You glanced back at Deadhead, and then Harpy, and finally, back to Ben. You inched closer to the man, ever so slightly, and as nonchalant as you could manage. Both he and Louise turned to give you a questioning look.

“Hey, I forgot to mention earlier, but those guys over there were working super hard to keep me and everyone else safe.” you whispered, jabbing a thumb in the odd pair's general direction

Deadhead and Harpy exchanged confused glances before returning their attention to you. Ben gave Louise a questioning look, and the vampiress nodded encouragingly.

“Really?” Ben asked, sounding genuinely surprised. “I was expecting Harpy to stick around, since I scouted her for the team, but…”

Ben eyed Deadhead appraisingly as he walked over to the two, while Harpy’s beady eyes tracked his every movement.

“Ah. She is a member of ‘The Order’ now?” Louise asked, clapping her hands together.

Ben waved a dismissive hand at her.

“No, not that team. But…maybe later.” he amended. “I meant the other one.”

Louise nodded her comprehension and gave him a gentle smile.

“You did good for your first mission, Harpy.” he said, patting the big bird woman on the hand that was holding Deadhead. “Keep it up, and I might just have to throw in a free costume.”

“New clothes…” Harpy purred, her eyes narrowing and unfocusing as if she were in some sort of trance.

“Is that you in there Betty?” Ben laughed. “I bet you like the sound of that.”

“So do I.” Deadhead cut in, displaying his bare chest for all to see. “Zombies’ll grab at anything they can reach. Even your most comfortable tank top.”

Making new clothes shouldn't be any problem with Mercy around, but you didn’t want to interrupt this little moment just to say that.

“You doing alright, Deadhead? You're looking a little green.” he said, gesturing at the odd coloring of his skin. The man was practically covered in teeth and claw marks, but, all things considered, he was healing remarkably well.

“Hulk blood's a hell of a drug.” he remarked, shaking his head. “Nasty side effects, but I bet it'd make a killer Mountain Dew flavor.”

“I'll take your word for it, bud.” Ben replied. “Still, I didn't expect you to be out here helping like this. I don’t know what that Blood Witch is promising you, because I sure hope it's worth it.”

Deadhead paused for a moment, and then just shrugged.

“Come on. You'd have to be a real asshole to just walk right on by while an even bigger asshole is threatening the planet.” he said in a matter-of-fact tone. “Besides, I've…kinda got people out there that I kinda care about too.”

You, Ben and Louise were all privately amused by the awkwardness of that statement, but then the hulking half-naked merc added something else.