Chapter 5

Vigilante

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Shadow glared in pure rage at the group of street thugs that surrounded him and his son. He kept the boy behind himself, all his fatherly instincts demanding that he protected his child at all costs.

"Stay behind me, son." He mumbled to the boy, making sure to keep his eyes on the brutes for any sudden movements.

"Dad, let me help you," But, apparently, the teenager had other ideas. "I can fight." His voice was more than insistent on letting him in the battle.

"No." He gave the younger one a brief, but strong, glare. "I won't allow it." Fixing his gaze on the hooligans once more. "I lost your mother and sister. I won't lose you, Dusk. I can't"

His eyes still trained on the surrounding thugs, his mind began to replay memories of the loss of his wife and daughter; a gentle smile that faded, a tiny had that let go, a cry that was cut short, a loving gaze that turned dull. The flashbacks continued mercilessly as his vision stared to become red. Then, he felt a hand grab onto his wrist and he looked back to meet his son's emerald eyes. Dusk was still there, alive and well. He still had something and someone to live for. Holding his gaze just a bit longer, he started to grasp that not only was he staring into the boy's eyes, but the eyes of his wife. How they held such a caring gentleness and the great strength that followed. He let his fists unball, never knowing that he had clenched them in the first place.

"You won't lose me, dad," His son's eyes shone with great determination. "I promise."

He knew Dusk would keep that promise and gave a single nod, allowing the boy to fight. He felt his son release his wrist and both midnight-furred hedgehogs stood ready for anything.

*

With excitement and adrenaline, Dusk grinned at his father's approval. Now, he stood beside the older hedgehog and not behind him. He knew his father was only trying to protect him. But, he wasn't gonna stand there and let the other take everything. Fathers needed protection too.

"Oy! Did ya hear us?!"

A yell from the thug, a skunk that wore a navy-blue leather jacket and seemed to be the gang leader, brought him out of his thoughts.

"I said, if ya give us all y'r money, we'll let you twos go without hurtin' anybody... Well, maybe."

Dusk heard a snort beside him and glanced at his father. "Do you really think a threat like that would scare us, child?" The older one straightened up a bit to show that the ne'er-do-wellers struck no fear, but still in a battle ready stance. "I've seen a third-grader do worse, kit."

The teenager had to bite back a snicker at his father's insult toward the speaking gang member. Dusk glanced at the hedgehog beside him and caught a glimpse of worry in those crimson orbs.

Please stay safe, son. They seemed to say. Understanding his father's deep concern, he gave him a flash of a reassuring smile. Don't worry about me, dad.

He noticed the miniscule nod his father gave and brought his eyes back to the gang of hooligans, thinking he saw movement.

"Remember your training, my boy," He barely heard Shadow's whisper, needing to strain his ears to hear the next words. "Especially now, more than ever."

Keeping his eyes on the skunk, he was sure he saw a blood vessel at the verge of popping on the thug's forehead.

"You watch ya mouth, gramps! Otherwise, I'm gonn--"

The skunk's next words never came as he sank to the ground, unconscious, with the Dæmon standing behind him. Wide eyed in shock, Dusk was sure his mouth didn't fall open.

All eyes were glued to the cloaked avenger. No one dared to move a muscle or utter a word. Then, a thug decided that it would be best to throw a punch at the hooded figure. And all hell broke loose. Dodging the body that flew toward him, Dusk jumped to the side. His emeralds were glued to the vigilante as he saw the chaos grow before him. One after the other, thugs were being tossed about; either unconscious or injured. The black clad fighter was almost untouchable. The highschooler watched with amazement, his eyes trained on the Dæmon's every action. A hooded head dodged a thug's fist by leaning to the side and letting the attack land on another gang member behind him. A black gloved hand reached out to grab the collar of an unlucky thug and sent him flying to another hooligan that was running toward them. A heavy steel toed boot planted itself painfully in the stomach of another thug. The fight between the Dæmon and the gang may've been twenty-three to one, but the avenger was more than obviously dominating it. Carefully, with great precision, aiming for weak pressure points, the vigilante managed to bring his victims to unconsciousness. When the last of the gang members fell with a groan, the cloaked figure ceased all action and stood stock still. Dusks eyes darted between the three last-standing sapients; the Dæmon, himself and his father. The silence stretched on as nothing was said, until Shadow decided to speak.

"Who are you?" His father's voice came carefully and cautiously, as though any sudden moves or words would scare the hooded one off. "And why did you help us?"

Dusk glanced at the older one and almost made a move to their cloaked savior, before his father's protective hand stopped him and held him in place. The Dæmon looked at them for a moment, the deep hood shrouding a mysterious face, and wordlessly turned to leave. Dusk's brow scrunched in confusion and frustration. He had to say something.

"Thank you!" He called to the vigilante.

He watched as the cloaked fighter walked under a blinking lamp post. The bulb flickered off for a second, leaving the street in total darkness. But, the moment it came on again, the street was empty. There was no trace of the Dæmon.

With a breath of astonishment, the teen's wide eyes searched the spot that the hooded being stood at a second ago. Then, he was suddenly pulled into his father's arms and brought into a strong embrace.

"You're alright. Tell me that you're alright, Dusk."

This was one of the very few times that he had ever heard so much fear and worry in his father's words. Returning the hug, but not as strongly, he let him know that he could relax.

"I'm fine, dad."

At that moment, he felt more worried about the older hedgehog than himself.