[b]Meanwhile elsewhere...[/b]

Luke quietly left the theater, flipping his coat up onto his shoulder as he held it with an index finger.  The night seemed quiet and uneventful, so hearing about a classical symphony performance Luke got a private balcony seat.  The show itself was quite good, a great run of classic pieces.  None of that stuck with him though, it was the others in attendance.  When the conductor mentioned him being in attendance during the show there was a little polite applause, but the muffled giggles, the condescending smiles at him, the stupid freak failure of a hero.  It ruined any enjoyment he had as he sunk into his seat somewhat and hoped people forgot he was there.  Fiddling with the gray tie on his white dress shirt Luke sighed, wondering if he should go back to base or maybe stroll around the city, try to find something either entertaining or heroic he could do.

As Luke walked down the busy nightlife filled streets of Star City, past the recently finished statue honoring Green Arrow, hearing an occasional heckle at him that stung him deep.  He finally turned a corner, his head down but tilted enough that out of the corner of his eye.  He saw someone moving with something large in tow.  It looked suspicious and for someone who was a hero needing to escape the public eye for a moment, it was perfect.  Looking around quickly Luke slipped on the orange tinted shades that were in his coat pocket.  Though he had his uniform on under his nice dress clothes.  He couldn't decide where to change without looking like someone the police should have a word with.  Finding nearby but horrifyingly disgusting dumpsters Luke groaned deep but got low behind them.  VERY carefully getting his nice dress clothes off and making sure his hero costume was on right.  He realized he didn't have anywhere to hold his dress clothes, so quickly he improvised, finding a relatively clean fast food paper bag and stuffing them in.  Tucking them behind the dumpster and silently praying to Jesus, Buddha, and even Allah that they'll be there when he gets back.

It was feeling like some weird game, whoever this burglar was, they had to know he was following them as they'd seemingly wait for him to get close enough to see, then scurry off to some other location.  Finally Luke was able to track the possible criminal down to some small abandoned business that was boarded up.  Not seeing an easy way in Luke carefully used an opening in one of the boarded up windows to snake his body in.  When he reformed Luke glanced around what looked like an old convenience store.  Though by now all that was left were a few shelves and a red chair resting near one of the walls. Carefully Luke stepped through the area, trying to keep his head on a metaphorical and literal swivel as it rotated in place on him. “Hello? Anyone here?” Luke cautiously asked aloud stopping for a moment. He didn't see anyone but when he turned away and back again he swore the chair moved. He paused, looking at It in confusion before looking away again to suddenly feel something tightly wrapping around him like a snake.

“Buddy! We need to talk for a moment about your entrance planning...” Luke suddenly heard behind him as he realized the chair had moved and was now coiling around him like a snake, leaving him too frightened and borderline paralyzed to move. “You just don't go into suspicious places and call out like that. Don't you realize bad things happen when people do that? Haven't you ever watched a horror film... well no... no you clearly haven't.” Finally Luke turned and the face stretched around right near his had white goggles, a razor sharp chin, and grinned at him all the while. “Hey.” He responded. Luke responded back by screaming.

“Hey man watch the decibels will ya?” Another voice and it led to Luke suddenly having his mouth wrapped in a more flesh colored tone. “Luke where is your costume? I thought we agreed we'd be in costume for this?!” Luke suddenly and finally realized what was going on, right now... Plastic Man had him trapped. The actual Plastic Man... Plastic Man number one.

Confused what Plastic Man was talking about Luke himself was going to say something when he both realized he was still being gagged and another guy came into the scene. His arm outstretched and the source of Luke's silencing. Unlike his dad though was only in jeans, and a t-shirt that said 'Touch My Awesome Button'. “Sorry dad I told you I can't find it.” He awkwardly muttered shrugging with his other shoulder. “Oh well fine, fine, we can work with this.” Plastic Man looked a little dejected before his son interjected, “Uh should we?” He asked pointing at Luke himself. “Oh right... sorry. Well hopefully you know who I am... as you've taken my name and all. This is my son Luke, no relations I think. You can call him Offspring.” “Sup.” “Now we just wanted to chat with you, so if you promise to not scream and be a girl about this I promise we'll let you go. Deal?” As Luke realized what was going on, Plastic Man and his son Offspring clearly not hostile... not yet at least. Luke finally nodded and felt both of them release their grips on him. Both Plastic Man and Offspring took a seat down on their hands, Luke realized that Plastic Man was still in his iconic gear. The red suit with the openings on the front and black, the same yellow and black belt design Luke now adorned, the... somewhat unsettling short shorts. Luke started to look around for something to sit down on before he could hear Plastic Man and Offspring both moan and sigh. “Oh come on seriously?” Plastic Man asked aloud, gesturing to both him and his son until Luke realized what he was talking about. Making sure to make his own seat but using one of his legs. “There, now... Luke Thomas right?” Plastic Man asked. “How did...” Luke was immediately cut off. “Dude, everyone knows who you are. I mean you were headline news a year ago.” Offspring reminded Luke, which brought back unpleasant memories. “Well enough about that, lets get to the point here.” Plastic Man leaned back in the chair of himself. “See, here's the thing. I'm not mad about losing the Plastic Man name, I'm not even mad about the fact he patented it...” “Well you kind of were though da...” “Let me finish son.” Plastic Man didn't even look Offspring's way gesturing to him with a single index finger. 

“Point is, I've been watching you. Not in a creepy Sting of The Police kind of way, but keeping an eye on you and your adventures or lack thereof. I'm not mad about losing the name, but if someone is going to take it from me, I expect something a bit more... non-sad about the person who took it.” Plastic Man shrugged as Luke wanted to object, but hung his head. “Hey sorry but I never wanted to do this. I mean Hell if it was all up to me I wouldn't even be here or doing any of this...” Luke pleaded his case gesturing to himself. “I totally understand you not being that okay with me Mister uh...” “Plastic is fine.” “Mr. Plastic, but...” Luke couldn't bring himself to talk anymore. Plastic Man and Offspring noticed and both scooted up a little closer. “Hey man believe me, if I had it my way years ago, I would still be some low life criminal running around Gotham thinking what a bad ass he was.” Plastic Man stated, clearly not sounding that proud of what he was saying. “But there's a reason that whole 'things happen for a reason' idea exists.” Plastic Man patted Luke on his shoulder with an outstretched arm. “Hey point is, I want to see you succeed kid, we both do. Being Plastic Man saved my life, its not something I take lightly, even if I take most things lightly. Thing is, you have the name now, you have the legacy. Its not a Batman or a Superman legacy granted but its a legacy.” 

Plastic Man's word did strike a chord with Luke but he still sighed. “Yeah but its a legacy I suck at.” Luke told the two, though Offspring clearly and audibly with a whiff dismissed him before speaking up. “I mean in that first year sure. But ever since Giganta brought you into the Young Justice thingy you seem to be doing better. I mean you helped take down Icicle until everyone else tried to legally murder him, then you just helped beat what's his face...” “Shrapnel?” “Yeah walking Bic razor blade guy...” “Yep that's the one...” Luke chuckled at the back and forth the father and son were having. Offspring's joke reminding him of having the exact same thought during the battle. “Look, stop being so down on yourself man, if you suck we'll be the first ones to tell you.” Plastic Man proudly told Luke who raised an eyebrow, “Uh... thanks?”

As the night went on the three elastic heroes continued to talk. Plastic Man told Luke all about the adventures him and Offspring have been going on ever since Plastic Man left the Justice League. Going into stories of when he was with the team, a lot of which involving Batman Luke noticed. Still though it was all an experience Luke wasn't used too feeling in years. Being around them made him relaxed, having a smile on his face as he listened to the both of them going on and on, Luke himself even chiming in with stories about his dad that got some laughs. Finally both Offspring and Plastic Man decided it was time to go. 

“Listen Luke... you seem like a great kid, don't worry about this stuff man. You're Plastic Man now.” The original Plastic Man reminded Luke as Offspring was already on his way out. “Thanks.” Luke smiled a bit giving Plastic Man a nod. “We're going to head out of town, I promised him a trip to Disney World and I intend to go through with that promise. But we'll keep an eye on you. Go out there and make me proud kid.” Plastic Man after saying that was about to leave out the back with his son before Luke stopped him, gently grabbing his shoulder with a stretched arm. “Wait before you go....” Luke started, “While we were talking, you sounded like you knew my dad quite a bit, how?” Plastic Man frowned a bit, finally he tipped down his goggles so he could look Luke eye to eye. “I'm not going to get into that now, since its a LONG story. But lets just say you and me have more in common than just a name kid.” Plastic Man was about to leave again until he stopped. “Actually while we're on last second questions...” Luke tilted his head a little wondering what the hero was going to ask.

“Does Mr. Plastic sound like a good name? I do need something now that I can't use Plastic Man publicly anymore.” 

Luke paused, finally pondering the question with a hand on his chin. “Eh, bit of a stretch.” The two looked at one another before Plastic Man pointed at Luke with a smile. “You'll do just fine kid!” They both laughed before finally Plastic Man was gone. Luke felt the smile on his face seem almost permanent, not that he'd be crazy enough to get it off himself. Still it was hard for him to get over the meeting, he only wished he could have a dad like Offspring did, lucky guy.

Luke ran back over to the dumpster, all the while striding along and feeling a joyful high he hadn't felt in years. Finally when he got to the dumpster he looked around and couldn't find the paper bag with his clothes in it. Sighing he glanced around at the street before him before smirking. “Well... at least some homeless guy's going to look nice tonight.” He muttered to himself.