The bar was called The Cornerstone. It was small and local, the kind of place where the regulars knew each other's names. J'onn had been coming here for three years, sitting in the corner booth alone, watching as other people ordered their drinks.
He knew the regulars, and they knew him, too. The quiet guy in the corner that was polite but reserved, but tonight was going to be different.
Tonight, J'onn had promised himself he'd try. Try to actually participate. Cay'an encouraged it, saying something along the lines of 'You can't teach me to adapt to human life if you haven't even adapted yourself. 'Fair point. J'onn walked in at his usual time of 7:30 and headed for his usual booth.
"John! Hey, we've got room if you want to join us?" David called out to him from the main table.
The invitation hung in the air. J'onn's first instinct was to decline and make an excuse like usual. Instead, he said something else.
"Yes. Thank you."
He walked over to their table of five people. David, Sarah and Marcus, along with two people he recognised but didn't know well. They made space for him and pulled up a chair to make him feel included.
"Ginger ale?" Tom called over. (The bartender)
"Please."
"You're always so polite. Do you ever just order without saying please and thank you?" Sarah asked with a smile.
"Is that... should I not..."
"No! God, no, it's refreshing. Most people are assholes nowadays, present company included. Mostly," Sarah interjected, gesturing at her group.
"I say thank you," Marcus joined in defensively, while raising his beer.
"You also tip one dollar on a twenty-dollar tab, so your thank-yous are suspect," Sarah replied.
The group laughed. J'onn felt like an alien, which technically he was, but also like someone who had forgotten to actually be a part of a group in this sort of setting.
"So John, you've been coming here for years now, and we know basically nothing about you. What do you do?" asked David.
"I... work in security. Consulting."
Not entirely a lie.
"Security consultant. I like it. Are you, like, secretly a spy?" Sarah joked, leaning forward.
"No. Just... boring work. Threat assessment and risk management," John answered.
"Sounds boring, but probably pays better than teaching middle school English. I'll tell you that Derek kid is a fucking nightmare," Marcus agreed.
"Do you have family?" asked one of the others. Jessica, John believed.
"I... It's complicated. I lost my family a long time ago. But I'm... reconnecting with someone recently. Found family, I believe you call it," John answered.
"Found family is important, sometimes more so than biological," Sarah added quietly, something in her tone suggesting she understood on a personal level.
John nodded, grateful they didn't push for any details.
"What do you do for fun? Besides sitting in corners and looking all mysterious," David asked, raising his hands and wiggling his fingers.
The table laughed.
"I... read. Study. I've been learning to cook recently."
"Cooking! What kind of food?" asked Jessica.
"Basic. Eggs. Pasta. I'm still not very good yet."
"None of us are. I survive on frozen pizza and midlife depression," Marcus replied.
"I can teach you. I do a Sunday meal prep thing. It might be boring, but it might help you," Sarah offered.
"I'd... I'd like that," J'onn replied.
The conversation continued. John talked when he could and listened when he couldn't. It was awkward for a while. He made jokes they didn't understand twice, but they didn't seem to care.
"You know, we're glad you finally joined us. We've been inviting you for three years. Henry is going to be pissed he didn't come today," David said.
"You... you have?" John asked, blinking.
"Every few months, just casually. You always said no. We figured you prefer to keep to yourself, but we kept asking. You seemed... lonely," Sarah confirmed.
"I didn't realise. I thought it was more of a courtesy. I thought I was just part of the background. Someone you tolerated," J'onn replied.
"Tolerated? Man, you tip Tom better than anyone. You're always polite. You helped Sarah jump-start her car that one time, remember? In the parking lot? Why would we just tolerate you?" Marcus laughed.
"I'm not... I'm not good at this... conversation thing. I thought you were all just being polite," John answered.
"We were being friendly. We like you, even when you were being weird in the corner. We liked you," David said.
The words felt warm in John's chest. They cared. He was so focused on what he had lost. He didn't notice the people who were trying to reach out.
"I'm sorry. For taking so long to accept," John said.
"Don't be. Just keep showing up. To John! For finally sitting with us!" Sarah replied, raising her glass.
"To John!" the table echoed.
John raised his ale, feeling a sense of belonging. It was a small step for him, but a significant one.
Mike was sitting at a different table, alone and watching. He followed J'onn here. He was supposed to just be monitoring him, but now it was just watching.
Mike sipped his beer. He didn't even like beer. Sophist wouldn't drink beer at a bar, so tonight he was Mike Hayes. Just a guy, sitting alone as he watched the chronic loner make friends before he did.
"Is this seat taken?"
Mike looked up. It was a woman in her early thirties. She had long dark hair and tired eyes. She was wearing professional clothes, as she had just come off work, while she was carrying a whisky neat.
"No, it's fine. You can take it," Mike replied.
She instead just sat down. At first, she didn't start a conversation and only started to talk after a few minutes.
"You come here often?"
"Did you just use the worst pickup line ever?" Mike replied, almost laughing.
"Wasn't a pickup line, just a genuine question. I come here somewhat frequently, but I don't think I've ever seen you," she replied.
"First time. A friend recommended it."
A lie, but easier to explain than he was stalking the Martian Manhunter.
"Good friend or annoying friend?"
"A complicated friend."
"Those are the best kind," she replied, smiling.
"Are they?"
"The ones who push you to do things you wouldn't do? Yeah, it can be annoying, but it's necessary. I'm Willow, by the way," she answered, taking a sip.
"What do you do?"
"I'm a graphic designer. My client just rejected my seventh iteration of a logo and then asked to redraw my second, saying they've grown on it. So here I am now, drinking whisky, questioning my career choices," Willow replied.
"Sounds frustrating," Mike replied, smiling a little.
"It's a pain in the ass, but it pays the rent. What about you? What do you do when you're not brooding alone at bars?" Willow asked, looking at him.
"I... I write comics. I also consult on... security projects."
"Comics? Like superhero stuff?"
"Yeah. Superhero stuff."
"How's it going?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Better than expected. I got some interest from publishers recently, but I haven't decided whether to pursue it," Mike answered.
"Why not?"
"What brings you here alone?"
"Same thing as I imagine for most people. Just trying to forget the pain with a legal coping mechanism. So what's your comic about?" she asked, finishing her drink.
"It's a long story."
"I've got nothing better to do," Willow replied, ordering another round of drinks.
Two hours later, the bar was clearing out. J'onn's table was finally leaving, making plans for next week. J'onn looked happier. Less heavy.
"Can I... Can..."
"Yes. You can have my number, and yes, I'd like to see you again, and yes, I know you're struggling to ask," Willow interrupted.
They exchanged numbers.
"I'll see you around."
"You too."
Mike watched as she smiled and left him alone at the table. He came here to observe J'onn and instead made his first connection as Mike Hayes in this world. He enjoyed it.
Mike stood up, finished his drink, left a ten-dollar note on his table, and walked outside.