
    Clearly, I had over-estimated. Never really being outside the shack, I had gravely mis-determined the amount of time it would take for a draculoid to arrive. It was only ten steps later when the first one appeared, ray gun at the ready.
    A shot was fired. I could feel the sizzle as it whizzed right past my ear.
    "Shit, shit shit," I practically screamed, holding on tighter to my cart and trying to tug it faster.
    It was no use. The fight was over before it even started. A drac grabbed me by the neck and threw me to the pavement, leaving a red mark. I moaned in intense pain. My breath was escaping me. I was caught. So much for adventuring.