To the guest that jusreviewed: there is a new chapter! I just had to take it down for a moment cause there was a problem with it. It's here now! *throws chapter at you*
Arthur sighed in contentment, his eyes scanning his book's well loved and yellowed pages. In his opinion there was no better way to relax than to curl up on a couch with a good book and a nice cup of tea.
The week had been hectic for the Brit, most of his previous relaxation time after work being taken up by either Gilbert's 'Awesome School of Flight', as he dubbed it, or Alfred. The American had been calling him more and more, wanting to spent even more time together than they usually did. The Brit sighed once more, picking up his tea. Alfred had always been clingy but this was too much, almost every spare moment had been taken up by that git. At that moment his phone rang, 'American Idiot' blaring through his apartment.
Arthur grumbled under his breath, setting down his book and tea cup. He picked up his cell and answered the phone, "what do you want Alfred?" "U-um Arthur I'm not Alfred, this is Mathew," a soft voice said. Arthur blinked, "oh sorry lad, you have the same ring tone as your git brother."
Mathew laughed softly, "sorry, I'm going to assume he's been bugging you again." The Brit sighed, "it's fine Mathew, you can't control that wanker. Now what did you call to tell me about?" "Oh yes! Turn your TV onto the news, any of them." Arthur frowned and complied. A couple of clicks in his remote and ZNN was playing.
The two news anchors sitting at a rounded wooden table. Catherine, the woman, looked fairly excited while John, her partner, looked rather grim. "Welcome back, this is ZNN," Catherine said, "yesterday evening at 7:46 PM two supers snuck into Rob's Jewelry store on 3rd avenue but this seemingly routine story has a twist. William has the story."
The camera switched to a news reporter standing in front of the aforementioned jewelry store. "Thanks Catherine," the man said, "yesterday two supers snuck into this store, attempting to rob it of it's jewelry. The would be robbers set off a smokescreen to blind the customers and staff and began collecting the valuables. They then ran out of the store and into this alley." He gestured to an alley on his right. "According to eye witnesses several explosions went off editor everything fell silent. When law enforcement arrived on the scene they found both robbers in the middle of a battle scene, tied up with the jewels sitting on the back door step of the store. While this type of hit and run type of hit is common for upcoming superheroes this one has a twist.
Scattered around the scene were black feathers just like this one," he held up a long pitch black feather. "The scene has startling similarities to scenes that, two years ago, were extremely common. In my, and many others opinions, this alleyway fighting ground has been branded with the marks found in the sights where Azrael had fought. The unique burn marks, and the scattered feathers, one thing's for sure Cat, there's a new super is on the scene."
The camera turned back to the announcers. "We'll that is certainly startling," Cat began. Arthur turned off the television. 'Oh my," he said, at a lose for what to say. "Yeah, Al and I learned about it last night, Al's been freaking about it since then, I thought I'd tell you before he did." Arthur chuckled, "I'm surprised that he hasn't called me, shouting his head off about it." Mathew laughed softly, "he would have but he managed to drop his phone and break it."
The Brit rolled his eyes, "that git goes through phones like shirts. He must have super strength to break so many of them." The Canadian chuckled, slightly nervously Arthur noticed oddly. "Yeah Al's not exactly gentle with his things," Mathew admitted. "A-also Arthur I hate to pry, but what are you doing with Gil so much? When we met him it seemed like you didn't like you liked him very much. We won't judge you if you're dating, you dot have to hide it."
Arthur flushed red, "w-what?! Were would you get that idea you daft git!" "I-I'm sorry!" Mathew yelped, alarmed. "Why would you think we're dating, we're nothing alike!" "U-um opposites attract?" Mathew offered meekly. "No we're not dating, we're working on a project together," Arthur grumbled. Mathew chuckled nervously, "heh sorry about that. Oh Alfred's calling me. I have to go Arthur." "Oh alright, goodbye Mathew." "Goodbye." 'Click'
The Brit ended the phone call and sighed. He looked up at the TV. "A black winged super huh? Funny how that works out... Though I wonder... It would cause quite the uproar if this person is Azrael like they were suggesting." Arthur shook his head, "probably just looking for some attention." 'Bling!' His phone went off. Arthur picked it up.
'Attention Arthur Kirkland, the book(s) 'History of Aviation' and 'A Midsummer's Night Dream' are due at your local library TODAY' Arthur blinked, "oh I had forgotten about that," he said. The Brit stood up and stretched. Putting his phone in his back pocket, he turned and walked back into his bedroom.
He walked over to his night stand and picked up the overdue books. Grabbing his satchel he put the books and his phone in the bag. On his way out he grabbed his house keys and walked out the door. Arthur walked down the hallway. Arthur walked down the hallway, stopping in front of the twin elevators. Pressing the button, he waited a moment before getting into the elevator. The Brit pressed the button for the ground floor. The elevator slowly ticked down, eventually opening on the first floor. Purposefully, he stepped out of the elevator, walking out of the lobby and into the street.
Arthur merged into the foot traffic, following the flow down the block. The Brit turned at the end of the block, walking the next five blocks to the library. Arthur walked past the automatic doors, dropping the books in the return slot. He looked around the library. A large amount of people were there for a Saturday afternoon. Arthur shrugged and put the satchel back on his shoulder, turning to exit the library.
Just as he was walking out the door an explosion went off in the building across the street. A shrill, piercing alarm rang out, alerting everyone to the danger. People on the street began to run in the opposite direction, people in the library retreating further into the building. Arthur ducked back into the library's entrance, watching the unfolding events from the library's glass doors.
Men started streaming out of the bank, many of them carrying brief cases, undoubtedly filled with money. A figure calmly walked out of the wreckage. The figure was fairly tall, their figure mostly obscured by black cloak they wore. Arthur's eyes widened, "isn't that..."
"VLADIMIRE!" A woman's voice yelled. Both Arthur and Vladimire looked up, surprised. Freedom Star and Iron Maiden flew down in front of him, Freedom Star holding up his flightless companion.
The Romanian villain smirked, "well well, if it isn't Iron Maiden. Still relying on others to do your work for you?" he called, his mocking voice echoing in the deserted streets. "And I see you're still relying on third rate goons to do your dirty work for you," the brunette heroine shot back, crossing her arms over her chest. The blonde villain chuckled, "yes well however generally useless they are they're rather useful when dealing with your team of nit wits. Get them!"
The pack of goons dropped their briefcases and charged at the new arrivals. The two heroes tensed and dropped into fighting stances. Vladimir smirked and turned to the cases of money. The super villain muttered something under his breath and the brief cases shuttered before rising into the air, a red film of energy covering the cases. Iron Maiden grit her teeth and shot after her rival, dodging past the charging mob of goons.
"Hey! Maiden!" Freedom Star yelled, ducking under the first goon's punch. "I got Vladimir, you get the goons!" The brunette heroine yelled back, her complete attention shifting to the Romanian villain. The other hero cursed under his breath and turned to the pack of goons.
Vladimir jumped back, avoiding the heroine's super powered fists. Iron Maiden smirked and dropped down, kicking out soothly at the blond man's feet. Vlad jumped back again and smirked at the Hungarian woman, "you seem to be losing your touch Maiden! Not that you really had one in the first place." Iron Maiden clenched her fists and snapped her arm out, catching Vladimir in the jaw.
The villain flew back, sailing through a blown out window. A moment later a bright orange beam shot out from the blown out bank, hitting the female super. Iron Maiden was thrown back, flying past her colleague and crashing into the library's brick wall.
Arthur yelped at the sudden crash and stepped back. "Iron Maiden!" Freedom Star yelled, turning away from the dwindling mob of goons attacking him. Iron Maiden groaned and stood up, "I'm fine, focus on your opponents!" The American superhero nodded and turned his attention back to the swarm attacking him.
Inside the bank Vladimir walked forward, stepping through the door frame. The Romanian villain chuckled, "I applaud you Maiden! That almost hurt." The two rivals ran at each other, Vladimir's cloak flying out behind him. The Romanian struck first, throwing a glancing blow at Iron Maiden's head. The brunette woman threw up an arm to block the blow. Vladimir smirked and kicked at the heroine's exposed side. Iron Maiden grabbed the incoming blow, the kick stopped in it's tracks. Iron Maiden smirked and threw the villain back towards the blown out building.
Vladimir twisted midair and landed carefully on the sidewalk. The blonde villain smirked and held up his hands, "fire!" He yelled. A glowing green beam shot out if his hands, racing towards his rival. The heroine's eyes widened and she threw herself out of the way, barely getting out of the beam's path. The beam shot past her, colliding with the library entrance.
The impact shattered the outer entrance and knocked Arthur off his feet, his head colliding harshly with the stone floor. The Brit's vision flickered and he barely registered several people screaming in horror before he lost consciousness for the second time that week.
Flashback
The Brit sighed, bored. "Let me guess, you're cold and bored out of your wits," a female voice said, crackling out from a communicator i his ear. "Extremely," he replied, "nothing has happened in the five hours I've been on patrol." The voice chuckled, "nothing ever seems to happen when it's your turn to patrol."
Arthur chuckled, "and everything seems too happen on your patrol when I'm supposed to be asleep. I have no idea how you manage to be so hyper all the time May." May giggled, "lots of practice my friend! Well that and a lot of coffee." Arthur shook his head, "I will never understand your obsession with that drink love." His companion hummed, "the joys of being a woman! Oh hey look at that. Something's happening on your patrol!"
A male vice cackled, "something happened on your patrol? Somebody call the press! This has got to be a record!" Arthur rolled his eyes, "all right, ignoring that git now. Where is it May?" The female paused, "28th and Seaveiw, hostage situation. I can't tell from where I'm at but it looks like a bunch of hostages and a couple gun men in a... Grocery store? What the heck?" The Brit nodded, "all right, I'm on my way."
A third voice came through the line, "I wirr have to join you, I am very crose to there." Arthur nodded and took off, soaring high above the city. Turning, he flew towards the location May had described. Arthur quickly reached the store an circles above the building. A large crowd had gathered in front of the building, held back by the police officers at the scene. Arthur flew down, landing softly on the rooftop. "There are two gunman rivaled at the front and rear entrances. There are approximately thirty five hostages scattered all over the store," a voice said. Arthur turned to give the source.
A short man clad in all black stepped out from the shadows. "Perhaps it worrd be best if we did not charge in rike maniacs this time," he suggested dryly. "Naw why not? Charging in is fun!" "Yes if you want to get the hostages shot," Arthur said, turning to face the new arrival.
Azrael rolled his eyes, "Ja, ja, so unawesome..." "Perhaps it wourd be best if you left the more... Dericate part of the situation to Archangel and I?" The third man suggested. The German super gasped, "I'm insulted Okami! You doubt the awesome me!" "I aporogize. Are you prepared to depart Archangel?" Arthur nodded, "let's go." Azrael smirked, "good luck partner, try not to get shot!" Archangel smirked back, "have I ever?"
A.N aaaannnddd done! I love writing Okami, he's so much fun! He's polite on the surface but if you pay attention to what he's saying it's pure sarcasm XD Gotta love him. On another note Arthur really seemed flustered when Mathew suggested he was dating dear Gil. Can I detect a little bit of a crush Mr. Kirkland? But yay Arthur finally figured out who the hell he is! Yeah his reaction will be next chappie through. I mention for him to figure it out last chapter and for Rosie to name him but it didn't quite work out that way.
You guys really have no idea how much I hate typing. I'm seriously considering just writing on my iPod after school as opposed to writing it at school then typing it some time later. But yeah I'm sorry for this being a bit late. A lot of shit has been happening recently. As most of you know, I got grounded for two weeks because of grades. Well that got extended to the two weeks after spring break apparently. But yeah... I got the iPod back Tuesday night and I got about the first page typed before getting too tired and then going to bed. I was going to write a bit of Frozen Homelands Wednesday an then type the rest of this Thursday. Well that it delayed. I found out my girlfriend tried to commit suicide Wednesday. The only reason she's still alive is her ceiling fan was too close to the ground for her to be able to hang herself. Oh god she only told me and I don't know what to do. She's never seemed depressed before and this came out of fucking nowhere and I'm completely overwhelmed. I leave for Hilton Head Monday and I'm terrified I'll come back and find out she tried again but succeeded this time. I talked to her the next day as she seemed fine but that could mean anything. Has anyone ever felt with this before? If you have could you please help me? Please? I really care about her, I don't want her to die but I don't want to scare her off either. *Sighs* I'm at a loss for what to do.