by H D Forth
I took her all of three seconds to realize what I meant. She zipped the hoodie all the way up, before shoving against me until I let her go.
“Not for you.” She said.
"Not for me, yet?" I asked, stepped closer to her again. This caused a reaction. The wrong one. She turned away from me and drew the hoodie tight around herself.
“I don’t know.” She replied. “I’m getting better at it, but please don’t push.”
I nodded and stepped away from her. "I get it." I lied, trying not to let my frustration show. For once I just wanted things to be simple. By that, I meant that I wanted to fuck her,m most of my life had been relatively simple. Be born, be orphaned, 15 year trip to Mireaux's orphanage, move out and get a job, become a hero, get laid. See simple.
It bothered me that she seemed to have such a reaction to me, whenever I tried to get intimate. She was clearly okay with some flirting, but whenever we got too physical, she seemed to withdraw into herself. I had been around enough damaged people to know one when I saw one, most of the kids at the orphanage, Erik, Val, myself.
We all had some issues. Kani’s wasn't even that unique, Emmet didn't like to be touched in general. There were days when he wouldn't even shake hands with me, everyone was different.
I was among other things cripplingly claustrophobic, I couldn't even turn off my eyes without feeling trapped. The best I could manage was a partial shutdown, which was necessary for the Power Core to keep running smoothly.
The problem wasn't that Kani had issues, Val was 5 centuries old, if she didn't come with issues, then no one did. The problem was her refusal to talk to me about them, I thought maybe Val knew, but she got standoff-ish whenever I tried mentioning it.
“It’s Kani’s story to tell you.” Was all she would say. Either that meant she didn't know or, she didn't want to tell me.
“I get it,” I mumbled again, “I just wish you would tell me why.” More of my frustration slipped out with my words than I had intended and Kani visibly flinched away, which only seemed to stir me even further.
I started pacing the room, counting every step. Measuring how large the place was.
Was it because she didn't like me. Did she regret getting close to me, didn't she want me? She wouldn't be the first.
I realized that I was counting out loud as I strode around the room. I also realized that the bi-… that Kani was watching me as I did. I hadn't counted out loud since I was little and it another set of parents-to-be showed up.
I clenched my fist and forcefully stopped myself. I was in the opposite corner of the room from Kani.
I took one deep breath. It felt stale, old. Another, it was full of dust, and I almost felt myself get into a coughing fit before I realized that it was all in my head.
I needed out, I needed to get away. Why was Kani getting to me like that? Was it just because my Foundation was in shambles?
I connected to the phone in my pocket, calling Val. I pulled the mask on, feeling the familiar cool feeling as it pressed against my face. I gave her a quick rundown of what had happened.
She agreed that I probably needed to leave, and she told me quite frankly that I shouldn’t have pushed. I could’ve asked she’d say no, and then I should either stop that line of questioning or leave.
“Val is coming over…” I paused, trying to make myself sound calm. “I’m going to take a walk.” Then I left. I didn't care if anyone saw that I was wearing the mask, it was on the wrong side of midnight, fuck em.
I did less walking and more running. This would be a decent time for criminals to be out and about, I would just have to push a little further toward Tenth street than I was used to.
At a flat run, I was quickly closing on their territory, until suddenly while I was running and just happened to be looking down one street, saw a roaming gang.
I stopped. The gang had clearly noticed me, I hadn't exactly been quiet when I ran, one of them immediately bolted running off down the dark street.
I began walking towards the 3 remaining guys. “You can’t do anything to us, we’ve done nothing wrong.” One of the exclaimed, waving something in my direction. A gun.
"How about that?" I yelled back. "Do you have a permit for that? Aren't you a little young for a permit? If I remember correctly you must at least 19. You can't get the permit without extensive background checks and long months of training. From where I'm standing you're not practicing proper gun control. I would like to see your permit."
He froze, in fact, they all froze. Then stopped waving it around and pointed it at me. I launched myself forwards, a moment before he shot.
The bullet ricochet of my shoulder, leaving a gouge of torn shirt and skin, but no blood. Then I was upon them. Within moments I had all three of them disarmed and subdued.
Not enough, I could still feel the anger burning away at me.
Someone clapped. I turned to see someone leaning against the wall of an alley.
“Very impressive.” The person said. “It’s no wonder then that you’ve been such a thorn in my side.”
“So… you’re the leader then?” I asked.
The man gave a little bow. He was tall. I wasn’t abnormally tall, not even in my new bodies, this man was. He was closing on two meters at least, and he was built like a rock slide, big enough to tear your house down.
“My name is Leric.” He said, in a deep bass.
Chapter One Hundred Fourteen
I was exultant. Life was great. Three more criminals from the Tenner gang arrested. One robbery of an old lady stopped, and lots of lots compliments received.
Heroic and Deeds:
Stop a robbery and help in the arrest of multiple criminals.
Rewards: 150 Tessian Points and 75 Credits Received.
I don’t know what it was about, but it seemed that the general public were suddenly a lot more ready and willing with their compliments today. I had also done a lot of work, don't get me wrong, but a compliment was always nice. From the old lady and the robbery. To the police officers who genuinely seemed to appreciate my effort. Then a bunch of youths that really had no place praising me. I was a hero and they were teenagers, we were supposed to be the next best thing to enemies.
I shook my head as I stepped into headquarters. Lately Kani had spent a lot of time on the comms with me. Val had talked about always having someone in the chair, helping to pick out important details, that I more than likely would miss. If she hadn't spotted the distress on the woman’s face I would've never stopped the robbery, as an example.
When I entered I had already removed my mask. The process involved a long and boring circuit that Kani also helped me through, before she felt it was okay to remove my mask. Then I headed straight for headquarters. It wouldn't do for a villain to find our base of operations.
“Did you see the guy?” I asked. She tapped her hand with a raised eyebrow. “Yeah.” I gave her a wide grin. Life was good. This month I had been part of a threesome, even if one of the partners seemed to be either hot or cold about whether she wants me or not. I had sex with someone who was for all intents and purposes a fitness model, except she was more sexual than 90% of women on the planet, let alone the tower.
“Did he really do what I think he did?” Kani asked, absently rubbing her hand.
“Yeah,” I said. I lifted my head and tapped my jaw right where the man had broken his fist on it. “I was almost as shocked as he was, when we realized he had broken it. God the look on the his face!”
“I’d give you a high five, but I like my hand in one piece.” Kani said, smiling.
“Promise I’ll be gentle.” I replied, winking at her.
She had been loosening up somewhat after the meeting with Rachel. I had still been surprised that she agreed to participate in the hero themed ‘adventure’, even to the degree she did.
I raised my hand and let her slap me, before tapping her with my hip as I passed. She stumbled multiple steps back as she tried to maintain her balance.
<
br /> “Hey!” She cried out. I looked over my shoulder only giving her a smirk. She growled in her throat and got a running start.
Her shove actually made me take a few steps back. Though it did have to catch her so she didn't hurt herself ion the hardwood floor.
“Not bad,” I replied smirking down at her. “Not bad at all.” I could also look down her shirt from this angle. She was wearing a large hoodie, that probably was one of mine over one of her shirts. Her shirt was pretty high necked so it didn't give much to look at, but I had an excellent vantage point.
I took her all of three seconds to realize what I meant. She zipped the hoodie all the way up, before shoving against me until I let her go.
“Not for you.” She said.
“Not for me, yet?” I asked, stepped closer to her again. This caused a reaction. The wrong one. She turned away from me and drew the hoodie tight around herself .
“I don’t know.” She replied. “I’m getting better at it, but please don’t push.”
I nodded and stepped away from her. “I get it.” I lied, trying not to let my frustration show. For once I juts wanted things to be simple. By that I meant that I wanted to fuck her,m most of my life had been relatively simple. Be born, be orphaned, 15 year trip to Mireaux’s orphanage, move out and get job, become a hero, get laid. See simple.
It bothered me that she seemed to have such a reaction to me, whenever I tried to get intimate. She was clearly okay with some flirting, but whenever we got too physical she seemed to withdraw into herself. I had been around enough damaged people to know one when I saw one, most of the kids at the orphanage, Erik, Val, myself.
We all had some issues. Kani’s wasn't even that unique, Emmet didn't like to be touched in general. There were days when he wouldn't even shake hands with me, everyone was different. I was among other things cripplingly claustrophobic, I couldn't even turn off my eyes without feeling trapped. The best I could manage was a partial shutdown, which was necessary for the Power Core to keep running smoothly.
The problem wasn't that Kani had issues, Val was 5 centuries old, if she didn't come with issues then no one did. The problem was her refusal to talk to me about them, I thought maybe Val knew, but she got standoff-ish whenever I tried mentioning it.
“It’s Kani’s story to tell you.” Was all she would say. Either that meant she didn't know or, she didn't want to tell me.
“I get it,” I mumbled again, “I just wish you would tell me why.” More of my frustration slipped out with my words than I had intended and Kani visibly flinched away, which only seemed to stir me even further.
I started pacing the room, counting every step. Measuring how large the room was.
Was it because she didn't like me. Did she regret getting close to me, didn't she want me? She wouldn't be the first.
I realized that I was counting out loud as I strode around the room. I also realized that the bi-… that Kani was watching me as I did. I hadn't counted out loud since I was little and it another set of parents-to-be showed up.
I clenched my fist and forcefully stopped myself. I was in the opposite corner of the room from Kani.
I took one deep breath. It felt stale, old. Another, it was full of dust, and I almost felt myself get into a coughing fit, before I realized that it was all in my head.
I needed out, I needed to get away. Why was she getting to me like that? Was it just because my Foundation was in shambles?
I connected to the phone in my pocket, calling Val. I pulled the mask on, feeling the familiar cool feeling as it pressed against my face. I gave her a quick run down of what had happened.
She agreed that I probably needed to leave, and she told me quite frankly that I shouldn’t have pushed. I could’ve asked she’d say no, and then I should either stop that line of questioning or leave.
“Val is coming over…” I paused, trying to make myself sound calm. “I’m going to take a walk.” Then I left. I didn't care if anyone saw that I was wearing the mask, it was on the wrong side of midnight, fuck em.
I did less walking and more running. This would be decent time for criminals to be out and about, I would just have to push a little further toward tenth street than I was used to.
At a flat run, I was quickly closing on their territory, until suddenly while I was running and just happened to be looking down one street, saw a roaming gang.
I stopped.
They had clearly noticed me. I wasn't exactly quiet when I ran. One of them immediately bolted.
I began walking towards the 3 remaining guys. “You can’t do anything to us, we’ve done nothing wrong.” One of the exclaimed, waving something in my direction. A gun.
“How about that?” I yelled back. “Do you have a permit for that? Aren’t you a little young for a permit. If I remember correctly you must at least 19. You can’t get the permit without extensive background checks and long months of training. From where I’m standing you’re not practicing proper gun control. I would like to see your permit.”
He froze, in fact they all froze. Then stopped waving it around and pointed it at me. I launched myself forwards, a moment before he shot.
The bullet ricochet of my shoulder, leaving a gouge of torn shirt and skin, but no blood. Then I was upon them. Within moments I had all three of them disarmed and subdued.
Not enough, I could still feel the anger burning away at me.
Someone clapped. I turned to see someone leaning against the wall of an alley.
“Very impressive.” The person said. “It’s no wonder then that you’ve been such a thorn in my side.”
“So… you’re the leader then?” I asked.
The man gave a little bow. HE was tall. I wasn’t abnormally tall, not even in my new bodies, this man was. He was closing on 2 meters at least, and he was built like a rock slide, big enough to tear your house down.
“My name is Leric.” He said, in a deep bass.
Chapter One Hundred Fifteen
The man stepped out from the alley, the light reflecting off his near shiny bald head.
His dark, almost wan skin reflected the bright light of the street lamps easily. He was nearly as wide as he was big. Shoulders that you could use as rock climbing grips, straining against his jacket and his huge pectoral muscles flexed visibly as he walked, even through his coat.
"So you're the one that's been causing me trouble." His deep bass voice crossed the distance between them and almost shook my steel frame. My immediate thought was that he was just another tough that needed to be put down.
He had quite clearly gained control over the Tenners, by virtue of being the biggest and baddest motherfucker around. Too bad for him, that he had to run into me after I had gained my steel frame.
Granted there might be some amount of actual superpower buried in him somewhere.
"Causing you trouble?" I called across the distance, unconsciously deepening my own voice a little. "I am deeply sorry sir, I never meant to cause you any trouble. It's just you see, there's this gang of criminal scum running around, and its been such fun beating them down."
Leric, as he'd called himself, chuckled. "You're not taking this too seriously I see." He didn't speak like the other thugs, it would seem he hadn't grown up around here.
He'd probably just joined after he found out that he wouldn't be able to bully his way through life in the inner towers. "I like that in a man." His voice seemed light-hearted and friendly, while he pronounced his words very clearly.
"Actually," He continued to say. "I've recently had some upheaval in the infrastructure of my… gang, did you call it? My organization would be a better term, I think."
Oooh, he thinks.
“I am currently scouting out potential lieutenants, for some of the newly opened ranks in said organization.” He said, idly strolling around me in a circle. “I think you could be a great fit in my structure. You’ve obviously got the capacity to demand loyalty and respect from my men.”
"Naah," I replied, id
ly waving away his offer with one hand. "I prefer it when everybody leaves happy. When was the last time you left an interaction with someone, and you both were quite happy."
Leric stopped at this and frowned. "That is a fair point, I guess you are a bit of a stickler for the rules, but I'll give you credit." Then he let out a heavy sigh, the entirety of his massive body moving as he did. "So its a fight then?"
“It would appear so.”
He tilted his head. His eyes half-lidded, though I noticed an almost animal-like perking of his ears. He seemed to be listening to something. "You did, indeed. You have a much better read on these hero fellows than I have. Though I guess you might have had a bit more of an interaction with them than me." A small smile slid across his face and shivered in obvious pleasure. "Of course milady."
