A PAWN STORE IN EAST LA
"Money in the bag, now!" a gunmen wearing a Captain America mask holding a gun to a man behind a register, the pawn shop was decorated with hundreds of items pawned for quick cash by people. The wall was adorned with a hundred TVs, paintings, posters, banners, and more. The floor had old furniture, utilities, and other miscellaneous items.
The man behind the register was an elderly man with grey thinning hair glasses in a faded yellow striped shirt with a metal chain around his neck "Okay, okay you damn punk." he spat as he opened the register and took the bag throwing money into it.
"Every damn month some stupid ass punk like you comes here." the man grumbled as he filled the bag.
"Come on, come on." the gunmen snapped at him looking out the window, it was late at night with nobody out on the street and no cops in sight. But what the robber didn't know is someone was there about to strike.
The pawn store owner snarled as he finished loading the bag "Here, choke on it." the man said handing the robber the bag when all of a sudden something flew toward his hand snapping the bag out of his grip and onto the counter. Pinned into the bag and counter, a throwing knife wrapped in blue tape, the burglar froze and looked out at the night sky, standing on one of the buildings against the moonlight stood a shadowy figure in a hood with two batons on his back, "Nightwalker, ha you're screwed kid." the pawn owner said.
The robber looked at him and turned around sprinting to the back of the store and broke out of the back door into the alley, he knocked over trash cans and frightened stray cats. Waking up the sleeping homeless, he looked back over his shoulder before he tripped into a puddle. Coughing and spitting out the muddy water he saw Nightwalker standing above him.
Spinning around like a tornado he opened fire only to miss, Nightwalker jumped down over him igniting both stun batons. He knocked the gun out of the criminals hand, before he hit him across the leg before jumping over his I'm and batting him over the head making him hit the ground out cold.
"What….?" Nightwalker asked.
Oh come on, not again?
When he saw he was out cold, he sighed sheathing his batons on his back holster and picked the man up throwing him over the shoulder he left the crook over the side of a street lamp in front of the pawn store.
These burglars are so boring, don't get me wrong I love being back in the game, but this is almost to easy.
Nightwalker stayed waiting to see LA's finest arrive to secure the prisoner, though they'd need a ladder to get him down. He ran across the rooftops jumping over them before he reached taller buildings and sprinted up one before he landed on the top overlooking the city.
Feels good to wear a mask again, the Runaways weren't thrilled when I told them I'd be going solo at night. I told them I couldn't risk people recognizing me as Spider-Boy, the danger my family was in. Masks really aren't there thing, but me its a brithright, so are my webs which I haven't been using to make them think I'm not Spider-Boy I've got them in case it gets
Out of the corner of his ear, Nightwalker heard a police scanner in his ear feeding him information "All units, all units we have a 145 and a 616 at north and Broadway, all available units respond till Superhero Law Enforcement can arrive." they said. Nightwalker pressed his finger on his hood to listen and smiled under his face mask.
145, thats a prisoner transport and 616 thats supervillain.
Nightwalker jumped off the roof and dropped down to a light polls spinning off it like an acrobat twirling in the air and landing on top of a bus. He jumped off it leaping off cars and jumped over a small crowd of people out and about, "Whoo Nightwalker where off too?"
Turns out LA having a rogue hero was a welcome sight.
He landed on the wall of a building sticking to it, "Party on North and Broadway, gonna crash it!" he said running off the side of the building toward the crime.
Meanwhile at North and Broadway, a small fleet of cop cars had surrounded a Shield Prisoner transport, that was overturned also on fire, that wasn't out of the ordinary when supervillains were reeking havoc on a city. A sonic cannon sent two police cars flying as a man in a bright red suit with jagged blue trunks and a black lined cowl with a purple stripe on his head with an open face.
"I will not be taken again!" The man yelled in a thick Belgian accent, he had a cybernetic attachment on his right arm where his hand should have been. Instead it looked like a satellite with a glowing tip.
Ulysses Klaw goes by, wait for it Klaw cause he has a lack of creativity, but don't let that fool you he was a Master of Evil I think?
Nightwalker landed on a building above them and reached into one of his harnesses pouches and pulled out a throwing knife, he jumped off the roof and chucked the knife right into Klaws cannon getting the supervillains attention as he landed on the top of a police car crouched ready to jump again.
"Nightwalker, thought I'd run into you here." Klaw said.
"You know me?" Adrian asked under mask "You've been busy, word travels through the grapevine but it won't be long till your government arrests you." Klaw said ripping the knife out of his cannon, he turned it toward Nightwalker who dodged easily with the help of Adrian's spider sense alerting him to the danger. He drew both stun batons and turned them on.
He ran toward Klaw swinging at him, but Klaw dodged quickly then a normal person would and tried to hit him again with a sonic blast but Nightwalker dodged him "To be honest, I just really appreciate how your being professional about this Klaw, I've read a lot about you."
"What?" Klaw asked.
"Your Master of Evil right, come on plus your one of the Black Panthers arch enemies you got a serious rep, I'm honored." Nightwalker retorted. Klaw cocked is head "Well your about to be dead."
"HA." Nightwalker said taking out his stun batons "I said honored not intimidated."
The cops behind the remaining cars looked out "Whoa is that Nightwalker, the rogue hero, which one do we shoot sarge?"
The lead officer looked over at them "Shoot'em both."
The bullets flew toward them, Nightwalker flipped out of the way running away from the cops shooting at him. Klaw shot a sound wave at the bullets flipping the cop car and knocking back the cops.
Cops, always in the way.
"Klaw!" Nightwalker got out from behind cover and rushed him, Klaw spun his arm around quick shooting another sonic blast, Nightwalker dodged jumping and spinning out of the way, while in mid air he took out another throwing knife and chucked it right at Klaw. He dodged moving slightly to the left giving Nightwalker an opening, he landed on the pavement before he jumped right onto Klaw knocking him down.
Nightwalker slammed the ends of his stun batons into Klaw turning up the voltage "Go to sleep-go to sleep-go to sleep-go to sleep." He said over and over as Klaw only growled while he endured the electrocution.
Klaw raised his sonic cannon and knocked the vigilante off him before he got up his red suit sporting two burn marks, "I'm going to splatter you all over the street." Klaw almost yelled.
Nightwalker got back to his feet "Bring it on you Belgium waffle nazi." He said charming him, Klaw tried to hit him with another blast which he dodged. They locked into combat, Nightwalker flipping and jumping around him trying to get as many strikes in as he could while Klaw kept blasting.
Think, think, think he can take a hit that's for sure or maybe his suits lined with ballistic rubber, his sonic cannon is cybertincally attached to his arm means he'll definitely feel the shock if I get my stun batons on it but I can't get close.
In the corner of his blue tinted goggles Nightwalker spotted a bright red fire hydrant. He ran toward it but Klaw raised his arm cannon and shot a sonic wave. Unable to dodge he raised both his batons to shield himself and the sticks shattered sending its metal shards in to him cutting him and tearing his suit but he landed on the ground on is feet but low to the ground.
Plan B then.
Nightwalker reached into one of his vest pockets and hit the ground with a smoke bomb disappearing before Klaws eyes. Klaw snickered "You think you can run from me you curr." Klaw aimed his sonic cannon at the ground and sent a sound wave all around him to clear the area of smoke. When it blew away Nightwalker was next to the fire hydrant "Who's running?" Nightwalker tore the hydrants front off and a wave of water hit Klaw in the chest pushing him back before the pressure died down.
Klaw only snickered "All that just to get me we-..." Klaw went deathly silent when he saw Nightwalker holding up his hand and Klaw saw electric sparks above the water trail coming out of the fire hydrant going right to Klaw who was standing in the pool.
"How do you say F#&% You in Belgium?" Nightwalker stabbed the water and in as second Klaws entire body was. Klaw yelled in a shocking agony his body locking up from the surge of voltage before Nightwalker turned it off and let him fall into the pavement smoking. Nightwalker sheathed his batons and walked over to him reaching into another pocket he pulled out a set of metal cuffs locking both of Klaws arms behind his back.
"FREEZE HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD!"
Really…. ugh I forgot registration
Nightwalker dropped Klaw face down in the street and turned around to see the cops had regrouped and were moving toward him guns drawn, slowly Nightwalker raised his hand "Hey heads up this guys Klaw detaches so get that away from him asap."
"You are in violation of the SuperHuman Registration act, take off your mask." The cop who had shouted at him said walking toward him still.
"Seriously I just saved your blue asses." Nightwalker said dropping his arms, the second he did the lead cop opened fire and Adrian Parker's Spider Sense took over making him dodge.
When the cops saw him dodge they froze fearing he'd retaliate instead Nightwalker dropped another's smoke bomb hidden in his glove "See around pigs." When the smoke dispersed he was gone while a manhole cover was being closed in the distance. Meanwhile somewhere high above the city a with some sort of ability of flight, looking down at the whole scene with fascinating curiosity "Interesting."
BACK AT THE RUNAWAY HIDEOUT
Adrian slipped in through a sewer access door covered in sewage water, he pulled his hood down and took off his goggles and mask. His brown hair was tied in a bun behind his head, he had a bruise on his cheek but he was smiling as he walked in leaving a wet trail behind him. Adrian whistled while he walked down the hall in a soft tone as he headed into the kitchen, the lights were turned off as he opened the fridge and took out some food suddenly a light flipped on and Adrian tore out one of his throwing knives pointing toward "Nico?"
Nico Monroe was standing in her black robe looking at him one finger on the light switch "Had a good time tonight?"
"Technically it's morning." Adrian said putting the baton away.
Nico walked into the kitchen standing in front of him "You know when we agreed to let you stay here it was implied you'd be part of the team, not doing this solo stuff playing dress up?"
Adrian opened the fridge again and took out some milk before he started to make some cereal "I'd add a bit more color to my outfit then, so far all of this function first fashion second Hot Topic." He said pouring the bowl of coco flakes then filling it with milk.
"We don't wear masks here Adrian." Nico said, pointing to the face mask and goggles around his neck.
"You may but I do, I can't afford to let people find out who I am I mean this in the most sincere way but I may still have a family to go back to one day." Adrian said sticking a spoon into his bowl and eating some of the cereal. Despite saying he was sincere the words still stung like a dagger at her hip when she dug her black nails into her arm to suppress the offense taken.
Nico glared at him knowing he was right "I have people to lose to, my family; Molly, Victor, Karolina, Chase even Xavin they are my family and everyday you go play Nightrunner-" "Nightwalker." Adrian corrected her.
"Whatever, this fantasy of yours is putting us in danger it's been nearly a month since you started and have you been watching the news?" she asked him.
Adrian only ate more of his breakfast "TV rots your brain."
"There talking about sending Avengers after you, what happens if they come after us?" Nico asked him, Adrian ate more of his cereal before he finished it and looked at her.
"Are you asking me to leave Nico?" Adrian asked her.
Nico and him locked eyes her dark brown ones with his green ones "I'm asking you to think of others more than yourself." she answered, Adrian squeezed his spoon so hard the metal bent to the shape of his closed fist before he set it down, he got up and walked toward her standing face to face, she was a bit taller than him like X-23 and most of the other teens but he still reached his her face. "Why do you think I wear the mask."
Suddenly Chase walked in yawning ready to start his morning workout "Mooooorning *yaaaaaawwwnn*" Chase said as he started to make coffee still so tired he couldn't tell the tension in the room.
"Morning Chase." Adrian said leaving the kitchen.
LATER
Adrian was sitting in the hideouts laboratory and workshop, he had his shirt off still wearing his Nightwalker pants and boots. Band aids and bandages were around the cuts and bruises he got from fighting Klaw, he was sitting on a stool with long stick in front of him he was working on, inlaying wire around the main body while also adding an extender inside. He had an earpiece with a small microphone on his ear sticking down to his cheek, hanging on a close hanger was his vest and torn hooded jacket damaged by Klaw's sonic cannon.
"Nightwalker log seventeen, he batons were the same ones I'd taken from the purifiers, top end security models, but I'm making a better one." He said into the microphone.
Started to take to logging my work, saw Tony Stark do it a thousand times.
He kept working on taking out two long metal half tubes and wrapping it around the new stun batons exoskeleton. When he clamped it around and held it up when the outer shell was secure he turned it on, the end light up with three glowing blue rings that made a popping noise before he took up another baton of the same model that he'd finished earlier.
"Current seems stable…" they had knobs at the grip which he pressed it and twisted them to the right and the blue rings grew even brighter with power "Highest voltage only to be used on super human threats, testing extending bo staff locking mechanism." Adrian pressed the knobs up and the button end opposite of the tasers shot out locking with a skinner part of the staff. He started to spin it around getting the feel of it making swings and stabs as he spoke.
"Locking mechanism is secure, staff is five in a half feet long should come in handy if I run into a Taskmaster wannabe?" Adrian said before he disengaged the stun batons from staff mode and laid them down on the table.
He turned around to his harness and jacket "Moving on, the Nightwalker suit needs to have the armor reinforced… not much of an armor just an old sports hoodie and hunting vest I found in Chase's dad's locker?" Adrian said looking at the torn clothing.
"Harness held up good, but I need something thicker for protection, gonna upgrade the kevlar lining maybe add some segmented bod- scratch that it'll slow me down, may slow me down but I'm getting stronger every day." He looked at his fingertips and made them glow with the electrical power, "On that note this new ability, its like a taser or a stinger need to come up with a name for it Venom Blast heh sounds like an energy drinks?"
Adrian dropped his hands before he turned off the mike and took it off his earache before he walked over to the door grabbing a long sleeved red shirt and putting it on.
He walked out and saw Victor "Hey Victor, whats up."
"Dude do even sleep anymore?" Victor asked him, he was wearing his orange jacket with cargo shorts listening to music on his headphones.
"I got a few hours, ran into Klaw last night." He replied smiling up at the superhero fanatic.
Victor took off his headphones "How'd that go?"
"Had to electrocute him with his cybernetic arm damaged but it got the job done." Adrian told him while they walked into the living room. Where everyone was enjoying the day as there had been no serious super villain or crazy activity in the city it was being a very lazy day with the Runaways, Molly was sitting next to Nico on a cough playing a video game, Chase was looking at his phone while Nico was holding what looked like a spell book.
"Hey all, where's Karolina and Xavin?" Victor asked the crowd.
Chase shrugged with a grunt "On a date." Both Molly and Nico said at the same time.
"So how goes the dress up stuff Adrian?" Molly asked making both Nico and Chase snicker at what she called it. But Chase's snicker was shorter when he looked at something on his phone.
Bet all of Stark Industries one of them told her to say that.
"Fun, very fun Molly I-" "Nico turn on the news." Chase said getting up "What?" Nico asked before Chase grabbed the remote and changed the input from Molly's video game which made the youngest runaway snap at Chase in protest before he hushed her to reveal a news broadcast.
The person on the TV speaking couldn't be seen as the video was showing a green fire breathing dragon soaring across the city skyline, it had a long neck with small wings wearing green shorts around its waist breathing fire at the upper parts of the buildings. "We interrupt your regular scheduled broadcast- you know what I'm just going to say it a fire breathing dragon is attacking the downtown part of greater Los Angeles, the Mayor has called out the national guard and SHIELD agents are encountering to take the creature down but delays are expected. We urge all people in the area to get as far away as possible."
Spider sense, not burning more cold like crazy somethings up?
"Victor you recognize this thing?" Chase asked him Victor got close "Y-yeah I do that's Fin Fang Foom I swear I thought he was gone?"
"Well we can't just sit around here and let the grownups screw this up." Nico said closing her books "Everyone get your shoes on and pack your lunches time to take this dragon to school, somebody give the lovebirds a ring." She said confidently looking at Adrian who hadn't moved but crossed his arms in disapproval.
He looked at Nico and at Chase before he spoke "It's a trap."
"What?" They asked him in disbelief.
"SHIELD's setting up a trap, do you really think Iron Man would let the West Coast Avengers be delayed to stop a supervillain that size, they know that delay's going to draw every vigilante and unregistered hero here in LA before Shield sweeps in and arrests everyone." Adrian told them to get their attention.
Everyone stared at him in visible confusion "How do you know?"
"I… I just do, look I know it sounds crazy but my spider sense is tingling but this is different, usually its immediate danger this cold like it could heat up at any second?" He said trying to put the right words together even so Nico's face showed she was nothing but resolve.
"So what do you suggest?" She asked, Adrian knowing she was just being polite "We go but you all hang back and let me handle the dragon."
Nico's serious face's lips curled into a smile "You don't think we can handle it?"
She's goading me into saying something mean.
"Maybe, but let me go in first see if this really is a trap as Nightwalker, I'll signal you in the leapfrog while its in stealth mode?" Adrian said back to the others, everyone waited on Nico to make the choice seeing that he was making sense to the three others Nico sighed in defeat.
Shaking her head "We get Karolina and Xavin first then we go after the dragon."
DOWNTOWN LA
Adrian was wearing his Nightwalker suit with his hood down as his fitted on his mask and goggles, he'd switched out the harness over his chest with segmented body armor that gave him a chiseled torso look with metal shoulder pads and armor on his lower legs and knees. The Runaways were all sitting in their seats as Adrian got ready, sticking the two new stun batons he made into the holster on his back, the harness part on his back and been replaced with a small metal pack of some kind what had a battery built into it. The blue mask suctioned onto his face from the top as he tightened his goggles "Testing voice change in three, two….one." The last word he said was deeper and muffled making his voice sound mechanical.
"Who you suppose to be now Darth Nightwalker?" Chase asked him.
"Need to disguise my voice." Nightwalker said pulling his hood up before he started to stretch his arms and legs making a few joints popped.
As they cricked over Fin Fang Foom above he'd already turned three buildings to ash and cinder, with news helicopters keeping their distance. In the back of the ship Karolina and Xavin looked out a window "I can't believe you're going to fight a dragon, alone?"
"If it wasn't foolish I'd call it bravery young Adrian, but after you explained the possibility of it being a trap I see why?" Xavin said in his human female form.
"If my hunch is right either Fin Fang Foom is being bribed or has some sort of control trip on him, when you see me do this." Nightwalker waited till all the Runaways looked at him, taking out both batons he hit them three times together "It means a trap and get out of here." He said before he holstered them.
Karolina spoke up after he put them away "And if it isn't what the signal."
Nightwalker said nothing walked toward the back of the ship heading down its stairs to the docking bay "You stay out of my way." He said opening the door letting in the high thin cold air before he jumped out.
"Did he just jump out…. without a parachute?" Victor asked.
"Dumbass, he did." Nico said not to Victor but of Adrian.
Nightwalker fell down through the clouds toward Fin Fang Foom his arms at his side to speed his descent, he zipped past a helicopter that got to close till he slammed right into the dragon's back grabbing into one of its spinal spikes so he wouldn't fall off.
Fin Fang Foom, giant fire breathing dragon- actually an Alien but we don't need to get technical. The size and power fools a lot of people into thinking he's a dumb brute but rather a General in an alien army so lets see if he knows how to negiatoate.
Nightwalker clawed to the back of Fin Fang Foom neck holding on as it flew around with one arm on the spike the other reaching for a baton "HEY FOOM!" He yelled.
No answer, maybe he can't hear me over the wind?
Taking the stun baton Nightwalker drove the shock end into the dragons hide zapping it, the creature roared in a fury before its whole body coiled up for a moment and tossed Nightwalker off like a rag doll towards a smaller building. He crashed into the gravel filled roof before an air conditioning unit broke his tumble and let him get up "Body armor test… good enough." Nightwalker coughed getting up to see Fin Fang Foom approach him his wings still flapping behind him.
"I knew one of you puny human Heroes would dare to stand against me." Fin Fang boomed down at him.
"Cut the bravado Godzilla, what are you doing here?" Nightwalker demanded holding up a finger to point at him.
Fin Fang Foom glared at him with two big yellow eyes "Hmm What you say, I will lay this city to ash there is no escape from FIN FANG FOOM."
The spider sense behind his mask burned before Foom's jaws opened up even hotter, a wave of fire spewed toward Nightwalker who dodged holding up his left wrist he twisted to one of three vials on his wrist with blue paint. Nightwalker pressed a web shooter release button to spray out a wave of froze taking on the fire to douse it in a matter of seconds before it could damage the building when he landed on the top of a water tower.
"No doubt, but last I heard you were lounging in an inter dimensional prison, how'd you escape?" Nightwalker asked still not drawing his weapons.
Foom glared at him again this time pausing before he spoke "BAH no mortal prison can hold me." Foom said coiling his long his neck up like a snake, Nightwalker noticed the dragon make his brows bounce up as if pointing to something.
Nightwalker looked up above the beasts head to see a small disk implanted in the back of his neck, small so small you could miss it if not for the blinking light at its center.
I hate it when I'm right, Foom's just pawn in whoever's toying with us could be Stark, could be Garland, anybody if I let him go I could be releasing a vengeful monster but he didn't have a choice, so let's give him I'm one.
Reaching behind his back Nightwalker gave a small nod "In that case LET US DO BATTLE!"
Nightwalker beat his batons three times signaling the Runaways up above in stealth mode. "That's the signal he says it's a trap we heading home." Victor said from the monitoring station, Nico frowned at seeing Adrian leap toward Foom, the dragon striking quickly before the boy dodged in mid air "Keep us in the air, he may need help."
The vigilante dodged the giant claws of the dragon reaching into his belts pouches he took out four throwing knives and hurled them at Fin Fang Foom, but they just bounced off his armor like scales. All of this was theatrical as he waited for the dragon to give him an opening.
Not sure if he knows I'm trying to help or if he's trying to kill me.
He took cover behind an annex on the roof when Foom blasted him with another wave of fire. Across from him, Nightwalker saw a large billboard on the building held up by metal beams, he ran toward it leaping over the flames and got underneath it just as the dragon drove his large head threw it snapping his jaws like a crocodile at Nightwalker. He dodged the jaws before he slid toward the metal holding up the billboard kicking its furthest left support beam. The billboards and other two supports crumbled around the dragons head locking him on the building. "Hold still I'm going to get that control disk off."
Foom stopped his thrashing to break free for a moment, "What?"
"I was serious, I want to help you hold till." Nightwalker said climbing onto the back of Foom neck "I thank you but I cannot yield." The dragon dug its claws into the building and broke free from the makeshift trap to take to the city air between the buildings.
Nightwalker grabbed onto the back of Fin Fang Foom by the neck spikes holding on with more than just his spider hair covered palms. The dragon soared up and down ramming into buildings left and right breaking windows and cracking the ones that didn't get the brunt of the dragons weight. "Fly a little straighter I'm trying to help you!" Nightwalker snapped at his adversary. Fin Fang Foom spun around twisting up into the air almost colliding with the camouflaged Leapfrog. Getting closer to the disk on the back of his neck, Nightwalker took out one of his stun batons as he was over it.
"This is going to hurt." Nightwalker said stabbing the baton into the disk, it a bright electrical flash followed by Fin Fang Foom letting out an ear shattering roar so loud Nightwalker grabbed onto his ears to stop his eardrums from bursting then he fell.
"He's falling!" Molly snapped seeing him go down through the clouds, "Chase!" Nico snapped at the Leapfrogs pilot.
Nightwalker tumbled in the air before he leveled out heading straight for the ground, he glanced up at the clouds and saw Fin Fang Foom up above him still airborne.
Well thats that time to get…. oh shit.
His spider sense flared when he looked down to see the shimmering stealth shield around the Leapfrog racing up to greet him. He landed on the roof hard unable to keep a sticky grip he rolled down in front to grab onto the window. There was a thin veil of the shield that let Nightwalker look into the interior of the air ship, "YOU IDIOTS!"
"We just saved your ass!" Chase snapped "And you fu- BANK LEFT!" Nightwalker looked behind him as something flew right at them. Chase took the ship to the left and they saw a large robot soar past them. It had a monitor head with multiple red eyes, a rotating multi barreled right arm and on its shoulders were two turrets, it had red stripes running down the back of its monitor and down its back. At its center was a glowing red circle with four marks coming in from the outside with a black one in the center.
"What the hell was that?" Victor said seeing it coming back around, outside the ship Nightwalker climbed up to the top of the ship "Get us out of here Chase and get the doors open for Adrian." Nico ordered.
"Don't need to tell me twice." Chase said soaring away from the robot.
It scanned them turning its hud to change to infrared "Supernaut to team, we got a stealth UFO heading north want me to go after it or the dragon?"
"Let SHIELD worry about the dragon, focus on the outlaws we're our way to reinforce you." Nightwalker saw the robot coming after them and looked down at the Leapfrog.
He clawed over to the hatch and opened it before he dropped inside to the cockpit "You morons I told you to run!"
"We couldn't just leave you, now get buckled in we're getting out of here." Nico told him as he hung onto the ladder.
"You do that, I'm going to clean up your mess." Nightwalker barked.
Everyone looked at him "What?" Karolina asked as she buckled in by Xavin while Chase swerved up and down to avoid the robots cannon fire.
"You mean to fight that android?" Xavin asked me.
In a split second I remember Xavin isn't human, he's not some runaway angry teenager, well he is but he's a Skrull, a Super Skrull that means all the powers of the Fantastic Four wrapped into one. And the stories Johnny Storm told me were that Skrull are warriors. At this point he's the only one who can help me.
Nico on the other hand didn't seem to be having any of it "Okay it's a trap your right congratulations, that means more Superhero Cops are on the way so we need to go?"
Nightwalker was ignoring her "Xavin you up for a challenge?"
He gave his beloved one look before he shifted into his Skrull uniform of black and purple but took the face of his male form, "I'm with you Nightwalker." He started to walk toward the ladder and started to climb up.
"The robots a suit, Supranut stark industries part of the team called the Order."
"If he's staying we're staying." Victor said when the ship took a rocket to the side.
"Like hell you are!" Nightwalker yelled at him and the other teenagers, Nico's face turned bright red like she was the Hulk "Listen here kid you-" "NO you listen Nico, none of you are trained soldiers like Xavin these superheroes have Avenger level training and so do I, besides me Xavin is the only person trained to fight Earth Heroes right?" Adrain asked with the Leapfrog taking another hit.
Xavin gave a quick nod "All Superskrulls have various knowledge of the Champions of Earth."
"You want to help Nico, Victor get home get safe." Nightwalker said climbing back up with Xavin following him.
The two young warriors climbed out on the top "What is our strategy?" Xavin asked over the wind.
"Flame on." Nightwalker told him "What?" Xavin asked.
"Ugh never mind just fly me toward that machine and get me close." Nightwalker reached into his belt and took out one of his throwing knives. Xavin locked his hands under Nightwalkers armpits and his body ignited in flames soaring right at Supernaut.
He saw them coming and scanned them "Two bogeys heading straight for me, one a black Human Torch and the other… a ninja?"
Xavin flew Nightwalker upward when Supernaut and the two of them almost collided before Xavin dropped Nightwalker, he let him land on the back of Supernaut and when the heavy clank of his body hit the robot it's monitor head turned around "What the?"
"Hi there you seem to be having-" Nightwalker stabbed the robot in the back and pried open part of its armor to tear out random wires "Some technical difficulties."
Supernaut turned its hoody body around trying to throw him off, Nightwalker hung on right and let go taking out another throwing knife he tossed it into ones its thruster making it explode. "Supernaut to team I'm going down, I'm aiming for the beach." Supernaut said as he started to crash toward the city Nightwalker free fell for a few moments before Xavin came up engulfed in fire but his right arm was unscorched to catch him.
"What now, we rejoin the others?" Xavin asked him "No we keep the fight around us, he's probably got buddies coming." Nightwalker and Xavin watched Superanut make a landing on the sandy beaches of the west coast. The two of them landed across from him kicking up some sand, Supernaut got up looking at the two boys.
The metal behemoth stood tall opening the various compartments on its armor to show it was highly weaponized, "By order of the SuperHuman Registration I order you damask and stand down with your hands above your head."
"How about fuck off!" Nightwalker shot back holding up two middle fingers, "Language young man." Someone said above them, Nightwalker and Xavin looked up to see Anthem the leader of the Order followed by Veda, Calamity carried by Veda and Mullahound Black who surrounded them both, when the two of them saw enemies on all sides they went back to back.
"The capes are psychic, man's got strength and near invulnerability, woman can make golems, googles is a speedster, and the girl well she's got a hammer." Nightwalker said in a hushed tone to Xavin who made one arm fire the other turned to the orange rocky substance the thing was made of.
Anthem looked at the two of them "Before we do this, we want to ask you two to stand down it's only a matter of time before we find those friends who escaped."
They got away, good.
"Look I get it you want to be heroes, but we have to be careful with what the Hulk did to New York people are scared they need to trust Heroes and the Government again." Anthem told them, Xavin and Nightwalker didn't move from their spot as Anthem's words started to drag into a long speech about right and wrong, law and order Xavin and Nightwalker whispered among themselves.
"Do you have a plan?" Xavin asked him.
Nightwalker nodded slightly "Take out woman in the cape first or her golems will overwhelm us, next we'll need to take out the robot, after that take whichever one you want I'll take the other two."
"Then let us go, we're only after criminals." Nightwalker shouted taking out both his stun batons.
Anthem didn't back off he only lowered his arms "You are criminals so long as you choose to hide behind a mask."
"Then why don't we all shut up and fight." Nightwalker snapped before the two of them broke off.
Xavin through a fireball at Veda who raised a golem from the sand, Xavin turned his other arm to stone and smashed through it using the fire of his legs to grab Veda by the cape and throw her into Anthem. Nightwalker went the other way toward Supernaut, the pilot behind the armor opened fire with Mullhound Black and Speedemon jumping out of the way to avoid getting shot. Nightwalker weaved through the bullets taking out one of his throwing knives and jumping over Supernauts back and stabbing the knife into one of its access panels taking his stun baton he stabbed it into the robots armor short circuiting the system "No, no, -zzzt." Supernauts power and lights went off before it crashed into the sand.
Xavin and Nightwalker regrouped surrounded by Anthem and the other two "How's Veda?" Mullhound asked holding up her hammer "Out cold, excite maneuver beta gamma." Anthem yelled rising up into the air and flying toward the two boys.
Speedemon kicked up dirt around him and ran to make a tornado around them with the sand, while Mullhound Black swung her hammer right at Nightwalker who dodged "Get us in the air." Nightwalker snapped. Xavin who was already flying toward Anthem to grapple with him broke it off soaring back to Nightwalker who was dodging the girls fail.
Nightwalker grabbed onto Xavins nonflaming hand and was flown toward a pier down the beach going under it with the Superheroes following him.
"What now?" Xavin asked him as Speedemon was gaining on them "Now we fight dirty, drop me." Nightwalker said loosening his grip.
Xavin looked at him and let go "I hope you know what you're doing human."
Nightwalker landed on the sand with Speedemon locked in his sights, he drew his foot back and held only one baton. When Speedemon saw him waiting for him the speedster snickered "Idiot." Increasing his velocity Nightwalker got ready as Speedemons rapid running straight at him Anthem and Mullhound Black saw what Nightwalker was planning.
"Speedemon stop!" Anthem tried to call out but it was too late.
Speedemon drew back his fist "I hope you like a right hook at seventy miles per hour!"
Nightwalker dropped at the last second and smashed his baton right into the mans kneecap sending him crashing into the sand yelling in pain from the broken leg.
Xavin who was up ahead smiled in awe before he soared back down with it being two on two, "Alright everyone's down but you and me, what now Anthem?" Mullhound Black asked her leader. When the skrull landed next to Nightwalker they were both ready to take on either of them, Anthem watched the two of them and curled his hand into a fist "Go get Speedemon we're pulling out."
"What?" Mullhound asked in shock "Just do as I say!" Anthem barked at her.
Xavin lowered his defense and Nightwalker stood up holstering his baton "Told you to stay out of our way." Nightwalker said.
"Don't think this is over, we underestimated you whoever you are." Anthem said to Adrian who smiled under his mask "The name is Nightwalker." Anthem glared at him "For now, I recognize Shield training and someone who knows Avenger tactics so whoever you really are enjoy this victory." Anthem said as Mullhound picked up Speedemon and flew off back to the other members of the Order. Anthem followed shortly after, when they were gone Nightwalker sighed dropping into the sand exhausted.
Xavin knelt beside him and patted him on the shoulder "Well done Nightwalker, I see why Nico is so wary of your presence with us you are quite formidable."
"Back at you Xavin, say you want to get a drink?" Adrian asked under his mask.
The skrull's brows raised with a smile to follow "Indeed."
Some miles away at an outdoor bar, a waitress was carrying a tray of beers before two webs zipped a pair of them off the tray and up onto a nearby rooftop with no one being the wiser. Xavin and Adrian clanked the two mugs of cold glass together before drinking, though Nightwalker had to unmask himself before he sipped. They sat down against one of the buildings railings and enjoyed the cold drinks and warm night air.
"Hmm I must say you humans have much better drink then we Skrulls." Xavin said, the beer seemed to let him loosen up no longer in the form of a human man or woman but as his skrull form.
Adrian toasted to it "We've been brewing since we could make spears so thank Thor we have something right."
"I know of this Thor a supposed God, yet you seem to be the only one who praises his name do you worship him?" Xavin asked the boy, Adrian almost snorted beer out of his nose.
Laughing at himself Adrian sighed "No, I just really like him and if I'm going to pray to any god I'd pray to one who I know is real."
"But doesn't that counteract the reason for faith?" Xavin asked "Maybe, but what about you do Skrulls have gods?" He asked.
Xavin paused looking up at the stars thinking of home "Our culture is difficult to explain, many see us as a warlike race but I have yet to see a single species untouched by war you humans could be Skrulls if you were green skinned with ears like mine with such capacity for violence, but God's my parents never cared for the study of the old faiths."
Seeing the skrull wasn't eager to talk about home Adrian changed the subject "So how's being married to Karolina, I mean are you actually married or just still engaged?"
"That is a matter of contempt, as our wedding was crashed but my heart and soul are hers, for she is as radiant as a star with the fierceness of a thousand warships." Xavin said smiling at the thought of his beloved Lucy in the Sky.
"What of you Adrian, this Laura girl have you seen her she seemed like a good mate for you?" Xavin asked.
Adrian got quiet then "I haven't gone to see her since we escaped the purifiers, I think it best with me being Nightwalker that i keep my distance."
"But do you love her?" Xavin asked.
"I'm freaking thirteen! I don't know what love is?" Adrian snapped at him spilling some of his bear off the roof and down on some people who started shouting and cursing up to whoever was responsible. Each young man stifled their laughs as best as they could till the humor of the moment passed on.
Xavin wiped a tear away from his eye "My apologies, I forget you are closer to Molly's age then you act, being mature as you are."
"Sometimes I wish I was like Molly, more carefree less worried about what's really in the world." Adrian said taking a big drink looking down at the foaming gold liquid in his cup.
Xavin watched him curiously then took another drink from his beer "You carry many scars Adrian Parker, both visible and invisible, why do persist in burdening yourself to fight enemies alone until now?"
"What are you a shrink?" Adrian asked him.
The skrull smiled setting the beer down "Before I was sent to the super skrull program in the empire, I expressed to my parents the desire to study what your people call psychology, I wanted to be a doctor to help people."
"So is that what you are trying to do, help me?" Adrian asked starting to feel the alcohol color up his face.
"I am simply trying to be an ear to listen, we and I are more than just runaways, we have chosen self imposed exile rather so I am hear to listen." Xavin said, smiling at him.
I never really noticed it but Xavin the guy who was a Skrull from an entire civilization millions of lightyears away was maybe the only person on Earth who understood what I was going through. I told him about how it all started how I left before the Civil War started cause I didn't want to fight my friends.
They grabbed a few more beers and kept drinking them as they talked. By grabbed, Adrian used his spider webbing to zip a few more off counters and trays when no one was looking.
He regaled me of his wedding night, when both sides erupted into a new war and how and Karolina fled back to Earth only to be followed by Karolina's vengeful people, kind of like how Iron Man and the Avengers chased me but I told him I didn't do anything to help the matter.
To which he responded that I was a born fighter, that he thought each of my choices had been maybe not the right choice, but the best for me. Going to Xaiver a learned doctor in helping children with strange abilities, using Ruin to my advantage as I did instead of being afraid of it. Also standing up against the Hulk to defend my home, New York and when he said that I looked over the city of LA where I was raised.
Standing up Adrian looked across the city by the sea and said "home…?"
"I don't know if I have a home anymore?"
"Of course you do Adriaxe- I mean Adrian." Xavin said his mouth slurring his words together in a drunken manner.
Adrian slouched back down "Yourr-Hic drunk?"
Xavin got up wobbly "I am not drunk, I am… intoxicated with livations!" Xavin hollered suddenly "Livwhat?" Adrian asked giggling.
They both burst out laughing maniacally on the rooftop when suddenly they felt something swirling beneath them. Looking at the roof, they saw a purple glowing purple had opened up around them getting bigger before they looked back at each other knowing the only person who could summon something so magical could be done by only one grim sister.
"Nico." They both said at the same time.
A second later they fell into the portal and out on the other side in the Runaways hideout in the middle of the living room on a pile of cushions and pillows taking from the chairs and sofas in the room. "Xavin!" Karolina yelled running up to hug him all the runaways were gathered around them with expressions of relief.
"My beloved, come to my arms- oh you already are." Xavin said kissing her as she hugged him turning into his female form with dark skin band brown hair.
"Xavin what has- sniff, have you been drinking?" Karolina asked, everyone started to take a whiff of the two who smelled like boos.
Molly gagged plugging her nose "Eww you guys stink."
"We stink of victory, we fought, we drank we made our ancestors proud!" Adrian said shooting up to the nearest wall sticking to it through the thin soles in his boots.
"You guys went drinking, without me?" Chase asked, "Stein break out the wine we aren't finished yet!" Chase said picking up Karolina in his arms still kissing her "Xavin can you… ooooh thats nice." She said as she was starting to enjoy the attention.
Chase smiled and turned around to go get the wine before Nico stuck out her staff blocking him "Don't even think about, Adria, Xavin where the hell have you to been?"
"He is not Adrian- HE IS NIGHTWALKER DEFENDER OF THE CITY OF LOST ANGELS." Xavin yelled suddenly falling down on the couch with Karolina coming down with him.
"We thought you had been captured or worse, why didn't you guys call us?" Nico asked them stamping her foot down.
"What are you my mom?" Adrian asked flipping off the wall and landing on the table in front of her hunched over so he met eye level, he reeked of beer like Xavin and his eyes were harsh towards her.
Nico frowned at him "We're a team, that means we work together and don't go on these solo adventures you're so eager to do."
"Team- HAHAHAHAHAH." Adrian said then laughed "Thats a fake laugh." Victor mumbled "It's Ultron Jr!" Adrian barked at him before looking at Nico again, he wiped his face from some drool.
Nico's snarl had transformed into an annoyed glare "You're drunk."
"And you're not a team Nico, I've been part of teams real teams and they don't drag two of their 'teammates' into a scolding like their delinquents." Adrian said jumping off the table and up to the nearby wall holding on it to each hand "You're the only delinquent Adrian." Nico said as he jumped.
"Bah, coming from the girl voted most likely to commit suicide cause of how she dresses?" Adrian asked her, the last bit made everyone even Xavin tense up "Whoa, Adrian take it easy." Chase said to him.
But Nico didn't seem to care like Adrian "No, let him talk." She said calmly squeezing her staff tight.
Adrian smiled bowing on the wall standing erect against it "Why thank you Mrs. Minroue, cause you've done such a great job leading these Runaways."
"Get to the point you little shit?" Nico asked him.
He flipped off the wall and cast a web to swing down in a yo-yo hang right in her face "The point is that you are not a team or a family Nico, you're a gang." He said before he dropped down so she looked down at him since he was still a little shorter than him.
"A gang up north side LA wannabes, 'Awe man adults suck, we're gonna never grow up or listen to the system man' that's you, that's all of you." Adrian said doing a whiny teenager impression "Sure I read the reports and the news about how you guys outwitted your supervillain parents, then you got put into foster care before running away again."
Adrian gestured to all of them looking at him with a bit of contempt "You guys had your chance at living a normal life, going to therapy and leaving this craziness behind but you didn't, because deep down you're like me."
"Crazy?" Victor asked.
"Superheroes!" Adrian yelled at him pointing at Victor "Vic-tor-ious." Adrian said using a name that Victor hoped never to hear again "How did you-" "Xavin filled me in, so you were destined to destroy the Avengers big whoop thats a Thursday for them." Adrian said dismissing his insult and returning to his taint "You all want to be superheroes so bad and at the same time stay true this counter culture bullshit so as not to get compared to everyone else, well guess what you suck at it."
Everyone listened and exchanged a few glances, Nico and Chase looked at one another, Victor and Molly avoided their own eyes while Xavin and Karolina spoke "Do you think that?" She asked him.
"Beloved you are extraordinary in every way but I feel as if he as a point, we could do more?" Xavin said.
"Xavin you've been drinking with him all night, your opinion isn't that considerable." Nico said waving her staff at him.
Adrian snickered a drunken laugh "What is it now?" Nico asked.
"Oh nothing but irony, Nico I bet you were that kid who sat alone at lunch just cause she wanted to be alone and that she hated the popular kids who just liked to hangout with each other huh? Especially the superficial teenage girls and right now thats you the queen bee who doesn't want to lose control of her little world." Adrian said, Nico had just about enough when she stomped her staff on the floor and started to yell.
Holding up a middle finger to him Chase had to hold her back as Victor held back Adrian "You don't know a damn thing about me you little shit, you come in here making judgment on us and look at you playing dress up."
"I'm doing what I was born to do, be a hero a vigilante I don't care and there's nothing you can say to me that I already haven't said to myself, face it we aren't normal I'm just ahead of the curve in knowing you're a terrible leader!"
Nico pushed Chase off holding up her staff charged with magical energy "You want the job, you think it's easy keeping this freak show of a family together?"
Victor dove out of the way seeing a fight was about to erupt "I know it's easy if you can do it." Adrian said taking out his batons turning them on.
"Well then come on, bring all four feet of you Spider-Brat." Nico said waving her staff "St-" Nico never uttered her spell as a web shot out of Adrians wrist and onto her mouth muffling her voice. Adrian yanked her face forward and grabbed her by the neck holding a stun baton close to her eye looking right into it. Everyone froze seeing Adrian was already winning in just two seconds ready to end it if he chose, but he dropped Nico still covered with the webs on her face.
Putting away his baton he looked down at her "You've got one move Nico say a magic word and point a stick, now it's time to shut up." He said looking at the all the Runaways.
"I think we're all in agreement, I'm in charge here." He said before he walked toward the exit back to his room "Get some rest everyone, we start training tomorrow."