"Good morning, Richard."
"Good morning, sweetheart! Two donuts and two coffees, with two extra sugar cubes, please-just like the sizzling passion between us!"
As Richard enthusiastically greeted the woman running the food cart, Brad looked around, seeming every bit a country bumpkin visiting the city for the first time.
The piping-hot, golden donuts were dusted with snow-white powdered sugar. Richard nudged Brad, who was still looking every which way, with his elbow.
Brad took the donut and stared at it speechlessly for a while, then raised his head with an innocent look, his wide eyes fixed on Richard, who had already taken a bite of his own.
"Do Earthlings need that much sugar? You don't seem to burn that much energy in your daily lives."
"You don't understand. Strip away the superhero persona, and I'm just a poor bachelor who doesn't know how to make breakfast."
Richard took another bite of his donut and began explaining, somewhat bitterly, that he was single because he had already traveled through space and seen beautiful women of many different species. Limiting his choices to Earth simply didn't befit his status.
Richard felt he should broaden his horizons. Perhaps he could someday land the daughter of some interstellar tycoon or overlord. Only someone like that would be worthy of his identity as Nova.
Brad was currently posing as an alien visitor, so he obligingly posed a question to Richard, whose nose was practically pointing at the sky.
"I've heard of the Nova Corps, but their power isn't all that impressive. If you keep eating food with that much sugar, won't you get fat?"
"Beautiful women out in space don't like fat men either."
Richard choked on Brad's words. He pursed his lips, took a sip of his sweetened hot coffee, and racked his brains