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“Daaaaaamn…” Rembrandt let out a long whistle.

“How in the fuck did you get that going? I really need to join up with the Consortium.” He crossed his arms over his chest, joining Oz in silently watching Natalie.

“ That is a beautiful woman, Oz. I’ve never had a partner or a friend who looked like that.

Even when I was with the Freedom Squad.” He made a face.

“And on The Overlords, I currently work with a 45 year old fat guy named ‘Shitstorm.’ And I assure you, no artistic liberties were taken in naming him that, the fucking chode.”

“That must be very hard for you.” Oz didn’t care at all about the man’s employment troubles.

“You got no fucking idea.” Rembrandt looked disgusted.

“The smell alone is enough to make me long for the days when you and I used to go out on missions together with Mr. Fahrenheit and Mystery Lad. At least you guys were clean and didn’t smell like an outhouse.

” He pointed at Natalie. “Do I know the girl? Because I don’t think I do, which is odd, because I thought I knew every piece of Cape tail in town. ”

Oz’s eyes narrowed at him.

Rembrandt recognized the unspoken warning and put up his hands. “No offense meant, just admiring something beautiful from afar.” He paused. “ Way afar. Like ‘Hubble telescope’ territory, not at all a threat or a disrespect.”

“Multifarious is…”

“ That’s Multifarious!?!” Rembrandt choked on his gum, cutting Oz off. “The crazy acrobat dude in the white suit and mask!?! The Killroy symbol guy!?!”

Oz nodded. “Yes. Although, I’m told her name is ‘Jungle Lass’ today.”

“And you’re okay with working with someone who the entire town knows is absolutely insane ?”

“I work with a lot of people who the entire town knows are insane.” Oz deadpanned.

“ And evil?”

“Lots of people are evil too.” He paused, thinking about his aunt’s warnings again. “Or will be some day.”

“Yeah, but she…”

“She’s perfect.” It was a flat statement of fact. And Oz believed it. Natalie had some quirks, true, but they were delightful . Oz wasn’t going to let anyone change them. Ever. And anyone who had problems with Natalie would have problems with Oz first .

Rembrandt’s eyebrows rose, but recognized this was not something he should comment on. “It’s good, playboy. Don’t go getting all angry.” Rembrandt went back to watching her. “You’re right. If she wasn’t a murderous psychopath, she would be the perfect girl.”

“She’s extraordinary the way she is.” Oz reminded him, just in case there was any doubt on that.

Rembrandt didn’t reply to that, still watching Natalie. “Fuck, I would straight-up murder anyone who came near that girl if she was mine.”

Oz stepped into his line of vision, cutting off his view of Natalie.

“She is entirely capable of taking care of herself.” Oz flashed him a meaningful glare, just in case the man still had any ideas.

“And she’s not yours.” He did his best to hide the unspoken threat attached to the simple words, but it was apparently delivered all the same.

Oz wasn’t someone who ever threw his weight or his powers around. But in Freedom Squad sparring sessions, he had absolutely destroyed the other man. And he was perfectly willing to do it again, should the need or desire arise.

Rembrandt held up his hands again, surrendering the point.

“Speaking of ridiculously hot women you somehow are lucky enough to work with,” Rembrandt popped another stick of gum into his mouth, “word on the street is that Harlot has unleashed her dogs and put Poacher and Robber Baron on eating the Agletarians’ lunch. ”

“They’re a foreign army with unknown weapons, who are here to kill us.” Oz reminded him bluntly.

“So Harlot’s decided to burn down the house to kill a few spiders?

” Rembrandt shook his head. “Nah, nah, you don’t have to go that hard.

Poacher beasting on his own would have been more than enough.

But this? I ain’t a queasy man about such things, I did jobs with Badger back in the day, but this seems like something you should stop. ”

“My investigation is limited to the Mercygiver side of the matter.” Oz informed him. “But it’s a situation we’re dealing with.”

Rembrandt pointed at him, his face serious.

“You’d better fucking deal with it, because your boy Welles is gonna dissect those guys like a frog in a goddamn science class, with the world watching.

You know he don’t got a ‘stop,’ everything is a green light when he gets going.

He’s gonna make this whole town a crime scene.

And this city is already on edge, it doesn’t need that madman freestyling. ”

“It’s a situation we’re dealing with.”

“Uh-huh.” The man didn’t seem convinced. “Hope she’s worth it, playboy.”

On the other side of the crime scene tape, Oz saw his police contact emerge from the building. He stood straighter. “I’ll see you around, Rembrandt.”

The other man nodded at him in goodbye. “Have fun hunting Moby Dick, Oz.” He paused for a moment.

“It’s good to see you living, by the way.

To be honest, most of us had a pool that you weren’t going to make it.

We figured you’d be institutionalized or scragged by now.

” He nodded. “But it seems like you’re doing pretty well for yourself, even if your partner is certifiable.

Word of warning: you need to be careful of her. ”

Oz made a humoring sound, but didn’t bother to point out the fact that of the two of them, Rembrandt had been the one who aided people in attacking the city. Natalie had tried to save it.

Oz started across the street, feeling oddly good about his life. He’d managed to smooth things over with Natalie, and even a complete dirtbag like Rembrandt was noticing his personal growth.

All in all, Oz was feeling better today.