“You gave him your number?” he asked.
Tapestry blushed.
“He might need to call for something,” she said.
“Something… like a date?”
Her cheeks reddened further.
“Why does it matter to you, anyway?” asked Tapestry.
“What do you mean, why does it matter to me?” asked Malcolm. “We…”
“Are not a couple,” she said, finishing his sentence.
I can’t argue with that. We’re just friends… who occasionally hook up.
“Beyond that,” he said, still unwilling to give up the argument. “He’s like, crazy old.”
Tapestry made an offended noise and glared at Malcolm.
“I cannot believe you just said that,” she said. “Are you forgetting my real age? Compared to me, Savior is still a young man.”
“Oh, come on.” Malcolm rolled his eyes. “That’s a technicality, and you know it.”
“Do you think he’d like chicken for dinner?” asked Tapestry. “I also have some breaded fish, but it’s frozen.”
Malcolm sighed and massaged his temples.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s get moving.”
He listened to his music on the bus ride back, letting the guitar solos and easy lyrics of 90s alt rock massage his powers into a better state of efficiency. Malcolm found himself wondering what Savior’s focus activity was, and then about his weakness.
I’d be surprised if anyone knows that. I can’t imagine the most powerful man alive lets it slip very often.
There was a bus stop close to their destination, and it only took them a couple of minutes from there. Tapestry’s house was clean and cozy, with a coordinated color scheme from another era.
“I’m going to get started on dinner,” said Tapestry. “Do you mind entertaining Savior when he gets here? I want to concentrate on dinner.”
Malcolm rolled his eyes, taking off his shoes off as he came inside.
“Sure,” he said. “But I think all the fuss is a little unwarranted.”
“It’s not a fuss,” said Tapestry. “I just… like to cook.”
Malcolm shrugged, walking through the foyer and into the living room. He grinned when he saw Melanie, Tapestry’s great granddaughter, sitting on the couch across from the TV with a controller in her hand.
“So you did get a PS4,” he said.
“Yeah,” said Melanie.
“I didn’t realize you played video games,” said Malcolm.
“Yeah,” said Melanie.
Malcolm blinked. Melanie was one of the chattiest people he’d ever met. All of her attention, currently, was focused on the game, her pale, freckled face and brown hair illuminated by the glow of the TV.
“Will you be my slave for a month?” he asked.
“Yeah,” said Melanie.
Is this what I’m like when I’m gaming?
Malcolm found a second controller, nestled in the entertainment center near the console. He plugged it in, sat down on the couch next to her, and snapped his fingers in front of her face.
“Come on,” he said. “Let’s go. One on one, something we both can play.”
Melanie frowned, as though coming out of a trance.
“Uh, right,” she said. “Sorry. I never played video games much when I was younger. I always thought they were for boys, but I tried out one of the kiosks at the mall and just got sucked in. It cost me almost all my savings, but I think it was worth it. I’m not a big competitive player though. I prefer games with a good story.”
“Well then,” said Malcolm. “Why don’t we ease into something simple?”
They played a couple of matches in a fighting game. Malcolm went easy on her, but Melanie learned the controls quickly enough to give him a run for his money. He actually started to get a little irritated, and in the deciding round of their second match, had to resort to the ancient technique of pressing random buttons on Melanie’s controller to mess her up.
“Hey!” she cried, pushing him away. “No fair.”
“The first rule of video games is that anything goes,” said Malcolm.
“What about this, then?” Melanie reached her hand down and set it on his thigh. Malcolm dropped his controller in surprise.
“You’re playing dirty!” he said.
“You started it.”
“Children, please,” called Tapestry, from the kitchen. “Savior just called, asking which house it was. Can one of you go outside and wait on the lawn for him.”
“Children?” asked Malcolm, incredulous. “Really, Tapestry? Do you really want to go there?”
CHAPTER 6
Malcolm paused the game and headed outside onto the lawn. Melanie followed him. It was still cloudy overhead, but the rain seemed content to hold off, at least until the sun had finished setting.
“So what’s Savior like in person, anyway?” asked Melanie. “Aubrey seemed really thrilled to have him coming to our area. I think it goes beyond just the help he can offer.”
Unfortunately, so do I.
“He’s… a character,” said Malcolm.
A pedestrian was approaching from down the street. It took Malcolm a minute to recognize the man as Wax, one of the other local champions. He was dressed in dirty clothes, with his head shaved and a slightly ragged red beard. He was a short man, a little pudgy, but very intelligent.
Wax was a clone of Malcolm’s former boss, Multi. During the attack on their headquarters, Multi had been kidnapped, and most of his copies had been killed. Wax was the only one to make it out alive. He had helped keep tabs on the pulse of the area during the time afterward by disguising himself as a homeless person.
It’s a dirty job, but someone has got to do it.
“Wax,” said Malcolm. “Good timing. Savior just got into town.”
“I know,” said Wax. “He called me already. He said he was already inside the house, though.”
“No, we’re still waiting for him,” said Malcolm. He frowned, and a second later, a high pitched female scream came from the house across the street.
Malcolm watched in disbelief as a woman with wet hair, wearing nothing but a towel, ran out onto the street. She was followed shortly after by a very apologetic looking Savior.
“Sincerely, sorry, madam,” said Savior. “The window was open, and I was trying to make a stealthy entrance. Mistakes were made, clearly. The Champion Authority will send you a formal apology.”
Melanie frowned and crossed her arms.
“He should be more careful,” she said.
“Hey,” said Malcolm, chuckling. “It happens to the best of us.”
The woman seemed to relax a little after Savior’s explanation, and unsurprisingly, insisted on getting a photo with him before heading back inside. Savior grinned when he saw Wax, walking over and clapping him solidly on the back.
“Waxie!” said Savior, voice booming. “I’ve missed you so! Good to see that you’re still in fine form.”
“I’m not sure I would describe it with those words, exactly,” said Wax. “I’ve got a lot to fill you in on.”
“In due time,” said Savior, leading the group back inside. “But first, I need a shower.”
Tapestry had finished with the food and was waiting in the living room. She immediately headed to the linen closet, returning with a towel and offering it to Savior. He shook his head, gesturing to Wax.
“Wax will hold onto that for me,” said Savior. “We’ll be back in a couple of minutes.”
“Uh…” Malcolm raised an eyebrow. “Is he taking a shower… with you?”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” said Savior. “He’s my attendant. He’ll stand directly outside the shower and pass me what I need.”
Wax looked like an employee about to do his least favorite job.
“He insists,” said Wax. “He claims that his most brilliant ideas come to him in the bath. It’s my responsibility… to record them.”
“Exactly!” said Savior. “Tapestry,
might you have any mouthwash? I took a couple of bugs to the teeth on the flight over.”
Tapestry blinked, looking a little bewildered.
“Sure…” she said. “It’s… in the bathroom.”
Savior nodded to her and headed off in the direction she’d indicated, Wax following close behind. The door to the bathroom shut, and Malcolm burst out laughing.
“He’s just eccentric,” said Tapestry.
“Of course,” said Malcolm. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. He can shower however, or with whomever, he wants.”
Malcolm heard the shower turn on, followed by the sound of Savior singing as he bathed. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face as he sat down on the couch next to Melanie for another round of video games.
An hour later, all five of them were gathered around the kitchen table. Tapestry had decided on grilled chicken for dinner, with mashed potatoes, green beans, and salad. She served everyone and said grace, settling down in her seat and watching the guest of honor intently.
“It’s delicious!” announced Savior. “You are an excellent cook, Tapestry.”
She beamed at the praise.
“Thank you,” she said. “It’s really just what I had on hand. Next time, I’ll buy special ingredients.”
Malcolm cleared his throat.
“As much fun as it is to talk about cooking, and food, I think we have bigger problems on our hands,” he said. “We should talk strategy, and figure out how we’re going to reorganize the local Champion Authority.”
“But of course!” Savior took a bite of chicken, making pleased noises as he chewed, and then continued speaking with his mouth full. “As soon as… I inspect the damage of your destroyed headquarters… I can send the information to Architect, our resident head of construction at the Champion Authority.”
“That’s helpful,” said Malcolm. “But it’s really only part of the problem.”
“He’s right, Savior,” said Wax. “I’ve had my ear to the ground for the past week. We aren’t just under threat from the demons and sprytes in the city. Public opinion is shifting fast, especially online.”
“The monster rights movement,” said Melanie. “People are even talking about it at my school. There’s a new student union set up that’s organizing a relief effort for at risk monsters in the area.”
“Monster rights…” said Savior. “Or monster wrongs? Think on that one, it’s deep.”
Far too deep for me, man.
“I’m not sure that attacking Rain Dancer and his allies directly would be the best idea,” said Malcolm. “Killing them would only embolden the monster rights movement. It would turn him into a martyr.”
Savior frowned.
“What do you think, Tapestry?” he asked. “Do you agree with your sister on how widespread this movement is?”
“My… sister?” Tapestry stumbled. “Uh… Actually, yeah, I do!”
She smiled at Savior, her eyes fluttering. Malcolm briefly considered revealing the truth, and then decided against it. It would only infuriate Tapestry, and it wasn’t his place to disclose her secrets, anyway.
“The one thing I’ve learned in my time as a champion is how to be tactical and clean,” said Savior. “Like a quiet fart in a crowded elevator. We shall take a… silent, but deadly approach.”
He was totally serious. Malcolm coughed into his hand, trying to contain himself.
“What do you suggest, then?” asked Wax.
“I’m familiar with one of the local monster watering holes,” said Savior. “A little establishment called Terri’s Tavern.”
Malcolm furrowed his brow. He glanced around the table, but if anyone else recognized the place, they didn’t let it show in their expression.
I went there with Rose, right after I first met her. I wonder if she ever goes there on her own?
“You don’t think they’ll mind you, the leader of the Champion Authority, just dropping for a visit?” asked Tapestry.
Savior laughed.
“I have an understanding with the owner,” said Savior. “It shan’t be a problem. So… who is coming with me? Obviously, you and your sister are too young, Tapestry.”
Tapestry let out a small, guilty cough.
“And Wax…” Savior frowned as he considered his balding attendant. “You’re a stick in the mud, when you drink.”
“That’s because I don’t like to drink the way you do,” said Wax. “Your idea of fun is straight vodka shots.”
“A holdover from my college days,” mused Savior. “Cutter, you’re also a bit on the young side, aren’t you?”
“That doesn’t matter,” said Malcolm. “If you help me get in, I’ll go shot for shot with you.”
“Deal!” Savior laughed triumphantly and turned his attention to his food.
Malcolm slowly cut into the chicken. He thought about Terri’s Tavern, and heading back there. He wasn’t sure whether he was hoping she’d be there, or hoping that she wouldn’t.
CHAPTER 7
It was dark when they left Tapestry’s. Savior didn’t seem to mind walking, which Malcolm appreciated. He wasn’t confident enough with his own flight ability to have any hope of keeping up with Savior.
“Have you been a champion for long, Cutter?”
Malcolm had already corrected him twice more that evening. The nickname was permanent, as far as he could tell.
“Only a couple of weeks,” said Malcolm. “It’s been… eventful, to say the least. What about you?”
“Since Day One of the Phenomenon,” said Savior. “It was really quite something. I was already a United States Senator, popular, moderately well known. They were speculating about me making a run for the White House, some day.”
“Is that still something you’re considering?” asked Malcolm. “I’d think you’d already be busy enough running the Champion Authority and passing laws.”
“Oh, I have assistants for all that,” said Savior. “In reality, this is my job.”
He gestured to himself, to Malcolm, and to the surrounding town.
“Hunting down monsters?” asked Malcolm.
“Problem solving!” said Savior. “Helping people! Living by my ideals and being thanked by the world for doing it!”
This guy is too much.
“Well, it’s good to know that you’re staying grounded,” said Malcolm.
Savior laughed.
“Ha! Because I spend so much time flying!” He slapped Malcolm on the back. “Cutter, you are a card!”
Malcolm recognized the bouncer outside Terri’s Tavern. It was a muscular black man, relatively unassuming in appearance. If it wasn’t for the fact that he knew what to look for, Malcolm might have missed the fact that he was a demon.
The dark sunglasses hiding his discolored eyes gave him away as a monster, along with the telltale skull lumps along the crown of the man’s head. Malcolm made a mental note to avoid calling anyone inside a “monster”, as the word was considered to be a somewhat derogatory manner of addressing sprytes and demons.
“Greetings, good sir,” said Savior, addressing the bouncer. “We’re headed down into the tavern. That’s not going to be a problem, is it?”
“Uh…” The bouncer frowned, pulling his sunglasses down to get a better look. His eyes went wide as soon as he recognized Savior. “Jesus… Look, we don’t want any trouble! I’ll send Scribe out, she’ll give you whatever you need.”
“That shan’t be necessary,” said Savior. “We’re just here as patrons. To drink, converse, contribute witty anecdotes, and so forth. Say… isn’t it ironic that you’re wearing sunglasses at night?”
Savior does not know what irony is. Ah, the irony.
The bouncer just stared at him.
“He wants to get a beer,” said Malcolm. “We won’t make trouble, and we’ll leave if asked.”
The bouncer slowly nodded.
“Let me just… let Scribe know that you’re coming.”
The bouncer disappeared down the sta
irs, returning a minute later and waving the two by. Malcolm went first, feeling an odd thrill of anticipation as he stepped into the rustic, dimly lit cellar.
Terri’s Tavern had a very traditional feel to it. Imitation lanterns hung from walls and the ceiling. The tables were all old polished wood, as was the bar and all the stools. It wasn’t especially crowded, with only a half dozen or so monsters present.
Malcolm scanned the room, searching for Rose and not finding her. He told himself that it was a good thing that she wasn’t there. If Savior got wind of how Malcolm had become friendly with a spryte, there would be consequences.
The fact that there were other monsters in the room, however, and Savior seemed absolutely casual about it, was something Malcolm did not understand. He walked next to the leader of the Champion Authority, the two of them taking seats at the bar.
“Beer us, Scribe,” said Savior. “And then we’ll talk. You remember me this time, right?”
The bartender and owner of Terri’s Tavern was a spryte by the name of Scribe. The last time Malcolm had spoken with her, she’d explained that her power was related to language, and as such, she kept a detailed journal to keep herself from losing too much of her memory whenever she had an episode. Considering that detail made Malcolm feel uneasy, though he didn’t like to think about why.
Maybe Rose has had an episode since I last saw her. Maybe she doesn’t remember me anymore.
“Savior,” said Scribe. She was a short spryte with thick hair and thick glasses. “I… didn’t expect that you’d come in person.”
“I’m sure you heard what happened to the local Champion Authority headquarters,” said Savior. “Total bummer, you know? So I’m going to have to pick up the slack in town while the rebuilding takes place.”
Malcolm pulled his attention back into the moment, glancing back and forth between Scribe and Savior. The leader of the Champion Authority, an institution dedicated to policing demons and sprytes across the world, was casually conversing with one. It still made no sense to him. Savior noticed the expression on his face and clapped him on his back.
“You looked confused,” said Savior.
“I’m just not quite sure what to make of this,” said Malcolm. “I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, but… it seems like you’re just flaunting the fact that you don’t have to abide by the very rules that you set.”
Wind Runner: The Complete Collection Page 38
