She was amazing. A goddess in a hoodie, baseball cap, and a bandana that covered the bottom of her face. Sometimes, Jeffrey got a look at her eyes, but that's all. They were blue and confident, and filled with dead certainty, as if her passion for justice was the blood that flowed through her veins.

She was a shadow, literally. That's what people called her, that was the curse every villain hissed under his breath when he realized he had no escape. She moved with an unseeing grace, blending in with the dark. There was no sign she was there until she had already left, her victim tied up and waiting for the police to finally show.

Jeffrey remembered the first time he had met the vigilante. He was wearing his own homemade costume: A black mask, black pants, a black sleeveless hoodie that covered his unruly hair, and a pair of fingerless gloves. He looked scrappy and rough. Not at all his usual polished and neat self. He had caught a glimpse of the mysterious hero as she slipped away from where she had just finished taking down a guy in an alley.

Jeffrey had taken after her as quietly as he could, following her down back streets and through empty buildings with large X's to show they were unpassable as a proper home. Then, half-a-beat, and she was gone. One second she was there exiting through a back door, but when Jeffrey stuck his head out a half-second later she was nowhere in sight. He scratched his head under the hood and marveled at how good she was. He didn't notice the figure behind him, as the Shadow dropped down from her perch above the door.

"What do you want?" The voice was short, low, and terse. It was a big shock to Jeffrey and he almost died on the spot from fear.

"I-I want to do what you do." Jeffrey had explained himself eagerly, once he had gotten through a stumbling and embarrassing moment of anxiety. "I want to be a superhero."

"I'm not a superhero. I'm a vigilante. The police don't care that much for me." The Shadow stepped around him, "Why should I care about what you do and don't want to do? I don't have time for this."

"I want to work with you. Help you out." Jeffrey chased after her.

"No chance." She had snorted, "I don't need a Robin getting in my way."

"I don't want to be your sidekick. I want to be your partner." Jeffrey corrected.

"Look, Man." The Shadow stopped and sighed.

"Armageddon."

"What?"

"That's what I call myself." Jeffrey told her proudly, "It's greek for the final conflict between the forces of evil and go-"

"I know what it means." The Shadow didn't sound impressed, "You're really calling yourself Amaggdion?"

"Armageddon." Jeffrey corrected.

"Gesundheit. Look, Don, I put up with about twenty of you superhero cosplayers a week, and I just don't have the patience to deal with you. I'm serious about what I do, and what's more, I know what I'm doing. Just stay out of my way and don't go around trying to be some kind of hero. I don't want to have to save your stupid butt too."

And she had disappeared.

The second time Jeffrey ran into the Shadow, he literally ran into her. The building was burning down around them, and he was bent under the weight of large unconscious man he was carrying, choking from the smoke that poured down his lungs. He staggered down the stairs and straight into The Shadow who was running up them.

"You?!" The Shadow was surprised, but she caught herself right away, pushing onto what was more important, "Is there anyone else up there?"

"No, this floor is clear." Jeffrey wheezed. The Shadow nodded, and ran back down, calling behind her.

"Take the civilian outside, I'll clear the last two floors. Go!"

Jeffrey didn't hesitate. He didn't know how much longer he'd be able to breathe in the choking smoke. Still, he didn't hesitate to run back in, after he handed the unconscious man over to the waiting paramedics. There was no need, he met The Shadow right in the front hall, she was carrying a small child in her arms. Jeffrey started to move towards her, but was interrupted by a 'CRACK' from above. They both leapt back as a portion of the ceiling came down in a fiery crash. It was a big obstruction, Jeffrey couldn't see how Shadow would be able to clear it.

"Here! Catch her!"

Jeffrey barely had time to react as the unconscious little girl got hurled into his arms, but he caught her easily enough, she barely weighed anything to him.

"Get her out of here!"

"What about you!" Jeffrey shouted back. The fire licked at his boots and forced him to take a step back.

"I'm a superhero, remember?" She said sarcastically, "I'll manage. Hurry up, she needs immediate attention."

Her words reminded Jeffrey of his priorities, and he reluctantly ran out of the burning building the girl in his arms. Everything crumbled behind him. It was horrifying, and he ran back looking for a way in. The only clear way, was a window on the ground floor. Jeffrey pulled back his fist to break the window, only to have it break on him as The Shadow leapt through it. She spring-boarded off Jeffrey, knocking him to the ground and allowing her to land on her feet.

"What? H-How? How did you get out of there!?"

"I'm fireproof."

"Really?"

"No." The Shadow brushed some glass shards off of herself, "You alright?"

"You're asking me that? You just emerged from a collapsed building!"

"I'm talking about how I kicked you over. You're just lying there."

"Oh, right." Jeffrey got up to his feet hurriedly, "You didn't hurt me."

"Good, because I've got to run. There's a crime in progress across town."

"How do you know?"

"I'm psychic."

"Really?"

"No." The Shadow snorted and took off. Jeffrey ran after her.

"Let me help."

"Only if you can keep up. I'm not waiting for you."

Jeffrey had kept up and the rest was history. Shadow and Armageddon became two inseparable entities, like peanut butter and jelly. The Shadow was Jeffrey's best friend, something he still felt awed by. He had never really had a friend before, at least not before he came to Boston.

...

"Hey, Jeffrey. So, I was thinking for our study project would you like to come over to my house? It's only five minutes away." Jeffrey's study partner walked in step next to him.

"Yeah, that's fine with me. What time should I get there?" Jeffrey slung his backpack over his shoulder.

"How about fourish? You could stay for supper too if you want." Jane Penderwick told him.

"Supper sounds great. You sure it's not an imposition on your family?"

"None at all, the big question is if they'll be an imposition on you. My family can get a little noisy and dramatic, and it might be hard finding someplace quiet to study if Skye doesn't give up our bedroom, but it shouldn't be too big of a problem."

...

Jeffrey felt like there was a problem. Was this the right house? It was the address Jane had given him, but there had to be some kind of mistake. Nobody was answering the door.

Jeffrey knocked for the third time, only to have the door yanked open mid-knock. He stepped back when he was met by a very suspicious glare.

"Hi."

"Who are you?" The girl asked, her face creased with a frown.

"Um...Jeffrey. Is Jane there?"

The blonde's stern look got even darker if that was possible.

"Why?"

"Um...I-"

"Relax, Skye. That's just my study partner, we're working on a project together." Jane pushed the other girl out of the way and motioned Jeffrey in, "Come on, I found a whole bunch of great sites we can use as references."

Jeffrey stepped inside gingerly, and gave Jane's sister as wide a berth as possible.

"Skye this is Jeffrey. Jeffrey this is my older sister, Skye."

Jeffrey held out his hand, but Skye only nodded curtly at him, her arms crossed. Jeffrey pulled back his hand and used it to rub the back of his neck.

"Ignore her, she's just being difficult." Jane whispered in her ear, as she pulled Jeffrey out of the kitchen. Skye was already ignoring him in favor of rooting around in the refrigerator.

"Skye, Rosie's not going to be happy if you're not hungry enough for supper."

"As if I'm never hungry for supper." Skye mumbled as she took a bite out of an apple and disappeared downstairs into the basement, like a badger ducking into its hole. She certainly had the disposition of a badger.

"Charming isn't she?" Jane said breezily, "Come on, and meet everyone else before we get to work."

...

"What's your favorite color?" Jeffrey inquired, ducking back in time to avoid a particular nasty-looking knife.

"Would you at least try to stop learning my secret identity until we finish rounding up these idiots." The Shadow sidekicked one of their assailants in the mouth.

"You always leave right away after a fight." Jeffrey protested, "I don't have a chance to talk with you afterwards."

"You know how I feel about us revealing our civilian identities. That's too much of a hazard, it makes it one step easier for any goons to guess it themselves." The Shadow reminded him, "It's practically impossible that we even know each other in real life anyway."

"It's just a color." Jeffrey insisted, as he sucker-punched one man's nose.

"Fine. It's green. Happy?"

"Great! Do you want to know what mine is?"

"No."

"It's blue. Just like your eyes."

"What did I say about you flirting with me?"

"I don't know, I usually ignore those lectures." Jeffrey joined the Shadow in landing a final blow on the last of the muggers. Shadow was smiling behind her bandana, he was sure of it.

"Stop it, with the corny gushing or I'll go solo again." The Shadow socked his forearm.

"Come on, I know you love me." Jeffrey gave her a grin under from under the shade his hood provided.

"I'm serious." Jeffrey could see her scowling under her baseball cap.

"Fine. I'm sorry." He apologized, "You know I'm only kidding."

He wasn't kidding. Every time he saw the Shadow, Jeffrey felt as if she was punching him in the stomach instead of one of the many criminals they fought so hard against.

...

Skye found herself listening as Jeffrey and Jane chattered on the floor of her and her sister's shared bedroom. They were discussing Jane's favorite topic of course: The Vigilantes of Boston. Shadow and Armageddon. Skye still rolled her eyes every time she heard that name. Her partner was good fighter, but he seriously lacked in the naming department.

"It's kind of frustrating. Every time I feel like I'm getting close, she just slips away." Jane's goal in life was to meet the Shadow in person. That made it Skye's goal to make sure that that never happened. It was way too risky. Jane would figure out who she was the second she opened her mouth.

"That's a shame." Jeffrey said, "I've met Armageddon before, but Shadow always manages to run before anyone can get in a word."

"You've met Armageddon?! What's he like?" Jane gushed

Skye was interested too, though she didn't show it.

"Really nice. He's got a hilarious sense of humor."

Skye barely held herself back from snorting aloud.

"You're so lucky." Jane sighed, "I'd give an arm and a leg to meet him."

Skye really did snort at that.

"What?" Jane demanded, "You can't tell me you side with the cops."

"No, I agree the police have been doing a shoddy job for quite some time now, but I don't see the appeal in idolizing anyone, no matter how much good they do. Everyone has their faults, and the fact that they both aren't afraid to take the law into their hands, I don't know, it kind of means we're relying on their own whims."

Skye throws that last piece in for a mislead. After all, if she's against taking the law into your hands, she couldn't very well be one of the incognito vigilantes, can she?

"They're not taking the law into their own hands." Jeffrey protested, "They're trying to uphold the measure of the law against those who refuse to. The Shadow has never once attempted to twist the law to her benefit. She focuses on saving people from anything that could hurt them. And if crooks are part of that danger, she's going to stop them."

"That's taking the law into your own hands." Skye pointed out, "Look, I'm not saying that I don't approve of the good those two have done, I just refuse to put anyone on a pedestal. We're all human, and we all have faults. If we treat them like gods, what kind of message are we sending them?"

"We're showing that we appreciate their hard work." Jane piped up, "It must be rather disgruntling to do your hardest to make a change, and get treated with nothing but ungratefulness."

"Exactly." Jeffrey nodded, "Take Shadow for example. She's inspiring people to lift their heads and start making changes themselves. If she didn't rise to the challenge, we wouldn't have Armageddon, or the urge to realize what's wrong with this city. She's a force for change, a bringer of a new era. When future generations look back in time, she'll be as revered as much as say, George Washington or anybody else who worked for a better existence."

"Someone's got a crush." Skye said dryly. Inwardly though, she felt flattered.

"I don't have a crush." Jeffrey's face was beet red, and he hunkered back over his and Jane's textbooks, "I just feel grateful for the hard work she's done."

...

"Hey, Don." Skye refused to encourage her partner by calling him by his full alias. Don was safe and easy. "Do you ever feel just...so done. Like no matter how many times you do something good, ten more negative things rise up and cancel out your work?"

"You're not giving up are you?" Armageddon sounded alarmed.

"No. I just...Forget it. It's nothing." Skye regretted her moment of doubt. He didn't get it, he found saving the day and having an alias exciting. He thought it was just big fun.

"It's frustrating. Especially when you talk to someone and they don't realize you're a force of good." The solemnity in his voice arrested Skye, and she wondered when the punchline was coming. "It helps that you're by my side though. I think it wouldn't really matter if the whole world thought I was wrong, as long you believe along with me."

Skye didn't mind Armageddon's proclamations that much anymore, she was used to ignoring them as long as he didn't keep it up for too long. He was a huge flirt, but she was pretty sure it was just his wacked up sense of humor.

"Trust me. You by my side is not at all ideal. If I had my way, you'd be behind me."

Armageddon pouted at her, trying his best to make her swoon like all his many fangirls that surrounded him to get an autograph. Skye had way too much sense and dignity to be affected in the slightest.

"Like way behind. Like out of this country behind me. Heck, out of this star system. Even then, you'd be too close for comfort."

"Seriously though." Armageddon gave up trying to look adorable and switched back to their prior conversation, "What's got you feeling like this is so pointless?"

"I don't know, I just feel like...people keep praising me, and I-I don't like it." Skye trailed off pitily.

Armageddon tilted his head back and laughed, "You hate that people like you? That is golden, that really is just...", he trailed off into a fit of cackling.

"That's not what I meant." Skye scolded and pulled her baseball cap even lower over her eyes, "It's just they expect me to be this invicible hero, like I'm unstoppable and I could never do anything wrong by them. That pressure is kind of killer, and I get stressed that I'm going to fail somehow. I only started this vigilante business, because I have a gift and I was getting frustrated by how bad things are. I want justice, not glory."

Armageddon was silent, his hilarity wiped clean off his face, or what Skye could see of his face. Skye wondered if he even understood her worries. He seemed to thrive in the spotlight. She couldn't stand people kissing up to her, or loving her when they didn't even know who she truly was.

"I get that feeling." Armageddon said softly, "Like someone is pushing you into a role you're not entirely cut out to play."

There's genuine bitterness in his voice, and Sky felt momentarily curious as to what her partner's real life was like. She quickly pushed it away. Admitting she was curious about Armageddon's life was a dangerous step down a road of them knowing who each other was and getting too close or worse: repulsed by the other's real life. Still, knowing he understood was helpful.

"It's not new to me." Skye admitted. Sometimes she felt as if people unconsciously compared her to her mother, just because she looked like her. "I've just never experienced it on such a large scale. If people really knew who I was in real life, I think they'd be disappointed."

"I wouldn't." Armageddon declared, "If I knew you in real life, I'd guess your identity right away. There is no-one in this world that is as grumpy and gruff, as stoic and stubborn, as beautiful and graceful, as intelligent-"

"I get the picture." Skye interrupted grimly.

...

Skye, in Jeffrey's opinion, was as unfathomable and unmovable as a slab of granite. It was his third visit to the Penderwick's home, and everyone had embraced him already. Everyone except Skye. The thing was he couldn't even really tell if she hated or tolerated him. Who knew, maybe her abrupt manner of speech and habit of disappearing all the time was her way of liking someone. She was definitely an enigma that one.

"How are you?" Jeffrey attempted to be polite. Skye grumped- she did that a lot- and continued past him to her motorcycle in the driveway.

"I don't think Skye likes me." Jeffrey told Rosie and Jane. They both exchanged knowing looks.

"It's not that she doesn't like you." Rosie tried to explain, "It's that Skye doesn't have the patience or the interest to decide if she likes you or not."

"She thought you were trying to come on to me." Jane said less tactfully.

Jeffrey choked on his drink. Not that Jane wasn't a nice girl, she was even kind of cute in a little sister kind of way, but Jeffrey kind of had a thing for strong, silent, superheroines that could knock him out in one punch.

"Not that she still thinks that of course." Jane hastened to explain, "She believed me when I explained that we're just friends. I'm just pointing out why she was so hostile at first. Skye wouldn't hurt a fly, but she would punch you if she thought you were acting inappropriate in any way."

"If you want to get through to her, you'll have to be the one initiating any conversations, at least at first." Rosalind recommended.

And because Jeffrey felt the need to be on good terms with everybody, he decided to give it a go. The next time he saw Skye, she was burrowed in the refrigerator again. She always seemed to be looking for a snack. Jeffrey didn't blame her. Ever since he had put in an effort to work out more, he had become rather snackish all the time.

"Hey, Skye."

Skye must not have been aware of Jeffrey's presence, because she didn't grunt as was her normal want. No, instead she- almost as if it was a reflex- scrambled up onto the top of the refrigerator and peered down at him in a defensive pose. It was as if she was ready to leap down at a moment's notice and attack now that she had the higher ground. Jeffrey had never seen someone react so quickly, and he jumped back in alarm.

"Sorry." He put up his hands, "I thought you knew I was there."

Skye seemed taken aback herself and rather flustered, but she jumped back down from her perch and landed almost without a noise.

"Hey." It was one of the first legible words Skye had ever spoken to him without a trace of suspicion or scorn. Jeffrey took it as good sign, even if she had mumbled it.

"I was just heading outside to play some basketball with Ben, and he said you liked to play sometimes. Want to join us? I mean you clearly can jump pretty high." Jeffrey put on his most polite and persuasive smile. The one he used whenever he had to talk to one of his mother's friends. Or even his mother herself sometimes.

"..." Skye studied him, as if she thought there was a catch, "Sure. There's nothing to eat anyway." She shut the refrigerator door and followed him outside.

...

Jeffrey was alright. Skye decided, watching in approval as he lifted Ben up so the small boy could dunk the basketball. Still, she was pretty upset with herself letting him sneak up on her like that. That shouldn't have happened. Nobody snuck up on Skye. Even Armageddon rarely succeeded, and he practiced daily.

There was something else about Jeffrey, something offputting. His smile towards her was definitely fake, Skye could make that out easy enough. She knew when people were only feigning interest. But it was more than that. Other than that one time Jeffrey had made the impassioned speech on Shadow, he acted very cool and collected. He played to people's ears, and could sense exactly what to and to not say. He was cautious.

He was hiding something. Skye wouldn't delve into it though, God knew she had plenty of her own secrets. She wasn't one to pry. Armageddon could learn well to take a page out of Jeffrey's book and be a little more reticent.

Ben soon got tired of basketball- his interest was constantly drifting- and he wandered off to dig for treasure or find Batty. Skye and Jeffrey kept silent, but soon slipped gradually into a weird unspoken bond of just passing the ball back and forth to the other. It was almost as if they were in sync. Jeffrey would dribble around and then just toss it over to Skye. It didn't matter where she was standing or where he wandered, the ball would end up in the exact spot needed. It was kind of mesmerizing and every time one of them increased their speed the other would match it. This went on for an hour, until Jeffrey threw the ball wide and high, Skye's practically soared up into the air and met the ball with a guiding grace, slam-dunking it straight into the hoop.

The basketball fell to the ground and bounced a couple of times before rolling off, Skye didn't notice it.

"Nice dunk." Jeffrey looked as confused as Skye felt. As if they had had a strange connection. Skye shrugged loosely, and bent down to pick up the basketball, "I'm better at soccer." She doesn't know why, but her piece of information just slipped on it's own.

"Better?" Jeffrey was impressed as he let out a low whistle, "I'd hate to play against you then."

"Or Jane." Skye informed him, "She has a natural talent for it."

Jeffrey raised an eyebrow but didn't reply, he motioned for Skye to throw the ball over again, and she obliged. But they didn't go back to their previous intensity, instead choosing to just bounce the ball back and forth idly.

"Jane said that you thought I was trying to get her on a date or something. I want to assure you that we're just friends."

"I know." Skye nodded, "Jane told me. I trust her."

She left a phrase in the air, unsaid, but Jeffrey heard it anyway.

"But not me?"

"I don't know you well enough for that, but it doesn't matter. Jane's her own person anyway, and can make her own choices. I wouldn't feel the need to intervene unless you were hurting her." Skye's face darkened on the word intervene to add stress to what she would do if Jeffrey did do something wrong.

Jeffrey appeared unphased by her scowl. Skye would have to work on it being more threatening, usually her frown was enough to shake anyone.

"I won't hurt her." Jeffrey assured her, "I'll treat her with more respect than I would Shadow."

Skye snorted at that.

"What? I'm serious."

"I just don't understand your infatuation for the vigilantes." Skye hurried to excuse herself somehow.

"So you wouldn't freak out if you got to meet Armageddon or Shadow?"

"Definitely not." Skye scoffed, "They're just people like you and me."

"People who save the city on a regular base." Jeffrey corrected, "You have to admit, you'd at least feel awed in their presence."

"I'll admit no such thing." Skye was stubborn, "They have same blood and flesh that I do, and while anyone shares the same organic composition that I do, I won't feel they're better than me or anyone else."

...

Skye's words rang through Jeffrey's head over and over. As Armageddon, Jeffrey had been treated with idolization, hatred, adoration, jealousy, and a few other emotions, but never indifference. Well, Shadow treated him with indifference, but she did care about him in her own way, he knew that. Skye was all talk. No way would she not react strongly if say Shadow walked up to her and asked what time it was, or if Armageddon paid her the slightest bit of interest.

That gave Jeffrey his current idea, and explained why he was hiding in the shade of trees next to the college Jane had told him Skye attended. He had spotted her motorcycle, and was watching it very diligently. His patience paid off as he caught sight of Skye's confident posture sauntering down the campus and over her to bike.

Jeffrey was quick to hurry over, but made sure he kept it nonchalant enough.

"Hey there." He called over in his best cocky voice. Skye only glanced at him at first, but was quick to take in his appearance and do a double take, "How are you today?" Jeffrey was certain he had her, Skye looked astounded by the fact that he was talking to her.

Then, she grunted and turned back to mounting her motorcycle, and Jeffrey was suddenly the one caught off guard.

"Wait a second!" he fumbled trying to come up with something to say, it didn't help that Skye shot him a look of profound exasperation. As if she had the gall to be annoyed he was taking up her time, "Can you tell me how to get to Bellevue Avenue? I'm lost."

"Two blocks down." Was all Skye said, and then she revved her motorcycle and sped off.

Jeffrey had to pick his jaw off the ground.