Three days later…
The smell of fresh coffee grounds permeated the air. Etienne grabbed his cup and sipped from it slowly, staring at the TV over his shoulder.
A boring broadcaster flatly stated, "The sudden closure of Astoria's most popular nightlife destinations is as shocking as it is baffling. Financial analysts say a closure like this at the peak of a business's success is completely unprecedented. The executives of the worker-owned cooperative are nowhere to be found, save for Derrick Lawson, who has released a statement."
Etienne looked across the table at Gabe, who chowed down on a large breakfast platter.
"Damn Gabe, whatever happened to a gentleman's etiquette and all of that?"
Gabe spoke through mouthfuls of food, "That starts after I finish my breakfast. I usually don't eat this late in the morning. But more than that, it feels great to be able to eat with you again."
Etienne smiled and thought to himself, "It would feel a lot better if all my bones weren't broken. They've mostly healed, but it still hurts like hell."
Etienne looked back over at the TV as they showed footage of the wreckage at the Soiree.
His mind drifted back to that battle, but he was brought to reality by a tap on his shoulder.
A man with a werewolf head stood there, with his hand out for a handshake.
The man looked down at Etienne's right arm in a sling and put his other hand out. Etienne grasped it firmly and shook it.
"Good morning, I'm assuming you are P.I right? Gabe has told me a lot about you."
P.I smiled and nodded his head, "Gabe told me a lot about you as well. Did something happen recently? Last I heard, you had a clean bill of health."
Etienne touched his arm in a sling with his free hand before pointing at the TV, where the news played footage of a press conference in front of the club.
P.I slid in next to Gabe and leaned across the table, "Whoa, I knew you hit the club a week or two ago, but you were the one who duked it out with the executives too? How did that go?"
Gabe put his fork down and shook his head, "Their abilities are amazing, and they're coordinated too. I'm surprised they're not more infamous."
P.I grabbed Gabe's coffee and took a sip, "They're cautious, and they are great about keeping their abilities under wraps. You might be one of the only people alive who's faced more than one of them and lived to tell the tale. They do have a secret, though. They're top-heavy."
Gabe looked at him, confused, "Meaning?"
Etienne chimed in, "Outside of their executives, they don't have anybody notable."
Gabe nodded his head and picked his fork back up.
Etienne slid his menu over to P.I, "Also, P.I, I want to thank you for locating me a few weeks back. I don't know what would've happened if the police discovered me first."
P.I smiled and picked up the menu, "No need to thank me. I did exactly what I was paid to do. But I've taken a liking to you and your family, so I want to do a little more than the minimum. I've got good news for you, kid, seems like you could use a little more of that these days."
P.I expression instantly shifted to a serious one, and he sat up straight and locked eyes with Etienne.
"Before I tell you the good news, let me give you a bit of background on heroing since I hear you're not too informed. There are a lot of people and organizations that are too unpredictable, or there is too little information for the INHO to send the heroes out."
P.I grabbed all of the condiment bottles on the table and lined them up in a row, "The heroes aren't just police officers or enforcers, they are celebrities. Many business' entire marketing strategies involve using heroes to advertise. If these heroes are dying constantly or are sidelined for months, they are going to take entire industries down with them."
Etienne grabbed the salt shaker from the front of the row he made and knocked down the rest of the condiments with it like dominoes.
"So when those kinds of threats come around, and they have to be dealt with, the INHO puts out a contract to us. They call us Metahuman Retrieval and Enforcement agents, but most people call us contract heroes."
Etienne cocked an eyebrow and Gabe pushed his plate to the side.
P.I traded the menu for a small cup of coffee and looked at Gabe and Etienne as he sipped it.
"Instead of being one of their celebrity heroes, you'll essentially be a subcontractor for the INHO. You'll have a lot less oversight, and they are more lenient on injuring and maiming criminals. The pay is worse than being a normal hero, but I think this is exactly what you're looking for.
Etienne scratched his chin, "This is exactly what I'm looking for, it almost sounds too good to be true. Why didn't I find any information about this online?"
P.I looked through the drink menu as he sipped his coffee and lazily responded, "I don't know honestly. I remember a few years back, there was an issue with some contract heroes being too violent and brutalizing criminals. Whatever the case is, you have to be invited by somebody who was already grandfathered in. In this case, that's me, again, no need to thank me."
Etienne slammed a hand on the table, "You signed me up for it?"
P.I was taken aback slightly, "Sorry, were you not cool with that? Gabe said you both talked over the broad details and you agreed."
Etienne looked at Gabe, "Gabe, I was trying to stay hidden!"
Gabe shrugged his shoulders, "Relax, the INHO would have found out it was you eventually if you kept up with the vigilante games. They're not going to disclose your identity to the world. Nobody even knows the identity of the number 3 hero, Speed II. I knew you would overreact about this, that's why I brought you to your favorite restaurant in the first place."
Etienne put his head on his chin and looked around the place, "I told you a thousand times this isn't my favorite restaurant. This is Money's favorite restaurant. We only ate here all the time because he would complain if we didn't."
Gabe crossed his arms and leaned his head back, "Ah, Mr. Patel! I hear he's doing quite well! He's poised to take over his father's business any day now."
P.I pushed a few papers in front of Etienne and handed him a pen. He whispered, "Sign these.
Etienne skimmed through the pages and signed them one by one, "He must've gotten a lot more mature."
Gabe focused his attention back to Etienne, "Master Etienne, how much thought have you given to your return to society. Surely you don't plan to stay dead forever?"
Etienne shook his head, "It would be easier if I didn't have any social—"
Gabe cut him off, "Ah, bollocks to that. I think it would make your parents so proud if you came back from the dead and built an empire bigger than what they had. Instead of the Blessad name being associated with tragedy and misery, it would be associated with perseverance and triumph."
Etienne nodded his head silently.
"And of course, to be able to make that empire you need a team. Luckily, you know some of the most powerful and influential people in Oregon. If you decide you're going to be in the public eye again, you need them in your corner."
Gabe leaned in across the table and looked into Etienne's eyes.
"The next group of people that should know you're alive after me, P.I and the INHO, is your friends!"
P.I got up and collected the papers in front of Etienne, "He's right, kid. Everyone needs a community. I'm going to turn these in and get your application finished. One more question, though, I've already got your hero name locked in, were you interested in joining a team?"
"No, no, no team. But wait, back up. What do you mean you have a hero name locked in?" Etienne confusedly asked, "You picked one for me or did the INHO?"
P.I scratched his forehead, "No, you picked your own name. Gabe told me you want to be called Ninjaman."
Etienne looked at Gabe and shook his head, "Ninjaman, Gabe? Really?