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Eddie Myers
Extended Information
Blackguard
Reagan Hunt (adoptive non-related family)
Thomas Forrest (adoptive non-related uncle)
Jae Harrison (adoptive non-related uncle)
Mateo Vega (adoptive non-related uncle)
Jacob Myers (birth father)
Eva Myers (birth mother)
Alicia Myers (younger sister)
Ben Myers (younger brother)
Mercury City University
Barista at The Quick Missile
—Parker Ellis[src]
Eddie Myers (born May 11, 1988), more commonly known to the public as the hero Teflon, is the most junior member of the reputable superhero team known as The Watch. Raised by the villain known as the Malcontent (real name Malcolm Davis) after an accident that left Eddie with a cybernetic body from the neck down, Eddie came to learn a lot about the gray areas of Mercury City life, though never losing his sunny disposition in the process. Upon reaching adulthood, he decided to walk down a different path, and with his father's reluctant blessing, became a hero to try and make a difference in the world.
History
Despite growing up in a city full of superheroes, the first several years of Eddie's life were downright normal (at least for Mercury City standards). Everything changed when he found himself in the middle of a fight between a superhero known as Sage Wonder and a villain known as the Malcontent. During the battle that ensued, Sage Wonder summoned a large vine from the ground and in so doing, uprooted a newspaper kiosk, which crushed the young child. But it wasn't the hero who stopped the fight and saved the boy--it was the villain, the Malcontent, who had been so horrified by what he witnessed, he called on a favor he had been saving to get him out of prison one day and teleported Eddie to a friend.
For most people, even with the significant medical advances available in Mercury City, Eddie's injuries would have been too horrific to save him. But the Malcontent's friend, Reagan Hunt, wasn't just anyone. When they saw that Eddie hadn't succumbed to his injuries, that he was still fighting, they did everything they could to save his life. Though they tried far less drastic measures, eventually they wound up replacing most of Eddie's young body with an alien alloy known as Zarinium, forever changing him into a cyborg. The only parts of organic Eddie that remained were his head, neck, and most of his internal organs.
He remained in the Malcontent and Reagan's care until he grew used to his new body, and that was where the Malcontent thought his time with Eddie would end. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you look at it), when the Malcontent tried to return him to his parents, his parents believed him to be playing a trick on them, and declared their son dead. Feeling guilty for what happened to him and unwilling to orphan the child, the Malcontent, real name Malcolm Davis, took him in and raised him as his own. Malcolm wasn't an evil villain, but rather believed that the system was broken and believed that he could make a difference by causing a little trouble (and if some personal gain came along the way, it was a bonus). Though completely out of his depth when it came to taking care of any child, let alone a young cyborg one, Mal did his best, and Eddie came to view him as his father.
As a side-effect of a supervillain for a father, several times in his life Mal went away to prison, leaving Eddie in the care of his fellow supervillain friends, the Blackguard: Flim Flam (Thomas Forrest), Flintlock (Mateo Vega), Cutlass (Jae Harrison), and Reagan. They were probably less equipped to keep another human being alive, but, like Malcolm, they did their best, as they too were attached to the boy. They each taught him some of their specific villainy skills under the condition that Mal never find out. To their knowledge, he didn't.
As Eddie reached adulthood, he had a very public court battle to be declared alive, which was the first time he saw his parents since the accident. They were extremely apologetic and wished to reconnect, but Eddie wasn't so willing to forgive. It was actually Mal that pushed him to at least have one meal with them and go from there. He did. He decided he wanted nothing to do with them, though he remains cordial with the siblings he never met, as they were born after Eddie 'died.'
Also around the time Eddie reached adulthood, he decided he wanted to make a difference much in the way that Mal did, albeit with a different spin. He believed that he could make a better difference by working on the inside of the law, rather than outside it. Mal was unhappy with the idea of the son being a hero, but still supports him unconditionally.
As Teflon (a childhood nickname given to him by Mal that he took on as his codename), he soon gained the attention of Psyche, leader of The Watch. Eddie jumped at the chance to work with such a well-respected team, especially since their ideals and goals so closely matched his own. He's been readily accepted by the team, but he's still very much the new kid of the group.
Appearance
Eddie has messy blond hair, pure black eyes (he has no irises), and a tanned complexion. He has an above-average height and a slender built as a result of his cybernetic body, which replaced his organic body after a childhood accident. The metal that makes up his body is known as Zarinium, a rare light blue metallic alloy that grants Eddie greater flexibility than a standard metal. The only remaining organic parts of his body are his head and most of his internal organs.
He tends to favor t-shirts and jeans, and if the weather is cold enough (not that he can generally feel it), he tends to be found wearing faux leather jackets.
The most eye-catching thing about Eddie, even more than his metallic body, is his brilliant smile, which he flashes frequently and to anyone within eyeshot. He has the kind of easy, contagious smile that makes people want to be around him.
Personality
Eddie acquired the name he'd adopt as his superhero monicker as a child because his father used to say that "[he] was Teflon; it just slides right off." And it holds true to Eddie the adult as well--it's extremely hard to get under Eddie's Zarinium-coated skeleton, metaphorically (and physically) speaking. Friendly and enthusiastic to a fault, he's confident enough with himself and his own abilities to take any amount of mockery, abuse, or threats with a million-watt smile, though still open enough to genuine criticism to try and make himself an even better person. Most people who talk to Eddie, even those who aren't fond of him at the beginning, are often friends of his by the end; a special gift he seems to possess as a result of his laid-back personality and love of life.
Anyone who befriends Eddie, however, will be cautious to share anything too private with Eddie, as he could be a bit of a blabbermouth. He's constantly forgetting that not everyone in the field is as open with their true identity as he is, and will slip up, or nearly slip up, whenever referring to a costumed friend or teammate. His teammates also keep a constant eye on him to make sure he doesn't accidentally blab any secrets, big or small, to anyone that might not be privy to such information. He doesn't mean to, but sometimes his mouth gets ahead of his brain. Thankfully, there are some secrets that even he realizes should never be shared. Sometimes he just has trouble differentiating which those are.
While some might consider this sort of outlook childish or naive, Eddie sincerely believes that there is enough darkness in the world already, and refuses to contribute to it, and so seemingly carries on a one-man crusade to stamp it out, winning over one person at a time. He genuinely believes in the best of most people, and that with a little perseverance he can find it in almost anyone. That said, this can veer into actual naivety, as his desire to see the best in people and trust in them can occasionally lead him to miss what might be considered obvious red flags to others and be taken advantage of by the wrong hands. As his closest friends and family are aware of this, they often serve as a buffer and will reign him in to protect him from the worst of it. Even then, so long as the offense isn't too heinous, Eddie would be more than likely willing to give them a second chance.
That isn't to say he will always forgive. For the rare few that manage to anger Eddie, that anger runs deep, and it's almost impossible to get back into Eddie's extensive good graces. It also isn't to say that he will always be welcoming to any stranger he passes, either. He's quick to jump into an altercation with someone who is taking advantage of someone else, to defend and/or protect them. He possesses a strong sense of right or wrong (especially for one raised by supposed supervillains), as well as corruption, and will do anything in his power to help those who need helping. To his last breath or the ends of the earth (or multiverse), if he has to.
It helps that Eddie has a near superhuman lack of fear when it comes to finding himself in dangerous situations, too focused on the end objective to realize the harm he may be putting himself in. He's blessed with strong instincts on avoiding the worst of things, considering the way he throws himself into danger--if something feels off to him, he listens to that part of his gut. It almost never serves him wrong.
Abilities
- Cybernetic Enhancements: Eddie's cybernetic body grants him superhuman strength, stamina, agility, and durability. Though Reagan has offered to upgrade his body further many times over the years, Eddie's always turned them down.
- Superhuman Strength: Eddie is able to lift and throw cars with ease.
- Superhuman Stamina: Eddie is able to exert himself for hours before starting to feel fatigued, and his cybernetic body does not require him to eat or sleep in order to regain strength.
- Superhuman Agility: Despite being made of heavy metal, Eddie is able to move as gracefully as a well-trained human athlete.
- Superhuman Durability: Eddie's cybernetic body essentially serves as armor, enabling him to deflect bullets, and withstand impacts that would seriously injure or kill a baseline human. It also enables him to withstand extreme temperature changes, though left in such a situation for too long would harm is internal cybernetic components.
- Hacking: As Eddie's body consists of metal and circuits, a skilled hacker may be able to manipulate it with the right abilities and/or equipment.
- Extreme Temperatures: While Eddies is able to survive in extreme temperatures, prolonged exposure to them will seriously harm his internal components. As he is not able to feel temperature fluctuations the way a baseline human can, he has to be consciously aware of the temperature conditions he finds himself in.
- Overly trusting nature: As Eddie wants to believe the best in people, he can be led astray by people with silver tongues and bad intentions.
- Superhuman strength: The flipside of being able to lift and throw cars with ease, Eddie has to be consciously aware of his strength, his surroundings, and the objects he chooses to sit on at all times. If he isn't careful, he can easily harm someone without meaning to.
Relationships
- Nathanael "Nate" Pierce: Eddie's long-time boyfriend. Scion of Pierce Industries, and former brainwashed soldier of local Kingpin.
- Leta Collins: Teammate and leader, better known to the public as Psyche. Co-founder and fierce team mom of the Watch.
- Vishna: Teammate. Born in a parallel timeline, raised to be a sacrificial bride to a god, rescued when her island skipped into Eddie's timeline.
- Cary Fairbanks: Teammate and friend. Has had many names throughout the years, but currently goes by the monicker Proto. An 80 year old robot, sorcerer, and founding member of the Watch.
- Parker Ellis: Eddie's best friend. Reporter at the illusive newspaper The Witness, who covers the "superhero" beat.
- Alistair Lancaster: Superhero known as Captain Radiance who "saved" 10-year-old Eddie from his father, under the false assumption that Malcolm had kidnapped him. Left lasting trauma that gives Eddie nightmares to present day.
- Pauline Peterson: Superhero known as Sage Wonder (I) whose reckless actions directly led to Eddie becoming a cyborg. Has never apologized, or even shown any sign of acknowledging she did such a thing.
Trivia
- As Eddie was partially raised by every member of the Blackguard, he learned a skill from each of them growing up: marksmanship from Mateo (aka Flintlock), swordsmanship from Jae (aka Cutlass), art from Tom (aka Flim Flam), and vocal manipulation/mimicry from Reagan.
- Eddie considers his most traumatic childhood experience the day he was kidnapped by a superhero known as Captain Radiance. Captain Radiance, believing he had been kidnapped by "the evil Malcontent", seriously injured Eddie's dad before whisking him away to "find his parents." The experience would shape Eddie's mindset of what a hero should (and shouldn't) be, and made him extremely overprotective of his dad.
- Is 93.7% metal. The parts that are still organic are his head (and everything in it), and his heart, kidneys, stomach, intestines, and most of his lungs.
Gallery
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