Duty

A/N: I'd like to add, I'm only posting this on here so it's easier to read and I won't have to copy and paste things and ruin the formatting. Questions are entirely welcome and thank you for reading in advance. Make sure to leave a review at the end of this chapter.

Shadow was lucky there were two beds. Hopefully, his client would realize he had a job to do and wasn't in the same room as her for other than that reason. He checked his phone, swearing quietly as a news alert popped up.

He looked over as his client unpacked her things. He could let another hero handle it, but he wasn't sure who was and wasn't in the area and he was close by. "I have some business to take care of so—."

"I'm your business," Sofia interrupted, walking towards him. "Besides we will be around each other for a month."

Right, it wasn't the longest he had to be around a client. She wasn't the worst client he's had so far, it just felt like a powerplant being broken into was more important. "It'll just take a second," Shadow said, starting out of the hotel room. "Don't open the door for anyone."

He quickly headed outside, his outfit sliding over him with ease as he teleported to the science lab. He stopped, crouching beside the window as he heard someone walking around inside. What the hell was a supervillain doing at a lab anyway?

"Now that I have you," Duchess cooed to someone. "I can get Karma all to myself so I can finish him off once and for all."

Shadow groaned quietly. Duchess was the one villain he didn't want to run into. What she lacked in powerful punches she made up for with diamonds and the like as weapons. Shadow peeked into the window, recognizing the squirrel he saved this morning.

"Why do ya think he'd come save me?" Sandy said, looking at the hare clad in a black dress with white fur around her shoulders.

"Oh, he always does," Duchess replied, smiling as she tugged the rope around Sandy tighter. "If I'm not mistaken, seems like everyone's favorite hero has a crush on you."

Sandy huffed, glaring at Duchess. "We ain't ever had a conversation. 'Parently I'm always at the wrong place at the wrong time."

She's right about that. Shadow thought as he slipped inside, keeping to the unlit walls and spaces. He checked to see Duchess still talking to the squirrel. He ran towards them, making eye contact with Sandy as Duchess turned and grinned.

Large diamonds shot up from the ground, ripping into Shadow's arms as he cried out. The largest one dangerously close to his neck.

"I had no idea it was going to be this easy," Duchess said, smiling as she walked towards him. "But I won't let you die just yet." She turned back towards Sandy, heels clacking against the floor as she walked towards her; a marble knife gleaming in her hand.

"Don't hurt her," Shadow gasped, gritting his teeth as he tried to lift his arms off the diamonds.

Duchess held the knife to Sandy's cheek, dragging the blade slowly down her face. "Don't worry, Karma. I'll take my time with her." She said, plunging the knife downward to Sandy's thigh. She grit her teeth as Sandy kicked away, using the momentum to kick the knife away before she fell to the floor.

Shadow panted, groaning as he lifted himself further up. If he could grab Duchess and transfer his pain to her then it'd be over. That's how his powers worked, no matter what damage he took, he could return it tenfold as long as he was in contact with someone.

Sandy breathed, straining as she broke through her ropes. She stood, dodging the darts Duchess threw at her. She moved as Duchess ran towards her, blocking each blow the hare tried to land on her. She grunted as Duchess kicked her.

"Stay out of this," Duchess yelled, standing over Sandy. "I should've killed you from the start."

Sandy swallowed, feeling the ground shake. She gasped, breathing quickly as the diamonds lifted her into the air, tearing into her shirt and pinning her close to the ceiling. She watched as Duchess grinned, walking over to Karma.

The diamond pressed into his suit, threatening to go through his neck if he didn't act soon.

"Karma," Duchess called, leaning towards him. "does it hurt?"

He grit his teeth, hoping she would lean a bit more forward. He screamed, blood hitting the floor as he freed his arms and wrapped them around Duchess. "Not as much as this will," he replied, squeezing the woman against him as she clawed at his arms.

She screamed as a red light enveloped them, as it felt like her arms would come off her body. She felt her own nails against her skin as she tried to claw her way out of Karma's grip again, burning worse.

Shadow let Duchess go as she passed out, slowly moving her off him as he tried to stand. The woman was still in trouble. He looked over as the diamonds went back into the ground, energy momentarily renewed as he ran towards the now falling squirrel.

He cried out as he caught her, falling to the floor with her. "Are you alright?" he said, looking down at her.

Sandy shoved away from him. "Worry about yourself first, yer bleedin'." She said, covering her torn shirt with her lab coat. Something told her not to stay after, but she had just finished repairing the tracker. She sighed, looking back at the hero as he shakily stood. If she didn't do something soon, he might pass out.

Sandy picked up the chair she was in, rolling it over to him and making him sit down. She rolled him over to her work station, opening the right drawer and taking out a vial.

"What's that?" Karma asked, groaning as Sandy grabbed his arms. He squeezed his shut as she poured the liquid onto his arms.

"It's a healing serum," Sandy answered, taking out gauze. "I have more since I supply them to the town, works for anything." She continued, wrapping his arms.

Karma swallowed, feeling what leftover pain he had slowly fade into a dull thrum. He needed to get back to the hotel. "Thank you," he said suddenly. "I'm sorry you keep getting caught up in my mess."

Sandy shook her head, leaning away from him. "I should've headed home earlier, it's my own fault you got hurt." She said, rubbing her temples. She looked over at Duchess, her body still as Sandy went closer to check her pulse. She sighed, feeling the hare's pulse against her finger. She was just knocked out.

"I'm sorry, but if you could drop her off at the station, I'd be in your debt," Karma said.

If Sandy did that, then she'd be out the next day. But having a superhero in her debt didn't sound so bad, and if she mentioned it then Duchess might get more time. She finally nodded, tying up the supervillain in case she woke up.

Sandy turned to where Karma was, prepared to thank him for saving her. . .again. She stopped as she looked at the empty room, the hero gone and the only sign of anything happening was the blood spots on the floor and her used work station. Sandy huffed, quickly cleaning up before leaving Duchess at the station. At this point, she just wanted to head home.

Shadow gulped in air as he leaned against the door of his client's hotel room. She was asleep when he returned, undisturbed as he went over to the empty bed and laid down. Hopefully, he'd spend more time doing his actual job this month instead of fighting villains and saving that woman. He didn't even get her name.