Days of Fake Leather and Sweaty Masks

Radio static crackled through the early morning desert air. BLI's Dead Air Time was interrupted (at least in the zones) by Dr. D's broadcast on most mornings, but today was somehow different- hordes of Dust Angels and Killjoys were gathered around every shitty old radio available, sprawled across every surface of any car with enough fuel to turn on the speakers, crowding into the back rooms of old shops. All across the desert, conversations came to an abrupt stop as Dr. D's voice rang out. "Rise and shine, Angels, the asphalt is steaming and the Dracs are roasting out on the sand! The heat waves may be throbbin' but the radio waves are stronger, and I'm here with the latest tunes from Mad Gear and the Missile Kid- but first, a special announcement from our very own Fabulous Killjoys- the Nest is bangin' and loud tonight, celebrating seventeen years of sweat, dust, and rust for the Girl, daughter of the rebellion and in all probability the best explosives expert in the zones. Load up your crews, your Juice and your adrenaline, 'cause we're blasting this place right through the map!"

The Girl turned down the radio as the music started, leaning back against the back of her seat at the booth and propping her feet up on the table. "Hey Ghoul, throw me some Juice!" Ghoul looked up from where he and Poison sat on the counter across the room, tossing The Girl a can of Neon. She caught it and popped it open, but it was grabbed out of her hands as Show Pony slid into the seat next to her and chugged it. "Wow, thanks! You're always so good to me, babe." She laughed and elbowed him in the side, grabbing the drink back. "Fuck you, Pony." "I know you would, but I'd rather not have Poison on my tail-" "Pony oh my GOD it's my birthday you sick skating menace." Fun Ghoul was giggling on the other side of the room as Poison, face as red as his hair, tried to get him to shut up. Pony was interrupted by Kobra and Jet crashing through the door, triumphantly carrying a spray paint adorned crate. "I hear it's someone's birthday?"

~Timeskip to the Nest, just past sunset that night~
The music is even louder than usual, pumping through the hot desert air in sync with the flashing lights. Cars were crowded around, parked bumper to bumper around the crowded building- but not the most infamous of them all. A battered old Trans Am, covered in dust and spray paint, screeched to a stop behind the Nest, and the killjoys tumbled out, wild and raucous as they pushed their way into the building. Pony had an arm draped around The Girl's shoulders- despite the gap in their ages, he was her best friend. Ghoul was already practically clinging to Poison even before they entered the crowd, and Kobra disappeared right away, presumably looking for a friend. There was a roar of voices as the idolized group entered, the lights swiveling to focus on them as The Girl was hoisted up above the crowd and tossed about roughly, thrown over the bright hair and leather-gloved hands as the music swelled. 17 was a big deal in the zones- especially for someone who had escaped Battery City early on. The Girl was a special case- she had been a symbol of resistance for practically her entire life, on the Most Wanted list for years and with a body count higher than that of some of the most experienced Dust Angels. Seventeen was considered adulthood in the zones, and made it less questionable to run a crew or show up someplace like the Nest- although there were many who couldn't care less. The Girl could hear Pony whooping as he was thrown up after her, and Poison and Ghoul shouted and laughed as the crowd surrounded them, pulling them into a veritable mosh pit of sweat and running hair dye. Kobra and Jet stayed more to the sides, quickly surrounded nonetheless. Pony managed to grab hold of The Girl as the two were passed over the grinning faces, twisting about in a chaotic mess of leather and neon lights. The music came to a stop as Mad Gear and the Missile Kid came out onto stage, and Pony pulled The Girl down into the crowd, coming to a rest at the very front as Mad Gear walked up to the mic. The lights cut off and bits of the stage glowed red, casting a faint light over the room. Missile Kid sat behind his drums, starting a beat as Mad Gear's hands started to move over the keyboard. (Yes this is a Twenty One Pilots cameo.) The crowd surged towards the stage, pressing Pony and The Girl against the metal barrier along the edge of the raised platform as the music swelled, practically shaking the room. They were practically a beacon in the night sky, but this far out in the zones in the middle of summer when dracs could barely function, nobody really cared. And it was the best feeling in the world.

Notes

Sorry, I forgot to say that I was going on a trip to Boston- this might be my last update before I head out again for Michigan. I'll try to update as much as I can before then but my stepmom could go into labor any day now so ~(0-0)~
Also, I'm deleting chapter 1 because I didn't have the comics yet and used a lot of incorrect info.

Sorry, hit submit early, which accounts for the weird entry. Comments?