Fifteen. Fifteen of my 32 teeth, I count on the pavement as I fight. Damn, this guy is tough. I've never fought anything like him. His arms are as big as his head – his head is as big as my body. At this point I've pretty much given it my all, I don't know what I can do.… I don't think I can stop him.
I dodge and suddenly its a feeling not felt in years. Every punch. Every single one that he lands on my face I feel a memory pulled from the past. My Fathers last words, Me saying I'd hang up this hero shit, My first time fighting for real. After all, I keep throwing the punches, not because I think I can win, but because I have to.
2 WEEKS EARLIER
BEEP BEEP BEEP
Ahh the beautiful sound of my alarm, no explosions or punches to the gut. Just the alarm, and my cheap coffee maker sputtering in the kitchen. I sit up out of bed, ribs still aching even though I haven't fought in a few weeks. Been trying to stay out of it, I mean with Jenny and work it's hard to even find time to do that hero stuff anymore, and I also made a promise. I promised Jenny that I would never fight crime again.
Most people you'd ask if they want to be a superhero you'd usually get a "Hell yes!". But as I leap out of bed into my clothes there is something nice about just putting on a grease stained ole' Dens mechanics shirt and going to a job.
Jenny! She's calling my phone. A smile immediately pops on my face as I see her contact.
"Hey Jenny!" I said excitedly "What are you asking about so early?"
Her soft voice replies "Hey I was just wondering Jace, I mean we haven't had a night out in a minute."
"Yeah I guess you're right." "you know what, i'll put in reservations for that steak place you love tonight." I answer lively.
"Awesome!" She replies with a soft giggle."I was really missing that pretty face of yours, Jace Locke."
"Welp it's a date for sure, be there at I don't know maybe 6?"
"Sounds great, I'm not busy around that time." "Can't wait to see you!"
"Yep, and… oop it's 7:30" "I'm late again sorry I gotta go!" I sigh.
"Bye"
Quiet streets. Unlike what i've seen here. This city has drug me through hell and back up to earth. As I get about half way through the walk, the back of my hair stands up. I never had a "spider sense" But my gut feeling? It's usually right. And right now it's yelling in my ear.
"Wallet now!" I hear in a low toned nervous voice
Kid barely looks 18 and he's shaking a bit as well.
I answer flatly with a sigh "Hey look, I'm a little late to work and I really don't want to do this right now."
"Hey man just g-give me your wallet' He says quivering
"Kid, you really picked the wrong guy to rob." I respond softley
I really don't want to do this. I don't see a cold hearted robber in this kid, he looks young and scared. He may be struggling, but this isn't the right way.
"I'm gonna keep on going kid, if you try anything stupi–"
BANG BANG
Oh shit, I mean i can take a bullet pretty good, doesn't mean that it doesn't sting. I really didn't think this guy would shoot me. I slowly turn around with a face of disappointment. Obviously I had to take him down, and it was a pretty easy tussle. Left his shirt with some writing on it too. "This guy tried to rob me-(wtv i make his name first letter)" Maybe this guy wasn't the innocent kid i thought he was…
"One and a half hours late!" My boss screams. "You told me you'd stop showing up so late, I'm disappointed in you." "I really tried giving you a chance, man."
"Im sorry sir it won't happen next time" I reply sheepishly
"Jace I'm not going to lie to you son, I don't believe there will be a next time." "I'm sorry, I'm going to have to let you go."
Well damn. I fucked up having a job, simple as that. I've saved cities and fought people 3 times my size. But I can't keep a job. Right now I have nothing to go to until tonight when I see Jenny. Oh shit, Jenny… How am I going to tell her I lost my only job? I'm so tempted… Could I break my promise to her this one time? I have nothing right now to look towards except maybe that.
I might as well go ahead and make those reservations for that steak place. It's only 9 O'clock i really don't know what to do. Go home and relax or watch tv? I sit down on a bench and place the reservation. I sit for a while just thinking. About everything, Jenny, My job, and what it means to me not being a hero anymore.
Then suddenly–screaming. My hearing is not great from everything my ears have been through but I can hear a scream from miles away. But this one wasn't miles away. It's the bank right across the street. My immediate reaction was to stand up and go to it. Muscle memory pulling me towards it. But I remember my promise, and I don't even have my suit.
No. I shouldn't do anything. The city has police for a reason, and there's probably some other vigilante willing to help. I should just go home, text Jenny, go eat overpriced steak, and move on. But I am tempted. The hairs on my body pull me towards the bank as I try to pull them away.
Next thing you know, I'm climbed atop of the bank. Yep I gave in. I'm ashamed but the police aren't here and it's already been a few minutes. I have no choice, or at least that's… what I keep telling myself.
I take my shirt and wrap it around my face to protect my identity. I think I'm ready, maybe a bit too ready for someone who has fought or trained in weeks. These guys don't look too tough. They've got some kind of armor dressed in purple and black, with cool vendetta type masks. The weapons look different from what I've seen. One has a weird gun pretty big, maybe can shoot lasers? I've taken lasers before. I think that one should be easy. As for the other two they have swords that match their outfits black blade with a purple streak pattern going through it.
"You guys robbed the wrong bank!" I scream confidently at the criminals.
"Ha!" "Who is this guy, he barely looks street level." The guy with the gun who I assume is the leader responds confidently as well.
I quickly hop down to get a good look at these guys. They haven't stolen anything yet, but through the corner of my eye I see something I don't like. It looks to me as if there's a dead clerk. This snapped something. Adrenaline pumped through my veins with anger powering it.
With anger in my blood I respond "I cant let you guys go anywhere."
"Well you cant stop us." "How about you just move out of the way so we can all come out of here alive." The "Leader" says as the henchmen look in agreement.
"No, you guys aren't coming out of this free men."
"If you leave now we all benefit, you get to keep your life and we get the money and spread our message."
Message? What the hell kind of message could these psychopaths possibly be spreading? I couldn't imagine what they could be doing with this money either. I have to stop this, they can't go on. I don't really care about their stupid message, and they definitely won't be able to kill me.
The guy with the gun fires at me. I quickly dodge. A sear on my side. It's a powerful gun. I don't know if i want to get touched by the bullets on that thing. The swords shouldn't be able to do much to me. I'll focus on one of them. I reach for one's hand. Gone in an instance. And in the next its blade is under my eye.
I can feel it. This sword is no normal sword. It sliced right through me under my eye. These guys are fast as well, very fast and trained. I dodge. Throw a punch. Then weave.
Their moves, they are coordinated and calm. I've fought better. These weapons on the other hand, I've never seen anything like them, and the armor seems to make my punches feel like normal human punches to them.
Another cut. Right shoulder. It burns like hell. Not enough to stop me. I take a hold of his wrist. I've caught him off guard. Takedown time. I rip his mask off and one good punch. Easiest way to take him down.
Just as I take him down I get caught a little off guard. That gun has gotten right in the stomach. It left a giant 3rd degree burn on my skin. How I feel right now is how I imagine people in hell feel burning. Im shook. The pain. I've lost focus. SLASH. Right down my back. Damnit.
ALL my memories of life flood my brain. Holy shit. Why are these guys so good? I've got 3rd degree burns lining my abs and a cut streaming all the way down my damn back. I have to stop them quicker.
I leap onto a bank drawer. Need to regain focus. The gunman. leap. rip the gun from his hands. Break it over my knees. I know the simplest way to knock him out.
One more. I turn to him. Burned, bleeding and pissed. I know I look super bad ass right now. Not enough to scare him though. Sword is swung at me. I dodge. Barely. He slices low. I dive back. Then back at him. Grab his hands. Like the others… on punch. Out.
WOO WOO WOO
Finally the cops showed. Late as always. I'm glad I came by, I don't think that the cops could have handled these guys very well. But still… I've broken my promise to Jenny, and myself. How am I going to explain myself? I've lost my job and I broke our vow. Tonight's dinner… is going to be rough.