A Hero Can Save Us chapter 6: Hard Times at Hard Rock Cafe

[abbey frank]

Comic-con International
San Diego, California
1:20 PM

I felt flabbergasted, in what world did shit like this happen? Milo started back toward the door as Russ and I stood apparently feeling the same level of shock.
"You coming?" Milo asked me, propping the door open with his foot. I nodded quickly and started after him. As we re-entered the general population I struggled to keep up.
"So, I think it's safe to say Russ was not happy," I assumed as we waded through costumed men and women.
"Nah, it's nothing against you," he shrugged, slowing down to match my pace, "we've been friends for a long time, he's always trying to watch my back."
"Do I look like some kind of predator or something?" I asked with a snort before bumping shoulders with a Trekkie. He grinned inwardly.
"Not any kind I've seen, he's just worried about me getting hurt, he's all, 'Miles, I've seen you like this before, it never ends well.' "He told me with a chuckle, before we were momentarily disrupted by Wonder Woman asking Milo for an autograph. When we were 'alone' again I asked, "What'd you say to him?" For a moment his cheeks turned pick before he stopped mid-stride, surprising me who took another 3 steps before realizing he'd fallen back. He ran his fingers through his dark hair before grinning crookedly, "I told him, this was different, this was fate." I snorted incredulously.
"What?" he asked severely as we were bumped to and fro by comic book fans.
"Fate?" I asked with a laugh, "what about coincidence?"
"Look, I've been to a lot of Cons," he said seriously, attempting to pull me away from the crowd, "it's hard to find someone when you actually are trying to find them, let alone a complete stranger, bet you by the end of the night you won't see the same face twice." I stuck my hand out, "I'll take that bet." We shook on it before Milo asked for my schedule.
"Speaking of schedules, don't you have shit you have to do?" I asked not entirely sure why I was trying to poke holes in this.
"I'm on hiatus, right now," he said going over the schedule, "I've got weeks until my next movie starts shooting, so what are you into? We could go to a seminar or a panel or something." I swiped the schedule from his hands.
"Holy shit, they're finally making that into a movie?" I exclaimed surprisingly loud, attracting many, many eyes. Milo gave me an appraising look before letting out a chuckle, "turning what into a movie?"
"Umbrella Academy," I told him with a smile, "its super powered kids who grow into fucked up super powered adults."
"That's right up my alley," he admitted with a grin, "lead the way and don't forget to watch for familiar faces." The sad truth was by the time we made it to the panel I was too excited to watch for faces, besides who was I to question his idea of fate? Milo practically used me as a battering ram, pushing me through screaming crowd before stopping just short of the barricade. He pushed his was beside me before leaning just centimeters from my ear, "you know, usually I don't do screaming crowds, you're lucky." I felt blood rushing to my cheeks at this sudden intrusion of personal space and his warm breath on my skin. Goose bumps broke out on the back of my neck.
Just then, Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba stepped on stage, sending the crowd into a total uproar of applause as they took their seats. As the crowd died down, I glanced at Milo, who was looking reflectively back at me. The event moderator introduced both Gerard and Gabriel and gave a bit of background on the comic before beginning the general Q&A, first of which they confirmed that, yes, Paramount had picked up the script for Umbrella Academy. The audience Q&A questions were mostly fans giving casting suggestions, after Gerard for the fourth time remarked that he had no control over cast, it became a bit hard to watch. I nudged Milo with my elbow, he looked at me a glazed look in his eyes.
"This is getting a bit repetitive, want to grab some food?" I asked thumbing away from the crowd. He nodded enthusiastically.
"I'm sorry but I thought you'd never ask," he called over the crowd before once again using me to push through the crowd. Eventually, we found ourselves outside.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know it would be like that," I admitted reaching for a cigarette reflexively; "it really should be a good movie." Just as I went to light the cigarette, Milo snapped it down the middle. I looked at him with playful annoyance before spitting the butt out, "okay, I wasn't going to smoke that or anything." He smiled curiously, "so, where to for lunch?"
"Psh. You're asking me? I've been in San Diego for a day," I admitted with a laugh. Milo stood quietly in thought, his hands in the pockets of his denim jeans. As I watched him, the wind blew, gently rustling his dark hair, his hazel eyes bright in the California lighting, even at 38 he was exquisite. 'Everyone really is more beautiful here. Be careful,' I thought sharply, 'if you're not careful, you could fall.'
"I've got it," he said suddenly, startling me.
"Oh yeah?" I asked focusing my attention on my feet as if I hadn't been staring. He grew quiet as if waiting for my attention, when I peeked up at him, I found him smiling down at me with strange admiration in his gentle gaze. Truth be told it both titillated and terrified me. He appeared lost in thought once more before asking, "Ever been to the Hard Rock?"