Worm
The Grimm
Chapter VIII
The view along room tops in seeing cloudy skies despite being pitch black loomed overhead as Grimm inhaled on a cigar leisurely. It was cooler than most nights, but just enough to be comfortable when leaning against a chimney. Twenty four hours is plenty of time, I hope they're not late or else I'll be a bit worried. Girl won't last much longer, woman did a number on her and never once spoke asking questions. Although she pulled some punches, typical bias I'd bet! Humming to himself while bringing a simple disposable phone he'd purchased hours ago, it'd serve a purpose and really it only had two hours worth of minutes.
Vibrations from another unknown number made him answer, "What is it, kid?" Rascal had a laptop finally after twelve hours of himself recovering. He'd willingly asked if he could do video editing with some audio manipulation, it'd sold enough in his opinion and managed to avoid too much physical repercussions to an ex-class mate. Technology, I'm terrible at it but kid's crafty when his heart is in it, if I had to say. Made me shiver, screams and distortions aside, I think I may actually make him do more videos in the future.
Off slightly where a bay's gloom off water-fronts gave it an almost respectable sense when one meager table and two chairs had decency. May be overselling it, but I'd rather sit, smoke and find out if this hero wants to hear me out. His thigh still ached greatly in making him exhale irritably, "This is going to last a long time. Already making it worse, but sooner this is over with sooner I can sleep it off and start a new job eventually." Grumbling underneath until a Thinker's nervous tone didn't help any already irked para-human.
"PRT pings are hitting my dummy server, do you think they'll pay?" Grimm hardly seemed worried given it was an added bonus since getting rid of a beaten up school kid, "Pay with what? I sure as hell didn't ask for money, yet if they wire something? Take it, or leave it and do what you...do, I'm shit with computers." The man stated more absently when looking out over an almost open view of water and hearing waves crashing up against peers. Left instructions for the kid's wallet, he's nervous and that's a good sign considering I'm not exactly familiar with...ransoms.
Scanning skies for presumably a hero who actually flew around was quite unnerving. Staying out of cape shit started biting him in the ass, "You think they'll actually believe you? Madison, she...she looked pretty roughed up." The Thinker's voice quivered almost guiltily since he'd kept his mouth as Scorch finished her own pent up issues. Now she'd keep an eye on the last time he'd seen, a crying and nearly petrified girl who sported some minor burns. Apparently flames weren't expected when trying to hold out for twenty minutes, or so if he recalled.
"Would you prefer your girl dead, or worse?" He asked mainly in getting silence until Rascal whispered back, "I wished she'd never followed me. You were right, but I..." An elder para-human rubbed both eyes cutting him off, "Old news, kid. You want to look better, let this happen and don't be concerned about money. Least they'll consider you not a rapist, or some bullshit since you showed me PHO forums discussing if she's alive."
Grimacing due to being lead into open public discussions about supposed cape activity and more sketchier websites in the Dark Web. Grimm quite frankly almost wanted to laugh finding it disgustedly creative, if only for realizing people were seriously considering far out assumptions. Weird ass cape fanatics, it's all I got to say. Absently checking time above the call itself, it'd been early but considering these heroes were taking their sweet old time? Somehow he got an impression saving people wasn't high up on their priorities, or maybe they were being cautious?
"She ain't even where you're at, so don't worry too much." He finally chuckled finding the Thinker a little too good for his own sake, "Just keep eye on things, digitally. It's me whose in the line of fire, women aside. And from what you showed me about uh, Glory Girl, right?" Asking just mainly remembering a cape who'd show up, but more so in keeping said kid's mind off unnecessary worrying to give himself a headache, "I'll need a miracle."
An understatement of the century in his wincing as old footage of said cape flinging people around akin to rag dolls. Oh boy, I'm really regretting standing here. Above a lack of helicopters seemed to indicate they weren't patrolling, if seeing repeated videos of said metal balls being dragged across rooftops and landing in streets. At least it'd made a night quieter, much more comfortable for him to listen to waves and enjoy a breeze occasionally. Yet being attuned to metal which lightly thrummed underneath his very boots didn't get him a crawling sensation.
"Thank you, Grimm." Said man partially found it almost flattering, "Thank me when I'm dead, so sit tight and watch." He clicked the phone's call off as an arm stretched when nicotine started kicking in earnestly, "God damn, kids. Always make things seem good, but I guess someone's got to enjoy your misery for things to go through. Fucking Thinker!"
Pocketing a palm sized phone into his pocket did his eyes wander from behind tinted glasses. Scorch's location wasn't too far off, if using an old abandoned trailer and keeping a girl blind folded left little imagination to him humoring effective horror. Quick, clean and absolutely no bullshit. Hopefully these heroes get the hint, I'm not sticking around if I can help it. Reinforcing that intention just managed in warding off an urge to twitch uncomfortably, it'd been a far-cry from deliberately keeping out of sight and knowing PRT had his location?
"Sounded better a day ago." Groaning before another vibration came in a text from another para-human who'd been keeping tabs on the high school girl. She's begging me to let her go, I'm annoyed. Silently going over words until exasperation hit him, "Then shut her up! Scare her enough to piss her pants, or something." Texting back slowly due to squinting at smaller letters than usual to shake himself muttering aloud, "Why do you even bother me with that?"
Getting comfortable did little in stemming off a gnawing paranoia due to distant sirens, but they quickly faded away. Where are you? Tapping fingers against his vest while flicking ash off, "Yup, I'm going to regret it." Settling on swaying as his eyes closed trying to battle instincts, anxiety and a brain screaming to find another location. It took considerable effort when an entire building rumbled underneath due to impatient tapping of feet, Grimm couldn't have been happier when leaving and it almost killed him due to temptation.
Walking out towards an edge with smoke whipping past an ear as waves crashed on below due to cloud cover moving rapidly. Yet among a breeze something akin to flapping made his eyes narrow when it seemed to be circling. Well I'll be damned, someone can actually fly. Remaining rooted in place as an uneasy sense of dread filled him unnaturally quick, a heart raced until instinct wailed earnestly and yet he remained frozen. Biting down on a tongue did his gaze snap over towards the right side until something familiar clacked loudly onto gravel behind him!
"So you're the Grimm, huh?" The para-human clenched a jawline firmly when coming almost face to face with another cape who'd had her arms crossed imposingly. Jesus, I'm getting a bad feeling I just walked over my grave. Staring from peripherals in seeing an almost all white outfit, Grimm inhaled slightly in near biting through a burning cigar. Muscles tensed immediately, it almost made him wish he were somewhere else.
The skirt fluttered apart below a dress and cape flapping behind with some sort of golden metallic tiara piece glinting off dimming moonlight. Sleeves partially covered in cloth wrapped themselves tightly, as platinum blond like hair seemed almost too perfect. An entire building gave him crawling sensations when her leather white like boots grew closer. Oh hell no, that's close enough! Turning around rigidly with hand on a pistol's grip accordingly.
Every square inch of his flesh screamed at him to flee, "You must be Glory-Girl." Speaking relatively guarded didn't do justice when eyes narrowed sternly. Again that unnatural sense of dread followed when smoke came out slower than previously, "Thanks for flying by." Struggling to not have knees caving inwards did he gesture loosely towards a pair of chairs. The girl, or maybe young woman looked as if she were in college considering appearances and yet he'd might as well be facing down some sort of feral like bear given instinctual warnings.
"Let's hash it out, I'm not here for a rumble." Despite being shorter than him, he couldn't help but shiver when steel for eyes disdainfully passed when a cape's white edge remained stainless when trailing over gravel like tiles. Fuck me, I can't help but be scared shit less. Lung was an animal out of hell if I had to say, but this is just unreal! He sat down inching away partially when metallic legs dug at angle when hair trailing down a neck flipped itself scornfully.
Inhaling deeply which barely stemmed an uneasy feeling did he smile placidly, "You interested about a potential hostage? I can make it happen." She didn't even appear fazed while tilting her head partially to leer, "Murder happens, if I had to guess around you. Three days tearing through people, why should I believe the word of a terrorist? I have half a mind to rip your head off, I can easily do it if you give me an excuse."
Hazel eyes noticed gloved fingers enveloped by white leather lightly trace patterns not even an arm's length away, "You want the girl, or not? It's not difficult for me, or is saving a life not worth much?" Expecting some sort of justification threw him into a spiraling alarm when Glory-Girl retorted nonchalantly, "Lives are lost everyday. We can't save everyone, or is that not familiar when a soldier acts to kill an enemy?"
Grimm raised eyebrows when fingers dug into dented metal surfaces repeatedly, "I tend to avoid bullets when firing back." He stated realizing an inward panic that Protectorate resources were digging up some old histories apparently. Son of a bitch, I'm amazed she called me out. Well, I'm officially impressed and concerned. Her face turned insistently when it became clearer to him, she'd kill him and apparently fighting for freedom years ago when he'd triggered didn't seem make to an opinion rise at all.
"So you'd let a kid, a high school girl die?" Questioning her mainly surprised as a smile curled far too pridefully, "Terrorists and mass murderers tend to make normal civilians, happier." He couldn't fault that point even if his heart raced steadily, "Speaking of civilians? You chose quite an isolated location of Brockton, I wonder why?"
Unable to fake a smile did his face turn indifferent when the heroic cape started cleaning nails naturally amused, "For such a killer, I'd think you were more ruthless. Colder, but it seems your beliefs and actions make you...smaller." Glory-Girl's smile turned dangerously cruel when he replied mainly out of self-preservation, "Some of us don't get off on mass slaughter. Since you know some things about me, I guess that's the soldier inside me ending a fight and making it back home in one piece. Ever get shot at in a mountain?"
Her response tinged on smug experience while nodding, "No, but bullets don't work on me. It never makes me stop smiling, when I get my hands on someone." Grunting out a less than hopeful idea which seemed to be fading away fast, "Then you're lucky! Bullets aren't like what people think, if they hit you since you feel burning fire and then your bones go cold. Trust me, I don't forget the experience and it's not glorious when fighting in a war that no one cares about."
Again fingers tapped against a table unconcerned leaving little imagination said hero humored his words at all. Things already weren't getting dangerously close, Grimm swore internally it was already too late. But he kept himself on asking once again, "If you want to save that girl, say the word and I'll point exactly where she's at. She'll walk away, no price tag and that's it." Glory-Girl's gaze seemingly looked away as if trying to find a location where any hostage could be held at. However too many locations made her scowl partially, as if debating to herself whether gunning for him or saving an innocent would be worth it.
"Why should I believe you?" He smiled partially when puffing out smoke partially whisking past his glasses, "I'm a man of my word." She laughed loudly as if he'd told a gut clincher, "Oh really?" Leaning forward with eyes narrowing far too tempted, otherwise. Grimm remained forcibly in place breathing only minimally when her voice whispered, "How honorable for someone who murdered half a hundred people with families, hundreds seven years ago and it was because you're a racist man hating everyone else."
Grimm hardly seemed surprised given he'd heard it all before back then, "How do you figure that?" It seemed far too smooth, as if the hero had judged him already considering what she said next made him cough loudly. Glory-Girl practically sounded convinced, "I was told to read something of yours that's been around. Ever hear of a manifesto called, 'Grimm's World', I almost wanted to kill you when I had to read that garbage." The man blinked once, twice and finally a third time as that had been news to him alarmingly.
"What?" He blurted out until clearing his throat from nearly yelling, "I never wrote any damned 'Grimm's World', or what's so ever! I left a note, if you can call that a manifesto which I highly doubt...it only said, 'Enough is Enough!' I kept my word, I walked in and walked out without doing anything to anyone back then. Look it up, if you don't believe me!" Stressing words quite heated which made a blond hardly look convinced considering his mind almost felt numbed. When the hell did that ever happen, or better yet what in God's name was this hero smoking?
The fuck is going on here? Grimm's World? If he managed to walk away, he'd find that whatever it was floating around and by God's blessing get Rascal to find out. Jesus, I have to find out and if she thinks it was me? It'll give me a bad name, since I'm getting very uneasy. Rascal talks to some 'Tin-Man' on the Dark Web, supposedly and now this...shit?
Urgency inside his own gut knew things had to end, or else he'd possibly end up in pieces given the young woman kept tapping fingers. The indentations were almost fully through an entire metallic table as hair stuck up on his neck. Oh, shit! She's not alone! Behind out of sight crawling sensations were growing steadier and far more prominently, Grimm idly leaned back trying to not resist instinctual panic in being cornered.
"Tell you what, if you really think I'm bullshitting your time?" He pointed adjacent towards where several trailers were parked near a fence line bordering the bay itself, "Fly over and rip open the third trailer parked, next to a dented up smoking sign. I'll sit right here and laugh when you realize, I didn't lie to your face." Glory-Girl cocked an eyebrow challenging such dubious assurances when he grinned crookedly, "Do it, I'll stay right here. Just sitting, smoking and just keeping my word...or, are you going to let a girl cry her eyes out when's praying for someone to save her?"
From behind crawling sensations immediately ceased making him breathe lighter, if only barely when the white cape wearing woman didn't move an inch. Yet she turned towards where he'd been directing as a small glint reflected in an ear! It looked like it, but it was leaving Grimm's blood chilled to exhale shakily. A radio? It didn't stay glinting when those steeled eyes narrowed further when he leaned back out of habit.
"You know, if you're going to lie to my face?" Grimm flatly implied when dangerous instinctual warnings kept returning in earnest, "At least admit you didn't come alone." Glory-Girl smiled when dragging fingers across a table in uprooting small groves over and over, "You have bigger problems other than worrying, when I get my hands on you. You're not going to hide away again, even if your word is true or not, you're wanted for mass murder, kidnapping and are a terrorist whose goals are simply too repulsive."
Nothing could prevent an inevitable image appearing in his mind of her leaping over and crushing a skull into pieces. Once the girl is out, we'll find out if I'm walking out. Underneath metal started shifting subtly, if not slowly yet two of his own fingers around a cigar curled, "Am I really that dangerous compared to other capes?" Asking mainly out of trying to figure out whether these heroes found him that terribly concerned, or if they didn't care considering this woman got a thrill in breaking people physically to his impressions.
"You're a criminal and terrorist, it's all I have to understand." Hazel eyes narrowed briefly suppressing an urge to click a tongue since reasoning failed in that instant. Criminal, huh? Sometimes there's a saying, someone's hero is another man's freedom fighter. And the word terrorist lost it's meaning when it changed seamlessly over time. Grimm waited quietly chewing over past grievances as another crawling sensation came along more closer towards his right, as if someone were below getting closer to them. Regardless he'd let the girl go, if only to avoid seeing another kid get swallowed up and learn that world wasn't kind, or merciful considering she shouldn't have chased a Thinker.
"The girl will walk away, one way or another." He promised when flicking ash off an edge conveniently where crawling sensations seeming paused in immediate accordance, "She wouldn't survive compared to what I've seen already, so enjoy that much. But just to let you know a little rascal of mine thanked me personally, I wonder how many will line up and thank you for saving her?" The woman's scowl grew scornful as he tightly traced a cigar's burning end with finger less gloves. If she didn't want to be treated as a hero, he'd go on that much at least.
Placidly smiling to avoid gritting teeth when another wave of dread washed over him, "It's funny, I was treated like I was a hero when I came back from overseas. I never earned admiration, I just apparently was given it and I found it pathetic...regular people, thanking me and wanting to shake my hand fighting in a war they know nothing about." Glory-Girl stiffened for the first time when his grin lifted partially in pointing out rather annoyingly, "It was the same thing seven years ago, but it was a silent cheering when they couldn't do anything to stop what they'd all known. Everyone loved me, they adored someone who cleaned up trash and they wanted me to go further...but I chose not too, since better men exist well beyond me."
The words only drew a less an impressed look as if he were making excuses, "Am I supposed to find sympathy?" Grimm snorted when rolling eyes behind glasses despite lingering off towards his right side when crawling sensations ceased, "No, it's called truth. I'm well aware when I'm dead, buried and all that fun...I'll be burning for a long time." There wasn't any doubt he'd burn in hell, if only because no one living would deny it. If he expected a wary pondering, it'd failed when the woman laughed coldly when she didn't seem surprised.
"Religious zealot, aren't you?" The man's smile faded into a frown that plainly found that incredibly misleading, "No." There was a flatness to that lone word, "God exists, I'll believe that much. But I absolutely hate and love the fucker, I am what he made me." Again the caped hero sneered when an entire table groaned when her gloved fingers pressed downward straining metallic legs, "I doubt even your God condones hatred, or whatever murder you commit. You're only convincing me you're a piece of shit, Grimm."
That finally broke him to chuckle quite ironically since those words came from an actual person who loathed all, "You know an actual supremacist actually called me that." Leaning forward when a dangerous para-human gnashed her teeth realizing a playful undertones, "How strange you and that other cape said it, word for word. If that isn't a sign of someone telling you something, I guess I'll just say it for what it is."
Grimm's smile turned smug in a rare show of actually angering the woman visibly, "You're calling me racist, a terrorist and murderer who only kills for hatred's sake. When what you know about me is either false, or if someone's leading you to judge me...out of ignorance, bigotry and obnoxious lies when there's a life at stake, which I'm offering you to get back home alive." He drew out seething with knuckles clenching in actually popping bones to finally come within an arm's length as a hero refused to back down, "How many so called murderers have a conscious that's telling you, to look good for all of them?"
Silence met that last word when a hero went rigid as it clicked an unseen switch. The table got thrown over a vast distance when Glory Girl's form hovered above. A distant splash of water and stronger winds off a bay swept past them both. Grimm's heart thundered when he sat in place, staring and taking a drag on nearly life sustaining nicotine proving his own point. Whose fucking with who now, woman? Metal supporting an entire building nearly strained audibly when it'd been trembling in places long since built before his time, or even supposed capes emerging due to the age of historic grounds that still endured.
"I'm not afraid to die, Glory-Girl." Grimm mentioned quietly when a skirt fluttered against winds as an entire skyline darkened above due to nature's growing presence, "Who ever I was died on a night when a pistol's barrel was pressed up against my temple, looking at a floor and only I emerged and in that moment, I stopped being afraid to live." Blowing out smoke steadily despite unnatural fear, anxiety and near nerve burning was endured by his own will to remain sitting in place. There was no superiority, no pride in it and only earnest amusement when he'd learned a lesson when triggering moments afterward.
"But is a high school kid going to say the same thing with you talking to me?" Glory-Girl's gnashed her teeth until yelling out angrily and shot away towards an intended direction. Grimm never smiled once in favor of seeing waves breaking against rocky outcropping below and lightly pressing up against peers where various boats lay docked securely. Only a heart remained beat rapidly until it slowly, but surely returned to a normalized state. It almost seemed peaceful, if only a hero made it unnaturally tense and he found himself lightly turning away.
Pride. He thought of that word mainly to sneer nearly, if there was one thing he'd learn when hiding and living a life? You're so eager to get at me, but truth is you can't stand someone getting the last word on you, some hero I'd think. A fading white dot sped forwards where she'd learn a lesson hopefully in his attempt to keep his own word. Yet luckily enough he knew, pride was often overlooked and fortunately he lucked out.
Crawling sensations emerged when he stared right into a shadowed figure pointing something right his skull. Stepping out partially did some sort of masked cape, Grimm only asked casually even when metal wailed silently underneath his very feet, "And who are you supposed to be?" This masked cape sported a strange darkened cloak until his eyes fell upon a glinting arrow like tip loaded on an honest to god crossbow. And the wielder raised it deliberately aiming right for his very own forehead intending to kill him.
Gallant quickly leaped across over gaps between buildings breathing steadily. Third trailer, dented up smoke sign! But no demands for money? Armored limbs cushioned gravity's pull when landing with a muffled grunt, yet once he looked up due to hear flapping did speak into a communications line linked to a fellow cape, "Vicky?" The white clothed flying woman didn't bother answering save for when he lifted a hand as she plucked him nimbly on their way towards an open lot. It almost seemed as if she were incredibly pissed gauging narrowed eyes.
She didn't reply immediately over ear covering wind which didn't affect out physically, "Why did you stop me from taking that guy's head off?" He heard her internally inside his own helm as it'd been mainly his own efforts in following their orders from Armsmaster, "Because we were told to see if he was approachable, so far I'm not certain and I told you, we have a hostage and if this guy isn't fucking around? We'll have to find out."
Despite dangling a solid sixty feet away from buildings it'd been familiar, Gallant hardly paid much attention instead asking his girlfriend. She wasn't happy by any means, "What's wrong?" Glory Girl's face sneered obviously yet refused to answer much to his growing concern. Whenever she remained tight lipped, either someone would be dangerously close to beaten into an unrecognizable mass of flesh, or something didn't settle well with her at all. Who am I kidding, I heard what that guy said too and it's strange, way too strange. Something's wrong, why is it we've been dared too to prove him right and still feel like we're being jerked around?
Their targeted para-human hadn't visibly tried drawing a firearm, or attack aggressively despite being exposed to an unseen aura. Usually people run, or fight. But he sat in place, either he's good at hiding it or he's not effected? Very unusual. Trying to gather as much as information pertaining to Grimm wouldn't be simply based on what they'd known, Gallant frowned considering there was shock when mentioning what Vicky dropped. But focus on the hostage first, sooner she's safe then we can double back...oh, crap.
Landing directly where the man had mentioned left little doubt as a smoking sign had been staked through one trailer's doors. They were crumpled partially, as if wedged open when looking around expecting either some sort of bomb, or ambush. Yet only waves crashing made him an armored cape hum warily, "Think he rigged..." Glory-Girl flew forward angrily ripping doors clean off as they got flung behind landing over fencing into water thunderously, "...okay, maybe not. Just be careful and think a bit?"
The cape floated inside an almost pitch black trailer where both young capes heard distinct crying and someone murmuring, "I don't want to die." It was repeated over and over yet a barely dimmed out flashlight flickered when seeing an obviously beaten, but alive school student. She was blinded folded with hands bound, "Mom, dad...please, I'm sorry. I'm sorry!" Gallant watched Glory-Girl float inside before settling down watching with a clenched jaw, as if she were bitterly resisting to either tear apart the entire trailer itself.
No bombs, or anything? She's just chained to a chair? Disbelievingly seeking any signs of rigged devices proved effortlessly wrong. It was just an emptied out husk where product from warehouses as small pieces of paper, or plastic lingered in small piles. What the hell is going on here? She's literally unguarded, I don't believe it!
Although a lingering smell being filtered revealed trace charred marks, "Fire." Vicky could literally taste traces of ash floating aimlessly inside such compacted space, "He's not alone, either." Glory-Girl stumped over when a blind folded girl shrieked, "What do you want from me! No more, please I just want to go home!" Both capes flinched mainly when a gloved hand had descended in gripping the near hysterical girl who trembled. Gallant blinked several times due to how prominently said hostage thrashed in place, as if reliving some sort of nightmarish memory.
Activating an exterior speaker did he approach gently trying to reassure a near sobbing girl whose arms strained to protect herself, "Easy, easy!" Stressing words to make her whimper when he firmly started going behind inspecting chains bolted to a floor, "I'm Gallant, I'm with a team of heroes who are here to bring you home. It's okay, you're safe."
Glory-Girl remained floating in place when a blind fold came off revealing distinct blotches of bluish purple on a face. Eyes were watering as the girl cried out, "Thank god! Thank you!" Gallant smiled warmly underneath a visor's protective plating, "It's our job. Don't move, I'll get you out of these in a minute." Grasping one link which started uncurling did he snap them after straining internally, they weren't thin but thicker than usual. Frowning again mainly out of unusual circumstances did he hear Vicky grind out words.
It made the girl shrink inward out of painful realization that they weren't friendly, "Did Grimm do that to you?" Even Madison's swollen eyes couldn't mistake an iconic Ward living in Brockton, "No!" She whispered shuddering when getting feeling back in aching wrists, "I never...I never saw him, even when Jose said it. It...it...was someone worse, I never saw the guy but...that monster with red eyes burning me over and over."
Glory-Girl gnashed both sets of teeth when it'd became apparently that she'd be wrong. It infuriated her when looking over clenching fists, "Who?" Madison trembled visibly breathing rapidly and covering herself even as Gallant hesitantly looked up fairly alarmed, "A cape! Some fucking cape who wore a gas mask, or some crazy shit! I never heard any question, or them speak...that cape just kept beating me, over and over for hours. I couldn't stop crying and babbling anything to have it stop, I wasn't asked anything and Jose...Rascal just left me alone."
Gallant eased himself onto a knee before lightly supporting the panicking girl onto both feet. Yet she screamed in an ear ringing pitch, "Stop! My knees!" Hastily ceasing all action did Glory-Girl's eyes look down as dripping lines of darkened liquid breaking over pale coloration. Crooked ballooning mounds seemed deliberately smashed up, "Jesus." Gallant couldn't but mutter wincing as he lightly tried avoid grimacing in seeing small pieces of white. Unknowingly he could hear Grimm's voice faintly in an ear, if only audible enough to make out a question.
"And who are you supposed to be?" Inhaling sharply the young hero bolted out towards a trailer's ripped off exit, "Where the hell is Shadow Stalker?" Glory-Girl followed turning her back on a sobbing girl who clutched blackened legs mainly to scowl irritably. As she came to cross arms did an explosive flare of orange and yellow rapidly ascend into skies. Oh great! Now we have to call the fire department, Tinkers who can handle it and really, thank you for stealing my moment whore.
Gallant slammed a fist against an interior unintentionally making it echo as a girl yelped fearfully, "I told her not to do anything! Fucking damn it!" Across buildings flames arose far too rapidly, as if they were being drenched across dry tinder. So whoever did that behind us, is right over there and why isn't Grimm's power acting up? I don't see buildings, or metal being flung around...oh, are you fucking kidding me?
An almost insane idea lingered when he looked back to Vicky's less than impressed look in seeing inferno's setting older buildings ablaze, "Grimm told you, he'd wait for you to come back? Right?" He figured since the blond's cap flapped lazily behind herself, "Was he serious? Or do you think he's actually sitting in all of that?"
Watching streams of churning fire spiraling towards one particular building as it collapsed wailing distantly into dusty avalanches. Inferno like walls started scorching everything, or anything flammable to create large murky spiraling columns upwards into skies. Armsmaster is going to kill us, once he see's all of this tomorrow morning. Oh my god, there's no way we're going to be able stop all of that unless we get help now!
Raising an armored gauntlet before tapping several times did his visor enhance vision well beyond human limits, "Holy shit." He muttered when clearing filters in seeing a figure sitting among flames as smoke blew fiercely past. Crazy bastard is actually doing it, what the hell is this? Fires broke out below due to unnatural intensity in shattering windows, trailing upwards and curling akin to fingers seamlessly burning through wood, stone and metal indiscriminately. Gallant couldn't help but gawk in seeing a lack of urgency from one meager glowing tip.
The man literally was smoking as an entire building front went up in skin sweltering heat. Air shimmered akin to mirages as huge swaths of steam trailed just above it all, "Vicky." Speaking slowly as his fellow hero took in near maddening resolve, "Either get the girl to a hospital, or start making calls because there's no way to contain that inferno. Hell just looking at, I know it'll reach civilian apartments at the rate it's going, honestly I don't know what to think to contain it. It's getting larger and too dangerous for people!"
His girlfriend snorted while floating lazily above a trailer's opened doorway, "Looks like Grimm isn't alone either, Gallant. Guess he's gathering other capes, who'd have known a piece of shit could find trash for me to clean up?" That didn't alleviate urgency on multiple issues when his visor started bring up an active call to Brockton fire department, as well as PRT resources meant for emergency deployments for para-human conflicts, "Not helping!" He bit out cycling through ideas in a desperate bid to somehow stop a city wide disaster that could leave tens of thousands burnt alive. They weren't that isolated given most buildings houses workers, or employees who'd wake up to seeing their livelihoods burning to ash.
Assuming Shadow Stalker tried taking him out, if we can convince him to tell whosoever under him to stop. That also applied to their own which could be done, if merely to avoid massive losses of life and damage to an already crumbling city. Fucking hell, I can't believe I'm going to say this... Exhaling shakily while looking up at an indifferent floating hero whose skirt fluttered against ashy winds, "Think you can ask him to stop this, Vicky? Call a truce, get home with the girl and hope Armsmaster doesn't kill us for causing that to happen?"
Glory Girl quirked an eyebrow rather disbelievingly, "That's on the whore's head, not me or you." Another explosion akin to a ball detonated through two buildings, as glowering pieces angrily shot upwards due to natural gas possibly. Gallant nearly screamed pointing to a cascading downpour of wooden and shrapnel descending above in darkened clouds, "Jesus Christ, Victoria! At this point it doesn't matter, why else am I going to say! It's on all of us and for fuck's sake look around you. Just stop thinking you can waltz in, fly around and kick everyone's ass, Grimm is sitting around like he's not even bothered...think! What does that tell you about this mess?"
Behind sobbing increased into near constant renewal when fire's orange gloom seemingly washed over them as it made Madison fall onto the ground, "It's that cape! Please god, don't let it come back! I can't stand it no more, no more!" Seeing everything falling apart Gallant found himself plagued when nearly going absolutely into a panic. Getting onto an emergency line he plugged in immediate assistance to start getting everyone, or anything to put out this hellish nightmare. Yet Glory-Girl remained floating with arms crossed in gnashing her teeth finding it less than tolerable.
"WORK IT OUT!" The armored hero bellowed furiously finally fed up with her attitude, "Stop being a stuck up bitch, find a way and get this shit over with! Or God help you, I'm leaving you after this bullshit because you hate being proven wrong Victoria!" He'd been following an exchange while doing his damned best in adhere to their job, orders and something wasn't right with Vicky who'd loathed above all else in being proven wrong.
The floating cape stared hard when his visor lowered in meeting a pair of serious eyes, "Stop thinking you're invincible, we have a job to do and it's to save this city from being a god damned barn fire by morning!" Crackling buildings falling partially finally made a hero act while visibly spitting in quickly veering away. Gallant's heart thundered when he moving in an injured school girl who seemingly started hyperventilating. Whatever happened to her, it'd brought back trauma and the young man only hoped help would arrive soon.
Slinging her entire body over his shoulders, Gallant made his way out while being cautious in not aggressively jostling broken legs. For the love of god, Vicky don't think you can just smash your way through burning buildings. Just be a hero, like you always wanted too! Lightly hopping down in cushioning weight did he make way towards open grounds. With any luck an emergency medical airlift would kick start something to go right for once tonight, or he feared in seeing an entire city block getting leveled that'd make Grimm's earlier appearances seem tame in comparison.
Grimm stared expectantly when seeing a serrated tip spinning in place as fingers clicked together. It'd been too damned close, if being mere inches from sending him being killed. How many of them are here tonight? Inhaling less than amused to ask again, "Who are you?" Mainly in remaining rooted to a chair with legs crossed as a pistol angled into sight and the masked cape paused when seeing arrow head spinning constantly in place.
"Your hunter." That made hair on his arm stick up in warning as he hummed when an arrow head contracted inwards, "Sounds nice." This cape sounded closer to a girl, or rather a nearly muffled voice threw him off in trying to return back to relaxing. Just a bit more closer, let's find out if you're ballsy enough. Again glancing over when the cloaked hero, or rather if he assumed given some sort of camouflage patterned clothing gave this one quite an intimidating impression.
Yet small tingling sensations managed to reach him when the mask's exterior glinting off what little light remained. But seeing a crossbow being loaded in front of him garnered a spare hand in settling on his own firearm, "Do that again, or I'll put a bullet in your head." Grimm had reached patience's end between being lied too, if only increasing his irate mood due to learning about possible idiocy supposed written in his name. It's one thing to piss me off, but I will find out who did it and they will be fed to sharks...I am not happy.
Stakes shot upwards forcing a masked cape darting away as another bolt head came streaking past into coming inches from himself again. It simply bent inwards while circling idly, "Alright." He rumbled when flinging his hand as metal objects came tearing out underneath the masked cape who sprinted over a buildings edge with stakes crashing behind. Crawling sensations along his back made him clench said fist, an internal rumbling followed below and it ceased considerably when returning back to what he'd been doing.
Using metal serrated edges, why would...what the fuck! Sensations came screaming earnest into nearly vibrating bones underneath his neck as he sharply looked down. Metal expanded viciously rattling and squealing as a literal crossbow bolt head struck with an audible twang. How in the hell did that happen? Pieces floated underneath his legs as they clanked together forming an entire wall angled so he'd see a roof top breaking apart. Below half formed coils and tendrils tore through walls, or emptied rooms in hounding that fading crawling sensation.
"Shooting through everything?" Whispering almost dumbfounded when fingers clicked together as a solid wall formed another layer as he heard smashing below in shaking him where he sat firmly. Closing eyes when centering around one area of an entire building, his formed a fist and it shuddered dangerously until glass shattered several floors below. And he ceased when breathing lightly, "Capes are such a pain the ass. Least that one is gone..."
Grimm stopped immediately when the third shot skimmed his pant leg as it tore through in making him sputter out in alarm. What the shit is this? Lightly leaning over rubbing a thin red line left little imagination, an inch or two closer he'd be limping or bleeding out. Hell of an angle to get someone, if I had to say! Jesus, I couldn't do that even on my best days. The entire building didn't give him any sense that a masked cape remained inside of it, yet he glared angrily viewing adjacent roofs expanding metal into a larger area of attuned warnings.
It's like I'm dealing with a ghost, I'm getting nothing. Sheets of metal joined melded and twisted into solid lines floating rigidly just a foot away. Underneath his vest a heart pounded rapidly when his phone vibrated in making him take it out. Idly reading Scorch's text aloud did he snort a bit relieved, "I'll take care of it." Apparently the woman had been watching, or knew something wasn't right considering he had metal hovering in place. Shrugging he replied back when leaning back despite eyeing surroundings justifiably paranoid, "Go for it!"
Reaching outwards a series of metal pipes and scrap formed an almost stabilized bridge when Scorch walked across an entire gap. She had taken off after either dealing with a crying kid, but he'd known where funnily enough. We're not leaving though, so can't say I'm happy about that either. A pair of reddish eye sockets looked over when he thumbed warily, "Careful. Whoever took shots at me are going through that, I got nicked a couple moments ago on my leg. Think you can handle a cape who looks like a ghost?"
Puffing out smoke when another bolt came streaking through from somewhere off to his right and jerking downward coughing out, "That's four!" It landed directly impaling where his hand had been previously, if only having metal curling around closer himself defensively. Scorch remained quiet viewing generally as an intense heat caused Grimm to lean away. She's pissed, no doubt and I hope whosoever shooting at me realizes something...it's all fun until someone plays with fire that makes me think twice.
Aggravation arose as a hand trembled due to a building directly across quaking and Grimm rose an arm heavy with unseen weight. It tumbled sending him swaying in place as Scorch's body flashed when flaming serpents of churning orange and red shot forward striking something he didn't seen due to sitting. Her outfit gleamed due to coloration's partially when staring over at him, "Can you keep only this one standing?" Grimm's smirk curled when smoking prominently began streaming underneath as a roof top started caving inward. Flames potently climbing through anything dry, or not as metal hovered underneath his own spot.
"Do what you want, woman." Fingers met resistance due to internal tremors rocking other structures as metallic beams came around him churning, if only settling underneath an ever growing inferno that made air itself boil. Heroes want to play dirty, then I guess a little heat is worth it. But I gave my word I'd sit here, so might as well sit by a fire smoking. It's a nice night after all.
Metal extended squealing loudly as a stream of fire smashed across shrieking into incinerating obstructions. The blond needed little hesitation when running towards a figure darting away from behind a series of chimneys, "Try not to cause too much damage." Grimm absently called after her shaking his head as he kept up providing an easy route. Once she got across metal pieces returned crumpling into balls of circulating orbs, they hovered and encircled him akin to some make shift barrier while more joined together creating an entire wall covering himself.
Consider that my good deed of the month, woman. Fight it out with a cape, least you're not beating on a school girl anymore. Around another building trembled before groaning in an echoing tremor as dust and smoke arose when more solid objects remained supporting a portion of roof top. And more began caving into embers of breaking debris revealing a bright orange gloom that appeared over edges of his barrier. Yet below heat started filtering upward into making boots raise accordingly when resting them on an edge overlooking a bay.
But that left an almost obvious problem to consider mainly for his humor sake. Wonder if these buildings have insurance for fire damage, maybe I should have said something. But he chuckled in allowing a blaze to go unchecked since it'd be on the heroes to put it out. And if they wanted to come take his head? Grimm just flicked ash off a cigar when they'd pay a price for not letting him walk away despite upholding a promise to get a kid out of worse dangers. Plus he felt a little warm for his own good, if he admitted it or not.
Behind an explosion rocked him where he sat roughly, "Jesus." He whispered shaking his head when seeing a near blinding light streak upwards due to a building being engulfed in flaming tendrils that crawled upwards rapidly. Underneath floors worth collapsed into hissing snaps as an entire roof melded inwards, due to heat alone and he heard it all go down gradually. Yet he remained supported by liquefying metal pipes, scraps and anything remotely capable to withstand without breaking off into pieces of white hot embers.
Grimm leaned backwards allowing a chair to balance itself when tapping feet on air to an unseen rhythm. How long do you intend to make me wait, hero? The initial goal to leave wasn't on the table, so being a tad bit annoyed he'd have to improvise. And fortunately getting paid off sounded appealing after they'd broke their word, "Tempting." He spoke to himself mainly trying to figure out a price tag yet it eluded him since arson wasn't entirely on his list of known habits. But then again Scorch may have over-reacted considering she'd get a lot more thrill in being allowed to do whatever she wanted to kill another cape.
Another explosion rocked him again in drawing a deep frown, "Yeah, I'm not doing anything unless they convince me." Heroes from what he gathered, they were only kids in his opinion and leaving any mess was more on them in all honesty. And they want my head. By letting a girl go, cleaning up a mess and somehow they believe I'll just smile at them. Well, no more I'm going to make them work for it and I hope the Protectorate pays for a job. Laughing even when another building broke itself into sending swaths of ash upwards, Grimm watched embers fizzing out whenever they descended yet managed to flicker akin to stars.
After several moments he forced himself into relaxing even as crackling of wood, metal and stone forced a roof into faltering towards near blinding sweltering pits. The metal hovering around partially steamed off due to heat, yet he found himself sweating naturally from near skin charring temperatures all while holding a hand as metal continuously reinforced itself below. Soon only smoke and shimmering heat rising obscured mostly everything, but he waited amid flames burning relentlessly out of control once it spread due to stern bay winds.
However among crackling flames which hissed uncontrollably, Grimm's eye looked over in seeing something glimmering through orange and yellowed gloom. A glistening piece oddly familiar when seeing that golden tiara shining freely. Guess they found her after all, I half expected them to come back and try to kill me. Taking a drag while metallic barriers parted ways when seeing an individual stop herself in mid-air as a cape whipped behind, but the white clothe wasn't stained strangely enough to his curious hum.
Glory-Girl looked beyond furious given her arms were rigidly trying to not raise themselves, as if she'd fly over and tear off his skull. However the para-human didn't find himself panicking, or getting an almost dangerous instinctual warning again. Still slightly cautious he gestured to a lone chair which remained where it'd been planted, "Nice to see you again, so soon." The caped blond whose eyes showcased unmistakable signs of rage, "Sit for a bit, have a smoke and enjoy the view. It's quite warm all of a sudden, right?"
In a stunning shock to his genuine amazement she'd wordlessly floated over and sat down with fists clenching tightly. They nearly split open leather gloves much to his wry grin, "So since out right lied to me about coming alone, saying I was a piece of shit and all that goodness for a hero to think I'd not give you a life." Grimm's smiled curled further along far too interested as yellow and orange reflected off his glasses exterior which almost eerily revealed hazel eyes. He leaned back ignoring what amounted to catastrophe with practiced discipline and waited expectantly to hear what she'd to have say to him now.
Glory-Girl's face twisted into a mix furious disbelief, disgust and settled on scowling leaving an elder man to remain smiling. Whether she liked it, or not he'd finally found an opportunity to get Empire, the Protectorate and hopefully other capes from getting anymore leeway in making him annoyed for doing what he'd wanted. I get to have a good conversation, get paid and I'll be able to walk away leaving them all look that much better. And as a building burned with walls of flames getting closer towards populated structures, Grimm remained sitting in place as he'd promised despite everything seemingly going out of control.
End Chapter VIII
Author's Note: There's a method to madness, as they say. I'll make it clearer for you readers, not because I'm being smug, or sarcastic but in just simply pointing out something. Grimm isn't just being eccentric for a joke, he see's an opportunity, look at Gallant's dialogue, look at Glory-Girl in the beginning and see what I'm trying to hint at...here's a key word: Truce. Remember, Political Idealist first, mass murderer or terrorist second and you'll see some semblance of what happens whenever Capes come across someone who is not what they seem.
Considering what you read above, look closely and you'll notice Grimm is not a fan of people telling others who, or what he stands for when not knowing about it. The 'Tin-Man' and 'Grim's World', is quite corny but it's nonetheless pieces of a puzzle. Why would a man like him, write some supposed manifesto 'presumably' when he's clearly been ghosting for seven years and actually just living a life...away from capes, or the bigger picture that few can do. Once again for you in considering he's never researched into it, or cared except mainly knowing what most average joes in the Worm setting experience.
The intention? Putting pressure on someone, or some people without compromising himself in a way that keeps him capable to slip by. Obviously hauling ass out is the easy option, Grimm isn't going too mainly because he's quite pissed when people doubt his intended purpose. And this is also serves as a metaphor when I described the scenes above. The world seemingly going out of control, but as a man who watches and observe he will let it do so, not because it'll stop spinning...but that it shall always keep on spinning regardless.
Some battles aren't just in letting fists fly, or watching devastation when the source was a word of enacting it. Think about it, please. Glory-Girl is the face of a team, questionably put together isn't the point but only when Grimm requested only her...to talk too. But obviously, why would trust a man like him on his word only? It doesn't make sense, or most wouldn't think twice about some under lying motive to rig a hostage with bombs considering what information they dug on him...paints a funny picture when they're proven wrong by him sitting among flaming ruins.
Reading up on their personalities, reading their interactions and seeing Gallant as the level headed cape among them is a given. But among all of these three, Shadow Stalker's past experience with End-bringer crisis's is quite an interesting piece since I looked into it. It fits, if only for others to get a bird's eye view of why the Protectorate would be interested offering amnesty, or maybe...a truce in place to keep Grimm relatively on his terms inactive for a bit. And that circumvents a little problem we see with a pair of cousins up his ass. Or do you think that's crazy?
The writing is on the walls, as they say. Strictly speaking I'd say that hints at another side of a man who seems to take insults in stride, ignored most of it and does what he can to get by. Grimm's a smart guy in his way, he just doesn't want to deal with shall we say...irritations. Just look above, he actively tore out a building or two from the inside out and that was him getting fed up with quite a few things that he didn't expect.
He doesn't have power over anyone, it's the exact opposite when people hold power over him. Like I've stated in previous chapters, 'He's a weak man living in weaker times.' Strong doesn't equate to power, they are not the same thing. Which in point someone like Kaiser has in place power, why you'd ask? Well I'll answer one review in down below, the other which I've talked too personally and said reviewer wasn't wrong...not one bit.
Guest Reviewer: "its could be good... but by half way threw and over seven speeches\sermons it got old! Every single time someone opens ther mouth or has a thought you write a damn paper! Details are great but your not giving details your preaching and giving speeches...and most of the time they don't even make sense!"
My answer: "There's nothing wrong in explaining why, or at least giving a reader ample reasons for what makes a character a person. Providing detail, context and making a character seem realistic, given not everyone is a simple two dimensional plate. I told people below in that prologue. It's not a generic run of the mill story, so it's on you whether to continue reading it, or ignore it. There will be political messages, beliefs and philosophical elements in 'The Grimm'. This isn't about some rising 'kid' hero, or typical story...it's meant to make you think about reality, how and why it is happening and using Worm as medium while having some good old fun."
Still I thank you, at least you honestly took the time and left your thoughts on it. I can't ask for anything more. I hope others leave reviews, guests or not. I don't mind about negativity, or criticism since it only gives me an assuming balancing what goes in, or out. As always have a good week, stay safe and I'll update when I can again.
Leave a review, please.